Stop Messing Around, Mr Bo! Chapter 2135(END) - Wen Yuan (29)

Shang Yekun feebly shut his eyes. “You won’t be able to see her. She’s already gone.”

Shang Qingmo's frame shuddered, his gaze turning rigid.

“Qingmo, don’t waste Qiqi’s sacrifices. Her desire was for your family to thrive. Just see it as handing her everything…”

“Where did she go?”

Shang Qingmo uttered the words as though Shang Yekun's plea had fallen on deaf ears.

Shang Yekun fixed him with a wordless stare.

Shang Qingmo balled his fists tightly, his lips trembling. His eyes grew bloodshot as he doggedly repeated the question.

“Where did she go?”

No answer came for what felt like ages. His raspy tone kept echoing the same desperate query over and over.

“Where did she go?”

Shang Yekun squeezed his eyes shut with resolve.

Shang Qingmo's throat moved visibly. “Dad, I’m begging you.”

Shang Yekun quivered, his eyelids lifting slowly.

“Qiqi committed no wrong. The blame lies entirely with me. I forced this mess into something irreparable. Do I really need her sacrifice? How could I face myself afterward?”

“I won’t honor your request. That’s not honoring it! Dad, you can’t push Qiqi away. Nobody else in this world will cherish me like her.”

“I admit my mistakes, but abandoning her is a graver error. I must cherish and make it up to her. I dread her with anyone but me—what if they harm her?”

A terrifying thought struck Shang Qingmo, making his Adam’s apple bob fiercely, his voice cracking.

“She adores me. Leaving me will shatter her heart. Dad, she’s weeping right now. She has to be… I need to locate her…”

“Dad, I beg you…”

Shang Yekun’s eyes opened gradually, his pupils shrinking like he’d been pierced by a dagger.

His son was now on his knees before him, face etched with utter hopelessness and frantic need.

Qiqi was sobbing.

Indeed, tears were flowing from her.

Though her face stayed composed till the end, her eyes were rimmed red, her voice quaking. Each syllable she forced out drained her completely to hold back the flood.

That’s why he rushed away, leaving space for her to unleash it all.

She had to be breaking down in tears at this moment.

The grief in her defiant gaze lingered in his mind.

He couldn’t erase the image of her doubling over, clutching her heart.

Tears poured down her cheeks without restraint.

“It’s all your fault… It’s all your fault…”

Shang Yekun gripped his cane with every ounce of power. His shaky voice broke into clear sobs.

“It’s all your fault… If only you’d shown half this determination back then… Qiqi wouldn’t have endured such pain… It’s all your fault… for wounding my Qiqi, driving her away time and again…”

“You don’t deserve Qiqi… Shang Qingmo… You’re unworthy of Qiqi…”

Tears erupted from Shang Yekun as the butler rushed to steady him.

Only now did it dawn on everyone how steadfast Old Master had remained.

He fretted over the Shang family and Shang Qingmo, yet his deepest concern was Shang Qiqi.

He wished no harm on anyone, but ultimately failed.

Torn inside, he hadn’t opposed their union before, though he hadn’t approved either.

Beyond the uncle-nephew tie, he doubted it wise for Qiqi to bind herself to his aloof, dull son.

Who could foresee Qiqi’s affections ran so profoundly?

And the present crisis stemmed from his clever son’s actions…

“You’re the least forgivable… Everything’s on you…”

Suddenly, Old Master lifted his cane, striking Shang Qingmo repeatedly.

Shang Qingmo shut his eyes and clenched his jaw, enduring Old Master’s furious blows in silence.

The uproar drew airport workers’ notice. Failing to halt him, they watched the stick rain down on the kneeling man.

Crowds swelled larger, yet the elder showed no sign of relenting.

Only when the butler spotted blood trickling from Shang Qingmo’s mouth, staining his dark shirt, did he seize Old Master’s arm in panic.

“Stop, please stop. Old Master, Young Master can’t endure more…”

Old Master Shang flung off the butler’s grip and slammed the cane into Shang Qingmo’s back.

The premium boxwood cane splintered in half.

Gasp echoed softly from the onlookers.

Shang Qingmo let out a muffled groan, spewing a gush of blood.

“Everything stems from you… All the suffering traces back to you. You lack the right to claim her… My Qiqi is so pure and devoted…”

Old Master discarded the shattered cane half and leaned on the butler, his arm quaking uncontrollably.

“Scram… Get out of here…”

Shang Qingmo’s throat bobbed several times, forcing down the metallic tang in his mouth. Propping one hand on his knee, he rose unsteadily and demanded obsessively,

“Where did she go?”

“I won’t tell you. If you’re capable, track her down alone. Fail to find her, and fate decrees you’re not meant to be!”

Old Master Shang breathed a sigh of relief.

Shang Qingmo gave a nod and silently passed by Old Master Shang. He pushed through the throng of people into the airport lobby.

His steps shifted from unsteady wobbles to chaotic stumbles, then he hurried ahead, searching frantically in the vast hall.

