After the child was born, Shen Qingzhou rarely left the house, staying home to accompany Lin Qiao as she recuperated from childbirth, truly embodying the ideal of a devoted and caring husband.
Lin Qiao had always believed that finding a husband as seemingly perfect as Shen Qingzhou must come at a cost—perhaps he would often be absent, or emotionally distant. But later, she realized she had watched too many TV dramas. Shen Qingzhou was nothing like she had imagined—quite the opposite, in fact.
However, their peaceful, blissful life didn’t last long. A few days after Lin Qiao finished her postpartum recovery period, an unexpected incident occurred.
After the birth of their child, Shen Qingzhou hardly went out. He stayed at home to accompany Lin Qiao during her postpartum confinement, earning himself the title of a perfect twenty-four-filial husband.
Lin Qiao had always believed that finding such an ideal husband like Shen Qingzhou must have come at a cost—perhaps he would often be away from home or emotionally distant. But later, she realized she had been watching too many dramas. Shen Qingzhou was nothing like what she had imagined; in fact, he was quite the opposite.
However, their harmonious and blissful days did not last long. Shortly after Lin Qiao finished her confinement, an unexpected incident occurred.
Some time ago, Shen Qingzhou had helped a wealthy businessman named Xu Boqin inspect a burial site. Because of this, he and Lin Qiao had even made a trip to Zhoushan. He had informed Xu Boqin about the location and price of the land, leaving it to him to decide whether to purchase it. What happened after that, Lin Qiao did not know.
Recently, numerous strangers had been calling their home. Lin Qiao had answered a few times, and they were all reporters and media personnel saying things she could not understand at all. When she asked Shen Qingzhou about it, he seemed equally clueless, suggesting it might be interview requests and that he had no time to deal with them. So, they both put the matter aside.
A few days later, while having breakfast, Lin Qiao glanced at the newspaper as usual. A large front-page photograph immediately caught her attention.
It was Shen Qingzhou.
The photo was familiar—she had seen it on the cover of a book she once bought written by him. However, this was not an interview or a positive piece; it was a negative report.
Frowning, Lin Qiao quickly scanned the article, her mind racing. She immediately stood up and hurried to the kitchen to find Shen Qingzhou.
Xie Jiayi was helping with the baby and had not yet come down for breakfast. Shen Qingzhou was washing his hands in the kitchen and had not yet come out. Lin Qiao was the first to see the newspaper, and she was glad she was—if the elders had seen it, they would have worried.
Seeing Lin Qiao rush into the kitchen in a panic, Shen Qingzhou turned and asked, “What’s wrong? Has the sky fallen?”
Lin Qiao, pale-faced, replied, “Pretty much.” She then shoved the newspaper into his hands.
Shen Qingzhou leaned against the kitchen counter and read the article slowly, his expression unchanged. Even after finishing, he showed no extra emotion, as if he had expected this all along.
“So, this is what those callers were asking about the other day,” he said calmly, his tone indifferent. “I didn’t answer any of those calls. They must have been disappointed not to get a response from me.”
Lin Qiao rubbed her temples and said, “Is that all? Didn’t you see how severely they slandered you? How could they say such things? This is outright defamation! They’re accusing you of fraud, claiming you deceive people with superstitions. What grudge does Xu Boqin have against you? How did things come to this?”
Lin Qiao was anxious, but Shen Qingzhou remained completely unperturbed. He said leisurely, “There’s no need to worry. I, too, am curious why he would spread false information to the media. Since we returned from Zhoushan, I haven’t been in contact with him. I thought he had purchased the land.”
Lin Qiao was taken aback, then ventured a guess, “Do you think he never actually intended to buy a burial site and was just setting you up?”
Shen Qingzhou glanced outside the kitchen and lowered his voice. “If that’s the case, he paid a high price—I’ve already received the full payment. Mom is coming down; keep your voice down so she doesn’t hear.”
Lin Qiao immediately covered her mouth and nodded, whispering, “What do we do now? You can’t hide this—it’s already in the newspaper. Given your reputation, it’s only a matter of time before it reaches television. I’m worried you might get dragged into a lawsuit.”
Shen Qingzhou leaned closer to her ear and said gently, “What is there to fear? If it comes to a lawsuit, it’s defamation. A clear conscience fears no accusation.”
