CFRFGC Chapter 123

⌈”Who knows what you have in mind for me?”⌋

The chaos at the scene escalated.

Madam Shen, Shen Xingzhuo, and the others became the focal point of the media bombardment.

While Shen Hongyuan was being taken away by the ambulance from the stage, reporters continued to press him with questions: “Are you deliberately avoiding responsibility?”

…

This highly anticipated signing ceremony ended in a way no one could have imagined.

The farcical scene soon swept through the entire business circle.

Lu Ran also learned about the outcome.

He was in the lab when he heard the news, holding a micropipette in his hand.

His hand didn’t even tremble as he filled the sample into the test tubes again and again, then discarded the pipette tips into the trash can.

Only then did he look up at Fang Chen, who had rushed into the lab.

“Your dad didn’t sign, did he?” Lu Ran asked.

“Of course not. My dad nearly had a stroke. I’ve never seen his face look so bad,” Fang Chen said, shaking his head.

He looked at Lu Ran again and added, “You knew about Shen’s financial issues all along, didn’t you? That’s why you told me to remind my dad to do an investigation?”

Fang Chen was a bit frustrated. “When I brought this up to my dad, he scolded me and told me not to meddle in adult matters.”

“And look, we almost got screwed over, didn’t we?”

After leaving the lab, Lu Ran continued to hear Fang Chen grumbling and complaining.

“Didn’t the Shen family react?” Lu Ran asked.

Fang Chen had already noticed that whenever Lu Ran mentioned the Shen family, he didn’t even bother naming them directly.

He always referred to them as “the Shen family”.

This term made it clear that Lu Ran had drawn a line between himself and the Shens.

“How could they not react? Shen Xingyu came over immediately,” Fang Chen said. “But my dad was really pissed this time. He didn’t meet with anyone.”

Lu Ran forced a smile.

When they got back to the Ji family’s house, Ji Min had already finished work and was sitting on the sofa in the living room waiting for him.

Naturally, Ji Min had known about this major event long ago.

Lu Ran even suspected that those two uncontrollable news headlines might have been Ji Min’s doing.

It’s possible that Ji Min had also arranged for people at the signing venue.

But the man didn’t say anything. He just took his backpack and asked, “How did it go with the psychologist today?”

Lu Ran fell silent for a moment, trying to figure out how to gently convey the message that “it was useless”.

Ji Min noticed his hesitation, sighed, and pulled him into his arms.

After a long pause, Ji Min asked, “Do you want to… go to the hospital for another check-up?”

Lu Ran immediately stood up, ready to leave. “I don’t want to.”

Ji Min clicked his tongue, pulling him back.

He said, “When you were accompanying me for rehab, you went to the hospital every day. Why didn’t you resist back then?”

“That’s because the building you lived in didn’t even look like a hospital,” Lu Ran rolled his eyes. “Besides, it was kind of funny watching you fall all over the place during rehab.”

“Then how about this? You go to the hospital. When you come back, I’ll continue falling for you to watch,” Ji Min teased.

Lu Ran couldn’t help but laugh. “Do you think I’m a child? I don’t want to watch you fall!”

After that, Lu Ran tried to jump off Ji Min’s lap with some force.

Ji Min held onto his waist, pulling him back.

He was strong. Lu Ran struggled for a while, but it was completely useless.

The sensation of being held by the waist and moved around made it hard not to think of certain untimely scenarios.

Lu Ran stopped struggling after a while.

“Not making trouble anymore?” Ji Min raised an eyebrow.

“Am I making trouble?” Lu Ran narrowed his eyes at him.

Ji Min chuckled softly but said nothing.

After a while, Ji Min still seemed concerned. “This can’t go on, you can’t keep pretending it doesn’t hurt.”

“It doesn’t actually hurt, it’s just that my brain thinks it does,” Lu Ran reassured him.

Ji Min sighed. “You’re quite clear about it.”

Thinking of Lu Ran’s aversion to hospitals, Ji Min still didn’t quite understand.

But feeling somewhat helpless, he pinched the young man’s waist and said: “Is it because you were scared of getting shots when you were a kid? Is that why you’re so afraid of going to the hospital?”

Lu Ran paused for a moment, then casually said, “Maybe in my past life, I was always lying in a hospital and developed a natural aversion to it.”

This made Ji Min uncomfortable. He reached out to pat the young man, scolding him: “Stop talking nonsense. Say something auspicious.”

Lu Ran just laughed it off.

After the aborted signing ceremony, the Shen family was thrown into chaos.

Shen Hongyuan fell into a coma and was hospitalized.

The doctor said it was a stroke caused by a combination of great joy and sorrow.

The company’s internal financial issues were exposed and an investigative team immediately arrived to inspect.

The media, like vultures sensing blood, swarmed outside Shen’s company and its residential area, afraid they might miss any updates.

