Chapter 12

Shen Xiao's overbearing and flashy entrance made Shen Yu hesitate. Instead of approaching him directly, she moved further into the crowd to get a clearer view of the situation.
The Shen Corporation owned a standalone office building with a small plaza in front. Located near a commercial street, the plaza was usually bustling with people. Today, being a weekend, the crowd was even larger than usual. So, whenever something happened, it would be surrounded by onlookers in the blink of an eye.
Ignoring the disapproving glances from those around her, Shen Yu recklessly pushed her way forward until she finally saw a man slumped on the ground in the center of the crowd. From her angle, she could only see his profile. Judging by his appearance, he seemed to be a young man in his twenties, dressed in branded clothing from head to toe, yet he was acting like a madman, throwing a tantrum on the ground.
So, it was this person causing the trouble. She had initially thought Shen Xiao was leading his men into a brawl!
As soon as Shen Xiao appeared, the crowd automatically parted, allowing him to easily approach the troublemaker.
The man on the ground grew even more agitated upon seeing Shen Xiao and yelled hoarsely, "Shen Xiao, you son of a bitch! Finally dared to show your face? If you won’t let me live in peace, I won’t let you off either, damn you! Today, I’m going to let everyone know that it’s you, this bastard, who’s driving me to my death!!"
As he ranted, the man flailed his arms wildly, and a glint of light flashed in his hand. Upon closer look, it was a cold, gleaming dagger.
The onlookers gasped and exclaimed, "He has a knife!"
Shen Yu also saw the knife and felt a pang of anxiety. Although Shen Xiao had been bullying her lately, seeing him in danger still made her worry, after all, they were family.
She anxiously turned around and spotted Uncle Li, who had already squeezed his way to her side. She quickly asked, "Uncle Li, what should we do? Should we go over now?"
Uncle Li, who was about the same height as her, stood on his tiptoes to peer inside and frowned. "Let's not go yet. The young master can handle it. We wouldn’t be of any help if we went over."
Shen Yu asked again, "Why haven’t they called the police?"
Uncle Li shook his head. "I’m not sure."
While the two of them were growing anxious, Shen Xiao remained perfectly calm. Even when he saw the other man holding a dagger, he didn't so much as furrow his brow. He simply raised his hand slightly, and several bodyguards quickly dispersed, forming a circle to keep the onlookers at a distance. Alone, he slowly approached the man.
Due to the distance and the noisy surroundings, no one could clearly hear their conversation.
Shen Xiao crossed his arms, standing before him like a king looking down from on high, and said, "Lin He, you've got some nerve showing up here to cause trouble today. But do you really think I'm afraid? With that little knife of yours that couldn't even kill a chicken?"
The young man named Lin He grew furious at his words. Pointing the dagger at Shen Xiao, he shouted, "Shen, do you have to be so ruthless? Just because my dad insulted you once, you've held a grudge for so long? And now you're setting me up?!"
It was at a banquet last year when Mr. Lin had called him a "bastard raised without parents."
Shen Xiao tilted his head, studying him, then hiked up his pant legs and crouched down halfway. Lowering his voice with a wicked grin, he said, "So what if I am? I did it on purpose. Who told me I was raised without parents?"
Lin He hadn't expected him to admit it so openly. Instantly enraged, his eyes widened in fury as he roared, "You son of a bitch...!!"
Shen Xiao frowned, as if unable to bear the sight of his pathetic state, and narrowed his eyes. "What else can you do besides curse? Throw a tantrum and cause a scene? Oh, right, you're also good at losing at cards, gambling away your family's land in one night. Tsk tsk... truly impressive."
Blinded by hatred, Lin He tried to push himself up and lunge forward, but he had been sitting on the ground for too long and suddenly felt weak, unable to stand. In the end, he could only bluster, "Shen, you dare frame me!"
Shen Xiao raised a finger and wagged it at him. "Now, now, let's not put it that way. I just played a round of cards with you, and you were the one who insisted on raising the stakes. How is that my fault? I even warned you at the time, if you don't have the ability, you should know your limits and not play yourself to death. But you insisted on betting that land. I couldn't stop you even if I tried."
Playing with someone while belittling their ability, was that really a warning? It was clearly reverse psychology!
Lin He only realized this later, but it was already too late! He had fallen right into Shen Xiao's trap.
