"People have a mouth, and even if you shut them up openly, there will be all sorts of versions circulating in the shadows. Forget it, as long as they don't say it to my face, I'll pretend I didn't hear it. But this girl's education is something I need to pay attention to. Ah Xiang, I rarely get to look after Xiao Yu, so please keep an eye on her for me."

Cen Xi sighed, then gave A Xiang some instructions.

"Yes, sister, don't worry, I will."

Ah Xiang nodded with a smile.

"Little Fish, your mother will not look for an uncle or get married in the future. You must not take what others say to heart. Even if your mother gets married in the future, you and Jiu Yi will still be my children, and your mother will treat you as her own."

Seeing that A Xiang agreed, Cen Xi hugged Xiao Yu tightly to comfort her.

"Yes, Little Fish will listen to Mother. If Mother has something to do, then go ahead."

Xiao Yu looked at Cen Xi and nodded seriously.

"Okay, let's wait for Mother to come back."

Cen Xi pinched Xiao Yu's cheek, then handed her hand to A Xiang, and waved to Xiao Yu with a smile.

The little girl waved to her, and Cen Xi watched as A Xiang led her into the house before she stepped out of the courtyard.

In the middle of the night, Shen Jinchen was still sitting alone in the study of the villa, drinking tea. Shang Se and Feng Qin counted outside and found that there were probably more than last time.

"We can't let the young master drink like this, or something bad will happen to him."

Shang Se stood up angrily from the steps and went straight to the study.

"You can't heal the young master's heartache; going in will only be sending you to your death."

As soon as Feng Qin finished speaking, Shang Se flew out like an arrow released from a bow.

Then Fengqin looked at Shangse, who was sprawled out on his back, with an expression that said, "I knew it."

"Shang Se, you... I really can't say anything about you. You're just asking for trouble."

Feng Qin sighed, then vanished in a flash. His master was in a bad mood today, so it was best for him to stay away and wait until the master had finished tormenting himself before quietly returning.

Another hour passed, and when Shen Jinchen had exhausted himself beyond recognition, Youhe suddenly barged into his study.

"What is it?"

Shen Jinchen lay on his back on the soft couch, looking at You Hewen.

Youhe is always the most composed person; his arrival must mean something big is about to happen.

"Master, at three-quarters past noon, someone carrying the Black Flame Token has taken over the Zhenxiu Restaurant."

"She's in a hurry, but forget it. You don't need to worry about it. Just have all our people withdraw from Zhenxiulou. Do it discreetly."

Shen Jinchen rubbed his aching forehead and said calmly.

"yes!"

You glanced at Shen Jinchen once, then left.

...

Before Cen Xi went to Zhenxiulou, she was worried that the people there would not cooperate. Unexpectedly, as soon as she entered and took out the black token, the manager handed over the key and the account book with both hands.

It seems that Shen Jinchen's servants are quite sensible.

After completing a handover ceremony, Cen Xi asked the manager if he was willing to continue working for her. Unexpectedly, the manager was quite straightforward and said that his boss had other things to do, so he could not help her manage Zhenxiu Restaurant.

Cen Xi didn't mind. Anyway, having someone like that around would be a problem for her, so she might as well find someone else.

That Zhenxiulou will be closed for a few days, and will reopen once she finds someone.

To be honest, she really is short-handed. Before, she lacked a suitable maid, and now she lacks a suitable manager. That Yu Kuang is always in her way when she doesn't need him, but when she does need him, he's off traveling.

Ugh, this is so worrying!

But there was no use in worrying now; it was already pitch black, and besides, it was better to find an inn to rest in the dead of winter.

So after leaving the Zhenxiu Restaurant, Cen Xi went into an inn.

The next morning, Cen Xi left the inn, intending to go to Zhenxiu Restaurant, when she unfortunately ran into Wen Qihe, who was out shopping.

The Wen Qihe of today is no longer the flamboyant and carefree person she once was; now, there is always a hint of melancholy on her face.

Cen Xi didn't want to have any contact with Wen Qihe and the Wen family, so she tried to slip away. However, Wen Qihe spotted her and stepped in front of Cen Xi.

"Cen Xi, how dare you come to Shangyang City?"

"Why wouldn't I dare to come? Shangyang City isn't yours. Miss Wen's words are quite interesting."

Cen Xi disliked this kind of meeting, so she wanted to leave after finishing her conversation.

"Stop right there! You've ruined me like this, don't you feel any remorse at all? I'm getting married, to be the second wife of a 35-year-old man in Xichuan. Are you satisfied with this ending?"

Wen Qihe shouted angrily, blocking Cen Xi's steps as she tried to leave, and questioned her.

"Why are you calling me by my name now? Have you forgotten the days when you called me 'Miss' and 'Servant' all the time? Wen Qihe, I thought someone as carefree as you wouldn't be willing to die for a man. It turns out I was just wrong about you."

"Should I praise your acting skills before, or what? But no matter how good you were, you gave yourself away when you shamelessly insisted on becoming my maid, you know that?"

"When you were about to reveal your true intentions, your true colors were exposed. What, do you expect me to take responsibility for your current predicament?"

"Then let me ask you, from what standpoint are you asking this question?"

"Are you crazy?!"

Cen Xi shoved Wen Qihe away and mocked her repeatedly.

“Our Wen family has been on good terms with the Shen family for generations. Without you, I would have had the opportunity to marry into the Prime Minister’s family. It’s all because of your appearance that you stole him away. And you still ask me what right I have to say this? Cen Xi, you are shameless.”

Wen Qihe reluctantly said what she had wanted to say to Shen Jinchen.

He used to think that Shen Jinchen was aloof and didn't like women, no matter what kind of woman she was, so she pretended to like Jun Jianchou and caused confusion in the family. But she always thought that one day she would marry into the Prime Minister's mansion. Although her status as a merchant's daughter meant she couldn't be the principal wife, she could still be a concubine.

Because of his status, even if he doesn't like women, he will still be surrounded by a lot of women in the future.

But it wasn't until this woman appeared that he realized that the man did have feelings, but those feelings weren't for her.

Later, she realized that the quickest way for her to marry into the Prime Minister's mansion was to get close to this woman, so she used all her tricks to entangle herself with her.

However, she didn't expect this woman to be so clever; before her plan could even be implemented, her true intentions were exposed.

Shen Jinchen was the only man she had ever fallen for in her life. She fell in love at first sight seven years ago and could never forget him, but in the end, she could not have him. How could she be willing to accept that?

"Oh~, so it's a family relationship spanning generations, huh? So this is your stance? I thought it was a more solid one. Turns out it's just unrequited love without a matchmaker or betrothal, and no parental arrangement. You Wen family really know how to come up with constructive reasons. I admire this absurdity."