Where’s My Gift?

Although she knew asking was a bit rude, Tang Mianmian couldn't help but voice her concern. With so many people in his family, she felt overwhelmed. "Am I supposed to bring gifts for everyone?"

"We're a large family. Didn't you know?" Long Yejue replied matter-of-factly, with a hint of displeasure in his tone.

Tang Mianmian felt aggrieved. How would I know?

She had only done some basic research on the man himself, and that alone had left her in awe. She hadn't had the time—or courage—to delve into his family. Knowing him was already overwhelming. To understand his whole family? That would take at least six months!

"For now, just worry about gifts for my parents and grandfather," Long Yejue concluded decisively.

This instantly eased the mountain of pressure on Tang Mianmian. Choosing gifts for three people was far more manageable than for fifty-nine.

For his grandfather, maybe tea? Elderly folks usually enjoy health-conscious items.

For his father, probably in his fifties, calligraphy supplies like ink and brushes might be suitable.

And for his mother, some skincare products should do.

With a plan in mind, she smiled. "Let's go to a nearby mall."

Long Yejue's dark eyes briefly deepened, captivated by her bright smile.

The mall was bustling with people. Naturally, Long Yejue had no intention of going inside. Tang Mianmian hadn't expected him to, either. She couldn't picture someone as aloof as him shopping for gifts—it was too absurd a thought.

After much deliberation in the store, she finally made her selections and exited with her purchases, feeling slightly relieved. Long Yejue glanced down at the three bags in her hands and asked, "Where's mine?"

"What?" Tang Mianmian blinked, not immediately catching his meaning.

"My gift," Long Yejue clarified, lips pressed into a thin line.

"…"

What was he talking about?

"Am I not part of my own family?" he asked, his low voice tinged with suppressed irritation.

Tang Mianmian was utterly thrown. Was he… asking for a gift?

"Y-your gift?" She quickly scrambled for an excuse. "I'll get it next time. When I have money, I'll buy you something proper. That'll make it a real gift."

Her clumsy reasoning seemed to amuse him. His previously furrowed brow smoothed out as he took the bags from her hands and placed them in the car. "Let's go."

Seeing that he didn't press the issue further, Tang Mianmian sighed with relief and got into the car. They headed toward the Long family estate in the southern part of the city.

Long Yejue had notified his family ahead of time that he was bringing someone home. His mother, Zhu Wenyi, had assumed it was his girlfriend, and word quickly spread. By the time they arrived, most of the family had gathered.

The Long family was a sprawling household. Long Yejue's grandfather had four sons, each managing a segment of the Long family's extensive business empire. While Long Yejue had established his own brand, the other branches remained heavily reliant on the family's primary holdings.

As the eldest son and future patriarch, Long Yejue commanded significant respect within the family. His decision to bring someone home naturally drew everyone's attention.

The household staff bustled about, preparing a lavish lunch as they awaited the couple's arrival.

When Tang Mianmian first saw the estate, she was stunned. The palatial residence loomed before her, leaving her tongue-tied. "Th-this is your home?"

Long Yejue handed her the bags she had purchased. "Here."

"Uh… it's a bit big," she mumbled, still in awe of the grandeur. Why do I have to carry these?

Watching him stride ahead leisurely, she could only grit her teeth and follow with the bags in hand.

At the entrance, a line of maids in matching uniforms greeted them with synchronized bows. "Welcome home, Young Master."

Tang Mianmian's mouth twitched uncontrollably at the scene. Is this what capitalism looks like?

She trailed behind him, her nerves growing with each step. While she had initially been confident about her gifts, the sheer opulence of the surroundings made her doubt herself. How could they possibly value what I've brought?

"Yejue's back!" Zhu Wenyi was the first to spot them, her face lighting up with excitement.

The crowd turned their attention toward them. Long Yejue nodded faintly, offering a minimal greeting.

Tang Mianmian, on the other hand, felt like shrinking into herself. She had never faced such a scene before. Her head dipped lower and lower, almost to her chest. Someone save me, please!

"Everyone, this is Tang Mianmian." Long Yejue introduced her with a calm tone. "This is my mother, my father, and my grandfather."

Tang Mianmian immediately straightened, bowing quickly. "Hello, Auntie. Hello, Uncle. Hello, Grandpa."

She nodded so quickly and repeatedly it resembled a chicken pecking at rice—an endearing and comical sight.

Zhu Wenyi felt that the girlfriend her son brought home looked somewhat familiar. She tilted her head slightly, scrutinizing the young woman more carefully. 

Tang Mianmian raised her head just as she was about to present her gift. However, upon clearly seeing Long Yejue's mother, she froze. 

Isn't this the middle-aged woman who was with Yan Youlan the other day? 

How could she possibly be Long Yejue's mother?! 

Sure enough, Zhu Wenyi recognized Tang Mianmian as well. Her eyes widened, and she said with an obvious tone of displeasure, "Why is it you?" 

Long Yejue's brow arched slightly. He glanced at Tang Mianmian, who had lowered her head, and asked, "You two know each other?" 

Tang Mianmian shook her head, but then, realizing it wasn't right, nodded quickly. 

Zhu Wenyi's expression changed. She cast a cold glance at Tang Mianmian and said to Long Yejue, "Come with me for a moment." 

