Chapter 547

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Protagonist:

Shen Yao

Mutual benefit is the only way to achieve win-win cooperation.

Li Suyan previously valued Shen Yao and her daughter because of their blood relation to Cui Hengxin; later, she valued them purely because all three possessed investment value.

Blood ties can indeed make people give, but endless giving without any return will wear down even the deepest blood connection.

That Li Suyan managed to rise to her position shows she is clearly not a selfless person; otherwise, Cui Hengqi and Cui Mingyue would not harbor resentment toward Shen Yao and her daughter.

Right now, although Xinxin and Mimi are young, they have displayed extraordinary beast-taming talent. Li Suyan, both emotionally and logically, will increase her investment in them, and if necessary, abandon the originally favored Cui Hengqi and Cui Mingyue. Grandchildren may not be as close by blood as children, but a clan's legacy still depends on talent.

"As for this matter, the blame lies with Hengqi and Mingyue for lacking ability in this regard."

Li Suyan spoke with cold ruthlessness, not feeling the slightest bit that her choice to abandon her two biological children was wrong. She buried herself at the desk, concentrating on reviewing the documents that needed her approval.

Ever since she distinguished herself in the beast tide, Li Suyan's status has grown increasingly important.

Whether in the Cui Family or in official circles, Li Suyan holds a secure position, which has only made Cui Hengqi and Cui Mingyue more anxious, leading to today's situation.

Although Shen Yao, far away in Yang City, does not know the specific details of what happened in Jing City, she understands Li Suyan's thinking from the latter's undivided investment in Xinxin and Mimi. She feels a quiet pride for the two children, while also thick-skinnedly praising herself — if not for her wholehearted nurturing, Xinxin and Mimi could not have grown so smoothly to this point. It seems her reward for this mission world will not be small.

…………

"Elder Sister, I wonder if my marriage..." Shen Ying hesitated, wanting to speak but not knowing what to say.

Sitting on the soft sofa with a heavy sigh, she looked at her own sister. Tears glistened at the corners of Shen Ying's eyes; she was clearly caught in a dilemma over this matter.

This isn't Shen Ying's fault — who asked the man she chose to be perfect in every way except for the fact that his family has too many children?

Shen Yao had previously gently reminded Shen Ying not to get involved with powerful clans, especially those with numerous members and unpredictable tempers.

Shen Ying is not Shen Yao; she does not possess a seven-aperture exquisite heart that can navigate social complexities with long sleeves and good dancing. She is simply an honest person who likes to stick to her lot. If she truly married into such a family, Shen Ying would bury herself within days.

Yet feelings are the most uncontrollable thing. Shen Ying listened and tried her utmost to avoid it, but in the end she still met and fell in love with a scion of such a clan.

Now that they have reached marriageable age, Shen Ying only now recalls the trouble involved, and immediately ran to beg her own biological sister for help. But what can Shen Yao do? Persuade them to break up? Better to demolish ten temples than destroy one marriage.

If she doesn't persuade them to break up, she would just coldly watch Shen Ying entangle with the other party, and after marriage still have to deal with difficult sisters-in-law and a mother-in-law. As the elder sister, Shen Yao finds that somewhat impossible to do. Most critically, there is her investment in Shen Ying — losing it all is a small matter; the real trouble would be if it all turned into resources for the enemy.

"This matter holds no significance if discussed with me; you still need to ask Father and Mother's opinion.

Of course, the most crucial thing is still how you yourself think. The Liu Family also counts as a famous power in Yang City; just their industries alone are enough to make many people envious."

Can Shen Ying, marrying in, contend against those people? It's not something you can just back out of. This is like those ancient court ministers who held heavy armies — their endings were never good. Was it because they weren't low-key enough? Or not loyal enough? Neither. It was simply because they possessed the capital to rebel.

The emperor above doesn't care whether you actually harbor treacherous thoughts; as long as you have the strength to rebel, the two sides have already become opposites.

Shen Ying's current situation is exactly this. Whether to marry is no longer something she can decide. Whether she ultimately tastes bitter fruit or sweet fruit, she can only brace herself and walk forward.

Shen Yao's words were more like urging Shen Ying to make up her mind and not waver.

And at this point, whatever she thinks is somewhat useless. Shen Ying is no longer young; she has always lived sheltered under the Shen Family and Shen Yao's wings. Now it is time for her to show her edge and face the troubles that will soon come one after another.

Father Shen and Mother Shen held a disapproving attitude toward Shen Ying's marriage.

Even with Shen Yao responsible for mediating and smoothing things over, Father Shen and Mother Shen still did not give Shen Ying face; even Shen Cheng, standing to the side, was implicated. Fortunately, Shen Cheng is currently wholeheartedly focused on his own beast-taming team career, and the momentum is clearly rising. He has no mind for romance, so a few simple words of scolding were all he got.

