Chapter 184: Sun Family Banquet (3)
For Shan Zitong and his parents, everything began to fall into place. Master Shan had suspected that Madame Gu’s actions to attract Li Yanyan’s attention were deeply personal. It seemed implausible that she could forget about Li Yanyan for two decades and then suddenly plan revenge. Li Yanyan, with her considerable resources, could have swiftly retaliated, yet she chose a deliberate and methodical approach. The reason became clear – Madame Gu had once again crossed paths with Li Yanyan’s family.
Master Shan and Madame Shan exchanged a knowing look and shared a subtle smile. The unfolding events added a new layer of intrigue to the situation. Their attention shifted to Madame Gu, whose shocked and fearful expression betrayed the realization that the past had caught up with her. On stage, Sun Lixia concluded her speech and, accompanied by her sons, descended from the stage.
Sun Weilong stepped forward, directing them to an empty table at the front. Sun Lixia whispered something to Sun Weilong, who then approached the table where Li Yanyan and Zhang Mei were seated. He gestured for them to follow and said, "Please come this way." Li Yanyan, Zhang Mei, Ding Chengxi, and Xu Zhonhao moved to the front table, with Zhang Mei taking a seat close to Li Chen. The rearrangement of seating signaled a shift in dynamics, leaving Madame Gu uneasy about what might unfold next.
At the shared table, Grandpa Sun, Sun Weilong, Sun Fang, and Sun Gang took their seats. Sun Gang’s gaze shifted to Li Xinjie, realizing for the first time that Li Chen had a twin. The increasing competition for inheritance bothered Sun Gang, and he exchanged a glance with Li Chen, sensing a familiar tension. Li Chen pondered if the person behind the mind control spell on Sun Fang was the same as the one targeting Sun Gang.
Grandpa Sun engaged in conversation with Li Yanyan, expressing gratitude, "Thank you for treating my daughter well. Pity I didn’t get the chance to meet her husband." Li Yanyan smiled, responding, "You would have liked him." Grandpa Sun jokingly remarked, "I don’t think so; he couldn’t make girls." Laughter echoed through the entire table.
Sun Lixia teased her father, "Dad, you are so obsessed with girls." Grandpa Sun, amidst laughter, shared his desire for a princess after decades of having boys, expressing, "I want a princess to spoil." Sun Weilong playfully remarked, "Sun Lixia is our princess." Grandpa Sun, feigning disappointment, said, "I can’t spoil her like I want to; look, she is old now with her own kids." Laughter once again filled the air, providing a glimpse of the harmonious relationships within the Sun family.
As guests indulged in the banquet, the scene at the Sun family table showcased a familial bond, laughter, and a sense of unity that contrasted with the underlying complexities within and beyond their relationships. The festivities continued, offering a facade of joy while concealing the intricate dynamics at play.
Li Xinjie embraced the unfamiliar warmth of such a big family with a slight smile. He noted Sun Gang’s evident hostility but dismissed it, choosing not to let it overshadow the overall atmosphere. Zhang Mei leaned in to Li Chen and whispered, "I need the restroom." Li Chen offered, "Should I walk you there?" Zhang Mei declined, saying, "I will find my way or ask the servers here." Li Chen nodded, "Okay."
As Zhang Mei stood and made her way, Li Chen glanced at Xu Zhonhao, who quickly understood. He excused himself, following closely behind Zhang Mei. Observing from a distance, Jiang Xiaolin noticed Zhang Mei and Li Chen in conversation, sparking a tinge of jealousy. Her initial attraction to Li Chen’s looks had evolved, and now, he wasn’t just a nobody but the son of the Sun family princess. He possessed everything Jiang Xiaolin desired in a man.
Seeing the opportunity, Jiang Xiaolin stood up. Hu Yunxuan questioned, "Where are you going?" Jiang Xiaolin replied, "Bathroom." Hu Yunxuan suggested, "Let me go with you." Despite her annoyance with this girl dating her brother, Jiang Xiaolin smiled and agreed, "Sure." The two girls walked towards the bathroom, their paths entwined with unspoken tensions and unexplored dynamics.
