Ch 14: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

In the living room, relatives and friends were discussing how the Huo-Shen marriage could bring benefits to the Shen family when they saw Huo Siheng and Shen Yunxuan walking downstairs, heading straight for the door. Behind them, Shen Guobang and Madam Shen were chasing after them, looking anxious. Everyone fell silent, stood up, and looked at them in confusion.

Shen Guobang softened his tone, saying, “Siheng, this is just a small family disagreement. It’s not that serious.”

Madam Shen added, “Today is Yunxuan’s third-day return to her maiden home. At least stay for a meal before leaving, or people might think Yunxuan isn’t respected. Yunxuan, talk to Siheng. There’s no grudge that lasts overnight in a family. Look at all the dowry we prepared for you—it’s not like we don’t care about you.”

Shen Yunxuan paused in her steps, turning back with surprise. “Didn’t you give me those as compensation and practically beg me to accept them? I still have the agreement. Shall I show everyone?”

Shen Guobang and Madam Shen’s faces darkened with anger. What was wrong with this daughter of theirs? She didn’t even take the olive branch they extended. Did she really want to sever ties with her family? In a circle that valued interests above all else, they had never seen someone so stubborn!

Huo Siheng, having witnessed the dowry negotiation previously, had initially thought Shen Yunxuan was using the Huo family as leverage against her parents. Now it was clear that the Shen family had gone too far—using Yunxuan as a pawn to secure a marriage alliance, cover for Shen Yunrui’s mess, and exploit her connection with the Huo family for personal gain.

First, they planned to marry her off to the Lin family to settle an old debt, then, when plans changed, they pressured her to marry into the Huo family, treating her as a tool with no regard for her feelings or well-being. No wonder Shen Yunxuan felt such disillusionment with them.

Before everyone, Huo Siheng said coldly, “Yunxuan is the respected lady of the Huo family, and no one dares to look down on her. As for collaboration between the Shen and Huo families, let’s drop the matter. The Huo family will not consider it. Additionally, since you find it difficult to get along with my wife, I suggest not seeking her out in the future to avoid upsetting her.”

With that, he took Shen Yunxuan’s hand and left. Yang An stayed behind and added with a smile, “No need to worry about our Madam. She’s much more comfortable at home with us than she is here. Everyone in the Huo family, from Madam Huo down to the staff, treats her with the utmost respect. Rest assured, Madam will only grow better and better.”

He glanced at Shen Yunrui and said lightly, “Perhaps you should focus on managing your own family. Making careless jokes and baseless assumptions can damage my Madam’s reputation. If that happens, the Huo family will not hesitate to hold you accountable. That’s all—I’ll take my leave now.”

With those words, Yang An left decisively. Shen Guobang’s face turned ashen with rage. How dare a mere assistant flaunt his authority before him? But they couldn’t afford to escalate things further. Offending the Huo family and Shen Yunxuan in one go had already cost them dearly, and pursuing the matter further risked even worse consequences. They could only swallow their pride and wait for a chance to mend things later.

The relatives in the living room were stunned. They had come to ingratiate themselves with the Huo family, only to see the Shen family thoroughly offend them.

They immediately surrounded Shen Guobang, voicing their dissatisfaction one after another:

“What did you say upstairs to make them this angry?”

“Couldn’t any disagreements be addressed later? Yunxuan is now the wife of the wealthiest family’s heir! You can’t treat her like the daughter you used to scold at will.”

“Looking at how protective Huo Siheng was, it doesn’t seem like he looks down on her at all, contrary to what Yunrui claimed.”

“Exactly! All that talk about a loveless marriage—were you all brainwashed by Yunrui’s rhetoric about ‘true love’? Did you see how respectful Yang An was? The Huo family clearly values Yunxuan.”

“Yunrui, stop making careless remarks in the future. Yang An nearly called out our family for lacking proper manners! We can’t afford to let these baseless assumptions affect our relationships.”

