Volume One, Chapter 12: It's All Because of You, So You Owe Me Until the End

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The scene was quickly cleared of bodies, yet an undeniable scent of blood lingered heavily in the air.

Yan Fengjia cast a sideways glance at Shen Man, who was clearly still shaken and hadn’t fully regained her composure.

Li Tianchen was dead, and she had no desire to take over the Li family’s territory.

Inside the carriage, Yan Fengjia spoke coldly, “I gave you an opportunity, but you failed to make good use of it.”

“If you lack the courage, then don’t dream of becoming the future leader of your family. I must have misjudged you. Goodbye.”

“Wait,” Shen Man grabbed Yan Fengjia’s arm, her face pale. “This is a high-stakes gamble. If I lose, I will be doomed forever, and it might even drag down my entire family.”

“So I hope you can understand my hesitation, Mr. Yan.”

“Opportunities are for those with ambition. Clearly, you don’t trust my capabilities. If that’s the case, why waste my time?”

Yan Fengjia shook off Shen Man’s hand. “You’re better off being a follower. You’re not fit to lead the Shen family.”

These words instantly ignited Shen Man’s fury.

Because her passionate father had said the same to her before.

Just because she was a daughter, and because his current wife bore him a son.

He never cared about her growth or efforts.

“Mr. Yan,” Shen Man stood firm, “Fine, I will take over the Li family’s business.”

Yan Fengjia smiled but said nothing.

Entering the hall, Yan’s father gripped his hunting rifle tightly, clearly stunned.

Seeing Yan Fengjia return, he spoke sternly, “Fengjia, where is Li Tianchen now?”

Yan Fengjia did not hide the truth. “Dad, I killed him.”

Upon hearing this, Yan’s father’s legs weakened, and he looked at his son with growing unfamiliarity.

“Fengjia, what have you been through all these years? Why have you become so terrifying?”

Yan Fengjia smiled bitterly. “Dad, let the past be the past. As long as I’m still by your side, those things no longer matter.”

“Hmm, family together is what matters most. But you killed Li Tianchen—I worry...”

Qin Wanqiu quickly stood by his side. “Dad, Fengjia made many influential connections while in prison. This will surely be fine.”

Suddenly, Yan Fengjia knelt. “Dad, I’ve been unfilial. Because of these people, you’ve had to worry for me. But please believe me, from today on, everything we lost will be regained.”

Yan’s father sighed. “Fengjia, material things don’t matter to me. I’ve lost my elders, and now you’re all I have left. Nothing is more important.”

“I won’t bring up your past. I trust you can handle this matter. But...” He glanced toward the direction where the Shen family had left. “If you intend to get on good terms with the Shen family, I advise you to stop now.”

“Why?”

Yan’s father’s expression grew grave. “The Shen family is not as easy to deal with as you think. They don’t run their business straightforwardly. Do you understand what I mean?”

“Yes, Dad. I know what I’m doing. You can rest assured.”

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The Shen family...

“So you mean you’ve taken over Li Tianchen’s territory?”

At the family meeting, a sharply dressed, upright middle-aged man grew solemn.

Shen Man had teamed up with the Yan family’s fourth son, which led to Li Tianchen’s death and left a vast enterprise leaderless.

“Dad, maybe this is an opportunity—our chance to absorb the Li family’s territory. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.”

The Li family had grown too rapidly, nearly dominating Qinghai City.

Though the Shen family was engaged in overseas business, overseas trade had been tough these years. This was just the right chance to use the Li family’s mature channels to enter the domestic market.

“Shen Man, you speak so easily. Everyone knows Li Tianchen had a powerful backer. Even we Shen family might not reach them. What you’re doing is indirectly harming our family!”

A young man in a wine-red suit with a roguish face lounged with his legs on the table, sneering.

This was Shen Man’s half-brother, Shen Chengcai.

Shen Man sneered. “Great achievements never come without risks. Dad, I’ve met Yan Fengjia. He managed to eliminate Li Tianchen, so he must have a formidable backing.”

“I see this as an opportunity. Yan Fengjia is the key to helping us penetrate the domestic market.”

