After Being Blackened All Over the Internet, I Ruled the Military Variety Chapter 377 - 368: Only Old Master Zhang Alone

Xu Ling’an, not being foolish, hugged the little niece who mistook her for an aunt, and after returning the child to her biological mother, she quickly caught on.

Earlier, this cousin of hers could have handed the daughter directly to her, yet instead, she rely pointed over and used words like ’especially beautiful,’ which could easily mislead such a young child into making a mistake, resulting in the little girl misidentifying her.

Perhaps it was because the other party had prepared a gift for her, yet she hadn’t prepared anything for the other party’s daughter, or perhaps it was because of what the old man said earlier. In any case, the opposite number seed intent on making her feel sowhat embarrassed, unable to live up to the title of ’beautiful aunt’ spoken by a child.

She naturally didn’t feel embarrassed. After all, wasn’t it obvious that she wasn’t as pretty as Xixi?

But using a child in this way to vent, made her realize that this cousin who seed so enthusiastic upon eting her might not be as she seed.

Taking another look at the box placed in front of her, Xu Ling’an suppressed the rejection in her heart.

It had already been received and couldn’t be returned.

She could only set it aside and not use it!

Zhang Lingxuan was actually a bit regretful at this mont.

She had always been accustod to having things go her way, but seeing her grandfather blatantly treating her differently, and realizing that both her and her precious daughter combined weren’t as favored as the newly found Xu Ling’an, made her feel quite resentful, so she...

As soon as her daughter was in her arms, her husband took her away.

Zhang Lingxuan wanted to use her daughter to ease the earlier awkwardness, but when she looked up into her husband’s sowhat cold eyes, she swallowed her words.

She was being blad for using their daughter as a tool!

"Mom, didn’t you prepare gifts for our cousin and Miss Jiang?"

Lin Yi, receiving her daughter’s pleading look, quickly cleared her throat and walked over.

Currently, in the family, only Lingxuan and her daughter received anything resembling a warm face from the old man. The son-in-law who was a doctor barely received half that. The rest just waited to be scolded in front of the old man.

Now that Xu Ling’an was here, given the old man’s attitude, this girl presented a formidable threat. They couldn’t allow her to overshadow her daughter and granddaughter’s standing with the old man!

"Yesterday, Lingxuan and I specifically went shopping and selected two new bracelets from brand J," Lin Yi said as she approached Xu Ling’an, smiling as if asured by a ruler. She took out a bracelet from the jewelry box and directly pulled Xu Ling’an’s hand to put it on.

Suddenly with an added bracelet on her wrist, Xu Ling’an thought, "..."

She could only say, as expected of the mother and daughter duo!

However, when it ca to Jiang Lingxi, matching with those beautiful, sowhat mocking almond-shaped eyes, Lin Yi didn’t dare continue her previous actions and simply handed over the jewelry box, "This purple one would definitely look great on Miss Jiang."

Jiang Lingxi glanced at the purple crystal bracelet in the open box, "I didn’t expect to receive one too, thank you, very considerate."

Setting aside the value of the bracelet, at least in form, the mother and daughter did a fairly good job.

Wasn’t it evident in the way the old man sitting opposite nodded repeatedly, clearly satisfied with his daughter-in-law and granddaughter’s performances!

"Alright, it’s getting late; everyone should be seated. An’an and Miss Jiang have been busy all day and are probably hungry. Xiao Lin, tell the kitchen to start serving the dishes!"

Lin Yi paused in her movent to sit down, subconsciously reminding, "Dad, Xiao Zhou hasn’t arrived yet."

"He’ll sit down and eat when he gets here, should everyone really wait for a junior?"

"Wait for who?" Ca a slightly breathless voice from outside the room, drawing everyone’s attention.

Lin Yi, after being chastised by the old man and seeing her son arriving late, was a bit peeved, "Who else, now everyone is here, just waiting for you."

Zhang Lingzhou placed his luggage in the corner and then t his grandfather’s expressionless gaze. Imdiately, he stood at attention, "Grandfather, how is your health?"

"Still alright," Zhang Nachuan’s expression softened, "Alright, sit down, everyone’s here now."

