Chapter 103. Being a Substitute? The Hurts-Body-and-Soul Kind (12)
Every time Shen’s parents visited, Shen Wan had her bodyguards lift them up under the guise of filial piety, much to their chagrin.
In the past, they would have rushed to slap Shen Wan and teach their unfilial daughter a lesson.
However, now that Shen Wan had grown stronger, they found themselves surrounded by bodyguards before they could even act. They secretly hoped these men would strike them, giving them a reason to call the police and condemn Shen Wan for her lack of filial piety.
Instead, the bodyguards merely lifted them up, while Xiao Hu, the assistant, instructed others to bring them food, claiming it was Shen Wan’s order to treat them well.
They were at a loss for how to deal with this situation that left them feeling wronged yet unable to act against Shen Wan.
They had considered making a scene at the company entrance, but before they could start, Shen Wan emerged with her bodyguards. She smiled at the onlookers, explaining that her parents were mentally ill, suffering from age-related dementia. She apologized for her negligence in letting them wander out and disturb everyone, promising to take them back for proper care.
When they protested, claiming they weren’t ill and that Shen Wan was an unfilial daughter who refused to support them, they believed that surely, with so many witnesses, people would see through Shen Wan’s lies.
To their surprise, Shen Wan responded, “How could I possibly mistreat my parents in public? If anyone doubts me, please come into our company and see for yourselves. I don’t mind my parents coming to the company at all. I guarantee they’re well-fed and cared for. They’re elderly now, and while many might see bringing them to work as a burden, I don’t. After all, they gave birth to me and raised me, so what’s wrong with bringing them to work?”
“Besides, I run a security company with plenty of staff who can help keep an eye on my parents. I hope that with everyone’s attentive care, they’ll recover soon.”
The bystanders commented, “It’s not easy for such a young woman to run a company and still bring her parents to work. She must be very filial.”
“Understandable. This young lady is quite patient. If it were someone else, being accused of lacking filial piety by their own parents might have angered them into abandoning their parents altogether.”
Shen Wan sighed, “How could I possibly abandon them? Every time they come, I take good care of them. They’re my parents, after all. How could I mistreat them?”
And so, the couple was “escorted” back by Shen Wan’s bodyguards. At first, some people were skeptical.
But after careful observation, they noticed that at mealtimes, the assistant would come out to buy food – seemingly very lavish meals – saying it was for Shen Wan’s parents.
At the end of the workday, the couple would be escorted out. Although they looked displeased, there were no signs of mistreatment.
Some even snuck in to take a look and found the couple in a room with two massage chairs. They sat in these chairs, surrounded by fruits, desserts, and various snacks. Several people were always around, seemingly taking care of them.
This convinced everyone that these two might indeed have mental issues, possibly early-onset dementia.
Soon, everyone in the building knew that Shen Wan brought her parents to work and had set aside a special room to care for them, complete with massage chairs, snacks, and desserts.
Who else’s children could do this much for their parents?
Meanwhile, Shen’s parents, unable to leave the massage chairs, were seething with anger.
They couldn’t understand what was wrong with the world. How was their ungrateful daughter being filial? Was providing massage chairs considered filial? Was having people serve them filial? Was giving them food filial?
Little did they know that they would be stuck in these massage chairs all morning, only allowed to get up at noon.
Now, no matter how much they complained outside, no one would believe that Shen Wan was unfilial.
Who could understand their inner suffering?
Shen Bo seemed to realize he couldn’t gain any advantage from Shen Wan. He had accompanied his parents the first couple of times but after being tormented twice by Shen Wan, experiencing a whole morning stuck in a massage chair – despite having food and drinks – unable to go anywhere or use his phone (Shen Wan’s excuse being it was bad for the eyes), he refused to come again.
It was devilish – not being able to use a phone felt like torture.
He couldn’t stand it there.
Later, he refused to come no matter what.
Shen’s parents had no choice but to come alone. Sitting for a whole morning was indeed boring, and not being able to use their phones was the most torturous part.
