Chapter Eighty-Nine: Eldest Grandson

Jiang Yunzhu never expected Shen Tingxiao to be so audacious—he pulled her into the lounge right in front of Shen Ruizhang.

“You shouldn’t have done that,” she said softly.

Shen Tingxiao scoffed, “Why not? He can bring that woman right before you, but I can’t have a private conversation with you?”

Hearing this, Jiang Yunzhu broke into laughter. “Of course you can. Compared to him, you’re much better.”

Shen Tingxiao raised his eyebrows, “Only much better?”

Seeing his expression, Jiang Yunzhu settled into a chair and asked gently, “What else? Would you rather be worse than him?”

“That won’t do. If I’m worse, I wouldn’t be worthy of you.”

A smile curled at Jiang Yunzhu’s lips once again.

Shen Tingxiao gazed at the woman in the mirror, his eyes deepening. “You’re truly beautiful today.”

Jiang Yunzhu’s cheeks suddenly flushed. She coughed, a little uneasy. “Today is my wedding day, after all.”

Shen Tingxiao pressed his lips together, his expression darkening. “Must it be this way? Isn’t there any other option?”

Jiang Yunzhu fell silent. Grandma Shen was the most important person to her; she couldn’t bear to lose her. If this could delay Grandma Shen’s illness, she was willing to go through with it.

“Grandma Shen wants to see things this way. Besides, nothing will really happen between me and Shen Ruizhang.”

Shen Tingxiao was unwilling, even tempted to personally deal with Shen Ruizhang so Jiang Yunzhu wouldn’t have to marry him.

“But everyone believes you’ll be his wife. Yunzhu, can you really bear to do this to me?”

Jiang Yunzhu pressed her lips together, looking at the man’s reflection behind her in the mirror. “I can’t gamble with Grandma Shen’s life.”

Shen Tingxiao choked, knowing he could never surpass the old lady’s place in her heart, so he didn’t press the matter further. He didn’t want to make things hard for Jiang Yunzhu; knowing he held a place in her heart was enough.

“How do you plan to deal with that woman?”

Jiang Yunzhu’s lips twisted. “Grandma Shen’s spirits are high today, so Zhou Qingfei absolutely cannot appear before her. My people will keep watch over her the entire time.”

Shen Tingxiao narrowed his eyes. “Is that all?”

“Zhou Qingfei won’t let go so easily—she’ll surely try something else. Keep an eye out for me. If there’s anyone suspicious, have them taken away immediately.”

...

When Shen Tingxiao left the lounge, he saw Shen Ruizhang leaning against the wall and sneered, “Since when did you develop the bad habit of eavesdropping?”

Shen Ruizhang’s face darkened. “What were you two talking about just now?”

“Things between lovers aren’t meant to be shared,” Shen Tingxiao replied with a taunting smirk.

Shen Ruizhang’s expression grew uglier. He threatened, “Yunzhu will soon be my wife. You’d better start adjusting to your role!”

Shen Tingxiao laughed disdainfully. “You’re only deceiving yourself—Yunzhu has already made things clear to me.”

After provoking him, Shen Tingxiao walked away. Though fury burned inside him at Shen Ruizhang’s actions—he even wished he could kill the man—reason kept him firmly in check.

If he acted on impulse, Yunzhu would never forgive him.

He also believed Yunzhu would never fall for Shen Ruizhang again.

Watching Shen Tingxiao’s departing figure, Shen Ruizhang’s face turned red with rage, the image of the refined gentleman collapsing in an instant. He bit his lip and glanced at the tightly shut door, feeling so suffocated he could barely breathe.

He kept comforting himself: after today, Jiang Yunzhu would be his wife, and there would be nothing more between her and Shen Tingxiao!

Thinking this, his mood improved slightly, and he left to attend to his duties.

Zhou Qingfei was once again locked in a room by two bodyguards. No matter how fiercely she pounded the door or shouted in anger, those outside remained unresponsive, as if no one was there.

Her throat grew hoarse from shouting, her body exhausted, yet still there was no reaction. She couldn’t help cursing Jiang Yunzhu repeatedly in her heart.

She hurriedly pulled out her phone to check for messages, but seeing nothing, anxiety gripped her again.

Why haven’t they acted yet? At this hour, if they delay any longer, those two will really get married!

Jiang Yunzhu glanced at the time. The bridesmaid approached and told her she could proceed.

She lifted her wedding dress and stepped out of the lounge.

Old Lady Shen saw Jiang Yunzhu in her pristine white wedding gown, and her smile deepened. The elderly woman’s eyes reddened as she gazed at her.

“Grandma, why are you crying? Has someone bullied you?”

Could it be those two failed to keep Zhou Qingfei under control?

Old Lady Shen held Jiang Yunzhu’s hand. “Who would dare bully me? I’m just moved seeing you in a wedding dress. I remember when you were just a little girl, and now you’re old enough to start your own family.”

Jiang Yunzhu pressed her lips together, gripping Grandma Shen’s hand tightly.

“Time flies—more than twenty years have passed in a blink. I won’t be able to accompany you for much longer, but seeing you find your own happiness is enough.”

Jiang Yunzhu grew anxious at these words. “Grandma! You’re going to live a long life! You’ll be with me for many more years, so don’t say such unlucky things.”

Old Lady Shen was amused by Jiang Yunzhu’s anxious expression.

“All right, all right, I’ll live to a ripe old age! I still want to hold my grandchild someday!”

Jiang Yunzhu’s cheeks flushed. “Grandma, that’s still far off!”

“Nonsense. After you marry, within a year, I’ll be holding my grandchild.”

Jiang Yunzhu’s lips twitched, unsure how to respond. Wasn’t that a bit too fast?

Shen Ruizhang, having finished his tasks, joined them just in time to hear Old Lady Shen’s words. His expression softened.

He stepped in front of her, speaking gently, “Mom, aren’t you a bit too eager? Yunzhu and I haven’t even decided if we want children so soon.”

Old Lady Shen’s face fell at his words. She glared at him. “Let me tell you, if you ever dare wrong Yunzhu, I’ll throw you out of the Shen family!”

Shen Ruizhang was stunned. “Mom, I’m your own son.”

She snorted. “I won’t bother with what you’ve done, but that woman—you’d better deal with her cleanly! The child in her belly will never be acknowledged by our family. The eldest grandchild of the Shen family can only come from Yunzhu!”

Jiang Yunzhu opened her mouth, seeing the seriousness in Old Lady Shen’s face, unable to reveal the truth. She could only turn her gaze to Shen Ruizhang.