Chapter 170: Chapter 169: The Mothers Meeting

There were only two days left before the birthday banquet.

The invitations had already been sent out, and because Li Xinyue had personally helped arrange the matter, the list of invited guests was well made.

Some were people connected to the Li Family, families that had shown goodwill after Li Jain came to South River City, and people who could not be ignored if the Li family wanted to establish proper footing in the city.

Of course, there were also people who heard of the banquet even without receiving an invitation. While the Li residence was busy preparing, another meeting was taking place down the street.

At Golden Lantern Street, one of the busiest and most expensive streets in South River City, a high-end restaurant called Jade Crane Pavilion was filled with guests. This restaurant was famous for its spiritual dishes, exquisite private rooms, and expensive prices that made ordinary cultivators not dare enter.

On the second floor, three women were sitting at a table near the window.

One of them looked aloof. She wore a dark blue dress, and her hair was held in place with a simple silver hairpin. Her face was beautiful but cold, and the faint sharpness in her eyes made her feel aloof.

Her name is Qin Meiyu, and she’s the mother of Li Yujian and Li Yuhan.

The second woman looked much gentler. She wore a light green dress, and her features carried a soft warmth that made people relax unconsciously around her. Even when she sat quietly, she gave off the impression of someone who rarely fought.

Her name is Wen Qinglan, and she’s the mother of Li Cheng and Li Zhang.

As for the last woman, she looked very familiar. After taking a closer look, one would realize that the person is Fan Ruyin.

Compared to the other two women, Fan Ruyin had dressed up more carefully. Her makeup was delicate, her jewelry was eye-catching, and every movement seemed to carry the intention of showing that she was not an ordinary woman. Unfortunately, when she sat with Qin Meiyu and Wen Qinglan, the difference in temperament could still be seen clearly.

A while later, a waiter came over with a polite smile and respectfully placed three menus in front of them.

"Honored guests, please look at the menu. Would you like to order now?"

Fan Ruyin took the menu first and opened it with a smile, the smile froze on her face almost immediately.

The prices were ridiculously expensive. Each spiritual dish cost far more than she expected. Even the simplest cold dish cost more than what ordinary people spent on several days of food. The signature dishes were even worse. Each name looked elegant, but the price beside it made Fan Ruyin’s heart bleed.

She had originally chosen Jade Crane Pavilion because she wanted to appear generous and respectable in front of the other two women. After all, she had invited them out first. If she chose a cheap tea house, wouldn’t it make her look like she had financial problems?

But now, looking at the dishes and their prices, she regretted it. Unfortunately, regret was unless.

She wanted to close the menu immediately and say that she had suddenly lost her appetite. Unfortunately, she could not.

Qin Meiyu lifted her eyes slightly and noticed Fan Ruyin fingers tightening around the menu, but she said nothing.

Wen Qinglan also saw the way Fang Ruyin’s eyes paused on the prices, but she only lowered her gaze and continued looking at the menu calmly.

The two women looked at each other and frowned, but didn’t expose her.

Fan Ruyin forced herself to smile: "The dishes here look quite good. Sisters, order whatever you like."

Qin Meiyu lifted her eyes and glanced at her: "Then I will not be polite."

Fan Ruyin was dissatisfied but she had to maintain her smile.

Wen Qinglan said gently: "There is no need to order too much. We are only here to talk."

Fan Ruyin immediately felt that Wen Qinglan was still sensible. Before she could relax, Wen Qinglan ordered two dishes that were not cheap but also not deliberately extravagant.

Qin Meiyu ordered even more simply. She picked one spiritual fish dish, one clear soup, and a pot of spirit tea.

Fan Ruyin saw that they had not gone too far and finally breathed a sigh of relief. She ordered one dish for herself, though her heart still ached when she heard the waiter repeat the total.

After the waiter left, the atmosphere at the table became quiet.

"Fan Ruyin, you asked us out so suddenly. You should get to the point." Qin Meiyu said.

