Chapter 63: I Need to Re-evaluate You

They must have been waiting for far too long, as it was already past nine o'clock in the evening.

Not a single person in the family, including Chu Mingyuan, wore a pleasant expression.

I could already foresee what was about to happen, and a slight tremor involuntarily stirred in my heart.

I took a deep breath and walked over with an air of composure.

I glanced around the circle; apart from a few unfamiliar faces, most were familiar ones.

Everyone stared at me expressionlessly. Chu Haoran was the first to stand up, pointing his finger at me as he launched into a reprimand:

"Did you forget that Dad notified us about the family gathering today? So many of us have been waiting here since six o'clock, and you didn't even make a single phone call. Do you still have the nerve to show up?"

Immediately following, Chu Mengyao chimed in coldly, "Jiang He, it's not like your sister wants to nag, but normally your loafing around is one thing. Yet today, with such a major family gathering, you didn't take it seriously at all. Aren't you breaking Mom and Dad's hearts?"

I looked over at Chu Mingyuan and my mother, Zhao Fangting; both wore the same expressionless masks.

I knew the delay was my own fault, and I genuinely had forgotten all about it.

Having been an orphan since childhood, I had no concept of what a family truly was.

Even after marrying Jiang Yue later on, to me, that had never felt like a complete home.

"I'm sorry, Dad, Mom, Brother, Sister, and Brother-in-law...

I'm late today, and I've kept you all waiting for so long. I am truly sorry."

I swept my gaze across the room and spoke in a sincere tone.

Chu Haoran let out a cold snort. "If everyone lacked a sense of time like you, could our big family possibly remain as harmonious as it is now?"

Not wanting to bicker with him here, I picked up a painting and said, "It really has been a long time since our whole family gathered together, so I specially painted this today. That's why I was held up a bit and forgot to call home to let you know."

"A painting? What painting did you do?" Chu Haoran demanded.

Chu Mengyao also asked in disbelief, "You know how to paint?"

Unflustered, I unfolded the painting, which I had spent over two hours working on that afternoon.

After all, since I was late, I needed to come up with an excuse; otherwise, I wouldn't be able to talk my way out of this.

The painting depicted a family portrait of Chu Mingyuan and his family that I had found earlier in my office desk drawer.

I had spotted that photograph this afternoon.

The photograph must have been taken quite a few years ago. Chu Mingyuan still looked like a student back then, but their smiles at the time were entirely genuine.

Setting aside personal prejudices, that photograph had genuinely moved me.

Because I had never taken a photograph with my own parents, nor did I even know where they were.

Were they dead or alive?

Unflustered, I opened up the artwork and said, "You all still remember this photograph, don't you?"

"How long has it been since our family took a portrait like this? Back then, our smiles were so sincere...

I miss those times so much, so I wanted to take the opportunity of today's family gathering to say a few words."

Everyone stared at the painting in my hands, casting looks of bewildered astonishment my way.

Perhaps they hadn't expected that good-for-nothing Chu Jiang He could paint so well, let alone speak with such deep emotion.

Chu Haoran was the first to step forward, voicing his suspicion: "Where did you get this painting? Who did you pay to draw it?"

Without rushing to explain, I merely smiled and said, "What I want to say is that when that photo was taken, our material conditions probably weren't as good as they are now, but we were genuinely happy back then...

And what about now?

Material gains have become more important than anything else, and we've long since neglected the true feeling of a family sticking together and helping one another.

So, I want to use this painting to say something to my brother, sister, mom, and dad.

We are a family, and that means we should share a single heart. Whether it's the company or the household, we need to stop tearing each other apart from within."

Of course, saying these things was not my original intention; I had no desire to meddle in this family's messy affairs.

Uttering such insincere words was purely to alter Chu Mingyuan's perception of me and to provide an excuse for my tardiness today.

Clearly, after I finished delivering this self-touching speech, Chu Mingyuan immediately cast an appreciative gaze in my direction.

Even my mother Zhao Fangting's previously expressionless face blossomed with a gratifying smile.

Even Chu Mengyao's son, who was still in elementary school, gave me a thumbs-up. "Uncle, you are so right! Our teacher says the same thing—a family must stay harmonious, and harmony brings wealth."

Only Chu Haoran wore an unconvinced look. Deep down, he remained convinced that I must have received guidance from some master strategist; otherwise, there was no logical explanation for why this guy had suddenly changed so much.

At that moment, Chu Mingyuan stood up, clapping his hands with a smile. "Jiang He, these past two days you have truly surprised me. I've been doubting whether you've genuinely changed all along...

Hearing what you just said, I feel like I really need to reevaluate you from now on."

Zhao Fangting also stood up, smiling as she urged, "Alright, alright, today is a family gathering. Let's all be cheerful."

After speaking, Zhao Fangting instructed the housekeeper to serve the dishes.

The family sat around a large round table, with Chu Mingyuan and Zhao Fangting occupying the seats of honor.

Flanking them on either side were Chu Mengyao and Chu Haoran, followed by myself.

It seemed the rumors from the outside world were true; given my status, I might genuinely be Chu Mingyuan's illegitimate son.

Wine was poured, and Chu Mingyuan raised his glass. "Come on, let's all drink a toast as a family. Just like Jiang He said earlier, our family must stay tightly knit.

As the old saying goes: When brothers are of one mind, their sharp point can cut through metal."

The wine glasses chimed together, producing a crisp sound. The red wine rippled in the crystal glassware, seemingly agitating the unknown destinies of this family.

Chu Haoran still looked thoroughly resentful, keeping a gloomy face throughout the meal and drinking in silence without uttering a word.

I paid him no mind, chatting continuously with Chu Mingyuan about mundane domestic matters while Zhao Fangting occasionally chimed in.

Chu Mengyao conversed endlessly with her husband, while two lesser-known relatives plotted their own agendas, showering the Chu parents with endless flattery and pleasantries.

Looking at this entire household, it seemed only I—the outsider—actually resembled a family member to the Chu parents.

In my heart, Chu Mingyuan truly seemed like a decent person, and I was willing to get along with him.

At that moment, Zhao Fangting turned to me and asked, "Jiang He, when did you learn to paint? Was that painting just now really your work?"

Before I could answer, Chu Haoran, still holding a grudge, immediately seized the opportunity and interjected, "Mom, how could he possibly know how to paint? Who knows who he hired to draw it."

Due to time constraints, I had sketched that painting rather hastily. If I had put more care into it, Chu Haoran probably would have found even more things to pick on.

However, I didn't bother arguing with him—not because I couldn't, but because it was meaningless and would only displease the Chu parents.

Having drifted through society for so many years, though I had groveled so miserably before Jiang Yue, I was well-versed in the ways of human relations and worldly sophistication.

Things were different now, though; those things I had once been unwilling to do were now all worth trying at least once.

Zhao Fangting seemed to have bought into Chu Mengyao's skepticism, nodding as she said, "The painting is indeed a bit hasty, but you can still tell the color coordination is very sophisticated. It even incorporates a rare pairing of clove purple and mountain alum green—quite unusual!"

The moment I heard Zhao Fangting say that, I knew she definitely understood art.