Chapter 17, Chapter 141, If 3: Evening...
The corridor was quiet. Jin Chuwan listened to the phone as she went downstairs.
Ran Xian's voice sounded relaxed and cheerful, as if he were sharing some interesting news, but Jin Chuwan frowned. Just as she was about to stop Ran Xian from continuing his nonsense, the voice on the other end of the line suddenly changed.
"...Where did you go? Why aren't you coming home?"
It was Jiang Chen's voice.
The man's tone was calm, and he didn't seem to be blaming anyone.
But Kim Cho-wan still detected subtle emotions in his voice.
She pressed her temples, somewhat helplessly: "Instead of asking where I am, shouldn't you be explaining why Ran Xian and Li Xing'en are both home? I only handed you the key, so why are they both here?"
If it weren't for an emergency business trip that caused a stubborn guy to wait outside her house all night, Jin Chuwan wouldn't have given away her house key out of guilt.
Now look what's happened...
There was a brief pause on the phone. Jiang Chen frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping over the two men opposite him.
"Okay, it's my fault. I shouldn't have let them in."
As he spoke, he got up and walked to the balcony.
Ran Xian raised an eyebrow as he watched Jiang Chen's lips curve into a smile again.
Just a short while ago, he almost lost his temper because of her provocation, but after only two words, Jin Chuwan coaxed him back?
He suddenly became curious about what Jin Chuwan had said on the phone, but Jiang Chen clearly didn't intend for anyone else to hear.
Ran Xian looked away, bored.
Li Xing'en didn't seem to notice him and Jiang Chen, and was just checking the refrigerator on his own. Ran Xian watched as he frowned slightly as he picked out the expired food from the refrigerator, and then went to the kitchen to grab a shopping bag and prepare to leave.
Before leaving, he made sure to say goodbye to Jiang Chen.
Ran Xian looked at the closed door, then glanced at the man on the balcony.
Jiang Chen's expression seemed somewhat complicated, but after slightly frowning, he turned away as if nothing had happened.
This seemingly tacit mutual tolerance amazed Ran Xian. His gaze swept over Jiang Chen with amusement, finally settling on the key lying somewhere in the living room.
The smile in his eyes gradually faded as he thought about the hidden meaning of the key.
So...did you choose him?
A moment later, Jiang Chen also put down the phone. He followed Ran Xian's gaze, smiled, and placed his phone on the table.
"I heard you've been traveling to China a lot lately. Why did you give up your overseas companies?"
For various reasons, their relationship has become quite strained over the years. Although Jiang Chen doesn't like Ran Xian bothering Jin Chuwan, as a friend who grew up together, he is still willing to make some simple formalities.
But Ran Xian has no interest in such maneuvering now.
"Why are you so concerned about me? Are you worried I'll go bankrupt, or are you worried I won't die out there and never come back?"
Jiang Chen had gradually gotten used to Ran Xian's temperament of biting everyone he met. He sat down unhurriedly and casually draped his coat over the back of the chair.
"I'm not that bad... But you, you didn't even tell everyone to welcome you back. You can't just cut ties with us all because of some family troubles, can you?"
Ran Xian smiled and said, "How could that be? I should say that a nobody like me is not worth so many people making such a fuss about."
Saying things like "break up" is too naive, but one incident was enough for Ran Xian to see how many of those so-called friends were truly sincere.
Doing business is fine, but building personal relationships is not.
He's busy.
Seeing his expression, Jiang Chen knew that further words would be of no use.
"Alright... since you've put it that way, there's no point in me saying anything more. But, I seem to remember that Jin Chuwan also left you without saying goodbye back then. Why are you willing to forgive her, but not others?"
forgive……
Who forgave them?
Ran Xian vaguely sensed what Jiang Chen was about to say, so he smiled and said nonchalantly.
"So you can just consider me a traitor who forgot my principles for the sake of beauty?"
Jin Chuwan seems to always prefer these small rooms, so much so that the two of them sitting face to face now looks cramped and confined.
Jiang Chen loosened his collar.
He didn't like being pushy, nor did he want to create unnecessary distance between himself and his childhood friend, so he simply said directly, "I know you like Jin Chuwan, but as you can see, we're already together. As for her... I know very well that she has absolutely no interest in you, so I'm saying this for your own good. Settle things off as soon as possible and just be ordinary friends; it's better for everyone that way..."
Jiang Chen was interrupted by Ran Xian before he could finish speaking.
"Together? When? The person I heard was the one who just left. Who else would be happy? You'd be happy if I left, right? Besides, you're not Jin Chuwan, how do you know if I'm happy or not around her?"
