Chapter 12 After the rain, Xiao Chengzi, please open the door. ...

The man's warm breath lingered on her cheeks, burning hot. She lowered her head shyly, neither resisting nor refusing.

"Chencheng, if you do this, I will tacitly agree with you."

Song Jili's nose rubbed the corner of her eye, making her feel itchy, and her breathing couldn't help but tremble.

They had a dividing line and thought he would barge in rudely, but he didn't, he just stood on the edge and didn't offend anymore.

The choice was in her hands.

But not entirely, because his closeness and his presence are too strong to be ignored.

Chen Cheng turned around and met his gaze, suppressing all expression, not wanting to lose in this silent confrontation.

Song Jili was curious about her reaction, and the corners of his lips curled up slightly, full of anticipation.

The hand that was pulling at his sleeve reached forward and weakly held his hand.

Her response was timid.

He held his head up stubbornly, not backing down.

Song Jili interlocked his five fingers with hers, palms pressed together, and clasped their fingers together. When she was distracted, he pulled her into his arms.

"Very brave." He said with a low laugh.

Chen Cheng pushed him, but he was too weak to move the huge mountain. Instead, he took advantage of her and was pulled into her arms.

A phone call interrupted them.

After it rang three times, Chen Cheng realized it was her phone, and she searched several pockets before finding it.

Song Jili watched from the side.

Why do I feel that her lifestyle is a bit old school? She is not very familiar with using smart products.

If you think about it carefully, she is different from most young people.

For her, the mobile phone is just a communication tool and has no other entertainment activities.

Chen Cheng did not avoid Song Jili. He pressed the answer button and put the phone to his ear.

"Aunt, please hurry back to Jingbei. There is an urgent matter." Shen Zhuo said anxiously, panting.

Chen Cheng panicked and looked around in confusion.

Song Jili took her phone, held it to his ear, and said, "I'll take her home. I'll arrive by tomorrow noon at the latest. We'll tell you what happened when we get there."

Shen Zhuo calmed down and suddenly realized that he was being reckless. It was Chen Cheng's first time going away from home, and he would definitely be in a panic when he received the emergency call.

If Song Jili hadn't reminded him, he would definitely tell Chen Cheng what happened next, and she might be upset.

"Well, thank you for your help, Second Young Master." Shen Zhuo returned to his normal tone and was no longer so impatient.

Song Jili returned the phone to Chen Cheng, called his assistant, and booked a ticket back to Beijing.

"You go back first. I'll come over after I finish my things." Song Jili said to Chen Cheng before sending her to the car.

Chen Cheng's mind was in a mess. Probably the only thing that would make the Shen family call her personally to inform her was about Chen Aoshuang.

The thought of possible accidents made her feel uneasy.

"Chen Cheng." Song Jili squeezed her cold fingertips.

Chen Cheng turned to look at him, his eyes were wet and the corners of his eyes were red, revealing his inner anxiety.

"Remember, you can call me if anything happens." Song Jili wiped the corner of her eye with his thumb, "Don't think about things in a bad way."

If possible, he would also like to go, but he had an appointment with a client, so even if it was urgent, he had to meet him.

"I'll just be two flights later than you." Song Jili patted the back of her hand.

This little gesture soothed Chen Cheng, and he seemed to have found his backbone. His emotions gradually stabilized and he nodded.

"Be careful on the road." Song Jili said to the assistant pilot before closing the door, "Say hello to the crew."

Assistant: "Don't worry, Mr. Song, I've already told you in advance."

Song Jili took two steps back and watched the car drive away.

Cen Zhao, who had been watching, wanted to step forward and make a joke to ease the atmosphere, but was first given a sharp look by Song Jili.

"I have a meeting in half an hour, so go and make arrangements quickly." Song Jili returned to his original cold expression.

Cen Zhao sighed in his heart.

My wife left me, and I didn't even try to pretend. It really hurts our brotherhood.

Song Jili didn't care about anything else. He just wanted to sign the contract quickly and return to Beijing as quickly as possible. He always felt that what was going to happen would be bad for Chen Cheng.

-

At ten o'clock in the evening, Chen Cheng returned to the Shen family in northern Beijing. When he got out of the car, he saw that the garage that was empty in the past was full of cars. Everyone in the Shen family should have returned.

