Chapter 124 - Inheritance
Madam Shen was stunned by Shen Xingran's words.
Shen Xingran didn't linger and left the villa with his suitcase in a grand manner.
He got into Jin Linuo's car.
With Shen Xingran's outburst, the already oppressive atmosphere in the Shen family became even more gloomy.
Madam Shen seemed to have lost her soul that day. She locked herself in her bedroom without eating anything.
Shen Xingzhuo stood in the vast living room for a long time.
Finally, he snapped back to reality. Without daring to look at anyone or caring about the media waiting outside, he left the Shen family villa.
Shen Xingyu sat quietly on the sofa for a while before getting up to continue making calls for help from his connections in the study.
The most energetic one might be Shen Hongyuan, who was lying on a hospital bed.
Ever since learning that the news was leaked to the media by Shen Xingran, Shen Hongyuan had been consumed by an extreme rage.
He couldn't fathom why Shen Xingran would betray the Shen family.
Shen Hongyuan had considered the possibility that it was Lu Ran's retaliation.
He also suspected that it might be Shen Xingzhuo, the prodigal son, harboring resentment from his previous scolding and intentionally causing trouble for him.
He even entertained the idea that it could be Shen Xingyu.
As sons grew older, dangerous thoughts tended to multiply.
Shen Hongyuan had suspected all three of his biological sons, except for Shen Xingran.
In his eyes, blood ties were the strongest support.
Shen Xingyu and Shen Xingzhuo, bound to him by unbreakable blood, felt invincible and dared to act recklessly. But what right did Shen Xingran have?
He was merely an orphan with no one to rely on, growing up solely due to the affection he showered upon him.
It was Shen Hongyuan who had personally propelled Shen Xingran to his current position. In Shen Hongyuan's eyes, without him, Shen Xingran was nothing.
That was why he would only cling tightly to the Shen family; how could he possibly betray them?
It was precisely because he trusted Shen Xingran the most that Shen Hongyuan had placed him in a significant role by his side.
Yet, Shen Hongyuan never imagined that the one who would ultimately betray him would be this helpless orphan.
In the afternoon, Shen Xingyu arrived at the hospital room accompanied by the investigation team.
Shen Hongyuan's anger had caused his blood pressure to soar, and the machines beside his bed beeped incessantly.
The investigators asked some questions, but Shen Hongyuan refused to cooperate, keeping silent.
However, the evidence had already been gathered, so Shen Hongyuan's confession was no longer crucial.
Upon completion of the interview, the investigation team stood up and said,
"Mr. Shen Hongyuan, upon our investigation, we have reason to believe that you are involved in the illegal appropriation of personal assets, amounting to over a hundred million..."
However, upon hearing this, Shen Hongyuan, who had been relatively composed, blinked, his pupils constricting as he lifted his gaze towards the investigators.
Shen Xingyu's expression darkened slightly.
Shen Hongyuan started to speak, his words slurring, "A-Appropriation of personal assets? That's my company!"
The investigators glanced at him and explained in an official tone,
"Someone has reported that you illegally altered your father's will fourteen years ago. The situation has now been largely verified, and the involved lawyer has turned himself in."
"The ownership of the Shen Corporation is still under further investigation."
"Currently, all assets under your name will be frozen, pending the court's decision."
Lying on the hospital bed, Shen Hongyuan's complexion was ashen.
The investigation team soon departed.
Upon hearing about Shen Hongyuan's illegal tampering with the will, Shen Xingyu wasn't surprised nor did he press for more information.
For when he took on the role of CEO at the Shen Corporation, he already knew that Grandfather Shen had bequeathed almost all his assets to his youngest grandson, Shen Xingran.
Secrets, eventually, find their way to the surface.
The Chairman of the Shen Corporation, after illegally appropriating company assets, was now embroiled in a scandal involving the manipulation of his own father's will.
Altering a will is pure catnip for the media.
The news about the Shen family was at the height of its popularity.
This story quickly made it to the front page, thoroughly satiating the public's gossip cravings for the so-called elite families.
Ji Min received the information even earlier.
Before the media broke the story, he disclosed this bombshell while driving Lu Ran back home:
"Mr. Shen left all his inheritance to Shen Xingran."
Lu Ran encountered some issues with his experiment.
Bent over a tedious statistical table, he rolled his eyes upon hearing Ji Min's remark.
"Irksome," he said with a sigh. "There's no need to share such gloomy news with me."
It was one thing that his own parents and brother were smitten with Shen Xingran, but even the stern old man in the photograph had bequeathed his entire fortune to him, which was quite astounding.
Yet, just as Lu Ran finished speaking, Ji Min playfully tapped his head.
