My Daughter

"Get her out of here," Shen Mao said impatiently.

"Yes, sir."

The driver stepped out of the car.

He was about to speak when he suddenly noticed the woman covered in blood.

What... what is this?

The driver frowned.

The maid who had initially screamed about a ghost had now come out of the villa with three others in tow.

"She's right at the entrance, covered in blood," the maid said.

At first, the maid had thought she was a ghost, but then she reconsidered—ghosts didn’t exist in this world.

She wanted to investigate but was too afraid to go alone, so she had brought backup.

"That’s her."

The maid pointed at Shen Qianqian as she approached.

"The master is back!" someone shouted loudly.

"Hurry, let’s deal with her quickly. We can’t let her get in the way of the master’s return."

The group moved to drag Shen Qianqian away, but she suddenly mustered unexpected strength and shoved them off.

"Get away from me! How dare you filthy lowlifes lay a hand on me?"

A shrill, grating voice pierced the air.

"What the hell is that? It’s unbearable."

"How can anyone sound like that?"

The car door was open, and Shen Qianqian’s unpleasant voice reached Shen Mao’s ears.

He frowned, about to look away, when Shen Qianqian suddenly raised her hand and pointed at the maids.

"Listen here! If any of you lowborn scum dare touch me, I’ll make sure my father ruins you!"

Shen Mao’s eyes locked onto the bracelet on Shen Qianqian’s right wrist.

Wasn’t that the gift he had given Qianqian for her eighteenth birthday?

How did this woman have it?

Her arrogant, domineering attitude was identical to Qianqian’s.

Which meant… she really was Qianqian.

Realizing this, Shen Mao frantically flung the car door open and rushed toward Shen Qianqian.

The maids were still trying to drag her away.

"Stop right there!" Shen Mao roared.

He reached Shen Qianqian, trembling as he brushed the hair from her face—and there was no mistaking it.

It was Qianqian.

"Qianqian, my daughter… What happened to you? Who did this?" His voice shook with anguish, his face twisted in pain.

Shen Qianqian stared blankly.

She clutched his hand. "Is it really you… Dad?"

"Yes, it’s me, Qianqian," Shen Mao said.

"Dad, I want to marry Lin Xuan. Please, make it happen for me," Shen Qianqian begged.

"Qianqian, forget that for now. Let’s get you to the hospital first."

Shen Mao carried her into the car, and she soon passed out.

"What happened to the young miss?" The maids whispered among themselves.

"Karma, I suppose."

"Right. She never treated us like humans anyway."

Their eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

Seeing Shen Qianqian suffer like this was nothing short of delightful.

Whoever tortured her had done an excellent job.

She didn’t wake until the next day.

"Qianqian, tell me who did this to you. I’ll make them pay," Shen Mao demanded, his voice thick with fury.

His daughter—her fingernails and toenails gone, her face carved with words, her hands burned, her entire body covered in wounds.

Whoever was responsible would suffer tenfold, a hundredfold. He’d make sure of it.

But Shen Qianqian didn’t answer. Instead, she repeated, "Dad, I want Lin Xuan. I want to marry him, have his children. But he has a girlfriend… He doesn’t like me. Help me get him, please?"

The same plea as the night before.

"Qianqian, Lin Xuan can wait," Shen Mao said gently, stroking her hair. "Right now, we need to find who hurt you."

"Dad, I’m begging you—I need to marry Lin Xuan." She gripped his hand desperately.

Finally, Shen Mao noticed something was wrong.

From last night until now, she had spoken of nothing but Lin Xuan.

He studied her eyes, frowning. There was something off about her gaze. Could it be…?

To test his suspicion, he asked her several questions. No matter what he asked, her answers always circled back to Lin Xuan—marrying him, being with him, begging Shen Mao to help.

Qianqian’s mind was broken.

Shen Mao didn’t suspect Lin Xuan was the one who had tortured her. Lin Xuan didn’t have the means, nor did he have any reason to risk provoking the Shen family’s wrath by harming Qianqian so brutally.

He hurriedly called for the doctor. "Doctor, examine my daughter immediately. Check her mental state."

"Of course."

The doctor rushed in and began assessing Shen Qianqian’s condition.

After running tests, the doctor’s expression darkened. "Your daughter’s condition is severe. The inhumane treatment she endured has caused a mental breakdown."

"It will take a long time for her to recover, if she ever does."

He shook his head.

Whoever she had crossed must have been ruthless.

Shen Mao staggered back, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.

Who would do this?

Who dared to hurt his daughter like this?

"Doctor, what can I do to help her recover faster?" Shen Mao pressed.

Just then, the doctor heard Shen Qianqian mutter Lin Xuan’s name again.

"Who is Lin Xuan to her?" the doctor asked.

