22 Family Dinner - 7.2

After leaving his cousin, Fan Zhu Xia to sleep; Fan Li Jie left the Blooming Phoenix Courtyard quietly and made his way to Xiong Jia Courtyard where he left his father, Fan Hui Zhong earlier to wait with his uncle, Fan Hui Zhong and brother, Fan Xian Liang while he went ahead to pick up Fan Zhu Xia.

Recalling the weird and awkward atmosphere back at the Xiong Jia Courtyard, Fan Li Jie couldn't decide if it was better for his cousin, Fan Zhu Xia to miss dinner and all the awkwardness or feel frustrated because of her absence which could possibly make the dinner be dominated by a lot of uncomfortable silences which he would very much like to avoid.

Thinking back to how his youngest brother, Fan Xian Liang was left alone with both his uncle; Fan Hui Zhong and his father; Fan Hui Liang made him feel a bit sorry for him.

When he left the Xiong Jia Courtyard, the whole atmosphere was uneasy and awkward with no one saying a word. Even when Fan Li Jie was there, he was the only one who explained and answered Fan Xian Liang's questions.

Shaking his head, Fan Li Jie picked up his pace a bit when he noticed a slight commotion up ahead of his path.

Narrowing his eyes a bit, Fan Li Jie saw his mother, Wei Rou Xiang along with a young maiden who had her back turned to him; dressed in bright, colorful silks that fluttered gently with the breeze as she looked around.

"Madam, you're family's gardens are really quite beautiful! It can really rival the ones I've seen at the palace!" the young lady exclaimed as she looked around.

Smiling slightly, Wei Rou Xiang hid her discomfort and laughed instead while replying, "Ahh... Princess Ning, you flatter us!"

"Please Madam, I have no need to flatter you, your home speaks for itself!"

Glancing around, the young lady, Ning Yan Mei drew in a sharp breath as her eyes landed on the figure of a young man with breath-takingly good looks, who was slowly making his way over to them.

Ning Yan Mei's chatter stopped and she fell silent as she eagerly took in the approaching man's appearance. His long dark hair, held up and away from his face by a single jade hairpin while some were left to frame his elegant face which further emphasized his handsome features. Long sharp eyebrows above deep brown eyes that seemed filled with a cold indifferrence as they glanced at her which made her breath hitch.

"Mother, you are back." Fan Li Jie said as he turned to look at Wei Rou Xiang and ignore the young lady who was unabashedly staring at him with blushing cheeks.

Hearing the man refer to Wei Rou Xiang as mother, Ning Yan Mei's eyes widened as realization sunk in as to who the man was.

Wei Rou Xiang was the current madam of the Fan family, the wife of the current head; Fan Hui Liang who is also a respected general in the Thunder Vale Country. This was one of the reasons why Ning Yan Mei had insisted on coming back with Wei Rou Xiang when she met her at the Thunder Vale Country's Imperial Palace which she was currently staying at as a representative of the Spirit Valor Country.

Another reason was because her father, the current emperor of Spirit Valor Country had wanted to make a connection with this particular family due to their fearsome reputation and the formidable power of their personal army.

What she didn't expect was for this handsome man to be one of the Fan Familiy's young masters!

This made Ning Yan Mei's eyes glitter as she slowly smiled as she stared at the mother and son in front of her before she gently coughed to draw their attention.

A flash of irritation entered Fan Li Jie's eyes at her interruption before he quickly masked it, returning it to its former aloofness while his mother, Wei Rou Xiang smiled at him comfortingly.

"Sincerest apologies my lady. Please, may I introduce to you my eldest son, Fan Li Jie..."

With a pointed look at her son, Wei Rou Xiang subtly gestured to him making him internally sigh and wish he had just avoided them in the first place.

Fan Li Jie had no interest in making the acquaintance of this young lady in front of him, especially with the way she had looked at him earlier.

The way she studied him was vastly different from his cousin; Fan Zhu Xia's innocent curiosity. This young lady's stare had seemed more calculative but she quickly hid before others noticed. Unfortunately for her, Fan Li Jie picked up on it with just a glance.

Noticing his mother's stare, Fan Li Jie quietly sighed and stepped forward before inclining his head slightly.

"A pleasure to meet you, young miss." Fan Li Jie murmured, his deep voice and direct stare momentarily making Ning Yan Mei freeze before she recovered herself and flashing him a bright smile.

Ning Yan Mei noticed how Wei Rou Xiang had left her to introduce herself, giving her the option on how to present herself which she highly appreciated.

This gave her a chance to get closer to Fan Li Jie and the Fan family and she would certainly seize this chance!

Stepping closer to Fan Li Jie, Ning Yan Mei batted her eyes prettily and bashfully smiled up at him as she said, "Please Eldest Young Master Fan, no need for such formalities, I, Ning Yan Mei is your junior after all! This junior just wishes that senior will look after me during my stay here in Thunder Vale Country."

Narrowing his eyes, Fan Li Jie fought the urge to step back from Ning Yan Mei and instead focused on her words which made him slighly frown.

"You are not from here then?" Fan Li Jie queried while he subtly shifted to slightly increase the distance between them which made Ning Yan Mei pout which Fan Li Jie pointedly ignored.

"Unfortunately not, if I was, I would be able to see senior more often! I am from the Spirit Valor Country, Emperor Ning Jun Jian is my father."

Seeing his eyes widen slightly, Ning Yan Mei wanted to smirk at seeing him finally react normally but instead she kept that sweet innocent smile on her face.

Getting over his surprise, Fan Li Jie realized that the visit of the Spirit Valor Country's princess to their family may potentially cause some problems, not only for them but also the Thunder Vale Country, depending on their true purpose.

Thinking like this, Fan Li Jie stoically replied, "Is that so? Then wouldn't it be inappropriate for this princess to call me senior? After all, I am not worthy."

"Then may I call you Brother Li instead?" Ning Yan Mei countered, her eyes flashing brightly while Fan Li Jie was grimacing internally at her words.

Left with no other choice, seeing as he would be incredibly rude of he was to decline, Fan Li Jie stiffly replied, "If that is what you wish princess."

Not noticing his hesitance, Ning Yan Mei just smiled happily while giggling as she flounced to Fan Li Jie's side.

"Then Brother Li must make time for me and me around the imperial city!"

Sensing her son's increasingly worsening mood, Wei Rou Xiang went ahead and interjected, "That is well and all Princess Ning but shouldn't we go ahead and proceed to dinner?"

Hearing his mother's words, Fan Li Jie couldn't help but furrow his brows and frown deeply. Luckily, Ning Yan Mei had her back turned as she agreed with his mother so only Wei Rou Xiang saw it.

"I take it the princess will be joining us?"

"Yes my son. Has arrangements for dinner been made?"

"Preparations had already been made, the whole family is supposed to dine together tonight."

"Ahh of course! I did hear back at the palace that the prince has just returned today, I am guessing your brother came back with him?"

"Yes he did. Shall we proceed to the dining hall then?"

Glancing at her son; Fan Li Jie and the Spirit Valor Princess; Ning Yan Mei who was staring at her son with barely hidden infatuation, Wei Rou Xiang slowly breath out before shooting an apologetic glance at Fan Li Jie.

"Lead the way Li Jie."