Jiang Yuyan had barely stayed home for a few days before she rushed abroad again without a moment's pause.
Jiang Jinran had hardly had a chance to exchange a few words with this mother of hers before she flew off.
She really worked hard.
As expected of the woman who held up the Jiang Family. It was better for women to work hard-then they wouldn't have time to be love-brained.
The weekend arrived in the blink of an eye, and Jiang Jinran specifically asked Jiang Yuehan to stay home and have dinner with her.
Jiang Yuehan was such a busy man that Jiang Jinran had absolutely no idea what day or at what time he would be home. Without making an early "appointment," the weekend's big show couldn't go on.
At that moment, Jiang Yuehan was alone in his study, busy with who knew what.
Jiang Jinran considered her relationship with this eldest brother. Although things had eased between them and they were much closer than before, they were still far from being inseparable, chatting and laughing, enjoying a harmonious bond, and caring for one another...
She couldn't fit into his world, either.
But that didn't matter.
She wasn't here to handle interpersonal relationships. She wanted to make money, save money, and then-
Let it rot and lie flat!
As she was thinking, a sudden sound came from the entrance-
"F-Fifth Young Master?"
The servant's eyes widened as though she had seen a ghost, disbelief written plainly across her face.
Jiang Qiche's tall, slender figure stood in the doorway.
The boy wore a black jacket, his cool, handsome looks carrying a touch of bright, striking coolness.
He didn't enter immediately, instead standing ramrod straight in the doorway as his dark, chilly gaze swept casually over the living room before him.
Jiang Jinran hurried out of her bedroom and rushed to the entrance.
"Big brother."
Seeing that Jiang Qiche had honored their bet and returned home on time that weekend, Jiang Jinran was naturally delighted.
"Well, what a rare guest..."
She pursed her lips and spoke with feigned surprise.
[He just looks a little sour. Sigh, can't he smile now that he's home?]
Jiang Qiche: ...?
The boy lowered his head to look at the shoe cabinet beside him, intending to change his shoes before going inside-
But there didn't seem to be any slippers for him in the cabinet.
The corners of his lips turned down, and a faint trace of hostility flashed through his dark eyes.
Jiang Jinran immediately read his expression and gave the servant beside her a meaningful look. "Hurry and get a brand-new pair of men's slippers."
The servant was still so stunned that she hadn't recovered. Hearing Jiang Jinran's urging, she finally came to her senses and hurried off to fetch the slippers.
Jiang Qiche lowered his head impatiently, looking at the floor.
"Big brother, why did you suddenly come home today?" Jiang Jinran asked knowingly, smiling at the boy.
Jiang Qiche swept him a cold glance and said irritably, "Not telling you."
[Not telling me?]
Jiang Jinran ground her teeth.
[I know even if you don't tell me. Hehe.]
[Jiang Qiche, stop putting on such an act. I mean it.]
Jiang Qiche shot her a cold glance. Surprisingly, hearing those words didn't make him angry.
His somewhat tense heart seemed to relax gradually, surrounded by thoughts like these.
He didn't know why, either. It was merely a simple trip home, yet his heart was tight.
It felt as if something had gripped his heart, his chest so stifled that he could hardly breathe.
Perhaps this was the proverbial "the nearer home, the greater the trepidation"...
Or perhaps his inner rejection of home had seriously affected his mood.
But at that moment, this chattering Jiang Jinran eased those "symptoms" considerably.
The servant returned with the slippers and respectfully placed them at Jiang Qiche's feet.
Suddenly-
Clear, firm footsteps sounded on the stairs.
Jiang Yuehan came down the stairs in white loungewear.
He had thought it was about time and timed his descent for dinner, never expecting-
His gaze turned toward the entrance.
It landed squarely on Jiang Qiche's cold, proud face.
Even Jiang Yuehan, who was accustomed to grand occasions, showed a rare look of stunned surprise at that moment.
Even if he had imagined it ten thousand times, he could never have imagined-
Jiang Qiche had actually come home on such an ordinary evening.
Something he had never managed to accomplish was now right before his eyes.
Jiang Yuehan quickly composed himself and walked straight toward the front door.
He looked at his younger brother with deep eyes, all kinds of complicated emotions surging and mingling in his chest, yet his face remained calm and cool. Even his voice was so composed that it barely fluctuated. "You're back."
"Mm." Jiang Qiche nodded casually.
"So sudden..." Jiang Yuehan looked Jiang Qiche up and down. "You should have contacted me beforehand."
"No need." Jiang Qiche passed Jiang Yuehan and headed straight into the living room, his handsome face carrying a touch of indolence and indifference.
Jiang Jinran followed behind her two brothers, keeping pace with them.
"You were so reluctant before." Jiang Yuehan walked alongside Jiang Qiche. "Have you come around?"
Jiang Qiche gave a low, derisive laugh.
A hint of mockery entered his eyes. "Don't read too much into it. I didn't come back to reminisce with you."
He turned his head and met Jiang Yuehan's equally deep eyes. "Just to have a meal."
The corners of Jiang Yuehan's lips dipped slightly, and his gaze deepened.
As it happened, dinner was ready in the dining room, waiting only for everyone to take their seats.
Jiang Qiche was the first to sit down, choosing a seat at random and settling into it with complete nonchalance.
Dinner began just like that, in an awkward limbo.
The atmosphere was exactly as Jiang Jinran had expected-
The two ate in silence, neither willing to speak to liven things up.
The air seemed to have plunged to its coldest depths.
Jiang Jinran's gaze shifted back and forth between Jiang Yuehan's and Jiang Qiche's faces.
[Guys, are you seriously not going to say a single word? Your gloomy atmosphere is going to freeze me to death.]
Before her, Jiang Yuehan's and Jiang Qiche's fingers paused at the same time.
The brothers moved almost in sync, raising their eyes and looking in unison at their little sister sitting across from them.
"Ahem..." Jiang Yuehan coughed softly, as though trying to break the awkwardness.
Beside him, however, Jiang Qiche inexplicably curved his lips. The boy picked up a clump of vegetables and placed it in Jiang Jinran's bowl, speaking to her with rare warmth and kindness. "Kids should eat more vegetables."
Jiang Jinran looked at her brother, then at the vegetables in her bowl-
[Although I hate vegetables more than anything, you hardly ever come home, so you call the shots... I'll reluctantly eat some, just to win a smile from my brother.]
With the air of someone facing death unflinchingly, Jiang Jinran stuffed the vegetables in her bowl into her mouth, but soon-
Her little face scrunched up, looking utterly aggrieved.
Damn!
[These vegetables are actually bitter! Jiang Qiche, you bastard, you're not messing with me on purpose, are you?]
[What do you gain from tormenting me to death?]
Jiang Qiche seemed amused by Jiang Jinran. For the first time in a long while, a genuine smile appeared on his gloomy, cold face.
Jiang Yuehan, beside him, still had some conscience and immediately handed Jiang Jinran a glass of water.
Jiang Jinran hurriedly took it and gulped down a large mouthful, washing away a little of the bitterness in her mouth.
Like a stroke of inspiration, this little interlude instantly eased the previously stiff atmosphere somewhat.
After drinking the water, Jiang Jinran cast a lingering look toward the dining room entrance-
In fact, she had prepared a little "surprise" for tonight's dinner, too.
It was time to serve the "main course"!