"Qingyun was Big Brother's lawfully wedded wife. She has lived in the Shen family for over a decade and is a part of this family. Now that Big Brother is gone, it is our responsibility to take good care of her."
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the dining table, lingering briefly on each person's face. His tone softened but left no room for argument: "I have already decided. Qingyun will stay in the country. She may remain at the old estate or move out—that is her choice. Her position at Hengsheng Pharmaceuticals remains unchanged. If Grandmother still has objections, all her future expenses will be covered by me."
Wen Su quietly attended to her daughter, using a tissue to wipe the little girl's mouth. The man's firm and resolute words made her movements slow.
To keep Lu Qingyun here, he was willing to openly challenge the old lady's authority. And that last sentence—it was unmistakably a declaration that he was placing Lu Qingyun under his own protection.
The old lady was so furious her face turned pale. She pointed a finger at him: "Is this household run by your word now? Are you trying to anger me to death?"
Shen Fei'an's tone softened, but his stance remained immovable: "Grandmother, matters of the household will always be decided by you. But Qingyun's situation involves the company. Please forgive me—I cannot comply."
The dining room fell into deathly silence. The old lady glared at her grandson. Wu Yingna chose the right moment to soothe her: "Mother, Fei Yi has just left. Up in heaven, he would never want to see Qingyun treated this way."
Shen Fei'an tightened his grip on his wine glass and drained the remaining red wine in one gulp. His Adam's apple bobbed, and the lines of his profile under the light appeared unusually cold and hard.
"Daddy, please don't argue with Grandmother… waaah… I'm scared."
Shen Siqing, who had always been carefully sheltered, was frightened into tears by the tense, oppressive atmosphere. She suddenly jumped down from her chair and threw herself into Shen Fei'an's arms, her little hands clutching tightly at his shirt: "I'm full. Daddy, take me upstairs to play."
Shen Fei'an gently lifted his daughter into his arms and said to the table at large: "I'm finished eating."
Then, carrying his daughter, he went upstairs.
The atmosphere in the dining room did not ease. Wu Yingna turned her gaze to Wen Su at the far end of the table. Throughout the argument just now, as Shen Fei'an's wife, she had remained silent.
"Wen Su, do you support Fei An's decision?"
Wen Su's knuckles, gripping her chopsticks, turned white from the force. Her calm expression could not conceal the turbulent waves and disappointment within her heart.
The way Shen Fei'an had thrown all caution to the wind today, defying the old lady to protect their sister-in-law, was more extreme than anything she had ever seen from him before.
"You are Fei An's wife and Qingyun's sister-in-law. The two of you usually get along well. In both public and private matters, you should state your position," Wu Yingna said sternly.
All eyes at the table shifted to Wen Su.
Wen Su pressed her lips together and said in a low voice: "It depends on her own wishes. I have nothing to say."
Wen Su's neutral stance gave no one at the table any grounds to find fault. Because in everyone's eyes, that was simply who Wen Su was—quiet, low-key, never revealing her emotions easily, and never casually offending anyone.
After dinner, Wen Su stayed overnight at the old estate. She bathed her daughter, and after the little one played on the bed for a while, she burrowed into her small blanket and fell asleep.
Wen Su heard footsteps in the corridor outside the door. Her heart sank. A moment later, the footsteps turned and headed toward the study.
That night, Wen Su felt as though the road ahead was shrouded in thick fog. So many things she could no longer see clearly.
She had never noticed before that Shen Fei'an harbored such a fierce protective instinct toward Lu Qingyun.
Everything that had happened tonight made Wen Su feel that the man beside her pillow was utterly unfamiliar—unfathomably deep.
On Saturday morning, after a light drizzle, the pale blue sky carried the fresh fragrance of grass and trees.
Wen Su rose early. Gently, she dressed her daughter, who was still lost in dreams.
A pinkish-purple hoodie printed with little ducks, a pair of denim overalls, and hair reaching her waist tied into a small ponytail—adorable and utterly endearing.
For herself, she changed into a comfortable apricot-colored long dress, layered with a beige trench coat. Her jet-black hair was gathered into a low bun at the nape of her neck—less professional, more softly domestic.
"Mommy, I prepared a birthday gift for Grandpa too," the little one said happily as she climbed into the car with her small backpack.
"Really? Then Grandpa will be very happy."
"Mm-hmm!"
The car left the quiet boulevard of villas and headed toward the other end of the city—the university faculty compound where the Wen family lived.
The window rolled down halfway, and the morning chill rushed in, waking both mother and daughter a little more.
The little one leaned against the car window, watching the passing streetscape with curiosity and delight.
About an hour later, the sedan came to a stop in front of an aging gray-brick building.
Compared to the luxury and formality of the Shen residence, this place carried a scholarly air—peaceful and serene.
Wen Su's father was a physics professor, now retired but rehired by the university. Her mother ran several pharmacies and was a small business owner.
Jian Lan saw her daughter's car and walked over happily, waiting to embrace her granddaughter.
"Grandma, good morning!" Shen Siqing greeted her politely and cheerfully.
"What a good little girl." Jian Lan said, affectionately stroking her hair before lifting her out of the car.
"Where's Fei An?" Jian Lan noticed that only the mother and daughter were in the car.
"He… he had something to do today, so he didn't come." Shen Siqing didn't dare tell the truth—yesterday, Shen Fei'an had gone somewhere unknown and hadn't come home all night.
"Is work very busy?" Jian Lan sighed, her shrewd eyes fixed on her daughter's gentle face. She knew her daughter's temperament best; if something were truly wrong, her daughter would never say a word about it.
"Yeah, a little." Wen Su smiled.
Wen Xiangdong had just returned from taking his birds out for a stroll when he spotted his daughter and granddaughter. He hurried over: "Susu, Qingqing, you're here."
"Dad!"
"Grandpa, you took Little Kite and the others out to play again. I want to go too." Shen Siqing ran over happily, her big dark eyes fixed on the pair of monk parrots in the cage.
"Old lady… old lady…"
The two birds suddenly mimicked human speech, and their words made everyone present burst into laughter.
Jian Lan shot Wen Xiangdong a glare: "Tell your birds to shut up right now. Don't let the child see us as a laughingstock."
But Wen Xiangdong chuckled merrily: "Who told you not to teach them to talk? They're so smart—I only had to teach them a few times before they learned."
"Old fool." Jian Lan laughed in exasperation.
Wen Su watched her loving parents and gradually felt her mood lift.
Shen Siqing pestered Wen Xiangdong to take her to the park to walk the birds, and Wen Xiangdong was more than happy to play with his little granddaughter, so he took her out again.
Wen Su followed her mother into the kitchen, where an auntie was preparing lunch. Jian Lan helped on the side, and Wen Su pitched in as well.
"Hasn't Big Brother and his wife arrived yet?"
Jian Lan said, "When have they ever shown up before mealtime?"
Wen Su smiled.
The clatter of spatulas against woks and the sizzle of oil in the pan filled the little house with the warmth of everyday life.
Around ten-thirty, the sound of a car engine cutting off came from outside the courtyard gate. Jian Lan immediately said, "Who's that now?"
Wen Su followed her mother out to look and saw Shen Fei'an standing at the entrance.