Chapter 118

"It's twenty-seven."

Cheng Xiucheng gritted his teeth calmly.

The young man in front of him was sitting comfortably, his gray eyes holding a mocking smile unlike any he had ever seen before.

"You know you're twenty-seven, not seventeen. You're getting older, so be more mature. Don't let your own lack of suitors prevent others from dating, okay..."

The maid pushing the food cart slowly stopped, sensing that now was not a good time to enter.

But it seems too late to back out now.

Cheng Xiucheng lowered his head and looked down at Li Xingen.

This was the first time he had been repeatedly ridiculed for his age. The man's face darkened for a moment before he smiled again.

"Dating? You're not talking about the kind of one-sided fantasy, are you? If you get rejected, you should be sensible and stay away. How come you treat his polite rejection as a joke? Are you so confident because he's two years younger than me?"

The two men, one sitting and one standing, were both smiling, but the atmosphere was already tense.

Kim Cho-wan subconsciously took a half step back.

She began to regret going downstairs, getting up, and falling asleep last night instead of going home on time.

She really hates arguing, especially when she's dragged into it for no reason.

Jin Chuwan's eyes flickered. She wanted to do something to ease the tension, but she was also afraid of being further affected. Just as Jin Chuwan hesitated, her hand was suddenly grasped. When she looked up, she saw Jiang Chen. He seemed oblivious to the atmosphere around him, his expression indifferent and calm.

"Are you hungry? I feel like you didn't eat much last night..."

He asked, his dark eyes filled with a hint of tenderness.

Before Jin Chuwan could even speak, he pulled her to the dining table. The maids had already set the table, but they seemed a little nervous; after finishing, they quickly pushed the food cart away.

To be honest, Kim Cho-wan wanted to go with them.

But Jiang Chen had already made her sit down.

"Eat more, I always feel you're even thinner than before."

Jin Chuwan glanced at the dining table and then at the two people facing off on the opposite sofa. Finally, she couldn't help but look at Jiang Chen.

"Aren't you going to do anything about them?"

Jiang Chen was looking for a soup spoon when he heard her ask, and a look of confusion appeared in his eyes.

Why should we interfere?

"Because...they were arguing?"

Jiang Chen suddenly laughed after hearing this. He put down his chopsticks and sat down sideways, his expression looking somewhat solemn.

He took her hand and placed the warmed milk in it.

“I told you before that you don’t need to worry about anything other than yourself. I thought you had finally grown up these past few days, but you’ve gone back to your old ways after a good night’s sleep.” Jiang Chen had also not slept all night, and his face was a little pale from staying up all night, but he did not look that tired or weak.

“This is my home. If they dare to cause trouble, I will have my bodyguards kick them out. If you think it's noisy, you can scold them or even tell them to shut up.”

The man's voice was soft but he didn't try to hide it. In the years since they last met, he had become even more handsome and mature. This realization made Jin Chuwan feel that the world of novels was extremely unfair, but she had to admit that Jiang Chen was right.

"But no matter what, this is your home, you're the owner, and even if you're going to shut up, it's not my place to say it, is it?"

Jin Chuwan withdrew her hand as she spoke, and sat down at the table, idly moving her chopsticks.

"You know perfectly well..."

Jiang Chen was interrupted by Jin Chuwan pressing his forehead as he spoke.

She seemed to have snapped out of her earlier daze of worry, and her gaze toward him was filled with deep trouble and exhaustion.

"Please, don't chase after me and confess your love 24/7. I'm not the type to jump into a relationship immediately, really. I've thought about it carefully over the years, and I think I'm the type who develops feelings over time. The more you pursue and pressure me, the more I want to stay away..."

Jin Chuwan's voice came slowly, and the two men who were still mocking each other almost simultaneously shut their mouths and looked over.

"So if you don't want me to run away, don't force me to choose. Let's just be ordinary friends and not put me in a difficult position. If I'm interested, I'll tell you."

The villa was quiet; the nannies who usually looked after the villa were chatting outside. The morning breeze was cool and refreshing. The bodyguard who had just come in from outside paused, unsure whether to go in or not.

They looked at the girl who was speaking with some shock.

To be honest, she doesn't look particularly stunning, but how dare she say such things to their boss?

What do you mean by "don't make things difficult for me" and "I'll tell you if I like you"?

Is this some new tactic of feigning indifference to lure someone in?

The problem is, their young and handsome boss, who is admired by countless beautiful women, actually agreed.

His eyes sparkled with excitement.

It seems like being caught is such a happy thing.

The bodyguards exchanged glances, their expressions both somewhat unsettling. They didn't linger any longer, quietly closing the door and waiting outside.

Do all rich people have unusual hobbies?

A jumble of thoughts raced through their minds, but both refrained from delving into them.

Jin Chuwan didn't look up. It wasn't that she hadn't noticed the commotion at the door; she even noticed the other person's incredulous expression. But she had already spoken and couldn't take it back. She raised her hand to her face, trying to block the gaze from the other person.

But Li Xingen didn't seem to have any intention of letting her go. He suddenly stood up and walked over.

The three men who had just looked down on each other suddenly seemed to have formed a united front.

Jiang Chen looked at Jin Chuwan's flushed cheeks with amusement. She lowered her head and seemed calm at first glance, but her whole body was obviously stiff.

