CH 177 Yang Family Banquet

Translated by The BL Muse (ko-fi)

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While Jiang Chen was pondering how to meet with Yang Hui, Shi Fengyue brought him the answer.

"Family banquet?"

Across the phone, Shi Fengyue's voice held a noticeable trace of reluctance: "My grandfather and brother are blocking the door of my house and I have no other choice."

"Are you sure Mr. Yang Hui will also go?" Jiang Chen couldn't help but confirm again.

Shi Fengyue picked up something in his voice and raised his eyebrows: "Are you very interested in him?"

"I promised to help someone, and I need to see him."

Shi Fengyue's eyes lit up, "Then you can attend with me tomorrow."

This was indeed the fastest opportunity to meet Yang Hui, and Jiang Chen agreed without hesitation.

……

This family banquet held by the Yang family was for the 60th birthday of Mr. Yang Hui. It was held at the Yang family estate. Not many people were invited, and most of whom were close partners of the Yang family.

Jiang Chen and Shi Fengyue arrived neither too early nor too late. When they entered, they came across Shi Fengyue's brother. He was talking to someone with Shi So at his side. When he saw them, he was surprised for a moment, said something to the person next to him, and came over quickly.

"Brother." Shi Fengyue greeted, and then introduced Jiang Chen: "This is Jiang Chen, I mentioned him to you before."

Shi Qian's eyes fell on Jiang Chen, who was standing next to Shi Fengyue. His stern face showed no expression, but his tone was very gentle: "Hello, Xiao Yue has mentioned you to me many times. I'm glad to see you."

Jiang Chen put on a polite and gentle smile: "Hello, Mr. Shi, I am Jiang Chen."

Shi Qian nodded, "Just call me Brother like Xiao Yue does."

Jiang Chen followed readily: "Brother."

Standing on the side, Shi Ao widened his eyes and opened his mouth to speak, but he didn't dare to interrupt in front of his stern father. He could only wonder in his head: If He Qianmin's brother calls my dad brother, then what should I call him? What will He Qianmin call me then?

Not chatting for too long, Shi Qian said, "You guys can come upstairs with me to see old Mr. Yang."

The group of four walked upstairs. People who were passing by all took a closer look at this new face of the Shi family. Some of them recognized Jiang Chen and wondered in a curious tone: “Isn't this the eldest young master that the He family found two years ago? Why is he here with the Shi family?"

People who didn't know Jiang Chen looked back at him curiously. At the He family's banquet two years ago, some people attended and some didn't. However, everyone in the entire circle knew that the He family's child was wrongly switched with another child.

"The He family? I just overheard their greetings, that child seems to have the surname Jiang."

“Now this you don't know, let me tell you, that time..."

With this curious new topic, the guests, who were not very enthusiastic at first, gathered together and recounted the He family banquet two years ago from beginning to end, describing it as if it happened yesterday. Gossip was always a good helper to bring close relationships, and soon, these guests began to interact as familiar old buddies.

Jiang Chen, who was already standing in the reception room on the second floor, naturally didn't know what was happening downstairs. He was looking at a photo frame standing on the table. There were five people in it. The middle-aged man among them was Yang Hui, whom Jiang Chen had seen pictures of online. The other four were younger, three of them were obviously his three children, and the fourth and youngest was a handsome and spirited young man. His features resembled old Mr. Miao, and was presumably Miao Miao's father who died young.

In this photo, the positioning was very interesting. The three biological sons were standing at the back. Only old Mr. Miao’s son was standing next to Yang Hui who was sitting. Yang Hui and old Mr. Miao were brothers so naturally, there were similarities. At first glance, his presence was quite unobtrusive, as if he was the fourth child in the family and the most favored one.

While Jiang Chen was deep in thought, the assistant pushed old Mr. Yang into the room.

There were already two middle-aged people sitting in the reception room, plus Shi Qian and his companions, there were six people standing or sitting in total. When old Mr. Yang came in, almost all the people standing walked over to greet him.

Old Mr. Yang waved his hand. Those who could come up to this room were all close to him. He had a smile on his face. Although he appeared a little haggard and weak, his eyes were very clear.

After saying a few words, old Mr. Yang looked at the only new face here then his eyes fell on Shi Qian, clearing wanting him to introduce him.

