Chapter 539 - A Conversation Between Old People

The private concert held by the Tang's was not entirely different from a private banquet.

In an enormous hall's classically designed interior with medieval elements, a few tables were set up. The amount of the people that could fill up the room could number up to a thousand, but the tables and chairs could only amount to two hundred. The invited guests themselves were only less than two hundred.

The elevated stage at one side of the hall was very wide, a whole orchestra could stand on it with enough space.

At the moment, on the elevated stage was a big white Stein piano and a stool. 

Behind the white piano were the stools of the orchestra and their musical instruments. 

The private concert had not officially started yet, but the musicians were already playing a soothing melody for the people who came into the hall.

Because the place was enormous and the tables were distanced with privacy in mind, the guests slowly relaxed and began to enter the state of enjoying music, while occasionally chatting with their companion. It did not feel empty because of the plenty of waiters walking around and giving refreshments to the guests. 

The guests would also occasionally stand to greet people, chat a bit, then return to their tables.

At the entrance of the hall was an old woman in traditional clothes. Currently, she was greeting an old man who wore a traditional chong pao and appeared to be an eminent elder.

"Old Xiong, you came. You haven't given me your response so I thought you will not be coming," Mistress Tang said, teasing the old man.

Old Xiong waved his hand. "What nonsense.  No matter what I reply, you will be forcing me to come anyway to this place. I don't have much choice. So what is the use of replying?"

Mistress Tang laughed. "Don't say that. Those who hear you might think I am too brazen. How can I order around a Xiong?"

Old Xiong raised his brow in suspicion. "You are being modest today. How unusual."

Mistress Tang smiled amiably and led him to a table at the front. "How come you did not bring your granddaughter with you?" 

Mistress Tang expected that the XIong heiress would come. The girl had been personally invited by her granddaughter and Tang Xinyang confirmed that she would come with some IHZHI artists.

Hearing the question, the old man frowned.

"She's not here yet? We left the mansion at the same time." Old Xiong then turned to Zhou Min who was quietly following them around.

"Zhou Min, tell your son to hurry up.  How come your son is slower than me, an old man?"

Zhou Min: "..."

I know you are angry, Master. But don't drag me in. A son is like spilled milk. 

(A/n: The saying is 'a daughter is like a spilled milk', but here Zhou Min used that to wash his hand.)

Zhou Min bowed. "I will call Linfeng to inquire their whereabouts."

While Zhou Min was making a phone call at the side, the two old people continued to move to the front. 

There were some people who recognized Old Xiong and Mistress Tang on the way. They stood up to greet the two old people. Some of them had great status that Old Xiong and Mistress Tang could not ignore. So they spent a lot of time on the way before they arrived at their own table. 

At the front table where Old Xiong was supposed to sit was Old Lu and Lu Yin Ze.

Old Lu saw Old Xiong and Mistress Tang. 

He harrumphed at Mistress Tang.

"Don't tell me, this old man would sit on our table?" Old Lu asked.

Old Xiong frowned as well when he saw the Lu family.

'The Lu and the Xiong family in one table again?'

"Calling other people as old man, have you never taken a look at the mirror?" Old Xiong retorted.

Old Lu delibaretly ignored Old Xiong and said to Mistress Tang, "This is the reason why I told you many times to not put me on the same table with this old man. We will just chew each other's bones the whole day."

Lu Yin Ze stood up and bowed to Old XIong. "Greetings, godfather."

Old Xiong nodded. "You are growing into a handsome and capable man. Don't be like your grandfather."

Old Lu threw a hard look at Old Xiong. "What do you mean by that?"

"Aiya, aiya, you two are not getting any younger. Let bygones be bygones," Mistress Tang said as she forcefully dragged Old Xiong to the table.

"Come one, sit. There are still many guests I need to greet."

Old Xiong could not do anything with Mistress Tang around. He sat down on his seat grudgingly.

Old Lu looked behind Old Xiong.

"Your granddaughter did not come?"

Lu Yin Ze perked up his ears. He took a glance at the empty seat beside Old Xiong. This was probably a seat for Xiong Zhi.

"She is on the way." Old Xiong cut his answer short.

A tiger and a lion on the same table was bound to become disastrous. This would happen always in the past. However, like Mistress Tang had said, the two were not getting any younger. Their fight right now turned into a silent competition.

Since the party had not started yet, a lot of people came to their table from time to time to chat with them. This was the table with the heads of the Xiong and Lu after all.

A little while later, Old Guan came as well. He saw the other two heads on the same table.

Old Guan did not go straight to his table but towards the two instead. Beside him was Guan Gu Ri who wore a kind smile.

"Oh, that tigress actually put you two on the same table? She must have plans to let you two reconcile." Old Guan greeted the two old men. He was lively as ever, however, his hair and complexion told them that he was aging fast.