Jiang Xun wasn't surprised by Deng Shu's words. He had put on that act in front of his newfound parents on purpose.
Last night, Jiang Xun had already guessed that Liu Ma would complain about him. He had worked it all out beforehand: the security camera had a clear view of the spot where they argued.
Once the Jiang family started having doubts, they would most likely check the footage to find out the truth.
Jiang Xun lowered his head, his voice quiet. "I've made too many mistakes before. That's why you misunderstood me."
Deng Shu felt even guiltier.
Before long, Jiang Shiyuan came over as well. The sight of Jiang Xun with his newly cropped hair took him aback, too.
"That's more like it. What kind of look was that, with your hair so long and scruffy? You always refused when I told you to cut it."
"And what's that scar above your eye?"
Jiang Xun set the bags he was carrying on the storage cabinet and bent down to change his shoes, ignoring him.
Displeased, Jiang Shiyuan was about to launch into a reprimand when a glare from his wife stopped him.
Deng Shu also silently mouthed at him: apologize.
Jiang Shiyuan's face fell slightly. Jiang Xun was the one person he couldn't bring himself to swallow his pride in front of. He opened his mouth, hesitating several times before finally saying stiffly, "I misunderstood you over what happened with Liu Ma. I apologize."
"But you were in the wrong, too. Watch what you say from now on. You can't be so ill-mannered."
Feeling he had salvaged his dignity, Jiang Shiyuan grew even more self-righteous. "And why did you spend so much money out there? What did you buy?"
"The family can certainly afford that much, but you're still a student. You shouldn't be so vain."
Having changed his shoes, Jiang Xun silently picked up a bag from the cabinet and abruptly shoved it into his newfound father's arms. "I bought this for you. I wasn't wasting money."
Jiang Shiyuan froze. He watched Jiang Xun pick up another bag and politely hand it to Deng Shu. "Mom, this is for you."
Deng Shu beamed. "There's one for me, too? Thank you, Xiao Xun."
Only after Jiang Xun returned to his room did the couple unwrap their gifts. Deng Shu's was a bottle of elegantly scented perfume, while Jiang Shiyuan's was the three-million-yuan Patek Philippe watch. Its mature, understated style made it obvious that it had been chosen especially for him.
"And you accused Xiao Xun of wasting money and being vain. It turns out he spent those three million on you."
Jiang Shiyuan put on the watch and examined it several times. It really did suit him.
He was pleased, but kept his face stern and stubbornly retorted, "He still spent my money. He's nothing like Zixing, who bought us gifts with the money he earned working part-time over summer break."
Deng Shu saw right through him. "You got something nice, and you're still complaining."
Jiang Xun had even bought Jiang Zixing a gift: a set of anime figurines. Jiang Zixing seemed overwhelmed by the attention when he received them and said he would put them in the most prominent spot in his bedroom.
Jiang Xun didn't care whether those words were sincere or not.
Only Jiang Huaijin received nothing. He appeared indifferent, but inwardly felt rather uncomfortable.
Whatever. Even if he gave me something, I wouldn't accept it.
Suddenly giving out gifts for no reason-who knows what he's plotting now?
Deng Shu asked casually, "Xiao Xun, why didn't you get anything for your eldest brother?"
Jiang Huaijin leaned against the sofa, looking down at a magazine. He showed no reaction to her question.
"Forgot," Jiang Xun replied lazily.
Forgot? He obviously did it on purpose.
Jiang Huaijin's expression turned cold, and he suddenly began turning the magazine's pages with more force.
Late that night, after showering, Jiang Xun took out the whitening body lotion set he had bought from the system shop. There were three bottles in total, and the instructions said that after eighty-one days of application, his skin would become as white as milk.
He certainly couldn't turn that pale all at once, or people would get suspicious. It had to happen gradually.
I'll try some first.
For his first application, Jiang Xun slathered it all over himself, not missing a single spot.
When he woke up the next morning and checked, nothing had changed. Don't tell me that was false advertising?
Six-Six-Six: [Host, everything has to build up gradually before a real change occurs. You can't rush these things.]
Two days later, the Jiang Family and the Chu family were having dinner together that evening.
Jiang Xun was staying in the school dormitory. He casually styled his hair and changed into the clothes he had bought two days earlier. Satisfied enough with his simple, clean look, he headed out.
Once again, Jiang Huaijin came to pick him up, his newfound brother wearing the same cold, impatient expression.
His younger brother had seemed like a different person lately, yet had only become more irritating. Nothing pleasant ever came out of that mouth.
Jiang Xun lounged against the seat and yawned. "Brother, having to look at that face of yours every day, it's only natural for my manners to slip."
Throughout the drive from school to the hotel, Jiang Huaijin radiated an icy chill, as though he wanted to freeze Jiang Xun to death.
The hotel belonged to the Chu Group.
Jiang Xun and Jiang Huaijin arrived a little late. Everyone else was already there.
Jiang Father, Jiang Mother, Jiang Zixing, Chu Xingye and his parents, and his maternal grandparents.
And... Jiang Xun's gaze settled on the refined man sitting straight-backed at the dining table.
Chu Xingye's uncle, Fu Yanli.
His wife, Ye Jing, hadn't come.
Jiang Zixing sat beside Fu Yanli, speaking with a bright smile on his delicate face.
Fu Yanli didn't say much, but he looked attentive enough that the other person wouldn't feel ignored, occasionally offering a brief, monosyllabic response.
Jiang Xun couldn't make out what they were saying.
The deafness in his left ear had become his greatest inconvenience. It seemed he would have to find time to learn lip-reading.
Chu Xingye's maternal grandparents greeted them warmly. "Xiao Xun and Huaijin are here! Come, sit down."
Fu Sang, Chu Xingye's mother, looked at Jiang Xun in surprise. "My goodness, it's only been a few days. How did Xiao Xun get so handsome?"
"Exactly! I almost didn't recognize you. You're looking more and more like a perfect match for our Xingye."
Chu Xingye cast Jiang Xun a disdainful sidelong glance and muttered, "What's so handsome about him? He's still a lump of coal. How are we a match?"
The words had barely left his mouth when his father smacked the back of his head. "Mind your manners."
Smiling, Jiang Xun greeted everyone in turn. He was always willing to play the sweet, well-behaved boy for elders he liked.
Having received a higher education, Young Master Jiang actually had quite good manners. They simply fluctuated wildly depending on whom he was dealing with.
When it was Fu Yanli's turn, Jiang Xun smiled sweetly. "Hello, Uncle."
Fu Yanli turned his gaze toward him, letting it rest on Jiang Xun's face for a moment. His deep-set eyes remained calm as he gave a slight nod in response.
There was an empty seat beside Chu Xingye, clearly reserved for Jiang Xun. They were engaged, after all.
Ignoring the resistance written all over Chu Xingye's face, Jiang Xun pulled out the chair and sat beside him, pitching his voice sweetly as he called, "Brother Xingye."