Going home for the Chinese New Year with a year-end bonus of 100 million

After the person left, the courtyard was quiet for a few seconds.

Lin Xiaoyu stood still, her fingers secretly clenching the hem of her clothes.

Xiaoya leaned closer, took her arm, and whispered, "Jealous? You'd better hurry! My brother is very popular with Xiaoyu."

The voice wasn't loud, but it was loud enough for Lin Xiaoyu to hear.

Lin Xiaoyu blushed again and remained silent.

Yang Fan walked over, his tone as usual: "Xiaoyu, want to go upstairs and see the rooms? Let Xiaoya show you."

"Mm." Lin Xiaoyu nodded.

As she turned around, she heard Yang Fan tell her parents, "Uncle Zhou Yao is the marketing manager and has been a great help. She's also been helping to connect people for the e-sports hotel."

Is this an explanation?

The inexplicable bitterness in Lin Xiaoyu's heart subsided slightly.

……

Dinner was the first family meal together for both families.

The round table was packed with people; Wang Xiuying and Li Cuihua had prepared a table full of dishes, and the aroma filled the air.

Mr. and Mrs. Lin were a little reserved at first, but they were quickly warmed up by the Yang family's hospitality and gradually relaxed.

Just as everyone was about to pick up their chopsticks—

"Is Brother Fan home?"

A somewhat familiar voice came from the doorway.

Everyone turned their heads and saw Zhou Jin, sporting his signature messy hair, peeking out from the courtyard gate.

She was also carrying two cups of milk tea.

Xiaoya's face instantly fell: "Zhou Jin? What brings you here?"

Zhou Jin walked in with a chuckle, his eyes scanning the table before finally catching sight of Xiaoya and then abruptly looking away.

"Well... I heard from Yao Yao that Xiao Ya is coming back today, so... I just came over to say hello. We're classmates, right? We'll be neighbors from now on."

As he spoke, he handed a cup of milk tea to Xiaoya: "I bought this for you, less sugar, more ice, with coconut jelly, you used to like it..."

"I don't want to drink," Xiaoya interrupted expressionlessly. "Thank you."

Zhou Jin's hand froze in mid-air.

The scene became awkward at one point.

A few seconds later, Zhou Jin steeled himself and turned the milk tea toward Lin Xiaoyu beside him: "Then... Xiaoyu, you drink it?"

Lin Xiaoyu was stunned for a moment, then subconsciously took it, saying, "Th...thank you."

Xiaoya glared at Zhou Jin.

Zhou Jin scratched his head, unsure who to give the other cup of milk tea to, and finally silently placed it on the table.

Yang Fan raised an eyebrow as he watched this scene.

He recalled Zhou Jin's fawning manner yesterday, and looking at his current embarrassed state, he couldn't help but find it amusing.

"So you're Yao Yao's brother? Have you eaten?" Wang Xiuying greeted him warmly. "If not, would you like to eat together?"

"No, no!" Zhou Jin waved his hands repeatedly. "I've already eaten! I just... I just..."

He glanced at Xiaoya again, who was eating with her head down, completely ignoring him.

Yang Fan stepped in to defuse the situation: "Is the computer configuration list ready?"

"Ah? Oh right!" Zhou Jin exclaimed as if he had grasped a lifeline, hurriedly pulling his phone out of his pocket.

"It's done! I sent it to you on WeChat, bro!"

"I'm here today mainly to get this computer configuration list ready for you, and also to see Xiaoya!"

As he spoke, he stole glances at Xiaoya and noticed that she still didn't react, so his shoulders slumped slightly.

Yang Fan saw it all and understood perfectly.

This kid really cares about Xiaoya.

But this way of pursuing someone... is really clumsy.

"Have a seat," Yang Fan said, gesturing to an empty seat. "We can talk about the configuration now."

Zhou Jin felt as if he had been granted a pardon and quickly sat down—his seat was right diagonally opposite Xiao Ya.

Zhou Jin ate his meal absentmindedly.

The chopsticks were dropped three times.