The assistant hurried after him. Spotting the assistant, Shang Qingmo clutched his arm desperately, like clutching a lifeline. Panic filled his voice uncontrollably.

“Help me find her, quick… Help me find her…”

The assistant's mind was in chaos. Today's Shang Qingmo was beyond anything he could have pictured.

“CEO Shang, stay calm. I'll check Miss Shang’s flight at the counter. Take a breath first…”

Hearing the assistant's words, Shang Qingmo paused briefly, then composed himself.

“Okay, thanks for the help.”

The assistant had no time to savor Shang Qingmo’s unusual panic. His sole focus was locating Miss Shang fast.

“CEO Shang, please sit down first. I'll check right away and update you the moment I have news.”

Shang Qingmo was hurt, blood staining his arm.

All could see Old Master Shang hadn't held back in the beating. The blood on CEO Shang’s dark shirt came from that thrashing.

He wasn't sure of Shang Qingmo’s exact pain, but he understood more than that.

Miss Shang’s statements to the reporters weren't reliable.

Reflecting now, if it matched her claims, why would Old Master Shang nearly kill his own son over such a cold-hearted woman?

Why would the man she'd plotted against drop to his knees, pleading with Old Master Shang for her location after learning the truth?

If it were genuine, who could possibly pardon her?

Miss Shang must be taking the full blame herself.

At the counter, he asked staff to look up Shang Qiqi’s flight.

The info showed a destination utterly unlike his own country.

She was set on escaping.

Once there, would she board another flight to somewhere else? Switch travel modes? Hide in some isolated spot? Or ultimately take her own life…

No wonder CEO Shang was in such a frenzy.

In Country B, the flight had departed ten minutes earlier.

After relaying this to Shang Qingmo, he rose and declared, “Get me the next flight.”

Eyes on Shang Qingmo’s ashen, sweat-drenched face and the blood still trickling from his arm, the assistant bit his lip and ventured,

“CEO Shang, your condition…”

“Book it now.”

His face was resolute, voice brooking no argument.

The assistant sighed inwardly and pulled up the flight details.

*

Having seen Shang Qingmo nearly thrashed to death by Old Master Shang, the crowd let out collective sighs.

In this internet era, ignoring the trending buzz was nearly impossible.

His niece had just wrapped a press conference, publicly confessing she knew it all—a scheme to seduce her uncle, vowing to ditch the Shang family and head straight to the airport.

Next came Shang Qingmo, pursued by his father all the way to the airport, ending in a near-fatal beating.

A nosy onlooker captured video and uploaded it online, sparking instant buzz.

“Looks like the Shang family adopted daughter's press conference words weren't true.”

“Ditch the 'seems like'—be bold!”

“If true, why risk death to chase and beg for her? Just to track her down and kill her?”

Soon, another clip hit the same trend: Shang Qiqi chatting with Han Jichi at the restaurant.

Timestamp showed it right before her Song Yunshu encounter.

Connecting timelines and incidents clarified much.

“Her vibe with Song Yunshu at the cafe was night-and-day different. White lotus to men, fierce to women?”

“Bet she provoked Song Yunshu on purpose there!”

“All to shield the Shang family and her uncle by owning it! They've been through enough scandals already.”

“Then this adopted daughter isn't ungrateful after all…”

*

Leaning at the second-floor airport lobby cafe railing, Ye Qingqiu propped her chin on one hand. Her pale, slim fingers drummed idly on her smooth cheek as she peered down at the two men below.

Seeing Shang Qingmo stand and sensing his intent, Ye Qingqiu glanced at his bloodied arm, then at the strikingly calm, handsome man beside him. Her brows arched faintly.

“Keep this up, and your brother’s gonna drop dead on the flight to Country B.”

Upon hearing those words, the man swiveled around, his deep eyes casually scanning the area below. Moments later, he turned back, his gaze settling on Ye Qingqiu’s delicate face. His thin lips parted slightly, and his steady voice carried a hint of warmth.

“Finished your coffee?”

Ye Qingqiu’s lips quirked subtly as she shot a look at the coffee before her and shoved it aside with clear distaste.

“I’m not drinking anymore.”

Li Tingshen gave her a cool glance. “Didn’t you insist on having coffee from the airport? You traveled all this way just for one sip?”

“Why? You think I should feel bad about your long trip? Should I just chug it all down?”

Li Tingshen caught her hand as it reached for the cup and gave it a light squeeze. His rigid tone made it clear this was meant as a reprimand.

“What kind of spell has Shen Fanxing put on you?”

Ye Qingqiu arched a brow. “I just think it’s better for you to be hounded by me than blackmailed by Shen Fanxing. Right?”

Li Tingshen’s thin lips curved faintly. “Truth is, her little scheme doesn’t bother me much. It just proves how tight you two are.”

“Sisterhood?” Ye Qingqiu pondered the word, flipping her hand in his grasp to curl her fingers around his palm gently.

