Stepping on the Demoness to become the strongest

Chapter 463: Chapter 59: The Battle at the Dinner Table
 

Yan Yu arrived in the living room and saw the girls and Yan Jing gathered around the dining table, chatting and laughing with each other.

“Everyone’s here?” Yan Yu casually remarked, sitting down next to his sister.

“Wait!” Lin Ning exclaimed, “We came all this way to wish you a happy new year, and that’s the first thing you say?”

“Haha, then I wish everyone a happy new year,” Yan Yu said with a laugh, pulling a bowl towards himself, “There’s meat, there’s vegetables, there’s that scent of oil—it must’ve been cooked by Ningning.”

Lin Ning wanted to complain a bit more, but upon hearing Yan Yu’s words, she immediately flashed a bright smile and said:

“You’ve got sharp eyes.”

Yan Jing internally sighed: Big brother really knows how to sweet talk. With just one sentence, he’s thrown Sister Ningning off track.

Then they heard Su Yunjin suddenly say:

“Ningning made the side dishes, but I cooked the noodles.”

“No wonder,” Yan Yu said, realization dawning on him, “These noodles are so well-formed and resilient, just like the ones I had last time at Gusu Residence. It turns out to be Yun Jin’s handiwork.”

Su Yunjin smiled slightly, feeling satisfied inwardly, but Lin Ning couldn’t hold back and retorted:

“Last time, you said you liked my noodles the most because they were soft and easy to digest.”

“Gusu noodles are fine, Qingyuan noodles are thick; their flavors are different and both are excellent,” Yan Yu said composedly, “As long as it tastes good, that’s what matters.”

Lin Ning heaved a silent sigh, exchanged glances with Su Yunjin for a moment, and both helplessly looked away.

Yan Jing was amazed, while Yan’s mother was dumbfounded in the background:

Son! Where did you learn these smooth talk skills! I don’t remember teaching you to brush off girls when you were young!

“Well said,” Zhao Yuanzhen applauded, “There’s no need to rank them, as long as it tastes good, no matter who made it. Come on, let’s eat!”

The group had not been eating long when Yan’s father finally woke up leisurely from his sleep and came out of his room.

He then saw five beautiful girls surrounding his son and daughter, having breakfast and chatting, occasionally helping each other pass plates and hand over tissues.

Yan’s father remained silent for a moment, then quietly asked Yan’s mother:

“Are they all members of his team?”

“Yes,” Yan’s mother retorted, “His team has been established for almost a year now, don’t you know?”

Yan’s father was at a loss for words and finally managed to say:

“Knowing and seeing are completely different feelings.”

Wasn’t that obvious? Yan’s mother couldn’t help but purse her lips.

Urged on by their daughter, the old couple took their seats at the head of the table, harboring some inner worries.

Their concern was not trivial; it was whether having so many girls around their son would lead him astray, turning him into a player who toyed with other people’s feelings.

In today’s internet-saturated world, where netizens love to hold moral tribunals, any leaks of such behavior would greatly damage their son’s public image, and might even affect his career… Ah!

Yan’s mother gave Yan’s father a meaningful look, suggesting that he should go and have a word later.

Yan’s father kept his head down and ate his congee silently. I’ve already advised him, he has his own views, what can I do?

Yan’s mother was quite angered internally, which is the difference between fathers and mothers in many households: fathers often choose not to act on things they know are impossible, while mothers expect their husbands to forcefully act in spite of knowing the odds…

The girls appeared to be joking and chatting casually as they dined, but secretly, they were exchanging covert whispers, keeping others in the dark.

Chen Lingyun: “Ningning, how come you’re here?”

Lin Ning: “If you all can come, why can’t I?”

Chen Lingyun: “We all like the captain, you know, in that romantic kind of way. Are you saying you like the captain too?”

Lin Ning: “No, no, don’t be ridiculous! I’m just here for a normal New Year visit! Since everyone else was coming, it would be awkward if I didn’t. Does visiting necessarily mean liking someone? It’s laughable to even think that… Ling Yun, don’t joke about this with me!”

Chen Lingyun: “So you don’t like the captain? Dare you swear that if you do like the captain but won’t admit it, you’ll have to watch him marry someone else and bear children, and you’ll even be the bridesmaid and the children’s godmother?”

Lin Ning: “I don’t want to make such a vow! I don’t like the captain now, and that doesn’t mean I will in the future… right? Who can say for sure about the future?”

Chen Lingyun: “I see, I see (snickers), so Ningning, you think it’s possible you might like the captain in the future?”

Lin Ning: “Anything could happen in the future so there’s no need to discuss it, the point is I don’t like the captain now, and our relationship is still a clean and pure comradeship.”

Chen Lingyun: “I’m going to confess my feelings to the captain today.”

Lin Ning: “Um… Ling Yun, aren’t you going to think it over? No matter what, confessing on the second day of the New Year is a bit odd, don’t you think? Valentine’s Day… or 520, wait, Qixi Festival seems quite suitable for confessions, why not pick a more significant day?”

