Chapter 27: I Have Something to Discuss with President Luo in Private

This matter kept Luo Minglang awake all night, tossing and turning restlessly. He spent hours trying to unravel why his wife’s handwriting had completely transformed into another person’s style. Was she imitating someone? But what purpose would mimicking Shen Linyue serve? Was she planning to use this as a means of continuing her revenge?

As dawn crept in, he stared at the letter, tempted a hundred times to break the seal and read its contents, yet resisting each urge. He gazed long and hard at his wife, scrutinizing her with utmost seriousness. The woman before his eyes—her face, her voice, the birthmark—all unmistakably belonged to his wife, Zhang Guoguo. Yet, why did her recent behavior feel so utterly foreign, as if she were someone else entirely? Even the way she loved him now seemed different, as though she had become another person.

The more he pondered, the more fear crept in. He could not bear the thought of losing his wife and so forced himself not to dwell on it further, telling himself it was all just a dream, a figment of his imagination.

Zhang Guoguo awoke, her eyes half-closed, and was surprised to find herself in his embrace. He was watching her, his handsome features glowing softly in the morning sun, so enchanting that she felt utterly captivated. He offered her a gentle, honeyed smile, sweeter than anything she had ever known. Unable to resist, she kissed his lips, her fingers tracing mischievous patterns beneath his mouth. With a teasing, affectionate tone, she gazed into his eyes. “Have you been awake long?”

He kissed her forehead tenderly. “Not long. Just three seconds before you opened your eyes.”

“I don’t believe you,” she replied, reaching up to caress his dark eyes. “What’s wrong? Didn’t sleep well last night—was it because of work?”

“Yes. Tomorrow, you’ll accompany me to Davos. It’s your first time joining me on a business trip, and I’m a little excited.”

“Oh, is it really that big a deal?” She felt a wave of happiness and wrapped her arms around his neck, their noses brushing affectionately. In a soft whisper, she promised, “From now on, whenever you want, I’ll always be by your side.”

“Will you keep your word?”

“Of course. Pinky promise?”

He extended his hand, and their little fingers intertwined as they recited the playful oath, vowing never to break their promise for a hundred years. As soon as the words left their lips, he pulled her beneath the covers, enveloping her in warmth.

Content with this present happiness, Luo Minglang finished breakfast with his wife, then summoned Toddly and lawyer Wang He to discuss how to clear his wife of all charges and fulfill her request, before heading to the hospital.

At the door of the VIP ward, Shen Wei blocked Luo Minglang, who was carrying a bouquet of lilies, and spoke bluntly, “Are you here to apologize on behalf of your wife? Let me tell you, our Shen family doesn’t need it. If necessary, we’ll see you in court.”

Luo Minglang didn’t spare him a glance. His lips curled coldly as he replied, “I’m not here to waste words with you, and you have no right to speak for Mrs. Shen Hanqing.”

The imposing Toddly stepped forward and blocked Shen Wei, equally unceremonious. “Young Master Shen, you’d do better to attend to your dying father and stop getting in the way here.”

Shen Wei was furious, glaring at Toddly. “You’re just a lackey. What makes you think you can speak to me?”

Hearing the commotion outside, Shen Yue turned to her grandmother. “Grandma, I’ll go see what’s going on.”

She set down her thermos and stepped outside, immediately spotting Luo Minglang—distinguished, noble, and elegant as ever. He was still so strikingly handsome, his gray suit lending him an air of solemn restraint.

She couldn’t help but swallow, offering him a slight, ingratiating smile as she approached. “President Luo, is there something you need?”

“Miss Shen, would you be so kind as to inform Madam Shen that Luo Minglang has urgent business and requests an audience.”

“Of course. Please wait here, I’ll notify her at once.”

“No, you can’t!” Shen Wei grabbed Shen Yue’s hand, preventing her from entering. “Have you forgotten who this man is? He’s the husband of Zhang Guoguo, the one who nearly cost your uncle his life. How can you go and disturb Grandma? Are you not afraid of making her even more upset?”

“Let me go!” Shen Yue wrenched her hand free, glaring at Shen Wei. “Brother, are you still not facing reality? Have you forgotten why Grandma was suddenly rushed to the hospital? Don’t talk about harming my uncle—he brought it on himself. Besides, let me tell you, Grandma doesn’t want to see you right now. Whenever she does, she’s reminded of the man who cruelly murdered her beloved second son.”

Shen Wei had always respected his father and obeyed his every word. But the video evidence clearly implicated him as the culprit who killed his uncle. Only now did the truth finally sink in, leaving him stunned and lost, his spirit seemingly detached from his body, overwhelmed by grief and hopelessness.

Shen Wei wandered, hollow and dejected, to the entrance of the intensive care unit, gazing through the glass at his father—pale and unconscious, connected to a ventilator. The storm of emotion he’d held back finally broke. He could not accept that the man who had always taught him kindness and integrity was, in fact, his uncle’s murderer.

Leaning against the window, he wept as he never had in thirty years. His mother, Wang Yun, came to comfort him. “Don’t be sad, son. Your father will recover.”

Shen Wei shook his head, desperate and forlorn, staring into his mother’s reddened eyes. “Mom, tell me—was Dad really the one who killed Uncle?”

Unable to face him, Wang Yun turned away, her silence confirmation enough.

With the truth laid bare, Shen Wei crumbled.

Shen Yue glanced at Luo Minglang with a reassuring smile, as if to say, “Don’t worry, I’ll handle everything.” She entered the room, where Shen Hanqing looked at her with furrowed brow and a wan, pale face. “Why are you arguing with your brother again?”

“Grandma, it’s not me. He’s being unreasonable.” As Shen Yue tucked the covers around her grandmother, she continued, “With things as they are, he’s still siding with Uncle. I’m so disappointed in him.”

“That’s just how your brother is—stubborn. Some things he just can’t grasp until someone spells it out for him, unlike you. You’re so clever, you understand everything at once. How’s your uncle?”

“Just heard—still unconscious, no change.” Shen Yue’s eyes flickered past her grandmother to the white sheets on the bed. “Grandma, there’s someone outside who wants to see you.”

“Who is it?” Given the Shen family’s current troubles, Shen Hanqing was surprised. “Is it Zhang Guoguo?”

“It’s her husband, Luo Minglang.”

“And what’s he doing here?”

“I’m not sure, but it seems urgent.”