Phoenix’s Revenge: The Business Battle

Chapter14: Reckoning Old Scores

Gu Wanqing's body felt as if all its strength had been leached away. She staggered backward, collapsing against the cold wall. Tears streamed down her face like a broken string of pearls, blurring her vision and the remorseful, anguished features of Shen's father before her. Her mind was a blank canvas upon which a torrent of questions surged, threatening to overwhelm her.

Her father, the man she remembered as always gentle yet resolute, had been killed by the Shen family! And the perpetrator was none other than Shen Xubai's uncle, a man she had never met, yet one who had profoundly influenced the trajectory of her life. The capricious nature of fate was both absurd and cruel.

Shen Xubai, equally aghast, stared at his father, his face ashen, his eyes filled with agony and disbelief. He had always believed his father's actions were motivated by a desire to protect him, never suspecting the ignominious truth that lay concealed beneath that supposed protection.

"Dad… is what you're saying true? Uncle… he actually…" Shen Xubai's voice trembled, unable to fully articulate the enormity of this brutal revelation.

Shen's father nodded weakly, his eyes reflecting profound regret. "Yes, Xubai, it's all true. Back then, your uncle, driven by self-interest, resorted to unscrupulous means, ultimately harming Gu Zhenhua and destroying the future of both our families."

Gu Wanqing bit her lip hard, struggling to suppress the tempest of grief and fury raging within her. She looked at the man she had once loved so deeply, at the pain etched on his face, her heart a battlefield of conflicting emotions. She loved him, yet she could not forget her father and brother, could not forgive the actions of the Shen family.

"Uncle Shen, you said… my father… he succumbed to despair?" Gu Wanqing's voice trembled slightly as she sought confirmation of this devastating fact.

Shen's father nodded, his eyes filled with guilt. "Yes, Mr. Gu Zhenhua was a man of great talent and ambition. He built the Gu Group with his own hands, pouring all his heart and soul into it. But after your uncle framed him, his business plummeted, ultimately leading to bankruptcy. He couldn't bear such a blow, his health deteriorated, and he passed away not long after."

Gu Wanqing could no longer restrain her tears. They burst forth like a dam breached, and she covered her face, sobbing uncontrollably. Her father, the man who had been her rock, had died in such unjust circumstances! And the architect of this tragedy was the family of the man she had once loved.

Shen Xubai looked at Gu Wanqing with aching sympathy. He reached out, wanting to offer comfort, but found himself at a loss for words. He could sense the profound pain and despair that gripped her heart. He knew that he and his family owed Gu Wanqing an immeasurable debt.

"Wanqing…" Shen Xubai's voice was hoarse as he gently embraced Gu Wanqing, seeking to offer some semblance of warmth and support.

Gu Wanqing leaned into Shen Xubai's embrace, allowing her tears to flow freely. Her heart felt as if it had been torn asunder, as if all hope had been extinguished in that moment. She had once believed that her love for Shen Xubai could surmount any obstacle, but now it seemed that the chasm between them was not merely the decade-old shooting, but a legacy of animosity spanning two generations.

Shen's father watched the two figures locked in a sorrowful embrace, his eyes filled with helplessness and weariness. He knew the Shen family owed the Gu family an insurmountable debt, one that could likely never be repaid.

Shen's father's assistant, who had been standing silently by, sighed softly. He placed the file he held on the bedside table and quietly slipped out of the room, leaving them to their private grief.

Only Gu Wanqing, Shen Xubai, and Shen's father remained in the room, the atmosphere heavy and oppressive.

After a long silence, Gu Wanqing slowly lifted her head from Shen Xubai's embrace. Her face was streaked with tears, but her eyes held a newfound resolve.

"Shen Xubai, I need to know, what are your thoughts on all of this now?" Gu Wanqing asked, her voice calm yet firm as she looked at Shen Xubai.

Shen Xubai met Gu Wanqing's gaze, his eyes filled with love and remorse. "Wanqing, I know this is incredibly unfair to you. I… I don't know what to say to express the depth of my apology. But please believe me, none of this is what I would have ever wanted. I will do everything in my power to make amends for the pain your family and you have endured."

Gu Wanqing looked at Shen Xubai. She could sense his sincerity and the genuine anguish in his voice. However, this matter involved more than just the two of them; it involved their respective families and the irreparable tragedy of a decade past.

"Make amends?" Gu Wanqing couldn't help but offer a bitter smile. "How do you intend to do that? Bring my brother back to life? Return my father to my side?"

Shen Xubai fell silent, knowing that Gu Wanqing spoke the irrefutable truth. Some wounds could never truly be healed.

"Wanqing, I know that nothing I say can alleviate the pain in your heart. But I hope you will give me a chance to face this with you, to uncover all the truths of that year together, and to seek justice for your brother and your father," Shen Xubai said, his voice filled with unwavering determination.

Gu Wanqing looked at Shen Xubai, a conflict raging within her. She loved him, but she could not forget the harm the Shen family had inflicted upon her and her loved ones. She did not know if there was a future for them, nor if she should grant him this opportunity.

