Shen Qingqing turned off her phone and put it aside, sitting by the bed. She affectionately stroked Chenchen's cheek. He breathed so weakly when he slept that she couldn't help but worry sometimes.
Would this child just... fall asleep and never wake up?
She shook her head, daring not to dwell on such thoughts. Gently, she held the child's small hand and watched as the frown on his sleeping face relaxed. A pang of pain tightened her chest, making it difficult to breathe.
Her child, how much suffering had he endured?
She lowered her voice, speaking each word distinctly, "I won't let her go. I'll make her wish she were dead."
Chu Zisheng merely sighed softly, offering no劝. Those who bully children were, in his opinion, worse than beasts. "Do whatever you want. Leave Chenchen to me. I will do my best to cure him."
"Thank you."
While Chenchen was still asleep, Shen Qingqing withdrew her hand and turned to leave, calling Colin. They spoke for nearly ten minutes.
After hanging up, she changed her clothes and returned to the room.
Chu Zisheng adjusted his glasses. "He'll be very happy to see you when he wakes up."
She tucked the child in and whispered, "I'm not going anywhere today. I'll just stay with him."
...
Shen Yaoyao had been experiencing one misfortune after another recently.
To gather thirty million, she had tried every method imaginable. She didn't dare ask her father, and her mother didn't have that much money, so she had to resort to selling her jewelry.
She loved beauty and owned many designer bags and accessories. However, even selling them all wouldn't be enough to reach thirty million. Moreover, her jewelry wasn't selling well.
Not only that, but she also seemed to be experiencing a streak of bad luck.
Her tires would be punctured, her wallet stolen, and once, even her phone was lost. When she finally returned home, she had to face Shen Zhizhong's cold glare.
Because Fu Jingshu was angry with them and constantly exerted pressure, they encountered difficulties in all aspects. Shen Zhizhong was furious and took his anger out on Shen Yaoyao.
Even Chen Xiang, whom he usually favored the most, was neglected.
Shen Yaoyao went to Chen Xiang to cry.
Chen Xiang felt both heartbroken and furious. She gritted her teeth, "I will definitely make that little slut pay! She's just so proud because Fu Jingshu is backing her. I'll make her taste what it's like to fall from the clouds!"
After comforting her daughter, Chen Xiang took her phone to the balcony. After preparing herself mentally, she dialed her father's number.
"Father, you must have heard about the Shen family's recent situation. We need money now, and I'm truly at my wit's end, so I have to ask you."
Chen Father was also in a difficult position. "Where would I get the money? Things are tough at home too."
Chen Xiang gritted her teeth. Her father favored males and had never valued her much. But ever since she married into the Shen family, her father's attitude towards her had changed. To be refused the first time she asked to borrow money left her feeling cold.
"Xiangxiang, I can't help you with the money, but I can introduce you to someone. As long as you have Yao Yao charm this person, then how much money do you want will be readily available."
"Who?"
"The young master of the Ye family."
Recently, the Fu family had been intentionally pressuring the Shen family, and all sorts of forces were aware of it. Chen Father, worried about his daughter implicating him, wanted to get in touch with the Ye family to secure a fallback, but he lacked an excuse.
And now, an opportunity presented itself.
Chen Xiang's expression changed slightly.
The Ye family was also a prominent family in A City. While they couldn't compare to the Fu family, they were certainly stronger than the Shen and Chen families. The young master of the Ye family was notoriously promiscuous and had a fondness for beautiful women, but he had one fatal flaw.
He weighed over 200 pounds, with a face full of coarse flesh, a small nose, and small eyes. He was extremely ugly.
She asked with some difficulty, "Dad, you mean, you want Yao Yao to..."
Chen Father said earnestly, "Xiangxiang, I've given you a solution. Whether you take it or not is up to you. If you can't solve the current problem, then Shen Zhizhong might also become angry with you. In that case, my Chen family won't be able to take you in. After all, a married daughter is like spilled water."
With that, he hung up the phone.
Chen Xiang was lost in thought for a long time. Finally, steeling her resolve, she turned and returned to the room.
Shen Yaoyao had stopped crying and was playing on her phone. Seeing her mother return, she quickly asked, "How is it? Is there a solution?"
Chen Xiang looked at her for a long time, making Shen Yaoyao's skin crawl. She stopped playing with her phone and asked cautiously, "Mommy, what's wrong?"
Had she been rebuffed by her maternal grandfather?
"Yaoyao, I'm going to introduce you to a friend, the young master of the Ye family. Go have dinner and drinks with him. As long as you make him happy, thirty million won't be a problem," Chen Xiang coaxed gently.
Shen Yaoyao suddenly stood up, her voice trembling in shock, "Mommy, what did you say?! You want me to go with that fat pig?!"
"Yaoyao, listen to Mommy..."
"I don't want to listen! I don't want to go! That fat pig is so ugly! Are you even my mother? You want me to go to dinner with him? This is worse than killing me!"
The thought of that fat pig made Shen Yaoyao want to vomit. She couldn't hear Chen Xiang's words at all, crying and making a scene.
Chen Xiang gritted her teeth and suddenly slapped her!
The room fell into a sudden silence.
Shen Yaoyao covered her face, looking at her mother in disbelief. She had never been hit by her mother before.
"If it weren't absolutely necessary, I wouldn't ask you to go. If you can't come up with the thirty million, then forget about having any connection with Fu Jingshu. He won't look at you again. Only by solving this problem can we then think of ways to change his impression of you."
Chen Xiang knew her daughter's priorities too well. She used both persuasion and threats, and with Fu Jingshu as a bargaining chip, she knew she would agree.
Shen Yaoyao's eyes were filled with struggle.
But as Chen Xiang said, in the end, the honor of marrying into the Fu family outweighed her disgust for that fat pig. Shen Yaoyao lowered her hand, her face red and swollen, looking pitiful. Each word was squeezed out from between her teeth.
"I... I'll agree."
"Good girl," Chen Xiang embraced her, comforting her tenderly, "Don't worry, with Mommy here, I will definitely make sure you marry into the Fu family."
"Then when do I go?" Shen Yaoyao's eyes flickered, still hoping to stall.
Unexpectedly, Chen Xiang seemed to read her mind and said softly, "Tonight."
Shen Yaoyao's vision went black. She wished she could just faint.
...
Shen Qingqing received a call from Lu Junze. The man was unusually serious.
"Qing, I've found a clue about your mother's family."
"Okay, I'll come to you."
After hanging up, Shen Qingqing's fingertips trembled slightly. She remained outwardly calm, but her heart was filled with joy. She first went to see Chenchen. The little one was already asleep. She tiptoed out.
A royal entertainment club in the city center.
Shen Qingqing was dressed casually today, a baseball cap tilted on her head. Without her usual flamboyant attire, she looked elegant and refined. As she walked in, she surveyed the surroundings.
It was at this glance that she saw a familiar face.