The surroundings were dead silent.
No one dared to make a sound.
Shen Shiyan’s hand was firmly locked around her waist.
Qin Nuan stared at him in a daze, her heartbeat so loud it nearly drowned out everything else.
She knew that this marriage was merely to solidify his position, having nothing to do with love.
She also knew that his defense of her at this moment was also a defense of his own dignity.
But no matter how clear her rationality was, her heart still pounded uncontrollably.
It wasn’t until a hearty laugh sounded from behind her.
“Hahaha, good! Xiao Yan, I like this girl’s temperament! You’ve married a fine wife.”
Qin Nuan snapped back to reality.
Realizing that she had actually been moved just now, her face flushed crimson as she turned to look.
A dignified middle-aged woman was supporting Elder Shen as they descended the stairs.
Her features bore some resemblance to the old man’s, and her sharp, spirited aura was exactly the same.
She looked Qin Nuan up and down, clearly satisfied, and introduced herself with a smile:
“I’m Xiao Yan’s aunt, Shen Peiyu.”
Qin Nuan paused for a moment, then called out, “Aunt.”
She was the first elder to show her kindness since Qin Nuan had entered this house today.
She then looked at Elder Shen beside her.
The old man leaned on his cane, smiling warmly, with not a trace of anger:
“Xiao Yu is right, she’s a good girl.”
After saying this, he shot Shen Shiyan a glare:
“Such a good girl, and you only bring her home to see me now.”
“Last time at the company, you even pretended not to know her. In the end, it’s still you who made my granddaughter-in-law unhappy.”
Qin Nuan was slightly stunned.
When she had eavesdropped outside the office door last time, she had thought Elder Shen was an extremely stern man.
Why was he suddenly so kind to her?
And what did he mean by those words?
A hand gently brushed against her cheek, applying slight pressure.
She turned her face along with the force, meeting Shen Shiyan’s eyes.
His expression remained distant and indifferent, but there was a hint of warmth in his eyes that was hard to detect.
Her cheeks grew hot, and she felt a little uncomfortable, not yet used to such intimacy.
She struggled slightly, but the large hand on her waist only tightened its grip.
He brushed her cheek again, his voice light and clear, yet loud enough for everyone present to hear:
“Did you feel wronged?”
The moment those words left his mouth, the Shen family relatives who had bullied her earlier and Jiang Ruowei all changed expression simultaneously.
This was a clear statement—Shen Shiyan was personally standing up for his young wife.
Qin Nuan looked at him, her emotions complicated, and felt a bit nervous under so many watchful eyes.
She pressed her lips together and gave a slight shake of her head: “No.”
It was her first visit; there was no need to make things ugly.
This secretly made people breathe a sigh of relief.
Shen Shiyan, however, let out a soft tsk, clearly dissatisfied.
“So well-behaved?”
“Didn’t I tell you that if you’re wronged, you should speak up, you should learn to complain.”
“I’ll stand up for you.”
His tone was calm, his gaze fixed only on Qin Nuan, yet the oppressive pressure made everyone present’s hearts tighten.
Qin Nuan’s breath caught slightly.
“That’s right,” Elder Shen chimed in.
“Girl, don’t be afraid. If you’re wronged, tell Xiao Yan and let him stand up for you.”
After saying this, he cast a sidelong glance at Jiang Ruowei and coldly scolded: “Especially those shameless ones who come crawling up, pretending to be elders and lecturing people—no need to be polite with them!”
These words were directed squarely at Jiang Ruowei.
Her face alternated between pale and green, and she called out unwillingly: “Dad!”
Elder Shen slammed his cane heavily against the floor, his brows furrowed in anger:
“Don’t call me Dad! I don’t have a daughter-in-law like you! Full of worldly airs, a mistress by origin, and you dare to lecture my granddaughter-in-law?”
Elder Shen had never shown Jiang Ruowei any mercy, and his stance could not have been clearer—
He, like Shen Shiyan, was protecting Qin Nuan and had accepted her as his grandson’s wife.
With the head of the Shen family and the future heir both shielding Qin Nuan, the relatives instantly changed their tune, turning on Jiang Ruowei and showering Qin Nuan with praise.
Shen Shiyan held Qin Nuan’s hand and looked at Jiang Ruowei with cold indifference.
“I heard you tried to attend the Chen family’s banquet last month and were turned away?”
Jiang Ruowei’s face went pale. “You know about that?”
The moment the words left her mouth, realization struck, and she gritted her teeth. “It was you?”
“You had me humiliated?”
At the Chen family’s charity gala last month, nearly every notable figure in the capital’s elite circle had been in attendance—yet she alone had been barred from entry.
She had received the invitation, dressed herself up meticulously, and arrived—only to be publicly shamed by Madam Chen.
Madam Chen had said her banquet was only for true ladies of prominent households, and that people of questionable standing should stop trying to latch on.
Her face had been thoroughly lost that day.
Shen Shiyan neither confirmed nor denied it, his voice cool and detached.
“Jiang Ruowei, instead of wasting your time watching others, you’d do better to think about how to keep your own footing.”
“My wife is none of your concern.”
