Rebirth: Pampered by My Children and Husband

Chapter 264: Chapter 264 The person she likes most is me

Zhao Jiayan’s hand by his side clenched, and his heartbeat gradually began to intensify.

He watched Ji Yuqiao nervously, feeling as though all the surrounding sounds had disappeared; the only thing he could hear was the fierce pounding of his own heart.

Ji Yuqiao stopped in her tracks, “What do you want to talk about?”

Zhao Jiayan pursed his lips, as if he had finally made up his mind, and said, “I like you.”

These words entered Ji Yuqiao’s ears distinctly, and her facial expression suddenly became fixed, “What… what?”

She was stunned for a long while before regaining her senses, then mysteriously whispered in his ear, “Are you playing a game with friends, losing, and now doing a dare as a penalty?”

Zhao Jiayan chuckled lightly, “No, even if it were a game, what I’m saying now should be the truth.”

Shock climbed back onto Ji Yuqiao’s cheeks, her eyes flickering with disbelief.

“I thought it was quite obvious that I liked you; are you really that surprised?” He smiled, his smile tinged with helplessness.

“Really?” Ji Yuqiao touched her nose.

She thought hard, only to realize that her recent memories, aside from Lin Xu, were blank.

“Actually, I told you before in the library, but you were in a hurry to leave and didn’t hear it clearly. I was quite upset for a while,” Zhao Jiayan’s tone turned bitter.

She thought back, Zhao Jiayan seemed to have been saying something to her that day. So it was about this.

Ji Yuqiao’s expression became somewhat awkward.

Zhao Jiayan took a deep breath, mustered up his courage, and said again, “I like you. Can I be your boyfriend?”

Ji Yuqiao’s gaze wavered slightly, her voice softened by a few tones, “I’m sorry… I’m not in the right mindset right now.”

Her time was currently devoted only to being with her parents and striving to win the grand prize in the competition for her mother…

Zhao Jiayan seemed unsurprised by the response, the smile at his lips undiminished, “I was too rash. I know you don’t feel the same way about me, but I couldn’t help wanting to tell you my feelings.”

“You don’t need to feel too burdened. Next time I’ll pursue you seriously and come back for an answer.”

Zhao Jiayan’s expression was earnest, like the scorching sun burning Ji Yuqiao momentarily.

She pursed her lips, about to say something, when the sounds around the venue suddenly became lively.

She looked up to see, under the dazzling lights, Xie Changyan and Lin Xu hand in hand, stepping onto the red carpet and walking slowly towards the center of the venue.

Applause erupted around them.

Ji Yuqiao’s eyes brightened, almost subconsciously walking towards Lin Xu.

Left behind, Zhao Jiayan smiled helplessly.

It seemed he needed to make her pay attention to him before pursuing her further.

Under everyone’s gaze, Lin Xu and Xie Changyan stepped onto the stage of the venue.

As Xie Ming announced their engagement, brilliant fireworks burst into the night sky, illuminating it and pushing the festive atmosphere to its peak.

On stage, Lin Xu scanned for her three children. After a sweep of the venue, she saw Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu in the middle of the crowd.

She smiled gently at them, her eyes curving into crescents, her gentle and radiant smile blooming on her face, instantly capturing everyone’s attention.

Ji Tingyang’s heart skipped a beat, a tingling warmth coursing through his chest.

He paused for a moment, fingers subconsciously caressing the wine glass, before snapping back to reality.

Just as he was about to smile, he heard Ji Zeqiu’s voice beside him.

“Mother just smiled at me; I told you I’m her favorite,” Ji Zeqiu’s ears tinged red, his lips unable to suppress a smile.

Ji Tingyang glanced at him, “Mother was looking at me.”

Ji Zeqiu retorted, “I made eye contact with Mother, there’s no way she was looking at you.”

Ji Tingyang: “I also locked eyes with her.”

“Mom was looking at me, and if you don’t believe it, go ask her.”

“Ha, no need to ask. It was definitely me.”

The two brothers bantered back and forth, neither willing to back down.

At some point, Lin Xu walked over, looking puzzled, “You two aren’t fighting again, are you?”

“…”

The teasing stopped abruptly.

Ji Zeqiu put his arm around Ji Tingyang’s shoulder, “No, our relationship is so good, how could we be fighting?”

When they were younger, Ji Zeqiu would often take his hand or put an arm around his shoulders.

But as they grew older, such affectionate contact became rare.

Ji Tingyang felt momentarily uncomfortable, his body stiffening, but he still nodded along with Ji Zeqiu’s movements.

Lin Xu’s eyes curved in relief, and she smiled again, “That’s good, then. Can you two help entertain the guests for a while? I’m going to find Ah Yan.”

As Lin Xu was about to leave, Ji Zeqiu couldn’t help but grumble, “Everyone forgets their mother when they have a wife. How come it’s the other way around with you and your husband?”

Their mother had just come to speak to him and was already leaving.

“Who forgot you? Look, I just came to find you after leaving the stage, and I even smiled and waved at you while I was up there,” Lin Xu said as she rubbed Ji Zeqiu’s cheek, smiling, “Don’t be mad.”

Ji Zeqiu’s eyes shimmered with happiness as he chirped, “I knew you were smiling at me. Someone just wouldn’t admit it.”

Ji Tingyang pursed his lips, his eyes showing a hint of grievance as he glanced quickly at her.

Alarms went off in Lin Xu’s head. Maintaining a fair attitude, she promptly went to rub Ji Tingyang’s head too.

“I only looked at Zeqiu for a second, then I was looking at you. It’s true. Didn’t you smile at me too? I saw that.”

Ji Tingyang’s expression eased a bit, and he shot Ji Zeqiu a challenging glance.

Ji Zeqiu immediately became angry, “Even if Mother looked at you, she looked at me the longest.”

Ji Tingyang calmly said, “That’s just your illusion.”

“How could that be!” Ji Zeqiu pulled Lin Xu over, his tone urgent, “Mother, tell us, who did you look at the longest just now?”

Lin Xu: “…I, I don’t quite remember.”

“Then an easier question, who do you love more, me or Ji Tingyang?” Ji Zeqiu asked.

Ji Tingyang also looked over solemnly.

“…” Lin Xu felt overwhelmed.

Aren’t they tired of asking this question?

How can she possibly be completely fair!

“I…I…” Lin Xu stuttered.

Just then, a hand wrapped around her waist, drawing her into a solid and warm chest.

Her chin was captured, and a tender kiss touched her lips then parted quickly.

Xie Changyan challenged his two sons with a raised eyebrow, “No need to ask that sort of question. The person she loves most is me.”

Ji Tingyang’s face turned cold instantly.

Ji Zeqiu was also seething with anger.