Even happy events may not be so complete, they can only be bad things.

Chen Cheng ran towards the main building where Chen Aoshuang lived, and was stopped by two aunts guarding outside the door.

"They are discussing something inside, Miss Four, please don't go in yet."

The two men stood side by side in front of Chen Cheng. They were as impenetrable as a city wall, and she couldn't even see the gate.

Chen Cheng hurriedly signed to them, asking them to make way, saying that she would not disturb their conversation and only wanted to see her mother.

"Fourth Miss, we don't understand." Aunt Zhang smiled apologetically, "The eldest master has told us to let you in after we finish talking."

Chen Cheng cried anxiously, tears kept falling, and she kept using sign language, hoping that they would let her go.

"Chen Cheng."

Shen Zhuo pushed the door open and called her.

Chen Cheng seemed to have grabbed a life-saving straw, trotted to Shen Zhuo's side, and said to him: "Can you take me in? I just want to see my mother and won't disturb you."

Shen Zhuo couldn't understand sign language, but she caught the details. She pointed to the house where Chen Aoshuang lived several times.

"Grandma's health was already very bad yesterday. She was afraid that you would worry so she kept it a secret from us. Today, her condition became even worse. The doctor was unable to save her and asked us to inform the family. The uncles and aunts have all returned with the cousins. I was afraid that you would be too sad, so Grandpa decided not to tell you yet and will tell you after the matter is over. I stayed by Grandma's bedside at night. She said your name several times. She didn't want to be unable to see you before she passed away, so she took the initiative to call you." Shen Zhuo sighed, "Grandma is already 80 years old, and I don't know how much time she has left."

Chen Cheng tried to run away, but Shen Zhuo stopped her and said, "Just listen to me."

Chen Cheng wiped away her tears and said to him: "Can I see my mother first? I will listen to you."

Shen Zhuo looked at the girl in front of him who was crying like rain. She was so scared that her gestures were shaking and his heart ached.

But the pain is greater than the desire for revenge.

They wanted to hide it from Chen Cheng, but he let her know so that she could experience firsthand that once Chen Aoshuang left, she would be nothing in the Shen family and anyone could easily control her, look down on her, and manipulate her.

This is the price she should pay for usurping their family affection.

"You know why Grandpa doesn't want you to see Grandma." Shen Zhuo said, "I can let you in, but I hope you won't be greedy."

Chen Cheng was so emotional that he made much bigger moves than he had planned: I will not take anything from the Shen family, nor will I accept any inheritance from my mother.

She didn't care about these things, and she had no qualifications to inherit. She just wanted to see Chen Aoshuang. Because she had taken the initiative to agree to the marriage, they were still in a cold war and she hadn't been given a chance to explain to Chen Aoshuang.

If she never sees him again until she dies, she will blame herself for the rest of her life.

"I believe you, I'm just reminding you." Shen Zhuo deliberately emphasized again, "I hope you don't accept things that don't belong to you."

After saying that, Shen Zhuo moved to the side, and Chen Cheng rushed to Chen Aoshuang's room, feeling extremely scared.

Now, more than ten years have passed, and the only person who was kind to her is gone. How can she not feel sad and scared?

In the past, Chen Aoshuang always talked about death, and Chen Cheng was almost numb to it. He also remembered her teachings that if he lived alone in the Shen family in the future, he should live quietly and not disturb anyone, and must not get involved in the struggle for family business and property inheritance.

When she really reached the door of the room, she lost the courage to push it open. She leaned against the door frame, trying to calm herself down before going into the room, but she couldn't stop crying.

When Butler Gu went out, he saw Chen Cheng huddled in a corner, so he walked up to her and said in a friendly voice, "Fourth Miss, the old lady just woke up, do you want to come in and talk to her?"

Chen Cheng looked up and saw that the butler Gu in front of him had aged ten years in just three days and had a lot of white hair.

She felt even worse, as if everything was telling her that nothing could be reversed. Birth, aging, sickness and death were things that tiny people could not escape from.

Chen Cheng nodded.

If she doesn't go in, she may never see Chen Aoshuang for the last time.

