Chapter 164: Contrast

Bao Jing and the others' actions further provoked Lin Zhi Jing, blocking all of Lin Zhi Jing's complaints at the back of their throat.

Lin Zhi Jing pressed thin lips together, watching the few people opposite as if facing a great enemy; poison continuously secreted in their mouth, their heart feeling as if grasped by a huge hand, about to be ground into powder the next second.

Clearly they and they are family, yet now they seem like two opposing factions, and they stand alone.

"Ye Xi'an, you really are admirable."

After Lin Zhi Jing finished speaking, they turned their head and rushed into the room; the door slammed with a deafening bang, leaving Ye Xi'an alone, disheveled in the wind.

Isn't she just trying to flaunt some feminine authority? Why make the situation so severe?

"What's going on? Why do I feel like I messed up again?" Ye Xi'an looked at Lin Zhi Jing's bedroom door, quickly recalling what they had just done.

She just restrained Lin Zhi Jing a moment ago, after all, the Zhu Shen Xing's feminine authority is supposed to be great.

"You're not wrong; it's them who overstepped," Ji Jiangci placed his hand on Ye Xi'an's shoulder, pushing them to sit on the sofa.

After Ye Xi'an sat down, Ji Jiangci leaned in front of them, his tone even gentler than before: "Don't overthink it; a female should restrain family members this way—if anyone does whatever they want, it would just descend into chaos."

"I'm going to wash the dishes."

Ji Jiangci stood up, but Ye Xi'an grabbed their hand.

Ye Xi'an slightly lifted their chin to look at the Ji Jiangci who towered far above them, hesitantly asking, "Jiangci, are you okay?"

Yesterday Jiangci still looked utterly despairing about the world; why is he like this today?

Although Jiangci now displays a warm, jade-like demeanor, a peerless gentleman, Ye Xi'an still senses a certain agitation, merely concealed beneath his gentleness.

Could Jiangci have been driven mad?

Jiangci was startled, a hint of confusion on their face: "I'm fine, what's up?"

"It's nothing, nothing, nothing," Ye Xi'an waved quickly: "You go wash the dishes; I'll go check on Lin Zhi Jing."

"Don't go yet," they feared Lin Zhi Jing might do something irreversible to Ye Xi'an, but seeing her clueless expression, they changed their wording: "Doctor Lin might be entering a rebellious phase; let him be alone for a while."

Rebellious phase? Ye Xi'an's mouth twitched; Lin Zhi Jing actually has a rebellious phase? That's such a contrast.

"Alright then."

She decided to look for Lin Zhi Jing later.

After closing the door, Lin Zhi Jing stood motionless behind it, hidden in the darkness, appearing rather gloomy.

Only when the noises outside the door gradually faded— they heard the stairs clacking and the door opening and closing from the other rooms at the doorway—did Lin Zhi Jing finally move.

They turned back in disappointment, their face almost pressed against the cold door panel.

"They actually won't come to coax me..."

"She won't abandon me, will she..."

Thinking that Ye Xi'an might reject them, Lin Zhi Jing's thin lips twitched helplessly twice.

No! They must go find Ye Xi'an right now.

Lin Zhi Jing rushed to the cabinet, frantically rummaged, grabbed a black silk shirt and bolted into the bathroom; when they emerged, it was a Lin Zhi Jing completely different from before.

Clad in a black shirt that exuded austere allure, it wrapped their firm, well-built physique—broad shoulders, narrow waist, curvy hips, long legs.

They raised their hand, adjusting the open neckline of the black silk shirt a few buttons undone.

The fabric was slick, pressed against their slightly cool skin, their fingertips touching their collarbone.

They rarely wore such material or style; lab coats or uniform attire are their norm, but they fully understood how contrast tempts the feminine.

They stepped up to the second floor, and just before reaching the top, they whispered, "Ye Xi'an."

Ye Xi'an was playing Light Brain; hearing Lin Zhi Jing's voice, they looked toward the stairwell, seeing only a tall shadow projected on the wall at the stairs.

The shadow was indeed beautiful, Ye Xi'an thought, almost as if it were the card character they chased.

"Anything?"

Lin Zhi Jing bit their lower lip: "Nothing, but don't you want to talk with me?"

Ye Xi'an glanced at the match-3 interface on Light Brain, then at the figure at the stairwell, and thought, "Um, I don't really have anything to discuss with Lin Zhi Jing either."

"Um, I think we don't have much to say; do you have something you want to say?"

Lin Zhi Jing gritted their teeth: "Whether I have anything to tell you or not, do we really have to talk like this?"

They couldn't see Ye Xi'an, and Ye Xi'an couldn't see this incredibly handsome and charming them at that moment.

Ye Xi'an clicked their tongue, thinking marriage is a hassle; just as they were about to relax, someone interrupted: "Then you come up."

Lin Zhi Jing exhaled, fearing Ye Xi'an might not even let them onto the second floor.

They checked their outfit once more to ensure everything was fine, then ascended the stairs with the solemn stride unique to a researcher.

Then, step by step, they approached Ye Xi'an's bed, standing before them.

Ye Xi'an was looking down at Light Brain when a pair of long legs entered their field of view; following the pant leg, they looked up and saw Lin Zhi Jing's unmakeuped face, the cheek still dusted with powder.

"Did you take a shower?"

"Hmm." Lin Zhi Jing's heavy gaze fell on Ye Xi'an's face, seeing her expression inexplicable.

"What do you want to say?"

"I..."

They spoke, their voice a bit deeper than usual.

"Apologizing for speaking loudly to you before."

Ye Xi'an blinked, their long eyelashes fluttering.

They said nothing, just stared at them.

They looked at their attire, completely different from usual.

The silk shirt outlined their broad shoulders and firm chest, the open neckline revealing a clear collarbone and a small patch of skin.

Their trousers were also made of a smoothly pressed, draping fabric, hugging their long legs.

Their gray hair was styled, unlike their usual casual look.

Even the phoenix eyes behind those silver-wire glasses seemed to gain an indescribable nuance from this outfit.

He rarely deliberately…… displays himself like this.

Ye Xi'an sighed inwardly; Lin Zhi Jing's purpose was too obvious—his motive wasn't the drink.

Talking about apologies, he clearly just came to seduce her.

Lin Zhi Jing saw her not speaking, his brow faintly furrowed imperceptibly, then immediately relaxed.

"You.... why aren't you speaking."

"Oh.", Ye Xi'an pretended not to notice his intention and continued: "I didn't even take this seriously; I thought you were just going through a rebellious phase."

"So you don't need to specially apologize for this, but next time you can't disobey me again—in this household, I'm the boss!"

"Rebellious phase? Who said that?"

"Nobody said that.", for the sake of family harmony Ye Xi'an wouldn't betray Ji Jiangci: "I just think so myself."

Ye Xi'an shifted to the right, gesturing for Lin Zhi Jing to sit down.

Lin Zhi Jing curled his lips; all the anger and grievance from just moments ago vanished instantly, and he sat arrogantly beside Ye Xi'an like a cat.