Jiang Teng’s eyes shifted, sneaking a glance at Jiang Fuyue, thinking, This girl is something else.
Softly, she delivered words that stung, yet looked utterly innocent.
She wasn’t wrong; she was stating facts, saying it was for the old lady’s health without leaving any room for criticism.
Sure enough, even the old lady found herself at a loss for words.
The atmosphere grew awkward.
But Jiang Fuyue was unaffected. Seeing that Jiang Chenxing’s bowl was empty, she stood up, reached across the table to give him some spare ribs, and seriously instructed:
“You’re different from grandma. She’s getting older and can’t eat too much, but you’re still growing. Feel free to eat whatever you like, but remember: don’t eat just one thing because you like it. Balance is key for nutrition. Like in life, we shouldn’t show too much favoritism. We can have preferences, but we should be fair and just.”
“Otherwise, you won’t make any genuine friends. And wouldn’t life be lonely without true friends? No one would want to play with you, right?”
“Mhm!” Jiang Chenxing nodded vigorously, his eyes brightening. “Got it, Sis!”
He felt that this wasn’t only meant for him, but also for everyone else at the table.
The large dining room suddenly fell silent.
Wu Qian cheered inwardly, Yes! The little boss is the best.
Jiang Da didn’t fully grasp the meaning and gave up trying to understand.
Han Yunru’s eyes sparkled with a hint of pride as she shook her head helplessly.
Liu Shuting and Yang Jinqiu remained silent, focusing on their food.
As for the old lady…
She wanted to get angry, but she didn’t know where to start!
Jiang Fuyue’s words were biting, yet there wasn’t a single word she could openly challenge. This left the old lady feeling utterly stifled and frustrated!
“Ahem…” Jiang Teng spoke at just the right moment to ease the awkwardness. “Mom, you have to understand how Big Brother and Sister-in-law feel. As parents, they just want to give their children the best. Isn’t that how you’ve always treated me?”
The old lady finally calmed down, her anger dissipating.
Crisis averted.
Jiang Da let out a huge sigh of relief. When he touched his back, it was drenched in sweat.
He glanced at his long-unseen mother, whose face had grown somewhat unfamiliar, and then at his own thoughtful, capable, and outstanding daughter, who was both beautiful and charming. He found himself caught in an inexplicable mix of anxiety and inner conflict.
Han Yunru noticed his reaction but said nothing.
The smile on her lips, however, gradually faded until it disappeared completely.
After all, blood ties can’t be severed so easily…
Jiang Teng, eager to diffuse the tension further, suddenly caught sight of Wu Qian from the corner of his eye. “Huh? And who might this be?”
Under the table, Han Yunru tugged at Jiang Da’s sleeve.
Perhaps due to the alcohol, Jiang Da was a bit slow to react. After a brief pause, he hazily introduced, “Oh, this is Chenxing’s agent, and also our friend, Wu Qian—President Wu!”
Hearing the word “President,” the old lady’s sharp triangular eyes quickly darted toward him, and for once, the hostility in her gaze dissipated.
Feigning politeness, she said, “I’m sorry you had to witness all this.”
Wu Qian, watching the old lady effortlessly switch between faces, felt goosebumps rise all over. Still, he responded courteously, “You’re too kind.”
Meanwhile, Liu Shuting and Yang Jinqiu were quietly sizing Wu Qian up.
Earlier that day, when Wu Qian went to pick up the young boss, he had deliberately dressed formally to show his respect. He wore a well-tailored suit and tie, and his neatly groomed hair gave him the air of a workplace elite.
An agent, huh…
Yang Jinqiu’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. “President Wu, nice to meet you. I hope you don’t mind me asking—what talent agency are you with? I have a friend in the industry; perhaps you might know each other?”
“Xingyue Talent Agency.”
Yang Jinqiu raised an eyebrow. “…Sorry, maybe I’m out of the loop. I haven’t heard of that company.”
Wu Qian replied, “That’s not surprising—it was just established not long ago.”
Yang Jinqiu’s eyes lit up. “And your position?”
“Founder and CEO, as well as Chenxing’s agent.”
Yang Jinqiu’s smile blossomed into something almost overly enthusiastic. She spared no effort in her praise. “Wow, you truly are young and accomplished!”
Wu Qian quickly waved his hands, modestly saying it was nothing.
What a joke. The truly “young and accomplished” person was someone else entirely. Unfortunately, this group of relatives had poor judgment and couldn’t even recognize an opportunity if it slapped them in the face.