“The Yan family is on the brink of bankruptcy. Ridiculous.”

Shen Beihong scoffed. “The Yan family can barely manage themselves, and you, fool, actually believe he can help us swallow the Li family’s territory? Are you crazy, or am I?”

“Dad, I think Shen Man wants to harm us. To be safe, we should kick her out of the family now and cut ties before Li Tianchen’s backers come looking.”

“Yes, yes,” the stepmother excitedly said, “Husband, that woman is full of schemes. Our son’s right. She’s clearly trying to take revenge on our little family. Let’s get rid of her quickly.”

“Dad, I’m not—” Shen Man clenched her fists.

“Hmph, you went too far this time. Shen Man, think carefully. You’ll step down from managing the entertainment club and take a break.”

With that, Shen Beihong stood and left.

“Shen Man, you’re finished. You’ve caused a huge mess. Soon, the entertainment club will be mine,” Shen Chengcai swaggered over. “If anyone’s to blame, it’s your stupid brain for trusting that Yan family’s fourth son’s nonsense.”

“You really think he can handle Li Tianchen’s backer? Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Women should just marry obediently, manage the household, and raise children. You’re just a tool for the Shen family’s business marriages. Don’t dream of anything else,” the stepmother sneered. “Come on, son, don’t waste time with her. The Shen family will be yours anyway.”

“Damn it,” Shen Man slammed her teacup onto the table, blood streaming from her palm.

She had planned to quietly take over everything from Li Tianchen, but her father found out ahead of time?

Clearly, there was a traitor close to her.

Enduring the blood dripping from her palm, she couldn’t help but smile bitterly. “Mom, if you were still alive, they wouldn’t dare treat me this way.”

“I’m just a motherless child now. Everyone in the Shen family looks down on me. What else can I do?”

...

“Yan Fengjia, are you there?”

At night, after showering, Yan Fengjia’s phone rang, and Shen Man’s drunken voice came through.

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“You’ve been drinking?” Yan Fengjia frowned. “You haven’t fully taken over the Li family yet. Opening champagne early—isn’t that a bit arrogant?”

Shen Man laughed bitterly.

“To hell with taking over the Li family,” she sobbed. “There’s a traitor near me. My dad already knows about my cooperation with you.”

“I might lose control of the Li family, and Shen Chengcai might take charge.”

Shen Man knew her father well. Although he spoke of risks, the Shen family had deep roots.

They would definitely absorb the Li family. He only acted timid before her because he didn’t want a woman to rise in the family, threatening his son’s inheritance and shifting the board’s shares.

“Given the current situation, the board will likely kick me out of the family soon.”

“Hmm?” Yan Fengjia was surprised.

“I’m finished now. You have to take responsibility for me until the end.”

“Where are you?” Yan Fengjia asked.

Shen Man no longer cared about her own well-being, but she still had value.

“Starshine Bar. I’m outside. If you don’t take responsibility, I see no reason to live anymore. Do you believe I’ll die in your family?”

“Wait for me,” Yan Fengjia said, hanging up and preparing to leave.

“Fengjia, where are you going?” Qin Wanqiu came by, carrying a bowl of meat porridge.

“Sis-in-law, I’m going out.”

“Are you going to see... Shen Man?” Qin Wanqiu realized something and felt a pang of guilt.

If she had done proper market research back then, the Yan family wouldn’t owe such a huge debt.

“Yes, sis-in-law. I won’t have the porridge.”

Without looking back, Yan Fengjia left.

Watching this, Qin Wanqiu sighed deeply.

The Yan family’s troubles were closely tied to her.

She didn’t want Yan Fengjia to become a servant for Shen Man because of her.

The Shen family was as deep as the sea—difficult to penetrate.

Seeming to have made a decision, Qin Wanqiu finally dialed the number that had been bothering her for a long time.

“Yes, it’s me. I’ve made up my mind. I’ll agree to your terms, but I need to see the money first.”

Heavy breathing from a fat man and a woman’s coquettish screams came from the other end.

“Fine. Clean yourself up and come over. If you serve me well tonight, a few hundred million is nothing.”