Chapter 56

Chapter 56

Shen Muyun sat in the car, a whirlwind of questions for Lu Huainan churning in his mind, yet he couldn't untangle them to decide what to ask first. He even harbored a strange suspicion that Lu Huainan had some intrinsic connection to that "system," though he lacked proof.

Lu Huainan parked the car outside the Shen residence. A soft drizzle washed over the ground, filling small puddles to the brim—a sight that, as a child, would have prompted a gleeful stomp and hours of amusement.

"Huainan, no need to see me in. I have an umbrella."

Lu Huainan nodded, watching Shen Muyun alight from the car and disappear into the curtain of rain before driving away.

Ordinarily, regardless of the weather, the butler would always be at the door to greet anyone returning home, be it guests or family. Today, however, was unusual; the entrance was eerily quiet.

Shen Muyun unlocked the door with his fingerprint, a soft "beep" echoing.

Once inside, he immediately sensed something amiss; the atmosphere was thick with an inexplicable tension. Shen Wenjin sat on the sofa, not engrossed in his newspaper as usual, and Shen Liuyun was deeply frowning.

Seeing this, Shen Muyun's heart sank. He was unsure what had transpired to cast such a grim pall over the household. He had planned to simply offer a quick greeting and head upstairs; the past few days had been exhausting, and the unexpected turn of events, including the mysterious demolition of the chemical plant, had taken its toll.

"Father, brother."

Shen Muyun tiptoed, hoping to slip upstairs unnoticed.

"Mu Yun, you're back."

Shen Liuyun's expression was stern, his voice devoid of its usual warmth, instead laced with a chilling edge.

"This unfilial son finally remembers to come home? Do you have any idea what rumors are spreading outside, you scoundrel!"

Shen Muyun halted abruptly, genuinely unaware of what had caused such a frosty atmosphere at home.

"Father, these past few days I've been resolving the Shen Group's relocation issues. Things are mostly settled there, and I've handed the follow-up work to Xiao Chen. But I genuinely don't know which specific matter you're referring to. After all, rumors are flying everywhere, and it's hard to tell what's true."

Shen Wenjin flew into a rage, rising and flinging a stack of photos directly at Shen Muyun's face.

"Look, just look at this! What is all this? Shen Muyun, how could the Shen family produce someone like you, who brings such disgrace upon our name!"

Shen Muyun bent down, picking up the photos from the floor. His pupils constricted sharply—this wasn’t right. He felt as if he’d been plunged into an ice cellar. How could this be?

The photos clearly showed him and Lu Huainan embracing, even kissing. One image, bathed in bright light, captured Lu Huainan kissing his hair, with Shen Muyun’s faint blush visible on his cheek.

Those photos shouldn’t logically be here. Had someone been following them?

"Shen Muyun, I don’t care how wild you were overseas, but this is China. You need to restrain yourself. Our Shen family is a respected household in Jiangcheng. Your ambiguous breakup with Miss Lu caused an uproar all over town back then, and now this? What is this?"

Shen Wenjin angrily tapped his cane on the photos scattered on the floor.

"Did you break off your engagement with Miss Lu because of this? Shen Muyun, do you know what people are saying? You may have no shame, but I do! How could the Shen family have such an unworthy descendant!"

Shen Wenjin swung his cane at Shen Muyun’s lower back, but Shen Muyun deftly dodged.

"Look at today’s news—it’s all about you and the young master of the Lu family. Aren’t you ashamed, Shen Muyun? Do you have to ruin both of the Lu family’s children to be satisfied?"

Holding the photos, Shen Muyun straightened his posture and let out a cold laugh. "Father, as you can see, these are photos of me and Lu Huainan. Some are indeed forced perspective, but some are real. Besides, the Shen and Lu families have been old friends for generations. What’s wrong with that? Is having a good relationship now grounds for criticism?"

Unable to contain his fury any longer, Shen Wenjin slapped him—a sharp "crack" echoed.

Shen Muyun’s right cheek instantly reddened and swelled noticeably. Shen Wenjin’s hand trembled as he breathed heavily.

