Chapter 44: South Garden Part 1

At the entrance to the Manor, a low-key black car drove up the winding road.

Compared to the luxury cars that Lai Li and the others usually drove, which cost tens of millions, this SUV that landed at just over a million was indeed low-key and ordinary, not matching the status of the head of the Dai Corporation at all.

But for someone of Jiang Qiujun’s position, there was no need for external things to reflect her identity anymore. She could do as she pleased.

The black car slowly stopped under the dim yellow streetlight. Moths fluttered past the open car door. Jiang Qiujun bent down to get out, her shoulder-length thin hair brushing over her cool jawline.

She walked into the luxurious covered porch, casting a long, narrow shadow behind her.

At first glance, it even had a bit of a homecoming feel.

Dai Linxuan gripped Lai Li’s arm and said presciently, “Don’t put on a cold face at home.”

Lai Li: “…”

He turned his face away and let out a reluctant scoff.

Jiang Qiujun walked into the entryway. “You’re all just back?”

Dai Linxuan smoothly took her coat and handed it to Cai Bo along with his own. “There was a bit of traffic on the road.”

Both of their attitudes were very calm, without a trace of the out-of-control scene from the office last time.

“Everyone’s finally here.” Dai Yi stretched lazily and stood up. “Let’s eat soon. I’m starving.”

She left the living room and headed toward the dining room.

Dinner was sumptuous, with the round table filled to the brim, making the chairs seem a bit empty. There was a distance between each person.

Lai Li dragged his chair next to Dai Linxuan and sat down very naturally.

There were usually just the few of them at home. Jiang Qiujun wasn’t as strict about etiquette and rules for the younger generation as Dai Songxue was. As long as no one put their feet up on the table, they could sit however they wanted.

Dai Yi had decanted some red wine ahead of time, and the auntie poured a glass for everyone.

Before Lai Li could take his, a slender hand intercepted it midway.

“…”

Dai Linxuan poured Lai Li’s share into his own glass and handed the cup to the auntie. “Don’t drink it.”

The way Lai Li wanted to drink but stayed silent made the auntie chuckle. “Little Chestnut is so obedient.”

“No drinking at home—Big Brother is too strict.” Dai Yi picked up a bite of food, chewed and swallowed it slowly, then winked at Lai Li. “Don’t worry. Once Big Brother marries Shuangshuang-jie, he won’t have time to manage you.”

Lai Li was dismissive. “That’s not set in stone.”

Dai Yi let out an “Aiya.” “Big Brother didn’t tell you? Uncle Huo visited Grandpa at the Old Residence today to discuss Shuangshuang-jie’s marriage to Big Brother. They even had lunch together.”

Lai Li’s hand tightened. Before his chopsticks snapped, he picked up a piece of five-flower pork and flung it into her bowl.

Dai Yi laughed so hard she shook. “Thanks for the feeding, Second Brother.”

Jiang Qiujun looked across the table at Dai Linxuan and said flatly, “I suggest you think again about both the marriage and the merger with Huo Sea Transport. The shareholders’ meeting is in a few days. I don’t want to have to publicly overrule you.”

From Jiang Qiujun’s tone, it seemed Dai Linxuan had already agreed to the marriage.

Lai Li ate his food expressionlessly, his brows slightly lowered.

Under the table, Dai Linxuan parted his legs slightly, pressing close to Lai Li’s knee. Their warm body heat secretly blended together, like an inadvertent touch or an intentional soothing.

Lai Li subconsciously wanted to drink something to soothe his dry throat, but the only cup nearby held Dai Linxuan’s wine.

Dai Linxuan said, “This is a good opportunity to enter the shipping industry. Almost all the directors agree.”

The Huo Family was willing to loosen this opening, which was all benefits and no harm to them. So at the board meeting a few days ago, only two people opposed, and Jiang Qiujun was one of them. But her reasons for opposition weren’t convincing enough, and Dai Linxuan’s proposal ultimately passed the vote.

Jiang Qiujun’s eyes flickered slightly. Just as she was about to say something, the auntie came in from the side door with a tray and first placed a serving of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall in front of Jiang Qiujun.

Lai Li subconsciously wanted to pull away, but Dai Linxuan leaned back, kicked off his slippers lightly, and pinned Lai Li’s foot under his before Lai Li could withdraw.

