Chapter 126: Falling in Love
Jin Yan Ting said, “As usual.”
He Shu understood; a gift was needed to visit Elder Mei.
He silently noted the task in his mind and continued to report official business in an orderly manner.
Lian Li’s voice came from the receiver. Jin Shi Yue snapped back to attention and asked casually, “Miss me?”
Lian Li, lying on the bed, answered the phone, stating the fact: “You called me.”
If anyone missed anyone, it was him missing her.
Jin Shi Yue leaned against the railing, the evening breeze carrying fine rain to brush his forehead hair, revealing a pair of dark, deep eyes.
“Planning to see your teacher recently?”
For the past three years, every Spring Festival holiday, Lian Li would visit Elder Mei with Jin Yan Ting.
As for this year…
“Probably not going.”
“Probably?” Jin Shi Yue asked.
If Jin Yan Ting needed Lian Li to accompany him to see Elder Mei, she would most likely agree.
Elder Mei was Professor Lu’s teacher, and also her grand-teacher. Jin Yan Ting and she visited as siblings.
There was no reason to refuse.
After a moment of thought, Lian Li said, “Not sure yet. If I go, I’ll let you know.”
Her answer caused Jin Shi Yue’s lips to curve slightly.
Lian Li suddenly found it strange, “Why are you suddenly asking this?”
“Caring about my girlfriend,” Jin Shi Yue said.
Lian Li pulled the bedding up, covering her head. When she slept alone, she liked to burrow into her blankets.
The phone was still connected. She heard the man’s cool, indifferent voice ask, “Is your boyfriend dead?”
They were chatting so well, why would he suddenly curse himself?
Lian Li was confused, “No, he’s not.”
“How do you know? Did you ask him?”
“No…” Lian Li didn’t understand what he was doing. “If you were dead, who would I be talking to?”
Jin Shi Yue coldly spat out a single word: “Ask.”
Ask what? If he was dead or not?
The Eldest Young Master’s skill in being unreasonably difficult was unparalleled.
Lian Li looked at the caller ID displayed on her phone screen and said, “Can you just say what you want to say directly?”
“Care about me.”
“…”
No one orders someone else to care about them.
Lian Li cleared her throat and indulged him, “Have you eaten dinner?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, goodbye then.”
As soon as Lian Li finished speaking, she hung up the phone. She couldn’t handle the Eldest Young Master’s hidden dramatic tendencies.
The call was suddenly cut off. Jin Shi Yue was so amused he almost laughed. He sent her a message.
「Rude.」
Lian Li held her phone with both hands, her slender fingers slowly typing: 「I’m dating you, and you’re talking to me about manners.」
Because of this message, Jin Shi Yue burst out laughing.
He happily replied slowly: 「Boyfriend is staying at the old house tonight. Lock your door before sleeping.」
Lian Li: 「Okay.」
Jin Shi Yue: 「Okay?」
Lian Li: 「Alright!」
Jin Shi Yue: 「Before you sleep, say goodnight to me.」
Lian Li immediately sent him goodnight, otherwise she worried she might forget, and the Eldest Young Master would start being difficult again.
Jin Shi Yue was staying at the old house tonight, but Jin Yan Ting was not. He had a meeting later and returned to Wan Yi Hua Fu.
After Jin Shi Yue returned from the Military Region, he first secured the construction of the military industry base, then, like a big fish eating small fish, he swallowed the military industry business under Sheng Jing Group, reducing Jin Yan Ting’s workload.
Jin Yan Ting returned to Wan Yi Hua Fu more often than before.
After finishing an international conference in his study, he shifted his gaze from the computer screen to the lush green plants by the desk.
The young girl had a good personality and could get along well with many people, from Elder Mei to the auntie, she could handle them all with ease.
When she stayed with him, she liked to tend to plants. Seeing the plants thriving, she would also smile happily.
Jin Yan Ting stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the garden. The flowers and trees were very well-maintained, with the peach tree being the most vigorous.
Jin Yan Ting thought, she hadn’t tended to the peach tree for half a year.
