The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 428 - 430. Show off love

Chapter 428: 430. Show off love

Shen Qinglan looked at the cuteness on Haohao’s body, and she couldn’t help but laugh openly as she hugged him. "How can you be so adorable?"

Haohao’s face turned red with shyness. Anan saw her mother holding another child and thought they were playing a game. She reached out her hands to Shen Qinglan and babbled, quickly drawing Shen Qinglan’s attention to her son.

Before anyone else could react, Pei Yinong scooped up Anan. "Anan, your brother doesn’t like me. Do you like me, please?"

Anan turned her head to look at Shen Qinglan, clearly wanting to be held by her, which made Pei Yinong feel slighted. "Qinglan, both of them like you—did you give birth to them both?"

Hearing this, Haohao put his hands behind his back and said seriously, "Mommy, I like you too. Don’t be jealous. Auntie, you are younger; you should give in to her."

This comment made everyone in the living room burst out laughing. Pei Yinong looked at her son helplessly and chuckled, pinching his cheek. "You really are a treasure."

Haohao swatted Pei Yinong’s hand away. "Mommy, men and women shouldn’t touch each other; I’m a boy, and you’re a girl. You can’t pinch my face like that."

Pei Yinong: ...I’m going to tell her mother not to let Haohao watch those messy TV dramas anymore. Where does he learn these words?

"Do you know what ’men and women shouldn’t touch’ means?" Pei Yinong asked him.

Haohao rolled his eyes. "Didn’t I just say? I’m a boy, and you’re a girl, so you can’t pinch my face." Haohao had an expression that said, "Mommy is so silly."

Chu Yunrong laughed so hard at Haohao’s antics that her stomach hurt. Pei Yinong felt an itch in her hands and was tempted to drag the little rascal over and spank him. What should she do?

"How come Auntie can kiss you then?" Pei Yinong, feeling the imbalance, challenged her son.

Haohao looked at Pei Yinong speechlessly. "Mommy, are you jealous of Auntie? That’s just like what the TV dramas say when girls are jealous."

Pei Yinong: ..."Pei Hao, if I let you watch those TV dramas again once we get home, I’ll change my surname to yours!"

As soon as she said this, Shen Qinglan laughed. It took Pei Yinong a moment to realize her silly remark and she was speechless at herself.

With the two children around, the house suddenly filled with lively energy. Shen Qinglan played on the ground with Haohao and Anan while Pei Yinong chatted with the elders.

"Qinglan has way more patience with children than I do," Pei Yinong observed, watching Shen Qinglan and smiling.

Chu Yunrong nodded in agreement. "Yes, she’s always been more patient with children."

"I’m struggling now. Aunt, you don’t know; Haohao is much harder to manage than before, and I don’t even know who he takes after. He often leaves me speechless," said Pei Yinong, although the smile in her eyes betrayed her true feelings.

"It’s always like this. Anan is still young now, but in a few years, he’ll surely be just as spirited. Haohao is already the most obedient child I’ve seen. Yinong, you’ve done a great job," praised Chu Yunrong, patting Pei Yinong’s hand sincerely.

"Yinong, don’t think I’m nagging, but now that Haohao has grown up, you should consider your own life. Your mother has spoken to me several times, and she’s really worried about you."

The smile faded slightly from Pei Yinong’s eyes. "Aunt, these things depend on fate. I haven’t met the right person yet, so let’s just leave it for now. Perhaps when I do meet someone, I might just get married right away."

"Yining, Aunt knows that all these years your mind has been on Haohao. Even when thinking about finding a partner, Haohao is your first consideration. There are things your mother feels uneasy to discuss with you, so let Aunt do the talking. Aunt can see that Chenxi likes you. What about your feelings toward him?"

Yining cast her eyes downward. "Aunt, please stop talking. He and I are impossible. We aren’t suitable for each other, and I don’t want to hold him back."

"Is it because of his parents?" Chu Yunrong had noticed the issue during Anan’s hundred-day banquet, but she hadn’t brought it up due to lack of opportunity. Now that it was mentioned, she directly pointed it out, which was also something Chu Yunjin had asked her to do.

