When Xu Yanxia made her way back home, her brother, Xu Zhanpeng, was still in the living room organizing the suit he would wear tomorrow and the gifts for his future father-in-law's family.
Seeing her come in, he asked, "What were you in such a hurry to do just now?"
"I went to see a friend who came from far away."
After saying this, Xu Yanxia cast a glance at him. "You're pretty good at keeping secrets, brother. Why didn't you tell me he was coming?"
Xu Zhanpeng immediately realized who the "he" his sister was referring to was. He laughed and sighed, "It wouldn't be any fun if I spilled the beans about you two in advance."
Xu Yanxia was speechless. "..."
Fine.
She didn't say anything else and first went to the kitchen to put the pastries Lu Jingming had brought into the refrigerator.
Just as she was about to leave, her gaze inadvertently swept past the window, and she paused.
Their kitchen had no curtains and it was dark inside, making it easy to see outside clearly. There, beside the holly bushes across the flowerbed, a figure was still looking toward their house.
Although the distance made it impossible to see the person's face clearly, the silhouette gave her a very familiar feeling.
Xu Yanxia thought for a moment, took out her phone, and tried sending a message to her junior schoolmate, Fan Xiaowei: [Xiaowei, Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!]
Xiaowei quickly replied: [Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, Senior! I saw you on TV a couple of days ago, you're so amazing!!! You really did us proud!!!]
Xu Yanxia smiled and replied with a thank you, then asked: [How have things been at school recently? Is everyone doing well?]
Fan Xiaowei replied: [Everything is great! Our department just hosted a forum before the holidays. A lot of academic heavyweights came, and I even went to listen to the lectures!]
Xu Yanxia thought about it and was just about to type back when the other party sent another message: [By the way, do you remember Senior Lin? He's been a bit weird lately, like a completely different person. He's so short-tempered. I've even seen him get into arguments with others several times.]
Xu Yanxia paused, then typed: [Really? I haven't seen him in a long time. Did something happen to him?]
Her junior replied: [We don't know either. We just feel like he's become less talkative recently, looking a bit depressed. Oh right, aren't you guys from the same hometown? Didn't you see him when you went back this time?]
Xu Yanxia replied: [Our homes aren't that close, they're dozens of kilometers apart. I took some time off work and just got back too.]
Fan Xiaowei replied with an [Oh.]
She didn't mention Lin Hengnan again and just told her: [Senior, you should come back and visit the school more when you have time. You're a celebrity on our school network now! Everyone wants to take a picture with you!!!]
Xu Yanxia replied with an OK sticker, said goodbye to her junior, and exited the chat interface.
After thinking for a moment, she returned to her room, took out the gift for her future sister-in-law Luo Jiajia from her luggage, went to the living room, and handed it to her brother.
"Brother, I won't go to my sister-in-law's house with you and Auntie tomorrow. I'll go straight to the hotel to check on the food and everything. This is my engagement gift for her. Please pass it on for me."
Xu Zhanpeng didn't think much of it and just took the gift. After looking at it, he couldn't help but be stunned. "A gold bracelet? Pure gold? This must be very expensive. Why did you buy something so expensive?"
Xu Yanxia was speechless. "My sister-in-law has been so good to you for so many years. Even when things went wrong a while ago, she never looked down on our family and even suffered with you at the stall. Doesn't she deserve such a nice gift?"
"No, it's not that," her brother quickly said. "Of course Jiajia deserves it, but I've prepared something for her myself. It's not easy for you to earn money, so you didn't have to buy something this expensive."
"Yours is yours, and mine is mine."
Xu Yanxia reminded her brother again. "Work hard and make money when you go back. Put your heart into running our shop. Remember to keep your promise when you get married—buy her a big diamond ring and throw her a grand and glorious wedding at Shengtang!"
"Alright, I'll remember." Xu Zhanpeng smiled and told her, "You take good care of yourself too."
"Of course I will." Xu Yanxia smiled and went back to her room.
Picking up her phone, she saw that Lu Jingming had sent her another message while she was out talking to her brother: [Are you home yet?]
Xu Yanxia replied: [I've been home for a while. What about you?]
Lu Jingming: [Just got back too. What are your plans for tomorrow? I have a car here, do you want me to pick you up?]
Xu Yanxia said there was no need: [My brother chartered a bus to pick up and drop off the relatives tomorrow, so I can drive his car. Let's just meet at the hotel tomorrow.]
Lu Jingming sent her an OK gesture and wished her a good night.
Xu Yanxia put down her phone. She thought for a moment, then took out a bottle of pepper spray she had bought previously from the cabinet and put it into the bag she would carry tomorrow.
