After Su Yang finished speaking with Shen Jinghe, she turned around to see her two daughters getting along well and felt incredibly happy inside.
Even the tone of her voice was filled with a joy that was usually absent, "Let's go, don't just stand outside; come in and talk."
As the four of them entered the hall, Shen Yuan and his son Shen Jingxiu, who had been busy in the study, also came downstairs.
Both men were visibly taken aback when they saw Shen Jinghe.
Because no one had expected him to return home today.
However, after a brief moment of surprise, Shen Yuan quickly spoke up.
"Since everyone is back, let's start the meal."
As the head of the family, Shen Yuan usually wouldn't wait for anyone who was late or absent once he declared it was time to eat; he wouldn't delay for anyone.
But today, Su Yang didn't immediately instruct the kitchen to serve the food.
"Let's wait a bit. I didn't know Jinghe would come home today, I'll tell the kitchen to cook two of Jinghe's favorite dishes, and then we can start the meal."
When Su Yang said this, Shen Jinghe immediately gave Wenyan a look.
The meaning he wanted to convey was clear: What's the meaning of this? You asked me to come back but didn't tell the family?
Wenyan laughed with a titter, her eyes curving into crescents, and silently mouthed the word— 'Surprise'
Although there was no sound throughout their exchange, an onlooker still noticed it).
Shen Jingxiu glanced at Wenyan and furrowed his brow slightly. When had the two of them become so familiar?
Not just Shen Jingxiu, but Shen Zhirou had also noticed the small interaction between Wenyan and Shen Jinghe.
Her face remained expressionless, but her fingers, hanging by her side, clenched tightly around her dress.
The two people concerned, however, were completely unaware that they were being 'watched'.
Shen Jinghe immediately rejected Su Yang's kind offer.
"No need, Mom, I'm not picky. I can eat anything."
"It's fine, Jinghe, just adding two dishes won't take long, right, darling?" Su Yang said, addressing Shen Yuan with the last remark.
But before Shen Yuan had a chance to speak, Shen Jinghe said coldly, "Doesn't the family have dining rules? There's no need to make an exception for me."
This barbed tone... it was clear that his words were directed at Shen Yuan.
Everyone in the room picked up on it, and the atmosphere instantly dropped to freezing point.
Especially Shen Yuan, whose face looked very unpleasant.
Only Shen Jinghe, as if nothing was amiss, walked up to the dining table and sat down.
Anticipating that there would be no pleasant atmosphere between father and son, Su Yang no longer insisted on having the kitchen add dishes.
The family soon settled down around the long dining table.
Shen Yuan sat at the head of the table, with his sons Shen Jingxiu and Shen Jinghe on his left, Su Yang on his right, and next to Su Yang was Shen Zhirou.
If it were according to the past habits of the original body, she would never sit beside Shen Zhirou no matter what.
But Wenyan pulled out the chair next to Shen Zhirou.
This was also a way for her to extend an olive branch to Shen Zhirou, and she even smiled at Shen Zhirou when she sat down.
However, after the smile, Wenyan immediately realized that her smile seemed a bit inappropriate at that moment.
The people at this dining table, apart from her, all seemed as if they were attending a funeral.
She dared to say, this was definitely the most 'difficult' meal she had ever eaten.
What's scarier is that in this large family, not a single person could liven up the atmosphere.
[It's all Shen Jinghe's fault—the pressure around him is even lower than Shen Jingxiu, that block of ice! If I had known, I wouldn't have asked him to come back. Forget it, if anyone is to blame, it's myself. He didn't want to come in the first place, and I had to insist.]
Shen "Ice Block" Jingxiu: She wanted Shen Jinghe to come back, and he just did? Why?
Shen Jinghe: Humph, she brought it upon herself. Since she called me back, she can bear the consequences.
[Sigh, the one who should feel the worst must be Mrs. Su. She was happy to prepare extra dishes when her son came back, but now, I guess nothing tastes good to her.]
Su Yang, who truly found nothing appetizing: It's really hard on Yanyan, this child. She cares about me more than my own children do, which is really touching.
Thinking of this, Su Yang felt even less inclined to eat. A family that should have been loving had become what it was now.
...Unbearable, this atmosphere was simply too much; Wenyan was about to lose her patience. She decided to take the bull by the horns and warm up the scene.
"Come on, everybody, let's eat. Mom, here's the abalone you love, it smells delicious; Auntie Zhang's cooking skills are getting better and better."
"Zhirou, you can't reach that fish, right? I'll help you, this steamed fish is the best."
"Dad, you've had an upset stomach recently, feeling any better? Have some millet porridge to soothe your stomach, I'll serve you a bowl."
"Big brother, do you want some soup? It's on my side, you can't reach it, right? Let me serve it for you."
Wenyan was serious about warming up the scene, buzzing around like a diligent little bee, never stopping for a moment.
Shen Jingxiu saw what she was attempting, and rejected her: "No need, I can do it myself."
Wenyan didn't argue with Shen Jingxiu, instead turning to Shen Jinghe: "What about you, second brother, do you want some soup?"
Shen Jinghe glanced at Wenyan and didn't speak but just gave a smile.
His smile wasn't kind at all, and everyone saw it.
Others may not know what to think, but Su Yang felt incredibly sorry for Wenyan.
She quickly put away her downheartedness and served Wenyan several chopsticks full of dishes.
"Eat up. Oh, that reminds me, I haven't asked you yet. How come you came back with your second brother today? I see it was your car he was in."
Whew~ Wenyan breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that someone finally took over and she didn't have to act all alone here.
"It's quite a coincidence; I hadn't expected it at all. Mom, dad, big brother, you remember when I said I found something I love to do?"
To liven up the mood, Wenyan was determined to cue in every person present.
"Originally, I planned to go to the company with Zhirou, but then I changed my mind and wanted to act, so I searched online and found a troupe recruiting newcomers.
I just sent my materials with the mentality of giving it a try, and to my surprise, I passed the initial selection and was invited to an audition by the crew yesterday.
And what I least expected was that one of the judges at the audition turned out to be second brother! Second brother is actually the male lead in the movie. I was so thrilled when I saw him."
Shen Jinghe: ......Heh, thrilled to the max. She sure can act.
"So what happened then?" This time, it was Shen Zhirou who actively asked, "Did second brother pass you in the audition?"
"I did! But there were four judges in total; second brother's word alone didn't count. It was the director who passed me, right, second brother?"
Shen Jinghe chuckled: "That only means you're lucky."
"Of course!" Faced with Shen Jinghe's sarcasm, Wenyan wasn't offended; she beamed, "Luck is also a part of strength. If I didn't have good luck, how could I have found such great parents? Right, mom?"