In the spacious corridor, the atmosphere was quiet and subtle. The large circular crystal chandelier cast a bright, daylight-like glow. A single glass window stood open, letting in a cool breeze that carried a hint of chill.
Chi Nian rubbed the goosebumps on his arm and replied with an awkward smile, “Not long… not long at all, just about… one, two, three, four, five, six minutes.”
“Hah…” A faint, emotionless chuckle escaped from his throat, sending shivers down the spine of anyone who heard it.
Chi Nian shuddered, losing all the arrogance and boldness he had shown moments before. He deliberately plastered a sycophantic smile on his face. “Brother Jinyue! Uh… you must be here on business nearby and probably haven’t… eaten yet, right? It just so happens that the food your people brought over earlier hasn’t been touched!”
“How about… we eat together?”
Zhou Jinyue gave a slight nod and took a step forward. His gaze fell on the empty doorway at the end of the corridor, and he suddenly paused, pursing his lips slightly as if hesitating.
“What’s wrong, Brother Jinyue? Are you worried there won’t be enough food?” Chi Nian deliberately feigned ignorance, curling his lips as he grabbed Zhou Jinyue’s arm and pulled him toward the room. “Don’t worry, don’t worry, there’s plenty of food.”
Zhou Jinyue raised an eyebrow and spoke slowly, enunciating each word deliberately. “Shouldn’t we let Lingling know?” His tone carried a hint of reluctance, as if doing otherwise would be improper.
“Brother, you’re being too formal! We… you… uh…” Chi Nian inwardly cursed at his “green tea” remark, his mind momentarily failing to keep up with his mouth.
After reorganizing his thoughts, he pursed his lips and whispered, “Given the relationship between you two, telling her would only make things seem distant.”
As he finished speaking, he glanced sideways at the man beside him, quickly catching the faint, fleeting smile that appeared at the corner of the young man’s lips.
……
He had never noticed before that Brother Jinyue had the potential to be a green tea.
Back in the room.
As soon as the two entered, Yu Wanli’s rhythmic sobbing reached their ears.
Walking past the entrance, they saw the sofa.
Qiao Ling was bent over, unwrapping the gauze from Yu Wanli’s hand. Sensing someone approaching, she glanced up, her expression unsurprised. “Brother Jinyue, help Third Brother apply the medicine.”
“???” Chi Nian was filled with confusion.
Suddenly, his wounds didn’t seem to hurt anymore!
At that moment, Zhou Jinyue let out a low “Mm” and walked over to the sofa, sitting down beside her. “Come here.”
“Uh… Brother Jinyue, don’t trouble yourself. These are just minor injuries, nothing serious! Really!” Chi Nian quickly waved his hands, forcing an awkward smile. “I’ll go put on some clothes.”
Before he could finish speaking, he dashed off to the guest room.
Watching his retreating figure, a shadow of gloom flickered in Zhou Jinyue’s pitch-black eyes. The faint smile on his handsome face darkened almost imperceptibly.
With Zhou Jinyue nearby, Yu Wanli didn’t dare to cry loudly. Pouting, she endured the pain as Qiao Ling tended to her wound. Only after it was properly treated did she choke out, “Lingling, I’m hungry…”
“Go eat.” Qiao Ling patted her head, her usually cool voice softening considerably. “You’ve been crying so much these past two days. With me here, don’t act so impulsively in the future.”
Yu Wanli, her eyes red, nodded obediently, like a little rabbit.After taking two steps, she couldn’t hold back the grievance in her heart any longer. Turning around, her hoarse voice carried a sob, “Lingling, Yu Gaohan clearly promised me he wouldn’t… have a child with Xing Hui…”
“There won’t be one.” Qiao Ling brushed away the tears at the corner of her eyes, her clear and bright pupils gazing at her, perfectly concealing the coldness deep within. “Let’s go eat first, don’t think about this anymore. Aren’t you going to visit Auntie tomorrow? Get yourself in the right state.”
Back when Wanli’s parents divorced, Aunt Luo was also pregnant, the child only two months along at the time.
Later.
It perished in that car accident.
“Mhm…” Yu Wanli wiped her tears with the back of her hand, took a deep breath, and then headed toward the dining room.
But after just two steps, she suddenly stopped again.
Qiao Ling thought she still had something to say, but unexpectedly, the girl strode over to the coffee table and picked up that plate of smoked duck.
……
Qiao Ling silently curved the corners of her lips, then looked toward Zhou Jinyue, who was sitting leisurely on the sofa. Her red lips parted slightly, “Come eat.”
“Alright.” Zhou Jinyue licked the corner of his mouth, the gloom that had gathered in his eyes instantly dissipating, replaced by a faint smile in those affectionate dark pupils.
At that moment.
Chi Nian, having changed into a casual outfit, also went to the dining room. He sat directly beside Zhou Jinyue, habitually intending to serve soup first to the two young ladies across from him.
But just as he reached for the porcelain bowl next to Qiao Ling, he felt a sudden chill.
Chi Nian sighed inwardly, then turned and took Yu Wanli’s porcelain bowl instead.
After he sat down, as expected, the vinegar jar beside him picked up Qiao Ling’s soup bowl.
Chi Nian twitched the corner of his mouth, too exhausted to comment.
The dinner proceeded quite harmoniously.
But Chi Nian never expected that just as he was about to return to his room to sleep, Zhou Jinyue suddenly looked at him and casually asked, “Tired?”
“Yeah!” He nodded with genuine sincerity.
Zhou Jinyue, “Let’s go.”
“Huh? Go where?” Chi Nian scratched his head, looking somewhat bewildered.
Zhou Jinyue stood up from the sofa, his indifferent gaze sweeping over him. Instead of answering, he looked toward the young girl lazily propping her cheek beside them, his deep voice carrying an unmistakable gentleness, “Lingling, it’s getting late. You should rest.”
Qiao Ling lazily replied, “Mhm,” slightly tilting her delicate face to look at him with her beautiful eyes. “Thanks for today.”
“No need to say thank you to your brother.” Zhou Jinyue curved his lips.
A single glance from the girl was enough to make him lose control. His long fingers hanging at his side clenched slightly, restraining the impulse and reluctance growing within. He stepped past Chi Nian and walked toward the door.
Chi Nian, who only realized what was happening afterward, shot Qiao Ling a pleading look before following with a stunned expression.
Help! He really didn’t want to stay with this ice-cold vinegar jar!
Qiao Ling lightly tapped her temple with her slender, pale fingers, pondering slightly before speaking unhurriedly, “Brother Jinyue, Third Brother is coming with us to visit Aunt Luo tomorrow. It’s more convenient for him to stay here tonight.”
“Ah, right, right, right! Staying here is convenient!” Chi Nian quickly chimed in.
Hearing this, Zhou Jinyue paused his steps, glancing sideways with a faint, ambiguous smile. “Convenient?”
Chi Nian, “……”
Without the slightest hesitation, he beamed brightly, “Inconvenient! A grown man like me staying with two young ladies—it doesn’t look good! It doesn’t look good at all!”With that, he turned around, facing Qiao Ling at an angle where Zhou Jinyue couldn’t see him, wearing a look of utter helplessness. “Lingling, rest early. I’ll come pick you up tomorrow morning.”
Without waiting for Qiao Ling’s response, he strode away with a “carefree” air.
Qiao Ling raised an eyebrow, glanced at the closed door, and curved the corner of her lips.
In the elevator.
Chi Nian stood beside him like a bullied puppy, hanging his head dejectedly.
As the elevator descended steadily, a deep, cold voice suddenly broke the silence in the confined space—
“Has he been coming often these years?”