Rebirth: Different Way

by Usui Takumii

not mine, yun yun yun translations. Beware BL. Total: 101 chapters.

9. 81 to 90

Chapter 81

Before, Shen Xi didn't care who Gao Qiulin's shares were sold to. He and Gao Qiulin were just using each other; he pointed some economic trends to Gao Qiulin and Gao Qiulin helped him to hold back Shen Ji in Shen Group. They were mutually beneficial and cooperated happily. When Shen Group stock price plummeted, Gao Qiulin got rid of his shares and made a point of mentioning it to Lao K afterwards.

Now that he was planning to work with the other party, Shen Xi pondered, "You should contact Gao Qiulin and see if you can find out about the other party. There's still some time before my birthday, so there's no hurry."

Lao K nodded and handed a copy of information to Shen Xi, "Here, Wang Changlin's specific information. The same as the previous investigation, there is nothing suspicious."

Shen Xi had investigated the people around Shen Dehan at the beginning of his return to China, and he had specific information on Wang Changlin at hand. Initially, after meeting Wang Changlin at the cemetery, he had also planned to approach Wang Changlin in the name of his mother, but then Lu Gesen's appearance disrupted his plan. Who would have thought that after going around in circles, he would actually find out that the person behind Lu Gesen was Wang Changlin.

Shen Xi's feelings towards Wang Changlin were very special. He was touched that Wang Changlin still remembered his mother, but he was also haunted by the fact that Wang Changlin adopted Lu Gesen and did not care about what happened to him after the downfall of the Han family. What's more, according to Lu Gesen, Wang Changlin should have held a grudge against Shen Dehan, but he had been with Shen Dehan for so many years, and not only did Shen Dehan not notice anything, he trusted Wang Changlin implicitly. Shen Xi did not know how Wang Changlin managed to do this, but he had a vague fear of this man that he could not explain.

The information on Wang Changlin was just as Lao K had said; the same as during the previous investigation, nothing suspicious could be found. Shen Xi read through it once and could only put aside his doubts and turn his mind back to Shen Rong's car accident.

It had been a few hours since the surgery, and as the anaesthetic wore off, Shen Rong was awake but was unable to accept the fact that he might never be able to stand up again.

"You lie to me, you lie to me! Where is the doctor? I want a doctor."

The red-eyed Shen Rong sat on the hospital bed, hysterically shouting at Zhou Mingmei, his eyes full of panic and despair.

Zhou Mingmei's usual sternness disappeared and she looked at Shen Rong sadly, "Ah Rong."

Shen Rong's despair increased at the sound of Zhou Mingmei's mournful voice. He suddenly waved his hands frantically and tried to move his legs that were fixed to the bed, muttering, "I don't believe it, I don't believe it, how can I not be able to stand up? I don't believe it."

Shen Rong's movements were quickly stopped by Zhou Mingmei, who could not hide the resentment in her eyes as she watched her only reliance turn into this.

"Ah Rong, don't worry, Mother will help you get justice. If Shen Ji refuses to give us a way out, we will fight him to the death."

"Shen Ji, yes, Shen Ji, it was Shen Ji who did this, he was taking revenge on me, on me for making Shen Cheng take drugs."

The name "Shen Ji" attracted Shen Rong's full attention. He grabbed Zhou Mingmei's arm in a deadly grip, his expression twisted as he repeated this name.

Zhou Mingmei hesitated for a moment, not telling Shen Rong about the drugs he had been injected with. Perhaps he could not have become addicted all at once, she tried to reassure herself.

This was the scene Wang Changlin saw when he arrived. He chose not to push the door open immediately but stood silently outside listening to the conversation between the mother and the son inside the ward. Only when Shen Ji's name was mentioned by Zhou Mingmei did a hint of satisfaction appear in his eyes.

This woman, Zhou Mingmei, begged him for help when Shen Rong was in trouble, but once Shen Rong was released and she saw that Shen Dehan was ready to clean up this matter, she turned away and refused to acknowledge him. She should not blame him for being ruthless since she was so unrighteous. Who made Shen Rong be Shen Dehan's son? Everyone in the Shen family deserved to die.

Only when he was sure that the mother and son inside were convinced that this matter was Shen Ji's doing did Wang Changlin put on a worried look, hurriedly pushed the door open and walked in, "Ah Rong."

"Changlin!" Zhou Mingmei looked at Wang Changlin with a surprised look on her face. Wang Changlin nodded at her and walked hurriedly to Shen Rong, "How is Ah Rong?"

The worry on his face was so genuine that Shen Rong felt like a drowning man who had caught his saviour's hand. He said in a sharp voice, "Uncle Wang, what should I do? I can't stand up anymore."

Wang Changlin's face showed compassion as he patted Shen Rong soothingly and said encouragingly, "I've asked the doctor, and he said that as long as you stick to the follow-up treatment, you will definitely recover normally."

His words soothed Shen Rong, and Shen Rong's emotions gradually calmed down. But then, as if he thought of something, he said abruptly, "It was Shen Ji, it was Shen Ji who did this."

"I know, I know, Ah Rong, don't worry, Uncle Wang will definitely find a way to help you get justice." Wang Changlin promised solemnly.

Carefully helping Shen Rong to lie down, Wang Changlin looked at him with concern, "Ah Rong, take a good rest first, your mother and I have something to discuss."

Shen Rong nodded obediently; Wang Changlin patted Shen Rong's head as if he was a loving elder and gestured for Zhou Mingmei to go out with him to talk.

"Changlin, why are you here?" As soon as she left the ward, Zhou Mingmei said eagerly. She was very surprised by Wang Changlin's appearance.

Wang Changlin looked at her, "Shen Dehan wants to see you."

"To see me?"

Wang Changlin nodded, "He was very angry when he read the news."

"Angry?" A hint of resentment flashed in Zhou Mingmei's eyes, "Ah Rong was harmed by Shen Ji like that, I just told the reporters the truth, why is he angry? Afraid of affecting his precious son?"

Wang Changlin sighed, "You know, Shen Ji and Shen Cheng are different in his heart."

These words successfully managed to provoke Zhou Mingmei's anger, "What does he want to see me for?"

"Shen Dehan intends to send you and Ah Rong abroad."

Going abroad was tantamount to exile, and this time it would be a permanent exile. Zhou Mingmei clenched her hands in unwillingness, but there was a look of hesitation in her eyes. Ah Rong and Shen Ji had already formed a deadly enmity. Shen Dehan was still alive, and Shen Ji dared to lay a hand on Ah Rong. Once Shen Dehan was gone, how could Shen Ji still tolerate Ah Rong?

Wang Changlin coldly watched Zhou Mingmei's change of expression and sneered in his heart, but his words were the ones of persuasion, "Mingmei, I think you should go and meet Shen Dehan. Whether you leave the country or not, Ah Rong's subsequent treatment and future life will require Shen Dehan to do his duty as a father."

Zhou Mingmei understood Wang Changlin's meaning. He was telling her to ask Shen Dehan for money. Since Shen Dehan wanted to send them abroad, naturally they could not leave empty-handed. In fact, Zhou Mingmei hadn't saved much over the years. Previously, Shen Rong had lost a large sum of money investing in the movie, and coupled with the fact that Shen Rong had angered Shen Dehan, they were already struggling to make ends meet recently. If they could take this opportunity to get the money that would ensure that they would be clothed and fed for the rest of their lives… Zhou Mingmei's eyes flashed and she made up her mind.

The place where Shen Rong was hospitalised was not far from Renai Hospital, and soon Wang Changlin sent Zhou Mingmei to Shen Dehan's ward. As Zhou Mingmei pushed the door, Wang Changlin whispered meaningfully, "Money will be spent, but shares can always make money."

Zhou Mingmei's movements paused slightly, and then she pushed open the door of the ward as if nothing had happened.

"Dehan!" The female voice was as gentle as always.

Shen Dehan sat there with a cold expression, not even looking at Zhou Mingmei in front of him, saying directly, "I will give you a sum of money and you will immediately take Ah Rong out of the country. I will help him solve the matter of his involvement in drugs."

Although Zhou Mingmei had already thought of Shen Dehan's reaction before she arrived, the way he was so eager to spend money to get rid of them still made her angry. After suppressing the fire in her heart, Zhou Mingmei said in a sad voice, "Ah Rong has just had a surgery and is not fit for a long trip. The doctor suggested that he stay in bed for a period of recuperation. Dehan, what do you think?"

Shen Dehan interrupted her impatiently, "I said immediately."

A trace of resentment flashed in Zhou Mingmei's eyes, but her expression was sad and pitiful, "Since Dehan can't tolerate Ah Rong, I'll take him away. But Ah Rong is also Dehan's child, the doctor said he'll never be able to stand up again, Dehan, Ah Rong's whole life will be like that."

Despite his anger at Shen Rong's previous behaviour, Shen Rong was his own child after all. Hearing Zhou Mingmei's words, Shen Dehan softened his tone, "I will give you more money, enough to feed and clothe Ah Rong in the future."

After all, he was only willing to give money. Thinking about Wang Changlin's previous words, Zhou Mingmei said tentatively, "There will be a time when the money will run out."

Shen Dehan snapped his head up at her words, his eyes blazing, "You want the shares of Shen Group?"

Zhou Mingmei smiled miserably, "Ah Rong is also your child, I am only doing this for Ah Rong's future."

Shen Dehan was unmoved, "Take the money and leave the country immediately."

Zhou Mingmei's heart completely went cold. Anyway, it had come to this point. If Shen Dehan was concerned about saving face and didn't want Shen Rong and Shen Cheng's affair to go too far, he was the one who had to beg. What did she have to fear? She sneered, "Shen Ji has caused Ah Rong to be unable to stand up for the rest of his life. I am just asking for some shares of Shen Group for Ah Rong and you refuse. Shen Ji is your son, is Ah Rong not? "

Having known Shen Dehan for more than twenty years, she was always soft and gentle; this was the first time she changed her face in front of him. Zhou Mingmei thought that Shen Dehan would allow her to bargain because of Shen Ji, but she did not know that the shares of Shen Group were Shen Dehan's inverse scale that no one could touch and that he did not have the right to dispose of Shen Group shares in his hand at all.

Shen Dehan's face turned gloomy as he stared at her coldly, "Shameless! What is Shen Rong but an illegitimate child of the Shen family? How dares he compete with Ah Ji? Since you don't want to go abroad, stay in the country with Shen Rong and don't let me see you talking nonsense to reporters."

Shen Dehan's change of face was too sudden. Before Zhou Mingmei could react, Shen Dehan had already pressed the button, signalling for the bodyguards to come in and take her out.

"Dehan!" Zhou Mingmei shouted instinctively.

Shen Dehan grunted, "Get lost! "

Zhou Mingmei was finally taken away by the bodyguards. From the shadows Wang Changlin watched her being escorted with a cold smile curving the corner of his mouth. He knew this woman Zhou Mingmei too well. The reason she was so angry after Shen Rong's car accident was because Shen Ji had cut off her hopes for the rest of her life. As long as Shen Dehan gave enough sugar, this woman would do anything. He wanted to rely on her to bite Shen Cheng and Shen Ji to death and absolutely couldn't allow her to stop midway. Now that Shen Dehan had completely cut her off, she had no choice but to follow him and him alone.

Wang Changlin's thoughts were unknown to Zhou Mingmei, who now had another problem.

Chu Qianqian smiled as she stepped in front of Zhou Mingmei with an innocent look on her face, "Auntie Zhou, did you get kicked out by Mr. Shen?"

Zhou Mingmei smoothed out her slightly messed clothes in embarrassment with a scowl on her face.

Chu Qianqian ignored her expression and said sympathetically, "Auntie Zhou is really pitiful. At her old age, she was kicked out by a man and her only son was involved in a car accident. I'm sure she will have a very difficult time in the future."

The mockery in her tone was too obvious. Zhou Mingmei's eyes flashed with resentment as she said coldly, "Don't you laugh at me, you will have such a day too."

Chu Qianqian looked surprised, "How come? Didn't Mr. Shen tell you? We are about to get married. I will soon be Mrs. Shen. But it's also true, Auntie Zhou, that you have struggled for so many years and have not come anywhere close to becoming Mrs. Shen. No wonder you think everyone will end up like you."

Chu Qianqian looked at Zhou Mingmei with pity and excitement. Zhou Mingmei did her best to control her body so that she could turn around and leave the hospital instead of pouncing on this woman and tearing her face to stripes.

Zhou Mingmei's retreat made Chu Qianqian feel very bored, but she had already revealed to Zhou Mingmei that she was going to marry Shen Dehan, so she was sure Zhou Mingmei's reaction would not disappoint her.

Chapter 82

When Shen Xi received the news that Zhou Mingmei had been kicked out of the hospital by Shen Dehan, he was waiting for Lu Gesen at the cemetery.

After hanging up Lao K's call, Shen Xi looked at his mother's photo on the tombstone with complicated eyes. When he first arranged for Chu Qianqian to appear beside Shen Dehan, he did so not only to alienate Shen Dehan and Shen Ji, but also to avenge his mother's grievances she had suffered because of Zhou Mingmei. Now that Zhou Mingmei had finally tasted what it was like to be treated like a treasure in the name of true love and discarded when the interest was lost, he got to realise that his mother might not be what he remembered and that she didn't love his father as much as he thought. At some moment, another man appeared in her life. She was pregnant by him and even planned to leave the Shen family. Shen Xi wondered what his mother was going to do about him. Would she take him away with her? Or would she leave him alone in the Shen family?

Shen Xi stood there quietly, forcing himself to stop thinking about it. No matter what plans her mother had had at the time, she still ended up leaving him alone in the Shen family's house.

"Xiao Xi!" Lu Gesen's voice interrupted his thoughts.

Shen Xi turned back as if nothing had happened, "Cousin!"

Lu Gesen nodded, bent down and placed the lilies of the valley in his hands in front of the tomb, then got up and turned to Shen Xi, "How are you doing?"

Shen Xi smiled lightly, "Fine."

Although the two had long recognized each other as relatives, they were not close. On the one hand, they both deliberately kept their distance from each other to prevent anyone from finding out about their relationship. On the other hand, despite their close blood ties, the years of estrangement could not be made up for in just half a year's time together. Although Lu Gesen felt guilty for ignoring Shen Xi all these years and wanted to make amends, he did not know how to start.

Thinking that it was Shen Xi's initiative to ask for a meeting this time, Lu Gesen said with concern, "Is there something wrong?"

Shen Xi nodded. He had already pieced together the general truth about the Han and the Shen families' past. He also felt Lu Gesen had the right to know the truth. Regardless of who was right and who was wrong, he had an obligation to tell Lu Gesen about the past. Apart from that, he wanted to meet Wang Changlin. Lao K had been unable to find out who the man next to his mother was, but since Wang Changlin knew a lot about the past, maybe he had some clues.

It was not that Shen Xi hadn't thought that Wang Changlin was that man, but subconsciously he didn't want to think so.

After letting go of any distracting thoughts about Wang Changlin, Shen Xi told Lu Gesen the story he had pieced together. Lu Gesen's expression changed several times as he listened, and halfway through, he even looked at Han Rou's picture on the tombstone with complicated eyes. When Shen Xi had finished, Lu Gesen took a deep breath and looked serious, "Xiao Xi, are you sure this is the truth?"

Shen Xi nodded, "Some of these things I found out, some of them were told to me by others. Don't worry, that person would never lie to me."

Who was that person? Shen Xi didn't say, and Lu Gesen didn't ask either. Outsiders didn't know that Shen Xi and Li Mingxuan were together. When Lu Gesen heard how certain Shen Xi was, he didn't say anything, just lowered his head in silence, thinking about something.

Shen Xi's account of the past was almost identical to what his foster father had told him, except that his foster father had not mentioned some details. Maybe his foster father did not know either?

Lu Gesen sorted out his thoughts and looked at Shen Xi, "Father's car accident?"

Shen Xi shook his head, "I couldn't find any clues."

Lu Gesen was convinced that Han Yu's car accident was the work of the Shen family, but Shen Xi could not find out anything about it. Even though Shen Dehan called Han Yu crazy, Shen Xi could not see that Shen Dehan would be frenzied to this point.

Lu Gesen looked at Shen Xi and said in a deep voice, "I believe Foster Father."

Shen Xi met Lu Gesen's eyes openly. He was not trying to defend Shen Dehan, he just had doubts about the matter. After a moment, Lu Gesen was the first to avert his gaze, and Shen Xi said quietly, "I want to see Lawyer Wang."

A hint of surprise flashed in Lu Gesen's eyes as Shen Xi continued calmly, "I have not been able to find out who the man at my mother's side was back then. Lawyer Wang knows a lot about what happened and used to pay attention to my mother. I want to know if he has any clues."

Lu Gesen's face could not hide his shock; then he laughed bitterly, "Foster Father was deeply in love with Aunt, won't you make him sad asking about it?"

