Chapter 52 Shen Jing Si Arrives
"I'm a little confused by what you're saying, sir."
Shen's mother originally thought that her daughter would continue to endure it, but unexpectedly, the person spoke up without warning.
When Lu Zhenyu looked up, her eyes met the old woman's precisely, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.
The old woman immediately straightened her neck, her disdain undisguised in front of others, "How could you be so confused?"
Lu Zhenyu chuckled lightly, "That's true. Many people say I'm unlucky and bring misfortune to my relatives and friends, but I won't refute that for now. But this 'being plagued by petty people'..."
As she drew out her words, her fox-like eyes narrowed, and her smiling gaze turned cold. "Does Mrs. Zhang think I would ruin their marriage, or that my brother is of bad character and will succumb to temptation and cheat on her after marriage?"
Lu Zhenyu had a keen eye for people; the old woman's face froze for a moment before she turned away with a cold snort.
"Of course I would not speak ill of my son-in-law. His excellence is evident to all in the capital."
"If that's how you put it, then I understand."
Lu Zhenyu nodded with interest. "So you think I'm morally corrupt and will definitely ruin Xiaoxi's marriage in the future, is that what you mean?"
Her straightforward words left the old woman, who loved to beat around the bush, speechless.
Lu Zhenyu frowned, then raised her hand to stroke her chin, pondering earnestly:
"But everything has to be consensual. Adultery is something that can't be done by one hand alone, right?"
She looked directly into his eyes again, leaned slightly forward, and blinked innocently. "So, after all this, you still genuinely believe that my brother is morally flawed, unfaithful to his wife, idle all day, and hypocritical. Even after marriage, he secretly indulges in philandering, is that right?"
"This..." The old woman's face turned pale and then red.
Her two cunning yellow eyes darted left and right, unable to find a rebuttal, so she started to show off her old-fashioned, spoiled behavior again.
“Mrs. Shen, look at the mess this has made. I’ve long heard that your Miss Lu is quick-witted and can turn white into black. What she just said clearly shows that she’s blaming me.”
"you……"
Just as Madam Shen was about to speak, the old nanny interrupted her, "But Miss Lu, don't just fixate on one point. Those were all said by the master; I was just a middleman relaying the message."
"Besides, I'm genuinely doing this for the good of Miss and Young Master Shen, always thinking of just in case. If you feel uncomfortable with what I've said, feel free to scold me a few times. I'm just a servant who was fortunate enough to breastfeed Miss for a few days. I haven't had much schooling, but my heart is truly with Miss and Young Master Shen. These two families are about to get married, so don't let me cause any rift between them because of you."
She kept saying she was bad at talking, but in the end she said both good and bad things.
If Lu Zhenyu keeps pressing this topic, it will only make her seem petty and unforgiving.
Seeing the old woman's aggrieved expression, Xiao Meng's fists hardened.
He muttered to himself, "What a piece of trash! How come he didn't choke to death on his own saliva?"
Lu Zhenyu lowered her eyes slightly, a meaningful smile still lingering on her lips.
"Aunt Zhang is so good at talking, she makes me, an adopted daughter from out of town, not know what to say."
The mother, who had long harbored resentment, felt a sudden pang of anxiety!
In front of everyone, he took Lu Zhenyu's hand and said, "Silly child, what do you mean by outsider or adopted daughter? Don't listen to those people's nonsense. Besides, haven't there been enough rumors about you two siblings over the years?"
Mother Shen's tone was sharp, but then she looked at Mother Duan, looking embarrassed, "My dear in-law, please don't take offense at what I'm saying. I'm not trying to insult anyone, but people have hearts, and everything seems dirty to them. Those who spread those rumors back then were just trying to smear our Shen family!"
The mother of Duan, who hadn't spoken until now, nodded in a serious manner. "Yes, what my in-laws say is right. I always tell my Xi'er and Lao Duan that siblings don't need to be related by blood. If they have a good relationship, it proves that their parents raised them well."
Her gaze fell on Lu Zhenyu; this was the first time she had looked at him properly all afternoon.
“Aunt Zhang is getting old and sometimes she can’t keep her mouth shut, but she’s not a bad person. Miss Lu, please don’t take it to heart.”
Their eyes met, and Lu Zhenyu responded with a forced smile, "Aunt Duan is overthinking it."
The master and servant in this household played the roles of good cop and bad cop, not because they were afraid she would misunderstand, but because they felt she was superfluous.
