I Want a Lifetime with You
Chapter 352

Shi Nuan picked an outfit that was suitable for a celebratory occasion. Then she waited for Fu Chengyan, who still hadn't come home because he had been busier these days. Yet, she received the man's phone call after waiting over an hour. "Sorry, May. I don't think I'll be able to attend the party with you."

Shi Nuan was taken aback. "What's wrong? Did something happen at work?" she asked instinctively. "No," Fu Chengyan replied. "Something came up at the Fu Residence. I'll have to head over." "But... I promised Granddad that I'd take you to the party. My parents are also expecting you... Okay, then. It'll be fine if I show up a little late." Despite feeling a little dejected, Shi Nuan knew that Fu Chengyan was a man of his word; if he couldn't make it, there had to be something more important he needed to take care of. "I'll go on my own, then."

"Wait!" Fu Chengyan called out to her before pausing for a moment. "I'll get Shaoqing to go with you."

"T-That's not necessary!"

"I'm worried," Fu Chengyan responded with a sigh. "No one else in the Shi family aside from your granddad knows that we're married. They might give you a hard time if you don't head over with Shaoqing." Shi Nuan pursed her lips as her gaze darkened. Eventually, she nodded. "Okay, then."

"May!" Fu Chengyan called out to her. "Come home earlier."

"You too," Shi Nuan replied and hung up. She then remained seated for a while before pulling herself together and getting ready.

Su Shaoqing's phone call came just as she left home. "Where are you now, Nuan?"

"I just left home." Shi Nuan hopped into her car and buckled her seatbelt. "What about you?"

"I'm at the hospital. I'm gonna have to ask you to give me a ride!" Su Shaoqing answered with a smile. "I just finished up my work here." "Okay. Thanks for your help, Mr. Su!"

"Not at all!" Su Shaoqing chuckled, and his eyes gleamed as he hung up.

This is such an important moment, but he's making me go there as an imposter instead of attending the party himself? Is this really appropriate?

Still, Su Shaoqing didn't think too much about it. He headed into his office, removed his white coat, put on a clean suit, and left the hospital.

Shi Nuan's car was parked right outside the hospital. Su Shaoqing had actually lost this eye-catching, red Ferrari to Fu Chengyan during a bet. He certainly didn't expect Shi Nuan to be driving it now. Shi Nuan wound down the window. "Over here, Mr. Su!"

In one smooth motion, Su Shaoqing strode over, opened the door, and hopped in.

With a twinkle in his eyes and a faint smile, he gazed at Shi Nuan. "You must be upset that Chengyan can't come with you, Nuan."

Shi Nuan shot Su Shaoqing a quick glance. "Your seatbelt, Mr. Su."

Su Shaoqing shrugged and stopped talking. It was clear that Shi Nuan wasn't in a particularly good mood.

Shi Jingzheng's birthday party was being held at the Shi family's hillside villa. It wasn't a huge celebration, but there were still a fair number of attendees.

Shi Wei had specially taken a day off from set. The woman had been so busy filming Beneath the Sky that she hadn't appeared in the public eye for a while, so making an appearance at this time would certainly attract everyone's attention.

Shi Jingzheng and Jiang Yu had always treated her like a gem, so they brought her wherever they went, introducing her to all the business tycoons who had come. Following Shi Jingzheng around with a wineglass in her hand was a breeze for Shi Wei. She perfectly displayed the image of an elegant lady.

Fu Xicheng had come too. While they had gotten into a huge fight previously, it had been a long time since then. As the two finally reunited after several months, the flames of desire burned within them, and they spoke with each other amicably. Both families seemed happy to meet too.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yu was busy speaking with Liu Minjun. Despite being family, there was now an invisible barrier between the two women after clashing with each other in the past. The incident involving Shi Wei and Shi Nuan had led to Liu Minjun being humiliated by Shi Nuan.

Liu Minjun scanned her surroundings. “It's your husband's birthday today. Isn't your youngest daughter coming?"

Jiang Yu squinted. She didn't like Shi Nuan herself, but hearing Liu Minjun mention this still made her uncomfortable. Of course, it didn't help that Shi Nuan was now with someone from the Su and Jiang families. Jiang Yu carried on diplomatically, "She said she'll be coming with her boyfriend, and the guy so happens to be the son of Su Yunwan and someone from the Jiang family!" she remarked while gazing at Liu Minjun. As expected, the latter woman's expression took a turn.

"Is that so?"

"Yup!"

As the lively party carried on, Shi Nuan arrived outside the villa. She glanced at the building and sighed gently before turning to see Su Shaoqing looking at her with a faint smile. That seemingly innocent smile made her feel rather uncomfortable. "Why are you looking at me like that, Mr. Su?"

Su Shaoqing stroked his own chin. "You look like you don't want to be here, so why did you insist on coming?"

Shi Nuan sighed. "There are times when you can't choose not to do something just because you don't want to. Let's go."

Shi Nuan opened the car door and took out the gifts. Su Shaoqing arched his eyebrow and nodded approvingly before getting out as well. "I'll take those."

