Song Mian was preoccupied with Chu Xingning, so she picked out the honey-glazed cherries for him, added two more dishes, and then thought to pass the ordering device to Yu Xinrong.

Yu Xinrong said nothing, just smiled and took it, placing it between himself and his son.

Before they could start selecting dishes, Jiang She lightly nudged Chu Tao and said, “Serve some food to your uncle and aunt. It’ll get cold if you wait too long.”

Chu Tao froze, and so did Song Mian and Chu Jiangmin.

In all these years, Chu Tao had never served them food—it just wasn’t the kind of relationship they had as a family.

After a brief pause, Chu Tao pressed his lips together and served Song Mian and Chu Jiangmin each a piece of lamb, dipping it in the special sauce.

Since their son served them food, they couldn’t just ignore it. Song Mian and Chu Jiangmin quickly ate the lamb. Song Mian didn’t even have time to chew before she hurriedly said, “It’s delicious. Tao Tao, you all eat too. Jiang She, you eat as well—don’t go hungry.”

Song Mian had been reflecting all day on how she hadn’t cared for Chu Tao enough or given him enough attention, which had likely caused him to be distant. For him to take the initiative to serve her food today was deeply meaningful to her.

Jiang She used the communal chopsticks to pick up a piece of meat for Chu Tao and said quietly, “Try this first.”

His actions were so natural and open, as though this was the most ordinary thing to do, leaving no room for misinterpretation of their friendship.

Only Chu Tao’s heart was pounding. Jiang She was practically dancing on a razor’s edge—teasing him under the table while serving him food in front of everyone.

Chu Tao didn’t dare look into Song Mian’s eyes and kept his head down, focusing on eating.

Song Mian felt a slight hint of doubt about Jiang She’s gesture, but she remembered how, back when she was in school, it was normal for classmates to share food or drinks. It only reinforced her belief that Chu Tao and Jiang She had a genuinely good friendship.

She always thought that Chu Tao was lucky to have a friend like Jiang She. Whether now or in the future, their friendship would be mutually beneficial. High school friendships were relatively pure, without too many complexities, and it was easier for people with compatible personalities to get along.

Chu Tao took a bite of the lamb and found it soft and tender, with a slightly gelatinous texture that melted in his mouth. It was rich and flavorful, but he quickly drank a cup of matcha to balance the greasiness.

Under the table, Jiang She’s subtle teasing made him itchy, so he gripped Jiang She’s fingers tightly to stop him from moving.

The older members of the family were eating, and Chu Xingning, with no reservations, picked out the dishes he liked.

While Yu Xinrong was still looking through the menu, the rest of the family had already started eating.

With seven people at the table and only four dishes served so far, it was clearly not enough.

Yu Wei was a little hungry, and seeing the four dishes already being touched made him feel dissatisfied. No matter what, his father should have been the central figure of the dinner, but Jiang She’s presence had completely disrupted that.

Despite being just a high school student, Jiang She had an unexplainable commanding presence. His words and suggestions were followed, making him appear courteous and polite on the surface, but it was clear he enjoyed taking control and having things go his way.

Finally, Yu Xinrong finished ordering, submitted the selections, and placed the ordering device aside.

Looking around at the harmonious scene at the table, he paused for a moment, then picked up his chopsticks and calmly joined the conversation. “The kids will be taking their college entrance exams soon, right? How’s their studying going? Do they feel confident?”

When children are present, the topic inevitably shifts to academics. For Song Mian, her confidence also stemmed from her two children.

Song Mian paused her chopsticks and smiled. “They’re doing pretty well, relatively steady. We’ll see how the results from the first mock exams turn out. It’d be great if they could improve even further.”

Yu Xinrong pressed further, “What kind of rankings do they have in school?”

Song Mian hesitated. When it comes to academics, saying they’re doing well is usually sufficient; going into specifics about rankings wasn’t necessary, especially since Yu Xinrong wouldn’t know the standards of Huainan No. 1 High School.

Chu Jiangmin answered instead, “Top ten, maybe top twenty.”

Yu Wei was curious, “What kind of universities can they get into at that level?”

Chu Jiangmin responded with some pride, “With a bit of effort, they should be able to aim for the top two universities.”

Yu Wei leaned back slightly and looked up, as if deep in thought. “What was the QS ranking for Tsinghua and Peking University last year? Around 70 or 80? Not bad.”

For a moment, the table fell silent.

Everyone in the country knows how difficult it is to get into Tsinghua or Peking University. While their QS rankings might not surpass Yu Wei’s alma mater globally, it didn’t mean Yu Wei was better than Chu Xingning or Chu Tao under the same conditions.

Yu Wei had also attended high school in the country, so he clearly understood this. His mention of world rankings was obviously a way to assert his superiority.

Even Chu Jiangmin noticed the tension in his words, his expression turning awkward.

He acknowledged that Yu Wei was quite accomplished, but that didn’t mean his own children weren’t. Both were aiming for prestigious universities, and there was no need to pit them against each other—especially since they weren’t even from the same graduating class. Yu Wei, after all, was six years older and had already completed graduate school. His comment came off as petty.