Now facing his elder, Shi Qian's expression was softer than downstairs: "This is Jiang Chen, He Yanfeng's eldest son and Xiao Yue's good friend."

Don't know if it was an illusion, but Jiang Chen kept feeling that he paused for a moment when he settled on the word "friend".

Old Mr. Yang nodded and smiled at Jiang Chen. His eyes followed to the place where he had just been looking. His gaze stayed on the photo for a moment and then moved away: "Xiao Jiang, make sure to have fun here. Don't be restrained."

Jiang Chen pursed his lips and smiled, said a few auspicious words to old Mr. Yang according to etiquette, then sat aside and listened quietly to the elders.

Shi Fengyue came over and lowered his voice: "Are you bored, if it's boring, we'll go down first."

Jiang Chen was silent, his mind pondering over old Mr. Miao and old Mr. Yang's affairs, the company's affairs, the progress back at the laboratory, and the development progress of Changjiang…

When Shi Fengyue's voice sounded, it finally disrupted his thoughts for a moment. Jiang Chen shook his head. He really didn't need to sit here, but he was not interested in drinking and socializing together downstairs either.

"Are you thirsty? Do you want to drink something?" Shi Fengyue moved a little closer to Jiang Chen subtly, shoulders pressing against shoulders, and his legs pressing against his thigh. Only then did the irritability in his heart dissipate some.

For today's first date, he checked a lot of information and made a lot of strategies. In order to prevent possible accidents, he even made a list of five plans. Each plan was also separated into plan A and plan B. But who would have thought that old Mr. Yang’s birthday banquet would completely cut off the long-awaited date just like that.

If it weren't for the close friendship between the Yang family and the Shi family, and if his brother and grandfather hadn't pressured him to come, he would definitely not have attended.

Fortunately, Jiang Chen was at least still sitting next to him. Shi Fengyue lowered his eyes and his gaze fell on Jiang Chen's hand casually placed on his knee. It was fair and slender with fine bones.

A hint of smile appeared in Shi Fengyue's eyes, and his fingers quietly slipped into Jiang Chen's open fingers. Before the other could react, they were interlocked.

Jiang Chen was stunned for a moment. Having been pulled away from his thoughts, he subconsciously glanced at the other people in the room. Seeing that they were absorbed in talking about current affairs, and no one was paying attention to them, he quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Except for a few close friends, no one knew about the fact that he and Shi Fengyue were together. Jiang Chen didn't plan to hide it for the rest of his life, nor did he plan to date secretly, but his parents still needed to have the news revealed to them slowly. If they learned about his relationship with Shi Fengyue from others with any preparation, it may affect his parents' impression of Shi Fengyue.

But holding hands quietly like this seemed to also make his heart beat faster.

Jiang Chen couldn't help but curl up the corners of his lips in a smile. He gently squeezed his hand, and whispered in his ear: "Aren't you afraid of being seen by your brother?"

Shi Fengyue also smiled, leaned into his ear and said in a lowered voice: "What are you afraid of?"

His low voice penetrated into the ears, and the tangible breath hit the side of his face. There was a smile in his voice, like a playful tease: "When a couple holds hands, must the elders also have to step in to discipline them?"

Jiang Chen was unusually slow to react. After a few seconds, he suddenly widened his eyes and turned to look at Shi Fengyue.

When their eyes met, Shi Fengyue blinked at him. His posture was still lazy, but the smile at the corner of his mouth was clearly pleased by his reaction.

"They know about our relationship?"

"My grandfather also knows." Shi Fengyue approached him and said in a teasing tone: "Shi Ao didn't know before, but I think he should know now."

Jiang Chen's eyelid jumped, and he quickly caught the eyes of the wide-eyed boy opposite him. He must have been playing a game just now on the PSP in his hand. His mouth was open and his face was blank, as if he was shocked by what he saw.

"..."

Jiang Chen looked away, but he was not angry. Instead, he found the expression on Shi Fengyue's nephew quite amusing. He wondered if Qian Min's expression would be as amusing as that of the boy opposite him when he learned about his relationship with Shi Fengyue.

Shi Fengyue raised the hand that was intertwined with Jiang Chen's, waved it at Shi Ao who was watching them with a dazed expression, and then put it down before the other elders noticed. The corners of his mouth were raised in amusement, obviously he also found it interesting to tease his nephew.

