Chapter 11: Feelings Involved
Before Lian Li was by Jin Yan Ting’s side, he had already moved out of the Jin Family’s home and lived alone.
Before Lian Li went to university, she often visited Wan Yi Hua Fu, but she rarely saw him; many times, he would only return after she had fallen asleep.
Many men in their circle move out of their homes after reaching adulthood. In their prime, women flock to them, and with their hearts and bodies moved, living outside makes it convenient to bring people over for the night.
But Jin Yan Ting is different; he is a clear stream in their circle, with zero girlfriends and zero negative reviews.
Over the years, his only scandal has been Lian Li.
The first time Lian Li heard about the scandal between her and Jin Yan Ting, she was still in high school. No matter how mature her mind was, she was still a girl in adolescence, and her face would flush instantly. She retorted, “We’re not that kind of relationship.”
At first, she would argue with people, patiently explaining. Later, she came to a realization.
No matter how many rumors circulated, they always boiled down to the same few words. As long as she kept moving forward, the rumors wouldn’t catch up to her.
When Lian Li was eighteen, it was Jin Yan Ting’s birthday. He invited a few close friends to Wan Yi Hua Fu for a gathering. As those men were deep in their cups, they would somewhat restrain themselves around a young girl. Lian Li, being perceptive, excused herself and went to the back garden.
The end of the corridor was quiet, with bamboo tables and chairs on a platform. She sat down, stretched her legs out, and slowly spun her toes. Suddenly, she heard an unusual sound, and her alarm bells immediately went off.
“Who’s there?”
A shadow suddenly descended from the sky. A gentle breeze brushed Lian Li’s cheek, and her vision was obstructed—a hat dropped from the sky, covering her head and obscuring her eyes.
A slightly hoarse, magnetic voice drifted to her ears along with the night breeze: “Not tall, but quite bold.”
Lian Li pulled off the hat from her head. Under the light of the corridor roof, she clearly saw what she was holding:
A pine-green military cap.
She straightened her back and followed the sound.
Jin Shi Yue leaned against the wall, a cigarette held between his thin, sharp lips, squinting at her in the dim light.
His shoulders were broad, his legs long, and his build was like a clothes rack. He wore a crisp military uniform, the hem of which billowed in the wind, reflecting the moonlight, making him exceptionally dashing and handsome.
The upright military uniform diminished the arrogant, roguish swagger in his bones.
Their eyes met. Jin Shi Yue removed the cigarette from his mouth, held it between his fingers, and beckoned Lian Li with a hook of his finger.
Lian Li, not understanding, watched him warily.
“What,” seeing her motionless like a puppet, Jin Shi Yue raised an eyebrow, a casual curve forming on his lips, “you’re in someone else’s home, and in front of the owner, you’re robbing them?”
“…”
Me robbing you? What a joke.
Looking at the two of them, it seemed more reasonable for him to be robbing her.
Lian Li’s eyes darted, and she belatedly understood the meaning behind his words. She immediately returned the hat to him. After apologizing, she left without a moment’s delay.
She was afraid that the tiger behind her would catch her.
Jin Yan Ting and Jin Shi Yue’s residences in Wan Yi Hua Fu were connected villas, and their back gardens were interconnected. She had unintentionally wandered into Jin Shi Yue’s territory.
Jin Shi Yue lived nearby, so Li Ye appearing here was not strange at all.
“The person just now was Li Ye, a subordinate of President Jin’s brother. He was formerly a special police officer,” Assistant He told Lian Li. When he first joined the group, he wasn’t familiar with Jin Yan Ting’s working style, and Lian Li had helped him a lot behind the scenes. They had a good relationship, so he spoke more freely.
Lian Li’s expression was calm, and she nodded, “Mm.”
The special police officers of the Jin Family were all handsome. She had seen them from afar once before. That time, Old Master Jin went out with a grand entourage, with road closures and tight security.
Upon entering the foyer, Assistant He checked the time and said, “President Jin is still in the study holding a meeting. It should end in about ten minutes.”
