The awkward silence finally broke when Shen Qingqing entered. Old Mrs. Xiao looked at her with loving eyes, "Come, girl, come sit with your grandmother."
Shen Qingqing obediently walked over and sat beside her.
Old Mrs. Xiao held her hand and examined her, seeing that her complexion was good. She said with relief, "I've heard all about Xixi's situation, Grandma has visited him too. The child is doing well now, don't worry, we will find the special medicine."
She chattered on, comforting her granddaughter, her eyes full of care.
Shen Qingqing listened quietly, "You are right."
Xiao Yu Ying, standing nearby, watched her mother's concern for her niece with a sense of relief, but also envy. In a daze, she remembered that her mother used to treat her and her sister the same way.
Later, when her sister got married, she was the only one left at home with her mother.
But it wasn't long before she too got married.
Shen Qingqing chatted with her grandmother for a while, subtly steering the conversation towards her aunt. "Grandma, haven't you and Auntie seen each other in ages?"
This was an understatement. It had been years since Xiao Yu Ying married that foreigner. Old Mrs. Xiao had sworn never to see her again.
The Xiao family had no such daughter.
Her gaze towards Xiao Yu Ying was as cold as ever, as if she were a stranger. "It has been years, but you are mistaken. She is not your aunt. The Xiao family only has your mother as a daughter."
Xiao Yu Ying's eyes instantly dimmed.
Not to mention the sharp pain in her chest, making it difficult to breathe, her face growing paler.
Chris embraced her with concern, not even noticing Old Mrs. Xiao's cold gaze, only focused on comforting his wife and looking anxiously at Shen Qingqing.
"Shen..."
Shen Qingqing quickly stepped forward to check on her, confirming it was just emotional distress. She comforted her, "Don't worry, breathe slowly, take deep breaths, in, out..."
Following her instructions to breathe slowly, Xiao Yu Ying's gasping finally subsided.
Shen Qingqing also realized that the conflict between mother and daughter was not a recent issue and would take time to resolve. She no longer brought it up, intentionally changing the subject.
"Grandma, this is my husband, your grandson-in-law."
Fu Jing Shu, who was pulled over to divert attention, gave her a helpless look. He placed the gift he was holding on the coffee table, standing straight with a solemn expression.
"Hello, Grandma."
Old Mrs. Xiao had attended their wedding ceremony before, but she had only watched from afar. Seeing the wedding reminded her of her own daughter's wedding.
Overcome by emotion, she felt unwell and left early, not even having a chance to speak to Fu Jing Shu.
She surveyed the young talent before her, satisfied. "Good, handsome, and capable. I can entrust my granddaughter to you with peace of mind. However..."
She said, suddenly changing her tone to one of stern reprimand.
"If you treat her badly, this old woman will spare no effort, even if it means sacrificing the Xiao family, to deal with you."
Fu Jing Shu was not intimidated at all. His expression was solemn. "Grandma is right to teach me. Please be assured, I will treat her well. If one day she is wronged, I will submit to your judgment."
Old Mrs. Xiao nodded with satisfaction. "Good, remember your words."
Shen Qingqing linked her arm through hers. "Grandma, please stay for dinner. You must be tired after a two-hour flight. Stay here and rest tonight."
"No, I'll go to a hotel."
Old Mrs. Xiao was also stubborn. She would leave as soon as she said it, not even wanting to eat.
Xiao Yu Ying quickly stood up, looking at her mother pleadingly, wanting to persuade her but not knowing what to say. She loved her mother dearly, but having been away from her since childhood, she felt more fear and respect.
Now, seeing her mother's expressionless face, she felt as if she had returned to her childhood, not daring to speak.
Shen Qingqing, however, did not care. She was always fearless. She held Old Mrs. Xiao's arm, preventing her from leaving. "You must stay tonight. I don't have a house here, so I can't arrange anything for you. I won't be at ease knowing you're staying in a hotel."
She was lying.
She owned a property in South Korea, a detached villa worth a hundred million.
But to make Old Mrs. Xiao stay, she had used all her strength.
Old Mrs. Xiao gave her a knowing smile without speaking, but Shen Qingqing knew that this was consent. She then turned to Xiao Yu Ying.
"Auntie, please arrange a room."
"Yes, yes, okay!" Xiao Yu Ying was pleasantly surprised by this unexpected bonus and was speechless. Knowing her mother disliked Chris, she even wanted to arrange it herself.
Unfortunately, her current physical condition could not support it. As soon as she reached the second floor, Chris scooped her up and carried her back to their room.
As for arranging a room for his mother-in-law, that was naturally his responsibility.
As soon as the Chris couple left, Old Mrs. Xiao took out a document from her handbag. "Qing girl, this is for you."
Shen Qingqing opened it suspiciously.
It was a share transfer agreement for sixteen percent of the Xiao Group.
"Grandma, what is this..."
"Girl, regarding Fu Ting Yi's matter, my bad kid from the family wronged you. I know I scolded him thoroughly after he got the person out, but it's already done. We can't send him back..."
"Fu Ting Yi is out?"
"You didn't know?" Old Mrs. Xiao paused, looking puzzled. "Did your father-in-law not tell you?"
Shen Qingqing remained silent.
But seeing her expression, Old Mrs. Xiao understood and sighed. "Perhaps they didn't tell you because they didn't want you to worry, but I still need to make my stance clear."
Shen Qingqing naturally refused. "Grandma, please take it back. I don't want the shares."
What she wanted now was to know the motive behind Xiao Wen Yao's involvement.
Had he colluded with Fu Ting Yi?
Suddenly, she felt a slightly rough, aged touch on her hand. She looked up to see Old Mrs. Xiao looking at her with affection. "This is from Grandma, just take it. Girl, no matter what they intend to do, Grandma just wants to protect you. With these shares, you will have a bargaining chip."
A bargaining chip to control Xiao Wen Yao.
Although he was her son, it was precisely because of this that she knew him too well. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him ruthless.
Shen Qingqing hesitated.
Old Mrs. Xiao said gently, "Take it. I know you are capable. Grandma doesn't ask for anything from you. I just hope that in the future, if anything happens to the Xiao family, you will show some leniency."
Shen Qingqing clasped her hand, feeling the genuine love and care from this elder.
"I understand, Grandma. Please don't worry. No matter when, the Xiao family are my relatives. Even if someone goes too far, I won't be too merciless..."
"No, Grandma just wants you to look after Er Yi. She doesn't want you to be bound by this."
In Old Mrs. Xiao's eyes, there was only love and kindness. From the bottom of her heart, she wished this child happiness, and to live well in place of her daughter.
In front of her daughter and granddaughter, her son was no longer important.
Shen Qingqing was touched. "Yes, I understand, Grandma."
After they finished eating, Shen Qingqing made a phone call to her family. The person who answered was Fu Ting Sheng.
"Dad, is everything okay at home?"
Fu Ting Sheng replied, "Of course it's okay. With me here, aren't you all at ease? You don't need to worry about Xixi either. Just focus on finding the special medicine."
Shen Qingqing instructed, "Guard against Fu Ting Yi."
"You know he's out?"
"Yes." Shen Qingqing paused and asked, "He hasn't come to find you, has he?"
"No, don't worry."
Shen Qingqing then hung up the phone. As she was called to eat, a smile appeared on her face. Far away in A City, China, Fu Ting Sheng, who had just hung up the phone, coughed violently.
Lin Mo came in from outside. "Mr. Fu, are you alright?"