Chapter 190 Inquiry

He asked, puzzled, "Why don't you go in?"

Upon hearing this, Si Zuochen did not offer any explanation. After all, Si Youlin and Si Jiliang had only met a few times. If he were to tell him about this matter out of the blue, it might lead him to make wild guesses and cause him to lose his composure.

He then spoke up on his own, making up a reason on the spot, which Si Youlin did not suspect, and that was how he got away with it.

Ever since learning the inside story, Si Zuochen had been in a state of extreme tension. Seeing the old man's door open and Si Jiliang slowly walk out, Si Zuochen sat up abruptly, then looked at Si Youlin and said, "You go take care of Grandpa first, I'll catch up with him."

Si Youlin knew about the relationship between the two of them and had no doubts. He nodded slightly and walked upstairs.

Si Jiliang slowly walked down the stairs, and met Si Zuochen's gaze. He then smiled slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Si Zuochen, however, was not as friendly as usual. His brows furrowed slightly, and a hint of displeasure flashed across his face.

Noticing the change in his expression, Si Jiliang's eyes flashed with surprise. He slowly approached and asked softly, "What's wrong? You look so sullen?"

Upon hearing this, Si Zuochen looked up at him, his eyes filled with unreadable thoughts, but he didn't know how to ask the question.

Si Jiliang noticed the concern on his face and had a vague sense of unease in her heart.

Why would he suddenly adopt an interrogative stance?

Just as Si Jiliang was lost in thought, Si Zuochen's eyes sharpened, and he made up his mind. He asked in a cold voice, "You like Jiang Ran?"

Upon hearing this, Si Jiliang was taken aback. He hadn't expected the question to come out so abruptly, and for a moment he didn't know how to respond.

He could admit it directly to Jiang Yuechen and tacitly agree with it in front of the old man, but he didn't know how to explain it to the children.

After all, no matter how badly Si Yanxiao treated Jiang Ran, they were still legally recognized as husband and wife.

Looking at their recent actions, it's clear they're trying to bring the two of them together. Does that mean I'm now the third party?!

Thinking of this, Si Jiliang pursed his lips slightly, a hint of unease flashing in his eyes.

Si Zuochen took in his expression and immediately understood the gist of it. His eyes narrowed, and he looked coldly at Si Jiliang.

The previous trust was gone, and she coldly asked, "If I hadn't overheard this by accident, were you going to keep it from me forever?!"

His eyes were filled with disappointment. He had been mature since childhood and could get along with adults with ease.

I originally thought that Si Jiliang would become a good friend with whom I could confide my negative emotions, but I never expected that it would be the people around me who were being schemed against.

"Don't overthink it," Si Jiliang said quickly, lowering his eyes slightly.

Si Zuochen seemed not to hear, a slight smile playing on his lips as he coldly scoffed.

Then he turned and left without paying attention to Si Jiliang's expression.

Si Jiliang watched Si Zuochen's retreating figure and reached out to stop him, but suddenly realized her own identity, her raised hand paused slightly, and then fell back down.

A hint of bitterness flashed in his eyes. What right did he have to say anything else now?

From his perspective, Si Yanxiao and Jiang Ran's relationship was strained, and their so-called marriage was merely based on ulterior motives and could not be taken seriously.

But in Si Zuochen's eyes, he had become a villain trying to destroy their relationship.

I'm afraid that even if I jumped into the Yellow River, I still wouldn't be able to clear my name in his mind.

On the other side, after leaving the old house, Si Zuochen couldn't suppress his doubts and had his driver take him to the hospital.

Jiang Ran was surprised to see Si Zuochen suddenly appear outside the door. A slight smile appeared on her lips as she asked, "Why are you here?"

Si Zuochen pursed his lips slightly, his brows furrowed slightly, and slowly walked towards the bedside.

Jiang Ran noticed the strange expression on his face and a hint of doubt flashed through her mind. She quickly asked, "What's wrong? Did someone upset you?"

Si Zuochen walked to the bedside and stood down. He looked up at Jiang Ran with an inscrutable expression, and Jiang Ran instantly felt a bad premonition.

