Free Web NovelChapter 769: Cannon Fodder in the Real World (Part 15)
Although she didn’t know why he was punished even after getting injured in the water, Jiang Lai didn’t really care.
This was just one of her most trivial childhood experiences, leaving a faint impression; she wouldn’t have remembered it had she not passed by this place again.
Shi Yubai watched Jiang Lai as she gazed at the fake mountain and asked.
"Do you remember this place?"
Jiang Lai glanced at him, her mind flooding with dramatic scenes.
"I remember. You... weren’t the one who fell in when we were little, were you?"
Shi Yubai looked at her and nodded with a smile.
"Yes, I almost drowned back then. You saved me with your... belt."
After speaking, he glanced at Jiang Lai’s waist.
Jiang Lai was still wearing the red dress from the evening banquet, but had taken off her jewelry.
Beside the fake mountain, a beam of light reflected on the water, coupled with Jiang Lai’s vivid attire, making her seem like a sprite sneaking into the human world, too beautiful to be real.
Jiang Lai looked down at her waist and touched her stomach.
"Your words reminded me, I’m hungry."
She hadn’t eaten much at the banquet; the appetizers were tiny, so small they might as well not have been eaten.
Shi Yubai smiled helplessly at her.
"I figured you’d be hungry. The meal is ready."
"Really? No wonder Uncle Huang says you’re smart; you truly are smart to have guessed this."
Who else could have noticed such things?
Shi Yubai simply watched her.
"I’m used to doing these things. Let’s go."
The dining room was next to the fake mountain, with a heavy round sandalwood table already set with an array of dishes, and two servants stood on either side, ready to pour tea.
Jiang Lai walked over, and a servant helped pull out her chair, offering mouth rinse and a hand towel.
Across from her, Shi Yubai picked up a cloth to gently wipe his fingers, his movements elegant and leisurely, complemented by his Tang-style attire, resembling a wealthy young man from the Republic era, whose presence drew one’s gaze naturally.
Jiang Lai looked at the dishes in front of her; each one was to her liking.
"Dad mentioned you enjoy spicy dishes. See if these suit your taste."
Jiang Lai nodded.
"They’re great, thank you."
"It’s no trouble. Dad said you’ll be staying here for a while; I’ve arranged a room for you nearby mine. If you need anything, feel free to have someone let me know.
Go ahead and eat."
His tone was light and slow, but not to the point of causing impatience. freewēbnoveℓ.com
Even Mr. Huang, with his fiery temper, could calmly listen to his arrangements, let alone Jiang Lai.
During the meal, Shi Yubai only ate a few mild dishes in front of him, paired with a bowl of porridge, hardly touching anything else.
Seeing Jiang Lai look at him, the man explained proactively.
"I don’t consume too many carbs at night."
Despite being so wealthy, his lifestyle remained disciplined and simple.
Jiang Lai glanced at the jade ring on his thumb before lowering her head again to continue eating.
"What’s wrong? Do you like my ring?"
"Who doesn’t like jade? Your ring is quite unique and makes your hand look very fair."
Jade is very discerning on skin tone; high-quality, clear, and flawless jade only complements white skin, making it appear even whiter like jade.
Jiang Lai wasn’t particularly fixated on hands, but she subconsciously kept noticing Shi Yubai’s hands.
They were so perfect and delicate that they seemed to blend seamlessly with the jade ring.
Even the exquisite jade couldn’t compare to the perfection of his hand.
Jiang Lai felt it was improper and gradually diverted her attention to focusing on her meal.
Shi Yubai, raising his cup to drink tea, glanced at Jiang Lai with his head slightly tilted.
After finishing his drink, he smiled gently.
He was just as he was in childhood, a porcelain doll carved from powder and jade.
After dinner, Jiang Lai wandered around the courtyard twice before returning indoors to rest.
Mr. Huang wasn’t well, and the entire residence had to be filled with special incense, which had healing effects, so the incense master would come home weekly to light it in designated sections of the house, accompanying Mr. Huang.
Jiang Lai’s room had it too.
The incense master followed Shi Yubai to light incense for Jiang Lai.
"This is sandalwood; it has a mild, soothing fragrance with calming effects. Miss Jiang looks very thoughtful, so this scent can help stabilize your sleep."
As he spoke, the incense master placed the prepared incense by the windowsill.
The sill was close to Jiang Lai’s bed, and upon rising, she could see a gentle plume of smoke ascending slowly.
Silent, tranquil.
Shi Yubai handed a wooden token to Jiang Lai.
"This is the pass for the residence; some places will be inaccessible without it, so keep it on you."
Mr. Huang was distrustful and had many enemies, and any careless action could cause life-threatening harm, hence the checkpoints set around the house that most people couldn’t pass.
Jiang Lai nodded.
At night, the quiet, empty room faintly echoed the calls of birds outside.
The ethereal sound of cuckoos.
Unable to sleep, Jiang Lai chatted with Little Buding. freewebnøvel.coɱ
"Shi Yubai is truly good-looking, indistinguishable between genders, but people like him usually differ in appearance and reality; Jiang Lai, don’t get fooled by appearances."
"Who’s really being fooled here? Staring and drooling over him all day.
President Ding, you might be... the other way around. Ignoring beautiful girls, you only have eyes for handsome guys?"
"Nonsense! Officially certified straight man! Say that again, I’ll sue you for slander."
Judging by Little Buding’s defensive tone, he probably wasn’t the other way.
Jiang Lai turned over, watching the wisps of smoke on the windowsill like a stationary white ribbon, with a soft fragrance permeating her senses.
Later, she didn’t even know when she fell asleep.
She woke up to find daylight already breaking outside.
Her phone showed several missed calls, and upon checking, they were all from Jiang Xun.
Sure enough, just as she opened her phone, another call came through.
"Why didn’t you come home last night? First Brother, Second Brother, and Third Brother were all worried about you."
"Do I have to report whether I come home or not? If you have something to say, say it. If not, I’m hanging up."
"Don’t hang up; it’s the quarterly shareholder meeting, and since you have the most shares, you need to attend. It’s today, and you have to go, or the other shareholders won’t be pleased."
"Got it."
Jiang Lai hung up the phone, and as she got up, she suddenly realized she hadn’t brought clothes, nor had she showered last night, just as she intended to wash up in the bathroom, there were several sets of clothes hanging to the side.
All were in modern Chinese style, some dresses, some pants, made from excellent material and feeling incredibly smooth and comfortable to the touch.
After showering, Jiang Lai chose a modern Chinese short top and matched it with a silk skirt, her waist adorned with a heavy jade ring embedded with a fan-shaped mountain design in the center, clearly a testament to the jade carver master’s skill.
To complement the outfit, Jiang Lai casually tied her hair in a bun at the back with a hairpin.
