Chapter 32

It seems that only Guan Ying cares about the topic of whether the person in the dressing room is a paparazzi.

As for what he'd been up to these past few days and who he'd been with, Qiao Qi and Zheng Juyong, one trying to get to the bottom of it while the other covering up the truth, gradually shifted from initial warmth to suspicion and distance. Their love was like a desert storm: in the blink of an eye, the sand and rocks were swirling, and in the next, the ground was reduced to ruins.

Guan Ying, the key witness, was right next to them, but Qiao Qi pretended not to see her. Zheng Juyong was very loyal at this time. Although he wanted to cover up the embarrassing incident at the police station and the breakup for her, he had no other excuses ready. He simply gave in to Qiao Qi's aggressive pressure. What a hero he is.

Qiao Qi said she was tired, so Zheng Juyong simply shut up.

The scene finally quieted down, and Guan Ying, like an outsider, said, "Um, should one of you call the agency back and explain the current situation?"

Zheng Juyong silently took out his cell phone.

Seeing that he followed Guan Ying's instructions, Qiao Qi became even more furious. She snatched his phone and threw it on the floor: "Zheng Juyong, just tell me what you want tonight. Do you want me or her?"

The phone rolled to Guan Ying's feet and was hit several times. The screen flickered, as if it was fighting for its last breath in front of everyone.

Guan Ying picked up the phone, tapped it, clicked it, and shook it. Feeling hopeless, she sighed mournfully and muttered to the phone, "Hey, don't they ask for your opinion or my opinion?"

Zheng Juyong finally stood up. "I've been waiting by your side for four whole years. Watching all the different men coming and going around you, have I ever doubted you? Why can't you just trust me a little? I really don't understand why you've suddenly become so nervous and suspicious of me. It's like you've become a completely different person! Do you not trust me, or do you not trust yourself enough to marry me?"

Guan Ying was watching the fun from the side. Young people's love was indeed earth-shattering and heart-wrenching... The last time she was so heartbroken was when she had her first love in college. It had been so long ago that it seemed like a lifetime ago.

"You've waited for me for four years, and you feel wronged? If you plan to break off the engagement with me for her, just say it!" Probably in order to appear taller when she stood up, Qiao Qi wrapped herself in a white bath towel and stepped onto the sofa, like a female warrior stepping onto the ring.

The small flame Zheng Juyong had just ignited was instantly extinguished by the other party, and he sat back on the sofa. With his eloquence, he was afraid he would never be able to win an argument with Qiao Qi in his lifetime.

Guan Ying turned her phone on and off several times, realizing it was truly hopeless. She turned and handed it to Zheng Juyong, deciding to clean up the battlefield for him. "Stop talking! I'll go back home with you guys tomorrow!"

Zheng Juyong almost didn't catch the phone, and Qiao Qi finally looked at her straight in the eye.

Guan Ying turned to the left: "Didn't you say my words were more effective?" Then she turned to the right: "Didn't you ask me to take you to meet your parents-in-law?" Then she walked backwards to the door and opened it: "I'll go back and do what I can. Whether it succeeds or not depends on your own luck! Now, this is my room. I need to rest. Goodbye, both of you!"

......

Two days later, a banquet was set up in the open-air courtyard of the Zheng family villa.

To celebrate Zheng Juyong's new customer acquisition and to reward Guan Ying for completely resolving Sabur's bad debts, Zheng Dongfang and his wife started preparing for the meal as soon as they learned that they were going back to China together. They arranged for the driver and Aunt Lin to busy themselves with shopping for two days before they were satisfied with the arrangement. The table was almost entirely filled with the two children's favorite dishes.

"While Brother Guan and his wife are coming over tonight, let's quickly set the date for the engagement party. These two kids are a perfect match, hahaha." Mrs. Zheng was so happy that she couldn't stop smiling.

Zheng Dongfang was also a little excited. He put on a formal suit and walked around the living room, thinking: "Yes, yes, I've also called Li Gong and Lao Zhao to be witnesses. Let's quickly settle this matter in front of everyone. As long as Ju Yong changes his mind, I believe that Brother Guan will still be optimistic about Ju Yong! Alas, I just don't know if Guan Guan is willing..."

Mrs. Zheng encouraged him, "I heard from my sister-in-law that Guan Guan just broke up with that lawyer recently!"

Zheng Dongfang was puzzled. "The one from Canada? Didn't they break up a long time ago?"

Mrs. Zheng laughed. "Haha, it wasn't that long ago. She was dating someone named Xiao a while ago. Hey, anyway, it broke up again! Tell me, is it because of this kid this time?"

Zheng Dongfang couldn't understand why his wife was so happy: "Oh, every time it's because of Ju Yong?"

Mrs. Zheng narrowed her eyes. "You're getting old and confused, aren't you? This time is different! Last time I came back, Guan Guan hadn't split up yet? How come Guan Guan and that Xiao guy split up as soon as Ju Yong left this time? They said it was because of Ju Yong before, but that was all false. But this time, it's really because of Ju Yong!"

Zheng Dongfang pondered for a moment, "That's right. When Guanguan left, you were already admitted to the ward. Even though the child didn't say anything, how could he not care about your aunt? Otherwise, he wouldn't have given up his vacation to help Juyong clean up the mess. Guanguan is really sensible!"

The driver came in and reported, "Boss, Engineer Li is at the door. Manager Zhao and General Manager Guan and their family are still on their way."

"This is the first time that Mr. Li comes to our house for dinner. I have to go out to greet him!" Zheng Dongfang told his wife to get ready quickly and ran to the door.

