Chapter 54 Part 1

“Shen Miao!” Shi Youran hurried over upon hearing the voice and awkwardly covered her daughter’s mouth, which had no filter.

She had told Shen Miao to ask discreetly, but the girl had blurted it out in front of everyone.

Shi Youran smiled apologetically at the relatives and friends with their shocked expressions. “Kids say the darndest things. There’s nothing to it. My sister is so busy she can barely squeeze in time to sleep, let alone have the leisure for romance.”

“Mmmph…” Shen Miao struggled.

“Youran, go easy.” Shi Youwan brushed away Shi Youran’s hand from Shen Miao’s mouth and scooped the little girl, not yet five years old, onto her grandma’s lap.

“Mommy’s mean!” Freed, Shen Miao stuck her tongue out at Shi Youran and threw herself into Shi Yan’s arms to complain. “Grandma, Mommy bullied me.”

Shen Miao didn’t see her grandma often, but they video-called two or three times a week without fail.

Every two or three months, Shi Youran would also bring Shen Miao to stay with her grandma for a few days.

Outgoing kids like her were clever little things, sharp as tacks. They knew exactly who was whose nemesis and who was their savior. Complaining to Grandma and Auntie about Mommy was a sure win.

“I didn’t lie.”

“Mm, Grandma believes Miaomiao. Mommy did it but won’t admit it—she deserves a scolding.”

Shi Youran rubbed her forehead. “…” This kid’s digging a pit for her mom.

Shi Youwan patted her arm teasingly. “Just like you when you were little.”

Back in elementary school, when Shi Youwan tutored Shi Youran, the girl would slack off and run to their two mothers to tattle, claiming her big sister explained problems too harshly and scared her so much she couldn’t focus.

Later, when Shi Youwan got tired of tutoring her, Shi Youran complained that her sister was stingy and wouldn’t help anymore.

She never caused major trouble, but her constant small antics tested Shi Youwan’s patience endlessly.

Yet whenever something fun happened or there were treats to share, she was always the first to tell her sister, earning laughs from their mothers who called her a “sister’s treasure.”

She also bragged to her classmates about her straight-A, top-of-the-class genius big sister.

Shi Youran begged for mercy. “Sis, I’m a mom of two now. Cut me some slack and give me a little face.”

“You, if there’s something you want to ask, come straight to me. Miaomiao’s still little—don’t keep talking about adult romance stuff around her.”

“…” Would you even answer if I asked you?

The lively child’s antics eased the subtle tension in the air. A female Alpha from the Shen Family seized the moment and turned to Shi Youwan, saying she had a few questions about market expansion she’d like to ask President Shi.

Shi Youwan’s smile deepened, but her eyebrows arched slightly—a subtle expression that casual acquaintances could hardly read.

The person who knew Shi Youwan’s micro-expressions best in the world stood right in front of her. That look clearly meant: Nothing to discuss.

“Today is a family banquet for both our families. As juniors, let’s avoid business talk and just relax.” Shi Youran linked arms with Shi Youwan. The sisters only resembled each other by about fifty percent, but both were top-tier beauties, each in their own captivating way.

“Honestly, it’s rare for me to see my sister even once every couple of months. This workaholic President Shi who barely touches ground has plenty of private chit-chat saved up with me too. Mom, you’re free anyway—chat with them and handle the business Q&A if you can. Sis and I will step away first.”

Shen Munian and Madam Shen were greeting guests on the other side with Shen Yu in their arms. Shi Youran had indeed come over with the intent to interrogate her sister’s whereabouts.

In a quieter corner, Shi Youran faced Shi Youwan and sized her up.

From her updo to her naturally curled lashes, and then… her gaze locked onto a suspicious mark faintly visible on the latter’s neck.

She leaned in for a closer look, but Shi Youwan held her back with a hand. “What are you doing?”

“I should be asking you that—what have you been up to?”

