Just then, Pei Lingyi and her group exited the lingerie store, spotting Yan Lin outside, as well as the female companion who had just turned to leave.
"Hiss, Brother Yuan, these two must be the daughters of Uncle Jing's old friend."
Yan Lin turned his head and saw the two girls accompanying Pei Lingyi and Jing Hanshuang, immediately sucking in a cold breath.
One figure was gold and one was white; one was youthful and beautiful, the other intellectual and stunning. Their looks and figures were definitely those of top-tier beauties.
Jing Yuan glanced at Yan Lin. It's "Xiao Yuan" when nothing's wrong, but "Brother Yuan" when you need something, right?
"Didn't you say you don't eat the grass near your nest?"
A hint of disdain appeared in Jing Yuan's eyes. Having known this guy for so many years, Jing Yuan knew exactly what he was up to the moment he moved.
"When did I say I don't eat the grass near my nest? I said rabbits don't eat the grass near their nest, and I'm not a rabbit."
Yan Lin, though wrong, spoke confidently. Could the matters of the Little Prince of the Dating Scene be called denial? No, it was called making a small sacrifice (of integrity) for a beautiful lady.
Jing Yuan: Heh.
"Isn't that Yan Lin?"
While Yan Lin was looking at Gu Xiao and the others, Pei Lingyi's group naturally also noticed Yan Lin standing beside Jing Yuan.
"What a coincidence, Aunt Pei, you're here too," Yan Lin said, smiling and waving at Pei Lingyi.
Jing Yuan, standing behind him, looked at Yan Lin speechlessly. This was the women's lingerie specialty area; didn't Yan Lin think what he said sounded a little perverted?
That word "too" really was... "Aunt Pei, who are these two?"
"This is Uncle Gu's daughter, Gu Xiao, and the one next to her is Gu Xiao's childhood friend, Lu Li."
Before Pei Lingyi could speak, Jing Hanshuang stepped forward first and introduced them.
"I see."
Yan Lin had thought both were daughters of Uncle Jing's old friend. Since the other wasn't, then that didn't count as eating the grass near his nest, right?
"Gu Xiao, Lu Li, hello, I am..."
"He is Yan Lin, Jing Yuan's childhood friend." Before Yan Lin could finish, Jing Hanshuang introduced him first. Then, she turned to the somewhat stunned Yan Lin, "By the way, Yan Lin, was the one who just left your girlfriend?"
"She's different from the last one, did you switch again?"
Jing Hanshuang's questioning tone was casual, yet every word hit its mark, cutting Yan Lin's main artery.
Lu Li subconsciously tilted her head toward the direction Jing Hanshuang was pointing and happened to see the pink-haired girl who had left.
"No, that's not..."
"What do you mean, 'not'? Are you not even planning to give her the title of temporary girlfriend this time?"
Yan Lin wanted to explain, but his words were interrupted by Jing Hanshuang again, making him feel like spitting blood.
[You brat, still trying to poach my sister-in-law? Watch me expose all your secrets.]
"No, no, I'm not! Brother Yuan, quickly explain for me!"
Yan Lin was completely numb. Why was Sister Shuang so hostile towards him today?
Didn't she approach him with a smile a while ago, asking him to take Jing Yuan out more often?
"That's right, that's right. Although this guy changes girlfriends almost every week, he really is a good boy."
Jing Yuan delivered a timely follow-up stab from the side, ruthlessly rubbing salt into the wound.
[Hey, hey, hey, what happened to good brothers for life? You're dealing critical damage to me with every cut.]
Yan Lin's mouth kept twitching. He realized he was suddenly being targeted.
"Fine. If we only consider that he's still a virgin up to this point, then he truly counts as a good boy."
Jing Yuan was just teasing Yan Lin and knew when to stop. After they entered Star Sea Academy, they would definitely need to form a team.
He only wanted Lu Li to be wary of Yan Lin, not to genuinely dislike him.
Moreover, Yan Lin truly was a virgin. Just as he himself had said before: passing through a garden of flowers without a single leaf sticking to his body.
In his own words, if something were to actually happen with those women, it was hard to say who would end up suffering the loss.
"Uh, I just remembered, I haven't turned off the gas at home. I'll be taking my leave first."
Worried about being backstabbed further, Yan Lin left that sentence and turned to run out of the Shopping Mall.
"Alright, let's go home too."
Pei Lingyi turned and glanced at Jing Hanshuang and Jing Yuan. She naturally understood what the two of them meant, but she didn't stop them.
There was nothing to be done; the competition for daughters-in-law had always been like this.
It was a good thing Madam Yan wasn't here today, or it would have been her turn to step up.
Hearing that they were finally going home, Lu Li immediately let out a breath. Every minute and every second she spent here was filled with pressure.
Excluding the Star Sea Academy scholarship money, she had never seen so much money spent on things in her entire life as she did today.
Furthermore, she could never do something so extravagant as using her Star Sea Academy scholarship to buy clothes.
Once outside, Pei Lingyi lightly touched her necklace. The light track from the Aerial Parking Lot in the distance extended toward them, and a Streamer Hovercar glided over.
The time spent shopping went quickly; the sky was already darkening when they came out.
When the group returned to the Jing Residence, Jing Dongfeng had already returned from the Office Building.
"Hello, Uncle Jing."
After Jing Hanshuang's introduction, Lu Li greeted him very politely.
"Good, good. You must be Xiao Xiao's childhood friend, Lu Li. Don't be nervous. Treat this place like your own home. If you need anything, just tell Xiao Xiao, or Hanshuang, or Jing Yuan."
After dinner, Gu Xiao and Lu Li followed the maid back to the Wutong Courtyard, the residence Pei Lingyi had arranged for them.
Originally, Pei Lingyi had planned to arrange a courtyard for each of them, but Gu Xiao declined, worried that Lu Li wouldn't be comfortable living alone here.
There were several bedrooms in one courtyard, so there was no need to separate them.
She was mainly worried that in such a new environment, Lu Li would feel uncomfortable if she was too far away from Gu Xiao.
"Dong dong."
Just as they finished putting the newly purchased clothes into the wardrobe, a knock suddenly sounded from outside.
Gu Xiao opened the door. Standing outside was a maid.
She was the Head Maid responsible for serving the Old Master and Old Madam's side, Qingyu.
She had been working at the Jing Residence for quite some time. Jing Yuan often visited the Old Master's side, so he was naturally familiar with her.
However, since this was Gu Xiao's first time meeting her, she naturally couldn't act too familiar.
"Excuse me, is there something you need?"
"Miss Gu Xiao, the Old Master requests your presence."
"Alright."
Closing the door, Gu Xiao followed Qingyu to the courtyard where the Old Master and Old Madam lived, Gui Renxuan.
After Qingyu led Gu Xiao into Gui Renxuan, she stopped just outside the bedroom.
When Gu Xiao entered the bedroom, the Old Master, Jing Potian, was tinkering with his jade chess set, and the Grandmother was sitting on the bed embroidering something.
"Grandpa, did you call me for something?"
Gu Xiao sat down opposite the Old Master.