Chapter 20: Attorney Wu's Discovery

The first thing Su Chengyu did upon waking from his sickbed was to turn on the live broadcast of the dating show.

To his surprise, he saw his uncle-in-law lying without a hint of embarrassment.

It was the first time Su Chengyu had ever witnessed such a side of his uncle-in-law.

Just then, his mother pushed open the door and entered.

Seeing her pale and weary face, Su Chengyu instinctively closed the livestream.

“Do you know how furious your grandmother was about sending Shen Mu to that dating show?” Shen Ying set down the lunchbox in her hands; it contained a nutritious meal specially prepared by the family chef.

Scratching his head, Su Chengyu said, “Mom, although having a mistress disrupt someone’s family is wrong, that was a matter from the previous generation.”

“Your uncle-in-law was very young back then, he didn’t understand much, and besides, he suffered a lot!” Shen Ying retorted.

“You sympathize with the uncle-in-law born from the mistress because he endured hardship, but why don’t you sympathize with your eldest uncle, who has been tormented by illness all along?”

“Mom, how can you even compare those two?” Su Chengyu had always disapproved of his grandmother and mother targeting his uncle-in-law so sharply.

“Your uncle-in-law was only brought back home by Great-Grandmother Zeng after your eldest uncle’s recovery became hopeless.”

“Moreover, your uncle-in-law is truly capable—so remarkable that he’s thriving now. Isn’t that thanks to his efforts to turn things around?”

“You…” Hearing her son’s words, Shen Ying’s expression changed repeatedly.

She knew this truth well, but she couldn’t betray her own mother; she had to firmly stand with her.

She arranged the nutritious meal on the table before her son.

“When you get better, go to your grandmother and apologize properly.”

“I still have matters at the company, so I’ll leave first.”

“All right, Mom, take care.”

Before leaving, Shen Ying glanced back at the hospital room once more.

Her son was smiling as he watched the dating show, occasionally laughing out loud.

She sighed helplessly.

It seemed there was no hope of coaxing her mother through her son.

To appease her mother, she, as the daughter, was the one who had to take responsibility.

As the eldest daughter, she clearly remembered the scene when Shen Mu’s mother forced her way into the family.

Father loved that woman fiercely, even resorting to violence against mother because she refused to divorce.

She recalled how the house was always in chaos, as if ransacked, and her mother often wept.

If it hadn’t been for grandfather’s intervention, she, her younger sister, and brother might have been the ones driven out.

Mother was the princess carefully raised by the Wang family, and her marriage to the Shen family was a powerful alliance.

A lifetime of pride and determination, no matter how hard she tried, she was always the laughingstock in the eyes of the world.

Regarding Shen Mu, mother merely tried to maintain her last shred of dignity.

The driver opened the rear door as Shen Ying exited the hospital.

Once in the car, Shen Ying also turned on the livestream.

By then, Shen Mu had successfully pushed aside Sun Yu and Zhan Wang, and had teamed up again with Xu Zhaozhao.

Xu Zhaozhao had been almost morally coerced into agreeing.

Especially after seeing Song Qingzao and Luo Chengfeng form a team and leave the old mansion, she had no energy left to argue with Shen Mu.

After each received 100 yuan, they went straight to Aunt Fu’s house.

[They wouldn’t want to keep eating and drinking at Aunt Fu’s place, would they?]

[Actually, exchanging labor for food isn’t a bad idea.]

[But rural households don’t really need much help; if they hire laborers, the wages would hardly leave any profit.]

[That’s true. When my parents are busy with farming, they call me home to help, but it doesn’t pay well. Hiring someone takes away the profit.]

“Aunt Fu, are you going out?”

Just then, Xu Zhaozhao and Shen Mu happened to meet Aunt Fu walking across the street.

“Yes.”

Aunt Fu carried a basket full of duck eggs.

“Collected enough duck eggs; I’m taking them to the market to sell.”

“The market?” Xu Zhaozhao’s eyes brightened. “Is there a market nearby?”

“Exactly.”

“In that case, Aunt Fu, could you take us with you?”

Aunt Fu hesitated, “I can take you, but…”

“The market is seven or eight li away; I’m used to walking there. Can you manage it?”

Aunt Fu lived alone; her son was in the city.

With no younger generation to look after her, she relied solely on her own hands and feet for everything.

Xu Zhaozhao nodded. “Don’t worry, Aunt Fu, we can manage.”

So, Aunt Fu led the way ahead, with Xu Zhaozhao and Shen Mu following, all heading east toward the market.

[Walking all the way? I’ve gotten soft living in the city; my legs probably aren’t as strong as Aunt Fu’s.]

[I’m telling you, Xu Zhaozhao is lucky—the market must have so many delicious treats.]

[But what can you buy with just 100 yuan?]

[And that 100 yuan has to last ten days…]

“Are you planning to buy food at the market?”

After walking a while, Shen Mu broke the silence.

At the same time, he put his 100 yuan in front of Xu Zhaozhao.

She glanced sideways at him but didn’t take the money.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Just in case you don’t have enough money later, you can buy whatever you want.”

