As it was past midnight, Tang Jiaojiao called everyone to a restaurant for a meal.
Tang Jiaojiao had originally planned to cook at home, thinking it would be more atmospheric. However, Su Dazhi said her foot injury hadn't healed and she shouldn't overexert herself. Thus, they booked a private room at the busiest restaurant nearby.
He owned half the shares in that hotel, so they didn't have to pay for the meal.
Because it was Lunar New Year, there were fewer cars on the streets than usual. However, the restaurant was doing exceptionally well. Even during the holiday, it was packed daily, with private room reservations extending to the end of the first lunar month.
When Su Dazhi and his party arrived, the manager was already waiting at the entrance with his staff.
Su Dazhi didn't want to attract too much attention, so he dismissed the manager after they entered the private room. Afterward, he specifically explained that he knew the manager, which was why he came over to greet them.
Tang Jiaojiao and the others tacitly didn't expose him; only Su He believed him wholeheartedly.
"Dad, you've made quite a few friends," Su He mumbled, gnawing on a duck leg.
Su Dazhi smiled sheepishly. "You know I used to collect scrap, right? I met a lot of people, so naturally, I got to know some."
Su He nodded, understanding.
Su Ying and Su Lin exchanged glances, seemingly trying to suppress their laughter.
Su He was simple-minded, but they weren't fools.
The designer bags bought by their adoptive mother, Tang Jiaojiao, were genuine luxury items. A whole cabinet full of them was worth at least tens of millions. Could a family that made a living collecting scrap afford such items?
And the property deeds hidden in boxes—they weren't oblivious to those either. Those properties combined were likely worth hundreds of millions.
Furthermore, Su Dazhi often went to construction sites, not to collect discarded materials. Su Ying once attended a real estate developer's party and saw their boisterous adoptive father in a suit mingling among them.
He had been pretending to be poor for so many years; didn't he get tired of it!
Su Ying slowly chewed on a piece of lettuce, watching her adoptive father put on a show.
Su Lin, as a top celebrity, had met many Best Actress and Best Actor winners. He felt that their acting skills were incomparable to their adoptive father's. It was a great loss to the entertainment industry that their adoptive father wasn't pursuing a career in it.
"Su Su, this is your favorite Luo Shi shrimp. It's made with curry. Try some," Tang Jiaojiao said, glaring warningly at Su Dazhi. She used the opportunity to put food on Su He's plate, interrupting him.
"Thank you, Mom," Su He said, her cheeks bulging as she struggled to swallow the food.
Lu Yanbei saw that she was still holding half a crab leg. He put down his chopsticks, took out a pair of disposable gloves, and slowly began to peel the shrimp for Su He.
This action was truly shocking to everyone present.
The esteemed boss of the Lu Corporation was personally peeling shrimp for his wife!
Su Lin's mouth hung open in astonishment.
What incredible luck did his sister have!
Perhaps because Lu Yanbei often did such things, Su He had grown accustomed to it and didn't find it unusual. She naturally overlooked the surprised expressions of the others at the table.
"Why aren't you all eating?" Su He asked, rotating the turntable to scoop a bowl of fish soup. Only then did she realize that no one else had started eating.
"Eat, eat while it's hot," Tang Jiaojiao was the first to react, responding with a smile.
Su He looked confused, but Lu Yanbei's expression remained calm, without any trace of embarrassment.
"Yanbei, don't just take care of Su Su. These lamb chops are delicious; try some too," Tang Jiaojiao said, gesturing for her husband to serve their son-in-law.
Before Lu Yanbei could refuse, Su He preempted him. "He's allergic to lamb."
Su Dazhi's outstretched arm stopped mid-air. "Is that so?"
He asked this question while looking at Lu Yanbei.
Lu Yanbei's gaze lingered on Su He for a few seconds before he slowly nodded. "Yes, I've been unable to eat beef or lamb since childhood."
"I see... It's my fault for not finding out beforehand. My apologies," Su Dazhi said with a fawning smile.
Lu Yanbei picked up his juice and took a sip, replying with a smile, "Ignorance is bliss. I'll just eat other things."
However, Tang Jiaojiao called for the waiter and ordered a few more dishes.
After all, their son-in-law was here; they couldn't let him go hungry.
"These dishes are enough; please don't be so hospitable," Lu Yanbei said.
"It's Lunar New Year; we naturally want to eat to our heart's content," Tang Jiaojiao insisted.
The family ate and chatted, enjoying a warm and joyful atmosphere.
After the meal, Su Ying took out her phone to take pictures of everyone and sent them to the group chat. "Big Brother, it's a real shame you weren't here today. Old Man was unusually generous and treated us to a Tang Feast!"
"And you should have seen our brother-in-law's performance; it was absolutely amazing!"
"Can you imagine the scene of the CEO of a major corporation peeling shrimp for his wife? I really opened my eyes today!"
"The two of them were exchanging loving glances, so sweet it was sickening. We were all force-fed dog food."
Su Lin, as an observer, also posted many reaction GIFs in the group chat. Witnessing the couple's affection in person was incredibly satisfying.
Su He hadn't noticed her phone at first. It wasn't until the notifications kept coming that she picked it up and glanced at it. Seeing the group name "Loving Family," Su He hesitated about whether to add Lu Yanbei to the group.
After all, he was considered family now.
Su He leaned over and whispered in his ear, "We have a family group chat. Do you want to join?"
Lu Yanbei had seen Su He's phone and knew which family group chat she was referring to.
He responded with a simple "Mm" without any hesitation. "Add me to the group, and I'll send out some red envelopes later."
Upon hearing about red envelopes, Su He immediately became energized and quickly added Lu Yanbei to the group.
Su Ying and Su Lin hadn't reacted yet and were still gossiping enthusiastically in the group chat, completely unaware that the main subject of their conversation was now a member. By the time they belatedly realized someone new had joined and tried to retract their messages, it was too late.
Lu Yanbei watched the conversation between his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, a barely perceptible twitch at the corner of his mouth.
He hadn't expected that they, who appeared so refined and scholarly, would be so talkative in private.
Su Ying and Su Lin sat stiffly in their chairs, feeling as awkward as could be.
Fortunately, Lu Yanbei didn't dwell on it. He quickly sent out several large red envelopes in the group chat, thoughtfully adding the characters for "Happy New Year."
Su He happily grabbed red envelopes, completely unaware of the subtle change in everyone's demeanor.
Tang Jiaojiao subtly glanced at Su He, thinking to herself: This girl is truly carefree! But perhaps it's for the best; it will save her a lot of trouble. And with Lu Yanbei looking out for her, she'll surely have a simple and happy life.
That's good!
*
Su Chen's face was taut as he saw the liveliness in the family group chat.
He was currently in the VIP lounge at the airport, with five hours left before he could return to City B.
Watching his family laughing and chatting together, Su Chen felt a pang of heartache.
He hadn't expected them to accept Lu Yanbei so quickly and even let him into the family group. Did this mean that he and Su He could only be siblings, with no other possibility?