Chapter 120: Everyone’s Darling

Chapter 120: Chapter 120: Everyone’s Darling

Shen Songyao blinked, stealing a glance at Shen Zhenwu as she mumbled softly.

"But... what about Mom..."

Shen Zhenwu met his daughter’s timid gaze. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he suddenly straightened up.

"Your name is Shen. You were born a daughter of this family! Your room is on the east side of the second floor, and no one is to lay a single finger on it."

His resolute words rang out, reaching the ears of the figure at the mouth of the stairwell.

Yao Yuzhen was paused halfway up the stairs, a half-packed suitcase in her hand, her face livid.

Shen Zhenwu glanced up at her, then immediately looked away.

Shen Songyao called out softly.

"Mom..."

Yao Yuzhen shot her a dagger-like glare, then took Shen Shuangshuang’s hand and turned to leave.

Shen Songyao shook her head, muttering to herself.

’She’s got such a temper. She’ll need some chrysanthemum and goji tea to cool off.’

Shen Jiajia was true to her word. The moment the door closed, she called over to Shen Jiayue and Zhang Dongxue.

"Let’s go! Upstairs! Time to get to work!"

The dresses, sneakers, hand cream, and other things Shen Shuangshuang had left behind...

...were all stuffed into plastic bags and unceremoniously hauled down to the storage room.

They had just half-unfurled the new comforter when Shen Jiajia suddenly snatched it and gathered the whole thing in her arms.

"This isn’t right."

Shen Jiayue was taken aback.

"What’s wrong?"

Shen Jiajia set the comforter on a stool and dusted off her hands.

"This bed frame, this mattress, this headboard—Shen Shuangshuang has slept on all of it. If I were Song Yao, my first instinct upon lying down wouldn’t be to sleep, it’d be to roll my eyes in disgust. Nope, it’s all got to go!"

The moment she finished speaking, Shen Jiajia turned and headed downstairs.

"I’m taking Song Yao to pick out a bed! And we’ll get new curtains while we’re at it. What color do you want, Song Yao? Just say the word! Your auntie will take care of everything!"

"Anything else in the room you don’t like the look of, we’ll just replace it all!"

To be honest, Shen Songyao had no desire whatsoever to sleep in the bed Shen Shuangshuang had used.

But her aunt had thought of even that detail. Shen Songyao felt a sting in her nose and nearly teared up.

"Auntie, you’re already being too thoughtful. As for the curtains, I like a light green. It looks so fresh and clean."

"Deal! Let’s go right now!"

Shen Jiajia rubbed her hands together, ready to dash out the door.

Shen Zhenwu immediately got to his feet.

"I’ll go get you the money."

"Oh, come on. I’m buying a bed for my dear niece. You think I’m going to let you foot the bill?"

Shen Jiajia waved a dismissive hand and slipped out the door without looking back.

Shen Songyao quickly stood up as well.

"Auntie, I’ll go with you! I can help you pick out a style!"

"Perfect! I’ll feel much better buying it if it’s a style you love."

Shen Jiajia took her by the arm and led her out.

It was a good thing they left when they did.

Shen Zhenwu went back upstairs and turned the place upside down looking for money, but after searching high and low, he couldn’t find a single penny.

Yao Yuzhen had made off with every last bit of cash in the house.

This wasn’t the first time she had broken his heart, but she always managed to find a new way to hurt him, to kick him even further down.

He closed the last drawer, his shoulders slumping in defeat. He trudged downstairs, each step heavy.

Downstairs, Yang Wanqing looked up and saw him, speaking first.

"Song Yao and Jiajia left a while ago, so don’t worry about the money. She’s happy to spend it as her aunt. Just let her. It’s a token of her affection."

Shen Zhenwu opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

He didn’t know whether to nod in agreement or shake his head in dismay.

But when it came to paying for the bed and curtains, Shen Songyao insisted on paying for everything herself.

"Auntie, I know you dote on me, I really do. But I can’t just live off of you, right?"

"The red envelope you and Uncle gave me the last time you visited is still sitting untouched in my bag! If I let you pay for this too, how shameless would I be?"

Shen Jiajia pretended to be angry.

