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Jiang Yueru stood at the entrance of the café for a long moment, hesitant to go inside. Finally, she turned back towards her car, no longer needing the bitter coffee to wake her up.
As she passed the spot where she had bumped into the man earlier, she noticed he was still there, waiting by the roadside in his dark gray shirt.
From a distance, she didn’t need to look up at him; her eyes quickly scanned his face.
He seemed familiar—like a ghost from her past that she couldn’t quite place.
Just as that thought formed in her mind, something felt off, and she paused, glancing back at him.
She had seen his photo when the scandal about the Lu family broke in the gossip columns.
In pictures, people often look different from how they do in real life.
Thirty years of time had softened the man’s youthful edges and sharpness; he had become more reserved than before. Yet, he retained an air of elegance and nobility, a unique charm that had once captivated her.
That was a quality she had fallen for at first sight.
But now, it felt like nothing at all.
Logically, after such a long separation, emotions—whether love or resentment—should stir within her.
Yet she felt nothing.
Jiang Yueru gazed at the man she had loved, hated, desired, and resented, and found herself surprisingly calm in that moment.
She thought, perhaps it was because he had hurt her so deeply that her heart had turned to stone, leaving her unable to feel anything upon seeing him again.
If it weren’t for their son, she might not have recognized him today.
Finally, Lu Jianbo moved towards her, breaking the silence.
“If you’re not in a hurry to go back, I’d like to treat you to a cup of coffee.”
Jiang Yueru was surprised by how well he spoke Mandarin now, but she simply walked past him without responding.
“Yueru.”
She didn’t look back.
Instead, she called her son, feeling a stHenge sense of tranquility wash over her. She asked him if there was anything she, as his mother, needed to do before he got his marriage certificate.
“Aren’t you going to propose?” he asked.
“Is the ring ready?”
“What do your Uncle Xu and Aunt Xu think?”
She fired off several questions.
Jiang Sixun replied: “Proposing? The ring is still being designed.”
As for the last question, he responded, “I haven’t finished my evaluation yet.”
Jiang Yueru reassured him: “You should have no problem passing. Thank goodness I sent you to Shanghai; your Uncle Xu understands your character. Otherwise, with your inherited traits from Lu Jianbo, he wouldn’t easily allow Zhiyi to marry you.”
Jiang Sixun retorted, “Isn’t it said that sons take after their mothers?”
“Don’t try to charm me.”
Her rebellious son was finally ready to start his own family, marrying someone he loved. In decades, Jiang Yueru had never felt such relief.
“I just ran into Lu Jianbo,” she said.
Jiang Sixun’s first reaction was immediate: “Did he come looking for you?”
“No, we bumped into each other on the street,” Jiang Yueru replied, having reached her car. “Focus on your work. Resolve things in Hong Kong quickly.”
Jiang Sixun agreed with a “Mm” and added, “On election day, I’ll have Shen Qingfeng delivered.”
Jiang Yueru tugged at the car door handle, struggling to open it. “What did you say?”
His response was far more impactful than her earlier encounter with Lu Jianbo.
“Do you have evidence?” she asked, standing in front of the car door, hesitating to get in.
Jiang Sixun replied, “There’s no evidence of swapping kids, but there’s other evidence. It’ll be enough.”
Jiang Yueru understood Lu Jianliang well enough: “Lu Jianliang won’t let you succeed; he’ll bail you out. Even though your grandfather loves you, he’ll prioritize the Lu family’s reputation. Shen Qingfeng is still part of the Lu family, and your grandfather won’t stand by while you do this. Even if your uncle can’t get him out, your grandfather will intervene. Who can’t your grandfather get bailed out?”
Jiang Sixun countered, “Then let Grandpa choose between Shen Qingfeng and me and my dad.” As for Lu Jianliang, he continued, “If he can’t bail him out, I have a meeting with Xu Heng this afternoon to confirm things.”
Later that afternoon, he landed in Hong Kong.
By three o’clock, he and Xu Heng were driving to the law firm.
Lawyer Wang was one of his father’s private lawyers and the most trusted person next to Secretary Cai.
Wang’s office was nothing like their well-organized and spacious workspace; it was cluttered with files, and the walls were lined with overflowing cabinets.
