Chapter 109: The return of arrogance.

In the morning, Liwu and Weijun met outside the Shen manor. Madam Xu had invited Liwu over. It was not because her son had slept in his office, in the main house. It was not because his eyes were shadowed from sleeplessness. It was because they had guests.

Neither one spoke at first. The air was thick with unspoken words, with the memory of the kiss that had changed everything between them.

Finally, Liwu smiled faintly, her voice soft. “Long night, Sweet Rose?”

Weijun rubbed the back of his neck, sheepish, “You could say that.” He pointed to her face. “You are wearing make up today.

Liwu’s cheeks warmed. “We are getting commendations for solving the lily case and Jinling’s case. Pictures will be taken.”

Weijun nodded. He had received a memo on that and he was supposed to attend the ceremony. A part of him felt strangely disappointed that she was not wearing the make up for him.

Their eyes met again, and though neither dared to speak the truth aloud, both knew it: the kiss had been real, undeniable and it had left them flustered, restless and forever changed.

Madam Xu walked out and cleared her throat. “What are you both waiting for?”

Like ducklings, they followed her inside without a word. They walked past the living room, to the main hall. Madam Xu held on tight to Liwu, ensuring that she sat beside her. The Shen siblings, cousins and other relatives had been invited. All of them sat to one side and across from then Shen Fangzhi, his wife and their three children. Two sons with smug grins and one daughter who looked down on everyone.

Emotions were quite raw in the hall. The Shen’s remembered how years ago, at the peak of Han Ce’s schemes, the second branch had abandoned the family and changed their surname, severing ties to escape danger.

There had been whispers after Liwu and Weijun married, that they were looking to return. They were here for that very purpose. But, after decades of silence, they had returned arrogant, entitled and demanding recognition.

Shen Fangzhi did not even look at Yuening, he looked at Shen Deng. “Nephew, we are all family, Blood cannot be denied. Our ancestors will not be pleased to see their descendants out there, using another surname. It is only natural that we return to our roots and rejoin the family. After all, we carry the same lineage.”

Madame Xu’s lips tightened. “Lineage is not only blood, it is loyalty as well. When half of the family was in hiding and down on our luck, you fled. And now you return shamelessly. Nan Fangzhi, what big guts you have. Do you actually expect us to welcome you?”

The guests were angered. They had used the name Shen when they arrived, not Nan. Madame Xu was deliberately targeting them.

Madam Nan Taoe’r , Fangzhi’s wife, scoffed, waving a jeweled hand. “We had children to protect and we did what was necessary. It was a small sacrifice for the greater good. Surely, you understand. Besides, we are all successful now and we can contribute to the family. My sons are educated, my daughter is engaged to Ma Jianguo, the genius stock broker. He has a system and he is wealthy. We will elevate the family.”

Many voices rose, and no one could hear what the other was saying.

Liwu stood up and stepped forward, her voice cool but edged with steel. “Elevate? You abandoned everyone in hard times. You did not carry anyone else in the family along with you when you were seeking safety. No kind of elevation you bring can erase the stench of betrayal.”

Nan So Wei, the eldest son sneered. “You speak boldly for a woman from a family that brought down our Shen family. You should not even say anything here. You are just Weijun’s wife. What authority do you have in the family?”

Liwu’s eyes narrowed, her detective’s fire igniting. “Authority? I have an SOB badge and my mother is the president of the SOB. I have the authority to investigate your lives from the day you were born to the moment you drove through the gates of this manor. When I am finished, I can arrest you and throw you in the darkest cell I can find in any prison in the world. For life. If you think that I cannot dare, try and challenge my authority again.”

The hall fell silent, tension thick as smoke. Madame Xu crossed her legs and smirked. Along with her, the Shen siblings all looked provocatively at the Nan’s.

“Hmph, say something.” Mingxuan said.

Then, from the front, a small voice piped up. “Enough.”

All eyes turned. Seated in a curved chair that was too big for her was grand aunt Shen Yuening. She raised her finger, silencing the room. Then, she withdrew her phone and started reading, “Bloodline is not a cloak to be worn when….” she turned it to butler Chen.

“Convenient.” He whispered.

Yuening tipped her chin. “Convenient. It is a bond tested in fire. Fangzhi, you abandoned your brothers and sisters in the flames. Your names were removed from the gene..gene..genealogy. Your request to return is not approved as of now.”

The words were too adult like. Anybody could see that the little girl had someone whispering in her ear.

Shen Fangzhi shifted uncomfortably. “Yuening, that position should have been mine.” Arrogance clung to him like armor. “I did what was necessary to protect my family. Which one of you here did not hide some of your children abroad or in other cities. Half of them grew up in Beijing because everyone knew Han Ce would never dare to act out there, under the nose of the Bureau. If you could protect your own, why couldn’t I protect mine? I have returned to take my place and I have the strength to back it up.”

Perhaps, if they were humble, everyone would listen to their plea and understand their challenges. But, they were dripping with arrogance. They had sprayed it on like a cologne. And not a nice smelling one!

Yuening’s eyes sharpened. “Strength without loyalty is useless.” And Fangzhi was not loyal at all. He was already coveting her position. How long would it take for his sons to covet Weijun’s position in the city?

“Exactly.” Weijun voiced icily. “You have come with entitlement, as if we owe you something. This family does not need your strength. We survived storms without you, proving that we don’t need relatives that only stick around in fair weather when the skies are clear.”

“Idiots.” Liwu muttered, deliberately loud.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep