The Art of Teasing - Chapter 53

Chapter 53

Old Master Wen's birthday celebration had reached its third day. Those who still remained by now, aside from immediate family, were only the closest of relatives.

Ye Ling's mood was excellent, the smile never leaving her face.

She waited for Wen Zhengyu to emerge from the changing room, then said with joyful cheer, "I'm very happy to be able to attend the family banquet with Zhengyu."

Wen Zhengyu didn't quite know what to say and simply replied, "As long as CEO Ye is happy." She found a face mask and put it on, then called Ye Ling to go to the dining room.

Ye Ling followed Wen Zhengyu downstairs. When she saw that Wen Zhengyu was heading not to a private room but to the banquet hall, she guessed there would definitely be more than just one or two tables. The moment she stepped through the banquet hall's doorway, she discovered an entire table packed with children, and the hall itself still held nearly ten more tables. She shot Wen Zhengyu a startled glance and lowered her voice to ask, "How come there are still so many people?" Instant awkwardness set in.

Fortunately, Ye Ling's depths of composure were deep enough and her face thick enough; her expression remained one of smiling grace, as if no unpleasantness had ever occurred.

"Aunt Zhengyu!" A sudden, delighted shout rang through the banquet hall, making everyone turn their heads.

Following a little boy of about seven or eight who came sprinting over, the entire table of children jumped off their seats and ran over. The slightly older ones were a bit more demure, approaching with the proper demeanor of young gents and politely calling out, "Aunt Zhengyu." As if by prior arrangement, the two of them tried to smoothly squeeze into the gap between Ye Ling and Wen Zhengyu as they greeted her.

Ye Ling naturally saw right through the two little rascals' intentions and didn't give an inch.

Wen Zhengyu shuffled a little to the side, cooperating with the two young gents' movements, successfully letting them squeeze in beside her.

A little girl, barely three or four, ran up in front of Wen Zhengyu and clamored, "Aunt Zhengyu, Wenwen wants upsies!" as she stretched out her arms toward Wen Zhengyu.

Ye Ling, who had dominated the business world for decades, was not about to let a couple of ten-year-old brats shove her to the periphery. She scooped up the little girl and, with an especially warm smile, coaxed gently, "Wenwen, how about I hold you, okay?"

The little girl looked at Ye Ling, then at Wen Zhengyu, thought for a moment, and said hesitantly, "Wenwen doesn't know you."

Ye Ling said, "Aunt Zhengyu is sick and can't carry Wenwen. How about Auntie carries Wenwen and sits right next to Aunt Zhengyu, okay?"

The little girl looked at Ye Ling with some hesitation, saw that Ye Ling indeed held her and stayed closely behind Wen Zhengyu, and obediently answered, "Okay."

Ye Ling asked Wenwen, "Does Wenwen like Aunt Zhengyu very much?"

Wenwen nodded. "Aunt Zhengyu is pretty, has candy, can paint, and paints Wenwen so beautifully."

Wen Zhengyu shot a glance at the child-snatching Ye Ling, greeted every child one by one and asked after each, then led them back to the dining table and settled them into their seats. She said, "Will you all be good and listen, okay? I've caught a cold today and am afraid of passing it to you, so I can't eat with you. If you are good, later, when you come to my room, I'll give out candy and tea cakes."

The whole flock of children obediently nodded their agreement.

Wen Zhengyu then asked the two older boys to keep an eye on the younger ones. Seeing that Wenwen was still glued to Ye Ling, she coaxed Wenwen off Ye Ling and handed her over to the child's own older brother to mind.

Ye Ling noticed that Wen Zhengyu, in dealing with the children, was attentive in every way and meticulously considerate, coaxing every child present into total contentment and being clearly adored by them. As for the surrounding relatives and friends, they seemed entirely accustomed to this scene, looking thoroughly content to watch Wen Zhengyu dote on the children, and not a single one seemed worried that Wen Zhengyu might pass on her cold.

Someone even teased Wen Zhengyu, asking when she would get married and have one of her own.

