Chapter 78: Lawyer Wen, Are You Going Out?

Song Mi had absolutely no idea how to handle this kind of relationship!

Of course, the reason Qiao Weiwei was so anxious was because of Qiao Yudong’s injury.

And Qiao Yudong was injured because of her!

So at this moment, she couldn’t exactly pretend it had nothing to do with her. “Is she here already?”

Qiao Weiwei was truly at her wits' end. “Yes, she called me when I was leaving the hospital—she was already at the airport by then, and I couldn’t stop her even if I tried.”

Song Mi asked, “Does she know your brother was admitted to the hospital?”

That, Qiao Weiwei truly didn’t know.

If she did, they hadn’t mentioned Qiao Yudong at all on the phone.

But if she didn’t know, wasn’t it too much of a coincidence for Fu Sisi to suddenly come to Jinzhou?

“I don’t know if she knows or not.” Qiao Weiwei spoke honestly. “But no matter what, until she leaves, I can’t go visit my brother in the hospital!”

But that wasn’t the main issue. The real problem was that Qiao Yudong’s injury couldn’t be kept secret. “Mi’er, in ten days it’ll be my grandfather’s birthday banquet, and my brother’s injury… sigh… it’s driving me crazy!”

It was indeed a headache!

But ultimately, this was their family matter—she couldn’t very well offer advice, so she could only ask, “Is there anything I can do to help?”

Qiao Weiwei asked to borrow her driver and car, and Song Mi immediately told her she’d also book a hotel room for her.

After hanging up, she messaged Assistant Lin to arrange these matters.

Setting her phone aside, Song Mi closed her eyes to rest.

There were so many in the Shen family, and she was just one. Everyone wanted to see her—how could she possibly see them all?

She chose to meet Tang Lishi.

But this time, Tang Lishi dared not suggest meeting at Yunshang.

Given that Shen Yanye had already been driven to madness—even hiring killers—and that Tang Lishi had been entangled with him for over a decade, for safety’s sake, three additional bodyguards accompanied them in the car behind, apart from Liang Liang.

Tang Lishi asked to meet at a villa.

There was certainly risk, but she had to go.

Business was where she put her knowledge into practice. As for the Shen family’s affairs, those were her inescapable duty.

Since she had agreed to act as Old Master Shen’s tool, she had to fulfill her duty as promised and drive the Shen family members far away before time ran out.

It had been more than two months since she appeared at the Shen family’s mourning hall. So far, only Shen Ruming had gone to Switzerland.

The others hadn’t moved yet!

Three years—how many “two months” did that make?

The next to go should be Tang Lishi—or rather, Shen Yanlie.

Today, Sihai Group’s share price hit its limit down within an hour of opening.

And with her next move targeting Shen Yanfeng, this situation would likely persist for at least a week.

At the Imperial Capital branch, Xu Yu planned to take all the management-level pillars and jump ship to the Wanjia Group.

Thanks to Huo Qingjue’s tip, she had plenty of time to prepare—this wasn’t a difficult problem.

The real headache was Yunxi Resort. As the scene of Zhou Tianxun’s murder of Shen Ye, the entire resort was still under full lockdown.

This not only brought all operations to a halt but also directly and indirectly affected other company investments.

Now, the Zhou family clung to defending Zhou Tianxun’s reputation, refusing to accept that he had murdered Shen Ye before killing himself.

Even if the case concluded and the resort reopened, as the site of a murder—a pair of lovers, both men, dying there—who would want to visit, eat, or stay at such a place?

When she first received the news, Song Mi had already prepared: if police determined that both Zhou Tianxun and Shen Ye had died by suicide, the PR department would use “a love to the death” as the theme, repositioning the resort as a sanctuary for tragic same-sex lovers.

At least, emotionally, it wouldn’t be too gory or terrifying. After all, same-sex love was becoming more accepted, and marriage equality was already legal in many countries.

But then Lawyer Wen requested an autopsy—she hadn’t managed to stop it, but not because she was letting personal feelings interfere.

