Volume One, Chapter Nine: The Trick Played Right Before Your Father's Eyes

The icy tone of the interrogation left Su Wanhua momentarily stunned.

An’an! An’an!

Before he left, he had clearly addressed her as Comrade Shen!

Liu Jinyue’s heart burned with a mixture of jealousy and rage. Her chest heaved violently, and her grip on the water glass caused the water to churn, splashing incessantly against the rim. However, living under someone else’s roof had taught Liu Jinyue nothing if not the mastery of forbearance and reading the expressions of others.

Feigning fear at Si Jinnian’s stern tone, Liu Jinyue stammered an explanation: "Big Brother... Big Brother, Sister An’an said she was tired and was resting in her room."

Hearing this, Si Jinnian’s anger dissipated slightly, though he did not let the matter slide entirely.

"Then why didn't you call her when it was time for dinner?"

As he spoke, Si Jinnian’s dark eyes remained fixed on Liu Jinyue, missing no flicker of expression on her face.

*Clatter.*

Unable to bear the oppressive atmosphere any longer, Liu Jinyue let go of her porcelain cup, and it shattered on the floor with a sharp crack.

Mother Si was startled awake. She felt a twinge of guilt, having heard Si Jinnian ask about An’an in the room. She had intended to call her after cooking, but when Jinyue came over to help with the dishes, they started chatting and she had simply forgotten. Still, Mother Si didn't consider it a big deal—wasn't it normal for a household to take time adjusting to an extra person? Yet, Jinnian had pressed Jinyue so hard over this small thing. Where was his sense of brotherly conduct?

"Speak!" Si Jinnian demanded.

"Enough!" Su Wanhua slammed her hand on the table and stood up. The dishes rattled with a sharp clatter.

"It was just forgetting to call someone! Is it necessary to interrogate your sister like a criminal? She’s about to cry—are you blind? Can’t you see that?"

Si Jinnian only then noticed Liu Jinyue’s reddened eyes and couldn't help but frown. Didn't he always speak in this tone? Why was Jinyue so prone to tears today? He couldn't quite figure it out, but he wasn't about to argue the point. He was a man, and an older brother at that; it was only right to yield to his sister on minor matters.

He pursed his lips, just about to say something, when an abrupt female voice cut him off, stifling his apology.

"Did I come out at the wrong time?"

Shen Nian’an had been so engrossed in her book that when she finally looked at her watch, it was already six-thirty. It was time for dinner. She hurriedly set the book aside and left her room.

The Si residence was a two-story house. To the right of the entrance was the kitchen, further ahead was the living room, and to the left of the living room was the staircase, which shielded the two rooms downstairs, creating a private area. Shen Nian’an hadn't been aware of the situation in the living room; she had simply heard voices and walked over. But once she emerged, even someone as thick-skinned as Shen Nian’an couldn't help but sense that something was wrong.

If everything were fine, would a glass have been shattered on the floor? Would the auntie look so furious?

Liu Jinyue had her back to Shen Nian’an, so Shen Nian’an couldn't see her expression, but her gaze lingered on her for a long moment, as if she were contemplating something serious. Finally, Shen Nian’an noticed Si Jinnian and asked that blunt question with naive indifference.

Si Jinnian, however, was different. The moment he heard her voice, his eyes darted toward her. The young girl stood at the foot of the stairs, leaning on her crutches, her eyes wide and her mouth slightly agape, brows knitted together in a look of annoyance at having accidentally disturbed them.

She looked so spirited; she certainly didn't look like someone who had been bullied... Still, appearances could be deceiving. He would have to ask her privately when he had a chance. After all, if not for him, she wouldn't have to deal with any of this.

As the tension hung in the air, the front door was pushed open from the outside. A middle-aged man, who bore a five- or six-part resemblance to Si Jinnian, walked in.

Out of professional habit, Si Sihan scanned the room the moment he entered. Seeing everyone standing in a circle, he looked bewildered and asked curiously, "Why is everyone standing?"

Seeing her husband, Su Wanhua’s sense of grievance surged. She plopped back onto her chair, turned her body away from him, and said indignantly, "Ask your precious son! He throws a tantrum the moment he walks through the door!"

Si Sihan glanced at Si Jinnian. His outstanding son was better than everyone else in every way, except when it came to taking a wife—in that regard, he lagged far behind. But there was nothing wrong with a man focusing on his career first. On that point, Si Sihan supported his son. But as for the wife... Si Sihan didn't know what to say.

He walked over and patted Si Jinnian on the shoulder. "Upsetting your mother again? You deserve a scolding!" He added, "Hurry up and clean this up."

Dismissing Si Jinnian, Si Sihan looked at Shen Nian’an and asked, "You must be An’an, right? What happened to your foot?"

Though father and son looked alike, their presence was entirely different. While Si Jinnian’s coldness radiated from the inside out, the elder Si was cold on the outside but warm on the inside. His tone was that of a superior, and he didn't even offer a direct expression of concern, yet one could feel the care behind his words.

"Uncle, I’m fine. I just twisted it by accident." With Si Jinnian home, Shen Nian’an certainly wouldn't admit that she had twisted her ankle while chasing him—otherwise, he might warn her again to "carry herself with dignity!"

Si Sihan nodded in understanding. "Jinyue, go help An’an over so we can eat."

With that, Si Sihan walked to the dining table. They exchanged a few words, and Su Wanhua struck Si Sihan on the arm. "Who told you to hit my son!"

Si Sihan, who had known exactly what would happen, looked helpless. "Wanhua, the children are all here."

Realizing this, Su Wanhua retorted, "Who told you to sit down? No washing your hands, no dinner."

Shen Nian’an, who had just sat down, felt a wave of inexplicable embarrassment—she hadn't washed her hands either. She struggled to stand up. As she moved, all eyes turned to her.

"Auntie, I’m going to wash my hands," Shen Nian’an said drily.

Su Wanhua: "..."

Just as the atmosphere turned awkward, Si Jinnian walked over carrying a basin of water. Suddenly, all eyes shifted to him. Looking at the basin filled with clear water, Shen Nian’an felt her heart tighten.

Surely he wasn't bringing that for her? She seemed to be the only one present with a limp and limited mobility. But... wasn't this supposed to be a fake marriage?

"Mom, wash your hands."

Hearing this, Shen Nian’an nodded; she knew she had overthought it. Seeing her son being so filial, Mother Si forgot her earlier unhappiness, her eyes crinkling into a smile. Even though she had already washed her hands, she happily washed them again.

"Dad, you sit too. I’ll go fetch more water," Si Jinnian said again.

Si Sihan stared at his son with a strange expression. Seeing Si Jinnian’s brow furrowed, he followed his gaze and noticed that while no one was paying attention, An’an was trying to tuck her crutch under her arm. A thought crossed the father’s mind.

"An’an, just sit down. Let Jinnian make another trip."

As he spoke, Si Sihan watched as Si Jinnian’s brow smoothed out, and he turned and strode away. Si Sihan couldn't help but chuckle to himself: *Trying to play tricks in front of your old man, are you?*

"Uncle, that’s not really appropriate..." Thinking of how much Si Jinnian disliked her, Shen Nian’an’s heart hammered. "I can do it myself."

"Just sit still," Si Sihan said, leaving no room for argument.

After laboriously washing her hands, Shen Nian’an ate obediently. At the table, aside from a few polite exchanges, everything remained uneventful.

After dinner, Liu Jinyue, who had been holding back the entire time, volunteered to help Shen Nian’an back to her room.

*Shen An’an! You were lucky enough to escape once, but it won’t happen again!*