Chapter 180: One Sentence Was Enough to Smooth Things Over

Ke Zhongyu appeared at the Chi Family Medical Clinic at exactly 2 p. m.

In the back‑yard house of the Chi Family Medical Clinic, the doors and windows were ajar, and on the rose‑wood Eight Immortals table sat a sand pot; beneath the pot the charcoal fire blazed, and steaming vapor rose from the pot like white mist.

Through the ethereal white mist, Ke Zhongyu saw Jiang Lai seated, her hair gathered with a wooden chopstick, looking like a cool fairy; in her hand she held a woven rattan basket, as if searching for a spot to place it, and in that instant a hint of lively warmth appeared.

His heart raced wildly, and his gaze grew scorching.

Faintly sensing a gaze, Jiang Lai lifted her eyes, her sight cutting through the steam to meet the approaching Ke Zhongyu.

You're coming over now?

Jiang Lai was slightly stunned and said to Chi Ce, "Ke Zhongyu has arrived."

Chi Ce turned around and indeed saw Ke Zhongyu push the door in with one hand; his slender legs were the first to catch everyone's eye, followed by an expressionless yet strikingly handsome face that seemed to anger both mortals and gods, his gaze deep and precisely fixed on Jiang Lai's face.

His eyes then swept to Fu Youlin sitting beside Jiang Lai, the gaze suddenly sharpening like a hawk surveying its territory.

Being young, he couldn't resist a light glance from a senior who had wielded power for years, and Fu Youlin felt a sudden jolt in his heart.

The next second, Ke Zhongyu came to his side and said in a deep voice, "Young Fu, please give up your seat."

The word "please" sounded rather polite, but Chi Ce knew the man merely didn't want to leave an impression of bullying in front of Jiang Lai.

Fu Youlin almost stood up.

Now Jiang Lai is single, anyone can court her, and he had taken this seat first.

"Ke Zhongyu, there's a seat opposite, please sit there."

The Eight Immortals table has four sides, each side with a long bench offering two seats; Chi Grandma occupied one side alone, Chi Ce and Fu Youqing sat on another, Jiang Lai and Fu Youlin sat on a third, leaving only the window‑facing side opposite vacant.

Indeed, whoever came later should sit there, but Ke Zhongyu never follows others' rules, only his own.

Looking across A City, few dare to tell Ke Zhongyu 'no'.

Fu Youqing had cursed Ke Zhongyu behind his back and even urged her brother to compete for him, but when facing Ke Zhongyu, she dared not show any displeasure.

She didn't expect her brother to be such a fearless calf.

Fu Youqing glanced at Chi Ce, urging him to think of a solution; he had accompanied his parents to the Ke Family since childhood, essentially growing up alongside Ke Zhongyu, and most of the time Ke Zhongyu would still give him face.

Chi Ce felt he might not have that much face; his parents were originally the Ke Family's household doctors, later assigned to the Ke Family's private hospital, and he himself became Ke Zhongyu's personal physician. In the end, the Ke Family were the bosses of the Chi Family, and Ke Zhongyu was his boss.

When the atmosphere grew tense, Jiang Lai quietly stood up, moved to the window‑facing seat opposite, and signaled with her gaze that Ke Zhongyu could take her seat.

"Ke Zhongyu, you may sit there."

Ke Zhongyu's face darkened; just as Fu Youlin was about to be overwhelmed by his pressure, Ke Zhongyu turned to the seat beside Jiang Lai, sat down, and began to pick a fight.

"Ke Zhongyu?"

Jiang Lai pressed her lips.

Oh, I forgot.

"Do you want the danggui egg, Ke Zhongyu?" Jiang Lai reached for the bowl of danggui egg she hadn't touched and set it before Ke Zhongyu.

The cold aura that had lingered around the man gradually dissipated.

Chi Ce watched Ke Zhongyu pick up a spoon, sip the broth from the danggui egg, and comment, "Not bad."

So that's all it took to smooth things over?

Jiang Lai smoothed everything over with a single sentence?

The corner of his mouth twitched, and Fu Youqing was somewhat dumbfounded—was this still the Ke Zhongyu who was always missing a limb or a word?