Shi Youran pointedly pulled Shi Youwan aside and got straight to the point. “Frequent trips to Lingjiang, a sudden jaunt to Lan Wei—none of it for work. Don’t tell me… you really went there to date?”

She kept staring at Shi Youwan’s neck as she spoke. “Showing up with a hickey like that—you’re in deep. New flame? Or old love?”

The bite mark had faded to the point where only a close-up revealed its outline, and no one else in the room could get that near and scrutinize it like Shi Youran.

“No new flame, not an old love either. It’s always just been her.” Since she’d let Shi Youran see it, she had no intention of hiding anymore.

“You… found her?”

“Mm, I found her.”

“She’s in Lingjiang? A while back, there was that scammer who…” Shi Youran stopped herself, unwilling to rehash old news, and switched to gossip mode. “You two back together?”

Shi Youwan shook her head.

Shi Youran gasped in shock. “Then what’s that on your neck?”

“Still coaxing her.”

“!!!” Shi Youran’s mouth formed a perfect O. “Sis, never pegged you for playing this big! Your body… cough, no other injuries, right?”

“What are you thinking!” Shi Youwan’s face flushed red as she flicked Shi Youran’s forehead with her finger.

Seeing her sister blush for the first time ever delighted Shi Youran to no end. “Bring her to meet me someday?”

She knew little about Shi Youwan’s little sweetheart. Last year, when Shi Youwan had her epiphany and finally opened up, it was just two sentences: I can’t live without her. I’ll bring her back.

Shi Youran offered to help search, but Shi Youwan wouldn’t reveal the girl’s name, leaving her helpless but to watch and wait.

She had promised to support Shi Youwan’s choices, but that didn’t mean blind support—she needed to meet the girl in person and see if she was reliable.

“In a bit.” She hadn’t fully won her over yet; even seeing Xiao Mo herself was tough, let alone introducing her to the family.

“Still a while?”

Shi Youran couldn’t help sighing in frustration, a mix of exasperation at her sister’s dawdling.

“Sis, you know how old you’ll be in two months? Just say it—is she the one you can’t live without? If yes, bring her to me. You’re too thin-skinned to speak up sometimes; I’ll say it for you. Let’s get to the main event quick—don’t drag it out like kids playing house. Trust me, marry first and sweet-talk later; it’ll be twice as effective. She can’t be that young this year, right? Not still in school? Sigh, no biggie, that’s not the issue. The key is…”

“Shi Youran.” Shi Youwan’s face visibly reddened further. Calling her full name, she chided angrily, “Keep babbling nonsense, and don’t expect me to ever bring her to meet you.”

“Nooo, Sis! For Mom’s hurdle, won’t you still need my help?” Shi Youran was blunt and truly anxious.

Anxious about her sister’s unmarried major life event, her happiness, the risks of late pregnancy, and of course, when the next heir for Shifeng Group would arrive.

—After finding her, what then? Keep her as a lover, or give her the proper status?

—I’ll be her wife.

—Sis, if you’re marrying, what about kids? Can you have them?

Shi Youwan had never answered about children.

The banquet hall grew more crowded, filled with guests’ chatter and children’s noise—it wasn’t suitable for private talk anymore.

Shi Youran dropped the interrogation for now and looped her arm through Shi Youwan’s again. “Alright, alright, I won’t rush you.”

From the moment she arrived, Shi Youwan had been scanning for Shen Muxi, but the girl was nowhere.

Glancing around again, Shi Youwan changed the subject. “Where’s Shen Muxi? Not coming?”

“Speaking of my little sister-in-law,” Shi Youran sighed and shook her head. “Right before you got here, she had a row with Grandpa. Probably in the lounge now.”

As they headed toward Shen Munian, Shi Youwan was silent for a few seconds before asking, “What were they arguing about?”

“Sis, since when are you curious about Shen Muxi?” Shi Youran turned to look at her with a playful smile.

Usually, she was the one eagerly spilling family tea to Shi Youwan. Was the sun rising in the west today?

