Chapter 591 Then Our Family Won’t Keep You

Chapter 591 Then we won’t keep you any longer

The last time Jiang Yu met Tan Lizhu, they had an argument, leaving a bad impression of each other.

This time, after chatting for a while, Jiang Yu learned that Tan Lizhu worked at the *Party Newspaper* as a journalist.

She was poised and confident, answering the old man’s questions methodically.

At this point, it almost seemed like He Dongqi wasn’t on Tan Lizhu’s level.

After sitting down, Tan Lizhu turned to Jiang Yu, looking sheepish.

"Our last meeting wasn’t pleasant. I didn’t know you were Jiang Yu back then. I’ve read *The Spark* three or four times and even bought the published book."

She had also heard that the work would be adapted into a TV series and had been looking forward to it.

Jiang Yu was surprised—she had a fan in her.

"I appreciate that."

Tan Lizhu went on and on about it, which annoyed Wei Xiuru.

Did she forget whose show this was? Tan Lizhu was willingly letting Jiang Yu hog the attention.

"Lizhu, don’t just talk about Jiang Yu. Why didn’t your grandfather come?"

Tan Lizhu’s parents were researchers, their work classified as top-secret—not even family members could be informed.

Thus, her marriage should have been decided by her grandfather.

Tan Lizhu gave a tight smile. "Auntie, my grandfather thinks Dongqi and I should spend more time getting to know each other. No need to rush into an engagement."

Wei Xiuru’s face fell. "We had a deal, didn’t we?"

Tan Lizhu glanced at He Dongqi. "I discussed this with Dongqi earlier. Didn’t he tell you?"

But Wei Xiuru had been pressing hard, so she came today to clarify things.

He Dongqi shifted uncomfortably. "Mom, Lizhu mentioned it to me before. I just forgot to tell you."

Wei Xiuru scoffed, not even trying to hide her irritation.

Going back on an engagement agreement was just being difficult.

If not for Tan Lizhu’s family connections, she wouldn’t even consider such a woman.

"If there’s no engagement today, then we won’t keep you any longer. You can go now."

Wei Xiuru’s words even made the old man’s face tighten.

"Is this how we treat guests? A guest comes to visit, and you act like this? Like she came just to eat!"

He Jingyi also found it rude and quickly jumped in to fix things. "Lizhu, don’t mind your aunt. Stay for dinner, and Dongqi can walk you home later."

Tan Lizhu gave a polite smile, not showing any offense.

"Thank you, Uncle He, but it’s alright. I really have somewhere to be and should get going now."

With that, she stood up and turned to Jiang Yu.

"Jiang Yu, I wonder if I could visit you next time. I’ve got some great material that I believe would be helpful for your writing."

Jiang Yu hesitated, unsure whether to agree.

She didn’t really want to deal with Tan Lizhu, as she was He Dongqi's partner.

Yet, Tan Lizhu’s eyes were so earnest and eager, her admiration impossible to conceal.

Finally, Jiang Yu nodded. "You're welcome."

Tan Lizhu smiled. "Then I'll take my leave now. Goodbye."

Wei Xiuru's expression darkened further. Does she even know what’s proper?

Seeing He Dongqi's indifferent attitude only fueled her anger.

Wei Xiuru slapped him. "Your partner is leaving, and you're not even seeing her off?"

Finally, He Dongqi got up to escort Tan Lizhu out.

As he left, Wei Xiuru marched upstairs in a huff, instructing Aunt Xu not to call her for dinner.

Aunt Xu frowned, thinking her temper was worsening.

Jiang Yu stared at the cup on the coffee table, something felt off about Tan Lizhu and He Dongqi's relationship.

They didn’t seem like a couple.

After a while, He Dongqi returned, his face stormy, a red cord dangling from his fingers.

Jiang Yu squinted—a glint of jade green caught her eye. It was a Guanyin pendant!

Instinctively, she reached into her pocket, where she kept a jade Guanyin, identical to the one in He Dongqi's hand.

He flung it carelessly onto the coffee table, his face sullen.

He Jingyi scolded him: "What kind of attitude is this? You’ve had this since you were a kid! If you throw it away, have you thought about how your mother would feel?"

He Dongqi froze, then grabbed the pendant from the table.

The old man noticed Jiang Yu's reaction and pretended to be annoyed.

"If you like it, I have some jade pieces. Pick one and get it carved into whatever you prefer."

Jiang Yu snapped back to reality and smiled. "Thank you, Grandpa. I don’t just like jade—I love anything expensive!"

The old man: "..."

A few more sentences with Jiang Yu, and he’d keel over.

Still, he threw in a few extra items for He Feiyan’s share.

Watching He Feiyan skip off with her loot, He Jingyi almost choked.

"Dad, why not just give them the whole He family?"

The old man glared at him. "If you keep causing trouble, I’ll give them the damn house too."

He swallowed his rage, his face flushed crimson.

"This is so unfair!"

After leaving the He family, Jiang Yu pulled something from her pocket.

"Look at this."

He Feiyan exclaimed, "Isn't this the same Bodhisattva Guanyin pendant that He Dongqi has?"

Jiang Yu nodded. "This one belongs to Yuan Jiayin."

He Feiyan asked curiously, "Why would Yuan Jiayin have the same pendant as He Dongqi?"

He Tingyue speculated, "If they got it from the same shop, it wouldn't be that strange."

"That's possible, but I doubt it."

Yuan Jiayin had mentioned many times that He Jundao looked out for her.

Through the incident of repaying the money, Jiang Yu sensed that He Jundao and Wei Xiuru seemed to share a hidden secret.

Of course, all of this was just her speculation.

In October, Cai Xiaole and Lai Liuzi's wedding banquet took place.

Jiang Yu arrived right on time and noticed she was seated with the bride's family.

She didn't sit down immediately but pulled Cai Xiaole aside to ask.

"Why is it here?"

Cai Xiaole explained, "Sixie originally wanted you and Section Chief He to attend as his family members, but I said my side has fewer relatives, so you two could just sit separately."

Jiang Yu shot her a teasing look. "Won't your mom be unhappy about this?"

"However upset she is, today is my wedding day. She won't make a scene."

So Jiang Yu took her seat accordingly.

Cai Huifang might not make a scene, but she could still make snide remarks.

As soon as Jiang Yu sat down, she heard Cai Huifang say, "Xiaole is such a trusting soul. She treats you, her superior, even better than her own mother. Jiang Yu, she doesn't know any better. Please don't hold it against her. How could she seat a superior with the bride’s family?"

"Don't overthink it, Aunt Cai. I don’t mind at all."

Since it was Cai Xiaole’s wedding, Jiang Yu didn’t want to cause any tension.

Cai Huifang tightened her lips into a smile. In truth, she had argued with Cai Xiaole the night before the wedding.

The reason was that she suddenly realized that after Cai Xiaole got married, she would be left all alone at home.

So she changed her mind and wanted them to move in with her after the wedding.

But Cai Xiaole refused, saying she had to talk it over with Sixie first.

Cai Huifang didn’t like Lai Liuzi but still wanted to live under the same roof, though she knew it’d lead to tension.

Yet that set Cai Huifang off, sparking another fight between mother and daughter.