socalfunplaces Page 146
Page 146
He knew perfectly well that Xiong Ge's cooking skills were terrible, and he didn't have pica, so he naturally wouldn't eat Xiong Ge's terrible cooking.
"Okay, sure, I've got this covered!"
Ye Siren felt as if he had been granted a pardon and quickly agreed, then turned and walked towards the entrance.
However, as soon as he reached the door, the smile on his face froze, and his steps slowed down.
He reached into his empty pockets, remembering his struggling, nearly bankrupt bar and the few meager bills he had in his pockets…
With this little money, how could we possibly order the most expensive dishes? We'll just order some home-style dishes.
But he felt too embarrassed to ask his ex-wife for money.
Left with no other choice, he had to bite the bullet and leave the Xia Mansion, intending to just find a restaurant and order a few dishes.
In the living room.
After chasing Ye Siren away, Xiong Ge immediately put on a warm smile and greeted Lan Tianyu:
"My benefactor, please don't just stand there, please have a seat!"
After saying that, she pointed to the largest sofa in the living room.
Lan Tianyu readily agreed and gracefully sat down on the sofa.
As soon as Xia Mei saw Lan Tianyu sit down, she immediately tried to get close to him like a butterfly, with a silly smile on her face.
As a result, Xiong Ge reacted quickly, glaring back fiercely with a sharp look.
Xiong Ge knew all too well his daughter's infatuation with men, and didn't want her to scare away her benefactor.
Xia Mei shrank back when her mother glared at her.
She could only pout and reluctantly sit down next to Xiong Ge.
Xia Tian and Xia Yu sat down next to Xiong Ge, but their eyes kept curiously glancing at Lan Tianyu.
Xiong Ge cleared his throat and asked formally:
"My benefactor, I was truly rude earlier. I have not yet had the pleasure of asking your honorable name?"
"My name is Lan Tianyu," Lan Tianyu said frankly.
"Blue Sky Universe..."
Xiong Ge silently repeated the name to himself, about to ask further questions.
"This name sounds so nice!"
Xia Mei, who was standing next to her, couldn't wait to interrupt. Her big eyes blinked, and she leaned forward, asking excitedly:
"Brother Tianyu, where do you live? How many people live in your family? Do you have a girlfriend?"
Xia Mei asked quickly and urgently, her questions filled with a young girl's straightforwardness and curiosity.
"Natsumi!"
Xiong Ge's face darkened, and he reprimanded in a low voice.
"What nonsense are you talking about! How can you question someone's benefactor like that! It's like you're checking their household registration!"
Lan Tianyu found it somewhat amusing to look at Xia Mei's undisguised infatuation.
"Girlfriend... well, I already have one, so little sister, don't even think about hitting on me."
"You...you're pregnant?"
Xia Mei's bright smile froze instantly, as if struck by a bolt from the blue.
The stars in her eyes went out instantly, and she wilted like a frostbitten eggplant.
Slumped on the sofa, emitting unconscious groans:
"Ugh... How could this happen!"
The budding girlish heart was shattered in an instant.
Lan Tianyu did not respond. For girls whose looks did not meet his aesthetic standards, a direct rejection was the only way to eliminate any possibility of ambiguity.
This approach actually made Xiong Ge appreciate it even more.
In her view, such a clear refusal is much better than ambiguity that leaves room for imagination; it is a responsible approach for both parties.
Xia Yu's gaze lingered on Lan Tianyu almost imperceptibly.
The seemingly understated yet exquisitely made and well-tailored casual wear, along with the valuable watch on his wrist, silently proclaimed the owner's considerable wealth.
Xia Yu's shrewd business mind instantly sprang to life.
If he could build some connections and secure some investment, he might be able to escape the fate of working for someone else and become his own boss.
His eyes darted around, and a warm smile spread across his face: "Brother Lan, where do you work?"
Lan Tianyu didn't think much of it and casually said:
"My family owns a company and does some small business."
He wasn't exactly lying; the Lan Group was indeed quite large in the Gold Dimension.
"start a company?"
Xia Yu's eyes lit up immediately, as if he had seen a glittering gold mine.
He immediately leaned forward, his tone seductive:
"Brother Lan, are you interested in investing?"
"I have several fantastic project proposals here, guaranteed to make a profit, requiring only a small amount of start-up capital..."
"Cough cough!"
Xiong Ge coughed loudly, glared at Xia Yu fiercely, his eyes filled with a warning:
"Xia Yu, Mr. Lan is our benefactor, what are you doing?"
This eldest son is actually good in every way; he's smart, sensible, and does well in his studies, making her worry-free since he was little.
It was only this snobbishness and greed that gave her a major headache.
【139】Moving into the Xia family!
