Just as Shen Can finished thinking that, Shen Mother returned as well. Liu Yuwen was a very gentle woman, and she had always sincerely treated Shen Can well.
"Can Can, eat up. Is there anywhere else you feel uncomfortable? If there is, you have to tell Mom." As Liu Yuwen spoke, she held out the bowl of porridge, intending to feed him.
Shen Can took the porridge from Liu Yuwen with a smile. "Mom, I'm fine now. I can eat by myself. You've worked hard too, so go back and rest for a while. I can go downstairs for dinner on my own later."
Liu Yuwen had originally wanted to stay a little longer, but she suddenly remembered that her best friend was coming over that evening. She had barely rested these past two days—how would she have the energy later?
"Then Mom will go rest first. If you feel unwell, you have to say so. Your brothers are all home today, so if you need anything, just order them around." Only after reminding him did Liu Yuwen leave.
Shen Can lay down for another afternoon before getting up. He had actually met several of his brothers after returning to the country, but at the time, he had not known that they were tragic villains from the novel.
His eldest brother, Shen Yu, currently ran Shen Group. Their father, Shen Hong, had already begun gradually stepping down. Shen Yu was an exceptionally steady man with a keen sense for business.
His second brother, Shen Ze, had opened a design company focused mainly on jewelry and clothing design. He also served as the company's chief designer. He had founded the company to pursue his dream, and the entire family supported him.
His third brother, Shen Chi, had caught a director's eye by chance while he was in university. Since he was interested in acting as well, he entered the entertainment industry. He was now a film emperor with tens of millions of fans.
While their grandfather was still alive, he had seen that Shen Yao had the makings of a soldier and sent him into the military. By rights, he should not have been home, but he had returned this time for a mission that required his identity as a young master of the Shen Household.
Just as Shen Can reached the dining room and was about to greet his parents and brothers, his attention was drawn to the unfamiliar woman at the table. Who was she?
Noticing Shen Can's gaze, Liu Yuwen smiled and introduced her. "Can Can, sit down. This is Mom's best friend from school."
So this is the best friend who moved into our house first, then later opened a beauty salon under the pretense that she and Mom were business partners, only for multiple medical accidents to happen.
Then she pinned everything on Mom and made her lose all face among the wealthy ladies? No, no, no. This isn't a best friend—she's a full-blown worst enemy.
Liu Yuwen's smiling face stiffened. Had she misheard? Shen Can had not opened his mouth, yet she had heard his voice. And what he said concerned her best friend.
When she turned to look at her husband and sons, however, their expressions were also slightly unnatural. No one knew her husband and sons better than she did. If all of them had coincidentally looked uncomfortable, then they had probably heard what Shen Can said as well.
But it was not convenient to ask about it now. After a brief pause, Liu Yuwen could only continue the introduction. "This is Aunt Zeng."
Normally, Shen Can should have greeted Aunt Zeng, but Liu Yuwen suddenly did not want him to. After speaking, she simply gestured for Shen Can to sit down.
As Shen Can sat down, he thought, Mm, her surname is Zeng. Not only do I know that her surname is Zeng, I even know her name is Zeng Mei. Zeng Mei, Zeng Mei—what rotten luck. Mom really is unlucky to have met you.
You said you were pitifully abused by your husband. My mom encouraged you to become an independent woman and bravely say no to an unhappy marriage. You agreed readily enough, saying you definitely would, then played the victim so you could move into our home.
Someone who truly wants a divorce would wish they could get one the very next day. Who drags things out like you do? Whenever anyone asks about it, you play the victim, cry, and make up excuses.
In the end, you used someone you met while living in our home—someone who wanted to curry favor with our family—to swindle an investment in Mom's name and run off to open a beauty salon.
Opening one would have been fine if you had run it properly. But the equipment was secondhand, the doctors were second-rate, and only your sales tactics were top-notch. You deceived a whole bunch of people.
When accidents happened at first, you did not think about solving them or firing the doctors. You only wanted to keep making dirty money.
Although the police eventually cleared Mom and said the beauty salon had absolutely nothing to do with her, Mom's reputation among the wealthy ladies was completely ruined.
Before the police cleared things up, Mom's reputation was that she made dirty money—that even as a wealthy lady, she would stoop to earning such heartless money. After the truth came out, her reputation was that she was a complete idiot—how could someone with that kind of intelligence be a wealthy lady?
After that, Mom did not even dare leave the house. Whenever she went out and ran into those wealthy ladies, she felt that every one of them looked down on her. Little by little, she became somewhat depressed.
Mom had only been kind, blinded by her past friendship with you. Besides, who could have imagined you would do those things behind her back?
But there are always few people willing to see things from another person's perspective. In any case, we absolutely cannot let this scammer keep staying in our home. Let me think about how I can hint it to Mom.
Liu Yuwen tightened her grip on her chopsticks. She had initially harbored doubts, but now she truly believed it. Zeng Mei had indeed not said she would immediately go get divorced the next day. As Shen Can said, shouldn't someone suffering domestic abuse and wanting a divorce be desperate to do it quickly?
Besides, she had never mentioned that Zeng Mei was called Zeng Mei, yet Shen Can knew her name. Of everyone present, only her husband should have known Zeng Mei's name, and that was only because Liu Yuwen had mentioned it to him before.
Her sons could not possibly know, because Zeng Mei's family had been working in another province and had only recently returned to A City. Could Shen Can see the future? Or was it something else? Otherwise, why did he know what would happen later?
"I heard from Mom that Aunt Zeng is staying here? Why didn't you bring your child along?" Shen Ze asked as though it were merely a casual question.
Hearing Shen Ze's question, Zeng Mei immediately said embarrassedly, "How could I possibly impose like that? My child is already grown up. How could he move in here?"
After saying that, Zeng Mei lowered her head, a fierce jealousy flashing through her eyes. Even Liu Yuwen's sons were more outstanding than hers. Back in school, her grades had been better than Liu Yuwen's, and more boys had chased after her than Liu Yuwen.
Yet now, she was not living as well as Liu Yuwen. Was it just because Liu Yuwen came from a better family? How ridiculous.
Bullshit. It's obviously because your useless son never listens to you and has recently run off somewhere to fool around again. You thought his acting was terrible and were afraid he would ruin the act. After all, ever since you and your husband found out that Mom was rich now, you've wanted to get some money out of her, haven't you?
Getting a little from Mom was not enough for you. You wanted a big haul, but ended up hauling yourselves into prison instead. Forget it, people like you will never think you're wrong. We should get rid of you as soon as possible.
The family all silently agreed. Dinner was finished quickly amid an atmosphere of silence. After all, eating with someone like that really was enough to ruin one's appetite.
After dinner, Liu Yuwen chatted with Zeng Mei with a fake smile, while everyone else sat elsewhere playing on their phones. Shen Can was still trying to think of all sorts of solutions.
Ah, I've got it. We can spread word about Zeng Mei being abused by her husband at her husband's workplace.
Without Shen Can knowing, the family had created a new group chat. Shen Chi had made it after dinner.
"Would that work? Why do I feel like it's a bit risky?" Shen Chi was the first to speak.
Before you continue