Beneath the Marriage Pact

Chapter 1: Red Seal as Evidence, Each gets What They want (2)

The old house of the Shen family is located halfway up the mountain. It is a Western-style building from the Republic of China era, and the camphor trees in the courtyard are over a hundred years old. When Shen Zhixia followed the driver into the living room, it was already full of people.

Shen's father, Shen Hongyuan, was sitting in the main seat, holding a newspaper in his hand without even raising his eyelids. Beside him sat a well-maintained middle-aged woman, Liu Mei, Shen Zhixia's stepmother, who was looking her up and down with a critical gaze as if she were looking at a defective item.

Shen Yuwei was wearing a pink princess dress and snuggling up beside Liu Mei. When she saw Shen Zhixia come in, she deliberately exaggerated and exclaimed, "Sister, why are you dressed like this and come here?" Don't you know there's an important guest today?"

Shen Zhixia ignored her and went up to Shen Hongyuan, calling out properly, "Dad."

Then Shen Hongyuan put down the newspaper, glanced at her, and said in a flat tone, "Back. Sit down." As if she were not a daughter just found from outside, but an ordinary distant relative.

Shen Zhixia sat down in the chair in the far corner, just as she was seated, Liu Mei spoke: "Zhixia, it's not auntie who says you, look at your dress... Then ask Yuwei to pick out some clothes for you. Girls should be more careful." There was a lot of disdain in the words.

"No need. I have my own clothes." Shen Zhixia said indifferently.

"How could you wear that dress out?" Shen Yuwei immediately chimed in, "The last time I saw that T-shirt you were wearing, it was washed so white. If you don't know, you might think our Shen family has treated you unfairly."

Shen Zhixia looked up at her: "Miss Shen is saying that the Shen family is stingy?"

Shen Yuwei didn't expect her to talk back and blushed at once: "I didn't! I'm just...

"Just think I've brought shame to the Shen family?" Shen Zhixia smiled, "I'm really sorry. After all, I just came back from the 'junk collection' place and haven't seen Miss Shen such a precious person."

"You!" Shen Yuwei was so angry that she tried to stand up, but Liu Mei held her down.

Liu Mei said with a forced smile, "This child, Zhi Xia, has just come back and is straightforward. That's a good thing. Oh, Hongyuan, over at the Ling family... Really agree?" She looked at Shen Hongyuan, her eyes full of anticipation.

Shen Hongyuan nodded: "Ling Xu 'an has signed the agreement and will get married next Wednesday."

"Great!" Liu Mei, beaming with joy, said, "With the big tree of the Ling family, our Shen family's financial problem is solved!"

Shen Yuwei laughed along, but looked at Shen Zhixia with a more venomous gaze. She had thought it would be her who would marry Ling Xu 'an, after all, she was the rightful daughter of the Shen family.

Shen Zhixia sat in the corner, listening to them discuss how to use this marriage to exploit the Ling family's resources. Her heart was stuffed with a cotton ball, feeling suffocated and blocked. Is this her family? All she has in her eyes is money and profit.

Just then the doorbell rang. The servant went to open the door and quickly led in two men in suits, carrying several exquisite gift boxes.

May I ask who is Miss Shen Zhixia? The leading man asked.

Shen Zhixia was stunned for a moment and stood up: "I am."

"Hello, we are from the Ling Group." The man handed her the gift box. "This is what Mr. Ling asked us to deliver, saying it's formal attire for the dinner party. Also, Mr. Ling said he would send a car to pick you up next Wednesday at the civil affairs office."

The living room fell silent in an instant, and the expressions of Shen Hongyuan, Liu Mei and Shen Yuwei all turned very bright.

Shen Zhixia took the gift box, which was quite heavy. When she opened it, she found a champagne-colored evening dress that felt expensive to the touch, along with a pair of matching high heels and a small handbag.

"Thank you, Mr. Ling, for me." Shen Zhixia closed the gift box, her tone calm.

After Ling's men left, Liu Mei was the first to react, and with a smile, she walked up to Shen Zhixia: "Zhixia, look how considerate Mr. Ling is, and he even brought you a gift dress." She was a completely different person from before.

Shen Yuwei was so jealous that her eyes were red and she said, "Isn't it just a set of clothes? What's so great about it?"

Shen Zhixia ignored them and turned upstairs with the gift box. When she went upstairs, she saw an empty room at the end of the corridor, with dust on the door. It should be unoccupied.

She pushed open the door. The room was small, with only a bed and an old wardrobe, and the window was facing the camphor tree in the yard. Shen Zhixia placed the gift box on the bed and walked to the window. The wind rustled through the leaves, like a lullaby that her foster mother hummed to lull her to sleep.

She took out the pen that Ling Xu 'an had given her from her pocket and placed it on the windowsill. The pen, with its cold glow in the setting sun, was out of place in the splendid dress.

