The small party of four quickly moved to the dining room. While Lin Qinggi chatted in her ear, Song Jia took a glance at the table.
The dinner was served upon china, looking light and airy, and the dishes were well-proportioned. There were so many dishes that it resembled a small feast. As soon as they were seated, servant men and women dressed in livery came forward to offer the dishes.
Song Jia had a very good appetite. Lin Qingge was on a diet and did not eat much, but Song Jia barely resisted licking the plate itself after swallowing the last bite. Wang Han had told her that it was Lin Yitian himself who planned the family dinner, and tested every dish to see if it suited his father's palate. Last week had been his father's birthday.
The old master, Lin Shaofeng, had been away on a vacation trip with Lin Shenglan and couldn't return on time. So this family dinner was almost like Lin Yitian's belated gift to his father. While they were eating, Wang Han came forward carrying a cake. Lin Yitian took it from him and carefully placed it on the dining table.
He sat down and glanced up at his father.
"Father, happy birthday," he said softly.
Song Jia remembered that cake. Wang Han had told her it was the cake that Lin Yitian had spent all night to bake, making sure that every angle of it was perfect. Wang Han said that there were so many cakes thrown out that the servants decided to keep a rejected cake for each one of them. Even the cakes Lin Yitian deemed to be a 'mistake' could beat the best designed cake of a renowned pastry shop.
Lin Shaofeng took one look at the cake, thinned his lips, and said, "I don't like sugary sweets."
Lin Yitian froze.
Lin Qingge looked at her husband and couldn't help but say, "One slice wouldn't hurt. Xiao Tian seemed to have baked it for you."
Lin Shaofeng looked at his second son with a complicated expression. But he still firmly shook his head, "When are you going to stop spoiling him? He's already like this, far behind Shenglan. We couldn't even introduce him into society. Now he's wasting his time doing useless stuff like this. His only good point is that he could learn things well, but he still has time to go and bake cakes. Shenglan manages the company day and night, he also makes good connection with a lot of our business partners. And what can my second son do? Bake cakes?"
Lin Shaofeng looked at Lin Yitian. "I'm saying this for your own good. Stop your temper tantrums and grow up. Until when are you going to act like a five-year old child? We, your parents, are already old. Your brother is also very busy. You should start learning how to be filial and return the good you've been given."
Lin Yitian lowered his head and quietly nodded. He picked at his food with his chopsticks. Song Jia noticed that he barely picked any of the dishes. Most of what he ate was white rice.
Song Jia rather wanted to eat the cake for herself, but she knew that Lin Yitian wouldn't appreciate her support. He had baked that cake for his father, and only Lin Shaofeng had the right to eat it.
Lin Qingge's heart ached. "Okay, that's enough. You're hurting Xiao Tian's feelings."
Lin Shaofeng looked at his wife, then at his youngest son. His lips twisted a bit.
"Did he even understand what I just said?" He shook his head and muttered. "Alright, enough of your nagging, I'll stop."
Lin Yitian kept his head down in silence.
Right as they were about to finish their dinner, Lin Shaofeng's phone rang. He wiped his mouth with the table napkin and looked at the screen. He stood up with a smile and said to Lin Qingge, "It's Shenglan."
Their phone conversation lasted for a long time. Lin Shaofeng went to the living room, and his voice slightly resounded against the walls, echoing back to them.
"Oh, that's right...charity auction? No, no...tell him it's fine...alright, me and your mom will be right there. Hahaha, and what did you say? Yes...mm, your brother is doing fine...yes, we'll be right there."
Song Jia and Lin Qingge had already finished eating. Hearing that they had to go, Li Qingge was busy looking for the handheld mirror in her purse. Song Jia looked at Lin Yitian, who hadn't even finished a third of his rice.
Lin Shaofeng came back. He told Lin Qingge, "Shenglan said that the charity auction is going to start. We should leave."
Lin Qingge nodded. She stood up, fixing her hair. She smiled, about to say her goodbyes to Song Jia.
"I still haven't finished eating yet."
Suddenly, a low but firm voice interrupted them.
The three of them looked over at Lin Yitian in shock.
Lin Yitian heavily put down his chopsticks.
"I still haven't finished eating yet!" he repeated, this time more loudly. He lifted his chin and glared at his parents.
Lin Qingge was helpless. She came forward and kissed him on the cheek.
"Xiao Tian, don't make trouble. If you haven't finished eating yet, Su Qi will accompany you."
Lin Shaofeng was getting impatient, and Lin Qingge knew better than to make him wait. She gave Lin Yitian a last goodbye kiss before the two of them hurriedly left.
Lin Yitian took a glanced at their empty seats and put down his chopsticks. His face pale, he pressed his lips tightly together.
Song Jia stared at the perfectly spherical cake that was left untoched and uneaten. The drops of icing were equidistant to another, all the decorated flowers had the same number of petals, and the whipped cream was in perfect ratio to the cake batter. It was a beautifully baked cake.