Yan Bo didn't care whether his parents would insist on inviting Tao Jia over.
In any case, with him not around, inviting Tao Jia over has a completely different meaning.
Yan's mother frowned slightly. "You're leaving after only one day back?"
Yan's mother's tone was relatively gentle. After all, this was her most beloved youngest son, and no matter how unhappy she was, she would not bear to scold him loudly.
But Yan Zhong was different. After hearing Yan Bo's explanation, he slammed the magazine in his hand onto the coffee table and roared angrily.
"What kind of crappy clients are so important, more important than family? I told you long ago, what great things can a businessman achieve? Looking at you, you probably won't even be able to make a living, so you have to humbly talk to people, right?"
Yan Bo had grown accustomed to his father's sharp and sarcastic remarks over the past six months. Meeting his father's fiery gaze, he replied slowly and deliberately.
"Dad, a true man can bend and stretch. If I can't even endure the most basic hardships of life, how can I achieve great things? Or would you rather I return to Beijing and stay at home sponging off you every day, rather than rely on my own abilities to start a business and make my own way in the world?"
Yan Bo knew Yan Zhong too well, and his words made Yan Zhong furious, but he couldn't say anything to refute them for a moment.
"Dad, Xiao Bo is doing well at his company in L City. Don't worry, Xiao Bo is destined for great things, he's not just someone who wants to make a living."
Although Yan Yuan, the eldest brother, does not support Yan Bo in matters of the heart, he has completely switched sides in matters of career, initially following his parents' wishes but now siding directly with his younger brother.
It must be said that Yan Yuan is a very good older brother. Even though he doesn't approve of Yan Bo's relationship with Tong Xiaohuai, it's mostly out of concern and care for Yan Bo.
"Yes, Dad, calm down. I've never been to Xiao Bo's company, but several of my friends have told me that it has a bright future. My older brother and I have been supporting the family. As for Xiao Bo, let him do whatever he wants."
Like Yan Yuan, Yan Su also cherishes her younger brother Yan Bo very much.
Yan Zhong was persuaded by his children, and although he was still angry, he didn't say anything to ruin the atmosphere.
After all, the five members of their family rarely get to sit together and chat like this, even just a few days a year.
Seeing that her eldest son and second daughter had calmed her husband down, Yan's mother stepped in to smooth things over, "Xiao Bo, why don't you talk to that client and see if you can change the time? You've spent less than a week at home with your mother in the past six months, so how about you stay one more night? Is that alright?"
If his mother hadn't suggested inviting Tao Jia over, Yan Bo wouldn't have minded staying another night. But when it came to matters of the heart, if he gave in even once, there would be endless trouble later.
This trouble will not only affect him and Tong Xiaohuai, but also Tao Jia.
"Mom, this really won't work! That client is a foreign businessman, and he's flying back to his country tomorrow night. I finally managed to schedule those last two hours with him. The company is in its early stages, and it's not that I can't afford to offend a client like him, but if I do, the company will suffer a major blow."
As for business matters, Yan's mother didn't understand them, but since her youngest son had put it that way, she couldn't insist any further and had no choice but to nod and concede.
"Alright, then we won't invite Jiajia tomorrow night. We can invite her again when you come back next time."
Yanbo's hand gripped her neck, gently pressing it. "I'll call Jiajia tomorrow to thank her. Mom, don't take it too seriously. The bond between us younger generation isn't as weak as you think. After all, we grew up together and are as close as siblings."
After Yan's mother made her stance clear, Yan Zhong naturally couldn't dwell on his youngest son's faults any longer. He angrily bent down, picked up the magazine he had just dropped, and started flipping through it, letting his wife and three children chat about everyday things without him interfering in the conversation.
Yanbo knew what his father was angry about, but he also understood that unless he abandoned Yanhuang and returned to the capital to follow the path his father had laid out, his father's anger would probably never subside.
But he couldn't change his life because of his father's wishes.
"Xiao Bo, the cook has stewed some bird's nest. Go and help her bring it out."
Yan's mother gave Yan Bo a wink, signaling him to leave for a moment.
Yan Bo got up, walked out of the living room, turned into the hallway, and headed towards the kitchen.
Halfway there, he leaned against the porch, took out his phone, and dialed.
"Jiajia, it's me. Are you asleep?"
"No, I'm watching TV. What's up?" Tao Jia's cheerful voice came through the background, which was indeed mixed with the dialogue of characters from a TV series.
"Thank you for tonight. My mom originally invited you over for dinner tonight, but I was afraid of troubling you, so I made an excuse to decline. If my parents ever make any unreasonable requests of you or ask you for any favors in the future, you can ignore them."
Tao Jia is a soft-hearted person. Therefore, Yan Bo had to give her a heads-up beforehand, lest she be swayed by her parents and cause her big trouble.
"Okay, I know what to do."
"Okay, thank you. I'll treat you to something delicious when you come to L City!"
"Okay, I'll hang up now. It's almost climax!"
Before Yan Bo could say anything, the phone went dead.
Yan Bo looked at the phone and smiled silently, put the phone back in his pocket, went to the kitchen to get the stew, and walked back to the living room.
The family gathered around to eat stew, chatting casually about interesting things happening in the capital and elsewhere, but no one mentioned Yanbo's love life.
Yanbo guessed that his parents probably thought he was still young and was just playing around with Tong Xiaohuai, so they didn't use any strong measures to interfere.
Yanbo himself had no idea how long this superficial peace could last.
As for his original eagerness to bring Tong Xiaohuai home, it has faded considerably now.
Judging from her parents' attitude, if she really brings Tong Xiaohuai back, she'll definitely be met with cold shoulders.
Even if Tong Xiaohuai could bear it, he wouldn't be willing to give it up.
After finishing the stew, everyone, who had been busy all day, went back to their rooms to shower and rest.
Yan Bo had important matters to attend to the next day, so after returning to his room, he took out some documents from his bag and began to read them carefully.
After some time, there was another knock on the door. "Xiao Bo, are you asleep?"
It's Yan Yuan again.
"Brother, the door's unlocked, come in."
Yan Yuan quickly walked in and stood by the table, glancing at the documents spread out on it.
"Can you handle the company's affairs?"
Over the past six months, his father has made things difficult for his younger brother a lot. Yan Yuan didn't dare to help openly, but he still occasionally lent a helping hand behind the scenes.
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