Chapter 18: The Hidden Heir
The heart monitor screamed.
Doctors rushed around the hospital bed, their voices overlapping.
"Pulse dropping!"
"Prepare the injection!"
"Move, give us space!"
Shen Yichen stood still near the wall.
His fists clenched tightly.
Chen Xinyue watched the chaos with a racing heart.
Just moments ago, Shen Guowei had revealed something terrifying.
The enemy is inside the Shen family.
Now the old man might not survive long enough to explain what he meant.
A doctor turned to them urgently.
"Everyone outside!"
Yichen didn't argue.
He walked out silently.
Xinyue followed.
The door shut behind them.
The Hospital Corridor
The hallway lights felt too bright.
Too cold.
Family members gathered outside the room whispered nervously.
Some looked worried.
Others looked strangely calm.
Shen Hao leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
His expression was relaxed.
Almost bored.
Xinyue noticed it immediately.
Why does he look like this?
If your grandfather was dying, wouldn't you be anxious?
She studied him carefully.
Shen Hao suddenly noticed her staring.
He smiled faintly.
"Something on my face?"
Xinyue didn't respond.
Instead, she asked,
"Are you not worried about him?"
The question surprised several people nearby.
Shen Hao tilted his head.
"Of course I am."
"You don't look like it."
His smile widened.
"Everyone handles fear differently."
Before Xinyue could reply, Shen Rong stepped closer.
"Enough."
His voice carried authority.
"This is not the time for arguments."
He looked at Shen Yichen.
"Did Father say anything important?"
Yichen nodded slowly.
"He confirmed something."
"What?"
"Someone in the Shen family poisoned him."
Whispers exploded through the hallway.
"That's impossible!"
"Who would dare?"
"Are we all suspects now?!"
Shen Rong frowned deeply.
"Did he name anyone?"
"No."
Shen Rong sighed.
"Then we're chasing shadows."
Yichen didn't answer.
His gaze moved slowly across every face in the hallway.
Analyzing.
Calculating.
Then he spoke quietly.
"The poison has been used for months."
The room fell silent.
"That means the person had regular access to him."
Shen Rong nodded.
"Family members… or trusted servants."
Shen Hao suddenly laughed.
The sound echoed strangely.
Everyone looked at him.
"What's funny?" Shen Rong asked sharply.
Shen Hao shrugged.
"Just thinking."
"About what?"
"About how dramatic this situation is."
Xinyue frowned.
"What do you mean?"
He looked at her with amusement.
"A hidden poisoner."
"A collapsing patriarch."
"A power struggle."
He chuckled softly.
"This is like a bad television drama."
Yichen's voice turned cold.
"You think this is entertainment?"
Shen Hao met his gaze.
"No."
Then his smile disappeared.
"I think it's inevitable."
A Suspicious Message
At that moment—
Assistant Zhao hurried down the hallway.
"President Shen."
Yichen turned.
"What is it?"
Zhao looked uneasy.
"We found something."
He handed over a tablet.
Yichen looked at the screen.
A message had arrived anonymously.
Three simple words:
Check the will.
Xinyue leaned closer.
"What does that mean?"
Zhao spoke quietly.
"We checked the legal department."
"And?"
"There's a sealed version of Chairman Shen's will."
Shen Rong looked surprised.
"A sealed will?"
Zhao nodded.
"It was created six months ago."
Six months.
The same time the poisoning likely began.
Yichen's eyes darkened.
"Where is it?"
"In the family vault."
Shen Hao suddenly straightened.
"Interesting."
Yichen looked at him.
"You didn't know?"
Shen Hao shook his head slowly.
"No."
"But I'd love to see it."
Xinyue felt uneasy again.
Something about his reaction felt… wrong.
Yichen turned to Zhao.
"Prepare the car."
"Sir?"
"We're going to the Shen mansion."
Shen Family Mansion
The mansion stood quietly in the dark.
Rain tapped against the tall gates.
Security guards opened the entrance immediately when Yichen arrived.
Inside, the house felt strangely empty.
Like it was holding its breath.
Xinyue walked beside Yichen through the long hallways.
"This place is huge."
"It was built by my grandfather."
"It feels… lonely."
Yichen didn't disagree.
Shen Hao followed behind them casually.
"Welcome to the battlefield," he said.
Xinyue frowned.
"Why do you keep saying things like that?"
He looked amused.
"Because it's true."
They reached a heavy steel door.
The family vault.
Assistant Zhao entered the code.
The door opened slowly with a mechanical hum.
Inside were shelves filled with documents and safes.
Zhao walked directly to one locked drawer.
"This is it."
He removed a sealed envelope.
The name Shen Guowei was written across the front.
Yichen took it.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then he opened it.
Inside was the will.
He read silently.
Xinyue watched his expression carefully.
At first—
nothing changed.
Then his eyes widened slightly.
"What is it?" she asked.
Yichen didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he handed the document to her.
Xinyue read the first paragraph.
Her breath caught.
The will clearly stated something shocking.
If Shen Guowei died—
the majority ownership of Shen Group would not go to Shen Yichen.
Nor to Shen Rong.
Nor to Shen Hao.
Instead—
it would go to someone else.
Someone none of them expected.
Xinyue whispered,
"Who is this person?"
The name written on the document was unfamiliar.
Shen Linyu.
She looked up.
"Who is Shen Linyu?"
No one answered.
Even Shen Hao looked surprised.
Yichen spoke quietly.
"…My sister."
Xinyue blinked.
"You have a sister?"
"I did."
"Did?"
"She disappeared twelve years ago."
The room went silent.
Shen Hao frowned.
"That's impossible."
"The will clearly says she's the heir."
"But she's gone."
Zhao looked confused.
"Sir… if she's missing…"
"Then someone must find her."
Shen Hao suddenly laughed again.
"You're assuming she's still alive."
Yichen's eyes turned cold.
"She is."
"How can you be sure?"
Yichen pointed at the document.
"There's a clause."
Xinyue looked again.
The clause read:
If Shen Linyu cannot be located within six months after my death, control of Shen Group will transfer to the next blood heir.
Everyone understood immediately.
The next blood heir would be—
Shen Hao.
Shen Hao's smile slowly returned.
"Well."
He looked impressed.
"Grandfather really planned everything."
Yichen stared at him.
"You don't look surprised."
"I'm not."
"Why?"
Shen Hao stepped closer.
"Because I've been searching for her too."
Xinyue felt a chill.
"You knew about the will?"
"Not exactly."
"Then why search for her?"
Shen Hao's eyes gleamed.
"Because the moment Grandfather dies…"
"…the race begins."
Yichen's voice dropped dangerously.
"You're enjoying this."
Shen Hao shrugged.
"Competition makes life interesting."
Then he leaned closer.
"And cousin…"
"…if you want to protect your empire…"
"…you better find your sister before I do."
A Dark Revelation
Just as the tension peaked—
Assistant Zhao's phone rang.
He answered quickly.
His face turned pale.
"Sir…"
"What is it?"
Zhao swallowed.
"We just received new information."
"What information?"
"About Shen Linyu."
Everyone froze.
"Where is she?" Yichen demanded.
Zhao looked stunned.
"She was seen two days ago."
"Where?"
Zhao hesitated.
Then he said the words slowly.
"…in this city."
Xinyue's heart pounded.
Shen Hao's smile widened.
"Well."
He looked at Yichen.
"The hunt begins."
Outside the mansion—
lightning flashed across the sky.
And somewhere in the vast city…
a woman who had been missing for twelve years…
was about to return.