Jiang Shuyi felt the surroundings were very quiet and opened her eyes, feeling somewhat uneasy.

Wen Yao was not in the living room, only Jiang Jinian and Jiang Haichao remained.

"......Dad, where's Wen Yao?"

"Xiao Wen just went out."

For some reason, Jiang Shuyi felt that Jiang Haichao wasn't looking her in the eye. "Went out?"

"Shuyi, come sit over here." Jiang Jinian said, patting the spot in front of him.

Jiang Shuyi didn't understand why Jiang Jinian looked so serious, but she quietly walked over.

She rubbed her eyes and yawned.

Seeing her like this, Jiang Jinian sighed. "I don't think you and her are a good match."

Jiang Shuyi was confused, how had Jiang Jinian's attitude changed after her nap? She had just been feeling a little drowsy, but upon hearing this, she jumped up from her chair.

"...Grandpa?"

"Didn't you like her? You were just saying in the morning that you wanted her to marry into our family."

Jiang Shuyi insisted that she had heard it with her own ears. She had even planned where they would go for their honeymoon. How could he suddenly claim they were not suitable?

Jiang Jinian fell silent for a moment, "It's not that I don't like her. The child is well-behaved and smart."

"But..." Jiang Jinian turned slightly.

"Are you talking about Wen Yao's father being in debt...?"

Jiang Shuyi thought this wasn't really the issue.

"It's not about whether the girl comes from a wealthy family." Jiang Jinian interrupted her.

"That child is quite pitiful, her family has issues, financial problems. If she wants to pursue further studies, I could support her, she could pay me back after she enters society. I'm not concerned about that..."

"None of that is the issue..."

Jiang Jinian looked at Jiang Shuyi, frowning as he spoke quietly.

Jiang Shuyi was about to retort, but Jiang Jinian spoke again,

"But, Shuyi, you're my granddaughter. I hope the person you're with is a good match for you. They don't necessarily have to come from the same background, but at the very least, she must have parents, she can't be alone."

"She can't be an orphan..."

"Dad, you—" Jiang Haichao frowned as he looked at the old man.

As soon as Jiang Shuyi heard the word "orphan," her voice rose.

"Wen Yao's mother just passed away early... You can't say that about her, how can you speak about her like that..."

"If I don't say that, I mean I hope you can be with someone from a complete family. Is that satisfactory?" The old man squinted his eyes.

Jiang Shuyi still wanted to argue, but she didn't know where to start.

Jiang Jinian advised Jiang Shuyi, "She should at least be a child with parents."

"Someone raised in a broken family doesn't understand family."

"Someone like that can't build a family. Even if you and she get married and live together, there will surely be many problems later on, too many to count..."

"I don't support you two being together." The old man said each word clearly.

Jiang Jinian had lived for over seventy years, and when an elder like him used his experience to reprimand others, young people often found themselves without a voice.

But Jiang Shuyi still couldn't accept it and had a stern expression on her face.

"You can't guarantee that living with someone from a complete family won't have problems either ... Being with various people always comes with issues..."

"That's a different matter." Jiang Jinian dismissed her argument.

"I just played a game of Go with that young girl."

"One's way of playing Go reflects one's mindset. Watching her play, I sensed her heart is cold."

The old man pointed to his chest. "She is cold here."

"If you are with someone like that, you won't get along well."

—What do you know...

Jiang Shuyi opened her mouth slightly, but her ability to articulate in front of this old man had always been limited. After a moment, she managed to say,

"Wen Yao just doesn't express much on her face, she's not the kind of person you think she is..."

". . ." Jiang Jinian looked at Jiang Shuyi, his gaze turning serious.

Jiang Shuyi glanced at Jiang Haichao, wanting him to help her, "Dad, can you say something to grandpa for me..."

"Dad, that's not how it should be—"

Jiang Haichao coughed, just about to speak, when Jiang Jinian continued, "Shuyi is still young, she doesn't understand these things."

Jiang Jinian placed his hand on the mahogany table, "You're Shuyi's father, shouldn't you think about her?"

The purple clay teapot on the tea table made a sound as the water boiled, steam spreading through the room.

Jiang Shuyi looked at the old man, feeling momentarily speechless and very frustrated inside.

She disagreed with everything the old man said. Seeing that Wen Yao still hadn't returned, she suddenly raised her head.

"Grandpa, did you say these things to Wen Yao too?"

"I didn't say it to her, but she should understand for herself." the old man replied slowly as he poured water into the teacup.

". . ." Jiang Shuyi was stunned.

"How can you be like this!"

Jiang Shuyi incredulously looked at Jiang Jinian, her voice much louder than usual, as if she was shouting.

The old man frowned at Jiang Shuyi, his hand pausing while pouring tea.

Jiang Shuyi knew that Wen Yao was very sensitive and that the family had always been a sore spot for her. So, she usually didn't touch on this topic. Every time it came up, she would hug Wen Yao or divert her attention.

But she never expected the old man would treat Wen Yao this way, and Jiang Shuyi was furious.

Thinking of how Wen Yao must be feeling now, her heart ached, and she stomped her foot in anger.

"She's such a good person, I don't even dare to say anything bad about her. How can you bully her?"

