"I……"

Jun Jianchou's words were indeed harsh, making Cen Xi's eyes instantly turn red with anger.

"Why are you crying? Am I wrong? Cen Xi, do you know how disappointing you are to people right now?"

Jun Jianchou didn't know what was wrong with him. Seeing Cen Xi crying, he became even angrier. He hadn't done anything to her, yet she still acted like she was in the right. She entrusted herself to him so easily without any matchmaker or betrothal. Did she know what she was doing?

"I... I am exactly as I am, doing what I like with the man I love. What did I do to you? If you're disappointed, so be it. My affairs are none of your business. Get lost! So what if I have no betrothal or marriage? I'm a 21-year-old widow. Who cares what others say?"

Upon hearing Jun Jianchou's mockery, Cen Xi burst into laughter. After laughing, she cleanly and quickly wiped away her worthless tears and retorted.

“Cen Xi, Yu Kuang is doing this for your own good. As soon as we got up the mountain, we heard that Prime Minister Shen took you to that small courtyard and you haven’t come out for four days. Even if you don’t care about your reputation, you should think about these two children. Although you are not their biological mother, Jiu Yi and Xiao Yu still call you their mother. You don’t want them to be criticized behind their backs in the future.”

Seeing this trend, Jun Xiaoqiao realized that Jun Jianchou and Cen Xi might have a falling out, so she quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

“Mother, I’m not afraid of what others say behind my back, so don’t be sad.”

Seeing that everyone in the yard was criticizing her mother, Xiaoyu quickly ran to Cenxi's side and coaxed her.

Counting the days, she realized that she hadn't seen her mother for two months. During the New Year, her mother had only sent some things up the mountain. She missed her mother so much, but her mother cried as soon as she returned, and it broke her heart.

"Little fish!"

Cen Xi burst into tears as she watched Xiao Yu rushing towards her, clinging to her tightly. In truth, none of the people in the courtyard understood her. She had always lacked love since childhood, which was why she was so greedy for the love that Shen Jinchen gave her, and that's why she did some absurd things.

Did they think she was genuinely happy just because she always seemed to be laughing and joking?

She was just desperately trying to hide the desolation in her heart. She believed in love yet didn't, so she always made excuses for herself, intentionally or unintentionally. She used to be so ruthless and indifferent just because she was afraid of getting hurt. Now she is so passionate just because she wants to get some warmth, nothing more. Why, why does everyone have to criticize her?

What did she do wrong? She simply unleashed her most primal human instincts, so why is she being condemned by everyone? Even Yu Kuang has to say such things about her?

"Mommy, be good. Little Fish will hug you and you won't cry anymore. I also have sad times, and Sister Xiang hugs me like this."

Seeing her mother squat down and cry uncontrollably in her arms, Xiaoyu panicked and could only try to comfort her in the same way her older sister, Axiang, had comforted her.

“My people will not be bullied like this, even if you are her friends.”

Cen Xi cried for a long time. Shen Jinchen stepped into the courtyard, silently picked up Cen Xi, and then coldly smiled.

“Prime Minister Shen, we are also considered Cen Xi’s family. Your confinement of her like this is a great disrespect to her. When you exercise your rights as a husband, please consider her reputation. She may not care, but we, her family, do. What you have done these past few days has been absurd. If you are not sincere, Prime Minister Shen, even if Cen Xi is biased towards you, we will not allow it.”

After Shen Jinchen finished speaking, Jun Jianchou suddenly stood up, his words no less imposing than Shen Jinchen's.

How can I demonstrate sincerity?

Shen Jinchen gently stroked Cen Xi's back, smiled, and then asked coldly.

"With proper betrothal, a grand wedding procession, and a proper marriage, Prime Minister Shen, if you cannot do that, you should put down the woman in your arms."

Jun Jianchou was really going all out today. He couldn't stand the other person treating the person he liked so badly, even if Cen Xi herself was willing.

"Alright, I can afford to provide a dowry of at least a hundred miles, let alone ten miles. It's just that she didn't care before, and neither did I. Since Young Master Jun wants to make such a request as her family, then I should accept it. The betrothal gifts will be sent to the Jun family on the next day. Consider my engagement to her as your acceptance."

Shen Jinchen gently put his arm around Cen Xi's waist, and looked at Jun Jianchou, whose reply was firm and powerful. Anyone with eyes could see that this was both a provocation and a sign of his concern.

"Alright, that's fine. Let's leave it at that for today. Shen Xiang should know that according to the wedding laws of the Grand Banquet, unmarried men and women cannot sleep together. You two have already overstepped the bounds. As her family, we naturally have to consider her reputation. Well, although she doesn't have much of a reputation left, it can still be salvaged. So you should hand her over to me."

As soon as Shen Jinchen finished speaking, Jun Xiaoqiao immediately seized the opportunity to speak. It was clear that Jun Jianchou couldn't interrupt the rest of the negotiations, so she had to secure this time before Cen Xi's wedding; they couldn't let Cen Xi cause trouble afterward. Regardless of her motives, this was something she had to do.

“Ah Xi, go ahead. I’ll take care of everything. I’ll send someone to deliver the betrothal gifts to the Jun residence tomorrow. I didn’t think too much before, which is why you suffered this injustice.”

Shen Jinchen looked at Cen Xi gently, then slowly spoke.

Cen Xi was a bit bewildered by their sensational stunt. She hadn't agreed to get married yet; she had only ever wanted to enjoy life and had no intention of getting married at all. How did things suddenly turn out like this?

"I…"

Just as Cen Xi was about to express her thoughts, Shen Jinchen immediately covered her mouth and said apologetically:

"You don't need to say anything. I know you're willing, that's enough. Get some rest. I won't be reckless again before the wedding. You're the most precious person in my heart. I admit I was wrong before and made you suffer. Don't worry, after we get married, I'll treat you a thousand times better."

When Shen Jinchen met her eyes just now, he knew she wanted to deny the marriage, and he couldn't let her say it.

Jun Jianchou probably doesn't know that he indirectly did him a huge favor. Without his help, he would have had to use every means to get Cen Xi to agree.

Thinking of this, Shen Jinchen couldn't help but smile slightly. It turned out that the strategy he had been using all along was correct.

"I……"

Cen Xi really didn't want to be bound by marriage, so she was about to retort when Jun Xiaoqiao interrupted her:

"What do you mean, 'what do you mean, 'what do you mean'? You're sleeping with me tonight, so stop thinking about all that nonsense, right, Xiaoyu?"

"Yes, I also want to sleep with my mother. Sister, could you take me with you?"

Seeing that Cen Xi was finally no longer sad, Xiao Yu was overjoyed and danced with joy. She really missed her mother.

"Then the three of us will go in. You can do as you please. If you want to fight, please go somewhere else on the mountain. I'm very sleepy, and if you disturb my sleep, I'll be in a bad mood. As for the consequences, you can think of them yourselves."

Jun Xiaoqiao grabbed Cen Xi and shoved her into the house before she could say a word. Xiao Yu followed closely behind and then quickly closed the door.