“Chairman Lu has already briefed me on everything I need to know,” he said, handing Jiang Sixun two file folders.
The folders contained separate pieces of evidence, one from Li Ke and the other from Xu Heng.
Xu Heng hadn’t even sipped his tea before getting straight to the point: “Are you sure Lu Jianliang can’t be bailed out?”
Lawyer Wang said, “That’s right. Lu Jianliang can’t compete with Chairman Lu and Chairman Xu. But if Old Man Lu gets involved, that’s another story. With his prestige and social influence, bailing someone out is still within his reach.”
Old Man Lu had been a powerful figure in Hong Kong since the ‘50s and ‘60s; everyone had to give him face. When Xu Xiangyi stood before Old Man Lu, she was the younger generation and had to show him respect.
Jiang Sixun carefully reviewed the evidence provided by Li Ke before saying to Xu Heng, “The day I go to the meeting, you’ll meet with Shen Qingfeng.”
After spending the evening at the law firm, Jiang Sixun headed straight for the airport.
A few hours later, the plane took off, bound for New York.
This trip to New York left him no time to see his parents; he was set to meet Li Ke instead.
Having examined the evidence Li Ke provided, he remained wary. She likely had more important evidence that could keep Shen Qingfeng locked up for a few more years.
Touching down in New York in the early morning, Jiang Sixun headed directly to the KEVE headquarters to wait for her.
Li Ke dropped her kids off at school before heading to the office. Her secretary informed her that Jiang Sixun was waiting for her.
Seeing the man in the meeting area, she steeled herself for the encounter.
Jiang Sixun gestured for her to sit down.
He offered her a cup of tea.
This was her territory, yet he was taking charge. The pressure on Li Ke intensified, and with the situation at hand, there was no point in playing coy anymore.
She cut straight to the chase. “I’ll give you the evidence, but what can you offer me in return?”
Now, she had lost her home. She would never return to Hong Kong. Her mother had called her an ingrate for prioritizing her own interests over Shen Qingfeng, causing her elder brother’s family to be imprisoned, with no clue how many years they would face.
Was she truly an ingrate?
When their family business faced bankruptcy, she had poured everything into saving it, yet in the end, she received nothing in return.
For all these years, Shen Qingfeng had had her under his thumb because he could trust her to manage KEVE. It was all because of her brother’s family.
Her brother’s family, blinded by greed, had committed crimes, and the evidence lay firmly in Shen Qingfeng’s hands.
He knew how much she cared for her family and used that to threaten her.
So when Shen Qingfeng learned that KEVE Technology had been transferred to Xu Zhiyi, he had called her, furious: “Li Ke, how dare you!”
Yes, how dare she.
How could she disregard her brother’s family’s happiness and the consequences of angering Shen Qingfeng?
For all these years, she had cared for her family, but her family had not cared for her. They were free while she suffered daily, treading on thin ice. No one pitied her; she had two underage children, and for their future, she could no longer afford to be reckless.
Shen Qingfeng had no children, so he would never understand the choices and sacrifices a mother would make for her kids.
Jiang Sixun asked, “What do you want?”
Li Ke snapped out of her thoughts. “If I have a third child, it would be KEVE. I’ve invested more into KEVE than into my own two children. You may not believe it.”
Jiang Sixun replied, “I believe you.”
He continued, “Yuanwei holds shares in KEVE and will transfer 4% to you. The secretary will arHenge for you to sign the transfer agreement this afternoon.”
Li Ke was taken aback; she hadn’t expected Jiang Sixun to be so agreeable. A whirlwind of thoughts rushed through her mind.
“My brother’s family got into trouble because of a trap set by Shen Qingfeng; he’s complicit.”
She had stored the evidence in a bank vault. “I’ve scheduled an appointment to retrieve it for you.”
The next day, Xu Zhiyi woke up to a notification about the transfer of shares within KEVE. Yuanwei had transferred 4% to Li Ke.
She called Jiang Sixun. “Are you still in Manhattan?”
Jiang Sixun replied, “I’m already on the plane.” All the necessary signatures and authorizations were in order; he needed to return to Hong Kong for urgent matters.
Xu Zhiyi said, “That 4% stake doesn’t come cheap.”
