Becoming a Scum A in an Old-School Melodramatic Novel - Chapter 40

Because of the phone case incident, Lin Qinghan didn’t want to talk to Shen Xian at all on the way. Was she really clueless, or just pretending not to understand? Lin Qinghan remained puzzled the whole way.

As usual, Shen Xian dropped both the little one and Lin Qinghan off. Even though Lin Qinghan ignored her, Shen Xian simply assumed she had accidentally upset her.

Since she didn’t go to the company at all yesterday, Shen Xian arrived early today. Jiang Xi had previously made plans to visit. When Shen Xian arrived, a few employees hadn’t come in yet.

After a while, four employees arrived one after another, greeted Shen Xian, and then got to work.

About half an hour later, Jiang Xi and Mu Siyu arrived together. Shen Xian didn’t expect Mu Siyu to come along. “Xiao Xi, Miss Mu, let me show you around my little company,” Shen Xian said with a smile.

She gave them a quick tour before returning to her office.

Jiang Xi smiled and said, “Sis, this place is nice, but it looks a bit small.”

“Yeah, I don’t have that much capital on hand. Otherwise, I wouldn’t just be helping others with asset management — I’d be doing venture capital myself.”

Mu Siyu glanced at Shen Xian and after some thought asked, “Miss Shen, do you have a detailed plan for the company’s future development?”

“Of course. I’ve even picked out a few companies I want to invest in — but I don’t have enough capital on hand,” Shen Xian replied with a smile. She stood up and pulled out a document from her desk. “Would Miss Mu be interested?”

Mu Siyu nodded and replied, “I’m a businesswoman. If there’s profit to be made, of course I’m interested.” Mu Siyu hadn’t become the head of Mu Group just by doing business well — she was also a keen judge of character. She had a feeling that Shen Xian wasn’t as simple as she appeared.

“Would Miss Mu like to take a look at my proposal?” Shen Xian offered her the folder in her hand.

Mu Siyu nodded. “Sure. If it’s good, I think we can work together.”

Shen Xian had targeted a few newly established companies for investment. In this world, card-based mobile games, turn-based games, and short-form video apps hadn’t yet become mainstream. Shen Xian saw this as an opportunity and had been observing several companies, ultimately selecting a few fledgling game developers. As for short videos, she wanted to develop her own app.

After reading the proposal, Mu Siyu thought for a moment and asked, “How many shares at most can I invest in?”

Shen Xian smiled. “I’ll accept investment, but the decision-making power must stay with me.” Shen Xian had no intention of working for someone else.

“Alright. Then both Xiao Xi and I will invest. You draft the contract first, and if everything looks good, we’ll sign it.” As if remembering something, Mu Siyu added, “But this place is too small. If we’re both investing, we’ll need to recruit staff properly, and the office space must expand — at the very least, it should cover half a floor.”

Shen Xian nodded. “Of course. With enough funding, everything should be more complete. But when it comes time to recruit staff, would it be possible for President Mu to lend me a few interviewers?”

“No problem — we’re partners now,” Mu Siyu replied, standing up to shake Shen Xian’s hand.

Watching them, Jiang Xi pouted and mumbled, “Sister Mu, the two of you are acting like this is a business meeting. Didn’t we agree you were just coming to visit a friend? Seeing you two like this reminds me of my parents lecturing me — it’s exhausting.”

Shen Xian and Mu Siyu exchanged amused glances. Mu Siyu gently comforted her, “Alright, it’s our fault. Old habits die hard — whenever we meet, we can’t help but talk business.”

“Sigh, compared to you two, I’m basically useless. I interned at my brother’s company for a few days and my head’s about to explode,” Jiang Xi grumbled.

Mu Siyu looked at her fondly and said with a smile, “It’s okay, you have me.”

Jiang Xi blushed, feeling a bit shy under Mu Siyu’s gaze.

Sitting nearby, Shen Xian had already figured it out — it seemed like Jiang Xi and Mu Siyu had reconciled on Jiang Xi’s birthday.

Just earlier, when Shen Xian was showing Mu Siyu and Jiang Xi around the company, several of her employees saw them. Mu Siyu was a well-known and admired CEO in Linhai City, and many recognized her. After Shen Xian sent both guests off, the employees in the office were visibly excited.

