Chapter 120: Playing Dumb While Fully Aware

The kick was heavy, landed with full force.

Without looking up, Bai Xu knew exactly who had done it. Lin Xi was wearing high heels today, and her feet were easily distinguishable from those of the men at the table.

He winced, his face changing slightly. Zhou Jingheng noticed immediately and asked with concern, "Are you not feeling well, Xiao Xu? Why do you look so pale?"

Hearing this, Qin Yu cast a glance at Bai Xu.

Cheng Si, who was sitting right next to Bai Xu, hadn't noticed at first, but upon turning his head and seeing that Bai Xu really didn't look well, he was startled. "Weren't you perfectly fine just a moment ago?"

Bai Xu pulled himself together. Ignoring them entirely, he suddenly raised his head, his gaze fixed squarely on Lin Xi: "Did you kick me?"

"..."

The room fell into a heavy silence.

Zhou Jingheng hadn't been back for years and hadn't had the time to keep up with their affairs in the city. He had no idea what was going on. He watched for a moment, seeing nothing amiss—especially since Lin Xi’s expression remained perfectly calm.

"Did I kick you?" Lin Xi asked with a natural, light smile. "Oh, I'm sorry. My leg fell asleep, so I stretched it out. I must have bumped into you by accident."

Zhou Jingheng might not have seen it, but Qin Yu and Cheng Si understood perfectly. The kick was undoubtedly intentional. Lin Xi clearly wanted to silence Bai Xu, and her intent was obvious. Bai Xu, meanwhile, was playing dumb.

Just as Bai Xu was about to speak again, Qin Yu’s dark eyes narrowed. He shot him a warning look and said coldly, "Eat."

"..." Bai Xu had no choice but to let it go.

Zhou Jingheng chuckled. "Eat up. You two are still just like you were when you were kids."

Back in their childhood, Lin Xi and Bai Xu were famous for being at odds. Yet, whenever they fought, it was always over trivial, petty matters. Usually, it was Bai Xu intentionally picking a fight. Others didn't know, but Zhou Jingheng understood. Little boys often try to get the other's attention—it was perfectly normal. On major issues, Bai Xu never argued with Lin Xi; he had always stood unconditionally by her side. Therefore, in Zhou Jingheng's eyes, this was just playful bickering between children.

After that, Bai Xu quieted down and didn't say anything else that might cause an awkward scene. With him silenced, Lin Xi exhaled, finally feeling at ease.

She focused on her meal, listening to her second brother and Qin Yu chat, with Cheng Si occasionally chiming in. They were discussing some of the developments in the capital over the past two years.

Eventually, the second brother asked after Old Master Cheng, saying he would go to the family residence to visit him tomorrow.

"It's nothing urgent. You've been busy these past few days, so let's talk about it in a couple of days," Cheng Si said, urging him to focus on his work first.

"My unit gave me two days off," Zhou Jingheng insisted.

Lin Xi originally hadn't intended to join the conversation, but hearing this, she couldn't help but say, "I'll go too."

As soon as she spoke, she felt a scorching gaze land on her face. She tried her best to ignore it, telling Cheng Si and her second brother, "I've been so busy lately that I haven't had a chance to visit Grandpa Cheng. Since Second Brother is going, I'll tag along."

Zhou Jingheng, of course, had no objections. Cheng Si didn't mind either, but he thought of Qin Yu and silently swallowed the words he was about to say. Instead, he suggested, "Why don't Third Brother and Bai Xu come too? Second Brother hasn't been back in so long; we should all get together at the house tomorrow."

"That sounds good," Zhou Jingheng, an easygoing man, agreed. As long as a suggestion wasn't unreasonable or crossing a line, he was happy to accommodate everyone.

Cheng Si brightened. "Then it's settled."

"Tomorrow morning, Xi Xi, you and Third Brother can come over together."

Hearing this, Zhou Jingheng paused. He turned his head to look at the two sitting on the same side, his gaze shifting curiously between them. He clearly had something to ask, but out of respect, he didn't voice it. Since he didn't ask, no one else brought it up.

But Bai Xu just had to be difficult. "Third Brother lives with Xi Xi now, so it's right on the way."

Lin Xi: "..."

The remark, at first glance, was easily misunderstood, leading to all sorts of wild assumptions.

"What?" Zhou Jingheng was clearly taken aback.

Lin Xi opened her mouth to explain, but the person beside her spoke first: "That's not it."

She froze, looking up at Qin Yu. The man had barely touched his chopsticks, using them only a few times to serve her dishes from across the table that she couldn't reach. He sat upright, the top two buttons of his black shirt undone. His hands rested casually on his knees, sleeves rolled up to reveal his bare wrists.

Lin Xi hastily looked away, but her eyes caught the man's profile, the sharp, clear line of his jaw visible from her angle.

Qin Yu’s thin lips parted, his voice low and languid. "We just happen to be in the same residential complex."

Because it was a gathering of acquaintances, he spoke in the authentic local dialect of the capital. The Beijing accent wasn't forced, sounding smooth and tingling to the ears.

"I see," Zhou Jingheng nodded. "Where are you living now, Xi Xi? Not at the family compound?"

Lin Xi’s attention was entirely on Qin Yu, and she didn't hear Zhou Jingheng’s question.

Until Qin Yu turned his head, his bottomless black eyes locking onto hers. Caught staring, Lin Xi blinked and looked away, feigning composure.

Qin Yu seemed to be in a good mood; he curled his lips into a faint smile. "Second Brother is asking you why you don't live at the compound."

She couldn't tell if he was being helpful or deliberately teasing her.

Lin Xi’s ears turned red as she looked toward her second brother. "It's not that."

The man beside her was staring straight at her, making her cheeks burn. She had to divert her attention, chatting with her second brother about daily life.

"The compound is too far from the office. The traffic during morning and evening rush hours is terrible, so I just moved closer to work."

"Did you buy the place?" Zhou Jingheng was worried about her safety living alone. Even if it was the same complex as Qin Yu, renting from a stranger wouldn't be very reliable.

"..." Lin Xi shook her head. "No. It's... Fourth Brother's place. But I'm planning to have him transfer the title to me." She had subconsciously almost said "Third Brother," but since the syllables were similar, she quickly swapped it to "Fourth Brother."

Cheng Si chimed in, "Of course we can't let her live alone in a rental. What if it's not safe? We have plenty of things in this family, and extra houses are one of them."

"That's good then."

After several rounds of drinks, Zhou Jingheng, who couldn't hold his liquor well, was already a bit tipsy after being plied with two glasses by Cheng Si and Bai Xu.

"Where is Second Brother staying? Let's take him back."

"I'm staying at the place provided by my unit, but it hasn't been cleaned yet. And the family home hasn't been lived in for a while either." Zhou Jingheng paused, not standing on ceremony. "I'm afraid I'll have to rely on you all to take me in tonight."

In the end, Bai Xu volunteered, suggesting the second brother come to his place.

"I live alone, and there's plenty of space. As long as Second Brother doesn't mind."

"Why would I?"

Hearing this, Bai Xu chuckled. "Last time I asked Lin Xi to come stay over, she complained about it endlessly."

Lin Xi: "..."