The Sheng family's courtyard house was situated by the river.
Ji Mohan parked the car, opened the door for Rong Yu, then followed her towards the Sheng residence, carrying a handbag in one hand and the newly purchased gift in the other.
Just as they reached the entrance, a familiar figure came into view.
Ji Mohan's face was filled with disbelief; he was actually seeing Lu Jiaojiao.
Lu Jiaojiao had shed her lab coat and glasses. She wore a rose-red dress with a camel-colored coat over it, high heels on her feet, her hair cascading over her shoulders, and her face adorned with delicate makeup, looking every bit the part of a socialite.
Her lips were pressed tight, her entire expression one of reluctance.
"What are you still being so proud about?" The man beside her, the eldest son of the Lu family, a few years her senior named Lu Rui, stared at her coldly. "In the past, you brought fame to the Lu family, but now you're notorious in the research community, condemned by everyone. The fact that the Lu family hasn't disowned you, a bastard child, shows our magnanimity. Who are you putting on this miserable face for?"
Lu Jiaojiao bit her lip in humiliation.
"You caused that scandal, with over twenty million in research funds being reclaimed by the institute. Did you think the Lu family was a charity, just filling that hole for you?" Lu Rui sneered. "You know Du Mian, right? One of the four young masters of the capital. The Du family has power and money, something our Lu family can hardly aspire to match. If it weren't for my good relationship with Du Mian, he would never have met you, let alone proposed a marriage alliance. He'll also be attending the Sheng family's small banquet. Get your head straight, don't ruin this."
Lu Jiaojiao's face grew even paler.
She, a top student, had actually fallen to the point of needing to marry for alliance.
And that Du Mian had been married twice before and had a one-year-old son. Marrying him meant becoming a stepmother.
She had worked so hard all these years, only to end up as a wealthy man's second wife... What was the point of all her studying?
But, having come this far, she had no other choice.
She followed Lu Rui towards the Sheng residence. Just as they reached the gate, she saw two people approaching and froze.
"Ji Mohan?"
For a moment, she thought she was seeing things.
Because Ji Mohan was actually wearing a suit, completely different from his usual lab coat attire. She took a closer look at the suit—it seemed to be a limited edition from a certain brand.
Having known Ji Mohan for so many years, she never knew he had this kind of money.
Noticing her intense stare at his suit, Ji Mohan felt a bit self-conscious.
This was the most low-key and simple outfit he could dig out from his second brother's wardrobe. Was it ill-fitting somewhere?
Lu Jiaojiao glanced at the Sheng family gate right before her and asked incredulously, "Ji Mohan, what are you doing here?"
The guest list for the Sheng family patriarch's small birthday banquet wasn't very long.
Even a prominent family like the Lu family had barely made it onto the list. Was Ji Mohan invited too?
And Rong Yu, wasn't she just a minor celebrity? Why could she attend a banquet of a major family?
What other identities did these two have?
Rong Yu stepped over the threshold of the Sheng residence and walked in.
Ji Mohan, carrying a lady's handbag, hurriedly followed after her.
"Rong Yu, you're here." Sheng Ciyuan quickly came forward to greet them. "Mr. Ji, you're here too..."
He had been to the Furong Manor.
He knew Rong Yu lived with the Ji family. Ji Mohan was probably from the Hai City Ji family.
He racked his brains but couldn't figure out the relationship between Rong Yu and the Ji family. In any case, it wasn't simple.
He said warmly, "Rong Yu, you saved my elder brother. My grandmother said she wants to thank you in person. Please come with me this way..."
Rong Yu followed him into the Sheng family's inner courtyard.
Lu Jiaojiao, who entered a step later, happened to hear this.
Her face was full of disbelief.
Rong Yu had saved Sheng Qingyan, that simpleton?
So that's why she received an invitation from the Sheng family?
Then, Ji Mohan... he must have tagged along with Rong Yu to get through the Sheng family gates?
"What are you still standing there for!" Lu Rui said impatiently. "Du Mian is over there. Go, quickly."
Lu Jiaojiao reluctantly walked in that direction.
Seeing her, Du Mian immediately brightened up: "Miss Lu, oh no, I'd rather call you Researcher Lu. Our Du family is precisely lacking cultured people with sharp minds like yours. Although your reputation is tarnished now, the fact remains that you got into Huaqing University on merit and worked at the Chinese Academy of Sciences for so many years. Any children we have should inherit your talent, right?"
Lu Jiaojiao clenched her jaw.
Although the Du family had money and power, she had never even glanced at playboys like Du Mian, let alone one who was on his third marriage with a child.
Marrying someone like this meant her whole life was laid out predictably before her.
But what choice did she have?
Rong Yu and Ji Mohan entered the main hall of the Sheng residence. As soon as Old Madame Sheng saw Rong Yu, she stood up and pulled her to sit beside her: "Miss Rong, you are not only beautiful but also kind-hearted. If you hadn't stepped forward, who knows how badly our Yan'er would have been bullied. The key is Yan'er can't speak up for himself; if he's bullied, it's done, and no one would ever know... Thankfully, there was you, Miss Rong, letting an old woman like me see the true faces of those people."
Rong Yu smiled and said, "You are too kind, Madame. I merely acted on impulse. It's nothing worth mentioning."
Sheng Dian spoke up: "Our Sheng family owes Miss Rong a great debt of gratitude. If you have any requests, Miss Rong, please feel free to make them."
Rong Yu still wore a smile: "Sheng Ciyuan and I are friends. His elder brother is also my friend. Helping a friend in passing doesn't warrant such a grand gesture of thanks. If I were to actually make a request, wouldn't that change the nature of our relationship?"
Sheng Dian looked at her with admiration.
Having entered the Sheng residence and understood the Sheng family's standing in the capital, yet still maintaining such clarity and normalcy—few in this world could do that.
"Yan'er, slow down!"
Madame Sheng had just gone in to tell her eldest son that Rong Yu had arrived.
Sheng Qingyan, who had been petting a cat, immediately dropped the plump feline and rushed out of the room, jogging all the way over.
Tall and sturdy, Sheng Qingyan headed straight for the seat next to Rong Yu as soon as he saw her.
To Rong Yu's right sat Old Madame Sheng, and to her left was Ji Mohan.
There was only about an elbow's width of space between Ji Mohan and Rong Yu, not enough to fit a person, yet Sheng Qingyan somehow squeezed himself in.
Caught off guard, Ji Mohan was nearly pushed off his seat onto the floor.
"Yan'er!" Sheng Dian's face immediately darkened. "Even though this is our home, we must still observe basic courtesy. Apologize, apologize to our guest at once!"
"Yan'er doesn't understand what an apology means." Madame Sheng hurried over, crouching down to help Ji Mohan up. "My son has been ill since childhood, no different from a child. He doesn't understand social interactions or manners. I am truly sorry."
With the Sheng family being so solemn about it, Ji Mohan naturally wouldn't make an issue of it and quickly waved his hand. "I'm fine."
Rong Yu set down her teacup.
Her clear, calm eyes turned to Sheng Qingyan.
She seemed to say nothing, but Ji Mohan could detect a hint of displeasure in her gaze.
Displeasure was good.
He was really afraid his great-grandmother would continue to suffer this kind of imposition from Sheng Qingyan.
Just as Madame Sheng was about to quickly move past the incident, Sheng Qingyan suddenly stood up.
His dark, glassy eyes rested quietly on Ji Mohan. Slowly, he parted his lips and spoke, each word deliberate and clear: "I'm sorry…"
