Chapter 334: You've already influenced my life

Jiang Lai glanced at her own new cup in her hand, then at the cup Ke Zhongyu was holding—the one she had used before—and just like that she brought it to his lips.

Do you mind?

I don't mind.

Ke Zhongyu was satisfied, then asked her: "Do you want coffee or juice?"

Jiang Lai opened her mouth: "Coffee."

Ke Zhongyu: "Coffee or juice?"

Jiang Lai realized Ke Zhongyu wanted her to say what she truly wanted.

Juice.

"Mm." Ke Zhongyu walked to the fridge, opened it, then turned back to Jiang Lai and listed the fruits inside: "What kind of juice?"

Jiang Lai: "Grape."

Ke Zhongyu made Jiang Lai a glass of grape juice, watching her drink half of it.

Want more?

Jiang Lai shook her head.

Only then did Ke Zhongyu place the remaining fresh-squeezed grape juice in front of Ke Zhongying, who kept glancing over.

Don't waste it.

Ke Zhongying: "……"

Ignoring his sister's eye roll, Ke Zhongyu took Jiang Lai out.

Jiang Lai said to the two of them: "You two stay home nicely; Mo Yi will come over later to make lunch. Ping'an, Mo Yi will take you to Chi Grandma's this afternoon."

Ping'an nodded, waving his hand and saying bye-bye.

Ke Zhongying smiled and said: "You two go on your date quickly."

On the way downstairs, Jiang Lai kept thinking about the two words 'date.' While sitting in the passenger seat, she slowed her motion of fastening the seat belt and asked: "Ke Zhongyu, are we on a date?"

Ke Zhongyu: "Mm."

Jiang Lai: "Going on a date to practice driving seems off."

Ke Zhongyu turned his head to look at her: "A date and driving practice don't conflict; let's try to get the license as soon as possible."

Jiang Lai nodded.

The two drove to the place Ke Group had set aside for Jiang Lai's driving practice; this time they switched from a Maybach to a Cullinan.

Jiang Lai got out of the passenger seat, and Ke Zhongyu also got out of the driver's seat.

"Ke Zhongyu, is your car totally wrecked?"

"Half-wrecked."

"How much would it cost to fix it?"

"Not as valuable as you." Ke Zhongyu said lightly, "Saving you, it has already realized its greatest worth."

Jiang Lai felt Ke Zhongyu might have spiked the grape juice with alcohol, or perhaps the grapes had fermented; otherwise why would she feel a bit dizzy?

She lifted her eyes to Ke Zhongyu and, almost against her will, said: "Actually I'm not anxious to practice driving; I'm just eager to see you."

Ke Zhongyu let out a low, pleasant chuckle: "I know."

He gently embraced Jiang Lai: "Don't keep hooking me, A Lai."

Jiang Lai buried her face in his chest, feeling the rise and fall of his heartbeat, and murmured: "I haven't, Ke Zhongyu."

Ke Zhongyu lightly patted her waist: "Stop acting coy."

Jiang Lai lifted her head from his embrace, her clear eyes tinged with a hint of innocence, wondering how she and the word 'coy' could go together.

"Come on, let me check your progress these days." Ke Zhongyu gestured for her to get in the car.

Jiang Lai was long accustomed to China's exam-oriented education; she excelled at tests and had never felt nervous before, but now, because Ke Zhongyu wanted to evaluate her progress, she felt a bit tense.

Ke Zhongyu really could disturb her emotions.

Just like last time when practicing driving, with Ke Zhongyu sitting beside her she could hardly stay calm, which is why she said: "Ke Zhongyu, you seem to have affected me."

Noticing her tension, Ke Zhongyu spoke softly: "Dr. Jiang, am I affecting you again?"

Obviously, Ke Zhongyu also recalled that day's events.

That day she hadn't answered Ke Zhongyu's question, stopping him from continuing; perhaps today she should give a proper response.