She had principles. When a life was at stake, if her obstruction led to the truth being buried, Shen Ye would have died in vain.

That was her bottom line.

She wouldn’t cross it.

Once the autopsy report came out, what followed was no longer under her control.

In short, a single thread moved the whole web!

The Imperial Capital branch’s operations had already been hampered. Even if she resolved the mass defection, it would be a temporary fix.

A murder in a public resort was a crisis none could have foreseen, and the losses suffered by the company were not a result of her leadership or decisions.

But ultimately, it had happened after she took over, and it was a problem she had to resolve quickly.

She was already trying to make up for the losses elsewhere, but, no matter how fast she moved, results would take time.

The Imperial Capital branch…

It seemed she really would have to devote more time and energy to it!

Still, today brought at least one bit of good news.

That afternoon, Huo Qingjue called her about collaborating on the Yuncheng oilfield project.

Yuncheng.

Song Mi was by no means unfamiliar with Yuncheng!

But in her original plan, she would only return to Yuncheng after dealing with all twelve Shen siblings.

The woman who had given her life was buried there, cold beneath Yuncheng’s earth, while those responsible for her death still lived. Naturally, she would return to see it for herself.

But that could wait.

She still had time.

…

Before the car entered the villa area, Ye Zhao spoke quietly, “Miss Song, we’re almost there.”

Song Mi’s long lashes lifted. She glanced out the one-way window.

Then she looked away, glancing at her watch: 6:15.

The man at home should be taking his temperature now.

She wondered if he’d remember.

She found herself thinking of him again.

In truth, she still hadn’t said what needed to be said.

She’d already decided—it was just a simple sentence: “Lawyer Wen, let’s end this here.” Yet she kept dragging her feet, unable to say it cleanly.

Now, without saying anything, she’d already changed the door lock’s code. How would he feel when he discovered that?

As she pondered this, her phone vibrated in her handbag. She quickly pulled it out.

A message from the man—a photo of a thermometer.

37.7 degrees.

Still a slight fever.

She waited a while, but he didn’t send another message, nor did she reply.

Her phone simply stayed in her hand.

Until the screen went dark.

A few minutes later, the navigation system announced they were near their destination.

Ye Zhao quickly said, “Let’s wait for the car behind to catch up.”

“Alright.” Song Mi replied, then shut off her phone and put it away.

…

Tang Lishi was waiting at the villa gate.

Alone.

Seeing Song Mi arrive with four bodyguards, Tang Lishi made no comment—she simply said, “Please come in.”

Song Mi glanced at her without much expression, then stepped forward.

Only after entering did she see a housekeeper.

A middle-aged woman, whose appearance was both kind and warm.

The housekeeper led them to the dining room.

Noticing the dishes on the table, Song Mi’s brows flickered slightly, and Tang Lishi smiled. “Miss Song is accommodating me by agreeing to meet here. At this hour, you probably haven’t had dinner yet.”

Tang Lishi gestured for her to sit, then pulled out her own chair and sat. “Aunt Wu, could you please make a few simple dishes for the others? I imagine the four of them haven’t eaten either.”

“Yes, right away,” Aunt Wu agreed and courteously bowed to Ye Zhao and the others. “Please wait a moment.”

Ye Zhao said nothing.

Song Mi’s amber eyes flashed coldly as she glanced at the food, then she stepped forward, pulled out a chair, and sat down. “Miss Tang, have you made up your mind to leave with the twelfth young master, and called me here to ask for travel expenses?”

Tang Lishi looked straight at her. Her face, carefully maintained, was still elegant and smooth, but there was an unmistakable weariness in her eyes and at the corners of her mouth.

One could imagine how hard yesterday had hit her.

“I heard you gave A-Ming three million.” Under her scrutiny, Tang Lishi quickly smiled. “Since you’re so direct, may I ask—how do you intend to send us off?”

“Why is it that you’re not the one planning to take the twelfth young master and flee, but instead I’m the one supposedly paying you off?” Song Mi let out a soft laugh, then pulled out her phone, quickly finding a recording.

She pressed play and set the phone on the table.

