My Gorgeous Wife Relies on Her Beauty to Commit Crimes - Chapter 20.3

Shen Jin looked up and saw Shen Tuo standing smugly behind Shen Juanfeng clearly, he was the one who had called her over.

Her expression remained unreadable. Clutching the notebook, she shut the car door and strode forward, heading inside. Shen Juanfeng followed closely, pressing her.

“Don’t you have any sense of how a mother should act? I’m your elder, and you can’t even greet me properly!”

Shen Jin stopped abruptly, forcing Shen Juanfeng to nearly collide with her before jerking to a halt. Eyes wide, she glared at Shen Jin, who turned to face her with calm dignity.

“If you’re truly an elder, then you should know better than to raise your voice in someone else’s home. And Shen Tuo’s marriage wasn’t my decision, it was Old Guan who pushed for it.”

Shen Jin lowered her lashes slightly. “He wants Shen Tuo to settle down soon and take over the Shen family business.”

Shen Juanfeng’s expression shifted instantly. She let out an exaggerated laugh. “Oh, child, why didn’t you say so earlier? Shen Tuo is just being immature, it’s only right to discipline him! He’s already this old; it’s high time he started a family and built a future!”

“Auntie!” Shen Tuo sauntered in leisurely from behind, having missed Shen Jin’s earlier remarks. He only caught sight of Shen Juanfeng’s sudden change in demeanor as she took Shen Jin’s side.

This aunt had always doted on him the most. With Shen Xingteng passing away early, he had been the only male heir in the Shen family now, only Shen Tuo remained.

Back then, Shen Juanfeng had worked three jobs just to support Shen Xingteng’s rise, never expecting that her younger brother would meet his end in a plane crash just a few years after achieving success.

Her suffering ran deep, and she kept a close watch on the Shen family, terrified they might mistreat Shen Tuo. Yet she dared not take him away, knowing her own family’s circumstances couldn’t compare to the Shens’.

Shen Jin looked at Shen Tuo and said, “Will you go back on your own, or should I have someone escort you back?”

Shen Tuo turned to Shen Juanfeng, “Look at her, Auntie! I don’t like Luo Hong! I won’t marry her!”

“You foolish child, what nonsense are you spouting?” Shen Juanfeng admonished earnestly. “You and Luo Hong are well-matched in social status. Marrying her would be good for you. Besides, hasn’t she treated you well? You should be secretly celebrating this bargain! Yet here you are throwing a childish tantrum!”

“What about Xie Jing? I promised to marry her!” Shen Tuo deliberately said, his eyes darting around.

No sooner had Xie Jing’s name been mentioned than she was disturbed by the commotion downstairs and came down.

She hadn’t slept well the previous night and had napped all afternoon, unaware that it was already dark. Descending the stairs, she was still groggy as she looked at the three of them.

Shen Juanfeng, who had been about to continue scolding Shen Tuo, flared up at the sight of Xie Jing.

“So it’s her? You want to marry her?”

Before Xie Jing could grasp the situation, Shen Juanfeng slapped her: “I’ll beat you to death, you vixen! Young and idle, coming to live in someone else’s house! Have you no shame?”

Shen Tuo had only meant to divert trouble elsewhere but hadn’t expected Shen Juanfeng to be so fierce as to lay hands on Xie Jing!

Xie Jing seemed stunned, standing frozen in place.

Shen Juanfeng had endured hardships in her youth, tilling dozens of acres of land single-handedly. Her strength surpassed even men’s. Though she had lived comfortably in recent years, her hands remained stronger than most. Shen Tuo gasped and reached out to stop Shen Juanfeng but failed. Just as the slap was about to land on Xie Jing’s face, Shen Jin rushed forward and pulled Xie Jing behind her. The slap struck Shen Jin’s jaw instead, jerking her head to the side, while fingernails raked three long red marks down her neck.

The slap left Shen Juanfeng stunned too. She stared at her hand, stammering in fright, “No, I didn’t mean to hit you! You were the one who stepped forward!”

“Auntie, why did you hit someone?”

Though Shen Tuo had brought this upon them, he now turned resentful.

Shen Jin felt a burning pain on her neck. Frowning, she felt her hand being grasped. Xie Jing looked terrified, her fingers lifting as if to touch Shen Jin but afraid of hurting her further, her eyes brimming with fear.

“I’m fine,” Shen Jin said, attempting to smile at Xie Jing, but the movement tugged at her jaw wound, making her hiss in pain.

Xie Jing nervously clutched Shen Jin’s hand to her chest in prayer.

Shen Jin’s eyes softened briefly before turning cold again as she looked ahead.

Shen Juanfeng continued spewing venomous words. Shen Tuo anxiously urged her, “Stop talking!” He glanced at Shen Jin and paled, nearly jumping to cover Shen Juanfeng’s mouth.

Shen Jin’s expression was icy. “As an elder, I shouldn’t speak to you this way, but no elder has the right to come into another’s home and drive away guests. Since you’ve shown no courtesy, don’t blame me for my response.”

“Li Er.” The bodyguard assigned to watch Shen Tuo had been waiting nearby, but as this was a family matter, he hadn’t intervened without orders.

“Escort Aunt Shen out.”

Shen Juanfeng gaped at Shen Jin, who said coldly, “Even when my father was alive, your family never lacked support. But your son is grown now. There’s no reason for the Shen family to provide for your household any longer. From today onward, apart from the dividends from the companies Father left you, you’ll have no claim to any Shen family assets.”

