Phoenix’s Revenge: The Business Battle

Chapter17: Gathering Storm Clouds

The glass doors of the intensive care unit remained firmly shut, isolating Shen Xubai and Gu Wanqing from the feebly flickering life within. Shen Xubai paced restlessly in the corridor, his figure elongated and gaunt in the hospital's sterile fluorescent light, a picture of solitude and unease. Gu Wanqing sat quietly on a bench, her hands clasped tightly together, her gaze fixed with worry on the unyielding door. The air was thick with the antiseptic scent of disinfectant, cold and acrid, mirroring the oppressive weight in their hearts.

Since their return to the hospital, Shen's father's condition had remained precarious, fluctuating between brief moments of stability and alarming declines. The doctors had offered them little more than the grim counsel to prepare for the worst. For Shen Xubai, the emotions churning within him were a tumultuous blend. Disappointment and anger towards his father still simmered—the lengths to which his father had gone to conceal the truth, orchestrating a car accident to steal his memories. Yet, the bond of blood remained potent. Seeing his father lying on the hospital bed, teetering on the brink of life, filled him with undeniable concern and pain.

Gu Wanqing gently approached Shen Xubai and took his cold hand in hers. "Xubai, don't worry too much. Uncle will be alright," she said, her voice soft yet resolute, hoping to offer him some solace.

Shen Xubai stopped pacing and looked at Gu Wanqing, his eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Wanqing. I know I should hate him right now, but… I still hope he can pull through."

Gu Wanqing understood the complexity of Shen Xubai's feelings. She leaned her head gently on his shoulder, offering silent support.

As they waited in tense silence, Shen Xubai's phone rang again. The same unfamiliar number flashed on the screen. His face instantly hardened; he knew it was Fang Jianguo calling.

Shen Xubai took a deep breath and answered the phone, his voice laced with icy resolve. "Mr. Fang, what more do you want?"

Fang Jianguo's sinister laughter echoed through the phone. "Young Master Shen, it seems you have returned to the country. How was America? Did you find the air to your liking? And was your little investigation fruitful?"

Shen Xubai suppressed the rising fury within him, replying coldly, "That is none of your concern, Mr. Fang."

"Heh, Young Master Shen is so polite," Fang Jianguo's voice dripped with sarcasm. "However, I must reiterate my advice: some matters are best left buried. Young people like yourselves should focus your energies on your careers, not on exhuming ancient history. It benefits no one, wouldn't you agree?"

"Fang Jianguo, do you think I'm afraid of you?" Shen Xubai's voice was thick with anger. "You will pay for everything you've done, one day!"

"Will I? I eagerly await that day," Fang Jianguo's tone remained light, as if he held all the cards. "But until then, I suggest you both behave and refrain from any further ill-advised actions. Otherwise, I cannot guarantee what might happen."

With that, Fang Jianguo hung up. Shen Xubai gripped his phone tightly, the veins on the back of his hand standing out. Fang Jianguo's threat instilled in him a pressure he had never felt before. He knew Fang Jianguo was not making idle threats; he was likely to resort to even more underhanded tactics to obstruct their investigation.

"What did he say?" Gu Wanqing asked with concern.

Shen Xubai relayed Fang Jianguo's words to Gu Wanqing, and her face also grew grave.

"It seems we must be even more careful," Gu Wanqing said in a low voice. "Fang Jianguo is cunning and treacherous. We cannot afford to be careless."

Shen Xubai nodded, a resolute glint in his eyes. "Don't worry, Wanqing. I won't let him hurt you. We will uncover the entire truth and bring him to justice."

While awaiting news of Shen's father, Shen Xubai and Gu Wanqing did not cease their investigation. They knew time was of the essence and that they had to seize every moment.

Anticipating Fang Jianguo's potential actions, they decided to temporarily shift their investigative focus to domestic matters. They began to delve into the records surrounding the bankruptcy of the Gu Group, seeking evidence of Shen Hongyu's scheme to ruin Gu Zhenhua. They also contacted some former long-time employees of the Gu Group, hoping to glean any insider information from them.

