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Chapter 17
Zhu Xinyue was the first to step into the elevator and stood behind Ji Linyu on the left. After standing still, she glanced at Ji Linyu inconspicuously, quietly observing his reaction.
Ji Linyu kept his hand on the door open button, waiting for them to enter. His expression is calm, showing no sign of any emotional fluctuation.
Following his gaze, Zhu Xinyue looked at Ji Qingyuan standing outside.
Ji Qingyuan’s face was full of displeasure, but he still remembered to greet, calling out “Brother” obediently and timidly before following Zhu Xinyue into the elevator. He wanted to stand on the same side as Zhu Xinyue, so he moved to Ji Linyu’s left side.
The elevator had plenty of space, so when he entered, Zhu Xinyue moved from behind Ji Linyu to his right side.
Ji Linyu released the door open button.
The elevator doors closed again, the metal doors reflecting the three of them, beginning to descend.
In the narrow space, the atmosphere was awkward, and the air seemed to flow more slowly.
Zhu Xinyue wondered if Ji Linyu had heard what Ji Qingyuan said. Did he think Ji Qingyuan liked her? Ji Qingyuan, that fool! He couldn’t even tell the difference between liking and possessiveness!
Annoyed, Zhu Xinyue glared at Ji Qingyuan, who was separated by one person.
Ji Qingyuan had been watching Zhu Xinyue since entering. Seeing her look at him, he turned his head to her.
His eyebrows raised, and with his incredibly handsome face, he made a suggestive gesture to her, indicating: Think about my proposal.
Zhu Xinyue rolled her eyes: Think about your big head! Get lost!
Their silent exchange of glances, seen by Ji Linyu through the reflective elevator doors, looked no different from flirtation.
In the metal mirror doors of the elevator, Ji Linyu stood in the middle, with the other two slightly behind him on either side. Their silent exchange, seemingly intimate and tacit, was unmistakably close and exclusive.
Annoying.
Ji Linyu looked up at the elevator panel, wondering why the elevator was descending so slowly today.
At that moment, the elevator stopped midway and several foreigners entered.
To make room for the others, Ji Qingyuan was about to move towards Zhu Xinyue, but Ji Linyu stepped back, standing right between him and Zhu Xinyue.
Ji Qingyuan: …
Ji Linyu noticed his resentful gaze, turned to him, and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Ji Qingyuan sighed lightly, “Nothing.”
He crossed his arms, standing in the corner, leaning his head against the metal wall, radiating a sense of grievance.
What did I do wrong? I don’t know what happened between them.
Ji Linyu withdrew his gaze and stood beside Zhu Xinyue.
Zhu Xinyue pursed her lips and smiled, her gaze sliding past them, no longer looking at them, quietly waiting for the elevator to reach the target floor.
The hotel’s buffet breakfast can be enjoyed for free with a room card, and there are staff members at the restaurant entrance for verification.
Zhu Xinyue carried her plate and moved closer to Ji Linyu, naturally speaking up, “Brother Linyu, you got up so early.”
Ji Linyu didn’t look away and put food on the plate, “Yeah.”
“Brother Linyu, can you help me get a piece of bacon?” Zhu Xinyue held her plate and handed it to Ji Linyu, smiling at him.
Ji Linyu’s food clip happened to have a piece of bacon, originally meant for his own plate. Upon hearing her request, he changed direction, about to put it into Zhu Xinyue’s plate. From her side, another food clip reached out swiftly, picked up a piece of bacon, and put it into Zhu Xinyue’s originally empty plate.
Ji Qingyuan squeezed the food clip like a big crab showing its claws to its enemy.
He said to Zhu Xinyue, “Do you want anything else? Don’t bother Brother, I’ll get it for you.”
Zhu Xinyue stared wide-eyed as Ji Linyu’s food clip, raised in the air, turned back into his own plate. She ground her teeth and lowered her voice, saying to Ji Qingyuan, “No need, thank you.”
Almost squeezing out these words from between her teeth.
Ji Linyu turned and walked towards another food area.
It seems that he doesn’t want to get involved in their feud.
Zhu Xinyue saw him walk away, pursed her lips, and took matters into her own hands, picking up a food clip to serve herself.
Ji Qingyuan still followed her, seeing her take a lot of meat. He said, “I remember you didn’t used to like eating meat, you said it was too oily and preferred light food.”
Zhu Xinyue looked down at the greasy meat on her plate, including bacon, ham and smoked meat, accompanied by a golden fried egg and toast, and some vegetables to relieve the greasiness. It was a very rich meal.
“I was just pretending,” she said indifferently and continued walking forward.
Ji Qingyuan’s plate was almost all vegetarian. He looked at the meat in Zhu Xinyue’s plate and couldn’t help but swallowing his saliva, as if reminding her, but also reminding himself, “As an actor, you have to manage your figure well, otherwise it won’t look good on screen, and the audience will be distracted.”
He hadn’t eaten carbohydrates for a long time.
Zhu Xinyue carried her plate, turned around and looked at Ji Qingyuan, looking pleasantly surprised, her hand resting on her chest, she said sarcastically, “Oh my God, are you concerned about me? Why didn’t you tell me before I signed the contract that I couldn’t eat meat as an actor?”
She trained so hard at the training base every day, and after so many days, she only had this good meal. Would it really be that bad if she ate a few more pieces of meat occasionally?
Ji Qingyuan pursed his lips in disappointment. Every time she saw him in the past, she would always have a bright and cheerful smile, but now her eyes were dull and lifeless.
He reached out and pulled her hem, whispering, “I’m sorry, I know I didn’t care enough about you before, I won’t do that again.”