"Aunt, it’s not just that." The gap between her and Jiang Chenxi spanned more than just family.

"Aunt, I know what you and Mom are worried about. I’m aware of the issue and if I encounter the right person, I will certainly not miss the opportunity. You can rest assured."

Seeing that she really didn’t want to continue discussing this, Chu Yunrong followed her wishes and changed the subject. "As long as you understand."

Shen Qinglan, although she was playing with the children, overheard their conversation. She glanced at Yining, then averted her gaze, planning to ask Shen Junyu about it another day.

**************

Prison.

Li Xitong had waited for three days but received no news whatsoever. When she approached the woman who was supposed to contact her, the woman just impatiently told her to keep waiting.

"Wait, wait, and wait! You’re always telling me to wait. How long am I supposed to wait? You were the ones who approached me initially. I’ve already done what you asked, yet there’s still no news. You aren’t thinking of backing out, are you?" Li Xitong, outraged—a reaction anyone in her situation would have—accused the people of making a fool of her.

The woman had no interest in what Li Xitong was thinking. These past few days, she had been irritated because she’d lost contact with the outside, meaning that even she couldn’t leave now.

According to the original plan, as soon as Li Xitong completed the task, they would take her out, and she could live a carefree life with the money. But what about now?

"When will you ensure my release?" Li Xitong asked, agitated.

"That’s enough! I’ve already discussed this with the higher-ups. It’ll take some time to secure your release. What use is your hurry now? Just be patient, and you’ll be let out."

Li Xitong grabbed the woman’s arm, her face grim. "So, you never intended to let me go, did you? You just used me to strike at Chu Yunrong, right?"

The woman tried to shake off Li Xitong’s grip but couldn’t. Li Xitong held on tightly, and the woman’s attempts failed. "Let’s talk nicely. If a guard sees us like this, both of us will be in trouble," the woman said as calmly as she could.

But Li Xitong was too agitated to listen. "Don’t talk nonsense to me. Just tell me when I can get out. Give me a specific date. If you don’t give me a clear day, I’m going to find the guards and request a meeting with Chu Yunrong and tell her that all those words were lies, that I was forced to say them."

The woman’s expression darkened. She was also not very clear about the details as she was just a pawn chosen by Qin Yan, who had promised her a good life. Now she was stuck as well.

Forcefully prying Li Xitong’s hand open, "Go ahead and tell them. Do you think I care? You’re just a scapegoat people use and discard. To think they’d actually help you get out is utterly foolish." There was a hint of sadness in her eyes as she spoke, unclear whether it was directed at Li Xitong or herself.

Li Xitong’s face changed instantly. She grabbed the woman’s neck, her expression crazed. "You bastards, dare to deceive me, I’ll kill you."

The woman, being choked, wouldn’t just passively let it happen. Struggling fiercely—her strength far greater than Li Xitong’s, who had been pampered all her life—she managed to free herself and then pinned Li Xitong to the ground, throwing punches across her face.

Li Xitong, pinned to the ground, couldn’t resist at all and could only passively take the beating.

"Sister Li, look, Li Xitong got beaten up," a woman standing in the corner of the wall saw this scene and told Sister Li.

Sister Li coldly observed the scene, her expression indifferent, "Go, distract the prison guards’ attention, don’t let them notice this scene. Someone is teaching Li Xitong a lesson for us, we must lend a hand."

The woman chuckled sinisterly, "Sister Li, I understand, I’m going right now."

When the woman got tired of hitting, she stopped. Li Xitong’s face had already swollen up like a pig’s head. The woman spat on her face, "Dare to lay a hand on me, I won’t kill you now, but if you dare come looking for me again, be careful, I’ll beat you every time I see you."

The woman walked away hatefully, while Li Xitong lay on the ground, looking at the clear blue sky, suddenly tears streamed down her face.

***********

Qinglan received a call from the prison when Chu Yunrong was feeding Anan some apple mash.

"This is the Shen family, may I ask who’s calling?" Qinglan heard a strange voice and politely asked.

The person on the other end stated their identity, "Hello, is Ms. Chu Yunrong available? This is from XX Prison."