Fu Youlin was also surprised, but more so saddened; Jiang Lai was now sitting on the same bench as Ke Zhongyu.

The dog's eyes instantly lost their shine.

Fu Youqing looked at her brother with affection and ladled a bowl of danggui mutton soup for him.

The pot bubbled with steam, and after watching quietly for a long while, Chi Grandma said, "Let's all fill our bowls; later when we dip meat and vegetables, the soup won't taste as good as it does now."

Ke Zhongyu asked, "Only now for lunch?"

Jiang Lai reached to ladle soup, but the bowl and ladle were naturally taken by Ke Zhongyu.

As he ladled, his gaze occasionally fell on Jiang Lai, prompting her to answer his earlier question.

Jiang Lai explained, "This danggui mutton soup simmered for over two hours before being served; Chi Grandma says it warms yang and dispels cold in winter, and also replenishes qi and blood."

Replenish qi and blood? Then Jiang Lai should eat more.

Ke Zhongyu ladled a large bowl for Jiang Lai, then filled his own bowl and placed it beside her.

After picking up the chopsticks, Fu Youlin, as always, handsome and sweet‑mouthed, asked Jiang Lai, "Which one do you like? I'll dip it for you."

Jiang Lai hadn't had a chance to speak when Ke Zhongyu blurted out first, "Young Fu, aren't you studying at Star Universe Technology how to inherit the family business? Why did you come out early to hot‑pot?"

Fu Youlin looked at Ke Zhongyu and said, "Isn't Ke Zhongyu the same?"

Ke Zhongyu replied, "I inherited the Ke Clan at twenty; you, Young Fu, are still in the learning stage at twenty‑three."

Fu Youlin: "……"

He was merely stating a fact, yet the impact felt overwhelmingly strong.

Fu Youqing spoke up to defend her brother: "We, Youlin, at twenty‑three entered the company to learn and are also impressive."

Ke Zhongyu: "Compared to you, indeed."

Fu Youqing: "……"

Chi Ce couldn't help but rub his forehead; one after another, they insisted on going before the grim reaper to court trouble, better to learn from Jiang Lai how to eat earnestly.

Jiang Lai ate very seriously; ever since Aunt Mo began preparing medicinal cuisine, she had developed a special fondness for it.

The danggui mutton hot‑pot in winter was especially delicious; after finishing the soup, her soles were already warming, and a few more bites made her whole body feel warm and cozy.

While eating, she noticed Ke Zhongyu watching her and asked, "Aren't you eating?"

Ke Zhongyu: "I am. What do you want to eat?"

He asked the same question of Fu Youlin.

Jiang Lai used the communal chopsticks to pick what she wanted to dip, but Ke Zhongyu seemed stubborn, insisting on asking her again.

Jiang Lai looked at him weirdly and named three wild vegetables she wanted to eat: "Ji Cai, Huanggua Cai, Pu Gong Ying."

Ke Zhongyu: "."

He just kept saying things he didn't know.

Noticing Ke Zhongyu hadn't moved, Fu Youlin realized his chance had come; he quickly looked at the table where various vegetables were laid out—he recognized the mushrooms and baby bok choy, but what were Ji Cai, Huanggua Cai, and Pu Gong Ying?

Fu Youlin's hand holding the public chopsticks paused.

Ke Zhongyu, who caught sight of this, said: "Pfft."

Fu Youlin: "……"

Ke Zhongyu looked at Jiang Lai: "Eat meat."

The table had nothing but various lamb; originally they were eating lamb hot pot.

Jiang Lai had just eaten meat, so she wanted some vegetables; Ji Cai, Huanggua Cai, and Pu Gong Ying are wild vegetables and also medicinal herbs—she ate them often as a child.

Chi Ce looked at the two embarrassed men, gave a light cough, and quickly glanced at the Ji Cai.

Ke Zhongyu and Fu Youlin's hands reached out at the same time, each grabbing one side of the bamboo basket.

Fu Youlin didn't let go right away; Ke Zhongyu even less so—no one could snatch from his hand what he wanted.

Suddenly, a pair of chopsticks reached into their basket, grabbed a large handful and swished it into the pot.

It was Jiang Lai herself.