Chapter 151 - 151: One-Hundred and Fifty-One: Gratified
“She’s always very sentimental towards the Yun family. They always manage to hurt her inadvertently because she cares too much about them. But towards anyone else, she automatically blocks herself emotionally away from them. It’s her form of self-protection. I can’t say she’s wrong to do so; it’s just… She got things backward. Her relatives are the ones she should protect herself from,” Shi Nian frustratedly stated.
Fang Xi was truly shocked at Shi Nian’s words; she didn’t expect Shi Nian to understand Yun Nan so thoroughly.
“But it doesn’t matter. I’ll accompany, protect, and get her to gradually accept me,” Shi Nian said optimistically.
“Can I trust you?” Fang Xi asked solemnly after a long while. “Shi Nian, have you truly fallen in love with Yun Nan? You won’t leave her when your marriage contract ends in five years?”
Shi Nian confidently chuckled, “Don’t worry, I’ll be with her for much longer than five years.”
Fang Xi had mixed feelings about this. Shi Nian knew she didn’t trust him completely so he told her, “Just wait and see.” He then strode out to look for
Yun Nan.
Staring at Shi Nian’s back as he walked away, Fang Xi suddenly smiled and felt gratified for Yun Nan. ‘It’s fine,’ she thought. ‘If the guy is a man ofhis word, I’ll definitely cheer for him. But ifhe mistreats Yun Nan, I won’t be responsible for my actions. If that happens, I’ll ruin him no matter what!’
The popularity of the live reality show ‘Embracing Life was at an all-time high. Most of the viewers were Shi Xiu and Yun Liu’s fans; the show’s popularity soared higher and higher as these fans discussed and argued about their idols. Some people even managed to ‘dig out’ Xiao Zhao and Yan Tang’s songs; many were amazed by them.
Some of Si Kun and Mai Fen’s classic dramas and movies were also dug out and made into all sorts of exciting short videos. Their acting skills were praised once again. The production team made a video compilation of Ji Fei’s artistic works. They also found some of his now-famous disciples—they all left messages and shout-outs to cheer for their master. As for Hai Hua, the production team filmed a short video of a few business tycoons sending her their regards and cracking some jokes—including Shi Nian.
In the short video, Shi Nian faced the camera and said, “Hai Hua, it’s been a while. I’ll definitely go visit you when I have the time.”
The production team showed these short videos to the show’s participants, and everyone watched them with great interest.
“Hai Hua, so you know my brother,” Shi Xiu remarked delightedly.
Hai Hua glanced at her and replied, “Yeah, I know Shi Nian, but I didn’t know you before I came on this show! I knew the Shi family had a little princess very much treasured by her two brothers. I never could have expected the Shi family’s little princess would actually come to such a place to raise chickens and feed ducks, rush to do all kinds of farmwork, and even join the entertainment industry. I can’t believe you’re really Shi Nian’s sister!”
Shi Xiu giggled. “Being the Shi family’s little princess doesn’t mean I can’t do all those things. I joined the entertainment industry because my sister-in-law opened a door for me; I had a unique advantage, so I thought, ‘Why not?”
Shi Xiu was just like that. She would never deny or reject the fact that she was born with better opportunities than others, so netizens had no way to be acerbic about her family background even if they wanted to—before anyone could say it, she straightforwardly stated she had the privilege of being born at a higher starting point than some people would ever achieve. That was how she is, so deal with it.
Yan Tang asked Shi Xiu, “Do you think your brother meant it when he said he’ll visit Hai Hua? I’m not interested in him, but I really want to meet your sister-in-law. She must be quite interesting.” Yan Tang had made no secret about her liking for Shi Xiu. She admired the girl’s direct nature and was curious about the woman Shi Xiu looked up to.
Shi Xiu nodded in approval. “Yan Tang, you certainly have great insight. You’ll definitely like my sister-in-law.”
Yun Liu had been getting side-lined these days and was frustrated about the situation. When she heard Shi Xiu mention her sister-in-law, she couldn’t help but inquire, “Shi Xiu, don’t you have two sisters-in-law? Which one is the one you like?”
Shi Xiu turned around to look at her and smiled. “Yun Liu, why would you ask something like that? Are you trying to stir up conflict between us sisters-in-law?”
Yun Liu’s eyes darkened, and she put on a cautious and apologetic smile and said, “T-that’s not what I meant.”
Everyone felt slightly awkward, but Shi Xiu smiled again and commented, “I understand, Yun Liu. You were adopted into my sister-in-law’s family, so nominally, you’re her older sister. You never liked Yun Nan because you were afraid you’d lose your family’s favor with her in the picture. You’re always thinking badly of her, but, actually, you needn’t have worried. Yun Nan doesn’t need to compete with you for her birth family’s favor because our whole family dotes on her. My big sister-in-law, Xiang Yang, likes her too. How about that? Are you envious?”
Yun Liu’s thunderous expression spoke volumes. Xiao Zhao inserted a finger into his ear and wiggled it as though that would clear his mind before saying, “Wait a minute. I’ve been out of touch with society for many years, so I’m a little confused about your relationship. What did you just say? You two… you’re related?”
Shi Xiu didn’t give Yun Liu a chance to speak and answered, “Sort of. My sister-in-law, Yun Nan, is the Yun family’s biological daughter. However, she went missinq when she was a kid, so the Yun familv adopted Yun Liu. MV brother, Shi Nian, has been engaged to the Yun family’s daughter since he was a child, but because Yun Nan went missing, the Yun family wanted him to marry their adopted daughter instead.”
“However, my brother didn’t want to marry her and kept putting off the marriage. That’s why there were rumors that Yun Liu and my brother were engaged. It’s actually a misunderstanding.. Later, Yun Nan found her way home, and she and my brother naturally got married!”