Lin Qiao sighed, trying to ignore the ticklish sensation of his breath near her ear. “But haven’t you seen the direction of public opinion? The newspaper even cited the recent arrest of a Hong Kong feng shui master as an example. The situation is clearly not in your favor.”
Shen Qingzhou patted her shoulder and said, “Don’t worry. Let’s eat first, and we’ll discuss it after breakfast.”
Watching him casually turn and walk away, seemingly completely unbothered by the situation, his calm demeanor eased her anxiety slightly. She took a moment to compose herself in the kitchen before following him out to have breakfast with Xie Jiayi.
“The baby is asleep,” Xie Jiayi said as she placed the stroller near the dining table, lowering her voice. “Why haven’t you two eaten yet?”
Shen Qingzhou replied, “It’s fine. We were just waiting for you.”
Lin Qiao sat down, served porridge to Xie Jiayi and Shen Qingzhou, and then began eating her own meal without saying a word.
Xie Jiayi noticed her troubled expression and wanted to ask what was wrong. But seeing that Shen Qingzhou occasionally served her food and she did not refuse, she assumed it was not a marital dispute but likely work-related. If it was work-related, it was not her place to interfere, so she remained silent.
After breakfast, Lin Qiao picked up their still-sleeping daughter and headed upstairs. Before leaving, she said to Xie Jiayi, “Mom, you’ve been busy all morning. Go rest for a while; I’ll take care of the baby.”
Xie Jiayi did not refuse and nodded. “Alright, I’ll take a nap. You should lie down too since there’s nothing else to do.”
Lin Qiao nodded slightly. “I’ll take the baby to the bedroom then.”
“Go ahead.”
After bidding Xie Jiayi goodbye, Lin Qiao signaled Shen Qingzhou with a glance. He obediently followed her upstairs. Before they reached the bedroom door, his phone rang. He took it out, glanced at the screen, and said to Lin Qiao, who looked both nervous and curious, “It’s Du Xinling.”
“It must be about the report,” Lin Qiao said, frowning.
Shen Qingzhou pushed the door open quietly and said, “Take the baby inside first. I’ll answer the call. Let’s not wake her.”
Though Lin Qiao wanted to hear their conversation, she could not leave the baby alone. She had no choice but to do as he said.
After placing the baby in the crib, Lin Qiao sat nearby, lost in thought as she tried to piece together the sequence of events.
It had been about ten days since strangers started calling their home. The few times she had answered, it was always different news outlets. It seemed the media had already caught wind of the story back then.
They had waited until now to break the news, likely because they lacked sufficient evidence and did not dare make rash assumptions. Even now, the published article was largely speculative, relying heavily on Xu Boqin’s one-sided account without any response from Shen Qingzhou. Aside from the newspaper deliberately steering public opinion against him, the situation was not entirely dire.
That said, this was far from a minor issue. Once the report was published, the authorities were bound to take notice. Lin Qiao’s earlier concerns about a potential lawsuit were not unfounded. Even if Shen Qingzhou did not sue Xu Boqin or the media, he would still be subjected to a thorough investigation.
Feeling a headache coming on, she rested her head on the edge of the crib. Shortly after, she heard the door close. She immediately looked up and saw Shen Qingzhou walking toward her after shutting the door.
“What did he say?” Lin Qiao asked in a hushed voice.
Shen Qingzhou replied, “Du Xinling has been busy handling Xiao Ning’s discharge and transfer procedures, shuttling between Qiancheng and Beijing. He hasn’t turned on his work phone, so he missed all those media calls.”
“And then?”
“Nothing else. That’s all there is to it for now.”
Shen Qingzhou spoke casually and sat on the edge of the bed, not too far from Lin Qiao.
Lin Qiao pressed her lips together and sighed, supporting her head with her hands as she closed her eyes worriedly.
Shen Qingzhou picked up a book from the table and, while flipping through it, said to Lin Qiao, “There’s no need to worry. Everything happens for a reason. We’ll handle things as they come and go with the flow.”
Lin Qiao opened her eyes and looked at him. “How can I not worry? I’m concerned about you.”
Shen Qingzhou closed the book, stood up, and sat beside her. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and said calmly, “Really, there’s no need to worry. I know what I’m doing. Du Xinling is already contacting a lawyer. I will sue both the newspaper and Xu Boqin.”
