Leng Yuan moved the table inside and came back out. He saw Gu Jiaojiao and worried she might freeze.

"Let’s go back!"

Gu Jiaojiao nodded and told him what had happened with Aunt Leng and Third Aunt Leng.

Leng Yuan’s expression didn’t change at all.

"If you want to know what’s going on, you’ll find out in a few days. As for now, you can use the people from the Leng Family however you see fit."

Leng Yuan felt no particular attachment to the Leng Family.

Leng Yuan had been raised by his grandfather since he was a child. The person he respected most was his grandfather.

As for his grandmother, she had always doted on her youngest son the most. After him came the second branch of the family, then her daughter, and finally, the eldest branch.

She had never liked Leng Yuan, even from a young age, much preferring the third branch’s grandson, Leng Manqiu.

She had even asked her daughter to pull some strings to find Leng Manqiu his job.

Although Leng Yuan felt no affection for the Leng Family, he wouldn’t be ruthless enough to drive them to ruin.

Now, the Leng Family was coming to them of their own accord.

It would be a waste not to use them.

Far from thinking Gu Jiaojiao was wrong, he actually thought the girl was clever.

Free labor? It would be a waste not to use it.

Leng Yuan lowered his gaze, looking at the girl’s fair, delicate face and the fluffy top of her head. He couldn’t resist reaching out to pat it affectionately.

Chen Jianshe, carrying a bucket, caught up just in time to see this. He couldn’t help but feel like a third wheel.

’A total third wheel.’

’But Brother Leng is hosting a get-together tomorrow.’

’His mom told him to help Brother Leng tidy up the yard and see if there was anything else he could do.’

With that in mind, Chen Jianshe steeled himself and kept following.

The wind was bitingly cold.

The young couple, Leng Yuan and Gu Jiaojiao, walked ahead, chatting and laughing affectionately.

Behind them trudged the single Chen Jianshe, bucket in hand, a solitary and rather pathetic figure.

Gu Jiaojiao paid this no mind. She was busy discussing the get-together with Leng Yuan.

She asked about the number of guests, the menu, and the local customs for such events.

As she asked, she pulled her collar up a little higher.

Leng Yuan watched Gu Jiaojiao for a moment, then suddenly spoke.

"Are you nervous?"

Gu Jiaojiao: ...

After a moment of silence, she gave an honest nod.

"A little."

’It was strange.’

’Even though they were already married, the thought of formally hosting everyone for dinner tomorrow still made her inexplicably nervous.’

Leng Yuan sensed Gu Jiaojiao’s unease.

The Gu Jiaojiao of this moment completely lacked the assertiveness she’d had when demanding they register their marriage. She seemed delicate, frail, and even a little timid.

He wanted to pull her into his arms and comfort her, but then he remembered Chen Jianshe was still behind them. He had to settle for comforting her with words.

"Don’t worry. Everyone coming tomorrow is someone we know. You just need to stay by my side; you won’t have to worry about a thing."

Leng Yuan was handling all the arrangements for the get-together.

When they were first putting the guest list together, Leng Yuan had asked Gu Jiaojiao who she wanted to invite.

After arriving, Gu Jiaojiao hadn’t gotten along well with most people. It was only later, after speaking with Chen Ruoyu a few times, that she found she quite liked her.

So, she gave him Chen Ruoyu’s name. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

And since Li Fenggu had been very kind to her when she first arrived, she added his name as well.

All in all, from the entire Educated Youth Collective, she only had two people she wanted to invite.

Leng Yuan decided on the rest of the guests.

Leng Yuan was the one who sent out the invitations, too.

Gu Jiaojiao hadn’t had to lift a finger.

’Worst case scenario, I’ll just act like I’m attending someone else’s party tomorrow.’

’After all, in her past life, she was a wealthy socialite. What kind of major galas hadn’t she attended? This is a piece of cake.’

With that thought, Gu Jiaojiao’s confidence returned.