novelraw Chapter 529 - 528: Each According to Their Own Abilities! (Three Updates)
Chapter 529 - 528: Each According to Their Own Abilities! (Three Updates)
Le Tong and the others stayed in Yang Sheng’s bedroom for about half an hour and were just about to leave when there was a knock on the door from outside, "Young Master Sheng, the Old Master is looking for you everywhere!""Coming!" Yang Sheng responded, opened the door, and saw a man in his sixties with greying hair standing outside.
"Uncle Jing, I’ll take my friends over right away."
Yang Sheng briefly introduced Uncle Jing as the Yang Family’s butler.
"Miss, what’s your last name?" Uncle Jing stared at Le Tong’s face, seemingly a bit surprised.
"Hello, Uncle Jing, I’m Le Tong!"
Le Tong didn’t understand why he was looking like that; she shouldn’t have had any interactions with him before. Nevertheless, she politely smiled at him and introduced herself again.
"Oh..." After hearing the answer, the surprise in Uncle Jing’s eyes slowly faded and was replaced by the previous indifference and politeness.
"The Old Master is about to get angry, Young Master Sheng, you better go quickly to avoid making him mad again. I’ll take Mr. Ji over there."
Ji Rui patted Yang Sheng on the shoulder, "You go ahead, Le Tong and I will bring the baby along and follow."
Yang Sheng nodded, said nothing more, and quickly went downstairs.
Ji Rui and Le Tong went to the backyard to retrieve Baobao and Nuonuo, then followed Uncle Jing along the corridor outside the reception hall. On both sides of the corridor, two rows of willow trees lined the path; at this time of the year, the willow leaves had all fallen, leaving only barren branches swaying in the cold wind.
"Mr. Ji, I heard you’re especially close with Young Master Sheng?"
Uncle Jing, walking ahead, suddenly turned his head to ask Ji Rui.
"Hmm..." Ji Rui responded lightly without asking further, quietly waiting for the other to continue.
"Young Master Sheng’s temperament... sigh! If you have time, please try advising him! With such a big family estate, so many people couldn’t compete, yet he goes around antagonizing the Old Master. Since he came back, he almost drove the Old Master mad!"
Ji Rui was silent for a moment, "Uncle Jing, even a wise judge can’t handle domestic issues; I’m afraid I can’t be of much help!"
Ji Rui is someone who never understood formalities with others.
Because he simply doesn’t need them. His tone and choice of words were still polite only because of Yang Sheng.
Uncle Jing froze for a moment, probably not expecting to be so decisively refused by someone like Ji Rui. The head butler of the Yang family asking someone for a favor like this was unexpected.
He never expected that even if Old Master Yang himself were to ask Ji Rui, Ji Rui wouldn’t budge.
"Uncle Jing, Mr. Ji is right; it takes time for frost to build to three feet. The conflict between my brother and his grandfather is something they’ll have to resolve slowly. No one else can help either."
Upon seeing Uncle Jing’s slightly awkward expression, Le Tong quickly helped explain, easing Uncle Jing’s expression somewhat. He sighed and nodded slowly, "Alas, it has to be that way."
Judging from Uncle Jing’s worried demeanor, most of his loyalty likely leaned toward Old Sir Yang, with only a small part towards Yang Sheng.
As they spoke, a European-style building loomed mistily behind the woods in front of them.
Faint sounds of cars and murmur of voices drifted over.
"Achoo!" Wearing something lightly, standing in the cool corridor where the sun didn’t shine, Le Tong couldn’t help but sneeze.
Uncle Jing turned to look at her, "Once you make this turn, we’ll be at the hall."
Ji Rui regretted not taking Le Tong’s coat earlier and decisively took off his own jacket to help Le Tong put it on.
"No need, it’s just a few steps," Le Tong resisted for a bit and in the end, Ji Rui successfully draped his suit jacket over her.
"I’ll have someone bring an overcoat over!" Knowing that Ji Rui and Le Tong were important guests for Yang Sheng, Uncle Jing was particularly attentive, seeming to have forgotten his earlier dissatisfaction with Ji Rui.
"No need to send another; just have Old Cui bring the ones from the car," Ji Rui said, troubled by not being able to contact the driver.
Uncle Jing nodded, took out his phone, and dialed. Within two minutes, the driver who had brought Ji Rui and the others over arrived, hurriedly carrying the coats.
Ji Rui helped Le Tong put on the coat and then wore his own jacket. Before they knew it, they had walked through the corridor, facing the banquet hall.
"Mr. Ji, Miss Le, we’re here!"
Le Tong stopped, stood in front of Ji Rui, helping him adjust the tie that had accidentally been tugged out of place earlier, and pressed down the collar that was sticking up a bit.
Baobao looked up as Le Tong finished tidying Ji Rui, then instinctively slid over in front of Le Tong.
"Mommy, Baobao too!" He said, lifting his face for Le Tong to tidy him up.
Le Tong bent down, kissed his little cheek smilingly, "So handsome!"
After the kiss, she adjusted his bow tie and shirt hem, "All set!"
As she stood up, Ji Rui extended his hand, tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear, and adjusted her shawl to ensure her shoulders were covered, before leading her by the hand. Baobao and Nuonuo went ahead to guide the way to the hall door.
"Hello, Uncle Sheng!"
Smart Baobao, who had obviously met Yang Sheng earlier, greeted him formally now as if it were their first meeting.
"Good boy, Baobao! Here, this is your uncle Sheng’s grandfather."
Yang Sheng guided Baobao, pointing to a spirited old man with gray hair beside him.
Baobao politely bowed to the old man, calling brightly, "Hello, Old Master!"
Since Ji Rui and Le Tong arrived, the old man’s attention had been fixed on them. Now, hearing the innocent greeting, his scrutinizing look softened and he glanced down, seeing a fair and tender boy whose features resembled Ji Rui, naturally possessing an agreeable charm that made him hard to dislike.
"Good boy, little brother!" Though this little fellow looked quite endearing, the old man still wasn’t fond of him, responding casually before looking up again.
After all, no matter how cute, the child wasn’t of the Yang family.
Ji Rui didn’t bother to mind the old man’s indifference toward his son; he stepped forward, extending his hand towards the old man, "Chairman Yang, hello! Congratulations on your retirement and enjoying your golden years."
With that, he took the gift from Le Tong’s hands and handed it to the old man with both hands.
The old man had no intention of taking it, only slightly turned toward his assistant, who quickly stepped forward to accept the gift and expressed thanks.
Ji Rui straightened up, ready to escort Le Tong into the hall, when the old man glared, speaking harshly, "If not for you, that boy Sheng would’ve come back to take over already!"
So there it was! Embarrassment right in public!
Feeling distressed inside, Le Tong tugged on Ji Rui’s arm, hinting for him not to bicker with the old man and just go inside.
But Ji Rui seemed not to heed her hint; he stood firm, turned squarely towards the old man, and replied coolly, "In matters like this, ability decides the outcome!"