After the gathering ended that day, Ji Yaoyao didn’t discuss the people and events from the party with Shen Yu. Nor did she bring up the events from the original host’s previous life in hypothetical terms to gauge Shen Yu’s inner thoughts.
In Yao Yao’s view, she was now Ji Yaoyao. For things that hadn’t happened yet, she didn’t want to spend excessive mental energy dwelling on them, as it would only bring unnecessary trouble.
That night, after coaxing Yao Yao to sleep, Shen Yu began contacting the most renowned hospital in the capital to schedule a prenatal checkup for the following day. Unable to sleep, he started researching pregnancy-related content online and ordered numerous books on the subject.
The next day, after Yao Yao woke up naturally, Shen Yu helped her with her morning routine before they went to the hospital together for the examination.
The initial test results were all excellent. The baby was just over a month old. Yao Yao calculated silently – it must have been conceived the night before they left for Shanghai.
The young couple returned hand in hand to the Shen family’s ancestral home to share the joyful news. Shen’s mother was overjoyed internally, while even the typically stern-faced Shen father revealed a happy smile.
Efficient as ever, once her excitement subsided, Shen’s mother immediately began arranging for premium postpartum care centers and maternity nurses, striving to ensure her daughter-in-law would be perfectly cared for.
“By the way, Shen Yu, don’t tell outsiders about Yao Yao’s pregnancy for the first three months. As for Zhao Yan’s wedding tomorrow – since Yao Yao is pregnant, we should be cautious. It’s better if she doesn’t attend. You should go alone, Shen Yu.”
Shen Yu nodded in agreement, as he had originally planned to go by himself anyway.
After instructing Shen Yu, his mother worried that her daughter-in-law might be displeased. She bypassed him to approach Yao Yao, explaining affectionately:
“Yao Yao dear, don’t be upset. Mother is just concerned about your health. Tomorrow’s wedding will be crowded and unsafe. Let Shen Yu go by himself – he’s tough and sturdy! I’ll take you to an auction tomorrow instead. Whatever catches your eye, we’ll buy it! If you like everything, we’ll buy everything! Mother will cover the costs!”
Shen Yu: “…”
Yao Yao quite liked her mother-in-law – open-minded and generous, never interfering in her and Shen Yu’s life. This was the first time her mother-in-law had made a request, and she seemed anxious that Yao Yao might be displeased, immediately proposing compensation. Yao Yao loved shopping!
“Thank you, Mom~ Mom, you’re so good to me!” Yao Yao wrapped both arms around her mother-in-law’s arm, resting her head on the older woman’s shoulder while swaying playfully.
Shen’s mother’s heart melted at her daughter-in-law’s gesture: “Oh, Yao Yao is so sweet. Having a daughter-in-law is wonderful – you’re mother’s little warm jacket!”
The two women excitedly discussed their plans for the next day, completely ignoring the helpless looks exchanged between father and son.
*
Zhao Yan’s wedding was conventional – neither overly extravagant nor particularly modest.
Zhao’s parents maintained stiff expressions when facing Chen Ke, though their smiles never faltered in front of other guests.
The wedding screen displayed footage of the couple’s journey from acquaintances to lovers, creating a warm and romantic atmosphere. When the host invited them to share their love story, Chen Ke described their difficult path together, becoming so choked up she could barely speak. The audience below wiped away tears.
Ignoring the sentimental scene on stage, Shen Yu kept looking at his phone, viewing the auction items Yao Yao had been sending him.
Wang Zihui had also come alone. Since that gathering, his girlfriend had developed an extreme dislike for Chen Ke and bluntly told him: “Wherever Chen Ke goes, I, Jin Yunuo, will never set foot. And don’t even think about inviting her to our future wedding!”
This gave Wang Zihui a massive headache, leaving him unsure how to resolve the situation. As a groomsman, before he even started helping the groom ward off toasts, he began downing glass after glass himself, drowning his sorrows in alcohol.
After rounds of ceremonies concluded, the banquet officially began, and soon it was time for the toast-giving segment. Shen Yu was seated at a table with a circle of business associates. When Zhao Yan and Chen Ke approached the table, Shen Yu raised his glass to toast them, smiling as he offered his blessings: “A harmonious union lasting a hundred years, and may you be blessed with children early.”
It was a perfectly good wish, seemingly no different from before, yet from this moment on, something felt undeniably altered.
Zhao Yan raised his glass in return. “Thank you, Brother Yu.”
He drained his cup in one go, the sharp burn of alcohol filling his mouth as an infinite ache welled up in his heart. A rift had finally formed between him and Brother Yu—one he had crossed himself. Zhao Yan couldn’t help but recall his phone conversation with Shen Yu from the day before.
Zhao Yan had said, “Brother Yu, Ke Ke sometimes speaks without thinking. She’s just too naive and doesn’t have any ill intentions. Besides, matters between women shouldn’t affect the bond between us brothers.”
Shen Yu replied, “Zhao Yan, do you really not understand what Chen Ke’s intentions are?”
Zhao Yan froze on the spot. Shen Yu’s words struck right at the heart of the matter. Zhao Yan had guessed Chen Ke’s motives, but instead of stopping her, he had allowed her behavior to continue. In his mind, if it could help his brother find true love, that wouldn’t be such a bad thing. Deep down, Zhao Yan believed that arranged marriages lacked genuine affection.
After a few seconds of silence, Zhao Yan explained, “I know, but Brother Yu, to be honest, I only want what’s best for you. I hope you can find happiness.”
“You’re not me. How do you know I’m not happy? Zhao Yan, you never used to have this presumptuous habit.” Shen Yu’s voice was like a sharp blade, cutting straight into Zhao Yan’s heart and leaving a bloody wound.
Zhao Yan’s rebuttal came out weak: “But your wife returned to her parents’ home less than a month after the wedding, and even…”
“Zhao Yan!” Shen Yu cut him off mid-sentence, his voice colder than before.
“You can criticize me all you want, but do not speak about my wife. Just because I don’t like discussing my private matters in front of others doesn’t mean you’re free to fill in the blanks with your own assumptions! Your brain is for thinking things through, not for fabricating gossip.”
“Let me make this clear once more: my wife and I have a good relationship. Even if we didn’t, that would not justify me having an affair, nor would it be an excuse for you to find me a mistress. A person must have principles of propriety and shame—there are lines you do not cross!”
Shen Yu’s tone on the other end of the line was severe, each word sharp and deliberate.
A long silence followed. Neither of them spoke, waiting in stillness, with only the sound of each other’s breathing audible.
Zhao Yan felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head, washing away all his emotions and leaving only a chilling emptiness. He apologized, his voice hoarse: “Brother Yu, I’m sorry.”
Shen Yu merely gave a soft “Mm” in response and hung up directly.
After hanging up the phone, Shen Yu leaned back wearily on the study room sofa, massaging his throbbing temples with his fingers. The emotional turmoil within him was equally unsettling. He never imagined things with Zhao Yan would ever come to this point.
Shen Yu was skilled at reading people. He had detected Chen Ke’s intentions but dismissed them as immature. Besides, she was his friend’s girlfriend—he couldn’t cause trouble for his brother based on mere speculation. Now that Zhao Yan had confirmed sharing the same suspicion, Shen Yu found the situation utterly ridiculous.
As soon as the wedding banquet concluded, Shen Yu bid brief farewells to Wang Zihui and Li Jiacheng before heading straight to the location Yao Yao had sent him.