Chapter 278: Chapter 278

Shen Shichen’s stepmother, Bai Lin, hailed from the Bai Family. She was Bai Zhirui’s biological aunt.

Bai Zhirui had suffered a lifelong disability during a medical competition, and neither the Bai Family nor the Shen Family could forget their resentment toward Qin Jinhai and Fu Bing.

Now, through twists and turns of fate, they had an opportunity to meet.

Neither the Bai Family nor the Shen Family would let this chance slip by.

Sharp, distinct slaps echoed one after another, incessantly.

Bai Zhirui sat in her wheelchair, composedly watching two servants slap each other. Their cheeks were already swollen high, yet no one dared to stop.

When Bai Fen returned home and saw this scene, his expression involuntarily darkened. "Go apply some medicine," he told the servants.

The two servants, eyes welling with tears, were just about to rise when Bai Zhirui smashed the glass cup in her hand.

Shards of glass splattered everywhere, cutting their arms.

Trembling, they dared not stand up again.

"Don’t mind her," Bai Fen said firmly. "I told you to get up! I’ll handle any consequences."

With grateful looks, the two servants quickly stood up and scurried off to apply medicine to each other.

Bai Zhirui said sarcastically, "Are you addicted to playing the savior? What are you gloating about in front of me?"

Bai Fen walked up to Bai Zhirui, looking down on her. "No matter how much you torture others, you can’t hide the fact that you’re a cripple who can never stand up again! The more you hurt others, the more ridiculous you appear!"

"Bai Fen!" Bai Zhirui screamed sharply. No one had ever dared to call her "cripple" to her face. How dare he!

Unaffected by her scream, Bai Fen continued, "You are a cripple—a psychologically twisted one, at that. Let me tell you, Fu Bing was discussing business with Shen Shichen in Jiangcheng just two days ago. I’ve also heard that Shen Shichen has taken a liking to Fu Bing. He’s been under immense pressure to marry recently. If I’m not mistaken, the person Shen Shichen has chosen is likely Fu Bing."

"Your legs are useless, and you can’t even hold onto the man you fancied. Bai Zhirui, you are an utter failure! Aside from hiding in dark corners and tormenting people, what else can you do?"

Bai Zhirui’s expression froze. After a long pause, she stared at Bai Fen with vacant eyes. "What did you say?"

"The man you once fancied has taken a liking to Fu Bing," Bai Fen said. "If you have any guts, pull yourself together, tear Fu Bing apart, and snatch your man back!"

Bai Fen had been trying to recruit Yang Ningzheng for several years, but Yang Ningzheng had consistently refused him. She preferred Fu Bing, who hadn’t yet firmly established herself in the pharmaceutical field, over him. Without Fu Bing, Yang Ningzheng would have been fair game for everyone.

Bai Zhirui quickly snapped back to reality. "Shen Shichen couldn’t possibly like Fu Bing! The Shen Family would never let him choose someone from the entertainment industry!"

"Fu Bing is no longer considered part of the entertainment industry. She’s worth tens of billions now; what fool would still categorize her there?"

Embarrassment contorted Bai Zhirui’s face. She watched Bai Fen coldly. "You’re suddenly telling me this out of the goodness of your heart? What are you trying to do?"

"If one of you has to marry Shen Shichen, it’d be best if you did. Fu Bing already possesses too much; if she marries Shen Shichen, her influence alone will make it impossible for other pharmaceutical families to compete. She’s also very close to Old Jian, and she might even gain the full support of the Jian Family. Do you want Fu Bing to have such a smooth life?"

Bai Zhirui’s nails dug deeply into her palm. Of course not! She had fallen from heaven into hell because of her crippled legs. How could she allow Fu Bing to prosper more and more? She wouldn’t allow it!

Bai Fen scoffed coldly. "Fix your wretched appearance! You look neither human nor ghost. Stop embarrassing yourself all day!"

They were half-siblings, and Bai Zhirui had always outshone him since childhood. If she hadn’t broken her leg and disgraced the Bai Family during the medical skills competition, he would still be no match for her.

