Stop pretending, the fake heiress is actually a master of metaphysics.

Upon hearing this, Shen Yingwei's face turned mostly pale.

"Auntie, that's not what I meant..."

"Alright."

Shen Zhaoxin waved her hand: "Making a scene like this so early in the morning is ruining everyone's appetite. Yingwei, this isn't a family drama, you don't need to go to such lengths, it's annoying to watch. Also, sister-in-law, Niannian just got home, is it appropriate for you to let her meet her arranged marriage partner? What kind of mother are you? What will Niannian think?"

She turned to Shen Nian and waved to her, "Nian Nian, it's okay not to get married. The Shen family doesn't require everyone to get married. I was married, but I'm divorced now, aren't I? If you're not in a hurry to leave, come with me for a stroll in the garden to digest your food."

Shen Zhaoxin's son, Shen Yingchu, glanced at her, opened his mouth, and didn't understand why his own mother was protecting Shen Nian like this, even at the cost of disgracing Song Daiqing.

However, under pressure from his own mother's tyranny, he ultimately said nothing.

-

Shen Nian and Shen Zhaoxin were taking a walk in the garden of the mansion.

Shen Zhao thought to himself, "Thanks to your calming talisman, I slept quite well last night."

"It's nothing."

Shen Nian paused for a moment, then said, "Are you speaking up for me just because of that paper talisman?"

"Not entirely."

Shen Zhaoxin smiled slightly and said, "In some ways, I am also a feudal and old-fashioned person."

"Although we four branches are competitors, ultimately, the Shen family's assets should belong to the Shen family. What's the point of leaving them to an outsider with no blood relation?"

"Moreover, I prefer your temperament to Shen Yingwei's."

"You're the one who's like a member of the Shen family. Shen Yingwei is too pretentious in her actions and behavior; I don't like it."

Shen Nian: ...

The original owner of this body was a member of the Shen family, not her.

Besides, she didn't think she had anything in common with those idiots like Shen Yingchuan or Shen Yingjia.

"Furthermore, I am a daughter, and one who has already married out. The fourth branch of the family is ultimately somewhat powerless in matters of dividing the property. Compared to trying to win over others who have been entrenched in the Shen family for many years and already have their own plans and ideas, aren't you, the Shen family's granddaughter who has just returned, an easier target to win over?"

Especially when the other members of the Shen family ostracized and disliked her.

Shen Zhao spoke frankly and openly, so Shen Nian couldn't feel any displeasure.

"But... I probably won't get involved in the Shen family's disputes."

Shen Nian said calmly, "You can see that I didn't grow up with them from a young age, so they don't treat me as warmly as they do Shen Yingwei."

"I'm not someone who values ​​family ties. I only came back to acknowledge my family because they've recognized my identity in front of so many people. I won't live in the Shen family's house, nor will I have much involvement with them, so I'm afraid I can't be of much help to you."

Besides, even if we take a step back and say that Shen Nian isn't someone who values ​​money that much, he's not one to care much about money.

For her, enough money is enough.

Too much money might even become a burden for her.

Shen Zhaoxin raised an eyebrow, seemingly unsurprised by her words: "I know you don't like the Shen family."

"But in this world, the Shen family's money and influence are still very useful. You don't need to like it, just know how to use it. Like that Imperial Green you opened yesterday, if its value were placed anywhere other than the Shen family, it would probably be enough to make people fight tooth and nail. But in the Shen family, even if someone is envious, they won't really do anything to you."

"Because 2 billion is too small in the total assets of the Shen family. Even the most despicable and useless Shen Yingjia has several billion in trust funds in his own account."

"I know you may not be interested in this, but to achieve your goals, you probably still need money or power."

Shen Nian carefully examined Shen Zhaoxin.

This aunt, just like her name, is clear-headed, insightful, and intelligent; she has a very clever and perceptive mind.

If she were still young, she would be a good candidate for cultivation.

Shen Nian ultimately did not refute, but nodded, which was taken as acceptance.

Shen Zhaoxin smiled and said, "It's fine if you don't live in the Shen family home. Although it's an ancestral rule, it's truly a dereliction of duty for the Shen family to have left you away for so many years. Even the old man can't force you to live with us. However, you can come back to stay for two days a week—I still quite like you, child."

Her own son took after his father; he wasn't stupid, but he wasn't particularly smart either.

Shen Zhaoxin rarely encountered a beautiful and intelligent child, so she couldn't help but show more patience and affection.

"However, Yingwei said you're sharing an apartment with someone, is that true? Even though you're not living at the Shen family's place, don't let yourself suffer in terms of food, clothing, and shelter. If you don't like the apartment your second uncle gave you, I have a few more."

Shen Nian shook her head: "It's not exactly sharing an apartment. That house is mine, and the two people who moved in are good friends."

"Oh, that's good too. It's safer for you to be out there alone with a couple of friends looking out for you."

Shen Zhao thought to himself, "You're leaving soon? I'll have the driver take you home."

As the two were talking, a low-key yet luxurious Rolls-Royce drove into the Shen family's manor.

Shen Zhaoxin clicked her tongue a few times and said to Shen Nian, "This must be the guest your mother asked you to meet—this car is not cheap. There are only three in the world, and each one costs two billion, almost as much as the Imperial Green Emerald you drove yesterday. I wonder which family in the Jinghai elite circle it belongs to."

"Aren't you really going to meet him? I'm quite curious about whose young master this is."

Shen Nian looked at the familiar car, and swallowed back the "I won't go" that was on the tip of her tongue.

"I know who it is."

Shen Zhaoxin looked at her in surprise: "Who?"

Shen Nian: "...It's my roommate, Gu Qiwen, the CEO of Gu's Group."

This time, it was Shen Zhaoxin's turn to remain silent.

No wonder Shen Nian looks down on the Shen family.

It turns out it was because the president of Gu's Group... was the friend she was talking about.

While Shen Zhaoxin was still in a daze, Shen Nian had already started walking towards Gu Qiwen's car.

She thought that now she wouldn't need the Shen family's driver to take her.

There's a driver right here.

However, as soon as she reached the car, she saw Shen Yingwei smiling at her from under the corridor of the mansion.

Shen Yingwei quickly walked up to Shen Nian and said with a smile, "Didn't you say you didn't want to meet guests with Mom?"

"What, have you changed your mind again?"

Shen Nian frowned: "Move aside, don't block the way."

Shen Yingwei said, "Sister, I know you might be excited to see such an expensive car for the first time, but you are a daughter of the Shen family, so you don't need to rush to open the door for people like this."

"Besides, they might not even like you."

Just now in the corridor, Song Daiqing had already informed her of the identity of the passenger in the car.

It's Gu Qiwen, the CEO of the Gu family.

As Song Daiqing spoke, a hint of nostalgia flashed in her eyes: "Speaking of which, back then, the old lady of the Gu family and the old lady of the Shen family were very close friends. They even made an agreement that if there were any boys or girls among the grandchildren of the eldest son's family, they would arrange a marriage between them to strengthen the ties between the two families."

"But later, your sister went missing, and the old lady of the Shen family passed away. The Gu family and the Shen family gradually drifted apart due to their different development philosophies, so no one brought up the matter again."

"You two met once at the Shen family's house when you were little."

Upon hearing this, Shen Yingwei's eyes lit up. (2)