After the camping trip ended, everyone went home early the next morning.
Half a month later would be Old Master Shen's seventieth birthday, and the entire Shen Family had been busy these past few days.
Gradually, the members of the Shen Family began coming home one by one.
First came Eldest Brother Shen, Shen Xianming. He managed the Shen Group alongside Uncle Shen. There was a lot to do at the company, so he came home ahead of time, leaving Uncle Shen at the company to return the day before Old Master Shen's birthday.
After several years in the business world, Shen Xianming had acquired some of a businessman's shrewdness. Dressed in a suit and polished shoes, he exuded the air of a successful man.
But in a story with a universally adored, saintly female lead, even the shrewdest man would have his heart sent fluttering by the little heroine's cuteness.
Shen Xianming crouched in front of Shen Qianxin, pinched her hair bun, and said,
"Xinxin, your brother's back. Did you miss Brother Xianming?"
"So much! Xinxin likes Brother Xianming best!"
Next came Second Brother Shen, Shen Shuoran. Although Shen Shuoran had studied medicine and lost a great deal of hair after the torment of preparing for the postgraduate entrance exam, it hadn't affected his good looks in the slightest.
He scooped Little Xinxin up and planted several kisses on her.
"Oh, my little sweetheart! I missed you to death!"
Shen Qianxin shyly covered her face.
"I missed Brother Shuoran too! (*/∇＼*) Xinxin likes Brother Shuoran best!"
Shen Xuanrun: Little Xinxin, you're such a heartbreaker. You say that to everyone! You clearly said the same thing to me two days ago. Boohoo~
The Shen Family had good genes when it came to looks, and each of them had his own distinctive qualities.
Shen Xianming was mature and steady, with sharp features, handsome looks, and a tall, slender build. His domineering CEO aura could rival Gu Weichen's.
Shen Shuoran was sunny and cheerful, the big, affectionate puppy type. Although postgraduate studies had made him a little more composed, he was still a very lively person.
Apparently, ever since they were young, the girls pursuing the two of them could have lined up from the east end of the city to the west.
Shen Xuanrun: (ノ=Д=)ノ┻━┻ I have plenty too, but why are they all men!?
Then came Uncle Shen, Shen Qinwei, and Aunt Shen, Wu Rui. Uncle Shen had spent more than a decade honing himself in the military. He possessed a soldier's upright bearing and gave off a very imposing air.
Aunt Shen, Wu Rui, was also in the military. With her hair cut short, she looked very dashing. Apparently, she had been the one to pursue Uncle Shen back then-a true heroine.
Still, "Shen (shen) shen (shen) shen (shen)" really is a bit of a tongue twister. I should call her that less often from now on. It sounds odd, Shen Xuanrun thought.
As soon as Uncle Shen came in, he hoisted little Shen Qianxin up onto his shoulders.
"Xinxin, did you miss Mommy and Daddy?"
Little Xinxin hugged his head, bent down to kiss the top of Uncle Shen's head, then turned to give Aunt Shen a kiss.
"Xinxin missed Mommy and Daddy so much! Xinxin likes Mommy and Daddy best!"
Shen Xuanrun: Confirmed. A heartbreaker.
Shen Qianxin: I'm not a heartbreaker. I'm just treating everyone equally.
A day or two later, Dad Shen, Shen Jiangwei, came home.
Shen Xuanrun was very anxious.
Oh my god! The original owner's dad is coming back! He was so close to the original owner. Will I give myself away!? Asking online-pretty urgent!
Dad Shen and Mom Shen, Ruan Ling, walked into the Shen Family Ancestral Residence. They greeted Grandpa Shen, Eldest Brother Shen, Second Brother Shen, Uncle Shen, and Little Xinxin one by one, then walked straight up to Shen Xuanrun and hugged him.
"My wonderful boy! Daddy missed you to death! Did you miss Daddy!?"
Shen Xuanrun's pupils quaked!
Why didn't anyone tell me Dad Shen was like this!?
"Oh dear, you've lost weight! It breaks my heart. Have you been neglecting your meals again?"
"I've been eating, Dad," Shen Xuanrun said, forcing himself to remain calm.
"Boohoo, Little Runrun's gone cold again. You're not as clingy with Daddy as you used to be!"
Shen Xuanrun was very anxious. Had he given himself away?
Fortunately, Mom Shen grabbed Dad Shen by the collar and dragged him several meters away from Shen Xuanrun.
"Oh, give it a rest. You put on this act every time you come home. How old was Runrun when he used to cling to you? Runrun's almost twenty now."
"But we haven't seen our son in ages! The last time was during the Ghost Festival rites!"
"Runrun, let's go. Ignore your dad! He's decades old and still thinks he's a young man. Now he's just a greasy middle-aged uncle!"
Shen Xuanrun did the math. The Ghost Festival rites-fine, that had only been two months ago, just two days before he transmigrated.
Mom Shen was a very gentle, gracious middle-aged woman. The original owner had probably inherited her personality: gentle and courteous. As for Dad Shen, who kept going "boohoo"...
Forget it. I can't bear to look.
Two days before Grandpa Shen returned, Uncle Shen, Shen Longwei, and Aunt Shen, Deng Yan, finally came home. The whole family was now together, and Old Master Shen smiled all day long.
On the day of Old Master Shen's seventieth birthday, the Shen Family Ancestral Residence was festooned with lanterns and decorations and bustling with activity.
Old Master Shen had invited his friends, and these members of high society and prominent families arrived with rare treasures they had collected from all over to offer their congratulations. The sight left Shen Xuanrun dazzled.
Old Master Gu came on behalf of the Gu Family, bringing a famous antique painting he had acquired abroad. Then came the Ruan Family, Mom Shen's birth family, with Uncle Ruan bringing Tang Dynasty porcelain. After them came the Wu Family, Aunt Shen's birth family, which was also a military family...
Shen Xuanrun: Too many relatives. I can't keep track...
During the banquet, everyone gathered to chat. Since they were all Old Master Shen's close friends, the entire banquet had a very warm atmosphere.
Shen Xuanrun followed Mom Shen around the banquet.
"Come, Runrun. This is your Uncle Wu."
"This is your third maternal uncle's daughter. You should call her your older cousin."
"This is your aunt's brother's son. You should call him your older brother too."
Finally, Mom Shen stopped beside Aunt Ruan and began chatting. Shen Xuanrun sat beside her, listening to Mom Shen and Aunt Ruan chat.
Mom Shen said, "Wasn't Kaijun coming back today? Why didn't he come over?"
Shen Xuanrun looked at Mom Shen with clear yet foolish eyes, both of them asking, Who's this now?
Mom Shen...
"Did you forget? Your older cousin! He went abroad a few years ago. The two of you even fought when you were little."
Shen Xuanrun: Why do I have so many relatives and so many older brothers? Let it all be destroyed!
Aunt Shen looked helpless.
"Don't even mention it. He said he wanted to go abroad to manage the company, so his dad sent him overseas. Now that he's back, one phone call and he's off drinking with his buddies again. He goes out every day and never stays home."
Mom Shen said, "Oh, yours is one of the better ones. Do you know the older brother of Runrun's aunt's sister-in-law? Doesn't he have a daughter? She insisted on getting married ages ago and wouldn't listen to anyone. Now she regrets it and wants a divorce. Let me tell you, her husband..."
Aunt Ruan said, "Tsk, tsk, tsk. That's really something. And there's the third son of Kaijun's aunt's husband's brother-in-law. This year, he..."
Shen Xuanrun: Sure enough, whether it's ordinary people or high society, everyone loves gossip...