Wang Shuang and the others only knew that Wen Ying had a conflict with her uncle-in-law, Shu Gu nė
The reasons were the same as Wen Ying’s reluctance to involve Song Shao in the matter: everything Zhao Dong was doing now was aimed at Wen Ying and Xie Qian, and the two didn’t want to drag their friends into it.
Although Wang Shuang, Geng Xiao, Tang Yifeng, and Qin Jiao’s families might not fear Zhao Dong, Wen Ying didn’t think their families should stand up for her against him.
They had already done so much for her, offering discounts on her family’s house and introducing big clients to her mother, Chen Ru. If they did more, Wen Ying, unable to repay them for now, would feel anxious.
So when Secretary Gao asked if she needed help, Wen Ying shook her head:
“Thank you for Uncle Qin’s concern. We should be able to handle this ourselves. My troublesome relatives are always causing trouble for Shrimp King. I’m already very embarrassed. If I let Uncle Qin worry further, I’d feel even more ashamed.”
On Qin Xianming’s side, they were closing in on the Wenhao father and son. It wasn’t a good time to distract him.
Secretary Gao had heard the latest updates: with two key surveillance videos, convicting Shu Ji’s boss wouldn’t be difficult.
Wen Ying was polite, and Secretary Gao didn’t pressure her, only saying she must speak up if she needed help.
“Mr. Qin is very concerned about this matter.”
Wen Ying smiled and agreed.
Wang Shuang and the others didn’t say much.
If they could resolve it themselves, that was best. If Wen Ying couldn’t handle it, they’d definitely get their families involved.
Shu Ji had even resorted to violence, which wasn’t a small matter and demanded attention.
In front of Wen Ying, Wang Shuang didn’t make grand promises, instead yawning, “Flying is so tiring. I was going to tell you about Li Mengjiao’s stuff in Xiang Province, but I’ll rest at home and talk at school instead!”
Wang Shuang winked, and Geng Xiao and Tang Yifeng immediately said they’d go back with him.
The three left almost as fast as Yang Xi, who’d slipped away earlier. Wen Ying laughed, teasing Xie Qian, “Good thing Wang Shuang won’t join the entertainment industry. His acting is really awful!”
Xie Qian was still thinking about Zhao Dong but couldn’t help wanting to laugh at Wen Ying’s jab at Wang Shuang.
His acting was indeed poor, but he was a good person.
Without Wen Ying, Xie Qian would never have befriended someone like Wang Shuang. His first impression wasn’t great, so there’d be no chance to discover his inner qualities.
“We’ll definitely take down Shu Guobing this time, but catching Cai Youlun won’t be easy, let alone Zhao Dong.”
Xie Qian tempered Wen Ying’s expectations to avoid disappointment if hopes were too high.
Wen Ying didn’t mind, “Swatting one fly is good enough. I’m not afraid of Shu Guobing, I’m just disgusted by him.”
In a way, Zhao Dong had an eye for picking people. If Chen Ru hadn’t demanded the Shu family repay their debt, leading to a fallout, such relatives would’ve clung to Wen Ying like repulsive flies. Her parents would’ve forced her to keep ties with the Shu family, and she’d have been furious.
Shu Lu and Shu Guobing had gradually eroded their standing in Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong’s hearts.
Chen Ru was the first to see clearly, while Wen Dongrong hadn’t at first, but Shu Lu and Shu Guobing’s repeated disappointments wore him down.
Honestly, Wen Ying now wanted to get home quickly. She was a bit eager to see her dad, Wen Dongrong’s, reaction to this!
…
Little Cai wasn’t too worried at first.
Shu Guobing had been detained before and got out. The second time shouldn’t be hard.
Besides, when Shu Lu hired people to extort Wen Ying, the police investigated for ages and found nothing. Little Cai had little respect for the efficiency of Rongcheng’s police.
As Cai Youlun’s right-hand man, he had plenty of street smarts. Even a teenager like Shu Lu had some counter-surveillance instincts, and Little Cai was no slouch.
When the police came for him, Little Cai wasn’t fazed, thinking it was just for questioning.
“Can I make a call—”
Before he could finish, two officers twisted his arms and pinned him to the ground.
“Behave, come with us to the station. You’ll have plenty of time to explain!”
Only then did Little Cai sense something was wrong.
At the station, he realised things were serious.
The interrogating officer opened with, “How much did you pay to hire those thugs?”
Little Cai stayed silent.
The officer was certain he’d given money to two punks to commit a break-in and assault.
“You should know how many years you’ll get for this!”
Little Cai kept his mouth shut, but the interrogators weren’t amateurs. After some psychological tactics, they slapped video stills in front of him, “Ironclad evidence! The two suspects confessed. They took your cash, time and place match. What’s left to deny?”
Little Cai was stunned.
He hadn’t expected the moment he handed over the money to be caught on camera.
Who arranged the tail? Wen Ying, a high school freshman?
Little Cai had long thought Shu Lu’s smarts were no match for Wen Ying’s, but he hadn’t expected to fall himself.
After the dung-splashing incident, ‘Shrimp King’ hadn’t retaliated, which Little Cai found odd.
Shu Guobing, however, got cocky, thinking Wen Ying was an easy target… only for Wen Ying to bide her time, set a long trap, and wait for them here!
Little Cai stopped playing tough and finally spoke:
“Boss Shu told me to give the money. I don’t know those two or what Boss Shu hired them for. Officer, I’m just a worker, I do what the boss says.”
