It seemed like things were really going the way he’d hoped. Meng Jingxue was back with Shang Xuci, but he hadn’t expected Shang Xuci to break off his engagement with Jiang Yuanqing so quickly.
The man on TV slowly raised his eyelids, his thin lips parting.
“My mind isn’t on this.”
He was actually a little unhappy. He had just dealt with Jiang Yuanqing’s situation, and now he was being saddled with rumors of an affair with Meng Jingxue. There was only one thing on his mind.
“Instead of talking about that, why don’t we talk about something that’s been bothering me lately?”
The reporter’s interest was piqued.
“Oh? Mr. Shang, what else is bothering you?”
Shang Xuci’s gaze shifted from the female reporter to the camera, as if looking through it at the person watching.
“My cat’s gone missing…”
Jian Xun swallowed subconsciously, his eyes fixed on the man on the screen. Although Shang Xuci didn’t show much emotion, Jian Xun could sense his unhappiness.
Was it because he had run away?
Sitting on the sofa, Jian Xun pinched the corner of his shirt. His phone vibrated beside his leg—it was a message from Xu Tutu. Quickly regaining his composure, he stood up and went to the kitchen to start cooking.
…
Yinfeng Entertainment Company
Shang Xuci saw the guests off and sat in his office. The setting sun streamed through the glass, casting a warm glow. He picked up the remote and closed the curtains, shutting out the vast cityscape and the intoxicating sunset.
He clasped his hands in his lap, lay back on the sofa, feeling a little weary, and took a sip of water, finding a moment of relaxation.
Ever since the cat had disappeared, he had searched frantically, hired others to look for it, and even tolerated the help of the entertainment media he so disliked—just to find it.
With no useful leads, he had thrown himself into work, numbing his mind. Now, finally, he had a brief moment to rest.
Soon, there was a knock at the office door.
Fu Qian stepped in, followed by Jiang Yuanqing.
Shang Xuci frowned. Fu Qian led his men out tactfully, leaving them alone. Jiang Yuanqing set her bag down and sat across from him.
“According to your wishes, I’ve already broken off our engagement. Are you satisfied now, Miss Jiang?”
Shang Xuci had never harbored any feelings for Jiang Yuanqing. Because of the incident with her mother and brother, he hadn’t stopped her from using their connection for career advancement, nor would he have taken the initiative to end their engagement.
But after he went blind, and Old Master Shang abdicated in favor of Shang Ye, Jiang Yuanqing had grown restless—desperate to break free from him and be with Shang Ye. She had taken the initiative to end things herself.
It had happened sooner than he expected.
Jiang Yuanqing truly didn’t want to see Shang Xuci, but she still wanted to help Shang Ye. Under Xu Rong’s instructions, she had no choice but to step forward.
“Shang Ye wants you back at the Shang Group.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Shang Xuci raised an eyebrow. Sure enough—she’d come reluctantly, and only because of another man’s affairs.
“Did Xu Rong ask you to come?” Shang Xuci asked, fixing her with a steady gaze.
Although Shang Ye was his elder brother, they were only a few years apart in age. Yet, at such a young age, Shang Ye wanted to take control of the entire Shang family business. He lacked the capability, but he was unwilling to admit defeat. He feared that Shang Xuci—the legitimate heir—would return to the Shang Group and compete with him for power. How could he possibly allow that to happen?
Xu Rong’s motives were a mystery. Fang Xiuyuan had already been captured by him, yet she showed no panic at all. Instead, she even sent Jiang Yuanqing to provoke him.
How… foolish.
“Don’t worry about who asked me to come. Just answer whether you’re going or not.” Jiang Yuanqing’s gaze dropped to his hand. She felt that Shang Xuci had changed—he looked at her as if he could see straight through her, making her uneasy.
“Since Shang Ye wants me back, let him come and tell me himself.” Shang Xuci’s lips pressed into a thin line, his eyes gleaming with disdain as his tone turned cold. “Miss Jiang, are you that eager to become the eldest young lady?”
