Chapter 34: The Foundation Day Of The Family...
"This is too much," Jiang Yuyan said.
Jiang Yang chuckled as he spoke. "But unfortunately, you are still a v.i.r.g.i.n. Not only that, I think you are still waiting for your first kiss!"
"How can you be so sure?" she said with a frown.
"You have never had a boyfriend, and you beat up the boy who cornered you in middle school. I know no other boy has tried to talk to you since then," he said.
"Is it necessary to have a boyfriend to kiss?" she countered.
"Oh? That means you had your first kiss?" Though he was excited, there was a tinge of suspicion in his voice.
"I didn't say that." She avoided his eyes and sat on the corner of her bed, reminiscing her stolen kiss.
"Seeing your expression... there must be something fishy." He was staring at her face intently despite her trials at evading his gaze.
"Don't work your brain uselessly," she threatened.
"I understand. But I am waiting for the day when you will fall in love, and this angry bird will be tamed."
"Not gonna happen," she said stubbornly.
"You never know." He shrugged. "But I am sure I will be the first to find out."
"I'll never talk about my personal matter." She stuck her tongue out at him.
"You may not speak, but your paintings will." The corner of his lips tilted up into a smile.
"How?" she asked, surprised.
"You don't need to know," he said with a sly smile.
"Huh?" An imaginary question mark could be seen clearly over her head as she tried to figure out what her brother meant.
"Yes! I'll take my leave now. Make sure to wear the dress for the party in the evening." He got up from the couch and left the room, leaving her with the questions.
'My paintings?' she kept wondering.
At Lu Mansion.
Two luxury cars entered the mansion gate and stopped a few meters from the door. A man and woman in their mid-fifties stepped out of the first car at the same time as a young man and girl stepped out from the second.
The butler was present to welcome them. "Welcome, Master and Madam Wang," he greeted. He turned to the children and greeted them as well. He, then, led their way inside the mansion.
Elder Lu Huan and Zhao Shuang were already present in the living room, sitting on the sofa with their two sons, waiting for their guests.
"Daughter, son-in-law, welcome," elder Lu said with a warm smile when he saw them.
"How have you been, father and mother?" the woman asked as she came forward to hug her parents.
"What do you think?" elder Lu commented, straightening his collar.
"You look fit, as always," she said with a bright smile.
Lu Zhilan was the elderly couple's eldest child. She had come to the capital for her parents' anniversary. She had an impressive personality and a well-maintained figure for someone in their fifties.
"Brother-in-law, how are you?" Lu Jinhai asked Wang Chao, getting up to shake his hand.
"Your sister is taking good care of me." He looked affectionately at his wife, who was busy talking to her parents.
"Still trying to woo our sister?" Lu Chen said with amus.e.m.e.nt.
"What can I do? I can't get enough of her," he laughed and winked at his wife who had now turned to look at him.
"You don't need to woo me any longer. I was deceived by you thirty years ago when I married you," she teased.
They broke out into laughter. Lu Zhilam and Wang Chao shared an amicable relationship just like Lu Huan and Zhao Shuang. Wang Chao, despite being a respectable personality in the business world, loved and cherished his wife.
"Wish you a happy anniversary," the youngsters chimed in, moving forward to hug their maternal grandparents.
"Wang Shu, you look pretty like your grandmother," Lu Huan said.
"Grandpa, are you trying to woo your wife like Father?" Wang Shu said with an amused grin.
"No need, I was also deceived by your grandpa years ago," Zhao Shuang said in her usual calm voice.
"And like your father, grandpa too can't get enough of his wife," Wang Peng said before he winked at his grandfather.
"You're right, my grandson," he praised, giving a smile to his wife, who had a serious expression. It clearly said, 'Enough, old man. We are not young anymore. Don't act like this.'
Wang Peng was the eldest child of the Wang couple. He was a good businessman, just like his father. Wang Shu, on the other hand, was the pampered miss of the family.
As the greetings ended, four handsome men stepped down from the staircase. When they saw their aunt and her family, they quickly came to greet them.
Lu Qiang and Lu Feng excused themselves from the gathering, one saying he had an urgent call and the other just not being interested in sitting there with the family. The women of the household were also not present as they were busy preparing for the event that evening.
"It's great to see everyone here. Today is the foundation day of the family and the origin of the next generation of Lu's." Pride brimmed in Lu Huan's voice.
"Father. Did you forget? You i.m.p.r.e.g.n.a.t.ed mother before the wedding. Today is not the foundation day, then," she said with a hidden smile on her face. Her husband also hid the smile on his face, not wanting to offend the elder.
Lu Huan coughed at getting caught. He looked at his wife and then at his daughter as they conversed with their eyes. 'Why are you trying to build barriers between us on such an important day?'
'Even if the barrier is built, I trust your abilities to climb over, father.'
Lu Chen and Lu Jinhai agreed from the other side. 'You are right, sister. Nothing can stop our father.'