Ji Huanlan pouted. “Shen Xi, this household is surrounded by wolves. You need to keep someone trustworthy by your side. The Shen family is different from the Ji family—those people in the Ji family are all useless, all talk and no action, nothing but paper tigers.”
“But the people in the Shen family can all take a life. After all, no one wants to let such a substantial family fortune go to someone else—everyone wants a piece of the pie.”
“So, whether Shen Ran genuinely wanted to help you before, or was just currying favor, now he has to stick with you and protect you.”
Why?
Because Shen Ran had overheard the secret between Ji Huanlan and Shen Xi. Unless he wanted to die, he had no choice but to obey.
Fortunately, Shen Ran genuinely wanted to pledge his allegiance to them. Even though it was somewhat of a blow, it wasn’t that severe.
He walked back to his quarters, feeling lightheaded. Mother An had already been waiting for him to have dinner together.
“Son?”
Shen Ran sat down absentmindedly. Shen Ning waved her hand in front of his face. “Brother? What’s wrong? Did you do something wrong and get scolded by Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law?”
Shen Ran shook his head.
He was also pondering the meaning behind Ji Huanlan’s deliberate words earlier.
He had understood what his second sister-in-law meant on the spot.
That was precisely why Shen Ran was so distracted.
Because of fear, because the more he thought about it the more terrified he became, and because of sheer shock.
His second sister-in-law’s mind was far too deep. This was merely the tip of the iceberg, Shen Ran thought. If one day this second sister-in-law decided to go after the Shen family…
That very evening, Shen Ran drew up a list of places for his second sister-in-law to choose from for their outing.
Ji Huanlan had already told Wang Huo the day before that she would be taking a few days off and instructed him to keep a close watch on the movements of those people in the company, with special emphasis on making sure he brought Shen Shuo along on Monday.
Wang Huo agreed to everything.
On WeChat.
Wang Huo: Chairman Ji, you should bring someone with you when you go out. No one knows whether those people can be trusted.
“Those people” referred to the Shen family members.
Ji Huanlan: No need.
Wang Huo didn’t insist further, because he knew that bringing bodyguards wasn’t really of much use anyway.
None of the bodyguards could beat his boss in a fight. If Ji Yaoqing hadn’t ambushed her back then, Ji Huanlan wouldn’t have nearly died.
Early the next morning.
When Ji Huanlan came downstairs, everyone saw a beautiful woman who maintained her image at all times.
“Madam.”
“Madam.”
Ji Huanlan took the list Shen Ran had prepared and glanced at it. “Which one do you recommend?”
Shen Ran was momentarily stunned, then his mind raced. “Haiyue Guangchang.”
“Hm?”
Shen Ran explained with a grin. “That’s our own family’s property.”
Ji Huanlan let out an “Oh.” “Alright. Let’s go there today then. Go ask your second brother if it’s okay.”
“Sure.”
Now that Shen Ran could move freely around the main residence, he searched around for a while and learned that Shen Xi had been in a video conference since early morning. He went to the study door and knocked. “Second Brother.”
“Come in.”
Shen Ran pushed the door open a crack and, being sensible, didn’t step inside. “Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law said we’re going to Haiyue Guangchang today. What do you think?”
Shen Xi, who was in the middle of his meeting, didn’t even look up. “Whatever your second sister-in-law arranges.”
Shen Ran raised an eyebrow. “Got it!”
He immediately set about arranging the car and bodyguards, ready to accompany his second brother and second sister-in-law out at any moment.
At ten-thirty, after Shen Xi finished his work, he changed into a suit.
Ji Huanlan was sitting in the living room. Looking at Shen Xi like this, there was always a fleeting moment when she felt as though he wasn’t disabled at all.
Those legs were so long, so straight, and the impeccably tailored suit fit him perfectly—no one would ever guess he had trouble with his legs.
“Even wearing glasses?” Ji Huanlan noticed.
Shen Xi nodded. “A slight astigmatism.”
Ji Huanlan understood.
When they learned the couple was going out, the Shen family’s minds started racing again.
They got in the car.
Guan Qi was driving, with Shen Ran in the passenger seat, and bodyguards in the two cars behind.
