I Want a Lifetime with You
Chapter 383

Shi Nuan broke into laughter and chided, "Drive carefully!"

"Will do!" Fu Chengyan retracted his gaze and stepped on the accelerator.

Back in the parking lot, Shen Qianan strained and contorted her face as she stared after the vehicle that was long gone. She clenched her fists, and for the first time, she had to acknowledge the bitter humiliation she felt. No thanks to Fu Chengyan, of course.

How is that possible?

She recalled her pregnancy three years ago, and how Fu Chengyan had reacted then. Throughout the ordeal, he had remained calm even after replaceing out that the child wasn't actually his. Never once had he sought to put the blame on her. Shen Qianan thought that Fu Chengyan would treat her with some kindness. After all, they had spent some time together in the past. But now that someone else had appeared, Shen Qianan realized that the past truly meant nothing.

She bit her lip and made a call before leaving the parking lot.

When Fu Chengyan and Shi Nuan arrived, the Fu clan had already gathered in twos and threes. The banquet this time was a smaller affair, and there were not that many in attendance. Except for the core members of the Fu Clan, everyone else was not invited.

Now, this is a proper family banquet. Of course, that is if Shen Qianan doesn't show up, mused Shi Nuan.

The couple made their entrance, holding each other's hands. An astonished servant who saw the display exclaimed, "Young Master Chengyan! Ms. Shi!"

Suddenly, Fu Chengyan stopped in his tracks. He turned around and glanced at the servant and said, "She is my wife, and you will address her as Mrs. Fu. If you can't remember this, then you needn't work here."

There was no mistaking the anger that bubbled beneath his mild demeanor. To him, that servant had committed a faux-pas.

Hearing this, the servant's face paled, "Young Master... I-I had no idea!" He panicked and looked at Shi Nuan pleadingly. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Fu. Please forgive me!"

Shi Nuan smirked. "There's always room for improvement, and since this is the first time you've made this mistake, I'll forgive you. A fault confessed is half redressed, after all. But remember, the young master is not very fond of stupidity."

The servant nodded frantically.

Fu Chengyan glanced at Shi Nuan approvingly. He was happy to let her deal with such matters and found her performance satisfactory.

Soon, the rest of the Fu clan had caught wind of what happened. Fu Heng and Ning Xin did not think it was a big deal, but Fu Zhengyun had a bone to pick. He had already disliked Shi Nuan, and now he felt the need to express his disapproval. Having seen that the couple had made an entrance, Fu Zhengyun sighed, "What is she doing here? Doesn't she know it's a family gathering?" He was clearly not going to let this slide.

"She's my wife, and therefore, she is family. I see no harm in bringing May here. But if May is a stranger, doesn't that make me one too?" came Fu Chengyan's nonchalant reply.

"You!" Fu Zhengyun sputtered. He was so angry he could blow his top. "Is that how you talk to your grandfather?" Fu Chengyan had already drawn the ire of his grandfather over the last few days. Shi Nuan's presence at the family banquet only served to aggravate him further.

"As for you, what kind of sorcery have you used on Yan?" sneered Fu Zhengyun. Just a few days ago, the couple was giving each other the cold shoulder. Fu Zhengyun could not understand why they were suddenly back together again.

Shi Nuan stood beside Fu Chengyan with a smile as she met Fu Zhengyun's gaze, "Come now, I'm no sorceress. But there's always room for improvement!"

She continued, "Grandpa, I had initially thought of bringing a gift for the occasion, but Yan told me that since we're all family, such formalities are not necessary."

Fu Chengyan smiled as he held Shi Nuan's hand, and they promptly took their seats next to Ning Xin and Fu Heng. Just then, the servants opened the door. Fu Jiayu, Cheng Zhi, and Cheng An had arrived. "Uncle Chengyan!" The moment Cheng An laid eyes on Fu Chengyan, she leapt out of Cheng Zhi's arms and rushed toward Fu Chengyan. Tugging at Fu Chengyan's trousers, Cheng An climbed onto his thigh and gave him an enthusiastic greeting.

"Well, if it isn't little An!" Fu Chengyan gave Cheng An a rare smile and pinched her on the cheek.

Cheng An giggled, and then as if she had discovered color for the first time, she stared at Shi Nuan in awe. "Who is this pretty lady?" Cheng An blinked and clapped her hands. "This pretty lady looks just like Ms. Shen, but even more beautiful than her!"

Ah, how could one blame the innocence of a child? Shi Nuan and Shen Qianan looked very much alike! A comparison was inevitable.

Everyone except for Fu Chengyan was stunned by Cheng An's words. They couldn't help but look toward Shi Nuan instinctively. Even Fu Heng and Ning Xin glanced at Shi Nuan doubtfully, carefully weighing out what the child had just said. Granted, the resemblance was uncanny, but they were also very different up close.

At a glance, Shen Qianan seemed soft and delicate. However, everyone in the Fu clan was aware of the wiles she used to latch onto Fu Chengyan. Shi Nuan, on the other hand, seemed fragile on the outside as well. Yet there was no mistaking the tenacity, courage, and wit she possessed. These were qualities Shen Qianan sorely lacked.

