Ji Zhelan felt a little flustered.
She didn't want Jiang's mother to interfere in her affairs, but she hadn't expected to anger her to such an extent.
Besides, how was she being scolded now?
She reached out to support Jiang's mother, but Jiang's mother, either intentionally or unintentionally, dodged her. "My old bones, I've done good deeds with bad intentions! I might as well be dead..."
Just then, the maid returned and, hearing the commotion, walked towards the kitchen. "What's wrong, Madam?"
She glanced around. "What's wrong with the Madam?"
Ji Zhelan was depressed. If she didn't want her help, so be it.
"It's nothing. Help Madam down to rest. The old lady has a headache," she said faintly, not even wanting to call her mother-in-law.
"Yes, Madam."
As the maid left, Ji Zhelan looked at the pot of chicken soup, her appetite gone.
She lay alone in her room for a long time, feeling increasingly wronged. When had she ever suffered such humiliation?
No one called Ji Zhelan for dinner that evening.
The maid intended to call Ji Zhelan for dinner in her room, but was stopped by Jiang's mother. "My daughter-in-law doesn't have much appetite, so don't call her tonight. If she's hungry, I'll prepare something. You go rest."
Naturally, the maid was happy to have some rest. She hesitated and nodded. "Thank you, Old Madam. Please call me if you need anything."
Jiang's mother ate half the pot of chicken soup alone, leaving the other half for her son, who would return that night.
When Jiang Cheng arrived home, the light in the room was still on. Ji Zhelan had her back to him.
"Wife, what's wrong? Mom told me you two argued today, didn't you?" He sat on the edge of the bed and turned her around.
Ji Zhelan didn't move, rolling her eyes. "How dare I argue with your mother? She was about to faint before I even said anything."
"Oh, wife, you know my mom, her health isn't good. Raising me so painstakingly left her with many lingering ailments. She has a sharp tongue, but she still cares about you. Look, she had me bring you this durian. Didn't you say this morning you wanted to eat it?" Jiang Cheng held up the bag.
Ji Zhelan finally turned to look at him. "Did your mother really ask you to bring this?"
"Would I lie about this?" He chuckled. "Wife, wait here, I'll peel it for you."
Ji Zhelan hadn't eaten dinner and was hungry now. The durian smelled pungent, but to her, it smelled pleasant. Seeing Jiang Cheng pinch his nose while peeling the durian for her made her laugh.
"Then hurry up."
After finally coaxing Ji Zhelan to sleep that night, Jiang Cheng went to Jiang's mother's room.
Jiang's mother hadn't slept and was waiting for him. "She's asleep?"
"Asleep," he said, closing the door.
"Mom, why did you have to mess with that chicken soup? We have money now. If you want chicken, I'll buy you one tomorrow. Why upset her? She's carrying your grandchild."
"I only did it for her own good. That chicken soup is so nutritious, and she's being so picky."
Jiang Cheng placed his hands on his mother's shoulders. "Mom, we need to appease Ji Zhelan right now, do you understand? She has money. I don't believe she married into the Jiang family without receiving any money. We're eating her food and using her resources now. Being nice to her won't hurt us."
Jiang's mother always listened to her son. Her son was very decisive. Since her son had said so, she nodded. "Alright, it's just about appeasing someone. Your mother knows how to do that too."
"Thank you, Mom."
...
Lu Congnian was unrestrained after the New Year, quickly escaping the Lu family and his sister's nagging.
Seattle.
As soon as the waiter saw him, his face lit up. "Third Young Master Lu."
Lu Cong raised an eyebrow. "Is there a good table today? Lead the way."
"If Third Young Master Lu is here, even if there isn't a good table, we'll make one for you."
That was music to his ears. Lu Cong grinned. "Is your boss here?"
The waiter shook his head. "Manager Chang hasn't been here for a few days. Rumor has it he's taking his wife to see the aurora."
Lu Cong clicked his tongue. "How romantic. I'll bring a girl next time."
The waiter smiled, thinking he truly was a ladies' man. He led him to a seat. "Third Young Master Lu, please have a seat. I'll get you some drinks."
Lu Cong nodded and handed him two bills. "A tip for you."
"Thank you, Third Young Master!"
The bar was exceptionally lively tonight, the music deafening. Lu Cong, with his legs crossed, tossed peanuts into the air and caught them precisely in his mouth.
He felt a bit bored alone, and Chang Qin wasn't here. Lu Cong smacked his lips and dialed Ji Zhixiu's number.
"Speak," a cold voice replied.
"Xiuxiu, you're so cold," Lu Cong said, goosebumps rising on his own skin.
Ji Zhixiu had one hand in his pocket, his gaze fixed on the tiny figures below the company building. "If you don't speak soon, I'm hanging up."
"No, no, no, want to come for a drink? I'm in Seattle," Lu Cong called out repeatedly.
"Wait."
He grabbed his jacket from the sofa.
Lu Cong smiled. "You're the best. I'll wait for you."
Ji Zhixiu arrived soon after.
"Happy New Year, Brother Xiu."
These two hadn't met during the New Year. Lu Cong, being the younger one, had gone to the Ji residence to pay his respects to old Master Ji.
Ji Zhixiu, being his peer, hadn't visited the Lu family but had sent New Year gifts.
