54. Brother and sister love

At dinner time, the auntie who lives there prepared four dishes and a soup, all of which were common Sichuan and Hunan dishes.

Chen Yunsheng didn't eat much and was very efficient, so when he put down his chopsticks, Jiang Nan was still sipping her soup, looking unsatisfied. He quietly wiped the corner of his mouth with his napkin, his eyes watching Jiang Nan's every move.

"Are you done?" Jiang Nan fed herself a mouthful of soup, then looked down at the dishes on the table that were clearly more to her liking. She said sheepishly, "I'll have something you like next time."

Chen Yunsheng was stunned for a moment, then his eyes became gentle: "Okay."

Jiang Nan also smiled, his eyes curved.

But after a quiet meal, Jiang Nan began to think about the smooth afternoon and a vague doubt. She couldn't help but say, "Meeting Teacher Fu today was a bit stressful, but the suggestions he made were truly professional. I feel that if we revise the plan according to his ideas, the results will definitely be improved to a higher level."

"Fu Yifang may have a bad temper, but he's capable and naturally has a sharp eye," Chen Yunsheng said calmly, helping Jiang Nan pick out the peppercorns from the dish with serving chopsticks. "Having him offer his opinions is a sign of recognition in itself."

Although he had vowed in the afternoon to cherish the peaceful life ahead and ignore those entanglements, it was really hard for Jiang Nan not to guess and imagine the love, hate and vengeance involved.

"That's true, but I always feel like it went too smoothly. Furthermore, Teacher Fu's attitude was strange when he mentioned President Song," she observed Chen Yunsheng's expression. "Do you think there's any other reason why President Song specifically designated Teacher Fu?"

Chen Yunsheng kept picking at the peppercorns and evasively answered, "There could be many reasons for commercial cooperation. We value his fame, admire his style, or simply think his tone aligns with the brand's positioning."

"But," Jiang Nan put down the soup bowl, leaned forward slightly, and said in a tone that was half coquettish and half pleading, "I always feel that it's not that simple. Sister Han Yan is also acting strangely. Chen Yunsheng, just tell me a little bit, is it related to the young master of the Song family? I promise not to say anything nonsense!"

She clasped her hands together and looked at him pleadingly, like a believer who was curious but afraid of being rejected.

Chen Yunsheng wasn't very good at dealing with her expressions. He looked down at the peppercorns he had picked out, weighing them.

Seeing this, Jiang Nan immediately softened her voice: "Boss Chen, just say a little bit. Otherwise, I'll keep imagining things and feel uneasy. What if I say or do something wrong and bring trouble to the Chen family? After all, I'm now Mrs. Chen Yunsheng."

Mrs. Chen Yunsheng—an ambiguous title that made Chen Yunsheng's ears turn red at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Jiang Nan blinked, realizing that he had said something wrong. His face instantly turned red, and he quickly lowered his head to drink the soup, wishing he could bury his face in the bowl.

Thus, an awkward and ambiguous atmosphere spread at the dinner table.

It took a long moment for Chen Yunsheng to recover. He took a long sip of water from his cup, then sighed softly, as if defeated. He said calmly, "Song Huai... is the Song family's adopted son. Although he's an adopted son, the Song family has always groomed him as their heir. I... although I don't like some of his ways, our two families have been partners for many years, and there haven't been any business problems, so I didn't pay much attention to it."

"Later," Chen Yunsheng paused before reluctantly continuing, "later, he and Song Wei... became a couple. There were even rumors that they were getting married."

"Song Wei?!" Jiang Nan looked at Chen Yunsheng in surprise.

He nodded. "But the marriage didn't work out. Song Wei gave up, and Song Huai married someone else. As for how Song Wei and Han Yan broke up... outsiders have no way of knowing the specific details, but we only know that it was an ugly fight."

"With Song Huai's death, Han Yan and his wife Gao Wanqing seemed to be more or less involved. Since then, the relationship between them has completely broken down." He chose his words carefully, trying to be as vague as possible.

After he finished speaking, he looked up at Jiang Nan, his expression becoming serious and worried. "These matters are very complicated and dirty. Just know the general idea. Don't ask any further, and don't mention it in front of outsiders, especially Song Wei and Han Yan. Do you understand?"

Jiang Nan was shocked by his rare serious tone and nodded quickly: "I understand. I will definitely not say anything nonsense."

"Eat," Chen Yunsheng picked up his chopsticks again and picked up a piece of fish for her, "the food is getting cold."

"Okay," Jiang Nan said regretfully after taking a bite of the fish, "It's still a bit of a pity."

"What a pity?"

"I just feel that Sister Han Yan, President Song, and Gao Wanqing all look so capable and could have been very good friends, but in the end, because of..." She didn't dare to continue, but her meaning was very clear.

"If we take a closer look, they might reconcile," Chen Yunsheng agreed vaguely, then abruptly changed the subject. "There's something I need to tell you. Grandpa's birthday party is scheduled for early September."

Jiang Nan raised his head and swallowed the food in his mouth: "Family dinner, or something else?"

"My family wants to combine it with the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, so it will be a bigger event," Chen Yunsheng said. "There will be more guests than last Dragon Boat Festival. We may need to go back to the old house for a few days in advance."

Jiang Nan nodded and started thinking about how to deal with the situation that day.

