"Adrian has arrived!" Mrs. Margaret Deng's warm voice came from the kitchen, as she peeked her head out smiling to greet him.
Margaret was a woman of medium height, with lively, expressive eyes that conveyed tenderness and affection. Her sweet smile lit up the room, and her bearing conveyed the elegance of someone accustomed to the good life.
"Mrs. Margaret," Adrian Foster said with a natural compliment, "you're getting younger all the time. If I said you were my older sister instead of Heng's mother, no one would doubt it."
Although she knew it was a courtesy, the compliment made Margaret's eyes sparkle. Her smile widened like a flower opening in spring.
"Oh, Adrian, always so charming with your words!" she replied, amused, though pleased. "I'm going on fifty now, don't make me blush."
For any woman, regardless of whether she's eighteen, forty, or eighty, being told she looks youthful is a compliment impossible to ignore. And in Margaret's case, the praise carried a certain weight. As the wife of a New York tycoon, she had never worked or dealt with domestic concerns; her life revolved around Manhattan cafes, Fifth Avenue boutiques, and spa treatments. Her dedication to personal care was evident in every gesture, radiating the grace of a mature woman in the prime of her life.
"Adrian, sit down for a moment," she said pleasantly. "Dinner will be ready soon."
"Perfect. With Aunt Margaret in the kitchen, I know I won't forget dinner tonight," he joked.
Although she didn't normally cook, Margaret had wanted to personally take charge of the menu for her son Deng Hengtao's birthday. And she did so in style: the table was filled with lobster, abalone, caviar, and black truffles. The aromas mingled with the fragrance of a red wine that Adrian himself had brought as a gift.
Mr. Deng Gao, head of the family and a figure of great presence, stood up to make the toast.
"Happy birthday, son," he said solemnly before uncorking the bottle Adrián handed him. The aroma of wine filled the dining room.
Hengtao, sitting with his sunglasses still on his head, stared at the bottle with shining eyes, eager for a sip. However, knowing he had commitments that evening, he held back.
"No alcohol for me, just soda," he said, shrugging.
While breaking open the lobster, he threw a question to Adrian:
—Bro, what have you been up to lately? I haven't seen you streaming on Twitch in a while.
Adrian settled into the chair with confidence.
—I decided to leave streaming and focus on something more serious. I bought a digital media and creator marketing company. While I'm young and still familiar with this world, I want to work hard and ride the wave.
Hengtao let out an incredulous laugh.
"You? Running a company? Come on, that's a headline." He looked at him suspiciously, though amused. "I've heard those agencies are full of models and influencers. Don't tell me you did it just to surround yourself with pretty girls."
Mrs. Margaret glared at her son, then quickly defended Adrian.
—Heng, learn a little. Adrian is doing the right thing: he's old enough to think about his career, and besides, there's nothing wrong with falling in love if you find the right person. I wish you were half as responsible as he is, instead of wasting your time at parties.
"Great!" Hengtao retorted dramatically. "When I go out with a girl, you stop me like I'm a criminal. But when it's Adrian, you support him without flinching. I should be wondering if I'm really your biological son!"
The comment drew laughter from around the table, except from Margaret, who stood up immediately, her expression stern.
"Heng!" he thundered in a steely voice. "Don't talk like that again. If you want a relationship, do it seriously, with commitment, not games. If all you want is to cause me trouble, then nothing's better."
The young man shrank his neck, intimidated, and returned to his plate of food without daring to answer.
Adrian watched the scene with amusement. Seeing a "rich kid" like Hengtao cower before his mother was something to remember.
Mr. Deng, meanwhile, turned to Adrian thoughtfully:
—Owning a physical business is becoming increasingly difficult. The digital economy is booming, but it's an ocean full of sharks. My advice is not to give up control of your company so easily. Capital is ruthless: the big fish eat the small, and only the strong survive.
"I'll keep that in mind, Mr. Deng," Adrian replied, respectfully pouring him more wine.
The dinner continued amidst chatter, advice, and family tensions. Margaret even tried to extract more personal information from Adrian, hinting that she could introduce him to a girl "worthy" of him.
"Thanks, Aunt, but I'm already in a relationship," Adrian replied with a discreet smile.
Hengtao let out a sarcastic laugh.
—You? No way! If you have a girlfriend, she should be your left-hand man or your right-hand man, nothing more.
Adrian simply ignored him, enjoying the wine and dinner. He knew Hengtao's comments were nothing more than practical jokes.
But it was clear to everyone at the table that there was a stark contrast between the rebellious heir apparent and the young self-made millionaire. And that evening, amidst lobsters and truffles, that difference became more evident than ever.