Chu Xingning wanted to roll his eyes on the spot, and even Chu Tao’s expression turned cold.

Chu Tao didn’t feel close to the Yu father and son at all. Today’s dinner was an unexpected arrangement, but he certainly didn’t consider them important. If not for Song Mian and Chu Jiangmin’s presence, he would’ve already left.

Only Jiang She seemed amused, casually pressing his fingers against his teacup and spinning it slowly. “Top twenty isn’t much to brag about. I ranked somewhere around 300, so I guess I’m even worse off.”

Song Mian felt increasingly uneasy. They had already taken over Jiang She’s private dining room, and now Yu Wei was bringing up academics while subtly belittling the top two universities. Yet among all the kids at the table, Jiang She had the lowest grades. It was hard not to feel uncomfortable with such a comment.

Perhaps Yu Wei had been abroad for too long and lost touch with social nuances in the country.

Yu Wei eagerly latched onto Jiang She’s remark. “Ranked 300? What kind of school can you get into with that?”

Jiang She replied nonchalantly, “Probably just an average 211 university.”

Yu Wei raised an eyebrow. An average 211? He hadn’t even considered that as an option.

From high school onward, he had been in an international program, preparing to study abroad. At the time, he was grateful his family had the means and confidence to support this path, as the students grinding for the college entrance exam seemed to have a much harder time.

Scholarships for undergraduates abroad were tough to secure, and he hadn’t wanted to pressure himself to compete for that money—his family could afford it, giving him more freedom to choose.

Yu Wei added airily, “Then I’d suggest you don’t study in the country. Going abroad could get you into a better school, if your family can support it.”

Yu Xinrong chimed in, “That’s true. With a good agency and the right strategies, you can get into relatively decent schools abroad. It’s a lot better than studying here. Sure, the tuition is high, but it’s worth it—the experience broadens your horizons, and you learn more.”

Song Mian and Chu Jiangmin exchanged glances, feeling deeply awkward.

These two were casually discussing family financial support in front of Jiang She, as if they didn’t realize that if Jiang She wanted, his father Jiang Qifeng could donate a building to Harvard without hesitation.

Song Mian tried to shift the topic. “Yu, have some more food. Can you reach everything?”

But Yu Xinrong wasn’t done. “No worries, let him share more of his experiences with the younger ones. Even if they can’t go abroad for undergrad, maybe they could pursue graduate or doctoral studies overseas.”

Yu Wei sipped his tea and said, “There’s not much to it, really. You just have to be good yourself. Schools abroad care about real skills—not like here, where everyone crams before exams. One of my high school classmates stayed in the country and got complacent. Now they’re nearly useless—graduated from their master’s and still can’t find a job, so they’re preparing for the civil service exam.”

“Oh? What kind of job did you find?” Jiang She suddenly asked, catching him off guard.

Jiang She was genuinely curious. Yu Wei’s tone was clearly aimed at elevating himself while putting others down. If he claimed his classmate was struggling, it implied he was doing well.

What Yu Wei didn’t know was that Jiang She was aware he had recently interviewed at Jiang Pharmaceutical.

Song Mian shot Yu Wei a glance, trying to intervene. “Uh, Yu Wei, this gentleman is—”

Before she could finish, Chu Xingning interrupted with a casual tone, laced with a hint of mischief. “Oh, you don’t know? He interviewed at Jiang Pharmaceutical.”

There was an unmistakable tinge of schadenfreude in his voice.

Song Mian coughed lightly, attempting to signal Chu Xingning with her eyes to behave. However, she had always doted on him, so her warning lacked any real authority.

Jiang She raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. “Jiang Pharmaceutical?”

Yu Wei, unfazed, picked up an almond and chewed calmly. “You folks from Huai City must know about it, right?”

Chu Tao’s eyes lit up with a flicker of delight, his expression tinged with amusement as he chimed in, “Oh, I definitely know that one.”

Song Mian could tell her sons were intentionally stirring trouble, deliberately withholding Jiang She’s identity.

Jiang She tilted his head slightly, his expression subtle and unreadable. “That company? It’s decent, I guess. About the level where I casually got in after graduation.”

Yu Wei let out a derisive laugh. “You probably don’t really understand it, then.”

Jiang She shrugged innocently. “I think I know it pretty well.”

Yu Wei couldn’t resist lecturing, his tone carrying a hint of condescension. “Jiang Pharmaceutical went public on the NYSE last year. It controls over 30 subsidiary companies and leads the world in chemical formulations, biopharmaceuticals, and antibiotic development. It’s essentially Huai City’s biggest economic pillar. I can guarantee 90% of graduates in the country can’t get in. If you’re from just an average 211 university, are you looking to join as a medical rep?”

Medical representatives, essentially salespeople for pharmaceutical companies, are often tasked with visiting hospitals to promote newly developed drugs—a tough, thankless job when dealing with clients.

