Chapter 342 - 340: Words Spoken Without Intent, Heard With Purpose

Chapter 342: Chapter 340: Words Spoken Without Intent, Heard With Purpose

Perhaps even Madam Song does not know about this matter, otherwise, why would Madam Song not consider Xiao He, the eligible bachelor, and turn to consider others instead?

However, this also shows that it is Song Qingyun herself who is unwilling to choose Xiao He.

Xu Jing shook her head secretly, realizing that her covert attempt to matchmake the two was merely wishful thinking.

Song Qingyun, who had been secretly observing Xu Jing, felt a slight tension in her heart.

Previously, she had done wrong due to her ugly jealousy, and had always felt guilty, yet lacked the courage to apologize to Miss Xu in person.

This time, when Miss Xu invited her to attend the child’s birthday banquet, she was both surprised and delighted, and had resolved to take this opportunity to apologize to Miss Xu.

Worried that Miss Xu might think she had not given up on Xiao Qilang, she quickly smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, please don’t tease me. A young talent like Sun Sanlang is rare and admired by many women, isn’t it? I am actually worried he would disdain me..."

Before Song Qingyun finished speaking, she felt a searing gaze from behind that seemed to pierce through her body.

Her voice paused slightly, and she saw opposite her, Mrs. Pei lifted her eyebrows, covered her mouth with a handkerchief, and laughed lightly, "Oh dear, it looks like the men have arrived after work, and we have been waiting for so long — the birthday feast can finally begin."

Xu Jing glanced at Xiao He, who was walking beside Xiao Yi with an unclear expression, and realized he must have heard what Song Qingyun just said, causing her to cough lightly as she stood up to greet them, "Did you all arrange to come over together?"

Besides Xiao Yi and Xiao He, there were Zhao Jingming and Zhao Jingyi. Xu Jing originally wanted to invite Zhao Jing’an over to join in the fun, but unfortunately, the Imperial College had no holidays.

Upon seeing Xu Jing, Xiao Yi’s black eyes softened naturally, gazing down at her, "I happened to see them on my way back, so we came together. I heard the Western Capital government office summoned you today, is everything alright?"

He was asking not out of concern for her encountering difficulties in the investigation but because this case involved the Jiang Family.

They had just discovered that the Jiang Family might be the force behind manipulating Prince Xing, fueling a competitive intention against them, which made him somewhat worried.

Xu Jing understood the meaning behind his words and shook her head, saying softly, "It’s okay, don’t worry. The deceased this time is Jiang San, and the Jiang Family has suffered a severe blow; they likely won’t have the mind to think of anything else for now."

Xiao Yi squeezed her hand secretly, "Alright, let me know immediately if anything happens..."

As the couple was speaking, Zhao Jingming’s disdainful voice suddenly sounded, disrupting the atmosphere, "I say, Xiao Yanci, have you forgotten about us, your brothers, as soon as you see your wife? This is in public, just watching the two of you being so lovey-dovey makes me full!"

Xu Jing’s eyebrows twitched lightly as she turned to Zhao Jingming with a half-smiling gaze, "If you’re full, then when we have dinner, you can take charge of grilling the meat for us."

Since the gathering involved close friends, everyone was quite informal, and Xu Jing didn’t hold back in her retort.

Zhao Jingming immediately jumped up, glaring at Xu Jing, "How can this be! I left work early specifically to celebrate Chang Xiao’s birthday; how can you treat me this way!"

Xiao Yi also cast a cool glance at him, "Then don’t act like someone who hasn’t seen the world, but I suppose since you’re yet to marry a wife, you wouldn’t know what normal couple relations are like."

Zhao Jingming: "!!!"

Wow, Xiao Yanci has really come around! Who was it that was so resistant to getting married before! It’s been less than two months since his marriage, and he’s already teasing us!

He couldn’t help but exasperatedly turn to Xiao He beside him to seek an ally, only to find Xiao He devoid of the usual energy, his eyelids lowered and lips pressed lightly together, appearing lost in thought.

