Chapter 8 – What Treasure is Shu Hui Supposed to Be? She’s the True Chosen Heroine

Lin Wenran asked sweetly,
“Auntie, where’s Brother Shen’s new wife? I haven’t seen her. I heard the new sister-in-law comes from a very poor background. Why don’t you keep her close and teach her properly?”

At those words, Lian Minfang’s expression turned strange.

She had wanted to flaunt her authority as a mother-in-law in front of Shu Hui, but who could have expected that when Yushen left after the family banquet, he specifically asked her to take good care of Qin Suining and not let anyone bully the child.

Who would bully a child for no reason? But hidden beneath those words was the implication that she should also look after Shu Hui.

Since her son had spoken so, Lian Minfang couldn’t pick on Shu Hui anymore. Bit by bit, her temper cooled, and she lost interest in finding fault.

“Don’t mention her. Yushen said he’ll be back later—let him teach his wife himself. She’s his little treasure, not something I can control.”

The matter was already decided. Like it or not, Shu Hui had been acknowledged by the Old Master as the rightful eldest daughter-in-law, and with Yushen willing to protect her, Lian Minfang wouldn’t risk straining her relationship with her own son over Shu Hui.

Lin Wenran lowered her eyes, suppressing her irritation. Shu Hui, a treasure? She was the true chosen heroine.

Feigning surprise, she said,
“Brother Shen is coming back later? Then it seems I’m truly fated with him—arriving just in time to meet.”

Dense as ever, Lian Minfang didn’t catch the implication and even smiled in agreement.
“Of course you’re fated. After all, I watched you grow up. You’re just like a younger sister to him.”

While they chatted, Qin Yushen appeared, walking steadily down the main path. Tall and slender, he carried two black velvet jewelry boxes in his hand.

The sunset gilded him in soft gold, muting the chill in his aura. Light and shadow shifted with each step, making his refined features seem ethereal.

Lin Wenran quickly adjusted her hair. She had long known that Qin Yushen would return to the old estate today.

According to the fragmented descriptions in the book, this was the moment when he would encounter someone who stunned him at first sight.

Other than the servants, the only ones in the garden were herself and Lian Minfang.

She had timed everything perfectly, dressing with exquisite care to ensure that she would be the one to capture his gaze. She was supremely confident in her looks.

Qin Yushen indeed stopped, glancing over. With the sunlight in his eyes, it was impossible to see the emotion in them.

Lin Wenran’s sweet features and carefully posed stance were undeniably beautiful.

But to the left of the gazebo, Shu Hui was playing with Qin Suining along the small path—or rather, Madam Liu was holding Suining while dodging Shu Hui’s “attacks.”

“Here comes the big dinosaur! Roaaar!”

Shu Hui brandished a dinosaur plushie, making her daughter squeal. Suining, both scared and thrilled, wriggled in Madam Liu’s arms, giggling and kicking.

Thankfully Madam Liu was strong, or she might have dropped the chubby little girl.

“Down, down!” Suining squirmed to be put down. Shu Hui nodded, and Madam Liu set her on her feet.

The toddler, still unsteady, chirped,
“Mommy chase! Mommy chase me!”

“Alright, the big dinosaur is coming!”

“Hahaha hahaha—!”

Suining laughed and dashed off, but after just two steps, she tripped and fell onto the grass with a thud.

Shu Hui threw her head back and laughed.

Startled, Madam Liu rushed forward to help, but Shu Hui held her back, smiling.
“No need—she can get up by herself.”

Everyone in the gazebo turned at the sound.

Beneath the glowing sunset, Shu Hui’s carefree, radiant smile outshone even the evening sky. Her striking features gave her an air of distance, yet the warmth in her eyes softened her beauty, making her breathtakingly approachable.

Lin Wenran’s hand clenched tightly under the table. That woman… is Shu Hui?

A vixen’s face—laughing so wantonly.

Could Qin Yushen be looking at her? Terrified at the thought, Lin Wenran quickly turned her head, only to find Qin Yushen already moving on, his gaze no longer lingering.

Relieved, she told herself she was imagining things. How could he not look at the heroine and look at someone else?