“What do you mean?!” Shen Juanfeng screamed hysterically. “Even your father wouldn’t dare treat me like this! How dare you, an outsider, do this, aren’t you afraid of divine retribution? Everything in the Shen family will belong to Shen Tuo sooner or later! Just wait until you’re kicked out, you outsider!”

Li Er twisted Shen Juanfeng’s arm and shoved her out with one forceful push.

Though Shen Juanfeng was strong, she was no match for the bodyguard. Even as she was forcibly escorted out, she continued to shriek wildly. Shen Tuo stood awkwardly to the side. Naturally, he disliked Shen Juanfeng’s vulgarity too otherwise, he wouldn’t have avoided visiting her all this time since his return. He had merely taken advantage of her favor to target Shen Jin. But he hadn’t expected that, despite her poor combat skills, Shen Juanfeng could still leave Shen Jin injured. Seeing the scratches on Shen Jin’s face, he didn’t wait for further orders and slunk back into his room, shutting the door behind him.

Shen Jin turned to the housekeeper standing nearby and said, “From now on, no one is allowed into the Shen residence without my permission!”

“Yes, boss!”

Xie Jing quietly tugged at Shen Jin’s hand, and Shen Jin clasped it in return, leading her upstairs.

Those who witnessed it didn’t dare react, keeping their eyes downcast as if they hadn’t seen a thing. In this household, Shen Tuo was probably the only one still in the dark, oblivious to the intimacy between Shen Jin and Xie Jing.

As they ascended the stairs, Xie Jing stared at Shen Jin’s back with a complicated expression, her amber eyes unmoving. When Shen Jin opened the door and turned to see her like this, she teased, “Why are you looking at me like that? Captivated by my heroic display? Should you pledge yourself to me now?”

She joked, but Xie Jing’s lips tightened as she gazed at the scratches on Shen Jin’s jaw, her eyes darkening.

Noticing Xie Jing’s stare, Shen Jin wiped her jaw with the back of her hand. It still stung, but she feigned indifference. “It’s fine. It’ll heal by tomorrow.”

Xie Jing grabbed her hand, her voice low. “You didn’t have to shield me. She was coming for me.”

Her tone was stiff, but Shen Jin caught the unconscious concern in her words. Her heart stirred, and she leaned in to peer at Xie Jing’s downcast eyes.

“You’re worried about me.”

Xie Jing gripped her hand without responding.

Such a stubborn child.

Shen Jin squeezed her hand back and asked, “Then, will you tend to my wounds?”

Xie Jing nodded.

Shen Jin pulled her back into her room, which had been completely refreshed new bedsheets and covers. She guided Xie Jing to sit on the bed, then fetched the first-aid kit and handed it to her. “Do you know how to use this?”

Xie Jing nodded again.

She opened the kit, found the iodine and cotton swabs, and began disinfecting the scratches on Shen Jin’s face. Shen Jin sat on the bed, watching her. Xie Jing stood up, dipped a cotton swab in iodine, then bent down to bring it close to Shen Jin’s cheek. Seated, Shen Jin was half a body shorter, tilting her head up to meet Xie Jing’s gaze, her dark eyes calm.

Xie Jing avoided looking into her eyes and gently dabbed the cotton swab over the scratches. Shen Jin instinctively furrowed her brows, enduring the sting with a faint smile.

Xie Jing straightened to inspect her work, then bent again to fetch bandages. Her hands were full, so she stuffed a few into Shen Jin’s palm, tore open the wrappers, and tilted Shen Jin’s head to apply them.

Shen Jin slowly handed back the remaining bandages. White wrappers littered the bed as she tilted her chin up. “Done?”

Xie Jing’s fingers brushed her ear. “Mm.”

Shen Jin’s lips curved, and she wrapped her arms around Xie Jing’s waist. With a long exhale, she rested her chin against Xie Jing’s stomach. Xie Jing looked down at the crown of Shen Jin’s head, soft and tousled.

Shen Jin’s voice was weak: “I’m so tired from working all day, I really want to rest.”

“Then sleep,” Xie Jing said.

Shen Jin nuzzled against her: “Stay with me.”

Xie Jing had slept all afternoon and was no longer tired, but after the earlier scare, she didn’t want to leave either. Pulled down by Shen Jin, she was wrapped in the blankets. Shen Jin chuckled softly: “So obedient.”

Xie Jing let out a small noise as her limbs became entangled with Shen Jin’s.

Shen Jin closed her eyes and asked: “Did you get your phone back?”

“Mhm.” Xie Jing couldn’t see anything in the darkness, only feeling Shen Jin’s breath against her ear.

“There won’t be a second time.”

After a moment of silence, Shen Jin suddenly spoke.

Xie Jing’s heart skipped a beat before calming again. She buried her face in Shen Jin’s arm: “What she said wasn’t wrong.”

Shen Jin suddenly added: “I visited Old Guan today. He remembered you’re from the Xie family and told me to take good care of you.”

Xie Jing’s fingers curled against Shen Jin’s chest. She shifted uneasily before being pulled closer. Shen Jin’s lips brushed against Xie Jing’s ear as warm breath caressed her skin: “I saw photos of your mother with mine in her room. They looked very close.”

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