"The man she’s infatuated with. She’s been obsessing over him since last night, begging me to arrange their marriage," Shen Mao explained.

The doctor nodded. "Mr. Shen, this seems to be her fixation. Fulfilling her wish might aid her recovery."

"I have other patients to attend to. If you need anything else, don’t hesitate to contact me."

With that, the doctor left.

Shen Mao stood by the bed, staring at his daughter’s vacant expression.

His fists tightened.

Before his wife died, she had made him promise to protect their only daughter.

And he had failed.

He would fix this. He would heal Qianqian, no matter the cost.

Pulling out his phone, he dialed his secretary.

"Find me Lin Xuan’s contact information," he ordered coldly.

"Yes, Chairman," the secretary replied.

Shen Mao waited, tending to Qianqian while keeping an eye on his phone.

An hour later, he called again.

"Why hasn’t this been done yet?"

"Chairman, those who know his number refuse to disclose it. We’ve hit a dead end with other methods," the secretary admitted.

"Then contact Lei Hui from Tianmu Group. Give him my number and tell Lin Xuan to call me—or I’ll make Tianmu Group regret it."

His voice was steel.

Soon, Lei Hui received a call from Shen Corporation, his brow furrowing tightly. Although Tianmu Group wasn’t afraid of Shen Corporation’s retaliation, he thought it best to inform his boss about the matter.

Lei Hui contacted Lin Xuan and relayed the situation to him.

"Boss, should you reach out to him?" Lei Hui asked respectfully.

"Why wouldn’t I?" Lin Xuan replied coldly.

He was curious to find out what Shen Mao wanted from him.

"Boss, Shen Mao gave me his phone number. I’ll send it to you," Lei Hui said.

"Fine," Lin Xuan nodded.

After receiving the number from Lei Hui, Lin Xuan dialed Shen Mao.

"Mr. Shen, you were in such a hurry to contact me. What’s the matter?" Lin Xuan asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Lin Xuan," Shen Mao’s tone was amicable, "There’s something I’d like to discuss with you in person."

"Sure," Lin Xuan agreed.

He and Shen Mao had no prior dealings, so it was likely that Shen Mao wanted to talk about Shen Qianqian.

It was about time they had a proper conversation.

Shen Mao: "Let’s meet at Jingsheng Hotel at 3 PM."

"Alright."

Lin Xuan hung up.

Shen Mao frowned. Lin Xuan’s eagerness to meet suggested he might be trying to curry favor with the Shen family. It seemed that with the right incentives, he could be persuaded to stay by Qianqian’s side.

What Shen Mao needed was a man who genuinely cared for Qianqian.

Lin Xuan could never truly love her, but for now, there was no other choice.

Shen Mao returned to the hospital room.

"Brother Lin Xuan, I want Brother Lin Xuan," Shen Qianqian muttered obsessively, her every word revolving around him.

As soon as Shen Mao sat by her bedside, Qianqian grabbed his arm, her voice frantic. "Dad, what’s the update? Did you bring Brother Lin Xuan to me?"

"Qianqian," Shen Mao stroked her hair and smiled gently. "Don’t worry, I’ve made arrangements. Lin Xuan will marry you soon."

"Thank you, Dad. You’re the best."

A faint light finally returned to Shen Qianqian’s dull eyes.

"Qianqian, I will make sure you recover. And I will find out who did this to you—they will pay dearly."

Shen Mao’s gaze darkened.

Before meeting Shen Mao, Lin Xuan stopped by his company.

"Boss."

Lei Hui greeted him with a grin.

Lin Xuan glanced at him, frowning. There was something about Lei Hui’s expression that felt suspiciously mischievous.

"Boss, I’ve been waiting for you like a man waiting for the stars and moon," Lei Hui said cheerfully.

Lin Xuan rubbed his temples. "Out with it. What’s the matter?"

Lei Hui rubbed his hands together. "Well, boss, last time, Su Corporation’s personal secretary, Secretary Jiang, came to our company."

Lin Xuan froze.

"When?"

Lei Hui: "That time when you tied up those two bodyguards."

Lin Xuan’s frown deepened.

That day, wasn’t Su Hua supposed to be having a meal? She didn’t even know about his visit to the Black Tiger Gang.

Why would Jiang Qing come to the company looking for those bodyguards?

"Did she see me tying them up?" Lin Xuan pressed.

"No, I untied them beforehand," Lei Hui answered.

"Did she ask anything?" Lin Xuan questioned further.

Lei Hui suddenly smacked his forehead.

Damn!

He’d been so focused on uncovering the truth about Lin Xuan and Su Hua’s relationship that he’d forgotten—Jiang Qing had specifically told him not to let Lin Xuan know she’d visited Tianmu Group.