After the divorce, my ex-husband's cousin tricked me into getting a marriage certificate.

Shen Qingzhu was taken aback for a moment, then sneered, "Big sister and brother-in-law are really generous. It seems that your Fengchi Group has been doing well these past two years. You must have made a lot of money, right?"

Shen Qinglan smiled faintly, "It's alright, but we only make a little money. Unlike your family, my sister, your Zhuohai Group makes a lot of money. By the way, where are the gifts you brought?"

"Let us see it too, so we can broaden our horizons."

Shen Qingzhu's face immediately turned red.

Xiang Wanli pointed to the pile of health supplements and Lin Mengchuan's painting and said with a smile, "Look, these are the health supplements and a landscape painting that Qingzhu and Mengchuan gave us."

Shen Qingzhu couldn't save face. "Mom, it's the thought that counts. Our family motto is thrift, and we hate wasting money."

Shen Qinglan raised her delicate eyebrows and looked at the bag Shen Qingzhu was carrying, saying, "Hey, Qingzhu, is that bag you're carrying this year's limited edition? I remember it cost several hundred thousand."

Shen Qingzhu's face flushed red and then paled. She instinctively hid her bag behind her back. "It's not that expensive. Big sister is joking."

Zhao Mengmeng had already noticed that Shen Qingzhu's handbag was a limited edition. After hearing Shen Qingzhu's words, she smiled and said:

"I have a deep impression of this bag. It is indeed worth hundreds of thousands of yuan. Only two were ordered in our Beijing city. I didn't expect to be able to see one of them here."

Shen Qingzhu glared at Zhao Mengmeng and deliberately changed the subject, "Dad, Mom, isn't this a family dinner? How come there are two outsiders who have snuck in, and they're even impolite?"

As she spoke, she looked at Qiao Ran, "Qiao Ran, we meet again. Don't you even know how to greet people now? What are you doing here with your clueless friend? Are you here to freeload?"

Qi Mu'an was displeased. "Auntie, Mengmeng is my girlfriend. Please speak with some respect."

Qi Muci looked at Lin Mengchuan, a smile playing on his lips, and said, "Auntie, didn't Mengchuan tell you? Ranran is my girlfriend. My grandparents invited her over."

Shen Qingzhu stared at Qi Muci in astonishment: "What did you say? She's your girlfriend? Qi Muci, are you out of your mind? Don't you know she's Meng Chuan's ex-wife?"

Shen Qinglan got angry. "Shen Qingzhu, how can you talk like that? Are you out of your mind? Your son is already divorced from Ranran. What's wrong with my son dating Ranran?"

Shen Qingzhu looked disgusted. "Sister, how can you say that? A divorced woman, aren't you ashamed?"

Qiao Ran's lips twitched slightly as she stared straight at Shen Qingzhu.

Qi Muci: "Being divorced is shameful? Auntie, isn't it even more shameful for your son to have an extramarital affair?"

Shen Qinglan sneered, "That's right, having an extramarital affair and having an illegitimate child, you are not only shameful, but also morally corrupt."

Shen Qingzhu's face turned pale. She stared at Shen Qinglan for a few seconds, then raised her chin and said, "It seems we came at the wrong time today. Meng Chuan, let's go. I have no appetite for this meal."

Lin Mengchuan remained motionless and replied to Shen Qingzhu, "Mom, today is Grandpa's birthday. We're here to celebrate Grandpa's birthday, so let's not spoil his fun, okay?"

Shen Qingzhu had no choice but to compromise, considering that her son hadn't yet secured start-up capital.

Unexpectedly, Xiang Wanli spoke up at this moment, "Meng Chuan, you don't need to be in a difficult position. Your good intentions have been conveyed, and we all know about them. Since your mother wants to go back, you can go back."

"We didn't know you were coming, and we didn't prepare any food for you. Next time you're coming, please let us know in advance, so as not to be as abrupt as this time."

