Chapter 41

You Changqing finally settled down after feeling her scorching body temperature and the strong, steady sound of her heartbeat. She buried her head in her neck and fell into a deep sleep.

Shen Lihuan had set an alarm. The moment it rang, she opened her bright, star-like eyes, not a trace of drowsiness in them. She swiftly turned off the alarm, preventing it from disturbing You Changqing.

At this moment, You Changqing was clinging to her like an octopus. One fair and delicate long leg was dominantly draped over her waist, while her hands mischievously encircled her waist.

In such an intimately entangled position, how could she successfully extricate herself without waking Changqing?

Shen Lihuan inhaled the refreshing mint scent from her body and carefully moved away the soft, boneless hand resting on her waist. Since her nightdress had short sleeves, she could easily touch her smooth and delicate arm.

“Hiss.”

Shen Lihuan took a light breath, deeply feeling that this was quite an alluring torment for her.

Her gaze drifted downward, stopping at You Changqing’s fair chest. The nightdress she wore had a slightly loose neckline, revealing a small patch of white skin and that charming, enticing cleavage…

Shen Lihuan’s ears instantly turned red. With a trembling hand, she reached out to pull up the neckline a bit. Only when the scenery was covered did she let out a breath of relief.

But she soon realized that this wasn’t even the biggest challenge. The leg draped over her waist had smooth lines and snow-white skin, with barely any hair visible… Could she really bring herself to move her hand away after touching it?

She seriously doubted it.

While Shen Lihuan struggled under the torment of beauty, Shen Jiashu was also occupied elsewhere.

— Two hours earlier.

Shen Jiashu was in his office handling paperwork when his chief assistant, Assistant Yuan, knocked on the door and entered.

“Boss, it’s a call from the He family’s patriarch.”

“The He family?” Shen Jiashu raised an eyebrow and took the phone. “Hello, this is Shen Jiashu.”

“Jiashu, it’s me, He Boshan.” The old man’s strong and vigorous voice came through the receiver.

“Uncle He, what’s the matter?” Since He Boshan was of the same generation as Shen Zhongyuan, Shen Jiashu respectfully called him “Uncle.”

“It’s like this—I have something to discuss with you, but it concerns your daughter, Shen Lihuan, so I’d like to invite you to a meal to talk in person. Do you have time?”

Something involving Lihuan…

Shen Jiashu’s deep eyes flickered slightly before he readily agreed. “Alright, I’d like to know what matter could possibly involve my precious daughter.”

“Then let’s meet at Weiyang Pavilion at 12:30.”

“Okay.”

After hanging up, Shen Jiashu sneered. Just because He Xi married Gu Qingrong, he had absolutely no goodwill toward the He family.

He had no idea what they wanted to discuss with him, much less why it involved Lihuan.

At exactly 12:30, Shen Jiashu arrived at Weiyang Pavilion with Assistant Yuan.

The name “Weiyang Pavilion” exuded an ancient charm, and the interior décor matched—pavilions, rock gardens, and courtyards, all breathtakingly beautiful and filled with antiquity. Even the waitstaff dressed in traditional clothing and spoke in old-style phrases, giving guests the illusion of having traveled back in time.

Led by a “waiter,” Shen Jiashu and his assistant arrived at the private room labeled “Earth No. 1 Pavilion.” The moment he lifted the curtain and stepped inside, he realized there were quite a few people present.

So, this was a trap.

Shen Jiashu swept his gaze across the room and, upon spotting Gu Xiujin and Luo Jiangyue, his expression instantly turned colder.

Noticing his displeasure, He Boshan quickly tried to smooth things over. “Jiashu, come sit down. Give me some face and don’t be upset yet—we genuinely have something important to discuss with you.”

Only then did Shen Jiashu walk over and take a seat. “Go ahead, what urgent matter do you want to discuss?”

Gu Qingrong, veiled as always, stepped forward, but seeing that he didn’t even glance at her, her heart was filled with both resentment and grievance.

Luo Jiangyue and Gu Xiujin exchanged glances before Luo Jiangyue tactfully explained the situation.

“We’re not here to accuse anyone; we simply hope that Lihuan can provide the antidote for Qingrong. After all, Qingrong is a woman—she can’t possibly hide away forever with a face like this. That would be too cruel for her.”

Shen Jiashu crossed his arms, entirely uninterested. “So just because Lihuan touched her face, you assume she poisoned her? What kind of logic is that? Where’s your evidence?”

“If I had evidence, would I need to come begging you, Brother-in-law?” Gu Qingrong’s voice trembled with tears, but unfortunately, her veil obscured her delicate, pitiful expression.

“Accusing my daughter without proof—do you think the Shen family is just for show?”

Shen Jiashu was the type of person who appeared calmer the angrier he got. Right now, he looked composed on the surface, but he was already considering how to destroy the Gu family.

“No, no, that’s not what we meant! Jiashu, don’t misunderstand!”

He Boshan glared at Gu Qingrong and quickly said, “Jiashu, don’t listen to her nonsense. She’s just shaken and speaking rashly.”

“So what exactly do you all want? Calling me out without evidence—are you trying to use me to make my daughter confess to a crime?”

Shen Jiashu sneered. “My daughter is only sixteen years old. It was her first time meeting Gu Qingrong. Why would she poison her? Where would my daughter even get such a bizarre poison? And how did she administer it? Just by touching her face, and Gu Qingrong was poisoned?”

