The Ex-Wife-to-Be Is Acting Weird After Losing Her Memory - Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Sonata Two

Facing Gu Huizheng’s gentle and utterly poised demeanor, Elder Zhen nodded slightly and smiled: “That was very thoughtful.”

No sooner had he spoken than the surrounding relatives and guests, eager to please, immediately tried harder to praise Gu Huizheng’s superb musical talent. The most excited person was Zhen Ming, who loudly exclaimed with shining eyes, “Thank you, Miss Gu, for your performance. Seeing Grandpa so happy, it was worth my repeated efforts to finally invite a great figure like you back!”

Before his self-congratulatory remark ended, some of the more observant extended relatives followed suit: “Cousin Ming is truly filial, to be able to invite Miss Gu to perform. We also have the good fortune to enjoy it!”

Zhen Ming smiled, putting on a humble front: “As long as Grandpa is pleased, it’s only right for us juniors to put in the effort.”

The relative smiled apologetically: “Exactly… Cousin Ming has always been so thoughtful. Oh, speaking of which… It’s the old gentleman’s birthday today, why haven’t we seen your celebrity granddaughter-in-law?”

Zhen Zhen’s gaze slightly narrowed. Before she could open her mouth to explain, Zhen Ming quickly jumped in to answer for her: “Seventh Uncle doesn’t know. Miss Lu, as a Best Actress, is busy with work, and we usually dare not bother her for occasions like this…”

The relative, known as Seventh Uncle, presuming his seniority and having had a few drinks, flushed red and said loudly, “So what if she’s a Best Actress? Does being a big star mean she can disregard the word ‘filial piety’?” He tilted his head toward Gu Huizheng. “To be fair, Miss Gu is a violinist, a national master who has performed overseas. She traveled thousands of miles to be here…”

The accusation in this statement was too obvious. For a moment, everyone’s expressions varied—some agreed, some were doubtful, and others quietly lowered their eyes, pretending it had nothing to do with them. In the silent stillness of the room, someone suddenly spoke first.

Gu Huizheng smiled radiantly: “Today is Elder Zhen’s birthday banquet. We juniors are here to contribute to the fun, which is a blessing from the elder. Zhen Zhen and I started learning the violin together when we were young and often ate at the Zhen house. If I may be so bold, I’ve always regarded Elder Zhen as my own grandfather. Even if Cousin Ming hadn’t mentioned it, I would have certainly come back.”

She scanned the crowd, then added unhurriedly: “Besides, I believe everyone here can see Zhen Zhen’s filial devotion to Elder Zhen. She would treat this birthday banquet with more seriousness and sincerity than I would. I believe the best surprise is always saved for last. Why not look forward to it?”

This speech was impeccable. It flattered the old gentleman while subtly diffusing the tension for Zhen Zhen. Everyone present understood the implication, and someone immediately raised their wine glass: “Miss Gu is right. Let’s raise our glasses, raise our glasses…”

The atmosphere at the table quickly became lively again. Only Zhen Ming’s gaze remained darkly fixed on Zhen Zhen. Others might not care, but he clearly remembered that in the two years since Zhen Zhen’s marriage, the aloof Best Actress Lu had attended family gatherings only a handful of times. She surely wouldn’t come this time either.

Thinking this, he tilted his head back and drank the wine in his glass, muttering under his breath: “I’d like to see where you can pull a person from!”

On the other side of the table, after offering a few toasts, Gu Huizheng found an excuse to quietly whisper to Zhen Zhen: “I managed to stall for some time. Hurry and ask your wife if she’s left yet.”

Facing her friend’s concerned look, Zhen Zhen lowered her eyes silently. From the moment she left in the morning until now, Lu Jiayin hadn’t contacted her. Earlier, she had mustered the courage to send a text message, but there was still no reply.

She smiled faintly in disappointment: “I don’t think she’s coming.”

Gu Huizheng was stunned.

“No, she will,” she comforted softly. “Maybe something unexpected delayed her.”

Before she could say anything more, she was interrupted by the same relative, Seventh Uncle Zhen, who had previously criticized Lu Jiayin. The old man, red-faced from drinking, tapped his wine glass and laughed: “Well? Is our big star coming or not?”

Zhen Zhen took a deep breath. Before she could utter the words, “She’s busy today,” a commotion erupted at the entrance of the main hall.

“Am I late?” A delicate voice drifted over the crowd, creating a bright, ethereal note in the air.

The instant she heard the voice, Zhen Zhen turned her head as if in disbelief. When she clearly saw the person, she immediately stood up and quickly walked toward the entrance.

Lu Jiayin, wearing a red silk floor-length gown, walked in. The silk was smooth, illuminated by the lights with a soft pearly sheen. As she swayed gracefully, the hem of the dress rippled like water. Her dazzling white, long legs were faintly visible within the expanse of red, captivating everyone’s attention.

Her dark hair was unbound, and she wore a pearl tiara on her head. The South Sea pearls were lustrously clear, framing her features like a painting. She was both stunning and possessed an irresistible, dazzling attractiveness that made people unable to look away.

Seventh Uncle was dumbfounded, staring blankly at the graceful figure approaching. He didn’t even notice the wine glass tilting in his hand. Zhen Ming’s face, meanwhile, was dark, almost dripping with sullenness.

