That late-night bowl of porridge was treasured by Shen Yunmian like something precious, replayed over and over in her heart.
She interpreted it as a sign—a faint sign that perhaps… things were not entirely without hope.
This hope was like a flickering candle in the wind, weak yet persistent, supporting her as she locked all her surging obsessions and desires even more tightly within the cage of her rationality, not daring to cross the line even a single step.
Over the next few days, during the necessary work interactions, Shen Yunmian seemed to have quietly adjusted her attitude.
She was no longer like before, carrying that almost burning humility and tentative probing, treating every communication with extreme caution as if walking on thin ice. Instead, she became more calm and professional. During proposal discussions, she remained precise and sharp, pointing out problems with piercing accuracy; in project coordination, her instructions were clear, efficiency above all.
Only in the gaps of official business did she forcibly suppress that fervent longing.
This change was subtle, yet effective.
Yu Sheng did feel a certain degree of ease.
At least, she no longer had to constantly face those cautious eyes—it truly made her uncomfortable.
Communication became simple, like stripping away tangled vines, leaving only a clear main stem.
However, this fragile balance was quickly broken by a phone call.
"President Shen!" Secretary Li's voice carried rare urgency. "The Second Miss… something happened!"
Shen Yunmian's brows furrowed sharply. "Explain clearly."
"The police reported that Second Miss skipped class to participate in illegal underground street racing. The vehicle lost control and crashed into a guardrail, causing a chain accident… The driver of the other car is seriously injured and still being rescued. Second Miss herself has minor injuries, but she has been detained by the police and is facing serious charges. The media has already caught wind of it… I'm afraid it can't be suppressed."
Shen Yunmian closed her eyes, her fingers unconsciously tightening against the cold surface of the desk.
Anger—and an even deeper, almost numb exhaustion—washed over her.
This younger sister, spoiled by their mother, had once again taken ignorance to the extreme, walking the same path as in her previous life.
"Understood." Her voice carried little emotion. "Prepare two sets of materials immediately. First, activate the crisis public relations plan to minimize the impact on the group's reputation. Second, contact that boarding school known for its militarized management and arrange Shen Xingyao's enrollment."
The orders were concise and cold, devoid of emotion.
Secretary Li felt a chill and immediately responded, "Yes, President Shen!"
The news spread rapidly like it had grown wings, fermenting across the country.
[Daughter of Shen family causes crash while street racing, wealthy family disregards human life]
Shocking headlines dominated the front pages, and both Shen Corporation and Yu Corporation suffered massive public backlash.
To avoid affecting Yu Sheng, Shen Yunmian directly made public their divorce, separating Yu Corporation from the crisis.
In the office, Zhou Yaqin's crying and shouting nearly lifted the roof.
"Yunmian, you can't be so heartless! Xingyao is your own sister—she was just momentarily confused… What kind of place is that? How can she be sent there to suffer? She's injured and needs her mother's care!"
She tried to grab her daughter's sleeve, her well-maintained face streaked with tears, filled with genuine panic.
Shen Yunmian expressionlessly pulled her hand away. "Mom, my decision won't change. The Shen family will not clean up her mess again, and I will not indulge her anymore."
"But you can't send her to a place like that! That's no different from prison!"
Zhou Yaqin screamed, "She's your only sister!"
"Precisely because she's my sister, I must make her learn to take responsibility for her actions," Shen Yunmian said firmly, leaving no room for negotiation. "Otherwise, next time, she might lose her life—or drag the entire Shen family into irreversible ruin."
Ignoring her mother's cries, she turned to the assistant. "Effective immediately, freeze all trust-funded accounts under Shen Xingyao's name. Only provide a standard monthly allowance to ensure she can complete her studies. Without my written approval, no one is allowed to pay any additional expenses for her for any reason."
"Yes!"
After handling all this, Shen Yunmian rubbed her aching temples. Just as she was about to convene an emergency meeting to stabilize stock prices, the internal phone rang again.
"President Shen," the receptionist's voice hesitated, "the Old Madam has arrived… and she's very agitated."
Shen Yunmian took a deep breath. "Let her in."
Old Madam Shen entered the office, her face livid.
"What trouble has Xingyao caused? And…" she paused, her voice suddenly rising with suppressed anger, "the outside world is buzzing that you and Yu Sheng are divorced. Is it true?"
Shen Yunmian met her grandmother's gaze without avoiding it. "Grandma, I will handle Xingyao's matter and minimize the impact. As for Yu Sheng and me… we are indeed divorced."
"Ridiculous!" The old woman struck the ground heavily with her cane. "Such a major matter, and you hid it from me! Do you even regard me as your grandmother? Divorce? Do you know how much turmoil this will bring to the group? What about Yu Sheng? What did she say?"
"This was a mutual decision," Shen Yunmian said calmly. "The follow-up public relations and plans have already been deployed. The transition will be smooth. Please rest assured."
"Rest assured? How can I be reassured!"
Old Madam Shen was furious, her chest heaving. "You… you are really paying me less and less respect!"
At that moment, Shen Yunmian's phone vibrated.
She glanced at it. It was a brief report from someone stationed near Jingshui Bay: "Madam and Second Miss have gone to President Yu's residence."
A sharp light flashed in Shen Yunmian's eyes, and she immediately interrupted her grandmother.
"Grandma, I have something to handle. You don't need to concern yourself with Shen Corporation's matters anymore."
Without waiting for a response, she strode out, ignoring the old woman's dark expression.
At the Jingshui Bay apartment, Yu Sheng was following the developments of public opinion when the doorbell rang urgently.
Through the peephole, seeing Zhou Yaqin and Shen Xingyao outside—with a bandage wrapped around her wrist and a pale face—Yu Sheng froze for a moment.