Gu Qingrong dabbed her tears with a handkerchief, her gaze sorrowful. “Brother-in-law, I’ve never wronged anyone. But after the banquet, where Lihuan touched my face, I woke up the next day with these terrifying tumors. Isn’t that evidence enough?”

Her knuckles turned pale as she clutched her handkerchief. Damn Shen Jiashu! Ignoring her charms to marry Gu Qinglan was bad enough, but now his daughter had drugged her and still sided with that little slut. Why hadn’t that car accident back then just killed all three of them? Now, she had lost all face and still had to come begging him.

“I only ask Lihuan to show mercy. If I offended her in any way, I’m willing to apologize—just please, let her give me the antidote so I can restore my original appearance. I beg you, brother-in-law.”

As Gu Qingrong spoke, she started crying, and Luo Jiangyue held her close, also sobbing softly.

Gu Xiuqin stiffened and added, “Jiashu, just this once—for my sake, as your father-in-law—help Qingrong.”

“I already said it wasn’t Lihuan who drugged her, so it wasn’t Lihuan. There’s no point wasting your efforts on me. You’d be better off seeing a doctor as soon as possible—maybe Gu Qingrong’s face can still be saved.”

Shen Jiashu lowered his gaze and swirled the tea in his cup. “Also, Qinglan has already cut ties with the Gu family. Old Master Gu, it’d be best if you stopped calling yourself my father-in-law.”

Gu Xiuqin’s expression stiffened further. He prided himself on his status and didn’t want to bow his head to Shen Jiashu, but Shen Jiashu didn’t even take him seriously.

“Shen Jiashu!” He Xi grew angry at Shen Jiashu’s refusal. “What exactly do you want? The truth is obvious, yet you still deny it?”

He Boshan quickly pulled him back. “Are you crazy?”

Offending Shen Jiashu—could there be any good outcome from that?

“What? Since talking won’t work, are you planning to threaten me now? If I don’t agree, am I not allowed to leave this No. 1 Pavilion today?”

Shen Jiashu’s gaze turned cold.

He Xi was startled by his icy stare, his rationality slowly returning, and he dared not speak again.

“My son is just reckless with his words, Jiashu. Don’t take it to heart. He’s been utterly bewitched by Gu Qingrong. As his father, I’ve tried advising him, even scolding him, but he just won’t listen. This time, he begged me to invite you out—I originally didn’t want to agree, but he wouldn’t stop pestering me, and I had no choice.”

He Boshan put on a bitter face, playing the emotional card. “I have only this one son, and he’s dead set on Gu Qingrong—no other woman will do. He’s already in his mid-thirties and still has no children. If Gu Qingrong remains like this, how could they ever have kids? That’s why I shamelessly asked to meet you, hoping you’d help.”

“I’ve lost all my dignity today because of this son of mine.”

“Uncle He, I truly can’t help. If it wasn’t my daughter’s doing, I won’t admit to it. You should hurry and see a doctor instead.”

Regardless of whether He Boshan was trying to appeal to his emotions, Shen Jiashu wasn’t going to back down. And even if Lihuan really had done it, so what? Back then, Gu Qingrong had bullied Qinglan countless times—her current fate was just karma.

After finishing his words, Shen Jiashu got up and left with his assistant, Yuan. Staying in the same place as the Gu family only made him feel like the air was polluted.

“Brother-in-law! Brother-in-law!”

Watching Shen Jiashu leave so mercilessly, Gu Qingrong truly began to panic. Without the antidote, how could she restore her appearance? Was she supposed to live with this hideous face for the rest of her life? That was no different from being dead!

“Qingrong, don’t be scared. It’s fine. If Shen Jiashu won’t help, we’ll find Shen Lihuan ourselves. If that doesn’t work, we’ll go to a doctor. Medicine is so advanced nowadays—they’ll surely be able to cure you.”

A trace of killing intent flashed in Luo Jiangyue’s eyes. Shen Jiashu, Shen Lihuan, Gu Qinglan… the three of them were all so insufferable.

“Mom, I’m so scared!”

Gu Qingrong clung to Luo Jiangyue, crying like a child.

“What’s the use of being scared? You’d be better off thinking about what to do next. I don’t care whether your appearance can be restored—you need to hurry to the hospital with He Xi to conceive a child. Otherwise, you can divorce him. Our He family must have an heir!”

Suppressing his anger, He Boshan ordered Gu Qingrong. Her face went rigid, but in the end, she reluctantly nodded.

…

After struggling to move You Changqing’s leg aside, Shen Lihuan was already sweating. She exhaled slowly, tucked the thin blanket over You Changqing, then quickly changed her clothes and left a note on a sticky note.

“Changqing, I’m heading to school first. Sleep in a bit longer. If you get bored when you wake up, you can use my computer or watch TV. I’ve asked General and Overlord to keep you company at home. There are fruits and drinks in the fridge—help yourself, don’t be polite.”

Carefully closing the door behind her, Shen Lihuan slung her backpack over her shoulders and went downstairs. General and Overlord were watching TV together—a dog and a snake, completely engrossed in the show.

“General, Overlord, I’m going to school. If the lady in my room wakes up, go keep her company, okay? This is your mission.”

She patted their heads and gave them serious instructions. The two little ones excitedly accepted the task, patting their chests to promise they’d complete it.

Only then did Shen Lihuan head out the door.