Chapter 27: Mr. Xie’s Unwelcome, Apologies for the Intrusion

"Senior Lin?" Jiang Li was also quite surprised when she recognized the person.

Lin Pu was a year ahead of her. When she was about to graduate, he had gone abroad to study.

She didn't expect to run into him again today.

Lin Pu walked forward, his eyes filled with amazement as he looked at Jiang Li, who had become even more beautiful. "I didn't expect you to still remember me."

Jiang Li gave a polite smile. "Senior Lin was quite famous at school, it would have been hard not to remember you."

Upon hearing this, Lin Pu's face flushed, and he became a little embarrassed. "Ah, please don't say that, it makes me feel shy."

His gaze shifted, and when he saw Lu Ziyang standing next to Jiang Li, his expression froze for a moment. "This is...?"

"My younger brother," Jiang Li replied.

Lin Pu's eyes lit up again. "Your brother is really handsome. I thought he was your boyfriend."

Jiang Li gave him a faint look. "Senior, you're joking."

"Junior, are you here to take a job at the school?" Lin Pu quickly changed the subject, noticing Jiang Li didn't want to talk about that topic.

"No," Jiang Li maintained her distant attitude, "I'm here to accompany my brother for the competition."

"The robot competition?" Lin Pu's interest was piqued instantly when he heard Jiang Li. "What a coincidence, someone from our school is also participating."

"And I'm on the judging committee for this competition. Don't worry, I'll make sure to look out for your brother."

Upon hearing this, a hint of displeasure crossed Jiang Li's face, and her voice grew colder. "Senior, my brother is capable of winning everything on his own. You don't need to trouble yourself."

With that, Jiang Li grabbed Lu Ziyang's arm and turned to leave, but Lin Pu blocked their path.

"Junior, Junior, I'm sorry! I misspoke, please don't be upset."

"Please move aside, we have things to do," Jiang Li's expression was cold, and her tone was sharp, clearly not wanting to continue the conversation.

Lin Pu felt very awkward. Reluctantly, he stepped aside, muttering, "Your personality hasn't changed at all."

Jiang Li didn't pay him any more attention and pulled Lu Ziyang away.

Watching Jiang Li's retreating figure, Lin Pu's smile faded, and his gaze turned darker.

Jiang Li, back in school, you were always cold to me.

Now that I have my own career, I won't believe I can't win you over.

On the way back, Jiang Li's mood was still quite low.

Lu Ziyang sat in the passenger seat, looking at her with concern. "Sister, are you okay? Is it because of Senior Lin?"

Jiang Li blinked and turned the steering wheel. "I can't stand what he said."

"It made it sound like we were taking shortcuts. You don't need anyone's help to succeed."

Hearing this, Lu Ziyang felt a surge of emotion in his heart. "Sister, do you really believe in me that much?"

"Of course!" Jiang Li didn't hesitate, "You managed to create such impressive robots at your age, I naturally believe in you."

"Don't take Senior Lin's words to heart, and don't let him affect your mood, okay?"

Lu Ziyang felt a slight sting in his nose. For the first time in his life, someone unconditionally believed in him, was willing to stand up for him, and felt upset for him. It made him very happy.

Even his parents had never been as firm in standing by him as Jiang Li was now.

"Sister, thank you." The young man slightly raised his chin, his eyes full of a joyful smile. "You're the first person to be so sure of me."

"Silly." Jiang Li reached up and ruffled his hair, her gaze never leaving the road ahead. "You're amazing."

When they returned to the apartment, Xie Huaichu hadn't come back yet, so Jiang Li went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

Once dinner was ready, the two sat at the dining table waiting for Xie Huaichu.

"Sister, how long until my brother comes back?" Lu Ziyang slumped on the table, his little face drooping.

His gaze was fixed on the delicious food, and he couldn't help but swallow his saliva.

Jiang Li was chatting with Fang Ruan. Upon hearing his words, she looked up at him and innocently shook her head. "I'm not sure either."

"Didn't you ask him?" Lu Ziyang asked without thinking.

"No." Jiang Li answered casually, "He's grown up, he shouldn't get lost, right?"

Lu Ziyang: "…"

It seems that his brother's pursuit of his wife was indeed a bit difficult.

"Why don't you call him and ask?" Lu Ziyang suggested as he slowly composed himself.

"Alright." Jiang Li thought for a moment. It seemed like it was time to give him a call.

She opened her contact list and was about to press the call button when the sound of a key turning in the door lock interrupted her.

The two of them looked over simultaneously, and Xie Huaichu walked in carrying a briefcase.

"Brother, you're finally back. Sister was so worried, I was just about to call you."

Lu Ziyang spoke first, and his words were delivered quite smoothly.

Jiang Li: "…"

When did I worry? This kid is making up stories.

"Sorry to make you worry." Xie Huaichu put his briefcase down and walked over to Jiang Li. He lowered his gaze to her and spoke softly.

"I wasn't worried, you misunderstood—"

"Hey, brother, stop standing there and sit down. Look at the table full of food sister made."

"It's so delicious and beautiful, you have to eat a few more bowls tonight, or you'll be disrespecting sister's efforts."

Lu Ziyang quickly interrupted Jiang Li's attempt to spoil the mood, and he was pouring all his words into Xie Huaichu.

Sister had thought so much for him, so he had to repay her properly. He was truly a genius.

If Jiang Li knew what he was scheming, she'd probably be so mad she'd spit blood.

Xie Huaichu listened to Lu Ziyang and looked at the delicious dinner. The fatigue he had felt earlier seemed to vanish in an instant.

He, of course, knew that the young lady wasn't really as worried about him as Lu Ziyang claimed.

But he didn't want to expose the truth. Even if everything was a false pretense created by Lu Ziyang, he was happy to accept it, wanting to believe it was real.

"I've been busy all afternoon. I'm really hungry," Xie Huaichu said, sitting down and serving Jiang Li a bowl of rice before picking up his chopsticks to eat.

Jiang Li accidentally noticed the weariness in his eyes, and her heart twinged with pain.

She had agreed to try dating him, so shouldn't she show a little concern for him?

But if she did that, what should she do when the three-month deadline comes and she has to let go?

Jiang Li suppressed her inner turmoil and ate her food without much taste.

The three of them all stayed on the second floor. Xie Huaichu's bedroom was in the middle, with Jiang Li's room on the right and Lu Ziyang's on the left.

After washing up, Xie Huaichu wore a black bathrobe.

The collar was open, revealing his bronzed skin and well-defined muscles. His physique was toned and perfect.

With broad shoulders, a slim waist, and long legs, his proportions were ideal.

He was wiping his short hair with a towel, sitting on the sofa while opening his laptop, ready to organize the materials he had learned today.

There was a knock on the door, and he furrowed his brow instinctively, thinking it was Lu Ziyang coming to bother him because he was bored.

With a cold face, he walked over to open the door and said in a cool tone, "What's going on so late? What do you want now?"

Jiang Li, holding a bowl of soup, was about to speak when she heard his words. She frowned slightly.

"Seems like Mr. Xie isn't very welcoming. Sorry for the disturbance."

"No, A Li, let me explain." Xie Huaichu saw her turning to leave and hurriedly reached out to grab her.

Jiang Li stepped aside first, her expression displeased. "No need to explain, there's no need."

The little girl angrily walked downstairs, her lips pouting, clearly feeling wronged.

She had thought of making him a soup he liked, thinking he might be tired from work, but it seemed he didn't even care.

Tch, men...

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