Chapter 126: 123. The Invitation (Bonus chapter for Alliance Leader 'Still Playing')

After touring the house, the group prepared to sit in the courtyard for a while, chatting and drinking tea. There weren't many people, but it felt relaxed; it didn't look at all like they were there to celebrate a housewarming, but rather like friends and family hanging out casually.

Zhang Siyan and Qian Li were also chatting, but Qian Li soon noticed someone.

"Siyan, is that Assistant Zhao?" Qian Li suddenly asked.

Zhang Siyan looked in the direction of her finger and discovered it really was Zhao Jingyu, who seemed to be looking for something while carrying a flower basket.

Zhang Siyan and Qian Li hurried over, wanting to see if there was anything they could help with. After all, Zhao Jingyu had helped them a lot within the company; without Zhao Jingyu's full support, it would have been impossible for them to advance their careers so smoothly.

"Assistant Zhao," Zhang Siyan said, stepping forward to greet her.

"Miss Zhang." Seeing Zhang Siyan, Zhao Jingyu's eyes lit up; she had finally found her.

"Assistant Zhao, are you planning to visit a client? Does the company have a big client living in this neighborhood too?" Qian Li asked curiously.

Zhao Jingyu said with a smile, "This is our President Huo wishing Mr. Zhang Sicheng a happy housewarming. This is just a small token of her regard."

Once Zhao Jingyu said this, Zhang Siyan and Qian Li were both stunned. A housewarming gift from Huo Zhiyuan to Zhang Sicheng?

How did Huo Zhiyuan know Zhang Sicheng?

And why send Zhang Sicheng a gift?

Could it be because of her?

Countless thoughts flashed through Zhang Siyan's mind, but before she could ask, Qian Li asked for her: "Assistant Zhao, how did President Huo know about my big brother's housewarming? And she even sent a gift—does President Huo know my big brother?"

Facing her question, Zhao Jingyu just smiled and said nothing.

"Big Brother, this is Assistant Zhao Jingyu from our company." Although Zhang Siyan had doubts in her heart, she still hurriedly brought Zhao Jingyu to find Zhang Sicheng.

Zhang Sicheng was a bit confused; he didn't know this person, but he still said with a smile, "Hello, Assistant Zhao."

After shaking hands with Zhang Sicheng, Zhao Jingyu said, "This is a gift from our President Huo for Mr. Zhang, wishing Mr. Zhang a happy housewarming."

Zhang Sicheng was even more stunned, but Zhao Jingyu didn't wait for him to recover; she nodded in one direction to signal, and then left.

She had figured it out now: once she got involved in the Zhang Family's affairs, she only needed to honestly complete the tasks Huo Zhiyuan assigned, and there was no need to think about anything else.

Just like this time, coming to deliver a gift meant delivering a gift, without a single extra word.

Zhang Sicheng and Zhang Siyan followed Zhao Jingyu's gaze and discovered it was the direction where Zhang Ran and Qian Zhengkun were; at that moment, both of them were looking this way.

Whether it was because Qian Zhengkun was too polite, seeing Zhao Jingyu nod in his direction, he gave a friendly nod in response regardless of whether he knew her or not.

This gave Zhang Siyan and the others the impression that perhaps Huo Zhiyuan sent the gift because of Qian Zhengkun?

After all, Qian Zhengkun was a university professor, and the research-oriented type at that, which made him worth befriending; the key was that Qian Zhengkun also had significant connections in academic circles.

However, before they could think too much, Zhao Jingyu soon left.

Zhang Ran didn't pay much attention to this side and continued chatting with Qian Zhengkun, though there seemed to be an unusual number of things happening today.

"Is Zhang Ran here?" Suddenly, a delivery courier stood outside the courtyard and shouted.

"Over here," Liu Lu said, hurrying forward after hearing him.

"This is a delivery for Zhang Ran, please sign for it."

"Alright."

After signing for the delivery, Liu Lu handed it to Zhang Ran. Zhang Ran was a bit puzzled; who would send him a delivery? He hadn't bought anything online.

When he opened it and saw it was an invitation, Zhang Ran suddenly smiled after reading the contents.

Zhang Ran then passed the invitation back, and He Yong immediately took it and tucked it into his jacket.

Even in Zhang Ran's home, He Yong appeared to walk around casually, but he never exceeded a distance of five meters from Zhang Ran; this was a habit formed over many years, one that hadn't been worn away even after twenty-eight years.

"Grandpa, Grandpa, when are we eating? Little sister Susu is hungry." Zhang Xiaotao pulled Susu along, dove headfirst into Zhang Ran's arms, and then looked up to ask.

Zhang Ran held the two little ones, his face suddenly full of smiles. "Is it only little sister Susu who is hungry? Are you not hungry?"

"I'm hungry too, but I can still endure it, but I can't let little sister Susu go hungry," Zhang Xiaotao said solemnly.

"Hahaha, alright, Taotao is worthy of being the big brother. Let's go, we're going to eat now." Zhang Ran laughed and picked up the two little ones, placing one on each shoulder.

Watching Zhang Ran like this, Qian Zhengkun suddenly felt very envious and even a little jealous. Not only him, but Feng Meili, who had been not far away, was also watching with envy.

They looked at Qian Li in unison, and Qian Li noticed their gazes, shuddered, and hurriedly moved away from them.

Zhang Ran didn't eat lunch in the new house, but instead booked a nice restaurant.

"Xiao Qing, this renovation is excellent, thank you." After a round of drinks, Zhang Ran said to Ning Qing with a smile.

Ning Qing hurriedly said, "Uncle Zhang, you are too kind. This is what I should do; as long as you and Brother Sicheng are satisfied, that's enough."

Don't look at how much money this renovation cost; Ning Qing knew he hadn't really made any money.

However, the longer he followed Zhang Ran, the more Ning Qing felt it was worth it.

"Brother Zhang, I am truly envious of you. You can enjoy your grandchildren now, unlike us two old folks, lonely and miserable, looking at other people's children with envy every day," Qian Zhengkun sighed pretentiously. Although he was speaking to Zhang Ran, his gaze was fixed on Qian Li.

Qian Zhengkun was naturally a rather indifferent person, and although he hadn't spent much time with Zhang Ran, they got along very well.

Moreover, he greatly admired Zhang Ran's conduct; there was truly no factor of money involved here, and Qian Zhengkun took money very lightly.

So now, Qian Zhengkun spoke to Zhang Ran as casually as he would to an old friend.

Qian Li felt her scalp tingle from her father's gaze, and she sighed inwardly: Here we go again!

This had happened many times recently, and it was always like this, making her want to stay far away from both of them now.

Zhang Ran smiled and said, "If Qian Li is willing, I can help keep an eye out for suitable candidates."

Qian Zhengkun immediately said, "Then thank you, Brother Zhang. I've realized that if I rely on this girl Qian Li to find a boyfriend herself, she never will. Come, let me toast you."

"What kind of boyfriend does Xiao Li want to find? I know quite a few good people, all of whom can be considered successful professionals," Ning Qing said with a smile.

Before Qian Li could speak, Qian Zhengkun spoke up from the side, "Whether they are successful or not doesn't matter, as long as they can be good to Xiao Li. And it's best if they aren't 'successful professionals'; I want the type who is family-oriented. Otherwise, with her temperament, the two of them would probably argue all the time."

"Dad, are you in such a hurry to marry me off?" Qian Li said helplessly.

Qian Zhengkun glared at her and said, "In a hurry? Don't you have any idea how old you are?"

Qian Li pouted and then stopped talking.

PS: There's more tonight!