Yue Qingxin and Sima Han watched the interaction between the two people in front of them and couldn't help but laugh.
Shen Xiaoyan was already five months pregnant, yet her belly was as large as an eight-month pregnant woman’s. Compared to Yue Qingxin, who was half a month less along, Shen Xiaoyan's belly looked terrifyingly huge.
However, Shen Xiaoyan felt very well. She could eat well and had not experienced any adverse reactions since the beginning. Now, at five months pregnant, she hadn't developed issues like leg cramps or dark spots on her face.
Even Yue Qingxin, apart from the first month, had no further discomfort.
Qu Shi watched the two women from the side and praised their good fortune, saying that carrying a child was easier for them than for ordinary people.
The group returned to the front. Before they could even enter the house, they saw Huo Cheng rushing from the end of the corridor.
“Madam, Xu Xiao’e is here,” Huo Cheng shouted before he even reached them.
Xu Xiao’e is here? What is she doing here?
Shen Xiaoyan and Zheng Wei exchanged a glance, both feeling bewildered.
“Ask her what she wants. If she has no business, tell her to leave,” Zheng Wei frowned.
Qu Shi hurried forward and said to Shen Xiaoyan, “Madam, shall I go and see?”
Shen Xiaoyan nodded. “Go, but don't let her in.”
Qu Shi agreed and quickly walked away. Shen Xiaoyan watched her go, and instead of entering the house, she sat down on the corridor bench.
Not long after Qu Shi left, she returned with a displeased expression. She bowed to Shen Xiaoyan and the others and said, “Master, Madam, that Xu Xiao’e said she specifically came with her husband to visit her sister and brother-in-law. If they don't let her in, she will wait by the gate.”
Shen Xiaoyan was so amused she almost laughed. Is she clinging to me now?
“Let’s go and see what she wants,” Shen Xiaoyan said, standing up to go forward.
Zheng Wei stopped her. “I’ll go…”
“She came specifically to see me today. If I don’t go now, she might still come later. It’s better to see what she’s really after,” Shen Xiaoyan said with a smile.
Zheng Wei pondered for a moment and nodded in agreement.
“Eldest Sister, you don't need to see her. It's best not to meet people like that,” Shen Xiaoyan said, taking a few steps forward, then turning to Yue Qingxin.
Yue Qingxin nodded. She really didn't want to see someone so shameless; it would dirty her eyes.
Shen Xiaoyan and Zheng Wei walked hand in hand to the front yard and saw that the main gate was open, with Huo Si and Huo Cheng standing by the gate to block it.
Outside stood a plump man nearing fifty, with Xu Xiao’e beside him.
Behind them stood two maids. Further back was a carriage, with a coachman standing by the horse.
Shen Xiaoyan examined the group and thought, this fat man must be Yu Duobao.
Yu Duobao had dark skin and was not tall, resembling a barrel.
His fat face was creased with a smile, and he would occasionally glance at Xu Xiao’e.
Looking at Xu Xiao’e, her attire was clearly several levels above what she wore before marriage. However, the colors and styles of her clothes were too bright, somewhat mismatched with her pale complexion.
Xu Xiao’e’s head was adorned with golden hair accessories, and her face was heavily made up, exuding an air of arrogance.
Shen Xiaoyan realized that Xu Xiao’e was here to show off.
But what was there to show off?
Money?
She asked herself, and while she wasn't wealthy, she was certainly richer than Xu Xiao’e.
The reason was simple: Shen Xiaoyan could spend the household money as she pleased, but Xu Xiao’e likely couldn't.
Even though Yu Duobao seemed to be very fond of Xu Xiao’e now, he wouldn't entrust all his money to her.
Besides money, Shen Xiaoyan couldn't think of anything else Xu Xiao’e could boast about in front of her.
A dark, ugly old man as a husband, a stepson and daughter-in-law older than her, and two grandchildren running around.
If it was about family size, Xu Xiao’e did indeed have a slight advantage over her now.
While Shen Xiaoyan was pondering these things, she and Zheng Wei had already walked to the gate.
