Chapter 58: The Worthy Grandson-in-Law

Shen Zhuyun never expected things to go so smoothly. She almost suspected that even if she hadn’t shown the marriage certificate, her grandmother would still have acknowledged Chen Yuyi. What on earth was happening? She felt a bit dizzy with confusion.

Xu Ruizhi was left incredulous. The old lady hadn’t even shown a hint of doubt, nor had she asked a single question about that “cheap” son-in-law. She just accepted him outright, planning to announce it to everyone. What was going on? Could it be that the old woman’s age was catching up with her and her mind was no longer clear?

Even Shen Chengde found himself surprised. Did this mean his mother had taken a liking to this man? Could she have secretly investigated her new grandson-in-law and discovered his capabilities, thus making such a decision? Yes, that must be it. It seemed his own judgment wasn’t so bad after all. The more he thought about it, the more he couldn’t help but smile.

Chen Yuyi was genuinely caught off guard. He had prepared himself for a stormy meal at the Shen household, but the old lady seemed to approve of him at first sight and even wanted to publicly declare his status. Wasn’t Shen Zhuyun the one who said her grandmother was the hardest to win over? What kind of situation was this?

Still, if they wished to make it public, so be it. At least it would legitimize his status, and he’d finally be able to stand openly by Shen Zhuyun’s side without sneaking around. Perhaps this was a blessing for the Shen family.

“Zhuyun, what’s his name?” the old lady suddenly asked.

Snapping back to her senses, Shen Zhuyun couldn’t help but complain inwardly—her grandmother had accepted him without even knowing his name! Yet she quickly replied, “Chen Yuyi.”

“Very well. From now on, Yuyi will take charge of the Shen family!” the old lady announced, stunning everyone with her words.

All present gaped in shock.

“Mother, are you serious? He’s a stranger—how can you put him in charge of the Shen family?” Xu Ruizhi immediately protested.

Currently, it was Shen Chengde who managed the household, but his mismanagement had left the real authority with the old lady. Xu Ruizhi merely assisted, lacking the ability to handle things on her own. But the old lady’s age meant she was struggling to keep up. She had long wished to find someone suitable to take over, but among the younger generation, some were too young, others useless, leaving her disappointed. Out of desperation, she’d sought guidance from a fortune-teller. Though she’d harbored doubts about the prophecy, upon meeting Chen Yuyi, she sensed something extraordinary about him—a presence like a hidden dragon.

“A dragon crouches in the depths, destined to soar; a streak of blue amid the vast sky!”

Even his name seemed to echo the oracle’s words. How could she harbor any doubt? Moreover, she could feel it deeply: this grandson-in-law was no ordinary man.

Chen Yuyi rubbed his nose in bewilderment. It was one thing to be acknowledged, but putting him in charge of the Shen family? Wasn’t that asking too much? He had little interest in household affairs.

“My decision is made. Yuyi, from now on, the Shen family is in your hands!” the old lady said with heartfelt gravity, ignoring her daughter-in-law’s protests.

“Grandma, why are you doing this?” Shen Zhuyun asked, bewildered. She had only brought Chen Yuyi as a shield, never expecting her grandmother to entrust the entire family to him. Wasn’t this giving her “husband” a bit too much credit?

Shen Chengde also looked at his mother in confusion. Although he didn’t care much about who led the Shen family, it was baffling to see such weight placed on a newcomer’s shoulders.

Xu Ruizhi could only mutter her discontent under her breath, not daring to voice it openly, her resentment toward Chen Yuyi growing.

“Grandma, to be honest, I hardly know anything about the Shen family. How can I take charge? Besides, I’m not cut out for this. Please reconsider,” Chen Yuyi protested.

“I’m not asking you to manage household chores. I’m entrusting the Shen family to you,” the old lady replied, stepping forward and taking his hand.

“The Shen family needs someone to shield it from storms and resolve crises. We need someone who can bear responsibility, and you are the one destined for this role!”

Her words left Chen Yuyi speechless, and the others were equally stunned. The old lady’s declaration seemed to carry a deeper meaning, one they couldn’t quite grasp.