Shen Zhixia suddenly felt that this deal of mutual benefit seemed much more complicated than she had imagined. What on earth is Ling Xu 'an after? Is it really just to deal with the family, or...

She shook her head and cast aside all the jumbled thoughts. No matter what purpose Ling Xu 'an had, she had only one goal - to find out the cause of her mother's death. As for the rest, it doesn't matter.

Shen Zhixia had just hung her dress in the closet when the door was knocked on.

"Come in." She turned and saw Shen Yuwei standing at the door with her arms crossed, with undisguised hostility on her face.

"Oh, put on the dress given by Mr. Ling, do you feel like you're really a rich girl?" Shen Yuwei came in, her eyes swept around the room, her lips curled high, "This shabby room is worthy of Mrs. Ling?"

Shen Zhixia leaned against the window and didn't respond. Silence is the best weapon against such a senseless provocation.

"Don't be smug." Seeing that she was not responding, Shen Yuwei became even more excited. "Ling Xu 'an married you only for the Shen family's resources. When he achieves his goal, you will be the first one to kick out."

"That's better than some people who don't even have the value of being exploited." Shen Zhixia replied indifferently.

"You!" Shen Yuwei was so angry that her face turned red and she rushed up to push her, but Shen Zhixia dodged her sideways. She staggered, saw the pen on the windowsill, reached out and grabbed it, "What is this? "From Ling Xu 'an?"

The pen spun around in her hand and Shen Zhixia frowned: "Give it back to me."

"Why?" Shen Yuwei stuffed the pen into her pocket, raised an eyebrow and smiled, "It's mine now. If you have the ability, tell Ling Xu 'an and see if he will help you or me."

Shen Zhixia stared at the pen in her pocket. It was the pen Ling Xu 'an had used when signing the engagement, not very valuable, but she just didn't want Shen Yuwei to take it away. She took a step forward and her tone turned cold: "Say one last time, give it back to me."

"I won't --" before Shen Yuwei could finish her words, Liu Mei's voice came from downstairs: "Yuwei! Come down and get ready for dinner!"

She glared at Shen Zhixia, turned and ran downstairs with a thump thump thump, making a face at Shen Zhixia before leaving.

Shen Zhixia stood there, her hands pale from her grip. Is this her "sister"? Snatching things so brazenly. She took a deep breath. Well, it's just a pen. There's no need to be angry with such a person.

It was just a bit of pent-up restlessness that resurfaced in her heart.

The dinner was held in the dining room of the old house. The long redwood table was filled with dishes, and the light of the crystal chandelier shone on the plates, making the food shiny and shiny. Shen Hongyuan sat in the main seat, Liu Mei and Shen Yuwei were on either side, and Shen Zhixia was placed at the very end, like an insignificant guest.

"Zhixia, eat more." Liu Mei pretended to give her a piece of pork rib. "You must have been starving when you just came back. From now on, it's a family. Don't be polite."

Shen Zhixia did not touch the ribs and picked up a bite of green vegetable with serving chopsticks: "Thank you, auntie."

"Right, Zhixia," Shen Hongyuan put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, "next Wednesday at the civil affairs bureau, you must perform well and not leave a bad impression on Mr. Ling."

"Dad, don't worry. I know what to do." Shen Zhixia didn't even raise her head.

"Measure?" I don't think you know at all!" Shen Yuwei suddenly spoke, "You dare to see Ling Xu 'an in that street stall outfit. If it weren't for the magnanimity of General Manager Ling, you would have been kicked out long ago!"

"Yuwei!" Shen Hongyuan frowned, but he wasn't really angry.

Shen Yuwei snorted, picked up a piece of abalone and stuffed it into her mouth: "I'm telling the truth. Sister, don't think that marrying into the Ling family means everything is fine. The Ling family has a lot of rules. With you, you might be kicked out one day."

Shen Zhixia put down her chopsticks and looked at her: "Whether I get kicked out or not seems to have nothing to do with you. Instead of worrying about me, you should think about how to make up for the misappropriation of the Shen family's funds to buy the bag."

Shen Yuwei's face turned pale with a whoosh: "What nonsense are you talking!"

"Whether I'm talking nonsense or not, you know." Shen Zhixia smiled, "The limited edition bag you bought in Paris last week was paid with the company's petty cash, wasn't it? There's a record on the finance side."

It was in the afternoon while listening to the radio in the driver's car that she overheard the financial news that the Shen family was short of funds and could hardly pay their employees' salaries, and then followed the clues to think of it. Shen Yuwei is so spoiled that she must be short of money. The embezzlement of public funds is likely to be true.

Shen Hongyuan's face darkened: "Yuwei, is what she said true?

"Dad! I didn't! It was she who framed me!" Shen Yuwei was so anxious that she was on the verge of crying.

"Isn't it a false accusation? Just look it up and we'll know." Shen Zhixia stood up. "I'm full. I'm going upstairs first."

