PCWMF Chapter 112

Tang Dou had studied abroad. His understanding of the Shen family was limited to what he’d found online when job hunting. The first search result was about Shen Minyan’s various achievements, followed by news of his divorce from Chu Ying three years ago. After their divorce, the media had speculated wildly, writing articles about ‘marital property division’ and ‘internal discord within the Shen family.’
During his time working for the Shen family, Tang Dou had come to understand that those news stories were complete fabrications designed to attract attention. At least from his outsider perspective, Chu Ying and Shen Minyan’s relationship wasn’t as strained as the rumors suggested. The relationship between the two young masters didn’t need to be mentioned; although the second young master was a bit mischievous, he was mostly obedient. Not long after the preview was released, netizens who were always online managed to dig up Shen Minyan’s background.

[I actually found news articles from over twenty years ago. Shen Minyan really was an orphan. When Shen Tailun adopted him, he booked the two biggest restaurants in Beicheng and held a two-day banquet.]
Netizens posted photos from back then. The twenty-something Shen Minyan was full of youthful vigor, wearing a charcoal grey suit, exuding an air of refinement. To show how seriously he took the adoption, Shen Tailun invited all of Beicheng’s journalists, media, and TV stations to the ceremony. The young Shen Minyan had deep, handsome features, his face bearing a faint smile. He remained calm and composed even when interviewed by dozens of media outlets, showing none of the awkwardness of a fresh twenty-something graduate.
Twenty years was a very long time. Those years had changed Shen Minyan greatly. His face was still handsome, but wrinkles had slowly appeared at the corners of his eyes. The brash arrogance of youth had faded, replaced by maturity, stability, and quiet confidence. The reason Shen Minyan had such immense influence could be traced back to how he built his career.

Shen Minyan had studied civil engineering in university. During his internship, he worked on construction sites, mingling with migrant workers among steel and concrete. Life was hard, but he never once slacked off. This continued even after graduation. Some advised him to switch fields, but Shen Minyan just kept his head down, studying dry technical books and researching complex architectural blueprints.

Opportunity always favors the prepared. Three years later, Shen Minyan received a chance that would change his life. The small company he worked for took on a large commercial construction project, and Shen Minyan became one of the project leads. They encountered numerous difficulties during construction: complex geological conditions and weather that delayed progress. He led the team through every challenge.

After the project was successfully completed, it won multiple architectural awards. The name Shen Minyan began to circulate widely in the industry. Shen Minyan never knew where he came from. According to the elderly caretaker at the orphanage, he had been abandoned by his birth parents at the orphanage’s doorstep. Abandoning children was common in those days. Shen Minyan was like a grain of dust, cast aside and forgotten.

In his memory, having enough to eat was an unattainable dream. The pain of hunger was deeply etched into his bones. While other children his age were being coddled by their parents, he was worrying about his survival. He might have food today, but tomorrow was uncertain. Fortunately, Shen Minyan had always been an excellent student. People had come to the orphanage, hoping to adopt him.

A smart, healthy, handsome boy should have been highly sought after. But every time, after being taken home by prospective parents for a ‘trial period,’ he was returned within days. The adoptive parents would look at him with regret. The reason was always the same: Shen Minyan was too cold, even withdrawn. They were afraid they could never really bond with him.

During his formative years, poverty was a constant companion, like an impenetrable net, trapping him in endless darkness. Those days of going hungry and having inadequate clothing made him feel deep-seated inferiority. This inferiority was like a demon, gnawing at him constantly. He was nineteen when he met Chu Ying. It was a very ordinary story. Chu Ying was a rich young lady, and he was just a part-time hotel server.

She wore a dress worth seven figures, chatting and laughing as she passed by him. The soft fabric of her skirt brushed against his cheap suit, bought for a few dollars from a second-hand website. He learned her name from others: Chu Ying.

Perhaps the fire in his eyes burned too brightly, for a colleague teased him. “That’s the second daughter of the Chu family. The number of influential people pursuing her could circle Beicheng several times. You…”

The colleague’s gaze was like a slimy snake, sizing him up from head to toe before letting out a contemptuous snort. Of course, Shen Minyan would never have any designs on Chu Ying. He was lowly mud. Chu Ying was the brightest jewel on the most expensive crown. The stench of poverty was something he could never erase. That construction project was an opportunity. He met Shen Tailun, a man whose face always wore the shrewd smile of a businessman.

Shen Tailun recognized Shen Minyan’s obsessive desire for wealth and admired how this orphan with no connections had taken every step with perfect precision, rising to prominence in his early twenties. Out of appreciation, Shen Tailun offered to send a team to help him with his projects, taking no share of the profits.

Shen Minyan eyed him warily. “And what do you want from me?”

Shen Tailun tapped a building book on his desk with his knuckle and said calmly, “I’ll give you two years. Go learn whatever you want to learn.”

Shen Minyan would have to be a fool to believe him. They were just business partners. The man had no reason to help him. Without any hesitation, Shen Minyan stood up to leave.

“I do have a favor to ask of you.”

Shen Tailun stood up and stated his purpose: “I have no children of my own. At my age, it’s certain I won’t have any descendants. We both share the surname Shen. I want to take you as my adopted son.”

Shen Minyan shook his head, looking at him intently. “With your status and power, you could have any kind of adopted son you want. Why me? What exactly do you see in me?”

Shen Tailun shook his head, walked over slowly, and spoke of his wife.

“My wife really likes you. After we had dinner together last time, she kept asking if you were married yet. She wants to introduce you to some wonderful young women.”

Shen Minyan was speechless. He never expected that someone like him, described by previous adoptive parents as cold and withdrawn, would be considered likable by a woman he had only met once.

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