“It’s not a cost. Li Ke has always devoted herself to KEVE; the value she’s brought to the company is worth much more than that.” He added, “I’m also transferring my shares in Yuanwei Capital to you. In a few days, I’ll need you to come in person to handle the paperwork.”
“Is this your wedding gift to me?” Xu Zhiyi teased.
Jiang Sixun replied, “Not exactly. If it were, I’d need Uncle Xu’s approval.”
Xu Zhiyi smiled and then asked if everything was going smoothly on his end.
Jiang Sixun simply said, “There won’t be any problems.”
After returning to Hong Kong, he visited several family elders and veteran board members of the group.
The day before the board meeting, he made a trip back to the family home on Shenshuiwan Road.
Before entering his grandfather’s study, Uncle Zhuang repeatedly cautioned him to speak kindly, to avoid hurting feelings, and not to anger his grandfather.
“Your grandfather has a scale in his heart regarding you.”
Jiang Sixun replied, “His scale is faulty. It’s not accurate.”
“You… this child.” Uncle Zhuang could only shake his head in exasperation.
Old Man Lu had no intention of attending the board meeting; he entrusted a lawyer to vote on his behalf. He sensed that there would be a bloody storm between the eldest and fourth families tomorrow, a struggle where both sides would suffer.
Going would only add to his own troubles.
Upon entering the study, Jiang Sixun’s first words were, “Grandpa, it would be best if you personally attended tomorrow. Otherwise, you might rush over midway, and if you get caught in traffic, the meeting would have to pause.”
Old Man Lu merely grunted in response.
The silence that followed was deafening in the study.
Jiang Sixun finished the tea that Uncle Zhuang had poured for him, leaving nothing behind. He set the cup down and stated, “Tomorrow, it’s inevitable that Uncle’s family will fall apart.”
“Absolute nonsense!”
Jiang Sixun replied, “You should be directing that at Uncle.”
Old Man Lu, infuriated, leaned back in his swivel chair, shutting his eyes to take a moment of rest. A thin wool blanket he used to ward off the chill slipped to the floor.
Jiang Sixun picked it up and draped it back over his grandfather. “Get some rest.”
After leaving the study, he made his way to the left courtyard.
During the last family dinner, Xu Zhiyi had spent a long time here.
Uncle Zhuang saw him settle into a chair. “It’s windy; you should head back soon.”
“It’s fine,” Jiang Sixun assured him.
His memories of this courtyard dated back to when he was four. His parents had already divorced, and at that time, his grandfather was in his sixties but appeared to be in his forties, full of life.
Now, however, his grandfather often leaned back in his chair and fell asleep.
Uncle Zhuang brought over a plate of pastries. “You haven’t eaten dinner yet, have you?”
Jiang Sixun glanced at the plate, noting that it held pastries Xu Zhiyi loved. “Thank you, Uncle Zhuang.”
Uncle Zhuang sighed silently, hesitating to say more.
The next morning, before six-thirty, Lu Jianliang left for the office.
With the meeting starting at nine, he arrived over two hours early.
After her husband left, Shen Qingfeng couldn’t fall back asleep, so she decided to get up. To her surprise, she received a call from Xu Heng.
He provided an address: “I’m in a good mood today; let’s have tea.”
Shen Qingfeng laughed. “Do you really think Jiang Sixun can play a significant role here?”
“I don’t know if he can, but I do know that in a couple of hours, your good days will be over,” Xu Heng replied, glancing at his watch. “If you’re not here by eight, I’ll be moving on without you.”
Shen Qingfeng looked at the call that had been disconnected, a cold smile spreading across her face.
The address Xu Heng had given her was a hotel under Lu Jianbo’s name, with the specific tea spot located on the forty-ninth floor’s executive lounge, overlooking Victoria Harbour.
They also served breakfast there, a place she hadn’t visited in years.
Seeing a younger generation like Xu Heng, she knew she couldn’t afford to lose face.
Shen Qingfeng donned a dark suit and shirt, yet felt something was missing. She returned to the closet to retrieve a silk scarf.
This scarf had been with her for over thirty years and still hadn’t gone out of style.
At eight ten, Shen Qingfeng arrived on the forty-ninth floor.
