Seeing that Shen Yuzhi now stood on Qin Huai’s side, everyone else dared not say another word. The members of the Cheng family kept their mouths shut, even though their eyes betrayed their deep resentment. Ling Feng, on the other hand, let out a mocking laugh, tapped the table, and turned to leave. Watching Ling Feng’s retreating figure, Qin Huai felt an indescribable sense of relief. It meant that Shen Yuzhi was standing with him, did it not? Qin Huai could not help but think to himself.
He struggled to hide the joy on his face and turned to look at Shen Yuzhi, only to find him sitting composed on the sofa, slowly sipping tea from his cup.
Realizing just how transparent his reaction had been, Qin Huai immediately coughed twice and shifted his gaze to the members of the Cheng family. They remained exceptionally well-behaved, with not a trace of their former arrogance. Qin Huai wondered what would happen if Shen Yuzhi were to leave.
He hummed a soft, mocking laugh, leaned back against the sofa, and looked down lazily, fiddling with his fingernails.
“Mr. Shen, is there perhaps some misunderstanding regarding this matter? Our family would never let something like this happen. You agree, don’t you, Huai?”
Cheng Shangjian kept trying to catch Qin Huai’s eye, but Qin Huai ignored him completely. He turned to look at Shen Yuzhi, seemingly seeking help. Shen Yuzhi read the exchange between the two of them but offered no response. Seeing Shen Yuzhi remain noncommittal, Cheng Shangjian grew even more anxious. He feared that the young master of the Shen family would act against his household. Although he had Ling Feng backing him, his small family dared not cross a young master from the capital.
“Cheng Shangjian.”
Shen Yuzhi spoke softly, prompting Cheng Shangjian to lift his head immediately, looking around with extreme vigilance.
“Yes, yes, Young Master Shen, I am here.”
Cheng Shangjian wiped the sweat from his face, bowing and scraping as he responded to Shen Yuzhi.
“I have already said that I will investigate this. Whether it is a misunderstanding or not, we will discuss it later. Why are you in such a rush?”
Shen Yuzhi’s voice was exceptionally cold as he spoke, frightening everyone so much that they dared not even breathe. Qin Huai noticed the shift in the situation and sat up straight, observing the unfolding scene. Cheng Shangjian was so terrified that he apologized repeatedly, adopting an incredibly humble posture. Shen Yuzhi simply muttered, “That is enough,” brushed off his clothes, and left the Cheng residence with his bodyguards.
The family rushed to see them off. Once those two “hell-bringers” were gone, the Cheng family hall fell as silent as a graveyard. However, once Ling Feng and Shen Yuzhi had left, Cheng Shangjian and Lin Xingxue immediately returned to their previous, smug selves.
“What right do you have to stay here? A pathetic illegitimate son trying to take center stage. It is absolutely disgusting!”
Hearing Lin Xingxue insult him, Qin Huai frowned. He glanced out the window, seeing that Shen Yuzhi’s car had only just driven away, and tapped his phone screen lightly.
“You should have evidence for such words. Otherwise, I will sue you for slander. Just wait to be served.”
Qin Huai was no longer the person he used to be. Now that he understood the truth about his mother, he would never let Lin Xingxue and her son be so arrogant and domineering again. Moreover, the Cheng family business had been built by his mother’s own hands; he would certainly not let outsiders profit from it.
After dropping those words, Qin Huai left the Cheng residence, leaving Lin Xingxue so furious that she began taking her anger out on Cheng Shangjian.
Not long after, Qin Huai, acting as the eldest son of the Cheng family and leveraging Song Zhe’s family background, forced his way into the Shen Corporation. This event shocked the entire company. Even those who tried to obstruct him could not compete with the sheer power of the Song family.
Ling Feng, having heard the news, waited at the entrance when Qin Huai arrived at the company. Looking at that arrogant face, Qin Huai did not waste time and shoved past him.
The onlookers held their breath, fearing that Qin Huai would be tossed out by the arrogant young master of the Ling family the next second.
“Qin Huai, do you even know who you are and what your status is?”
Ling Feng’s voice was chillingly cold. He turned his head to glare at Qin Huai, strode up to him, and grabbed his collar. The pheromones he released instantly made Qin Huai frown in disgust. It was that strange scent he had smelled on his wedding day, and he never wanted to smell it a second time. He slapped Ling Feng’s hand away and ordered him to let go, but Ling Feng gripped him tightly, refusing to budge.
