Hmm to think that he would come here to confirm that Liu Jinfei is working with you. What is that man afraid of? Lu Xinyi asked as they looked at the retreating figures of the Liu family. And his daughter! How annoying?! If we werent here at a banquet, I would have dug her eyes out and fed it to the dogs.

We just arrived, and this is what I would hear as soon as I came to see you? My, my, Lu Xinyi. You havent changed at all. A familiar voice caught the mother and daughters attention.

As they turned their heads, they saw Sun Feiyan dressed in a light-purple halter gown, with her hair pinned in a meticulous bun on her head. Beside her stood her son, Ye Xingchen, who was looking das.h.i.+ng and handsome in his black suit.

Aunt Feiyan. Shen Lingqing rose to her feet and greeted her aunt politely.

Sun Feiyan moved closer to the younger woman and placed a chaste kiss on Shen Lingqings cheek. She had to admit that her cousins daughter had grown up into a fine young woman.

I heard from Jiewen that youve come back and opened a new restaurant. Congratulations, dear. You did well. She said before eyeing her cousin, who was still busy muttering to herself about Liu Xiaotongs annoying att.i.tude.

And you, Xinxin. Youve been a madam of the Shen family for years, and yet you still dont behave according to your status? She reprimanded her cousin.

Years had pa.s.sed, and Lu Xinyi remained the same. Wasnt she afraid of making more enemies for the Shen family?

Spare me from the talk, Feiyan. Its not like that young woman is behaving well in front of us. Lu Xinyi frowned. I can sense a b.i.t.c.h when its close. Im allergic to them.

But you didnt have to act like that, either. Dont teach your daughter such vulgar words that are inappropriate for her standing. Sun Feiyan sighed and took a seat next to Shen Lingqing, while her son chose to sit next to Lu Xinyi.

Qingqing, dont be like your mother, she told Shen Lingqing.

Alright. Ill listen to you, Mother. Lu Xinyi conceded, knowing she wouldnt be able to win against Sun Feiyans nagging. She initially thought that when Sun Feiyan married Ye Xingjie, she would somehow warm up to the people around her. Alas, that wasnt the case, as Sun Feiyan strictly followed the etiquette expected of a madam of the Ye family.

Anyway, after the fall of the Sun family, she and Sun Feiyan agreed to patch up things between them, since they only had each other as a family member from the Sun family. Lu Xinyi felt like she had gained an elder sister she never had in Sun Feiyan, but they still argued most of the time due to Lu Xinyis straightforward att.i.tude and sharp tongue.

But dont brainwash our Qingqing with your anti-mother doctrine, Feiyan. Its bad enough that my little girl took after a lot from her father. Lu Xinyi pouted in disappointment.

Mom, Aunt Feiyan is just concerned about us. Dont be like this. Her daughter gave her a small smile.

Oh, my darling daughter! You are so sweet. Madam Shen pulled her daughter into a hug. Its understandable why that Liu Xiaotong hates you. You are such a darling.

Shen Lingqing fought the urge to roll her eyes at her mothers words. If people hear her saying those words, they would never believe Madam Shen.

So whats with you and the Liu family, Qingqing? Did they do something to you? Sun Feiyan asked the younger Shen, wondering what made her cousin annoyed at the Liu family.

Not to me, Aunt Feiyan, but to Liu Zhongyis nephew. Liu Jinfei is currently working as a sous chef at the restaurant Im managing. He came to see and confirm if Liu Jinfei was really under my wing.

Sun Feiyan nodded in understanding. One didnt need half a brain to realize what was going on between the members of the Liu family. It had been two decades since Liu Jinfei lost his parents in an accident, and there had been rumors circulating within the capital about it.

Still, the Shens and the Yes had nothing to do with it. However, if the Liu family came knocking at Shen Lingqings door to ask for trouble, then they would offend not only the Shen family but also the Tang and Ye families that were closely related to Shen Lingqing.

All bark but no bite. Disappointing. Lu Xinyi scoffed. She would love to trample them under her own feet if she had a chance. How dare they look down on her beautiful daughter in front of her?

You shouldnt compare them to the dogs, Xinxin. Thats disrespectful to those innocent animals. Sun Feiyan corrected her.

Lu Xinyi stared at her cousin with bewilderment before she burst into laughter behind her hand, her eyes stung with tears.

How could Sun Feiyan say that her cousin never changed when she hadnt, too? If people thought Madam Shen was too straightforward with her words, Madam Ye didnt mince words when it came to giving her opinion.

Right. Right. My mistake. I shouldnt have compared them to the dogs.

Shen Lingqing remained silent and swirled her drink in her gla.s.s. The Liu family truly saw Liu Jinfei as a threat to them, because if they didnt, they would have left Liu Jinfei in peace. After all, it was hard to sleep at night, knowing one had done something wrong to others.

Shen Lingqing wouldnt think of it as guilt. Liu Zhongyi merely would never feel at peace so long as Liu Jinfeis presence was there to remind him. He could still lose everything he had if the younger man chose to fight for his inheritance.

Hows your new restaurant, Qingqing? Her Aunt Feiyans question brought her out of her trance.

Its doing well, Auntie. Thank you for your concern, she said in response.