Chapter 314: Stay Out of the Business of Using a Tether on My Son

Ms. Nian and Mr. Ke have already returned from B City; Jiang Lai wants to treat them to a meal.

On the day she moved into the new home, the two gave her a house‑warming gift, which was the green plant she had been longing to buy.

At the beginning of the month, after returning from B City, they also brought her some flaky biscuits.

Whether it's the plant or the biscuits, they don't sound like valuable gifts, yet only such gifts are ones she feels safe accepting given her current status.

Ms. Nian has a seven‑orifice delicate heart.

The emphasis is on that remembrance.

To be mindful even of small matters is rather rare.

Jiang Lai pondered for several days which restaurant she could choose without slighting Ms. Nian and Mr. Ke; after all, the two are true dignitaries, yet she didn't want to exceed her own means, because that would make her appear pretentious before them.

She tried several restaurants, eating once at each; after going round and round, she still chose Mujiang Terrace.

No wonder the last time the senior mistress booked Mujiang Terrace.

The senior mistress selected it carefully; it's worth returning.

At noon, Ke Zhongyu was again teaching Jiang Lai to drive; she was becoming increasingly proficient at the second driving test.

The first test had already been passed; after Jiang Lai finishes the second test, Ke Zhongyu can schedule the third‑test material.

She parked the car and said to Ke Zhongyu, "I'm treating my uncle and aunt to dinner tonight; Ping'an is at the Medical Hall, and Aunt Mo is at Nanshan Villa this evening; when you go back you'll be able to have hot food."

Regarding Jiang Lai's treating his parents to a meal, Ke Zhongyu learned about it last night because their parents and sister flaunted it in front of him—not overtly, but by asking, "Tomorrow we'll dine with Jiang Lai; do you think this outfit suits me?"

Ms. Nian asked that.

His father asked that.

His sister also asked that.

In fact everyone has their own ideas, and they simply responded to him because he isn't part of this dinner.

The parents also said that with him present they feel uncomfortable saying anything.

Ke Zhongyu knows their parents have some words they want to tell Jiang Lai; they never prevented him from pursuing her, but Ke Zhongyu still added, "Jiang Lai respects elders; try not to say anything that puts her in an awkward position."

This prompted Ke Zhongyu's father to retort, "Do you think we'll lavish you with endless praise, or force Jiang Lai to be with you?"

"If I can't win a wife, I consider you useless."

Ke Zhongyu sat in the car, thinking of his father's words to the point of being speechless.

Ke Zhongyu is indeed biological.

Jiang Lai noticed him zoning out, uttered a "Hmm?" and Ke Zhongyu snapped back, replying "Hmm."

After seeing Jiang Lai off into the underground lab, Ke Zhongyu returned to the office and scheduled overtime for himself.

Secretary Cen and Secretary Guan are not needed.

The two whispered messages in the group chat.

Secretary Guan: "It seems Director Ke has an overtime habit."

Secretary Cen: "The Ke Clan belongs to them; they earn for themselves, so overtime is deserved."

Secretary Guan: "It could also be that Zhou Zhou isn't around; they lost a helper and have to do it themselves."

Secretary Guan: "Where did Zhou Zhou go this time? So secretive, no one says."

Zhou Zhou: "I'll tell you later."

Secretary Cen: "Tsk."

Zhou Zhou: "Last time I saw Secretary Cen and Zhong Lü eating at a restaurant, was there something?"

Secretary Cen retorted: "That time was business."

Assistant Zhou: "I see."

There was also a sweet, cheerful smile; even through the screen, Secretary Cen could feel Assistant Zhou's fox‑like grin right before his eyes.

When Jiang Lai saw the group messages it was 6:30 pm; the group name "The Ke family is being reckless again today" popped up, and she couldn't help but smile.

A colleague happened to glance and teased, "Dr. Jiang, you're in a good mood lately—are you dating?"

Jiang Lai gave a slight shake of her head.

"So you're on the road to dating?"

This time Jiang Lai didn't shake her head; the colleague laughed and said, "See you tomorrow."

