Chapter 68: Making Lu Rang and Shang Wu Break Up
Zhou Yanci turned around and stared at Chenmian with a gloomy expression.
What did you just say?
His sleeping eyes flickered.
She didn't have any concrete evidence; she had only overheard staff members talking about it when she went to the branch office to provoke Shang Wu last time.
They were all betting on whether Lu Rang liked Shang Wu or not, and whether it was because Shang Wu was already taken, so he could only keep his feelings to himself.
If there weren't any clues, Chenmian believed that the employees in the branch wouldn't talk nonsense.
These people are all businessmen.
She walked step by step to Zhou Yanci.
"I didn't deliberately smear Shang Wu to sow discord. Think about it, why would Shang Wu choose to use top lawyers from Jinshui Law Firm, instead of the people from Jinshui Law Firm?"
Zhou Yanci's eyes darkened slightly.
Seeing his reaction, Chenmian continued, "I heard she even gave her ten times the service fee. Even for the most capable person, isn't giving that much a bit too much?"
"If there's no illicit affair, I don't believe it. Do you?"
Zhou Yanci slowly clenched her fist.
He naturally believed that Lu Rang had no clear understanding of Shang Wu and no serious intentions towards her.
But he remained certain that Shang Wu would never fall in love with anyone other than him, and that no one would be more important than him, her savior.
Now that he's heard this, Zhou Yanci is uncertain.
Just as Chenmian said, Shangwu is a very shrewd and calculating person.
She would never give someone so much money for their services for no reason.
Chenmian continued, "Either they have an affair and she deliberately gives Lu Rang more money to support him, or this tenfold salary is not just for working as a legal consultant."
Zhou Yanci seemed lost in thought, then turned and left, his face clouded with gloom.
He got into the car and made a phone call to Lu Wuwei.
Lu Wuwei answered the call.
Before Zhou Yanci could speak, he said, "I knew what you wanted to say. Don't worry, I've already made arrangements. I will make sure that the trust between him and Shang Wu collapses and they break up."
Zhou Yanci breathed a sigh of relief, then gritted her teeth: "Have you found out if he has any other purpose for staying by Shang Wu's side besides a romantic relationship?"
I don't think so.
Lu Wuwei said dismissively, "He's just a pretty boy who thinks he can seduce Shang Wu just because he's somewhat good-looking. Doesn't he realize that everything Shang Wu has now is all thanks to you? He's picked the wrong person to find a rich woman!"
Zhou Yanci revealed a mocking smile, "But now Shang Wu is powerful enough to control the company and take my place."
Lu Wuwei remained silent for two seconds.
He sighed, "I've heard about this, but the shareholders are unhappy with you and can't force her to take over to save the company's losses. This is only temporary, so just bear with it a little longer."
After exchanging a few words, the two hung up the phone.
...
Shang Wu drove home, her heart pounding the whole way.
Thinking about seeing her parents whom she hadn't seen for more than half a year, she had a lot to say, but she also knew that the more people who knew about her plans, the more likely it was to be leaked.
Especially since her parents are getting old and they are very satisfied with and trust Zhou Yanci, she wonders if they will disagree with her after hearing about this.
Just like Mr. Ye.
He also believes that it is far-fetched to rashly accuse Zhou Yanci of being the culprit for their family's decline without any real evidence.
Shang Wu hurriedly stopped the car and, as soon as she stepped into the living room, smelled a familiar aroma of food.
The taste was so familiar that Shang Wu couldn't help but shed tears even before she saw her two elderly relatives busy in the kitchen.
Throughout her childhood and past, before the business went bankrupt, her parents and brother doted on her unconditionally.
While many families express their love for their children in a reserved and subtle way, their parents express it passionately.
"My little princess Awu".
"What does Ah Wu want to eat today? Your dad skipped his meeting to go to the river and catch shrimp for you."
"What does our beautiful daughter want? Mom and Dad will take you to buy it! We love you the most!"
The gentle, doting smiles of her parents kept flashing through her mind.
Looking at the white-haired old man now, she felt as if she had lived through another world. In just three short years, her parents had become so frustrated and unsuccessful that they had reached this point.
Shang Wu knew that the company was built from scratch by her parents, who fought their way up to become one of the top two companies among many established families, and no one dared to underestimate them.
The couple were full of vigor and had everything they wanted in the business world, which made them somewhat complacent.
Unexpectedly, the wolf that bites is often the one that strikes most unexpectedly.
She knew that her parents must miss the glory days of their former company and think about her brother's bright future, and that they must be sighing and in pain every night.
Shang Wu stood in the living room, silently shedding tears for a long time.
When Shang Lingfei turned around and saw her, he was immediately taken aback.
He quickly tugged at Ruan Yuzhi, who was standing next to him.
"Daughter, daughter is back!"
Shang Lingfei and Ruan Yuzhi put down their kitchen utensils and walked out quickly. As they walked, they wiped their hands on their aprons to dry them before hurriedly taking off their aprons and going over.
Shang Wu stepped forward and hugged them, bursting into tears.
Shang Lingfei's expression showed a slight surprise, but it was quickly overshadowed by the joy of seeing her again. He patted Shang Wu on the back.