Shi Nuan was momentarily stunned when she heard this. She quickly composed herself and with a gentle smile, said, "So you're An?"

Cheng An nodded, thinking that the pretty lady looked very beautiful when she smiled. She seemed so nice, and so gentle too! The most important thing was that she was nothing like Shen Qianan in character even though they bore a striking resemblance.

Cheng An liked this pretty lady, so she stretched her arms out and asked to be picked up.

Shi Nuan was stunned by the gesture and looked questioningly at Fu Chengyan. Even the others were taken aback. Cheng An had the tendency to be quite particular over who got to hold her, but somehow she was willing to cozy up to a complete stranger right now. Even among the members of the Fu clan, Cheng An would only let Fu Chengyan pick her up.

Fu Chengyan picked Cheng An up before gently placing her on Shi Nuan's lap. "You're too heavy, An! You might squish Aunt Nuan!"

"Aunt Nuan?" Cheng An blinked. "Uncle Chengyan, is she your wife?"

Fu Chengyan grinned. "Yes!"

"I like Aunt Nuan!" said Cheng An happily and kissed Shi Nuan on the cheek. "Aunt Nuan is less fierce, while Ms. Shen scares me!"

Shi Nuan stiffened a little and looked at Fu Jiayu.

Fu Jiayu had not expected her daughter to behave this way. No sooner had she opened her mouth to say something when a noise came from the door. Shen Qianan had arrived, and it so happened that she heard every word uttered by Cheng An.

Shen Qianan stood a little stiffly at the door, gifts in her hands. Her expression darkened briefly but she quickly replaced it with a smile. "Sorry for being late. I went to the mall after work to buy some gifts for Grandpa!"

Shen Qianan then changed into a pair of slippers and walked in. She handed the gifts over to a nearby servant and smiled at Cheng An. "An, it's been a while!"

Cheng An pouted. "Didn't we just meet a few days ago?"

Cheng An's childish voice contained a hint of dislike for Shen Qianan. The latter stiffened but replied, "Are you sure? After all, your Aunt Nuan and I look so similar! Maybe you're mistaken!"

"Aunt Nuan?" Cheng An blinked, "Ms. Shen, you look like her a lot, but I know how to tell you apart! She is gentle and beautiful, but you are fierce! You can also change your face in a split second, just like the witches Mommy told me about!"

Silence fell across the room.

Shi Nuan smirked satisfactorily. The barely concealed joy lingered on her face, even though she did not laugh out loud.

She hadn't expected the heavens to be looking out for her today, nor had she expected to leave such a good impression on Cheng An.

Fu Jiayu hurried over to ease the obvious tension in the air. Shen Qianan's expression had darkened further and everyone watched with bated breath. "Oh, what am I going to do with this child? I don't even know what she's been picking up at school!" said Fu Jiayu reproachfully. "I need to be careful about choosing schools!"

She then calmly took Cheng An off Shi Nuan's lap before gently setting her down. "An, you had been eating too much lately! You're so heavy now. How will your poor aunt be able to carry you?"

"It's really no trouble!" said Shi Nuan cheerily. "I'm not going to break into two anyway." I really like this kid, she thought.

Fu Chengyan nodded. "She has to get used to it in advance anyway. Otherwise, how can she bear my children?"

"Are you planning to have one already?" asked Fu Jiayu joyfully. "Honestly, having a child isn't all that bad. The pregnancy is the difficult bit, with the mood swings and all. But it's nothing you can't get used to!" She glanced briefly at Cheng Zhi and continued, "Of course, having a good husband is the most important part! If you can manage your pregnancy well, everything will go swimmingly from there! Nuan, let me tell you, pregnancy is a life-changing experience. I know I've definitely changed!"

"Is that so?" Shi Nuan smiled, pinching Cheng An's little cheeks. "Oh, darling, how cute you are!"

"Indeed. When Cheng An was younger, her father put in so much effort to raise her! More than me, I might add!" At the mention of Cheng Zhi, Fu Jiayu's face lit up. "That's why I said that having a good husband is important! Isn't that right, Yan?"

Fu Chengyan smiled wryly. "Well, as long as she bears my children, I'll do the rest!" He held Shi Nuan's warm hand in his and gave it a playful pinch. "Don't worry, Jiayu. I won't lose to my brother-in-law!" "That's settled then!" Fu Jiayu turned her head to level her gaze at Shen Qianan. "Qianan, you may be a guest, but you're no stranger to us. You didn't have to bring gifts!"

What she said was meant to draw a line of sorts.

Shen Qianan's expression froze. "It's only a gesture. Since I've been such a bother to the Fu clan, I only wanted to take the opportunity to thank Old Master Fu."

Fu Zhengyun snorted coldly at her words. "That's awfully considerate of you, Qianan. Unlike someone here who is clearly unwelcomed, but still doesn't have the sense to make a good impression!"

Shi Nuan narrowed her eyes and raised an eyebrow. "How right you are, Grandpa. It was considerate of Qianan to do that, but how could you let a guest spend money on you?"