Chapter 226 Young Master Qin is still a child.

It's so salty, way too salty.

After taking such a mouthful without any warning, Jiang Xingyao felt her throat was dry and astringent, and her mouth tasted bitter.

She asked, her words tinged with difficulty, "How much salt did you put in the soup?"

"It's not much, just a normal portion," Jin Qingyu said, taking a sip of the soup himself, and his expression changed as well.

Perhaps out of defiance, Jin Qingyu tasted every dish on the table, his expression growing increasingly grim in the end.

All three dishes and one soup were salty.

Although Jiang Xingyao didn't touch the other dishes, just by looking at his expression, she knew that there must be something wrong with the other dishes as well.

Qin Jiangnan walked out of the kitchen unhurriedly, and said sarcastically, "Some people don't have the ability, but they still have to pretend. They almost made Yao Yao miss her meal."

"Luckily I just baked some bread, otherwise I would have gone hungry!"

Only after his deliberate reminder did Jiang Xingyao notice that he was holding a plate of bread, though it didn't look very appetizing.

Looking at the bread, which was at least half burnt, Jiang Xingyao felt a little scared.

"Qin Jiangnan, did you do this?" Jin Qingyu said coldly, his voice filled with absolute certainty.

Qin Jiangnan paused for a moment before saying impatiently, "What do you mean I did it? Stop making baseless accusations. If you're incompetent, just admit it. Why are you trying to pin it on others?"

Jin Qingyu took a deep breath, his anger rising uncontrollably: "Did you put salt in my food just now?"

He's been cooking for so many years, even if his hands aren't as convenient now, he still knows how much salt to put in. Even if he accidentally puts in a little too much, it wouldn't be so outrageous.

Every dish was so salty it was inedible.

Qin Jiangnan said, "Don't wrong me. I didn't know your cooking. Is it so hard to admit you're not good enough? I really don't understand where you get your confidence. You've already been proven wrong, yet you can still righteously shirk responsibility."

"Qin Jiangnan!" Jin Qingyu's voice rose a little, but Qin Jiangnan looked at Jiang Xingyao with a wronged expression: "Yaoyao, look at him, it's clearly his fault, but he still got angry and embarrassed."

I was baking bread in the kitchen the whole time; I'm so innocent!

The food was inedible, and Qin Jiangnan's bread was even more inedible. Jiang Xingyao glanced at Qin Jiangnan and finally spoke up to stop their argument: "Forget it, let's go out to eat."

"Why are we going out again? Don't you really want to try the bread I made myself? Trust me, it'll be delicious." Qin Jiangnan was a little disappointed.

The young master was always very confident, and even though his bread looked burnt, it didn't stop him from bragging about it.

Jin Qingyu said, "Come on, if you don't tell me, who would be able to tell that it's bread?"

Thankfully, you kept bringing it to the table. Are you really not worried that Yao Yao might get sick from eating it?

"That's still better than your dishes. You put so much salt in them, are you trying to ruin Yao Yao's voice?" Qin Jiangnan said.

Jiang Xingyao was too lazy to listen to their argument. He simply told Fila to get up. Before they even left the living room, the two arguing people followed them up one after the other.

The two of them were quite in sync this time; one got into the driver's seat, and the other got into the passenger seat.

Jiang Xingyao and Fila exchanged a glance and got into the back seat without saying a word.

The atmosphere in the car became awkward again. Jiang Xingyao had made a reservation for a private room in advance. After arriving at the restaurant and ordering the dishes, Jiang Xingyao took advantage of Jin Qingyu's trip to the restroom to call Qin Jiangnan out.

The corridor was dimly lit, but Qin Jiangnan's eyes shone brightly. He said, "Yaoyao, don't worry, I'll get rid of that guy surnamed Jin for you sooner or later. I'll make sure he doesn't affect you."

"So you really added the salt to the dishes today?" Jiang Xingyao asked.

She called Qin Jiangnan out for this very reason, but before she could even ask, Qin Jiangnan's words already implied agreement.

Qin Jiangnan added, "Isn't it because he's too much of an eyesore? Doesn't he know what he's done? I really don't understand where he gets the audacity to want to get back together with you. I just can't stand it."

At this moment, Qin Jiangnan was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, and he was extremely irritable.

Jiang Xingyao said, "Don't do this kind of thing again."

"Why? Yao Yao, I'm trying to help you. Do you still have feelings for him?"

Have you forgotten what he did before? You don't really still want to be with him, do you?" Qin Jiangnan's voice rose several octaves, and his tone became even sharper.

Jiang Xingyao said, "It's not what you think. I haven't had any feelings for him for a long time. Whatever he's thinking or why he came here has nothing to do with me."

You don't need to use these methods on him because of me, Qin Jiangnan. Don't dirty your hands.

From now on, just treat him like he's invisible. He'll leave when he gets bored. Listen to me, don't argue or fight with him.