The hospital needed the family to come forward, while the company had to explain the turmoil to the public, all while dealing with the unrest among regular employees who had learned of the situation.

Not to mention, there was also the issue of leaked technology.

Outside, Lino Group was advancing with full force.

Shen Xingyu was overwhelmed and frazzled.

Three days later.

Madam Shen and Shen Xingzhuo rushed to the hospital.

She had wrapped herself up tightly with a hat and silk scarf. But as soon as she entered the hospital, the media spotted her.

A group of reporters immediately surged toward her.

Madam Shen was still wearing the limited-edition necklace from a top luxury brand around her neck.

At the signing ceremony, this necklace had drawn countless envious looks and endless compliments.

But now, with the financial scandal of the Shen family exposed…

A sharp-eyed reporter noticed the accessory and quickly fired a question: “How do you view the company’s financial issues?”

“Current information shows that your husband has repeatedly withdrawn funds under various names. Were you aware of this?”

“You’ve purchased luxury goods multiple times. Are these expenditures related to these funds?”

These questions left Madam Shen dumbfounded.

When she heard the last one, she couldn’t help but question the reporter: “What do you mean by that?”

But the reporter was in no way intimidated. On the contrary, her response made the reporter even more enthusiastic.

“Are you saying that you were unaware?”

“Does this imply that you acknowledge your husband’s potential extramarital affair?”

More probing questions kept coming.

Madam Shen, unable to defend herself, said, “No, that’s not what I mean!”

She had been living a pampered life for too long.

And because this incident happened so suddenly, she wasn’t prepared at all and didn’t know how to respond.

When Shen Xingzhuo arrived at the hospital and saw this scene, his temper flared.

He walked up directly and slapped the camera away from in front of Madam Shen.

With a “smack”, the scene became even more chaotic.

After a noisy while, Madam Shen and Shen Xingzhuo finally reached the outside of Shen Hongyuan’s hospital room.

Madam Shen’s hat was crooked on her head.

Shen Xingzhuo’s face was dark, holding back his anger, but unsure where to direct it.

A little while later.

The elevator on the floor opened.

Shen Xingyu stepped out.

His suit jacket was slung over his arm and his shirt was slightly wrinkled.

The bangs that were originally neatly styled had begun to fall, no longer held in place by hairspray.

He hadn’t slept in nearly three days and nights.

Shen Xingyu’s face was visibly exhausted.

He slowly and wearily walked to the front of the hospital room and sat down on a nearby metal chair.

Without saying much, Shen Xingyu spoke in a calm, flat tone, giving instructions: “The reporters at the front are blocking the way. Later, you all remember to leave through the east door. I’ve arranged a car.”

“Why should we leave? Are you really going to indulge these reporters?” Shen Xingzhuo replied irritably.

Seeing his eldest son, Madam Shen seemed to find a pillar of support and couldn’t help but complain: “Do you know what they asked me? They actually asked if my necklace was bought with public funds! I—”

The noise picked up again.

Shen Xingyu raised his hand and pressed it against his forehead, his fingers digging deep into his hair. He pressed his temples for a moment before withdrawing his hand.

He sighed, seemingly trying to calm himself.

But when he spoke, he couldn’t hold back and revealed a hint of near-breakdown frustration.

He raised his head and looked at the necklace around Madam Shen’s neck. He spoke each word slowly and deliberately: “Now, can you not wear this kind of thing when you go out?”

Madam Shen was startled by his tone and took a step back, closing her mouth.

In a flurry, she hurriedly took off the necklace and placed it in her bag, but couldn’t help defending herself: “I… I didn’t think about it. You didn’t tell me either!”

Shen Xingzhuo subconsciously added, “Alright, you don’t know how awkward Mom was just now.”

But after saying that, Shen Xingzhuo paused.

He had always instinctively opposed Shen Xingyu, especially in front of their parents.

But now, seeing Shen Xingyu’s expression, Shen Xingzhuo felt like perhaps he shouldn’t have spoken.

At that moment, the door to the hospital room opened.

The nurse peeked out, giving the family a curious, almost intrusive look, and said, “The patient has regained consciousness.”

The Shen family stopped talking and entered the room one after another.

On the hospital bed, Shen Hongyuan lay stiffly.

Though he had regained consciousness, it was clear that he had lost his ability to move.

Not just his limbs—now, even his facial features were uncontrollable.

His eyes and the corners of his mouth twitched strangely and saliva dripped uncontrollably from his mouth.

Seeing her husband in such a state, Madam Shen was terrified and rushed to the bedside to hold Shen Hongyuan’s hand.

Shen Hongyuan’s arm trembled as he raised it.

But he swatted Madam Shen’s hand away erratically.

He shakily groped for the cup on the bedside table and hurled it forcefully toward Shen Xingyu.

