But Shen Muxi was rebellious and unyielding. Once she made up her mind, not even ten oxen could pull her back. She resolutely charged into the entertainment industry.
For several years, Shen Muxi avoided seeing her mother, who cried every time they met. Instead, she focused single-mindedly on her career. Madam Shen’s heart grew cold, and she washed her face with tears.
Fortunately, her granddaughter Shen Miao was born, giving her a new source of solace as a grandmother.
Shen Muxi also rose to fame, thriving in the entertainment circle.
Ten years of being apart more than together deepened the rift between Shen Muxi and her family. She grew accustomed to bearing everything alone, never complaining.
She just wanted to prove herself and live as the real “Shen Muxi.”
Not as the second miss of the Shen Group.
Not lying down and winning for life.
“Mom, Mo Yu isn’t some outsider.” Shen Muxi’s smile didn’t fade as she poked the little milk doll’s cheek. “She’s a big star in my company and an intimate little friend of mine.”
She had “tricked” Chi Yumo into coming here precisely to rile up her stubborn father—and while she was at it, to get back at Shi Youwan too.
Shi Youwan always made her eat defeat; if she didn’t turn the tables once, it left a bad taste in her mouth.
Madam Shen was furious. “You…”
“Mom, she’s a guest.” Shi Youran quickly stepped forward to support Madam Shen. “Munian and I have met Mo Yu before. She’s a sensible girl who knows the big picture. Mo Yu, why don’t you go inside and sit with Muxi?”
Chi Yumo bowed to them in response.
She hadn’t realized until she arrived that this was the first birthday banquet for Shen Muxi’s little nephew, Shen Yu.
Shen Muxi had instructed her—don’t be nervous, don’t rebel. Just treat this meal like a networking reception for dignitaries: eat what you should, drink what you should.
Since she was already here, she might as well settle in.
She could only cope with it as Shen Muxi suggested, like any ordinary reception.
Seeing the situation turning sour over there, Yin Man, who had been drinking alone nearby, set down her champagne and headed toward Shi Youwan. But halfway there, she stopped dejectedly.
Going over would only cause more chaos for Shi Youwan.
However, though she halted, her social-climbing stepmother hurried over like she was racing to be reborn.
Yin Man changed direction, striding quickly to block Madam Yin’s path. Arms crossed, she said coldly, “That’s the Shen Family’s family matter. Stay out of it.”
“Yin Man, what are you saying?” Madam Yin also pulled a cold face. “I’m friends with Madam Shen…”
“You’re poker buddies, sure, but friends? Not necessarily.” Her stepmother, always worried she’d take away the family inheritance meant for her two sons, was all smiles to her face and knives behind her back.
“Get out of my way!”
“What background does Madam Shen have? What background do you have? Don’t you know it in your heart?” The daughter of a mere town-level cadre who, fresh out of university, had climbed into a big boss’s bed after a drunken romp—and now she fancied herself friends and sisters with the Madam Shen of a medical dynasty? What wishful thinking.
After marrying into the Yin Family, her stepmother had idled away as a rich housewife. She lacked real skills, but her talent for stirring the pot was top-notch.
If it didn’t involve Shi Youwan, Yin Man wouldn’t bother wasting words on her and embarrassing herself.
“Yin Man, how dare you talk to my mom like that!” A man holding a red wine glass walked over and snapped angrily.
It was Madam Yin’s eldest son—and Yin Man’s younger brother—Yin Ze.
Meanwhile, on the other side, with so many acquaintances present, Shi Youwan couldn’t act too familiar with Chi Yumo, lest it spark more gossip.
She blocked Shen Muxi’s path inside. “Muxi, I have something to discuss with you. Let’s step aside and chat.”
She could guess without thinking: Shen Muxi had deliberately brought little Mo here to stage a sugar daddy and canary show in front of Old Master Shen. How could she tolerate Shen Muxi using little Mo like this?
But Shen Muxi didn’t give her face. “Sorry, President Shi, I need to take my little Mo to see the old master first.”
