“Miss, the master went to the Shen family estate early this morning to attend the birthday banquet.”
Looking at the empty hospital bed, Ning Zhiyuan nearly coughed up blood.
She had the distinct feeling that her own father had stabbed her in the back.
“Why didn’t anyone wake me up?”
The butler explained, “The master knows you don’t like the Shen family, especially Madam Shen. Seeing how poorly you slept last night, he didn’t want to disturb you.”
Well then.
That was parental doting at its finest.
After Old Master Shen passed away, he left behind two sons and a daughter.
The eldest son and his wife died in a plane crash and never had children.
Father Shen was the second son and had only one child, Shen Li.
The youngest daughter married early and settled overseas with her son and daughter.
This was the first family gathering since Ning Zhiyuan and Shen Li became engaged.
Although it wasn’t one of Madam Shen’s milestone birthdays, she had still invited quite a few relatives.
Even Shen Li’s younger aunt, who had long settled abroad, returned with her two children.
By the time Ning Zhiyuan arrived at the Shen family estate, the family luncheon had already ended.
That information came from one of the household servants.
After pocketing the tip she gave him, the servant kindly added,
“Madam was terribly worried when she heard you were sick. She was so anxious she nearly went to visit you herself. It was only after the young master repeatedly persuaded her that she gave up. By the way, are you feeling better now?”
Ning Zhiyuan’s hand trembled slightly around the gift bags.
“I was sick?”
“Of course. Chairman Ning told everyone that you were ill and couldn’t attend the birthday banquet.”
“Yuanyuan, are you feeling unwell anywhere?”
“If you’re not feeling well, don’t force yourself. It’s only a simple family gathering. Your health is more important.”
Madam Shen had just finished seeing off guests.
The moment she entered and spotted Ning Zhiyuan, concern immediately filled her eyes.
Ning Zhiyuan frowned slightly.
She handed over the gifts while wondering how to explain herself.
“Auntie, happy birthday. I…”
Madam Shen’s gaze shifted from the gift box to her slightly awkward expression.
A brief pause followed before she smiled knowingly.
“It’s enough that you came. Come inside.”
Before they even reached the living room, Ning Mingyuan’s hearty laughter could already be heard.
“Xiao Shen, this time I really have to thank you.”
Ning Mingyuan was standing beside Shen Li, chatting happily.
The wrinkles around his eyes deepened from smiling.
Father Shen sat comfortably on the sofa, leisurely sipping tea.
“Old Ning, I could hear you laughing from all the way over here. What’s got you so happy?”
“We were just talking about a real estate development project. It suddenly ran into a funding shortage. I was already preparing to write off the initial investment when Shen Li stepped in and took over. He solved my urgent problem and prevented a huge loss.”
Shen Li immediately corrected him.
“It was a mutually beneficial opportunity. If anything, I should be thanking Uncle Ning for letting me join and share in the profits.”
The approval in Ning Mingyuan’s eyes deepened.
Shen Li possessed extraordinary talent in business.
Any project he took interest in usually had enormous growth potential, often multiplying the investment several times over.
His involvement in this project was purely out of consideration for Ning Mingyuan.
When Ning Mingyuan had been agonizing over the collapsed cooperation with the Pei family, he hadn’t even brought up the matter yet.
Shen Li had already proposed that Shen Corporation participate in a development project and asked whether he had any suitable opportunities available.
Not only had he preserved Ning Mingyuan’s dignity, but he had also helped recover his losses.
Over the years, Ning Mingyuan had seen Shen Li’s unwavering devotion.
He remembered every bit of it.
He only hoped Yuanyuan would learn to cherish the person right in front of her.
“We’re family, after all. It’s only natural,” Madam Shen said with a mysterious smile.
“Xiao Li, look who’s here.”
Shen Li casually lifted his gaze.
The instant he recognized the person standing behind his mother, a spark of delight flashed through his dark eyes.
It vanished just as quickly.
“Yuanyuan.”
His deep voice remained calm and composed.
Ning Zhiyuan stared at the man who remained standing where he was.
A trace of confusion surfaced in her heart.
Wasn’t he happy to see her?
That couldn’t be right.
She had messaged him last night explaining that she needed to stay at the hospital and take care of Ning Mingyuan.
Madam Shen laughed when she noticed the atmosphere.
“Yuanyuan, don’t let his cold expression fool you. He’s been hoping to see you all day. I have no idea who he inherited this icy personality from.”