The two of them had exactly the same smile. Before Shi Ao could recover and look away, he was struck with a chill down his back. It was clear that they were the ones who "did something wrong", but he felt as if he had been caught red handed, startling him so bad he immediately withdrew his gaze.

"Ahem..."

Jiang Chen pursed his lips and laughed under his breath.

Shi Fengyue also had a smile in his eyes.

Shi Ao came to his senses at this moment. He gritted his teeth and glared at the two people opposite. They were holding hands in public. How audacious! How dare they laugh at him together!

He, he must tell He Qianmin!

His brother and his uncle were in cahoots! ! !

Before Shi Ao could figure out when and how to tell He Qianmin, and how to make He Qianmin believe what he said, Shi Qian noticed his son's strange behavior. He followed Shi Ao's line of sight, looked over, and instantly glared at Shi Fengyue, silently indicating with his eyes to let go.

Shi Fengyue raised the corners of his lips and smirked. His fingers intertwined with Jiang Chen's tighter, and his eyes glinted clearly with bad intentions.

Jiang Chen noticed Shi Qian's gaze and felt guilty for a moment. When facing Shi Ao, he could still tease the other, but he didn't dare to do this when facing his elders. He silently elbowed Shi Fengyue and signaled for him to let go.

Shi Fengyue didn't want to let go at first, but he had no choice when he saw Jiang Chen's narrowed eyes. In the end, he pouted slightly, feeling aggrieved and reluctant.

The other guests didn't notice the silent exchanges here. There were still many people coming to chat with old Mr. Yang. After the conversation came to an end, they stood up and prepared to leave.

Shi Fengyue and Jiang Chen stood up together. Before they could reach the door, they saw the nurse come in and remind old Mr. Yang not to be tired, and that he must rest after a while. 

Old Mr. Yang agreed readily and said with a smile: "I'll rest after seeing two more people."

Jiang Chen paused. The conversation between the two just now clearly indicated that old Mr. Yang might go down and show up later and then disappear. If he didn't take advantage of this opportunity, it might be difficult to see him alone again.

Although it was not very polite, Jiang Chen turned around and said, "Mr. Yang, could I talk to you alone?"

Old Mr. Yang was stunned and looked at Jiang Chen carefully. He was sure that he had never seen him before today and didn't know what he would have to say to him. However, for the face of the Shi family, he still agreed.

Shi Fengyue knew Jiang Chen's purpose, nodded to him, and went out with the others.

Old Mr. Yang was sitting in a wheelchair. Although he was much thinner than old Mr. Miao, his smile was very similar and kind, "What do you want to tell me?"

Jiang Chen chose to go straight to the point: "Mr. Yang, I came here today on behalf of someone."

"Oh?" Old Mr. Yang thought it was a business matter, and his smile did not change: "Is he someone I know? What's his name?"

"Miao Yang."

As soon as the name was uttered, old Mr. Yang's expression changed slightly. His hands propped on the wheelchair and his appearance looked a little excited. Even his hips and legs were lifted a few centimeters away from the chair. "He...he found you, where is he? What does he want you to tell me?"

Jiang Chen quickly walked a few steps forward, supported the unsteady old Mr. Yang, and waited for him to sit back in the wheelchair again before replying: "Grandpa Miao is in Yan City. This time he asked me to find you because of Miao Miao's matter."

Old Mr. Yang was dazed for a few seconds before nodding: "How is his health? Where is Miao Miao? Has she gone to school? I haven't seen that child for a long time. I still remember the last time I saw her, she still didn't know how to talk."

Seeing that old Mr. Yang really cared about old Mr. Miao and Miao Miao, there was a more sincere smile in Jiang Chen's eyes: "Miao Miao is in the second grade now. She has good grades and is very well-behaved."

"Good, good..." Old Mr. Yang looked at Jiang Chen, wanting to hear more, but he was also keenly aware of the question that Jiang Chen had just skipped intentionally, and his expression changed: "My brother, how is your Grandpa Miao's health?"

Jiang Chen paused and told the truth: "Grandpa Miao fell down yesterday and is in the hospital now. The doctor said there is nothing serious, but... he asked me to see you."

There seemed to be no logical turn at all, but old Mr. Yang understood the underlying meaning. His eyes stung, and he put his hand on the wheelchair and steered the wheelchair out, "Take me to see him."

