350: Family dinner

Family dinner

The atmosphere was filled with a sense of warmth and sophistication, as the Jia and Qiao family came together for a harmonious dinner. 1

"Welcome to our home, Mr. Jia. It's a pleasure to have you and your family here. I hope you feel truly welcomed," Qiao Dong welcomed the Jia family inside the Qiao mansion.

Jia Mingze smiled and appreciated the welcome by the Qiao family, "Thank you, Mr. Qiao. Your hospitality is outstanding. This house is absolutely magnificent. I appreciate the opportunity to spend time with you and your family outside of the office."

The Jia family's attention was then drawn towards Mrs. Qiao. "We're delighted to have you all here. Please make yourselves comfortable. Dinner will be served shortly. I hope you enjoy the ambiance of our home."

Mrs. Jia then reverted back with a formal tone, "Thank you, Mrs. Qiao. The atmosphere is truly exquisite. Your attention to detail is remarkable. It's a wonderful change of scenery from our usual business meetings."

As they got themselves seated, Jia Mingze, a distinguished gentleman in his late 50s and the patriarch of the Jia family, exuded confidence and charisma as he engaged in conversation with Qiao Dong, the patriarch of the Qiao family.

Qiao Dong smiled at Jia Mingze, "Mr. Jia, it's a pleasure to have you and your family here. I am really thankful that you accepted our invitation for a meal."

Jia Mingze also reverted the hospitality in a polite manner, "It's our pleasure to have a meal with you too. Thank you for your hospitality."

Seated across from each other were Mrs. Jia and Mrs. Qiao, both elegant and graceful in their attire. 

Along with Mr and Mrs. Jia, Jia Yuze was seated on the couch just opposite to Qiao Qing. He smiled at the nervous girl in front of him in order to make her comfortable. 

Qiao Chen was not present today as he had gone out of the city for a business meeting. 

Mrs. Jia glanced at Qiao Qing and frowned inside. However, the frown did not reflect on her face because of her decent upbringing. It was normal for anyone to have such a reaction but not commenting anything on Qiao Qing's face was rare.

Nobody from Jia family said anything about Qiao Qing which made her comfortable in their presence. 

Normally, whoever would come to their house would first scrunch their face in disgust on seeing her and then make one or other offensive comments about her. They would show that they cared for her but in reality their intention would just be to mock her.

Even Mr and Mrs. Qiao noticed that such behaviour didn't occur with the Jia family members reflecting their decent upbringing. The couple smiled while looking at each other.

After a while, the chef signalled Mrs. Qiao that the dinner was ready. She nodded and announced, "Dinner is served, everyone. Please, let's all gather at the dining table and enjoy the meal together."

Everyone smiled and moved towards the dining table, taking their seats.

"Mrs. Jia, I hope you and your family appreciate the fine cuisine prepared by our chef," Mrs. Qiao said smiling at Mrs. Jia.

As Mrs. Qiao said this, plates of meticulously plated appetizers and delicately cooked main courses were served, showcasing the culinary expertise of the chef and his team.

Mrs. Jia replied to Mrs. Qiao, "The aroma of the culinary delights alone is mouthwatering. Your attention to detail is evident in every aspect of our evening. I'm excited to taste everything that awaits us."

As the meal is served, Mrs. Qiao addressed everyone on the dining table. "Bon appetit, everyone. Please, indulge yourselves and savor the flavors. Let this meal be a symbol of the richness of our partnership and the shared successes we've achieved."

Mrs. Jia was happy to see the hospitality offered by the Qiao family, "Thank you, Mrs. Qiao. I'm certain it will be an exceptional dining experience. Your family's commitment to excellence extends to every aspect of your lives, including this exquisite meal."

As the evening progressed, the conversation flew effortlessly, with a delightful blend of business talk and personal anecdotes.

Amidst the grown-up conversation, Jia Yuze and Qiao Qing were stealing glances at each other. Their eyes met briefly, and a gentle smile tugged at the corners of their mouths.

