Chapter 34 Makes a Request
For the past two weeks, Duan Xi'er has been floating in the sky.
Because Shen Jingsi suddenly changed, becoming extremely gentle and caring towards her.
Before, she would follow him wherever he went; now, she takes him wherever he goes.
It's only been half a month since the engagement was decided, but the news has already spread throughout the capital.
"Aunt Chen, I still can't quite believe it. Am I really going to marry Ah Si?"
"Don't you believe me?" Mother Shen took her hand. "Then pinch me, but don't pinch yourself, it hurts Mom's heart."
Duan Xi'er blushed, "Aunt Chen! You always tease me!"
"Huh?" Mother Shen patted her sternly. "What should you call me?"
Duan Xi'er lowered her head shyly and whispered, "Mom."
"Eh~"
When Shen Jingsi changed his clothes and went downstairs, this was the scene he saw.
The man was wearing a dark blue satin shirt today, which shimmered under the light, the hem of which hung down into his beige suit trousers, highlighting his excellent figure with broad shoulders and a narrow waist.
I've visibly lost weight recently, which actually makes me look more upright and energetic.
"What are you chatting about that makes you so happy?"
Duan Xi'er noticed he was about to leave. "Are you going to drink with Si Wei and the others?"
Shen Jingsi walked closer and said, "You're already meddling in other people's business before you're even officially married?"
Lately, the man has been smiling less, and his phoenix eyes are as black as ink, looking at everyone with an undeniable sense of aloofness.
The same applies to Duan Xi'er right now; even though he's smiling, Duan Xi'er feels that the smile doesn't reach his eyes.
But Duan Xi'er was unwilling to think about it further.
Besides, this man is a human being, not a machine. He manages such a large corporation on his own, with hundreds of decisions to be made every day. It's normal for him to show signs of fatigue.
The fact that he could still manage a smile when facing her shows that he is genuinely changing towards her.
Having figured this out, Duan Xi'er smoothed her bangs, revealing a delicate and charming demeanor, "No, I didn't. Can't I just ask?"
As Chen's mother watched the two flirting, she couldn't stop smiling. Suddenly, she remembered something and called them over.
Shen Jingsi, who had already reached the door, turned around impatiently. "What imperial decree has come up this time, Ms. Chen?"
Mother Shen glared at him, "It's still early, you should come with me and Xiao Xi to the Zheng family first."
Both of them were taken aback.
Didn't they say it would be fine for just the two of them to go?
Duan Xi'er looked at the door again, her face showing hesitation, "Are you sure... you want A-Si to come along?"
She went to great lengths to put the troublesome fox back in its cage, but she couldn't afford to risk rekindling their old flame.
The voice wasn't loud; only Shen's mother heard it. She understood that the speaker didn't want Shen Jingsi to go with them, so she patted her hand, meaning, "I know what you're worried about."
"I'm not going."
Unexpectedly, Shen Jingsi, who was standing in front of the entrance, refused first.
He had been keeping his emotions hidden lately, but his words carried a hint of direct resentment.
Hearing this made the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law feel at ease.
Mother Shen walked over and poked her son's shoulder. "Old Master Zheng hasn't been feeling well lately. We, as in-laws, should have gone to see him sooner. With your father away, there has to be a man to take his place."
Shen Jingsi gave a forced smile, his tone dripping with sarcasm, "If you carried my grandfather's memorial tablet, it would show you even more respect."
Mother Chen's face darkened. "Get out of here!"
Let's not even talk about whether it's unlucky to bring a dead person's memorial tablet to visit a sick person; let's also say that these two old men didn't get along when they were young.
If Old Master Shen hadn't passed away so early, the Zheng family might have been brought down long ago, and none of those messy things would have happened later.
If you really move the memorial tablet there, it's guaranteed to make Old Master Zheng, who's barely clinging to life, die of anger in one fell swoop.
Seeing that his mother wouldn't budge, Shen Jingsi's patience was about to run out. "Then let either my second uncle or Jin Chuan go. I'm not going."
The mother and son were at an impasse, so Duan Xi'er stepped in to mediate.
“Just listen to your mother.” She took Shen Jingsi’s hand and shook it gently. “We can go see Sister Zhenzhen together. Don’t forget, according to the customs of the capital, on our wedding day, we have to ask Sister Zhenzhen to put gold on me.”
Shen Jingsi grinned at her with a roguish glint in his eyes, "What? Aren't you afraid I'll rekindle our old flame if I see her again?"
Duan Xi'er pouted and pretended to be angry as she shook off his hand. "Then let's just not get married. It'll let everyone in the capital know that you, Shen Jingsi, are a heartless and ungrateful scumbag!"
Shen Jingsi raised an eyebrow, the corner of his lips curving into a half-smile, and reluctantly put his hand back in his pocket.
"Alright then, since you two are begging me like this, it's no big deal for me to go."
Seeing the two looking at him from both sides, he added, "Let me make this clear beforehand, you're the ones who asked me to go, so my only responsibility is to go."
It means that as long as the people are in place, nothing else matters.
Mother Shen was the first to nod, "It's settled then."
