"Wow, mum this looks amazing but we are only three why did you cook so much?"Katie, mother and father Song sat across from each other on the dining table where mother Song made a little feast.
The family of three immediately dug in, eating and laughing. The general atmosphere surrounding them was harmonious and warm.
Meanwhile
Ning Residence.
The festivities had already begun a while ago, with people of different status coming over to gain favor from the Ning family and everyone dancing and laughing.
To a regular person looking from outside it would seem like a lovely celebration of love but it was just a not so subtle declaration of strength.
With the Ning family sitting on the center table looking like a harmonious family, the elderly and lovely grandmother, sweet parents, charming son and beautiful daughter. Everyone envied what they had.
On another table Ruby Xie along with her parents sat scanning the room and waiting for the perfect time to ask for a private chat.
"Father let"s talk to them now I can"t wait any longer" Ruby impatiently whined
"Calm down and wait a moment the old lady is still eating and she is the one we need to speak to." Father Xie tried to calm her down.
"Wait? She can"t keep waiting, darling the old lady likes. Go over there to greet her and ask to speak with them privately." Mother Xie said as she pushed Ruby up. Father Xie couldn"t do anything but shake his head silently, one day his rude wife and spoilt daughter will be the end of him.
Ruby slowly walked up to center table towards the old lady. "Grandma, how are you?" she said as she gave a very big hug as if showing how familiar they were.
"Ruby dear, I"m good. You haven"t come to visit grandma recently." Old lady said with a gentle gaze.
"Grandma I know I"ve been naughty by not seeing you, but I"ve been working on my career so I can be an accomplished woman like grandma. Please don"t be angry with me"
"Yes that"s right you should learn to work hard"
They continued to talk even Father Ning and Mother Ning cheerfully joined. Leaving James quietly eating his food and only reply when directly spoken to, he was already annoyed when he found out Katie wasn"t coming and she also wasn"t feeling well, he would be with her taking care of her than be here.
While, Catherine who wasn"t spoke to at all, tried to blend in as much as possible to prevent being compared to Ruby like always.
"But, grandma I have something I want to talk to you about in private my parents would like a meeting." Ruby sweetly asked trying to act innocent, and of course the old lady and couple couldn"t say no. so they told the housekeeper to prepare a tea room for them to discuss.