"That money was for you! If you hadn’t gotten lost as a child, your uncle and I would have prepared a complete dowry for your wedding day!"

"How much was in that red envelope, anyway?"

Shen Songyao shook her purse.

"You might think it’s not much, but I treasure it!"

"Anyway, I have to do my part today. You care for me, so I have to look out for you, too!"

With one hand on her waist and a little one in her belly, how could Shen Jiajia dare to argue with her?

She could only sigh and fondly ruffle her hair.

"You silly girl, how can you be so darn lovable!"

Shen Songyao stood on her tiptoes and leaned in close.

"Because I’m your one-hundred-percent, bonafide niece! If you’re not going to spoil me, who are you going to spoil?"

Those words went straight to Shen Jiajia’s heart. She opened her arms and pulled her into a tight hug.

"Isn’t that the truth! The bond of blood is just different. The very first time I saw you, I felt such a connection, like you were one of our own who we’d lost for years."

"Shuangshuang lived with us for so many years, but to be honest, I never truly warmed up to her."

Shen Songyao nodded gently.

"Perhaps blood really does call to its own."

Once the room was all set up, Shen Jiajia and the others had lunch and then headed back to work for the afternoon.

The house suddenly felt empty, leaving only Shen Songyao, Yang Wanqing, and Shen Lixin.

Yang Wanqing looked around at the quiet house and sighed.

"Oh, that Yu Zhen. What is she trying to accomplish? Turning a perfectly good day into a battleground..."

Shen Lixin immediately cut her off, his voice growing heavy.

"Enough. That mouth of yours just loves to stir the pot."

’He knew that if anyone was hurting, it was his own son.’

Yang Wanqing opened her mouth to argue, but on second thought, she swallowed her words.

After a moment, she took Shen Songyao’s hand and changed the subject to the little one in her belly.

"How many diapers will the little one need? How many little outfits should we get ready? Should we stock up on extra socks?"

And so they chatted on, jumping from one topic to the next.

That evening, when Shen Rongjing and Guo Shushu got home from work, Guo Shushu’s eyes lit up at the sight of Shen Songyao and Yang Wanqing.

"Song Yao! Grandma! You’re here! When did you arrive?"

Yang Wanqing said, motioning for her to come in and change her shoes.

"We just got here this morning. With Song Yao pregnant, taking on that job at the museum, and Li Hanchen back at his post, we figured running around all by herself would be too much. So we decided to move in for a bit. We can go with her to work in the mornings, and that will put our minds at ease!"

Guo Shushu nodded enthusiastically, her tone cheerful.

"Oh, that’s wonderful! It’s so much cozier with the whole family together!"

When dinner was served, Shen Zhenwu and the others took their seats.

Guo Shushu whispered.

"Should I... go upstairs and call for them? Get Mom and Shuangshuang to come down and eat?"

’That was how the mother-daughter duo had always been spoiled.’

’More often than not, they had to be personally summoned. Especially her mother-in-law. Calling her once was never enough; you’d have to call a second and even a third time.’

’Sometimes you even had to bring a bowl of food up to her, or she’d refuse to eat out of spite.’

’Guo Shushu was well-practiced in this routine.’

This time, however, Shen Zhenwu waved his hand, put down his chopsticks, and said in a flat voice.

"Don’t bother. Stay seated. Your mom and Shuangshuang aren’t home."

Guo Shushu froze.

"Huh? Not home?"

’Did they have another blow-up?’ she wondered.

’Probably.’

’Where else would they go?’

She didn’t ask any more questions, just obediently sat back down and ate her dinner.

After dinner, Shen Songyao and Yang Wanqing were curled up on the sofa watching TV.

Guo Shushu cut up a plate of fruit and brought it out, placing it on the coffee table.

"Grandma, Song Yao, have some. I just washed it."

Shen Songyao grinned, grabbed a piece, and took a bite, her eyes curving into happy crescents.

"It’s delicious! Thanks, Shushu!"

Yang Wanqing also picked up a small slice, feeling a bit apologetic as she ate.

"Shushu, dear, come take a break! Don’t keep so busy, we have Xiao Xiao for that. You’ve had a long day at work, you must be exhausted!"