The scene was quickly captured by reporters, who had gathered in droves at the entrance of the Cheng Group building.
Shen Yuzhi’s appearance caused the reporters to immediately shift their focus to the handsome man stepping out of the Rolls-Royce. His tailored suit accentuated his toned muscles, and his long, straight legs gave him a striking presence. His arrival abruptly interrupted the confrontation between Ling Feng and Qin Huai. Shen Yuzhi walked past them with a gloomy face, not even pausing, as if he did not care for them at all.
Ling Feng’s rage subsided by half. He furrowed his brows and followed Shen Yuzhi, shouting, “Shen Yuzhi! What is the meaning of you coming here today? Are you here to back up that man surnamed Qin? I am telling you, this is the Cheng family, and it has nothing to do with you!”
Hearing Ling Feng’s words, Qin Huai curled his lips in triumph. He smoothed out his wrinkled clothes and followed them into the main hall of the Cheng Group. Since both Shen Yuzhi and Ling Feng were now at the Cheng Group, they were met by senior management. The reporters surrounded the hall, flashes blinking incessantly and microphones thrusting toward them.
However, since Shen Yuzhi had intervened, he would never allow the earlier unsightly scene to be publicized.
Qin Huai breathed a sigh of relief, slowly approached the two of them, and stood between Shen Yuzhi and Ling Feng, maintaining a composed smile for everyone. After all these years, he had finally overcome his inner obstacles and returned to the Shen Corporation in the name of the Cheng family heir. Only he knew how painful and bitter the journey had been.
At the thought of the Shen Yuzhi he had abandoned all those years ago, Qin Huai felt a lump in his throat. He wanted to weep, but facing so many reporters and countless cameras, he forced the tears back. His eyes were red-rimmed, a detail a reporter immediately caught.
“Mr. Qin, now that you have returned to the Cheng family, what are your intentions? Why is Mr. Shen Yuzhi here today? As everyone knows, Ling Feng and Shen Yuzhi are bitter rivals. Why are both of them here today? Is it for your sake, Mr. Qin?”
Faced with the reporter’s question, all eyes turned to Qin Huai. He smiled and responded to the press.
“Everyone, I came to the Cheng company today purely on my own. As for the purposes of those two gentlemen, I have no idea. Why don’t you ask them yourselves?”
Qin Huai stepped aside and gestured toward the two men behind him. Shen Yuzhi and Ling Feng exchanged a glance, but both ignored the question entirely. Shen Yuzhi’s presence was purely for Qin Huai, while Ling Feng had come to wash away his shame. He wanted Qin Huai to know how he had ruined his marriage and how he intended to retaliate. However, the reporters had ruined their plans, making Ling Feng even more irritable.
Qin Huai escaped the reporters and went up to a lounge. He loosened his tie, stared at his red-rimmed eyes in the mirror, and sighed helplessly. No matter how many years passed, Shen Yuzhi always brought those old memories flooding back.
Regardless, there was no way to erase those painful recollections from his mind.
He let out another long sigh, only to find the door to the lounge being pushed open. Qin Huai turned around to meet Shen Yuzhi’s deep, beautiful eyes. He was mesmerized once again.
As Qin Huai stared, entranced, he noticed that the expression in Shen Yuzhi’s eyes was not particularly friendly. Shen Yuzhi did not understand why Qin Huai kept provoking him time and again, especially when he had already vowed to himself that he would never be captivated by Qin Huai again.
Yet, looking at that face, Shen Yuzhi could not help but feel his heart stir.
He narrowed his eyes, staring intently at Qin Huai until Qin Huai awkwardly turned his head away, sweat beading on his neck.
“I did not expect Mr. Shen to come over as well. How are the reporters? Have they left?”
Qin Huai found the atmosphere awkwardly strange and could not help but be the first to speak. He did not expect Shen Yuzhi to answer him.
“Not yet. They have surrounded Ling Feng. The hall is packed tight. But security will deal with it soon. Do not worry.”
Shen Yuzhi wanted to say more after finishing his sentence, but he hesitated when he looked at Qin Huai, holding back the words on the tip of his tongue. Meanwhile, that familiar scent of high-mountain pine and snow spread silently through the air.
This familiar pheromone soothed Qin Huai’s nerves. He turned his head, met Shen Yuzhi’s gaze, and sighed. Qin Huai felt his entire body relax. The fatigue from staying up late washed away, which felt quite miraculous.