“No way! President Shen actually knows the president of the Mu Group? Looks like we’ve lucked out this time,” Li Xing said excitedly. Getting into Mu Group was notoriously difficult, and only a few interns from their batch had been accepted.

“Yeah! President Shen is also really kind. She’s willing to teach us whenever we’re stuck. I think this company has real potential,” Song Min said happily.

“Mm-hmm, I suddenly feel much more motivated to work,” Yan Qiang added with a laugh.

Yuan Zhenzhen also chimed in with a few words of agreement, though her eyes drifted toward Shen Xian’s office, as if lost in thought.

A week later, Zhao Jianye’s surgery was scheduled. Both Shen Xian and Lin Qinghan came to the hospital.

Not long after, Shen Xian’s aunt and uncle arrived as well. Worried about disturbing their work, Fang Jingping said quickly, “There’s no need for everyone to be here. Xiaoyan and I are enough. You should all head back to work.”

“Third Aunt, we’re all free — that’s why we came. Don’t overthink it. Hip replacement surgery is very common now; it’ll be fine. We’ll go up with you shortly,” Shen Xian reassured her.

Shen Xian’s other aunt, Fang Jingchun, had also heard from Fang Jinglan and Fang Jingping that Shen Xian had changed. Seeing her today, she agreed Shen Xian did seem different. More importantly, Lin Qinghan had come along with her. Pressing down her curiosity, Fang Jingchun decided to call Fang Jinglan later to ask about it.

Around 9 a.m., the hospital staff responsible for transporting patients to the 17th floor surgery room arrived. Zhao Jianye was moved onto a wheeled stretcher and taken away. The family members, including Shen Xian, followed to the 17th floor.

They waited nearly five hours. In the end, Shen Xian and Lin Qinghan were mostly there to help — the ones truly anxious were Fang Jingping and Zhao Xiaoyan.

Estimating the time, Shen Xian turned to Lin Qinghan and said, “Qinghan, I think your uncle should be out in about an hour. None of us have eaten yet. I’ll go pack up some food and bring it back. If anything happens, just call me.”

“Okay, go ahead. I’ll wait here,” Lin Qinghan replied with a nod.

Just as Shen Xian had said, after a while, Zhao Jianye was wheeled out of the operating room. The doctor pushing the bed kept talking to him non-stop, as the anesthesia had just worn off and he wasn’t fully conscious yet. This was done to ensure the patient’s awareness was normal.

When Fang Jingping and Zhao Xiaoyan saw Zhao Jianye come out, they couldn’t hold back their tears. After asking the doctor, they were told the surgery was very successful. Only then did the mother and daughter finally feel at ease, and everyone followed them back to the hospital room.

Shen Xian said a few words to Lin Qinghan and then brought all the food he had bought back to the room. “Third Aunt, I bought food. It’s almost two o’clock — everyone should eat something first.”

Due to the anesthesia, Zhao Jianye had already fallen asleep again. In the end, no one stayed in the hospital to eat; they left the food for Fang Jingping and Zhao Xiaoyan.

Now that it was confirmed Zhao Jianye was fine, Shen Xian and the others left.

“Auntie, Uncle, are you heading home? I’ll drive you back first,” Shen Xian said to them.

Fang Jingchun was also a bit curious about what kind of car Shen Xian had bought, so she nodded and followed him. Shen Xian first drove Fang Jingchun and her husband home, then returned home with Lin Qinghan.

Shen Xian’s uncle liked cars a lot, so he knew Shen Xian’s car cost over 400,000 yuan. Curious, he asked, “Shen Xian, where did you suddenly get that much money? That car isn’t cheap — over 400,000 yuan.”

“I don’t know. I’ll call Second Sister and ask. Shen Xian and Qinghan don’t look like they’re divorced or anything,” Fang Jingchun said, and then she called Fang Jinglan.

Speaking of Fang Jingchun, the original Shen Xian had lied to her more than once. One time, she lost money gambling and sent a photo she found online of a severed hand to Fang Jingchun and her husband, saying she had lost money gambling and couldn’t pay it back, so someone had chopped off her hand. If she didn’t pay back the rest, the other hand would be chopped off too. At that time, everyone in the family already knew she was lying for money, so Fang Jingchun didn’t send any. But for several days afterward, she couldn’t sleep, worried that something had really happened, blaming herself constantly.

