483 Chapter 483: Visi (1/2)

The trip to the Nan Gong mansion took a little less than an hour by train, as Zhao Yan promised. Upon reaching home, a kindly couple emerged to greet their daughter. Trailing behind them was a girl who resembled Zhao Yan greatly. Dressed simply in a brightly colored dress, her fashion sense was closer to Zhao Yan's than the flashier Ji Yan. Unlike both her sisters, Yue Jian left her long hair untied, allowing the strands to drift freely in the breeze. She also hugged her sister warmly, happy to see her again.

”Zhao Yan, where is Ji Yan?”

The middle-aged man, who I guessed was the father, but Zhao Yan merely shook her head.

”Ji Yan has other appointments today. She is out shopping today.”

”I see…she's going out with her friends, huh?”

The woman smiled kindly as she accepted Zhao Yan's reply. Then she frowned, a look of concern coming over her face.

”What about you, Zhao Yan? Have you made any friends yet?”

”Yes…actually, I brought a friend back today. He's the one I told you about yesterday.”

Zhao Yan gestured for me to step forward, and I complied nervously and bowed politely to the middle-aged couple. Zhao Yan then continued.

”This is Shu Cong. He saved Ji Yan's life about a week ago, so I plan to thank him by treating him to dinner, as I told you. Classmate Shu Cong, these are my parents and my sister, Yue Jian.”

”Ah, yes. I'm Nan Gong Jiao Shou. I'm a professor at the Institute of Biology. Thank you for saving my daughter.” He then glowered at empty space next to Zhao Yan, as if there was someone standing there. ”Ji Yan, that girl…if she was the one who was rescued, then she should be the one thanking Mr. Shu here instead of you, Zhao Yan.”

”It can't be helped. Ji Yan already had plans prior to this.” As expected, Zhao Yan defended her sister. She was loyal to a fault.

”Well, it's fine. Come in, come in!”

Zhao Yan's mother quickly ushered us through the front door. As I stepped through the patio, I stared at her in confusion before turning to Zhao Yan.

”You have a mother?”

”What's that supposed to mean?!” she snapped, annoyed. I scratched my head and shrugged.

”Well…I thought you three were clones...um…test-tube babies cloned by your 'father' to inherit the Mei Yue Min thing…”

Zhao Yan pausd to glare at me. ”You've obviously been reading way too much manhua. And I've never heard of Mei Yue Min before.”

Yeah…I probably have. The next thing I knew, the mysterious transfer student, Xu Wu Cheng, would have some dark secret of his own, Ji Yan would plot something nasty against her sisters out of jealousy…

All right, I should start separating reality from manhua, like right now.

”Um…”

Yue Jian spoke up nervously as she hurried to our side. I remembered that we were going to give her the box of strawberry short cakes, so I passed the box to Zhao Yan instinctively. It was better if she received the gift from her sister intead of me, especially since Zhao Yan was the one who paid for them. Still, I was getting uncomfortable under her curious gaze, so I cleared my throat and asked a random question.

”Where are your bandages?”

”Huh? W…what bandages?”

Boy, but was the girl jumpy or what? She looked really tense and timid. I sighed, and did my best to smile reassuringly as I elaborated.

”I was under the impression that you had an accident about nine or ten years ago where you fell into a vat of flammable liquid in your father's laboratory, got burned and ended up with scars on your face. So you would cover them with bandages…”

Zhao Yan smacked my head so hard that I actually saw stars as I fell over.

”What nonsense are you spouting to my sister?!”

”Sorry, it's as you say.” I rubbed my head as I slowly got back to my feet, and grinned apologetically. ”I've been reading too much manhua.”

”Yue Jian, ignore him for now.” Zhao Yan extracted the box from the nice wrapping and passed it to her sister. ”These are the famous strawberry short cakes from the face near my school. Make sure you share them with Father and Mother. I bought them so that all of you can have a taste.”

”O…oh! Thank you!”

Zhao Yan smiled, and then lowered her voice in a conspiratorial whisper. ”Don't let Ji Yan know about this, though. That girl never eats enough.”

”Um…you can have some too!” Yue Jian was opening the box, and she politely offered one to me. I couldn't help but warm up to her. Yue Jian might be overly timid and clumsy, but she was certainly adorable and kind.

”No thanks. You can share it with your parents instead. I'm not a big fan of strawberries.” I was more of a mango person. In other words, I only liked mangoes, mango cakes, mango juice, mango ice cream, etc.

”I see.” Zhao Yan raised an eyebrow. ”I'm sorry, I should have…”

”Oi, I was just giving an excuse because I want to be polite! Read the mood!” I hissed. Taking a deep breath, I calmed myself down. ”Anyway, don't worry about it. I'm happy to watch your family enjoy the dessert. Besides, I'm looking forward to your homecooked dinner.”

”Zhao Yan's…homecooked dinner?”

”Speaking of which, I should probably go prepare now. Please take a seat and make yourself at home. It might take a while, but I'll serve you something good. I hope.”

Zhao Yan smiled briefly before leaving for the kitchen. After she disappeared, Yue Jian flailed about in panic.

”Are you sure you want Zhao Yan to cook?”

There was something about her initial reaction that worried me, and now her current panicked demeanor sealed that feeling of dread in my stomach.

”Um…why?”

”I'm not sure if that's a good idea.”