“Quick, go pick up the young miss! What kind of mother laughs when her child falls? Shu Hui clearly doesn’t care at all.”

Lian Minfang instinctively worried for her granddaughter.

But just then, little Suining pushed herself up, dusted off her face, and grinned at her mother.

Lian Minfang blinked in surprise. Her grandson Yao Yao was already four, yet every tumble still ended in wailing until the nanny scooped him up. This Suining, though only two, was clever and resilient.

At the banquet that night, she’d been too angry to notice anything good about Shu Hui and her daughter.

Looking back now—Suining ate neatly even at two years old, just like her father, clever since childhood.

Shu Hui also spotted the group in the gazebo, including Qin Yushen, who had just stepped inside.

Her gaze fell briefly on Lin Wenran’s profile, and she frowned. Picking up Suining, she turned to leave.

Madam Liu hurried after her.
“Madam, why don’t you take the young miss to the gazebo to play? I saw Madam and Young Master are both there.”

“No. There’s filth there.” Shu Hui answered bluntly.

Zhang, the special assistant, happened to be hurrying down the shortcut after retrieving files from the car. Hearing her words, he was so startled he twisted his ankle and toppled onto the grass.

Both times he had run into the young madam, it had been a disaster.

As Shu Hui passed, she gave him a curious look.
“Assistant Zhang, take it slower. Thank you for your hard work.”

That’s the second fall, isn’t it? I never heard he had weak legs in my past life.

Zhang scrambled up, bowing slightly.
“Thank you for your concern, Madam. It’s no trouble.”

What a pitiful fate.

---

In the gazebo, Lian Minfang pursed her lips and complained to her son,
“Look at your wife. So many days have passed, and she’s never once brought little Suining to let me, her grandmother, spend time with her.”

“She’ll get used to it.” Qin Yushen pulled back his gaze from the small path and set one jewelry box in front of her.
“A gift for you.”

This time, true joy lit Lian Minfang’s face, her smile stretching wide. A thousand flatteries from others couldn’t compare to a single act of filial piety from her son.

A ruby jewelry set—precisely her taste. She recognized it instantly as a piece from Sotheby’s.

She had received an invitation to the auction along with the catalog, but her foul mood then had kept her from bidding.

Unexpectedly, her son had remembered. At once, all her lingering anger vanished.

Her eyes flicked toward the other box in his hand. She already knew who that was meant for.
“Go on. She just left.”

Qin Yushen nodded and turned to leave.

“Brother Shen!” Lin Wenran quickly called after him.
“Brother Shen, you’re successful in your career and still so filial. No wonder Auntie beams with pride whenever she mentions you.”

Qin Yushen didn’t even lift his eyes, his stride unbroken.
“Just call me by my name.”

Not the slightest trace of gentlemanly courtesy—only coldness bordering on rudeness.

“……”

Lin Wenran’s thoughts spun in disarray. Was Qin Yushen really like this? In the book, hadn’t it said he was cold outside but warm inside?

In the three years since she had transmigrated, most of her time had been spent overseas for her studies. Aside from that failed plan three years ago, she had barely interacted with him.

Seeing him today was a crushing blow.

Lian Minfang, however, thought nothing of it. She was long used to her son’s icy demeanor. She pushed over a fruit plate and smiled.
“Ranran, have some fruit. That’s just his nature. Don’t take it to heart. The more you come, the more familiar he’ll get.”

Lin Wenran forced a smile, urging the system in her mind to check Qin Yushen’s affection value.

Bound to him at last, the weary system responded, its mechanical voice sounding rusty.

【Qin Yushen’s current affection for host: 5%】

“What did you just say???”

Lin Wenran’s face darkened. She demanded furiously,
“After that stunning encounter we just had, his affection only rose to 5%? Are you kidding me?”

The system had just scanned: Qin Yushen hadn’t even been looking at her. There was no “stunning encounter” at all.

In fact, for most people, starting affection for a casual acquaintance without bad impressions would hover around 20%.

Qin Yushen was far from most people. But now that she had locked him as her target, there was no turning back.

The system chose not to reveal this truth and crush her confidence.

Meanwhile, outside, Qin Yushen met Assistant Zhang.

“What did she say?” he asked directly.