“That goes without saying.” Su Huaibei was cognizant that the Shi family wasn’t going to roll out the red carpet for him. After all, he was responsible for what happened. Despite the fact that he didn’t have much of a choice, the fault was still his in the end. No matter what Shi Yunsheng, Jiang Yu, or Shi Jingzheng said to him, he would endure it. At the end of the day, he had come with a humble attitude.
However, Su Huaibei didn’t expect Shi Yunsheng to treat Shi Nuan so well. In fact, he was surprised that Shi Yunsheng didn’t let the enmity between them affect his relationship with Shi Nuan at all.
Although the Shi family was caught off guard by Shi Nuan’s guest, Shi Yunsheng was still someone that was extremely experienced. He quickly regained his composure and assumed the responsibility of being a gracious host. “Dinner is ready. However, what we have prepared are simple dishes, I hope you won’t mind,” Shi Yunsheng said to Su Huaibei.
“Old Mr. Shi, you are being too gracious. It is I who have imposed on you today. Hence, I should be the one to hope that you pardon my intrusion.”
Su Huaibei was so courteous that Shi Yunsheng had no chance to express his displeasure.
“Nuan, come over to my side. You too, Yan.” Shi Yunsheng waved and both Shi Nuan and Fu Chengyan took their seats beside Shi Yunsheng. Shi Yunsheng was seating at the head of the table while Shi Nuan, Fu Chengyan, and Su Huaibei sat on one side. On the other side sat Shi Jingzheng and Jiang Yu. Furthest from him were Shi Wei and Fu Xicheng.
Fu Xicheng was as good as being non-existent at the dinner as everyone’s attention was focused on Su Huaibei and Fu Chengyan. Even the topics discussed at the table revolved around them. All Fu Xicheng did was stare at Shi Nuan the whole time.
He noticed that Shi Nuan had put on some weight and looked so radiant that it felt as if she was glowing.
No matter how hard he tried, Fu Xicheng couldn’t peel his eyes away from Shi Nuan. Meanwhile, Shi Nuan could feel that she was being watched intently. The moment she looked up, her eyes came into contact with those of Shi Wei and Fu Xicheng. Shi Nuan furrowed her brows subconsciously and looked away.
Fu Chengyan had noticed the brief exchange and narrowed his eyes in response. By the time he looked towards them, Fu Xicheng and Shi Wei had turned their gaze away. Fu Chengyan frowned in displeasure. He lowered his gaze at Shi Nuan. “What’s wrong?”
Shi Nuan shook her head. “Nothing.”
“Is Nuan not feeling well?” Shi Yunsheng too noticed Shi Nuan’s discomfort. “Are the dishes not to your liking? Do you need me to get the cook to prepare something else?”
“You don’t have to, Granddad. The food is delicious so don’t worry about it.” Shi Nuan waved her hands immediately. “I’m fine, really.”
Shi Yunsheng nodded in response. “That’s good then. If there’s anything that you don’t like, you must tell me, alright?”
“Mmm-hmm, Granddad. Don’t you worry. Actually, it’s been more than three months now and I feel alright. The baby has been good and hasn’t caused any trouble.”
“Is that so?” Shi Yunsheng beamed in response. “That’s good news. Before this, I did want to visit you. But I was worried that your pregnancy hadn’t reached a stable stage yet so it was better for you to not move around too much.”
“Mmm-hmm. But I’m fine now. Anytime you miss me, just tell me and I will come to visit you.”
“That won’t do. I will visit you instead.” Shi Yunsheng was really happy when he spoke with Shi Nuan. But when his eyes fell upon Su Huaibei, his expression darkened. “Are you here today to officially acknowledge Nuan as your daughter?”
“That’s right, Old Mr. Shi. There’s no way I can repay the debt I owe you for taking care of Nuan over the years. If there’s anything you need of me, please let me know and I will do my best to get it done.”
“It doesn’t matter to me whether you pay your debt to me.” Shi Yunsheng waved his hand. “Whatever the Su family has, the Shi family doesn’t lack either. I’m just worried about Nuan, and that the Su family…”
“Old Mr. Shi, my father loves Nuan too and the Su family has also agreed to accept Nuan into their fold.” Just as he spoke, Su Huaibei paused briefly. “You don’t have to worry. Even if Nuan joins the Su family, she is still your granddaughter. No one can erase the fact that you have raised her into a wonderful adult.”
Shi Yunsheng was put at ease. “I’m relieved to hear your words. Besides, the more people caring about Shi Nuan, the better. This girl has had it tough. Now that she has married a good husband, my mind has finally been put at ease. Previously, I expected her to live out her days without finding out about her family history. But now that she has and doesn’t resent you, it’s not my place to comment further. However, I have to warn you upfront. If the Su family mistreats Nuan, I will be the first person to teach you a lesson!”
“Old Mr. Shi, please don’t worry.”
“Dad!” Jiang Yu looked at Shi Yunsheng in disbelief as she didn’t expect him to readily agree. “We were the ones that brought up Shi Nuan, what right does he have to take her away just like that?”
“What do you want then?” Shi Yunsheng slammed the table furiously. “Tell me, what do you want to do? She is his daughter. So, what do you expect?”