Shen Liuyun quickly tried to calm him. "Father, please don’t be so angry. This is partly my fault too. I had noticed their relationship seemed unusual before, but Mu Yun always insisted there was nothing between them. I observed them, but... it’s my mistake. Father, please calm down."

"Mu Yun, how can you still act like you’re in the right? Apologize to Father, immediately!"

Shen Wenjin glanced at Shen Liuyun but ignored his words, continuing to mutter to himself.

"Your mother passed away early. I’ve always hoped you two would make something of yourselves. Even if you couldn’t achieve great things, you shouldn’t disgrace the Shen family like this. There are so many families you could form a marriage alliance with—how could you possibly set your sights on a man?"

"Father, let me investigate this matter first. Please calm down. Your health isn’t good—you can’t afford such agitation."

Shen Muyun finally understood and let out a light scoff. "Father, brother, regardless of whether I’m at fault or not, relationships are about mutual consent. Who I’m with, who I break up with, or even divorce—it has little to do with you. This is my life, my choice. Don’t I even have the right to choose?"

Shen Muyun picked up one of the photos, which showed him and Lu Huainan in a hotel room. "Such a private angle, Father—isn’t this voyeurism? We live in a society governed by law. How can something like this surface? Should we take this to Officer Zhou and see which bored busybody is behind this stunt?"

"You... you... Shen Muyun! How dare you defy me! This is outright rebellion!"

Shen Wenjin gripped his cane tightly, repeatedly rubbing his chest as sharp pains assaulted his rationality and body.

"Shen Muyun! Have you no shame? First Miss Lu, now the young master of the Lu family—who’s next? Who will you target next? Where is your dignity?"

"Mu Yun, just say something to appease Father. Consider this brotherly advice."

"Father, my love life is not up for discussion. I’m 32 years old—I have the right to think for myself. Who I want to be with is my freedom. Lu Huainan is outstanding and single. Even if something is between us, so what? Even if we share a bed, what does it matter? A marriage alliance between the Shen and Lu families—isn’t that what you hoped for? Now that it’s happening, why are you dissatisfied?"

Shen Muyun pointed at Shen Liuyun. "Brother, why should I admit to something I haven’t done? Besides, those media outlets are just paid to sensationalize things. Isn’t this just some wealthy family secret, some gossip to boost their newspaper traffic? Why should I back down? I’ve done nothing wrong!"

"Shen Muyun!"

Shen Wenjin clutched his chest, his face deathly pale, sweat streaming down his forehead.

"Butler, butler! Quickly!"

Shen Liuyun shot a fierce glare at Shen Muyun—a look Shen Muyun had never seen before, sending a chill down his spine.

The butler hurried over with a gourd-shaped pillbox and fed Shen Wenjin a pill.

Shen Wenjin’s breathing grew increasingly labored, emitting rough, wheezing sounds.

Shen Muyun, concerned, tried to step forward, but Shen Liuyun stopped him.

"Mu Yun, Father is in this state now. Can’t you just yield?"

Shen Muyun smiled coldly. "Fine, I’ll yield. I haven’t done anything. I don’t know where these photos came from. The reports will probably be suppressed soon—doesn’t the Shen Group have a PR department? Let them handle it."

Shen Wenjin’s condition showed no sign of improvement. Seeing that they couldn’t delay any longer, Shen Liuyun lifted him. "Shen Muyun, follow us!"

Seeing Shen Wenjin like this, Shen Muyun recalled what the system had said—Shen Wenjin didn’t have long to live anyway. He couldn’t let him die because of this. That would be unacceptable.

Shen Liuyun sped through the streets, likely running several red lights. The usually composed man now had bloodshot eyes, relentlessly pressing the accelerator.

"Brother, slow down. This part of the road is uneven."

"Shen Muyun, shut up! Do you even know Father is seriously ill? He just didn’t tell you. The first night he returned, he was still talking about how we brothers should support each other. Shen Muyun, what is your heart made of? How can you be so cold?"

At the hospital entrance, Shen Liuyun rushed into the emergency room. "Save him!"

