Chapter 9 Minor Turmoil

Lin Zaoyi's fingers, hanging by her side, curled up involuntarily. "Brother Zhaojing, you go ahead with your work. It's quite convenient for me to take the bus."

The man glanced at him indifferently. "No rush, get in the car."

His face remained calm, showing no impatience, but his voice was even deeper than before.

Fine, she wouldn't argue anymore. It was better to ride in Tan Zhaojing's car than for Sun Yao to pester her relentlessly.

As he tried to pull the people in the back row up, he called out again, "Come to the front."

"...oh."

The car started and drove out of sight in less than half a minute, but Sun Yao kept a close eye on it, his feigned kindness completely gone, replaced by a sinister look.

Suddenly, he threw the umbrella he had won over to the ground, and as if still not satisfied, kicked it away.

The umbrella ribs immediately shattered into pieces.

If Sun Yao was irritable and unwilling, then Lin Zaoyi could be described as reserved; her limbs hadn't relaxed since she got into the car.

She looked out the window at the night in northern Beijing, a night both dazzling and bustling.

He glanced at Tan Zhaojing while scratching his head.

He leaned back in his chair, his arms and hands casually resting on the steering wheel. His wrists were covered by his watch, which reflected the silver light of the neon lights, adding a touch of coldness to his weary expression.

Retract it without leaving a trace.

Just as my gaze settled on the night view outside the window, I heard him ask, "Boyfriend?"

After a moment of confusion, Lin Zaoyi realized, "No."

Somewhat unexpectedly, this question doesn't sound like casual conversation.

I think I understand.

"Did my mom send you to inquire about this?"

There was a traffic light ahead. Tan Zhaojing slowed down and turned his head to the side. Because he was facing away from the light, his facial features were somewhat blurred in the light, and his expression could not be seen for a moment.

His lips moved slightly. "Do I look like I have a lot of free time?"

How could someone who is known to be extremely busy possibly be idle?

Based on these words, Lin Zaoyi was absolutely certain that he just happened to be passing by.

He shook his head.

After that, silence filled the car. Tan Zhaojing didn't speak, so she naturally didn't try to start a conversation. They drove quietly all the way to Xiyuan.

I arrived home just in time for dinner.

Mingxian exclaimed in surprise, "I was just about to call you two."

He asked his daughter, "How did you get back?"

Lin Zaoyi could have just told the truth, but she lied instead, saying, "I took a taxi and happened to run into Brother Zhaojing in the courtyard."

The moment the last note faded, a gaze turned toward him from his right, carrying a hint of something deeper.

She replied somewhat awkwardly, "Right, Brother Zhaojing? What a coincidence."

"Stop trying to get close." Tan Jiani pulled her brother away and looked at the maid. "Is dinner ready?"

The aunt nodded, "Okay."

Mingxian specially prepared the soup for a simple purpose: to thank Zhaojing. If it weren't for his help at noon, the old man might have made things difficult for Zaoyi.

He ladled out a bowl and handed it over, saying, "This is my first time making this in Zhaojing, so it might not taste very good."

Tan Zhaojing accepted it with both hands, saying, "Thank you."

Lin Zaoyi felt somewhat uneasy.

I've never eaten a meal cooked by my mother, not even a bowl of noodles, in my entire life.

Today, however, I'm getting involved in something as mundane as a stepson I barely know.

Soon, her jealousy disappeared.

I finally understand why my mother doesn't go into the kitchen, and I'm grateful that she didn't leave a shadow on my childhood.

The taste was indescribable.

Tan Jiani seemed to have only taken a small sip, but Uncle Tan was quite accommodating, drinking two bowls. He glanced at the person opposite him and saw that Tan Zhaojing's bowl was empty. He could only think that food abroad was too unpalatable, and that everything tasted delicious when he returned to China.

“Aunt Ming,” Tan Jiani’s voice came over, “don’t go into the kitchen unless you have to.”

Even if the second half of the sentence wasn't spoken, it was already understood.

Mingxian looked embarrassed. "Is it hard to drink?"

"Of course."

Tan Jiani is known for her straightforwardness, and besides, she's a stepmother.

So straight it couldn't be straighter, "it's practically unpalatable."

Mr. Tan frowned. "You don't have to drink it!"

Just as the saying goes, having a stepmother means having a stepfather!

Tan Jiani confronted her father, "Are you not allowing me to tell the truth anymore?"

Looking at the woman again, her emotions were written all over her face. "What you're doing is useless!"

How could my brother be bought off with just a bowl of soup?

"What did my mom do?" Lin Zaoyi could tolerate herself, but she couldn't stand others talking about her mother. "Your dislike doesn't mean it applies to everyone else. Besides, this soup was made for me by my mom!"

As he spoke, he scooped up a bowlful, gulped it down in a few mouthfuls, and said, "I really like drinking it."

He remained completely expressionless throughout.

Tan Jiani rolled her eyes. "Of course you're my biological mother—"

“Jiani”.

Tan Zhaojing interrupted her, "Go upstairs after you finish eating."

Tan Jiani wasn't initially that angry, but when she saw her brother siding with outsiders, she suddenly stood up, the chair scraping against the floor with a harsh thud.

"I'm leaving. I'll make room for your family!"

Without looking back, he ran upstairs, his shoes pounding on the floor in a furious rhythm.

The atmosphere in the restaurant froze for a moment.

In the dead silence, Tan Zhaojing apologized gently, "Aunt Ming, Jia Ni is being willful, please don't take it to heart."

"Won't."

Mingxian took the blame, saying, "It's also my fault. Why did I keep busy with nothing?"

"Why are you busy with pointless tasks?"

Tan's father disagreed with his wife's explanation, saying, "It's Jia Ni who's picky."

Tan Zhaojing had a work call to return. Before getting up, his gaze lingered briefly on that stubborn face. Lin Zaoyi, unusually, did not flinch and stared straight at him with a tight-lipped expression.

I only held on for two seconds. When I looked out of the corner of my eye again, all I saw was his back.

The room upstairs.

Tan Jiani grew angrier the more she thought about it, and her eyes even reddened. On impulse, she ran up to the third floor and waited for her brother for two minutes while he was on a work call.

After he put his phone away, he walked over aggressively, but his tone was timid as he asked, "Why did you help Lin Zaoyi just now?"

After a half-second silence, the older brother retorted, "Why don't you admit that you were the one who was rude?"

She pouted, "Is it wrong to tell the truth? It already tastes awful."

“Jiani”.

Tan Zhaojing's voice deepened slightly, "Dad's remarriage is a fait accompli, and all you can do is accept it. You're already 21 years old; I don't need to teach you manners, do I?"

Tan Jiani couldn't tell if she felt wronged or angry; she sought comfort but was instead lectured.

Her voice rose several decibels, "Would it kill you to say a few words of comfort to me?!"

She was so angry, but her brother coldly uttered two words, "Get out."

"..."

Cold-blooded, that's outrageous!

To prevent my biological brother from becoming my stepbrother, I risked getting a glare and said one more thing.

"You're my brother, not Lin Zaoyi's. You can't treat her like a sister!"

This time, their attitude was alright; they responded, albeit only with a simple interjection, "Mm."

But she was content, because her brother didn't treat Lin Zaoyi like a sister.