"Ow," Lu Ran winced, putting his hands to his head.
Ji Min took the experiment booklet from his grasp and set it aside.
Frustrated, he said, "Do you have any backbone at all? It's uncertain if Shen Xingran was even adopted when your grandfather passed away."
"You're the one your grandpa left all his inheritance to."
Lu Ran was genuinely taken aback.
He had always kept a clear distinction between himself and the name "Shen Xingran," so hearing this didn't evoke any personal feelings.
When Lu Ran heard about the failure of the Shen family's contract, he wasn't shocked.
Upon learning that it was Shen Xingran who betrayed them, his reaction was also rather calm.
But now, he was genuinely surprised.
After news of Shen Hongyuan altering the will broke out, the Shen family company plunged into chaos.
What was initially just a financial mess now caused instability throughout the entire board of directors.
Among the board members were elders who had worked alongside Shen Hongyuan's father.
And there were the Gu family members.
All of them were equally astounded upon hearing this news.
No one knew better than they did what kind of person Elder Shen was.
Elder Shen had single-handedly built the Shen Corporation.
Even in his old age, when his eyesight was nearly gone, he remained actively involved in his work.
He was a tyrant with an immense appetite for power.
Yet, it was well-known that Elder Shen valued the Shen Corporation more than his own biological son.
No one could have imagined that he would leave all his assets to a four- or five-year-old child.
The shift in share ownership would inevitably cause tremendous upheaval within the company.
If this genuine will had been made public back then, everyone would have assumed that the will had been tampered with.
Soon, the mastermind behind this message was exposed.
After all, the one currently occupying "Shen Xingran's" identity was not Lu Ran.
The Lino and Shen families truly were sworn enemies.
Old Lino, somehow, found the lawyer who had assisted Shen Hongyuan in forging the will, thus discovering the true testament left by Elder Shen.
Old Lino had been holding onto this information for a while but had kept a low profile.
Now that he saw the Shen family declining, he struck ruthlessly.
Upon learning this, Lu Ran recalled Old Lino's previous attitude toward him and understood a little more.
Old Lino must have been well aware that no matter how confused Elder Shen was, he would never leave the entire Shen family to a newly adopted grandson.
That was why he had initially extended an olive branch to Lu Ran.
But Lu Ran had promptly kicked him into the toilet.
Perhaps sensing that Lu Ran was not easily controlled, he settled for the alternative, Shen Xingran.
The timing of the lawyer's presentation of this "authentic will" was impeccable.
It occurred right after Shen Hongyuan legally adopted Shen Xingran and registered him in the household records.
Furthermore, the wording of the will referred to "the youngest grandson."
Coincidentally, Shen Xingran was a few months younger than Lu Ran.
Over a decade had passed since the old Master Shen's demise.
For any department, verifying the identity of "Shen Xingran" mentioned in the will was a formidable task.
Soon, Ji Min's assistant handed him Shen Xingyu's call, informing Ji Min, "Mr. Shen has requested to meet Young Master Lu Ran."
Ji Min didn't immediately decline nor answer the call.
On the night Lu Ran learned about the disposition of the old Master Shen's estate, he stood by the window in a daze throughout the night.
Yet, the next day, he continued to delve into his research data as if nothing had happened.
It seemed that the inheritance didn't sway his determination in certain matters.
But he had no intention of giving everything away to Shen Xingran without a fight.
Taking some time off, he visited the orphanage and printed out some documents to hand over to his lawyer.
Ji Min didn't interfere with Lu Ran's decision.
Instead, he found an opportunity to meet with Lu Ran's therapist and inquire about Lu Ran's progress in therapy.
Despite the sessions, Lu Ran's phantom pain hadn't vanished.
The psychiatrist was also frustrated.
She said, "The patient has a strong mental barrier. Most of his cooperation is only on a behavioral level; he hasn't truly embraced the therapeutic process mentally."
Regarding the persistent hallucinatory pain in Lu Ran's mind, the doctor pondered before suggesting a perspective:
"He mentioned once that being pushed into an icy pool during winter might be a residual trauma from that incident."
"What?"
Upon hearing this, Ji Min furrowed his brows. He inquired carefully, "How did he put it? When did it happen, and who pushed him?"
In principle, a therapist should maintain confidentiality about their patient's information.
However, when signing the agreement, Lu Ran had no objections to Ji Min's right to know.
As such, the doctor saw no reason to hide anything.
Lu Ran wouldn't bring up these matters on his own initiative.
The doctor only mentioned it because she recalled the story Lu Ran had shared before.
A child who went missing, only to find upon reunion that his family favored the adoptive son who had taken his name and identity. He was constantly plagued by this impostor, even being shoved into an icy pool one winter day.
