Chapter 25 Sister

"Jingjing, I respect all your decisions."

The roadside shops are narrow and long, and with just a few tables, they look extremely crowded.

It's dinner time, and hot pot restaurants are perfect for friends to chat loudly.

So when Chen Jingshu suddenly confessed his feelings, Lin Yujing thought she had misheard and didn't react for a moment.

He smiled slightly, his eyes filled with a passionate vortex, a seductive allure that could easily draw anyone into a tide woven with love.

In that instant, Lin Yujing almost couldn't hide the stirring in her heart.

The boy she first liked when she was seventeen saw her vulnerability from the moment they first met and became her armor in all her shadows.

It allows one to see through the fragile and sensitive nature beneath her strong exterior.

He said she could always be a little fox by his side, using his power to bully him, with him backing her up.

For the girl who had always been alone and helpless, it was like a warm lamp lit in the eternal night just for a butterfly.

From then on, whether she was seventeen, twenty-seven, or thirty-seven years old.

He will always stand within her memory, and every moment of heart-fluttering will be the one that always comes out on top, whether life is glorious or gloomy.

It is someone who, simply by appearing, can effortlessly and easily win over all the competitors around them.

He is a young man who will never appear, yet whose golden body can be infinitely converted.

It was the only flag that flew high in my youth.

Vibrant and lively.

Yes, my first love.

It was just a fleeting dream.

The scalding water droplets splashing onto her skin from the boiling copper pot pulled her back to reality.

Lin Yujing pursed her lips, but the smile on her lips was tinged with bitterness. "A-Shu, when you're seventeen or eighteen, who hasn't been madly in love with someone? But I'm past that age."

"Right now, all I want is to live a simple and peaceful life. Just sitting here with you, Young Master Chen, eating at a roadside stall without any reservations, would make me completely content."

She admitted that Li Qinci's words in the hospital were extremely damaging.

It reveals the deep-rooted and enduring traditional Chinese idea of ​​marriage between people of similar social standing, which has persisted for thousands of years in this imperial capital.

The capital city is still the foundation of the central axis. The wise and insightful Dr. Qi could not help the Liu family to restore their glory, and she, a poor student, was even less worthy of being associated with the crown prince of the Chen family.

Li Qin's lyrics suggest she is selfish but has her family as a support; Liu Hua is cowardly but has parents and a lover who will never betray her; Qi Woxue is devoted but has the courage to hit a wall.

She had nothing, so she could only be a sophisticated egoist.

Even the hardships couldn't change her life; she became a Cinderella who dreamed of rising to great heights.

After all, Cinderella was originally the daughter of an earl; she was just a drifter, not even qualified to be Cinderella.

These days, it's especially difficult for her to sit down and have a meal with Chen Jingshu face to face.

Otherwise, their future will only be more miserable and turbulent than that of a poor couple facing endless sorrows.

She thought and thought, and realized that she could never be as soft-hearted as her senior sister, who would compromise everything because of a man's single tear.

Selfish people can't even remain consciously immersed in depravity for more than fifteen seconds.

Currently, we are friends, at a comfortable distance, free from the constraints of social class and the worries of daily life.

She naturally didn't forget her promise to Aunt Chen to ensure that the young man would always be in a high position, instead of letting him go back to the mundane world for the sake of some vague and illusory love.

Chen Jingshu looked at her, his tenderness and affection unchanged, but he didn't say a word.

He scooped a piece of cooked mutton from the copper pot and put it in her bowl.

Lin Yujing scratched her head, feeling inexplicably like her feigned strength and nonchalance had been exposed.

"You're not angry because I rejected you, are you?" Lin Yujing felt uneasy under his gaze, and her previously strong and indifferent tone became timid.

Chen Jingshu smiled, instantly thawing the icy atmosphere. He shook his hands and said in a relaxed tone, "It's the girl's birthday, and I'm confessing my feelings. I didn't bring a gift, and I didn't properly pursue her. Expecting her to say yes right away is wishful thinking."

Lin Yujing was taken aback for a moment, then quickly replied, "A-Shu, that's not what I meant."

She wasn't feigning nobility in her refusal, nor was she using a retreat as a tactic to demand more.