But Shen Xian had simply wasted all her money outside, and when she couldn’t borrow more, she came back home, completely healthy with both hands perfectly intact. When she saw Fang Jingchun, she even spoke confidently, acting as if nothing had happened, as though she hadn’t sent that severed hand photo herself.

Before long, Fang Jinglan answered the phone.

“Second Sister, what’s going on with Shen Xian and Qinghan? And that car — don’t tell me you paid for it again?” Fang Jingchun asked.

“Shen Xian bought that car herself. As for her and Qinghan, I can’t say for sure, but they seem to be getting along well and are living together taking care of Tian Tian,” Fang Jinglan replied.

“Mhm, Shen Xian and Qinghan came today when Third Brother-in-law had surgery. They even brought food and helped with everything. I hope things really change this time,” Fang Jingchun sighed. Her second sister had suffered so much because of that daughter.

“Yeah, this time, it really seems like Shen Xian has changed.” The two sisters chatted a bit more before hanging up.

Two weeks later, Shen Xian and Mu Siyu, along with Jiang Xi, signed a detailed contract. Shen Xian also rented the entire right half of the 10th floor as an office space. When Li Xing and the others learned that the Mu and Jiang companies had invested in their company, they were overjoyed.

After finishing her work, Shen Xian received a call from the jewelry store in the afternoon saying the bracelet had arrived. She gave Li Xing and the others a few instructions and quickly left the office.

When she entered the store, the same staff member who had previously helped her came over and said, “Hello, the bracelet you ordered has arrived. Please come take a look.”

Shen Xian examined the bracelet and, confirming that it closely matched the photo the system had previously shown her, said, “Alright, how much is the remaining payment?”

“The current gold price is 420 yuan per gram, including craftsmanship fees. This bracelet weighs 60 grams. You need to pay 20,200 yuan,” the staff explained, placing the bracelet on the scale so Shen Xian could confirm the weight.

After paying, Shen Xian headed to Fang Jinglan’s place. She had been so busy over the past two weeks with the cooperation between Mu Siyu and Jiang Xi that she hadn’t had time to visit. When she knocked and entered, Fang Jinglan and Shen Wenkang were both there. Seeing her, Fang Jinglan got up happily and asked, “Why are you back now? Didn’t go to the office?”

“Yeah, Mom. It’s been a bit busy lately, so I took some time to come visit. Are you and Dad doing well?” Shen Xian asked with a smile.

“Mhm, we’re doing fine. Don’t worry and focus on your work.”

Shen Xian took the bracelet out of her bag, sighed, opened the box, and said to Fang Jinglan, “Mom, I couldn’t recover the old bracelet, so I had one made that looks similar. I know that even if it looks just like the old one, it’s not the same one Grandpa bought you. I’m sorry about what happened before. This is the best I could do.”

Fang Jinglan’s eyes turned red. She had thought Shen Xian had long forgotten about the bracelet. Yet here she was, bringing back one that looked identical. She still remembered how angry she had been when it was lost, even wanting to report Shen Xian to the police. But in the end, she was still her daughter. No matter how wrong she was, Fang Jinglan couldn’t bear to be truly ruthless, and eventually, she let it go.

She picked up the bracelet from the box and examined it. The style and brand were from the same jeweler, and even the engraving inside was nearly identical. Holding back tears, she asked, “What made you think of this bracelet again?”

“That day when I was holding your wrist, it felt like something was missing. Then I remembered the bracelet. Mom, don’t worry — those things from before will never happen again. I’ve really grown up now. I want to take good care of you and Dad,” Shen Xian said, her own eyes turning red. Though they hadn’t spent that much time together, Shen Xian already thought of them as her family.

“Mom and Dad believe in you. As long as you’re doing well, that’s more important than anything,” Fang Jinglan said. She had held back her tears for a long time, but they still fell.

Shen Xian quickly grabbed tissues to wipe Fang Jinglan’s tears. As she gently helped her put on the bracelet, she chatted with her for a little longer before leaving. When she left, the virtual number above Fang Jinglan’s head had risen to [65], and the number above Shen Wenkang’s had gone up to [70].