Quan Jiu ate her food silently, her expression seemingly normal. However, if one looked closely, the dishes placed in her bowl had not been touched.
Xing Di leaned back in his chair, watched for a moment, then snatched the bowl from Quan Jiu's hand. "If you don't like it, just say so. It's an eyesore in your bowl." He then handed Quan Jiu another bowl.
Quan Jiu was a little stunned. Xing Di, however, showed no disdain, finishing the vegetables in her bowl in a few bites. His gaze then passed through Quan Jiu and landed on Chu Rong, whom he watched with a smile.
Chu Rong glanced at him indifferently. "How is Old Master Xing? I haven't visited him in a long time."
Xing Di coughed, picked up his drink, and gulped it down. He let out a long sigh. "Thank you for your concern, Uncle Chu. My grandfather is still quite hale and hearty."
Quan Jiu almost couldn't help but laugh. Chu Rong was ten years her senior, thirty-seven this year. Moreover, Chu Rong exercised regularly at the gym and looked no older than his early thirties. As for Xing Di, he was the same age as her, making it impossible to call him "uncle."
However, only Xing Di could say such a cutting remark.
"By seniority, you should call me grandfather." To everyone's surprise, Chu Rong said this in a calm, unconcerned tone, and casually placed a piece of cured pork rib into Quan Jiu's bowl.
Xing Di choked, then shamelessly retorted, "I'm just being considerate of your feelings, wanting to call you younger."
Sparks flew, swords were drawn, and tempers flared... Wang Feifei had already given up, even mentally titling the current scene.
Fan Xuan was muttering something, but Wang Feifei glared at her, silencing her. Fan Xuan dared not mutter further, only expressing her animosity with her eyes, casting a hateful glance in Quan Jiu's direction.
Suddenly, sensing a gaze beside her, Fan Xuan's eyes flickered and then met a sharp, chilling stare. It felt as if she were being looked at as a dead object, coldly scrutinized.
Fan Xuan's heart trembled with fright. She quickly lowered her head, her heart pounding wildly from the shock.
For the rest of the time, she was so well-behaved that she barely lifted her head, quietly eating her meal.
Wang Qiang, after a brief trip to the restroom, had to return to the scene of disaster. Of course, he maintained a polite smile on his face.
Seeing that Tu Tu had put down her chopsticks, Jiang Nan Chen asked gently, "Is our Tu Tu full?"
Chu Rong's eyes suddenly turned cold. "Director Jiang, please watch your words. Don't go around claiming other people's children."
Jiang Nan Chen chuckled. "I watched Mi Mi and Tu Tu grow up. How can they be other people's children?"
When he knew Quan Jiu, the two children were less than a year old. When he left, they were already two. If he hadn't watched them grow up, what else could it be?
Chu Rong's brows tightened noticeably. The anger on his face was no longer concealed. His eyes, filled with a dangerous aura, locked onto Jiang Nan Chen. He said word by word, "The Jiang family, in front of the Chu family, what right do you have to speak so presumptuously?"
Jiang Nan Chen's expression also darkened. "Perhaps we should test that."
The tension between them was so thick that one suspected a sneeze could ignite the entire scene.
In the private room, the last vestiges of quiet whispering vanished.
Wang Qiang and Luo Cheng, unsure how to mediate or feeling too awkward to sit idly, were like ants on a hot pan.
Wang Feifei buried her head and quickly sent a message to Quan Jiu: [When are we leaving this suffocating car crash scene?]
Quan Jiu finished the last bite of rice in her bowl, delicately took a tissue with her slender fingers, and wiped her mouth. She smiled and asked Mi Mi and Tu Tu, "Are you full?"
The two children nodded vigorously. Tu Tu, even more eagerly, jumped down from her stool.
Seizing the opportunity, Wang Feifei immediately stood up, slung her bag over her shoulder, and picked up Mi Mi from the stool. "Oh, my precious baby, you ate so much today! You've gotten so much heavier."
She then took Tu Tu's hand. "Let's go, Tu Tu, we're going home. Everyone, my place is quite far, so we'll be leaving first. You all eat slowly. Come, I'll drive you." She looked at Quan Jiu.
