Worried that Jiang Xian might not adjust well to staying at the old mansion on his first night, Ning Wanwan made a point of checking on him before going to bed.
She turned on the light and found the room empty, so she went next door—and sure enough, there were the two little ones, sleeping with their heads pressed together.
A fond smile couldn’t help but spread across her face.
If only the two kids could stay this close forever.
Just thinking about how that little brat would act once she sent Xianxian back after a while gave Ning Wanwan a headache.
Back in her room, she had barely lain down when a pair of strong, powerful arms wrapped around her, and the man’s firm chest pressed against her.
“What are you thinking about?” Shen Song’an’s deep voice sounded in her ear.
Ning Wanwan nestled into Shen Song’an’s embrace, settling into a comfortable position, and sighed with a frown. “It’s all about your son. It seems to me like he treats Xianxian as his personal possession. You said we’d send her back in a couple of days—do you think he’ll agree to that?”
Shen Song’an replied, “Sooner or later, he’ll have to understand a simple truth: there are many things in this world that he can’t just have simply because he wants them. If he really wants something, he’ll have to figure out how to earn it through his own efforts.”
Ning Wanwan shot him a disapproving look. “I certainly don’t want our son to grow up to be someone who takes what he wants by force.”
Shen Song’an didn’t see anything wrong with his son being a bit domineering. In the business world, the worst thing you can be is soft-hearted. What’s needed is decisiveness and swift action.
He kissed his wife and said, “Don’t worry too much. School starts in two months. I’ll talk to the Jiang family then and arrange for the two kids to attend the same school.”
“Will that work?”
“For our son’s sake, we’ll make it happen—no matter what. Besides, the school we’ve arranged for Ayan is top-tier in every respect; most people can’t even get in. The Jiangs are doting parents; they’ll definitely be happy to send Xianxian there.” If all else fails, he’d find another way to persuade them.
There’s nothing in this world that can’t be done; as long as you set your mind to it, you’ll find a way.
Ning Wanwan suddenly remembered something and asked, “By the way, what did Dad want to talk to you about earlier?”
Shen Song’an was just about to tell her: “Ayan’s birthday is coming up in a few days. Dad has booked a hotel under the company’s group to throw him a birthday party. The invitations have already been sent out.”
Ning Wanwan turned around and rested her head on his chest: “ “Yan Yan is still so young. Isn’t throwing a birthday party just for him a bit too flashy?”
Shen Song’an: “It’s just a party. Don’t worry about it too much.”
He was right. For families like theirs, hosting parties was a common occurrence; it was merely a matter of prestige.
At the end of the day, it was just a social game. Others probably wouldn’t even care who the party was actually for.
Ning Wanwan was still lost in thought when her senses were suddenly overwhelmed by the scorching heat of his breath, leaving her head spinning.
Before she knew it, the day of Shen Yan’s birthday party had arrived.
On the day of the party, Ning Wanwan took special care to dress the two little ones, putting them in the formal wear she had personally selected for them.
Jiang Xian’s dress was a cherry-pink tulle ball gown, with layers of sheer fabric forming soft, petal-like pleats. A large bow tied at her waist made her look like a real little princess.
Shen Yan wore a jet-black blazer with a sapphire iris lapel pin at the collar, paired with a satin bow tie in the same color, embroidered with silver thread in a subtle vine pattern. Though small in stature, he exuded an indescribable air of nobility.
Standing side by side, the two little ones looked like a pair of exquisite porcelain dolls, so beautiful it was impossible to look away.
Their mother’s heart was practically melting.
Ning Wanwan admired her handiwork with satisfaction before setting off to take the two little ones to the banquet venue.
Luxury cars were lined up at the hotel entrance.
Inside the venue, the air was thick with the scent of fine perfumes and the glimmer of elegant attire.
Nearly half of Beijing’s social elite had turned out for tonight’s birthday party.
Since Ning Wanwan had to host guests alongside Shen Song’an, she let Shen Yan take Jiang Xian off to explore on their own.
“Wow!” Jiang Xian stood in front of the dessert table, eyes wide as saucers, drool practically dripping from his mouth.
“So many cakes! They all look so delicious.”
Shen Yan: “Which one do you want? I’ll get it for you.”
Jiang Xian scrunched up her little face, looking from one to the next: “I want to eat every single one—what should I do?”
It’s so hard to choose!
“Can I have a slice of each?” Jiang Xian looked up at Shen Yan hopefully.
“No way!” Shen Yan said sternly, “You can have two pieces at most.”
Both of them were in the middle of losing their baby teeth, so they had to cut back on sweets.
“Okay, then I’ll have that one.” Seeing that Shen Yan wouldn’t budge, Jiang Xian hung her head dejectedly, but finally pointed to the cake with the most fruit on top and said to Shen Yan.
Shen Yan walked over, picked up the cake, and handed it to her.
Just then, a little girl walked over and stared at the cake in Shen Yan’s hand. “Big brother, I want that cake too. Can you give it to me?”
Shen Yan ignored her and handed the cake directly to Jiang Xian.
“Big brother, why aren’t you talking to me?” Seeing that Shen Yan was ignoring her, the little girl asked, looking aggrieved.
Jiang Xian glanced at the little girl, then looked at the cake in her hand. There were clearly plenty more on the table, so she didn’t understand why the other girl was trying to take it from her.
Whatever she set her sights on first was hers—Little Jiang had no sense of sharing. Right in front of the little girl, she took a big bite.
The girl glared at her angrily, then suddenly stepped forward and shoved her hard.
Jiang Xian stumbled back two steps and plopped down on the floor.
The cake in her hands spilled, and cream splattered all over her pretty dress.
Looking at her cream-stained dress, Jiang Xian felt at a loss.
This was a gift Aunt Wanwan had specially picked out for her. She loved it so much and had planned to wear it home to show her mom and dad, but now it was ruined.
Tears welled up in the little girl’s eyes.
Shen Yan shot a cold glance at the girl who had just shoved Jiang Xian, then walked straight up to her and shoved her hard with both hands, sending the girl crashing to the ground.
“Waaah—” A shrill, piercing cry rang out.
The entire banquet hall fell silent for a moment as everyone turned their heads toward the sound of the crying.
“Sweetie, what’s wrong? Who’s bullying you?” A woman hurried over, her sharp gaze sweeping over Jiang Xian and Shen Yan.
Jiang Xian’s small frame trembled involuntarily.
Shen Yan stepped forward, standing in front of her.
“Waaah, Mommy, they’re the ones who bullied me and pushed me down,” the little girl sobbed, pointing at Shen Yan and Jiang Xian as she complained.
The woman gave Shen Yan and Jiang Xian a cold, appraising look, finding them both unfamiliar.
Over the past two years, she had attended numerous high-society events with her husband, yet she had never seen these two children before. They must have snuck in with someone.
The woman instantly felt more confident. She glared at them and snapped, “Where did these little bastards come from? How dare you bully my daughter?”
“Yan Yan, what’s a little bastard?” Jiang Xian asked, her wide eyes filled with confusion.
A flash of anger crossed Shen Yan’s eyes. He reached out to cover her ears and said, “Don’t listen!”
“What’s going on?” Meanwhile, Ning Wanwan, the hostess of the party, heard the commotion and rushed over to investigate.
The moment the woman saw Ning Wanwan, she immediately flashed a fawning smile. “Mrs. Shen, what brings you here? I’m so sorry for disrupting the party.” After speaking, she shot a look of disgust in the direction of Jiang Xian and Shen Yan. “It’s all because of these two wild children who popped up out of nowhere—they actually dared to bully my daughter at the party.”