Hushed whispers rippled through the crowd. "I always heard Fifth Master Shen was married, but now it's confirmed!"
"Who is she? Which prominent family did she come from?"
"Actually, she's from an ordinary background," another voice replied.
A chorus of disapproving murmurs followed. "Unbelievable. We've schemed and plotted to marry into the Shen family, and both sons end up with women from nowhere."
"Well, some might call it a Cinderella story," someone chimed in sarcastically.
"A commoner's still a commoner," another retorted. "Look at Fifth Master Shen's face—he seems completely displeased. There's no way he actually loves her."
"Have you heard? He's supposedly in love with Lin Qiu Tong, the eldest daughter of the Lin family. She might even show up today to wish the old lady happy birthday. That'll be quite the spectacle."
The murmurs continued unabated since Song Qi Nian and Shen Chi Yan descended the stairs.
Song Qi Nian had never felt such intense nervousness before. A thin sheen of sweat dampened her palms. The collective gaze of the crowd unnerved her, making her feel exposed and vulnerable. Distracted by the overwhelming attention, she nearly stumbled, but Shen Chi Yan's strong hand caught her by the waist.
The intimate gesture immediately sparked a wave of reactions. Some praised Shen Chi Yan's masculinity, while others looked at Song Qi Nian with a mixture of envy and curiosity.
"Intimidated by this little crowd?" Shen Chi Yan's voice was low, a hint of mockery dancing in his tone. He was so close that Song Qi Nian could feel the heat of his breath, her heart thundering in her chest.
It wasn't the crowd's size that overwhelmed her—it was the caliber of the guests. She recognized faces from Jinghua's news programs, award-winning actors and actresses, all elite members of society.
In that moment, Song Qi Nian truly comprehended the immense social influence of the Shen family in Jinghua City.
Across the room, Guan Ming Xu, who had arrived with his father, found his gaze locked on Song Qi Nian. He had always known she was beautiful, but today, in her Hepburn-style dress, she was absolutely breathtaking.
The black gown accentuated her porcelain skin, her neck and collarbones so elegantly defined they seemed almost sculpted. Her carefully applied makeup transformed her into something between a work of art and a living sculpture.
Shen Chi Yan's keen senses caught the intense stare directed their way. Following the gaze, he spotted Guan Ming Xu, who was looking at Song Qi Nian with undisguised desire, his eyes betraying an unspoken longing to possess her.
A slight frown crossed Shen Chi Yan's face. He deliberately pulled away from Song Qi Nian's hand, then swiftly wrapped his arm around her shoulder, drawing her close. The sudden intimacy left her momentarily stunned.
Then, with an unexpected gentleness, he smiled at her. "Be careful," he murmured.
Song Qi Nian stood frozen, her thoughts in disarray. Since when was he so tender?
Guan Ming Xu's expression darkened, witnessing Shen Chi Yan's calculated move.
The arrival of the Lin family interrupted the moment. Lin Xing'an entered with his wife, Ye Fanglin, and their two daughters. Lin Qiu Tong, now walking normally, wore a stunning white backless gown that cinched at her waist. Her chestnut hair fell in soft waves, embodying pure femininity. Beside her, Lin Lanxing looked playful and cute in a pink off-shoulder dress.
Lin Qiu Tong's entrance electrified the room. Gossip and speculation rippled through the crowd, eyes darting between her, Shen Chi Yan, and Song Qi Nian.
The first sight that greeted Lin Qiu Tong was Shen Chi Yan holding Song Qi Nian. Her hands clenched into tight fists, a storm of bitterness and resentment brewing inside her. Yet, her exterior remained composed—a portrait of heartbreak, carefully crafted for public consumption.
When Song Qi Nian noticed Lin Qiu Tong, her instinct was to search Shen Chi Yan's face. As he looked at Lin Qiu Tong, his grip on Song Qi Nian's waist loosened.
