Chapter 43: You Look Quite Mature for Your Age
Mrs. Jin sent over a box of king crabs, and the servants prepared the meal, arranging the dishes artistically.
Lian Li walked to the dining table and saw steamed crab legs, crab shell steamed eggs, seafood congee… all presented with exquisite color, aroma, and taste. Her misty mood instantly cleared.
He Shu came home to accompany his wife after finishing work. His wife was his university classmate. They got married young, registering their marriage as soon as they were legally able. Later, He Shu went abroad to study, while his wife worked in China, and they lived apart for several years. Their relationship is now stable, and they are considering having children in a couple of years.
While eating dinner, Lian Li lowered her head and suddenly remembered Shang Lingyu mentioning that Meng Yi was getting married.
She slowly sipped the seafood congee. Jin Yan Ting looked up at her distracted appearance and asked, “Did something happen?”
Lian Li snapped back to attention and shook her head, “No.”
Jin Yan Ting’s deep gaze fell on her cheek, lingered for three seconds, and then he placed a peeled crab into a dish and handed it to her.
“The crab you like, eat more.”
“Okay,” Lian Li replied.
At that moment, a servant walked into the dining room and said with head bowed, “Mr. Jin, the Second Young Master has arrived.”
Jin Yan Ting’s expression remained calm. He nodded faintly, seemingly accustomed to Jin Shi Yue’s capricious behavior.
Lian Li’s crab-peeling motion paused. She looked up towards the dining room entrance.
Jin Shi Yue shuffled in wearing slippers, one hand in his pocket, the other carrying two jars of wine. His steps were leisurely, his demeanor exuding laziness.
Jin Yan Ting glanced at him once and then instructed the servant to add bowls and chopsticks and bring out wine glasses.
“Big Brother, why didn’t you call me for dinner?” Jin Shi Yue placed the two jars of wine on the dining table. The jars were crimson, and the tops were adorned with half-circle frames woven from bamboo leaves.
“Since you’re already here, do I need to call you?” Jin Yan Ting’s expression, devoid of discernible emotion, showed a faint smile.
“If I didn’t come, would you have good wine to drink?” Jin Shi Yue’s long, perfect hand applied a little force, and the top of the jar opened.
The unique aroma of aged wine gradually spread. Even from four seats away, Lian Li could smell the rich, mellow fragrance.
Her nostrils twitched slightly, and she couldn’t help but swallow.
Jin Yan Ting raised the corner of his mouth and smiled faintly, “This is Master Min’s final work before he retired from the craft. Each jar is truly one less.”
The servant set out new tableware and brought the wine glasses. Jin Shi Yue lifted a wine jar, and the liquid flowed out like a waterfall.
Lian Li put down her chopsticks and turned her head to look.
Jin Shi Yue was still wearing white clothes and black pants. His sleeves were rolled up slightly, revealing his lean wrist bones, with veins subtly visible on the back of his cold, white hand.
His movements in opening the jars and pouring the wine were swift and elegant, exuding a wild sense of strength.
Jin Shi Yue, perhaps sensing her gaze, lifted his eyelids and swept his eyes over her.
He didn’t linger, and Lian Li dismissed the momentary eye contact as an illusion.
“Two glasses are enough. Little Li doesn’t drink,” Jin Yan Ting stopped Jin Shi Yue from pouring a third glass.
Jin Shi Yue looked up, glanced at Lian Li, and said lazily, “Underage, huh? You don’t look it, quite mature for your age.”
Lian Li: “…”
He asked what he already knew. He had seen her identification card, so how could he not know if she was of age?
Jin Yan Ting didn’t explain her age, only saying, “Alcohol is bad for a girl’s body.”
Jin Shi Yue clicked his tongue and slowly sat down.
Lian Li sat next to Jin Yan Ting, lowering her head to eat the seafood congee. Jin Yan Ting placed a peeled crab leg on her dish.
