At his words, the fingers resting on Zheng Wanning’s thighs twitched.
Huang Yumei remembered how she had softened and agreed to let Wanning marry into the family. Now, she deeply regretted it.
“Tell me, which heiress in North City doesn’t come from a better family than you? With your lowly background, marrying into the Shen family was already a disgrace to our name.”
“And who would’ve thought you’d turn out to be a hen that can’t lay eggs!”
As Zheng Wanning listened to her vicious scolding, it felt as if someone had clamped a hand around her heart. She couldn’t find a single reason to argue back.
It was true. She couldn’t lay eggs anymore.
Huang Yumei’s sharp gaze cut toward her like a knife. The woman was nothing but bad luck.
For the past few years, Zheng Wanning’s presence had been a thorn in Huang Yumei’s side.
She got straight to the point and made her position clear.
“The Shen family has wealth and influence, and Yanqing is an only child. He can’t be left without an heir.”
“You have two choices. First, ask for a divorce yourself. Second, if you won’t divorce him, agree to Yanqing having another woman on the side and fathering a Shen family grandson.”
Being unable to have children was a grave taboo. Huang Yumei couldn’t possibly tolerate this woman staying in the Shen family any longer.
Given Zheng Wanning’s nature, she could never put up with Yanqing having another woman. In effect, Huang Yumei was forcing her to divorce him.
Zheng Wanning’s relationship with Shen Yanqing was now like shattered glass.
She had thought about divorce before.
But every time she considered it, her heart seized up in agony, and she felt as if she were falling apart. The pain left her unable to speak.
If she didn’t love Shen Yanqing,
if all she loved was his money,
then the decision would be easy.
Huang Yumei saw her sitting with her head lowered and saying nothing, and lost patience.
She demanded sternly, “Zheng Wanning, which will it be?”
Which would it be? Did she even have a choice?
Huang Yumei’s tactics hadn’t changed in all these years.
Zheng Wanning took a deep breath, keeping her expression calm. “I don’t plan to choose.”
What?
Huang Yumei’s pupils contracted. She was stunned, unable to accept Wanning’s defiance.
How dare this woman defy her command?
She sneered. “Did you misspeak, or did I mishear you?”
“Mom…”
Huang Yumei cut her off in disgust.
“Don’t call me Mom. I’ve never once acknowledged you as my daughter-in-law.”
Fine. As if Wanning wanted to call her Mom. She didn’t want to call either of them that.
Zheng Wanning’s expression turned resolute, her tone leaving no room for argument.
“Auntie, this is between Shen Yanqing and me. If we decide to divorce, it’s not up to anyone else to interfere.”
“Zheng Wanning, you dare defy my orders? You’ve certainly grown bold since becoming Mrs. Shen. Do you think I won’t—”
Huang Yumei was cut off halfway through by the housekeeper’s sudden shout. “Old Madam! Young… Young Master is back!”
A moment later, Shen Yanqing strode into the living room.
He hadn’t expected to see that woman at the Shen family’s old residence.
Zheng Wanning’s head was slightly bowed, her expression unreadable. She wore a business suit and skirt, and a document bag sat beside her. It looked as though she’d come straight from the office.
He paused, then took off his suit jacket and handed it to a servant.
“Where’s Grandpa?”
“Yanqing, what brings you here today?”
Huang Yumei’s attitude toward him was entirely different from her cold, disdainful manner toward Zheng Wanning. The moment she saw him, her expression changed, and she became unmistakably ingratiating.
“Quick, bring out the tea Yanqing likes. And… Yanqing, are you staying for dinner? Housekeeper Gui, hurry and get things ready.”
Shen Yanqing’s expression remained mild. “No need. I came back to see Grandpa.”
Disappointment crossed Huang Yumei’s face, but she quickly recovered.
“Your grandpa’s in the back courtyard. He misses you, too. You’ve been abroad for three years, and he’s been thinking of you the whole time.”
When Old Master Shen was young, he had dominated the business world with an iron hand and laid the foundation for Shen Group.
Now nearly eighty, his health was failing. He didn’t want to be disturbed, so he lived alone in the back courtyard, seeking peace and quiet.
Even the back courtyard of Shen Residence was a large villa. It was simply separated from Huang Yumei’s home in the front courtyard by a garden.
Shen Yanqing gave a noncommittal “Mm” and headed toward the back courtyard.
After a few steps, he turned his head slightly and glanced toward Zheng Wanning, his gaze deep and dark.
“Are you coming or not?” His voice was low and husky.
At the sound of his voice, Zheng Wanning looked around until she saw his gaze fixed on her. Only then did she realize he was calling her.
She slowly rose to her feet and followed him, with Huang Yumei’s scorching glare at her back.
They walked one behind the other along the corridor and out of the living room.
When Huang Yumei saw her son leave with Zheng Wanning, her face turned livid with rage. Her breathing grew labored.
She smashed the teacup in her hand against the floor, shattering it into pieces.
Housekeeper Gui hurried over to comfort her. “Madam, don’t let her upset you so much.”
Huang Yumei gritted her teeth, fury held back in her eyes.
“Am I supposed to just let that woman stay by Yanqing’s side?”
“We need to think this through. Young Master has never liked other people meddling in his affairs,” Housekeeper Gui said. “Even if you want that woman away from his side, you’ll have to handle it discreetly.”
Huang Yumei rubbed her chest, trying to calm herself, then sat down on the sofa. She took a moment to collect herself.
“You’re right. Yanqing already misunderstands me. I can’t let a woman ruin the bond between mother and son.”
She stared coldly down the corridor.
Zheng Wanning, four years ago, you used your belly to get through the Shen family’s doors.
Four years later, I’ll make you leave the Shen family because of that very same belly!
Shen Yanqing strode ahead, his legs long, his shoulders broad. At 165 centimeters, Zheng Wanning looked petite following behind him.
The man wore a white shirt and gray trousers today, his sleeves rolled up to his forearms, revealing his firm, sun-bronzed muscles. The watch on his wrist gleamed with a cold metallic light.
Zheng Wanning’s gaze fell, almost despite herself, on his custom-made luxury watch.
Suddenly, Shen Yanqing broke the silence, sounding as if he didn’t care.
“What brought you here today?”
Zheng Wanning came back to herself, still weighed down by the gloom of what had just happened. She answered without thinking.
“Your mother called me back.”
He frowned. “She asked you to come, so you came? Since when have you been so obedient?”
Huang Yumei had just spent the whole conversation emotionally manipulating her. Now Shen Yanqing’s sarcastic tone left her seething with nowhere to direct her anger.
“I’m not like the great Young Master Shen, who can come and go as he pleases, with no one able to stop him.”
Shen Yanqing raised an eyebrow, then gave a soft laugh.
“Sounds like you’re really unhappy with me. Is it because you resent me for not spending time with you?”
As if she wanted him to spend time with her!
She was just about to snap that at him when Shen Yanqing immediately added, “Mrs. Shen, I’m busy.”
He said it so naturally, as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world.
Was he telling her not to make a fuss over nothing?
The retort caught in her throat.
Busy!
Busy flirting with women on the side, was he?
Those two were cut from the same cloth, just to different degrees.
Zheng Wanning was too angry to answer. Her expression turned cold.