Shi Nian gave a bittersweet smile at this point.
This was equivalent to revealing her own humiliations in front of the won of the Tang Family.
She awkwardly smiled at Shen Wan.
"In the past with Xiang Yuan... in the last two years, the relationship had long faded from intense to indifferent, and I even started questioning whether I truly loved him. Yet, despite that, I still held grudges against my rival Rosa, unable to let go. Any news about Rosa would catch my special attention. This issue, even after divorce, couldn’t be changed. I invested a lot of emotion and ti into her car accident case."
"So I said Auntie Huo’s situation is similar to mine back then, just like the second miss ntioned: won have a compulsion when it cos to matters of the heart. On the flip side, if Auntie Huo still can’t forget Uncle Tang, then with her personality, she might as well go directly after Uncle Tang, instead of being together with his close friend, Doctor Du."
An Cheng, feeling reluctant, crossed her arms and replied coldly, "She might be with my dad deliberately just to annoy Uncle Tang!"
Shi Nian tilted her head, "That also depends on Doctor Du’s own thoughts. If he is willing, then no outsider has the right to interfere."
"But I can’t!" An Cheng glared coldly at Huo Danru, "He is my dad, I can’t watch him being used like a pawn!"
As a news officer for the police departnt, Su Xi Liu furrowed her brows and leaned forward to hold An Cheng’s hand, "Chengcheng, don’t forget your position as an assistant district attorney; your words need to be reasonable and legal. You’ve just ntioned sothing overly personal, risking infringing on a citizen’s private rights."
An Cheng was caught in a dead end, not able to get out. "This is a private occasion now; I’m not an assistant attorney; I’m firstly my dad’s daughter!"
Seeing An Cheng was so determined to make a fuss and not trying to quell matters, Shi Nian decided to join in, slapping the table, "Alright, let’s clear this up!"
She grabbed her phone, dialed Du Songlin’s number, then handed it to An Cheng, "Ask Doctor Du yourself now whether he feels like a backup plan and whether he is willing to be one?"
An Cheng paled with anger, glaring at Shi Nian, "How dare you!"
Shen Wan and Su Xi Liu looked at the situation between the two; Shi Nian was apparently softer in presence than An Cheng, so they worried An Cheng might vent her anger at Shi Nian. They exchanged a glance and decided to intervene, each pulling one aside.
Shi Nian still smiled serenely, "Madam Liu, Third Aunt, don’t be anxious."
Their expressions and body language had already revealed their intentions.
Yan Sheng also ca over, concernedly pulling Shi Nian, "You’ve done plenty today, leave the rest to ."
Shi Nian turned around and smiled at everyone, "Don’t let An Cheng’s bad temper fool you. She doesn’t really want to go against Auntie Huo or stand up for Doctor Du... she is doing it for soone else."
An Cheng suddenly startled, reaching out to grab Shi Nian’s wrist, "Shut up!"
Shi Nian shook her head, "Everyone has known An Cheng longer than I have; you all know her true temperant. If she were unreasonable like this from the start, none of you would have beco friends with her, liked her, nor invited her today."
"But today An Cheng made a fuss, disrupting the atmosphere at the table, yet you all tolerated her, proving that over the years, you truly liked her and understood her."
"So everyone knows her temper today is strange, and even though it’s about Auntie Huo and Doctor Du, it shouldn’t have escalated so unconcernedly."
As Shi Nian spoke, the won present, from Shen Wan, Su Xi Liu, Yan Sheng, to Tang Yanyi, Tang Yanjian all showed knowing smiles, lips pressed together, saying nothing.
Only Tang Yanyu, perhaps because she had always been into making sweets, was a bit naive and couldn’t help but ask, "Shi Nian, what are you saying?"
Shi Nian simply nodded at her with a smile, "It’s called behavioral analysis."
"Behavioral analysis? That’s in my brother’s academic field!" Tang Yanyu also beca excited.
"Yes," Shi Nian’s cheekbone flushed faintly pink, "taught at Kangchuan University by Mr. Tang."
She paused slightly, turning her eyes toward An Cheng, "Everyone gets angry, but if soone goes beyond their usual self-restraint and suddenly gets very angry, it’s not ordinary anger—she’s using anger to cover up inner hurt and loss."
