In the afternoon, Ye Chen, along with Gu Qiuyi and her parents, arrived at the Ye family estate.
Ye Chen’s aunt, Ye Changmin, had been bustling about all day preparing for this family banquet.
Ever since Ye Chen subdued Wan Pojun at Ye Ling Mountain, Ye Changmin had been eager to mend her relationship with her nephew, and today was the perfect chance to shine, so she’d been working tirelessly.
Moreover, as the only member of the Ye family’s second generation invited to this gathering, she felt a swell of pride. If she could secure a foothold among Ye Chen’s father’s generation in the future, she might gain access to even more of the family’s resources.
After all, Ye Chen was deeply disappointed in his uncles and cousins, making this a golden opportunity for her to establish herself.
Ye Zhongquan, her father, doted on her immensely. Though he was no longer the head of the Ye family, he still wanted to give Ye Changmin a leg up.
Once a lavish family banquet was prepared, Ye Chen drove a minivan carrying Gu Qiuyi to the Ye estate, while Gu Yanzhong and his wife followed in another car.
As the vehicles passed through the gate, Ye Changmin supported the old man as they stepped into the courtyard to greet them.
In truth, the old man was in excellent health and didn’t need her help, but Ye Changmin wanted to present a picture of filial harmony in front of Ye Chen and the Gu family, so she played the part eagerly.
Not only that, Ye Changming, who usually wore a sour face, was all smiles today, beaming like an overzealous salesman, his facial muscles practically stiff from the effort.
Seeing Ye Chen park first, she guided the old man over just as Ye Chen and Gu Qiuyi stepped out. Spotting Ye Chen, Ye Changmin immediately plastered on a warm smile and said eagerly, “Oh, Chen’er’s here, and Nannan too!”
Ye Chen nodded slightly in acknowledgment, while Gu Qiuyi, ever sweet, smiled and said, “Auntie Ye, hello!”
Given the close ties with the Ye family, Gu Qiuyi had grown up addressing them as Ye Chen did—calling the old man Grandpa Ye, and the uncles, aunts, and cousins accordingly.
Ye Changmin grinned at Gu Qiuyi, “Oh, Nannan, I’ve been hoping you’d drop the ‘Ye’ and just call me Auntie one day, it feels so distant otherwise!”
Her words made Gu Qiuyi blush.
For now, when addressing people with Ye Chen, she still used their surnames, only after officially joining the family would she drop the prefix and call her simply “Auntie.”
Ye Chen had grown numb to this kind of attitude from both the Ye and Gu families, so he said nothing, merely turning to the Rolls-Royce behind him. Gu Yanzhong parked beside Ye Chen’s minivan, then stepped out with his wife.
“Uncle Ye, Changmin.”
Gu Yanzhong greeted them with a smile as soon as he got out.
Ye Zhongquan and Ye Changmin turned to the couple, struck speechless.
Anyone could see the pair looked younger—shockingly so.
They resembled a couple in their thirties, with great figures and an air of elegance, they could easily pass for a pair of celebrity spouses from the entertainment world.
Ye Changmin couldn’t help but marvel inwardly. Lin Wanqiu was about her age, yet she maintained herself so well—how did she do it?
Ye Zhongquan, however, saw through it instantly.