Qinglan’s eyes flickered slightly, "I am Ms. Chu Yunrong’s daughter. My mother is not available at the moment, but you can speak to me, and I will relay the message to her."

The prison guard didn’t think too much and just conveyed that Li Xitong had requested to see Ms. Chu Yunrong. Just as Chu Yunrong looked towards her, Qinglan softly relayed the matter to her. Chu Yunrong’s smiling face faded, "I won’t go."

Qinglan understood and told the prison guard, "I will visit her tomorrow."

After hanging up, Chu Yunrong looked at Qinglan, "Qinglan, why are you going to see her?"

Qinglan smiled, "To see what she wants to say this time. Plus, Li Xitong is someone who won’t give up until she achieves her goal; if I don’t go, she will keep calling. Mom, if you don’t want to go, just stay home with Anan."

Chu Yunrong nodded, "Okay, I’ll stay at home with Anan." She didn’t mention Li Xitong at all.

The next day, Qinglan drove to the prison alone.

Li Xitong had known earlier that her request was approved, and someone would visit her today. She woke up early, nervous. The last two times, she had said unpleasant things, and now she wasn’t sure if Chu Yunrong would want to help her. But since she was willing to come visit, there must still be some affection left, right?

"Why is it you!" Li Xitong got excited the moment she saw the person in front of her.

Qinglan raised an eyebrow, "Who did you think it would be? My mom? Sorry to disappoint you, but she really doesn’t want to see you. If you want to meet her, it won’t be that easy."

"Shen Qinglan, it’s you! It’s you who doesn’t want mom to see me, isn’t it? You cruel woman, why don’t you just die!" Li Xitong’s expression turned ferocious, and if it weren’t for the separation, she might have lunged at her right then.

Qinglan observed Li Xitong’s bruised and battered face, tsk-tsking and shaking her head, "A year hasn’t passed, and this is what you’ve turned into, or did you deliberately make yourself look this way to gain my mom’s sympathy?"

"Shen Qinglan, you vile woman, get out, I don’t want to see you, let my mom come, I want to see her."

"Allow me to correct you on one point, your biological mother has long since run away, and you are no longer part of the Shen Family, my mother is not your mother either." Shen Qinglan’s expression was indifferent.

Li Xitong glared at Shen Qinglan with a fierce intensity, "Shen Qinglan, I have ended up where I am today, who do I have to thank for that? Aren’t you afraid of retribution for your actions?"

Shen Qinglan’s lips curled slightly, "Retribution? Li Xitong, what you are experiencing now is called retribution."

"Shen Qinglan, I hate you."

"Suit yourself, as long as you’re happy." Shen Qinglan said dismissively.

Li Xitong’s anger surged even more, and just when Shen Qinglan thought she would explode, she forcibly suppressed her rage and hatred, and suddenly calmed down.

A trace of amusement flashed in the depths of Shen Qinglan’s eyes.

"Shen Qinglan, please let me meet my mother." Li Xitong ultimately lowered her head, no longer holding the pride of an Eldest Miss.

"It’s not that I won’t let her see you, it’s that she doesn’t want to see you," Shen Qinglan stated bluntly, but Li Xitong didn’t believe it at all.

"I know you hate me, hate that I stole the title of the Shen Family’s Eldest Miss, stole mother’s affection, but now you have taken everything back, haven’t you? You even took Fu Hengyi from me. Even if I leave here now, my reputation is ruined, I pose no threat to you. Isn’t that enough for you? I just want to go out, just to live," her tone was mournful.

Shen Qinglan silently watched her play out, and only after Li Xitong had finished speaking did she slowly say, "Li Xitong, you still don’t understand where you went wrong."

The one who harmed Li Xitong was never Shen Qinglan, but rather her own greed, always coveting things that were never meant to be hers, going to any lengths to get them.

"No, it’s my fault, I should never have entered the Shen Family, but no matter what I have already paid the price, you have already won everything, why would you still let people beat me up? Do you really want my life that much?"

Shen Qinglan wanted to laugh, the woman in front of her vehemently claiming her own fault did not truly believe it was her fault at all, "It wasn’t me who let someone beat you."

Li Xitong would never believe such statements, in her eyes, this was just Shen Qinglan’s hypocrisy and defensiveness.