Chu Jiangmin awkwardly interjected, “Yu, maybe you should eat something instead of talking so much.”

After all, Yu Wei was the son of his former classmate and someone he had brought to this dinner. To see him embarrass himself in front of Jiang She made Chu Jiangmin uncomfortable.

However, Yu Xinrong remained composed, saying calmly, “No rush. The food isn’t all here yet. Let the kids face some reality early—it’s not easy to find a job these days.”

Jiang She chuckled meaningfully and asked offhandedly, “So, what position did you interview for at Jiang Pharmaceutical?”

For a brief moment, Yu Wei’s composure faltered. The truth was, he had applied for a QC (Quality Control) inspector role and had left a less-than-ideal impression on the interviewers because he arrived late. However, his father had told Chu Jiangmin that he was interviewing for a research role in the laboratory—a significant difference.

Still, these high schoolers wouldn’t know the nuances. He could say whatever he wanted.

Before Yu Wei could respond, Chu Xingning cut in. “Oh, I heard about that. Wasn’t it a research position in Jiang Pharmaceutical’s lab? Is it hard to get in?”

He seemed genuinely curious about the difficulty of the application process, but his gaze was fixed squarely on Jiang She.

Song Mian whispered, “Xingning!”

But Chu Xingning pretended not to hear her.

Jiang She frowned slightly, his expression momentarily serious before he countered, “Jiang Pharmaceutical’s research lab only accepts PhDs, right? I don’t think they’ve hired a master’s graduate in at least five years.”

Yu Wei’s expression cracked slightly. He hadn’t expected someone at the table to actually know this detail.

But since the conversation had already reached this point, Yu Wei had no choice but to steel himself and say, “You might be mistaken. While most positions require a PhD, exceptionally outstanding master’s students can also qualify…”

Jiang She smiled faintly. “I’m quite sure. Only PhDs are hired. In the Huai City R&D lab, there are four labs in total, staffed by 32 people—all Ivy League PhDs, with articles published in top-tier journals during their doctoral studies. Their credentials are publicly available. You’re probably not interviewing for a research role, are you?”

The room fell into immediate silence, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Yu Wei panicked completely, his composure unraveling as cold sweat formed on his back.

Yu Xinrong was also visibly annoyed. Even if the boy truly knew the facts, it was rude to expose them like this, leaving everyone at the table in an awkward position.

“Hello, Mr. Jiang. Your dishes are ready.” Thankfully, the waiter entered just then, breaking the tension and diffusing the moment somewhat.

However, when she came in, she only addressed Jiang She.

The steaming dishes were placed on the table, filling the empty spaces. The food was exquisite and mouthwatering.

“Is there anything else you need?” the waitress asked.

Chu Jiangmin waved his hand. “No, no, that’s enough. Thank you, miss.”

The waitress smiled and nodded but still looked toward Jiang She. Only when Jiang She replied, “No, we’re good. Thank you,” did she pick up the tray and leave, closing the door behind her.

Song Mian quickly changed the subject. “Xingning, your dessert is here. This fish soup was my pick—it had great reviews online. Let’s serve everyone a bowl.”

Chu Jiangmin chimed in, gesturing to Yu Xinrong. “Yes, yes, Old Yu, you’ve been feeling weak lately, right? Have some fish soup to boost your energy.”

Yu Xinrong sighed, “I’ve been exhausted from flying. A long-haul flight, several hours, rushing here and there—and then it was delayed too.”

Chu Tao turned to Jiang She, sighing softly. “So, getting into the lab requires such high qualifications? Looks like even after the college entrance exams, it won’t get any easier.”

His curiosity was genuine, as he hadn’t considered what lay beyond the exams until now. Jiang She’s comments had just revealed how fierce the competition was.

Getting into a good university was merely stepping onto a decent platform; there was still a long way to go.

Jiang She’s gaze softened, and he comfortingly squeezed Chu Tao’s hand, his tone half-teasing, half-serious. “You’re different. If you wanted to get in, you absolutely could. We’ve got a special connection, don’t we?”

Chu Tao looked up, meeting Jiang She’s eyes for a second. The sweetness between them was palpable but subtle, understood only by the two of them.

Though Jiang She was addressing Chu Tao, his voice wasn’t loud. Yet, seated at the same table, everyone could hear him.

Song Mian froze for a moment.

Although she knew they had a good friendship, Jiang She’s tone sounded more like he was making a promise.

She realized that Jiang She and Chu Tao’s relationship was closer than that of Chu Tao and Tao Song, who had been his childhood friend.

Yu Wei interjected in a mocking tone, “Didn’t you just say they only take Ivy League PhDs? Now you’re contradicting yourself?”

Jiang She replied calmly, “That’s because Chu Tao is just that outstanding.”

Yu Wei sneered, “Oh, so being outstanding is enough to get in?”

Jiang She’s tone was light. “Of course. After all, it’s my family’s company.”

—

Author’s Note:
Chu Tao: Stay low-key…