In the bathroom, Zhang Mei quickly finished her tasks, with Xu Zhonhao standing guard outside, vigilant about ensuring Zhang Mei’s protection throughout the night. Zhang Mei moved to the sink to wash her hands just as Jiang Xiaolin and Hu Yunxuan entered. Still harboring resentment over not getting the desired dress, Hu Yunxuan, in her anger, commented, "That dress doesn’t suit you."
Ignoring the unnecessary remark, Zhang Mei continued with drying her hands. Jiang Xiaolin observed Zhang Mei from head to toe and couldn’t deny the girl’s attractiveness. However, she held the belief that men like Li Chen deserved someone more suitable for him. Unaware of Jiang Xiaolin’s thoughts, Hu Yunxuan, fueled by her own motives, stated, "You’ve been following Li Chen around because you know his identity, didn’t you?"
Zhang Mei, uninterested in their opinions, retorted, "What does that have to do with you?" Hu Yunxuan continued, "Dating Li Chen doesn’t make you a better person." Zhang Mei, growing tired of the conversation, countered, "Why do you want him?" Hu Yunxuan defensively claimed, "He is my friend’s ex, of course not." Zhang Mei dismissed her with a firm push, walking out of the bathroom, leaving the tense atmosphere behind.
Jiang Xiaolin’s only reason for attending the event was to observe Zhang Mei closely. Seeing her in person, she didn’t feel overly threatened and started formulating plans on how to capture Li Chen’s attention.
Upon her return to the table, Li Chen noticed a slight change in Zhang Mei’s demeanor. Leaning in, he asked, "Are you okay?" Zhang Mei chuckled and replied, "That girl really wanted this dress." Li Chen reassured her, "Well, too bad. She was late. This dress was made for you. You look absolutely gorgeous." Zhang Mei blushed at the compliment, attempting to conceal it by picking up a glass of wine and taking a small sip.
Grandpa Sun caught everyone off guard when he asked Li Chen and Zhang Mei, "When are you two getting married?" Li Chen and Zhang Mei were so surprised that they choked on their wine, coughing violently. Sun Lixia exclaimed, "Dad, are you trying to kill my son?" Grandpa Sun insisted, "Look at them, they suit each other very well. They make a perfect couple, and this girl... She can give birth to beautiful daughters, I know it."
Sun Weilong, trying to diffuse the situation, turned to Zhang Mei and said, "Please don’t mind the old man; he is getting really old." Zhang Mei smiled and responded, "It’s okay." Grandpa Sun continued, "What’s your name, girlie?" Zhang Mei replied, "My name is Zhang Mei, Grandpa." Grandpa Sun happily remarked, "You heard that, she is already calling me grandpa, such a respectful young woman." He then turned to Li Xinjie and suggested, "See, your twin brother has a girlfriend; you should get one too." Li Xinjie, feeling awkward, replied, "I will keep that in mind, Grandpa." Sun Gang, observing their interactions, felt an uneasy sensation and had a bad feeling about the attention Grandpa Sun was giving Li Chen and Li Xinjie.
Li Chen, trying to clarify the situation, said, "Grandpa, she is my friend, not my girlfriend." Grandpa Sun responded, "Not yet; can’t you see that girl is in love? You are stupid if you don’t see that." The table erupted in another round of laughter, and Zhang Mei lowered her head, trying to hide the smile on her face.
The table was full of joy, the family talking and drinking, thoroughly enjoying each other’s company. Grandpa Sun looked around, everyone he loved was here, except his lovely wife. He started getting slightly emotional. Sun Fang, who was seated next to him, noticed and patted grandpa Sun’s shoulder in assurance. The pat made grandpa Sun turn around and look at Sun Fang, then mouthed a "thank you." Sun Fang shook his head, indicating that there was no need to thank him. Finding Sun Lixia was not just about Grandpa Sun; Sun Fang had mostly done it for his father, Sun Weilong. Seeing him happily chatting with his sister, Sun Fang felt a sense of accomplishment, proud of himself.
