When the Shi family found out that Shi Dan had been sent to the hospital, the old master of the family rushed over without a moment’s delay.
But the moment he saw Shi Ren sitting by Shi Dan’s bedside, his fury exploded.
“Shi Ren! Didn’t you swear to me that you’d keep Shi Dan safe? Look at him now—this is what your protection looks like?”
Faced with the old man’s wrath, Shi Ren’s expression remained unchanged.
He stood up, unflinching before the elder. “You should know better than anyone what kind of person your grandson is. The person he offended… it’s impossible to retaliate.”
“Impossible?” The old master was momentarily stunned, but he quickly came to his senses.
Clearly, Shi Dan had provoked someone he absolutely shouldn’t have this time.
Shi Ren glanced at Shi Dan, who was lying in the hospital bed, staring back at him with an expression like he wanted to speak—but for some reason, he remained silent.
“You’re too out of the loop. The Gu family has a new young master. They haven’t officially acknowledged him yet, but at the next banquet, they’ll announce his return. Once that happens, you’ll know exactly who he is.”
“A new young master of the Gu family? There’s no such person. And even if there were, what does he have to do with Shi Dan?”
“Before the Gu family split apart, did you really think Gu ZhouTing was the only one?”
Shi Ren’s words made the old man’s eyes widen in disbelief.
He never imagined he’d hear that name again in his lifetime. Back when that person had been cast out of the Gu family, all of the capital’s noble houses had breathed a sigh of relief. Because compared to Gu ZhouTing, he was far more terrifying.
“You’re saying… that new young master is Gu ZhouXing’s grandson?! That’s impossible! Gu ZhouXing and Gu ZhouTing were sworn enemies—there’s no way Gu ZhouTing would ever bring him back!”
The old man shook his head repeatedly, his face filled with disbelief.
But Shi Ren didn’t respond. He stared coldly at the old man and said sharply, “I’ve told you the facts. Now hear this: if you fail to keep your end of our deal again, I won’t protect the Shi family any longer. Whatever happens to your grandson after that—it’s not my concern.”
“No—you can’t do that!”
“Whether I can or not isn’t up to you. If your son can’t destroy ‘Blizzard,’ then you’re of no use to me.” Shi Ren glanced once more at Shi Dan in bed, then turned to leave.
“Wait, Shi Ren! You’re part of the Shi family—our affairs are your affairs too!”
“Don’t bother trying to guilt me. I have nothing to do with the Shi family. I came to you only because I needed a deal. I have only one family—her name is HuMin.”
At the mention of that name, a rare flicker of emotion crossed Shi Ren’s otherwise calm face.
Without another word, he turned and walked out of the room.
Just as he exited, he bumped into Zhao DanNi in the hallway. She looked flustered and breathless, clearly having rushed here.
He recognized her immediately—and loathed her. To think someone like Ye QiuXue had a mother … how pitiful.
But this world was full of pitiful people, and Shi Ren didn’t have time to pity any of them.
He had only one goal now: to destroy ‘Blizzard’ completely.
His gaze was cold, his determination absolute. His silhouette faded down the corridor, swallowed by the sterile white of the hospital.
Inside the room, the moment Shi Ren left, Shi Dan went berserk.
He couldn’t stand the humiliation of being trampled by HuMing. And the root of it all… was Zhao DanNi!
“Your slut daughter is just as disgusting as you are! Acting all innocent? Please—she’s already latched onto the Gu family’s golden branch. ‘Never been with a guy’? My ass—she’s already been ridden like a goddamn horse!”
He hurled his abuse at Zhao DanNi right in front of the old master.
Zhao DanNi lowered her head and said nothing, not daring to defend herself. The old man, too, remained silent throughout.
“Get out! Get the hell out of here!”
Shi Dan grabbed a glass of water and hurled it at Zhao DanNi. The splash smeared the makeup she’d just finished applying.
Humiliated, Zhao DanNi could only slink away in shame.
Now only Shi Dan and the old master remained in the room.
“Grandpa… you have to help me. I can’t just let them walk all over me !”
“Help you? Then tell me: what’s the boy’s name?”
“HuMing. His name is HuMing!”
“Shi Dan, drop this. I’ll have someone keep an eye on that HuMing kid, but you—don’t stir up any more trouble. Your father is working on something important. Right now, what the Shi family needs is peace.”
Shi Dan clutched at his bedsheet so hard he nearly tore it. But he knew—it was over.
There’d be no justice for him.
That’s what burned the most.
He lowered his head, voice bitter and low. “…Understood, Grandpa.”
Meanwhile, Xia XiaoXi was packing her things, getting ready to head back to JingDu.
Technically, finals were still two weeks away, but Xia GaoWu had asked her to come back early. The Gu family had invited them to a banquet in a few days.
Xia XiaoXi was thrilled. For her, it meant another chance to see Hu Ming.
Her flight was already booked. She’d be back in JingDu by early tomorrow.
Of course, not many people knew about her real identity. But that would all be revealed at the banquet.
She glanced at her chat history with HuMing, their recent conversations still on the screen.
Her brother had told her that HuMing had been spending a lot of time with someone recently—a girl. He didn’t know her name, but Xia XiaoXi did.
It had to be Ye QiuXue. HuMing wouldn’t get close to just any girl.
She didn’t know if she still had a chance. But just being near HuMing again—that was already enough.
“Sister XiaoXi, I’m jealous you get to see Hu Ming! I haven’t seen him in forever…” came Yun Xi’s voice message.
“It’s okay! When summer break comes, we’ll go see him together!”
On the other side of the city, Bai YongKang spoke on the phone. “Have you taken care of Xia GaoWu?”
“It’s done. He’ll die on his way out of town. Everyone will believe Bai XingQi did it.”
“Good. That’s how it should be. Once he’s out of the way, everything that was his—‘Blizzard’ included—will be yours.”
The voice on the other end said nothing and hung up silently.
He slowly lifted his head.
A savage scar ran down the side of his face.
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