Chapter 15

The day of the engagement cancellation.

In the grand hall, Jiang Minzhi, who had just returned from France, was chatting with the two elders.

Old Mr. Pei: “How have you been living abroad all these years?”

Jiang Minzhi’s lips were pulled up slightly by an invisible thread, “Not bad.”

Old Mrs. Pei: “Why don’t you stay at home for a while this time you’re back?”

Jiang Minzhi glanced at Pei Yunzhi, who was sitting calmly and taciturn, and smiled faintly as she declined, “Thank you for your kindness, I have a lot of things to do abroad, I’m leaving on the afternoon flight.”

Pei Jinyan only looked at his ex-wife once when he entered, and then kept his head down, silent.

Everyone from the Pei family was present, except for Pei Yuning, who was still upstairs and hadn’t come down yet.

Outside the window, two maids were watering the flower beds and whispering.

“Miss’s appearance is inherited from her mother, she’s really beautiful.” The maid was still reminiscing about Jiang Minzhi’s unintentional glance earlier, her eyes were full of affection, her eyebrows were like distant ink, her lips were like cherry blossoms, beautiful beyond compare.

The older maid shook her head and sighed, “Unfortunately, she’s a viper in the grass.”

“What do you mean?”

The matter wasn’t a secret, so the older maid told her, “When Miss was four years old, she was almost strangled to death by her mother. If not for the eldest master returning in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable. It was because of this incident that Mr. divorced her and married the current Mrs.”

“….Oh my god! There are mothers so cruel in the world.” The maid was so frightened that she covered her mouth with both hands, the watering can fell to the ground with a piercing sound. She hurriedly picked it up, looked up again at the beautiful woman in the hall with a sweet smile.

Pei Yunzhi glanced at his watch, stood up from the sofa and said to the two elders, “Grandpa, Grandma, I’ll go up and see if Ningning is ready.”

The air in the hall seemed to stagnate for a few seconds, then slowly began to flow again.

Jiang Minzhi lowered her eyes and picked up the teacup on the table.

Old Mr. Pei nodded, “Okay, go ahead.”

Old Mrs. Pei said pointedly, “Girls love to look pretty, it takes time to get dressed up. If she’s not ready yet, Yunzhi, don’t rush her.”

Pei Yunzhi: “Yes, Grandma.”

He reached the bedroom door on the fifth floor, and was just about to knock when the door opened from the inside.

Pei Yuning almost jumped in surprise, “….Brother.”

Pei Yunzhi saw the faint redness at the corners of her eyes, reached out and pulled his sister into his arms, “Don’t cry, Ningning, brother is here.”

“?” Pei Yuning was stunned for a few seconds before she realized who was sitting in the hall downstairs. Sensing the slight tremor in Pei Yunzhi’s arm, she reached out and gently patted his shoulder, “Brother, I’m not crying. It’s been so long, I don’t care anymore, really.”

“But your eyes are red.” Pei Yunzhi thought she was trying to be strong.

“What are you talking about, this is my Springtime Clear Peach Makeup.” Pei Yuning hesitated for a moment, stepped out of Pei Yunzhi’s embrace, and went back to the floor-to-ceiling mirror to carefully check her eye makeup, “It’s a pink and tender color, where is it red?”

Pei Yunzhi’s eyes fell on her face, scanning it. Pei Yuning didn’t mind being scrutinized by him.

“Really, I’m fine.” Pei Yuning hooked his arm, “Let’s go, let’s go, and don’t be late for the engagement cancellation!”

When they went down to the hall downstairs, everyone’s eyes turned to them.

Jiang Minzhi’s fingers holding the teacup trembled slightly, then returned to normal, “Ningning, long time no see.”

Pei Yuning’s expression was very indifferent, she didn’t even bother to acknowledge her.

The second aunt stood up to smooth things over, holding Pei Yuning’s hand and smiling, “Our Ningning has a good figure, she looks so good in this cheongsam. Next time, we’ll have that Suzhou embroidery master come over and make you a few more.”

Pei Yuning was wearing a light white camellia cheongsam today, made of acetate satin, with a shimmering luster, like a pure and flawless moon in the sky. The buttonholes were decorated with ice-blue jade butterfly clasps, her black curly hair was half-tied with a magnolia hairpin, elegant and ethereal, full of charm.

Old Mrs. Pei agreed, “The things from our ancestors are, of course, the best.”

On the way to Tan Jing Mansion, the three young people sat in one car.

Pei Yuchen intentionally tried to lighten the tense atmosphere that had been suppressed all morning, joking, “Ningning, next time you get another cheongsam, tell me, let’s call Qingzhu too. We’ll get cheongsam made for you two, and Tang suits for me and Big Brother.”

Pei Yunzhi, holding the steering wheel, responded with a emotionless “Hmm.”

Pei Yuning: “Brother, you’re so clueless, Sister Qingzhu hasn’t agreed to your proposal yet.”

Pei Yuchen silently chanted in his heart: This is my real sister, this is my real sister, and this is the only sister in the family, only one, really only one.

“Modern women are like that, they prioritize their careers.” Pei Yuchen tried to save face, “I understand and support her, it’s good, it’s good.”

Pei Yuning: “Brother, you’ve been dating for four years now. There are so many handsome guys in the entertainment industry, be careful. After all, fickleness is also a fine tradition of modern women.”

Pei Yuchen laughed carelessly and narcissistically, drawing out his words, “But brother, I’m always fresh and new.”

Amidst the back-and-forth banter between the two in the back seat, Pei Yunzhi drove to Tan Jing Mansion.

Old Mr. Shang and Shang Heng’s parents were waiting at the door, greeting each other and welcoming the Pei family inside.

Old Mr. Pei had previously scolded Old Mr. Shang over the phone, his words were like a torrent of abuse, extremely cathartic.

Now that the two elders met, Old Mr. Shang’s attitude was very humble. Old Mr. Pei didn’t hold a grudge, after all, if you really wanted to blame someone, it wasn’t his old friend’s fault.

The group entered the tea room. Amidst the swirling tea mist, a man in a light gray suit stood with his back to everyone, gracefully and leisurely pouring tea into the neatly arranged teacups on both sides of the table.

Pei Yuning felt that the figure was very familiar, a guess instantly appeared in her mind.

The next moment, her guess was confirmed—

Old Mr. Shang: “Yanci, come and meet your Uncle Pei.”

Shang Yanci put down the teapot in his hand, turned around, and greeted everyone with his father’s introduction.

He was actually Shang Heng’s uncle?!

Pei Yuning looked at Shang Yanci in front of her, she couldn’t describe her true feelings at this moment, but her heart was beating fast.

Shang Yanci was as elegant and gentlemanly as ever. The well-tailored light gray suit made his shoulders broad and his waist narrow, his legs were straight and long, the black tie around his neck was tied in a Windsor knot, and a delicate butterfly brooch was pinned to the lapel, like the finishing touch, making him pleasing to the eye.

Finally, Old Mr. Shang introduced him to her, saying to Shang Yanci, “Pei Yuning, the youngest daughter of the Pei family.”

Then he turned to Pei Yuning with a loving expression, “Ningning, his name is Shang Yanci, he’s Grandpa’s youngest son. You and Shang Heng are the same generation, you can call him Uncle.”

Only then did Shang Yanci turn his gaze back to Pei Yuning, smiling slightly as he looked at her, his tone very gentle, as if soothing a startled fawn, “Miss Pei.”

At this moment, Pei Yuning’s mind was a mess, she was stunned and replied, “….Uncle.”