The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 414 - 416. The Puppet Master (Second Update)

Chapter 414: 416. The Puppet Master (Second Update)

Beijing Fu Family.

Fu Hengyi had just returned from Eden, and when he got home, Shen Qinglan was playing with Anan. Anan was already three months old and it would be a hundred days in a few more days. He had become a real sticky rice ball, white and chubby.

He had become much livelier, and what he liked least now was lying in the crib. He enjoyed being held and going out; as soon as he went outside, he was happy.

Shen Qinglan was admiring the flowers in the garden with her son. Anan pointed at a flower in full bloom and wanted to pick it, but Shen Qinglan held his little hand, "No, you can’t. The flowers look beautiful on the tree; once they’re picked, they’re not beautiful anymore."

Anan looked longingly at the flower, and a large hand reached over, picked the flower, and stuffed it into Anan’s tiny hand. Anan was immediately delighted, his eyes curved in joy, bouncing in Shen Qinglan’s arms, almost causing her to drop him.

Fu Hengyi took his son in his arms, and Shen Qinglan looked towards him, "You’re going to spoil him like this."

Fu Hengyi was unperturbed, "It’s just a flower."

Shen Qinglan looked at him speechlessly and got too lazy to say anything more. The strictest was Fu Hengyi, but he was also the one who adored the child the most.

Shen Qinglan knew that Fu Hengyi had returned and must have results from Eden, but she also knew now was not a good time to ask. Seeing that the son was happy playing with Daddy, she was content to steal a moment of rest, "I’m going inside to take a break." She had been with this little chubster in the garden for two or three hours, holding him the whole time until her arms were sore.

Fu Hengyi nodded, watching as Shen Qinglan went inside; Anan glanced at her retreating figure but quickly averted his gaze, now more interested in the flower in his hand than his mother’s allure.

Anan, holding the flower and waving it around, was laughing so hard with his little mouth open wide.

Fu Hengyi sat down with him on the swing in the garden, gently swaying the swing. Anan’s attention was drawn to the swing, and he made excited noises, indicating he was quite thrilled.

Fu Hengyi didn’t swing very high, just gently rocking, soothing a certain chubby baby. Lately, they were trying to adjust Anan’s sleeping schedule, trying to keep him awake during the day so that he wouldn’t stay up late at night. That way, Shen Qinglan didn’t have to wake up often to feed him, making things much easier.

Although Anan couldn’t yet sleep through the entire night, they only had to wake up once in the middle of the night to feed him, which was quite effective.

At night, after Shen Qinglan had put Anan to sleep, she asked Fu Hengyi about the outcome of the matter. Fu Hengyi said, "Eden has experimented on the lab rats. The virus has mutated a lot; the most common symptoms are itching and pain. In the later stages, the itching and pain can cause skin ulcerations and make a person suffer terribly."

He had seen the miserable state of the lab rats with his own eyes and felt a faint concern. The virus was frightening, and if it fell into the wrong hands, the consequences could be irreparable.

Hearing this, Shen Qinglan’s lips lifted slightly, "Qin Yan must hate me to the bone now."

"There’s Doug and his friends on Ya Xi’s side, and I’ve arranged people on Yan Shengyu’s side as well. They’ll be safe for the time being. Qin Yan’s target will likely be on you," Fu Hengyi said gravely. The people he arranged around Yan Shengyu were retired soldiers, naturally skilled, and would not have agreed to take on the task of protection if Fu Hengyi hadn’t personally requested it.

"If she comes directly after me, it’s no big deal," Shen Qinglan said, waiting for that very thing.

The next morning, just after Shen Qinglan got up, Jin Enxi’s call came in, "An, the mastermind behind pushing Du Nan’s mother has been found."

Shen Qinglan’s gaze sharpened, "Who?" Because of Qin Yan’s actions, she had almost forgotten about this matter.

"Annie’s father Liang Guangjian." The unexpected result made Shen Qinglan pause, "Not Qin Yan?"

"Not Qin Yan, it’s Liang Guangjian. I’ve confirmed it. And the matter of your sister-in-law being followed was also orchestrated by him. He seems to know that Annie’s disappearance is related to us."

Shen Qinglan frowned, "How did he find out? Did Qin Yan tell him?"

Jin Enxi nodded, "Yes, indeed. But Liang Guangjian has disappeared now; I don’t know if he’s hiding because he’s afraid we’ll find out."

Now things got interesting. They had searched so long for any trace, including the police, and found nothing. Now out of nowhere, a Liang Guangjian appeared, and this same Liang Guangjian had vanished.

