Chapter 75

The courtyard lay deep and quiet, the moonlight as pure as white lotus blossoms.

The gate was opened by a doorman, and a luxury car drove in, the tires crunching softly on the soil.

The car came to a stop. A pair of hands slowly pushed open the door, revealing an aged face.

Shi Jianren looked up at the study on the third floor, where a warm yellow light was still on.

What was the use of being stubborn?

Shen Qiancheng couldn't bear to give up her status as the young miss of the Shen family; using Liao Xue as a substitute to provoke her had worked. She had obediently surrendered.

The butler reached out from under the veranda to take Shi Jianren's coat, but Shi Jianren paused mid-step. "Has the young miss had enough of her tantrum?"

The butler, who had just dealt with Shen Qiancheng bleeding in front of him, broke out in a cold sweat again.

"The doctor gave her a sedative," the butler said, feeling the back of his collar soaked with sweat.

Shi Jianren let out a small sigh of relief. "Put away all the knives and scissors. She's getting married next month; an injury would be troublesome."

The butler knew this was a rebuke for his own negligence that had given the young miss the chance to harm herself.

Drenched in cold sweat and afraid to say a wrong word, the butler nodded with his head lowered and followed behind Shi Jianren.

The indoor elevator took them to the third floor. With a glance from Shi Jianren, the butler stepped forward to open the door.

The original desk in the study had been removed, leaving an open space for a large bed.

As the door opened, the first thing that caught the eye was the bright red blood on the snow-white quilt, blooming like fireworks on the pristine fabric.

The quilt covered a thin body. The person who had fasted for three days had lost a lot of weight, her face pale as paper, her lips as colorless as flower stamens.

Shi Jianren wore the air of a complete victor. He wished Shen Qiancheng would be even worse off; seeing her like this, neither human nor ghost, he almost laughed out loud.

"If you'd done this earlier, it would've been fine. Shen Qiancheng, you are my daughter, so you should listen to me." Shi Jianren deliberately sat on the bed, pressing down on the leg that Shen Qiancheng had stabbed herself, hidden beneath the quilt.

Shen Qiancheng didn't even twitch an eyebrow. Her hollow eyes, as if dead, said, "You promised me you wouldn't drag Liao Xue back."

When had Shen Qiancheng ever spoken to her father in such a submissive tone?

Shi Jianren's heart swelled with immense gratification. Almost carried away by his triumph, he spoke with a false air of a loving father: "I never said I'd make her pay. As long as I have a daughter married into the Su family, I don't care whether she's real or fake."

Hah, Shen Qiancheng's leg was still pinned under Shi Jianren. The freshly bandaged wound throbbed as if pierced by countless needles, but none of it compared to the pain in her heart.

Her lips were like withered roses, her throat sore as if she'd swallowed shards of glass.

She didn't want to waste a single word on Shi Jianren. Having gotten his guarantee, she immediately closed her eyes, unwilling to look at him another moment.

The air was eerily silent. Shi Jianren, having gotten what he wanted, still had to gloat: "Rest up well. A crippled bride sounds terrible."

The thunder before the spring rain is the most resounding. Shi Jianren hadn't even stood steady when a dull pain struck the back of his head.

A porcelain object hit the floor with a crisp sound. Shen Qiancheng had grabbed the expensive vase from the table and, with all her strength, smashed it against the back of Shi Jianren's head.

"You did that too, didn't you? To win over the Su family, right? The company that got the project as a third party—it's yours. Your other son... he's just turned eighteen, hasn't he?"

Not thinking about certain things doesn't mean they didn't happen, and thinking about them over and over doesn't lessen the pain.

In the past three days, Shen Qiancheng had pieced it all together without much effort.

She almost hated herself for being too clever.

Great intelligence harms.

The pain at the back of her head was like a mayfly trying to shake a tree. What strength did Shen Qiancheng have left after a broken leg and three days of fasting? Just lifting the vase had exhausted her.

The butler, hearing the commotion, rushed in from outside and nearly fainted at the sight of Shi Jianren covered in blood.

"President Shi, the doctor hasn't left yet. I'll call someone to bandage you up right away."

Shi Jianren shot Shen Qiancheng a cold glance, as if looking at a grasshopper after autumn.

What was the use of figuring everything out? The outcome was already decided, and Shen Qiancheng would never get another chance.

"You really aren't like Shen Ya. If she'd been half as clever as you, she wouldn't be dead." With those words, Shi Jianren left the room.

Shen Qiancheng took a sharp breath, her chest heaving violently with agitation.

That project had been a complete sham, a play woven around everyone close to her.

Winners are kings, losers are bandits; Shen Qiancheng accepted the result but refused to admit defeat.

