Han Hai dismissed it, placing the lamb chop into her bowl with a smile. "You're so pretty, and a bit plump. Eat more, so you can have my babies later."
He chuckled at his own perceived humor. Shu Zhongze forced a cold smile, while Jia Nanfang, her face pale, couldn't manage a laugh. She desperately wanted to assert her former status as Mrs. Shu and cancel the engagement.
However, without Shu Zhongze's word, she could only remain silent.
Han Hai's mother sensed the awkward atmosphere and quickly said with a smile, "My son just speaks his mind. Miss Shu, you look like you'll have plenty of children. A woman who's already given birth won't have to worry about infertility later."
Jia Nanfang was about to erupt, but seeing Shu Zhongze seemingly unfazed, sipping his red wine as if he hadn't heard a word the Han family was saying, she held back.
Shu Yan felt utterly bullied by the Han family, yet her parents offered no defense. Clenching her fists tightly, she stood up, unable to bear it any longer. "Excuse me, I need to use the restroom."
She left the private room and headed straight for the restroom. The thought of Han Hai's parents, even more terrifying than Han Hai himself, and her parents' firm resolve to marry her off to such a man, sent a sharp pain through her chest.
She looked at her face in the mirror, covered in thick foundation. Her heart felt like a stagnant pool, devoid of any ripples.
To have reached this point, to be scrutinized like a sow in a market by the Han family, who was to blame?
Suddenly, she let out a laugh at her reflection. It was all because of Gu Susu.
That Gu Susu, who was inferior to her in every way, yet possessed everything: Qin Tianyi's love, Huo Jin's friendship, a lovely son... she was so much happier than Shu Yan!
It was all because of Gu Susu, entirely because of her. Shu Yan shouldn't even be alive; she should have died long ago!
Shu Yan splashed some water on her face in the restroom, meticulously reapplying her makeup, intending not to return to the private room.
However, the moment she stepped out of the restroom, someone blocked her path.
"Shu Yan, I want to talk to you."
She looked up and recognized Xiao Anjing. Immediately, she agreed, "Okay, take me away."
Without another word, Xiao Anjing grabbed her arm and led her away from the hotel.
...
Shu Zhongze was also nearing his limit with the Han family. He just wanted the dinner to end quickly. Seeing that Shu Yan hadn't returned from the restroom after a long while, he reminded Jia Nanfang, "Go check the restroom. Why hasn't she come back yet?"
Jia Nanfang immediately got up to look for Shu Yan, also wanting a breath of fresh air outside the private room.
But she couldn't find Shu Yan in the restroom and began to panic. Had Shu Yan left like this?
Good heavens, what was she going to do? If Shu Yan left, Shu Zhongze would surely fly into a rage.
Jia Nanfang forced herself to calm down. Perhaps Shu Yan had gone home first. She could just tell Shu Zhongze that Shu Yan was feeling unwell and had gone home.
Having decided, she quickly called the household staff, instructing them to have Shu Yan lie down and feign illness if she returned home.
Then, with a smile, she returned to the private room and sat in the seat next to Shu Zhongze. "Yan'er isn't feeling well, so she's gone home," she announced.
Her voice was loud enough for the Han family to hear.
Shu Zhongze didn't seem particularly angry upon hearing this. "Is that so? Then perhaps we should go back too, and see what's wrong with her?"
Han Hai's face immediately darkened. His parents, still smiling, said, "In-laws, we haven't touched most of this food..."
Jia Nanfang understood Shu Zhongze's intention – he no longer wished to deal with this family. She quickly said, "Perhaps next time. There are no outstanding issues regarding the wedding details. Once we're in-laws, we'll have plenty of opportunities to visit."
"Indeed, indeed." Han Hai's mother was unhappy, but she thought that as long as they married Shu Yan into their family, the Shu family would surely be compliant.
Shu Zhongze, utterly annoyed, stood up to leave. But as he reached the door of the private room, someone pushed the door open from the outside, flashed a badge, and asked, "Excuse me, is Shu Yan here?"
Shu Zhongze was almost hit by the suddenly opened door, but Jia Nanfang quickly shielded him.
They both looked at the identification presented. Jia Nanfang exclaimed in surprise, "Are you police officers?"
The leading officer flashed his badge. "Yes. Which one is Shu Yan? Please accompany us."
"She's not here," Shu Zhongze replied calmly. "What is this about?"
"She is suspected of involvement in a homicide case." The two police officers walked directly into the private room, scanning the area. They indeed did not see the woman from the photograph they had. They then asked, "Where did she go? What is your relationship to her?"
Everyone in the private room was stunned, unable to react.
The police officer repeated the question, "What is your relationship to her? Do you know where she went?"
The Han family recovered from their shock and no longer dared to claim kinship. Han Hai's mother hurriedly said, "We have no relation to her. This has nothing to do with us. We should be going."
As she spoke, she tried to pull Han Hai away, but a police officer blocked their exit at the door. "No one can leave right now."
Han Hai's mother immediately pointed at Jia Nanfang. "She is Shu Yan's mother, and that is Shu Yan's father. We have absolutely no connection to them."
"If you have no connection, why were you dining together in the same private room?" the police officer retorted.
Han Hai's mother was speechless.
Shu Zhongze, recovering from his shock, calmly asked, "Officer, how could she have killed someone? Is there a mistake?"
Jia Nanfang hastily chimed in, "Yes, officers, you must have the wrong person."
"Whether it's a mistake or not, we still need Shu Yan to come to the police station to cooperate with the investigation." The police officer asked expressionlessly, "Do you know where she went?"
Shu Zhongze then asked, "What homicide case? Who do you suspect she killed?"
"We are asking where she went! If you know, answer quickly." The police officer refused to disclose any further information.
Han Hai's father, fearing trouble, told the police, "She was dining with us just now, and then said she was going to the restroom. She didn't come back out. Mrs. Shu said she was feeling unwell and had gone home."
The leading police officer quickly whispered a few words to another officer, who immediately went to the Shu residence to find her.
Han Hai, seeing that the police knew where to look, asked, "Can we leave now?"
The leading police officer, however, said, "All of you must come back to the police station with us and explain everything you know."
Han Hai's mother nervously asked, "Explain what? We're not familiar with Shu Yan. If you can't find her, what use is it to arrest us?"
"Madam, we are not arresting you. We are merely asking you to return to the police station to cooperate with the investigation." The leading police officer then gestured for them to follow.
Shu Zhongze and Jia Nanfang both wanted to know what had happened and cooperated by going to the police station.
However, the three members of the Han family complained incessantly from the car all the way to the police station, saying all sorts of unpleasant things about not wanting this marriage anymore.
They made remarks like Shu Yan had been used by Qin Tianyi and was unwanted, that she was shamelessly seducing their son, that she was a hussy, or even a murderer...