I Want a Lifetime with You
Chapter 272

Shi Wei touched her face instinctively. When she belatedly realized what he meant, her face went ashen. The woman wanted to retort, but she dared not do so. She could only swallow her embarrassment and glare at Shi Nuan viciously.

Shi Nuan raised her brows at Su Shaoqing's forthright manner. She was secretly delighted by his words. "My sister is a celebrity, so of course no one would forget her," Shi Nuan grinned. "Otherwise, my brother-in-law wouldn't have fallen for her. Am I right, Brother-in-law?"

Shi Nuan looked right at Fu Xicheng when she said that. Fu Xicheng had kept his eyes on Shi Nuan all the time. When he saw Shi Nuan's holding another man's hand, his gaze darkened and refused to look away from her. Fu Xicheng was still in a daze when he heard Shi Nuan's question. The man didn't even catch her question and replied, "Y-Yes."

Shi Wei pursed her lips. She didn't know whether she should be upset or happy. She clenched her fists and sneered. "Your brother-in-law has good taste. It's only natural for him to fall for me." "You are right."

Anyway, it was all Shi Wei's imagination. Shi Nuan wouldn't go against her.

When Shi Nuan used to like Fu Xicheng, he was naturally perfect to her. But now, since Fu Xicheng had become Shi Wei's husband, Shi Nuan would not be so shameless to cling to him. Besides, after what had happened, Shi Nuan saw Fu Xicheng's true colors.

She might have had been upset back then, but she now had no feeling.

"Old Master, you're back!"

The servant, Aunt Fu, opened the door to welcome Shi Jingzheng. The man had a coat in his hand as he brought in the chill from outside.

Shi Jingzheng changed out of his shoes before coming in to see everyone in the living room. His gaze swept across Shi Wei and Fu Xicheng before landing on Shi Nuan and Su Shaoqing. He asked in surprise, "Who is this?"

"Zheng, you're back?" Jiang Yu stood up to welcome him enthusiastically. "That's Mr. Su. Remember? He's Nuan's boyfriend. I told you about him previously."

"Nuan's boyfriend?" Shi Jingzheng narrowed his eyes and nodded. "Are you ready to settle down?"

Shi Nuan tugged at Su Shaoqing's sleeve. "Father, this is Mr. Su." She didn't introduce his identity and merely mentioned "Mr. Su" before continuing, "Yesterday, Mother told me to bring Mr. Su back. I guess ou family is very hospitable to invite him here."

Su Shaoqing's brows arched up, a grin appearing in his eyes. "Madam Jiang, you are indeed hospitable." He stood up and stretched his hand out. "Mr. Shi, hello. I am Jiang Shengfan."

He used his other surname, Jiang. Instantly, Shi Jingzheng and Jiang Yu's faces fell. Although they tried to hide it, Su Shaoqing saw through them. He smirked. "The Su family is my mother's family. My real surname is Jiang. As a matter of fact, Madam Jiang and I must be fated to meet."

Through his words, Su Shaoqing was reminding the Shi family he was not only part of the Su family, but he was also part of the Jiang family, too. The Su family couldn't call the shots regarding his marriage, because the Jiang family had a say in it, too. That meant the Shi family couldn't just decide to marry Shi Nuan to him unilaterally.

Jiang Yu felt like someone had just slapped her. Her face started hurting terribly. Shi Jingzheng was no better. He had had plenty of experience, nevertheless, and immediately regained his composure. He held Su Shaoqing's hand and greeted him. "Mr. Jiang."

"Sit down. Don't just stand there." Shi Jingzheng was no longer awkward. He looked at Aunt Fu. "Where's my father?"

"He's upstairs. He said he'll be down when you return and when dinner's ready." Aunt Fu glanced at Jiang Yu, who noted the hint and said, "Since my husband is back, go tell Father to come down now." She continued, "Father is old. I am sorry for taking up your time."

A smile lit up Shi Nuan's face. "Mother, it's nothing. We should be the ones to do this. Aunt Fu, you can go to the kitchen. Mr. Jiang and I will go bring Granddad down."

Su Shaoqing stood up once she finished speaking. "Ms. Shi is right. Let's go bring him down." The man went upstairs with Shi Nuan after he finished speaking.

Those who were left in the living room were lost in their own thoughts.

Shi Jingzheng and Jiang Yu exchanged glances upon thinking how Su Shaoqing had put a stop to their plan with just a few words. He even dragged the Jiang family into the matter. The Jiang family!

A glint appeared in Jiang Yu's eyes, but it disappeared in a flash.

Shi Wei and Fu Xicheng were lost in their thoughts, too.

Fu Xicheng saw how well Shi Nuan and Su Shaoqing clicked. She even treated Su Shaoqing differently than how she had treated him. He suddenly recalled their past...