Before Jiang Chen could speak, Ran Xian suddenly scanned the entire room.
"You said you were together... and you're going to treat her like this just because you're together? Or is it that she doesn't want to come with you at all?"
Ran Xian curled his lips into a smile, but there was no smile in his eyes.
He didn't want to believe a single word Jiang Chen said.
Ultimately, Jiang Chen's confidence in speaking to him was simply due to good luck.
If he and Ran Min hadn't been forced to go abroad because of their biological father, if he could have switched power with Jiang Chen, if he had met her first... he wouldn't be saying these things to her now.
Even if he had the upper hand, what good was it? When Jin Chuwan left, she still threw him away like a useless dog.
As for them being together, being together doesn't necessarily mean she truly loves him...
If Jin Chuwan truly loves him, why has she stayed in Chengjia's house for so long and refused to come back? If she truly loves him, why doesn't anyone know about their relationship?
She was just a lover who was kept hidden away.
They don't even have the right to do it openly and honestly...
Thinking this, Ran Xian suddenly chuckled.
"What, speechless now? I'll say the same thing here: mind your own business with Jin Chuwan."
Ran Xian clearly wouldn't listen to his well-intentioned advice, which annoyed Jiang Chen. Of course, he could simply call Jin Chuwan and have her tell him to come to his senses, but that would be far too naive.
Besides, he didn't want to put Jin Chuwan in a difficult position over such a trivial matter.
"Since you insist on thinking this way, then I have nothing more to say. However, I advise you to be more mindful of your words and actions."
He wasn't unaware that Kim Cho-wan had been somewhat reluctant to go home lately, but he would deal with it gradually. In the meantime, he didn't want to ruin the atmosphere or disrupt the rhythm.
Although he valued the bond they shared growing up together, he wasn't one to tolerate everything.
Jiang Chen was met with Ran Xian's cold laugh.
When Li Xingen returned from shopping, he saw two men with cold faces who were not saying a word. He didn't care. After putting the food in the refrigerator, he immediately dialed Jin Chuwan's number.
"When are you coming back? Still working overtime?... What do you want for dinner? Anything is fine? Really, anything is fine..."
Upon hearing Li Xing'en's voice, Jiang Chen instinctively frowned in disgust.
Ran Xian, who was sitting on the sofa, also looked up, but he was looking at Jiang Chen.
"And this is... Jin Chuwan's housekeeper?"
Jiang Chen became even more irritated after hearing this: "You already know, why are you asking?"
He came here today hoping to spend some time alone with Jin Chuwan, but the person he wanted to see wasn't there. He also wasted a lot of breath because of Ran Xian's provocation, and then there was Li Xing'en, who seemed determined to stay here no matter what, clearly intending to be a third wheel.
That's fucking disgusting.
Jiang Chen suddenly understood why Jin Chuwan didn't want to go home.
However, this doesn't mean he accepts Kim Cho-man continuing to stay in the Sung family.
At this moment, Jiang Chen was already regretting not kicking the two people out from the beginning, but now that they were already inside, he could only patiently endure it.
Seeing that Jiang Chen was closing his eyes and didn't want to pay attention to anyone, Ran Xian smiled again. He glanced at Li Xing'en, who had already started working in the kitchen, and simply rolled up his sleeves and went over.
"So, does this housekeeper need any help?"
The two exchanged glances, then tacitly glanced at Jiang Chen, who was resting with his eyes closed. Li Xing'en lowered her head and smiled.
"Okay, then I'll have to trouble you."
--
It was already 7 p.m. when Jin Chuwan opened her door.
Because of what happened during the day, Cheng Xiucheng avoided her all day. Not only did he avoid her, but he also didn't sign a single word of the documents she gave him. The thought of his work being postponed to the next day made Jin Chuwan feel exhausted.
But even after things had come to this, his insistence on taking her home was what she couldn't understand the most.
"The documents I gave you really can't be delayed any longer. You absolutely have to see them tonight or tomorrow, okay?"
Cheng Xiucheng nodded impatiently, "I know, I know, how many times do you want me to say it..."
Jin Chuwan didn't know if he had listened to her, but she didn't care anymore. He should be able to handle his work on his own.
After giving her instructions, Kim Cho-man unbuckled her seatbelt and was about to get out of the car when Sung Soo-seung stopped her.
"Why are you suddenly going home? Are some friends visiting?"
When Jin Chuwan heard him ask this, she thought for a moment and sighed.
"I guess so. We're friends. Why don't you come up for a sit-down?"
Jin Chuwan was just asking casually, after all, this guy had been acting strangely all day.
But to my surprise, Sung Soo-seung agreed without much consideration.
"Since you've invited me, I'll gladly go up and have a seat."
