Cecilia Gu saw off Eric Jiang and Helen Jiang, then returned to Grandma Evelyn Yin's side.
But this time, the room seemed even more crowded.
Cecilia was sure these people weren't the same ones who had been here earlier.
Because now, there was a middle-aged man in the room she didn't recognize.
Grandma Evelyn Yin saw Cecilia come back and immediately said, "Cecilia, this is your Uncle Ben Yin and Aunt May Yin. They just returned from Norway and didn't have time to come home last time."
Grandma Evelyn Yin discreetly covered for the middle-aged couple.
Cecilia noticed Mrs. Yin was no longer in the room. Did she not want to see this couple? Or was she unwilling to meet them?
Cecilia slowly walked over and greeted them, "Uncle Ben, Aunt May, I'm so sorry. Because of my health, I could only come to pay respects now. I hope you won't mind!"
Anyone could see Cecilia was just saying what was expected.
It's normal for people to exchange a few pleasantries.
But this middle-aged woman looked at Cecilia with obvious disdain. "Oh, we wouldn't dare. You're the hero of the Yin Family now—how could we possibly say anything against you?"
First Helen Jiang was picking a fight, now Aunt May Yin was stirring things up.
Cecilia wondered why this New Year felt so stifling.
At least Eric Jiang helped get rid of Helen Jiang earlier.
Aunt May Yin was so arrogant, and Grandma Evelyn Yin just ignored it. Was she letting someone else do her dirty work?
Was it because she'd grown closer to her mother-in-law lately that her grandmother was unhappy?
Cecilia's mind spun rapidly, analyzing the family politics and hierarchy—who was siding with whom, and what it meant for her place in the Yin Family.
Cecilia replied immediately, "I don't deserve to be called a hero. It's a wife's duty to have children for the Yin Family."
Aunt May Yin scoffed, "Hmph, as long as you know your place." She clearly enjoyed putting Cecilia down, but everyone knew Charles Yin had sent two uncles to a mental hospital before—only sparing Uncle Ben because of a family connection. The tension in the room was thick, and everyone was watching to see who would make the next move.
Uncle Ben Yin stood off to the side, a man of about fifty, medium build, obviously well-groomed and accustomed to a life of comfort. Cecilia met his gaze, her voice unwavering: "Whether I'm Mrs. Yin isn't for you to decide. I have my marriage certificate with Charles Yin—do you want to see it? If you respect yourself, others will respect you; if you act cheap, don't expect others to treat you well. It's New Year's Eve, so I'll let this slide. Yin Family rules say the eldest sister-in-law is like a mother. If Aunt May doesn't want to discipline you, I won't mind doing it myself."
Uncle Ben Yin turned to Cecilia and said, "Niece-in-law, I heard you're picking out a chief assistant for the child? If you need anything from your uncle, don't hesitate—family shouldn't stand on ceremony."
Cecilia thought to herself, like I'd dare trouble you.
If I let them help, they'd just plant spies around me. If I didn't, who knows what they'd do to my son.
Cecilia smiled warmly. "Charles and Mom are handling it. I’m just taking a hands-off approach."
Hmph, let Charles handle everything. If you have the guts, go ask him yourself!
Uncle Ben fell silent, giving Cecilia a meaningful look.
Beside them stood a girl just as arrogant, who greeted Cecilia reluctantly, "Hello, sister-in-law."
Cecilia nodded slightly in response.
"Cecilia, this is your cousin. She’s twenty-one now," Grandma Evelyn Yin continued the introductions.
"So this is my cousin. She really is pretty and cute," Cecilia said, though she could tell this whole family didn’t like her.
Heh, it’s not like I need their approval anyway.
After complimenting the girl, Cecilia said, "Grandma, I just arrived and haven’t had time to unpack. I’d better check how the staff are doing with the rooms. Charles is a neat freak, so I have to handle a lot myself."
Grandma Evelyn Yin nodded, giving her permission to leave.
Just then, the arrogant girl rushed over, grabbed Cecilia’s arm, and said, "Sister-in-law, let me go with you! My parents are talking with Grandma, so I’d just be in the way here."
Cecilia quickly glanced at Grandma Evelyn Yin, surprised she didn’t object.
It seemed Grandma Evelyn Yin had a soft spot for Uncle Ben’s family…
Cecilia’s mind raced. Was it true that years ago, Charles had crushed everyone else but spared Uncle Ben because of Grandma Evelyn Yin?
She was right!
Back then, Charles sent two uncles to a mental hospital, but spared this distant Uncle Ben because he’d married Grandma Evelyn Yin’s family member.
Cecilia didn’t want to get involved with Uncle Ben’s family, so she politely refused, "You don’t visit often, so go enjoy yourself. Room cleaning is a hassle—if you get tired, I’ll be blamed!"
Cecilia’s words were already a very tactful way of making her position clear.
But the girl wasn’t having it. She pointed right at Cecilia and snapped, "You shameless woman! Do you really think you’re the Senior Mrs. Yin here? This family isn’t yours to run! Grandma’s in charge, not you!"
