Chapter Seventy: The Banquet

That evening, the Lan family arrived at Wang Ling’s home as promised. In truth, it was hardly an inconvenience; Wang Ling’s family now lived in the villa that once belonged to Zou Linsen, and though Lan Tian had been too busy lately to pay a visit, his parents, Lan Hua and his wife, had already dropped by several times out of idle curiosity.

Especially after learning that Wang Ling had taken a bullet for her son, Lan Hua and his wife carefully selected a number of gifts and visited to express their gratitude. Wang Ling’s parents proved easy to get along with, and after several exchanges, the two families had grown very familiar with each other. This formal invitation was little more than a gesture.

“Haha, Brother Lan Hua, you’re here! Come in and have a seat,” Wang Ling’s father greeted them at the door, delighted to see Lan Tian and his family dressed so formally. Familiarity aside, guests showing respect always pleased the host.

Of course, he insisted, “It’s just a simple meal, no need for all this fuss!”

“Haha, Brother Wang Yu, you are our esteemed official—how could we let you personally open the door for us?” Lan Hua replied with a laugh, leading Zhou Ru inside. After the recent changes, the couple still carried some habits of thrift and diligence, but their whole demeanor had fundamentally transformed.

There was no helping it. Ever since Lan Tian placed his parents in the positions of Director and Deputy Director of the Marketing Department, their days had been spent dealing with officials and wealthy tycoons—all begging for favors, and all desperate to curry favor. Anyone exposed daily to such figures of so-called high society would gradually acquire a certain extraordinary presence.

These visitors were amusing enough: some wanted exclusive virtual network access helmets, others sought to become regional agents for the virtual network, and still others hoped to advertise. Rival companies even went so far as to battle for the chance to implant their ads in virtual rooms, sometimes to the point of fierce conflict.

Of course, Lan Tian’s original intention in creating the virtual universe had never been about profit. Those seeking shortcuts or advertising found him utterly unmoved.

“Uncle Wang, with just our two families here, you don’t need to fuss. Where are Auntie and Wang Ling?” Lan Tian greeted cheerfully.

“They’re busy in the kitchen. Your auntie has truly put in effort today—barely finished lunch before she started preparing dinner. Even I’ve been run ragged, helping out here and there!” Wang Yu, Wang Ling’s father, complained good-naturedly. He was thoroughly satisfied with Lan Tian—no, more than satisfied.

He had received high praise from above for his earlier protection of Lan Tian, and though he’d believed his prospects had plateaued, he was now certain to become a regional governor next term!

Of course, this paled in comparison to having a son-in-law like Lan Tian.

“By the way, have the authorities spoken with you?” Wang Yu pulled Lan Tian aside, lowering his voice.

“They did once, but I was too busy and declined,” Lan Tian replied.

“…Are you looking to ascend to heaven? You actually refused?” Wang Yu, keeping up with modern slang, was incredulous.

“Well… I know what’s appropriate and what’s not. There’s nothing much to discuss with them,” Lan Tian said vaguely, unable to admit he’d already overheard their intentions and had no desire to waste time.

“You… As long as you know what you’re doing. Frankly, there’s nothing more I can do for you now,” Wang Yu sighed, feeling for the first time that even his rank as deputy provincial governor was insufficient.

“Haha, don’t worry, I’ve got it under control,” Lan Tian laughed. Seeing Wang Ling and her mother carrying dishes over, he hurried to help.

“Auntie, you’re too kind—how could we let you cook yourself?” Lan Tian quickly took the dish from his future mother-in-law, greeting her warmly.

“It’s nothing—what, am I unable to handle such a small matter?” Wang Ling’s mother, still elegant, smiled broadly, looking at Lan Tian with deep satisfaction.

It’s true what they say: the more a mother-in-law looks at her son-in-law, the happier she becomes. Though her first impression of Lan Tian hadn’t been great, she couldn’t resist his sweet words. After a couple of times, he had her laughing, and given Lan Tian’s current status, he was the dream marriage prospect of every unmarried woman worldwide. With such a son-in-law, she was more than content, mentioning Lan Tian every day, even more fondly than her own son.

“Haha, we all know your cooking is excellent, but you shouldn’t always cook yourself. Recently, Old Fan has been bragging nonstop about the two Michelin chefs he’s hired. In a few days, I’ll see about stealing them away, so you can try some Michelin three-star specialties,” Lan Tian said, placing the dish on the table and continuing to flatter his future mother-in-law.

“Don’t, Old Fan lives for good food. It wouldn’t be right for you to steal them away,” Wang Ling’s mother laughed.

“It’s absolutely right—I want to honor you. If he objects, I’ll send him to Africa to expand his business!” Lan Tian laughed heartily, piling on the flattery, making Wang Ling’s mother beam with joy.

“My, young man, your flattery is quite impressive~” Wang Ling chimed in, her smile teasing.

“Of course! Want some flattery too?” Lan Tian replied, sneaking a glance at Wang Ling’s voluptuous figure, boldly flirting with her in front of her mother.

“Pfft, who wants your flattery!” Wang Ling, noticing his wandering gaze in front of her mother, felt a secret thrill, her cheeks flushing as she shot him a coquettish glare.

“Good evening, Uncle and Auntie. Looks like dinner is ready!” Wang Ling, catching Lan Tian’s parents’ gaze, instantly switched to a sweet smile, earning praise from Lan Hua and his wife for her manners.

With Lan Tian’s help, a table full of delicious dishes was swiftly served. The two families took their seats; Lan Tian accompanied his father and future father-in-law with drinks, while Wang Ling chatted with her mother and future mother-in-law about clothes, handbags, lipstick, foundation, lotion, serums, makeup remover—on and on…

Laughter and joy filled the air, a sense of harmony and warmth as if the two families had become one. An unprecedented feeling of happiness lingered in Lan Tian’s heart.

Yet he was unaware that, thousands of miles away in the depths of the Atlantic Ocean, a plume of gray flame suddenly surged from a trench, burning underwater in a manner utterly against the laws of nature.