Chapter Ninety-Seven: The Accident

Jiang Yunzhu couldn’t calm herself at all. When she realized that Shen Tingxiao was behind all of this, the anger in her heart completely overflowed. Especially when she remembered Grandma Shen’s disappointed gaze—almost driven to death in the hospital by the shock.

“Just tell me directly. Was this your doing?”

Shen Tingxiao pressed his lips together, seeing the fury in Jiang Yunzhu’s eyes. He explained, “I was helping you. I know you weren’t satisfied with how that woman was dealt with, so I had those things posted online. Even if Zhou Qingfei gets out of prison, she’ll never rise again. Isn’t that good?”

He didn’t understand—he’d done this for Jiang Yunzhu. Shouldn’t she be happy?

“But you hurt Grandma! Do you realize she almost died because of you? Don’t you know how important she is to me?”

Shen Tingxiao gritted his teeth. “How was I supposed to know the old lady would be so affected? If anything, it’s her own fault for being so fragile!”

Jiang Yunzhu’s face turned pale at his words.

“How can you say such things? Grandma’s health is poor; she can’t take any shocks at all! Shen Tingxiao, I misjudged you.”

Her feelings grew more complicated, the pain almost unbearable. She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and turned away, leaving Shen Tingxiao’s office.

Shen Tingxiao was furious as well, kicking his chair over. Glancing out the window, he saw the wind suddenly pick up. He grabbed his suit jacket and hurried after her.

Jiang Yunzhu walked to the parking lot.

“Yunzhu! Wait! We haven’t resolved things between us.”

She let out a cold laugh. “What resolution? Do you want my grandma to die?”

Shen Tingxiao’s face darkened. He reached out to hold the car door, blocking her path.

“When did I ever want Lady Shen dead? I really didn’t know this would affect her.”

“How could you not know? Uncle is Grandma’s son. If something happened to him, how could she possibly remain unaffected?”

Shen Tingxiao bit back his anger at Jiang Yunzhu’s words. “You keep calling him ‘uncle’—have you forgotten what you told me, or are you just using me? Now you’ve married your uncle, gotten what you wanted. Are you upset because the man you love was taken away? After all he did to you, you still care about him? How shameless can you be?”

Jiang Yunzhu’s face drained of color, her pupils contracting sharply with anger. She lifted her hand and slapped him hard.

The sound stunned them both.

Her lips trembled; she pushed Shen Tingxiao aside.

She opened the car door.

Shen Tingxiao snapped out of it and quickly opened the back door, climbing in.

Jiang Yunzhu glared at him in the rearview mirror. “Get out!”

“If we get out, we get out together! Yunzhu, let’s just calm down and talk, okay?”

“What is there to talk about? Didn’t you just call me shameless? Well, you’re right—I am! I do care about my uncle!”

She gritted her teeth and pressed the accelerator.

Lightning split the oppressive black clouds, and rain began to pour.

“Yunzhu, I misspoke. Don’t be angry. I know you’ve long since stopped loving Shen Ruizhang.”

“How could that be? If I really didn’t, why would I agree to marry him? You’re only now seeing my true face? Too late! I played you like a fool—a fool spinning in circles for me.”

Shen Tingxiao’s face darkened with fury. He suppressed his anger and spoke softly, “Yunzhu, stop saying things just to provoke me. I don’t want our relationship ruined by others.”

“What relationship? There’s nothing between us except mutual use!”

“Jiang Yunzhu!”

Shen Tingxiao truly lost his temper.

Suddenly, thunder crashed, and a tree by the roadside was struck by lightning.

The tree fell, blocking Jiang Yunzhu’s path.

Shen Tingxiao shouted in terror, “Hit the brakes!”

She stomped down, but instead of slowing, the car sped up, charging toward the fallen tree.

Shen Tingxiao leaned forward from the back seat, grabbed the steering wheel, and at the last second spun it sharply, drifting to dodge the tree.

The car slammed into a wall and finally came to a forced stop.

Shen Tingxiao hurried out, quickly pulling Jiang Yunzhu from the driver’s seat, dragging her away.

His voice was tight, trembling with anxiety.

The car’s speed had been too fast, the impact too strong. When they hit the wall, Jiang Yunzhu’s head slammed against the steering wheel, leaving a red mark.

“Yunzhu, are you hurt? Let’s go to the hospital right now, okay?”

The pouring rain drenched them both.

Shen Tingxiao took off his jacket and draped it over Jiang Yunzhu’s head, holding her hand with his other.

Jiang Yunzhu hadn’t fully recovered from the shock of the crash.

After a long while, she finally looked at him.

“Shen Tingxiao, I, I...”

“It’s alright, it’s alright. Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

Seeing her unsettled, Shen Tingxiao pulled her into his arms, gently kissing her forehead.

Jiang Yunzhu clung to him, sobbing.

“I’m sorry. I almost got you killed!”

Shen Tingxiao quickly soothed her. “It’s not your fault. You didn’t harm me. I won’t let you say that! If anything happened to you, I wouldn’t survive either.”

Her chest felt hot; she slowly stepped out of his embrace, gazing silently at the concern on his face.

Shen Tingxiao lowered his head, carefully touching her soft lips. When she acquiesced, he kissed her.

The rain grew heavier, and Shen Tingxiao carried Jiang Yunzhu to a sheltered spot.

He spoke softly, “Don’t be angry with me anymore. I just wanted to stand up for you. I admit I was behind Zhou Qingfei’s situation, but the trouble at Shen Ruizhang’s company wasn’t my doing.”

He had only given a slight hint, but his people hadn’t been involved.

After the car accident, Jiang Yunzhu’s emotions had calmed. She had nearly brought both of them to the underworld.

“I understand,” she said, and then, remembering her earlier outburst, murmured, “I’m sorry.”

Shen Tingxiao knew the matter was settled, and breathed a sigh of relief, holding her close.

“It’s alright. I know you were upset by Grandma Shen’s situation, and I was wrong too. I shouldn’t have spread Zhou Qingfei’s scandal without your permission.”