"Are you concerned about me?" Jiang Xingyao said at length, and Qin Jiangnan listened quietly until Jiang Xingyao finished speaking. He immediately chimed in, his eyes shining even brighter as he looked at Jiang Xingyao, looking just like a puppy begging for praise.

Jiang Xingyao gently rubbed her forehead and said, "Qin Jiangnan, that's not the point. Did you hear what I just said?"

"How can this not be the point? Jiang Xingyao, just admit it, you are concerned about me," Qin Jiangnan said.

Jiang Xingyao felt that she couldn't reason with him, so she emphasized again, "Don't use this kind of method again, understand?"

The Qin Jiangnan she knew had always been open and honest. Even when he was deceived by Jiang Cancan and wanted to cause trouble for her on her behalf, he always spoke frankly and directly in front of her. He would never try to trip her up behind her back like he did now.

Jiang Xingyao felt that Qin Jiangnan, a clean and transparent person, should not be tainted by things that did not belong to him because of her.

The young master is carefree and pampered, so he should be open and unrestrained.

Qin Jiangnan said, "If you didn't care about me, you should have exposed me with him back in the villa, but you didn't."

Yao Yao, you're on my side, right?

"I didn't stop you, just because I didn't want Jin Qingyu to overthink it."

"Qin Jiangnan, listen to me. Don't change yourself because of me or anyone else. Don't do this kind of thing again," Jiang Xingyao said.

Qin Jiangnan had been by his side for some time, and she wasn't completely unaware of his thoughts.

She had refused him openly and subtly many times, and even keeping Qin Jiangnan was not her intention.

However, the young master, who usually liked to give up halfway and had no patience for anything, was unusually stubborn about this matter.

Jiang Xingyao had thought that if she were to be even more cold and hard, she could make Qin Jiangnan back down.

Instead of getting rid of the people, Jin Qingyu has arrived, making the situation even worse.

"Jiang Xingyao, what I do is my own business. At most, I promise you that I won't scheme against him behind his back anymore. That's all I'll promise," Qin Jiangnan said.

His gaze was almost fixed on Jiang Xingyao's face, his pupils dark and deep, reflecting Jiang Xingyao's image, stubborn and persistent.

Before Jiang Xingyao and he could reach a conclusion, footsteps came from the end of the corridor, and Jin Qingyu strode over.

Qin Jiangnan suddenly lifted his foot and went straight to meet him. Just as Jiang Xingyao was about to stop him, Qin Jiangnan said indifferently, "Jin Qingyu, I put the salt in that dish. Jiang Xingyao told me not to scheme against you, so I apologize. Don't think you've won just like that. I will never give up. I will compete with you fair and square from now on."

Also, don't think Jiang Xingyao contacted me out of pity for you. She just cares about me and doesn't want me to make a mistake. I'm warning you, don't get your hopes up.

He called it an apology, but his words were more like a declaration of war.

As Jiang Xingyao listened to the string of words he blurted out, the veins on her temples throbbed.

As always, the young master was as blunt as ever, and even his words left people unsure how to respond.

Jin Qingyu said, "Qin Jiangnan, are you sick? You're still a baby and you're already spouting tough talk like others, making a fool of yourself, aren't you?"

Qin Jiangnan took a deep breath in anger: "Don't be so smug, Jin Qingyu. Jiang Xingyao can't possibly like you anymore. You're out of the running."

Qin Jiangnan's harsh words had no effect on Jin Qingyu.

He already knew that Jiang Xingyao didn't like him, but he didn't care. As long as he liked Jiang Xingyao, that was enough.

Jiang Xingyao said, "I know I can't get rid of you. Fine, since you all want to stay, then follow my rules. You can't argue in front of me anymore, and you can't interfere with me. If you can't do that..."

"Don't worry, Yao Yao, I'm the most obedient one. From now on, I'll be your gun, I guarantee I'll hit wherever you point. If any tactless guy dares to bother you, I'll be the first to object." Qin Jiangnan couldn't wait to interject and pledge his loyalty, and even raised his hand to swear to Jiang Xingyao.

Jin Qingyu gave a sarcastic laugh, his mocking gaze sweeping over Qin Jiangnan's head as if he were looking at a child.

Qin Jiangnan said, "What are you laughing at? You don't even dare to answer a question. You must have something to hide. If you ask me, Yaoyao, you should just call Grandpa Jin and tell him to get lost."

Jin Qingyu said, "Tsk, he just agreed, and Young Master Qin is already jumping around like this?"

"Jiang Xingyao, are all your recent songs children's songs? Otherwise, how could you have attracted such a devoted little devil?"

"Who are you calling a brat? I..."

"Young Master Qin, you have already violated the rules. Please leave."

Before Qin Jiangnan could finish his rebuttal, Jin Qingyu preemptively struck.

Qin Jiangnan gritted his teeth, glared fiercely at Jin Qingyu, and without saying a word, stepped into the private room.

Jin Qingyu muttered again, "Kids will be kids. They throw a tantrum before you've even finished a few words."