An unexpected emptiness washed over Song Qi Nian. Without thinking, she reached out and clasped his hand, her gloved fingers intertwining with his.
When Shen Chi Yan turned to her, she simply shook her head. Despite knowing his feelings for Lin Qiu Tong, she was determined not to let this occasion be ruined. Today was about Grandma's birthday, and she wouldn't allow personal drama to overshadow the celebration.
She couldn't risk causing a scene. With so many guests watching, the last thing she wanted was to turn the Shen family into a public spectacle.
Song Qi Nian found herself mute, unable to speak or even use sign language with all eyes upon her. Her only option was to communicate through desperate, pleading glances at Shen Chi Yan.
In his eyes, she looked on the verge of tears.
She wasn't alone in her anxiety. Other Shen family members feared Shen Chi Yan might abandon Song Qi Nian for Lin Qiu Tong.
The old lady remained impassive, but Shen Ke Qin was so distressed she nearly rushed forward, only to be restrained by Shen Liubai.
Lin Qiu Tong's heart soared when Shen Chi Yan momentarily let go of Song Qi Nian. She had always believed he would ultimately choose her. What did the old lady's disapproval matter? What did his marriage signify? As long as Shen Chi Yan loved her, everything else was irrelevant.
Today, she had planned to humiliate Song Qi Nian and the entire Shen family in front of everyone.
But her triumph was short-lived.
Shen Chi Yan didn't move toward her. Instead, he tenderly tucked a stray strand of hair behind Song Qi Nian's ear.
The room's atmosphere shifted. Disappointment rippled through those hoping for dramatic confrontation.
Shen Ke Qin exhaled in relief, turning to her brother. "How did you know Fifth Brother wouldn't abandon his wife?"
"Ayan is a Shen," Shen Liubai replied matter-of-factly. "He would never disrespect the family's or Grandma's dignity."
"Or maybe he simply doesn't want to leave her," Shen Ke Qin suggested, her tone a mix of curiosity and playfulness.
Shen Liubai remained silent, which only frustrated his sister. No matter how she looked at the Lin family, something about them unsettled her.
Lin Qiu Tong's face drained of color, but she forced herself to appear composed.
Her sister noticed her distress. "Are you okay?" Lin Lanxing asked, steadying her.
"I'm fine," Lin Qiu Tong murmured, her gaze still fixed on Shen Chi Yan and Song Qi Nian.
The banquet officially began.
The emcee, a well-known host from Jinghua City, commanded the stage with practiced ease. After running through the event's schedule, it was time for the younger generation to present their birthday gifts.
Shen Liubai, as the eldest son of the Shen family, gifted the old lady a state-of-the-art massage chair. Shen Chi Yan, knowing his grandmother's love for tea, presented two rare Lao Tongxing tea cakes from 1921. These weren't just any tea cakes—they were prized for their health benefits, packed with anti-cancer trace elements that supported dental and stomach health. Their exclusivity was reflected in the price tag: each cake cost over a million.
As other guests stepped forward with their offerings, Song Qi Nian prepared to present her gift. But Lin Qiu Tong was quicker, cutting in ahead of her.
"Madam," she announced, her voice carefully modulated, "I heard from Ayan that you love paintings. I've brought something special—a piece personally painted by Master Xiang Di. I hope you'll appreciate it."
A collective intake of breath swept through the crowd at the mention of Xiang Di's name. His works had become legendary—incredibly rare and astronomically expensive. Each piece commanded tens of millions, and acquiring one required an almost impossible combination of luck and connections.
Lin Qiu Tong carefully unfolded the painting. It depicted a Wealth and Longevity Peony, a flower symbolizing prosperity, resilience, and vitality. Two long-tailed ribbon birds gracefully wove through the blooms, seemingly seeking blessings. Master Xiang Di had personally inscribed a message beside the artwork: "Prosperity and Auspiciousness."
The room erupted in praise. For the first time that evening, Lin Qiu Tong felt a surge of triumph, believing she had finally gained the upper hand.
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