The best viewing spots were nearly filled, but Xu Heng had reserved a table in the prime location for them.
“Just you? Where are your sister and parents?”
Shen Qingfeng sat down across from Xu Heng, relaxed and composed.
Xu Heng leisurely sipped his coffee, his gaze sharp. “What would be the point of bringing so many people? I can handle you myself. On the day of your trial, our whole family will be there.”
Shen Qingfeng laughed, undaunted.
As Xu Heng opened his mouth to speak, a message came in on his phone.
Jiang Sixun: [Has Shen Qingfeng arrived?]
Xu Heng: [She’s here. Whether she comes or not doesn’t matter; I’ll just go to her house and bring her in.] He had already set people to watch her—she couldn’t escape.
He then asked, [What about your side? Are all the meeting attendees there?]
Jiang Sixun: [We’re still waiting for Yu Rui and my grandfather. I’ll get a call from Shen Qingfeng after they take her away.]
Xu Heng: [Got it.]
He put his phone away on the table.
Shen Qingfeng looked at him. “If you have something to say, say it. I’m all ears.”
Xu Heng replied, “There’s nothing I need to say to you.” He pointed his chin toward the floor-to-ceiling windows. “Just take a look; if you don’t, you’ll never see it again in your life.”
Shen Qingfeng found it amusing. “Are you waiting for Lu Jianliang to use me as a bargaining chip to send me away? That might have worked before, but not anymore. His eldest son, Lu Kaichi, has major issues with him, and the son he just acknowledged feels little attachment. Who does he think he can rely on?”
Indeed, Lu Jianliang wouldn’t do that.
He still needed Shen Qingfeng to work for him.
Xu Heng said, “I won’t need any bargaining chips to send you in. Letting you enjoy six more years of freedom was because you still had value to my sister. Now that you don’t, do you really think they’ll keep you around?”
Shen Qingfeng signaled to a waiter to bring her a cup of coffee, elegantly savoring it, ignoring Xu Heng’s words as she continued, “Your parents have had a tough few years, haven’t they? It’s understandable—how could it be easy when the child they raised isn’t theirs? For twenty years, they poured their hearts into you, treating you like a precious gem, only to see their own daughter suffer in someone else’s home.”
She smiled faintly. “If it were me, I’d regret it deeply.”
Xu Heng tightened his grip on the cup and took a sip.
“Oh, by the way. That Tianyun project? Your sister wants to get involved, but unfortunately, it all depends on whether Shang Ningwei is willing.”
Shen Qingfeng chuckled. “Since you have nothing better to do, why not take a gamble? Let’s see what the voting results are later. Will your future brother-in-law become the one calling the shots in the Lu family?”
Xu Heng set his cup down. “I told you, whether he can or not doesn’t affect my plans to send you in today. If he can’t, then the most I’ll lose is some family interests, and I can accept that.”
He picked up a file from the empty chair next to him and tossed it onto the table in front of her. “Li Ke’s family—you really think you can sit this one out?”
With a thud, Shen Qingfeng felt her heart race.
Her expression showed a flicker of panic, but she quickly regained her composure, barely glancing at the file. “Such underhanded schemes to frame someone, I won’t even bother arguing; my lawyer is right there.”
As she spoke, she pointed toward the far east side of the executive lounge. “He’s having breakfast; if you want to chat, go talk to him.”
She had come prepared this time; having been burned by KEVE, she wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.
Xu Heng said, “I told you, I have nothing to discuss with you. Just understand what you’ve done before you go in, so you can explain yourself properly and try to get a lighter sentence.”
Shen Qingfeng chuckled. “This is Hong Kong. With just this little evidence, what makes you think I’ll be going in? Lu Jianliang will bail me out—there’s no need to spend his money. I could have asked for no less than nine figures in pocket money back then, and he probably thought I was going shopping for clothes and jewelry.”
Xu Heng smiled back. “The case involving Li Ke is just one of many. If I get you in, do you really think I’ll let you come back out?”
Shen Qingfeng maintained her composed facade. “Then I’ll just—”
But Xu Heng interrupted her, gesturing for her to look behind. “Your ride is here.”
Startled, Shen Qingfeng turned around to see two uniformed officers approaching her. Even though she had imagined this moment, the reality sent a wave of panic through her.
