spring bite mark

Chapter 215 Departure, the Capital

The dinner is underway at the Karen Business Hotel.

For Huo Mingcai, the entire banquet felt like watching a bizarre silent film.

His pampered and handsome son-in-law chose the quietest and most comfortable spot to sit, without taking anything. Yet, a group of powerful figures and CEOs personally presented him with all sorts of delicious food and wine. Even though he didn't touch anything, they weren't disappointed at all. On the contrary, they were all beaming with joy and extremely honored just to be able to get close enough to chat with him.

The regional president of Yanjing Group and the deputy general manager of headquarters, Shen, who was said to have even more power than the regional president, were on either side of Yan Changye, carefully selecting various foods for him while also showing concern for his well-being as if they were serving an ancestor.

Surrounded by various powerful figures, Yan Changye maintained a calm demeanor, displaying a clear sense of pride and aloofness. He was unrestrained and elegant, yet unapproachable.

Huo Mingcai is an honest man, but after running a supermarket for more than ten years and still standing strong, he understands human relationships and sees things much more comprehensively than his sheltered, simple-minded son.

He seemed—

Suddenly I understood how my son was able to meet those princes;

He understood that his son wasn't exaggerating when he said that everyone called Yan Changye "brother-in-law."
He understood why his and Yan Changye's positions in the conference hall had been so 'naturally' changed to the very center of the first row, where all the dignitaries were seated.
Having understood the Lan family's high social standing, it was no wonder that they suddenly became so proactive in talking to him, a low-to-middle-class person who runs a small supermarket, about their child's marriage.
I understand now what my son-in-law meant by "a diverse range of jobs involving many industries"—it turns out he meant "his businesses span the globe"...

Looking at the huge pile of food in front of him, Huo Mingcai suddenly lost his appetite.

Not far away, Yan Changye seemed to sense something. He glanced at Huo Mingcai, hesitated for a moment, then gracefully rose and walked towards Huo Mingcai. Then, in full view of everyone, he sat down next to Huo Mingcai and casually and intimately placed his hand on Huo Mingcai's shoulder.
"The food at the dinner party wasn't to your liking?"

Huo Mingcai asked in a low voice, "What do you think?"

"I don't think it tastes as good as the noodles with soybean paste that Dad makes," Yan Changye replied slowly.

Huo Mingcai: "..."

Yan Changye said seriously, "Dad, how about we go home now and you cook noodles for me?"

Huo Mingcai glared at him: "You're such a big guy, yet you're so troublesome."

The sudden feeling of unfamiliarity and unease that arose in my heart was completely dispelled by my son-in-law's teasing words.

Huo Mingcai took a deep breath: "What exactly is your identity?"

Yan Changye smiled, glanced at the flattering looks around him, and teased, "Dad, I don't believe you didn't guess it."

"I had some guesses, but it seemed too unbelievable, I couldn't believe it." Huo Mingcai's tone was slightly irritated. "I already thought Yun Gui was way above her station getting involved with the eldest daughter of the Lan family, but I never expected Manman to find someone with an even higher threshold..."

Yan Changye said "Oh," and continued, "Whether he's of high or low status, isn't he still half your son? Dad, shall we have a drink, father-in-law and son-in-law?"

He poured Huo Mingcai a small half-glass of wine, then poured himself a small half-glass, and solemnly raised his glass in a toast.

Since they had both drunk alcohol, Shen Zongqian personally drove them home this time.

Inside the BMW, Huo Mingcai looked at the large group of luxury cars trailing behind and asked Yan Changye, "Are they all your people?"

“Bodyguards,” Yan Changye explained slowly, “Some of them came with my wife to protect her; others came with me this time. Don’t worry, Dad, they will only protect us covertly and won’t cause any trouble in our daily lives.”

"No wonder I felt like there were so many eyes watching me from the shadows during those two days when I met my youngest son. Yun Gui also said that every time we went out, a large group of strange people followed us from a distance..."

“There’s nothing I can do. There are always some people who want to mess with me.” Yan Changye sighed softly. “Dad, the view from the top is glamorous, but it’s also lonely.”

When I got home, there was a huge pile of stuff on the floor.

"You need to bring so much stuff to the capital?" Huo Mingcai was slightly taken aback. "I only have one suitcase. The rest are toys that Yun Gui prepared for his two grandsons. He said he asked Miss Lan to buy them from abroad," Wang Ying explained, then looked at the two of them and teased, "He said he was taking his son-in-law to see the world. Has he seen it yet?"

Huo Mingcai paused for a moment, then said, "It was my son-in-law who broadened my horizons."

"Right, right!" Huo Yungui exclaimed softly from the side, "I knew my sister-in-law had wide connections and could get along well anywhere!"

"What do you know?" Huo Mingcai glanced at his son. "Hurry up and wash up and go to bed. We have to leave first thing tomorrow morning."

As for explaining it to my son, forget it, I'm too lazy to explain.

Yan Changye had already put his arm around Jiang Manman's waist and politely said to his parents-in-law, "Well then, Mom and Dad, Manman and I are going to rest too."

But none of them slept well that night.

Huo Yungui, on the other hand, was so excited about meeting his two little nephews the next day that he couldn't sleep, imagining how cute and cuddly the two children would be.

Huo Mingcai was debating whether or not to tell Wang Ying about his son-in-law's identity when Wang Ying, also feeling a bit uneasy, brought up the topic first:

"Manman's adoptive parents are from a wealthy family. Huo Mingcai, I'm a little nervous. I don't know how to deal with wealthy families. I've heard that people from wealthy families aren't easy to get along with..."

Huo Mingcai was also a little surprised, but thinking of Yan Changye's status, he suddenly felt that ordinary wealthy families were nothing: "It's okay, we're not going to be together for a long time. No matter what, just the fact that they raised our youngest son to be this big and so well makes them our greatest benefactors, whom we should be grateful to for the rest of our lives."

Wang Ying nodded: "I know."

"Also, our son-in-law's status is a bit ridiculously high, so please be mentally prepared."

“Manman did say that his family background is very good.” Wang Ying looked at Huo Mingcai. “Just how good is it?”

Huo Mingcai sighed: "The crown prince of the number one family in the capital, the person your silly son longs to see."

Wang Ying: "..."

Jiang Manman was also awake.

Yan Changye tasted the sweetness briefly, and holding his wife, he felt a surge of emotion:

"Right now, I especially miss the big bathrooms in the capital and the fun-filled bedrooms. When I get back, my wife and I will enjoy ourselves to the fullest in the bathroom, on the big bed and carpet in the bedroom, and in the study."

Jiang Manman ignored his lewd remarks and asked something else: "Where did you go with Dad today?"

“It’s just a business meeting, nothing special,” Yan Changye chuckled. “However, Dad knows my identity now.”

Jiang Manman paused for a moment: "It's better to know in advance, since he'll find out anyway when we get back to the capital. Won't he feel uncomfortable?"

"It's alright." Yan Changye smiled. "I can see that in his heart, my primary identity is still that of his son. Everything else is just icing on the cake."

Jiang Manman looked at him and said, "We've only known each other for a few days, but you seem to be closer to your parents-in-law in Chongqing than to the Jiang family."

Yan Changye smiled, a slight curl of his lips.

"Madam, in this world, there are those who remain strangers even after growing old together, and those who become old friends at first sight."

He simply happened to hit it off with this genuine family at first sight.

(End of this chapter)