Father Shen immediately coughed suggestively.
“Ahem. Ahem.”
For some reason, Ning Zhiyuan felt Shen Li looked even lonelier now.
“Obviously he inherited it from his father. Back then, Old Shen was so handsome that girls practically buried him in love letters at school. He wouldn’t even spare them a glance.”
Father Shen reached over and patted Ning Mingyuan on the shoulder.
“Old Ning, the children are right here. Why are we talking about this?”
Madam Shen suddenly burst into laughter.
“Then let’s talk about something appropriate. Just look at the gifts Yuanyuan bought me. They’re all beauty and wellness products. Every single one is exactly what I like.”
Father Shen looked puzzled.
“Didn’t Yuanyuan already send gifts through Old Ning? She gave you two sets of gifts?”
He paused.
“Speaking of which, how’s your health? You’re not still feeling unwell, are you?”
“…I’m fine.”
Faced with Father Shen’s concern, Ning Zhiyuan lowered her head and directed her gaze toward the true source of the rumor, Ning Mingyuan.
A hint of embarrassment flashed across his face.
How was he supposed to know his precious daughter would actually show up?
Had he known, he never would have made up such a lie.
Madam Shen smoothly stepped in to save the situation.
“It’s more than two gifts. Yuanyuan also had Shen Li deliver another present on her behalf.”
“My daughter-in-law really treats me well.”
The moment she said that, Ning Mingyuan and Shen Li exchanged a glance.
The awkwardness immediately transferred itself to Shen Li.
“But for me, the greatest gift is simply that Yuanyuan came.”
Madam Shen’s words were completely sincere.
Nobody had expected Ning Zhiyuan to appear.
Both Ning Mingyuan and Shen Li had assumed she wouldn’t come.
Each of them had secretly given Madam Shen gifts in her name and helped cover for her absence.
Madam Shen had seen through everything.
Yet she neither questioned nor blamed anyone.
She only said she was happy that Ning Zhiyuan had come.
She didn’t ask why she was late.
She didn’t ask why Ning Mingyuan had lied.
Warmth quietly spread through Ning Zhiyuan’s heart.
She had never experienced a mother’s love.
For years, she had mistaken Bai Cuilan’s calculated concern for maternal affection.
In her previous life, manipulated by Bai Cuilan and Bai Xiaoxiao, she had repeatedly shown hostility toward Madam Shen.
Yet the gentle woman had never blamed her.
She accepted every bit of Ning Zhiyuan’s resentment and continued treating her with the same kindness as always.
Madam Shen knew she disliked physical contact.
Her love manifested in hands that reached out only to withdraw halfway, respecting her boundaries while doting on her like a real daughter.
Looking at Madam Shen’s gentle smile, Ning Zhiyuan found herself unable to hold back.
She walked forward and wrapped her arms around her.
“Auntie, happy birthday.”
Madam Shen was so overwhelmed by the unexpected hug that she could barely form complete sentences.
“Ah… thank… thank you, Yuanyuan.”
Ning Mingyuan and Father Shen exchanged a smile and shook hands.
Shen Li’s eyes darkened slightly.
His fingers curled unconsciously.
“Well, look at my memory. Yuanyuan, are you hungry? You probably haven’t eaten yet. I’ll make some desserts for you.”
“Shen Li, keep Yuanyuan company.”
After saying that, Madam Shen headed toward the kitchen.
In the living room, Father Shen and Ning Mingyuan settled down to a game of chess.
Meanwhile, Ning Zhiyuan and Shen Li sat on the sofa.
The distance between them was large enough to fit two more people.
Shen Li had gained a little weight recently.
He no longer looked frighteningly thin.
His posture was perfectly upright.
His back was straight.
His hands rested naturally at his sides.
His knees were neatly together.
The elegant lines of his profile, his dark eyes, prominent brow bone, high nose bridge, and lightly pressed lips made him look exceptionally handsome.
The more Ning Zhiyuan looked at him, the more attractive he seemed.
How had she been so blind in her previous life?
How had she fallen for Pei Jin when he was inferior to Shen Li in every way?
Shen Li didn’t initiate conversation.
He simply focused on the rather boring television drama playing in front of them.
Quietly, Ning Zhiyuan shifted one seat closer.
Pretending it was accidental, she reached toward the hand resting beside the remote control.