Volume 1 Chapter 6: If Father Doesn’t Love Me and Mother Doesn’t Care, Then I’ll Love Myself
“You actually recorded this secretly!”
Staring at the phone in Shen He’s hand, Mrs. Zhou was utterly dumbfounded.
Shen Guanghui was also stunned by Shen He’s unexpected move.
“Yes, I recorded it.”
Shen He said with self-mockery, “Someone once said that I’m a pitiful creature, unloved by my father and uncared for by my mother. If someone tossed me a bone, I’d be moved for a long time, just like a lapdog.”
These words had come from Mu Tingyun’s mouth.
Shen He lowered her head, her long, curled eyelashes casting dark shadows under her eyes, concealing the sorrow within. She whispered softly to herself, “Since my father doesn’t love me and my mother doesn’t care, then I’ll love myself.”
Hearing this, Shen Guanghui showed a look of pity, but Mrs. Zhou remained completely unmoved. She even retorted, “You chose to be a lapdog—who else can you blame?”
Yes.
Ending up with her heart carved out and dying a tragic death as a lapdog was her own doing, but that didn’t mean Mrs. Zhou and Shen Guanghui were blameless.
“Mrs. Zhou, do you know the consequences of what you did to me back then?”
Seeing that Mrs. Zhou still didn’t grasp the seriousness of the matter, Shen He kindly explained, “Article 21 of China’s Marriage Law prohibits drowning, abandoning, or otherwise harming infants.”
“At the same time, Article 52 of the Law on the Protection of Minors clearly states that drowning infants constitutes a criminal offense under Article 232 of the Criminal Law.”
At this point, Shen He tilted her head slightly and asked Mrs. Zhou, “Do you know what Article 232 of the Criminal Law is?”
Mrs. Zhou opened her mouth but couldn’t answer.
She wasn’t a lawyer—how would she know what Article 232 of the Criminal Law was?
Shen He said, “Article 232 of the Criminal Law stipulates that intentional homicide is punishable by death, life imprisonment, or imprisonment for not less than ten years. For less severe circumstances, the punishment is imprisonment for not less than two years but not more than ten years.”
“If I take you to court, you’ll face imprisonment.”
Mrs. Zhou finally paled at these words. “What do you mean? Are you planning to send your own mother to prison?”
“Shen He! I gave birth to you! Without me, you wouldn’t even exist. Are you trying to rebel?”
Mrs. Zhou was actually terrified, deliberately putting on a loud and aggressive front to mask her inner panic.
She knew Shen He had a ruthless streak. If pushed too far, Shen He was fully capable of sending her own mother to prison.
Seeing through Mrs. Zhou’s bravado, Shen He threatened calmly, “If you don’t want to go to prison or have your precious little son implicated, I’ll give you two choices.”
Shen He laid out her conditions directly: “Either, after tonight’s birthday banquet, drive yourself to the outskirts and jump into that stream. You can only come out when I say so.”
“Or…” Shen He tilted her head again, smiling meaningfully. “Give me thirty percent of the shares in your media company.”
Without a second thought, Mrs. Zhou rejected Shen He’s second demand, shouting angrily, “You must be insane! Don’t even think about getting shares in the media company!”
In this era of media, her company had signed seven or eight top-tier internet celebrities—it was a goldmine, raking in money.
Mrs. Zhou couldn’t bear to part with thirty percent of the shares in her media company.
Hearing this, Shen He nodded coldly and waved her phone, saying, "Then, after the banquet, I'll wait for you by the stream in the suburbs."
"If you don't come, I'll go to the police station to file a report." With that, Shen He turned and walked out.
Staring at Shen He's arrogant retreating figure, Shen Guanghui hesitantly asked Mrs. Zhou, "Are you really going to jump into the river?"
Mrs. Zhou rolled her eyes, stamped her foot, and scolded, "Why don't you jump! How could I possibly jump? I'm her mother—am I supposed to let her lead me around by the nose?"
"But what if she really releases the recording…"
Mrs. Zhou also looked troubled.
She said, "Thirty percent is too much. I'll give her ten percent at most."
Leaving the study, Shen He walked down the corridor, preparing to go downstairs. As she passed the adjacent library, she caught sight of a figure standing inside.
Curious, Shen He glanced inside and found herself unable to move.
A figure in gray stood behind the library window, gazing out at the courtyard below.
The person was tall and slender, with broad shoulders, dressed in a tailored suit that couldn't quite conceal a frail, sickly air.