Duan Xi'er silently scrutinized the person, her smile growing even stronger.
It seems her worries were completely unfounded; Shen Jingsi appears to have truly let go of Lu Zhenyu.
Does that also prove that he's about to fall in love with himself?
-
The three men, carrying generous gifts, arrived at the Zheng family's residence in a grand procession before nightfall.
Since Gao Zhengjie had just returned to Shenzhen that morning, he was hosted by the Zheng family mother and daughter.
In previous years, when the Shen family came, Zheng's mother would not have greeted them with a smile.
In recent years, as her husband's health deteriorated, she realized how difficult it was to manage a household and gradually tempered her temper.
Grandpa Zheng is still the same. Over the years, his bedroom has gradually become an intensive care unit. He lies in bed all day and receives life-sustaining injections costing 100,000 yuan a day.
He was only lucid for short periods, but his mind was clear. When he saw Shen Jingsi, he pointed at him and said, "This is the Shen family brat who almost beat my grandson to death back then, isn't he?"
Shen Jingsi, who was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, laughed, "Grandpa still remembers me. Didn't I almost die at the hands of your Zheng family back then?"
The room, which had been packed with people, suddenly fell silent. The Zheng family members looked at each other, thankfully the bedroom lights were dim, hiding their grumpy faces.
Duan Xi'er, who was standing next to him, secretly tugged at his hand, signaling him to tone it down.
Although the Zheng family is not as powerful as before, the old man is still alive, and there is Gao Zhengjie whose career is rising higher and higher.
“My dear in-laws, your little Si is still just as spirited as he was back then.”
Knowing that her son was bound to cause trouble, Mother Shen smiled apologetically at Mother Zheng, "He's almost thirty and still not steady enough. You're not as good as your Yaozong."
A group of people walked out of the bedroom while talking, and Chen's mother asked about Lu Zhenyu.
"You mean that old lady? She never leaves her house and is always waited on by servants. She's probably drawing talismans in the back mountains right now."
Zheng's mother pretended to hit her daughter, saying, "Speak properly! What nonsense are you spouting? Zhenzhen's painting skills were taught by an art master personally by your Aunt Shen back then."
With a forced smile, Mother Shen replied, "Our Zhenzhen is quiet and doesn't like to show her face. She's been living abroad all these years and hasn't been able to help you with housework. You can try to let her do it in the future. Our Zhenzhen has always been smart and insightful."
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Zheng's mother said she wanted to call Lu Zhenyu back, but Shen's mother stopped her, saying, "It's been a while since my daughter and I have seen each other. I'll go find her and we can have a heart-to-heart talk."
Lu Zhenyu never expected that her mother, who had been quietly sketching in the back mountains for many days without making a sound, would suddenly appear from behind her.
She wore a high-necked, fitted dress with a cashmere coat over it, a scarf around her neck, and her face, devoid of makeup, was pale and thin.
Seeing this, Chen's mother felt tears welling up in her eyes. She reached out and hugged the person, asking, "Are your mother-in-law and the others good to you?"
What kind of mother can raise a bunch of arrogant and domineering children? If Gao Zhengjie hadn't made a promise beforehand, Lu Zhenyu, who wouldn't have been beaten by Zheng Yaozong, would have been tormented by her mother-in-law.
She smiled and said, "It's alright. I live alone in the villa, and no one bothers me. It's rare to have peace and quiet."
Mother Shen tucked the stray hairs that were blocking her eyes behind her ear and patted her shoulder. "I've been busy with Xiaoxi and Xiaosi's wedding lately and haven't had time to come see you. Don't blame me."
Hearing this, Lu Zhenyu remained remarkably calm, a faint smile playing on her lips. "That's great. Godmother, please congratulate them for me."
The surprise in Shen's mother's eyes vanished in an instant as she took the hand holding the paintbrush.
“Zhenzhen, you’ve been smart since you were little. I won’t beat around the bush with you. Actually, I brought them here today with another reason.”
Lu Zhenyu looked at her: "You go ahead and say it."
Thinking about what she was about to say, Chen Jie hesitated, struggled internally for a moment, and then spoke.
"We both know Xiao Si's thoughts better than anyone else. This kid used to be very resistant to marriage, and Xiao Xi tried to persuade him for five years but couldn't get him to agree. A few days ago, for some reason, he suddenly took the initiative to propose to get engaged to that girl."
Lu Zhenyu suddenly understood why Feng Manman had cried so hard that night.
So it was him who brought it up.
Her hand gripping the paintbrush tightened unconsciously, and she looked at her with a smile, "Isn't that great? Godmother, what else could you possibly be dissatisfied with?"
She was satisfied, but she knew her own child best. What Shen's mother feared was that if her son acted too normally, it would seem abnormal.
Just in case, she had no choice but to swallow her pride and approach Lu Zhenyu.
"Mom actually wants to ask you for a favor."
Lu Zhenyu, "What?"
Mother Shen took her hand and said, "Before they get engaged, you should talk to Xiao Si face to face and make everything clear. Regardless of whether he has other intentions, break it off with him first."
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