"Okay, I won't tell you, I won't ask, but you have to tell me a time, otherwise how am I supposed to know when to wait?"

Jin Chuwan kept her head down. She didn't want to pretend that she was the only one in the room, but Jiang Chen was too close. His fluffy head was close to hers, like an annoying big dog.

"I don't know if there's time, but you don't have to wait."

Lee Sung-eun carried a chair and sat down next to Kim Cho-wan. He rested his chin on his hand and stared intently at Kim Cho-wan, as if trying to figure something out. However, his eyes lit up after hearing Kim Cho-wan's answer.

“Auntie is right, if you don’t want to, you can get lost.” After mocking Jiang Chen, he imitated Jiang Chen, lying face down on the table and peering through the gap to observe Jin Chuwan’s expression.

"But thinking about it carefully, I seem to be the type who develops feelings over time."

Cheng Xiucheng also rested his chin on his hand, looking at Jin Chuwan, who was sandwiched between the two people, with a bit of novelty. She had obviously blurted out her words on impulse, but in just a few seconds, her initial composure turned into an awkward stiffness that she herself could not hide.

It's like being several beats behind in realizing what you said, and then falling into a dilemma of shame, indignation, and helplessness.

Sung Soo-seung couldn't help but laugh.

"I think you're right too. You're being too polite to them. There are plenty of men out there. If they don't listen to you, just kick them out. If you had done that earlier, would they have dared to teach you how to do things?"

They had all heard what Jiang Chen and Jin Chuwan were saying, and now he finally understood the source of Jin Chuwan's bad temper.

He's quite good at being a nice guy.

Cheng Xiucheng glanced at Jiang Chen with a smile. He was happy to see the two men being played with and, better yet, abandoned.

"If you ask me, people like them are not suitable to be boyfriends at all. You are more suitable for someone who is considerate, such as someone who can do housework, is not clingy, and can support your work."

Jin Chuwan glanced at Cheng Xiucheng with weariness. She had already given up on everything, so she didn't care if he continued to add fuel to the fire.

She admitted that her words were presumptuous, but they were indeed what she thought. She didn't like being chased for answers because she didn't have any. She even felt that after so many years of no contact, there was no longer any affection between them. It was impossible for someone she hadn't seen for years to suddenly stand in front of her and say that he still liked her, and she would be deeply moved and nod in acceptance.

She found it very abrupt.

So now she doesn't want to cooperate anymore; she wants to do things her own way.

If it doesn't work out, then goodbye. Anyway, she doesn't depend on anyone to support her.

Jin Chuwan felt like a scumbag woman, a white lotus, or the kind of vicious female supporting character in novels who hooks men.

Wow, after all the twists and turns, it still fits the original setting.

Jin Chuwan smiled, but her face betrayed her exhaustion.

"I've finished eating. I'm going upstairs to catch up on some sleep. Don't bother me."

After she finished speaking, she grabbed her hair and went upstairs.

After Kim Cho-wan left, Lee Sung-eun, who had been watching her, turned to Sung Soo-seung with displeasure: "Would it kill you to behave yourself? She hadn't even eaten yet and you drove her away."

Cheng Xiucheng laughed instead of getting angry after hearing this, and put his legs up on the chair next to him. "Is Boss Li a dog? Is he very good at biting back?"

Li Xingen stood up, supporting himself on the table. He looked coldly at the man opposite him, recalling his earlier self-promotion. Li Xingen smiled and warned, "Whether I'm a dog or not is unimportant. What's important is that you know your place. Don't think about people you shouldn't be thinking about."

Cheng Xiucheng's smile turned cold. For the first time in his life, he was warned not to covet a certain woman.

"If that's how you put it, then I'll become interested."

Jiang Chen, who was clearing away the dishes, frowned slightly when he heard Cheng Xiucheng's spiteful words. His dark eyes swept critically across the table, but then he looked away.

To be honest, he didn't think this kind of self-righteous bravado was of any use.

Jin Chuwan doesn't like her at all; she didn't like her before, and she doesn't like her now.

He moved his stiff neck and carried the tray upstairs.

Jiang Chen knocked on the door, and after a while the door opened, and Jin Chuwan peeked out, but before she could speak, Jiang Chen pulled her outside.

"Cheng Ya is still sleeping. Won't you disturb her if you go in there?"

Jin Chuwan looked up at Jiang Chen, "So?"

"I'll take you to another room to rest, and you can get something to eat while you're there."

Jin Chuwan didn't say anything. She let Jiang Chen lead her to the room on the third floor. The room was very clean, with a TV, stereo, bed, sofa, and a bay window filled with all kinds of books.

Jiang Chen placed the plate on the table and casually instructed, "If you want anything, you can use the phone by the bed, or you can call me directly."

Jin Chuwan observed the room's furnishings, then looked at Jiang Chen.

"This is...your house?"

Jiang Chen paused for a moment, but he did not deny it.

"I just want you to get some rest. After all, you seem like you don't want to be disturbed. Don't worry, I'll go to another room and won't bother you."

Be true to your friends and don't make too many demands.

Jiang Chen recalled the conditions proposed by Kim Chu-wan.

He can do it.

It's not difficult at all; after all, that's what he's been doing from the beginning.