Return to Eighteen, the Spoiled Young Lady Acts Fierce with Her Beauty - Chapter 6: Fury in the Minefield

Chapter 6: Fury in the Minefield

The man merely watched him in silence, his gaze calm and unruffled, cold as ice.

It wasn’t until he took Mingzhu into his arms and carried her away that the man finally reacted or rather, he didn’t react at all. He made no move, uttered not a single word.

Lin Huaiyan, Mingzhu’s childhood friend.

He was also the eternal thorn in Sheng Yuan’s heart.

Before Sheng Yuan appeared, almost everyone had assumed the two of them would end up together.

To this day, Sheng Yuan could still vividly recall the immense self-control he had mustered back then just to keep his composure in front of everyone, to avoid making the situation utterly disgraceful.

He had been too insecure, too fearful of losing what he had barely obtained.

Mingzhu, whom he had worked so hard to win.

And at that time, he was only twenty so youthful and inexperienced compared to Mingzhu’s mature, accomplished suitors, completely dismissed as unworthy of their attention.

Yet, he was the one whom Lady Luck had favored.

Even now, Sheng Yuan remained uncertain why Mingzhu had chosen him, so utterly unremarkable back then.

After that incident, he had coaxed and pleaded, acting sweet and obedient just to secure Mingzhu’s promise: she would inform him in advance whenever she went out, and she would never stay out overnight.

Even though Lin Huaiyan was long married now, and he and Mingzhu were impossible, the rage, madness, and jealousy Sheng Yuan had felt witnessing that scene still haunted his mood to this day.

“Drive faster,” Sheng Yuan clenched his fists, his voice hoarse.

Xiao Cheng complied, disregarding the city speed limits as the car accelerated rapidly.

The Ming family estate was located in the most prestigious, prime area of Shanghai sprawling, shaded by lush trees, like a hidden utopia nestled within the city.

Mingzhu gazed at the familiar surroundings.

She was home.

“Madam, we’ve arrived,” the driver reminded her once the car stopped.

“Return directly to Capital City,” Mingzhu said. She had no intention of going back to Capital City anytime soon.

“Madam, I can’t…” the driver hurriedly objected. How could he dare return alone?

“I said go back,” Mingzhu insisted, lifting her bag and eyeing the white main building ahead.

“Very well, Madam,” the driver relented, having no choice but to obey.

As the car drove off, Mingzhu strolled slowly along the garden path.

The landscape lights around her remained lit, just as they had been when her grandfather was alive.

Since his passing, the estate no longer had live-in staff only periodic cleaners and caretakers.

It wasn’t desolate; everything was preserved exactly as she had left it two years ago.

Mingzhu paused before a swing.

Her eyes rested on it, her hand gently touching the chains.

The swing seemed somewhat out of place and crude in this meticulously designed garden, yet it had remained here for many years.

Her grandfather had built it for her with his own hands.

As a child, she had loved when he pushed her on it, their laughter ringing out together.

The memory of her own joyous giggles still echoed in her ears.

Now, looking back, it felt like a lifetime ago.

The old man who had unconditionally indulged her in everything and always waited for her return was gone from this estate forever.

Yet, whenever she was upset, she still longed to come home not the one in Capital City, but this one.

Even at forty-two, she still felt that no matter what she did or what trouble she caused, if her grandfather were here, he would clean up the mess for her.

No matter where she was, only when her heart was here could she truly feel settled.

Her phone vibrated incessantly, snapping Mingzhu out of her reverie.

When Mingzhu saw it was Sheng Yuan calling, she muted her phone.

She didn’t want to talk to Sheng Yuan for now.

Mingzhu lay down in her room.

Looking at the pink princess decorations around her, she let out a soft laugh. So childish.

Here she was, forty-two years old, lying in this room like a child unwilling to grow up.

The phone on the other end continued to ring with no answer.

Sheng Yuan clenched his phone tightly.