“You see us as close sisters? Then you ought to back her up more from now on.”

Li Tingshen fell silent.

Was this the most pathetic stab at sowing discord ever?

Did that woman even need his assistance?

Recalling how Shen Fanxing had shoved that script she wrote at him recently, forcing him into the Shang family uncle-nephew mess and pulling Ye Qingqiu in too, his temples pounded fiercely.

This spiteful woman had leveraged her artist’s buzz to explode the Shang family scandal. He hadn’t anticipated her striking so fast or having dirt on him already.

Noticing Li Tingshen’s darkening expression, Ye Qingqiu pressed her lips together. “You seem really torn. If she didn’t ‘threaten’ you, would you seriously sit this out?”

“And if I said I would?”

Ye Qingqiu laughed softly. “What if I told you I don’t buy it?”

Li Tingshen grinned openly. “I’d be thrilled.”

She got him and trusted him. How could that not make him happy?

“And then?”

“Yes. He won’t kick the bucket on the flight to Country B, but he could drop dead in a Ping Cheng hospital.”

Ye Qingqiu went quiet.

*

The next flight to Country B was completely booked. No matter how much Shang Qingmo dangled, none of the passengers would yield their seats.

Over an hour later, Shang Qingmo’s complexion shifted from ashen to flushed. It was obvious his condition was deteriorating rapidly.

Finally, the assistant mustered the nerve to feel his forehead, and his heart jolted.

“CEO Shang, you’re burning up!”

“Forget me. Keep watch at the counter and have them keep asking. I need that ticket no matter what…”

Shang Qingmo brushed the hand off feebly, lacking real strength. His voice grew hoarse, lips cracked and colorless with visible lines.

As boarding time loomed with no cancellations, Shang Qingmo pushed past his assistant’s protests and stepped up himself.

Still, no one budged, despite the outrageous offers.

The assistant reassured Shang Qingmo that Country B contacts were tracking Shang Qiqi. They’d intercept her the moment she touched down.

Only then did Shang Qingmo relax a bit.

Night had fallen deep by the time they exited the terminal.

Before reaching the car, Shang Qingmo’s towering frame crumpled suddenly.

The assistant panicked. “CEO Shang!”

*

The day had been a whirlwind of chaos. Before Shang Qingmo even cleared the terminal for the ER, Song Yunshu had tipped off the press.

Sparked by the restaurant video of Shang Qiqi and Han Jiji, she’d dug into something else.

Maybe just seeking her own truth. Or a justification.

Once she had it, she mocked herself inwardly but felt a weight lift.

Positioned where Shang Qiqi had stood that afternoon, facing the very same reporters, she declared—

“Everyone knows my marriage to Shang Qingmo was purely business. There were no real feelings involved. To dodge a doomed romance, he steered clear of someone off-limits. Our ideas aligned, so we sealed the deal.

But we never saw that our agreement stemmed from arrogant certainty we’d chosen wisely.

Once, he assured me that if I regretted our deal halfway through or met someone I truly loved, I could pull out whenever I wanted. He even handed me the power to cancel the engagement myself. His indulgence toward me made me think he was a solid guy from our very first meeting. Regrettably, all these years later, I still hadn't discovered that true love, while he had given in to me.

Indeed, I realized early on that his true affection was for his little niece. For a man as remarkable as him across the board, tying the knot wasn't a must. Thus, from the moment he unexpectedly approached me about marriage, I understood his fear—so intense that he'd risk everything to evade someone. He simply never knew I'd decided to play ignorant.

I refused to wed a man who held no love for me. Knowing he cherished another and exactly who that was, he'd only turned to me after her. If not him today, it could be me tomorrow or sometime next year. It was just inevitable.

That's exactly why no third party lurked in our marriage.

Concerning my cafe encounter with Miss Shang, her sharp words and bold moves stole the spotlight. I'm certain anyone's initial response to the video would be outrage and attacks on her. Right and wrong would look crystal clear. But suppose I revealed...

Song Yunshu paused, eyeing the reporters gazing at her with eager anticipation. She masked the ache in her heart over Shang Qiqi's choice. Drawing a steady breath, she pressed on,

“What if I claim that Miss Shang herself fabricated the cafe video of me and her?”

The reporters failed to process it immediately. They swapped puzzled looks among themselves.

Song Yunshu pressed her lips together and pulled out the document she held. She stated, “These are the chat logs between Miss Shang and the video's poster. It spells out the exact afternoon time when Shang Qiqi and Song Yunshu met at the cafe. Everything's laid out plain. I pulled these straight from the poster's records. Tracking down Miss Shang's contact info was a breeze.”

“As for her motives, I trust you all have your theories. I won't dwell. What matters now is that I spoke out today because I refuse to play the discarded one in their affair. I'm exceptional. As the Song family's eldest daughter and a top doctor at Ping Cheng City's premier private hospital, I got into this out of youthful arrogance back then. I simply haven't found the person I t