"I really didn't expect President Feng to be so magnanimous," Shen Qingqing said.
At first glance, Shen Qingqing's words seemed like praise, but Sima Feng found them increasingly awkward, as if she were mocking him.
"He's my biological son, after all. I can't just destroy him completely. Do you want to see my family fall apart?"
His tone sounded like he was blaming them.
Shen Qingqing was so amused she laughed. "Excuse me, but didn't you actively call us to propose a collaboration in the first place?"
Back then, Fu Jingshu had approached him, and Sima Feng had said he needed to consider it. Afterward, both Shen Qingqing and Fu Jingshu had considered abandoning the collaboration with Sima Feng. To their surprise, Sima Feng had called them proactively, expressing his desire to cooperate and sincerely requesting their help in bringing down Sima Yucheng.
And now, he was trying to shift the blame?
Sima Feng also felt he had gone too far and quickly tried to backtrack. "That's not what I meant. I just hope you can be merciful. After all, even though my son signed a bet with Fu Tingyi, he hasn't done anything to betray you."
"He colluded with Fu Tingyi. Who knows what he's been up to?" Shen Qingqing disdained his protective attitude. If he cared so much, why hadn't he acted sooner?
Sima Feng was left speechless by her blunt words.
Primarily, based on his understanding of his son, it was hard to say for sure. However, it was impossible for him to abandon his son.
"Miss Shen, I understand how you feel. Rest assured, I will teach this child a lesson and prevent him from colluding with Fu Tingyi again to cause you trouble. But I also hope you won't target him anymore."
Shen Qingqing sneered, "What a good father."
Sima Feng, of course, detected the sarcasm in her words, but he persisted. "I've made up my mind about this matter. I hope Miss Shen and Master Fu can respect my decision."
Fu Jingshu said calmly, "Have you really thought this through?"
"Yes."
Sima Feng was utterly certain and unrepentant.
Fu Jingshu didn't bother arguing further. He directly sent the document to Sima Feng. At first, Sima Feng heard the computer beep and didn't realize it was an email from Fu Jingshu.
He mumbled an apology and went to check.
Then he saw Fu Jingshu's email. He cast a puzzled glance at Fu Jingshu, but upon opening the email and seeing its contents, he was dumbfounded.
The information in this document was overwhelming!
The child wasn't his.
It was born to his wife and her first love!
"This is impossible!" Sima Feng's immediate reaction was disbelief. He still remembered his wife's tenderness and skill, her deep affection. As long as he was present, his wife's gaze was solely on him.
How could a woman who loved him so deeply have cheated?
This must be a trick by Fu Jingshu!
Sima Feng was furious. "Fu Jingshu, I thought you were a man of integrity. I didn't expect you to stoop to such despicable tactics! You've made me lose all respect for you!"
Shen Qingqing immediately took offense.
"What are you talking about?"
Seeing his wife, who had stepped in front of him, a hint of a smile flashed in Fu Jingshu's eyes. He then pulled the agitated woman closer to sit beside him.
Shen Qingqing shot him a questioning look. "What are you doing?"
Wasn't he getting in her way?
Before Fu Jingshu could speak, Sima Feng said coldly, "I won't believe your scheme. My wife, whom I've known for so many years, wouldn't lie to me. As for you, leave now. I never want to see you again!"
"So, this is a case of crossing the bridge and tearing it down," Shen Qingqing stated incisively.
Sima Feng, having been in the business world for many years, was well-versed in various rhetoric and was unfazed. He didn't even change his expression. "Miss Shen, this isn't me crossing the bridge and tearing it down. It's you fabricating falsehoods to deceive me. I'm truly disappointed in you. My principle is not to cooperate with liars."
He walked towards his desk and pressed the speakerphone button, preparing to call security to have Shen Qingqing and Fu Jingshu removed.
Shen Qingqing stepped forward and blocked him. "Sima Feng, stop deceiving yourself!"
Sima Feng's face contorted with anger. "What are you doing? Get out of the way. I'm not willing to resort to violence with you because you're a woman, but I ask you not to lose face!"
"Since you're unwilling to look at the document carefully, I'll tell you," Shen Qingqing said. She hadn't wanted to dredge up painful memories face-to-face, but Sima Feng was being too much. "Your wife met you in college. Your families were of comparable standing, so it was a commercial marriage. You thought it was a union of love. You even had your first and only son, Sima Yucheng, five years after marriage."
Sima Feng's expression was unreadable, but his hand, which had been on the phone, slowly dropped.
Shen Qingqing continued calmly, "But your wife was in poor health. She passed away less than three months after giving birth. Before she died, she found her younger sister and had a conversation. After that, your sister-in-law came to your home under the pretense of taking care of the child. Over time... you developed feelings for each other, and thus, you continued your lives together."
Outsiders only knew that Sima Feng's wife had died, but they didn't know he had another one at home.
Sima Feng gritted his teeth. "It seems you've done your homework and even investigated this matter."
Shen Qingqing smiled lightly. "Actually, I didn't do any homework. It was a coincidence. One day, your family of three went to a restaurant for dinner, and I happened to be there too. I overheard it by chance. I was curious, with such a big secret, how could you dare to go out to eat so brazenly?"
Sima Feng clenched his teeth, unwilling to explain.
For so many years, the woman had appeared as Sima Yucheng's aunt. Moreover, the restaurant they had gone to that day was one of his properties.
But who could have guessed that Shen Qingqing would coincidentally be dining there as well?
Shen Qingqing saw his trembling hands and knew he was forcing himself to remain calm. She crossed her arms and said, "Stop deceiving yourself. You know in your heart that this is the truth. You just refuse to admit it."
Sima Feng gritted his teeth. "Stop talking."
"I thought that at your age, having experienced so many life's hardships, you would be more willing to face the facts..."
"Stop talking!"
Sima Feng roared, veins bulging, his entire body trembling. He was utterly enraged.
Shen Qingqing fell silent for a moment, looking at his flushed face, which seemed as if he might faint at any moment. "Are you still going to stick to your previous decision?"
Sima Feng stiffly turned his head to look at the computer. The document was still clearly displayed, but he had only read the beginning.
Being cuckolded, raising another man's child – either of these scenarios was like a thunderclap.
He couldn't bear it and didn't dare to look further.
Shen Qingqing saw his face turn slightly ashen and decided not to provoke him further. She turned to walk toward Fu Jingshu, only to hear a thud behind her.
She turned back and saw Sima Feng collapse to the ground, blood at the corner of his mouth.