Family banquet
Zhiwei accepted the gift, offered her New Year's greetings, and then urged him to return home.
Back in her bedroom, she opened the wooden box. Ten small gold bars were neatly arranged, gleaming with a heavy light. She paused, then suddenly laughed—this was very much in line with Li Fuqiang's style. She mischievously wondered if Li Fuqiang kept a pile of gold bars locked in his safe, so he could take them out whenever he needed them.
She locked the box in the safe in her room; inside were her previous property deed, the necklace from last time, and the engagement ring. The engagement ring she wore every day was actually a high-quality replica of this ring, a free gift from the brand.
She added that she wasn't worried about losing such a large diamond while wearing it daily. Apparently, for these high-end custom-made jewelry pieces, the brand thoughtfully provides a high-quality replica identical to the original for everyday use.
As Zhiwei saw that she had more and more things, she thought that she should get a safe from the bank in the future, instead of keeping everything in the small safe at home, which was not safe at all.
Xiaoyu didn't go home for the Spring Festival this year; she stayed in Beijing with Zhiwei. On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, while having breakfast with Zhiwei, she told Zhiwei, "Yesterday when I was there, I heard from some of my friends that Miss was brought back at the last minute after Sister Chen called her these past two days."
Zhiwei said, "Don't go and ask about what's going on over there. It has nothing to do with me anyway. It's their own family matter."
Xiaoyu said, "Yes, I didn't ask. I just listened to what they were saying without saying anything."
Having lived in the Rong Mansion for several years, Xiaoyu had seen many ladies come to visit, all busy trying to please Sister Chen and inquire about the eldest young lady. Seeing that Zhiwei's interest remained undiminished and she didn't seem to care about the eldest young lady's attitude, she was secretly amazed.
After finishing their meal, Zhiwei said excitedly, "Let's go to the temple fair. I've always heard about temple fairs in the north, but I've never seen one before."
Douzhi (fermented mung bean juice), lvdagun (glutinous rice roll), candied hawthorn... she tried everything like a true tourist. Even the famous douzhi, she drank half a bowl without batting an eye.
"Miss, aren't you afraid of the sour taste?" Xiaoyu exclaimed in surprise.
"When in Rome, do as the Romans do." Zhiwei wiped her mouth, her eyes sparkling.
Back at Yayuan in the evening, Li Fuqiang called to say that he was hosting a banquet at Boss Liang's place that night, "to welcome Jiaqi. It'll be all family." He paused, "You should come too."
Zhiwei said, "Since it's a welcome dinner for the young lady, I think I'll skip it."
Li Fuqiang said, "It's not something I specially organized for her. Every year around this time, I have a family dinner at Lao Liang's place. Dayou, Youlin, Sister Chen and the others will all go. In previous years, Jiaqi was mostly abroad during the Spring Festival and didn't come back. It's rare that everyone can get together this year, so let's have a lively time."
"Alright, I'll do whatever Mr. Li says."
“Then I’ll have Lao Wu pick you up, and we’ll go together from Rong’s Residence.”
Because it was the year, Zhiwei chose a well-fitting red cashmere jacket, paired with khaki cashmere trousers, and even wore lipstick, which was unusual for her. She loosely braided a large braid that was draped diagonally in front of her chest, and wore a pair of teardrop-shaped red agate earrings, making her look playful and charming.
Upon arriving at Rong Residence, Shen Ping took the coat from her hand, helped her hang it up, and said to her, "The master is still in his room upstairs."
Zhiwei nodded, but didn't go to find Li Fuqiang. Instead, she picked up a book she hadn't finished reading last time and continued reading it in Li Fuqiang's study.
When Li Fuqiang heard from Shen Ping that Zhiwei had arrived, he came downstairs to see her. He saw that his girlfriend was dressed casually and playfully, wearing only a pair of red agate earrings, and her hands were bare.
"Why aren't you wearing your ring? Doesn't it look good?"
"It's so big, it's too conspicuous. Since you said it's a family dinner, we should make sure everyone is comfortable."
"Yes, that one is indeed a bit big. I'll pick out a smaller one for you to take with you later."
Zhiwei laughed in disbelief, "Mr. Li, you're going to spoil me like this."
Li Fuqiang loved her charming appearance the most, and kissed her on the cheek. "If I don't spoil you, who will I spoil?" He was getting on in years, and seeing Zhiwei dressed in a festive and elegant manner, Li Fuqiang was naturally happy. He also changed into a top with some Tang suit elements.
Zhiwei thought to herself, thank goodness, I didn't end up wearing a bright red Tang suit like Teacher Tang Guoqiang's.
At six o'clock sharp, Li Jiaqi slowly descended the stairs. She wore a black fishtail dress, and her full set of diamond jewelry sparkled under the lights, as if she were going to attend an awards ceremony.
