The lunch reservation was at a members-only restaurant in the city specializing in high-end banquet receptions.
After getting out of the car, Chen Zhenye handed the keys to a valet and led his wife and daughter to the reserved private room.
He gave a light knock on the door.
Then he pushed the door open. The room was large and spacious, with a big round table that could easily seat twelve.
Seeing the elderly couple already seated inside, Chen Zhenye said with excitement in his voice:
"Dad, Mom, you're here so early."
The two before him were actually his wife Wu Peihua's parents.
His father-in-law Wu Hongjun and mother-in-law Qian Xiaofen.
Wu Peihua followed behind, calling out somewhat reluctantly in a low voice, "Dad, Mom."
Their relationship had been strained for a very long time.
In recent years, all contact between them had been maintained by Chen Zhenye.
Wu Hongjun was tall and imposing, his face stern and solemn. He got straight to the point:
"Where is my own granddaughter? A mix-up of babies is such a major event, and you only informed us last night."
Qian Xiaofen chimed in soothingly, "Alright, alright. Zhenye and Peihua, as the parents, were probably just as confused."
Chen Zhenye quickly pulled Chen Liuyue, who was lagging at the back, forward.
Facing this formidable patriarch, Chen Zhenye's attitude was respectful, tinged with a hint of ingratiation.
"Dad, this is mine and Peihua's biological daughter—Chen Liuyue."
Though his hair was silver, Wu Hongjun's eyes were as sharp and piercing as an eagle's.
When his gaze fell on Chen Liuyue's face, he paused slightly and couldn't help but turn to look at his wife, Qian Xiaofen.
Qian Xiaofen was a gentle and elegant elderly lady.
She maintained a faint, lukewarm smile on her face until her eyes also landed on Chen Liuyue. Then, she couldn't control the slight tremor in her fingers.
She looks like her!
So much!
She looked far too much like their youngest daughter, Wu Lihua, who had died young.
Wu Peihua could naturally see the unusual sparkle in her parents' eyes. Watching this, she clenched her fists tightly, her knuckles turning white.
"Xiao Yue, right? Come here to your grandmother." Qian Xiaofen beckoned kindly, her eyes seeming to glisten with tears.
Chen Liuyue obediently stepped forward.
She called out to her in a sweet, soft voice, "Grandma."
"Yes!"
Then she turned her head, not at all intimidated by the imposing Wu Hongjun, and called out sweetly, "Grandpa."
"Yes!"
With just those brief forms of address, Chen Liuyue instantly won the affection of the two elders.
Watching this scene, Wu Peihua's eyes seemed to spit fire.
It's always like this!
They favored my younger sister when we were kids, fine. But even though Wu Lihua has been dead for so many years, they still can't let go.
Now, just because Liuyue looks like Wu Lihua, they're so warm.
Favoritism!!!
Seeing this, Chen Zhenye nodded with satisfaction and called out:
"Come, everyone, please take a seat."
"The Tao couple will be here shortly. We can all discuss the future arrangements for the two girls together."
Seeing his wife standing rooted to the spot, biting her lip, he stepped forward, pulled Wu Peihua down into a seat, and whispered:
"Today is a good day. Don't argue with Mom and Dad."
Wu Peihua said indignantly, "It's certainly not my good day."
Chen Zhenye also knew about his wife's complex feelings regarding her sister, so he didn't say more.
He turned and summoned a waiter to start ordering.
Meanwhile, Qian Xiaofen held Chen Liuyue's hand.
She asked her in gentle tones where she had lived all these years, what she liked to eat, and what her hobbies were.
Hearing that she was now also studying at Jinghai University, she couldn't help but praise:
"Xiao Yue's grades must be very good."
Chen Liuyue modestly said, "I just got lucky to get into Jinghai University. I can't compare to sister."
"Sister is the belle of the Dance Department at our Jinghai University, very famous."
Before they knew about the baby mix-up, this elderly couple had also genuinely doted on Chen Ruanruan, arranging a future for her as their own granddaughter.
In truth, Chen Ruanruan's academic performance was average; she relied entirely on the arts student path.
In the end, it was Wu Hongjun who swallowed his pride and asked an old friend for a favor to get Chen Ruanruan into Jinghai University.
