Chapter 117: Bad Idea

Chapter 117: Chapter 117: Bad Idea

Yao Yuzhen didn’t even look up, slowly blowing on her spoonful of soup.

"What’s there to be afraid of? He’s not coming for you."

The moment the call connected, Shen Lixin’s voice was as heavy as a stone.

"If you’re not busy with anything important, get back here right now. The whole family is here waiting for you."

Shen Songyao gently squeezed Yang Wanqing’s hand.

"Grandma, maybe there really isn’t enough room for me here. Why don’t we go back to your place?"

Her words sounded like a concession, but they were really just tossing another handful of dry kindling onto the fire.

The moment Yang Wanqing heard this, it felt like a needle had pierced her heart.

She had said long ago that the old house would one day be all Song Yao’s.

But this was different. This was her son’s home. And her own granddaughter was being stuffed into a storage room the moment she walked through the door?

She would absolutely not yield on this matter.

So Yang Wanqing gripped Shen Songyao’s hand, her voice ringing out like a struck gong.

"Go back where? This is your rightful place! Your name is Shen Songyao, Shen Zhenwu is your biological father, and your name is carved into the very grout between these floor tiles! If anyone dares say you can’t stay here, I’ll pry that tile up and smash it to pieces right in front of their face!"

Her words were ostensibly for Shen Songyao, but her eyes were fixed sideways, stabbing daggers at Shen Shuangshuang and Yao Yuzhen.

That mother-daughter pair, Yao Yuzhen and Shen Shuangshuang, were usually quite the troublemakers, but today they were struck dumb on the spot.

Even better was Yao Yuzhen. The moment Yang Wanqing finished speaking, she shot to her feet and grabbed Shen Shuangshuang by the arm.

"Oh, it’s too noisy in here. My temples are throbbing. Come on, let’s go upstairs and rest for a bit, just the two of us."

Her delicate act, as if she were afraid of scalding her lips on her teacup, made Shen Jiajia roll her eyes on the spot.

Without another word, she ducked into the storage room and kicked aside the old cardboard boxes piled by the entrance.

In a flurry of motion, she hauled out the old bed board.

THUD!

With a muffled thud, the bed board slammed solidly onto the living room’s porcelain tiles.

Yao Yuzhen, who was already on the stairs, froze mid-step, stopping dead in her tracks.

And then...

CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!

Shen Jiajia snatched a chair from the dining table and started swinging it at the bed board.

This time, it was Yao Yuzhen’s turn to feel her chest tighten.

But she still didn’t dare to look back.

She knew that what Shen Jiajia held in her hands wasn’t a chair—it was a fuse.

And if she so much as turned around, she’d be the match that lit it.

Even though she was so angry she wanted to stomp her foot, she gritted her teeth and forced herself up the stairs, one heavy step at a time.

Shen Shuangshuang shrank back, not even daring to breathe too loudly.

But the moment the door was closed, she immediately showed her true colors.

"Mom! Shen Jiajia is being completely unreasonable! We haven’t even settled the score for her hitting me at the hospital, and now she’s here at home, throwing a tantrum and smashing things! She’s slapping you right in the face!"

"Who does she think she is? Does she really think that just because this house belongs to the Shen Family, she gets to call all the shots?"

"Everyone knows how you toiled day and night to manage this household! What has Shen Jiajia ever done besides throw tantrums and shout? She couldn’t even raise her own child right, and now she has the nerve to stick her nose in and run the family?"

Yao Yuzhen was most susceptible to this kind of talk. Her legs went weak, and she plopped down on the edge of the bed.

Shen Shuangshuang quickly moved behind her, patting her back while murmuring.

"Aunt is so unreasonable, getting you this upset over nothing. When Dad gets back, I’m definitely going to tell on her. I’ll make sure she learns her lesson!"

As Yao Yuzhen listened, her body suddenly slumped to one side, and the color drained from her face, leaving it paper-white.

Shen Shuangshuang ended up half-supporting, half-carrying her into bed and tucking her in.

Downstairs, Shen Jiajia was still smashing away furiously.

Only when the entire bed board was smashed into pieces did she dust off her pant legs and pull Shen Songyao by the hand.

"Come on! Come with your aunt upstairs and pick a room!"

