Huo Jingnian pressed his thin lips together and looked at the two sisters. “I’ll go get you some persimmons.”
Qiao Zhilan didn’t look at him, her tone sharp. “I don’t like persimmons.”
Qiao Zhiwei stood up. “Grandpa Huo, Lanlan and I will head back first.”
“Stay and have a meal.”
“No, I still have other matters to attend to.” There was no need to stay where they weren’t welcome.
Huo Jingnian stood up. “I’ll see you back.”
Qiao Zhilan refused. “No need, we can go ourselves.”
Without another word, they left. Qiao Zhiwei gave an apologetic smile to Grandpa Huo and Huo Jingnian before following Qiao Zhilan.
Huo Jingnian watched their figures disappear before sitting back down.
Grandpa Huo glared at him. “You really can’t just say things directly, can you? Jingchen was far better at this.”
“Hey, I have areas where I’m better than my big brother too, you know?” Huo Jingchen teased.
Grandpa Huo rubbed his forehead. “Go! Go! Go! Don’t bother your big brother.”
Huo Jingchen squinted at Huo Jingnian, saw his brother’s mood was indeed sour, clicked his tongue, and turned to leave.
Finally, it was time to eat, and the Huo family gathered at a large dining table.
Neither Huo Jingnian nor Huo Jingchen had come out yet.
Chen Qingmei told Huo Jingli, “Go call your big brother.”
Huo Jingli was about to get up when Grandpa Huo stopped her. “It’s fine. He won’t starve if he misses one meal.”
Chen Qingmei couldn’t bear to let her son go hungry, so without waiting for Grandpa Huo, she went to the entrance of Huo Jingchen’s study and called, “Jingchen, it’s time to eat.”
No response. She tried again, “The guests are all waiting.”
Still nothing. Just as she was about to leave, the door opened. Huo Jingchen lazily glanced at her. “With the way things are, if I don’t come out, everyone else won’t eat?”
“Can you be serious for once?”
Huo Jingchen followed her out, replying casually, “I’m being serious.”
He reached the table, politely greeted everyone, and sat down. “Sorry, I was busy translating a magazine and lost track of time.”
Liu Shuyi studied Huo Jingchen. After a few years, he had grown even more handsome and refined, with skin better than his daughter’s.
But he was such a careless person he nearly broke off two engagements.
Sensing Liu Shuyi’s gaze, Huo Jingchen’s lips curved slightly. “Aunt Liu, did you find something extraordinary on my face? Why are you staring so closely?”
Liu Shuyi was speechless.
Chen Qingmei noticed her awkward pause and tapped him with her chopsticks. “What’s wrong with an elder examining a younger person? Look at your mouth you really don’t know how to speak properly.”
Huo Jingchen quickly withdrew his hand. “Grandpa just said that in this regard, I’m better than my big brother.”
Xia Yin smiled. “Jingchen studied abroad, so it’s normal for his thoughts and words to be a bit unconventional. Grandpa has good judgment; he wouldn’t praise the wrong person.”
Chen Qingmei’s heart warmed at Xia Yin’s words, and she smiled. “Yin truly understands people, unlike our kids they’re such a worry.”
Huo Jingchen glanced at Xia Yin, realizing this woman’s way of speaking and handling things was very much like his own.
In Qiao Zhiwei’s terms, she was like a cup of green tea subtle, clever, but at a slightly lower level. She tried to please the grandpa without leaving traces but didn’t fully understand him; that remark only worked on his parents.
Grandpa was the kind of person who judged people, not things. Even if Qiao Zhiwei yawned while he spoke, he would interpret it as “She handles countless affairs daily, yet still sits properly to chat with me.”
Seeing Huo Jingchen not respond, Xia Yin smiled and asked, “How’s the magazine translation going?”
“Halfway done. Tomorrow, I’ll have Lili deliver it to you.”
Xia Yin said kindly, “Don’t forget to eat while rushing to finish the magazine. Take it easy.”
Chen Qingmei was pleased with Xia Yin’s attitude toward her son. “If Yin gives instructions, he must take them seriously.”
Hearing this, Liu Shuyi nodded in approval.
Huo Jingchen paid no mind, focusing on his meal.
After eating, Huo Jingchen returned to his study. Huo Jingli and Xia Yin entered. “Second brother, can you let Xia Yin check your translation?”
“If she could understand it fully, she wouldn’t spend so much hiring me. If there’s nothing wrong, don’t waste my time I have work to do.”
Xia Yin’s face paled, but she stayed calm. “Jingchen, are you upset with me?”
“I’m stating facts. Don’t accuse me of holding a grudge.” Huo Jingchen closed his magazine and narrowed his eyes at her. “If you want to earn Grandpa’s favor and get Huo Jingnian, then rely on your own abilities. Trying to drag others into your schemes won’t work except Huo Jingli, who’s clueless, no one will follow you. Even my parents each have their own agendas. Also, know this: Qiao Zhiwei is only my ex-fiancée, not an enemy. I won’t make things difficult for her for anyone, so don’t waste time on me.”
“Huo Jingchen, are you crazy? How can you say that to Xia Yin?” Huo Jingli angrily pushed his books and pen holder to the floor.
Xia Yin steadied herself and grabbed Huo Jingli’s arm. “It’s fine, Lili. It’s my fault. I won’t approach him again.”
Then she turned to Huo Jingchen. “We barely know each other. I don’t know where your assumptions came from, but I came to the Huo residence as a guest, so I won’t argue. If there’s nothing else, I’ll leave.”
She turned and walked away.
Huo Jingli glared at Huo Jingchen. “How can you be so rude to a girl, and say such things for no reason?”
Huo Jingchen smiled. “I said it clearly, yet you still think I’m being unreasonable. If Huo Jingnian knew these rumors were spread by you, what do you think he would do?”
“I’m not that stupid. Why would I spread them on purpose? Even if I didn’t, others would suspect.”
“Who would suspect? Xia Yin?” Then he added, “If you have any self-awareness about being foolish, there’s no need for a question mark. Haven’t you heard, ‘words unintended, but listeners take them seriously’? What could be more believable than family spreading rumors about their own?”
If it weren’t for Zhou Yu calling him that day to explain why Huo Jingli and Xia Yin came to the photo studio, he wouldn’t have known.
Zhou Yu said, “I didn’t want you to misunderstand like Miss Xia did.”
He had witnessed Xia Yin’s obsession with Huo Jingnian and knew she wouldn’t give up so easily. And indeed, news had already reached him today.
He didn’t want to get involved in Huo Jingnian’s messy affairs, but if dragged in, he wouldn’t hold back.
Huo Jingli listened to his tone, infuriated. “Xia Yin is naturally smart and sensitive. Why is it strange for her to be suspicious? She doesn’t hide anything, unlike Qiao Zhiwei, who’s so calculating.”