Chapter 6.1

Although Shen Yuanting referred to it as a “Mansion,” in reality, it was not a traditional Chinese courtyard with an antique charm; instead, it was a Western-style estate.

Shen Yuanting called it so due to the influence of his grandmother.

The estate was vast, backed by an artificial lake, and after passing through a lush and verdant garden, a towering building could be seen standing on the ground.

Before even entering, the melodious sound of music could be heard wafting through the air, lingering echoes filling the surroundings.

Inside the dining room, a woman in a cheongsam dress with heavy makeup looks glamorous. When she sees Shen Yuanting and Yan Zhao entering, she curls her red lips, claps her hands, and the music abruptly stops. The violinist bows at a 90-degree angle, thanks the audience, and walks out of the room.

“You’ve arrived,” Tang Jingyan stood up, her Guerlain-coated hand sweeping across the table. “Yan, how come you have time today?”

Although the original body and Tang Jingyan were on the same boat, Shen’s father never liked this son-in-law and always giving him a cold look. Since the original body wasn’t one to enjoy being mistreated, so he never dined with Shen’s father.

Yan Zhao glanced at Shen Yuanting, and Shen Yuanting explained on his behalf, “I invited him.”

“Oh?” Tang Jingyan cast a suspicious glance at Shen Yuanting, wondering why, Shen Yuanting usually avoided Yan Zhao but suddenly changed his attitude. Could there be a deception?

Tang Jingyan became alert, signaling Yan Zhao with her eyes.

Yan Zhao: “???” Although he didn’t understand what was going on, a smile should be sufficient, right?

Seeing him smiling confidently, Tang Jingyan relaxed slightly and invited, “Please, have a seat.”

“Where’s dad?” Shen Yuanting asked.

Tang Jingyan complained, “He went out to pick up Zhongkai. Honestly, I wanted him to pick you guys up. After all, Zhongkai comes home often, so what’s the big deal about picking him up? But before I could remind him, he had already left.”

Her words seemed like a complaint against Shen’s father, but in reality, she was flaunting the deep bond between the father and son, which was different from the neglected eldest son, Shen Yuanting.

People who engage in power struggles often speak in a roundabout way.

Shen Yuanting took a sip of tea, watching the tea leaves undulate at the bottom of the teacup. “Zhongkai caused trouble this morning by drunk driving. If dad doesn’t go pick him up, he probably won’t come back.”

She immediately cursed, “That darn—”

The sentence was cut off. In front of Shen Yuanting, Tang Jingyan always portrayed a harmonious family, and even if she was angry, she wouldn’t scold her child in front of him. So she swallowed back the word “kid” and took a sip of tea.

Round 1, Tang Jingyan, defeated.

Though Tang Jingyan’s name contains “靜(jìng)” (quiet), but she can’t keep quiet. When she’s silent, her mind is always scheming in countless ways. After a while, her eyes moved, and she seemingly casually asked, “Yuanting, Auntie heard that you fired Aunt Chen?”

Yan Zhao felt that she was just finding things to say,  asking questions knowingly. But Shen Yuanting wasn’t easy to provoke, and he didn’t need protection.

He lowered his head, started a game, but his ears perked up, listening to their conversation.

Shen Yuanting raised his eyes and said casually, “You don’t know?”

“Hehe, how could Auntie know? She’s the domestic worker from your side.” Tang Jingyan grinned, “What mistake did she make?”

While Shen Yuanting rubbed his fingers on the teacup, he said, “She asked someone to take Wang Zai away.”

Wang Zai truly was his precious cat. When discussing this matter, he not only deliberately avoided the word “lost,” but a rare hint of emotion appeared in his tone.

Tang Jingyan exclaimed, covering her mouth exaggeratedly, afraid that the smile at the corner of her mouth would reveal, “Did you find Wang Zai then?”

“I didn’t find it.” Shen Yuanting’s eyelashes drooped, and the tone at the end of his sentence was as light as a paper kite, easily blown away by the wind. It seemed as if he was alone and helpless.

• Your acting skills are impressive, why not pursue a career in acting?

Yan Zhao’s hand slipped, and the phone screen turned black, leaving him speechless.

The word “I” carries profound meaning. What is Shen Yuanting up to? Don’t drag him into the water; let him play his game quietly, okay?

Seeing Shen Yuanting’s pale lips, Tang Jingyan secretly felt delighted, but on the surface, she comforted him: “Yuanting, don’t be too sad. Auntie will get you a new cat, how about a ragdoll cat? They are more obedient than your local cat.”

Only after Tang Jingyan finished speaking did Shen Yuanting slowly say, “But Yan Zhao helped me find it.”

Clap, clap. Instant face slap.

Yan Zhao felt two pairs of eyes shooting towards him simultaneously. One filled with anger and disbelief, the other as indifferent as usual.

But once the later turn cold, it can give him a bone-chilling feeling.

Yan Zhao quit the game, sighed in his heart, and it was time for him to showcase his acting skills again. He looked arrogantly at Shen Yuanting and said, “I didn’t do this for free, you know.”

Shen Yuanting’s eyes narrowed slightly, “You’ll be rewarded.”

Yan Zhao turned away, “It’s good that you know.” But he roared in his heart: Stop talking, Tang Jingyan is already giving me the look of a traitor!

Tang Jingyan caressed the diamond ring on her ring finger, and the pressure from the diamond made her fingertip slightly painful. She said faintly, “Your relationship seems to be going well recently, not bad.”

The words “not bad” were spoken slowly and deliberately.

Yan Zhao said, “It’s just so-so—”

Before he could finish, Shen Yuanting interrupted, “To thank him, I plan to give him an endorsement, either for SIOU or LOFOREVER.”

Yan Zhao suddenly looked up, staring at the side of Shen Yuanting’s face. Shen Yuanting didn’t even glance at him; he was still leisurely gazing at the teacup, showing little emotion in his shallow eyes.

You sly Shen Yuanting, using him as a pawn?

— If you don’t give me the endorsement later, I’ll go to your company, cry, make a scene, and threaten to commit suicide!

“Nonsense! Do you think the company exists for you to play with?!”

Tang Jingyan hadn’t angry yet when a furious shout echoed.

Yan Zhao looked towards the door, where a middle-aged man with golden-rimmed glasses and slicked-back hair entered the room, still gripping the ear of a young boy. His grip was so tight that the boy’s ears had turned purple.

“Dad, Dad, let go quickly!” the boy yelled. After his ear was released, he covered both ears with his hands, his face contorted in pain.

“One, drinking all night until the morning! Crashing into someone else’s car and even flirting with the car owner!” Shen Zhuo pointed accusingly at his younger son’s nose, shook his hand, and then turned to point at Shen Yuanting. “Two, using the company to win people’s favor. Are you worthy of being the president?!”

Yan Zhao blinked, lowered his head, pretending to be an ostrich.

— No, no, no, winning people’s favor? It sounds like I’m some kind of national disaster seductress. President Shen just wants to counterattack Tang Jingyan a bit.