With an awkward smile on his face, "Look at me, I just can’t say the right things. Yunxiao, Rourou, please don’t take it to heart!"

Witnessing this scene, the smile on Yao Lingling’s face became a bit unnatural.

She knew that her aunt’s vigorous praise also stemmed from her own difficulties.

Yao Xueli had been working in a state-owned enterprise, but lacking connections and without outstanding personal abilities, she had always been marginalized.

Two years ago, she was "optimized" into a new company jointly established by a state-owned enterprise and a private company, and is still just an ordinary department supervisor now.

She holds no power and has no money.

She’s only 38 this year, so naturally, she feels dissatisfied with her situation.

She wanted to leverage this family connection to become acquainted with Gong Yunxiao, a "promising talent".

If she could establish this connection in the future, she might be able to escape her current predicament and usher in a second spring in her life.

Gong Yunxiao followed with a drink, and his smile remained modest and appropriate, "Aunt, please don’t say that. You are our elder, and your care and expectations for us are for our own good."

Despite this, the atmosphere in the private room inevitably became somewhat subtle.

After all, everyone wasn’t foolish.

The words Gong Yunxiao just uttered, although flawlessly spoken, made it clear with the caution and distance typical of system insiders that he had drawn an invisible line between the relatives.

Though the subsequent conversations were still lively, it seemed as if there was an invisible barrier, lacking the casualness and warmth from before.

Gong Yunxiao didn’t fall silent because of the earlier encounter.

On the contrary, he continued to engage in the conversation with a smile, speaking with wit and behaving courteously.

However, his attitude underwent a subtle change.

The most uncomfortable among them was Yao Xueli.

She repeatedly tried to steer the conversation towards a more "personal" and "warm" direction, attempting to draw nearer to Gong Yunxiao again.

But each time, he would effortlessly deflect using a very natural manner.

She held her wine glass, with an exceptionally awkward smile on her face.

She tried to find the right moment to toast several times but could only pause mid-air before reluctantly putting it down.

The rounds of drinks kept flowing, and the variety of dishes passed five rounds.

The atmosphere of the luncheon slowly began to wind down amid the glasses clinking.

"Ring ring ring—" A sudden phone ringtone sounded.

Yao Lingling picked up her phone and quickly walked to the far corner of the private room, turned her back to everyone, and said a few words.

She could not suppress the shy smile that spread across her face.

After hanging up the phone, she returned to her seat at the table.

Feeling a little embarrassed, she said, "Uncle, Aunt, Dad, Mom, I’m full. I came to the resort this time to meet up with a friend, and they are waiting downstairs. I have to leave now."

"Oh, what kind of friend is this, so important? Is it a boy or a girl?" Her aunt teased with a smile, eyes flickering with gossip.

Deng Yuxuan could no longer hold back.

Completely ignoring Yao Lingling’s earlier repeated reminders to "absolutely don’t let it out".

She blurted out loudly, "Of course it’s a boy! And a super handsome one, he’s Lingling’s boyfriend! He’s so charismatic, like a big star!"

Though she was young, she could read the room at the dinner table.

This cousin-in-law Gong Yunxiao sounded impressive, but his lukewarm attitude towards her aunt made her uncomfortable.

In comparison, she preferred that handsome and gentle "Brother Tang Song."

Yao Lingling’s face turned crimson in an instant, giving a sheepish and annoyed glare at her indiscreet cousin.

The other relatives all showed surprised expressions, with their eyes all curiously focused on Yao Lingling.

"What?!" Her mother Zhang Xiufang was the first to react, nearly jumping from her chair, grabbing her daughter’s arm, "How come we never heard you mention this, Lingling?! When did you start dating?!"

"We just got together, giving it a try, so it’s not certain yet..." Yao Lingling mumbled evasively, picking up her bag, "Oh well, don’t worry about it. I’ve graduated, I know what I’m doing."

Not daring to look at the varied expressions of the others, she dashed out of the private room.

Just as she left, Gong Yunxiao, who had been quietly sitting, suddenly stood up.

Pulled Yao Rourou aside gently and said to everyone in a calm tone, "I apologize, I have an important online meeting to attend this afternoon, so I must leave now."

"Ah? In such a hurry?" Aunt Chen Yan’s face was full of reluctant smiles, "Yunxiao, stay a little longer, have a cup of tea before you leave."

"Yes, Yunxiao, no matter how busy you are, you need to take care of yourself," Uncle Yao Guanying quickly chimed in to persuade.

Gong Yunxiao nodded slightly, his attitude humble yet firm, "It really is an important meeting, regarding the preliminary review of the next month’s key provincial project, the timing is rather tight. I promise to plan my time better in advance and visit next time."

Once he mentioned the "provincial key project", who would dare to insist on his stay?

"We’ll see you off." Yao Guanying and Chen Yan quickly got up.

Zhang Xiufang chimed in, "I’ll go down too."

She was still worried about her daughter’s mysterious boyfriend, feeling quite uneasy.

She wanted to go down and see what kind of person he really was.

As a result, suddenly, everyone in the private room went downstairs together.