Yunyin Hall
The birthday banquet was held in the front hall of Yunyin Hall. The two hours before the banquet began were the most lively time for greetings and pleasantries.
In the original story, at this point, Pei Zhiyuan had finished congratulating the old lady. He then told Zhang Xiande he had something to say to him, and they went to a side hall together. The conversation, naturally, revolved around how he had just moved back, and how the Pei residence had been neglected for too long, requiring some time for repairs. He wished to stay at Yunyin Hall for a while. Zhang Xiande, of course, readily agreed to his beloved's request and arranged for him to stay at Tingyu Pavilion in Yunyin Hall. As expected, Zhang Xiande's reaction did not disappoint Pei Zhiyuan. For a fleeting moment, his heart, which had been burning with resentment at meeting his rival, eased slightly.
The plot of the "battleground" hasn't changed much, except that it's gone from one side being scolded to both sides pecking at each other.
The plot shouldn't deviate too far from that. Today is the old lady's birthday banquet, and he hasn't offered his congratulations since he arrived. He was avoiding Pei Zhiyuan earlier, but now that he knows Pei Zhiyuan isn't in the main hall, it's time for Xiao You to try and win over the old lady.
Why is it necessary to curry favor with the old lady? Because in the current situation of this book, one needs to please the boss and also secure a way out for oneself. So this is also a survival strategy.
In the original book, Zhang Xiande held the old lady in high esteem and had a very close relationship with her. Originally, Zhang Xiande was busy with official duties and often traveled away from home, rarely returning to reunite with his parents. However, after his father passed away, his mother became his only concern. He would always make time to go home and have a small meal with her. In his previous life, You Jiale was quite the ladies' man. This was a chance for him to shine.
Xiao You pulled out a small mirror he always carried with him, a habit he retained from his previous life—to maintain peak combat readiness at all times.
He checked his appearance like a peacock: "He is as handsome as ever."
You Jiale put away the small mirror with satisfaction, strode across the threshold of the main hall, and paused slightly for a moment.
He came from the modern era and was already used to the so-called "old house renovation", "Republic of China replica" and "all kinds of museums", but they were just empty shells, so empty that even his footsteps sounded cold.
And this house before him—it truly lived. It lived in the details, in the interplay of light and shadow, in every silent grain of wood and every wisp of burnt incense ash. For a moment, he suddenly felt less in a hurry to follow the plot.
You Jiale quickly composed herself, took a deep breath of the air filled with the scent of sandalwood and wood chips, and put on a polite and obedient smile before walking inside. She immediately spotted the elderly woman sitting in the middle, surrounded by a crowd.
Today, the old lady wore a dark blue blouse embroidered with gold peonies, her hair was neatly combed, and a jade hairpin was inserted at her temple. She had a calm and dignified demeanor and sat on the armchair like a plum blossom with lush branches and deep roots that had weathered wind, frost, snow and rain, yet still stood tall and radiant.
You Jiale walked over, her steps light, her smile undiminished, but her tone carrying just the right amount of sincerity and respect: "Madam, I wish you boundless happiness and longevity."
Mother Zhang raised her eyes slightly, her gaze lingering on his face for two seconds, as if she were re-evaluating this "Assistant You" who usually only worked silently by Zhang Xiande's side.
After a string of auspicious words...
Mother Zhang seemed amused and said with a smile, "He's much more clever than that boy Xiande. He would never say such things to make me happy."
You Jiale quickly seized the opportunity to climb up the ladder: "That's right, he's in charge of using his brain, and I'm in charge of using my mouth, otherwise what would he need me for, hahaha."
No sooner had he finished speaking than a commotion of voices came from outside the hall.
Xiao You subconsciously turned her head to look.
Outside the carved door, the crowd slowly approached. The man at the head of the procession, dressed in a well-tailored suit, with broad shoulders and a tall, upright figure, walked with unhurried steps in the center. He hadn't uttered a single word, yet he commanded everyone's attention like a star surrounded by admirers. Truly a domineering CEO, but this CEO's demeanor wasn't as flamboyant as those in novels; instead, he possessed a refined and composed air, inspiring confidence and reliability. He was a presence that commanded respect simply by standing there.
Zhang Xiande.
If I hadn't read the original text, I would have believed your facade.
In less than a few years, this man secured all the railway projects in the city that were in cooperation with the government. He also monopolized the local entertainment industry, including but not limited to film studios and nightclubs. From the railway tracks to the neon lights, the city's trains ran during the day and its nighttime entertainment was all in sync with his rhythm.
After Xiao You finished recalling the events, she quickly put herself on high alert.
He strode up to Zhang Xiande, his tone slightly sleepy and just the right amount of eagerness: "Boss, how's my recovery going? Yesterday, the first thing I thought of when I opened my eyes was going back to the company, but who knew you weren't here. I heard it's the old lady's birthday banquet today, so I figured I had to come and say hello. If there's any work to be done, I can fill in today!"
Zhang Xiande remained calm, his gaze fixed on You Jiale.
Zhang Xiande's eyes seemed to see right through people as he slowly glanced at You Jiale, his gaze devoid of any particular emotion, just as unfathomable as ever. "You've recovered quite quickly."
"It seems his temper has gotten worse too." His voice was neither loud nor soft, light and airy, like a breeze brushing past your ear, making it impossible to tell whether it was a reprimand or just simple curiosity.
You Jiale's heart skipped a beat—someone must have just tipped him off. But it's understandable; this is the Zhang family home, there's nothing he wouldn't know.
You Jiale wanted to look Zhang Xiande in the eye to reply, but why did his neck feel so stiff? Why? At 1.78 meters tall, You Jiale wasn't short at all. What did this man eat to grow so tall? Did people in the Republican era, without evaporated milk or Hextech, somehow manage to grow so tall and imposing?
"Oh well, I can't lose face." You Jiale narrowed his peach blossom eyes and replied with a hint of laziness, "Oh, I just recovered a bit. When you're full of energy, it's inevitable that your temper will be a bit too strong. Besides, today is the old lady's big day, the yang energy is very strong, I'm just being appropriate for the occasion!"
Zhang Xiande didn't even lift his eyelids when he heard this, and there seemed to be a faint smile on his lips.
You Jiale's eyes darted around, and she quickly looked up at the sky, pretending to be completely unconcerned about the previous topic: "What a beautiful day! Look how bright the sun is!" She acted as if nothing had happened.
Fortunately, this domineering CEO was sensible enough not to dwell on the matter, and simply gestured for everyone to take their seats.
Pei Zhiyuan, who was not far away, had witnessed the entire scene. His fingers, hidden in his sleeve, unconsciously tightened.
Unfortunately, he couldn't act rashly right now. There wasn't any concrete relationship between Zhang Xiande and You Jiale on the surface; Pei Zhiyuan was merely a "returning old friend."
He could only keep his composure, his face still bearing that gentle and refined expression, as if he hadn't seen or heard anything at all.
Just then, Secretary Li rushed to Zhang Xiande's side with a serious expression: "Boss, someone from above has come again, saying they want to see you."
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