Situ Zhangyou leaned in and whispered in her ear. “Ms. Shen, you should hand it to my grandpa since he’s still waiting for you. He will make amends for the incident earlier.”
The Situ family was in the wrong not treating her properly as their guest.
“There’s no need for that.” Shen Xi refused politely. “Let me wish Old Master Situ longevity and good health.”
Situ Zhangyou was getting anxious and spoke in hushed tones, “Ms. Shen, do me a favor, please? Our family is interested in doing business with you in good faith. Grandpa admires you but there have been roadblocks along the way. Let’s head in for a chat and perhaps then you can decide. What do you think?”
The onlookers had no idea what was going on, but it was not hard to guess that she was no ordinary young woman judging by her diplomatic and respectful manners while interacting with Young Master Situ.
More questions and envy overwhelmed Su Ruowan as Situ Zhangyou led Shen Xi further away.
Scratching his head, Gu Xiaohan asked Su Ruowan. “What is Shen Xi’s relationship with Situ Zhangyou?”
Su Ruowan shook her head and delicately turned to him feeling hurt. “I don’t know.”
Darkness clouded his eyes as Gu Xiaohan frowned. How did Shen Xi, the brat, get involved with the Situ family? Situ Zhangyou and the brat seemed to be more than just acquaintances.
With both Shen Xi and Situ Zhangyou gone, the bystanders entered the Situ’s home and bombarded Gu Xiaohan and Su Ruowan with questions about Shen Xi.
The one with a short fuse, Gu Xiaohan disgruntledly glared at the crowd. “I don’t know. Get lost, all of you!”
He then pulled Su Ruowan away.
The guests exchanged glances. Who was the young lady? Ms. Su called the lady her sister, yet the latter said she did not know Ms. Su. They must be related somehow.
A guest who was late to the party came to ask about the situation and had an aha moment. “You mentioned that the girl’s name is Shen Xi? She’s a distant relative of the Su family. She stayed with the family for a year before moving away. Oh, is she still living in the capital?”
Having heard that Shen Xi was a distant relative of the Su’s, the crowd marveled at the Su family’s recent good luck!
Their daughter was engaged to Young Master Gu and would be the future young missus of the Gu family.
That distant relative seemed to be close to the Situ family as well.
Old Master Situ lived in the main manor of the Situ’s residence where its courtyard was finely landscaped with pine trees and cypresses.
The old man of the Situ household, Situ Hong was dressed in a Tang-style suit and had a traditional square chin, looking rather upright and hale. He immediately greeted Shen Xi with a kind smile as she approached. “You must be Shen Xi. I was rather surprised when I heard about you from Zhangyou. You did not let me down.”
The young lady had looks that were pleasing to the eye and appeared to be around seventeen to eighteen years old. Zhangyou never told him that she was so young!
“Hello, Old Master Situ.” Shen Xi bowed as she greeted.
A man standing beside Situ Hong appeared ill at ease with his flighty eyes. The man in his fifties had a plump figure and shared some resemblance with Situ Hong.
Situ Zhangyou looked at him. “Uncle, Ms. Shen is here. Is there anything you want to say to her?”
Situ Hong shot an angry look at him too.
Situ Zhengrong apologetically looked at Shen Xi. “Ms. Shen, I’m really sorry. I had someone remove the invitation yesterday. I had a momentary lapse of judgment and messed up. If you could forgive me for causing you distress, Ms. Shen.”