Сhаpter 14: Whаt Не Lасks Is Sheng Shuran
Thе first оf the month hаd arrived аgаin.
“Ding”
А WеСhаt transfеr frоm Shеng Shuran сamе through—200 yuаn.
Сhi Hеn laу оn thе blaсk lеathеr sоfа, оnе аrm drаpеd ovеr his fоrehead, the оther hоlding up his рhоnе аs he starеd at the sсrееn.
Нeаvy flоor-to-сеiling сurtаins wеre drаwn inside, a sliver оf glаring whitе light sееping through and fаlling асross Сhi Hеn’s facе.
Тhе surrоundings were dim. Тhе vast oрen-plаn sрасe hеld оnly a black sofa, a blаck bеd, а blасk wаrdrobе, and a set оf blaсk desks.
In this рrime lоcation, where land was worth its weight in gold at 200,000 yuan per square meter, it was an extravagant setup.
Chi Hen stared at the 200-yuan transfer, momentarily dazed.
He moved his finger and tapped on the green voice message above the transfer:
“It was me, I beat him half to death… Can’t you hear him still groaning in pain… Sheng Shuran… Are you afraid of me like this?”
He listened to the voice message once more in its entirety.
Lately, he had been replaying this message over and over… again and again… on repeat.
There had been no response from Sheng Shuran.
She hadn’t replied with a single word, nor had she come to see him.
She had only transferred his living expenses on time, as usual.
Just like the past year.
He never lacked Sheng Shuran’s money—what he lacked was Sheng Shuran herself.
This was the only reason Sheng Shuran would take the initiative to contact him over the past year.
【Every month, there would come a day when Sheng Shuran would reach out to him on her own】
Brainwashing himself like this made it a little easier to bear.
Each time, he would accept the transfer instantly, as if to remind her: “I’m here! I’m watching my phone! Talk to me!”
But Sheng Shuran never followed up. No matter how long he stared at the “Transfer Accepted” notification, she never said another word.
This time, Chi Hen didn’t dare to tap it.
Afraid that tapping it would only lead to disappointment.
He set down his phone, his eyes clouded with an unshakable gloom.
Just then, his phone rang.
Chi Hen picked it up again and saw the caller ID: “S.”
“Time to come back. Fu Zhenchuan’s birthday banquet is approaching,” a low voice came through the phone.
“Alright,” Chi Hen replied coldly before hanging up.
Go back? Perfect timing!
Sheng Shuran would be there too!
He would have a legitimate, open reason to see her again.
A rare, faint blush tinged the corners of his lips, which curled into a slight smile on his handsome yet brooding face.
Tomorrow was Fu Zhenchuan’s fiftieth birthday banquet.
Sheng Shuran prepared her gift and set off back to Shanghai.
In terms of time and closeness, Sheng Shuran was even more familiar with the Fu family than Chi Hen, the biological son.
The Fu and Sheng families had always been close.
Back when Sheng Shuran’s mother was pregnant with her, she had jokingly said that if it was a girl, she would be betrothed to Fu Lin, the eldest son of the Fu family, and if it was a boy, they would become sworn brothers.
Unexpectedly, it turned out to be a beautiful baby girl.
Shen Manlian, who at the time had only one son, adored her endlessly, often bringing the soft, delicate Sheng Shuran home with her.
Later, when Sheng Shuran’s parents passed away unexpectedly, Fu Zhenchuan and Shen Manlian took her into the Fu family, treating her as their own daughter.
Six years later, the 13-year-old Sheng Shuran finally met the 10-year-old Chi Hen.
“Sister.”
—That was the first thing Chi Hen said to her.
Sheng Shuran looked at the little boy standing a head shorter than her, dressed in tattered clothes, his face still bearing unhealed wounds, his expression timid and reserved.
“Does it hurt?”
—That was the first thing she said to Chi Hen.
And so, they grew up under the same roof.
In the blink of an eye, nine years had passed.Sheng Shuran’s car slowly pulled into the Fu family garage, and she snapped out of her thoughts.
“Second Miss, you’re back.” The servants at home had always treated her with respect and courtesy.
“Yes, Auntie Tian. Where are Uncle and Auntie?”
Auntie Tian wore a troubled expression and was about to speak when the sound of shattering glass came from Fu Zhenchuan’s study on the second floor.
A sharp crash echoed, startlingly loud.
In the entire Fu household, only one person could make Fu Zhenchuan this furious…
Sheng Shuran looked at Auntie Tian with a questioning gaze.
