After Song Qiuyu dressed up in full regalia and took Jiang Xiao’s arm, by the time they rushed to the hotel where the engagement banquet was being held, quite a few people had already arrived.
These were, of course, all family and friends.
They were chatting and laughing.
The Jiang family had also, over the three years of Song Qiuyu and Jiang Xiao’s efforts, become completely reassured about them, their faces full of blessings.
Grandma Jiang had even enthusiastically brought along her nunchucks, preparing to perform a personal talent show after the engagement banquet, set to Jay Chou’s songs, for a solo performance.
As for why there would be a talent show at this engagement banquet—
That had to be credited to Grandpa Jiang’s clever idea.
Simply put, it was all to make good videos, for the sake of their grandson and granddaughter-in-law’s career.
As an old businessman, Grandpa Jiang had fully understood the core of the director circle—in essence, you had to stand out to grab attention!
One word: competition! Three words: compete differently!
It was worth mentioning that the host of today’s engagement banquet was very special—also one of their friends.
It was Shen Zhou.
Over these three years, he had been constantly yo-yoing between being a fat guy and a slim young man. At this moment, he was in his fat-guy state.
But soon, a somewhat unfamiliar figure walked into their field of vision.
“Long time no see.”
Jiang Zhi took off his sunglasses, smiled at the relatives before him, and said.
“…”
The Jiang family fell silent for a moment.
Whoosh, Grandma Jiang snatched the walking stick from Grandpa Jiang’s hand, dashed forward in one stride, and aimed to break the other’s leg.
It happened so fast that by the time everyone reacted, Grandma Jiang had already charged in front of Jiang Zhi.
Then Jiang Zhi, as if anticipating it, sidestepped, dodging Grandma Jiang’s cane, and laughed:
“It’s been so many years since we last met, Grandma, you’re still the same as ever, haven’t changed a bit—even your spirit is the same, just like when you were young!”
“You little brat, you have the guts to come back, so have the guts not to dodge!”
Grandma Jiang said through gritted teeth.
“I think I can explain.”
Jiang Zhi kept dodging, raising both hands in a brief moment of respite, an expression of gentle innocence on his face, still smiling, looking quite blameless.
“I came because I received an invitation.”
Hearing this, Grandma Jiang naturally didn’t believe him.
She had no memory of it, and she figured no one in the family would have the audacity to secretly invite Jiang Zhi.
She let out a contemptuous laugh and said, “Oh, really? Then where’s your invitation? Did a weasel run off with it again?”
There was a saying in their hometown that the Great Yellow Immortal would jump out at critical moments to save people and complete his own merits.
When Jiang Zhi was a kid, he’d claimed more than once that his homework had been stolen by a weasel.
Back then, everyone believed him—until his true nature fully surfaced, and they realized—
All these adults had been completely fooled by a ten-year-old kid!
On one hand, it was a loss of face; on the other, they had to admit he might have a very high talent for business.
Then.
Left home young.
Within a few years, Jiang Zhi started from scratch and founded an entertainment company.
Just as they expected, he had carved out his own world out there.
But Jiang Zhi’s rebellious past would forever be etched into the souls of the Jiang family.
Seeing this, Jiang Zhi sighed and pulled out the invitation to prove his innocence.
“What?”
Grandma Jiang stared at the invitation, eyes wide.
She turned her head and scrutinized everyone behind her with her gaze.
Silence spoke louder than words.
Under that look, everyone turned to look at the person next to them, their minds racing with many thoughts.
They murmured among themselves.
“Today is the engagement day for the Song and Jiang kids. Who would be so inconsiderate?”
“Is it possible that person isn’t even here?”
“Whoever secretly sent the invitation, step forward!”
“Yeah, be a man about it!”
So it had come to this after all!
Song Qiuyu pursed her lips and exhaled through her nose.
The person who had secretly sent the invitation to Jiang Zhi was herself.
Of course, she had thought it over carefully before making this decision.
To be honest, she didn’t like Jiang Zhi as a person.
Most people wouldn’t invite someone they hated to their engagement or wedding, because the other party might get angry and ruin the ceremony.
But Jiang Zhi’s case was different.