Tang Yanyu looked at An Cheng in surprise, "But Sister Cheng... why would she feel hurt and lost?"
Shi Nian smiled dimly, gestured to everyone present, "Because everyone here is Tang Family, only An Cheng and I are outsiders. And I still have so history with Mr. Tang, while An Cheng herself... has always kept a clear distance from that Tang Family mber. So today’s celebratory atmosphere would instead enlarge the inward loss and emptiness, making us feel isolated from your group, feeling a sense of loneliness and solitude."
Hearing this, even the one who didn’t understand, Tang Yanyu, finally understood.
"... Second brother?"
Everyone’s gaze gathered on An Cheng, transforming from initial shock to clarity, then tenderness.
An Cheng accustod to assertiveness, didn’t like this passive situation, and slamd the table, standing up, "Shi Nian, you chatter too much!"
Shi Nian t An Cheng’s gaze, "An Cheng, I’ve always admired you, admired your bravery and brightness in court. But when it cos to personal matters, why aren’t you as brave? Why can’t you tell us all that the reason you don’t want Auntie Huo with Doctor Du is because—if they get married, you and Lawyer Tang would beco siblings, and you’re afraid of this relationship being established?"
An Cheng was taken aback, staring at Shi Nian, stumbling with a smile, "You say you see as bright and brave? But that’s just after growing up. Yet, Auntie Huo’s relationship with my dad has been going on for over a decade. I was just a teenager then, powerless to stop or influence anything. Besides pushing them all away, what could I do, tell ?"
Shi Nian also felt a twinge of pain in her heart.
Indeed, she also overlooked this point. When it all started, An Cheng was just a teenager in puberty. Perhaps she had a budding feeling for Tang Yan Xi, only to soon discover Huo Danru and Du Songlin’s relationship. The harsh reality suppressed the fresh emotions, leaving her with the simplest choice—she pushed away Tang Yan Xi and Huo Danru.
Although she’s grown up now, the mindset ford over decades couldn’t be escaped.
Shi Nian nodded, smiling at An Cheng, "You can. Like now, expressing your inner thoughts."
Shi Nian warmly turned to everyone, "Look, they’ve all heard your difficulty and fear, yet no one laughs at you, nor looks down on you."
Shen Wan imdiately nodded, "... Yes, silly child. Even if you didn’t say, who among us wouldn’t see through your feelings for Yan Xi? Yan Xi hasn’t dared to date for over a decade, not even going to blind dates, for whom else?"
Huo Danru turned her surprised gaze to Shi Nian, then let her eyes fall back to An Cheng.
Huo Danru didn’t expect this mont to be analyzed by Shi Nian, the young kid, while being a professional psychologist herself.
She took a deep breath, "Chengcheng, I know you don’t like , but please don’t underestimate . Yes, maybe I’m not a reliable mother, my son has grown up beside Shen Wan, and has deeper feelings for her than ... But Chengcheng, do you think I am so selfish as a mother to disregard my son’s happiness for my so-called personal happiness?"
Huo Danru drew a deep breath, "I can tell you right now. Over the years, the reason I have been ambivalent with your dad, together for so long yet unwilling to go public, and even more unwilling to accept his proposal—is because of you and Yan Xi. I just don’t want to destroy your happiness for myself!"
"Danru!" Shen Wan reached over to hold Huo Danru’s wrist.
Huo Danru shook her head, "Chengcheng, I can tell you now: Your dad and I will never marry in this lifeti. Moreover, I promise you that if you acknowledge your feelings for Yan Xi, if you decide to be together, I will definitely withdraw from your dad’s life completely. For this, I’m willing to leave this city, even M Country. I can swear to you now!"
An Cheng was taken aback, staring fixedly at Huo Danru, speechless.
At this mont, Shi Nian’s phone suddenly rang. She quickly answered it, only to hear it was from the police, asking if she knew a Chinese nad Qi Xiuqi.
Shi Nian sensed sothing was wrong, "I know him. Could you tell what’s happened?"
The other party responded with an attitude of seriousness, "He’s suspected of murder. Please co to the police station."
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