Chapter 57, it's normal for Miss Wen to be unfamiliar with the rules since she's new here.
"Grandpa, I..."
Wen Hanyun was also somewhat surprised. She didn't understand what the old man meant. Was he trying to give her a legitimate reason to punish her after she broke the rules, or was he deliberately trying to elevate her and make others unhappy?
She was about to say that she was a junior and that she should sit down as well, when she was stopped by a look from Old Master Yan.
"Alright, no need to move, just sit next to me."
Helpless, Wen Hanyun had no choice but to follow his instructions and pull out the chair.
As soon as he sat down, Yan Mingchong curled the corners of his lips and spoke in a cryptic tone:
"Miss Wen has quite the composure. It's her first time coming to the Yan family alone, and she's not nervous at all."
Sitting next to him, Yan Chengyuan immediately sneered and chimed in, "Brother, what you're saying isn't the first time she's met us."
Wen Hanyun's fingertips lightly intertwined in front of the plate, her fingertips rubbing against each other, a polite smile on her face.
She glanced at the restless group across from her, her gaze finally settling on Yan Chengyuan without any hesitation. Her voice was clear and gentle, yet carried a strength that was neither humble nor arrogant, "Second Uncle is right. Now that I'm a guest, I should naturally show the proper etiquette and not throw away my manners."
"Hmph, good that you understand." Yan Chengyuan felt much better seeing that she was still as submissive as before.
However, Yan Mingchong understood the hidden meaning in her words. She was subtly mocking their lack of manners and deliberately pointing out that she was Old Master Yan's guest, thus disqualifying them from openly reprimanding her.
"Miss Wen really doesn't shy away from anything. She can sit in this position without blushing or skipping a beat. No wonder Xiao Sheng looks at you differently."
Wen Hanyun paused slightly in her chopsticks. "That's a bit of a biased statement. Where I sit has nothing to do with anything else; it's just the old man's arrangement, which I naturally follow."
"But you, bringing up past events in front of the old man, is rather... "
That would be rather uncouth.
Wen Hanyun drew out the last syllable, not uttering those four words aloud.
Her tone remained neither too soft nor too hard, but it just happened to touch the sore spot of several people present. Imagine who could tolerate someone they had never taken seriously suddenly having the opportunity to speak to them at the same table?
But what really bothered Yan Chengyuan was her last sentence: "I did have the honor of meeting a few elders before, but my status was different at the time, so I didn't have the chance to properly greet them."
Wen Hanyun meant that, given her current status, it was an honor for her to still call him "Second Uncle."
If he continues to be so tactless as to discuss her relationship with Yansheng...
She wouldn't mind being his peer!
Yan Chengyuan's face flushed red instantly, and he slammed his fist on the table, "What do you mean? How dare you threaten me?"
"Chengyuan, it's normal for Miss Wen to be unfamiliar with the Yan family's rules since she's new here." Yan Mingchong spoke up at the right moment, picked up his wine glass and took a slow sip. His words seemed to be words of comfort, but in reality, they added fuel to the fire. "However, speaking of which, Miss Wen must have something special to make Xiao Sheng pursue her openly despite his family's opposition, right?"
Yan Chengyuan's face darkened, and he was about to lash out when Old Master Yan coughed lightly and said calmly, "Speak less while eating."
Although the old man didn't openly favor anyone, he indirectly stopped the topic from continuing. Anyone with eyes could see that if things continued this way, Yan Chengyuan would be pushed into a very awkward position.
Yan Chengyuan gritted his teeth and glared at Wen Hanyun resentfully.
Wen Hanyun lowered her eyes silently. She knew that the old man was watching the show, neither openly letting Yan Chengyuan cause trouble nor allowing her to overshadow the Yan family.
The dishes were served one by one, but no one had much of an appetite.
Seeing the atmosphere at the dinner table become dull, Yan's mother's gaze fell on Wen Hanyun. "What kind of work is Hanyun doing now? I heard from others that you seem to have resigned from your job as a university teacher?"
"Yes, we're currently preparing for the band's tour," Wen Hanyun answered truthfully, without elaborating.
After all, during the time she was entangled with Yanzhe, Yan's mother resolutely defended her cheating son. Now that she's hypocritically asking about her work, she can't possibly have any good intentions.
"A band?" Sure enough, Yan's mother chuckled as if she had heard a joke. "I'm not trying to criticize you, but your father went to great lengths to get you a somewhat respectable job. Wouldn't it be better to be a good teacher?"
“Why do you have to do these things in public? Aren’t you afraid of what people will say?” She paused, then added meaningfully, “Besides, you’re getting close to Xiao Sheng now, and your every move affects the Yan family’s reputation.”
"The entertainment industry is a mixed bag. If something happens, it will not only ruin you, but also implicate Xiao Sheng and damage the Yan family's reputation."
Wen Hanyun looked up at Old Master Yan, who seemed not to intend to interfere any further, and understood.
Now she understood; the old man probably meant the latter.
He deliberately flattered her to make others unhappy, and then let them make things difficult for her as long as he didn't openly start a fight.
Although it's not hard to guess what Grandpa Yan is thinking, even if you do guess it, who would dare to question it?
In order to avoid causing conflict between Yansheng and her father, she could only swallow her anger for the time being, but that did not mean she would give in to these bullies who were taking advantage of her father.
“Aunt Yan, first of all, music is my dream. Forming a band and holding tours has always been my pursuit, and this does not conflict with whether I am a university teacher or not,” Wen Hanyun said slowly. “Secondly, the band carries the wishes of me and my deceased friends, so please respect that.”
"As for your question about the impact on the Yan family's reputation, I don't think the Yan family's reputation can be damaged just because of me. Do you have so little confidence in your own family?"
She spoke calmly and at a measured pace, “Moreover, Yansheng has always supported my career. He believes that I can balance work and dreams and will not bring any negative impact to the Yan family.”
Yan's mother was rendered speechless by her relentless barrage of questions, her face alternating between pale and flushed.
She hadn't expected that Wen Hanyun's sharp tongue would become so formidable after just a few months apart, completely different from her previous submissive self. She had refuted all her doubts and even accused her of something serious.
"Miss Wen, your concern for others is a bit too hostile," Yan Mingchong said, putting down his wine glass in a half-joking tone. "But then again, your band life is rough and your income isn't stable..."
"Anyone who didn't know better would think that the Yan family had gone bankrupt, or that Xiao Sheng couldn't afford to support a woman."
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