CHAPTER 231: CHAPTER 231 ACTING PITIFUL (1)

"Hehe, what a mischievous little cutie." Song Jialing couldn’t stop smiling after hearing Gu Can’s words. She reached out to hold Gu Can on her lap, her eyes brimming with joy.

Gu Can was like a little bundle of happiness. A few simple words from her could make everyone laugh heartily. For a moment, the Shen Family garden was filled with merry laughter.

Soon, it was lunchtime, and everyone gathered around the table. Shen Jiajia casually walked to Chu Chen’s side, intending to sit next to him.

"Cancan, come sit with your Uncle," Chu Chen was annoyed by being constantly pushed to go on blind dates by his family. So, when Shen Jiajia approached him, a trace of dissatisfaction flashed in his eyes.

Shen Jiajia was momentarily stunned by his words, but she disguised it well and did not let her emotions show on her face. Everyone knew about Chu Chen’s fondness for Gu Can, so it was not surprising he called her over.

"Uncle, when will you marry a wife? That way Cancan won’t have to sit next to you all the time," Gu Can obediently walked over to Chu Chen and, after being seated on a chair by him, looked at him earnestly and asked.

Upon hearing this, everyone turned their attention to Chu Chen with a smile, showing interest in his love life.

"Does Cancan not want to sit next to Uncle?" Chu Chen scarcely had the mind to consider marrying. He was nearly driven mad by his family’s matchmaking attempts, and even little Gu Can seemed to be teasing him already.

"Of course, Cancan loves sitting next to Uncle," Gu Can said. Chu Chen had a childlike side that the other uncles didn’t, making them very close and talkative. "But Cancan thinks having an aunt would be great! Like Aunt Four, who can play with Cancan and teach her to paint. Cancan likes Aunt Four and loves visiting her house."

"Hehe."

This made Shen Lingxing laugh heartily. He felt proud that his wife was so beloved and, ignoring the audience, he kissed Mi Jing on the cheek.

This shameless man!

Mi Jing blushed and lowered her head, not daring to look at anyone.

"Uncle, you can’t bully Aunt!" Gu Can said, glaring at Shen Lingxing.

"Okay, Uncle knows," Shen Lingxing said seriously, making everyone smile knowingly.

"Chu Chen, they’ve all settled down now, so you’re the only one left. You need to step up!" Song Jialing said with a laugh.

"I’m not in a hurry, still haven’t had enough fun," Chu Chen said nonchalantly, picking up his chopsticks and placing some beef in Gu Can’s bowl.

"Not had enough fun? Aren’t you turning thirty after the New Year?" Song Jialing had connections with the Chu Family and had watched Chu Chen grow up. As an elder, she naturally showed concern for his marriage.

"Aunt, these things can’t be rushed. At least I need to find someone pleasing to the eye, don’t you think?" If it were anyone else, Chu Chen would have lost his temper, but out of respect for Song Jialing, he held back.

"Yes, that’s true. Marriage must be approached with caution. Otherwise, you’ll end up unhappy and ruin someone else’s life!" Song Jialing glanced at Shen Zixian with a meaningful look.

Noticing Song Jialing’s sharp glance, Chu Chen understood her implication well but pretended not to and said with a smile, "Auntie, you’re so wise. You should have afternoon tea with my mom sometime and talk some sense into her." Maybe then she’d stop setting up those dull blind dates for him.

Chu Chen had never been on a blind date before, so he couldn’t understand Shen Lingxing’s frustration until now. Now that he’d experienced it himself, he almost wanted to run away from home.

Though the women his mother found were not unattractive, for casual fun, they were fine. But for something serious, they lacked enough charm to hold his interest!

The atmosphere at the dining table was lively. Gu Can alone had everyone fired up, making the other children seem too quiet by comparison, completely overshadowed by her liveliness.

After lunch, Chu Chen sat and chatted with Shen Lingxing and the others before leaving with everyone together.

"Brother Chu Chen."

Shen Jiajia chased after Chu Chen as he was leaving the house, mustering the courage to call out to his back.

Hearing the call, Chu Chen stopped and turned around, looking at Shen Jiajia, "What’s up?"

"Um..." Shen Jiajia shyly lowered her head, then tucked her hair behind her ear, "I was wondering if you could give me a lift?"

"I’m afraid it’s not convenient," Chu Chen had seen many women like Shen Jiajia who feigned shyness. While he might have tolerated it before, now he found it overly affected and off-putting.

"..."

Shen Jiajia didn’t expect such a blunt refusal from Chu Chen. Watching him get into his car, her face stiffened in dissatisfaction.

"Jiajia, you should give up," Ma Huilian said, following Shen Jiajia out and having witnessed Chu Chen’s cold indifference.

"Mom?" Shen Jiajia turned to look at Ma Huilian, a hint of grievance and stubbornness in her tone.

Shen Jiajia had a high opinion of herself, believing that with her good looks and family background, there was no reason for Chu Chen not to like her.

"Is it because of my brother that Chu Chen doesn’t like me?" Shen Jiajia asked with some complaint.

"Regardless of the reason, you and Chu Chen are impossible," Ma Huilian said, recalling Shen Zixian’s domineering attitude the previous night. She urged Shen Jiajia to cut ties quickly before she fell too deep.

"Why is it impossible?" Shen Jiajia asked excitedly. Her attraction to Chu Chen was not only because of his looks and abilities but also the Chu Family’s greater wealth and status compared to the Shen Family.

She was fed up with the cold stares in her household and determined to find a better life for herself!

"Your dad doesn’t like Chu Chen," Ma Huilian replied.

"I don’t care. I’m determined to be with Chu Chen. No one can change my mind!" After saying this, Shen Jiajia stormed back into the house, deciding to strive for the life she wanted regardless of Shen Zixian’s feelings.

As she walked, she spotted Mi Jing heading towards her. Her eyes gleamed with calculation, and a fleeting smile appeared before dropping away. In the blink of an eye, her eyes turned red.

Sniff—

With her head lowered, Shen Jiajia was about to pass by Mi Jing when the latter heard a faint sob.