Phoenix’s Revenge: The Business Battle

Chapter19: The Scales of Justice

Shen Zhenhai's funeral was conducted in an atmosphere of solemnity. A multitude of mourners attended, including luminaries from the business and political spheres, as well as Shen's close friends and family, all expressing their condolences for the passing of the once-formidable entrepreneur. Shen Xubai, clad in a black suit, stood before the mourning hall with a gaunt countenance, accepting the condolences of the assembled guests. His eyes were hollow and weary, as if his very life force had been drained away.

Gu Wanqing stood silently beside Shen Xubai, her long black dress lending her an air of gravity and solemnity. She could sense the torment and inner struggle within Shen Xubai. The grief of losing his father was palpable, yet the brutal truth weighed upon his heart like a leaden stone. She held his hand tightly, hoping to offer him some unspoken support.

The funeral proceedings lasted the entire day, with a constant stream of mourners paying their respects. Shen Xubai bore his inner sorrow with stoic resolve, offering thanks to each guest. A weary smile remained fixed upon his face, betraying none of the tumultuous emotions churning within.

Following the funeral, a profound silence descended upon the Shen residence. The vast villa felt empty and desolate, the boisterous energy of the past seemingly having departed with Shen Zhenhai.

Shen Xubai sat alone in the study, Shen Zhenhai's portrait resting on the desk. The father in the photograph retained his air of authority and confidence, as if nothing had changed. However, Shen Xubai knew that everything had shifted irrevocably. His father, the man he had once revered and loved, was the very person responsible for the deaths of Gu Wanqing's father and brother.

Gu Wanqing gently pushed open the study door and entered. Seeing Shen Xubai sitting there alone, his eyes filled with sorrow and confusion, a pang of sympathy resonated within her.

"Xubai, are you alright?" Gu Wanqing approached Shen Xubai and embraced him softly.

Shen Xubai shook his head, holding Gu Wanqing tightly in his arms, as if seeking warmth and strength from her embrace.

"Wanqing, I don't know what to do. He… he was such a different person," Shen Xubai's voice was thick with emotion.

Gu Wanqing gently stroked his back, her voice soothing. "I know, this is incredibly difficult for you to accept. But, Xubai, this is not your fault. What matters most now is that we make the right choices."

A moment of silence passed between them before Gu Wanqing asked, "What do you intend to do with the evidence on the USB drive?"

Shen Xubai lifted his head, his gaze a complex mixture of emotions as he looked at Gu Wanqing. "I don't know. If we make this evidence public, my father's reputation will be utterly ruined, and our entire family will be disgraced. But… if we don't, how can I face your father and brother?"

It was a harrowing dilemma, a moral fulcrum. On one side stood his own father, bound by blood; on the other, the family of the woman he loved deeply. Whichever path he chose, immense pain would be his companion.

"Xubai, I know this decision is incredibly difficult for you. But whatever you choose, I will support you," Gu Wanqing said, her gaze meeting his with unwavering resolve.

Shen Xubai held Gu Wanqing's hand tightly, his heart overflowing with gratitude. He knew that having her by his side during this time was his greatest solace.

After a night of profound contemplation, Shen Xubai finally reached a decision. The following day, he and Gu Wanqing sought out Mr. Li, the legal counsel for Everlasting Capital. Mr. Li was a seasoned and reputable lawyer, known for his integrity and exceptional professional skills. Shen Xubai entrusted the USB drive containing the evidence to Mr. Li, recounting the entire sequence of events in detail.

Upon hearing their story, Mr. Li's expression turned somber. He carefully reviewed the contents of the USB drive before addressing Shen Xubai and Gu Wanqing. "This evidence is indeed compelling. If made public, it would be sufficient to prove that Mr. Shen Zhenhai was involved in orchestrating the shooting incident all those years ago. However, given that Mr. Shen Zhenhai has now passed away, pursuing legal repercussions against him will be exceedingly difficult, even if we release this information."

"Then what should we do?" Gu Wanqing asked anxiously.