What had made her unable to eat or drink for three days was—

In this play, Shi Jianren was the old wolf wary of his cub, Su Zeye was a schemer who stopped at nothing, the Su family was delivering a show of force to their new daughter-in-law while going with the flow to give Shi Jianren benefits, and what role had Liao Xue played?

Shen Qiancheng felt her forehead ache, her heart weary. She just wanted to sleep.

---

Hearing that Shen Qiancheng had been locked up, waiting only to marry him, Su Zeye was so angry his nose twisted.

Then he heard that Shen Qiancheng had broken her leg and fasted for three days rather than marry him. His nose straightened, but he felt even more uncomfortable.

When he heard that Shen Qiancheng had agreed to marry him after self-harming, Su Zeye rushed over to the Shen residence without delay.

Shi Jianren wasn't home. Su Zeye tossed his coat to the butler without even looking at him, glancing around. "Where's Shen Qiancheng?"

The butler took the coat worth five figures, putting on a fawning smile. "The young miss is resting in the study, taking her afternoon nap."

Though the butler hadn't been in the Shen household long, he'd heard of Su Zeye's reputation as a demon. If he collided with their equally hot-tempered young miss, there was sure to be bloodshed again.

Last time, he'd failed in his duty and allowed Shen Qiancheng to hurt herself. Although President Shi hadn't blamed him, if anything else happened this time...

The butler didn't dare think further, smiling as he served.

The butler wore a tailcoat with a small bow tie.

Su Zeye clenched his jaw. A measly butler dared to stop him?

The butler was caught off guard when Su Zeye kicked him, his cry of shock cut short as he fell to the ground, his back aching as if it were broken.

"Everyone, come in." Su Zeye beckoned lazily, stepping right over the butler.

A crowd surged in from outside the gate, cameras and equipment in hand, following Su Zeye up the stairs.

The butler shut his eyes, certain it was all over.

At the third floor, Su Zeye clapped his hands. "Search everywhere. Let's see where my fiancée is shyly hiding."

His followers quickly scattered, pushing open doors one by one.

When Su Zeye reached the study, he pressed down on the handle. It didn't budge.

He clicked his tongue in annoyance, then cleared his throat. "Get that dead old man in the tailcoat up here to open the door."

His words were met with immediate compliance, and the butler experienced the thrill of being lifted up like a triumphant player.

Leaning on his aching back, the butler couldn't stand straight. He trembled as he opened the door, and the moment it was open, a gust of wind rushed in.

Su Zeye frowned.

Shen Qiancheng lay in bed, her face pale as gold paper. On the table beside her sat untouched food, and in her hand rested a book, sunlight dancing on the pages.

Had he not known Shen Qiancheng's character, anyone would have said she was a well-behaved girl long confined to bed.

The ruckus outside was loud enough for any ear; Shen Qiancheng had heard it all. The moment the door opened, she looked up.

Su Zeye barged in, his brows, the corners of his eyes, the tip of his nose all radiating smug delight.

The butler tried to smooth things over. "Young Master Su, why didn't you say you were here to take wedding photos with the young miss?"

Su Zeye gritted his back teeth, tilting his head with icy cruelty. "Who do you think you are to speak to me like that?"

The butler's heart felt cast into a bitter winter icehouse, frozen speechless.

Compared to Su Zeye, his young miss was practically an angel.

Shen Qiancheng coughed lightly, setting down her book. Her pale face sank into her chestnut-brown hair.

"Aren't we taking wedding photos?" Shen Qiancheng's tone was light and unreadable. "Butler, come help me up."

It was then that Su Zeye saw Shen Qiancheng's legs wrapped in bandages. A strange emotion flickered in his eyes.

"What photos!"

The wedding photos were just Su Zeye's excuse to see Shen Qiancheng's misery. The men behind him holding cameras were more used to guns than photography. None of them knew how to take wedding portraits.

Su Zeye had come to the Shen residence in his moment of victory with a "professional team" for wedding photos.

Shen Qiancheng gave a gentle, harmless smile. "Don't be like that, Su Young Master. It's rare for you to come see me. Take a few shots so Auntie Su can help us decide."

Su Zeye was restless. Why could Shen Qiancheng still get one over on him even in such a sorry state?

The makeshift photography team hadn't even brought a wedding dress. Shen Qiancheng sat on the bed in plain white loungewear, while Su Zeye stood behind her. From the front, they seemed almost close, but from the side, there was enough space for a third person.

Now that they were close, Su Zeye lowered his voice deliberately. "Where did you put Liao Xue?"

Shen Qiancheng smiled as if she were truly marrying the man she loved, her lips barely moving. "She's in league with you. You're asking me?"

"She's disappeared. No one would hide her but you," Su Zeye said.

"I haven't. Of all people, you shouldn't suspect me."

Shen Qiancheng lifted her chin, glancing meaningfully at the butler.

