“The guest room—”

Before Bai Wanjun could even start making excuses, Old Master Shi exploded in fury. He grabbed an antique vase from the hallway and hurled it toward the nearby group without hesitation.

Pointing at the couple, he roared, “Are you two completely brainless? You neglect your own daughter while bending over backwards for an adopted one. She comes back to her own home, and you make her stay in the guest room—”

The group barely dodged the flying vase, inwardly cursing their luck as they opened their mouths to explain.

But they didn’t get far before Old Master Shi suddenly staggered, looking like he might faint.

Shi Han, who was standing closest to him, turned pale.

She knew his health had been declining, but she never imagined he could be this angry—enough to collapse.

The family doctor rushed over for emergency treatment and quickly stabilized him. An ambulance arrived moments later.

As they carried Old Master Shi onto the stretcher, his eyes still glared daggers at Bai Wanjun and Shi Zheng. Yet his hand clung tightly to Shi Han’s, refusing to let go.

At the hospital, as they wheeled the stretcher down a corridor, Shi Han suddenly caught a glimpse of a familiar figure.

Lu Yan?

She paused for a beat—but her thoughts were immediately pulled back by the soft groans of Old Master Shi.

…

Fortunately, his condition wasn’t serious. Within ten minutes, he was transferred to a hospital room.

“Grandpa, have some water,” Shi Han said gently, handing him a glass.

“Good girl.” Old Master Shi accepted the cup with a smile, but not before shooting a fierce glare at the other three members of the Shi family.

Without Shi Han saying a word, he had already pieced together a lot.

For one, Bai Wanjun and Shi Zheng clearly hadn’t treated Shi Han well.

For another, Shi Han had likely returned home days ago.

And most of all—she’d come today to cut ties with the Shi family.

He took a sip of water, his heart heavy, then reached out to hold his granddaughter’s hand warmly. “I haven’t been the grandfather I should’ve been these past few years.”

“You’ve done just fine,” Shi Han replied, not pulling her hand away.

In Old Master Shi, she could finally feel the care of real family. Her resistance toward him was fading fast.

“Don’t be afraid,” he said softly. “No matter what happens, Grandpa will always be on your side. You’re not leaving—you’ll stay right here in the Shi family. All of this was yours to begin with. What, are we supposed to just let outsiders take it from you?”

Not far away, the color instantly drained from Shi Yin’s face.

“…”

Shi Han didn’t even know where to begin.

To be honest, she didn’t care about the Shi family’s wealth at all.

All these assets? If she wanted to, she could earn more than that with ease.

It was the people in the Shi family that were the real headache.

When she didn’t respond, Old Master Shi grew anxious.

“You’re leaving the Shi family? You’d abandon your own grandfather too? Don’t be afraid—every share I have will be yours one day.”

“Dad—!” Shi Zheng’s expression changed drastically.

Old Master Shi held 30% of the company’s shares—enough to control most major decisions.

He never imagined the old man had gone this soft in his old age.

Giving all those shares to Shi Han? Was he out of his mind?

Shi Han was rebellious, difficult, completely useless—she hadn’t even gotten into college.

Didn’t he realize he was about to hand over the family’s entire legacy to someone who could destroy it?

Old Master Shi rolled his eyes. “What are you yelling for? It’s my stuff—I’ll give it to whoever I damn well please!”

Shi Zheng nearly lost it. “Dad, you don’t get it. Hanhan didn’t even get into a university! How could she possibly run a company?”

“So what if she didn’t? I didn’t go to college either!”

If there had been a shoe nearby, he would’ve flung it straight at Shi Zheng’s face.

“You’re not leaving. You hear me?” Old Master Shi added with a slight edge.

Shi Han was torn between exasperation and something warmer—gratitude.

She knew what she was capable of.

Other people just hadn’t figured it out yet.

Thanks to the way her so-called “family” talked about her, Shi Han’s reputation as a useless good-for-nothing had already spread all over the capital.

Looking at Old Master Shi’s pitiful expression, she finally relented, taking a small step back.

“…Fine. I won’t leave—for now.”

“You’re not allowed to leave ever again!”

“…”

This time, no matter how much Old Master Shi tried to guilt-trip or sweet-talk her, Shi Han refused to give a definite answer.

Helpless, he had no choice but to let her go for now.

He needed to have a serious talk with the rest of the family.

…

Outside the hospital room, Shi Han headed toward the direction where she’d seen that familiar silhouette earlier.

Left, right, around corners—but no matter how many turns she took, she couldn’t find him.

After a few rounds, even she started to feel a little ridiculous.

It wasn’t like there was anything urgent…

Why was she so eager to find Lu Yan?

Was it possible that she was… starting to fall for him?

No way. No way.

Shi Han shook her head hard, as if to physically drive the thought out.

To prove to herself she didn’t care, she gave up the search, turned around, and decided to head outside to buy breakfast.

But as fate would have it, she bumped into Lu Yan in the hospital lobby.

He still wore that same cold, distant expression. The tousled hair falling over his forehead gave his striking features a weary edge.

He was holding a small bag of food—porridge and a few buns. His long legs carried him forward in quick strides, the bag swinging lightly with each step.

Despite the tired and disheveled look, he still managed to draw the eyes of several young women nearby.

=^_^=