Chapter Ninety: Lenient Judgment

“Smack!” Shen Huifang’s furious reprimand was answered by a crisp, ringing slap.

Staggering, Shen Huifang nearly lost her balance, clutching the side of her face where the skin was reddening, staring wide-eyed at Hong Chen, disbelief flooding her gaze.

Was this useless son-in-law insane, daring to strike his mother-in-law?

The others were stunned as well, staring blankly at the scene, at a loss for what to do.

“When I gave you a hundred thousand, I made myself perfectly clear—one month of peace, treat me like air if you must, but don’t let me hear a single word against me from your mouth. You’ve already crossed the line spewing filth, then you threw a hundred yuan at me. Tell me, aren’t you just despicable?” Hong Chen’s expression was calm as he flexed his palm, his tone indifferent.

“You worthless fool, how dare you hit me! I’ll fight you!” Shen Huifang shrieked, charging at him like a madwoman, her hands clawing for Hong Chen’s face. Though her nails weren’t as long as some young women’s, they were still a centimeter or two—enough to leave painful marks.

“Smack!” Hong Chen was hardly going to let her have her way; turning his hand, he delivered another resounding slap.

Shen Huifang stumbled, her body hitting the cabinet. Both cheeks were swollen now, perfectly symmetrical. The collision wasn’t especially hard, but caught her off guard, leaving her stunned as tears streamed down her face.

“If two slaps aren’t enough for you, keep going. I promise I’ll keep slapping until you’re satisfied.” Hong Chen blew on his palm and glanced coldly at Shen Huifang, without a shred of pity.

Lin Yuangui couldn’t bear it any longer; he jumped to his feet, rushed over in a few quick strides, and helped Shen Huifang up, glaring at Hong Chen. “Even if her words are harsh and her attitude is bad, you can’t hit her—she’s your mother-in-law!”

“Shut your mouth!” Hong Chen’s voice suddenly soared, pointing toward the room. “If you’d been off by half a centimeter, Yuxin would still be alive. If something happens to her tonight, it won’t just be a couple of slaps—I’ll make sure she never sees the sunrise again.”

Lin Yuangui was shaken, retreating a step under Hong Chen’s intimidating gaze.

Shen Shanliang stood up, his beer belly prominent, his presence forceful. “Hong Chen, don’t go too far. Apologize to Huifang at once, or I’ll call the police and have you arrested.”

“An apology isn’t enough. You struck my second aunt; you must kneel and kowtow, then slap yourself until she’s satisfied,” Shen Tianbao said with a vicious look in his eyes, waving his phone as a warning. “You’ve got one minute to decide. If you don’t kneel, I’ll make a call and you’ll regret it when it’s too late!”

Lin Yufei’s face flashed with panic; she hurried to Hong Chen’s side, trying to drag him out. “Hong Chen, just leave, don’t make things worse.”

But Hong Chen pushed her hand away, shaking his head. “I’ll leave when I’ve finished what I came for.”

He glanced at Shen Shanliang and his son, who stood tall and overbearing, as if they held his fate in their hands. Hong Chen took out his phone, turned the volume to maximum, and played a recording.

The moment Qian Duoduo’s voice sounded, Shen Shanliang and his son’s expressions changed. After listening for a few moments, they grew restless. Shen Tianbao leaped from the sofa, lunging at Hong Chen, but Hong Chen moved first, stepping in front of him and pinning him back onto the sofa.

Shen Shanliang, quick-eyed, reached for the phone, but Hong Chen flicked his fingers, producing a half-inch silver needle which jabbed Shen Shanliang’s palm. With a cry of pain, he withdrew as if electrified.

By then, the recording had reached the part where Qian Duoduo admitted to assaulting Lin Yuxin and how Lin Yuxin had threatened suicide with a fruit knife.

Lin Yuangui, Shen Huifang, and Lin Yufei’s faces changed dramatically, horror etched across their features.

The next segment exposed how Qian Duoduo had conspired with Shen Shanliang and his son.

“Hong Chen, you bastard…” Shen Tianbao was truly desperate, his face contorted, but Shen Shanliang barked, “Quiet—let him finish.”

Shen Shanliang, older and more cunning, knew the recording had revealed enough damning evidence. Lin Yuangui and the others had heard everything. If he and his son tried to stop it now, it would only confirm their guilt, so the only option was to let it play out, then deny everything and accuse Hong Chen of fabrication.

Shen Tianbao, nearly thirty and with years of business experience, quickly understood his father’s intent from a glance. He snorted coldly and fell silent.

Even with their plan in place and mentally prepared, as the recording went on, their hearts trembled. Qian Duoduo had confessed everything—things he should and shouldn’t have said—selling them out completely. Fortunately, their faces were thick-skinned, so aside from their gloomy expressions, they appeared composed.

Lin Yuangui and the others were shaken to their core, several times unable to keep from speaking out, only to be silenced by Hong Chen’s fierce glare. “Listen quietly.”

