He turned around and glanced at Ji Yan with a poker face. “Why are you still here? Do you want to stay here for their family rules?”
Ji Yan looked at Shang Jinshen with a complicated expression. Without saying anything, she silently pushed his wheelchair and left the Ji family home together with him.
In the car, Ji Yan hesitated for a long time before saying, “Thank you.”
Shang Jinshen closed his eyes for a short rest. Without looking at her, he said faintly, “What are you thanking me for?”
Ji Yan seemed to be immersed in her memories. After a long time, she murmured slowly, “Thank you for protecting me.”
All along as she grew up, she had always been fighting against the Ji family alone. No one had ever protected her. No one had said a word for her or stood up for her and no one had ever felt sorry for her.
She never thought that the person who stood up for her in the Ji family would be Shang Jinshen, who had always been hostile to her.
Ji Yan couldn’t help but feel hopeful. Recently, Shang Jinshen had treated her a lot better. Could she have a little more expectations? Perhaps, there was a chance that they could spend the rest of their lives together.
Shang Jinshen did not know the changes in Ji Yan’s thoughts. He came to the Ji family because Ji Yan was his woman. He could bully her however he wanted to, but not those outsiders.
Otherwise, he would not have sent Lan Si and An Ming to destroy Ji Gui.
Shang Jinshen felt a little relieved, thinking about that vicious woman getting her just desserts. Fortunately, it was Ji Yan who married into the Shang family. She was definitely easier to control.
They rode in silence for the rest of the drive. When they arrived at the Shang family manor, Mrs. Shang was playing mahjong with a few noblewomen in the living room.
Shang Jinshen knew his mother’s interests and he didn’t pay much attention to her. He nodded to a few of the ladies that were greeting him passionately and went upstairs.
“Your son is still so imposing.” One of the ladies smiled at Mrs. Shang as she spoke.
Mrs. Shang’s face was full of pride. She smiled and said as she touched the tiles, “He was always too mature, acting like an old man. He’s not as cheerful as your Shao Tian.”
The other two ladies also laughed. Suddenly, one of them saw Ji Yan standing at the door and asked curiously, “Hey, Xiulan, is this your daughter-in-law?”
Mrs. Shang glanced at Ji Yan behind her, “Ji Yan, make a pot of osmanthus tea for the Madams to taste.” Mrs. Shang ordered without looking back as if Ji Yan was not her daughter-in-law but a maid.
Ji Yan walked silently to the kitchen. Hearing a burst of laughter coming from the living room, she pursed her lips and made the tea dutifully.
She was good at cooking and making tea and thus won the praise of the noble ladies.
“Mm…” One lady held a cup and smelled it carefully. She said to everyone, “This tea was made immaculately, as fresh as freshly picked sweet-scented osmanthus.”
The other two ladies had the same reaction.
Mrs. Shang stroked her hair and smiled warmly. “These are the only things she’s good at. This osmanthus is the fresh osmanthus she picked in person a few days ago. If it weren’t for the unusual tea leaves, it wouldn’t have such a taste.”
“Xiulan, in my opinion, you are a lucky one. Your son is capable and your daughter-in-law is filial. My daughter-in-law only knows how to go shopping all day. It’s more like we are serving her.”
“Hey, your daughter-in-law gave birth to a grandson for you. If I were you, I would be happy to serve her,” Mrs. Shang said neutrally.
Ji Yan was unhappy to hear that. The lady, who was a grandma-to-be, smiled so widely that the corner of her eyes was wrinkled. She said, “If you want one, you can tell your daughter-in-law.”
Mrs. Shang pouted and said with disdain, “Unfortunately, my daughter-in-law won’t do anything.”
Ji Yan froze. She wanted to turn around and leave, thinking of the baby who had only been in her womb for less than half a month. No matter how cruel and rational she was at that time, she still felt guilty. However, she couldn’t say anything because the child was not Shang Jinshen’s.
But she could not help but suspect that other than Shang Jinshen, who else could sleep with her in this manor? She had once doubted Shang Jinshen, but that man’s intact leg that night told her that it could not be him.
Even if Shang Jinshen wanted her, he didn’t need to do it secretly, did he?
After hearing Mrs. Shang’s words, the other ladies didn’t say anything. They looked at Ji Yan with different expressions. A daughter-in-law who couldn’t give birth to a child was unwelcomed anywhere, especially when they heard that Ji Yan came from a small family.
At the end of her words, Mrs. Shang felt madder instead. She pushed the tiles away and said, “Ah, let’s stop playing. It’s getting boring.”
The ladies looked at each other and more or less knew what Mrs. Shang was thinking. Which one of them had never fought against their daughters-in-law in a battle of wits and courage? As such, they stood up and bade their farewells.
After seeing off those few women she had known for a long time, Mrs. Shang sat down on the sofa with a pissed-off face. Ji Yan stood there in silence.
After a while, Mrs. Shang said sarcastically, “Did you hear that? The Xue family’s daughter-in-law got pregnant within two months. You, on the other hand, haven’t had any news.”
“What’s the point of us accepting you? Are you worthy of us?”
“Ji Yan, quit your job and give birth to a grandchild for me at home. Otherwise, I think you don’t have to continue your relationship with Jinshen anymore. Many women could bear a child for my son and they all come from much better backgrounds than you.”
Seeing that she didn’t answer, Mrs. Shang frowned and asked, “Did you hear that?”
Ji Yan couldn’t help but feel wronged. When she thought of divorce and pushing Shang Jinshen to other women, her heart hurt. If it were in the past, Ji Yan wouldn’t care. She even felt that leaving the Shang family was the best decision. She could support herself and her mother alone.
However, Shang Jinshen treated her well occasionally. Once it happened, Ji Yan couldn’t bear to give up. Even though she knew that it was poisonous, she could not help but get closer to it.
Ji Yan lowered her head, hid the myriad emotions in her eyes, and said in a low voice, “Yes.”
She wasn’t opposed to the idea of having a baby. Deep down, she also wanted a child who was related to her. However, she couldn’t force Shang Jinshen to give birth to a baby with her, could she?
That’s right. Will giving birth to a child make her place more stable in the Shang family? Will Shang Jinshen be happy too? She could have a little one as her family as well…
Ji Yan’s eyes lit up. Once that idea was born, it could no longer be removed. She only wanted to be immediately pregnant with a baby that belonged to her and Shang Jinshen.
Seeing that Ji Yan was not reluctant, Mrs. Shang only thought that she was enlightened. She snorted coldly and thought it would be great if Ji Yan could get pregnant. If she couldn’t, she would force her son to divorce her.
When Mrs. Shang finally returned to her room, Ji Yan went upstairs. She habitually walked to the guest room and stopped outside the door.
If she wanted to have a baby, she had to sleep together with Shang Jinshen more frequently.
Ji Yan only hesitated for a moment, then went into the guest room and picked out a sexy nightgown the Shang family prepared. She had never worn such revealing clothes and her face turned red t the thought.
But she walked into the bathroom determinedly with the nightgown in her arms. The sound of the water gurgled. It was particularly sultry in the quiet night.