The most important dinner preparations were finally completed. Huang Yuyan joined the group in the living area. She already changed into her dinner outfit which was a long elegant dress. It looked a little too formal for the occasion. She was excited and anxious to present a good impression to the Long family.
But as soon as she saw her youngest son, she cried out in worry. "Son, you look like a skeleton! This can't go on. I'll be sending meals to you starting tomorrow. You'll also take home all of the leftovers tonight."
"Mom, I'm fine," Jin Chonglin replied.
The group continued to chat until late afternoon. Finally, they heard several footsteps. They all turned to look. Jin Liwei was leading several people.
"There you are, Xiulan my girl, Liwei my boy!" Grandpa Lu's voice boomed as he smacked his thighs with his palms before standing up to greet the new arrivals. "What took you so long? I want to know! I have been waiting so long for you that I almost fell asleep!"
Grandma Li rolled her eyes at her friend's dramatic exaggerations. What almost fell asleep? He chattered nonstop the whole time.
Iris and Jin Liwei came with Long Tengfei and Yang Jiahui. Surprisingly, Long Hui also came with them. He was carrying his son, Little Jun. Dom and Meimei also tagged along carrying Ice Cream and Popcorn respectively.
Popcorn jumped out of Meimei's arms and ran towards Lu Zihao who he immediately recognized. He leaped into Lu Zihao's arms, rubbed himself all over him and meowed loudly, asking to be petted. The fat Ice Cream just watched safely in Dom a.k.a. Slave #1's arms, her expression cautious. She still didn't like Lu Zihao at all.
Since the two groups already met each other before in the hospital when Iris went into coma for the second time, there wasn't really any need for introductions. They greeted each other like old friends…no, this time, they greeted each other like family.
It was only Jin Chonglin, Long Hui and Little Jun who were unfamiliar with the other people. Needless to say, both Jin Chonglin and Long Hui were shocked out of their wits, while Little Jun just looked curious and shy meeting these new people.
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As for Jin Chonglin, his expression was a sight to see. His eyes widened so much that they looked like they were about to pop out of his head. He kept closing and opening his eyes, even rubbing them, to make sure that what he was seeing was actually real and happening.
He looked at his brother and his…his fiancée. His brother's arm was wrapped possessively around the beautiful young woman's waist. There was also a gentleness in his brother's expression whenever he gazed down at the woman beside him. The expression looked so foreign on his brother that Jin Chonglin suspected for a moment that he must be an impostor.
"I-Iris? Is that you, Iris Long?"
Iris finally turned to look at Jin Chonglin. She gave him a smile so lovely that his breath caught in his throat.
"Hello, Senior Jin Chonglin," she greeted. "It's lovely to see you."
"You…" He looked at her then at his brother, and then back at her again. His eyes zeroed in on the diamond ring on her finger. It sparkled under the light. "Y-you…and Big Bro…ah…hold on, I think I exhausted myself too much these past few days that I didn't realize I've fallen asleep and now I'm dreaming. This must be a dream…"
He laughed weakly. The others just looked at him in amusement.
Grandpa Lu was busy recording Jin Chonglin's reaction on video with his phone. His expression was filled with merriment and mischief. He tried ordering Lu Zihao to do it, but his grandson ignored him. Lu Zihao chatted with Dom and Meimei instead while he stroked the purring Popcorn in his arms.
The reality was gradually starting to register in Jin Chonglin's dumbfounded brain. However, his disbelief only heightened as he observed the intimate touches and gestures between his brother and Iris.
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Jin Liwei led Iris towards his brother. "Chonglin, meet Long Xiulan, my fiancée. Love, this is my younger brother, Jin Chonglin. You already know each other."
"It's been a while since we've last seen each other, Senior," Iris said.
Jin Chonglin marched forward until he was directly in front of her. Before anyone could react, he grabbed her shoulders and stared at her face.
"You…you're really Iris Long?"
The ugly, green-eyed monster roared to life inside Jin Liwei. He grabbed his brother's hands and wrenched them away from his baby girl's shoulders. Then he placed himself between them. He glared at his brother, warning him away.
Jin Chonglin was too shocked to react in time. He just stood there like a moron, confused at his brother's scary expression.
Dom and Meimei almost squealed out loud in excitement at the drama unfolding in front of them. This was better than any of the TV dramas they were watching.
"Whoa whoa! Easy there now!" Grandpa Lu's booming voice interrupted the sudden tense atmosphere. "You two rascals! This is a happy family gathering! Stop acting like two alpha wolves fighting over a female! Are you listening to me? Keep ignoring me and I'll bang you two brothers' heads together!"
"Darling." Iris pulled Jin Liwei back. She reached her hand up to his face and forced him to look at her. "Calm down, okay?" She whispered to him while stroking his cheek.
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Jin Chonglin couldn't believe that the passionate man in front of him was his own brother. It was like he was meeting him for the first time. Who was this person acting all lovey-dovey with Iris Long in front of everyone? Where was his cold and indifferent brother?
He was about to open his mouth to ask them questions when…
"Mama! Papa!" A child's voice called out.
Jin Chonglin looked at the toddler struggling in the arms of Iris' brother. The toddler was reaching his little arms to…to…eh? Jin Chonglin's eyes widened once again, as he watched his brother move and take the toddler.
"Hm. Papa and Mama are here," Jin Liwei murmured, patting the child's back gently.
"Ah?" Jin Chonglin's mind went blank.