For now, that was the only solution—only the law could clear his name. However, given the sensitive nature of his profession, winning the lawsuit would be challenging, especially since the Communist Party adhered to atheism.
“This isn’t going to be easy,” Lin Qiao said, frowning. “You’ve been in this field for so long and have a solid reputation. Yet, something went wrong with Xu Boqin. He’s adamantly accusing you of colluding with real estate developers to commit fraud through feng shui practices. This feels premeditated.”
As she spoke, a few suspicious figures crossed her mind. She looked at Shen Qingzhou in shock and blurted out, “Could it be Fang Zheng’s father seeking revenge by using Xu Boqin to frame you?” After a pause, she corrected herself, “But that doesn’t make sense. When Xu Boqin approached you, you and Fang Zheng hadn’t fallen out yet…”
Shen Qingzhou smiled slightly at Lin Qiao’s sudden burst of insight and said nonchalantly, “Although Fang Zheng wasn’t in prison at the time, his family had already moved into the new house I selected and arranged for them.”
Lin Qiao suddenly understood. “So, Fang Mingjun started plotting back then?”
Shen Qingzhou clasped his hands behind his head and leaned against the headboard, relaxed. “His current status is largely due to his foresight, preparation, and…”
“Stop,” Lin Qiao glared at him. “He’s harming you, and you’re praising him.”
Shen Qingzhou said, “It’s the truth. I never deny my opponents’ capabilities—doing so would make me seem insecure. You can judge a person’s caliber by looking at their rivals.”
“Right, you have high standards, and your opponents are strong,” Lin Qiao said, utterly defeated. “So, what are you going to do now? Fight him in an atheist court?”
Shen Qingzhou averted his gaze, lost in thought. “I need to think carefully about this. Fang Mingjun isn’t the only one behind this. I need to sort through recent events.”
Knowing he needed peace and quiet to think, Lin Qiao obediently picked up their daughter and left the bedroom for the nursery, leaving him alone.
Shen Qingzhou lay on his back on the bed, legs crossed and arms folded behind his head. His dark eyes stared fixedly at the ceiling, his face expressionless. Yet, beneath his calm exterior, the hands tucked under his head were clenched into tight fists.
Recently, many strangers had started calling Shen Qingzhou’s home. Lin Qiao had answered a few of these calls, all from reporters and media outlets, speaking of things she couldn’t understand at all. When she asked Shen Qingzhou what was going on, he seemed equally clueless, merely suggesting they might be requests for interviews. He was too busy to deal with it, so the two didn’t dwell on it further.
A few days later, while having breakfast, Lin Qiao, as usual, glanced at the newspaper. A large photo on the front page caught her attention.
It was Shen Qingzhou.
The photo wasn’t unfamiliar—she had bought one of his books before, and this was the cover image. But this wasn’t a feature interview or a positive story—it was a negative exposé.
Frowning, Lin Qiao quickly skimmed through the article, her mind racing, and immediately rushed to the kitchen to find Shen Qingzhou.
Xie Jiayi was upstairs taking care of the baby and hadn’t come down for breakfast yet. Shen Qingzhou was washing his hands in the kitchen and hadn’t come out. She had been the first to see the newspaper, and she was relieved she was the first—otherwise, the elders would have seen it and worried.
Seeing Lin Qiao rush into the kitchen, Shen Qingzhou turned and asked, “What’s wrong? Did the sky fall?”
Lin Qiao’s face was pale. “Almost,” she replied, handing him the newspaper.
Shen Qingzhou took the paper, leaning casually against the counter as he read. His expression remained completely unchanged. By the time he finished, there was still no trace of emotion on his face, as if he had expected this all along.
“So that’s what those calls were about,” he said indifferently. “I didn’t pick up, so they didn’t get a response from me. They must have been disappointed.”
Lin Qiao rubbed her temples anxiously. “Is that all you have to say? Don’t you see how serious the defamation is? How can they say such things? It’s practically slander—accusing you of fraud and deception. And this Xu Boqin—who knows what grudge he has against you to cause all this?”
Lin Qiao was clearly upset, but Shen Qingzhou remained unfazed. Calmly, he replied, “Don’t worry. I’m curious too why he would talk to the media like this. Since we returned from Zhoushan, I haven’t been in contact with him. I thought he had decided to use the land.”
