Chapter Ninety-Five: So It Was These People Who Did It

Chen Yang was, of course, deeply displeased.

However, he was also acutely aware that this was not the time to lose his composure. He had to stay steady. He could first call Lin Qianyao and have him start investigating, and everything else would wait until Shen Donghua came out of the operating room.

With that thought, Chen Yang said to Zhang Lin, "You keep watch here. I'm going to make a call."

Zhang Lin quickly nodded. "Yes, of course, Mr. Chen. Go ahead."

Chen Yang gave Zhang Lin a light pat on the shoulder, then walked a dozen or so paces forward, stopped, and dialed Lin Qianyao's number.

The moment the call connected, Chen Yang heard Lin Qianyao ask in a low voice, "Mr. Chen, is something the matter?"

Chen Yang said calmly, "Of course something's the matter. Something's happened to Mr. Shen. Early this morning, he was attacked by a group of unknown assailants. His spleen was ruptured, and he's in surgery right now."

"Those people who attacked Mr. Shen and his wife aren't invisible—they can't have left no trace behind. So I want you to investigate. Investigate thoroughly. I need you to find out exactly who the culprits are."

On the other end of the line, upon hearing this, Lin Qianyao couldn't help but spring up from his executive chair.

He narrowed his eyes and thought for two seconds, then suppressing the anger in his chest, asked, "Then how is Mr. Shen doing right now?"

"He's in surgery. That matter is my concern. Your main task right now is to investigate—investigate thoroughly," Chen Yang said in a stern voice.

Lin Qianyao took a deep breath. "Alright, don't worry. If I don't investigate properly now, when else would I?"

"Good. I'm hanging up. The moment you have any news, call me immediately," Chen Yang reiterated.

Lin Qianyao replied again, "Understood, Mr. Chen. Rest assured, I know what to do."

"Good."

Chen Yang responded decisively, then hung up on Lin Qianyao.

After ending the call with Lin Qianyao, Chen Yang returned to Zhang Lin's side and waited with him for Shen Donghua to come out of the operating room.

While they waited, both Chen Yang and Zhang Lin were thinking that news of Mr. Shen's attack absolutely could not be spread.

At the very least, they must not let whoever was behind this scheme against Shen Donghua know either Shen Donghua's current condition or the actions Chen Yang was taking, lest they alert the snake.

So, having thought of this, Chen Yang immediately said to Zhang Lin, "Zhang Lin."

Zhang Lin promptly looked at Chen Yang and said respectfully, "Yes, Mr. Chen?"

"About Mr. Shen being attacked—you haven't told anyone other than me, have you?" Chen Yang asked.

Hearing this, Zhang Lin quickly lowered his head. "No, Mr. Chen. Up to now, you're the only person I've told."

"Good." Chen Yang suddenly looked at Zhang Lin. "From now on, don't tell anyone about this. It stops with me. Also, don't tell anyone about Mr. Shen's condition or anything about him in the hospital. Keep your mouth shut tight, understand?"

Zhang Lin could tell that Chen Yang was speaking to him with the utmost seriousness, so he answered with equal solemnity, "Understood, Mr. Chen."

Chen Yang said nothing further.

Before long, Shen Donghua was wheeled out of the operating room, still unconscious.

Chen Yang hurried over to ask the surgeon who had operated on Shen Donghua how he was doing.

The doctor told Chen Yang that Shen Donghua was out of danger, but having just undergone a major operation, he would likely need a considerable period of rest and recovery.

Chen Yang thanked the doctor, then helped the nurses escort Shen Donghua into his ward.

Chen Yang stayed by his bedside for a full hour or more before Shen Donghua finally regained consciousness. Slowly opening his eyes and seeing Chen Yang, Shen Donghua looked utterly surprised. "Mr. Chen... how... how did you come?"

"To see you, of course. With something this serious happening to you, how could I not come?" Chen Yang said earnestly.

Shen Donghua, enduring the pain from his surgical wound, said softly, "I'm fine, I'm fine."

"Don't get too worked up. Just rest and recover peacefully here in the hospital. All your medical expenses will be covered by the company. Just focus on getting better," Chen Yang reassured him.

Shen Donghua looked deeply moved. "Mr. Chen, thank you. Thank you. Truly, thank you."

Chen Yang gently patted Shen Donghua on the shoulder.

