Chapter 489: Chapter 489 - 483: Old Money, Ancient Secrets

The restaurant served dishes quickly. Jing Jihan, composed and calm, was slicing foie gras for her, his expression revealing nothing.

But Shi Su knew that he was aware of some things long ago; otherwise, he wouldn’t have left matters in Jiang City to accompany her back to the Shi Family.

"How much of the current situation in the Shi Family have you figured out?" After giving her the foie gras, Jing Jihan put on disposable gloves to help her peel shrimp.

Shi Su wanted to say she had hands and could do it herself, but being pampered by her husband was truly a kind of indulgence. So she didn’t refuse. She ate the foie gras with contentment while watching him peel shrimp, then rested her chin on one hand and said, "I only know that the main control rights of most major enterprises in the Shi Family are still in Mr. Shi’s hands. The shares haven’t been transferred, and that’s why those people are scheming and waiting. If Mr. Shi doesn’t clarify the distribution of shares before he passes away or doesn’t set a will in advance, Shi Lingkang and Shi Wancheng will definitely fight over the inheritance. Besides, Mr. Shi has several daughters who, although weren’t around before, have all recently returned to ’fulfill their filial duties.’ Even if Mr. Shi’s shares are distributed to just 2%, that still amounts to billions."

As she spoke, Shi Su lightly drew circles on the plate with a spoon, whispering, "But today I took the chance to find out that second uncle Shi Wancheng has been controlling the Jingjian part for years, dealing with all construction and land activities in the capital, maintaining good business-political relations. The only issue is he doesn’t have Mr. Shi’s favor, so he has no shares in the Shi Family. His son, Shi Dongyang, is useless. All this time, he was accentuated only because he’s the sole grandson, but he failed to seize the opportunity. He made too many opportunistic and foolish moves in front of Mr. Shi, who internally gave up on him and never considered placing the Shi Family in such hands."

"So when Shi Lingkang, who was initially trapped in the capital and unable to leave, seized the right opportunity, he became the greatest rival to Shi Wancheng and Shi Dongyang over the past two years of dormancy. I didn’t want to return or acknowledge the Shi Family. Shi Lingkang has no sons, which is why he kept Shi Xiangchao, a distant relative’s son, by his side. But even if they manage every step well, Mr. Shi will still mind about the blood relations, so..." Shi Su stopped her spoon on the plate, saying faintly, "Shi Lingkang tried everything to bring me back. He wants me as his trump card, and given my relationship with you, this is his key to victory."

Shi Su squinted her eyes: "So now Shi Wancheng wishes for my disappearance. When Shi Dongyang came cursing to find me, the signs were there; he was just too stupid... It’s not an exaggeration to say he startled the snake by hitting the grass."

Jing Jihan said lightly, "If he weren’t stupid, with the years of relations they established in front of Mr. Shi, they should’ve gotten something by now."

Shi Su raised an eyebrow: "But even if the grandson can’t be relied upon, if second uncle Shi Wancheng were a smart businessman, after all, he’s his son; would there be a need for Mr. Shi to be so guarded against them? Even today... despite the difficulty to utter a few words, he actually warned me to be careful of Shi Wancheng, but I think his caution isn’t just about the inheritance rivalry; could it have other meanings?"

Jing Jihan replied in a deep voice, "That is exactly what I’m puzzled over."

Shi Su was surprised: "So the reason you haven’t spoken up until now is that you haven’t seen through the conflicts between Shi Wancheng and Mr. Shi?"

"In ordinary families, each has its own problems, let alone a prestigious family rooted in the capital for so long. The deep-seated secrets of such a wealthy family aren’t so easily unearthed unless they are willing to speak." Jing Jihan handed her a peeled shrimp. "Stop thinking, just eat first."

Shi Su didn’t say much more, but suddenly the words spoken by Mr. Shi when she first met him echoed in her ears.

He specifically mentioned that her mother’s death had nothing to do with him; he only interfered, causing the separation between her mother and Shi Lingkang, but he didn’t elaborate.

Although it was dark inside the car and nothing much could be seen, Shi Su remembered looking closely at Mr. Shi’s eyes then.

When he mentioned her mother, his gaze shifted out of the car window, not looking at her.

Back then, his heart was set on bringing her back to the Shi Family, to cultivate her, without considering Shi Wancheng and Shi Dongyang.

Even though Shi Lingkang was worth nothing in Mr. Shi’s eyes, he had other sons and grandsons, yet he insisted on bringing her back, the granddaughter he’d seen for the first time, asking earnestly for her to stay and train her attentively.

Was it because of blood relations and affection?

If Mr. Shi valued such aspects, Shi Dongyang, being his grandson and having grown up in front of him, couldn’t have had such a poor relationship.

Could it be because she was marked as a future businesswoman with a halo of success?

This is not a fairy tale; how can there be so many halos?

Mr. Shi was so determined to bring her back, there must be a reason.

Could this reason lie with her second uncle?

For what reason...

Why did he avert his eyes when mentioning her mother’s matters, not looking directly at her?

After having dinner and returning to the hotel room, Shi Su lay on the sofa with a pillow, an iPad placed on the coffee table, opened to a live TV broadcast page. The news from the capital network TV station was playing, the announcer articulately narrating the day’s major and minor events in the capital, and finally mentioning the gathering of luxury cars near an old mansion, causing a block for most of the street.

Upon closer inspection, wasn’t that old mansion the main entrance to the Shi Family’s mansion?

At the time, Shi Su hadn’t noticed due to some of the narrow street environments in the capital, so there weren’t many parking spaces available. With so many people at the Shi family and numerous cars outside, it had unusually made social news for blocking with luxury cars.

Being a news channel, it repeatedly broadcasted local news, and Shi Su turned off the page, casually opening a movie.

It was a Disney animation movie, probably one that Mianmian, using her iPad in Jiang City, somehow found and saved it in her favorites.

Since she wasn’t in the mood to watch anything, she just let it play on the coffee table. The iPad was playing cheerful and energetic Disney-themed songs continuously. As the water in the bathroom ceased, Jing Jihan came out, saw she wasn’t asleep yet, gave her a look, about to come over, when suddenly his phone rang. Noticing the caller ID, he answered the call.