After the birth of their child, Shen Qingzhou hardly went out. He stayed at home to accompany Lin Qiao during her postpartum confinement, earning himself the title of a perfect twenty-four filial husband.
Lin Qiao had always felt that finding such an ideal husband like Shen Qingzhou must have come at a cost—perhaps he would often be away from home or somewhat emotionally distant. But later, she realized she had watched too many dramas. Shen Qingzhou was nothing like what she had imagined; in fact, he was quite the opposite.
However, their harmonious and blissful days did not last long. Shortly after Lin Qiao finished her confinement, an unexpected incident occurred.
Some time ago, Shen Qingzhou had helped a wealthy businessman named Xu Boqin inspect a burial site. Because of this, he and Lin Qiao had even made a trip to Zhoushan. He had informed Xu Boqin about the location and price of the land, leaving it to him to decide whether to purchase it. What happened after that, Lin Qiao did not know.
Recently, many strangers had been calling their home. Lin Qiao had answered a few times, and they were all reporters or media personnel saying things she couldn’t understand at all. When she asked Shen Qingzhou about it, he seemed equally clueless, suggesting it might be interview requests and that he had no time to deal with them. So, they both put the matter aside.
A few days later, while having breakfast, Lin Qiao glanced at the newspaper as usual. A large front-page photo immediately caught her attention.
It was Shen Qingzhou.
The photo was familiar—she had seen it on the cover of a book Shen Qingzhou had published. But this was no feature article or positive coverage. It was a negative report.
Frowning, Lin Qiao’s mind raced as she skimmed through the article. She immediately stood up and hurried to the kitchen to find Shen Qingzhou.
Xie Jiayi was helping with the baby and hadn’t come down for breakfast yet. Shen Qingzhou was washing his hands in the kitchen and hadn’t emerged. Lin Qiao was the first to see the newspaper, and she was glad she was—if the elders had seen it, they would have worried.
Seeing Lin Qiao rush into the kitchen in a panic, Shen Qingzhou turned and asked, “What’s wrong? Did the sky fall?”
Lin Qiao, pale-faced, replied, “Pretty much.” She shoved the newspaper into his hands.
Shen Qingzhou took the paper and leaned against the kitchen counter, reading it slowly. His expression remained completely unchanged, as if he had anticipated all of this.
“So, this is what those callers were asking about the other day,” he said calmly, his tone indifferent. “I didn’t answer any of those calls. They must have been disappointed not to get a response from me.”
Lin Qiao rubbed her temples and said, “Is that all? Didn’t you see how severely they’re slandering you? How can they say these things? This is outright defamation! They’re accusing you of fraud, claiming you’re a charlatan deceiving people with superstitions. What grudge does this Xu Boqin have against you? How did things escalate to this?”
Lin Qiao was frantic, but Shen Qingzhou remained entirely unperturbed. He said leisurely, “There’s no need to panic. I’m also curious why he would say such things to the media. I haven’t been in contact with him since we returned from Zhoushan. I thought he had decided to use that land.”
Lin Qiao paused for a moment, then ventured a guess, “Do you think it’s possible he never actually intended to buy a burial site and was just setting you up?”
Shen Qingzhou glanced outside the kitchen and lowered his voice. “If that’s the case, he paid a high price for it—I’ve already received the full payment. Mom is coming down. Keep your voice down so she doesn’t hear.”
Lin Qiao immediately covered her mouth and nodded, whispering, “What do we do now? You can’t hide fire with paper. This has already made the newspapers. Given your reputation, it’s only a matter of time before it reaches TV. I’m worried you might get dragged into a lawsuit.”
Shen Qingzhou leaned closer to her ear and said gently, “What’s there to fear? If it comes to a lawsuit, it’s defamation. A straight foot is not afraid of a crooked shoe.”
Lin Qiao sighed, trying to ignore the ticklish sensation of his breath near her ear. “But haven’t you seen the direction of public opinion? The newspaper even cited the recent arrest of a Hong Kong feng shui master as an example. The situation is clearly not in your favor.”
Shen Qingzhou patted her shoulder and said, “Don’t worry. Let’s eat breakfast first. We can discuss it after.”
Watching him turn and walk away casually, as if completely unbothered by the situation, his calmness eased her anxiety slightly. She took a moment to collect herself in the kitchen before following him out to join Xie Jiayi for breakfast.
