Chapter 119: A Group Outing

Chapter 119: Chapter 119: A Group Outing

Qiao Meixia looked at her grandmother’s determined gaze, then surrendered with a quiet nod. "Fine."

"Such a good girl." Old Madam Jiang smiled triumphantly, her sharp demeanour melting away instantly.

Jiang Suhan silently observed the lighthearted banter between his grandmother and sister. For reasons he could not quite articulate, he felt that the ancestral estate was vastly more vibrant and full of life today than during any of his previous solo visits. He pushed his chair back and stood up from the table.

"I shall go upstairs to change my clothes." Jiang Suhan announced.

"Where are you heading off to?" Jiang Fenfang asked curiously.

"I am joining your shopping trip." Jiang Suhan stated calmly.

Jiang Fenfang blinked in astonishment before her eyes opened wide.

"Brother Suhan, you are actually tagging along with us?!" Jiang Boqin asked, equally shocked.

"Yes." Jiang Suhan nodded smoothly.

"Wow! Today is turning out to be an incredible day!" Jiang Boqin laughed heartily.

"Right?!" Jiang Fenfang grinned ear to ear.

"I was under the impression that you thoroughly loathed retail shopping." Old Madam Jiang remarked, eyeing her eldest grandson.

"I do." Jiang Suhan admitted without hesitation.

"Then why on earth are you volunteering to go?" Old Master Jiang asked, amused.

Jiang Suhan turned his warm gaze toward Qiao Meixia.

"Because Qiaoqiao is going. I simply wish to spend more quality time with Qiaoqiao." Jiang Suhan offered a gentle, affectionate smile.

A sudden, quiet hush fell over the dining room for a fleeting second.

Jiang Fenfang looked at Qiao Meixia, then glanced back at Jiang Suhan, a sly, playful grin gradually spreading across her face.

"Brother Suhan truly dotes on Cousin Meixia to an unbelievable degree." Jiang Fenfang teased with a light chuckle.

"She is my sister." Jiang Suhan stated simply, offering no denial whatsoever.

Qiao Meixia looked up, her dark eyes meeting his. For a reason she could not fully comprehend, hearing those simple words resonated deeply within her chest, filling her with a subtle, soothing warmth. She quietly lowered her gaze back to her plate, silently resuming eating her fresh fruit.

Old Madam Jiang caught that tiny, barely perceptible shift in her granddaughter’s stoic expression. She subtly exchanged a knowing glance with Old Master Jiang, and both elders shared a soft, fond smile. Their long-lost granddaughter might not fully grasp it just yet, but she was slowly allowing herself to build genuine emotional roots within this family. And they were more than happy to afford her all the time and space she required.

"Alright, then! Let’s head out and enjoy ourselves to the fullest!" Jiang Boqin declared enthusiastically.

"Hmm... and the best part is we don’t have to worry about the bill at all!" Jiang Fenfang grinned mischievously.

Jiang Boqin shot a quick look at Jiang Fenfang, immediately catching his sister’s cheeky implication.

"I shall cover every single expense today." Jiang Suhan stated casually.

Jiang Fenfang and Jiang Boqin instantly exchanged a triumphant high-five across the table.

"Even so, you two had better exercise some self-restraint." Qi Meifeng finally spoke up, offering a gentle warning to her energetic children. She then turned toward Jiang Suhan with an appreciative smile. "Do not let them take advantage of your generosity, Suhan."

"I understand completely, Fourth Aunt." Jiang Suhan nodded respectfully.

He then excused himself to head upstairs to his suite to change into suitable outing clothes. Jiang Fenfang bounced out of her seat to do the exact same.

Since Jiang Boqin and Qiao Meixia were already dressed appropriately, they remained downstairs, stepping out of the dining room into the main lounge.

Old Master Jiang and Old Madam Jiang also rose to return to their private quarters.

"Mom, where is Dad?" Jiang Boqin asked, noticing his father’s absence.

They did not see Jiang Nianzu at breakfast.

"Your father insisted on sleeping in to enjoy his weekend. So, I simply left him to rest. He will wander out of bed whenever his stomach alerts him." Qi Meifeng chuckled softly.

Jiang Suhan finally came downstairs, dressed in a stylish yet casual outfit perfectly suited for an afternoon out.

"I am all set! Let’s head out!" Jiang Fenfang announced enthusiastically, her energetic voice echoing through the foyer.

"Alright, let’s go." Jiang Suhan smiled gently. "We can take my car."

