HBWMA -Chapter 360 A Young Heart Hidden from the Moon

As soon as the words fell, Shen Qian’s brow twitched. He turned to look at Shen Zhuang. “Dad…”

Shen Zhuang raised a hand to stop him and stood up. “I’ll go take a look.”

The Shen family members all wore different expressions. They exchanged glances and rose to their feet, but Shen Zhuang waved them down. “All of you, stay seated.”

After he left the main hall, Shen Qian’s face grew increasingly uneasy. His gaze swept back and forth across the people opposite him.

Who exactly is trying to harm me?

Chrysanthemum Garden.

Jiang Huashan was leaning over the windowsill, looking out into the distance. When she saw a group of people approaching under the corridor with lanterns in hand, she immediately jumped down from the window.

Just as Shen Zhuang pushed open the gate to the garden, a figure rushed toward him.

“Grandpa!”

“Oh my, my.” Shen Zhuang’s eyes softened with indulgent affection. He took Jiang Huashan’s hand and led her into the hall. Zhang Ru quickly went to prepare tea, while Shen Zhi and Zheng Song followed in to attend to them.

“You called Grandpa here—do you have something to say?”

Jiang Huashan grinned. “Nothing can be hidden from you, Grandpa. Luckily, you had the foresight to arrange for me to defend separately. You were absolutely right—our prepared materials really were leaked!”

Her expression suddenly turned serious. She glanced around, then covered her mouth and whispered, “Grandpa, there’s a thief in the family.”

A flicker passed through Shen Zhuang’s eyes, but he followed her lead. “You handled the court session very well. You didn’t disappoint Grandpa.”

Jiang Huashan smiled knowingly and pointed in the air. “Grandpa, this thief must be Eldest Uncle. He even prepared the withdrawal statement in advance—it’s obvious he’s not on the same side as you.”

Shen Zhi’s brow twitched. He glanced back at Zheng Song and gave him a look before quietly stepping out.

Zheng Song, however, showed no reaction at all, continuing to stand behind Shen Zhuang like a guardian statue.

Meanwhile, in the main hall, Shen Qian had already downed three cups of tea in a row. Compared to everyone else’s calm composure, the council chairman was clearly not in a good state of mind.

“Old Master.”

Someone called from outside. Everyone immediately stood up. Before long, they saw Jiang Huashan helping Shen Zhuang walk in.

Jiang Huashan’s gaze swept across the room, and she nodded. “Greetings, Mr. Shen, Young Masters Shen.”

Everyone: “…”

Shen Zhuang gently patted her hand and pointed to the empty seat below the main seat on the left. “Sit.”

Only after Shen Zhuang took his seat did the others follow.

Sitting upright, Shen Zhuang rested both hands on his dragon-headed cane. “There’s no need for you to be nervous. Overall, this matter has been handled well. I have nothing much to say.”

Hearing this, Shen Qian secretly let out a sigh of relief, while the others all reacted differently.

“There’s just one thing—regarding Shanshan’s identity…”

Shen Qian immediately picked up the conversation. “Dad, that wasn’t what I meant. It’s just that—”

“That’s enough.” Shen Zhuang cut him off. “Whether that was your intention or not isn’t important. But that statement did remind me—it’s time to give Shanshan a proper, rightful status.”

Shen Lanxi’s eyes flickered slightly.

Shen Zhuang continued, “Since all of you are here today, I might as well make things clear. Back then, I didn’t immediately enter her into the family registry for my own considerations—not because, like you, I would cast her aside the moment something happened! I’m not even dead yet, and you already dare to treat her like this. If I were gone, would you force her to death?”

Jiang Huashan had originally wanted to provoke Shen Qian further, but upon hearing this, she suddenly turned to look at Shen Zhuang.

Everyone else’s expressions changed.

“Dad, your words are too harsh.”

“Grandpa…” Fu Sui’er began to explain, but Shen Jiao pulled her back.

Shen Zhuang waved his hand. “Harsh or not, I’ve already said it. I’m just an old man—who knows how much longer I have to live? Each of you has your own thoughts. I’m well aware of that.”

With that said, Shen Zhuang turned to look at Shen Zhi, who immediately handed over the documents he had prepared in advance.

“Take a look.”

Shen Zhuang accepted the materials and casually tossed them onto the coffee table.

