"The Qi family's descendants are truly numerous. Whoever marries my brother in the future will be utterly pestered to death by these relatives!" Su He couldn't help but sigh as they left the banquet hall. She had attended so many birthday parties, and the Qi family was the largest she had ever seen.
After a round of pleasantries, she hadn't even remembered a few names, let alone placed faces. The only ones who made a slight impression were Qi Ruoyun and Qi Ruoqing.
Mentioning Su Chen, Su He grumbled again. "He spent the entire evening drinking in some corner, too lazy to socialize. It seems he truly dislikes that family..."
"But if he dislikes it, why doesn't he leave?"
"Perhaps, there's something in the Qi family that he cares about." Lu Yanbei didn't want her thinking about other men, so he cupped her chin and turned her head towards him. "Your husband hasn't eaten a bite all evening, won't you show some concern for me?"
"You say that as if I have eaten," Su He pouted.
"Didn't you get your favorite food?"
"Don't remind me! Just as I was about to take a bite, a crowd of people swarmed over. I didn't get a chance." Su He got angry just thinking about it. Such delicious food, wasted!
Lu Yanbei was amused by her expression. "Then, shall we find a place to eat now?"
Su He nodded repeatedly. "I know a restaurant with a good reputation, it seems to be nearby..."
As she spoke, she fumbled for her phone in her bag.
As fate would have it, Su Chen's call came in.
Su He hesitated, glancing at Lu Yanbei. "Can I answer it?"
"Go ahead." Although a little reluctant, Lu Yanbei still hummed in agreement.
Su He answered the call, and Su Chen's slightly drunken voice came through the earpiece. "You ungrateful brat, you left without waiting for me! Your brother here has had a bit too much to drink, have Lu Yanbei drive over and pick me up..."
Su He looked at the man beside her, whose expression had darkened slightly, and said, "Couldn't you find a designated driver?"
"My phone is dead!" the other party said impatiently.
"Then whose phone did you use to call me?"
"I meant the battery is low!"
"The hotel should have power banks, you could borrow one from the staff."
Su Chen: ...
As expected, he was less important than anyone else when it came to the opposite sex!
How long had it been since she got married, and she didn't even care about her brother anymore!
Seeing Su Chen stumped, Lu Yanbei's mood improved considerably.
"Cheng Jue, turn the car around and head back to the hotel." His good mood made him decide to be magnanimous and give his brother-in-law a ride.
Su He understood his intention and replied to Su Chen, "Wait at the entrance!"
With that, she hung up directly.
Su Chen put down his phone and let out a scoff.
Five minutes later, Lu Yanbei's car reappeared at the hotel entrance. However, it didn't stay long; after picking up Su Chen, they left. But this scene was still observed by some.
"Didn't they say their sibling relationship was strained? Why would they turn back to pick him up?"
"Some things are best taken with a grain of salt. Don't believe everything you hear!"
"So, does that mean Su Chen and Lu Yanbei have a good relationship?"
"Hmph! What if they do? Even blood brothers settle their accounts! Do you think Lu Yanbei would go out of his way for an outsider for no reward?"
"That's not necessarily true! What if there's some agreement between them?"
In the lounge, members of the Qi family's second and third branches gathered and whispered amongst themselves.
Among the five branches, their two branches were the closest and had always stood united against common enemies.
The eldest branch was of direct lineage, and the fourth branch had the old man's backing. If the second and third branches didn't unite, they truly couldn't contend with them. As for the fifth branch, they weren't taking them seriously yet.
"It seems we need to make our move sooner rather than later. If Lu Yanbei really gets involved, things will become much more difficult."
"Why don't we threaten him with Mrs. Lu?" Qi Ruohuan of the second branch, who lacked common sense, was immediately scorned by the others for her suggestion.
"Is there something wrong with your brain? Threatening Mrs. Lu would be directly confronting Lu Yanbei! If he were to retaliate fiercely, we wouldn't have any peace!" Qi Wei, the fifth in line, said with a cold smile.
Lu Yanbei might not be widely famous in Nancheng, but someone who could control things in B City with an iron fist was no ordinary person. Her suggestion was indeed thoughtless!
The others also agreed with him.
Qi Ruohuan stomped her foot. "I was just suggesting, if it's not possible, then it's not possible, why are you being so harsh with me!"
"Alright, you don't have to worry about things here, go hang out with your friends." Her older sister, Qi Ruoshi, patted her head and coaxed her out.
Qi Ruohuan was not discreet; some things shouldn't be overheard by her.
The remaining few closed the door and discussed their strategy, finally deciding to target Su Chen.
"Didn't the old man give him a project recently? If that project falls through, what will he use to report back to the old man!"
"That project was originally handled by our second brother, and he snatched it away!"
"Investigate his social connections thoroughly, especially the Su family."
Previously, they had never taken Su Chen's adoptive family seriously. But unexpectedly, Mrs. Lu had suddenly appeared. The remaining two had to be investigated carefully.
Know yourself and your enemy, and you will win a hundred battles!
*
Su Chen sat in the passenger seat, reeking of alcohol, his head swimming. He hadn't expected Su He and the others to go out for dinner.
"Eating so late, aren't you afraid of gaining weight?" Su Chen looked up at the restaurant sign and couldn't help but tease.
Su He gave him a glare. "The fat isn't going on you, what's it to you!"
Su Chen paused slightly.
That tone of voice... his eyes widened suddenly.
This was the Su He of the past!
He had felt something was off before but couldn't quite figure it out. It wasn't until their bickering just now that he suddenly understood. This bright, spirited, and mischievous woman before him, wasn't she the Su He from before?
She, had finally returned!
"Su He, you..."
Su He knew what he wanted to ask but didn't give him a chance. "Let's go in quickly, I'm starving!"
With that, she pulled Lu Yanbei inside without waiting to see if he followed.
Su Chen stood at the entrance for a long time. After standing in the cold wind for a while, his head cleared up considerably. He tidied his thoughts, and with heavy steps, followed them.
For the sake of their health, Su He didn't order too many dishes, just three dishes and one soup, enough for three people.
"Little Pork, your favorite." While taking care of Lu Yanbei, Su He also didn't forget her brother, Su Chen.
It would be a lie to say Su Chen wasn't touched.
However, remembering what he had done to Su He in the past, it seemed truly despicable now. Even if she had erased that memory, they had ended up together in the end.
Looking at the默契 interaction between Su He and Lu Yanbei, he knew he had lost.
Lost completely and utterly.
"What are you spacing out for, eat." Su He frowned when she saw him staring blankly at the meat in his bowl. "Don't you like it? Then give it back to me!"
As Su He reached out to take it back, Su Chen quickly popped it into his mouth. "How can you take back something you've given to someone else!"
Su He made a face at him and reached for the Sichuan Chili Chicken beside him.
She never intended to fight him for it, anyway!
Lu Yanbei watched their interaction, and something flashed in his eyes, too quickly for anyone to grasp.