Chapter 166

Chapter 166

Yu Shu and Shen Youlin went to the Main Manor to dine with the elderly lady for dinner. The elderly lady had been disheartened by her unaccomplished descendants lately, and her appetite had diminished significantly each day.CHeCk for new stories on no/v/el/bin(.)c0m

Yu Shu and Shen Youlin entertained her on the side, coaxing the elderly lady to eat an extra bowl of rice.

After dinner, Yu Shu and Shen Youlin accompanied the elderly lady on a stroll to aid digestion.

Watching Yu Shu's smiling face, a certain thought gradually surfaced in the elderly lady's mind.

"Xiao Shu, what do you think about Yu Xiao's situation?"

Yu Shu's expression turned uneasy. "How could I have a say in my elder brother's affairs? You and father are here to handle it, so it's not my place to interject."

At the dinner table, Yu Shu and Shen Youlin had deliberately avoided any topics related to Shen Yuxiao, but the elderly lady brought it up voluntarily.

Shen Youlin chimed in, "Exactly, if you want to hear the truth, that would make my wife the villain. If you want to hear lies, she won't say them either!"

"Of course, I want to hear the truth," the elderly lady said, grasping Yu Shu's hand and affectionately patting the back of it. "Speak your mind freely. If you had the authority, what would you do?"

Yu Shu glanced at Shen Youlin, who nodded encouragingly.

Yu Shu mustered her courage and replied, "If it were up to me, I would let him go. His heart is no longer in it, so what's the point of keeping him here physically? In fact, isn't that what you're thinking too?"

The elderly lady let out a long sigh. "As one gets older, the heart grows softer."

For most of her long life, her heart had been cold and hard, but as she approached her twilight years, her heart had softened.

As soon as Shen Chaowen returned to the Old Mansion, he was summoned to the elderly lady's room by Wei Bo before even reaching his quarters.

The elderly lady lay in a rocking chair, her expression calm. "You're back. Have a seat."

As the rocking chair swayed back and forth, the elderly lady's white hair seemed to have grown more, causing Shen Chaowen immense distress.

"It's my fault for not raising Yu Xiao properly, causing you to worry."

Not just Shen Yuxiao, but he and Yu Fanxing had failed to raise and protect all three of their children.

The elderly lady closed her eyes. "Let him go. Since we can't keep him, let him go."

Shen Chaowen cautiously broached the subject, "How should we handle his assets and shares?"

After being back for so long, she hadn't removed her makeup or changed clothes, and it was unclear how long she had been crying alone in front of the mirror. Her makeup was smeared, an unsightly mess. Upon seeing Shen Chaowen, she pursed her lips and sniffled.

"We're being punished."

They had three children, but none of them lived fulfilling lives.

They had evaded their responsibilities as parents, and the consequences had befallen their children.

Yu Fanxing considered herself a failed mother, or perhaps she had never truly embraced or accepted that role from the beginning.

Shen Chaowen set down the tray and embraced her. "Let's raise An'an and Ruirui. Let's properly guide them... make amends, even if just a little..."

Could they really make amends? Shen Chaowen didn't know himself.

Yu Fanxing leaned into his embrace and nodded.

After learning of his impending expulsion from the family, Shen Yuxiao was overjoyed. He surrendered all his assets and quickly left the Capital with Chen Yun, eager to return before the New Year – the word "return" came from Shen Yuxiao's own mouth.

Before leaving, Shen Yuxiao didn't even visit the Old Mansion to see his children.

Shen Chaowen personally informed the two children of their father's departure. They lowered their heads, remaining silent for a while. Then, Ruirui continued fiddling with the Lego in his hands, softly uttering an "Oh."

An'an, being younger, couldn't conceal her emotions, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Shen Chaowen pulled her onto his lap. "Grandpa is here from now on."

An'an could no longer hold back and burst into tears, burying her face in her grandfather's embrace.

Moved by his sister's sobs, Ruirui tightly pursed his lips as tears streamed down his face.

Shen Chaowen beckoned him over, pulling him into his embrace as well.

"Grandpa is here, grandpa is here."

That day, Shen Chaowen settled the two children in his and Yu Fanxing's villa. That night, after coaxing the two children to sleep, they quietly left the children's room.

Recalling how teardrops still clung to An'an's eyelashes as she slept, Yu Fanxing couldn't help but lament, "I hope that after disregarding everything, he doesn't regret it and finds what he truly wanted."

Shen Chaowen reassuringly patted her shoulder. "Don't dwell on it anymore."