Despite witnessing everything, the family members remained steadfastly on the side of their adopted son.
The first time Lu Ran recounted this story, he didn't mention that it was his own.
But his background is no longer a secret and can be easily guessed.
Thus, the doctor inquired about the young man's experience of being pushed into the pool.
As Lu Ran answered the question, he was basking in the warm embrace of the sun's rays.
The youth turned his head to gaze out at the street scene, remaining silent for a long while before uttering just two words:
"It hurts a lot."
The pool water was icy cold, piercing to the bone.
Struggling to ascend time and again, only to be pushed down repeatedly.
One would gradually lose strength in the water, fostering an overwhelming sense of despair as if one could never climb out.
In the end, he even forgot to struggle.
Ji Min looked down at the medical records in his hand.
His mind, however, was pondering the timeline of the incident.
Lu Ran was only acknowledged by the Shen family after he started university.
But by the time winter vacation came around, he already knew Ji Min.
Seemingly... there wasn't any time left for this event to occur.
Soaking in cold water during winter was no trifling matter.
Back then, Big Yellow was already being fostered by Ji Min, and Lu Ran would come over every day. If there had been anything amiss, Ji Min would definitely have noticed.
Yet, Ji Min also recalled that Lu Ran often found himself lost in thought by the swimming pool.
The Ji family had a pool in their backyard.
Yet Lu Ran would never draw near.
Before Ji Min could ponder further, the doctor retrieved another sheet from the medical record in his hand.
On the paper was a sketch drawn hastily with simple strokes.
Ji Min looked at the physician, who then said,
"This is the patient's self-portrait in a psychological context."
Ji Min lowered his gaze to examine the sketch.
In the drawing, a tiny figure was trapped within a rectangular frame.
After a moment of careful observation, Ji Min realized that the rectangle was intended to represent a bed.
What evoked a sense of oppression, however, was that the figure on the bed wasn't depicted in a state of rest.
Below the neck of the miniature person, numerous dense black lines crisscrossed, filling the space.
These lines resembled brutal slashes, cutting through flesh, yet also acted as invisible chains that bound.
Exiting the psychotherapy room.
Perhaps due to the self-portrait, Ji Min felt an overwhelming sense of oppression.
This painting might be difficult for the average person to comprehend.
But Ji Min had been wheelchair-bound before.
In an instant upon seeing the artwork, he grasped Lu Ran's intention.
The figure in the painting was trapped in a hospital bed, possibly due to illness... or... disability.
As the car hit the road, the driver inquired about Ji Min's next destination.
Ji Min informed his assistant, who directed the driver to the location prearranged by Shen Xingyu.
En route, Ji Min couldn't help but reminisce about his interactions with Lu Ran prior to his surgery.
Back then, Ji Min's temperament was indeed peculiar.
Especially when it came to how others treated his injured leg.
Yet, Lu Ran was the exception.
Whether it was the young man racing him through the parking lot in a wheelchair or occasionally poking at his leg to gauge his reaction, Lu Ran stood out.
Or perhaps it was that initial encounter with Lu Ran, when he had blurted out:
"It's better to be dead than completely paralyzed and unable to move."
Surprisingly, Ji Min didn't harbor any aversion to these sentiments.
One cannot fully empathize with experiences they've never had themselves.
A healthy, athletic teenager could never truly comprehend the suffering of someone confined to a wheelchair.
Even if sympathy arises, it is mostly grounded in imagination.
Yet, the impression Lu Ran gave Ji Min was entirely distinct.
Ji Min recalled the time before his surgery.
The youth grinned, teasingly comforting him, "Why, I'm quite the expert at taking care of someone who's completely paralyzed, you know..."
The car pulled up in front of a discreet restaurant, hidden from plain sight.
Ji Min's thoughts paused.
He got out of the car, and the attendant waiting outside immediately approached him proactively.
The attendant led him to the private room where Shen Xingyu was.
"Click."
Upon hearing the sound of the private room door opening, Shen Xingyu instantly looked up.
Upon seeing Ji Min, his gaze didn't linger and continued to drift towards the compartment outside. However, after Ji Min entered, he closed the door behind him and said, "I'm the only one who came." Shen Xingyu retracted his gaze without any trace of disappointment on his face. He had been looking forward to Lu Ran's arrival, but he was also well aware that Lu Ran wouldn't come. "Senior, it's been a while," Shen Xingyu said. If they were to count carefully, this was their first formal meeting since Ji Min had fully recovered from his leg injury. Ji Min nodded and picked up the menu beside him. "How is he doing?" Shen Xingyu asked. "Not too well," Ji Min replied.
