Chapter 100: Finding an Excuse for Shengye

Yu Xi noticed that Zhai Yunsheng and Jian Yiling had both headed to the kitchen, and given the delicate situation that had just developed, he felt the need to address the sudden increase in numbers. He turned to the rest of the group, offering an apology: 

"I'm really sorry. I didn't know Uncle Jian and the rest of you would be here today, so we only bought enough food for five people..."

What had originally been planned as a small barbecue for five had unexpectedly swelled to a gathering of eleven.

He Yan was quick to jump in, eager not to miss out on the opportunity of dining with Shengye (Zhai Yunsheng). 

"If you don't mind us joining in, Xiao Xi, I'll take care of the extra food arrangements. It'd be my pleasure."

She was determined to seize any chance she had to spend time with Zhai Yunsheng, and having a rare meal with him was not something she was going to pass up.

With a polite smile, Yu Xi responded, 

"Auntie, you're too kind. This is the Jian family's home, of course we don't mind. I'll leave the rest of the food arrangements to you then, and I'll head to the kitchen to help out."

With that, Yu Xi grabbed the remaining ingredients and made his way into the kitchen.

Once inside, he found Jian Yiling wielding a large chef's knife, diligently slicing the various cuts of meat they had bought. Each piece was sliced with precision—thin and even, except for the steaks, which were cut thicker. Jian Yujie, meanwhile, was clumsily working his way through a tray of scallops, his movements revealing just how unfamiliar he was with this kind of task. Zhai Yunsheng stood by casually, watching the two of them work without lifting a finger.

Seeing Jian Yiling handling such a large knife, Yu Xi had an instinctive urge to grab it from her hands and replace it with a smaller, more manageable one. The oversized cleaver seemed a bit much for her petite frame. But then, he recalled the past few days when Jian Yiling had completely outclassed him in everything—whether it was in games or practical skills. So, instead of stepping in, he wisely decided to cheer her on from the sidelines. After all, when being "carried" by her, it was better to just sit back and go along with it.

Recently, Yu Xi had started calling Jian Yiling "Ling Shen" (God of Ling) as a playful nickname. The first time she "carried" him in a game, he had been completely dazed by her skill. By the second time, he had gotten used to it and had even started buttering her up, showering her with compliments as they played. His flattery ranged from praising Zhai Yunsheng with "Shengye, you're amazing!" to casually exclaiming, "Ling Shen, you're blowing my mind with your skills!" He had quickly gotten the hang of playing the supportive role.

Looking at the neat slices of meat Jian Yiling had prepared, Yu Xi realized he had been worrying for nothing. Her knife skills were solid, far superior to his own, and if it were him trying to cut the meat, it would probably look more like a mangled mess than anything remotely presentable.

However, Yu Xi's thoughts soon drifted to another concern. He, along with Zhai Yunsheng, knew all about the complicated relationship between Jian Yiling and Jian Yunzhao. Jian Yunzhao was just outside, and Yu Xi wondered how Ling Shen was feeling. Was she upset by her brother's presence?

Thinking this over, Yu Xi decided to offer a solution. 

"Um, Xiao Ling... if you're uncomfortable, how about we head out and eat somewhere else? Shengye can come up with a reason for us to leave."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than he was met with a sharp, disapproving glance from Zhai Yunsheng.

Feeling a bit sheepish, Yu Xi scratched the back of his head. He knew his own suggestions wouldn't carry much weight—it would take someone like Zhai Yunsheng to make the excuse work. After all, Zhai Yunsheng was notorious for doing whatever he wanted, while Yu Xi was known for being well-behaved and obedient. How could he, someone so famously compliant, suggest running off with the neighbor's younger sister?

Jian Yujie, having paused his work with the scallops, seemed to catch on to the tension as well. He wasn't fully aware of all the family dynamics, but he had heard bits and pieces and could certainly sense the strange atmosphere from earlier. He chimed in, agreeing with Yu Xi's suggestion, 

"Yeah, Yu Xi's got a point. We could always head out somewhere else to eat."

However, Jian Yiling shook her head gently. 

"No, it's fine," she said quietly.

Jian Yiling understood perfectly well why her parents had brought Jian Yunzhao along today. They wanted her and Jian Yunzhao to try to coexist peacefully. If she had a confrontation with her brother now, it would only hurt everyone involved—her grandparents, especially, would be upset.

Seeing that Jian Yiling had no intention of leaving, Yu Xi turned his attention toward Zhai Yunsheng, silently hoping that he might step in and offer some comforting words. After all, Zhai Yunsheng had shown concern for Ling Shen before. But instead, Zhai Yunsheng leaned lazily against the kitchen counter, his back resting against the sink, and said, 

"Don't look at me. I'm just here to eat."

His casual, almost indifferent response left Yu Xi momentarily at a loss. 

It was clear that Zhai Yunsheng had no intention of interfering. He was as laid-back as ever, unwilling to let anything disturb the plans for the barbecue. Yu Xi sighed internally. While Shengye might be famous for his whims, he wasn't someone who easily got dragged into family dramas unless he had a personal stake in them.