54

Two days before the finals, it happened to be Grandpa Leng's birthday.

The elderly man, now preferring a quieter life due to his age, had specifically asked Leng Yanmi not to hold a grand celebration. Since it wasn't a milestone birthday, he requested just a small gathering with close family over dinner.

Leng Yanmi had informed Shi Yue in advance that she'd be taking her along to the celebration. However, even though Shi Yue had mentally prepared herself for over ten days, she couldn't help but feel a little uneasy as she sat in the car on the way to the Leng family estate.

"You've already met Grandpa before," Leng Yanmi said, trying to reassure her. "There's no need to worry. He has a very good impression of you."

Shi Yue forced a smile. "That's different."

Taking a deep breath, she explained, "When I met Grandpa before, I was still engaged to Leng Mingchuan. Now, just a few months later, I'm attending his birthday party as your… partner." She hesitated, then asked nervously, "Won't Grandpa find it confusing?"

Leng Yanmi drove steadily, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "You're underestimating Grandpa."

"Even though he's getting older, he used to be the head of the Leng family. He's weathered far more storms than this. Besides…"

"He's been worrying about my personal life for years. Knowing that we're together will only make him happy."

Shi Yue nodded.

At a red light, Leng Yanmi stopped the car and turned to Shi Yue. "By the way, let's not tell Grandpa about our pheromone compatibility for now."

Shi Yue blinked, surprised, and then smiled.

Lately, Leng Yanmi had been practically bursting with excitement, as if she wanted to announce their 96% compatibility to the entire world. Shi Yue never expected such words to come out of her mouth. She hadn't planned to bring it up herself, but her curiosity got the better of her.

"Why not?"

Leng Yanmi glanced at her. "You have the finals coming up, and you'll be busy for quite some time. If Grandpa finds out about our compatibility today, he might want to keep you around for a few days."

She added, "He's an elder, so it would be hard for you to refuse him."

Knowing her own grandfather well, Leng Yanmi could already predict how he might react.

Shi Yue's eyes widened in realization.

As the light turned green, Leng Yanmi resumed driving. "Once the finals are over and you're less busy, I'll formally take you to see him and explain everything properly."

A warm current flowed through Shi Yue's heart.

She knew how much Leng Yanmi cared for her, always putting her first and thinking about her needs. But she hadn't expected her to be thoughtful to this extent. Reaching out, Shi Yue gently held Leng Yanmi's hand on the steering wheel and said with a smile, "Alright."

Half an hour later, they arrived at the Leng family estate.

Under the butler's guidance, they entered the grand dining hall. As soon as they stepped in, they saw four people conversing by a luxurious sofa.

Hearing the sound of footsteps, the older couple in the group turned to look and immediately approached with warm smiles.

"Yanmi," the man greeted.

Leng Yanmi's expression softened as she greeted them in return, "Brother, Sister in law."

Through this exchange, Shi Yue quickly understood who the couple was—they were Leng Yanmi's brother and sister-in-law, as well as Leng Mingchuan's parents.

The other two people standing by the sofa were none other than Leng Mingchuan and Shen Lingling.

At this moment, Shi Yue and Shen Lingling's eyes met, neither gaze particularly friendly.

But this time, Shi Yue took the initiative to turn her head away, avoiding further eye contact. After all, this was Grandpa Leng's birthday party, and he was the star of the evening—not them. She hoped Shen Lingling would have the sense not to stir up any drama.

It wasn't long before Leng Weichuan and his wife noticed Shi Yue.

"And this is…?"

Back when Shi Yue and Leng Mingchuan had their engagement party, the couple hadn't been able to attend due to being abroad. They had only sent a gift through someone else.

Shi Yue gave them a polite smile, while Leng Yanmi raised their clasped hands and said, "This is Shi Yue, my…"

She glanced at Shi Yue, her tone so gentle it seemed softer than the moonlight outside. "…my love."

Leng Weichuan's eyes widened in surprise. He exchanged stunned looks with his wife, clearly not expecting this.

"I—I can't believe it," Leng Weichuan finally managed to speak, his expression breaking into an exaggerated grin. "Yanmi, you've always been such a solitary person. I honestly thought you'd be alone forever!"

He chuckled, then turned to Shi Yue. "Miss Shi, it must have been a lot of work for you to take care of our Yanmi."