Seeing her mother siding with her eldest sister's family, Shen Qingzhu was extremely annoyed.

She turned to look at Lin Mengchuan, "Did you hear that? They didn't prepare any food for the two of us. Are you still going to stay? Then you can stay here by yourself. I'm going home."

After saying that, she turned and left.

Lin Mengchuan was silent for a few seconds, then walked towards Qiao Ran. "Qiao Ran, may I have a word with you?"

“No,” Qiao Ran replied without hesitation. “I don’t think I have anything to say to you, Young Master Lin.”

Lin Mengchuan glanced at Qi Muci, as if he had made a great decision, and said to Qiao Ran, "Don't misunderstand, I just want to apologize to you. I shouldn't have said those things in Licheng, which hurt your self-esteem."

"That wasn't my intention. I was a little dizzy at the time, and I don't know how it happened..."

"Young Master Lin," Qiao Ran interrupted Lin Mengchuan, "you're overthinking it. Whether you're praising me or scolding me, it won't affect my mood, so you don't need to apologize."

Lin Mengchuan looked at Qiao Ran's expression; it was cold and indifferent, as if she really didn't care what he said.

Her reaction pierced his heart.

He spent 50,000 yuan to buy a painting for her and came all the way here to celebrate the old man's birthday, hoping that the old man would sponsor him to start a brokerage company.

"You'll know how much I've sacrificed for you later," Lin Mengchuan said to Qiao Ran in his heart.

But he couldn't say it until the agency was established.

After Lin Mengchuan left the Shen family, Zhao Mengmeng chased after Qiao Ran and asked, "What did he say about you when you were in Licheng?"

Qiao Ran laughed self-deprecatingly, "He said I was his discarded trash, second-hand goods."

Zhao Mengmeng was shocked and couldn't help but swear, "If I see him again, I'll definitely beat his stinking mouth to a pulp."

Qiao Ran smiled nonchalantly, "It doesn't matter. He can say whatever he wants. If I take it seriously, I'll just be making things difficult for myself. Why should I make things difficult for myself?"

The birthday party was a bit of a disappointment for everyone because Shen Qingzhu and her son showed up uninvited.

After finishing the meal, everyone sat for a while before dispersing.

After seeing the guests off, Xiang Wanli returned to the bedroom and said to her husband, Shen Yutang, "I think Qingzhu and her son came here today for another purpose. I don't believe they really came to celebrate your birthday."

Shen Yutang shared the same thought as his wife. He was about to speak when his phone rang, interrupting him.

He picked up his phone and saw it was Lin Mengchuan calling. He raised an eyebrow and replied to Wanli, "You'll know the answer soon enough."

Shen Yutang swiped to answer the call and tapped the speakerphone, "Hello."

Lin Mengchuan: "Grandpa, I'm so sorry to have disturbed your rest. I'm sorry to have spoiled your day."

Shen Yutang: "It's good that you know. Is there anything else? Your grandma and I are going to rest now. If there's nothing else, we'll hang up."

Lin Mengchuan interrupted, "Grandpa, let me be frank, I want to start my own business, but my dad doesn't support me..."

Shen Yutang: "You want me to support your business startup?"

Lin Mengchuan: "Grandpa, I really have no other choice but to ask you for help. You see, I have never asked you for help before. This is the first time, and I promise it will be the last."

Shen Yutang sighed softly, "Meng Chuan, it's not that your grandfather doesn't want to help you, but this is not something your grandfather should get involved in. You should discuss this with your father."

Lin Mengchuan: "Grandpa, if my dad had supported me, I wouldn't have come to you for help."

Shen Yutang's attitude was firm: "No need to say anything more. Your grandfather can't help you with this. If you need pocket money, your grandfather can give it to you, but if you want start-up capital, you should ask your father."

"Since your surname is Lin, not Shen, that's it. I need to rest. I'm hanging up."