HBWMA -Chapter 176 The Game of Strategy

The side hall’s tea room was lit with a warm amber glow. The concern in Shen Zhuang’s eyes and the faint smile on Jiang Huashan’s lips said more than words ever could.

Shen Lanxi stood in the middle of the courtyard, silently looking at the light spilling from the tea room. The warm yellow glow fell into his sharply contrasting black-and-white eyes, softening them just a little.

So it seemed Grandfather really liked Jiang Huashan.

Shen Lanxi lowered his gaze, suppressing the light in his eyes, then turned and walked out of the courtyard.

“Lanxi.”

Just as he stepped out beyond the courtyard wall, he unexpectedly ran into Shen Qian.

Shen Qian had just come down from the banquet, faint traces of alcohol on him. He glanced toward the tea room with a friendly smile.

“Is the old master inside?”

Shen Lanxi nodded slightly. “Yes.”

“Good.” Shen Qian, refined and courteous as always, nodded and was about to enter the courtyard when he suddenly paused. “Lanxi, I saw there are still quite a few students from Yucai over in the side banquet hall. I heard you invited them?”

“Yes,” Shen Lanxi replied.

“It’s a bit chaotic tonight, so it’s not suitable to arrange them all in the main hall. But since you invited them, it wouldn’t be appropriate not to at least greet them. Otherwise, people with ulterior motives might make a big deal out of it.”

Shen Lanxi’s lips carried a polite smile. “What does Uncle mean?”

Shen Qian smiled. “Your second uncle and I discussed it. The reporters and media will be arriving soon. Why don’t you go over to the side hall as well? It’ll be good for both the Shen family and you.”

Shen Lanxi frowned slightly.

Seeing his reluctance, Shen Qian patiently persuaded him. “Lanxi, Uncle knows you don’t like formal social games, but there’s no helping it. The Shen family will eventually be handed over to you. Situations like this are unavoidable—you should start getting used to them.”

After a moment of thought, Shen Lanxi nodded. “I understand.”

Shen Qian looked quite pleased and patted him on the shoulder before stepping toward the tea room.

Just as they stood side by side, Shen Lanxi suddenly looked up. “Uncle.”

Shen Qian paused and turned back.

“My grandfather is handling something very important inside. It’s not convenient to disturb him right now,” Shen Lanxi said.

Shen Qian hesitated slightly, glancing toward the tea room. After a brief pause, he smiled and nodded. “Alright, I understand. In that case, I’ll head back to the banquet hall first.” With that, he patted Shen Lanxi’s shoulder again.

Shen Lanxi stood where he was, watching until Shen Qian’s figure disappeared completely from sight.

Only then did the boy turn his head slightly, lowering his gaze to the spot on his shoulder where Shen Qian had patted him. After a moment of thought, he couldn’t suppress his disgust and brushed the area off with his hand.

“Young master.” At that moment, Gao Zhi stepped out from the shadows, respectfully handing over a silk handkerchief.

Shen Lanxi took it and coldly wiped his fingertips.

“Master, the assassin from the ambush at Xiangying was a black identity. There’s no traceable evidence on him—our lead has gone cold.”

Shen Lanxi stared expressionlessly at his own fingertips. “Keep investigating. The mastermind must be him.”

“Yes.” Gao Zhi glanced in the direction Shen Qian had left and hesitated before asking, “And what about Fang Mei’s side? Should we continue the investigation?”

Shen Lanxi’s fingers paused slightly. “Yes.”

On the other side, Shen Qian emerged from the inner courtyard, his expression immediately cooling.

Shen Yuan was sitting in the pavilion at the junction of the outer and inner courtyard. The moment he saw Shen Qian come out, he hurried over.

“How was it? Did you see Dad? Did you get any answers? What exactly is going on inside? Why were A-E and Lanlan suddenly sent back?”

Shen Qian’s expression was indifferent. “I didn’t see him.”

Shen Yuan looked startled. “The old man won’t see you?”

Shen Qian glanced at him and shook his head. “We’ll talk about it later. Several senior pastors from the church have come over. The old man doesn’t have time right now—I have to go meet them.”

