“Are you really planning to leave Huang Yao?” Grandpa Shen asked.

  “Perhaps you are unhappy with me as your grandson-in-law, Grandpa?” There was an extremely confident smile on Sheng Xiao’s face.

  “I’m afraid that old man of your family would come directly to our door and make my life hell.”


  “You may be retired, Grandpa, but the Shen family still holds some stature. Moreover, with Second Uncle Shen strengthening his foundation, the Sheng family wouldn’t embarrass the Shen family directly.” Sheng Xiao replied with self-assurance.

  “Humph.” Even so, the old man was still grumpy. “No wonder you would bring Xiao Qi here in the middle of the night. If she didn’t like you, brat, I wouldn’t have bothered making an effort with you!”


  “I’m doing this to indicate my stance as well. I hope Grandpa would work with me and finish this act.”


  “But you would have to consider things carefully. When your grandfather comes to me tomorrow, he really would annul your engagement.”


  In response, Sheng Xiao turned towards Mu Qiqi with a gaze of tenderness and resolve. “In my heart, she never was a fiancée.”


  Mu Qiqi did a double take when Sheng Xiao added, “She is my one and only wife.”


  “Brat…”


  ***

  The four persons finished their discussion in the study, with Sheng Xiao and Mu Qiqi later staying the night.

  When they finally left the old man’s study, the old man told Shen Jianchuan helplessly, “We’ve been friends for decades, but I really don’t get how my Xiao Qi is not a match for his grandson.”


  “Father, he is serious about her. It means he would never allow Old Sheng controlling her.”


  “To be fair, you are retired and Qi’er is a girl, which means there’s no chance their marriage would offer the conditions for Sheng Xiao to develop Huang Yao. Moreover, Qiqi had insisted on becoming a forensic doctor—and with that being case, would Old Sheng be willing to let Qiqi be Sheng Xiao’s woman? He could simply find someone who benefits Huang Yao.”


  “Humph. He is the one who is being so calculating; he can’t blame me for taking away his grandson.”


  “The brat has charisma and competence. You just have to fulfill their wish.” Shen Jianchuan grinned as he watched his father.

  It was perfectly fine for Old Sheng to annul the engagement anyway. When that happened, they would see who loses more when Sheng Xiao directly announced his departure from Huang Yao.

  “We’ll see tomorrow.”


  After having gone through a life of strife, what hadn’t Grandpa Shen gone through?

  His granddaughter’s engagement was going to be annulled?

  He was not going to sit and watch even if Sheng Xiao would endure it.

  Did Old Sheng think that the Shen family was easily bullied?

  For that old man to try something like this with him… the years in their decades of friendship was just a waste.

  Meanwhile, Shen Jianchuan smiled quietly.

  All he needs to do was enjoy the show anyway.

  ***

  In Mu Qiqi’s room at the Shen house, the owner was riding over Sheng Xiao’s body, tugging at his collar. “You hid a lot of things from me, didn’t you!”


  Sheng Xiao was unaffected, however, since lying on the bed like that was quite comfortable. “Didn’t I tell you now?”


  “You wouldn’t have told me if things did not come to this.” Mu Qiqi snorted. “When did you started a new company with Dad anyway?”


  “Just… recently.”


  “Are you really planning to leave the Sheng family?”


  “Yeah.” Sheng Xiao nodded, and wrapped his arms around her neck. “What? Am I not to your taste if I’m not the Crown Prince of Huang Yao?”


  “What is there to talk about since you’re marrying into my family?” Mu Qiqi shrugged off his arms and got off him. “Don’t you touch me tonight.”


  Sheng Xiao embraced her again and whispered into her ear, “Never stopped me before.”


  “I’m angry. Be serious.” Mu Qiqi snorted again. “I’m so hurt that you didn’t tell me anything.”


  “You are wanting a mile here, little one. Who did I do all this for?”


  And it was the truth.

  When she saw how Grandpa Sheng relentlessly interfered with Fourth Sister’s life, she knew that her engagement with Xiao Xiao would eventually be annulled. She herself had considered how such a matter should be resolved.

  She just did not expect Sheng Xiao to simply leave the Sheng family, starting a new life as he marries into the Shen family.

  And there was no telling what major tides that would cause.

  “Little one, news of our engagement being annulled would spread tomorrow…”


  “Let it spread.” Mu Qiqi answered without a care. “It definitely would be about me dumping you!”


  “You need a spanking.” Sheng Xiao held her and slapped her in the buttocks.

  Mu Qiqi did not resist. The man never put strength into his slaps anyway—she simply considered it a massage.

  When the next day comes, Grandpa Sheng would be demanding an annulment of Mu Qiqi engagement by blaming her for what happened to Seventh Sister.

  And that was fine.

  Sheng Xiao would use the excuse that the old man was making life decisions for him without his approval, hence severing all ties with the burden that was Huang Yao.

  Was he afraid?

  Never.

  In fact, he preferred the air with the Shen family and their unity.

  There would probably be many a person losing sleep tonight.

  After all, even Old Sheng was worried that something unexpected would happen or whether Sheng Xiao would catch on to his schemes.

  Mama Sheng was anxious over Sheng Xiao as well, but on whether Sheng Xiao might run into frightening consequences after showing his hand.

  The two persons actually involved, however, were unaffected and slept soundly…


  ***

  Early next morning, Sixth Brother went to Grandpa Sheng’s study.

  “Grandpa, I’ve thought about it overnight. I think I should personally visit Old Shen, and only that would show my position and determination.”


  “Bring him to the hospital straightaway,” the old man told him. “Show Old Shen you sister’s miserable state and have your parents throw a fit at him. Only then would there be sufficient reason to call off the engagement.”


  “Got it!” Sixth Brother exclaimed. “Then, about Eighth Brother…”


  “Don’t mind him. When news spread, he would definitely come home to settle the score with me, but the ship would have sailed by then. He won’t be able to do a thing.” The old man had never planned to get Sheng Xiao’s approval in the first place—because he knew Sheng Xiao would never approve.

  “What if Eighth Brother fights back hard?”


  “He would be busy trying to come up with an explanation for Mu Qiqi.” Grandpa Sheng waved him off. “They would separate eventually when they have no right to be together and misunderstandings start to pile. Don’t worry.”


  “Alright. That will do it.” Sixth Brother promptly left, ready to see through his task whatever happened!

  After all, he couldn’t help wanting to cut Mu Qiqi into tiny pieces whenever he saw how miserable Seventh Sister was.

  Not letting her into the Sheng family was already the lightest punishment now.

  That said, was the Sheng family even aware that Sheng Xiao was ready to leave?

  Not grateful that he held Huang Yao for you lot together? Still scheming?

  Fine, keep Huang Yao for yourselves!