When she saw Jun Yize, Zhou Ying still had a gentle smile on her face, but the moment she caught sight of Jun Lin and Xia Ruohan, her brows furrowed.
Xia Ruohan stiffened under that gaze, standing with her back ramrod straight, feeling as if she were sitting on pins and needles.
“Grandma, this is my older sister…”
“Just as one would expect from the daughter of a nouveau riche.”
Jun Yize’s words were abruptly cut off by Zhou Ying. Her tone was flat, yet it couldn’t hide the underlying sarcasm.
Xia Ruohan’s face went pale; she didn’t know how to respond.
The living room fell silent for a moment, then footsteps echoed from the staircase.
Xia Ruohan looked up to see a middle-aged man in a black suit descending the stairs. His features were as if carved from the same mold as Jun Lin’s, and he exuded an overwhelmingly imposing presence.
Xia Ruohan had seen this man on television—he was Jun Lin’s father, Jun Qingyu.
Formerly the mayor of D City, he was now a high-ranking official in the central government.
Jun Qingyu was in politics, while Jun Lin was in business.
Both father and son were at the top of their respective fields, with very few people capable of matching their caliber.
“Grandpa,” Jun Yize ran toward him, his little face beaming with a smile.
A faint smile touched Jun Qingyu’s face as he raised his hand to ruffle the boy’s hair. “How’s school been lately?”
“I got first place in the class again on my last test. Did you get me a present this time, Grandpa?”
Jun Qingyu nodded. “It’s in my study upstairs. Go get it.”
“Okay, okay.” Jun Yize headed upstairs.
Xia Ruohan was still holding a half-eaten apple. Seeing Jun Qingyu and Zhou Ying, she didn’t know whether to keep eating it or throw it away.
Moreover, she was still feeling resentful over what Zhou Ying had just said and wasn’t sure if she should go over and greet them.
“Aze is only five years old, and you’re already in such a rush to get married?” Jun Qingyu sat down across from them, crossed his legs, and looked at them.
Jun Lin also looked at him, nodded, and said nothing more.
“Jun Lin, you really don’t give a damn about us. You don’t remember a single word of what you said back then, do you?” Zhou Ying said furiously from the side, her face ashen.
“I haven’t forgotten.” His tone was cold; he clearly didn’t want to say much more to Zhou Ying.
“I haven’t forgotten that you got married without a word. You…”
“Enough.”
Zhou Ying’s finger was pointed at Jun Lin. Upon hearing Jun Yeting’s voice, she turned to look at him. “Dad, he promised us back then that he wouldn’t get married. Is this the guarantee he gave us?”
“He’s not a young man anymore. He should have gotten married and had children long ago.” Jun Yeting’s tone betrayed no emotion.
Zhou Ying was so taken aback by this remark that she remained silent for a moment before finally turning and going back upstairs.
Xia Ruohan lowered her head; her fingers had grown slightly damp from holding the apple, making them sticky and uncomfortable.
“If you don’t want to eat it, don’t.” Jun Lin’s voice rang in her ear, and then the apple was taken from her and tossed into the trash can.
Xia Ruohan looked up at him in surprise. Jun Lin pulled her to her feet and led her to the kitchen to wash her hands.
Just as Jun Lin was about to step out of the kitchen, Xia Ruohan reached out and grabbed his sleeve.
Jun Lin asked, “What’s wrong?”
Xia Ruohan let go of his sleeve and spoke in a low voice, “Your family doesn’t seem to like me very much.”
She couldn’t figure it out herself—why did she feel so disappointed when she saw the way Jun Lin’s parents treated her?
“They don’t like me either.”
“Huh?” Xia Ruohan froze, a look of disbelief on her face. “Why?”
“Because I don’t listen.”
“Is that all?”
“Yeah.”
Xia Ruohan found it amusing. “You’re not a child—how could you be disobedient?”
Jun Lin reached out and took her hand, holding it in his palm. “I won’t bring you back here anymore.”
Bringing her back had been nothing more than a way to tell them he was married.