She lowered her gaze, felt her cheeks warm slightly, and opened the group messages.

Overtime?

Angry?

Jiang Lai was a little unsure and called Aunt Mo.

"Aunt Mo, did Ke Zhongyu say he's coming home for dinner tonight?"

"The Young Master hasn't sent me any message."

Jiang Lai paused, then said, "Aunt Mo, please prepare a good dinner and deliver it to his company; he seems to need overtime."

"Alright!" Aunt Mo's voice suddenly became very excited, swearing, "Miss Jiang, rest assured! I'll make sure the Young Master eats his dinner properly, then report back to you!"

The phone clicked off; Jiang Lai felt a bit helpless, and a little amused.

Mujiang Terrace.

Jiang Lai arrived first; Ke Zhongying told her there were five minutes left, she called the waiter, and the dishes could be prepared.

After five minutes, a sound came from the entrance; Jiang Lai stood up.

"Uncle, aunt, please sit."

Ms. Nian dressed up specially, looking formal and exquisite; Ke Fu was in a full suit, and the suit gave him an inherent aura of authority.

His aura was much like Ke Zhongyu's.

But Ke Fu was more seasoned and steady, with a cultivated elegance refined by years.

Thinking of the word "refined and elegant", Jiang Lai couldn't help but think of that Mr. Gu, who, even as the father of Gu Zhiyan and Gu Yinxue, gave her a feeling of closeness as an elder.

"Jiang Lai sister." Ke Zhongying sat beside Jiang Lai, "It's great that my brother isn't here today; otherwise, if I sat here, he'd glare at me twice."

Ms. Nian chuckled and spoke first: "Around New Year's I'm not in A City, so I could only have someone send you some greenery; do you still like it?"

"I really like it." Whenever Jiang Lai looked at Ms. Nian, her eyes would shine brightly, perhaps because Ms. Nian resembled her ideal mother, which is probably many people's ideal mother.

"The pastries are also delicious, thank you uncle and aunt for thinking of us."

Ms. Nian: "Knowing you like spicy food, when buying gifts I worried you might not like the pastries, so I didn't buy many."

Jiang Lai: "I like it."

Being looked at by Jiang Lai with her clear, bright eyes, Ms. Nian's heart would soften like the fresh-out-of-the-oven cotton candy she could only eat when she was young.

Ms. Nian couldn't help but laugh and said, "I actually kind of want to adopt you as my goddaughter."

Ke Zhongying: "Great, great!"

Ke Fu lightly coughed and, in an offhand way, stopped the mother and daughter: "Let's not bother with the tripping scheme."

With that son's temperament, he could really stay silent and still cause an uproar at home.

Jiang Lai froze for a moment.

She knew what everyone's words meant.

However, in the following time, nobody mentioned Ke Zhongyu; they naturally ate and chatted.

From national technological development to tomorrow's temperature drop, needing to wear more, Ke Zhongying would occasionally interject with jokes, and Jiang Lai ate this meal without any restraint.

After finishing, everyone left the private room, and Ms. Nian asked Jiang Lai, "Are you going back to G Province for New Year's Eve?"

Jiang Lai nodded: "Yes."

Ms. Nian: "The day before you go back, let me know and I'll prepare some food for Director Tang and your younger siblings; thanks for sharing those local specialties with us last time."

Jiang Lai felt a bit embarrassed; that specialty was meant for Chongying, but I didn't expect Chongying to bring it home, and Ms. Nian and her family didn't dislike it.

"Oh right, let's exchange contact info; don't worry, it has nothing to do with my son—I'm me, and my son is my son." After Jiang Lai took out her phone, Ms. Nian handed over her QR code.

Ke Zhongying originally wanted to stay and go back with Jiang Lai, but her father forcibly called her away.

"Jiang Lai sister, bye-bye!"

Jiang Lai watched them leave; it was just such an ordinary evening, but after having a meal with the Nian family, Jiang Lai's heart, which had already been shaken by Ke Zhongyu's flirtation, shook even more at this moment.