Chen Cheng walked stiffly to the bed, tears falling on the quilt, and she quickly wiped them away with her hands.

"Xiaocheng?" Chen Aoshuang called her weakly.

Chen Cheng stepped forward and held her hand, which she had raised with great effort, tightly, trying to keep her.

"Crying?" Chen Aoshuang smiled. "Why are you crying? There's nothing to cry about. I will have this day sooner or later."

Chen Cheng rested his forehead on the back of Chen Aoshuang's hand, tears falling down.

Chen Aoshuang was afraid that her wrinkled skin would cut Chen Cheng's tender cheeks, so she reached out her hand, touched her soft long hair, and said earnestly, "Mom apologizes to you. My tone of voice was a little harsh a few days ago. Don't take it to heart. I am also wrong. I had selfish motives in raising you by my side. I wanted to adopt a child because my children were busy and I had no one to accompany me. I control you strictly, and sometimes I would naturally ask you to obey me unconditionally."

Chen Cheng shook his head.

She never thought so. If it weren't for Chen Aoshuang, she would never have a family. She might have to stay in an orphanage until she became an adult, and then have to enter society early to survive. Without education and skills, she could only do the hardest work.

"You are just soft-hearted." Chen Cheng was raised by Chen Aoshuang and knew her character very well.

She said, "Don't do this again, or you will be bullied."

"Xiaocheng... take care of yourself. Remember what I told you. Don't fight or snatch. I'm also... sorry for not leaving you anything valuable because I don't want them to target you in the future. I hope... you understand me."

Chen Cheng nodded awkwardly. She was not greedy for things that did not belong to her. They were Chen Aoshuang's biological children, and the property should be inherited by them.

Chen Aoshuang looked at the crying girl and felt a little regretful. She shouldn't have adopted her when she was older and insisted on raising her under her own name. She was not able to accompany her for several years.

At that time, her decision to adopt a child was very selfish. Her children could not stand her bossing them around. After she got married, the relationship between mother and children faded a lot. As a result, she became slightly depressed. In her unstable mental state, she decided to adopt a child who would be under her control.

Chen Cheng is the chosen child.

She knew that her control was almost outrageous, but Chen Cheng cooperated without any objection. He was not acting, but was truly willing to follow her command.

"Niuniu."

Chen Aoshuang held Chen Cheng's face in her hands, feeling mixed emotions, love and guilt.

"You will be free from now on."

There is no need to tolerate a willful old man like me anymore.

Chen Cheng was immersed in sorrow and could not hear anything.

"Okay, don't cry."

Chen Aoshuang held Chen Cheng's hand and wanted to stay with her for a while longer.

Chen Cheng couldn't stay too long because Chen Aoshuang was not awake for long, and she also had things to say to other people in the Shen family.

Chen Aoshuang fell asleep again, and Shen Zhuo sent someone to urge her to leave.

Chen Cheng was pushed out of the door and was told not to go near the main house until he was notified.

She took a long way back to the annex where she lived.

The old house of the Shen family consists of a main building and four auxiliary buildings connected together, covering a very large area. The other three buildings are respectively occupied by the eldest, second and third eldest sons of the Shen family, and they are all the same size. The building that Chen Cheng lives in was built by someone ordered by Chen Aoshuang later, and it is relatively small, suitable for her to live alone.

Compared with the other three buildings, it is small and very spacious for her to live alone.

The Shen family was discussing how to divide the property. She didn't know how many days the stalemate would last, so she could only wait.

Chen Cheng stood in front of the French window, looking at the brightly lit main building, and fell into confusion for a moment.

I have never imagined what life would be like after Chen Aoshuang is gone. Where will she go in the future?

I'm afraid I no longer even have the right to live in this little Western-style house.

At that moment, she seemed to be back to the windy and snowy night fifteen years ago when she was sent to the orphanage. She stood at the door, looking at the high iron bars, full of fear for the future.

With a bang, the door was violently pushed open, followed by the sound of quarreling.

The sound was sharp, and Chen Cheng's ear was suddenly pierced. His eardrum ached and seemed to be about to burst.

"I heard that Xiaocheng is back, so I came to see her. What are you doing here?"

"I wonder if Xiaocheng has eaten yet. Can I bring some food to her?"

