Chapter 54
As it turned out, he not only knew, but also drove smoothly and quickly, delivering her to the main gate of L University in the blink of an eye.
"I'll go with you." After turning off the engine, Shen Hanyang unbuckled his seatbelt, preparing to get out of the car with her. Just as he stepped out of the car, someone tugged at his arm.
He turned around, his pale fingers, which had been resting on his arm, curled slightly and withdrew.
"You need to go back and pick up Jiaming," Yan Qing reminded him.
Shen Hanyang, of course, hadn't forgotten that Cheng Jiaming was still fast asleep on Huang Qian's sofa. Cheng Jiaming and Huang Yanxiang were as close as twins, so picking him up a little late wouldn't make a difference. But Yanqing seemed very serious, as if this were some kind of top priority. Shen Hanyang chuckled to himself; she was always so direct when rejecting him, never bothering to come up with a decent excuse.
He had long been familiar with her stubbornness, and knowing he couldn't persuade her otherwise, he could only take an umbrella from the back seat and hand it to her: "Take this, it's still raining."
Shen Hanyang's car flashed its hazard lights in the rain and fog, and Yan Qing waited beside it, holding an umbrella. After a while, the person inside finally gave in, turned off the hazard lights, and drove away with a low hum of the engine. Yan Qing didn't turn and walk towards the school gate until she saw Shen Hanyang's car had driven far away. After taking two steps, she suddenly stopped. Something was on her mind. So she unblocked Meng Xianglan from her blacklist and dialed her number.
Not long after, Meng Xianglan, without even an umbrella, stumbled through the main gate of L University and ran this way. L University requires a campus card for entry and exit, but Meng Xianglan and Feng Xin always found ways to bypass the access control and enter the school without hindrance. Her heavy wedge heels didn't stay on, and Meng Xianglan twisted her ankle two or three times in the short distance. When she was right in front of Yan Qing, he could see clearly that Meng Xianglan's face was a jumble of colors; eyeshadow and foundation were indistinguishable, and snot and tears were mixed together.
"Niece!" Meng Xianglan rushed towards Yan Qing, intending to fall on her. Yan Qing instinctively took two steps back, and Meng Xianglan missed, her high heels slipping on the wet cement, causing her to fall hard and splash mud everywhere. Ignoring the pain, Meng Xianglan cried out repeatedly, "Niece...niece..."
Yan Qing had no idea what she was up to this time, so she kept a distance of half a meter from her and watched her warily.
As the pain subsided, Meng Xianglan, supporting herself on the ground, knelt down in front of Yan Qing: "Niece, you have to save your brother!"
The main street outside the main gate of L University is a major street in the science and technology district, which is quite busy even on rainy days. This tragic scene immediately attracted the attention of passersby.
Meng Xianglan's intentions were all too clear: she wanted to bribe the school teachers with the 20,000 yuan that Feng Yiming needed. Yan Qing had always refused to pay that money, knowing that Feng Xin would cause trouble sooner or later, but she hadn't expected them to use so many tricks.
Yan Qing suppressed her anger and said, "If you want money, go to the temple of the God of Wealth and kowtow. Kowtowing to me won't do you any good."
Meng Xianglan clenched her fists and pounded her chest, crying out, "It's not about the money, it's about your brother... your brother... something happened to him!"
Meng Xianglan, with her questionable intelligence and touching logic, talked incoherently for a long time, and Yan Qing finally roughly understood the whole story.
