Chapter Seven: His Mother

A rapid, urgent knocking at the door startled Shen Huaijing awake from her dreams. She turned over, draping her arm across her eyes and muttering curses under her breath. She still couldn’t make sense of how she had ended up in such an ambiguous situation with Fu Chen last night—now, body and mind both exhausted, she wondered which fool had the nerve to disturb her rest so early in the morning.

Suddenly, the door swung open. The housekeeper, Aunt Feng, stood at the threshold, her face uneasy and her voice tinged with anxiety. “Young madam, the lady of the house is here.”

Shen Huaijing jolted upright in bed as if struck by lightning, momentarily forgetting she was still in her camisole nightdress. By the time she regained her senses, Fu Chen’s mother—Ke Jing—was already standing behind Aunt Feng, her face clouded with anger as she glared at her.

Though Ke Jing was over fifty, she was impeccably maintained. She wore a deep blue cheongsam, a flawless jade pendant gracing her neck, her figure full and elegant, exuding an air of wealth and authority. With a cold snort, she lifted her chin with disdain. “So this is the young lady raised by the Shen family? Such a lack of manners!” With that, she turned and swept away, her heels clicking harshly on the floor.

Shen Huaijing could only blame her own ill luck—of all days, her mother-in-law had to visit today. And as for Fu Chen, the scoundrel had left at dawn after taking full advantage of her, leaving her alone to face this formidable woman.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She ground her teeth and threw Fu Chen’s pillow off the bed in a fit of frustration. But there was no time to dawdle—she quickly washed up, slipped into a simple cream-colored dress, and hurried downstairs.

Ke Jing sat at the dining table, calmly sipping her milk. Shen Huaijing sat obediently beside her, eating in silence. The meal was a torturous affair; she had to watch Ke Jing’s every move, serving her as attentively as a maid, all the while making sure her own manners were impeccable.

The troubles of the wealthy, Shen Huaijing thought, pursing her lips and cursing inwardly, though her face maintained a gentle smile.

After breakfast, Ke Jing took her seat on the sofa, and Shen Huaijing followed. Ke Jing looked her up and down before finally speaking in a measured tone, “How is your relationship with Chen? After all, you had no acquaintance before marriage.”

Shen Huaijing replied with a polite smile, her fair hands massaging Ke Jing’s arm as she spoke softly, “Fu Chen treats me very well. We get along nicely. Thank you for your concern, Mother.”

Ke Jing’s gaze was sharp. “Judging by your dazed look earlier, have you shared a room?”

Shen Huaijing nearly choked on her own saliva. This wealthy matron was shockingly direct about intimate matters between husband and wife. Flustered and at a loss, she nodded in affirmation.

“You’re both still young; there’s no need to rush into having children. The company is at a critical stage of growth, and Chen is under a lot of pressure at work. Now isn’t the best time for children. Keep this in mind,” Ke Jing said coolly.

Shen Huaijing was surprised. In families like theirs, parents usually pressed for grandchildren, but Ke Jing seemed to take the opposite stance, which was somewhat suspicious. Still, it aligned with Shen Huaijing’s own wishes, so it wasn’t a bad thing.

“Yes, Mother, I understand.”

Ke Jing’s expression was unreadable; she merely nodded and glanced at the hands still massaging her arm. “You’re quite skilled. Did you often massage your parents at home?”

Pride flickered across Shen Huaijing’s face as she replied brightly, “Yes, when I studied abroad, I wasn’t home often. So whenever I was, I did my best to be filial—I even learned to massage especially for them.”

Ke Jing seemed pleased with the answer, patting her hand and softening her tone. “You’re sensible enough. Remember to get along well with Chen. You’re free to visit your parents whenever you wish.”

Shen Huaijing nodded, breathing a sigh of relief. This mother-in-law truly demanded constant attention—luckily, she hadn’t forgotten her old skills. Otherwise, who knew how she might have been made to suffer.

She thought she had passed the test, but Ke Jing’s next words left her bewildered.

“Chen is still young. It’s inevitable that he’ll have some dalliances outside. But you, as the properly married daughter of the Shen family, must know where to draw the line. If you can’t resolve something, come to me and I’ll support you.” Ke Jing sipped her coffee and continued, “Don’t be clueless about his work, either. Now that you’ve married in, our two families are one. The company is partly yours. You and Chen must support each other. If anything major arises, you can always come to me, understand?”

Ke Jing’s gaze bore into her. Shen Huaijing was momentarily stunned; it was her first time observing Ke Jing so closely. No matter how well-maintained, the lines at her eyes were clear, her pupils cloudy with the cunning calculation of a seasoned businesswoman.

Feigning a naive air, Shen Huaijing awkwardly tucked her hair behind her ear, hesitated, and said, “Mother, I did study abroad, but none of it had anything to do with business. I’m not quick-witted and may not be up to much.”

Ke Jing patted her shoulder, her tone brooking no refusal. “You can always learn. I have faith in you.”

Just as Shen Huaijing was about to protest further, Ke Jing rose and adjusted her appearance. “That’s enough for today. Remember well what I’ve told you.” There was a peculiar glint in Ke Jing’s eyes as she spoke.

Shen Huaijing could only respond, “Yes, Mother. I’ll see you out.”

She accompanied Ke Jing to the door, watching as the car drove away. A breeze swept by, making her shiver. She looked up—the sun blazed down, and though the summer wind was hot, she felt a chill seep through her from head to toe.

Returning inside, she sat blankly on the sofa. Ke Jing’s words, both overt and veiled, were clear: she wanted her daughter-in-law to keep an eye on Fu Chen. But they were mother and son—what was her motive in making such a request?

Everything that had happened lately gave her a headache. First, someone had started watching her every move, and now her mother-in-law wanted her to spy on her own husband. One incident after another, she found herself forced to remain vigilant.

Any small cleverness she once possessed was of no use here. In this upper-crust world, everyone spoke with honeyed tongues, and she could never tell when she might fall into someone’s carefully laid trap.

Now, she could only choose to trust Fu Chen. Ke Jing was a sly old fox, not someone she could handle.

Money, she realized, was much harder to earn than she had ever imagined.

With a deep sigh, Shen Huaijing felt utterly spent after just a few months. She seemed caught in the center of a vortex, darkness closing in from all sides. There were surely secrets within the Fu family, things unknown to outsiders—and was she, Shen Huaijing, truly as blameless as she appeared? When the truth was finally dragged into the light, where would she go from there?