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Please support my paid novel here on Webnovel, tittle THREE FACES by Shooly84, straight one.
Aunty Marquis leaned toward Granny Fang Yu and spoke in a low voice, "Please, Mother, when you go back home, convince her to go with you. You know how Aunt Ai can be."
Granny Fang Yu replied, "Come on now, Marquis. Let her stay at least one night. She's been on the road since dawn."
Aunty Marquis shook her head. "I'm telling you, if she gets through tonight in this house, she won't be going anywhere until the wedding is over. You're the only one she'll listen to. Just tell her the house is getting too crowded and she should go back with you."
Granny Fang Yu sighed. "Alright, but at least let her take a bath, rest a bit, and eat something first."
"Of course, Mother. I didn't mean right this second. Just that if Yibo ends up driving youback later, you should try and take her with you."
"Alright, no problem," Granny Fang Yu said.
Aunty Marquis stood up and headed to the kitchen to prepare a meal for Ai. Zhan stood and went upstairs. Granny Fang Yu turned to Shu, who was busy on her phone, and said, "You, come down and help close up this jewelry box. We don't want anything damaged. Just by looking, you can tell these are expensive pieces... not locally made."
Shu muttered shortly, "I don't think I can manage."
Granny Fang Yu stared at her, then said, "Well then, fine. May patience find you. As for me, these hands may be old, but I can still close a box." She struggled slightly as she began fastening it shut.
She continued, "People will start saying you're jealous of your cousin brother. You haven't shown a shred of interest or offered any well wishes since we started unpacking these things. No kind words, no smile...just sulking and brooding. That's not the way, and I'm telling you honestly: if there's something in your heart, fix it now before it gets worse."
Shu gave Granny Fang Yu a defiant look, like she might burst into rage, but Granny Fang Yu wasn't fazed. She sat back down, muttering, "Honestly, not every guest needs to see the gold watches. Better to mention it than display it.... just say it's there, and that's enough."
The moment she mentioned gold, Shu's expression shifted. Gold? There's gold in there too?
Granny Fang Yu added, "It's best we store it away. You never know what's in someone's heart."
Shu swallowed hard, now eyeing the boxes with renewed intensity. There's gold in there? Really?
Granny Fang Yu called out, "Marquis, come here."
"I'm here, Mother," Aunty Marquis replied, stepping out from the kitchen.
Granny Fang Yu said, "Just so you know, please don't bring out the gold again. We don't need to show it off."
"Oh, we haven't taken it out since the day it arrived...only today because you're here, Mother."
"Good. That's how it should be. But honestly, I don't even think it's safe to leave it in that box. Some people don't come to admire....they come to steal."
"It's not in the box, Mother. I took it upstairs the day it came and kept it in my handbag. I only brought it down because you asked."
"Well done. That's safer."
Aunty Marquis returned to the kitchen.
Lan Yi came downstairs and turned to Shu. "Shu, go make tea for Aunt Ai. She said she wants tea with fried eggs and bread. There's a whole loaf in the kitchen....untouched. Fry four eggs for her, and bring her the full milk bottle. She's in Zhan's room."
Shu stood and muttered, "Alright."
Granny Fang Yu grumbled, "With this heat, what does she need tea for? You'd think she was the queen of witches. There's good food already, and even I've had some."
Lan Yi replied, "Let her have it mother. We'll send her a full meal later if she wants."
Shu went to the kitchen and told Aunty Marquis what Lan Yi said.
"What does she need tea for in this heat?" Aunty Marquis grumbled.
Shu didn't reply. She lit the gas burner but had to pause...she couldn't even remember the last time she cooked anything. Granny Fang Yu usually handled all the cooking, and even the hot water she needed would already be in a kettle or hot pot waiting for her.
She opened the fridge, pulled out four eggs, cracked them into a bowl, and added two seasoning cubes and some salt. Then she glanced around the kitchen, wondering what else she needed to add.
She spotted some scotch bonnet peppers and onions, picked up a knife, and began chopping. Her eyes watered badly....clear evidence she was not used to it.