Tomorrow was her brother's big day, and she naturally hoped everything would go smoothly.
But if there was any trouble that had to be faced, she still needed to be prepared.
...
Early the next morning, the Xu household was enveloped in a joyous and festive atmosphere.
Her grandparents put on formal clothes they rarely wore on ordinary days.
With the help of his two sisters, Xu Zhanpeng also transformed into a handsome young man in a sharp suit and leather shoes.
As soon as the auspicious hour arrived, he set off for the Luo family's house with the gifts prepared for his fiancée and his future parents-in-law.
According to local customs, parents should also participate in this segment, but due to the Xu family's special circumstances, their aunt and an uncle from the extended family took their place.
Xu Yanxia first saw them out the door. A while later, she also saw her grandparents and cousin onto the bus heading to the hotel. Then, she locked the door and set off driving her brother's car.
Qingcheng was not a large city. In just about ten minutes, she arrived at the venue for the engagement banquet.
Relatives were arriving one after another. Taking advantage of the time before the ceremony started, she first inspected the hotel's environment.
This Peony Hotel was a large, time-honored local establishment with fairly strict management. Outsiders could not casually enter the kitchen's operational areas.
Xu Yanxia felt relieved and went to speak with the hotel manager.
"Hello, today is very important to us. Please make sure the security staff maintains order. If there are any irrelevant people, please do not let them in."
"Of course, of course." The hotel manager had already recognized her and immediately said enthusiastically, "We warmly welcome Miss Xu and your family. It's a great honor to host you. Later, if you find any aspect of the dishes unsatisfactory, please be sure to tell us or offer some guidance. We will definitely listen with an open mind."
"You're too polite," Xu Yanxia smiled politely and said. "I'm also a local, and I've often eaten your dishes growing up. The taste is very good."
"That's good, that's good." The hotel manager breathed a sigh of relief.
"Sister!" Her cousin Yuan Xiaoyue suddenly ran over to find her. "President Lu is here. Hurry over!"
"Okay." She bade farewell to the hotel manager first.
When she arrived at the lobby, she spotted Lu Jingming at a glance.
He was wearing a light gray casual suit today, which made him look fresh and handsome, yet not so much that he would steal the spotlight from her brother.
Her brother was currently introducing him to the relatives.
"This is President Lu from Rong City, the big boss who invested in our restaurant."
"So it's President Lu! It's an honor to finally meet you!"
"Thank you for coming all this way, CEO Lu! It must have been a tiring journey."
"I had no idea CEO Lu was so young and handsome!"
The relatives showered him with praise.
"You flatter me."
Lu Jingming shook hands with everyone with perfect manners, not putting on any airs at all.
There was going to be a small engagement ceremony shortly, and Xu Zhanpeng needed to go over the schedule with the master of ceremonies. Seeing his sister approach, he immediately waved her over. "Xiaoxia, come and entertain CEO Lu for a bit."
Xu Yanxia walked over. Once Lu Jingming finished greeting the people around him, she led him over to her grandparents and aunt.
"Grandpa, Grandma, Auntie, this is CEO Lu from Rong City. He has helped us out a lot. He is also the eldest son of Chairman Lu and Mrs. Lu, who visited our home the day before yesterday."
Xu Yanxia paused for a moment before adding, "He is also a friend of mine. He made a special trip just to attend my brother's engagement party."
At her words, the Xu grandparents were momentarily stunned.
Lu Jingming, however, immediately bowed to them. "Hello, Grandpa, Grandma, and Auntie. My name is Lu Jingming. My hometown is actually right next door in Qi City. It is an absolute honor to be here today for Xiaoxia's brother's engagement party."
"We met last time in Rong City."
The aunt quickly smiled at him and said, "Thank you so much for helping our family."
"It was nothing, please don't mention it."
Lu Jingming nodded modestly, then quickly addressed Grandpa and Grandma Xu, who were about to stand up from their seats. "Please stay seated, Grandpa and Grandma. I am your junior; there is no need for you to get up."
"That is right,"
Xu Yanxia smiled and chimed in, "You two just sit and relax. He is a junior."
"Welcome, welcome."
Only then did Grandpa and Grandma Xu shake Lu Jingming's hand, saying, "You have traveled such a long way to be here. It must have been exhausting."
"Not at all. I am very happy to be able to come and visit you both today."
Lu Jingming smiled politely and gracefully.
Grandpa and Grandma Xu nodded with smiles, then quickly told Xu Yanxia, "Xiaoxia, hurry and show CEO Lu to a seat."
"He is an honored guest. Make sure to take good care of him for us."
"Okay."
Xu Yanxia led Lu Jingming to a nearby seat.
She then sat down right next to him.
