Chapter 75: The Shen Family

Chapter 75: The Shen Family

"Really?" Lu Ran asked softly.

Fang Chen swore he could detect a tinge of regret in the man's tone.

He quickly nodded. "Yes! Don't doubt it. I vouch for you; it definitely wasn't you."

With the words spoken, he observed the young man before him halt his steps, a single, languid blink suffusing those disproportionately dark pupils.

Fang Chen secretly let out a breath of relief.

Roaring inwardly: What on earth is going on with the Shen family! This is terrifying! If he had known this would happen, he would never have come here, no matter what!

Yet, this sigh of relief didn't last long.

There, Lu Ran tugged at the corners of his lips, revealing a charming smile as he asked, "How do you know it's me?"

Fang Chen almost knelt before him.

He forced a smile and said, "That's because the person who pushed me didn't have your… gentleness."

Only then did Lu Ran flash a satisfied smile upon hearing his compliment.

The moment Lu Ran turned around, Fang Chen slumped onto the lounge chair.

Thank goodness, he didn't have to jump into the pool.

He never wanted to swim again in this lifetime, let alone watch any damn underwater fireworks.

He'd avoid dogs from a distance of eight hundred meters.

The few people in the pool were still splashing about.

The spectators on the shore had regained their composure, some engaged in heated discussions while others discreetly took out their phones to record videos.

Madam Shen was propped up at the edge of the pool, watching Shen Xingran inside with anxious wails.

Shen Hongyuan stood frozen in place, his heart seemingly crushed and devoid of life.

But Shen Xingyu persevered.

With Chen Shang's soiled body draped over him, he was busy comforting Fang Chen while calling for assistance to rescue the others from the pool.

Lu Ran left the noisy poolside alone.

He took a tissue to wipe his hands clean.

Then he fetched another tissue, offering it to Ji Min, who was seated in his wheelchair.

Next, he gently took Big Yellow from Ji Min's embrace and looked at the man in the wheelchair, whose worried gaze was fixed on him.

"Ice-Prince," he said, "let's go out and have some fun."

The night deepened, and the guests began to depart, their expressions a mix of vivid emotions.

There were those who found amusement in the chaos, recalling the intriguing events they had witnessed at previous banquets held at the Shen family residence. They couldn't help but eagerly anticipate the next occasion.

Others, however, were shaken to their core, fearful of being caught in the crossfire. They resolved within themselves that even if Shen Hongyuan were to personally deliver an invitation next time, they would not set foot in the mansion again.

As Shen Hongyuan observed the desolate aftermath of the ruined backyard, his heart and vision were filled with a profound sense of desolation.

He had managed to secure a date with someone from the Fang family!

The project that he was on the verge of securing!

If it weren't for this project, the Shen family...

At this thought, Shen Hongyuan was virtually itching to obliterate everyone in the Shen family.

The one responsible for escalating the situation to this point was none other than Lu Ran.

The one who slapped Lu Ran, the elder son who stoked the fire, Shen Xingyu.

And the adopted son who schemed in secret, Shen Xingyu.

As well as the good-for-nothing second-generation heir, Shen Xingzhuo, who couldn't lend a single helping hand.

All of them could just go to hell!

But Shen Hongyuan couldn't do that.

Because Young Master Fang was still here, and he had to send him away properly.

Thus, Shen Hongyuan could only force a smile.

He had no patience for wayward children like Fang Chen.

At home, although Shen Xingran was doted on, didn't he still have to behave obediently in front of him?

Thinking about how Fang Chen had screamed wildly after falling into the water, Shen Hongyuan felt a headache starting from the inside out.

Oh no, it would be quite a story when this young Master Fang returned home.

However, as Shen Hongyuan accompanied Fang Chen out, he noticed that the usually ill-tempered young master was unusually quiet.

A thud echoed in Shen Hongyuan's heart.

Could it be that this kid had been frightened silly by that guy, Lu Ran?

Just as Shen Hongyuan was about to utter his now-familiar apology for the evening, he turned to see a look of both emotion and gratitude on Fang Chen's face.

Fang Chen addressed him, "Thank you, esteemed noble son, for sparing my life!"

He could have easily thrown Shen Hongyuan into that pool contaminated with dog urine, but he didn't.

What else could this be but mercy?

Shen Hongyuan: "..."

Mad, all mad!

By the time he returned to the living room, Madam Shen was pacing up and down the third floor corridor with a towel in her arms.

She anxiously called out from time to time, "Xingran, are you alright? Say something to reassure Mom!"

It took a while before Shen Xingran emerged from the bathroom.

