Chapter 2016: Chapter 2016: Rejecting Hong Ling (Part 1)
Seeing Jiaojiao and Duan Xi come in, the old chef who had worked here the longest quickly brought out the freshly simmered bird’s nest porridge.
Jiaojiao sat in the little pavilion at the back of the hotel, enjoying the bird’s nest porridge while texting Yu Rou, telling her to come to the hotel right now with Yang Tao and Zishu.
After sending the message, she took another couple of bites and noticed that Duan Xi was unusually silent beside her.
Feeling a bit strange, she asked, "Brother Xi, why aren’t you talking? Are you hungry? Do you want some?" As she spoke, she scooped a spoonful and offered it to him.
Duan Xi turned his head away, but Jiaojiao didn’t mind, retracting her hand and sending the porridge to her own mouth.
Duan Xi watched her eat happily, showing no intention of asking him more, feeling a bit frustrated, he couldn’t help but speak first, "Do you say that to everyone?"
"???" Jiaojiao blinked in confusion.
"The very best—last time you told me the same thing." Duan Xi.
"..." Jiaojiao.
Nervously smacking her lips, she thought, well, that was just something she said casually, why did he take it to heart?
"Brother Xi, it’s different." Jiaojiao paused for two seconds and began to coax him.
Duan Xi looked at her, saying nothing.
Originally, they had been sitting on opposite sides; Jiaojiao got up and sat beside him, then said, "What I said about you and the older brother being the very best is different."
"You see, when I say the older brother is the very best, it means he is the very best among all the brothers. When I say you are the very best, it means you are the very best among everyone I know, including brothers, classmates, everyone—worlds apart!"
"..." Duan Xi.
Even knowing she was coaxing him, Duan Xi couldn’t help feeling pleased.
Seeing Duan Xi’s expression soften, with a hint of a smile, Jiaojiao smoothly leaned in and gave Duan Xi a peck on the cheek, then pushed the porridge she couldn’t finish toward him: "Brother Xi, mom said this is very nutritious. I even saved half for you, hurry and eat."
Duan Xi felt even more comfortable, unhesitatingly accepting the spoon she handed over, finishing the bird’s nest porridge that she pretended to have saved for him, which was really just what she hadn’t finished.
Meanwhile, Jiaojiao rested her chin on her small hands beside him, watching with a smile, feeling tremendously satisfied with her ability to fib and coax people—it was a skill she’d honed since she was young, and she’d never failed.
At ten in the morning, the hotel banquet kicked off right on time.
Hong Ping changed out of her wedding dress into a knee-length bright red cheongsam, smiling sweetly as she followed Ruan Jun’s side to toast the guests.
This time, under the watchful eyes of the Hong Family’s parents, Hong Ling could only obediently follow behind Hong Ping, alongside Ruan Chi, as they joined the newlyweds in toasting the guests. However, Ruan Chi drank wine while she and Hong Ping had tea.
As the banquet began, the Hong Family parents specifically paid attention to the man Hong Ling was set on marrying.
Upon seeing Ruan Hao for the first time, Mrs. Hong instantly understood why her daughter was so resolute about marrying him.
The Ruan Family had many brothers, all of whom were outstanding, that was undeniable.
But Ruan Hao’s excellence went beyond being just a dragon among men. Coupled with his status as the eldest son of the Ruan family’s main branch, even Mrs. Hong couldn’t help but be tempted, suddenly feeling that it might indeed be acceptable for both sisters to marry brothers.
