"Auntie," Ouyang said, "We were discussing why there are so many cars on the road, forcing drivers to take detours."
Auntie smiled and went in.
Ouyang took Uncle Zhuo's arm and walked into the living room. Grandpa called them over and they sat on either side of him. Grandma handed Ouyang a piece of cake, as if to please her: "This is your favorite cake."
"Thank you, grandma."
Grandpa looked at her with a smile, as if praising a child who had done a good deed: "Ouyang is a sensible child. You will sit next to Grandpa in a while."
"Grandpa, Uncle Zhuo is here. How can I snatch you from him? It's better to let him stay next to you. That's the proper way."
Zhuo Qiang frowned: "Dad, I'll drink with you later, and let Ouyang take care of Jin Lu."
This made Ouyang shudder. She glared and said with a smile, "Grandpa, you've been here for so long, why don't you introduce that sister to me!" She glanced over and saw the woman chatting with the relatives.
The two of them were talking back and forth, which made grandma a little confused. She got up and went to the kitchen to check on the dishes.
Grandpa called out, "Meiyu! Come here."
The person who was talking stopped and walked towards them: "Mr. Zhuo!"
"Let me introduce you," Grandpa pointed at Ouyang, "This is my granddaughter Ouyang," then pointed at Zhuo Qiang, "My son Zhuo Qiang." Then he told them, "Meiyu, just came back from the United States, and now works as a manager at a cosmetics company."
"Sister Meiyu," Ouyang called politely, "Please take a seat." She pointed to an empty seat next to Zhuo Qiang. "You really live up to your name. You are even more beautiful than jade."
"Thank you for the compliment," she smiled, sitting aside, still mainly observing Zhuo Qiang. "I heard that there is a Miss Ouyang in the Zhuo family who is smart and capable. Seeing her today is indeed true."
Ouyang was indeed clever, but how did she come up with the word "capable"? Ouyang smiled and didn't continue her conversation.
Zhuo Qiang was busy reading a magazine and didn't pay much attention to what they were saying. Grandpa sat there and started to make arrangements: "Zhuo Qiang, take Mei Yu for a tour."
Zhuo Qiang put down the magazine and said politely, "Miss Meiyu, please follow me."
Ouyang ignored them, and since there were few people sitting on the sofa, she turned on the TV to liven up the tense atmosphere. Jin Lu was also a little distracted, not responding when someone called his name. Later, someone came and sat down next to him and chatted with him about painting.
The birthday man reminded Ouyang: "Jin Lu is a good kid. He is polite and well-mannered."
"Grandpa, what do you mean?" She looked at him. "Don't pay attention to me anymore," she whispered in his ear. "You'd better spend some time on my Uncle Zhuo. Maybe in a few years you can even hold a grandson in your arms."
"I can't count on you, grandson," he sighed, "but I hope you don't end up like your Uncle Zhuo and end up alone."
Ouyang didn't say anything, but smelled the aroma coming from the kitchen and smoothly changed the subject: "Grandma asked the kitchen to make a lot of delicious food today. It seems that I need more birthdays for Grandpa so that I can eat some good food."
"If you like it, eat more," Grandpa smiled. He didn't allow jokes at home. To be honest, he treated her like his own granddaughter. "I heard from your Aunt Lin that you often go to the Siheyuan."
"Yeah," she nodded, "The courtyard is closer, and it's not far from where I live."
Grandpa looked at her. His son also stayed in the courtyard, and Ouyang also stayed in the courtyard. What exactly was there in the courtyard? Apart from the memories left by the woman named Mu Zishan, he could not think of anything else. What troubled him was that Zhuo Qiang never brought other women into the courtyard. What did this mean? It meant that he had not yet let go of his feelings for Mu Zishan. He began to worry and looked outside the courtyard. Zhuo Qiang was admiring various flowers and plants with Meiyu.
Jin Lu observed Ouyang from time to time. They hadn't spoken much since she came in. She just called him "brother" and nothing else was said.
During dinner, the large round table was filled. Grandpa and Grandma sat in the middle, with Zhuo Qiang and Mei Yu to Grandpa's left, and Ouyang and Jin Lu to Grandma's right. Everyone else took their seats, and since there were new members in the family, Grandpa began introducing them one by one: the young master, the great-aunt, the uncle, the cousin, the aunt, the uncle, the cousin—everything was there, but she couldn't quite remember.
"Jin Lu and Mei Yu, you don't have to be so reserved. Just act like a family and be casual," Grandma said considerately.
They responded and sat aside, occasionally chatting with everyone. Only Zhuo Qiang and Ouyang seemed uncomfortable. Ouyang received a text message from Uncle Zhuo: "Help me later."
"Help with what?"
"Just nod and agree with whatever I say."
Grandpa noticed the two of them and said, "Don't play with your phone while eating."
Ouyang put away his phone, shrugged, and decided to adapt to the situation.
Grandpa drank some wine and said, "I've liked Meiyu since she was a child. She's become more and more charming as she grows up. I'm old and not that good at it, so I wanted to introduce her to my disappointing son."
"Mr. Zhuo," said a cousin, "Zhuo Qiang and Mei Yu are truly a rare pair."
This made Zhuo Qiang choke. You have to remember that this was their first meeting, and they had just known each other's names, so how could they be a couple? He quickly stopped talking: "You can't say that. She is a serious girl, young, beautiful and capable. How can she compare with me?"
Grandpa looked at his son and seemed unhappy.
"You're too modest," the man said, no doubt a shill for Grandpa, deliberately saying, "You're one of the rare young entrepreneurs in our city, the Prince Charming of so many girls' dreams."
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