Xi Heng was full of confidence: "Jingfeng's disappearance means the JY Team is on the decline, whereas our LH Team is the exact opposite. You're back, and the people at the JY Team know your capability better than anyone. Anyone who loves scientific research will not refuse to join us."
A few years ago, Jingfeng from JY and Sihuang from LH had placed a bet against each other. Both teams were waiting to make a laughingstock of the other, but the outcome was unexpected.
Their scientific research projects ended in a tie!
Shen Weilan was silent for a long moment, then typed on her computer: "I think you are being somewhat wishful. I feel that the people in the JY Team are extremely loyal to JY; it's impossible for them to be turned by your few words."
Xi Heng: "Then let's wait and see."
Facing his confidence, Shen Weilan had nothing to say and simply sent him an emoji.
Xi Heng sent another message: "By the way, it is said that the last place Jingfeng was seen before disappearing was City A. Why don't you ask around?"
Shen Weilan frowned. City A was so big, how was she supposed to ask around for Jingfeng? Besides, Jingfeng was merely a codename; she didn't even know his real name. It was like finding a needle in a haystack.
Shen Weilan changed the subject: "Send your recent projects to my email. Although I can't go back yet, I can still help out online."
Xi Heng was overjoyed and hurriedly sent all the tricky projects to Shen Weilan's email.
About an hour later, as Shen Weilan was engrossed in the documents, a sudden "bang" came from behind her. The bedroom door was pushed open by Gu Yunze—or rather, kicked open, which was why the sound was so loud.
Her work was forced to pause. Shen Weilan's expression turned somewhat ugly, her brows furrowing tightly.
Shen Weilan shut down the computer and turned to look at Gu Yunze, while Gu Haoran stood by his side.
Because he had an adult backing him up, Gu Haoran was exceptionally arrogant, tilting his chin up and glancing at her sideways with a "you're done for" expression.
Shen Weilan sneered. She wanted to see just who was done for.
"Do you two have business?" she asked, looking expressionlessly at Gu Yunze. His face was pale, his lips not only white but chapped, giving him a sickly appearance.
Presumably, the drug her eldest brother had administered last night was quite potent, leaving Gu Yunze completely exhausted.
"You dared hit Haoran? Have you got a death wish?" Veins bulged on Gu Yunze's forehead as he glared angrily through clenched teeth at Shen Weilan.
He had originally been receiving an IV drip at the hospital, but upon receiving a call from Haoran saying that Shen Weilan had slapped him, he couldn't sit still any longer. Ignoring the doctor's advice, he insisted on leaving the hospital.
Shen Weilan stepped forward and walked right up to Gu Yunze. She was tall—1.73 meters tall. She crossed her arms, arched her delicate eyebrows, and asked in a rather provocative tone, "So what if I did?"
Regardless of whether she had actually hit Gu Haoran or not, as long as he said she did, Gu Yunze would believe it, slapping this guilty verdict directly onto her.
Gu Yunze was slightly stunned. He hadn't expected Shen Weilan not to argue and to admit it straight out. He had anticipated that if she denied it, he could use the opportunity to take action and avenge himself and the child.
Yet Shen Weilan admitted it so casually, which genuinely caught him off guard!
Hearing Shen Weilan admit it, Gu Haoran tugged on Gu Yunze's hand and acted spoiled: "Daddy, look, she admitted to slapping me. You must hit her back for me."
Hearing this, Shen Weilan let out a chuckle, her gaze mocking as she looked at Gu Yunze: "Hit me?" The words were thick with sarcasm. "You dare?"
She reached out with her index finger and poked Gu Yunze in the chest: "The Gu Corporation is where it is today entirely thanks to the Shen Family. Do you dare touch me? Can you afford to touch me?"
"You..." Gu Yunze raised his hand, but the slap hung in the air, not daring to fall.
He was weighing the consequences the Gu Corporation would face if this slap landed.
Yet if he didn't hit her, the anger would not subside, and he would lose face in front of Haoran.
Gu Haoran hugged Gu Yunze's thigh, acting spoiled with all his might. This behavior looked exactly like Lin Huichu.
"Daddy, hurry up and hit her! She slapped your son; she's provoking you."
"That's right! I am provoking you. Go on, hit me!" Shen Weilan wore a sneer at the corners of her mouth, the mockery in her eyes deepening.
Was this the man she had loved so desperately back then? Spineless and full of scheming.
Her brain must have been flooded with water back then—fortunately, it had all drained out now!
Gu Yunze gritted his teeth and said, "Shen Weilan, don't push me."
Shen Weilan proudly lifted her chin: "Right, I am pushing you to hit me. If you don't hit me, you're a coward."
Gu Haoran was frantic. He was waiting to go back and report on his mission—was he going to hit her or not?
"Daddy, am I still your son or not?" He stamped his foot in anger, his eyes welling up with mist; anyone watching would think Shen Weilan was the one bullying him.
"Your precious son is begging you, and you still won't hit me? Truly spineless." Shen Weilan deliberately used reverse psychology, all because she knew Gu Yunze too well.
Sure enough, Gu Yunze was provoked, raising his hand to strike Shen Weilan across the face.
Gu Haoran's eyes flashed. With an excited heart and trembling hands, his gaze fixed intently on Gu Yunze's large hand.
With a crisp "slap," the sound of the blow was exceptionally loud in the quiet bedroom.
Shen Weilan shook her right hand and clicked her tongue: "Such thick skin, it hurt my hand to hit you."
She was a civilized person and wouldn't strike first, but if someone tried to hit her, her counterattack was purely out of self-defense.
Half of Gu Yunze's face was beaten red, and a buzzing sound echoed in his ear. He stood frozen on the spot, failing to react for a long time.
Gu Haoran jumped straight up: "Shen Weilan, how dare you hit my daddy? I'm going to tell Grandpa and Grandma and have them throw you out."
Gu Haoran still hadn't grasped the situation; he always assumed Shen Weilan depended on their Gu Family for a good life, rather than the Gu Family depending on the Shen Family to climb higher.
Shen Weilan bent down, meeting Gu Haoran's angry eyes, and she laughed—laughing out loud: "I don't even spare children, let alone your daddy. What is he in my eyes?"
When she loved him, Gu Yunze was a treasure; once she stopped loving him, he wasn't even worth as much as trash.
Frightened by Shen Weilan's wild laughter, Gu Haoran hurriedly hid behind Gu Yunze, daring only to poke his head out.
"Shen Weilan, you dare hit me?" Gu Yunze's eyes were bloodshot, his hands clenched into fists at his sides as he stared at Shen Weilan in disbelief.
Shen Weilan, who usually didn't even dare raise her voice when speaking to him, actually dared to hit him today?
Without a second word, Shen Weilan raised her hand and delivered another slap, making Gu Yunze's head buzz.
"Now it's good, both sides of your face are red. That's much more symmetrical."
Gu Yunze licked the corner of his mouth, a faint metallic taste of blood spreading in his mouth. His lip had been split by Shen Weilan.
"You're courting death." He reached out to grab Shen Weilan's neck.
"Does the land in the North City Nanwan District still need investment from the Shen Corporation?" Shen Weilan's casual remark instantly caused Gu Yunze's expression to change.