Lian Li carried the food container into the kitchen and took out a clean bowl. The porridge was still warm, so it didn’t need to be heated. She took out the food and arranged it on the table. Just as she finished, Jin Yan Ting came downstairs.
Seeing Lian Li, he wasn’t surprised. The young girl had always been proactive in caring for and looking after people since she was little.
Jin Yan Ting pulled out a chair and sat at the table. Lian Li brought a bowl of porridge to him.
“Brother, how are you?”
Jin Yan Ting was wearing a shirt and trousers. He rolled up his sleeves, revealing a section of his wrist. Perhaps due to his cold, his voice was hoarse. “I’m fine, I’ll be better in a couple of days. Have you eaten dinner?”
“I have.”
“Eat a little more with me,” Jin Yan Ting said.
Lian Li agreed.
She served herself a small bowl. The porridge was cooked to perfection, melting in her mouth with a sweet and clear taste.
During the meal, Jin Yan Ting told her, “I’ve picked out a car. It’ll be delivered directly to the apartment tomorrow. If you don’t like it, we can change it.”
Lian Li paused for a moment, then replied, “Okay.”
Midway through the meal, Jin Yan Ting’s mobile phone rang. He didn’t leave, sitting opposite her to answer it.
Lian Li drank her porridge, faintly hearing a familiar name.
Duan Shiqing.
Her movements suddenly stopped. The spoon gently tapped the rim of the bowl, making a faint ‘ding’ sound.
This name… she knew it. The eldest daughter of the Duan Family, a childhood friend of Jin Yan Ting’s. She had gone abroad later and seemed to have had some romantic entanglement with him.
Lian Li subtly observed Jin Yan Ting’s expression. His brow was slightly furrowed, perhaps from feeling unwell due to his illness, or perhaps because of the person on the other end of the phone.
For the latter part of the meal, they finished dinner in silence. Lian Li tidied up and said goodbye to Jin Yan Ting, carrying the empty food container.
“You’re sick and need to rest well. I know the way, so I can walk back by myself.”
Jin Yan Ting didn’t listen to her and asked He Shu to drive her back.
The autumn weather was growing colder. Jin Yan Ting was only wearing a thin shirt. He and Lian Li stood at the villa entrance when they suddenly heard He Shu call out loudly, “Second Master Jin.”
Lian Li turned her head and followed He Shu’s gaze, spotting Jin Shi Yue and Cai Shen Ye standing on the front steps, squinting at them.
Jin Yan Ting coughed and said, “Get in the car.”
Lian Li averted her gaze, pretending not to see the man and the dog over there.
The car started. As she sat inside, she glanced back and saw Jin Shi Yue leading Cai Shen Ye towards Jin Yan Ting.
Unsure what Jin Shi Yue said, Jin Yan Ting’s face instantly broke into a smile.
The two brothers stood together, with Jin Shi Yue appearing slightly taller than Jin Yan Ting.
Other brothers moved out and lived far apart, but these two not only lived next door but in connected villas.
However, with nightlife just beginning at this hour, the dissolute and unrestrained second young master chose to spend it with a dog?
It was truly baffling.
Lian Li had heard plenty of Jin Shi Yue’s romantic escapades. The most recent was two days ago, when it was said he was hosting the Director of the Municipal Station for dinner in the main hall of Rui Kong Ju, and that marriage was imminent.
The daughter of the Municipal Station Director was a renowned beauty in their circle, holding the title of ‘Most Beautiful Reporter.’
They were well-matched, a talented man and a beautiful woman.
Mentioning this, Lian Li couldn’t help but recall Jin Yan Ting’s phone call earlier.
She turned her head, gazing at the night scenery outside the car window.
The sky was a deep, inky black. The Capital City at night was brilliantly lit, with bustling traffic on the roads, a scene of prosperity and liveliness.
This was a stark contrast to the oppressive dark clouds and torrential rain of that year.
That was a day that changed Lian Li’s life.
It was a descent, and also a lift.