"It wasn’t Liang Guangjian," Shen Qinglan stated with certainty, "Enxi, you’ve been misled."

"Are you overthinking this, An?" Jin Enxi felt the matter was already clear.

But the truth soon proved that it was not Shen Qinglan overthinking, because on the third day, Liang Guangjian returned. He had not vanished but had gone out to clear his mind. With Annie missing for so long, he had never been at peace. The police, instead of helping him find his daughter, suspected that she had fled out of guilt.

One could only imagine how miserable Liang Guangjian felt, which was why he went to stay with friends in the countryside for a few days. But after a few days, he worried Annie might return home in his absence, so he came back.

Jin Enxi watched the outcome with great annoyance in her heart, feeling that she had been played by someone. But who exactly was it?

Shen Qinglan actually had no clue either; initially, she thought it might be Qin Yan, but it didn’t seem to fit her style. After observing Liang Guangjian for a few days, Jin Enxi had no choice but to give up on him—he was just an ordinary businessman, seemingly not bold enough to be the perpetrator.

"Let’s not worry about this for now; since they targeted me, they will eventually have to come out," Shen Qinglan said indifferently.

An, you are too composed," Jin Enxi remarked solemnly.

"Getting anxious now is useless. The other party hasn’t achieved their goal; their emergence is only a matter of time. It’s more time and effort-efficient for us to wait and see."

"All right, but if I find out who played me, hmm."

Shen Qinglan smiled, thinking that this was the first time Jin Enxi had been tricked like this, probably not able to get over it anytime soon.

**

In Xueli City, Daisy looked coldly at her daughter Catherine. Catherine shrank back, not daring to speak. "You fool, I’ve already told you not to harbor thoughts you shouldn’t. Have you still not given up?"

Catherine bowed her head, "Mommy, I hate Shen Qinglan. It’s because of her I’ve become like this. Look at what people outside are saying about me. Because of her, I’m despised by everyone. Even my teachers don’t want to deal with me. It’s all Shen Qinglan’s fault."

Daisy looked at her coldly, "Hmm, you have the desire but not the ability. Do you know if it wasn’t for me cleaning up after you, how much trouble you would have caused?" To actually have someone push another down the stairs, and in a foreign country no less, was outrageously bold.

Catherine kept her head down, not daring to look at her mother, "Mommy, I know I was wrong."

"Catherine, I am telling you now, your father and I have already chosen a spouse for you, and the wedding date is set. It’s Harry Graysam. He’s the heir to his family’s fortune and is about to take over. After you marry him, behave yourself. As for your people, from today onward, they will not take your orders anymore; I am taking them back."

"Mommy." Catherine suddenly looked up at her mother, "Mommy, I don’t want to marry." She conveniently ignored the last part about her subordinates.

"You have to marry even if you don’t want to; this is not up for your objection. If you’re still thinking about that soldier, then from now on, get rid of those thoughts. There’s absolutely no chance for you and him."

"Mommy, why?"

"Catherine, there is no why to this matter. I didn’t hold it against you for calling off your engagement with Kenneth before, but if you dare to mess this up this time, you will no longer be the Boyle Family’s young mistress."

Catherine didn’t dare to refute her mother and sought help from her father, Louis.

Louis looked at his daughter’s pitiful eyes and felt somewhat soft-hearted, "Daisy, why don’t we let Catherine spend some time with Harry first? Harry’s a good guy; after getting to know him, Catherine will like him."

"Haven’t we already agreed on this matter? Are you suggesting you’ve changed your mind?" Daisy asked with a frosty look at her husband.

"That’s not what I mean, but now Catherine doesn’t want to. Surely we can’t just make her marry him like this."

"Why can’t we? Can a family like ours choose their own marriage? Haven’t I given her enough time and options? Yet what has she done?"

As Daisy spoke, she became increasingly dissatisfied with her daughter. Besides that man named Fu Hengyi, what else was in her heart?

Even though they were in Xueli City and their family’s influence rivaled both the Shen and Fu Families in power, Louis didn’t want to provoke such families unnecessarily. But after all, Catherine was his beloved daughter raised since childhood; seeing her so unwilling, he felt sorry for her. However, he could not argue against his wife’s words. The last time Catherine broke off her engagement to Kenneth, Daisy had to smooth things over, which infuriated her. The current match was one he and his wife decided together. After thinking it over, Louis advised Catherine, "Catherine, just listen to Daddy and Mommy. That man from Z country is not suitable for you; stop thinking about him."

