After five years of a cold marriage, I can no longer hide the child I secretly gave birth to.

"If you're not going, then don't go. Why curse yourself?"

After a brief standoff, Zhou Yanci's cold expression softened.

"Then I'll take you to Shen Jun's house."

He picked up the nut box that Xu Daikui had placed at his feet.

He didn't know what he had just been insisting on.

Threatening someone who doesn't love you means you can't expect everyone to live at their mercy.

Especially Xu Daikui, who can't wait to get a divorce, what's the use of threats?

He was overestimating himself by upsetting her.

"Need not...."

Just as Xu Daikui was about to refuse, a silver-white sedan stopped beside them, and Shen Jun, wearing a white woolen coat, got out of the car.

Xu Meng was very happy to see him and immediately ran into his arms.

He skillfully picked up Xu Meng and walked closer to them. When his gaze fell on Zhou Yanci, his gentle expression turned cold.

"Daikui, let's go."

He ignored him as if he didn't exist, his gaze only softly fixed on Xu Daikui.

Xu Daikui smiled and nodded, then bent down to take the box from Zhou Yanci's hand.

Zhou Yanci dodged it. He didn't look at Xu Daikui, but only at Shen Jun, his deep eyes revealing a chilling coldness.

"Dr. Shen, you've invited my wife to your home. Would you mind if I came along?"

Shen Jun didn't understand.

Is he afraid that he will steal Xu Daikui away?

He clearly doesn't love her, but he's quite possessive.

But since the two haven't gotten a divorce certificate yet, he couldn't seem to think of a reason to refuse.

So, he silently looked at Xu Daikui.

Xu Daikui knew that Zhou Yanci was doing it on purpose; if she didn't accompany him to the family banquet, he wouldn't let her have an easy time.

She looked at him, her voice softening, "Zhou Yanci, is it true that if I just show up at your house, you'll stop interfering with me?"

Meeting the woman's moist eyes, Zhou Yanci paused for a moment before turning his head away in annoyance. "I don't have a habit of forcing others."

After saying that, she threw down her nut box and walked away.

It was as if he wasn't the one who had insisted she go just moments before.

Shen Jun frowned. "What's wrong with him? Why is he so concerned about where you're going today?"

Xu Daikui thought about how he asked her to have his child, and then connected it with his recent series of unusual behaviors. Could it be that Zhou Yanci wanted to go back to his old flame?

Ha ha.

What about Xu Jiaojiao?

Can he let go of what he's so determined to protect?

She didn't want to care anymore, so she shook her head, indicating that she didn't know either.

Shen Jun didn't say anything more. "Get in the car. My mom has made a lot of delicious food and is waiting for you and Mengmeng."

...

They arrived at the Shen family's residence soon.

The family of three all work for the government and live in a 130-square-meter apartment building allocated by their work unit.

The three of them walked to the door, and when Mr. and Mrs. Shen heard the noise, they immediately opened the door to greet them.

Xu Daikui was flattered and nodded shyly, saying, "Uncle, Aunt, Happy New Year..."

Hearing her gentle voice, Mr. Shen responded with a smile, but Zhang Xueru's expression showed a hint of surprise.

"You... are that little girl?"

That day, she happened to pass by while buying groceries and saw her standing alone on the street crying.

Looking at her at that moment, she felt a strange, dull sadness in her heart. After returning home, she dreamed about her for several days in a row.

The girl's slender figure lingered in her mind.

Xu Daikui didn't remember ever seeing her before, and there was a hint of hesitation in her smiling expression.

"Mom, let the guests come in first."

Seeing that her mother's eyes were fixed on Xu Daikui, making her feel embarrassed, Shen Jun quietly reminded her to lead her inside.

Zhang Xueru quickly stepped aside, and looking at that slender figure, she felt an inexplicable sense of closeness.

As Xu Daikui entered the house, Shen Jun asked her and Xu Meng to sit down. Watching the family of three busy serving dishes and pouring water, Xu Daikui also stood up and went to help.

But all three of them were very enthusiastic and refused to let her do anything.

At the dinner table, the atmosphere was harmonious. Shen's parents knew that she and her husband had a bad relationship, so they didn't bring it up.

They just chatted and laughed about other topics.

"Dai Kui, eat more. You're so thin. You probably don't even weigh 80 pounds."

Xu Daikui smiled, "Just ninety pounds, Auntie."

"That's too thin. You have a child with you. You should eat more and gain some weight."

As she spoke, she picked up the serving chopsticks and kept putting meat on her plate.

Seeing that her parents liked Xu Daikui very much, Shen Jun also smiled.

If he can meet a good person, he doesn't mind that person has met bad people in the past.

Besides, Xu Daikui deserves someone who will cherish her wholeheartedly.