Even though he expressed it in a different way, she could feel that Jiang Zhi probably still cared about Jiang Xiao, his younger cousin!
Plus, Jiang Zhi had once opposed her and Jiang Xiao being together.
So today’s engagement banquet absolutely had to invite him!
“So, who was it?”
Grandma Jiang frowned and said sternly.
When they had discussed the guest list for the engagement banquet earlier, Jiang Zhi hadn’t been on it.
A traitor had infiltrated their midst!
Then Song Qiuyu silently stepped forward, obediently raised a small hand, and confessed with a very sincere attitude: “Grandma, it was me!”
Hearing this, Grandma Jiang froze. Xie Zhuran and Lin An both stared at her in surprise—so it was Lao Song?
Lao Song was this brave?
Most of the guests thought the same.
But Jiang Xiao’s aunt was a bit different; instead of looking at Song Qiuyu, she turned to check Jiang Xiao’s reaction.
Jiang Xiao looked calm, as if he were in the know.
Grandma Jiang also noticed: “Jiang Xiao, did you know about this too?”
“No, I didn’t.”
Jiang Xiao answered Grandma Jiang honestly.
After saying that, he also took a step forward, then grabbed Song Qiuyu’s little hand. “But I know now.”
Grandma Jiang looked at her grandson with some exasperation, gripping her walking stick tightly.
Song Qiuyu stole a glance at Jiang Xiao.
But that glance was caught without surprise by the other party.
“I probably know what you’re thinking, Xi’er. You think that because Cousin once opposed us, you wanted to invite him here to see how well we’re doing now, right?”
Jiang Xiao gave a gentle smile.
“Actually, I had the same idea. So I also prepared an invitation and sent one to Cousin.”
“Huh?”
Song Qiuyu was stunned.
“Ha… no wonder I received two invitations.”
Jiang Zhi gently rubbed two fingers together, and two overlapping wedding invitations parted.
Looking at the two invitations in Jiang Zhi’s hand, Song Qiuyu’s eyes widened.
Recalling Jiang Xiao’s words, she coughed a couple of times in embarrassment.
Why didn’t Haki Xiao discuss this with me at all!
Though she had done the same, hehe.
After much persuasion, Grandma Jiang temporarily refrained from breaking Jiang Zhi’s legs for showing up at their engagement banquet.
The entire engagement banquet proceeded very smoothly.
After the banquet, Shen Zhou, as the host, took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, looked at the setting sun outside, pulled one out, held it between two fingers, and sighed.
Sigh, life—why, after three years of hard work, had he still not turned into a girl?
Could it be that his body was just damn too healthy?
In a few more months, he’d be hosting the wedding for these two again.
Damn, he was so jealous—couldn’t be the groom, and he didn’t even qualify to be the bride.
The next second, his cigarette was taken away.
Shen Zhou turned his head and saw Xiao He’s young face.
At this moment, Xiao He still had a crew cut, dressed in a baseball cap and a plaid shirt, with unfashionable blue-and-white pants.
This was the outfit that had defined Xiao He’s four years of college.
As a brother, Shen Zhou admitted that Xiao He had a decent face and good upbringing, but in the end, it was his dullness, woodenness, and lack of style that got him dumped by his girlfriend.
After glancing at Xiao He twice, Shen Zhou felt more envy than sympathy—at least Xiao He’s relationship experience wasn’t zero.
Some people went through all of college without even holding a girl’s hand.
He was silent for a moment, then pulled out a lighter.
“Need a light?”
“I came to stop you from smoking.”
Xiao He walked toward the trash can and tossed the cigarettes straight in.
“Sigh…”
Shen Zhou couldn’t be bothered to get angry with him.
He just quickly hid the rest of the pack and the lighter, then put on a profound expression and looked up at the sky again.
“Xiao He, what kind of guys do girls really like?”
“I don’t know.”
As soon as Xiao He said that, two young girls from the engagement banquet blushed, walked up to him, raised their phones, and asked for his contact info.
“…”
A tear seemed to streak from the corner of Shen Zhou’s eye.
He wiped the corner of his eye and, facing the direction of the setting sun, walked away in dejection.
Damn it, this life…