Chapter 58: She Was Kicked in the Head by a Donkey

Chapter 58: Chapter 58: She Was Kicked in the Head by a Donkey

Her tears weren’t a sign of weakness. She was like a little wolf cub, always baring its fangs in defense, that had finally caught its father’s scent and could at last let down its guard.

Shen Zhenwu actually knew everything.

He knew that after she had just returned from the countryside, her adoptive parents had worked her like an animal for over a decade—hauling water, chopping firewood, feeding pigs, sweeping the yard. She got less than four hours of sleep a day.

He knew she had taken three brutal beatings in Nanhui City while protecting the old subordinates he had left behind.

He knew she had only been back in the capital for half a month, her health just starting to improve, when she was immediately slandered and cornered at her own door.

He had also secretly taken action long ago, locking up some and dismissing others.

That was why he hadn’t brought up all those awful things the moment they met today, afraid he would seem like he only cared about his own pride and not whether his daughter lived or died.

But now, looking at Song Yao’s trembling shoulders and hearing her choked words, Shen Zhenwu felt a sting in his nose and his eyes began to burn.

"From now on, if anyone dares to spit on you, they’re spitting in my face! I, Shen Zhenwu, will personally go to their door and make their entire family kneel and lick it clean!"

Song Yao tugged at the corners of her mouth, forcing a smile that was uglier than crying.

"Dad, you can deal with the outsiders however you want, but this mess at home... it’s not so easy to sort out."

Shen Zhenwu’s heart sank, his voice a little hoarse. "Are you... talking about your mother?"

"Yes."

Song Yao’s tone was light, almost airy.

"That day at the hospital, she stood right in front of me and told me, word for word, that even if it was proven one day that I was her biological daughter, she would still only acknowledge Shen Shuangshuang. Her daughter, she said, would only ever be Shen Shuangshuang."

Shen Zhenwu froze on the spot. His lips moved, then pressed shut. After a long moment, he finally burst out, "Did a donkey kick her in the head?!"

Song Yao subconsciously pressed a hand to her chest, where a dull ache had started.

"If she didn’t want me at all, why did she give birth to me in the first place? Shen Shuangshuang’s biological parents beat and cursed me for more than ten years, while Yao Yuzhen doted on Shen Shuangshuang like a precious treasure for just as long. Shen Shuangshuang’s life has been a hundred times smoother than mine. What’s in it for her?"

She finished as if muttering to herself, just as the car pulled up to the entrance of the Household Registration Services Hall.

Xiao Li gently tapped on the window behind the driver’s seat. "Mr. Shen, we’re here."

Shen Zhenwu let out a long breath, forcibly suppressing his churning emotions, then raised a hand and wiped his face.

"Daughter, don’t think about that for now. Let’s get your household registration sorted first. With time, your mother’s anger will fade, and she’ll slowly come to her senses."

Song Yao lowered her eyes and didn’t reply.

But inside, her heart turned cold.

’It was a waste of effort. I didn’t even begin to shake Shen Zhenwu’s feelings for Yao Yuzhen.’

’Then again, how could a few words from a new face like me, someone he’s just met, possibly sway him against the woman who has shared his bed for over twenty years?’

She quickly buried her emotions and just nodded. "Okay, I’ll listen to you, Dad."

A smile immediately blossomed on Shen Zhenwu’s face. He took her hand and strode into the office building.

Inside, someone was already waiting for them. As soon as they entered, the person immediately came forward to lead the way.

The staff member nodded slightly, made a welcoming gesture, and turned to lead them to an office.

They had already communicated by phone, so all the materials were prepared. All that was left was to sign and stamp the documents.

"Congratulations, Mr. Shen! You’ve been searching for your daughter for almost twenty years, and today you’re finally reunited! It’s truly a blessing from heaven!"

The young clerk was quite the smooth talker. His words made Shen Zhenwu beam, and even Song Yao’s lips curled up slightly.

She nodded politely. "Thank you for your trouble."

The clerk deftly pushed a stack of forms toward them. "All the procedures are complete. If you two can confirm everything is in order and sign here, your precious daughter will be officially added to your household register!"