With only one empty seat left at the table, Zhang Lingzhou didn’t dare be choosy, went over, and sat down obediently. Then, discreetly, he scanned the unfamiliar faces around the table, pausing his gaze at a certain direction before shifting it slightly, "This must be cousin from aunt’s family, right? Hello cousin, I’m Zhang Lingzhou, your cousin."

Xu Ling’an nodded politely, "Hello, cousin."

Zhang Lingzhou smiled at her, then eagerly looked to the person beside his cousin, "Who is this? Why do you look so familiar?"

Zhang Lingxuan cast a disapproving glance at her younger brother. Being his elder sister, she knew exactly what kind of character he had.

It seed now he had his eyes on Jiang Lingxi.

But it wasn’t surprising, even she herself couldn’t help feeling envious upon seeing Jiang Lingxi.

"You find her familiar because you’ve seen her online, Miss Jiang is an actress, and she’s also our cousin An’an’s sworn sister."

Zhang Lingzhou suddenly looked enlightened, "No wonder. Mom, you really should have told over the phone that cousin’s sister would co, how could you not ntion that Miss Jiang is an actress!"

If he had known earlier that this Miss Jiang was not only an actress but also so stunning, he would have smartened himself up a bit before stepping into this room!

Lin Yi, who had just gone to instruct the kitchen and was then chided by her youngest son, "..."

The cheeky brat, don’t think for a mont she didn’t know why he was regretful!

"An’an cousin, co on, let’s add each other as friends!"

Xu Ling’an hesitated a bit but then still took her phone and scanned it when Zhang Lingzhou handed his phone over despite the several people in between.

The next second, holding her phone, she moved her hand sideways, and Zhang Lingzhou thick-skinnedly gave Jiang Lingxi a toothy grin, "Miss Jiang, let’s add each other too!"

Jiang Lingxi clearly saw through his intention.

Indeed, given the current setting, just adding a friend wouldn’t cause any awkward pause and put neither side in a difficult position.

She picked up her phone from the table to scan, not intending to send a verification request.

Just about to put down the phone, she was reminded with a notification.

Jiang Lingxi, "..."

Sneaky!

The ensuing al was rather eventful.

Xu Lei concentrated on eating.

Zhang Lingzhou found this newfound cousin Xu Ling’an to be quite amiable, opening the conversation box wide, but two out of three sentences would involve Jiang Lingxi beside him.

Zhang Anfeng and Lin Yi found it hard to watch yet dared not reprimand him in front of the old man, so they ate in silence with a simring displeasure.

Zhang Lingxuan restrained her temper, chiming in here and there, and with her husband sitting beside her, dared not engage in any petty scheming.

Zhang Nachuan was dedicated to fostering a good relationship with Gao Lan, and seeing the youngsters chat animatedly, was probably the happiest person in the room.

Jiang Lingxi noncommittally picked at the dishes while casually responding to Zhang Lingzhou’s attempts to strike up a conversation through An’an.

She could now fully confirm that of all the people seated in this room nad Zhang, the only one genuinely accepting of An’an and sincerely hoping she integrates into the Zhang Family was the old man!

Midway through the al, the topic of school starting in a few days ca up, and Zhang Nachuan suddenly recalled sothing, "By the way, what school did An’an get into? Is the school here in the Imperial City or does she need to study out of town?"

If it were local, he could see his granddaughter frequently. If she had talent in painting and calligraphy, he could even teach her for a few more years before she left.

But if she were to study out of town, it’d be four years away, only sumrs and winters to co back ho, with the child busy with her own matters, there wouldn’t be many opportunities to interact.

Who knows if he’d live another four years.

It was quite a significant matter to him!

"In the Imperial City, at Hua University." Gao Lan’s face was full of pride as he said this, "I rember back then, both Jing University and Hua University ca to our house to vie for An’an, they both wanted her to attend their school. An’an chose Hua University herself."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Yi couldn’t help but gasp, "Both Jing and Hua Universities vying for her, really? Only the top scorer usually receives that kind of treatnt during the college entrance exam, right?"

Could this be possible for a seemingly frail little girl like Xu Ling’an who couldn’t even afford tutoring classes?

It seed like boasting without any preparation!