CHAPTER 517: CHAPTER 9 THE MOTHER-IN-LAW LOOKS AT HER SON-IN-LAW

Since then, Zhou Jincai had become like a faucet open wide, and his tolerance for Xu Meimei had vanished, resorting quickly to beating and scolding her.

Especially as Xu Meimei never seemed to learn her lesson, taking her anger out on Bao’er, Zhou Jincai’s patience with her wore ever thinner, his torment becoming increasingly severe.

Xu Meimei was one to bully the weak and fear the strong. At first, she looked upon Zhou Jincai with disdain and retorted confidently, dismissing and cursing him word by word. But after being tortured to extremes, she gradually became fearful of Zhou Jincai, behaving like a mouse in front of a cat.

Under the constant cruelty of the beatings and torment, Xu Meimei needed a way to vent, and the object of her release... was to seek out Dong Fei.

Ever since she heard from her uncle about what her aunt had done, Xu Meimei’s feelings for her could hardly be more distant from hatred.

Even though she knew that her own faults were the biggest reason for her current plight, people have a tendency to blame others. Particularly, Xu Meimei, in her agony, was all the more inclined to shift her suffering away from herself.

For Dong Fei, Xu Meimei’s constant disturbances nearly drove her mad. Due to her harassment, Dong Fei had moved several times and lived in constant fear. Moreover, Xu Meimei’s presence made it impossible for her to focus on recovering her businesses, leaving her to watch helplessly as they were successively seized, never to reopen.

If it wasn’t for the few pieces of real estate and cash she had in hand, she wouldn’t have been able to get by.

Neither Xu Meimei nor Dong Fei’s lives were able to disturb Lin Xiaoguai, who at that time was facing a very important matter.

"How about this dress on me?" Without waiting for Shen Chi to answer, Lin Xiaoguai shook her head, "No, no, a Bohemian long dress is too youthful, and the color isn’t solemn enough."

She picked up a dark green Qipao, "This one... also doesn’t work, the dress is too short, it doesn’t look dignified enough."

"How about this one? No, no, this color is too tender."

"What about this dress... it seems not right either, does it make me seem too conservative? Would others think I’m an unreasonable, feudal old woman?"

Hearing this, Shen Chi couldn’t help but laugh, drawing Lin Xiaoguai into his embrace, "Oh my Wanwan, look at your face, how can anything you wear not look youthful? Stop fussing around. A feudal old woman? Don’t even think about it, no one would mistake you for an old woman. Besides, you are 39, not 93, right?"

Lin Xiaoguai felt a bit deflated upon hearing this and frowned, "But even though I’m not Yaya’s biological mother, I am still her godmother, and as the first elder from the male side to meet the female side, I should carry the demeanor of an elder, shouldn’t I?" She liked to be approachable and got along well with the kids, but this time it was different; her future son-in-law was coming over, and her usual style just wouldn’t do.

"Don’t worry, just stick to your usual style, and leave the intimidation to me," Shen Chi kissed the corner of her eyes, his smile indulgent.

"You?" Lin Xiaoguai’s eyes lit up as she sized Shen Chi up, finding him quite suited for the task.

Like her, he didn’t look his age, she could leave people guessing, but not Shen Chi. Perhaps due to the authority he had held over the years, his presence allowed people to overlook his youthful appearance easily, and no one would mistake his age.

As for herself, Lin Xiaoguai had to admit, any semblance of authority she might have only emerged in specific situations; regularly... better not to think about it.

Moreover, she couldn’t help but feel, perhaps because this lifetime’s hardships had been much gentler, her spirit seemed even younger than it had been in her previous life.

Shen Chi chuckled, pressing his face close to hers, "What, don’t trust me?"

"No, it’s not that..." Lin Xiaoguai quickly tried to push him away, though no one else was in the living room, the curtains weren’t drawn, and Mrs. Zhang was right in the yard.

But Shen Chi had no intention of letting her get her way, wrapping his arms around her, Lin Xiaoguai found herself wholly buried in his embrace, finally savoring those fragrant lips.

As her breath was consumed, Lin Xiaoguai passively accepted his kisses, dominant and gentle.

When the kiss ended several minutes later, Lin Xiaoguai was gasping for breath, her body limp in his arms, "You..."

Shen Chi covered her eyes with his hand, "Don’t look at me like that, I can’t help myself."