Chapter 24: Older Brother Was a Lifelong Bachelor in His Past Life

Shen Qiurong went to the Ying Group to find Ying Zenan, which Ying Jing found out about that evening.

When her brother returned, his younger sister was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, eating watermelon and binge-watching a drama.

Compared to him, who was as exhausted as a dog at the company, Ying Jing’s life was nothing short of wonderful.

Consequently, Ying Zenan made a move: he snatched the watermelon away from his sister.

Her empty hands were left holding nothing but a metal spoon.

Ying Jing glanced at Ying Zenan, who was wolfing down the melon, and thought of what Wei Yi had said earlier.

Chasing Ying Zenan was called "having hope," while chasing Wen Fucheng was called "a slim hope."

Ying Zenan could have just given it to her for free!

Seeing her staring straight at him, he nearly choked on the melon. "What are you looking at? I know I’m handsome."

Ying Jing took a deep breath. They came from the same womb; they should be understanding of each other.

Can’t get angry, can’t get angry.

The housekeeper, who had been cooking, finally began setting the dishes on the dining table now that he was home.

"Madam came by today and specifically had someone bring over chicken soup that had been simmering for several hours. I heard it was an old hen that Miss Zhao’s father brought from the countryside; it’s very nourishing. You two should both drink two bowls later."

Ying Jing held her small bowl and drank two servings, nodding repeatedly in praise.

"It’s delicious, Brother, you should try some."

Ying Jing pushed the other bowl, which had already been served, toward Ying Zenan, who had just sat down.

"I don’t like chicken soup. You eat it yourself."

Ying Jing let out an "eh?" He used to snatch hers away in the past.

"Since when did you start disliking chicken soup?"

Ying Jing asked him while gnawing on a chicken leg.

"You’re either throwing yourself at Lu Zishu or on your way to throw yourself at him all day long. Since when have you ever cared about whether I eat chicken or not?"

Hm?

Ah!

Abnormal, truly abnormal.

Her brother now turned pale at the mere mention of chicken.

However, she soon learned the answer.

Someone knocked on the door outside. Ying Jing followed the sound and saw the housekeeper leading a girl inside.

"Zhao Qingran?"

She knew this person!

The chicken her father had sent was still sitting in the basin on the table.

"Brother Nan, Sister Jing, hello." The girl greeted them enthusiastically.

Ying Jing immediately put down the half-eaten chicken bone in her hand and pulled out a tissue to wipe her greasy fingers.

"Good evening, why did you come over at this hour?"

This villa, located close to the city center, had always been Ying Zenan’s residence. Later, Ying Jing moved in because she was afraid her brother would be lonely.

As it turned out, her brother wasn't lonely at all. He was busy with work during the day, traveled for business from time to time, and occasionally went out to socialize with his brothers.

Instead, it was Ying Jing who had become the lonely one.

Fortunately, their father had bought her a large flat in a prime location near the company, with the interior decorated entirely in the style Ying Jing liked.

She could stay in whichever "nest" she felt like on a whim.

Before this, apart from Shen Qiurong occasionally stopping by and the housekeeper who took care of their daily needs, no strangers had ever visited.

Ying Jing and Zhao Qingran didn't have much interaction. Zhao Qingran’s father and their father were former comrades-in-arms who had been very close in the military. When they were on missions, Zhao Qingran’s father had helped Ying Haiyun. This friendship and debt of gratitude had remained unbroken to this day, and the two families visited each other during holidays.

However, this was all based on the older generation; their own generation only met during major family events.

Their relationship was lukewarm.

But facing this sudden appearance, she really couldn't quite figure it out.

Ying Zenan, who was still eating, spoke up to explain.

"Dad said that school starts in a few days. Qingran just arrived in Shanghai and isn't familiar with the place, and Uncle Zhao is busy with farm work lately. Aren't you quite free? It just so happens you can take her there! She’ll be staying here for these two days."