Su Zeye didn't understand. Shen Qiancheng lowered her voice further. "You should ask my dear father—your dear father-in-law."

Su Zeye had gotten a lead on Liao Xue. Too impatient to stay for the photos, he left Shen Qiancheng and went off with his entourage.

For a moment, the study was silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Shen Qiancheng continued to lie in bed, reading, whiling away the time.

In the evening, the family doctor was called again.

Shen Qiancheng's leg wound had split open again.

Having made at least four trips a day for the past three days, the family doctor looked at Shen Qiancheng, opening his mouth as if to speak, then closing it.

The heat of the sun burned on her eyelashes, and an overwhelming loneliness surged up.

Shen Qiancheng turned another page. "Mind your own business. I did it myself; it's got nothing to do with you."

A knock came at the door, and the butler's voice sounded: "Young miss, Young Master Su is here."

Shen Qiancheng was stunned for a moment. Su Tongqin?

"Show her in."

The study door opened, and Su Tongqin entered, her steps slow.

Shen Qiancheng lay in bed like a porcelain doll, propped against the headboard, her legs immobile.

Su Tongqin let out a quiet sigh, taking a seat in the chair beside the bed.

"Su Zeye caused you a scene; his mother has locked him up for three days."

Shen Qiancheng nodded almost imperceptibly, her expression calm as if it had nothing to do with her.

Su Tongqin lowered her eyes. She preferred the Shen Qiancheng who always bickered with her at their first meetings.

"I'm here as Su Zeye's full representative to discuss the wedding arrangements with you." Su Tongqin delivered the news calmly, but before she finished, another knock interrupted.

The butler announced respectfully from outside, "Young Master Su, we'll need you to hand over all your communication devices."

Su Tongqin looked at Shen Qiancheng in surprise. Shen Qiancheng showed no reaction, turning another page.

Shen Qiancheng was being kept under surveillance?

"How can he..."

Shen Qiancheng interrupted softly, "There are recording devices in the room."

Once Su Tongqin handed over her phone, watch, and other devices to the butler, Shen Qiancheng looked up with a sigh. "As you see, as you wish."

In Shen Qiancheng's eyes was Su Tongqin's face, etched with guilt and a desire to please.

Su Tongqin's throat tightened. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Instead, she handed over the wedding plan.

"This is the general flow of the wedding planning. Is there anything you'd like to change?"

Shen Qiancheng, who had seemed drained of life, suddenly perked up, sitting upright and flipping through it.

—Where did she go? Did Shi Jianren catch her?

Su Tongqin stared at the words written on the plan, and could only shake her head.

—Find her for me. She's in danger right now. Don't let her come back to Tang City. The farther, the better.

Suddenly, Su Tongqin cried out as if Columbus had discovered the New World: "Are you crazy... (loudly) What do you mean by releasing crows at the wedding?"

"I want it," Shen Qiancheng said smoothly.

Su Tongqin wrote—I promise. And I'm sorry, I didn't fully understand the Shen-Su project.

Shen Qiancheng gripped Su Tongqin's hand, her bones jutting out from thinness—It's not your fault. You were in a tough spot too.

Why did Shen Qiancheng have to become that ghostly, inhuman state?

Staying too long would raise unnecessary suspicion. Shi Jianren restricted Shen Qiancheng's freedom like she was a prisoner.

Su Tongqin composed herself. Just as she closed the door, she found Shi Jianren had appeared right in front of her, silently.

Shi Jianren gave a false smile. "Tongqin is here. Stay for dinner."

That sly old fox...

Su Tongqin took a deep breath and smiled. "Uncle, you startled me. I have some things to attend to, so I won't stay."

Whether Su Tongqin stayed for dinner was just a casual remark from Shi Jianren, but he caught sight of the documents in her hands and asked with feigned curiosity, "Is that a plan? It's so thick. Let me see what's written in it."

As Shi Jianren reached out, Su Tongqin deftly dodged, declining politely. "The wedding plan isn't finalized yet. I asked Chengcheng for her thoughts today, and I still need to make changes when I get back. Once it's done, I'll show it to you, Uncle."

"Is there something in it that shouldn't be there?" Shi Jianren's words landed abruptly on Su Tongqin's ears like a thunderclap.

Suddenly, Shi Jianren grabbed a corner and snatched it by force.

Shi Jianren looked closely—the first line said they'd release crows as the opening act.

He flipped through page after page. Aside from that and a few other changes, there was nothing unusual.

Shi Jianren frowned, tapping his finger on the word "crows" with displeasure. "Releasing crows at the opening is inauspicious. Change it."

Su Tongqin argued, "But Chengcheng really likes..."

"She can't have things she likes." Shi Jianren controlled Shen Qiancheng's life; her likes and dislikes had to follow his will.

Su Tongqin nodded in agreement, letting the anxious heart settle back into place.