Chapter 610: Handsome Friend Must Meet the Parents

The Internet conference was warming up to the first day’s session.

Feng Shihua kept busy networking within the industry, exploring domestic markets and discussing the “Joy City” project with senior company officials.

Duan Ying kept busy too during this time.

Pretending to help Feng Shihua, she joined Hurricane Investment managing the investment in the Meal Point app herself.

She handled every document impeccably, seeking her husband’s advice each evening.

The final decision to pay was meticulous, earning her some newfound respect from Feng Shihua.

How many more surprises do you have that I don’t know about?

Inside Feng Corporation, many were critical of Duan Ying using the group’s money to invest in her own relatives since such investments often incurred losses.

Some even thought the investment was purely for her own family’s benefit.

While many were discussing her “maternal family” connections, they overlooked that Duan Ying, through investing in Duan Wenzhao, had managed to engage with Hurricane Investment’s investment activities.

In this world, it’s either nothing or countless times.

To Duan Ying, investing in her nephew was trivial; it could succeed or fail—it hardly mattered.

What really mattered? She was starting to handle Feng Corporation’s business.

Just like Qin Jingqiu five years ago, who also joined the company under the pretext of assisting Feng Shihua.

Later, this woman gradually took control of Feng Corporation, and what about herself?

After securing the investment for Meal Point app, Duan Ying stopped meddling in company affairs and often invited senior executives’ wives and shareholders’ wives to meet at Sheshan Manor for tea and mahjong.

After the first day of the Internet conference, Duan Ying’s “Affluent Wives Gathering” had already taken place three times.

Many wives of senior executives and shareholders had become her good friends, even close as sisters.

Shuffle, shuffle—

By evening, after three rounds of mahjong, Duan Ying lost tens of thousands but seemed happier than if she had won, urging her friends to play again.

Meanwhile, Feng Shihua changed clothes and left his study, straightening his tie as he hurried out to the car.

“Uncle Gong, take me to Old Zhengxing Restaurant.”

“President Feng, it’s almost dark. What are you doing there now?”

Feng Shihua glanced at him, finding it strange.

Uncle Gong was always a professional driver, never prying into affairs—his sudden question today was perplexing.

It wasn’t a secret though, so Feng Shihua explained, “I have a dinner with some corporate heads today. After we arrive, you can go eat and then wait for me. I expect I’ll be drunk before I return.”

“But the young miss is coming home tonight.”

“Who said that?”

“Didn’t Second Master call the day before yesterday, saying he’s bringing the young miss and her friend over for dinner?”

“?”

Feng Shihua was stunned, then remembered Feng Shihua’s call, “Is it today?”

Uncle Gong nodded, “Yes, today.”

Feng Shihua slapped his forehead, “I’ve met so many people these past few days; I completely forgot.”

“President Feng, maybe you shouldn’t go after all. The young miss rarely comes home, and she’s also bringing a friend.”

A few days ago, Feng Shihua stressed Feng Nanshu’s friend, mentioning he was an impressive young man, which Feng Shihua instantly understood.

His daughter might have found a boyfriend and was specially bringing him home to meet him.

He was so busy after the call, he even forgot to inform his secretary to log the appointment.

Now with two events clashing, a choice was inevitable.

After much thought, Feng Shihua decided to go to the restaurant first; his daughter’s issue could wait.

A boyfriend isn’t yet a son-in-law. Since he’s introduced informally as a friend, missing this meeting wouldn’t hurt—there would be other chances.

However, snagging this private dinner wouldn’t be so easy again, especially one fueled by the buzz of the Internet conference.

“Uncle Gong, wait here for me a moment.”

Feng Shihua went back inside, called his wife Duan Ying to the tea room, “Nanshu is coming for dinner tonight with a friend. Can you host them?”

Duan Ying was slightly startled, “A friend?”

“The second son mentioned it’s a boy, likely her boyfriend, but I have important guests tonight and can’t make it. Help me check him out.”

“But honey, I still have quite a few guests here.”

Feng Shihua patted her shoulder, “No need for special treatment, just mingling over dinner will do.”

Duan Ying nodded, “I’ll handle it.”

“Remember, see what this young man’s character and family background are like. If it’s too poor, don’t let them associate. We’re still a prominent family, after all.”

“Got it.”

Feng Shihua nodded and returned to the car, instructing Uncle Gong to drive.

Uncle Gong, thinking Feng Shihua rushed back to change plans and stay for his daughter and her prospective groom, had even turned off the car. Hearing that he was still leaving, he sighed but didn’t say much, starting the car and slowly driving out of Sheshan Manor.

Duan Ying exited the tea room, letting her friends continue playing while she went upstairs to change into a dress, her expression in the mirror one of forced smiles.

She was annoyed, particularly by Feng Nanshu who kept imposing her presence.

Over the years, she had worked hard to dilute Feng Nanshu’s presence in Feng Shihua’s heart, partly to erase memories of Feng Nanshu’s mother and to mask her own existence hoping people would think she was the first wife.

But this girl kept showing up occasionally, unsettling her completely.

Boyfriend?

Duan Ying found it almost laughable.

Feng Nanshu, whom she raised to be too timid to even speak up, now dared find a boyfriend and even had the audacity to bring him to meet Feng Shihua.

