Chapter 24.2

Ji Ling pointed at a storefront. “Shopping with friends. Why didn’t you tell me you’d be here? Are you really out shopping together?” She gawked at Ji Jing. “You? Shopping? You wouldn’t even take me out for milk tea!”

He scoffed. “You’re such a brat.”

Ji Ling glanced at Tang Ruan. She didn’t dislike her sister-in-law, but she certainly didn’t like her either. Tang Ruan had always been distant and unapproachable. Now married to her brother, Ji Ling was even more resentful—they didn’t love each other, so why bother marrying at all?

Tang Ruan suddenly smiled and asked, “Where did you get that milk tea?”

Ji Ling blinked. “Huh?”

“I was just talking to your brother about getting some. Want to join us?”

Ji Ling hesitated, puzzled by Tang Ruan’s sudden friendliness. After a moment, she nodded, curious to observe the pair up close. “Sure! There’s a good place nearby, but the line’s long.”

“That’s fine. We have time.”

Ji Jing: “…”

Before he knew it, their outing had transformed into a group excursion.

With a drink in hand, Tang Ruan seemed revitalized, brimming with energy as she and Ji Ling dove into a frenzy of shopping. They spent half an hour in each store, trying on clothes, bags, and picking out cosmetics and skincare products.

The bond between women, it seemed, could be forged in the simplest ways.

—

Ji Ling eyed Tang Ruan’s makeup and asked softly, “Did a professional do your makeup? It looks amazing.”

“Nope,” Tang Ruan replied. “I did it myself. Do you like it?”

“Love it!”

“Come by sometime, and I’ll do yours.”

“Really?”

“Of course!” Tang Ruan gestured to a lipstick. “This shade would look great on you.”

Ji Ling tested it and was delighted by how it brightened her complexion.

“I’ll take it.”

“That one’s good too.”

“Then I’ll take both.”

“Good choice.”

The two women’s shopping prowess was unstoppable. Laden with small items unsuitable for delivery, they naturally passed the bags to Ji Jing. By evening, as the sun dipped low, the women strolled on, hands empty and carefree—while Ji Jing, burdened with a dozen shopping bags, drew stares from amused passersby.

The two women shopped endlessly.

Suddenly, Tang Ruan stopped in her tracks. Ji Ling, startled, asked, “Why did you stop, sister-in-law?”

In just two short hours, Ji Ling had been utterly won over by Tang Ruan, now calling her “sister-in-law” with enthusiasm and genuine warmth.

Tang Ruan chuckled and glanced behind them at the man laden with shopping bags. She jogged back to Ji Jing’s side, a hint of guilt in her tone. “Sorry, sorry, I made you carry too much.”

Ji Jing snorted softly and shot her a sideways glance.

With a smile, Tang Ruan took two bags from him and split them with Ji Ling. “How about we call it a day? We can shop more next time.” Then she turned to Ji Jing. “Are you hungry?”

Ji Jing replied indifferently, “I’m fine. Do you want to eat out?”

“I’m okay with anything.” She shifted her gaze to Ji Ling, who was watching them curiously. “Do you have class tomorrow?”

“Not in the morning.”

“Want to come home and eat with us?”

“Sure!” Ji Ling beamed with excitement. “Sister-in-law, will you teach me how to do makeup tonight?”

“Of course.”

Thus, what had begun as an outing for two ended as a trio. In the car, Ji Ling, a chatterbox, filled the space with lively conversation. Like an inquisitive bird, she flitted from topic to topic. By the time they reached home, her earlier reserve toward Tang Ruan had melted away completely.

Ji Jing glanced from the passenger seat, smirking faintly before turning his gaze away.

—

When they arrived home, Butler Li, was delighted to see Ji Ling.

“Miss Ling, what a surprise!”

Ji Ling grinned, wrapping her arms around him. “I missed you, Butler Li! You’ve been gone so long. Don’t you miss me?”

He patted her head affectionately, pretending to scold her. “Nonsense! I missed my little Ling Ling very much.”

As they bantered, Tang Ruan watched, amused. Ji Ling truly didn’t have the temper of a spoiled heiress; she was charming and lovable.

She turned toward Ji Jing and cleared her throat. “What would you like for dinner?”

It was already past 8 p.m.

Butler Li, realizing they hadn’t eaten yet, offered, “What would you like? I’ll make it.”

“No need.” Tang Ruan smiled. “Butler Li, you’ve worked hard all day. Let me do it.”

Besides, she felt a little guilty for making Ji Jing carry so many things that afternoon. She hadn’t cooked for him since the last time she made soy sauce noodles, and it was only fair to do something for him now.

Facing Ji Jing, she asked, “What do you want to eat? I’ll make it.”

He paused, his eyes darkening slightly. “Soy sauce noodles will do.”

“Alright.”

She headed to the kitchen, and after a brief hesitation, Ji Jing followed.

The Ji family’s kitchen was spacious enough for two people to move comfortably, yet Tang Ruan felt oddly out of place.

Maybe—

Maybe it was because his intense gaze followed her every move, making her feel self-conscious.

After a moment, she looked up at the man leaning against the doorframe. Pressing her lips together, she asked, “Can you sit somewhere else?”

Ji Jing raised a brow. “You don’t need help?”

“No.”

She was confident in her cooking skills.

He nodded, but instead of leaving, he moved closer, standing beside her. “If I’m not helping, teach me instead.”

“What?”

His dark eyes stayed fixed on hers, deep and unreadable, as if ready to pull her in.

Suppressing her unease, Tang Ruan nodded. “Alright, I’ll teach you.”

“Mm.”

She opened the fridge and took out a jar of her pre-made sauce. “I can’t show you how to make the sauce today, but I’ll teach you how to cook the noodles. It’s simple—boil water, cook the noodles briefly, and then rinse them in cold water to give them a better texture…”

Her voice was soft, calm, and steady. The warm kitchen lights created a cozy atmosphere, wrapping them both in its glow.

Ji Jing, watching her graceful movements and the curve of her neck, answered in a low voice, “What comes next?”

“Next…” She scanned the shelves, rising on tiptoe to reach a cabinet overhead where she kept the eggs.

Stretching her arm toward the cabinet, she didn’t quite reach when she felt Ji Jing’s presence behind her. His hand brushed past her head, retrieving the eggs with ease.

Their closeness suddenly filled the air with tension.

“Why didn’t you ask me?”

Tang Ruan froze, her face flushing red. Quickly, she took the eggs from his hand, mumbling, “You should go wait outside.”

Ji Jing, noticing her flushed ears, chuckled softly. “Alright.”

As he left, Tang Ruan watched him go, feeling certain he’d done it on purpose—either to tease her for making him a pack mule all afternoon or as some kind of playful revenge for her earlier antics.

She pinched her burning ear and went back to preparing dinner.

—

After dinner, Tang Ruan and Ji Ling retreated to the attic to play with makeup.

Tang Ruan’s second video had been as popular as her first, garnering even more attention online.

But she had no time to check. She and Ji Ling remained immersed in their chat about makeup techniques until well past eleven o’clock.

When Ji Jing came upstairs, Tang Ruan and Ji Ling were deep in an animated conversation.

“Not sleeping yet?”

Tang Ruan responded without thinking, not even noticing Ji Ling beside her. “We don’t sleep together anyway, so go sleep by yourself.”

Ji Jing: “…”