Shen Qingqing was sensitive to emotions and naturally picked up on Lin Fengmian's hostility.
Before coming to the Lin Family as a guest, Shen Qingqing had already prepared herself ntally.
Because of this, she didn't feel hurt.
Jiang Zhixun lifted his eyelids slightly and glanced at Lin Fengmian indifferently, "I brought my family mber along. Sorry for any inconvenience."
Lin Fengmian's expression froze.
Having been warned before not to speak harshly to Shen Qingqing, she imdiately understood—Jiang Zhixun was backing Shen Qingqing yet again.
Her heart felt unbearably sour.
Shen Qingqing had only been here for a few days, and she'd already won over Jiang Zhixun.
On the first day Shen Qingqing appeared, she had tried to talk to Jiang Zhixun in the cafeteria, but he ignored her completely.
He even seed eager to draw a clear line between them in front of so many people.
How did things flip so fast, with Jiang Zhixun now protecting Shen Qingqing like this?
What on earth did this woman do?
Lin Fengmian's breathing grew heavy, but she forced herself to control her expression, refusing to lose her temper.
The only one she couldn't stand was Shen Qingqing; she couldn't just scare away the other guests.
She squeezed out a forced smile. "My brother and sister-in-law are cooking. I ca down to welco you."
Everyone present could see straight through Lin Fengmian's thoughts.
Chen Shaojie stepped in to smooth things over, "Little Bao must've been eager to see us, co on, let hold him."
Saying this, he reached out to take the baby boy from Lin Fengmian's arms.
The baby stared fixedly at Shen Qingqing.
His little face looked completely dazed.
Chen Shaojie hefted the baby lightly and joked while laughing, "At such a young age, he already knows how to appreciate a pretty lady?"
The baby, just starting to learn to talk, babbled indistinctly while reaching out toward Shen Qingqing.
His tiny body squird incessantly.
Chen Shaojie finally gave in and carried the baby over to Shen Qingqing.
"Old Jiang's godson, which ans he's your godson too, Shen Comrade. This little guy sure has sharp eyes—he knows who's on his side."
Shen Qingqing was surprised. Jiang Zhixun was so cold by nature—he'd acknowledge a child as his godson?
Her shoulder was injured, so Jiang Zhixun naturally took Xiao Bao into his own arms.
"Everyone here today is a godfather."
It wasn't an official arrangent; it was just sothing casually joked about during the baby's full-month celebration at the dining table.
Shen Qingqing knew they all got along well, or else she wouldn't have been eating with them in the cafeteria or invited to their ho as a guest.
With each person's food rations fixed, entertaining guests was considered quite extravagant.
But the baby still wanted Shen Qingqing to hold him, stretching his chubby little hands toward her incessantly.
His expression grew anxious, locked in that fragile mont before bursting into tears.
Lin Fengmian was nearly driven to tears herself by her nephew's actions.
This little rascal—how had he, too, learned to take the side of outsiders like his parents?
From the mont Shen Qingqing had entered the courtyard, her brother and sister-in-law had eagerly invited her ho as a guest.
Now even Xiao Bao was clamoring for Shen Qingqing to hold him.
Their family of three was just too much!
Snatching the baby forcefully from Jiang Zhixun's arms, Lin Fengmian reprimanded him sharply.
"You're so naughty! Why do you insist on being held by a stranger? What if one day you et a human trafficker—are you going to foolishly follow them too?"
The baby began wailing loudly.
The atmosphere turned awkward.
Cheng Jingliang and Chen Shaojie exchanged glances and shook their heads in unspoken agreent.
They both knew Lin Fengmian's temperant—her tongue was as sharp as a knife.
And now she'd turned that sharpness onto Shen Comrade—that was just too uncomfortable for everyone.
Were it not for Lin Zhidong and Zhou Xiaoi's social connections, they'd have already considered leaving.
Jiang Zhixun's gaze darkened with irritation. His hand, hanging at his side, montarily twitched, as if ready to grab Shen Qingqing's wrist.
But noticing her calm, detached expression, he silently pulled back.
In that mont, Jiang Zhixun felt as if he were seeing Shen Qingqing anew.
She seed mild-mannered and easygoing, yet deep within, she had built an impenetrable barrier.
Because she didn't care about Lin Fengmian, nothing the latter said or did could affect her emotionally.
