The next afternoon, the weather was clear, the sun hung high, casting down blazing rays that baked the earth until it seemed to shimmer with heat haze. The roadside trees along the streets were listless under the fiery sun.
This was an upscale residential area in Magic City, with garden villas scattered in pleasant disorder. The house occupying the best position among them belonged to the Chen family.
This wasn't the main Chen ancestral home, but the residence where Chen Yunsheng and his family lived. Coinciding with the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, Chen Yunsheng's son, Chen Qing, and daughter, Chen Yu, had taken the short break to come home for a family gathering.
Chen Qing was Chen Yunsheng's son, twenty-three years old this year, studying Business Management at B University in the imperial capital. Chen Yu was Chen Yunsheng's daughter, twenty-one this year, attending F University in Magic City, majoring in Fashion Design.
Chen Yunsheng and his wife, Du Jiaxun, doted on these two children immensely. Chen Qing and Chen Yu were seen by everyone as favored children of heaven, bringing much pride to Chen Yunsheng and Du Jiaxun. Whenever anyone mentioned this pair of children, the Chen couple would be all smiles, exceptionally proud.
In contrast, if someone mentioned Chen Li in front of them, one of the pair (Chen Yunsheng) would start evading the topic, putting on an embarrassed expression, while the other (Du Jiaxun) would completely darken and storm off in a huff the next moment.
This comparison clearly showed the difference in affection.
Later that day, Chen Qing would need to pack his luggage and return to school. Du Jiaxun had declined an afternoon gathering to stay home with him. She was currently in Chen Qing's bedroom, bustling about helping him pack, completely without the help of any servants.
"You just came back yesterday morning, and now you're leaving today. I told you to apply to a school in Magic City, but you wouldn't listen. Throughout the year, you barely have time to come home a few times."
Du Jiaxun closed Chen Qing's suitcase, speaking with feigned complaint.
Chen Qing was tall with long legs, his features perfectly inheriting the best of Du Jiaxun and Chen Yunsheng's looks—a truly handsome young man. Hearing his mother's complaint now, he immediately went to her side, put his arm around her, and coaxed, "I come back whenever I have time, don't I? It doesn't take long to fly from the imperial capital to Magic City. Mom, if you miss me, just give me a call, and I'll fly right back to see you."
"Oh, don't do that. Your father would just say I'm wasting your time." Obviously, Du Jiaxun was susceptible to Chen Qing's cajoling. Though her words said "don't," her face was beaming with smiles.
The mother and son were enjoying a harmonious moment together until the butler's knock interrupted their conversation. "Madam, the Wei family's eldest young master is here."
The smiles on both their faces faded slightly. They exchanged a glance, clearly not expecting Wei Chen to come at this time.
"I'll go see." Chen Qing stood up, deciding to welcome Wei Chen in person. He knew Wei Chen liked him, so he guessed that Wei Chen's visit this time was probably to discuss refusing the marriage to Chen Li.
"Go ahead, entertain Young Master Wei properly." Du Jiaxun said, immediately adopting the dignified posture of the Lady of the Chen household.
...
Wei Chen drove his car along the winding roads and finally parked properly in front of the Chen family's gate. His gaze fell upon the Chen villa, and for a moment, he felt hesitant.
He didn't really know what he was feeling right now. Driven purely by the desire to see Chen Li, he had driven to the Chens' house. But now that he was here, Wei Chen was afraid to actually see him.
If he saw Chen Li, what would he say? What should he do? Wei Chen felt a bit lost, and also a bit nervous.
In the end, all his confusion and timidity were no match for the overwhelming urge surging within him to see Chen Li. Wei Chen finally pressed the doorbell.
At the moment he pressed it, he calmed all the complicated emotions within him and waited quietly for the gate to open.
The person who opened the gate wasn't the Chen family butler, but Chen Qing himself, who had come to welcome him. Opening the door and seeing Wei Chen, Chen Qing broke into a wide grin. "Brother Wei, what brings you here? Come on in."
Wei Chen's icy-cold gaze suddenly met Chen Qing's handsome, sunny face. A surge of rage nearly erupted uncontrollably, but in the end, he managed to suppress it. However, his hands, hanging by his sides, clenched tightly into fists, the veins on them bulging prominently.