Jiang Chen held on to the wheelchair and said gently: "Today is your birthday banquet, now..."

Old Mr. Yang shook his head: "What birthday banquet? Since... I haven't held a birthday banquet for ten years. The people downstairs know what this birthday banquet is for. It doesn't matter whether I am here or not."

Although Jiang Chen came to talk to old Mr. Yang about old Mr. Miao, he never thought that the other would skip out on the birthday banquet before it even officially started. What's more, if he took old Mr. Yang directly without a heads up to old Mr. Miao in advance, it was not suitable.

"You're right..." Old Mr. Yang had already recovered from his excitement. After careful consideration, he felt that he shouldn't rush over like this. He regained his composure and smiled, "Xiao Jiang, can you tell me some more about them?"

Jiang Chen did not refuse. He did not leave the reception room until the banquet officially started.

Old Mr. Yang was pushed back to the room by his assistant, seemingly going to take medicine before going downstairs. Jiang Chen came down first. He didn't see Shi Fengyue in the banquet hall, so he turned around and went to the garden. He had yet to come across the other but as he was passing by a small sitting room, he heard his name.

Jiang Chen paused, and through the partially pulled curtains, he saw two middle-aged men sitting inside. He recognized them at a glance, Yang Hui's eldest son and third son.

"...Have you seen that Jiang Chen who came with the Shi family today?" The pot-bellied Yang Eldest held the wine glass and turned to ask his younger brother who was lighting a cigarette.

Yang Third took a puff of cigarette and blew out the smoke: "I didn't see him."

"I heard that you took his company's software that is about to be launched on the market and set up a project team to crack it. How is it doing now?"

“How is what?" Yang Third said casually: “It's just as usual."

"It isn't cracked?" Yang Eldest frowned: "You promised to Dad that you will produce results within five years. Dad won't be convinced by something you can just research and develop causally. You wouldn't not know this right? Don’t underestimate Jiang Chen. I heard someone say that he was already working at the Military Research Institute before he even graduated, and the He family is also standing behind him. Him coming here with Shi Qian today may also mean he has a close relationship with the Shi family. If the market is really taken over by him, in the end we will only be left with scraps."

Yang Third didn't take it seriously: “That's only if he can take over it."

Heating this, Yang Eldest instantly knew he had a trick up his sleeve, and immediately asked: "What do you mean? Do you have a way?"

Yang Third laughed and said, "A young boy with no hair on his lip and his grassroots team competing with me? What a joke."

"I heard that it will be launched in a few days." Yang Eldest didn't know what Yang Third had in mind, but he still warned: "And he is from the He family. Whatever you want to do, do it cleanly. Don't let someone catch your tail, Dad already has a problem with both of us, so we have to be careful."

“Whatever." Yang Third waved his hand and said in a disdainful tone: "I have already arranged everything. Although I have not deciphered all of his software code, I have everything that should be needed. When the time comes for him to be sued for plagiarism, do you think a college student like him who is not even surnamed He can do anything more?"

"Plagiarism?" Yang Eldest thought about it and felt it was a good method, but he still felt that something was not right: "I heard that he has applied for all the patents that should be applied for for his software. If you want to accuse him of plagiarism, there needs to be someone to believe it."

"It doesn’t matter whether others believe it or not.” Yang Third sneered: "As long as he carries this reputation, his software will not be able to go on the market before the investigation is clear. How long can a small company of just around 20 people last? I checked and found that the registered capital of their company is less than one million yuan. For such a long time, except for the project with Li Nanfeng, there are no other projects at all. By the time the software is launched, the best time has already been delayed. With no funds having been earned it will not be long before they go bankrupt, At that time who cares whether he really plagiarized or not."

"Then the He family..."

"Tsk." Yang Third crushed the cigarette in his hand, stood up and said, "I know what you are worried about. Don't worry, my people are very clean. They are different from those useless people you had wiping your butt for you ten years ago."

Yang Eldest was insulted by him, but though his eyes were full of anger, he kept his mouth shut and said nothing.

Since the incident ten years ago, his status in this family had become worse than that of an invisible person. Before, he was just kicked out of the company, but now he was not even given dividends. He now actually had to ask his two younger brothers to pay for his household expenses. He was already inferior to them, so how could he dare to talk back?