Jiang Zhixun felt a mix of complex emotions, uncertain whether to feel heartache over Shen Qingqing's apathy.
Or to feel angry at her for always maintaining a gentle, obedient appearance in front of others.
Like a little rabbit whose deanor invited mistreatnt from everyone.
If only she had a bit of a temper, would Lin Fengmian dare treat her this way?
Shen Qingqing herself felt deeply annoyed.
She had neither received help from Lin Fengmian nor shared any bond with her—why should she put up with this treatnt?
The urge to leave grew stronger within her.
If she hadn't reminded herself repeatedly to stay—for the sake of not escalating the situation and jeopardizing her prospects with Jiang Zhixun—she would have already walked away.
Jiang Zhixun and Lin Zhidong had a good relationship, but that was his business.
Once the divorce was settled, it would no longer have anything to do with her.
All she wanted now was for Jiang Zhixun to quickly apply for a transfer back to Beijing.
She had fulfilled Madam Jiang's instructions, repaying the Jiang Family's kindness in raising her.
Afterward, they would go their separate ways, never to cross paths again.
Chen Shaojie could tell Shen Qingqing wasn't happy and cleared his throat to intervene, "There are no human traffickers in the courtyard, Xiao Mian. You care about Xiao Bao, but don't exaggerate like that."
Lin Fengmian glared at him. "I didn't say there are traffickers here—I'm just teaching Xiao Bao to be wary of strangers. Otherwise, one day soone might sell him off, and he'd still help them count the cash!"
Her tone was harsh, and the baby's crying grew even louder.
The Lin Family lived on the third floor.
The baby's piercing cries echoed all the way back ho.
Lin Zhidong poked his head out from the kitchen to look downstairs, "Why is he crying again?"
Then he spotted Jiang Zhixun and the others.
Imdiately, he called out, "Old Jiang, hurry up and bring Shen Comrade upstairs—it's so cold out there, don't let yourselves catch a chill."
Zhou Xiaoi, who was helping out in the kitchen, also poked her head out to look at the people downstairs.
She greeted warmly, "Shen Comrade, co on up! I made ginger sugar water—it's been waiting for you. Let's drink together."
Zhou Xiaoi always suffered terribly during her periods.
Especially in winter, when her hands and feet would turn ice-cold.
Lin Zhidong had made ginger sugar water specifically to comfort her body.
Drinking it was supposed to be good for won's health, and Zhou Xiaoi had held off drinking any so far, just to serve it to Shen Qingqing when she arrived.
Even though their family wasn't badly off, sugar was still a precious commodity.
Offering sugar water to guests was considered a classy gesture.
Shen Qingqing quickly composed herself emotionally and smiled in agreent. "I'll co up right away."
Lin Zhidong, whose vision was sharp, could imdiately tell from his sister's expression that things hadn't gone smoothly earlier.
He muttered softly, "That girl must've gotten herself worked up again—no wonder they were stuck downstairs and didn't co up sooner."
Zhou Xiaoi sighed in frustration, "I specifically reminded her not to babble recklessly, or she'd strain your friendship with Jiang Zhixun and make everyone uncomfortable. Looks like my warning was for nothing."
Zhou Xiaoi truly didn't understand why her sister-in-law felt such an intense sense of hostility.
Shen Qingqing hadn't hard her in any way.
Nor had she stolen her man.
Disliking a romantic rival was only natural.
But Shen Qingqing was the legal spouse listed on Jiang Zhixun's marriage certificate—even if Lin Fengmian didn't like her, she should at least keep it under wraps.
Instead, Lin Fengmian seed determined to show everyone why she so blatantly disliked Shen Qingqing.
It was impossible to tell whether she was simply unaware of how rumors could spread.
Or just too foolish to appreciate how painful it was to be gossiped about behind one's back!
The sound of footsteps echoed in the hallway, prompting Zhou Xiaoi to quickly wipe her hands and go out to welco the guests.
As she spotted the canned food Jiang Zhixun was carrying, Zhou Xiaoi felt deeply embarrassed.
Here were people bringing gifts as guests, while her sister-in-law treated their wife with an attitude so hostile it felt like her eyes and nose were misaligned.
If not for her brother's good reputation, Lin Fengmian would have probably beco everyone's least favorite person in the courtyard by now!
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