Xia Yu shrank back after being glared at by his mother, and swallowed back the words he wanted to say about attracting investment.
He could only sullenly pout and mutter under his breath, "I was just trying to generate some income for the family..."
Summer stood to the side, smiling sheepishly. Being introverted and shy, he didn't know what to say in this situation and could only listen quietly.
After chatting for a while, the sound of a door opening came from the entrance hall.
Ye Siren walked in carrying several bags printed with the restaurant's logo, forcing a warm smile on his face.
"Come on, come on, dinner's ready! All the dishes are freshly cooked!"
But deep within that smile lay a hint of undisguised heartache.
This meal nearly drained the last bit of working capital from his bar.
Xiong Ge, Xia Yu, and the others rushed forward to help.
Soon, several delicious and visually appealing home-style dishes filled the table.
While it may not be as luxurious as a top-tier restaurant, it is warm and inviting.
Everyone sat around the dining table, and Xiong Ge enthusiastically served Lan Tianyu food:
"My benefactor, please don't be shy, eat more. We are so grateful to you today, otherwise our whole family might have perished."
Lan Tianyu couldn't refuse, so he could only accept with a smile and said gently:
"Brother Xiong, please stop calling me your benefactor. Just call me by my name or Tianyu from now on."
"Okay, then I'll call you Tianyu from now on when I'm 183cm tall."
Xiong Ge is a straightforward and generous person, and he doesn't dwell on such trivial matters.
The meal was enjoyed in a harmonious atmosphere.
The five members of the Xia family clearly didn't consider Lan Tianyu an outsider. They introduced themselves to each other during the meal, chatting about family matters and neighborhood gossip, creating a warm and lively atmosphere.
Ye Siren also temporarily forgot about his empty wallet and tried his best to liven up the atmosphere.
After a hearty meal, the table was a mess of cups and plates.
Seeing that the time was ripe, Lan Tianyu carefully considered his words, his tone carrying just the right amount of hesitation:
"Um, Xiong-ge, if I may ask, do you have any spare rooms at your place?"
Xiong Ge was taken aback by what he heard, then realized what he meant and asked in surprise:
"Tianyu, do you have nowhere to stay?"
She hadn't expected this seemingly well-off young man to have such a need.
Lan Tianyu touched his nose, his eyes slightly unfocused, as if he was having some difficulty speaking:
"Well, I've had a little argument with my family recently, so I'm thinking of staying away from home for a while to clear my head."
This reason is reasonable and there's nothing wrong with it.
Xiong Ge looked apologetic: "I'm so sorry, Mr. Lan, we don't have any vacant rooms..."
"Yes, of course we have them!"
Xia Mei abruptly interrupted her mother, excitedly pointing upstairs.
"There's a folding bed in that practice room upstairs; you can tidy it up and someone can sleep there!"
Although Lan Tianyu's relationship with his girlfriend disappointed her, seeing handsome men every day was still a good option.
"Rehearsal room?"
Upon hearing this, Xia Tian and Xia Yu instinctively looked at Ye Siren.
That room was originally where Ye Siren tinkered with music, and there was indeed a folding bed inside.
Ye Siren was taken aback by the stare, then waved his hand dismissively:
"Oh, that? It's nothing, it's nothing. I basically live in bars these days anyway."
"The room is just sitting there empty anyway, so you can arrange it however you like."
He hasn't remarried Xiong Ge yet, so he doesn't really have the right to speak.
When Xia Yu heard that his father had agreed, his eyes lit up instantly, and his greedy nature was exposed once again.
He immediately pulled out his notebook and pen, and said in a serious tone:
“Brother Lan, of course, it’s no problem to stay here, but... the rent…”
"Snob!"
Upon seeing this, Xia Mei instantly flew into a rage, standing up with her hands on her hips and pointing her finger at Xia Yu's nose, angrily saying:
"Brother Lan is our family's savior, how dare you ask him for rent? Don't you have any conscience?!"
Xia Yu curled his lip and retorted confidently:
"One thing at a time. We will remember the life-saving grace and repay it in other ways."
"But rent is one thing, but utilities, food, and depreciation all cost money."
"If you're not in charge of the household, of course you don't know how expensive firewood, rice, oil, and salt are."
Just as the siblings were about to start arguing, Lan Tianyu smiled slightly and calmly took Xiu's wallet out of his storage ring.
"Xia Yu has a point. Even brothers should keep clear accounts."
"Consider this money as my rent and food expenses for the time being. I'll be troubling you all from now on."
Lan Tianyu extended his right hand and handed the wallet directly to Xia Yu.
Xia Yu's eyes lit up. He snatched the wallet and eagerly opened it for a quick look.
A thick stack of brand-new banknotes!
A rough estimate puts it at least in the hundreds of thousands!