Now Cecilia finally understood why Mrs. Yin wasn’t here!
This woman was seriously... out of her mind!
How could anyone talk to the head of the house like that in their own home?
What else could it be but madness?
Yet Uncle Ben and Aunt May both pretended not to notice.
Grandma Evelyn Yin’s face shifted slightly, but she didn’t step in to help Cecilia.
Cecilia started to get a sense of what was really going on.
Grandma Evelyn Yin was testing her limits. Clearly, her recent closeness with Mrs. Yin was making Grandma unhappy.
Thinking it over, she could understand why.
Though Mrs. Yin was Grandma Evelyn Yin’s daughter-in-law, she was also the one blamed for Grandma’s own son going missing.
Grandma Evelyn Yin only tolerated Mrs. Yin for the sake of the Jiang family, but there was no way she could ever like someone who’d harmed her son.
If Cecilia had kept fighting with Mrs. Yin, Grandma would have supported her and opposed Mrs. Yin.
But since returning, Cecilia had shown all kinds of filial respect to Mrs. Yin, and the mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship kept improving.
A warmer relationship between daughter-in-law and granddaughter-in-law was something Grandma Evelyn Yin just couldn’t tolerate.
She was using this family to put Cecilia in her place!
A warning—reminding Cecilia who really ran this household.
Once Cecilia figured it out, she knew she couldn’t back down!
Cecilia looked the girl straight in the eye and said, "Whether I’m Mrs. Yin isn’t for you to decide. I have my marriage certificate with Charles Yin—want to see it? If you respect yourself, others will respect you; if you act cheap, don’t expect others to treat you well. It’s New Year’s Eve, so I’ll let this slide. According to Yin Family rules, the eldest sister-in-law is like a mother. If Aunt May doesn’t want to discipline you, I won’t mind doing it myself."
Cecilia stepped forward and continued, "Grandma, am I right or not?"
She turned the question directly to Grandma Evelyn Yin.
Grandma Evelyn Yin coughed lightly and said, "Xuemo, don’t be rude to your sister-in-law."
Xuemo Yin grumbled in frustration.
Cecilia shot a cold look at Grandma Evelyn Yin, deciding she had nothing more to say.
Since Grandma kept making things difficult, there was no point sticking around and getting insulted.
"If Grandma doesn’t need anything else, I’ll take my leave," Cecilia said, turning and walking away slowly.
Watching Cecilia’s retreating figure, Xuemo Yin complained, "Grandma, did you hear what she said to me?"
Grandma Evelyn Yin reached out but didn’t pat Xuemo’s hand, her eyes flickering with thoughts no one could read.
Aunt May Yin was just as upset: "Exactly, Auntie, did you hear what she said? She wants to discipline Xuemo for me? That’s too much!"
Aunt May was actually Grandma Evelyn Yin’s niece, which made their family ties even closer.
Grandma Evelyn Yin coughed again, her voice lower: "Enough. She’s still Charles’s wife. Xuemo’s words really were a bit much."
Just a bit much?
Grandma Evelyn Yin's favoritism was off the charts.
Xuemo Yin watched Cecilia walk away, her contempt growing more obvious.
Once outside, Cecilia’s face darkened. She turned to Xiao Wang and asked, "What gives Uncle Ben and Aunt May’s family the nerve to treat me like this?"
Xiao Wang quickly replied, "Mrs. Yin, that’s my fault—I forgot to warn you! Uncle Ben is from a branch of the Yin Family. If you trace it back, the CEO’s great-grandfather and Xuemo’s great-grandfather were brothers. Now it’s the fourth generation. But Xuemo’s mother is Grandma Evelyn Yin’s niece, so Xuemo calls her ‘Auntie.’ Because of this, Xuemo gets to call herself the Yin Family’s eldest daughter. Since the CEO and his wife only have one son and no daughters, Grandma spoils Xuemo a lot."
Cecilia nodded. So that’s how it was.
"Mrs. Yin, the CEO said no matter who bullies you, just fight back. Don’t worry about anything else," Xiao Wang added, unable to hide his annoyance. "Why did Xuemo come back from Norway anyway?"
Cecilia laughed, "Obviously she couldn’t stay in Norway any longer! Charles has already sent Siyan to the Tenghao branch—that’s Uncle Ben’s territory. Until Uncle Ben knows if Siyan is friend or foe, he’s not going to relax."
Xiao Wang nodded, then looked up to see Charles Yin approaching with several people.
Xiao Wang cheered, "Great, the CEO’s back! Now Xuemo won’t be able to stir up any more trouble!"
Cecilia looked up and saw Charles Yin walking over, handing his coat to Xiao A.
Before Cecilia could speak, Charles Yin frowned and said, "I gave you Xiao Heng to help, not to let you be bullied. With all that’s happened today, why didn’t you let Xiao Heng handle it?"
Cecilia was speechless. "It wasn’t a big deal."
"To me, you being bullied is a big deal." Charles Yin’s charming face turned fierce. "Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you get justice today! Helen Jiang is locked up at her family’s house, so she’s out of the way. Xuemo dares to show you attitude—she must be tired of living."