But this still left Shen Cheng with a huge psychological shadow. In private conversations with Shen Yao, he repeatedly guaranteed he would absolutely never dare seek a partner similar to Shen Ying. He knows his own capabilities — he can't handle it.

Shen Yao: ……

Hey, what a guy!

It's just a marriage — how did it scare a grown man out of his wits?

Shen Cheng smiled bitterly, saying it wasn't that he was scared witless, but that his time is limited. If he puts it into this, what about his personal beast-taming team? He finally made a name for himself in Yu Province; this is exactly the time to charge upward. If he doesn't seize the opportunity, what is he waiting for?

Shen Yao: ……

Shen Yao feels Shen Cheng's words make sense, but that only makes Shen Ying seem even more unwise.

But things have already reached this stage. Shen Ying cannot retreat, cannot advance. In the end, it is still Shen Yao, the elder sister, who has enough face (Jing City Cui Family) — the two young people's wedding proceeds on schedule.

Xinxin and Mimi didn't much like the Liu Family's atmosphere — overly oppressive and haughty, as if everyone else were beneath them.

In reality, who could appear at the Liu Family wedding without backing? The Liu Family has grown increasingly useless these years; no wonder the clan's descendants fight each other incessantly.

Xinxin and Mimi complained to Shen Yao; everyone else also gossiped privately. Yet the Liu Family themselves felt no shame, instead taking pride in it.

Fortunately, Shen Ying and her husband do not live in the Liu Family after marriage, but moved out to live separately. This was the point the Liu Family finally had to compromise on; otherwise, in that chaotic environment, Shen Ying truly couldn't cope.

Post-marriage Shen Ying lives up to her pre-marriage worries — this was predictable, after all. The couple's relationship is good; if not for the Liu Family's own internal problems, they wouldn't be in such a difficult spot.

For now, the small trouble is temporarily resolved. Even if they still have to deal with the Liu Family later, how many days in a year can they meet? Shen Ying, beaming, expressed gratitude to Shen Yao, saying she can handle all of this.

"Your temperament has changed a lot — before you only knew how to cry and whine."

Shen Ying blushed. "I was ignorant. Now that I've started a family, I've understood — everything must be relied on oneself."

Elder Sister's help has been significant. From now on, I cannot depend on her again. Only by gaining a firm foothold in the Liu Family will I have the chance to repay Elder Sister.

Because of this marriage that stirred up waves, Shen Ying has developed feelings different from before. For the Shen Family and Shen Yao, this is naturally a good thing; for the Liu Family, it is adding frost to snow.

But the Liu Family is also a Qizhi — they have a kind of "too many debts, no worry" carefreeness, acting willfully every day, causing much discussion among Yang City's many powers. Quite a few who can no longer hold back have already begun dividing up the Liu Family's resources, just waiting for them to collapse from internal strife before pouncing to carve them up.

Shen Yao did not place much attention on the Liu Family; her focus remains on her own career.

Yang City's development has already saturated, but the surrounding cities still await development.

Even after Yu Province is done, several other surrounding provinces and cities can be considered. At worst, there is still Jing City — that is Li Suyan's base camp. With Xinxin and Mimi's soaring momentum, she simply cannot bypass the plan to go to Jing City.

The groundwork previously laid in Jing City can be activated; the relationships maintained for years continue to be nurtured. Shen Yao sits in Yang City remotely controlling Jing City. Though her methods can't match personally overseeing things, the continuously rising profits don't lie — Jing City truly has great potential.

Shen Yao still made time for a trip to Jing City — came in a rush, left in a rush, and did not meet Li Suyan privately. But the two tacitly exchanged gifts.

Even after years of management, Shen Yao still cannot compare to Li Suyan's generosity. But some gifts don't need high value; as long as they carry meaning, they can delight the recipient.

Like this time — what Shen Yao sent were items personally prepared by Xinxin and Mimi. Not precious, but very meaningful. They represent that Li Suyan's investment was not wasted. Knowing gratitude is always better than silence; no one's resources come for free.

"That's true as far as it goes, but the Host can completely rely on herself."

The system is seriously giving the Host cheats, yet fears it can't catch up to Li Suyan?

Shen Yao:...

'Qi Mengyao is about to advance; if all goes smoothly, Li Suyan will be standing at the top among Heaven Rank Beast Tamers,' she thought, her cheats truly couldn't catch up.

The cheat wasn't the kind that closes its eyes and ignores logic; it was more about raising one's personal limit.

Shen Yao's limit wasn't as good as Li Suyan's, and even the Xuanbai Swift Shadow Cat and Mountain-Moving Turtle had low limits; it was only because Shen Yao was willing to feed the two little ones all sorts of pills that they could cultivate to their current rank.

