Lauren Shaw knew this little girl harbored ill intentions, but since she was part of the Shen family, Lauren Shaw still maintained the dignity of an elder.

“That whole thing happened ages ago. I’ve long forgotten it, so don’t let it trouble you.” Lauren Shaw smiled with perfect composure.

Shen Siy was now looking at Chloe Shaw, who sat beside Bryce Shaw. Her smile was sweet and harmless, like a well-behaved child.

“You’re really pretty, sis.” Tonight, she was unusually chatty, her voice ringing especially loud at the dinner table. “I have a friend who’s a big fan of yours. Could I get a few autographs for her?”

Chloe Shaw glanced up at Shen Siy, smiled, and replied, “Sure.”

Shen Siy looked delighted—but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. Mrs. Chen thought her questions were getting out of hand and glanced at her in annoyance. “Siy, just eat your dinner. You can ask about that after we’re done.”

Shen Siy stuck out her tongue and fell quiet.

Shen Wenting shot a look at Nathan Shaw, but Nathan Shaw didn’t notice at all, busying himself with his meal.

Wenting just wanted his younger brother and sister-in-law to strengthen their relationship. Isn’t family meant to be harmonious? But over the years, not only had things not improved, the two had become even more estranged.

Now both Bryce Shaw and Yancy Shaw had partners, so Wenting was no longer worried about them. Instead, he’d shifted his concern to Nathan Shaw.

All anyone wants as they grow old is to have someone by their side. If he and Mandy Snow kept going like this, it was only a matter of time before they parted ways.

Bryce Shaw and Yancy Shaw exchanged a knowing glance, silently agreeing not to raise the topic.

After a while, Nathan Shaw finally looked at Mandy Snow. “You’ve been working hard lately.”

Mandy Snow curved her lips in a faint smile. “It’s nothing. Doing my part for the family isn’t exactly hardship.”

Shen Wenting nodded in satisfaction. As the head of the family, nothing pleased him more than to see everyone getting along.

After dinner, Shen Wenting called the three Shen brothers upstairs to his study, saying he had important business to discuss.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Chen pulled Lauren Shaw and Chloe Shaw aside for a bit of family gossip. Mandy Snow excused herself and headed back to her own residence.

Shen Siy tugged Chloe Shaw for more autographs, somehow producing a little notebook from who-knows-where.

Chloe Shaw, though already a bit annoyed, patiently signed name after name in Shen Siy’s notebook. But no matter how many times she signed, Shen Siy always managed to flip to a new page.

“Sis, I have a lot of friends. Could you sign a few more?”

By now, Chloe Shaw was feeling quite irritated, but she kept her smile up. This was the Shen family; she couldn’t afford to lose her temper.

Watching her sign page after page, it was obvious Shen Siy would never be satisfied. As soon as one autograph was done, another blank page appeared. Lauren Shaw quickly saw through Shen Siy’s little game.

Mrs. Chen hadn’t noticed what was happening—she was off telling the housekeeper to prepare some flower tea. Lauren Shaw got up and walked over.

She took Chloe Shaw’s hand. “Qiu Chi, come sit with me for a chat.”

“I can’t, Sis isn’t done signing yet!” Shen Siy waved her notebook in the air, clearly hoping to keep Qiu Chi busy until she finished the whole thing. Was she just clueless or purposefully trying to make trouble?

Lauren Shaw ignored her, gently pulling Chloe Shaw toward the sofa.

But Shen Siy blocked their way, her face suddenly darkening. “Why are you always against me? I just want her autograph. What are you getting worked up about?”

“An autograph? Is this how people ask for one? Qiu Chi is the honored guest of the Shen family tonight. Don’t push your luck.”

Anyone could see what Shen Siy was really up to. So young, yet already so scheming—no sense of respect at all.

Chloe Shaw had also noticed Shen Siy’s mean streak. She didn’t know why she was being singled out, but she saw no reason to bend over backwards for her, even if she was Bryce Shaw’s niece.

“Miss Shen, I’ve already given you my autograph. If you just want to mess with me, then I’m afraid you won’t be getting them for free.” Smiling, she took the notebook right out of Shen Siy’s hands and chucked it straight into the trash bin.

The moment Shen Siy saw that, she completely lost her composure. “What is wrong with you two?”

Mrs. Chen happened to walk into the living room as Shen Siy said this. Her face darkened sharply, and she snapped, “Siy, who do you think you’re talking to? Where are your manners?”

At her grandmother’s rebuke, Shen Siy immediately shrank.

She gazed at Mrs. Chen, eyes brimming with grievance. “Grandma, they’re bullying me.”

Shen Siy was too overbearing for anyone to really bully her—but Mrs. Chen knew her all too well. “Oh, stop making things up. With that temper of yours, who could ever bully you? Qiu Chi is our guest of honor today. If your father saw this, you’d be in big trouble.”

This girl was in serious need of discipline. Still, since she wasn’t her actual granddaughter, Mrs. Chen held back.

Shen Siy glared daggers at Lauren Shaw. By now, she subconsciously saw Lauren Shaw as her mortal enemy.

“Apologize!” Mrs. Chen’s tone grew stern.

Shen Siy bit her lip, clearly unwilling—but just then, she heard footsteps coming from upstairs. The men were leaving the study.

“Sorry,” she muttered reluctantly, all but choking on the words.

This Lauren Shaw just loved making things hard for her. Next time, she’d find a way to get back at her! Furious, she stormed out of the old house.

...

He family home.

Mrs. He paced fretfully back and forth in the living room.

Susan Mills watched, already developing a headache. “Mom, could you please stop pacing? You’re making me dizzy.”

Ever since she came back from her afternoon outing, she’d been in a horrible mood.

“Call your brother. Tell him to come home—I need to talk to him.”

“He’s not answering my calls.” Susan Mills shrugged helplessly. When it came to her brother, she had no choice but to mention it.

Her mom had been worrying for days about whether her brother was eating and sleeping well. Seeing her mother so troubled, she’d blurted out the truth about her brother going to look for Claire Xu.

That had left her feeling guilty for days. She didn’t even dare phone Henry Mills herself.

“Do you know where she lives?”

“Who?”

“That girl your brother insists on chasing after, thick-skinned as he is,” Mrs. He grumbled, obviously exasperated with her son’s stubbornness.

Susan Mills shook her head. She genuinely didn’t know, nor could she understand why her mother was so set on finding the girl.

Mrs. He sighed and slumped down onto the sofa. “I met with the girl’s family today.”

What? Susan Mills’s eyes went wide. Oh my goodness. The girl didn’t even like her brother, and now her mom had gone and met the family? Incredible.

“Can you guess what they said?”

“How would I know?” Susan Mills now felt too anxious to even snack. If her brother found out she’d spoken to Claire Xu’s family, she’d never hear the end of it.

Mrs. He looked at her seriously. “That girl’s mother died when she was little. Then her father married a second wife. I hear the girl has a terrible personality—willful, arrogant, never shows respect to her elders...”