Chapter 42: My Wife Deserves the Very Best!

Lunchtime traffic was typically congested, yet for the Cullinan, it seemed not to be congested at all.

Whether cars were driving ahead or behind, there were always empty spaces surrounding the Cullinan, and Chen Fan drove with absolute ease.

The entire journey had been smooth and unobstructed.

Before getting out of the car, Old Chen signaled for Chen Fan to hand him the keys.

"What are you up to?"

"You'll see in a minute."

With that, he was the first to step out of the car.

The hotel doorman immediately hurried over, a professional smile plastered across his face.

Anyone stepping out of a Cullinan—let alone dressed in off-the-rack discount clothes, or even if they were wearing nothing at all—would be greeted with a smile by the doorman.

Old Chen straightened his back and placed the car keys into the doorman's palm.

"Park it for me."

"Right away, sir."

Chen Fan: "......"

"Dad, there's really no need for this."

"What do you know? This is the exact feeling I'm after."

Having watched this kind of scenario in TV dramas for most of his life, Old Chen, who was finally getting to experience it firsthand, thought...

If possible, I'd like to do it again!

"I'm sorry, sister-in-law. My dad isn't usually like this."

"It's fine, Dad. If you like it, you can go pick one out of my garage to drive. Weren't you planning to go fishing with my dad these next couple of days? Having a car will make it much more convenient."

"My good daughter-in-law, if this brat ever dares to treat you badly in the future, just tell your dad. I will definitely side with reason rather than family!"

"Okay~"

"Dad, Mom, let's head on up. Our father-in-law and mother-in-law are probably getting tired of waiting."

If he let Peng Jiaxin chat with them for much longer, Chen Fan genuinely worried he would end up playing the son-in-law to both families.

Peng Jiaxin clearly wasn't visiting this place for the first time; she navigated her way to the elevators with practiced familiarity.

A few minutes later.

On the 108th floor, at the Cloud Restaurant, Peng Jiaxin stated the private dining room number, and a waiter led everyone to the doorway.

Chen Fan and Peng Jiaxin nervously grabbed each other's hands.

Although they had certainly enjoyed chatting online, who knew what meeting in person would actually be like?

Sensing the atmosphere growing tense, Chen Mengting decisively turned herself into an invisible bystander.

It was Old Chen again who boldly pushed open the doors of the private room. Hearing the commotion, Peng GuoJun turned around and locked eyes with Old Chen.

There was no need for Chen Fan and Peng Jiaxin to introduce each other; guided by the sheer instinct of fellow anglers, they recognized one another instantly.

"Old Chen!"

"Old Peng!"

"Hahaha, come on in, come on in! Let me show you something interesting."

The two of them were so immediately familiar with each other that it didn't look like their first meeting at all, locking arms around each other's shoulders right away.

Wang Juan and Bai Meilan: "......"

"I'm so sorry, you must be amused by this."

"No, no, it's my Old Chen who has no manners at all."

In contrast, Bai Meilan and Wang Juan were behaving much more normally.

While the parents on both sides chatted animatedly, Chen Mengting was pulled over by Wang Juan to be introduced to Grandma Peng and Bai Meilan. Suddenly, the doorway was left with only the young couple who were supposed to be the protagonists, standing there at a complete loss.

"Alright, let's sit down too."

Grandma Peng sat in the center, flanked on the left by Bai Meilan and Wang Juan, the two mothers showering each other's children with compliments while beaming from ear to ear, and on the right by Peng Guojun and Old Chen, the two fathers having already agreed on where to go fishing later within the span of just a few minutes.

Chen Fan and Peng Jiaxin were supposed to sit separately, but they were pushed together by their respective parents.

Little invisible Chen Mengting secretly slipped over to her brother and future sister-in-law.

"Brother, why do I feel like this is more of an old acquaintances' reunion than meeting the parents?"

Chen Fan was torn between laughter and tears.

"Order some food."

