Chapter 209: Chapter 209 Turns Out You’re a Casanova
The shared washroom in the old house was nothing like the villas where each room typically came with its own set; here, it was communal, with one bathroom on the first floor and another on the second floor.
Jiang Nanshu finished washing up and went downstairs, breakfast was already prepared.
To her surprise, there were even sandwiches on the table, complemented by a glass of milk.
Jiang Nanshu remembered that in the past, it was only large buns filled with meat and a cup of soy milk; Mrs. Ji must have made these to suit the tastes of the young masters and ladies who came from wealthy families.
Jiang Nanshu didn’t miss the flicker of resistance in Chu Muxi’s eyebrows.
See?
No matter how well you treat them, those who think the local food is dirty will still disdain it.
Mrs. Ji came out of the kitchen and saw Jiang Nanshu come downstairs.
She had changed into a fresh green sundress today, which was quite eye-catching.
Mrs. Ji couldn’t help feeling cheerier, “Nannan, are you feeling any better? Shall Young Master Lu take you to town for a checkup later?”
“No need,” Jiang Nanshu replied succinctly.
Mrs. Ji nodded somewhat disheartenedly, “Well, good, you still need to take care of your health.”
Seeing this, Jiang Nanshu added another sentence, “I’m already better, and if I feel unwell again, I’ll just take some medicine. No need to go to the hospital. Let’s sit down; I’m starving.”
Only then did Mrs. Ji smile and said to Jiang Hemian and the others, “Okay, I made something simple today, not sure if it’s to your taste.”
Jiang Hemian was easygoing, “It’s already very exquisite, I’m satisfied eating a warm meal, as sometimes I have to settle for cold food in the lab when I’m too busy to eat properly.”
When he was engrossed in his work, he sometimes even forgot to eat.
Chu Muxi was very good at pretending, accompanying her words with a smile, “My family’s breakfast is also simple like this. Aunt Ji, your cooking is really good, and I’m resting well here.”
Jiang Nanshu looked at her with two glaring dark circles under her eyes and a face full of worry, “Sister Xixi, why are your dark circles so noticeable? Did you sleep well last night?”
Chu Muxi’s smile was impeccable, “Thank you for your concern, Nanshu. I had some insomnia, but I’m very grateful just to have a place to stay. Aunt Ji and Uncle Ji have been very hospitable.”
She turned to Jiang Hemian with a gentle smile, “Third Brother doesn’t find it tough, so what right do I have to complain?”
[Oh, she’s really putting on a show, calling him ‘Third Brother’ as if she has no brothers of her own. Always using others’ names, I can’t wait to rip off that hypocritical mask of hers.]
Jiang Nanshu inwardly scoffed.
No wonder Chu Muxi was the longest-standing among all the female supporting characters, outliving her role as a lively, wicked one—her facade was a success in front of everyone else.
Jiang Hemian slightly curled his lips into a smile, elegantly eating his sandwich.
Shang Xu sat at the dining table, with Ji Ze beside him.
The boy paid no attention to the adults’ conversations, his eyes fixed on the large buns in front of him as he swallowed hard and tugged at Ji Ze, “Brother Xiaoze, I want to eat the big buns, one bite each, ahwoo.”
Ji Ze was amused by his childish behavior and picked up a bun for him with his chopsticks, “Eat up.”
Shang Xu smiled with his grape-like eyes, “Thank you, Brother Xiaoze.”
Then, he ate with relish.
Chu Muxi noticed that there were no serving chopsticks on the table, and the sandwiches were placed on a plate, requiring them to use their hands to pick them up. There were no fancy western-style plates either, just a round bowl, which seemed a bit out of place.
Chu Muxi saw Shang Xu munching on the bun that someone else had picked up for him with their chopsticks.
She gently informed, “Aunt Ji, it might be a good idea to have some serving chopsticks on the table, so it’s more hygienic when people pick up food without dirtying it. Also, if someone is sick at the table, it can prevent cross-infection.”
