Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
At the dining table, Guan Li sat with Guan Yao and Guan Su Lin on his left. One was the eldest son of his deceased legitimate wife, while the other was the only son of a beloved concubine who had passed away. In Guan Li's heart, both held equal weight, yet it was clear that he could never treat them equally. As the son of the sixth concubine, Guan Su Lin could not stand on the same level as the eldest son of his first wife; it was evident who received more favor.
Zheng Mengni sat beside Guan Su Lin, close enough to see the deep lines etched on Guan Li's weathered face and the murky eyes that had lost their luster due to illness. Despite this, a hidden sharpness lingered in his brow, a calculating demeanor that would not fade even in death.
Next to Guan Yao were the Guan Qingmo siblings and Tan Yan. At the round table, Tan Yan happened to sit directly across from Zheng Mengni—an elegant figure, refined and ethereal.
During the meal, Zheng Mengni distinctly felt two gazes directed at her from her left front and directly in front of her. The former belonged to a younger relative who had just scolded Guan Su Lin for wasting food, while the latter was the inscrutable gaze of Guan Li.
As Guan Su Lin responded to Guan Li's inquiries about domestic business, he occasionally paused to serve Zheng Mengni dishes with his chopsticks, concerned that she might feel shy in this unfamiliar environment and refrain from eating.
Having shared meals with Zheng Mengni multiple times, Guan Su Lin had taken note of her preferences and dietary restrictions, serving her dishes he knew she would enjoy—light, healthy, and non-spicy.
Meanwhile, with ulterior motives, Guan Qingmo deliberately followed suit after Guan Su Lin served food, hoping to draw Aunt's attention. As soon as Guan Su Lin finished serving one dish, he too reached for it. However, none of it was to his liking; after taking some, he tossed it into Tan Yan's bowl as if discarding trash.
"Blind man—can't see anything," he thought smugly. "This is just me being considerate." Who would dare speak up? Who would dare lecture him?
"Guan Qingmo," Guan Yao quickly interjected. He couldn't bear to see his son act so rudely in front of so many people. It might be acceptable during family meals at home, but this was a public gathering—it felt like a slap in the face and made him look like a poor parent.
Guan Qingmo feigned innocence. "What’s wrong, Dad? I’m just serving food to Tan Laoshi; he can’t see anyway. I always serve him."
Guan Yao found himself at a loss for words; scolding him seemed impossible, but ignoring it was equally difficult. Turning his head, he noticed Tan Yan quietly eating from a mountain of food piled in his bowl, his focused demeanor making it hard to interrupt.
Guan Su Lin put down his chopsticks with a smile in his eyes. "It’s been quite some time since we last met; A Mo has become much more sensible than before. Could it be that he has gained a good mentor?"
"Let me introduce myself," Guan Yao said. "This is Tan Yan, the benefactor of Guan Miao and also the tutor for her and Qing Mo. His teaching skills are quite impressive, and both children have shown significant improvement in their grades recently."
Guan Su Lin poured himself a drink and stood up, his face beaming with joy. "So it's Tan Laoshi! My apologies for not recognizing you sooner. Since you are a benefactor to Guan Miao, you are naturally a benefactor to the Guan Family as well."
He downed his drink in one go and set the cup down, taking Zheng Mengni's hand in his.
"Come, Zheng Zheng, greet Tan Laoshi."
Zheng Mengni obediently stood up and walked over to Tan Yan alongside Guan Su Lin. Holding her cup, she spoke softly, "Hello, Tan Laoshi."
As she drew closer, Guan Qingmo found himself entranced by Zheng Mengni's delicate features, forgetting even the rhythm of his own breathing. Having only had a couple of drinks, he felt a pleasant haze enveloping his mind.
Noticing that Tan Yan remained still, Guan Qingmo grew more anxious than the person involved. He quickly thrust the cup into Tan Yan's hands. "We're toasting you; hold it steady."
Tan Yan quietly accepted the cup as Zheng Mengni reached out slowly towards him. It seemed as though he was unable to steady the glass, letting it slip slightly.
In that brief moment when their cups lightly touched, Tan Yan's glass appeared to be lower than hers once again. To onlookers, it might seem like Tan Yan simply couldn't hold his drink properly, but Zheng Mengni sensed something deeper—it felt like a habit of his.
But how could this be his habit?
With Tan Yan's background standing tall behind him, the Tan Family wielded immense power in the city. He had been the center of attention among the elite since childhood, effortlessly navigating high society. He should have been accustomed to receiving toasts from influential figures instead.
Comment 0 Comment Count