The central courtyard living room.
The dumplings were out of the pot, their steaming aroma filling the air, accompanied by minced garlic and pickled garlic. CEO Zhao's appetite was whetted.
He ate two bowls, a rare occurrence, and sweat beaded on his forehead.
He kept glancing at Maomaochongyao, constantly lamenting how wonderful it would be if he had three daughters like her.
Alas, heaven was unfair, granting him only two sons.
As a result, in his old age, CEO Zhao had no "little cotton-padded jackets" to keep him warm, and he felt utterly desolate.
However, thinking of his granddaughter Mengmeng, CEO Zhao cheered up.
Although Mengmeng wasn't CEO Zhao's "little cotton-padded jacket," she was certainly his joy.
Whenever CEO Zhao was tired from work or encountered something unpleasant, as long as his dear granddaughter stood behind him and kneaded his shoulders, his mood would quickly lift.
"Although I don't have a little cotton-padded jacket, my two sons are far less troublesome than Li Wujiang's son."
CEO Zhao mused, looking at Li Wujiang and Li Qianfan.
The moment Li Qianfan entered, Li Wujiang, without a word, threw a wine glass at him, leaving a Band-Aid on his forehead.
The "righteous indignation" he should have felt for Li Qianfan's egregious behavior of sending him "beautiful pictures" and then blocking him, instantly vanished.
During the meal, Li Qianfan not only didn't sit next to her but actively avoided her, sitting by Su Nanyin and often whispering to Maomaochongyao.
Look, she didn't even glance at her own mother!
This filled Sister Wujiang with a sense of desolation—
Yet, her appetite for food surged. After eating three large bowls of dumplings, she even burped loudly, disregarding her image.
This, in turn, caused that unfilial son to roll his eyes at her repeatedly.
If it weren't for CEO Zhao's presence—
Hmph, Li Wujiang would have definitely picked up a bowl of dumplings and dumped it on that unfilial son's head!
"Maomao, you three go to the backyard." kuAiδugg
After Maomaochongyao cleaned up the tableware and brewed some fragrant tea, Su Nanyin said softly.
They needed to discuss important matters.
Maomaochongyao genuinely wanted to stay and hear what was going on, perhaps even participate.
However, they were all very sensible. As soon as Su Nanyin spoke, they smiled and bid farewell to CEO Zhao and Li Wujiang.
"Hey, I have something to tell you."
When the Maomaochongyao sisters arrived in the backyard, Yaoyao said in a low voice.
Shen Yun casually asked, "What is it? You're being so mysterious."
Du Junlin habitually frowned, "It's about Mom. Listen if you want, or don't."
About Mom?
They had to listen, no matter what!
Shen Yun quickly composed herself and walked over to the swing set, holding onto the rope. "Come, Yaoyao, sit down."
As soon as Du Junlin sat down, Shen Chongchong, acting very solicitously, began to push her.
"Before dinner, when Mom came to the backyard to get your cotton-padded jacket, wasn't Qianfan also out making a phone call?"
Du Junlin looked back at Shen Chongchong and said, "At that time, I was outside throwing out the trash and unintentionally saw Qianfan acting like a thief, pressed against the wall in the corner, as if afraid I'd see him."
Shen Yun was puzzled, "He was just making a phone call in his own home, why act like a thief?"
"Because—"
Du Junlin's tone was calm, "Not far behind him, hidden in the shadows, was the great Empress Su!"
Huh?
Maomaochong was stunned.
It was perfectly normal for Li Qianfan and "Her Majesty" to be alone together in the house discussing matters.
What was not normal was—
If they could have talked openly in the yard or in the study, why were they hiding in a dark corner?
Especially when Du Junlin went out to throw out the trash, both of them instinctively pressed themselves against the wall, hiding in the shadows, not daring to breathe, motionless.
"I was throwing out trash by the back wall of the front yard. The moment I turned around, I saw them."
Du Junlin continued, "From an objective standpoint, they were having a secret rendezvous!"
A secret rendezvous?
Maomaochong's two companions were stunned, then exchanged a rapid glance.
Yes.
It was a secret rendezvous!
And the kind where they couldn't wait for the backyard and were having it in the shadows of the corner!!
Du Junlin took out his phone again.
He said to Maomaochong, "The moment Qianfan returned home, we all saw the change in her emotions. Maomao also showed her this video, essentially a direct confrontation. Although she didn't give a clear reply, she definitely realized that we were taking this matter seriously."
Maomaochong nodded in unison.