She blended the onions and peppers, added them to the eggs, and mixed them well. She suddenly remembered she hadn't added curry powder, quickly looked around for it, and poured some in once she found it. Then she whisked the mixture again.
She spent about five minutes frying the eggs, and when she noticed they were starting to burn, she quickly scooped them onto a plate. Within a few minutes, she had everything arranged on a large tray and stepped out of the kitchen.
Aunty Marquis glanced over and said, "Someone did think you fried an entire crate of eggs, Shu."
Shu didn't say a word as she went upstairs, pouting as she walked. When she entered Zhan's room, she found Granny Ai sitting on the carpet, rubbing Vaseline all over her body and face. Her skin was glistening as if she'd been dipped in frying oil.
Granny Ai looked up and said, "Welcome, my dear. Oh, you even brought me some eggs? That's thoughtful."
Shu nodded. "Yes, I'll just go get the milk and tea bags."
Granny Ai grinned. "Good, be quick."
Shu left and came back shortly, placing the items down before sitting on the edge of the bed, watching her. "Granny Ai, what's with all the Vaseline? You layered it on thick!"
Grandaunt replied, "Well, I felt like the weather turned foggy and didn't want to dry out like someone who's been dug up from a grave…"
Shu laughed. "It's just the AC. Someone turned it on for you, not fog."
"Oh really? Well, I just felt so cold all of a sudden, I assumed it was fog," Grandaunt said as she reached for the teacup to mix her tea.
Shu leaned in and lowered her voice. "Grandaunt, do you know what I overheard Aunt Marquis telling Granny Fang Yu?"
Grandaunt looked up quickly. "No, what?"
"She asked Granny to take you back home with her today. She said they can't handle your attitude here anymore."
Grandaunt Ai froze, slowly placing the flask down. "Marquis said that about me?"
Shu nodded. "Mm. She said you're too troublesome to stay here and insisted Granny take you along when she leaves later. But please, don't say anything to them. Just act normal. And if Granny tells you to go with her, say no...that you came for the celebration and you're not leaving."
Grandaunt narrowed her eyes, her face twitching in anger. "That wretched girl Marquis! I've wiped her behind when she was still in diapers, and now she dares speak about me like that? Just because she married into money? Her hair used to look like a bird's nest, and she couldn't do anything for herself. And now this?"
Shu's eyes widened. "Please! Keep your voice down. I came to tell you this in confidence, and now you're about to blow it all up. I've already told you what to say if Granny asks...just follow that, and please, don't mention that I told you any of this."
Grandaunt exhaled sharply. "Do I look like some gossiping child? Relax, I won't say a word. Now go fix my tea. Half a bottle of milk....that's how I take it back home."
Shu prepared the tea and set it in front of her. Grandaunt took a piece of egg and popped it in her mouth. As soon as she started chewing, she spit it out onto the plate, grimacing in shock.
"What kind of monster fried these eggs?" she shrieked.
Shu stared at her, alarmed.
Grandaunt stood up. "This is a disaster! Who on earth made this poison in this house?"
Shu frowned a little. "What's wrong with the eggs?"
"Taste it for yourself! It's overloaded with salt and pepper. Who did this to me? Was it Marquis?"
Shu shrugged. "It was the maid."
Grandaunt narrowed her eyes. "Take me to her. Or was it Marquis who ordered her to make this mess just to kill me?"
Shu's eyes widened. "Please, I beg you... don't say anything. Don't tell anyone I said a word. You're not supposed to share secrets!"
Grandaunt waved her off. "How is this my problem? Just taste the egg yourself and see!"
Just then, Lan Yi walked into the room. "Are you done, Aunt?"
Grandaunt burst into tears. "Lan Yi, come and see what your maid gave me. Just because I'm not from the city, she thought she could feed me anything! But what she doesn't know is...I was born in the city too!"
Lan Yi blinked in surprise. "The maid? Shu made the tea and fried the eggs for you, Aunt."
Grandaunt turned slowly to Shu, shock spreading across her face. Shu looked away awkwardly.
