Just past five in the afternoon, Lin Jie returned to Xiangtai Apartnt accompanied by Hao Jie and Qin Gang.
Upon reaching the house, he heard Yuanyuan's giggles. Looking over, he saw An Keng and Yao Henan playing with Yuanyuan and Lele.
"Uncle!"
"Uncle!"
Lin Jie picked up the running Yuanyuan and, while gazing at Yao Henan, chuckled, "Nice, nice! You've grown taller, your face has more flesh than before, and you've beco prettier."
Yao Henan smiled lightly and said softly, "Uncle has also beco more handso."
Lin Jie glanced around and found Lin Miao helping Lu Juan cook in the kitchen. Not seeing Zhang Xiaoxiao, he asked, "Where's Xiaoxiao? Still adjusting to the ti difference?"
"She went to the nursing ho to visit Uncle Zhang!"
An Keng quickly replied, took a food box from Qin Gang's hand, sniffed it, and said happily, "The familiar sll of roast at."
She looked at Yao Henan and triumphantly said, "Nannan, see? I was right. Brother Jie knows you like farmhouse roast at and will definitely bring so back."
An Keng asked again, "Brother Jie, why didn't sister co back with you?"
Lin Jie spun around holding Yuanyuan, then set her down amid her loud protests, and said, "Your sister went back to the Golden Tripod Building."
"She also asked to tell you that after dinner, you should hurry ho; there's a lot for you to do."
At this mont, Yuanyuan started grabbing the food box from An Keng, shouting, "What is it? Slls so good, Auntie, I want to eat it, I want to eat it…"
Just past six, Zhang Xiaoxiao returned, but her face didn't look very good.
"Uncle Zhang's condition changed?" Lin Jie asked, concerned.
Zhang Xiaoxiao shook her head and said, "The caregivers are quite attentive, and his physical condition hasn't changed much. It's just that after not seeing him for over two months, I feel he's gotten thinner."
She sighed and said, "I'm fine, just haven't slept much since getting off the plane, probably because of the jet lag. I'll be okay after a good night's sleep."
Zhang Xiaoxiao glanced at Lin Jie, showing a smile on her face, and said, "Ti flies; the skinny little one back then is now getting married, creating a family and career."
"Ah Jie, you've truly grown up."
Lin Jie responded helplessly, "Xiaoxiao, I haven't been a kid for a long ti, you know?"
Zhang Xiaoxiao reached out to touch Lin Jie's head and said seriously, "Ah Jie, getting married is the mark of a man's maturity. Before that, no matter what accomplishnts you achieve, in my eyes, you're just a naïve youngster."
At this mont, Lin Miao's voice ca from the dining room, "The food is ready, ti for dinner…"
After dinner, An Keng drove herself ho, Yuanyuan was sent back to Ye Hongqing's house, and both Zhang Xiaoxiao and Yao Henan showed signs of fatigue, heading to their rooms early to rest.
Lin Jie, holding a delicately packed small gift box, headed to the study.
This was a gift Li Ting had asked Zhang Xiaoxiao to deliver.
Upon opening it, he found a Rolex n's watch.
Lin Jie looked around and found no engraving on the back of the watch case nor a small note in the watch box, which made him realize that Li Ting simply gifted him this rather exquisite watch.
At this mont, he heard footsteps, looked up, and saw Lin Miao enter the study.
"Brother, is this Li Ting's gift? Any special aning?"
Seeing Lin Miao's concerned look, Lin Jie handed her the watch and said, "Just a quite valuable watch, nothing special aning."
He then casually asked, "By the way, have you heard how things progress between Li Ting and her boyfriend surnad Shu?"
Lin Miao examined the watch in her hand and shook her head, saying, "Not sure, I haven't been in touch with her for a long ti."
"Xiaoxiao said she t her accidentally in the United States before delivering the gift, exchanged contact information, and then didn't get in touch again."
Lin Jie oh-ed softly, sighed, and said, "No contact, then no contact, it's fine this way, entangling would be troubleso."
