Scumbag Forcing Me to Divorce? Watch Me Turn Around and Marry a Powerful Capital Tycoon! - Chapter 18

Shen Jingshu grew more anxious by the second, practically itching to kick the door open and rush inside to see exactly what was wrong with her brother.

Yun Haotian, however, stayed calm and pulled out his phone.
“Mom, don’t worry. I’ll call Assistant Li and check! Uncle’s busy all day—maybe he’s just in a meeting right now.”

Just as he was dialing Assistant Li’s number, the door swung open from the inside.

Standing there was none other than Shen Jingnian himself.

“Sis? Haotian, what are you guys doing here?”
Seeing his sister and nephew, Shen Jingnian looked surprised.
The siblings usually met at the old family estate—Shen Jingshu never came to his apartment.
Today was an odd exception.

“Why didn’t you open the door earlier?” Shen Jingshu breathed a sigh of relief but scolded in a worried tone.
“You scared me half to death! I thought something really happened to you!”

“I was in the shower and left my phone outside, so I didn’t hear the bell,” Shen Jingnian explained.

Still damp from his bath, he wore a black silk pajama top. His wet hair dripped droplets down his neck, tracing over his collarbone before disappearing into the slightly open robe. The robe’s low collar subtly revealed toned abs hidden beneath the fabric. Broad shoulders, slim waist—his figure could make even a runway male model feel inferior.

Yun Haotian looked at his mother and said, “Mom, I told you Uncle wouldn’t have any problems. Don’t you believe me now?”

Shen Jingshu kicked him lightly.
“Stop talking nonsense. Take the groceries I bought into the kitchen.”

Then she turned to Shen Jingnian.
“Jingnian, go dry your hair so you don’t catch a cold. I’ll start cooking.”

“Cooking?” Shen Jingnian raised an eyebrow, doubtful.
“Are you sure your cooking is edible?”
His sister had always been pampered—she’d never even boiled water, let alone cooked.

“How dare you underestimate me! I’ll shock you with my cooking skills!” Shen Jingshu rolled up her sleeves and marched toward the kitchen.
“Haotian, come help me!”

…

One hour later.

Shen Jingshu took off her apron and called from the study doorway.
“Jingnian, dinner’s ready.”

Shen Jingnian sat in front of his computer, lips pressed tight, still on a video call. Hearing his sister’s voice, he took off his headset and muted the mic.
“You guys go ahead and eat. I’ll join later.”

“Okay.”

With that, he resumed his meeting.

“Continue,” he said coldly in just three words—icy as if wrapped in frost.

But in an instant, he transformed into the decisive and ruthless Shen Jiuyue of the business world. His commanding presence radiated through the screen, intimidating every senior executive on the call.

A voice came from the headset.
“Jiuyue, Cheng Corporation’s latest AAA game is about to launch. They’re the frontrunner for this year’s Skyward Award. Plus, their proposal is innovative and sincere. I think we should consider giving the opportunity to Cheng Corp.”

Heads nodded in agreement.

Cheng Corporation was rising fast—it was the smartest choice to give them the contract.

“What about Jidong Game?” Shen Jingnian asked.

“Currently, Xie Huaijin, the core developer of Jidong, has quit, so they haven’t submitted a bid yet. Although there’s new talent joining, their strength is uncertain. Not to mention, AAA-level talent is scarce domestically. Wang Shengli can’t find anyone to replace Xie Huaijin on short notice.”

It wasn’t just hard to find someone better than Xie Huaijin—finding an equal was nearly impossible.

Xie Huaijin was Wang Shengli’s last trump card. Now that even Xie Huaijin had defected to Cheng Corp, Wang Shengli was nothing more than a trapped beast at the bottom of a well.

Almost no one believed Wang Shengli could complete a AAA game smoothly.

All hopes were pinned on Cheng Corporation.

“Who says a trapped beast can’t make a comeback?” Shen Jingnian tapped the desk confidently.
“That’s all for today’s meeting. Dismissed.”

He closed his laptop, leaving the executives exchanging confused looks.

A trapped beast making a comeback? Impossible.

