Chapter 738 - 493: Family Banquet (Part 2)

"Alright. We’re engaged, after all. I guess I’ll make an exception and give it a try tonight. I even looked up a tutorial," Jiangg Yao said mysteriously.

"What tutorial?" Chen Yuan asked, confused.

"You’ll find out tonight."

She winked at Chen Yuan.

...

It was an exhausting, busy day. By the time Chen Yuan and the two sisters finished their photoshoot and were ready to head back, it was already 7:30 PM.

It was no exaggeration to say that once Chen Yuan sat down in the driver’s seat, he didn’t want to move. He couldn’t even be bothered to lift a finger.

He rolled his neck, trying to work out a particularly sore spot. His bones crackled and popped with the movement.

This was quite possibly the most tiring day of his life.

Beside him, in the passenger seat, Jiangg Ning was chugging a bottle of mineral water. GLUG GLUG GLUG. She took one gulp after another, and the bottle was nearly empty in no time, but she still looked like she wanted more.

"We’re finally done."

"You should take off your high heels. You look exhausted," Chen Yuan said from the side.

"I am. I can’t stand wearing these shoes for another second." Jiangg Ning didn’t hesitate. Forgetting all about her usual composure, she bent over, slipped off her high heels, and set them aside, placing her bare feet on the floor mat.

Even though she was used to wearing high heels, today’s prolonged battle had left her ankles red and chafed.

Chen Yuan was starting to think this was the most tiring day of his entire life.

"Time to go home." After resting for a moment, he placed his hands on the steering wheel and slowly started the engine.

He drove home, listening to the two sisters enthusiastically discussing the day’s photos beside him.

...

Chen Yuan’s home was brightly lit.

The ornate iron gates were already open, and a servant was waiting for the young master’s return. After driving in, Chen Yuan carried Yaoyao out of the car.

He handed the keys to the butler standing nearby and asked, "Is my dad back yet?"

"The Chairman returned at six. He was playing ball with your adoptive father just now. They’re probably in the tearoom now."

"Okay, go park the car. I’ll get the wheelchair," he said calmly.

"Forget it, I won’t use the wheelchair. Let’s just walk. I’ll be fine as long as you support me," Jiangg Yao said suddenly.

"But you..."

"Mr. Jiang is here. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to be sitting while he’s standing. It’s better to be polite, especially since this is our first time meeting," Jiangg Yao tugged on Chen Yuan’s sleeve, insisting, "Listen to me."

"Alright, then."

This was their first family dinner, and also the first time Jiangg Ning and Jiangg Yao were meeting the elders as their future daughters-in-law.

To say they weren’t nervous would be a complete lie.

Besides, no one had any experience with this. It was a first for everyone.

Jiangg Yao was clearly on her best behavior, staying close by Chen Yuan’s side. Seeing her worried expression, he couldn’t help but offer a few words of comfort, telling her it was no big deal. His biological father was an easygoing person, so she shouldn’t be intimidated by his title.

’No matter how great an entrepreneur he is, at the end of the day, we’re still family, eating from the same pot.’

He had never been fazed by Jiang Zhengfeng’s status. No matter how you spun it, the man was just his old man.

"Oh my, you took photos until it got dark! Dinner’s been ready for ages. Ningning, Yaoyao, come over here and rest," Liu He called out as soon as they entered.

"I didn’t want to shoot so late either. The whole process was just too complicated. We’re dead tired."

"What’s the rush? If you couldn’t finish today, you could have finished tomorrow. Look how exhausted my precious daughters-in-law are." Liu He looked at Jiangg Ning’s weary face, then shot Chen Yuan a glare. "I told you to come back earlier."

"I’m fine, Auntie. And it’s a relief to have it all done."

"Yeah, everyone’s busy. I have to go back to work in Linzhou in a couple of days, and I have exams at school. Jiangg Yao’s been putting off her streams for a while now. We all have things to do, so it’s better to get the engagement stuff handled early."

"Work? Your most important task right now is getting married and finalizing things with Ningning and Yaoyao. Everything else is secondary, you hear me?" Liu He smacked Chen Yuan’s arm.

Then she turned back to Ningning and Yaoyao, her face instantly breaking into a wide smile.

Her expression changed in a flash.

"I’ll go to the kitchen and have the housekeeper bring out the food. Darlings, you two go wash your hands. We’ll eat as soon as you get back."

