The next day, at the Meng family residence.
Zhou Yu arrived at the Meng residence with Lin Siwan, where Meng Yan and his mother Han Qingruo personally received them.
Seeing the white gauze wrapped around Meng Yan’s head, Zhou Yu asked with concern, “What happened to you? How did you get hurt?”
“It’s nothing. I accidentally fell,” Meng Yan replied.
He didn’t mention that Zhou Yushen had beaten him.
“Be more careful. With such a handsome face, if you ruin it, who knows how many girls will have their hearts broken?” Zhou Yu joked.
Han Qingruo only wore a faint smile.
In truth, she had never thought highly of the Shen family.
She had never approved of Meng Yan being with Shen Nanyue in the first place.
It was only because her son stubbornly insisted on marrying Shen Nanyue that she had held back her objections.
Otherwise, after Shen Nanyue embarrassed the Meng family at the Shen residence last time, she would already have demanded an explanation from the Shen family.
Meng Yan glanced at Han Qingruo, a pleasing smile appearing on his lips like a son trying to curry favor with his mother.
Han Qingruo shot him a side-eye, helpless inside.
She turned toward Zhou Yu and asked, “Why didn’t Nanyue come? Don’t tell me she looks down on the Meng family and won’t even step through our doors?”
“Of course not. She’s coming later,” Zhou Yu quickly replied, cold sweat almost forming on her forehead.
This time, she had been so focused on preparing gifts to flatter Han Qingruo, her future in-law, that she had forgotten to contact Shen Nanyue altogether.
Now she could only muddle through it and call Shen Nanyue later to urge her over.
Lin Siwan wore a proper smile and nodded politely at Han Qingruo.
“Madam Han’s birthday banquet is such an important occasion. My sister would never miss it. She’s probably spending extra time getting ready because she wants to leave a good impression on you. Please forgive her.”
“Yes, yes,” Zhou Yu hurriedly added. “Nanyue just wants you to think well of her, so she got delayed.”
Han Qingruo neither agreed nor disagreed, merely humming lightly.
As they walked inside, Zhou Yu gave Lin Siwan a look.
Lin Siwan nodded and quietly stepped aside to call Shen Nanyue.
But Shen Nanyue clearly had no intention of answering.
The phone rang for a long time before an automated female voice informed her the other party was busy.
Lin Siwan decisively gave up calling and switched to sending a message instead.
Just as she was about to type, movement at the entrance caught her attention.
This time, Han Qingruo personally went with the head of the Meng family to receive the arriving guests.
From afar, Lin Siwan spotted a familiar figure.
Zhou Yushen was dressed in a custom-tailored black suit.
Even from a distance, his exquisitely handsome face was mesmerizing.
He followed behind an elegant and noble-looking woman, hands tucked casually into his pockets.
That relaxed posture somehow only enhanced the noble aura around him.
Although Lin Siwan had seen Zhou Yushen in black suits before, today he looked even more dazzling than usual.
Even his polished leather shoes reflected cold, domineering glints under the light.
After Han Qingruo chatted smilingly with Han Ping and Zhou Yushen for a few moments, the group headed inside together.
Suddenly, Lin Siwan changed her mind.
Instead of urging Shen Nanyue to come, she sent her a different message:
Sis, hurry over to the Meng residence for Madam Meng’s birthday banquet. Mom said you absolutely must come, otherwise she won’t acknowledge you as her daughter anymore.
After sending it, she put her phone away.
At that moment, she no longer wanted Shen Nanyue to come at all.
Instead, she hoped Shen Nanyue would stay away so she could get a chance to spend time alone with Zhou Yushen.
Smiling, she turned and walked back into the villa.
The Meng family was one of Fengcheng’s major elite families, and Han Qingruo was its matriarch.
Naturally, the birthday banquet was far grander than Zhou Yu’s had been.
The luxurious hall was decorated almost like a palace.