But now, his movements were clearly limited and the cup only flew about half a meter before it fell to the floor.

Water splashed everywhere.

“You… What happened? Do you want water? Why did you throw the cup at Xingyu?”

Madam Shen was horrified and hurried to look for a doctor.

The doctor cleared his throat and briefly mentioned that the patient’s emotions were unstable. After a few more instructions, he left the room.

Shen Xingyu hadn’t expected that Shen Hongyuan would react this way upon seeing him.

He paused for a moment, then called for the nurse to clean up the mess.

Once only the Shen family remained in the room, Shen Xingyu closed the door and instructed his assistant to keep watch.

He sat down in a chair, sighed, and said, “Let’s talk about recent matters.”

Shen Hongyuan, after throwing the cup, had calmed down.

It was just a stroke; his mind was still relatively clear.

Shen Xingyu began discussing the company situation. He said, “Before the investigation results come out, I’ll be temporarily suspended.”

After a brief pause, he continued, “In a few days, people might come to the hospital to inquire about some details.”

“Details? What details? The man’s like this and they still want to ask?” Madam Shen said.

Shen Xingyu felt a headache coming on but pressed on with the matter at hand.

“The company’s data and this financial loophole were intentionally leaked to the media.”

He raised his head and said, “This data is not something ordinary people can access. Even executives wouldn’t have access to both of these pieces of information at the same time.”

At this point, what Shen Xingyu wanted to say was already very clear.

However, it was Shen Hongyuan who reacted the most strongly.

He raised his only functional hand and slapped the bed, muttering incoherently, “Impossible!”

Shen Xingzhuo was a beat slow but quickly realized what was going on.

He subconsciously said, “He wouldn’t do that, though…”

But as he spoke, Shen Xingzhuo’s expression changed. He closed his mouth, his face turning serious.

Only Madam Shen was still confused.

She asked, “What are you talking about? Are you saying someone in our family leaked this information?”

Neither Shen Xingyu nor Shen Xingzhuo replied.

Shen Hongyuan continued muttering, “Impossible, he has to rely on the Shen family, he…”

After listening for a while, Madam Shen slowly began to understand. “You’re talking about Ranran?”

She laughed in disbelief. “How could it be Ranran? He’s been raised by me since he was little. Just yesterday, he was still worried about the company. How could someone so young know…”

As she spoke, Madam Shen suddenly froze.

She remembered that after summer vacation, Shen Xingran had proposed to intern at the company.

Shen Hongyuan had not let him go to the lower levels and had arranged an assistant position for him.

Madam Shen felt dizzy and confused.

She still spoke as she always did, “You all think it was Ranran? How could you brothers think that of him?”

“Besides… Apart from Ranran, there’s also Lu Ran!”

Madam Shen, in a panic, blurted out, “Yes, Lu Ran. He’s always with Ji Min. Recently, Ranran even said he’s been close with the young master of the Fang family…”

At this point, Madam Shen suddenly broke down: “Why haven’t you suspected Lu Ran?!”

The room fell into silence.

Because everyone knew that Lu Ran couldn’t be the one.

Even if he could obtain information, he wouldn’t be able to get the exact data.

The latest technological breakthrough was the cornerstone of the Shen family’s position and the data was tightly guarded.

Even Ji Min couldn’t have obtained the data so quickly and then conveniently leaked it to the Lino family.

Except for the Shen family.

Whether it was Shen Xingran or not, there was no need to distinguish.

Because Shen Xingran hadn’t come today.

Several days passed.

After the Shen family crisis broke, they fell into a continued period of decline.

The new investors Shen Hongyuan had brought in saw the situation was bad and began trying every possible way to demand repayment of debts.

Shen Xingyu ran around, but to no avail.

And Shen Xingran finally returned to the Shen family.

This time, it seemed that even he knew he could no longer hide the truth and there was no point in trying to.

He tore off the facade and had Jin Lino drive him directly to the Shen family’s doorstep.

After getting out of the car, Shen Xingran casually hugged Jin Lino before heading into the Shen family villa.

Shen Xingzhuo stood on the second-floor balcony, watching Shen Xingran’s every move clearly.

He turned and rushed downstairs, just in time to see Shen Xingran entering the living room.

Shen Xingzhuo’s gaze was heavy as he looked at Shen Xingran and said, “Why are you back?”

Shen Xingran smiled at him, “I came to pack my things.”

He walked past Shen Xingzhuo, arrogantly heading upstairs.

After packing up some of his things, Shen Xingran came down from the third floor and saw Shen Xingyu.

Shen Xingyu’s expression was calm, though his face carried a deep and lingering exhaustion.

He looked at Shen Xingran and said: “I remember that the Shen family owes you nothing.”

