CHAPTER 368: EPISODE 34.8 KEEPING UP WITH THE SHENS: EXHAUSTING DINNER VERSION!

To kick off their dinner, Shen Zhaohui signaled his personal waiter to serve the dishes he’d ordered.

For once, he decided to drop the baggage of the past and focus on his grandson instead.

The news of Yanyan’s achievement had brought him genuine pride—something rare for a man like him.

"So, Yanyan delivered the welcome speech at the opening ceremony," Shen Zhaohui said, his smile softening. "That’s quite impressive. How did you prepare for it?"

Yanyan straightened in his chair, his little hands fidgeting under the table. "I-I... my Papa helped me write the speech, and my Daddy taught me how to, um, say it properly."

Shen Zhaohui nodded, looking thoughtful. That thoughtful look made Shen Yuan’s instincts flare like an alarm. He knew the kind of this man too well. Whenever Shen Zhaohui started "thinking," judgment was never far behind.

Before his father could open his mouth, Shen Yuan jumped in.

"Yanyan’s speech may have been scripted," he said smoothly, "but something unexpected happened during the ceremony. He had to share the spotlight with another student who tied with him in the entrance exams. So Yanyan improvised parts of his speech on the spot. And he nailed it."

Pride softened his tone, even though his words carried an edge meant for his father. "It was really impressive once you see it in person!"

On the side, Yanyan couldn’t help but smile. He leaned towards his daddy’s waist to bury his blushing face.

At that, Shen Zhaohui’s expression brightened. "I see! You inherited my resilience and adaptability!"

"...Thank you, Grandpa," Yanyan politely smiled.

Shen Yuan and Bai Tingfeng exchanged glances.

Wow. Do you think my son is your son now? Shen Yuan thought, nostrils flaring as he bit back a snarky laugh.

"But that’s strange," Shen Zhaohui continued, his brow furrowing. "Why share the spotlight? The student representative position has always been exclusive. In my time, it went to the most outstanding student, usually from the most reputable family. Is this other child from another influential clan? How did he force his way in?"

Shen Yuan’s eye twitched. And there it is. Putting intrigue into an innocent childish matter. Can adults not put dirty politics in children’s affairs?

"No, the kid didn’t ’force his way in.’ He was originally chosen for the speech, but his mother withdrew him at the last minute because the poor boy’s father had just passed away. She thought he couldn’t handle the pressure." Shen Yuan’s tone sharpened as he continued, his words coming fast, like a practiced rap verse. "Turns out, the boy was stronger than anyone expected. He insisted on doing it, and the school decided both should speak. The boys from the Ao family, if that means anything to your list of ’influential names.’"

Under the table, Bai Tingfeng quietly reached for his husband’s hand.

His fingers squeezed once. Chill.

Shen Yuan inhaled sharply. Oh, he would love to chill.

But how could he, when this old man was spinning drama out of a children’s speech? Shen Zhaohui acted like every event in the world was a conspiracy against him!

"Still," Shen Zhaohui said, unbothered, "the Ao family, hmm? Never heard of that." He scrunched his face in distaste. "But I suppose if their kid was able to score the same as our Yanyan, then he is worthy to employ once he—"

"Arghhh!" Shen Yuan let out a dying grunt. This holier-than-thou talk is grating on his nerves! "This is infuriating—"

"Father-in-law! Actually, we’re here to share some good news with you. Shen Yuan is pregnant!" Bai Tingfeng’s overly zealous announcement drowned out the sound of Shen Yuan’s outburst.

The alpha had done it to salvage the dinner that was already heading for disaster before it even began.

Bai Tingfeng admitted that hearing his father-in-law’s words was anything but joyful, and he truly felt for his husband in this situation. However... what about Yanyan?

The boy was already uncomfortable as it was. If his Dad and Grandpa started fighting now, Bai Tingfeng could clearly picture how disheartened their son would be.

So, being the voice of reason at the table, he had to step up.

And his quick thinking paid off. From his elitist rants, Shen Zhaohui’s attention shifted to Shen Yuan. This time, with a little more understanding.

"Yuan is pregnant?!" Shen Zhaohui’s face lit up as if he’d just caught a glimpse of heaven. The smile on his face was so bright he practically glowed. "This is wonderful news!"

He gave his omega son a satisfied look. "That must be why you’ve been edgy all evening. Your hormones must be acting up again. I still remember how unsmiling and terrible your mood was when you were first pregnant with Yanyan."

Hearing his name, Yanyan’s ears perked up. He stared at his Daddy with such bright, curious eyes that Shen Yuan couldn’t help but forget his irritation.

