"Where did you go?"

Hong Xiaoyu’s sister, Tong Dan, took quite good care of him. Seeing him return, she immediately asked with concern, "You’ve only had a little beer, surely you don’t need to rush to the bathroom already? You’d better get your kidney function checked at the hospital."

Hong Xiaoyu sat back in his seat with an unchanged expression, calmly saying, "I just had a health checkup."

Oh dear.

It seems even this younger brother has become hard to handle.

Tong Dan felt a bit frustrated, but she wasn’t ready to accept reality. She couldn’t gain the upper hand verbally, so she started drinking.

The ladies were drinking beer, except Hong Xiaoyu. Jiang Chen, Wu Yubin, and Fu Zili were drinking liquor.

The atmosphere was light and joyful, with all the burdens lifted.

Compared to the gathering at Emperor, today was even more worthy of drinking to one’s fill.

"You should drink less."

Jiang Chen quietly reminded Qing Mei.

Fang Qing tilted her head to look at him, the pink bouquet on the table complemented her glowing, rosy cheeks, matched with a beautiful vintage dress.

Tsk.

Truly enchanting.

"I’m talking about your gastroenteritis."

After the gathering that day, she had to go to the hospital the next day. Besides that, well, nothing else had happened.

"Are you afraid?"

"Afraid of what?"

"Taking me to the hospital, it’s such a hassle."

This was a battle of masters—deceptive yet honest, honest yet deceptive.

Jiang Chen was unfazed, shaking his head calmly, "It’s not like I’m the one getting the injections."

"Hey, hey, hey. Don’t flaunt your affection here, okay?"

Tong Dan interrupted, glancing at the two whispering, "But the rest of us are all single dogs. Aren’t you two ashamed?"

The others quietly chuckled.

Saying this, Tong Dan raised her glass, as bold as ever, "President Jiang, you did well today, finally acted like a man. I toast to you."

Hong Xiaoyu almost burst into laughter.

Sister Tong Dan was still fiercely brave.

Jiang Chen remained composed, raising his glass while saying, "Let’s drink, but Fang Qing should drink a little less today."

Upon hearing this, Tong Dan’s expression changed instantly, making a peculiar noise, "Oh, oh, oh, already starting to protect, huh?"

"No, it’s just that she’s not in good health."

"How come I never knew she wasn’t in good health?"

To protect Qing Mei’s privacy, Jiang Chen didn’t mention her hospital drip, instead saying, "She gets quite unruly when she drinks too much."

"Really?"

Tong Dan looked at Fang Qing in surprise.

"Didn’t you act up?"

Fang Qing calmly retorted, ignoring someone’s advice, and proactively raised her glass of beer, "Let’s drink together, may Tie Jun and Wen Rong have a happy marriage."

"Cheers!"

"Mr. Jiang, President Fu, let’s have a glass of liquor together."

Wu Yubin suggested, showing no pretentiousness despite his status in the county as a Brahman.

If courtesy marked the gathering that day, today it was sincere and necessary respect.

"Wu class leader, don’t call me that. We’re all friends."

Jiang Chen was as approachable as ever, "You’re all in Sha City, keep in touch when you’re free."

Fu Zili nodded, "It’s fate to be gathered here, Wu class leader, please take care in the future."

Wu Yubin smiled humbly, without any official airs, and in a very worldly manner said, "Wherever Wu Yubin can be of use, I won’t decline."

Look.

This is what smart people do.

Fu Zili knew well that such conduct was out of consideration for someone, raising his glass with a joking smile, "Haha, with Wu class leader and me joining forces, isn’t Sha City ours?"

"Haven’t even drunk much and you’re bragging already. If you drink a bit more, won’t Shen Zhou be yours too?"

Tong Dan teased.

Amidst the clinking of glasses, laughter and chatter filled the air.

"Finished busying around?"

Tie Jun suddenly walked over, though the banquet was only halfway, as the groom, he should be busy with many matters.

"You guys take it easy, gotta stick till the end, I’m counting on you."

Tie Jun seemed to have some urgent matter, gave Fu Zili a quick response, then walked over to Jiang Chen, bent down, and whispered, "Your uncle Zhang Zhongquan had a bit of an issue."

"He collapsed at the door and was taken away by an ambulance."

"..."

Jiang Chen was silent, then asked, "What happened?"

"Seems to be high blood pressure."

Tie Jun probably felt a bit bothered; encountering such an event during a wedding was undoubtedly bad luck.

But accidents are unpredictable.

High blood pressure, whether considered serious or trivial, could lead to disastrous events such as cerebral hemorrhage or strokes, even pose a threat to life.

"He knows my father-in-law, I didn’t know he was here either. Don’t worry, your aunt went with him."

"Sorry to bother you."

Jiang Chen said.

Tie Jun smiled, patted his shoulder, and a silent understanding passed between them.

The Jiang Family’s situation was known well by childhood friends.

Jiang Chen was not a cold-hearted person.

Everything was cause and effect.

"Drink slowly, I’ll come over when I’m done."

With a greeting, Tie Jun left.

The others didn’t hear their conversation, but Fang Qing sitting next to them heard it all clearly.

After all, Tie Jun deliberately stood between the two, not avoiding Qing Gege at all.

"After dinner, shall we go have a look?"

Jiang Chen chuckled, "You’re not one to hold grudges."

"You’re not a grudging person either."

Fang Qing said, "It’s just a door, no problem."

Jiang Chen’s smile deepened with meaning, "Starting to play the good girl again, huh?"

Appearing obedient in front of elders was indeed her specialty.

But.

Do Zhang Zhongquan and his wife count as her elders?

Under the table.

Fang Qing stomped on his foot, not holding back.

The sharp touch of high heels caused his expression to contort, refusing to show weakness, he quickly reached out and pinched Qing Mei’s thigh.

Even through the skirt, one could feel the firm resilience.

Fang Qing’s cheeks flushed slightly, probably unexpected by his boldness, she glared at him with a mixture of shame and anger.

In the past, no matter what she did, this guy always swallowed his pride and endured it.