Ever since she woke up that morning, she hadn’t had a single moment to rest. She had been so overwhelmed with work that she’d completely forgotten about her bargain husband.
Thinking back on everything that had happened the day before, she could only conclude that alcohol truly led people astray. It had all been far too ridiculous.
Originally, she had only wanted him to pretend to be her fiancé and help her deal with Zhou Jiayan’s sudden cancellation of their engagement.
One expensive bottle of Romanée-Conti later…
She had somehow ended up with a legally recognized husband.
Remembering the scene where she had bossily ordered him to get dressed and accompany her to the Civil Affairs Bureau to register their marriage, she looked down at the text she’d just sent—
I’m your father.
For some reason, she felt a little guilty.
After all, he really had been an innocent bystander.
She quickly typed a reply.
Sorry. I thought it was a scam text.
A new message immediately appeared.
Where are you?
Looking at the words on the screen, she could only imagine his tone, expression, and mood.
Then she couldn’t help wondering why he was asking.
Was he looking for her?
Was he angry because she’d mistaken him for a scammer?
Or did he want to discuss the condition for helping her?
Yesterday, when she’d dragged him to the engagement banquet, she had promised that if he helped her, he could name any condition he wanted.
Shen Shuhe glanced back at her computer screen.
She truly didn’t have time tonight to negotiate terms with him.
More accurately…
Until she finished organizing her documents and prepared herself for Lu Yanzhou’s upcoming meeting, she wouldn’t have time to discuss any conditions—or even go to the Civil Affairs Bureau for a divorce.
Rubbing her temples, Shen Shuhe thought for two minutes.
Then she copied his phone number into Alipay and transferred him one million yuan.
Returning to the text conversation, she typed:
I’ve transferred a sincerity deposit to you. I’ve been very busy lately. Let’s arrange a time to meet in a month.
After pressing send, she tossed her phone aside and buried herself in work once again.
Meanwhile, at Xishan Villa…
Only a single ambient lamp remained lit in the bedroom.
Its warm yellow glow softly illuminated the man seated by the window in a single armchair, creating a striking contrast with his sharp features and imposing frame.
Lu Yanzhou looked at the notification showing the money had been deposited into his account.
Then his gaze lingered on Shen Shuhe’s last message.
His dark eyes rested for a long time on the words:
Sincerity deposit.
Finally, the corner of his lips curled upward.
He abandoned the idea of sending the money back.
Taking out another phone, he called Chen Lin.
The call was answered in less than three seconds.
“What is it, Chief?”
“Tell the Zhou family to behave themselves for a few days.”
He had accepted her sincerity deposit.
Naturally…
He would let her experience his sincerity as well.
Shen Shuhe worked until late into the night before finally leaving the company.
After returning home, she took a shower and collapsed straight into bed.
Early the next morning, she returned to the office.
Following Lu Yanzhou’s instructions, she hadn’t told anyone about their conversation.
Naturally, she couldn’t simply put aside all her other responsibilities and focus solely on this investigation—that would only attract attention.
She had thought about the issue all night before falling asleep.
The Shen Group’s confidentiality measures surrounding the Tianshu Project had already been extraordinarily strict.
If the technology had still leaked under those conditions…
The culprit had to be someone among the company’s highest-ranking core personnel.
She wanted to uncover the truth even more than Lu Yanzhou did.
She intended to expose whoever had done this.
Therefore…
She could only observe quietly.
She couldn’t alert the enemy.
That also meant she couldn’t set aside her current work.
So throughout the entire morning, Shen Shuhe worked like a spinning top, never stopping for even a moment.
She barely ate two bites of lunch before returning to her documents.
In the blink of an eye…
It was three o’clock in the afternoon.
Her internal office phone rang.
Her secretary, Wu Qian, said,
“President Shen, the Finance Department is calling. Shall I transfer them through?”
Shen Shuhe frowned slightly.
Previously, the Zhou family had promised to invest one hundred million yuan to help the Shen Group through the crisis.
The Zhou family had specifically requested that Shen Shuhe personally handle the coordination, so she had been in frequent contact with the Finance Department during that period.
Why were they calling her now?
Yesterday’s words from Zhou Jiayan echoed in her ears.
“Shen Shuhe! Don’t push your luck! You know exactly what state the Shen Group is in. If you offend me, just wait for your family to go bankrupt!”
“You’ll regret this.”
A shadow crossed Shen Shuhe’s eyes.
She assumed the Finance Department wanted to discuss the Zhou family’s withdrawal of funding.
Sooner or later, she’d have to face it.
Running away wasn’t an option.
And Shen Shuhe had never been the type to avoid problems.
“Transfer the call.”
Beep…
Beep…
After two tones, the voice of Finance Department Manager Wang Shanlou came through.
“President Shen, the bank’s representative has arrived.”
“They insist on meeting with you in person.”
Shen Shuhe naturally assumed it was someone from Beijing Bank.
Although the technology leak had sparked the Shen Group’s crisis, the real reason she had considered marrying into the Zhou family was because Beijing Bank had tightened its lending under pressure from public opinion.
She had visited Beijing Bank several times before.
She’d even shared several meals with the head of their loan department.
But their attitude had always remained ambiguous.
They never outright rejected her…
Nor did they say when the loans might be approved.
They simply told her to wait for further notice.
So…
Had there finally been news?
After receiving no reply for several moments, Wang Shanlou asked again,
“President Shen, do you have time to come to the Finance Department’s VIP reception room?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll be there in five minutes.”
She hung up.
The Finance Department was on the eighth floor.
Taking the executive elevator required no waiting.
Five minutes was more than enough.
She took a compact mirror from her handbag, lightly reapplied her lipstick, and stood up.
The red-soled black high heels clicked crisply against the polished floor as she walked toward the elevator.
The Zhou family’s withdrawal of funding was inevitable.
As for Lu Yanzhou…
Whether he would bring fortune or disaster remained uncertain.
But if she could secure a loan from Beijing Bank…
The Shen Group would at least have breathing room.
It wasn’t often that the bank’s representative came to her personally.
Perhaps…
This would finally be good news.
Ding.
The elevator arrived on the eighth floor.
Wang Shanlou was already waiting outside.
As soon as the doors opened, his eager smile appeared.
“President Shen.”
Shen Shuhe nodded with a faint smile.
Walking beside him toward the VIP reception room, she asked,
“How long has the bank representative been here?”
“About twenty minutes.”
“We’ve already served tea and refreshments.”
Wang Shanlou smiled brightly.
“She said she knows you personally, which is why she came.”
As he spoke, hope practically shone from his face.
“Since President Shen has connections with her, and she came specifically to see you, I’d say there’s an eighty-percent chance the loan will be approved.”
“You don’t have to keep grieving over that bastard from the Zhou family or let him threaten you anymore.”
“He…”
He suddenly realized he’d gotten carried away.
Quickly stopping himself, he smiled awkwardly.
“Sorry, President Shen. I spoke out of turn.”
The news of the Zhou family’s broken engagement had already spread everywhere.
Everyone in the company felt sorry for Shen Shuhe.
If it hadn’t been for the business alliance…
Zhou Jiayan wouldn’t even have been worthy of their President Shen.
Far from feeling offended by having the subject brought up, Shen Shuhe simply smiled and nodded.
“It’s alright.”
“You’re right.”