He stared unblinkingly at the words “Unanswered Call” on the screen.

Irritated, he kicked the nearby sofa.

“Mingzhu, are you fucking deaf?”

No one had picked up for so long.

Sheng Yuan hurled his phone at the sofa, leaving a visible dent on the surface.

Mingzhu had gone to Shanghai.

That was practically stepping right into his minefield.

Ever since he took control of the Sheng family, he had rarely been this furious.

Sheng Yuan’s Adam’s apple bobbed violently, rage boiling in his chest.

The heat spread from his stomach to his temples, veins throbbing at his forehead.

His fingertips still felt stiff from dialing the number.

Yet the receiver continued to play that mechanical message: “The number you have dialed cannot be reached.”

The second hand on the wall clock ticked lazily.

Suddenly, Sheng Yuan grabbed a glass from the coffee table and smashed it onto the floor.

Shards of glass mixed with freshly poured hot water splattered everywhere.

But he seemed not to notice.

He only stared at his darkened phone screen.

Through gritted teeth, he forced out a few words:

“Fine. Very good.”

She actually dared not answer his call.

Old Mr. Ming was already gone.

Who was left in Shanghai that she had to go back?

Aunt Liu hadn’t left yet but was already frightened by the scene.

She had never seen Sheng Yuan lose control like this.

Sheng Yuan snatched his car keys.

He was about to drive straight to Shanghai and drag Mingzhu back.

But a sudden surge of frustration made him stop in his tracks.

Why should he be the one to go after Mingzhu again?

Why should he be the one to coax and beg, to act sweet and obedient?

He had money, power, and looks now.

What woman could he not find or have?

Why did he have to waste his life on a woman in her forties faded and past her prime?

Why!

Why!

Why!

He knew coming home was a mistake.

“President Sheng, why are you back already?” someone slurred.

It was still early; the gathering hadn’t broken up yet.

The private room was lively, filled with swirling cigarette smoke.

The noisy atmosphere barely eased Sheng Yuan’s grim expression.

Many were already drunk. In this kind of atmosphere, people tended to grow bolder.

They began getting handsy, teasing and tangling with each other.

Sheng Yuan drank in silence, feeling the liquor burn from his throat down to his stomach.

Suddenly, someone let out a drunken burp and spoke loudly:

“Burp~ Shen Shao, can you let me have a go with her? Damn, she’s too tempting.”

The one addressed didn’t seem to mind at all.

Instead, he lifted the woman’s face beside him so everyone could see her clearly.

“Hahaha, sure, Fan Zong. About that project in the north part of the city…”

As he spoke, he pushed the woman into the other man’s arms.

“No problem, no problem,” the man laughed loudly, catching her.

“Come here, let me take a look,” Sheng Yuan suddenly spoke, silencing the room for a moment.

Everyone in Capital City knew Sheng Yuan was famously disciplined and devoted deeply in love with his wife and never fooling around outside.

Even when he joined these gatherings, he usually just drank on the sidelines.

Why was he asking for a woman today?

They had drunk quite a lot, their minds turning sluggishly, but no one dared to refuse Sheng Yuan face.

“Hurry up, President Sheng is calling you.”

The man showed no reluctance.

The woman gazed at Sheng Yuan’s sharply defined handsome face half-shrouded in shadow.

Her heart suddenly began pounding wildly.

In this private room, Sheng Yuan stood out the most.

Yet initially, he had been aloof and stern, completely avoiding any female company.

But for some reason, after stepping out and returning, he had taken a liking to her.

If it were this man, even without payment.

She felt she wouldn’t be at a loss.

The woman walked up to Sheng Yuan.

Then slowly knelt at his feet.

Sheng Yuan pinched her chin.

Studying her carefully under the dim lighting.

After a long moment, he shifted his gaze away disinterestedly, pulled out a tissue and vigorously wiped his fingers.

His thin, nearly merciless lips parted slightly.

“Dirty.”