Lin Yanshu took the suitcase from Meng Jie’s hand with an innocent expression, secretly slipping a metaphorical tripwire under Ji Yanzhi’s feet.
“Why didn’t Yan-ge help Zhizhi with her suitcase? Girls are meant to be doted on; acting like this is so ungentlemanly, and no girl will ever like you.”
Ji Yanzhi: ……
With a somewhat awkward expression, he realized he hadn’t even thought of that detail! Besides, his hands weren’t exactly completely free either…
Fortunately, Meng Jie hurriedly smoothed things over, “He was holding his own suitcase too!”
Lin Yanshu let out an “oh” filled with heartache before speaking up, “You’ve worked hard, Zhizhi. If only I were there, I definitely would have helped Zhizhi carry it.”
Then he placed Meng Jie’s suitcase into the trunk.
Turning around to look at Ji Yanzhi, the heartbroken look he had worn for Meng Jie vanished without a trace, replaced by a slightly lazy tone, “Yan-ge doesn’t need my help putting his in, right?”
Ji Yanzhi thought to himself that it was a real pity Lin Yanshu wasn’t an actor specializing in quick-change face masks.
He didn’t intend to ask Lin Yanshu for help putting his luggage in either, so he smiled politely at Ji Yanzhi, “I’ll do it myself.”
Dragging his suitcase, he loaded it into the trunk.
“Zhizhi, why don’t you sit in the front passenger seat? The front seat is a bit more spacious and comfortable.”
Just as Meng Jie was about to open the back door, Lin Yanshu suddenly walked around and opened the front passenger door, looking at Meng Jie with eager anticipation.
Ji Yanzhi: ……
Pardon me, this is an SUV we’re talking about. Are you really going to tell me the back seats aren’t spacious? Kid, don’t push it too far!!!
Meng Jie glanced at Ji Yanzhi, who had already seated himself in the back, and then looked back at Lin Yanshu, who was standing beside the front passenger side holding the car door open with one hand, looking at her with absolute anticipation. After a moment of hesitation, she climbed into the front passenger seat anyway.
She had initially figured that since Ji Yanzhi was a guest, keeping him company in the back would be polite, but looking at Lin Yanshu’s expression, she simply couldn’t bring herself to refuse him!
The car drove smoothly ahead.
Lin Yanshu turned on the music, and soon, a soothing melody filled the interior of the car, naturally helping everyone relax.
“Zhizhi, these are all songs you love to listen to.”
The little proud and pampered look Lin Yanshu wore as he practically begged for praise brought a soft curve to Meng Jie’s lips, “How did you know I liked listening to this?”
“You’re my older sister, of course I know what you like.”
Meng Jie’s smile grew even wider, “It’s still Yanshu who’s the best.”
Although Meng Jie possessed the aura of an professional executive woman, she had a very gentle temper, and when she smiled, her eyes curved into crescents with an extremely gentle expression.
Lin Yanshu glanced at her. In truth, it wasn’t strange that the original Meng Yanshu had feelings for Meng Jie; rather, it was entirely within reason. After all, who wouldn’t love the gentle beam of light in their life?
While driving, Lin Yanshu asked Meng Jie, “Zhizhi, I’ve already booked a restaurant. Shall we go eat first?”
Meng Jie was indeed feeling a bit hungry. Having felt extremely sleepy on the plane, she had slept the entire way without eating anything, and now the mention of food made her genuinely hungry.
However, considering that Ji Yanzhi was still sitting in the back seat, Meng Jie turned her head to look at him, “A-Yan, let’s go get dinner first. After we eat, we’ll have Yanshu drop you off home, is that alright?”
Before Ji Yanzhi could reply, Lin Yanshu leisurely chimed in, “If Yan-ge isn’t hungry, I can drop Yan-ge off first.”
Ji Yanzhi: ……
Why did he get the distinct feeling that Lin Yanzhu’s words were a subtle hint that he didn’t want him to come along?
Ji Yanzhi looked at Lin Yanshu, and Lin Yanshu happened to be watching Ji Yanzhi through the rearview mirror. The moment their gazes intersected, Lin Yanshu arched an eyebrow at him, then narrowed his eyes playfully and mischievously!
Ji Yanzhi suddenly let out a soft chuckle; he found this kid inexplicably interesting.
Leaning back against his seat with a somewhat carefree expression, “Let’s go, I’m actually a little hungry myself.”
Lin Yanshu calmly withdrew his gaze, looking somewhat displeased as if complaining that Ji Yanzhi lacked any self-awareness.
Catching the slightly thwarted expression on Lin Yanshu’s face through the rearview mirror, Ji Yanzhi almost laughed out loud in his heart. It had been a long time since he had encountered someone with such rich and vivid expressions; it was simply too amusing.
On the top floor, a restaurant featuring its own private sky garden.
The environment was wonderful, offering a bird’s-eye view of the entire city’s nightscape.
Meng Jie and Ji Yanzhi sat together, while Lin Yanshu sat across from them.
The three of them chatted while eating their meal.
Most of the time, it was Lin Yanshu chatting with Meng Jie, while Ji Yanzhi listened quietly on the side, only speaking up whenever a topic happened to touch upon him.
“Yanshu, when is your break?”
“Not sure yet. I heard the break might start a bit earlier this year, but the exact date hasn’t been officially announced.”
“I originally wanted you to study finance so you could come help me out at the company later, but you refused and insisted on studying medicine instead. You still have over half a year before graduation, you’re going to study until you’re old.”