Then again, perhaps it was because they were so insufferable that Jiang Fuyue didn’t even bother offering them the chance.
“Nowadays, it seems live-streaming and becoming an influencer makes a lot of money. Is that true?” Yang Jinqiu asked, casually though her eyes betrayed eagerness.
Jiang Chenxing’s streaming was no secret in the Jiang family.
They’d thought it was just a hobby, but now he had a manager and a signed contract.
Could it be… that he bought the villa with streaming money?
Yang Jinqiu’s thoughts raced.
Liu Shuting was also contemplating.
After all, with only their pancake stall, Jiang Da and Han Yunru could never afford a villa this grand.
Several million yuan!
So, there had to be a faster way of earning money—likely Jiang Chenxing’s streaming.
After seeing Wu Qian in person, her suspicions were confirmed.
Now, her gaze toward Wu Qian was markedly different.
“President Wu, actually, my daughter is quite talented too.”
Wu Qian: “?” What does her daughter have to do with me?
“She’s very pretty, has passed level 8 in piano, and often enjoys taking photos and videos to post on Douyin and Kuaishou, where she gets a lot of likes! Do you think she might have a chance as a streamer?”
Yang Jinqiu thought to herself, My daughter is far more talented than that shorty Jiang Chenxing. If she became a streamer, she’d definitely do better than Jiang Chenxing ever could.
In the future, she’ll buy me a big villa, even better than Yutian Huafu!
Let’s see how smug Han Yunru will be then!
Her Cancan just needed an opportunity!
Before Wu Qian could respond, Liu Shuting chimed in: “Actually, my Kaikai is also incredibly talented. He’s amazing at dancing—always winning awards, practically filling our shelves! He’s sunny, handsome, and super popular at school. They even call him the campus heartthrob! Lately, he’s been learning parkour, just like those international influencers, climbing and jumping everywhere. And you know what? He’s nailing it!”
“I know being a streamer or influencer these days is all about having a unique selling point. Basically, you need to stand out! Everyone can play the piano, but those who play something more unique—like the harp, violin, or even a pipe organ—those are the ones who get noticed. Just piano? That’s nothing special, and it gets lost in the crowd.”
“But my Kaikai is different! His dancing is top-notch! I guarantee he’s as good as the hottest four-character-little brother right now!”
“So, President Wu, do you think you could give him a chance?”
Compared to Yang Jinqiu, Liu Shuting clearly understood this industry better. She even mentioned “uniqueness” and “standing out,” which earned a second glance from Wu Qian.
However…
“The company is still in its early stages, and we’re not planning to sign any new talents for now. Resources are limited, and we need to focus them strategically. I hope you both can understand.”
It was a polite refusal.
Yang Jinqiu turned and shot Liu Shuting a frosty glare.
Liu Shuting, unwilling to back down, glared right back.
Both of them had the same thought: The company might really be short on resources, but it’s probably because Yang Jinqiu/Liu Shuting jumped in and competed with me that Cancan/Kaikai lost the chance.
After all, in this situation, refusing both seemed like the most diplomatic approach for Wu Qian.
Yang Jinqiu sneered, “Second Sister-in-law, you’re really going all out to cultivate your daughter. But it’s a pity she doesn’t have any standout talents. And the few things she is good at don’t really count for much. Must be frustrating, huh?”
Liu Shuting snapped back, “Boys who can dance are a dime a dozen online. Kaikai’s awkward moves might fool the judges at a school competition, but netizens are sharp-eyed. He’d get roasted.”
Humiliated, Liu Shuting retorted, “And what gives you the right to criticize Kaikai? Just because you can’t have a son doesn’t mean you should be jealous of others!”
“You—!”
The two women started bickering on the spot. Wu Qian, having seen enough, quietly exchanged a look with Jiang Fuyue and then whispered his goodbyes to Jiang Da before making a swift exit.
“Enough—have you not embarrassed us enough?!” the old lady roared.
The two instantly fell silent. Glancing over, they noticed Wu Qian’s seat was now empty.
Yang Jinqiu pursed her lips, feeling deflated.
Liu Shuting, seething with resentment, turned away sharply, offering only the back of her head to Yang Jinqiu.
Jiang Teng, meanwhile, didn’t have time to console his wife. Catching the old lady’s subtle signal, he cleared his throat and rubbed his hands together.
“Ahem… Actually, we came today to discuss something with you, Big Brother and Sister-in-law.”
Here it was at last.
