Arriving at the fifth floor, the two families said goodbye politely. The Xiang family went east, and the Chu family went west, and they went their separate ways into two opposite rooms.
The Meihe Hall is mostly painted in retro magenta, where small family dinners are usually held to celebrate the reunion. There are several bags of gifts on the sofa, including brand-name bags and new electronic products, and a large bunch of peach tulips on the coffee table.
Li Cangqiu and Li Heng have already arrived, just the two of them, father and son. Li Cangqiu's current wife is very young, and Li Heng is his only son with his first wife.
When the three members of the Chu family came in, Li Heng was the first to stand up to greet them, gently called "Xiao Hui", and then greeted Mrs. Chu and Chu Shichen.
Mrs. Chu said, "Oh, so many gifts."
Li Heng pulled Chu Shihui to unpack the package. Li Zangqiu came over and stood with Mrs. Chu. Both of them looked very pleased and the atmosphere was like that of a family.
Chu Shichen had a light smile on his face. In the old days, "free love" was popular. When young people talked about love, they liked to go out, walk on the grass, visit poetry clubs, and sit down with their parents when discussing marriage.
In the new generation, Chu Shihui and Li Heng did not go on a date to celebrate their first anniversary, but chose to spend it with their family.
The waiter came to ask if the food was ready. Everyone sat down at the table. Chu Shichen had just pulled out a chair when he said, "Xiao Hui, you've opened so many presents. Go wash your hands."
Upon hearing this, Li Heng also wanted to go, but before he could stand up, Chu Shichen got there first. There was a small independent dressing room in the hall, and the brother and sister went in and stood in front of the mirror to wash their hands.
The water was gurgling. Chu Shichen lowered his head and spoke in a low voice: "That day you asked me if I would work overtime tonight. If you wanted me to come, you would have invited me directly. Isn't beating around the bush a sign that you don't want me to come?"
Chu Shihui hated socializing with elders. She hoped that Chu Shichen would be unable to come because of something, and that the reunion dinner would be postponed or cancelled. She replied, "Do you think I want to come?"
Chu Shichen asked: "Then why don't you refuse?"
Chu Shihui said: "Because this meal was Uncle Li's idea."
Chu Shichen removed his palm, the water stopped, he took out a tissue and put it on the back of his hand, and said: "So, you think that Li Zangqiu's intention cannot be disobeyed."
Chu Shihui was startled by him calling her by her name, and whispered, "Yisi relies on him, I understand."
The tissue was damp, so Chu Shichen crumpled it into a ball and threw it away. It was both fortunate and unfortunate that the girl in the ivory tower had learned to judge the situation early on.
Returning to the dining table, Chu Shichen checked the temperature of the tea. He sipped the cup carefully and did not speak for a long while.
Li Zangqiu asked with concern: "Shichen, why are you so quiet? Are you too tired from work recently?"
Chu Shichen said: "It's okay with me."
Li Heng was about the same age as him and spoke more casually: "By the way, how come you are Xiang Mingzhang's secretary? I find it unbelievable after thinking about it."
"No way." Chu Shichen smiled, "I want to start a company and be a boss like you, but I don't have the ability."
Li Heng waved his hand and said, "I'm just lucky. Du Heng is just a small company, not worth mentioning."
Chu Shichen held the teacup, his slender fingers gently stroking the white porcelain, and his words were as gentle as a spring breeze: "Don't be too modest. Many of Yisi's old customers have changed to Duheng. Can it be all luck?" Li Heng curled the corners of his mouth. It was the first time he talked about the company's resources in public. He couldn't tell whether this was Chu Shichen's unintentional words or a hidden ulterior motive.
Li Zangqiu was experienced after all, and responded first: "Competition in the same industry is inevitable, and it is normal for customers' choices to change. Shichen, if you have any misunderstandings, let's have a good chat some other time."
Chu Shichen said jokingly: "Uncle Li, you are serious. I just think that the younger generation pushes the older generation forward. Maybe Li Heng will be better than his father."
Li Zangqiu raised his cup and said with a smile: "Then I have to work harder. To me, Yisi is more important than my own son."
"Of course." Li Heng agreed, "Take the last medical project for example. My father and I tried our best to get Yisi, but unfortunately..."
On the surface, Chu Shichen was primarily responsible for the incident. Li Heng said, "Xiang Yue benefited from it. He later won the project and gave it to Yisi. He should be grateful to it. I think we were all tricked by Xiang Mingzhang."
Li Zangqiu sighed, "Shichen, don't let outsiders take advantage of you and sow discord between us."
The cheerful and talkative Mrs. Chu sat quietly the whole time. She looked around with her beautiful eyes and pursed her red lips to end the conversation: "Oh, you men love to intrigue. Let's not talk about business. The food is getting cold."
Everyone smiled and turned the page, picked up their chopsticks to taste the dishes, and after eating for a while, they toasted to celebrate Chu Shihui and Li Heng's one-year anniversary. Li Heng was in a good mood and looked forward to how to celebrate the anniversary next year.
Chu Shihui can easily give a report in front of hundreds of people in the academic hall, but she feels uncomfortable at the social table. She just blushes and smiles.
Li Zangqiu smiled kindly: "Li Heng can't stop talking about Xiao Hui. They have such a good relationship, shouldn't they settle down?"
Chu Shichen raised his eyes and asked, "What does it mean to settle down?"
Li Heng expressed his desire to develop further with Chu Shihui. They have known each other for many years and can be considered childhood sweethearts. He started pursuing Chu Shihui when she was a freshman in college. They have been dating for a year now and their relationship is stable, so they can get engaged first.