“So what if Shi Nuan’s his daughter? When he cruelly abandoned her then, doesn’t it show that he didn’t care? If it wasn’t for us, Shi Nuan may have been sold off or even…”
“Enough.” Shi Yunsheng shot an angry glare at Jiang Yu. “You’re getting out of line here. Even if we didn’t take Shi Nuan in, what about your dad? Would Old Master Jiang leave his granddaughter out in the wild? You are Nuan’s aunt for goodness sake. Please tell me what have you done for her all these years? When it comes to raising her, do you think that I’m oblivious to all that you have done?”
“But I…”
“That’s enough. I am still the head of the household so I have the authority to decide.” Shi Yunsheng didn’t allow her to remonstrate further and glared angrily at both Jiang Yu and Shi Jingzheng. “Since you have never really carried out your responsibilities properly from the beginning, you have no right to claim credit for raising her. These matters are between me and Mr. Su, so both of you should shut up!”
Despite feeling dissatisfied, Jiang Yu and Shi Jingzheng didn’t dare to defy Shi Yunsheng. After all, he was the head of the family.
As for Shi Wei who was sitting by the side, her mind was in turmoil.
She didn’t understand why she wasn’t the focus of the family despite being the eldest daughter of the Shi family. Everyone should have pampered and treasured her. However, as long as Shi Nuan was around, she would always be sidelined.
As a famous actress, this was something Shi Wei found unacceptable.
Suddenly, she slammed her chopsticks on the table, causing a loud bang. The sound caused everyone to turn their attention to her.
Shi Wei pursed her lips as her face writhed in anger. “Dad, Mom, you are being told that she belongs to the Su family. So why are you still protesting? Now, all you feel is regret. In that case, why didn’t you treat her better all this while?”
“You silly girl, how can you speak like that?”
“Am I wrong? Don’t you hate Shi Nuan’s real mother for stealing the man you love from you?” Thrusting her chin forward at Jiang Yu, Shi Wei sneered, “You keep telling me that you love me, but why is your attention always on Shi Nuan? And you, Dad, is it because Shi Nuan is the child of the woman you love, that’s why…”
“Shut up!” Shi Jingzheng, who had remained silent throughout, slammed his chopsticks on the table and gave Shi Wei a slap. The slap was so forceful that Shi Wei was shaken to her core.
Her eyes widened in shock as she didn’t expect Shi Jingzheng to hit her over the matter.
She stood up with her eyes reddened. “Fine. Hit me. After all, you only care about Shi Nuan and not me at all!” With that, Shi Wei ran upstairs.
“Wei…” Jiang Yu was so worried that she wanted to go check on Shi Wei but Fu Xicheng pre-empted her. “Mom, don’t worry. I’ll check on her.” Just as he spoke, he couldn’t help but steal a glance at Shi Nuan again.
Shi Nuan felt disgusted whenever he did that.
The man from her past had turned into someone ugly now. Despite both of them having their respective families, the way Fu Xicheng looked at her was simply too intrusive and it made her feel extremely uncomfortable.
After Shi Wei and Fu Xicheng left, silence returned to the table. Shi Nuan continued to eat quietly and would occasionally serve Shi Yunsheng some food. “Granddad, please have more!”
“Sure!” Shi Yunsheng nodded with a smile. “Good gal!”
“By the way, does your Grandpa know about it?”
Shi Nuan paused before putting down her chopsticks. “I have discussed this with Yan and we decided to talk to you first. After that, we will see Grandpa to tell him.” Shi Nuan pursed her lips. “Granddad, I’m sorry to have done this. However, please rest assured that no matter where I am, I will always be your granddaughter. That is a fact that no one will be able to change.”
Shi Yunsheng grinned widely in response. “Mmm-hmm, I know. You have always been a good gal.”
He turned towards Su Huaibei next. “Now that Nuan has decided to return to the Su family, what will become of her name?”
“I’m not particular on that. If she doesn’t want to change it, then so be it.” Su Huaibei laughed. “Other than making up for twenty-odd years of being missing from her life, I have no other agendas. In fact, nothing else will change.”
“That’s great!” Shi Yunsheng nodded. “Nuan, listen to me. You can change your surname, but would you consider keeping your first name?’
Shi Nuan looked at Shi Yunsheng in surprise. “Granddad… actually, I have no intention of changing my name.”
“You must!” Shi Yunsheng insisted as he reached out to hold Shi Nuan’s hand. He then gently patted her hand on its back. “Listen to me, you must change your name.”
Shi Jingzheng and Jiang Yu were shocked by Shi Yunsheng’s insistence. “Dad, do you know what you’re saying? Why are you allowing her to change her surname? She… she said so herself that she doesn’t want to change it. Besides, the Su family didn’t even request her to do it.”
By changing her name now, it would be the equivalent of declaring to the world that she was no longer related to the Shi family at all. When that happens, their ties would officially be broken. If Shi Nuan severed ties with the Shi family, they would also lose their connection to Fu Chengyan.
As a businessman, Shi Jingzheng quickly understood the implications behind the decision.
There are no free lunches in this world. If they are no longer related to the Fu clan, Fu Chengyan would naturally not be obliged to help the Shi family nor Huancheng anymore.
“No, I won’t agree to this!”