Although Wen Zhengyu wore a mask and her throat was still somewhat hoarse, the slight curve of her eyes made clear she was smiling as she softly replied, "Great-aunt, that will have to wait until I've first learned to take proper care of myself."

The great-aunt said, "Well, you can start by finding a partner. Do you have a boyfriend yet?"

Wen Zhengyu answered her great-aunt, "Not yet."

Ye Ling stepped forward, paid her respects to Old Master Wen, and then politely greeted each of the elderly gentlemen and ladies seated at Old Master Wen's table.

Wen Zhengyu greeted the elderly gentlemen and ladies at the table before introducing Ye Ling to them: "This is Ye Ling, my friend. That studio of mine was opened together with Sister Lili and her; she's helped me out a great deal." Noticing that the dishes were already being served, she said, "We'll go eat now."

The elderly gentlemen and ladies then urged her to go eat at once.

Wen Zhengyu guided Ye Ling over to the table where her cousins sat, seating Ye Ling between herself and Wen Li.

Her cousin Wen Chen let out a "Yo," and said, "Well if it isn't CEO Ye. What wind blew CEO Ye here? Xiao Yu, is there any news about Third Uncle?"

Ye Ling knew at once that a provocateur had arrived; she didn't even furrow her brow, merely gave the woman a cool nod, then turned her head to speak with Wen Li.

Wen Zhengyu removed her mask and said, "He called just a couple of days ago; he's doing quite well at my Eldest Aunt's place."

Wen Chen said, "You, really, your temper is too soft, your nature too good…"

From the next table, Wen Shishu called out, "Chen'er, I'm the one who invited Xiao Yezi. Yu'er's throat is bothering her; you two sisters can chat some other day."

At Matriarch Wen Shishu's words, Wen Chen fell silent at once.

Wen Zhengyu whispered beside Ye Ling's ear, "Sorry, Sister Chenchen just has a sharp tongue that won't let up."

Ye Ling smiled softly and murmured back, "It's fine."

Since it was Wen Shishu and Wen Zhengyu who had invited Ye Ling, she came as a guest, and there was absolutely no principle by which she could be slighted. Wen Zhengyu's cousins, while they couldn't be described as warm toward Ye Ling, nonetheless observed every necessary courtesy and civility without omission.

There was wine at the dinner, but everyone merely tasted it briefly; none of the usual banqueting antics – toasting contests or drinking games – were present. Occasional conversation revolved around family trivialities. Though the crowd was large, the atmosphere was thick with the flavor of a large family gathering: relaxed, comfortable, and imbued with warmth.

After the meal, everyone went about their own activities. Some played cards, some of the elderly paired up and went out for walks, and some wanted to go hire a pleasure boat to tour the lake – all organized ad hoc by Wen Zhengyu's cousins and uncles.

Wen Li had other business and left right after eating.

Wen Zhengyu, being under the weather with her cold and lacking energy, was dispatched by Wen Shishu to go rest after the meal.

A few of Wen Zhengyu's older cousins had originally wanted to ask about her recent situation. They noticed she had lost a lot of weight and worried she had encountered difficulties but was keeping it to herself. However, a swarm of children, seeing Wen Zhengyu had finished eating, poured over and surrounded her.

Wen Zhengyu exchanged a few brief words with her cousins before the children dragged her off to her room.

Wen Zhengyu distributed the candy and pastries Ye Ling had brought, saying, "These, you know, were all delivered by Auntie Ye Ling."

The children obediently thanked Ye Ling in turn. The two slightly older young gents, seeing Wen Zhengyu was still coughing, very thoughtfully told Wen Zhengyu to rest early and led the younger ones away.

Seeing the children gone and Wen Zhengyu looking utterly weary, Ye Ling also took her leave.

Wen Shishu came up again and told Wen Zhengyu and Ye Ling that Old Master Wen and a group of elderly gentlemen and ladies were going out to tour the lake, and asked if Wen Zhengyu would go.