Yang Third also knew that Yang Eldest did not dare to talk back to him anymore. He flicked the cigarette ashes on his sleeves and walked out: "We will eat soon. Everyone inside is waiting. Let's go."

Before Yang Third could reach the door, Yang Eldest, who was standing up, saw the person standing outside the window. He stopped and looked carefully before raising his voice in surprise: "Jiang Chen!"

Yang Third frowned at his suddenly raised voice. He turned around and saw the young man standing behind the curtained window with an indifferent expression. The scolding on his lips turned into a neutral tone: "After all, someone who was only recognized back to the He family after becoming an adult, it is natural to have no education at all, nor feel any shame over eavesdropping on people talking."

Jiang Chen took half a step forward, brushed open the curtains, and faced the two men in the room openly and squarely, saying calmly and honestly: “I should indeed avoid eavesdropping when overhearing elders talking, but some people don't deserve to be called elders, and I don't have to be polite."

Yang Third's expression darkened, he took two steps towards the window and said darkly: "Is this the upbringing of your adoptive parents?"

Jiang Chen's eyes were cold, "Even if it is exchanging insults, the most basic politeness is not to mention the other's parents. Besides, we are just simply chatting. Uncle Yang, have you been missing ideological and moral lessons since elementary school? Otherwise, how could you not even know basic politeness?”

This was the first time Jiang Chen spoke to an elder like this. He had never done this before, even when facing Yang Tianci.

Sure enough, Yang Third didn't expect that Jiang Chen would dare to scold him so blatantly. Although he didn't use a single curse word, it still made him flush in anger.

"I remember that the He family was not included in the invitation letter sent out. How did you get in?" Yang Third stared at him for a few seconds, then sneered and took out his phone and dialed the bodyguard's number with the shortcut key, "There is someone who snuck in here. Come over immediately and drive him out."

Jiang Chen didn't answer, but looked past Yang Third and behind him.

"Who are you planning to kick out?"

An aged and familiar voice sounded from behind. Yang Third's expression changed slightly and he immediately turned around, "Dad."

Old Mr. Yang's eyes shifted from his eldest son who cowered in the corner when he came in, to his youngest son who just spoke arrogantly and full of malice, and his expression very displeased.

Yang Third cursed secretly, but he did not panic. He stepped forward and wanted to take over pushing the wheelchair from the assistant's hand. He flipped the truth and said: "I saw an unfamiliar face, and he has no invitation letter. I have basically met all the juniors in the circle, but I have no impression of him. I thought he had sneaked in, so I called the bodyguards to drive him away so as not to disturb you later."

"You don't know him?" Old Mr. Yang waved away his hand, raised his head and stared sharply into Yang Third’s eyes. Even though compared with his son who was in the prime of life, the old man sitting in the wheelchair was thin and weak. But in contrast, the pressure and majesty he emitted suppressed the other as if he was the weak one.

Yang Third was stared at sharply by his father's eyes that seemed to be able to see everything. He broke into a cold sweat on his back and felt a little drumming in his heart.

The old man had basically let go of the company's affairs in the past two years. If the three brothers hadn't proposed to hold this birthday banquet this time, he would probably still be enjoying retirement out of the country, so he probably didn't know that his company was targeting Jiang Chen’s company, not to mention that he did things covertly, and should not have revealed any tails.

Thinking of this, Yang Third calmed himself and forced out a smile: "I really don't know him. None of the children in our family are this age. I have never seen him in the business circle either. How could I know who he is?"

"Don't know?" Old Mr. Yang slammed the armrest of his wheelchair and said sternly: "If you don't know then why did you send people to block his company's product from being put on the market, and if you don't know then why are you attacking his company!"

Yang Third was stunned and broke into cold sweat.

It wasn't because old Mr. Yang knew about his underhanded moves against Jiang Chen, but the fact that if his father knew even such a trivial matter, then every decision of his at the company and every move he made had always been under old Mr. Yang's eye.

Over the years, he thought his father had slowly delegated power, but in fact he had not at all.

The banquet was about to begin, and the appetizers were all already served, but none of the hosts of the banquet showed up. The guests who noticed something strange were attracted by the noise here, and gradually came over.