His face was ashen.

Whether it was due to the foolish dog's intention or not, the urine hadn't splashed on anyone else but him.

It had landed directly on the top of his head.

"Mom!" Shen Xingran couldn't hold back his distress.

Just as he was about to say something, he looked down and met Shen Hongyuan's gaze on the staircase.

That gaze held a hint of suspicion.

Shen Xingran's hand, which was wiping his hair, froze slightly, but it quickly returned to normal.

After some pondering, Shen Hongyuan also dismissed the suspicion in his eyes.

Yet, he scolded, "I told you not to provoke him."

As soon as he said that, Madam Shen started to complain, "What are you doing! Can't you see Ranran is still shivering?"

"Mom, Dad must be upset today. Please don't say anything more," Shen Xingran pulled at Madam Shen.

At this moment, Shen Xingyu entered from outside.

He had just taken care of the other guests who were rescued from the pool and sent the workers in the yard away properly.

Upon returning, he still hadn't changed out of his stained clothes.

There were even a few strands of hair stuck to his forehead, with traces of chocolate cream on them.

The moment the villa emptied, his exhaustion was visible to the naked eye.

Upon entering the living room and seeing Shen Hongyuan, he instinctively furrowed his brow, asking, "Dad, why is he here..."

His question trailed off as he swallowed the rest of his words.

No one knew who he was referring to.

He fell silent for a moment before lifting his gaze to look at Shen Xingran on the upstairs corridor.

Q: "Is it you today?"

Shen Xingyu's voice was calm and composed.

Perhaps due to his habitual authority in giving orders, his words carried an air of certainty.

Meeting his gaze, Shen Xingran instinctively took a step back, seeking shelter behind Madam Shen.

Seeing this, Madam Shen could no longer contain her frustration.

"Is there no end to your father-son drama? Today, it was Ranran who was pushed into the pool! What right do you have to question me here?"

Upon hearing his mother's voice, Shen Xingyu immediately closed his eyes briefly.

He turned around, took a gentle breath, and then replied, "Mom, I'm asking him a question."

"You, you, you, Shen Xingyu, do you still know who your mother is?"

In this situation, Mrs. Shen felt even more heartache for Shen Xingran.

Look, in this family, only she could protect this child.

But Shen Xingran knew that Shen Xingyu wasn't so easily fooled.

He pursed his lips but still stepped forward to clarify, "Big Brother, there's no way I would do something like that. Given my relationship with Brother Lu Ran, your suspicion is understandable."

"But I am an adopted son of the Shen family. Without the Shens, I am nothing. So how could I possibly offend the Fangs at such a time?"

Shen Hongyuan nodded as he listened.

It was this realization that made him refrain from questioning Shen Xingran further.

Upon hearing this, Shen Xingyu remained expressionless.

He merely stated, "What's done is done. I have no interest in uncovering the truth. But there won't be a next time. I don't want to witness any more conflicts between you and Lu Ran at home."

As soon as he finished speaking, his words seemed to have struck a nerve with Shen Hongyuan.

Pointing at Shen Xingyu, he scolded,

"That's enough! You're barking orders the moment you step into the house. Are you implying that I, as the head of the family, am not managing it well?"

All the anger that Shen Hongyuan had been bottling up throughout the night erupted.

"It wouldn't have ended up like this if it weren't for you today!"

Shen Xingyu paused, then slightly bowed his head in admission of fault.

But despite his efforts to restrain himself, he couldn't hold back and advised, "You shouldn't have entertained the Fangs today. I've met Director Fang before; he wouldn't let personal preferences sway project decisions. Your behavior might instead give leverage to our competitors..."

These words were like pouring oil on a fire.

Shen Hongyuan's face darkened instantly.

He sneered, "Shen Xingyu, have you grown some backbone after being in power for a few years? You dare to speak to your father like that?"

Shen Xingyu sighed. "Dad, I'm just stating the facts."

"Stating the facts?"

Shen Hongyuan erupted in fury. "Kneel down for me!"

The entire villa fell silent at those words.

The servants, who were busy tidying up inside and outside, paused their movements, peering in astonishment at the father-son conflict.

Shen Xingyu had been CEO for many years and had virtually become the public face of the Shen family.

Yet, Shen Hongyuan actually demanded him to kneel?

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Shen Xingyu concealed the exhaustion in his gaze.

He put down the coat in his hand and, in the face of Shen Hongyuan's glare, knelt in the center of the living room.

His knees, covered by the expensive fabric of the haute couture trousers, pressed against the still untidy floor of the living room.

A hint of satisfaction flickered in Shen Hongyuan's eyes.

