Chapter 3

Leaving the resting bedroom, she went out and realized that she had made a mistake. What a huge house! What a long corridor! My god, could the shrimp hanging on the corridor be authentic works by Qi Baishi?!

Zhong Ruanxing got lost in the corridor of a rich man.

Until a butler-like person appeared with a tray, seeing the young man who looked like he was appreciating the paintings standing in the corridor, he hesitated for a moment, but still reminded: "Young Master San, the Old Master and Old Madam have already sat down for the meal."

Zhong Ruanxing exercised her lifelong acting skills, and said indifferently: "Take me there."

The butler was stunned for a moment: "Yes."

With him leading the way, Zhong Ruanxing finally walked out of this maze-like noble long corridor. The butler led her to take the elevator downstairs to the first floor, through the antique courtyard, and finally arrived at the family banquet hall.

Through the hollow carved window, Zhong Ruanxing saw that there were many people inside, with the old and the young sitting together, laughing and chatting, a warm big family full of joy and harmony. However, when she stepped into the room, she didn't know if it was her illusion, but she felt the atmosphere dropped a few degrees in an instant.

The laughter quieted down, and the young girl who was playing with her mobile phone on the sofa near the door greeted her with some restraint: "Brother Three."

Zhong Ruanxing remembered her own taciturn tycoon image and nodded her head coldly.

Song Lecheng, that bastard, was also there. When he looked up at her, Zhong Ruanxing clearly felt that there was no kindness in his eyes. He smiled with ill intentions and teased her: "Brother Three, how come you're so late, making the elders wait for you alone?"

Seeing the enemy extremely jealous, as soon as Zhong Ruanxing saw him, she remembered the malicious suppression Huaguang Media had inflicted on her over the years, making her already miserable performing career even worse!

Zhong Ruanxing gave him a cold glance. If looks could kill, there would already be a bloody hole in Song Lecheng's body.

In normal times, Song Jingcheng seldom laughed or spoke, and his style of doing things carried a rare ruthlessness for a young man. To be honest, deep down, Song Lecheng was still a little afraid of him. However, no matter what Song Jingcheng said in the past, he never gave Song Lecheng any response, so it led to Song Lecheng becoming more and more presumptuous in front of him.

Now being glared at by him, Song Lecheng felt a chill down his back. He reacted that he was actually deterred by him, and his eyes showed some irritation, but he dared to be angry but did not dare to speak, so he could only lower his head in indignation.

There were more than a dozen people in the room. Zhong Ruanxing scanned them and sat down according to the information she had just crammed. Finally, she walked to Mr. and Mrs. Song who were sitting in the main seats: "Grandpa, Grandma, I'm sorry I'm late."

Song Deming always maintained a dignified appearance with joy and anger not showing on his face. He glanced at her lightly: "Everyone is here, let's sit down."

So everyone in the room started moving and took their seats. However, Mrs. Song looked much kinder. She asked with concern: "How was your rest?"

Zhong Ruanxing said: "Not bad."

Mrs. Song said: "You can't do this in the future. Pulling an all-nighter and then flying back from abroad overnight is too tiring for your body."

Zhong Ruanxing's grandma had passed away many years ago. Mrs. Song was full of nobility and grace, naturally incomparable to her grandma. But perhaps because of her age, the kindness and amiability emanating from the two elderly people was similar. Zhong Ruanxing obediently said, "I know, Grandma."

Mr. Song glanced at her, his eyes as sharp as an eagle. Zhong Ruanxing was startled in her heart, thinking she had blown her cover. But she heard the old master say sarcastically: "You're quite talkative today."

Zhong Ruanxing: "......"

Mrs. Song reproached him dissatisfiedly: "The child is so busy and still flew back overnight to have dinner with you. Don't say such unnecessary things!"

Mr. Song let out a cold laugh, raised his teacup to take a sip, but didn't say anything else.

Zhong Ruanxing felt that this old man had quite a personality.

While chatting with the two elders, the dozen or so people had all taken their seats, and the remaining position was naturally hers. Zhong Ruanxing walked over unobtrusively and sat down. Song Jingwu, the second uncle of the Song family, laughed and spoke first: "Xing, how did the project discussion go in Berlin this time?"

Zhong Ruanxing said: "Quite good."

Song Jingwu sighed: "These Germans are really not easy to deal with, dragging a good project with us for half a year. If it were up to me, we shouldn't have wasted time on this long ago. If we had invested in the chip project I suggested at that time, we would have reaped the rewards already."

