Chapter 154: Shen Xian's Touching Past

Ning Cai looked at Zhou Wan, her heart weighed down by a swirling mix of complex emotions.

This lifelong best friend of hers had, after all, fallen deeply in love with a man.

Under normal circumstances, this would have been a joyous occasion, something she should have celebrated for her.

However, the man she loved happened to be the very same man she herself desired.

How were they supposed to face each other from now on?

"Still, I do have my advantages," Ning Cai’s thoughts darted about chaotically. "Xiao Wan already has a child, whereas I am still a virgin."

As Xiao Yang smoked a cigarette, a profound sense of gloom weighed heavily on his chest. "Let's go. We'll look for him together."

Yet, deep down, he harbored very little hope.

He knew Shen Xian far too well.

Besides, just a few days earlier, he had asked Shen Xian what his plans were in the aftermath of the Red-Crested Geese incident.

Shen Xian’s response had been a single sentence: "I plan to disappear for a while."

Back during the Lin Zhixia incident years ago, Shen Xian had never once thought of vanishing.

Yet now, he had simply disappeared from the face of the earth, a clear testament to just how deeply Zhou Wan had wounded him.

"The overwhelming torrent of online abuse and defamation couldn't possibly inflict even the slightest scratch on him," Xiao Yang said. "The only person capable of hurting him is someone he truly cares about."

"Yet, you had no right to take his love and devotion for granted, and use them to tear him apart!"

Xiao Yang stared fiercely at Zhou Wan, his eyes bloodshot, resembling an enraged lion.

Zhou Wan remained silent, her almond-shaped eyes glazed with a mist of tears.

"Follow me!" Xiao Yang commanded.

Ye Qiu hurriedly chimed in, "I'll drive! I'll drive!"

The group piled into Ye Qiu's jeep, and their first destination was the barbecue stall where Xiao Yang and Shen Xian frequently dined.

"Boss, have you seen the guy who usually comes here with me lately?" Xiao Yang asked.

The barbecue stall owner still held a vivid impression of Shen Xian. "Are you talking about that exceptionally polite and gentle gentleman?"

Xiao Yang nodded.

"He never came alone; he was always with you. If you were here, he was here," the owner said.

"Let's go to Mirror Lake Park. He often used to go there by himself," Xiao Yang instructed.

Ye Qiu drove in heavy silence.

The park late at night in late autumn was mostly deserted, save for a few scattered figures, but after scouring the entire park from end to end, there was still no trace of Shen Xian.

The group subsequently checked the Hanhai Grand Hotel and the Junlan Hotel, both of which Shen Xian frequently visited. Armed with Xiao Yang's financial clout, they were informed that there was no record of Shen Xian checking in.

They searched until two or three in the morning, combing through every conceivable place Shen Xian might have frequented, yet found nothing but silence.

"There are only two places left," Xiao Yang said from the driver's seat. "We can only go to them tomorrow morning."

"Pick me up at seven tomorrow morning, and I'll take you somewhere. If Shen Xian isn't there, then I truly have no idea where he could have gone," Xiao Yang said.

Unable to find Shen Xian, he was consumed by worry.

Zhou Wan nodded mutely, her complexion profoundly haggard.

Upon witnessing Zhou Wan's desolate state, Xiao Yang found it in his heart to withhold any further reprimands.

After returning, Zhou Wan barely slept a wink all night. In her dreams, she saw Shen Xian returning; she dreamed that he cooked for her, wearing a tender smile, his eyes brimming with warmth and affection.

She was blissfully happy in her dream, feeling that her life had finally become complete.

Yet, upon startling awake, she realized it had all been a cruel illusion.

The agonizing chasm between loss and possession left her on the verge of emotional collapse.

When she woke, her pillow was soaked with tears. In the pitch darkness, little Qingqing felt her way to her cheek. "Mommy is crying."

Unable to hold it in any longer, Zhou Wan pulled Qingqing into a tight embrace. "Mommy misses Daddy."

...

At six o'clock the next morning, just as the sky was beginning to pale, Zhou Wan rose early. Qingqing scrambled up in an instant, shouting, "Find Daddy!"

Xiao Yang was already waiting outside the doorway of their establishment.

"Set the GPS for the Nanzhou Welfare Institute," Xiao Yang instructed. "That's the place where he grew up."

At the Nanzhou Welfare Institute, Mother Director was always an early riser, diligently sweeping the courtyards.

The sounds of car doors opening and shutting rang out, causing Mother Director to lift her gaze. She saw a group of people walking toward her.