The two of them had never liked each other, and they had spent little time together. For some reason, however, his elder brother had become infatuated with Jiang Yuanqing—this playboy of a man—captivating her so completely that she was willing to end her engagement at any cost.
To Shang Jue, her breaking off the engagement with Shang Xuci to be with Shang Ye was nothing less than a public slap in the face to the old master.
If not for the fact that both he and Shang Jue were recuperating recently, the old man would have been the first to object.
Shang Xuci lifted his gaze to Jiang Yuanqing. She was beautiful—even her frown was delicate—like a fragile little white flower, quite suitable for his elder brother’s tastes. But Shang Ye’s appetite was voracious, and it was questionable how long he would be satisfied with her.
Jiang Yuanqing bristled under his scrutiny, as though he were appraising merchandise. She replied sharply, “Your brother and I are in love. We’re not like some people who lose their minds over a missing cat. Even the Shang family’s grandson is no exception.”
Shang Xuci’s expression froze, displeasure flashing across his features before he forced it down. He stared coldly at her, about to speak, when his phone vibrated on the table. He waved Fu Qian away.
“From now on, I have nothing to do with Miss Jiang. Don’t bring her to me again.”
Jiang Yuanqing’s eyes widened. “How dare you treat me like this?”
Shang Xuci’s voice was ice. “What do you think Shang Ye would do if he knew you came here today to beg me on his behalf?”
Jiang Yuanqing’s anger drained away instantly. Without another word, she turned and left, her high heels striking the floor in sharp, angry steps.
Fu Qian escorted her out, then returned to the office.
“Are you really not going back to headquarters?” Fu Qian couldn’t help but ask, puzzled by his boss’s intentions.
“Of course I will—just not now.” Shang Xuci recalled that soon, the group headquarters would be plunged into a major crisis at Shang Ye’s hands. In his previous life, he had helped the company weather that storm. But this time…
He wanted to show everyone that the Shang Group wasn’t a one-man show—and that he alone could turn the tide.
They could come and beg him.
After glancing at the message on his phone, Shang Xuci lowered his eyes. “Fang Xiuyuan still refuses to confess?”
“Yes. He’s been acting crazy lately.”
Shang Xuci stood. “Let’s go check it out.”
Fang Xiuyuan had been captured while fleeing toward the border. In the process, he had fallen down a steep slope, fracturing his right leg so badly he could no longer walk.
Fu Qian had arranged for him to be admitted to another private hospital under the Shang family’s control—ostensibly for treatment, but in reality, every person caring for him was tasked with monitoring his every move.
Shang Xuci had visited him once before—and crippled his other leg.
Whatever Fang Xiuyuan had done to the cat, Shang Xuci repaid it twofold.
Perhaps it was retribution, but Fang Xiuyuan had also suffered an eye injury—not enough to blind him completely. Shang Xuci ordered his surgery delayed so that he could experience the effects of partial blindness firsthand.
The last visit had been just a minor physical blow. This time, Shang Xuci came to see him again—and brought someone with him.
Tang Manwen followed anxiously. She had gone to the concert at sea with her son, witnessed him reclaim his rightful honor from Shang Yi, and had also heard about Shang Xuci’s disappearance at sea. But before she could even speculate, he had been found.
This time, when Shang Xuci said he was taking her to see someone, Tang Manwen didn’t dare ask questions. Shang Yi had merely been exiled, while Xu Rong and Fang Xiuyuan remained alive. Even so, she was terrified—afraid that Xu Rong might seek revenge.
It wasn’t until the door opened that Tang Manwen saw the man lying motionless on the bed. Her eyes widened in shock.
Fang Xiuyuan stayed alert. Though he couldn’t see who had entered, he was familiar with the footsteps of the staff who regularly changed his dressings—and this time, they didn’t match.
“Fang Xiuyuan, I’ve brought someone to see you,” Shang Xuci said coldly. “Guess who it is?”