As Gu Wanqing hesitated, Shen Xubai's face suddenly contorted in pain. He clutched his head, letting out a tormented groan.

"Ah—! My head… it hurts so much!" Shen Xubai's voice was filled with agony and confusion.

Gu Wanqing rushed forward to support him, asking anxiously, "Xubai, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Shen Xubai squeezed his eyes shut, his body trembling violently, cold sweat beading on his forehead. His mind raced, flashing through countless fragmented images: the sound of gunfire, the flickering of flames, figures lying in pools of blood, and a young, gentle face – Gu Mingyuan's face.

Suddenly, Shen Xubai's eyes snapped open, his gaze clear and sharp, as if all the fog had dissipated in that instant. He looked at Gu Wanqing, his eyes filled with love and unwavering resolve.

"Wanqing, I remember! I remember everything!" Shen Xubai exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement and relief.

Gu Wanqing looked at him with joyous surprise, tears welling in her eyes once more. "Xubai, you… you really remember everything?"

Shen Xubai nodded, gripping Gu Wanqing's hand tightly. "Yes, Wanqing, I remember. I remember everything that happened at Columbia University ten years ago, I remember Uncle shooting Gu Mingyuan, and I remember you bravely saving me. I also remember all the moments we've shared since we met. I love you, Wanqing, I have never forgotten."

Gu Wanqing embraced Shen Xubai with overwhelming emotion, her tears flowing freely. She had waited so long for this moment, and finally, Shen Xubai's memory had returned, and he was back by her side.

Shen's father watched the two figures locked in a tender embrace, his eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions. He knew that Shen Xubai's regained memories meant that everything the Shen family had done would be brought to light, and they would face unimaginable consequences.

"Xubai, you…" Shen's father began, but Shen Xubai interrupted him.

"Dad, I know you did all of this to protect me, but you were wrong. Some things cannot be avoided. The truth will eventually come to light," Shen Xubai said, his gaze towards his father filled with determination and finality.

He turned his head, looking at Gu Wanqing with gentle eyes. "Wanqing, I know there are still many issues between us that need to be resolved, and there is a deep-seated animosity between our families. But please believe me, I will face all of this with you. I will do everything in my power to uncover all the truths of that year and to seek justice for your brother and your father."

Gu Wanqing looked at Shen Xubai, her heart filled with emotion and hope. She knew that their path ahead would be long, filled with uncertainties and challenges, but as long as they loved each other and supported each other, they would surely overcome any obstacle.

"Alright, Shen Xubai, I want to believe you," Gu Wanqing said, her gaze towards Shen Xubai unwavering.

Shen's father watched his son and Gu Wanqing, knowing that he was powerless to stop them. He sighed deeply, his voice weary. "Xubai, do whatever you think is right. I'm old, I can't interfere anymore."

Shen Xubai looked at his father, his eyes filled with complex emotions. He knew that his father's actions had stemmed from love for him. However, he could not forgive everything his father had done. He had to seek justice for Gu Wanqing and her family.

"Dad, I will uncover all the truths of that year. I will give Gu Wanqing and her family an explanation. As for the responsibility our Shen family should bear, I will not evade it," Shen Xubai said firmly.

Shen's father looked at his son, and finally, he simply nodded, saying nothing more.

In the days that followed, Shen Xubai actively cooperated with the doctors' treatment, and his physical recovery was rapid. At the same time, he began to investigate the truth behind the Columbia University shooting ten years prior.

He sought out Shen's father's assistant, inquiring in detail about the investigation from that year, and meticulously studied the long-sealed investigation report. He wanted to know what his uncle had truly done and what role the Shen family had played in it all.

Gu Wanqing remained by Shen Xubai's side, offering him unwavering support. She shared all the clues she had gathered regarding the incident, hoping to help him uncover the truth as quickly as possible.

Together, they reminisced about their experiences at Columbia University ten years ago, attempting to piece together the complete picture. Shen Xubai struggled to recall the events of that time, the chaos on campus, the terror when the gunshots rang out, and the memory of a young life extinguished before his very eyes.

As his memories returned, Shen Xubai's inner turmoil intensified. He could not fathom that his own family had committed such heinous crimes, and that he himself had once been a witness to this tragedy.

He looked at Gu Wanqing, his eyes filled with guilt and self-reproach. "Wanqing, I'm so sorry. I… I've been living a lie all this time."

Gu Wanqing gently took his hand, shaking her head. "This isn't your fault, Xubai. You were a victim too."

Shen Xubai looked at Gu Wanqing, his eyes filled with love and gratitude. He knew that his regaining his memory and his courage to face the truth were all because of Gu Wanqing's presence in his life.

He made a silent vow that he would uncover all the truths of that year, that he would seek justice for Gu Wanqing and her family, and that he would make the Shen family pay for the crimes they had committed. He would use his actions to mend the rift between them and to protect their hard-won love.