Chapter 39
Lu Chenghe had always loved stirring up trouble for the sake of entertainment. Hearing that, he immediately added, “Jiang Mi, since you’ve already been found out, just admit it.”
Jiang Mi: “…”
It took Jiang Mi a long time to explain to Zou Ke that although Liang Jinyi had absolutely no blood relation to him, he really was his little brother.
Although judging by the look in Zou Ke’s eyes, he apparently hadn’t explained it very clearly after all.
Jiang Mi temporarily gave up on trying. Time would prove everything anyway.
The class reunion lasted until eleven that night before everyone gradually said their goodbyes, promising to meet again next time.
Jiang Mi was in a very good mood. His old classmates were all doing well. Even Sun Tianwang, whom he had once been quite worried about, had finally moved on from the accident at his wedding. He and his wife were now actively trying for a baby, hoping to have a child as adorable as Zhang Rui’s daughter.
Jiang Mi walked to the parking lot, unlocked the car with his key, and still had a smile on his lips as he opened the driver’s-side door.
“Brother…” Liang Jinyi couldn’t help calling out to him while fastening his seat belt.
Jiang Mi turned his head, his eyes openly smiling. “What is it?”
Liang Jinyi stared straight at him and said, “You’re really wonderful.”
Although Liang Jinyi was only seventeen, he had already experienced quite a lot. Liang Hong and Liang Xuping had also taken him to various banquets before. In truth, most people in this world would not genuinely feel happy simply because someone else was doing well.
Human nature was inherently flawed. People yearned to be admired, pursued, and praised.
But his Brother was genuinely happy that his old classmates were living good lives, even though he wasn’t particularly close to some of them.
Liang Jinyi had always liked praising him, so Jiang Mi smiled, started the engine, and said, “Mm-hm. Brother knows. Brother is wonderful in every way.”
Jiang Mi was going back to his parents’ house on Saturday, while Liang Hong had another business trip that weekend. Even if Liang Jinyi returned to the Liang residence, there would only be servants there, so he had no intention of going back that week. Jiang Mi simply brought him along.
In the blink of an eye, it was Monday again.
After school on Monday afternoon, Liang Jinyi waved goodbye to Zhu Yurui at the school gate. With his backpack slung over one shoulder, he headed toward Shimao Tingfang while thinking about what groceries he should buy and what to cook for Brother that evening.
Suddenly, his steps came to an abrupt halt.
He turned around.
He and Zhu Yurui had left the classroom a few minutes late, so there were fewer people at the school gate than there had been five or six minutes earlier. Even so, plenty of students and parents were still coming and going.
Liang Jinyi’s gaze lingered on the crowd behind him for a while before he withdrew it and continued striding toward Shimao Tingfang.
The next afternoon, after school, Liang Jinyi once again parted ways with Zhu Yurui at the school gate.
But just as he was about to reach the corner of the street, his body froze for a second.
**
The dishes Liang Jinyi had planned for that day were pan-fried chicken with green peppers, plum-flavored pork ribs, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and steamed sea bass.
The moment Jiang Mi stepped through the door, he caught the fragrant smell of pork ribs.
He took off his overcoat and suit jacket, hung them by the entrance, changed into slippers, and walked toward the kitchen. Liang Jinyi called for him to carry the dishes out so they could eat dinner.
Jiang Mi had worked a little overtime that day and didn’t get home until nearly seven thirty. By then, Liang Jinyi had already finished making dinner.
Jiang Mi smiled and answered, “Okay.”
But during dinner, Jiang Mi noticed that Liang Jinyi seemed preoccupied. He was eating much more slowly than usual.
After dinner, Jiang Mi washed the dishes, dried his hands, and came out of the kitchen. He saw Liang Jinyi sitting on the sofa in the living room. The television was on, but Liang Jinyi wasn’t looking at it.
Jiang Mi frowned slightly and sat down beside him.
After observing him for a moment, he asked, “Jinyi, did something happen today?”
Liang Jinyi looked up at him.
He stared at Jiang Mi for a moment, then suddenly said, “Brother, I feel like someone has been watching me after school these past two days.”
“Watching you?” Jiang Mi looked puzzled. “A girl with a crush on you?”
Hearing that, the corner of Liang Jinyi’s lips lifted slightly.
“Maybe.”
A hint of confusion appeared in his eyes as he asked, “Why does Brother think it’s a girl who has a crush on me?”
Jiang Mi looked Liang Jinyi up and down, amusement in his voice. “Jinyi, do you not know what you look like?”
Liang Jinyi stared deeply at him for a while, then smiled. “Brother, I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“It was a compliment,” Jiang Mi said.
Liang Jinyi then added, “But I don’t think the person secretly watching me likes me.”
“No?” Jiang Mi’s brows shifted slightly as he began to think more carefully.
Liang Jinyi was a high school student, so when he heard someone had been secretly watching him, Jiang Mi’s first thought was naturally that it was a female classmate with a crush on him. After all, his little brother was exceptionally good-looking.
But Liang Jinyi said it wasn’t a girl who liked him.
Although Jiang Mi specialized in economic law, some of his university classmates worked in criminal litigation, and a few even worked in the courts. Because of this, Jiang Mi was more sensitive to such matters than the average person.
His expression turned serious.
“Jinyi, have you told your father about this?”
“Hm?” Liang Jinyi looked confused.