“Other than the assets already allocated for public use, these are the properties under my name. I won’t go into the rest for now, but as for Xiao Shen Garden—I’ve already decided to give it to Shanshan.”

Everyone froze again. Xiao Shen Garden was a prized piece of land. Back in the great-grandfather’s generation, the family had built their fortune there. Later, Shen Zhuang’s entire branch of the Shen family had perished in service to the nation, leaving only the old master as the sole survivor. After Shen Zhuang rebuilt the family’s legacy, they moved to the current Shen residence.

Even when Shen Xi got married, Shen Zhuang had been unwilling to part with it—yet now he was giving it to an outsider?!

Shen Yuan’s expression darkened. “Dad, the Shen family owns so many properties. You can pick any others you like, but Xiao Shen Garden…”

Shen Zhuang cut him off, “No matter how many estates the Shen family has, they’re all mine. I’ll give them to whoever I want. What, do you have a problem with that?”

Xiao Shen Garden had already been transferred three years ago. Even if they had objections, it was useless now.

Aside from Shen Jiao, everyone else looked displeased. If it were anything else, it might be negotiable—but this was Xiao Shen Garden.

“Also, Shanshan’s sixteenth birthday is coming up soon. Since the timing is good, I plan to go to Xiangying on that day and settle the matter of adding her to the family registry.”

If he’d already given away Xiao Shen Garden, then adding her to the family registry was only a natural next step. Everyone understood that the earlier statement about severing ties had likely touched the old master’s bottom line. They were angry, but didn’t dare voice it.

Shen Lanxi glanced at Jiang Huashan. “Grandpa…”

“Old Master, I think this arrangement is inappropriate.”

Before Shen Lanxi could speak, Shen Qingyu suddenly cut in, “Uncle just announced he’s severing ties, and then you immediately add her to the family registry—wouldn’t that be slapping Uncle in the face?”

Shen Qian was taken aback.

Shen Yuan scratched his head, quickly catching on. “Ah, right! Dad, shouldn’t you also hear what the younger generation has to say?”

Since the old master treated his son’s words like air, they’d let the grandson speak instead.

Shen Zhuang had never expected that the first person to oppose him would be Shen Qingyu.

These past few days, he had been closely following the A Nation news, keeping track of everything happening domestically. It seemed clear Shen Qingyu genuinely cared about Jiang Huashan—had he misjudged him?

Understanding the cue, Shen Qian turned to Shen Lanxi. “Lanxi, what do you think?”

Shen Lanxi hesitated, his expression flickering. “Grandpa, I also think your decision is too sudden.”

Shen Zhuang frowned, somewhat surprised. “Lanxi, you don’t agree with giving Xiao Shen Garden to Shanshan either?”

Shen Qian immediately relaxed. That’s more like it! No matter how much the Shen family fought among themselves, it was still family property—how could they let an outsider benefit?

Xiao Shen Garden was ancestral land. He didn’t believe Shen Lanxi wouldn’t be tempted.

Shen Lanxi shook his head. “What I’m talking about has nothing to do with Xiao Shen Garden. That’s your property—you can give it to whoever you want. I just think adding her to the family registry is too abrupt.”

Shen Qian felt utterly exasperated. “…”

Shen Zhuang thought for a moment, then asked, “What’s so sudden about it?”

For the first time, Shen Lanxi looked visibly uneasy, his gaze drifting toward Shen Guiling.

“Grandpa, A-Ling is two years older than Shanshan. If someone is to be added to the family registry, it should be him first.”

Shen Zhuang had never been wary of Shen Lanxi’s thoughts. Hearing this, he felt a pang of guilt. “A-Ling, Grandpa has neglected you.”

Shen Guiling glanced at Shen Lanxi, the corners of his eyes lifting slightly as he smiled. “Thank you for your concern, Brother Lanxi. Grandpa, I think it’d be better to take this opportunity for both Shanshan and me to be added to the family registry together—it’d be more convenient that way.”

If he didn’t speak up now, the “grandchild slot” would be snatched away. Jiang Huashan hurriedly nodded in agreement. “I think—”

“No!” Shen Qingyu and Shen Lanxi rejected in unison.

These two pests!

Jiang Huashan was instantly furious, shooting them a sharp glare.

“…”