Pissing off her family elder was one thing; letting Mo Yu get some exposure was another.
Many relationships only fueled rumors when hidden away. In the past, Chi Yumo couldn’t be seen in public with Shen Muxi. Now that she was with Shi Youwan, she couldn’t let that happen again.
Chi Yumo had said to her—Muxi-jie, have more confidence in your own charm, and trust me a bit more.
Shi Youwan wanted to say to Chi Yumo—Little Mo, you should have more confidence too. Lift your head, puff out your chest. Sis said she’d make sure you strutted around, and she’ll deliver.
Shi Youwan frowned and stood her ground without moving.
Her intent was obvious.
She wasn’t letting them pass.
The two stood in stalemate until Shi Youran approached. “Sis, Muxi, I’ll go with you both.”
Hadn’t they just put out the fire with Madam Shen when these two started butting heads again? Shi Youran desperately signaled Shen Munian with her eyes to calm his mother.
Every family had its own troubles. She juggled between the Shen Family members, exhausting her mind and energy—no less taxing than Shen Munian running the company.
And now her own sister had joined the fray. It was full-scale war.
Her sister and her sister-in-law…
They’d been distant as strangers before. What grudge had they formed now?
Shi Youran was troubled inside but smiled brightly on the surface. “One aunt, one little aunt— for our little birthday star’s sake, can’t we talk things out peacefully and have a nice meal?”
Chi Yumo didn’t know exactly what Shen Muxi was up to, but something unusual was afoot. Glancing at the gathering crowd, she understood a bit.
She didn’t want to put Shi Youwan in a tough spot, so she nudged Shen Muxi’s arm and signed to her: 【Don’t argue because of me. Your mother is right—this is your family banquet. I’m not suitable to be here.】
Seeing her communicate with Shen Muxi in sign language, the surrounding chatter grew louder.
Shen Muxi smiled without mirth. “Little Mo, it’s only been a few days, and you’ve already forgotten the solemn vow you made at my house that day?”
—I won’t betray you or our promise because of anyone or anything.
Chi Yumo hadn’t forgotten.
【But you should be honest with me too. Why did you really bring me here?】
“Can’t it just be to have a meal with me?”
【…】
Just that? Shen Muxi called this simple?!!! They were both surrounded by enemies on all sides, and she called it simple!
As chaos reigned, a deep voice rang out from the crowd: “Shen Muxi!”
Old Master Shen, his hair streaked with white, walked over.
The onlookers wisely dispersed, retreating a bit. Some whispered, others watched from afar, waiting for the Shen Family’s “joke.”
Since the newcomer was an elder, Shi Youwan had no choice but to step aside.
Fortunately, Old Master Shen wasn’t followed by a crowd; her mother Shi Yan was still coaxing Shen Miao at the main table.
“Dad,” Shen Muxi placed a hand on Chi Yumo’s lower back, drawing her forward. “Mo Yu, this is my father—your Uncle Shen.”
Shen Liang snapped, “How old is she? How old am I? If anyone’s calling, it’s ‘Grandpa.'”
【…】
Chi Yumo felt deeply uncomfortable under Old Master Shen’s stern, piercing gaze. A rare fear welled up from her heart. Her body stiffened, like a little lamb cowed by a tiger’s roar.
“She calls me ‘sister’ just fine. Why should she lower her seniority?”
Shen Liang was well past seventy, while Chi Yumo was just twenty-three—a gap of over fifty years. By age, there was indeed a generation between them.
Knowing full well that the voiceless Chi Yumo couldn’t utter any form of address, the father and daughter still bickered over it.
“That’s enough, Shen Muxi. Say less.” Shen Munian’s face darkened too. He didn’t want his son’s birthday banquet ruined by family squabbles, making them a laughingstock. “Dad, today is Xiao Yu’s birthday.”
“Mama, mama… hug…” Shen Yu wriggled and babbled for his mama’s hug.