Shi Yue quickly waved her hands. "No, no."

She smiled softly. "She's wonderful. She actually takes care of me more than I take care of her."

Leng Weichuan raised an eyebrow, his expression saying, You don't have to cover for her. "Not to badmouth my sister, but Yanmi can be quite difficult to get along with. I don't know how things are between you now, but I'm sure you must have had a hard time at first."

He sighed dramatically. "She doesn't mean any harm, but she's… a handful. Don't take it to heart."

Shi Yue burst into laughter.

For once, Leng Yanmi looked a little embarrassed, a faint blush dusting her cheeks.

"I'm not like that," she protested softly.

Leng Weichuan wasn't convinced. "Of course you wouldn't think so. But I've lost count of the number of little Omegas who came crying to me after you upset them."

Leng Yanmi turned to Shi Yue, "Have I ever bullied you?"

Shi Yue couldn't hold back her laughter, though she tried her best to suppress it. The corners of her mouth twitched uncontrollably, and the amusement in her eyes was impossible to hide as it spilled out through the faint curve of her gaze.

Clearing her throat, she leaned closer to Leng Yanmi and whispered softly, "Of course not."

Then, turning to Leng Weichuan and his wife, she added, "Auntie has always been very kind to me."

Leng Weichuan's wife smiled warmly and gestured for them to join the group by the sofa. "We were just saying how today is full of joyous occasions."

"Grandpa's birthday, and now both Yanmi and Mingchuan have found their significant others. It's truly a day of triple blessings for the family."

The four of them walked over to the sofa, where Leng Mingchuan and Shen Lingling were already standing. Seeing them approach, the younger pair greeted respectfully, "Aunt Yan."

Leng Yanmi didn't even spare a glance at Shen Lingling and gave a curt nod to Leng Mingchuan. "Mm."

Shen Lingling's face stiffened awkwardly, and she quickly moved to hide behind Leng Mingchuan.

At that moment, the guest of honor—Grandpa Leng—finally entered the hall.

The six of them rose to greet him. Once Grandpa Leng was seated, the rest followed suit, taking their places around the table.

Grandpa Leng first chatted briefly with Leng Weichuan and his wife, who had been abroad for a while. Afterward, his attention shifted almost entirely to Leng Yanmi and Shi Yue, just as Leng Yanmi had predicted during the car ride.

As it turned out, Grandpa Leng's affection for Shi Yue was unmistakable.

"Is it hard balancing school and a relationship at the same time?"

"Is Yanmi too busy? I've told her so many times to delegate more work to her subordinates and make time for her personal life."

"Shi Yue, if you ever run into any issues, just come directly to Grandpa, okay?"

"…"

Shi Yue nodded shyly, her cheeks flushed as she responded to each question. The warmth of the interaction was a stark contrast to the chill felt by Leng Mingchuan and Shen Lingling, who sat on the sidelines, thoroughly ignored.

Seizing a lull in the conversation, Leng Mingchuan finally spoke up. "Grea -Grandpa, this is Lingling. My girlfriend. I've mentioned her to you before."

Shen Lingling quickly brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and greeted politely, "Great Grandpa, I wish you a life as vast as the eastern seas and as enduring as the southern mountains."

Grandpa Leng gave her a brief nod. "Mm, thank you." He paused and then turned to Leng Mingchuan. "You two are still young. Take your time. At your age, you should focus more on your studies and career."

His lukewarm tone couldn't have been more different from his earlier warmth toward Shi Yue. Even Leng Weichuan and his wife felt a pang of awkwardness, unsure of what had caused such a stark difference in attitude.

Unfazed, Leng Mingchuan pressed on. "Great Grandpa, Lingling is an excellent designer. She's about to compete in the finals of the Feather Design Competition."

Hearing this, Grandpa Leng turned to Shi Yue with a smile. "Grandpa remembers you're in that competition too, right?"

Shi Yue nodded. "Yes, I am."

Grandpa Leng's smile deepened. "Do your best. Competitions take a lot of energy—once it's over, have Yanmi take you on a nice vacation to relax."

Shi Yue blushed. "Okay."

Under the table, Shen Lingling clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. Her face betrayed her frustration as she tugged at Leng Mingchuan's sleeve, urging him to say something.

Determined to shift the focus, Leng Mingchuan interjected again. "Oh, Great Grandpa, I have some exciting news to share!"

