Chapter Sixty-Nine: The Engagement, Fraught with Turmoil

The old gentleman exclaimed with exaggerated surprise, “No wonder! That’s right, I heard your company just signed a young musician, incredibly talented.”

“Yes, we’re about to collaborate with your company! Did you see the proposal I sent to your email earlier?”

As they walked and chatted, just as they were about to enter the hall, a furious shout suddenly rang out behind them, “Jiang Yunzhu!”

Jiang Yunzhu had just turned around when she saw Shen Ruizhang storming toward her, his anger almost palpable, like a raging leopard. He grabbed her wrist in a single motion.

“You wouldn’t accept my invitation, but seduced the old man to bring you up here—is this your so-called idea of not wasting time?!”

Jiang Yunzhu paused, a pang of sadness in her heart, and she threw off his hand. “Please show some respect, Mr. Shen!”

She knew he was present today, but the yacht was vast, with more than a dozen VIP lounges—how had they happened to cross paths here? Instinctively, she glanced to his side, her words tinged with sarcasm. “What, Miss Zhou didn’t come? Why aren’t you guarding your fiancée instead of meddling in my affairs?”

“Let go of me!”

Zhou Ruizhang gritted his teeth, his gaze fierce enough to devour a man. “Is it because of her? After everything you’ve been through, I thought you’d grown, but you’re still so childish!”

Her wrist throbbed under his grip. The lounge lights shone on them both, luxury fragrances mingling with the faint rum aroma on Shen Ruizhang’s skin, tension thick in the air.

“Sir, I don’t know what your relationship with Miss Jiang is, but your behavior toward a lady is utterly inappropriate!” The old gentleman, face flushed with anxiety, tapped his cane on the floor with a loud clack. “Miss Jiang’s fiancé would never tolerate such rudeness!”

“Fiancé?” Shen Ruizhang’s gaze finally settled on her attire. Everyone was dressed for the banquet, but her gown was especially grand...

He released her hand as if burned. “You... you’re engaged? Is it...”

“It’s me.”

Shen Tingxiao stood in a formal black tuxedo, the epitome of elegance. His cufflinks—pure gold roses inlaid with large diamonds—glinted. His hair swept boldly back, lips pressed tight, imposing without anger.

“Grabbing my fiancée’s wrist like this—isn’t that inappropriate, Uncle?”

Blood drained slowly from Shen Ruizhang’s face as his eyes darted between Jiang Yunzhu and Shen Tingxiao.

One was resplendent as a blossoming white peony, the other as grand as a towering banyan tree; together, they were inseparable.

Shen Ruizhang felt as if something thundered in his ear, collapsing in an instant.

Hand in hand, the pair never glanced back at him. Two attendants stepped forward to open the gilded doors.

Inside the golden VIP hall, guests had already gathered. Heavy crimson silk carpet covered the floor, elaborate gowns gliding along its surface... No, this couldn’t be!

Only then did Shen Ruizhang realize that the little girl who’d followed him since childhood had truly gone far. He finally understood that his feelings for her were no longer the simple affection of an elder for a younger relative.

A dull ache spread through his heart.

For the first time, Shen Ruizhang lost his composure, rushing forward in hysteria, “Zhouzhou!”

Jiang Yunzhu’s steps halted, but she did not turn.

Shen Ruizhang seemed to lose all strength, his throat trembling, voice hoarse, “Don’t go, please? Come back—come back to me...”

Jiang Yunzhu turned to look. Shen Tingxiao immediately felt sweat in his palm, his heart tightening.

No one knew better than he what Shen Ruizhang meant to Yunzhu.

Ten years of care and protection, not something easily severed.

He squeezed Yunzhu’s hand; she gave him a reassuring look, then turned to Shen Ruizhang.

“Zhouzhou? Are you calling me or her?”

From the crowd, Zhou Qingfei appeared at some point, fingers pinching her wine glass, her beautiful face unable to maintain its poised smile, twisted with emotion.

“Uncle, your fiancée seems to be someone else? Didn’t you have her send me an invitation, asking me to congratulate you on your engagement?”

Shen Ruizhang’s lips trembled. “I didn’t...”

“Then, Uncle, can you wish me a happy engagement? Because of your presence, my fiancé seems quite unhappy.”

Shen Tingxiao hardly looked unhappy. He seemed positively delighted; even without a smile, his eyes brimmed with joy.

Shen Ruizhang finally fell silent, not daring to look up.

The engagement ceremony proceeded at last.

The band played the Moonlight Sonata. Surrounded by flowers and witnessed by a crowd of business luminaries, Jiang Yunzhu and Shen Tingxiao walked to the center of the golden hall. Pure white feathers and petals rained down from above.

A flower child led a golden retriever forward. The dog carried a basket in its mouth, within which lay two ring boxes.

Just as they were about to exchange rings, Jiang Yunzhu’s eyes widened—behind a pillar, the rainbow glass reflected a cold gleam from a black circular opening.

A gun barrel emerged, aimed at Shen Tingxiao.

“Watch out!” Her body moved faster than her mind. She threw herself at Shen Tingxiao.

The bullet shattered the glass with a crisp crack. The lavish, solemn hall was instantly plunged into chaos.

Screams and cries echoed, glass splintered, tea tables overturned.

Shen Tingxiao was shielded beneath Jiang Yunzhu as a volley of gunshots erupted, fear seizing his heart.

“Zhouzhou, are you all right?”

“I—I’m fine, let’s... let’s...”

Let’s what—she didn’t know what to do.

Shen Tingxiao reacted swiftly. Seeing the shattered fragments at his side, he knew the attacker was targeting him.

No need to guess—only one person hated him this much.

Enjoying eighteen years of luxury in the Shen family, learning nothing, pampered by the board, a useless waste. Now, watching nearly half of Shen’s shares devoured by him, the other finally couldn’t sit still.

He pulled Jiang Yunzhu’s arm, hiding her behind the colorful pillar, enclosing her firmly in his embrace. He drew his suit coat, speaking into the concealed microphone, “Security, take control.”

A wave of security staff in suits stormed the hall. The front row carried riot shields, forming a protective circle around Jiang Yunzhu and Shen Tingxiao.

At the same time, more gunshots sounded from elsewhere in the hall. Jiang Yunzhu shuddered, shrinking closer to Shen Tingxiao.

“Don’t be afraid, it’ll be all right.”

“Mm...” Jiang Yunzhu grimaced awkwardly, “It’s so much better back home. I kind of regret opening my company in M Country.”

Not to mention all the connections she’d built over the years were back home—in her country, no matter how much hatred there was, it would be vented online by hired trolls at most.

If anyone hired a killer, it would be cold weapons, and even if disaster struck, at least she’d have a chance to run.

Here, though, it was different. Gunfire over mere words, even places like ‘Captain Will’s’ weren’t safe. Who knew if one day, walking down the street, she’d be shot in the head?