She Lives without Regret in This Life

Chapter 1689: Chapter 1766: What’s Wrong, Wife?

"In-laws..." Xu Xianxiong hadn’t finished speaking before Zhao Lanzi yanked him back.

"What is it, wife?"

Zhao Lanzi shook her head. She saw a young man sitting opposite Shen Luhua. He was wearing a khaki trench coat, his smile gentle, but there was an unshakable gloom between his brows and eyes.

The two of them were talking in low voices. No one knew what they were saying; Shen Luhua’s expression was serious, completely different from her usual self.

If not for that identical face, she would have thought she was mistaken.

"Let’s switch to another place." Zhao Lanzi lowered her voice and said, "Mother-in-law is talking to someone; it wouldn’t be appropriate for us to just go over like this."

"What’s inappropriate about it?" The two families were close; Ningning was coming back, and Sheng Laosan was busy with it too. He was even planning to talk things over with Sheng Laosan and then have a meal together.

"If I say it’s inappropriate, then it is." Zhao Lanzi said overbearingly, then picked up the things and switched to the shop across the street.

***

In the little wonton shop, after a bowl of wontons, Shen Ming’s complexion finally looked a little better. He took in this ordinary little town, keeping his inner disdain off his face, and instead said warmly, "Little Aunt, you really are the elder I admire the most."

"Is that so." Shen Luhua’s expression was lukewarm. The moment she saw Shen Ming, she lost her appetite.

"Yes. With your status, and the power and position our Shen Family once held, for you to live in such an ordinary small town for so many years... To hide your name, to live low-key and simple—doesn’t that deserve admiration? With your status, what kind of life couldn’t you have? There were so many outstanding young men back then, you could have picked as you pleased."

He had simply run into the wrong era. His grandfather’s death had dealt the Shen Family an indelible blow. If Grandfather had foreseen this, he wouldn’t have gone so hard on Shen Yu.

It was his miscalculation as well. He hadn’t expected Shen Yu to be that ruthless, far beyond what he’d budgeted for. Had he known it would drag down this entire Shen Family, he wouldn’t have done it.

Shen Yu was dead, and in the end, wasn’t he the one left to clean up the mess?

"So what you’re saying is that my current husband is useless?" Shen Luhua’s face cooled a few degrees.

"Aunt, you know that’s not what I mean."

"Since that’s not what you mean, why not come openly to the house as a guest? Why insist on calling me out alone?" People with bad intentions don’t come for nothing, and those who come for nothing don’t have bad intentions—Shen Luhua knew exactly what this was.

Even so, she still softened a little toward this nephew. Shen Ming had never been much valued in the family; Shen Yu alone had taken up all the family’s attention. Now that the Shen Family had fallen, this nephew had suffered a heavy blow.

"Aunt, I really didn’t want to disturb your peaceful life, but I’ve run out of options..." Shen Ming trailed off, looking deeply troubled.

"Go on. If it’s something I can help with, I will."

"Really, Aunt?" Shen Ming broke into a delighted smile. "Thank you, Aunt. Grandfather would be very happy if he knew."

"The Old Master’s passing has been hard on you."

"He was my grandfather. It’s what I should do." Shen Ming gave a modest smile. "Aunt, I know you don’t care that our Shen Family has fallen, but as a man of the Shen Family, I can’t not care."

Shen Luhua gave him a measuring look, holding back some words that would only crush him. In her view, Shen Ming simply didn’t have it in him to hold up the Shen Family. If he had, they wouldn’t have focused their efforts on cultivating Shen Yu back then.

"Aunt, do you think I don’t have what it takes?" Shen Ming gave a wry smile. "Maybe I didn’t before, but after the Shen Family took such a hit, if I’m still this useless, how am I supposed to face Grandfather in the future?"