“What do you think Jiuyue means? Is he considering picking Jidong? And can they even deliver a bid on time?”

“Jiuyue never makes the wrong choice. Once he sees Jidong’s proposal, he’ll know exactly who to pick!”

“The master’s will is unfathomable! I advise you not to waste time guessing Jiuyue’s thoughts—unless you want to end up…” The slightly chubby executive made a throat-slitting gesture.

At that, the others immediately fell silent, not daring to say another word.

After the video conference ended, Shen Jingnian walked into the dining room.

He stared at the four dark-looking dishes and soup laid out on the table, deep in thought.

Yet Shen Jingshu looked expectantly at him.
“What are you just standing there for? Try my cooking already!”

Shen Jingnian: “……”

Under his sister’s urging, he picked up his chopsticks but quickly put them down again.
His thin lips parted slightly.
“Sis, you haven’t told me why you came here in the first place.”

Shen Jingshu propped her chin on both hands.
“You eat while I tell you.”

“Has Haotian tasted it yet?” Shen Jingnian asked.

Shen Jingshu glanced at Yun Haotian.
“Yes, yes, Haotian, you haven’t tried it yet! Hurry up and try some. Not everyone’s lucky enough to taste food I cook with my own hands—not even your dad is that lucky. You’re way more blessed than him.”

Yun Haotian smiled on the outside but inwardly he was crying.
Who wants that kind of “blessing”?
He didn’t want to be the guinea pig.

Uncle was ruthless—dragging him down with that disaster of a meal.

Just as Yun Haotian reached for some food with his chopsticks, he suddenly changed the subject and looked at Shen Jingnian.
“Uncle, I saw that scammer from the elevator again today—right outside the café! She’s still trying to trick me, saying your improvement is just superficial. She claimed you’d faint before nine tonight! But it’s almost nine now and you’re fine. Isn’t that nonsense?”

“You just asked why Mom suddenly showed up here? She was worried you might faint with no one around, so she came to check on you.”

Shen Jingnian’s phoenix-like eyes narrowed slightly—deep and unfathomable, calm and unreadable.
He glanced at the wall clock.

It was 8:55 PM.

Five minutes to nine.

“See? It’s not nine yet. Stop talking and eat!” Shen Jingshu grabbed a chopstickful of some unidentifiable dish and stuffed it into Yun Haotian’s mouth.

Suddenly, the world fell silent.

That weird flavor instantly filled Yun Haotian’s entire mouth.
He wanted to vomit but dared not; wanted to swallow but couldn’t.

Shen Jingshu picked up another bite and put it into Shen Jingnian’s bowl.
“Jingnian, stop talking and eat too!”

Yun Haotian felt a sudden mental balance.

Under his sister’s hopeful gaze, Shen Jingnian reluctantly picked up a small leaf of vegetable, popped it into his mouth, swallowed it quickly, then grabbed a nearby glass and gulped down some water.

Yet Shen Jingshu still looked at him expectantly.
“Jingnian, how is it?”

The cold, icy demeanor remained unchanged on Shen Jingnian’s face as he parted his thin lips.
“Not bad. But I’m not very hungry tonight. Sis, you can let Haotian eat more!”

Shen Jingshu looked at Yun Haotian.
“If your uncle isn’t eating much, it’s your gain!”

Yun Haotian’s face was full of confusion and disbelief:
“???”

Dear uncle?
Waaah!
If you want me dead, just say so! Why beat around the bush?

Shen Jingnian put down his chopsticks and stood up, ready to open a bottle of red wine.

Ding!

Right at that moment, the clock on the wall chimed the hour.

Nine o’clock sharp.

“It’s nine—crisis averted.” Yun Haotian put down his chopsticks, grinning proudly at Shen Jingshu.
“See, Mom! I told you Uncle would be fine. Lin Fuhua is a super top doctor. And that woman? Just a liar!”

No sooner had Yun Haotian finished speaking—

Bang!

Shen Jingnian opened the wine cabinet door and reached out—when suddenly, an intense pain exploded in his chest.
His vision blackened, and he collapsed to the floor, unconscious.

Two voices cried out at the same time.
“Uncle!”
“Jingnian!”