236: Chapter 236: There are still extras?

Lin Wanxing had just posed her soul-searching question when a message popped up in the group chat.

Su Ning: [Wow, new person, post a photo, post a photo!] followed by a flower-scattering emoji.

Lin Wanxing looked up and glanced speechlessly at Jiang Ye, who was lying on the bed with a face that said "this has nothing to do with me." She decided to ask directly in the group to get things straight.

Lin Wanxing: [@Su Ning Little Su, what is this group for?]

Su Ning replied quickly: [Who knows? At first, I thought it was a red envelope group, but after being in here for half a month, no one said a word. It was like a graveyard.]

Su Ning: [Eh? By the way, Sister Wanxing, how are things on your end? To what point has the plot progressed?]

Jiang Ye: ["WeChat Red Envelope" Wishing you prosperity and good fortune]

Ye Cheng: [Thank you, Boss!!]

Su Ning: [Thank you, Boss!!]

Su Ning: [@Ye Cheng Sister Juzi, what are you doing? Come out and watch TV! I just found a super melodramatic drama, it's perfect for roasting!]

Ye Cheng: [Memorizing lines. I'll have to practice my expressions in front of the mirror in a bit. I felt like the emotional tension in this morning's scene was still a bit lacking; that feeling of resentment-yet-not-resentment didn't come through.]

Lin Wanxing stared at the words "emotional tension," her mouth twitching: [What lines? And there's a second scene?]

Jiang Ye: [@Su Ning @Ye Cheng Go back to that other group to discuss this. Don't chat in this one, be careful or Wanxing will see it.]

Lin Wanxing: "..."

She silently put down her phone, not even opening the red envelope.

"That other group"... There was actually a group that she wasn't in?!

How many side groups had these three created behind her back?

She used to hear that six people in a college dorm could create over ten groups and thought it was an exaggerated joke, but she never expected to encounter it in reality—and she was the one being excluded!

Lin Wanxing stood up expressionlessly: "I'm tired, I'm leaving to open another room. See you at dinner tonight."

Seeing that she really had no intention of "getting into bed," Jiang Ye sighed with regret:

"Alright then, go ahead. See you tonight."

...At 5:30 PM, everyone gathered in the hotel corridor.

Zhao Yumei watched Jiang Ye and Lin Wanxing come out of the room holding hands, and her expression relaxed slightly. Taking advantage of the walk to the elevator lobby, she leaned close to Lin Wanxing and discreetly took a sniff.

There was no ambiguous scent like she imagined, nor the fragrance of body wash from a fresh shower... Zhao Yumei's face instantly darkened again, and she gave her daughter a look of disappointment.

A whole afternoon with a man and a woman alone in a room, and absolutely nothing happened?!

She really was like rotten wood that couldn't be carved! Even taking a shower to seduce him would have worked! What a waste of such a good figure!

The dinner location Jiang Ye chose was the "North-South Kitchen" Chinese restaurant on the second floor of the Westin Hotel. It specialized in a fusion of exquisite Cantonese and authentic Liaoning cuisine, with an elegant environment and attentive service—the standard expected of a five-star hotel.

Just as they walked into the restaurant, a hostess in a suit skirt greeted them with a smile, bowing slightly in a respectful tone:

"Hello, President Jiang. Your private room has been reserved. Please follow me."

Jiang Ye nodded calmly and led Lin Wanxing by the hand, following the hostess toward the private room.

This display made Zhao Yumei nod inwardly with approval and Sun Na's eyes sparkle with admiration. Even Lin Haoxuan, who had been defiant all along, unconsciously straightened his back, feeling quite proud.

"...?"

Lin Wanxing blinked. Taking advantage of the few steps of distance from her family behind them, she leaned toward Jiang Ye's ear and whispered:

"What's the situation now? Is this waitress... also an actress?"

Jiang Ye glanced at her and nodded slightly: "Little Su gave her 500."

"..."

Fine, it really was the power of money.

Lin Wanxing once again felt impressed by Su Ning's execution and Jiang Ye's "attention to detail."

The group was led into a spacious and quiet private room.