He asked in a deep voice, "Do you still remember what your grandfather taught you?"

Shen Xingyu lowered his gaze and replied, "I do. Family always comes first."

"I've had you by my side since you were ten. I nurtured you with care, and now I've given you such great authority. Why is that?"

"For the benefit of the Shen family," the man on the ground answered solemnly.

"Now, do you still remember your identity!" Shen Hongyuan's voice rose abruptly.

"Yes," Shen Xingyu knelt earnestly. "I am your son, Shen Xingyu of the Shen family."

Shen Hongyuan opened his mouth, about to say more.

Suddenly, Shen Xingyu's phone rang from his pocket.

Unconsciously, Shen Xingyu reached for his phone to check it.

Shen Hongyuan expressed his displeasure. "Kneel properly for me!"

Shen Xingyu's body tensed up. For the first time, a hint of distress appeared on his usually solemn and silent face.

"Father, it's a work call," he explained.

Shen Hongyuan spoke in a deep voice. "Your father is speaking to you."

After a moment of struggle, Shen Xingyu finally stood up. "I'm sorry, Father."

Upon seeing the contact, he hastily answered the call and rushed outside. "Mr. Fang, I'm very sorry about what happened today, but I believe that..."

Just like that, Shen Xingyu, who had been kneeling in the hall to receive a scolding, left.

Shen Hongyuan sat there, stunned for a few seconds, his face displaying a blank, bewildered look.

Suddenly, he erupted in anger, sweeping all the cups and saucers on the coffee table to the floor.

With a crash, fragments scattered throughout the living room, leaving it in disarray.

Lu Ran was seated in Ji Min's executive sedan.

Butler Chen was just retrieving ice cubes from the car's mini-fridge and placing them onto the towel that Ji Min had spread open in his palm.

The man lowered his gaze and attentively wrapped the towel around him.

Gently feeling the texture to ensure there were no protruding edges that could discomfort others, he then passed the towel to the young man in the backseat.

"Apply a face mask," he said.

Lu Ran took the towel and gave it a light squeeze.

His injuries on his face weren't severe; it was just that after being hit, he had been exposed to some cold air outside. Now, back in the warm car, he felt a stifling discomfort.

He asked, "Where are we going now?"

Ji Min glanced at him. "The hospital."

Lu Ran fell silent for a moment before suddenly leaning forward to pat the driver's seat. "Stop the car, driver!"

Ji Min's temples throbbed in pain as he reached out to pull Lu Ran back, settling him properly in the backseat.

"Keep still when the car is moving!"

"I'm not going to the hospital," Lu Ran said.

With both his hands held captive by Ji Min, he couldn't struggle free. He could only lift his face to look up at him. "My face is fine, there's no need to go."

Ji Min gazed intently at him without saying a word.

Lu Ran knew that the man in front of him was not someone to be easily deceived. He paused before adding, "Everything else is also in good health."

Ji Min remained unperturbed.

Lu Ran began to feel anxious. He turned his head to glance at Big Yellow and said, "I-I'll really let Big Yellow pee in your car if you insist!"

The butler and driver sitting in front: "......."

Big Yellow, who was dozing off: "......."

Only Ji Min remained calm. Lowering his gaze, he gave Lu Ran a look and said, "Big Yellow just peed. He can't do it again now."

Lu Ran: "......."

Tensing up for a moment, he gazed out the window at the scenery, which seemed to be getting closer to the municipal hospital. His nerves started to fray. "T-Then I'll pee in your car."

Ji Min: "..."

The man fell silent for a moment before he couldn't hold back his laughter.

His composed and handsome face cracked with a smile.

"Then why don't you show me?" he said.

Lu Ran: "..."

He didn't expect the man to say something like that. Stunned, he froze, unsure how to react.

He was genuinely terrified of hospitals.

The lingering scent of disinfectant and the plain-patterned ceiling haunted him.

Lu Ran had no desire to ever smell or see them again.

If possible, he never wanted to set foot in a hospital for the rest of his life.

Yet, he truly had no idea how to reject Ji Min.

However, the man swiftly reined in his emotions after posing that question.

He also released the hand that had been holding onto Lu Ran's wrist.

The warm, dry, and strong sensation vanished abruptly.

Lu Ran was taken aback. Though he was unsure of what was happening, he promptly seized the opportunity to tease further:

"Haha! If you're so concerned about my health, could it be that you have a liking for me?"

Surprisingly, the man who would usually blow up at such topics didn't react much this time.

He simply brushed off the subject lightly and asked, "Why are you unwilling to go to the hospital?"