“The baby’s asleep,” Xie Jiayi said softly, placing the stroller near the dining table. “Why haven’t you two started eating yet?”
Shen Qingzhou replied, “It’s fine. We were waiting for you.”
Lin Qiao sat down, served porridge to Xie Jiayi and Shen Qingzhou, and then began eating her own meal without saying a word.
Xie Jiayi noticed her unusual expression and wanted to ask but held back when she saw Shen Qingzhou occasionally serving Lin Qiao food, which she accepted without complaint. It didn’t seem like a marital quarrel—probably work-related. If it was work, it wasn’t her place to interfere, so she remained silent.
After breakfast, Lin Qiao picked up their still-sleeping daughter and headed upstairs. Before leaving, she said to Xie Jiayi, “Mom, you’ve been busy all morning. Go rest for a while. I’ll take care of the baby.”
Xie Jiayi didn’t refuse and nodded. “Alright, I’ll take a nap. You should lie down too. There’s nothing else to do anyway.”
Lin Qiao nodded slightly. “Then I’ll take the baby to the bedroom.”
“Go ahead.”
After bidding farewell to Xie Jiayi, Lin Qiao shot Shen Qingzhou a meaningful glance. He obediently followed her upstairs. Before they even reached the bedroom door, his phone rang. He took it out, glanced at the screen, and said to the tense and curious Lin Qiao, “It’s Du Xinling.”
“It must be about the report,” Lin Qiao said, frowning.
Shen Qingzhou pushed the door open quietly and said, “Take the baby inside first. I’ll answer the call. Let’s not wake her.”
Lin Qiao wanted to listen in on the conversation, but with the baby in her arms, she had no choice but to do as he said.
After placing the baby in the crib, Lin Qiao sat nearby, lost in thought as she tried to piece together the sequence of events.
It had been about ten days since strangers started calling their home. The few times she had answered, it was always different news outlets. It seemed the media had already caught wind of the story back then.
They had waited until now to break the news, likely because they lacked sufficient evidence and didn’t dare make rash accusations. Hence, the delay.
Even now, with the story published, most of the report was based on speculation and inference, largely relying on Xu Boqin’s one-sided account. There was no response from Shen Qingzhou’s side. Aside from the newspaper deliberately steering public opinion against him, the situation wasn’t entirely dire.
That said, this was by no means a trivial matter. Once the report was published, the public security authorities would undoubtedly take notice. Lin Qiao’s earlier concerns about a potential lawsuit were far from unwarranted. Even if Shen Qingzhou didn’t sue Xu Boqin or the media, he would still be subjected to a thorough investigation.
Feeling a headache coming on, Lin Qiao rested her head on the edge of the crib. A moment later, she heard the door close. She immediately looked up and saw Shen Qingzhou walking toward her after shutting the door.
“What did he say?” Lin Qiao asked in a hushed voice.
Shen Qingzhou replied, “Du Xinling has been busy lately handling Xiao Ning’s discharge and transfer procedures, shuttling between Qiancheng and Beijing. His work phone has been off, so he didn’t receive any calls from the media.”
“And then?”
“Nothing else. That’s pretty much it.”
Shen Qingzhou spoke casually and sat on the edge of the bed, not too far from Lin Qiao.
Lin Qiao pressed her lips together and sighed, propping her head up with her hands and closing her eyes worriedly.
Shen Qingzhou picked up a book from the table and, while flipping through it, said to Lin Qiao, “There’s no need to worry. Everything happens for a reason. We’ll cross the bridge when we come to it. Let things take their natural course.”
Lin Qiao opened her eyes and looked at him. “How can I not worry? I’m concerned about you.”
Shen Qingzhou closed the book, stood up, walked over to her, sat down beside her, and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. Calmly, he said, “Really, there’s no need to worry. I know what I’m doing. Du Xinling is already contacting a lawyer. I’ll sue both the newspaper and Xu Boqin.”
For now, that was the only solution. Only the law could clear his name. However, given the sensitive nature of his profession, winning the lawsuit would likely be an uphill battle—especially under a communist party that advocates atheism.
“This isn’t going to be easy,” Lin Qiao said, frowning. “You’ve been in this line of work for so long, and your reputation in the industry is unquestionable. Yet, this problem arose with Xu Boqin. He’s adamantly accusing you of colluding with real estate developers and using feng shui to commit fraud. This was clearly premeditated.”
