Chapter 14: Future Sister-in-Law

At this time, Fu Yun and the maids had already gone to rest. The lights in the Shen family villa were all dimmed, leaving only a light in the corridor for her.

Mrs. Wang came out of her room in her nightgown to greet her: “Why are you so late? Madam has been waiting for you. She was worried sick when you didn’t come back. I had to persuade her to go to bed. Are you hungry? I left some fish soup in the kitchen. I’ll make you a bowl of noodles?”

“No need to bother, I’m not hungry,” Shuangxu said softly. “Go to rest. I’ll go back to sleep too.”

Mrs. Wang watched her go upstairs before returning to the maid’s room.

Shuangxu didn’t turn on the lights, she tiptoed upstairs back to her bedroom, without disturbing anyone.

In the morning, Fu Yun saw her and asked, “Where did you go last night? Mrs. Wang said you only came back in the early morning.”

“I went out drinking with Zifeng and the others,” Shuangxu acted normal, as if nothing had happened yesterday.

Seeing her composed, Fu Yun’s anxious heart settled.

Mrs. Wang brought over the brewed coffee, Shuangxu lowered her head and ate the fried eggs, listening to Fu Yun across from her say, “Your brother turned thirty-one after his birthday. It’s time for him to settle down. I discussed it with your godfather yesterday, and we plan to choose a suitable girl from the families in Yancheng. Your brother doesn’t have any objections either. Are you free these days? Can you help me take a look?”

“Sure,” Shuangxu raised her head and smiled. “The person you choose will definitely be good.”

Fu Yun said this was probably just a test, and in reality, she only asked Shuangxu to look at photos once.

For a family like the Shen family, arranged marriages are a bond of interests between two families, not something that younger generations like Shuangxu can intervene in. Moreover, she wasn’t even part of the Shen family.

Born into such a class, she couldn’t even control her own marriage, let alone Shen Yu’s.

•  

She was just out of the shower when she received a call from Yue Zifeng.

Yue Zifeng asked her to go out and play, Shuangxu said, “You guys go ahead, I’m going to rest.”

“Going to sleep so early? Is the bed at home more comfortable than the one in America?” Yue Zifeng said, “You used to be so diligent. You would follow your brother even if he didn’t bring you. Now you can’t even be called out. Really not coming? Your future sister-in-law is here, don’t you want to see her?”

Shuangxu felt her ears ringing, she didn’t know if it was because water got in her ears while showering.

She didn’t expect things to progress so quickly.

So, it’s decided?

Who is the other party, what family’s daughter, she didn’t even know.

Shuangxu didn’t want to go, she pulled the blanket over her face, but she was afraid that not going would seem strange and expose her.

What attitude should a sister have towards her brother’s future wife?

Curiosity, excitement, eager to find out…

So she pretended to be excited and replied, “Of course I want to see. Send me the address.”

When Shuangxu arrived at the club, it was already forty minutes later.

This place, “Under the Moon, Sea of Peonies,” is quite special. It’s not about its luxury, on the contrary, compared to the magnificent facades of other clubs, this four-courtyard house in the second ring road is already “expensive” enough.

Of course, it’s not lacking in luxury. The steps are made of white marble with carved scroll patterns. The transplanted Chinese banyan trees in the courtyard are worth millions each.

Those who come here to spend their time are all rich and powerful young masters, any one of them, if you pick them out, their family background is unattainable.

Young girls flock to this place, “Under the Moon, Sea of Peonies” sounds romantic, but in fact, money, power, and desire are its true colors.

This place is not membership-based, but ordinary people can’t get in.

Vehicles are not allowed inside, Shuangxu got off the car at the entrance.

Carrying her handbag, she walked inside, but saw a pure black Koenigsegg parked arrogantly in the courtyard.

Okay, who told him to be named He?

When Shuangxu entered the private room, a group of people were in high spirits.

It was very lively inside, with many people, both men and women, some she knew and some she didn’t.

“Sister, over here.”