Shi Nuan readily handed all the gifts to Su Shaoqing. "I'm counting on you then, Mr. Su."

"Come on. We've known each other for so long, so just call me Shaoqing!"

Shi Nuan chuckled. "But you won't be Su Shaoqing when we get there."

Su Shaoqing raised an eyebrow again. "To think I'd still have to pretend to be my cousin. He won't forgive me if he replaces out about this." Despite saying that, the man didn't look sorry at all.

"You're finally here, Ms. Nuan!" An awkward look appeared on Mr. Yang's face as he saw Shi Nuan and Su Shaoqing arrive. "Where's Mr. Fu?"

"He couldn't come, so be sure not to miscall anyone," Shi Nuan replied.Mr. Yang nodded.

"I'll be careful."

Since Shi Nuan couldn't officially take Fu Chengyan to meet her family this time, the butler naturally couldn't refer to someone else as him. If anyone were to misunderstand, Shi Nuan's reputation would surely be affected. "Hello, Mr. Su."

Su Shaoqing nodded. "It's been a while, Mr. Yang."

"This way, please, Mr. Su." Mr. Yang took the gifts from him and led the two into the villa.

Jiang Yu easily caught sight of them with her sharp eyes. "Look, Minjun! Speak of the devil! My daughter and her boyfriend have arrived," she emphasized. "In that case, please excuse me."

Jiang Yu sped over and pretended to dote on Shi Nuan. "You're finally here, Nuan! I was just talking about you." Then, she turned to Su Shaoqing. "I'm so glad to see you, Bancheng!"

Su Shaoqing grinned. "Hello, Mrs. Shi."

"Oh, my, my!" Jiang Yu beamed, treating Shi Nuan especially kindly.

Shi Nuan frowned slightly, unable to tell what Jiang Yu had up her sleeves this time.

Su Shaoqing was just as perplexed by Jiang Yu's behavior too, but it wasn't long until realization dawned on them both. Su Shaoqing had just spotted his aunt, Su Yunwan, and right behind her was Su Bancheng himself!

Su Shaoqing's lip twitched as he helplessly turned to Shi Nuan with his hand on his forehead.

Shi Nuan was bewildered too. "What's your cousin doing here? And who's the lady next to him?"

"She's my aunt."

Shi Nuan was speechless.

Just as she was about to say something, Jiang Yu happily walked over to the guests. "You're finally here, Yunwan! Bancheng's been here for a while!" she said while preparing to hold Su Yunwan's hand. Yet, the latter woman froze and evaded Jiang Yu

's grasp just in time. "My son's been here for a while already?" she asked in confusion, frowning at her son next to her.

Su Bancheng remained expressionless.

That was when Jiang Yu finally noticed the dignified-looking man next to Su Yunwan. "Who would this be, Yunwan?"

Su Yunwan smiled faintly. "He's my son, Su Bancheng. Aren't you acquainted with him, Mrs. Shi?"

Su Bancheng? He's Su Bancheng?

Jiang Yu's jaw dropped as she stared at Su Yunwan and Su Bancheng in disbelief. Then, she turned to Shi Nuan and Su Shaoqing, who weren't far behind. "You're kidding me, right, Yunwan? If he's Su Bancheng, who's that?"

As Su Yunwan's gaze followed Jiang Yu's, all the other guests also paused and looked in the same direction.

Su Yunwan was taken aback for a moment before raising an eyebrow. "Shaoqing? What are you doing here?"

Su Shaoqing?

All the guests were astonished. Deep down, they knew they wouldn't get to meet any notable big shots, but they had come anyway for Shi Jingzheng's sake. Now, everyone felt that it was indeed worth dropping by, for Su Bancheng and even Su Shaoqing had come too.

Knowing that he could no longer keep up the act, Su Shaoqing glanced at Shi Nuan. "Let's go. I'll introduce you to my aunt."

Shi Nuan sighed. I should've just come on my own. Things have just gotten real awkward now.

She also finally understood why Jiang Yu was being so nice to her - it was solely because of Su Bancheng and Su Yunwan.

"Okay. Let's go."

The two headed over. "Hi, Aunt Yunwan. Hi, Bancheng!" Su Shaoqing greeted them with an innocent smile.

Su Yunwan glanced at Su Shaoqing before turning to her own son. Seeing how composed her son looked somehow gave her an understanding of the situation. "What are you doing here?" she asked, putting on an act anyway.

Su Shaoqing grinned. "Hehe. I'm just here to join in the fun! This is my friend, Shi Nuan."

"Hello, Ms. Shi." Su Yunwan already knew a little about Shi Nuan despite meeting her for the first time.

"It's nice to meet you, Ms. Su," Shi Nuan greeted politely.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yu was completely dumbfounded; it took her a while to realize that she had been fooled. "You... You're not Su Bancheng?" Her face reddened. "Then what have you been doing with my daughter all this while? You were obviously lying!"

Su Shaoqing's eyes narrowed slightly as he maintained his smile. "That's where you're wrong, Mrs. Shi. I never said I was Su Bancheng."

"You..."