Volume 1, Chapter 33: The Show Is About to Begin

When the dial button was pressed, Chu Yan’s fingertips were still trembling slightly.

"Aunt Lin." The moment the call connected, Chu Yan had already adjusted her tone, injecting just the right amount of grievance into her voice. "Are you free right now?"

"Yan-yan?" Lin Qinghan’s voice carried the languor of someone who had just woken up, with the faint sound of crashing waves in the background. "Calling at this hour, is your foot hurting badly?"

Chu Yan shifted toward the head of the bed to make her injured foot more comfortable, her voice softening. "No, Auntie. I just woke up and missed you. Listening to your voice, are you out for a walk by the beach?"

"Yes, I just got up. Your uncle is ahead, watching the sunrise." Lin Qinghan chuckled. "How is your foot? That boy Linyuan hasn't been bullying you, has he?"

At the mention of Shang Linyuan, Chu Yan tightened her grip on the phone, a hint of grievance suddenly seeping into her tone. "How would he dare to bully me... It’s just that these past few days, he hasn't been coming to the hospital much."

"Busy?" There was a trace of displeasure in Lin Qinghan’s voice. "No matter how busy he is, he shouldn't leave you alone in the hospital. I will have a serious talk with him later."

"Oh, please don't, Auntie." Chu Yan quickly tried to smooth things over, though her voice dropped lower, like a young girl whose secret had been touched upon. "Actually... it’s not entirely because he's busy."

"Oh?" Lin Qinghan sensed something amiss. "Tell me, is there something going on? Does he have someone else?"

Chu Yan bit her lip, remained silent for a few seconds, and then sniffled, as if gathering her courage. "Auntie, Lu Xiaoman is back."

The sound of the waves on the other end of the line seemed to stop.

Lin Qinghan’s voice rose sharply, filled with incredulous surprise. "Lu Xiaoman? The one who stayed at the Shang residence back in high school?"

"It’s her." Chu Yan’s voice took on a tearful quality, sounding deeply aggrieved. "She even brought a child back, five or six years old. These past few days, Linyuan’s heart has been entirely with her and her child. I’ve been hospitalized for so long, and he’s only visited once, and even then, he was in such a rush..."

"Absurd!" Lin Qinghan’s voice turned cold instantly. "That girl left without a word back then. Do you know what the rumors were? People said she was being kept by someone and had an illegitimate child, that she dropped out of school and ran off for money. Why would Linyuan be getting involved with someone like that now?"

As Chu Yan listened, a glimmer of triumph crossed her eyes, though she continued to "persuade" her. "Auntie, please don't be angry. Perhaps, perhaps it’s just a coincidence. Maybe Linyuan just felt sorry for her raising a child alone and has been taking care of her a bit more..."

"Sorry for her?" Lin Qinghan sneered. "She ate and lived for free at the Shang household for two or three years, and when she left, she didn't even say goodbye. What is there to feel sorry for about such an ungrateful person!"

She paused, her tone becoming resolute. "You wait. I’ll have your uncle book a flight right now, and we’ll be back first thing tomorrow morning. I want to see just how thick-skinned this Lu Xiaoman is, daring to mess with the daughter-in-law I’ve chosen and coming back to ruin your happiness with Linyuan!"

"Auntie..." Chu Yan pretended to decline, though she couldn't hide the excitement in her voice. "Don't go to all that trouble, I’m really fine..."

"Silly child, you are the only daughter-in-law I recognize. How could I watch an outsider bully you?" Lin Qinghan’s tone softened. "Get some rest and take care of your injury. Wait for me to come back and deal with this."

After hanging up, Chu Yan stared at the phone screen, the corners of her mouth curling up bit by bit.

She looked down at her bandaged ankle, the darkness in her eyes almost overflowing.

Lu Xiaoman, do you think that by bringing back a bastard, you can secure your position as Mrs. Shang?

Just wait. I will show you who the true mistress of the Shang family is.

Shang Xubai paced outside the study for a moment before finally pushing the door open and entering.

Shang Linyuan was leaning back in his leather chair, reviewing a contract. The warm light hit him, highlighting the cold, sharp, and handsome lines of his profile.

The man in front of him was only five years his senior, yet he always carried an air of calm, seasoned maturity, much like an elder.

"Uncle." He leaned halfway into the room, his voice kept particularly soft. "Are you free right now?"

Shang Linyuan looked up. When his gaze fell upon him, his eyes were as still as a deep pool, carrying his habitual indifference. "Come in and speak."