Bai Zhirui maneuvered her wheelchair into the elevator. She sat before a large, full-length mirror, staring intently at the woman reflected within. Wooden, gaunt, ugly...

She began to strip off her clothes, piece by piece. The woman in the mirror also began to undress, revealing a frail, contorted figure, too distressing to look at. Her complexion was sallow, her lips cracked. Where was her once vibrant and spirited appearance?

Bai Zhirui shielded her body, as if trying to escape, and impulsively grabbed an ornament, smashing it against the mirror. With a CRACK, the mirror that covered an entire wall shattered thunderously. Fragments of it reflected Bai Zhirui’s face.

She couldn’t continue ! Her self-punishment would only drag her deeper into hell, while Fu Bing, however, was soaring to new heights, thriving more and more. Fu Bing would take everything from her. She wouldn’t allow it! The most update n0vels are published on novel·fire·net

For the first time since her accident, Bai Zhirui cleaned herself up thoroughly and even applied makeup. After finishing, she sent a message to Shen Shichen: "Returned to Jiangnan yet? I miss you."

Shen Shichen’s car sped along the highway. Seeing the message, he didn’t reply, continuing to rest with his eyes closed. The former Bai Zhirui still held some value for him. The disabled Bai Zhirui, however, wouldn’t add anything to his prospects. Leaving aside the fact that Bai Zhirui had lost the qualifications to inherit from the Bai Family, her years of internal strife with Bai Fen alone made her unsuitable for him. He needed a woman to manage his household capably, not someone who would bring the Bai Family’s dirty, underhanded tactics into the Shen Family.

Shen Shichen frowned, then instructed, "Starting tomorrow, send a bouquet to Fu Bing every day."

"Understood. Should it be sent to her office or Miss Fu’s home? I heard Miss Fu rarely goes to the office."

A gleam flashed in Shen Shichen’s eyes. "The office. The more high-profile, the better." He wanted Bai Zhirui to go after Fu Bing, to see what kind of methods Fu Bing would use. If Fu Bing’s methods proved too crude, he would reconsider carefully. There were plenty of women; if one didn’t fit, he’d simply find another.

Bai Zhirui, receiving no reply from Shen Shichen, felt her gaze grow colder by the minute. Shen Shichen had had many fleeting flings in the past; those women were merely his playthings. Once he grew bored, he would discard them all. Fu Bing was different!

Bai Fen sent Bai Zhirui a photo of Shen Shichen having flowers delivered to Fu Bing’s office. His words carried a tone of sarcasm, "Shen Shichen sure moves fast. Only the other day he was getting cozy with some popular actress, and upon seeing Fu Bing, he immediately went after her. He truly is the man you fancied!"

Bai Zhirui, clutching her fork, said coldly, "If you can’t say anything sensible, then shut your mouth."

"I’m just reminding you to speed things up. Don’t let Fu Bing snatch him away."

"You’re being this considerate?"

"I don’t like you, but it would be worse for Shen Shichen to end up with Fu Bing than for him to marry you. No matter how much you hate me, once you’re married into the Shen Family, you’ll surely help your natal family somewhat," Bai Fen stated bluntly. "We have common interests now. Let’s set aside our past conflicts and tackle this shared problem first."

Bai Zhirui felt the same way. "What do you think I should do now?" she asked. "Meet with Shen Shichen, talk to Aunt first, or perhaps approach Fu Bing?"

Hearing her question, Bai Fen felt a sense of relief. He and Bai Zhirui had been fighting over resources, over everything they could, since childhood. That was internal; the Bai Family’s resources were limited, so they had no choice but to compete. Externally, however, they were brother and sister. Now that they faced an external enemy, joining forces was the best course of action.

"I understand men better than you do. Shen Shichen is currently infatuated with Fu Bing; your message will only annoy him. You’d be better off talking to Aunt first. Let her probe Shen Shichen and the Shen Family for their intentions."