"Daddy, why won’t even you help me?" Catherine’s tears brimmed in her eyes.

Louis did want to help his daughter, but his wife wouldn’t listen to him either.

"This matter is useless to discuss with your father. Go back to your room now and think about your behavior. What have you done right?"

Seeing her parents were unwilling to help, Catherine’s heart turned cold, "Daddy, Mommy, I definitely will not marry that Harry. If you dare to force me, I’ll die for you to see!"

Daisy was furious, but Catherine had already run off, and her anger had no outlet. She turned her cold gaze to her husband, "This is all because you spoiled her."

Louis didn’t refute; part of Catherine’s character was indeed spoiled by him. He took his wife by the hand and sat her down, coaxing, "Don’t worry yet; I will talk to her properly about this. Besides, about that other matter, are you sure they won’t trace it back to us?"

Speaking of this matter, Daisy was furious again, unable to recall how many times she had covered for Catherine. She had never seen such a foolish person.

"It’s already been taken care of, they can’t trace it back to us. Someone will take the fall in due time." To prevent the incident from implicating the family, Daisy had spent a lot of money.

"As long as it’s resolved."

"From now on, keep an eye on Catherine. Before she gets married, she’s not allowed to go out."

Louis frowned, "Isn’t that a bit too much? Catherine is our daughter after all."

"Do you have any idea how much we lost cleaning up after her this time? Five years’ worth of company profits."

Louis was also angry. He hadn’t expected Catherine, who had calmed down before, to suddenly instruct someone in Z country to push someone down the stairs. That was murder. It didn’t matter if it took place in Z country or in Xueli City; it was extremely frightening.

He couldn’t even imagine when his daughter had become so cruel.

But Daisy did not tell her husband that this was not the first time for Catherine.

"You must listen to me on this matter. I have a way to make Catherine behave," Daisy said, leaving him with that as she stood up and went upstairs.

**

Three days before the Fu Family banquet, suddenly someone turned themselves into the police, confessing that the death of Du Nan’s mother was their doing. This individual was previously an employee of Junlan Group, even a high-level executive, until he was caught stealing company files by Shen Junyu and ousted from the company. Holding a grudge, he had been looking for an opportunity to retaliate against Shen Junyu.

He inadvertently witnessed the scene where Mrs. Du was harassing Wen Xiyao, and then began to nurture the idea of using Mrs. Du to harm the Shen Family. He bought internet trolls to launch a cyber-attack, and he was also the one who pushed Mrs. Du from the building.

Shen Qinglan’s expression was inscrutable upon hearing the police’s explanation.

"How did he know that Du Nan’s mother intended to make a scene with her suicide?" asked Shen Qinglan to Fu Hengyi.

Fu Hengyi relayed the police’s story to her, "According to him, ever since he noticed the conflict between Du Nan’s mother and Wen Xiyao, he had been following the former closely, even suggesting the idea to her of causing a fuss by jumping from a building."

"The so-called suicide note was indeed written by him after he learned of Mrs. Du’s decision to cause a commotion."

It sounded plausible, but on closer inspection, it was riddled with holes. For instance, why was the suicide note typed on Mrs. Du’s computer? How did he follow Mrs. Du to the top floor of Junlan Group? Was revenge for being expelled from the company worth such a self-destructive method? Besides, if it was his doing, the obvious evidence couldn’t be missed by the police unless someone inside the force was overlooking this detail. For an obscure person to have such influence implied there were insiders within the police.

"The police believe his story?" Shen Qinglan retorted.

Fu Hengyi laughed with a hint of sarcasm, "Do you believe it?"

Of course, Shen Qinglan did not believe it. Such stories might fool children, she thought, "It seems the person behind this isn’t very smart."

To pin the blame on such a person was even less believable than pinning all the allegations on Liang Guangjian. At least that might have been more credible.

"So does this mean the police aren’t going to investigate further?"

Fu Hengyi nodded, "That’s the official stance."

Shen Qinglan’s gaze flickered briefly, the official stance... implied that investigations would continue covertly, but the focus of such investigations was unclear.

Shen Qinglan ruminated over all the people she could think of, but could not determine who would have the capability to orchestrate such a cover-up. Just as she was about to give up, a sudden insight struck her, and she thought of someone.

She picked up her phone and called Daniel. It had been a while since Daniel had called Shen Qinglan. Besides sending her artwork to exhibitions, Daniel had been fervently promoting Jonathan’s paintings, as he had promised to make Jonathan famous when he had first arrived. Jonathan’s work had also been taken to the last exhibition in Xueli City.