"Uncle." Shang Xubai clenched his palms, his voice tinged with a subtle, irrepressible nervousness. "Regarding the incident a few days ago where Chu Yutang came to the Shang residence to cause trouble, I want to clarify things with you."

He paused, pouring out the thoughts he had already organized. "Chu Yutang was used as a pawn. The person behind it must have understood his protective nature toward his sister and intentionally provoked him, telling him that Chu Yan had been wronged at the Shang residence. That’s why he acted on impulse, went to argue with Lu Mingxi, and ended up hurting someone."

Speaking up to this point, Shang Xubai’s tone softened with a plea. "He is currently being held in a detention center and realizes he was wrong. He has voluntarily offered to pay for Lu Mingxi’s medical expenses and compensation for emotional distress. Uncle, for the sake of Chu Yan, could you... forgive him this time?"

Shang Linyuan set down the contract, tapped his knuckles lightly on the desk, and fixed his gaze on Shang Xubai’s face. "You certainly seem very concerned about the Chu family’s affairs."

The remark was devoid of any discernable emotion, but it made Shang Xubai’s heart tighten. He quickly explained, "Chu Yan, Lu Xiaoman, and I went to the same high school. The three of us used to go to school together, and we would often gather on weekends to study. We were always very close. Now that her brother is in this situation, I couldn't just stand by and watch."

"Lu Xiaoman?" Shang Linyuan repeated the name, his voice showing no emotion, though his eyes deepened. "How do you feel about her?"

Shang Xubai’s heart shrank, as if gripped by something.

How could he not know his uncle’s feelings for Lu Xiaoman?

The hidden concern in his eyes, the quiet protectiveness—he had seen it all.

His throat felt as though it were blocked. After a long while, he managed to squeeze out: "Xiaoman... she is a good person with a cheerful personality. Back then, among the three of us, she was the one who could always liven up the atmosphere."

He avoided the surging emotions he dared not voice and said, pretending to be casual, "But in our senior year, she suddenly transferred schools without even saying goodbye, and we lost contact. Chu Yan, on the other hand, went to the same university as me and we’ve been in touch all these years, so we’ve spent more time together."

The study fell silent, save for the rustling of leaves in the wind outside the window.

Shang Linyuan didn't speak; he simply kept his gaze on him, as if weighing the truth of his words.

Shang Xubai felt a chill crawl up his spine. He knew he couldn't wait any longer. Taking a deep breath, he spoke with solemnity: "Uncle, although Chu Yutang is impulsive, he isn't a fool. For him to be provoked into losing his mind this time, the person behind it must not be simple."

Seeing Shang Linyuan looking at him as if in deep thought, Shang Xubai voiced what was on his mind: "I have a feeling that this person isn't just targeting the Shang family; there might be other motives. You have extensive connections. Could you... help me find out who that person is?"

Shang Linyuan’s fingertips rested on the desk for a moment. His gaze shifted from Shang Xubai’s face to the sycamore leaves fluttering in the wind outside the window.

"I can look into it." His voice was flat, yet it made Shang Xubai instantly let out a breath of relief. "But remember, your involvement in helping Chu Yutang ends here."

Shang Xubai was about to respond when he heard him continue: "The fact that he hurt someone remains. Whether he should be released and when that should happen is a matter for the law to decide."

Shang Xubai had no objections to this.

In truth, he didn't care at all whether Chu Yutang got out of the detention center.

Everything was just a formality; he would leave the rest to Shang Linyuan to worry about.

"I understand what you mean, Uncle." Shang Xubai nodded, his tone humble. "I just mentioned it in passing. Chu Yutang is responsible for his own mistakes, and he should indeed face the consequences. I only spoke up for him because I saw how anxious Chu Yan was and wanted to put her at ease."

"I know you, Chu Yan, and Lu Xiaoman were close in the past." Shang Linyuan’s tone was lighter, yet carried an indisputable authority. "But Chu Yutang is an adult and must be held responsible for his actions. Helping to find the mastermind behind this is reasonable; but trying to bypass the law to protect him is overstepping."

"I understand, Uncle. I won't interfere in this matter again."

Shang Linyuan looked up at him but said nothing more, merely tapping his fingertips on the contract to signal his acknowledgment.

Knowing this was a dismissal, Shang Xubai retreated tactfully.

The moment he closed the door, he brushed his nose, a faint smile appearing in his eyes.

The good show was about to begin.