Ying Zenan spoke so smoothly that it was obvious their father had communicated with him in advance.

Since that was the case, Ying Jing had no objections.

Once Zhao Qingran enrolled in Shanghai University, she would be her junior. Plus, given the relationship between the two families, taking care of her was fine.

Ying Jing greeted Qingran warmly.

"Have you eaten? We’re just eating now; would you like a bowl of this chicken soup? It’s really delicious." As she spoke, Ying Jing ladled a bowl and handed it to the girl sitting next to her.

Zhao Qingran held the soup spoon, looking conflicted and just about to say something when Ying Zenan, sitting opposite them, suddenly stood up and took the chicken soup from in front of Zhao Qingran. "She’s allergic to chicken soup."

Oh!

Allergic to chicken soup, huh.

Well, that was a bit embarrassing.

But... how did Ying Zenan know that Zhao Qingran was allergic to chicken soup?

For a moment, Ying Jing’s suspicious little eyes darted back and forth between the two. After a long while, she really couldn't see any sparks between them.

"She mentioned it at a family banquet before. Who told you to only focus on eating pig trotters?"

My, her brother had such a good memory. How could he still remember something like that?

The atmosphere grew quieter, with only the sound of bowls and chopsticks clinking.

You don't speak, and I don't speak.

You don't pay attention to me, and I don't pay attention to you.

After finishing his chicken soup, Ying Zenan went straight to his study to work.

And he said women were fickle—men were clearly just as fickle. Who was it that said they didn't like chicken soup, yet drank it until the bottom of the bowl was visible?

"Don't mind him, my brother is just like that. You keep eating; I’ll go help the housekeeper get your room ready."

"No need to go to such trouble, just clearing out a little space for me to stay is fine. I’m not picky."

Seeing her about to get up, Ying Jing pressed her back down. "This isn't a matter of trouble or not. You just eat your meal."

Ying Jing went upstairs, but instead of heading straight to the guest room, she detoured to Ying Zenan’s study.

"Brother, what’s going on with you? Trying to be the cold-faced King of Hell?"

Ying Zenan didn't even look up from the documents in his hands. "I’m very busy right now. If there’s nothing important, you can leave."

Ying Jing walked out, pouting in displeasure.

She just felt like her brother had started acting weird ever since Zhao Qingran appeared.

Ying Jing walked along until she reached her bedroom door, and not paying attention, she bumped her forehead right into it. With a *bang*, the pain gave her a flash of inspiration: could it be that her brother liked Zhao Qingran?

That didn't seem right!

In her past life, her brother was a lifelong bachelor.

In her past life, Zhao Qingran married one of her college classmates.

From beginning to end, the two of them had no special interaction. Could it be that her brother, that repressed man, had buried this affection deep in his heart?

Or was there some hidden plot in her previous life that she didn't know about?

Ying Jing entered her room, rubbing her reddened forehead, and lay down on the bed, only to sit back up a moment later.

Damn, she was supposed to go tidy up the room for the girl!

Well, by the time she got there, the housekeeper had already finished, so she just smoothed out the bedsheets that were already straight.

Zhao Qingran moved in just like that, and Ying Zenan went out to work during the day.

As for Ying Jing, after receiving a call from the person in charge of the "Supernova Show" at Dynasty Entertainment, she began preparing for the competition.

The "Supernova Show" would be held simultaneously in several major cities, and Shanghai, as the country’s premier economic hub, was naturally among them.

Therefore, Ying Jing could participate in the auditions and the secondary selection rounds right there in Shanghai.

Not having to run back and forth was truly great.

The person in charge of the competition at Dynasty Entertainment was handing the registration forms to the heads of several major regions; they would then be sent to the competition sites to be entered into the computer system before the auditions began.

The head coordinator also had a special list in their hand—a selection of outstanding-looking individuals chosen from several regions, covering both the male and female divisions. These people would receive extra attention throughout the competition.