As soon as Yun Xi went outside, she saw the black car parked at the curb. Chen Yichen saw her coming out and got out of the car.
Yun Xi was taken aback on seeing him.
She had thought that Chen Yichen was going to send a driver to pick her up. She surely hadn't expected Chen Yichen to come himself.
Yun Xi teased him with a smile. "So, the eldest heir has come to pick me up himself. I'm really flattered!"
"I came here personally to show my sincerity and pay tribute to your status."
Chen Yichen went to the passenger side and opened the door for her.
Yun Xi smiled and was about to get into the car. It just so happened that, at that moment, Liang Xiuqin was leaving to take Yun Ziling to the Jiang home to find Jiang Henglin.
As soon as she'd gone outside and seen the elegant sedan parked at the curb outside their house and noticed that the eldest heir had come in person to pick up Yun Xi, she quickly pulled Yun Ziling with her and walked over to get familiar with him.
"The eldest heir is here! Such a distinguished guest! Would you like to come in for a cup of tea?"
Chen Yichen glanced at Liang Xiuqin. Although he didn't like this snobby woman, he had to maintain a courteous attitude toward her both because she was Yun Xi's mother and because of the manners he'd been bred with. So he answered politely, "Auntie, there is no need. Thank you."
"Oh, are you headed home to the Chen family's house? It just so happens that we're going to the Jiang family's house on the same road. Could you give us a ride with you?"
Chen Yichen glanced at Yun Xi's embarrassed and impatient expression and chuckled lightly. "I'm sorry, but we aren't going back to my home. Grandma has invited Yun Xi to dine at Jinding."
"Jinding..." Liang Xiuqin tugged at the corners of her mouth, her eyes gleaming.
Jinding!
Jinding's cuisine was second to none in Jingdu!
Customers weren't allowed to order dishes. All the dishes were cooked by the host according to what was in season.
The chefs at Jinding were all apprentices to or heirs of imperial court chefs. The craftsmanship they displayed was the highest in Jingdu. The food was lavishly priced and deliciously made.
Those who could get a reservation at Jinding were either celebrities or prominent figures in the business world. Ordinary people couldn't make a reservation even if they wanted to.
The Yun family was just a family from the villa complex. There was no way they would ever be able to get a reservation.
Yun Ziling had grown up in Jingdu, so she naturally knew what Jingding represented.
Upper-class socialites all gloated about going to Jinding for dinner. It had become a way to show off one's status.
Now, after hearing that Yun Xi was going to Jinding with the Chen family, she was no longer in the mood to go to the Jiang family's home.
From the corner of her eyes, Yun Xi saw Yun Ziling tugging at the hem of Liang Xiuqin's clothes, and she knew exactly what her mother and sister were thinking.
Before her mother could speak, Yun Xi said, "Eldest heir, let's go! We don't want to keep the old Madame waiting."
"Hey, wait a minute! Yun Xi, since you are going to see the old Madame, why don't you bring us along. We can apologize to her personally about what happened at the auction."
Go and apologize, and then get a free meal with it. Liang Xiuqin knew that since she was Yun Xi's mother, the old Madame wouldn't give her a hard time.
Yun Xi turned her head and glanced at her mother. She couldn't believe that the old cow was thick-skinned enough to mention the charity auction.
Yun Xi made an eye gesture to Chen Yichen, and he went over to the driver's side of the car.
Liang Xiuqin thought that she had agreed to this idea, so she led Yun Ziling over to the car and reached for the car door.
But the car door wouldn't open, and Yun Xi rolled her eyes at her mother.
"Mom, you crashed the old Madame's auction. If it hadn't been for me interceding with her, do you think the old Madame would've let you off the hook so easily? If you show up in front of the old Madame and mention that incident, it will provoke her. I can promise you I won't be able to help you anymore. Are you sure you still want to go?"
It seems that the lesson her father gave her last time hadn't been memorable enough. Her mother was still looking for trouble!
"Sister! You and I both know what happened last time. It's obvious you tried to frame me..."
Yun Xi raised her eyebrows and decided to pick on the pushover, Yun Ziling.
"You still haven't paid Madame Chen for the vase you broke, have you? Do you want to bring the money with you and give it to Madame Chen today?"
"You..." Yun Ziling felt herself grow even more resentful and infuriated. She bit her lip and glared at Yun Xi, her pale hands gripping her bag tightly.
"Wretched girl, watch your mouth! Whether it was the auction or the vase, it has all been your fault!"
Yun Xi smiled airily. There was nothing for her to say.
She slammed her car door shut.
Chen Yichen started the car and drove away quickly.
In the rearview mirror, Yun Xi could see her mother stamping her foot in frustration, while Yun Ziling looked indignant. Yun Xi sneered to herself.