Chapter 186 - 74: Apology Gift
When Jing Jichuan arrived at the restaurant, the food had already been served.
Jiang Li was just about to call and hurry him along when a knock came from the door.
"Come in."
Jing Jichuan, standing at the door, froze for a moment. ’Isn’t it just his sister in there? Why is there a man’s voice?’
The key thing was, it didn’t sound like Shen Yanzhi.
’Good heavens, his sister isn’t cheating on Shen Yanzhi, is she?’
At the thought, Jing Jichuan’s heart skipped a beat with anxiety.
Then he immediately reassured himself that it was fine.
’His sister was his blood relative, while his brother-in-law was just an in-law. Even if Jiang Li really did cheat, that would be Shen Yanzhi’s problem.’
With that thought, Jing Jichuan nodded decisively and pushed the door open.
But when he opened the door and saw the people inside the private room, he froze completely.
The next second, he rushed straight to Zhong Mufeng’s side, sat down, and called out obediently, "Sister."
His fawning appearance made Jiang Li want to cover her face.
’If she could, she’d really rather not acknowledge this brother of hers.’
Forcing a smile, she looked at Gu Mingyuan. "Mr. Gu, let me introduce you. This is my younger brother, Jing Jichuan."
Then she shot a glare at Jing Jichuan. "Xiao Chuan, this is Mr. Gu."
Jing Jichuan looked up and nodded at Gu Mingyuan. "Hello, Mr. Gu."
Only then did Gu Mingyuan get a clear look at Jing Jichuan’s face, and he couldn’t help but ask, puzzled, "Have I seen you somewhere before?"
Jing Jichuan didn’t reveal his identity, just saying with a self-deprecating laugh, "I probably just have one of those common faces!"
’No wonder Jiang Li told him to prepare a gift. So it wasn’t for her, it was for Zhong Mufeng.’
He handed the gift bag to Zhong Mufeng. "Sister, this is a gift I picked out for you. It’s just a small token, but I hope you’ll accept it."
’To be honest, if Jiang Li hadn’t introduced him as Jing Jichuan, she wouldn’t have even recognized him.’
’The change was too drastic.’
’Compared to his previously childish style, he was much more mature now, not at all like a little boy in his early twenties.’
Meeting Jiang Li’s amused gaze, Zhong Mufeng couldn’t help but sigh. She reached out and took the gift bag. "Thank you."
Jing Jichuan beamed. "You’re welcome. I’m just glad if you like it."
They were all men; they naturally understood the way a man looks at a woman.
Gu Mingyuan narrowed his eyes and asked bluntly, "Mr. Jing, are you pursuing Mufeng?"
Jing Jichuan chuckled and nodded frankly. "That’s right. I am pursuing Sister."
’As expected. A love rival.’
’Even though he currently needed Jiang Li’s financial support, feelings couldn’t be measured in money.’
’Even if it meant losing Jiang Li’s investment, he had to pursue Zhong Mufeng.’
He looked at Jing Jichuan and said, as if casually, "As far as I know, very few people are accepting of relationships between an older woman and a younger man."
Jing Jichuan hadn’t paid Gu Mingyuan much mind at first, but hearing this, he couldn’t help but look up. Meeting Gu Mingyuan’s deep eyes, he smiled. "There are two reasons people don’t accept relationships with younger men. First, the ’younger brother’ is too immature and wears the ’older sister’ out. Second, the ’younger brother’ isn’t good-looking enough to catch the ’older sister’s’ eye."
After speaking, he turned and stared intently at Zhong Mufeng. "Sister, am I right?"
Zhong Mufeng wanted to deny it, but she was afraid of making Gu Mingyuan think he still had a chance. Besides, what Jing Jichuan said wasn’t without reason.
’If the younger man wasn’t immature and was also handsome, who could possibly say no?’
She nodded in agreement. "That’s right."
Gu Mingyuan forced a smile. "Well, it seems I’m the one who can’t keep up with the times."
Fearing that continuing this topic would only put him at a greater disadvantage, Gu Mingyuan suggested, "Let’s eat first before the food gets cold."
Only then did Jing Jichuan look at the table. Upon seeing his favorite dish, Ants Climbing a Tree, he couldn’t help but grin and say cheerfully to Jiang Li, "Sis, you’re the best!"
Jiang Li completely ignored Jing Jichuan. ’He came in with eyes only for Zhong Mufeng, completely ignoring his own sister.’
’Now that he sees a dish he likes, he suddenly remembers he has a sister.’
’People always talk about choosing lovers over friends, but Jing Jichuan chooses lovers over his sister.’
She snorted coldly. "Don’t even try."
Jing Jichuan grinned, stood up, and switched seats with Zhong Mufeng. He placed a slice of meat onto Jiang Li’s plate. "Sister, eat up."
Then he turned and put a piece on Zhong Mufeng’s plate. "Sister, you eat too."
Jiang Li couldn’t bear to watch, but Zhong Mufeng raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying it.
’No one could refuse being called "Sister" like that, especially not by someone so handsome.’
Noticing Gu Mingyuan staring their way, Zhong Mufeng took the initiative to ask Jing Jichuan, "Is it not busy with the team right now?"
Hearing this, Jing Jichuan immediately turned to Zhong Mufeng. "Hm? It’s been fine lately. I’m basically free."