Chu Shichen put down his chopsticks and understood the purpose of this meal.
Mrs. Chu cried out "Ah!" and held her face like a little girl, but her words were very powerful: "I've been a widow for so long that I don't know how to handle love scenes anymore."
Li Heng didn't get a clear answer, so he turned around and asked, "Xiao Hui, are you willing?"
Chu Shihui was still smiling, with the corners of her mouth curving as if semi-permanently: "I, I—"
"You are just a little girl, and you want to talk about marriage at such a young age?"
Chu Shichen interrupted and said, "You are the only one in the family who can study. Let's finish college first."
Mrs. Chu glanced at him inconspicuously and nodded: "That's right. When Chu Zhe was alive, he valued Xiao Hui's studies the most."
Li Heng said: "I will graduate next summer anyway."
"Then there's no need to worry. One year is not a big deal." Chu Shichen said, "If the love between two people lasts for a long time, there is no need to care about one day or one night."
Chu Shichen said: "After losing her memory, I feel that this world is very new and I can't explore it all in my lifetime. Wouldn't it be good to let her be free for a few more years?"
Li Zangqiu said: "This is not a conflict. In the final analysis, Li Heng likes Xiao Hui too much. He should get married first and then start a career."
"This is an old concept. Now it's a new era." Chu Shichen said, "Uncle, why do you seem to have traveled through time from the Republic of China? In fact, people were quite open-minded back then."
Chu Shihui's stiff smile disappeared unconsciously, and she watched Chu Shichen's "debate" with a sharp gaze. She felt inexplicably confident and said, "I agree with my elder brother's opinion."
Li Zangqiu was stirring the soup without saying a word. Li Heng looked normal, but his enthusiastic energy was gone.
A wedding banquet that seemed to be a natural outcome was disrupted by Chu Shichen, and the marriage was called off. He guessed that the father and son must be unhappy, but he didn't care.
The box fell into silence. Since he had played the good guy and the bad guy, there was no need to be polite. Chu Shichen put down his chopsticks and left the room under the pretext of smoking.
There was a circle of brass railings around the corridor, and high and low chandeliers were hung on the hollow skylight. Chu Shichen leaned against the railing to get some fresh air, his eyes following the glass gauze hanging under the lamp.
A breeze blew through the hall, causing the curtains to flutter. He caught a glimpse of the Meiman Hall opposite.
In addition to relatives, the Xiang family also invited a group of directors of Xiang Yue.
Before Xiang Xingzhao fell ill, he was the unshakable leader of the company and had a very high prestige. Although he can't recognize people now, his children are respectful to him, his grandchildren are filial to him, and he is respected by a group of old subordinates. Today's birthday banquet is a real gathering.
Chu Shichen spent the time smoking a cigarette while imagining.
He was about to go back when the door of Meiman Hall suddenly opened.
The manager who was serving the banquet came out hurriedly with a timid attitude. Just as he closed the door, two waiters came to deliver the cooked longevity noodles, and the manager hurriedly stopped them.
The waiter said: "The head chef has instructed that the food must be served to the guests within five minutes, otherwise it will affect the taste."
The manager pushed the man away and glared at him, "I came out with my tail between my legs, how can I worry about the taste?!"
The waiter hesitated and asked, "What about this side?"
The manager said, "Take it back and redo it later if necessary."
The waiter asked curiously, "What's going on in there?"
The manager whispered: "Mr. Xiang suddenly lost his temper. It was scary."
The two of them walked around half of the corridor, talking to each other. They happened to pass by Chu Shichen. According to the rules, they had to greet the customers. Before they could open their mouths, Chu Shichen took the lead and asked, "Which Mr. Xiang?"
The manager didn’t know the specific name, so he said, “The tallest and most handsome one who sits in the right seat with the old man.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the door of the Meiman Hall opened.
Xiang Kun was pushing the wheelchair with a sullen face, and beside him was his wife and eldest son Xiang Ruguang. Xiang Xingzhao in the wheelchair was crying incoherently, as if he had been stimulated by something.
They came out of the hall door first, and then Xiang Huan came out with her handbag. Her husband was beside her, as if trying to coax her not to be angry.
Xiang Ruxu walked slowly to the door and looked back.
In just a few minutes, all the children, uncles, aunts, nephews and brothers of the Xiang family filed out, and the directors of old Xiang Yue also left one after another.
Everyone had left, and the hall was completely silent, with only two carved doors left.
Only Xiang Mingzhang was missing.
The manager was sweating: "This, this..."
Chu Shichen was a little worried and walked quickly along the railing to the door.
Inside the Meiman Hall, there was a dark gold ceiling, rouge walls, a table full of treasures, and dozens of expensive gifts piled up like a mountain.
At this moment, the banquet was over, the room was empty and quiet, with only Xiang Mingzhang left at the table.
Without the support of all the stars, I am left alone.
He sat with his back to the door and poured a glass of white wine and drank it all in one gulp.
The footsteps slowly approached and stopped behind him. Xiang Mingzhang smelled the faint aroma of Canaan and said, "Why, come and toast, you are a step late."
Chu Shichen asked: "Then why don't you leave?"
Xiang Mingzhang asked back: "Then why did you leave?"
Chu Shichen replied: "Because I messed up this meal."
"Same here." Xiang Mingzhang picked up the bottle of wine. "Secretary Chu, do you want to have a drink?"
Chu Shichen said: "You filled my glass, so I can't refuse."
Xiang Mingzhang filled his own wine cup, stood up, turned around, and held it in the air. Chu Shichen raised his hand to take it, put it to his lips, tilted his head back and drank it all.
(End of this chapter)