Let the system be serious and dig up more useful information; as for all that miscellaneous stuff, there's no need to occupy the system's memory at all.

System:...

The system watched its Host, who was becoming more and more opinionated (originally already had her own ideas), muttering to itself as it busied itself once more.

There was plenty of complaining, but the words still had to be listened to; after all, who made them partners?

The system placed itself in a very proper position, and dared not harbor the slightest resentment.

Every time a mission was completed and rich rewards obtained, it was all thanks to the Host.

The system was unwilling to see a good Host like her replaced by a newcomer; the two of them got along so well, and it truly hoped such cooperation could last forever.

Shen Yao also felt emotional; the system had been with her for such a long time, yet could still maintain a silly, innocent, sweet demeanor, showing that the system indeed had some bugs when it left the factory.

You should know that all the systems she imagined were superiors; to be fooled by her like this and still work diligently without tiring, the system truly was pitiful.

The completely unconscious system:...

Sometimes, handling matters consumes a great deal of time; often without realizing it, they develop a feeling that things remain the same while people have changed.

Xinxin and Mimi's small schoolbags were replaced with big schoolbags, and the schools they attended changed again and again; Xiao Guai finally advanced successfully when Xinxin and Mimi turned thirteen, rising from a Yellow Rank Xuanbai Swift Shadow Cat to a Xuan Rank Xuan Shadow Cat.

Xiao Shan was already a mature-period Mist Cloud Turtle; taking another step forward to become Di Rank would depend on opportunity and luck, and obviously he couldn't reach that level yet.

As for Qi Mengyao of Jing City, she finally broke through and became a Heaven Tier Demonic Beast Master; not only did she successfully raise the market price of the entire Pet Beast Dream Clan with the power of a single beast, but she also brought Li Suyan into the more tyrannical Heaven Rank Beast Tamer circle, making the name of the Jing City Cui Family even more resounding.

Li Suyan shone brilliantly in Jing City, and along with her the Cui Family became famous; this blessing radiated not only throughout Jing City, but also to Shen Yao's family in Yang City.

Shen Yao discovered that the forces that had been very courteous in their dealings with her became even more courteous, even fawning; well, some things sound unpleasant when spoken out loud, but judging from the attitudes they displayed, there was indeed an indescribable awkwardness.

"Eldest Sister, they're afraid," not worried that Shen Yao would cause them trouble, but rather afraid that Shen Yao would use Li Suyan's name to directly punish them.

This was a Heaven Rank Beast Tamer; a single word could cause others heavy losses; when they had previously competed with Shen Yao, they hadn't given Li Suyan much face, and now that Li Suyan had risen to the heavens overnight, of course they would be fearful and anxious.

Shen Yao:...

Shen Yao shook her head helplessly, "Thinking too much," honestly, neither she nor Li Suyan had any reason to cause trouble; besides, laughing last is what makes a life winner, and above Heaven Rank Beast Tamers are Saint Rank Beast Tamers; the best method is to continue keeping a low profile.

Shen Ying laughed out loud with a puff, and as soon as she opened her mouth said that the Liu Family wanted to visit, and since she was too embarrassed, she asked Shen Yao to act as a go-between.

The Liu Family?

Shen Yao tilted her head, suddenly recalling that the Liu Family hadn't been very well-behaved these past few years.

Internal troubles and external threats; the Liu Family's industries were in danger, and even Shen Ying and her husband wanted a share of the pie, with no intention of maintaining the Liu Family's situation at all, showing just how failed the Liu Family had been all the way to this point.

"After all, we're in-laws; there's no need for visits between us; if they want to come, they can just come over."

Probably to apologize for what happened back then with Shen Ying? But it's been three years; the Liu Family is truly narrow-minded, thinking everyone is narrow-minded.

Shen Ying puffed her cheeks, telling Shen Yao not to worry about giving the other party face on her account; the Liu Family still exists now, but in a few years it's uncertain whether that title will remain; it's not worth Shen Yao wronging herself at all.

Shen Yao said she wasn't wronged; she didn't take the Liu Family's matters to heart at all; but because Shen Ying had married, the Liu Family couldn't truly be completely ignored; even if it was just putting on a show to establish an image, it was better than affecting the couple's relationship, unless neither of them intended to keep living.

"Eldest Sister"

Shen Ying pulled Shen Yao's arm and couldn't help but act spoiled; she understood Eldest Sister was doing this for her own good, and she and her husband would indeed cause trouble because of the Liu Family; originally Shen Ying hadn't taken it to heart, but now hearing Eldest Sister mention it, well, they might as well pretend anyway; after all, they wouldn't lose anything; it's just about saving face, right.