Chapter 101: Shen Xun: I saw it

Shen Xun had just stepped into the study when his mother rushed in after him, hurrying ahead of him.

Mother Shen came to the desk, where two red notebooks lay neatly; she quickly stacked them together and slipped them into her sleeve.

"Mom, what are you hiding?"

Shen Xun came to her side, Mother Shen's soul almost jumped out of fright, and she stammered, "Nothing, nothing."

"I saw it." Shen Xun sized up his mother, recalling the flash of red he had just caught sight of.

Mother Shen was shocked: "You actually saw it!"

Shen Xun nodded and asked, "Why are you hiding it from me?"

Mother Shen nervously swallowed, thinking she was doomed; her husband had repeatedly warned her not to let their son know about their divorce at this critical juncture, for if it affected his work and future, her guilt would be great!

If she had known, she would have found a corner to hide in that day, out of sight, out of mind.

But who knew her son would suddenly go to the study!

Lately her son has been as busy as a spinning top, not to mention replying to their messages; he rarely even replies to Shutong's messages.

"Why did it take you so long to fetch our marriage certificate?" Father Shen walked in, calmly asking his wife, "Did you get it?"

Mother Shen immediately nodded: "I got it."

"Your marriage certificate?" Shen Xun asked back.

Mother Shen startled, her son had tricked her!

She hurried to her husband's side, took it out from her sleeve, and handed it to him.

Father Shen reached out to take it, then slipped it into his own clothing pocket.

"Why are you suddenly producing the marriage certificate?" Shen Xun seemed half-believing, half-doubting, and had other thoughts.

Are his parents getting a divorce?

He furrowed his brows.

"I've been married to your mother for thirty years; the civil affairs bureau has an event, and we plan to attend, so we need to bring the marriage certificate." Father Shen lied without blushing or heartbeat, and besides he carried the authority of a strict father; Shen Xun had grown up under that authority, so he naturally dared not suspect further.

Shen Xun: "Oh, that's how it is."

As long as it's not a divorce.

"Don't think wildly." Father Shen saw through his son's thoughts: "My relationship with your mother is fine; it's you and Xiao Xi—don't argue all day. What's there for a family to fight about? You're just making a laughingstock of yourselves in front of outsiders."

Shen Xun looked earnestly at his parents: "I don't want to hear again that Shen Xi wants to drive a wedge between me and Jiang Lai."

Mother Shen opened her mouth to say something, but Father Shen stopped her and told his son: "I'll talk to Xiao Xi."

Right now his son's mood is more important than anything; everything must go smoothly, lest it affect next week's bidding meeting, which is only two days away.

Shen Xun still believed his father, and gave a slight nod.

Father Shen gestured for Mother Shen to leave.

Only father and son remained in the study, and Father Shen asked: "How are the bidding preparations going?"

"Everything's going smoothly." Shen Xun looked for a book in the study—a book that Jiang Lai had once left in his car, and it was because of that book that he later had more interactions with Jiang Lai.

"Shutong told me her grandfather will speak up for you a couple more times during the evaluation; if you win the bid, you must personally visit Old Master Ji and also properly thank Shutong."

Shen Xun looked at his father: "Shutong never told me about this."

"You're too busy; she understands you." Father Shen said, "People who are considerate of you are kind-hearted and good to you; don't take it for granted—reply when you can, and a few words of concern won't make you lose any weight."

Shen Xun also knew that not replying lately to Lin Shutong's messages was inappropriate, but every time he picked up his phone, he didn't know how to respond.

His heart was still torn.

Or rather, he didn't know how to face it.

"What matters to me right now is this project; I'll set aside other matters for now." Shen Xun consoled himself with that reasoning.

Father Shen nodded: "A man should indeed prioritize his career, but he must not neglect the support behind him; Shutong, as your support, has done many things for you."

Shen Xun, almost against his will, said: "Jiang Lai has also done many things for me."

"Washing clothes and cooking don't count for much." Father Shen glanced at the book in his hand—W. Somerset Maugham's *The Razor's Edge*—and asked, "How did you come to read this book?"

Shen Xun hefted the book in his hand, but gave no reply.

"Dad, I'm heading back first."

"Mm."

Seeing her son off, Mother Shen immediately came over and said: "If you'd been any later, I would have been exposed by our son! I thought he really had seen it—I was scared to death."

"Mom, what did you see?" Shen Xi came over to join in the fun.

Father Shen: "Kids shouldn't ask about adult matters."

Shen Xi: "Oh."

Father Shen turned to the mother and daughter and reminded them: "Lately don't stir up trouble for Shen Xun, don't let his mood sour—he's busy right now; no matter how much you dislike Jiang Lai, keep it to yourselves, don't make him unhappy."

He looked at his daughter: "Especially you, you never know when to keep your mouth shut."

Shen Xi pursed her lips: "I know, okay."

……

On his way back by car, Shen Xun called Jiang Lai again.

"Are you at your master's wife's place?"

"What's up?" Jiang Lai was standing with Ke Zhongying before the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down over half of A City, lights blazing, brilliant and splendid.

Shen Xun: "I'll come pick you up."

Jiang Lai calmly refused: "It's too late; it would disturb others, and I have class tomorrow morning. It's more convenient for me to come over here, and you haven't been very busy lately, have you?"

"It's my fault; I've neglected you."

"No."

You're not at fault.

"Didn't we say we'd celebrate after you're busy?"

"Yes, I've prepared the gift for you." Shen Xun thought, if Jiang Lai saw him give a car worth over a million, she would definitely be moved.

Jiang Lai doesn't care about gifts at all.

"You're also working overtime at the company tomorrow, right?"

"Hmm, you haven't been home lately, and I haven't gone back much either." Shen Xun's voice paused, then he said, "Jiang Lai, I really miss you."

"Really?" Jiang Lai's voice remained cold, with no trace of trust in her eyes, "I'm too tired, I'll go to sleep first."

"Okay, good night." Shen Xun didn't disturb her further; Jiang Lai seemed still angry about today's matter, so her voice sounded a bit cold.

Better not provoke her annoyance anymore.

Shen Xun drove to the company.

Ke Zhongying said: "Shen Xun is still quite hardworking in his career."

Jiang Lai nodded; part of the reason she initially liked Shen Xun was this.

"It's just that his character is too bad." Ke Zhongying complained, "Way too bad."

Jiang Lai sent a message to Luo Jiaai, telling her she no longer needs to specially conceal herself starting tomorrow; she can take off her mask and hat.

Luo Jiaai replied with an affirmative.

She lifted her head again to look at Ke Zhongying: "I need to go back tomorrow, taking advantage of the weekend when he's not home, to collect my things."

"I'll go with you!"

"Okay."

The next day.

Jiang Lai brought Ke Zhongying back to her ex-husband's home.

Meanwhile, Shen Xun, who was in the office, received a message from the person in charge of the parenting class institution.

"Shen President, we have a power outage here, the monitor isn't showing; do I need to go take a photo of Madam Shen's class to report to you?"