Old Mrs. Fu finished speaking, and neither Fu Tingyi nor Fang Ru made a sound.
The old lady looked over and asked slowly, "What, do you have an opinion?"
Neither Fu Tingyi nor his wife dared to have an opinion, but if they were asked to agree, they couldn't say anything, so they simply remained silent.
Old Mrs. Fu didn't care if they truly agreed or not. "Jingshu, you must remember, Grandma is doing this for your own good. Qingqing is a good girl, you must hold on to her."
Fu Jingshu grunted in response.
"Your attitude is not sincere enough, I don't see your sincerity, or are you very reluctant?" Old Mrs. Fu said deliberately, "If you feel reluctant, the engagement doesn't have to continue."
As soon as she said this, Fu Tingyi and his wife's eyes lit up.
Fu Jingshu responded without any hesitation, "No need, the engagement continues."
This single sentence made the couple completely give up hope, while Old Mrs. Fu was the happiest. She chuckled, "I knew what you were thinking. You can deceive the whole world, but you can't deceive me!"
Fu Jingshu lowered his gaze and remained silent.
Old Mrs. Fu, however, felt sorry for her grandson. Seeing his dejected appearance, she felt a pang of reluctance. She sighed, "You child... Fine, I won't lecture you anymore, but you must marry Qingqing as soon as possible. After the wedding, you can officially bring the two children home."
Fu Jingshu nodded, "Understood."
At this moment, he was extremely obedient and docile, completely unlike his previous rebellious and cold demeanor, which made Fu Tingyi and Fang Ru feel a pang of sourness in their hearts.
After Old Mrs. Fu and Fu Jingshu left, the couple finally began to express their dissatisfaction.
"Mother has truly lost her mind!"
Fu Tingyi deeply agreed and was even more puzzled, "I just don't understand, what's so good about Shen Qingqing that our arrogant mother took such a liking to her?"
After all, it had taken Fang Ru a long time to win over the old lady back then.
Fang Ru clearly remembered this as well, which made her even more displeased. "In any case, I don't want Shen Qingqing to enter our family!"
Those two children had tormented her so much, it must have been taught by their elders! What could children understand?
If she married into the family, who knew how those two children would be raised. They might not even call her Grandma in the future!
Fu Tingyi had not yet met the two children, but twins, the thought of them alone made him happy. "I support you. Let's keep these two children, but their mother..."
For her to enter the Fu family? Impossible!
Fang Ru said angrily, "But Mother is so headstrong, what can we do?"
"I want her dead!" Fu Tingyi's eyes held a hint of ruthlessness. "As long as she dies, everything will be resolved, and Mother won't be able to insist anymore."
Fang Ru found this feasible and mused, "However, this cannot be done by us."
"If we're talking about a suitable candidate, I do have one in mind." Fu Tingyi thought of someone, but hesitated slightly, "Lin Minglan."
"It's not impossible." Fang Ru had always hoped she would become her daughter-in-law, as an easily controlled daughter-in-law was better than one who was difficult to control. "Then it's her. I'll talk to her."
Fu Tingyi nodded and then said gently, "But you also need to rest well, your health is important."
Fang Ru immediately became happy. After Fu Tingyi left, she made a call to Lin Minglan. When Lin Minglan heard she was hospitalized, she rushed to visit her.
She brought a large pile of gifts and fruits with her.
"Auntie, why are you in the hospital? Is your injury serious?"
"It's alright." Fang Ru smiled. "Why did you bring so many things? Actually, your presence is enough, you didn't need to bring gifts."
"How can that be? Auntie, why did you get injured out of the blue?"
Lin Minglan sat by the bedside, looking at her with concern. Her attentive care touched Fang Ru deeply and pleased her. "I knew it, only you, child, are the most sensible and considerate to me. You're much better than my own son!"
Lin Minglan quickly offered an explanation, "Auntie, please don't say that. I believe Jingshu is filial to you, he's just not good at expressing it."
Fang Ru sighed, "It's not that he's not good at expressing it, he's been charmed by someone!"
Lin Minglan's eyes flickered. Her words seemed to carry a hidden meaning. "Since ancient times, heroes have found it hard to escape the allure of beauty. I didn't expect Jingshu to fall prey to this fate."
"That's why, since ancient times, beauties who charm people have never had a good ending."
Never had a good ending...
Lin Minglan seemed to understand Fang Ru's meaning. "Auntie, but I'm worried, if the hero's heart turns cold, even if the beauty is gone, I fear the hero will never forget her."
"Silly child!" Fang Ru saw that she understood and held her hand, patting it gently. "I knew you were a smart child. As for your worries... aren't you and your uncle still here?"
If Fang Ru and Fu Tingyi both agreed, then Fu Jingshu would have to compromise even if he disagreed.
Lin Minglan's heart stirred. "Alright, I'll listen to you, Auntie."
Fang Ru smiled with satisfaction. "Good child, I'm now just waiting for you to marry into our family. I liked you since you were little and always hoped you would become my daughter-in-law. Now, that wish is finally going to come true."
"Auntie..." Lin Minglan lowered her head shyly. "Don't worry, I will do my best."
"But child, you must remember, no matter what, do it quietly and without a trace." Fang Ru worried that Lin Minglan might not be discreet and leave behind evidence, which would implicate her.
Lin Minglan nodded obediently, "Auntie, don't worry. Some things don't require me to do them personally."
Fang Ru nodded with satisfaction. "If only we had betrothed you two back then. Given Jingshu's personality, if there had been an engagement, he would have honored it."
Lin Minglan felt a tinge of resentment. After all, the engagement was not something they adults had decided on earlier. Now they were saying this...
However, she remained outwardly calm, obedient, and sensible. "Auntie, if I can be with Jingshu in the future, I will definitely be filial to you."
"Good, good child."
Fang Ru was very pleased with her obedient and clever demeanor, and said meaningfully, "Then Auntie will be waiting for your good news."
"You just wait and see."
...
The next morning, as soon as Shen Qingqing woke up, she received a package.
Shen Jinxi signed for it. The little fellow looked it over and over. "Mommy, what's inside? It looks like an envelope, very thin."
Shen Qingqing glanced at it. Nothing was written on it, and it was impossible to tell what it was. She went to wash her face. When she came out, her younger son had already opened the package.
It was an invitation.
It stated that a designer meet-and-greet was being held in the city center. There was no sender's name at the bottom, only an invitation for her to attend.
Shen Qingqing looked at the delivery box. "Is there a sender listed on it?"
Shen Jinxi patted the small box and pouted. "No, I don't know who sent it. Mommy, this meet-and-greet, are you going?"