Chapter Ninety-Four: Humble and Submissive

Jiang Yunzhu responded with a soft hum. After finishing her meal, she went to the hospital to visit Old Madam Shen.

The old lady was overjoyed to see Jiang Yunzhu arrive.

“Grandmother, how are you feeling today?”

The old lady nodded, “Not bad. You’re off work—why didn’t you come back with that old rascal?”

Jiang Yunzhu’s eyes flickered; Shen Ruizhang was likely still busy with Zhou Qingfei and couldn't spare a moment.

“Uncle is probably not done yet. When I called, he didn’t even have time to answer.”

The old lady was surprised. “Really?”

“Yes, but don’t worry. No matter how busy he is tomorrow, I’ll make sure he comes to see you! All right?”

The old lady laughed cheerfully. “Good, good! But you two need to hurry up as well.”

Jiang Yunzhu widened her eyes in surprise. “Grandmother, it’s too early for that!”

They had only just gotten married, and she was already urging for a child.

“It’s not early. While you’re young, settle this sooner rather than later—it’ll be easier for you to recover.”

Jiang Yunzhu spent quite some time in the hospital room listening to the old lady’s urging.

“Mother.”

It was late in the evening when Shen Ruizhang finally arrived, carrying some things. Hearing his voice, both Jiang Yunzhu and the old lady turned to look at him.

Shen Ruizhang looked utterly exhausted. After Zhou Qingfei was arrested, he had hurriedly found her a lawyer. The lawyer’s suggestion was that as long as the plaintiff withdrew the lawsuit, Zhou Qingfei would be fine.

The old lady frowned. “You’re finally done? Decided to come see me at last?”

Shen Ruizhang managed a helpless smile. “Mom, things have been hectic lately. Once things calm down, I’ll come and keep you company every day.”

The old lady snorted. “I don’t need you around all the time—just don’t make me angry!”

“Mom, I wouldn’t dare upset you.”

As the mother and son exchanged words of affection, Jiang Yunzhu quietly slipped out. She found the old lady’s attending physician and asked for an update.

No sooner had she finished speaking with the doctor than Shen Ruizhang walked over to her.

“Yunzhou.”

“Uncle.”

His tone was gentle. “Thank you for taking care of my mother.”

“That’s my duty. After all, Grandma Shen raised me too. I’m not ungrateful.”

If she truly were ungrateful, she wouldn’t have yielded to his moral pressure.

Shen Ruizhang smiled slightly. “Yes.”

Jiang Yunzhu picked up her bag and started to leave, with Shen Ruizhang following behind. After a while, seeing his troubled expression, she couldn’t help but let out a mocking smile.

“You look like you have something to say.”

Shen Ruizhang pressed his lips together and sighed. “Yunzhou, could you do me a favor?”

Jiang Yunzhu’s laugh was cold. “A favor? Do you think that’s possible? Uncle, you’ve already asked me for one favor, and now you want another. Do you think I’m someone who grants every wish?”

He looked somewhat awkward. “Yunzhou, I know Zhou Qingfei wronged you and hurt you, but she’s pregnant now. The child is innocent. Besides, you weren’t seriously harmed. Could you withdraw the lawsuit?”

Jiang Yunzhu replied calmly, “The evidence I submitted is more than enough to send Zhou Qingfei to jail. Uncle, you’re the one who produced her pregnancy report, aren’t you?”

Shen Ruizhang’s mouth twitched stiffly. “I can’t just stand by and watch an innocent child be born in prison. Adults should bear the consequences of their actions, not children.”

Jiang Yunzhu let out a cold laugh. “You pity that innocent fetus, but what about me, Uncle? When I nearly died, you didn’t feel sorry at all. Perhaps you even wished I’d die sooner.”

“Yunzhou!” Shen Ruizhang’s tone grew heavier. “No matter the misunderstandings or the harsh words I may have spoken, I have never wished you dead. You may believe I dislike you, but I would never wish you harm. How could you think that of me?”

“How else should I think? Zhou Qingfei set me up to die—if I weren’t lucky, would I still be alive now? She’s an adult. Adults must bear the consequences of their actions!”

Jiang Yunzhu was unmoved. Shen Ruizhang clenched his teeth. “Yunzhou, I beg you. I’ve rarely asked anyone for anything, but this time, for my sake, please withdraw the lawsuit. After she gives birth, you can settle accounts as you see fit. I’m not siding with her, I just think the child is too innocent.”

Jiang Yunzhu had rarely seen Shen Ruizhang so humble, especially for that woman. She pressed her lips together, her hands clenched into fists at her sides.

“If you withdraw the lawsuit, I’ll do whatever you say for the rest of my life. I’ll always treat you well!”

Jiang Yunzhu’s face grew even darker at those words.

“Treat me well? So if I don’t withdraw the lawsuit, you’ll hate me instead?”

Before Shen Ruizhang could explain, Jiang Yunzhu cut him off. “If that’s what it takes for you to hate me, then so be it. I will never agree to withdraw the lawsuit!”

With that, Jiang Yunzhu left Shen Ruizhang behind.

“Yunzhou!”

On the other side, Shen Tingxiao glanced at the information his assistant handed him, a sneer curling his lips.

“Shen Ruizhang, Shen Ruizhang… How does he keep getting himself into these messes?”

“What do you plan to do, Master Shen?” Ge Xingjing asked from the side. He’d been shocked when he uncovered the affair between Zhou Qingfei and Shen Ruizhang.

Shen Ruizhang was truly witless, still trying to protect that woman at a time like this.

Shen Tingxiao’s lips curled into a smirk. “Since she’s willing to do such things, she shouldn’t mind if everyone finds out.”

Ge Xingjing was surprised; it seemed Master Shen had no intention of sparing Miss Zhou. Rightly so—after all, what Zhou Qingfei had done was unconscionable. Even if she were released, she’d never again stand proud in the public eye.

“I’ll see to it right away.”

After Ge Xingjing left, Shen Tingxiao leaned back in his chair. Gazing at the photos on the documents, his lips curved in satisfaction.

That night, an anonymous blogger broke the news online that Zhou Qingfei had hired a hitman and was using her pregnancy to force a marriage.

Netizens reading the gossip were left stunned.

“Damn, is this entertainment news for real? They even dropped the names—no pretenses at all?”

“It really seems true. But what was Zhou Qingfei after? She’s not short of money in the entertainment world, so why do something so stupid?”

“No matter how much a celebrity earns, it can’t compare to marrying into a wealthy family. She must’ve been impatient to climb the ladder. Too bad she got exposed. I used to like her, you know.”