How did they find this place?
She opened the door, her tone distant and restrained. "What is it?"
"Sheng Sheng! Sheng Sheng, you have to help Xingyao—help Auntie!" Zhou Yaqin clung to her like a last lifeline, tears flowing before words, completely disregarding her usual elegance. She stepped forward to grab Yu Sheng's hand, but Yu Sheng avoided it calmly.
Unembarrassed, she continued crying, her voice trembling with desperation. "Yunmian… she's gone mad! She's determined to send Xingyao to that remote, strict disciplinary school. I heard it's like military management—hard and exhausting, not a place for people to stay. Xingyao is injured, she's in pain and scared—how can she be so heartless to her own sister!"
Shen Xingyao sobbed quietly beside her, still visibly shaken. "Sister-in-law… no, Yu Sheng… I know I was wrong, I really know! I won't dare again! Can you help me plead with my sister? I don't want to be locked up, I'm scared…"
Blocked at the doorway, listening to their tearful accusations and pleas, Yu Sheng frowned slightly, a sense of helplessness and irritation rising within her.
She took a deep breath and stated her position clearly and calmly, trying to draw a boundary. "Mrs. Shen, Second Miss Shen, I think you've made a mistake. Shen Yunmian and I are officially divorced. We have no relationship. This is the Shen family's private matter—I have no position to interfere. You should speak to Shen Yunmian directly."
But Zhou Yaqin refused to listen. She knew that the only person who could change her now cold and unyielding daughter's mind was Yu Sheng.
Her tone took on clear moral pressure. "Sheng Sheng, you can't say that! Even if… even if you and Yunmian have separated, there's still some bond, right? Xingyao has always treated you like her own sister! Look at her—she's still so young, and injured. If she's really sent to a place like that, her life could be ruined! Only you can persuade Yunmian now. Just take pity on me as a mother and say a word for us, please? I'm begging you!"
As she spoke, Zhou Yaqin actually began to bend down.
Yu Sheng instinctively stepped aside, her tone sharpening slightly. "Mrs. Shen, please respect yourself. I really can't help with this."
Seeing her mother's pleas fail, Shen Xingyao steeled herself and suddenly dropped to her knees on the cold tiles at Yu Sheng's doorway. "I'm begging you! I kneel to apologize! I was ignorant before—if I offended you, please be magnanimous and don't hold it against me. Only you can save me now. Please help me!"
This sudden kneeling left Yu Sheng frozen in place, a headache forming.
Just then, her phone rang.
It was Shen Yunmian.
She stepped aside to answer. "Hello?"
On the other end, Shen Yunmian's voice was tense and apologetic. "Sheng Sheng, I'm sorry. Did my mom and Xingyao went to bother you? I'll send someone to take them away immediately."
Yu Sheng let out a quiet breath. "Yes, they just arrived."
Shen Yunmian's voice lowered. "I've caused you trouble. I'll handle it cleanly. They won't affect you again."
Yu Sheng was silent for a moment, then couldn't help adding, "Sometimes excessive indulgence does more harm than good."
There was a brief silence before Shen Yunmian's slightly hoarse reply came through. "I understand."
Soon, the people Shen Yunmian sent arrived and escorted Zhou Yaqin and Shen Xingyao away.
The news of Shen Xingyao causing an accident and Shen Yunmian's strict handling was already spreading wildly. The scene of Zhou Yaqin and Shen Xingyao going to Yu Sheng's residence for help was captured by relentless paparazzi.
[Divorce confirmed? Former in-laws seek help in vain—complete split between Shen and Yu families?]
[Shen Group Internal Crisis? The heir ruthlessly rectifies the family, stock prices worsen!]
All kinds of speculative reports were rampant, and the stock prices of Shen Group and Yu Group were hit once again.
Yu Sheng looked at the fluctuating stock chart and the glaring news headlines on the screen, rubbing her temples.
Although she had long been mentally prepared, the surge of public opinion still brought some unnecessary trouble.
In the evening, her phone rang again. It was still Shen Yunmian.
"Sheng Sheng," her voice sounded a bit tired, but she tried to remain calm, "today's news… did you see it?"
"Mm." Yu Sheng responded.
"Don't worry, all the negative public opinion is within control." Shen Yunmian hurriedly reassured, "The crisis PR team is already guiding the narrative. As for the news about our divorce, I've released an official statement emphasizing that it was a peaceful separation. Future business cooperation won't be affected, and the fluctuations will be minimized."
She paused, her voice softening slightly, carrying a trace of almost imperceptible bitterness: "Don't worry, our divorce… won't affect anything in Yu Group. I promise."
Listening to the clear and orderly arrangements from the other end of the call, Yu Sheng felt momentarily dazed.
It reminded her of a long time ago—of that Shen Yunmian who dominated the business world, as if she could do anything.
But now, behind that strength, there seemed to be too many complicated and unspoken things mixed in.
She was silent for a few seconds before saying softly, "Alright, thank you."
"…It's enough that you trust me." Shen Yunmian's voice grew lighter, as if afraid of disturbing something. "Sheng Sheng."
After hanging up Yu Sheng's call, Shen Yunmian's expression immediately changed as she dealt with the mess her younger sister had caused.
In the end, Shen Xingyao was still sent to a new school by Shen Yunmian with decisive and forceful measures.
Zhou Yaqin cried herself unconscious at the airport, but it was useless. Although the old Madam Shen's anger had yet to subside, she was powerless against Shen Yunmian's insistence and could only let out a heavy sigh, no longer interfering.
The turmoil was like a bomb dropped into water, yet it didn't cause much of a ripple.
Shen Yunmian finally let out a long breath. She had fulfilled her promise to Sheng Sheng.
—
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