Fresh flowers and fruit arrangements filled every corner.
Servants dressed in neat uniforms moved about orderly, carrying trays and cleaning, every one of them smiling professionally.
Since the head of the Meng family was present, the guests weren’t just wealthy wives from high society, but also their husbands.
The men gathered to discuss business while the women clustered together gossiping.
It was lively without being chaotic.
Zhou Yu hid the jealousy in her heart and forced herself to smile while socializing.
The birthday banquet she had held earlier using the Shen family’s status had looked luxurious too, but it still couldn’t compare to the Meng family’s scale or guest list.
On top of that, Shen Nanyue had ruined her banquet in public, making her too embarrassed to go out for quite some time afterward.
Now that she saw the difference, her resentment toward Shen Nanyue deepened even more.
If that girl had only been obedient and agreed to get engaged to Meng Yan, how could Zhou Yu possibly have lost face among these people?
At that moment, Lin Siwan returned and walked over to Zhou Yu.
Zhou Yu immediately asked, “Well? Is she coming?”
“Big sis didn’t answer my call, but I sent her a message. She might come after seeing it… or maybe…”
Lin Siwan deliberately lowered her voice and left the sentence unfinished.
But Zhou Yu understood perfectly well.
Shen Nanyue might simply pretend she never saw the message.
That brat…
She was really starting to rebel.
If Zhou Yu hadn’t been unable to leave at the moment, she would have stormed straight to the Shen residence and dragged that unfilial daughter over herself.
Looking at Han Qingruo chatting with guests not far away, Zhou Yu clenched her fists tightly.
“I’m calling her. She has to come today!”
With that, she turned and walked out.
A victorious smile curled at the corners of Lin Siwan’s lips.
Shen Nanyue, you’d better keep up that pride of yours and stay away.
After entering the hall, Zhou Yushen sat down quietly on a nearby sofa.
He didn’t drink.
He simply leaned back lazily, his gaze casually sweeping across the room.
The people nearby had already heard rumors that Zhou Yushen was the young master of the Zhou family, and many wanted to approach him and build connections.
But seeing the cold, untouchable aura surrounding him, none of them knew how to begin.
Meanwhile, Lin Siwan carried a wine glass and deliberately wandered over to his side as if by coincidence.
The moment she saw him, she intentionally gasped softly and covered her mouth before smiling brightly.
“So it’s Young Master Zhou. I didn’t expect you to attend Madam Meng’s birthday banquet too. Where’s my sister? Didn’t she come with you?”
She sat down beside him familiarly.
Zhou Yushen turned his head slightly to look at her.
That icy gaze, sharp as winter frost, landed on her body, and Lin Siwan instantly lost the courage to move any closer.
Though she kept her expression composed, she quietly shifted back and sat farther away instead.
Zhou Yushen ignored her completely.
He turned away and, unlike before when he had been casually observing the room, simply closed his eyes, radiating a clear message:
Don’t bother me.
Lin Siwan’s fingertips turned pale around the stem of her wine glass.
Her face flushed red, then green with embarrassment.
She had never expected Zhou Yushen to humiliate her so directly.
Wasn’t he gentle with Shen Nanyue?
Why was he completely different with her?
Unwilling to give up, she bit her lip, tears gathering in her eyes.
She deliberately let herself look pitiful, waiting for Zhou Yushen to open his eyes and notice her grievance—perhaps even feel sympathy for her.
Unfortunately, Zhou Yushen remained motionless like a statue.
And no matter how bold Lin Siwan usually was, she didn’t dare interrupt him.
Only when a small commotion sounded near the entrance and Shen Nanyue’s voice rang out did Zhou Yushen abruptly open his eyes as if startled.
He immediately looked toward the doorway.
There stood Shen Nanyue in a white strapless evening gown, smiling beautifully.
“Madam Meng,” she said brightly, “I’ve come to wish you a happy birthday.”
— The end of the Chapter–
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