“You truly trust me?” Chen Yuyi asked, sensing a warmth and closeness in her that made her feel like his own grandmother.

“If I didn’t trust you, would I have acknowledged you as my grandson-in-law at first sight, not even knowing your name? You are destined to be my worthy grandson-in-law,” she replied, gently patting his hand.

A wave of emotion surged in Chen Yuyi’s heart. “Rest assured, as long as I am here, the Shen family will stand strong!”

At that moment, he genuinely felt the old lady’s high hopes for him. She clearly saw something in him, and since that was the case, he no longer needed to be bound by convention.

“Good. With your promise, I am at ease,” the old lady said, her face soft with kindness. She took his hand and said, “Come, let’s eat.”

The Shen family watched the scene in complete bewilderment.

Shen Zhuyun bit her lip. What had this man done to win her grandmother’s favor so thoroughly?

Shen Chengde scratched his head. Could his mother simply be eager for great-grandchildren in her old age?

Xu Ruizhi’s eyes burned with anger. An unknown upstart, and she wanted him to head the Shen family? The old woman must be senile.

With the old lady’s care, Chen Yuyi enjoyed a truly heartwarming meal. Other than his father, no one had ever treated him with such genuine affection.

During the meal, Shen Zhuyun even felt a little jealous. In the past, she had always been the old lady’s darling, but now that place seemed to belong to Chen Yuyi.

Watching the events of the day unfold, she no longer knew whether bringing Chen Yuyi home had been the right choice. Her grandmother had even handed the Shen family to him. At this rate, what was fake might become real—would Chen Yuyi truly become the Shen family’s son-in-law?

Xu Ruizhi found the meal tasteless. Though she had her complaints about the old lady, she kept them to herself and avoided even looking at Chen Yuyi.

Shen Chengde, on the other hand, was exceedingly hospitable, constantly serving food to his new son-in-law, especially since he’d cooked the dishes himself.

Chen Yuyi was quite satisfied with his father-in-law’s cooking. He had to admit, the man wasn’t entirely useless.

After the meal, Shen Zhuyun shot Chen Yuyi a look, and he immediately understood.

They were just about to take their leave when the old lady said, “I’ve already arranged for you both to move back to the Shen house. There’s no need to return to that little villa tonight—your room is ready.”

“Ah!” Chen Yuyi and Shen Zhuyun exclaimed in unison.

“What is it? Is there a problem with coming home?” The old lady fixed them with a glance.

“No, Grandma, it’s just that we have so many things left at the villa. If we’re to move back, we should pack up first,” Shen Zhuyun hurried to explain, worried that moving back meant sharing a room with Chen Yuyi. That wouldn’t do—she needed to stall.

Chen Yuyi nodded, “Grandma, let us go back and pack tonight. We’ll move in tomorrow.”

As soon as he’d spoken, Shen Zhuyun pinched him hard under the table. He immediately caught on to her concern, and with a hidden smile added, “Also, Grandma, I have some work to finish. Perhaps it would be best if we moved in after a little while.”

“No. Now that you’re back, you’re back. No more excuses. In fact, Yuyi, you should quit your job—staying in the Shen house will be your new work,” the old lady declared, brooking no argument.

“Ah!” Chen Yuyi was unsure whether this was a blessing or a curse.

“And you two, hurry and give me a great-grandchild. It will bring new life to the Shen family,” she added, just as firmly.

Shen Zhuyun nearly choked, at a loss for words.

Facing the old lady’s enthusiasm, Chen Yuyi could only offer a silly smile.

“Zhuyun, since your grandmother has spoken, I’ll have Ah Zhong go pack up tomorrow. Tonight marks your formal return home,” Shen Chengde said.

Xu Ruizhi shot him a glare, cast a cold look at Chen Yuyi, and stomped upstairs.

Shen Zhuyun bit her lip—her grandmother was clearly favoring someone far too much. It seemed that now, there was truly no escape. But as for bearing children with that person—never!

Chen Yuyi gave her a gentle smile. “Zhuyun, since Grandma insists, shall we go see our room?”

“See your head!” she fumed inwardly, but could do nothing. The thought of sharing a room with him every night from now on made her clench her tiny fists…