It's just that the dust from the roadside mud can't reach the inferiority complex of the rooftop courtyard house.

"Jingjing, I know, I respect all your decisions." Chen Jingshu nodded to her and smiled as before.

Lin Yujing looked into his eyes several times to make sure he was telling the truth before she breathed a sigh of relief.

Then I suddenly thought of the two of them, besides their first love in their youth, there was also the Hundred Schools Alliance that now connects them in business dealings.

"That won't affect our cooperation, will it?" she asked in a low voice.

Chen Jingshu raised an eyebrow and laughed, "Jingjing, do you think I'm that petty?"

Lin Yujing quickly shook her head and then tried to please him by putting food on his plate, saying, "President Chen will always be glorious and great in my heart."

Chen Jingshu suddenly stopped what he was doing, frowned, and asked, "What did you call me?"

Lin Yujing belatedly realized her mistake and immediately changed her tune, sweetly calling out to him, "Thank you, brother~"

That "brother" seemed to dispel the somber atmosphere that had been hanging over them for the past few days.

"Do you remember when it was really popular in high school to have godbrothers and godsisters?" Chen Jingshu brought up the past. "Why don't you recognize me as your brother too?"

Lin Yujing recalled that it was indeed very popular to recognize godbrothers and godsisters at that time.

It's just that everyone knows the unspoken truth: it's nothing more than the ambiguous back-and-forth before officially establishing a romantic relationship.

Of the last ten godbrothers and godsisters, at least eight became couples, which is completely different from their current situation.

"Can you be serious for once? Those who recognize each other as godbrothers and godsisters all end up being lovers." Lin Yujing glared at him reproachfully.

"Really?" Chen Jingshu asked, puzzled. "How come I didn't know that?"

"You really don't remember? A girl from our class came to you before, wanting to recognize you as her godbrother, but you refused. You even ruthlessly retorted to her: 'Does your mother know that you're not studying properly at school and are going around recognizing brothers everywhere?'" Lin Yujing recounted vividly.

Chen Jingshu shook his head. "I have no memory of it."

"..." Lin Yujing didn't want to dwell on the past with him, so she picked up a piece of meat and put it in her mouth.

“But Jingjing, I’m serious. If you acknowledge me as your older brother, everything I have in the future will be shared with you in half.”

Lin Yujing laughed out loud, but the trembling of her feet under the table revealed her undisguised joy. "Brother, the only ones who can share half the property are husband and wife."

Chen Jingshu looked at her with tender eyes, casually resting his hand on the back of the chair, exuding a charmingly roguish air. "What can I do? I'll gladly make you happy."

Lin Yujing's ears, hidden beneath her long hair, suddenly turned red, and even the sound of her heartbeat amidst the bustling crowd became difficult to suppress.

The aftertaste is sweet with a slight bitterness, and also so astringent that it makes the tongue feel numb.

-

After finishing their meal, Chen Jingshu paid the bill and tossed his coat into her arms, saying, "Hold onto your brother's coat."

Lin Yujing was too lazy to argue with him, and simply obediently gathered a wisp of ebony sandalwood in her arms.

Once outside, Chen Jingshu raised his long arm and naturally put his arm around her shoulder.

"Brother, this isn't appropriate..." Lin Yujing struggled for a moment.

To everyone's surprise, Chen Jingshu hugged her even tighter and pressed her against his heart, saying, "I'm hugging my sister, so what?"

Lin Yujing rolled her eyes at him with a playful laugh, and let him put his arm around her as they walked toward the trunk.

"You wouldn't be so tacky as to fill the entire trunk with flowers and hang a colorful flag for a second confession, would you?" Lin Yujing asked, tilting her head slightly.

Chen Jingshu raised his other hand and tapped her forehead. "Am I that vulgar in your eyes?"

When he opened the trunk, there was a small moon-shaped fishing firefall lamp inside.

It's exactly the same as the little nightlight I gave her seven years ago.

"Seven years have passed, and I don't know if you're still afraid of the dark. But thinking that the old nightlight must be broken, I drew a pattern myself and made an exact replica for you."

