After a fun video and photography session in the indoor forest, Jin Liwei noticed that his wife was getting a little tired so he immediately instructed the event staff to lead everyone to the ballroom where the wedding banquet would be held. While everyone was heading to the ballroom, the newly-wedded couple moved to another room to rest, especially Iris, and also to change their outfits for the banquet.
Meanwhile, c.o.c.ktails and some other light refreshments were being served in the ballroom. The decorations followed the wedding's forest theme. There were vibrant fresh greens and colourful wildflowers artfully arranged everywhere. Hanging orb lights looked like glowing aura balls and the curtain lights looked like the stars from a distance. There was nothing over-the-top with the deceptively simple decorations but everything still felt elegant and classy.
"This lovely forest theme must be Xiulan's idea," Grandma Li commented while sighing in admiration.
Huang Yuyan nodded. "I think so too, Mother. If it were my eldest son, I'm sure that he would've chosen a very extravagant and luxurious theme for his wedding especially since we know that he couldn't wait to marry dear Xiulan."
"Just like his grandfather and father." Grandma Li chuckled. "But this is much better. I actually prefer something like this instead of an overly refined and sophisticated party. It feels more intimate and memorable. My granddaughter-in-law has excellent taste."
"I agree, Mother. I'm so happy to have Xiulan as my daughter-in-law. She has made my son a very happy man."
"Now that they're married, I hope that they have a child soon."
"Oh, that would be wonderful!"
The elegant elderly Jin matriarch looked around. "By the way, have you seen your Uncle Jianhong? He's supposed to sit at the same table with us. That old gorilla has been jumping all over the place like a hyperactive child since discovering that today's event is Liwei and Xiulan's wedding."
"He's just very happy, Mother," Huang Yuyan said, giggling. "I saw him speaking with Headmaster Dupont and the others from Cross Academy in the hallway earlier. I'm sure that Uncle Jianhong will join us later."
The two ladies sat at their designated table. Feng Wan and her posh friends including the Chief of Police came over to greet them. Long Tengfei and Yang Jiahui were seated at the opposite table where the bride's family was assigned. The couple also came over to join the conversation.
Cheerful scenes like this played throughout the entire ballroom as they waited for the bride and groom to arrive and officially start the wedding banquet.
Later, Grandpa Lu returned while dragging his grandson Lu Zihao and the red-faced Long Jinjing. Everyone at the table stopped their conversation to look at them. Feng Wan and her companions excused themselves after greeting Grandpa Lu and the other two.
The old man "patted" his grandson's back again. The worried Long Jinjing winced and wrung her hands, looking as if she wanted to stop Grandpa Lu but was too shy to do so. Lu Zihao casually held her hand in front of everyone. She tried pulling it away in embarrassment but he only tightened his hold on it.
Long Tengfei along with everyone else saw this, of course. He looked shocked but was able to quickly control his expression. [This novel is a contracted work with W e b n o v e l . c o m (remove spaces). If you're not reading this chapter on W e b n o v e l, it has been stolen. It's very discouraging to see thieves profiting from my hard work. Please support the original author, ArriaCross. Thank you! Also follow me on Instagram @arriacross]
"Jinjing?" he asked his daughter.
Long Jinjing turned redder. She subconsciously shrank her body and stepped back but Lu Zihao's firm hold stopped her. When she glanced at him, his intense gaze pressured her.
"I…uhm…" She bit her lower lip before forcing herself to straighten her back. She was a company CFO, for goodness' sake! She shouldn't be acting like this. However, she still felt like a little girl in front of her father sometimes, especially when it was time to introduce her boyfriend.
Clearing her throat, she turned to Long Tengfei. "Father, I would like to introduce to you my…my b-boyfriend, Lu Zihao."
"Oh!" Huang Yuyan's eyes widened in excitement.
Yang Jiahui also looked surprised but she stayed quiet and watched how her husband reacted.
Long Tengfei already had a suspicion earlier because he saw Sir Lu Jianhong's grandson holding his daughter's waist at the indoor forest after the wedding ceremony but he still felt shocked when his daughter really introduced Lu Zihao as her boyfriend.
First, his youngest daughter Xiulan became Jin Liwei's girlfriend, almost giving him a heart attack when he discovered their relationship. She was still very young and yet she got engaged just a few months later and married today.
And now, it seemed like it was his other daughter's turn to shock him. Jinjing becoming Lu Zihao's girlfriend never crossed Long Tengfei's mind. This daughter was very sweet and shy, not the type that people would think to pair up with a huge, dangerous-looking man like Lu Zihao. Despite thinking like this, he had nothing against Lu Zihao because he trusted that Sir Lu Jianhong's grandson would be at least a decent man. Also, he knew that the man was close to his youngest daughter Xiulan and that the two treated each other like siblings.
Long Tengfei never imagined that his two daughters would have relationsh.i.p.s with men from the two most powerful business families in the country right now. As a businessman himself, he should be happy because any friendly connections to the Jins and the Lus could only be advantageous. As a father, however, he couldn't help but worry about his daughters. The politics involved in joining these ultra-wealthy and powerful families are no joke.
Xiulan was strong and could turn into a spitfire if provoked so Long Tengfei wasn't too worried about her. He knew that she could handle herself, especially now that she was married to Jin Liwei.
He was more worried about her other more delicate daughter, Jinjing. If someone bullied her, she had the tendency to endure it and not tell anyone.
Tamping down on his worries for now, he focused on the present and saw Lu Zihao stepping forward to shake his hand.
"Mr. Long, we've met before but this is the first time that I'm meeting you as Jinjing's boyfriend," Lu Zihao said, flashing a devilish smile.