As she spoke, a few suspicious figures popped into her mind. She looked at Shen Qingzhou in astonishment and blurted out, “Could it be that Fang Zheng’s father wants revenge and instructed Xu Boqin to frame you?” After a brief pause, she corrected herself, “No, that doesn’t make sense. When Xu Boqin approached you, you and Fang Zheng hadn’t fallen out yet…”
Shen Qingzhou looked at her with a faint smile, amused by her sudden burst of insight. Casually, he said, “Back then, although Fang Zheng hadn’t been imprisoned yet, his family had already moved into the new house I selected and arranged for them.”
Lin Qiao suddenly understood. “So, Fang Mingjun started planning this back then?”
Shen Qingzhou clasped his hands behind his head and leaned back against the headboard, relaxed. “A large part of his current status is due to his foresight, preparation, and…”
“Stop,” Lin Qiao glared at him. “He’s harming you, and you’re praising him.”
Shen Qingzhou said, “It’s the truth. I never deny my opponents’ capabilities—doing so would make me seem insecure. You can judge a person’s character by looking at their adversaries.”
“Yes, your character is impeccable, and your opponents are formidable,” Lin Qiao said, utterly defeated. “So, what are you going to do now? Fight him in an atheist court?”
Shen Qingzhou averted his gaze, lost in thought. “I need to think this through carefully. Fang Mingjun isn’t the only one behind this. I need to sort out everything that’s happened recently.”
Knowing he needed peace and quiet to think, Lin Qiao obediently picked up their daughter and left the bedroom for the nursery, leaving him alone.
Shen Qingzhou lay on his back on the bed, legs crossed and arms folded behind his head. His dark eyes stared fixedly at the ceiling, his face expressionless. Yet, beneath his calm exterior, the hands tucked under his head were clenched into tight fists.
Shen Qingzhou glanced toward the kitchen door and lowered his voice. “That would be a big sacrifice on his part. I already took his money. Mom’s coming down, speak softly, don’t let her hear.”
Lin Qiao immediately covered her mouth and nodded. “What do we do now? This can’t stay hidden forever—it’s already in the paper. With your fame, it’s only a matter of time before it hits TV. I’m worried you might face legal trouble.”
Shen Qingzhou leaned closer, whispering in her ear, “Don’t worry. Even if it goes to court, this is defamation. If you’re upright, you have nothing to fear.”
Lin Qiao sighed, trying to ignore the tickling sensation his breath caused in her ear. “But have you seen how public opinion is shifting? The paper even cited a recent case in Hong Kong where a feng shui master was arrested. The situation is clearly turning against you.”
Shen Qingzhou patted her shoulder. “Don’t panic. Let’s eat first, then we’ll talk.”
Watching him walk away casually, seemingly unfazed, his calmness eased her anxiety slightly. She took a moment in the kitchen to collect herself before following him out to join Xie Jiayi for breakfast.
“The baby’s asleep,” Xie Jiayi said softly, placing the stroller beside the dining table. “Why haven’t you two started eating yet?”
“No problem,” Shen Qingzhou replied. “We were waiting for you.”
Lin Qiao sat down, poured porridge for Xie Jiayi and Shen Qingzhou, placed it in front of them, and sat down to eat her own meal without speaking.
Xie Jiayi noticed Lin Qiao’s unusual expression and wanted to ask something, but seeing Shen Qingzhou occasionally feeding her bites and Lin Qiao not refusing, she assumed it wasn’t a marital issue. Most likely, it was work-related. If that was the case, it wasn’t something she should pry into, so she said nothing.
After breakfast, Lin Qiao carried their still-sleeping daughter upstairs. Before heading up, she said to Xie Jiayi, “Mom, you’ve been busy all morning. Go rest for a bit. I’ll take care of the baby.”
Xie Jiayi didn’t refuse. “Okay, I’ll take a nap. You should lie down too. There’s nothing urgent.”
Lin Qiao nodded slightly. “I’ll take the baby to the bedroom then.”
“Go ahead.”
After parting with Xie Jiayi, Lin Qiao gave Shen Qingzhou a meaningful look. He obediently followed her upstairs. Before they reached the bedroom door, Shen Qingzhou’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen and told Lin Qiao, who was watching anxiously, “It’s Du Xinling.”