[Wow, such a cold expression but such warm words—Shen Mu must have fallen for Xu Zhaozhao at first sight!]

[He’s too kind, giving her all his money.]

[Isn’t that foolish? Spending all your money today, what will you live on later? Thin air?]

[You don’t understand—love can fill your stomach.]

[The key is, so far, it’s been a one-sided affection from Shen Mu; Xu Zhaozhao wants to form a pair with the movie star!]

[She’s only chasing the movie star as part of a show, creating opportunities for Chen Sisi; it’s not real.]

[But the way Xu Zhaozhao looks at Zhan Wang is brighter than at Shen Mu. Isn’t it said that when you love someone, your eyes shine?]

Xu Zhaozhao didn’t accept Shen Mu’s money and instead looked straight ahead.

“One hundred each, to be spent by the end of the dating show, and who knows who we’ll team up with next. You should keep your money.”

If tomorrow she ended up teaming with someone Shen Mu wanted to team with, then giving all her money to that person would be quite touching.

But Shen Mu insisted and handed the money over again.

“I’m willing to give it to you now.”

He didn’t know why—he had resolved to quit, yet somehow he ended up teaming with Xu Zhaozhao again.

After today’s task, he would definitely quit.

Since he had decided to quit, spending this hundred today was just right.

He insisted on giving it; she insisted on refusing.

When neither budged, Xu Zhaozhao whispered in Shen Mu’s ear, “Shen Mu, I hope this is the last time you use me as a shield.”

“Next time, please be brave to pursue love yourself—don’t drag me into it again!”

“Shield? What do you mean?” Shen Mu was puzzled.

Seeing he didn’t admit it, Xu Zhaozhao’s eyes stung; she turned away without looking at him.

Shen Mu slowly withdrew his hand, his expression darkening.

[Ah! Suddenly the atmosphere turned so sad—what’s going on?]

[What did they just whisper?]

[I bet she was warning Shen Mu not to get close to her anymore…]

However, the somber mood was quickly interrupted by another guest.

“Zhaozhao, Zhaozhao…”

Xu Zhaozhao looked up to see Chen Sisi, resting under the shade of a tree by the roadside, greeting her enthusiastically.

Beside her stood Ke Hao.

Judging by their direction, they were also heading to the market.

Really… no peace at all!

Xu Zhaozhao felt utterly exhausted.

-------------------------------------

Lawyer Wu had been back in the country for two days.

On the first day, he called the big boss to arrange a report meeting, but the big boss didn’t answer.

He was secretly pleased to enjoy some peace at home.

Ever since working for the big boss, he had been busy without a single holiday for years.

Since the big boss wasn’t calling, he decided to relax at home.

Having rested idly for a day, by the second day he couldn’t stand it.

After years of being busy under the big boss, suddenly not receiving a single call in a day…

Could it be the big boss was sidelining him?

He grew fearful and reviewed his recent performance to see where he might have gone wrong.

The only possible misstep was handling the big boss’s divorce case.

Could it be that the divorce wasn’t handled well, and that Xu Zhaozhao had already started causing trouble?

Thinking this, he hurriedly tried calling the big boss again.

Still, no answer.

Now, Wu couldn’t sit still; he urgently called Shen Mu’s secretary, but was told the boss was on a business trip.

Wu then tried to contact General Manager Su, but the assistant said General Manager Su was hospitalized due to illness.

In a rush, he dashed to Extraordinary Hospital.

“General Manager Su, I heard you were sick, so I came to see you…” Wu greeted warmly.

Su Chengyu was watching the livestream, amused that even his uncle-in-law couldn’t win over some people.

Seeing Wu, he suppressed a smile. “Lawyer Wu, how does a busy man like you have time to visit me?”

“General Manager Su, to be honest, I just returned from abroad and was supposed to report to the big boss, but I couldn’t find him.”

“Oh, that makes sense. Uncle-in-law left so suddenly, he barely had time to explain.”

“Left… suddenly?” At that moment, Lawyer Wu had an ominous thought.

“Don’t misunderstand,” Su Chengyu said, “Your boss is right here!”

He pointed to the tablet in front of him.

Wu looked at the tablet.

At the top of the livestream window, prominently displayed, was the title “Love in the Mountains” dating show.

“This is… a dating show?” Wu was incredulous.

“Yes, this is a dating show previously sponsored by the company,” Su Chengyu explained.

Wu nodded.

When he had spoken to the big boss on the phone, the secretary had mentioned it.

“But sponsorship is one thing; how did the big boss end up sponsoring himself on a dating show?”

“Heh,” Su Chengyu smiled, “This was originally my reserved spot, but you see…”

Wu immediately understood.

He sighed with relief, thinking the big boss was displeased with him, but it turned out he had suddenly joined the dating show.

Since it was clear it wasn’t his fault, he didn’t want to disturb General Manager Su’s recovery.

Just as he was about to take his leave, he suddenly saw another familiar face on the screen.

“This is…” he exclaimed in surprise.