Chapter 288 - 288 Clearing Things Up
Although Yun Wei and Bai Xiaojiu were juniors, they were the main characters for the day. Therefore, this was their only chance to be seated next to the old master.
However, Shen Ruojing’s identity and status were awkward. As such, she was originally arranged to sit at the very end of the table.
Now, with a word from the Old Master, she was able to sit next to the Old Master, taking the most distinguished seat for the day!
Of course, Yun Wei wouldn’t mind that. The more courtesy the Bai Family showed her cousin, the more it showed that the Bai family valued her in high regard and gave her face. Moreover, she and Bai Xiaojiu were seated next to Matriarch Bai.
Shen Ruojing then took a look around.
She didn’t care where she sat. However, ever since she was nineteen, she had always taken the leading position no matter where she went. So, she was used to having the leader seat or a seat of higher authority.
Moreover, Chu Cichen was seated there beside her.
As a result, Shen Ruojing’s lips curled. She walked over slowly and sat down between Chu Cichen and Old Master Bai.
Now, the countenance of everyone in the room changed.
By right, the seat next to Old Master Bai should be taken by the eldest son. By getting them to sit there, Master Bai, who was Bai Xiaojiu’s eldest uncle, looked a little grim.
Seeing this, Bai Xiaojiu’s father, the fourth son, immediately said, “Father, this isn’t suitable. Let Eldest Brother sit next to you…”
Old Master Bai frowned.
Third Madam Bai was always one who followed the lead of the first son’s family. So, she immediately said, “That’s right. Father, this isn’t suitable. Although Miss Shen is a guest, the purpose of this gathering is to meet and recognize family members. We’re already giving her face by letting her come.”
After saying that, Third Madam Bai twitched her lips and her contempt toward Shen Ruojing became even more intense. “Some people don’t know any courtesy, taking polite talk seriously…”
Third Madam Bai had just said this when a banging sound rang out. Old Master Bai had slammed his hand on the table angrily.
The reason he had invited Shen Ruojing here today was to host her.
He had already told them in advance to treat the Yun Family’s cousin with more courtesy. He wasn’t expecting them to still treat her so badly! This really infuriated him!
Did these people know whose daughter Shen Ruojing was?
Old Master Bai bellowed, “Why? Can’t my life-saving benefactor even take an esteemed seat? Or are you guys despising this old man for having lived too long?”
The moment these words were said, the place became deadly silent.
Everyone looked at Shen Ruojing. At this moment, they finally understood why Old Master Bai had invited her here! It turned out that she was a benefactor who had saved his life. That would explain things.
But at the same time, everyone was slightly shocked.
Old Master Bai had taken a liking to Shen Ruojing and thus liked Yun Wei as well. Yun Wei was to be married to Bai Xiaojiu… and Old Master Bai had liked Bai Xiaojiu to begin with…
Eldest Master Bai then narrowed his eyes and took a look at his son.
Bai Wei’s eldest grandson, Bai Zhongzhang, nodded slightly and said, “So that’s how it is! It seems like we have misunderstood. Miss Shen, you’re our Bai Family’s benefactor for having saved Grandfather’s life. You naturally deserve this seat! Let me toast to you!”
After saying that, he stood up, picked up his wine glass, and drank from it.
With his words, the atmosphere became less tense.
Third Madam Bai also heaved a sigh of relief. But her gaze when looking at Shen Ruojing was still hateful. An idea came to mind and she suddenly asked, “May I ask how Miss Shen saved Father?”
Old Master Bai would definitely not reply to this question, so Third Madam Bai turned her gaze at Bai Xiaojiu.
Bai Xiaojiu explained, “Grandfather fainted due to tension pneumothorax. Miss Shen then made the decisive call to perform a small surgery…”
The moment he said this, Bai Zhongzhang’s wife, Shen Wanying, suddenly interrupted him, her voice sounding cold and prideful. “Grandfather has an autoimmune disease. How can he undergo an operation?”
Bai Xiaojiu immediately explained, “Miss Shen had Five Taste Powder on her.”
Only then did Shen Wanying heave a sigh of relief. “So that’s how it is.”
