"Keep it short." Ji Yanzhi couldn't care less whether he felt awkward. He sat down in a chair. "I have things to do later."
Before coming, Ling Xi had felt fairly confident. Although he was a little afraid of Ji Yanzhi, his big brother had generally granted whatever he asked for. But seeing Ji Yanzhi's attitude now, he couldn't help growing uneasy, and the words he had prepared wouldn't come out.
When Ling Xi remained silent for a long while, Ji Yanzhi asked, "Do you actually need something or not?"
Ling Xi bit his lip and summoned his courage. "Big brother, do you know why Ji Ting developed aphasia a while ago?"
The mere mention of it made Ji Yanzhi furious, yet Ling Xi still dared to walk straight into the line of fire. "What, didn't Qin Zaiye tell you about all the vile things he did?"
A chill suddenly settled over Ling Xi's heart, and an anxious look slipped onto his face.
Ji Yanzhi understood as soon as he saw his expression. "So you already knew. Hah. He actually had the nerve to tell you."
Sensing his anger, Ling Xi didn't dare keep steering the conversation toward Qin Zaiye and hurriedly changed the subject.
"Fortunately, Ji Ting's aphasia improved a lot after I came back. At least everything turned out all right."
At those words, a hint of mockery suddenly entered Ji Yanzhi's assessing gaze. "What are you trying to say?"
Ling Xi pressed his lips together and lowered his eyes. "Big brother, I know you've always hated Ji Ting, but he's been ill, and even now, he's still quiet and withdrawn. So I couldn't keep our agreement to stay away from him. I'm sorry."
Ji Yanzhi watched him for two seconds, then abruptly laughed. "So you're saying Ji