Dinner was a resounding success. Both her father-in-law and mother-in-law were very pleased with her.

After the meal, Mrs. Chen took her hand and chatted warmly.

Yancy Shaw spoke up, "It's getting late, we should head home."

Mrs. Chen wanted them to stay the night, but considering their workplace was a bit far, she relented.

They were just about to leave when a voice sounded from outside.

"Yancheng, is that you back?" Even before the person entered, her voice rang out from down the hall.

Mrs. Chen's brows knit in displeasure; it was clear she wasn't happy about this visitor.

A striking figure dashed in, running straight to Yancy Shaw's side. At that moment, she only had eyes for him, as if no one else existed.

"I heard Third Brother is back, and with Yueyue here too, so I thought I'd drop by for a visit. It's been so long—I knew Yueyue must be missing him."

The speaker was Mandy Snow, wife of the Shen family's eldest son.

Yancy Shaw's expression remained aloof; he didn't even spare Eva Snow a glance.

He turned to Lauren Shaw, reached out, and tightly held her hand.

"Let's go home."

Only then did Eva Snow notice there was another woman in the living room.

Lauren Shaw recognized her—she was the woman who'd argued with Claire Xu at the mall last time.

"What are you doing here?" Eva Snow looked at her, rude and unfriendly.

Mrs. Chen couldn't take it anymore. Her voice turned stern: "Watch your mouth! Why shouldn't she be here? She's my daughter-in-law. Show some manners."

Eva Snow was frozen in shock, and so was Mandy Snow.

It was only then that they looked at Yancy Shaw and Lauren Shaw—at their tightly clasped hands, and the sparkling diamond ring on her finger.

"Yancheng, it's late. Take Shengsheng home," Shen Wentian said, eyeing Yancy Shaw meaningfully.

Right in front of them, Mrs. Chen pressed a thick red envelope into Lauren Shaw's hands.

Even the densest person could tell what all this meant.

After Yancy Shaw led Lauren Shaw out and they got in the car, Mrs. Chen shot Mandy Snow a cold look. Her tone was sharp: "Eva Snow may be your niece, but there are rules in this house. Today was Third Son's first time bringing his wife home. I don't want to see this kind of thing again next time."

Mandy Snow bit her lip and nodded. "I understand, Mother."

Mrs. Chen said no more, turning to go inside, leaving the two of them standing there.

"Auntie, when did Yancheng get married? Why didn't I know?" Eva Snow's face was full of disbelief.

Mandy Snow let out a long sigh. "Don't say you didn't know—I’m his sister-in-law, and I didn’t know either."

Suddenly Eva Snow thought of Sean Snow. "Then my brother must know about it."

In the car, Lauren Shaw looked at Yancy Shaw, who was driving. "Don't you think you owe me an explanation?"

Why was that Eva Snow at his house? And the way she looked at him—Lauren Shaw could tell in an instant; Eva Snow liked him.

Yancy Shaw drove steadily, chuckling softly. "Shengsheng, are you jealous?"

Lauren Shaw turned away, staring out the window.

"Eva Snow is my sister-in-law’s niece. She’s been abroad and I didn’t know she’d be coming tonight." Yancy Shaw patiently explained.

Lauren Shaw wasn’t someone who’d make trouble without reason, but seeing the way Eva Snow looked at him tonight made her uncomfortable—the urge to stake her claim was overwhelming.

A hand reached over, gripping hers tightly. "Lauren Shaw, I’ve never been in a relationship before, so I really don’t know how to please a girl. If you’re unhappy, just hit me or scold me—just don’t be mad, okay?"

Watching how nervous he was, Lauren Shaw’s earlier annoyance melted away.

"I’m not mad, just… a bit bothered, that’s all." She didn’t even know why herself.

Yancy Shaw said nothing, but the gentle curve of his lips said it all.

Back at the Shen house.

"Third's gotten married?" Every member of the Shen family was stunned at the news.

"That's right. Your younger brother is married now—you, as the older brother, aren’t feeling any pressure?" Mrs. Chen eyed her second son, half suspecting there was something he wasn’t telling.

Her two sons had always been the least of her worries—except when it came to marriage, which she nagged about constantly to no avail.

Even the neighbor's grandson could get into fights, but her sons just wouldn't hurry up and settle down.

Thankfully, at least the youngest finally had someone.

"Second, be honest with me. Are you... into men?" She’d pondered the question for a long time, but finally decided she had to ask—just in case he ever brought home a male partner she wasn’t prepared for.

Bryce Shaw looked at her helplessly. "Are you doubting your own son's orientation?"

Mrs. Chen gave him a look and lectured, "Don’t just work all the time. Pay some attention to your own future. If you take too long, you’ll be old and nobody will want you!"

Bryce Shaw: "…"

After a shower, Lauren Shaw lay on the bed video-calling Claire Xu.

Claire Xu had created a group chat for three: her, Lauren Shaw, and Hugo Pierce.

Hugo Pierce told her that Yvonne Sung had seen her get into Yancy Shaw’s car outside the studio today. Judging from his face, it had really gotten to him.

Claire Xu didn’t forget to add, "Serves him right!"

She couldn't resist sharing such satisfying news with Lauren Shaw.

"You have no idea, Yvonne Sung totally fell apart after seeing you get in that car," Hugo Pierce remembered Yvonne Sung’s devastated look, and it made him angry all over again.

As a friend, he’d tried to talk sense into Yvonne Sung many times, but not only was he ignored, Su even snapped at him. Now, Hugo Pierce didn’t feel like bothering anymore.

"Who was the guy who picked you up today?" Hugo Pierce finally asked the question on his mind.

"My husband," Lauren Shaw replied.

Hugo Pierce was stunned. "You’re married? When did that happen?"

He stared at her, disbelieving, almost as if she were lying.

Claire Xu nodded, confirming, "It's true. I had the same reaction when I first heard!"

"You didn't know about her getting married either?" Now Hugo Pierce was completely baffled.

Earlier, he’d just assumed the guy was her suitor—never imagined she was actually married.

"They had a flash wedding. Barely met a few times before tying the knot—surprised?" Claire Xu was glad to finally find someone as shocked as she'd been. But now, she’d fully accepted it.

Dr. Shen was handsome, charismatic, and attentive—Lauren Shaw was far better off marrying him than ending up with that Su guy.

"So, did you get married just to spite Yvonne Sung?"

He wasn’t the first to ask—and certainly wouldn’t be the last. But this was a notion Lauren Shaw had to set straight.

"No. Do I really seem that impulsive to you?" She couldn’t understand why everyone seemed to reach that conclusion.

"Can you blame anyone? The way you used to chase after Yvonne Sung, and now you suddenly married someone else. Folks are bound to wonder," Hugo Pierce replied, making sense.

Somehow, Yancy Shaw had appeared behind her without her noticing. She started, nearly dropping the phone.

The camera swung suddenly, focusing on Yancy Shaw’s face.

Claire Xu greeted him first, "Good evening, Dr. Shen."

Yancy Shaw nodded politely. "Good evening."

Feeling guilty, Lauren Shaw chatted with them for a bit before hurriedly ending the video call.

She wasn’t sure how much he’d overheard.

Worried he might misunderstand, she spoke up, "I didn’t marry you just to spite Yvonne Sung, don't get the wrong idea."