Even his own cousin fallen to Jiangnan’s clutches?
Look at that bashful look!
That hesitant expression!
Being handsome means you can do whatever you like?
I, Luo Tianxiang, refuse to accept it!
Little did he know, Yu Ruonan was on the verge of madness!
Her mind racing with what if he actually shows up at eleven tonight!
She had thought Jiangnan was a waiter!
But now…
[Resentment value from Yu Ruonan +1000!]
[From Yu Ruonan…]
…
Meanwhile, Jiangnan had already sensed her lingering gaze!
“Who’s Yu Ruonan? Luo Tianxiang’s acquaintance?”
Xia Yao glanced back, “His cousin, doesn’t come back often, family’s got clout in Australia!”
“What? Fancy her?”
Jiangnan dead serious, “How could I!”
Fancy her?
She’s the one fancying me!
Heh heh…
Let the Luo bloke gloat a bit longer!
The scheme in my clever head’s all fleshed out!
It’s your sis inviting me!
Not me chasing her!
Just then, the entire banquet hall fell silent.
All eyes locked on the main spot!
Out came the Zhong couple, pushing a wheelchair.
Old Master Zhong sat in it!
His white hair neatly combed back!
At over seventy, Old Master Zhong still brimmed with vigour!
Though age showed plainly, his wrinkled face dotted with age spots.
His face bore a sickly pallor, and he kept clutching his mouth in coughs, as if hacking up a lung.
Xia Yao let out a long sigh, “That’s Old Master Zhong!”
“Fit as a fiddle a year ago, but lung cancer’s wrecked him, worse year on year!”
“Fear he won’t last long, if Old Master Zhong goes, what’ll Xuexue do in the Zhong family…”
Jiangnan eyed Old Master Zhong, faint memories stirring.
It was him who took Zhong Yingxue away back then!
“Lung cancer?”
“Yeah… late stage!”
Jiangnan’s eyes whirred like mad, who knows what plotting.
With Old Master Zhong’s entrance.
The crowd surged forward to offer birthday wishes, and he greeted each one.
Not a whit short on etiquette!
“Come! Xiaoxue, why so far off? No kiss for Grandpa?”
Zhong Yingxue smiled and stepped up.
“Grandpa Zhong! Happy birthday!”
“This is the gift I prepared for you!”
Zhong Yingxue produced an exquisite sandalwood box, inside a string of star-moon bodhi beads.
“Haha, my granddaughter knows me best! Knows I like these!”
“Where’s the Xia lass?”
“Grandpa Zhong! Here!”
Xia Yao called out, looped her arm through Jiangnan’s, and went over.
Instantly the centre of attention.
“Grandpa, see if you like this pair? Full-sky-star lion-head nuts!”
Old Master Zhong took the walnuts, face all kindness, “You cheeky thing! Cost a pretty penny, eh? Grandpa loves ’em!”
“Heehee! As long as Grandpa likes!”
While Jiangnan stood there like a lump of wood!
Bloody hell, gifts too?
No one told me!
Wouldn’t have come if I’d known!
Old Master Zhong, “What’s this? Your little boyfriend? Lad’s got a proper nose and eyes! Fine, fine!”
Jiangnan: ???
Listen! Listen!
What kinda compliment is that?
You’re a whizz at flattery, you are!
A nose not a nose, what else?
Xia Yao rolled her eyes, “Him? Not my type!”
Old Master Zhong puzzled, “Then…”
Jiangnan’s face darkened, “Five years back, Nancheng Orphanage!”
“Wielding a wooden sword, whacked you full of lumps on the head, that was me!”
The words dropped, not just Xia Yao froze!
The whole room did!
Bloody hell? What’s the story?
That happened?
Only Zhong Yingxue couldn’t hold it, burst out laughing.
Back then, Old Master Zhong came to adopt Zhong Yingxue, Jiangnan wouldn’t have it!
Chased him round the yard with a wooden sword!
Did manage to lump his head good.
Old Master Zhong’s face shadowed too, their eyes met.
A proper match of equals!
“So it’s you, you rascal!”
Zhong Yingxue laughed, “This time, with Grandpa’s big birthday, specially brought him to meet!”
The waiters were gobsmacked! The seventeen car owners baffled!
So he’s a Zhong guest?
Then why the fuck prance about in waiter clobber!
And nab seventeen keys to lost and found?
Talk about bored!
And Gong Xiaoyu gazed wistfully too, thought Jiangnan a waiter, turns out this.
[Resentment value from Gong Xiaoyu +333!]
[Resentment value from Wang Bo +666!]
[From…]
…
But Luo Tianxiang couldn’t sit still, strode up, smiled, “Wishing Old Master Zhong health like the eastern sea, life like the southern mountains!”
“This time, I’ve prepared a grand gift, you’ll love it!”
He produced a cyan fruit, instant fragrance wafted!
The fruit’s skin even shimmered with spiritual light.
The fruit out, the room erupted!
“My god! Yenkang fruit! Luo family’s gone big!”
“Market price outside’s near thirty mil, fried up!”
“Sacred med from Zedong ancient forest spiritual ruins! Heard it cures all ills!”
“That potent? Then Old Master Zhong’s cancer…”
“Cancer’s beyond it! But slow the illness, sure!”
Gazing at the Yenkang fruit, Old Master Zhong touched too, smiled, “Luo family’s thoughtful! I’ll accept the gesture!”
Luo Tianxiang grinned slyly, “No need to fuss, Grandpa, just a junior’s duty!”
“Whereas someone! Crashes the birthday bash, no gift? Here to mooch grub?”
His eyes slid to Jiangnan.
Zhong Yingxue’s pretty face chilled, “Xiaonan’s with me! Beef with that, take it up with me!”
“Don’t get snide here!”
“Grandpa Zhong, Xiaonan’s just learned of your birthday, no time to prep…”
Zhong Yingxue defending Jiangnan, but Luo Tianxiang sneered,
“Prep? A night-market stall rat, crowd-pleasing brick-splitter clown! Even if prepped, what could he muster?”
“Hand-grabbed pancakes and cold noodles?”
“Heh… Jiangnan, this ain’t your scene!”
Night-market stall rat?
The words out, murmurs rippled!
What?
Clinging to old ties with Zhong Yingxue, latch onto the Zhong big tree?
Instantly, eyes on Jiangnan shifted!
Scorn, mockery, sneers everywhere!
Old Master Zhong didn’t stop it, watched the drama keen.
Zhong Yingxue fumed inside, “Stall rat how? Xiaonan’s made it this far, never leaned on anyone!”
“I won’t have you slag him!”
But Jiangnan grinned wide, “Xiaoxue, don’t fume!”
“Who says I got no gift?”
“Mine’s proper priceless, I stormed Tianchi spiritual ruins, battled golden-rank earth rampage bear!”
“Nine deaths one life, hauled out this peerless treasure!”
“That dog-shit Yenkang fruit don’t even rate!”
Luo Tianxiang scoffed!
“Show it then! Else it’s all hot air!”
Jiangnan, “I won’t let you talk about yourself like that!”
Luo Tianxiang: ???
You fucker!
Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!
