Shen Xia looked at the person who talked with her grandpa. She could feel the anger emanating from Grandpa Shen, yet somehow, that person exuded a cheerful feeling.
That's weird.
"How is your father?" asked Grandpa Shen while trying to hide Shen Xia behind his body.
Zhao Jingfeng smiled politely. "He just got back from overseas two days ago with my mom. From the way I saw it, they have a very satisfying vacation."
Grandpa Shen nodded. "That's good."
Zhao Jingfeng turned his gaze toward Shen Xia. "Congratulations, Shen Xia."
Shen Xia pouted. "Mn. Thank you."
"I'm happy that you included me in the invitation list."
"Of course. Brother Lu, Brother Gao, and Brother Tang are here today, too," said Shen Xia, trying to downgrade the invitation.
Zhao Jingfeng smiled knowingly. "I see."
"Oh, right. Congratulations to you, too." Shen Xia sneered. "I heard you won that project from the Ziegler family."
"Oh, you knew?"
"Of course. Last night, my assistant came to me in tears. He said you were too ruthless."
Zhao Jingfeng smiled dotingly. "If you want me to give up on the project, I don't mind."
"I don't want to! Stop talking like that! I don't like it." Shen Xia turned her head away in anger. Her cheeks puffed up, showing how angry she was.
"Okay," said Zhao Jingfeng. "I will follow your wish."
"You better be!"
"COUGH!" Grandpa Shen glared at Zhao Jingfeng while coughing here and there. "I think it's time to start the dance section. Excuse us."
Shen Xia looked at her grandpa and then at Zhao Jingfeng, who was getting farther.
Zhao Jingfeng sighed. No rush. Good things—and good families—are worth the patience.
"So that's the girl you have been chasing all this time?"
Zhao Jingfeng turned and met a man with a cold, detached aura.
"Feng Muchen."
"Long time no see."
"Mn. I never thought that I would meet you here."
Feng Muchen's eyes curved a little. "Well, my girlfriend told me to attend on her behalf."
"Oh?" Zhao Jingfeng smirked. "So, you finally met someone?"
"Mn," said Feng Muchen with amusement in his eyes. "This year turned out to be good at finding someone."
Zhao Jingfeng looked around and finally found Shen Yaochen not too far from them. "Well, except that relic over there."
Feng Muchen followed Zhao Jingfeng's gaze and sneered. "That one over there had zero romance in his head."
"Weren't we like that too last year?"
Feng Muchen turned his eyes to his cufflink. "Right. I almost forgot my life without her."
Zhao Jingfeng smiled while gazing at the woman who was talking animatedly with her family. "Me, too."
On the other side of the hall, Shen Xia pouted. She was speechless.
In front of her, once again, Shen Yaochen put many names on the wheel app. This time, it was meant to pick the one who would dance with her after Grandpa Shen. Aside from her brothers, her uncles, and Wen Kexin joined the fight.
Ruan Yaning shook her head and spoke to her daughter, "Yan Yan, when you are older, make sure to choose a man who is mature, okay?"
Shen Qingyan smiled at the mess in front of her. "But, Mother, being doting and protective is also good."
Ruan Yaning widened her eyes, shocked. "Where did you learn that?"
Shen Qingyan turned her gaze far from her mother. "I just feel like it."
Ruan Yaning still didn't believe her daughter. She was still a four-year-old child. But sometimes, her words go beyond that age.
Is her daughter a genius?
Outside Ruan Yaning's sight, Shen Qingyan sighed in relief.
The wheel started to spin, and Shen Yaxi's name was pointed. This uncle screamed in happiness while the others sighed in defeat.
Grandpa Shen laughed at the excitement between his descendants. He was happy that his family was harmonious. Seeing that the time had come, he offered his hand to Shen Xia and escorted her to the dance floor.
Grandpa Shen loved dancing at a banquet. He loved showing his harmony with his wife through dancing. But not as much as Elder Gu from the Gu family. Even though they rarely include dance section in their banquet, when it's an engagement, wedding, or introduction like today's banquet, Grandpa Shen will include dance section to enliven the banquet.
The music started, and Grandpa Shen smiled the whole time. Shen Xia could feel that her grandpa was happy for her and grateful that they had finally reunite. They dance a slow dance, showing Grandpa Shen's skill and Shen Xia's capability to follow Grandpa Shen's lead.
