Chapter 238: Chapter 238

The situation in front of her was truly unexpected for Shi Nian.

In fact, that evening at the Tang Family, Shi Nian was somewhat mentally prepared. After all, it was at the Tang Family, and she noticed a hint of displeasure in Shen Wan’s gaze. If Shen Wan had found her that night to say something, Shi Nian couldn’t avoid it. However, she didn’t expect not to meet Shen Wan alone that evening, but instead, to see her in such an unexpected setting today.

Shi Nian felt a bit nervous but wasn’t completely clueless.

In this situation, what could Shen Wan say to her alone? Maybe it would be like those plots in novels and TV dramas, or like her real-life mother-in-law Guo Zhengmei, warning her to stay away from Tang Yanqing; or even straightforwardly pointing at her nose, telling her to recognize her identity and that she’s not worthy of being with her son.

If that’s the case, then she’s not afraid.

Shi Nian calmed herself down, her gaze becoming serene: "Alright, if you have something to say, please speak directly."

She had heard from Xiang Yuan that Shen Wan and Guo Zhengmei were quite close, and even card-playing partners. Their temperaments must be very compatible, right?

But Shen Wan merely observed her quietly, smiling silently: "Shi Nian, can you tell me what helped you transform from initial panic to later calmness?"

Shi Nian was a bit surprised and then honestly smiled: "I thought that since I couldn’t avoid you today, I might as well be straightforward with you. I could roughly guess what you might want to say, so I’m not nervous."

Shen Wan personally poured tea for Shi Nian: "What do you think I want to say?"

Shi Nian took a deep breath and then exhaled, making up her mind: "You want to warn me, right? Actually, you don’t need to say it, I think it’s best to tell your son. If he values your feelings and agrees with you, then there’s really nothing for me to linger on; let him continue to be your obedient son, and I won’t interfere."

Men should naturally be filial to their mothers, but from the day a man decides to love a woman, the man and his mother belong to different families. While being filial to his mother, more common interests should be shared with his partner, standing together to face everything from the mother, bearing the good and bad together; not reverting instantly to an infant, ignoring the partner’s existence.

Shi Nian’s words were already quite blunt, and she was prepared for Shen Wan’s displeasure.

Unexpectedly, Shen Wan raised her eyebrows in surprise and did not slam the table or point fingers, but rather nodded with a smile.

"If Yanqing were such a man, I, as his mother, would also slam the table and call him a ’coward’."

Shi Nian was quite surprised: "Really?"

Shen Wan beckoned to Shi Nian, who hesitated before leaning closer to the table. Shen Wan herself leaned across the table, saying mysteriously to Shi Nian: "Let me tell you a secret, I once said something similar to Yanqing’s father long ago. Back then, when Yanqing’s father first divorced Xixi’s mother, the previous daughter-in-law was chosen by the grandmother herself, who was very traditional and couldn’t accept me. She opposed me when I was dating Yanqing’s father; she even refused to drink the daughter-in-law tea at our wedding."

"When I first entered the home, she immediately took Xixi away, saying she feared I’d hurt her grandson as a stepmother..."

Shi Nian inhaled quietly, unable to hold back a low remark: "Isn’t that outrageous?"

Shen Wan laughed out loud: "Yes, exactly, I really wanted to face my mother-in-law and ask her such a question seriously."

Although Shen Wan laughed loudly, her eyes still showed a hint of sadness, evident of the immense pressure she endured back then, and how difficult it was at the time.

Shen Wan shrugged at Shi Nian: "That was when I said those words to Yanqing’s father. I was really disheartened then because I hadn’t done anything wrong; I just wasn’t the daughter-in-law chosen by my mother-in-law. I merely came into my husband’s life later on, and I didn’t break up their marriage. Initially, because I was once best friends with Xixi’s mother, my mother-in-law always thought I was a vixen, insisting I enticed my husband, resulting in his divorce from his ex-wife."

"I felt if he continued to blatantly see my pain, hiding behind so-called filial piety without standing up for me in front of his mother, then I wouldn’t stay with him. Even if it meant I, Shen Wan, was blind to fall for the wrong man."

"What happened afterward?" Shi Nian couldn’t help but be drawn in.

Shen Wan laughed, and Shi Nian awkwardly smiled as well—yes, this is the "afterwards." If Tang Mingyi hadn’t resolved it well, how could there be today’s Tang Yanqing, and how could Shen Wan still be by Tang Mingyi’s side?

Yet Shen Wan answered seriously: "Afterwards, he brought me before his mother and told her, I am the person he loves, hoping she would love me too. If she still couldn’t accept me, he would sever ties with her, take me far away, and never return to the Tang Family."

