Chapter 414: Chapter 414: The Ignorant are Fearless
Gu Jiaojiao felt that if the Xu family’s daughter didn’t appreciate Shen Ding, it was her loss. Ending a relationship of mutual dislike was a stroke of luck for Shen Ding.
Seeing how decisively Shen Ding left, it was obvious he didn’t like Xu Lin either. But Xu Lin, completely unaware, was the one acting dismissive of him.
At this thought, Gu Jiaojiao glanced over at Xu Lin. ’Well, now,’ she thought. ’Her eyes are practically glued to my man.’
Gu Jiaojiao froze at the sight. ’Don’t tell me Xu Lin dumped Shen Ding for Su Shuochi!’
’This world is truly insane...’
She followed Xu Lin’s gaze to the man beside her. Su Shuochi was already looking at her, and he smiled when their eyes met.
He was undeniably handsome. Although his cold expression could make him seem unapproachable...
...when he smiled, it was with the warmth of a melting glacier, of spring returning to the land. He looked so refined and graceful, nothing like a typical, emotionally dense man.
Xu Lin watched them exchange a look full of affection. From the moment he’d gotten out of the car until he entered the house, that man hadn’t given her a single glance.
’That shameless vixen, daring to seduce a man in public.’
’She must have used some kind of witchcraft behind his back to make such a perfect man have eyes only for her.’
She wished she could march right over, grab Gu Jiaojiao by the ear, and pull her away to take the seat beside him for herself.
The more Xu Lin stewed, the more she saw Gu Jiaojiao as a vile woman with a detestable face.
She was seething with humiliation. Her hatred for Gu Jiaojiao reached a fever pitch, and her glare was so intense it looked like it could shoot flames.
Gu Jiaojiao and Su Shuochi were still looking at each other affectionately, but both of them felt a searing gaze land on them.
"Jiaojiao, you think highly of Shen Ding?" Mr. Han asked with a wide smile from across the table, trying to draw her attention.
He had seen everything and was afraid the couple would notice his granddaughter’s ugly, twisted expression.
’That shameless creature, daring to Xiao Xiang Jiaojiao’s man. She must have a death wish!’
But it was Jiaojiao’s first time visiting their home, so Old Sir Han didn’t want to make things unpleasant. He would deal with Xu Lin later.
His second daughter had been aloof and arrogant since she was a child, and after marrying, she had enjoyed a decade or so of wealth.
The young man from the Xu Family was very arrogant back then and never made friends with anyone. Later, when the Xu Family fell on hard times, no one was willing to help them.
They suffered immensely during those years. He and his two sons secretly provided for them, but his daughter’s family still went through a lot of hardship.
Only later did he realize that his second son-in-law was a man of integrity, but his personality was just that rigid. With a temperament like that, who else would suffer but him?
Now that things had finally stabilized, he had personally sought out Old Shen to arrange a match between his second-eldest granddaughter and Shen Ding.
It was only out of respect for him that Shen Ding had agreed to get to know Xu Lin. Unfortunately, she didn’t know how to appreciate it!
Gu Jiaojiao didn’t hide her favorable impression. Taking a sip of tea, she said, "I’ve never met Shen Ding, so I don’t know him personally."
"But his younger brother, Shen Ling, was my senior in school. He’s vibrant and always happy to help others. He helped me out once."
"To receive such high praise from you, Aunt, shows the Shen family’s upbringing is excellent. It’s just our Linlin who isn’t so blessed."
Father Xu chimed in excitedly. He felt this young and beautiful "Aunt" was a person of good taste.
He had always admired Shen Ding, and since their aunt was praising him too, it just proved that Shen Ding was undoubtedly an excellent man.
Han Meizhen glanced at her husband, displeased. "Why would you say that?"
She was a sharp woman. She knew her husband thought highly of Shen Ding and that it was their daughter who failed to appreciate him, but she wasn’t about to let her daughter be publicly embarrassed.
