Reborn as a Rich Woman in the Eighties
Chapter 342 - 341: There is Nothing Wrong with Liking Someone

Chapter 342: Chapter 341: There is Nothing Wrong with Liking Someone

"Not bad! She seemed much better when I got back! Must be because she’s thrilled about the engagement!" Jiang Mingyuan teased her, "Lin Qiu, don’t worry yourself to the point of losing sleep over it!"

"Second brother! I wouldn’t do that!" Lin Qiu blushed shyly, "You talk to my sister, I’m heading back to my room!"

Once Lin Qiu had gone to her room, only Lin Xia and Jiang Mingyuan were left in the living room.

Jiang Mingyuan asked Lin Xia about how her store was doing. He didn’t sit for much longer before he got up to leave.

Lin Xia walked him to the door; Jiang Mingyuan was wary since the Wu Family lived nearby—saying anything more might cause unnecessary misunderstandings.

"Lin Xia! When you have time, come to my shop. I have something to discuss with you!"

"Sure! I’ll see if I can come by tomorrow," Lin Xia said. She had a feeling that her second brother was holding something back.

The next day, Lin Xia visited Jiang Mingyuan’s shop.

"Lin Xia! Last night, Wu Zhengyang and his coworkers had dinner here, and I saw that female coworker. She doesn’t seem to have given up on him!

I shouldn’t really talk behind people’s backs like this, but Lin Qiu is like a sister to me, so I thought you should remind her to keep a closer watch on Wu Zhengyang..."

Jiang Mingyuan said a lot, and Lin Xia nodded continuously, taking in his words.

"Second brother! I’ll talk to her about it! Sigh, I’m aware of his female coworker’s issue, but what can we do about this sort of thing?" Lin Xia was troubled.

She somewhat regretted agreeing to Lin Qiu’s engagement.

But what was done was done, and regret was futile.

Also, Lin Qiu and Wu Zhengyang did seem to get along quite well, so there wasn’t necessarily anything wrong with the engagement.

"Indeed! There’s nothing wrong with liking someone," Jiang Mingyuan said suddenly, very empathically.

Lin Xia felt inexplicably that Jiang Mingyuan’s gaze was different than usual; she coughed softly to change the subject, "Second brother! How are your matchmaking dates going lately?"

"So-so! Haven’t found anyone quite right!" Jiang Mingyuan hadn’t actually been meeting anyone; he just brushed off the question.

Lin Xia pursed her lips, "Second brother! I’m not sure if I should say something."

"Go ahead! Is there anything we can’t discuss with each other?" Jiang Mingyuan had a feeling he knew what Lin Xia was about to say.

"Well, it’s just that you and Ji Man seem quite well-matched..."

"Lin Xia! I know Ji Man is a good girl, but I just don’t have feelings for her! I think when it comes to relationships, being compatible isn’t enough, it’s more about the feeling, don’t you agree?"

Jiang Mingyuan’s eyes flickered, "Just like you and Lu Zheng, no matter what others think about your compatibility, didn’t you still fall in love?"

Lin Xia laughed, "Second brother! How did the conversation turn to me all of a sudden!"

"I’m just giving an example! So let’s not worry about my business, all right? Ji Man and I are impossible!

If you have time, please talk to her for me. A girl’s prime is so fleeting; she shouldn’t waste it on me, ending up an old maid and missing out on life, right?"

Jiang Mingyuan was unusually candid with Lin Xia today.

Ji Man was just as stubborn as he was.

But for him, a grown man, delaying wasn’t a big issue; he had time. Women, on the other hand, didn’t.

"Alright! I’ll try to have a good talk with her, but I can’t promise she’ll listen," Lin Xia also felt helpless. Loving someone deeply didn’t necessarily mean you’d receive their affection in return.

Love should be mutual and synchronous; one-sided love doesn’t count.

And one-sided waiting is unlikely to lead anywhere.

