Chapter 37 Absurd and shameless.

The following afternoon, Shang Zhiyi's engagement party was held in the luxurious Ritz-Carlton Sky Garden.

Shang Shu didn't want to arrive a moment earlier, so she arrived at the hotel right on time. The first floor was packed with entertainment reporters, and her car almost couldn't even get into the underground parking garage.

After finally reaching the top floor, Shang Shu took off her sunglasses and handed them to Song Lan behind her.

Shang Shu originally only planned to make a brief appearance and then leave, and did not intend to have Song Lan come along. She thought that the Lin family would also be there, and Lin Lang's presence would be enough.

However, when Gu Sui found out, she insisted that Song Lan accompany her as well. Shang Shu couldn't refuse, so she had no choice but to agree. Fortunately, Song Lan was happy to go along as well.

The hotel's rooftop garden terrace was meticulously decorated as the engagement banquet venue. A white carpet meandered towards the stage, with a huge champagne tower in the center. Countless petals were scattered on the ground, and countless balloons were tied among the flowers of varying heights along the aisle. Exquisite desserts were laid out on the long dessert table, and the ivory satin tablecloths were inlaid with gold handmade lace. Every stitch, every plant, and every detail showcased the host's prestige.

"Xiao Shu." As soon as Shang Shu stepped onto the terrace, she was stopped by Ke Ya Hui, who was standing behind her, scrolling on her phone.

"Aunt Hui." Only then did a smile appear on Shang Shu's face.

Seeing the mother and daughter standing there, it was obvious that they had come to escape the hustle and bustle. Shang Shu knew that Ke Ya Hui would never have come if it weren't for their family friendship.

“I even told Manman you weren’t coming.” Ke Ya Hui affectionately took Shang Shu’s arm.

Shang Shu forced a smile and answered vaguely, "It's a mission."

"You stay here with Manman, I'm going back to sit for a while, so they don't have to look for me." Ke Ya Hui said with a smile, then turned around and nudged Lin Lang behind her: "Don't always be on your phone, chat with Xiao Shu."

"Okay, coming right away." Lin Lang smiled at Shang Shu, quickly typed a few words, and put his phone away.

A band in tuxedos played a gentle string quartet, guests chatted in hushed tones, and the occasional clinking of glasses could be heard.

"Tsk tsk tsk, this young lady looks unwell and melancholy. She's probably suffering from lovesickness." Lin Lang patted the bronze eucalyptus leaf beside him and teased Shang Shu.

Ever since witnessing the two of them holding hands and gazing at each other with tears in their eyes, she realized that it was only a matter of time before Shang Shu was won over by Gu Sui.

"Can't you be normal for once?" Shang Shu was amused by her sudden use of classical Chinese language. "Did Gu Xiangyi tell you that?"

She guessed that Lin Lang knew so much about Gu Sui's trip abroad that the only way to get information from him was through Gu Xiangyi.

Lin Lang nodded and admitted it without hesitation. Then, glancing at Song Lan standing not far away, he continued, "Your Dr. Gu is still worried about the person he brought for you. He even asked me to keep an eye on things. He's really afraid something might happen to you."

Upon hearing the ambiguous address, Shang Shu lowered her eyes somewhat embarrassed and subconsciously glanced around, afraid that someone with ulterior motives might overhear.

Seeing her like this, Lin Lang roughly figured out what she was thinking: "Don't worry, only my mother and I are here having some peace and quiet. Everyone else is busy congratulating Miss Shang."

After saying that, she gave a sly smile and changed the subject: "Tell me quickly, when you were separated from each other as your feelings deepened, did you miss each other?"

Shang Shu couldn't help but smile, turning her head to the side: "Lin Manman, I'm really going to hit you."

Lin Lang, however, refused to give up and continued to press, looking at the other's reddened ears: "Tell me quickly, what are you embarrassed about with me?"

Seeing that she was chasing after her in circles, and afraid of making too much noise, Shang Shu could only bite her lip and whisper, "Just a little bit."

Having received a satisfactory answer, Lin Lang withdrew her hand that was about to tickle her back. She suppressed her smile and said somewhat seriously, "It's good that you've thought it through. Anyway, just remember that no matter what, I'll always be here for you."

She wouldn't blame Shang Shu for turning back, because she knew that it wasn't an easy choice for Shang Shu either. Besides, matters of the heart are like drinking water; only the person drinking knows whether it's hot or cold. Since Shang Shu was willing to trust again, she, as her friend, only needed to stand quietly behind her.

"Lin Lang..." Shang Shu choked up, moved by the words, and her eyes began to well up with tears.

"Stop, stop, stop, don't give me that..." Lin Lang made a stop gesture, complaining but secretly delighted. She glanced at Song Lanye not far away and whispered, "When your Dr. Gu finds out, he'll think I'm bullying you."

Shang Shu burst into laughter through her tears, wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes with her fingertips, and accused Lin Lang, "Wasn't it you who started being so mushy..."

Lin Lang laughed along with him, shaking his head helplessly.

Before long, Song Lan also suddenly came to Shang Shu's side, and Lin Lang, seeing this, tactfully left the scene.

"President Shang, Secretary Kong wants to see you," Song Lan whispered in his ear.

Secretary Kong?