The nurse on duty, hearing his urgency, hurried out, momentarily stunned before calling loudly for the doctors inside.

"Please don’t panic. We’ll do everything we can to save the patient."

Shen Wenjin was immediately taken into the operating room.

Shen Liuyun grabbed Shen Muyun by the collar and said, "Before you came back, I kept telling Father that those photos might be fake or photoshopped. Shen Muyun, where has all your usual cleverness gone? Have you no heart? I thought you were getting better, but it seems your true nature can't be changed after all."

Shen Muyun was confused by the sudden accusations. He had just arrived home and was immediately greeted with a torrent of scolding and blame. If anything really happened to Shen Wenjin, they’d skin him alive.

"Brother, I think there are some things I need to clarify. I have no idea about those photos. As for my relationship with Lu Huainan, I’ve said it countless times—there is only one kind of relationship between us: we’re good brothers. Lu Huainan’s previous actions were all out of his willingness to help people in need and save them from tough spots. If you have any dirty thoughts about it, there’s nothing I can do."

Shen Liuyun clenched his fist, about to do something, when he was interrupted by a noisy interruption.

"Family members?"

"Yes!" Shen Liuyun and Shen Muyun answered in unison.

"The patient’s condition is critical. He has suffered a massive heart attack, and we’ve also found signs of a tumor in his lungs. We’ll need further tests to determine whether it’s benign or malignant. This is a critical condition form. Who will sign it?"

Shen Liuyun glanced at Shen Muyun and signed his name without hesitation.

Watching the nurse return to the operating room, Shen Liuyun’s expression grew increasingly grim.

"Shen Muyun, Father’s illness can no longer be hidden. Whether it’s cancer or a heart attack, both are life-threatening. Whether he can pull through the heart attack is another matter. If Father wakes up, can you try to humor him, even if it’s just an act?"

What a touching display of father-son affection—the twenty-four paragons of filial piety. So, Shen Muyun was to be unjustly labeled an unfilial son.

"Brother, I won’t admit to things I haven’t done. As for Father’s illness, life and death are predetermined, and wealth is bestowed by heaven. I also hope Father recovers. Even if he can’t fully recover, I hope his remaining days are happy, not spent seething over fake news every day."

The air seemed to freeze, thick with a palpable tension.

"Shen Muyun, you really shouldn’t have come back. It would’ve been better if you’d remained the carefree Second Young Master Shen, oblivious to the world. What was so urgent that you had to rush back like this?"

Shen Muyun sneered, "Nothing much. I just wanted to try some things I haven’t experienced in the country."

Shen Muyun felt a sense of satisfaction, as if Shen Liuyun’s hypocritical facade was finally about to be exposed. How long had he been hiding his fox's tail? It was truly impressive.

The light in the operating room changed from red to green.

Shen Wenjin was covered in tubes, his eyes closed tightly. Only the rise and fall of his chest indicated he was still alive.

Shen Liuyun hurried forward. "Doctor, my father—"

"You’re both Mr. Shen’s sons, right? Come to my office. There are some things I need to discuss with you."

Shen Liuyun glanced at Shen Muyun, nodded, and followed the doctor into the office.

The doctor examined the pathology report repeatedly.

"There are some things I need to make clear to you. Mr. Shen’s condition is, first and foremost, an acute myocardial infarction. Fortunately, he was brought here in time, so it’s not fatal. During the surgery, we discovered a growth on his lung. According to the lab results, it’s poorly differentiated lung adenocarcinoma, and its location is problematic—right near the pulmonary artery. This means that if massive bleeding occurs, it could happen in an instant."

Shen Liuyun pursed his lips and sighed. "Doctor, is it incurable?"

"Doctor, are there any targeted drugs that can treat it?"

"We’ll need to perform genetic testing to see if there are any gene mutations before deciding on a treatment plan. But you must be mentally prepared. The patient could be talking one second and experience a major hemorrhage the next..."

Shen Muyun nodded. He had witnessed life and death firsthand, but hearing the doctor’s words still made him uncomfortable.

"Doctor, please proceed as quickly as possible and spare no expense on the best treatment."