Chapter 991 - Smartest One (1/2)

”JJ!”

”What?”

”Do you like Ria Jie?”

Jackie put the fruit basket in his hands on the ground and turned to look at his dearest niece.

”Who told you that?”

Ava narrowed her eyes at him and put her hands on her hɨps saying, ”I know I'm a bit slow but I'm not dumb. And I'm definitely not blind.”

Jackie walked up to her and ruffled her hair, ”It's good to have self-awareness.” He smiled a bit at how she easily stated that she was slow. It seems she also knew that she was slow.

Ava slapped his hand away from her hair and fixed her hair while glaring at him in exasperation. ”Don't try to change the subject here. I'm serious. Are you in love with her?”

”Love?” repeated Jackie thoughtfully. ”I don't know.”

”What? You don't know?”

Jackie nodded his head at her, ”I do like her but love is an entirely different matter for now. Do you think it's easy to find love?”

”It isn't easy,” replied Ava. ”But that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to find love.”

Jackie knitted his brows at her, ”How old are you to even have this conversation with me? Don't tell me you're already looking for a boyfriend. Let me warn you! No boyfriends until you're in college. And definitely no puppy love in high school!”

Ava glanced at him strangely, ”JJ, even my dad isn't as strict about my dating life as you are.”

”It's because that my brother-in-law is way too lenient when it comes to you that I have to take some charge here. I can't let you stray away.”

”Isn't this double standard though?” she retorted. ”You also like Ria Jie and you're also just in high school. Why is it different for me?”

”It's different,” insisted Jackie stubbornly. ”It's not like I'm dating her. It's just that I... like her. Or it'd be right to say that I don't find her as annoying as others. So, it's easier to like her.”

”JJ, don't you think your criteria of liking someone is a bit... weird?”

Jackie shook his head resolutely, ”I don't think so at all.”

Ava rubbed the apple she had picked from the tree on her clothes to clean it before taking a big bite from it. ”JJ, do you mean you are not planning on going out with Ria Jie?”

”I haven't thought about it,” replied Jackie.

”Why are you like this?” Ava hit his arm. ”If you're not even taking it seriously, why are you being so nice to her?”

”I feel like being nice to her,” retorted Jackie. ”What is wrong with that? Besides, my Sister Xiu taught me that being kind doesn't cost you money. If you can be nice to someone, then be nice.”

Ava ġrȯȧnėd at him, ”What is this? JJ, I thought you're the smartest one around me.”

”I still am the smartest one around here,” said Jackie proudly. He had the highest IQ in the family, he was rightfully proud.

”But I think you're really dumb,” Ava shot back. ”If you're being nice to a girl, you're giving her hope. And if you're not planning on dating her, then you're just a scumbag!”