Page 47

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

One remark from the woman ruined the pleasant mood. Xu Yinglan, who had been smiling a moment ago, had lost her smile, and her eyes dimmed.

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

Zhou Mei was one of them. She was the woman who had just spoken, the wife of their second brother. They were both daughters-in-law of the Zhao Family, but Zhou Mei was Xu Yinglan's elder sister-in-law. Xu Yinglan didn't dare say much when Zhou Mei took a jab at her.

Besides, Zhou Mei had given the Zhao Family a boy in her second year of marriage. 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 indulgent toward Zhou Mei too. Back then, Zhou Mei had practically ruled the Zhao 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 act quite so arrogantly, but she was still as proud as ever.

Zhou Mei fiddled with her recently done nails and said with disdain, "Don't look at me like that. I'm only telling the truth. If you don't have a boy soon, who knows where the Zhao Family's money will end up..."

Zhao Yuan couldn't listen any longer and cut her off. "Second Sister-in-law, Yinglan hasn't been married into the family that long. She's not worried, so why are you? Why are you more anxious than the people involved?"

"And what's this about having a son to fight over the family fortune? Second Sister-in-law, what century are you living in?"

Far from getting angry, Zhou Mei laughed. "Hasn't been married in that long? Zhao Yuan, don't lie through your teeth. Isn't three years long enough? If she'd had a child early on, the kid would be calling her Mom by now!"

"What's wrong with having a boy? I'm giving her advice for her own good. The truth is hard to hear, Zhao Yuan. You've never been a daughter-in-law, so you wouldn't understand!" Zhou Mei rolled her eyes and was about to say more when she caught sight of several people coming through the door.

Speak of the devil!

"Is the one beside Jingyao Luoluo?" Xu Yinglan had spotted them too, and her attention immediately shifted to the newcomers.

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 as she spoke.

"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 gave a small smile, then beckoned to Shen Luoluo. "Luoluo, come over here."

As soon as Shen Luoluo entered the restaurant, Zhao Huizhen called her over. Zhao Ziyan, their eldest uncle's daughter, approached Shen Anya and said she had something to tell her, and the two left together. Shen Xiche and Shen Jiayan gravitated toward each other.

Together, they scanned the people in the restaurant, studying each face with curiosity.

"Could it be Eldest Uncle?" Shen Xiche asked first.

"No. Eldest Uncle's son has already been married," Shen Jiayan countered.

Just as they came in, they had heard Shen Luoluo say that someone would bring an illegitimate daughter to be acknowledged by the family today—and that the daughter was involved with his biological son and wanted to marry him.

There was so much to unpack, and it was someone close to them. Their curiosity had been piqued at once, but Shen Luoluo had said no more before being called away.

They had no choice but to guess!

Shen Xiche refused to concede. "He got married, but didn't he get divorced? He could marry again! Not long ago, I saw his son having a meal with a woman."

The more Shen Xiche thought about it, the more certain he was that it was Eldest Uncle.

Shen Jiayan argued, "Second Uncle is suspicious too. His marriage to Second Aunt was a Marriage Alliance arranged by their families, and they don't have much affection for each other. He's more likely to have had an affair. His son isn't married either."

"True." Shen Xiche nodded. "It could be Second Uncle. They're both suspects. Anyway, it can't be Third Uncle—he doesn't even have a kid!"

"But I still think Eldest Uncle is more likely!"

"I'm betting on 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 and said nothing. Those two could finally sit down and talk civilly. He just hadn't expected gossip to be what brought them together!

It was funny, and a little exasperating.

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

Caught off guard, Shen Jingyao had no desire to join their discussion. "It could be anyone."

The moment he said that, Shen Jiayan and Shen Xiche widened their eyes in admiration and gave him a thumbs-up. "That's our big brother!"

Shen Jingyao: What?

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

Shen Jiayan chimed in at once. "Little Uncle isn't married either!"

They slapped their hands together and reached a verdict. "That's it. It's him!"

Shen Jingyao: ...

He hadn't said anything of the sort.

Meanwhile, Zhao Huizhen took Shen Luoluo by the hand and began introducing her to everyone present.

Xu Yinglan smiled warmly. "Just call me Little 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! Just a little too thin. She'd be even prettier if she put on some weight!"

Zhou Mei rolled her eyes. "What good is it for a girl to be pretty? What's there to celebrate? She'll get married and leave the family anyway! A married daughter belongs to another household. Once she's gone, you'll have nothing!"

Rankings

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Transmigration into a Book

Wish-Fulfillment Fiction

Wealthy CEO

Sweet Romance

Transmigration and Rebirth Romance

Want Some Ice Cream?

Mind Reading

Everyone's Favorite