After storming out of the boardroom, Hubert Shen immediately contacted several employees who had been dismissed by Aurel Shen just two days prior, then left the company in a blaze of fury.
He was confident—no matter what dirt Aurel might have found on him, it wouldn't be enough to take him down.
Ten years ago, yes, he'd had certain thoughts, but the car accident that killed Elena Shen's parents had never been executed by him. Technically speaking, it had nothing to do with him at all.
As for the allegations of stealing corporate secrets? He wasn't worried. If Aurel truly had solid evidence, he would've brought it up during today's confrontation—instead of harping on the past.
Without concrete proof, no matter how loud the accusation, Aurel would remain nothing more than a suspicious-minded adopted son. That alone would never sway the board.
With a frigid expression, Hubert exited Shen Group's headquarters, ready to leave Huaihai. But just as he stepped outside, he spotted a familiar car parked at the base of the building.
In front of it stood Eric Chen, sharp in his tailored suit, composed and unshaken.
A flicker of apprehension crossed Hubert's eyes.
He forced a smile, about to greet him, when Eric approached first.
"Mr. Shen. Our President Jiang would like a word."
Hubert didn't move.
Years of navigating the corporate battlefield had honed his instincts. His gut told him—run. Now.
"I'm terribly sorry, Assistant Chen. I have a rather urgent matter at hand. Please tell President Jiang I will personally pay him a visit in a few days—"
The car's rear window rolled down.
Ethan Jiang's gaze fell upon him—cool, distant, and devoid of emotion.
His tone was almost gentle, but the weight behind it made Hubert's face pale in an instant.
"No time to discuss the deliberate leaking of Shen Group's classified assets, Vice Chairman Shen?"
…
Hubert had been meticulous, certain that Aurel Shen held no concrete leverage against him. What he hadn't accounted for was that while Aurel was investigating the tragic crash from a decade ago, Ethan had been quietly digging into his every move over the years.
And in Ethan's hands, the evidence was irrefutable.
A few days later, Hubert Shen was formally arrested—charged with attempted murder and financial crimes. Every employee connected to his schemes was swiftly purged by Aurel.
The day Hubert was taken away, the news exploded across every major outlet.
Elena didn't go to the scene. Instead, she and Aurel visited their parents' grave. Ethan went with them.
That evening, back at Yushan Residence, after playing with Tuan Tuan for a while and patting the puppy's soft head, Elena was about to head upstairs when Ethan gently caught her wrist and pulled her into his arms.
"If it hurts, say it."
She shook her head in his embrace, her lashes lowered. Her face was calm, but her voice was muffled with restraint.
"…It doesn't."
It didn't hurt. The truth was out. She *should* have felt relief.
Tuan Tuan, oblivious to everything, wagged his tail and padded over, gently nuzzling her ankle in a comforting gesture.
In the following days, Elena continued her routine—attending classes, running lab experiments—but whenever she was home, Ethan remained by her side at Yushan.
Watching over every flicker of her emotions.
Until a week passed, and at last, the gloom faded from her brow. Her lake-clear eyes sparkled again. Her smile returned, soft and bright like sunlight filtering through leaves.
Saturday morning.
Elena was still curled up in her soft, cozy bed, reluctant to rise, when her phone began ringing energetically with an incoming call from Annie Gu.
Drowsy and reluctant, she buried her face deeper into the blankets, groping for her phone with a sleepy hand.
Before she could reach it, Ethan emerged from the walk-in closet, came to her bedside, and plucked the freshly charged phone from the nightstand, placing it gently in her palm.
Her fingers froze for a moment.
Then, she lifted her face from the covers. Her long lashes fluttered as she opened her sleepy eyes.
Misty-eyed and dazed, the first thing she saw wasn't the screen—but Ethan's face.
He looked down at her, lips curling into a soft smile.
He leaned down, ruffling her hair with gentle fingers, voice low and tender.
"Awake now?"
"It's Miss Gu on the line."
Under his gaze, Elena's eyes darted shyly away. She turned on her side, blanket wrapped snugly around her, then ducked her head like a bashful bird and tapped the answer button.