Shen Zhenwu chuckled and took out a pen, just about to sign.

"BANG!"

With a loud noise, the door was violently thrown open.

Wu Yufeng rushed in, his face ashen. Behind him, two security guards were panting heavily, having failed to stop him.

His hair was slightly messy, his tie crooked.

"Mr. Shen! Something terrible has happened to your wife! She’s lying at home, unable to move! You have to go back and see her, quickly!"

His voice was tight and his breathing unsteady. He didn’t dare take another step forward.

"What?!"

Shen Zhenwu shot to his feet, knocking his chair over in the process.

His mind went blank, and he turned to rush out.

But Song Yao remained standing, her tone calm. "Dad, why don’t you call first to get a clear picture? If it’s really that urgent, tell them to take her directly to the hospital. It would be faster for us to meet them there."

Shen Zhenwu froze for a second, then immediately turned back to ask the clerk, "Where’s the phone here?"

He let go of the doorknob, his gaze sweeping over the desk before finally landing on the clerk’s face.

The man didn’t dare to delay and immediately led the way.

He walked around the chair and strode quickly toward a small cubicle on the right side of the office.

Inside, a black landline phone sat on a desk.

Wu Yufeng stared at Song Yao, his eyes dark and icy.

As soon as the call connected, Shen Zhenwu’s tone had already regained its composure. "Tell me, what exactly happened to your mother?"

The moment Shen Shuangshuang heard his voice, she started wailing before a single word could come out.

"Dad, you have to come back! Something’s happened to Mom! Her arm is covered in blood, it’s dripping everywhere... *sob sob*..."

Shen Zhenwu cut her off. "Don’t just stand there! Get her to the hospital, now!"

"What about you? Aren’t you coming right away?"

Shen Shuangshuang’s voice suddenly grew tense, her fingers gripping the phone tightly. "Mom is in this state, and you’re still out wandering around? This isn’t the time for anything else!"

Shen Zhenwu glanced down at his watch. "You focus on getting her help first. I’ll drive over. I can be there in twenty minutes."

"Twenty minutes?!" Shen Shuangshuang blurted out.

Before her voice had even faded, it was replaced on the receiver by Yao Yuzhen’s, faint and hoarse.

"Shen Zhenwu, listen closely. If you dare to write Song Yao’s name into the Shen Family’s household register, I will stay in this bed and not get up. If you don’t come back, I’m not going to the hospital."

Shen Zhenwu erupted in fury. "Yu Zhen! Has your fever cooked your brain? Are you treating your life like a game?! If you just lie there and don’t move, how can a doctor even examine you?"

"I’m serious."

CLICK. The line went dead.

Shen Zhenwu gripped the phone, his face set like a sheet of iron.

The few people in the office all shrank in their chairs, not even daring to lift their heads.

Song Yao was standing by the door and had heard everything.

She sighed inwardly.

’So that’s what this was all about! Critically injured? Not a chance. Yao Yuzhen must have heard he was taking me to get my registration done and immediately cut herself just to scare him.’

She looked at Shen Zhenwu’s back, frozen in place, and spoke softly. "I should have known. Under this roof, it’s either them or me. There was never a way for us both to exist here."

Her voice was low, tinged with a chill and an unconcealable exhaustion.

It wasn’t an act; she was truly, utterly exhausted.

Shen Zhenwu suddenly spun around, his eyes shining. "Let’s go. We’re not stopping the process! I just checked the documents; there are no issues!"

Song Yao started, looking up in disbelief.

"You... you’re really not afraid she’ll..."

"Afraid?"

Shen Zhenwu gave a bitter smile, but his voice was hard as stone. "She’s not a three-year-old child. She made her choice, and she can bear the consequences! If she thinks her own life is only worth as much as protecting the household registration of Song Shunqiang and Liu Yumin’s daughter, then I can’t stop her."

The meaning was clear: if you want to cause a scene, be my guest.

But his wife and his daughter weighed equally in his heart; neither could be sacrificed.

He would give his life for his daughter, and he would take a knife for his wife.

But he would absolutely not allow anyone to use threats to force him to extinguish his daughter’s last glimmer of hope.