In recent days, Lauren Shaw’s recovery had gone well—her cheeks had taken on a healthy flush again, all thanks to Dr. Shen’s attentive care. Every day, he thought up new ways to make her nutritious meals, even calling his mother-in-law to ask about Lauren Shaw’s favorite dishes.
Now, Lauren Shaw’s parents had nothing but praise for him; in fact, they thought their daughter had really struck gold by marrying him.
"Good afternoon, brother-in-law!"
"Did you come to pick up Sister Sheng, brother-in-law?"
The moment Yancy Shaw walked into the studio, Xiaomei and the others put down their work, all turning to look at Lauren Shaw and Yancy Shaw.
"Why are you here so early today?" Lauren Shaw asked, glancing up at him with a smile as she continued to cut fabric.
Yancy Shaw stood by her side, his gaze lingering on her gradually fuller waist, his eyes gentle with amusement.
"Aren’t we supposed to have lunch with our parents today? I thought I’d come by early to get you."
Lauren Shaw paused her work to ask, "Did you make a reservation?"
"Yeah, it’s all set. We’re eating at Jiangnan Riverside."
Jiangnan Riverside was notoriously hard to book—a week’s notice sometimes wasn’t enough. Clearly, he'd planned this well in advance.
"I’ve already called your parents. They should be on their way now."
Dr. Shen seemed to think of everything; she never needed to worry about a thing.
He naturally took her hand in his.
"Sister Sheng and her husband are adorable together."
"Watching such a beautiful couple makes me giddy," the girls in the studio sighed enviously.
When they arrived at Jiangnan Riverside, Yancy Shaw didn’t go in right away. Instead, he waited outside for Lauren Shaw’s parents.
About ten minutes later, Mr. and Mrs. Li arrived, a little out of breath.
"Mom, Dad!" Lauren Shaw greeted, Yancy Shaw right behind her, calling out, "Mom, Dad!" as well.
Seeing Yancy Shaw, their smiles grew even warmer.
"Have your in-laws arrived yet?" Lauren Shaw asked.
"They’re already here, waiting inside," her father replied.
Feeling bad about being late, Mr. and Mrs. Li hurried everyone inside, "Let’s not make such a bad impression by keeping them waiting on this first meeting."
Inside the private room, Mr. and Mrs. Li apologized again for the delay, but Mrs. Chen and Shen Wentting showed not the slightest sign of displeasure.
"This is how it should be. The kids’ wedding was so rushed—we, as parents, do feel a bit negligent," Mrs. Chen said warmly.
From this first meeting, both sides took an instant liking to each other’s families.
Soon enough, the atmosphere relaxed, and they were toasting each other as in-laws, laughing over several rounds of drinks.
It was a meal filled with joy.
After lunch, Lauren Shaw still needed to return to the studio.
Once they’d seen both sets of parents off, Yancy Shaw drove Lauren Shaw back.
At the studio’s entrance, Lauren Shaw unbuckled her seatbelt and reached for the door handle when Yancy Shaw called her name softly.
"Lauren Shaw."
She turned, and his handsome face suddenly filled her vision; her whole body tensed instinctively.
He looped an arm around her neck and brushed a kiss onto her forehead—a light, fleeting touch.
"I’ll pick you up later," he said, his deep voice sending a tremor through her heart.
The spot where he’d kissed her still burned with heat, and a blush crept across her cheeks. She ducked her head and murmured, "Okay."
Even after she stepped out of the car, her heart was thudding wildly.
She walked a few steps, then turned to glance back; his car was still parked where she’d left it, and he was gazing at her—his deep eyes fixed on her, as if he could pull her in with that look.
Lauren Shaw quickly looked away and hurried to the studio. For some reason, she couldn’t quite meet his eyes; she was afraid she’d lose control if she did.
Only after she was inside did Yancy Shaw finally drive away.
"Sister Sheng, do you already miss your husband?" Xiaomei teased when she noticed Lauren Shaw staring absentmindedly in the direction of Yancy Shaw’s car.
Sisi chimed in, "You’re newlyweds! Of course you’re inseparable."
Lauren Shaw laughed, "You girls and your jokes."
"Sister Sheng, I just got a call—the garment factory says they won’t produce our order."
Maya Wells was holding her phone, looking worried.
"They won’t take our order? Why? Haven’t we worked with them so many times before?"
"I have no idea."
Lauren Shaw called the factory director for answers.
After clarifying the situation, she pressed: "We’ve collaborated a lot in the past—what’s the issue this time?"
The director hemmed and hawed, refusing to give a straight answer.
After Lauren Shaw persisted, he finally revealed a clue: she had apparently offended someone she shouldn’t have.
But Lauren Shaw was confused. She had never liked picking quarrels with others; as far as she knew, she hadn’t offended anyone.
Feeling something was off, she drove over to the factory to find out exactly what was going on.
She frequented this factory and generally had a good relationship with the director. But today, seated in his office was not the familiar director—but Eva Snow.
"Well, that was fast," Eva Snow drawled, eyeing her with cold superiority.
In an instant, Lauren Shaw understood—so this was the person she had supposedly offended.
"You’re wasting your time," Eva Snow said bluntly. "I told the director myself: we’re not taking your order—now or ever."
Lauren Shaw regarded her calmly. "Seems you have quite a grudge against me."
"I’ve seen women like you before," Eva Snow sneered. "I don’t know what tricks you used to force Yancheng to marry you, but don’t get smug. How long have you known him? Getting married was clearly just a moment’s impulse for him."
It was obvious now—Eva Snow had called her here just to give her a piece of her mind.
But Lauren Shaw remained utterly unphased.
"If you won’t work with me, then I’ll just take my materials back," she replied, turning to leave.
Eva Snow fumed—her words had been absorbed like a punch into soft cotton.
After loading the fabric into her car, the factory director hurried over, full of apologies. "Miss Li, I really am sorry."
"I know it’s not your fault; in situations like this, you don’t have a say," Lauren Shaw reassured him.
Returning to the studio with her materials, she spotted Xiaomei waiting at the entrance.
Xiaomei’s expression was troubled. "Sister Sheng, maybe hold off on going inside. Someone’s here."
"Who?" Lauren Shaw asked, not understanding.
Xiaomei, a little agitated, tried to pull Lauren Shaw back to the car, but it was already too late.
"Lauren Shaw, are you avoiding me now?" Yvonne Sung stood waiting at the studio entrance.
Lauren Shaw, already in a bad mood, grew even more annoyed at the sight of Yvonne Sung.
She handed the fabric to Xiaomei. "Go on in."
Xiaomei hesitated, clearly uneasy—the reputation of Yvonne Sung as a scumbag preceded him, and she was worried what he might do.
Lauren Shaw gave her a reassuring glance, and only then did Xiaomei carry the fabric inside.
Lauren Shaw stared coldly at him. "What do you want?"
Yvonne Sung stepped closer, trying to grab her hand, but Lauren Shaw took several steps back, avoiding him.
A look of hurt flickered in his eyes.
"Do you really hate me this much now?"
"What do you think?" she replied, her tone as indifferent and calm as if she’d never felt anything for him at all.