Jiang Mi frowned deeply. “Maybe I’m being overly paranoid, but right now…” His tone grew heavier. “Although criminal activity has decreased significantly compared with previous years, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. And your father’s company isn’t exactly small.”
Afraid that his words might frighten the younger boy, Jiang Mi added, “Brother is only saying it’s a possibility. Maybe I’m overthinking it. How about this? Call your father first and ask whether he’s offended anyone in business recently.”
Jiang Mi had dealt with too many people in the business world.
He admitted that there were indeed some refined, principled businessmen whose sense of social responsibility and morality was stronger than that of ordinary people.
But there were also others whose original sources of capital did not bear close examination.
Most people who succeeded in entrepreneurship possessed a ruthlessness and courage that ordinary people lacked.
Liang Jinyi looked at the worry appearing between Jiang Mi’s brows.
A delighted sound escaped his throat as he suddenly moved closer to Jiang Mi. His dark eyes locked tightly onto Jiang Mi’s.
“Brother, are you that worried about me?”
After saying that, his voice suddenly took on a teasing lilt.
“Brother, I’ll tell you. The person secretly watching me is a woman. It probably has nothing to do with a crime.”
Jiang Mi’s expression instantly became complicated, and his face darkened.
At that moment, Liang Jinyi suddenly buried his head against Jiang Mi’s neck and began acting spoiled in an aggrieved voice.
“Brother, don’t be angry. I just wanted to see whether you cared about me and worried about me. I know I was wrong. I shouldn’t have scared you.”
Jiang Mi had originally really wanted to flick Liang Jinyi hard on the forehead.
His little brother was getting more and more outrageous.
Just now, Jiang Mi had already been considering whether he should personally drive him to and from school every day. He had even thought that personally picking him up might still not be safe enough and had begun mentally going through reputable security companies, intending to hire several bodyguards to protect his little brother around the clock.
And now Liang Jinyi was telling him that he had only been teasing him.
Jiang Mi felt that Liang Jinyi really needed to be taught a lesson.
But at that moment, Liang Jinyi was once again burying his face against his neck and acting spoiled. The young man’s slightly magnetic voice drifted stickily from Jiang Mi’s shoulder.
Then Liang Jinyi raised his head.
His features were delicate and refined, his nose high and straight. When he wasn’t smiling or showing any expression, he was beautiful in a cold, sharp, almost glamorous way.
But now, as he looked at Jiang Mi pitifully, none of that fierce, cold aura could be seen at all.
He only looked like a child who ought to be indulged and spoiled.
Jiang Mi took a deep breath.
Then, without the slightest mercy, he reached out and thoroughly mussed the young man’s fluffy black hair.
“You…”
Seeing that Jiang Mi really couldn’t bear to stay angry with him, Liang Jinyi buried his head again, resting his chin on Jiang Mi’s shoulder and gently rubbing against him while clingily calling, “Brother.”
“All right, all right. Once you’re done acting spoiled, go do your test papers. Little Liang Jinyi, your final exams are coming up.”
Jiang Mi did think it was strange for a seventeen-year-old boy to keep acting spoiled all the time, but he also respected individual differences.
After all, there was no law saying that boys weren’t allowed to act spoiled.
So after letting the young man rub against his shoulder for a while, Jiang Mi finally reminded him.
“Mm. I’ll go in five minutes.”
When Liang Jinyi said five minutes, he meant five minutes.
Five minutes later, he obediently got up, brought out his test papers, and did his homework in the living room.
Liang Jinyi’s good mood lasted until the following afternoon.
As the end of the school day approached, his mood gradually became irritable.
Zhu Yurui was nowhere near as observant as Jiang Mi, so naturally he noticed nothing. As usual, he waved goodbye to Brother Liang at the school gate before getting into his family’s car.
Liang Jinyi slung his backpack over one shoulder and walked toward Shimao Tingfang.
When he reached the intersection, he suddenly stopped.
He looked at the woman standing in front of him.
When the woman saw that Liang Jinyi had actually stopped after noticing her, joy flashed across her face.
Excitedly, she said, “Shenshen—no, Jin… Jinyi. You really do remember me.”
**
When Jiang Mi came home from work, he took off his coat, changed his shoes, and headed toward the kitchen while asking what Jinyi had made that day.
But the moment the words left his mouth, Jiang Mi saw that the kitchen was empty.
He strode inside.
The counters were spotless, without even the slightest sign that anyone had prepared ingredients there.
Jiang Mi then headed toward Liang Jinyi’s room and called his name several times, but still received no answer.
Once he confirmed that Liang Jinyi wasn’t home, Jiang Mi took out his phone and hurriedly called his little brother.
The call was answered quickly.
Hearing Liang Jinyi call him “Brother,” Jiang Mi relaxed slightly. Then he asked whether Liang Jinyi had gone back to the Liang residence that day and why he hadn’t told him in advance.
“Something urgent came up suddenly. I forgot to tell Brother,” Liang Jinyi said.
Then he reminded Jiang Mi that if he ordered takeout, he should remember to choose something nutritious.
“All right, all right, I know, Little Housekeeper,” Jiang Mi said with a laugh.
The two exchanged a few more words before hanging up.
Wen Mengli watched him end the call.
She was sitting across from Liang Jinyi. A slightly ingratiating smile appeared on her face, revealing the dimple in her right cheek.
“You called him Brother? Was that Liang Xuping on the phone? Are you two close?”
Liang Jinyi didn’t answer any of her questions.
He only asked, “Why did you come looking for me?”
