The Tyrannical CEO Who Cannot Walk (16)

Everything went even more smoothly than expected. Shen Hao was in an exceptionally good mood; after dinner, he escorted Tang Xin back to her room, coaxed her a little, and presented his gift. Tang Xin, upon receiving it, instantly became obedient and compliant.

As dusk fell, Si Jiu had barely returned to her room when Shen Hao came knocking.

“What is it?” she asked, leaning against the door, making no move to let him in.

Shen Hao, confident that he had already tested the waters with Si Jiu earlier, got straight to the point. “I have a proposal for a collaboration I’d like to discuss with you.”

“You’re from the Shen family,” she remarked.

“Miss Tang is a clever woman,” Shen Hao replied with a meaningful smile. “It seems you already know what I want to talk about.”

“I have no idea,” she said coolly.

Shen Hao fell silent for a moment.

“Miss Tang, this isn’t very sporting of you. I came with sincerity,” he said, producing a prepared envelope. “There’s a check inside. What sum would you like me to write on it?”

Si Jiu’s face showed a hint of intrigue. After a pause, she stepped aside. “Come in, let’s talk.”

…

At that very moment, Shen Huai received a message.

The photo clearly showed Si Jiu and Shen Hao conversing at her doorway. The next image was of Shen Hao entering the room.

Shen Huai’s fingers tightened slightly around his phone. After a moment, he dialed Si Jiu’s number.

“Hello?” Her side was quiet, but Shen Huai couldn’t help wondering—was Shen Hao sitting right next to her now, and with what kind of gaze was he looking at her? The very thought left a bitter taste in his chest.

“Miss Tang, what are you doing?”

“I just had dinner. I’m a bit sleepy and about to go to bed.”

Shen Huai’s fingers curled tighter, his face expressionless, but his voice was a little hoarse. “Is that so?”

There was a brief silence between them before Shen Huai finally spoke again. “It gets cold at night; turn up the heat so you don’t catch a chill.”

“Mm.”

He couldn’t discern her emotions, nor did he hear any words of longing.

So, in the end, salvation really doesn’t exist, does it?

“If you need anything, call me.”

“All right.”

“If there’s… anything you want, you can always tell me, okay?”

As long as you ask.

“I understand.”

But in the end, she said nothing. Shen Huai’s heart grew colder, bit by bit.

…

[Host, are you really going to let the male lead misunderstand you like this?]

Si Jiu lay in bed, and oddly enough, she found herself unable to sleep, the emptiness at her side strangely noticeable.

[With Shen Hao right next to me, what am I supposed to say?]

[Are you really going to help Shen Hao and his father steal evidence from the male lead and pilfer his company’s trade secrets?]

Isn’t that idiotic? Si Jiu couldn’t stand it and rolled her eyes. “Take a guess.”

System: I’m not guessing.

That night, Shen Huai sat alone in his study until dawn broke gray and cold.

Si Jiu stayed at the villa for only two days. During that time, Shen Huai was uncharacteristically ruthless toward Shen Zhe and his son. Initially, they had merely been expelled from the center of the Shen family’s power. As long as they behaved, it seemed Shen Huai had planned to let them be.

But in the past two days, Shen Zhe’s own businesses had come under direct attack from Shen Huai. Deals that had been secured fell through one after another, and cash flow dried up—collapse was only a matter of time.

Shen Hao fared even worse. After going out to bars and provoking the wrong woman, he was beaten by her boyfriend and his friends, ending up in the hospital with a broken leg.

Shen Zhe, shaken and furious, demanded, “What happened? Did that useless fool discover our plans? Or did that wretched woman betray us?”

Shen Hao lay in his hospital bed, his face slick with cold sweat from the pain. “Impossible. I’ve always been careful.”

“You said the same about the car accident last time,” Shen Zhe snapped, pacing the hospital room in visible agitation.

“Dad, you’re overthinking it. Tang You is just money-hungry. Otherwise, why would she be with a cripple? She’s only after his money.

People like her, who’ve known real poverty, are easy to buy off.

I made the stakes clear to her. She knows Shen Huai doesn’t have long left—how much could she possibly get by staying with him?

She’d never betray us.

If anything, it’s Shen Huai who seems to have real feelings for her. The other day, he even called to check on her. It’s about time we sent her back; I’ll call her now.”

Shen Zhe replied, “It had better be as you say. We have no other options left.”