The five-minute recording felt like an eternity to everyone present but Hong Chen. When it finally ended, the living room was silent as death.

“If Yuxin suffers any calamity tonight, you’re complicit—at the very least, guilty of manslaughter. Two slaps is letting you off easy,” Hong Chen said coldly, his gaze falling on Shen Huifang. Her face was stiff, her eyes unfocused; she didn’t dare meet his gaze or utter a word.

“Hong Chen, I know you’re upset about today’s matchmaking, but I didn’t expect you to bear such a grudge. You went to great lengths to fabricate a recording to sow discord and ruin relations between our families?” Shen Shanliang finally spoke, his eyes sharp. Hong Chen met his gaze unflinchingly, replying calmly, “Shen Shanliang, do you know why I emphasized that Yuxin is your niece, your son’s cousin, before asking how you felt about what happened to her today?”

Hong Chen suddenly smiled, answering his own question, “Because, considering you’re Yuxin’s uncle and cousin, I wanted to give you one last chance. I didn’t expect you to confess, but at the very least, I hoped you’d have enough conscience to stop harming Yuxin—meaning, not forcing her to marry Qian Shao. Unfortunately, from everything you said, you’re still determined… Well, I’ve finished what I came to do, so I’ll be leaving.”

He shook his head and walked out, stepping through the door under the five bewildered gazes.

After Hong Chen left, the living room fell silent again, the atmosphere oppressive. Before long, Shen Shanliang sighed and muttered to himself, “Honestly, you can’t really blame him. He and Yuxin aren’t divorced yet, Yuxin didn’t tell him about the matchmaking in advance, and then all this happened…”

Shen Tianbao forced a smile, sweeping his gaze over Lin Yuangui and the others. “Uncle, second aunt, Yufei, I think you should talk with Yuxin, settle things with Hong Chen sooner. Dragging it out isn’t good for anyone, least of all Qian Shao.”

Father and son were trying to cover their tracks—normally, at least Shen Huifang would have supported them immediately, but Lin Yuangui and the others’ expressions were complicated; they exchanged glances, saying nothing. Just then, Shen Tianbao’s phone rang—Qian Duoduo was calling. He answered, listened, chuckling and humming, then hung up and said to Shen Shanliang, “Dad, it’s late. Let’s head back to the hotel.”

Shen Shanliang nodded, and the two got up to leave. Lin Yuangui and his wife saw them to the door. As the door closed, Lin Yuxin’s bedroom door suddenly opened. Lin Yuxin stepped out, face expressionless. “The recording Hong Chen played was real.”

With that, she turned and returned to her room, slamming the door shut.

Lin Yuangui and the others instantly turned pale.

Shen Huifang stared blankly, muttering, “How could it be? How could big brother do such a thing…”

Lin Yufei suddenly covered her mouth and rushed to her own room.

Lin Yuangui was heavy-hearted, his expression impossibly complex.

Elsewhere, Shen Shanliang and Shen Tianbao hurried downstairs and out of the complex, catching a taxi to a secluded garden near the Linyuan Hotel. Qian Duoduo was sitting alone on a stone bench, with a woman standing beside him.

Qian Duoduo had said on the phone there was an urgent matter, and both father and son needed to come together. Throughout the ride, Shen Tianbao was anxious, fearing he’d find Qian Duoduo with Hong Chen, especially after the mysterious recording. But seeing only the woman besides Qian Duoduo, he relaxed and immediately asked, “Qian Shao, what was up with that recording?”

Shen Shanliang’s face was also full of suspicion.

Qian Duoduo didn’t get up, speaking with his head bowed. “Uncle Shen, Tianbao, this nearly ended in tragedy—someone has to take responsibility. It’ll either be you or me. I’m sorry, but I’ll spend the rest of my life in darkness, so you won’t hurt anyone else. Don’t worry, I’ll compensate you… Do it!”

The moment his words ended, the woman sprang into action. In the darkness, two flashes of cold light swept past. Both father and son’s eyes erupted in red lines, their overlapping screams barely escaping before two knife-hand strikes landed, knocking them unconscious.

“Hong… Hong Chen, I’ve done as you asked. You promised to go easy on me. Please let me go—I swear I won’t dare again,” Qian Duoduo pleaded, looking up at Hong Chen who appeared like a specter. Having dealt with Shen Shanliang and his son, it was now his turn for final judgment.

Hong Chen walked toward him, nodding. “I did promise to go easy on you and I won’t break my word. Father and son are mere accomplices; you’re the mastermind. They’ll lose their sight, but for you, I’ll only make you a eunuch. That’s lenient enough, isn’t it?”

With that, Hong Chen took two steps forward and stomped down between Qian Duoduo’s legs with lightning speed. Qian Duoduo barely registered what happened before a crushing force descended.

Before he could scream, Hong Chen’s knife-hand struck, knocking him out. Hong Chen then pulled out his phone and called Tank. “Drive your car to Central Road by the Meiyuan Hotel. There are three people for you to take to Nanshi overnight…”