"I’m just speaking the truth. Shen Ding really is an outstanding young man. It’s our Linlin who has poor taste and embarrassed Shen Ding in front of everyone. Am I wrong?"
Father Xu looked his wife in the eye and retorted. There was something he left unsaid: ’Shen Ding probably didn’t think much of our Linlin, either!’
That was the real reason he hadn’t insisted Shen Ding stay.
Han Meizhen was so angry at her husband she could barely speak. "You... You..."
Gu Jiaojiao chuckled. "Niece, don’t be angry. Your husband is right. Shen Ding is truly excellent. Isn’t that so, Mr. Han?"
"Jiaojiao is right. Shen Ding is an outstanding young man. Our Linlin was just spoiled rotten as a child and has always been willful and shrewish."
As Mr. Han spoke, he glared at Xu Lin, though a smile remained on his face.
But his eyes were utterly ferocious, as if he wanted to skin her alive, and Xu Lin cowered in fear.
Frightened, Xu Lin snuck a peek at her dad, only to see that his face was also frighteningly grim.
She was about to apologize, but then she saw her grandfather turn to look at that vixen. His eyes held not so much anger as a hint of affection.
Xu Lin was instantly consumed by jealousy. Rage gave rise to malice. "Mom! Look! Grandpa and Dad are both siding with an outsi—"
SLAP. Father Xu’s palm struck Xu Lin across the face. "Shut your mouth! Do you want me to throw you out?"
"What are you doing, hitting our daughter like that? If you’re so tough, go after Shen Ding! He’s the one who stepped on Linlin’s foot, and he just leaves after one remark. And you think *he’s* the one who’s right?"
Han Meizhen pulled her daughter into her embrace, her eyes wide with fury as she glared at her husband. He hadn’t allowed her to lose her temper since they’d arrived at the Han family’s home.
’Does he really think I’m afraid of him? If my father and brother hadn’t helped the Xu Family, they’d still be breaking new ground in the Northwest!’
"Do you really think Shen Ding stepped on Linlin’s foot by accident? Let’s go. Don’t ruin our aunt’s good mood."
Father Xu knew his father-in-law and eldest brother-in-law were exercising extreme tolerance, and it wasn’t on his wife’s account.
They were doing it because they didn’t want to displease this "aunt," which just went to show how much weight she carried in their hearts.
But his wife and daughter were ignorant and utterly fearless. They couldn’t read the room and had actually dared to disrupt the Han family’s dinner for their guests.
It was all his fault for being too indulgent with his wife and daughter at home. A deep sense of self-reproach filled Father Xu’s eyes.
His gaze fixed on his wife, growing darker and deeper, like a pool of thick ink that wouldn’t disperse.
Han Meizhen was frightened by her husband’s gaze. He looked like he wanted to kill someone.
Her first instinct was to complain to her father. "Dad... Look at your son-in-law! This is how he repays you..."
Before Han Meizhen could finish, Han Chenyu cut her off. "Dad and I both have eyes. Our brother-in-law did nothing wrong. If you want to make a scene, go home and do it!"
"Eldest Uncle... You... You’d actually kick us out for her? She’s just a— Mmph! Mmph!" Xu Lin demanded furiously, pointing at Gu Jiaojiao.
Father Xu shot to his feet and, without a second thought, clamped a hand over his daughter’s mouth. He gave his wife a sharp look, trying to get her to pull their daughter away so they could all leave.
"Eldest Nephew," Gu Jiaojiao said with a smile, "let’s not stoop to the level of a child. It’s the Mid-Autumn Festival. Let’s just enjoy our meal."
Gu Jiaojiao said with a smile, but inwardly she was annoyed.
"Everyone sit down and eat. Jiaojiao and Shuo Ci are magnanimous; they won’t hold this against you younger ones," Old Sir Han commanded in a heavy voice.
His face was stern and resolute, and his piercing eyes carried a cold, murderous intent that made both Han Meizhen and her daughter shrink back.
