A charming widow in her 70s married a factory manager and raised his children.

Zhuang Qingxiang knew that Shang Hua didn't like her, and she didn't want to force herself to socialize, but Lu Congyue still wanted her to find out information.

She had no choice but to maintain a polite smile and continue the conversation with Shang Hua, trying her best to steer the topic towards married life.

Shang Hua gradually sensed it and thought that Zhuang Qingxiang was deliberately trying to mock him after she found out about his marriage proposal to Lu Congyue, so his expression changed.

"Zhuang Qingxiang, what do you mean?" Shang Hua questioned in a low voice, "Do you think you look down on me because I'm divorced?"

Just as Zhuang Qingxiang was about to explain that it wasn't like that, there was another commotion at the door.

Immediately afterwards, two men of similar height walked in, both dressed in military uniforms, looking imposing and upright.

Everyone looked over at the same time, and Shang Hua's expression was beyond just ugly.

Shang Jianjun exclaimed in surprise, "Second brother, Jiang Tao? What's going on here...?"

Ge Jiangtao stepped forward, stood at attention, saluted Shang Jianjun, and greeted him with an upright demeanor.

Shang Jiang was much more casual, laughing and saying, "It's so lively today! Looks like we came back at just the right time?"

Ren Zhen, who was arranging dinner in the kitchen, ran out when she heard the commotion. She was overjoyed to see her second son return, but when she saw her former son-in-law was also there, her expression darkened. She politely asked, "Xiao Ge, what brings you here today?"

Ge Jiangtao smiled politely: "I was just taking a break, so I came with Shang Jiang to see you."

As she spoke, she went to the door and brought in the fruit she had bought.

Ren Zhen was furious at the thought that he had divorced her daughter and wanted to kick him out, but she couldn't bring herself to make things difficult for him since he was being so polite.

"Have a seat," she said rather unenthusiastically.

Lu Congyue greeted Ge Jiangtao and Shang Jiang with a smile, and then introduced Zhuang Qingxiang and the three children to them.

During the greetings, Zhuang Qingxiang glanced at Ge Jiangtao a couple more times.

With his thick eyebrows, big eyes, and handsome appearance, no wonder Shang Hua insisted on marrying him.

"Shanghua!"

When Shang Jianjun realized his eldest daughter was about to leave, he hurriedly called out, "We have so many guests here, where are you going?"

Shang Hua, with a stern face and barely concealed disgust in his eyes, said woodenly, "I suddenly remembered I have work to do. I need to go to the office."

"What kind of work can't you do tomorrow?" Shang Jianjun knew she was trying to avoid it, and said impatiently, "You're not allowed to go. The whole Yue family has come all this way, and Jiang Tao hasn't been here in a long time either. Let's all have a good get-together!"

Lu Congyue glanced at Ge Jiangtao, thinking he would try to persuade her to stay, but to her surprise, he just smiled faintly, looking at Shang Hua as if he was certain she would stay.

Lu Congyue frowned slightly and said, "Sister Shang, if you have something to do, go ahead and do it. We're all family, there's no need to be so formal."

Shang Hua gave him a grateful look, then turned to leave.

It was at this moment that Ge Jiangtao spoke up.

"Ahua, stop fooling around."

His tone was helpless, yet it sounded like he was spoiling her.

Zhuang Qingxiang clearly saw Shang Hua's fist clench suddenly, and then he angrily said, "I didn't cause trouble!"

"Ahua..." Ge Jiangtao sighed.

It was that same helpless and indulgent tone again.

Zhuang Qingxiang recalled that Lu Congyue sometimes spoke to her in the same tone, but it wasn't annoying. However, Ge Jiangtao's tone was inexplicably uncomfortable.

Unable to hold back any longer, Zhuang Qingxiang stepped in to protect Shang Hua and said softly, "Why did Comrade Ge say that? Sister Shang clearly didn't cause any trouble. Didn't she say she had something to do?"

"What could possibly happen to her..." Ge Jiangtao muttered.

Zhuang Qingxiang was about to retort when Shang Jianjun unexpectedly chimed in, "Exactly! It's this late, what could possibly be wrong? Even the most important things can wait!"

Zhuang Qingxiang saw that Shang Hua's expression was stiff, and his eyes revealed anger and grievance.

Just as she was racking her brains trying to come up with an excuse for her, Shang Hua said stiffly, "Dad, don't you know perfectly well what's wrong with me? You arranged this blind date, and you chose this person. You told me to give it a try, and I was planning to go and talk to him as you requested, to see what he thinks."

Shang Jianjun frowned, feeling a strange sense of being treated like a general by his daughter.

What he said is true, but it's not like he's telling her to get to know people better in the future, but rather that he's telling her to do it right now.

Shang Hua said with a straight face, "Strike while the iron is hot. We need to know what they're thinking so we can figure out how to get along in the future."

Zhuang Qingxiang subconsciously looked at Ge Jiangtao, thinking he would be unhappy to hear that Shang Hua was going to meet his blind date, but to her surprise, the smile on his face remained polite.

It's like... Shang Hua was just putting on an act for him when he talked about blind dates and all that.

Zhuang Qingxiang finally understood why his words made people feel uncomfortable.

Even though they're divorced, he still seems to treat Shang Hua as his person, ignoring her various attempts to avoid and resist, even thinking she's deliberately putting on airs and laughing at her.

Zhuang Qingxiang immediately thought Ge Jiangtao was extremely ugly.

What makes him think Shang Hua can't live without him?

"Dad, I'll go now," Shang Hua said before preparing to leave.

Ge Jiangtao had an attitude of "I'll just watch you keep acting."

At this moment, Shang Jianjun said, "It would be good if you went to find Xiao Peng and brought him over. Let's have a meal together, have some fun, and he can get to know the family."

Shang Hua exclaimed in surprise, "Dad?!"

"What? Didn't you say you were going to find him?" Shang Jianjun sneered. "Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. If you're my daughter, bring him back to me right now, or I'll look down on you!"

Shang Hua gritted his teeth, hesitating whether he should just stay home and not go out. It's just a meal, right? He could just pretend Ge Jiangtao was invisible.

But Ge Jiangtao was adept at seeking attention, and said with a smile, "Dad, don't make things difficult for Ahua. Don't you know what kind of person she is?"

She then walked up to Shang Hua and whispered, "Shang Hua, stop making a scene. I know you want to make up, and I've already taken the initiative to come over, which is very kind of me. Can't we each take a step back, have a nice meal, and then talk things out properly later? Why do you have to bring up this blind date to try and upset me?"

Shang Hua tried to avoid him when she saw him approaching, but after hearing these suffocating words, she angrily retorted, "Who wants to make up with you? Ge Jiangtao, don't even dream about it! I will never make up with you in this lifetime!"

"Ahua!" Ge Jiangtao frowned, his voice turning stern. "You insist on making a scene in front of so many people to save face, is that it?"

Seeing his reaction, Shang Hua laughed angrily, "Heh... Ge Jiangtao, aren't you a little too confident? You think I'm messing around with you? I can't be bothered with you! I'm warning you, leave my house immediately. I already have a girlfriend, and your uninvited appearance will make her misunderstand!"

"Rookie? Shang Hua, you haven't dated anyone else since you divorced me. Where did this guy come from? Stop pretending, okay? You know I hate it when you put on an act." Ge Jiangtao warned in a low voice.

"You, you just wait!" Shang Hua's chest heaved with anger as he turned and ran out.