Matriarch Bai immediately asked, “Was this surgery very difficult to perform?”
Shen Wanying’s face had a hint of arrogance on it. “The surgery itself isn’t difficult. It can be done by many medical students in the university. What’s rare is that there happened to be the Five Taste Powder. It is a medicine invented by Divine Doctor Jing, and there isn’t much of it in the market. I only have around ten doses or so of them myself.”
Shen Wanying pushed the credit all onto the Five Taste Powder.
When Third Madam Bai heard this, she immediately twitched her lips. “Miss Shen is really lucky to chance upon Father when he had a relapse, and she also happened to have the medicine on her. Speaking of which, Divine Doctor Jing is really amazing, being able to invent all sorts of medicine.”
Shen Wanying said with great respect, “Divine Doctor Jing is the ceiling of the Chinese medicine world at the moment. Even my Teacher has great respect for him.”
Third Madam Bai immediately bragged to Shen Ruojing. “Our Wanying is the proud student of Dr. Liu, who comes from a family of imperial physicians. If Miss Shen is interested in medicine, you can get Wanying to give you some guidance. It’d be considered repayment for having saved Father’s life.”
However, after Third Madam Bai said this, she saw that Shen Ruojing didn’t pay her any heed and had her head turned to talk to Chu Cichen. “Mr. Chu, this is such a coincidence! We meet again!”
“…” Chu Cichen fell silent for a moment before a hint of helplessness flashed past his phoenix eyes. “It is really such a coincidence.”
Shen Ruojing raised her brows. “Then shall we leave together later?”
This wasn’t the time for them to clear things up. It’d only be appropriate for them to do so after the gathering ended and they had left.
The tough-looking man’s gaze had a hint of dimness in it. He then lowered his gaze and let out another silent sigh, as if he had finally made up his mind about something. “Alright.”
When the two of them were talking, Old Master Bai was sensitive and caught the point that the relationship between the two of them didn’t seem normal.
Back when they were at the Yun Manor, both Chu Cichen and Shen Ruojing were Yun Wei’s cousins, so they were both living there. There wasn’t anything wrong with that. Moreover, the two of them didn’t have many exchanges during the meal.
However, looking at it now, their relationship seemed to be a little different.
Old Master Bai suddenly thought of the cooperation that Chu Cichen had brought up today…
He coughed and asked, “Are Miss Shen and Mr. Chu very familiar with each other?”
When Chu Cichen heard this, he immediately looked at Shen Ruojing, as if waiting for her reply.
Shen Ruojing said, “We’re quite familiar with each other.”
Old Master Bai asked, “How familiar are you?”
This concerned if he was going to enter a cooperation with Chu Cichen or not!
Shen Ruojing. “?”
Who would ask something like this?!
She was hesitating about how she should explain the complicated relationship between herself and Chu Cichen when Third Madam Bai said, “Mr. Chu? Isn’t that the boss of Newsky Shopping Center? Shen Ruojing, aren’t you the lady boss? Turns out that the two of you are husband and wife!”
Old Master Bai. “!!!”
He was astonished.
Husband and wife?
So this meant that Chu Cichen was the big shot’s son-in-law?
Old Master Bai looked at Shen Ruojing, only to see her opening and closing her mouth but didn’t deny it.
Thinking of how he had rejected Chu Cichen’s business proposal, Old Master Bai coughed and suddenly said, “Mr. Chu, I feel that your project has great prospects for development. We can consider the cooperation later.”
Chu Cichen. “??”
Very soon, the lunch was concluded.
Everyone stood up and headed for the living room.
The next segment was for Yun Wei to give everyone gifts, and everyone would give her gifts in return.
As they had brought quite a lot of presents, the presents were placed in a guest room, and Yun Wei and Bai Xiaojiu went to collect them. Shen Ruojing and Chu Cichen, as Yun Wei’s cousins, decided to help out as well.
However, the two of them didn’t enter the guest room but stood outside.
Shen Ruojing turned and looked at the man who was half a head taller than her. After that, her clear voice rang out slowly as she asked, “Mr. Chu, isn’t it time to clear things up?”