So when Jiang Yiyan casually left a comment on Shu Yao’s latest Moments post, Cai Wenqing naturally saw it.
Before, she had only given it a like, but now she had both liked and commented. Staring at her phone screen, Cai Wenqing remained dazed for quite a while. It was only when the housemaid, Sister Zhang, came to ask how dinner should be prepared and called out to her several times that she finally snapped back to her senses.
As if afraid others might see what she had been looking at, she hurriedly turned off the screen and tried her best to remain calm as she said to Sister Zhang, “Just make whatever you think is fine.”
Sister Zhang did not notice anything unusual about her. She simply responded and returned to the kitchen.
Meanwhile, Cai Wenqing stood up and went upstairs to her bedroom.
After hesitating and struggling alone in her room for a long time, she finally made a decision. Taking out her phone, she found Jiang Yiyan’s number in her contacts and dialed it.
After leaving a comment on Shu Yao’s Moments, Jiang Yiyan had exited the app and was now lying comfortably while reading a novel on her phone.
Suddenly, a call came in.
The caller ID displayed “Cai Wenqing,” so Jiang Yiyan immediately knew who it was.
She suddenly sprang upright, sitting cross-legged, and casually grabbed a cushion to hold in her arms.
Only after settling into this position did she press the answer button.
“Hello? Aunt Cai,” Jiang Yiyan greeted first.
She was in a good mood, so her voice naturally sounded sweet.
But the more unusually cheerful she sounded, the more uneasy Cai Wenqing felt.
“Yiyan,” Cai Wenqing quickly adjusted her emotions and spoke as she usually did, gentle yet carrying a trace of humility and ingratiation. “What are you doing right now? Am I disturbing you?”
Jiang Yiyan replied at once, “I’m not busy. Is there something you need, Aunt Cai?”
Only then did Cai Wenqing say, “Yao Yao is coming back. Her flight is in the early hours tonight, and if there are no delays, she should arrive home tomorrow evening around six or seven. When she returns, you should come back too, and we’ll all have a reunion dinner together.”
“Of course,” Jiang Yiyan agreed without even a moment’s hesitation. “Don’t worry, Aunt Cai, I’ll definitely come back to welcome Yao Yao.”
“Good… good.” The smile on Cai Wenqing’s face was stiff and unnatural. “It’s been five years since you’ve seen each other. You sisters should have a proper chat and catch up.”
Catch up? What was there to catch up on? Their past had never been pleasant.
Jiang Yiyan didn’t know whether Cai Wenqing had said that intentionally or not, but either way, it didn’t matter. To her, this was simply the beginning of an interesting show.
She wasn’t the original host and had no lingering attachments. As an outsider attending this gathering, it only made things more intriguing.
In fact, she was already beginning to look forward to this reunion.
After all, everyone had a curious side, and she was no exception. She was eager to see what expressions everyone would wear when that inevitable dramatic scene unfolded.
At the thought of it, Jiang Yiyan’s mood soared. Even the upcoming dinner with Wen Mochuan suddenly seemed more interesting.
Wen Mochuan must have seen Shu Yao’s Moments post too, right? What had he thought when he saw it? What expression had he worn at the time?
The more Jiang Yiyan thought about it, the more excited she became.
After finishing her call with Jiang Yiyan, Cai Wenqing hesitated for a moment before dialing Wu Jingmeng.
Wu Jingmeng had naturally seen Shu Yao’s post about returning home. Even if Cai Wenqing hadn’t called, she would have called her instead.
Over the past five years, while Shu Yao had been studying abroad, it was Wu Jingmeng who had stayed by Cai Wenqing’s side.
Wu Jingmeng was deeply grateful for the support and care she had received from Shu Yao and her mother. As a result, she treated Cai Wenqing, her aunt, with even more attentiveness and filial devotion than she showed her own mother.
Not only did she call every few days to check in, but she also often invited Cai Wenqing out for meals or to high-end spas for relaxation.
Of course, when they went out together, sometimes she paid, and sometimes Cai Wenqing insisted on paying. Cai Wenqing never took advantage of her as a younger person.
Over the past five years, the two had grown even closer than a biological mother and daughter.
Whenever something came up, they would discuss it together.
An occasion as important as Shu Yao’s return was something Wu Jingmeng did not want to miss, and naturally, Cai Wenqing did not want her to miss it either.
That was why she made this call, to invite her to the reunion dinner.
“It should be the evening after tomorrow. I’ll discuss it with Yao Yao’s father, but ultimately we’ll go with his decision. Still, based on what I know of him, unless something unexpected comes up, it will most likely be that day.”
Wu Jingmeng was delighted.
Of course she wanted to attend the welcome banquet the Jiang family was preparing for Yao Yao. Not only because Aunt Cai and Yao Yao valued her, but also because it was an opportunity to interact with the Jiang family.
