Chen Boyu feared the siblings would start bickering, so he immediately stepped in to smooth things over. Smiling, he said, “Jingchuan, give me your phone. I’ll navigate.”
After a moment of silence, Liang Jingchuan said, “No need. I know the road.”
Given the traffic that day, it would take another half hour or so to arrive.
Chen Boyu lowered his head and softly asked Lan Yan, “Tired? Want to rest for a bit?”
“Mm.” Lan Yan tilted her head and rested it on Chen Boyu’s shoulder. She reached into her bag’s inner pocket, then remembered she had left her Bluetooth earbuds at home.
Neither Chen Boyu nor Liang Jingchuan spoke again, probably afraid of disturbing her. She actually wasn’t sleepy; it was just her mild dry eye syndrome making her eyes tired, so she needed to close them and rest.
The car drove quietly for a while before a song suddenly started playing from the speakers.
She recognized it after just one second of the intro. Eternal Flame, a song she loved that had stayed at the top of her playlist for over a decade, unshakable.
She lifted her eyes slightly, but the words on the tip of her tongue felt too bothersome to say.
Fine. For the sake of the good song, she would let the “bad luck” slide.
The car reached the Cheese Flavor Shop first. Lan Yan and Chen Boyu got out together and went inside to pick out a cheesecake. The shop specialized in fresh-baked goods, with a new batch coming out every two hours on the hour. They waited five minutes and caught the six o’clock batch just right.
After buying the cake, they came out to find Liang Jingchuan’s car missing from the roadside.
Chen Boyu made a call. Liang Jingchuan said he had gone nearby to buy something and would be right back.
Five minutes later, Liang Jingchuan drove the car back.
Once they were in the car, Chen Boyu asked, “What did you go buy?”
“Fruit wine.”
Chen Boyu laughed. “I’ve mooched meals at your place so many times, but I’ve never brought a gift every single time like you.”
Liang Jingchuan said, “That’s different.”
“How is it different?”
“You’ll have to figure that out yourself, CEO Chen.”
Chen Boyu: “…”
The car arrived at the Chen Residence as the sky darkened. Through the tree shadows, they could see the lights inside blazing brightly.
As Liang Jingchuan prepared to drive in, Chen Boyu pointed and said, “Go to the back door first.”
The car continued forward, turned a corner ahead, and went around to the mansion’s backyard.
Before it had fully stopped, Chen Boyu pushed open the door and jumped out. He grabbed Lan Yan’s wrist. “Come on.”
Lan Yan was baffled. “What for?”
“Change clothes.” Chen Boyu turned to Liang Jingchuan. “Wait a bit. We’ll go in through the front gate after we’re done.”
Liang Jingchuan said nothing, just “Mm.”
After getting out, Lan Yan was led by the hand through the door by Chen Boyu.
The Chen Residence had a layout shaped like a pi. They crossed the backyard and entered a door on the right side of the building. Inside was silent, with a long corridor stretching ahead, connecting to the main house.
Chen Boyu opened a door on the right. It seemed to be a guest suite. A young girl waited inside, with two paper bags printed with a luxury brand logo at her feet, along with a portable makeup case.
Chen Boyu said to the girl, “Help her change clothes. Her hair… well, I can’t tell if it’s unwashed anyway, so just give it a quick fix.”
The girl nodded. “Makeup?”
“I don’t think so. She’s pretty enough barefaced.”
The girl shifted her gaze to Lan Yan’s face, studied it for a moment, and nodded. “True. I’ll just tidy her eyebrows a bit and add some lipstick for color.”
“Do whatever looks good.” Chen Boyu checked his watch. “Ten minutes max.”
“Got it, got it. Don’t worry.”
Chen Boyu looked at Lan Yan and said warmly with a smile, “My parents really aren’t the type to judge by appearances, but if changing clothes makes you more comfortable, I’ll make sure of it. This is a stylist my friend often works with. Tell her whatever you need. I’ll wait in the next room. Text me if anything.”
Lan Yan was slightly stunned but nodded.
The sky grew darker, shifting to a deeper indigo.
Liang Jingchuan kept checking the time. Ten minutes later, his gaze passed over the iron fence covered in climbing vines and finally saw Lan Yan emerge.