Zhong Ruanxing: Silence is golden.

However, Song Rusi, the fourth aunt of the Song family, picked up the conversation: "Oh come on, brother. The chip you mentioned was revealed to have problems in the production line not long ago. The batch that entered the market is being urgently recalled now. It was the Chen family who invested in it, right? I had dinner with him yesterday, he was so worried that he had a few more wrinkles. I think the project Xing is negotiating is quite good. Although it has taken a long time, it is reliable."

Song Jingwu's face was a little ugly at being refuted. He still wanted to argue, but Song Xinwen, the eldest uncle of the Song family, interrupted them in a deep voice: "Both of you stop talking, let's just eat."

Zhong Ruanxing: Silence is the healthiest dinner table tonight.

The Song family was probably used to Song Jingcheng's silent ways, and didn't feel anything wrong. The topic soon turned elsewhere. Zhong Ruanxing secretly breathed a sigh of relief and ate quietly.

As a wealthy family banquet, the dishes were too sumptuous, really delicious!

Anyway, it's not her own body so she doesn't need to maintain her figure, eat the hell out of it!

The Song family did not follow the etiquette of no talking during meals. The monthly family banquet was for liveliness. So during the meal, there was chatting and laughter. The few young people of Song Jingcheng's generation amused Old Master Song into laughing loudly.

Except for Song Jingwu asking about the project at the beginning of the meal, no one else spoke to Zhong Ruanxing afterwards.

Although she was completely carefree, while quietly eating, she still couldn't control the uncomfortable feeling of being an outsider that didn't belong. Even as a stranger, she had this feeling, so what about Song Jingcheng?

Her phone buzzed and she looked down to check. It was a message from her own number: I have arrived at the Binhai Villa. She wiped her mouth and stood up to take her leave: "Grandpa, Grandma, something urgent came up at the company and I have to go back to deal with it right away, sorry."

Mr. Song waved his hand indifferently. Mrs. Song frowned: "What's the urgent matter that can't wait until after the meal?"

Zhong Ruanxing smiled and said, "It's very urgent. Grandma, after I finish up, I'll come back to accompany you for a meal."

Sitting next to Mr. Song, Song Jingwu, the second uncle, poured Mr. Song a cup of tea and sighed: "Xing has gotten thinner since I last saw him. With so much business at the company that he has to worry about everywhere, now he can't even have a decent meal. I say, Dad, you shouldn't have given Xing such heavy responsibilities. He's still young, how can he handle so many things? Don't let him work himself to exhaustion in the end."

Although it sounded like he was caring, Zhong Ruanxing sensed something off about it.

It seems that this second uncle of the Song family is no good from his father down to his son!

Mr. Song raised his cup to drink tea, glancing at her lightly: "Your second uncle says you can't handle it. What do you think?"

Zhong Ruanxing felt she couldn't remain silent anymore, or she might sink Song Jingcheng's CEO status: "I can handle it, thanks for your concern, uncle."

Song Jingwu unnaturally smiled.

Zhong Ruanxing said, "Then I'll get going first."

Just as she turned around, Mr. Song called her to stop: "How are your thoughts on the blind date with the Bai family's daughter?"

How is there even a blind date plot? The script didn't say that! Zhong Ruanxing bit the bullet and replied: "...I'll think about it some more."

Mr. Song suddenly erupted: "Think about it some more! Think about it some more! If you keep thinking about it, you'll be a lifelong bachelor!" After this outburst, he slumped back into his chair, panting heavily as he clutched his chest.

"Dad, calm down, Xing is still young, there's no rush."

"Dad, drink some tea, your temper flares up and your blood pressure flares up with it. Don't play with your own health."

"Little brother, look at you, provoking grandfather's anger again!"

Everyone crowded around to comfort the old master. Mrs. Song signaled her to leave quickly.

Zhong Ruanxing stood behind the crowd and still said in a low voice: "Grandfather, don't be angry. I'll get going."

Mr. Song: "Hurry up and scram!"

Zhong Ruanxing turned around to leave. Behind her came the fawning voice of Song Lecheng: "Grandfather, if Little Brother really doesn't want to, I can go for him. Let your grandson share your burden!"

Mr. Song: "Get lost! The Bai family won't look at you at all!"

Zhong Ruanxing: Felt pretty satisfied.