Chapter 190 - The Secrets Hidden in Memory (21)

Chapter 190: The Secrets Hidden in Memory (21)

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
The next morning, when Lu Jia’er got up and came downstairs, she saw a beautiful lady sitting in the dining room with Jin Shengping.
That lady had short hair. Just a view of her graceful figure from the back would make many women jealous. At the moment, she was sitting in a chair making a phone call. Her voice was not loud, but she was saying something in English very quickly. She seemed to be discussing a paper on biology.
Jin Xiangdong had just finished working out. He was sweating on his forehead and his cotton T-shirt was soaked in some places. He saw Lu Jia’er standing on the staircase. “You are up!” He grinned.
Lu Jia’er smiled at him. Jin Shengping and that lady turned around at his voice. Lu Jia’er was able to see that lady clearly.
That lady had similar facial features with Jin Xiangdong. One look and Jin Xiangdong could tell that she was Jin Xiangdong’s sister—Jin Xianglan.
“I will head up stairs and take a shower. Be back down in a bit!” Jin Xiangdong said and patted Lu Jia’er’s arm.
Lu Jia’er nodded. Then, she walked to the dining room gracefully, “Good morning, Mr. Jin! Good morning, Professor Jin!”
“Good morning!” Jin Shengping greeted her with a smile.
Jin Xianglan, who was still on her phone, cast her glance at Lu Jia’er’s face. Though Jin Xianglan could not introduce herself just yet, she waved to Lu Jia’er as a greeting with a smile.
Lu Jia’er pulled out a chair for herself and sat down. Jin Xianglan finished her call as well. She turned to Lu Jia’er who was sitting across from her. “It’s Lu, right? I am Jin Xiangdong’s big sister, Jin Xianglan! Nice to see you!”
Jin Xianglan’s temperament was similar to Jin Xiangdong. Both had a cold demeanor. However, at the moment, Jin Xianglan was speaking to Lu Jia’er quite warmly.
Lu Jia’er smiled. “Likewise. Xiangdong talks about you often. I’m glad I finally have the chance to meet you in person!”
“Oh, my brother talks about me to you often?” Jin Xianglan asked with a smile.
“Yes, he said that you are his role model and that you have been taking good care of him since he was a kid.” Lu Jia’er smiled.
Jin Xianglan laughed at this comment. “I see that he has a conscience. Dig in! Don’t wait for him!”
Lu Jia’er answered with a smile. She picked up her chopsticks, a bowl of porridge and thus started her breakfast.
Judging from the breakfast dishes on the table, Lu Jia’er could tell that the Jin family still stuck to their Chinese dining habits. There were pickled cowpea, shredded potatoes with vinegar sauce, green vegetables, lotus root slices, deep-fried dough sticks, and egg rolls with scallion which she liked.
However, the air seemed to be a bit depressing. Jin Shengping and Jin Xianglan were not conversing. They just ate their breakfast silently. Lu Jia’er felt there was a barrier between them.
So, she found a topic to break the silence. “Professor Jin, when did you get in last night?”
Lu Jia’er did not sleep until 1:30 last night. Before that, she did not hear anything downstairs.
“I drove here this morning! Xiangdong did not tell us in advance that he was coming back. I have to go on a business trip this afternoon. So, I can only come here first thing in the morning and have breakfast with him!” Jin Xiangdong explained.
Lu Jia’er smiled. “You and your brother are so close!”
Jin Shengping, who was sitting on the top seat, interrupted, “Most of the time, they are close. But they do give each other the silent treatment sometimes!”
Lu Jia’er was curious. “Silent treatment? Why would they do that?”
“Of course, the involved parties would have more accurate answers to this question!” Jin Shengping looked at Jin Xianglan with a smile.
Jin Xianglan’s answer was two words, “Academic exchange!”
Lu Jia’er was surprised. “Academic exchange?”
“When we were kids, we would have different views on certain academic topics. We both thought that the other person was wrong! Then, we would argue with each other, trying to convince the other person to accept our own views. However, every time, things would go contrary to our wishes and we would end up not talking for a few days.” Jin Xianglan laughed.
From Jin Xianglan’s words, Lu Jia’er could tell how smart Jin Xiangdong was when he was little. Both of Jin Shengping’s children were outstanding performers in their respective industries. How intelligent they must be! Jin Xianglan was five years older than Jin Xiangdong. In theory, her knowledge must be more extensive than Jin Xiangdong’s. However, Jin Xiangdong could argue with her. How bright of a young man he must have been at that age.
The desire to gossip was surging high now that she knew one fun anecdote from Jin Xiangdong’s childhood. “I didn’t know that Jin Xiangdong had such a childish side!” Lu Jia’er said with a smile.
“Not just childish! He knows how to make a scene!” Jin Xianglan could not stop laughing.
Lu Jia’er had profound understanding at this point because she had fallen victim to that.
Right at that moment, Jin Xiangdong’s voice arrived. “Sister, I heard that!”
Lu Jia’er looked at him. Jin Xiangdong had changed into a white sportswear and was walking towards them in a classically handsome way.
“So what? Do you want to deny it?” Jin Xianglan made fun of him.
Jin Xiangdong pulled over a chair and sat next to Lu Jia’er before he retorted, “I will always turn a deaf ear to untrue things.”
“Now, this here, is being unreasonable!” Jin Xianglan said.
Jin Xiangdong grinned. “Sister, last night, Father already sold me out in front of Jia’er. Today, please show mercy so that I can still have some face in front of my girlfriend!”
Jin Xianglan grinned. “I can show mercy, but only for a price!”
“Name it!” Jin Xiangdong answered readily.
“Chauffeur me around this morning.” Jin Xianglan said.
“No problem.” Jin Xiangdong accepted.
Jin Xianglan smiled with satisfaction and said to Lu Jia’er, “Lu Jia’er, may I borrow your boyfriend for half a day to be my chauffeur?”
Lu Jia’er felt a bit shy that Jin Xianglan was asking for her permission. The former turned to Jin Xiangdong and nodded slowly, “Sure!”
After breakfast, Jin Xiangdong and Jin Xianglan left together and Lu Jia’er and Jin Shengping saw them out.
Before Jin Xiangdong got into the car, he did not forget to give Lu Jia’er a kiss and a hug.
Jin Xianglan, who was in the car, and Jin Shengping, who was standing by the door with his crutch, were attracted by this couple. However, some strange glow flashed past both of their eyes.
“Wait for me to come back!” Having finished the kiss, Jin Xiangdong stroked the hair at the back of Lu Jia’er’s head.
Lu Jia’er did not forget to tell him, “Be careful out there.”
Naturally, Jin Xiangdong knew what Lu Jia’er was referring to. He nodded as a promise.