CHAPTER 367: EPISODE 34.7 THIS WAS SUPPOSEDLY A FRIED CHICKEN!

Little Yanyan’s excitement about finally eating at a fast-food restaurant came to a screeching halt, like a chick running headfirst into a glass door.

"Sorry, Yanyan," Shen Yuan said with an apologetic smile as their car cruised past the fried chicken place his son had chosen. "We can’t have your favourite fried chicken tonight. Grandpa Shen suddenly invited us to dinner."

"Eh?!" The little boy slumped instantly, his bright mood deflating like a popped balloon. No! His dream of tasting that golden, crispy fried chicken couldn’t just vanish like that!

"Daddy, what if we buy some takeout and share it with Grandpa?" Yanyan suggested carefully. Unlike his paternal grandparents, his bond with Grandpa Shen was as thin as a single strand of hair from a balding uncle. He wasn’t sure if that grandpa—who treated luxury like a religion—would tolerate the scent of fried chicken in his fancy dining room.

Unfortunately, Bai Tingfeng, who was behind the wheel, gently shook his head. "I don’t think that’s a good idea, Yanyan. Your Grandpa Shen is... a little on edge today. If we bring something that might annoy him, dinner could turn very uncomfortable."

Shen Yuan let out a snicker, crossing his arms. "So sensitive. Is he pregnant, or am I the one pregnant here?"

Bai Tingfeng cast Shen Yuan a helpless glance through the rearview mirror.

It wasn’t surprising that his omega was in a foul mood. Anything involving Shen Zhaohui could sour his day in seconds.

Their unexpected reunion with the old man had been followed by pure awkwardness. The three of them shared what could only be described as the most excruciating elevator ride of their lives—with Shen Zhaohui’s business partners as the unfortunate witnesses. There was no escaping it; they simply had to endure.

The minutes inside that gleaming metal box were swallowed by silence... until Shen Zhaohui broke it. Unable to stomach the sight of his son strolling around in nothing but a hotel robe, he launched into a tirade about propriety and family reputation. Saying how such indecency would bring shame to both the Shen and Bai families.

Of course, his real intent was obvious. Scolding Shen Yuan in front of others would make him appear authoritative, a father firmly in control of his S-class omega son. Too bad for him, the person standing there wasn’t the same dutiful child he used to command. He is an entirely different person, like literally.

This Shen Yuan was the celestial fox spirit from another world; currently pregnant, hormonal, and one glare away from committing social homicide.

Throughout the ride, his reflection on the elevator’s polished walls looked less like a dutiful son and more like a serial killer holding back a smirk.

It made the businesspeople who came with Shen Zhaohui shrink their necks.

Of course, to salvage the situation and stop Shen Yuan from committing a massacre inside the elevator, Bai Tingfeng stepped forward to defend Shen Yuan. He utilised his limited communication skills and the few things he had learned from his eloquent husband to entertain Shen Zhaohui, which ultimately led to their current situation. They are on their way to share a dinner with Shen Zhaohui.

"Sorry if we will not be doing things tonight as promised," Bai Tingfeng told his son.

In the backseat, Yanyan slumped like a deflated balloon, pouting.

"It’s okay, Papa. As long as you make up for it," The little boy mumbled. "Tomorrow! After class! I want my fried chicken, okay?!"

Bai Tingfeng laughed. "Of course. Of course!"

And so, the family of three went back to the hotel-and-resort where they met Shen Zhaohui.

The elder of the Shen family had already reserved a private table at the hotel’s in-house restaurant.

In stark contrast to the lively chaos of the fast-food joint Yanyan had dreamed of, this place exuded quiet elegance; dim lights, soft jazz, and polished marble that gleamed like still water. It was the kind of venue designed to impress young professionals, not children craving fried chicken.

Sensing how out of place he was in such a refined setting, Yanyan, still wearing his uniform, instinctively straightened his back and folded his little hands, mimicking the poise of an adult.

At this hour, only a handful of guests occupied the dining area, their hushed conversations blending with the muted clink of silverware and the sound of a melodious symphony in the background.

Shen Yuan was quick to sense the tension of his son, so he gently ruffled the boy’s head.

"Don’t be nervous, Yanyan. We’re just having dinner with your grandpa, that’s all. After that, we’ll go home and eat a mountain of ice cream before bed."

