Chapter 97: Do You Like Me, or Do You Want to Sleep With Me?
Setting aside the complexity of families in the upper circles, just considering that Lian Li had stayed by Jin Yan Ting’s side for nine years, rumors outside claimed she was Jin Yan Ting’s kept canary.
The untrue rumors about her being a canary already had many people and events hindering Lian Li, making her progress difficult.
If Lian Li were to be with Jin Shi Yue, it would inevitably push Lian Li into the spotlight.
First entangled with the older brother, then hooking up with the younger brother. Public opinion would pour in, making Lian Li the target of public criticism.
Even if the external public opinion were resolved, what about within the Jin Family?
If Lian Li truly liked Jin Shi Yue, she wouldn’t care about others’ evaluations of her, nor would she mind the malice from the outside world.
Lian Li having the courage to confront everything did not mean Xue Shufan was willing to watch her suffer unfounded harm.
After Grandma Xue passed away, Xue Shufan severed ties with the Xue Family and left to conduct scientific expeditions in the world’s most dangerous places. She didn’t cherish her life and wanted to dedicate it to scientific research; it was Lian Li who pulled her back.
Abandoned by her mother at two months old, she went to the Capital City with her father to find her mother; at twelve years old, her father died in the line of duty, leaving her alone to search for her mother… Growing up amidst misfortune, Lian Li raised herself into a very, very good girl.
She was a miracle in herself.
Xue Shufan felt that Lian Li should have endless miracles.
In high society, especially among those at the pinnacle of the pyramid, no one is soft-hearted. Only those in lower positions would beg and delusionally hope for the high-ranking individuals to be filled with sympathy.
Adhering to the principle of prioritizing profit, their actions have always been ruthless, with arrogance and indifference ingrained in their bones.
Jin Shi Yue is not a good person; he is ruthless and wicked.
But as long as he is Lian Li’s miracle.
Xue Shufan would naturally love him by extension and support him being with Lian Li.
*
Lian Li did not know that Xue Shufan had returned to the Capital City early, nor did she know that Xue Shufan had sought out Jin Shi Yue.
As Spring Festival approached, the usually noisy Wen Gang Orchestra was deserted these past few days. Whenever Lian Li had free time, she would come to practice the piano. Over time, she became familiar with the doorman, and they would occasionally chat.
She practiced three pieces. During her break, she walked to the tea room by the window and gazed at the bustling high-rise buildings outside, lost in thought.
Lu Dieyi, who was returning to the orchestra to get sheet music, passed by and saw Lian Li.
“Lian Li, are you back to get something too?”
Lian Li snapped back to reality, cut a piece of the Black Forest cake in front of her, and placed it on a dish to hand to Lu Dieyi: “I happened to have some free time, so I came to practice the piano.”
Lu Dieyi realized, ate the cake with a small fork, and asked again, “What were you thinking about just now? You were so engrossed.”
Lian Li said, “I was thinking about how to refuse someone.”
“Refuse someone?” Lu Dieyi asked curiously and gossipy, “Did someone confess to you? Was it the handsome, single-lidded guy who plays the piano, or the buzz-cut guy who plays the Jinghu?”
Jin Shi Yue did not confess to her, so Lian Li shook her head: “No. It’s about refusing other things.”
“Oh.”
Lu Dieyi seemed to understand but not fully. After eating a couple of bites of cake, she smiled enigmatically and said, “Did you hear about Chen Siyang’s situation?”
Lian Li: “No.”
“He quit the orchestra,” Lu Dieyi said excitedly. “He was on a music variety show, gained some popularity, signed with a management company, and is now wholeheartedly aiming for the entertainment industry.”
“That’s good,” Lian Li commented sincerely.
Everyone had a clear future, but hers was still blurry.
The two girls chatted about this and that, and then talked about next month’s performance. Lu Dieyi looked at Lian Li with eyes as bright as crystals and asked with a tone of entreaty: “My mommy is currently preparing a solo violin concert for me. Would you be free to be a guest performer?”
“When is it? I’ll have to check my schedule first,” Lian Li replied truthfully.
Lu Dieyi said the concert date was not yet set, so Lian Li’s answer was also undecided.
Lian Li stayed at the orchestra for four hours and then left with Lu Dieyi. It was almost New Year, so she went shopping for some new items to welcome the new year. She bought red lanterns. Although red lanterns hanging at home could create a rather Chinese horror atmosphere at night, she still bought them for more red festive cheer.
Lian Li loved celebrating the New Year the most when she was a child. As she grew up, or rather, ever since Lian Jingcheng passed away, she had no anticipation for the New Year.
She was not a self-pitying girl, but she was a living, breathing person.
Although people spend their entire lives learning how to get along with themselves, humans are social animals. Feeling lonely is normal, and yearning for warmth is not shameful.
Lian Li prepared fresh vegetables and meat and put them in the refrigerator to have hot pot with Xue Shufan tomorrow. After finishing, she took a plate of pastries and biscuits and sat on the living room sofa. The television was playing a costume drama starring the popular male celebrity Fu Si Nian.
Lian Li curled up in the corner of the sofa, draped in a red plaid wool blanket, biting on a pastry, and gazing at the television screen. She suddenly understood why Chen Wei Qi chose Fu Si Nian as her new male concubine; this man looked handsome in modern attire and had a charming aura in ancient costumes, exuding a noble and cultured presence.
It’s just that the plot is completely unreasonable. Three men fighting over one woman, and the men are still hitting and scolding the woman? Imprisonment, framing, and false accusations…
I’m not watching anymore, not watching anymore. It’s bad luck during the New Year. Change the channel, change the channel.
As Lian Li turned to reach for the remote control, her mobile phone, which was placed next to the remote, rang. She looked closely and saw that the caller ID was 【Eldest Young Master】.
The words ‘Master’ in ‘God of Wealth Master’ sounded a bit like a playful kink, easily leading to misunderstandings, so she changed the contact name.
Lian Li turned down the TV volume and answered the call: “Hello.”
Jin Shi Yue’s deep, magnetic voice came from the other end of the line: “Are you home?”
“Mm,” Lian Li retracted her feet into the blanket, and now her feet were no longer cold.
Having learned from past experiences, Lian Li knew that Jin Shi Yue only looked for her when he was bored. Therefore, she didn’t ask him what he wanted, and directly stated her own business: “The 10 days are almost up, and I was just thinking of calling you.”
In the Jin Family’s mansion, Jin Shi Yue had just finished talking with Old Master Jin. He strode towards the back courtyard while answering the phone. Hearing Lian Li’s words, his voice was casual and tinged with a smile: “Miss me?”
Lian Li paused for a second, thinking that the Eldest Young Master always misinterpreted her words.
“I want to talk about our matters,” Lian Li switched to a respectful tone and address, using relatively tactful wording. “With your qualifications, what kind of woman do you want? There are plenty of girls with excellent looks, family background, and strength. If you want someone to take responsibility, there are many people for you to choose from.”
She spoke neither servilely nor humbly, with no hint of subservience in her words. Her meaning was also very clear: after careful consideration, she still did not want to take responsibility.
Jin Shi Yue’s lips curved slightly as he said, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. You praise me so highly, do you like me?”
His words were teasing and mocking, but his tone was extremely cold.
Lian Li took a deep breath and directly retorted, “What about you? You want me to take responsibility. Do you like me, or do you want to sleep with me?”