"Yes." Jiang Lai looked at the man in the passenger seat: "You have already influenced my life, Ke Zhongyu."

Having her feelings returned, Ke Zhongyu stared for a moment, his gaze shifting from initial calm to gradually tinged with desire.

Jiang Lai: "Ke Zhongyu, I'm starting now."

Ke Zhongyu: "……"

He looked out the window, a hint of helpless smile in his brows and eyes, then turned back to Jiang Lai and uttered just two words: "Nemesis."

Two words laced with indulgence.

Jiang Lai really is his nemesis.

……

Song Shiwei differs from Gu Sen; she cannot stand by while her son walks with a woman like Lin Shutong, nor can she tolerate her obedient son talking back to her.

Thus, Gu Zhiyan's sincere vow before his mother means nothing in Song Shiwei's eyes.

Regardless of whether they break up or stay together, Song Shiwei has never acknowledged their relationship; outwardly, her son remains single.

She opposes Gu Zhiyan staying in the hospital to look after Lin Shutong, who is currently under supervision.

For now there is no decisive evidence, but once evidence surfaces that Lin Shutong tried to ram and kill state scientific personnel and then injured the Ke Group CEO, even just one of those charges would be unbearable for her, let alone both.

Gu Zhiyan is not so foolish as to believe Lin Shutong's claim that it wasn't intentional; he merely thinks she is too impulsive, momentarily forgetting to consider the consequences.

But this does not stop him from continuing to be with Lin Shutong.

Lin Shutong was the first person he felt attracted to, and also the first shot he fired in rebelling against the Gu family's arrangement.

Mother and son confronted each other, and their relationship deteriorated for a time.

Gu Yinxue acted as a mediator, and only after much persuasion did she get the two to temporarily cease hostilities, each stepping back.

The blind date was put on hold, but Gu Zhiyan had to return to B City immediately.

He could return to B City, but he had to wait a bit.

Song Shiwei had no choice but to stay temporarily at a hotel, giving Gu Zhiyan three days; if they still haggled, she would have the bodyguards take him back.

Gu Yinxue was very anxious.

Song Shiwei comforted her: "Don't worry, I won't really ignore your brother; he's my own son."

Gu Zhiyan comforted her: "It's fine, I won't let Mom get angry enough to hurt her health."

Actually, Gu Yinxue was worried because her mother mentioned Jiang Lai; her mother seemed to want to meet Jiang Lai.

She used the excuse that Jiang Lai's special status prevented her from seeing him at any time, and that Ke Zhongyu would find out if she tried, but none of that could stop it.

"Mom knows you feel bad about being with Ke Zhongyu and Jiang Lai, don't worry, Mom promised you that." Song Shiwei grabbed her bag and prepared to go out, "From childhood to now, what have you wanted that Mom hasn't tried to give you? Stay well at the hotel, or go out and play with friends—you're on good terms with the Fu family's eldest miss, aren't you?"

That was Gu Yinxue lying to Song Shiwei; she doesn't like Fu Youqing.

Fu Youqing grew close to Jiang Lai and became friends, but she also didn't want to get close to her.

When they met, they smiled and exchanged greetings purely out of consideration for the two families' relationship, not wanting to lose face for either side.

Gu Yinxue just watched helplessly as her mother left.

Song Shiwei had long wanted to see just what kind of person this daughter-in-law was, who could make Nian Zhaoning and Ke Yue acknowledge her despite the Nian-Gu families' ties.

The Gu family has many connections; even without using the Ke family as an intermediary, there are other intermediaries.

She just wanted to meet that little girl.

She completely accepted having someone nearby watching them meet and talk.

Jiang Lai was halfway through practicing driving on a closed road when she received a call from the institute's new leader, saying someone from above wanted to see her, coming from B City.

There are too many leaders in B City; Jiang Lai also didn't know who it was.

Jiang Lai walked into the institute and pushed open the door of the reception room equipped with surveillance.

Inside sat the institute's new leader and a lady dressed elegantly.