"Grandpa Shen, I don't know what my grandfather told you, but the relationship between Qinglan and I isn't what you think. At least, not for now. As for the future, no matter how it unfolds, she's my sister and I'll keep her safe," Fu Hengyi said in a serious manner.
He did not deny the possibility, and so Grandpa Fu could not say anything about that. In fact, apart from age, Fu Hengyi was indeed one of the most outstanding youngsters Grandpa Shen had ever come to know.
After having lived for so long, he had no regrets to speak of. If any, he hoped his granddaughter could find someone who truly loved and cherished her.
"That's enough. You kids can take care of yourselves. I'm too old to meddle in your affairs," Grandpa Shen waved his hand and sighed.
"That's more like it. Think about it, Shen. The two of them match each other in brains and brawns. If, by chance, they tie the knot, think of how lovely and smart their children will be," Grandpa Fu approached him, draped an arm across his shoulder, and whispered.
Seeing that the two had reconciled, Fu Hengyi shook his head and entered the study. He might not be able to back immediately, but there were still some matters he had to settle.
After he had changed jobs, he had taken over the small company his mother had left behind and had then founded another security company to provide job opportunities for soldiers who had retired for various reasons.
Over the years, through his efforts, the company had grown stronger.
Many people looked to him for his abilities. Sometimes, he would take up the task personally, including the one he had just got, where he was asked to protect an important person. But he had been fooled by his grandfather into coming home, so he was unable to go. He had to assign someone trustworthy to go instead and coordinate with his client as well.
----
Very soon, the news in the capital was suppressed. Shen Xitong did not have to drop by the Fu's household to ask about it, for a friend had told her that the Fu family wanted Shen Qinglan, not her, as their granddaughter-in-law.
As she recalled her friend taking pleasure in her misfortune when she had announced the news to her, Shen Xitong could not help biting her lip, fuming.
What was so good about Shen Qinglan? Other than a pretty face, she was useless! She always kept a sullen face that managed to dampen the spirits of everyone she met. Yet, it was a good-for-nothing like her who had been chosen by the Fu family to be their granddaughter-in-law. Shen Xitong was reluctant to accept that. She simply couldn't.
From the moment she had laid eyes on Fu Hengyi, she had known that he was the man she wanted to marry. She had worked so hard to make a name for herself, just so that one day she could stand with him, side by side.
But Shen Qinglan had easily snatched the very thing she was striving to achieve. She hated it! If Shen Qinglan had not returned, all of it would have been hers.
Shen Xitong noticed the figure walking down the stairs. Her eyes flashed with a sinister idea.
Shen Qinglan stared condescendingly at the person blocking her way, her face void of expression, "Yes?"
Shen Xitong looked at her and grinned, "Dear sister, I heard that Grandpa Fu chose you to be their granddaughter-in-law. I haven't congratulated you on that."
Shen Qinglan's brows furrowed. She ignored her sister.
Out of the corner of her eyes, Shen Xitong saw a certain figure walking along the corridor. The corners of her lips curled up strangely. She got a little closer to Shen Qinglan and said, "Do you think the Fu family will allow their grandson to marry a heartless woman?" With that said, she quickly leaned back and began to fall, her hand grasping the hem of Shen Qinglan's blouse tightly. A panicked expression painted her face, as she let out a shriek.
Shen Qinglan found herself gravitating toward Shen Xitong because of the pull. Coldness swept across her eyes. The hand holding onto the railing exerted a stronger grip and she managed to steady herself, while Shen Xitong tumbled down the stairs all the way to the ground, where she lay still.
"Tongtong!"
Shen Qinglan was forcefully pushed aside, as the person dashed past her to get to Shen Xitong.
"Tongtong, what happened? Are you alright?" Chu Yunrong knelt beside Shen Xitong. She wanted to touch her but was afraid that any movement might add on to the girl's injury. In a moment of fret, she did not know what to do.
Shen Xitong felt pain all over her body. It hurt so much that her forehead glistened with cold sweat. She eyed at the person standing at the top of the stairs. Her lips curled up with a curious intention.
When she lifted her head again, tears had streamed down her cheeks. Her face paled in agony because of the pain, yet she managed to smile, "Mom, Qinglan... she didn't do it on purpose. Don't blame her."
Then she turned to Shen Qinglan and said weakly, "Sister, I know you don't like me because Mom loves me more, but I really don't want to fight with you. I can give you whatever you want. I just want to stay in this house, have a roof over my head. I didn't know you liked Fu Hengyi, too. If I had known that, I wouldn't fight over him with you."
Chu Yunrong glanced at Shen Qinglan in shock. She did not expect the younger woman would push her sister down the stairs out of jealousy. She felt blood rush to her head, stood up, and quickly rushed over to Shen Qinglan.
Slap! A heavy slap landed on Shen Qinglan's face.
Shen Qinglan looked at Chu Yunrong calmly, her eyes showing neither sadness nor joy. She seemed to feel no pain at all. On the other hand, Chu Yunrong stared at her hand in disbelief. She... she had actually beaten her own daughter!
"Yurnong, what have you done?" Grandpa Shen's yell boomed from the corridor. Everyone turned toward the source of the sound and found Grandpa Shen glaring angrily at Chu Yunrong, with Fu Hengyi standing next to him.
Shen Xitong's pupils shrank. Her eyes flickered in panic. Why was Fu Hengyi at their house?
"Father... I..." Chu Yunrong mumbled.
"What have you done?" Grandpa Shen questioned her furiously. He had been playing chess with Fu Hengyi in the study when he had heard Shen Xitong's scream. He had come out to see what was going on and had witnessed Chu Yunrong hitting Shen Qinglan in the face.
Chu Yunrong recovered from the shock of beating her own daughter. She looked at Shen Qinglan's swollen face, then turned to Shen Xitong who was lying still on the ground, before finding her own voice again and said, "Dad, Qinglan pushed her own sister down the stairs. She was jealous of her."
"Did you see that with your own eyes?" Grandpa Shen lit up like torches as he glared at Chu Yunrong.
Startled, Chu Yunrong subconsciously replied, "No."
"Grandpa—"
Shen Xitong voiced out. Because of the pain, her face was sweaty, and her brows furrowed, "Grandpa, don't blame Mom, and don't blame Qinglan. I'm the one at fault. I fell on my own. I lost my footing."
Her expression was forbearing. Despite saying so, there was grievance hidden in her eyes.
Grandpa Shen's gaze fell on the girl. He looked at her indifferently, his emotions undetectable.
Shen Xitong's heart tightened.
"What are you standing there for? Call the ambulance!" Grandpa Shen ordered Aunt Song.
Aunt Song hurried to make the phone call.
"This ends here. I don't want to hear any more disagreements between you two," Grandpa Shen adressed Chu Yunrong, all while looking at Shen Xitong.
Startled, Shen Xitong lowered her eyes, not daring to look him in the face.
The ambulance arrived quickly after that. The doctor made a brief examination. Apart from the fracture in her right calf and some bruises on her body, Shen Xitong had not sustained any other injuries.
Chu Yunrong left the premises on the ambulance as well.
From beginning to end, Shen Qinglan never said a word. Her expression had not changed, even when her face was swollen to the size of a bun.
Grandpa Shen gazed at her face affectionately, "Dear child, why didn't you turn away when your mother hit you?"
Shen Qinglan looked at him warmly and shook her head, "I'm fine, Grandpa."