Though Long Yejue knew his mother wouldn't like Mianmian, he still followed her, leaving Tang Mianmian behind… to endure what felt like torture. 

Torture was exactly what it felt like! 

She could feel the sharp and judgmental gazes directed at her. 

Who was it that told her not to be nervous before coming here? 

How could she not be nervous under such scrutiny? 

Whispers surrounded her, faint but loud enough to reach her ears. 

"So this is the eldest young master's girlfriend? I don't recognize her. Which prominent family is she from?" 

"No idea. I don't know her either. Does Jiangcheng's high society even have such a person?" 

"No, I've never seen her." 

"Then how did she become the eldest young master's girlfriend? The main branch of the family should at least choose someone from a similarly prestigious background." 

"Who knows? Maybe she has some other connections." 

"Still, don't you think she looks a little like that other woman?" 

"Yeah, now that you mention it, she does. No wonder the eldest young master picked her." 

"..." 

The more Tang Mianmian listened, the more uneasy she felt. 

These people seemed to treat her presence as a joke. 

How could Long Yejue leave her alone in this den of wolves and tigers? 

Her hands fidgeted nervously with the gift bag, and she dared not let her gaze wander. 

If there were a hole in the ground before her, she would have dived into it without hesitation! 

Long Zhenfei was the first to speak. Though well past his prime, he still radiated vigor and authority. His tone was serious as he asked, "What is your name?" 

"Tang Mianmian…" she answered uneasily. 

Long Zhenfei nodded slightly, lowering his gaze to the items in her hands. "What's that?" 

"Oh, these are gifts I picked for Grandpa and Uncle," Tang Mianmian quickly explained, nervously handing the items over. 

She knew these inexpensive gifts would likely be despised, but she still mustered the courage to present them. 

Long Zhenfei glanced at the gifts. Before he could say anything, the butler stepped forward to take the bag. However, Long Zhenfei raised his hand to stop him, taking the gifts himself. After inspecting them, he smiled and said, "Tea leaves. Very thoughtful. I happen to like tea." 

"That's great! As long as you like it." Tang Mianmian scratched the back of her head bashfully. "And this is a set of writing supplies for Uncle. I wasn't sure what he liked, so I chose something my dad likes." 

Long Fengteng raised his eyebrows in surprise. Though his expression remained stern, he still said, "I like calligraphy. Thank you for the gift." 

"You're welcome." 

Hearing that they liked the gifts, Tang Mianmian breathed a sigh of relief. "In the other bag, there are some health products. I'm not sure if Auntie will like them…" 

"I don't like them!" Zhu Wenyi interjected abruptly. 

Behind her, Long Yejue's brow furrowed slightly, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes. 

The smile that had just appeared on Tang Mianmian's face vanished. She stood there awkwardly, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. 

She had known that Long Yejue's mother didn't like her! 

After all, their first encounter with Yan Youlan had left a terrible impression. 

But how was she supposed to know at the time that Zhu Wenyi was Long Yejue's mother? 

This wasn't her fault… 

Long Yejue strode over and, under everyone's astonished gaze, placed his arm around Tang Mianmian's shoulders. He looked at his mother with a hint of defiance and said, "Mom, Mianmian chose these gifts with care. Even if you don't like them, you shouldn't say so." 

Zhu Wenyi, who had never been contradicted by her son, stood frozen in shock, momentarily unable to react. 

The other branches of the family watched the scene unfold, suppressing their laughter due to the patriarch's presence. 

They would have loved to see the mother and son fall out—it would have been an entertaining spectacle! 

Flustered by her son's rebuttal, Zhu Wenyi's face turned alternately pale and flushed. "So, you don't care about my opinion anymore? Fine, I'll leave." 

With that, she stormed off, her expression sour. 

Long Fengteng's brow furrowed as he glanced at his father's face. 

The patriarch, Long Zhenfei, looked visibly displeased. His tone turned stern. "She's a guest. What's with the tantrum?" 

"Dad, I'll go talk to her," Long Fengteng said quickly, fearing his father's anger. 

Long Zhenfei snorted coldly, signaling his approval. "She has no dignity as the matriarch. What a disgrace!" 

Long Fengteng left with a somber expression. 

The atmosphere in the hall grew increasingly tense. 

Long Zhenfei addressed Tang Mianmian, "This is your first time here. Don't be so nervous. Just relax. Yejue, take her to sit down." 

Long Yejue led her to a seat. 

The grand hall was spacious, with several tables arranged throughout. 

Since Long Zhenfei always dined with the main branch, Tang Mianmian naturally sat at the same table. 

She felt incredibly anxious, still unsettled by Zhu Wenyi's obvious displeasure. 

Her hands, resting on her lap, twisted nervously. 

Long Yejue glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. Seeing her stiffness, he finally reached out casually, his large hand enveloping hers. 

It was warm and reassuring, calming her chaotic thoughts. 

She looked at him gratefully, but he didn't even glance her way, his expression cold and indifferent. 

His tightly pressed lips were intimidating. 

It was clear he wasn't in a good mood. 

Tang Mianmian found it strange. Even when he didn't speak, she could tell his emotions just by looking at him. 

It felt like they had known each other for a long time. 

But they had only met less than a week ago…