NOVPUB
Chapter 492: Chapter 277
"Shen Jingxiu, oh Shen Jingxiu, do you actually believe what you’re saying? Do you really have no selfish motives at all?"
Shen Jingxiu frowned, "Yuanzhou, what are you trying to do? Why do you keep emphasizing this point? Do you think that if I admit it, I’ll stop opposing all of your actions?"
"No, I’m not trying to force you to admit anything. As a friend, I’m just reminding you not to go down the wrong path."
"I know what I’m doing."
"Then you should also be clear that your foster sister is a free thinker. You can’t stop her from loving anyone she wants to love, but that person absolutely cannot be you. You are indeed her family, but you can only be her brother."
Shen Jingxiu’s breathing paused for a moment, but he quickly spoke up, "I know that, clearer than you. I will always be her family, so stop your baseless speculations."
Shen Jingxiu’s demeanor and tone were so normal that Ji Yuanzhou even started to doubt his earlier judgment.
He frowned and scrutinized Shen Jingxiu, his voice filled with uncertainty, "Do you really have no selfish motives? Did I really misunderstand you?"
"What else?" Shen Jingxiu looked at Ji Yuanzhou with unyielding eyes, "You got too agitated just now, almost speaking without restraint."
Ji Yuanzhou chuckled lightly, his voice tinged with self-mockery, "It’s your fault for hitting where it hurts. Indeed, those who know you best know exactly where to stab to make it hurt the most."
Shen Jingxiu knew what he was talking about.
He was the Ji Family’s second son, dazzling in the eyes of outsiders, but his father had always preferred his older brother.
If it weren’t for his older brother’s health issues, he wouldn’t have been called back.
"Sorry, I won’t bring it up again. But regarding Wenyan, my stance won’t change. I still stand by what I said; find someone else to pursue. I don’t believe that after only meeting a few times, she’s the only one for you."
"What if I still want to give it a try?"
"I’ve already made myself quite clear, to continue this would mean you no longer consider me a friend, right?"
"But it’s not often I find someone I take a liking to."
"That’s dopamine. Maybe in the next second your dopamine will release for some other woman or maybe some man."
"Shen Jingxiu, aren’t you going a bit too far? I’m certain about my sexual orientation."
"Maybe one day, when a certain man appears, you’ll realize your sexual orientation has always been wrong."
"..." Ji Yuanzhou was speechless, "Are you looking for a fight?"
"Not really."
"Then there is only one possibility left between me and your sister."
"No, there’s no possibility between you two."
"Can’t you just listen to me until I finish speaking? Maybe we’re fated. Maybe I’ll encounter her again, once, twice, thrice. If that happens, I hope it doesn’t affect our friendship. Have you heard of the phrase ’marriage is predestined by fate’?"
"I don’t believe in fate predestining marriage, I only believe in deliberate planning and premeditation. Just like your visit here, it’s no coincidence at all."
"Shen Jingxiu, you’re really cruel. Do you think desires are really that easy to control?"
"Hard to control? Losing control is a terrifying thing. I like feeling in control of myself."
"Yeah, I agree with that. Losing control is indeed very frightening."
"So we’re in agreement then?"
"Jingxiu, I don’t want to."
"I didn’t ask if you wanted to, I asked if we were in agreement."
Ji Yuanzhou sighed deeply, about to speak.
His cellphone suddenly rang.
Seeing the caller ID, he appeared somewhat exhausted.
"Hello, Dad."
"...No, I’m not in the country right now."
"...On a trip."
"...A last-minute decision?"
"...Okay."
"...I’ll try to return tomorrow at the earliest, I can’t make it tonight."
"...Understood, yes, I’m fine."
Although he couldn’t hear what Ji Yuanzhou’s father was saying on the other end, Shen Jingxiu could guess from the responses Ji Yuanzhou gave.
Ji Yuanzhou was good in many ways, except that he couldn’t entirely control his own life.
For this reason alone, he was not suitable for Wenyan.
"You heard it," Ji Yuanzhou said, draping an arm over Shen Jingxiu’s shoulder after hanging up, his voice sounding somewhat despondent, "You’re right, it’s hard to get past my father. I can give you an answer now; we’ve reached an agreement."
"Thank you."
"Anything else? You look like you have more to say, just say whatever you want to tell me."
Shen Jingxiu nodded, "Since you’ve noticed, I’ll speak plainly. Your father highly values capability. Although you’ve done quite well abroad these years, it still pales in comparison to the Ji Family’s domestic influence."