She had changed into a long dress, black square neckline, length to mid-calf, slightly flared skirt, simple cut—perfect for a dinner party or cocktail reception.
She was tall with a crisp temperament that carried it well.
He had to admit, Chen Boyu had good taste.
In both clothes and people.
Of course. Why would he worry unnecessarily? Someone who drew every eye like this—Chen Boyu wouldn’t let a pearl gather dust.
Chen Boyu took Lan Yan’s hand, walking briskly.
The two got in the car. As the door closed, Liang Jingchuan caught a whiff of perfume.
Rich yet cool—very much matching Lan Yan’s first impression.
She herself probably had no interest in such things. The only scent on her was usually shampoo, often overpowered by menthol balm or pain relief patch smells.
Liang Jingchuan glanced in the mirror.
Her name had “smoke” in it, but her looks lacked any hint of worldly warmth.
This dress and perfume seemed to strip away the last bit of warmth from her, making her sit there like a jade statue, distant as if separated by water and mountains.
The car pulled up to the front gate.
The Chen mansion was three stories with a grand atrium, resplendent in gold and jade. Today, it shone even brighter for the return of the Chen family’s eldest son.
Chen Boyu’s older brother was named Chen Boyao, seven years his senior. Their names showed the high hopes the Chen family had for the brothers. As the eldest of their generation, Chen Boyao lived up to them: Ivy League graduate, then top investment bank, later a private equity fund where he oversaw project incubation across the Asia-Pacific.
If asked who Chen Boyu admired most, his big brother was undoubtedly number one on the list.
Lights blazed. Several gazes from the sofa turned toward them in unison.
Chen Boyu quickened his pace, bringing Lan Yan forward. He greeted Chen Boyao eagerly first. “Bro, you’re back.”
Chen Boyao smiled and patted his shoulder. “A bit thinner?”
“Busy lately, irregular eating.”
Chen’s father and mother also rose from the sofa. Lan Yan immediately greeted them.
Chen’s mother, Tang Peiling, was over fifty but well-maintained, looking no more than forty. A pearl necklace framed her full-moon face, makeup exquisite, not a single obvious wrinkle.
She smiled, her gaze sweeping over Lan Yan so subtly it went unnoticed. She nodded in response to the greeting but looked past her to Liang Jingchuan standing behind. “Traffic on the road, Jingchuan?”
“A bit.” Liang Jingchuan smiled. “Lan Yan remembered you like cheesecakes, Aunt. She specially had me detour to her favorite shop for some fresh ones. Please try them.”
Lan Yan was slightly taken aback, realizing Liang Jingchuan was giving her an out. Without time to think, she handed over the bag.
Tang Peiling smiled. “Thank you, very thoughtful.” She didn’t take it herself but called over a housekeeper to put the pastries in the fridge.
Chen’s father, Chen Yongmao, chimed in appropriately. “Have a seat on the sofa, Jingchuan. We’ll eat once everyone’s here.”
Chen Boyu asked, “Who else isn’t here?”
“Youying.”
“Youying’s coming too?”
“Mm. She said it’s been ages since she saw big bro and wanted to mooch a meal.”
Chen Youying was Chen Boyu’s cousin, third uncle’s daughter. Lan Yan had met her a few times. Spoiled young miss, haughty, supercilious, spotless.
Though never said outright, Lan Yan knew Chen Youying didn’t like her, thought she was “putting on airs.” But since she was Liang Jingchuan’s “sister,” they kept up surface politeness—everyone knew Chen Youying had a crush on Liang Jingchuan.
Chen Boyao’s wife stood from the sofa to make room for the three.
Chen Boyu had Lan Yan sit, while he perched on the armrest beside her, turning sideways to chat with Chen Boyao.
The brothers looked alike, both inheriting Tang Peiling’s fine features. As the older brother and perennial top student, Chen Boyao now exuded even more poise in his successful career.
Chen Boyu smiled and asked, “Bro, how long are you staying this time? Over New Year before heading back?”
Chen Boyao said, “About that.”
“Want to swing by the company lab when you have time?”