Grandaunt put a hand to her cheek. "So this is how you plan to win a young man's heart? And you can't even fry eggs at your age? If I'm not mistaken, Yibo is at least a year or two older than you. And yet, you can't manage something as simple as eggs? What a tragedy. What will happen when you have to cook a full meal? You've been cheated by my sister, truly, she didn't even teach you how to fry an egg. What use is a woman these days who can't cook? All you have is makeup on your face. What's Zhan's boyfriend supposed to do with someone who can't even fry an egg?"
Lan Yi stood silently, speechless. Granny Ai turned to her and said, "Honestly, these eggs taste nothing like eggs, Lan Yi. I thought someone had mixed flour with pepper, seasoning cubes, and salt! Just two weeks ago, this girl came all the way from the village crying her eyes out, saying Zhan stole her boyfriend. Now they're getting married and no one did a thing about it...everyone just took Zhan's side. I actually felt sorry for her and thought you all had betrayed her late mother's trust."
"And if you're not careful, you'll all end up paying for it. I was even angry with Zhan in my heart.... that's why I ignored him when he greeted me while ago. But it turns out it was this sly Shu behind it. Had it been Zhan who made these eggs I nearly ate, I'd be asking for seconds by now. Honestly, Sis Fang Yu did Shu wrong. I regret even entertaining her when she came to me."
At that, Shu stood up abruptly and stormed out of the room like a gust of wind. Granny Ai called after her, "Wicked girl! Always watching Zhan's fiancé like a hawk. Liar... and you can't even cook!"
Lan Yi was still too stunned to say anything. Shu had told them she was going to Yantai, but it turned out she had gone to the village to see Aunt Ai.
Granny Ai sat back down and said, "Someone please get this disaster out of here and call Zhan. He should fry me some proper eggs I can actually eat."
Lan Yi bent to pick up the plate and said, "I'm sorry, Aunt. I'll have someone bring you fresh eggs now."
Granny Ai replied, "Sorry is the least of it. That deceitful girl....claiming Zhan stole her man. What decent man would marry someone who can't cook? If you can't even fry an egg, there's nothing you'll be good at in life. Nothing."
Lan Yi left the room quietly.
***
Around four o'clock, Granny Fang Yu came upstairs to Zhan's room to see Granny Ai. It had been nearly seven years since she'd last gone upstairs, ever since Lan Yi had fallen ill. Standing at the doorway, she said, "Ai, get up. Let's go to my house. There will be a lot of guests coming soon, and it's better for you to relax without all the commotion."
Granny Ai, reclining comfortably against a pillow, toothpicking her teeth after eating chicken, lazily replied, "Really?"
Granny Fang Yu nodded. "Of course. I'm going home myself. Yibo will drop me off."
Granny Ai said, "Alright then. Call Marquis to come get my suitcase. Let's take it downstairs... it has my valuables. I'm not giving it to any of these kids."
Granny Fang Yu said, "Okay, I'll let her know."
She left and returned shortly with Marquis. "You'll carry her suitcase down to the car....we're heading home," Fang Yu told her.
Aunt Marquis walked into the room quickly and went straight for the suitcase, bending to lift it.
Granny Ai snapped, "You two-faced snake! So now you're carrying my suitcase? I'm not going anywhere. This isn't your house, nor is it your husband's. And you even had the audacity to beg Fang Yu to trick me into leaving, thinking I'm just some pitiful old woman. Well, I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying right here until the wedding is over. I didn't come to Sis Fang Yu's place...I came for the celebration. Have you forgotten how you used to cryout like a drum when you were little? Well, guess what....I'm not going anywhere. No one here can force me out before the wedding ends, not even the owner of the Mansion Dong."
Aunt Marquis was frozen in shock, still bent over the suitcase. Granny Fang Yu asked in disbelief, "What kind of talk is that, Ai? Where did you hear something like that?"
Granny Ai replied, "Shu came and told me, and I know she wouldn't lie about something like this. She overheard it. If I end up leaving this house, it better be because Wang Dong himself told me to. Even Lan Yi didn't tried to push me out. I came for the weddings of both Zhan and Yibo, my grand nephews."
With that, she turned her back to them and lay back down. Granny Fang Yu was speechless, and Aunt Marquis couldn't even lift her head, as if the floor had swallowed her whole.
