This time, it was Li Che who was dumbfounded.
“Find someone in a while”—what exactly did that mean?
Shen An’an’s eyes lit up as she looked at Shen Nanyue.
“Sister, have you finally moved on? Are you going to start dating?”
“It’s not that I’ve changed my mind.”
Shen Nanyue smiled helplessly.
Shen An’an tilted her head, completely confused.
But once they arrived at the Shen villa, she immediately understood.
At that moment, Zhou Yu was directing the household staff as they decorated the living room.
Colorful balloons floated against the ceiling, ribbons hung all around, and in the center of the room was a light-pink banner that read:
“Welcome Home, Shen An’an.”
The banner had clearly been designed by Shen Nanyue herself, complete with carefully crafted illustrations.
As soon as Zhou Yu saw them enter, she hurried over.
“An’an, you’re back! Come in, come in. The cake is still on its way. You must be hungry. Let’s eat first.”
She instructed a servant to take Shen An’an’s luggage while she personally took Shen An’an’s hand and led her inside.
Shen An’an panicked.
Instinctively, she tried to pull her hand away.
Yet somehow, Zhou Yu’s hand felt unexpectedly warm.
Her body stiffened, and before she knew it, she had failed to pull away.
Turning around, she shot Shen Nanyue a pleading look for help.
Shen Nanyue simply smiled and silently mouthed:
“It’s okay.”
Li Che looked at Shen Nanyue in confusion.
“Did your mom suddenly become a different person?”
He had heard bits and pieces about Zhou Yu from Shen An’an.
She wasn’t supposed to be this warm or enthusiastic.
Shen Nanyue shrugged helplessly.
“Maybe.”
She followed them inside.
Li Che scratched his head, completely baffled.
All he could do was keep a close eye on Zhou Yu.
If she dared do anything to hurt Shen An’an, he’d be the first person to object.
At the dining table, the atmosphere was strangely harmonious and strangely awkward at the same time.
Seated beside Li Che, Shen An’an watched helplessly as Zhou Yu piled her bowl full of food.
“You’ve gotten thinner. Eat more.”
Shen An’an: …
Just a few minutes ago, Shen Nanyue had said she’d gained weight.
Forcing a smile, she thanked Zhou Yu.
Li Che leaned closer and whispered, “Relax a little.”
Shen An’an wanted to relax.
But years of fear and anxiety around Zhou Yu had practically become a conditioned reflex.
Especially now, when Zhou Yu’s behavior was so unusual.
That only made her more nervous.
Shen Nanyue glanced at Shen An’an with amusement before saying to Zhou Yu, “That’s enough. You’re putting pressure on An’an.”
“Am I?”
Zhou Yu paused mid-motion.
Then she turned toward Shen An’an.
“Why would you feel pressured in your own home? That’s not a good habit. You should work on changing it.”
“Okay.”
Shen An’an agreed automatically out of habit.
At that, Shen Nanyue finally burst out laughing.
Looking innocent, Shen An’an turned toward her.
But Shen Nanyue had no intention of explaining yet.
She simply told her to enjoy her meal.
After dinner, they had cake.
The moment they finished, Shen An’an dragged Shen Nanyue upstairs, leaving Li Che and Zhou Yu staring awkwardly at each other.
“So you’re An’an’s boyfriend?”
Zhou Yu spoke first.
“What’s your name?”
“…Li Che.”
Li Che immediately sat up straighter.
For some reason, he suddenly felt nervous.
Why did this feel like meeting a girlfriend’s parents?
“An’an has always been smart and independent. Since she’s chosen to be with you, that means you must have qualities that stand out. Tell Auntie a little about your family.”
Li Che: …
It really was a meeting with the parents.
He felt increasingly uncomfortable and desperately hoped Shen An’an would come downstairs soon.
Upstairs.
Grabbing Shen Nanyue’s hand, Shen An’an asked, “Sister, what is going on? Why has Auntie completely changed?”
Shen Nanyue laughed helplessly.
This couple really did think alike.
She pulled Shen An’an down beside her.