Just as he was about to ask, Si Zuochen spoke first, "Do you know Si Jiliang?"

Jiang Ran was taken aback by Si Zuochen's sudden question, but she didn't hide anything and asked directly, "Yes, what's wrong?"

Upon hearing this, Si Zuochen's brow furrowed, and he asked again, "Are you on very good terms?"

"So-so," Jiang Ran replied truthfully.

But to Si Zuochen, it sounded like they were deliberately hiding something.

Jiang Ran was surprised that two people asked the same question in one day. Her eyes narrowed, but she didn't know what had happened.

Looking down at Si Zuochen, before she could speak, Si Zuochen asked tentatively, "What do you think of him?"

Seeing Si Zuochen's unusual behavior, Jiang Ran instantly guessed what was going on.

He raised an eyebrow slightly and asked in a deep voice, "Have you heard some rumors somewhere?"

Upon hearing this, Si Zuochen did not deny it, after all, Si Jiliang's indirect admission was more direct than hearing rumors.

Seeing this, Jiang Ran sighed softly, a hint of helplessness flashing in her eyes, and explained, "If that's the case, you can rest assured that nothing will happen between Si Jiliang and me."

"Besides, this isn't the first or second time rumors have surfaced about me. Weren't you always indignant about Lu Ziyi's affairs?"

Why are you so concerned this time of all?

Jiang Ran's question caught Si Zuochen off guard, leaving him wondering whether he cared about the matter at hand or about the person involved.

Perhaps even he himself didn't realize that what he cared about had long since changed.

Hearing her question, Si Zuochen lightly touched the tip of his nose, and replied in a deep voice with a cold face, "That's different."

"How is it different?" Jiang Ran raised an eyebrow, asking in confusion, a hint of teasing in her eyes.

Si Zuochen frowned slightly, hesitated for a moment, and then slowly said, "Who is Lu Ziyi? Can he be compared to Si Jiliang?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ran was taken aback and teased, "I didn't expect you to be the type to tailor your approach to different people."

Si Zuochen listened to the sarcasm in his words but did not refute it.

Seeing that Si Zuochen remained silent, Jiang Ran also put away her teasing expression and slowly replied in a deep voice, "Don't overthink it. There is no relationship between Si Jiliang and me."

Si Zuochen listened, but his face was full of disbelief.

If there really was no connection, how could Si Jiliang have made the old man say such a thing?

He clearly remembered that Si Jiliang had a deep prejudice against her before, and it was precisely because of this opportunity that the two became friends.

But things have changed. Si Jiliang has gradually changed his mind.

He even had designs on her?!

Seeing this, Si Zuochen asked directly, "But he doesn't think so."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ran knew that he must have been affected by something to ask such unfounded questions.

A strange glint flashed in his eyes, and he slowly sighed as he explained, "He can only represent himself, not me."

"Don't worry, I won't do anything like this during our marriage. Even if something does happen, I'll get a divorce first and then find someone else. It won't have any negative impact on you."

Upon hearing this, Si Zuochen's expression changed drastically, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

He hadn't expected that what he had been agonizing over for so long was seen by Jiang Ran as something entirely for their own reputation, and he instantly felt a sense of frustration at not being understood.

But at this point, it seems to be of no use.

He couldn't possibly reveal his true thoughts, otherwise he and Ah Lin would always be in a passive position.

For a moment, he seemed somewhat at a loss, unsure how to refute Jiang Ran's words.

Seeing that Si Zuochen was silent with his eyes down and his expression was getting worse, Jiang Ran was about to say something to comfort him when Si Zuochen interrupted her abruptly.

"It's up to you. Just handle things yourself and don't waste Grandpa's efforts."

He didn't bring up himself, but deliberately brought up the old man.

Seeing his awkward warning, Jiang Ran pursed her lips slightly, a faint smile flashing in her eyes.

He replied directly, "Okay, I'll think it over."

He could guess a thing or two about Si Zuochen's thoughts. The fact that Si Zuochen had come specifically to ask him about it showed that this matter also held a certain weight for him.