Chapter 70 - 067 Flee in Panic
Yun Shu had prepared a large table of dishes and invited Kang Jinse and Kang Jinxian to stay for dinner. Kang Jinse reluctantly sat down at the dining table.
Yun Shu took the place of honor, with Kang Jinse to her right and Yun Shen to her left. Kang Jinxian sat close to Kang Jinse, enviously admiring the luxurious and romantic setting, feeling an undertone of inferiority that made her head bow even lower unconsciously.
"Don’t be shy, everyone, help yourselves. Ah Xian, try the sweet and sour fish I made and see if it’s to your liking," Yun Shu served a piece of fish onto Kang Jinxian’s plate with her chopsticks.
Kang Jinxian was flattered, her big round eyes looked up at Yun Shu, "Thank you, Aunt Yun."
A deeper smile crept across Yun Shu’s face, "Such a darling girl."
Kang Jinxian pursed her lips and inadvertently caught sight of the man sitting diagonally opposite her. He sat up straight, his features were handsome, and he possessed an air like the bright moon on a clear night, exuding an elegant yet cool aura.
Kang Jinxian had never seen such an attractive man before. He radiated an indescribable charm that stirred a strange feeling within her. When the man’s gaze suddenly met hers, Kang Jinxian dropped her head like a startled bunny, her heart pounding rapidly.
The fish in her mouth lost its flavor as her mind was filled with the vision of the man’s cold, pitch-black eyes.
Yun Shu gave Yun Shen a look, prompting him to furrow his brows slightly as he placed a shrimp dumpling onto Kang Jinse’s plate, "Eat up."
Kang Jinse’s face bloomed into a shy smile, "Thank you, Brother Shen."
Kang Jinxian clenched the hem of her dress, ignoring the sour surge within her heart.
Remembering something, Kang Jinse suddenly asked, "Where’s Yun Ya? Isn’t she coming down for dinner?"
The smile on Yun Shu’s face faded slightly as Yun Shen’s hand, which was holding the chopsticks, paused before he continued to eat as if nothing had happened.
"She considers herself too good to dine with us. How could she possibly join us?" Yun Shu said with a laugh, her tone betraying no particular emotion.
Kang Jinse raised an eyebrow to herself. Ji Yunya and Yun Shu had clearly had a falling out. Having been at a disadvantage the last time, Ji Yunya was evidently still holding a grudge and would look for an opportunity to get even sooner or later.
"Is that so? Yun Ya is one of the smartest kids I’ve ever met. She’s bound to be successful in life," Kang Jinse said, reminding Yun Shu to be careful not to nurse a wolf that could turn around and bite her.
Kang Jinxian was curious about the Yun Ya her sister mentioned; the name sounded familiar.
"Aunt Jiang, thank you for your compliment." A sweet voice suddenly interrupted, causing everyone to stiffen and turn toward the source. They saw a little girl in a pink princess dress slowly descending from the second-floor staircase.
Her hair, naturally chestnut-colored, fanned out behind her like seaweed, undulating with her steps.
Her skin was as white as milk, almost translucent, and even without the presence of light, it had a reflective quality.
Her black eyes held a languid smile, deep like ancient wells. One glance seemed capable of drawing people into their magnetic depth.
Against the glitzy backdrop, she seemed like a princess strolling out of a medieval castle, exuding a reverence-inspiring, holy elegance even from her tresses, and it made them, mere mortals, feel reduced to dust in an instant.
Yun Shu’s pupils turned cold as she watched the approaching girl.
Yun Shen’s brow furrowed, and he silently set down his chopsticks.
Kang Jinse let out a snort, her eyes filled with spite as she glared at the girl’s fair face.
Kang Jinxian was stunned. In front of this girl much younger than herself, she felt a sense of deep inferiority for the first time, like pearls to pebbles, heavens to dust...
In her haste, she lowered her head, not daring to look again.
She remembered who this girl was, the little child star who had recently become famous because of a variety show, Ji Yunya.
"Grandma, Dad." Yunya called out politely to Yun Shu and Yun Shen, her gaze sincere and bright.
She naturally sat down on the chair next to Yun Shen and turned to ask Ah Huan, "Ah Huan, could you prepare a pair of chopsticks and a bowl for me?"
Ah Huan subconsciously looked at Yun Shu and, seeing her nod, immediately withdrew.
Yunya’s gaze fell on Kang Jinxian, who had her head bowed, and she said with a light smile, "Is this Aunt Jiang’s younger sister? She’s so cute."
For some reason, hearing the other person mention her name, Kang Jinxian’s heart unconsciously trembled, entirely an instinctive reaction. By the time she realized it, she felt a sudden chill in her heart.
She hadn’t expected that she was the daughter of her sister’s boyfriend, the young miss of the Ji Family.
Kang Jinse smiled and stroked Kang Jinxian’s fluffy short hair, "Yes, her name is Jinxian, she’s my own younger sister, four years older than Yunya. In the future, Yunya can call her Aunt Ah Xian."
Yunya unwittingly asked, "But she calls Grandma ’Aunt’, how can I call her ’sister’? Wouldn’t that mess up the generational hierarchy?"
Kang Jinse’s face stiffened. That damned girl.
"How about I call you Aunt Ah Xian, then? Don’t be mad if it makes you feel old," she said, making a face at Kang Jinxian—a different kind of sprite-like cuteness.
Kang Jinxian was taken aback and then shyly bowed her head.
She felt that ever since Ji Yunya arrived, the atmosphere at the dining table had become particularly strange. She sensed that this five-year-old girl was not simple at all. At the very least, from the looks on Yun Shu and Yun Shen’s faces, she could not get along with this girl.
Ah Huan laid out the tableware, and Yunya unfolded the napkin. The dining etiquette she exhibited was impeccable, making it a joy to watch the little girl eat.
"Oh? Aunt Ah Xian, you’re not supposed to eat steak like that." Yunya watched Jinxian eat her steak as if it were ordinary beef and shook her head with a smile.
"You should hold the fork with your left hand and the knife with your right, starting from the bottom left corner of the steak, cutting towards the top right corner piece by piece. Doing this ensures the meat’s tenderness. It’s a pity, today’s beef isn’t very fresh. I really miss Dave’s Wellington steak." Yunya’s English pronunciation was very fluent and authentic, surprising even Yun Shu.
Kang Jinxian’s hand tightened around her chopsticks, feeling an impulse to flee.
Yunya pushed the steak she had cut on her own plate in front of Kang Jinxian, and said gently, "Aunt Ah Xian, this is for you. I know you probably have never eaten steak before, but in front of elders, you mustn’t make such a mistake. We’re all family here, so I’ll forgive you, but in the future, you must remember the correct way to eat it, or else you’ll be laughed at." The little girl’s face bore an ’I’m only trying to help you’ look, her earnest and kind eyes not inviting any resentment.
However, Kang Jinxian felt as though she had been stripped naked and stepped on mercilessly, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. The girl’s gentle and bright eyes, her tender and soft voice were like a sharp knife, piercing her heart, making her breath quicken.
She felt as if everyone was laughing at her. If she could, she would have liked to crawl into a hole and hide.
The girl’s eyes suddenly shimmered with tears, looking so wronged and pitiful, yet she stubbornly bit her lip, silent as if she were a small white flower, swaying and on the verge of falling, but holding on to her strength.
Yun Shen’s gaze turned dark. With a "snap," he put down his chopsticks and said coldly, "Ji Yunya, if you don’t want to eat then get out."
Yunya quickly flashed a look of deep sarcasm and then looked at Yun Shen with an aggrieved expression, "Dad, what did I do wrong?"