The soup spoon made a crisp sound when it hit the rim of the bowl.

Every time I tried to talk to Xiaoya, she would glare at me and shut me down.

The worst part was that he tried to tell a joke to ease the tension:

"Well... I was fixing a computer yesterday, and the customer said there was a strange noise coming from the case. I opened it up, and guess what?"

No one responded.

Zhou Jin chuckled awkwardly to himself, "There was a cockroach inside... it got smashed by the fan and is stuck everywhere..."

The dining table was completely silent.

Xiaoya finally looked up, glanced at him, and uttered:

"Zhou Jin, your joke-telling skills are just as bad as your computer repair skills—outrageously bad."

Zhou Jin: "..."

Everyone stifled their laughter.

Looking at Zhou Jin's face, which instantly crumbled, Lin Xiaoyu felt a strange pang of sympathy.

She nudged Xiaoya quietly and whispered, "Don't be so fierce..."

Xiaoya snorted, didn't say anything, but her expression softened slightly.

Zhou Jin noticed this detail, and his eyes lit up again. He quickly gave Lin Xiaoyu a grateful look.

Yang Fan took in everything, lowered his head to drink a sip of soup, and smiled slightly.

Just then, Zhou Yao's voice came from outside again, this time a very fierce one:

"Zhou Jin! Have you no shame? You said you came to my older brother's house to discuss the configuration, but you know best what you're really thinking!"

As he spoke, Zhou Yao walked in, looked at Yang Fan, and said:

"Brother! He has ill intentions, why did you still invite him to dinner?"

This put Zhou Jin in an awkward position!

Now it's even more awkward!

Yang Fan's parents also noticed some clues, but now that their daughter is old enough, it's not appropriate for them, as adults, to get involved in many things.

Seeing Zhou Yao come in again, Yang Fan's mother quickly greeted her:

"Yaoyao, don't say that. We're neighbors. Sit down quickly. I'll get you a pair of chopsticks. Let's eat together."

Whether Zhou Yao really disliked her older brother or just wanted to join in the fun, she didn't stand on ceremony this time and plopped down on the floor.

Dinner continued.

The seating arrangement subtly created a kind of standoff:

Yang Fan sat in the main seat, with Zhou Yao on his left and Lin Xiaoyu, whom Xiao Ya had forcibly pulled over to sit on his right.

Zhou Jin stood diagonally opposite Xiao Ya, his eyes occasionally drifting over to her.

Zhou Yao spoke first, picking up a piece of pork rib and saying:

"Brother! I'm not shameless like some people. I'm not coming to your house for nothing."

"I've looked at the venue; the third floor can be used to build themed rooms."

"For example, e-sports themes and science fiction themes are what young people like nowadays."

Yang Fan was both amused and exasperated; what kind of thought process did this girl have?

"Zhou Yao, you've already helped me enough. Plus, we're good neighbors. Why don't you come over for a meal? It's not like you're getting a free meal."

Finally, he glanced at the embarrassed Zhou Jin and continued:

"Besides, your brother helped me too, so it wasn't a free lunch!"

"Exactly!" Zhou Jin quickly interjected, glaring at Zhou Yao. "So you're only asking for help, right?"

"Do you even know what computer specs are? This is a huge expense for me!"

Zhou Yao didn't argue with Zhou Jin anymore, not because she was targeting her own brother.

Rather, it was out of frustration that he was so good-looking, but he didn't care about his appearance and made a fool of himself in public.

I heard today that my older brother and sister have arrived, and I'm shamelessly insisting on coming over.

You think you can just come like that?! At least wear some clean clothes! Wash your hair first!

Zhou Jin is doing well!

Sometimes she really wants to kick her own brother to death; he's beyond saving!

Who pursues girls like that?

"Alright! Zhou Yao, hurry up and eat! We're neighbors now, so visit each other often!" Xiao Ya and Zhou Yao went to the same school. Although they didn't talk to each other usually, they obviously knew each other.

Zhou Yao nodded readily, "Okay, Sister Xiaoya, you're my brother's sister, so you'll be my best friend from now on!"