Stuck in a Chinese novel - Chapter 32

Chapter 32: The disastrous dinner
Chapter 32

“It seems Xiao Wei is very late. Call him Lin.” Sun Ruan said while both families, the Ruan and the Yu families, sat at the dining table, with a feast prepared before them. of course, it was a feast for normal people as Wei Jun would eat five times that just alone.

“He would soon arrive, grandfather. He has been very busy these days so please do not hold it against him if he is late.” Lin Ruan replied to her grandfather. Lin Ruan doesn’t normally defend her brother but with the reports of the last week alone, Lin Ruan’s image of Wei Jun had changed slightly.

“Busy? What does he do these days?” Liu Yu, the fiancée of Wei Jun said as she sipped light wine from her glass.

“He is busy with his entertainment agency.” Lin Ruan replied, not wanting to engage in an elongated conversation with Liu Yu.

“Is that so? Has he hired new beauties?” Liu Yu, remarked, pointing at Wei Jun’s tendency to employ only beautiful women and no one else. Although Liu Yu’s words made the atmosphere awkward, no one could refute these words since everyone knew of Wei Jun’s habits.

“Yu!” Liu Yu’s father, Zen Lu admonished her slightly as he said with a smile, “Everyone has a habit or two when they are young. Nothing to judge about.”

It was a blatant attempt to bury this topic but who here didn’t know that Wei Jun was a waste? Even though the Ruan family knew that the Yu family was marrying their daughter to Wei Jun for a smooth push to up their family rank, they couldn’t help but be grateful to the Yu family for giving their daughter even for that purpose.

It was because even with his status, Wei Jun didn’t deserve a woman like Liu Yu. As they began to talk about different things while the food slowly lost its steam, the door to the dining room opened and Wei Jun entered, dressed in a luxurious Italian suit with a long black overcoat.

His appearance ceased the chatter in the room for two reasons. One was obviously the change in Wei Jun’s appearance. Not only did he seem even more handsome than before, but it seemed like his body had undergone a change as well. He was taller than before although very little but still noticeable by keen eyes and his body was also fuller than his scrawny appearance before.

The second reason was obviously because he was about to be grilled for being late. “You’re late, Wei Jun.” sun Ruan reprimanded Wei Jun, who didn’t mind as he took his seat next to Lin Ruan as he said, “I was busy. I believe I had sent the message regarding that before.”

From his attitude, Wei Jun didn’t seem to care about anyone’s opinion here as he set himself a plate of food while replying to Sun Ruan.

“What were you doing that got you so busy?” It was Wei Jun’s mother, Pei Ruan asked to diffuse the situation as she could see her father wasn’t happy with Wei Jun’s behavior.

“I had to fire all the staff and hire new ones so I am quite busy with management these days.” Wei Jun simply replied, not worrying about anyone’s reaction at all.

“Why did you fire them?” Pei Ruan asked, curious about it now.

“They were useless.” Wei Jun simply replied as he took a bit out of a chicken piece and said, “You guys don’t seem to be eating. Is the food not to your liking?”

His question brought everyone out of their observant trance and Wai Ruan, Wei Jun’s father said, “Why don’t we begin as well.”

And the quiet but awkward dinner began where no one knew what to ask. Wei Jun had been quite rude and the Ruan family was embarrassed for that. He hadn’t even greeted the guests. And as for the Yu family, although they didn’t mind about this, they wanted to walk past this topic so they could discuss some issues but the quiet stance of the Ruan family was making it difficult for them to say anything.

“So,” It was Zen Lu who broke the silence as he turned to Wei Jun and asked, “Did you manage to contract some new actors as well?”

“Yes, I did.” Wei Jun simply replied, ending the subject here. Wai Ruan, seeing the awkwardness returning, chose to continue this topic, “Anyone good?”

“Yes. I contracted a few small-time actors and a few aspiring prospects. And I also managed to hire Song Li, though she can’t join for a few more days until her contract ends.” Wei Jun replied, keeping it simple and straight.

But the people at the table were astonished. How did Wei Jun manage to hire such a well-known actress?

“You must have offered her something very great.” Pei Ruan said with a smile. “I made her an offer she couldn’t refuse.” Wei Jun simply replied.

“I heard you also have been in contact with Xia Lu. She was at your office today, wasn’t she?” Liu Yu, seeing that she couldn’t get through Wei Jun through others, tried to use his questionable methods against him.

“You must like to keep an eye on me a lot seeing that you are aware of such small matters.” Wei Jun replied that also implied Liu Yu’s monitoring of his business.

“I just happened to have heard a few rumors.” Liu Yu said with a smile, casting the issue away from her.

“Yes. I managed to recruit her as well. Though she is currently in a contract and I need to have that terminated first.” Wei Jun chose to divulge the information as everyone seemed curious about this feat of his.

“Do you need help with that?” Lin Ruan asked.

“No, I can manage.” Wei Jun simply replied and returned to eating.

“Tell us about you Liu, how is business these days?” Lin Ruan asked with a smile. Wei Jun wasn’t the only one with unquestionable habits here. Lin Ruan wanted to turn the tables on Liu Yu as well.

“It’s going great. I have recently managed to acquire a few assets and will be beginning construction there soon.” Liu Yu replied with a smile. She knew what Lin Ruan was trying to do but she couldn’t dodge this topic as well.

“So I have heard. I also heard that you have recently expanded many fields with the Tian family.” Lin Ruan said. Her words made the cutlery all over the table stop, except for one person who didn’t want to be there at all and kept eating.

“It is just business after all. They and I have worked in the same field. Contact is inevitable.” Liu Yu defended herself the best she could but even she knew that her network was nothing compared to Lin Ruan’s.

“Of course, it isn’t. I have especially heard of your private meetings with the young master of the Tian family, Yao Tian.” The awkwardness in the room increased.

“Like I said. When two people work in close vicinity, contact is unavoidable. And I assure you, it is strictly business.” Liu Yu replied with a smile even though her hand had tightened around the fork in her hand, conveying her anger.

“What do you think, Wei Jun?” Liu Yu turned to Wei Jun and asked, knowing that he wouldn’t be able to contain his feelings over this considering his past with Yao Tian. He would surely make a scene that would help in her favor.

“You’re right.” Wei Jun simply replied and got back to eating. Everyone waited for a few more seconds for a more emotional response but there was none. Even an idiot could tell; Wei Jun simply didn’t care. And the worst part was, he wasn’t putting up an act.

Wei Jun finished eating as he turned to Sun Ruan and said, “It is safe to say that the purpose of this dinner cannot be approached anymore given the circumstances. So, am I free to go? I have work to do.”

The blunt words from Wei Jun made the atmosphere even more awkward. Everyone there knew that but they didn’t have the gal to say it considering their relationship and modesty.

“Ye… Yes.” Sun Ruan had no choice but to say this since even he knew this dinner was a wreck and couldn’t be salvaged. The best thing would be to end it before things got even more distasteful.

He especially didn’t want Lin Ruan and Liu Yu to butt heads as they seemed ready to turn this dinner into a battlefield of superiority. Lin Ruan had a clear target known as Liu Yu relationships even though she was otherwise engaged and Liu Yu could easily point the gun in Wei Jun’s direction who wasn’t a saint, to say the least.

The best thing for this Pandora’s box to remain close was to end things here before they got too out of hand. The awkward dinner continued in silence after Wei Jun left and soon came to an end. After a few awkward pleasantries, the Yu family left while the Ruan family could only rub their heads and sigh exaggeratingly.