Shen Xi looked at Lu Gesen apologetically, "I know it's difficult, but I want to know the reason why my mother jumped out of the window. I want her to truly sleep in peace."

Lu Gesen could not argue with Shen Xi and sighed silently, "I will convey this to Foster Father." Shen Xi gave him a grateful look.

The two did not linger much longer at the cemetery, but walked one after the other towards the entrance. As they parted, Lu Gesen seemed to think of something and called out to Shen Xi, "Xiao Xi's birthday is coming up, what are the arrangements?"

The word "birthday" made Shen Xi's heart stir and he subconsciously thought of his grandfather's will. He had not mentioned the will in his previous narration, not because he was deliberately hiding it from Lu Gesen, but because he could not forget about Wang Changlin behind Lu Gesen. With this fleeting thought, Shen Xi shook his head, "There are no arrangements, I haven't had a birthday for a long time."

Lu Gesen felt guilty and thought of making it up to Shen Xi by celebrating his birthday.

"How about I spend your birthday with you? What does Xiao Xi want?"

Lu Gesen's proposal stunned Shen Xi for a moment and Li Mingxuan's image flashed through his mind.

"What? Not convenient?" Lu Gesen keenly sensed Shen Xi's abnormality.

Shen Xi nodded slightly; Lu Gesen realised what was going on and smiled, "Are you going to spend it with your girlfriend? I didn't even know that Xiao Xi had a girlfriend. Take me to meet her someday."

A trace of weirdness flickered in Shen Xi's eyes. He couldn't quite equate the words "Li Mingxuan" and "girlfriend", so he smiled and avoided the topic.

Lu Gesen didn't think much about it; he just thought Shen Xi was being shy, patted Shen Xi's shoulder and said with relief, "Xiao Xi has grown up."

Lu Gesen was not actually much older than Shen Xi, but he always had a serious look on his face and seemed to be much more mature than Shen Xi. Hearing this elder-like tone from Lu Gesen, Shen Xi could not help but smile. As the two said their goodbyes, a black car slowly drove past the entrance of the cemetery and parked far away on the other side of the road.

Although this part of the cemetery was remote, people would often come to pay their respects, so neither Shen Xi nor Lu Gesen paid any attention to the car. After they left, Ye Han pushed open the car door and stepped out, looking thoughtfully at the direction the two had left. How could Shen Xi and Lu Gesen be together?

Because of Li Mingxuan, Ye Han did not consider Shen Xi a stranger; as for Lu Gesen, Ye Han had met him a few times when Lu Gesen was still Shen Ji's assistant. As far as Ye Han knew, there was no intersection between the two of them, but just now it seemed that the attitude between them was very strange, not like ordinary friends.

After thinking about it, Ye Han dialled Li Mingxuan's number and told him briefly what he had seen. He did not bring any subjective colouring to the story, but simply described it truthfully.

Unexpectedly, the opposite side of the phone fell silent, "Mingxuan?" Ye Han said worriedly.

"I'm here," Li Mingxuan confirmed.

"There's nothing wrong between you and Shen Xi, right?" Ye Han said tentatively. Just a few days ago Li Mingxuan had brought Shen Xi to his place for dinner; at that time the two looked very intimate with each other, not like there was any problem.

Li Mingxuan smiled bitterly, knowing what Ye Han was thinking. He didn't believe that Shen Xi would cheat on him; it was just that at a time like this, Shen Xi and Lu Gesen appearing together, in connection with the series of things that had happened to the Shen family, made him start suspecting something despite himself.

With a silent sigh, Li Mingxuan did not answer the question and instead said, "Do me a favour?"

"What?"

Li Mingxuan suppressed the idea of investigating Shen Xi and said solemnly, "Help me check Lu Gesen."

Ye Han agreed without saying a word of objection. Unlike the Li family that was in business, the Ye family was a real power faction in the political arena. Although Ye Han, the youngest son of the Ye family, deviated from the expectations of the Ye family, not only having no interest in the career, but even opening a small private restaurant in Nancheng, but his word was the word of the Ye family. It was just a trivial matter to investigate a person.

After hanging up the phone, Li Mingxuan instructed his assistant not to let anyone disturb him and locked himself in his office alone.

Ye Han's phone call was like a trigger, evoking hidden doubts in Li Mingxuan's heart that could no longer be suppressed. He was not stupid. According to Ye Han's description, it was not like Shen Xi and Lu Gesen had just met each other, so it could be ruled out that Shen Xi had purposely met Lu Gesen after knowing about the will. Li Mingxuan also knew the special significance of the cemetery to Shen Xi, so it was proof that Lu Gesen was not an outsider to Shen Xi.

Thinking about Lu Gesen's excellent performance since he joined Shen Group last year, Shen Ji and Shen Cheng's trust in him, and the series of events that had occurred at Shen Group over the past six months, Li Mingxuan pursed his lips up slightly and his expression became thoughtful.

An idea appeared in his mind. Shen Xi's return to China coincided with the time when Shen Group's accidents started. Li Mingxuan closed his eyes fiercely, not daring to think about it any further; nor did he want to think about it any further. As if to escape, he opened the drawer in front of him. Inside was the only photo of Shen Xi and him together. He didn't know why but Shen Xi was very reluctant to have his pictures taken, and it was only on one occasion when he was in a very good mood that he agreed to take a picture with Li Mingxuan.

Li Mingxuan's fingers traced Shen Xi's smile in the photo. He seemed to feel that there was something behind Shen Xi's smile that he could not see.

While Li Mingxuan was struggling alone in his office, Lu Gesen appeared in front of Wang Changlin.

After listening to Lu Gesen's euphemistic expression of Shen Xi's meaning, a trace of sadness flashed in Wang Changlin's eyes and his hands could not help but tremble slightly.

"Foster Father?" Lu Gesen said worriedly.

Wang Changlin shook his head to indicate that he was fine, "Repeat what Shen Xi said again?"

With doubts in his heart, Lu Gesen said slowly, "Xiao Xi said that he wanted to find that man. He wanted to know why that man did not appear after Aunt's death, he wanted to know if that man knew that Aunt had carried his child and then jumped to her death with this child. He wanted to know the real reason why Aunt committed suicide so that she could rest in peace in the ground once and for all."

With every sentence Lu Gesen said, Wang Changlin's face distorted more and more. By the time Lu Gesen had finished, Wang Changlin looked like he had suffered a huge blow, his whole figure full of an indescribable dejection.

"Foster Father?" Lu Gesen vaguely guessed what was going on.

Wang Changlin waved his hand, looking pale, "It is me who has wronged her."

"Her?"

A sad smile appeared on Wang Changlin's face, "Your aunt. That unborn child is mine."

Although he had already vaguely guessed the truth through his foster father's reaction, it was still hard for Lu Gesen to hide the shock on his face when he really heard his foster father say these words.

Wang Changlin gave Lu Gesen a sorrowful look, "Are you wondering why I didn't tell you about it?" Without waiting for Lu Gesen to say anything, Wang Changlin laughed at himself, "What could I say to you? How useless I was, unable to protect the woman I loved? I could clearly see happiness beckoning, but still lost her in the blink of an eye. I just learned of the existence of that child when it disappeared from my life along with Xiao Rou. And after their deaths, I was in no position to even appear before Shen Dehan to question him about what had happened. I couldn't protect her while she was alive, and how could I let her carry such dishonour after her death?"

Lu Gesen could not bear to see Wang Changlin in pain and interrupted him, "Foster Father, I am sorry, I should not have…"

Wang Changlin shook his head, full of guilt, "It is me who should say sorry, Gesen, it is me who has been using you all these years. I kept saying that I was trying to repay Elder Han for his kindness back then, I kept saying that I was helping you to avenge the Han family, but in fact I just wanted to avenge Xiao Rou. I am not qualified to stand up and do anything for Xiao Rou, I never was and I am even less now, I can only hide in the shadows. I…"

"Foster Father!" Lu Gesen hurriedly said, "You have not wronged me. Without you all these years, I don't even know what I would have become. I've always been grateful to you for adopting me back then, and whatever you want me to do, I will do it."

"Gesen!" Wang Changlin looked at him with complicated eyes.

Lu Gesen did not want Wang Changlin to be immersed in the pain of the past anymore, but thinking of Shen Xi, he hesitated, "And Xiao Xi?"

Wang Changlin smiled sadly, "You can ask Xiao Xi to meet you tomorrow. There are some things I've been holding in my heart for a long time. I have wronged them, both mother and son."

Lu Gesen wanted to say something, but eventually swallowed his words.

He finally understood why his foster father's feelings for Shen Xi were so complicated, and why he had helped him so much on the road to revenge. But when he thought that his foster father was the man that Shen Xi was looking for, he wondered if Shen Xi could accept this truth, and what Shen Xi would do.

Chapter 83

When Li Mingxuan arrived home this evening, he did not go home immediately, but stood downstairs and stared for a long time at the light spilling out of that familiar window.

It was early in the winter and every apartment in the building was lit up. Among the countless similar windows, Li Mingxuan recognized the familiar one at once. From the day Shen Xi agreed to be with him, this place had been another home for him. Whether he was getting off work or returning from a business trip, he always rushed back as soon as possible because he knew Shen Xi would always be waiting for him at home. Today was the first time he felt afraid at the doorstep of his home. He was afraid that once he pushed the door open, the warm memories of the past would be nothing more than an illusion in the mirror.

He spent the entire afternoon doing nothing but recalling everything that had happened since he and Shen Xi met on the plane. Whenever he thought about it in the past, his heart was always filled with sweetness, but this time there was a touch of bitterness lingering in his memory. He involuntarily linked everything that happened to Shen Group, from Shen Xi's sudden return to China to his resentment towards Shen Dehan, from Shen Xi's secret investigation of his past to his close relationship with Lu Gesen, from Shen Group involvement in repeated incidents to Lu Gesen's role in them every time… Li Mingxuan closed his eyes in pain, not wanting to think and not daring to think any further.

He did not want to suspect Shen Xi, but his thoughts were out of control. He wanted to put it all out of his mind, but there was always a voice that reminded him that all he was doing was just deceiving himself. Li Mingxuan didn't know what expression he should use to face Shen Xi. What scared him was not Shen Xi's revenge against the Shen family, but what kind of feelings Shen Xi had for him if all that was true. In this relationship where he was full of joy, gratitude and dedication, was Shen Xi just putting on a mask to play a role in front of him?

As time passed, the biting chill finally brought him back to his senses, and he tried hard to suppress the emotions that were rising in his heart. Finally, Li Mingxuan walked into the elevator pretending that nothing had happened.

The moment he opened the door, he subconsciously looked at the sofa. Every time he came back in the past, Shen Xi would be nestled on the sofa watching TV with the remote control in his hand, but today there was no Shen Xi there. There was a sound coming from the kitchen and Li Mingxuan gently walked over. Under the glowing white light, there was Shen Xi cooking something seriously.

Li Mingxuan stood there quietly, watching Shen Xi's back, unblinking. Aware of the scorching gaze behind him, Shen Xi turned his head and smiled slightly, "Hungry? It will be ready soon."

Shen Xi's smile was the same as always, and Li Mingxuan couldn't help but step forward, hug him and kiss him fiercely. The kiss was very sudden. Shen Xi remembered the meal he was about to cook and subconsciously tried to push Li Mingxuan away but couldn't refuse and was held in his arms.

"Cousin, huh?"

Shen Xi's unfinished words were blocked. Li Mingxuan's kiss was swift and intense, as if to prove something. Shen Xi was not resisting and raised his head to bear the kiss obediently.

It was not until Shen Xi was breathless from the kiss that Li Mingxuan stopped, holding him tightly in his arms, as if desperate to rub him into himself.

That was it, Li Mingxuan thought, maybe Shen Xi and Lu Gesen were just old acquaintances from abroad and everything was just his cranky thoughts. He didn't have the courage to question Shen Xi about it, he was afraid the answer would far exceed his expectations. Just let him close his eyes and pretend that he didn't know anything. He loved Shen Xi and he wanted to be with Shen Xi.

Li Mingxuan's unusual behaviour made Shen Xi realise what was going on. He did not say anything and silently reached out and hugged Li Mingxuan. Both of them seemed to forget about the meal being cooked until a faint smell of burning came out.

Li Mingxuan let go of Shen Xi, smiled gently and rubbed his hair, saying warmly, "I'll do it."

As he watched Li Mingxuan skillfully throwing away the burnt rice and washing the pot, Shen Xi quietly stood behind him. As the scent of the food came out, the room was filled with a faint warmth, but Shen Xi knew that everything in front of him would be temporary. With the collapse of the Shen family and the revelation of the truth, he could already expect Li Mingxuan's reaction. Shen Xi's eyes became complicated. When Li Mingxuan turned his head, he closed his eyes to hide the entanglement in them, and opened them again after he had restored his previous calm.

This night was like any other night before, and Shen Xi fell into a deep sleep in Li Mingxuan's arms. What he didn't know was that Li Mingxuan sat alone in the living room smoking for half the night after he fell asleep.

When Shen Xi woke up, Li Mingxuan had already gone to the office, and the sticky note next to his pillow reminded him that breakfast was in the warming cabinet. Shen Xi stared at the sticky note for a while when his mobile phone rang abruptly. It was a call from Lu Gesen, who said that Wang Changlin wanted to meet Shen Xi, while euphemistically indicating that Wang Changlin was exactly the man Shen Xi was looking for.

"Xiao Xi, are you listening? I know this news is very sudden, but Foster Father has a hard time," sensing Shen Xi's silence, Lu Gesen explained eagerly.

Shen Xi sat up, haphazardly slipping on his pyjamas, and said, "I am listening."

Lu Gesen let out a sigh of relief and explained, "Foster Father has been suffering for so many years, he didn't show up back then so as not to ruin Aunt's reputation, he has done a lot of things over the years to retaliate against the Shen family, he…"

"I see." Shen Xi interrupted Lu Gesen's words, "When and where will we meet?"

Lu Gesen couldn't hear whether Shen Xi's mood was good or bad and hesitantly said, "Foster Father is going to the cemetery later to pay respect to Aunt."

"I see." Shen Xi hung up the phone straight away.

Perhaps it was because he had already thought of Wang Changlin being that man, now that he had actually heard the confirmation, Shen Xi was not too surprised. On the contrary, knowing that Wang Changlin was that man, a lot of things seemed to make more sense. Why he went out of his way to adopt Lu Gesen, why he was so passionate about Lu Gesen's revenge, why he ignored Shen Xi for two lifetimes, all the things that Shen Xi felt were painful and incomprehensible before, now had answers.

Shen Xi dressed quickly and drove towards the cemetery without bothering to eat breakfast. There was only one last question he wanted to clarify: why did his mother choose to jump out of the window back then? This was something he had never been able to understand. According to his aunt's words, his mother had already fallen out of love with his father and would not have jumped because of him, and she was pregnant, so why would she choose to jump for no reason?

By the time Shen Xi arrived at the cemetery, Wang Changlin was already there. Placing the bouquet of lilies of the valley in front of the tombstone, Wang Changlin looked at Han Rou's picture with a complicated expression. He had never thought that Han Rou would choose to jump from the window with such determination. His fingers gently brushed over the photo, and the last phone call Han Rou made to him before she jumped echoed in his ears.

"Changlin, have you ever really loved me?"

Without waiting for his answer, Han Rou hung up the phone, and shortly afterwards he received the news of Han Rou's death, precisely after this phone call.

What kind of feelings did he have at that time? Regret? Sadness? Pain or relief?

Wang Changlin sighed. Over the years, he had done everything he could to achieve his goals and had calculated many people, but he had never felt guilty. Only Han Rou, her shadow always haunted him when he dreamed of her at midnight. Wang Changlin closed his eyes fiercely and dismissed the memories. Now was not the time to be weak. His goal was about to be achieved, and the shares in Shen Xi's hand would be the most crucial step. He could not ruin so many years of careful planning just because of this little bit of guilt.

He could not afford to wait and did not want to wait any longer. According to his plan, it would take him a few years to take over Shen Group but taking into account Shen Dehan's health, Wang Changlin didn't know if Shen Dehan would still be there in a few years' time. If he couldn't let Shen Dehan watch him take everything from him, then what was the point of what he had done?

There were footsteps behind him and Wang Changlin slowly opened his eyes, the hatred in his eyes dispersing, replaced with painful emotions.

"Lawyer Wang."

Hearing Shen Xi's voice, Wang Changlin turned around, his eyes full of pain that he didn't have time to hide.

"Xiao Xi!"

The pain in Wang Changlin's eyes was so intense that a trace of emotion flashed across Shen Xi's face. The change in his expression was noticed by Wang Changlin, satisfying him.

The pain in his eyes turned into guilt. Wang Changlin did not look at Shen Xi again but turned his gaze to the tombstone and said in a low voice, "I promised Ah Ruo to take good care of you back then, but I didn't do it. I am sorry for all these years."