The officers spoke politely, asking her to come with them.
Everyone in the executive lounge turned to look, many reaching for their phones to snap pictures.
Xu Heng lounged casually in his chair, saying, “This place for tea today? Uncle Lu helped me pick it.”
“Xu Heng!” Shen Qingfeng’s eyes burned with fury; she felt as if she could tear him apart.
This was the first place she had ever dined with Lu Jianbo.
She picked up her bag, her tone taunting. “You think you can bring me down with your petty evidence? What about your parents’ regret? They’re probably going to regret it for the rest of their lives.”
Before she was led away, Xu Heng added, “If Second Uncle sees you go in, do you think he won’t rush to distance himself from you? What if he still has evidence he hasn’t destroyed?”
Shen Qingfeng’s pupils dilated, and at that moment, her lawyer hurried over, abandoning his breakfast, signaling for her to remain silent.
“I’ll call Lu Jianliang. He knows my account for pocket money,” she said.
The lawyer nodded, “I’ll call him right away.”
As she was taken away, the executive lounge fell silent.
Xu Heng called Jiang Sixun: “She’s been taken.”
Jiang Sixun replied, “Got it.”
He didn’t hang up but placed the phone on the table.
Just then, Yu Rui arrived, gently closing the conference room door and scanning the table. To his surprise, he was the last to arrive. He found an empty seat. “Sorry for being late.”
Today, she was representing her father to vote.
Lu Jianliang said, “You’re not late; it’s not yet nine.”
Second Uncle Lu straightened up. “Everyone’s here; we can start now. No need to wait until nine.”
Jiang Sixun countered, “Grandfather isn’t here yet.”
As his words echoed, everyone in the room turned to look at him.
Yu Rui met Jiang Sixun’s gaze for just a moment before averting his eyes; he didn’t even want to see her now.
Second Uncle Lu said, “Your grandfather didn’t say he was coming.”
Jiang Sixun replied, “No rush; let’s wait a bit. If he doesn’t show, how can we discuss how shattered Uncle’s family has become?”
Lu Jianliang couldn’t contain himself any longer. “Jiang Sixun, stop being reckless!”
“Reckless? You’re putting up with it,” Jiang Sixun shot back directly. “Shen Qingfeng has been taken away; her lawyer will call you soon.”
Lu Jianliang’s lips moved slightly, and seconds later, he turned to Lu Jianbo, gritting his teeth. “Look at the good things your son has done!”
Jiang Sixun interjected, “She’s the one who didn’t handle things well.”
Aside from Lu Jianliang’s furious outburst, the rest of the room fell into silence, especially Second Uncle Lu.
Thirty minutes before the election, Shen Qingfeng had been taken away, and Jiang Sixun clearly intended to make things difficult for everyone.
Sure enough, less than half a minute later, Shen Qingfeng’s lawyer’s call came in.
Lu Jianliang didn’t listen to the entire conversation; he hung up angrily, slamming his phone on the table.
Yu Rui noticed Jiang Sixun’s recklessness, realizing he wasn’t giving his family any leeway.
As today’s candidate, Jiang Sixun said a bit more than necessary. “If I’m elected, I won’t have much time to stay in Hong Kong, so I’ll need to trouble Third Uncle. Please think carefully when you vote.”
While he said to consider carefully, it was actually a signal that the Lu family would be taken over by Third Uncle.
After speaking, he subtly glanced at his cousin, Lu Kaichi.
Internally, Lu Kaichi was at war with himself. If he continued to support his father and his father lost, his future in the company would be bleak.
If Third Uncle took over, his relationship with him was decent. Supporting Third Uncle now would ensure that even if Jiang Sixun was elected, it wouldn’t affect his position in the company.
After struggling with the decision, he turned to Third Uncle Lu. “Third Uncle, I’ll vote for you.”
Voting for Third Uncle was essentially a vote for Jiang Sixun since Third Uncle wasn’t a candidate.
Yu Rui froze; didn’t that mean her vote would hold no value? It was precisely because Lu Kaichi had entered the board that Jiang Sixun’s candidacy had become uncertain. Now, with Lu Kaichi betraying his father and voting for Jiang Sixun, his election seemed all but guaranteed.
