CHAPTER 202: CHAPTER 202: BEATEN (3)_1

The New Year’s celebrations of the past were always just her and Grandpa. They lived in a lavish mansion, enjoying life, but it was lonely. Now, she finally experienced the warmth of living with her family.

"Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle, Dad, dinner’s ready," Shangguan You sweetly called out to the few people in the living room, then took Shangguan Hao by the arm, and they headed towards the dining room, chatting and laughing along the way.

A full spread of chicken, duck, fish, and meat adorned the table. New Year’s was all about the atmosphere. The food and drinks, which they could enjoy any other day, were nothing too extraordinary at that moment.

"Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle, Aunt, Dad, let’s eat," Shangguan You said cheerfully. Maid Zhang had just finished cooking and left to spend New Year’s with her own son, so at this moment, the Shangguan Family was all together.

"Time to eat, time to eat." Shangguan Zhi’s face, once clouded with anger in the morning, was now full of smiles. This was the ambiance of the New Year; this was a complete family.

"Which dish did the girl make?" Shangguan Yu and Shangguan Hao asked simultaneously. They had heard this morning that she intended to cook herself.

"Actually, I can’t really say I made it," Shangguan You said brightly, her eyes continuously scanning the tomato and scrambled eggs, then glancing at Shangguan Qing. "Shangguan Qing made this one."

"It was Brother Qing who made it with me. If you dare, give it a try. Once I learn how to cook, I will definitely do it myself," Shangguan You said, somewhat embarrassed. The dish could, at most, be considered half-finished.

"Alright, Grandma will wait for the girl to cook by herself. Later on, you and Shangguan Rou can do it together. Li Wanying’s culinary skills are quite good, and she can teach you both then," said the elderly Mrs. Shangguan with a smile, causing the laughter on everyone’s faces to freeze as the cheerful atmosphere at the table vanished once again.

"Please, let’s eat and cut the idle chatter," Shangguan Zhi’s face hardened as he spoke bitterly to Mrs. Shangguan. That vile woman, dreaming of returning to the Shangguan Family? Impossible! It was impossible for anyone from the Li Family to enter the Shangguan home again.

"Li Wanying and her daughter... Li Wanying is, after all, a daughter-in-law of our Shangguan Family. How can they be living at the Li Family’s home during New Year? Haohao, after dinner, go bring them back. We can’t let others make a joke of us during New Year," Mrs. Shangguan demanded firmly of Shangguan Hao.

At her words, Shangguan You’s eyes grew cold. This damn old hag! Instead of enjoying New Year’s, she was focused on that mother and daughter. Had they given her some benefit that made her so hateful towards me, constantly thinking about that vile pair? Even now, during a perfectly good meal, she had to bring them up.

SLAP! Shangguan Zhi slammed his chopsticks onto the table. He had driven Li Wanying and her daughter out, so what was Mrs. Shangguan implying now? His eyes, filled with fury, stared at her. The New Year’s Eve dinner hadn’t even started, and she had already ruined it.

"Mom, Li Wanying and I have no relationship whatsoever. I only have one daughter, my only daughter, Shangguan You. Everyone else means nothing to me. People from the Li Family, especially, don’t deserve to step foot in the Shangguan home," Shangguan Hao said, putting down his chopsticks and looking seriously at Mrs. Shangguan.

Although he was angry, he couldn’t express this towards his own mother. That mother and daughter should have expected to be thrown out of the Shangguan home from the day they entered. Normally, Li Wanying was so good at ingratiating herself that they couldn’t find fault with her. But now, with an opportunity right before him, why would he welcome back those he had sent away? That would be preposterous.

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Mrs. Shangguan began, ignoring Shangguan Zhi’s glare and turning to harshly lecture Shangguan Hao. "Even if you dislike Li Wanying, Shangguan Rou is still your biological daughter, isn’t she? Besides, they’ve accompanied me for so many years at home. Can you really drive them away just like that? They were indeed wrong this time and shouldn’t have pushed Shangguan You out. But now that Shangguan You has safely returned, they naturally should come back to the Shangguan home.

"Do you want us to become a laughingstock? Your wife and child spending New Year’s at her parents’ home? You should know that a military marriage isn’t so easily dissolved!"

Whether it was for her son’s future or for that mother and daughter, she felt they couldn’t simply be abandoned to their natal family.

Shangguan You’s heart grew cold. She really hadn’t imagined that even now, her grandmother was still preoccupied with that mother and daughter. Yes, she had returned unharmed, but if she hadn’t possessed those abilities, she would have died countless times by now. Her grandmother’s partiality truly knew no bounds.

"Grandma, although Shangguan You has returned safely, she suffered a great deal. How can we easily forgive what they did? Furthermore, with such a cruel stepmother, if something like this happens again and Shangguan You isn’t around, would she hesitate to push out Grandma, Grandpa, and Second Uncle too? Can Grandma really disregard Shangguan You’s safety? Can you disregard your own safety, Grandpa’s, and Second Uncle’s? Are you suggesting we keep a ticking time bomb in the Shangguan household, right beside us?"

Shangguan Qing voiced his disagreement, his New Year’s Eve cheer dampened by his grandmother’s words. Were Shangguan Rou and her mother the only people who mattered? Wasn’t Shangguan You a person too?

"Exactly, Mom. Besides, the Li Family’s association with our Shangguan Family has only ever been harmful, never beneficial. Why bother with such a hassle? Now we have a chance to make a clean break. It’s not just us—Shangguan You, too, would prefer not to see them again. If living together brings no joy, why not take this opportunity to sever ties? The fault lies with the Li Family, not ours."

Shangguan Yu frowned disapprovingly as he looked at Mrs. Shangguan. He wondered if she truly considered herself part of the Shangguan Family.

"Mom, sixteen years ago, for the Shangguan Family’s sake, for your so-called reputation, I already gave in once. I don’t want to continue like this. Mom, Dad, whether you agree or not, whether you believe it or not, Li Wanying and Shangguan Rou have no connection to me. Even if they forcibly use the Shangguan family name, it doesn’t change this fact," Shangguan Hao stated resolutely. His deep voice resonated through the room.