Shen Xingyu paused, ultimately suppressing the desire to ask further questions.
For he knew that there was no point in doing so.
After hearing Shen Xingran's words, Shen Xingzhuo was deeply affected and did not return to the Shen family for several days.
Madam Shen secluded herself in her room the whole time.
Yet, Shen Xingyu remained unaffected.
He was self-aware and didn't need to be harshly criticized by Shen Xingran to recognize his own shortcomings.
But Shen Xingyu realized that he was even more hopeless.
Unlike Shen Hongyuan, Madam Shen, and Shen Xingzhuo, who mostly followed their instincts and emotions, they lacked a clear understanding of their actions.
Thus, when confronted with Shen Xingran's relentless revelation, they were devastated and unable to accept the truth.
He could have tried to argue, shifting the blame onto someone else.
But Shen Xingyu was different.
He had always been acutely aware of his actions.
He had chosen his family over himself.
And even when faced with the choice between his family and that child who would secretly peek at him in the study, he still chose his family.
Thus, on the day Shen Hongyuan hosted a banquet for Fang Chen, despite knowing full well that Lu Ran wasn't the one who pushed, he still slapped Lu Ran to quickly quell the situation.
Shen Xingyu was well aware of what he had chosen and what it would cost him.
He wasn't surprised by Lu Ran's subsequent distance.
Lu Ran had smashed cake into his face and forced him to eat all sorts of nonsense, but Shen Xingyu wasn't angry.
This was simply the price he had to pay for his choices.
He was well aware of this.
Thus, for Shen Xingyu, there was no room for regret.
Just like now, knowing full well that Lu Ran wouldn't come, Shen Xingyu still persisted with effort.
Only occasionally would emotions suppressed by reason resurface.
Prompting him to ask meaningless questions.
Shen Xingran's criticism that he was both a hypocrite and a coward was not unfounded.
Shen Xingyu sighed subtly, suppressing his emotions, and rationally weighed the pros and cons:
"The Shen Corporation is a decades-old establishment. Though it has encountered issues recently, it still holds value."
"Lu Ran taking over the Shen Corporation is the best choice. However, it wouldn't be beneficial for either the Shen family or Lu Ran if he were to do so impulsively. If Lu Ran chooses to collaborate with his family and issues a letter of forgiveness..."
Ji Min didn't respond to that.
The man looked intently at the electronic menu in his hand, then casually lifted his head to glance at Shen Xingyu, saying,
"I'm genuinely surprised that you're still putting in so much effort even up to this point."
Shen Xingyu paused.
He replied, "Someone has to do what needs to be done."
He was about to elaborate on the pros and cons, laying out the conditions.
Ji Min finished ordering and looked up, stating firmly, "You've known about the inheritance issue all along, haven't you?"
"Yes," Shen Xingyu admitted.
There was no point in hiding it.
At that moment, a knock came from the door of the private room.
The waiter entered and served the items Ji Min had ordered.
The first to arrive was a lemon sundae.
The waiter held the cup, ready to place it in front of Ji Min.
But Ji Min lifted his chin across the table, saying, "He's the one who ordered it."
Shen Xingyu was slightly surprised.
However, that wasn't the main point he was focusing on.
He was preoccupied with how to efficiently persuade Ji Min.
Once the waiter left, tranquility returned to the private room.
"Are you in strong support of your father's action to alter the will?" Ji Min continued to inquire.
Shen Xingyu fell silent for a moment.
He didn't express his own opinion, but said, "Under the circumstances back then, it was the best choice for both the company and the family."
Ji Min smiled. "But you lost your brother."
The words were like an invisible sword piercing through the air.
Shen Xingyu froze for an instant before quickly regaining his composure. He continued,
"How much turmoil would it cause to a company if all the shares were left to a missing child? You're well aware of that."
Ji Min responded, "He really liked you."
Shen Xingyu's lips quivered ever so slightly, and he pressed his mouth into a firm line.
"I can sense that he treated you differently from everyone else in the Shen family," Ji Min said.
Shen Xingyu lowered his gaze to study the dishes on the table.
Yet, he didn't order anything else.
Aside from the drinks, the only thing on the table was Ji Min's lemon sundae.
"He remembered that you liked rabbits," Ji Min said.
Shen Xingyu maintained his composure. "That was a long time ago."
He lowered his head and took a bite of the dessert in front of him.
The delicate scent of lemon wafted around, the only sweet flavor he could tolerate.
At that moment, Ji Min spoke again, "He also remembers that you like lemon-flavored ice cream."
Shen Xingyu's actions froze.
His brows knitted deeply.
On his usually calm and rational face, resembling that of a robot, a faint trace of suppressed pain could barely be discerned.