After speaking, Meng Jie picked up the glass of juice beside her and took a sip.
Hearing Meng Jie’s words, Ji Yanzhi lifted his gaze to look at Lin Yanshu sitting opposite him. He hadn’t expected this kid to be a medical student, then let his gaze fall upon Lin Yanzhi’s fair, long, slender fingers, silently marveling in his heart that those hands ought to look rather gorgeous holding a scalpel.
But thinking about white blades going in and red blades coming out made him feel… ugh!!!
Better not to think about it!
“Zhizhi, I don’t want to enter the company. The Meng Corporation has you, and that’s enough. You’re so capable that you don’t need my help; besides, I genuinely like the profession of being a doctor.”
Meng Yanshu hadn’t wanted to enter the Meng Corporation because, in his mind, since he was adopted, the Meng Corporation rightfully belonged to Meng Jie alone. What on earth would it look like for him to barge into the company?
Meng Jie sighed, “Fine, suit yourself. Whatever makes you happy is best.”
Ji Yanzhi suddenly spoke up, “Which university does Yanshu attend?”
“A University.” As soon as Meng Jie finished speaking, she suddenly remembered, “Oh right, I remember you have a property right next to A University, don’t you? It’s sitting empty anyway, why don’t you let my younger brother stay there? Anyway, my younger brother was planning to look for a place to move out of the dorms. Since he has a little over half more year left of his internship, there’s no point in bothering to go through the trouble of searching for a place.”
The Meng family residence was rather far from A University, making the daily commute inconvenient. Lin Yanshu had previously lived in the dorms all the time, only returning home on weekends. Mr. Meng had originally planned to buy him a property near the campus, but Lin Yanshu had declined.
However, this year Lin Yanshu didn’t get along particularly well with one of his roommates, so he had planned to rent an apartment near the school to live in. He hadn’t put it into action yet, having only casually mentioned it to Meng Jie earlier, yet Meng Jie had actually taken it to heart.
Ji Yanzhi: ……
It was indeed empty before, and saying so a few months ago would have been totally fine. Since he had never lived in it, leaving it empty was no big deal, but this time his company’s new site was chosen near A University… and he hadn’t planned to return to Banyuan Bend to live; he had intended to stay right next to A University!
Ji Yanzhi paused in silence for a moment before speaking, “I do have a place, and it was indeed empty before, but I’m planning to stay over there this time since my company’s new location is close to A University, making my commute convenient.”
Meng Jie uttered an “oh,” “Is that so!”
Meng Jie had assumed the apartment was completely unoccupied. Since Ji Yanzhi intended to live there himself, it obviously wouldn’t be as convenient.
Just as she was about to say never mind, Lin Yanshu suddenly looked at Ji Yanzhi with a smile,
“I didn’t expect Yan-ge to be staying right next to A University this time. What a coincidence! Yan-ge, can I live at your place? I’ve been looking for apartments lately and haven’t found a suitable one, I can pay you rent.”
With a favor to ask, Lin Yanshu’s tone softened considerably, looking exceptionally well-behaved and earnest.
Wouldn’t living together with the male lead make it even better to court death?
Going all out to make the male lead thoroughly despise him first, and then seizing the opportunity to drive a wedge between their relationship—most importantly, Lin Yanshu only returned to the Meng household once a week, so living with Ji Yanzhi would allow him to better track his movements, which offered a hundred benefits and not a single drawback for completing his mission.
Oh my god, what a simply perfect routine!
Lin Yanshu could practically already see the successful completion of his mission with one hundred million beckoning to him.
Ji Yanzhi: ……
He hadn’t expected Lin Yanshu to be this thick-skinned, casually bringing up such a somewhat presumptuous request just like that.
Yet since the other person had asked so directly, and looking at those eyes that seemed to be saying I’m begging you, Ji Yanzhi simply couldn’t bring himself to say a single no!
Besides, after all, he was Meng Jie’s younger brother, and since he had a good relationship with Meng Jie, he would naturally grant her a fraction of face. It wasn’t that big of a deal anyway, and his place genuinely had plenty of spare rooms to say nothing of housing just one Lin Yanshu, he could easily fit three.
Tugged at the corner of his lips, “Sure. You don’t need to worry about rent, as long as you don’t mind it.”
Hearing Ji Yanzhi agree, Lin Yanshu beamed a bright smile at him, genuinely delighted, and his words grew exceptionally sweet, “How could I mind? I can only thank Yan-ge.”
Ji Yanzhi leisurely propped up his gold-rimmed glasses, his voice deep and warm, looking amiable and impeccably well-mannered, “No problem, you’re Zhizhi’s younger brother, not an outsider.”
Lin Yanshu let out a cold internal chuckle. Not an outsider? Do you seriously consider yourself the man of the house already???
Lin Yanshu wore a purely polite smile, uttered an “oh,” and didn’t speak further.
After all, in front of Meng Jie, he maintained the persona of an obedient and sensible person.
Meng Jie, on the other hand, was deeply grateful to Ji Yanzhi, “A-Yan, then I’ll have to trouble you. If you need any help with anything, just let me know.”
Ji Yanzhi smiled at Meng Jie, “It’s nothing.”
Lin Yanshu enthusiastically served a piece of beef onto Meng Jie’s plate, “Zhizhi, this beef is delicious, have a taste.”
“Thank you.”
After thinking for a moment, he used serving chopsticks to place a piece for Ji Yanzhi as well, “Yan-ge, sorry to trouble you.”
“No need to be so polite.”