"Really? You're trying to trick me by offering me food."

"You came here empty-handed, and you still have the nerve to say that to me?"

"I often have dinner with Xiaocheng, so I'm not tired."

"How dare you say that? It's just that I go home more often to eat. The whole family is at the table. How can it be considered that I often eat with Xiaocheng? I feel embarrassed to hear you say that."

The two women's voices became louder and louder, until the whole house was filled with their echoes.

"Sister-in-law and second sister-in-law, please stop quarreling when you go into the house. It will scare Xiaocheng." The third sister-in-law stood in the middle to mediate and was almost thrown out by the two sisters-in-law.

Chen Cheng hid behind the door, not daring to make a sound, pretending not to be at home.

She can't even handle one sister-in-law, let alone three.

They are not simple characters either. Although they are sisters-in-law, they are bound to fight overtly and covertly for the benefit of their own families.

"Tell me the truth, are you here for mom's jewelry?" asked the second sister-in-law, with her hands on her hips.

The eldest sister-in-law insisted: "Do you think everyone looks like you? You have always been thinking about the gemstone necklace in mom's collection. Don't think I don't know."

"Sister-in-law and second sister-in-law, Mom is not in a good condition now. Even if we chase Xiaocheng and ask her, she won't be able to answer." The third sister-in-law wanted to appeal to their emotions and reason.

The second sister-in-law was not interested and wasted no time: "Okay, third sister-in-law, stop pretending to be a good person. Every time you see mom wearing those emerald earrings, you don't even blink. If you want them, just say so."

The three of them looked at each other, each with their own little thoughts.

The eldest sister-in-law coughed and said, "Mom divided the property under her name into three parts. Our three families got the same. Mom didn't favor any of the brothers. The men don't need the jewelry, so we can save it for our daughters."

The other two families also had daughters and accepted the proposal.

It's not something they asked for, it's something they gave to their granddaughters, so it's the most reasonable thing to do.

Chen Cheng, who was eavesdropping behind the door, had no idea what jewelry they were talking about. His mother did have a collection of quite a few pieces of jewelry, some of which were worth tens of millions, while others were collected simply because she liked them and were not worth much.

Chen Cheng would not take any of Chen Aoshuang's property, including jewelry, which was what he promised her last night.

Chen Cheng thought about it and decided to just hide away. She didn't want to conflict with her three sisters-in-law.

She walked around the house, her heart pounding with nervousness, and had to quickly find a safe corner to hide before they went upstairs.

"Everyone, it's not appropriate for you to be conspiring in our living room, right?"

A male voice abruptly interrupted them, with a slight rise in the last note and full of sarcasm.

Chen Cheng recognized it as Song Jili's voice and felt relieved instantly. He stopped hiding and quietly stuck his head out to peek at the situation downstairs.

The three recognized him as Chen Cheng's new husband, Song Jili.

Being exposed in front of others, especially by the elder, her face turned red all the way to her neck and she turned her head slightly to avoid Song Jili's gaze.

"Our Chengcheng can hear you, but you are still shouting so loudly. Do you think that since Mrs. Shen is gone, she, an orphan, is easy to bully?" Song Jili never practiced Tai Chi, but his words were always full of thorns, and every word pierced into people's hearts.

"Second Young Master, you're too kind. We are her sisters-in-law, how can she be an orphan?" The third sister-in-law was pushed out to smooth things over.

Song Jili sneered: "Really? The jewelry is all left for our daughter, so - let Chengcheng have a share."

The three men's faces turned pale and black.

"If you can't bear to leave, don't pretend to be righteous." Song Jili walked past them and went upstairs, "Goodbye, I won't see you off."

Chen Cheng hid back in the room and listened carefully to the noise outside.

The three sisters-in-law didn't say a word in reply and walked out in a daze.

It's incredible.

There was a knock on the door. Chen Cheng hesitated whether to open the door or not. He didn't want to face Song Jili. She must be in a bad mood after crying just now.

Song Jili outside seemed to know what she was thinking. He pressed against the door and said in a long tone, "Little Chengzi, be good and open the door."

Chen Cheng was stunned for a moment and his face turned red.

What do you mean by open the door? He thought he was singing nursery rhymes to coax children!