Chapter 287: He Only Looks After Jiang Lai

Everyone who witnessed this scene wore different expressions, their gazes scanning back and forth between Jiang Lai's retreating figure and Ke Zhongyu's smug lips, each pair of eyes darting around.

They all understood without saying a word.

Fu Youqing clicked her tongue lightly—look at that smug look on Ke Zhongyu's face. The little sun of the mortal world had still miscalculated; how had she not thought of sending a pot of orchids?

"The great President Ke, giving a pot of plain-heart orchids—isn't that too shabby?"

Ke Zhongyu glanced at Fu Youqing. He hadn't intended to respond, but remembering she was a friend Jiang Lai had invited, he finally opened his mouth: "Jiang Lai likes it. Jiang Lai needs it."

Fu Youqing couldn't help letting out an "Eh?": "So President Ke doesn't have a thorn in every sentence after all, and he does know how to speak human."

"Ahem!" Chi Ce suddenly cleared his throat, genuinely afraid she'd provoke this living king of hell. He moved closer and said, "That's a plain-heart cold orchid. Judging by the quality, it must be nearly ten thousand a plant."

Fu Youqing: "That's acceptable, but not as practical as a humidifier."

Just then Jiang Lai came out, and she said to Jiang Lai: "What do you think of the humidifier? Isn't it very practical?"

Ke Zhongying shuffled her steps over to her brother's side, stood on tiptoe, and whispered: "Fu Daxiaojie gave a whole coffee cup set. The humidifier was from Fu Shao."

Originally indifferent to Fu Youqing comparing the humidifier she'd given with the orchids he'd given, upon hearing it was from Fu Youlin, Ke Zhongyu's expression gradually turned serious as he looked toward Jiang Lai.

Jiang Lai looked at Fu Youqing, then at Ke Zhongyu, trying hard to keep things even: "Both are practical."

Though no winner had been decided, Fu Daxiaojie and Ke Zhongyu didn't continue arguing, each thinking they shouldn't put Jiang Lai in a difficult position.

Seeing they weren't going to keep arguing, Jiang Lai breathed a small sigh of relief and invited everyone to sit down—dinner would be ready shortly.

Xiao Qian only knew Jiang Lai, so she sat quietly beside her. Ke Zhongying was always clinging to Jiang Lai and naturally sat on the other side. Secretary Cen and Secretary Guan also sat over there.

Assistant Zhou sat beside Secretary Guan.

Ke Zhongyu chose not to sit down, but instead went to Jiang Lai's open Shufang and sat in the chair Jiang Lai usually used for working overtime and reading, his long legs slightly bent, one hand on the desk, casually flipping a couple pages of a book, his gaze falling on the living room from time to time.

To be precise, it fell on Jiang Lai's face.

Jiang Lai could always sense a burning gaze. She knew where it came from, but didn't dare raise her eyes to meet it.

Chi Ce walked to Fu Youqing's side and said softly: "Jiang Lai put that pot of flowers in the bedroom. Didn't you pick up on something?"

Fu Youqing: "Ke Zhongyu already said as much—could Jiang Lai not bring it into the bedroom? What's so remarkable about his flowers being placed in the bedroom? Getting Jiang Lai to keep them there permanently—that would be remarkable."

Though Chi Ce felt Fu Daxiaojie's words were right, he still parted his lips to voice his true thoughts: "Jiang Lai has been hurt in matters of the heart before. Her guard is very high, but toward President Ke it isn't as high. Don't you think this is a mutual running toward each other?"

Fu Youqing said stubbornly: "I don't think so. If Jiang Lai spent more time with my brother, by your logic, one day it'd be mutual too."

Chi Ce: "..."

Fu Youqing sat down on the sofa, tilting her head slightly to ask Jiang Lai: "I won't be able to join you for watching fireworks by the river to ring in the new year after dinner—I still have things to do."

Chi Ce immediately sat beside her and pressed: "Who are you ringing in the new year with tonight?"

Fu Youqing: "None of your business."

Chi Ce: "..."

He leaned back against the sofa, smiling yet not smiling, looking as if he didn't care, but the trace of a smile at the corner of his mouth carried a hint of bitterness.

Ke Zhongyu watched with his eyes and said nothing.

Secretary Cen also said: "Dr. Jiang, I have plans for ringing in the new year tonight."

Secretary Guan: "I don't."