On the contrary, Duan Xi'er, no matter how much she hated Lu Zhenyu in the past, truly defended her mother in every way today.
Lu Zhenyu understood that she was afraid her family would have objections to Shen Jingsi, and also afraid that she wouldn't be able to witness their "happiness" firsthand.
The conversation eventually turned to their wedding plans.
Mother Shen pulled Duan Xi'er, who had been well-behaved and sensible throughout, to her side and gave her a tender hug.
"According to my and her father's idea, we would choose a house with good feng shui from the few estates we have newly developed as our wedding home, but Xi'er is considerate and filial, and wants to live with us elders."
Mother Shen continued, “This old house was renovated ten years ago, but with the two children’s wedding approaching, I thought it over and decided to cut down the woods in front and build a new house. This way, our whole family can be together, and the young couple can have their own space.”
Madam Duan nodded in satisfaction, "This is indeed the most appropriate way. Even my father-in-law and Xiao Si would agree."
Mother Shen replied, "What could Old Shen possibly disagree with? And Xiao Si is even more so; he values Xiao Xi more than we do now."
Duan Xi'er shyly hid her head, "Aunt Chen, I'm embarrassed by what you're saying."
“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about.” Mother Shen patted her and then pulled Lu Zhenyu over. “Just ask your sister Zhenzhen, does A-Si value you a hundred percent?”
A gust of wind blew in from who knows where, carrying that heavy, cloying, ancient fragrance into Lu Zhenyu's nostrils.
Suddenly feeling nauseous, she gritted her teeth and swallowed hard, suppressing the acid reflux rising in her stomach.
“Godmother is right.”
Their eyes met, and Duan Xi'er grinned, looking at her mother, "Mom, did you hear that? I'm not just being narcissistic and trying to fool you, A-Si is really good to me now."
Despite her concerns about the marriage, Duan's mother was content just looking at her daughter's sweet smile.
"Yes, your A-Si is the best to you." He looked helplessly at his mother, "Mother-in-law, tell me, her father and I are both quiet, scholarly people, how did we end up with such a love-struck child?"
Mother Shen smiled and replied, "That proves that you and your father-in-law have a good relationship. The child has been influenced by this since childhood, and will naturally aspire to it when he grows up."
The slightly tense atmosphere dissipated in just a few words.
Just as everyone was chatting happily, a servant came back from outside, his steps hurried.
"Madam, the young master..."
Everyone looked at the newcomer, and Madam Shen asked, "What's wrong? Is it Xiao Si who's back?"
The servant nodded, hesitated, and repeated "Young Master" several times before finally saying:
"As soon as the young master returned, he went straight to the small building. He not only fired Dr. Li, but also... he also punished the maid who burned Miss Xi'er this morning."
Duan Xi'er straightened up. "Why? Did he say something?"
Seeing the servant stammering and unable to speak, Madam Chen smiled and patted her hand across the road.
Then, looking at Duan's mother, he said, "I'm so sorry to have made you laugh, my dear in-law. My son, Xiao Si, has always been impatient."
Before Duan's mother could speak, a voice came from outside the villa: "Am I too impatient, or are you, the matriarch, too good-natured? Keeping a bunch of useless good-for-nothings around, when did the Shen family become a retirement home?"
As they were talking, Shen Jingsi appeared, his suit jacket slung over his shoulder, his other hand in his pocket.
After a long day at work, I looked tired and my face was rather sour, bringing back a bit of the cold air from outside.
With outsiders present, Mother Shen lowered her voice, "What are you saying, child? You don't even greet your elders."
Shen Jingsi lazily slumped back onto the sofa, then turned his lower lip towards Duan's mother opposite him, saying, "I was busy at the company and came back a little late. Please don't mind."
Upon meeting her prospective son-in-law, the woman's previous arrogant and aloof demeanor instantly transformed into kindness, and a gentle smile graced her face.
"Knowing you're busy managing such a large business every day, your mother said she wanted to call you back, but I stopped her."
Duan Xi'er got up and walked over, sitting down next to him on the sofa. She placed her hands on his stiff shoulders under his shirt and began to massage them tenderly.
"The servant just said you fired Dr. Li?"
Shen Jingsi crossed his long legs, his eyelids drooping as he casually rolled up his sleeves. "I work from dawn till dusk every day, not to support some useless people with poor eyesight and clumsy legs."
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