Three months ago, Feng Xin started working in the infrastructure department of Huanyu Technology Company, managing raw materials at the construction site of the new building in the science and technology new district. Feng Xin had always been a gambler, but this time he became even more addicted. He had five million yuan given to him by Shen Hanyang and often went to casinos on weekends to gamble. He not only lost all five million yuan but also accumulated a mountain of debt. Later, to raise gambling funds, Feng Xin even started reselling surplus cables at the construction site. After the incident, Feng Xin fled back to his hometown. A man surnamed Li from the same village was one of his former drinking buddies. Feng Xin had borrowed money from Li after losing in Macau, promising to repay it at a 50% interest rate. Li, of course, knew Feng Xin's tendency to exaggerate and boast, but Feng Xin insisted that his niece was engaged to the CEO of Huanyu Technology and even showed him screenshots of the five million yuan transfer. Feng Xin smugly declared that this was just a small gift; there would be a dowry, living expenses, filial piety allowance, holiday bonuses, and even company dividends—in short, endless wealth and luxury. The man surnamed Li was no different from Feng Xin, always seeking easy money and huge profits. So, he pooled his family's resources and borrowed from relatives and friends to lend Feng Xin a sum of money. The result was obvious: all the money was lost. When Li heard that Feng Xin had returned from S City, he demanded the money back. The two men got into a fight. Coincidentally, Feng Xin's son, Feng Yiming, was also home that day. According to Meng Xianglan, Feng Yiming grabbed a kitchen knife in self-defense "to protect his father." His father was wounded in the arm and fled, clutching his wound. Feng Yiming relentlessly pursued him, brandishing the weapon. At the village entrance, they encountered county and town officials. One of them tried to stop them, but Feng Yiming slashed his carotid artery, and he couldn't be saved…
After hearing the whole story, Yan Qing was dumbfounded.
Meng Xianglan knelt in the rain, wailing loudly, "Niece, you must think of a way! Your grandfather's family only has your younger brother as their only son. You have to save Yiming no matter what, we can't let your grandfather's line end!"
Yan Qing was already immune to Meng Xianglan's shamelessness, but she still couldn't help but say, "Feng Xin seized my maternal grandparents' money and then brazenly kicked them out, saying he wasn't their biological son and had no obligation to support them. Now you're bringing Feng Yiming here to acknowledge his ancestors, aren't you afraid Feng Xin will be angry?"
Meng Xianglan was shocked. "But Yiming is still surnamed Feng, and he's the only male heir in your Feng family! Isn't it only natural for those two old folks to give their money to their own grandson?!"
Even at this critical juncture, Meng Xianglan still habitually spoke rudely when mentioning the old man. Yan Qing was furious when she heard this, and her lips curled into a sneer: "Your precious son, please figure out a solution yourself. I have no ability to fight against the law. If you have any demands, go talk to a lawyer."
Meng Xianglan seized upon the life-saving remedy in her words and exclaimed repeatedly, "Yes, yes, we need to find a lawyer! I've inquired, and the famous lawyers in Beijing and Shanghai can argue that a guilty verdict can be proven not guilty. We must find a top-notch lawyer for Yiming!"
Meng Xianglan, a woman who hadn't even finished elementary school and whose mind was completely blank, mispronounced "defense" as "debate." It was at this moment that Yan Qing suddenly remembered that Feng Yiming wasn't a good student; after graduating from junior high, he studied for two years but still failed to get into high school. He entered vocational high school and turned eighteen in less than two months. This meant that he couldn't escape the criminal responsibility of paying for murder with his life, no matter what.
Meng Xianglan was still indulging in her own fantasies: "Not only do we need to find a lawyer, but we also need to find a judge! President Shen is incredibly powerful; he must have friends in the legal profession. Let him pull some strings and find a judge to be lenient and give us a lighter sentence! It would be best if we could get him acquitted!"
"Make an exception?" Meng Xianglan's ignorance left Yan Qing speechless. "Do you think the court is your backyard, where you can do whatever you want?"
"President Shen definitely has a way!" Meng Xianglan's true nature was revealed as she said confidently, "That guy surnamed Shen has taken a liking to you. Go talk to him and ask him to find a way for your brother. He can't refuse!"
Yan Qing really didn't want to waste another second on this person and her family's affairs, so she said sarcastically, "Fine, then you wait." With that, she walked past her toward the school gate.
After a long while, Meng Xianglan's few remaining brain cells finally came to their senses. She rushed over, grabbed Yan Qing's arm, and cried as if her father had died: "What are you saying? Aren't you going to help your brother? People can't be so heartless! You have no parents, your uncle raised you, provided you with the best food and things, and sent you to university. Now that your brother and uncle are in trouble, how can you just stand by and watch them die!"