Quan Jiu smiled and said to the others, "Then I'll be leaving first. You all enjoy your meal."
The table erupted in laughter as they bid farewell to the two.
As Quan Jiu and Wang Feifei departed, more people began to find excuses to leave. Finally, only Chu Rong, Jiang Nan Chen, Xing Di, Wang Qiang, and Luo Cheng remained at the table.
Wang Qiang and Luo Cheng exchanged glances, then hardened their resolve. Wang Qiang said, "Well... we have to get back to editing the film. We'll be leaving now. You all eat slowly. I've already paid the bill. Add more if it's not enough."
With that, they fled as if escaping.
Only three people remained in the private room.
Xing Di yawned and stretched. He stood up, tidied his clothes, stomped his feet, straightened his trousers, and finally picked a piece of cured pork rib from the plate. He took a bite, waved goodbye as he walked, and said, "You two enjoy the rest of your meal."
Jiang Nan Chen also stood up. "Let's go together."
Xing Di shrugged indifferently. The two left the private room together.
Chu Rong sat quietly for a while before pressing the call button. Soon, a waiter hurried in. "Sir, what do you need?"
Chu Rong pointed to several dishes. "Please remake these dishes for me, one portion of each, and pack them to go."
The waiter said, "Please wait a moment," and hurried out.
...
Outside the restaurant, Wang Feifei finally put Mi Mi down. Then, holding Quan Jiu's hand and Mi Mi's hand, with Quan Jiu holding Tu Tu's hand, the four of them ran towards the parking lot. Only after getting into the car did Wang Feifei press her chest and gasp, "Oh my god, I've finally come back to life."
Quan Jiu was still a little dazed, tightly holding her son and daughter's hands.
Wang Feifei skillfully maneuvered the car. It wasn't until the car drove onto the main street that Quan Jiu gradually regained her senses.
The unexpected encounter between the children and Chu Rong was something she hadn't anticipated, so sudden that she didn't know how to react.
Would he be suspicious? Would he, being such an intelligent person, have already guessed? What would he do? Would he try to snatch the children away from her? Why did he keep appearing in her life? What exactly did he want?
Quan Jiu's mind was in turmoil.
Wang Feifei didn't know what to say either. Before meeting him in person, she couldn't truly grasp the situation. But after seeing him today, she realized that once that person unleashed his power, few could withstand it. At least, she used to be confident that the Wang family could be Quan Jiu's backing, but now she was a little unsure.
Mi Mi couldn't bear to see her mother flustered and upset, so she spoke up to comfort her. "Mom, are you facing some difficulties? Cheer up. Perhaps things aren't as bad as you imagine."
Tu Tu quickly chimed in, "Sister is right, Mom. Don't worry too much. Things aren't that bad."
Quan Jiu smiled with relief. "Mom knows you're worried about me. It's okay. Mom is just thinking about the script. When creating, one often gets stuck."
"Jiujiu, why don't you sleep over at my place tonight? We can have a heart-to-heart talk by candlelight." Wang Feifei thought Quan Jiu would have a lot to confide in at this moment.
However, Quan Jiu didn't have much to say. In the end, it was just about falling in love with someone who didn't love her. All she needed to do now was figure out how to protect her children.
"It's okay. I still need to finish the first draft of the last scene of the new script tonight," Quan Jiu said.
Wang Feifei advised, "Don't stay up too late. Don't develop health problems at such a young age. How about I introduce you to a housekeeper? They can help with cleaning and cooking, which would lighten your burden."
"It's fine now. The grandfather next door likes to cook, and he's taken care of all our meals."
Recalling this, Quan Jiu felt a mixture of amusement and exasperation. "I was initially very embarrassed, but that old gentleman doesn't listen to advice, so I can't do anything about it. He gets up at five to make breakfast for me. It's quite a psychological burden."
Wang Feifei was also a little surprised. "Then that old gentleman must be in good health. Oh well, you should try to look on the bright side. For lonely people, such connections are actually precious."
"That's what I tell myself, which is why I let him," Quan Jiu replied.