Volume 1, Chapter 24: These Recordings Are the Evidence

When the hospital room door was pushed open, Chu Yan was curling her toes in feigned agony, her tears poised perfectly upon her eyelashes.

Shang Linyuan appeared in the doorway, his expression indifferent.

His gaze immediately fell upon the woman’s paper-pale face on the bed and the shocking injury visible beneath the hem of the gown lifted by the doctor.

"Linyuan..." Chu Yan’s voice was as thin as a thread, breaking into a sob the moment it escaped her lips. Tears rolled down her cheeks and soaked into the pillow. "It hurts so much..."

Shang Linyuan walked to the bedside, his gaze lingering on the wound for two seconds before he asked, "How did this happen?"

"I..." Chu Yan bit her lip, glancing at him timidly. "I remembered that your mother’s birthday is in two days, so I wanted to ask what gift she might like this year. Just as I got through on the phone, my foot slipped, and I accidentally fell down the stairs..."

She gripped the sheets unconsciously as she spoke. "I really didn't mean to, please don't be annoyed with me..."

"What did the doctor say?" Shang Linyuan interrupted, his voice devoid of emotion.

"Severe soft tissue contusion. Hospitalization for observation is required to avoid infection," the doctor said, handing over the medical records. "The wound has been treated, but the recovery period may be long."

Shang Linyuan took the document, his fingertips pausing slightly as his eyes swept over the diagnosis.

Taking the opportunity, Chu Yan shifted closer to him. The movement tugged at her injured calf, causing her to gasp in pain and cry even harder. "Linyuan, I didn't mean to be a burden. I never expected your mother to call you..."

Her hand tentatively reached for his sleeve, but he stepped aside without a word.

He placed the medical report on the bedside table, his tone flat to the point of coldness. "I will have someone handle the admission procedures and hire a nurse to look after you."

Chu Yan froze. With tears still clinging to her face, her initial sense of grievance morphed into shock. "You're leaving now?"

Shang Linyuan didn't look at her; he was already typing on his phone, the screen’s light reflecting against his cold, sharp profile. "I have things to attend to."

"Is it because of Lu Xiaoman?" Chu Yan’s voice suddenly rose. The pain from her wound and the panic in her heart converged, making her tone uncontrollably sharp. "Are you that afraid of displeasing her? I am lying here, and you are going to find her?"

Shang Linyuan’s fingers paused. When he looked up, the usual detachment in his eyes had been replaced by palpable impatience.

"Chu Yan, your injury was self-inflicted. Do not drag others into this."

Chu Yan’s heart sank. *He knows? How could he know?*

The color drained from her face entirely. She opened her mouth to argue, but Shang Linyuan’s next words rendered her speechless.

"You may have forgotten, but when we bought this house, you said you were afraid to live alone and insisted that I install surveillance cameras in the foyer."

He pocketed his phone and looked down at her, his eyes as cold as ice. "The footage is very clear. You smashed your own foot with a chair—ten times in total."

"Chu Yan, these cheap tactics of yours only make me feel disgusted."

Chu Yan turned deathly pale, her lips trembling, unable to utter a single word. Her meticulously crafted display of vulnerability and grievance had been shattered into pieces by his calm, factual account.

"Rest well. From now on, do not do such things again." His voice remained utterly devoid of ripples.

He turned and walked away without the slightest hesitation.

Only when the sound of the hospital door closing echoed did Chu Yan finally break down, grabbing her pillow and hurling it onto the floor. Her tears, mixed with resentment and bitterness, splashed into the empty room.

Meanwhile, at the end of the hallway, Shang Linyuan pulled out his phone and saw an unread message: *Uncle, Xiaoxi and Mommy are both waiting for you. Please come back soon.*

His fingertips hovered over the screen, the coldness in his eyes gradually softening. After a long silence, he slowly typed a reply: *Finished with my business. Coming back now.*

"Bang!"

A loud crash erupted downstairs, as if a heavy object had been smashed.

In the second-floor bedroom, Lu Mingxi was startled awake by the sound. He rubbed his sleepy eyes, glanced at Lu Xiaoman, who was fast asleep beside him, and frowned. *Mommy finally fell asleep, why is it so noisy downstairs?*

He quietly slipped out of bed.

