Back to 1984: Earning Money, Raising Kids, and Keeping the Household Busy

Chapter 256 Accompany Me to the Family Dinner
Xiao Jinlin pondered for a moment and said, "The 27th of the twelfth lunar month, at the Supreme Grand Hotel."

"This is a bit late." Just as Chen Xinyue was thinking about how to refuse, Xiao Jinlin quoted a price, "Twenty thousand, plus all the clothes and jewelry for that night are yours."

"Deal!" Chen Xinyue agreed without the slightest hesitation. Her greedy look made Xiao Jinlin secretly breathe a sigh of relief. "You can ask Assistant Tang for the detailed requirements from that night. Make sure to do everything perfectly."

Chen Xinyue gave an "OK" sign, and immediately rushed to the assistant's office after leaving the president's office. "Assistant Tang! I'm bothering you again! Please give me the banquet schedule. Sister Fei, you're here too!"

Seeing Chen Xinyue looking like she'd found money, Lin Fei's eyes widened. "Xinyue, what's wrong with you?"

Chen Xinyue shook her head, "It's nothing, I was just thinking about the year-end bonuses, and I don't know if I'll get one!"

Lin Fei, as if she had found a kindred spirit, excitedly pulled Chen Xinyue along, "I was just thinking about this too! I wonder how much money the company made this year. It'll probably be announced at the regular meeting next Monday, or maybe the week after."

Seeing the two women speaking so boldly in his office, Tang Ming quickly stopped them, saying, "You two, can you please be a little more discreet? Look, this is the dinner arrangement."

Lin Fei stuck out her tongue, looked around, and quickly slipped away.

Chen Xinyue looked at it carefully, then raised her eyes suspiciously, "That's not right, I was talking about the banquet on the 27th of the twelfth lunar month."

"Pfft!" Tang Ming spat out his coffee. "Excuse me? The boss wants you to go to the banquet with him on the 27th of the twelfth lunar month?"

Chen Xinyue nodded blankly, "It's said to be a private trip, at the Supreme Hotel, is there a problem?"

Tang Ming chuckled twice, "No problem!"

He quickly turned around and started typing furiously on the computer. "That's the boss's private schedule, not on the work schedule, but it's within my responsibilities. Listen, there's a tough battle to fight that day, you need to..."

On the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month, Chen Xinyue went to the company to clock in and then immediately went to the salon to get her hair and makeup done.

Tang Ming came over carrying several exquisite large boxes. "Secretary Chen, the dress and jewelry are here. They match the boss's outfit. It's up to you tonight."

Chen Xinyue took a deep breath, ready to die, and was about to touch the gift box when she quickly pulled it back. She gritted her teeth and looked at Tang Ming, confirming again and again, "So all I need to do is make those people misunderstand my relationship with President Xiao, right? No need to say it outright, no need to sacrifice anything, and no danger!"

Tang Ming nodded emphatically, "Oh! Secretary Chen, believe me! If it weren't for the fact that some elders are hard to refuse, President Xiao wouldn't have dragged you into this."

That’s what I said!

Chen Xinyue was quite helpless, but thinking of the performance bonus she had just received and this extra money, she put on a smile again.

After the styling was done, she changed into her dress and jewelry.

Tonight's dress leans towards an intellectual and elegant style: a beige floor-length gown paired with a pure white fur vest and diamond-encrusted high heels. Her jewelry is a complete set of jadeite "white moonlight" pieces. Just the jadeite "white moonlight" bracelet on her wrist alone must be worth six figures. The 18K diamond-encrusted "white moonlight" pendant around her neck, with its thickness and diameter, is also quite expensive. The oval ring and the pair of earrings further enhance the sophisticated and elegant look.
Chen Xinyue dared not continue to appraise the value. After getting dressed, she carefully walked out.

The crowd outside all praised it.

Tang Ming gave a thumbs up in praise, "Secretary Chen, I knew it, I knew it! The boss has such good taste! Even if you don't dominate the whole room tonight, you definitely won't be outshone by anyone! Absolutely amazing! Come on, Uncle Fang is waiting outside. Let's pick up the boss and go to the Supreme Hotel."

Whether Chen Xinyue knew it or not, she habitually wanted to sit in the passenger seat, but Tang Ming made her move to the back.

The car arrived at the company building, and Xiao Jinlin waited for a while before coming down.

As soon as the car door opened, Xiao Jinlin saw Chen Xinyue waving politely at him. He was momentarily dazed, then lowered his eyelids and sat down as if nothing had happened.

On the way, Xiao Jinlin said unhurriedly, "Tonight, my grandparents, my aunt's family, my uncle and aunt, my parents, and my brother and sister-in-law will be there. Besides them, there may be other guests."

I was raised by my grandparents from a young age. I have a distant relationship with my parents, and my relationship with my older brother is mostly superficial and polite. We all usually keep our distance and don't bother me unless there's a family dinner every year.

There are always some clueless people who act superior just because their grandparents and other elders are present. It's incredibly annoying. Your job is to deal with those troublesome individuals and make them stop thinking about my marriage.

As if recalling some unpleasant past, Xiao Jinlin's eyes and brows showed a hint of hostility.

Chen Xinyue took a deep breath. "Understood! Mr. Xiao, what will happen if I say something wrong and accidentally offend someone?"

Xiao Jinlin expressed his doubts but remained silent, only pondering, "As long as you don't offend my grandparents, everything else is fine."

atmosphere!

Chen Xinyue was relieved.

As they were talking, the car entered the parking lot of the Supreme Grand Hotel.

The two immediately linked arms the moment they got out of the car.

Tang Ming felt awkward watching them from behind, so he quickly called out, "Boss, Secretary Chen, be natural, be natural."

This setup looks like they're going to war! What's going on?

Xiao Jinlin and Chen Xinyue exchanged an awkward glance and then regained control of their expressions.

Xiao Jinlin extended his hand, "I apologize for the inconvenience, Miss Chen."

Before Chen Xinyue could react, Xiao Jinlin had already taken her hand; this was their first physical contact.

I was quite nervous.

Xiao Jinlin felt a strange sensation for a moment as he touched the smooth, boneless flesh in his hand, but he quickly concealed it.

The two walked hand in hand into the private banquet room.

Mu Qinglian, Xiao's mother, was making witty remarks next to Old Madam Xiao, while her eldest daughter-in-law, Guo Lingyue, chimed in with smiles. The two women were putting in a lot of effort to compete for favor with Old Madam Xiao's daughter, Xiao Qiuyu.

This infuriated Xiao Qiuyu.

Just then, Xiao Jinlin arrived with Chen Xinyue.

Everyone was startled and looked up.

Finally, the gaze fell upon the two people's tightly clasped hands.

Guo Lingyue stood up abruptly, then realized she had been somewhat out of line and forced a smile, "I...I was just too shocked. Tonight is a family dinner, it's not appropriate for Uncle to bring outsiders over!"

Xiao Jinlin lowered his eyes and spoke expressionlessly, "Didn't my sister-in-law also bring outsiders? What? You can bring people but I can't? Besides, the people I brought aren't outsiders either."

This is my secretary!
The woman dressed up next to Guo Lingyue immediately had tears in her eyes and was on the verge of crying.