Chapter 272: 102 Alian’s power, the aloof and hypocritical Young Master Jiang_3
 

Bai Lian took the lead in going out.

Jiang Fulai followed behind her.

Zhang Shize, normally talkative, found himself at a loss for words in front of Yan Lu, who herself was of a cold and distant disposition. The last time Yan Lu and her parents visited, the two of them hardly exchanged a single word.

As Jiang Fulai lagged behind Bai Lian and was about to close the door,

he glanced at Zhang Shize, then at Yan Lu, and suddenly asked, “Zhang Shize, has your injury healed?”

Zhang Shize was startled.

Yan Lu looked at Zhang Shize, and then at Jiang Fulai.

“Last time, he fought with Liu Xinming and suffered severe internal injuries, which haven’t healed to this day,” Jiang Fulai said, pointing to the spot where Zhang Shize had been hit by a fellow prisoner, then elegantly walked out.

Zhang Shize touched his stomach, then looked up at Yan Lu, who appeared anxious.

It was an awakening.

**

The new apartment Ji Shaojun had bought was in Xin’an Community.

Located on Ring Avenue, it wasn’t far from Purest Street, at Block 11 Unit 101.

The community was newer than the previous one, built just a few years ago with 12 floors to a building, a low occupancy rate, and an affordable price of just over three thousand per square meter. Ji Shaojun and Shen Qing lived on the first floor.

By the time Bai Lian and Jiang Fulai arrived, Ji Shaojun’s home was already filled with many guests.

Chen Jingyu was discussing chess with one of Ji Shaojun’s colleagues while Ji Heng lay on his side with a smoking pipe, offering advice.

Ji Shaojun’s place also had two students playing with Jiang He, who mainly watched in amazement as Jiang He assembled a cube puzzle.

Ji Shaorong was in the kitchen helping Ji Shaojun, while Shen Qing, having recently recovered from a serious illness, wore a hat as she entertained the guests in the living room.

The modest living room was packed full.

As soon as the door opened,

Shen Qing saw Bai Lian and Jiang Fulai and called them in, shutting the door behind them, “Alian, Xiaojiang, you two are here.”

Standing beside Chen Jingyu, Ji Heng instinctively looked up.

His gaze met Jiang Fulai’s.

An air of joviality pervaded the lively hall, as if brushed by a cold breeze.

Chen Jingyu hadn’t turned around yet, his hand pausing in midair. His past experience told him that someone must have arrived.

He tilted his head slightly.

As expected, he saw the aloof Young Master Jiang one step behind Bai Lian.

Ji Heng, with his smoking pipe in hand, paused as he looked Jiang Fulai up and down from head to toe, then watched Ji Shaojun emerge from the kitchen to greet Jiang Fulai with practiced ease.

Ji Heng: “…?”

Who was this unexpected figure?

“Dad, this is Xiaojiang,” Shen Qing said as she took two cups out, pouring water for Bai Lian and Jiang Fulai with warmth, and introducing Jiang Fulai to Ji Heng, “Last time I was in the hospital, he was a great help.”

Shen Qing broke the tension by warmly introducing Jiang Fulai to Ji Heng.

Jiang Fulai politely greeted Ji Heng, “Hello.”

Next to Ji Heng, Chen Jingyu with his chess piece hastily moved aside.

So he was the only one who didn’t know him?

Ji Heng looked at Jiang Fulai, his voice muffled, and merely grunted an acknowledgment, not one for many words.

Shen Qing asked Jiang Fulai to sit down and went back to busy herself with cutting fruit for them. Jiang Fulai sat on the sofa methodically, with Ji Heng occasionally glancing his way.

Both were silent.

Bai Lian sat lazily to one side, brushing up on questions.

At times, she would reminisce about musical scores and jot down whatever came to mind.

Shen Qing brought out a new plate of fruit from the kitchen for them to enjoy.

Jiang Fulai was indifferent to fruit, but upon seeing cherries, he tried one. The cherries Shen Qing had bought weren’t sour.

Not bad.

He took two more and casually handed them to Bai Lian.

He then reached out and pulled the trash can that was by Jiang He’s side toward himself.

Jiang He looked at Jiang Fulai expressionlessly.

“Big Brother,” a high school student beside Jiang He gently tugged at his sleeve, pointing to the cube in his hand, “Can you scramble this one too?”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Fulai looked down at the cube in Jiang He’s hand and scoffed sardonically.

Jiang He: “…”

He resentfully restored one side of the cube.

The high school student was blown away.