After they were seated, the private room's dedicated server immediately stepped forward to pour hot tea for each guest, bowing as she asked: "President Jiang, shall I arrange for the food to be served now?"

Jiang Ye gave a slight nod.

The server bowed again and quietly withdrew.

"...?"

Lin Wanxing once again cast a questioning gaze at Jiang Ye.

Jiang Ye coughed lightly and, with his hand under the table, quietly showed her an "eight."

Lin Wanxing understood instantly—this server cost 800.

Zhao Yumei secretly surveyed the exquisite decor and tableware in the private room.

Although she had been to many high-end restaurants and had even seen private rooms more luxurious than this, for some reason, being here today, she felt it was exceptionally high-class and stylish.

However, the atmosphere in the room was a bit awkward.

Zhao Yumei tried several times to start a conversation, such as praising the environment or asking about Jiang Ye's family situation, but Jiang Ye seemed to have little interest, only responding with an occasional "mm" or "ah," which left her feeling a bit embarrassed.

Soon, servers filed in carrying exquisite dishes, filling the table.

"President Jiang, all the dishes have arrived."

After the food was served, the room server bowed and asked: "Would you like me to bring the 1982 Petrus you stored here earlier?"

Hearing this, Jiang Ye frowned slightly and didn't speak.

A "fearful" expression immediately appeared on the server's face as she quickly apologized: "I'm sorry, President Jiang, I overstepped."

With that, she quickly exited the private room and gently closed the door.

"..."

Lin Wanxing understood everything as she watched this scene.

No wonder this one was three hundred more expensive than the hostess; she was a high-level extra with lines and a plot.

The door to the private room closed, cutting off the outside noise.

Jiang Ye picked up a hot towel to wipe his hands. His gaze swept over the four people at the table, each with a different expression, before finally landing on Lin Wanxing. He spoke slowly:

"Everyone, you are Wanxing's family. Logically speaking, that makes you my family as well."

Zhao Yumei immediately broke into a smile and chimed in: "Yes, yes, yes, Xiao Jiang, you're right. We're all one family, no need for formalities!"

Jiang Ye smiled, then changed the subject: "However..."

The smile on Zhao Yumei's face instantly froze.

"Although Wanxing has never told me about her family in detail... I can probably guess a bit about how you usually treat her."

"Brother-in-law~ You're misunderstanding!"

Seeing the atmosphere turn stagnant, Sun Na immediately gave a sweet smile to smooth things over: "Everyone is very good to Sister Wanxing!"

As she spoke, she turned to Zhao Yumei and winked: "Auntie, isn't that right? You're the one who dotes on Sister Wanxing the most."

With Sun Na giving her the cue, Zhao Yumei's darkened face immediately cleared up, and she nodded quickly:

"Yes, yes, yes! Nana is right! I've doted on Wanxing since she was a little girl, truly cherishing her like a treasure. I couldn't bear to let her suffer even a little bit of grievance!"

Sun Na then looked at Lin Haoxuan with a beaming smile: "Lin Haoxuan, tell Brother-in-law quickly, aren't you also the one who listens to your sister the most?"

Lin Haoxuan was slightly stunned when he heard his girlfriend call him by his full name instead of the "hubby" he usually liked to hear. But seeing the glare from Zhao Yumei, he had no choice but to curl his lip and reluctantly join in:

"Yeah... yeah, my sister has the highest status at home. It's like I'm the one who was fucking picked up from the trash."

"Oh?"

Jiang Ye raised an eyebrow and turned to Lin Wanxing beside him with a gentle tone:

"Wanxing, is that so? Are you really that pampered at home?"

Lin Wanxing looked at the eager, suggestive gazes from her mother, brother, and future sister-in-law. She remembered Jiang Ye's words from the afternoon—"they will even proactively enjoy this kind of suppression"—and her heart was filled with mixed emotions.

She forced a smile and nodded: "Yes... my mom and the others have always been quite good to me."

These words seemed to have magic. As soon as she finished speaking, Zhao Yumei and the other two all breathed a sigh of relief, and the atmosphere in the private room became "cheerful" and "harmonious."