Having been given a second chance at life, who would still want to pursue her?

On the mountain at night, the courtyard lights were on, illuminating the last wisps of smoke rising from the chimney.

On the dining table inside the bungalow.

Everyone is already seated.

But the atmosphere was a little strange.

"Today's dishes are rather simple. Tomorrow, have Su-ling buy more and make it a bit more elaborate."

"Eat up, start eating, don't be shy."

Chen Guochang invited everyone to eat.

But Chen Yueting just sat there, expressionless.

Zhang Yonghui, who was next to her, looked like he had been given a lot of alcohol that afternoon. Although he was sober now, he was still smelling of alcohol.

However, he still kept a straight face and didn't say a word.

Besides the two people, there was one other person at the table.

He looked at the dishes on the table with a displeased expression, his brows furrowed and never relaxed.

Zhang Xinyi slowly withdrew her gaze from her parents and shifted it to Chen Jianji beside her.

She tilted her head and whispered.

"What are you doing? My parents have been arguing all afternoon, and you were arguing in your room too."

"You're acting like you're one of the people involved."

It seemed like Zhang Xinyi was muttering to herself.

Wang Suling, who was standing to the side, finally found an excuse to speak, and she stared at her son with an unfriendly look.

"You little rascal, you usually crave home-cooked meals the moment you get home, why aren't you making any this time? What's wrong? Don't you like it?"

I felt my mother's sinister gaze.

And there's the resentful look in the eyes of the young lady next to her.

Chen Jianji then came to his senses.

He sat up straight, and a bright smile immediately appeared on his face, which had been full of gloom.

"No, I'm very satisfied! Eat! Eat right now!"

Chen Jianji picked up his chopsticks and first gave Zhang Yonghui a piece of meat.

"Uncle, my mom's braised pork is incredibly delicious, you should try it."

Zhang Yonghui's eyes flickered, and he picked up the bowl and responded.

"Okay, sure."

Chen Jianji smiled, then picked up a piece of chicken leg and put it into Chen Yueting's bowl.

"Aunt, Xinyi keeps telling me that you can't get used to the feed chickens in Haicheng, and you've been craving the authentic home-raised chickens from the mountains back home for a long time."

"This chicken thigh meat is the best part. I specifically asked my mom not to leave any chicken thighs for me, but to cut them into pieces so that everyone could eat them together."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yueting glanced at Chen Jianji with some surprise, then looked at Zhang Xinyi, who was looking down and somewhat embarrassed.

This child is thinking of me even after coming here; she truly is my own daughter.

As she thought this, a smile appeared on her expressionless face, and her expression softened considerably.

"Is that so?"

"I've said it many times, let me taste it and see if it tastes like I remember it."

As Chen Yueting spoke, she picked up her chopsticks, took a bite of the chicken leg meat in her bowl, and tasted it.

"Hmm! It's very chewy, much better than the powdery meat I had in Haicheng."

"Those vendors always claim their chickens are from free-range farms, they lie to you every time. Even if you manage to pick a good one, it's still not quite right."

"I haven't bought anything that smells exactly like the one at home in all these years."

Just as she was sighing.

Zhang Xinyi quietly nudged Chen Jianji's arm, lowering her voice somewhat awkwardly.

"I never said that."

Chen Jianji didn't even look at her, his face still full of smiles, glancing at her sideways, his lips not moving, but his voice came out.

"shut your mouth."

Zhang Xinyi gave a soft "oh," sat up straight again, and silently ate her food.

Meanwhile, Zhang Yonghui, sitting opposite, seemed to hear Chen Jianji and Chen Yueting both praising the chicken.

He hadn't tasted it for many years, so he picked up his chopsticks and took a piece of chicken leg meat.

But just as I was about to put it in my own bowl...

But then I felt my shoes being kicked from the other side.

Zhang Yonghui looked up and saw his nephew winking at him and constantly gesturing to the side.

He paused, then turned his head to look.

Chen Yueting had just finished eating the chicken leg and nodded repeatedly, still looking a little unsatisfied.

Zhang Yonghui was able to build his business in Haicheng, which shows he's not someone who doesn't understand social etiquette.

Or perhaps they don't want to, and can't bring themselves to do it.

But at this point... things have come to this.

After all, I had been drinking, so I was somewhat out of my mind.

Zhang Yonghui remained silent for a moment.

The direction of the chopsticks changed.

The piece of chicken leg meat landed in Chen Yueting's bowl.

In that instant.

Chen Yueting paused, her mouth still chewing on the meat.

Almost everyone at the table stopped what they were doing and looked at her.

Everyone's breathing suddenly stopped, and Zhang Xinyi even swallowed nervously.

One second... two seconds... three seconds...

Chen Yueting remained expressionless.

But she picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of meat, and slowly put it into her mouth.

Become!

Chen Jianji turned his head and met Zhang Xinyi's surprised gaze.

At the dinner table, the atmosphere suddenly changed and became lively.

"Haha, eat more. We don't have anything else, but there's plenty of chicken. Ting, when you go back to Haicheng, I'll catch a few for you to take back with you."

"That's right, plenty of it. Ah Hui, let's have some more drinks later."

......

The group was chatting and laughing.

Chen Yueting suddenly put down her chopsticks.

"I still need to go abroad for a while. My salary will increase a lot there, and we won't have as much pressure."

"You don't have to be overwhelmed by debt all day long. When I ask you, you're too proud to tell me, and if I ask too much, you argue with me and refuse to come home."

Her voice was low and her gaze was fixed on the dishes on the table, but she was speaking to Zhang Yonghui.

These words were spoken.

Zhang Yonghui's face stiffened, before he could speak.

Zhang Xinyi immediately panicked. She nervously tugged at Chen Jianji's sleeve under the table.

Chen Jianji didn't speak, but watched quietly for a while.

It seems that the trivial matters in my sister-in-law's family were just minor issues magnified by the two of them; the real issue was a debt crisis!

At this moment, Zhang Yonghui also put down his chopsticks and said in a deep voice.

"It's not that bad. The company is just temporarily short of cash flow. The legal department has already mitigated all the company's operational risks. Even if it goes bankrupt, it won't affect our family."

"We've been using our savings for many years."

Chen Yueting sneered: "And what about a few years from now? Are we just going to sit around and live off our savings?"

"Children's education, living expenses, mortgage payments, car loan payments—which of these doesn't cost money?"

"Oh, there are no cars left. They were all used as collateral to cover the company's losses!"

"What annoys me most is that you didn't even tell me you mortgaged the family car. You always said you took it to get it repaired. What's the point of hiding something like that?"

Zhang Yonghui remained silent for a while before speaking.

"I'm afraid you'll worry, and I'm also afraid you'll leave."

"Aren't you planning to leave now?"

Chen Yueting immediately got angry: "If you could just talk to me calmly, instead of acting like you're out of your mind as soon as you get home, saying a few words and then not coming home all day."

"I thought you were out fooling around. If you had told me earlier, instead of me finding out myself, would I be making a fuss with you?"

It was clear that the two were getting heated and about to start arguing again.

Chen Guochang quickly stopped him.

"Tingmei! Don't get angry, talk it out slowly."

"If you're short of money, we can discuss it. Your brother and sister-in-law have some money, so we can at least help out."

Chen Yueting's eyes suddenly reddened, and she turned her head away.

"No need. You and Sister Ling work so hard to earn money, we'll take care of it ourselves."

Everyone fell silent for a moment.

And just then...

Chen Jianji suddenly raised his eyes and slowly spoke.

"Auntie, money is not a problem."

......