...

Soon, the food and drinks were brought to the table one by one.

Delicate cold dishes, steaming soups, whole braised sea cucumber and abalone, everything you could want.

In the midst of the clinking glasses, Gong Yunxiao and Yao Rourou became the true stars of the evening, everyone surrounding them like stars around the moon, making the whole gathering lively.

With a hint from the elders, the younger generation got up one by one, holding their wine glasses, taking turns to toast the "promising future" Gong Yunxiao, introducing themselves.

And grabbing the chance to make their presence known.

Soon, it was Yao Lingling’s turn.

She confidently raised her glass, her smile bright, and said, "Brother Yunxiao, I’m Yao Lingling, and now I’m doing fashion design in Yan City. Please take care of me in the future!"

Her cheerful tone and confident demeanor made Gong Yunxiao take an extra look, and he nodded with a smile in acknowledgment.

Yao Lingling had just sat down.

Cousin Yao Rourou, with some curiosity, said, "Lingling, I heard the clothes you designed recently went viral? Being shared all over the internet? I’ve been busy with work recently and haven’t kept up."

Yao Lingling smiled, her tone light, "Oh, it’s just lucky, like a blind cat finding a dead mouse."

Her mom, Zhang Xiufang, couldn’t hold back and immediately chimed in, "Lingling recently switched to a new company and designed a jacket that sold like crazy on Singles’ Day, becoming a bestseller online. Later, even the celebrity Su Yu wore it for a street photo shoot; it’s still trending on searches!"

"That’s impressive?" Yao Rourou was a bit surprised.

She remembered her cousin Lingling worked at a small company, and just graduated a little over a year ago, she didn’t expect such an achievement.

Gong Yunxiao also timely followed up with a compliment.

Aunt Yao Xuemei couldn’t resist asking, "So Lingling, how much do you make a month now? Tell Auntie, so we can be amazed too."

In that moment, all eyes were on Yao Lingling, full of curiosity and exploration.

Noticing her mom’s eagerly expectant look.

Yao Lingling paused, then with a smile said, "The basic salary is ten thousand, but then there are commissions and performance bonuses. All in all... the annual salary should be around three to four hundred thousand."

Actually, she understated it a little.

If the current heat persists, her commissions would be quite terrifying, she might even receive company stock options as incentives.

Even so, it still left all the relatives present in shock.

In Yan City, an annual salary of three to four hundred thousand is like income of some top corporate executives.

Seeing the relatives’ astonished expressions, Zhang Xiufang instantly felt refreshed.

She and her husband Yao Guanjie, due to failing in their clothing business, lost quite a bit of money.

Over the years, they hadn’t escaped being teased in both overt and subtle ways by these people.

Now, they’re considered relatively down-and-out among the big family.

Finally, her daughter has given her some pride.

All the lost face over the years was finally recovered rightfully.

Aunt Chen Yan, on the other hand, couldn’t maintain her face, smacking her lips and forcing out a somewhat strained smile.

Speaking in a seasoned tone, "Hmm, that’s good. But I’ve heard people say that these live broadcast e-commerce companies, though lively, aren’t stable, and there’s no security."

"Oh, you are not in the know." Mother Zhang Xiufang immediately retorted, raising her voice, "Lingling’s company is in the best office building in Yan City, Cloud Stream Building, with full insurance and benefits, plus meal and communication allowances, and rental subsidies, basically there’s no need to spend on rent herself."

Seeing the two sisters-in-law about to "go to battle" again, Aunt Yao Xuemei hurriedly smiled to smooth things over, "Oh my, I say our Yao family really has had an auspicious year! Lingling in fashion design earning high salary at a young age; Rourou, too, entered a provincial unit, the work is respectable and stable. One can ’earn money’, the other has ’status’."

"Indeed, both are excellent," Little Aunt Yao Xueli, who hadn’t said much, then followed up, her gaze falling on Gong Yunxiao, who maintained a mild smile, "But, in the end, Yunxiao still has the most promising future. At a young age, he’s in such an important department of the province. In the future, our family Lingling and Rourou, will surely have to rely on Yunxiao for guidance and advice!"

These words made Uncle Yao Guanying’s family beam with joy, their faces full of satisfaction.

Gong Yunxiao’s hand holding the wine glass paused, and there was a trace of subtle caution in his tone, "Aunt, you’re giving me too much credit. I’m just a service person, here to serve the people."

Yao Xueli, however, didn’t catch the subtext and immediately continued to fawn, "Oh Yunxiao, you’re just too modest! In today’s society, what’s most important? It’s connections and platforms! Rourou at the workplace..."

Her words continued, her voice filled with enthusiasm.

"Ahem."

Gong Yunxiao suddenly lightly coughed, interrupting her.

His eyes became slightly serious, "Aunt, you absolutely must not say that. Our unit is disciplined and the biggest taboo is engaging in these ’social exchanges’. If my superiors heard that, I’d be criticized."

With those words, the lively atmosphere in the private room instantly came to a halt.

Yao Xueli’s smile froze on her face.

Yao Rourou quickly reacted, smiling to smooth things over, placing a piece of ribs in Aunt’s bowl, "Oh, Aunt, look at you, you’re just too earnest, saying anything and everything aloud. Yunxiao is joking with you! Come come, eat."

Yao Xueli just then snapped back to reality, hurriedly picked up her wine glass, and punished herself with a drink.