Chapter 103: His Family  

Jing Yichen helped Shangguan Ning get off the car. He held her protectively to ensure that she didn’t hurt herself. Seeing Elder Master care for the lady, the Butler was certain about who this woman was and how important she was to him. He shouted out in excitement, “Welcome home, Master and Lady!”

Most of the staff at the Family Jing House didn’t know that Jing Yichen was already married. If Second Master Jing Yiran were to bring a woman home someday and declare that he was married to her, no one would raise an eyebrow. In case of Elder Master, it was different. He was always aloof and chose not to waste his time over women. When he chose to get married and showered his spouse with love and affection, everyone in the family was pleasantly surprised.

All the employees at the Family Jing House had been trained to maintain a professional attitude at all times. They greeted the couple politely. Jing Yichen gave the Butler a brief nod and led Shangguan Ning into the house.

Shangguan Ning realised that everyone was eyeing her with curiosity and anticipation. She greeted them with a nod and smiled at all of them courteously.

They didn’t expect the Lady to be so gentle and friendly. They liked her instantly. All these years, no guest had ever taken the effort to be polite to them.

Shangguan Ning followed Jing Yichen into the villa. She couldn’t help staring at the vast expanse of the garden and lawns, at the house. There were a variety of flowers and well manicured trees. Since it was the onset of spring, all the flowers in the garden were in full bloom. They were a sight to behold.

The villa looked just like a castle, right out of a fairy tale. It looked enchanting and mysterious.

She followed Jing Yichen inside and saw a few familiar faces in the midst of all those seated in the spacious living room.

Mo Lan smiled at her warmly, as soon as she saw her. She wanted to pull Ning to the side, in order to have a closer look at her, when Jing Yichen stepped up and introduced them.

“Ning, this is Grandma,” said Jing Yichen affectionately.

Shangguan Ning smiled at her. “Hello, Grandma!”

“Hello, my lovely child! Before I forget, here is your present. Welcome to the family. I am so happy to see you. I hope I didn’t scare you the last time we met, did I?” Mo Lan took Ning’s hands into hers and surveyed her grandson’s wife, from head to toe.

Her granddaughter-in-law was not only good-looking but also elegant and loving. The old lady took to her immediately. Her wish came true. Finally someone had been able to capture the heart of Jing Yichen.

Shangguan Ning was embarrassed at the mention of their last meeting. She blushed.

She took grandma’s present and thanked her. Ning said, “No, I wasn’t scared. I am... sorry... I haven’t got anything for you.”

“Oh you don’t need to. I’m glad you’re here.”

Seeing his wife taking up all of Shangguan Ning’s time and attention, without even letting her meet with the others in the room, Jing Tianyuan wasn’t happy. He coughed and managed to catch his wife’s attention, who stopped speaking.

Jing Yichen held Shangguan Ning and gently led her forward to meet the rest of his family.

“This is Grandpa.”

Shangguan Ning smiled and said, “Hello Grandpa!”

The old man nodded formally but soon realized that he may have come across as a little too serious. So he smiled awkwardly at Shangguan Ning and gave her a welcome present.

Shangguan Ning expressed her gratitude to him, accepting his present.

In her eyes, the men of the three generations of Family Jing, were carved out using the same template. Jing Yichen looked like Jing Zhongxiu, who in turn looked like his father, Jing Tianyuan.

“This is father.”

Shangguan Ning saw Jing Zhongxiu smiling at her, when she met his eyes. Shyly, she said to him, “Hello Father.”

She had called him Uncle Jing, the last time she had met him. How things had changed. Destiny had a strange way of bringing people together.

Jing Zhongxiu had always been fond of Shangguan Ning. He had always envisioned his future daughter-in-law to be exactly like her. He was very happy, seeing her standing next to Jing Yichen.

Maybe his old friend Huang Liyan didn’t know what a treasure his niece was. Huang Liyan surely didn’t know that Ning had married had Jing Yichen, otherwise he would have said something about it when Jing Zhongxiu and he went fishing together, a couple of days ago.

He was definitely going to surprise Huang Liyan with this good news, when they met next.

The impression he had got about Shangguan Ning was that she was a simple and innocent girl. He hoped that she would stay like this forever, unaffected by all the negativity around her. He did not speak with her in the strict tone in which he spoke with his sons. He lovingly gave her the present he had gotten for her and said, “Time flies quickly. Now you are a beautiful, young lady. If Yichen dares to bully you in the future, let me know and I’ll take care of it.”

Everyone looked at him, as he said this. Just like his son Jing Yichen, Jing Zhongxiu too was an introvert. He spoke with people only when he needed to. He would never speak with anyone with so much warmth, unless the person was dear to him. Clearly, this was not the first time Shangguan Ning had met Jing Zhongxiu.

Jing Yichen was the most surprised. He couldn’t help but look at the two of them. He wondered how Shangguan Ning had managed to impress his father, Jing Zhongxiu, in such a short time.

He knew his father loved him, but ever since his childhood, he had craved for his father’s appreciation. Nothing he ever did, seemed good enough, in the eyes of his father. He realised that Shangguan Ning had somehow charmed all the seniors of his family. They had only just met her but were already so fond of her.

Jing Yiran and Zhang Rong were also seated there. They were stunned at Jing Zhongxiu’s affectionate behaviour towards Shangguan Ning.

Shangguan Ning was the only one who didn’t find it weird. Jing Zhongxiu had always been warm and loving towards her. He reminded her of her uncle.

When it came to Jing Yiran and Zhang Rong, Jing Yichen’s love and affection disappeared. He said, in a serious tone, “This woman is Mrs. Jing. This man is her son. You know, the one who enjoys being punched by me.”

As soon as Jing Yichen said this, Zhang Rong and Shangguan Ning looked at each other, an awkward silence between them. Only Jing Yiran kept his smile intact, as if Jing Yichen wasn’t referring to him at all.

Jing Yiran wanted to punch his older brother, right there and then but he didn’t dare to behave like this in the presence of Jing Zhongxiu.

Instead, he said with a smirk, “Greetings Sister! You have become prettier since I saw you last.”

“Brat, you’d better behave yourself.” Mo Lan shouted loudly hearing Jing Yiran speak nonsense.

Zhang Rong was afraid that her husband would get angry with Jing Yiran too so she deftly changed the topic. She handed her gift to Shangguan Ning with a smile and said, “I picked this specially for you. Please have a look at it. I hope you like it.”

Shangguan Ning had wanted to keep the present aside for now, but hearing Zhang Rong say all this, she had to open the box.

The moment she saw what was inside the box, the blood drained out of her face and she turned pale.