Thrown Away by my Family, Cherished by my Enemy

Shen Yuze's Estate. 

The sun had yet to set when the quiet of the Shen Estate was suddenly disrupted.

Inside Shen Rui's room, the child who had finally stabilized—her fever gone, her small body no longer burning up—began to stir restlessly beneath the thick blankets.

Then, she started to sweat.

Her tiny hands clenched the sheets.

Her breath came out in quick, shallow pants. And then—she whimpered.

At first, it was soft, barely noticeable. But then her body trembled, a choked sob escaping her lips.

Old Madam Shen, Wang Guilan, who had been sitting by the bedside all night, immediately noticed.

"Xiao Rui?" Her voice was gentle, but laced with worry.

The little girl didn't respond.

Instead, her shivering worsened, her face twisted in fear.

Panic gripped her chest. Without hesitation, she rushed to the sofa where Shen Yuze had fallen asleep, exhaustion finally catching up to him after a day of relentless searching.

"Yuze!" Her voice was sharp, urgent. "Wake up! Something is wrong with Rui'er!"

Shen Yuze jolted awake. His instincts immediately took over as he sprang to his feet, striding toward the bed.

His daughter was curled up tightly, her body still trembling, sweat dampening her hair.

"Rui'er?" His voice was softer now, controlled, as he placed a hand on her forehead.

It was cold—too cold.

Without another word, he called for the doctor.

Within minutes, the room was filled with hushed voices, worried whispers, and the hurried movements of medical staff checking the child.

Even Old Master Shen, Shen Zhenhua, was present.

His expression tight as he worriedly looked at his granddaughter. 

The air was thick with tension.

Then—just as suddenly as it began—Shen Rui's body jerked slightly, and her eyes snapped open.

She gasped, her vision blurry, and for a moment, she looked around frantically as though she wasn't sure where she was.

Then she saw him.

The moment her gaze locked onto her father, the small girl's face crumpled, and tears welled up in her big, expressive eyes.

"Father…" Her voice was hoarse, barely a whisper, but it was filled with something raw—fear.

Shen Yuze's entire body tensed, but he forced himself to relax, exhaling as he reached for her, stroking her hair.

"It's okay," he said lowly. "You're safe now."

But instead of calming down, Shen Rui suddenly gripped his sleeve tightly, her small fingers trembling.

Shen Yuze frowned. "What is it?"

Old Master Shen added, "You can tell us Rui'er, okay?" 

She didn't answer right away. Her lips moved, but the words were too soft to hear.

Old Madam Shen leaned in, her own expression tight with concern.

"Rui'er, what is it?" she urged gently.

Shen Rui swallowed hard, her throat dry from not speaking for nearly two days. But this time, she managed to make herself clearer.

"Where is she?"

Shen Yuze stilled.

"Who?" he asked, confusion flickering in his eyes.

"The older sister…" Shen Rui's voice wavered, and her grip on his sleeve tightened. "The one who saved me… Where is she?"

Silence.

The weight of her words hit the room like a heavy blow.

Shen Yuze felt his chest tighten.

"…What?"

"The older sister!" Shen Rui's breathing became erratic, and tears started to spill from her eyes. "She was with me the whole time! Where is she? Is she okay?"

The desperation in her voice was unlike anything Shen Yuze had ever heard from his daughter before.

Shen Rui had always been mature beyond her years.

She never cried, never made a fuss. But now—she was trembling, panicked, completely unraveling before his eyes.

Shen Yuze repeated her words slowly. "The older sister who saved you…"

Shen Rui nodded furiously, wiping at her tear-streaked face. "She held me the whole time. She didn't let go, even when—" She stopped herself, choking on her words.

Shen Yuze could feel a sharp headache forming. His mind was racing.

This can't be…

The only person who had been with Shen Rui was—

His throat tightened.

Li Xiyan.

The very woman he had locked away, accused, interrogated.

Something inside him twisted uncomfortably.

"Tell me," he said carefully. "Did she do anything to you?"

Shen Rui's eyes widened, and she shook her head violently. "No! She made sure nothing happened to me."

Shen Yuze could only stare.

Old Madam Shen placed a hand over her chest, looking stricken. "Rui'er, you're sure?"

The little girl nodded desperately, tears still streaming.

"I want to see her," she whimpered. "I want to see Sister."

Shen Yuze remained silent, processing everything.

If Li Xiyan was with her the whole time… If she had protected her…

Then…

Was he wrong?

Was everything wrong?

Before he could say anything else, Shen Rui suddenly hiccupped another sob, her tiny body shaking harder.

Shen Yuze's brows furrowed, but when he leaned closer, she whispered something that made his heart nearly stop.

"I had a dream…" her voice was barely audible. "I saw her… She was shot… again and again…"

She hiccupped. "There was so much blood… so many people chasing us…" Her small hands clutched at his shirt. "Father… it wasn't a dream, was it?"

Shen Yuze felt his grip on her tighten.

His jaw clenched.

She had barely spoken in almost two days, and now, every single word she uttered sent a sharp, piercing sensation through his chest.

It wasn't a dream.

Shen Rui had lived through it.

And if even half of what she said was true…

Shen Yuze gritted his teeth, an unfamiliar feeling creeping up his spine.

Guilt.

He had thrown Li Xiyan into that room without thinking twice.

He had accused her, threatened her, ignored her wounds as though she were nothing.

And yet—

And yet, she was the one who had been shielding his daughter all along.

He exhaled slowly.

Then, against his better judgment, he finally said the words that would change everything.

"I'll take you to see her."

Shen Rui hiccupped another sob, her eyes still brimming with tears. "Is she okay?"

Shen Yuze's grip tightened into a fist.

He wanted to say yes. Wanted to reassure her.

But for the first time in his life—

He wasn't sure.