So Grandma Qian Xiaofen's earlier praise was sincere.
Listening to their conversation, Wu Peihua couldn't help but say:
"If you ask me, for Liuyue to have such good grades, we really should thank the Tao couple."
"One is a university professor, the other an elementary school teacher. If they hadn't nurtured and educated her since childhood, Liuyue wouldn't have gotten into Jinghai University either."
Qian Xiaofen didn't think much of it and simply said,
"Yes, when the Tao couple arrives later, we must thank them properly."
Wu Hongjun, an old hand at reading people, detected the sarcasm in his daughter's words.
He said directly:
"Ruanruan has also done well in your Chen family. Didn't she also get into Jinghai University relying on the family's resources?"
Chen Zhenye's expression darkened. He reached out and patted the back of his wife's hand,
signaling her not to upset his father-in-law any further.
During the conversation, a knock came at the door.
The Tao couple had arrived.
Chen Zhenye, sitting near the door, was the first to rise and open it to welcome them.
"You're here?"
"I'm Chen Zhenye, please come in."
Tao Tian was dressed in a white shirt and jeans. Though in his forties or fifties, he looked as young as someone in his thirties.
He exuded the refined air of a scholar.
Chen Ruanruan's face bore a seventy to eighty percent resemblance to his.
He nodded at Chen Zhenye with a smile and said, "Hello, I'm Tao Tian."
Behind him, Jin Minjia wore a black dress, prim and conservative.
Her long hair was neatly pinned up, and she walked with her spine very straight.
She also nodded.
"Just call me Teacher Jin."
Her gaze, however, pierced through the crowd, scanning the room.
Upon seeing Chen Liuyue sitting between two unfamiliar elderly people, she paused slightly.
She scanned the surroundings again but didn't see the figure of another young girl.
Chen Zhenye was observant.
He invited them to sit down.
"Ruanruan went to the hospital with her fiancé for a check-up today. She'll be here later."
"Oh, right, this is my wife, Wu Peihua."
"And these two are my father-in-law and mother-in-law. They heard about the situation with the children and wanted to come see for themselves."
"The two elders were very fond of Ruanruan before. When we were busy with work and had no time to look after the child, Ruanruan stayed with her grandparents."
After sitting down, Jin Minjia seemed uncomfortable with the opulent decor of the private room.
She appeared somewhat ill at ease.
She then assumed her posture as a people's teacher, saying:
"Ruanruan is the name you gave to my daughter?"
Chen Zhenye nodded with a smile and said, "Yes, my wife chose it. Hoping our daughter would be sweet and gentle."
Jin Minjia frowned.
Her tone was rigid as she said:
"That's not a good name for a girl."
"It's too easy to raise her to be spoiled."
"The name I chose was Liuyue, hoping she would be like a crystal-clear, pure, and lofty moon in the sky."
Wu Peihua's face darkened slightly.
What did Jin Minjia mean by this?
First, acting all high and mighty, telling everyone to call her Teacher Jin, then immediately saying the name she chose was no good.
She was truly difficult to get along with.
Tao Tian, being a university professor, had high emotional intelligence and broad experience. He coughed and quickly smoothed things over:
"I actually think both Ruanruan and Liuyue are names with their own merits."
"And the most important thing is, they are both our daughters now."
"Although it started with an accident, what matters is that the process went smoothly and the outcome is a happy one."
After these words were spoken, Wu Peihua's expression softened slightly.
Jin Minjia, however, paid little heed to the feelings of others present, her gaze fixed on Chen Liuyue.
Her tone was firm as she said:
"Liuyue, what have I taught you since you were little?"
"You must greet people when you see them. Your father and I have been in here for so long, why haven't you said hello?"
Chen Liuyue curved her lips into a smile and called out in a clear, sweet voice:
"Hello, Tao Dad! Hello, Tao Mom!"
Jin Minjia was taken aback. "Why are you calling us that?"
Chen Liuyue blinked her eyes, feigning innocence and a hint of grievance.
"What's wrong? Could it be, Tao Mom, now that you know I'm not your biological daughter, you don't want me to call you that anymore?"
"Oh well, no matter what, you've raised me for all these years, and I can't bear to let go."
"If you really don't want me to, then I'll just call you..."
"Hello, Auntie Jin!"