It was a recording of her phone call with Shen Ruming from yesterday, on her way to Qiao Weiwei’s bar.

She’d only recorded the key part.

From when Shen Ruming said Lu Zhiyuan had threatened her, to when she decided, for self-preservation, to trade the scandal between Shen Yanye and Tang Lishi.

Before it finished, Tang Lishi interrupted, “That’s enough!”

Her voice was strained—though she tried to control it, her face was twisted with emotion.

Since she was on Tang Lishi’s turf, Song Mi hadn’t intended to provoke her—this was simply to make clear that yesterday’s incident had nothing to do with her. “It seems you understand.”

“I told the third young master yesterday, and I’ll tell you the same thing today.” Song Mi’s tone was indifferent, as if discussing something trivial. “I didn’t do it—because I had no reason to sabotage myself before the groundbreaking ceremony.”

Tang Lishi, calming herself, continued to study her.

Song Mi was too lazy to explain further.

She’d already given the hint—if Tang Lishi didn’t believe her, she could investigate herself.

The internet never forgets; if one is willing to pay and spend the time, what can’t be found?

“But the third young master is in trouble now.” Song Mi curved her lips, a chill in her eyes. “If you see him, you’d best remind him: the future head of the Qiao family in the capital isn’t someone he can afford to cross.”

“Now that the deed is done, he’d better clean up his mess, or if someone finds anything and targets Sihai Group, I’ll end up cleaning up after him!”

At this, Song Mi felt her point was made.

Tang Lishi had heard the recording; that meant Shen Yanye would know too.

She wasn’t afraid of pushing them—regardless of yesterday, she still intended to drive them out.

But she would not take the blame for what she hadn’t done.

Lu Zhiyuan wanted to see them fight to the death, so she would not let him get his wish.

Tang Lishi kept watching her.

Song Mi, under this scrutiny, stood up calmly. “Miss Tang, you already don’t dare set foot outside. I doubt things are good between you and the twelfth young master.”

“Oh, right—he wanted to see me today.”

At this, Tang Lishi’s face changed abruptly. “A-Lie wanted to see you? What did you say to him?”

Song Mi’s eyes narrowed. She stood, while Tang Lishi sat across the table, heightening her own sense of superiority. “What do you hope I’ll say, and what do you fear I’ll say?”

But in truth, her pity wasn’t for Tang Lishi, but for her son, Shen Yanlie. “Have you ever wondered, you and the third young master were so careful—how did your secret come out?”

“Seventh Miss knows. I know.” In fact, Song Mi hadn’t come just to shift blame—she was here to strike at the heart. What she was about to say would cut deeper than anything. “The old master knew long ago.”

Sure enough, she saw Tang Lishi’s shoulders shake violently—as if she might collapse.

Tang Lishi’s lips quivered, her eyes twitching, her heart pounding wildly.

She doubted what she’d just heard.

She didn’t believe it.

Impossible!

How could the old master have known?

If he’d known, how could he have tolerated her?

At that moment, Tang Lishi felt as if she’d been drawn and quartered, yet she was still alive—tormented by endless doubt, shame, terror, and confusion.

Impossible!

Tang Lishi shot to her feet, and dizziness forced her to brace herself on the table, red-eyed and glaring at the woman before her—this devil. “Song Mi, explain yourself! If you dare say another word, I’ll tear your mouth apart!”

Song Mi remained calm; her only emotions were pity for Shen Yanlie and a trace of sympathy for the old master. “The first to discover you was your son. In his innocence, the old master became vigilant.”

After a moment’s dead silence, Tang Lishi collapsed to the floor.

…

At the apartment.

Liang Liang had just come upstairs with some things and was about to ring the bell when the door opened from within. A figure hurried out. “Lawyer Wen, are you going out?”

“I’ve brought everything you asked for. Miss Song said—”

“Call Ye Zhao right now—find out where they are!” Wen Yanli was already making a call, but before the other end picked up, Pei Qiuyang’s voice came through. But Wen Yanli didn’t give him a chance to speak. “A-Pei, I need your people. As many as possible!”