The antique girlfriend of a chaebol heir

On the sixth day of the National Day holiday, both the lunar and solar calendars showed auspicious signs, and even the air was filled with just the right amount of joy.

The Fangzhou Hotel in the city center is decorated with dazzling lights, and the crystal chandeliers refract soft and warm light, making every carefully arranged flower and drapery look like a dream.

Shen Ci stood on the side of the banquet hall, watching her father, Shen Xiaoming, dressed in a sharp dark suit, calmly exchanging pleasantries with the guests.

There were very few relatives from the Shen family side; most of those present were Shen Xiaoming's business partners, dressed in suits and exchanging pleasantries with him.

In comparison, things were much more lively at the Lin family's place.

The Lin family elders had always thought their daughter would grow old alone, but unexpectedly, when she was almost forty, she suddenly had a change of heart and found a handsome and gentle man.

Shen Xiaoming not only treated Lin Ruojin with utmost care, but also showed great respect to the two elders of the Lin family. This sincerity and sense of responsibility had already won the unanimous approval of the entire Lin family without them even realizing it.

The weight that had been hanging over the Lin family elders' hearts for many years was finally lifted, and they were overjoyed. They sent out invitations to many relatives and friends to come and witness the event.

Shen Ci had initially thought it was just a low-key gathering of elders, but she hadn't expected it to be so lively. Guests raised champagne, their laughter and chatter creating a vibrant atmosphere in the banquet hall.

She was engrossed in watching when suddenly someone tugged at her arm from behind, the force neither too light nor too heavy, carrying a hint of familiar reproach.

"Youyou, why haven't you come to visit me in so long? There's been no word from you on WeChat either."

Shen Ci turned her head and saw a face with exquisite makeup, almond eyes and cherry lips, her curly hair was carefully styled, she was wearing a Chanel-style suit, and a designer handbag was hanging on her wrist.

The original owner's memories surfaced at the right time—Shen Yu, the daughter of Shen Xiaoming's cousin, was two years older than her. The two families were close when they were young and often played together.

"I've been busy with school lately," Shen Ci said with a smile, her tone flat.

Shen Yu pursed her lips, sat down in the empty seat next to Shen Ci, took a glass of orange juice from the waiter's tray, and took a sip: "What's so busy about going to university? It's not like I haven't been to university before."

As soon as she said it, she stopped herself in her tracks.

Shen Ci attended Puhua University, the best university in Beijing, which had incredibly high entry requirements. She was currently attending an ordinary art college, with low academic requirements and its art programs weren't particularly top-tier.

The contrast is like being slapped in the face.

Shen Yu lowered her eyes, her fingertips tracing a circle around the rim of the cup, and that bitter feeling welled up in her heart again.

Of course she knew how much money Uncle Shen was willing to spend on this daughter—hundreds of thousands of yuan a year for private tutoring, one-on-one with famous teachers, which raised Shen Ci's grades from the bottom to just barely passing.

Puhua University, a place where countless people would fight tooth and nail to get in, yet Shen Ci just "brushed" his way in.

Looking at herself again, Shen Yu secretly bit her lower lip.

Her father had always favored her younger brother since she was a child, giving all the family's best resources to him. He was unwilling to spend so much money on her.

They both have the surname Shen, so why is it that Shen Ci gets to be the top student at Puhua University and be fawned over by everyone, while she can only be here feeling sour and jealous?

"By the way," Shen Yu suddenly leaned closer, her voice lowered, "didn't you always object to Uncle Shen dating other women? How come—" She gestured with her chin toward Shen Xiaoming, who was greeting guests not far away, "did you really let him get married?"

These words were like a fine needle, piercing Shen Ci's temple unexpectedly.

In that instant, countless images surged through my mind—

Shen Yu held her hand as they sat in the coffee shop, looking worried: "Youyou, you have to keep a close eye on Uncle Shen. Men at this age are most easily bewitched by other women."

Shen Yu's mother, the aunt who always wore silk cheongsams and spoke slowly and deliberately, pulled her into the house and placed her palm over the back of Shen Yu's hand: "There's a saying that goes, 'With a stepmother comes a stepfather.' Your father dotes on you now, but once he has a new wife, his heart will be completely elsewhere."

There are countless similar scenarios.

Shen Yu sent a WeChat message, forwarding articles such as "Ten Tricks of Stepmothers"; her aunt "casually" came to visit her at her high school, carrying imported fruit, and her words were full of inquiries.

"With your dad's status, countless women would throw themselves at him. You can't be naive."

"I'm only nice to you now because I don't have anyone else. What will you be to me once I have a new family?"

"You have to make a scene, make a scene so bad that he can't handle it, then he'll realize who's the most important person."

Those words were like poisonous vines, coiling around the original owner's heart.

At first it was just unease, then it turned into anxiety, and finally it turned into hysteria about Shen Xiaoming’s every late return, every social engagement, and every contact with the opposite sex.

The original owner became increasingly paranoid and sharp-tongued, pushing the father-daughter relationship to the point of being a taut string, which was almost about to snap before she arrived.

Shen Ci closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them again, her eyes were clear and bright.

She looked at Shen Yu, whose meticulously made-up face held just the right amount of concern, as if it were just a casual question, as if she were genuinely worried about her cousin.

"People always grow up." Shen Ci picked up her water glass. "I was immature before, but I've figured it out now."

Shen Yu was taken aback, clearly not expecting such an answer. She opened her mouth, as if to say something, when melodious and soulful music began to play around her.

Shen Ci put a finger to her lips, gesturing for her to be quiet.

Accompanied by music, Lin Ruojin, arm in arm with Shen Xiaoming, slowly entered the venue. She was wearing a beautiful dress, and the smile in her eyes was even brighter than the lights.

As Shen Ci watched them walk side by side to the center of the stage, and listened to the emcee read the vows in a gentle voice, an indescribable warmth welled up in her heart.

This is not just a wedding, but a journey for two souls who have gone their separate ways, finally finding a safe harbor at the turning point of time.

The applause from the audience surged like a tide. The two elders of the Lin family quietly wiped the corners of their eyes in their seats, and then revealed an incredibly bright smile.

Seeing that Shen Ci's blessing seemed genuine, Shen Yu felt a surge of anger and was about to say something sarcastic.

Just then, a tall and slender figure walked through the elegantly dressed crowd and went straight to Shen Ci's side.

The man appeared to be around thirty years old, dressed in a well-tailored casual suit. He had gentle features and a calm, reserved demeanor. In this noisy and extravagant banquet hall, he was like a piece of fine, cold jade, clearly indicating that he came from an extraordinary background.

He stopped beside Shen Ci, leaned down slightly, and said in a deep, gentle voice with a hint of familiarity, "Youyou, come with me over there for a moment."

Shen Yu's words caught in her throat. She looked the powerful man in front of her up and down, a hint of amazement and curiosity flashing in her eyes.

She immediately put on a sweet smile and affectionately shook Shen Ci's arm: "Youyou, who is this?"

Shen Ci turned her head and introduced in a calm tone: "This is Aunt Lin's younger brother, and also our school's calligraphy professor, Professor Lin."

After she finished her introduction, Lin Ruochen glanced sideways, his gaze falling on Shen Yu. He nodded politely, a perfectly curved smile playing on his lips, but his eyes remained polite yet distant.

The next second, he placed his hand on Shen Ci's shoulder and gave her a light but firm squeeze: "Let's go."

Shen Yu sat there, watching their backs, feeling only an eyesore.