The people who came to celebrate old Mr. Yang’s 60th birthday today were all close family members or close partners. Yang Third didn't want to be reprimanded by the old man in front of these people, so he could only paste a smile on his face and try to muddle over the matter. He went to push the wheelchair again: "Dad, what are you talking about? You must have remembered it wrong. I have never dealt with his company before. I don't know him at all."

Old Mr. Yang gave him a cold look. Without his permission, the assistant behind him did not dare to hand over the wheelchair to Yang Third.

In front of so many guests, Yang Third looked very unhappy after being rejected by his father, but he knew that he could only endure it now and move past the matter as soon as possible to avoid losing even more face later.

"The banquet is about going to start soon." Yang Third forced a smile and said: "Since that kid didn't sneak in, let him eat together. Dad, look, the guests are all here now. We can't starve the guests."

Old Mr. Yang didn't want to expose a family scandal in front of outsiders. He glanced at Yang Eldest and Yang Third coldly, and said to Jiang Chen, who was still standing outside the window: “Xiao Chen, come in quickly and push grandpa over."

——Just now in the reception room, after learning that old Mr. Miao and Miao Miao came out of the countryside through Jiang Chen, he changed how he called Jiang Chen from "Xiao Jiang" to "Xiao Chen" and did not let Jiang Chen call him Mr. Yang, but very amiably asked him to call him grandpa along with his grandchildren, as if he regarded him as his favorite junior.

Jiang Chen had no reaction to this, but the reactions of others were different. Among them, Yang Third had the ugliest expression.

Old Mr. Yang's birthday banquet was Chinese style. There were five round tables in the banquet hall. The main table was at the front, and the other four tables were placed on either side. Jiang Chen pushed old Mr. Yang to the main seat and was about to go find Shi Fengyue, but he didn't expect to be stopped by the other.

"Put a chair next to me." Old Mr. Yang said with a pleasant expression, “Xiao Chen, please sit next to me."

The people sitting at the main table were either members of the Yang family or relatives of the Yang family. Jiang Chen, a young man who had never had any contact with the Yang family before, was suddenly invited to sit here. Such a thing was definitely eye-catching and a little embarrassing.

Jiang Chen smiled and declined: "Uncle Shi said he has something to tell me before, and he is waiting for me now."

What old Mr. Yang wanted was the effect of extending such an invitation. He also knew that Jiang Chen would not and was not suitable to sit down at the main table. He nodded and said kindly: "Then you go over, and tell Grandpa if you need anything. Don't be restrained and treat this place as your home.”

Jiang Chen smiled, nodded to the rest of the Yang family as a greeting, and then turned and left.

When Shi Fengyue saw him coming, he smiled and said, "Why are you so lovable? It has only been a short while, and now even old Mr. Yang treats you as his own grandson."

Jiang Chen rolled his eyes at him, glanced over, and was suddenly stunned when he saw the boy on the other side of Shi Fengyue: "You Jiuyu?"

You Jiuyu had been paying attention to Jiang Chen's movements. When he saw him look over, his eyes lit up and he nodded slightly.

Jiang Chen didn't expect to meet You Jiuyu, whom he hadn't seen for a long time. He smiled and said, "Long time no see."

"It's been a long time..." You Jiuyu looked at Jiang Chen's face without blinking, his cheeks were slightly red, and he smiled shyly: "I held a concert in February, and I wanted to invite you, but I heard that you also have to work in the laboratory during the winter vacation. I was worried that it would disturb you, so I didn’t contact you."

Jiang Chen didn't expect that the shy young man with stage fright could now hold a concert independently, and he was very happy for him in his heart: "Congratulations."

"Thank you." You Jiuyu looked at Jiang Chen and whispered, "My next concert will be in January next year. Can you make time to attend then?"

Jiang Chen thought for a moment. January next year was still half a year away. It shouldn't be difficult to spare a day to watch a concert. Just as he was about to nod, his hand was pinched hard. He flicked his eyes over and saw the person next to him. The man had a gloomy look on his face.

What's wrong?

Jiang Chen looked over with questioning eyes. Shi Fengyue's expression turned darker. He grabbed his hand and said lightly: "I want to eat fish."

If you want to eat fish, why don’t you serve it yourself?

Jiang Chen had a question mark on his forehead, but his intuition told him that it would be better not to ask and just help serve him the food.