Lu Jianliang was reeling from two shocks; he grabbed his phone and prepared to smash it on the table, only for his quick-thinking secretary to snatch it away. “Director Lu, please calm down.”
If he smashed it, he’d surely end up with a bruised face.
Lu Jianliang sneered. “Lu Kaichi, you traitor! Do you even know that your shares were earned by me fighting for them for you? Do you even see me as your father?”
Lu Kaichi shot back, “Did you think about me when you acknowledged that illegitimate child? You can claim those shares all you want, but even if you didn’t fight for me, Grandpa would still give them to me. Don’t flatter yourself!”
Before the voting even began, the family was already in chaos.
Second Uncle Lu spoke up: “Voting must go on; the process needs to be followed. Let’s begin—I vote for Sixun.” He dared not refuse this nephew; any hesitation would lead to a fallout with the Fourth Brother.
The other veteran board members had witnessed enough of the Lu family’s dirty laundry over the years. Even if news broke one day about Shen Qingfeng and the Second Brother, they wouldn’t be surprised. So, as the eldest and his son bickered, they calmly cast their votes.
They had no objections to Jiang Sixun’s election; they would gladly welcome Third Brother taking over the group, as the eldest and the second were both too self-serving, their minds not focused on the greater good of the company.
With Lu Kaichi’s last-minute defection, when it came time for Yu Rui to vote, Jiang Sixun had already gathered enough votes for victory, and she chose to abstain.
Once the election was confirmed, Jiang Sixun promptly ended her call with Xu Heng. She texted Xu Zhi Yi: “Everything went smoothly. I might need to stay in Hong Kong a few more days; there’s a lot to handle.”
Xu Zhi Yi replied: “Come back for a celebration.”
Even with Jiang Sixun’s success, Lu Jianliang wasn’t going to make it easy for her. Just as he was about to call his father, the door to the conference room swung open, and everyone turned to see.
Old Man Lu had sent a lawyer to cast his vote, but he still came in person.
Lu Jianliang’s face was a mask of indifference. “Dad, you’re just in time. Your precious grandson, Jiang Sixun, has gone so far as to send his aunt into custody just to fight over the family fortune. You should bail her out.”
Before Old Man Lu could respond, Lu Jianbo calmly interjected, “Dad, let me be clear: if you choose to bail her out, just know I won’t step foot in the Lu family home again. You can’t have both face and substance; it doesn’t work that way.”
Old Man Lu settled himself firmly into a chair; he had come for this very reason. When his eldest son married Shen Qingfeng and the mix-up with Xu Xiangyi’s daughter was not an accident, he had anticipated this day.
What he hadn’t expected was that his grandson would be so deeply involved in this mess, spending six years plotting to gain control of the group.
He looked at his eldest son. “You will publicly announce that you divorced Shen Qingfeng a week ago.”
Lu Jianliang let out a scoff; he had guessed his father would make such a move to preserve the family’s dignity.
But he refused to let Jiang Sixun have it her way. “I have no intention of divorcing her. She fell into trouble, and I won’t kick her while she’s down. Dad, if Mom were still alive, would you treat her like this, or would she treat you like that?”
Old Man Lu replied, “If you don’t divorce her, I’ll think more highly of you. At least it shows you have some loyalty.”
After a pause, he added, “Then let’s not divorce.”
Jiang Sixun spoke up, “Grandfather, whether to bail her out or not, please make your stance clear.”
Old Man Lu’s expression was calm, but his eyes held a depth that no one could decipher. Just moments ago, when his eldest mentioned their deceased mother, no one could know what thoughts occupied his mind at that moment.
“If a crime has been committed, punishment must follow. At my age, I should at least help my family accumulate some virtue. If someone goes to bail her out, my assets are not up for grabs.”
Lu Jianliang’s face stiffened. When his father said there would be no divorce, he had thought he might be willing to bail her out. “Dad!”
Old Man Lu waved his hand, signaling for his eldest to stop. “If you don’t want a divorce, I won’t force you.” As a father himself, he understood Xu Xiangyi’s resentment.
He turned to his third son. “Third Brother, you’ll have to work hard from now on.”
Third Uncle replied, “It’s my duty.”
Old Man Lu declared, “Let’s disperse.”