Shen Xi did not expect Wang Changlin to bring up this topic. He already had an answer in his mind, but at this moment he could not help but speak, "Is it because I am Shen Dehan's son?"

Sadness surfaced in Wang Changlin's eyes and he nodded with difficulty.

"Ah Ruo was pregnant with my child when she died. At that time, I had just found out that I was going to be a father, and before I could rejoice I received the sad news that Ah Ruo died along with the child. I know you're innocent, Xiao Xi, but I really couldn't face you, I couldn't do what Ah Rou wanted me to do, I couldn't take care of you."

"I understand," Shen Xi said self-deprecatingly. Anyone in Wang Changlin's position would probably have to hate him.

Wang Changlin looked at Shen Xi apologetically and wanted to say something, but in the end he sighed and said nothing.

Shen Xi did not care about Wang Changlin's guilt and said softly, "I want to know why my mother jumped out of the window back then?" This was the main purpose of his meeting with Wang Changlin.

This question seemed to stir up Wang Changlin's painful memories as he shook his head, "I don't know, Ah Rou didn't say anything before, there were no signs, everything was too sudden. But apart from Shen Dehan, who else could have forced Ah Rou to jump to her death? It was all him. If it wasn't for Shen Dehan, how could Ah Rou have lived such a miserable life? Why did he refuse to cherish her when he was married to her? If it wasn't for him, how could Ah Rou jump out of the window? Ah Rou clearly said she wanted to divorce him, but…" Wang Changlin was already incoherent at the end of his speech, his eyes looking at Han Rou's picture on the tombstone in agony.

Shen Xi's heart was once again moved. Although his feelings for his mother were different from Wang Changlin's, this pain seemed to be similar, and Shen Xi could not help but say, "Uncle Wang."

This "Uncle Wang" brought Wang Changlin's attention back, and he took a deep breath, "I was out of line."

Shen Xi shook his head, and when he looked at Wang Changlin again, his eyes became much more intimate instead of being distant.

Wang Changlin quickly realised the change in Shen Xi. He had been studying people's hearts for so many years; he understood that Shen Xi had a certain amount of recognition for him and immediately mentioned many of the Han family's past events as if unintentionally. As he looked at Shen Xi now, his gaze was different.

In just one morning, Shen Xi's attitude towards Wang Changlin changed greatly. As they parted, Wang Changlin looked at Shen Xi with a serious face, "No matter what kind of feelings you have for the Shen family, I hope you won't stop Gesen and me from taking revenge on the Shen family."

Shen Xi already had a decision in his mind, looked at Wang Changlin and said softly, "Grandpa made a will before he passed away. Once I reach 23 years old, I can own 20% of Shen Group shares. In a few days it will be my 23rd birthday. I wonder if I can entrust Uncle Wang to be the sole agent of the shares in my hands at that time."

Shen Xi had not told Lu Gesen about this before because Wang Changlin's behaviour was too inconsistent, but now Wang Changlin's hatred for Shen Dehan did not seem fake, and if Shen Xi wanted to bring down Shen Group as soon as possible, working with Wang Changlin was the fastest way, so naturally he did not hide the matter any longer.

A look of surprise flashed across Wang Chenglin's face, "Xiao Xi, you know about this?"

Shen Xi was stunned, "Could it be that you also know, Uncle Wang?"

Wang Changlin nodded, "I only found out a few days ago too. Shen Dehan wanted me to stop you from entering Shen Group."

A sneer appeared at the corner of Shen Xi's mouth as Wang Changlin mused, "Since you already know, Xiao Xi, what are your plans? To enter Shen Group?"

Shen Xi shook his head, "I have no interest in Shen Group, not to mention the fact that Shen Group is about to go bankrupt, so what am I going to do there?"

His words made Wang Changlin relax, and when he looked at Shen Xi again his face seemed hesitant.

Shen Xi's heart throbbed, "Uncle Wang, is there something I need to do?"

Wang Changlin seemed to have made up his mind and looked at Shen Xi frankly, "Xiao Xi, are you willing to transfer your shares to me? In fact, Gesen and I have already acquired 27% of Shen Group shares. If you add the shares in your hands, it will be enough to compete with Shen Dehan in Shen Group. Of course, on the one hand, it is to deal with the Shen family; on the other hand, the collapse of Shen Group is inevitable and sooner or later, your shares in Shen Group will become worthless. Instead of letting them rot in your hands, it is better to get rid of them early. With this money, you can also have no worries about food and clothing in the future. I wanted to ask Gesen to tell you about this idea when I first found out about the contents of the will, but I was worried that you might misunderstand, so I never said anything."

Wang Changlin's words were correct and his tone was full of meaning for Shen Xi to consider. More importantly, based on the 27% shares, it was clear that Gao Qiulin's shares were in Wang Changlin's hands. Shen Xi thought about his original intention and after a slight hesitation, he simply nodded.

Shen Xi agreeing so easily was hard to believe in for Wang Changlin. After realising that Shen Xi had really agreed, Wang Changlin, who had always been cunning, failed to control his emotions and a smile of satisfaction appeared on his face.

Chapter 84

After separating from Wang Changlin at the cemetery, Shen Xi made a phone call to Lao K on the way home.

When the call was answered, before Shen Xi could say anything, Lao K already said, "Xiao Xi, have you seen the news?"

Shen Xi was stunned, "News? What news?"

"You don't know?" Lao K was very surprised and soon realized that Shen Xi was not calling him for that, so he immediately said with concern, "What's the matter? What happened?"

Shen Xi said softly, "Nothing, I've just met Wang Changlin." At once, Shen Xi told him about Wang Changlin and Han Rou; it was something he could only tell Lao K and no one else.

Lao K was astonished, "It's really him, no wonder!"

Lao K did not clarify no wonder what; he and Shen Xi both knew the answer in their heart. If Han Rou's baby was really Wang Changlin's, then many of the things he had done would make sense. But when Lao K thought of how many times he had investigated Wang Changlin without finding any clues to this matter, he couldn't help but be wary of Wang Changlin.

"Xiao Xi, are you sure you want to transfer the shares in your hands to him, just in case?"

Lao K's concern was palpable, and Shen Xi explained softly, "This matter is not harmful to us. These shares were originally intended to be transferred out, it just happens that this person will be Wang Changlin. What's more, I'm not giving them away for nothing, we can still make a profit with these shares. As for your concern that he will use the shares for other purposes, it doesn't matter to me. All I want is for the Shen family to go bankrupt and be left with nothing. If Wang Changlin is capable of turning Shen Group into Wang Group, what does it have to do with us?"

With Shen Xi's explanation, Lao K also felt that this was indeed the case. Shen Xi's choice was in their best interest at the moment, but Lao K still had some concerns about Wang Changlin. However, as Shen Xi said, even if Wang Changlin had other plans in addition to avenging the Han family, what did it matter? As long as he and Shen Xi had the same goal of dealing with the Shen family, it would be fine.

With this in mind, Lao K did not raise any objection, "Xiao Xi, you decide."

Shen Xi gave an "en", "By the way, what was the news you mentioned just now?"

Back to the topic, Lao K gossiped eagerly, "Zhou Mingmei broke the news about Chu Qianqian's existence and involved Fang Yun in it, and now the newspapers are in an uproar."

The news was not a surprise to Shen Xi as he had already planned to reveal the existence of Chu Qianqian through Zhou Mingmei, "Has there been any mention of the marriage?"

"Don't worry, the news has been released, now it's up to Chu Qianqian." Shen Xi had already made the preparations when he made his plans before. If Zhou Mingmei talked about Chu Qianqian's marriage with Shen Dehan in anger, naturally everything would be fine; but if she didn't say anything, the news would also be released anyway.

Having said that, Lao K couldn't help but add one more sentence, "After this matter is over, what arrangements do you have for Chu Qianqian?"

Shen Xi had already thought about this question, "Send her abroad just like Chang Lei, and then arrange for her to come back if she wants to after the wind dies down in a few years."

"That's good." Lao K agreed. If their plan went well, it was indeed not suitable for Chu Qianqian to stay in China anymore and she would need to go abroad to avoid the limelight for a while.

The contribution of Shen Xi and Lao K in this matter was unknown to outsiders. At this time, everyone's attention was focused on the scandal of Shen Dehan and Chu Qianqian. Compared to the previous scandals of the Shen family, this one was obviously more interesting. Not to mention the huge age difference between Shen Dehan and Chu Qianqian, just the fact that Chu Qianqian's face was identical to Fang Yun was enough to create a huge buzz. When Shen Dehan had kept Zhou Mingliang who looked similar to Fang Yun by his side under the banner of being nostalgic for his dead wife, although it was unfair to Han Rou, many people privately praised him for his love and affection for Fang Yun. But now, Chu Qianqian's existence was a slap in Shen Dehan's face. The love and affection that he had back then now seemed to be nothing more than a lust for young beauty.

The person who broke the story was Zhou Mingmei, who had been with Shen Dehan all these years and whose existence was well known to everyone. Although no one thought Zhou Mingmei would be admitted to the Shen family by Shen Dehan, they had all acquiesced to her identity. But now Chu Qianqian suddenly appeared, and the dog-blood entanglement in between was enough to excite the gossip reporters in Zhongjing to the point of bursting.

The moment she saw the news, Shen Bixue almost fainted from anger. She always thought that even if Shen Dehan's personality had changed because of his illness, he would not disregard the reputation of the Shen family like that. Although Chu Qianqian stayed by Shen Dehan's side before, as long as the news was kept from the reporters, Shen Bixue could not say much. But now, looking at the various scathing comments on the internet, Shen Bixue only felt that even she had been disgraced and her reputation was in tatters.

Shen Bixue didn't care about anything else and hurriedly ordered her driver to prepare the car. This matter needed Shen Dehan to come out to dispel the rumours and confirm that there was no Chu Qianqian and there was no such thing as marriage.

When Shen Bixue was rushing to the hospital, Shen Dehan had just seen the news and was furiously calling Zhou Mingmei.

"Did you tell the reporters about the existence of Qianqian?"

"Yes!" Zhou Mingmei laughed, "What, she can't see the light of day?"

Zhou Mingmei's reaction angered Shen Dehan, who said in a cold voice, "I told you to stay in the country and behave yourself."

"Behave myself?" Zhou Mingmei sneered, "Am I not behaving? What have you given me after all these years of behaving myself? Since you did it on the first day, don't blame me for doing it on the fifteenth (since you're not benevolent, I won't be righteous either)."

Shen Dehan hung up the phone with a cold snort and immediately ordered his bodyguards to go to the hospital where Shen Rong was to pick him up, and at the same time cut off all of Zhou Mingmei's financial resources and kick her out of her current house. To Shen Dehan, Shen Rong could still be considered his son, while Zhou Mingmei was nothing.

Shen Dehan's order caused the bodyguards to look at each other in shock and quietly retreat.

Shen Dehan was the only one left in the ward. He stared at the newspapers in front of him with a gloomy face, his eyes falling on the word "marriage". Shen Dehan was not confused. Although he liked Chu Qianqian, he also knew that his age difference with Chu Qianqian was too great, and once it broke out, it would be a scandal. He did want to keep Chu Qianqian around, but definitely not in the form of marriage. During this period of time, due to the tight security, he had kept Chu Qianqian's existence well hidden from outsiders, but he did not expect that it would be Zhou Mingmei who finally made the story public.

He now had to dispel the negative impact of this matter as soon as possible; the Shen family could no longer afford another series of scandals.

As Shen Dehan pondered, Chu Qianqian pushed the door open and walked in.

"Mr. Shen." Chu Qianqian's face was devoid of her usual smile and she appeared much more distant.

"Qianqian!" Shen Dehan immediately realised something, "Have you seen the news?"

Chu Qianqian nodded, "I was just about to tell you about this, Mr. Shen. I plan to leave Zhongjing."

"What?" Shen Dehan was shocked, "Where are you going, Qianqian?"

Chu Qianqian showed a reluctant smile, "I don't know, maybe to a place where no one knows me."

"Why?" Shen Dehan said in a deep voice, "Because of the news?"

Chu Qianqian avoided Shen Dehan's question and said with her head bowed, "I've been bothering Mr. Shen for too long, we're not relatives, and it is not good to keep doing this."

Shen Dehan said eagerly, "Qianqian, didn't you say you would stay with me forever?"

Shen Dehan's words made Chu Qianqian's body tremble. After a while, Chu Qianqian raised her head and looked at Shen Dehan calmly, "In what capacity should I accompany Mr. Shen?"

Shen Dehan did not expect Chu Qianqian to ask such a direct question and was momentarily at a loss for words. A trace of disappointment flashed across Chu Qianqian's face, "Look, Mr. Shen, you want me to stay by your side, but you can't marry me, so in what capacity should I stay? The same as Zhou Mingmei? Then I'm sorry, although I come from a humble background, I'm not degraded to the point where I would want to be Mr. Shen's mistress."

These words from Chu Qianqian were so categorical that Shen Dehan could not help but freeze. He remembered that Fang Yun had been like this back then. At the very beginning when he was unable to promise her anything and begged her to stay by his side, Fang Yun also looked at him with such disappointment and said the same words before leaving in determination. Looking at Chu Qianqian's determined expression that was more and more similar to the shadow in his memory, Shen Dehan subconsciously said, "Ah Yun, I will marry you."

When she finally heard these words, Chu Qianqian ignored the fact that Shen Dehan was calling Fang Yun's name and let out a huge sigh of relief in her heart. Practising her expression in front of the mirror for a long time was not for nothing and she also wrote down the sentence Shen Xi had prepared for her word for word.

Chu Qianqian's face blossomed into a smile little by little as she looked at Shen Dehan and whispered, "Really?"

Shen Dehan looked at this face that looked exactly like Fang Yun's and nodded heavily.

By the time Shen Bixue arrived at the hospital, Shen Dehan had already made the decision to get engaged to Chu Qianqian and was planning to hold a press conference tomorrow to announce this decision.

"What, Big Brother, you want to get engaged to Chu Qianqian, are you crazy?" Shen Bixue stared at Shen Dehan incredulously, unable to figure out why he would make such a confused decision.

Shen Dehan said discontentedly, "Is this the tone of the voice to talk to Big Brother?"

Shen Bixue was so angry that she couldn't speak, "Big Brother, do you know that Chu Qianqian is young enough to be your granddaughter? You want to get engaged to her, what do you want people to think of you?"

Shen Dehan insisted, "This is my own business."

Shen Bixue trembled, pointing at Shen Dehan, "Big Brother, have you thought about Ah Ji, Ah Cheng and Xiao Xi? Have you ever thought about the fact that Chu Qianqian is younger than all three of them? Do you want them to recognise her as a mother when she is so young? How will they be able to go out and meet people? Even if they don't care about this, you know the knot in Ah Ji's heart. Don't push Ah Ji further and further away!"

Shen Dehan listened to Shen Bixue's words and his heart faltered for a moment, but soon Fang Yun's face came to his mind and overlapped with Chu Qianqian's face, and Shen Dehan closed his eyes and persisted.

Shen Bixue finally left the hospital disappointed.

The engagement between Shen Dehan and Chu Qianqian was confirmed, and Shen Xi soon received a message from Chu Qianqian. Habitually deleting the text messages on his mobile phone, Shen Xi looked out the window with a sneer.

When he first returned from abroad, he had expected it to take more than two years to completely destroy the Shen family. But against his expectation, everything went too smoothly and before he could even do anything more, the Shen family was already in a state of turmoil.

That being the case, he had no patience to spend more time on his father. Didn't his father hate his mother's cheating the most? He really hoped that his father would like the huge surprise he specially prepared!

Chapter 85

Shen Xi received an official notice from Shen Dehan in the afternoon of the same day. Shen Dehan would hold a press conference the next day to announce his engagement to Chu Qianqian. Obviously, Shen Dehan was very eager to reverse the negative image of this matter. Although his current image had fallen to the bottom, it still looked better with the fig leaf of marriage. Shen Dehan was not concerned about Shen Xi's attitude towards this matter, he and Shen Xi were now looking at each other in disgust and Shen Xi's reaction was completely out of his consideration.

Shen Xi mockingly hung up Shen Dehan's call but before he could put the phone down, it rang once again, and it was Li Mingxuan.

Li Mingxuan's voice showed a hint of worry, "Xiao Xi, you know about Uncle's decision, right?"

"En."

Shen Xi confirmed in a light-hearted manner, obviously not caring at all. Li Mingxuan smiled bitterly. Although he had already guessed how Shen Xi would react, he still couldn't help but worry.

"I'm fine!" Shen Xi's reply reaffirmed Li Mingxuan's guess.

Li Mingxuan consciously made himself sound relaxed, "It's good that you're fine!"