Shi Nian couldn’t help a small cheer: "So cool!"

Shen Wan also blushed, her eyes sparkling like a girl in love: "Yes, I also thought he was so cool. At that moment, I felt everything I endured from my mother-in-law was worth it."

"Afterwards, I no longer minded my mother-in-law’s temperament, for I was to spend a lifetime with my husband, not my mother-in-law."

Shi Nian quietly gave a thumbs-up: "You did right."

Shen Wan gently smiled, resting her chin on her hand while looking at Shi Nian: "Now, do you feel less resistant to me?"

Shi Nian was taken aback, realizing her cheeks were warm.

The best way to bridge gaps and improve impressions between people is to quickly find a common ground. Shen Wan indeed mastered this.

Yes, how could I forget, despite her petite appearance, Shen Wan is famed as a successful businesswoman. Before her, I really was just childish.

Shi Nian, embarrassed, poured another cup of tea for Shen Wan: "For your throat."

Shen Wan laughed: "I went on about so much just now to tell you that I’m not here to do what mothers-in-law love to do. My real purpose today is to tell you a story."

"Tell a story?" Shi Nian was a bit thrown off by this move.

Shen Wan laughed upon seeing this: "Don’t worry, it’s not a bedtime story. In fact, as a mom, I never told Xixi and Yanqing bedtime stories. Xixi felt they were too childish to bother listening to; Yanqing, on the other hand, would tell me stories until I fell asleep on his bed, while he still had his eyes wide open, all awake."

Shi Nian could almost imagine Tang Yanqing’s expressive demeanor, and couldn’t help but laugh: "Indeed, Mr. Tang is such a talkative one."

Suddenly, Shen Wan looked over: "Actually, our Mr. Tang really is good at telling bedtime stories. Nian Nian, have you heard his stories?"

Shen Wan suddenly used "Nian Nian," which made Shi Nian pause.

Shen Wan smiled: "Mr. Tang told me about it. I personally like the nickname better, so may I call you that from now on?"

Shi Nian suddenly felt a twinge in her nose. After coming to M Country, only Mom called her "Nian Nian"; Xiang Yuan called her "Shi Jian," and her father and mother-in-law formally addressed her as "Shi Nian." Suddenly hearing a senior woman call her that, it stirred some indescribable emotions.

She couldn’t help but remember past times in her homeland, the simple yet harmonious life, thinking of... Dad.

"Okay." She lowered her eyelids.

Shen Wan smiled: "You haven’t answered me, have you ever heard Mr. Tang’s bedtime stories?"

Shi Nian thought for a moment but shook her head: "You... misunderstood. Between Mr. Tang and I, there is no... although it’s a fact that I’ve been legally separated from Xiang Yuan, before truly ending that relationship, I wouldn’t have any intimacy with any other man..."

Shi Nian assumed Shen Wan was subtly asking if she and Tang Yanqing had any physical intimacy.

Shen Wan pursed her lips and smiled: "You misunderstood, Nian Nian, I wasn’t implying that."

"Moreover, since you’re legally separated, your current emotional state is like being single, and having an actual intimate relationship is your right."

Shen Wan leaned on her hand, seriously gazing at Shi Nian: "How about now, do you feel less resistant to me?"

Shi Nian was caught off guard, and she blushed.

The best way to bring people closer and improve perceptions is to quickly find common ground. Shen Wan truly understood this principle well.

Indeed, how could she forget? Shen Wan, despite her dainty appearance, is a renowned successful businesswoman. In front of Shen Wan, she was truly just childish.

Embarrassed, Shi Nian picked up the teapot and refilled Shen Wan’s cup: "Please have some tea to soothe your throat."

Shen Wan smiled: "I rambled on quite a bit just now, but I just wanted to tell you that I’m not here to do the kind of things mothers-in-law love to do. My real purpose today is to tell you a story."

Shi Nian was a bit at a loss for this big move: "A story?"

Seeing this, Shen Wan laughed: "Don’t worry, it’s not a bedtime story. Actually, as a mother, I never told Xixi and Yanqing bedtime stories. Xixi found them too childish and was disdainful to listen; Yanqing would end up telling me stories himself until I fell asleep in his bed, lulled by his voice, with him still talking."

Shi Nian couldn’t help but laugh thinking of Tang Yanqing in that scene with his eloquent demeanor: "Yes, Mr. Tang is really talkative."

Shen Wan’s expression softened, "Yes, he truly is. But, Nian Nian, you haven’t answered me. Have you heard any mesmerizing bedtime stories before? Besides those from your dad?"

— Second morning update~ Latest content published on NoveI★Fire.net