On the other side, Shen Yao Yao received a text message from a servant. Images of Fu Jing Shu and Shen Qing Qing interacting already filled her mind. Jealousy gnawed at her heart like a venomous snake, and she had to do something to vent her anger.
The mobile phone in her hand became her outlet. She smashed it to the ground, and it shattered into pieces.
The sound startled Chen Xiang, who pushed the door open and saw the fragments of the phone. She quickly asked, "What happened? Why did you smash the phone out of the blue? Did things not go well with Young Master Ye?"
"Don't mention that name!" Shen Yao Yao suddenly shrieked.
Chen Xiang was startled. When she recovered, her expression turned grim. "What are you doing? Throwing another childish tantrum?"
Shen Yao Yao's heart was filled with grievance and resentment. "Mommy, that Shen Qing Qing went to find Jing Shu. They even sat together and ate. That little brat said he wants to recognize Shen Qing Qing as his mommy!"
That brat had never liked getting close to anyone, so why did he like Shen Qing Qing so much?
Could it really be a mother-son connection?!
Chen Xiang picked up the phone fragments and placed them on the bedside table. "I know you're angry, but now is not the time to argue with Shen Qing Qing."
"If this continues, Jing Shu will be snatched away by her. That vixen, she starts charming men as soon as she returns. Truly restless!"
"Alright," Chen Xiang sat beside her, her arm around Shen Yao Yao's shoulders. "Do you think Master Fu is that easy to charm? If he could be easily hooked, he would have had countless women around him by now. Let her be arrogant; her good days are numbered."
These words somewhat appeased Shen Yao Yao, but her mood couldn't improve anytime soon.
Just then, a maid came upstairs. "Madam, Miss, someone downstairs has delivered something. They said it was from Young Master Ye."
Shen Yao Yao's face darkened. She absolutely refused to go downstairs, but Chen Xiang cajoled her into going down.
As soon as she reached the bottom of the stairs, she saw several small boxes placed there. Each one contained jewelry, dazzling and priceless. The servants' eyes were glued to them. But Shen Yao Yao merely glanced at them and then looked away, completely uninterested.
Hearing the name "Young Master Ye" now made her feel sick, and seeing these jewels made her feel tainted.
Chen Xiang was pleased. "It seems he's quite thoughtful."
Shen Yao Yao turned to leave.
Chen Xiang quickly instructed the servants to take the items upstairs. To her surprise, as soon as they were sent up, Shen Yao Yao, with a dark expression, threw them all out en masse and then slammed her bedroom door shut with a resounding bang.
"Yao Yao..."
"Take them away! Take them away!"
Shen Yao Yao's screams echoed from the room.
Chen Xiang sighed helplessly and had the items taken to her own room.
...
After finishing her meal, Shen Qing Qing prepared to leave. As she was leaving, Shen Jin Xi was reluctant to let her go. He held her for a long time before letting go, watching her depart. The little boy still stood at the doorway, gazing at her wistfully.
Only when her figure had completely disappeared did he slowly walk back inside.
Fu Jing Shu glanced at him. "You like her that much?"
Shen Jin Xi nodded, sat on the sofa, and sighed like a little adult, a look of melancholy etched on his face.
Fu Jing Shu shook his head and ignored the dramatic child.
Shen Qing Qing left the Fu residence and drove to the Royal Club to find Zhang Xiao Tao. Upon arriving at the club, Zhang Xiao Tao had just woken up. Seeing Shen Qing Qing, she immediately stood up and bowed.
"Thank you. If you hadn't helped me, I..."
Shen Qing Qing sidestepped, not intending to accept her bow. "If you truly want to thank me, answer my questions."
Zhang Xiao Tao's complexion seemed a shade paler than before. Just as she was about to speak, her phone rang. She had to answer it first. She couldn't tell what was said on the other end, but she hung up in a panic and ran out.
Shen Qing Qing quickly followed, seeing the panic on Zhang Xiao Tao's face, she said, "I'll give you a ride."
Zhang Xiao Tao was in a desperate hurry and didn't refuse. "Thank you."
There was silence in the car for the fifteen-minute journey. The car finally stopped in front of a construction site. A sign hung on the main gate of the construction site.
— Dong Lin Hai Wan Construction Site.
A smaller line of text at the bottom read: Construction Danger, Keep Out.
Zhang Xiao Tao got out of the car and hurried into the construction site. Shen Qing Qing pulled out the key and followed, but her heart felt quite complicated because this construction site belonged to a subsidiary company under her name.
At this moment, a large group of people at the construction site were sitting together, eating and drinking, a lively scene.
Zhang Xiao Tao ran up to them, breathless. "Foreman, my brother, my brother he..."
A man wearing a white hat and carrying a briefcase stood up. Despite working on a construction site, he was dressed like a company boss and carried himself with an air of authority. "Why are you here again?"
With a thud, Zhang Xiao Tao knelt directly in front of him.
"The hospital just called me, saying my brother is dying. His leg is already necrotic and needs to be amputated. It requires a large sum of money. I don't have that much. Please, could you lend me the compensation first? I promise I will pay you back later!"
The foreman sighed. "Since he needs to be amputated, why bother treating him? Such a person would be crippled and a burden if he survived. Just let him go, and you'll all be free."
Zhang Xiao Tao's face turned pale, her hands trembling. "My brother is still young. He can't die. Please, just lend me some money. I've already found a job, and I'm working hard. The salary is very high, and I can repay you. I will definitely pay you back. You can name your interest rate, I beg you!"
"Just accept your fate. This is your brother's fate, and it's yours!" The foreman was unmoved.
Zhang Xiao Tao finally realized that this seemingly kind man was a beast in human clothing. He would not save her, nor would he save her brother.
She was completely desperate and wailed in despair.
"Isn't all of this your fault?! Don't you have any responsibility?! My brother was seriously injured when he fell. If you hadn't dragged your feet and refused to take him to the hospital, my brother's leg wouldn't have gotten this bad. By abandoning him now, you're deliberately trying to take my brother's life!"
Hearing this, Shen Qing Qing finally understood why Zhang Xiao Tao had gone to work at the Royal Club; it was likely for her brother.
She stepped forward and helped up the weeping Zhang Xiao Tao.
Zhang Xiao Tao felt weak all over, leaning softly against Shen Qing Qing. The moment the foreman refused to lend her money, she felt like the world had collapsed. Her life had no hope.
Shen Qing Qing patted her back and looked at the foreman. "As the foreman, you should compensate your worker for medical expenses when they are injured."
"Compensate my ass!" The foreman finally dropped his facade of politeness and cursed. "Bringing help, are you? Looks like you won't get money today and plan to rob me instead."
Shen Qing Qing was too lazy to waste words. "Are you going to pay or not?"
The foreman felt provoked. A nobody like her was getting cocky. "Not paying. What are you going to do about it?"
"If you don't pay, I'll beat you."