Wen Zhengyu said, "I'm ill." She paused, then added, "If I go, Great-aunt will latch onto me again to introduce potential suitors."

Wen Shishu, having cast a subtle glance at Ye Ling, teased with a laugh, "If you're not satisfied with the ones Great-aunt introduces, shall Second Aunt introduce someone for you?"

Ye Ling gave a light cough, reminding Wen Shishu: She was right here, you know!

Wen Shishu asked Ye Ling, "Does Xiao Yezi have an opinion?"

Ye Ling smiled and pointed at herself. "Look at me."

This utterly unselfconscious display of volunteering oneself simultaneously exasperated Wen Shishu to the point of laughter and thoroughly amused her.

Wen Shishu said to Wen Zhengyu, "Tomorrow your great-aunt, great-uncle, and the others will be leaving. You rest up well; I'll have Fourth Brother arrange a car to see them off."

Wen Zhengyu agreed.

Wen Shishu said, "Alright then, rest well; I'm off."

Ye Ling said, "Zhengyu, I'll take my leave too."

Wen Shishu and Ye Ling walked out together.

She had no particular objection to Ye Ling and Wen Zhengyu getting close. Young people should act like young people: if it's time to date, they should date. As for whether a romantic partner was of the same sex or the opposite, or whether one had to consider lifelong commitments, it was far too early for that. In matters of dating, if one match in ten worked out, that was already good. In marriage, to live a life that was smooth and satisfying, for a couple to be loving and affectionate – without infidelity, without family friction or mother-in-law strife – that was truly too difficult.

She had thought Lao Kang was a decent man and married him, only to end up with an unreasonable mother-in-law who didn't treat her daughter-in-law as a person and stirred up seven parts out of nothing. No matter how much Lao Kang defended her, it was still his own mother; he couldn't exactly throw her out the door. When Wen Shishu was wronged, at most she would beat up Lao Kang a few times to vent. After the mother-in-law passed away, the peaceful little life hadn't lasted two years before Lao Kang had an affair, and his older sister even wanted Wen Shishu to leave the marriage with nothing. Lao Kang, a civil servant whose hands were clean and sleeves empty, didn't earn enough in wages to cover a month's worth of his cigarette money. She had placed the evidence of Lao Kang's affair in front of him right in front of his sister. After twenty years of marriage, she let him understand exactly what she meant. In the end, Lao Kang left with nothing. The share that was their marital property she converted into annual investment dividends, paid to him each year. What remained now were merely the threads of mutual assistance concerning children, grandchildren, and business.

In Wen Shishu's view, someone like Wen Zhengyu – never mind having her deal with such vexatious troubles – if she could tear herself away from her painting desk long enough to even have a romance, they should burn incense in gratitude. If any opinion truly did arise and this young miss's obstinate streak kicked in, it would be no laughing matter. Back during the college entrance exams, her family's Third Brother had just opened his mouth and said one extra thing: "Try harder, do your old man proud." This young miss, without a word, skipped the exam hall for three subjects and came home ranked dead last in the class.

She had originally thought there was something between Wen Zhengyu and Ye Ling, but from watching them sit together at dinner today, she could already tell the matter was largely Ye Ling's unrequited fervor alone.

Regardless of whether Ye Ling could win her over or not, Wen Shishu had not the slightest intention of meddling. While Wen Shiyi's bankruptcy could not be blamed on Ye Ling, and Lian Huaixin had only bankrupted him, not taken his life – meaning Wen Shishu could not say half a word of reproach – the fact remained that Ye Ling had had a hand in it.

Seeing that Ye Ling had been so eagerly chasing after Wen Zhengyu for this long, while Wen Zhengyu still maintained that lukewarm attitude toward her, Wen Shishu couldn't help feeling a touch curious. The elevator happened to be empty besides them, so she asked, "Does Xiao Yu know about the Lian Huaixin matter?"

Ye Ling paused briefly before realizing what Wen Shishu was asking. She shook her head. "I haven't mentioned it to her from my side."

Wen Shishu nodded and said no more.

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