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After dinner, at 8:30 PM.
Shen Nanzhi received a call from Shen Huaiyan.
Looking at the screen with the urgent note flashing, the guilt from two days ago—when she had hastily returned to the country under the scrutinizing gaze of Shen Huaiyan—suddenly resurfaced in her mind.
Shen Nanzhi held her phone and stepped outside.
She pressed the answer button beside the begonia plant.
To her surprise, the other end was unusually patient.
After such a long time without answering, they had not hung up.
As soon as Shen Nanzhi pressed the answer button, Shen Huaiyan’s voice, strained with emotion, came through the receiver:
“Nanzhi, what are you doing?”
Shen Nanzhi looked down, kicking the small stones in the begonia flower bed, and honestly replied, “Celebrating my birthday.”
The other side’s breath grew heavier, and before she could say anything else, a cold voice questioned her:
“Celebrating your birthday? Celebrating your birthday while marrying someone already?”
“Shen Nanzhi, what are you celebrating?”
Shen Nanzhi’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. Under Shen Huaiyan’s questioning gaze, the guilt from sneaking back two days ago increased tenfold.
She tightened her grip on the phone, wishing to deny it.
“W-What do you mean married?” Shen Nanzhi held her breath, glancing at the time on her phone, then trying to determine that it was daytime where Shen Huaiyan was across the ocean. “Brother, aren’t you supposed to—”
“Do you think that because I’m not in the country, I can’t check your registration information at the civil affairs bureau?” Shen Huaiyan interrupted her, his voice trembling with barely contained anger.
Shen Nanzhi dared not speak.
“Shen Nanzhi, you were in such a hurry to come back from here just to get your marriage certificate?”
Shen Huaiyan was even less approving of her marriage to Jiang Jinnian than he had been when she was dating Jiang Tingxu.
“Shen Nanzhi, I’ll ask you, after these few days spent with Jiang Jinnian, do you really understand him?”
“He’s been abroad for nearly ten years, and you know nothing about his experiences. In Huaihai, within the Jiang family, Jiang Jinnian holds power that no one can reach. You rashly married him, and if one day you regret it, do you think you can easily leave him?”
Shen Nanzhi stopped kicking the small stones.
Through the tall floor-to-ceiling windows behind the begonia, she lifted her gaze to the brightly lit hall. Perhaps by coincidence, her glance met Jiang Jinnian’s, who was sitting across from Jiang Feng and happened to look over at that moment.
Shen Nanzhi’s gaze flickered.
She silently lowered her eyes and continued kicking the small stones by the flower bed.
Although she and Jiang Jinnian were considered a family marriage,
She was at a disadvantage, and this time getting the marriage certificate was based on her seeking help from the Jiang family.
In this situation, she felt she had no right to mention divorce to Jiang Jinnian.
Unless one day the Shen family’s shares surpassed the Jiang family’s, bringing absolute benefits to Tiansheng Group, only then could she consider ending this marriage.
Shen Huaiyan criticized her for being reckless in getting married.
On the very first day of the legal marriage age, she had already married herself off.
Shen Nanzhi didn’t dare to refute him, silently enduring his scolding until he, himself, couldn’t bear to scold her anymore. Shen Huaiyan finally forced himself to stop, suppressing his anger.
“In a few days, after dealing with the affairs of the Jinming branch, I’ll return home. Shen Nanzhi, we can discuss other matters when we see each other.”
After being scolded, the small stones around the base of the begonia had been kicked out, creating a small pit.
Listening to the instructions from the other end, Shen Nanzhi rubbed her ears, feeling frustrated.
Until the call ended.
Looking at the pit she had created, Shen Nanzhi tightened her grip on the phone and turned to go back, giving it one last kick before she left.
Mrs. Jiang wanted Jiang Jinnian and Shen Nanzhi to stay over, and when Shen Nanzhi entered, Mrs. Jiang was discussing this with Jiang Jinnian.
As soon as she walked in, Mrs. Jiang looked over.
“Did you finish your call? It’s getting late, and going back and forth is troublesome. According to your mother’s suggestion, why don’t you two stay here tonight and return tomorrow?”
Hearing this, Shen Nanzhi secretly glanced at Jiang Jinnian, who was sitting across from Jiang Feng.
He was also looking at her.
Under the warm light, the man’s expression softened slightly, seemingly waiting for her response; if she said to stay, they would stay.
For Shen Nanzhi, it didn’t make much difference where she stayed tonight.
Jiang Tingxu hadn’t returned all afternoon, and he probably wouldn’t be back tonight either…
Before that thought could settle, a familiar sound of a sports car braking echoed in the courtyard.
Shen Nanzhi’s expression froze, and she instantly withdrew the thought she had just entertained.
Jiang Jinnian glanced at her and set down his water cup.
He spoke before she could.
“Mom, there are matters to handle at the company tomorrow. The Yu Shan Mansion is closer to the Tiansheng headquarters, so Nanzhi and I won’t be staying tonight.”
Although Mrs. Jiang felt a little regretful, she understood the situation and didn’t force her son and daughter-in-law to stay at the old house.
As it was getting late, upon learning that they were leaving, Mrs. Jiang quickly let them go.
Shen Nanzhi followed Jiang Jinnian outside.
In the vicinity of the fountain in the courtyard, they ran into Jiang Tingxu, who was returning home.
The courtyard was illuminated with countless lights, creating a beautiful interplay that drove away the darkness of the night.
Only the cool breeze of late autumn lingered.
“It’s so late, isn’t brother not staying at the old house?” Jiang Tingxu asked casually.
Jiang Jinnian replied in a calm voice, nodding slightly.
“There are matters at the company tomorrow morning, so it’s more convenient to return to Yu Shan Mansion tonight.”
Hearing the words ‘Yu Shan Mansion,’ a shadow of darkness spread across Jiang Tingxu’s eyes.
He maintained a faint smile on his face.
His gaze silently shifted to Shen Nanzhi, who was following Jiang Jinnian and hadn’t glanced at him once.
“I have something to discuss with Nanzhi.”
“Do you mind, brother?”