"That's not necessarily true. Haven't you heard? This kid is a university classmate of Pei Kexin. What if…"
"Absolutely not! We won't give him any opportunity to get involved with company affairs! Once this is over, we'll find an excuse to remove Pei Kexin too. They can do whatever they want then."
"To think she could rely on taking in a live-in son-in-law to stay with the Pei family forever! She's truly audacious! Do they think we're all dead?"
"So, Elder Sister, you mean…"
"As long as the old man is still breathing, Pei Kexin stays for one more day. Conversely… she's just a foundling, a wild girl. We've raised her for so many years, and making her so prominent is already immense benevolence! And she still wants to divide the property? If she doesn't know her place, don't blame us for being ruthless!"
Finally, the two male household members worked together to help Zhan Jingchen back to his room.
Oscar owed Zhan Jingchen a trophy.
He stumbled his way back, muttering nonsense, and upon reaching the bed, he collapsed like a puddle of mud, unable to move. He had successfully made everyone believe he was just a good-for-nothing.
His two nephews watched his pathetic state, sneered a couple of times, and left without closing the door.
After lunch, with nothing else to do, everyone began to arrange Elder Sister's moving-in arrangements.
The villa had three floors, and excluding the maid's room, there were a total of ten rooms of various sizes.
However, they were all occupied. Now, only a storage room on the first floor and an attic were empty.
Needless to say, given Elder Sister's temperament, she would naturally refuse to stay in the storage room or the attic.
Upon hearing the specifics from the maid, both daughters pouted.
"If it's really that bad, can you divide a suite for us? The three of us can squeeze in. Having us live in the storage room and the attic would be a joke if it got out!"
"We're guests at Uncle's house. We don't pick at our food or drink, but surely we should at least have a bed, right?"
This was precisely what was vexing the Pei family.
They had come under the guise of taking care of the elderly man, and since they were relatives, they couldn't be kicked out. Seeing them loafing around shamelessly every day was quite sickening.
"It's just a bed. If Manman wants one, we can just move one from Sister's room for you. Are Uncle and Aunt going to mistreat you when you're here to take care of your maternal grandfather?"
Mother generously resolved the issue with a single sentence.
However, Sister was unhappy.
"Don't touch my things! Why is it that everyone else's things are left alone, but mine are targeted? Are you bullying me? In a couple of days, my classmates are coming to play. If I don't even have a bed for them to sleep in, how will I face them? Mom, can you at least ask for my opinion before making decisions?"
Second Sister-in-law was pleased with her daughter's words. She sighed as if helpless and then turned to ask her son.
"Zong Shen, how about you…"
Pei Zong Shen lounged there, already impatient with his two cousins.
"Fine, I'll just move out and give them the entire house. We've squeezed enough for so many years, and you still want to squeeze? I'll just stay in a hotel every day from now on!"
Second Sister-in-law put on an act of being unable to do anything about her children and then looked at Elder Sister-in-law.
Elder Sister-in-law understood the situation perfectly and said with a faint smile.
"It's just a bed. Look at how you're talking. Is our family so poor that we can't afford to buy one and have to move someone else's?"
"We won't move anyone's. I'll have someone go buy them right away. Elder Sister, what kind do you like? I'll buy three new ones."
In such a large household, needing to buy beds for newcomers was clearly intended to offend Elder Sister.
She wasn't foolish; she knew these people didn't welcome her and her mother.
But this was not the time to be concerned about dignity. The old man was on his last legs. If she didn't appear before him often and make her presence felt, what if the will didn't mention her? Wasn't that a loss outweighing the gain?
"Don't go to such trouble. I just want to stay for a few days and take good care of Dad. I don't care about anything else. Anything is fine."
"Don't talk about it anymore. I have a way."
The door wasn't closed, and there was constant shouting from downstairs. Although they couldn't hear what was being said, it was irritating.
Zhan Jingchen lay on the bed, pretending for a few minutes. He was too annoyed to bear it and decided to go close the door.
Unexpectedly, as he stepped into the living room, he heard footsteps thundering up the stairs.
With no time to run back to the bed, he quickly kicked off his slippers, lay down on the spot, and struck a clumsy pose to continue his act of being drunk.
Just as he was ready, the voices reached the doorway.
It was two men.
One said, "Let's move her things while she's not home. What if Miss comes back and gets angry?"
"Hmph, that's not our concern. Miss doesn't come back often anyway, and when she does, she only stays for a little while before leaving. Unlike them, if they tell us to move it, we'll move it. If she gets angry, she can't blame us."
The two entered the room as they spoke.
Seeing Zhan Jingchen lying on the floor by the door, they were startled.
"Oh no, why is the son-in-law sleeping on the floor? He's drunk and doesn't even have anyone put him in bed. Zong Shen and the others are too much."
"Alas, Miss was already not well-received. Now that the old man's health is failing, they can't even bother to pretend with her… It's not easy for her."
"Alright, stop talking. Let's quickly carry the son-in-law back to the room. Those madams downstairs are waiting."
Zhan Jingchen was tall and had long legs, though he wasn't fat. The butler and driver still had to exert themselves greatly to carry him back to the bed.
After settling him down, Zhan Jingchen lay under the covers and listened to them causing trouble in the second bedroom.
"I'll lift this side, you lift that side. Hurry up."
"A little further that way."
"More to the side, further still. Be careful of the doorframe."
"Okay, okay, don't move, you're going to pinch my hand."
With their incessant chatter, he listened from the master bedroom for several minutes before the two finally left.
So, they had come to Pei Kexin's room to move a bed.
Zhan Jingchen was again utterly speechless.
This Pei family was truly beyond description!
If you need a bed, buy a new one!
It's not like they lack the money!
If not, I'll give you the money!
They actually went into someone else's room to move a bed!
Where will I sleep for the next month?
Damn it!!
Sleep on the sofa? Sleep on the floor?
I really want to smack these idiots!
Just as he was angrily contemplating how to go out and snatch the bed back, a "clang" sound came from outside.
The bed was too large, and the movers couldn't see clearly. They bumped into the doorframe, and one of the bed legs got stuck inside the door, rendering them immobile.
Zhan Jingchen peeked at the situation and thought, this is the moment! Go get the bed back!
He feigned a sleepy and annoyed demeanor and stepped out of the bedroom. Just as he was about to speak, another voice came from the stairs.
"Why are you so slow? Two grown men, and so clumsy! The luggage has been placed for a long time. Hurry up!"
Elder Sister had caught up.
With her urging, the two stuck movers became nervous and stopped caring about anything else.
They exerted all their strength to push the bed outwards. With a harsh "crack," a piece of the doorframe was chipped off.
The bed went out, but her door was ruined.
Zhan Jingchen had originally intended to leave the bed there.
Looking at the missing piece on the door, he suddenly changed his mind.
What he wanted now was for Pei Kexin to return quickly.
He wanted to see her reaction when she came home from a day of hard work outside and found her room destroyed.