Chapter 36: Into the Tiger's Mouth

Thump thump

Eldest daughter-in-law, in two days it will be the eldest son's birthday.

The elder wants you to go discuss arranging the eldest son's birthday banquet.

"Yan Moci, let go of me...." Su Xiyan coquettishly hummed.

"Don't mind him." Yan Moci hoarsely refused to let go.

Thump thump

Eldest daughter-in-law, are you there?

"Ah! Liu Guanjia, I'm coming right away!" She shoved away Yan Moci, who was clinging to her like a madman, and Su Xiyan ran to the door.

Looking at Yan Moci, whose face was dark and unmoving, Su Xiyan waved at him slightly, speaking in a breathy tone:

"Hey, hurry up and lie on the bed! Liu Guanjia will see you soon!"

Yan Moci glanced gloomily toward the door, wishing he could scorch the door panels.

He said resentfully: "I don't need a birthday, nor a birthday banquet; I only want you."

!!!

The eldest son is spouting those wolfish words again!

Just now she was merely feeling low, which made her lose her senses!

Fortunately, Steward Liu appeared in time to pull her back from the brink; otherwise she would truly have ruined her reputation!

Under Su Xiyan's glare, Yan Moci eventually trudged back to bed, pulling the blanket over himself with the stiff posture of someone preparing for a funeral.

He pulled it over his head, his whole body listless.

As Su Xiyan continually watched him, her gaze passing over a certain irregular bulge, she pursed her lips and smiled, her face flushing a deeper shade.

Before Liu Guanjia knocked again, Su Xiyan opened the door,

Seeing the young woman's flushed face and seductive, silk-like eyes, Liu Guanjia's gaze hesitated.

His gaze unconsciously swept to Yan Moci's position on the bed, just as Su Xiyan anxiously wondered whether Liu Guanjia had discovered something.

But she heard Liu Guanjia shake his head and say in disagreement:

"Eldest daughter-in-law, the eldest son is essentially a vegetative person."

"Doing this isn't good; if the eldest son were conscious, he might not be pleased either."

Ha!

Although I don't have to worry about Yan Moci's feigned faint being discovered, what on earth is Steward Liu imagining!

Could he think that this young maiden, hungry and indiscriminate, would pounce on Yan Moci, a vegetative man, like a starving wolf!

Please, even if it were truly a wolf's pounce, it would still be Yan Moci! A cunning old man!

She is the victim!

"Ah... yes... Steward Liu, you're right."

A young maiden, her reputation ruined!

Just before leaving, Su Xiyan glared hatefully in Yan Moci's direction, seeing his blanket actually trembling slightly.

She gritted her teeth, thinking, "He's smirking, isn't he?"

Just wait till she comes back and see how she'll deal with him!

Arriving at the elder's study, Su Xiyan politely greeted, "Grandfather, you called for me."

Yan Laotaiye nodded, "Yes, Xiwei. The eldest son's 28th birthday is coming up soon."

Although he is now a vegetative person, I used to arrange his birthday banquet every year.

I just want those gossiping outsiders to see that, even if the eldest son of our Yan family has become a vegetative person, as long as I'm alive, no one dare overstep him and harbor any improper designs!

Seeing grandfather speak with such vigor, Su Xiyan actually felt a twinge of envy toward Yan Moci.

Although Yan Moci's parents are both gone and he is surrounded by wolves, he nevertheless has a grandfather who sincerely protects him.

But Su Xiyan smiled again; she had no need to envy, for she still had her grandmother, for whom she could even give her life.

Seeing Su Xiyan smile, the elder thought she deeply agreed, and he said with honor: "Xiwei, this time it's not only Yan Moci's birthday banquet, but also your formal debut as our Yan family's daughter-in-law before everyone."

Su Xiyan's heart gave a thump; although she would make her formal debut, she is a stand‑in bride—if her identity were exposed publicly, what embarrassing predicament would the Yan family fall into?

Seeing Su Xiyan's troubled expression, Yan Laotaiye assumed she felt it would be shameful to be the bride of a vegetative person, and he frowned: "Xiwei, do you think announcing this publicly would embarrass you?"

Unexpectedly, Su Xiyan shook her head: "No, grandfather, I'm afraid the Yan family would be embarrassed."

Yan Laotaiye hadn't expected Su Xiyan to be such an understanding girl; she must be worried that outsiders would think the Yan family still needed to spend money to find a wife, and once they learned the truth, it would embarrass both him and Yan Moci.

Yan Laotaiye said relieved: "Xiwei, you are truly a sensible good child. It was I who misunderstood you."

Saying this, he straightened his face and solemnly promised: "Rest assured, as long as I'm here, I will never let anyone embarrass you!"

However, since it's Yan Moci's birthday, the Yan family's relatives will all come, including Zi Xin and Cheng Ye, naturally also Liu Huanyu and her children.

At the end, Yan Laotaiye's tone carried a hint of contempt.

Su Xiyan was somewhat surprised: "Liu Huanyu and her children—are they Yan Moci's younger siblings?"

Yan Laotaiye snorted coldly: "The younger sister is indeed a younger sister, but the other one is actually an older brother."

Seeing Su Xiyan's eyes widen in surprise, Yan Laotaiye let out a long sigh: "Since you have married into our Yan family, you ought to know these things as well."

Yan Moci's father was dissolute; it was I who failed to rein him in. Yan Moci's mother and his father were well matched, and she had always loved him deeply.

But I never expected that my unfilial son would have been supporting Liu Huanyu outside all this time—and even fathered a son older than Yan Moci!

If Yan Moci's father hadn't died early, and if Yan Moci weren't in this state, I would absolutely never have acknowledged Liu Huanyu's children.

Yan Laotaiye frowned deeply: "Let's not speak of these matters any further, Xiwei. Go rest early."

Yes! Grandfather.

After leaving Yan Laotaiye's study, Su Xiyan prepared to return to her room.

But thinking of how Yan Moci looked when she left, Su Xiyan, who was already standing outside the door, stopped in her tracks.

She now seems like a little lamb about to walk into the tiger's mouth.

Baa~