Chapter 135: Afraid You Might Soil My Floors

Shen Xuejun clutched his injured arm, glaring at Shen Chutang and her companion with a vicious expression. "Very well, Shen Chutang. You’ve actually learned to join forces with outsiders to deal with your own father. Good, very good!"

With that, Shen Xuejun left in a disheveled state. After all, one glance at Lu Beiqin was enough to see he was not someone to be trifled with; as long as that man was around, there was no way he could gain any advantage over Shen Chutang.

Lu Beiqin watched the man’s retreating figure with a cold, sharp gaze, but when he turned back to look at Shen Chutang, he felt a flicker of unease. He wondered if he had been too heavy-handed just now, and if he had frightened her.

"I'm sor—"

Before he could finish, Shen Chutang had already picked up his hand to examine it. "Are you alright?"

Lu Beiqin was stunned. "???"

Shen Chutang continued, "Your hand doesn't hurt, does it? It’s a good thing you intervened; otherwise, I would have wanted to slap him myself!"

A faint smile slowly tugged at the corners of Lu Beiqin’s lips. "It doesn't hurt."

The two parked the car and walked toward the house. "I don't mind telling you, it’s not something to be proud of, but I’m not close to that 'cheap' father of mine at all. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve called him father."

Lu Beiqin looked at the slender girl walking beside him. For some reason, he felt a sense of loneliness in her silhouette. He couldn't understand why a girl with such a wonderful personality and so much talent would be so disliked by her own family.

Shen Chutang walked very close to him, their arms brushing against each other from time to time. Lu Beiqin quietly opened his hand, wanting to take hers, but hesitated. After all, while they were husband and wife in name, their marriage was fundamentally nothing more than a mutual arrangement of convenience.

Shen Chutang didn't notice his internal struggle and continued, "But I don't covet that kind of family affection anyway. I have my master, my junior uncle, and my senior brothers who love me; they treat me very well. Even without the Shen family, I can live just fine!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Shen Chutang felt her hand being enveloped by a large, warm palm. A rare look of awkwardness appeared on Lu Beiqin’s stoic face. "You... you have me as well. I will make sure you live well."

Shen Chutang felt the man’s large, warm hand, and a heat began to spread from her arm all the way to her cheeks, yet she did not pull away. She figured this must be the silent man’s unique way of offering comfort.

...

The next day, at the Shen residence.

Upon learning that Shen Xuejun’s arm had been snapped the previous night, Old Madam Shen, Shen Xueshi, and the rest of the family came to visit.

After hearing Shen Xuejun’s version of events, the Old Madam flew into a rage. "This Shen Chutang is simply outrageous! Not only did she refuse to help when asked, but she even dared to injure Xuejun’s arm. It is utterly rebellious!"

Shen Xuejun’s arm had been bandaged overnight and was now slung across his chest. He looked wretched. "This unfilial daughter is clearly unwilling to help our Shen family overcome this crisis."

Old Madam Shen said sternly, "Help or not, she will help. She is a member of the Shen family in life, and she will be a ghost of the Shen family in death!"

Shen Tingting, naturally, could not stand the fact that her credit cards were blocked. If this continued, how could she maintain her image as a wealthy socialite among her classmates? "Grandma, you have to find a way. That wretched girl is heartless!"

Old Madam Shen pondered for a moment before saying, "Xuejun, go and find out the Crown Prince's schedule for this period. If all else fails, we will send this wretched girl to him. Perhaps once the Crown Prince is pleased, he will forgive us for our previous transgressions."

Shen Tingting was consumed by jealousy. The Crown Prince was such a high and mighty figure; why should Shen Chutang be the one to possess him? "No, why should we let that cheap woman Shen Chutang benefit from this!"

Old Madam Shen scolded her, "Don't be foolish! The Shen family is at this point now, and you’re still thinking about such trivialities! Besides, once the plan succeeds, we can find a way to place you by the Crown Prince’s side as well."

Liu Shuhua couldn't help but ask, "But, will this actually work?"

Old Madam Shen was determined. "Didn’t Xuejun just say that Shen Chutang admitted herself that she isn't close to the Crown Prince? I suspect that might be true. After all, Shen Chutang is married; she couldn't possibly be openly seducing the Crown Prince. We must make her get a divorce immediately!"

Liu Shuhua frowned. "But this wretched girl didn't even notify us when she got married. Can we really make them divorce?"

Old Madam Shen calmly took a sip of tea. "Why wouldn't we be able to? It is precisely because they didn't notify us when they married that they are easier to manipulate now."

As she spoke, Old Madam Shen laid out her plan. Upon hearing it, Shen Xuejun nodded immediately. "Good, let’s do it!"

That evening, when Lu Beiqin and Shen Chutang returned from work, they were blocked at the entrance of their residential compound by the Shen family before they could even drive in.

The display was quite grand; Old Madam Shen had come in person, bringing along Shen Xuejun’s family and Shen Xueshi’s family.

Shen Chutang poked her head out of the car window and asked languidly, "Is there something you need?"

Old Madam Shen said coldly, "You’ve been married for so long; naturally, we had to come and pay you a visit. What, are you not going to welcome us inside?"

"I don't welcome you. I'm afraid you'll dirty my floors."

Old Madam Shen’s expression shifted. "You!"