Meng Xianglan clung to him like a mad dog, refusing to let go. Surprised glances from passersby kept sweeping over her. Yan Qing laughed in exasperation: "Yes, thanks to you, I'm still alive today. Meng Xianglan, talking to you about shame is like casting pearls before swine. I'm not surprised at all that Feng Yiming has come this far. It's all thanks to your teachings and example, it's your good fortune."
Meng Xianglan had initially thought that for the sake of her son, she would temporarily swallow her pride and ask Yan Qing for help. Firstly, Yan Qing was soft-hearted; the matter concerned her younger brother, the only heir of the Feng family, the youngest, the apple of their eye, and the embodiment of all their hopes. She believed Yan Qing would understand the principles of respecting elders and caring for the young, and the continuation of their bloodline. Secondly, for so many years, Yan Qing's relationship with them had remained consistent: the Feng family of three was absolutely superior to Yan Qing, and Yan Qing's obedience to them was as natural as the law. She firmly believed that even now, Yan Qing was still the orphan they enslaved and manipulated. To her utter surprise, Yan Qing offered absolutely no leeway. Meng Xianglan, used to being domineering, was suddenly turned on and humiliated. Provoked, she became enraged and started throwing a tantrum: "You heartless wretch! I should have had your uncle beat you to death back then! You're a scourge born of no one to teach you anything! My family has been cursed for eight generations because of you, you jinx! My son is dragged down by your bad luck! Let me tell you, if anything happens to my son, I won't live either. I'll risk my life to drag you down with me!"
The rain grew heavier, and passersby hurried along, their eyes quickly glancing at the noisy area before disappearing under their umbrellas. No one wanted to stop and meddle in this awful weather.
Meng Xianglan used her relentless charm, pulling and tearing at Yan Qing while cursing and swearing. Her fat body jiggled wildly, and she was full of passion. Yan Qing, who was already thin, was dizzy and was thoroughly ravaged. Suddenly, Meng Xianglan, who was in the middle of her shameless act, was lifted up and thrown to the side of the road like trash.
Shen Hanyang stood in the rain without an umbrella.
Meng Xianglan focused her gaze. Across from her, Shen Hanyang's expression was indifferent, but his eyes were incredibly sharp. Meng Xianglan felt that Shen Hanyang was about to kill her in the next second. Her heart skipped a beat, and she called out, "Nephew-in-law..." before falling silent.
Shen Hanyang said calmly, "Go back and wait for news." A cold glint flashed in the depths of his eyes.
Meng Xianglan couldn't decipher Shen Hanyang's gaze. She simply interpreted it as Shen Hanyang agreeing to help, feeling both overjoyed and expectant: "My nephew-in-law is willing to help, Yiming is saved! I knew it, how can family not help each other!" As she spoke, she gave Yan Qing behind him a smug look.
Meng Xianglan, however, was still lost in her own world. She got up from the ground, straightened her clothes and tidied her messy hair, and even tried to get close to Shen Hanyang: "President Shen, last time my child's uncle and I praised you, saying that you are an upright person, filial, and grateful..."
An impatient glint appeared on Shen Hanyang's brow: "Aren't you going to get lost?" Those three words froze Meng Xianglan. A fire ignited within her again. But she was under someone else's roof; Feng Yiming was still in detention. Shen Hanyang was her only hope. This man seemed arrogant and overbearing; perhaps he truly was omnipotent. Having received his promise, she would patiently wait for her son and husband to be released without charge. Thus, Meng Xianglan finally stopped arguing and left, profusely thanking him.
Yan Qing was already soaked to the bone. During the struggle, the umbrella had slipped from her hand and rolled several meters away. Now, even her fingertips were trembling.
Shen Hanyang picked up the umbrella, and the cold wind and rain were now behind him.
Yan Qing frowned slightly, her eyes full of doubt: "What's the deal with Feng Xin going to work at Huanyu?"
