Nathan Shaw wanted nothing less than to take over the family business—just looking at that mountain of paperwork gave him a headache.

Mrs. Chen furrowed her brows with worry. If they let Mandy Snow manage the company, it probably wouldn’t take long before it became just another asset in the Snow family’s pocket.

It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Mandy Snow, but she knew all too well what the Snow family was like at heart.

"Let Yancheng handle it. He knows how to run the company," Bryce Shaw said, a smile tugging at his lips, clearly in a rather good mood.

When Yancy Shaw heard the news, he could practically picture the schadenfreude written across Bryce Shaw's face.

"You’re really this happy that the company’s going to Third Young Master?" Li Qiuchi couldn’t help but ask when he saw his delighted expression.

"Of course I’m happy. I can already imagine him tossing and turning at night, unable to sleep because of work. Just the thought of it cheers me up."

After managing the family business for so many years, he could finally kick back and take a real break.

Yancy Shaw requested a leave of absence from the hospital. Standing outside the office door, Henry Mills smirked openly at him.

"Well, well, the third young master of the Shen family has finally been dragged back to inherit the family fortune."

Yancy Shaw glanced at him, expressionless. "Are you really that pleased?"

His look was pure warning: if Henry Mills said one wrong word, there was no telling what Yancy Shaw might do.

Henry Mills surrendered instantly. "No, no, not at all—I’m actually a bit sad! Looks like I probably won’t see you around for a while." He forced a wink, playing the part.

"I heard Old Master He set you up with a matchmaking date…"

"Come on, man! Why’d you have to bring that up?" Henry Mills nearly wanted to sew Yancy Shaw’s mouth shut. Glancing around nervously, he shut the door. "Not a word to Claire Xu, alright? If she finds out, she’ll never speak to me again."

Yancy Shaw raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment.

"It’s just my old man fussing again. I keep telling him I already like someone, but he refuses to believe it—has to introduce me to the daughter of some army buddy. I want nothing to do with it."

Claire Xu was the only one on his mind and, remembering that night, Henry Mills’s face melted into a love-struck grin.

Watching his smitten expression, Yancy Shaw rolled his eyes.

"Wipe your mouth. You’re drooling."

Henry Mills snapped out of it and quickly wiped at his mouth.

Yancy Shaw shot him a look of utter disdain. Tsk, hopeless.

"Promise me you won’t let Claire Xu find out about this. If she does, your buddy here is toast."

"And how exactly does that affect me?" Yancy Shaw busied himself sorting patient files, prepping the handover—soon, all his cases would be Henry Mills’s responsibility.

"Come on, bro, you’re my blood brother, my dearest brother—just promise me, don’t say a word." Henry Mills grabbed Yancy Shaw’s wrist, laying it on thick.

The office door opened, and Nathan Shaw stepped in, clearing his throat, looking a shade uncomfortable at the scene inside.

Henry Mills instantly released Yancy Shaw’s hand, turning to Nathan Shaw and scratching his head in embarrassment. "Hey, Big Brother Shen… Just messing around with Yancheng, just playing, that’s all."

Nathan Shaw shot him a knowing smile.

Yancy Shaw, face calm, handed over the files. Henry Mills shot him a pleading look: You promised, right? Not a word!

After Henry Mills left, Nathan Shaw pulled over a chair and sat down, his brow furrowed tight.

"What do you think about your second brother’s car accident?"

Yancy Shaw’s expression turned serious. "I suspect foul play. The police are still investigating—the perpetrator is missing, so I can’t say for certain yet."

"Any idea who it might be?"

"Not yet. But I’m fairly sure whoever orchestrated it is connected to the people who tried to kill Grandpa all those years ago."

"How so?"

"The police showed me a photo of the suspect. There’s a tattoo on his neck—the same place the man who killed Grandpa had a tattoo."

Nathan Shaw stared at him in shock. "You mean…"

"I suspect the mastermind behind Grandpa’s murder has been right here, among us, all along."

For years, Bryce Shaw had never given up investigating. When the man who killed Grandpa died mysteriously in prison, all the leads dried up. The police called it intentional harm and, with the perpetrator dead, could do nothing more. Over time, the case just faded away.

Nathan Shaw’s face was grave. "Sorry to make you take the reins at the company during all this. I really don’t know much about business, so I can’t manage things myself. If you need any help from me, just say the word."

Yancy Shaw nodded. "I understand, big brother."

—

Today was Mandy Snow’s first day as acting director, and the conference room was buzzing with a board meeting. Many of the executives supported her appointment—she’d waited a long time for this.

Suddenly, the meeting room door swung open and Chris Cooper strode in. The senior management frowned. "Assistant Cui, we’re having a meeting right now. Isn’t it a bit inappropriate for you to barge in like this?"

Chris Cooper ignored the annoyance in the room. "Sorry to interrupt, but I have an announcement. President Shen has had an accident. While he recovers in the hospital, he can’t oversee the company, so someone else will be taking over for him."

"Isn’t Director Xue already in charge? Why send someone else?"

"Just because President Shen isn’t here doesn’t mean you get to do as you please. This isn’t your company."

Chris Cooper’s words drew a storm of complaints, several executives quick to shoot him down. Mandy Snow signaled silence, then turned to him with polite composure. "Assistant Cui, President Shen already told me I’d be managing the company while he’s gone."

"Director Xue, as I recall, President Shen asked you to help with company affairs—not to take over. The person actually taking charge is the Shen family’s Third Young Master."

With that, Yancy Shaw walked into the meeting room, his gaze cool as it swept the crowd. The room’s atmosphere instantly dropped a few degrees.

"Yancheng?" Mandy Snow looked at him in surprise.

Chris Cooper addressed the room, his face a blank slate. "President Shen has appointed Third Young Master to fill in for now. If anyone has concerns, take it up directly with him."

The moment they realized it was the Shen family’s Third Young Master, the whole room fell silent—these days, who’d dare go up against real power?

"Director Xue, any other questions?"

Chris Cooper grinned at her. All that smugness she’d worn on her way in had now drained away.

Yancy Shaw gave her a passing glance but said nothing.

Mandy Snow managed a small smile. "Since it’s Yancheng taking over, of course I have no objection. I believe the company will thrive under your leadership."

Yancy Shaw just parted his lips and uttered two words, "It will."

No one in the meeting dared speak again. Everyone had heard that the Shen family had three brothers, but they’d only ever seen Bryce Shaw. Now, facing Yancy Shaw for the first time, people couldn’t help but wonder—this younger brother seemed even more icy than his elder. But how would he fare in the world of business?