novelraw Chapter 527 - 526 Yang Family (Part 1)
Chapter 527 - 526 Yang Family (Part 1)
The invitation card from Yang Group stated that the banquet would be at ten in the morning. As the four of them dressed up, they received a call from the hotel reception saying that the driver sent by President Yang had arrived.Baobao continued to push Nuonuo in front, while Ji Rui held Le Tong as they left the hotel and got into the car.
"Hello, Mr. Ji. My surname is Cui. Just call me Old Cui. Feel free to instruct me wherever you wish to go these days," said the driver, a man in his forties.
"Mr. Ji, Young Master Sheng asked if you’ve had breakfast?" Judging by his tone, this person was likely Yang Family’s private driver.
Yang Sheng was particularly attentive to Ji Rui Letong and the others. Even though he would be busy like crazy today, he still remembered the stomach concerns of these few people at the hotel.
"We’ve already eaten, thank you."
"Young Master Sheng said that he’s had meals specially prepared for the young master and miss of the Ji Family, so Mr. Ji and Miss Le don’t need to worry."
Once the driver finished relaying Yang Sheng’s message, he remained silent for the rest of the journey.
It was easy to see that he was a well-trained private driver.
Originally, Le Tong thought the banquet venue would be at a large clubhouse or hotel. Unexpectedly, the car drove forward, leaving the bustling city and entering a tree-lined avenue. The surrounding scenery changed from tall buildings to quaint Chinese-style villas.
It seems the Yang Family has set the banquet location directly at their home, no wonder Yang Sheng specifically mentioned not to worry about the children’s meals.
Ji Rui evidently knew about the banquet location from the beginning. When Baobao asked how much longer it would take, Ji Rui said five minutes.
Nuonuo had fallen asleep shortly after getting in the car, and upon waking, appeared restless and uneasy, causing Baobao to feel agitated as well.
The car continued along the tree-lined avenue for a few more minutes, turned a corner, and entered a relatively narrower road. Before long, Le Tong saw a large iron gate ahead, with the majestic character "Yang" engraved on the stone pillar beside it.
While the car waited outside the gate, within Le Tong’s visible range, just one look gave her the feeling that the Yang Family residence would not be any less grand than the Ji Family mansion.
The iron gate slowly opened, the car drove in, and the view ahead was exceptionally wide. Indeed, as Le Tong had anticipated, the Yang Family and the Ji Family rival each other in grandeur, no wonder each dominated the north and south respectively.
"Daddy, can I get out of the car with Nuonuo?" Ever since Nuonuo came along, Baobao increasingly preferred to refer to himself as "I." Perhaps he felt it made him appear more manly, able to take care of and protect Nuonuo.
Ji Rui hesitated for a moment, because he didn’t know the exact location of the banquet. Besides, no matter how familiar he was with Yang Sheng, this was still the Yang Family’s patriarch’s domain, not Yang Sheng’s.
"Mr. Ji, the banquet hall is about ten minutes’ drive from here. However, Young Master Sheng instructed us to take you to the main house first. It’s just a few minutes’ walk from here to the main house,"
said the driver, clearly seeking Ji Rui’s opinion.
Ji Rui looked at the restless Nuonuo in Baobao’s arms and nodded, "Then please let us off here."
The car stopped, and Baobao placed Nuonuo back in the stroller. Once out of the cramped car environment, the little girl’s fretfulness vanished instantly, and her dark eyes darted around curiously.
"Nuonuo, this is Uncle Sheng’s house, the same Uncle Sheng as yesterday," Baobao naturally acted as a tour guide for the little girl.
Le Tong, worried that Baobao and the little girl might get cold, first covered Nuonuo with a thick small blanket and then helped Baobao put on a coat.
"Are you cold?" Once she stood up, Ji Rui naturally took her hand and rubbed it warmly.
"I’m fine, the sun is quite strong today, not cold," Le Tong allowed Ji Rui to hold her as they slowly followed behind Baobao toward the house the driver indicated.
On both sides of the path were large rose bushes. "In spring, when the flowers bloom, it’ll definitely be beautiful."
Le Tong said, looking at the vast expanse of roses.
"You like them? Then let’s plant some too." Ji Rui wanted to fulfill whatever Le Tong liked.
"Plant a few?" Le Tong teased with a smile.
Of course, his few hundred-square-meter, two-story apartment was a luxury to many, but the terrace was only about ten square meters. Even if they planted some, it would be only ten or so bushes, unlike the stunning visual effect of these large patches.
"Of course not!"
Ji Rui wouldn’t tell her that he had already scouted a place where Baobao could raise plenty of puppies and kittens, and Le Tong could freely plant her favorite flowers and plants.
"Forget it, I don’t have the time to take care of them either." Le Tong, unaware of Ji Rui’s behind-the-scenes plans, merely gave him an easy way out with grace.
"Hmm." Ji Rui didn’t explain further, simply holding her hand to leisurely stroll in the Yang Family garden, appreciating it as just a distraction. Today they were guests, without any pressing matters. Given the beautiful scenery, why not treat it as a park outing with Le Tong and the kids?
"Do you know your senior’s grandfather?" Le Tong was a bit curious about the old man Yang Sheng mentioned.
Yang Sheng was someone who saw many things indifferently. Anyone who could make him seethe with anger must not be an ordinary elder.
But then again, a man who could maintain control over the Yang Group for decades couldn’t possibly be called ordinary.
"We’ve met a few times, but we’re not well-acquainted."
The Yang Family and the Ji Family, due to ancestral grievances and each establishing themselves in the north and south, were practically sworn enemies. Moreover, Ji Rui, considered a peer of Yang Sheng, naturally didn’t hold much regard in the eyes of the Yang Family patriarch.
Ji Rui, inherently proud and born with a silver spoon as the Crown Prince, never considered currying favor with the powerful. Hence, he had never shown the respect expected of youngsters to the "old demon" Yang Sheng spoke of, partly because of the strained relationship between Yang Sheng and his grandfather, causing Ji Rui further disdain to interact with the old man.
And the Yang Family patriarch, attributing his grandson’s departure to Ji Rui’s instigation, naturally couldn’t show any good will towards Ji Rui.
Listening to Ji Rui’s calm tone, Le Tong sensed a hint of something unusual.
However, before she could inquire further, a figure appeared at the bend ahead. Before Le Tong could discern who it was, a familiar voice reached her ears.
"Tongtong, you’re here! How can you be so reckless in such cold weather?!"
Saying that, the tall, slender man walked up to Baobao and pinched the little guy’s cheek.
Evidently, he had already heard from the driver that it was this headstrong young master of the Ji Family who wanted to get off early for a stroll.