Grandpa's Investigation and an Invitation

After Yan Qingyue left the old residence, the kindly smile on Old Master Yan's face gradually faded, replaced by a shrewd, pensive look.

He sat alone in the spacious but somewhat empty living room, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the huanghuali wood armrest.

Something was off.

Very much off.

He knew his granddaughter.

Yan Qingyue had been cold by nature since childhood, capable and decisive, but also extremely reserved, rarely letting her feelings show.

When it came to romance, she was especially tight-lipped. Whenever the subject came up in the past, she would either give him a cold look or brush it aside with an excuse.

Never before had she... spaced out like she had today, much less smiled without realizing it.

Though she had tried hard to hide it, that fleeting softness and distraction had not escaped the old man's sharp eyes.

An ordinary male assistant who was "a bit of a hothead," "clumsy," and "goofy"?

Could someone like that bring such an expression to his iceberg granddaughter's face when she talked about him?

Old Master Yan didn't believe it for a second.

There had to be something going on!

He pondered for a moment, then picked up the senior-friendly phone beside him. Unlike the smartphone he used for outside communications, this phone held only the numbers of a few absolutely trusted confidants.

He dialed a number.

The call was answered quickly, and a steady, respectful male voice came from the other end:

"Old Master, what can I do for you?"

"A Zhong,"

Old Master Yan said in a low voice, with unquestionable authority, "look into someone for me. A male assistant who works with Qingyue. He should have joined her recently.

"He's young, probably only graduated a little while ago.

"Find out everything about him: his family background, education, social connections, character and personality... the more detailed, the better.

"And keep it absolutely confidential. Qingyue mustn't find out."

"Understood, Old Master. I'll get right on it."

A Zhong agreed without hesitation, not asking a single extra question.

After hanging up, Old Master Yan gazed out into the deep night, his fingers still tapping unconsciously.

He wasn't the sort of rigid, authoritarian patriarch who insisted on a match between families of equal standing.

The Yan Family had reached a point where it no longer needed a marriage alliance to secure its position.

His only wish was for Qingyue to find someone who would genuinely treat her well, who would know when she was cold or warm, let her put down all her defenses and disguises, and make her truly happy.

If this seemingly "goofy" little assistant really had what it took to pry open his granddaughter's guarded heart,

then even if he came from an ordinary family, or had nothing to his name, as long as his background was clean and his character beyond reproach, the Yan Family had room for him!

But first, he had to vet the young man himself.

He would never allow anyone with ulterior motives to hurt his one and only precious granddaughter.

Over the next few days, information about Lin Chen began to make its way quietly into Old Master Yan's hands.

The records showed that Lin Chen came from an ordinary working-class family. His parents were honest, decent people, and his background was clean.

He had graduated from a good local key university with a degree relevant to his work. His grades had been above average, with nothing particularly outstanding about them, but he had no blemishes on his record either.

After joining the company, he seemed to have had good luck. He had worked on several projects under Yan Qingyue, and his performance... was reportedly marked by "occasional flashes of brilliance, but also occasional minor mistakes," a somewhat vague assessment.

As for his personality, the records showed that he usually kept a fairly low profile and was even a little timid, but he also seemed to have a bit of cleverness and... inexplicably good luck?

Old Master Yan studied the reports, his brow furrowing slightly.

On paper, he was an utterly ordinary young man, the sort you couldn't pick out of a crowd.

Aside from the slightly questionable claim that his "luck seemed good," there was nothing remarkable about him that could make the high-and-mighty Qingyue see him differently.

Could it be... that he was really overthinking it?

But an additional remark A Zhong made over the phone caught his attention:

"Old Master, there's one other rather strange thing. Our people noticed that the eldest young lady seems to pay this Assistant Lin... special 'attention.'

"Not only does she often take him along on business trips, but... from what we've observed, the way she looks at him and the atmosphere between them seem... more than just an ordinary relationship between a superior and subordinate.

"Of course, this is only our preliminary observation, and it may not be accurate."

More than an ordinary relationship between a superior and subordinate?

Old Master Yan put down the report and leaned back in his chair, lost in thought.

It seemed that reading the paperwork alone wasn't enough. He had to meet the young man himself.

He needed to find a way to have Qingyue bring him home so he could observe him up close.

Whether it was a mule or a horse, you had to take it out for a walk to know.

He had to see whether this "silly boy" who could make his iceberg granddaughter smile was genuinely guileless or hiding his depths!

A few days later, Yan Qingyue received a call from her grandfather.

"Qingyue, your father's birthday is next week."

There was a trace of almost imperceptible sadness in Old Master Yan's voice. "In past years, it's just been the two of us having a quiet, lonely meal. Sigh... this year, could you bring a friend home to eat with us?

"Liven things up a little.

"How about... how about bringing that interesting little assistant of yours?

"You said he was amusing. He can keep me entertained."

Yan Qingyue was reviewing documents. At the request, her pen came to an abrupt stop, nearly leaving an ink streak across the page.

Bring Lin Chen back to the old residence? For dinner? On my dad's birthday, of all days?!

What's Grandpa up to this time?

Alarm bells rang in her head.

"Grandpa, isn't... isn't that inappropriate?"

She tried to refuse. "He's just an ordinary subordinate of mine, and it's a family dinner. Bringing an outsider..."

"What do you mean, an outsider?!"

Old Master Yan's tone brooked no argument. "It's just one more pair of chopsticks! It's settled! I've already told the kitchen to make a few more dishes young people like.

"Next Wednesday evening. Don't forget! If you don't bring him, then don't call me your grandfather anymore!"

With that, he hung up without giving Yan Qingyue a chance to object.

Yan Qingyue held her phone, listening to the busy signal, completely stunned.

What's gotten into Grandpa? Why is he so determined to meet Lin Chen?

Could it be... he's noticed something? That's impossible! Lin Chen and I at the office clearly...

She suddenly remembered spacing out during dinner that day, and her heart sank.

Oh no! I must have reacted too strongly, and Grandpa spotted something!

Now I'm in trouble...

She rubbed her temples, her head aching.

Bring Lin Chen back to the old residence?

With that guy's composure, and his habit of snarking inwardly at the slightest provocation, wouldn't he show his true colors in minutes before a shrewd old fox like Grandpa?

If he said something he shouldn't, or showed something he shouldn't... the consequences were simply unthinkable!

But Grandpa was so insistent that she had no room to refuse.

Yan Qingyue stood up in frustration and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the endless stream of traffic below.

It seemed she couldn't avoid this.

She needed to think carefully about how to tell Lin Chen, and... how to "train" him beforehand to make sure he didn't make any major blunders in front of Grandpa.

Meanwhile, Lin Chen, who was hard at work at his desk outside and knew nothing of the impending "meet the family" crisis, suddenly let out an enormous sneeze.

Who's talking about me?

He rubbed his nose and muttered inwardly, Little Moon must be thinking about me again? Or is President Yan thinking about how to dock my bonus again?

He had no idea that a Hongmen Banquet personally "decreed" by Old Master Yan, one that concerned his "fate," was quietly approaching.