Fang Xiuyuan had already heard the sound of high heels. When Shang Xuci posed the question, he didn’t bother guessing. Instead, he smiled bitterly.
“Mr. Shang, aren’t you embarrassing a blind man?”
After all, it wasn’t Xu Rong who had come to see him.
Shang Xuci scoffed, striding forward with long steps before settling comfortably into a chair. He shot Tang Manwen a look, and she understood, stepping forward.
Tang Manwen had no idea what had happened to Fang Xiuyuan. She knew Doctor Fang’s character—he would only act when fully prepared. When Shang Xuci had disappeared at sea for several days, she had tried to gather any information, but nothing had slipped through. Shang Xuci had arranged guards for her and Tang Mu, preventing Xu Rong from visiting.
Now, seeing Fang Xiuyuan in such a miserable state—both legs in plaster, his eyes shut and clouded by medication, dark as a veil—she couldn’t tell if he was blind. A closer look revealed that his left hand, the one he often used for delicate scalpel work, was also bandaged. It seemed there was barely an inch of healthy flesh left on his body.
Tang Manwen gasped.
She steadied her breathing and spoke with effort. “Doctor Fang, long time no see. It’s me.”
She didn’t give her name outright; she wanted to know if Fang Xiuyuan still remembered her.
As expected, the calm expression on his face shattered the moment he heard her voice.
“You… you’re Tang Manwen!”
“So Doctor Fang still remembers me,” Tang Manwen said slowly.
Fang Xiuyuan opened his mouth to speak again, but another sharp voice cut him off.
“Xiuyuan! Why are you here?” Xu Rong walked into the room, bag in hand. She caught sight of the woman standing with her back to her, and of Shang Xuci lounging lazily beside her.
Ignoring everything else, Xu Rong hurried to the bedside, her eyes darting over Fang Xiuyuan’s injuries in shock. “How did you end up like this? Did they do something to you?!”
In her mind, there was no doubt—Shang Xuci had caused Fang Xiuyuan’s condition. He was covered in wounds, trapped here without freedom. Now, she felt confident enough to accuse him.
“You’re committing a crime!” Xu Rong shouted. “I’m taking him away!”
“Did Aunt Xu see me committing a crime?” Shang Xuci’s lips curved faintly. “In fact, I saved his life and brought him to the hospital. If it weren’t for me, he would’ve died in the wilderness.
“Isn’t that right, Doctor Fang?”
Fang Xiuyuan gripped Xu Rong’s hand and shook his head.
“Good. Now that everyone’s here, it’s time to settle the score.” Shang Xuci’s gaze locked on Xu Rong.
Her body stiffened instantly, her voice faltering. “Settle… what score?”
Seeing her still feigning innocence, Shang Xuci said evenly, “The poisoning—and my grandfather’s death.”
Xu Rong’s face drained of color.
She understood why Tang Manwen was here today.
The drama had barely begun when Fang Xiuyuan eagerly took all the blame.
“Neither of these things has anything to do with Xu Rong. It was all my fault. I poisoned you and killed your grandfather.”
Xu Rong replied calmly, “It truly has nothing to do with me. I admit I punished you when you were young, but I never intended to kill you.”
Shang Xuci sneered. “I know it was my mother who poisoned me. She hates me. If it weren’t for me, she wouldn’t have married my father—nor would she have fallen in love with this scumbag.”
“But it was still her child. She later regretted it and stopped giving me the medication. Doctor Fang, you should know about this, right?”
Shang Xuci turned to Fang Xiuyuan. The man was silent for several seconds before shaking his head in denial.
Tang Manwen glanced at him from the corner of her eye and immediately said, “Madam later found out. She told me to keep giving the Second Young Master the medicine—and to increase the dosage.”
Xu Rong suddenly realized that the woman standing by the door with her head lowered was Tang Manwen. Thinking that her youngest son’s condition was all her fault, hatred flared instantly. She lunged forward to slap her.