"Sounds great to me." Jiang Boqin agreed, following them out toward the driveway.

"So, where should we head first?" Jiang Suhan inquired once everyone had settled comfortably into their seats inside his car.

"Let me suggest Suyou Shopping Mall." Jiang Boqin spoke up from the back. "It has plenty of great facilities, entertainment options, and fantastic shops for us to check out. Plus, it is not too far from the estate."

"Yeah, that’s a wonderful idea!" Jiang Fenfang nodded in complete agreement.

Neither Jiang Suhan nor Qiao Meixia had any objections, readily agreeing to Jiang Boqin’s reasonable suggestion. With their destination settled, Jiang Suhan started the engine, and they smoothly departed from the ancestral grounds.

An hour later, they pulled into the bustling parking area of Suyou Shopping Mall. Being the weekend, the massive commercial complex was already filled with a lively crowd of visitors.

"Let’s tackle our clothing shopping first." Jiang Fenfang suggested as they stepped into the grand atrium. "That way, we can simply have the boutique arrange direct home delivery for all our shopping bags instead of lugging them around all day."

"That is an exceptionally smart idea." Jiang Boqin chimed in. "Though, what specific style of clothing are we aiming to pick out today?"

"Some versatile casual wear, and definitely a proper evening gown for Qiaoqiao." Jiang Suhan stated calmly.

"I really don’t require an evening gown." Qiao Meixia interjected softly, shaking her head.

"Trust me, Qiaoqiao, there will inevitably come a time when you will be required to wear one." Jiang Suhan explained patiently. "Take the upcoming family acknowledgement banquet, for instance. If you don’t pick one out now, Mom will inevitably throw a fit and try to force you into a high-strung gown that completely clashes with your tastes. It is far better for you to select a design that you personally feel comfortable wearing."

Qiao Meixia fell into a thoughtful silence for a long moment. He undeniably raised a valid point. She could already vividly picture Feng Lan’s dramatic, displeased expression if she dared to show up at a formal high-society event in her standard understated attire. She had no desire to cause an unnecessary scene or draw unwanted eyes to herself. Blending in seamlessly was by far the wisest strategy.

"Fine." Qiao Meixia finally conceded. "However, the gown must remain simple."

"Deal! Now, let’s go hunt for those everyday casual outfits first." Jiang Fenfang declared happily, taking the initiative to pull Qiao Meixia by the hand. "I happen to know a fantastic brand that I am sure will match your taste."

With the two girls leading the way hand-in-hand, the boys naturally trailed a few paces behind them like protective bodyguards. Since Jiang Fenfang wasn’t entirely certain which floor the store was located on, she quickly pulled up the shopping mall’s digital directory on her phone. Seeing that her desired boutique was situated on the third level, they immediately headed toward the nearest set of elevators.

The boutique was named Black and Others, featuring a sleek, modern storefront. As soon as they stepped across the threshold, the attentive floor staff greeted them with warm, welcoming smiles.

"Cousin Meixia, take a look at this dark purple set! I bet it would look absolutely stunning on you." Jiang Fenfang praised, pulling a chic dark purple outfit from the rack to present to her.

Jiang Fenfang purposefully avoided pulling any loud or bright neon colours, taking Qiao Meixia’s personal preferences into full account. From her observations, her cousin thoroughly disliked wearing overly flashy, bright clothing. Therefore, moody jewel tones and deeper shades were undeniably the most suitable match for her aesthetic.

"This deep burgundy outfit is quite nice as well." Jiang Boqin chimed in, holding up another sleek set. "The deep red tone will create a striking, beautiful contrast against your fair skin."

"Oho... look at you." Jiang Suhan chuckled softly, eyeing his younger cousin with amusement. "It seems you possess quite a bit of practical experience when it comes to selecting women’s fashion."

Hearing his eldest cousin’s teasing remark, Jiang Boqin’s face instantly flushed a bright, flustered red.

"Brother Suhan, what on earth are you talking about?!" Jiang Boqin stammered, attempting to defend himself. "I only picked that up from being forced to watch Mom and Fenfang browse through clothes every single time we go out!"

"You actually tag along with your mother and sister every time they go on a shopping spree?" Jiang Suhan asked, raising an amused eyebrow.

***This novel is a contracted work with w e b n o v e l. c o m. If you do not read this novel on w e b n o v e l. c o m, that means it has been stolen. Thank you, from your shameless author, ZerahNeko***