That last promise was all the encouragement the little boy needed. Yanyan instantly perked up and held out his pinky to his Daddy. "Promise?"

"Promise," Shen Yuan said with a firm nod.

With the help of the hotel manager, they were guided to Shen Zhaohui’s private table.

"Finally!" The handsome alpha in his mid-fifties clapped his hands as soon as they entered. His gaze swept over the trio—first Shen Yuan, then Bai Tingfeng, and finally little Yanyan.

A flicker of pleasant surprise brightened Shen Zhaohui’s face when he spotted the familiar uniform of Qilin Academy.

"Yanyan! You’ve started school already?" he exclaimed, clearly pleased. Pride gleamed in his eyes; after all, his grandson was now enrolled in the same prestigious academy that both he and his sons had attended.

Like many parents in Country C, Shen Zhaohui took immense pride in seeing his family continue the legacy of attending the nation’s most elite institution, the Qilin Academy.

"You know, your Daddy and I aced the admission exams back in the day," he said with a self-satisfied chuckle. "We were student representatives almost every year. Are you the student representative of your batch too?"

Meekly, Yanyan nodded.

"There are actually two representatives this year," Shen Yuan replied coolly before his father could gloat further. "Yanyan tied with another child from a different section. They both delivered the welcome speech at today’s ceremony."

He said it in a matter-of-fact tone that carried not an ounce of warmth. Then, gesturing to himself and his family who were still standing, he added flatly, "Anyway, are we going to keep talking like this, or should we sit down first?"

Shen Zhaohui’s smile faltered a few degrees. "Take a seat, then. My bad."

"Ehem." Bai Tingfeng cleared his throat to ease the awkwardness. "Then, excuse us for a moment, father-in-law."

The table that Shen Zhaohui reserved was perfect for catering for a large group of people. It was a long, rectangular one that had rows of chairs on both sides.

If Shen Yuan wanted to be a bitch, he could easily do that by occupying the chair that is far from the head seat where Shen Zhaohui was sitting. However, he decided not to act recklessly since his son was present.

Shen Zhaohui hummed in satisfaction when Shen Yuan occupied the seat on his left. However, his smile went cold when Bai Tingfeng sat beside Shen Yuan.

He looked at the empty seats on his right side. This seating arrangement is severely unequal, isn’t it? Bai Tingfeng should occupy his right side, being that he is an alpha!

"Hey! Why are you sitting here?" Hope blossomed in his heart when he heard Shen Yuan whine. He looked expectantly at the couple. He knew it in his heart that even though he had just heard his son speak those lewd and crude words in public, the impeccable etiquette and manners he had hammered into him growing up were still there.

Or so he thought.

"Yanyan should sit in the middle! Why are you sitting beside me?"

"Oh..." Bai Tingfeng promptly stood up and helped his son get seated on the chair beside Shen Yuan. He just moved over to the chair beside their son.

Shen Zhaohui watched in disbelief. Somewhere deep down, he wondered when exactly he’d lost control of this family dinner.

"This... I think I should have chosen a round banquet table instead," Shen Zhaohui commented. At face value, it seems like an innocent comment. However, the slight emphasis on his tone and meaningful gaze on Shen Yuan suggests otherwise. He was cuing his son to suggest to Bai Tingfeng to occupy the seat on his right.

Unlucky for him, Shen Yuan chose to play ignorant.

He countered, "Yes, my thought exactly. Why choose a table with this many seats? Are you waiting for others to join us? If Shen Linyu is here, I am out of here."

Shen Zhaohui’s brows jumped. ’I chose this table because I intend to treat you to a grand dinner and also impress Bai Tingfeng!’ He screamed in frustration deep inside.

Instead, he answered, "Your brother remained in the City. Are you still mad that he spread malicious comments about you online? You already gave him a beating; can’t you look past this?"

Shen Yuan just flattened his lips. "The man spoke ill of me in front of my son. That is something hard to get over just because my husband broke a few of his bones."

He grunted impatiently, "Come on, we are here to share a dinner or reminisce about the last interaction we had? I’m pretty sure it will not be a good discussion."

Shen Zhaohui let out a heavy exhale. Fine. He doesn’t want to continue remembering how the Bai family barged into their home in this city. His jaw hurts remembering the punch Rong Suyin gave him.