Mr. Li paused in thought before replying, "While we may not be able to pursue legal action against Mr. Shen Zhenhai directly, we can explore other avenues to seek justice for Miss Gu's father and brother. For instance, we can provide this evidence to the police and request that they reopen the investigation into the shooting incident. Perhaps they can uncover additional leads and bring the true perpetrators to justice."

Shen Xubai nodded in agreement. "Mr. Li, we are willing to cooperate fully with the police investigation. As long as we can uncover the truth and clear my father-in-law and brother-in-law's names, we are prepared to pay any price."

Mr. Li looked at Shen Xubai and Gu Wanqing's resolute expressions, a sense of admiration welling up within him. He assured them that he would submit the evidence to the police as soon as possible and assist them with the subsequent investigation.

Just as they were discussing their strategy with Mr. Li, Gu Wanqing received an unexpected phone call from the United States. A voice, aged and frail, spoke from the other end of the line.

"May I speak with Miss Gu Wanqing?"

"Speaking. May I ask who is calling?" Gu Wanqing replied, her brow furrowed in confusion.

"I am one of the victims of the Columbia University shooting all those years ago. My son tragically lost his life in that incident. I heard that you have been investigating the truth behind what happened, and I was hoping to meet with you. Would that be possible?" the elderly voice on the phone trembled as they spoke.

Gu Wanqing's heart skipped a beat. She had not anticipated that other victims' families would reach out to them.

"Of course, that would be possible. Where are you now? We will come to you immediately," Gu Wanqing said quickly.

The elderly caller provided Gu Wanqing with their address. Shen Xubai and Gu Wanqing promptly bid farewell to Mr. Li and drove to the nursing home where the caller resided.

The elderly person was named John Smith, a white-haired man in his seventies. His son had been a promising student at Columbia University and had tragically lost his young life in the senseless shooting.

Upon meeting Gu Wanqing and Shen Xubai, John Smith was visibly moved. He held Gu Wanqing's hand tightly, tears streaming down his weathered face.

"Child, thank you. Thank you for still investigating the truth of what happened. My son has been gone for ten years now, but I have never given up hope of finding justice for him. I hope we can find the real culprits and make them pay for their crimes," John Smith's voice was filled with sorrow and longing.

Gu Wanqing looked at the frail, elderly man before her, her heart filled with sympathy and respect. She recounted in detail the findings of their investigation to John Smith, including the crimes committed by Shen Zhenhai and Shen Hongyu.

Upon hearing her account, John Smith's face became intensely agitated. He gripped Gu Wanqing's arm tightly, his voice trembling as he asked, "Is it true? Was it really the Shen family who killed my son? Why would they do such a thing?"

Gu Wanqing also shared their findings regarding Shen Zhenhai's scheme to ruin Gu Zhenhua with John Smith. After listening intently, John Smith remained silent for a long moment before letting out a long sigh.

"So that's how it was… so that's how it was… They could be so utterly depraved for their own gain, causing the deaths of so many innocent people," John Smith's voice was filled with anger and grief.

He looked at Gu Wanqing and Shen Xubai, his eyes filled with resolve. "Children, I am willing to join you in bringing these evils to light. We cannot let those murderers go unpunished. We must seek justice for our children!"

John Smith's proactive involvement undoubtedly added more momentum to Shen Xubai and Gu Wanqing's investigation. They decided to unite with other victims' families to collectively exert pressure on the police, demanding that they reopen the investigation into the Columbia University shooting.

Meanwhile, Gu Wanqing faced a new challenge at Everlasting Capital. Fang Jianguo did not cease his machinations following Shen Zhenhai's death. Instead, "Keen Vision Technology" intensified its assault on Everlasting Capital, relentlessly poaching their core talent and seizing their investment projects.

Gu Wanqing remained unperturbed in the face of this new adversity. On one hand, she actively countered "Keen Vision Technology's" challenges. On the other hand, she began to strategize her counterattack. Utilizing her network and resources, she secretly investigated Fang Jianguo's business dealings, seeking to exploit any vulnerabilities.

