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"Dad, where's Mom? Why isn't she out yet?"

Seeing her father enthusiastically ushering Ling Yun inside while completely ignoring her, Jiang Yingqing quickly spoke up to make her presence known, her tone laced with a hint of playful resentment.

"Your mom? As soon as she heard you were back, she got busy bringing all the good food from the kitchen out!"

Jiang Mingyuan replied without looking back, his attention clearly still on Ling Yun.

Jiang Yingqing pouted helplessly and hurried to catch up.

As soon as they stepped into the spacious and bright living room, an enticing aroma of food wafted towards them.

They saw a beautiful middle-aged woman, dressed in an elegant qipao with a gentle and serene demeanor, walking out of the kitchen holding a plate of exquisitely presented steamed Garrupa fish.

The fish was white, drizzled with amber-colored soy sauce, and garnished with emerald green scallion threads, its fragrance filling the air.

"Mom!" Jiang Yingqing happily greeted her, taking the plate from her mother's hands and placing it on the huge dining table. She then took the opportunity to introduce, "This is Ling Yun!"

Jiang's mother's gaze fell on Ling Yun, a flicker of surprise in her eyes, and a gentle smile bloomed on her face. "Oh, this is Ling Yun? He's truly handsome and talented, no wonder..."

Before she could finish, she cast a meaningful glance at her daughter.

Jiang Yingqing's cheeks flushed slightly, and she quickly interrupted, "Mom! Where's my sister? Why hasn't she come down yet?"

Her voice carried a hint of urgency, wanting to shift the topic away from herself.

Jiang's mother understood and lowered her voice, chuckling, "You know your sister's schedule. She just woke up and is getting ready."

Before she finished speaking, faint footsteps could be heard from the stairs. Everyone looked up and saw Jiang Yingxue walking down the stairs in a soft, smoky gray silk camisole nightgown, her snow-white feet bare, moving with a languid grace.

Her slightly curly long hair was casually draped over her shoulders, carrying the grogginess of just waking up.

When her gaze fell upon Ling Yun in the living room, her steps faltered almost imperceptibly. The sleepy haze in her eyes instantly cleared, and a hint of surprise and curious scrutiny flashed in her deep, pool-like eyes.

"Sister! This is Ling Yun!" Jiang Yingqing once again acted as the introducer.

Ling Yun looked at his "cold and socially anxious editor" and offered a polite and sincere smile. "Sister Yingxue, it's finally nice to meet you. You're very beautiful."

Ling Yun didn't mention that Jiang Yingxue was even prettier in person than in the selfies she sent him; he was afraid the Jiang family members beside them might misunderstand.

Jiang Yingxue's lips curved slightly in response. "Little brother Ling Yun, welcome to my home. You're very handsome too!"

Her gaze lingered on Ling Yun's face for a moment before moving away.

"Xiao Yun, you... know my Yingxue?"

Jiang's parents looked at their daughter's unusual reaction—especially the smile she had almost never shown to any man outside the family—and couldn't hide their surprise.

Ling Yun briefly explained how he had found Jiang Yingxue online to be his editor.

Jiang's parents then suddenly understood and repeatedly thanked Ling Yun for his "care" for their daughter, their good impression of the young man deepening.

Could... Sister really have feelings for Ling Yun?

Jiang Yingqing watched her sister's subtle reaction and then recalled what Zhou Da had said about "selfies." Her heart felt as if it were being scratched by tiny cat claws, and she felt inexplicably flustered.

"Alright, alright, don't just stand there!"

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Jiang's mother smiled and called out, breaking the brief silence, "The food is all ready, let's sit down quickly, or it'll get cold if we don't eat!"

Jiang Yingqing immediately sat down next to Ling Yun.

Jiang Yingxue sat opposite her parents. During the meal, Jiang Yingxue's gaze occasionally swept over Ling Yun, carrying a hint of inquiry and an interest that she herself hadn't noticed.

This "boss" she collaborated with online, who brought her a sense of accomplishment she hadn't felt in a long time, was far more... pleasing to the eye in person than she had imagined.

Ling Yun, on the other hand, was focused on the delicious food before him.

The freshness of the steamed Garrupa fish, the plump and springy texture of the garlic-flavored king crab legs, and the exquisite dishes whose names he couldn't recall... The scale of this family banquet far exceeded his experiences in two lifetimes.

In his previous life, guarding the inheritance left by his parents, he had never dared to be so extravagant. Although he had become rich overnight in this life, he hadn't had time to enjoy it yet. He ate with focus and satisfaction.

Jiang's parents watched Ling Yun eat without pretense, their eyes filled with amusement. They enthusiastically used serving chopsticks to constantly put food on his plate:

"Xiao Yun, try this... This one is good too!" Jiang Yingqing chattered about interesting school events beside him, creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere.

Suddenly, there was a soft "clatter."

Jiang Yingxue's chopsticks slipped from her hand and fell to the floor.

She frowned slightly and naturally bent down to pick them up.

The long tablecloth draped down, obscuring what was happening under the table. In the unseen shadows, her smooth ankle seemed to "accidentally," extremely briefly, brush against Ling Yun's instep.

In that instant, their eyes met under the edge of the table.

Jiang Yingxue's movement had an extremely subtle pause, and a ripple flashed deep within her eyes, so fast that one might think it was an illusion.

She then quickly averted her gaze, straightened up as if nothing had happened, her face still maintaining that cool expression, as if nothing had occurred.

Ling Yun calmly withdrew his foot and continued to pick up food, as if only a gentle breeze had brushed past his feet.

However, this brief, fleeting contact was keenly caught by Jiang Yingqing, who had been paying close attention to her sister and Ling Yun!

Her fingers gripping the chopsticks tightened slightly, and the unease in her heart spread like waterweed. She couldn't help but poke at the plate in front of her a few times with her chopsticks as if venting her frustration, making faint "tok tok" sounds.

Father Jiang and Mother Jiang seemed to notice the subtle, almost imperceptible tension at the dinner table and exchanged a glance. Father Jiang cleared his throat, about to say something to ease the atmosphere—

Ding dong! Ding dong!

The doorbell rang abruptly, shattering the slightly stagnant air.

"I'll get it!" Jiang Yingqing practically leaped up, rushing to the door as if she'd grabbed a lifeline.

Opening the door, she saw a young man in a crisp, dark blue suit, his hair meticulously combed, standing outside. He wore a carefully calibrated smile. "Little sister Yingqing, good evening. I was passing by the neighborhood and thought I'd come see Yingxue."

Recognizing Chen Xuanyu, a flicker of impatience flashed in Jiang Yingqing's eyes. However, she forced a polite smile. "Brother Xuanyu, please come in. Sister, Brother Xuanyu is here." She stepped aside to let him in.

Upon hearing the name, Jiang Yingxue's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, and the warmth in her eyes instantly dropped to freezing point.

She put down her chopsticks, stood up, and asked in a flat, emotionless tone, "Chen Xuanyu, is there something you need?"

As if not hearing the distance in her voice, Chen Xuanyu smiled and handed over a beautifully wrapped gift box. "Nothing in particular, I just thought I'd come see you."

His gaze swept past Jiang Yingxue and naturally settled on the unfamiliar yet exceptionally striking young face at the head of the dining table—Ling Yun.

The smile on Chen Xuanyu's face froze instantly. Vigilance and scrutiny suddenly flared in his eyes, and his tone carried undisguised inquiry. "And who might this be...?"

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