Grandpa Leng raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Leng Mingchuan smiled proudly. "Lingling and I recently had our pheromone compatibility tested. We scored an impressive 73%!"

He clasped Shen Lingling's hand tightly and continued, "We've already decided that once Lingling wins the championship, we'll start preparing to have a baby."

He added with a grin, "Who knows? Maybe next year, you'll have a great-grandchild to hold."

This caused Grandpa Leng's eyes to widen. "You're already planning to have children?"

Shen Lingling lowered her gaze shyly, tucking a hand near her stomach. "We thought that since we're young and energetic, it's a good time to start. And…" She smiled bashfully. "With such a high compatibility, contraception has been… challenging. So we decided to just let nature take its course."

"Well, that's good too!" Grandpa Leng said, though his tone carried a trace of regret. He glanced briefly at Leng Yanmi and sighed softly before continuing, "If the two of you can have children, that would indeed be a joyous occasion."

"It's been so long since this family has welcomed a new member."

Shen Lingling finally managed to score a victory, casting a smug glance at Shi Yue while maintaining a polite smile on her face. "Thank you, Grandpa."

Shi Yue resisted the urge to roll her eyes, reminding herself to stay composed in front of the elders.

With the conversation successfully steered toward the hypothetical child, Leng Mingchuan and Shen Lingling basked in the spotlight. Leng Weichuan's wife began recounting her experiences raising Leng Mingchuan, turning the dinner table into a lively discussion about parenting. The family was all smiles, leaving no room for anyone else to interject.

Shi Yue, however, was more than happy to stay out of it. She quietly enjoyed the luxurious feast, happily accepting the occasional bite Leng Yanmi fed her. With a table full of delicacies, she ate to her heart's content.

Before they left, both Shi Yue and Shen Lingling received gifts from Grandpa Leng.

Shi Yue's gift, a Hetian jade bracelet, was far more valuable than Shen Lingling's diamond necklace. However, Grandpa Leng then added a safety talisman for Shen Lingling as an additional gesture, likely to balance things out.

As they left the Leng family estate, Shen Lingling walked with her nose practically in the air, clearly feeling triumphant. She didn't even bother looking directly at Shi Yue during their goodbyes.

Shi Yue, on the other hand, felt thoroughly nauseated by her attitude. Once they were back in the car, she even gagged a couple of times out of sheer discomfort.

Leng Yanmi gently patted her back. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Shi Yue said, rubbing her nose.

The cool night breeze streaming in through the open window helped alleviate the stifling sensation in her chest. She turned to Leng Yanmi and playfully winked, half-joking, "Let's hurry back. Once I don't have to see Shen Lingling anymore, I'll be completely cured."

Leng Yanmi leaned over and planted a soft kiss on her lips, then promised, "If you don't like her, I won't let her appear at any events where you're present." After a moment's pause, she added a condition with a wry smile, "At least, not after the competition ends."

Shi Yue nodded. "Alright."

"She's too eager," Leng Yanmi said as she settled back into her seat and started the car. "Her ambition is written all over her face. I still don't understand what Mingchuan sees in her. I've warned him plenty of times."

Shi Yue shrugged. "To each their own, I guess."

She sighed and mused, "But Shen Lingling does have her methods. If she does manage to have a baby, even if you and Grandpa oppose it, she'll likely secure her place in the family by marrying Leng Mingchuan, right?"

She glanced at Leng Yanmi and teased with a laugh, "By then, you'd have to give her some respect for the baby's sake, wouldn't you?"

Leng Yanmi let out a cold chuckle. "Let's see if she's truly capable of that."

With that, she stepped on the gas, and the car disappeared into the night.

* * * *

Two days later, Shi Yue packed her belongings and moved back into the villa provided by the competition.

The final round of the competition was set to last seven days. During this time, the three remaining contestants would be under constant live-stream surveillance, showcasing their design philosophies and skills to the fullest extent.

Adding to the pressure, the production team had introduced a new element: audience voting.

"This means that the final score for this round will be determined half by the professional judges and half by audience votes!" the host announced loudly in front of the three contestants.

"So, let me remind all of you: this time, you won't just need to impress the judges here in the studio. You'll also have to win the hearts of millions of viewers watching from all over the world."

"Every single vote from the audience will determine your final ranking!"