Just thinking about this grand scene made her scalp tingle.

"Mom has someone contact the master craftsman at Chunhua Qiushi," Chen Yunsheng continued, his gaze fixed on her face. "In a few days, someone will come to take your measurements and make a few cheongsams for you to wear at the banquet."

Jiang Nan had heard of Chunhua Qiushi. It was Jiangcheng's most famous cheongsam custom shop, renowned for its intricate craftsmanship and luxurious understated elegance. Appointments usually required months in advance. She subconsciously waved her hand, "No need to bother. I'll just buy a new dress."

"Grandpa meant it," Chen Yunsheng explained gently. "He said that no matter what my purpose is, I must take good care of you at this banquet. And it won't be a big deal. Just pick out the styles and materials you like, and don't worry about anything else."

He said it lightly, but Jiang Nan understood that Mr. Chen probably wanted to use this banquet to declare his approval of her, especially at this critical juncture when his second uncle and second aunt were watching her covetously and there might be many people outside snooping around. The significance of these cheongsams was far more than just a few pieces of clothing.

She had no choice but to nod and stop refusing: "Thank you for your concern, Grandpa."

——

Jiang Nan went into the room and answered a call from Jiang's mother. When she ended the call and returned to the living room, she found Chen Yunsheng already sitting on the sofa with a thick booklet in his hand.

Seeing her come out, he waved to her: "Come and take a look."

Jiang Nan walked over and sat down on the sofa next to him, only to discover that he was holding a cheongsam album from Chunhua Qiushi. The album was beautifully printed, with each page showcasing different styles of cheongsams and exquisite fabric samples.

"See if there are any styles you like," Chen Yunsheng handed her the album. "You can also take a look at the fabrics. When the craftsman comes, you can ask her opinion. If the style and fabric don't match, we can change it."

Jiang Nan took the album, her fingertips brushing over the smooth pages and fabric. Each cheongsam was exquisite, ranging from traditional flat-cut to refined designs. The fabrics varied in style, from graceful plain brocade to ornate embroidery, creating a dazzling array of designs. She marveled, sighing that many of the cheongsams in it were practically museum-worthy.

"How about this one?" Chen Yunsheng leaned over and pointed at a light green cheongsam with a classic and elegant style. "The color is refreshing and suitable for early autumn."

His sudden approach made Jiang Nan's heartbeat quicken slightly. She leaned back calmly, her gaze fixed on the cheongsam he was pointing at. "Isn't it a little too plain? Wouldn't it be formal enough for a party?"

Chen Yunsheng frowned and thought for a while, then said firmly, "No."

But he didn't say what the reason was.

He turned the page calmly and saw the long red cheongsam embroidered with gold thread in the album. His tone became mischievous: "How about this one? It's very formal. Grandpa will like it."

The cheongsam was indeed gorgeous and eye-catching, with exquisite embroidery, but it looked like a wedding dress—Jiang Nan felt a surge of pressure as she looked at it: "This... is too bright."

"Celebratory." Chen Yunsheng said, trying not to laugh.

Jiang Nan finally reacted and tilted her head to look at his face: "Are you serious?"

Chen Yunsheng turned a few more pages without changing his expression. "This dark blue one is nice. It looks very stable."

Jiang Nan looked at the cheongsam he mentioned suspiciously, and after a moment's reflection, she said, "The color is beautiful, but the style is a bit... I don't think I can pull it off."

Chen Yunsheng glanced into Jiang Nan's eyes and smiled, then carefully turned to the next page: "This one. Lilac color, it suits your temperament very well."

This lilac-colored modified cheongsam retains the traditional stand-up collar and buttons, but the hem has a modern micro-A design, which makes it less restrained and more gentle, and looks elegant and lively.

"This looks good," she whispered.

Chen Yunsheng then flipped through the pages and pointed out several pieces of similar style but different colors: "You can take a look at the two colors, lotus root purple and bamboo green."

Jiang Nan compared them carefully, gradually becoming absorbed in the experience, temporarily putting aside her nervousness about the banquet. She found that although Chen Yunsheng was a man of few words, he had a keen eye for style and fabrics, and his recommendations were all aesthetically pleasing and comfortable.

In other words, the bright red and dark blue at the beginning were just a deliberate prank on her. However, Jiang Nan did not feel angry, but rather a little amused.

Under the light, two people sat side by side on the sofa, their heads almost touching, chatting and flipping through picture albums from time to time. The atmosphere was so peaceful that it made people feel a little dazed.

In the end, Jiang Nan chose a light green long cheongsam as the main dress for the banquet, a lilac one as a backup, and a white one for daily wear.

"Isn't that too much?" She hesitated, looking at the three pieces she had chosen. Custom-made Chunhua Qiushi pieces were expensive, and three pieces would cover Chen Yunsheng's monthly salary for over a year.

"Not much," Chen Yunsheng said in a gentle tone as he closed the album. "Different occasions require different clothes. The sample booklet is here. You can take a look at the details tomorrow when you have time. The final confirmation will be made when the master comes to your house."

He placed the album on the coffee table and stood up. "Go to bed early. You'll be busy again these next few days."

"Thank you." Jiang Nan also stood up, but she didn't know whether she was thanking him for helping her choose clothes or for his thoughtfulness without showing it.