“You—!” Jiang Ruowei trembled with rage, but Shen Peiyu cut her off with a sharp scolding. “Get back to your room this instant! Are you trying to embarrass us further out here?”
Jiang Ruowei was burning with resentment, but staying would only bring more humiliation. She shot Qin Nuan a vicious glare before turning and retreating to her room.
And just like that, the farce came to an end.
Elder Shen patted Qin Nuan’s hand, smiling warmly.
“Child, did that frighten you?”
“If anyone ever wrongs you again, tell Shiyan—or better yet, tell your grandfather. I’ll settle it for you!”
Qin Nuan was overwhelmed by the kindness. She quickly steadied him, paused for a moment, then softly called out, “Grandfather.”
“There we go!” Elder Shen beamed from ear to ear and gestured for Shen Peiyu to bring over a wooden box.
When it was opened, inside lay a pair of top-grade imperial green jade bangles, with exceptional water quality.
“This is Grandfather’s gift to you, child. Take it.”
The bangles were clearly worth a fortune. Qin Nuan dared not accept them and hurriedly tried to decline.
But Elder Shen would hear none of it, grabbing her wrist and attempting to slip them on.
Panicking, Qin Nuan shot a pleading look at Shen Shiyan.
He caught her gaze but didn’t stop it. Instead, he wrapped an arm around her waist and said calmly, “If Grandfather gives you something, just accept it.”
They looked every bit the devoted couple.
In the end, the jade bangles were slipped onto her wrists.
From that moment on, her status was fully recognized by the Shen family.
Nothing else went wrong after that.
The two of them stayed for a harmonious dinner with Elder Shen before driving home.
.
In the car.
Thinking back on the afternoon’s events, a flicker of guilt passed through Qin Nuan’s heart.
Because of the dress, she had nearly been publicly humiliated by Jiang Ruowei—and had almost dragged Shen Shiyan into it as well.
She turned to the man beside her and said softly, “Today… I’m sorry.”
Shen Shiyan took off his glasses and glanced at her. “Why are you apologizing?”
Qin Nuan lowered her eyes. “The dress—I didn’t think it through. I…”
Before she could finish, he gently took her hand.
“You did wonderfully. You don’t need to apologize to me. If anything, I should be the one apologizing to you.”
Qin Nuan froze, lifting her gaze to meet his.
“All these troubles you’re facing—they exist because you married me. So the one who should apologize is me.”
“You were very brave today. You don’t need to take what Jiang Ruowei said to heart. It’s enough that Grandfather likes you.”
His tone was calm, as if he were simply stating a fact.
From the moment they got into the car, he had shed the image of the gentle, protective husband he’d shown in front of the Shen family.
Qin Nuan felt a faint pang of disappointment, but quickly snapped back to her senses.
Qin Nuan, what are you thinking?
You’re just contract spouses.
Fortunately, the family dinner had passed without a hitch.
Remembering Elder Shen’s dramatic shift in attitude toward her, she asked in confusion, “What did you tell Grandfather? Why did he suddenly treat me so well? And he even said you made me angry?”
She had originally assumed that Elder Shen would strongly disapprove of their superior-subordinate marriage arrangement.
Shen Shiyan seemed to see right through her thoughts and said flatly, “The old man despises irresponsible behavior.”
“So I told him that we were actually dating before, and only became superior and subordinate afterward.”
“Your personality also suits his taste—he doesn’t like people who are weak and spineless.”
“As for why I said I made you angry—”
He paused, a slight curve forming at the corner of his lips as he looked at her. “I told him we had an argument at the office before.”
“I upset you, so you were sulking and pretended to be a stranger, refusing to acknowledge me.”
“What?!” Qin Nuan was instantly stunned, her eyes widening. “How—how could you say that?!”
“Doesn’t that put all the blame on yourself?”
He was Shen Shiyan—there was no need for him to go to such lengths.
“Besides, what if—what if Grandfather thinks I’m being unreasonable?” she said, her face flushing red.
But he let out a low chuckle, his gaze carrying an unusual hint of teasing. “As it turns out, the old man likes you very much.”
“Besides, isn’t this the best way?”
“Since we can’t tell him the truth, putting the blame on me means Grandfather will only blame me, not you.”
Qin Nuan was taken aback, her heart stirring once again.
“Why—why are you so good to me?” Qin Nuan couldn’t help but clutch at her skirt.
Helping her deal with Jiang Ruowei, standing up for her, defending her in front of Grandfather…
Whatever his motives were, he had indeed helped her and protected her.
These were things he didn’t have to do.
Suddenly, a warm hand landed on her head, gently tousling her hair.
Qin Nuan looked up, her breath catching.
Without her noticing, he had moved incredibly close, his eyes fixed on hers with a faint trace of a smile flickering within them:
“Don’t overthink it.”
“You’re my wife. If I’m not good to you, who else would I be good to?”
.
After arriving home, before he could open the car door for her, Qin Nuan got out first, her face flushed.
If she stayed in the car with him any longer, she was afraid she’d lose control of her heart even more.
Shen Shiyan watched her flustered retreating figure, a slight smile curling at his lips—but it was quickly overtaken by a burning, surging darkness in his eyes.
His Adam’s apple moved slightly, and he stepped forward to follow.