Shen Yunrui retorted angrily, “Didn’t you all agree with me earlier? Now you’re blaming me?”

“We trusted you and went along with it! Who knew you’d feed us lies? Are you jealous of Yunxuan or just bitter about your own situation?”

“Enough!” Old Master Shen struck his cane on the ground, silencing everyone.

Meanwhile, Lin Huaizhi, wearing an unpleasant expression, said, “Yunrui, we’ve fulfilled the formalities for the return visit. Let’s go.” Without waiting for her reply, he walked out.

Shen Yunrui panicked, unsure why he was upset. Afraid he’d misunderstand her intentions, and seeing no point in staying, she left without looking back.

Seeing her leave without saying goodbye, the relatives were even more displeased. Previously, they had liked her for being personable and treating them like family. Now, her behavior seemed rude, making them question whether her past kindness was genuine.

Their dissatisfaction festered, and as they left, they couldn’t help but gossip about the Shen family’s failed return visit, spreading exaggerated tales.

The Shen family’s already damaged reputation took another hit. When Old Master Shen heard of it, he snorted coldly. “This is all because of Shen Yunrui’s bright idea! If she hadn’t invited so many people, none of this would’ve happened!”

Madam Shen had been frustrated for a long time and couldn’t hold back anymore, snapping, “If it weren’t for you insisting on sending your granddaughter to repay the debt, none of this would’ve happened!”

“What did you say?!” Old Master Shen slammed the table and glared at her. Madam Shen didn’t dare to say more but didn’t apologize either, instead storming upstairs in silence.

This time, Shen Guobang didn’t feel like pacifying anyone. Frowning, he simply said, “I’ll head to the office.”

The previously lively Shen family home fell silent, an eerie calmness settling in, carrying a faint sense of decline. Old Master Shen sat alone in the hall, reflecting for the first time: Could it be that I really made a mistake?

---

Shen Yunxuan’s visit to the Shen family ended on a sour note, with the process of her return incomplete. But the experience didn’t dampen her spirits; in fact, seeing the Shen family’s embarrassed and gloomy expressions felt like sweet revenge for her younger self.

As they left, Shen Yunxuan turned to Huo Siheng with a smile. “Thank you for earlier.”

Huo Siheng looked at her and replied, “No need to thank me. It’s what I should do. Besides, Mom told me to take care of you before we left.”

Thinking of her mother-in-law, Shen Yunxuan smiled again. “Yesterday, Mom mentioned she wanted some desserts from Zhou Ji. Let’s pick some up for her on the way back.”

“Sure.”

To Huo Siheng, her thoughtfulness toward Madam Huo made his efforts to support her seem entirely worthwhile.

---

When they returned to the Huo family home, Madam Huo was delighted to see the desserts. She held Shen Yunxuan’s hand, studying her expression, and asked why they had come back so early.

Shen Yunxuan briefly mentioned the unpleasantness at the Shen family. Madam Huo immediately urged her to rest, then headed to the kitchen to instruct the staff to prepare a grand meal.

Meanwhile, a servant came to call Yang An, saying Madam Huo wanted to see him. Realizing she probably wanted to hear all the details about what happened at the Shen family, Yang An hesitated and glanced at Shen Yunxuan. “Madam, should I go?”

Shen Yunxuan smiled and said, “Go ahead, and tell her everything truthfully. There’s nothing to hide. You can clock out after that.”

“Thank you, Madam!” Yang An thought to himself how much more comfortable it was working for Madam Shen than for the stern Huo Siheng. How could the Shen family find her unlikable? They must have been blind!

Yang An, naturally biased toward Shen Yunxuan, described the Shen family’s shameless and cold-hearted behavior to Madam Huo in vivid detail.

Madam Huo, incensed, exclaimed, “That Shen family is outrageous! How dare they bully my daughter-in-law as if the Huo family doesn’t exist!”

She then asked, “Did Yunxuan really cut ties with them?”

