Chapter 345 It's pitiful to deceive yourself.
"That's because she felt sorry for me, and also wanted to test Huo Zhizhou's abilities on his own." Li Zhishen made excuses for himself, as it was impossible for him to admit that he was not good enough.
Grandpa Qin: "It's nothing to fool an old man like me, but it's truly pitiful to fool yourself."
Li Zhishen: "..."
He just couldn't understand what Huo Zhizhou was made of.
She's successful in her career, has outstanding looks, and can even cook now.
Were he really that free during those growing-up years?
Jiang An was also a little curious about this. As he methodically prepared the two dishes and only the final step of steaming remained, Jiang An asked, "When did you learn to cook?"
"Around sixteen or seventeen years old," Huo Zhizhou replied.
Jiang An was somewhat surprised.
Huo Zhizhou explained automatically: "When I went abroad to study, I couldn't get used to the food there, so I learned to cook it myself."
This answer puzzled Jiang An even more. With the Huo family's wealth and power, hiring a chef who could cook local dishes should have been a piece of cake for him. Why did he have to do it himself?
The truth is that Huo Cheng was dealing with the Shan family at that time and didn't pay much attention to his situation.
Huo Zhizhou was preoccupied with finishing his studies and returning home, and couldn't be bothered with the chef.
In the next hour.
Huo Zhizhou and Jiang An were both busy in the kitchen.
The two aunties who prepared the dishes that Jiang Ruan hired were actually of little help.
Jiang Ruan, Mo Mo, and the others decorated the outside beautifully, filling the air with the festive spirit while also being a pleasant surprise. In the past, Li Zhishen and Old Master Qin hadn't paid much attention to these things, but this year they felt that the New Year was exceptionally meaningful.
Before we knew it, it was six o'clock in the evening.
All the dishes were prepared and served. Looking at the delicious and visually appealing feast, Li Zhishen's suspicious gaze fell on Huo Zhizhou, his eyes filled with doubt.
Did Huo Zhizhou really make this dish?
"Wow! This dish looks so delicious it's making my mouth water!" Tang Bai said, sitting next to Mo Mo. "The people I admire most in this life are those who can cook!"
Mo Mo glanced around and said, "Delicious."
Jiang Ruan teased, "You already know before we've even touched our food?"
"Your eyes and nose don't lie at the same time." Mo Mo still had that serious face, but you could tell he was genuinely craving it. "Judging from the meals I've had before, today's dishes are delicious."
"Madam, Miss, can we eat now?" Tang Bai was a lively person.
Jiang An: "Eat."
Jiang Ruan: "Eat."
The two spoke in unison.
The New Year's Eve dinner officially began, and everyone who put food in their mouths had a look of amazement in their eyes, showing that this dinner had taken into account everyone's tastes.
Grandpa Qin looked at the bowl of soup in front of him that had no scallions or seasoning, and subconsciously glanced at Jiang An.
Jiang An noticed it.
They didn't say anything.
Old Master Qin couldn't help but tear up.
Despite all the mistakes he made back then, An'an still remembers his habits.
He's a terrible father.
"Come on! Let's all have a drink together." Tang Bai raised his glass, his smile never fading since he started eating. "On this day of family reunion, we should eat and drink well and forget all our worries!"
Everyone raised their glasses together.
Fireworks rose outside the window, blooming in the dark night sky like blooming flowers illuminating the heavens.
The laughter and chatter from the dinner table lingered, everyone was enjoying themselves, and they temporarily forgot about their relationships and what had happened.
Wishing everyone a better and better year ahead.
"Wishing the boss all the best for next year."
"..."
The laughter and chatter at the dinner table gradually increased.
Jiang Ruan's heart, which had been tense for months, was completely relaxed at this moment. She listened to Tang Bai tell stories, Mo Mo's witty replies, and the occasional bickering between Uncle Li and Grandpa Qin.
Time keeps turning, and happiness continues.
For more than an hour, everyone ate, drank, and had fun, thoroughly enjoying themselves.
Dinner didn't finish until after 8 p.m. Li Zhishen, who hadn't done anything, took the initiative to wash the dishes. He didn't want Jiang An to think he was there to freeload.
As for Huo Zhizhou...
After finishing his meal, he sat on the sofa with the others.
While Grandpa Qin was telling stories to Tang Bai and the others, his phone suddenly rang.
He glanced at it; it was Huo Cheng calling.
"I'm going to answer a call," Huo Zhizhou said to Jiang Ruan and Sui Sui, taking his phone and walking outside.
Jiang Ruan and Sui Sui exchanged a glance.
I didn't say much.
Outside the garden.
Seeing that no one was around, Huo Zhizhou swiped the answer button under the cover of night: "What is it?"
"Why aren't you back yet?" Huo Cheng sat in a chair, looking at the table full of dishes in front of him, his tone rather cold and serious. "The food is getting cold."
Huo Zhizhou simply replied with three words: "I'm not coming back."
Huo Cheng's anger flared up immediately: "Why aren't you coming back for the New Year? A whole table of people are waiting for you."
"What are you waiting for me for?" Huo Zhizhou asked with a hint of sarcasm. "Am I chopsticks or a bowl?"
"Huo Zhizhou!" Huo Cheng's voice suddenly rose.
Huo Zhizhou remained unmoved, his expression unchanged: "If there's nothing else, I'm hanging up."
"Are you with Jiang Ruan?" Huo Cheng asked before he hung up the phone, his expression grim and his face extremely pale. "I haven't said a word to you about how you usually spend your days with her and neglect the company, but you didn't even come home for the New Year's Eve dinner. Don't you care about this family at all?"
Huo Zhizhou was tired of hearing it.
If it weren't for certain factors, he wouldn't even go back to the old house for meals during the years he was married.
After a few meals, I really thought that what happened back then was all in the past.
"It's not too late to buy plane tickets and come back now." Huo Cheng's words carried a command. "We..."
Huo Zhizhou hung up the phone.
Huo Cheng's unfinished words vanished completely.
Two seconds later, the phone rang again.
Huo Zhizhou hung up without answering.
Huo Cheng was furious, his face turning ashen: "Now that you've grown wings, you won't even answer the phone!"
“He must have something very important to do,” Huo Sinian said, his suit impeccably tailored.
"What could possibly happen to him? If he weren't with Jiang Ruan, I'd eat all this food!" Huo Cheng was increasingly annoyed. Amidst his various thoughts, he realized that Jiang Ruan had a huge influence on Huo Zhizhou.
Previously, Zhi Zhou had put Jiang Ruan in the water.
If they remarry, who knows what trouble might arise?
However, the property that Zhizhou awarded her in the divorce settlement must be reclaimed, so the remarriage is temporarily put on hold.
The woman who could instigate his son to oppose him is no ordinary person. In the end, let alone the benefits that the marriage alliance between the Qin and Li families and the Huo family might bring, the Huo family might even be wiped out!
"Si Nian." Huo Cheng seemed to have made up his mind.
Huo Sinian raised his eyes, his expression as gentle and indifferent as ever.
"I heard you've been getting along really well with that young starlet you're dating lately." Huo Cheng said, his gaze fixed on him, not missing a single expression on his face. "Are you planning to marry her?"
Huo Sinian said unhurriedly, "It's just about finding someone to pass the time; it has nothing to do with marriage."
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