Chapter 112 On the day of the trial, Zhou Yanci ran away?
Lu Rang was injured and was forced by Shang Wu to stay at home to recuperate, while Shang Wu handled everything herself.
Tomorrow is the day the banquet will be held and the stage will be set up for the performance. All the invited media reporters have arrived at the hotel in advance.
Xiao Dong and A Ying were responsible for settling in with the various media outlets.
The press release was issued before the banquet even took place.
What about a three-year relationship finally culminating in marriage, or an engaged couple's last pre-wedding party?
Various eye-catching posts showcasing affection emerged one after another, generating buzz for the banquet.
The staff preparing to approve Zhou Yanci's arrest have begun preparations, and all the evidence investigated by the chief inspector has been confirmed by the court, which has approved a date for trial.
The morning of the banquet was also the day Shang Yun Shen was released from prison to prove his innocence.
Everything hinges on Zhou Yanci taking the stage and facing disgrace and ruin.
Shang Wu was still a little worried, so she went to see Zhou Yanci again that night to make sure that nothing unexpected would happen the next day.
Before she went there, she called the maid who cooked for her parents and asked her to go to Lu Rang's house to prepare some nutritious meals for him.
The maid asked curiously on the phone, "Miss, who is this person? You take such good care of him."
Shang Wu smiled slightly: "Then why don't you ask him what our relationship is?"
She hung up the phone and saw two bodyguards guarding the gate of Zhou Yanci's villa.
Shang Wu looked around and frowned: "Dong only assigned the two of you to guard this place?"
"Yes."
One of the bodyguards nodded.
Shang Wu pondered for a moment and said, "Find a few more people, just in case. We can't afford any mistakes from tonight until the banquet starts tomorrow. Also, what about Zhou Yanci's bodyguard team?"
Both of them shrugged.
"I don't know, it seems they've already taken care of the group that took Zhou Yanci away last time."
Shang Wu nodded, feeling much more at ease.
If Kindred and his group take care of it, then it won't cause any more trouble.
As soon as she entered the living room, she saw Zhou Yanci standing by the window looking out at the villa's back garden.
Shang Wu narrowed her eyes, then walked over: "Would you like to take a walk in the back garden?"
Zhou Yanci paused, then turned to look at Shang Wu as she approached.
A mix of emotions flashed in his eyes as he nodded: "Come for a walk with me."
Shang Wu accompanied Zhou Yanci out: "Is your head still hurting? After resting for these two days, the concussion should have lessened, right?"
"Hmm, it's lighter now."
Zhou Yanci was preoccupied and unusually quiet. She no longer acted warily or suspiciously towards Shang Wu whenever she saw her.
Shang Wu was slightly surprised.
She was unusually agreeable because tomorrow would be the end of everything, clearing the name of her family and company.
What's wrong with Zhou Yanci?
Shang Wu asked, "What would you like to wear to the banquet tomorrow? I'll have someone prepare it for you."
"Anything is fine, as long as it's prepared by you."
Zhou Yanci lowered her head and stopped beside a patch of hibiscus flowers.
Shang Wu stood beside him, looking at the flowers at his feet.
There used to be no flowers in the back garden of the villa; she asked Zhou Yanci to plant them.
She said she likes hibiscus, and all things bright and radiant. She wants to plant some in the villa so that it will look beautiful when she moves in after she gets married.
Before the Lunar New Year, the flowers hadn't bloomed yet. Every time she came here to find Zhou Yanci, she would go around to the back garden to take a look.
Unexpectedly, just two months later, the flowers bloomed, and her relationship with Zhou Yanci also began to break down.
Shang Wu's eyes darkened: "Zhou Yanci, you'll feel sorry if you can't see such beautiful flowers anymore, won't you?"
Zhou Yanci slowly bent down, plucked one of the flowers, and wanted to help her tuck it behind her ear.
Shang Wu turned her head away and looked directly at him: "Wouldn't that be a pity?"
How can someone who has done wrong and is punished not feel pain and remorse, and spend the rest of their life in prison?
In less than thirty hours, Zhou Yanci will be arrested and imprisoned.