"Xicheng?" Shi Wei interrupted Fu Xicheng's thoughts and shot him a suspicious look. "A penny for your thoughts? Dad had already called you several times."

Fu Xicheng came back to his senses. "Yes, Dad, anything?"

Shi Jingzheng was obviously displeased. "You and Wei finally got married after going through plenty of obstacles. What is wrong now?" To be honest, Shi Jingzheng wasn't that satisfied with this son-in-law. Fu Xicheng liked Shi Nuan at first, but ended up with Shi Wei. Both were his daughters, but Shi Jingzheng was obviously partial to Shi Wei. So when Shi Wei insisted on marrying Fu Xicheng, though he had his complaints he didn't stop her from doing so.

Shi Jingzheng thought Fu Xicheng would treat Shi Wei well upon getting married, but that didn't seem to be the case.

Fu Xicheng's expression had gone dark. As he was still giving Shi Wei the cold shoulder, his visit today was already considered a show of respect. Unexpectedly, Shi Jingzheng started disciplining him. He replied unhappily. "Father, you should be asking her that. She is the only one who knows what had happened."

"What do you mean?" Shi Jingzheng was infuriated. "Those people spread rumors about Wei. As her husband, not only did you not console her, but you-"

"Dad!" Shi Wei hurriedly interrupted her father. "Xicheng and I are doing well. We are fine. Everything was just a misunderstanding, and I have explained this to him earlier. Am I right, Xicheng?" Shi Wei hinted at Fu Xicheng. "Besides, we're celebrating the new year today. Let's not talk about unpleasant matters."

Shi Jingzheng wanted to say something, but when he noticed how Shi Wei defended Fu Xicheng, his rage remained bottled up and he said nothing.

Jiang Yu instantly came to ease the situation. "Father is coming down soon. The new year is a few days away, and we are gathered for a reunion dinner. Good fortune will come if we remain harmonious." After Jiang Yu said that, Shi Yunsheng came down the stairs with the help of Shi Nuan.

The old man walked down slowly with his cane in one hand. His body was weak, but his eyes remained sharp and his mind wise.

Shi Yunsheng walked down and swept his gaze across everyone. He glared at Shi Jingzheng in warning before saying, "Since everyone's here, let's eat."

"Okay, dinner will be ready soon. Aunt Fu, hurry! Go help set up the table!" Jiang Yu tugged on Shi Jingzheng's sleeve. "Let's go into the dining room."

Shi Yunsheng sat down with the help of Shi Nuan. He pulled Shi Nuan's hand and said, "Nuan, where are you going? Sit beside me," he pointed at the seat right next to him before glancing at Su Shaoqing. "Mr. Su, you are our guest. Since you're Nuan's friend, sit beside me, too. You won't mind, right?"

"Of course not. It's your family dinner today, and I should thank you for inviting me." Su Shaoqing immediately took the seat right beside Shi Yunsheng. Hence, Shi Nuan and Shi Yunsheng occupied the seats beside Shi Yunsheng - the most important seats at the table.

Jiang Yu, who was about to take her seat, flushed in displeasure but dared not say anything. "Yes, you are right. He is our guest."

After everyone took their seats, dinner was served. The Shi family had a rule that no one should speak at the dining table. But because Jiang Yu was thinking about how to set Shi Nuan and Su Shaoqing up, she spoke up. "Nuan, you and Bancheng have known each other for so long. About your wedding="

"Keep quiet during meals and bedtime. Didn't the Jiang family teach you this rule?" Shi Yunsheng slammed his bowl and utensils down before glowering at Jiang Yu.

Jiang Yu stiffened, silently upset at the old man. "Dad, that isn't the point. Since Nuan brought him back on this important day, I... I am merely worried for her. Look, Wei is already married... She and Xicheng are happily married. I am just worried about Nuan as she might be suffering out there alone. She might as well marry and take care of her own family. Bancheng is a capable man, so I don't want Nuan to miss him!"

Jiang Yu seemed to have thought of everything for Shi Nuan. But she didn't mention the most important point - that her aim was to use Shi Nuan.

"Nuan, am I right?"

Shi Nuan hung her head low. When she heard Jiang Yu call her name, something glistened in her eyes and her lips curled up in a bitter smile. But when she lifted her head up, she shot a sharp gaze at Jiang Yu. "I should listen to your opinion before getting married. But in this era, when freedom of marriage is an individual's right, I..." Shi Nuan's lifted her gaze to Su Shaoqing and smirked. "Mr. Jiang and I have just got to know each other. We don't know each other that well, and we are just friends. Moreover, Mr. Jiang doesn't live in Jiang City. I think we both need to consider our options well."

"You..." Jiang Yu was lost for words. "Nuan, girl, why did you bring Bancheng back home if you're not interested in him? We might misunderstand your relationship."

Shi Nuan acted as if she heard something funny. She asked, "Didn't you ask me to bring him back?"