Shen Dehan's decision naturally did not meet any resistance from Shen Xi. Unexpectedly, even Shen Ji did not say a word about it. Shen Dehan originally thought that Shen Ji would oppose fiercely, but after listening to his words, Shen Ji did not react at all. Feeling guilty, Shen Dehan tried to talk to Shen Ji some more but Shen Ji simply cut him short, saying that the doctor was looking for him. In fact, since the revelation that Shen Cheng had been addicted to drugs by Shen Rong, Shen Ji had only briefly visited the hospital a few times and did not stay in the ward as he had done before.

After hanging up the phone, Shen Ji sat there expressionlessly, a trace of self-deprecation in his eyes.

"Big Brother, are you alright?" Shen Cheng, who also heard Shen Dehan's call, looked at Shen Ji cautiously.

Shen Ji nodded. "It's okay!"

After a period of detoxification, Shen Cheng was in much better shape than he had been at the beginning, and the intervals between drug addiction episodes were gradually lengthening. He no longer needed to be tied to the bed all the time like before. Occasionally, Shen Ji would release him and let him walk around the villa. Shen Cheng had always been somewhat afraid of Shen Ji, and now Shen Ji tying him up and forcing him to quit drugs made him hate and fear Shen Ji. Although he knew that Shen Ji was doing it for his own good, he could not help but tremble at the sight of him.

At this time, looking at Shen Ji's gloomy face, Shen Cheng felt nothing was okay at all. Especially taking into account Shen Ji's previous rejection of Chu Qianqian, Shen Cheng felt indescribably uncomfortable that this time his elder brother actually did not say anything. After stealing a few glances at Shen Ji, Shen Cheng felt that there was nothing he could do, so he intended to slip out.

"Where are you going?" Shen Ji's gaze turned to Shen Cheng.

Shen Cheng instantly froze and said with his head lowered, "Just going out for a walk."

"Come here!" Shen Ji ordered.

Shen Cheng paused and dawdled but finally walked over. Big Brother's aura was too strong at the moment, and Shen Cheng remembered the time when he was tied to the bed, shouting until his voice was hoarse, while Big Brother refused to even give him water, forcing him to scream, promising to quit.

Shen Ji looked at Shen Cheng's appearance and sighed silently. Perhaps he had pushed Shen Cheng too hard during this period of time, and Shen Cheng was like a mouse seeing a cat when he looked at him. He couldn't help but reach out and pull Shen Cheng to his side. "Let's go abroad for a while in a few more days? Where do you want to go, Ah Cheng?" Shen Ji said in a rare soft voice.

"Go abroad?" Shen Cheng looked surprised, "Doesn't Big Brother care about Father and the company's affairs?"

He already found it strange that Shen Ji was by his side every day and every night, but now he was even more surprised that Shen Ji was going to give up going to the hospital to take care of his father and attending to the company's affairs to accompany him abroad.

Shen Ji's brow furrowed slightly. During this time his mind was all on Shen Cheng and he didn't pay much attention to Shen Group, but he heard some news that Shen Group's recent situation was not very good. With his father in hospital, him being restricted from interfering in the company's affairs, Ah Cheng's rehabilitation and the fallout from the Anchor incident still rippling, Shen Group was on the verge of bankruptcy. It wasn't that no one had suggested that he should return to Shen Group. Shen Ji sighed and gave Shen Cheng a look. The doctor said that drug rehabilitation was a long-term process; Shen Cheng was more important in his heart than Shen Group.

"Don't worry about these things, Ah Cheng. Father has Chu Qianqian to take care of him, and as for Shen Group, I heard that Father has handed it over to Wang Changlin to take care of it. Ah Cheng just needs to focus on getting clean."

"Oh!" Shen Cheng didn't dare to say anything else. Anyway he was being locked up here by Shen Ji; whatever Shen Ji said was a decided matter.

Unexpectedly, none of the three brothers of the Shen family objected to Shen Dehan's decision, which surprised Shen Bixue.

"Even if it's okay for Ah Cheng, neither Ah Ji nor Xiao Xi are opposed to it?"

Li Xiyong looked helplessly at the overexcited Shen Bixue, "Ah Ji and Xiao Xi are both grown up and have their own lives. Since even they don't object, this is the Shen family's business after all, so you shouldn't worry too much about it."

"I would like to not worry about it, but what about the Shen family's reputation if Big Brother tosses it around like this?"

Li Xiyong soothed her, "Reputation is something for outsiders to see. If Dehan himself doesn't mind, that's it."

"No, I still have to see Big Brother," Shen Bixue insisted.

Li Xiyong was very helpless about Shen Bixue's insistence, "Instead of asking Dehan to focus on these imaginary things, you should ask Dehan to focus on the Shen Group situation. The Nancheng project that we all worked on together, several other families are now subtly expressing their dissatisfaction with Dehan and are already privately discussing raising money to offset Dehan's share. If it wasn't for Lao Fang and Dehan being good friends and me being involved, I guess there would be nothing left for Dehan now. I mentioned this to Dehan a few days ago, but I'm afraid he thinks I have some ideas. You can talk to him more; if he doesn't care, Shen Group will probably really fall."

The Li family and the Shen family had been friendly for many years and were involved in many businesses. Although with the Yunrou incident, the two families' business philosophies had diverged and Li Xiyong had consciously separated his business from the Shen family, it was not so easy to cut off all the years of cooperation. Strictly speaking, there were only a few projects that the two families were now working on together, and even if something went wrong with the Shen family, there was no real impact on the Li family, they could just find another partner. However, when Li Xiyong thought of Shen Group's century-old business ending up at this point, he was inevitably overcome with emotion.

Shen Bixue had heard Li Xiyong mention Shen Group problems a few times before, but it was the first time she heard of such a serious situation.

"It's already so serious?" Shen Bixue said worriedly.

Li Xiyong nodded and seemed to have thought of something, glancing at Shen Bixue, "Remember to tell Dehan that Wang Changlin may not be trustworthy."

Shen Bixue froze for a moment; seeing Li Xiyong's reluctance to say more, she swallowed the doubts in her heart.

As the rumours of the relationship between Shen Dehan and Fang Yun, Chu Qianqian and Zhou Mingmei were buzzing around, Shen Dehan suddenly announced to the public that he would hold a press conference to make a statement. The reporters were speculating for a while; what exactly was Shen Dehan going to say, was it to dispel the rumours?

The press conference was held at the hospital because of Shen Dehan's health. In order to make it official, Shen Dehan rented a conference room at the hospital as the venue for the announcement and sent someone to set it up early on.

Next day, Shen Dehan specially ordered the servants to send over clothes from home. After some cleaning up, Shen Dehan was dressed in a suit and looked very energetic. Chu Qianqian chose a long white flowery dress today and her hair was pulled up high, making her look even more innocent and sweet.

Shen Dehan looked at the well-dressed Chu Qianqian with satisfaction and said soothingly, "Qianqian, don't be nervous later, I'll answer any questions."

Chu Qianqian nodded obediently, "Okay!"

Shen Dehan took Chu Qianqian's hand, "Don't worry, I won't let you be wronged."

Chu Qianqian smiled sweetly, "I know!"

This was the last scene she would play with Shen Dehan. After the end of this scene she would be able to go far away with the ten million given by Shen Xi. Of course, she would not be nervous.

Compared to the calmness of the two protagonists, the rest of the crew looked anxious instead. The long prep work was already in place, the conference room was packed with reporters, all sorts of cameras aiming the table. Amidst a flurry of flashing lights, Chu Qianqian pushed Shen Dehan out.

This was the first exposure of the scandalous heroine, and the reporters' cameras all rushed towards Chu Qianqian. Unlike Zhou Mingmei's description of her scheming and domineering nature, the Chu Qianqian who appeared in front of the reporters looked pitiful. As if it was the first time she had encountered such a scene, a hint of panic flashed across her face and she sat down beside Shen Dehan, obviously pretending to be calm.

Shen Dehan gave her a soothing look and greeted the reporters with a smile. In the past few days Shen Dehan had taken good care of himself, and today he specially cleaned up again. Although he could not compare with his appearance before he was hospitalised, he still looked elegant and personable.

Shen Dehan first thanked the reporters for coming, and then said he had a happy announcement to make today.

By now, the reporters had vaguely guessed Shen Dehan's intention. If Shen Dehan wanted to dispel the rumours, he would definitely not bring Chu Qianqian out. Could it be that Shen Dehan and Chu Qianqian liked each other? Before Shen Dehan could speak, the reporters were already excited and eagerly waiting for the big announcement from Shen Dehan.

Shen Dehan smiled as he looked around and took Chu Qianqian's hand, "I know there are some bad rumours about me out there now. I just want to say that Ms. Chu Qianqian and I are planning to get engaged, and I hope to get everyone's blessings."

As soon as Shen Dehan's words came out, the scene went crazy. Speculation was speculation, but now the speculation was true, reporters were reaching their microphones forward desperately, eager to be the first to ask questions.

Shen Dehan was about to answer a question from a reporter in the front row with a smile on his face, when a shout suddenly came from the door, "I disagree."

This "I disagree" was like a bomb dropped into the water, causing an uproar. The eyes of the crowd turned towards the doorway, where a young man stood. His face was flushed red under everyone's gazes but he still looked firmly at Chu Qianqian at the front.

Chu Qianqian let out a soft cry and looked at the young man in disbelief. Shen Dehan's face turned ugly. The expressions of those two clearly indicated that something was wrong, and the reporters could also see this. The noisy room immediately became quiet. Everyone waited with bated breath for another heavyweight bombshell.

The young man took a deep breath and seemed to be gathering courage as he looked at Chu Qianqian and shouted, "Qianqian, I'm not going to school anymore, I'm going to work. I'll support you, don't doom yourself to marrying such an old man for me."

"How can you not go to school, you!" Chu Qianqian blurted out, and after she said that, she seemed to think of something and immediately looked nervously at Shen Dehan.

A few short words revealed the truth. Shen Dehan was by now in a gloomy mood, whispering to his bodyguards to drive the young man out.

As the bodyguards stepped forward, the young man shouted nervously, "Qianqian, come with me, I can't watch you ruin yourself for me…"

The young man was stopped and dragged out by the bodyguards before he could finish the sentence. Looking at the young man who was struggling in the bodyguards' hands, Chu Qianqian took a step forward worriedly, then seemed to have made up her mind and turned her head to look at Shen Dehan. "I'm sorry, Mr. Shen, I can't get married to you. I'm pregnant, and the father of the child is not you."

Things had developed to the point where the reporters below had all gone crazy. Although Chu Qianqian's words were not said loudly, they were said right in front of the microphone, so the entire crowd could hear them clearly.

Shen Dehan's expression could no longer be described as ugly, his face was livid as he stared at Chu Qianqian, his body trembling uncontrollably.

"You!" Before he could finish his words, Shen Dehan suddenly collapsed. His forehead hit the ground heavily, and a panic erupted around him.

While the bodyguards and reporters' attention was on Shen Dehan, Chu Qianqian grabbed the young man's hand quickly and the two of them left the hospital.

"Mr. Shen!"

"Call the doctor!"

Chu Qianqian could no longer hear the panic behind her as she was led by the young man into a car that was parked on the side of the road.

Chu Qianqian let out a huge sigh of relief, suddenly raised her head and froze, "Shen Xi, why are you there?"

Shen Xi smiled faintly, "How could I be absent from such an important moment!"

Chu Qianqian thought of Shen Dehan who was in a coma in the hospital at this moment, and then looked at Shen Xi who was smiling happily in front of her, obviously not knowing what she should say. After hesitating for a while, Chu Qianqian finally thought of the key question, "Where is my money?"

Shen Xi handed over the bag in his hand, "The money and passport are in here. I've put the remaining five million into the card, the password is the same as last time. By the way, I've found you a house and language school, someone will pick you up at the airport when you get there."

Chu Qianqian took the bag and rummaged through it, clutching it in her arms in satisfaction.

"Where are we going now?"

"To take you to the airport."

"So urgent?"

Shen Xi let out an "en", "To avoid the long night dreams." (if the time is prolonged, the situation may change unfavourably)

The news that Shen Dehan was in a coma from the overstimulation soon spread, along with the news that Chu Qianqian's childhood sweetheart boyfriend appeared at the press conference today and that Chu Qianqian temporarily backtracked and Shen Dehan was cuckolded.

Li Mingxuan's heart sank immediately upon hearing the news. While outsiders didn't know, he knew that Shen Dehan had checked out Chu Qianqian's every detail and there was no such thing as a childhood sweetheart. It was clear that someone was deliberately setting up Shen Dehan.

Shen Xi's name jumped out in his mind, and even though there was no proof, the indescribable feeling made Li Mingxuan feel cold all over.

Several times he misdialed the number he could have recited backwards, and after yet another misdial, the call was finally answered.

"Xiao Xi, did you do this?"

Li Mingxuan's voice seemed to come from a distant place, and Shen Xi understood what he was asking almost instantly. After a slight hesitation Shen Xi heard himself say softly, "It was me!"

A boundless silence spread between the two; no one said another word, an invisible barrier rising between them.

Chapter 86

Perhaps the stimulation was too great this time. Shen Dehan was in a coma and the doctor clearly diagnosed: Shen Dehan's originally improved health deteriorated sharply. Even if he woke up, he could only spend the rest of his life in a hospital bed.

When Shen Bixue arrived at the hospital in a hurry, she saw the lone figure of Shen Ji.

"Ah Ji, you're alone? Where are Xiao Xi and Ah Cheng?"

"I left Ah Cheng at home, he had a drug addiction episode. I haven't seen Shen Xi yet." Faced with Shen Bixue's question, Shen Ji replied in a low voice. He had received a call from his bodyguard as soon as Shen Dehan fainted and knew about the press conference. Like Li Mingxuan, he quickly realized that Shen Dehan was being set up, but who was behind it? Who was scheming against Shen Dehan so carefully? The fact that Chu Qianqian had been by Shen Dehan's side for more than half a year, didn't it mean that this was a long-planned scheme?

Shen Bixue did not know what was in Shen Ji's mind, and seeing his distorted face, she thought he was worried about his father and said soothingly, "Don't think too much, Big Brother will be fine."

"I know, Aunt!" Shen Ji nodded.

Shen Bixue sighed. She didn't expect this to happen. If she had known earlier, she would have been a bit more forceful trying to stop Shen Dehan, wouldn't everything have been avoided then? As Shen Bixue sighed, she thought of Li Mingxuan, "Has Mingxuan not been here either?"

She called Li Mingxuan as soon as she received the news that Shen Dehan had fainted and asked him to come to the hospital as soon as possible. But it had been so long that she had time to rush over from home, why hadn't Mingxuan arrived yet? After a concerned glance at Shen Dehan, who was still being resuscitated, Shen Bixue walked to the side of the corridor and pressed Li Mingxuan's number.

The phone kept ringing for a long time before it was picked up, and Shen Bixue said anxiously, "Mingxuan, where are you now and why haven't you arrived at the hospital yet? Do you know where Xiao Xi is? Something so big has happened…"

"Xiao Xi is sick." Li Mingxuan interrupted his mother straight away. He knew what his mother meant, hoping that Shen Xi would show up at the hospital at a time like this to prevent reporters from writing some nonsense. He laughed bitterly at his mother's thoughts in his heart, but he couldn't help covering up for Shen Xi.

"Xiao Xi is sick?" Shen Bixue said in surprise.

"En!" Li Mingxuan confirmed, explaining in passing, "Mom, don't worry, I'm at home with Xiao Xi now, I'll go to the hospital sometime this afternoon."

A beeping sound soon came out of the receiver. Li Mingxuan hung up the phone after explaining without waiting for Shen Bixue's answer. Shen Bixue's face revealed a trace of worry. They say no one knows the son like his mother; she obviously felt that Mingxuan's emotions seemed to be wrong.

What his mother would think was not on Li Mingxuan's mind at the moment. As he stood quietly at the door of Shen Xi's apartment, Li Mingxuan's face was distorted in pain. He knew that Shen Xi was inside, a wall away from him, but he didn't have the courage to push the door open. Chu Qianqian's incident was just the beginning. After Shen Xi's frank admission, the suspicion that Li Mingxuan had suppressed a few days ago because of Lu Gesen immediately took root in his heart, swelling and growing. He could no longer pretend that he could not see it and deceive himself. He desperately needed to see Shen Xi, he needed an answer from him.

With such thoughts in his mind, he sped all the way back home. But when he actually stood at the door, he suddenly lost the courage to go in. If what happened to the Shen family for the past six months was all Shen Xi's scheme, what should he do? If even being with him was part of Shen Xi's calculations, what should he do?

These two thoughts tormented his heart beyond imagination. He tried several times to fumble for the key to open the door, but hesitated again.

As Li Mingxuan was struggling, the door of the apartment suddenly opened from the inside and Shen Xi stood there with a calm face.

"Cousin." His voice was as usual, not a hint of strangeness could be heard in it.

Li Mingxuan's eyes focused on Shen Xi's face. He wanted to see something, but there was nothing but calmness.

