The living room’s door suddenly got opened, and everyone’s chattering instantly stopped.

Everyone looked towards that man who was directly walking in. This person brought the wind with him, his temperament was domineering and his aura was powerful. It could be said that he was someone significant from one’s first glance…

Jiang Chengfeng, Sun Weiwei, and Miao Xiaomei immediately stood up from their sitting postures on the couch. Li Xiaoru also hurriedly left her piano stool, quickly hiding behind Jiang Chengfeng.

Only Liu Man, who was sitting cross-legged on the carpet, was slightly slower at reacting, or she was not shocked by this man. She put the Guqin on the ground, not hurrying and not slowing down, before getting up calmly. Seeing the man was staring at her, she nodded and smiled at him, being as courteous as she could be.

Tao Zhiwei was not a lecherous man, but when facing a group of strangers, one would always subconsciously notice the most prominent one. A girl wearing an ancient peach dress and sitting down on the ground like an ancient woman with a Guqin on her knees attracted eyeballs.

To return the courtesy, Tao Zhiwei also smiled at Liu Man. His smile softened the sharpness on his face and made the others slightly exhale.

Tao Zhiyao frowned, “Bro, why have you returned?”

Bro???!!!

This man was Peach’s elder brother!

Everyone could not have been more surprised; Tao Zhiyao’s temperament was completely different from her brother’s, and the two did not look much alike.

“I’ve only gone on a business trip for a week. Am I not allowed back home anymore?” Tao Zhiwei glanced at Tao Zhiyao, and Tao Zhiyao stopped talking.

She looked like a tolerating, quiet wife. In the Tao family, this was called respecting the elderly and obeying the elder’s powers!

The “bossy sister” appearance from before could not even be glimpsed now. Tao Zhiyao had turned into her original status when Liu Man first met her; demure and ladylike.

“They’re your friends? Aren’t you going to introduce them to me?” Tao Zhiwei scanned the small group. He, who had always been superior, had a suppressive gaze. Li Xiaoru grabbed on tightly to Jiang Chengfeng’s sleeve, and Jiang Chengfeng swallowed. Miao Xiaomei felt so cowardly that she wanted to bury herself in a hole. Sun Weiwei wanted to leave now…

Tao Zhiyao’s brother looked so unapproachable.

Tao Zhiyao only had a few glances before he could perceive excluding that girl wearing a peach dress, the other youngsters did not have the same social status as his family did.

“They are friends I got to know online,” Tao Zhiyao introduced honestly.

Sure enough, as she had expected, her brother frowned.

Before Tao Zhiwei had a chance to say anything negative, Tao Zhiyao apologized to Liu Man and the others, “Sorry, but let’s hang out some other day. I’ll have my driver send you home.”

Everyone could not hope for anything better!

They were all smart. Tao Zhiwei belittled them, so why were they still standing there.

Li Xiaoru and Liu Man were still wearing Tao Zhiyao’s clothes, but under this condition, how could they still have the time to change? They then left while wearing the dresses, thinking of returning the clothes to Tao Zhiyao the next time they meet.

The five quickly departed, and the living room that was once filled with laughter and chattering soon returned to its state of silence.

A hint of disappointment flashed through the bottom of Tao Zhiyao’s eyes. She did not say anything to her brother, turning around and getting ready to go to her bedroom upstairs.

Tao Zhiwei stopped her.

“Yaoyao, stop right there.”

Tao Zhiyao immediately stopped moving.

“After you graduated from college, you didn’t find a job and didn’t want to come work at ‘Jin Tao’. You stayed at home every day, playing with your phone all day and gaming. You didn’t do anything useful and even led your rabble home…”

“They aren’t a rabble.”

Tao Zhiwei, staring at his younger sister, looked discontent. Their parents had been educating the two of them ever since they were toddlers that they shouldn’t be interrupting others when they were talking. Even if they felt dissatisfied, they would have to wait until the other side was done talking.

They had always been reminding themselves of their parents’ scolding and had always been following it. His sister had been even more discreet, and this was the first time she had ever interrupted his talking. Furthermore, her eyes seemed to be full of anger.

“My friends are all very good people. I will not allow you to randomly blemish them,” Tao Zhiyao’s voice was not loud, and it was still within a ladylike spectrum. However, it was forceful and strong, signaling that she would not step back on this matter.

Tao Zhiwei didn’t realize how important she thought this group of people was, “I have no means of slandering anyone. You are a daughter of the Tao family, so it’s reasonable for you to befriend those who match your identity. People like us have to think of social statuses even when we befriend people.”

“People like us? What kind of people is ‘people like us’?” Tao Zhiyao questioned him, “They are as sophisticated as I am, and they are more talented than I am. The only thing I’m better at is simply having a few more stinky coins in my pocket.”

Tao Zhiwei thought of the “Jasmine” he had heard just now, which was played by the piano and the Guqin. He thought of the generosity, elegance, and magnanimity of the girl in the peach dress. He finally realized that he had a bit of misunderstanding towards these supposed netizens.

However, his “rabble” had already completely offended Tao Zhiyao. Tao Zhiyao continued to say in an indifferent tone,

“You, father, and mother had never known what I want and what I want to do. When I had to choose a college, I said that I want to learn to become a director. You didn’t allow me, saying that it’s not the mainstream;”

“I hate those fake social parties, but you all had always been forcing me to participate in them, and you force me to befriend those boring rich daughters. Hehe, don’t assume I don’t know how you have been saying I have an eccentric personality behind me;”

“I want a cat, but because you all dislike cats, the creature, cat, will never be connected to our family;”

“You ask me why I didn’t look for a job. I’m going to tell you now. I am absolutely uninterested in finances and businesses. I would lay on my bed, sleeping, gaming, and watching videos rather than do things I don’t like!”

Tao Zhiyao spat out all these words she had been holding back in her heart for a long, long time. She could not cover up her rebelling and recalcitrant thoughts from inside. This was the side that never got seen by her brother and her parents and was her side on the internet; this was her most real side.

She, like the other Tao kindreds, raised her head aloofly only to cover the traces of inconspicuous tears at the corner of her eyes. She would not cry in front of her brother. Never!

But her expression was uglier compared to crying.

She coldly glanced at Tao Zhiwei before running upstairs, not turning back once. Bang! She had closed the first door in her bedroom that led to the room where she welcomed her guests.

Tao Zhiwei had completely frozen. A CEO that led a large corporation containing tens of thousands of employees, who had always contained a situation well in his hands, suddenly felt very helpless and did not know what to do.

The butler, standing in a secret place, did not dare to interfere in this argument between the siblings. He could only sigh lightly.

It was dinnertime, but Tao Zhiyao still hadn’t gone downstairs.

The chef had meticulously cooked palatable dishes and placed them all onto the rectangular dinner table in the Tao family’s dining room. Tao Zhiwei sat alone in front of the table, and he gestured for the butler to come before asking, “Why are there so many dishes today?”

The butler replied honestly, “The young miss was initially planning on treating all her friends to dinner. She had already told me yesterday, and we had already bought the ingredients beforehand. The chef said these ingredients can only be consumed freshly. If we don’t use them today, we will have to throw them away tomorrow.”

Translated by: Sydney