Zhuang Lijuan was overjoyed and she immediately leaped up from the couch to adjust her skirt.
She was wearing a deep crimson traditional cheongsam with a cardigan on her shoulders. Her hair was tied back and as a former dancer, she looked very elegant.
She was just a little annoying.
"Zhuang Heng, quick get that woman to stand up. Your father is here, remember to show him some respect and don't make so much trouble."
Zhuang Heng ignored her.
Soon, a tall middle-aged man entered.
He was wearing suit and his hair was waxed and shiny, with a long beard. He had a mighty aura.
Yan Jinyi found his aura to be very familiar. In the past, she had an enemy who was the leader of another fortress and he gave off similar vibes to this man.
'Is this Zhuang Heng's father?'
'Why does he look like a gangster boss?'
"Zhenyun, you're here!" Zhuang Lijuan exclaimed as she walked over to greet him smilingly. She even took the initiative to take his coat after he removed it. "Zhuang Heng has been asking about you and wondering what time you would arrive."
"Is that so?"
Zhuang Heng humphed as he couldn't even be bothered to look at the man.
"Are you sure it's not you who wants me to come?"
"Of course not. You're Zhuang Heng's father. Come on, sit down and dig in. The food is about to get cold."
The man took a few steps forward and finally noticed Yan Jinyi. "She..."
Zhuang Lijuan's smile faded and she said, "She's Zhuang Heng's friend whom he had invited to spend his birthday with. Zhenyun, you know that Zhuang Heng doesn't have many friends."
'Friend?'
"By the way, your brother is also here, you'd better show him some respect when you see him later. He's still your brother after all," the man suddenly said sternly.
Zhuang Lijuan couldn't continue smiling.
Zhuang Heng frowned slightly with clear displeasure on his face.
Yan Jinyi was a little curious. 'Does Zhuang Heng have an older brother?'
At this time, a very familiar figure appeared at the door.
He was carrying several bags of things in his hands and he seemed to have already noticed Yan Jinyi as he was wearing a playful smile on his face.
'Tang Qing?'
Yan Jinyi was a little surprised but she suddenly thought of something and squinted.
'Is Tang Qing Zhuang Heng's brother?'
"Hey, Second..."
As soon as Tang Qing said that, Yan Jinyi glowered at him with a threatening gaze and he hurriedly rephrased his words. "Miss Yan, what are you doing here? Had I known that you were here, I would have come over earlier."
Seeing that Tang Qing also knew Yan Jinyi, Zhuang Lijuan couldn't help but glance at her again. With a pretentious smile, she said, ''Oh, it turns out Tang Qing knows Jinyi too. What a coincidence."
Tang Qing glanced at her indifferently and said with disdain, "Auntie Zhuang, you're just a mistress who couldn't even replace my father's lawful wife. You're not fit to call me by my name, please call me Mr. Tang."
Hearing this, Tang Zhenyun couldn't help but rebuke, "She's your younger brother's mother. You'd better show her some respect."
Tang Qing stared at Zhuang Lijuan with an ambiguous gaze and a fake smile.
Yan Jinyi finally understood.
Zhuang Heng's mother was a mistress who had given birth to an illegitimate child. Unfortunately, even then, she couldn't become Tan Zhenyun's lawful wife.
'So, Zhuang Heng is an illegitimate son who's Tang Qing's half-brother. Damn, what a shocking and juicy piece of news!'
She stared at the both of them, flabbergasted as if she had discovered something incredible.
"Okay, let's all go eat." Tang Zhenyun ordered. The tension in the room finally eased.
Yan Jinyi chose to sit at a position that was furthest away from Tang Zhenyun and Zhuang Lijuan.To her surprise, Tang Qing and Zhuang Heng sat beside her without hesitation.
Before Tang Zhenyun started helping herself to the food, Zhuang Heng had already picked up a slice of meat with his chopsticks and placed it in her bowl. "Little pepper, have this."