Peng Jiaxin handed the iPad brought by the waiter over to Chen Fan, having already selected a few dishes that Peng Guojun and the others liked.

"It looks like they won't have time for this. Just pick whatever you want."

Chen Fan took the iPad, and Chen Mengting curiously leaned her head in.
"What is this 'Palatial Jade Leaf' for 388?"

The young girl pointed inquisitively at a dish on the screen.

"Boiled Chinese cabbage."

Peng Jiaxin was all about sticking to the absolute truth.

The siblings: "......"

"Then what about this 'Flame Mountain' for 599?"

"Ants climbing a tree. Wait a second."

Peng Jiaxin took back the iPad and tapped on the screen a few times.

"That menu was meant for show. We VIP clients have a dedicated menu."

With that, Peng Jiaxin handed the iPad back. Chen Fan took it; the pictures were the same, but the names underneath had changed into easy-to-understand versions.

"Rich people's money really is easy to make."

Chen Fan nodded in agreement.

"Even though it's just boiled Chinese cabbage, it actually tastes quite good."

Peng Jiaxin attempted to redeem the wealthy—or rather, redeem herself. The siblings nodded perfunctorily and began ordering dishes they had previously only seen in TV shows and novels.

Australian lobsters, tuna, abalone—they ordered the whole lot.

"Brother, won't we be unable to finish if we order this much?"

"It's fine, we can just pack up whatever we can't finish and take it with us."

Seeing that Chen Mengting was holding back, Peng Jiaxin simply took charge, ordering every single signature dish on the menu, plus anything her future sister-in-law's eyes had lingered on for more than a second.

"Let's go with this for now. We can always order more if we're still hungry."

"Sister-in-law, you're so cool~"

Chen Mengting looked at Peng Jiaxin with undisguised adoration. Who said only men who spend money on women are cool? Aren't women who spend money cool too?

The corners of Peng Jiaxin's lips curled upward.

Kids really were honest—they always loved speaking the truth.

"I'll take you shopping this afternoon, sis."

"Yay, long live my sister-in-law!"

Chen Fan, who was sitting right between the two of them yet being treated like air: "......"

Dishes were served very quickly in the private rooms anyway, let alone with Peng Guojun, a top-tier VIP, sitting inside.

"Why did you order so many dishes?"

Wang Juan exclaimed in shock.

"It's fine, if we can't finish, we'll pack it up to take home and eat slowly. Here, try this abalone, it's exceptionally fresh."

Bai Meilan showed no hint of condescension; instead, she smiled as she placed an abalone as large as a restaurant bowl into her in-law's plate.

Wang Juan gasped once more.

"It's so big I won't be able to finish it all. Meilan, shall we share it?"

"Alright."

On the other side.

"Here, Old Chen, try this steak. It was air-shipped this morning, absolutely fresh."

"Mmm~ Is this that A5 stuff or whatever?"

"You know your stuff."

"Of course, I haven't watched TV dramas all these years for nothing."

Grandma Peng looked on with a beaming smile as the two families grew increasingly harmonious.

Old man, I might just get to see my great-grandchild before you do.

By the time the meal was coming to an end, the parents finally remembered the main agenda.

"Ahem, when are you two planning to hold the wedding?"

Peng Guojun still cared deeply about this question. Not having held a wedding when he and Bai Meilan married had been his lifelong regret; even though they made up for it later, the regret remained unchanged.

"Son, we respect both of your opinions."

Wang Juan spoke up. She had saved all the money Chen Fan had sent back over the past year—somewhere around one million—which might not be a fortune, but holding a wedding with it would definitely be no problem... probably!

Peng Jiaxin was just about to say that a simple ceremony would do.

Chen Fan abruptly stood up and announced loudly,

"We're going all out! As lavish as it gets! I want everyone to know that my wife deserves the absolute best!"

"Well said!"

Peng Guojun applauded Chen Fan, even though he still looked a bit irritating.

Still, this kid was truly a real man!