Chapter 18: Didn’t Bring a Gift? I’ll Give You Some Manners

Shen Qingci stepped through the grand, resplendent doors. A servant moved forward to help her put on her shoes, but she dodged them and slipped her shoes on herself.

“So Xiaoye and Qingci have arrived!” a soft voice rang out.

Descending the pale walnut staircase, a woman in a light yellow pencil skirt walked slowly down.

A white fur coat draped over her rounded shoulders, her long hair pinned up, except for a rebellious strand that hung perfectly at her collarbone, giving her a more seductive air. She looked barely over thirty.

After reaching the bottom, Lin Shanwan quickened her pace slightly, smiling warmly as she approached Shen Qingci, sizing her up.

She had heard some rumors yesterday and couldn’t wait to call them over, but…

It was just a slightly prettier wild girl. What was so special about her?

Lin Shanwan inwardly scoffed but kept a kind smile on her face. “Oh my, my daughter-in-law is truly beautiful—more beautiful than that lady from the Lou family!”

As she spoke, her hand casually touched Shen Qingci’s forearm.

The next second, Shen Qingci withdrew her arm and stepped back.

“Sorry, I don’t like being touched,” Shen Qingci said calmly.

Lin Shanwan pulled back her hand, her eyes narrowing slightly.

Beside her, Xi Xingye’s eyes lit up, and he stared at Shen Qingci for several seconds.

Good, bold move! For that alone, he forgave her for slapping him last time.

Before they could sit down, a shout rang out:

“Xi Xingye!”

Xi Zhenghao came down with a boy of about ten and immediately spotted Xi Xingye, furious at once. “What is that hair supposed to be?!”

“Hair?” Xi Xingye straightened his chest, making the words “I am your father” on his shirt even more prominent. “You only see the hair? Take another look.”

“You!” Xi Zhenghao’s chest tightened with anger. “Go change it immediately!”

“Zhenghao,” Lin Shanwan lightly nudged him, “the child came back just this once. Why are you getting upset with him?”

Shen Qingci rested her chin on one hand, holding her teacup in the other, raising an eyebrow.

This woman, seeming to speak nicely for Xi Xingye, was actually fanning the flames.

As expected, Xi Zhenghao’s anger intensified, burning hotter in his chest. He wished he could grab this rebellious son and beat him senseless right now.

“You’re already married! Can you act like an adult?”

Xi Xingye snorted coldly. “I want to act like an adult. Acting like an adult is great! Being an adult means you can do whatever you want without breaking the law.”

“You agree, right, little white flower?”

The second half of his words was directed at Lin Shanwan.

Xi Zhenghao scolded sharply, “Don’t talk to your aunt like that!”

“Wow, nowadays any woman can claim some kinship?” Xi Xingye hit a nerve, standing up. “If your brain’s broken, go see a doctor. Next time, inform me only after the funeral!”

And with that, he turned and walked off.

Lin Shanwan’s carefully kindled anger didn’t die down so easily.

She immediately signaled the little chubby boy beside her.

Xi Xiaoshan got the hint and clutched Xi Xingye’s leg. “Brother, don’t go! I want you to play with me…”

As he said this, his hand slyly pinched Xi Xingye’s leg hard.

Pain shot through, and Xi Xingye kicked him away.

“Xi Xingye!” Xi Zhenghao hurried to pick up the child. “What are you doing in my house? He’s your brother! You beast!”

Brother. Insane. My house. Beast.

Four words, and Xi Xingye’s fury instantly peaked.

Just as he was about to smash something, Lin Shanwan smiled slyly.

Break it, rage all you want. The more the father-son relationship deteriorated, the more she could watch from the sidelines and profit.

Then, a cool voice suddenly cut through:

“The food’s cold. Aren’t you eating?”

Xi Xingye stopped, turning toward Shen Qingci, his chest still heaving.

Shen Qingci tapped the table. “Come, eat.”

Lin Shanwan frowned.

Although surprised, she didn’t think Shen Qingci could change the situation. She was, however, impressed by her courage.

This little devil made her cautious, but the new daughter-in-law was like a fearless calf facing a tiger.

Xi Xingye shouted in anger, “He called me a beast! And look, that woman’s still smiling!”

“I said, eat.” Shen Qingci looked up.

Xi Xingye gritted his teeth, kicked a chair in frustration, and sat back down.

The whole family froze.

All eyes immediately fixed on Shen Qingci!

This… the sun’s rising from the west?!

Lin Shanwan reacted first, her expression shifting several times before settling on a smile.

She quickly stepped forward, now targeting Shen Qingci, and sat beside her. “Qingci, I heard from the old master that you like shrimp. I specially had Liu Ma prepare some for you. See if it suits your taste.”

She picked up a piece of braised shrimp.

Shen Qingci glanced at it and placed it in Xi Xiaoshan’s bowl.

The boy frowned, instantly tossing it back onto the table. “So much oil! I don’t want it.”

“Xiaoshan!” Lin Shanwan quickly reminded him, forcing a smile. “Maybe the chef was nervous because you were coming, so he added too much oil.”

“Then try these vegetables.” She added some vegetables to Shen Qingci’s bowl.

Shen Qingci looked up, and Xi Xiaoshan clutched his bowl tightly, watching her warily.

Shen Qingci picked up the vegetables, noticing the coarse salt piled on top, and smirked slightly. “Also nervous, chef?”

Xi Zhenghao noticed and slammed the table, frowning. “Who cooked today’s dishes? Bring them here!”

Lin Shanwan thought, this isn’t good.

She hadn’t expected Shen Qingci to defy etiquette. Normally, a guest would either politely eat or put the food aside—not comment aloud.

Seeing Xi Zhenghao getting angrier, she quickly intervened. “It’s my fault. I heard Xiaoye was so happy bringing his wife back that I was hovering around the kitchen… maybe the chef got nervous because of me…”

Without giving Xi Zhenghao time to react, she hurriedly called Xi Xiaoshan.

“Xiaoshan, your brother just got married. Go toast your sister-in-law and congratulate them on their wedding!”

“Sister-in-law, Xiaoshan wishes you and Brother Xiaoye a happy marriage.”

Xi Xiaoshan stood with his glass, stumbled, and spilled the red wine on Shen Qingci.

Shen Qingci dodged, but some red spots still stained her white shirt.

“You little—!”

Xi Xingye stood to intervene but was stopped by Shen Qingci.

Xi Xingye spun around. “Are you crazy? You can tolerate this?!”

“What’s the rush?” Shen Qingci remained calm, her face unreadable.

She wiped her hands and then crouched down to Xi Xiaoshan’s level.

“Since you’re a sister-in-law now, you can’t call me that for nothing.”

Shen Qingci rolled up her sleeves. “I came in a hurry today and didn’t bring any gifts. So I’ll give you…”

Lin Shanwan then noticed the bracelet on Shen Qingci’s wrist.

It was the Xi family’s heirloom jade! She was giving it to Xiaoshan?

“What does this mean?! Quickly, thank your sister-in-law!”

“…A bit of manners.”

With that, a sharp slap landed on Xi Xiaoshan’s face.

The boy flew half a meter across the table.

Xi Xingye’s chopsticks dropped to the floor. Xi Zhenghao’s mouth gaped open, and all the servants gasped in shock.

“Ah!!!”

Lin Shanwan realized too late and screamed, nearly losing her mind!