Half of Country A’s population believed in Christianity, and the churches held a vast number of followers. Shen Qian’s reputation had already been ruined by the issue of his illegitimate child, and if he still wanted to climb back to the position of speaker, he would inevitably have to deal with these people.

“That’s all we can do for now.” Shen Yuan didn’t dwell on it further. For the second branch, their interests rose and fell together; at the moment, nothing was more important than helping Shen Qian return to his peak.

After giving a few more instructions, Shen Qian left the pavilion and headed straight toward the banquet hall.

Shen Yuan waited in the pavilion for a while. Only after confirming no one was around did he slowly step out—only to see Shen Qingyu walking toward him.

That rebellious son.

Shen Yuan stood where he was and blocked him as he approached. “What have you been doing all night?”

Shen Qingyu kept his hands in his pockets and glanced at him lazily. “What do you mean, what have I been doing?”

“A-Yu!” Shen Yuan’s tone sharpened. “What exactly are you thinking? Stealing the spotlight from Lanxi in front of everyone—have you lost your mind?”

Shen Qingyu narrowed his eyes slightly, a trace of hostility flashing through them.

Shen Yuan knew his temper—wild and uncontrollable—and immediately softened his tone. “Come to the banquet hall with me. A few uncles and elders have been praising you nonstop. Go meet them. It’ll benefit you in the future.”

Shen Qingyu sneered. “Benefit? You mean helping your few *ST stocks survive delisting? Or helping you scam a few more billions and set up a few shell companies to go public and siphon money?”

Shen Yuan’s expression turned ugly. “A-Yu, do you really have to talk to your father like this?”

Shen Qingyu gave a cold laugh. “Shen Yuan, isn’t it a bit late to start playing the father-son sentiment card now? When I begged you to come back and see my mother one last time—why didn’t you remember then that you were my father?”

Shen Yuan looked awkward, but there was also helplessness in his expression. “A-Yu, Dad knows you can’t let go of the past, but I had my difficulties. I just hope you can understand. Everything I build in the Shen family in the future will be yours…”

“Stop.” Shen Qingyu looked bored. “Shen Yuan, I think I should remind you—I have no plans in this lifetime to wear mourning clothes for you or send you off, and I also have no intention of inheriting your measly little fortune.”

“You!” Shen Yuan was almost furious enough to vomit blood. “You’re my only son—if not you, then who?!”

Shen Qingyu thought for a moment and actually offered a solution. “Why don’t you do what Uncle did—find another woman and have another kid? That way you won’t keep clinging to me.”

“……”

Shen Yuan was so enraged he couldn’t speak. To avoid hearing anything even more outrageous, he turned black-faced and left the inner courtyard.

“Tch.” Shen Qingyu looked utterly unconcerned. Then he turned toward a corner. “How long are you going to stand there?”

As soon as he spoke, a slanted shadow appeared on the ground. Shen Guiling stepped out from the shadows.

This was the path connecting the tea garden to the banquet hall. When Shen Guiling came by earlier, he had seen Shen Qian and Shen Yuan talking in the pavilion. After weighing it, he chose not to interrupt and instead waited quietly in the corner.

Shen Qingyu had noticed him when he passed by; he had also noticed Shen Qingyu. Their eyes met for only a second before each looked away.

“So cautious? Looks like even Uncle doesn’t like you as much as I thought.” Shen Qingyu leaned against a wooden pillar, arms crossed, eyes full of provocation.

Shen Guiling replied calmly, “Your father seems to like you more than I expected.”

The moment the words fell, frost filled Shen Qingyu’s eyes.

Shen Guiling smiled faintly and walked past him without even looking directly at him.

Shen Qingyu hated Shen Yuan. So for him, Shen Yuan’s love was a shackle. Compared to being loved by Shen Yuan, he would rather be hated—because only then would his rebellion feel guiltless.

A beast artificially fed and raised is like a seedling kept in a greenhouse, thinking it is growing wild, when in reality it has never even seen what wilderness truly is.

Shen Qingyu stared at Shen Guiling’s retreating back, his mood turning sour in an instant.

“DNGF, got shown up by that damn idiot again.”