How is this possible? His mind was filled with questions. His hands clenched into fists under the cover of the tablecloth, tightly gripping them in unwillingness.

And at this moment, under the gaze of everyone present, Zhen Zhen had already reached Lu Jiayin. The glamorous actress curved her lips, handing the paper bag in her right hand to Zhen Zhen first, and then took her arm.

The two walked hand-in-hand to the banquet table. Lu Jiayin gracefully stopped and nodded to Elder Zhen in the main seat: “Grandpa, I apologize. It took a little extra time to prepare your gift.”

Elder Zhen’s smile widened: “Little Lu, your presence is the best gift I could receive tonight.”

Lu Jiayin looked at his kind smile, feeling touched. She reached out to Zhen Zhen for the paper bag, took out a food container from inside, and respectfully handed it to the old gentleman.

The container was not exquisite; it looked like the kind of takeout paper box commonly seen on the street. Compared to the expensive tea cakes and purple clay antiques gifted by relatives and friends earlier, it was almost laughably humble.

Seeing a slight confusion flicker in Elder Zhen’s eyes, Seventh Uncle loudly stated: “Now I have to speak up. Miss Lu, if you were really busy, it would have been fine not to prepare a gift, but to bring out something like this… isn’t that being a bit perfunctory to the old gentleman?”

His words clearly represented the thoughts of some people present. Zhen Zhen slightly furrowed her brow: “Seventh Uncle, Jiayin would never be perfunctory with Grandpa. You’ve had a bit too much to drink.”

Seventh Uncle hadn’t expected her to be so direct and felt embarrassed: “Is this how you defy your elders, just to protect your wife?”

“Say no more.” It was Elder Zhen in the main seat who spoke up. He had already accepted the container from Lu Jiayin’s hand and placed it seriously on the table.

The container was opened. Under the curious gaze of the entire room, people saw several golden, round little pancakes neatly arranged inside. The crust was fried until crisp and sprinkled with a bit of green onion. It looked exactly like an ordinary snack.

Seventh Uncle proudly raised his voice: “Is this not perfunctory? Presenting a street snack as a birthday tribute—in all my seventy-plus years, I’ve never seen such a thing…”

He was about to use this as an excuse to make a few more points, but Elder Zhen performed an action that surprised him. He raised his eyes and looked inquiringly at Lu Jiayin, and the overly beautiful young woman smiled and nodded as if sensing his thoughts.

Elder Zhen smiled, reached out, and picked up a small fried pancake, putting it in his mouth.

A crisp crunch sounded, and the aroma of green onion burst forth. Elder Zhen chewed carefully for a moment, his eyes lighting up with surprise: “That’s right! It’s this taste!”

He finished the entire small fried pancake, still wanting more: “How did you find this shop?”

Seeing Elder Zhen’s reaction, the anxiety Lu Jiayin had been holding in finally completely dissipated. She smiled faintly and replied: “I thought Grandpa lacks nothing, so I hoped to give you a more special gift. These past few days, I looked through all your previous interviews and reports, and I discovered a small incident.”

“You once said that in the beginning of your business, times were tough. Once, when the price of plastic plummeted, you only had enough money left for one last payroll, and you were almost at rock bottom. You happened to pass a fried pancake stall in North Point, were drawn in by the aroma, and thought you would announce the closure of the firm after eating this box of pancakes. But you didn’t expect…”

Not many people present remembered this old story. Elder Zhen smiled and took over her words: “I didn’t expect the pancake to be so fragrant. As I ate, I resolved that I absolutely could not give up. The next day, I gathered the employees for a meeting. With their trust, I managed to turn things around with that last bit of capital. That’s how the Zhen Group survived and reached its current scale.”

He spoke with emotion, lightly tapping the container in front of him: “When I felt like I couldn’t go on, a box of fried pancakes made me realize that life is worth living, and perseverance wins in the end. Little Lu, I truly love this birthday gift!”

With the old gentleman’s final endorsement, the guests naturally wouldn’t spoil the mood. The conversation quickly shifted to the difficulties of starting a business and Elder Zhen’s remarkable achievements over the years, accompanied by flattering praises. The atmosphere was harmonious.

Lu Jiayin was seated next to Zhen Zhen, in the closest position to Elder Zhen. As a celebrity and exceptionally beautiful, almost all attention in the room naturally gravitated toward their side.

Zhen Zhen was still slightly dazed. Lu Jiayin had actually come to the birthday banquet, and she had even carefully prepared a gift. Zhen Zhen whispered: “So you went out today to buy this for Grandpa?”

The person beside her smiled gently: “Yes and no. I also had Fu Ruyi take me to get my hair and makeup done. Even though it’s a family banquet, I was afraid that dressing too casually would embarrass you.”

Under the lights, that vibrant face was close by. Her dark, clear almond-shaped eyes watched Zhen Zhen expectantly without blinking. Her lips were so moist, like a pair of perfect petals.

As she spoke, she leaned closer to Zhen Zhen, her red lips stopping not far from Zhen Zhen’s cheek, whispering: “Wife, you keep staring at my lips. Do you want a taste?”

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