Aunt Yang never mentioned a single word about it in front of An Ruo, but she herself was well aware of the deadlocked relationship between the second young master and the second mistress.
Shen Ximan withdrew her doubts and remained silent for a long time.
"Sister, if you're busy, you don't have to come."
An Ruo hung her little head low, looking extremely dejected.
When she was locked in the basement of the Shen family before, she was never given any attention. No one even bothered to ask whether she was alive or dead.
Shen Ximan could only spare some time to visit her occasionally.
She could understand and let it go.
After all, no one could devote time and energy to An Ruo without reservation. Everyone had their own things to do and couldn't just revolve around her. She knew that.
The more she thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt.
Big teardrops plopped down on the carpet one after another. She just couldn't hold them back.
"I'll go."
Seeing the girl in front of her trying so hard to hold back her sadness, Shen Ximan felt a sharp pain in her heart.
"Really?" An Ruo looked up at her in disbelief.
The tears on her face hadn't dried yet, hanging there wetly.
She wiped away her tears and put on a gentle smile. "You're the apple of my eye, my little treasure. How could your older sister not attend? What are you thinking about with that little head of yours?"
An Ruo broke into a smile through her tears and rubbed her eyes. "You sound just like brother. You both say I'm your little treasure."
Shen Ximan paused for a moment, a look of relief on her face, and quickly regained her composure. "But I might be a bit late tomorrow night. I have to do something really, really important for brother."
She couldn't miss the clothing cooperation meeting of Juan Yi.
"Okay. It doesn't matter when you come, sister. I'll wait for you!"
An Ruo was like an understanding little angel. Her cheeks were white and pink, and the baby fat on her face made people want to give her a big kiss.
"But we have to pinky swear."
Shen Ximan readily agreed and hooked her little finger to make a promise.
At the Shen family villa.
Shen Yuliang staggered in, drunk. As soon as he entered, he saw that the sofas in the hall were full of evening dresses still in their dust - proof bags.
"Master, you're back."
Aunt Liang quickly stepped forward to take his briefcase and said respectfully.
"What's all this?"
"Master, the eldest young lady is going to attend a cooperation meeting tomorrow. These are all newly - delivered high - end custom - made evening dresses. We're about to choose one."
"Cooperation meeting?" His eyes were hazy as he raised his voice. "What cooperation meeting? Why didn't anyone tell me about this?"
Just then, Yang Wan walked in with dark circles under her eyes.
"I'm so sleepy."
"Aunt Liang quickly greeted her. "Madam, you're back."
"I'm asking you. Did you know that Yu'er is going to the cooperation meeting?" Shen Yuliang ignored her tired state and asked in a tough tone.
"Oh, you're back... I... I just found out about it."
Yang Wan was beating around the bush and acting quite convincingly.
"Come here and explain it to me clearly."
He staggered over and sat on the sofa, reeking of alcohol.
Yang Wan looked at him with disgust but still obediently sat down beside him.
"Husband, don't be angry. Listen to my explanation first."
Shen Yuliang, in a bad mood, hooked his finger at Aunt Liang. "Go to the wine cabinet and get that bottle of almost - expired red wine. I have to finish it today."
"Okay, master."
"It's this critical time and you're still drinking? Aren't you going to care about the company?"
Yang Wan was a straightforward person and couldn't hide her feelings at all. When she was unhappy, she just said it all out.
When she first took a fancy to him, the Shen family was prosperous and spent money like water. Now it was like a dilapidated building that could collapse with a single push.
"What are you in such a hurry for? Even if the company collapses, there's Si Ming to support it. I've got his handle. As long as I can take over a few projects, I can easily revive the company."
Shen Yuliang gulped down the wine in his glass and laughed with his teeth bared. "You still haven't told me about that thing just now."
"...I met Li Rui when I was playing cards."
Yang Wan angrily removed his arm from her shoulder and said in a gloomy tone with a bad mood.
"Li Rui?"
His eyes lit up instantly. "The boss of Juan Yi?"
"Yeah."
"And then?" Shen Yuliang was as eager as a child waiting to hear the continuation of a story. He looked rather stupid.
"What else could there be? Of course, we hit it off during the conversation, and he said he wanted Yu'er to attend the cooperation meeting too."
Yang Wan was being tough - talking, but in fact, she was extremely exhausted.
In order to get a chance for Shen Shiyu, she had almost worn out her tongue. It took a lot of persuasion to get Li Rui to agree.
"My wife is really capable! I heard that A Hairui is investing a lot in this cooperation with Juan Yi. Let Yu'er take the opportunity to get in touch with those people more!"
Shen Yuliang's worthless appearance made Yang Wan look down on him now. She even regretted marrying into the Shen family.
"Do you think I won't remind my own daughter?"
His face darkened with dissatisfaction. "What do you mean?"
Afraid of saying the wrong thing and causing unnecessary misunderstandings, she quickly explained, "I mean that you men are already exhausted from worrying about your careers. Things like educating children should be left to us women."
Shen Yuliang's expression softened, and he felt more at ease.
"Someone, come here!"
Shen Shiyu on the second floor shouted angrily.
Yang Wan got up and trotted upstairs. "What's wrong, my dear?"
"Didn't I tell you to ask the servants to buy a pair of shoes one size bigger?"
She threw the high - heels at hand on the ground and said with a ferocious look on her face, "They're really stupid. Don't they know my feet are swollen like this?"
"What are you doing?"
When Yang Wan stood at the door with a pale face, not knowing what to say, Shen Yuliang came out to rescue her.
"Show some respect. She's your mother!"
"But she clearly knows my situation!" Shen Shiyu still tried to argue.
Only then did he notice her feet. "When did you get hurt?"
"Wasn't it that bitch Shen Ximan! Si Ming finally found her address and asked me to go and pick her up. But unexpectedly, she held onto the door and refused to let me in. She even pinched my foot!"
Shen Yuliang was enraged. "Where is she? I'll break her legs!"
Seeing that her father was on her side, she was overjoyed.
"She doesn't seem to live at that address anymore. Si Ming can't get in touch with her now. I'm really worried."
Shen Shiyu put on a kind - looking appearance, looking pitiful.
"She's so ungrateful. She's just a wild child who can never be tamed!"
Shen Yuliang cursed a few times and then brought the topic back. "I'm not kidding. That pair of high - heels just now cost over a hundred thousand. You just threw them away after wearing them for a while? You're really wasteful."
"I... I'm wasteful?"
She exclaimed and looked at Yang Wan. "Mom, come on, say something for me!"
Yang Wan then came to her senses. "Yes, Yu'er was just emotionally unstable just now. Just charge the cost of the shoes to my account."
"I've been waiting for you to say that. There's not much money left in my card anyway. You can figure it out yourself." Shen Yuliang's hanging heart finally settled down.
Now that the company was on the verge of collapse, he didn't even have enough money for himself.