This Fish Was Delicious

Today was Old Master Zhao Chuan's birthday.

Two days had passed since the auction ended. Over those two days, Ye Yuan had visited all the major shopping malls in Shangjing, buying many gifts for his family and storing them in Fishery Space.

At three in the afternoon, Zhao Chuan brought his brothers to his parents' villa.

The Zhao Family's villa was located at the deepest end of the residential compound. Behind it lay Shangjing's famous city lake.

The road leading to the villa was private, and few people could reach this place.

There were security guards stationed at the entrance to the villa road.

In front of the villa was a large parking lot already filled with luxury cars. It seemed quite a few guests had arrived.

The vegetable garden east of the villa was planted with lush, thriving vegetables, showing the owners' hard work.

The brothers entered the villa. Zhao Chuan instructed the servants to take away the gifts they carried, specifically telling them to place Ye Yuan's fish tank in the study first.

Zhao Chuan had them wait in the living room while he entered another room.

While Ye Yuan and the others chatted in the living room, a graceful figure caught Ye Yuan's attention. A girl in a black evening gown slowly walked toward them.

As the girl passed Ye Yuan and the others, she gave Ye Yuan a brief look, then walked on without saying anything.

Ye Yuan recognized her. She was the girl from the flower, bird, and fish market who had given him the arowana.

I never expected to see her here.

A slight commotion arose outside.

"Be careful! I spent a fortune on this. Watch yourselves, all of you. This fish is worth more than your lives. People in front, move aside." An unpleasant voice sounded from behind them.

Ye Yuan turned and saw several people carefully pushing a large fish tank mounted on wheels toward them. The tank was covered in black cloth, and behind it followed a gloomy-looking young man dressed in a designer suit.

The young man occasionally glanced at the girl in the black dress.

When he reached the study door, the young man gave Ye Yuan and the others a once-over before walking past arrogantly.

The young man knocked on the study door and pushed it open.

Ye Yuan clearly saw that the instant the young man opened the door, his previously gloomy face transformed into a sunny, confident smile.

Second Brother patted Ye Yuan and said, "What, never seen Sichuan opera face-changing before? Young man, there are plenty of people like that." With that, he gazed thoughtfully at the oil painting on the wall.

Not long after the young man entered, Zhao Chuan led the girl in the black dress over to the three of them.

After Zhao Chuan introduced her, Ye Yuan learned that the girl was Zhao Shuang, Zhao Chuan's biological younger sister. She was currently a third-year student at Shangjing University.

They exchanged greetings. When Zhao Shuang shook Ye Yuan's hand, she gave him a meaningful look.

Zhao Chuan led them into the study. Zhao Shuang had not wanted to go in, but upon hearing that her father had called for her, she entered with Zhao Chuan and the others.

Several middle-aged men and an elderly man were in the room. The gloomy young man stood beside one of the middle-aged men.

The fish tank that had just been pushed in stood in the middle of the group, and its black cloth had now been removed.

An exquisite Red Dragon Fish swam leisurely inside the tank.

The men drank tea while discussing the arowana. The gloomy young man wore a smug expression.

One of the middle-aged men saw Zhao Chuan and the others. He put down his teacup and said to Zhao Shuang, "Xiao Shuang, come here. Hongyuan came all the way back from M Country, and you haven't even kept him company."

Zhao Shuang reluctantly walked over to her father and stood obediently at his side, without speaking to the Hongyuan her father had mentioned.

Zhao Chuan could tell what was going on from his sister's expression, so he immediately introduced Ye Yuan and the others to his father.

Zhao Chuan's father, Zhao Xiuping, was about five feet nine inches tall and looked to be in his fifties. With a square face and thick brows, he gave off an imposing air. Standing there, he seemed like a spear planted firmly in the ground.

Eldest Brother had once said that his father had served in a certain naval unit.

The other middle-aged men were all his father's former comrades and friends. The elderly man, whom Zhao Chuan called Grandpa Xu, had been his father's superior in the navy.

The gloomy young man at the side was the son of one of Zhao Xiuping's comrades.

Because his mother had died early, he often came to the Zhao Family to play as a child. Since he and Zhao Shuang were around the same age, their families had arranged a childhood betrothal between them. He could be considered Zhao Chuan's future brother-in-law.

Ye Yuan glanced at Zhao Shuang and got the feeling that she truly disliked this Jia Hongyuan.

Zhao Chuan told his father, "The gift Ye Yuan brought is two ornamental fish, and they're a very rare kind."

Before Father Zhao could speak, Jia Hongyuan beside him spoke first.

"What kind of ornamental fish could possibly be better than my top-grade Blood Red Dragonfish? Don't tell me he brought a few ordinary fish to fob off Uncle?"

Although the middle-aged men said nothing, smiles appeared on their faces. It seemed they agreed with Jia Hongyuan.

When it came to ornamental fish, Jia Hongyuan's Blood Red Dragonfish should have been about the same grade as Zhao Shuang's previous one. He did have some grounds for saying that.

Ye Yuan had not cared much at first. After all, experts would naturally be able to tell whether the fish he had brought were good or bad, and he did not want to take them out before so many people.

He had planned to let Zhao Chuan show them to his father after the banquet. The important thing about a gift was that the recipient liked it, not that it was used for showing off.

Upon hearing Jia Hongyuan's words, Zhao Shuang's crafty eyes shifted before she said, "Not necessarily. In my brother's classmate's eyes, your fish is only good for eating."

After saying that, she asked Ye Yuan, "Is this fish delicious?"

At Zhao Shuang's question, the previously lively room fell silent.

Everyone looked at Ye Yuan. Ye Yuan had not expected the girl to be so mischievous. Fine, she did not like Jia Hongyuan, but why drag him into it?

Helpless, Ye Yuan rubbed the tip of his nose and said awkwardly, "This fish was pretty delicious."

Father Zhao knew that his daughter strongly resisted the marriage arrangement with the Jia Family, and that she had said those words to provoke Jia Hongyuan.

But what did his son's classmate's answer mean?

Not only Father Zhao, but even Zhao Chuan was surprised. He nudged Ye Yuan. "I say, Fourth Brother, what's going on?"

Ye Yuan had no choice. Back when he had asked Zhao Shuang for the fish, he had said he wanted it to eat. He could only force himself to say, "A few days ago, I ate a Blood Red Dragonfish. This fish really was quite delicious."

Zhao Shuang gave Ye Yuan a look that said, At least you know what's good for you.

Jia Hongyuan had no idea what was happening, but seeing the flirtatious exchange between Zhao Shuang and Ye Yuan made his anger flare at once.

"My friend, since a top-grade arowana like this is merely food on the dinner table in your eyes, I'd like to see what kind of fish qualifies as an ornamental fish."

Father Zhao looked at Zhao Chuan. He also feared that his son's classmate was someone who loved to boast.

If that were the case, not only would his son be embarrassed, but he himself would lose face as well.

After all, Ye Yuan and the others were guests in his home.

Zhao Chuan gave his father a reassuring look, then instructed someone to bring the fish over.