Then, suddenly recalling the attack that morning, he asked Shen Donghua curiously, "Mr. Shen, about what happened to you this morning—can you tell me the whole story?"

Shen Donghua quickly replied, "Of course, Mr. Chen. It went like this..."

And so Shen Donghua proceeded to recount the entire sequence of events from that morning, holding nothing back.

Only after hearing it did Chen Yang learn that at around eight o'clock in the morning, Shen Donghua had just come downstairs, about to head to work, when he suddenly heard someone knocking at the door.

Without thinking much of it, he went to open the door.

As soon as the door opened, seven or eight masked men rushed in—some wielding clubs, some carrying knives—and set upon Shen Donghua and his wife with a savage beating.

In a flash of quick thinking, Shen Donghua chose to play dead, but even so, the men continued beating him for more than half an hour.

Eventually, the masked men left, and Shen Donghua, still clinging to a sliver of consciousness, hastily sent a distress text message to his secretary, Zhang Lin.

That was what led to everything that followed.

After hearing Shen Donghua's account, Chen Yang was furious beyond measure.

This was clearly a premeditated act—clearly someone had long ago set their sights on Shen Donghua.

Whoever was behind it, their intentions were truly sinister.

Chen Yang thought coldly for a while, then urged Shen Donghua to rest and stopped drawing him into conversation.

After all, Shen Donghua had just undergone surgery—what he needed most now was rest.

Chen Yang then said to Zhang Lin, "You go back first. I'll keep an eye on Mr. Shen here. Remember one thing: don't go spreading word about Mr. Shen's situation to anyone."

Zhang Lin nodded at first.

Then he quickly said to Chen Yang, "Mr. Chen, why don't you go back? Let me take care of Mr. Shen here."

"Come pick me up at seven o'clock tonight. The next couple of days, we'll both have to work a little harder—we'll take turns watching over Mr. Shen," Chen Yang said.

Zhang Lin said with a look of shame, "Mr. Chen, the company can do without me, but it can't do without you. I'm not just being polite—I genuinely want to take care of Mr. Shen. He's always treated me quite well."

Chen Yang could tell that Zhang Lin was speaking from the heart.

So he stopped being courteous and said seriously, "Alright then. For the next couple of days, you'll have to bear the burden."

"Burden? No burden at all. Not at all," Zhang Lin hurriedly said.

Chen Yang could see that Zhang Lin truly wanted to stay and care for Shen Donghua, so he didn't argue further.

Chen Yang patted Zhang Lin on the shoulder, and thinking that the company couldn't be left unattended, said seriously, "Then you look after Mr. Shen. I'll head back to the office."

Zhang Lin hastily nodded. "Go ahead, Mr. Chen."

"Alright."

Chen Yang left the hospital and headed back to the company.

He stayed busy at Huading Company until half past five, nearly quitting time, all the while waiting for Lin Qianyao to call.

Sure enough, at five-thirty in the evening, Lin Qianyao's call came.

Chen Yang picked up his phone, saw it was Lin Qianyao, and immediately answered.

The moment the call connected, Chen Yang heard Lin Qianyao report in a low, grave voice, "Mr. Chen, we've made some progress."

"Speak."

Chen Yang's reply was curt and resolute.

Lin Qianyao said, "We've confirmed that the men who attacked Mr. Shen this morning were subordinates of a man named Lian Yong in the neighboring city of Xinhai."

"This Lian Yong—in his youth, he went to Wudang Mountain and studied martial arts. He honed considerable fighting skills and has a naturally belligerent, combative temperament."

"Two years ago, he opened a martial arts school in Xinhai. On the surface, it's a school, but under the table, he takes on private jobs on the side. The attack on Mr. Shen was one such private job he took on secretly."

"That's all I've uncovered so far. As for who's behind Lian Yong... I figure if we grab Lian Yong, beat him a bit, and interrogate him properly, we'll find out. Do you want me to take care of that now?"

"Grab Lian Yong? Beat him up? Wouldn't that just alert the snake?" Chen Yang analyzed.

On the other end of the line, Lin Qianyao furrowed his brow at these words. "So we don't grab Lian Yong for now? Keep investigating?"

"No. I have my own way," Chen Yang said suddenly, with gravity, leaving Lin Qianyao thoroughly puzzled.

Lin Qianyao asked curiously, "Mr. Chen, what method are you planning to use?"