Their previous tactics of making a scene and throwing tantrums seemed ineffective with Shen Wan. Whenever they accused her of being unfilial, everyone could see that Shen Wan had bought massage chairs and a soundproof room for them, with various health facilities apparently prepared just for them.
Who would believe that Shen Wan was unfilial?
When they ran out to complain to others, Shen Wan would say they were ill. The more vehemently they cursed, the more people believed they were sick.
Once, someone even suggested to Shen Wan that she should send them to a mental hospital, given the severity of their condition. This terrified them.
Recently, they had been coming every few days, and Shen Wan kept buying them all sorts of good food without restraint. They had even gained quite a bit of weight.
Sitting in the massage chairs, the couple exchanged helpless glances. In this situation, there was no way the police would believe their daughter was unfilial.
“Let’s go home,” Shen’s father suggested hesitantly. “We can’t make a scene, and that girl is too cunning and shameless. I’ve asked around, and the police can’t intervene in these matters. She’s feeding us well, not beating or scolding us, and not forcibly confining us here. We can leave if we want to.”
But whenever they caused trouble, Shen Wan would claim they were having an episode and have them placed in the chairs, not allowing them to go anywhere. Nobody thought her actions were wrong because, after all, they were ill.
And she even took away their phones! The reason? To protect their eyesight.
Shen’s father’s face darkened as he continued, “If we make a scene outside, she uses the excuse that we’re ill to bring us back in. What can we do?”
Shen’s mother’s face contorted with anger. “What’s the point of going back? We haven’t gotten the company back yet. What about Little Bo?”
“Such a big company must make a lot of money. Little Bo still doesn’t have a house,” Shen’s mother grew increasingly angry as she spoke. “Ungrateful daughter! We raised her for nothing. She doesn’t think about Little Bo at all. What’s a woman doing messing around with a company? Why doesn’t she just let Little Bo manage it?”
“Are you willing to stay here all day without being able to go anywhere?”
They weren’t short of food, but after causing so much trouble over the company for so long, it was like scratching an itch for Shen Wan – like punching a cotton ball.
“There’s no use staying here. Let’s go back and think of a plan,” Shen’s father said, taking a bite of cake. When he turned his head, he saw Shen’s mother glaring darkly outside. Following her gaze, he saw that Dong Zheng had arrived.
In front of them, Dong Zheng and Shen Wan didn’t act intimately.
But this time, Shen’s mother sensed something was off. Seeing Shen Wan and Dong Zheng leave together, she quickly shouted, “I’m leaving! Let me go! Don’t you dare follow me!”
With that, she jumped down, and the bodyguards truly didn’t pursue her.
The boss had said to leave them alone as long as they sat quietly and ate, but if they tried to make a scene outside, they should be brought back under the pretense of being ill.
Since the two weren’t causing a commotion and just ran out, the bodyguards didn’t interfere.
Shen’s mother clutched her bag and rushed out, indeed seeing Shen Wan and Dong Zheng holding hands, clearly more than just ordinary friends. Their intimate whispers and laughter resembled a couple.
“What’s wrong?”
“Haven’t you noticed something odd about that wretched girl?” Shen’s mother’s eyes gleamed with excitement. “I have a way to make her hand over the company.”
Dong Zheng and Shen Wan had just parked their car and were approaching the restaurant when Shen Wan’s phone rang.
“Answer it first,” Dong Zheng said.
Shen Wan picked up the call, hearing Xiao Hu’s anxious voice, “Boss, it’s not good. Your parents are causing a scene outside the company again.”
“What’s going on? Didn’t you invite them in to sit in the massage chairs and eat desserts?” Shen Wan asked, linking arms with Dong Zheng, wondering what those two old folks were up to this time.
Hearing it was those two causing trouble again, Dong Zheng felt angry too. Dealing with shameless people, especially Shen Wan’s birth parents, was indeed difficult. They couldn’t be beaten or scolded, which was frustrating.