The warm yellow light shone on her face, and the emotions she had been desperately trying to hide in her heart instantly crumbled.

Just like a light feather falling into a bonfire on a spring night, it won't cause a spectacular flame.

A flame that can ignite in an instant can also be eternal.

Her mind was in turmoil.

“This is a very advanced system; you can control it with your voice. For example, if you say ‘turn off the lights,’ it will turn off the lights immediately.” Moonfire really did turn off the lights according to his command.

On a deep winter night, the two stood facing each other.

The dim light made his features appear even more profound.

"If you say turn on the light, it will turn on the light again."

Lin Yujing tilted her head slightly, not looking at the lights inside the car.

Instead, looking at the dazzling person in front of her, she felt a heartbeat that she herself was unaware of, a tingling sensation that quickly ran through her body like an electric current.

"You're already moved?" Chen Jingshu snapped his fingers at her from his elevated position.

Lin Yujing then came to her senses, her eyes darting around in a slightly flustered manner.

Chen Jingshu took the clothes she was holding and pulled out a jade Maitreya Buddha made of red rope from the inner pocket of the down jacket.

“This is a Maitreya Buddha amulet from the Chen family’s treasure vault. I’ve been seeing you sleeping restlessly, so this can help you sleep.” He spoke casually, as if he were talking about an ordinary piece of jewelry.

However, during her undergraduate years, Lin Yujing had a roommate whose family was in the jade and jewelry business. The two were close, and she learned a great deal about gemstones, which were even more sophisticated than those found in high-end luxury brands.

The one Chen Jingshu is holding is emerald green like glass, clear as water, and contains no impurities. Its market price is at least over a million.

It was also carved into an exquisitely shaped Maitreya Buddha. As the saying goes, men wear Guanyin and women wear Buddha. Families often used it to give to their daughters, believing that the beautiful jade would nourish them.

"This is quite valuable, isn't it?" Lin Yujing flicked her hair behind her ear, trying to hide her flattered surprise, but instead revealed her bright red earlobes.

"I'm just giving my sister a little trinket, how is that expensive?" Chen Jingshu pressed down on her shoulders, not letting her move. Then he put a red string around her neck, "It's a popular custom in the capital to give jade to one's own daughter."

"I'm very protective of my own; if others have something, my daughter has to have it too."

Lin Yujing's heart clenched with worry; she truly, truly wanted to love him!

"Brother..." Lin Yujing began, her voice slightly choked with sobs, as if she had choked on her breath, "Give me a hug."

-

After driving around the city a few times, Lin Yujing dozed off, and Chen Jingshu quietly turned around and headed for the North Fourth Ring Road.

As the black G-Wagon drove into the girls' dormitory building, it saw a person sitting on the steps.

Zhang Jiale seemed to have waited all night, shivering from the cold, before he stood up when he saw her get out of the car and walk over.

"Senior, you're finally back." Even the sunny and cheerful puppy has moments when it's cold and shivering.

"How long have you been waiting?" Lin Yujing asked, frowning.

"It wasn't long, just when I called you, I had just arrived."

Unbeknownst to Lin Yujing, they brushed past Zhang Jiale as they left.

"Are you stupid? Do you even know what the temperature is today?"

Zhang Jiale didn't know why he was being so stubborn. He sat there not so much to wait for her, but more because he was afraid she wouldn't come back.

"Happy birthday, senior." Zhang Jiale's lips were pale, but when he looked at her, his eyes were still filled with clear and sincere love. "I'm waiting for you because I want to confess my feelings to you."

"A year ago you made me think it through, and I've thought about it for a whole year. I still like you so much."

At that moment, the light from the streetlights also shone on Zhang Jiale.

The simple, bright, sunny puppy has an endless drive to pursue love.

"Senior, will you be my girlfriend?"

Lin Yujing's eyes welled up slightly. More than being moved, she was touched. "Lele, thank you for your pure affection, but I truly only see you as a younger brother."

She wasn't oblivious to the feelings; Zhang Jiale's love was very similar to Chen Jingshu's love when they were young, but she was clear-headed enough to distinguish between them.

What she always wanted was Chen Jingshu's share.