“No, no, no, don’t care about me, I can’t stand it.” Zhu Xinyue waved her hands repeatedly to refuse, not looking at Ji Qingyuan at all. This man was very good at using his handsome face to say flattering things, tempting people easily.
They were just at odds, when a little girl next to them softly asked, “Hello, are you Ji Qingyuan?”
The little girl looked to be only in her teens, holding a notebook and pen, looking up at Ji Qingyuan with bright eyes.
Ji Qingyuan, accustomed to the adoring eyes of fans, forgot that he was still pretending to be pitiful with Zhu Xinyue and switched back to business mode in a second.
When he raised his head, his face had a gentle smile, and his voice became magnetic like a male god’s. Those eyes that could speak looked at the fan with kindness and good temper, asking, “Do you want an autograph?”
It was as if he had two faces.
The little girl nodded vigorously, her heart and eyes full of the big star in front of her, but she also felt somewhat embarrassed, “I’m sorry to disturb you, is this a private schedule? Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone…”
While Ji Qingyuan was talking to his fans, Zhu Xinyue took her plate to find Ji Linyu. After looking around, she saw him eating breakfast alone at a window-side table.
Zhu Xinyue walked straight over and sat down opposite Ji Linyu.
Ji Linyu wiped his lips with a napkin, picked up the coffee beside him, and took a sip, seeming indifferent to who was across from him.
“Do they have drinks? Where’s the coffee? I didn’t see it just now.” Zhu Xinyue just sat down and found that she didn’t pour herself any drinks, so she prepared to get up again.
Ji Linyu put down his coffee and looked back at the self-service food area behind him. “Did you see the chef with the white chef’s hat? He’s right there.”
Zhu Xinyue looked around, and all she could see were chefs wearing chef’s hats.
“Um… I’ll look for it.” She got up and walked towards the food area.
Zhu Xinyue turned around in a circle but didn’t find it. Just as she was about to turn back, her wrist was held by someone with a grip that wasn’t too light or heavy, seemingly to catch her attention. She could easily break free with a twist.
“Over here.” Ji Linyu pulled her wrist and led her in another direction.
Zhu Xinyue followed behind Ji Linyu. After a few steps, he saw that she had caught up, so he let go of her wrist.
Zhu Xinyue rubbed her wrist and felt fluctuating emotions.
She knew he was just guiding her, and she knew he was avoiding suspicion.
Unlike Ji Qingyuan, who was assertive and didn’t mince words, Ji Linyu’s every touch was reasonable and restrained, and the decision-making power always belonged to her.
What was he thinking after all?
Does he have a slight liking for her?
Or does he just see her as a good friend’s younger sister?
Zhu Xinyue followed him to the beverage area.
Ji Linyu took out a warm white mug from the cabinet and asked her, “What would you like to drink?”
The various beverage barrels labeled in English, except for “Juice,” the most recognizable was “Milk.”
Zhu Xinyue: “Milk.”
Orange juice and milk should be about the same all over the world.
Ji Linyu poured a cup of hot milk for her.
Zhu Xinyue put her hands behind her back and walked beside Ji Linyu, deliberately letting him carry the milk for her.
Ji Linyu didn’t seem to expect her to pick it up herself, naturally carrying a cup of milk and returning to their table.
Zhu Xinyue picked up her knife and fork and started enjoying her breakfast.
Ji Linyu had almost finished eating and was sitting opposite her, drinking coffee and looking out the window.
It seemed they had an unspoken agreement and neither spoke at this time.
The first to finish eating could leave first, but he didn’t.
The one eating could start a conversation, but she didn’t.
The morning sun was a bit dazzling. Next to the restaurant was a rectangular swimming pool where some people were sunbathing and others were swimming in the pool. When the sunlight shone down, the sparkling fragments danced on the water.
Zhu Xinyue swallowed the last bite of toast and drank milk from her cup.
Ji Linyu picked up his coffee cup, but it was empty, so he put it down again.
Actually, when Zhu Xinyue picked up her cup, she noticed that his coffee cup was already empty, but he hadn’t left.
This meant… he was having breakfast with her!
Zhu Xinyue put down the cup, unable to suppress her joy.
“Brother Linyu, do you have any plans for today?” she asked.
Ji Linyu glanced at his watch on his wrist and looked back at Zhu Xinyue across from him. “What’s wrong?”
“None of the clothes I brought seem to be suitable for the wedding. Can you accompany me to pick out a new dress?” As if afraid he would refuse, Zhu Xinyue added, “My dad and brother’s flight doesn’t land until this afternoon. I want to finish shopping in the morning and then go pick them up. The timing should be just right.”
Zhu Xinyue had originally just asked tentatively, as she thought the boss was so busy that he probably wouldn’t have time to accompany her to pick out a dress, but what if?
Asking wouldn’t hurt.
Looking at her bright eyes, Ji Linyu didn’t know what he was thinking. After holding back for the morning, he unexpectedly said:
“Qingyuan should be very willing to accompany you.”
He didn’t refuse her but mentioned another person.
Zhu Xinyue’s body slowly sat upright from the forward-leaning position, blinking slowly.
She bit her lower lip, afraid that her smile would overflow.
Ji Linyu curled his fingers. Her smile was very intriguing, as if she had seen through his unspoken intentions earlier than he did.
There were some things he couldn’t control, growing wantonly.
She pursed her lips, turned her head to look out the window, as if concealing something, then quickly turned back, looking at him with a more enthusiastic and bold gaze, more radiant than the golden fragments in the pool outside.
She said, “But I’d rather be with Brother Linyu.”
So clear, so firm, so natural.
**
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Ayalee[Translator]
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