Su Zui had shown the video to Su Nanyin. After returning to the dining room in the central courtyard, he had told Chongchong and Yaoyao all about her reaction.
"After watching the video, she then used the excuse of getting cotton-padded clothes for Maomao and came to the backyard."
Du Junlin continued, "Before she left, I noticed she glanced at Qianfan, seemingly unintentionally."
Su Zui slowly interjected, "It was obvious she was signaling him, indicating he should also come to the backyard."
"Yes."
Shen Yun also nodded, "Shortly after she left, Qianfan's wounds were treated, and before he sat down, his phone rang. It seemed the person calling him was Mom. She couldn't wait in the backyard, so she called to urge him. Upon seeing her call, Qianfan immediately went out. Then the two of them hid in the shadows of the corner and were alone for half an hour!"
"Yes, Mom was out for at least half an hour."
Su Zui said, "But if she was really just getting clothes for me, it would have taken at most five minutes."
"Did you guys notice?"
Du Junlin added, "When Qianfan came back inside, there were still a few finger marks on his face. This proves he was slapped. Besides her, who else would slap him? More importantly, why did she slap his face?"
Shen Yun immediately said, "He must have taken advantage of the darkness and touched her! She was scared, or rather, out of instinct, she slapped him."
Su Zui's eyes also lit up, "During the meal, did you notice that Mom's lips were broken?"
"I saw it the moment she came in!"
Du Junlin said, "It was bitten by Qianfan. It's likely that after she slapped him for touching her, he simply forced himself on her, directly biting her lips."
"But after they both returned to the living room, they acted as if nothing had happened."
Su Zui said, "Most importantly, Qianfan didn't sit next to Aunt Wujiang. He sat to her left, and she didn't show any rejection. I also noticed that during the meal, under the pretense of getting water or taking garlic cloves, their legs often touched."
Shen Yun said, "Qianfan intentionally touched her four times. She intentionally touched Qianfan seven times."
Du Junlin asked, "What does all this prove?"
The Maomaochong replied in unison, "Only the last piece of paper is missing!"
Du Junlin then asked, "What should we do?"
Su Zui pondered for a moment and took out her phone, "The three of us will create a small group. After editing our thoughts, I'll count to three, and we'll all send them to the small group."
Du Junlin and the other two nodded.
Maomaochongyao immediately turned her back to the other two, lowered her head, and quickly typed.
A moment later, Maomao asked, "Are you done?"
Du Junlin and the other two replied in unison, "Done."
Su Zui counted down, "Three, two, one."
As the last number was spoken, three pre-edited messages appeared simultaneously in the chat window of the small group.
"Until the seas run dry, hearts united forever!"
This was Su Maomao's message.
"Walk your own path, and let others talk."
This was Shen Chongchong's message.
"Nothing is more important than our own true happiness!"
This was Du Yaoyao's message.
The wording of the three messages was different, but their meaning was the same.
The three pairs of eyes of Maomaochongyao, as they met under the starry sky, shone exceptionally brightly.
Du Junlin's gaze then slowly fell upon Su Maomao's slightly protruding belly.
Su Zui clearly knew what she was going to ask, so she placed her left hand on her belly and nodded slowly.
Du Junlin immediately understood.
She would no longer ask Su Maomao when she got together with Li Qianfan.
Because Su Maomao's situation was insignificant compared to the great Empress Su's broken lips!
Du Junlin raised his right hand.
Maomaochong, without hesitation, raised their hands as well.
*Clap!*
Six fair, small hands lightly met under the starlight.
The wind blew.
It stirred the large red lanterns hanging at the entrance of the Su family.
The high-hanging red lanterns swayed back and forth.
The amplitude of the swaying was quite alluring, much like the sway of Su Nanyin's hips when she walked.
"Smoke less, especially you, CEO Zhao."
As Su Nanyin placed a box of cigarettes on the table, she casually said, "And Qianfan too. Such a heavy smoker at such a young age can have a significant impact on the quality of offspring."
That smoking affects the quality of offspring is common knowledge known to both adults and children.
Many people would advise young smokers this way.
It's normal—
But why did Li Wujiang subconsciously glance at Su Nanyin's belly?
Damn it.
If you look again, I'll gouge your eyeballs out!
Su Nanyin immediately caught her instinctive reaction. Feeling shame and anger, she glared fiercely at Li Wujiang, her back turned to CEO Zhao and Li Qianfan.
Sister Wujiang gave a sheepish smile—
Then, CEO Zhao slowly asked Li Qianfan, "Do you know who is spreading the rumor that Empress is already pregnant?"