She moved so fast that Tang Manwen had no time to react. But having followed Xu Rong for so many years, she knew her vengeful nature—and she knew the fate Shang Xuci intended for her. Instead of cowering, she hurled the broken jar at him, laughing rather than getting angry.
“Madam, are you feeling guilty?”
Xu Rong was irritated by her calm expression, her fingers curling into a fist as she fought to control her anger. She had never imagined that she would raise such an ungrateful person.
“I’ve been good to you. You’re truly shameless to frame me like this.”
“Good to me?” Tang Manwen laughed coldly. “Even with my son in that state, I never betrayed you. I came to beg you—beg you—to give him a chance to live. I threw away my dignity and knelt at your feet. And what about you? How did you treat me?”
“Your son’s condition is your own fault. It was your idea to write songs for others. I offered you money, and you gladly accepted it. You’re the one who ruined your son.” Xu Rong’s tone was full of disdain. “Even if your son wasn’t there, I could have found someone else. If it weren’t for your greed, how could he have ended up like this? Hm?”
Tang Manwen shook her head. “Nonsense.”
She was a little emotionally shaken. At first, in order to please the hostess, she had indeed given Xu Rong her youngest son’s creation. Later, it became routine. She had protested subtly, but to no avail.
It was because she knew too much about Xu Rong that she was fired. Before leaving, she was handed a large sum of money—supposedly resettlement compensation—which later turned into payment for music. Tang Manwen recalled that conversation and how she had promised, in front of her son, not to say a single word. Thinking back now, it seemed that Tang Mu had lost his trust in her at that very moment.
“Are you talking nonsense, or am I?” Xu Rong asked calmly.
Shang Xuci, watching the scene from the side, pursed his lips and changed the subject. “Whether it’s nonsense or not is just talk—it doesn’t count.”
“Since she’s so eager to see evidence, Aunt Tang, show it to her.”
Xu Rong finally understood the purpose of the laptop on the table.
The video began to play, showing a man and a woman standing in frame, with an elderly man lying with his eyes closed on a hospital bed.
Because they spoke in low voices and the camera had been placed far away, the sound in the video was faint and indistinct.
The moment the footage appeared, Xu Rong panicked. She instinctively glanced at Fang Xiuyuan, but he couldn’t see—leaving her the only one feeling the weight of it.
She shouted at Tang Manwen, “Did you film that day?”
Fang Xiuyuan frowned. He had no idea how much the video had captured, but could only hope he had been careful enough.
The footage stopped before the end, lingering on the intimate gestures between the two and the malicious look Xu Rong had given Shen Tianlei.
Xu Rong knew exactly what came next.
The evidence was there.
She couldn’t understand why Shang Xuci hadn’t simply called the police on her and Fang Xiuyuan, instead choosing to bring them to this hospital…
Hospital…
707
Xu Rong’s eyes widened in horror.
Isn’t that the room number Shen Tianlei had stayed in?
Fear drained the strength from her legs. She collapsed beside the bed, hands trembling.
“You’ve only just realized this, Ms. Xu?”
Xu Rong’s face went from pale to ashen, then back to pale again.
Shang Xuci looked down at her, savoring her flustered, panicked expression. His thin lips curled into a cold sneer.
She gritted her teeth. “Since you knew all this, why didn’t you call the police?”
At that, Fang Xiuyuan felt pain shoot through his battered body. With his only uninjured hand, he grasped Xu Rong’s and said, “Rong, I did everything. This has nothing to do with you.”
Even now, the man remained confident—never forgetting to comfort her.
Shang Xuci, having seen enough of their display, said, “Whether it’s related or not isn’t for Dr. Fang to decide.”
He turned to Xu Rong, lips curling slightly in a mocking smile. “How do you know I didn’t call the police?”
A steady rhythm of footsteps echoed from outside the door. After two knocks, a group of uniformed officers walked in.