As they had met a couple of times before, both of them admired each other to some extent. 

Qiao Qing's fingers delicately traced the rim of her glass, her gaze occasionally flickering towards Jia Yuze. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity and a hint of admiration, her heart beating a little faster in his presence.

Jia Yuze sat up a little straighter while glancing at Qiao Qing from time to time. He didn't know why but he felt a sense of warmth and comfort whenever he saw her.

"So other than going to play with children, what do you do in your free time?" Jia Yuze started the conversation.

"Mostly, I read novels in my free time. What about you? What do you prefer to do when you are free?" Qiao Qing didn't know why but maybe because she felt comfortable in Jia Yuze's presence so she didn't hesitate to converse with him. This was in contrast with what happened with other people where she would just give conversation killing replies.

"I am not into reading much. I like watching movies," Jia Yuze replied. 

"Ohh, what kind of movies? Most guys are into action movies. You are too?" Qiao Qing asked curiously.

"I like action movies but more than that I like the mind blogging ones. Anything that requires me to use my mind is my choice, be it movies or games," Jia Yuze replied.

"Ohh nice," Qiao Qing was impressed as this was something different that she had heard from any guy. Shen Yong would always watch senseless action movies which always would show the muscle power of the male lead. So she thought that most men liked such movies.

"I would also like mind-blogging movies. Will you recommend some to me?" Qiao Qing asked. She was not asking just to extend their conversation. She genuinely wished to watch them.

"Sure," Jia Yuze smiled, "There is this movie getting released this Friday. It's the third part of the series. You can watch the first two parts and then we could watch the third part together. What do you say?" He proposed.

Qiao Qing was stunned. At first, she couldn't comprehend what Jia Yuze said. When she realised that he was asking her to go to the movie, a faint blush appeared on her face. 

"Okay," Qiao Qing replied softly. She didn't want to reject Jia Yuze's offer. Because Qin Yan was busy, Qiao Qing had not hung out with anyone for a long time. She thought that it was a good opportunity to freshen her mind. She was also excited to go as her company was Jia Yuze, someone whom she was developing feelings for.

As the evening progressed, Jia Yuze and Qiao Qing became more at ease, finding solace in their shared moments. They found comfort in the familiarity of their friendship. 

Both the families remained unaware of the silent exchange happening between them as they were engrossed in their own discussions. 

But the energy of Jia Yuze and Qiao Qing's connection added a layer of magic to the evening, a budding affection that promised the potential for something beautiful.

"Can I get your WeChat?" Jia Yuze asked at the end.

"Why?" Qiao Qing's first reaction was of vigilance. 

"How would I contact you for the movie if I don't have your number?" Jia Yuze smiled seeing Qiao Qing so vigilant.

Hearing Jia Yuze, Qiao Qing had a happy realisation. Thinking about what she did, Qiao Qing's face turned red.

She then nodded shyly. Jia Yuze was amused to see her reaction. As they exchanged their contacts, a bud of affection was planted in their hearts.

As the dessert was served, Mr. Qiao said, "Mr. Jia, it's evenings like this that remind me of the power of collaboration and friendship. Our business partnership has flourished, and our personal bond has strengthened over time."

Mr. Jia responded, "Mr. Qiao, I couldn't agree more. Our shared successes are a testament to the trust and mutual respect we've cultivated. I'm grateful for the opportunity to work with you and your family."

Mr. Qiao smiled, "Let's raise our glasses to the success of our collaboration, to the future achievements that lie ahead, and to the deepening friendship between our families." 

They raised their glasses, clinking them together, as they toasted to their continued partnership and the special bond they shared.

As the formal dinner came to an end, Jia Yuze and Qiao Qing stole one last glance, their eyes locking for a brief moment, filled with hope and anticipation. Hoping that this stolen connection was just the beginning, a seed was planted in their hearts that would grow into a beautiful bond, transcending the formalities of the evening and blossoming into something extraordinary.

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