Chapter 11 Dragged into the Storm

Chapter 11: Caught in the Storm

The scar on Jiang Ji's brow bone, which marred his elegant demeanor, was inflicted by him.

Because of this, Shi Ciye sent Jiang Ji abroad to study.

"Oh, wasn't it his own fault?" With that, Shi Yu returned to his room.

When Jiang Ji first came to the Shi household, Shi Yu greeted him with a smile every day, calling him "big brother," so warm and lively.

But Jiang Ji had to pour cold water on him. Back then, Jiang Ji said that his smile was like a doll's mask, not as sincere as Shi Yu (Jade)'s.

He hated it when people compared him to Shi Yu (Jade). At the time, he was practicing wood carving and had carved a little rabbit to give to Jiang Ji. Yet, this was the feedback he received—how could he hold back?

He swung the carving knife with the rabbit design. Since Jiang Ji had no discernment, he might as well be blind.

A stray dog that was taken in dared to comment on its master. He had gone out of his way to win him over; Jiang Ji should have been grateful.

As for Little Gu, he brought it upon himself.

In the first year of his return, the Shi family said they would throw a grand birthday banquet for him, letting everyone know he was back.

He waited eagerly for his own birthday party. But his father and brother said that Shi Yu (Jade)'s birthday fell on the same day and it should be celebrated together.

That day, many children of the same age came to the banquet, and they wished Shi Yu (Jade) a happy birthday.

When it came time to open gifts, the first gift Shi Yu unwrapped was an exquisite walking cane adorned with rubies.

The moment he saw that cane, Shi Yu's hands clenched tightly.

Because this gift blatantly showed everyone that the young master of the Shi family had a leg disability.

And Shi Yu (Jade)'s first gift was a set of brushes from his brother, since Shi Yu (Jade) loved painting.

At that moment, his jealousy reached its peak. He had already returned; why should Shi Yu (Jade) still bask in the spotlight of everyone's affection?

Little Gu had to come and rub salt in the wound just then.

When he came out of his room, he overheard Little Gu saying to Shi Yu (Jade) in the hallway: "I don't want to play with that cripple. Shi Yu (Jade), I'll only play with you. I heard he was found in the countryside—did he sleep in a pigsty or something..."

Shi Yu walked up behind Little Gu, leaning on the ruby-encrusted cane: "I haven't slept in a pigsty, you know. I slept on wooden planks crawling with rats and bugs. As soon as you lie down, bugs crawl all over you..."

Little Gu backed away in fear. When he reached the stairs, Shi Yu sneered darkly: "Since you don't like playing with a cripple, why not become one yourself?"

He pushed Little Gu down the stairs, putting an end to that grand birthday banquet.

It was also on that day that he was diagnosed with reactive psychological disorder.

Any exposure to information about his past would trigger aggressive behavior.

—

Shi Yu was in his room whittling wood, surrounded by one failed piece after another. He needed to calm the agitation brought on by Shi Ciye.

Outside the door, Shi Yu (Jade) knocked and asked: "Xiao Yu, are you okay?"

Shi Yu's voice came through the door: "Get lost."

Meanwhile, Jiang Ji was on a call in his room: "Liu Zhixin is dead."

The sound of a chair scraping against the floor came from the other end: "How could Liu Zhixin be dead!" Then, the voice paused: "You suspect I had a hand in it?"

Jiang Ji: "I had just revealed Liu Zhixin's information to Shi Yu, and then Liu Zhixin dies—too much of a coincidence."

"Jiang Ji, if Liu Zhixin dies now, then I lose one of the cards in my hand. There's no reason for me to make a move."

After hanging up, Jiang Ji suddenly thought of Shi Yu (Jade).

How did Shi Yu (Jade) know about Liu Zhixin?

He had thought Liu Zhixin's death wouldn't involve Shi Yu.

But what Shi Yu didn't expect was that the public opinion would explode inexplicably.

A sudden exposé appeared online: "Young Master of Times Group Deeply Involved in Murder Scandal."

The accompanying photo was of Shi Yu being taken away by the police.

The post seemed to be deliberately boosted, quickly making it to the top of trending searches.

Soon, someone claiming to be an insider came forward to reveal more.

"Oh my God, I didn't expect him to be the young master of Times Group. That means there might really be something fishy about the murder."

People below the post asked the original poster if they knew any inside details.

The original poster replied: "Let's just say the young master went undercover into the company. No one knew his identity. And the dead man had a conflict with the young master."

The comments below started out skeptical.

"Killing someone over a small conflict? That's a bit much. The poster said he was undercover; he could just reveal his identity and fire the guy."

Then, as classmates from Shi Yu's school started posting, the incident where Shi Yu had taken Zhang Linfeng away was also dug up.

The storm around Shi Yu's alleged murder grew fiercer.

"It's actually possible. I'm from A University; the young master is our schoolmate. Let me spill: the young master has some mental condition—this is common knowledge at A University. A couple of days ago, he nearly beat a classmate to death after being triggered."

"Bullshit. Aren't rich kids all studying abroad? Who goes to a domestic university?"

Soon, news that Shi Yu was studying at A University came out, confirming he was indeed a student there.

More and more A University students came forward to confirm Shi Yu's mental condition, and the story shifted to Shi Yu being acquitted after murder.

The internet was flooded with calls to denounce Shi Yu and the Shi family, even boycotting Times Group's products.

Shares of Times Group began to fall.

"Don't these rich people have any respect for the law? They can kill and walk free?"

"Is this what money can do?"

"A life for a life!!!"

"I'm never buying Times Group phones again. I feel like I'm funding a murderer."

Times Group quickly issued a public relations statement, explaining that Shi Yu was taken by the police because he was a witness to a suicide case. They urged netizens not to spread rumors.

But to the angry mob online, this statement was no different from trying to silence them.

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