Since the Xicheng Steel Mill began upgrading its equipment and technology, the district government has coordinated with the Organization Department and the Market Supervision Bureau to dispatch Engineer Li to provide on-site guidance. This is a rare level of policy support for a privately-owned steel mill. Zheng Dongfang wanted to invite Engineer Li tonight not only to witness his wedding, but also to pave the way for his children to manage the steel mill in the future.

As for Manager Zhao, he is the second-in-command of the Xicheng Steel Trading Company. He first assisted Lao Guan for more than 20 years, and then assisted Guan Ying for a few years. Now he is already an old acquaintance of both the Zheng and Guan families and a veteran of the group.

Guan Ying drove the car after get off work at the trading company and picked up the chubby Manager Zhao directly: "Old Zhao, I'm counting on you tonight. You have to withstand the pressure and don't betray us at the last minute!"

Manager Zhao was also nearing retirement age. Although he and Guan Ying were superiors and subordinates, their daily interactions were more like those of a master and his most admired student. He laughed heartily and said, "Guan Guan, aren't you bullying an old man like me? How can I ever go out to eat and drink with Mr. Zheng in the future? Besides, Mr. Zheng approached me first, so I should be grateful for his kindness, haha."

Guan Ying pursed her lips and said, "Hey, Lao Zhao, you're still my Guan Ying's, right? At worst, I can ask Lao Guan to go out to dinner with you. My dad has plenty of time now!"

"Haha, let your dad drink water and watch me drink white wine. Please be kind and let us two old men go!" Manager Zhao lowered his head and patted his fat beer belly. "Hey, for this dinner tonight, the most I can promise you is that I won't care about anyone else but my own stomach!"

"Hmph, you're so heartless! When have I ever been short of your wine when I came back from a business trip?" Guan Ying wasn't entirely satisfied, but sympathetically, considering Manager Zhao was caught in the middle, she reluctantly accepted the offer. "Alright, as long as you don't join in the fun, I'll be very grateful!"

Manager Zhao couldn't compare to Engineer Li's dignified and formal demeanor. A lifelong glutton and playboy with no real ambitions, he was something of an old naughty boy. The old manager, often away from home, didn't impose much control on him, granting him a great deal of trust and freedom, a position he happily held for decades as second-in-command. Despite his rambling ways, he was a well-connected figure in West City's social scene. Any difficult matter could be handled by Manager Zhao, and within a few meals, it would be resolved without anyone noticing.

This was also why Zheng Dongfang had specifically asked him to take charge tonight. Whenever there was a problem, he was looking to Manager Zhao to help smooth things over. Guan Ying also understood the underlying meaning and, of course, wanted to win over Old Zhao. Even if that didn't work, at least he could get him to talk less.

Soon, the old Guan couple also rushed over, and the seven of them sat down, except for Zheng Juyong.

Mrs. Zheng was so anxious that she urged Zheng Dongfang: "Didn't you explain it clearly to your son? Didn't he know he had to come home early tonight? How can you let the elders wait for him? It's not right!"

Zheng Dongfang was also puzzled: "Why didn't he say anything? I've already told him eight hundred times!"

Guan Ying, as the younger generation, spoke on behalf of Zheng Juyong, "It's probably because of the Saudi Arabia order. He has a lot of things to deal with right after returning. Why don't you guys eat first? I'll go outside to greet him."

She took the initiative to go out to meet him, which made Mrs. Zheng very happy: "Okay, okay, Guan Guan, go and urge him to come back for dinner."

Watching Guan Ying hurriedly leave the table, Mrs. Zheng took Guan's sister-in-law's hand and said, "Sister-in-law, have you noticed that the two children have become much closer this time? Ju Yong has been working at the steel mill since he came back, just like Old Zheng when he was young. Haha, my sudden illness was really worth it!"

Mrs. Guan also felt that Zheng Juyong had made great progress since his return, and her tone was much more relaxed: "Let the children's affairs take their own course. What's important is you. Don't let this cause you any more trouble!"

When Mrs. Zheng heard this, she felt that tonight was a sure thing. She enthusiastically arranged for everyone to have a feast, hoping that Guan Ying would bring her son back soon.

After Manager Zhao drank a glass of wine, he started to talk nonsense about all sorts of things, which made the courtyard full of laughter and joy. Even the taciturn Engineer Li laughed for a long time.

"Are you two ready?" Guan Ying sent the driver and Aunt Lin away, and stood at the door to welcome the young couple in.

Qiao Qi took off all her jewelry tonight, changed into a proper dress, and wore a much simpler makeup. Apart from her red hair which still revealed a hint of rebellion, you couldn't tell what her profession was. In other words, she basically looked like the kind of ladylike daughter-in-law that the elders liked.

Think about these two people, who had a huge quarrel in a Dubai hotel two days ago, and were holding hands again two days later. Qiao Qi was able to change her appearance in order to marry Zheng Juyong. This made Guan Ying look at her with a new respect, not only for her, but also for Zheng Juyong.

Zheng Juyong was obviously a little nervous: "Are they all here?"

Guan Ying instructed: "Well, remember what I said. Apologize first when you go in. If your aunt hits you or scolds you, don't talk back." She instructed him as if she were instructing a disobedient younger brother at home.

Qiao Qi held Zheng Juyong's arm uncomfortably, and felt more and more that what she had heard in the past was true. Guan Ying was even more like the master of this place than Zheng Juyong. She was afraid that now that she had stepped into the Zheng family's door today, the selfish things she wanted to do in the future would not be as simple as she had imagined.