Chapter 194 - Unexpected

"I cannot answer your question, Shi. I do not know the whole story and without that, I cannot judge whether you are right or wrong" her mother speaks making Shi Lian look at her. "But as your mother, I am proud of you."

Her mother's words and her smile make Shi Lian filled with tears. She longed to hear these words of what she do. "You are my strongest daughter."

"Oh Mother" her voice cracks as she gets emotional. "Father is upset and now that he knows the truth, will he be really ready to let go of it?" she asks, wiping her tears. 

Sha Sha sighs. She does not know. In fact, she didn't even know he killed Chuanli so how can she even guess what Mo Zheng Yuan is thinking. "All I pray is to see our family happy and out of troubles."

Shi Lian scoots closer to her mother and embraces her. "Me too" she mumbles and rests her head on her mother's shoulder as she thinks about her father. 

After a while, Sha Sha gets and says goodnight to her daughter she leaves her room. Shi Lian puts her arm over her eyes and lies down on the bed. All the things related to the creepy man flashes before her and she winches. 

Now that she knows what is the actual truth of the creepy man, she can tell Zichen to do whatever he wants to do with him. 

She sighs and goes to freshen and later turns off the light as she went to bed. 

**

"How is he?" she asks first thing in the morning. She stands outside the room and asks her mother about Zheng Yuan's condition. 

"He hasn't said anything since last night," Sha Sha tells her sadly. 

"Can I—"

"He doesn't want to meet anyone at the moment. The truth has had a big impact on him, Shi. Give me a little more space" she tries to explain. 

Shi Lian bites her lower lip and holds herself back. It hurts to know that she is the one her father is in a fragile state. 

"Are you going to the company?" Sha Sha asks noticing Shi Lian dressed up prettily. 

"Yes. There is a lot of work pending and if I don't go, the company will face problems" she says. With that, she leaves for work going to the car waiting outside. 

Sitting inside her car, Shi Lian dials her secretary's number. She hasn't received calls from Fang Xiao because of her issues. 

"Miss Shi Lian?"

"I hope you are not mad because of my ignorance, Xiaoxiao" Shi Lian says trying to keep her tone light. 

"Oh no no, Miss Shi Lian. Absolutely not. Are you alright? I heard you are in some trouble?" she asks innocently. 

"It's nothing. Anyway, I want the documents and the charts for this whole month and also the last. Notify the PR department and others that we will be having a meeting today" she orders gazing straight. 

"Noted, Miss Shi Lian."

With that, she ends the call and looks out of the window to divert her mind from hectic thoughts. Shi Lian always wanted to stay as far away from company matters but the cruel fate made her fated to it. Her life has become chaotic. With every door she opens, a new mystery pops up and a new challenge that she must face. 

**

Entering the Mo Corp building, she heads straight to her office. To not showcase her red eyes, she puts on sunglasses. On her way, Ruxi notices her and approaches her. 

"Good morning, Chairman" she greets first, and then she says, "I am grateful that you are here because the workload is shooting up. Paperworks are pending, meetings are on hold, contracts—"

"I know. I am back now" Shi Lian cuts her off midsentence but she does not mean to be rude. Ruxi nods and goes her way to her office. 

Fang Xiao notices Shi Lian coming and hurries to prepare her notes and files. She adjusts her spectacles which keep on coming down her nose bridge because of their big frames. 

"Come quick, Xiaoxiao" Shi Lian tells without looking at her as she pushes open the door to her office. 

She can remove her glasses now. Even if Xiaoxiao notices she won't say anything. A minute later, Fang Xiao enters carrying some files tucked in her arm and also Shi Lian's coffee. 

Shi Lian smiles faintly and takes the cup of coffee from her hold. "Please keep the files on the desk."

Upon asking about the updates of the company, Fang Xiao starts to tell her what happened these days and what she missed. 

"You notified them about the meeting?" Shi Lian asks without moving her eyes from the computer screen. 

"Yes, Miss Shi Lian. "

"The designs are ready?" she asks looking at her. 

Fang Xiao tells her in her calm composure. "It only needs your approval." Then she adds, "Vice President said she emailed you."

"I hardly went through anything she sent" she mumbles sipping the coffee. 

With that, she dismisses Fang Xiao. She takes a deep breath before she starts to work on the files. She is trying to not think about her father which is difficult. 

A while later, she gets a call from Zichen. He asks her how she is feeling and if everyone is okay or not. "Yeah, just coping. Anyway, you can do whatever you want with him" she says, her fingers tapping on the desk. 

"Yes, I still have some things to deal with him," he tells her. Shi Lian suddenly wakes up from her bubble of thoughts. 

"Did he do something to you as well?" she asks. 

He sighs, "I don't know. That's what I need to know."

Shi Lian wonders what Tingyu Gu must have done to Zichen. It makes her angry that the man whom she felt pity towards has ruined the lives of not just her but Zichen's too perhaps. 

"Take care. Bye," he says and ends the call. She puts the phone aside and now she is again thinking about Tingyu Gu. God, her head hurts badly by thinking too much. 

Just then, her phone rings again. She picks up to see it's her mother. She receives the call immediately. It must be about her father. "Hello? Mother—"

"Oh, Shi! Come fast, please. Your father...." her mother's voice cracks making Shi Lian rise from her seat in panic. 

"What happened to him?" 

"He-he...I can't... You come, please. We are in the XX hospital. I need you, Shi" her mother's voice makes her heart clench. 

"I'll be there soon. Don't worry mother" Shi Lian says and hangs up. She hurries out of the office and bolts towards the elevator. Fang Xiao yelps when the office door booms open. She wants to ask but Shi Lian is already gone. 

On her way to the elevator, Ruxi spots her. "Uh, Chairman" she calls but Shi Lian ignores her and heads inside the elevator. "Where are you heading to?" she asks. The elevator closes and her question is left hanging in the air. 

"What happened?" she mumbles, thinking to herself. "Oh, God! I have already scheduled the meetings!" she groans.. She will listen to a great scolding from the clients if they know the meeting is again postponed.