Lu Jinbei frowned and didn’t say a word.
Bai Xiaonian said again, “What did she tell you? That she hasn’t had a man all these years and loves only you?”
Lu Jinbei stared at Bai Xiaonian in astonishment, surprised she actually knew what Cai Jingyao said to him.
“Hur, indeed…” Bai Xiaonian’s lips curled. “No matter how impassioned she sounded when she said this, you’re only a spare tire to her, a spare tire she arranged 800 meters away…”
Lu Jinnan was speechless.
Bai Xiaonian was both protective and self-righteous. Wasn’t she afraid she would offend her brother-in-law by saying this?
Indeed, Lu Jinbei’s countenance looked terrible.
“Because you’re Lu Jinnan’s younger brother, I don’t wish to see Lu Jinnan upset. Hence, I’m telling you what I know in advance. As for how you choose in the future, be it bliss or sadness…” Bai Xiaonian turned sideways and looked at Lu Jinnan, who was standing next to her. “You don’t have to feel guilt over it, because we’ve told him what we know! Okay?”
Lu Jinnan’s heart throbbed…
So, Bai Xiaonian had said so much because she feared he would feel guilty in the future?
Lu Jinnan felt as if a gust of wind grazed past the softest spot in his heart, making him feel super comfortable.
Lu Jinbei also looked up in Bai Xiaonian and Lu Jinnan’s direction. The loving gaze in Bai Xiaonian’s eyes stabbed at Lu Jinbei’s heart.
There was a time when Bai Xiaonian had looked at him the same way. But… he was the one who lost Bai Xiaonian in the end.
“Time for fruit…” Cai Jingyao came out with the platter of fruit that Lu Jinnan’s father cut, kneeling as she placed it on the coffee table. She said to Bai Xiaonian, “Xiaonian, you’re pregnant now, so you ought to eat more fruit. This way, your baby will be fair and tender. But then again, you’re fair to begin with, so your child’s complexion surely won’t be too bad.”
Bai Xiaonian merely smiled and didn’t reply to Cai Jingyao. She picked up the fruit Lu Jinnan cut for her, then started eating it.
Lu Jinnan’s father washed his hands and was wiping his hands with kitchen towels when he peeked his head out. “Xiao Cai just told me that she attended the same school as Xiaonian. She said that Xiaonian was a prominent figure on campus!”
Bai Xiaonian’s vision swept over Cai Jingyao. “Nuan Nuan was a prominent figure in school back then. I can’t be counted as one…”
“You’re being humble. Everyone at school said Nuan Nuan and Xiaonian were comparable in terms of looks, that they were both belles of the school. Am I right, Xiao Bei?” Cai Jingyao tossed the ball to Lu Jinbei.
Aware of Bai Xiaonian and Lu Jinbei’s past, Lu Jinnan’s father appeared awkward. He thought that Cai Jingyao didn’t know about Bai Xiaonian and Lu Jinbei’s past and was afraid the girl would feel upset if she came to know about this. Hence, he quickly changed the topic. “I’ve cut the vegetables and meat for lunch. All that’s left is stir-frying. Do you two brothers want to display your culinary skills later?”
“Let me!” Lu Jinnan offered.
“I don’t wish to move!” Lu Jinbei said.
“President Lu actually knows how to cook?” Cai Jingyao looked shocked. “I thought a workaholic-type male such as President Lu wouldn’t be able to cook!”
Lu Jinnan didn’t reply to her.
Cai Jingyao then continued, “Then, let me be the helper while President Lu cooks! Uncle, you take a rest today. Xiaonian is pregnant, so you should just sit!”
“No need…” Lu Jinnan said, unwilling to talk to Cai Jingyao.
Cai Jingyao pretended she couldn’t tell. “I can’t very well not help at all. Do let me help!”
Bai Xiaonian’s eyes narrowed. Was Cai Jingyao… wheedling to Lu Jinnan here?
Bai Xiaonian gazed at Lu Jinbei with her peripheral vision…
Indeed, Lu Jinbei was just a stepping board!
Cai Jingyao clearly wasn’t looking to get married to Lu Jinbei. It was evident she was using Lu Jinbei as a stepping stone to hook up with Lu Jinnan.
Bai Xiaonian then recalled what Cai Jingyao said about hooking up with Lu Jinbei in order to prove she was more attractive than Bai Xiaonian, and she suddenly felt disgusted. Bai Xiaonian patted her chest with her brows furrowed.
“What’s the matter?” Noticing Bai Xiaonian’s actions, Lu Jinnan quickly handed Bai Xiaonian a glass of warm water. “Are you feeling nauseous again?”
Bai Xiaonian nodded.
“I asked you not to come because I was afraid you would feel disgusted. See… you feel disgusted, don’t you!” Lu Jinnan frowned.
Bai Xiaonian smiled and gazed at the serious Lu Jinnan, wondering how someone could scold another person so subtly.
“I’m fine. It’s been a long time since I came to Dad’s place, so it was about time I visited!”
Bai Xiaonian took a gulp of water to suppress the nauseated feeling in her chest. Lu Jinnan went to the washroom to get Bai Xiaonian a hot towel.
Lu Jinnan’s father then came over with plums. “Hasn’t that symptom been gone for a while now? Why did you start feeling nauseous again? Is it because of your leg injury?”
“No, Dad, don’t worry! My taste is a little weird lately, and if I eat something that’s not suitable, I’ll feel disgusted!”
Bai Xiaonian took the hot towel from Lu Jinnan and wiped her mouth, which had a plum in it.
At 10:40 am, they started preparing lunch. Lu Jinnan’s father couldn’t stay idle. Although he couldn’t cook as well as Bai Xiaonian’s father, his cooking was passable. Hence, he put on his apron and entered the kitchen.
Lu Jinnan went to help, and Cai Jingyao followed.
Lu Jinnan arranged for Bai Xiaonian to rest in his original room, and only Lu Jinbei was left in the living room playing games.
In the kitchen, Lu Jinnan was in charge of cooking, whilst Cai Jingyao handed him condiments by his side. On the other hand, Lu Jinnan’s father didn’t have anything to do, so he could only place the fish in the steamer and remove his apron and come out.
“Look at Xiao Cai, even she knows to help out your older brother in the kitchen… As for you, all you do is play games here and wait to eat!” Lu Jinnan’s father chided Lu Jinbei.
Sucking on a lollipop in his mouth, Lu Jinbei pretended he heard nothing.
Lu Jinnan’s father then turned back and glanced into the kitchen before sitting down next to Lu Jinbei and asking him, “Ever since you brought Xiao Cai back yesterday, you two have been sticking together, so I haven’t had the opportunity to ask. Are you two university classmates? Does this girl know you and Xiaonian used to date? Are you planning to tell her?”
Upon hearing this, Lu Jinbei took the lollipop out of his mouth and said as he stared at his father, “Don’t you know? She used to stay in the same hostel as Bai Xiaonian. She’s the person I cheated on Bai Xiaonian with! In the past, I told you before. You’re not even that old yet, and you’re senile!”
Lu Jinnan’s father paused in surprise. “What?”
“That girl gave me her first time. Moreover… haven’t you been rushing me to get married? Then I’ll just marry her. At least I don’t detest her!”
Lu Jinbei’s father slapped Lu Jinbei’s arm fiercely. “Nonsense! I know… that this girl was Xiaonian’s good friend back then, and she fooled around with you behind Xiaonian’s back! You’re now telling me that this girl hit on you first? Don’t you know there’s a problem with her character!”