Chapter 118: Secret Meeting with Jin Yan Ting?
Lian Li was chatting and laughing with Xue Shufan, her face relaxed and her eyes sparkling.
Jin Yan Ting retracted his gaze and elegantly ascended the stairs. His expression turned calm, even solemn, a dignified gravitas flowing through his nobility that brooked no defiance.
The manager looked at Lian Li for three seconds before turning back to Jin Yan Ting. The man’s feet were clad in a pair of clean, dust-free Oxford leather shoes, handmade, exuding British gentlemanly style, gleaming and noble.
Although President Jin possessed excellent upbringing and great demeanor, the pressure from someone in a superior position was no less, and no one dared to question him.
The manager had originally intended to lead President Jin to the most private dining room, but this big shot had changed his plans at the last minute, choosing to dine in the public area on the second floor.
Too much talk leads to mistakes. The manager dared not say more, only offering a flawless smile and saying, “Then I’ll send a message to President Duan.”
The manager stood up straight, and as he turned to leave, his gaze inadvertently fell upon the single-sided glass wall, where he saw Lian Li dining on the first floor.
A wild thought flashed through his mind like lightning: could President Jin have changed locations just to see the young girl downstairs?!
The serving speed at Fu Yan was very fast. After Lian Li and Xue Shufan chatted for a while, the dishes were all served. Wagyu steak, sea urchin brioche, Spanish abalone, French porcini mushrooms with white truffles, and white asparagus with sakura shrimp. The drinks were low-alcohol cocktails, grape and grapefruit flavored.
“How are you and Jin Shi Yue?” Xue Shufan asked.
Lian Li replied casually, “We’re together for now.”
“Cough!”
Xue Shufan was startled by her answer and suddenly choked. She picked up her drink to soothe her throat, her pupils trembling, and said, “Together for now?”
Lian Li told Xue Shufan everything about her agreement with Jin Shi Yue to be together for half a year and then separate. Xue Shufan listened, wanting to speak but hesitating.
“Lili, are you sure you can separate then?”
Lian Li, who was cutting her steak with a knife and fork, looked up at Xue Shufan upon hearing this. After a two-second pause, she said, “If he gets tired of it and wants to end this relationship early, I have no problem.”
Xue Shufan asked, “What if the half-year period is up, and he still doesn’t want to end it?”
Lian Li stated with certainty, “He will.”
If Jin Shi Yue didn’t want to end it, the worst outcome would be her not being able to leave the Capital City and not being able to study abroad.
Lian Li had considered it. If things truly came to that point, she would simply return to Taipei, live a reclusive life, and have no further dealings with the Capital City.
Half a year was also her final deadline to find her mother.
The Junior Sister was well aware of the consequences of her actions.
Growing up alone happens in an instant, and the Junior Sister had many such moments.
One makes their own choices and then pays the price.
Lian Li had to grow up.
She had been alone for a very long time.
Xue Shufan supported every choice Lian Li made but couldn’t help but be surprised, “When did you decide to be with him?”
Lian Li replied, “On my birthday.”
“It’s been several days, and you’re only telling me now!”
“I don’t know,” Lian Li said sincerely. “Perhaps I haven’t gotten used to the new relationship myself.”
As the meal was nearing its end, Xue Shufan went to the restroom, and Lian Li waited in her seat.
At that moment, the manager of Fu Yan approached, his attitude respectful, “Miss Lian, President Jin requests your presence.”
Lian Li’s finger, which was scrolling on her mobile phone, paused. She asked, “Which President Jin?”
“President Jin Yan Ting.”
Lian Li hadn’t expected to run into Jin Yan Ting here. If it had been a phone invitation, she could have refused; facing him directly, any excuse would be obvious.
Lian Li followed the manager to the second floor. Jin Yan Ting was seated by the window, like a mountain to be admired but unreachable, powerful yet not arrogant, his aura imposing yet humble and low-key.
He appeared mature, steady, and by-the-book, the perfect heir.
The sommelier finished pairing the wines and then bowed and left.
