Before Rong Lan could curiously ask why, Zhen Rui gave her the reason. "Maybe it's because Chu Chuan's biological mother's genes aren't very strong. Chu Chuan looks more like his father than Heng Yuan. Whenever I see Chu Chuan's face, I feel uncomfortable all over. It's like a constant reminder that the man who made vows with me is a cheating scumbag after marriage!"
Rong Lan recalled the face of Father Chu she had seen before and had to admit that Zhen Rui was right. She even suspected now that Father Chu valued Chu Chuan so much simply because Chu Chuan looked more like him.
"You dislike Chu Chuan too. Why? Is it because of Heng Yuan?" Zhen Rui turned her head to look at the beautiful girl sitting beside her.
Rong Lan fell silent.
The reason she disliked Chu Chuan wasn't actually because of her brother. Her dislike for Chu Chuan initially stemmed from the fact that when she learned the child in Bai Rongran's belly was Chu Chuan's, Chu Chuan didn't even intend to take responsibility.
From then on, she started to dislike this man. After that, Chu Chuan kept doing annoying things one after another. As time passed, she disliked him even more.
But she couldn't tell Zhen Rui this reason. After all, she had received so much money from Bai Rongran. She still had to keep the secrets for Bai Rongran.
"No. It's because he's so annoying. After he learned about my engagement with my brother, he came to find me many times. Sometimes he'd confess his love to me and say some strange things, and sometimes he'd threaten me to elope..."
Zhen Rui let out a soft laugh. Her facial expression didn't change much, but there was a hint of mockery in her eyes. "He's just such a person. He wants to take away or destroy everything that Heng Yuan has."
Rong Lan nodded in agreement. "Right."
"Just ignore him. But I'm afraid tonight's dinner won't be very pleasant."
Sure enough—
The dinner was not just a little unpleasant. When Father Chu saw Chu Chuan's hand wrapped in a bandage, he first lectured the culprit for more than ten minutes, and then lectured Chu Hengyuan and Rong Lan, the two who brought the culprit here, for five minutes.
Zhen Rui got so annoyed listening that she angrily slammed down her chopsticks. "Just eat your meal. Why are you talking so much?"
Father Chu was startled and gave a light cough. He immediately changed the topic.
However, when the topic turned to Chu Chuan, Chu Chuan played the victim in a few words, and Father Chu couldn't help but lecture Chu Hengyuan and Rong Lan again.
Even though there was her favorite chicken for dinner, Rong Lan still felt so annoyed that she might have indigestion.
After helping to clean up the dishes and while washing her hands in the kitchen, when there was no one else except the couple, Rong Lan secretly complained to Chu Hengyuan. "Chu Chuan's smug little expression is so annoying."
Chu Hengyuan laughed. "Get used to it. At the dinner table, mother usually gives in to father. Every time I'm invited by father to have dinner at the Chu family, I only feel a bit unhappy at the dinner table. The rest of the time is very happy."
"Will the parent - child time after dinner also be happy?" She just learned that it was a custom in the Chu family to sit in the living room and watch TV for about an hour after dinner, and then go do their own things.
Chu Hengyuan nodded with a smile. "Yes, the parent - child time after dinner will be very pleasant."
What he said made Rong Lan extremely curious. She dried the water on her hands and immediately pulled him to the living room.
Zhen Rui and Chu Chuan were still sitting on the long sofa in the living room. Father Chu, seemingly to make room for Zhen Rui and Chu Chuan to get along well, sat on a single - person sofa by himself.
Zhen Rui was holding the well - fed little ragdoll cat in her arms. When she turned around and saw the couple holding hands coming over, she waved to them. "Rong Lan, come here. Heng Yuan, come too."
Rong Lan was confused but still obediently walked to Zhen Rui's side.
Zhen Rui arranged for Rong Lan to sit on the side near the armrest of the sofa, and then asked Chu Hengyuan to sit about two people's width away from Rong Lan. She then happily sat in the middle of the two of them.
Father Chu glared at Chu Hengyuan. "Heng Yuan, you—"
Before Father Chu could finish his sentence, Zhen Rui said casually, "What's wrong with me wanting to sit between my son and daughter - in - law? Why do you seem to have a big problem with it?"
Chu Hengyuan tried hard not to laugh. Although he was forced to sit next to Chu Chuan because of this seating arrangement, it didn't affect his happiness at all.
Every time during the parent - child time after dinner, it was always a time for father to be frustrated. Once father was frustrated and no one helped Chu Chuan speak, Chu Chuan would also become very unhappy.
"I have no problem. I just think that it's rare for Xiaochuan to come to the Chu family..."
Again, just as Father Chu had only said half of his sentence, Zhen Rui retorted the rest. "Rong Lan and Heng Yuan are usually busy. It's also rare for them to come back to the Chu family. And this is the first time I've seen my little granddaughter. Do you think it's inappropriate for me to play with Amber for a while longer?"
The little ragdoll cat seemed to hear Zhen Rui calling its name. It stretched and meowed.
Rong Lan looked straight at Chu Chuan across Zhen Rui and Chu Hengyuan.
Sure enough, when Chu Chuan heard Zhen Rui call the little ragdoll cat her little granddaughter, his face turned green.
The little fox lowered her head and tried hard not to laugh. Her face turned red before she managed to hold it in.
Chu Hengyuan really didn't lie to her. This parent - child time after dinner was really happy.
"It's already past nine o'clock at night. I still have to talk to Xiaochuan about some work matters later. Xiaochuan will stay at the Chu family tonight. Madam, please make the arrangements."
It was always this excuse. Zhen Rui could almost recite this reason by heart. She said expressionlessly, "No problem. I'll ask the maid to clean up a guest room later."
After saying that, she softened her expression and gently patted Rong Lan's hand. "I simply cleaned your room with Heng Yuan at noon. The quilt and sheets have all been sunned. You can just go to sleep later."
This time, not only was Rong Lan flattered, but even Chu Hengyuan was surprised.
Every time he came back to the Chu family, his mother would always tell the maid at home to simply clean his room in advance, but she had never done it herself.
So was he lucky because of Lanlan this time? After all, before this, the excuse his mother used to annoy Chu Chuan was always— "I've already asked the maid to clean Heng Yuan's room in advance."
Rong Lan obediently nodded. "Thank you, mother."
After answering Zhen Rui, Rong Lan looked at Chu Chuan's face again across Zhen Rui and Chu Hengyuan.
It would have been better if she hadn't looked. As soon as she did, she couldn't help but want to laugh.
So the little fox lowered her head again and tried hard not to laugh.
Just now, Chu Chuan's face was green. Now it had turned black.
She felt that if mother annoyed Chu Chuan one more time, there would be smoke coming out of Chu Chuan's head.
However, there was no such chance. Seeing that Chu Chuan couldn't get a word in, Father Chu gave up on letting Chu Chuan curry favor with Zhen Rui. He called Chu Chuan and went upstairs to the study to talk about work.