Chapter 155: Can’t Make Waves Anymore

Chapter 155: Chapter 155: Can’t Make Waves Anymore

She paused after speaking, took a breath, and her voice grew even softer. "...I was only five years old then."

As she spoke, her gaze swept over everyone in the room.

’Dad, Uncle, Brother, Aunt...’

Every one of them lowered their head.

They weren’t the ones who did it, but back then, with so many people around, how could no one have noticed what Yao Yuzhen was doing...

Twenty years. Twenty whole years!

A heavy feeling settled in everyone’s hearts, and their faces burned with shame.

Shen Lixin’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again.

Finally, Yang Wanqing threw her arms around Shen Songyao, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

"Good heavens, what did our family ever do to provoke her?"

"How could she be so vicious to Song Yao? That’s her own flesh and blood!"

The old woman was crying so hard she could barely breathe, her body trembling.

Song Yao, afraid her grandmother might collapse from the shock, quickly moved closer and gently patted her back.

"Grandma, don’t cry. Let’s not waste our anger on her. From now on, it’ll just be us. Whether she leaves or not, we’d be more than happy for the peace and quiet!"

Yang Wanqing wiped her face, her sobs subsiding into sniffles. She looked up at her granddaughter, her voice trembling but firm.

"That’s right! If she looks down on our family for being poor and useless, then fine! We don’t need her either!"

She paused for two seconds, then suddenly raised her voice. "I’ve lived a long time, and I’ve never seen such a cruel heart!"

"She’s the one who’s been screaming for a divorce, isn’t she?"

"Fine! A divorce it is! Immediately!"

"And call the police! Have them take her away!"

"A mother pushing her own daughter into a fiery pit... what a heart!"

Shen Zhenwu slammed his palm on the table.

Shen Rongjing turned to Shen Zhenwu and said,

"The evidence against Ruan Yongxing is solid. We can file a case and have him arrested right now."

Without another word, Shen Zhenwu shot to his feet. "Let’s go!"

Shen Rongdan also stood up and strode toward the door.

Song Yao quickly called out, "Eldest Brother, what are you...?"

She had just stood up from her grandparents’ side, and her voice trembled slightly.

Shen Rongjing turned back, his tone calm and gentle.

"You stay here with Grandma and Grandpa for now. Leave the rest to us."

"Don’t you worry. We’ll see this through for you, no matter what."

This wasn’t just about getting justice for Song Yao. The Shen Family’s honor and their bottom line had to be made crystal clear today.

Song Yao watched the snowflakes swirling outside the window and nodded lightly. "Be careful on the road. Watch your step."

She reached out and caught a snowflake, watching it melt instantly into a tiny drop of water in her palm before slowly pulling her hand back into her sleeve.

By the time Xiao Guo came out, Shen Zhenwu and the others had already driven off, leaving only Song Yao and the women in the courtyard.

When Song Yao saw him, she immediately went to greet him.

"Come, have a seat! I’ll have Aunt Zhang bring up the wontons. They just came out of the pot, best when they’re hot!"

She guided Xiao Guo into the house.

"I almost forgot, do you like sesame oil? Should I add extra chili powder?"

The tips of Xiao Guo’s ears turned bright red. He looked down, rubbing his hands together. "Either is fine. I like both."

Song Yao turned and ran to the kitchen. "Aunt Zhang! Add an extra spoonful of sesame oil and a pinch of chili powder to the wontons! And hurry!"

Ruan Yongxing was worried that Yao Yuzhen, who hated the cold and loved to sleep in, wouldn’t go out to get the money on such a snowy day. He decided to go himself and force her to hand over the five hundred yuan.

But as soon as he pulled open the door, he saw a group of people flooding into the alleyway.

He looked closer. The man in the lead looked very familiar.

It was the head of the Shen family!

Shen Zhenwu was striding right toward him.

Without a second thought, Ruan Yongxing scrambled back inside, slammed the door shut, and yanked the curtains closed.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The sound of pounding immediately followed, shaking the doorframe.

"Ruan Yongxing! Ruan Yongxing! Open the door!"

He huddled at the foot of the bed, holding his breath, refusing to make a sound.

