Summer Green Apples

"Xixi, come here for a second."

"They're here."

Ji Xiwen is an obedient child and is always very diligent. He immediately stood up and went into the kitchen.

The kitchen was renovated before the Lunar New Year. Three pots can fit on the stove at once, and they are all bubbling and steaming. Next to them are prepared chicken, duck, fish, meat, and vegetables.

This is even more lively than during the Chinese New Year.

While washing the vegetables, Ji Rong said, "Your aunt wants to discuss something with you."

"Go ahead and say it."

Ji Xiwen didn't know why she had become so tactful, so she rolled up her sleeves and helped Ji Rong wash the vegetables.

Ji Rong seemed a little embarrassed, "I was originally thinking of letting Chi Sui make do in your parents' bedroom for now, but your parents will be back tomorrow at noon, so he'll have to squeeze in with Ming Qiang..."

Ji Xiwen gasped. "Just kill him."

Ji Mingqiang was notorious for being filthy since childhood. His bedroom was like a pigsty. He didn't like to take showers unless he was going out on a date with a girl. His socks and underwear were scattered all over the floor. He would either wait for his aunt Ji Xiwen to wash them for him, or he would just pick out the ones that didn't smell too bad and continue wearing them.

Chi Sui was originally a germaphobe...

I couldn't stand staying there for even a minute after actually moving in.

"So, Auntie really has no other choice but to ask you if you and Mingli could make do with having Chi Sui stay in your room temporarily?"

This request is incredibly inappropriate.

Even Ji Rong, who is known for speaking to people in a way that suits them perfectly, was too embarrassed to say it aloud.

But she really had no other choice.

The nearest hotel is almost an hour's drive away, and the guests at that hotel are mostly people having affairs; the hygiene conditions are terrible.

Chi Kai can still sleep in her room, but Chi Sui really has nowhere to stay.

Ji Xiwen remained silent for a while.

Ji Rong waited for two seconds, "Or your aunt can sleep in your room, and let the father and son stay in my room."

"The bed in your room is too small." Ji Xiwen lowered her head, the water was a bit cold. "Never mind, I'll just squeeze in with Mingli."

After all, she is still living in the Chi family's house and is constantly troubling them, so she will definitely help in any way she can.

Fortunately, Chi Sui knows his limits and likes things to be clean.

If it were Ji Mingqiang, she would rather jump off this building than let him sleep in her bed for even one night.

The aunt and niece were about to tidy up the room.

When Ji Xiwen followed Ji Rong out of the kitchen, she caught a glimpse of Ji Mingli approaching Chi Sui and talking to him, with a friendly smile on her face.

Chi Sui sat on the single sofa, leaning back as if boneless, staring lazily at his phone, seemingly oblivious to what Ji Mingli was saying.

She quickly looked away and followed Ji Rong back to her room.

After Ji Xiwen put away all her things, Ji Rong took out a brand new four-piece bedding set and changed into it. She patted Ji Xiwen on the shoulder and said, "You've done your aunt a big favor. Your aunt will remember this."

"You're too kind," Ji Xiwen said with a smile.

The two came out of the bedroom and were about to go back to the kitchen. As they passed the living room, Chi Sui kept staring at his phone, as if a dead man had suddenly come to life. "Ji Xiwen."

Ji Mingli's mouth dropped open.

So he wasn't mute after all.

Ji Rong patted Ji Xiwen on the shoulder and said, "Go play, you don't need to do anything in the kitchen."

Ji Xiwen walked to the sofa, picked out an orange from the fruit bowl on the coffee table, and asked as she peeled it, "What's wrong?"

Chi Sui suddenly raised his head and pointed at Ji Mingli casually, "She asked me how old I am this year."

"..."

Ji Xiwen had no idea what was wrong with him. She turned her head and looked at Ji Mingli. The two sisters stared at each other in bewilderment.

Ji Mingli wasn't there when a bunch of relatives asked how old Chi Sui was.

Chi Suiyi said smugly, "Tell her how old I am."

Ji Xiwen was stunned for a moment, "He just turned seventeen."

"Ah..." Ji Mingli nodded, "I understand."

She rested her chin on her hand and said coquettishly, "Why didn't you tell me yourself?"

"..."

Chi remained silent.

Then Ji Mingli looked at Ji Xiwen.

Ji Xiwen ate an orange and felt a headache coming on. "He... has a cold recently, his throat hurts, and he doesn't really want to talk."

"Cough cough."

Chi then coughed in a mock manner.

"Oh, it's just a cold. No wonder."

Ji Mingli reached out and tossed her hair, then suddenly flung it aside, saying that no boy had ever been so cold to her.

"yue——"

Chi suddenly stood up, his face pale.

"Weiweiwei... the restroom is over there." Ji Xiwen panicked for a moment and quickly pointed.

Chi Sui walked towards the bathroom without looking back.

Ji Mingli stood frozen, like a statue, bewildered and unable to hide her shock. "What does he mean by this?"

Ji Xiwen still had half an orange left in her hand, and she couldn't eat it right away. She guessed, "Maybe it's your perfume that's bothering him."

Just as she tossed her hair, a strong and pungent perfume scent wafted to her nose.

Chi Sui probably smelled it too.

Upon hearing this, Ji Mingli's expression darkened further. "This perfume of mine is very expensive, two hundred yuan a bottle. Don't you think it smells good?"

"...It's alright." Ji Xiwen scratched the tip of her nose.

She might have thought it smelled nice before.

Only after smelling the faint fragrance of incense on Chi Sui did she realize what a truly pleasant scent was like.

In comparison, Ji Mingli's perfume smelled rather pungent and overpowering; it made her nose feel uncomfortable.

"What do you mean 'okay'?" Ji Mingli glared at her, looking down on her for not knowing what she was talking about.

Ji Xiwen wisely shut up and lowered her head to eat the orange.

Ji Mingli sulked for a while, then quickly went to Ji Xiwen's side and asked how he was doing in Pingcheng and whether the climate and environment were good.

"I think it's alright, just a bit too many bugs and it's quite humid in the summer," Ji Xiwen said after finishing the last segment of the orange. "Everything else is pretty good."

"Is it developed over there?" Ji Mingli had just gotten a manicure; she always preferred long nails, and Ji Xiwen always worried about how she would pull up her pants when she went to the bathroom.

"It's quite developed, more developed than this area outside." Ji Xiwen asked in surprise, "Why are you interested in this?"

Ji Mingli pursed her lips, looked down and picked at her nails. She had added a lot of tiny, sparkling rhinestones, making them look shiny and sparkly.

Upon seeing her expression, Ji Xi knew that she had inadvertently touched a sore spot for Ji Mingli.

Just as she was thinking of changing the subject, Ji Mingli suddenly sighed and said, "Nothing much, I just resigned and want to find a job in another city."

Ji Mingli has no formal education and is only considered pretty, so there aren't many jobs she can choose from.

In addition, she was spoiled by her parents since childhood and is quite delicate. She doesn't want to do anything too tiring, so she changes jobs every few years over the years.