The dance ended in applause. Everyone was amazed that this newly found granddaughter could dance that well.
The next dance section started, and Shen Yaxi escorted Shen Xia to the dance floor. This time, anybody could join. Shen Yuchen and Shen Yaoqi brought their wives, while Lu Yutong, Shen Yaxi's wife, was escorted by Shen Lingfeng, their son. Grandma Shen danced with her husband. And Shen Zhiyuan also brought her wife to the dance floor.
Shen Yaochen, Shen Chengchen, and Sheng Wencheng looked at each other. Their eyes spoke something that they didn't want to talk about. After a few seconds, they turned their gaze away, annoyed.
Shen Qingyan, who stood beside Shen Yaochen, sneered when she looked at her three brothers. She started to wonder again. Five of her brothers, only one successfully brought his woman to the family.
Patetic.
The second dance ended, and Shen Xia was hugged one by one by the Shen family. The atmosphere was light and cheerful. Some of the guests even envy the harmony that the Shens had. Not every wealthy family was harmonious like the Shens. Most even had competition as the motto. It wasn't weird when siblings fight each other for the inheritance.
Shen Xia, in the middle of the crowd, was hugging Shen Qingyan to her heart's content. It was rare to be able to hug this little fella.
She remembered the information that Sister Su gave her last night.
Shen Xia sneakily kissed Shen Qingyan's cheek and hugged her again.
"I'm glad you came to this world, to this family," whispered Shen Xia.
Shen Qingyan widened her eyes in disbelief. "You-"
Shen Xia loosened her hug and laughed when she saw the cute face of Shen Qingyan. "Do you want a chocolate cake? I will order it for you."
Shen Qingyan pouted. "I don't need it."
Shen Xia laughed out loud. "Why are you so cute?"
Shen Qingyan frowned. That sentence somehow sounded weird to her.
Did she know?
"Shen Xia," someone called, and all the Shen family members turned their heads to the newcomer.
"L-Zhao Jingfeng," said Shen Xia, almost calling him the other name.
Zhao Jingfeng smiled at the other Shens and then turned his gaze toward Shen Xia. "Do you mind dancing with me?"
"WHAT?!" Almost all the Shens screamed. The other guests who stood quite close to the Shens were also shocked.
Zhao Jingfeng stayed calm. "May I dance with her, Elder Shen?" asked Zhao Jingfeng to Grandpa Shen.
Grandpa Shen's mouth twitched. "You are quite brave, young master Zhao."
Zhao Jingfeng just gave out a smile.
Shen Lingfeng gritted his teeth. "Why do you think you can take our Sister Xia just like that?"
Shen Yaochen sneered. "Jingfeng, what are you trying to do?"
Shen Wencheng coughed. "Outsiders shouldn't wish something unreachable."
Shen Qingyan looked at Zhao Jingfeng with appreciation. "You are not bad."
"Shen Qingyan!" Shen Lingfeng and Shen Wencheng stared at Shen Qingyan in disbelief.
Ruan Yaning frowned. This young man can even make her daughter speak out for him?
Grandma Shen smiled. "Zhao Jingfeng, right? It's nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you, Old Madam Shen."
"Such a handsome young man. Do you want to dance with our Shen Xia?"
"Yes," Zhao Jingfeng turned her gaze toward Shen Xia, who had been speechless for a while. He smiled in amusement. "Can I take her for a dance, Old Madam Shen?"
"Sure. But you can ask her first," said Grandma Shen, while knowing so well that her granddaughter was crushing this young man in front of her.
Zhao Jingfeng smiled at Shen Xia and whispered, "You said I can invite you again, you remember right?"
Shen Xia pouted, trying to hide her embarrassment. "Let's go."
Zhao Jingfeng offered his hand, and Shen Xia grabbed his hand. When they reached the middle of the dance floor, the music started, and they danced together in harmony. Most of the Shen family members glared at the couple while Grandma Shen and Shen Qingyan smiled.
The other guests watched the dance in amazement. Some of them whispered to each other, talking about the famous lifelong bachelor from the Zhao family, who seemed to have finally found someone who piqued his interest.
That night, Zhao Jingfeng successfully named as the common enemy of the Shen family members.