Upstairs, Lin Ruiqing and Jing Zejun were unaware of the commotion below as they discussed the upcoming banquet. Lin Ruiqing held Jing Zejun's hand, her eyes brimming with affection and tenderness.
"That's about all there is to it. Don't worry, it's just a simple introduction to everyone," Lin Ruiqing reassured her.
Jing Zejun nodded, pressing her lips together. She was indeed a bit nervous, as this was different from facing an audience on set.
At the banquet, she would face scrutiny from many more people, though they would all try their best to appear delighted for her sake.
At least, she thought, they wouldn't let their true feelings show on the surface.
"Mom, could we shorten my... part a bit?" Jing Zejun asked hesitantly.
Lin Ruiqing looked puzzled, unsure what she meant by "shortening her part."
Jing Zejun paused, realizing she had slipped into actor-speak, describing tomorrow's banquet as if it were a scene in a film.
"I mean, couldn't we just keep it to a brief appearance and skip the rest of the formalities?" she clarified.
In truth, she did feel that tomorrow's banquet was more like a performance, with everyone both on and off stage playing a role. It seemed a tedious charade, hardly worth watching.
Noticing Jing Zejun's lack of enthusiasm, Lin Ruiqing probed, "Is something wrong?"
Jing Zejun hesitated. "I just feel this should be a family matter, so..."
Her voice trailed off, seemingly aware that she might be disappointing Jing Beicheng and Lin Ruiqing's efforts. Seeing her mother's loving gaze only intensified her guilt.
For twenty years, she hadn't been by her mother's side. Now, she couldn't even grant her parents this small wish...
Lin Ruiqing smiled gently, patting Jing Zejun's hand. "I understand. Our Junjun isn't used to such events. But your father and I, we want to formally introduce our daughter to everyone."
At this, Lin Ruiqing's voice caught slightly. She smiled, gently caressing Jing Zejun's face, gazing at her now grown daughter as if trying to reclaim those lost twenty years.
"Although we know your adoptive parents treated you well, your father and I still want to make up for those twenty years we missed. We want to give you the very best we can..."
Hearing Lin Ruiqing's tender words, Jing Zejun's eyes reddened, and she instinctively embraced her mother. "Mom..."
Lin Ruiqing gently patted her back. "Don't worry, I'll try to keep it as brief as possible. But, are you perhaps also concerned about Yi?"
Jing Zejun straightened up, surprise in her eyes. "You noticed?" She had indeed been worried that Jing Yi might mind, but she hadn't expected Lin Ruiqing to pick up on it.
Lin Ruiqing smiled contentedly. "You and Yi seem to be getting along well." She had imagined various scenarios of how the two girls might interact, but hadn't expected them to become so close so quickly.
A glimmer of a smile passed through Jing Zejun's eyes. "Maybe it's because she's really easy to get along with."
It was the first time Jing Zejun had met someone so adaptable.
Jing Yi didn't seem to care about how her status might change or what discussions it might provoke. She wasn't concerned with the Jing family's position or her status as the Jing family's daughter. The only thing she seemed to care about was what delicious meal Aunt Wang would prepare that day.
Lin Ruiqing's eyes crinkled with amusement, as if recalling something. "Don't worry, your father has made separate arrangements."
Speak of the devil.
Jing Beicheng knocked on the door from outside. "Have you two ladies finished your discussion?" He glanced downstairs. "It's almost chaos down there."
Mother and daughter exchanged a knowing look, both breaking into laughter.
Without saying a word, they knew Jing Yi and Jing Zeqian were at it again.
Downstairs
Jing Zeyou had been about to return to his study when he saw Jing Beicheng and the others coming down. He sat back down.
It seemed the war was about to end.
Sure enough, the bickering ceased abruptly.
Jing Yi continued to bury her head in the fruit, while Jing Zeqian sat back on the sofa, arms crossed, looking annoyed.
Jing Zejun sat down next to Jing Yi, accepting a strawberry she offered.
Lin Ruiqing and Jing Beicheng took seats on another sofa. Turning to Jing Zeqian, Lin Ruiqing asked, "What were you arguing with Yi about this time? You're thirty years old, yet still acting like a child."
"Twenty-nine," Jing Yi muttered, rolling her eyes discreetly.
[What's the difference between twenty-nine and thirty?]
"What's the difference between twenty-nine and thirty?" Jing Beicheng's mouth tightened, his expression stern.
Jing Yi's eyes lit up, thinking she and Jing Beicheng shared a moment of connection.
The others all turned to look at them, their expressions indecipherable.
Dad, you just copied that word for word! Plagiarism!
Jing Beicheng coughed a few times, looking somewhat uncomfortable.
Jing Zeqian wisely chose not to argue further, though his eyes still betrayed his disagreement.
Lin Ruiqing watched the two girls leaning together, eating fruit, her expression soft.
"Yi, tomorrow's banquet is in the evening. Uncle Li will arrange for people from the dress shop to come in the morning. You and Junjun can try on some dresses and see if you like any."
Jing Yi agreed with a sweet smile.
Jing Beicheng and Jing Zeyou discussed the details of tomorrow's banquet.
"You're done? This guava is quite sweet." Jing Yi was still feeding Jing Zejun on the side.
"I can't eat anymore. My drama is wrapping up in a few days, so I need to keep watching my diet for a while longer."
The drama was set in the Republican era, with most scenes featuring cheongsams. So during this period, Jing Zejun had been consciously restricting her diet.
Otherwise, if she returned to the set the next day and her costume didn't fit, she'd get scolded by the director again.
Jing Yi popped the guava from her fork into her mouth, sighing a little.
[Being an actor is really tough. It's better to be a 'rice worm'!]
Jing Yi's cheeks were puffed out adorably as she chewed. Jing Zejun couldn't resist pinching her cheek.
Compared to being a 'rice worm', being an actor was indeed quite challenging.
Jing Zejun had initially entered the entertainment industry for the money, and she had been fortunate enough to land the role of the second female lead in "Jun Lin".
That drama had catapulted her to fame.
The show had been a hit, and Jing Zejun had gone from being an unknown to ranking among the third-tier actresses.
More importantly, because she became famous, she had more opportunities to take on roles, and she was gradually able to pay off the money for her adoptive parents' surgeries.
Although her subsequent dramas were mostly mediocre, and her adoptive parents had still passed away, Jing Zejun remained grateful for that drama.
Jing Yi noticed Jing Zejun's distant gaze. Though she didn't know what she was thinking about, Jing Yi keenly sensed her change in mood.
[She seems a bit down. I wonder why?]
The conversation on the other side paused briefly before continuing, but Jing Yi didn't notice the others glancing in their direction.
"Want some more?"
Not knowing how else to comfort her, Jing Yi awkwardly offered another piece of fruit to Jing Zejun.
Jing Zejun snapped back to reality, her lips curving into a smile, her eyes filled with warmth as she accepted the fruit.
