"Why wouldn't they? They've long accepted reality."
"..."
Fine, it seemed she was the only one still worrying about it in the whole family.
Jian Ran couldn't be bothered to argue anymore. She gestured for him to follow her.
When they reached the parking lot, Jian Ran naturally walked toward the passenger seat. Qin Siyan looked confused. "Sis, what are you doing? Don't tell me you want me to drive. I don't have a domestic license."
Jian Ran shot him a glance and pointed to the back seat. "Get in."
Qin Siyan immediately understood—someone else was driving. He became intensely curious. Who would come with his sister to pick him up? Could it be that legendary brother-in-law he'd never met, the one she'd chased for years?
But hadn't they broken up?
Actually, that was the real reason Qin Siyan had come back unexpectedly. But then he thought, couples break up and get back together all the time; they must have reconciled. With that thought, Qin Siyan perked up. He didn't waste any more words and quickly got into the car.
Chu Lulin heard the movement in the back and turned to greet him politely. "Hello."
Qin Siyan saw Chu Lulin's face and froze for a moment.
Wow! With looks like that, no wonder his sister had chased him for so many years.
"Hello, hello. I'm my sister's cousin, Qin Siyan."
Chu Lulin nodded in return and offered his own name. "Chu Lulin."
Qin Siyan grinned inwardly. This guy was pretty cool. The aloof flower type—just like the gossip he'd heard. It must be him.
Jian Ran got into the car a step later. Seeing they had already exchanged greetings, she didn't bother to introduce them further.
After picking him up, Chu Lulin started the car and drove out of the airport.
Qin Siyan waited in the back for a while, but Jian Ran didn't voluntarily introduce Chu Lulin. He grew impatient. "Sis, aren't you going to introduce us?" He leaned forward, winking.
They'd already met, so what was there to introduce? Jian Ran frowned, confused, but then understood from his eager expression that he was asking about her relationship with Chu Lulin.
Jian Ran was at a loss. How should she explain their relationship?
"...Friends."
Qin Siyan glanced between them and let out a meaningful "Oh."
Looked like they hadn't gotten back together yet. But since he'd come with her to pick him up, they must be close to reconciling.
The car merged onto the elevated highway and drove smoothly into the city. It was already past mealtime. Jian Ran had planned to eat near her place, but Qin Siyan kept complaining he was hungry all the way. Unable to deal with him, they found a restaurant nearby.
Qin Siyan was a chatterbox. During the drive back, he had kept trying to strike up a conversation with Chu Lulin, but Jian Ran repeatedly shut him down, citing driving safety. Now that they were at the restaurant, it was like letting a wild horse loose. He grabbed Chu Lulin and started chatting as if they were old friends.
"Brother Chu, you look so young. Anyone would think we're about the same age."
Jian Ran gave him a strange look. She'd wanted to say something earlier. "What are you calling him? You two are the same age. Technically, he's a year younger than you."
Qin Siyan was twenty, and Chu Lulin was only nineteen. Calling him 'brother'! What a shameless move.
Qin Siyan had just said it casually and hadn't thought much of it. He picked up his water and took a sip. When he heard this, he choked, coughing violently, looking as if he'd seen a ghost.
Chu Lulin quickly handed him napkins. Jian Ran told him to be careful while patting his back to help him recover.
After a while, Qin Siyan finally stopped coughing, but his face was as grim as if he'd swallowed a fly. He looked at Chu Lulin, then at Jian Ran, and finally managed to ask, "Sis, are you sure you won't get arrested?"