No one is allowed to bully my granddaughter-in-law!

Xu Anran had never expected that Old Madam Ji would dote on Wen Shuang to such an extent.

After scolding Madam Qin in no uncertain terms, she turned her attack on Madam Ji as well. “Shuangshuang is a guest I personally invited. Who gave you permission to call her a performer over and over and humiliate her? She is a proper dance artist, a real one! When she dances, she is like a fairy. She has practiced since childhood, enduring hardship and discipline beyond what you can imagine, and only then did she earn the skill she has today. Yet the lot of you, with your poisonous tongues, dare to sneer at her in public. You are all mothers, and still you have no shame?”

Old Madam Ji’s words were sharp and cutting, and many of the ladies lowered their heads in embarrassment.

Madam Ji lost the arrogance she had shown moments before.

When facing the old lady, she was clearly at a disadvantage.

“Mom, please don’t be angry. It’s your birthday banquet today; getting upset is inappropriate.”

“I don’t want to be angry either, but when some people are blind and bully Shuangshuang, of course I have to stand up for her!”

Holding Wen Shuang’s hand, Old Madam Ji said solemnly, “Who says a dancer is lowly? She is a future artist, a future master of dance. What do any of you know? And I will say this right here and now: Shuangshuang is the granddaughter-in-law I value most. I like her!”

The entire room was stunned again.

Old Madam Ji held the right to speak within the Ji family.

If she said she liked Wen Shuang and wanted her as her granddaughter-in-law, then even Madam Ji’s objections would be useless.

Good heavens, Wen Shuang was unbelievably fortunate to be so highly regarded by the matriarch of the Ji family.

Xu Anran and He Suosuo were so furious they nearly exploded.

Qin You had been standing off to the side all this time, and he had not expected Wen Shuang to receive such approval today either.

Even Wen Shuang herself was stunned. “Grandma, I...”

“Shuangshuang, the moment I first saw you, I took a liking to you from the bottom of my heart. You needn’t care what these people say. Just be yourself!” The old lady had seen countless people in her life and, at her age, was extraordinarily clear-sighted.

With Old Lady Ji backing her up like this, Wen Shuang’s eyes were practically turning red with emotion.

“You brat, you can’t even protect Shuangshuang! I had to make the move myself.” Old Madam Ji pinched Ji Shen’s arm. “And you call yourself a police officer? Useless!”

Ji Shen felt wronged and explained that he had gone to his father’s study earlier.

“Why are you arguing with him? Since you brought Shuangshuang here today, you should take care of her properly from start to finish.”

After making her appearance, Old Madam Ji pulled Wen Shuang around to introduce her to everyone. With her present, no one in the room dared look down on Wen Shuang anymore.

Even at the banquet table, Old Madam Ji insisted that Wen Shuang sit beside her, treating her clearly like a beloved granddaughter.

Madam Ji muttered that this might be against proper manners.

Only to be rebuffed by the old lady. “What’s improper about it? Today is my birthday banquet. I’ll do as I please. At my age, am I still not allowed a little freedom?”

Ji’s father quickly smoothed things over. “Of course you can, of course you can.”

Madam Ji was choked into silence again and again.

Her expression grew darker and darker.

Ji Shen sat beside Wen Shuang and kept serving her all kinds of delicious dishes.

Though Wen Shuang was flattered and somewhat overwhelmed, she still carried herself with grace and composure. There were many at the table who wanted to laugh at her, but after watching for a long time, none could find even a single flaw.

Then, suddenly, the banquet doors opened once more.

A dignified and elegant woman walked in briskly. She wore a close-fitting evening gown with a simple cut and understated jewelry, yet everything about her was refined and high-end. She was a woman of striking poise.

“Old Madam Ji, my apologies! My flight was delayed, and I arrived late by mistake.”

Her arrival caused a stir throughout the banquet.

“My goodness, even Ning Su, the world-renowned fashion designer, is here.”

“You usually only see her on foreign television!”

“She’s beautiful in person too. So elegant.”

...

Old Madam Ji waved her hand repeatedly. “Su Su, I’m just happy you came. Flying all the way here from abroad must have been tiring.”

The Ning and Ji families were old friends.

Their relationship had remained good for decades.

Even though the Ning family now lived overseas, the proper courtesies and exchanges had never once been neglected.

“I brought some jewelry and clothing. I hope you like them, Madam,” Ning Su said. With her chestnut-colored waves, she was exceedingly poised and graceful.

As Wen Shuang watched her approach, she stared blankly.

For some reason, the moment she saw this lady, she felt a deep sense of closeness.

From the bottom of her heart, she wanted to draw near to her.

Ning Su was not one to talk much. After warmly greeting the old lady, she sat down.

Many people at the table toasted her, but she only smiled faintly and said she could not drink much.

Then Ning Su’s gaze fell on Wen Shuang, and she, too, was startled.

For some reason, Wen Shuang looked strangely familiar.

“Miss, hello.” Ning Su took the initiative to speak to Wen Shuang. Wen Shuang hurried to her feet, and Ning Su smiled. “You don’t need to be so nervous. This dress you’re wearing suits you very well.”

Wen Shuang remembered the stylist telling her that morning that the dress she was wearing had been designed by the internationally renowned Ning Su.

She smiled brightly. “It’s mainly because Madam Ning has such wonderful taste in design! I really love this dress too. Being able to wear it is my honor!”

“This dress is yours now,” Ning Su said.

Everyone nearby gasped in surprise.

One had to know that a piece designed by Ning Su was worth at least tens of millions, and this rose-red gown was a limited-edition couture piece. She had merely looked at Wen Shuang once and then given it away outright.

“How could that be? This dress is priceless.” Wen Shuang shook her head. “Madam Ning, just being able to wear it has already made me more than satisfied.”

“This dress suits you very well.” Ning Su smiled warmly. “I make clothes not only to earn money, but also to see them worn by the right person. Miss, you and I are bound by fate, so do not refuse me.”

Ji Shen also squeezed her hand, signaling that she could accept it.

Only then did Wen Shuang, somewhat embarrassed, agree and thank Ning Su profusely.

Old Madam Ji said, “Su Su, it seems we truly share the same eye for people. Shuangshuang is also a child I rather like, and I am hoping for her to become my granddaughter-in-law!”

After hearing this, Ning Su’s expression froze for a fleeting moment.

Very quickly, she smiled. “This child is indeed quite good. I like her too.”

Madam Ji glanced at Wen Shuang. “Madam Ning, I hear Jiang Ning is doing very well in Hollywood abroad. She’s already become a top-tier actress.”

Ji Shen’s hand paused on his chopsticks.

Wen Shuang noticed it sharply.

“She’s always been the same, running around everywhere.” Ning Su smiled lightly. “All year long, I can hardly even see her a few times. She’s too busy.”

“Young people are supposed to be building their careers,” Madam Ji said. “Our A Shen is like that now too, busy to the bone at the Public Security Bureau. When Ning Ning has time, let our two families get together. It has been years since we last met. I still remember that A Shen and Ning Ning were the closest playmates when they were little!”

Ji Shen could endure no longer. “Mom!”

Madam Ji said, “A Shen, I only mentioned Ning Ning casually. What, and now you can’t sit still?”

Wen Shuang fell silent.

Her instincts told her that this woman named Jiang Ning had an inextricable connection to Ji Shen.