Shen Qinglan didn’t care what she thought, to explain even a sentence was already a rare act of kindness, "I came here today just to tell you, as long as you finish your sentence peacefully, you will naturally be able to get out. Don’t try any useless tricks, my mother won’t come to see you now, and I won’t allow her to see you in the future either. If you plan to exploit her sympathy for anything, you can give up now."

Shen Qinglan got up, intending to leave, but Li Xitong stopped her, "Shen Qinglan, I beg you to let me go, even if you don’t want to let me out, please don’t let anyone beat me up again, please."

Shen Qinglan looked at her calmly, "You still don’t believe me. I told you, I didn’t let anyone beat you, and neither did Fu Hengyi. You know very well who you have angered."

"All right, even if it wasn’t you, you have already crippled me, I am resigned to my fate now, I only ask to live peacefully, even if I get out later, I will not disturb your family’s life. Isn’t that okay?"

Shen Qinglan suddenly found it very boring, why did she even come to see Li Xitong?

"Li Xitong, you just take care."

She truly left this time, leaving Li Xitong screaming hysterically behind her.

Sitting in the car, Shen Qinglan thought about who was targeting Li Xitong so specifically. It wasn’t her, and it wouldn’t have been Fu Hengyi, definitely not anyone from the Shen Family either. A flash of insight crossed her mind, her beautiful eyes twinkled slightly, and she sighed softly.

When she got home, Chu Yunrong didn’t ask what Li Xitong had said, as if she didn’t even know why Shen Qinglan had gone there, still busy taking care of Anan. Shen Qinglan didn’t bring it up either.

After Shen Qinglan left, Li Xitong’s life didn’t change from the past; in fact, it became even more aggressive. She filed several applications to meet Chu Yunrong, all of which were rejected. In Li Xitong’s eyes, all these were Shen Qinglan’s deliberate obstacles to prevent her from seeing Chu Yunrong, which intensified her hatred even more. Unfortunately, she was destined never to get out.

A month later, Li Xitong ultimately couldn’t endure the beatings and humiliation from Sister Li and others and chose to commit suicide. By the time she was found, her body had already gone cold.

Of course, these are all things that happened later.

****************

Senhai Villa, Han Yi’s home.

Yu Xiaoxuan was having breakfast while casting a cold glance at someone.

"Xiao Xuan, try the pan-fried bun; I went to your favorite place in Northern City to get it," Han Yi placed a pan-fried bun into Yu Xiaoxuan’s bowl, trying to please her.

Yu Xiaoxuan glanced at the bun and withdrew her gaze silently. "I no longer like pan-fried buns," she said coldly.

Han Yi smiled and moved the bun to his own bowl. "No worries, then try this freshly made soup dumpling."

"I don’t like eating meat in the morning."

"How about this vegetable porridge then? It’s delicious and nutritious," Han Yi pushed a bowl of vegetable porridge toward Yu Xiaoxuan.

Yu Xiaoxuan silently pushed it away and continued eating the plain porridge in her bowl, not giving Han Yi a single glance.

Han Yi felt miserable inside. He glanced at the newspaper on the table, thinking of snatching it away, but Yu Xiaoxuan quickly pressed her hand on it. "I haven’t finished reading it yet."

"Don’t read the newspaper while eating. Besides, the papers just report some unwholesome gossip news, nothing worth seeing," Han Yi said gently.

"I still want to read it. There’s a headline about my husband; it wouldn’t be proper for me not to look," Yu Xiaoxuan retorted.

At this, Han Yi felt like crying, looking at the newspaper with gritted teeth.

Yu Xiaoxuan, on the other hand, was enjoying the newspaper. "Gossip news pairs well with plain porridge; it’s quite a good flavor," she commented darkly.

Han Yi’s heart shuddered, and he chuckled, "Xiao Xuan, you’re still pregnant. Just eating plain porridge isn’t good for your health. Why not try the vegetable porridge?"

Xiaoxuan grinned, but her smile was anything but warm. "How can it not be nutritious? With my husband’s scandal making such good side dish material, I think it’s very nutritious."

