Chapter Seventy-Three: Clash, First Encounter with the "In-Laws"

Perhaps Shen Tingxiao could be called cunning and calculating in the business world, brimming with wisdom and possessing a maturity far beyond his years. However, in the realm of 'acting,' he would likely fail to even pass the basic test for a background actor.

Jiang Yunzhou, having worked as an agent for several years, couldn't help but laugh at his exaggerated expressions and theatrical gestures. Even the maid, trying to stifle her amusement, remembered to play along with her young master.

"Young master's shoulder was indeed badly injured, it's only today that he's able to move it. If Miss Jiang doesn't mind..."

With the words spoken so plainly, refusing would seem graceless. She washed her hands in a copper basin, and the maid set a small table on the bed. Shen Tingxiao lay comfortably, while Jiang Yunzhou sat before him, spearing a thick slice of steak with a fork and holding it out.

"Open your mouth."

Shen Tingxiao obeyed and ate, his eyes curving with a smile. "It smells delicious."

"The food's not bad."

Dishes were uncovered one by one—not much in quantity, but plenty in variety, with everything from frying and roasting to steaming and boiling, and even two types of soup.

"You should eat something too. If you like any of these, I'll have the chef make more tonight."

After feeding him a few spoonfuls, Shen Tingxiao dropped the act, took the bowl and chopsticks himself, and pointed to a milk cake. "Try this."

Jiang Yunzhou didn't stand on ceremony, picking up a piece with her chopsticks and tasting it. Her eyes lit up. "How does your chef know how to make this?"

This was the specialty of Old Madam Shen, Jiang Yunzhou’s favorite treat. After entering Shen Ruizhang’s company, no longer a child needing to be coddled, and with the old lady growing older, she hadn’t dared to trouble her, so she obtained the recipe and made it herself when she had time—but it never tasted quite right.

She hadn’t expected, in a foreign land, to taste something identical.

Shen Tingxiao smiled smugly. "I knew you’d like it."

In those years of silent guardianship, his longing for her was overwhelming; bit by bit, he made her preferences his own, turned her favorite foods into his, as if she had always been by his side.

In the cold, brutal battles of business and power, it was his only comfort.

Now, his beloved was his fiancée, and they fed each other milk cake with mutual smiles, tasting nothing but sweetness.

After finishing their meal, they watched a movie together in the room, and darkness fell before they realized it.

Suddenly, the phone by the bed rang. Shen Tingxiao’s brow furrowed as he pressed the call button.

"What is it?"

The butler’s voice came through: "Madam and Sir have returned."

Shen Tingxiao’s gaze darkened. "Why are they back now?"

He’d been injured for quite some time. Aside from the first day when they sat by his bed, fussed over him, and shed a couple of tears, he hadn’t seen them since—not even a greeting. When work got busy, they’d disappear for ten, fifteen days at a time. Today, though, they had come back together.

The butler paused for a moment, then continued, "Madam and Sir heard Miss Jiang is here and wish to meet her."

A wave of regret crossed Jiang Yunzhou’s face. "Had I known I’d be meeting your parents today, I’d have dressed more formally, at least brought some gifts."

Truth be told, from the time their relationship was confirmed to the engagement, Shen Tingxiao had invited everyone he could, except his own parents. As a result, Jiang Yunzhou had yet to truly meet her 'in-laws.'

She had once asked Shen Tingxiao, "Aren’t you going to introduce me to your parents? What if they don’t approve of us?"

Shen Tingxiao had scoffed, "No need. Their opinion isn’t important."

Jiang Yunzhou herself didn’t wish to waste time on pointless socializing, but now she couldn’t avoid it: she was trapped in their home.

Shen Tingxiao spoke lazily, "It’s only right that they come to meet you. Let’s go, I’ll accompany you downstairs."

"No need." Jiang Yunzhou tapped his chest with her finger, gently pushing him back. "Just lie down and rest. Don’t move. I’ll go greet Uncle and Aunt myself."

"But..."

"But what? Are your parents going to eat me?"

...

The Shen couple certainly wouldn’t eat her, yet the aura they projected was nearly as intimidating.

The crystal chandelier bathed the living room in gold, even the gilded floral door frames glowed a honeyed hue, and the silver carpet was thick and soft, its iris motif seeming almost fragrant.

Even with wounds on the soles of her feet, Jiang Yunzhou found it comfortable to stand there.

She waited five minutes before the Shen couple entered at a leisurely pace.

Shen’s father wore a bespoke suit and a round top hat, his mustache meticulously groomed, presenting the image of a refined gentleman.

Shen’s mother donned a dark green cheongsam with a long string of pearls and four jade bracelets on her hands.

Though she was dressed in classical style, her hair was dyed milky white, pinned with a netted fascinator, her nails done in French style—an odd combination.

"You’re the little girl raised in your aunt’s house, aren’t you? How is the old lady’s health?"

Shen’s mother spoke indifferently. Though addressing Jiang Yunzhou, her eyes didn’t meet hers, instead turning to the butler standing by: "Go brew a cup of black tea. The usual. Sir’s been feeling tired lately, make him a pot of ginseng tea."

Jiang Yunzhou was about to answer, but Shen’s mother interrupted her.

Clearly, she meant to make things difficult.

So Jiang Yunzhou did not hold back. She gathered her skirts and sat on the sofa, staring directly at Shen’s mother without speaking.

This was, of course, a highly improper gesture, and Shen’s mother seized upon it immediately: "You were raised in Ruizhang’s house, so this is how your aunt taught you? You don’t know to answer when elders ask?"

Jiang Yunzhou sneered coldly, "Old Madam Shen never taught me such things, because she led by example, protected the younger generation, and is a truly cultivated elder."

"You!" Shen’s mother’s chest heaved with anger.

It was Shen’s father, silent until now, who suddenly spoke: "Tingxiao needs rest for his injury. We’re grateful Miss Jiang came to visit, but it’s getting late. As a well-bred young lady, shouldn’t you be heading home?"

Before Jiang Yunzhou could reply, Shen Tingxiao’s voice rang out from upstairs:

"Since when does someone else get to decide when my fiancée goes home?"

Shen’s father sprang to his feet, unable to maintain his gentlemanly composure, and shouted, "Who’s someone else? We are your parents, not your enemies!"

"You didn’t tell us about your engagement, such a big event. Are you rebelling? Don’t forget your surname! Whose house are you living in? Whose food are you eating?"

Shen Tingxiao’s eyes went cold, his voice sharp and mocking: "Five years ago, you trusted two con artists and invested more than half of Shen family’s liquidity into an unfamiliar medical field, losing everything.

Even my young cousin back home suffered because of you. If I hadn’t saved the day and secured the Bund project, your whole family would be out there collecting bankruptcy insurance now.

How dare you shout at me and bully my fiancée?"