Mrs. Ji quickly stood up, “I’m sorry, I didn’t think of that, we’re used to eating like this in the countryside, I’ll go get some chopsticks now.”
“Ah yeah, yeah, sure, you’re the picky one—but I’ve never seen you washing dishes. Who are you ordering around? Can’t stand it anymore.”
Jiang Nanshu picked up a xiaolongbao with her chopsticks and placed it in Lu Qingyan’s bowl, smiling reservedly, “Brother Qingyan, try this, it’s delicious.”
Lu Qingyan, his face calm, took the xiaolongbao with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth. The coldness in his dark eyes dissipated, and he slightly curved his lips, “Hmm, delicious.”
Jiang Nanshu’s actions completely disregarded Chu Muxi’s words. She just smiled upon hearing them and said nothing.
It wasn’t until Mrs. Ji’s voice came from the kitchen, “Old Ji, come in and grab some chopsticks.”
Only then did Father Ji leave the dining table and walk into the kitchen.
Jiang Nanshu frowned slightly.
And she stood up too.
However, she only went as far as the entrance to the kitchen and then stopped.
Mrs. Ji’s nosebleed had started again, unstoppable.
She covered it with one hand, her body getting smeared with blood.
The other hand was carefully protecting the chopsticks, keeping them clean.
Father Ji tried to help her stop the bleeding, but she pushed him away, urging him to go quickly, not to keep the Important guests waiting, her nosebleed would stop on its own after a while.
Jiang Nanshu turned around and sat back in her seat. In the next instant, Father Ji, looking deeply distressed, reappeared with the chopsticks in hand. He set them out one pair after another, even placing a pair on Chu Muxi’s side for her convenience.
Jiang Nanshu was preoccupied and didn’t eat much.
Even with the communal chopsticks present, Chu Muxi didn’t touch them, only fiddling with the milk in front of herself.
She probably thought the communal chopsticks weren’t clean enough.
Even if she was exceptional at playing her part, this delicate young lady, built up from gold and jewels, couldn’t avoid revealing her flaws through her actions.
“You and your mom are really something, both of you are such good actors. Ms. Song is probably still out shopping and getting a spa with her ‘best friend,’ right?”
Jiang Nanshu had a flash of insight.
Some forgotten details surfaced.
She blinked, hiding the excitement in her eyes.
“I remember now, the person who dismembered Third Brother Jiang, isn’t it Chu Xin, the one who was supposed to step in as the stepmother after Ms. Song died? He found out that the person who framed him was Chu Muxi, then with his twisted mind, he, a disabled man, couldn’t touch the well-protected Chu Muxi, so he went after her mother instead. Wow, that’s ruthless.”
Jiang Nanshu was enjoying the juicy details in her mind.
She didn’t even have to lift a finger; they were capable of tearing each other apart like dogs.
Lu Qingyan’s expression subtly shifted as he glanced at Jian Hemian.
The gaze he cast toward Chu Muxi grew even gentler. He even used the communal chopsticks to serve her a sandwich. Chu Muxi hadn’t touched any other dishes, but she ate what Jian Hemian offered her.
Her face even grew a little red.
His smile curled up. Third Son Jiang was not easy to deal with.
Looking at him, he seemed to have something up his sleeve.
Jiang Nanshu was stunned.
“Third Son Jiang, what are you doing? Weren’t you treating her like a sister? Why are you now serving her food? Turns out you’re quite the Casanova, almost turning Chu Muxi into a hooked fish. Tsk, if you dare to toy with her, the consequences will be dire.”
“Hehe, I’ll just sit and watch the drama unfold. When his experiment explodes, I’ll have to be there to see it. And when he’s rushed to the ICU, I’ll make sure to mock him in a ghostly voice. Tsk, that’s much serious than a broken bone. And about that piece of land big brother has, I need to check on it. Based on the current progress, they should be starting construction soon.”