Song Qinian went to the restroom. While waiting for her, Shen Chi Yan called Gao Kun Lun.
"Investigate when Song Qinian learned to paint and which university she attended."
When they got married, Shen Chi Yan hated Song Jia Ren and loathed Song Qinian even more.
He wanted nothing to do with Song Qinian, his wife, let alone get to know her.
But ever since they became intimate after he got drunk last time, he didn't know what was going on; Song Qinian's emotions always affected him.
Especially today, seeing Song Qinian holding a paintbrush and painting, his head ached terribly. For a moment, the back of the girl in his dream and Song Qinian's back overlapped.
What was going on?
He and Song Qinian clearly didn't know each other, so why did he find Song Qinian so familiar?
Could it be that Song Qinian was in the memories he had lost?
The thought brought on another wave of pain.
When Song Qinian came out of the restroom, she saw Shen Chi Yan leaning against the wall.
He was wearing a well-tailored black suit today. His perfect physique and innate noble aura made him radiant, even by the restroom door.
Song Qinian hadn't expected Shen Chi Yan to be waiting for her, and her heart felt a surge of sweetness.
Then she saw Shen Chi Yan's pale and distressed handsome face, and as he rubbed his temples, she hurried over to him.
"What's wrong? Are you not feeling well?"
His dark eyes shifted from her fingers to her face. Seeing her worried and anxious expression, Shen Chi Yan felt a sense of relief wash over him. He leaned his head onto Song Qinian's shoulder.
Song Qinian was 1.65 meters tall, while Shen Chi Yan was 1.86 meters.
Shen Chi Yan had to bend considerably to lean on her shoulder.
Song Qinian, afraid he was uncomfortable, quickly stood on her tiptoes, her hands unsure where to rest, wanting to touch him but hesitant.
Shen Chi Yan had never engaged in such an intimate gesture when he was sober, nor had he ever shown such dependence on her. What was happening today?
"Song Qinian..."
His voice was filled with fatigue. Song Qinian couldn't respond, so she poked his arm with her finger, signaling that she was listening.
"You're so short!"
Song Qinian: "..."
You're short, your whole family is short!
Shen Chi Yan slowly straightened up and looked at Song Qinian. Seeing her pouting, he chuckled and snorted, "You can't speak properly, but I bet you're cursing me in your head!"
Song Qinian immediately put on a bright smile and shook her head obediently.
"Hmph... you know how to pretend to be good!"
Just as Song Qinian was about to retort, Shen Chi Yan turned to leave. "Let's go. If we delay any longer, Grandma will come looking for us herself."
When they returned to the banquet hall, all the Shen family members, except for Gu Zhi Yan, had already arrived.
As Song Qinian approached, she overheard Ju Hong Lan complaining, "What's going on with my sister-in-law? She knows it's Mom's 88th birthday, and the banquet is almost over. She's not back yet. Is she showing no respect to the Shen family and Mom?"
Gu Zhi Yan had been busy filming abroad recently. According to the plan, she was supposed to return before the old lady's birthday banquet. However, due to various reasons, her flight was canceled, and Gu Zhi Yan had to take a connecting flight.
This caused a significant delay.
Gu Zhi Yan was Shen Zheng Hao's wife and Shen Chi Yan's mother. She was originally a young lady from the Gu family in Yun Cheng. Later, when the Gu family's fortunes declined, she entered the entertainment industry.
Logically, wealthy families didn't usually like women from the entertainment industry. However, Shen Zheng Hao, angered by the old lady's interference in his relationship with his first love, impulsively married Gu Zhi Yan.
Despite her anger, the old lady never expressed dissatisfaction with Gu Zhi Yan.
Firstly, although Gu Zhi Yan was in the entertainment industry, she genuinely loved acting and didn't use it as a stepping stone for material gain or money.
Secondly, although the Gu family's fortunes had declined, Gu Zhi Yan was a bona fide heiress, and her upbringing was evident in her every word and action.
Thirdly, although Shen Zheng Hao married Gu Zhi Yan, his mind was always on his first love. He often subjected Gu Zhi Yan to emotional neglect. Later, when he tried to leave to be with his first love, the old lady kicked him out of the Shen family and kept Gu Zhi Yan as her daughter-in-law.
In Ju Hong Lan's eyes, all this made Gu Zhi Yan a woman with considerable cunning.
She had married into the Shen family, then driven her husband out of the house, allowed her son to inherit the prosperous Shen Group, while she herself thrived in the entertainment industry.
It was a situation that evoked jealousy, envy, and a sense of unfairness.
Therefore, in this family, Ju Hong Lan found Gu Zhi Yan the most insufferable. Whenever she got the chance, she would badmouth Gu Zhi Yan.
"I'm sorry I'm late."
Speak of the devil.
Although Gu Zhi Yan had rushed back, the moment she entered, everyone's gaze was involuntarily drawn to her.
As a film empress, her temperament, fashion sense, and appearance were all exceptional.
Song Qinian had never met Shen Zheng Hao in person, nor had she seen his photos, so she didn't know what he looked like.
However, Shen Zheng Cheng and Shen Zheng Ming were both handsome, so Shen Zheng Hao should not be too bad-looking. Besides, Shen Chi Yan's appearance largely inherited from Gu Zhi Yan.
Gu Zhi Yan's cool and distant gaze swept over Ju Hong Lan, who immediately wilted.
Gu Zhi Yan went directly to the old lady. "Mom, I'm sorry... This is my gift. Wishing you a happy birthday, good health, and peace."
Gu Zhi Yan presented the old lady with a Ming Dynasty snuff bottle. The old lady accepted it and smiled faintly, "It's good that you're here. Thank you for your effort."
Just then, the butler arrived.
He bowed and whispered in the old lady's ear, "Madam, Mr. Zheng Hao has sent you a piece of calligraphy from the Qing Dynasty."
The old lady's expression changed, and she said sternly, "Throw it out."
"But!"
"I only have two sons."
From the day Shen Zheng Hao left the Shen family, the old lady had considered him no longer her son.
The butler nodded reluctantly.
Gu Zhi Yan observed everything but remained silent.
During the family photo session, Shen Qi Wen was also present. He directly stood next to Song Qinian.
The moment Song Qinian saw him, her good mood was instantly ruined.
Shen Qi Wen raised his eyebrows and glanced at Song Qinian. Before he could speak, Song Qinian's head was turned by Shen Chi Yan on her other side.
Shen Chi Yan looked at Song Qinian and warned in a low voice, "Either look at the camera, or look at me. If I see you looking at Shen Qi Wen again, I'll pluck out your eyeballs and turn you into a mute little blind person."
As Shen Chi Yan spoke, his dark, cold gaze was fixed on Shen Qi Wen, full of warning.
Shen Qi Wen shrugged and looked towards Lin Qiu Tong, who was standing not far behind the camera.
Lin Qiu Tong's eyes were fixed on Shen Chi Yan and Song Qinian, her expression as grim as it could be.
Shen Qi Wen, who had taken everything in, curled his lips, his mind racing with calculations.
Lin Qiu Tong was being driven mad by jealousy and unwillingness. If it weren't for Song Qinian, she should have been the one standing next to Shen Chi Yan!
No, she couldn't just wait and do nothing!
She couldn't just stand by and watch Song Qinian snatch Shen Chi Yan away from her!
With this thought, after the photo was taken, Lin Qiu Tong walked towards Shen Chi Yan.