Han Yi felt like crying, "Xiao Xuan, I was wrong. I won’t let others have the opportunity to exploit me for news anymore."

The story goes back a few days, since Yu Xiaoxuan announced her pregnancy, she had stayed quietly at home, not taking any jobs. A few days ago, when she went out, paparazzi photographed her looking quite different from her pre-pregnancy due to weight gain. Some actresses who had always been jealous of Yu Xiaoxuan made some sour remarks.

That wouldn’t have been a big deal—as Yu Xiaoxuan was used to jealousy. But just then, Han Yi was carelessly photographed entering a hotel with a popular comedian, and news of Yu Xiaoxuan being abandoned spread throughout the entertainment industry.

Yu Xiaoxuan originally didn’t know about the situation until she received a call from Gu Kai who explained that Han Yi had actually been with him on that day. They had bumped into the actress by coincidence, and due to the angle of the photo, Gu Kai hadn’t been captured in the shot, which then sparked the whole scandal.

For Yu Xiaoxuan, she didn’t take it to heart. Having been in the entertainment industry for a long time, she had seen such situations frequently; more importantly, she had observed how Han Yi treated her and wouldn’t simply mistrust him.

So when Han Yi came home wanting to explain himself, Yu Xiaoxuan made her stance clear, showing that she didn’t care.

If only the matter had ended there, it would have been fine. Whether it was intentional or just a coincidence, in the following days, the actress managed to "bump into" Han Yi again and again, and the paparazzi just so happened to capture these encounters. Once or twice could be a coincidence, but when it happened repeatedly, it turned into so-called "evidence." Hence, the entire entertainment industry was buzzing about Han Yi cheating and Yu Xiaoxuan being abandoned.

Han Yi was really miserable. These few days, wherever he went, he encountered this relentless woman, which was just really unlucky. The news now was already the result after he took action; if he hadn’t intervened, the paparazzi would likely have invaded his home by now.

Was Yu Xiaoxuan angry? Absolutely. What infuriated her wasn’t about being abandoned as the newspapers said, but it was about Tang Mina.

Yes, the actress who had been frequently linked with Han Yi in rumors these past few days was Tang Mina, the same actress who had attempted to drug Yu Xiaoxuan during the initial auditions and had been disqualified as a result.

She hadn’t caught the attention of Shengxuan, but, coincidentally, she was picked up by a company that was a rival to Shengxuan’s, and regardless of her lack of acting talent, they promoted her as a popular young actress.

Just yesterday, Tang Mina had even called her, smugly boasting between the lines.

Yu Xiaoxuan sneered. She really wanted to tell her that the so-called man who had shifted his affections was actually sleeping in her, Yu Xiaoxuan’s, bed at that time.

"Xiao Xuan, don’t be angry anymore, I’ll immediately take care of this woman," Han Yi promised.

Yu Xiaoxuan slammed the newspaper on the table, "Don’t bother, I’ll handle this myself. You just stay out of it."

Han Yi was startled; he had never seen Yu Xiaoxuan so assertive before, but somehow, being protected by his wife felt pretty nice.

Yu Xiaoxuan quickly finished her breakfast, not even touching the breakfast that Han Yi had bought. Although she trusted Han Yi, the constant emergence of such news did upset her, and it was very necessary to slightly punish Han Yi.

After eating, Yu Xiaoxuan immediately picked up her phone, opened Weibo, and posted a status—[These past few days, thank you for everyone’s concern. Han Yi and I are fine. As for the previous inaccurate reports, just have a look, and I would advise some people to better hone their acting skills instead of clinging to others to stir up scandals for attention. Also, stop sending ambiguous messages and pictures to my husband, or I won’t be polite.]

And she directly tagged Tang Mina.

Now, that set off a storm on Weibo, and Yu Xiaoxuan, the instigator, turned off her phone after posting and then lay on the couch watching TV dramas.

Tang Mina, being specifically tagged by Yu Xiaoxuan, was fuming, her face ashen with rage. If it weren’t for the inappropriate occasion, she might have exploded, but before she could figure out how to retaliate, Han Yi responded on Weibo—[Hard work, wifey.]The attached picture showed him kissing Yu Xiaoxuan’s pregnant belly.