Shen Munian took his youngest son from his mother’s arms and rocked his chubby lotus-root arm. “Xiao Yu, call Grandpa. Let Grandpa calm down.”
Almost everyone’s eyes, including Chi Yumo’s, shifted to father and son—except Shi Youwan’s.
Thus, no one noticed the thick, melting sorrow and grief in Chi Yumo’s eyes—except Shi Youwan.
Xiao Yu.
Xiao Yu.
—She said the people she most wanted to see were her mom and dad, and the ones she feared most were also her mom and dad. Because even in dreams, she couldn’t see their faces clearly.
Little Mo.
Shi Youwan called Chi Yumo’s name in her heart. She wanted to pull her into an embrace regardless, to comfort her: You have me. We’ll have a home.
The little milk doll opened his mouth: “Grandpa, grandpa… mama, hug…”
Shi Youran reached out to take her son, using the motion to block Old Master Shen’s line of sight. “Dad, the banquet’s about to start.”
Shi Youwan also tried to persuade him. “Uncle Shen, whatever you have to say, can wait until after the banquet.”
One after another, they tried to dissuade him, but in the end, no one swayed Old Master Shen.
He grasped his grandson’s hand, then turned and strode outside, his back to the crowd as he said, “Shen Muxi, bring your person and come talk reason with me somewhere else. Everyone else, do what you need to. No one follows.”
The patriarch’s authority brooked no argument.
Shen Munian, Shi Youran, and Madam Shen all fell silent. Shen Muxi wanted to retort, but Shi Youwan grabbed her wrist. “Haven’t you caused enough trouble?”
“What’s it to you?” Shen Muxi shook off Shi Youwan irritably.
Her anger was mainly at her father.
Shi Youwan had caught the bullet.
Chi Yumo quickly steadied Shi Youwan with a light touch, though Shi Youwan solidly bumped her arm. “Follow your boss.”
Like father, like daughter—Shen Muxi’s arrogance was inherited from Old Master Shen. Her temperament mirrored her father’s more than Shen Munian’s. This made the father-daughter pair unwilling to yield, letting conflicts pile up.
—Old Master really dotes on his daughter. Otherwise, he wouldn’t secretly surf the web in his study for her news and dramas. Once, Miao Miao snuck in and saw her aunt on screen. The old man hurriedly bent to pick up the child and panickedly kicked out the power cord. Later, my mother-in-law mentioned offhand that his toe swelled for days, but he never made a sound. Isn’t that funny?
—Another Spring Festival, Muxi came home with gifts for everyone. For the old master, a limited-edition box of cigars—twenty sticks, each worth 58,000 RMB. Men’s way of burning money really burns it. He acted disdainful on the spot, but deep into the night, he snuck to the storage room to smoke one, nearly setting the whole villa ablaze.
The Shen Family anecdotes Shi Youran had shared—funny or not—Shi Youwan only listened, never commented or spread them.
Their two mothers: one deceased, one secluded.
In Yinzhou, Shi Youran’s reliable maternal kin boiled down to just Shi Youwan. So Shi Youwan always indulged her sister; whatever Shi Youran wanted to say, she heard it all.
She also knew her little sister well. When chatting with friends or the ladies’ circle, Shi Youran could talk endlessly yet always knew where to draw the line, never airing family dirt.
With all those petty household dramas piling up, if Shi Youran didn’t vent to her, she’d stifle.
Thanks to Shi Youran, Shi Youwan gained deeper insight into the old master and Shen Muxi—this stubborn pair with hearts softer than their words.
As for the knife-behind-smiles Shen Muxi and her “foolish” self-damaging antics that hurt the enemy at eight hundred cost to herself a thousand, she’d only pull them on her own father.
But little Mo was utterly innocent.
Shen Muxi had handled this too poorly.
Shi Youwan took the lead and followed out. Walking just behind and to the side of Shen Liang, she said softly, “Uncle Shen, I’m the one who knows most about Muxi and Mo Yu’s matter. Muxi’s still holding a grudge against you. Some things might be better explained by me.”