"Qinglan Baby, you haven’t called me in a while. Are you calling because you miss me?" Daniel spoke with his usual slickness, laughing.

Shen Qinglan’s lips curled into a slight smile, "How have you been recently?"

Daniel grimaced, "I’ve been spinning like a top. Qinglan Baby, don’t tell me you’ve found your conscience and decided to come help me?"

Shen Qinglan stayed silent for a moment, then chuckled, "Not really."

Daniel sighed, "I just knew it, Qinglan Baby, you really are too heartless."

"Isn’t Enxi helping you?"

Daniel glanced at someone who had only gone to bed that morning, "She’s also been pretty busy lately, so I won’t trouble her. Besides, she’s not interested in these things."

It was this latter point that mattered the most, Shen Qinglan silently thought.

"Qinglan Baby, you must be calling me for something, right?" Daniel brought the conversation back to the main topic.

"Yes, Daniel, I want to ask you something. Did you run into Catherine during your trip to Xueli City?"

"Catherine? I did meet her, but why are you bringing her up, Qinglan?" Daniel was puzzled since he didn’t remember Shen Qinglan being that close with Catherine.

Shen Qinglan wasn’t exactly dwelling on Catherine. She had just suddenly thought of someone, and that person was Catherine. After all, Catherine had once burned down Daniel’s gallery out of jealousy, destroying many of her own paintings. Although that incident had happened a long time ago and they had already taught Catherine a lesson, who knew if it was truly over for Catherine?

"How has she been lately?" Shen Qinglan inquired.

Daniel raised an eyebrow, "You’ve never been interested in this kind of gossip before. What’s got you asking about it now, something interesting happen?"

"Tell me about Catherine’s recent situation first."

"Well, you’re asking the right person. Qinglan Baby, I really did witness quite the drama this time in Xueli City."

Daniel relayed to Shen Qinglan with great enthusiasm everything he saw and heard in Xueli City.

After bringing Shen Qinglan and Jonathan’s work to the exhibition, Daniel went to see an old friend, Frank. Frank was so pleased to see Daniel that he invited him to a small gathering at his home, which Daniel did not refuse.

It was a small private party held by Frank with friends who were on good terms with him, mostly from the art world, many of whom Daniel recognized. They enjoyed chatting and had a good time.

And just then, a servant came in and whispered a few words in Frank’s ear. Daniel, who was close by, happened to hear that Catherine had arrived.

Frank refused to see Catherine. After the servant left, Daniel softly asked Frank, "Hadn’t you drawn a clear line with Catherine?"

If it had been anyone else asking, Frank certainly wouldn’t have replied. But since Daniel was also a victim of that incident, Frank wouldn’t keep it from him, "I have, but due to that incident, although the online comments have died down, people in the circle don’t believe Catherine anymore. Her reputation is surely ruined. With the recent exhibition, she’s come to me several times."

"Does she want to participate in the exhibition?" asked Daniel.

Frank nodded, "Yes, but I refused her." The scale of this exhibition wasn’t huge, but those who could participate were rather well-known. With Catherine’s current awkward status, attending the exhibition would only serve to make her position more embarrassing, just turning her into an object of ridicule. So Frank refused, which, in a way, was for Catherine’s own good.

However, Catherine didn’t appreciate it; she wanted to use the exhibition to reintroduce herself to everyone. The problem was that the exhibition required an invitation, which she hadn’t received. Her repeated attempts to procure one from Frank had been to get hold of an invitation.

Daniel hadn’t expected Catherine to have reached the point where she was collectively ostracized by industry members. It showed how much she had disregarded others in the past and how many people she had offended.

"She was once your student; I thought you might go easy on her," Daniel said with a smile.

Frank chuckled, "Daniel, do you really see me as irredeemable in your eyes?"

"Haha, not at all. I remember you were also friends with Catherine’s father, right?"

"Yes, Louis, that’s Catherine’s father, also talked to me about it, but I have to be accountable to other people, so I didn’t agree."

Daniel further inquired about Catherine’s recent situation with Frank. After learning about her circumstances, he thought to himself that she got what she deserved. This woman had destroyed so many of Shen Qinglan’s paintings in the past, and it still pained him to think about it.

Shen Qinglan, after listening to Daniel, spoke up, "Did you just say her family arranged a marriage for her?"

"Mm, that’s what I heard from Frank. The two families are still discussing it, so it’s not certain whether it will go through or not."

Shen Qinglan raised an eyebrow, a trace of understanding in her mind. Perhaps she knew what was going on with this matter now.