On the surface, Lian Li appeared to be a very approachable girl, but in reality, she was initially very distant and difficult to get along with.
Her aloofness was imperceptible on the surface, hidden deep, making it impossible for him to approach her.
It was only later that she gradually accepted him.
The flourishing peach tree in the courtyard was the first request Lian Li made to Jin Yan Ting.
She asked, “Can I plant a tree?”
He replied, “Yes, what kind of tree do you want to plant?”
She said, “Can I go buy it myself?”
He said, “Let’s go together.”
She smiled and agreed, “Okay.”
The peach tree was planted by the two of them.
It was the Eldest Young Master Jin’s first time doing gardening. He held a shovel and personally dug a hole for the young girl. A bit of soil was on her face, making her look dirty, but it couldn’t hide her bright smile.
Jin Yan Ting’s deep gaze slowly moved, settling on the peach tree.
He couldn’t help but repeat in his mind: she hadn’t tended to the peach tree for half a year.
Half a year.
Another half a year.
Jin Zhengchuan would completely step down, and the group’s situation would stabilize…
Jin Yan Ting withdrew his thoughts, turned to look at his desk, where the cello gold medal trophy from the Munich International Music Competition was displayed.
He looked for a moment.
He reached out, picked up the car keys from the desk, and took the elevator straight to the underground garage.
He chose a relatively low-key Audi.
The car drove on the star-like roads of the Capital City, heading from Wan Yi Hua Fu towards Qing Teng Road No. 21, a different social stratum.
The distance was far, and the drive took over two hours. It was already three in the morning when he arrived.
The Audi was parked below the residential building. Jin Yan Ting leaned against the car door, glanced at the dark floors, and looked down at the phone in his hand.
At the top was Duan Shi Qing’s unread message: 「Image.jpg」
「Some runway pieces from Milan Fashion Week. You can take a look before deciding whether to go. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.」
Jin Yan Ting scrolled down and found Lian Li’s WeChat.
Her WeChat avatar was very simple: a photo of the sky she took one day while climbing the peach tree to prune its branches.
Blue sky and white clouds, free and unrestrained.
Jin Yan Ting looked for a while, then put his phone back in his pocket and took out his cigarette case and lighter.
Late at night, the wind was strong.
He cupped one hand to shield the wind, tilted his head to light the cigarette at the corner of his lips, and smoke slowly puffed out of his mouth, blurring his outline.
As top figures in their circle, every descendant of the Jin family had to learn the vast family laws and social etiquette from a young age and must complete them with excellence.
Especially as the heir.
He needed to meet everyone’s expectations, maintain a clear mind at all times, stable emotions, and calmly handle all kinds of tests.
He had been arrogant and impetuous in his youth. But that was just a temporary act of rebellion, which couldn’t last.
Due to family reasons, his youthful romance ended unhappily. Later, he pursued power and status, becoming heartless and unfeeling, devoid of any emotion.
And now, walking by the river, one inevitably gets their shoes wet.
Talking with Jin Shi Yue in the siheyuan gave Jin Yan Ting a sense of envy in his heart.
Although the smile in his younger brother’s eyes was not deep when he mentioned his beloved, it was genuine and from the bottom of his heart.
Jin Yan Ting suddenly thought of Lian Li, of the times they spent smiling at Wan Yi Hua Fu, of the things she did to make him happy.
His fatigue, his annoyance, any of his superfluous, misplaced emotions, had actually found a place to rest long ago.
Jin Yan Ting lived in the eyes of the world wearing the skin of the Jin family heir.
Only in front of Lian Li was he Jin Yan Ting.
Lian Li was a very complex existence for him; she was the daughter of the driver who saved his life, and she was also his irreplaceable sanctuary in this materialistic era.
He watched her grow up, from twelve to twenty-two years old, attending her parent-teacher conferences, school speeches, concerts, and award ceremonies…
This young girl, eight years his junior, was intelligent and capable, able to persuade Elder Mei, who was unshakeable.
She had infinite possibilities.
So, setting aside all external factors, had he fallen in love?
With Lian Li.