Chen Boyao laughed. “Work talk right after I get back? Let me catch my breath first.”
After grad school, Chen Boyu worked half a year at the family company before starting his own venture, failing once. His current company, Clear Source Creation, developed and produced novel bioactive materials. After Liang Jingchuan joined, it achieved impressive results.
The angel round was funded personally by the Chen family and Chen Boyao, who held sixty percent—making him the undisputed big investor. But he was usually too busy to meddle in operations.
Chen’s mother, Tang Peiling, directed a housekeeper to serve tea, smiling as she added, “Exactly. No work talk today.”
“Fine, change of topic.” Chen Boyu turned to Big Sis-in-Law on the opposite sofa. “Yun Jie, this is your first time meeting Lan Yan, right?”
Big Sis-in-Law was Yuan Qianyun. She didn’t like the younger siblings calling her “big sis-in-law,” and her English name felt awkward to use directly, so everyone settled on “Yun Jie.”
Yuan Qianyun looked up and nodded.
Chen Boyu said, “I saw on your Moments you’ve been taking an antiques appraisal class lately?”
“Just messing around with it.”
“Lan Yan does artifact restoration. If you’re out shopping without company, invite her along. You two would have plenty to talk about.”
Lan Yan: “Artifact restoration and appraisal are different fields…”
Chen Boyu: “You still know more than us average folks.”
Yuan Qianyun’s smile was faint. “Sure, if it doesn’t bother Miss Lan.”
Chen Boyu: “She’s usually free weekends—want to add WeChat?”
Yuan Qianyun: “…Mm.”
Chen Boyu: “I’ll make a group.”
Lan Yan said nothing, leaning down to sip from the water glass on the coffee table.
Moments later, her phone vibrated in her bag.
Chen Boyu said, “Group’s up.”
Yuan Qianyun: “Mm. Adding now.”
Lan Yan took out her phone. A new friend request appeared on WeChat; she approved it.
Yuan Qianyun locked her phone, tossed it on the table, stood, and smiled. “You all chat. I’m stepping out for air.”
After more idle chat, Tang Peiling said Chen Youying was almost at the door and they could head to the table first.
Everyone moved to the dining room.
In such a grand household, meals weren’t simple; even seating had protocol. Lan Yan didn’t bother figuring it out and just followed arrangements.
Soon after they sat, footsteps echoed from the entrance: clack clack clack.
Tang Peiling directed the housekeeper to serve soup, then perked her ear and said confidently, “Must be Youying.”
Chen Boyao laughed. “Out of all us siblings, she’s the only wild girl with that style.”
The next moment, a dazzling young woman strode in, complaining crisply, “Auntie, you’re starting dinner without me!”
Tang Peiling laughed. “No such thing. We’re all waiting for you.”
Chen Youying set down her bag to wash her hands and headed to the dining room.
There was an empty seat at the round table, next to Lan Yan. Chen Youying glanced at it but didn’t sit, instead veering over to loop her arm around Chen Boyao’s shoulders, coquettishly saying, “Big Bro, I want to sit next to you.”
Chen Boyao had Yuan Qianyun on one side and Liang Jingchuan on the other.
Big Sis-in-Law Yuan Qianyun glanced over. Not wanting to trouble the guest, she started to stand.
But Liang Jingchuan beat her to it, smiling faintly. “You sit. I’ll switch.”
A small matter; Big Sis-in-Law didn’t argue, just nodded and stayed seated.
The chair next to Lan Yan scraped as it was pulled out—rosewood, hefty, its legs scraping lightly on the marble floor.
Liang Jingchuan sat down. The housekeeper moved his place setting to him.
Dinner officially began.
It was past seven-thirty by then, and Lan Yan’s stomach rumbled unusually emptily.
Soup bowls sat by each person, but no one touched them, waiting for Chen Boyu’s father, Chen Yongmao, to speak. The usual platitudes: rare gatherings, mutual support.
Once finished, Chen Yongmao told everyone to eat, and only then came the light clinks of bowls and chopsticks.
This wasn’t Lan Yan’s first meal with Chen Boyu’s parents, but each felt like torment. Fortunately, today’s star wasn’t her; no need to muster energy.