Shi Youwan was actually asking about her household matters.

“I’m not curious about her—just following your lead with a casual question. Say if you want, or not…”

Before she finished, Shi Youran jumped in. “Not complicated. In short, Grandpa introduced a family Omega to her. Muxi saw through the matchmaking intent and called him out on the spot: ‘Dad, today’s star is your grandson. Be a doting grandpa at his birthday banquet. Don’t get distracted playing loving father. I’m over thirty too—can’t play the dutiful daughter fawning at your knee anymore.’”

“That infuriated Grandpa. He called her out right there for shirking her role as a proper Shen heiress to act in shows, selling tears and laughs on TV, living a messy private life without self-respect. Any Tom, Dick, or Harry could hook up with her and spark rumors. She doesn’t even clarify—instead, she revels in it, shameless, heaven knows where she gets it from.

“Grandpa basically wants her to quit entertainment, return to the group to help Munian manage business, find a suitable Omega, marry, have kids, and live stably.”

Hearing “any Tom, Dick, or Harry,” Shi Youwan’s face darkened further.

The recent scandal partner and hot search regular with Shen Muxi was Mo Yu—her Xiao Mo, her Alpha, not “any Tom, Dick, or Harry.”

“Oh, Grandpa even asked what her deal was with that Mo Yu. You know Muxi’s temperament—no one pushes her around, always has to have the last word. So she fired back that she and Mo Yu were exactly the ‘immoral’ kind of relationship he imagined. Sigh, who tries to mediate gets yelled at. As an outsider by marriage, I didn’t dare butt in.”

Society had grown more tolerant of Alpha-Alpha or Omega-Omega romances, but to some stubborn elders, it was still against nature and utterly outrageous.

“Munian and I don’t mind. We’ve met that Mo Yu girl—her tragic backstory and experiences are all over the net. Muxi’s soft spot for her probably stems from sympathy…”

Shi Youran spilled it all without noticing how stormy her sister’s expression had become.

Only when their steps halted did she turn and catch Shi Youwan’s icy glare, giving her a chill. “Sis, your eyes are kinda scary. Did I say something wrong?”

“No.” Shi Youwan said, “Go do your thing. Which lounge is for the family?”

“You’re going to find Muxi?”

“Mm.”

Before Shi Youran could respond, a small commotion stirred nearby. Whispers filled the hall, the clearest mentions being “Shen Muxi.”

Both women looked over.

“No need for the lounge.” Shi Youran lifted her chin toward the main entrance. “There—your person’s here.”

She had arrived, strutting in boldly with an extra woman in tow.

Two tall, stunning Alphas together were a sight to behold, utterly captivating.

Shen Muxi still wore a vibrant red gown, while the girl at her side, now in a formal dress, was none other than Chi Yumo—who had kissed Shi Youwan goodbye just an hour ago.

Chi Yumo sported a distinctive black one-piece suit.

The casual style featured a low V-neck dipping just enough to hint at cleavage, with a chain choker around her neck. The innovative fashion twist shed the suit’s stuffiness, exuding a cool, sensual vibe.

Shen Munian, having met Chi Yumo before, nodded a greeting, but Madam Shen, holding Shen Yu, was far less welcoming.

“Muxi, even if you’re mad at your dad, you shouldn’t bring an unrelated outsider today. The guests are either relatives of the Shen and Shi families or prominent figures from Jinhuai Province. She’s not suitable to tag along. Be good, don’t make a scene—send her to the lounge.”

In the early days, Madam Shen had cried and coaxed this rebellious youngest daughter endlessly, urging her to ignore the outside world’s gossip. The Shen daughter wasn’t for outsiders to point fingers at.

Old Master Shen had also made his stance clear, stating that as long as she had the ability, there would always be a seat for her in the core management of the Shen Group.

In the future, when she married and had children, what he gave her would not be any less than what he gave to her older brother, Shen Munian.