Ch 27: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

“What do you mean?” Huo Siming’s expression hardened. Seeing Shen Yunxuan standing by the door, an ominous feeling crept over him.

Shen Yunxuan stepped aside, and Huo Siheng strode in, full of energy, showing no signs of illness whatsoever.

The room erupted in shock. Shen Yunrui shot to her feet, her face pale as she stared at Huo Siheng, who was supposed to be in a vegetative state. This was completely different from what had happened in her previous life. Her mind buzzed in disbelief.

Huo Siming’s eyes widened in utter disbelief. “Brother? You’re okay?”

Huo Siheng glanced at him. “Of course I’m fine. After some time to recuperate, I’ve fully recovered.”

Huo Siming clenched his teeth in frustration but forced a smile. “When did you recover? Why didn’t you tell me? If I’d known earlier, I wouldn’t have bothered with this bidding event.”

In that moment, all of Huo Siming’s carefully laid plans crumbled. His eyes reddened with suppressed rage as he fought to maintain his composure, determined to retreat gracefully. No matter—if this attempt failed, he would bide his time and wait for the next opportunity. He could afford to wait.

Huo Siheng turned to address the room. “If I’d told you earlier, how could I have witnessed this wonderful show today?”

Huo Siming’s heart sank. “What do you mean, brother? What show?”

Smiling faintly, Huo Siheng took a file from his secretary and read aloud. “The wife of Linshi Company’s manager is the cousin of Cheng’an Company’s CEO, Mr. Liang. Xin Hong Company’s manager is the illegitimate son of Yanxia Company’s Mr. Chen… It seems that some of our competitors not only came to bid themselves but also brought friends and family along, pretending not to know each other on site. Isn’t that quite the performance?”

The faces of several competitors turned sour. Meanwhile, the other attendees began piecing things together—so that’s why those unfamiliar faces were so calm earlier! They’d orchestrated this to indirectly take a slice of the lucrative project.

Realizing this, the crowd was shocked. These competitors were Huo Corporation’s rivals; if they succeeded, it would spell disaster for Huo Corporation. But was Huo Siming’s attempt to let those unfamiliar bidders win just a coincidence—or something more deliberate?

Seeing Huo Siheng reappear at such a critical moment, the situation increasingly resembled an internal family feud. It now seemed likely that Huo Siming had colluded with competitors, and the bidding process was just for show. The crowd’s initial goodwill toward Huo Siming soured into disdain. Not only had they been roped in as bystanders, but Huo Siming, a member of the Huo family, was clearly bent on sabotaging his own house—a disgraceful move.

Feigning surprise, Huo Siming quickly responded, “How could this happen? Brother, I’m sorry. I must not have done enough due diligence. Clearly, Huo Corporation still needs you at the helm. I’m not capable enough for this role.”

By admitting his incompetence, Huo Siming hoped to deflect any suspicion of intentional wrongdoing.

The bidding event was obviously canceled. Huo Corporation’s projects would now remain under Huo Siheng’s direct supervision and wouldn’t be outsourced. The competitors, having lost both the opportunity and their dignity, tried to quietly leave, reasoning that since they hadn’t won anything, Huo Siheng couldn’t do anything to them.

To their surprise, several bodyguards stepped forward to block their way. Angrily, one of them demanded, “What’s the meaning of this, Huo Siheng? Stopping us like this is going too far!”

Huo Siheng picked up another file and a USB drive. “Over the past few days, Huo Siming has been in contact with you all. Out of curiosity, I looked into it and discovered some unexpected evidence. Turns out you planned to divide up Huo Corporation’s assets through illicit means, while Huo Siming generously brokered the deals.”

Huo Siming’s expression darkened as he desperately tried to recall every meeting, conversation, and detail. Was there still a way to spin this in his favor?

Shen Yunxuan spoke calmly. “Oh, I forgot to tell you. During your welcome banquet, I had a new surveillance system installed in the old Huo family residence. Aside from the bedrooms, there are no blind spots throughout the villa. Everything, including video and audio, has been captured clearly. Oh, and the balcony of the bedroom can also be seen.”

Huo Siming’s heart pounded rapidly.

No blind spots? That meant the footage from the welcome banquet, where he met with Mr. Fang and Aunt Lan, must have revealed his act. Later, when he orchestrated Huo Siheng’s accident and instructed Aunt Lan to lure them home, they must have known all along. Had this entire sequence of events been a trap?

And the balcony! On the night he was drinking there, he had video-called his father, discussed their plans, and celebrated their “success.” Did that mean evidence implicating his father was also captured?

Huo Siming glared at them, his face pale and twisted. “You set me up!”

Shen Yunxuan chuckled. “If anything, I’d say you and your father have been scheming for over a decade. We simply returned the favor.”

The attendees finally understood—it was a feud between the Huo family’s main branch and second branch. When the eldest Huo inherited the company, the second Huo moved abroad to develop his own ventures. At the time, everyone thought the division of assets had been smooth. Little did they know, the second branch had been plotting for over a decade, sending Huo Siming back specifically to seize the family’s fortune.

And what about the so-called car accident? Could it have been orchestrated by the second branch? If so, their ruthlessness was truly chilling.

Huo Siming desperately tried to calm himself and find a way out, clinging to the slim hope that they didn’t have real evidence and were bluffing. He remained silent, refusing to say anything that could incriminate him.

