Chapter 167: Chapter 167: 167 A Bit of Love, But Not Much

Before the exam, Ji Yuqiao was all smiles, but after spending two or three days in another city, Lin Xu noticed she had been downcast ever since she returned.

Lin Xu nudged Ji Tingyang with her elbow and leaned in to whisper, “Do you think our little sister is unhappy because she didn’t do well on the test?”

Ji Tingyang looked up, his brow furrowing slightly as he gazed at Ji Yuqiao, who sat on the couch with a troubled expression, “It’s just an exam…”

“You don’t know how much Lanyue values this competition, she’s been preparing for it since the start of the semester.” Lin Xu said.

Ji Yuqiao’s thoughts were almost entirely consumed by Xiao Yu, to the point that even her dedication to the exams was to close the distance between them.

Maybe she was so sad because she hadn’t done well and couldn’t get closer to Xiao Yu.

“If only there were some way to divert her attention,” Lin Xu said, cradling her cheek in her hand, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. Then, her eyes lit up, “Didn’t you say there was a cruise activity the other day? Let’s take Lanyue with us.”

Ji Tingyang’s hand, holding a cup, stiffened for a moment before returning to normal, “I only have two tickets for the boat.”

“It’s just Lanyue and me, isn’t that perfect?” Lin Xu said happily.

Ji Tingyang glanced at Lin Xu with a placid expression that took on a hint of grievance, “And what about me?”

The event was an invitation to Ji Tingyang; it seemed really wrong to leave him out.

Lin Xu realized as well, “Then you and Lanyue should go together.”

“I’m not taking a kid with me,” Ji Tingyang turned his head away, then, after a moment, took hold of Lin Xu’s hand again, “We two should go by ourselves.”

His voice was very soft, laced with a subtle whine.

He just wanted to go on the cruise with his mother, just the two of them.

Lin Xu laughed softly, “This time you bring Lanyue with you, and next time we’ll go somewhere else together, maybe go to a movie or have barbecue, how does that sound?”

Ji Tingyang’s thin lips were tightly pressed, but when Lin Xu held his cheeks in her hands and coaxed him softly, he couldn’t help but give in.

“Then I’ll ask the organizers for an extra boat ticket,” he conceded reluctantly.

That way, he could go out with his mother and also bring along an extra little burden.

Once it was decided, the three of them set out on their journey.

What about Ji Zeqiu?

Ji Tingyang: Who’s that?

——

This luxurious cruise ship, a behemoth like a moving castle, dominated the entire horizon as it sailed for two days and one night.

The interior was even more opulent, with world-class entertainment facilities on every deck, too many to behold all at once.

“What shall we play first?” Lin Xu’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

Ji Yuqiao was also on a cruise for the first time and found everything she saw thrillingly novel.

“That looks fun, let’s try it?” Lin Xu said, heading in that direction.

Just as Ji Yuqiao was about to follow, she heard a voice.

“Ji Yuqiao?”

She turned around, a flash of surprise in her eyes, “Zhao Jiayan, what are you doing here?”

“I came with my family. They said to relax a bit after the exams,” Zhao Jiayan approached, greeting Ji Tingyang adeptly, “President Ji.”

Ji Tingyang nodded slightly, “And you are?”

Just as Zhao Jiayan was about to speak, Ji Yuqiao rolled her eyes sarcastically at her brother, “That’s Zhao Jiayan, weren’t you insistent on introducing him to me before?”

Ji Tingyang thought for a moment but still couldn’t remember who he was.

In the past, when Ji Yuqiao was wholeheartedly fixated on Xiao Yu, Ji Tingyang only wanted to keep her away from Xiao Yu, picking someone carelessly, without much impression of Zhao Jiayan.@@novelbin@@

Ji Tingyang responded indifferently, with not a trace of embarrassment on his face.

Zhao Jiayan didn’t mind either and looked towards Ji Yuqiao, inviting her, “We have a few friends over there, do you want to come and join us?”

“What friends, males or females, how many people?” Ji Tingyang suddenly became vigilant, as if afraid that Zhao Jiayan would abduct someone.

A warm current suddenly flowed through Ji Yuqiao’s heart, her tone tinged with a touch of emotion.

Previously, when Lin Xu said she would take her on a cruise, her elder brother had a disdainful expression on his face.

She thought that as she grew up, her brother didn’t love her anymore.

But it turned out her brother still cared about her.

However, in the next second, Ji Tingyang’s expression suddenly changed, as if he had no time to worry about Ji Yuqiao, “Forget it, you guys go have fun, just make sure to return to the room on time in the evening.”

After saying that, he quickly walked towards Lin Xu with long strides.

Ji Yuqiao watched as he put his arm around Lin Xu’s shoulders, using his cool and resolute face to scare off a man who was trying to strike up a conversation.

It seemed her brother was more worried about Lin Xu being abducted first.

Ji Yuqiao: “…”

Alright then.

There is love, but it’s not plentiful.

“Looks like no one’s watching over me now.” Ji Yuqiao pouted, looking at Zhao Jiayan, “I might as well go play with you guys.”

“Relax, I won’t sell you out.” Zhao Jiayan chuckled light-heartedly.

When Ji Yuqiao followed Zhao Jiayan over, their group of friends were swinging golf clubs on the ship’s small golf course, including two people she had seen at the club the other day.

On a lounge chair nearby, a boy took off the sunglasses from his nose bridge and looked at Ji Yuqiao in surprise, “Yo, Young Master Zhao brought a new friend over?”

“She’s my friend, be careful around her,” Zhao Jiayan warned.

“We know, Young Master Zhao’s friend is our friend too, right?” The boy pulled a chair for her, grinning, “Come on, beauty, sit here.”

Ji Yuqiao hesitated for a moment, unsure, and looked at Zhao Jiayan.

Zhao Jiayan led her to a seat far away from the boy.

“You’re protecting her really well.” The boy winked and laughed teasingly at Zhao Jiayan before moving his chair closer to them, looking at Ji Yuqiao with curiosity, “Beauty, what’s your relationship with him?”

“Don’t pay attention to him, otherwise he’ll definitely keep asking nonstop,” Zhao Jiayan said, speaking up when Ji Yuqiao was at a loss.

He looked at the boy again, his voice carrying a hint of warning, “If you’re bored, go play golf.”

“Golf is so boring, why don’t we play a fun little game?” suggested the boy.

Zhao Jiayan inquired, “What game?”

“The traditional Truth or Dare,” the boy said, pulling out a bottle from under the table. “Whoever the bottle points to, everyone asks him a question.”

The rest of the friends on the field agreed immediately, and even Ji Yuqiao’s eyes were filled with eagerness.

She didn’t have many friends around her, and her classmates rarely invited her to participate in such group games.

She had seen her classmates play this game before, always having a blast, and Ji Yuqiao wanted to join in on the fun.

“Alright,” seeing the anticipation in her eyes, Zhao Jiayan nodded in agreement.

However, unexpectedly, in the very first round, the bottle pointed straight at him.