Her tone was not rude, but it was direct enough that Fan Ruyin’s prepared small talk had no chance to come out.

Fan Ruyin’s expression stiffened slightly: "Sister Qin is still so straightforward."

Qin Meiyu looked at her calmly: "We are not close enough for unnecessary pleasantries."

Wen Qinglan smiled lightly and picked up her tea cup: "Ruyin, since you invited us out today, there must be something you want to say."

Fan Ruyin’s eyes moved between the two women. These two were also mothers of Li Jain’s children.

In the past, they had all been connected to Li Jain in one way or another. Even if none of them had truly married him, the existence of the children made their relationship complicated. Fang Ruyin had originally thought that after Li Jain rose again, these two women might also have ideas.

That was why she wanted to test them.

She smiled and said: "You should have heard that Li Jain has arrived in South River City."

Wen Qinglan nodded: "I heard the news."

Qin Meiyu: "He’s been here for over a month already."

Fan Ruyin observed their expressions carefully: "Then have you visited him?"

Wen Qinglan shook her head: "No, I’ve never thought about it."

Qin Meiyu also shook her head.

Fan Ruyin was slightly surprised by how quickly they answered: "You haven’t gone at all?"

Qin Meiyu looked at her strangely: "Why should I?"

Fan Ruyin smiled and said: "After all, the children are there. Yujian and Yuhan are your sons."

Qin Meiyu’s expression did not change: "I know who my sons are."

Wen Qinglan placed her cup down and said softly: "If there is something important, please say it directly."

Fan Ruyin felt that the two women were more difficult to deal with than she expected

She originally thought they would feel at least some movement after hearing Li Jain had become rich and powerful. After all, Spiritual Tavern was famous, and now Li Jain had money, ability, and status. Even if he had been useless in the past, the current Li Jain was completely different.

Fan Ruyin lowered her voice slightly: "In two days, it will be Li Cheng and Li Zhang’s birthday. Li Jain is hosting a banquet for them."

Wen Qinglan’s fingers paused around the tea cup. Qin Meiyu also glanced at her. After all, the second pair of twins were Wen Qinglan’s children.

Fan Ruyin continued: "I came today because I wanted to ask what your plans are."

Qin Meiyu looked at her and asked sarcastically: "Were you invited?"

Fang Ruyin’s face stiffened: "What does Sister Qin mean?"

Qin Meiyu said: "If you were invited, then go. If you were not invited, why are you bothering with it?"

Fang Ruyin turned ugly: "Even if no formal invitation was sent, do we still need one? In a way, we are also connected to the family. Do mothers and stepmothers need formal invitations to attend their children’s banquet?"

Qin Meiyu sneered coldly: "Stepmothers? Fan Ruyin, do not put gold on your own face. You are not the stepmother of my sons, and I am not the stepmother of your triplets. The only connection between us is that we once had children with the same irresponsible man."

Wen Qinglan sighed softly: "Meiyu’s words are unpleasant, but they are not wrong."

Fan Ruyin looked at Wen Qinglan in surprise.

She had expected Qin Meiyu to be difficult. Qin Meiyu had always been cold and sharp, and she had never bothered to hide her dislike for people she looked down on. But Wen Qinglan had always seemed gentle. Fan Ruyin did not expect her to agree so quickly.

Fan Ruyin forced herself to smile: "Sister Qin, why speak so harshly? Li Jain is different now. The children are also living well with him. If we go over, it would only make the family more complete."

Qin Meiyu looked at her coldly: "Complete? Or do you want to use the banquet to announce your position beside Li Jain?"

Fan Ruyin’s face flushed at once: "I did not say that."

"You did not need to say it," Meiyu replied: "Your ambition is written on your face."

Fan Ruyin’s embarrassment turned into anger, but she still swallowed it down.

Wen Qinglan: "Ruyin, we have all moved on long ago. I have my own life now, and Meiyu also has hers. We were lucky enough to build new families and live peacefully. I am not interested in Li Jain’s wealth, and I am even less interested in having a relationship with him again."