Shen Hanyang seemed not to hear, watching her through the dim light of the day. In truth, his thoughts were completely absorbed by her. Wearing a trench coat, she appeared even thinner; the coat swayed loosely, the collar askew, revealing her snow-white neck and clearly defined collarbones. This girl had suffered greatly from a young age, lacking proper food and clothing, yet she had still grown into such an outstanding young woman. He couldn't imagine how stunning she would be if she had been treated well and raised with care.
His gaze stirred a sense of uncertainty within Yan Qing. Swaying with the wind and rain, she asked the same question again, but unconsciously lowered her voice: "Why is Feng Xin working at Huanyu?"
Shen Hanyang still didn't react, staring intently at her.
"Did you hear that...?"
Shen Hanyang's eyes flickered, and he answered irrelevantly, "I have a coat that I no longer wear. Do you want it?"
Yan Qing, of course, had no idea that he was teasing her for wearing too little and being vulnerable to the cold. She glanced at his figure and replied, puzzled, "It might be too big for me? I can give it to Qiao Yi."
Shen Hanyang completely surrendered. She was incredibly clever when she could be, but also infuriatingly slow-witted when she could be. He suddenly recalled their only encounter at the swimming pool. Swimming was a specialty Shen Hanyang had trained for since childhood. He had excellent physical attributes and exceptional talent; his coach often jokingly lamented that if he were an athlete, he would undoubtedly achieve remarkable success. In university, on the swimming team, Shen Hanyang was always the center of attention for the girls. His entry, catch, and strokes were all exemplary and artistic. But that time, he was captivated by Yan Qing's graceful figure in the water. Compared to his disciplined training, Yan Qing was much more natural and immersed in the flow of her body. The rise and fall of her body seemed innate, and the snow-white back revealed as she parted the blue water was like something out of a fairy tale, evoking thoughts of mermaids in Shen Hanyang's mind. After swimming, he took her, Cheng Jiaming, and Huang Yanxiang on a long journey to eat at Meicun Fried Chicken near the Normal University. The fried chicken shop owner mistakenly thought Yanqing was his eldest daughter...
daughter……
Returning to his senses, Shen Hanyang smiled bitterly: "Even Cheng Jiaming has never made me this worried."
Yan Qing was taken aback: "You mean you don't care enough about Jia Ming...?"
“Jiaming has a nanny and a driver, but you,” he gently pulled up her coat collar, his movements natural and tender, “who will take care of you if you’re not by my side?”
Whenever Shen Hanyang spoke like this, even though he had no particular expression or tone, it sounded incredibly affectionate. His charm was as effortless as breathing, as casual and irresponsible.
However, this time Yan Qing truly captured that fleeting shiver that ran down her spine.
She was horrified. How could she let Shen Hanyang's sweet words cloud her judgment? His sweet words were like poison coated in sugar, deadly and deadly. People like Shen Hanyang, perched atop the pyramid, looked down upon the masses with cold, arrogant eyes. He was used to making the world revolve around him, easily changing or even destroying an ordinary person for a fleeting moment of novelty. When he was happy, he would elevate you to a high position, making you forget you were originally just an ant. When he was bored, with a flick of his hand, the ant would fall back to the dust. To him, it was like smoke passing by, having no effect whatsoever; but the ant would be shattered to pieces, never to recover. Zhang Linjing, Wu Yanying, and perhaps many other names she didn't know—the evidence was endless.
But her feelings seemed to have their own will, running uncontrollably against reason.
She recalled her senior's theory of "emotional magnetic fields." The magnetic field of emotions originates from the moment two people meet. You can't see it, but you can definitely feel it; it either attracts you or pushes you away—two extremes, no middle ground, no third option. She was alarmed to discover that something around her was subtly distorted. A powerful, invisible, intangible yet undeniably present gravitational force was at work, causing her once orderly life to deviate from its proper course.
She finally had to admit that the feeling, more subtle and imperceptible than the fluttering of butterfly wings, was the sudden, inexplicable flutter of the heart, like a cunning rabbit.
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