After seating Zhu Yingwei, Zining had Sheng Yitian keep him company over drinks while she went to the window and made a phone call.
A moment later, the call connected, and a woman's voice came from the other end. "Hello, Zining. How are things over there? Is everything going smoothly?"
"Ah, Ziyan is such a stubborn child. But no matter what, she's still Mom's daughter. Your father is angry with her and refuses to show his face, so you should look after Ziyan a little more."
Zining hurriedly said, "Mom, where's Dad? Let me talk to him."
The middle-aged woman said into the receiver, "Old man, it's Zining."
Soon.
The middle-aged man's voice came through. "What is it?"
"She asked you to call us over, didn't she?"
"I'm not going!"
"I'd rather die than go!"
Zining said softly, "That won't do, Dad. You really have to come this time."
"Commander Feng of the Underground City Legion is here, and even Mr. Zhu Yingwei, the city lord's secretary, has arrived. If you and Mom don't come over, it won't look right."
The middle-aged man shouted through the receiver, "What?"
"Commander Feng and Secretary Zhu both went?"
"Why?"
"How does that brat surnamed Sheng have that much influence?"
Zining sighed. "He doesn't, but his friend does."
"My little sister is such a fool. If she had said that my brother-in-law knew the Dragon Rider Captain, wouldn't we have helped her hold a grand wedding? It wouldn't have been so shabby."
"The Dragon Rider Captain?"
"My son-in-law knows the Dragon Rider Captain?"
"That girl Ziyan—I'm definitely going to give her a good talking-to tonight."
"Zining, you entertain them. Your mother and I will be there soon. Order some good food and wine. Don't neglect our guests."
Zining agreed, then called over the restaurant