Jin Yan Ting was the only one at the dining table, but as Lian Li walked over, she glimpsed a ladies’ bag placed on the seat opposite him.
Her expression remained unchanged, and her tone was as usual as she addressed Jin Yan Ting, “Brother, did you need me for something? I’m worried Shufan Senior Sister might look for me and not find me when she returns.”
“I haven’t seen you in a while,” Jin Yan Ting said, a faint emotion in the corner of his eye, his voice gentle. “Come over for dinner in a couple of days. If your schedule is inconvenient, have Zhang Sao come to the house.”
Either she would eat at his place, or he would eat at hers.
A meal between siblings after a long time wasn’t crossing any lines.
Lian Li understood that he only cared for her as a sister, so she agreed, “Okay.”
Seeing this, Jin Yan Ting subtly lifted the corner of his lips.
Lian Li did not sit down; she stood while speaking with Jin Yan Ting.
Jin Yan Ting’s voice was as deep and resonant as a cello, easily inspiring admiration, whereas Jin Shi Yue only inspired fear.
Lian Li pulled her thoughts back and bid farewell to Jin Yan Ting, “Brother, I…”
She caught sight of two approaching figures in her peripheral vision and her words stopped abruptly.
Jin Shi Yue walked over with a lazy, leisurely stride, his gaze on her extremely indifferent.
Duan Shiqing, beside him, showed a flicker of surprise on her face before speaking gracefully, “Miss Lian, what a coincidence. This is the second time we’ve met today.”
Duan Shiqing walked around Lian Li and elegantly sat down opposite Jin Yan Ting.
Lian Li shifted her gaze from Jin Shi Yue’s face to Duan Shiqing’s and smiled politely, “It is quite a coincidence.”
Jin Shi Yue and Duan Shiqing hadn’t arrived together; the former was with his girlfriend, and the latter had returned from the restroom.
Jin Shi Yue’s gaze swept over Lian Li, and he resumed his nonchalant demeanor, saying casually, “Big Brother, are you on a date?”
“Young Master Yue misunderstands,” Duan Shiqing said, looking up at Jin Shi Yue in a familiar tone. “Yan Ting and I are discussing official business.”
Jin Shi Yue drawled, “Discussing official and private matters together, a unity of public and private.”
His younger brother had always been capricious, and Jin Yan Ting rarely corrected him. He simply said, “Remember to come back for the family dinner tomorrow night.”
Although Lian Li couldn’t join their conversation, she didn’t feel uncomfortable.
She said with neither humility nor arrogance, “Then I’ll be going back now.”
Jin Yan Ting replied, “Be safe on your way.”
Lian Li said, “Okay.”
Lian Li turned to leave, not looking at Jin Shi Yue, and naturally didn’t notice his meaningful gaze on her.
Xue Shufan was looking for her Junior Sister and asked when she saw her coming down from the second floor, “Why did you go to the second floor?”
“Jin Yan Ting called me over,” Lian Li said. “It’s nothing, let’s go.”
Lian Li didn’t drive, and Xue Shufan had been drinking, so neither could drive. The two took taxis back to their respective homes.
The taxi stopped at No. 21 Qing Teng Road. Lian Li paid and got out. Just as she was about to walk into the building, an arrogant honk sounded in her ear without warning.
She turned her head and, as expected, saw a familiar luxury car.
Lian Li walked over and knocked on the car window.
The car window rolled down. The streetlight shone on Jin Shi Yue’s indifferent profile. He told her to “get in,” his tone seemingly casual, yet Lian Li heard a hint of coldness.
She pulled open the car door and sat in the front passenger seat.
Jin Shi Yue turned his head to look at her and asked, not too heavily, “Your Senior Sister calls Jin Yan Ting?”
Lian Li didn’t understand why he was asking what he already knew.
Her Senior Sister was Xue Shufan; how could he not know.
“What do you want to say.”
Jin Shi Yue’s lips curled into a slight, sarcastic smile as he asked, “You don’t want to be public with me, so you can have private meetings with Jin Yan Ting?”