“It must be about the article,” Lin Qiao frowned.
Shen Qingzhou pushed open the door and whispered, “You go in with the baby. I’ll take the call. Don’t wake her.”
Lin Qiao wanted to hear the conversation, but with the baby in her arms, she had no choice but to comply.
Back in the bedroom, she placed the baby in the crib and sat beside it, lips pressed tightly, thinking through the events.
About ten days ago, the calls had started. The few times she had answered, they were from various news outlets. It seemed the media had known about this for a while.
They had waited so long to publish the story, probably because the evidence wasn’t strong enough. Even now, the article was mostly speculation and one-sided accounts from Xu Boqin, with no response from Shen Qingzhou. The newspaper had clearly tried to sway public opinion against him, but the real issue wasn’t too serious yet.
Still, this was no small matter. After the article was published, the police would definitely take notice. Lin Qiao’s earlier concerns weren’t unfounded. Even if Shen Qingzhou didn’t sue Xu Boqin or the media, the authorities would likely investigate him thoroughly.
Leaning her head against the crib, she soon heard the door close. She looked up—Shen Qingzhou had already entered and was walking toward her.
“How did it go?” she whispered anxiously.
“Du Xinling has been busy handling discharge and school transfer procedures for Xiaoning, shuttling between Qiancheng and Beijing. He hasn’t turned on his work phone, so he didn’t receive those calls from the media.”
“And?”
“That’s it. That’s where we stand now.”
Shen Qingzhou said it casually, sitting sideways on the bed, not far from Lin Qiao.
Lin Qiao pressed her lips together, sighing and resting her arms on her knees, eyes slightly closed in frustration.
Shen Qingzhou picked up a book from the table and said, “Don’t worry. Everything happens for a reason. We’ll deal with it as it comes. Just let things take their course.”
Lin Qiao opened her eyes and looked at him. “How can I not worry? I care about you.”
Shen Qingzhou closed the book, stood up, sat beside her, and gently put an arm around her. “Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing. Du Xinling has already contacted a lawyer. I’ll sue both the newspaper and Xu Boqin.”
At this point, legal action was the only way to clear his name. Yet, given the nature of Shen Qingzhou’s profession, the lawsuit would likely be difficult, especially in a country governed by a party that officially promotes atheism.
“This isn’t simple,” Lin Qiao frowned. “You’ve been in this field for so long and have a solid reputation. But now Xu Boqin is accusing you of colluding with real estate developers to commit fraud under the guise of feng shui. This must have been planned.”
As she spoke, a few suspicious figures came to mind. Lin Qiao looked at Shen Qingzhou in sudden realization and blurted out, “Could it be Fang Zheng’s father seeking revenge? Did he get Xu Boqin to falsely accuse you?” She paused, then corrected herself, “Wait, Xu Boqin approached you before you had a serious falling-out with Fang Zheng…”
Shen Qingzhou’s lips curled slightly as he watched Lin Qiao’s sudden burst of insight. “Back then, Fang Zheng hadn’t been imprisoned yet, but his family had already moved into the new house I helped them choose.”
Lin Qiao quickly caught on. “So Fang Mingjun started planning this back then?”
Leaning back against the headboard, Shen Qingzhou said casually, “He’s reached his current position partly because of his foresight and careful planning, and…”
“Don’t say it,” Lin Qiao glared at him. “You’re defending him even after he hurt you.”
Shen Qingzhou replied, “I’m just stating the facts. I never deny my opponents’ abilities—that would show a lack of confidence in myself. A person’s character is reflected in the strength of their adversaries.”
“Fine, you’re noble, and your enemy is formidable,” Lin Qiao sighed in resignation. “So what now? Are you going to sue him in a court of law that believes in atheism?”
Shen Qingzhou turned his gaze elsewhere, deep in thought. “I need to think. The mastermind behind this is definitely not just him. I need to piece together everything that’s happened recently.”
Knowing he needed to think, Lin Qiao obediently picked up their daughter and left for the nursery, leaving Shen Qingzhou alone in the bedroom.
Shen Qingzhou lay on the bed with his legs crossed, arms behind his head, staring blankly at the ceiling, his expression unreadable. Yet, beneath his calm exterior, the hands tucked behind his head were clenched tightly into fists.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage