Page 47

"I really don't get it," the woman seated at the table in front of them scoffed. "What's so special about a girl? She'd be better off paying more attention to her husband and trying to have a baby!"

Her words ruined the pleasant mood. Xu Yinglan, who had been smiling moments ago, had lost her smile, and her eyes dimmed.

Everyone in the Zhao Family knew that Xu Yinglan had been married to their younger brother Zhao Zhan for three years without getting pregnant. They weren't worried, but other people couldn't stop making snide remarks.

Zhou Mei was one of them. She was Zhao Second's wife, which made her Xu Yinglan's elder sister-in-law. Xu Yinglan didn't dare argue with her.

What was more, Zhou Mei had given birth to a boy in her second year with the Zhao Family. Though she had married Zhao Second, her son was the family's first grandson. The old lady had been overjoyed and doted on him, which made her more tolerant of Zhou Mei too. Back then, Zhou Mei had practically ruled the household.

The old lady had passed away a few years ago, and the others had gradually started families and had children of their own. Zhou Mei no longer dared to be quite so overbearing, but she was as arrogant as ever.

Zhou Mei admired her freshly done nails. "Don't look at me like that. I'm just telling the truth. If you don't have a son soon, who knows where the Zhao Family money will end up..."

Zhao Yuan couldn't listen any longer. "Second sister-in-law, Yinglan hasn't been married that long. She isn't worried, so why are you? You're getting worked up over something that doesn't concern you!"

"And having a son to fight over the inheritance? Second sister-in-law, what century are you living in?"

Instead of getting angry, Zhou Mei laughed. "Hasn't been married that long? Zhao Yuan, stop lying through your teeth. Isn't three years long enough? If she'd had a child right away, that child would already be calling her Mom!"

"What's wrong with having a son? I'm giving her advice out of kindness. The truth hurts, Zhao Yuan. You've never been anyone's daughter-in-law, so you wouldn't understand!" Zhou Mei rolled her eyes. She was about to say more when she caught sight of several people coming through the door.

Speak of the devil!

"Is that Luoluo beside Jingyao?" Xu Yinglan had seen them too, and her attention immediately shifted to the new arrivals.

Zhao Huizhen nodded. "We brought her home less than a month ago." She sighed quietly. "If only we'd found her sooner. She wouldn't have had to suffer so much!"

Her eyes reddened again.

"Come on, sis!" Zhao Yuan reminded her. "It's Dad's birthday today. He'll be upset if he sees you like this. Cheer up. Luoluo's with you now, isn't she?"

"If you feel you owe her, make it up to her from now on. Crying won't help!"

"That's right," Xu Yinglan agreed. "Yuan is right. Don't dwell on the past. What matters now is making the most of today and the days ahead."

"You're right." Zhao Huizhen wiped away her tears and smiled faintly. Then she waved Shen Luoluo over. "Luoluo, come here."

Shen Luoluo had barely stepped into the restaurant when Zhao Huizhen called her over. Their eldest uncle's daughter, Zhao Ziyan, approached Shen Anya and said she had something to tell her. The two left together, while Shen Xiche and Shen Jiayan gravitated toward each other.

Their gazes swept over the people in the restaurant as they sized everyone up with curiosity.

"Could it be our eldest uncle?" Shen Xiche asked first.

"No. His son's already married," Shen Jiayan countered.

As soon as they'd entered, they had heard Shen Luoluo say that someone would bring an illegitimate daughter back to be acknowledged by the family today—and that she and his biological son were together and planning to marry.

There was so much to unpack, and it involved someone close to them. Both brothers were instantly hooked, but Shen Luoluo had stopped talking and been called away.

They had no choice but to guess!

Shen Xiche wasn't convinced. "He got divorced, didn't he? He could get married again. Not long ago, I saw his son eating with a woman at a restaurant."

The more Shen Xiche thought about it, the more certain he was that it was their eldest uncle!

Shen Jiayan disagreed. "Our second uncle is suspicious too. His marriage to our second aunt was a Marriage Alliance, and they don't have much affection for each other. He's more likely to have had an affair, and his son isn't married either."

"True." Shen Xiche nodded. "It could be our second uncle. They're both suspects. It can't be our third uncle, though. He doesn't even have a kid!"

"But I still think our eldest uncle is more likely!"

"I'm betting on our second uncle!" Shen Jiayan said. "If you lose, you have to call me Big Brother for a week!"

"Deal. If you lose, you have to call me Dad for a week!"

Sitting beside them, Shen Jingyao pressed his lips into the faintest smile but said nothing. These two could finally sit down and talk properly. He just hadn't expected gossip to be what brought them together!

It was both funny and exasperating.

"Who do you think it is, Big Brother?" Shen Jiayan suddenly turned to ask him.

Put on the spot, Shen Jingyao had no desire to join their discussion. "It could be anyone."

No sooner had he spoken than Shen Jiayan and Shen Xiche widened their eyes in admiration and gave him a thumbs-up. "That's our big brother!"

Shen Jingyao: ?

"Brilliant," Shen Xiche marveled. "How did we not think of that? Anyone could be involved—even Grandpa!"

Shen Jiayan immediately chimed in. "Our youngest uncle isn't married either!"

They slapped their hands together and declared, "That's it. It's him!"

Shen Jingyao: ...

He hadn't said anything of the sort.

Meanwhile, Zhao Huizhen had taken Shen Luoluo by the hand and begun introducing her to everyone there.

Xu Yinglan smiled warmly. "Just call me Youngest Aunt. Zhao Ye isn't married yet anyway, so there's no need to make the titles complicated."

"Luoluo really does take after Huizhen. She's beautiful! She's just a little too thin. She'd be even prettier if she put on some weight!"

Zhou Mei rolled her eyes. "What good does it do for a girl to be pretty? What's there to celebrate? She'll still marry out of the family! A daughter who marries out is like water poured away. Once she's gone, you'll have nothing!"