“Yes, Madam. She has no lingering attachment to them. I think they’ve hurt her too deeply.”

Madam Huo nodded approvingly. “Good. Spread the word: we only recognize Yunxuan as our daughter-in-law. The Shen family is not to use the Huo family’s name for personal gain.”

“Yes, Madam. I’ll handle it right away.”

---

Madam Huo also ordered the kitchen to prepare all of Shen Yunxuan’s favorite dishes and nourishing soups to make up for any mistreatment at the Shen family.

Feeling genuinely cared for, Shen Yunxuan reciprocated by showing equal warmth toward Madam Huo. The meal was filled with laughter, and even Huo Siheng, who rarely joined in, appeared noticeably relaxed.

The Huo family had not felt this lively and warm in a long time. Somehow, with just one new addition, the atmosphere had transformed into something vibrant and joyous. Huo Siheng thought to himself that marrying Shen Yunxuan might just be the best decision he had ever made.

---

After dinner, the couple bid a heartfelt farewell to Madam Huo and moved into their newlywed villa. The villa had been redecorated, with thoughtful details reflecting Shen Yunxuan’s tastes, which left her pleasantly surprised.

“These little touches weren’t necessary, but you remembered them,” she thought, feeling an unexpected warmth toward Huo Siheng. For someone as meticulous as him, to care about her preferences, no matter how small, showed his respect for her as a partner.

Upstairs, Huo Siheng introduced her to her new study, situated directly opposite his own. “This is your private workspace. On the desk, I’ve prepared some small project proposals for you to look at. If you’re interested, you can invest and get some hands-on experience.”

Shen Yunxuan was genuinely surprised. Since mentioning her interest in business on their wedding night, they hadn’t discussed it further. Yet here he was, not only supporting her with words but also taking practical steps to help her. It was a level of respect and trust she had never experienced before.

For a moment, she was moved. All she had ever wanted in her past life was a partner and family who respected and supported her instead of betraying and exploiting her. Now, it seemed she had everything she once longed for.

Huo Siheng, noticing her silence, asked, “What’s wrong? Don’t you like it? You can redecorate however you want.”

Shen Yunxuan smiled warmly. “No, I love it. Thank you.”

Huo Siheng returned her smile. “You’re always saying thank you. No need to be so formal. If we manage this marriage well, we can achieve a 1+1>2 effect. I’ll make things easier for you, and you’ll do the same for me. Together, we’ll have more energy to focus outward. It’s a win-win.”

“Yes, it’s a win-win.” Shen Yunxuan extended her hand with a smile. “Mr. Huo, looking forward to our partnership!”

Huo Siheng shook her hand firmly. “Mrs. Huo, looking forward to it.”

With the move to their new home, all formalities of their marriage were complete. There was no honeymoon planned—they weren’t interested in one anyway. The day after moving in, Huo Siheng left for an international business trip with his team, while Shen Yunxuan finally had the time to meet up with her friends.

Since that wedding day, Shu Yue had been worried that the Huo family might hold a grudge over the commotion at the ceremony or care that the original bride-to-be was Shen Yunrui. She had seen how biased the Shen family could be and knew that Shen Yunrui was adept at playing innocent and winning people over. Shu Yue feared that, in comparison, the Huo family might not like Shen Yunxuan.

After a few days, the two finally met. Seeing Shen Yunxuan looking healthy and radiant with a natural smile, Shu Yue let out a sigh of relief. “It seems you’re doing well. That puts my mind at ease.”

Shen Yunxuan chuckled. “I have money now and am free from the Shen family. No matter what, life is good.”

“But if the Huo family values you, you’d probably be even happier, right?” Shu Yue said, suddenly curious. “Oh, I heard rumors that on the day you went back to visit your parents, the Shen family tried to bully you, and Huo Siheng stood up for you. Is that true? They even said it was Shen Yunrui stirring up trouble because she was jealous you married so well and spread gossip behind your back.”