Auntie Tian frowned uneasily and nodded.
A bad feeling instantly flared up in Sheng Shuran. She quickly asked Auntie Tian to bring in the calligraphy and paintings from her car.
In the study…
A vase lay shattered on the floor.
From the fragments, it was clear it had once been an antique porcelain piece in bright yellow, adorned with patterns of ancient figures engaged in…
copulation.
“Father, are you that dissatisfied with my gift?”
“…Good thing it’s just a replica.”
Chi Hen clutched the back of his knee where he had been kicked, a sinister smile on his face as he struggled to stand up.
Immediately, Fu Zhenchuan kicked him again, sending Chi Hen crashing back to his knees.
“You unfilial son! You came here just to provoke me on purpose! I’ll beat you to death!”
With that, he raised a chair and swung it toward Chi Hen.
Chi Hen still wore his usual frivolous smile, but his eyes were filled with an unyielding ferocity. He didn’t utter a single groan, as if he had shut off all sensation of pain.
Beside him, Shen Manlian urged Fu Zhenchuan not to let anger harm his health.
Fu Zhenchuan paused, leaning on the chair in his hand to catch his breath.
“Auntie…” Chi Hen smiled coldly, turning his gaze to Shen Manlian.
“Do you think Father is getting old? Lately, he’s been playing with women, and he seems to prefer them in pairs.”
Shen Manlian’s face instantly turned ashen.
“Oh, and Auntie, when you look for young men, you always seem to start with three at a time, don’t you?”
Fu Zhenchuan grabbed an ashtray and hurled it at Chi Hen, who didn’t dodge…
Blood streamed down his head.
“Uncle!!”
Sheng Shuran stood at the doorway and called out. In the end, she had arrived a step too late, unable to prevent anything that had happened.
Everyone in the room turned to look at her simultaneously.
Sheng Shuran composed her expression, wearing a radiant smile as she walked in holding several scrolls.
Pretending not to notice, she stepped past Chi Hen, who was dripping with blood, and approached Fu Zhenchuan.
“Uncle, I was away on a tour recently. I know you enjoy collecting lost treasures from overseas, so I specially sought out a few artworks for you. Would you like to see if you like them?”
Seeing it was Sheng Shuran, Fu Zhenchuan’s expression softened slightly.
“Ranran, you’re so thoughtful. The calligraphy and paintings you carefully find always suit my taste perfectly. Uncle likes them very much.”
Shen Manlian also looked at Sheng Shuran with a warm smile.
“Ranran, was the traffic bad on your way back? It must have taken about two hours, right?”
“It wasn’t too congested this time, thankfully.” Sheng Shuran replied obediently.
“Come, Auntie prepared your favorite dessert. Let me take you to have some.”
“Thank you, Auntie!” Sheng Shuran appeared delighted, linking arms with Shen Manlian. After taking two steps, she didn’t forget to hook her other arm through Fu Zhenchuan’s, cooing:
“Uncle, come along too. It’s been so long since I’ve seen both of you.”
“Alright, alright.” The couple both smiled dotingly at Sheng Shuran.
Fu Zhenchuan hadn’t forgotten Chi Hen nearby. When he turned to him, his expression hardened, and he said sternly, “Get back to your room. You’re confined for 24 hours.”
Sheng Shuran seized the moment to glance at Chi Hen. He didn’t avert his gaze, clutching the bleeding wound on his forehead as he stared directly back at Sheng Shuran.”Hey Ranran, tell me about your tour.” Sheng Shuran’s gaze was drawn back by Shen Manlian’s words.
The three of them walked toward the dining room like a family, with Fu Zhenchuan’s hearty laughter occasionally ringing out.
Chi Hen sneered and muttered to himself, “No wonder they want you to be the Fu family’s daughter-in-law.”
The smile gradually faded from his face, leaving it pale and increasingly gloomy.
Chi Hen returned to his room, pulled out the leftover hemostatic gauze, and skillfully tended to his wounds.
After a few moments, as if remembering something, he suddenly stopped. He only haphazardly bandaged the wound on his temple, leaving the rest untouched.
He stood up, walked to the window, hesitated for a moment, then pushed it open.
The wind lifted the white gauze, gently brushing against the wounds on his face.
But it wasn’t enough—this gentleness was far from enough.
He wanted to take a gamble…
To bet that Sheng Shuran would, just like when they were children…
Climb through the window to find him.