"Well, I must say, Jiang you did a great job this time. The boss is very pleased with your efforts, so consider this official praise!" Jason Liu said, putting on an air of seriousness as he gave Jiang a rare compliment.
"Really? That's it?" Jiang rolled her eyes. "Didn't we just discuss this earlier?"
"At the end of the year, I'll distribute bonuses based on everyone's hard work and contributions. So, don't worry—if you put in the effort, you'll be rewarded!" Jason Liu reassured her, giving her a playful wink. "So, does this sound good enough now?"
"Who knows if you're telling the truth or not…" Jiang muttered under her breath, but the excitement on her face betrayed her skepticism. "Well, I'll just wait and see, Liu!"
"Hey, Mr. Liu, we'll work hard!" someone called out.
"Yeah, I'm looking forward to that year-end bonus!" another voice chimed in.
Hearing their boss's promise, Emily and Emma exchanged smiles, their eyes gleaming with anticipation. Even the people at the other tables, who were enjoying their drinks, looked happy, their faces flushed either from alcohol or excitement.
The dinner ended, and after making sure Jiang and Lin Xiaohan got home safely, Jason Liu drove back to his villa.
Back at his villa, Jason Liu took a shower before grabbing his phone.
He didn't have many hobbies apart from reading web novels, watching anime, playing video games, and scrolling through short videos. His phone was the only source of entertainment he needed.
Why didn't he go out at night?
Simple—he didn't know where to go. Bars were too noisy for his taste, and cafés weren't appealing when he had a high-end computer setup at home.
People always said that the rich had exciting nightlife, but Jason Liu didn't feel like his life had changed much.
Going out to party? He'd rather just lie in bed and play on his phone.
Such was the simple and mundane life of a homebody.
Thinking about home, he sent a message to his family group chat to check in.
Jason Liu had two family-related group chats. One was the "Family Group" and the other was "Relatives." The family group consisted of his parents, his sister Liu Wan, and his brother-in-law Louis Wei. The relatives' group, however, was filled with aunts, uncles, cousins, and distant family members—over a dozen people in total.
Jason Liu rarely spoke in the relatives' group, and he had even muted the notifications. He had no interest in dealing with certain family members, especially his aunt and younger cousin, who loved to show off.
Back in college, he had no job and little money, which made him feel out of place in the group. Whenever he tried to participate, someone would always bring up how much better off they were. Instead of dealing with their nonsense, he just blocked the group's notifications.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Even now, after achieving success, Jason Liu had no desire to reconnect with them. He had no interest in proving anything. He disliked snobbish relatives, and as far as he was concerned, the less contact he had with them, the better.
He preferred peace over unnecessary drama.
Growing up, he had seen enough of his relatives' hypocrisy.
He still remembered the time when his father struggled to gather money for his college tuition. Despite always helping his siblings financially, his dad was turned away when he needed help. Not a single relative was willing to lend them even a few thousand yuan.
In the end, it was his sister Liu Wan who had to beg for a loan, eventually securing ten thousand yuan.
Jason Liu would never forget that.
No matter how much time passed, he would always remember how those so-called "relatives" refused to help when his family needed them the most.
He had watched his father selflessly support his aunts and uncles, only to be repaid with indifference and mockery.
What kind of family was this?
That experience left a lasting scar on him. It was the moment he realized that familial ties meant nothing if there was no genuine support.
That was when he decided—he would never rely on those relatives again.
If they met, he would exchange polite greetings and maintain a superficial relationship, nothing more.
Since he planned to settle in Zheng City, there was little chance of running into those relatives in Other City.
Looking back, during his four years of college and two years of working, the only time he saw his extended family was during Chinese New Year, when he visited his grandparents.
Now, he wasn't even sure if he wanted to go back this year.
Just then, his sister Liu Wan replied to his message in the family chat.
Liu Wan: Jason Liu, are you back from your business trip?
More than twenty days ago, he had mentioned in the group that he was going on a business trip and might not be able to answer calls.
Louis Wei: How did the trip go? Is your company doing okay?
Jason Liu: I just got back. We secured a few major deals, and the company is growing well.
Louis Wei: That's great! I was worried that your business might be affected by the economic situation this year.
After a while, their mother, Liu Ma, saw the messages. Because of her poor eyesight, she had to put on reading glasses and type slowly.
Liu Ma: Jason, are you coming home for the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival?
The National Day holiday was followed closely by the Mid-Autumn Festival. She was hoping he would come back to celebrate with them.
Jason Liu checked his phone's calendar. The seven-day National Day holiday was right before the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Back when he worked in a small company, he would have been stuck working overtime during the holiday. Even if he had a day off for Mid-Autumn, traveling back home would have been a hassle, since the journey took hours.
Besides, he had no desire to attend the family gathering.
Compared to his relatives, his family wasn't wealthy. His uncle, who had a house in town and some decent savings, always boasted about having over two million yuan. He loved showing off at family gatherings, while Jason's two aunts eagerly flattered him.
Jason had no interest in sitting through another one of those gatherings.
Since going to college, he had avoided going home for holidays, except for New Year.
This time, he wasn't sure if he wanted to go back.
Just then, another message popped up.
Liu Ma: Your two aunts and uncle will be coming to your grandfather's house for the festival. You should come back too.
Liu Wan: Mom wants to show you off at the family dinner so they can see how successful her son has become. She doesn't want to feel inferior in front of them anymore.
Liu Ma: Of course! Every year, they brag about their kids. This time, I want to talk about my son. Let's see if they still dare to show off in front of me!
------------------------
For Advance chapters visit : patreon.com/Mythic_Muse