The two of them stood quietly at the door. Shen Xi said tranquilly, "Won't Cousin come in?"

After saying that, Shen Xi turned and walked back into the living room. Li Mingxuan's eyes stayed glued to Shen Xi's body as he silently followed him in. Shen Xi habitually nestled on the sofa and looked frankly at Li Mingxuan who was standing in front of him, "Does Cousin have something to ask me?"

Ever since he had admitted on the phone that Chu Qianqian had been his arrangement, he was prepared to face everything that would come. He had thought about whether to hide what he had done from Li Mingxuan, but on second thought he had decided to sell the shares in his hands, and sooner or later Li Mingxuan would know what he had done; not to mention that his pride made him not bother to hide it.

Shen Xi's words were burning the boats. Li Mingxuan's heart instantly sank to the bottom as he looked straight at Shen Xi with undisguised pain in his eyes.

Shen Xi met Li Mingxuan's gaze. Perhaps it was because the pain in Li Mingxuan's eyes was so deep that Shen Xi's heart could not help but clench. Avoiding Li Mingxuan's gaze somewhat embarrassedly, Shen Xi lowered his head and repeated the previous question, "Is there something Cousin wants to ask?"

Li Mingxuan looked at Shen Xi and said in a low voice, "Have you been scheming against the Shen family since you returned to China?"

"Yes."

This "yes" hit Li Mingxuan so hard that he felt a strong bitterness spreading from his heart. Although he was already prepared for the worst on the way home, he still hoped that everything was his imagination. But Shen Xi's admission dashed all his hopes.

Shen Xi did not look at Li Mingxuan. He was a bit afraid to look at his expression. He didn't know if he was influenced by Li Mingxuan, but Shen Xi only felt as if his whole heart was gripped by some cruel hand and felt incomparably painful. Trying hard to adjust his emotions, Shen Xi lowered his head and told Li Mingxuan everything about the arrangements he had made since his return to China. Of course, he deliberately avoided mentioning Wang Changlin and Lu Gesen. For one thing, they were only cooperating and the actions of Wang Changlin and Lu Gesen had nothing to do with him, and for another, the matter of Shen Group was not yet finalised. Although he decided to confess to Li Mingxuan, he did not want Li Mingxuan to ruin his final plan.

Shen Xi's voice sounded quietly in the living room, and the pain in Li Mingxuan's eyes grew deeper and deeper as Shen Xi talked. He finally saw that Shen Xi's resentment was not just against Shen Dehan alone, but against the entire Shen family. Li Mingxuan remembered in a trance that Shen Xi had mentioned before that he had no interest in the Shen family, but only then did he truly understand the deeper meaning behind these words. What Shen Xi wanted was not the Shen family, but the destruction of the Shen family.

Li Mingxuan stood there in silence as Shen Xi's words alternated with his mother's words in his mind. He remembered that a few days ago, his mother had looked at him earnestly hoping that he could persuade Shen Xi to forget the past. What did he think at the time? Li Mingxuan looked at Shen Xi in pain.

Shen Xi's narration came to an end. So, there was a shadow of Shen Xi behind everything that had happened to the Shen family in the past six months. Li Mingxuan knew that Shen Xi would not lie to him, but he did not hear Lu Gesen's name. He couldn't tell what exactly he felt. He did not believe that Shen Xi had done all this without the assistance of Lu Gesen behind the scenes, but Shen Xi did not even mention Lu Gesen's existence. Ye Han's words flashed through his mind and he said bitterly, "What about Lu Gesen, what did he do?"

Lu Gesen's name surprised Shen Xi for a moment; his eyebrows unconsciously furrowed. He wasn't sure if Li Mingxuan knew Lu Gesen's identity, but no matter what, he had no right to divulge Lu Gesen's affairs without permission. Shen Xi's silence was very obvious; he clearly did not intend to answer the question. His attitude was like a knife stabbing Li Mingxuan's heart so hard that an extremely ugly smile appeared on Li Mingxuan's face.

The living room was once again quiet as Shen Xi lowered his head and forced himself not to look at Li Mingxuan. Li Mingxuan stood quietly in front of Shen Xi and could not help but reach out and place his hand on Shen Xi's head, rubbing his hair as intimately as he always did.

Li Mingxuan's action took Shen Xi by surprise and he subconsciously looked up. Li Mingxuan's heart moved; he could not help but lower his head and kiss Shen Xi. The kiss was so sudden that Shen Xi was stunned for a moment, but the touch on his lips soon brought him back to his senses. Li Mingxuan gently nibbled on Shen Xi's lips, prying them open and pushing his tongue inside, greedily searching for Shen Xi's scent and eagerly exploring every corner inside. Li Mingxuan's movements were so intense that Shen Xi couldn't help but fall into a trance, dazed and confused for what seemed like a long time. Then Li Mingxuan's movements began to become gentle as he curled his tongue a little, entwining it with Shen Xi's tongue.

Shen Xi could sense the feeling of being cherished by the other party contained in the kiss, but hidden in it, was an indescribable desperation. Shen Xi's heart ebbed and flowed with the kiss. He hesitantly looked at Li Mingxuan, who slowly let go, looking at him closely and whispering, "Xiao Xi, have you ever liked me?"

This was the first time Li Mingxuan asked Shen Xi this question, and a trace of confusion flashed across Shen Xi's face. Did he like him? He didn't know. The feeling he had once known when he was young and liked someone had dissipated into the dazzling blood red on that night when he was eighteen. Since then, all he could think about was the words "to live". What did it mean "to like"? In the hard struggle to survive in prison, in the never-ending battle for his life, he had long forgotten what it was like to like someone. When death came suddenly and he was reborn unexpectedly, his life was reduced to the word "revenge". He had always thought he would live his life alone; he had never thought he would like anyone one day. But Li Mingxuan suddenly appeared in front of him, and he craved the warmth Li Mingxuan could give, and he got used to having him by his side little by little. He would look at Li Mingxuan and couldn't help but smile, he would also feel sad when Li Mingxuan was sad. He admitted that Li Mingxuan was different to him. Was this liking?

Shen Xi's bewilderment was seen by Li Mingxuan, and his silence was once again like a knife stabbing into Li Mingxuan's heart, cutting countless wounds fiercely. The anticipation in his eyes faded a little. Li Mingxuan could not help but scorn himself. He had obviously guessed the reason why Shen Xi was with him, why did he still ask this question, refusing to give up?

Carefully reaching out to touch Shen Xi's face, Li Mingxuan hid the bitterness in his eyes and said in a lost voice, "I see." Without waiting for Shen Xi to say anything, he whispered, "I will move out soon, you don't have to worry. Without me around, you have to remember to take care of yourself, eat on time and sleep on time, and take care to rest well."

There was a deep despair in Li Mingxuan's words, and the implication of him leaving was very obvious. Shen Xi looked at him deeply; the word "like" was stuck in his throat and he couldn't say it.

Li Mingxuan smiled bitterly and got up, "I'll leave first, I'll find time to come back and move the things."

Shen Xi suppressed the sadness in his heart, calmly looked at Li Mingxuan and nodded. As Li Mingxuan disappeared outside the door, Shen Xi looked at the door and said softly, "I like you, Cousin, I like you."

Chapter 87

Separated by the wall, Li Mingxuan did not hear Shen Xi's words.

He left his and Shen Xi's home as if escaping, and only when he stepped into the empty elevator did Li Mingxuan's mask collapse. He slammed his fist on the elevator door and closed his eyes in pain. It had only been a few minutes since he left Shen Xi, and he was already missing him. If he could, he would go back and hold Shen Xi tightly in his arms, but his pride would not allow it.

Before today, he had never asked Shen Xi if he liked him. He knew that Shen Xi had not necessarily been with him because he liked him in the first place, and he knew that Shen Xi had been avoiding all his plans for the future. He said to himself that because of his experiences at a young age, Shen Xi was wary of people and that he had to be patient enough to stay by Shen Xi's side, that he only wanted Shen Xi to be with him. But today when all the truth was revealed, he no longer had the courage to stay. His original confidence dissipated with Shen Xi's story. If everything that happened after Shen Xi's return to China was a calculation, then what was Shen Xi doing with him? He wondered if Shen Xi was happy with his company when he was full of joy, grateful and doing his best to stay by Shen Xi's side. Or was it that to Shen Xi, his presence was dispensable, that it was just Shen Xi pushing the boat along the water?

The elevator door slowly opened with a thud, and Li Mingxuan opened his eyes, his gaze falling on the familiar floor button. When he thought that he would be leaving Shen Xi completely, Li Mingxuan felt an indescribable suffocation in his heart, as if a big hand had gripped his whole heart tightly. A painful look flashed in his eyes and he finally left the building decisively.

Shen Xi stood quietly in front of the window, watching Li Mingxuan's figure walk away. Perhaps because he had expected this scene, he felt that he was not really sad, but his heart felt empty. The big hole that had been gradually filled up by Li Mingxuan's presence seemed to be open once again, and something was screaming inside him, a cold feeling spreading in his heart.

Shen Xi suddenly remembered that when he and Li Mingxuan were together, Li Mingxuan had said that he would never leave him, no matter in life or in death. He did not believe in Li Mingxuan's promise at first, but later, perhaps because the other party had done too well, he gradually believed in it. But in the end, Li Mingxuan, like his mother and grandfather, chose to abandon him, leaving him alone. In life or in death? Perhaps he was destined to be alone.

Shen Xi stood in silence for a long time, memories of Li Mingxuan from his two lives alternating in his mind, finally settling on the desperate expression on his face just now. Shen Xi shook his head, pushing the image of Li Mingxuan out of his mind. He could not give up his choice because of Li Mingxuan, and Li Mingxuan would not be able to stay by his side as if nothing had happened after knowing everything, so it was best to part ways. Since they would never cross paths again, he would try his best to forget Li Mingxuan. Once he watched Shen Group change hands, he would be able to leave here without any worries, and everything related to the Shen family would no longer be relevant to him. He would start afresh abroad, a real start.

While Shen Xi was alone and silent, Li Mingxuan was driving aimlessly around Zhongjing. Shen Bixue had called him a few times, but he hadn't answered any of the calls. He knew that his mother and uncle were deeply attached to each other and his mother would definitely want him to be at the hospital at this time. But thinking about Shen Xi, he really didn't have the heart to take care of his mother's mood at this time, especially as he didn't know how to face his uncle and Shen Ji there.

Shen Dehan's affairs, Shen Group affairs, Shen Xi confessed all his calculations in front of him. He had no way to comment on the right or wrong of what Shen Xi had done, but in his heart he was heartbroken for Shen Xi. He didn't know if Shen Xi was worried about him telling Shen Dehan all this when he confessed, but Li Mingxuan subconsciously wanted to hide Shen Xi's secret. A bitter smile curved the corner of Li Mingxuan's mouth. He could no longer deceive himself and maintain an illusion of peace between Shen Xi and the Shen family. Now that things had come to this point, he needed to make a choice, and he had already made it instinctively. Perhaps in his heart, Shen Xi was more important than everything else, after all.

That night Li Mingxuan went to Ye Han's place instead of going back to the Li family. He was worried that his father might see something, and he had no intention of telling his family about his break-up with Shen Xi.

Ye Han was obviously very surprised by Li Mingxuan's sudden arrival. He quickly realised what was wrong from Li Mingxuan's expression, but thoughtfully did not ask more questions.

"What can I get you to drink?"

Li Mingxuan was in a depressed mood, "Whatever."

Ye Han thought for a moment and carried a few cans of beer and put them in front of Li Mingxuan.

"Although it's not a good idea to drink to drown your sorrows, it might be more comfortable to get drunk."

Li Mingxuan laughed bitterly, "Do I look that bad?"

Ye Han nodded and commented briefly, "As if your soul is lost. This is the first time I've seen you look like this."

Li Mingxuan listened to Ye Han's words as he leaned back on the sofa, wretched and dejected, his expression unable to hide his pain, "I broke up with Shen Xi."

Although he had already guessed that Li Mingxuan's current state had something to do with Shen Xi, this news still took Ye Han by surprise. He thought that the two of them just quarrelled at most.

"Why?" Ye Han suddenly thought of something and raised his eyebrows, "Because of Lu Gesen?"

Li Mingxuan shook his head, "It has nothing to do with Lu Gesen, it's my problem."

Ye Han didn't really believe in Li Mingxuan's words. He knew how Li Mingxuan felt about Shen Xi; no matter how he looked at it, Li Mingxuan wouldn't be willing to break up.

A trace of bitterness flashed across Li Mingxuan's face, "You should have heard about the scandal that broke out in the Shen family today, right?"

Ye Han's eyes flashed and a hint of weirdness appeared on his face, "Could it be that Shen Xi did it?"

Li Mingxuan nodded. Ye Han looked at Li Mingxuan in shock and couldn't help but say, "Calculating his own father to lose his reputation, Shen Xi is really ruthless. But one might say that the Shen family wronged Shen Xi indeed. Although Shen Xi was a bit ruthless in doing so, it was justifiable. You wouldn't break up with him because of this, right?"

The words "break up" made Li Mingxuan's expression even more wretched, "Not only this matter, behind everything that has happened to Shen Group in the past six months or so is Xiao Xi's shadow. Everything has been his calculation from the time he returned to China."

Ye Han looked incredulous, "Even being with you is a calculation?"

Li Mingxuan covered his eyes in pain, "I don't know. Xiao Xi has never revealed his interest in Shen Group in front of me, let alone revealing his intention to calculate Shen Group. What could he gain by being with me?"

Li Mingxuan did not believe that Shen Xi was with him to gain anything. In fact, Shen Xi had never asked anything from him. But he could not find any reason for Shen Xi to be with him.

Ye Han sighed, "Is it because of these things that Shen Xi has done? You know, based on what the Shen family did to Shen Xi in the past, it's normal for Shen Xi to have thoughts of revenge."

Li Mingxuan smiled bitterly, "I know, I can understand Xiao Xi's revenge, I just don't know what I am to him. From the beginning to the end, this relationship was always my initiative, he just passively accepted everything. I always thought I could get him to reciprocate in return for my dedication, but if the feelings he showed in front of me were all fake, then what is all my dedication?"

This was what really made Li Mingxuan suffer.

Ye Han let out a silent sigh. He really didn't know what to say when it came to feelings, he could only dryly console Li Mingxuan, "It's better to break up, there's no guarantee that these things Shen Xi did will not be known by the Shen family one day. Instead of you being caught in the middle then, it's better to separate early."

When he said this, Ye Han suddenly thought of what Li Mingxuan had asked him to do, "Should I continue to investigate Lu Gesen? Since he stayed abroad most of the time before, the results of the investigation might take a little time."

Li Mingxuan wanted to give up, but when he thought about Shen Xi's closed-mouth attitude towards Lu Gesen, he nodded. That night, Ye Han drank a lot with Li Mingxuan and listened to Li Mingxuan talk about Shen Xi over and over again. Ye Han really felt that love was a harmful thing.

For the next two days, Li Mingxuan remained with Ye Han, and his family did not know about his break-up with Shen Xi. During this period, he accompanied his mother to the hospital once. Shen Dehan was awake, but he had suffered a full-body stroke and was completely incapacitated. Affected by the stroke, Shen Dehan could no longer speak coherently. No matter how hard Shen Dehan tried, he could only make some babbling sounds. Shen Bixue was very worried about his current state and spent the last few days at the hospital, fearing that something might happen to Shen Dehan.

That afternoon, Li Mingxuan accompanied his father to the hospital once again and saw Shen Bixue discontentedly saying something to the nurses. Seeing the two of them, Shen Bixue hurriedly said a few words to the nurses and let them leave.

"What's wrong?" Li Xiyong said.

Shen Bixue sighed, "Big Brother is in a bad mood and refuses to take the medicine. These little nurses, instead of coaxing him, forcefully made Big Brother take medicine, so I said a few words to them."

Li Xiyong knew that Shen Bixue was in an agitated mood, so he said soothingly, "They are doing it for Dehan's own good, it's not good for Dehan not to take his medicine." Li Xiyong turned his head and looked at Li Mingxuan, "Mingxuan, you stay with your mother outside for a while, I'll go and see your uncle."

After Li Xiyong finished speaking, he gently patted Shen Bixue's shoulder. Shen Bixue knew she was not in the right mood, so she took a deep breath and nodded.

Li Xiyong's figure quickly disappeared in the ward. Li Mingxuan looked at Shen Bixue with concern, "Mother, Father brought over shredded chicken porridge from Zhou Ji, do you want some?"

Shen Bixue shook her head. Although she tried to control her emotions, she could not help but complain to her son, "I don't have the appetite to eat porridge. Your uncle had an accident, but Ah Cheng and Xiao Xi didn't come to the hospital once, and even Ah Ji left after a few hurried visits. Your uncle is lying there all alone, what is so important that Ah Ji and the others can't stay at the hospital?"