Meanwhile, Gu Wanqing faced immense pressure at Everlasting Capital. Supported by Fang Jianguo, "Keen Vision Technology" continued to acquire AI startups that Everlasting Capital had been eyeing, severely hindering Everlasting Capital's investment strategy in the field of artificial intelligence.

Gu Wanqing remained composed amidst the crisis. On one hand, she actively adjusted their investment strategy, seeking new promising projects. On the other hand, she secretly investigated "Keen Vision Technology's" funding sources and operational model, attempting to find a c***k in Fang Jianguo's armor.

She and her team worked tirelessly, analyzing market data, evaluating new investment opportunities, and closely monitoring every move made by "Keen Vision Technology." Gu Wanqing demonstrated her exceptional leadership and professional acumen, guiding her team through the immense pressure.

Just as they were grappling with these various challenges, the doors of the intensive care unit finally opened, and a weary-looking doctor emerged.

Shen Xubai and Gu Wanqing rushed forward, asking anxiously, "Doctor, how is my father?"

The doctor sighed and shook his head. "The patient's condition is not optimistic. We have done our best. He is very weak now. Whether he can pull through depends on his own will to live."

Shen Xubai's heart sank. He knew his father's situation was dire.

"Can we see him?" Shen Xubai asked, his voice hoarse.

The doctor nodded. "Yes, but don't stay too long and try not to disturb his rest."

Shen Xubai and Gu Wanqing cautiously entered the intensive care unit. The room was filled with the strong scent of medicine, and various medical instruments emitted rhythmic beeps and whirs. Shen's father lay pale and still on the bed, his body connected to a multitude of tubes and wires, appearing incredibly frail.

Shen Xubai walked to the bedside and gently took his father's hand. His father's hand was cold and dry, devoid of any strength.

"Dad…" Shen Xubai's voice choked with emotion.

Shen's father slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was cloudy and weak, but a faint glimmer appeared when he saw Shen Xubai and Gu Wanqing standing by his bed.

"Xubai… Wanqing…" Shen's father's voice was barely audible, a mere whisper.

Shen Xubai leaned closer, his ear near his father's lips. "Dad, we're here to see you. How are you feeling?"

Shen's father shook his head with difficulty. His lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't produce any sound.

Gu Wanqing gently took Shen's father's other hand, her voice soft. "Uncle, please don't try to talk. Just rest. We are here with you."

Shen's father looked at Gu Wanqing, his eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions—guilt, gratitude, and perhaps a lingering unfulfilled wish.

Shen Xubai and Gu Wanqing stayed with Shen's father for a while. Seeing that his condition was indeed precarious, they heeded the doctor's advice and left the intensive care unit.

Over the next few days, Shen's father's condition showed no improvement. Shen Xubai and Gu Wanqing remained at the hospital every day, waiting anxiously. Other relatives of the Shen family also arrived at the hospital to visit, but the atmosphere in the ward remained heavy and oppressive.

Just as they were nearing exhaustion, their investigation into the Gu Group's bankruptcy finally yielded some progress. By reviewing a vast amount of historical data and interviewing former long-time employees, they gradually pieced together the events of how Gu Zhenhua had been framed by Shen Hongyu.

It turned out that Gu Zhenhua and Shen Hongyu had indeed started a business together in the United States. Through their combined efforts, the company had flourished. However, as the company grew, Shen Hongyu's ambition also expanded, and he secretly plotted to seize control of Gu Zhenhua's company.

He employed illicit means to steal the Gu Group's core technology and trade secrets. Then, he secretly collaborated with the Gu Group's competitors, working together to suppress Gu Zhenhua's company. Ultimately, the Gu Group went bankrupt due to a broken capital chain. Gu Zhenhua suffered a devastating blow as a result, his health deteriorated rapidly, and he eventually died with lingering resentment.

And the mastermind behind all of this was none other than Shen Xubai's uncle, Shen Hongyu.

This cruel truth pierced Gu Wanqing's heart like a shard of glass. She had always believed her father's death was an accident, never suspecting such a vile conspiracy lay behind it.

Shen Xubai looked at the distraught Gu Wanqing, his own heart filled with guilt and anger. He had never imagined his family could be so unscrupulous, capable of such heinous acts for the sake of profit.