Yue Zifeng waved her over, put his arm around her, pointed at the woman sitting next to Shen Yu with his wine glass, and said with a smile, “Do you know who this is? Your future sister-in-law.”

Unlike the elegant and dignified lady Shuangxu imagined, this woman was very young, only in her early twenties, with bright and energetic eyes.

It’s hard to say whether it’s because the lights in the private room were too dim, or because Shen Yu’s expression was inherently so faint.

He didn’t deny it, he just glanced at Yue Zifeng faintly, using his usual tone to tease him: “Go see a dentist for your leaky mouth.”

Yue Zifeng didn’t care: “Shuangxu is your sister, not an outsider, what’s wrong with knowing?”

“It’s not set in stone yet,” the woman said a little shyly, a genuine and unpretentious shyness, a naive and innocent foundation, clearly someone who was pampered by her family since childhood.

Her eyes looked at Shuangxu with curiosity: “Are you Xiao Jiu?”

Only Shen Yu would call her Xiao Jiu.

Shen Yu had talked to this marriage partner about her, but he never mentioned a word to her.

The other party even knew her nickname, but she knew nothing about her.

This gave Shuangxu a subtle feeling of being excluded.

Actually, there would be a day like this sooner or later, Shen Yu would have his own family, his own wife and children. The privileges she once enjoyed would eventually be lost.

“Hello, I’ve been wanting to meet you. My name is Lu Manman,” Lu Manman smiled very friendly.

Shuangxu returned a polite smile: “Miss Lu, hello.”

“Why are you being so formal? Just call me Manman. I’m the same age as you,” Lu Manman said, “Don’t listen to Zifeng’s nonsense, I’m not your sister-in-law yet. It’s just that our families have this idea, so they let us get to know each other first.”

It doesn’t make a difference.

Arranged marriages are about two families, as long as the two parties don’t want to vomit at the sight of each other, or have any hard defects, this marriage can be easily settled.

Shuangxu just followed and said, “Then I’ll change my address when you two have a few more strokes.”

Lu Manman took out her phone: “Come on, let’s add each other on WeChat.”

In front of Shen Yu, Shuangxu couldn’t refuse.

As soon as the friend request was accepted, Lu Manman, being very familiar, grabbed her arm and leaned in to sniff her: “You smell so good. What perfume do you use?”

“…” Shuangxu, who was already socially anxious, felt like she was about to be sniffed out.

But this was her “future sister-in-law,” so she held back and didn’t pull away: “I didn’t wear any perfume today.”

Lu Manman smiled and said to Shen Yu: “Your sister is so cute.”

Although they were in the same circle, Shuangxu and Lu Manman weren’t close at all.

Lu Manman was He Tingzhou’s cousin, and He Commander was her maternal uncle. Her father held an important position in the Military Commission and had been stationed in Lin City for many years due to his work. She grew up in Lin City with her parents.

Shuangxu’s and Lu Manman’s life paths just happened to cross each other. When Shuangxu was in Yancheng, Lu Manman was away, and five years ago when Lu Manman came back, Shuangxu was sent abroad.

Lu Manman was good friends with her half-sister, Song Leyan.

Unfortunately, these two sisters from the Song family were like enemies.

The conversation mainly revolved around Shen Yu and Lu Manman, with some lighthearted jokes between friends, creating a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.

Lu Manman was only twenty-two after all, and she blushed under the teasing of everyone. She leaned close to Shuangxu and asked: “Xiao Jiu, tell me secretly, does he have any unknown flaws?”

Shuangxu said: “My brother has no flaws.”

“You’re asking the wrong person. You ask your sister, she’ll give Shen Yu a perfect score. You should ask me.” Yue Zifeng reached out, “Give me a hundred bucks, and I’ll tell you all of Shen Yu’s little secrets.”

Lu Manman laughed and slapped his hand: “I don’t believe you, I only believe Xiao Jiu.”

Hearing this, Shuangxu turned to look at her, a hint of inquiry in her deep eyes.

Did Lu Manman really not remember the scene of their last encounter, or was she just pretending in front of Shen Yu?