Free Web NovelChapter 382: Chapter 382: Yue Ming 32
Liuu Yuming was very straightforward. "Sure. If it’s convenient, I’d like to visit your company. Of course, you’re welcome to see where I work, too, if you’re curious."
"It’s convenient, definitely convenient." Xu Jia really liked Liuu Yuming’s candid nature; she wasn’t coy in the slightest. He agreed with her way of thinking. They weren’t teenagers anymore; getting to know each other was ultimately about seeing if they could build a life together.
Building a life together ultimately came down to the realities of everyday life, so it was only natural to consider all aspects. Besides a person’s character, material conditions were also important.
’After all, you can’t have a woman who’s doing just fine on her own see her quality of life drop after getting together with you, can you?’
"A spacious apartment like this is so nice. The view is so expansive," Liuu Yuming remarked, standing before the floor-to-ceiling windows. "I should buy a spacious apartment for Little Min, too. It’s a shame the place I’m renovating right now is a little small."
Xu Jia found Liuu Yuming remarkably bold. "Time to start dinner. I’ll get the soup going first."
Liuu Yuming sat down at the bar counter. "It’s still hard to believe. A big-shot CEO like you knows how to cook. You’re giving off some serious husband material vibes."
"’Husband material?’" Xu Jia glanced sideways at Liuu Yuming, clearly getting her meaning. "Quite the wordsmith, aren’t you?"
"That’s not important," Liuu Yuming said with a wave of her hand. "I’m going to look around a bit more. Can I peek inside the study?"
"Of course. It’s not like this is some top-secret military base. There aren’t that many places you can’t go," Xu Jia said with a smile. The more at ease Liuu Yuming acted around him, the happier he felt.
Liuu Yuming didn’t hide the fact that she and Xu Jia were getting to know each other from Liuu Jun. She told him when he came by the shop that day. Liuu Jun wiped a hand over his face. "I’m gone for just over two weeks, and you’re already getting to know each other? How far have things gone?" fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
Liuu Yuming glanced at him. "We’re just having meals together. What do you mean, ’how far have things gone’? And another thing, I’m your older sister. Are you trying to boss me around now?"
Liuu Jun retorted, "It’s because you look so gullible! Don’t I have a right to be worried? I’m telling you, you have to be home before ten p.m."
Liuu Yuming rolled her eyes. "Give me a break. My daughter is fourteen years old. You’re a guy who’s never even been married, and you’re giving me a curfew? I’m not some naive little girl."
"I think you know *too* much, that’s the problem!" Liuu Jun retorted, practically hopping in frustration. "I thought Xu Jia seemed like a decent guy, but I didn’t expect that old geezer to make a move so quickly..."
"How is he an ’old geezer’? He’s only five years older than me." Liuu Yuming couldn’t listen to any more of this. "Why do I get the feeling you have such a huge problem with him?"
"You’re thirty-four, he’s thirty-nine—he’ll be forty soon." Liuu Jun paced back and forth in the office. "He’s that much older than you, and they say men don’t live as long. He’s so busy all the time, what if one day..."
"The more you talk, the more outrageous you sound," Liuu Yuming said, swatting Liuu Jun on the arm. "The man is in great health! Do you understand you’re basically cursing him when you say things like that? We’re nowhere near that point. We’re just getting to know each other’s character, background, and lifestyle."
"And for that matter, if you’re so worried about me, why don’t you spend more time planning for your own future? You’re thirty-one now..."
"Besides, if I were to actually date someone younger than me, people would have even more reason to worry."
Liuu Jun’s face went from pale to flushed. He still felt uneasy. "Nope. Starting today, I’m moving back home..."
Liuu Yuming rolled her eyes again. ’Seriously, is this Liuu Jun’s belated rebellious phase? What haven’t I experienced? And here’s Liuu Jun, the one who’s experienced absolutely nothing, worrying about me?’
"So Liuu Jun called me an ’old geezer’?" Xu Jia laced his fingers together under his chin, his eyes narrowing with a dangerous glint.
"Don’t pay him any mind. He’s just been in a foul mood lately, finding fault with everyone," Liuu Yuming said, trying to placate him. "It’s better for a man to be mature. I’d rather not be with a younger guy; they’re not as steady."
"Besides, I don’t want to have to worry about someone else, and I don’t want to be anyone’s caretaker."
’She had just been casually sharing what Liuu Jun had said. Seeing Xu Jia’s reaction now, she decided there was no need to bring up the part about men not living as long. After all, Xu Jia was clearly sensitive about being older than her; telling him that would just be rubbing salt in the wound.’
Xu Jia was easily placated. He didn’t consider himself an easygoing person, but whenever Liuu Yuming smiled at him and said a few words, his mood would instantly brighten.
"A ten o’clock curfew, too," Xu Jia thought for a moment, then couldn’t help but laugh. "Do I really seem that untrustworthy?"
"No," Liuu Yuming said, regretting she’d brought it up. "He’s just worried about me. We’ve been close since we were kids, after all. And even though I’m a few years older, Liuu Jun has always been very protective of me."
Xu Jia huffed. ’He never would have imagined that Liuu Min wouldn’t be the one to give him a hard time. Instead, it was this younger cousin who was kicking up the biggest fuss.’
"Well, if you’re busy, I’ll head home," Liuu Yuming said, checking the time. "Jun said he’s coming over for dinner, so I should go pick up some groceries."
"I’m not busy. We’ll go together." Xu Jia quickly cleared his desk. "I can’t bear the thought of you cooking for someone else."
Liuu Yuming was at a loss with Xu Jia. She wasn’t much of a smooth-talker herself. "Alright, let’s go together then. But when we get back, please don’t take anything Jun says to heart. I’ll have a word with him."
Xu Jia’s mood lifted. At least Liuu Yuming was on his side. "Alright. I won’t bicker with a young hothead."
Liuu Yuming sighed. ’She suddenly understood what her mother meant by a ’dramatic battlefield.’ She hadn’t done a thing, yet here she was, caught in the middle.’
Liuu Jun was in high spirits when he walked through the door, but his face fell the moment he saw Xu Jia. Xu Jia pretended not to notice, greeting him with particular warmth, "Jun, you’re back! Go wash your hands; dinner’s almost ready."
Liuu Jun snorted, walked right past Xu Jia, and went into the kitchen. "Sis, why is he here? So, since there’s no curfew, you just bring him to our house instead? Is this your ’countermeasure’ to my ’policy’?"
"What’s all this about a ’countermeasure’?" Liuu Yuming said, brandishing her spatula. "Behave yourself. You know, I get the feeling something’s off with you. You didn’t run into trouble somewhere else and decide to take it out on Xu Jia, did you?"
When Liuu Jun fell silent, Liuu Yuming knew she’d hit the nail on the head. "You’re always so put-together. Did you run into some kind of trouble? I noticed a bruise near your eye this morning. What happened?"
"Did you get into a fight?"
Liuu Jun washed his hands and sighed. "Knew I couldn’t hide it from you. It wasn’t work-related. I really am just full of pent-up anger. Someone tried to pull a staged-accident scam on me yesterday, and we came to blows."
Liuu Yuming quickly turned off the stove. "Why didn’t you tell me something so serious happened? Was it bad? Did you go to the hospital?"
"I went. It’s just some scrapes and bruises," Liuu Jun said, leaning back against the kitchen cabinets. "The whole scam thing is resolved now. I was just bottling up all this frustration with nowhere to let it out, and then I came home and heard about you and Xu Jia..."