Zhao Jingming was momentarily taken aback.

Zhao Jingyi, being the older one, stepped in to mediate and said with a laugh, "Alright, the children are watching, both of you are not young, quarrelling like this only invites their amusement. Let me see little Chang Xiao, is he five years old today?"

Xiao Huai’an was familiar with these uncles already, and he ran over with a cheerful smile and said, "Yes, Mr. Jingyi, I’m five years old today; I’m all grown up now!"

As he spoke, he stood up straight and proudly puffed out his small chest.

Everyone was amused by him, and Zhao Jingyi, evidently fond of children, squatted down, picked up Xiao Huai’an, and touched his small nose, "So, what does little Chang Xiao want to do now that he’s grown up?"

Xiao Huai’an tilted his head and thought seriously, "Now that I’m grown up, I can protect Mom and Dad, so they don’t have to leave Chang Xiao behind whenever they go out!"

Whenever Mom and Dad went out, Xianyun would explain to him that they left him behind because they were afraid it would be dangerous for him to follow.

Or they would say Mom and Dad had to attend to important matters and couldn’t bring children along.

So, as long as he grew up, he could go out with them and wouldn’t be left behind!

Hearing this, everyone, recalling the child’s journey of growing up, felt both sympathetic and amused.

Xu Jing smiled softly at him without pointing out the harsh reality that a five-year-old is still just a little child.

Today is the little one’s birthday, so everything should go his way to make him happy!

Life is long; there’s no rush to impart life’s harsh truths earlier than necessary.

While everyone was laughing and chatting in the courtyard, Shen led a group of servants in setting up two large grills, preparing the ingredients for the barbecue.

Although the banquet was a family affair and didn’t require formality, Xu Jing still separated the guests into male and female tables, mainly because she had also invited Cheng Qingqing and Zhou Wan, both young ladies not yet married, so some decorum was necessary.

Xu Jing hadn’t invited the rest of the Zhou Family, but she sent someone to explain because the birthday banquet was primarily for the child, and she didn’t want it to be too formal and grand. So, she only invited Zhou Wan, who usually plays with Chang Xiao, to represent the Zhou Family, and Zhou Qi and the others, not minding, immediately showed their understanding and even had Zhou Wan bring over a birthday gift for them.

This delightful barbecue feast was evidently a hit with the children, who were as excited as if they were caught in a whirlwind; a plate of barbecue would be devoured in the blink of an eye. The servants were so busy grilling to keep up that Shen had to bring out the smaller grills Xu Jing used previously.

Xiao Huai’an was undoubtedly the most pleased and happiest of them all; initially, when the other children didn’t know how to eat this kind of barbecue, he earnestly showed them. Watching him shake his head and waddle around, all the adults couldn’t help but laugh heartily.

Finally, when Xu Jing brought out the cake made by Qiushui, everyone couldn’t help but gather around, and Zhao Jingming, being frank, asked, "Xu... sister-in-law, what is this?"

Xu Jing felt a chill run down her spine at being addressed as sister-in-law and quickly said, "Alright then, you can call me Jing like Shaohua does. This is a cake; you light candles on it, and the birthday celebrant makes a wish before blowing them out. It is said that heaven helps grant the wishes this way."

Everyone listened in bewilderment as Xu Jing cleared her throat, "I read about this in a travelogue once; it’s apparently a tradition from some small Western country."

"I see," Zhao Shaohua said with a look of realization before laughing, "This is the novelty you mentioned earlier, Jing! If you hadn’t said it was from a book, I would have thought you came from a different place entirely and knew things we didn’t!"

What he said without much thought struck a chord with Xu Jing, whose heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously glanced at Xiao Yi.

She found his black eyes, as always, with a faint smile, and as he noticed her gaze, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly, his eyes carrying a gentle warmth, like a spring breeze softly blowing towards her.