Chapter 20: One Calamity After Another

The atmosphere seemed to thicken like a mist, making Guan Sheng feel somewhat uneasy. That sensation of losing control was deeply uncomfortable, as if he were falling into the sea, engulfed by a whirlpool.

At the very moment he saw Li Yuyan’s tears, his heart trembled ever so slightly. Yet, for a time, he couldn’t quite grasp what that feeling was—much like the confusion he felt yesterday when he saw Old Zhang receiving concern from everyone.

He didn’t understand, but he desperately wanted to.

Setting down breakfast on the table, he approached Li Yuyan and asked, “Why are you crying?”

Li Yuyan gave a self-mocking smile and wiped her tears with her sleeve. “It’s all thanks to you.”

“Me?” Guan Sheng was puzzled.

“Have I done something wrong?” Li Yuyan’s fleeting goodwill from yesterday vanished instantly when she saw his innocent, indifferent expression.

Her voice hoarse, she poured out her heart: “Do you realize how much effort I’ve put into inheriting this conglomerate?”

“Guan Sheng, do you know why I’m so desperate to do charity work? Do you know what my grandfather and I went through since we were children? Do you understand what sacrifices we made for this cause?”

“I have waited so long for this day. I finally reached the point where I could shoulder this responsibility alone, and now… it’s all ruined, destroyed, all because of you… because of you…” Her voice grew more agitated, tears falling in heavy drops, pattering onto the floor as her body trembled.

Guan Sheng frowned. “What exactly have I done…”

Li Yuyan paused before continuing, “You simply don’t understand.”

“Guan Sheng, have you ever felt the despair of being thrown off a cliff?”

Guan Sheng’s confusion deepened. “What are you trying to say?”

Li Yuyan shouted, “You don’t truly know me! Why did you have to threaten me with a knife to force me to marry you? You don’t even know my past or understand my dreams. What right do you have to call yourself my husband?”

“Do you know that when I was a child, I was kidnapped by a gang of ruthless drug dealers? Do you know how cruel their laughter was when they threw me off a cliff? If it weren’t for those mountain children who saved me, I wouldn’t be alive today!”

“Do you know the despair of watching those children being slaughtered one by one by the same dealers, thrown into oil pots, and hearing their screams?”

“All I ever wanted was to do charity work and help people like them. So why… why did you have to ruin my plans… why…”

Her voice gradually softened to nothing more than sobs as she repeatedly wiped away her tears.

These words left Guan Sheng utterly stunned.

You don’t know me, so why force me to marry you?

Guan Sheng himself didn’t know. All he knew was that his master wanted him to marry someone named Li Yuyan. So when he found her, he used the method he was most skilled at.

He was used to forcing his enemies to submit with a knife.

Naturally, he assumed this approach would make Li Yuyan marry him.

And indeed, they had gotten their marriage certificate.

But now, seeing Li Yuyan’s hysterical state, Guan Sheng suddenly realized they had no true bond.

They had a certificate, but no love.

Yes—love!

That was the one thing Guan Sheng lacked.

Before he could fully comprehend this, Li Yuyan composed herself and said, “I’m sorry. I was too emotional and lost control. Sorry, Guan Sheng.”

“You… stay here at the company. I have some matters to attend to and will leave first.”

Take him to meet her grandfather at the Li family?

Li Yuyan would never allow that. She knew very well that Guan Sheng was not the son Qi that her parents desired. If his identity were revealed, coupled with his behavior yesterday, the Li family would definitely not let him off.

No matter what, Guan Sheng had saved her life once. She wouldn’t let anything happen to him.

As for what she had just said, she admitted it was her fault. She had lost control because the charity group would go bankrupt after being kicked out of the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce.

Just as Li Yuyan gathered her things and passed by Guan Sheng, he suddenly grabbed her arm.

Guan Sheng said coldly, “I can admit my mistakes, but at least tell me what I did wrong.”

“I might have forced you to marry me with a knife, and maybe that was wrong, but I truly want to be with you.”

“I will take the time to understand your past.”

Hearing this, Li Yuyan pulled away. “No need.”

Tears blurred her vision. “You’re not really at fault.”

“I know why you fought Xu Shao at Old Jiangnan yesterday—it was to vent for Old Zhang under your charge.”

“I was the one who spoke wrongly.”

Guan Sheng frowned slightly. “So, it’s because I hit Xu Shao that you got angry and upset?”

“But the reason I hit him wasn’t for Old Zhang. It was because that guy stole your favorite food…”

“Enough!” Li Yuyan cut him off before he could finish.

“Let’s just leave it at that.”

“Guan Sheng.”

With that, she left decisively without another word.

Listening to her heavy footsteps fade down the corridor outside the office, Guan Sheng suddenly felt a strange irritation, a stone seeming to block his chest, anger welling up inside him.

He had never felt such confusion before returning to Huilong Kingdom.

What was going on?

Disliking this feeling of uncertainty, he immediately turned to follow, seeking answers. But he found Li Yuyan already entering the elevator, heading to the first floor and getting into a departing car.

He chased all the way to the lobby, staring at the car’s fading figure on the street, clenching his fists.

“What on earth happened?”

“Minister?” A security guard approached upon seeing Guan Sheng.

“Minister, what’s wrong?”

Guan Sheng shook his head. “Nothing.”

The guard hesitated. “But your expression clearly looks like you’re upset.”

Upset?

Feeling wronged?

Guan Sheng’s face twitched. He looked seriously at the guard and asked, “Do I really look like someone who’s been wronged?”

The guard laughed and nodded. “Of course! In our village, when Er Gouzi acts like a lovesick puppy, he often looks just like that. Minister, could it be… you’re heartbroken?”

Guan Sheng chuckled dryly. “You should hold your stance for an extra hour today.”

The guard’s smile vanished instantly.

As they spoke, outside the main entrance under the gathering dark clouds, a dirty little girl timidly walked in, timidly looking at the unfamiliar building and cautiously asking the passersby.

“Do… do you know my grandfather?”

“Do you know my grandfather?”

“My grandfather’s name is Old Zhang… uncle… do you know my grandfather?”

Her strange behavior immediately caught the attention of Guan Sheng and the guard.

The young guard’s eyes widened. “Isn’t this Old Zhang’s granddaughter, Xiao Qian?”

He hurriedly called out, “Xiao Qian, Xiao Qian.”

Hearing the voice, the little girl seemed to have found her savior, tears streaming uncontrollably as she ran toward them.

As soon as she reached Guan Sheng, she knelt down with a thud.

The young guard’s expression changed drastically. “Xiao Qian, what’s wrong?” He rushed to help her up.

The poor girl raised her tear-filled eyes and looked at Guan Sheng. “You know my grandfather, don’t you?”

“Can you please save my grandfather…”

“My grandfather’s legs and arms were crippled by those heartless doctors.”

“They… they even moved him to a shady little clinic, and the doctors there just threw him out onto the street.”

“My grandfather… is dying!”

Upon hearing this, Guan Sheng’s face tightened sharply.

“What did you say?”