Chapter 43: The Name Question

“Chen?”

The guests below began to murmur.

“That must be the young lady’s name from before, right?”

“I think so. Though Shen Feng, the head of the family, has nerve, announcing her old name at a time like this. Doesn’t he worry the media will spin it?”

This banquet was grand, with five great families gathered, so news outlets were bound to be present.

Every word Shen Feng spoke could hit the headlines.

“Maybe it’s to respect his daughter. Looks like the Shen family truly cares for this lost young lady.”

“Then my marriage proposal was worth it! I hope she takes a liking to me. I’ll treat her well!”

There is an unspoken rule in a family reunion: once recognized, you become part of the clan.

And in the great families of the capital, name and blood are held in especially high regard.

So everyone assumed Cheng Yiyi had already changed her name.

By rights, she should now bear the surname Shen.

For that matter, the marriage proposals submitted by other families in recent days were just words on paper. Strictly speaking, they were applications for marriage.

Each came with an unfiltered photo of the corresponding man, along with his temperament and preferences. If Cheng Yiyi fancied one, she could arrange a meeting and settle the union.

But Cheng Yiyi never even glanced at them.

Since Shen Feng was still speaking, no one dared interrupt until he finished his lines.

Cheng Yiyi took the microphone again, gave a hasty introduction, exchanged a few pleasantries, and intended to leave.

But before she could turn away, a voice rose from below the stage.

“Uncle Shen, did you say something wrong?”

From the direction of the Xiao family, Xiao Wangyun’s tone was neither loud nor soft, yet it landed squarely in everyone’s ears.

“What did you say her name is?”

“Cheng Yiyi?”

“With the surname Cheng?”

“Since your daughter intends to recognize the clan and return, how can she carry an outsider’s surname?”

“Or do you think this woman doesn’t deserve the status of a Shen family daughter?”

Xiao Wangyun’s tone was not arrogant or aggressive. It was full of sincerity.

Judging by his expression, he really seemed to have the Shen family’s reputation in mind.

But anyone with sense knew Xiao Wangyun was here to stir up trouble.

Shen Feng’s expression remained calm, as if he hadn’t heard a thing. He shifted his gaze to the Xiao family head seated beside Xiao Wangyun, Xiao Chongyuan.

But that old fox only curled the corner of his mouth, a flicker of amusement gleaming in his eyes.

Recently, the Shen and Xiao families had clashed over business, so Xiao Chongyuan was more than happy to see the Shen family lose face.

That Xiao Wangyun was not restrained as he spoke only showed he already had his father’s silent approval.

And his look at Cheng Yiyi carried a trace of heat.

To be honest, he was no stranger to beautiful women.

Xiao Wangyun had even been with a few internet celebrities.

Given his noble standing and family wealth, he had taken his fill of even high-end cosplayers, more than he could count.

But a girl whose beauty dazzled the masses like Cheng Yiyi, Xiao Wangyun had truly never met one.

He had even planned it all out!

He would sow discord between the Shen family and Cheng Yiyi, and then he could appear at her side like a white knight.

And then…

“A mere surname. Does it change the fact that she is my daughter?” Shen Feng had not anticipated this turn, yet he kept his composure.

“My Shen family has another daughter.”

“Shen Anyue.”

“Everyone knows she is not my own flesh and blood. But when have I ever forced her to change her surname to another?”

“My family’s estate may not be the largest, but raising two girls is no problem at all.”

“Uncle Shen is generous of spirit. I truly admire you.” Xiao Wangyun cupped his hands in salute, then turned his gaze to Cheng Yiyi and asked, “I wonder what Miss Cheng thinks?”

“Changing a name is a trivial matter. Since you have acknowledged your roots, you should not refuse it, given both sense and propriety.”

“Or does Miss Cheng look down on the Shen family?”

At that moment, Xiao Wangyun suddenly understood. A girl like Cheng Yiyi would never be within his reach.

Because Shen Feng knew his character. Even if Cheng Yiyi went blind and took a liking to him, marriage would never happen.

Since he could not have her, he would destroy her!

Cheng Yiyi did not actually oppose changing her surname.

But she could not say that.

With all the media watching, one wrong word would be exaggerated beyond measure.

In this country, aside from a very few official news outlets, every other media outlet was a mad dog chasing traffic.

And the Chinese language runs deep. Even if her words carried ambiguity, it fell far short of the standard for a rumor.

So whatever she said next could easily be twisted by unscrupulous journalists.

By then, Cheng Yiyi’s reputation would fall, and the Shen family’s standing would suffer with it.

After all, this banquet had already honored Cheng Yiyi to the fullest. Anyone with eyes could see the Shen family treated her no less than Shen Anyue.

“Old Xiao, your son seems quite concerned about my pearl.”

Shen Feng had seen through Xiao Wangyun’s intent, so he probed the father beside him, his words laced with warning.

“Heh, just curiosity among the young.” Xiao Chongyuan did not stop it. Instead, he looked on as if enjoying the show.

The Xiao family had been crushed by the Shen family in business over this period, so he would not let this chance slip.

If he could stir up some negative news around the Shen family’s precious daughter and work at it a little, the Xiao family just might turn the tables.

“Have your daughter simply answer my son’s question.”

“Matters among the young are best resolved among themselves. We old folks need not get involved.”

“Though my son was in the wrong to speak first, I will discipline him thoroughly when we return.”

Xiao Chongyuan had made his stance clear, and Cheng Yiyi was nearly cornered. There was no way to dodge this question now.

She had rehearsed her lines, but there was nothing for a situation like this.

She had seen people ruined by the news before.

Like the boss Xiao Huijun framed. A man who had done nothing, and his assets shrank by nearly a hundred million in just a couple of days!

“I’m done for. No matter what I say, I’ll cause trouble, won’t I?” Cheng Yiyi’s heart was uneasy, but she forced her expression to stay calm.

She had not yet adapted to such a grand stage. At a loss, she shifted her gaze to her mother.

Xie Chengyu still wore that half-lidded smile. She took her daughter’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

In a voice only the two of them could hear, she said, “Whatever you answer, the Shen family can readily bear the consequences.”

“But do not bring up your birth parents, or their lives will not be peaceful.”

Cheng Yiyi’s heart trembled. She never imagined her own mother would treat her this well.

At such a moment, she was worried not about the Shen family’s fortune, but about Yiyi’s parents.

Wuwu… how did I get such a good lot in life?

📚 Also on NHV Novels

Who Exactly Climbed into My Bed in the Girls’ Dormitory?

Female ProtagonistRomancetransformation

Read Now →
Not interested