Rustle.
He had originally wanted Ye Fei to feel some pity for him, this old man, but he hadn't expected his little trick to be seen through so quickly.
Since that was the case, there was no point in continuing to pretend.
"Alright, you've seen through my little trick, old man."
"It's like this, I called you here today mainly because I want you to accompany Yao Yao to her maternal grandmother's 80th birthday banquet."
"Her maternal grandmother has always wanted to introduce some wealthy young gentlemen to Yao Yao, and you know Yao Yao's mother's thoughts are no different from her maternal grandmother's."
"I'm just worried Yao Yao won't be able to handle it, so I wanted you to accompany her."
"After all, as long as you haven't broken off the engagement, you are still her fiancé in name."
Elder He spoke as he glanced at Ye Fei a few times, confirming he had no objections, and then breathed a sigh of relief.
"Certainly, I promise you. This is also what I should do."
Ye Fei agreed readily.
He actually considered He Jingyao as a good friend, so accompanying a friend to an event was only right.
"That's wonderful, Ye Fei. With you there, I won't have to worry about Yao Yao's safety."
Elder He's face immediately broke into a smile, the wrinkles around his eyes creasing.
Afterward, at Elder He's persistent invitation, Ye Fei stayed for dinner at his home before being driven back to his large apartment in the city center by the driver.
When Ye Fei returned, He Jingyao had also gotten off work and returned home.
Ye Fei then informed He Jingyao that he had agreed to Elder He's request to accompany her to her maternal grandmother's 80th birthday banquet.
"That's great! Just these past couple of days, my mother has been constantly nagging me about my maternal grandmother wanting to introduce me to some talented young men at the banquet. I'm simply fed up."
"Since you can accompany me, I'll finally have an excuse."
He Jingyao said joyfully.
After a brief exchange, they each returned to their rooms to rest.
The next morning, He Jingyao pulled Ye Fei directly towards a large shopping mall.
This time, they were there to select a gift for her maternal grandmother.
"Ye Fei, let's check this place out!"
He Jingyao pointed at a jewelry store selling gold and jade.
The two of them walked in one after another.
The sales assistant greeted them with great enthusiasm.
Upon learning they were buying a birthday gift for an elder, she directly led them to a display filled with various gold items.
"Miss, these gold items in our shop are also very suitable. See if there's anything you like?"
The sales assistant, seeing He Jingyao's refined attire, eagerly introduced the items.
He Jingyao nodded and began to choose carefully.
"Take this one out for me to see!"
He Jingyao pointed at a gold ornament shaped like a birthday star holding a peach and said.
"Miss, your taste is truly excellent. This is our best-selling item, and the price is quite reasonable."
The sales assistant, seeing her select an item, immediately explained with a smile.
Just as the sales assistant placed the gold ornament on a velvet-covered tray and He Jingyao was about to pick it up, it was abruptly snatched away by someone else.
"Brother, quickly look, this one is quite nice. Let's buy this one!"
A young woman's voice sounded next to He Jingyao.
"Indeed, it is nice!"
"Then wrap it up!"
A man wearing a floral shirt and with slicked-back hair nodded.
"Cousin, I saw this first!"
He Jingyao hadn't expected to run into her maternal uncle's cousin and cousin here.
"Jingyao, it's you?"
"Are you here to buy a gift for Grandma?"
The cousin with the slicked-back hair also looked surprised.
"Cousin, since we've taken a liking to this gift, why don't you pick another one?"
"In any case, your He family is currently in vogue. It's a good time to show filial piety to Grandma!"
The cousin in the princess dress pouted, looking jealous.
Especially after learning that the He family's skincare products had recently become very popular, the Zhao family, also in the skincare business, had become resentful of them.
In fact, the He family had helped them considerably in previous years, especially when He Jingyao's father got married, they had invested a large sum in the Zhao family.
"Cousin, I saw this first. We should follow the principle of first come, first served."
He Jingyao frowned.
Since she hadn't spent much time with them since childhood, their relationship wasn't deep.
"Why? As long as you haven't paid for it, you can't claim it's yours!"
"Besides, I'm your cousin. What's wrong with you letting me have it?"
The cousin in the princess dress said indignantly.
Especially seeing a piece of jewelry on He Jingyao's neck that she had long wanted, she looked even more envious and resentful.
"Cousin, I apologize. We have a limited budget, unlike your He family, which is now wealthy and powerful. Please let us have this."
The cousin replied directly.
He Jingyao, facing their veiled words, chose not to engage with them. Instead, she silently pulled Ye Fei and prepared to leave.
"Ye Fei, let's go. We'll buy a gift at another store."
He Jingyao directly pulled Ye Fei and walked out.
"Brother, could this kid be her fiancé?"
"She seems quite fond of him. Will she really agree to the young master Grandma wants to introduce her to tomorrow?"
The cousin in the princess dress muttered.
"Don't worry, you don't need to fret. We've made thorough preparations."
The slicked-back-haired brother reassured her.
After leaving the store, He Jingyao pulled Ye Fei to a shop she frequented and quickly purchased a suitable birthday gift.
The next evening, the two were to attend her maternal grandmother's birthday banquet.
As for her parents and younger brother, they departed from the villa.
After dressing up, they got into the car and headed to the hotel.
"Ye Fei, if anyone gives you trouble, don't be polite. I don't have a good relationship with them anyway. Just handle it with discretion."
He Jingyao first briefed Ye Fei.
He Jingyao's maternal grandmother had a total of two sons and two daughters, but her two maternal uncles were both idlers.
The family business was now handed over to the eldest uncle's only son, Zhao Yu.
That is, the man with the slicked-back hair they saw yesterday.
As for the woman in the princess dress, she was his only sister, Zhao Zi.
"Don't worry, kid. I won't stand for any unfair treatment!"
"If they dare to bully me, I definitely won't let them off lightly!"
"And I guarantee they won't even find a shred of evidence!"
Ye Fei said with a sly smile.
Only then did He Jingyao breathe a sigh of relief.