Assistant Zhou followed: "I don't either."

Xiao Qian: "I'm ringing in the new year with my senior sister no matter what."

Ke Zhongying: "Me too, me too!"

Chi Ce: "I'm fine either way."

Only Ke Zhongyu was left. Before Ke Zhongyu could speak, Ke Zhongying said: "If my brother doesn't ring in the new year with us, he'll be all alone."

Chi Ce agreed: "No argument there."

Ke Zhongyu's gaze swept slowly over the two of them, finally returning to Jiang Lai's face, and he nodded.

Mo Yi brought all the finished dishes to the table and called out toward the lively living room: "Miss Jiang, dinner is ready."

Jiang Lai led everyone to the dining room, offering a brief introduction or two as they passed each spot.

The home wasn't large—the whole layout could be taken in at a glance—but as Jiang Lai introduced things, her eyes were clear, and her cool voice carried threads of softness.

They arrived at the dining room.

Ke Zhongying brought out a bottle of wine that hadn't been opened two days ago and set it on the table: "Everyone's in for a treat tonight—my brother's treasured white wine."

Fu Youqing's eyes brightened slightly. She loved wine, especially the feeling of being tipsy, and had indeed tasted many fine wines, but Ke Zhongyu's treasured wine—not only would she drink it, she'd drink extra!

Chi Ce glanced at her from the corner of his eye and said with a smile: "Everyone can have a little, but don't get drunk. Remember we're still going to the river to watch fireworks tonight. If someone gets drunk and accidentally falls in, that'd be unforgettable for life."

This remark stopped everyone—except the very person he wanted to stop, Fu Youqing.

Fu Youqing savored sip after sip, her expression somewhat intoxicated, and was about to clink glasses with Jiang Lai when Ke Zhongyu shot her an icy glance.

"She can't drink."

A tone that brooked no argument.

Fu Youqing protested: "You control the sky, you control the earth, and you control Jiang Lai too?"

Ke Zhongyu: "I don't control the sky, and I don't control the earth."

He only looked after Jiang Lai.

Ke Zhongyu: "One glass and she's dizzy, two and she's down."

Jiang Lai: "..."

Fu Youqing: "..."

So Jiang Lai couldn't hold her liquor—never mind then. If she got drunk and accidentally gave Ke Zhongyu an advantage, what then?

She didn't try to make Jiang Lai drink anymore.

But Jiang Lai had to raise a glass to toast everyone, thanking them for coming to warm her new home. Ke Zhongyu reminded her: "Just a small sip is fine."

The others chimed in agreement—just a small sip is fine.

Jiang Lai indeed only took a small sip.

The grape wine had a hint of sweetness on the palate, but for her, who doesn't like alcohol, all wine is unpleasant to drink.

That previous drunkenness made her embarrass herself in front of Ke Zhongyu; when she woke up, not only was there a band-aid on her chest clothing, but at mealtime she also got an extra plate of extremely spicy chicken, and to this day Ke Zhongyu still says she's "one cup tipsy, two cups down."

Thinking and thinking, Jiang Lai felt something was off—how could events from so long ago be dredged up from her mind?

They were all related to Ke Zhongyu.

She lightly shook her head, hoping to temporarily shake off these thoughts; the amplitude of her head movement wasn't large, but Ke Zhongyu still noticed it.

"Dizzy?" Ke Zhongyu asked.

Jiang Lai immediately shook her head: "No, not that bad."

Ke Zhongyu grunted, reached out, took her wine glass in front of her, replaced it with juice, and put it back.

Jiang Lai gazed at Ke Zhongyu.

You don't believe.

Ke Zhongyu gazed at her.

I believe.

Between them an invisible barrier seemed to appear, temporarily isolating others; other people also tactfully ate silently, not disturbing their mutual gaze.

After a moment, Ke Zhongyu yielded; before returning Jiang Lai's wine glass, two-thirds of the wine was poured into his own cup, nearly overflowing.

And that whole glass of grape wine, Ke Zhongyu also drank the last sip after finishing dinner.

The man's expression remained normal.

Jiang Lai was somewhat surprised, and Secretary Cen said: "Boss Ke's alcohol tolerance is astonishing, but he doesn't drink lightly these days."

Actually, very few people can make Boss Ke raise his own wine glass.

Jiang Lai caught a keyword: "Now?"

What about before?