Chapter 136

Shang Fu's face still bore anger; upon seeing the steward, he spoke in an unfriendly tone: "Anything else?"

The steward smiled and said: "Boss Shang, our master said that the Shang family should no longer come to Feng Qi Yuan; if there is anything, we can meet outside. As for our eldest young mistress, from now on she is merely a member of the Zhou family, so there's no need to trouble you and Madame Shang."

Shang Fu trembled with rage all over, wishing he could tear the mouth of the person before him, but he dared not.

The Zhou family's position in Sijiucheng is not something that can be easily shaken, nor is it something the Shang family can provoke.

Shang Mu's face had long fallen; she grabbed Shang Fu and hurried into the car.

The steward stood where he was, watching them leave, his eyes full of contempt.

After Zhou Yanqiu returned home and learned of this, he for the first time felt that his younger brother was actually quite sensible.

"Xiao Wu, if you have any demands, just bring them up; I, as your brother, will satisfy you."

Zhou Yinhe propped his chin, looking at him, and asked with a light smile: "Really?"

Zhou Yanqiu grunted: "Just don't go too far."

"I haven't decided yet; I'll tell you when I have." Zhou Yinhe reached with his chopsticks to pick a dish for Zhou Yanqiu, and this action made Zhou Yanqiu feel a hint of something off.

Wen Ling ate while smiling; Zhou Yinhe could see at a glance that he harbored no good intentions, and only Zhou Yanqiu, as the elder brother, could tolerate it.

Shang Zhiyu felt nothing for the Shang family; if she had to name an emotion, it would be hatred. At this moment, looking at Zhou Yinhe's expression, it seemed more like she was looking at her own younger brother.

She sincerely thanked: "Xiao Wu, thank you."

Zhou Yinhe pursed his lips and smiled, treating this sister-in-law with propriety: "Sister-in-law, we're all family."

"Zhiyu, in our eyes you are our own daughter, and in their siblings' hearts you are a true elder sister; from now on, don't stand on ceremony with us." Ning Qing also felt greatly pleased by her son's behavior today.

After the meal, Zhou Yinhe and Wen Ling went together for a stroll in the garden.

Wen Ling pulled Zhou Yinhe's hand and walked backward; Zhou Yinhe steadfastly held her hand, fearing she would fall.

"Were you and Shang Zhixue close before?"

Zhou Yinhe gave a light chuckle: "Judging by your attitude today, I thought you didn't care."

Wen Ling rolled her eyes and gave a soft hum: "Whether I care or not, I still need to know."

Zhou Yinhe gently pulled Wen Ling into his embrace with his hand, smiling as he said: "She occasionally came to my house to play when she was little; I found her annoying, so whenever she came I'd go out to find Jiang Jibai and the others—I never got close to her."

Wen Ling narrowed her eyes and stared at him; Zhou Yinhe quietly locked gazes with her, and after a while Wen Ling leaned forward and kissed the corner of his mouth.

Just as Zhou Yinhe was about to raise his hand to deepen the kiss, footsteps sounded from behind.

He had no choice but to give up, glancing back at the newcomer.

The steward walked up with a smile and said softly: "Fifth Young Master, Miss Wen, Madame Jiang and Young Master Jiang have arrived; the mistress sent me to call you."

Zhou Yinhe replied indifferently: "I know."

Seeing the two standing extremely close, the steward realized he might have disturbed them, gave an embarrassed smile, and turned to walk back to the villa.

Wen Ling heard Zhou Yinhe's faint sigh and chuckled: "Really?"

"How could it not be." Zhou Yinhe took her hand and walked back, saying as they went: "Could you leave your room door open for me tonight?"

"That wouldn't do." Wen Ling shook his hand, saying: "Aunt said we can't stay together."

Zhou Yinhe pursed his lips, his tone tinged with a bit of coquettishness: "I'll sneak over and sneak back in the morning, without letting my parents know."

Wen Ling directly shook off his hand: "No way."

She broke into a light run forward; Zhou Yinhe caught up in a few steps, embraced her waist from behind, and the two playfully returned to the villa.

Jiang Jibai was then sitting in a single sofa; from afar he heard their voices and chuckled: "I can tell a girlfriend has come; Xiao Wu's temperament has improved quite a bit."

Ning Qing said: "Yes, he seems more humane now."

Madame Jiang burst out laughing at those words: "How can you talk about your own son like that?"

"You still call me Aunt Ning, yet when you speak of me you never hold back." Jiang Jibai curled the corner of his mouth; Zhou Yinhe and Wen Ling had already walked in.

Zhou Yinhe first greeted Madame Jiang, then kicked Jiang Jibai's foot and asked: "You actually have time to come to my place; last time you spouted nonsense and I still haven't settled the score with you."

Jiang Jibai rolled his eyes, wearing an expression of 'do as you please'.

Madame Jiang had Wen Ling sit beside her, finding her more and more likable, and told Ning Qing: "I truly like these two daughters-in-law of yours to an extraordinary degree."

Ning Qing proudly lifted her chin and boasted: "There's nothing to be done; I'm just blessed."

Upon hearing that, Madame Jiang glanced disdainfully at Jiang Jibai and said: "Look at my son—he lacks everything; Xiao Wu is the sensible one."

"No, no; Jiang Jibai isn't bad either—he took over the company early on, unlike Xiao Wu, who does nothing serious all day; his only merit is that he helped me find a good daughter-in-law."

The two ladies exchanged compliments, whether sincere or merely polite, Wen Ling couldn't tell, so she smiled with pursed lips and stayed silent.

Instead, Jiang Jibai and Zhou Yinhe, standing aside, traded barbs back and forth; if words could kill, the scene would surely be bloody.

After chatting for a while, Madame Jiang finally revealed the purpose of today's visit.

"It's not that I just went to the mountainous area a while ago to support the poor; you know the conditions there, so I thought of coming back to hold a charity gala, asking several prominent families of Sijiucheng to donate something, with the auction proceeds going there—at least to do our part."

Ning Qing nodded in agreement: "Sure, let's do it; we'll do it together."

"All right." Madame Jiang gave a light smile; after hearing this, Wen Ling spoke for the first time: "Aunt, I also have some jewelry and ornaments I brought from M Country, all worn by nobles there in the last century; I usually keep them there, and I'll donate them together then."

Madame Jiang exclaimed, patting Wen Ling's hand in surprise: "You should keep those for yourself."

"Keeping them is useless; I don't like them either—just having them on display serves only as decoration." Wen Ling smiled gently and said softly: "Rest assured, I have plenty more there; I don't lack these few pieces."

Madame Jiang knew Wen Ling didn't lack these items, but her generosity in giving them away truly aroused her envy, and she told Ning Qing: "Look at your daughter-in-law; I'm about to become jealous of you."

Ning Qing also laughed; she was prouder than anyone.

Madame Jiang and Jiang Jibai played for a while; just before leaving, Jiang Jibai asked Zhou Yinhe: "I'm heading to Nys to play later—are you and Wen Ling going?"

"No." Zhou Yinhe flatly refused.

Jiang Jibai rolled his eyes, bade farewell to Ning Qing, and turned to leave.

Wen Ling stepped forward and linked her arm with Zhou Yinhe's, asking: "Why aren't you going to play?"

"I don't want to." Zhou Yinhe shook his head, lowering his voice: "Compared to going out to play, I'd rather talk with you about whether I can come to your room tonight."