Chapter 78 Explanation
The manor's security guards recognized the three big shots immediately. They turned pale with fright, nearly dropping their walkie-talkies. Not daring to stop them, they hurriedly and respectfully opened the gate, not daring to even raise their heads, lest they meet the three tycoons' gaze.
Three figures entered the manor one after the other, heading straight for the living room.
Their footsteps were exceptionally clear in the quiet manor, like the tolling of some kind of alarm bell, startling the night insects by the roadside into silence.
In the living room, Su Jiaojiao was watching the climax of a comedy, laughing so hard she was doubled over. Her rabbit plush toy was bent out of shape from being hugged so tightly, revealing its snow-white fur. Her laughter was clear and melodious, like wind chimes swaying in the breeze, but it stopped abruptly the moment three figures stepped into the living room.
It wasn't until a chilling aura swept over her, carrying the distinct scents of three men—the cold aroma of cigars from Lu Jinyuan, the scent of ink from Jiang Yi, and the pine scent from Gu Yanchen—that she subconsciously raised her head.
When she saw the three imposing men at the door, her smile froze instantly. The corners of her mouth remained slightly upturned, but the smile in her eyes vanished completely.
The popcorn in his hand fell to the ground with a "clatter," scattering golden kernels like stars across the floor, but no one paid any attention.
"Why...why are you here?" Su Jiaojiao asked, somewhat bewildered.
She instinctively pulled her robe tighter, partially concealing her exposed skin, and sat up straight, a bad premonition rising in her heart. She could feel that the aura of these three men was colder and more frightening than ever before.
Lu Jinyuan stepped in first, his gaze falling on her wet, long hair, on the delicate skin revealed by the collar of her robe, and on her flushed cheeks. The coldness in his eyes intensified, as if he wanted to melt her away.
He didn't speak, but simply showed her his phone screen, which prominently displayed the photo of Lin Xingche peeling shrimp for her, accompanied by a jarring caption: "Lin Group heir meets girlfriend with parents; a perfect match, the envy of all."
Jiang Yi followed closely behind, pushing up his glasses, the lenses reflecting a cold light. His voice was low, carrying a hint of suppressed anger, as if squeezed from the depths of his throat:
"Jiaojiao, everyone's saying you're Xingche's girlfriend, and that you even met his parents with him?" He deliberately emphasized the words "girlfriend" and "met his parents," his jealousy practically overflowing.
Gu Yanchen stood at the back, his gaze fixed on Su Jiaojiao's face, as if trying to see a flower bloom on her skin, his tone icy cold:
"Jiaojiao, shouldn't you give us an explanation?"
His voice carried a hint of barely perceptible grievance, like that of a large, abandoned dog, yet stubbornly maintaining a hard, cold exterior.
Three people, three pairs of eyes, all staring at her, their gazes a mixture of jealousy, accusation, and grievance, almost overwhelming her.
The air in the living room seemed to freeze, even the laughter from the comedy on TV...
They all became exceptionally jarring.
Su Jiaojiao finally realized what was happening. She slapped her forehead in frustration, making a crisp sound, and cursed Lin Xingche a thousand times in her heart. She knew it; that kid was definitely up to no good. Pretending to be her girlfriend, only meeting the parents once—it was clearly a trap he was setting for her to fall into.
As expected, it caused quite a commotion, even alarming these three.
"It's not what you think!" Su Jiaojiao quickly explained.
She stood up from the sofa, the hem of her robe swaying gently with her movement, revealing her slender, fair ankles.
"Xingche and I are like that. His parents were pressuring him to get married, arranging blind dates for him every few days. He couldn't take it anymore, so he asked me to pretend to be his girlfriend. We only met each other's parents once, really."
Her voice was urgent and rapid, tinged with panic.
She looked just like a wronged little rabbit, her eyes clear and innocent as she looked at the three of them, trying to convince them of her words.
Lu Jinyuan's gaze fell on her flustered face, on her slightly reddened eyes. The barely contained anger in her eyes seemed to be extinguished by a bucket of cold water, gradually dissipating.
He carefully observed her expression, a hint of hesitation flashing in his deep black eyes. He knew Su Jiaojiao; she never lied, much less joked about something like this.
Jiang Yi also sensed that something was wrong.
Su Jiaojiao's eyes were too clear, too flustered, to seem like she was lying.
He recalled Su Jiaojiao's usual attitude towards Lin Xingche; it was clearly like how she treated a younger brother, with a hint of helplessness and indulgence, where was there even a trace of romantic affection? He pushed up his glasses, the coldness in his eyes fading slightly, replaced by a trace of guilt.
Gu Yanchen believed it instantly.
He knew Su Jiaojiao too well. If she really had something going on with Lin Xingche, she wouldn't be so flustered. Looking at her distressed expression, his anger instantly vanished, replaced by overwhelming heartache. He even began to regret how harshly he had questioned her earlier.
The atmosphere in the living room gradually eased from tense to relaxed.
Lu Jinyuan put away his phone, the cigar between his fingers still unlit.
He stepped forward, his tall figure looming over Su Jiaojiao, bringing a strong sense of security. He reached out and gently brushed the popcorn crumbs from her cheek, his voice low and husky, carrying a hint of barely perceptible tenderness:
"So, you're just helping him?"
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