Yan Shi suppressed the shock in her heart and pretended to be calm. “You’re too kind, Dr. Fu.”
“The two times I’ve met Miss Yan, you seemed a bit tense, even somewhat anxious. Such emotions aren’t conducive to the growth of the fetus in your womb. Even for the baby’s sake, Miss Yan should appropriately adjust the pace of your life.” Fu Xushu reminded her tactfully, his tone gentle and even.
Yan Shi nodded. “Thank you for the reminder, Dr. Fu. I’ll be sure to pay more attention.”
Of course she wanted to relax, but seeing Shen Ci’s demeanor today, he clearly had no intention of letting her off easily. Who knew how much more trouble was waiting for her ahead.
Seeing the worried look on her face, Fu Xushu took out an invitation and handed it to her.
“My mother is hosting a small banquet in three days. If Miss Yan has the time, you’re welcome to come and join in the festivities. Consider it a chance to get out and about, meet some new friends—it can lift your spirits and help you relax a little.”
Fu Xushu spoke with propriety, displaying good upbringing and gentlemanly grace in every gesture, with every word considering the other person’s well-being.
An invitation like this was impossible for Yan Shi to refuse.
The Fu family’s influence in the city was not to be underestimated. If she could establish a connection with the Fu family through this, it might facilitate future cooperation between their two houses.
Yan Shi hesitated for a few seconds before accepting. “Thank you for your kind invitation, Dr. Fu. I won’t let your goodwill go to waste.”
If she wanted to firmly establish herself within the Yan Corporation, she couldn’t rely solely on the inheritance left by her parents. This was the perfect opportunity to build her own network.
“Having Miss Yan attend would be my honor.” The smile in Fu Xushu’s eyes deepened.
Yan Shi gave a faint smile, expressed her gratitude, and got out of the car midway.
As the car started and drove away, Fu Xushu gazed at the reflection in the rearview mirror, the corners of his mouth curving slightly upward.
“Third Young Master, didn’t Madam say you should bring a female companion to the banquet?” The driver glanced sideways at his young master in the back seat, and thinking of the “baby” they had just discussed, couldn’t help breaking out in a cold sweat.
“So I invited Miss Yan.” Fu Xushu lowered his head, casually flipping through the speech draft he had just been reading.
“But Miss Yan is already pregnant, Third Young Master, you…” The driver couldn’t help but be shocked.
Judging from the way the two had been talking just now, the child in that Miss Yan’s womb was certainly not Fu Xushu’s.
That meant Miss Yan was a married woman…
If Madam found out about this, it would be a disaster!
Fu Xushu looked up and spoke seriously. “Being pregnant isn’t her fault. She just ran into a man who wasn’t responsible enough, one who abandoned her and the innocent child.”
In their two encounters, Yan Shi had always been alone, and she had never mentioned the child’s father. With that heavy-hearted look on her face, it wasn’t hard to guess—Yan Shi had decided to raise the baby on her own.
Perhaps it was precisely because he had seen Yan Shi’s feigned strength that he felt moved.
The driver was momentarily at a loss for words. What he said was true enough, but others might not see it that way.
Seeing the driver’s conflicted and complicated expression, Fu Xushu smiled easily. “Uncle Zhuo, I simply invited my friend, hoping she could be a little happier. No need to be so tense.”
He admitted that his attention toward Yan Shi was indeed not the same as toward an ordinary patient, but that didn’t mean anything—at least not enough to warrant Lao Zhuo treating it like a crisis.
“Yes, Third Young Master, I understand.” The driver Lao Zhuo nodded, his expression returning to normal.
By the roadside, Yan Shi took out her phone and dialed Wang Cheng’s number.
Ten minutes later, Wang Cheng’s car pulled up in front of her.
“How’s the situation at the hospital?” Yan Shi raised a hand to rub her temples. She had notified Wang Cheng to send someone to observe the situation at the hospital right after leaving. Shen Ci had arrived so quickly today, which made her unable to suppress a sense of unease.
“The person who came back from the hospital said that President Shen flew into a huge rage. It seems President Shen had been prepared all along, just waiting for you to show up at the hospital.”
But Yan Shi had managed to slip through his fingers.
Hearing this, a smile tugged at the corners of Yan Shi’s lips—nervous, yet with a hint of smugness mixed in.
Meanwhile, at Huaxin Hospital.
“President Shen, we haven’t found Miss Yan.” Lin Li stood with his head lowered before the man.
They had conducted a thorough check at the lobby exits one by one, yet still hadn’t seen Yan Shi in her nurse’s uniform.
The man’s face darkened by a visible degree.
“I just checked the surveillance footage. Miss Yan had already changed into a nurse’s uniform before entering the ward area, so our people overlooked her.”
He had people watching Old Mrs. Shen’s ward, waiting for Yan Shi to appear.
But no one had expected Yan Shi to disguise herself as a nurse, walking right under his nose without being detected.
“Then how did she leave the hospital?” Shen Ci’s brows were sharp and cold, his fists clenching unconsciously.
He had never realized Yan Shi had this kind of cunning before.
That woman had been by his side for five years, acting obedient and well-behaved, only to turn around and give him one surprise after another. Well done, indeed.
“We haven’t found out yet. The director said that aside from the main entrance, there’s only the staff passage, which has no surveillance. However, the staff passage requires an internal employee’s access card to pass through, which Miss Yan shouldn’t have.”
Lin Li also found it strange, but by now they had searched the hospital inside and out twice, and it was certain she was no longer on the premises.
“Find her. Even if you have to dig three feet into the ground, find her and bring her to me.”
Radiating cold fury, Shen Ci left the hospital without looking back.
Returning to Peninsula Villa, he heard the sound of a woman sobbing softly before he even stepped through the door.
“Qianqian, you’re an adult now. You need to understand that you and Xiao Ci grew up together. He was your brother before, and he can only ever be your brother from now on.”
Shen Zhenhua’s face was stern, yet tinged with a helpless sigh.
He had come to see Shen Qianqian privately, hoping she would back down and leave on her own, so the Shen family could have some peace.
“Qianqian and I share no blood relation. If I want to marry her, it’s no one else’s business.”
Shen Ci’s face was grim as he strode over.
Seeing him approach, Shen Zhenhua rose abruptly, his stance resolute: “When I adopted Qianqian back then and gave her the Shen surname, she became your sister. Now you want to marry your own sister—what do you expect outsiders to think of our family?”
Whether for Old Mrs. Shen’s wishes or for the family’s reputation, he could never allow Shen Ci to make such an absurd decision.
“If Father truly cared so much about what outsiders think, then you would never have been so entangled with your own secretary.”
Shen Ci’s face was cold as he mercilessly tore away Shen Zhenhua’s fig leaf.
His mother had passed away from illness when he was only a few years old, and he had been raised by Old Mrs. Shen. As for his father, it was an open secret in their circles that the man had earned quite a reputation for his philandering in his youth.
It was only in recent years, after he had taken over the Shen Corporation, that his father had begun to rein it in.
“What did you say?” Shen Zhenhua glanced around at the people nearby, his eyes shifting uneasily.
The maids immediately lowered their heads and quietly retreated from the living room.
Shen Qianqian was also startled, instinctively tugging at the sleeve of the man beside her. “Big brother… don’t be angry. Let’s talk this through calmly.”
“You know exactly what I mean. I don’t interfere in your personal life, and who I choose to be with is my own business.”
“Your own business?” Shen Zhenhua let out a cold laugh.
“Shen Ci, as long as you’re still a member of the Shen family, you don’t have that freedom. I’ve already prepared a villa for Qianqian abroad. She’ll pack her things and leave within the next few days.”