Shi Ao, who was on the other side, saw everything in his eyes. He somewhat felt contempt for his uncle's pettiness, but still turned the turntable this way with great tact, making it easier for Jiang Chen to serve themselves fish.

The white and tender fish meat was put into his bowl, but Shi Fengyue did not move to eat. He raised his chin slightly, his previous laziness wiped away, and his countenance becoming a bit reserved. He lowered his voice and drawled the words: "There are bones."

At first glance, it sounded like he was being coquettish.

Jiang Chen's eyelids jumped and he looked at Shi Fengyue carefully. Seeing that he was still waiting for him to serve him, he suppressed the weirdness in his heart and helped him pick out the fish bones.

After doing so, he looked at him to see if there was anything more he wanted to fuss with him.

Who knew, Shi Fengyue really said: "My hand seemed to have been hurt just now, you..."

Before he could finish his words, he was glared at by Shi Qian. Shi Qian coughed in second hand embarrassment. While coughing, he still glared at him, silently telling him to shut up.

Shi Fengyue curled his lips and could only pick up the food in the bowl and put it into his mouth.

When Jiang Chen saw him eating obediently, he remembered that he hadn't replied to You Jiuyu just now, so he leaned over slightly to look at him. Just as he was about to speak, his line of sight was blocked by someone.

Shi Fengyue did not turn the turntable, but relied on his long arms to pick up a shrimp from across the table. When Jiang Chen leaned back, he returned to his original sitting position, put the shrimp into Jiang Chen's bowl, and said elegantly: "The chef in charge of today’s banquet makes great shrimp, try it."

Being interrupted again, Jiang Chen could only do as suggested. It indeed tasted really good.

"How is it?"

"It's quite delicious."

"There is even better." Shi Fengyue said lightly: "There is a restaurant on the Qingyuan Seaside in country H, which is only open for one month every year. The best fishing season for the Qingyuan shrimp produced there is only in January. Once it’s out of season, it won’t have that ultimate flavor.”

Jiang Chen had a vague impression of this restaurant. It seemed that Shen Xu had mentioned it in his first life.

Hearing this, he became somewhat interested: "We can go over and have a taste sometime."

Shi Fengyue nodded: "I plan to travel to country H on my birthday next year and try it on the way."

Jiang Chen thought for a moment and remembered that Shi Fengyue's birthday was January 1st.

He thought for a while and asked You Jiuyu: "When will your concert be in January next year?"

The blush on You Jiuyu's face had gradually faded away when he saw some of the interactions between Shi Fengyue and Jiang Chen. Now when he heard Jiang Chen's question, he was in a daze for a moment before answering: "I'm not sure yet, it should be... From the 1st to the 7th, our orchestra’s New Year’s performance is always in the first week of the new year.”

Shi Fengyue's birthday was January 1st. If he went on a trip, it would at least take three to five days. He was very likely to miss You Jiuyu's performance. Although he was sorry, Jiang Chen could only say: "I am not sure if I can make it to your performance next year. If I have time, I will definitely go."

The light in You Jiuyu's eyes dimmed. He invited Jiang Chen so far in advance just because he thought that he would have half a year to make arrangements and it would be easy to spare a day. When he was about to answer just now, he very likely was about to say that he would have time, but was interrupted by the person next to him.

Although this kind of thing has a first-come, first-served basis, in terms of intimacy, it was obvious that he was far inferior to the man next to him, so Jiang Chen would not hesitate to prioritize that man's time before considering him.

"Okay." You Jiuyu covered up the disappointment in his eyes and said with a smile, "If you have time, please come."

Jiang Chen agreed with a smile, but due to Shi Fengyue's intentional or unintentional interference, he did not have any communication with You Jiuyu except at the beginning of the meal.

Old Mr. Yang was not in good health and soon felt tired after eating. After the guests left, he had his assistant push him upstairs.

Yang Third was sitting in the empty banquet hall, thinking about old Mr. Yang's attitude towards Jiang Chen just now, his eyes became even more gloomy.

Yang Eldest came down from upstairs and saw Yang Third still sitting there lost in thought. He quickly walked over and lowered his voice and said, "Hurry up and tell your men to stop all movements. Jiang Chen must not be touched!"

Yang Third suddenly raised his head, his expression dark and cloudy. He gritted his teeth and said: “As if I still need you to remind me, do you think I don't know?"