Chapter 9: A Father-Daughter Clash

What a lawless, reckless spendthrift!

Shen Zhuang only felt a headache coming on.

“How old are you? Why are you still saying such childish things? Your marriage with Jiaming is not just about the two of you. Behind it are the Shen family and the Fu family. Besides, if you two divorce, what will happen to Sui’er?”

At the mention of her daughter, the determination in Shen Jiao’s eyes grew even stronger.

“Sui’er is my daughter. Of course she’ll come with me!”

Shen Zhuang lightly tapped his fingers against the rosewood tea table.

“That makes it even more absurd. What kind of family do you think the Fu family is? Do you think they’ll agree to let you take Sui’er away?”

Shen Jiao fell silent for a moment, then lifted her eyes to look at the old man.

“No matter how powerful they are, they’re still not as powerful as you. Dad, help me take Sui’er back.”

“...”

The old man glared at his unfilial daughter in irritation.

“Sui’er’s surname is Fu. In terms of relation, I, her maternal grandfather, still don’t outrank her paternal grandfather. If I snatch her back for you, what will people say about me?”

Shen Jiao’s eyes shifted.

“As long as you’re willing, I’ll have Sui’er change her surname to Shen tomorrow. Besides, since when are you afraid of gossip? Whoever dares talk can be thrown into Southwater Bay to feed the fish. Let’s see who still dares run their mouth.”

The old man almost raised his cane to hit her.

“You outrageous thing!”

Shen Jiao had only said it in anger. Seeing the old man furious, she immediately softened her attitude.

“Dad! Sui’er is my life. Please help me! There isn’t a single good person in the Fu family. I can’t leave her there. I’ve never begged you for anything since I was young. This time, just take it as me begging you, okay? Dad?”

The old man pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Nonsense. There are so many children in this family, and you’re the one with the most demands. Since you were little, which thing wasn’t something you insisted on yourself?”

Shen Jiao was unwilling to accept it.

“Dad!”

The old man sighed softly.

“My youngest, tell me honestly. Why are you so determined to divorce Jiaming? Back then, you were the one who forced this marriage through, even threatening your life for it. Now you say you don’t want it, and you simply throw it away? I’ll say the same thing again. Sui’er is still young. You’re already a mother. You can’t be this willful.”

Shen Jiao froze slightly, her expression stiffening.

The old man saw everything clearly.

“Did Jiaming find another woman outside?”

Shen Jiao’s eyes moved slightly, but she did not answer.

The old man had lived long enough to understand. Resting both hands on his cane, he said, “This isn’t such a big matter. I can step in and warn him for you. Even if Fu Jiaming is being foolish, he still has two elders above him. They won’t refuse me this much face.”

Seeing that Shen Jiao still said nothing, Shen Zhuang advised her earnestly.

“Listen to me. Go back and have a proper talk with him.”

“Talk? Talk about what?”

Shen Jiao suddenly flared up, her tone hard.

“Dad, you can call me unfilial or heartless if you want, but Fu Jiaming and I must divorce. No one can talk me out of it!”

Seeing that she refused to listen no matter what, the old man was also angered. He struck the ground hard with his dragon-headed cane.

“Say that again!”

Shen Zhi had been standing guard outside the garden. Hearing the commotion inside, he hurried in and grabbed Shen Jiao.

“Youngest Miss, please speak calmly.”

Shen Jiao shook Shen Zhi off. Her eyes were red.

“How am I supposed to speak calmly? Dad, you don’t understand me at all! That’s why when you hear that Fu Jiaming found someone outside, you can still act as if it’s nothing. Yes, in your eyes, it really isn’t anything serious. That’s why you were able to adopt your lover’s granddaughter!”

“Youngest Miss!”

Shen Zhi’s expression changed drastically. Forgetting etiquette, he shouted at her sternly.

The old man’s face darkened to the extreme as he looked at Shen Jiao in disbelief.

Shen Jiao was in the middle of her anger. She had suffered grievances in her husband’s family, yet her own family would not stand up for her. Even her precious daughter had been bullied by an outsider. Each matter pressed down on her until she could barely breathe.

“Dad, Fu Jiaming has money and power. But what about me? Do I not have money and power too? Since I was little, I watched how Mom was slowly worn down in Shen Garden. Is it wrong that I don’t want to live the kind of life she lived?”

The moment those words left her mouth, Shen Jiao knew she had caused trouble.

But spilled water could not be taken back. Regret was already too late.

Shen Zhuang was so angry that he closed his eyes and collapsed back into his chair.

“Dad...”

Shen Jiao was frightened and quickly stepped forward to support him, but Shen Zhuang shoved her away.

“Get out! Get out!”

The conversation ended badly.

When Shen Jiao left Qin Garden, her face looked terrible.

“Youngest Miss.”

Seeing that she looked dazed and lost, Shen Zhi personally escorted her outside the corridor bridge.

Shen Jiao forced herself to gather her spirit and squeezed out a faint smile.

“Butler Shen, I’ll trouble you to take care of Dad.”

Shen Zhi had watched Shen Jiao grow up. He knew she was spoiled and proud, but her heart was not bad. His tone softened.

“Youngest Miss, Old Master is still angry right now. In a couple of days, once his anger fades, things will be fine. Why don’t you come visit him again then?”

Shen Jiao understood Shen Zhi’s kindness and nodded.

“I know. Sui’er should be awake by now. I’ll go see her.”

Shen Zhi nodded.

Shen Jiao turned and had just lifted her foot when Shen Zhi suddenly thought of something and called out to her.

“Youngest Miss.”

Shen Jiao stopped and turned back to look at him.

“Is there something else?”

Shen Zhi hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, “Youngest Miss, Miss Jiang’s grandmother was not Old Master’s lover.”

Shen Jiao froze slightly.

She had never expected Shen Zhi to say this to her.

Shen Zhi’s tone was solemn.

“Others may not understand, but you should, Youngest Miss. What kind of man is Old Master? If he still remembers an old friend’s kindness after all these years, there must be a reason. Some words cannot be said, no matter how angry you are. They must never be said.”

After speaking, Shen Zhi gave a slight nod and turned back into Qin Garden.

Shen Jiao was left standing there alone, thinking over his words.