Chapter 201 - FRIENDLY AND BRIGHT YOUNG MAN

LUO REN walked out of the study of his uncle first.  His uncle and father were still talking about business.  His aunt already left earlier to take care of lunch.  He wished he had done the same.  Then instead of listening to his father and uncle talked about prospective land deals, he could spend that time with Luo Yan.   

He was thinking of looking for Luo Yan but when he was about to do that, he came across Luo Jin instead.  He looked like he just entered the villa from the garden.

"Xiao Jin, you're not with Yan Yan?" he asked.

"He's in the garden."

"Oh?  It's rare not to see you clinging to Yan Yan every free chance you got," he teased.

Luo Jin blushed.  "I- I'm not c-clinging to him!  Anyway, I have to tell the cook that another person is eating lunch with us.  So, Brother should not bother me."

He was about to walk pass Luo Ren but his older brother stopped him.  "Who is this another person?"

"Ah, it's a friend of Brother Ze.  And also, the captain of the team we joined in that game we're playing."

Luo Jin hesitated if he should tell his older brother about his suspicion that Shen Ji Yun had a not so innocent interest on their second brother.  But remembering the blunder he just did earlier, he would just feel even guiltier for badmouthing Shen Ji Yun behind his back. 

So, he chose to just keep quiet.  Surely, Luo Ren would notice that's guy's abnormal interest towards their brother soon enough. 

Luo Ren, of course, remembered this captain his brother was talking about.  Because Luo Yan mentioned him more than once in their conversation.  And every time his brother did so, there was always a smile on his face.  As if the person he was talking about was giving him much happiness.

He wondered what kind of person it was that could make his adorable younger brother smile like that just by simply talking about him.  Surely, he's a friendly and bright young man who could easily make people gravitate towards him.  That's the kind of impression Luo Ren had based on Luo Yan's stories about the guy.

Seeing that his brother seemed to no longer have any questions, Luo Jin planned to continue walking towards the kitchen.  But before he could, he saw their aunt walking out of the kitchen area. 

"Aunt Xiulan," he called.  "There's a guest that would be joining us for lunch."

"And who might that be?" Sun Xiulan asked, curious. 

Wait- it wouldn't be one of those shameless relatives of hers who kept on trying to mooch off from Bai Chen, right?  Just thinking of that possibility already annoyed her to no end. 

"It's Shen Ji Yun."

Hearing Luo Jin's answer, Sun Xiulan's irritation quickly vanished.  "Oh, it's Ji Yun.  Don't worry, there's enough food for everyone.  So, it doesn't matter if another person joins us."

It was a good thing she asked their cook to make bigger portions of food for their lunch.  Although he wondered why Shen Ji Yun would drop by during such a holiday, she didn't mind that he's here.  After all, that kid was almost like a son to her. 

It seemed like this Shen Ji Yun person had been a frequent visitor here.  That's what Luo Ren thought when he heard their aunt's quick answer to what Luo Jin said.  She just accepted the surprise visit of that Shen Ji Yun as if he had done it a number of times of already.

"Is he Ah Ze's close friend, this Shen Ji Yun?" he couldn't help asking.

"Yes, they're childhood friends." 

Although from Sun Xiulan's perspective, her son forced Shen Ji Yun to be his friend.  Bai Ze was tenaciously running after him again and again despite how many times Shen Ji Yun drove him away.  At the end, Shen Ji Yun finally gave in and accepted Bai Ze's friendship.  That's probably one of her son's strong points.  When he decided on something, he would do everything to see through it until the end. 

She could still remember that time when an eight-year-old Bai Ze came home, telling her all about the blue-eyed kid who transferred in his class.  He then announced to her that he would be friends with that kid.  It took quite a while before he managed to do it.  But at the end, he still did.  She still couldn't help but laugh whenever she remembered that time when he first brought Shen Ji Yun here and so proudly told her; [Look, Mom, I did it.  I became friends with him!  Aren't I great?].

He was so adorable then.   

"Though you might not have known of him since he'd never really visited whenever you're here," she added.  "Anyway, it's already near lunch.  You two can go to the dining area.  I'll let the maids call the others."

"How about you, Aunt Xiulan?" Luo Jin asked when he noticed that their aunt was going on another direction.

"I'm going to get Dad," she answered and walked towards the direction of their grandfather's room.

The two brothers looked at each other and then both started walking towards the dining area.  They saw that the maids were still readying the table, putting dishes and other tableware on it. 

"Please add another plate," Luo Jin said to one of the maids very reluctantly.

"Do we have a guest?" suddenly said by a voice behind them.

Both brothers turned and saw their father and uncle.  The one who just spoke was Bai Chen.

"It's a friend of Ah Ze, the name's Shen Ji Yun, I believe," Luo Ren said.

"Oh, so it's Ji Yun."

Luo Ren raised one of his brows, because his uncle's reaction was the same as his aunt's.

"He must be pretty close to Ah Ze to be visiting during this holiday," Luo Wei Tian commented.  Because usually only family members gathered during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday.

Bai Chen chuckled.  "Yes, almost like brothers.  Despite being polar opposites of one another."

Polar opposites?  Luo Ren's question was quickly answered when he saw Bai Ze coming in while carrying Bai Ye.  Behind them was Luo Yan.  And beside his brother was a tall young man. 

He was talking to Luo Yan with a gentle expression on his face.  But when he turned his gaze towards them, any remaining expressions that he had completely vanished.  It was almost like he turned from a human to a porcelain doll with no emotion.  The atmosphere he was giving off was as cold as his arctic blue eyes. 

So, where was the friendly and bright young man he was imagining?