’Darlings...’ Chen Yuan mulled over the word, letting out a small, amused chuckle.

He had walked in and plopped down nonchalantly on the sofa, munching on an apple from the coffee table.

Only then did he notice that Liu He had changed her clothes. She was wearing a peony-patterned qipao, had makeup on her face, and her hair was tied up with a hairpin.

"Whoa, this is a first. Mom, why are you wearing makeup today?" he asked, astonished.

Liu He was a public school teacher and was usually bare-faced. Fortunately, she had good features, so even without any skincare products, she could be considered above average in looks.

Dressed up like this, she looked quite pretty.

"Of course I have to be formal for a family dinner. We’re going to take a group photo later. How could I not put on some makeup?"

"A group photo? Did my biological dad arrange it?"

"No, I did. We have to commemorate our first meal together. It also shows our family’s respect."

"Alright, alright," Chen Yuan nodded, then asked, "Where are the two old-timers?"

"They’re upstairs playing chess. Go call them. Tell them to hurry down for dinner."

The house had a dedicated tearoom and a place for playing games, located in the study on the fourth floor. Chen Yuan couldn’t be bothered to take the elevator, so he sauntered slowly up the wooden staircase. Having settled a major matter, he was in a particularly lighthearted mood, even humming a tune on his way up.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK. After knocking a few times, Chen Yuan called out softly, "Dad, are you two in there? Time to come down for dinner."

He pushed the door open, and a strange, pungent aroma wafted out. It smelled as if something was burning.

The room was filled with smoke, thick and choking.

He waved a hand in front of his face and peered inside.

Woah!

His biological dad and his dad were lounging leisurely on recliners, chatting away, each with a cigar in hand.

"Yuan’s back?" Chen adjusted his lounging position, a look of pure contentment on his face.

"Yuan." Jiang Zhengfeng gave him a slight nod.

"Dad, didn’t you quit smoking ages ago? Why are you smoking again?"

"I’m not smoking. Isn’t this a cigar?" Chen said, as if it was perfectly logical.

’The upper class has its own vices. Looks like Dad has been corrupted by the extravagant material life, even picking up cigars.’

「On their way downstairs.」

Chen Yuan made a point to say, "Aren’t you afraid Mom will smell the smoke on you? She’s got a nose like a bloodhound."

"It’s fine. I’ll just say Zheng Feng was the one smoking, and the smell rubbed off on me."

The two fathers were clearly not finished with their conversation and seemed reluctant to go down for dinner. But remembering there was important business tonight, they followed him downstairs, however unwillingly.

The moment Chen Yuan had pushed the door open, the two of them had stopped their discussion.

Some things really shouldn’t be heard by the kids. Adults have their own considerations.

Mr. Chen was older, and he had been trying to persuade Jiang Zhengfeng in the tearoom. Now that Chen Yuan had reached marriageable age, once he had his own family, he would be considered a true adult, and his parents wouldn’t have to worry so much. Jiang Zhengfeng himself wasn’t young anymore, but he had never remarried. Such a large household didn’t even have a mistress. With his resources, he could find any kind of woman he wanted; he really needed to think more about himself.

In fact, this wasn’t the first time Mr. Chen had advised him to start a new family.

But Jiang Zhengfeng always refused.

His reasons for worrying were almost laughable: he was afraid Chen Yuan would mind having a stepmother, and besides, he was simply too busy with work to put any effort into that area of his life.

These were the kinds of topics adults discussed, and they had tactfully stopped the moment Chen Yuan arrived.

No matter how times changed, the older generation’s way of thinking remained the same. The greatest happiness was to have someone to rely on in youth and a place to belong in old age. Life was only meaningful if you weren’t all alone in the world.

But the way young people thought now was becoming more and more different.

...

The table was already laden with a full spread of dishes.

The two sisters were vividly describing their photoshoot experience to Liu He.

Hearing the footsteps of the three men coming down the stairs, they tactfully paused their conversation.

"Hello, Mr. Jiang. Hello, Mr. Chen..." the two sisters said in unison, sounding exceptionally well-behaved.

Jiangg Ning stood up first, and Jiangg Yao quickly followed her lead.

"No need to be so formal. Please, sit." Jiang Zhengfeng smiled, but no matter how hard he tried, his smile didn’t quite seem friendly.

This was also the first time Jiangg Yao had seen Chen Yuan and his biological father in the same frame. The two of them... how should she put it? They certainly had quite a few similarities, at least in their looks.