The photo was taken at home, where Yu Xiaoxuan, dressed in home clothes, barefaced and bulky, lay on a lounger sunbathing with her eyes closed. Han Yi was squatting beside her, tenderly kissing her belly.

Without explaining anything about the current news, this response was more damning than any explanation.

Following this, Shengxuan’s official Weibo also responded, providing the complete versions of the photos that had been published in the newspapers over the past few days. Each time, Han Yi was with someone, and that person wasn’t Tang Mina—even the so-called secret restaurant meetings were just Han Yi dining with clients, with Tang Mina approaching to chat.

The entertainment industry is a place where even a slight breeze can be turned into a storm, let alone now when Yu Xiaoxuan and Tang Mina were openly tearing at each other.

Tang Mina was enraged to death by Yu Xiaoxuan, but it was initially her who used Han Yi to stir up scandalous rumors, and there wasn’t an actual relationship between them, so even if she wanted to produce any beneficial evidence, she could not.

"Qinglan, isn’t this hilarious?" Yu Xiaoxuan lay on Shen Qinglan’s sofa, laughing so hard she rocked back and forth.

Shen Qinglan watched her helplessly, "Take it easy, will you? Don’t hurt yourself."

Yu Xiaoxuan snorted, "The tiger doesn’t show its power and she, Tang Mina, treats me like a hellokitty. I didn’t make a big deal out of the past, but this time she dragged my man into a scandal. Just watch how I’ll deal with her."

"How do you plan to deal with her?" Shen Qinglan was also curious.

"I can’t tell you that for now. Just watch, I want Tang Mina to know that I, Yu Xiaoxuan, am not a pushover, and not everyone who feels like it can pinch me whenever they want. Also, those nosy people who just idle around hoping I’d get dumped every two to three days—I’m so tired of them." Yu Xiaoxuan, getting frustrated by all these entertainment industry shenanigans, said.

"You could let Han Yi handle it," Shen Qinglan suggested casually.

"But I can’t hide behind him every time something happens. I want to become strong like you, to stand beside Han Yi as an equal, not cling to him and only take like a parasitic plant," Yu Xiaoxuan said earnestly.

Shen Qinglan looked at her and smiled, "Xiao Xuan, you’ve grown up and matured."

"Hehe, of course, I am going to be a mother, I definitely have to grow up," Yu Xiaoxuan laughed lightheartedly.

"Are you no longer mad at Han Yi?"

"Mad? Of course, I’m mad. That damned man got caught so many times, I even suspect he did it on purpose. I haven’t been speaking to him for days. I need to let him feel the chill and reflect seriously on himself," Yu Xiaoxuan claimed sternly, but Shen Qinglan could see from her eyes that she wasn’t really angry.

With a slight smile, "As a pregnant woman, getting angry isn’t good for the baby."

Yu Xiaoxuan patted her round belly, sighed, "Speaking of the baby, I get so depressed, Qinglan. How come people can be so different? You only gained weight in your belly during your pregnancy, and here I am, ballooning into a sphere even though I’m following the dietitian’s meal plan. If I ate whatever I wanted, I probably wouldn’t even be able to walk now." She looked gloomy, and as an actress, she had stringent requirements for her figure. Every time Sister Linda came to see her, the look in her eyes was so strange, Yu Xiaoxuan always felt a chill down her spine, knowing that as soon as she made her postpartum comeback, Sister Linda would put her through the wringer.

Shen Qinglan comforted her, "People have different body types. You’ve gained weight now, but once you’ve had the baby, you’ll probably lose it quickly."

"Ah, I hope so. I remember a female star in our circle who, even more than a year after giving birth, tried everything but still couldn’t slim down, even her career was affected. It’s quite sad when you think about it."

The entertainment industry is a very realistic place. Although Yu Xiaoxuan had never been subjected to the so-called ’unspoken rules,’ it didn’t mean she was unaware of them. She maintained her current mindset because of her own persistence and the protection she received from Han Yi.

Seeing a lot, Yu Xiaoxuan was even more grateful to Han Yi. This man truly stood in front of her and took the brunt for her. That’s why she wanted to grow herself, because if one person stands in front all the time, they might end up exhausted.

