299— Meeting The Gao Family Members

When she saw the silhouettes of two people standing by the door, Pei Yueran's hand tightened in Li Chuanmo's hand where it was currently resting.

It was the only sign of her nervousness, and Li Chuanmo squeezed her hand back in comfort.

Qiao Mingran tried to wait calmly, but she couldn't maintain it for too long. In mere moments, she was walking towards them briskly, meeting them some metres away.

Resigned, Gao Zhipeng sighed and started after her.

"Madam, we're here." Pei Yueran greeted with a shallow smile, and Qiao Mingran nodded, her eyes luminous. Both of them stood looking at each other before Qiao Mingran spoke tentatively, "Can I...hug you?"

Too nervous to speak, Pei Yueran nodded.

A moment later, she was enfolded into Qiao Mingran's embrace. She wasn't a tall woman, infact, she was quite small, but Pei Yueran found herself thinking in that moment that her embrace was very warm.

It made her feel strangely at home, and she subconsciously relaxed.

Qiao Mingran let the tears fall freely as she said, "Yue'er, thank you."

Both of them understood though that she wasn't just thanking her for coming to the Capital, but for accepting to recognize her roots and ancestry. For acknowledging them as her family.

Pei Yueran nodded, her eyes slightly red.

Both of them hugged for long moments before separating, and Li Chuanmo who had stood to the side, went to reclaim his wife's hand immediately. He had been standing with Gao Zhipeng, but neither of them had spoken a word.

Now that she had been released, Gao Zhipeng stepped forward and awkwardly greeted her, "Yueran, how are you? Welcome home."

Pei Yueran's reaction to this so-called father she was meeting for the first time was placid at best. She nodded and said her thanks calmly before turning away.

Both parents turned to Li Chuanmo and greeted him, to which he nodded with a relaxed but alienated look.

Gao Zhipeng in particular kept sizing him up. Up close, the young man looked even more formidable. He hoped he was up to the task of making sure nothing untoward happened at the next day's event.

Now enthusiastic, Qiao Mingran busily walked forward as she spoke, "Let's all go into the house. I prepared a small family lunch to welcome you both and it will be served shortly, so you can just go to your rooms and freshen up."

Pei Yueran nodded and moved in tandem with Li Chuanmo, who strode into the house like he owned it.

Gao Zhipeng, who was left in the dust: "...."

Turning to see his son who just came out of the parking lot with Tong Zhian, he motioned to him.

Tong Zhian greeted him politely before taking the luggage into the house, while Gao Tinghua waited behind to speak to his father.

"So, he's quite stuck-up, isn't he?" He began, pointing in the direction of the house. Both of them had not spoken for over two weeks now, and he wanted to repair their estranged relationship a bit.

Pretending not to understand, Gao Tinghua asked, "Who?"

"Your new brother-in-law."

Gao Tinghua affected the most "surprised" expression he could muster, "Really?"

Before Gao Zhipeng could rejoice at finding an ally who agreed with him, he straightened his expression, "You didn't say that when you were praising the efficiency of the men he sent over the other day. Father, he has every right to be "stuck-up", he has the ability to back it up."

Gao Zhipeng almost choked. He just wanted to find a topic of conversation with his son, but his response made him feel stifled.

This was why they weren't close.

Ignoring him, Gao Tinghua went inside first.

Upstairs, Qiao Mingran was showing them their quarters. It was a suite of rooms on the third floor. It was designed like a miniature apartment, complete with its own living room, bedrooms, a kitchen, study, laundry room, and even a nursery.

The designer had also taken great care with the interior design. It was tastefully furnished and painted in warm, homey colors.

Pei Yueran was brought back from her state of appraisal by Qiao Mingran's tentative question, " What do you think?"

"It's really beautiful. The designers did a great job." Pei Yueran said sincerely.

Qiao Mingran's face blossomed into smiles, "I'm very glad."

"Mother spent a long time getting it ready, picking out the most modern furniture and the most elegant colors she could find." Gao Tinghua supplied by the side. He had just come into the mini complex and was standing behind Tong Zhian.

Pei Yueran nodded, "It was very thoughtful of you Madam, thank you."

Qiao Mingran's smile faltered for a moment, and although she quickly adjusted her features, Pei Yueran and Gao Tinghua, who were looking at her, noticed her countenance fall.

Pei Yueran sighed in her heart. She wasn't ready just yet.

Tong Zhian came out at the moment from the direction of the biggest bedroom, "I've dropped the bags in the closet for you, Eldest Miss, Chairman Li."

Li Chuanmo, who had not said anything since, leveled chilly eyes on Tong Zhian, as if asking, who's your Eldest Miss?

Ever quick on the uptake, Tong Zhian smoothly changed his words, "I mean, for the Young Madam. The closet is just adjacent to the door."

When Li Chuanmo directed his gaze elsewhere, Tong Zhian secretly wiped his sweat.

His evaluation didn't change— This man is so cool!!!!!!

Gao Tinghua was disgusted by the simpering expression on his P.A.'s face. When he said one word in the office, Tong Zhian could fire twenty words back to him. But now, just one look from Li Chuanmo, he had already started sweating.

Such a disappointment ah!

Qiao Mingran picked on Tong Zhian's earlier words and said, "Yue'er, I'll send someone up shortly to help you unpack, don't worry."

"There's no need Madam, we'll do it ourselves." Pei Yueran rejected her gently. It wasn't a big deal anyway.

Qiao Mingran deflated again. There was nothing she could help with. Her daughter was so self-sufficient that it hurt.

Then thinking of something, Qiao Mingran asked, "About the final guest list, would you like to go over it with me later this evening? We could make any necessary adjustments together."

*****

Little theatre:

S_J: (Righteously) Chairman Li, can you please tone down your aura a little? our favorite P.A. is about to faint from dehydration ah!

LCM: (Throws a cold, cold look her way)

S_J: (Lowers voice) On a second thought, don't mind me, continue. Our favorite P.A. needs to lose some water after all, he's too healthy, ha ha.

(Mutters under breath) No respect for this author whatsoever ah!