"Everyone, enjoy the food!" Grandpa Si spoke happily as he motioned for everyone to dig in.
There were so many foods that the Si family chef prepared that excited Si Weizhe. He was always out partying at night so he never saw this much food being prepared on the mansion. He was really craving for Chinese food for a long time. His mouth watered immediately.
Since food should be a balance of yin and yang, as well as fan and cai, there were at least 10 dishes on the table which consisted of sweet and sour pork, spring rolls, fried shrimp and cashew, dumplings, egg-fried rice, spicy tofu, steamed perch, Kung Pao chicken, won ton soup, roasted duck and chow mien.
It was really a feast. Even the atmosphere was festive.
Everyone seating around the dinner table except Si Weimin had smile on their faces as they began to eat and talk. Grandpa Si was exceptionally in a great mood as he chatted with Zhou Jiayin who was sitting on his right side. Beside Zhou Jiayin was his wife, Ye Lingling.
On Elder Si's left were Si Weimin, Zhou Bingbing and Si Weizhe.
Everyone was enjoying their time, except for Si Weimin. All he was thinking was to get the hell out of the mansion. He was suffocated by Zhou Bingbing's presence.
He knew that Grandpa Si purposely made them sit together. No matter how appetizing the foods were, Si Weimin suddenly felt his appetite gone.
"Weimin-ge, try this yaoguo xiaren (fried shrimp and cashew). It's great on the cardiovascular system." Zhou Bingbing leaned closer to Si Weimin as she put the food on his bowl.
Si Weimin's face darkened. He was about to say something when Grandpa Si kicked him under the table as if telling him to mind his manner and control his tongue.
Without lifting his chopsticks to eat, he ignored Zhou Bingbing. He didn't even care that Grandpa Si was glaring at him.
Saving the situation, Si Weizhe explained in between eating, "Ms. Zhou, your gesture is very sweet but eldest brother doesn't want anyone touching his food."
"Oh! I'm so sorry, Weimin-ge." Zhou Bingbing answered, her face turning crimson red as she held Si Weimin's left arm.
Si Weimin's annoyance doubled when he felt Zhou Bingbing's hand on his arm. He shrugged his arm, trying to get her hand off him without even giving her a face.
"I'm sure Xiao Bingbing only wants to attend to Weimin's need." Grandpa Si chuckled as he took a sip of his won ton soup.
Zhou Bingbing wore an awkward smile as she continued eating.
"Elder Si, I heard that Si International is venturing on films. I really admire Weimin for taking a big risk in the entertainment industry. He will make Si International surpass its current glory." Zhou Jiayin spoke with admiration on his voice.
"This boy is much like you, Ah-Yin!" Grandpa Si laughed, clearly pleased about Zhou Jiayin's words.
The two of them continued talking about business and other stuff. It was Ye Lingling who spoke about Si Cosmetics.
"Weimin, the new skin care product line seems to be a huge success. I heard from Bingbing that many artists even joined the audition."
Si Weimin only nodded his head without interest. He was becoming more and more impatient by the minute.
"Yes, yes! I almost forgot that Xiao Bingbing passed the audition and is now the endorser of the new products." Grandpa Si delightedly announced.
"It's really an honor being the new endorser of Si Cosmetics, Grandpa Si," Zhou Bingbing answered happily before she turned to Si Weimin, "Weimin-ge, I promise to work really hard."
Si Weimin wasn't really happy with the result of the audition. If not for Qi Xenjin's scheme, he knew that Xu Jia Li would be chosen. He really liked her to be the new face of Si Cosmetics and not Zhou Bingbing.
He was really hoping that Xu Jia Li would change her mind and would continue with the audition but with all that had happened, he knew better than to meddle.
So with a heavy heart, he accepted the result.
Suppressing his annoyance, Si Weimin spoke, "Congrats!"
"Thank you, Weimin-ge!" Zhou Bingbing's eyes were glimmering as she looked at Si Weimin shyly.
Si Weimin sneered inside as he ignored her.
"Wow! Ms. Zhou, you're really wonderful!" Si Weizhe grinned as he took more food.
"Call her Sister Bingbing, Ah-Zhe. Ms. Zhou is too formal."
"As you say, grandpa!" Si Weizhe nodded before he looked at Zhou Bingbing, "Sister Bingbing, you're really capable."
Taking Si Weizhe's words as compliment and hearing him call her sister, Zhou Bingbing was bursting with joy. She smiled demurely as she patted Si Weizhe on the head,
"Ah-Zhe, remember to call me when you need anything, okay?"
"Sure, Sister Bingbing."
After they finished their food, Butler Mo asked the servants to bring out the dessert. It was a homemade pumpkin tangyuan with red bean paste and black sesame fillings.
Not having much appetite, Si Weimin sipped on his tea as he glanced on his Rolex Daytona watch.
While everyone was eating their desserts, Grandpa Si cleared his throat before he spoke,
"Since, we're here now I think it's the best time to announce Weimin and Bingbing's engagement."
Upon hearing that, Si Weimin froze on his seat. His expression even changed from indifferent to livid then dull. His eyes were akin to a dark abyss. His jaw tightened and his fists clenched into a ball on his side.
"Isn't it too early for that, Grandpa Si?" Zhou Bingbing shyly said. She was blushing as she glanced at Si Weimin, "Right, Weimin-ge?"
In truth, Zhou Bingbing's heart sunk into the drain when she saw Si Weimin. She was fuming when she saw the reaction on his face.
She had to set aside her ultimate dream of marrying him and swallowed her true emotions as she pretended to understand Si Weimin.
She clutched the edge of her dress tightly, suppressing her feelings. She couldn't accept it if Si Weimin rejected her in front of her family. So she made her decision of getting on Si Weimin's good side.
"I know that Weimin-ge and I still have lots of things to know about each other. I think, it's better if we take things slow."
"Are you sure, Xiao Bing?" Zhou Jiayin asked worriedly.
"Yes, dad. Anyway, Weimin-ge and I are good friends. We will take this slow."
"I'm glad to hear that Xiao Bing. It's good not to rush things." Ye Lingling sighed in relief. She had been observing Si Weimin and Zhou Bingbing since they arrived and she couldn't help but worry about her daughter.
Ye Lingling knew how much her daughter adored Si Weimin. She thought for a while that the two had things going on between them but she immediately erased the idea when she saw how aloof and indifferent Si Weimin was.
"Then, if Bingbing says so. I think that will be it." Elder Si nodded as he put his hand on his chin. He moved his gaze towards Si Weimin, "What can you say?"
"Is there much thing to say?" Si Weimin answered, his expression never changed.
***
After they proceeded to the living room, Si Weimin excused himself. He really needed to get away. The atmosphere was killing him.
As he walked outside, he texted Si Weizhe, telling him that he already left.
The rain had already stopped so the air was no longer chilly. He was about to get into his car when Zhou Bingbing called him.
"Weimin-ge, I know Grandpa Si can really be pushy sometimes but he only cares about you."
"I see that Ms. Zhou knows my own grandfather better than me, his own grandson." Si Weimin emphasized on the word 'own'.
"That's not what I meant, Weimin-ge."
"Then what?" Si Weimin answered impatiently.
"I-ah, I just want to be friends with you, Weimin-ge."
Si Weimin became more irritated when she saw the crocodile tears of Zhou Bingbing. Unminding her, he rode his car and drove so fast out of the mansion, leaving the shunned Zhou Bingbing.
"How fake! Does she think that because she acted innocent and uninterested I'll believe her? Ridiculous!"