She turned away from the restaurant, with the sound of Shen Hongyuan scolding Shen Yuwei and Liu Mei pleading behind her, making a commotion like a vegetable market.

Back in the room, Shen Zhixia leaned against the door and let out a long breath. She wasn't quite sure of what she had said just now, and she didn't expect it to actually expose Shen Yuwei's flaw. It seems that in the murky waters of the Shen family, just enduring is of no use; when it's time to fight back, one must fight back.

She went to the window, trying to forget about the pen, but found something on the windowsill - it was the pen!

Shen Zhixia was stunned for a moment and picked up the pen. The pen body was still cold, as if it had just been put back not long ago. Could it be that Shen Yuwei has a change of heart? It doesn't seem so.

She went to the door, opened a crack and looked down. There was still noise in the living room, Shen Yuwei was crying on the table, and Liu Mei was comforting her. She didn't see anyone going upstairs.

Who brought the pen back?

On the top floor of Ling's Building, Ling Xu 'an had just finished a video conference and rubbed his forehead. Uncle Zhao pushed the door open and came in with a tablet in his hand.

"Boss, the situation of the Shen family dinner." He handed the tablet to Ling Xu 'an. "Shen Yuwei did embezzle the company's money to buy the bag. Mr. Shen has asked the finance department to look into it."

Ling Xu 'an clicked on the video, which showed Shen Zhixia and Shen Yuwei facing off. He watched Shen Zhixia speak calmly about Shen Yuwei's embezzlement of public funds, with a slight smile on his lips. This woman was more resourceful than he had imagined.

"Where's the pen?" He suddenly asked.

Uncle Zhao was stunned for a moment: "What pen?"

"The pen I used when I signed the agreement." Ling Xu 'an's eyes darkened as he remembered Shen Zhixia's insistence on taking the pen away before leaving. "Shen Yuwei took the pen away in the afternoon."

"Oh, that one." Uncle Zhao suddenly realized, "I had someone bring it back. I was afraid that Miss Shen would be too embarrassed to ask Shen Yuwei for it, so I asked the bodyguards downstairs to go up and 'borrow' it and secretly put it on her windowsill."

Ling Xu 'an said nothing, swiped his finger on the tablet, and the scene froze on Shen Zhixia's astonished expression when she found the pen.

"Well done." He said indifferently.

Uncle Zhao heaved a sigh of relief in his heart. It seemed that he had guessed the boss's thoughts.

"Right, boss," Zhao said again, "Chen Mo has set up the visitor account. The account is Miss Shen's birthday, and the password is the initials of Mrs. Ling plus the year."

Ling Xu 'an raised an eyebrow: "He's quite good at saving time."

"Mainly, I'm afraid Miss Shen won't remember." Uncle Zhao smiled. "Chen Mo said that this account shows all the data of the Ling and Shen's cooperation in the past five years, including the project that Ms. Shen Qingyao was in charge of back then."

Ling Xu 'an nodded: "Got it."

After Uncle Zhao left, Ling Xu 'an picked up his phone and sent a text message to Shen Zhixia: [Account number and password have been sent to your phone. Please check.]

He stared at the screen for a while, did not receive a reply, and then put down his phone. He turned on his computer and retrieved the information of the project that Shen Qingyao was in charge of back then. The project, called "Starlight Project", was a new energy project that was doing well at that time, but was suddenly halted after Shen Qingyao's death for unknown reasons.

There must be something wrong with this.

Ling Xu 'an looked at the photo of Shen Qingyao on the file. The woman in the photo was wearing a white coat, with a gentle smile but bright eyes, somewhat like Shen Zhixia.

He suddenly recalled that when he was a child, his grandfather had taken him to the Shen family to meet Shen Qingyao. He was only six years old and hid behind his grandfather. Shen Qingyao gave him a candy and said with a smile, "This kid is really handsome."

The candy was orange and very sweet.

Ling Xu 'an closed the data page, leaned back in his chair and looked out of the window at the night view. The lights of the city flickered like stars, and suddenly he felt that this marriage of mutual benefit might be more interesting than he had imagined.

Shen Zhixia was studying Ling's database when he received the text message. The account number and password were so simple that she remembered them all at once.

There was a lot of information in the database, and she flipped through it bit by bit in chronological order and finally found the "Starlight Project" that her mother had been in charge of back then.

The project information was detailed, from the initial conception to the subsequent implementation, every step was recorded. Shen Zhixia looked more and more alarmed. The prospects of this project were very good. If it could proceed smoothly, it might have occupied more than half of the new energy market by now. But why was it suddenly called off?

She flipped down to find out why the project was halted, only to discover that the information behind it was encrypted and required higher privileges to view.

Shen Zhixia frowned. It seemed that she needed higher privileges to find out the truth.

She turned off the database, picked up her phone and sent a text message back to Ling Xu 'an: [Received, thank you.]