Shen Keke fell silent. The Shen family really was sharp-tongued. But as long as this made them unhappy, he was satisfied. Besides, someone would surely think they were being overly aggressive.
But the truth was quite the opposite. Once the guests understood the full story, they found the Shen family's actions even more understandable.
If this had happened in their own families, they would have been unhappy too. Whether the person had done it deliberately or not, such behavior was incredibly speechless. They had never seen anyone offend people like this.
When they got home, they would have to warn their children not to associate with the Zhou Household's son's boyfriend. If he had not meant it, that meant he was stupid, and associating with him might bring trouble. If he had meant it, then he was malicious, making contact with him even more unacceptable.
Shen Keke had no idea that he would soon be unable to make a single friend in high society. People would not even acknowledge him, much less include him in anything. Without a powerful family background and with such poor character, who would think highly of him?
At the same time, several elders who had gone sightseeing around the villa returned, including Shen Father, Shen Mother, Zhou Father, and Zhou Mother.
They did not know what had happened, but naturally, someone quietly explained it to them. The venue was also unusually silent as everyone waited for the reactions of the two families' elders.
Zhou Mother shot Shen Keke a glare before speaking. "Oh dear, he has really caused you trouble. My son's boyfriend came from a poor family and has never seen the world. He is terribly shallow-minded. Please do not lower yourselves to his level. How could he possibly be worthy of it?"
Upon hearing Zhou Mother's words, Shen Keke dug his nails into his palm until it bled. How could this woman talk about him like that? It was too much. She had demeaned him until he was utterly worthless.
Poor? His family was considered poor? Xu Qingqing was even an orphan, yet the Shen family treasured her so much. But Zhou Mother treated him this way.
At the sound of a snicker, everyone noticed Huo Xi standing farther back. Zhou Mother naturally knew that Huo Xi laughing was no good sign, but she had no choice but to respond.
"What is that Huo boy laughing about?" Why did it have to be him? If it had been anyone else, she could have simply pretended not to hear it and taught them a lesson later. Who knew what Huo Xi was about to say?
"I just think the Zhou Household truly passes things down through the generations. You knew he was shallow-minded, yet you still brought him out. What were you thinking? Did you think everyone was obligated to make allowances for him?"
"Since he is unworthy, shouldn't you teach him at home until he is worthy before bringing him out?" Huo Xi's expression was calm, but his words were exceptionally harsh.
Zhou Mother's expression shifted repeatedly. In the end, she could only vent her anger on Shen Keke. She viciously pinched him twice before saying, "I will take him back and teach him properly. Until he learns, I absolutely will not let him come out again."
How could the Zhou family not know that Shen Keke would definitely cause trouble when he came to the Shen family? In truth, they supported it too. They would have loved nothing more than to see the Shen family embarrassed.
The Zhou Household had long been dissatisfied with the status quo. They wanted to make the Zhou Household even stronger. But they could not easily meddle in another family's affairs, or they might simply end up doing the work for someone else.
The Shen family had few members. Shen Father had no illegitimate children, and Shen Father's younger sister and her husband, who had married out, were also dead. If everyone in the Shen family met with misfortune, then Shen Keke, as someone related to them by blood, could inherit their assets. With some maneuvering on their part, it would be a natural outcome.
Moreover, Shen Keke's side of the Shen family had done quite a few things over the years. They had also planted many people within Shen Family Company. After coveting it for so many years, how could they have made no moves at all?
Shen Keke was still useful, so they would not do anything to him. But for the time being, he truly was not suitable to appear in public.
Compared to Zhou Mother's fury, Zhou Father was much calmer. What did temporary gains and losses matter? Once the Zhou Household grew stronger, would everyone not come crawling over to curry favor with them?
After Shen Keke was taken away, the atmosphere remained somewhat silent. Such a fine wedding, yet this had happened.
"Shen Yu, to celebrate your marriage and our project's initial success, I prepared a grand gift for you." Huo Xi stepped forward and patted Shen Yu on the shoulder.
"Oh? What is it?" Shen Yu was also curious about Huo Xi's grand gift.
Huo Xi clapped his hands. Assistant He, who had been waiting nearby, walked to the entrance and waved to the bodyguards outside.
Six bodyguards entered together and unfurled three paintings.
"Oh my heavens, aren't these paintings by the Painting Sage from a thousand years ago? Three at once—what an extravagant gift."
"Not just paintings by the Painting Sage, but three connected pieces at that. Placing first in the imperial examinations, marrying and having children, then gaining rank and wealth."
"I heard a single painting is worth over a hundred million. How much must these three be worth together? And more importantly, it isn't about the money, but their collectible value."
Shen Yu had not expected Huo Xi's gift to be so valuable. Giving even one painting would have been considered extraordinarily generous, yet Huo Xi had given all three at once.
Wow, Huo Xi actually gave these three paintings to my brother. Old Master Huo likes these three paintings very much.
Hearing Shen Can's thoughts, Shen Yu decided he would return the paintings to Huo Xi privately later. They were indeed too valuable, and Old Master Huo liked them so much. It would be bad if they caused Huo Xi trouble.
Still, it is good that he gave them away, so they do not end up in that woman's hands later. Two of these paintings were bought at auction by Huo Xi's grandmother to make Patriarch Huo happy.
Yet they ultimately ended up in another woman's hands. What a waste. Just thinking of Patriarch Huo leaves me speechless. Did he really like that first love so much?
If he truly liked her, why did he not leave the family back then, give up his identity in the Huo Household, and run off to be with his first love? He wanted everything.
Huo Xi's grandmother and Huo Xi were the ones who suffered. Patriarch Huo was truly selfish, caring only about his own happiness while leaving everyone else with the bitter consequences.
"These are gifts I specifically selected as the most fitting for today. Brother Shen, do not refuse them." Huo Xi had deliberately chosen these three paintings. Of course he knew his grandfather liked them.
That was precisely why he wanted to give them away. He simply did not want his grandfather to be happy. Besides, two of them had been bought by his grandmother, and his grandfather did not deserve to keep her belongings.
Especially now that he knew these three paintings would eventually fall into that woman's hands, he felt he had made the right choice.
Once Huo Xi presented the gift, everyone went over to look. Some were so excited that they even took out their phones to take pictures. Soon, they forgot the earlier unpleasantness.
With Huo Xi deliberately livening up the atmosphere, no one mentioned what had happened before. The Lu Household had also intended to ease the mood, but seeing Huo Xi had already taken the initiative, they did nothing further.
After viewing the gifts, everyone found places to chat again. Shen Can sat there reviewing the events of the day. Their entire family had thought that nothing would happen today.
But they had forgotten Shen Keke. Or perhaps they had not forgotten him, but simply had not expected that Shen Keke would still have his identity acknowledged without saving Wang Patriarch's life, only more quietly than in the original plot, so none of them knew.
Today should have been the first time the Zhou family brought Shen Keke out as Zhou Jingxuan's boyfriend, yet Shen Keke had tried to cause trouble for the Shen family without regard for the occasion. They probably would not see him for a long time afterward.
Shen Keke hated the Shen family even more than they had imagined. They would have to be more careful around Shen Keke and the others from now on.
By the time Shen Can finished thinking, it was almost time for lunch. Everyone had taken their seats when one person finally arrived late.
Before you continue