Sweetie, don't look at him, kiss me.

The following evening, Ji Xingye changed into a simple dark casual outfit and drove back to the Ji family's old house.

When he arrived, the restaurant was already mostly full. Grandpa Ji and Grandma Ji sat at the head of the table, Ji Xingye's second uncle and aunt sat to one side, and Ji Xingqing was looking down at her phone. He glanced around but didn't see Ji Linzhou or Lin Qingmian.

He breathed a slight sigh of relief and sat down in the empty seat next to Ji Xingqing.

"You're punctual today." Ji Xingqing looked up at him, put away her phone, and lowered her voice: "I thought you were going to make up an excuse not to come again."

"Grandpa has already asked, so I wouldn't dare not come." Ji Xingye replied calmly, picking up the teacup in front of him and taking a sip.

"Uncle and Mianmian haven't arrived yet," Ji Xingqing added, then secretly glanced at him: "You... don't be nervous when you see them later."

Ji Xingye put down his teacup and glanced at her: "What do I have to be nervous about?"

"You're just being stubborn," Ji Xingqing said, pursing her lips without saying anything more.

About ten minutes later, footsteps sounded at the restaurant entrance. Ji Xingye's fingers tightened slightly around his teacup for a moment, but he didn't look up.

He heard Old Madam Ji speak, her voice carrying a slightly deliberate enthusiasm: "Linzhou is here, and Mianmian is here too. Please have a seat."

Then came the sound of a chair being pulled out, the sound of light footsteps, and someone sitting down not far from him.

Ji Xingye finally raised his head.

Lin Qingmian sat to his left, wearing a beige knitted sweater and her hair loosely tied back. She looked a bit rounder and had a much better complexion than when he last saw her at the hospital.

Ji Linzhou sat next to her, bending down to pour her tea.

The movements were very natural, as if they had done it countless times before.

Ji Xingye's gaze lingered between the two for a moment before shifting away.

He picked up his teacup and took another sip, then looked down at the exquisite tableware on the table, pretending to be very interested in the patterns on it.

"Hoshino," Old Master Ji's voice came from the head of the table, aged yet powerful, "You've been back in the country for quite some time now. How's work going?"

Ji Xingye raised his head and replied respectfully, "It's fine. I'm currently working on a film project, and we're still in negotiations."

"Hmm." Old Master Ji nodded: "Now that you're back, work hard. The Ji family doesn't need you to make a lot of money, but you need to make a name for yourself."

"I know, Grandpa."

The topic quickly shifted to other matters. Old Madam Ji began nagging about Ji Xingqing's marriage, saying she was getting on in years and should start thinking about finding a boyfriend, making Ji Xingqing blush deeply. Her second uncle and aunt tried to smooth things over, and the atmosphere gradually became lively.

Ji Xingye ate his meal quietly, occasionally responding with a word or two.

He tried his best not to look at the person opposite him, but his gaze would still involuntarily sweep over them.

Lin Qingmian was eating a piece of sweet and sour pork ribs. She took a bite, and it seemed a little hot, so she frowned slightly. Before she could put down her chopsticks, Ji Linzhou had already handed her a glass of cold water, his movements so quick it was almost a reflex.

Lin Qingmian took the water glass, took a sip, then turned her head and gave Ji Linzhou a small smile that only the two of them could see.

Ji Linzhou showed no expression, but simply reached out and gently wiped away a grain of rice that had gotten on the corner of her mouth.

The movements were extremely light and gentle, as if handling a precious and fragile item.

Ji Xingye lowered his head, staring at the untouched piece of fish in the bowl, and suddenly felt a tightness in his throat.

He picked up the wine glass beside him, tilted his head back, and drank the liquor in one gulp.

The spicy liquid burned down his throat, making his eyes sting.

"Ji Xingye," Ji Xingqing nudged his leg with her knee, her voice extremely low, "you should drink less."

"It's alright." Ji Xingye put down his wine glass and gave her a smile. "The food was a bit salty today."

Ji Xingqing glanced at him but didn't say anything more.

As the banquet was drawing to a close, Lin Qingmian got up and went to the restroom. Ji Xingye hesitated for a moment while sitting in his seat, then also stood up.

As he walked to the end of the corridor, Lin Qingmian came out of the restroom.

The two stood a few steps apart.

The corridor lights were warm and soft, and the branches of the osmanthus tree outside the window swayed gently in the night breeze. Lin Qingmian looked up at him, her expression calm, and simply nodded slightly as a greeting.

"How have you been lately?" Ji Xingye asked, his voice a little dry.

"It's fine," Lin Qingmian replied simply.

"That's good." Ji Xingye nodded, paused for a few seconds, and then said, "I've heard about those design drafts."

"You've solved it?"

"Hmm." Lin Qingmian looked at him. "How did you know?"

"Xingqing told me." Ji Xingye lowered his eyes, his voice filled with sincere and unadulterated concern: "If you need any help in the future... you can contact me."

Lin Qingmian paused for a moment, then smiled.

The smile was faint, yet it carried a genuine sense of relief and gentleness: "Thank you. But it's probably not necessary."

"Ji Linzhou has already taken care of everything for me."

Hearing the natural, matter-of-fact tone in her voice when she mentioned Ji Linzhou, Ji Xingye felt a surge of complex emotions. He stood there, looking at her, and suddenly felt a little dazed.

He still loved her.

But that love had changed from wanting to possess her to wanting her to be happy.

"That's good." He repeated, then took a half step back and smiled slightly at her. "Let's go inside, it's windy outside."

Lin Qingmian nodded, walked past him, and returned to the restaurant.

Ji Xingye stood in the corridor, watching her figure disappear around the corner, then leaned against the wall and let out a long breath.

The banquet ended after 9 p.m.

Ji Xingye stood at the entrance of the old house seeing off his guests, the night breeze carrying the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms. He saw Ji Linzhou come out first, holding Lin Qingmian's coat, and waiting for her at the bottom of the steps.

When Lin Qingmian came out of the door, Ji Linzhou naturally reached out and draped his coat over her shoulders, then bent down to adjust her collar. The movements were so practiced, like a habit etched into his bones.

When Lin Qingmian looked up at him to talk, her eyes and brows were full of smiles. It wasn't a polite, social smile, but a smile that overflowed from her eyes and couldn't be hidden.

Ji Xingye stood under the porch light, watching them walk side by side towards the parking lot. Ji Linzhou walked on the outside, shielding Lin Qingmian on the inside. Their shadows were elongated by the streetlights, overlapping and indistinguishable from each other.

He watched the black Cayenne drive out of the old house's gate, its red taillights gradually shrinking into a dot in the night before disappearing completely.

"Stop looking." Ji Xingqing appeared behind him at some point, her voice tinged with helplessness and heartache: "They've all gone far away."

Ji Xingye withdrew his gaze, a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth: "I wasn't looking at anything."

"Who are you trying to fool?" Ji Xingqing pouted. "Your eyes are practically glued to Mianmian."