Chapter 13: Eating for Free?
Those hypocritical smiles and flattering words now appeared utterly nauseating.
Compared to before, He Di seemed like a completely different person.
How could he switch so effortlessly between two faces?
“I was so naive, never seeing through this sinister villain’s true nature!” Jiang Zhaoyang inwardly lamented.
Liu Wen carefully divided the large, exquisitely decorated and tempting cake into delicate slices with a silver fork.
Upon seeing this, Zhu Jieyu immediately took a slice from Liu Wen’s hand.
Beaming, she handed it to He Di. “Little He, it’s rare you remember Xiao Wen’s birthday. This thoughtfulness is more precious than anything.”
“Come, don’t be shy. Have some cake and share in the joy.”
He Di accepted the cake.
“Thank you, Auntie, for your kind hospitality.”
“Wishing Xiao Wen many happy birthdays to come.”
He Di looked thoroughly pleased with himself.
After speaking, he deliberately shot a glance at Jiang Zhaoyang.
In his eyes flickered a subtle mix of provocation and pride.
Yet Zhu Jieyu ignored Jiang Zhaoyang completely.
Liu Huang sat nearby, pretending not to notice, engrossed in his newspaper, maintaining a delicate distance.
Seeing this, Liu Wen felt a pang of guilt.
It seemed Jiang Zhaoyang was being deliberately or unintentionally overlooked.
So she picked up a piece of cake and handed it over with a barely perceptible chill in her tone, “For you.”
Jiang Zhaoyang took the cake, forcing a faint smile, his heart a tangle of emotions.
Still, he strove to sound warm and sincere, “Xiao Wen, happy birthday! May every day be filled with sunshine and laughter.”
Zhu Jieyu, holding another exquisite slice, gently placed it before Liu Huang. “Old man, put down the paper.”
“Your daughter’s birthday — do you still have the leisure to read the news?”
“Come on! Have some cake!”
Liu Huang lifted his head; his reading glasses glinted faintly.
He glanced once at the newspaper, then at his wife. “It’s your daughter’s birthday; naturally, you and she take care of things.”
“What good would it do for this old man to interfere?”
“That would only cause chaos.”
“If I’m not reading the paper, would I be playing chess? And with whom?”
Zhu Jieyu curled her lips, displeasure flickering across her delicate features. “Are you freeloading?”
“A grown man freeloading and feeling justified?”
Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoyang felt like sitting on needles and pins.
Was this not a veiled insult directed at him?
He Di, seeing this, leisurely crossed his legs.
A knowing smile played on his lips.
Clearly, he had caught Zhu Jieyu’s underlying meaning.
He Di then smoothly continued, his words layered with double meaning: “Uncle Liu is no freeloader.”
“He is the pillar of this family, holding it up!”
“Auntie, you’ve misunderstood — Uncle Liu isn’t the one freeloading!”
Pausing deliberately, He Di’s gaze casually swept over Jiang Zhaoyang.
A sly smile curled at He Di’s lips, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
Jiang Zhaoyang’s expression abruptly darkened.
He cursed inwardly that this fellow was deliberately provoking him, relishing his discomfort.
Just as Jiang Zhaoyang was about to retort sharply and silence He Di to vent his frustration, He Di’s phone rang.
He answered, spoke briefly, then hung up.
But the phone rang again immediately.
He Di grumbled impatiently, “I’m busy.”
Yet the voice on the other end pierced the air clearly enough for everyone present to hear: “Son, County Chief Zhang is about to arrive.”
“As a junior, how can you not share a drink with him?”
“This is a rare opportunity!”
“Come back quickly!”
He Di seemed unconvinced.
He stubbornly replied, “No, Dad, I’m at Uncle Liu’s house. Today’s Xiao Wen’s birthday.”
“Xiao Wen?” He Di’s father, He Donglai, raised his voice in surprise, a hint of confusion in his tone.
“She’s Uncle Liu’s only daughter!”
Liu Huang was astonished.
Of course, he knew He Donglai, who served alongside him as deputy bureau chief—He Donglai at the Agricultural Bureau, he at the Forestry Bureau. They were colleagues but not close friends.
He had never imagined that He Donglai would be so familiar with County Chief Zhang Chaoshen.
Now, Springfeng County was firmly under Zhang Chaoshen’s control.
“Give me the phone?” he asked He Di.
Obediently, He Di handed over the phone.
Liu Huang took it and immediately said, “Director He, your son is indeed at my house.”
After hanging up, Liu Huang said to He Di, “You’d better go back quickly!”
“The county chief coming to your home—even if just for tea—is an honor.”
He Di smiled humbly.
Bowing slightly, he said, “In my heart, Uncle Liu’s place is more important.”
Liu Huang waved his hand dismissively. “That’s mistaken!”
“If you want to advance in your career, connections at the top are indispensable.”
“This chance to meet the county chief is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you.”
A faint, almost imperceptible smile tugged at He Di’s lips; inwardly, he was pleased.
This was exactly what He Di had planned.
During the conversation, he had quietly, almost unnoticed, activated the phone’s speaker.
He wanted everyone in the living room to hear the call clearly.
Though inwardly pleased, He Di feigned reluctance.
He whispered, “Since Uncle Liu says so, how could I disobey?”
Then, turning to Zhu Jieyu and Xiao Wen, he said, “Auntie, Xiao Wen, I must take my leave.”
“I’ll visit again when I have the chance.”
He ignored Jiang Zhaoyang completely as he rose.
With a hint of triumph, he headed to the door.
Only then did Jiang Zhaoyang realize that He Di was wearing his slippers.
After He Di hurried away, a subtle silence settled over the living room.
Zhu Jieyu left the dining table and leaned against the sofa, a faint, hard-to-detect cold smile at her lips.
She sneered sarcastically at Jiang Zhaoyang, “You didn’t really come to celebrate Xiao Wen’s birthday today, did you?”
“Because you completely forgot it was her birthday.”
Faced with Zhu Jieyu’s sharp barbs, Liu Huang waved his hand. “Xiao Jiang, don’t stoop to her level.”
“I guess your visit was mostly about your father’s affairs, wasn’t it?”
Jiang Zhaoyang explained, “Uncle Liu, it’s the weekend. I usually come to see Xiao Wen on weekends.”
His words made Liu Huang smile awkwardly, “Yes, yes.”
However, Zhu Jieyu clearly had no intention of letting the matter drop. She straightened up.