“Then tell me the definition of happiness and let me broaden my horizons.”
Mother Ji looked at Qu Xiujie in disbelief and sounded even more disdainful.
“Happiness. It shouldn’t be said that the man this woman married has a lot of power, wealth, or social skills. It should be said that this man dotes on this woman a lot, whether he’s willing to give her the money he has in his pocket, whether he’s willing to do whatever Xiaoxiao can do for her. Even if he doesn’t know how to say sweet nothings, it’s fine because most men are willing to use actions to prove whether they love this woman or not.”
Mother Ji looked at Qu Xiujie and her eyes flickered. “Are you talking about yourself? You’re finding a reason for Nana.”
“I didn’t. Why don’t you ask Ge Ge, my sister, and Qitong if I’m telling the truth?”
Qu Xiujie rolled his eyes and looked at Mother Ji mockingly. “How would a rich lady like you know such simple happiness?”
“Very well, boy. You’re teaching me a lesson now.”
Mother Ji was indignant. Her happiness was not wrong but Qu Xiujie made it sound worthless.
“I didn’t teach you a lesson. How would a poor boy like me dare to educate a rich lady like you?”
Qu Xiujie pretended to be afraid as he looked at Mother Ji. Only then did Old master Qu feel that Qu Xiujie still looked like a child at this age.
It was said that people in love would be younger. Old master Qu could not help but want to see who this perfect Mao Nana was.
“You!”
Mother Ji was exasperated and turned her head away from Qu Xiujie.
“Mom, don’t be angry. Actually, Uncle is not wrong. You are not wrong either. Everyone understands the meaning of happiness differently. Maybe I like to eat fish and feel happy when I eat fish. If you like to eat meat and don’t like to eat fish, then your happiness is eating meat. Mom, don’t be so awkward with Uncle anymore. It’s not the first time you heard Uncle talk like this.”
Pei Ge looked at Qu Xiujie and tried her best to fix their awkwardness.
She could not offend or blame anyone.
“Yes, Madam Ji is right. Madam Ji, don’t be calculative with this unfilial son of mine. With his character, I’m afraid no woman would be willing to tolerate him.”
Old master Qu also comforted her.
“I didn’t put up with him. Besides, Nana didn’t put up with him.”
Madam Ji turned to look at Pei Ge. “Ge Ge, when is Nana coming? Old master Qu’s birthday banquet is about to start.”
“It should be soon. Today is the last procedure for Nana’s interview. Uncle Charlie is already waiting for her.”
Pei Ge consoled softly. If Nana had not come over, Mother Ji and Qu Xiujie would not have quarreled like this.
“Sigh, why did Nana do this? Why did she have to torture herself like this? Couldn’t you have arranged a model job for her? Why did she have to go to another modeling agency and work so hard to get in? Why did she have to do this?”
Mother Ji did not understand Mao Nana’s actions, nor did she understand how important independence was to her.
“Nana is working hard to support herself. How can a rich lady like you understand?”
Qu Xiujie looked at Mother Ji’s eyes and continued, “But I want to know what kind of guest Old Master Ji is receiving. Why hasn’t he come yet?”
“You’ll know when he gets it.”
Confidence shone in Mother Ji’s eyes. Only the Ji family would know who Old Master Ji picked up.
“You’re still keeping me in suspense.”
Qu Xiujie rolled his eyes and looked at Zhang Manhua. “Sister, let’s go. I’ll bring you to eat something nice.”
“Yes, yes. The chefs at the birthday banquet are all five-star Michelin chefs. I guarantee that they will be more exquisite than the dishes in the restaurant.”
Old master Qu acted as though he was promoting. Seeing that Zhang Manhua was dragged to the food area by Qu Xiujie, he walked to Pei Ge and asked softly, “Madam, how has your mother been these few years?”
Pei Ge raised her head and looked at Old master Qu. Unknowingly, the anger in her heart was slowly dissipating. It was as though all the resentment and hatred she had felt before she came to this place had slowly dissipated after these ten over minutes of conversation. It was like a cloud that slowly dissipated when the wind blew.
The man who let her mother and grandmother wander outside with no home to return to. Along with the passing of time, as well as the guilt in her heart, she began searching for the original warmth of this family bit by bit. It was just that everything had happened too late.
The damage had already been done. No matter how he tried to salvage it, it might not return to how it was before.
“What has my mother’s life got to do with you?”
Pei Ge finally understood why Ji Ziming wanted her to meet Old master Qu today.
There were so many guests, so many reporters, and so many company leaders whom Old master Qu wanted to curry favor with. All of them were waiting to see Old master Qu’s reaction. Back then, his granny must have had the same face as him. It was just that as time passed, some people might have forgotten or remembered.
If there was only one person who remembered her, then there would definitely be someone who knew what her face represented.
It meant that the past of the Qu family was finally revealed by the public on a bright and beautiful night decades later. That scandal in Old lady Qu’s heart was once again revealed by the public in front of Old master Qu.
Not saying it did not mean it did not exist. Meanwhile, the non-existence did not mean no one knew.
Pei Ge leaned towards the former. How could such a thing not exist?
Ji Ziming was talking to a few people from the company when he saw Pei Ge and Old master Qu talking. He quickly apologized and walked to Pei Ge’s side.
It was as if he had traveled through a sea of people, as if he could only see her shadow in this world. It was as if he had always cared about her.
Qu Jingwan leaned against the crystal bar counter and watched Ji Ziming walk past the crowd to Pei Ge’s side. For some reason, she felt envious. In this vast sea of people, there was actually such a man who could sense that the woman he loved would be hurt.