Xue Family Study.

Xue Wenchang hurled his teacup to the floor; the pale green porcelain shattered instantly, shards scattering across the tiles.

Butler Uncle Lu stood beside him, head bowed so low he dared not look up.

"You can't even handle something this simple! What use are you all, you worthless lot!" Xue Wenchang jabbed a finger right at Lu's nose, his expression cold and vicious.

He heaved ragged breaths for a long time before finally calming down.

"What did I tell you before? How many times did I say: Don't expose yourself. You swore you could handle it, but look what happened! The man's already awake in the hospital now. You tell me—what next?"

Uncle Lu's face twisted into an ugly scowl. "I can find someone and take care of him."

"Maybe I should take care of you!" Xue Wenchang thundered, glowering at him with undisguised frustration. "You really think the Shen family is that foolish? It took us ages just to get close enough to Bryce Shaw for a chance to make a move, and now you think it's that simple?"

Bryce Shaw was constantly under discreet protection. Taking action against him had never been easy. This time, they'd made absolutely certain there would be no slip-ups—that's the only reason they dared act. Who could've guessed something would still go wrong at the critical moment?

"Who would've thought that little assistant would risk everything? If not for her, Bryce Shaw would've been dead for sure."

Xue Wenchang spat, "Can't even do your job right and you want to blame someone else."

Knowing his master was in a fury, Uncle Lu kept his mouth shut.

"If the plan had succeeded, Mandy would have been able to take over Shengmei as she wished." But now Bryce Shaw had awakened, all those calculations had fallen apart.

"I heard Yancy Shaw went to meet with the people from MK Group?"

"Yes. I heard he went with his wife."

Xue Wenchang gave a cold snort. "Hmph. The CEO of MK Group has personal ties to the old master. Thinking they could win that partnership from him—ridiculous! Still, this Yancy Shaw does have a bit of skill. He even managed to send the second branch’s little girl overseas, and the old man refused to get involved."

Uncle Lu sneered, "He's just a doctor. He hasn't even taken over the Shen family business yet. Even if he meets MK's CEO, what difference does it make? He can't stir up much trouble."

"You're way off base. The Shens are not nearly as simple as they look on the surface."

Why did Old Master Xue tell them never to cross the Shen family? Probably because he knew the Shens all too well.

After Xue Wenchang finished speaking, Uncle Lu's face turned ruthless again. "Should I find someone to take care of Yancy Shaw instead?"

Xue Wenchang shot him a glare. "Can't you use your brain? All you think about is killing and violence—it's not twenty years ago anymore!"

Twenty years ago, the Snow family's business was shady; now it was finally aboveboard. Getting caught now would be a disaster.

Uncle Lu quickly hid the ferocity in his eyes and lowered his head, accepting Xue Wenchang's scolding.

"What about the person who caused the accident?"

"I've settled him far away. Rest assured, they won't find him."

There was a knock on the study door. Xue Wenchang immediately suppressed the anger in his eyes. "Who is it?"

"Dad, it's me." The voice belonged to Sean Snow.

Sean Snow pushed the door open. Catching sight of the shattered teacup on the floor, he paused in surprise. "What happened here?"

"Just knocked it over by accident. I'll have a maid come in to clean." Uncle Lu turned and left to fetch the servants.

Noticing his father's off mood, Sean Snow couldn't help glancing at him a few more times.

Xue Wenchang asked, "It's late. What brings you here?"

Only then did Sean Snow remember his errand. "The person in charge at MK just called me. They've decided to partner with the Shen Group."

Xue Wenchang abruptly froze, the teacup in his hand halfway to his lips. "Partner with the Shens? Why? Weren't they going to work with us?"

Sean Snow didn't notice his father's unusual expression.

"Yesterday at the golf course, Aaron's daughter suddenly had a heart attack. Yancheng saved her life on the spot. Their decision to work with the Shen family makes sense."

Under the table, Xue Wenchang tightly clenched his fists, a flicker of barely-suppressed anger in his eyes.

"Dad... Dad..."

It took several calls for Sean Snow to bring his father back to his senses.

"Hm? Anything else?"

"Second Brother Shen was in a car accident. Did you hear?"

Xue Wenchang's mind was still caught up in the earlier conversation, barely registering what his son said next. "What did you say?"

Thinking his father hadn't heard, Sean Snow repeated himself.

"I see. If you have time tomorrow, go pay him a visit in the hospital."

Seeing his father seemed rather displeased, Sean Snow asked, "Are you feeling alright, Dad?"

"I'm fine. If there's nothing else, get some rest."

Sean Snow was about to say more, but stopped when he saw his father's dark expression.

A servant entered to clean up the broken porcelain; Sean Snow took the opportunity to slip out.

Xue Wenchang gripped his teacup so hard his knuckles turned white, his gaze dark and stormy...

—

Bryce Shaw needed a quiet period to recover, so he naturally couldn't oversee his work. Mrs. Chen couldn't help but feel anxious about it.

Shen Wenting, already up in years, was overloaded with company affairs. If everything was left to Mandy Snow, Mrs. Chen felt an uneasy premonition.

When Nathan Shaw returned from his business trip and heard about the car accident, he headed straight to the hospital from the airport.

"How did you get hurt like this?" He frowned, looking at Bryce Shaw lying in the hospital bed.

Though the two weren't born of the same mother, for so many years they'd been as close as real brothers—family in every sense.

Even after two days' rest, Bryce Shaw still hadn't fully recovered, and his voice was weak. "Someone ran me over. Luckily, I must have a tough life." He gave a self-deprecating smirk.

Nathan Shaw finally relaxed a little, but still looked at his brother with concern. Remembering that Yancy Shaw worked as a doctor in this very hospital also eased his mind.

"Didn't you always have a bodyguard with you? How did this happen?" Bryce Shaw had always been cautious, especially after what happened with the old master. He never went out without protection.

That night, he'd gone out to pick up Li Qiuchi. Since it was already late, he told the bodyguards not to follow. Who would've thought someone would seize that exact opportunity?

Mrs. Chen entered, delighted to see Nathan Shaw. "Nanfeng, you're back from your trip?"

Nathan Shaw always respected Mrs. Chen. "Yes, I just got off the plane."

Worry for Bryce Shaw had kept Mrs. Chen sleepless and anxious these past days; she'd aged considerably.

"Yubai will have to stay in the hospital for a while. No one is managing the company right now, and your father is getting on in years. I don't think he can handle it all. Why don't you come back and take over for a while?"

Nathan Shaw hesitated for a moment, then replied, "Mother, I don't think I'm suited to that kind of work. I'm only good at research. Managing a company just isn't my strength."