"mom."

Yan Qiao broke the deadlock, her voice tinged with trepidation and unfamiliarity as she called out "Mom."

That's always been the case between her and Chen Lan.

Chen Lan is over forty years old, but she is well-maintained and her demeanor is refined.

She brushed her freshly permed hair aside, and her body exuded a perfume scent that Yan Qiao was familiar with.

She loves strong fragrances.

"At least you know to come back."

Yan Qiao rarely saw any emotion other than indifference in her eyes, unless those eyes were looking at her son.

"Didn't you tell me to come back?" Yan Qiao found a place that wasn't too far away and sat down.

Well, she shouldn't have had any expectations in the first place.

Chen Lan sneered, "If you don't cause any scandals, what do I care if you die out there?"

Yan Qiao was used to such remarks; it wasn't the first time she'd heard them.

Think about it, what Chen Lan said wasn't even a tenth as harsh as the insults people hurled online.

Tsk, her skills aren't up to par.

"Give up now, this marriage can't be dissolved."

Yan Qiao then looked up at her. "You may have misunderstood. It's Shen Zhou who wants to break off the engagement, not me. You know, it's no use telling me this."

If she had a choice, the marriage would have been dissolved long ago.

"Since he likes Yan Yaoyao, what's wrong with me helping him get together with her?"

"Useless thing!" Chen Lan slammed his hand on the coffee table, causing the teacups on it to shake twice.

Yan Qiao stared at the tea sloshing in her cup, which remained still for a long time.

"I don't care who he likes, but the future young mistress of the Shen family must be a daughter of our Yan family! This is a marriage arranged for you by your grandfather. Can you bear to disappoint him?"

Yan Qiao chuckled softly, "I'm afraid it's not Grandpa who's disappointed, it's you."

Chen Lan was still angry and looked at her with a stern face.

Yan Qiao doesn't look like her at all, and every time she sees this daughter, she feels a sense of jealousy.

Because her daughter was so beautiful, it aroused jealousy, and naturally, she couldn't feel any affection for Yan Qiao.

She pinched the bridge of her nose, her tone softening slightly: "Your grandmother isn't in good health. If she hears that you've broken off your engagement, it will upset her and harm her health."

Yan Qiao suddenly became a bit rebellious. Judging from Chen Lan's attitude, he probably wouldn't let her live a comfortable, laid-back life in the future.

There's no point in dragging this out any longer.

"Mom, how about this? I have a suggestion for you: you and Dad could have another daughter to marry into the family. It's just that Dad's health is so poor, I don't know if he can still have another child. Or maybe we should just forget about it; he has many illegitimate children outside, you can just pick one and bring her home..."

"What nonsense are you spouting!" Chen Lan roared in anger.

Yan Yaohui's affair was not a secret, but few people would say it to her face.

She always adhered to the principle that "as long as I live, you will all remain concubines."

No matter how many women Yan Yaohui had outside, she was his only legal wife.

No woman, and no illegitimate child outside, can ever get past her.

"Yan Qiao, you don't need to provoke me on purpose! Since you really want to break off the engagement, I'll give you a chance."

Snap!

Chen Lan tossed an invitation onto the table.

"Tomorrow evening at seven o'clock, the second wife of the Xi family will be hosting a banquet at the He residence, and the old master of the Shen family will also be attending. If you still want to break off the engagement after attending this banquet, I will not stop you."

Yan Qiao looked at her with some suspicion. Was Chen Lan really that easy to talk to?

"Mom, are you serious?"

Chen Lan placed her hands on her knees, and she sat very upright, always holding herself to high standards.

"Even though I don't like you, I wouldn't lie to you about something as trivial as this. I've never gone back on my word to you since we were kids, have I?"

Yan Qiao nodded, that was true, because Chen Lan never made any promises to her.

When she was little, she didn't understand things and would ask Chen Lan for things she wanted.

Like pretty bracelets, dolls, and the like.

Over time, she realized that she wouldn't get these things even if she asked for them, so she stopped having any expectations.

Upon closer examination, Chen Lan had indeed not lied to her.

"Okay, I'll go."

She accepted the invitation.

Chen Lan's expression softened. "Then let's go home tonight."

Yan Qiao waved her hand, "I still have to deal with the company's contract termination matters. I'll go directly to the banquet tomorrow."

Chen Lan nodded and had someone pack up the clothes and jewelry prepared for Yan Qiao and take them over.

"They were all altered to your size. Do your own makeup, but don't make it too heavy."

Yan Qiao has a good natural look; she looks beautiful even with light makeup.

If she were to wear heavy makeup, it would be superfluous.

Yan Qiao agreed to everything before taking the things and leaving.

Chen Lan's expression changed after the door closed.

"Since it's a tool, it must be prepared to be used. What's the difference between a tool that has no value and waste?"

Chen Ma poured her a cup of black tea. "Miss is a little different this time. I'm afraid... I'm afraid she won't give in easily."

Chen Lan smiled coldly, "I have my own plans. Otherwise, why would I have gone to such lengths to get the invitation to the banquet? After the banquet, she will have no choice but to submit."

...

At the same time, Shen Zhou also brought Yan Yaoyao back to the Shen family.

The main residence of the Shen family is located in the Hefu Courtyard in Yancheng, which is an independent courtyard with its own gate and courtyard, modeled after the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys.

Yan Yaoyao sat nervously in the car. Ever since she entered through that magnificent and imposing gate, she couldn't help but feel intimidated.

In the past, she wouldn't even have been allowed to enter this house.

Hefu is a Chinese courtyard building that cleverly incorporates Western elements, but it is mainly characterized by classical luxury, exuding the grandeur and elegance of an ancient wealthy family.

After getting off the bus, there are three doors leading in, providing excellent privacy.

Shen Zhou took Yan Yaoyao's hand and helped her out of the car.

"Don't be afraid."

Yan Yaoyao looked at Yan Qiao's simple yet grand house, her heart pounding in her throat.

Despite her efforts to restrain herself, she couldn't completely hide her surprise.

"Is this where you live?"

Shen Zhou said, "This is the main house of the Shen family. My grandfather, my parents, and my elder brother and his wife all live here."

The Shen family had only one son per generation for generations, and Shen Zhou's father was an only child.

If Shen Qunbo hadn't married Zhou Yuanxi after his wife's death, and had a son and a daughter with her, he would have only had one son, Shen Wu.

"And what about you?" Yan Yaoyao asked.

Chen Zhou smiled and said, "I come back occasionally. After university, I usually live in my own house in Zixing Garden. I'll take you to see it sometime."

Yan Yaoyao certainly knew about Zixing Garden. The courtyards in Hefu were all detached houses, while those in Zixing Garden were large single-level apartments, and the prices were both ridiculously high.

"good."

She became even more determined to marry into the Shen family!

Yan Yaoyao followed Chen Zhou inside, "Are there many families like yours living here?"

Shen Zhou nodded. "That's right. The Pei family is also here. Hefu is a residential complex they developed together with the Xi family."

The Xi family mainly deals in real estate, focusing on developing new types of urban housing. For example, Hefu Courtyard is their first attempt to enter the high-end housing market.

It was only because of Xi Luo that Master Pei cooperated with them.

Since it was developed by the Pei family, the king of the buildings in Hefu Courtyard rightfully belongs to the Pei family.

"The Pei family?"

Yan Yaoyao is not in this circle, and most of what she knows comes from other people, so her understanding is only superficial.

Shen Zhou said, "If we have the opportunity to meet them in the future, I will introduce them to you."