The commotion downstairs grew louder. Just as Lu Mingxi reached the stair railing, he heard a maid’s cry of alarm.

"You cannot go up! Mr. Shang ordered that no outsiders are allowed on the second floor!"

This was followed by the sound of a violent shove. The maid groaned as she fell to the ground, and the wooden stairs creaked under the heavy tread of leather boots.

Three men were cursing as they stormed upward. The leader, a man with dyed yellow hair, had a jagged scar on the corner of his eye that glinted with malice in the dim light.

"Damn it, is that little bitch hiding upstairs? Search! Brother Chu said we have to drag her out and peel a layer of skin off her today!"

Terrified, Lu Mingxi shrank back, his small body pressed against the cold wall. His right hand secretly pressed a button on his smart watch.

The yellow-haired man stepped onto the final landing, only a few paces away. His gaze swept over, pausing for a moment before landing on Lu Mingxi’s face—a face that bore a striking resemblance to the photo of Lu Xiaoman. He gave a wicked grin. "Yo, isn't this the little bastard? Where’s your mother? Hiding upstairs playing dead?"

Another man, tall and thin, spat on the floor, his eyes like poisoned needles. "As cheap as his mother. Still trying to hide? Watch me throw this little brat out to feed the dogs!"

The maid scrambled up from the floor, lunging forward to protect the child, but the tall man kicked her in the back of the knee, sending her tumbling down the stairs.

The yellow-haired man grabbed Lu Mingxi by the collar, hoisting his small body half a foot off the ground. The child’s breathing became ragged, and his eyes were filled with a terror that looked like spilled ink.

"Tell your mother to get out here! Or I’ll throw you down from here right now!"

The man’s roar made Lu Mingxi’s ears ring, and his collar choked him until he could barely breathe.

Lu Mingxi bit his lip hard, tears welling in his eyes, but he stared unblinkingly at the man. "Don't... you dare insult my Mommy..."

"Heh, this little bastard has some backbone!" The yellow-haired man laughed, tightening his grip. "Looks like you’ve never been beaten. Don't know what pain is, do you?"

He raised his other hand, his calloused palm poised to strike.

"Stop! Who are you people? Why are you causing trouble in my home?" Xinxin rushed in from outside and shouted.

Xinxin had been playing in the backyard and, hearing the commotion in the front, assumed her uncle had returned. Seeing the mess and Lu Mingxi being held in mid-air, she was so scared she burst into tears.

"Your home?"

Chu Yutang, who had been sitting in the living room downstairs commanding the situation, looked over curiously when he saw the little girl. His eyes widened in shock. *Why is Shang Linyuan’s little niece here?*

He recognized Xinxin, of course. She was the precious daughter of Shang Linyuan’s sister. The Shang family doted on her like a princess; he dared not offend her. Chu Yan had told him to lure Shang Linyuan away so he could teach that bitch Lu Xiaoman a lesson, but she hadn't said anything about a member of the Shang family being present.

*What do I do now?*

Seeing Xinxin, Chu Yutang’s arrogance withered. He forced an unnatural smile. "Miss Xinxin, why are you here? This is an adult matter, it has nothing to do with you. Step aside."

"I won't!" Despite her fear, Xinxin tried to remain firm. "You can't hit Xiaoxi! You are bad people, and I’m going to tell the police uncles to arrest you!"

Chu Yutang’s heart skipped a beat. He wasn't afraid of the police, but he was terrified of Shang Linyuan. He looked at Xinxin, who was blocking the way, then at Lu Mingxi on the stairs. Gritting his teeth, he roared at his men, "Let's go!"

The group followed Chu Yutang out of the villa, looking disgruntled. Before leaving, they didn't forget to cast one last fierce glare at Xinxin and Lu Mingxi.

Quiet returned to the villa. Xinxin turned around and helped Lu Mingxi up, touching his reddened neck with heartache. "Brother Xiaoxi, are you okay? Does it hurt?"

Lu Mingxi shook his head. He looked down at his smart watch and pressed a button. He had recorded everything those men had said. Mommy had told him that to catch a thief, you need proof. These recordings were his evidence.