"Uncle, Aunt…"
Wen Ziqian burst through the door in a crisp black suit, with Shen Zhengming's entire family trailing behind him. He was the son of Shen Zhengming's eldest daughter, Shen Yunxi. Among Shen Zhengming's three daughters, only Yunxi had married; the other two remained single.
Shen Qiwen accompanied them, shooting a mischievous glance at Song Qi Nian. Her hand instinctively clenched into a fist, while her face remained impassive.
"So this is Chi Yan's wife," Ju Honglan remarked. Shen Zhengming's wife was a study in opulent wealth—designer clothing draping her frame, jewelry glinting at her neck and wrists. Unlike Xi Ruxue's subtle elegance, Ju Honglan embodied the archetype of a wealthy socialite. "It's been three years since their marriage, and we're only now seeing her."
Song Qi Nian offered a minimal, polite nod.
"She's quite beautiful," Ju Honglan continued, her smile seemingly warm but laden with hidden intent. "But tell me, why hasn't her family come today? Isn't this the old lady's special day?"
Song Qi Nian's expression momentarily froze. Her marriage to Shen Chi Yan existed in a precarious space—far from conventional or fully accepted.
Though the old lady had insisted on the marriage, she had never fully forgiven the circumstances surrounding Liu Xiaohan's actions. Over the past three years, the topic of Song Qi Nian's family had remained conspicuously absent from any conversations.
And Song Qi Nian, acutely aware of the delicate balance, wasn't about to risk disrupting that fragile peace by raising the subject herself.
Despite Ju Honglan's friendly facade, Song Qi Nian sensed an undercurrent of deliberate provocation. Was she doing this intentionally?
The answer was unequivocal: Yes, absolutely.
As the second daughter-in-law of the Shen family, Ju Honglan had long grappled with a sense of diminished status. Her primary source of frustration? She had borne three daughters but no sons—a stark contrast to Shen Zhengcheng and Shen Zhenghao, whose sons were paragons of success and achievement.
Now, seeing that her sons had married women from ordinary backgrounds, Ju Honglan finally found an outlet for her long-simmering frustrations.
"Oh my, you're not another orphan like Zhuyin? What terrible luck our young masters have, marrying women without families?"
Song Qi Nian's anger flared. Just as she was about to respond, Shen Liubai's crisp voice cut through the tension.
"Being able to marry the woman you love is the greatest fortune. Ah Yan and I are incredibly blessed."
The underlying message was razor-sharp. Shen Liubai was calling out Ju Honglan's past—how she had essentially sold off Shen Yunxi in marriage to a man she didn't love, and had tried to do the same with her other daughters.
Ju Honglan's face drained of color. Glancing at Song Qi Nian, who remained silent, she let out a bitter, contemptuous laugh.
"Oh, really? But I heard Chi Yan doesn't even like—"
"Second daughter-in-law!"
The old lady's cold voice sliced through Ju Honglan's words like a blade.
"If you have so much free time, why not follow your elder sister-in-law's example and read or write? Or learn from your younger sister-in-law and build a career? Or perhaps focus on being a virtuous wife and helping Zhengming manage the household, instead of gossiping about the younger generation's lives?"
Shen Zhengming shot Ju Honglan a glacial look. Her face cycled through shades of red and white in quick succession.
"Mom, you're absolutely right," she quickly chirped, forcing an ingratiating smile.
Ju Honglan's performance left Shen Zhengming's family uncomfortable—all except Shen Qiwen, who seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.
Shifting gears, Ju Honglan turned her attention to Wen Ziqian. Her expression softened instantly. "Ziqian, today is your great-grandmother's 88th birthday. Go wish her a happy birthday."
"Okay."
Wen Ziqian obediently approached the old lady and knelt down. "Great-grandma, I wish you blessings as vast as the sea and a long life as enduring as the southern mountains. May you live another hundred years!"
Though he carried the Wen surname, he was the Shen family's first great-grandchild. Sweet-tempered and well-behaved, he was adored by the old lady.
"Ziqian, come to great-grandma."
"Okay, great-grandma."
The old lady gently caressed Wen Ziqian's chubby cheeks, her eyes overflowing with love. "Are you enjoying kindergarten?"
"It's fun, but..." Ziqian pouted slightly, "the other kids are too childish. I don't really enjoy playing with them."
Ju Honglan immediately turned to the old lady, her voice brimming with pride. "Mom, Ziqian is so brilliant! He can recite the Three Hundred Tang Poems and the Four Great Classical Novels like it's nothing. He can even do four-digit mental arithmetic without breaking a sweat. You can quiz him on anything!"
Shen Yunxi's son was Ju Honglan's ultimate trump card—her most significant advantage over Xi Ruxue and Gu Zhiyan. She had hoped to use Wen Ziqian to boost her standing, but the old lady quickly deflated her enthusiasm.
"Ziqian is still young," she responded flatly. "There's no need to push him so hard. Childhood should be about having fun, enjoying being a child."
Shen Liubai and Shen Chi Yan exchanged a meaningful glance. When they were young, their grandmother hadn't been nearly this indulgent.
Is this what they call doting on the younger generation?
Ju Honglan's smile grew strained. Internally, she seethed, convinced the old lady was still giving her the cold shoulder because she hadn't produced a son.
But that wasn't true. In fact, the old lady valued the women in the family even more than the men. Ju Honglan, however, was trapped by her own obsessive desire for a male heir.
"My, how time flies," the old lady remarked. "Ziqian is already six. I wonder when our family will welcome another great-grandson or great-granddaughter?"
Her gaze settled deliberately on Shen Liubai and Shen Chi Yan—her meaning crystal clear: hurry up and have children.
By now, most guests had arrived, and the banquet was about to begin. Everyone started moving downstairs.
This was Song Qi Nian's first time facing such a large gathering, and her nervousness was palpable. She instinctively reached for Shen Ke Qin's arm, hoping to stay close.
Shen Ke Qin gently brushed her hand away. "Sister-in-law, today your escort is my brother," she said, giving Song Qi Nian a little push toward Shen Chi Yan.
Wearing high heels, Song Qi Nian nearly stumbled—but Shen Chi Yan caught her, pulling her close.
He shot Shen Ke Qin a cold look. She responded with a cheeky grin. "Brother, don't forget what Grandma just said—take good care of Sister-in-law!"
Before he could reply, she darted away.
Once Song Qi Nian regained her balance, she looked up at Shen Chi Yan nervously. Before she could speak, he extended his arm.
She hesitated for a moment.
"Take my arm," he said. His tone wasn't particularly warm, but his handsome face stirred something within her.
A hint of happiness flickered in her eyes as she gently linked her arm through his. Together, they descended the stairs.
The old lady's birthday banquet had drawn an impressive crowd—prominent figures from business, politics, entertainment, and other elite circles filled the room.
Song Qi Nian and Shen Chi Yan were the last to come down. The moment they appeared, every eye in the room locked onto them.
Whispers and speculation began to swirl.
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