Gu Mingyang's voice pulled her thoughts back.
"Ah!" she startled, covering up, "I wasn't thinking of anything."
"Oh, really?" Gu Mingyang looked at her suspiciously. "If you weren't thinking of anything, why were you spacing out like an idiot?"
"I..."
Sheng Qingxue was immediately caught off guard, flustered.
Shi Xinxin chimed in to help her out, "She might be worried about my brother."
Hearing this, Sheng Qingxue breathed a sigh of relief.
Luckily, Xinxin had rescued her.
"That's right, I was worried about Doctor Gu."
"Hmph!"
A cold snort was heard.
Sheng Qingxue looked up and saw Fang Wanru standing in the living room with a dark expression.
She quickly composed herself, stood up, and called out, "Auntie."
Fang Wanru glared at her, walked directly to the sofa and sat down, saying nothing.
The more she acted like this, the more uneasy Sheng Qingxue felt.
Shi Xinxin sensed something was off between the two and guessed the reason.
She pulled Sheng Qingxue and said, "Come on, I'll go upstairs with you to change."
"Okay."
Sheng Qingxue followed Shi Xinxin away.
In the living room, only the three Sheng brothers and Fang Wanru were left.
"Mingyang, what's wrong with your wife?" Sheng Chenjin asked softly.
Gu Mingyang shook his head and said, "I'm not sure."
Sheng Chenjin said, "I feel like she's a bit strange today. She's usually lively and cheerful, but today she seems very quiet, even..."
He hesitated before continuing, "Even, I feel like she's a bit resistant to me."
"Resistant to you?" Gu Mingyang frowned. "Why?"
"I don't really know," Shi Xinxin shrugged. "Anyway, I just feel like Sister-in-law isn't very happy."
Gu Mingyang: "It might be because of your brother."
Now it was Shi Xinxin's turn to be surprised. "How did you know?"
Gu Mingyang glanced lightly in the direction of the kitchen and said, "Because I just saw her secretly wiping away tears."
"Ah?"
Shi Xinxin was astonished. She saw Sheng Qingxue crying?
She carefully recalled the scene and suddenly had a flash of insight, saying, "You mean, your brother bullied her?"
Gu Mingyang shook his head. "I don't know, but I feel like it."
Shi Xinxin sighed sympathetically, "Alas, your sister-in-law has such bad luck, to be stuck with such a scoundrel."
Gu Mingyang agreed, "Yes, she's quite unfortunate."
"Mingyang, do you have any way to make her realize you sooner, have you marry her, and then have her get pregnant soon, get married and have children?" Shi Xinxin asked.
Gu Mingyang was slightly taken aback and said, "Xinxin, are you serious?"
"Of course I'm serious. I think you and your brother are a perfect match. The two of you together, that's truly perfect," Shi Xinxin said with admiration.
Gu Mingyang said, "Xinxin, this can't be rushed. Your sister-in-law is still young, and she's very resistant to marriage right now. Plus, my father wouldn't agree."
"Then get your father to agree first. I think your father seems to like Qingxue quite a bit."
"Xinxin, don't tell Qingxue about this for now, to avoid her overthinking."
"Okay," Shi Xinxin nodded.
She also felt that they couldn't rush things.
"Let me take you out for a bit first, and then we can go buy gifts later," Gu Mingyang suggested.
"Okay."
Shi Xinxin readily agreed. She had been bored to death lately, just studying and studying.
Although Sheng Qingxue was also a top student, she had fixed classes every week, so she was always bored to death when school was out.
Now, she finally had something that could bring her joy, and she naturally wouldn't give it up.
On the way out, Fang Wanru suddenly interjected, "Mingyang, what are you thinking?"
"What do you mean, what am I thinking?" Gu Mingyang looked at her, confused.
Fang Wanru said, "Your engagement banquet. You've already gotten the marriage certificate, and now it's just a ceremony. When are you planning to hold the engagement banquet?"
Hearing this, Shi Xinxin's ears immediately perked up.
She was also looking forward to the engagement banquet.
Gu Mingyang pondered for a moment and said, "This matter is not urgent, let's take it slow."
"Why?" Fang Wanru became anxious. "How can such a big event be taken slow? Look at our family, whenever there's a happy occasion, it's always grand and lively. Even your brother's wedding was relatively low-key."
"Mingyang, this kind of thing can't be low-key. You need to prepare early to leave a deep impression on the guests."
"I'm not being low-key, I just feel that Qingxue is not in a good mood right now. We'll plan the engagement banquet after she's in a better mood."
"What's wrong with Qingxue?" Fang Wanru asked, puzzled.
Gu Mingyang recounted what happened at the dining table that day.
After listening, Fang Wanru's expression changed, showing anger, embarrassment, and shame...
She slammed the coffee table hard. "Mingyang, why didn't you stop your brother? He's harmed Qingxue to this extent, and he still wants to force her to marry him! In this world, where is there such an evil man? He's utterly wicked!"
Gu Mingyang: "..."
Shi Xinxin said from the side, "Mom, what are you saying? How can you evaluate your son like that?"
Fang Wanru: "I... I'm just speaking the truth!"
"My brother did act inconsiderately in this matter."
"What do you mean inconsiderately? I think he just doesn't cherish his wife, and doesn't know how to be merciful!" Fang Wanru said angrily.
"I..." Shi Xinxin opened her mouth, unsure how to refute Fang Wanru.
After all, Fang Wanru was telling the truth.
Her brother's temper was indeed eccentric.
Sheng Chenjin frowned, "Mom, I don't agree with you saying that about Brother. If Brother didn't like Qingxue, how could he be with her?"
"But he hurt Qingxue like this..."
"Then my brother was also hurt, shouldn't you feel sorry for my brother too?"
"I..." Fang Wanru was speechless, how could she have forgotten this point.
Shi Xinxin seized the opportunity to speak, "Mom, calm down, don't be angry."
She grabbed Fang Wanru's arm and shook it, saying, "I believe Brother, he will handle this matter properly."
Fang Wanru sighed softly.
Seeing this, Shi Xinxin leaned into her ear and whispered, "Mom, this is the second time Brother has argued with you, right?"
Fang Wanru was stunned, then a bitter smile appeared.
"Yes, Mingyang never argues with me."
Shi Xinxin pouted and said, "I don't think you need to argue with Brother either. I think you might as well coax him and show him some care."
Fang Wanru raised an eyebrow, "Why should I care about him?"
"He's your son!" Shi Xinxin said matter-of-factly.
"I've never admitted that."
"That's my brother's business, can you just do it for the sake of our sisterhood?"
"Alright, I understand. I'll have a good talk with him."
Seeing that her goal was achieved, Shi Xinxin smiled with satisfaction.
"Then hurry up and go," she nudged Fang Wanru, urging her, "We'll wait for you outside, go on."
Gu Mingyang: "Xinxin, don't push your mother."