Opposite, Ji Heng caught a glimpse and slowly averted his gaze.

**

After the meal, Chen and Ji Heng decided to stay here to play cards.

Ji Shaojun carried a painting to give to Bai Lian, asking her to deliver it to Xu En. Xu En hadn’t arrived today, but his gift was already here early in the morning.

This was Ji Shaojun’s return gift to him.

Bai Lian sent a WeChat message to Xu En, who was still at a reporter press conference and didn’t have time, saying he would come to pick it up at night.

Then Ji Shaojun would definitely criticize her, so Bai Lian asked Xu En to send her his address.

She would go find him later.

Xu En quickly sent an address to Bai Lian—

[There’s a dinner party, and if you have time, you can eat a bit. There’s a lot of nice food.]

[It’s a pity your uncle and the others can’t make it.]

Shen Qing had a crowd.

Bai Lian wanted to find a place to do some problem-solving, and Jiang He also went back with them.

Jiang Fulai directly drove the car back to his usual residence, the detached building.

Bai Lian fell asleep again on the way, and felt more refreshed than before.

Ming Dongheng was sitting cross-legged on the lawn in the garden, his four fingers gathered in the palm, as immovable as a mountain.

Jiang He jumped down from the car and then squatted beside Ming Dongheng, looking up at him.

Ming Dongheng opened his eyes, startled. He leaped up to find himself feeling lighter. “Young Master, when did you return?”

Looking up, Bai Lian and Jiang Fulai had also gotten out of the car.

Ming Dongheng opened his mouth to speak to Bai Lian, but seeing Jiang Fulai, he quickly stood up straight, reverting to his usual cold and stern demeanor, “Young Master, Miss Bai.”

“Hmm,” Jiang Fulai gave him a glance.

Bai Lian smiled at Ming Dongheng.

Jiang He pulled at the hem of Bai Lian’s clothes, asking her to look at his painting.

Jiang Fulai watched their retreating figures, his expression cold as he headed to the study for an online meeting with the Jiang Family.

**

Downstairs.

Upon hearing that Jiang Fulai had finally returned, Chen Jingyu quickly came to find him.

There was also a lady with him.

She wore a plain-colored long dress underneath and a beige coat over it, and her chestnut hair was styled into lazy large waves, loosely draped behind her head.

“Ms. Yu.” When he saw her, Ming Dongheng stood up a bit to greet her, his tone especially respectful.

Yu Hongyi’s lips curved up slightly, her demeanor somewhat cold, as she nodded to Ming Dongheng.

She was accustomed to such attitudes.

She was the representative sent by Old Master Chen, so Ming Dongheng went upstairs to find Jiang Fulai.

It wasn’t long before.

Jiang Fulai descended the stairs, his presence slightly oppressive. Chen Jingyu and Yu Hongyi were startled, exchanging glances before quickly standing up.

They hadn’t expected Jiang Fulai to come down so soon.

“Ms. Yu, it’s always you,” said Chen Jingyu excitedly, as he had come three times without catching a glimpse of Jiang Fulai.

Yu Hongyi was quite surprised but managed to smile at his words.

A tall figure slowly descended the wooden staircase.

He had changed into a white, somewhat soft home outfit, but his drooping face was still as cold as a blade’s edge, casting a chill glance that was sharper than any frost.

He appeared like a vividly ink-painted scroll.

Chen Jingyu lowered his head, not daring to look up, “Young Master Jiang.”

Yu Hongyi also came back to her senses. She withdrew her gaze and took out a letter, “This is from the old master for you.”

Ming Dongheng reached out to take the letter from Yu Hongyi’s hand and held it, not passing it to Jiang Fulai.

Yu Hongyi glanced at the letter in Ming Dongheng’s hand, her lips tightening slightly.

However, they all knew Jiang Fulai seldom accepted things from others, unless it was from his friends or the researchers he worked with.

Jiang Fulai nodded, indicating he was aware, displaying utmost indifference.

Then he walked unhurriedly and with undiverted eyes to the cabinet at the entrance.

As he walked past, the floor seemed to frost over.

His pale fingers opened a drawer and hooked out a set of keys, then he leaned against the cabinet, his slender fingertips tapping lightly on the table surface, his gaze casually looking at the staircase.

The silent hall was too quiet for anyone to dare speak, Chen Jingyu and Yu Hongyi exchanged a glance, unsure of what was happening.

Until the sound of movement came from upstairs again.

Chen Jingyu and Yu Hongyi were both quite surprised, they instinctively looked up.