Mrs. Chen was visibly distraught, especially after seeing Bryce Shaw lying motionless in his hospital bed. Her heart ached with worry.

"Lisheng."

Hearing her name called, Lauren Shaw turned around. She saw Li Qiuchi approaching, her head and hands wrapped in bandages, supported by their manager, Le Rong.

"She insisted on coming to see President Shen. I couldn't stop her," Le Rong said helplessly.

She had rushed over after getting a call from Yuan Qi.

Li Qiuchi first glanced at Mrs. Chen, then, through the glass, looked at the figure lying on the hospital bed. Tears immediately welled up in her eyes.

"H-How is he?"

"The doctor says he's out of immediate danger, but we’ll have to wait until he wakes up to know for sure." If he never wakes up... he might end up in a vegetative state.

Lauren Shaw relayed Bryce Shaw's condition to her, omitting the grimmer possibilities.

Mrs. Chen looked at her in confusion. "And you are...?"

Li Qiuchi looked at her guilt-ridden. "Auntie, I’m so sorry. If it weren’t for me, he never would’ve been in that car accident."

Last night, she had gone to a wrap party. Bryce Shaw went to pick her up, but on their way home, a van crashed into their car. To shield her from harm, Bryce Shaw held her tight in his arms, which was why he ended up so gravely injured.

Mrs. Chen’s expression shifted from shocked to incredulous. "What did you say? Yubai was in the accident because of you?"

Lauren Shaw cut her off. "The cause of the crash is still under investigation. Don’t get upset. You need rest right now. Let's go back to your room." She shot a look at Le Rong, urging her to help Li Qiuchi leave.

Though Mrs. Chen felt something was off, she wasn’t unreasonable. Still, she looked at Lauren Shaw in confusion.

"Shengsheng, what does she mean? I don’t understand—did Yubai crash because of her? What’s their relationship anyway?"

Faced with the barrage of questions, Lauren Shaw found herself at a loss for words.

Just then, Yancy Shaw walked in, accompanied by two uniformed officers. One of them Lauren Shaw recognized: Lu Chaoran, the officer who handled his grandfather’s case all those years ago.

With the heightened emotions of Mr. Shen and Mrs. Chen, Yancy Shaw gently ushered them away. The police then explained the situation to those who remained.

"The driver fled the scene. We're currently tracking him down. Do you recognize this person?" the officer asked, showing Yancy Shaw a photo.

It was a surveillance still. The face was slightly blurred, but a tattoo on the man’s neck was clearly visible. When Yancy Shaw saw that tattoo, his fists clenched, and his eyes grew bloodshot.

Lauren Shaw noticed his reaction and grew anxious, grabbing his sweaty hand.

Yancy Shaw gave her a reassuring look.

"I don't know him, but I recognize that tattoo."

He remembered—the man who killed his grandfather had an identical tattoo, in the very same spot.

Lu Chaoran nodded. "I thought you might find it familiar. I suspect they’re part of the same gang, which means this accident was no coincidence. It was premeditated murder."

The perpetrator was likely from the same group that killed his grandfather.

"Any leads on his whereabouts?" Yancy Shaw looked up at Lu Chaoran, his expression unreadable.

"We're still investigating, but this person’s background is anything but ordinary. Someone’s deliberately covering his tracks."

Lu Chaoran’s message was clear: if this man was connected to his grandfather’s killer, then the real mastermind was still at large.

A chill ran down Lauren Shaw’s spine as she stared silently at Yancy Shaw.

After the police left, Yancy Shaw sat in silence. Lauren Shaw held his hand, wanting to comfort him, but didn’t know what to say.

Chris Cooper hurried into the hospital. Seeing Lauren Shaw from afar, he rushed over. "Designer Li, is President Shen seriously hurt?"

Lauren Shaw explained Bryce Shaw’s condition. Chris Cooper looked stunned. "What are we going to do? There's an important partnership meeting today."

With Bryce Shaw like this, the deal would likely fall through.

"President Shen worked so hard to secure this opportunity."

Yancy Shaw, who had been silent until now, looked up. "What partnership?"

Unfamiliar with Yancy Shaw, Chris Cooper glanced in confusion at Lauren Shaw.

It was then that Lauren Shaw realized Chris Cooper didn’t know who Yancy Shaw was. She quickly clarified, "He’s President Shen’s younger brother, Yancy Shaw—my husband."

Chris Cooper blinked in surprise. No wonder President Shen trusted Lauren Shaw so much—they were family.

But now wasn’t the time for small talk. Chris Cooper focused on the pressing matter.

"President Shen was scheduled to meet Aaron, the CEO of MK Group, today. Their company is looking for a partner in Ancheng to help break into the market here."

The Shen family’s business empire covered many industries, including jewelry. Aaron was the largest jewelry supplier overseas. Recently, they were seeking a sole agent in Ancheng to represent MK Group.

Companies across Ancheng were scrambling for this deal, fighting fiercely for the opportunity.

Bryce Shaw had spent a great deal of effort to arrange this meeting.

"But now, with President Shen like this, the deal is probably dead in the water." Chris Cooper sounded disappointed. Bryce Shaw had pursued this golden opportunity for so long.

"Where's the meeting?" Yancy Shaw asked coolly.

"Huh?" Chris Cooper was momentarily confused, then gave him the information: "At the North Lake Golf Club."

"Give me the proposal." Yancy Shaw was all business, wasting no words. Having worked with Bryce Shaw for so long, Chris Cooper quickly adapted.

He pulled a notebook from his briefcase and started briefing Yancy Shaw on the key points of the partnership.

At ten o’clock, the winter sun shone warmly.

North Lake Golf Club.

Yancy Shaw and Lauren Shaw arrived together.

When Mandy Snow saw the couple, her expression flickered with surprise, but she quickly recovered her composure.

Wearing a poised, professional smile, she stepped forward to greet them. Looking at Chris Cooper, she asked, "Why isn’t President Shen here?"

Chris Cooper glanced at Yancy Shaw, who remained silent, so he explained, "President Shen was in a car accident last night. He’s still unconscious."

"A car accident?" Mandy Snow exclaimed, astonished.

Yancy Shaw spoke up, "I’m here on my brother’s behalf. Do you have any objections, Ms. Xue?"

His tone was calm yet carried a distinct chill.

Although he had spent so much time in hospitals, he radiated the unmistakable presence of someone in charge—a presence that commanded respect.