In the past, Shen Xingran was afraid of Shen Xingyu because he knew very well that in Shen Xingyu’s eyes, he meant nothing.

At most, he was just a comfort for Madam Shen.

He probably only served one purpose in his eldest brother’s mind—to give Madam Shen something to focus on so that she wouldn’t get upset and throw tantrums at home.

So, Shen Xingran had always dutifully fulfilled his “role”.

Now, no longer relying on the Shen family, Shen Xingran had completely let go.

He looked at Shen Xingyu and sneered, saying: “You know in your heart whether I owe anything. By your logic, I don’t owe the Shen family anything either. Now, it’s just a normal business competition.”

“Business competition?”

Shen Xingyu glanced at the suitcase Shen Xingran was holding and said, “The Shen family raised you. Saying such things, do you deserve the name ‘Shen Xingran’?”

Shen Xingran couldn’t help but laugh.

“Do I not deserve it? Then who does? Lu Ran? If you want Lu Ran to take my place as Shen Xingran, do you think he would be willing?”

Shen Xingyu’s eyes darkened.

Shen Xingran looked at Shen Xingyu and said: “I saw you talking to Lu Ran. You, the good older brother, have always wanted to bring Lu Ran back to Shen Corporation.”

“Shen Hongyuan will die sooner or later. Sooner or later, the Shen family will be under your control. By then, will there be a place for me to live?”

“That’s what Lu Ran deserves,” Shen Xingyu said in a low voice.

Shen Xingran sneered.

He glanced at Shen Xingyu and mocked, “Stop pretending in front of me. Do you really think you’re a good older brother? You care so much about Lu Ran, but he’s been lost for over ten years and I haven’t seen you make a serious effort to find him, have I?”

“Always pretending, isn’t it disgusting?”

Slap!

A sharp sound interrupted Shen Xingran’s words.

It was Shen Xingzhuo suddenly taking action.

Shen Xingran’s head was turned to the side by the slap.

He raised his hand to cover his face, straightened up, and slapped Shen Xingzhuo right back.

“What gives you the right to hit me?”

“I’m your brother!” Shen Xingzhuo shouted.

He and Shen Xingran had grown up together.

Whether inside the Shen family or outside, he had always protected Shen Xingran.

Even though Shen Xingran disliked dogs, he had suppressed his own preferences and nearly caused Da Huang’s death.

Even knowing that Shen Xingran had some bad habits, Shen Xingzhuo had never imagined that Shen Xingran would be capable of selling out the entire Shen family.

Shen Xingran rolled his eyes.

“So you want to be a good older brother. Should I help you fulfill that role?”

“What are you talking about?” Shen Xingzhuo was stunned.

Shen Xingran smiled.

He looked at Shen Xingzhuo and then at Shen Xingyu, saying: “Shen Xingzhuo, from childhood to now, did you really think you were good to me? How many times have I used Shen Xingyu to provoke you?”

Shen Xingzhuo’s face suddenly turned extremely ugly.

“Don’t say anymore!” he snapped.

Shen Xingran seemed to find his reaction amusing and continued: “Let’s not talk about me, let’s talk about Lu Ran. You treat him like a brother, so how come, just because you suspect he’s close to Shen Xingyu, you went to his school to cause trouble?”

Shen Xingzhuo’s lips trembled, unable to say a word.

Seeing his expression, Shen Xingran laughed even more happily.

He said, “Shen Xingzhuo, you’re the most useless person in the entire Shen family. You can’t compare to Shen Xingyu in any other aspect, so all you can do is desperately try to surpass him as the older brother.”

After enjoying Shen Xingyu and Shen Xingzhuo’s expressions, Shen Xingran continued pulling his suitcase towards the door.

Just as he was about to walk out of the living room, a voice suddenly came from upstairs: “What about me!”

Madam Shen’s face was pale. For the first time, she hadn’t bothered to dress up.

She was dressed simply, walking out of the bedroom.

Step by step, she approached the stairs.

Looking at the adopted son she had pampered for over a decade.

Madam Shen asked, “Haven’t I treated you well enough?”

“Whether it’s Shen Xingyu or Shen Xingzhuo, whichever one has a conflict with you, haven’t I protected you?”

Madam Shen’s voice trembled.

She truly cared for Shen Xingran.

More than any of her own biological sons.

She had treated Shen Xingran with the standard of a perfect mother.

Even when Shen Xingran spread rumors about Lu Ran being an illegitimate child, causing her embarrassment, she eventually forgave him.

Looking at Madam Shen upstairs.

Shen Xingran paused for a moment.

After a brief silence, he said, “You have been pretty good to me.”

Upon hearing this, Madam Shen couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of hope rise within her.

Then, Shen Xingran looked at her and said: “Lu Ran is your biological son. If you treat your own son like this…”

“Who knows what intentions you have toward me.”

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