Ji Ting lowered his phone and glanced at it. Without thinking much of it, he stood outside for a little while for appearances' sake, then went back in.
When he entered, he found Lu Yanchu was gone. Having no idea where he had gone, Ji Ting sat back down at the table alone.
About fifteen minutes later, Lu Yanchu returned with his phone clenched in his hand, his expression somewhat grave.
As he sat down, he glanced at Ji Ting as though he wanted to say something, but seeing him reading through the materials, he thought better of it.
After a while, Ji Ting let go of the mouse. "I just asked my friend. He said he could give it a try."
Lu Yanchu nodded. "Your friend is doing me such a huge favor. I can't let his hard work go unrewarded. Tell him he can name his price."
Even if Ji Ting demanded an exorbitant sum, compared with what his career was worth, that money would be the smallest price he could pay.
Ji Ting froze. How did I forget something as important as asking for money?
Lu Yanchu tried hard to keep the corners of his lips from rising, but ultimately had to turn his face away.
"Okay, I'll pass that along. I'll send you the fee once it's settled."
Lu Yanchu gave a light cough. "I don't think we've added each other on WeChat yet. Let's do that. It'll make it easier to stay in touch."
Ji Ting considered it, then took out his phone and brought up his QR code.
After watching Lu Yanchu scan it, he said coolly, "Don't follow me again. Message me if you need something."
Lu Yanchu looked at him. His face had barely changed, yet there was something forlorn about his expression. "I waited for you for days, but you never went out. When you finally did, you acted like you hated me."
"No reason excuses breaking the law." Ji Ting's tone was utterly impartial and uncompromising.
Lu Yanchu stared steadily at him for two or three seconds before his expression settled. "Mm. You're right."
Perhaps Ji Ting had been too good at pretending in the past, or perhaps Ling Xi had never understood him at all.
The Ji Ting Ling Xi described was willful, impulsive, and so spoiled that he recklessly thought he could do whatever he pleased. His only redeeming quality, perhaps, was the sincerity of their youthful romance, which he had preserved for Ling Xi to this day.
But if Lu Yanchu had to describe the Ji Ting before him, he was like a pure white, silent feather.
He was always quiet and reserved. He clearly understood everything, yet somehow lacked worldly sophistication. Lu Yanchu had never imagined that two such different qualities as contradiction and purity could exist in the same person. Ji Ting hid far too many secrets, and every side of him was captivating.
Sensing Lu Yanchu watching him out of the corner of his eye, Ji Ting turned his head, but Lu Yanchu naturally shifted his gaze to the laptop.
"I'll go over this list a few more times tonight to check for gaps and omissions. I'll try not to miss anyone."
"Mm."
They went on to discuss a few other details. As the sky gradually darkened, Lu Yanchu raised his wrist to check the time.
"It's already past six." He looked at Ji Ting. "You must be hungry. What would you like to eat? I'll have someone bring it over."
Ji Ting shook his head. "No need. I'll have dinner at home."
If I'm not home tonight, Ji Yanzhi will definitely think I've gone out fooling around again.
Lu Yanchu's brow lifted slightly. What kind of feudal patriarch was Ji Yanzhi? Did he even get to dictate whether Ji Ting went home?
Despite those thoughts, he pressed his lips together with a hint of concern. "Your older brother won't misunderstand what happened today, will he?"
"What happened to..." Halfway through, Ji Ting suddenly remembered the incident online.
Watching his expression, Lu Yanchu said sincerely, "How about this? Since I caused it, I should go home with you and explain things to Ji Yanzhi."
Ji Ting immediately thought that was inappropriate. Lu Yanchu and Ji Yanzhi are romantic rivals. Even meeting for no reason would set them off. Better not add fuel to the fire.
Ji Yanzhi and I are romantic rivals?
A playful gleam flashed through Lu Yanchu's eyes. Then aren't you and I romantic rivals too?
"No need. I'll go back on my own." Ji Ting figured Ji Yanzhi wouldn't follow entertainment news, and even if he knew, he might not care.
With that, he rose from his chair. "It's getting late. I'll head out."
"Once your friend has decided, remember to message me on WeChat."
"Mm."
Lu Yanchu walked him to the door. He had intended to drive Ji Ting back to Shangwen Road, but, as usual, his offer was politely declined.
Ji Ting took a taxi back to Doctor He's counseling practice, picked up his car, and drove straight back to the Ji Family Old Residence.
He arrived home at seven thirty, just in time for dinner.
Ji Ting drove through the estate gates, but just as he was about to turn into the garage, a bodyguard suddenly appeared and stopped him.
"Second Young Master, there's some repair work going on in the garage. Let me park your car for you."
Ji Ting had no idea what was about to happen and thought nothing of it. "Okay, thank you."
He got out of the car and walked toward the front entrance, only to spot all the household servants standing outside the main building from a distance.
Pop-pop-
As more than a dozen party poppers went off, countless streamers fluttered down over Ji Ting.
He was utterly bewildered, with no idea what they were celebrating, when the butler suddenly led the servants in a round of applause.
Ji Ting blinked blankly. "Uncle Yang, what are you..."
With an awkward, forced smile on his face, the butler stepped forward and bowed his head slightly. "The eldest young master told us to wait here and congratulate you on your move."
Ji Ting understood every word, but put together, they made no sense. He almost thought the problem lay with him. "...My move? Am I not going to live here anymore?"
The butler was practically frantic. The eldest young master was furious, so how could the Second Young Master still stand there so cluelessly, unable to see what was happening?
He swallowed and began relaying Ji Yanzhi's exact words. "The eldest young master said you should live with whichever family you belong to. If you have no home, go be a vagrant. The Ji Family isn't the government and has no obligation to provide targeted poverty relief."
Ji Ting frowned in confusion, truly unable to understand. "Uncle Yang, I don't follow."
The butler was so distressed he could have cried. He quickly glanced to either side, then leaned closer and lowered his voice. "Second Young Master, don't you know what you did today?"
Ji Ting stared blankly at him, and only after a long moment did realization dawn. "You mean what happened between Lu Yanchu and me?"
"Yes!"
Ji Ting hadn't expected Ji Yanzhi to actually get angry over this, let alone this angry.
"This is a misunderstanding. Is Ji Yanzhi back? I'll explain it to him in person."
Although he didn't think he had done anything wrong, considering Ji Yanzhi's indiscriminate Tasmanian devil temper, he still felt it was best to smooth things over.
The butler had just opened his mouth to speak when two bodyguards suddenly came down the steps carrying suitcases.
The bodyguards set the suitcases at his feet and bowed their heads in unison. "Young Master Lu, the servants have packed your luggage. President Ji instructed you to take it with you when you leave."
Before you continue