The Shen family elders learned that they had suddenly “upgraded” to grandparents only through someone else.
After confirming it with their son, they originally wanted to complain a little and return home immediately. However, they were coldly blocked by a single sentence from him—“The child has just come back and cannot be exposed to too much stimulation.”
The two of them could only suppress their urgency and wait.
Until one day, Shen Mother received a phone call. After learning certain information, she could no longer sit still and immediately booked tickets to fly back.
The moment she stepped into the entrance hall and saw the family of three standing in the living room, she paused mid-step, her surprise impossible to conceal.
She subconsciously looked at Shen Father; both of them shared the same uncontrollable shock.
Then she quickly composed herself and looked at the child.
When she clearly saw that face—almost identical to her son’s childhood appearance—her eyes suddenly turned red.
She knelt down in front of the child, forcing her voice to be as gentle as possible.
“You must be Xiao Rang, right? Do you know who I am?”
“Grandma, I’m Xiao Rang. My name is Xu Zhirang.”
Shen Mother was overjoyed and immediately asked someone to bring out the gifts she had brought from abroad.
Xu Zhirang had already been warned by Xu Xiu that the two elders might be very enthusiastic, so he remained unusually calm.
Seeing this, Shen Father and Shen Mother became even more satisfied.
As expected of the Shen family’s child.
The two of them led Xu Zhirang to the sofa and began asking him question after question, deliberately ignoring Xu Xiu as if she did not exist.
Xu Xiu didn’t care. After all, she had no blood relation to them.
So she simply sat at a distance that was neither too close nor too far, casually scrolling through her phone.
Shen Xingyi’s gaze swept over her without drawing attention.
He didn’t know whether it was because she didn’t have time to prepare, or because she simply had no intention of “performing well” in front of his parents—but she was dressed as casually as ever.
A white cotton shirt tucked into light blue high-waisted jeans outlined her long, straight legs.
Her thick hair was loosely pinned up with a single hairpin, slightly messy and relaxed, a few strands falling near her slightly open collar.
It wasn’t an elaborate outfit at all—but it drew the eye in a way that was hard to ignore.
After looking at her for a moment, the irritation he had felt from his parents’ sudden arrival quietly faded.
Shen Mother, fully focused on her grandson, still caught sight of Xu Xiu from the corner of her eye.
Seeing her sitting there leisurely on her phone, the dissatisfaction in her heart deepened.
As expected from the rumors—lacking in character.
She cleared her throat, deliberately signaling that she had something to say.
But Xu Xiu didn’t even look up.
Her expression darkened, and she coughed again, louder this time.
Still no reaction.
Instead, it was Xu Zhirang who spoke first.
“Grandma, the TV said if you’re coughing, you should cover your mouth.”
He said this very seriously, as if giving a health lecture.
Mom had told him he was a child with a weak immune system, so he should avoid germs.
He tilted his head in confusion. Was this new grandma sick?
Should he stay a little farther away?
Shen Mother’s expression stiffened. After a moment, she forced an awkward smile.
“Thank you for reminding Grandma, Xiao Rang. Grandma just has a slightly sore throat. You really know a lot.”
The exchange between the grandmother and grandson made Shen Xingyi glance over.
He said nothing, but the corner of his lips lifted almost imperceptibly.
At that moment, Xu Xiu finally looked up at her son.
Good.
It seemed they were getting along well. That was reassuring.
Shen Mother turned her attention back to Xu Xiu and asked formally:
“You are Xiao Rang’s mother?”
Xu Xiu smiled faintly.
“Yes, I am Xu Xiu.”
Shen Mother scanned her from head to toe, a trace of disdain flashing in her eyes.
Her outfit looked like it cost only a few hundred yuan at most. It seemed her son hadn’t been completely deceived.
This woman had indeed clung to her son—but clearly hadn’t benefited much from him yet.
Shen Mother felt slightly relieved.
She hadn’t wanted further conflict with her son, so she had originally planned to wait until the end of the month as instructed.
But then she suddenly heard that the child’s mother had already attached herself to him.
Even more, her son had supposedly acted in anger for her sake and dismissed a branch manager.
This could not go on.
Shen Mother knew she and her husband had failed their son in his childhood. That past could not be undone—but now, they had to properly keep things in check.
She understood her son well. He had little experience with women.
Faced with someone with unclear motives, he would easily be deceived.
That was why they rushed back immediately—only to find the woman already sitting comfortably in their son’s home.
Truly bold methods.
Shen Mother’s scrutiny became more obvious.
Xu Xiu, of course, could feel it.
She simply waited calmly for her to speak.
Seeing that Xu Xiu remained neither humble nor anxious under her gaze, Shen Mother became even more alert.
Indeed—this was a difficult one.
“Since Miss Xu has given birth to a grandson for our Shen family, we will naturally express our gratitude. Please accept this.”
She instructed her assistant to hand over a bank card.
“You don’t need to refuse—”
Before she could finish, Xu Xiu had already taken it calmly.
“Password?”
“…The child’s birthday,” Shen Mother replied instinctively.
Xu Xiu nodded and put it away.
“Thank you.”
Her straightforward acceptance completely disrupted Shen Mother’s prepared speech.
She had expected refusal, indignation, even embarrassment.
But none of that happened.
Shen Mother immediately looked at her son, desperately signaling:
See? She’s greedy.
But Shen Xingyi only watched Xu Xiu quietly. He did not show anger as she had expected.
Instead, he narrowed his eyes slightly—thoughtful, rather than displeased.
Shen Mother’s expression stiffened.
Then she turned back to Xu Xiu with a meaningful smile.
“No matter what happened in the past, we won’t pursue your intention of hiding the child. From now on, the Shen family will take care of Xiao Rang.”
The implication was clear: they already believed she had hidden the child for selfish reasons, and she should know her place.
She was also being subtly separated from the child.
Xu Xiu glanced at her phone, then at the silent Shen Xingyi, without saying anything.
Shen Xingyi immediately understood her meaning and spoke:
“We’ve already discussed custody arrangements for Xiao Rang. You don’t need to interfere.”
He was clear that a healthy family environment mattered for the child, so he would not cut off Xu Xiu’s relationship with him.
Of course, he also had no intention of entangling himself with her long-term.
He simply believed that as Xiao Rang grew older and became more independent, things would naturally balance out.
But Shen Mother heard this very differently.
What?
Was her son planning to co-parent the child with this woman?!
She was about to object immediately—but seeing her son’s cold, distant expression, she forced herself to swallow the words back down.
No.
She could not push her son further toward that woman.