Yet, the eerie and powerful aura surrounding them inspired a sense of awe.
Song Jingcheng?
What was he doing here?
A young male voice suddenly spoke up: "Big sister."
Shen Jinyan, dressed in a black tracksuit and holding a book, walked over from the corner to stand before Shen He.
He asked Shen He, "Big sister, is something the matter?"
Shen He looked up at the young man with his black-framed glasses and refined, handsome appearance, feeling momentarily dazed.
This was Shen Jinyan, the Shen family's medical prodigy, a star of Jingdu University's Medical School, and a future medical heavyweight.
But in her previous life, before Shen Jinyan could fully mature, he was framed by Mu Tingyun, imprisoned, and sentenced to death.
Hearing the commotion, the man by the window also turned around.
"Shen He." Song Jingcheng's gaze was cold and detached, yet his words were impeccably polite: "Would you like me to step out and give you and your brother some space to catch up?"
Suddenly addressed by Song Jingcheng, Shen He felt that familiar tingling sensation again.
What the hell.
She looked at Song Jingcheng and, unable to suppress her curiosity, asked him, "Uncle, what are you doing here?"
Song Jingcheng replied, "I heard today is Madam Shen's birthday, and I happened to be nearby for some business, so I stopped by to offer my congratulations."
As for why he had sought out Shen Jinyan, he didn't mention a word.
What Song Jingcheng didn't wish to disclose was something she shouldn't pry into, so Shen He wisely refrained from pressing further.
"Jinyan." Shen He pointed at Shen Jinyan's tracksuit and said, "There are many pharmaceutical company bosses here today. When you go downstairs later, remember to change into something more formal."
After leaving what seemed like a caring remark, Shen He walked away.
Shen Jinyan watched the spot where Shen He had just stood with an inscrutable expression, a thoughtful gleam flashing in his eyes.
Behind him, Song Jingcheng suddenly remarked, "I heard your big sister doesn't get along with the Shen brothers. But from what I see, she seems quite considerate toward you younger brothers."
Earlier, Shen Jinyan and Song Jingcheng had been standing by the window talking when they happened to witness Shen He adjusting Shen Sili's bow tie at the entrance.
In the past, whenever Shen He returned to the Shen family, she had always been indifferent toward them. Today, however, she was indeed acting out of character.
Shen Jinyan turned back and offered Song Jingcheng a polite smile.
He replied somewhat seriously, "Mr. Song, you must be joking. Those are just rumors. Shen He is the only girl in the Shen family, and she has always had a good relationship with us."
Although young, Shen Jinyan understood the principle that a family's reputation rises and falls together.
Even if Shen He truly had conflicts with the Shen family, he would not speak a single ill word about Shen He to outsiders.
Understanding that Shen Jinyan was protecting Shen He's reputation, Song Jingcheng smiled, feeling somewhat gratified as he said, "You're a good child."
He greatly admired Shen Jinyan's character.
Shen Jinyan then remarked, "That Third Young Master Mu downstairs is Mr. Song's nephew, isn't he? His excellence is dazzling even among our peers."
Hearing him mention his nephew, Song Jingcheng's smile faded slightly. He said, "You excel in different fields. Still, you children in research have purer minds."
Shen Jinyan did not argue upon hearing this.
He closed the book, returned it to the shelf, turned to Song Jingcheng, and said, "Mr. Song, regarding your request, I will convey it to my teacher."
"In addition, I must also thank Mr. Song for coming to congratulate my grandmother on her birthday." After saying this, Shen Jinyan gestured to see him out. "Let me escort you out."
Being shown the door, Song Jingcheng was not offended. "Then I'll trouble you. Let's leave through the side door."
Not wanting to reveal his itinerary, Song Jingcheng preferred to depart discreetly, so Shen Jinyan escorted him out through the side entrance.
Stepping out from the Shen family's side door and standing under the camphor tree in the alley, Song Jingcheng suddenly glanced back at the small study on the third floor.
Despite the wall between them and however soundproof it might be, Song Jingcheng had overheard the confrontation between Shen He and the Shen Guanghui couple.
He was surprised that Shen He had such a complex and troubled background.
But what concerned Song Jingcheng more was that Shen He seemed to have grown wiser and his personality had become much stronger.
For someone to mature so rapidly in a short time indicated that they had undergone significant changes during that period.
What exactly had Shen He experienced?