"Are you sure Huanhuan will like this?" Fu Youqing eyed the venue, practically oozing with pink bubbles.
Balloons and streamers were strewn everywhere, and there was even a huge flower arch – though the flowers would only be delivered on the agreed - upon date to ensure their freshness.
She tiptoed over to her elder sister, afraid of stepping on something she shouldn't.
"I think... she should," Fu Moning replied uncertainly.
In the middle of the venue stood two tall men, looking troubled at a teddy bear doll over two meters tall.
"Where do you think we should put it?"
"I think it's better not to put it at all," Leng Chuanjin answered expressionlessly.
Based on his understanding of Xia Sanghuan, she wasn't the type to like such things. Buying her a new set of experimental tools would be better than this stupid - looking plush bear.
But Fu Lingshi stubbornly believed that Huanhuan was still a child and couldn't dislike these things.
He ignored his friend and continued to bury himself in the study.
Huanhuan's birthday was this week. It was her first birthday since returning to the Fu family, so they naturally wanted to do their best.
The Fu family had even invited the media. If the previous press conference was just to announce Xia Sanghuan's identity, then this birthday party was to prove to others how important the little daughter of the Fu family was to them.
Of course, the Fu family had a bit of a selfish motive too – Huanhuan was just too outstanding, and they had to show off to other families.
However, the protagonist of this birthday party was completely unaware.
When the girl and Professor He came to the hospital to pick up Jing Zhan's examination report, they met Leng's mother, whom they hadn't seen for a long time.
Lin Shan had been extremely busy recently, so they hardly saw each other.
Even when they happened to meet, it was just a hasty greeting.
Leng's mother walked up to the girl in surprise.
"Huanhuan, you've become even prettier after not seeing you for so long."
She shifted her eyes slightly and saw the necklace hanging around the girl's neck.
"From Chuanjin?" She pointed at it vaguely.
"Yeah," the girl nodded shyly.
"Auntie wants to have a chat with you. Do you have time now?" Leng's mother's eyes were curved, and even the fine lines at the corners of her eyes relaxed at the sight of the girl.
Xia Sanghuan looked back at Professor He. The professor nodded at her and left the hospital with the materials first.
Leng's mother pulled her into a room next to Jing Zhan's ward.
This room was different from an ordinary ward. It seemed to be a place where she usually rested.
She poured two cups of tea and placed them on the small table.
Looking at the girl sipping tea with her head down, she suddenly smiled.
"Huanhuan."
"Do you still remember the 'engagement' arranged by Chuanjin?" She stirred the tea in the cup with a teaspoon and spoke slowly, completely forgetting what Leng Chuanjin had repeatedly told her.
The girl's hand holding the teacup paused.
"Remember. Why?" She adjusted her breathing before speaking, as if trying to hide something.
But Lin Shan still caught this detail keenly.
She curled her lips, and the image of her son being flustered because of the girl in front of her flashed through her mind.
Seeing the unpredictable smile on Leng's mother's face, Xia Sanghuan couldn't help but feel nervous.
Was that engagement real? Was Second Brother just lying to her? Or did Auntie actually like Shen Ruoyan?
The tips of her fingers pinching the teacup turned white.
"Do you know why he arranged that farcical 'engagement'?"
"No."
"Because he signed an agreement with the Shen family." Leng's mother got up and poured her another cup of tea.
"The Shen family's help in this operation to deceive the Xie family was all for a condition in this agreement."
"That is to let Chuanjin get engaged to the second young lady of the Shen family."
The girl felt her throat go dry.
"Why?"
"The purposes of a marriage alliance are nothing more than power, money, connections, and resources."
"The internal strife in the Shen family has been going on for a long time. To consolidate Shen Ruoyan's position in the Shen family, they had to rely on the Leng family."
Lin Shan looked up at the serious - faced girl.
"Then why did they later say there was no engagement?"
"Actually, they originally planned to have a real engagement. After all, Chuanjin and the second young lady of the Shen family had reached the marriageable age. The Leng family also needed a mistress."
Hearing this, the girl suddenly remembered the conversation between Second Brother and Grandpa and Grandma during dinner at the Fu family.
So he had already signed that agreement at that time?
She bit her lower lip, feeling a little uncomfortable.
She had even been angry with him because of this.
"Originally, this was a win - win situation in everyone's eyes. But Chuanjin managed to cancel the engagement."
"Why?" The girl widened her eyes slightly.
"Because the candidate for the mistress of the Leng family in his heart is someone else," Lin Shan winked at her.
Feeling Leng's mother's intense gaze, she subconsciously avoided it.
"... Who could it be?"
"Well, you have to ask him yourself." The woman put away her teasing expression, picked up the teacup and took a sip, looking as if she wouldn't say anything more.
"What about the Shen family? Why would they agree? Won't Second Brother get into trouble with them?"
Looking at the worried Xia Sanghuan in front of her, Lin Shan couldn't help but laugh.
She had said so much, but the girl was still concerned about the Shen family's problem. Should she say her son was lucky or unlucky?
"Of course not."
"The Shen family agreed partly because the two sisters had achieved their goals."
"On the other hand, they simply couldn't afford to offend the Leng family. Instead of falling out with Chuanjin from the start, it was better to follow his plan."
Lin Shan stood up.
"This is one of the survival rules in the business world."
Xia Sanghuan also stood up.
She didn't rush back to school but followed Leng's mother to Jing Zhan's ward.
She and Professor He had been so busy recently that they usually just picked up the examination report and exchanged information with Old Xiao before leaving.
It had been a long time since she last saw Jing Zhan.
When she pushed open the door and walked in, she saw Jing Zhan struggling to write something on a piece of paper.
He was still lying down, but with the help of the folded bed board, he could barely maintain a semi - lying position.
"Jing Zhan, you've recovered so well?" The girl stepped forward and gently stroked the boy's fingertips.
There was almost no bark covering them.
Seeing Xia Sanghuan come in, he quickly covered the white paper with his hand.
The girl couldn't help but smile when she saw his action.