The reason why the twins Shang Yan and Shang Yi had a bad relationship was simple: they had the same things since childhood. However, because Shang Yi was smarter, Shang Yuanlin’s gaze towards Shang Yan would occasionally carry a hint of disappointment.
After Ning Wanyun realized this, she doted on Shang Yan extra, and made it very obvious that she felt this favoritism. As expected, Shang Yan was indeed foolish, and could easily sow discord between the siblings with just a few words.
The more she doted on Shang Yan, the deeper Shang Yan became trapped in it. Eventually, all Ning Wanyun had to do was give the same things to both of them, and Shang Yan would dislike Shang Yi because of it.
After all, she was constantly conveying to Shang Yan the message that since her father preferred Shang Yi, her aunt should also prefer her, as that would be “fair.”
Over time, Shang Yan grew to dislike Shang Yi. The worst incident occurred in the first year of junior high school when Ning Wanyun praised Shang Yi for winning first prize in a chemistry competition and then deliberately gave him a gift that Shang Yan liked.
Because of this, Shang Yan kicked Shang Yi off the bus, refusing to let him ride with her again, and refused to speak to him at school, wanting him to stay away.
Ning Wanyun used almost no effort, easily alienating the siblings and making Shang Yan’s personality even more eccentric, displeasing Shang Yuan and Lin Xi.
“Fine.”
“Yanyan, you don’t…” Huh?
Ning Wanyun only realized what Shang Yan had just said after the words were out of her mouth, her mouth slightly agape, her eyes somewhat dazed.
Hearing this, Shang Yi abruptly turned to look at Shang Yan, his face also filled with disbelief.
Shang Yan didn’t touch the bowl of soup Ning Wanyun had given her. Instead, she picked up the spoon and ladled some into the bowl of rice. Rice soaked in soup—it wasn’t nutritious, but she loved it.
Although she knew Ning Wanyun wasn’t a good person, Ning Wanyun was so good at putting on a show, while Shang Yan had recently offended Shang Yuanlin. If she were to scold Ning Wanyun harshly now and complain to the old man, she might be exiled tomorrow. After
all, she was a stupid, bad-tempered, and useless person, quickly becoming the kind of spoiled rich kid Shang Yuanlin saw her as. Compared to her gentle and kind concubine, Shang Yan had zero chance.
Most importantly, there was the cloisonné enamelware. Once she found a rare piece and bought it, she would show off at home again.
Ning Wanyun’s unease grew stronger. She started to get impatient and touched Shang Yan’s arm, which made Shang Yan frown and pull away.
She awkwardly withdrew her hand, her tone even somewhat submissive, “Did Auntie do something to upset you lately? Yangyang, tell Auntie, and Auntie will change.”
Shang Yang sometimes really admired people like Ning Wanyun. She clearly hated her, yet she still put on such a gentle and virtuous act for others. So strong!
So envious.
She couldn’t control her temper like that.
Because she doesn’t control herself at all.
An idea suddenly popped into Shang Yan’s head, and she couldn’t help but laugh. She turned her head and asked, “Will you change everything?”
Shang Yi, who was as quiet as a ghost, glanced at her again when he heard this. He knew Shang Yan’s expression and way of thinking all too well.
Clearly, Shang Yan didn’t really want to talk to Ning Wanyun properly, so he relaxed a little.
Seeing Shang Yan’s smile, Ning Wanyun’s uneasy heart calmed down a bit. She smiled, “Of course, Auntie will try her best to make Yanyan happy.”
Good heavens, what earth-shattering, tear-jerking words! She was almost moved.
“Then remarry.”
The restaurant fell into dead silence. The maids all stopped what they were doing; no one dared to move. Ning Wanyun’s smile froze on her face, like a petrified sculpture.
“That’s something you can do with a little effort, isn’t it?”
Shang Yan was thrilled.
So damn thrilled.
Who could understand the exhilarating feeling of saying whatever came to mind without regard for others? It was so satisfying that she had a huge appetite and could easily eat three bowls of rice.
Seeing Ning Wanyun still standing there in a daze, Shang Yan’s full, rosy lips curled into a playful smile. “If you succeed, I’ll be very happy.”
Aunt Zhao, who was busy in the Chinese kitchen next to the restaurant, almost couldn’t help but laugh when she heard this conversation. As expected of the young lady, her words were always so unpleasant to hear.
She was a servant brought by the late madam. In this era, calling her a servant might be a bit feudal, but her family had indeed served the Xue family for generations. Her son was currently working for the eldest young master.
So after the madam passed away, she was responsible for taking care of the young lady and the young master. Since the stepmother came in, the relationship between the young lady and the young master had deteriorated, and she had seen it all.
This stepmother seemed amiable on the surface, but she had many tricks up her sleeve. The young lady’s temperament had become increasingly strange because of her instigation. Fortunately, it seemed that the young lady had become wiser these past few days. It must be that the bloodline of their Xue family had awakened!
“Yangyang, you’re joking, right?”
Ning Wanyun’s smile grew increasingly forced. No matter how much she tried to mentally prepare herself, she couldn’t withstand the other woman’s close, aggressive approach.
Shang Yang finished a bowl of rice without a care in the world. “I’m not joking. Give me another bowl of rice.”
The servants stood frozen in place, unsure whether Shang Yan meant it or not. Aunt Zhao, in the inner room, glanced at them and knew Shang Yan meant it, quickly filling a bowl with rice.
Seeing no one move, Shang Yi put down his chopsticks, took the bowl from Shang Yan’s table, and headed straight for the kitchen.
Shang Yan glanced at the servants, who stood rooted to the spot, and thought to herself, “My younger brother is so useful; a good servant is born of a mother.”
Aunt Zhao turned around and saw Shang Yi enter with an empty bowl. She couldn’t hide her smile. She took the empty bowl and placed the bowl of rice in his hands.
In the instant their eyes met, they could both see a long-lost joy in each other’s eyes.
The soup in the white porcelain bowl had cooled, a layer of solidified oil floating on top, much like the current atmosphere.
This time, Shang Yan didn’t cause any trouble or swear. Ning Wanyun herself wanted to be a selfless and altruistic good person, and Shang Yan simply spoke her mind.
After a while, a soft sob was heard at the dinner table. Shang Yan looked up and saw that Ning Wanyun’s eyes were already half-moist, watery, and the corners were a little red, as if they had been rubbed hard with fingertips. She looked pitiful and heart-wrenching. “She’s
quite pretty,” Shang Yan thought to herself as she chewed her food, feeling no guilt whatsoever for making someone cry.
Of course not, because the other person was faking it, haha.
Aunt Zhao, seeing this scene in the kitchen, gently pounded her thigh, her expression incredibly expressive. This stepmother really has some flair for tea!
“Auntie didn’t expect you to say that. Have you been under a lot of pressure from your studies lately? It’s alright, Auntie won’t mind.”
Ning Wanyun’s lips trembled slightly, as if she was trying her best to swallow her sadness, deeply imprinting the scenario of a kind stepmother meeting a terrible stepdaughter in the minds of the housekeepers.
The maids who had initially sided with Ning Wanyun looked at Shang Yan with reproach in their eyes upon seeing her unreasonable attitude.
Shang Yan put down her chopsticks and looked at Ning Wanyun earnestly and calmly, saying, “These are my true feelings. Auntie really cares about me, so please do it this way.”
Hahahahahahahahahahaha! Hahahahahahahaha! So refreshing! So refreshing! So refreshing!