"Yue’er is here."

When Zhao Yinglan saw Xue Yue come in, she waved her over. "Come, sit here."

Xue Yue glanced around the room. Everyone was here: her brother’s family, Uncle Zheng, Zhao Yinglan and her husband with their grandson, and Doctor Wen, who must have been sitting next to his wife.

Zhao Yinglan’s eyes lit up when she saw He Lang next to Xue Yue. "Oh, my, Yue’er, you have much better taste than your mother! This is your husband, isn’t he?"

"Zhao Yinglan! That’s it, I’m leaving," Zheng Guofeng said, exasperated.

Everyone else burst out laughing.

Xue Yue nodded. "This is my husband, He Lang, my daughter, Ruanruan, and my son, Shiyi."

Zhao Yinglan said, "These two children are so beautiful. Tsk, tsk. It’s no wonder they say strong genes run in the family. With such good-looking parents, how could the children be anything less?" As she spoke, she shot her husband a displeased glance.

Zaven Reynolds just kept grinning, as if he was already used to such comments.

This made Zheng Guofeng chuckle. "Hey, Zhao Yinglan, we all know your son is a foreigner, but is he really that ugly? Don’t tell me he looks like you."

At these words, the four members of the younger generation exchanged glances. They found this novel, as they had never seen such a sharp-tongued Zheng Guofeng before. He was usually so calm and steady.

"Pfft." Qi Mingyue snorted with laughter.

Zhao Yinglan glanced at Qi Mingyue, then glared at Zheng Guofeng. "My son may look Western, but he’s very handsome. If you don’t believe me, look at my grandson. With a son like this, how could his father be ugly? And you’re calling me ugly? I’m better looking than you in every way, okay?"

As she spoke, Zhao Yinglan pulled Pain forward. The boy had a dazed look on his face, completely unable to understand what they were saying.

Zheng Guofeng said coolly, "That’s not necessarily true. We’ve never seen your son, so who knows if you’re just bragging. But you’ve seen my son. He’s quite a talent, isn’t he?"

Zhao Yinglan scoffed. "Hmph, and that’s thanks to Wanyi. How dare you even say that? You’re not losing out by acknowledging this son, are you? He’s already grown up, and only now do you, his biological father, suddenly show up. If you ask me, you’d deserve it if he didn’t acknowledge you."

Zheng Guofeng fell silent at her words, probably because he knew he was in the wrong. He glanced at Xue Xingzhou, only to see him smiling faintly, as if completely unaffected by the exchange.

Qi Mingyue snorted coldly. "Are you two going to take this outside? Are we going to eat or not?"

Zhao Yinglan turned her gaze on her and said mockingly, "Qi Mingyue, after all these years, you’re still the same. Such a conversation killer. What does our business have to do with you? Why do you have to stick your nose in everything?"

Qi Mingyue casually flicked her hair. "Can’t be helped. My Doctor Wen just happens to like me this way. My old Wen wanted to come to this gathering today. I wasn’t going to, but then I heard you were coming. In that case, I had to be here. I can’t give you any openings, not that there’s any chance of that happening anyway."

’If there weren’t so many people here, I’d really give Qi Mingyue a piece of my mind,’ Zhao Yinglan gritted her teeth. ’She’s so dramatic! I don’t know how Wen Yuanbo could have been so blind as to fall for her.’

As if guessing what Zhao Yinglan was thinking, Qi Mingyue said, "You could never win an argument against me when we were young. Are you planning on turning the tables now?"

Zheng Guofeng clicked his tongue. "You two were like fighting cocks every time you met when you were young. You’re both grandmothers now, so why are you still so uncompromising with each other? Can’t you just talk nicely? Wen Yuanbo, say something!"

Wen Yuanbo looked at Zaven. "Why don’t you get yours under control first?"

Zaven blinked, then had no choice but to gently pull on Zhao Yinglan’s arm. "Darling, why don’t we eat first? The children are hungry."

Zhao Yinglan pressed her lips together and sat down.

Wen Yuanbo also pulled Qi Mingyue down to sit. "Getting angry will give you wrinkles."

Qi Mingyue touched her face and smiled at him. Zhao Yinglan froze for a moment, looking a bit lost in thought.

Xue Yue and the others from the younger generation just watched them.

None of them had expected a scene like this today. If they didn’t know these people were all successful in their careers, it would be hard to imagine that this was how they interacted in private.

Wen Yuanbo looked at the younger group and said, "Sorry you had to see that. Your father’s leg hasn’t been bothering him again, has it?"

He Lang shook his head. "No, it’s been recovering well. We have Doctor Wen to thank for that."

Wen Yuanbo smiled. "No need to thank me. Speaking of which, I’m something of an elder to you all, so you can come to me if you need anything in the future. Though it would be best if you never need to, of course."

He Lang smiled too.

Wen Yuanbo then looked at Xue Yue and Xue Xingzhou. "Now that we’re all aware of our connection, let’s keep in touch. I was good friends with your mother, too."

Xue Yue and Xue Xingzhou both nodded.

Zhao Yinglan let out a sneer. Wen Yuanbo looked at her. "Your personality still hasn’t changed. No matter how good it is abroad, it’s not as good as home, is it? You should come back to visit more often when you have time. It’s not like you have nowhere to go when you return; after all, us old folks are still around. When are you leaving?"

Zhao Yinglan said irritably, "What, are you trying to kick me out already?"

Wen Yuanbo sighed. "If you can stay for a few more days, come over to our house sometime. I know how to cook now. I’ll let you try my cooking."

Zhao Yinglan’s gaze flickered, and she didn’t speak. Qi Mingyue looked down, fiddling with her fingers, and said flatly, "Well, we’ve invited you. Whether you come or not is up to you. It’s not like I’m going to eat you, anyway."

Zhao Yinglan picked at the corner of the table and said resentfully, "I’m going. Of course, I’m going. I’ll bring my husband with me and eat you out of house and home."

Qi Mingyue seemed to crack a small smile, but she quickly returned to her cool, indifferent expression.

"Alright, let’s have the waiter bring the food," Zheng Guofeng said.

Finally, it was time to eat.

’So this is what it feels like to be on edge just listening to other people talk,’ Xue Yue and the others thought, breathing a sigh of relief.

After they finished eating and went outside, Xue Yue gave Pain the toy she had brought for him. Zhao Yinglan smiled. "That’s very thoughtful of you."

Xue Yue shook her head.

The different families parted ways, leaving Xue Yue’s family and Xue Xingzhou’s family.

Zheng Guofeng lived far away and wasn’t headed in the same direction, so he left first.

Xue Yue said to Xue Xingzhou, "We should head back, too."

Only then did Xue Xingzhou notice He Lang’s motorcycle. "Whoa, you bought a motorcycle?"

He Lang raised an eyebrow. "Like it? Want me to get you one, too?"

Xue Xingzhou walked around the motorcycle, looking it over. "No thanks. It’s too loud. I don’t want people staring."

Then, Xue Xingzhou leaned close to He Lang’s ear and warned, "Keep a low profile recently. The higher-ups are about to launch a crackdown. Make sure you tell your men not to get themselves caught."

He Lang frowned and turned to look at him.

Xue Xingzhou nodded. "It’s real. It’ll probably last for a long time, so don’t think you can get lucky. This is what we’re working on right now."

The Public Security Bureau had already received the notice. Xue Xingzhou had a very deep impression of this matter because he remembered a singer or an actor being arrested to be made an example of.

He Lang nodded, planning to hold a big meeting tomorrow.