"Lu Zheng left more than half a year ago, right? Has he mentioned when he’ll be coming back recently?" Jiang Mingyuan seemed to ask casually, but he was actually closely observing Lin Xia’s expression.

Lin Xia squinted and smiled, "He’s coming in a week!" Her tone naturally oozed sweetness.

Lu Zheng had also said that he wouldn’t surprise her this time and asked her to pick him up.

Her smiling eyes and brows pained Jiang Mingyuan’s heart, but he still smiled, although the mirth didn’t reach his eyes, "Oh? Is that so? Then at that time, let Big Brother treat you, and we’ll eat at the restaurant! The chef just came up with a few new dishes!"

"Sure! It’ll be good for him to try the chef’s skills at your place!"

The two chatted for a bit, and Lin Xia stood up to take her leave, "Big Brother! I’ll leave you to it then! I’m off!"

Jiang Mingyuan picked up his car keys, "Okay! Lin Xia, let me drive you!"

Lin Xia smiled, "Big Brother, it’s not that far, and besides, I came on my bike! No trouble needed!"

"What trouble? Would you be silly enough not to take a ride when there’s a car available?"

Lin Xia nodded helplessly, "Then I won’t be polite!"

"Polite with Big Brother for what?" Jiang Mingyuan laughed heartily.

The two left the restaurant, and right at the doorstep, they bumped into Ji Man.

Seeing the two of them laughing and talking as they came out, with Jiang Mingyuan even opening the door for Lin Xia, Ji Man felt a pang of sourness in her heart.

But she quickly masked her emotions, put on a smile, and quickly approached to take Lin Xia’s hand with a light laugh, "Lin Xia! It’s been a long time!"

Lin Xia teased with a mischievous smile, "Ji Man! You still have the nerve to say that, what have you been busy with recently? You didn’t even come to see me!"

It had been a long time since Ji Man had gone to the greenhouse or the restaurant to find her.

Moreover, she hadn’t seen Ji Man at Yecheng University either.

Ever since Big Brother had opened the restaurant and got busy with dinner service in the evenings, she had stopped going too.

Out of the three of them, only she occasionally persisted.

"I’ve just been blindly busy! Are you going out with Jiang Mingyuan?" Ji Man’s eyes stuck to Jiang Mingyuan as she spoke.

"It’s nothing! You must have business with Big Brother, right? Then you two chat!" Lin Xia looked at Jiang Mingyuan, "Big Brother! I’m taking off first!"

Now that Ji Man had arrived, she no longer wanted to be driven by Jiang Mingyuan.

"Lin Xia! Wait a minute! Why the rush?" Jiang Mingyuan grabbed Lin Xia’s wrist, not letting her go, then looked at Ji Man and asked indifferently, "Ji Man, did you need to see me for something?"

Even Ji Man, who wasn’t good at reading people, could see Jiang Mingyuan’s persistence. She smiled faintly, "Nothing much! Just that my office wants to reserve a table here tonight!"

Jiang Mingyuan pointed inside the restaurant, "Then go inside and let them know! Leave a table!"

"Alright! Lin Xia! I’ll come to see you after work tomorrow night!" Ji Man still wore a smile, but clenched her fists; her freshly trimmed nails stabbing her palms, not as painful as the ache in her heart.

Lin Xia could sense the change in Ji Man’s emotions. She felt somewhat helpless, but love, after all, is mysterious and elusive—beyond anyone’s control.

Jiang Mingyuan had no feelings for Ji Man, disregarding how relentlessly she pursued him.

"Alright! I’ll wait for you at home!" She should have a good chat with Ji Man.

Ji Man perked up, "Okay!"

After Jiang Mingyuan and Lin Xia drove off, Ji Man still stood in the same spot.

She thought disheartenedly, Jiang Mingyuan had never quite given up on Lin Xia. Perhaps only if she got married and belonged to someone else would he truly let go.