René Alejandro smirked before he quickly smoothed out his expression. The butler leading them made some small polite talk with him. The man wasn't any inferior to the best butlers in Europe. Once again, René Alejandro was impressed. It seemed that Jin Liwei really knew how to surround himself with real experts.
At long last, they arrived at a big but cozy hall. There was a tall Christmas tree with wrapped presents underneath it. Instrumental Christmas music was also playing in the background. There were three children and an orange cat chasing each other around the room. Cheerful conversation and laughter flowed in harmony with the music.
Everyone looked at the new arrivals. The children and the cat only glanced at them before continuing to play.
René Alejandro swept his eyes across the people. He recognized most of them but not all. Jin Liwei was present with his wife, Iris Long. They were his main targets for tonight. As for the other important one, he looked around but couldn't find Lu Jianhong. The old man's grandson, Lu Zihao, wasn't around either including Long Jinjing.
Wei Lan squeezed his arm before leading him and Randy forward to the group of people. Jin Liwei and Iris Long welcomed them.
The mother and daughter were about to air-kiss each other when Iris Long grimaced and stepped back. Jin Liwei also reacted fast and pressed his wife's face on his chest. It wasn't only him who reacted. The others also stood up and surrounded the couple in a protective manner.
Wei Lan's expression turned ugly. "Xiulan, why are yoooooouuuu overreacting and embaaaaaaarrassing your mother in front of people like thiiiiiiiis?!"
Iris Long waved a hand at the group but she still looked pale. "I'm fine."
Long Tengfei was standing nearby with his wife, Yang Jiahui. Both of them looked worried for Iris Long. Then Long Tengfei glared at Wei Lan. Noticing him, Wei Lan bristled and glared back at him and his wife.
René Alejandro watched everything. He was curious why Iris Long reacted like this towards her mother and also why all these people were acting this protective of her. Although the situation was entertaining, he still decided to do something lest his association to Wei Lan leave a bad impression on everyone.
He patted Wei Lan's and murmured to her, "Mamá, calm down, yes?"
The woman still looked ready to fight her ex-husband and his current wife but she still listened to him with great reluctance. She stepped back and turned her head, looking away from the pair. "Hmph!"
"Mother, my apologies if my actions offended you," Iris Long said after recovering from whatever happened to her. "Your perfume is too strong and I can't handle it. I got dizzy."
Wei Lan frowned before lifting her chin. "This perfume is expeeeeeensive! And it smells goooooood. Xiulan, we haaaaaave to talk about yoooooouuuuur horrid taste!"
Iris Long sighed and looked disinterested in explaining herself to her own mother. Instead, she glanced at René Alejandro with curiosity.
He smiled at her, showing his deep dimples. He made sure to keep it short before smiling at Jin Liwei next. Indeed, his decision was correct. Jin Liwei's cold expression eased a little after René Alejandro shifted his attention from Iris Long to him. He was about to introduce himself when Wei Lan interrupted him.
"Xiulan, why aren't you taaaaaalkiiiiiiiing?!" the woman asked her daughter in a shrill tone.
"Wei Lan, get a hold of yourself!" Long Tengfei scolded her. "You just arrived and you're already making a scene! Have some decency!"
"You!" Wei Lan pounced at him but René Alejandro caught her and held her back.
"Tengfei, please," Yang Jiahui pulled her husband's arm.
"Mamá, stop," René Alejandro told Wei Lan. His tone was gentle but his eyes were firm. "Let's take a few deep breaths and calm down, yes?"
She struggled a little but eventually stopped and nodded. However, she still glared at Long Tengfei. She looked like she also wanted to glare at Iris Long but balked upon seeing the protective, cold-faced Jin Liwei beside her daughter.
René Alejandro faced Jin Liwei and Iris Long with an apologetic smile on his face.
"You must be René Alejandro," Jin Liwei said. "I am Jin Liwei and this is my wife, Long Xiulan."
"A pleasure to meet you."
The men shook hands. René Alejandro moved to greet Iris Long with either a handshake or a hug but Jin Liwei blocked him.
"Sorry. My wife is sensitive to scents right now."
"Oh, I see." René Alejandro was confused but still accepted the explanation and stepped back.
"Whaaaaaat sensitive to scents?" Wei Lan asked while looking at her daughter up and down. "Are you preeeeeeegnant, Xiulan?"
It was Jin Liwei who replied to her, "En. My wife is indeed pregnant."
Wei Lan covered her mouth and gasped in an overdramatic manner. "Reeeeaaaaaaally?!!!"
"Yes, really," Iris said with smile while stroking her belly.
"Ooooooooooooh!" Wei Lan's expression changed several times. First, she was shocked. Next, excited. And now, she was horrified. "Oh, noooooooo! I'm still toooooooo young to be grandmaaaaaaaaa!"
Right at that moment, Little Jun ran towards her and hugged her leg. "Amma Lan! Amma Lan!"
Wei Lan staggered a little at the impact but her face immediately broke into a big smile as she bent down to give smacking kisses on the toddler's plump cheeks.
"There you are, Little Juuuuuuun! Did you miiiiiiiiiss your AUNTIE Lan?! Because AUNTIE Lan missed you soooooooo much~"
The others rolled their eyes at her correcting the child for calling her grandma and should call her auntie instead. She didn't have any qualms messing up the generations.
"Little Jun, don't forget to ask your GRANDMA Lan for your Christmas present, okay?" Iris Long said on purpose.
Wei Lan glared at her for a second but returned her attention on the child, assuring Little Jun that she bought him lots of presents.
Later, all of them were seated.
René Alejandro was at ease because nobody was excluding him. On the contrary, they were making an effort to make him feel welcomed. However, he could sense that his main targets, Jin Liwei and Iris Long, were still being distant to him despite their politeness.
He wasn't discouraged. This was their first meeting after all.. He would just observe today and make his move next time.