Still…
“Is it appropriate for me to go?” Wu Jingmeng asked hesitantly. “After all, it’s a family dinner for Yao Yao, and I’m an outsider.”
Cai Wenqing said earnestly, “How could you be an outsider? All these years while Yao Yao was away, it was you who kept me company. You may not be my biological daughter, but in my heart, I’ve long treated you as one. If it weren’t for you visiting and spending time with me, I would have missed Yao Yao even more. So you should come to her welcome dinner.”
Wu Jingmeng was so moved she nearly cried, though she tried hard to hold it back.
“But… will Uncle Jiang agree?” she asked cautiously. She cared deeply about the opinions of Jiang Cheng and his sons and did not want to offend them.
Cai Wenqing reassured her, “Your Uncle Jiang may look stern, but he’s actually very easy to talk to. Don’t worry, I’ll speak to him. He’ll agree.”
With that reassurance, Wu Jingmeng had no further reason to refuse.
“I’ll definitely come,” she said quickly.
…
At six in the evening, when Wen Mochuan arrived home on time, Jiang Yiyan had already freshened up and was waiting downstairs in the living room with Meimei.
Since they were going out for dinner and she was in a good mood, Jiang Yiyan had put on a light makeup look. The original host already had excellent skin, and heavy makeup would only have concealed her natural beauty. A light layer of foundation to even out her complexion, a touch of mascara and eyeliner, and a swipe of lip gloss were more than enough.
She was already beautiful bare-faced, and with this subtle enhancement, she became even more eye-catching.
After finishing her makeup, she had stared at herself in the mirror for quite a while, admiring the result.
Today, Jiang Yiyan wore an off-shoulder cream-colored dress with ruffled edges. The hem fell about ten centimeters above her knees, simple yet elegant without being overly revealing. The high-quality fabric and craftsmanship made her look even more refined and pure.
Her long, straight black hair fell smoothly down her back, and around her fair, slender neck rested a delicate pearl necklace.
In her hand, she carried a matching Chanel handbag, giving her the air of a true socialite.
When she led Meimei outside and approached the car, Wen Mochuan, who was seated in the back, couldn’t help but glance at her a couple more times than usual.
His wife usually favored extravagant styles and always wanted to stand out in a crowd, often wearing heavy makeup. This fresh and understated look was something he had rarely seen.
He was momentarily distracted before noticing that his wife and daughter had already reached the car.
Leaning forward, he unlocked the rear door.
Outside, Xiao Chen had already gotten out and stood by Jiang Yiyan and Meimei, holding the door open for them.
The back seat was spacious. Meimei sat in the middle, so she climbed in first. After helping her daughter into the car, Jiang Yiyan followed.
A faint, sweet fragrance accompanied her as she entered.
She hadn’t used perfume; it was the scent of her new body wash.
With the summer heat, she had taken a shower before changing her clothes.
The car was already moving slowly along the road. Though the couple sat side by side, neither spoke.
Xiao Chen, who had long been aware of the situation, drove while occasionally glancing at the rearview mirror. His curiosity had been piqued again, and he wanted to take advantage of this close proximity to gather more gossip about his boss and his wife, material he could later share with colleagues.
He had finally figured out the situation regarding Miss Shu they had discussed before. He had never expected such a complicated and dramatic story between his boss and his wife.
It was so melodramatic that, with a little embellishment, it could easily become a romance novel.
Of course, in such a story, the female lead would definitely be Madam, not Miss Shu.
At that moment in the car, Xiao Chen wasn’t the only one eager for gossip. Jiang Yiyan’s curiosity burned just as fiercely.
She held it in for a while but ultimately couldn’t resist.
Taking the initiative, she brought up the call from Cai Wenqing.
Though her heart was surging with excitement, her tone remained calm and casual.
“Oh, by the way, Aunt Cai called me a little after four this afternoon,” she said, as if mentioning it in passing.
Wen Mochuan responded with a soft “Mm,” without asking further.
Jiang Yiyan had only set the stage, waiting for him to follow up so she could continue the story naturally. But since he didn’t ask, she had no choice but to continue on her own.
“Shu Yao’s flight is in the early morning, and she’ll arrive in Shenzhen tomorrow evening,” Jiang Yiyan said. Despite the storm of emotions within her, her outward demeanor remained composed. “Aunt Cai called to invite us back for a reunion dinner. I’ve already agreed and said we would go. Now it depends on your schedule.”
“I know you’re busy, but for such an important occasion, it wouldn’t be good to be absent. It should be within the next few days, so try to arrange your time in advance. It would be best if we could go together.”
Afraid he might respond with silence again, she finally asked directly, “Is that okay?”