Ch 260: Congratulations.

Why is it that only the letter writer’s flaws are exposed, and why couldn’t it have been a carefully designed plan by him?

Zhou Cong returned the note and love letter to him, scoffing, “Just two numbers don’t prove anything. Didn’t Yan Qian admit it?”

“…” Ji Huailuo’s face darkened. “Don’t you dare mention her to me!”

Zhou Cong dragged out a sound of “Oh.”

Ji Huailuo scratched his head, “What…what do I do?”

“Brother-in-law,” Zhou Cong curled his lips, “Li Xiaoxing was the Science Top Scorer in our Gaokao year.”

He was reminding Ji Huailuo to not play mind games with her; he wouldn’t win.

“…”

Silence.

Three seconds later, Ji Huailuo vehemently denied, “I didn’t say it was her!”

Zhou Cong crossed his arms, leaning against the counter, “Mm, I didn’t say it was her either. I just saw that year’s Science Top Scorer and felt admiration, and was moved to speak.”

“…Your mother,” Ji Huailuo said, “Can you speak normally? Stop being so pedantic.”

Zhou Cong: “Alright, scram. Don’t wake my wife.”

Ji Huailuo looked at him, “I can’t sleep.”

“…”

A familiar boomerang feeling.

Afraid that Ji Huailuo would use the same tactics on him that he had used before, Zhou Cong endured it, “What do you want?”

Ji Huailuo: “What do I do?”

Zhou Cong: “What do you want to do?”

Ji Huailuo: “If I knew what to do, would I be asking you?”

Zhou Cong: “If you don’t even know what you want to do, what can I do?”

“…” Ji Huailuo’s expression was emotionless, “Fine, then I’ll call my sister. She’ll definitely know what to do.”

Zhou Cong spat out the words: “Damn you!”

Only the ceiling light was on in the kitchen, the lighting dim.

“In my opinion, the girl is sending you signals,” Zhou Cong sighed, releasing a breath of frustration, “If you don’t want it, keep your distance, and she’ll understand. If you do, you don’t need to do anything.”

Ji Huailuo: “Then?”

Zhou Cong looked at him, “Just wait for her to take the bait.”

“…” Ji Huailuo’s ears visibly reddened, “A grown man like me taking the bait from a girl…”

It would be embarrassing to even say it out loud.

Zhou Cong put his hands in his pockets and walked out of the kitchen, “You’d better not do anything. The scheming of the love letter writer can’t compare to the quick wit of a fool.”

Ji Huailuo was about to curse when he suddenly caught sight of a figure.

Both he and Zhou Cong stopped immediately.

At the kitchen door, in the shadows, Xu Zhiqiao was wearing sleepwear, quiet like a ghost.

Ji Huailuo recoiled in fright, reflexively shielding the snacks on the table.

Zhou Cong quickly pulled her into his arms, “Why are you awake? Are you cold…?”

Xu Zhiqiao’s voice was flat, “I’m hungry.”

“…”

“I want to eat the junk food you two were sneaking.”

“I’ll cook you some wontons, okay?” Zhou Cong coaxed, “Your brother’s…I don’t know where he picked those up from…”

Ji Huailuo: “?”

Xu Zhiqiao looked up at Zhou Cong, “I’ve already posted about you and my brother sneaking snacks on the family group chat.”

“…”

This “sneaking snacks,” is literally sneaking snacks, right?

–

The Zhou and Ji families held a serious family meeting, severely criticizing Zhou Cong and Ji Huailuo, and ordering them to give Xu Zhiqiao satisfactory psychological compensation.

Ji Huailuo, in disgrace, handed over the photo album locked in his safe containing his embarrassing past to Xu Zhiqiao.

After doing this, he opened his WeChat Moments and posted: 【No dates this month!】

The hurt he suffered could only be healed by seclusion.

A bunch of people replied to his post: 【Dates with who?】

【Dates with who? Who asked you out?】

【In a relationship?】

【Which girl?】

【You’re so bold! You dare to talk to your significant other like that!】

The replies became increasingly irrelevant, even asking about his wedding date.

Ji Huailuo’s head turned black, he clicked on that WeChat Moments post, and impulsively wanted to delete it.

Before he could, a like popped up.

The profile picture was a tabby cat, its cat ears translucent in the sunshine, its cat eyes soft yet cool.

It was Li Xiaoxing.

Besides the like, there was a comment: 【Congratulations.】

Ji Huailuo: “…”

–

Time peacefully entered the end of November.

Ji Huailuo received an invitation in a half-dead state.

It was Yan Qian’s wedding invitation.

Everyone knew that Ji Huailuo had completely fallen out with the Yan family. Everyone had taken sides, and few dared to support the Yan family by standing on Ji Huailuo’s opposite side.

The Yan family had fallen from grace.

They could no longer support Yan Qian’s lavish lifestyle.

She married a wealthy businessman around sixty years old.

The businessman’s only son had died in an accident. If Yan Qian could bear him a child, all his property would naturally fall into her hands.

This invitation was personally delivered by Yan Qian.

After the guard announced her arrival, Ji Huailuo didn’t allow her entry.

The weather was gloomy, the wind biting cold. Yan Qian was wearing a white coat and high heels, looking weak and pitiful in the harsh cold.

The guard advised, “Young Master Ji is in a meeting. Shall I help you deliver it? It’s too cold outside.”

Yan Qian’s thin body swayed precariously.

“I want to see him,” she insisted.

The guard couldn’t persuade her, shaking his head in sigh.

A car pulled up at the entrance and stopped at the gate.

The guard quickly greeted her, “Miss Li, our young lady is waiting for you.”

Li Xiaoxing’s gaze swept over Yan Qian, casually handing over the food box from the passenger seat, “I won’t go in. It’s Qiaoqiao’s snacks. Please pass it on for me.”

Hearing the voice, Yan Qian’s beautiful eyelashes lifted, and she looked back.

The next second, she was incredulous, “Li Xiaoxing?”

Li Xiaoxing’s expression was indifferent, a slight nod being her only courtesy.

“Wait!” Yan Qian stepped forward in her high heels, “You’re hooking up with Huailuo again, aren’t you!”

Li Xiaoxing leaned back in her seat, her expression unclear, “You used Zuo Gaoming’s feelings for you, twice making him do bad things for you, don’t you feel a bit guilty?”

Yan Qian sneered, “He did it willingly for the person he loves!”

“…” Li Xiaoxing lowered her eyelashes, softly, “Yes, Ji Huailuo fell for your tricks, he did it willingly too.”

She had no right to plead for anyone here.

Yan Qian’s words were correct.

Everyone did it willingly.

Everyone was paying for the person they wanted, the things they wanted, and the feelings they wanted to maintain.

Li Xiaoxing rolled up the car window, “Congratulations.”

–

The steaming hot food box was delivered to Xu Zhiqiao.

She was surprised, “Where’s Xiao Xing Jie?”

“She left,” the Executive Secretary said, “She ran into Miss Yan at the gate.”

Xu Zhiqiao opened the food box; it was her favorite horseshoe cakes.

“Give half to my brother,” she instructed, “Say it’s from Xiao Xing Jie, and then repeat what you just said.”

The Executive Secretary nodded.

The guard called again, Ji Huailuo was exasperated, “She’s sick! Her wedding has nothing to do with me!”

“No, Young Master Ji,” the guard said anxiously, “Miss Yan fainted.”