No matter how much others offer, or how perfectly similar they are, it won't work.

"Senior, is it because of him?"

Chen Jingshu stood by the car, silently watching him confess his feelings without saying a word.

“No.” Lin Yujing’s tone was firm. “To me, you are better than my own brother. You are sunny, sincere, and cheerful, so I hope you can find a girl like you to be with.”

Her life was too hard, and she didn't want to be a burden to anyone.

"I knew it." Zhang Jiale gave a wry smile, but still flashed her a bright puppy-dog grin. "So, even if I reject your confession, can you still accept the flowers?"

The bright red roses are like the pure and sincere heart of a young man, untainted by any impurities.

Would you be happier if I accepted it?

"meeting!"

Lin Yujing nodded and took the flowers from his arms. "Okay, I'll accept them."

Even the most enthusiastic puppy has its vulnerable moments, but it can't shed tears in front of the girl it likes.

Zhang Jiale wiped away his tears and ran away.

Lin Yujing turned around, looked at the person still standing by the car, and asked, "Aren't you leaving?"

Chen Jingshu, hands in his pockets, exuded a nonchalant and roguish air. "Someone confessed their feelings to my sister, so I have to keep an eye on things, right?"

Lin Yujing sighed helplessly and pouted, "I didn't agree. You should go back now."

"Okay." Chen Jingshu breathed a sigh of relief, walked towards her first, and ruffled her hair. "I'll listen to my sister."

-

Chen Jingshu drove away, not going home first, but taking a detour to JING Capital.

As soon as I stepped into the president's office, I saw that the light in Chu Yan's finance office was still on.

"Mr. Chu, you've worked hard."

Chu Yan looked up, saw his slightly dejected expression, and asked, "Didn't you succeed?"

Chen Jingshu sighed and sat down on the soft stool opposite his desk. "The little fox is insecure. I can't force her to agree."

Over the years he has been with the Chen family, he has learned a lot.

Insincere small talk in the business world, and keen insight into people's hearts in officialdom.

He loved Lin Yujing and enjoyed watching the little expressions on her face.

Her outwardly strong and nonchalant demeanor was easily exposed by the underlying sensitivity that welled up in her eyes.

Chen Jingshu reached into the inside pocket of his down jacket, pulled out a ring, and held it between his fingers. "Seven years. Qi Woxue's position in her heart is no less than mine. If she were to agree to me at this critical juncture, she wouldn't be Lin Yujing."

"Young Master, what are your plans for the future?"

"What are your plans?" Chen Jingshu suddenly smiled, his undisguised emotions revealing a tender, affectionate affection. "Jingjing and I have a long future ahead of us."

Chu Yan rubbed his arm. "Big brother, I have goosebumps."

Chen Jingshu raised an eyebrow and put the ring back into his down jacket like a precious treasure.

"By the way, their school refuses to rent houses to the Hundred Schools Alliance anymore because those girls caused trouble. What should we do?" Chu Yan asked.

After a moment's thought, Chen Jingshu said, "Then let the administration department approve some space on our president's office floor for them to use as offices tomorrow."

"..." Chu Yan put down his pen and stared intently at Chen Jingshu, as if trying to see the words "love-obsessed" written all over his face.

“There’s a spot right next to my office, I’ll give it to the students.” Chen Jingshu’s smile grew wider as he spoke. “With Jing Capital backing them, I think we can help them attract some more investment.”

Chu Yan clicked his tongue and sneered, "President Chen, your abacus beads are about to hit my face."

Chen Jingshu, however, had a completely open expression and stood up, saying, "Is that so?"

A note from the author:

Don't Yuo

Singer: Young Master Chen

[Disappointed] [Heartache] [Holding the microphone] [Don't you really want to love me? Don't you really want to kiss me?]

-

Ah Shu: It's okay if my confession fails. Let's start with Plan B—first we'll be friends, then she'll be my sister, and finally she'll be my little darling.

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Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 2023-09-15 23:41:10 and 2023-09-16 23:26:01!

Thank you to the little angel who threw the landmine: 69346161 (1 landmine);

Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: Sleepy_w 5 bottles; Diane` 1 bottle;

Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!