Wei Lan had always disliked Long Jinjing because she was the daughter of one of her ex-husband’s mistresses.
As for René Alejandro, Lu Zihao hated the man. It worsened after Jin Liwei used the Spaniard to goad Lu Zihao into waking up from coma. Long Jinjing could only avoid interacting with René Alejandro as much as possible to prevent her husband from exploding.
In the nearby sitting area, Iris tamped down on her impatience and chatted with Wei Lan and René Alejandro.
Even though Wei Lan had the tendency to utter offensive things, it was a fact that she doted on Little Jun, and to some degree, the cats as well. She bought a lot of things for them during her massive shopping spree.
When she found out that she became a grandmother to twins, she also bought a lot of presents for her grandsons. Of course, the Lu twins were also included. Wei Lan may not like Long Jinjing but her children were the heirs of the Lu family. The Lu twins were also the biological cousins of the Jin twins through their mothers.
The presents were still in the process of being delivered from her mansion to Dragon Palace because of their sheer number. She was able to splurge a lot thanks to Jin Liwei sending her a generous monthly shopping allowance during her vacation.
Now that she had returned to the country, the allowance naturally stopped but she didn’t mind that much. Shopping was fun but it became tiring after doing it every day in the past few months. It was time to recharge back home.
”Xiulan, hoooneeeeeey. I heard that there’s going to be an impoooooooortant gala. Where’s my invitation?”
Iris suspected that this was the reason why Wei Lan returned to the country at this time. “It’s not my gala, Mother. It’s Eldest Brother Yehan who’s hosting it. He’s the one who decides which people to include in the guest list.”
”But Lin Yehan is dear Liwei’s brother, riiiiiiiiight? Go and ask dear Liwei to tell his brother to seeeeeeeeend your mother an invitation! I’m suuuuuuuure that Lin Yehan originally intended to invite meeeeeeeeee but I wasn’t in the country that time sooooooooo he didn’t. Now I’m here! I should get an invitation, toooooooooooo!”
Iris didn’t agree right away.
Wei Lan pouted. “I should beeeeeeee there at the gala! I’m a vizcondesa! Lin Yehan will gain mooooooooore prestige if he invites a titled noble lady like me—oh, and alsoooooooo the son of a real viscount! René Alejandro, my dear, you’re cooooooming with me to the gala, riiiiiiiiiiiight?”
”Of course, Mamá.” René Alejandro smiled, showing his dimples. “If Papá were here, I am certain that he would love to accompany you to any event. Unfortunately, he is still unable to come due to his work but do not worry. I am still here, no? I will accompany Mamá until he is finally free to join us here.”
Wei Lan immediately started gushing about her husband and how she missed him so much.
”Papá is also looking forward to meeting you, Iris,” René Alejandro said. “And of course, Liam and your children as well.”
”That’s right, Xiulaaaaaan! Your step-father can’t wait to meeeeeeeet you and dear Liwei! I told him so many gooooooood things about you and especially my son-in-law!”
”I see,” Iris said in a rather bland tone.
René Alejandro released a sad sigh. “Papá had always wanted his own children but the heavens have not granted this one wish of his. This is why he is very passionate about orphans like me. He treats us like his own children. I am very fortunate that Papá legally adopted me, no? But I can sense that he also wants a daughter. When he learned that Mamá has a daughter, he was so happy and so excited to meet you.”
”Hmm.” Iris wasn’t sure how to respond to that.
Wei Lan often exaggerated whatever she said so her words couldn’t be trusted 100%. René Alejandro’s background on paper was too clean that it was suspicious. In addition, Iris didn’t fully know him yet. His words couldn’t be trusted either.
The question was whether the viscount himself could be trusted.
Iris hadn’t met the man yet so she wasn’t sure how to judge him at this point. Only when she met the Spanish viscount in person would she have an idea about what kind of person he really was in real life.
”When does your father plan to follow you and Mother here?” she asked.
René Alejandro sighed again. “To tell you the truth, I am not certain. His work brings him to many different countries, many kinds of places. Sometimes it only takes him months to finish a project, sometimes years. It depends. His project this time seems to be the most complicated yet so he is taking longer. I am already used to it since this is how I was raised. But Mamá’s situation is different, no? I feel sorry for Mamá that she has to be away her husband for this long.”
In response, Wei Lan fished out a lace handkerchief from her handbag and wiped non-existent tears. “You’re such a thoughtfuuuuuuuul son, René Alejandro! You understand my pain soooooooooo much!”