Lai Li stiffened abruptly, his Adam’s apple rolling slowly and with difficulty.

He had thought this kind of “wantonness” under the table was something only someone like Huo Fei would do. He had never imagined it would be associated with Dai Linxuan. Even though they were both wearing socks, he felt scalded. All his blood surged toward a certain highly sensitive spot at the end of his nerves.

In his peripheral vision, his brother still wore a faint smile, his posture at the table elegant and proper.

The auntie said to Dai Yi, “Let it cool a bit before eating. It’s just been served—still hot.”

As the auntie drew closer, Lai Li tensed his body instinctively and lifted his arm to rest it on the table.

“Little Chestnut likes sea cucumber, so I added extra today.” The auntie set down the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, not noticing the secret exchange between the two brothers.

Even if she had noticed, it wouldn’t have mattered. Everyone knew they were close, and there had been plenty of open intimacy before.

But once intimacy was hidden in secret in public, it gained a layer of intimacy and taboo meaning, as if it had become something that absolutely could not be discovered.

“Opportunities can sometimes be traps.” After the auntie left, Jiang Qiujun spoke. “If I’d known he transferred shares to you with this condition, I wouldn’t have agreed to let you join the company in the first place.”

“We’ve already come this far.” Dai Linxuan dabbed the corner of his mouth lightly with a napkin and said softly, “I can’t give it up, and Grandpa won’t agree either.”

The atmosphere immediately fell into a subtle stalemate. It was well-known that Jiang Qiujun and Dai Songxue didn’t get along, and Dai Linxuan mentioning Grandpa’s disagreement at this moment seemed a bit like leveraging it.

Lai Li’s full attention was under the table, trying his best to maintain a natural expression.

Dai Yi tapped the table with the tip of her chopsticks. Lai Li felt the vibration in the hand resting on the table, and the leg closer to Dai Linxuan tensed even more.

Dai Yi seemed to know Dai Linxuan’s mindset. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have said that line about “Big Brother raised you all these years just to get on top of you.” Now that she wanted to vie for power, she might use this against them. If caught… whether he could smoothly become the heir didn’t matter, but his brother’s reputation did.

He heard Dai Yi say displeased, “Mom, Big Brother, can you two not argue at the dinner table?”

Jiang Qiujun took a sip of wine and said faintly, “You’re all grown up now with your own ideas. I don’t want to interfere too much. I just hope you’ll think three times before acting.”

Dai Yi blinked. “I’m thinking about it.”

The atmosphere at this dinner was unusually bland. Everyone seemed shrouded in a layer of fog—close-looking but distant when reached for, not even able to pass dishes across.

…Except for Lai Li.

The foot being stepped on felt like half his body had wandered far away. The whole table of delicacies tasted flavorless.

Jiang Qiujun hadn’t been in good health these past few years, with a poor appetite. She ate slowly and meticulously. By the time the others had nearly finished, she stood up and left the dining room, telling Dai Linxuan to come to the study after he finished eating.

Only then did Dai Linxuan withdraw his foot and properly slip his slippers back on. “Stop looking at the wine. You’re not allowed to drink today. If you’re thirsty, drink soup.”

Lai Li: “…”

Dai Linxuan had stepped on him just to prevent him from saying something in front of Jiang Qiujun that would make everyone unable to get off the stage.

He knew that with Dai Linxuan’s personality, no matter how biased or cold Jiang Qiujun was toward him, she was still the mother who gave him life. Unless something unexpected happened, they would never tear faces this lifetime. Maintaining a peaceful relationship was also beneficial for the fight for inheritance.

But he still felt inexplicably irritable.

On the surface, Jiang Qiujun was quite distant from both children.

When Lai Li had arrived at the Dai Family, Dai Enhao had just had his car accident not long before. Jiang Qiujun was busy consolidating power and had almost no time to accompany the children, so no favoritism was apparent.

If Dai Linxuan hadn’t said anything, Lai Li might never have felt it in his lifetime. After all, he had never received so-called parental love and was naturally insensitive to it.

But once he knew, he started to find it unbearable.

Dai Linxuan ladled a bowl of soup for Lai Li and another for Dai Yi.

Dai Yi smiled sweetly, though she didn’t seem particularly happy. “Big Brother…”

Dai Linxuan: “Hm?”