Li Mingxuan listened to Shen Bixue's complaint and explained softly, "Didn't I tell you that Xiao Xi had been recuperating at home after he was sick? I was the one who didn't let him come to the hospital. As for Ah Cheng, he is at a critical moment in his recovery from drug addiction, Ah Ji simply doesn't feel at ease leaving him at home alone and will inevitably be a little negligent towards Uncle."

Shen Bixue frowned and couldn't help but say, "Forget about Ah Ji and Ah Cheng, tell me the truth, is Xiao Xi really sick? Did you not allow him to come or did he not want to come?"

"Why would Mother ask that?"

Shen Bixue looked at her son and said disappointedly, "Mingxuan, no matter what, your uncle is Xiao Xi's father. Even if your uncle has wronged Xiao Xi, but he is like this now, it's time to leave the past behind, you should advise him to come."

A touch of bitterness flashed across Li Mingxuan's face as he looked up at his mother and said seriously, "Mother, do you really think that after all these years of Uncle's indifference to Xiao Xi and Xiao Xi knowing what happened in the previous generation, he can act as if nothing has happened and come to the hospital to play the role of a filial son as you want him to?"

Li Mingxuan's words caused Shen Bixue to stare, "Mingxuan?"

Li Mingxuan lowered his eyes, "Mother, if it were you, could you have pretended that nothing had happened?"

Shen Bixue looked shocked. She could not have imagined that Li Mingxuan would say that. Li Mingxuan ignored his mother's expression and said in a low voice, "Mother, you always want Xiao Xi to compromise, Xiao Xi to give in to Uncle, but why can't Uncle give in? You've seen the way Uncle treated Xiao Xi for so many years, do you really think he will change his attitude if Xiao Xi just compromises? Obviously, it is Uncle who has done wrong, why is it Xiao Xi who you want to compromise?"

"Mingxuan, you?…"

Li Mingxuan took a deep breath, "I am sorry, Xiao Xi is really sick. Mother, you should not ask anymore."

After Li Mingxuan finished speaking, he turned around and walked to the side of the corridor; he couldn't help but bow his head and smile bitterly. For some reason, he almost couldn't control his emotions after hearing that his mother once again wanted Shen Xi to forget about the past. He had thought a lot after leaving Shen Xi in the past two days. Perhaps he had really been a selfish bastard in the past. It's not that he didn't know about the rift between Shen Xi and the Shen family, but he had been too selfish, wanting both Shen Xi's feelings and the affection of the Shen family. He thought he had put himself in Shen Xi's shoes, but he had to admit that, whether or not Shen Xi intentionally misled him, he had always wanted Shen Xi to act as if nothing had happened, just like his mother.

He was not unaware of the injustice the Shen family had done to Shen Xi, he was not unaware of Shen Xi's hatred for Shen Dehan, but after Shen Xi had implicitly accepted his fate, after Shen Xi had made it clear that he had no intention of being interested in Shen Group, after Shen Xi had indicated that he could not do without the Shen family, he had acquiesced to this attitude of Shen Xi, he had taken Shen Xi's compromise and concession as a matter of course. How was he any different from his mother in this way?

Li Mingxuan thought bitterly that he had always been self-righteous, he had never really figured out what Shen Xi truly wanted, he felt that he had given his feelings in exchange for an equal response from Shen Xi, but he had never even thought about whether his feelings were what Shen Xi needed.

Chapter 88

Because of Shen Dehan's physical condition, Li Xiyong did not stay in the ward for very long. Before Shen Bixue could thoroughly digest what Li Mingxuan had said, Li Xiyong had already pushed the door and walked out.

"Where is Mingxuan?" Li Xiyong wondered, noticing that Shen Bixue was the only one at the door.

Shen Bixue gestured towards the stairs, "He's having a tantrum with me to stand up for Xiao Xi."

Li Xiyong was taken aback, then chuckled, "Brat! What's happened?"

Shen Bixue laughed bitterly, "I just wanted Xiao Xi to come to the hospital to spend some time with Big Brother, but when I mentioned it, Mingxuan refused on Xiao Xi's behalf and acted like I had gone too far. Just think about it, Big Brother has been strong all his life, but when he is old and lying alone in the hospital, none of his three sons are around, what does it feel like?"

Shen Bixue obviously disapproved of Li Mingxuan's behaviour. Noticing Li Xiyong's disbelief, Shen Bixue gave him a disgruntled look, "You also help me to explain that to Xuan, Xiao Xi's surname is Shen after all, and what resentment can be there when Big Brother is already like this?"

Shen Bixue's thoughts were simple, but Li Xiyong was not as optimistic as she was. However, he did not want to argue with her at this time and changed the subject, "Why didn't Ah Ji and Ah Cheng come?"

Shen Bixue frowned, "Ah Cheng is recovering from drugs, Ah Ji is with him and can't leave, now only Xiao Xi has time."

The topic of conversation once again moved to Shen Xi, and Li Xiyong said soothingly, "Since Mingxuan has already refused, you should not bring up the matter of Xiao Xi coming to the hospital again. Besides, according to Dehan's nature, he might not be willing to see Xiao Xi either."

That was true, but thinking of Shen Dehan lying alone in the hospital, Shen Bixue felt her heart sink. She wanted to say something else, but Li Xiyong once again said, "I know what you mean, but you have seen how Dehan treated Xiao Xi all these years. You can't just ask Xiao Xi for everything regardless of Dehan's attitude. Xiao Xi might be filial, but does Dehan treat him like a father? Besides, it's up to Xiao Xi to decide whether he wants to come or not, so what's the point of us getting involved in this?" According to Li Xiyong, since they had acquiesced to Shen Dehan's attitude towards Shen Xi all these years and did not care about what happened to Shen Xi, what right did they have now to point fingers at Shen Xi's behaviour? Shen Xi was with Mingxuan, but that didn't mean they could interfere with Shen Xi's attitude through Mingxuan. Besides, even Ah Ji was unwilling to stay at the hospital because of Shen Rong, so why should they make things difficult for Shen Xi?

Li Xiyong's words made Shen Bixue sigh. Over the years, Li Xiyong had never interfered into the Shen family's affairs, and this was the first time he had made a clear statement. She understood what Li Xiyong meant. Since she had sat back and watched Shen Dehan's indifference towards Shen Xi, what qualifications did she have to ask Shen Xi to come here now? With a silent sigh, Shen Bixue said in a low voice, "I see!"

Li Xiyong and Li Mingxuan stayed with Shen Bixue at the hospital for a whole afternoon, and it was not until the evening that the two left. Li Mingxuan did not go back to Ye Han's place, but turned along the familiar street to the neighbourhood where Shen Xi lived.

Skillfully parking the car at a corner of the neighbourhood, Li Mingxuan did not get out but sat quietly in the car and looked up at the familiar window. The warm glow from the window was a great attraction to Li Mingxuan. He tried hard to suppress the urge to appear in front of Shen Xi and stayed in the car restrainedly. It had been three days since he left Shen Xi. Li Mingxuan forced himself not to think about Shen Xi, but no matter what he did, Shen Xi's shadow always lingered in his mind. Today, his mother mentioned Shen Xi, so he could no longer resist and sneaked back here in the darkness.

Perhaps it was because he was close to Shen Xi that the thoughts he had been suppressing came out in a flood. Li Mingxuan looked in the direction of the window, wondering how Shen Xi had been these past few days. Did he eat well and rest well? A trace of bitterness flashed across Li Mingxuan's face. He wondered if Shen Xi would occasionally think of him.

When Li Mingxuan was suffering alone, Shen Xi was not having a good time either. Without Li Mingxuan by his side, he did not sleep well at night. The memories of his two lives were mixed up in his dreams, and every time Shen Xi was awakened, he would have moments of confusion about the reality he was in.

After being awakened by yet another nightmare, Shen Xi gasped for air. The scene in his dream was the life he had lived in prison in his previous life, but he was inexplicably accompanied by Li Mingxuan. The riot came as expected and he watched as the knife stabbed at him, but it was Li Mingxuan who stood in front of him at the critical moment. Boundless blood spread before his eyes; Shen Xi felt as if he had forgotten to breathe, as if his heart was squeezed by a large invisible hand, so painful that he could not even cry out. When he opened his eyes, he was lying on the bed in his apartment, there was no Li Mingxuan nor was there blood. Shen Xi frowned in annoyance. The scene in his dream was so real that even the pain felt as if he had experienced it himself.

With his sleepiness completely gone, Shen Xi simply turned on the light and sat leaning against the bed, casually grabbing a financial magazine by the side of the bed and flipping through it in a daze. After flipping through a few pages, Shen Xi's movements stopped and his eyes focused on an interview with Li Mingxuan. A large picture was printed there, and Li Mingxuan was smiling with a calm and confident look on his face.

Shen Xi stared at Li Mingxuan's smiling face, and Li Mingxuan's desperate expression that day suddenly flashed in his mind. His heart throbbed violently. Why was he that desperate? Was it because of his revenge against the Shen family or because he deceived him? Shen Xi's hand unconsciously brushed over the magazine, and a trace of longing appeared in his eyes.

As Shen Xi turned on the lights, Li Mingxuan, who had been sitting quietly in the car, quickly noticed the light. After he glanced at the time and saw it was 2 a.m., Li Mingxuan's face expressed a hint of worry. He knew that Shen Xi did not sleep well when he was alone, so he had tried to avoid business trips for the past six months and insisted on coming home every night. Deeply worried, he wondered if Shen Xi was suffering from insomnia again.

Half an hour later, realising that Shen Xi had no intention of sleeping, Li Mingxuan finally couldn't help but press Shen Xi's mobile phone number. The call was quickly answered, but no word was said on the other side, only the sound of breathing came through.

Li Mingxuan quietly listened to Shen Xi's breathing, forcing down the fluctuations in his heart and trying to act as if nothing had happened, "Why are you still awake?"

Shen Xi thought of many things Li Mingxuan might say, but he never expected him to ask him why he was still awake. Almost subconsciously, Shen Xi asked back, "How do you know I'm not asleep?" After saying this, Shen Xi seemed to realise something and said tentatively, "You are downstairs?"

Shen Xi's guess made Li Mingxuan's heart beat faster and he almost blurted out "yes", but he soon calmed down and denied it, "No." Then he explained, "I guessed. You picked up as soon as the phone rang, I thought you were still awake."

"Oh!"

While talking, Shen Xi got up and stood in front of the window. Because of the late night, even though the community was lit up with street lights, he could only faintly see the shadows of the cars downstairs, but could not see if there was anyone inside the car. After realising what he was doing, a hint of self-deprecation flickered in Shen Xi's eyes. He didn't really think Li Mingxuan would stay up in the middle of the night just to watch him. They had already broken up, so what was the need for Li Mingxuan to do that? Thinking about this, Shen Xi suppressed the indescribable disappointment in his heart, glanced downstairs once again, turned and left the window.

Shen Xi could not see below, but Li Mingxuan saw Shen Xi's figure clearly. Taking a deep breath, Li Mingxuan pretended to speak calmly, "It's so late, go to bed."

Shen Xi was a bit confused as to what Li Mingxuan meant with this phone call. Was it just to see if he was asleep and urge him to sleep? Thinking about it, Shen Xi said frankly, "I can't sleep."

"Can't sleep?" Li Mingxuan said warmly, "I will accompany you, go to bed and turn off the lights, you'll fall asleep soon."

"Really?"

"Really!"

Shen Xi obediently lay down on the bed, thoughtfully reaching out to turn off the light, and as the light dimmed, the pale moonlight poured in like water. Shen Xi glanced at the curtains that he had just pulled open and gave up the intention of pulling them close again.

In the moonlight, Li Mingxuan's voice came out of the phone with an unmistakable gentleness, "Turned off the lights?"

"En!"

"Go to sleep."

"En!"

Although the two seemed to have nothing to say at this point, neither of them showed any intention of hanging up. As time passed by, Shen Xi fell asleep unconsciously. Hearing Shen Xi's soothing breath from the opposite side, Li Mingxuan pressed his mobile phone to his face, as if this way he could get closer to Shen Xi.

At dawn, Shen Xi woke up. Although he had not slept for long, the feeling of peace of mind surrounded him and Shen Xi felt indescribably refreshed. When he turned over, wrapped in the blanket, the left side of his face was suddenly pressed against something metallic. Shen Xi froze and checked what it was. The mobile phone in front of him reminded him of what had happened last night.

Shen Xi's eyes fell on the screen in front of him, the call time on it was still counting, it hadn't been hung up all night. Shen Xi hesitated slightly and said softly, "Cousin?"

He was just testing, but Li Mingxuan's voice came quickly, "I'm here!"

This "I'm here" hit Shen Xi's heart, and he couldn't tell what he felt for a moment.

"You're awake?"

"Yes!"

Li Mingxuan laughed softly and said, "It's still early, sleep a little longer."

Shen Xi held the phone and hesitated for a while, "Okay, I'll hang up then."

"Good!"

The beeping sound came out of the receiver, and Li Mingxuan relaxed against the back of the seat. After having spent the night in a small space and having to pay attention to Shen Xi's state, only now did he feel exhausted. Casually tossing his phone aside, Li Mingxuan closed his eyes and imagined that Shen Xi was beside him right now.

The phone rang suddenly. Surprised, Li Mingxuan hastily picked it up. The name on the screen was "Ye Han", not "Shen Xi".

The surprise faded and was replaced with confusion, "Hello!"

"Where are you now?" Ye Han's lazy voice came out; it didn't sound as if anything was wrong.

Li Mingxuan let out a sigh of relief, "Downstairs of Xiao Xi's house."

"What?" Ye Han suddenly cried out and said hesitantly, "Hey, you didn't stay downstairs at Shen Xi's all night, did you?"

"En!"

"You're crazy!" It was the only thing Ye Han could say.

Li Mingxuan rubbed his forehead and avoided the topic, "What's up so early in the morning?"

Since Li Mingxuan didn't want to mention it, Ye Han let him go and returned to the subject, "The information you wanted to check on Lu Gesen was received this morning, and I found something interesting that was so unexpected that I couldn't help but want to tell you about it."

"What is it?" Li Mingxuan shot up.

Ye Han coughed lightly, "Lu Gesen's original name is not Lu Gesen, he should be called Han Gesen. He is Han Yu's son, which means he is Shen Xi's other cousin."

"Han Gesen!" Li Mingxuan sat up straight in shock, "Have you made a mistake? The Han family only has Shen Xi in this generation, how could a Han Gesen suddenly appear?"

"There is no mistake, I have the DNA test of Lu Gesen and Han Yu, they are father and son."

Ye Han was obviously very sure, and Li Mingxuan subconsciously looked towards the familiar window. He thought about Shen Xi's avoidance of Lu Gesen's identity that day. So Shen Xi had long known that Lu Gesen was his cousin, and that was why he had defended him.

Ye Han seemed to be waiting for Li Mingxuan to digest this news, and continued to speak a little while later, "Apart from Lu Gesen, they also found another person."

"Who?"

"You'll never guess!" Ye Han's voice revealed a trace of weirdness, "Do you know who Lu Gesen has been receiving support from all these years?"

Hearing Ye Han's meaning, it seemed that this person's identity was even more surprising. A figure suddenly flashed in Li Mingxuan's mind and he blurted out, "Wang Changlin!"

"How do you know?" Ye Han exclaimed in disbelief.

Li Mingxuan muttered, "So it's true?"

Ye Han affirmed, "It's Wang Changlin. I can't believe it. I was originally looking into Lu Gesen, but I found out that Wang Changlin and Lu Gesen have been very close over the years. Back when Lu Gesen graduated from university, it was Wang Changlin who represented his parents at the graduation ceremony. It's just that the scope of activities of the two of them are abroad, and there is no clue at all in the country."

Li Mingxuan did not expect to find out such astonishing news. He thought that the news that Lu Gesen was Shen Xi's cousin was already shocking enough, but he did not expect that Wang Changlin would be involved. Who was Wang Changlin? He was his uncle's most trusted person, his personal lawyer, so it could be said that he held the core secrets of the Shen family. But now he was actually involved with Lu Gesen. Li Mingxuan vaguely sensed something, "Do you have the detailed information on Wang Changlin?"

"Yes, but it's fake, they found that all of Wang Changlin's information before he was twenty-five was falsified. He is being investigated further."

"I see, I'll go back soon."

Hanging up the phone, Li Mingxuan frowned slightly. Wang Changlin, the Han family, the Shen family, Lu Gesen and Shen Xi, there seemed to be a thread stringing them all together.

Chapter 89

Li Mingxuan had a dream.

Everything in the dream seemed to unfold before his eyes one scene after another as if it were a movie. At the beginning of the dream was a place he knew very well, the hall of the Shen family's house, and he recognized almost immediately that the young child hiding under the stairs, alone and holding a teddy bear, was Shen Xi. He didn't know why he was seeing the young Shen Xi, but he couldn't help but walk over to him when an argument came from upstairs, stopping Li Mingxuan in his tracks. Han Rou was arguing with his uncle over something fiercely, and Li Mingxuan was quite upset. Shen Xi was so little, how could his parents quarrel in front of him?