Shen Xiao glanced at the dagger in Lin He's hand and said, "So, what are you planning to do with that little shaver? Kill me or kill yourself? Do you even have the guts?"
Before Shen Xiao came out, Lin He had already been causing a scene for a while, his emotions unstable. Now, after being repeatedly taunted by Shen Xiao, he was on the verge of a complete breakdown. The hand holding the knife began to tremble violently. Shen Xiao was right, he didn't have the courage. Spoiled since childhood, he would cry over the slightest scratch. How could he possibly stab himself with a knife? But what else could he do? Watch helplessly as his father begged for help everywhere, only to be rejected at every turn? Shen Xiao was determined to ruin them, leaving no way out. Their land had been seized, their company reported, and everyone treated them like rats scurrying across the street, avoiding them at all costs!
Lin He was truly regretting his actions to the point of despair. He should never have been foolish enough to provoke this man, he was practically a devil from hell!
At that moment, loud police sirens blared from the road outside the crowd. The onlookers quickly turned to look, guessing that someone must have called the police.
Shen Xiao raised an eyebrow, stood up calmly, and straightened the hem of his clothes. "Alright, you've been making a scene for so long. You must be thirsty by now. How about a cup of tea at the station?"
Lin He, who had been stunned into silence for a long while, suddenly snapped back to reality and remembered the purpose of his visit. Scrambling frantically, he grabbed at Shen Xiao's pant leg, wailing, "President Shen, Brother Shen, I was wrong! I was despicable! You can hit me or curse at me all you want, but I beg you, please spare our Lin family! My father has a heart condition, he can't handle the stress!"
At this point, Lin He had lost all the arrogance he had shown earlier while hurling insults. He was like a stray dog, desperately clutching Shen Xiao's pant leg and pleading hysterically.
Shen Xiao glanced back at him with disdain and said coldly, "What does that have to do with me?"
Lin He's lips trembled as he continued to beg for mercy. "Brother Shen, please don't be like this. I'll do anything for you, be your slave, your servant, just spare my family, I beg you!"
Annoyed by the tugging, Shen Xiao frowned and signaled to a bodyguard nearby. The bodyguard immediately stepped forward, bent down, and effortlessly lifted the weak and scrawny Lin He.
Just then, the police made their way through the crowd toward them.
Realizing he was about to lose his chance to negotiate face-to-face with Shen Xiao, Lin He felt a surge of anger and hatred. A suffocating rage built up in his chest, ready to explode at any moment.
In a flash of desperation, Lin He summoned an inexplicable burst of strength, broke free from the bodyguard's grip, and charged toward Shen Xiao's back, his eyes bloodshot as he roared, "Shen Xiao, go to hell!"
"Ahhhhh!!!" The onlookers screamed in unison, pushing the atmosphere to its peak.
Shen Xiao reacted swiftly. Hearing the roar, he spun around just as the gleaming blade lunged toward his face. In a split second, he raised his arm to block it, feeling a sharp, searing pain in his wrist.
Fortunately, the bodyguard rushed over in time to restrain Lin He, who was pinned to the ground like a lifeless ragdoll.
Shen Xiao expressionlessly glanced at the wound on his wrist. It wasn't deep, so he ignored it and used the same hand to grab Lin He by the collar. Drops of glaringly bright blood dripped onto the other man's white shirt, spreading like blooming crimson plum blossoms, a shocking sight.
Finally, he said, "Since you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish."
Amid the chaos, the police quickly took control of the scene. Shen Xiao couldn't be bothered to deal with them, so he called Secretary Du to handle the aftermath while he turned and headed into the company.
Shen Yu and Uncle Li had witnessed the entire scene and were badly shaken. Just as they were about to rush over to check on Shen Xiao, they ran into an approaching bodyguard who said, "Miss, the lobby is crowded. Sir asked you to take the private elevator upstairs. Please follow me."
Shen Yu: “…”
Did Shen Xiao have some kind of clairvoyance? How could he manage to deal with the troublemaker and still spot her in the crowd?
Uncle Li asked the bodyguard, "Is Sir's injury serious?"
The bodyguard replied, "It's just a minor cut. Nothing to worry about."
Only then did the two of them breathe a sigh of relief. As they followed the bodyguard into the elevator, he added, "Miss Bai is also upstairs."
Miss Bai?
Bai Muqing?!!