Chapter 5

The next day.

Shen Nianwei returned from her classes with the female teacher, feeling glum the entire way back.

Su Yunxi, feeling puzzled, asked her several times but couldn't get an answer.

It wasn't until lunch that she looked upset and asked, "Mother, is Father going to take a concubine?"

Su Yunxi felt a jolt in her heart and asked, "Who told you that?"

"An older sister," she replied sadly, "that sister also said she was having a little baby. Once the baby is born, Mother will be driven away."

As she spoke, she couldn't help but cry, "Niannian doesn't want Mother to leave, Niannian doesn't want to be separated from Mother..."

Su Yunxi hurriedly held her daughter in her arms and gently coaxed her, "No, no one can drive Mother away. Mother and Niannian will always be together."

"Shall we go fly kites, maybe? The butterfly kite Niannian just got hasn't flown yet."

The frowns on Shen Nianwei's face finally turned into a relaxed smile.

The two of them took the kite to the outskirts of the city, where the warm spring breeze carried the scent of flowers, and many young girls were already enjoying the riverbank.

Here, the gloom on Shen Nianwei's face finally vanished.

Just as the two were playing happily, a slender figure appeared before Su Yunxi.

It was Ye Qianqian, one hand on her waist, the other gently touching her small belly, smiling, "Sister."

Su Yunxi's eyes fell on her slightly protruding belly, her expression unchanged, "I don't deserve it."

"You do deserve it," Ye Qianqian smiled widely, "regardless of who the child's father is... just for saving my life back then, calling you sister is well deserved."

"Sister's daughter is truly lovely and charming," Ye Qianqian giggled, "unfortunately, I am not blessed to bear such an adorable daughter. The doctor said, the one in my belly is a son."

She continued speaking to herself, "But speaking of which, as a wife unable to bear a son to carry on the family name, no matter how clever a daughter is, it's useless. But now it's fine, what sister couldn't do, I will."

"Who let you come here?"

A strange male voice interrupted their conversation.

Su Yunxi looked up at the newcomer, only to see a sullen Shen Qingyun with a nervous-looking man following him.

The man quickly yanked Ye Qianqian back and then scolded, "Why did you come here? This is Mr. Shen's wife, someone you can't offend!"

Ye Qianqian's eyes turned red, looking at Shen Qingyun incredulously.

However, Shen Qingyun didn't even glance at her, acting as if he didn't know her.

He walked straight to Su Yunxi's side, his voice filled with concern, "Yunxi, when did you and Niannian come? I happened to be here with some old friends for an outing today."

Su Yunxi's gaze lightly skimmed over Ye Qianqian, who was being pulled by a strange man.

Shen Qingyun's expression immediately became a bit unnatural.

He took a step forward to block her view and explained, "This is Young Master Zhou, she was brought by him, I heard she is an elegant prostitute from the Zuixiang Building. She didn't upset you, did she?"

Upon hearing this, Ye Qianqian's face turned pale.

With teary eyes, she looked pitifully at Shen Qingyun, but Shen Qingyun avoided her gaze.

The so-called Young Master Zhou hurriedly apologized to Su Yunxi.

Then, under Shen Qingyun's silent cues, he hastily dragged the person away.

Ye Qianqian looked back every few steps, reluctant to leave.

Su Yunxi quietly watched the group, full of flaws, with nothing left in her heart but a cold smile.

How confident was Shen Qingyun that she couldn't see through their relationship?

Once Ye Qianqian left, Shen Qingyun's tense body finally relaxed as he turned to look at Su Yunxi.

"Didn't we agree to pick a time for our family to come here? Why did you bring Niannian today?"

Su Yunxi looked at Shen Qingyun, who had just sighed in relief, and found it somewhat amusing, "You're always busy. By the time you're done with work, spring will be over."

Shen Qingyun's expression stiffened, "It's my fault. I'll definitely make more time for you and Niannian in the future."

Not far away, upon hearing this, Ye Qianqian's face grew even more unsightly, almost on the verge of tears.

Shen Qingyun, pretending not to notice, glanced at her before heading towards his daughter's direction.

Shen Nianwei turned back and saw Shen Qingyun, her eyes glowing with excitement.

"Mother didn't lie to me! Father finished his work and came to play with Niannian."

Shen Qingyun smiled gently, "Father always thinks of Niannian and Mother. I'll definitely spend more time with you both in the future."

Su Yunxi quietly stood by, not responding.

What he couldn't do before, how could she expect him to do in the future?

After playing the whole afternoon, no sooner had they returned to the mansion, not even had a seat warmed, Shen Qingyun was called away by his confidant once again.

Luckily, Shen Nianwei was already used to her father's busyness, watching him leave without a fuss.

But she clung tightly to Su Yunxi's neck, "Mother, spring is almost over. Will Father still be able to fly kites with Niannian this year?"

Su Yunxi patted her little head gently and asked, "Your father is busy. If in the future only Mother is by Niannian's side, will Niannian be sad?"

Shen Nianwei furrowed her brows, thought for a long while, and then spoke in her childish voice, "When Father isn't around, playing with Mother also makes Niannian very happy."

"So Niannian won't be sad."

Looking at Niannian's well-behaved demeanor, Su Yunxi felt both happy and a bit distressed in her heart.

She had always wanted Niannian to have a happy, complete childhood, but now, she realized she couldn't do it.

How wonderful it would be if Shen Qingyun hadn't broken his promises...

Just then, the maid Jing Que came in, handing over a small wooden box.

"Madam, a little girl brought this from outside just now. She said it absolutely must be delivered to Madam's hands."

Su Yunxi asked her to take Niannian away.

Opening the box revealed a thick stack of red peach blossom stickers inside.

The red paper with black letters clearly wrote Ye Qianqian's name and the date, with Shen Qingyun's private seal on each one.

For each peach blossom sticker, there was a day Shen Qingyun spent with Ye Qianqian.

Su Yunxi's hand couldn't help but tremble, feeling a stone lodged in her heart, pressing her uncomfortably.

A lifetime with just one partner.

How laughable it is.

Su Yunxi put the stack of peach blossom stickers back into the box completely and perfectly, her movements calmer than she had imagined.

Just as she put the box away, Shen Qingyun walked in.