Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Qiao Lian was surprised to hear this.

Shen Liangchuan had just left Song Yuanxi’s filming location, so what other matters were there?

She hesitated and eventually said ‘oh’ with some reservation.

Xia Yehua pointed to the sumptuous dishes on the dining table and remarked, “Tough luck on him, he’s missing out on this. I’ve cooked a lot today! Eat as much as you can, Xiao Qiao.”

As she said this, she picked up some food with her chopsticks and placed it on Qiao Lian’s bowl.

“Thank you, Mom,” Qiao Lian said as she looked up.

Xia Yehua smiled. “No need for formalities with me. I’m happy when I see my children enjoying good food.”

Qiao Lian recalled Auntie Li mentioning that without Song Yuanxi around, Xia Yehua had been eating much less than before.

Hence Qiao Lian ate heartily, in an attempt to keep her mother-in-law happy.

As she picked up more food with her chopsticks, she even made sure to motivate Xia Yehua, “Mom, the food is delicious. You have to take more!”

“Ah!”

Indeed, appetite can be contagious.

When Xia Yehua saw Qiao Lian enjoying the food, her mood lightened up.

After finishing a small bowl of rice, she told Auntie Li, “I’ll have another half a bowl.”

Auntie Li smiled broadly as she took the empty bowl from her. She teasingly said, “Madam, didn’t you say that you should only eat up to 60% of your capability in the evening to avoid indigestion?”

Xia Yehua suddenly looked worried.

Qiao Lian immediately said, “Don’t worry, Mom, keep eating. After this we’ll go for a stroll to digest our food and it will be fine! In any case, Shen Liangchuan is not home and I’m bored.”

Xia Yehua gave Auntie Li a look. “You hear that? Now get me more rice!”

This made Auntie Li laugh aloud.

After dinner, Auntie Li surveyed what was left on the dining table and shook her head. She said to Qiao Lian, “Eating with Madam has increased her appetite! When she used to eat with Ms. Yuanxi, they would each only have a bowl of rice at most. I had to fill the bowl with as much rice as I could squeeze in it.”

Xia Yehua laughed as she said, “Yuanxi eats like a mouse. That’s why she’s so thin.

Qiao Lian pretended to throw a little tantrum. “Hey, are both of you implying that I eat too much? Mom, don’t worry, I’ll eat three bowls of rice at the most. I won’t make the family go bankrupt with my eating.”

“Hahaha!” Xia Yehua was amused and laughed.

The atmosphere in the apartment became joyful.

Since they had touched the topic of Song Yuanxi, Xia Yehua was naturally reminded and asked, “How is Yuanxi doing at the filming location?”

Qiao Lian smiled and lied without batting an eye, “She’s doing fine. When I saw her she was happy and told me that she got along very well with her colleagues. Our Yuanxi is so lovable that the director couldn’t bear criticizing her for her mediocre acting skills.”

Although all the signs were pointing at Song Yuanxi, without any proof right now, Qiao Lian didn’t want to make frivolous statements.

Besides, even if the culprit had really been Song Yuanxi, the person who would have to inform Xia Yehua had to be Shen Liangchuan and not her.

Xia Yehua immediately nodded with satisfaction. “That’s good then.”

She sighed and continued, “Yuanxi has always been timid, I’m afraid that she may not speak up even if things are not going too well at the filming location.”

Auntie Li nodded. “That’s right. I remember how frail-looking she was when she first came to us, she was barely 14 years old. Our hearts ached just looking at her.”

Qiao asked curiously, “Auntie Li, you were here eight years ago?”

She recalled Xia Yehua mentioning that she had divorced Shen Xiu eight years ago. At that time, she had left the Shen Family with nothing but Shen Liangchuan in tow. If that had been the case, they shouldn’t have been able to afford a housekeeper.

Before Auntie Li could speak, Xia Yehua jumped in to explain, “Auntie Li belonged to the Xia Family. When I married Shen Xiu, she came with me so when I left, I took her along too.”