"Pick any room you like. In this house, as long as there’s a hot meal for you, there’s a bed for you!"

"We’ll make up for all the ways you were wronged in the past. No one in this house will ever treat you like an outsider again."

Shen Songyao knew exactly what was going on.

’Who was it that had claimed the storage room was "well-ventilated" and "quiet"? There was no need to even ask.’

Now that she had someone to back her up, she didn’t hesitate for a second and started up the stairs.

Before heading up, however, she gave Shen Jiajia’s sleeve a gentle tug.

"Aunt, could you show me which room belongs to who first? We wouldn’t want to pick the wrong door and barge into someone’s private space."

Shen Jiajia nodded and led her on a tour, introducing each room one by one.

For the empty, unoccupied rooms, Shen Jiajia had Zhang Dongxue unlock the doors so Shen Songyao could get a good look inside and out.

To be honest, any of the rooms was a massive improvement over the small storage room stuffed with old furniture.

And yet...

Shen Songyao quietly tugged on Zhang Dongxue’s sleeve and asked in a low voice.

"Aunt Dongxue, was it Sister Shuangshuang who told you to clear out the storage room for me?"

Zhang Dongxue froze for a moment, then glanced toward the master bedroom and gave a quick nod.

Shen Jiajia looked like her lungs were about to explode with rage.

Just as she was about to let loose a string of curses, Shen Songyao suddenly leaned in close to her ear.

"Aunt, I want to live in Sister Shuangshuang’s room. It’s so bright, and the big windows make it look so comfortable."

When you truly care about someone, your heart softens like a freshly steamed bun.

Shen Songyao delivered this wicked suggestion with an air of perfect justification.

A grin spread across Shen Jiajia’s face, and her shoulders relaxed.

"Oh, you’re absolutely right! That girl’s room is spacious, open, and bright, and the floors are clean. It couldn’t be more perfect for you! And when the baby comes, you can put a little cradle in there and still have plenty of room to move around without bumping into a thing!"

Inside their room, Shen Shuangshuang and Yao Yuzhen were sitting on small stools by the window, drinking tea.

Hearing footsteps in the hallway, she put down her melon seeds and poked her head out to see.

And what a sight. Shen Jiajia and Shen Songyao were standing side-by-side right outside her door.

Shen Jiajia was looking up, examining the transom light above the doorframe, while Shen Songyao tilted her own head back, nodding in agreement.

The two of them were gushing about how wonderful the light was and what a fantastic location it had...

The color drained from Shen Shuangshuang’s face. She rushed out in a few strides.

"What do you think you’re doing?!"

Shen Songyao turned around, a wide smile on her face.

"I was just telling my aunt that I think this room would suit me best, so I’d like to move in."

A rush of blood went to Shen Shuangshuang’s head, and she reached out to grab Shen Songyao’s arm.

"This is my room! Who are you to pick and choose?!"

CLANG!

Shen Jiajia shoved her back against the wall with one hand.

"Open your eyes before you try to get physical! Song Yao is pregnant! What do you think this is, a TV drama?"

Shen Shuangshuang’s nose stung, and tears immediately welled up in her eyes.

"She’s trying to steal my room! Is there no justice in this house?!"

"’Steal?’ Did that word really just come out of your mouth?"

Shen Jiajia rolled her eyes.

"You’re a grown woman in your twenties. Don’t you think before you speak?"

"Song Yao is your sister, and she’s pregnant. The whole family should be looking out for her. This room of yours is south-facing with big windows. If you don’t give it to her, what are you going to do? Save it as a shrine for some Buddha?"

She paused, then lifted her chin.

"Oh, that’s right. You’re quite fond of that little storage room, aren’t you?"

"Perfect. You can move in there!"

Behind them, Shen Songyao couldn’t help but let out a snort of laughter.

Shen Jiajia turned back, patted the back of her hand, and gave her a look with a raised eyebrow.

The look said, ’Go on, laugh. Laugh as much as you want.’

Only Shen Shuangshuang remained frozen in place, her eyes rimmed with red from shame and anger.

With a wail, she spun around, shoved open Yao Yuzhen’s door, and threw herself inside.

Yao Yuzhen heard the commotion at the door. She had just thrown back the covers and sat up when Shen Shuangshuang burst into the room, her eyes red.