Shen Rongdan circled around to the window and peeked in on his tiptoes.

In these old alleyway houses, the gaps around the windows were wide enough to fit a finger through. He shifted his angle and immediately spotted a lump under a quilt on the bed, trembling.

Shen Zhenwu stood at the door, his voice steady. "Is he in there?"

Shen Rongdan jutted his chin toward the house and nodded. "Hiding under the covers, playing dead."

The person shouting outside immediately raised their voice, their tone becoming severe.

"Ruan Yongxing! The police are here! Cooperate with the investigation! If you don’t open this door, we will be forced to enter!"

Shen Zhenwu raised a hand, his voice crisp. "Take the door down."

The next second, a sharp CRACK echoed.

The door, hinges and all, ripped away from the frame. Wood splinters rained down as the entire door was torn off and fell to the ground.

Ruan Yongxing, who had been curled up in the corner of the bed with the covers pulled over his head, threw off the quilt at the loud noise. He sat there stunned, his lips trembling violently.

"Wh-what are you... doing?"

"You are suspected of..."

The officer had just opened his file, ready to read out the list of Ruan Yongxing’s crimes, but Shen Zhenwu had already pushed past everyone and charged right up to Ruan Yongxing in a few short steps.

"AAAGH!!"

The scream was long and shrill, piercing enough to hit the ceiling.

Without turning his head, Shen Rongjing simply gestured toward the doorway with his hand.

The two young men who had removed the door understood immediately. They quickly turned, propped the door upright, and closed the opening again.

Shen Rongdan walked to the window, grabbed the bottom of the curtain, and pulled. The room was plunged into complete darkness.

"You animal! Why didn’t you just die years ago?!"

Although Shen Zhenwu was over fifty, he had been forged in the military. His shoulders were broad, and his fingers were thick and hard.

With his skinny arms and legs, Ruan Yongxing was like a limp cucumber in his grasp, completely unable to resist.

The howling gradually weakened, turning into whimpers, his breathing becoming ragged and intermittent.

Shen Rongjing’s reflexes were sharp; he grabbed his father’s arm, his voice steady. "Dad! Let the authorities handle this! Don’t dirty your own hands!"

Shen Zhenwu’s chest heaved violently. He landed two more heavy kicks on Ruan Yongxing’s lower back.

Only then did his two sons manage to drag him away, each holding one of his arms.

Once he was pulled away, Shen Rongjing gestured to the men outside.

"Take him away."

As the group dragged the limp Ruan Yongxing out the door, Shen Rongjing added,

"He resisted arrest violently. Make a clear note of all the falls and collisions he caused himself."

No one said a word. Their eyes met, and an unspoken understanding passed between them.

Ruan Yongxing was dragged out into the wind and snow like a wet rag, his body hanging limp. His shoes carved two crooked lines in the snow.

Shen Zhenwu’s legs gave out, his knees buckling. He nearly collapsed to the ground.

Fortunately, Shen Rongjing and Shen Rongdan reacted quickly, catching him by the arms and holding him up.

’Ruan Yongxing?’

’He was finished.’

’Dealing with him was just a matter of following procedure. The course of action could be summed up in two words: severe punishment.’

’The real problem...’

’...was Yao Yuzhen.’

’She was, after all, the mother of the three siblings...’

’Let her off the hook?’

’But if they went soft on her, they would have to answer to Song Yao.’

’But to handle it strictly by the book... wasn’t that a bit too cruel?’

He hadn’t even sorted out his thoughts when Yao Yuzhen arrived, trudging through the snow.

She looked sickly and frail, and this time, she hadn’t even brought Shen Shuangshuang with her.

The moment she entered the courtyard, she saw the door leaning against the wall. Before even stepping inside, she began to speak.

"Yongxing? What happened? What’s with the door?"

She stomped her feet as she spoke, brushing the snow off her padded jacket.

"I had to make three trips just to get some money! In this god-awful weather, my feet are completely numb..."

Before the words were even out of her mouth, she looked up and saw the three men standing in the room.

Her husband. Her two sons.

She wasn’t smiling. Her face instantly frosted over, and her voice rose to a shriek. "What are you doing here?!"