CHAPTER 627: CHAPTER 616: VICIOUS VILLAIN

"Brother Cheng, are we still not calling it a night?" Huang Mao yawned as he spoke.

"Brother Cheng, you’re not planning to hang out until dawn again, are you? The Old Buddha has decreed that I must be home by midnight today," another crew-cut guy said listlessly.

Jiang Cheng tossed the cue stick onto the table with irritation: "Let’s disperse, let’s disperse."

As a few of them reached the door, the one who looked the most normal among the four patted Jiang Cheng on the shoulder and said, "There’s a race in two days, don’t forget."

Jiang Cheng wiped his face with a sharp furrow in his brow: "I won’t forget." Then he rode off on his motorcycle.

When he arrived back at the Jiang Family’s villa, it was dimly lit. He lowered his eyelids and curled his lips, but paused when he passed the living room because there were two plates of freshly made cold noodles on the dining table.

"Want some? I made a bit extra," Ye Qiu turned on a small lamp, her sudden voice startling Jiang Cheng, though he didn’t show it.

Jiang Cheng remained silent, ready to head straight upstairs.

"Afraid I’ve poisoned it?" Ye Qiu sat down with downcast eyes, picked up some noodles to eat, and to tell the truth, after revising for most of the night, she was indeed a bit hungry.

With no chili oil at home, she had only put some chopped facing heaven peppers into the cold noodles — just one, as a seasoning. Too much would upset Jiang Cheng’s stomach. However, she had been generous with the vinegar; lifting up the noodles, the inviting sour scent spread out, mixing with the crispness of cut cucumber and carrot strips.

Ye Qiu slurped up a big mouthful of noodles, causing Jiang Cheng, who was halfway up the stairs, to stop, his expression sour. Was it necessary to eat noodles so loudly?

Even though he complained in his heart, the noodles seemed genuinely tasty.

His mind wandered to the bowl of noodles he had at noon, saliva almost drooling out. Who would have thought that this plain-looking younger sister could make such delicious noodles?

In any case, it wouldn’t kill him. If he’s going to eat, then eat. Did she really have the guts to poison him?

Jiang Cheng sat down with a stern face. As the aroma grew stronger, he couldn’t help but unconsciously imitate Ye Qiu and slurped a large bunch of cold noodles into his mouth quite naturally.

The moment that sound came out, he immediately scowled. How did he let a little girl lead him astray?

He shot an angry glare in her direction, only to find that she had not even noticed, submerged in a sea of noodles. Was she really not afraid of him?

No, that’s not right. She hadn’t seen the look in his eyes. If she had, she would surely keep her distance like everyone else. The two bowls of noodles she had today were just leftovers she didn’t want, shared with him out of pity. Who would go out of their way to care if he had eaten or not?

Hmph! Charity is charity, so be it. She couldn’t finish it anyway, and no one owes anyone anything.

Jiang Cheng wolfed down what was left in two bites, finishing the large bowl of noodles in less than five minutes, but he still didn’t feel quite full. This bargain sister of his, if she’s made too much already, she might as well have made even more.

He smacked his lips, stood up, and headed upstairs, thinking it’s better to have something rather than nothing.

But he was unaware that Ye Qiu had intentionally calculated the portion for him. He always came back late, and going to bed after eating meant eating too much could cause indigestion, especially since his stomach wasn’t strong to begin with. Ye Qiu was already considering making more stomach-soothing soups in the future.

Early the next day, Jiang Cheng made a rare appearance at the Jiang family’s dining table.

Whenever Jiang Cheng was present, Luo Sitian would fall silent, and even Jiang Miaomiao, the little sly fox, sneakily glanced at him before quickly wolfing down her porridge, as if she was frightened.

Jiang Hongcai was frowning, looking like he could burst into anger at any moment, while only Jiang Yi smiled and said: "Second brother, the porridge today is really good, have a taste."

Ye Qiu swore, she noticed that Jiang Cheng’s expression seemed to soften a great deal. What kind of person was he? She had made him two meals of noodles and hadn’t received a shred of gratitude, yet Jiang Yi said just one sentence and Jiang Cheng appreciated it.

"You can’t drink it," Ye Qiu stopped her.

Jiang Hongcai frowned even more tightly, and Luo Sitian scolded her: "Nonsense, eat your food."

"What does sister Ye Qiu mean?" Jiang Yi asked her with a smile as he turned his head.

Ye Qiu looked directly at Jiang Cheng, "It contains shrimp, you can’t eat it."

Jiang Cheng’s spoon paused as he drank the porridge, but still opened his mouth. Seeing that he would not listen, Ye Qiu silently lowered her head.

"Your big brother is talking to you, why aren’t you speaking again?" Luo Sitian tried to tap Ye Qiu’s hand with her chopsticks, but she missed, and her face immediately became more embarrassed.

Before Ye Qiu could speak, Jiang Yi intervened to smooth things over: "Auntie, if sister Ye Qiu doesn’t want to talk, let it be. Stop being like this."

"Only you would defend this girl, but she’s still so unreasonable," Luo Sitian’s smile was gentle towards Jiang Yi just a second ago, but when it came to Ye Qiu, it turned into disdain.

Ye Qiu didn’t speak, knowing that the more she talked, the more excited Jiang Yi and Luo Sitian would become.

"I’m going out." She put down her bowl and chopsticks and walked towards the door.

"Where are you going in this hot weather?" Luo Sitian shouted after her again.

"What, you all went out yesterday and I can’t go out today?" Ye Qiu retorted, then opened the door and left.

"This child really...the older she gets, the more impolite she becomes." Luo Sitian was angry, feeling that Ye Qiu had failed to give her face in front of the Jiang family.

"Auntie, sister Ye Qiu must be in her rebellious phase. It’s okay, everyone goes through this stage," Jiang Yi still spoke well of Ye Qiu even after she had left.

Luo Sitian let out a light sigh: "Didn’t you skip this phase? She’s a girl, yet she’s so inconsiderate and not thoughtful at all. She’s just like her deadbeat father. If it weren’t for the fact that there’s no one left in her father’s family, I really wouldn’t want to take care of her."

Jiang Cheng listened silently and thought of those two bowls of noodles, feeling somewhat uncomfortable. Consequently, his face darkened as he too put down his bowl and left.

As he left, Jiang Hongcai couldn’t contain his anger any longer: "First thing in the morning, and all this nagging? It really spoils the mood. Yi, take your time eating, dad will wait for you in the car."

"Alright, I’ll come right away," Jiang Yi said quietly, then comforted Luo Sitian, who looked upset, "Auntie, don’t be mad. Dad is just upset with little Cheng. Miaomiao, be good and stay home to please your mom, okay?"

"Got it, big brother," Jiang Miaomiao obediently waved goodbye to her big brother.

The villa area was quite far from the bus stop, and after walking for more than ten minutes, Ye Qiu still hadn’t reached it, then she saw Jiang Cheng zooming past her on his motorcycle.

"So heartless!" She also glared resentfully at his retreating figure.

A few minutes later, Jiang Hongcai drove passed her with Jiang Yi in the car as well, but they didn’t stop to give her a ride.

In this scorching heat, if not for having sipped some Spiritual Spring Water, Ye Qiu felt she would be fuming.

Once she earned money, she would buy a car of every kind and drive a different one each day!

When Jiang Cheng passed by Ye Qiu, he actually hesitated for a moment, but then he sarcastically told himself off for his silly kindness, maybe if he’d offered to go back and give her a lift, she wouldn’t have wanted to ride with him anyway!

So, in the end, it took Ye Qiu almost half an hour to finally reach a bus stop.