Over the years, she had neglected the girl, whose boldness seemed to have grown.

Remembering the word “friend,” Duan Ying’s brow furrowed, recalling a summer four years ago when she heard from China that Feng Nanshu had made a “good friend” who borrowed over three million from her.

Duan Ying’s first thought was that the girl had been conned by Blondie, which pleased her.

She figured Feng Nanshu, having been duped out of money, would undoubtedly be tricked out of her virtue next.

No helping it; she was too attractive.

According to the script, she would likely be pregnant before marriage, possibly leading to an abortion, and in Feng Shihua’s view, that would basically be the end of his daughter.

But what Duan Ying never anticipated was that the Blondie who “conned” Feng Nanshu out of three million not only returned the money but almost got himself in deep trouble.

“Duan Ying, what are you doing up there?”

“Oh, just changing clothes.”

“Hurry down, guests have arrived at your house!”

“Got it, coming right down.”

Duan Ying donned earrings, a diamond necklace, and draped a fur over her shoulders, her appearance exuding the grandeur of a wealthy lady as she elegantly positioned herself at the second-floor railing to overview the scene, then spotted Feng Nanshu and the boy by her side.

The card-playing affluent wives also scrutinized Feng Nanshu and Jiang Qin, whispers filling the air.

Duan Ying intentionally stayed upstairs, standing there for a long while, eyes nonchalantly fixed ahead.

She knew Feng Nanshu feared being stared at, especially by many, similar to when she once “accidentally” lost her in an amusement park.

What she didn’t expect was for the boy to confidently lead her to the living room.

From Duan Ying’s angle, the living room was out of sight, but she knew her son was in there, watching Adventures of Jackie Chan.

“Why are you here again?”

Her son’s cute voice came from the living room, making Duan Ying inadvertently smile, but then the TV’s sound suddenly changed.

A high-pitched song began to play: “For all the pain held by love, for all the injuries borne by hatred…”

Duan Ying frowned, descended the stairs, transitioning to a bright smile as she reached the first-floor floor.

“Duan Ying, who is that girl? She’s so beautiful?”

“My daughter.”

Mrs. Liu paused, “You have such a grown daughter? Why have I never heard about her before?”

Duan Ying smirked, “She’s not my own, why would I flaunt her?”

“Oh, President Feng had a wife before, right? I almost forgot about that. And who is that boy? He looks familiar.”

“Seems like her boyfriend. Generic face, familiarity is normal.”

Duan Ying whispered quietly, eliciting curious glances from the other ladies.

At that moment, Feng Shihua walked up from outside, holding a phone with a puzzled look, “Sister-in-law, where’s my brother? I called him, but he didn’t pick up.”

“Didn’t he tell you? He’s hosting some very important guests today, just left.”

“Left? Didn’t I tell him that Nanshu was bringing a friend over tonight?”

Duan Ying pulled him aside, “You know the state of Feng’s affairs. Isn’t your brother busy with it all for your family’s sake? Even if Nanshu’s fiancé were here, could he be more valuable than the bosses of JD.com and Xiaomi?”

Feng Shihua looked incredulous, “It’s not right to talk like this. Nanshu bringing a boyfriend home for the first time is important, I told him two days in advance.”

“It’s not that it’s not important. Aren’t I here? Doesn’t a stepmother count as a mother? Go take a seat, I’ll get the kitchen to prepare dinner, and we’ll all eat together.”

Watching Duan Ying head to the kitchen, Feng Shihua’s forehead wrinkled, ultimately entering the living room without another word.

His younger brother was sitting in a corner of the sofa, fidgeting with his fingers, seeming too shy to look up, while the remote was in his niece’s hand, with Temptation to Go Home on TV, and Jiang Qin sat smiling among them.

“Uncle, take a seat.”

“Jiang Qin, I have something to tell you.”

“I know, little rich girl’s dad isn’t here, just the evil stepmother. I mentioned it before I came; he’s so busy, seeing him isn’t guaranteed. I told you so.”

Jiang Qin spoke in a subdued voice, ensuring Feng Nanshu couldn’t hear.

Feng Shihua pursed his lips, staying silent for a long while.

He hadn’t expected his brother to care so little about his niece. He made arrangements to introduce her boyfriend two days in advance, yet he wasn’t even home.

Jiang Qin spoke again, “A qualified father isn’t just one who waits at home when his daughter is bringing a friend over. He should have called her over as soon as he knew she was in Shanghai, or at least gone to see her himself. Is Sheshan Manor too far from Xiangti Villa? You all seem to set the bar too low for that old man.”

Hearing this, Feng Shihua suddenly understood where Jiang Qin’s lingering disdain came from.

Indeed, when he called his brother the night before to tell him Nanshu was coming to Shanghai, the correct response should have been to invite Nanshu over, or to go see her himself.

He might be busy tonight, okay, that’s coincidental.

But it’s been almost two days since the call; didn’t he have any time at all?

Merely agreeing to meet and waiting at home doesn’t make one a good father. It’s simply laughable.

“You’re… right.”

“Aunt sees things more clearly than you, so she didn’t even want to come today.”

After Jiang Qin spoke, he turned to look at the little boy in the corner of the sofa, finding him engrossed in a Rubik’s cube, so he took it and placed it in the lap of the little rich girl.