The elderly man on the other end of the line continued, "The other party is being very firm. All they said was to wait, but they still won't give a definitive answer."
Regret was clear in the man's voice as he delivered the disappointing news.
"I see. You've worked hard. Thank you," Old Master Jian replied.
"Don't mention it, Old Jian. I wasn't able to help much. I think your best course of action is to keep communicating with them. It's the safest approach for now."
"I understand."
With that, Old Master Jian ended the call.
Jian Shuxing and the others, who had been watching closely, could tell from his tone that things hadn't gone well. Jian Yunnao, in particular, looked utterly dejected, lowering his head in disappointment. No one cared about the outcome of this situation more than he did. No one else wished more fervently for the surgery to take place. Yet here he was, facing yet another round of discouraging news.
Jian Shuxing attempted to console him, "It's okay. This isn't exactly bad news. We're still where we were before—just waiting."
Technically, the other party hadn't outright rejected them, so it wasn't a flat refusal. Still, everyone had hoped for a clearer, more positive response.
"It doesn't matter," Jian Yunnao muttered, his head still down, as he fiddled with his phone. He pretended to be indifferent, as if none of this affected him. After all, what else could go wrong at this point?
Seeing him in this state made Jian Shuxing and Wen Nuan's hearts ache. They both wished there was something they could do to ease his pain, but they felt powerless.
Sensing the tension, He Yan quickly called for the chef to bring out more food, hoping to lighten the mood.
"Come on, let's eat! Look, the Australian lobster looks tender and delicious."
He Yan had sourced the finest ingredients available on such short notice—Australian lobster, Japanese wagyu beef, caviar, king crab, and more. She had spared no expense in making sure everything was top-notch.
However, Old Madam Jian wasn't particularly fond of He Yan's approach. She found it excessive, as though He Yan believed hosting meant piling on the most expensive ingredients rather than focusing on thoughtful, well-crafted dishes. To the old lady, fine dining was about quality, not price, and hosting guests was more about courtesy than extravagance.
But Old Madam Jian didn't say anything. While their styles were different, she respected her daughter-in-law's methods and wouldn't criticize her for it. After all, everyone has their own way of doing things.
As everyone began to eat, hoping to dispel the heavy atmosphere, He Yan made sure to have some dishes sent over to Zhai Yunsheng as well, continuing her efforts to treat him as a distinguished guest.
At that moment, Jian Yujie appeared with a tray of soup. It was the broth that Jian Yiling had been simmering earlier in the ceramic pot, made from a blend of matsutake mushrooms and fresh bamboo shoots, slow-cooked over charcoal. The soup had a light, delicate flavor, perfect for cleansing the palate between the rich barbecued dishes.
Jian Yujie placed a bowl of the fragrant soup in front of everyone, then hurried back to Jian Yiling's side as if afraid his spot would be taken if he didn't return quickly.
Old Master Jian and Old Madam Jian were filled with joy as they tasted the soup their granddaughter had made. Jian Shuxing and Wen Nuan held their bowls in silence, their feelings far more complex. They were proud of their daughter, but the tension with their son made every situation feel bittersweet.
Jian Yunsheng's expression softened as he took a spoonful of the soup. The warm, rich flavors filled his senses, and for a moment, he seemed at peace.
Jian Yunnao, however, simply stared at the bowl in front of him. After a tense pause, he suddenly moved his left hand, deliberately knocking the bowl over. The bowl tipped sideways, spilling its contents across the table. The soup quickly soaked into the tablecloth and began to drip onto the floor.
In an instant, the entire courtyard fell into silence. The atmosphere grew heavy, the air thick with tension. Everyone turned to look at Jian Yunnao, their expressions frozen in shock.
Wen Nuan's heart clenched painfully. She instinctively gripped Jian Shuxing's hand tightly, her anxiety written all over her face.
Old Madam Jian frowned deeply, her displeasure obvious. It was clear to everyone that Jian Yunnao had done this on purpose. His actions were a bold statement—he was showing the entire family that he could not and would not forgive Jian Yiling. No matter what, he refused to acknowledge anything she did, including her cooking.
The tension in the air was palpable, with everyone waiting to see what would happen next.