Chapter 248: Chapter 248: Birthday Banquet Face-Slapping (6) Chapter 248: Chapter 248: Birthday Banquet Face-Slapping (6) So Ding Xuexue replied on behalf of Ding Yuehua to Li Yihua, “Capture some video when it gets lively later. It is, after all, your niece’s birthday, so keep a memento. It’ll make your Director Jiang happy to see it.”

After Li Yihua entered, he just planned to wait until Jiang Zhe finished cutting the cake before leaving, which would fulfill the task Jiang Cheng had entrusted to him as well.

Since Ding Yuehua had asked him to record a video, he naturally felt obliged to do so.

Thus, he quickly recorded a clip of the scene and sent it over.

The spot he was standing in wasn’t great; he only managed to capture Jiang Yaowang and missed filming Song Ye and the others.

The entire hall seemed particularly empty. The hall, capable of accommodating sixty or seventy people, had only those few young kids causing a ruckus and playing around; it looked quite unbecoming.

After watching the video, Ding Xuexue passed the phone to Ding Yuehua while she was shuffling cards.

Ding Yuehua glanced at it and smiled.

It’s not like Jiang Zhe’s embarrassment did her any good.

But she couldn’t help feeling a sense of vengeful satisfaction within her. After all, she had given so much for Jiang Yaowang and Jiang Zhe and received nothing in return.

The resentment in her heart lingered on.

Seeing the state of their birthday banquet without her was both amusing and joyous.

“Alright, give me the phone. Go play,” Ding Yuehua said, taking the phone back and placing it in the small drawer in front of her.

She needed to focus her attention on the social interactions before her.

After sending two videos and seeing no change in the situation, Li Yihua didn’t send any more but went to ask Jiang Xiruo if there was anything he could help with.

Jiang Zhe, after receiving a message, said to Xiao Meng and Xia Enci, “A friend of mine is coming over. He’ll come here directly – it’s Chi Feng. I’ll go fetch another friend myself.”

“President Chi?” Xia Enci gasped, “Okay.”

After giving his instructions, Jiang Zhe turned and went downstairs.

Chi Feng continued to reply to her on WeChat: “Just send me the location. I’ll come up by myself.”

“Look for Xiao Meng after you get here.”

“You’re not going to be here?”

Jiang Zhe answered, “I’ll be up soon.”

When Jiang Zhe reached the parking lot, an elderly man got out of a car with an assistant steadying him.

“I’m not seventy or eighty years old, enough already,” he brushed off the assistant.

“Mr. Wu, I’m supposed to accompany you and take responsibility for your safety,” the young assistant said with a smile.

“What could possibly go wrong? Xiaozhe!”

Mr. Wu looked over at Jiang Zhe.

Jiang Zhe went forward: “Mr. Wu.”

“Why did you come down personally? Do you think I can’t walk by myself?” Mr. Wu reproached.

His mobility was somewhat impaired, but it had been better for a while, and he certainly didn’t need such attention.

Jiang Zhe made a show of assisting him: “Is it alright if I just show you my respect?”

“That’s more like it.” Mr. Wu pointed at the assistant, “You go do your thing. You don’t need to follow me.”

Seeing that Mr. Wu was in Jiang Zhe’s hands, the assistant nodded, “Then I’ll come back to pick you up later.”

Jiang Zhe walked with Mr. Wu towards the upstairs. Mr. Wu chuckled and said, “Young people should celebrate their birthdays. You always thought it was troublesome and refused to do so, not allowing us to attend. Birthdays are wonderful, full of warmth and friends gathering together.”

“That’s why we’re celebrating now, right?” Jiang Zhe spoke softly.

“Not just this time, you should celebrate every time!” Mr. Wu insisted, “If you don’t celebrate next time, I’ll stuff you into the birthday event. From now on, you don’t have to worry about the birthdays; as long as people come, that’s enough.”

“Okay,” Jiang Zhe agreed, with his eyebrows and eyes becoming livelier.

“Have you been practicing calligraphy recently?” Master Wu asked again.

Recalling that it had been a long time since he last thought about it, Jiang Zhe said, “Do you still like to drink Emei Xueya tea?”

“Don’t change the subject on me! I’m asking if you’ve been practicing your calligraphy! With your talent, if you truly neglect it, I’ll be cross with you.”

“I’ll practice when I’m free later.”

“So you haven’t practiced, have you?” Master Wu was indeed huffy, every strand of his grey hair and beard seeming to stand on end.

Raising his hands, though his expression was cold, Jiang Zhe spoke very sincerely, “Next time for sure!”

Master Wu didn’t know whether to be angry or to laugh, patting her shoulder as he followed her upstairs.

Upstairs, Chi Feng had just arrived not long ago, dressed in custom-made clothing, looking very spirited.

“Birthday star, happy birthday.” He handed a finely wrapped gift to Jiang Zhe, carrying himself with an easy grace.

“Thank you,” Jiang Zhe accepted and asked Xia Enci to put it away for her.

Chi Feng noticed the extraordinary air of the old man standing beside her but didn’t ask questions, merely nodding his head in greeting.

“Mr. Chi, please take a seat inside!” Song Xingyu ran over to greet the male guest.

“Sure,” Mr. Chi followed him in.

Seeing a new guest arrive, Li Yihua quickly shot a little video to show Ding Yuehua.

Of course, Ding Yuehua didn’t have time, and Ding Xuexue sat by for a while, waiting to see if there would be any surprises at Mrs. Qin’s birthday celebration that night. After a long wait with no excitement, she went over and flipped through Ding Yuehua’s phone again.

Seeing the video of Chi Feng sent by Li Yihua, Xuexue noted that he looked refined and handsome, but he didn’t seem like a student. She sneered, recalling how Jiang Zhe liked to make friends in high society, considering it rather unbecoming.

Indeed, just what you’d expect from a girl from a humble background—so early to be making friends recklessly.

It seemed only Jiang Zhe would do something like this.

“What is it?” Ding Yuehua asked.

“Nothing much, just Jiang Zhe inviting social friends to her birthday banquet,” she replied.

Upon hearing this, Ding Yuehua thought similarly to Xuexue, her face remaining unchanged as she tossed out a card, saying, “Having too many empty seats at a birthday banquet really isn’t a good look.”

“Yuehua, what have you and your daughter been whispering about all night? Mahjong!”

Hearing Mrs. Wang, the director’s wife, speak up, Ding Yuehua replied with a smile, “Just some trivial girl talk, we’re dropping it now, let’s focus on the game. I’ve called so many kongs already.”

From that point on, she stopped checking her phone, turned it to silent, and devoted herself wholeheartedly to the game.

…

Jiang Zhe accompanied Master Wu into the private room.

Jiang Yaowang and Song Ye were in conversation, both looking up and showing a hint of surprise upon seeing Master Wu.

“Xiaozhe, isn’t this…” Jiang Yaowang hesitated to name the person.

“Grandfather, this is Master Wu. Master Wu, this is my grandfather,” Jiang Zhe introduced them to each other.

Song Ye also took a deep breath. This Master Wu was a respected figure at the National Calligraphy Institute, known for his original styles and unique charm in his calligraphy that commanded admiration, as well as his profound studies of the calligraphy of the past.

Master Wu had secluded himself for some time due to his advanced age and a recent issue with his leg, firmly closing his doors to visitors.

It truly was unexpected to see him here.

“Master Wu, welcome!” Once Jiang Yaowang confirmed Master Wu’s identity, he seemed surprised by his presence.

Could this be the distinguished guest that Qin Jingchen had specifically invited for Jiang Zhe?