Shang Shu was somewhat surprised. Secretary Kong was Shang Wei's chief secretary, and they had almost never had any direct interaction in the past twenty years. Moreover, Shang Wei himself was present today. Why couldn't he say something directly to her instead of sending his secretary to meet her secretly?

"Let her come over." After thinking for a moment, Shang Shu decided to meet her.

Soon after, Song Lan brought the middle-aged woman to Shang Shu. After putting the woman down, she went to a short distance away to keep watch.

The banquet hall was bustling with people and very noisy, so the two women standing in the corner talking were not very noticeable.

"Miss." Secretary Kong still looked around somewhat uneasy, hesitating to speak.

"I have people guarding this place. Secretary Kong, you can speak quickly if you have something to say." Shang Shu frowned when she saw that the person looked flustered. Secretary Kong had been working for Shang Wei for decades. The fact that he was so flustered and afraid of being discovered meant that he must be hiding from someone.

Secretary Kong was finally relieved. She took a deep breath and said, "I suspect there's something wrong with the group's cash flow, and it seems to be related to your wife."

She looked around, quickly pulled out a USB drive and shoved it into Shang Shu's hand: "In the past few months, while I was checking the basic data in the financial reports, I found several funds with unknown destinations. The payment approval forms were stamped with the master's seal, but the master never inquired about these documents."

Shang Shu frowned even more deeply: "Shouldn't you tell Shang Wei about these things?"

She had a vague idea of ​​what Secretary Kong wanted to say, but she didn't understand Shang Wei's style of doing things, and it wasn't entirely impossible that he had given these documents his private instructions.

Secretary Kong quickly shook her head and continued, "Madam usually keeps a close eye on me, and I only had the chance to see you amidst the chaos of Miss San's engagement banquet today." She spoke somewhat hastily, "Also, Master's health seems to be not very good lately, and he seems powerless to do many things." She spoke quite tactfully.

Shang Shu glanced at the USB drive in her hand, her furrowed brows relaxing. "But as you know, I have no interest in, and I never interfere in, the business's affairs, so I'm afraid you've made a wasted trip." With that, she was about to return the item to the woman.

Over the years, she has distanced herself from the business group, only wanting to protect the company left by He Landai and not wanting to get involved in that mess. Besides, Shang Wei and Feng Yuan are now legally married, so even if she really wanted to, there was nothing she could do.

Secretary Kong didn't take the things, but looked at Shang Shu anxiously, trying to make a last-ditch effort: "Then what did Madam leave behind, Miss? Aren't you going to take care of it either?"

Shang Shu was startled. She naturally knew that the lady the woman was talking about was He Landai, but besides the jewelry company, what else did she not know about her?

Secretary Kong seemed unsurprised by her astonishment: "After Madam passed away, her shares returned to the group, so she also has a share in the group."

Shang Shu was incredulous; she was a little unsteady on her feet, but fortunately Song Lan was there to support her in time.

Yes, if He Landai's shares were registered in her personal name, how could she have been completely unaware of the inheritance issues after her death?

No one had ever mentioned this to her, so she had assumed it wasn't true for so many years. She never imagined it was for this reason.

Shang Shu said coldly, "So you actually knew all along that my mother's dowry was just a nominal shareholding, right?"

She never imagined that He Landai would risk a falling out with her Portuguese family in order to marry Shang Wei, and that after marriage she would give up her beloved career and stay at home wholeheartedly, only to end up like this.

The secretary remained silent, feeling somewhat guilty.

Shang Shu laughed angrily: "Absurd, shameless."

By what right does Shang Wei take advantage of his mother's ignorance to exploit her and then openly have a child with another woman using their shared property?

Thinking about what she had gone through over the years, and even now that she was still playing along with this family, Shang Shu felt utterly disgusted.

"I have to go now. Please reconsider this matter, Miss." The secretary checked her surroundings and then left quickly without waiting for a reply.

"President Shang." Song Lan also looked at Shang Shu with concern.

Shang Shu leaned against the railing behind her, feeling somewhat exhausted, and smiled bitterly for a long time before turning to Song Lan and saying, "Don't tell Gu Sui a single word about what happened today."

She had already shown enough of her unbearable behavior in front of Gu Sui; she didn't want to add to it.

The announcement that the engagement party was about to begin rang out behind them. The ushers slowly pushed in a multi-tiered cake. The two protagonists of the night stood in the center of the stage, their affection evident, creating a scene of unparalleled happiness.

But Shang Shu had no intention of lingering any longer. She glanced at the empty seat in front of her and left the garden with Song Lan.

*

Back at Yijing Bay, Shang Shu sat in front of the computer, and after much hesitation, she finally checked the contents of the USB drive.

Indeed, as Secretary Kong said, the records show several large sums of money with unclear purposes in recent months, and the accounts of the transacting parties are unknown.

She sent the account information to Song Lanye, then threw the USB drive into a drawer.

Who is the unknown account on the other end?

If it really is related to Feng Yuan, then why would she suddenly start transferring assets?

How much did Shang Wei actually know about this?

She knew nothing; based solely on Secretary Kong's words and this small USB drive, the evidence was far from sufficient.

Shang Shu dug her fingers deep into her hair. She knew that the Shang Group was a complex and intertwined entity, and this matter was far from simple. But right now, she really didn't have the extra energy to deal with it.

S&S has an important exhibition to attend to right now, so she needs to take care of her own affairs first.