“Thanks, Brother,” Lian Li said, looking up to thank him. Her peripheral vision caught a glimpse of Jin Shi Yue diagonally opposite. He had an indifferent expression, his eyes full of nonchalance.
Lian Li ate quietly. Jin Shi Yue and Jin Yan Ting occasionally chatted, their topics mainly revolving around Sheng Jing Group and the base situation of the military industry sector, such as aerospace and national defense informatization. Lian Li didn’t understand, only grasping the general idea.
She wasn’t very clear about the specific details of the Jin family. She only knew that the top tycoon, the Jin family, had a vast family background and a complex network, encompassing military, political, and business circles.
Other prominent families relied on the Jin family, feared them, and also resented them.
The bustling city of Capital City was closely linked to power, but Capital City did not equate to power, nor did power mean a lack of human warmth.
At least in Lian Li’s perception, Capital City had human warmth, and its people were enthusiastic.
For example, Xue Shufan was very straightforward and enthusiastic.
After dinner, Lian Li, wrapped in a blue cashmere shawl, sat on the sofa watching television.
Jin Yan Ting tossed a box of cigars to Jin Shi Yue.
Jin Shi Yue caught it with ease and took out a cigar, placing it between his lips.
The grinding sound of the flint wheel echoed, and a blue flame quickly leaped up.
Lian Li felt a gaze on her. She turned and, through the thin wisp of smoke, met Jin Shi Yue’s eyes.
A few seconds later, Lian Li was the first to look away.
Jin Yan Ting took a puff of his cigar and remembered He Shu mentioning that the Shen family’s young lady, Shen Huaining, was interning at the group. She seemed to be Lian Li’s classmate.
He asked calmly, “Where do you want to go for your graduation internship?”
Lian Li answered truthfully, “I haven’t thought about it yet. I plan to intern next semester.”
If she mentioned going to Sheng Jing Group, Jin Yan Ting could definitely arrange it, but she didn’t want to.
As graduation approached, Lian Li still felt a bit lost about her future. The only thing she was certain of was that she had to stay here to find her mother.
It was getting late, so Jin Yan Ting instructed the driver to take Lian Li home.
Lian Li stood up and glanced back at Jin Shi Yue, who was lounging lazily on the sofa. After a moment’s thought, she decided not to take an umbrella.
Upon returning home, after showering, Lian Li took out the items from her bag, including a book. She had read it once before but had forgotten most of it, so she picked it up again.
After reading for a while, she yawned and checked her mobile phone for unread messages.
In the small group chat, everyone was discussing where to go for New Year’s Day. Each had their own suggestions. After much discussion, Zhong Yang decided on horse riding in the Capital Suburbs. Then, everyone came up with various excuses for not being able to attend.
Zhong Yang: 「 Wen Zhixing, don’t tell me you have a business trip on New Year’s Day. What kind of work requires you to work on New Year’s Day! 」
Wen Zhixing: 「 Accompanying my girlfriend. 」
Zhong Yang: 「 ??? 」
Zhong Yang: 「 When did you get a girlfriend? 」
Pei Qingji, who rarely participated in group chats, surprisingly replied: 「 About a year ago. 」
Xue Shufan, who had returned home from the laboratory, asked suspiciously: 「 How do you know the duration of Wen Zhixing’s relationship so well? 」
Pei Qingji: 「 He took his girlfriend to play abroad, and I ran into them by chance. 」
Xue Shufan said with a hint of smugness: 「 Then you definitely don’t know who his girlfriend is. 」
Zhong Yang sent several stickers frantically: 「 You all know? 」
Others in the group chimed in, saying they didn’t know and asking for details.
Lian Li didn’t know Wen Zhixing and wasn’t curious about his gossip. She was about to put down her phone and turn off the lights to sleep.
Xue Shufan posted a new message in the group: 「 Lili knows who that person is too. 」
Lian Li stared at the message, stunned.
She knows? How come she didn’t know she knew.