Li Mingxuan looked at Shen Xi with concern, but Shen Xi seemed to be used to such scenes and did not cry and fuss like a normal child, but just quietly hugged the bear and looked up the stairs in silence. The argument between Han Rou and his uncle soon came to an end, and he saw his uncle leave the house in a rage, while Han Rou chased him to the living room, smashing everything in the living room to pieces in anger.

Shen Xi carefully got out from under the stairs and tugged at Han Rou's sleeve, saying sensibly, "Mommy, I don't want Daddy anymore, I have Mommy and Little Bear and that's enough, don't fight with Daddy." Han Rou seemed to hug Shen Xi and cry. Li Mingxuan didn't pay attention to what Han Rou said, his mind was full of the words Shen Xi had just said. After the quarrel, Han Rou took Shen Xi back to live with the Han family for half a month. During this half month, he watched his uncle go to Li's house day after day to accompany Shen Ji and Shen Cheng, and watched his uncle take time to visit Shen Rong at Zhou Mingmei's place. But his uncle never set foot in the Han family, completely abandoning Shen Xi.

Half a month later, Han Rong returned to the Shen family with Shen Xi in her arms and began another wave of arguments with his uncle.

The scenes in the dream changed quickly, and Li Mingxuan was shocked to realise that Shen Xi had been living in the midst of Han Rou and Shen Dehan's quarrels until he was six years old. As he watched the two of them fight fiercely because of his uncle's indifference, Li Mingxuan's heart ached for Shen Xi, who was hiding in the shadows alone. He had no friends and his only playmate was the teddy bear by his side. Li Mingxuan noticed that Shen Xi rarely smiled at home and would only be happy like a normal child when he went to Han's house.

Li Mingxuan had heard too many bad things about Han Ruo in the past. She was unruly and domineering; she had tossed the Shen family into chaos. But in the dream, even though Han Rou had a thousand bad qualities, she was the only one who touched Shen Xi. She loved Shen Xi in her own clumsy way. As Li Mingxuan watched her quarrel again and again with his uncle over his coldness towards Shen Xi, pushing him further away as a result, as he watched her struggle to give Shen Xi a normal home, Li Mingxuan could only let out a silent sigh and feel even more heartbroken for Shen Xi. Shen Xi grew up day by day and Han Rou's state became worse and worse until she made a decisive jump to her death on that rainy day. Li Mingxuan watched Shen Xi witness all this, watched him falling very ill, watched him recover and forget everything he had seen that day, watched him losing his family members and being left on his own. Li Mingxuan's heart clenched; he wanted to be by Shen Xi's side, wanted to hold him tightly, but he could do nothing but watch quietly as the scenes unfolded before him.

He had heard his mother and Shen Ji talk about things that happened next, but it was never as shocking as seeing it with his own eyes. He watched Shen Xi grow up under his uncle's indifference, watched him skip school, race cars and take psychedelic drugs at a young age, watched him spend his days getting drunk and dreaming of dying in different ways. No one in the Shen family asked him about his studies, no one asked him about his life, and no one even asked him where he lived when he didn't return home for days on end. Although Li Mingxuan had regretted his indifference to Shen Xi countless times, this time he truly understood what their indifference had done to Shen Xi.

Shen Xi grew up in this way under the indifference of everyone until the day of his eighteenth birthday. He clearly heard Shen Rong and Tian Wenyao's conversation and saw Shen Xi lying there with an expression of anger and despair on his face. In the aftermath things seemed to unfold differently than Li Mingxuan remembered, and as he watched Shen Xi drive his car into Shen Rong and Tian Wenyao, he felt overwhelmed with shock.

The police soon arrived at the scene, and Li Mingxuan frantically rushed over shouting.

"No, that's not what happened!"

Shen Xi didn't crash into Tian Wenyao with his car, he remembered that Shen Xi didn't do anything that night, Tian Wenyao had been with Shen Rong until the sex video scandal broke out a few days later, but why did he see something different in the dream? The police were taking Shen Xi away and he tried desperately to stop them, but his presence was like an illusion and he couldn't do anything.

"Xiao Xi!" Li Mingxuan's eyes snapped open, and the glowing signboard of Shutu, Tian Wenyao's face distorted with pain, bright red blood spilled around, they all receded from his mind, leaving only Shen Xi's thin back as he was taken away.

"What's wrong?" Ye Han poked his head in the doorway, "Dreaming of Shen Xi again?"

The words "Shen Xi" seemed to be a magic spell, and Li Mingxuan instantly woke up. The scenes in the dream flashed one by one; Li Mingxuan covered his forehead, feeling a headache, and said urgently, "Do you still remember the video scandal with Tian Wenyao that broke out five years ago?"

"Why do you suddenly remember this? I remember the other party involved was that bastard son of the Shen family. What's the matter?"

Ye Han's confirmation made Li Mingxuan breathe a huge sigh of relief as he shook his head, "It's nothing."

Fortunately, what happened in the dream was not the same as reality. Shen Xi did not hit anyone with his car, was not taken away by the police, did not lose everything in despair.

Ye Han gave him a concerned look, "You're not going to sleep anymore? You didn't sleep all night last night."

Li Mingxuan shook his head with a bitter smile, "I had a nightmare, I'm not sleepy anymore."

Ye Han winced helplessly; he really didn't know what kind of nightmare Li Mingxuan could have when he shouted Shen Xi's name? Did the two of them break up again in the dream?

Because of this dream, Li Mingxuan became more concerned about Shen Xi and continued the secret investigation of Lu Gesen and Wang Changlin, not mentioning it to others. What Lu Gesen wanted, considering his identity, was clear without guessing. But why Wang Changlin would be on the Han family's side was something he could not understand. Thinking about what Ye Han had said about Wang Changlin's previous identity falsification, Li Mingxuan couldn't help but want to find out what was going on.

While the results of Ye Han's investigation were not yet available, the Shen family's affairs continued to develop.

The rumours of Shen Dehan being dumped in public at a press conference had not yet subsided, when Shen Group that was in financial trouble was involved in the scandal of alleged bribery connected to several financial projects at the beginning of the year. As soon as the rumours broke out, the companies that had been interested in these projects withdrew their investments, further exacerbating Shen Group's financial woes and bringing its capital chain to the brink of collapse. Under these circumstances, the few remaining minority shareholders of Shen Group gave up their wait-and-see attitude towards Shen Group and chose to sell their shares. At this point, the value of Shen Group shares was less than a tenth of what it was before, and several shareholders only wanted to get rid of the shares as soon as possible before Shen Group bankruptcy and did not dare to quote too high a price. They were originally worried that no one would be interested in Shen Group shares with the bankruptcy of Shen Group imminent, but to their surprise, as soon as the news of the sale was released, someone secretly contacted them and took over the shares.

Wang Changlin was satisfied with the 34% share of Shen Group shares. As long as there were no surprises and 20% shares in Shen Xi's hands became his, he would become the controlling shareholder of Shen Group. By then, he alone would have the final say on whether Shen Group would live or die. Years of arrangement were about to bring results. Wang Changlin, whose mood was usually very level, was revealing some signs of joy. The condition was Shen Xi's complete break with the Shen family, but Wang Changlin is not worried about it, considering how Shen Xi had been treated by his father over the years. But just in case, it would be best for him to strengthen his ties with Shen Xi.

In an instant, Wang Changlin turned his head to look at Lu Gesen with his gaze full of emotions, "Gesen, the day after tomorrow is Xiao Xi's birthday. Once the will comes into effect and Xiao Xi sells the shares in his hands, we can take control of Shen Group. By then, the Han family's great revenge will be completed and I can go underground to see Elder Han without fear."

"Foster Father!" Lu Gesen interrupted eagerly, "I have yet to be properly filial to my foster father, and my foster father has yet to see Xiao Xi and I marry and have children to enjoy our family life. How can you say such words?"

Lu Gesen's expression was so sincere that Wang Changlin smiled gratefully, "Fine, I don't say anything, don't say anything. By the way what are your plans for Xiao Xi's birthday? All these years the Shen family has never celebrated Xiao Xi's birthday, so this year since we are here, why don't we call a few of Xiao Xi's friends and have a lively celebration for Xiao Xi?"

What Wang Changlin said was exactly Lu Gesen's original plan, but this proposal was politely rejected by Shen Xi last time. When he heard his foster father's concern, Lu Gesen explained with a smile, "Xiao Xi seems to have a girlfriend, so I think he will celebrate his birthday with her. But don't worry, we'll find some time to celebrate after his birthday."

A look of regret flickered in Wang Changlin's eyes and he smiled covertly, "A girlfriend? Xiao Xi has really grown up."

If Lu Gesen had been paying attention, he would have heard the contradictory meaning of Wang Changlin's words, but he trusted Wang Changlin so much and admired him from the bottom of his heart that he would not have thought anything about it. Since he could not use the celebration to strengthen his relationship with Shen Xi, Wang Changlin had to wait patiently for Shen Xi's birthday.

While Wang Changlin was secretly acquiring Shen Group shares, Li Xiyong also noticed the change in Shen Group shareholders. But Wang Changlin had been hiding in the shadows and only his agents were acting in the open. Although Li Xiyong felt that there was something different about the change in Shen Group shareholding, he could not guess who was hiding in the dark.

Li Mingxuan sat quietly opposite his father. Once the news of the change in Shen Group shareholding spread, he had a sneaking suspicion that it was Lu Gesen. After all, Shen Group was on the verge of bankruptcy and no one would be stupid enough to acquire Shen Group shares at this time unless they had an agenda. It was just that he was a bit doubtful whether Lu Gesen had such great financial power.

Thinking of Lu Gesen, Li Mingxuan could not help but think of Shen Xi once again. The scenes from the dream replayed in his mind one by one, finally settling on Shen Xi's fragile back. He had repeatedly confirmed with Ye Han that Tian Wenyao was still alive and kicking in Shutu instead of having his legs crushed as in the dream, and that Shen Xi had not been taken away by the police but had chosen to study abroad five years ago. But he still felt scared; the scene in his dream was too vivid, giving him the illusion that it was reality.

As Li Mingxuan was lost in thought, his father suddenly said, "The day after tomorrow is Xiao Xi's birthday. Mingfei has been clamouring to celebrate Xiao Xi's birthday, do you want to bring Xiao Xi for dinner here?"

Li Mingxuan was taken aback. His heart felt bitter, but his face remained calm as if nothing had happened, "I'm afraid I won't have time on Xiao Xi's birthday, I'm busy at work."

Li Xiyong gave him a glance, nodded and skipped the topic. The two didn't say anything else, and as Li Xiyong watched Li Mingxuan's slightly gloomy back, he frowned thoughtfully.

When he returned to his office, Li Mingxuan pulled open the drawer of his desk sadly, and a small, red, four-square gift box appeared in front of his eyes. Li Mingxuan took it out; inside was a gift he had carefully prepared for Shen Xi, originally wanting to give him a surprise on his birthday. But now he feared he would never have a chance to give it.

A long sigh echoed through the office. Soon, Shen Xi's birthday that everyone thought about arrived.

The day before his birthday, Shen Xi received a call from the lawyer arranged by his grandfather back then. He was informed to arrive at the hospital early in the morning to prepare for the reading of the will. For this reason, Shen Xi showed up at the hospital early, along with Shen Ji and Shen Cheng. No one expected the three of them to meet in the elevator. Shen Xi swept a glance at Shen Ji and Shen Cheng and stood with no expression on his face.

Shen Ji didn't seem to have changed much, he was still the same as before, but Shen Cheng looked like a different person. Perhaps because of detoxification, Shen Cheng's whole body was in an unhealthy state, his complexion was extremely pale, and he looked much thinner and very spiritless.

At Shen Xi's appearance, Shen Ji nodded slightly, and Shen Cheng only gave him a lazy look, not as domineering as before.

The moment the elevator door closed, Shen Cheng looked at Shen Xi strangely, "Why didn't Cousin Mingxuan come with you?"

Shen Xi guessed that Shen Cheng did not know about his breakup with Li Mingxuan, so he did not mention it and simply said, "He had something to do." The answer sounded very alienating.

Although Shen Cheng was not happy with his attitude, he frowned and held back, thinking of Shen Ji telling him not to cause any trouble.

The elevator fell into silence as the floors changed one by one. Shen Cheng impatiently scratched the door; Shen Ji reached out and took hold of his hand, and Shen Cheng suddenly became quiet.

For the first time, the three of them calmly appeared in front of Shen Dehan at the same time.

Perhaps it was the severity of this bout of illness, or perhaps it was the despair of Shen Dehan who knew that he could no longer be cured, but he aged with a rapidity visible to the naked eye. His eyes were cloudy, their previous clarity gone. His skin hung loosely on his face, and there was a faint aura of decay and death about him. This was the first time Shen Xi had seen Shen Dehan in this state, and instead of the expected elation, Shen Xi was strangely very calm, looked at Shen Dehan with a hint of pity in his eyes.

The once towering father lay frail before him, no longer able to manipulate his life, no longer able to inflict indifference and dislike on him. What's more, a few hours later, he would be left with nothing. The Shen Group that he had poured all his heart and soul into and spent his life defending would be destroyed at his hands.

Shen Xi smiled faintly at Shen Dehan when no one was looking, and saw a look of anger on his father's face. Unfortunately, Shen Dehan could not say anything, but just kept babbling in vain in Shen Xi's direction.

Shen Xi looked back innocently, "What do you want, Mr. Shen, speak louder, I can't hear you clearly."

Following Shen Xi's words, Shen Dehan's voice got even angrier. The nurse at his side patiently stepped forward to coax him to quieten down, completely treating him as if he was mentally incapacitated.

Shen Cheng was obviously seeing Shen Dehan in this state for the first time, his eyes showing concern, "Will Father always be like this?"

The nurse nodded and explained softly, "This is considered good, at least old Mr. Shen can still recognise people and has some basic sanity. Many stroke patients are not sane nor do they recognise people because of the compression of the blood vessels in their brain."

Shen Ji sighed in his heart, went forward and patted Shen Cheng, then sat down next to Shen Dehan, gently held his hand and accompanied the nurse to coax him patiently.

Perhaps because of Shen Ji, Shen Dehan's mood gradually normalised, and the lawyer who had been standing in the corner pretending to be invisible stepped forward.

"I think everyone should know that what I am holding is the will that old Mr. Shen Jiacheng made before he passed away. According to Mr. Shen Jiacheng's wishes, this will will come into effect when Mr. Shen Xi reaches the age of 23 and will be confirmed by Mr. Shen Ji, Mr. Shen Cheng and Mr. Shen Xi together. In other words, there are two conditions for this will to take effect, one is that Mr. Shen Xi, the youngest son of the Shen family, reaches the age of 23, and the other is that all three are present at the same time to confirm it. Well, now if there are no comments, I am going to start reading the will."

The lawyer finished the necessary opening remarks and looked around with his customary smile, but unexpectedly met Shen Xi's focused gaze. The smile on the lawyer's face froze and he averted his eyes, struggling to maintain his previous smile.

"I want to know what will happen to the will if one of us can't make it here today?" Shen Xi suddenly said with an expressionless face.

The lawyer was taken aback and quickly laughed, "Mr. Shen Xi, there is no need to worry. If someone couldn't make it today, then according to the conditions that need to be met for the will to take effect, the time for this will to take effect would be postponed until everyone of you confirms it at the same time."

Shen Xi said in a cold voice, "If I am unable to show up at all, will the commencement of this will continue to be postponed indefinitely?"

The lawyer nodded, "Of course."

"What if one day I die?" Shen Xi said in a deep voice.

His words immediately took everyone present by surprise, and even Shen Ji had a stunned expression on his face. The lawyer looked at Shen Xi oddly, unable to guess how Shen Xi could ask such an unlucky question.

Shen Xi didn't look like he was joking at all and repeated the question, "What if I die?"

The lawyer wiped the non-existent sweat from his forehead and said with a bitter smile, "If something happens to Mr. Shen Xi, this will will naturally be null and void. Shen Group property will be inherited by Mr. Shen Dehan according to the law, and then after that it will depend on Mr. Shen Dehan's personal arrangements."

After listening to the lawyer's explanation, Shen Xi fell silent and did not say anything else.

After his rebirth, Shen Xi rarely wondered at whose hands he had died in his previous life. As far as he was concerned, both the Tian family and the Shen family were suspect, and since he had changed his fate in this life, it was useless to think more about the events of his previous life. He would not take the initiative to take revenge on the Tian family because of the possibility of dying at their hands; after all, if he had not done the wrong thing on impulse back then, nothing that followed would have happened. What he hated since the beginning was not the Tian family but the Shen family. It was the Shen family who knew that he was delirious from the hallucinogens he had taken at the time but never said a word in his defence.