Each of them possessed an undeniable air of distinction.

Xiao Yang carried an aura of roguish charm, while Ye Qiu radiated upright integrity, standing tall and straight-backed.

The moment she laid eyes on Zhou Wan and Ning Cai, Mother Director was instantly struck by their beauty. "What remarkably stunning young women."

"Hello there. Is there something I can help you with?" Mother Director asked.

"Auntie, it's me, Xiao Yang. Don't you remember me?" Xiao Yang stepped forward, greeting her with utmost politeness. "Shen Xian's good friend."

A flicker of contemplation crossed Mother Director's eyes before recognition dawned. "Oh! It's Xiao Yang! Where is little Shen? Did he come along?"

Hearing those words, everyone in the group felt their hearts sink.

This meant Shen Xian had not been here!

Hoping to spare Mother Director any worry, Xiao Yang forced a smile and said, "Oh, he's a bit busy, so he couldn't make it. We happened to be passing by today, so we thought we'd drop in. These are all Shen Xian's good friends; they wanted to see the place where he grew up."

Mother Director beamed with delight. "Ah, you want to see little Shen's past? Come right in, then!"

As she spoke, she led the group into the interior of the welfare institute.

The institute currently housed over two hundred children—some abandoned due to congenital illnesses, others discarded as infants born to underage parents.

"Thanks to Shen Xian's generous support, our welfare institute has grown to become the largest of its kind across the three surrounding provinces," Mother Director explained as she guided them toward a classroom.

Through the windows, half a dozen children could be seen engaged in their studies.

However, they appeared to be hearing-impaired, guided by a specialized teacher instructing them in sign language.

"A specialized instructor, personally hired from the provincial capital, earning a monthly salary of over twenty thousand," Mother Director noted.

Zhou Wan and the others felt a jolt of astonishment.

Ordinary welfare institutes lacked such advanced educational resources. Was this place really that affluent?

Next, they passed by the cafeteria, where four or five chefs were bustling about, preparing breakfast and lunch.

Beef, mutton, noodles, alongside various fibrous vegetables—the spread was remarkably lavish.

Even Ye Yi'ning narrowed her eyes in surprise.

This standard of living was easily on par with, if not superior to, most elite private schools!

"The daily meals in the cafeteria are all prepared according to the nutritional standards customized by little Shen," Mother Director said, a hint of pride coloring her tone whenever she spoke of Shen Xian.

Shortly after, the group walked past a medical clinic, where five or six physicians were busy conducting health examinations for the children amid a full array of state-of-the-art equipment.

"The medical clinic was funded and built by little Shen. Of course, it hasn't even been completed for a month yet," Mother Director added.

The group felt a heavy, oppressive knot tightening in their chests.

They continued onward until they reached the welfare institute's public notice board.

It was covered with photographs and brief biographies of various dignitaries and leaders who had visited and offered their condolences.

Yet, a few specific announcements caught the group's eye immediately.

[Shen Xian's Donation Records]

First contribution: Eighty million!

Second contribution: Five million!

Boom!

Upon reading these two donation records, it felt as though a bolt of lightning had exploded inside the minds of Zhou Wan and the others!

They had relentlessly accused Shen Xian of valuing money above all else.

Yet Shen Xian had quietly poured all his wealth into this very place!

Especially that five-million contribution, which had been made just a few days ago—it undoubtedly came from the funds Yu Tianshu had given him!

"I am truly damned!" Zhou Wan's tears began to stream down once more.

Flashbacks hit Ye Qiu; he suddenly remembered his own words from that day, when he too had accused Shen Xian of resorting to any means necessary for the sake of money.

Yet, by comparison, what kind of person was he?

Shen Xian's stature in his heart grew towering and majestic.

"I'm a fucking piece of trash!" Ye Qiu's face twisted with a complex mixture of shame and remorse.

Ning Cai's eyes reddened as well, and Ye Yi'ning instinctively covered her mouth with her hand.

"Mother Director, is big brother Shen Xian here?" A delighted voice rang out from the distance.

Immediately following, a young girl came skipping over energetically.

"No, he didn't come today, but these are little Shen's friends," Mother Director said with a warm smile, before retrieving a photo album.

The pages of the album chronicled every single one of Shen Xian's donation records, alongside numerous photographs of him growing up through the years.

"Little Shen has had it far from easy. Ever since he started working, he has donated money to the institute every single year," Mother Director said, a gentle, maternal radiance gracing her face.

Zhou Wan reached out and took the album, her eyes burning with unshed tears.