The news from the Fu Family was not most exciting to the socialites of Beijing but rather to Shen Xitong at the eye of the storm in the Shen Family.
Especially when she learned that Old Sir Fu's preferred granddaughter-in-law was a Miss from the Shen Family, she couldn't hide the joy in her eyes. Among the Shen Family's young ladies of similar age to Fu Hengyi, who else could it be but her?
Shen Xitong was very confident in herself. Although she was only an adopted daughter of the Shen Family, she could feel that Chu Yunrong treated her as her own. In fact, even Shen Qinglan, who was Chu Yunrong's biological daughter, had never received such love from her.
The Shen Family treated Shen Xitong very well. From a young age, she had received elite education, and she herself was ambitious, graduating from a prestigious school and playing the piano beautifully. Chu Yunrong would always bring her along to events, treating her as an heir in the shadows.
Shen Xitong was born beautiful. Though she had a tough childhood, after years of being pampered in the Shen Family, she possessed a ladylike demeanor, and thanks to the Shen Family's background, she was quite popular in Beijing.
In contrast, Shen Qinglan, ever since returning to the Shen Family, only attended a single banquet. She had not participated in any more events, and few in Beijing knew her. Although the two Shen elders were fond of her, what did she have apart from excellent academic performance?
Oh, there was something. At least her face was captivating. Even Shen Xitong, a woman, had to admit that Shen Qinglan's beauty was breathtaking and made one... want to destroy it.
But so what? With the social status of the Fu Family, choosing a bride was certainly not just about looks. Shen Qinglan, huh, stood no chance.
On the day the news broke, Shen Xitong happily went shopping. She needed to prepare a gift for her visit to Old Sir Fu.
Meanwhile, the male protagonist, Fu Hengyi, remained in the dark. He had planned to leave today, but as soon as he mentioned it, Old Sir Fu clutched his heart in grief, accusing him of unfilial conduct. With his grandfather gravely ill, sparing no effort to see him, how could he leave a sick grandparent behind? It was unfilial, indeed.
Old Sir Fu howled while turning away to secretly rub the ginger in his sleeve onto his eyes, causing tears to flow instantly.
A vein throbbed on Fu Hengyi's forehead. Seeing Old Sir Fu resorting to using ginger to keep him, he sighed helplessly. "Grandpa, I understand. I'll call now and stay a few more days with you."
Hearing this, Old Sir Fu stopped howling, skeptically eyeing Fu Hengyi. "Really?"
Fu Hengyi nodded.
Old Sir Fu laughed, stepping forward to pat his grandson's shoulder. "Truly a good grandson of grandpa, I didn't dote on you for nothing." However, he couldn't stop his tears; the ginger was truly spicy.
"Grandpa, next time you act, ask someone to prepare eye drops, not ginger. It's overpowering." With these words, he gracefully went upstairs.
Old Sir Fu's face darkened, yet he couldn't help sniffing his sleeve, smelling the strong ginger scent, and wrinkled his nose in disdain before following upstairs.
Regardless, he was staying. Next, it was the turn of the Shen Family girl.
Old Sir Fu's lips curled up, eyes glinting.
The Fu Family's news quickly spread throughout Beijing and reached Old Sir Shen's ears.
Old Sir Shen's first reaction was that Old Man Fu was again scheming for his precious granddaughter, and despite his wife's persuasion, he stormed angrily to the Fu Family with a stern face.
"Old Man Fu, you old bastard, come out here."
Old Sir Shen yelled from the Fu Family's living room toward upstairs, but it was Fu Hengyi who arrived, not Old Sir Fu.
"Grandpa Shen, what's happened?" Fu Hengyi questioned, seeing Old Sir Shen fuming.
Old Sir Shen's eyes widened upon seeing Fu Hengyi. "Just in time. Let me tell you, don't think releasing news first will make me agree to this marriage; I will not agree to you and Lanlan."
The confusion in Fu Hengyi's eyes deepened, unsure of the reasons behind these words.
"You say you don't agree, but have you asked Qinglan yet?" Old Sir Fu charged in from outside; he had only been out for a brief stroll when a perplexed bodyguard ran over to inform him that Old Sir Shen had come to settle accounts.
Seeing the person, Old Sir Shen grew angrier, pointing a shaking hand at Old Sir Fu. "I know Lanlan wouldn't agree; how dare your grandson, at his age, target my granddaughter?"
"My grandson's age is not old; men are the bloom at thirty-one. My grandson is in his prime and is more than suitable for your granddaughter. In my view, they're a match made in heaven." Old Sir Fu stood akimbo, arguing with Old Sir Shen.
Though he personally thought his grandson's age a flaw, he couldn't tolerate others saying so, especially Old Sir Shen.
"If your grandson is a bloom, then my granddaughter is just a budding shoot." Shen Yunyi was not to be outdone.
Combined, the two gentlemen were over a hundred years old, yet they quarreled like children.
Despite his usual calm demeanor, Fu Hengyi's expression darkened.
The two elders continued their heated argument, forgetting that the main subjects of their discussion were present. Their conversation grew exaggerated; a confrontation seemed imminent until Fu Hengyi swiftly intervened, averting a battle.
"Grandpas, let's discuss this calmly."
"Hmph, this stubborn old fool, who wants to talk to him?" scoffed Old Sir Fu.
"Hmph, he's delusional; I won't stoop to his level," retorted Old Sir Shen.
The living room fell into a tense silence.
"Grandpas, can you tell me what this is all about?" Though Fu Hengyi had guessed most of it, he didn't know the specifics.
One sentence brought Old Sir Shen back to his purpose for coming, "Old Man Fu, let me tell you. Regardless of what you've told others, you need to clear this up. My granddaughter is not intending to marry into your Fu Family; all previous rumors are unfounded."
"Whether they're rumors isn't for you to decide. If the two kids are interested in each other, you can't stop them, right, Hengyi?" With that, Old Sir Fu gleamed at Fu Hengyi, his look triumphant, disregarding the underlying threat in his eyes.
Old Sir Shen's gaze also fell on Fu Hengyi, clearly wanting to hear his stance.
Facing Old Sir Shen's earnest gaze, the image of Shen Qinglan's aloof demeanor suddenly appeared in Fu Hengyi's mind. He found himself unable to utter the words, "I could never marry that little girl, Shen Qinglan," sensing a vague premonition that saying it would lead to future regret.