Iris ignored the dramatic woman. But before she could ask René Alejandro more questions about his adoptive father’s work, a knock interrupted them.
The door opened and a little guy ran inside.
”Amma Lan! You heew!” (Grandma Lan! You’re here!)
His nanny nodded at Iris before staying outside.
Wei Lan tossed the very dry lace handkerchief aside and caught the adorable child.
”Oooooooooh, my cuuuuuuute Little Jun! Come here and giiiiiiiive Auntie Lan a big hug! What a gooooooood boy!”
”Little Jun, call GRANDMA Lan,” Iris said, immediately blocking Wei Lan’s attempt to change the way the child called her to Auntie.
”Amma Lan! Junjun misshu!” (Grandma Lan! Junjun missed you!)
Wei Lan rolled her eyes at Iris before continuing to dote on the child. Afterwards, she pulled René Alejandro.
”Little Juuuuuuun, come and greet Uncle René.”
The child blinked his eyes. He seemed to have already forgotten about meeting this foreign uncle before. Nevertheless, he was a sensible and obedient child.
”Heyo, Anko Ren!” Then he pointed at himself. “I Junjun!” (Hello, Uncle René! I’m Junjun!)
”Hello, Little Jun,” René Alejandro greeted, smiling. Then he gave the child a small present.
While Little Jun was opening his present, Popcorn ran inside next followed by Jiang Ying Yue and Lin Yehan.
”Mommi, Anko Han, look!” Little Jun showed off his new toy at his mother and Uncle Yehan.
”Ying Yue!” Wei Lan greeted. Then her eyes lit up when she saw the man accompanying her. “Lin Yehan.”
The two new arrivals greeted everyone.
After the greetings, Wei Lan didn’t waste any time and immediately targeted Lin Yehan. She asked—bordering on demanded—an invitation to the gala.
Lin Yehan was a little taken aback at her aggressiveness but he was a gentleman. He quickly fixed his expression. In the end, he agreed to send an invitation to Wei Lan and even René Alejandro on such short notice.
Wei Lan was pleased with herself.
René Alejandro showed a sheepish expression like he was just going along with his step-mother’s antics. He also sent Lin Yehan an apologetic smile.
Lin Yehan had a rather good impression of René Alejandro’s manners. But that was it. He didn’t know the man well and had no intention of becoming close with him. However, he would sometimes hear from his fifth brother, Yu Mo, that the Spaniard was a nice, smart and fun guy.
It was no problem to invite extra people like Wei Lan and René Alejandro to his gala.
His third brother, Jin Liwei, would be there to take control if Wei Lan ever made trouble at the gala. The woman seemed to be afraid of her son-in-law.
As for René Alejandro, Lin Yehan just hoped that his fifth brother, Lu Zihao, wouldn’t fight with the Spaniard in front of all the other guests. His fifth brother’s temper had become many times worse ever since the skiing accident.
”I caaaaaaaaan’t wait to see the expressions on the ugly faces of that trash Long Hui and his hoe of a bride, that Mao what’s-her-naaaaaame,” Wei Lan said with a smug smile. “All the impooooooooortant and relevant people they invited to their wedding will be at the gala instead! I bet that Zheng Zhuyin, that ooooooooold hag, will be suffocating with anger and humiliation when nooooobody important attends her only son’s wedding. Serves her riiiiiiiiight for giving birth to such a scumbaaaaaaaaaag! Hahahaha!”
Lin Yehan’s expression hardened at the mention of Long Hui and his wedding with Mao Qiuyue. He glanced at his girlfriend. Jiang Ying Yue wore her usual expressionless bodyguard face but he knew that she must be feeling uncomfortable. He put his arm over her shoulders and pulled her close to him before nuzzling her temple.
The sight almost made Wei Lan’s eyeballs pop out of her head. “Ying Yue! Whaaaaaaaat is this? You’re togeeeeeeeeether with Lin Yehan?!”
Jiang Ying Yue’s expression broke. She turned red all over but still nodded.
Wei Lan gasped in disbelief. Then she laughed.
”Gooooooood job, Ying Yue! Forgeeeeeeet about that trash! Men like him dooooooon’t deserve faaaaaaaaaaabulous women like us! Lin Yehan is soooooo much better than that scumbaaaaaag! Riiiiiiight, Little Jun?”
Little Jun had no idea what the adults were talking about but he still nodded. “Yesh, Amma Lan!” (Yes, Grandma Lan!)
