Chapter 287: Chapter 287

At breakfast the next day, Ying Ji indeed brought up the topic of marriage. Rong Zhi hadn’t reacted yet when Ying Zhao Yuan, sitting across from him, spat out a mouthful of milk.

"What?? Marriage? No way, I don’t agree!"

Ying Zhao Yuan wiped his mouth, his voice muffled by the bandage on his nose. "Little Nine is still so young, she’ll only be nineteen after the New Year. Uncle, you can’t disregard Little Nine’s age just because of Bai Su."

Ying Ji frowned and shook his head, "No, I just mentioned it. He didn’t agree."

As he spoke, he glanced at Bai Su.

Ying Zhao Yuan: "Huh??"

He immediately glared fiercely at Bai Su, accusing, "You said you liked Little Nine, but it was all lies. You won’t even marry her, what are you talking about—ugh!"

His mouth was stuffed with a dumpling.

Ying Zhao Yuan mumbled, unable to speak.

Rong Zhi calmly retracted her chopsticks.

"Eat your breakfast."

With the leader speaking up, Ying Zhao Yuan could only take a frustrated bite of the dumpling and keep quiet.

After breakfast, everyone had their own work to do. Bai Su and Ying Cenchuan left for the company, while Ying Yunlin, who hadn’t been seen for some time, stayed home.

Chewing on a piece of fruit after the meal, he waved at the young man when he saw him, speaking indistinctly, "Come, your brother wants to discuss something with you."

Rong Zhi sat down beside him.

Ying Yunlin quickly finished the peach he was eating, tossing the pit into the trash bin. "Yesterday, Ethan told me that the F1 circuit in the O State Division is starting its competitions in March. Are you interested?"

At this time last year, Rong Zhi was still competing in the final race. This year’s final had already concluded, and the O State Division’s selection competition in March was about to start.

Ying Yunlin had gone out yesterday intending to meet Ethan, but his plans were disrupted by Qianlai, so he could only inform him by phone.

Ying Yunlin thought that a racer like Rong Zhi shouldn’t be overlooked. The race track and stage were her rightful places.

"ATS has always been waiting for us to return, but as you know, without you speaking up, your brother isn’t really interested."

After all, he’s getting older and can’t be as fearless and daring as in his youth. Also, he’s preparing to take over the family business now, likely starting in early March, so he doesn’t have much time.

Rong Zhi pressed her lips together and politely declined.

She still had many things to do. She planned to return to Hua Country after the New Year, most likely after her perfumer’s rating exam.

Besides, when she used to race, it was just to find a sense of freedom. In the Rong Family, it was too stifling, to the point where she couldn’t stop overthinking. At that time, she couldn’t afford to let her emotions become a problem, so she sought thrills to distract herself.

If Ying Yunlin hadn’t found her, she might still only be racing in the black market.

Ying Yunlin understood her thoughts, and since it couldn’t be forced, he let it be.

But after pondering for a couple of seconds, he said slowly, "I noticed Ethan isn’t doing well. When I asked, he said it was an issue within the team, but I don’t know the specifics."

Rong Zhi: "Ask him again."

Ying Yunlin nodded, "Okay."

The topic of the competition was temporarily set aside. Rong Zhi went upstairs to work on a new perfume formula, aiming to release it under the Ying Family before the New Year, which would likely require a trip to the company.

The O State doesn’t observe Hua Country’s festivals. The Ying Family’s ancestors were Chinese, which is why they’ve maintained the tradition. As the Lunar New Year approached, the brothers of the Ying Family who were away gradually returned home.

Thanks to Rong Zhi’s treatment, Ying Zhao Yuan’s nose healed quickly. The day the bandage was removed was just the 29th of the lunar month.

Ying Zhao Yuan touched his nose, which was free of any scars, and gave Rong Zhi a thumbs up, "Little Nine’s medical skills are top-notch, amazing."

He still couldn’t smell anything yet, but he felt his sense of smell gradually coming back day by day, which was already a good sign.

Rong Zhi adjusted the rimless glasses on her nose with a finger, just about to speak when suddenly a pair of arms stretched out behind her, and her neck was suddenly embraced tightly, nearly suffocating her.

Rong Zhi lowered her eyes, looking at the woman’s arms and struggled to speak, "Sis, let go."

"Oh dear!" The woman exclaimed, promptly releasing her and standing in front of her, apologetically massaging her neck. "Sorry, sorry, it’s mom’s fault for squeezing Zhi Zhi too hard."

Rong Zhi exhaled, "Not painful."

"Really not painful?"

"Hmm." The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the novelFirｅ.net

The woman immediately grinned, hugged her neck again, carefully this time, and rubbed her cheek against Rong Zhi’s, "Mom missed you so much!"

Ying Zhao Yuan, standing next to them, commented sarcastically, "Auntie, your way of missing Little Nine nearly choked her."

Without surprise, the naughtiest of the family, Ying Liu, got a smack.

Fu Xixiao, wrapping his arm around the youth, turned slightly and clicked his tongue, "Is that how you talk to your aunt? Want me to cut your New Year’s money in half this year?"

Ying Zhao Yuan: "???"

That’s not okay, one can’t have a grudge against red envelopes.

He immediately smiled apologetically, "No, no, it’s my fault, Auntie loves Little Nine very much!"

Fu Xixiao hummed satisfactorily.

She leaned in close to Rong Zhi, her dimples playful and cute, not showing the age of a woman in her fifties, instead looking surprisingly youthful, a testament to Ying Ji taking good care of her.

As the Lady of the Ying Family, Fu Xixiao presented a gentle and graceful image to outsiders, but only the family knew she was actually a big child.

After treating the youth like a plush toy and making up for the affection she missed for an entire year, Mrs. Ying was finally satisfied and gave her a peck on both cheeks.

"Zhi Zhi has grown prettier, and more mature too!"

As she spoke, her hand began to move down.

Rong Zhi quickly grasped her wrist, her tone unusually helpless, "Sis."

Fu Xixiao smiled knowingly, "Alright, alright, I won’t tease you anymore. I heard from your father that you’re bringing a boyfriend home for the New Year. Where is he?"

Her eyes roamed around the living room.

Ying Zhao Yuan tossed a grape into his mouth, puffing his cheeks like a squirrel storing food, "He’s with Big Brother at the company, he’ll be back in the evening."

"Working? Did Ying Ji send him?" Fu Xixiao raised an eyebrow and asked.

Ying Zhao Yuan made a sound of agreement and threw in another grape, "Yeah."

Fu Xixiao waved it off, familiar with her husband’s tough temper, knowing he probably wanted to test Zhi Zhi’s boyfriend, otherwise, he wouldn’t have let him work in the family company.

Skipping over the topic, she clasped her hands together and cheerfully announced, "Since I heard you’d be spending the New Year at home, worried you wouldn’t have any friends to play with, I found two sisters for you when I came back from the Fu Family. They’re outside, finishing up their packing before they come in."

The Fu Family and the Ying Family were old friends, primarily dealing in the jewelry business, based in A State, which was under Rong Zhi’s authority.

Due to Fu Xixiao’s relationship, the Qianji Pavilion has been quite accommodating to the Fu Family for the past couple of years, with their main business in the Pavilion besides mechanical products being the mining industry.

The Fu Family had been thriving in A State, with Rong Zhi’s assistance behind the scenes.

And the two sisters mentioned by Fu Xixiao were probably her second brother’s daughters. Rong Zhi wasn’t very familiar with the Fu Family and only knew she had a niece.

"...Last June, An’an was just recently adopted back, but she’s got a good personality, you should get along well."