“Apologies, you don't know me, but you should know my grandfather – Shen An. You saved his life in Sanya before. I am the youngest of the Shen family – Shen Yi.”
As he spoke, the bamboo curtain was lifted from inside, revealing a pale and gaunt face. Beneath a pair of sword-like eyebrows were apologetic eyes.
The moment Liu Chen saw him, she felt he must have been in the military.
He exuded an upright aura!
And seeing him in a wheelchair now, Liu Chen finally understood why he had asked the three of them to talk in his pavilion.
He genuinely couldn't come out easily.
Thinking of this, Liu Chen shifted her direction:
“I naturally know Grandpa Shen. How is his health lately?”
Seeing Liu Chen turn to face him, Shen Yi couldn’t help but smile slightly, nodding in thanks. He extended a hand in a welcoming gesture:
“Thank you, Miss Liu, for gracing us with your presence.”
Yu Li listened to their conversation, realizing Liu Chen knew the elder of this wheelchair-bound handsome guy and had saved his life. Though her guard slightly lowered, she still didn’t approve of lingering in this place.
After all, she had experienced a life-saving favor being repaid with a stab in the back, and she was the one stabbed.
But seeing Liu Chen walk towards the wheelchair-bound handsome guy, she couldn’t just leave.
Gritting her teeth, Yu Li followed her inside.
Upon entering the pavilion, Liu Chen was first met with a biting cold. Unlike the pavilion they had just left, this one had no warmth whatsoever, not even the seats were warm.
After Liu Chen and Yu Li sat down, they couldn't help but shiver.
Seeing this, Shen Yi said to the man in black beside him, “Apologies, I am used to this temperature. Xiao Jiu, please bring the brazier over and place it under the table to warm the two ladies.”
After Xiao Jiu left, Shen Yi smiled at Liu Chen:
“The old man’s health is improving day by day. However, since then, it has been inevitably a bit lonely around him.
It’s just… I didn't expect our first meeting, Miss Liu Chen, to be under such circumstances. I am truly ashamed.”
Shen Yi’s face was tense as he spoke, and it was evident he felt genuinely embarrassed, not just being polite.
Liu Chen looked at Shen Yi, recalling reports from her previous life. A deeper suspicion arose in her heart.
Why was this again related to the Shen family? Thinking of Grandpa Shen, who had been so eager for the benefits of her Baguazhang, she couldn’t help but hint to Shen Yi:
“Brother Shen Yi, perhaps you should ask more questions. Otherwise, why would even a taxi driver know that your establishment used illegal additives?”
Liu Chen’s words made Shen Yi’s already tense face furrow deeper in thought. Recalling the poisoning of his grandfather by someone close to him, Shen Yi felt that this matter might need to be reported to his grandfather.
Shen Yi, feeling troubled, took a plain wooden card from Xiao Jiu, who had now set up the brazier, marked with the code 002.
“Miss Liu Chen, thank you for your guidance. This is a VIP card for our Tianwang Tower. With this card, you can enjoy any service at Tianwang Tower.”
Liu Chen accepted the card without any hesitation. Rather than refusing here and there, she preferred to conclude the matter quickly and leave.
Seeing Liu Chen accept the VIP card without any pretenses, Shen Yi inwardly nodded. This was truly someone who could impart Baguazhang to the children of Zhonghua with selfless spirit!
“Miss Liu Chen, please forgive Shen Yi for not being able to escort you. After I resolve this matter, could Shen Yi have the opportunity to visit and express my gratitude?”
Shen Yi looked earnestly in Liu Chen’s direction as he said this. His sincerity made Liu Chen feel a little embarrassed to refuse.
She nodded slightly, “Brother Shen Yi, there’s no need to be so serious. I will visit Grandpa Shen another day.”
A smile flickered across Shen Yi’s face. Perhaps because his face had been stiff for too long, the smile was a little rigid.
“Then thank you, Miss Liu Chen. Xiao Jiu, please escort Miss Liu Chen out.”
When Liu Chen, linking arms with Yu Li, had already walked out the door, they spotted Guo Da, who was searching for them on the phone.
“Stop calling, we’re right behind you. What are you looking for, silly?”
Yu Li stepped forward and lightly patted Guo Da’s shoulder, unable to help but chide him affectionately.
“Let’s go. If we’re too late, we might be invited by people from the next pavilion.”
Yu Li licked her lips, not mentioning what had just happened. Those matters sounded like a huge pit, and it was better to keep her innocent Guo Da from getting involved.
“Let’s go, let’s go. We didn’t get to drink this chicken soup, let’s go have hot pot instead!”
…
Thousands of miles away in City C, inside a prison on the outskirts, Xu Ni held her Coach bag with both hands, her legs clad in brown boots crossed absently.
She was waiting to see if that woman, Zhang Lili, would come to see her.
She knew she was making a deal with the devil. Zhang Lili would even defraud her own husband, but…
Thinking of Hu Xingfa’s attitude towards her, and the old hag at home, Xu Ni’s grip on her bag tightened.
“Clink.”
The sound of handcuffs hitting metal echoed from behind the glass wall.
Xu Ni swallowed and forced herself to look up at Zhang Lili, who sat behind the glass partition.
Compared to the rich wife Zhang Lili was last year, Zhang Lili’s face was now devoid of makeup, much aged, with even streaks of white at her temples.
Seeing Zhang Lili pick up the phone on the table inside, Xu Ni quickly, as if not to be outdone, picked up her own phone.
“Xu Ni, do you regret it now?”
Zhang Lili’s voice came through the receiver. With just one sentence, Xu Ni felt as if her heart was being squeezed so tightly she couldn’t breathe.
Hearing Xu Ni’s heavy breathing through the receiver, Zhang Lili chuckled and continued,
“I know what you want to do. We women are all the same. Falling in love is different from being married.”
Xu Ni pursed her lips, glancing somewhat guiltily at the prison guard standing not far from Zhang Lili.
“I’ll give you a piece of advice, and perhaps you’ll know what to do.”
Upon hearing this, Xu Ni’s back instantly straightened.
“What advice?”
Zhang Lili lowered her eyes, thinking of her daughter who was studying in Beijing.
“You gave birth to Hu Xingfa’s only son. No matter how much you fuss, just tell him that children under three years old will stay with their mother after a divorce, and he can’t do anything to you.
As for the money, you can take it from the company. It’s your marital property. As long as you don’t go too far, he can’t do anything to you either.”
Xu Ni looked at the listless Zhang Lili inside with some suspicion.
“Why are you helping me?”
Zhang Lili didn’t answer, but instead got up and walked back the way she came with the guard.
Only when she reached her cell did Zhang Lili sigh lightly,
“Because you are young and beautiful.”