Xu Xiao’e watched Shen Xiaoyan and Zheng Wei approach hand in hand. Zheng Wei was carefully protecting Shen Xiaoyan, and his eyes were filled with tenderness and concern for her.
Shen Xiaoyan, with her bulging belly and a gentle smile on her face, clearly looked very happy.
Xu Xiao’e’s breathing suddenly became rapid.
She had to admit that she was provoked by the scene before her.
Especially seeing Zheng Wei's smooth, jade-like face, which, although a bit dark, was full of masculine charm.
He was no longer the ugly hunter she feared when she saw him.
Xu Xiao’e gazed greedily at Zheng Wei’s face, regretting how wonderful it would have been if she had married Zheng Wei.
Zheng Wei felt Xu Xiao’e’s burning gaze fixed on his face and felt a surge of disgust. His expression became stern.
“What is the matter that brings you here?” Shen Xiaoyan asked, standing at the gate and looking down at Xu Xiao’e on the steps.
“Eldest Sister, I returned home a few days ago and didn’t see you, so I came specifically to visit you and brother-in-law today,” Xu Xiao’e said with a gentle smile to Shen Xiaoyan. As she said the last sentence, she looked at Zheng Wei and blushed.
Seeing Xu Xiao’e’s shy pretense, Shen Xiaoyan felt like she was going to vomit her undigested food.
This time, she truly witnessed the extent of Xu Xiao’e’s shamelessness. She was already married, yet she was still flirting with Zheng Wei.
“Eldest Sister? I don’t have an eldest sister. Your surname is Xu, mine is Shen. We are not related,” Shen Xiaoyan said coolly.
“Although we are not related by blood, we lived together for several years and shared sisterly affection,” Xu Xiao’e said.
“I was not aware of that. If we shared such sisterly affection, why did you try to seduce my husband after my marriage and ask him to divorce me to marry you? If my husband didn’t love me so deeply, I would likely be a discarded wife by now,” Shen Xiaoyan said mockingly.
Xu Xiao’e did not expect Shen Xiaoyan to bring up the past. Hearing Shen Xiaoyan mention this, she instinctively looked at Yu Duobao.
Although she detested this old fatty, she was already his wife and absolutely could not be disliked so soon after marriage.
Yu Duobao’s eyes flashed with a glint when he heard Shen Xiaoyan’s words, but his expression remained unchanged.
Seeing this, Xu Xiao’e felt a little reassured and looked at Shen Xiaoyan again. “That was all a misunderstanding. Why is Eldest Sister speaking nonsense? I am already married. Even if Eldest Sister doesn’t care about my reputation, she should consider brother-in-law.”
Shen Xiaoyan looked at Xu Xiao’e’s feigned distress and felt like ten thousand mythical beasts were galloping in her mind.
Even now, this little vixen hadn't forgotten to sow discord between her and Zheng Wei.
“You know in your heart whether it was a misunderstanding or not. If it was truly a misunderstanding and you were wronged, it's no wonder no one dared to propose to you for so long, which led you to marry a…”
Shen Xiaoyan stopped abruptly, then turned to Yu Duobao and said, “Manager Yu, I’m not speaking about you. You know yourself that Xu Xiao’e is beautiful and has high standards. If she had any other choice, she probably wouldn't have married you. But thanks to this misunderstanding, you wouldn't have married such a beautiful wife, would you?”
Yu Duobao’s face broke into a smile. He nodded at Shen Xiaoyan. “Indeed. Being able to marry Xiao’e is my good fortune.”
Hearing Yu Duobao’s words, a hint of arrogance flashed in Xu Xiao’e’s eyes, and she straightened her back.
“Eldest Sister, it’s tiring to talk here. You are also pregnant. Why don’t we go inside?” Xu Xiao’e said, lifting her skirt and stepping towards the stairs.
“I’ve already said, I am not your eldest sister, and you are not welcome in our home,” Shen Xiaoyan said with a displeased tone.
“Brother-in-law…”