Chen Lingyun: “No, I need to get to it before Ningning becomes my rival in love. I feel the captain likes you more than he likes me now, thankfully you don’t like him yet. I need to seize the opportunity, hehehe.”

Lin Ning: ………

Yun Jin: “Ruoxi, why are you here?”

Xie Ruoxi: “The captain told me to come.”

Yun Jin: “I’m curious, what did the captain say? Can you tell me exactly what he said?”

Xie Ruoxi: “He just… just told me to come over today to pay a New Year visit. I forgot exactly what he said.”

Yun Jin: “Did you forget, or do you not want to say? Ruoxi, I actually know everything. You’re here because you like the captain and you want to use the New Year visit as an excuse to get on good terms with the captain’s parents and family, right?”

Xie Ruoxi: “Ah…?”

Yun Jin: “Not denying it means you’re confirming it.”

Xie Ruoxi: “Yun Jin, don’t be like this, I’m a little scared.”

Yun Jin: “There’s no need to be scared (tone softens). I think it’s quite normal to like the captain. After all, he is both capable and dependable, and it feels very safe to be with him.”

Xie Ruoxi: “Indeed, haha, as long as the captain stands by our side, there’s nothing to worry about.”

Yun Jin: “So Ruoxi does like the captain. That means we are romantic rivals now (laughs). I won’t just hand the captain over to you, sorry, Ruoxi.”

Xie Ruoxi: ……… (starts trembling)

Zhao Yuanzhen had finished a bowl of noodles and suddenly asked in confusion:

“Why isn’t anyone talking?”

“Eating without talking, sleeping without speaking, get it?” Yan Yu tapped her with his chopsticks, “Do you think everyone lacks manners like you?”

“Our family doesn’t have this rule.” Yan’s mother immediately defended the Enchantress, “Just eat your own food and stop worrying about others.”

The young ladies all giggled secretly, yet they were inwardly cautious: Zhao had just earned such favor from Yan’s mother! How terrifying!

This is bad, I need to cozy up to Yan’s mother fast!

“Auntie, try this poached egg and see how it is?” Lin Ning pushed the dish toward Yan’s mother. “When frying it, I added a bit of soy sauce and sugar, I wonder if it suits your taste.”

“That’s good, that’s good.” Yan’s mother replied with a smile, only to hear Yun Jin also not wanting to be outdone, asking:

“Auntie, is it easy for you to reach the side dishes? Let me help you get them.”

“Oh, it’s alright, I can reach them.” Yan’s mother hadn’t finished speaking when Xie Ruoxi poured a cup of tea and placed it in front of her:

“Auntie, have some tea.”

“Eh! Thank you.”

Yan’s mother’s smile was already hard to maintain. Chen Lingyun also smiled sweetly, taking out a set of skincare products from her handbag, and said:

“Auntie, I brought some skincare products for you since we are visiting during the New Year. I’ll just leave them here on this side cabinet~”

“Oh my, I’m really embarrassed…” Yan’s mother, who had never seen such a formidable display, hurriedly made desperate eye signs to Yan’s father:

I can’t take it anymore! You better help me out!

“Cough, cough.” Yan’s father could only cough, saying, “Everyone, there’s no need to be so formal. Our family isn’t big on ceremony, it’s very casual here, just treat it like you’re at your own home.”

Yan’s mother couldn’t hold back anymore, she stomped on him under the table and shot him an irritated glare:

What do you mean by “just treat it like you’re at your own home”? Do you really want our son to marry all of them?

With Yan’s father getting his foot stomped on for trying to help, feeling displeased, he could only signal to Yan Yu:

Son, even I’m having a hard time holding up here! Help me out!

Yan Yu immediately scoffed, surveying everyone and said:

“Just eat your meal nicely. Why make such a fuss? Sit down, all of you!”

“I don’t listen to you, I listen to your mom.” Zhao Yuanzhen, thinking she had her mother-in-law’s support, attempted a direct rebellion but ended up with a slap on the forehead from Yan Yu, and, feeling wronged, silently turned her bitterness into an appetite and continued eating fervently, secretly holding a grudge:

Scoundrel, today you hit me in front of the whole family. I will remember this!

One day, when I control the Yan Family, I will severely humiliate you in front of everyone to exact my revenge!

Thinking this, her mind conjured up a scene:

Everyone was chatting and laughing in the living room, and then suddenly, from the bedroom came a cry. A frail Yan Yu burst through the door trying to escape, only to be forcefully dragged back into that dark, sunless bedroom by herself, forcefully sat upon, completely subdued, unable to turn over.

“Got the energy to run? Seems I was too soft-hearted then, leaving you the energy to resist, right? Taste this move! And this one, and this one, and this one!”

“Wife, spare me!” Yan Yu’s screams gradually weakened, becoming mere whimpers of breath, while the people in the living room could only exchange helpless, bitter smiles.

It couldn’t be helped, the house was now ruled by Zhao Yuanzhen—who dared to defy her?

Hmm hmm hmm, hehehe hahaha hahahaha hahahaha hahahaha!