Just as Gu Wanqing was preoccupied with these professional challenges, she received an unexpected call from the police. They informed her that they had received the evidence submitted by Mr. Li regarding the Columbia University shooting and had decided to relaunch the investigation.

This news filled Gu Wanqing and Shen Xubai with elation. They knew that justice might be delayed, but it would never be denied. Their years of waiting and effort had finally yielded a glimmer of hope.

In the days that followed, Shen Xubai and Gu Wanqing actively cooperated with the police investigation. They provided all the evidence and leads they had gathered and recounted their understanding of the events in detail. John Smith and other victims' families also came forward, offering additional testimonies and evidence to the authorities.

Through the concerted efforts of many, the police launched a comprehensive investigation into the Columbia University shooting from ten years prior. As the investigation progressed, more and more of the truth surfaced. The crimes committed by Shen Zhenhai and Shen Hongyu all those years ago were gradually brought to light.

Concurrently, Gu Wanqing's counteroffensive at Everlasting Capital began to yield results. She successfully identified some vulnerabilities in Fang Jianguo's business operations and exploited them, inflicting considerable losses on "Keen Vision Technology." Fang Jianguo's arrogance was dealt a blow, and he began to feel a sense of unease.

Just as Shen Xubai and Gu Wanqing believed that everything was moving in a positive direction, Fang Jianguo took action once again. He secretly contacted several media outlets, attempting to influence the police investigation through public opinion and placing all the blame on the deceased Shen Zhenhai.

Faced with Fang Jianguo's counterattack, Shen Xubai and Gu Wanqing did not falter. They decided to hold a press conference to reveal all the truths they had uncovered, including the evidence of Shen Zhenhai's scheme to ruin Gu Zhenhua and his orchestration of the shooting through Shen Hongyu. They believed that only by completely exposing the truth could they truly seek justice for Gu Wanqing's father and brother and ensure that such evil deeds would never remain hidden.

On the day of the press conference, a large number of media reporters gathered at the scene, all eager to learn more about the decade-old cold case. Shen Xubai and Gu Wanqing stood side by side on the stage, facing a barrage of cameras and microphones, their expressions calm and resolute.

Shen Xubai began by offering a profound apology to all the victims' families. He then recounted in detail their findings regarding the truth of the Columbia University shooting and the crimes committed by Shen Zhenhai and Shen Hongyu. He presented the evidence from the USB drive, including the audio recordings, photographs, and documents, all of which unequivocally pointed to Shen Zhenhai's culpability.

Gu Wanqing also stepped forward to recount how her father, Gu Zhenhua, had been framed by Shen Zhenhai, ultimately dying with lingering resentment. Her voice trembled with emotion, but her tone was resolute as she demanded that the police severely punish the perpetrators and seek justice for her father and brother.

John Smith and other victims' families also came forward to testify, their accounts shocking and infuriating everyone present. No one could have imagined that such a dark and cruel truth lay hidden behind what had appeared to be a simple shooting incident.

Following the press conference, public opinion erupted. People everywhere condemned Shen Zhenhai and the Shen family's actions. The police faced immense pressure and pledged to investigate all the facts as quickly as possible, promising the victims' families a satisfactory resolution.

Fang Jianguo's machinations had completely failed, and his arrogance suffered a heavy blow. He knew he could no longer stop Shen Xubai and Gu Wanqing.

Ultimately, faced with irrefutable evidence, the police announced the reopening of the investigation into the Columbia University shooting and launched a manhunt for Shen Hongyu for the crimes he had committed. Although Shen Zhenhai had passed away and could no longer face legal repercussions, his crimes had been brought to light and were condemned by all.

And Gu Wanqing and Shen Xubai had finally obtained justice for their families. Hand in hand, they gazed at the bright sunshine streaming through the window, their hearts filled with hope and relief. They knew the road ahead was still long, but they would face all challenges together, bravely embracing the happiness that awaited them.