He had come here today because despite Jiang Sixun’s shortcomings, she still managed to consider the greater good and entrusted the management of the group to his Third Brother.
Old Man Lu led the way out of the conference room, and soon others followed suit.
Jiang Sixun closed her notebook, leaning back in her chair, taking several sips from her cup, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. The only regret was not finding evidence about Shen Qingfeng’s child swap.
“Sixun, I have good news for you.”
Jiang Sixun turned to see Second Uncle approaching; he still had his phone to his ear.
Second Uncle said, “The hospital just called. They found the file from when Zhi Yi was born—it got mixed up in another department. I knew that many files couldn’t just go missing. I’ll have someone send it over to Xu Heng right away.”
Jiang Sixun smiled subtly. “Thank you, Second Uncle. I really appreciate your help over the years.”
Second Uncle laughed awkwardly. “We’re family; no need for formalities.”
Before today, he had been reluctant to stir up trouble, adamantly claiming there was no evidence, not wanting to offend the eldest brother. After all, the eldest was cunning; he would rather cross swords with the honorable Fourth Brother than deal with the treachery of the eldest.
But now that Shen Qingfeng had been taken away, she might not withstand the interrogation and would end up confessing.
With Old Man Lu refusing to allow bail, Shen Qingfeng couldn’t come back. So, he decided to help Jiang Sixun by providing the little evidence he had.
Lu Jianbo lingered, looking at his second brother. “Got a moment? Let me treat you to lunch.”
Second Uncle was wary of his fourth brother. “No need; I have other matters to attend to.”
He made an excuse to leave, leaving only Jiang Sixun and Lu Jianbo behind in the conference room.
As the eldest father and son left, they shot each other glares like sworn enemies. Lu Jianbo thought of his rebellious son; he wouldn’t stoop so low as to stab him in the back for personal gain, and that thought brought him a sense of comfort.
Jiang Sixun said, “You’re not to meet with my mother anymore. If you see her, keep your distance.”
“…”
Lu Jianbo stood up and left.
Half an hour later, Jiang Sixun had a senior management meeting to attend, so she stayed in the conference room. Her secretary brought her the meeting materials in advance, and as she was flipping through them, she received a call from Xu Heng.
“Thanks.”
This was the first time Xu Heng had genuinely expressed gratitude. He had received the file from Second Uncle Lu, which contained not only information about the newborn but also some related evidence. However, the footprint from when his sister was born was missing.
No matter what, the evidence could prolong Shen Qingfeng’s time behind bars, finally easing their parents’ hatred.
Jiang Sixun said, “You keep the original; send a copy to Lawyer Wang.”
Just as he hung up the phone, there was a soft knock on the conference room door.
With the door ajar, he looked up to see who it was.
Yu Rui had returned, holding a document folder.
The secretary glanced at Jiang Sixun, silently asking whether she should step out.
Jiang Sixun replied, “You can keep working.”
The secretary nodded and resumed organizing her files on the computer.
Yu Rui understood the unspoken agreement; she had asked the secretary to stay as a precaution.
Aware of the situation, she chose a chair about two or three meters away from him. “Aren’t you going to ask why I came back up to find you?”
Jiang Sixun responded, “If you have evidence about the swapped children, Second Uncle has already given it to Xu Heng. Thank you.”
She had already driven halfway home before turning back, knowing she wouldn’t be able to live with herself if she didn’t deliver the information. Yu Rui placed the document folder on the table and gave it a firm push in his direction. The folder slid to a spot within easy reach.
“It’s not evidence. I don’t have any evidence. It’s just something that Xu Xiangyi might care about. Before Second Uncle handled the files, a doctor who had a good relationship with my family took this out. He didn’t dare touch the other evidence or documents. He’s just a doctor with no connections, with a family to support. He didn’t want to offend your uncle or Second Uncle, and I hope you can understand that.”
In truth, she had come today intending to cast her vote for him.
But whether or not she told him was now meaningless.
After a two-second silence, she stood to leave. “I’ll let you get back to work.”
Jiang Sixun took the document folder, still unaware of its contents, and called after her retreating figure, “Thank you.”
He opened the folder to find a newborn record from the hospital, complete with a tiny footprint.