Lin Miao expressed so doubt, "Without contact all this ti, why suddenly gift brother a watch? Brother, you're not still thinking about Li Ting, are you?"
She also reminded him, "You're getting married the day after tomorrow."
Lin Jie scoffed, "What's your little brain imagining? Li Ting and I broke up long ago."
"Back then, we weren't together because of love, perhaps it was schoolmates' friendship, camaraderie, shared hardship, gratitude, and sympathy, multiple factors at play."
"It's normal for her to gift a watch; after we broke up, we didn't beco enemies. At least, the three-year friendship as desk mates still exists."
Lin Miao gently put the watch back in the box, saying, "Brother, honestly, Kexin suits you better than Li Ting and takes better care of you."
"Besides, back then, it was Li Ting going abroad who actively gave up on your relationship."
"She doesn't even consider that without you, brother, she would still be an over-200 pounds unwanted big fatty."
Lin Jie advised, "Alright, alright, things have co to this, no need to grumble over old issues."
"Judging by the outco, I'm doing quite well now. In that sense, parting with Li Ting wasn't a bad thing."
Lin Miao humd lightly, didn't continue the topic, lowered her voice a bit, and said, "Brother, the last ti I visited Uncle Zhang on behalf of Xiaoxiao, the nursing ho people told Uncle Zhang's situation is worsening."
"They said, with Uncle Zhang's condition, he might not hold out for more than three years. Although his behavior and actions before he fell unconscious were very unpleasant, seeing him like this now, it still makes feel uneasy inside."
"Brother, didn't you once awaken a vegetative person? Can you try awakening Uncle Zhang?"
Lin Jie shook his head, "Uncle Zhang is different from Lulu whom I awakened. His brain damage was caused by prolonged oxygen and blood deprivation, causing irreversible harm, hence he cannot be awakened…"
At this mont, his phone rang; it was a call from Cheng Xingguang.
Upon answering, Lin Jie directly asked, "The minister's summons is over?"
"It ended long ago, I've already returned to my ho in Binhai."
Cheng Xingguang said with a gloomy tone over the phone, "Expert Lin, there's no chance for to be the dical College's dean."
"The result ca out so quickly?" Lin Jie was a bit surprised.
"No, it's just my personal speculation."
"Expert Lin, I investigated, today Minister Xiao t four candidates including myself. The minister talked to each of them for around thirty minutes, but only with for five minutes before letting leave."
"This clearly shows, Minister Xiao didn't consider a real candidate, just a filler. It's a pity that I prepared a lot overnight, none of which was used."
Lin Jie asked puzzled, "Dean Cheng, during those five minutes, what did Minister Xiao discuss with you?"
Cheng Xingguang hesitated for a mont and said, "Although not told to keep the conversation confidential, it's best I don't disclose it, especially since this conversation involved you, Expert Lin."
"In short, I just expressed my heartfelt opinion, didn't cater to the leaders' intentions."
"Well, let's not talk about it anymore; I'll keep being the dean of the Affiliated Hospital!"
Cheng Xingguang laughed and added, "Expert Lin, the day after tomorrow is the big wedding; tomorrow, you will be busy. Do you need to help oversee things? So that any young folks' oversight doesn't result in blunders."
Lin Jie chuckled, "No need for oversight, just a wedding ceremony. If sothing goes wrong, what's the harm? The bride won't run away, will she?"
Cheng Xingguang laughed heartily, "No wonder you're Expert Lin, always full of confidence in everything. Likewise, the day after tomorrow, even if you wrap a burlap sack to the wedding, President An wouldn't mind your…"
After hanging up, Lin Miao who was waiting by then confidently said, "Brother, we've arranged everything for the wedding. You just need to follow what I say, and I guarantee there won't be any blunders that'd make others laugh."
Lin Jie said earnestly, "Miaomiao, I promise to act like a puppet on a string, following your every command."
Lin Miao clapped and said, "Brother is so good. Then follow my arrangent, go rest now."
"From tomorrow until after the wedding the day after tomorrow, you will be very busy. Tonight, you must rest well and recharge your energy…"
Reviews
All reviews (0)