But then the police arrived, shattering his composure. “You actually called the police?” he exclaimed, unable to hide his shock.

Shen Yunxuan replied coldly, “Of course we did. As law-abiding citizens, it’s our duty to report wrongdoing. You orchestrated a car accident to kill Siheng—shouldn’t we report that? You tried to sell corporate secrets—shouldn’t we report that?”

The police presented their credentials and formally requested that Huo Siming, two shareholders, and the competitors accompany them to the station for investigation. They even placed handcuffs on Huo Siming, leaving no doubt about the seriousness of the charges.

It was then that Huo Siming realized they truly had evidence. But he was unwilling to accept defeat, furious that all of his and his father’s efforts had gone to waste. Glaring at Huo Siheng, he spat, “Do you think we wanted to do this? You forced us! That old man was so unfair! If he hadn’t handed Huo Corporation to your father and left my father with almost nothing, do you think we’d have gone this far?”

“What do you mean by ‘almost nothing’?” Madam Huo entered the room, her tone filled with anger. “Your father isn’t even a biological member of the Huo family. He was adopted by the old master out of kindness. Back then, he was given substantial funds, numerous connections, and plenty of opportunities to build his own company. How is that not enough?

Over the years, my husband supported your father, and Siheng treated you as family and helped you. But what about you? You’re nothing but ungrateful wolves! Your father knew he wasn’t biologically related to the family—did he never tell you that?”

Huo Siming sneered, “So what if he was adopted as a baby? He grew up in this family—doesn’t that count for more than blood ties? That old man was nothing but biased and unfair!”

The room fell into stunned silence. No one had imagined that Huo Siming’s father wasn’t a biological member of the Huo family. Even more shocking was that the father and son were fully aware of this yet still harbored resentment, ultimately plotting to harm the family. It was the ultimate betrayal: turning against the family that had raised them, nearly killing Huo Siheng, and almost destroying Huo Corporation.

Huo Siming showed no remorse, and Madam Huo had no desire to say anything further to him. Spotting Aunt Lan hiding in a corner, likely there to witness Huo Siming’s “success,” Madam Huo said in disappointment, “I never expected you to betray me too.” She then told the police, “This is Li Xiulan, the nanny who secretly assisted Huo Siming.”

The police arrested Aunt Lan as well and prepared to escort the suspects away.

Before being led out, Huo Siming asked angrily, “How did you find out? Why did you install surveillance as soon as I returned to the country? What gave me away?”

Shen Yunxuan glanced at Shen Yunrui. “We have to thank my ‘good sister’ for that. When Siheng went abroad, she warned me to be careful, saying that he might bring back a ‘big surprise’ and that I’d be left crying when I fell from grace.

I’ve always been cautious, so I installed a new surveillance and security system at the house, just in case. I never expected to discover your true colors.”

Shen Yunrui finally snapped out of her shock, horrified that she was being implicated. She frantically waved her hands. “It wasn’t me! I didn’t mean it that way! I didn’t even know Kevin back then!”

Given the sensitivity of the situation, the police immediately asked Shen Yunrui to come to the station for questioning.

Many attendees had already heard about Lin Huaizhi’s earlier outburst at Huo Corporation, accusing Huo Siming of trying to cuckold him. Now, they couldn’t help but wonder if Shen Yunrui and Huo Siming had been closer than they let on. Why else would she say such things to Shen Yunxuan? It seemed like she might have known more than she claimed.

Some even commented that Shen Yunrui and Huo Siming were quite a pair—both adept at deception. Shen Yunrui, who usually acted gentle and obedient, had secretly been so vicious toward her elder sister, hoping for her downfall. Shen Yunxuan’s parents had always favored Shen Yunrui and treated Shen Yunxuan poorly. No wonder Shen Yunxuan had severed ties with her family.

Shen Guobang and Madam Shen couldn’t bear the thought of the police taking Shen Yunrui away. They hurriedly approached Shen Yunxuan, pleading for her to explain that it was all a misunderstanding between sisters. Shen Yunxuan ignored them, prompting their anger to boil over.

“How can you be so cold-blooded? Your sister isn’t in good health and can’t handle this kind of stress! She only said a few words—what does this have to do with her? Nothing even happened to you, so why would you drag her into this? If it weren’t for her warning, would you have been safe?”

Just as Shen Yunxuan was about to respond, Madam Huo stepped in and pulled her behind her. “The ones who are cold-blooded are you! You’re unfit to be parents, so stop lecturing my daughter-in-law. Security! Get them out of here!”

Remembering their original reason for attending, Madam Huo added, “And as for bidding at Huo Corporation, forget it. We will never collaborate with your family!”

Huo Siheng followed up firmly, “Huo Corporation will never work with the Shen family.”

If Shen Yunrui’s arrest was a blow to the Shen family, Huo Corporation’s outright rejection was a devastating loss. The Shen family had already been struggling, and this announcement would lead others to avoid them or even kick them while they were down. How would the Shen family survive now?

Only then did they realize they had completely lost control of Shen Yunxuan. They should have been the ones begging for her help long ago. Madam Shen grabbed Shen Yunxuan’s hand, sobbing. “Yunxuan, we were wrong. We apologize. Please forgive us…”

Shen Yunxuan withdrew her hand and said coldly, “It’s too late, Madam Shen. Don’t embarrass yourselves further—at least try to keep some dignity.”

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