Shen Xi glanced sideways at her. “You’re really not afraid?”
The question came out of nowhere.
Fortunately, Ji Huanlan was someone with a brain.
What Shen Xi meant was that Ji Huanlan was making such a show of going out with him, as if she wanted every member of the Shen family to know.
Wasn’t that equivalent to telling them there was an opportunity to make their move?
Unexpectedly, Ji Huanlan countered, “You’ve already thrown your legs into this, and you’re still willing to play along with me. What do I have to be afraid of?”
The best way to eliminate rivals was to leave a gap for them to slip through.
Shen Xi’s lashes trembled slightly. He lowered his gaze and said nothing more.
He realized that Ji Huanlan was genuinely helping him secure his position in the Shen family.
Exactly as she had promised when they first met at the hospital.
For some reason, a sense of disappointment crept into Shen Xi’s heart—something he himself couldn’t explain.
Haiyue Guangchang was a bit far, taking over an hour to reach.
By the time they arrived, it was almost afternoon, so Shen Ran arranged lunch.
The vast square was home to an eight-story shopping mall, with a moat below—quite wide, its end surrounded by mountains.
Between the moat and Haiyue Guangchang lay an enormous stretch of broad stone steps.
The steps were beautifully decorated, especially dazzling at night.
Shen Ran had been introducing Haiyue Guangchang to Ji Huanlan the whole time. The place was big enough that after lunch, by the time their group had wandered around the vicinity, the sky had already darkened.
“At six o’clock, there’ll be a fireworks show across the way,” Shen Xi said. “Up ahead is the snack street. Second Sister-in-law, want to take a look?”
Ji Huanlan raised an eyebrow. “Sure.”
She rarely had the chance to visit such a lively, down-to-earth place.
“By the time we finish walking the loop, the fireworks show should be starting,” Shen Ran said. “We can head down the steps to watch.”
“Grilled squid?” Ji Huanlan stared at one stall. “So many people—must be really good, right?”
Shen Ran immediately replied, “Their business is indeed booming.”
Ji Huanlan pondered for a moment, then suddenly looked down at Shen Xi. “Do you want some?”
Shen Xi was taken aback, but ultimately shook his head. “Do you want to try it?”
“I’d like a taste.”
Guan Qi spoke up at once. “Madam, I’ll go buy it for you.”
On the snack street, vendors lined up one after another. Looking out, the ground spotlights reached toward the deep blue night sky as various neon signs lit up one by one.
Most of the visitors here were college students, along with some out-of-town tourists—crowded shoulder to shoulder.
“There are quite a lot of people today,” Shen Ran muttered, then wheeled Shen Xi’s chair a bit to the side.
Soon, Guan Qi returned with a small skewer of squid tentacles. “Madam, here you are.”
Shen Xi noticed the woman’s eyes brighten slightly as she looked at the grilled squid.
Ji Huanlan took a bite and nodded without reservation. “The flavor is really good.”
Shen Xi was just smiling softly when a skewer of grilled squid suddenly appeared before him—and it was the very one Ji Huanlan had bitten from.
The amusement in the woman’s eyes carried a hint of mischievous cunning. “Want a taste?”
Seeing Shen Xi frozen in place, Ji Huanlan felt rather pleased and a mischievous urge stirred within her.
She bent down, still holding up the string of squid tentacles, and her voice turned unexpectedly sweet and cloying. “Your wife’s taken a bite—it’ll taste even better.”
She knew Shen Xi wouldn’t eat it, but she still wanted to put on a show for those lurking in the shadows, watching this pair of plastic spouses.
After teasing him a couple of times, Ji Huanlan prepared to take it back, putting on a regretful expression.
To her surprise, Shen Xi’s next move made her forget to react.
She watched as Shen Xi gripped her hand, applied a bit of force, and actually took a real bite of the squid tentacle.
It was nothing more than street food, yet on Shen Xi, it was somehow elevated to the air of a royal delicacy—chewed slowly and deliberately, utterly elegant.
Ji Huanlan’s throat bobbed. “You actually ate it?”
Shen Xi looked puzzled. “It’s true that I don’t care for ordinary street food. But when my wife feeds me, why wouldn’t I eat it?”
Ji Huanlan: …