Volume One, Chapter 14: Unveiling the True Face

Shen Yanzhou was also present.

What was unexpected was that Jin Yao had come as well.

Jin Yao’s purpose was to gauge the situation in the Shen family; since the passing of Shen Changyuan and his wife, he rarely visited, and was not clear about Shen Zhaowu’s position within the family.

Now, seeing the table filled with seafood and Zhaozhao standing awkwardly to the side, without even a seat, his heart clenched painfully.

His gaze instantly turned cold.

“Shen Hanchuan,” Jin Yao spoke, holding back his anger, his lips thin and voice icy, “Is your family too poor to afford tables, or is it chairs you can’t buy?”

Shen Hanchuan responded blankly, “What’s wrong?”

In the end, it was Shen Yanzhou who asked Mrs. Wang to bring another chair.

With a chair, Shen Zhaowu sat down, only to find there were no chopsticks or bowl for her.

She lowered her eyes, sitting quietly in the corner of the table.

Every dish was placed far from her.

Jin Yao felt a wave of discomfort, and pushed the chopsticks and bowl in front of him toward her, then got up to ask Mrs. Wang for another set.

Only then did Shen Yanzhou notice the detail. Shen Hanchuan, belatedly aware, scolded Mrs. Wang, “Mrs. Wang, are you getting old? How could you forget something so simple? No chopsticks or bowl for Zhaozhao—did you expect her to eat with her hands?”

Jiang Yao suddenly found the seafood unappetizing; she tugged Shen Hanchuan’s sleeve and softly pleaded for Mrs. Wang, “Second Brother, Mrs. Wang didn’t mean to…”

Her way of addressing him had also changed from “Brother Hanchuan” to the more affectionate “Second Brother.”

“Alright, for Yao’s sake, let’s leave it at that.”

The atmosphere at the table was eerily silent.

Just then, Shen Xingchen suddenly spoke. “Zhaozhao, you’ve changed a lot.”

In the past, whenever she saw him, the young girl tried to appear calm, yet her eyes betrayed a longing to be close, like a kitten hoping to be stroked.

As long as he beckoned her, she would obediently come over, emptying her pockets of all sorts of precious trinkets with a jingling clatter.

She would then pick out what she thought was most delicious or fun, one by one.

She’d offer them up to him, her big, glistening eyes blinking sweetly as she spoke in a soft, childish voice, “Here, Third Brother, just for you…”

His little sister had always been greedy for treats.

She used to eat with more enthusiasm than anyone.

But now, she didn’t even spare her third brother a glance, nor did she touch her chopsticks. Instead, it was Yao who now carried echoes of Zhaozhao’s younger self.

He couldn’t help but feel a pang of tenderness, remembering the little Zhaozhao.

He asked, “Isn’t there anything you like? Why aren’t you eating?”

Shen Zhaowu was too quiet.

There was a distance about her, a sense of being a thousand miles away, which made him unaccountably uncomfortable. “Learn from Yao—she’s not picky. But you, refusing to eat anything, what are you trying to prove with that face?”

Praised, Jiang Yao was all shy delight, smiling bashfully. “It’s because Mrs. Wang is such a wonderful cook; everything she makes is delicious. Maybe Sister Zhaozhao is just used to delicacies and doesn’t care for these ordinary things.”

Her words only made Zhaowu’s situation seem more pitiful.

Shen Hanchuan picked out a piece of boneless fish for Yao. “You’ve suffered, Yao; eat more meat so you’ll get strong!”

“Mm!” Jiang Yao nodded, completely satisfied. “Thank you, Second Brother, thank you, Third Brother! With you both caring for me, I’m already happy enough!”

Shen Hanchuan’s face softened. “Good girl.”

The heavy scent of seafood filled the room, and Shen Zhaowu felt an inexplicable urge to vomit.

She pulled at her lips in a mocking smile. “I’d like to eat, but how many dishes on this table can I actually have? I’d rather not risk my life just for a meal.”

Under the stark white chandelier, light struck her face, making her appear pale and fragile, as if she’d been through death itself.

At her words, Shen Hanchuan’s hand, midway to picking up food, paused. Shen Xingchen jerked his head up, the expressionless mask he wore threatening to crack.

Shen Yanzhou also frowned, ever so slightly.

Only Jin Yao, legs crossed, lounged in his chair, no longer in the mood to eat. “And to think you’re her brothers. Have you all forgotten that Zhaozhao is allergic to seafood?”

“Even I, an outsider, remember perfectly well—last time she ate seafood, she ended up in the hospital and nearly didn’t survive. Yet you, her own family, all managed to forget.”

Jin Yao was seething.

What kind of life was Shen Zhaowu leading in this household? Who, after all, was the true outsider here?

She never expected that it would be Jin Yao who spoke up for her.

Surprised, Shen Zhaowu found herself grateful—perhaps because, in two lifetimes, so few had ever stood up for her that even the smallest kindness was something she could savor for a long time.

Jin Yao’s words landed like a heavy blow, striking the hearts of the three Shen brothers.

Shen Hanchuan’s face changed. “Zhaozhao…”

How could he possibly forget her seafood allergy? She’d only been eight when she accidentally ate some, and ended up vomiting and having diarrhea until she was barely breathing by the time they got her to the hospital.

She’d been thin to begin with, and after the allergy, she was little more than a bag of bones.

From that day on, he’d sworn to protect his little sister.

But now…

His expression shifted again and again. Beside him, Shen Xingchen spoke in a cold tone, “You’re old enough. If you can’t eat seafood, why didn’t you say so? Keeping silent—are you trying to make it seem like we’re bullying you?”

We.

Shen Zhaowu was not included in their “we.”

Her heart gave an unexpected jolt of pain, her face growing even paler. She forced a smile, her voice tinged with bitter sarcasm. “I didn’t want to ruin your happy family reunion.”

Stung, Shen Xingchen’s strikingly androgynous face twisted.

He felt stifled, as if something was blocking his chest.

He had made a rare trip home; Zhaozhao not clinging to him was one thing, but now she’d even learned to talk back.

Well. Quite capable, wasn’t she?

“So aggrieved—has the Shen family starved you, or left you without clothes?” Shen Xingchen’s words were few, but always lethal. “Shen Zhaowu, do you even see me as your third brother anymore?”

“Do you still see me as your sister?” Shen Zhaowu gave a cool, faint smile, pushing down the lump in her throat and the ache in her heart. “You’ve always found me annoying, haven’t you, Third Brother?”

Shen Xingchen’s eyes trembled.

His lips parted, as if to speak.

Jiang Yao found her food tasteless. She’d never thought braised abalone could be so hard to eat. Tears welled in her eyes, dropping straight onto her plate.

“Jin Yao…”

She hadn’t expected him to speak up for Shen Zhaowu. Her heart ached as if pricked by needles.

Was it really so hard for a family to eat together in peace?

And did Zhaozhao have to cause trouble now of all times… A trace of resentment toward Shen Zhaowu grew in Jiang Yao’s heart.

A surge of impulse rose within her.

She would expose Zhaozhao’s true colors; she couldn’t let Jin Yao be kept in the dark!

Jin Yao was such a good man, yet Zhaozhao was hiding her secret lover and doing such shameless things…

She took a deep breath, summoning her courage.

“Jin Yao, I have something to say to you! Could we speak outside?” Surrounded by so many people, she still wanted to save Zhaozhao’s dignity.

For a moment, everyone glanced left and right, each with their own thoughts, but all eyes inevitably fell on Jin Yao and Jiang Yao.

Jin Yao doubted this woman could offer him any useful information.

But his curiosity was piqued. “Whatever you have to say, just say it here.”