She looked up, her eyes filled with surprise, "Second Brother."

His simple white tracksuit couldn't hide his elegant and refined demeanor.

Ji Ze dropped his suitcase and came to her side. He looked her up and down, and soon his smile froze on his face, his brows furrowing slightly.

"You've lost weight and don't seem to be in good spirits. Who bullied you?"

While asking the questions, his scrutinizing gaze swept over Ji Yuan and Ji Qianqian standing to the side.

"I wouldn't dare." Ji Qianqian quickly waved her hand. She wasn't stupid. The entire second branch of the family had to live according to the whims of the first branch. How could she dare to offend the precious darling of the first branch?

Ji Yuan smiled and said, "Don't look at me, I don't see her even once every ten days."

"Young Master is back."

Aunt Lin's greeting came from the doorway.

Ji Fuying unconsciously looked up.

Ji Yan wore a custom-made dark suit, his long, straight legs hidden beneath the suit trousers, exuding a powerful aura of someone who had long held a high position.

His gaze fell directly on Ji Fuying, and their eyes met. Ji Fuying felt her body stiffen, and she quickly lowered her head, frantically fiddling with the game on her phone.

Why?

She thought she had calmed down after not seeing him for so many days, so why did she still feel flustered when she saw him again?

“Ayan.”

Finding that no one was paying attention to her, Song Yuxi was so embarrassed that she wanted to disappear. She could only gently tug at Ji Yan's sleeve.

Ji Yan patted her hand reassuringly, "Grandpa, Grandma, Mom and Dad, this is my girlfriend, Song Yuxi."

The old man smiled very kindly, "Alright, everyone's here, please take your seats, Miss Song, please."

Despite his advanced age, he remains energetic and his brows still retain a hint of sharpness, suggesting that he was a force to be reckoned with in his youth.

Ji Yan is already twenty-six years old; it's time for her to get married and have children.

As for the other party's family background, he didn't care much. His Ji family didn't need to use marriage alliances to consolidate their position.

"Thank you, Grandpa." Song Yuxi smiled broadly and bowed respectfully to express her gratitude.

That's great! The old man didn't dislike her; on the contrary, he seemed to approve. She has successfully taken the first step.

When they sat down, Ji Fuying deliberately chose a seat at the back, but before she could sit down, Ji Ze pulled her back to the space between him and Ji Yan.

"The three of us siblings haven't gotten together in a long time. How about we have a few drinks tonight?"

Ji Fuying: "Okay."

Ji Yan: "She's still too young to drink alcohol."

Ji Ze looked at the two of them with a puzzled expression, feeling that something was amiss.

"This is what you like." Ji Yan placed a salt and pepper shrimp into her bowl.

"I...I'm full, please enjoy your meal."

Ji Fuying gave an awkward laugh, then slipped away as fast as she could.

The remaining people looked at each other in bewilderment.

She didn't even touch her chopsticks, how did she get full?

“What’s wrong with Yingying? She’s been acting strange these past few days. I have to go see her.”

Anhe became increasingly worried, fearing that her daughter might have been bullied. The thought of her sweet and gentle daughter being bullied made her heart ache.

Just as she put down her chopsticks and was about to get up, Ji Yan pressed her down, saying, "You guys eat first, I'll go upstairs and take a look."

"Okay, ask her if she's encountered any difficulties?" Ji Ming also looked worried.

Song Yuxi reached out to grab Ji Yan, but then silently withdrew her hand. She needed to keep her composure and not lose her manners in public.

Ji Yuan looked at Song Yuxi with a meaningful gaze, a hint of infatuation flashing in his eyes, and the smile on his lips grew deeper.

Ji Fuying returned to her room and immediately lay down on her pillow. She was so useless; every time she saw her older brother, she felt guilty. What should she do? Should she never see him again?

Thump thump thump...

A soft knock sounded at the door; it must have been her mother coming up, worried about her.

"Go in," he replied weakly, his whole body limp.

"Mom, I'm not hungry, you go down and eat first."

"It's me," a deep, magnetic voice rang out.

Ji Fuying quickly stood up, still holding the pillow in her hand, her face gradually turning red.

"Big...Big Brother."

Looking at the helpless Ji Fuying, his heart ached. She was the victim, so why did she act like a child who had done something wrong?

He approached her tenderly, wanting to hug and comfort her. As Ji Yan drew closer, Ji Fuying slowly moved her feet back.

His eyes were also darting away, intentionally or unintentionally.

"Yingying, are you afraid of me?" This discovery brought a hint of bitterness to his eyes.

Why did things get to this point?

"I just..." Her beautiful face showed unease and shame.

Ji Yan couldn't help but wrap his arms around her. "It's not your fault. You can blame me. You can punish me however you want."

But you can't be afraid of him.

He gently stroked her soft hair as if it were a rare treasure; if anyone were to harm her, that person would surely not live to see the end of the night.

But now, he himself is the one who started all the evil.

A pair of eyes peered coldly through the crack in the door, watching the scene unfold with intense resentment.