Chapter 252: Chapter 252: Birthday Banquet Face-Slapping (10) Chapter 252: Chapter 252: Birthday Banquet Face-Slapping (10) With that thought, he remembered the last time when Jiang Zhe wrote for Jiang Yunxuan at the Jiang family’s estate; at that time, it was said that what Jiang Zhe had obtained was Lan Jun’s calligraphy.

Back then, Qin Jingchen didn’t give it much thought.

However, it was obvious that if Jiang Zhe could only “obtain” Lan Jun’s calligraphy, it wouldn’t be enough to impress a titan of the industry like Wu Jiang.

Unless Jiang Zhe herself was…

Qin Jingchen cast a meaningful glance at Jiang Zhe.

Jiang Zhe looked back at him openly and honestly, as if not pondering over what he might be thinking at all.

Qin Jingchen chuckled, his fingers brushing gently over hers twice.

“Please take a seat,” Director Song invited Qin Jingchen to sit.

Qin Jingchen sat down beside Wu Jiang.

Only then did Jiang Zhe seize the opportunity to withdraw her hand.

This subtle movement caught Wu Jiang’s eye, and he snorted, “No wonder Xiaozhe hasn’t come to practice calligraphy with me for so long. It turns out to be because of you, kid.”

“Mr. Wu’s criticism is both right and wrong,” Qin Jingchen responded.

“Which part is right and which part is wrong? Could I ever be wrong?” Wu Jiang huffed, with the pained look of someone watching his own prized cabbage being ruined by a pig.

At the same time, he didn’t forget to glance at Jiang Yaowang, as if blaming him for not keeping an eye on the family’s “cabbage,” thus giving the “pig” an opportunity.

Fen Ye, He Zizhou, and others seated nearby couldn’t help but laugh. Even Qin Jingchen could have a moment of feeling thwarted?

The Qin Jingchen, whom everyone wanted to become a son-in-law riding a dragon, was a rarity today, becoming a pig that uproots cabbages.

With a magnetic and charming voice, Qin Jingchen said, “Mr. Wu, Xiaozhe hasn’t met with me for a long time either. Could I say it’s because she’s been thinking about going to you for calligraphy practice, so she hasn’t had much time to see me?”

Although Wu Jiang knew he was quibbling, he couldn’t help but smile, “So you also have moments when you feel down, kid!”

Qin Jingchen smiled.

“Mr. Wu, how come you have time to come here today?” Fen Ye asked curiously.

“And how come you have time?” Wu Jiang retorted.

“Shouldn’t I come to celebrate my sister-in-law’s birthday?” Fen Ye said boldly.

Wu Jiang followed up, “Then should I need to report to you when I come to celebrate the birthday of my proud student?”

“Reporting is too much to ask for. Since we’re so fated to meet here, I’ll definitely toast you a few more drinks later,” Fen Ye said with a laugh.

“Just don’t let your boys behind you have to carry you back later.”

With the two of them bantering back and forth, the somewhat solemn atmosphere eased up considerably.

Because there were too many guests and no more room to sit, Qin Hai and Qin He went to negotiate with the hotel. Instead of switching to a different private room, they simply booked the private rooms adjacent to theirs on the spot. By removing the screens between them and opening the main doors, the multiple rooms became separate zones yet still formed a cohesive whole, without losing any charm.

Some of the later arrivals were then accommodated in the newly opened private rooms.

In just a short while, La Xiu, Lou Ye, and others arrived.

Li Yihua was at the side, his fingers twitching again and again.

Even his usually composed face couldn’t help but turn a shade paler.

He hadn’t dared to secretly record any more videos since Qin Jingchen had arrived.

He also didn’t dare to keep reporting and instead sat on the side, catching his breath.

He didn’t know if Jiang Cheng and Ding Yuehua were aware of today’s gathering, but judging from their instructions, it seemed they did not know.

“Mr. Li, dinner is ready,” Xiao Meng called out to him.

“Very well, very well,” Li Yihua chose a corner spot to sit down and, seeing that Xiao Meng was still busy greeting others and hadn’t left, he said with utmost sincerity, “Miss Xiao, please convey my birthday wishes to Miss Jiang for me. She has been so busy all this time, I haven’t had the chance to express my most heartfelt congratulations.”

Xiao Meng nodded, “I will.”

Everyone was settled in their seats and about to begin the meal when a slender, elderly figure walked in.

No one noticed him.

Qin Jingchen caught a glimpse of him, “Mr. Fu?”

As he stood up, Jiang Zhe had already risen, “Mr. Fu, what brings you here?”

Fen Ye and the others promptly set down their chopsticks; it took them a moment to realize this was Fu Qifang, an academician from the National Aeronautics and Space Academy.

Now in his eighties, he could be regarded as one of the earliest aviation scholars since the founding of the Dragon Emperor Country. He had made numerous contributions to the nation and nurtured many talents.

Even in his advanced years, he was still steadfast in his position.

Even Qin Jingchen could only show him the utmost respect.

Fen Ye was surprised; from Qin Jingchen’s behavior, it was evident that this was not a guest he had invited.

Moreover, for Jiang Zhe’s birthday, if Qin Jingchen had invited Mr. Fu, it wouldn’t have been much of a surprise.

The conclusion was unavoidable: the person Mr. Fu knew must actually be Jiang Zhe.

“Mr. Fu!” Qin Jingchen also spoke more softly now.

Though Fu Qifang often appeared in textbooks and documentaries, in real life it was hard to associate him with his distinguished achievements.

So, it was only when those at Jiang Zhe’s table heard him addressed, that they remembered his identity.

Despite his age and frailty, Mr. Fu spoke with a witty humor: “I thought I’d come over and freeload a meal, but I didn’t expect to go to the wrong place and accidentally linger on the fourth floor for a while.”

“Mr. Fu, why didn’t you say earlier that you were coming? I could have gone to pick you up,” Jiang Zhe said, her voice very soft and full of respect.

“I reckoned I’d amble over,” Mr. Fu waved off the concern nonchalantly, “I ran a five-kilometer stretch this morning, who needs your help? Looking down on this old man, are you?”

Remembering that he still maintained his exercise routine, regularly running and swimming and never requiring an entourage, Jiang Zhe understood.

Fen Ye had already brought in a chair, “Mr. Fu, please take a seat!”

Hearing their conversation, it was even more certain that Mr. Fu knew Jiang Zhe.

Wu Jiang and the others all stood up and said, “Mr. Fu, please, have a seat!”

“No trouble, no trouble, everyone please sit,” Fu Qifang sat down.

“Mr. Fu, I heard that you do not drink alcohol but prefer tea, so let’s use this tea to toast to you,” Wu Jiang’s respect for him was no less than that of the others.

Fu Qifang laughed, “Well, that’s splendid. Everybody, take your seats, please.”

Qin Jingchen could see Jiang Yaowang’s astonishment, clearly, Mr. Fu had come for Jiang Zhe as well.

If that was the case, then Jiang Zhe’s connection with the Aeronautics and Space Academy…

Qin Jingchen looked at Jiang Zhe with probing curiosity as she quietly poured tea for Mr. Fu, her demeanor calm as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

He involuntarily recalled the incident on the ocean last time. They nearly suffered a colossal loss due to an anomaly in the space satellite.

It was a last-minute correction to the satellite’s malfunction that not only prevented any loss but also ensured a profitable return.

Although his own and Qin Qing’s repairs were indeed useful, they still fell short by a second or two when compared to the real correction.