The man pressed closer step by step, her face turning pale with fear as she retreated, her body bumping into the sofa and collapsing onto it, her voice trembling slightly.
"Xiao, Xiaoxing..." Lin Zhao swallowed, her heart pounding wildly, terrified he might impulsively take her life. She stiffly curved the corner of her lips: "What are you doing?"
"Don't you know in your heart?"
The man tightened his grip on the gun in his hand, his long fingers flicking off the safety catch, his low voice cold and dark: "Who does Butler Xu belong to, and who bribed him? How did Fang Yingxue find out that girl was pregnant? You know better than anyone, don't you?"
Lin Zhao's expression shifted, a flicker of calculation barely visible in her eyes.
That's right. Shen Xiaoxing's secrecy was so tight that news of An Ruo's pregnancy hadn't been leaked to anyone, not even Butler Xu at first. Lin Zhao discovered An Ruo's pregnancy and deliberately fabricated a rumor for Fang Yingxue to hear. Fang Yingxue, who wished Shen Xiaoxing dead so badly, would never let this child stay to give the second branch a claim to the Shen family fortune.
Lin Zhao used this to make Fang Yingxue strike at An Ruo, while she herself subtly guided things from the sidelines, deliberately leading her to bribe Butler Xu.
Butler Xu was her loyal servant; making him implicate Fang Yingxue with his dying breath wasn't hard. This way, she killed two birds with one stone, all to her advantage.
"Xiaoxing, I may not be your biological mother, but I've looked after you for over a decade. I want you to become the head of the Shen family more than anyone. Your child would be the future great-grandson—why would I want to harm it?"
"Can you really tolerate this child?"
"..."
"Don't speak so high-soundingly. Saying you helped me get the position of family head—would you have helped me without any benefit?" Shen Xiaoxing's dark eyes glared coldly at her. "We're in a mutually beneficial relationship. You chose to cooperate with me only for your own gain."
"..."
"But you're narrow-minded. You think An Ruo having a child would harm you, afraid it would take away your rightful shares, so you struck at an unborn child!"
Lin Zhao took a heavy breath: "What proof do you have that Butler Xu was definitely acting on my orders? Fang Yingxue herself confessed!"
"Because Fang Yingxue fell into your trap!" Shen Xiaoxing pressed the gun to her temple, his long finger on the trigger. With just a little more force, Lin Zhao would die on the spot—the new silencer gun wouldn't be detected.
"Xiaoxing, don't get worked up..." Lin Zhao refused to admit it, her chest heaving violently: "This really has nothing to do with me. Butler Xu was indeed sent by me to look after you, but I haven't been in touch with him for a long time. Besides, we're partners—what reason would I have to make him harm you?"
As long as she stubbornly denied it, even if Shen Xiaoxing had immense power, he couldn't convict her!
Lin Zhao was certain he wouldn't dare shoot. She might have no authority in the Shen family, but she was still the eldest daughter of the Lin family, the legitimate wife Shen Ye had married openly!
If she died for no reason, the old master would definitely investigate thoroughly. Shen Xiaoxing was at a critical juncture; he wouldn't be foolish enough to take that risk.
The man coldly curled his lips: "Don't play riddles with me. I've long experienced your skill at using others to kill."
Back then, why did Shen Ye suddenly change his mind and make a deal with Shen Shuyao, making her willingly protect him to her death?
Lin Zhao had seduced Shen Ye, constantly whispering in his ear to push Shen Shuyao to her death.
Though Shen Xiaoxing had no concrete evidence, with his keen intuition, he knew Lin Zhao must have done something.
Only today was he more certain: Lin Zhao wasn't as kind as she appeared. She valued profit above all, even willing to give up her husband.
"You'd better not let me catch you in the act." Shen Xiaoxing pressed the gun hard against her. "From now on, if that girl faces any danger—if she sneezes or loses a single hair—you'll pay a heavy price!"
"..."
"If I find you've laid a hand on her again, even if I don't become family head, I'll kill you!" His cold eyes lifted slightly: "Including everyone in your Lin family!"
With that, he coldly withdrew the gun.
Lin Zhao watched his back and sneered: "You were faking it all along."
The man about to leap through the window paused, turning his face slightly, his eyes darkening a few shades. Without answering her, he jumped straight out.
Since Shen Xiaoxing dared to reveal his disguise, he was also certain Lin Zhao wouldn't dare leak this. Moreover, now that he controlled various forces, there was no need to keep hiding.
...
Outside the平民公寓, a low-key black Audi was parked.
An Ruo had a simple breakfast, then picked up the bag hanging on the wall, ready to go out.
She'd gotten lazy living in the villa, and with too many worries these past two days, she either ate out with Chen Keqiao or bought instant noodles from the supermarket to get by.
Just as she opened the door, she saw a tall figure standing in the hallway.
The man wore a black suit with a dark brown trench coat over it, giving him a cool, restrained look.
An Ruo expressionlessly closed the door. As she passed him, he suddenly grabbed her wrist.
"Mrs. Shen, are you really not coming home?"
"I don't want to."
Shen Xiaoxing wrapped an arm around her waist, his tall body pressing close, breathing in her ear: "Baby, still not over it?"
"Let go of me..."
It was early morning, and most residents here were ordinary people—this was rush hour for work!
"Going to class?" He casually took the bag off her shoulder. "I'll drive you."
"No need."
"Still angry?"
An Ruo tugged at his hand in a huff, but the man held her tight, not letting her move.
"I'm not mad at you—let me go!"
"Really?"
The girl pursed her lips and said nothing. Shen Xiaoxing knew she couldn't be pushed, so he let her go gently.
But the girl, afraid he'd drag her back, rushed downstairs in a panic. Before Shen Xiaoxing could react, she was gone.
An Ruo quickly jumped down the last step, only to realize her bag was still in the man's hand.
She turned to go back up, but the man came down with his long strides.
"So scared I'll take you back?"
An Ruo ignored him, yanking the bag from his hand and slinging it over her shoulder.
Shen Xiaoxing frowned, reaching out to grab her as she tried to leave, pinning her against the wall. His strikingly handsome face leaned in, his high nose bridge brushing hers.
"Mrs. Shen, you've learned to be disobedient now."
An Ruo wasn't in the mood for flirting and snapped irritably: "I'm not a child—why should I listen to you?"
This outburst annoyed Shen Xiaoxing. He didn't lose his temper immediately but instead hoisted her up and tossed her into the Audi.
Before An Ruo could react, his tall figure pressed down, his thin lips sealing her disobedient mouth. One hand pinned her restless wrists as he kissed her fiercely with a hint of anger!
Their heavy breaths mingled on each other's cheeks, so hot it made An Ruo's heart burn. Nearby, footsteps and cheerful chatter sounded.
The girl instinctively tensed up, afraid that moving would draw attention from passersby.
Shen Xiaoxing savored her expression, a faint smile curling at the corner of his mouth as he deepened the kiss, making up for days of longing.
The sound of wet, intimate kisses filled the car, flushing the girl's fair face red...
An Ruo couldn't stand his domineering assault. Her legs struggled restlessly, her lips aching from his biting.
The man seemed to torment her on purpose, letting her breathe for two minutes each time, giving her a few seconds' rest before kissing her again, keeping it up for over ten minutes!