Manipulative Harem God

459  Song Family Downfall! Brother's sister, is mine sister — Come hug!

20th April!

Clink!

"Here's your tea," Chen Yulan announced, placing the tea cup with an unadorned, plain demeanor in front of Zhang Wei.

It was morning, yet the garden of the villa buzzed unexpectedly with activity, brimming with life.

She then lingered nearby, her hands clasped in front of her, fingers intricately entwined in a dance of nervous anticipation.

Her gaze swept over the assembly, landing on familiar and unfamiliar faces alike, amidst the verdant splendor of the garden.

Encircling a round table, five individuals were seated, emanating an aura of power and influence that was evident, marking this gathering as one of the most consequential in this corner of the world.

"Your wife seems quite the opposite of you, doesn't she?" Zhang Hongyan remarked, her eyes narrowing slightly as she observed Chen Yulan's entwined fingers, betraying a storm of hidden anxieties.

The comment, tinged with a mix of curiosity and unfamiliarity, invited unwanted attention upon Chen Yulan.

Zhang Wei, momentarily pausing the journey of his tea cup to his lips, looked at her with eyes that softly whispered, "Carefull, don't ruffle her feathers with your words." before articulating, "I find her quite to my taste this way...."

"Oh, did my curiosity wander into forbidden territory?" Zhang Hongyan couldn't suppress a smile, her presence dominating the space as she sat directly across from him.

Her legs were crossed gracefully, her posture exuding an undeniable nobility.

She was adorned in a professional light blue one-piece dress that bared her shoulders, her elegance untouchable, her status rendering her practically invincible to lingering gazes.

Meanwhile, Chen Yulan blinked, a flicker of confusion and surprise dancing in her eyes as she processed Zhang Wei's words. 'Since when did I ascend to the role of his wife?' she pondered, her mind a whirlwind of confusion and disbelief.

'What happened to "Concubine"?' she mused internally, taking the title quite seriously, as it was, after all, what she believed to be her official standing.

Her face lit up with the seriousness of someone contemplating the mysteries of the universe, or perhaps just the complexities of household recycling protocols.

Unbeknownst to her, her brother was a man of whims and eccentricities, refusing to adhere to societal norms and expectations.

This charade, it turned out, was nothing more than a clever ruse to shield her dignity in the company of others. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Shall I bring tea for everyone?" Chen Yulan offered, her voice a soft whisper of diplomacy, floating through the air like a feather caught in a gentle breeze.

Gasp!

This question, so innocent in its intent, managed to make Wang Haoron, who was seated next to a young woman with eyes as captivating as a phoenix's and hair as dark and lush as a midnight garden, feel as if he was tumbling headfirst into love for the second time.

However, no sooner had his heart started to compose a new love sonnet than his romantic aspirations were abruptly sidelined, replaced by an awkward smile. Zhang Wei's voice broke through the moment, an unexpected thunderclap in a clear sky, "No need, they can live without a cup of tea."

!?

"Huh?"

"Eh?"

A chorus of surprised gasps fluttered through the gathering, as offering refreshments to guests was the cornerstone of hospitality.

Chen Yulan, now standing in the eye of an awkward storm, cast a glance around, meeting the eyes of those present, her own expression troubled.

"It's alright, I don't like tea either. I'm sure the others have already had their fill before arriving here, right?" The woman beside Wang Haoron, swift to mend the crackling tension, offered a lifeline.

Her gaze, suffused with warmth and understanding, swept across the faces in the room, lingering on Chen Yulan with a grace that suggested she found solace in the bird's innocence compared to the bird master's shamelessness.

In that fleeting moment, she was captivated by the sight of Chen Yulan's moist, blinking eyes, coupled with her slightly sad face, as if to hide a story within—experiencing a sudden rush of empathy.

It was as if she could feel the bird trapped in a cage, sensing that Chen Yulan teetered on the brink of emotional collapse, like a delicate vase about to shatter at the slightest provocation.

"Mhm! Alright with me," Zhao Hongyan chimed in, her nod a silent seal of approval.

Wang Haoron, under the scrutinizing gaze of his sister, Wang Li, reluctantly acquiesced as well.

Liu Dongzi chuckled heartily, "Miss Yu, no need to concern yourself with this old man either. I've had a complete breakfast already."

His heart swelled with joy, knowing his granddaughter's leg had fully recovered. What more could he possibly wish for?

Thus, when Zhang Wei extended an invitation to his home, Liu Dongzi didn't hesitate. He dashed over, not without first doing his homework on Zhang Wei, of course.

Zhao Hongyan, too, had done her due diligence. Aware of his marital status and his wife, she had braced herself for a potential showdown. Yet, upon encountering the slightly jittery Chen Yulan, Zhao found herself perplexed.

"It's not Miss Yu. Sister Yu Lei is elsewhere; I,I am Chen Yulan," Chen Yulan corrected, noticing Zhang Wei's uncharacteristic silence.

Ever since her arrival in this city, a peculiar atmosphere enveloped her, creating an invisible barrier between her and not just Yu Lei but also that little nizi, as if she were some taboo artifact to be avoided at all costs!

Her clarification sent a wave of surprise through the room, causing everyone's eyes to widen momentarily before Wang Li, Wang Haoron's sister, allowed a sly smile to creep across her face.

"Senior brother is quite the character, isn't he? How about joining the Chamber of Commerce?" Wang Li couldn't resist teasing, her gaze laden with intrigue as she elegantly crossed her legs, casting a look that suggested she was thoroughly entertained by the drama.

!!

Wang Haoron's eyes widened in disbelief at his sister's audacious suggestion, "Huh? Lili!? He's younger than you, and what are you even talking about—"

"Shut up."

"Shut up."

Both Zhang Wei and Wang Li snapped simultaneously, their stern voices cutting through the air and leaving Wang Haoron utterly speechless.

"..."

"..."

"..."