Chapter 61: Visiting the Jiang Family for the New Year

Li Xuan was naturally happy to show off in front of Si Rong, and she immediately took hold of them, one on each side; it was truly a picture-perfect scene of a loving mother and filial children!

Yet, Si Rong and her daughter did not spare them another glance, turning and walking away the moment they began to pose intimately.

It was as if they were seeing strangers.

Shen Yuan was stunned.

Mom—no, she should call her Si Rong now—did she not see the intimate pose she and Li Xuan were in?

Shen Yuan was certain that Si Rong had seen it.

But, how could this be?

Was that really all the reaction Si Rong had?

Shouldn't she be jealous, heartbroken, and sad? After all, for the past seventeen years, she had been the one she called Mom and was so close to.

Shen Yuan let go of Li Xuan's arm and walked away alone.

She didn't know why, but she felt a bit sad in her heart, yet she was unwilling to admit it.

Shen Chi also frowned deeply.

Si Rong's reaction just now was as if someone had poured a basin of cold water over his head.

It was too cold.

It was as if he, his sister, and their father had nothing to do with her at all.

In fact, as a man, he could understand his father.

What real man would be faithful to one woman for his entire life?

Even when he was dating Mei Xi before, he would occasionally flirt with other girls.

This was normal.

But if Si Rong was unwilling to forgive his father, it could only mean that she didn't truly love his father, nor did she love them.

True love is tolerance.

After Si Rong left, the space beside Li Xuan instantly became empty.

Looking at the expressions of her two children and Shen Lan, it seemed as if their very souls had been taken away by Si Rong.

The scene of family happiness from just a moment ago seemed like nothing more than a fleeting dream.

Li Xuan bit her lip with some reluctance and suggested, "Xiao Chi! Xiao Yuan! Why don't you come with Mom to buy spring couplets?"

"You go by yourself! I just remembered I have an appointment with a classmate."

Shen Yuan walked away without looking back.

Shen Chi also found an excuse to leave, and Li Xuan felt a stifling discomfort in her heart.

She felt that these two children weren't out shopping for New Year goods like her, but rather seemed to have come out specifically to run into Si Rong.

"Shen Lan, have these two children always been this headstrong?"

Li Xuan asked; in truth, she wanted to ask if Si Rong hadn't raised these two children properly.

They seemed to have no manners or sense of propriety.

"They were very obedient and sensible before."

Shen Lan impatiently dumped all the bags onto her, "The children are still young; you should pay more attention to them in the future. I feel like Xiao Yuan's rhinitis has flared up again recently."

"Rhinitis?" Li Xuan forgot, "Wasn't that just a cold?"

"Xiao Yuan has been physically weak since she was little and has had rhinitis for many years. Usually, Rongrong would..."

As soon as this name was mentioned, both of them froze.

In the few days they had been together, both had intentionally avoided this name.

Although Shen Lan and Si Rong were already divorced, the name still stood between them like a thorn.

Shen Lan cleared his throat awkwardly, "Every autumn, she would boil white fungus and pear soup for Xiao Yuan; you should boil some for Xiao Yuan later too!"

Li Xuan gave a faint "oh," but inside, she began to feel jealous again.

Si Rong was really something; even after leaving, she still had the ability to make Shen Lan think of her from time to time.

Perhaps that pear soup was useless, and Si Rong was just intentionally trying to assert her presence.

The red scarf was bought at a cashmere shop.

It was a foreign brand that was quite popular right now.

It cost one hundred and eighty, which was decent enough to give as a gift.

Additionally, Si Han took two bottles of collector's edition Wuliangye from his wine cabinet.

Once everything was prepared, Jiang Cheng drove over to pick them up.

He was wearing a long trench coat, a deep green color like distant mountains.

Si Rong felt that he seemed to particularly like this color.

As heavy as a mist.

Worn on him, it seemed to add an even more detached and indifferent air.

She wondered what he would look like in warmer colors.

Jiang Cheng came to pick her up, bringing eight gifts in accordance with custom.

Cigarettes, alcohol, and various pastries.

It even included some old-fashioned pastries; many young people nowadays had already simplified these customs.

Jiang Cheng, however, was willing to seek them out one by one.

After chatting for a while in the main hall, Jiang Cheng took Si Rong and left in his car.

"Alright, stop looking," Si Han knew his mother felt uncomfortable and coaxed her, "This Jiang Cheng has liked Little Sister for so many years; he will surely treat her well."

"I'm not worried about that," Mother Si wiped the corners of her slightly damp eyes, "Jiang Cheng seems like a good child, but after all, your younger sister had that history with Shen Lan, and I don't know what the Jiang Family parents' attitude toward your younger sister will be."

Thinking of her youngest daughter's tumultuous love life, Mother Si felt uneasy in her heart.

Thinking that others might make things difficult for her or bully her, Mother Si felt restless and uneasy.

"Mom, you can rest easy; if their family treats Little Sister poorly, I'll drive over, pick you up, and we'll bring Little Sister back together!" Si Han promised.

Mother Si was coaxed into a better mood, "And you! Even during the New Year, you have to treat Chang better! You'll be forty-three after the New Year; you can't always be bickering when living your lives!"

"Got it, Mom," Si Han drawled.

Si Rong was also very nervous along the way.

Although she had been married once before, she and Shen Lan had not followed the customs of Huaiyang at that time.

Now, approaching forty, she was starting to follow the old customs of matchmaking in a rigid, by-the-book manner.

She also didn't know what to do about going to the Jiang Family for the New Year.

Would the Jiang Family parents dislike her for being a twice-married woman?

Also, the matter of sleeping at night was very important.

Her thoughts drifted, and her gaze slowly landed on Jiang Cheng.

Sunlight like molten gold spilled over his sharp, well-defined brows and eyes, his profile exquisite and firm.

It was just a pity that he couldn't.

There were benefits to him not being able to, Si Rong thought; at the very least, there was no need to worry about the problem of sleeping at night.

If the Jiang Family arranged for them to sleep in the same room.

Actually, given Jiang Cheng's character, even if he could, he probably wouldn't be the type to act recklessly if they shared a room.

"Dad, clean up your ashtray; my brother's partner is about to arrive," Jiang Yu reminded him, somewhat speechless.

Father Jiang twitched his mustache, "Don't think I don't know, this is definitely another lousy excuse you all came up with to force me to quit smoking! What kind of partner could he possibly bring back?"

As he spoke, Father Jiang defiantly lit another cigarette.

He had just taken a puff when he saw his son park the car at the entrance.

He got out first, then opened the passenger door and slowly helped a young woman out.

Long hair, a festive red cashmere coat.

Looking at his son's eager, attentive demeanor, damn it! He really did bring a partner back!

Seeing this, Mother Jiang slapped Father Jiang across his still-smoking mouth.