Little Cai hid the glint in his eyes, putting on an honest, loyal front.
Shu Guobing wasn’t his real boss, so betraying him came with no pressure.
Little Cai wasn’t as panicked as he seemed. He thought it through carefully and found no damning evidence against him. Even with the two punks, he’d always said it was Shu Guobing’s idea, so when they were caught, the police went for Shu Guobing first.
And Cai Youlun would save him.
Cai Youlun *had* to save him!
Not just because they were cousins, but because Cai Youlun’s rise wasn’t clean. Little Cai handled much of the dirty work. If Cai Youlun didn’t save him and Little Cai spilled any “past deeds” under interrogation, Cai Youlun would have reason to worry.
As for Shu Guobing, he was all talk, no substance, good for nothing but bragging. Cai Youlun had long been fed up with him. Ditching this pawn wouldn’t faze Cai Youlun, as long as Mr. Zhao agreed.
Mr. Zhao would surely agree.
He didn’t want this exposed either.
Thinking this, Little Cai grew calmer.
To be fair, Little Cai knew Cai Youlun well.
When Shu Guobing was taken in, Cai Youlun wasn’t the least bit anxious. A useless fool like that, who botched everything, wasn’t worth a glance from Cai Youlun unless Zhao Dong insisted.
But Little Cai was different. He was Cai Youlun’s right-hand man.
As Cai Youlun’s business grew, he needed reliable help. Little Cai was loyal and capable, worth more than a million in Cai Youlun’s eyes.
Or rather, Cai Youlun could stomach a million in losses, but not the risk of losing Little Cai.
The moment Little Cai was taken, Cai Youlun called Zhao Dong.
“This mess, what do you think…”
Zhao Dong was speechless.
For the first time, he questioned if his strategy was sound.
He’d brought in the Shu family to trouble Wen Ying, drag her into a mess, and trap her forever at society’s bottom.
But recent events left Zhao Dong both exasperated and amused.
Some people were truly useless, lacking the skills to make money, rise up, or even do bad things well.
Zhao Dong said coldly, “You’ve done enough. Leave him be.”
The implication was clear: let Shu Guobing fend for himself.
Cai Youlun agreed wholeheartedly, though he feigned concern for Zhao Dong.
“Ditching Shu Guobing is no loss, he’s unimportant. Will this affect your side?”
Zhao Dong told Cai Youlun not to worry.
From start to finish, Zhao Dong had no direct contact with Shu Guobing, who thought he’d just gotten lucky and knew nothing of Zhao Dong’s existence.
Shu Lu knew, but she was vain. A father about to go to jail was a stain on her life.
If Shu Lu didn’t want to plummet to society’s bottom, she wouldn’t dare betray Zhao Dong.
Cai Youlun got the picture.
Little Cai had to be bailed out, but Shu Guobing could rot.
So incompetent, he was beyond saving!
Zhao Dong cautioned Cai Youlun to lie low for now, “Wait for my instructions on the next steps. Don’t act rashly.”
Zhao Dong wasn’t going soft on Wen Ying; he was unsure of Xie Jinghu’s stance.
There’d clearly been a rift between father and son before, but Zhao Dong recently heard rumors that Xie Jinghu transferred some Jinhu Group shares to his son, Xie Qian.
Zhao Dong didn’t know where the rumor started, but it sounded too detailed to be fake.
Blood is thicker than water. If their strained relationship had mended, what then?
If Zhao Dong charged ahead blindly without clarity, Xie Jinghu could deny his earlier stance and turn on him instead!
Zhao Dong had already lost the bid for Rongcheng’s amusement park project. For his next plans, he needed support.
If Xie Jinghu didn’t offer something tangible and just fed him sweet words, Zhao Dong wouldn’t go all-in for him!
…
Zhao Dong was gauging Xie Jinghu’s attitude, waiting for a clearer signal before deciding how much effort to commit.
Wen Ying was eager for Wen Dongrong’s reaction to this, hoping he wouldn’t let her down.
Wen Dongrong was exhausted!
Tormented by English classes two days a week, he was like a salted fish stripped of its sheen, wanting only to lie still at home.
But some people wouldn’t grant him a moment’s peace.
Shu Guobing!
Damn Shu Guobing!
Chen Ru flung down her study materials, furious, “This time, with evidence and the culprit caught, if you let Shu Guobing off, you might as well move in with the Shu family!”
Shu Guobing hired two thugs to break into Shrimp King’s shop with knives in the dead of night. What was he planning?
Next time, would he send thugs with knives into their home?
Chen Ru shuddered.
The Shu family weren’t just revolting dogshit; they were rabid dogs, jaws wide, dripping with foul saliva.
Last time, Shu Lu hired people to extort Wen Ying. This time, Shu Guobing hired thugs for a break-in. Wen Ying was unharmed, but if anything had happened, Chen Ru would’ve been ready to take down the Shu family with her!
If divorce was the only way to cut ties with the Shu family, Chen Ru would drag Wen Dongrong to get the papers tomorrow morning.
Chen Ru was ferocious, like a wild beast. With no Shu family members present, her rage turned on Wen Dongrong, her glare so fierce his neck prickled.
Like a salted fish flopping, he sprang from the couch to placate his furious wife:
“When did I say I’d let him off? This time, even if it costs me my job, I’ll make sure he goes to jail!”