Shen Yuan huffed and leaned back against his chair.

"And so, I’m pregnant. No big deal." He crossed his arms and met his father’s gaze squarely. "However, we’re trying to keep this matter private. So we’d really appreciate it if you didn’t mention it to anyone, especially after this dinner."

"What? Why is that?" Shen Zhaohui was clearly not on board with secrecy. In fact, he was already planning a grand reveal to celebrate his second grandchild’s arrival with the Bai family.

"We’re just being cautious, Father-in-law," Bai Tingfeng explained calmly. "Yuan has been at the center of the fight against the Cardinals—that notorious terrorist group. There’s no telling what they might do if they find out he’s in such a delicate condition."

That explanation, thankfully, Shen Zhaohui accepted right away.

"Is that so? If that’s the case, then I’ll keep it a secret," he said, though his tone betrayed a touch of reluctance.

"Don’t even discuss this with Shen Linyu," Shen Yuan added firmly. He didn’t need to explain why—that much was obvious.

This time, Shen Zhaohui genuinely looked like he was trying his best.

"Alright. I won’t." He finally said, forcing a tight smile. As much as it pained him not to brag about his "close ties" with the Bai family, he still knew when to keep family matters private.

Thanks to Bai Tingfeng’s perfectly timed save, the atmosphere at the table lightened. The tension between father and son eased, replaced by cautious, almost tender small talk about Shen Yuan’s pregnancy.

Moments later, servers arrived one after another, carrying dish after dish until the entire table was flooded with rich aromas and delicate plating.

The restaurant specialized in haute traditional cuisine—and judging from the spread, Shen Zhaohui had apparently ordered everything on the menu.

"Chicken?!" Yanyan perked up at the sight of the glistening Peking duck topped with caviar.

Shen Yuan chuckled. "That’s roasted duck cooked with mesquite wood, baby. It should taste amazing—maybe even better than fried chicken."

Yanyan gulped. If his Daddy said it was better than fried chicken, then he was ready to believe him!

"Fried chicken is your favorite, Yanyan?" Shen Zhaohui asked with a surprisingly gentle smile.

"Yes, Grandpa Shen!" the little boy answered sweetly.

"Ah, good taste," Shen Zhaohui nodded approvingly. "Your Daddy used to love fried chicken, too, though we always had it air-fried. Our chef made it every lunch back then."

"Really?" Yanyan turned toward his Daddy, eyes sparkling. He loved hearing stories that made him feel like his Daddy’s mini version.

Shen Zhaohui nodded, eyes soft with nostalgia. "Though I’m not sure if that’s still his favorite."

Shen Yuan caught that loaded look. He’d seen it too many times—the look people gave him when they realized he wasn’t quite the same person he used to be.

But he was unbothered.

"It’s still my favorite," he replied coolly, "though now I like my fried chicken spicy."

"Spicy?" Shen Zhaohui frowned immediately, alarmed. "It’s not dangerous yet, but once you hit the third trimester, avoid spicy foods! They’ll give you heartburn and indigestion. Trust me, you don’t want to go through that."

Shen Yuan rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "Yes, Father. Duly noted."

But the old man wasn’t finished. "You must be careful with what you eat. Crave sensibly! Don’t just put anything in your mouth. Remember, you’re not eating for one anymore."

Bai Tingfeng nodded dutifully. "Don’t worry, Father-in-law. I make sure Yuan eats only healthy food. I monitor him very closely."

"Ehem!" Shen Yuan choked mid-bite, coughing violently. Oh, everything that Bai Tingfeng feed him is healthy! Very!

Bai Tingfeng hurriedly handed him a glass of water, blissfully unaware of the very different context flashing through his husband’s mind.

Once Shen Yuan recovered, Shen Zhaohui continued, completely undeterred.

"Good! And from now on, avoid anything violent from your Hunter Association work," he said, voice carrying the weight of a royal decree. "I heard you’ll be shooting a campaign with them soon? That’s good. Stick to modeling. That’s much safer now that you’re pregnant."

This time, the brain behind that campaign, Bai Tingfeng, choked on his own saliva.

That collaboration is far from violence-free, as that is a front for them to confront Lee Jinhyuk!

"What is wrong with the two of you? Why do you keep on choking? You don’t like the food?"

Bai Tingfeng hurriedly waved his hand. "No, we like the food. It’s just that I intended to agree with you, Father-In-Law. But there is a food in my mouth and I choke on it."

Shen Zhaohui hummed. No, he didn’t buy that. Surely, he is missing out on something! He feels like an outsider in this family!