The antique girlfriend of a chaebol heir

Ling Shuyun took a deep breath, completely concealing the lingering anger in her eyes.

When she looked up again, she had regained her usual dignified and gentle demeanor.

She waved to Shen Ci.

"Xiao Ci, come here."

"Aunt Ling."

Shen Ci obediently responded, her voice carrying a slight, almost imperceptible tremor.

Jiang Duo stood to the side, his eyes slightly darkened.

He never expected that his biological mother would know Shen Ci, and judging from their familiar manner, they had obviously known each other for more than just a day or two.

Worse still, when her mother looked at Shen Ci, her eyes were full of undisguised pity, but when she turned to look at him—

That glance was very light.

But Jiang Duo saw too much in that gaze—coldness, disappointment, exhaustion, and a kind of warning that he couldn't understand, a warning that was almost pity.

He lowered his eyes slightly, concealing the turbulent emotions within them, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

"This place is cramped and messy, let's go outside to talk."

Jiang Hexuan gently smoothed things over, then turned to Ling Shuyun and softly offered words of comfort.

"Honey, isn't there still the unveiling ceremony? We can discuss the children's matter later. Let's not delay the important matters and focus on the art exhibition first."

Upon hearing this, Ling Shuyun glanced at Jiang Duo again, forcefully suppressing her lingering anger.

An open space has been cleared in the center of the exhibition hall.

Jiang Hexuan accompanied Ling Shuyun as they slowly pulled up the thick red velvet cloth, officially opening the art exhibition.

Shen Ci raised her head.

It was a giant oil painting, three meters high and two meters wide, almost taking up half of the wall.

The canvas is covered with a burning flame—not the warm, vibrant orange-red of a campfire, but an almost morbid, blinding incandescent white, radiating outwards from the center of the painting, while the edges are strangely tinged with blue, like a frozen wound.

A human figure was vaguely outlined in the center of the flames.

The outline was blurry and distorted, like someone curled up in agony or spreading their arms in ecstasy.

It was clearly fireworks, but watching it sent an indescribable chill down one's spine.

The unveiling ceremony has concluded.

Shen Ci still looked somewhat embarrassed. She stepped forward and quietly bid farewell to Ling Shuyun.

Ling Shuyun, however, showed no intention of letting her leave.

She gently patted Shen Ci's hand, her palm radiating the warmth and comfort typical of an elder, and said softly:

"There are staff keeping an eye on things here, so I can leave now. Xiao Ci, let's go have afternoon tea together and have a good chat."

Shen Ci was slightly taken aback and turned to look at Master Yang, who had been standing not far away.

The old man's gaze was gentle, and he nodded in tacit approval.

The group arrived at a restaurant located in a courtyard house.

Afternoon tea had already been prepared for them inside.

Ling Shuyun pushed a small plate of pastries in front of Shen Ci. "Xiao Ci, try this lemon hazelnut cake. It's sweet and sour, see if you like it."

"Thank you, Aunt Ling."

Shen Ci accepted the gift with both hands and thanked her softly.

Jiang Hexuan couldn't help but ask curiously, "Wife, you and Aduo's girlfriend... you knew each other before?"

Ling Shuyun picked up his teacup and took a slow sip. "Xiao Ci is learning inner painting from Lao Yang. She is the most talented child Lao Yang has encountered in recent years."

After speaking, she slightly raised her eyelids, her gaze falling on Jiang Duo with a measured intensity.

That look seemed to be a silent question: Do you deserve such an outstanding girl?

Jiang Duo's jaw tightened even more.

"This young girl is so young, yet she's Old Master Yang's prized student. Amazing, truly amazing..."

As Jiang Hexuan spoke, his gaze fell on Shen Ci.

The girl in front of me sat there quietly, with a beautiful face and an otherworldly temperament, exuding a serene tranquility untouched by the world.

No wonder it made his usually aloof son lose his composure...

In Ling Shuyun's past understanding, her son Jiang Duo had always been a steady and aloof person.

She even secretly rejoiced, thinking that her son would never repeat his father's mistakes and would never do such despicable things as forcibly seizing and humiliating others.

Seeing is believing.

The suffocating scene in the stairwell was still haunting her.

Where is Aduo's former composure and self-control? He has clearly been blinded by lust!

At that moment, Aduo's possessiveness in his eyes was almost consuming, just like that arrogant man from back then.

A faint sense of worry rose in Ling Shuyun's heart.

She's experienced and has a sharp eye for people.

She had seen it clearly in the stairwell just now. Although Xiao Ci was frightened, there was no real disgust or resistance in her eyes.

This child seems to have feelings for Aduo.

But it was only a slight liking, nothing deep.

Judging from Aduo's impatient and eager manner just now, he'll probably ruin even this little bit of affection for him sooner or later.

Ling Shuyun gently stirred the black tea in her cup with a small silver spoon, her gaze seemingly casually falling on Jiang Duo, her tone gentle yet carrying an undeniable authority:

"Aduo, I don't know how long you and Xiaoci have been dating. But I hope that in the future you will respect her enough. You should remember—relationships should be left to develop naturally."

She paused, then turned her gaze to Shen Ci, her eyes once again revealing the loving kindness of an elder. "Xiao Ci is a talented and ambitious girl. I don't want her studies and future to be affected because of you."

Jiang Hexuan, who was listening nearby, immediately understood the deeper meaning behind his wife's words.

This is no simple admonition; it's clearly a way of scolding his son while complaining about his father from over twenty years ago.

But he was always one to "listen to his wife," and seeing this, he immediately cleared his throat and chimed in:

"Aduo, your mother is right. We absolutely do not object to your relationship, but you must fully respect Xiaoci's wishes in your actions and never act according to your own whims."

Faced with repeated pressure from his parents, Jiang Duo didn't even lift an eyelid.

He sat upright in his chair, his back ramrod straight, radiating an almost cold rationality.

"I can do everything else."

He slightly raised his eyes, his gaze passing over the rising steam of the tea to meet Ling Shuyun's eyes directly, and said, word by word:

"But this year, I'm determined to get engaged to Youyou."

"And the sooner the better."

Upon hearing this, the air in the elegant room seemed to freeze instantly.

Jiang Hexuan almost burst out laughing.

He truly is his son.

It seems like they'd compromise and agree to anything.

But in reality, they were planning how to take it a step further.

Just like my younger self, I will never compromise when it comes to love...