This was their first meeting after the New Year.
Ji Zhixiu glanced down at him. "You're saying this after the New Year is over?"
He sat down. "What did you want to talk about when you asked me to come?"
Lu Cong smiled. "As expected, you understand me best."
"I think... I've fallen for someone."
This was unusual. Ji Zhixiu looked up. "Continue."
"I'm not sure, because, as you know, I like everyone."
Ji Zhixiu commented, "Amorous, benevolent."
"How is that amorous? Whoever is nice to me, whoever likes me, I like them. I like my mom, my dad, my sister, you, Chang Qin, everyone."
"..." Ji Zhixiu leaned back. "The 'liking' in love is different from these."
"How is it different? Come on, tell me." Lu Cong's interest was piqued.
Ji Zhixiu's eyes moved, as if in thought, his expression focused. "The 'liking' in love is wanting to possess her, to be with her."
"Even having some base thoughts." He spoke this last sentence very softly, and Lu Cong didn't hear it clearly.
Ji Zhixiu hadn't expected him to understand. "So, who do you like?"
Lu Cong looked at him intently, his expression dazed.
Ji Zhixiu frowned. "Why are you looking at me like that? I'm straight, and even if I weren't, I wouldn't like someone like you."
Lu Cong almost choked on his wine. "Who likes you?"
Ji Zhixiu's heart skipped a beat. "You don't, by any chance, like Ji Zhilan?"
Lu Cong remained silent.
He guessed correctly, but he still couldn't see where Lu Cong liked Ji Zhilan. Ji Zhixiu looked at him. "Are you sure you really like Ji Zhilan?"
Lu Cong gave a wry smile. "Brother Xiu, you really don't treat me like a brother. You didn't even tell me when Zhi Lan got married."
Ji Zhixiu was taken aback. "There was nothing to say. Premarital pregnancy isn't exactly an honorable thing."
Lu Cong was stunned. "She was still a little sister in a princess dress in my mind, and now she's going to be a mother?"
"How did you know she was married?" Ji Zhixiu asked.
"I ran into her at the supermarket one day. I heard her call the man next to her 'husband.' They were shopping for their home."
"What do you like about her?" Even though she was his sister, Ji Zhixiu was still puzzled.
"I don't know. I just felt a bit lost when I found out she was married. She used to say she'd marry me when we were little?" Lu Cong said.
"What does that have to do with liking someone? If you really liked her, wouldn't you want to win her back? Fight for her? And I don't recall you pursuing Zhi Lan before," Ji Zhixiu said.
Hearing him say that, Lu Cong felt it might be true.
"Then maybe it's not liking," he denied.
"It's not that painful, just a little sad. The little girl who used to follow behind us is now married without a word." Lu Cong sighed emotionally.
"..." Ji Zhixiu said nothing.
"I even gave her wedding gift, a card," Lu Cong added.
Ji Zhixiu's brow furrowed slightly upon hearing this. "There was no need."
Ji Zhilan's marriage was destined to be short-lived, so giving a gift was pointless.
"Are you even my brother? Why say that?"
"Her husband isn't a good person."
In front of Lu Cong, Ji Zhixiu spoke the truth.
Lu Cong raised his glass. "Regardless, let's wish our little sister happiness. Oh, Brother Xiu, after you say that, I think this really isn't liking."
Lu Cong felt a sense of relief, as if he had narrowly escaped something. "Love, I don't want to get involved. Being free and unrestrained, isn't that great?"
Ji Zhixiu said sternly, "You'll know when you meet the right person someday."
After pouring out his troubles, Lu Cong felt refreshed. "Brother Xiu, wise men don't fall in love. Cheers."
Ji Zhixiu chuckled. "Cheers."
He could already see Lu Cong was a bit drunk. He kept drinking glass after glass, as if he had been holding back for a long time.
Lu Cong's alcohol tolerance was actually quite good, but even the best tolerance couldn't withstand drinking glass after glass.
Finally, Lu Cong slumped down, muttering, "One more glass..."
Ji Zhixiu stood up and beckoned two attendants. "Take Third Young Master to a room upstairs."
There were rooms available for rest on the second floor. Chang Qin had specifically reserved exclusive rooms for them. The two attendants helped Lu Cong upstairs.
Lu Cong was relatively well-behaved, not causing any trouble when drunk.
For some reason, Ji Zhixiu suddenly remembered the night Jiang Mian got drunk.
Jiang Mian, acting crazy while drunk, was truly incredibly charming. A hint of a smile flickered across Ji Zhixiu's eyes. He distractedly wondered if she was asleep right now.
It had only been a day since he last saw her, yet he missed her so much.
"Manager Ji, we've brought him up. Shall we go down?" the attendant asked, interrupting his thoughts.
Ji Zhixiu nodded slightly. "You may leave."
Ji Zhixiu also wanted to leave. He turned to go, and as soon as he turned, Lu Cong grabbed his hem. "Wife, don't go."
Ji Zhixiu sneered. "Dreaming already?"
He pulled hard, but Lu Cong didn't budge.
Too lazy to pry his hand open, Ji Zhixiu paused for a second and then decisively took off his sweater. "You can hold onto this. Remember to pay me back later."
Lu Cong remained oblivious, hugging the sweater contentedly and sleeping soundly.