She wanted to see Zhou Yanci in pain, to see him regretting his actions every single moment afterward.
However, it doesn't matter if Zhou Yanci remains unrepentant.
As long as the final outcome satisfies her, that's fine.
Zhou Yanci paused in her action of helping her put on the flower, and smiled.
"Of course I feel regretful, Ah Wu. I would feel even more regretful if I couldn't be with you."
"Thank you for still being willing to forgive me and marry me. Even if I did something wrong, as long as you love me, there is nothing that cannot be made up for and repaired."
Shang Wu looked up at him intently: "Which thing did you say was wrong? Was it with Shen Mian or something else?"
"Yes, we have both."
Zhou Yanci looked directly at her and smiled bitterly: "I've been thinking a lot these past two quiet days, Awu. I've long been used to having you around, both in my career and in my life."
He clutched the hibiscus flower, knelt on one knee, looked up, and gazed at Shang Wu with devout eyes.
The sunlight shone on his face.
At this moment, Zhou Yanci had lost all her former high spirits; all that remained was humility and ingratiation.
"Please don't leave me. Don't abandon me. Don't abandon me."
Shang Wu's fingertips curled up, a wave of physical nausea washing over her.
She resisted the urge to brush the flower away and instead took Zhou Yanci's wrist, gesturing for him to stand up.
"We're having a banquet tomorrow, what's wrong with you? You seem so anxious."
Zhou Yanci gave a bitter smile: "Maybe too many things have happened recently, and I've also thought about many things from the past, and I feel sorry for you."
Shang Wu asked casually, "What happened in the past?"
Zhou Yanci swallowed hard, feeling guilty, and said, "No, it's nothing. Anyway, I will treat you and your parents well from now on."
Shang Wu didn't reply, and turned to continue walking deeper into the back garden.
Disgust flashed in her eyes, but her tone remained gentle. "Alright, you're not feeling well, go back and rest. I just wanted to tell you that I have a surprise for you."
Zhou Yanci stopped a few steps away from her, her gaze gradually becoming meaningful.
He smiled and said, "Okay, I'll head back now. You should also go home and rest early; it's windy outside."
Shang Wu turned around and nodded at him.
After watching Zhou Yanci leave, her eyes turned cold.
The phone rang; it was the real estate agent calling.
"A business couple wants to buy this villa and asked me to ask you if you're sure you want to sell it for half price?"
Shang Wu replied without hesitation, "Yes, I'm in a hurry to get rid of it."
"Okay, I understand."
The agent breathed a sigh of relief: "Then they can come and sign the contract with you and complete the formalities in the next few days."
"OK."
Shang Wu hung up the phone, turned around and left without looking back.
Seeing that several more bodyguards had been added to the villa's perimeter, she withdrew her gaze with satisfaction and left.
the next day.
The rooftop terrace of Yunhe Hotel.
The media gathered, along with Zhou Yanci's close friends, high society figures, and Tang Xueli and others.
Shang Wu was on the phone with Xiao Dong in the car on their way to the hotel.
"It's almost time. Bring Zhou Yanci over now."
Xiao Dong said, "Okay."
The driver turned his head and looked at Shang Wu's black belted trench coat with some doubt.
"Mr. Shang, why aren't you and Mr. Zhou wearing formal attire to the banquet?"
Shang Wu looked out the window but did not answer.
She was too busy today, having just hired a driver to pick up her brother from prison. She knew nothing about the driver and was too lazy to explain much.
Shang Wu casually asked, "Did you pick my brother up this morning?"
"After the court hearing, Young Master Yun Shen was acquitted. He said he wasn't in a good condition to go back directly, so he was thinking of staying at a hotel to pack up and then coming to find you tonight so we could go back together," the driver replied.
Shang Wu nodded.
That's fine.
Let my brother see how Zhou Yanci was condemned by everyone and ruined his reputation.
The car stopped outside the hotel.
Lu Rang waited by the private elevator.
Seeing that his hand hadn't fully healed before he came over, Shang Wu subconsciously quickened her pace.
"Why did you come? I told you to rest at home and not to worry about things here."
