398: Family dinner

Family dinner

Knock Knock0

"Mommy?" Sebastian peeked his little head in the door.

Grandma Zhu and Heaven instinctively turned their heads at the door. Their eyes instantly caught the little master looking around inside, witnessing how his doe eyes lit up as soon as he saw his mother. 

"Mommy!" Sebastian grinned as he rushed inside, jumping to Heaven, who was still sitting on the couch. "I miss Mommy so much!"

"Haha!" Grandma Zhu couldn't help but laugh while watching the mother and son. 

"Oh, baby," Heaven embraced her son, looking at him affectionately. "I miss you too, sweetheart."

Watching Sebastian squeeze his mother while Heaven hugged the boy back, Grandma Zhu's eyes softened. This wasn't the first time she had seen Heaven and Sebastian's interaction, but every time, the relief in the old madam's heart swelled in her chest. 

"How was your vacation in Grandma's house?" asked Heaven as Sebastian sat on her lap.

"It's fun!" Sebastian grinned, casting his great-grandmother a bright look. "Grandma, let me play with her pet."

"Oh?" Her brows rose, confused. She didn't know Grandma Zhu had a pet, but well, she didn't know that many things about this family. Also, it wasn't surprising for Grandma Zhu to keep a pet to have company. Thus, Heaven didn't probe. 

Knock Knock

A minute after Sebastian entered the room, another knock came from the slightly opened door. Again, Heaven and Grandma Zhu turned their heads in the door's direction. This time, the person they caught standing by the door was Ria Zhu, Heaven's mother-in-law. 

"Mom?" called Ria in her naturally gentle voice. Her eyes darted to the people sitting on the set of couches, smiling. "Dinner is ready and everyone is waiting for you."

"Ah, it's time already?" Grandma Zhu chuckled, setting her attention back to Heaven. "Little Heaven, shall we?"

"Yes, Grandma." Heaven sported a polite smile before gazing at her son. "Let's go, Basti. Help me assist Grandma."

"Alright~!" 

With that being said, Heaven and Sebastian got up from the couch. They immediately went to assist Grandma Zhu with the little master taking her cane and giving it to her. Ria Zhu also went inside, holding Grandma Zhu's other side after offering Heaven a subtle smile. 

Since Grandma Zhu was holding her cane on the other hand, Ria could only walk beside her in case Grandma Zhu needed more assistance. On the other hand, Grandma Zhu held Heaven's arm as they headed to the dining hall. 

Grandma Zhu didn't need to say it directly, but her action was enough for Heaven to understand what Grandma Zhu had been doing since the beginning. Grandma Zhu didn't ask anyone in here other than Heaven. And this displayed how she favored the next matriarch of the family. Even so, Heaven didn't bother talking about it as she let her do what would make the old madam happy. 

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The dining hall of the old residence was huge, designed for such a big family to fit on occasion as tonight. When Heaven, Grandma Zhu, Ria Zhu, and Sebastian arrived, the lively chattering gradually died down. Everyone stood from their seats, gazing at the entrance of the dining hall. 

"Grandma," called someone as he took a step, only to stop when Grandma Zhu waved dismissively. 

"Don't bother. My sweet Heaven is already helping me." As usual, there was a tinge of grumpiness in Grandma Zhu's voice. 

Ria slowly released Grandma Zhu's side as her eyes fell on Sebastian. "Basti, come, darling. I'll take you to your seat."

"Mhm!" Sebastian smiled, casting his mother a quick look before taking his grandmother's hand. 

The two (Ria and Sebastian) parted from Heaven and Grandma Zhu as Ria took Sebastian to the seat next to the vacant seat beside Dominic. Meanwhile, Heaven took Grandma Zhu to the head seat on the end of the table all alone, ignoring the gazes following her figure. 

"Let me." This time, Dominic jogged his way ahead as he dragged the host chair back for Grandma Zhu to sit on. 

Grandma Zhu said nothing while Heaven and Dominic glanced at each other. When Grandma Zhu sat at the end of the table, she lifted her head and glossed her eyes over everyone's faces.

"Goodness. What's with all that look on your faces?" she humored with a chuckle, waving. "You should all sit down. This is not decades ago where everyone should rise when an elder comes. I'm still as strong as a cow."

As Grandma Zhu humored everyone, Dominic and Heaven walked to their respective seats near Grandma Zhu's chair. Just like a gentleman, Dominic dragged the vacant seat for his wife.

"Thanks," she muttered, only to receive a subtle smile from him as she sat down beside Sebastian. 

Dominic then sat on the other chair beside hers that was on Grandma Zhu's left. Across from them were his parents and then Axel. A vacant seat followed Axel's seat and then all relatives occupied the next chairs. 

'Grandma Zhu says this isn't decades ago, but just based on the seating arrangement, it already displays their status's distinction,'thought Heaven, scanning everyone's face at her own discretion. 'Good thing I made a bit of research since Heaven's memories weren't as reliable.'

This wasn't the first time she had seen these people from the original Heaven's perspective. However, the original Heaven barely knew anything about each of them and what they do. Therefore, she had to do a little digging just to have an idea of who was actually useful at this dining table and who wasn't. 

As Heaven scanned the long dining table, she caught someone at the other end.

'Ivy?'she blinked, seeing Ivy discreetly waving at her. 'Didn't they say this is a family gathering? What is she… ahh.'

Heaven rocked her head in understanding, remembering that the Wei family was very close with the Zhu family. Ivy, in particular, was also very close with Dominic's relatives and immediate family. Therefore, it wouldn't be surprising if she was here, whether or not she wanted to be here. 

'Well, it had been a while since I met her, even though we kept in touch.'Heaven flashed Ivy a smile, only to notice someone a few chairs from Ivy looking in her direction. When Heaven veered her gaze to the other person, and her eyes landed on Silas Zhu, an inexplicable sense of displeasure crept up her spine.

'How discomforting.'

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