Xue Wenchang's tone grew colder. "No. At a critical moment like this, you'd better not make any rash moves."

The Shen family had already started to suspect the Xues. If anything went wrong now, they'd bring disaster upon themselves.

Setting aside what they'd done to trick Nathan Shaw back then, just the matter with the old patriarch being exposed would be enough to ruin them.

"So I should just watch helplessly while the people who hurt me live comfortably?" Mandy Snow swallowed her indignation. She just couldn't understand—after years of careful maneuvering in the Shen family, how had she ended up with nothing, thrown out like yesterday's trash?

"I know you're not willing. But what difference does that make? Even if you managed to take out that woman, do you really think your outcome would get any better?"

Everyone knew Yancy Shaw treated that woman like a treasure now. Xue Wenchang wasn't about to get dragged down by her madness—he was no fool.

He couldn't afford to cross the Shens.

Mandy Snow stared at him, eyes red and blazing. She had to admit—seeing Lauren Shaw living so easily twisted her up inside with jealousy.

She'd devoted herself to the Shen family, yet still fared worse than that wretched Lauren Shaw... and now she’d been exiled, thrown out with nothing.

Seeing the bitterness all over her face, Xue Wenchang sighed, his voice suddenly gentle. "Mandy, I know it hasn’t been easy for you in the Shen family all these years. You also know Dad’s health has been poor lately—he’s still recuperating. Just grit your teeth and hold on a little longer. Once this is over, I promise I’ll help you get even."

Mandy Snow gave a cold snort. "You all insisted I marry Nathan Shaw back then. I did. And then what? You knew perfectly well my situation in their family, but after all these years, what have you people actually done? You sat and watched as I was thrown out of their house—you didn’t even dare say a word!"

The resentment in her chest only mounted.

In the end, she was nothing but a pawn to them. When had she ever had a choice of her own?

"That’s not fair. I know the Xues wouldn’t be where we are now without your efforts. But this is not the time to make an enemy out of the Shens—we need to take a long view on this."

Mandy Snow understood what he was implying.

"And what’s the ‘long view’?"

"Hasn’t Dad always wanted to forge an alliance with the Mo family? Do you realize how much we stand to gain from that?"

She considered a moment. "I know he wants to pull in the Mos—to join forces and boost our power in Ancheng."

Xue Wenchang shook his head. "Not exactly."

Mandy Snow looked at him, confused.

"Dad actually wants to work with the Mo family, and then—with your cooperation inside—attack the Shen family from within and without, swallow their entire company. The old man’s ambitions are anything but small."

"But now, because of that mess with Eva Snow, the two families are at odds." As he spoke, Xue Wenchang carefully watched her expression.

"So what now?" All Mandy Snow could think about was getting back at the Shen family, clawing back the dignity she’d lost. Only then would she feel vindicated.

Xue Wenchang gave her a meaningful look, probing. "Isn’t SiyI Mo Fan’s child? I think you know what to do."

Mandy Snow froze, her face stiffening. His meaning was obvious—she’d have to approach Mo Fan. But things between them were complicated; she hesitated.

Seeing her conflicted, Xue Wenchang pressed her again.

"You still want to wipe away all that past humiliation? Or are you going to just watch, as everyone in the Shen family who bullied you continues to thrive?"

That was a thorn stuck deep in her heart, and only by pulling it out could she breathe easy.

"What Mo Fan did all those years ago wasn’t right, but so much time has passed. It’s time to let it go."

Back then, Mo Fan had cheated—caught in the act by Mandy Snow—yet refused to repent, continuing his philanderous ways. She broke things off, only to discover later that she’d become pregnant with his child. At the time, the old Xue patriarch had been seeking an alliance with the Shens, so, by a twist of fate, she had kept the baby.

She’d never thought it would all unravel one day.

Coming back to herself, she paused. "Let me think about it."

She hated Mo Fan—as deeply now as she had once loved him.

Seeing her waver, Xue Wenchang chuckled. "Think it through. Let me know once you’ve decided."

—

At noon, Yancy Shaw was eating in the hospital cafeteria when Henry Mills plopped down beside him, grinning broadly.

"Well, look who’s back at work—Dr. Shen himself!"

Yancy Shaw kept his head lowered, eyes cool, not responding to the teasing.

Henry Mills kept prattling on, "Ever since you’ve been away, someone’s come to ask about you no fewer than ten times—always fishing for information."

He gestured toward Mona Lane, who sat not far from them. To be fair, Mona Lane was infatuated with Yancy Shaw—despite knowing full well he was married, she still couldn’t let him go.

Right on cue, Mona Lane walked over to them.

"Dr. Shen, long time no see." She bit back the second half of her sentence, full of longing.

Ever since learning he was the third young master of the Shen family, her feelings for him only deepened. Such an outstanding man—how could she not want him?

Yancy Shaw kept eating, not even looking up. He only spared a single, indifferent remark: "Dr. Lin, no talking at meals, no chatting at bedtime."

The old maxim, dropped so casually, left Mona Lane flushed with embarrassment.

Henry Mills stifled a laugh. Once Mona Lane had left, he mimicked Yancy Shaw’s tone: "No talking at meals, no chatting at bedtime. Tch, if Lauren Shaw were here, would you say the same thing?"

Yancy Shaw shot him a cool glance. "If you don’t speak, I won’t mistake you for mute."

Tsk. The double standard was astonishing.

Just then, his phone rang—Yuan Ran was calling.

Yancy Shaw walked off to answer. Yuan Ran sounded urgent.

"Third Young Master, we’ve found Qian Peng."

Yancy Shaw’s gaze darkened. "Where is he?"

Yuan Ran sent him the address, and Yancy Shaw called Lu Chaoran right away.

Twenty minutes later, he arrived at the spot Yuan Ran had sent him—a derelict factory in the outskirts, overgrown with weeds and no one around. No wonder Qian Peng had managed to hide out here for days without being found.

Lu Chaoran arrived at the same time, pulling up in a police car with several officers in tow. An ambulance was there too.

When Yuan Ran found Qian Peng, he was sprawled on the ground, barely alive, with numerous stab wounds. If Yuan Ran hadn’t gotten there in time, Qian Peng would’ve been a corpse by now.