Meanwhile, in the Shi family’s private room, Shi Mingqian grabbed his ringing phone the moment it sounded.
While waiting, countless plans already flashed through his mind.
Who exactly was this mysterious person? If they were a rival of the Shen family, what could he do to maximize his own gain?
“Operation failed.”
The four words from the other end immediately shattered the composure Shi Mingqian had just regained. He gripped the phone so tightly that his knuckles cracked, finally forcing out through clenched teeth, his face darkening: “I don’t care what methods you use I must know the identity of that mysterious person!”
After hanging up, he took several deep breaths and straightened his suit and tie.
Behind the glass projection, he quickly returned to his usual calm, though a grimness lingered in his eyes.
He was perfectly aware: today, he had to get the Shen family to account for themselves but not in a way that tore ties completely.
After all, the Shi family didn’t have the standing to openly clash with the Shens.
His ultimate goal was to leverage what he had to bite a piece off the Shen family and survive this crisis.
As he stepped out of the room, all eyes in the vicinity felt like knives piercing his back. He ignored them all, straightened his posture, and walked toward the third floor.
Ordinary guests were certainly not allowed up there. But since the marriage between the Shi and Shen families was already a done deal, the staff didn’t dare offend him. They only stated that they needed to consult the VIPs.
When the news reached the Shen family’s private room, Gu Nian couldn’t help but laugh: “You bid so confidently just now, and now your father-in-law is at the door. How are you going to explain this?”
Shen Luli lifted his eyes. “Do I even need to explain myself to him?”
Gu Nian: “Then should I send him away?”
Although the Shi family looked as if they were finished, for some reason Shen Qinghui still valued Shi Mingqian, so outright rejection would be improper.
“No need. Just let him come up.”
Upon receiving that reply, Shi Mingqian’s heart steadied slightly.
He entered the private room silently, but the moment he pushed the door open, the speech he had prepared stuck in his throat.
Seated on the sofa was not the expected Shen Qinghui and son, but the Shen family’s rumored illegitimate son, Shen Luli.
Years had passed. The silent, taciturn boy from before had transformed into a commanding figure.
But thinking that Shi Sheng was about to be betrothed to him, his own attitude hardened unconsciously.
After all, Shen Luli would soon be his son-in-law a junior, so he tried to assert his authority.
“Luli…” Shi Mingqian instinctively assumed a senior stance. “Your actions today have put your uncle in a difficult position. Does President Shen know about this?”
Shen Luli lifted an eyelid, frost gathering in his dark pupils. “Annoying.”
The single word was like a slap, burning Shi Mingqian’s face red and white in waves.
Gu Nian, watching the scene with amusement, nearly spewed his drink. Shen Luli’s words were sharper than poison.
He barely suppressed his laughter, shoulders trembling violently, the wine glass in his hand quivering as if on vibration mode.
“I remember Shi Sheng has already left the Shi family, right? Putting aside whether this marriage even makes sense now, even if I marry Shi Sheng, what does that have to do with you?”
Shen Luli calmly stood, smoothing nonexistent wrinkles on his cuffs with long fingers.
“Not even an official father-in-law yet, and you dare to act like one in front of me? Who gave you the nerve?”
Shi Mingqian’s face turned red then blue, like a rooster being strangled. “I…”
But Shen Luli had no patience to listen further. “Mr. Shi, you’d better focus on handling your crisis. I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s financial headlines.”
Then he stepped out without a single lingering glance.
The moment the door closed, Shi Mingqian’s legs went weak, and cold sweat soaked the back of his shirt. He realized, to his shock, that a mere illegitimate son had left him gasping for breath!
But he would never allow the Shi family to go bankrupt!
The Shen family no illegitimate son could decide that!
Over the next two days, the entire internet erupted.
Hot topics like #ShiFamilyDarkstories# and #SecretsOfTheRichFamily# dominated social media.
Anonymous insiders exposed the Shi family’s mistreatment of employees; videos surfaced of Shi Yiyan humiliating sales clerks in luxury stores, making them kneel and polish her shoes; even stories from twenty years ago surfaced, revealing Ye Xiangwen had been a mistress who stole Shi Mingqian from his legitimate girlfriend.
The mix of truth and rumor fed gossip sites to their satisfaction.
“Are these rumors reliable?”
“Absolutely! My cousin works at the Shi Corporation. The finance department has been frantically destroying files these past few days.”
“Let’s see what happens next. Looks like the Shi family is done for this time.”
“Good! From the last time they forcibly bought orphanage spots, I knew they were rotten to the core!”
“Exactly! Didn’t we hear about tax evasion last time too? This corrupt company deserves to collapse!”
Yet, curiously, the financial news outlets that should report this remained silent.
Shi Corporation’s stock fluctuated but didn’t plunge as expected.
Shi Sheng, leaning half on the sofa while playing with Fugui, said lightly, “Shi Mingqian is impressive. Even now, someone is secretly supporting Shi Corp’s stock.”
He Qiuchiu, chewing on a milk bag, fingers flying over the keyboard: “They’re cautious. Used three shell companies as cover, but… wait!” Her eyes widened. “Found it the source of funds points to the Shen family’s main branch!”
Shi Sheng’s eyes sharpened.
The Shen main branch that was Shen Qinghui’s household. Her ex-fiancé’s father, her current fiancé’s older brother.
She hadn’t expected Shi Mingqian’s ties with the Shens to run this deep.
He Qiuchiu: “The key point it wasn’t moved from Shen Corporation. It came from Shen Qinghui’s personal account.”
“Interesting.” Shi Sheng’s lips curved into a teasing smile. “Looks like Shi Mingqian really does hold some serious leverage.”
No wonder the Shen family, Jiangcheng’s top elite, was willing to marry into the Shi family.
He Qiuchiu finished her milk, tossed the empty bag into the trash. “Should we stop it?”
“Why stop it?”
Shi Sheng walked to the window. Sunlight filtered through, casting scattered reflections across her porcelain-white profile.
She watched a stray cat sunbathing in the courtyard and spoke slowly:
“The cruelest torment is never the blade that falls directly on your head.”
The little chubby orange cat stretched lazily on the stone steps, exposing its furry belly.
Shi Sheng’s lips curved into a gentle smile, but her eyes remained icy: “It’s letting you taste the sweetness of hope first…” Her long fingers traced circles absentmindedly on the glass. “…then inch by inch, crushing it to dust.”
The cat’s ears suddenly perked in alert, sensing danger.
Shi Sheng let out a low laugh, a chill that seemed to drop the room’s temperature:
“After all, a dull knife cutting flesh hurts the most… every slice, you hear the tearing of skin and muscle.”