Lan Yi, who had been about to enter the room, had heard everything from the hallway. Without saying a word, she quietly turned around and left so no one would notice she had been there.
Back downstairs in the sitting room, Granny Fang Yu picked up her small bag and said, "Alright then, I'm off. Heading home."
Lan Yi sat on the couch, trying to stifle her laughter. Then Aunt Marquis came downstairs looking completely drenched in humiliation and said, "I swear, I'm going to do something to Shu she'll never forget. She thinks she's clever, running to that woman with gossips?"
Granny Fang Yu muttered, "Let's not forget, Shu is an orphan." And with that, she left the sitting room.
Aunty Marquis stormed through the rooms of the house, clearly upset, looking for Shu. Sabira said, "Miss Shu left the house a while ago."
✨✨✨
Dr. Kexing parked outside his mother's house around six in the evening. He only intended to stop by and greet her...he had no plans to spend the night. His phone had been on flight mode all day; he knew his mother had probably been trying to reach him endlessly...not to mention Zhan.
He hadn't spoken to either of them today. Even now, as he arrived, he still hadn't turned his phone on. He just didn't want to give his mother any reason to worry.
He stepped out of the car and headed for the gate. The gatekeeper greeted him, he anwser without even looking at him. As he made to enter the house, the gatekeeper lowered his head respectfully and followed behind him, saying quietly, "Sir, there's been an incident."
Dr. Kexing stopped abruptly and turned to him. "What kind of incident?"
The gatekeeper lowered his voice even more and said nervously, "Earlier today, Madam was just about to leave with the driver when that same man....the one who brought that paper last time....showed up…"
Dr. Kexing cut him off anxiously. "And then what happened?"
Startled by his tone, the gatekeeper stammered. Dr. Kexing snapped, "Speak up! What happened?"
The gatekeeper said, "Sir, right in front of her, the man handed me the same kind of paper as last time. The driver had just pulled the car out of the garage, and Madam rolled down the window and took it from my hand. I couldn't refuse her, of course."
Dr. Kexing broke into a cold sweat. "Who was with her in the car?"
The gatekeeper replied, "She was alone. I think she was headed for a check-up."
Dr. Kexing didn't wait to hear another word. He rushed into the house. Within seconds, he was in the sitting room...empty. He hurried up to Wu's part and found her in her sitting room, chatting with one of her attendants. The moment the woman saw him, she stood up and greeted him respectfully, then quietly excused herself.
Dr. Kexing tried to calm himself as he looked at his mother. She returned his gaze. Softly, he said, "Good evening, Mom."
She dropped her eyes and replied, "Evening. Why was your phone off all day?"
He sat on the couch, his heart pounding. "I was just taking a break today."
She said, "Alright." Then she stood up, and he watched her, tension building in his chest. She went into her bedroom and returned with an envelope in her hand, staring at him.
Dr. Kexing nearly had a heart attack in that moment. It felt like time froze for a few seconds.
Meanwhile, Aunt Marquis burst into Lan Yi's room, eyes wide with panic. "Lan Yi Jie! Did you happen to go into Hai Kuan's room?"
Lan Yi immediately grew concerned. Seeing the state her younger sister was in, she stood up and asked, "What's wrong, Marquis?"
Aunt Marquis, sweating heavily, replied, "You know I left my handbag and suitcase in his room the day I arrived…"
Lan Yi said, "So? No one enters that room except Yibo... and even he barely goes in."
Aunt Marquis exclaimed, "Oh no, I'm in serious trouble, Lan Yi Jie! I just went in to grab some cash and realized one gold watch from Zhan's trousseau that I kept in my handbag is missing. I had taken it out earlier when we were showing Mother."
Lan Yi's heart sank. "Oh no…"
Aunt Marquis could no longer remain standing; she sat at the edge of the bed. "I just went in to take some money, and it's all gone....nearly One-thirty thousand. Then I rushed to check where I hid the jewelry, and one is completely gone too." With that, she broke down in tears.
Lan Yi was too overwhelmed to say anything.
Aunt Marquis stood up and left the room, crying. "Who would do something so cruel to us…?"
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