Standing beside Li Fuqiang, Zhiwei suddenly remembered what her mother had said—excessive formality often reveals inner unease.
The atmosphere inside the extended Lincoln was subtle. Li Fuqiang sat in the middle, with his jewel-encrusted daughter on his left and the elegant and composed Zhiwei on his right. Shen Ping and Lao Wu sat opposite them, their eyes downcast.
Boss Liang's club was unusually lively tonight. Qian Dayou, Zhao Youlin, and several senior executives were already waiting in the private room. When they saw them enter, they all stood up to greet them.
"Young Miss is getting more and more aristocratic."
"Miss Shen looks so charming in that outfit, and the red color is so festive."
The air was filled with pleasantries, and everyone maintained a perfect balance—neither overly enthusiastic nor neglecting anyone.
A moment of silence followed as everyone took their seats. Zhiwei was the first to walk to the right of the head of the table, and Qian Dayou immediately pulled out a chair for her. This gesture seemed to signal everyone else to take their seats as well. Shen Ping then led Li Jiaqi to Li Fuqiang's left.
"We're all family, no need for formalities." Li Fuqiang raised his glass, his gaze shifting between his daughter and Zhiwei. "Jiaqi is back this year, and Zhiwei is here too. I'm very happy."
After a few rounds of drinks, the atmosphere gradually warmed up. Shen Ping asked, seemingly casually, "Miss, you're not leaving again now that you're back, are you? The master is looking forward to your return to help."
These words were like a pebble thrown into a lake. Everyone at the table stopped eating, and even Zhao Youlin paused in her cup-raising gesture.
Li Fuqiang looked at his daughter expectantly: "Yes, Qiqi, come back."
Li Jiaqi glanced around and saw that everyone was smiling and agreeing, but what they were really thinking was another matter entirely. Only Zhiwei seemed completely uninvolved, intently enjoying a plate of crab roe tofu, as if utterly detached from the situation. It was unclear whether she was genuinely indifferent or simply too calculating.
"I haven't finished my studies yet. I'm not in a hurry to make a living." She smiled slightly. "I'll finish this degree first."
The executives chimed in, "We hope the young lady will return soon after her studies, so that she can join the father-daughter team and make things easier for the boss."
Zhiwei picked up a piece of osmanthus cake, its sweet aroma melting on her tongue. This family dinner was more interesting than any business battle.
The meal was barely halfway through when Boss Liang, dressed in a long gown, came in to wish Li Fuqiang a Happy New Year. He noticed that Li Fuqiang and Zhiwei were dressed casually, while everyone else was more formally dressed, with Jiaqi especially adorned with jewels. He thought to himself, "If we didn't look at their similar appearances, Miss Shen would look more like a young lady from a wealthy family, while Miss Li would look more like someone struggling to make a living. It's clearly just a family banquet, yet they've made it so grand."
He thought to himself, but showed no sign of it on his face. After greeting Li Fuqiang, he didn't forget to chat with Jiaqi: "It's been a few years since I've seen Miss. You've become even more imposing."
Li Jiaqi was very friendly to Mr. Liang, saying, "Mr. Liang is still as charming as ever."
"Thank you for your kind words, Miss."
He greeted Zhiwei, "Miss Chen, you look radiant. This outfit is perfect for the New Year."
Zhiwei said with a smile, "I'm learning this from you and Mr. Li."
Halfway through the banquet, Li Jiaqi suddenly stood up: "I'm going to touch up my makeup."
Zhiwei noticed Zhao Youlin follow her out. She calmly served Li Fuqiang food, and heard him whisper, "Don't take Jiaqi's words to heart..."
"How could that be?" she smiled. "Studying is a good thing. If I had the opportunity, I would like to study different majors one by one."
In the restroom at the end of the corridor, Li Jiaqi was touching up her lipstick in front of the mirror. Zhao Youlin's reflection was visible in the mirror.
"Young Miss," Zhao Youlin said softly, "What about Miss Chen..."
"I know," Li Jiaqi said, closing the lipstick cap. "It's just for show."
"The gentleman values her highly," Zhao Youlin carefully chose her words. "Last time in the office, he even specially displayed her paintings."
Li Jiaqi paused in his movements.
When she returned to the private room, a polite smile returned to her face. However, when her gaze swept over Zhiwei, it held a hint of scrutiny.
As the banquet ended, Boss Liang personally saw them to the door. Snow began to fall again, and the red lanterns cast a soft glow through the snow. Before getting into the car, Li Fuqiang suddenly said, "I'll have someone from Tiffany come to my house tomorrow."
Zhiwei was taken aback.
"Choose something you can wear every day," he said casually. "That engagement ring is just too flashy."
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