When he had heard the news about the will from Li Mingxuan earlier, he also vaguely thought that this could be the cause of his death in his previous life. But now, after hearing the lawyer's explanation, Shen Xi had doubts. If the Shen family wanted him dead, he would not have survived his first year in prison. But the fact was that while his first few years in prison had been very dangerous, it was not dangerous enough to kill him. The Tian family just wanted to humiliate him at first, but in the next few years, he was already famous throughout the prison and his life was much more stable. If he had not been killed in the end, he would likely have died in prison of old age. In this way, while Shen Dehan certainly meant to use his imprisonment to delay the commencement of the will, he did not necessarily intend to kill him. So who was it that finally dealt with him? Was it the Tian family, or the Shen family who wanted to take advantage of the will's annulment?

Shen Xi lowered his eyes to hide his thoughts. The lawyer looked around and saw that no one had any questions, so he quickly read out the will in his hand.

Everyone present knew the contents of the will in advance, and no one expressed surprise. Even Shen Cheng had been told about it by Shen Ji before he arrived and only looked at Shen Xi with a puzzled expression.

Shen Ji stepped forward and looked at the lawyer, "Is the will in effect now?"

The lawyer nodded and patiently explained, "The will is now in effect, but because the shares were previously concentrated in Mr. Shen Dehan's hands, we need a day to transfer the shares to the three of you. Of course a series of formalities that need to be carried out have been prepared by me and my colleagues, all you need to do is to sign and confirm."

Shen Xi said lightly, "If I intend to resell the shares in my hands, do I need to sign before reselling them or can I transfer the shares directly to the other party now?"

"What, you want to sell the shares?" As soon as Shen Xi's words came out, Shen Cheng already shouted before the lawyer could say anything.

Shen Xi gave him a cold glance without speaking, his eyes fixed on the lawyer's face.

The lawyer was obviously also very surprised but still replied with a smile, "In fact, the will is now in effect and Mr. Shen Xi can of course transfer the shares directly from Mr. Shen Dehan's hands to the other party without having to go through this step himself."

"I understand, I will ask the other party to contact you directly."

When Shen Xi said this, everyone understood that he had already found the buyer. Shen Cheng was in shock and rushed to him, "Are you really crazy, how can you sell the shares of Shen Group, are you still a member of the Shen family?"

Shen Xi snorted, "I'm not a member of the Shen family if I sell my shares in Shen Group, what about you? Shen Group almost collapsed in your hands, so what are you? Besides, have you ever thought of me as a member of the Shen family in your life? It's too ridiculous to remember that I'm a member of the Shen family at this time."

"You!" Shen Cheng was half-dead with anger, yet he could do nothing because what Shen Xi said was the truth.

Shen Ji quietly walked over, looking straight at Shen Xi, and said in a low voice, "Have you thought about it carefully?"

Shen Xi nodded with a calm expression. Shen Ji wanted to say something, but after looking at Shen Xi he finally said nothing.

The people were over here arguing about the fate of the shares in Shen Xi's hands, while Shen Dehan was lying on the bed listening to Shen Xi's words, his whole body stiff with anger, as he babbled loudly, trying to attract the attention of the others.

"Unfilial son! Unfilial son! How dare you sell the shares in your hands, I disagree, I disagree!"

Shen Dehan tried hard to make a coherent word, but no matter how hard he tried, he could not speak clearly, he just kept babbling. What made him even more angry was that Shen Xi had obviously noticed his expression, but pretended not to see it, sneering at him and turning his head to look out the window.

"Evil son! Evil son!"

Shen Dehan was so furious that these words were the only thing that came to his mind. Finally Shen Ji heard his father's movements and walked over.

"Father!"

Shen Dehan desperately gestured to Shen Ji with his eyes, "Stop Shen Xi, stop that evil son!"

Shen Ji looked at Shen Dehan in silence. He understood what Shen Dehan meant but had no intention of stopping Shen Xi, nor could he stop Shen Xi at all. He knew very well what Shen Group was like now. After a series of storms, Shen Group was now powerless to fly again. Only if Shen Group was split up, separating the few businesses that were still making money and auctioning off the rest before bankruptcy, would there still be a little bit of the foundation left; otherwise Shen Group bankruptcy was bound to be irreversible. But in order to make such a decision, one had to hold an absolute controlling stake in Shen Group. His father had previously disagreed with his proposal, and now that Shen Dehan had lost the controlling stake in his hands, he and Shen Cheng together only had 46%, which was simply not enough to qualify for a controlling stake, and Shen Xi was definitely not going to side with them. This made Shen Group bankruptcy inevitable, so why should he stop Shen Xi?

Shen Ji's silent refusal made Shen Dehan even more angry, and he shouted "Uh-uh", his face turning red.

"Evil son! You are also an evil son! You are all unfilial sons!" Shen Dehan gave vent to his anger.

"Mr. Shen doesn't seem to be happy. I wonder what us unfilial sons have done wrong again?" Shen Xi said calmly.

"Uh-uh!" Shen Dehan struggled to turn his head, his eyes spitting fire as he looked at Shen Xi.

Shen Xi looked very puzzled, "Why is Mr. Shen so upset? I remember that what Mr. Shen was most worried about since I was a child was that I would have some ideas about Shen Group. Now Mr. Shen can rest assured, I don't even want the shares of Shen Group, completely according to Mr. Shen wishes. I will absolutely never meddle in Shen Group affairs, what else does Mr. Shen have to be upset about?"

"Shen Xi!" Shen Ji couldn't help but interrupt him.

Shen Xi looked over mockingly, "Isn't this what Big Brother was also worried about before? Did I do something wrong?"

Shen Ji gave Shen Xi a deep look and avoided his eyes for the first time.

That morning, Shen Xi and others signed a large number of documents, and it was around noon until they managed to sign them all. Noticing that Shen Ji was leading Shen Cheng to say goodbye to the lawyer, Shen Xi suddenly thought of something and turned around to walk to Shen Dehan's side.

"You evil son, what do you want?" Shen Dehan tried to force Shen Xi back with his eyes.

Shen Xi smiled faintly and leaned down to his father's ear, "Mr. Shen still remembers Chu Qianqian? She was a special gift from me to you. Yes! It is what Mr. Shen is thinking, she was the one I took the trouble to find and arrange for Mr. Shen. How about that? Doesn't she look most like Fang Yun? I had to search for a whole year to find a woman who looked so much like Fang Yun. She cost me ten million just staying by Mr. Shen's side for six months. I wonder if she's worth that price in Mr. Shen's eyes?"

"Uh-uh-uh!" Shen Dehan shouted fiercely, looking at Shen Xi with hazy eyes.

A sneer appeared at the corner of Shen Xi's mouth; he got up and left Shen Dehan with a look of contentment.

Chapter 90

Once again, Li Mingxuan had that weird dream.

In the dream, Shen Xi was swiftly sentenced to life imprisonment for premeditated murder attempt, and throughout the process, the entire Shen family chose to remain silent.

Li Mingxuan watched as Shen Xi was thrown into prison, watched as he begged Shen Dehan to help him file an appeal, watched Shen Dehan abandon him and watched the Shen family make a series of secret agreements with the Tian family. For his uncle, sacrificing a son he disliked for the friendship of the Tian family was too good a bargain.

Shen Xi's life in prison unfolded in front of him, the hidden dangers, the countless malicious eyes, the Tian family's ruthlessness and the Shen family's indifference. He watched Shen Xi get hurt again and again, watched Shen Xi struggle to survive in prison, watched Shen Xi go from hope to despair. Li Mingxuan only felt as if his heart was cut by a dull knife.

He wanted to say that the dream was not real, that in his memory Shen Xi was abroad at that time and that everything he saw was false, but Fang Luowei's appearance stunned him. If Shen Xi and his family appeared in his dream because they were close to him, then what was the reason for Fang Luowei's appearance? He had never felt close to Fang Luowei.

The unfolding of the dream was not based on his personal preferences. He watched Fang Luowei provoke Wang Li just as he remembered, and without Shen Xi, without anyone to help him, Fang Luowei was finally caught by Wang Li and stabbed him to death with a knife during the conflict.

As Fang Luowei was imprisoned for murder, Li Mingxuan suddenly realised something and an idea faintly appeared in his mind. This idea was soon confirmed. Fang Luowei and Shen Xi were separated at first but it didn't take long for the two to become friends. He watched the two get along tacitly, watched them support each other and trust each other. All of that made his heart ache for Shen Xi's situation while inevitably bringing out a trace of sourness.

He thought he would always keep watching like that, but to his surprise, it all came to an abrupt end in the middle of the premeditated riot. The moment that knife stabbed Shen Xi, Li Mingxuan struggled desperately to wake up, as if waking up would stop it from happening. But it was as if his body was confined, he could do nothing but watch as Shen Xi fell heavily to the ground, blood spreading around his body.

"No!" With this exclamation, Li Mingxuan's eyes snapped open and for a moment he could not tell where he was, was he in reality or in a dream?

The warmth around his body reminded him of where he was, "It's that dream again!" Li Mingxuan murmured in fear, casually turning on the bedside lamp and slowly sitting up. In the warm light, there were no messy prison figures, no ashen-faced Shen Xi, no dazzling blood, just the familiar layout of the room.

After looking around to confirm that he was really in the guest room of Ye Han's house, Li Mingxuan reached out and covered his heart, where the dull ache from losing Shen Xi in his dream was still present. Li Mingxuan took a deep breath, then quickly thought of something, got out of bed and haphazardly put on a coat over his pyjamas, picked up his car keys and pushed open the door.

"Mingxuan?" Ye Han's sleepy voice came from the master bedroom, "What are you doing?"

Li Mingxuan stopped in his tracks, "Did I wake you up?"

Ye Han leaned lazily against the doorway, "Fortunately, I happened to wake up too. By the way, what are you going to do so late?"

Li Mingxuan in the living room was wearing a coat, clearly looking as if he was going out. Before Li Mingxuan could answer, Ye Han suddenly straightened with a surprised look, "You're not trying to go find Shen Xi, are you?"

Li Mingxuan nodded frankly. Ye Han opened his mouth in surprise and looked at Li Mingxuan for a long time before whispering, "You're really crazy!"

Hearing this, Li Mingxuan only gave a bitter smile and did not explain anything. Perhaps the heartache of losing Shen Xi in his dream was too strong, and he now had to see Shen Xi as soon as possible to confirm his safety, to confirm that he was still by his side. Not bothering to say anything more to Ye Han, Li Mingxuan hurriedly left his house under Ye Han's crazy look.

Just ten minutes later, Li Mingxuan appeared at that familiar door.

Because he had come out in such a hurry, he had not brought the key with him. He didn't have time to think about whether Shen Xi was asleep or not, so he rang the doorbell, just wanting to see Shen Xi as soon as possible.

Not long after, footsteps came, and Shen Xi's voice was alert behind the door, "Who is it?"

The moment he heard the voice, Li Mingxuan's heart that had been dull and aching miraculously eased up. Struggling to adjust his emotions, Li Mingxuan tried to keep his voice from trembling, "It's me!"

"Cousin?" Shen Xi said hesitantly, subconsciously looking up at the clock hanging on the wall. 3 a.m., what was Li Mingxuan doing here?

Opening the door suspiciously, Shen Xi saw Li Mingxuan standing at the door. Perhaps he was in a hurry to go out because Shen Xi's eyes couldn't help but notice the hem of his pyjamas under his coat and even on his feet there were still cotton slippers.

Before the confusion in Shen Xi's eyes dissipated, Li Mingxuan had already stepped forward and hugged him tightly.

Li Mingxuan's coat still carried the chill of the winter night, and at first contact, Shen Xi subconsciously shivered and tried to break free from Li Mingxuan's embrace. But unexpectedly Li Mingxuan hugged him very hard, as if he wanted to imprint him into his body. As Shen Xi struggled, Li Mingxuan also increased his strength, and while holding him, he pleaded in a low voice, "Xiao Xi, let me hold you, don't leave me."

Li Mingxuan's voice was trembling and full of a vague fear. Shen Xi, who originally wanted to break free, felt his heart soften and relaxed his body, not struggling anymore. Li Mingxuan felt the familiar scent, and the feeling of having lost and regaining made him reluctant to let go of Shen Xi for a while. He carefully placed a kiss on Shen Xi's head, his expression reverent, as if he was facing the most precious treasure in the world.

Shen Xi's heart throbbed. He could feel that cherished attitude of Li Mingxuan; he wanted to say something, but after thinking about it, he swallowed his words.

"Xiao Xi!" What Fang Luowei saw when he walked out of the bedroom was this scene in front of him. The worry he had felt because Shen Xi had not moved since he opened the door was relieved, and instead a faint bitterness welled up in his heart. A few hours ago, he had just heard the news about Shen Xi and Li Mingxuan breaking up, but the secret hope he felt at the news was shattered by the scene in front of him before he had the chance to express it. Although he knew that it was not the right time for him to appear here, his "Xiao Xi" obviously alerted the two people at the door, and it was impossible to retreat silently.

Hearing that "Xiao Xi", Li Mingxuan subconsciously looked up and then froze in his tracks. It was not that he suspected that Shen Xi and Fang Luowei had something going on, but he had just seen Fang Luowei in his dream, and when he suddenly met him in reality, he had a feeling that his dream world was confused with reality. However, his reaction obviously caused Fang Luowei to misunderstand something. Hiding the bitterness in his eyes, Fang Luowei said as naturally as possible, "Xiao Xi's birthday is today, and we were a bit late celebrating, so we stayed here by the way."

Only then did Li Mingxuan come back to his senses and notice several gorgeously wrapped gift boxes scattered around the living room, and there was even a half-eaten cake on the coffee table in front of the sofa. Li Mingxuan's eyes turned soft and he was about to speak when he heard Shen Xi in his arms whisper, "Let go!"

Originally, after Fang Luowei appeared, Shen Xi wanted to break free from Li Mingxuan's embrace, but Li Mingxuan hugged him too hard. Even when Fang Luowei spoke, Li Mingxuan had no intention of letting go, so Shen Xi had no choice but to whisper a reminder.

When Li Mingxuan heard this, he didn't let go as Shen Xi thought, but let go of one arm, and the other reached over his shoulder, wrapping tightly around him, as he looked at Fang Luowei frankly, "Thank you for helping Xiao Xi celebrate his birthday."

Shen Xi, who was still confined in Li Mingxuan's arms, glared at him discontentedly and turned to Fang Luowei, "Luowei, you go in first and rest, I'll just have a few words with my cousin."

Fang Luowei nodded at Shen Xi with a faint smile and turned around to close the bedroom door tightly.

Once again, Shen Xi and Li Mingxuan were left in the living room. Shen Xi felt the strength of Li Mingxuan's grip on him, gave up struggling and whispered, "It's so late, what are you doing over here, Cousin?"

Li Mingxuan's eyes focused firmly on Shen Xi, his expression serious, "I had a nightmare that I lost you, not a break-up, but a real loss. I watched you fall in front of me. No matter how much I shouted you couldn't hear me. I watched the life drain from you little by little, and all I could do was stand helplessly to the side, unable to do anything but watch. When I woke up, I realised that no matter what you were with me for, Xiao Xi, even if you don't like me at all, none of that matters now. I just want to be with you, I can't bear that kind of loss. Xiao Xi, give me one more chance, let me stay with you."

Shen Xi's expression became hesitant; he could feel the seriousness in Li Mingxuan's words, but he did not think the two of them were suitable to be together.

"I've sold the shares in my hands," Shen Xi whispered.

"?" Li Mingxuan was a bit confused about what Shen Xi meant.

Shen Xi looked at Li Mingxuan and explained, "You know what I've done. I calculated my own father to cause him to lose his reputation. I calculated my elder brother and second brother to almost lose their brotherhood. I sold my shares in Shen Group, and Shen Group will change hands because of this. I hate the Shen family and soon there will no longer be a Shen family in Central Beijing. As you can imagine, when I first agreed to be with you, it was not because I liked you, but because I did not have good intentions. I am not the Shen Xi you imagined. Such a me, do you really think we are suitable to be together?"

Shen Xi stood in front of Li Mingxuan, saying it softly in a calm tone. Li Mingxuan looked at him and saw the Shen Xi in his dream. The same look, the same insistence, the same hatred for the Shen family, the two figures of Shen Xi completely overlapped. Li Mingxuan's eyes were firm as he said with a solemn expression, "I know that what I saw before was not the real you, but do you dare to say that what you showed in front of me was all fake? Xiao Xi, I admit that what I fell in love with wasn't the full you, but that doesn't mean that it wasn't you. Xiao Xi, give me a chance to get to know the real you. You know, compared to the heartache of losing you, what you are worried about is not important to me. The most important thing is that I want to be with you."

Their eyes met. Shen Xi's hesitation, Li Mingxuan's determination…

Do you want to be together?