Chapter 178: Jin Ran: Turns Out I’m the Only One Getting Hurt

Jin Ran was on a mission today, one assigned by Lu Shijing. Otherwise, he never would have been able to put up with the antics of these two young ladies.

Especially Lu Linlin, who would throw a fit at the slightest disagreement. A total brat.

Lu Linlin, wearing sunglasses in the passenger seat, looked at Jin Ran and said, "Jin Ran, my brother is dead and he still has such an amazing sister-in-law, but you’re alive and have nothing. You’re such a failure."

"..." Jin Ran was speechless. "If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all, you little brat."

"And this is what I get for taking you guys out? Personal attacks?"

"So what? I’ve been in several relationships, and you still have nothing..." Lu Linlin said proudly.

Jin Ran laughed so hard his stomach hurt. "Hilarious! Don’t forget that time you fell for some broke guy. If it weren’t for your sister-in-law, you would’ve given all your family’s money to him."

"If you don’t have a brain, you should stay out of relationships. Otherwise, you’ll just be another love-struck fool."

Yang Jiao watched the two of them go at it like fire and water, happily enjoying the drama.

Then, Lu Linlin said with disgust, "I don’t want to talk to you anymore! The sight of you is annoying."

Jin Ran got angry too. "Fine by me! It’s not like I have to hang out with you every day!"

When enemies meet, sparks are bound to fly.

And so, in the end... Jin Ran was kicked out of the car. Lu Linlin got behind the wheel, and with Yang Jiao in the passenger seat, they drove off.

"Sister Yang Jiao, Grandma was acting all mysterious today, and my sister-in-law is home. Let’s go to my house!"

"Let’s have dinner there. I’m sure something interesting will happen tonight," Lu Linlin said, full of curiosity.

Yang Jiao said, "Okay! I miss Shengsheng too, and I have a lot of questions about jewelry to ask her."

With that, the two of them drove off, taking a different route toward her house.

Jin Ran stood in the middle of nowhere, on a highway with no town or shop in sight, and started walking.

He was making a huge sacrifice this time!

If Lu Shijing weren’t going home for dinner, would he have even needed to deal with Lu Linlin?

’But I’ve already brought them this far out. They won’t head back now, right?’

’After all, Lu Linlin is the type who hates going home. She’ll run wild wherever she wants.’

’It has nothing to do with me!’

—

「Wanliu District.」

Grandma sat in the living room eating spicy strips while Gu Shengsheng was in the kitchen experimenting with recipes.

She had already made several dishes, but none of them seemed to taste very good.

Mr. Ryan was supposed to come over, but since there was still some time, Gu Shengsheng figured she could try her hand at it herself.

After all, it looked simple enough in the cooking videos. She thought she could handle it.

As Gu Shengsheng got to work, Grandma didn’t go to check, no matter what noises came from the kitchen.

She just sat in the living room like a master strategist, plotting how to create some opportunities for the young couple to be alone!

Everything was within her control!

The old lady might usually be unreliable, but she was more fired up than anyone when it came to this sort of thing.

She was already messaging Lu Shijing: "Come quick. Your wife is cooking."

Lu Shijing was busy crafting the hairpin. Just to be safe, he’d also had Lin Kai buy a huge pile of custom-made pink dolls, just in case Shengsheng genuinely liked them...

Whatever she liked, he would buy.

Lu Shijing waited until it was almost time. The hairpin was finished, and he had even fitted a small blade inside it. In short, it was something she could use for self-defense in a crisis.

He took his gift, and the pink dolls were brought over by a special delivery team—a whole group of people waiting at the door.

When Gu Shengsheng opened the door, her face was smudged with soot and dusted with flour. Her eyes were misty as she said, "You’re here? Dinner’s almost ready."

"Didn’t I say I’d cook?" he said, his heart aching for her as he wiped her face. The motion was so smooth they looked like a couple who had been in love for a very long time.

Gu Shengsheng took the handkerchief and wiped at her face haphazardly. Just then, Grandma came over and said, "Shengsheng, you can’t reach that spot, and this old lady is too short. Just let Mr. Ryan wipe it for you!"

"...Fine."

As he cleaned her face, Lu Shijing handed her the gift. "For you."

Then, a large group of delivery people came in, all of them carrying pink dolls. Gu Shengsheng watched as her sofa became increasingly buried in stuff.

She was a little stunned. "I just invited you for dinner. Why did you bring so many things?"

"I’m coming over for a meal. How could I arrive empty-handed?"

He asked, "Do you like them?" There was a hint of apprehension in his eyes.

Gu Shengsheng looked at the pink dolls as Grandma delightedly hugged one and took pictures with it.

She said, "Grandma loves things like this. Thank you!" She was genuinely happy.

’This was just as Lu Shijing had expected. Grandma is so sly, always trying to fleece me for things!’

’Good thing I came prepared.’ He handed her the hairpin he had crafted. "I saw you using a hairpin to put up your hair today, so I made one for you."

"This one... it has a small, very sharp blade inside."

Gu Shengsheng stared at the little gadget, holding it for a long moment before saying, "The outside is made of red sandalwood, isn’t it?"

"This is great. Really great." She toyed with it in her hands for a while longer.

"Mr. Ryan’s gifts are always so thoughtful. This and the screwdriver from last time are both very unique, but they’re perfect for me."

Gu Shengsheng was truly grateful.

Though when Yang Jiao and the others heard about the gifts Gu Shengsheng had received, they all thought Mr. Ryan was completely clueless about romance.

But Gu Shengsheng found them quite practical.

Seeing how much she liked it, the corners of Lu Shijing’s mouth curled into a slight smile.

’Nice. My wife likes it, so I’m in a good mood.’

Then Grandma chimed in from the side, "You little rascal. I’d never heard you were skilled in so many things. Anyone who didn’t know better would think you were a professional jeweler. You’ve certainly broadened this old lady’s horizons..."

She put extra emphasis on the "broadened horizons" part. ’That damn brat! He’s had so many skills since he was a kid, but I’ve never seen him treat anyone this well. At least he knows how to dote on his wife. He’s not completely hopeless after all!’

Lu Shijing smiled. "If you like it, Grandma, I can have an artisan make one for you next time."

’I only make them for Shengsheng.’

"..." The old lady waved her hand dismissively, her face full of disdain. ’Their relationship isn’t even official, and he’s already getting cocky.’

’This boy is really getting ahead of himself!’

Just then, the smell of something burning wafted over. Gu Shengsheng rushed into the kitchen in a panic. "My fried fish!"

Lu Shijing looked at the blackened, unidentifiable lumps on the dining table that were supposed to be dishes.

He was at a loss for words.

"Let me cook, Shengsheng."

"I’m supposed to be the one cooking. You and Grandma just relax and wait to eat."

At that moment, Gu Shengsheng was wearing oven mitts and holding a pot lid as a "shield." She stared warily at the burnt fish, which had finally stopped sputtering in the pan.

She said, "You do it, then. My cooking skills... are really not that great."

Lu Shijing smiled. "It’s okay." ’In the future,’ he thought, ’it’ll be enough if one of us knows how to cook.’

’Of course, I don’t dare say that to her yet. It would scare her off.’

Then, Lu Shijing led her out of the kitchen. Her hair, which had been casually pinned up with a pencil, had come undone.

There was already a significant height difference between them. Lu Shijing gently tidied her hair, then used the new hairpin to pin it back up for her.