"Where is Zan Zan?"
Shen Chi Yan cut straight to the chase, without a single wasted word.
Upon hearing this, Shen Huan Ling knew Shen Chi Yan had already tracked her down. Her face turned ashen with fear. Before she could speak, Shen Chi Yan's icy voice rang out again, "Bring Zan Zan back to me unharmed right now, and I'll consider it a trip you took with him and won't hold it against you. If even a single hair on Zan Zan's head is harmed, it's over for you and your parents!"
Shen Huan Ling had always been terrified of Shen Chi Yan. She knew he wasn't bluffing; he would truly act if she disobeyed. Trembling, she was consumed by regret and fear, yet also felt unwilling to yield. She broke down crying, "Brother, do you really want to be made a fool of? Song Zan is the son of Song Qi Nian and Li Jun Shen. Song Qi Nian cheated and had him with you, cuckolding you! You..."
"Nonsense! Zan Zan is my biological son! Your nephew!"
"What!?"
Shen Huan Ling looked as if she had been struck by lightning. She turned back to look at Zan Zan incredulously. What was going on? How did Zan Zan become Fifth Brother's son?
Soon, Shen Huan Ling assumed Shen Chi Yan was deliberately saying this to save Song Qi Nian's son. She was both angry and distressed. Damn it, why were all the men in the Shen family such lovesick fools!
"Brother... do you love Song Qi Nian that much? To say such things to save her son, do you think you're so great? Maybe she sees you as a clown, boohoo... I pity you!"
Shen Huan Ling cried as she spoke. She thought she was miserable, but her Fifth Brother was even more so. For a woman like Song Qi Nian, he'd even thrown away his dignity. Thinking of this, Shen Huan Ling loathed Song Qi Nian even more.
Shen Chi Yan was infuriated. He roared in exasperation, "I don't need your pity! Zan Zan is my biological son! I had DNA tests done at the hospital. Grandma knows about this too, otherwise, why do you think Grandma brought him back to the old house?"
Hearing this, Shen Huan Ling began to waver. That was true. No matter how much Shen Chi Yan loved Song Qi Nian, Grandma was the ultimate authority in the Shen family. If Zan Zan were truly Shen Chi Yan's son, how could Grandma let him into the Shen family and treat him so well? But if that were the case, why had Li Jun Shen lied to her?
"Where is Zan Zan? What did you do to him?"
Shen Huan Ling, of course, dared not admit she had drugged Zan Zan. She could only lie, "He... he's asleep."
"Tell me the address, I'll come pick you up immediately!"
Actually, Shen Chi Yan already knew where Shen Huan Ling was hiding. He was only calling to ascertain if Zan Zan was alive. If he was, it would buy him some time.
Shen Huan Ling was still conflicted. She didn't dare tell Shen Chi Yan her location, "Don't look for me. Zan Zan is fine. I'll bring him back when I've figured things out!"
After saying that, Shen Huan Ling hung up. When Shen Chi Yan tried to call back, she ignored him.
Looking at Zan Zan's plump little face, Shen Huan Ling felt terrible. If Zan Zan was truly Shen Chi Yan's son, then she... had kidnapped her Fifth Brother's son. If Grandma and their parents found out, they would skin her alive. But if something happened to Zan Zan, her fate would be even worse.
After much thought, Shen Huan Ling picked up Zan Zan and left. They were in the suburbs, and she had driven herself here. Shen Huan Ling's car didn't have a child seat. Fearing Zan Zan might fall if she placed him in the back seat, she put him in the passenger seat. After starting the car, she decided to call Li Jun Shen. There was a question she needed to clarify.
She placed her phone on the mount, dialed Li Jun Shen's number, and began to drive. At first, no one answered. On the second try, Li Jun Shen finally picked up, "Shen Huan Ling! Where is Zan Zan? What did you do to him?"
Hearing that Li Jun Shen was still concerned about Zan Zan, Shen Huan Ling asked directly, "Zan Zan is not your biological son, is he?"
Li Jun Shen was silent for a few seconds before replying, "Regardless of whether Zan Zan is my son or not, you cannot harm him."
"Don't worry, I won't harm him. I just want to know, since you knew Zan Zan wasn't your son, why were you so good to him?"
"That's none of your business!"
Shen Huan Ling gritted her teeth. "I'm telling you, my Fifth Brother already knows Zan Zan is his son. I won't harm Zan Zan either. I'm taking Zan Zan back to the Shen family right now. Your family will be reunited, and you'll never have another chance. When that happens, can you stop liking Song Qi Nian and start liking me instead?"
Li Jun Shen said nothing, but let out a laugh. The laugh was very soft, but Shen Huan Ling still heard it.
"No! I will never like you!"
This was the last thing Shen Huan Ling heard in her life because, in the next second, she saw a truck hurtling directly towards her. In that instant, Shen Huan Ling's mind went blank.
"Ah..."
She screamed, trying to swerve the steering wheel to avoid it, but it was too late. At the last moment, she unbuckled her seatbelt and lunged to shield Zan Zan.
"Boom..."
Li Jun Shen heard the sound of the crash through his phone. It was a horrifying and unsettling sound, yet to him, it sounded like a beautiful melody. Shen Huan Ling, Shen Huan Ling, you didn't have to die. But who told you to change your mind at the last minute? Zan Zan, Shen Huan Ling kidnapped you. Father is sending her to accompany you on the road to the underworld, so you won't be lonely.
Meanwhile, Song Qi Nian suddenly jolted awake, her body drenched in cold sweat.
"Zan Zan!"
Shen Chi Yan had wanted Song Qi Nian to get some rest. She hadn't slept for two days and one night, and her face was so pale she looked like she could collapse at any moment. But without seeing Zan Zan, how could she possibly sleep?
Knowing Zan Zan had been taken by Shen Huan Ling and their location, Song Qi Nian went with Shen Chi Yan to pick up Zan Zan. Shen Chi Yan had put some sleep-inducing aromatherapy in the car. Before long, Song Qi Nian had fallen asleep from exhaustion. However, she was woken by a nightmare less than ten minutes later.
Shen Chi Yan stroked Song Qi Nian's head, wiping the cold sweat from her forehead. "Don't worry, Zan Zan is fine."
Song Qi Nian looked at the road ahead, her brow furrowed. "Why aren't we there yet?"
As soon as she spoke, Shen Chi Yan's phone rang. He answered it, and after hearing the content, his expression changed drastically. In the next second, he roared, "What the hell did you say?"
The person on the other end reported hesitantly, but still reported, "They were in a car accident. Miss Shen died at the scene. The young master's condition is unknown."