Chapter 26: Family Banquet (I)

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By the time Shi Yun finished recording the interview, it was already afternoon.

A staff member approached her with a broad smile and warmly invited her, “Ms. Shi, you’ve been busy all day. Why don’t you join us for a meal?”

A faint smile had just curved Shi Yun’s lips, and she was about to agree, when her phone rang.

Her gaze fell upon the screen. The word “Mom” caught her eye.

She froze slightly. Her finger remained suspended in midair for several seconds before she slowly swiped to answer.

“Yun!” Gao Yun’s cheerful voice came through. “We’re having a family dinner tonight. Your grandparents will be there, too. Everyone’s been looking forward to seeing you, so hurry over!”

Apart from the holidays, the Shi family gathered once every month or two.

Shi Yun instinctively bit down on her lower lip, pressing her lips into a thin line.

She had nearly forgotten that she still had a family.

After all, it was more than twenty years of familial affection. Shi Yun still could not bring herself to sever it completely. Her voice was cool as she replied, “Mm. Got it.”

Hearing the flat response on the other end, Gao Yun said reproachfully, “You’ve been sulking and refusing to come home these past few days. You have no idea how worried your father and I have been. Hurry home, all right? Mom misses you.”

Shi Yun slowly lowered her eyes. Her long lashes fell like a fine curtain, concealing the emotions beneath them. She gave a quiet “Mm.”

Gao Yun did not say anything more. She gave Shi Yun the address and hung up.

Shi Yun lowered her gaze and smiled apologetically at the staff members. “I’m sorry. I have a family dinner tonight, so I won’t be able to eat with you.”

The staff members assured her that it was all right.

—

Shi Yun stood outside the private dining room and drew a deep breath. She raised her hand, grasped the doorknob, and slowly pushed the door open.

Laughter and conversation rushed toward her. She quickly swept her gaze around the room and saw that not everyone had arrived yet. Only her parents and Shi Tian were there.

That was right. Ruan Tian had now transferred her household registration to the Shi family and officially changed her name to Shi Tian.

All three turned toward her in unison. For several seconds, the room fell silent.

Shi Yun suddenly felt as though she had intruded upon a family of three.

Shi Tian was the first to rise. Her face was wreathed in smiles as she opened her arms enthusiastically and called out, “Sister, you’re here! Come in and sit down.”

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Shi Yun gave her a cool glance without replying and walked into the room.

Gao Yun and Shi Xiao exchanged a look, then gave two awkward, hollow laughs. Gao Yun hurriedly smoothed things over. “Yun, come sit over here.”

Seeing that Shi Yun was ignoring her, Shi Tian bit her lower lip. Her eyes instantly reddened, and she looked at Gao Yun with an aggrieved expression.

Gao Yun quickly smiled at her sympathetically and patted her shoulder to comfort her.

Before long, Shi Yun’s grandfather and grandmother arrived.

The moment they entered, their eyes immediately found Shi Yun. Their faces lit up with radiant smiles, their eyes filled with affection and tenderness.

Seeing them, Shi Yun smiled as well. “Grandpa, Grandma!”

Her grandfather strode quickly toward her and laughed heartily. “Yun, did you miss Grandpa?”

Her grandmother chimed in with a beaming smile, “Did you miss Grandma?”

Warmth spread through Shi Yun’s heart, and her eyes grew slightly moist. She hurried forward, naturally reaching out to pull out their chairs.

“Of course I did! Grandpa, Grandma, please sit.”

As soon as her grandmother sat down, she took Shi Yun’s hand and patted it gently, knitting her brows as she pretended to scold her. “Yun, why have you lost weight again? Have you been neglecting your meals?”

The corners of Shi Yun’s lips lifted slightly. She quickly shook her head and replied, “Of course not. I’ve been eating just fine.”

Seeing Shi Tian being ignored, Gao Yun grew anxious. She hurriedly took Shi Tian by the hand and led her before the older couple.

“Mom, Dad, this is Tiantian. You couldn’t come to the banquet a few days ago, so now you can finally have a good look at our Tiantian.”

Shi Tian gave them a sweet smile and obediently greeted them. “Hello, Grandpa and Grandma.”

Her grandmother did not even raise her eyelids. She merely glanced at Shi Tian and gave a slight nod, her tone indifferent.

“Oh. You’re here. Good.”

She felt no affection for this granddaughter and naturally had little to say to her.

Her grandfather also gave a perfunctory reply before turning his attention back to Shi Yun.

Neither of them had approved of their daughter and son-in-law making such a grand spectacle of bringing home the daughter who had been lost for years.

That was why they had not attended the ridiculous welcome banquet.

Although Shi Tian shared the Shi family’s blood, affection mattered more than blood. How could their daughter and son-in-law fail to understand such a simple truth?

Did they not fear hurting Shi Yun by doing this?

They had watched this granddaughter grow up. She was obedient, sensible, clever, and bright. Even if she was not their biological granddaughter, what difference was there between her and one who was?

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Meanwhile, relatives continued to arrive at the door, exchanging greetings with one another.

From time to time, Shi Yun caught certain relatives looking between her and Shi Tian with curiosity and comparison in their eyes.

The moment Gao Qi’an entered the private room, his eyes went straight to Shi Yun, a smile spreading across his face.

Holding a box of pastries securely in one hand, he strode toward her and raised the box slightly.

“Yun, look what delicious treats your brother brought you.”

Before Shi Yun could reach out to take it, one of the more meddlesome relatives rolled his eyes and called out loudly, “Qi’an, you’re playing favorites! Why did you only bring something for Yun? Isn’t Tiantian your younger sister too?”

The moment those words were spoken, the private room, which had been filled with lively conversation, fell silent for several seconds. The atmosphere turned awkward.

Gao Yun’s brows immediately furrowed. She looked at Shi Tian anxiously, her eyes full of concern that the girl might feel slighted.

Gao Qi’an, however, remained completely composed. The corners of his lips curved into a faint smile as he explained unhurriedly, “How is that playing favorites? Yun has loved these since she was little, so I remembered. Besides, my cousin Shi Tian just came back. I don’t know what she likes yet.”

With that, he handed the pastries to Shi Yun and affectionately ruffled her hair, his eyes filled with indulgence.

Then he turned toward Shi Tian, offered her a polite smile, and nodded courteously.

Shi Tian stood to one side, still wearing a smile, but the curve of her lips was stiff and unmoving.

Her hand hanging at her side, however, clenched tightly. Her nails nearly dug into her palm.

Who cared? she thought resentfully.

Yet the bitterness and unwillingness brought on by being treated differently kept rising within her, churning her heart until she felt utterly miserable.

Just then, her younger cousin Shi Xuanxuan came bouncing over, her face alight with excitement and her eyes sparkling. She took Shi Tian’s hand and said cheerfully, “Sister Tiantian, will you give me your autograph?”

A flash of smugness crossed Shi Tian’s face, and she was just reaching for a pen when the girl suddenly pursed her lips, as though remembering something. She let go with an expression of disdain and muttered softly, “Never mind. I’d rather go play with Sister Yun.”

The smile on Shi Tian’s face collapsed instantly, and anger flared within her.

Suppressing the fury simmering in her chest, Shi Tian walked over to Shi Yun in several quick steps. A smile immediately spread across her face again.

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