Lu Rang resolutely refused: "No, I'll go with you."
Shang Wu had no choice but to pull him into the elevator.
As soon as they entered, Lu Rang took Shang Wu's hand and lowered his head to kiss her.
Two people suddenly entered the elevator: "Wait, wait! The elevator over there is full, you can come in... Miss Shang!"
Shang Wu hurriedly pushed Lu Rang away.
Lu Rang was forced to push away, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes as he stared coldly at the newcomer.
The visitor was Yuan Luoluo, the daughter of the Yuan family, who was not very familiar with Shang Wu.
She smiled at Shang Wu: "Congratulations! You and Young Master Zhou are getting married soon. Good things are just around the corner. Don't forget to invite me to your wedding!"
Lu Rang stepped back to make room for Yuan Luoluo and stood behind Shang Wu.
Shang Wu smiled politely and changed the subject: "Tongxi, how have you been lately? Have you got a boyfriend yet?"
Yuan Luoluo shook her head: "Where can you find a boyfriend as good as Zhou Shao? Not everyone is as lucky as you to be with him."
Shang Wu smiled enigmatically: "You won't say that later."
"Oh dear, you're getting shy now. Tell me, are you secretly thrilled to be able to marry Young Master Zhou?" Yuan Luoluo teased her in a very familiar way.
Lu Rang's eyes darkened, and he pursed his lips.
Shang Wu was starting to lose her composure.
She had no choice but to nod in agreement: "...Indeed."
Yuan Luoluo was finally satisfied.
Shang Wu breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that she wouldn't say anything more.
Yuan Luoluo suddenly asked, "When are you planning to have children? While you're still young, you definitely want to have a few, right?"
Shang Wu: "..."
She was truly at her wit's end and didn't know how to respond when her hand, which was hanging by her side, was suddenly grasped.
Shang Wu turned around in surprise.
Yuan Luoluo turned her head and was startled by the handsome man behind her who was keeping his head down and not saying a word.
"Handsome, do you have a girlfriend?"
Lu Rang gripped Shang Wu's hand even tighter, but it was completely hidden by her coat.
He glanced at Yuan Luoluo: "No."
Shang Wu pinched Lu Rang's hand.
Shouldn't we say yes?
Yuan Luoluo hurriedly took out her phone from her pearl shell bag: "Shall we add each other on WeChat?"
When Lu Rang released Shang Wu's hand and handed her his phone, there were two crescent-shaped marks on the back of his hand.
Shang Wu hadn't expected him to actually add it, and she couldn't help but grab his sleeve, feeling annoyed: "He..."
"Sorry, I won't add you anymore," Lu Rang interrupted her, taking his phone back.
Yuan Luoluo was stunned for a moment: "Why?"
Lu Rang said indifferently, "I don't like talkative and noisy women."
Yuan Luoluo's face fell, and she left in a huff, rolling her eyes, before even reaching the top floor.
Shang Wu laughed out loud, but Lu Rang grabbed her chin.
"You're allowed to show off your relationship, but I'm not allowed to pretend to be single?"
Shang Wu smelled a faint scent of vinegar in the air and grasped his wrist: "I was wrong."
She nodded her lips: "Punish me by letting you kiss me."
Lu Rang's breath hitched, and he lowered his head to kiss her.
The cell phone signal in the elevator was sometimes strong and sometimes weak.
The two continued kissing, and the phone in Shang Wu's coat pocket lit up instantly.
Seven or eight missed calls and several text messages flooded the screen instantly, all from the bodyguard.
Shang Wu dodged Lu Rang's kiss and picked up her phone.
[There's a situation here. Zhou Yanci seems to be sleeping in her room. We can't get her to answer the door, and there's no sound. What should we do?]
Should we force our way in?
[Mr. Shang, the person has escaped.]
The elevator doors opened.
Several of Zhou Yanci's friends immediately took out the prepared fireworks, wanting to give the two a surprise.
With a bang.
Confetti rained down.
The cheers abruptly ceased when everyone saw that a strange man was standing behind Shang Wu.
Shang Wu's breathing quickened as she stared down at her phone, her face suddenly turning cold.
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