"Wanqing, I'm sorry, I…" Shen Xubai wanted to comfort Gu Wanqing, but the words failed him.

Gu Wanqing shook her head, tears streaming down her face once more. "This isn't your fault, Xubai. I know you are also a victim."

However, the hatred and pain in her heart gnawed at her like venomous snakes. She could not forgive Shen Hongyu, nor could she forgive everything the Shen family had done.

Just as they were immersed in their grief and anger, Shen Xubai's phone rang again. This time, it was an unfamiliar number, but the area code indicated it was from the United States.

Shen Xubai hesitated for a moment before answering the call.

"Hello, is this Mr. Shen Xubai?" a slightly hoarse male voice asked from the other end, tinged with an air of mystery.

"Yes, speaking. Who is this?" Shen Xubai asked cautiously.

"Who I am is not important. What matters is that I know some truths about the Columbia University shooting ten years ago, and some things that might interest you," the voice paused for a moment before continuing, "If you want to know more, meet me tomorrow afternoon at three o'clock under the old oak tree in Central Park in New York. I will tell you everything."

With that, the other party hung up, giving Shen Xubai no opportunity to ask further questions.

Shen Xubai and Gu Wanqing exchanged a look, their eyes filled with confusion and surprise. Who was this person? Why would he know the truth about the shooting ten years ago? And what did he want to tell them?

Despite the many questions swirling in their minds, Shen Xubai and Gu Wanqing decided to meet this person. They knew this was a rare opportunity that might help them unravel all the mysteries.

The next day at three o'clock in the afternoon, Shen Xubai and Gu Wanqing arrived punctually beneath the old oak tree in Central Park in New York. They waited there for a long time, but no one appeared. Just as they were beginning to think they had been duped, a man in a black trench coat and a baseball cap quietly walked up to them.

"Are you Mr. Shen Xubai and Miss Gu Wanqing?" the man asked in a low voice.

Shen Xubai and Gu Wanqing nodded.

The man looked around, making sure no one was paying attention to them, before lowering his voice further. "I know you are investigating the truth about the Columbia University shooting ten years ago. I know who fired the shot, and I also know who the mastermind was."

Shen Xubai and Gu Wanqing's hearts leaped into their throats. They held their breath, waiting for the man's next words.

"The shooter was Shen Hongyu, and the mastermind was… Shen Zhenhai," the man dropped the bombshell.

Shen Xubai and Gu Wanqing were both stunned, staring at the man in disbelief, as if they had heard the most preposterous thing in the world.

"What did you say? The mastermind… was my father?" Shen Xubai's voice was filled with shock and disbelief.

The man nodded, his eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions. "Yes, Shen Zhenhai was the real puppet master. Back then, in order to completely eliminate Gu Zhenhua as a competitor, he instructed his brother, Shen Hongyu, to stage that shooting incident, which not only killed Gu Mingyuan but also indirectly led to Gu Zhenhua's death."

Gu Wanqing's body trembled violently. She stared at the man in disbelief, tears welling up in her eyes once more. The truth was so cruel. She had always believed Shen Zhenhai was merely concealing the truth to protect Shen Xubai, never imagining that he was the mastermind behind it all!

Shen Xubai's mind went blank. He was completely unable to accept this brutal reality. His father, the man he had always admired as a pillar of strength and integrity, was actually so insidious and ruthless!

"Do… do you have any evidence?" Shen Xubai asked, his voice trembling slightly. He hoped none of this was true.

The man took a USB drive from his pocket and handed it to Shen Xubai. "Inside are some audio recordings and photographs documenting the process of Shen Zhenhai and Shen Hongyu planning all of this back then. You will understand everything once you see it for yourselves."

Shen Xubai took the USB drive with trembling hands, his hand feeling cold and heavy. He knew that this small device likely held all the devastating truths.

Just then, several black sedans suddenly appeared around them. The car doors opened, and a group of men in black suits swiftly emerged, surrounding them.

"It seems someone doesn't want you to know too much," the man said with a cold laugh, his eyes filled with a hint of mockery.

Shen Xubai and Gu Wanqing's hearts sank. They knew Fang Jianguo's men had arrived.