Other than Ran Ran, the most shocked were the two boys. They were waiting for Ji Ziming’s answer, but they did not get anything in the end.

  After having dinner, the man headed upstairs with Pei Ge, while Qu Xiujie and Madam Ji chatted in the living room. The atmosphere was very good initially, for she was putting on her mask, while he was watching TV. However, suddenly, there was a ruckus in the quiet living room.

  “Get up; this is my original seat.”


  “Why should I get up? I’m not a screw.”


  “You! I don’t care! Hurry and stand up!”


  “Why should I stand up? Is your name written on the sofa?”


  “Old bloke, why are you so brazen even when you’re in someone else’s house?! Don’t you believe that I can pull you to the road now? It’s none of our matter whether you’re dead or alive!”


  “Old woman, how ruthless you are!”
……

  Both elders’ bickering reached the ears of the two younger people in the room, who were busy thinking of how they should decorate the house for the family gathering tomorrow.

  “Mom, what are the both of you quarreling about again?”


  Ji Ziming’s face was cold, his brows furrowed.

  “Uncle, stop quarreling.”


  Pei Ge was the first to head downstairs, and she ran to her uncle’s side. Seeing his angsty look, she chided softly, “Didn’t you promise me that you wouldn’t quarrel with mom? What are you doing now?”


  She sounded disappointed over her uncle breaking his promise and intended to have a good talk with him tonight.

  “Ge Ge, it really isn’t your uncle’s fault; your mother-in-law is just being too unreasonable.”


  Upon seeing his niece coming over, the middle-aged man’s earlier brazen look disappeared. In its place was a vulnerable and bullied look.

  “What are you talking about, old bloke? Do you dare to say what you’ve just said again?”


  Madam Ji had calmed down when she saw the couple coming down the stairs, but when she heard Qu Xiujie saying that, her temper flared up once more.

  “I’m going to kick you out of the house tonight!”


  She grew agitated the more she spoke. Walking past her son, she headed straight toward her daughter-in-law’s uncle. Pulling his collar, she moved to drag the fella out but was held on steadfastly by him. In the end, she fell onto the sofa, and because of the force, the sofa even sank.

  “Very well, old bloke; you dared to touch me?!”


  She initially only intended to make a show of it. As long as this fella was willing to give her an out, she would not mind it; after all, he was Pei Ge’s uncle, yet she did not expect that he could not be reasoned with and would even dare to push her.

  “Sorry—I really know that it’s my fault this time!”


  Who knew that the other would suddenly sit by her feet, acting like a child who had committed a mistake?

  She was taken aback.

  “You’re?”


  She looked suspiciously at the man. This display was slightly too grave.

  “Please be merciful. I don’t wanna be kicked out of here by you. No matter what you ask me to do next time, I promise to listen properly and not to snatch your face masks again; plus, if you ask me to head east, I’ll head east and never go west.”


  Qu Xiujie looked gentle; he said nothing else other than that it was his fault and pleaded for leniency from her.

  “Alright, alright. Seeing that you’re so obedient, I won’t kick you out anymore.”


  Madam Ji would naturally not continue arguing after he gave her some face and let the fellow head back to his room upstairs, leaving the couple and her in the living room.

  “Mom, I have something to discuss with you.”


  Upon hearing the middle-aged man open his bedroom door and close it, Ji Ziming sat beside his mother.

  “What?”


  She was still hung up on that old fellow apologizing to her repeatedly, so she was unable to focus on what the couple was trying to tell her. However, looking at their serious expression, she had a feeling.

  “I want to organize a family gathering here at home.”


  “A family gathering?”


  She quickly sat up, knowing that her son was not holding good intentions.

  “Don’t be anxious. I merely want to gather some of my business friends. Pei Ge’s company has suffered a big blow recently from the leakage of confidential data, so I want to make use of this chance to get new sources of support for the company. You’re also aware that I usually don’t care about having a family gathering except when I have a purpose for it.”


  The man tried to persuade his mother, but she unfortunately remained in disagreement with it.

  “I don’t agree. It’s fine to get new partners for Pei Ge’s company, but why must you use the family gathering as an excuse? How about this: If you invite members of the Qu family, I will agree to your request.”


  He had his motive for doing things, and it was the same case for her.

  If Qu Xiujie was not settled, he would become her source of pain in the family. She could not say anything, but if Old Lady Qu and Old Master Qu were there, it would be different.

  “Must you invite them over?”


  That family would certainly not give up on the chance of gaining their support during the family gathering. This was what he did not wish to see; furthermore, Qu Xiujie was still in their family. He could use that middle-aged man as a bait to attract the Qus into attending the gathering with full confidence.

  He did not have to use a bait in doing things.

  “Yes, you kicked Jingwan out and I didn’t even say anything. What now? You won’t even let them come?”


  Madam Ji thought of that lady. The moment she got back, Auntie Zhang told her what that missy had done at home while she was not around. Everyone in the family, even the housekeeper and the gardener in the backyard would not listen to her orders.

  She merely thought that the lady was too bored at home, so she created all those troubles; still, she could not help but disdain the latter for it, too.

  That lady seemed to be much worse than Pei Ge.

  “Do you want to meet Qu Jingwan? If that’s the case, you need not invite that family.”