*

Xu Jiaojiao also came with Wen Yayun to the Zhou family banquet.

On one hand, Wen Yayun invited her; on the other hand, she wanted to see for herself whether Xu Daikui and Zhou Yanci would actually appear together.

Seeing that almost all the guests had arrived, Zhou Yanci walked in alone, and Xu Jiaojiao immediately smiled.

Her heart settled back into her stomach.

"Aci, sit here."

At this moment, Zhou Yanqing, Zhou Yanci's elder brother, raised his hand to beckon him.

Zhou Yanci nodded and went over to sit down.

Xu Jiaojiao's seat was just one seat away from her older brother, so she naturally sat down next to Zhou Yanci.

While listening to Zhou Yanci and Zhou Yanqing chat, he ate his food casually, occasionally turning his head to talk to Wen Yayun.

Xu Jiaojiao felt very at ease at this moment.

The Zhou family had dozens of relatives. When they saw Xu Jiaojiao sitting next to Zhou Yanci, a handsome man and a beautiful woman, they all naturally assumed that she was the future Mrs. Zhou.

After all, Zhou Yanci's previous wife's rise to power was not exactly honorable.

It seems that Zhou Yanci has truly found true love this time.

They looked at Xu Jiaojiao with more respect and kindness, except for Zhou Yingying, whose eyes seemed to be poisoned as she stared at Xu Jiaojiao.

At the Zhou family banquet, she, an outsider, was being far too blatant in her presence.

She wasn't particularly averse to her at first, but last time Uncle Liu clearly told her that Xu Daikui was sick, yet she deliberately kept it from her second brother. It was clearly an attempt to sow discord. Even a mistress shouldn't act against her conscience, right?

She sat down next to Zhou Yanqing, watching Xu Jiaojiao act as if she had already become the Zhou family's wife, and deliberately looked at Zhou Yanci with dissatisfaction.

"Second brother, where's sister-in-law? Why didn't you bring her to the family dinner?"

As soon as he said that, the entire audience fell silent.

Everyone is waiting to see how Zhou Yanci will respond.

Zhou Yanci's face was already dark today. When he heard the question, he gave Zhou Yingying a dangerous look but didn't say anything.

Xu Jiaojiao noticed the awkward atmosphere, so she raised her red lips and explained, "Dai Kui has recently made a new friend, so she must be busy with him."

"A-Ci and I have already invited her, and since she doesn't want to come, we can't force her."

Besides being held back by Shen Jun, Xu Daikui couldn't think of any other reason why even Zhou Yanci couldn't persuade her to come.

She's a fickle woman; even if Zhou Yanci had loved her before, he had long been heartbroken by her shameless behavior.

She's definitely going to win this round.

Seeing that Zhou Yanci did not refute Xu Jiaojiao's words, the extended family members began to complain about Xu Daikui.

"Ha, she really is... how can she be so clueless about what's important and what's in the situation..."

Wen Yayun had anticipated this scene. She instantly felt utterly humiliated and her heart ached with anger. Xu Jiaojiao quickly patted her back to comfort her.

Zhou Nianting glared at Zhou Yanci with a sullen expression, then quickly changed the subject with the other relatives to ease the tension.

"Let's go out for a smoke."

Seeing that Zhou Yanci was ignoring the discussions and seemed detached from them, keeping his head down and staring at his phone, Zhou Yanqing took the initiative to invite him.

"Um."

The two went outside.

After Zhou Yanci left, Xu Jiaojiao took Wen Yayun's hand affectionately and asked, "Auntie, do you think Aci and I will get together this year?"

The new year has begun, and January is almost over. It's time for her and Zhou Yanci to reach a conclusion as soon as possible.

Xu Daikui's behavior today really chilled Wen Yayun's heart, especially since Zhou Yanci had lowered himself to invite her, yet she still took advantage of the situation and refused to come.

She doesn't respect the Zhou family at all. She doesn't even want to look at such a troublesome daughter-in-law, let alone get along with her in the future.

Seeing that she was angry and her face darkened, Xu Jiaojiao quickly took out her phone and showed her the photos of Shen Jun, Xu Daikui, and Xu Meng, the family of three, going on stage to receive an award last time.

"Auntie, the friend that Dai Kui went to see today is this man. Look at that little girl, I heard she's related to them. She looks just like Dai Kui!"

Wen Yayun's face immediately turned red with anger.

Could that little girl be Xu Daikui and Shen Junsheng's child?

How shameless!

"Jiaojiao, why don't you and Yanci get engaged first? I'll go back today and pick an auspicious day. I think the sixth day of the Lunar New Year would be perfect."

She had to clean house as soon as possible; a slut like Xu Daikui was truly unworthy of the Zhou family.