Huasheng Garden, Building 7, Unit 1, Apartment 1101.
"Dad, how did it go today? What did the doctor say?"
The door opened, and Chen Jingxian and Chen Jingjia walked in one after the other.
They put down their bags and sat next to Chen Jianguo.
"It’s nothing serious. He just developed a resistance to his old blood pressure medication, so we just need to switch to a new one," Wang Minxia said.
"Let’s eat first. The food’s getting cold."
"Okay."
The family of four sat down at the dinner table, ready to eat.
"Dad, try these on. I saw them while I was out shopping today and bought them for you."
Chen Jingjia smiled and pulled a pair of black sweatpants from a bag. "I think you’ll look much younger in these."
"Take them away. I’m not wearing them," Chen Jianguo said with a grim face.
Chen Jingjia froze, a little stunned.
"What’s wrong? Did I do something wrong by buying you pants?"
"What are you doing? Jiajia meant well."
Although Wang Minxia was also unhappy with Chen Jingjia’s actions on the wedding day, she was still her daughter. They couldn’t both gang up on her.
"Mom, what happened? Why is Dad so angry?" Chen Jingxian asked in a low voice.
"When we went to the pharmacy to get the medicine, we ran into Lin Jiang."
Hearing the name Lin Jiang, both Chen sisters understood what was going on.
Their parents had always been very pleased with Lin Jiang. From the day he first visited their home, they had treated him like a son. They never imagined that on the wedding day, Chen Jingjia would do something like that.
"We were never right for each other anyway. Why did you have to force us to get married?"
"What do you mean, ’not right for each other’?!" Chen Jianguo slammed his hand on the table, his voice rising.
"If you weren’t right for each other, why were you together for so long? I think you’ve just gotten conceited! You meet a few rich people and suddenly think you’re hot stuff!"
"Who doesn’t want to find a partner with better prospects? If I stayed with him, I’d have to suffer my whole life. I’m just thinking about my future."
"Are you looking for a husband or a moneybag?" Chen Jianguo scolded.
"Besides, Lin Jiang opened his own shop. His monthly income isn’t small, much better than working for someone else. I think you’re just aiming too high."
"Alright, Old Chen, that’s enough. What’s done is done. Yelling at her more won’t change anything."
Wang Minxia interjected, then turned to Chen Jingxian.
"Don’t just sit there eating. Say something to your father."
"There’s nothing I can say. I think Lin Jiang is a great guy too. Business at the shop is booming now, and making several hundred thousand a year wouldn’t be a problem for him," Chen Jingxian said, mostly to herself, a hint of complaint in her tone.
"No way. Stop making him sound so good," Chen Jingjia retorted.
"Don’t I know what that noodle shop is like? It only makes ten or twenty thousand a month, and that’s without any employees. He could work himself to death and still not make several hundred thousand a year."
Chen Jingxian just smiled and said nothing. Talking to her about this was like playing a harp to a cow.
"Sigh..." Wang Minxia sighed.
"Don’t blame your father. He really likes that boy, Lin Jiang. Today, after we bought the medicine, he even hailed a cab for us and paid for it. It’s hard to find a reliable man like him."
"That’s what you think. In this society, being reliable is useless; you have to be able to make money," Chen Jingjia said, unmoved. "With the little he earns, he can barely support himself, let alone a family."
"That’s not a small amount. How much more do you want? We’re just an ordinary family, so don’t be thinking about marrying up."
"Alright, stop talking about it. It’s impossible for us, anyway." Chen Jingjia stood up and walked back to her room.
"If you really want him as a son, then have my sister go after him."
SLAM!
Chen Jingjia went back into her room and shut the door.
The atmosphere in the living room fell silent. Chen Jianguo and Wang Minxia both looked at Chen Jingxian.
Their gazes made her heart race. She never thought the topic would turn to her.
"Why are you two looking at me like that?"
"If I remember correctly, you’re three years older than Lin Jiang, right?"
"Y-yes, I am."
"Why don’t you get in touch with Lin Jiang? In this day and age, a three-year age gap is nothing," Chen Jianguo said.
"Don’t be ridiculous! I’m his... his ex-fiancée’s older sister! How could that be possible?" Chen Jingxian said, embarrassed. Her cheeks felt like they were on fire.
"You have a point. It would make the relationships a bit messy. What a pity for a boy like Lin Jiang."
Chen Jingxian silently ate her fruit, her mind in a whirl after their suggestion, though it was impossible to tell what she was thinking.
Sometime after eight in the evening, the workday was drawing to a close. Lin Jiang was looking over the day’s accounts and getting ready to close up.
"Brother Jiang, we’re heading out!"
Li Yuanyuan waved at Lin Jiang, her arm linked with Zhou Xiaoli’s.
"Be careful on your way home."
"We will!"
Just then, Yang Tao, having changed into his own clothes, came over to Lin Jiang.
"Brother Jiang, Yuanyuan said the owner of that noodle shop that went out of business has been keeping an eye on our place. How about I stay here for a few nights? I can keep watch."
"Don’t bother. They’re gods of wealth. I’m actually hoping they come over soon."
Lin Jiang leaned back in his chair. "Don’t worry about it. You’ve had a long day. Go home and get some rest."
"Got it."
After his three employees left, Lin Jiang didn’t hurry to leave. He first drained the water, then went back to looking at the accounts on his computer while mulling over renting an apartment.
But no matter how he crunched the numbers, funds were a little tight.
"Brother Jiang, why are you the only one here? Are you about to close up?"
Lin Jiang looked up and saw that the newcomers were the Qin Sisters.
Qin Youyou was still rocking her usual sporty style. Her denim shorts gathered her buttocks into a perfect round shape, and her top was a form-fitting white short-sleeved shirt, accentuating two round, factory-original headlights.
In contrast, Qin Yangyang’s outfit was much more casual.
White sneakers, loose wide-leg pants, and a white short-sleeved shirt. Her whole aura was less chilly, making her much more pleasant to look at.
"They’ve all left, but I can still cook. Just tell me what you want, and I’ll go make it for you."
"Don’t trouble yourself, Brother Jiang. We were just passing by and saw the lights were on, so we came to take a look," Qin Youyou said with a grin.
"It was mainly my sister who insisted on coming to see you. I said we shouldn’t, but she wouldn’t listen."
"Shut up! What nonsense are you spouting? We were just passing by on our walk."
"That’s not true! I said we should go straight home, but you insisted on taking this route. You definitely wanted to come see Brother Jiang’s shop."
"No one will think you’re mute if you don’t talk."
Qin Yangyang shot Qin Youyou a look, her expression impassive.
But thanks to his X-ray Vision, Lin Jiang could see her internal reactions as clear as day.
’She just got teased a little, so why is her heart racing?’
’She’s a high-powered lawyer, for crying out loud. Why is she acting like a young girl experiencing her first crush?’
’Don’t tell me Youyou hit the nail on the head...’

Comments

Loading...