The Swapped Heir Came Home Hungry novel · Chapter 10 of 24

Chapter 10: Rule Thirteen

"Rule thirteen," said Linchuan, in the service corridor behind the ballroom. "A Jiang never contradicts an elder in public."

"Whatever he says?"

Linchuan did not blink. "Whatever he says. If you disagree, you wait. You come to me."

"You do not stand up in front of three hundred people and say so."

Anzhi snorted. "That's a very easy rule on a night when nobody's going to say anything stupid."

"Anzhi."

It was the first time he had used the short name.

Anzhi, who was tugging at the collar of a new dark suit that fitted better than anything he had ever worn, looked up.

"I'll obey it exactly," he said. "Term one."

Linchuan studied his face.

Then he straightened the knot of his tie for him, once, with two fingers, and went out first through the door.

The Jiang Grand Hotel ballroom held forty round tables, a stage with a velvet curtain, and eleven photographers.

Anzhi sat at table fourteen, by the kitchen door.

His friend stood behind his chair in a borrowed waiter's jacket, which he said was the only way to be near the food.

Linchuan sat at table one beside an empty place with a card that read: The Old Master.

Next to him sat Madam Su, in black, and Yuan, who did not look at anyone.

At eight, the lights fell, and Second Uncle walked onto the stage.

He wore a charcoal suit and a silk handkerchief and the face of a man who had been loved for years.

"Friends," he said. "Tonight we feed the children of forty counties."

"And tonight, by a gift of fortune, the Jiang family has one more story to tell you."

The spotlight swung round and found table fourteen.

"A young man came home to us ten days ago," said Second Uncle. "He grew up in a county town with a feed shop and a leaking roof. He has known real hunger."

← Chapter 9 · All chapters · Chapter 11 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend