Shen Wanci's reaction made Xie Chuyi realize that Bo Jingzhou's illness was something she didn't know about. It seemed the two weren't as invincible as they appeared. She feigned a flustered explanation: "Wang, my assistant, has been bringing me meals these past few days. I've already been discharged from the hospital, and I'm afraid he would have wasted his time running back and forth."

This flawed explanation is worse than no explanation at all.

Shen Wanci's smile was a little strained: "Well, I'll tell him."

The venue for the banquet was at the Bo family's residence. Jiang Yajue personally oversaw the arrangements. Shen Wanci initially thought only close acquaintances would be invited, but when the banquet officially commenced, she realized that nearly everyone in her circle had arrived.

The scene was incredibly grand, it would be no surprise if it were a wedding banquet.

Shen Wanci held Jiang Yazhu's hand, lowering her voice and saying, "Mom, this is too grand, isn't it?"

"That's a world-class competition! You got first place, which is like being the top scorer in the national college entrance exam," Jiang Yazhu was more excited than her daughter-in-law. "This is huge! If it weren't for your father, that old-fashioned guy, stopping me, I would have thrown a big banquet and invited the media to do an interview with you. We'd put it on all the video platforms so everyone knows how amazing my daughter-in-law is."

"First, have a look at today's banquet. If you're not satisfied, we can treat it as a practice run and hold another one tomorrow, with this standard doubled or even tripled."

Shen Wanci hurriedly stopped her, afraid that she would be too excited and call the press: "Mom, enough, we are already very satisfied, thank you."

After returning home, she also participated in a few interviews, but those were arranged by the museum, a necessary procedure. However, if you follow Ginger Ya Zhu's suggestion and have media conduct exclusive interviews with her, then submit them to various video apps for playback, that would be purely personal action, intentionally showing off, and she would definitely be criticized harshly.

Jiang Yajue seeing her refusal, didn't force her. Because before this, she had been poured several buckets of cold water by Bo Rongxuan for this idea, and now she didn't have much passion left.

She patted Shen Wanci's hand with a loving smile: "This is your celebration banquet, you can do whatever you want, Mom will listen to you."

Shen Wanci smiled: "Thank you, Mom."

Seeing them, a mother so loving and a daughter so filial, Bo Jingzhou asked unwillingly from behind, "Mom, shouldn't you return Wanwan to me? This way, others will think she's my sister."

“Just what are you still saying? Go away wherever it's cooler for you,” Jiang Yajue glared at him with exasperation. If there were only their family here, she would have given him two big slaps. It had been so long since the proposal was successful, and he hadn’t even brought back the marriage certificate: "In your next life, keep holding onto your company. When people ask about your wife later, tell them you married your company. You only have a husband, no wife.”

Bo Jingzhou: “……Mom……”

"Shut up, don't call me Mom, go ask your dad for advice, he took me to get our marriage license the day after he proposed successfully," she glared at him with disdain: "Truly, one generation is worse than the last."

Shen Wanci sat beside, eating dessert and watching the play without intending to join in.

Someone came over to toast: "Isn't this Ms. Shen who won the award in Italy? She is really both beautiful and talented. It's a pity that Jingzhou has no vision, giving up such a good wife for divorce..."

She sighed, a sigh that was full of twists and turns. Shen Wanci suspected she was here to cause trouble: "Once this woman remarries, no matter how talented she is, she will be considered inferior. If our Er Yang had met Miss Shen sooner..."

Er Yang was the second son in her family. Because his given name was just "Yang," people at home called him Er Yang since he was a child.

Jiang Yajue spoke in a coquettish voice, with a hint of sarcasm, saying, "Oh, if only I had met you sooner! You would have gone to the hospital earlier. It's so painful being a double yin. I couldn't even get out of bed for half a month last time."

This hit the mark: "Jiang Yajue..."

"Oh, I was just joking! Why are you getting angry?" Jiang Yajue rolled her eyes at the person in front of her. "Don't you usually have nothing to do but play mahjong? You should read more news! Wanci is our Bo family's treasure, their daughter-in-law! They divorced for a reason. In young people's words, it was a way to spice things up, a fun game to enhance their relationship...Your second son Yang…tsk tsk tsk…"

"What's wrong with my son Eryang? What tone are you using?"

Bo Jingzhou took the opportunity to grab Shen Wanci's hand and pulled her closer. Half an hour into the banquet, he had finally managed to hold his wife's hand. It was truly pathetic.

Shen Wanci looked at the two people who were already arguing: "This person seems to not get along with Mom, huh?"

It's more than just not getting along; they would fight at the sight of each other. They were classmates, but their relationship was one of mutual disdain. They shared a class, a dormitory, and the same social circle. From clothes and bags to husbands and sons, even throwing trash became a competition to see who could do it better. In short, anything and everything could become a tool for them to compare themselves to each other.

Bo Jingzhou wasn't interested in these gossips, but he couldn't resist Jiang Yajue who always acted out every detail of her experiences outside in front of him upon returning: "That family's second son got arrested for domestic violence a while back and is still locked up."

"...What did Mother ask her to do?"

"Of course, you're the one to be proud of, my dear daughter-in-law. You are now a national treasure, a master craftsman recognized by the country," Bo Jingzhou gave Shen Wanci a dessert: "Eat something first to fill your stomach, you might have to drink later."

By the time Shen Wanci received the pastries, he continued what he had been saying: "The divorce a while back caused quite a stir, and her daughter-in-law just gave birth to dragon and phoenix twins. Mom was constantly put down by her cryptic remarks. This time she wants to get back at her."

Shen Wanci frowned and looked in the direction of Jiang Yazhu: "… I'm afraid my mother can't handle the stimulation."

They've been bickering for most of their lives. If they were truly angry, they would have gotten sick a long time ago. They just vent their frustrations verbally, and neither of them takes it to heart. Besides, you think Mom is the type who would let herself be taken advantage of?

Shen Wanci recalled the scene just now where Bo Jingzhou was scolded without a chance to retort. She nodded in agreement: "Yes, that venomous and vicious clam demon, even in front of his mother, only ended up being scolded until he was drenched in dog blood."

Bo Jingzhou smiled helplessly, "I've changed now, can't you give me a nice name?"

"What kind of name sounds good? A fox spirit? Or maybe just a male fox spirit with eight-pack abs."

Shen Wanci: "..."

She was just joking, but she didn't expect that Bo Jingzhou would actually ponder for a few seconds, as if he were seriously considering it. Finally, after finding some excuse to comfort himself, he nodded with a smile: "Okay."

The two of them were talking and laughing as if they were the only people in the world, unaware that their scene was attracting the attention of many.

(Editor in charge：historical romance novels)