“They…” Xiao Hu paused before continuing, “They’re making a big scene at the company entrance, saying you’ve gone astray, that you like women, that it’s a sickness, abnormal, and that you need treatment.”
The smile vanished from Shen Wan’s face, and Dong Zheng had heard it too.
They exchanged glances. In truth, they didn’t care how others viewed their relationship. But who could feel comfortable being attacked like this?
Dong Zheng frowned, “Why don’t we teach them a lesson?”
“It’s useless. Unless we kill them, they’ll keep coming back to make trouble for Shen Bo’s sake. If I do anything to them, it’ll lead to endless problems.”
Dong Zheng pursed her lips, “So we just let them personally attack you?” She didn’t mind for herself, but she couldn’t bear to see Shen Wan insulted like this.
If she didn’t know that Shen Wan truly didn’t care about those two, she might have taken a wrong turn in dealing with them.
“How could we let it go? I treated them well before, with good food and drinks, because I was in a good mood and wanted to give them a chance to think things through. But it seems they believe I can’t do anything to them.”
“I can’t really do anything to them. If I dared to lay a hand on them and it got out, no matter what, public opinion would side with them. Internet users would condemn me as an unfilial daughter every day.”
Hearing this, Dong Zheng understood that Shen Wan must have a plan up her sleeve.
Before she could ask, she heard Shen Wan say to Xiao Hu, “Are they still cursing?”
“Yes, they’re sitting on the ground, crying and cursing. It’s very unpleasant to hear. Your mother is even rolling on the ground, while your father is wiping his eyes, as if truly upset that you like women and have gone astray.”
Xiao Hu was furious. What’s wrong with liking women? It doesn’t harm anyone else. These two were only using such crude personal attacks against Shen Wan because they couldn’t get what they wanted.
“They’ve also said many bad things about you. Many people are taking photos now, and I’ve seen some internet celebrities asking them questions while filming. Boss, they’re twisting facts and ruining your reputation. What should we do if this spreads online?”
“Xiao Hu, record everything they’re doing right now.”
“And then?”
“Just record it for now. Let them make a scene. I’ll handle the rest.”
With that, Shen Wan hung up.
Dong Zheng held her hand, “What do you plan to do? Are we still eating?”
“Of course we’re eating. How could this little incident affect my mood? We’ll discuss it over the meal. I need to consult with you about this matter.”
Seeing that Shen Wan truly didn’t seem bothered, Dong Zheng felt relieved.
After ordering, Dong Zheng asked, “What’s the plan?” She could barely contain herself, but Shen Wan was too calm. Since this involved Shen Wan’s parents, she couldn’t act rashly.
“Zheng Zheng, do you mind if our relationship becomes public?”
Dong Zheng smiled, “Not at all. I’d love for the whole world to know you’re my girlfriend.”
“Then I’m about to do something big. I’m the kind of person who doesn’t care about face, but I’m worried you might be more sensitive. If many people learn about our relationship, some will insult us. I don’t mind, but I’m afraid you might get upset.”
“Do you think people aren’t already gossiping about us?” Dong Zheng raised an eyebrow. “There are plenty of people in the company quietly discussing our relationship. So what if they gossip? They still rely on me for their livelihood. Who dares to attack us to our faces? If they’re so brave, let them come gossip in front of me and see if they still want their jobs.”
“It’s not that serious, actually. They’re the shameless ones, right? They want to ruin my reputation and even brought internet celebrities. I want to make them famous too. Let’s settle all past accounts. Did they really think I was so easy-going?”
It was just that she had been in a good mood lately, always having her girlfriend by her side.
“Go ahead and do it,” Dong Zheng seemed to understand what Shen Wan was planning. “I know quite a few influential bloggers, and I have a friend who manages a professional PR team. You want to make them famous, right? You can hand the materials over to me.”
“Alright, I’ll give you the materials once I’ve gathered them.”
Shen Wan: “Brother 8, it’s up to you to get the materials. I need detailed information on how the original owner lived from childhood to adulthood, and how those two treated her differently from Shen Bo. The more detailed, the better.”