Since Yu Xiaoxuan had come, it was inevitable that Han Yi would follow. Wanting to talk privately with Shen Qinglan, an idle Han Yi went to chat with Old Sir Fu. When he went up, Old Sir Shen was playing chess with Old Sir Fu.

"Grandpa Shen, Grandpa Fu, you both seem to be enjoying your days quite well," Han Yi greeted with a smile.

"Is that Han Yi? Come in, it’s been a while since we’ve seen you. What made you think of visiting today?" Old Sir Fu asked with a smile, as it was usually the case that Fu Hengyi was home when Han Yi visited.

"Xiao Xuan wanted to talk to the little sister-in-law, so I brought her over," Han Yi found a chair and sat down next to the two elders, watching them play chess, "Carry on, grandpas, but I won’t say a word."

"Just watch then, and don’t speak," Old Sir Shen said.

"Okay, I promise to be a gentleman," Han Yi assured.

"Han Yi, is Xiao Xuan about to give birth?" Old Sir Fu stroked his beard, glancing at the chessboard as he asked.

"Not yet. She’s just over six months pregnant. She’s due in March."

"Have you found out the gender?" Old Sir Shen inquired.

"Xiao Xuan and I haven’t asked the doctor. Whether it’s a boy or a girl, we’ll love them just the same, so we didn’t specifically ask."

"Mmm, that’s good too. Your family doesn’t have any female elders. If there’s anything you don’t understand, just call Aunt Fu or Aunt Shen. Don’t be shy with them," Old Sir Fu advised.

"Ha ha, Grandpa Fu, don’t worry about us. You know me, I’ve never been shy with you all. Currently, we have an auntie and a nutritionist at home, so there are no issues temporarily. Besides, I’ve already contacted a confinement center. Once Xiao Xuan gives birth, she’ll move in there, and a professional confinement nanny will take care of the baby and her. I believe there won’t be any problems."

"It’s good that you’ve arranged everything. Xiao Xuan is young and it’s her first pregnancy, so take extra care of her and don’t let her suffer any grievances," Old Sir Shen instructed, feeling empathetic since Xiao Xuan was his granddaughter’s good friend and had lost her parents.

"Grandpa Shen, I treat her like a queen now, how could I let her suffer any grievances?" Han Yi protested.

"What about those news reports in the newspapers then?" Old Sir Shen frowned.

"Grandpa Shen, I didn’t realize you kept up with entertainment news," Han Yi exclaimed, surprised.

"Don’t try to change the subject. You’re married to Xiao Xuan now, so you need to be more focused. It’s time to clear away those distractions," Old Sir Shen, assuming Han Yi’s old habits were resurfacing.

Han Yi genuinely felt wronged this time, "Grandpa Shen, I really have nothing to do with this. Someone is just using my name for their gain."

Old Sir Shen looked at him intently, "Really?"

"Truer than pearls, Grandpa Shen. Don’t you know me? I might have been a bit flirtatious before, but I never lie."

"Alright, you’ve told your fair share of lies, but since it’s untrue reporting, work on clearing it up soon. Xiao Xuan might seem carefree, but you shouldn’t ignore her feelings. Especially since she’s pregnant with your child, you should be extra caring,"

"Grandpa Shen, I feel like you’ve changed," Han Yi looked at Old Sir Shen, a hint of hurt on his face.

"In the past, you used to side with me, but now you’re siding with Xiao Xuan. Could it be because Xiao Xuan is my little sister-in-law’s best friend, so you’re biased towards her?"

Old Sir Shen chuckled, amused by Han Yi’s complaint, "You’re a grown man, jealous of your own wife. Is that reasonable?"

Han Yi said solemnly, "It’s indeed quite unreasonable." He then laughed at his own words.

Knowing there was nothing serious concerning the young couple, Old Sir Shen felt relieved. Both had been through tough times, and it was disheartening. Now that they had finally settled and started a family, Old Sir Shen did not want their earnestly established household to be destroyed.

Han Yi deeply appreciated Old Sir Shen’s concern. The elder in his own family was hardly supportive, and he hadn’t felt this kind of care from an elder for a long while.