Shen Yunxuan thought for a moment and nodded. “That’s about right. The Shen family really doesn’t have a single rational person left. If they had just handled their relatives and friends properly and given enough benefits, rumors like this wouldn’t have spread.”

“Even if they didn’t spread rumors, it wouldn’t matter. The Huo family has already made it clear they only acknowledge you, not the Shen family. Looks like this marriage turned out pretty well for you.”

Shen Yunxuan nodded. “They’re really good to me. Enough about them. I’ve got some great investment opportunities here. Want to invest with me? Take all the savings you’ve built up over the years, and I guarantee you’ll make a profit.”

Shu Yue burst into laughter. “Becoming the wife of the richest man really changes you, huh? All you talk about is investments and guaranteed profits. Why do I feel like you’re trying to lure me into a pyramid scheme? Haha.”

Shen Yunxuan laughed too. “So, are you in or not? Trust me, and I’ll help you soar.”

Shu Yue nodded firmly. “I’m in! If you say so, I’ll definitely invest. But I don’t know anything about this stuff, so you’ll have to take care of everything.”

Shen Yunxuan smiled and said, “You’re too trusting. Even if we’re close, you should still be wary of me trying to scam you. I’ll teach you everything; I promise you’ll learn.”

In her past life, the Shu family suffered from a failed investment and was duped into acting as a guarantor, leading to bankruptcy. Shu Yue, once a wealthy heiress, was targeted by a playboy who had long coveted her. Desperate and humiliated, she jumped to her death.

At the time, Shen Yunxuan was overwhelmed with problems in her in-laws’ family and couldn’t pay attention to what was happening in the capital. By the time she found out, it was too late. Although she avenged Shu Yue later, she could never bring her back. It became her lifelong regret.

But now, with a second chance at life, none of it had happened yet. Her own life trajectory had changed, and of course, she could also change Shu Yue’s. That playboy was dealt with immediately after her rebirth; she anonymously reported him using evidence from her past life and got him arrested. That scumbag would never bother Shu Yue again.

As for Shu Yue’s future, Shen Yunxuan was determined to protect her, just as Shu Yue had always tried to protect her.

After finishing their coffee, the two went shopping at the mall. They came across a dress in a shop with a unique design that caught Shen Yunxuan’s eye. She went in to try it on, only to bump into Shen Yunrui—what a small world.

Shen Yunrui was out shopping with Lin Jiaojiao, who immediately noticed the dress Shen Yunxuan was wearing and exclaimed how beautiful it was. Not recognizing Shen Yunxuan, she tugged on Shen Yunrui’s arm and said, “Sister-in-law, buy me this! I love it!”

The shop assistant stepped forward and apologized. “Sorry, this dress is a limited edition and the only one available.”

Naturally, it should go to Shen Yunxuan, who tried it on first. Shen Yunrui had been humiliated several times recently when dealing with Shen Yunxuan and felt they were destined to clash. She had already decided to steer clear of Shen Yunxuan and focus on keeping the Lin family happy while urging Lin Huaizhi to improve his business ventures.

So, seeing Shen Yunxuan now, Shen Yunrui just wanted to leave. She smiled at Lin Jiaojiao and said, “This style doesn’t suit you. The one we saw earlier suits you much better. Let’s go buy that one.”

But Lin Jiaojiao, spoiled from a young age, glared at her. “Sister-in-law, you promised to make me happy today, and now you’re ruining it? I want this dress!”

Shen Yunrui was furious—how dare this little country bumpkin boss her around? But she couldn’t vent her anger at Lin Jiaojiao, so she directed it at Shen Yunxuan instead. “Why don’t you give this dress to us? It’s not like you need it.”

Shen Yunxuan had no intention of dealing with them, but hearing this, she couldn’t help but laugh. She glanced at Lin Jiaojiao and said, “Your sister-in-law is right. This dress doesn’t suit you at all.”

Lin Jiaojiao, feeling insulted, snapped her eyebrows together. “What do you mean by that?!”

🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