Chapter 8: A Visit from the Wolves
889 Words
Chapter 8: A Visit from the Wolves
By the time the chaos had been handled, the man named He Bi was knocked unconscious and left locked in the lounge. His accomplice had already fled, but neither the Song family nor the Xu family would let that slide.
Song Pingchuan personally informed his mother, who then relayed the full story to the Xus. Unsurprisingly, the Xu patriarch flew into a rage and came in person to deal with the aftermath. Xu Miao clung to her grandfather, trembling as she sobbed. The old man calmed her down while gathering every detail of what had happened.
Meanwhile, Shen Wan tried to quietly slip away, only to be stopped by Song Pingchuan.
“You’re hurt,” he said, frowning.
She glanced down at her knee—bruised and tender, but nothing serious. “I’m fine. You should be with Xu Miao right now.”
He said nothing, face still tight with restrained anger.
“This wasn’t a small incident,” she added softly. “If we hadn’t stepped in… her life might’ve been ruined.”
Shen Wan hesitated, then looked at him with quiet sincerity. “You’re part of the most powerful family in the city. That comes with eyes watching from all angles. Be careful. Some people don’t need a reason to take you down.”
In her past life, the fall of the Song family had never sat right with her. She’d been too entangled with the Gu family to look deeper back then, but now… now she could sense that storm brewing again.
Pingchuan gave a soft, incredulous chuckle. “Me? Get taken down?”
Shen Wan blinked at him.
He looked at her, voice low and measured. “What if I—”
“Wanwan! What are you doing over there?”
Qin Lu’s sharp voice cut in. She approached, Shen Yanran trailing behind with a look of disdain as always.
“We’re heading home,” Qin Lu continued. “Why are you still talking to Young Master Song?”
Shen Wan offered no explanation, just dipped her head respectfully and jogged back toward them. Pingchuan exhaled slowly through his nose, clearly displeased.
Back at the Shen estate, Shen Feng was already home, having missed the banquet due to business. He sat with Qin Lu as she recounted the evening.
“I think Madam Song seemed quite taken with Yanran,” she said with a meaningful smile.
“Oh?” Shen Feng arched a brow. “Then maybe fate really is working in our favor.”
Yanran preened under the attention, shooting a smug glance at Shen Wan. As if to say: See? I’ll always be above you.
Shen Wan remained expressionless.
“By the way,” Shen Feng added, “the Gu family mentioned they’ll be visiting in a few days.”
Shen Wan froze slightly.
Yanran, however, lit up like a lantern. “Really? When? Is Second Young Master Gu coming too?”
Shen Feng nearly snapped. How could she still not get it? But he held back, forced to swallow his frustration in front of Shen Wan.
“They’re coming to discuss Wanwan’s engagement,” he said flatly.
Yanran’s face fell. “But didn’t you say we could both choose who we wanted to marry?”
Shen Feng ground his teeth. Qin Lu quickly tugged Yanran back, trying to shut her up before more damage was done.
“I’m tired,” Shen Wan said quietly. “I’ll go change.”
Qin Lu nodded. “Go ahead.”
Upstairs, Shen Wan tried to push away the rising sense of unease. In her past life, it was around this time that the Gu family made their final decision—and she was married off to Gu Jinyan without protest.
She couldn’t let history repeat itself. And if Yanran wasn’t making a move to stop it… Shen Wan would.
Then the news arrived: the Song family had extended an official invitation to the Shen family—for both daughters.
No names were specified. Just “both Shen daughters.”
Everyone understood what that meant.
“This is absurd,” Yanran scoffed. “I’m not going.”
Shen Feng slammed his palm against the table. “What did you say?”
“I want to marry into the Gu family, not the Songs.”
Qin Lu pulled Shen Feng back and coaxed Yanran, “Just go with us to visit the Songs. You can still see the Gu family afterward.”
Yanran remained sullen, until her mother said softly, “But think—if Wanwan goes without you, what will that look like to the Songs? Do you really want them to think she’s the better choice?”
That did it. Yanran’s face darkened. “Fine. I’ll go.”
Shen Wan was just coming downstairs when she heard that last part.
Of course. Her aunt knew her daughter well. Yanran could never stand being second-best—even if it was her choice.
“Wanwan,” Qin Lu called out with a gentle smile, “We’re heading to the Song estate today. Maybe they took a liking to you at the Xu banquet—who knows, we might just owe you some credit for this invitation.”
Shen Wan smiled politely.
Inside, she thought: If only your hypocrisy wasn’t so obvious.
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