Chapter 73

The number of people dancing in the center of the ballroom was increasing, and the atmosphere was becoming more lively. No one noticed the somewhat intimate actions of Jing Yi and Shen Huaichu in the corner.Jing Yi's bright black eyes stared intently at the man in front of her, her mind filled with the thought that she couldn't lose!

"Uncle?" Shen Xi's voice came through.

Uncle?!

Jing Yi abruptly pushed Shen Huaichu away and quickly stood up, looking towards the newcomer. It wasn't just Shen Xi; there was also a man beside her.

Shen Huaichu, who had been pushed away, didn't seem angry at Jing Yi's actions. He straightened his suit collar and shifted his gaze to Shen Xi and the man.

Jing Yi looked at Shen Xi, then at Shen Huaichu, with an expression of disbelief.

"Xixi, he's your uncle?!"

Shen Xi, equally surprised, nodded dumbly.

She hadn't expected that in just ten minutes, her best friend would have such an explosive development, and with her uncle no less!

Indeed, Shen Huaichu was the Shen family gentleman Shen Xi had mentioned earlier, who was distantly related. Given their generational difference, Shen Xi was indeed supposed to call Shen Huaichu "uncle."

Although Shen Xi hadn't met Shen Huaichu many times, her parents had repeatedly reminded her about their generational relationship.

Receiving Shen Xi's clear response, Jing Yi felt bewildered. She had thought Shen Huaichu and Shen Xi were just relatives, but he was actually Shen Xi's uncle? Wouldn't that make her own generational status even lower?

If she had known earlier, she wouldn't have entangled with him here. Now things were more complicated!

As the three were lost in their thoughts, the man beside them watched the scene with great interest.

"Brother," Gu Lin said with a smile as he walked to Shen Huaichu's side. Jing Yi finally took notice of this man.

He looked about the same age as Shen Xi, but since he called Shen Huaichu "brother," it meant he was also an elder of Shen Xi's uncle's generation.

Jing Yi inwardly complained about these confusing generational relationships - so young, yet already someone's uncle.

Gu Lin was the son of Shen Huaichu's aunt, his cousin.

Shen Xi glanced at Shen Huaichu, then quietly moved a chair to sit beside Jing Yi.

"You didn't tell me Shen Huaichu was your uncle?!"

"How did you end up with my uncle?!"

Two voices whispered simultaneously in each other's ears.

Jing Yi looked up at Shen Huaichu, saw that he was talking about something with Gu Lin and not paying attention to them, then felt relieved enough to continue talking with Shen Xi.

"I met him by accident."

"Didn't I say my family had some distant relation to his?"

"But you didn't say it was an uncle-niece relationship!"

Shen Xi looked at Jing Yi with admiration in her eyes. Her uncle was such a cold person, yet Jing Yi had the courage to approach him. She was truly impressive.

Jing Yi glared at her, "Quickly throw all those thoughts in your head into the trash!" This girl would start imagining romantic love stories at the slightest provocation!

Realizing she'd been found out, Shen Xi chuckled sheepishly.

She just hadn't dared to be unrestrained in front of Shen Huaichu, so she had only thought about it in her heart, but even that had been seen through.

On the other side, Gu Lin was also probing Shen Huaichu about his relationship with Jing Yi.

Don't think he hadn't seen how intimate they were earlier, especially considering it was Shen Huaichu.

He might be able to get first-hand information from Shen Huaichu, which he could then report to his mother!

Shen Huaichu, perceiving Gu Lin's intentions, gave him a cold look. "You're thinking too much."

Gu Lin raised an eyebrow and shrugged. Fine, he wouldn't be getting any useful information from Shen Huaichu.

He shifted his gaze to Jing Yi; they seemed to have finished discussing his brother.

Gu Lin had heard about the Jing family bringing back two daughters, especially since the family had been recording a reality show recently.

"Hello, Miss Jing," Gu Lin greeted first.

"Hello," Jing Yi replied, unsure of the other's status and how to address him.

Gu Lin smiled, "My name is Gu Lin, his cousin."

As this was Jing Yi's first time meeting Gu Lin, she naturally wouldn't be as discourteous as she was with Shen Huaichu.

"Mr. Gu." Sёarch* The Novelƒire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"Does Miss Jing know my brother?"

He didn't mention their intimate behavior from earlier, but the question was still quite direct.

Jing Yi glanced at Shen Huaichu, then forced a smile and said, "I don't know him! I just thought Mr. Shen looked very much like an annoying person I know. I didn't expect such a coincidence..."

Shen Huaichu's gaze turned towards her, seemingly unbothered by the slight, his cold eyes carrying a different meaning.

Then they heard, "What a coincidence to meet Xixi's uncle!"

Gu Lin looked from one to the other. This atmosphere of daggers drawn didn't seem like that of strangers at all.

To ease the awkward atmosphere, Gu Lin continued chatting with Jing Yi, "I've been watching the live stream of Miss Jing and her family recently. It's very interesting."

This wasn't just a polite comment from Gu Lin, though he mainly watched it with his mother.

"Is that so? Thank you."

Jing Yi's eyes curved into a smile. Paired with her red and black gown, she looked like a dark-themed girl, both cute and beautiful, with a mysterious allure.

She seemed to be chatting happily with Gu Lin. Noticing the change in Jing Yi's attitude, Shen Huaichu's dark eyes narrowed slightly.

"I only found out from the live stream that Miss Jing likes sports cars?"

"It's alright, after all, driving 'Black Night' is very different from other cars."

At the mention of 'Black Night', Gu Lin became very interested. "I can imagine. Anyone who likes cars would find it hard to resist the charm of 'Black Night'." He had been fortunate enough to see it at an auction and had indeed thought about bidding for it.

Unfortunately, the price Jing Zeyou offered was just too high...

"In a while, the Shanchi Racing Track in North River should be hosting a sports car championship. If Miss Jing is interested, you could go watch."

Jing Yi's eyes lit up at hearing this, but soon she looked dejected again. "I've heard about it too, but my second brother won't let me practice at his racing track, let alone participate."

Now it was Gu Lin's turn to be surprised. He had thought Jing Yi just liked cars, he didn't expect she could race too. "Miss Jing, you can race?"

Jing Yi smiled, "A little bit."

Gu Lin was skeptical about this 'little bit' for now. He was about to inquire further when he noticed Shen Huaichu's displeased expression. He suddenly remembered Shen Huaichu's aversion to such entertainment.

He didn't continue the topic, and Jing Yi also sensed something amiss, though she didn't pay it much mind. Instead, she noticed that Shen Huaichu was still holding her mask.

If it were anything else, she might have let it go, but that mask happened to be one Jing Yi really liked.

Jing Yi reached out towards Shen Huaichu, "Mr. Shen, can you return my mask?"

Shen Huaichu sat in the lounge chair, his dark eyes carrying a hint of coldness and playfulness. He glanced at Jing Yi indifferently, waving the mask in his hand.

"Is Miss Jing referring to this?"

What else could it be!

Jing Yi forced a smile, her eyes flashing with anger, "Yes!"