"Shuyi, I'm telling you..." The old man was about to speak again.

"I'm not listening."

Jiang Shuyi shot Jiang Jinian a glare and ran out of the living room, wanting to check on Wen Yao.

It didn't take long for Jiang Shuyi to find Wen Yao, as she stood quietly leaning against the wall at the end of the stairs. Her shadow stretched long under the light of the corridor. As Jiang Shuyi approached, she calmly raised her head.

"Wen Yao, did you hear?" Jiang Shuyi asked somewhat anxiously.

Wen Yao didn't respond.

Jiang Shuyi quickly hugged Wen Yao and said, "Don't listen to those old man's words."

"Whether he likes you or not is a different matter from how much I like you." She patted Wen Yao on the head. 

"I really like you."

Wen Yao leaned against Jiang Shuyi's shoulder and remained silent.

"Ah, why are your hands so cold?" Jiang Shuyi said, tucking Wen Yao's hands into her own pockets.

Voices from Jiang Haichao could be heard in the corridor.

Jiang Shuyi knew that Jiang Haichao was looking for her, so she pulled Wen Yao's hand and headed towards the door.

"Where are we going?" Wen Yao asked, looking puzzled.

"I don't want to have dinner with them tonight..." Jiang Shuyi huffed.

"It's been a long time since I had Haidilao hot pot. Let's go to Haidilao?" She smiled.

---

Jiang Shuyi took Wen Yao to a Haidilao in the city center. As she debated whether to get the mushroom hot pot or the tomato pot, Jiang Haichao called.

Seeing the caller ID, Jiang Shuyi felt a bit angry and didn't answer.

"I think you should answer the phone, Jiang Shuyi." Wen Yao said quietly.

Jiang Shuyi recalled how she hadn't defended Wen Yao earlier, although she felt a bit guilty, she still didn't pick up the call.

After Jiang Haichao called three times, the phone stopped ringing.

A while later, a waiter from Haidilao came over. Just as Jiang Shuyi was about to ask about the health pot, the phone rang again.

It was from Tang Wenzhen.

When she called, she also sent a text message.

". . ." Jiang Shuyi glanced at the message, almost spitting out the tea in her mouth.

—"Jiang Shuyi, your dad said he's sending the security team to find you."

—Huh? Did she mean the company's security team?

Jiang Shuyi reluctantly answered the phone.

"Hello, Mom?" At that moment, she didn't have the confidence she had earlier.

"I've told you before not to ignore calls. Are you picking up that attitude again?" Tang Wenzhen scolded on the other end of the phone.

Jiang Shuyi hadn't expected her to be this fierce. She shrank her neck, thinking she absolutely couldn't back down, so she said nothing.

"Where are you now?"

Jiang Shuyi remained silent for a moment, then mentioned the name of the Haidilao where they were.

". . ." Tang Wenzhen was silent for a long time before finally sighing. "...as long as you're okay."

Jiang Shuyi's heart softened.

"Mom..."

"If you haven't eaten yet, bring Xiao Wen back for dinner." Tang Wenzhen said firmly.

Bring her back to see the old man's expression?

". . ." Jiang Shuyi cautiously remained silent.

"I've already talked to your dad and the others."

"But..." Jiang Shuyi still felt it was a bit too much.

"It's almost New Year's, Jiang Shuyi. Your grandfather is getting older, and the family doesn't gather as often anymore."

Jiang Shuyi replied with an "mm," well aware of that.

"Your grandfather's words may be biased, but he's used to favoring you. Even if you have such behavior, he still thinks of you as a piece of gold."

Tang Wenzhen spoke mercilessly over the phone.

"He always believes that no matter how many shortcomings his granddaughter has, she's still the best in the world. That's why he can say those things about you."

What shortcomings? Jiang Shuyi blinked in dissatisfaction, sitting in the Haidilao restaurant.

"In my opinion, finding someone like Wen Yao is already quite a blessing for you..."

Jiang Shuyi glanced at Wen Yao and remained silent, ". . ."

"Whatever mistake you make, your grandfather always protects you. I've told you before, he and your father will spoil you rotten..."

"'Spoil rotten'..." Jiang Shuyi mumbled.

"But you're also at fault, Jiang Shuyi." Tang Wenzhen's tone shifted on the phone.

"By taking Wen Yao out like this, do you really think you're in the right?"

". . ." Jiang Shuyi shrank her neck, feeling a bit fearful of such rhetorical questions.

"All you're doing is leaving a worse impression on your grandfather. Can't you be a bit more clever and mature?"

Tang Wenzhen sighed again.

". . ." Jiang Shuyi nodded in silence.

"Your grandfather is getting old, his heart isn't good. He may be wrong, but you can't be wrong too. After you left, his blood pressure hasn't gone down. Do you realize you're putting his life at risk?"

". . ." Jiang Shuyi lowered her head, feeling every word hit her hard.

"Don't make us worry. Your grandfather knows you're coming back today, and he had everyone prepare your favorite dishes for dinner."

". . ." Jiang Shuyi responded with a soft "mm."

"Come back early." Tang Wenzhen said.

"Okay." Jiang Shuyi nodded.

---

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