“My Ah Wu has grown up. She’s suffered a lot these past few years. She’s been so busy at the company that she hasn’t had time to come see us. Look how thin she’s become! I can feel her shoulder blades!”
Shang Wu cried uncontrollably and couldn't speak.
She desperately wanted to tell her father that their entire family had been sacrificed by Zhou Yanci.
From then on, some were imprisoned, others were sent back to the countryside to recuperate, while she remained completely unaware, recruiting for Zhou Yanci's company to make money and gain fame.
She felt so wronged, so pained, and so regretful that she had believed Zhou Yanci was her savior, pulling her out of that dark corner where she was still being ridiculed and mocked.
As it turns out, there's no such thing as a free lunch.
No one will be unconditionally kind to another person; everyone is driven by self-interest, and it has always been that way.
Shang Wu cried uncontrollably until Ruan Yuzhi began to realize that she wasn't crying because she was overjoyed.
She quickly helped Shang Wu sit down on the sofa and took out tissues to wipe her tears.
"What's wrong with you? Why are you crying like this when you see us? I heard you're getting married to Zhou Yanci, did you two have a fight?"
Shang Wu quickly wiped away her tears. Looking at their expectant faces, she felt a bitter taste in her mouth and her stomach began to churn with acid.
Sitting directly opposite them was the person she could rely on most in her life.
But now, she can't say a word.
The parents who once provided for her and her brother can no longer offer any help.
She has to rely on herself for everything.
Shang Wu stood up and bowed deeply to them.
“I have failed to take good care of you over the past three years. I was deceived by some people with ulterior motives, and now it is too late to regret it. I am sorry to you.”
The two were stunned, looking at Shang Wu with confusion.
"Now I will definitely help our business regain everything. I know that those cases against the company were all deliberately committed, and the uncles who went to jail were all innocent. They did not do any illegal projects at all."
"Father, believe me. No matter what I do today, you just need to support me. Our whole family will be reunited in six months."
Shang Wu spoke cryptically and solemnly, leaving the two elders looking at each other, momentarily speechless.
Ruan Yuzhi was a little anxious and quickly grasped Shang Wu's hand.
She asked, "What's wrong with you? Ah Wu, you seem like a completely different person since the New Year?"
Shang Wu gave a bitter smile.
After experiencing such betrayal, how could she remain unchanged? If she were still standing still, she would be devoured until not even bones were left.
Shang Wu's eyes reddened again. Just as she was about to explain, Shang Lingfei suddenly spoke up.
"There were indeed hidden circumstances surrounding the affairs of your uncles back then, but I was seriously ill at the time and had to lay low, so I stayed in the countryside with your mother."
Every night I replay the merchant's case in my mind over and over again. I'm writing down the clues I know now; you can take a look and see if these points are helpful.
Shang Wu was overjoyed and nodded quickly.
"This is extremely important to me. I have already hired a lawyer to re-investigate the businesses. In fact, I have basically identified who the murderers are, but we need to remain still now so as not to alert them."
Seeing the father and son exchanging knowing glances, ready to go all out, Ruan Yuzhi was completely dumbfounded.
She quickly asked, "Explain yourself, Ah Wu, what are you trying to do? Are you helping the merchants get revenge and overturn their case?"
Shang Wu nodded.
"Is this matter related to Zhou Yanci? I asked you about your marriage earlier, but you didn't give a straight answer." Ruan Yuzhi became increasingly nervous.
Shang Wu paused slightly, tears welling in her eyes.
His mother knew him so well; she could tell what he was thinking even with the slightest changes in him.
Shang Wu exhaled calmly.
"Zhou Yanci and I will maintain a superficial peace for now, but from this moment on, you don't need to treat him as one of your own."
Shang Lingfei's face darkened, and he looked down at her thoughtfully.
Shang Wu knew that her father, being such a clever man, must have already guessed the meaning behind her words.
But the mother didn't know.
My mother always had this problem: she trusted human nature too much and believed in people's superficial goodness.
She is highly capable at her job, but lacks any social skills.
Her father was more like her deputy.
In the company, one focused on business and interpersonal relationships, while the other managed the company based on hard skills.
Shang Wu felt that she probably inherited more from her mother, being unguarded against people who deliberately approached her, and giving her all once she felt that the other person was good, not knowing that she had already been leeched off.
She said softly, "In a few days, I will arrange for you to see my brother. Our family should have a proper reunion. Also, my brother will be out in six months. The case has been reopened. The person who framed my brother and put him in prison back then was already infertile due to a hidden illness, but he did not falsely accuse my brother of hitting him."
"Really!" Ruan Yuzhi burst into tears of joy, her hands trembling with excitement. "Your brother has suffered in this prison for several years, and I don't know what's going on. I want to see him, but he refuses me every time."
Shang Wu lowered her eyes and shed tears.
Of course, the older brother refused. He was not having a good time in prison and was often beaten.
A refined, scholarly man is now filled with a chilling aura.
This shows how much hardship he has endured in prison over the past three years.
Shang Wu didn't reveal too much to them, only saying that her brother would be out in six months, which put their minds at ease.
After having a meal with her parents, she was thinking of having a good chat with her family when a phone call came in.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com