Rebirth: Pampered by My Children and Husband

Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Ji Zeqiu Didn’t Know After All

The auction was still ongoing, and the pink diamond bracelet that Lin Xu had seen in the auction booklet was also up for bidding.

The bidding was even more intense than for the necklace earlier and had quickly escalated to ten million.

“Do you want it?” Ji Zeqiu noticed that Lin Xu occasionally looked up at the stage, seeming interested in the bracelet.

Thinking that since they were already there, buying two items was just as good as buying one—if she wanted it, he might as well buy it for her.

It certainly wasn’t for any other reason.

Seeing that Ji Zeqiu was considering placing a higher bid, Lin Xu shook her head vigorously at him, “No, no, don’t buy it.”

This bracelet was much more expensive than the necklace, and she feared he would go bankrupt.

“Really?” Ji Zeqiu was skeptical.

“Yes, yes, I don’t like this bracelet at all!” Lin Xu said earnestly.

“Alright then,” Ji Zeqiu had no choice but to abandon the idea of continuing to bid.

During their conversation, the bracelet was sold for twenty million.

Lin Xu patted her chest, relieved that she hadn’t let Ji Zeqiu buy it.

After the auction ended, Ji Zeqiu and Lin Xu went backstage at the auction hall, paid the money, and then collected the jewelry necklace.

Lin Xu gazed at the necklace, feeling somewhat emotional: “Thinking about it, this seems to be the first gift you’ve given me. I will cherish it, even holding it while I sleep!”

The latter statement was clearly an exaggeration.

Ji Zeqiu’s cheeks flashed with embarrassment as he snapped, “This isn’t a gift, it’s a return gift, a return gift! Don’t you understand?”

He certainly wasn’t the type to give gifts to this woman!

Plus, her accepting it meant they were even, understand?

“A gift and a return gift are both gifts, they’re the same, don’t overreact.” Lin Xu soothed him.

“How are they the same!” Ji Zeqiu glared at her.

Giving a gift was willingly, while a return gift was merely a social nicety, a kind of morally obligatory act.

He wouldn’t admit that he would give gifts to Lin Xu.

The two bickered as they walked out of the auction hall’s backstage.

Ji Zeqiu realized he couldn’t outtalk this woman at all, and was fuming all the way; just as he was brooding, he noticed Lin Xu halted her steps abruptly.

Before he could ask, he heard her shout toward a not-too-distant place, “Ji Tingyang!”

Following her gaze, Ji Zeqiu saw Ji Tingyang’s upright figure standing at the entrance of the auction hall, talking to someone.

Hearing her voice, Ji Tingyang paused in his conversation, then turned his head.

The moment he saw Lin Xu, Ji Zeqiu noticed his eyes suddenly sparkled with energy. He left the person he was with and quickly walked toward Lin Xu.

The expression on Ji Tingyang’s face overflowed with unspoken joy, but upon seeing Ji Zeqiu next to her, that joy faded slightly, and he clicked his tongue in disapproval.

“What’s with that tongue-clicking! Do you think I wanted to see you!” Ji Zeqiu snapped.

Ji Tingyang paid him no heed and turned to Lin Xu, “Are you here to see me?”

“Don’t flatter yourself, who knew you were here? She came here to shop with me,” Ji Zeqiu interjected. “If we had known you were here, we wouldn’t have come today.”

Ji Tingyang ignored Ji Zeqiu and continued chatting with Lin Xu, “I just bought you a gift, guess what it is?”

Ji Zeqiu: “What good gift could it possibly be?”

Ji Tingyang to Lin Xu: “It’s something you’ll like.”

Ji Zeqiu: “Whatever she likes, I’ve already bought, what else could you possibly buy?”

Ji Tingyang: “The moment I saw it, I felt it was perfect for you. I thought I had to buy it and give it to you.”

Ji Zeqiu, “Suitability isn’t important, liking it is what matters most.”

“Can you just shut up!” Ji Tingyang couldn’t bear it anymore.

Their mother hadn’t even spoken yet, and he kept on complaining!

Who wanted to hear him talk!

Seeing the two brothers about to start arguing again, Lin Xu quickly interjected, changing the subject, “What’s the gift? Let me see it quick!”

Hearing her words, Ji Tingyang didn’t bother with Ji Zeqiu anymore and took a small box out of the bag he was holding, opening it.

Inside lay a pink diamond-studded bracelet.

It was the very bracelet that had sold at the auction for twenty million.

A flash of surprise and joy crossed Lin Xu’s eyes. Just as she was about to speak, she heard Ji Zeqiu’s scoff.

“This is the gift you said she’d definitely like? Hahaha, she doesn’t like this bracelet at all.”

That’s what Lin Xu had told him when he wanted to buy it just a moment ago.

Ji Tingyang’s smile at the corner of his lips froze, and his eyes filled with a touch of disappointment as he sought confirmation from Lin Xu, “Is that true?”

“Tell him you don’t like it at all,” Ji Zeqiu urged— he was eager to see Ji Tingyang made a fool of.

Lin Xu, “…”

With both their gazes fixed intently on her, she suddenly felt tremendously pressured.

Whichever answer she gave, she felt like she couldn’t treat them both equally.

“I, I…” Lin Xu’s mind raced, and she bent over clutching her stomach, moaning in pain, “Ouch, my stomach hurts so much, I must have eaten something wrong. I’m going to the restroom first!”

With that, she slipped away swiftly and dashed towards the restroom without looking back.

Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu were left standing there, looking at each other.

Ji Zeqiu glanced at the bracelet and, recalling the twenty million bid, sarcastically remarked, “Twenty million for a bracelet, President Ji really is generous.”

“As long as she likes it, even fifty million wouldn’t matter,” Ji Tingyang said calmly.

“Do you really like Lin Xu that much?” Ji Zeqiu recalled how Ji Tingyang had gotten rid of Wen Li for Lin Xu, clenching his fists, “More than you liked Wen Li?”

“What are you talking about?” Ji Tingyang frowned, not understanding.

He liked his mother, what did that have to do with Wen Li.

“What’s so good about Lin Xu compared to Wen Li, her cooking isn’t as good, nor is she as gentle and simple as Wen Li, who doesn’t love to buy so many pieces of jewelry and bags…” Ji Zeqiu listed a multitude of Lin Xu’s shortcomings.

He couldn’t understand, “You’re not thinking of marrying her into the family in the future, are you? Well, I won’t agree to that!”

Ji Tingyang’s mind became clear all of a sudden.

Ji Tingyang had always thought that Lin Xu had gone to do a paternity test with Ji Zeqiu long ago, telling him about her identity, and that Ji Zeqiu also knew Lin Xu was their mother. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

That’s why he felt so reassured letting Ji Zeqiu protect Lin Xu at the banquet.

It was also because Ji Zeqiu couldn’t stand seeing him get along well with his mother, always trying to separate him from her, urging her to move in with him.

But what Ji Tingyang hadn’t expected was that…

Could it be that Ji Zeqiu didn’t know?

So that’s why he showed a bit of hostility towards their mother from time to time?

Ji Tingyang’s lips quietly curled up.

Not knowing was better.

He certainly wouldn’t go out of his way to tell Ji Zeqiu. That way, his mother would forever be just his own.

Thinking this, his mood gradually lightened, and even Ji Zeqiu appeared somewhat more agreeable to him.