“Sit down. I’ll tell you.”
After Shen An’an had left, Shen Nanyue returned to her usual routine—commuting between work and home every day.
Then one day, Zhou Yu drove back to the Shen residence.
She brought all her luggage with her, along with a bank card containing fifty million yuan.
Without giving anyone a chance to object, she moved into the Shen villa.
Shen Nanyue told her to return to the Lin family.
But Zhou Yu revealed that she had already filed for divorce from Lin Shu.
She apologized to Shen Nanyue.
For all those years, because of what had happened to Shen Nanyue’s father, she had taken all of her resentment and negative emotions out on her daughter.
Having lacked love and care throughout much of her life, she had been deceived emotionally by Lin Shu and his daughter.
She had convinced herself that Shen Nanyue didn’t care about her as a mother at all.
But after her hospitalization, she finally realized something.
The only person who had genuinely cared about her was Shen Nanyue.
Her own daughter.
Zhou Yu admitted that she had been wrong.
She returned the fifty million yuan that had been paid when they severed their mother-daughter relationship and asked Shen Nanyue to give her a chance to make amends.
At first, Shen Nanyue refused to take the money back.
Nor did she intend to forgive Zhou Yu.
But Zhou Yu had nowhere else to go.
In the end, Shen Nanyue allowed her to stay at the Shen residence.
From that day onward, Zhou Yu personally prepared all three of Shen Nanyue’s meals every day.
She took care of her daily needs and looked after her health.
For the first time, she acted like a real mother caring for her child.
She was trying to make up for all the love she had failed to give Shen Nanyue.
But if love could truly be made up for, then time and memories would become a joke.
Blood ties could not be severed.
Shen Nanyue could never bring herself to throw her biological mother out of the house.
But as for forgiveness, she still couldn’t do it.
“So, Sister, are you and Auntie just peacefully coexisting now?”
Shen Nanyue thought for a moment before answering, “A mother is still a mother. The fact that she gave birth to me and raised me is undeniable. The hurt I suffered because of her is also real. I can’t say I’ve forgiven her. I can only say that I’ve made peace with her.”
And also with herself.
Rather than living every day weighed down by resentment and discomfort, it was better to let go of those negative emotions and focus on living well.
Feeling a pang of sympathy, Shen An’an reached over and held Shen Nanyue’s hand.
“Sister…”
Shen Nanyue smiled and squeezed her hand in return.
“I think she genuinely realizes her mistakes and wants to make amends. I’ve been to her room. She put the family portrait back on the wall. She’s been personally following up on the investigation into Dad’s case. She even went to visit his grave.”
Shen An’an was surprised.
Had Zhou Yu made peace with the past as well?
“So I’m trying to trust her and accept her. And you shouldn’t be afraid of her anymore. I believe she’ll treat you well from now on too.”
Shen An’an nodded.
Shen Nanyue gently patted her head before changing the subject.
“Have you decided whether you’ll live in China or overseas from now on?”
Shen An’an nodded again.
“In China.”
Shen Nanyue looked surprised.
“Your parents agreed to that?”
“They told me to decide for myself. I’ve already gotten used to living here. I don’t want to adapt to a completely different lifestyle again. And besides…”
She trailed off before finishing the sentence.
Smiling knowingly, Shen Nanyue finished it for her.
“Li Che is still here in China, right?”
A blush immediately spread across Shen An’an’s cheeks.
“If I moved overseas, he’d definitely follow me there. He has his own career here. I don’t want him to give all that up because of me.”
The smile on Shen Nanyue’s face only grew warmer.
“I respect your decision.”
When Shen Nanyue and Shen An’an came downstairs, Li Che was still sitting on the sofa, answering one question after another from Zhou Yu.
As Shen An’an walked closer, she could even see a thin layer of sweat forming on his forehead.
“Why are you so nervous?”
“Mothers-in-law asking questions—how could I not be nervous?”
Li Che whispered back.
Shen An’an was speechless.
Seriously?
Was it really that serious?
— The end of the Chapter–
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