At this point, Jin Chuwan didn't care anymore. Anyway, it was good to have more people. They could go home together after dinner, which would save her a lot of trouble.
But after she led Cheng Xiucheng upstairs, she was still startled.
Jiang Chen sat on the sofa with his legs crossed, watching TV. Xing En and Ran Xian, wearing aprons, seemed to be discussing how long the baking would take in the kitchen. The table was already full of dishes, as well as hot tea and milk.
Jin Chuwan was taken aback.
For a moment, I felt like she was the outsider...
Cheng Xiucheng followed behind her. He saw that Jin Chuwan had been standing at the door for a while without moving, so he gently pushed her.
At this moment, the people inside the house also noticed the doorway. Almost simultaneously, all three of them looked at Cheng Xiucheng, but their eyes were full of meaning.
Only Jiang Chen was relatively polite; he quickly suppressed his smile and greeted them.
"Brother Xiucheng".
Cheng Xiucheng felt a chill run down his spine for a moment under their gazes. He subconsciously looked at Ran Xian, then glanced at Jin Chuwan as if he had swallowed a fly.
Never mind, he'll just have to bear with it for now.
Jin Chuwan was hanging up her bag and didn't notice the people staring at her. When she turned around, the group was all smiles again.
Jin Chuwan had a vague feeling a long time ago that whenever there were many people around, they would be polite to each other and not bother her.
Now it seems that this is indeed the case.
While eating, Jin Chuwan glanced at the man squeezed next to her and her own studio apartment, and muttered to herself while biting her chopsticks...
"Should I move to a bigger house?"
Jiang Chen chuckled upon hearing this and handed the bowl of soup to Jin Chuwan. "Is it really necessary? Why not just move back to the old house? There's a driver at home, so it's convenient to go anywhere. Besides, you're always living alone outside, and your uncle, aunt, and I are worried about you."
Jiang Chen was genuinely worried; he wished he could stay by Jin Chuwan's side 24/7.
But after Jiang Chen finished speaking, Li Xing'en suddenly stopped smiling. He glanced at Jin Chuwan and looked a little disappointed: "If Auntie is willing, I have no objection. But if we get photographed and it causes any negative impact, Auntie may have to help me deal with it."
After all, he only recently made their relationship public, so the controversy shouldn't have died down yet.
The president of the Li Group's fiancée lives in the Jiang family's old mansion. If she were to be secretly photographed, it would definitely lead to a lot of speculation.
Jiang Chen glanced at Li Xing'en. The meal hadn't even started yet, and he already felt a little nauseous.
"That's right. Why do you want to live at someone else's house? Are you short of money? Do you want me to give you a raise?"
When Kim Cho-wan heard Sung Soo-seung's series of bewildered questions, she sighed and shook her head.
"No need, I'll take care of it myself, so you don't need to worry about it."
After she finished speaking, she abruptly ended the topic.
"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore, let's eat quickly."
After finishing her meal, she wanted to see these large Buddha statues off.
But after she left, her phone kept ringing. She was only thinking about moving, but Jiang Chen and the others seemed to take it to heart.
One moment it's a recommendation for a lakeside villa, the next it's a photo of a detached house in the woods. Jin Chuwan looked at the properties with prices no less than eight figures, and felt a mix of emotions.
She's not short of money, but she's not that rich either...
Speechless.
If she hadn't known they probably didn't do it on purpose, she would have blocked them long ago.
So in order to avoid being disturbed, Jin Chuwan kept a very low profile when she changed houses. She only looked at real estate information when she was alone, and she would go to see houses alone. However, after much deliberation, she finally bought a flat near the city center.
The apartment has a good layout, good natural light, good ventilation, and a wide view. It's ready to move in with just your suitcase. Most importantly, it's not far from hospitals and shopping malls, making life very convenient.
Jin Chuwan was very satisfied, and after a simple renovation, she prepared to move in.
However, on the day she checked in, she was surprised to see several familiar license plate numbers in the parking garage.
After she went upstairs in her sandals, she found several men at the door, carrying things as if they had been waiting for a long time.
Jiang Chen's face darkened slightly when he saw her return. Li Xing'en was carrying two bottles of red wine, probably a housewarming gift to congratulate her. Ran Xian was being extravagant today; he actually brought a bouquet of flowers. Cheng Xiucheng was alright, though, as he only brought his sister.
Cheng Ya also mentioned that she didn't come empty-handed this time, as she brought her own bowls and chopsticks.
Jin Chuwan swayed weakly, her smile somewhat forced.
This seems quite different from the life she imagined...
"Um, the password is my birthday, you can just open the door and come in..."
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