My Favorite Ship Became My Sister-in-Law - Chapter 13

Ji Zhiruo ran back to her room with a grin and immediately messaged Ding Nana, telling her to hurry up and book a ticket for the aquarium. She explained that tomorrow, her brother was taking her and Shi Yue there, making it the perfect chance to introduce him.

Ding Nana replied instantly: “OK.”

Then, as if afraid Ji Zhiruo was pulling her leg, she followed up with: “What does your brother look like? Send a photo.”

“He is absolutely drop-dead gorgeous. Just wait.”

After replying, Ji Zhiruo stepped back into the living room, acting casual. Ji Chenchuan was busy talking about work with Ji Shengqiang while Shi Yue sat nearby listening; consequently, no one noticed her.

Luck is on my side!

Ji Zhiruo quickly and stealthily recorded a five-second video of Ji Chenchuan on her phone. Once it was finished, she slipped back into her room and sent it to Ding Nana.

“So? Is he to die for or what?”

Ji Chenchuan was not just handsome from the front; his profile was a killer. In the video, he was turned sideways speaking to Ji Shengqiang. From this angle, his sharp jawline, high-bridged nose, and perfect thin lips were showcased flawlessly. Combined with his incredibly serious expression, he was truly a heartthrob.

Ding Nana: [Drooling.GIF]

“A total top-tier snack! Is a small fry like me even worthy of possessing him?”

“Wait, is Shi Yue at your house too?”

Only after Ding Nana mentioned it did Ji Zhiruo notice she had caught Shi Yue in the frame. The angle was perfect: her brother was looking at her father, and Shi Yue was staring intently at her brother.

“Yes! He is chatting with my father and brother.”

“Wow! I am so jealous. You get to see two hunks every day. But why is Shi Yue staring at your brother like that?”

“How should I know?”

“Go ask him! Hahaha!”

“Pff, let him look if he wants to. I cannot be bothered to ask.”

The two chatted about Shi Yue for over half an hour before Ding Nana remembered to ask what type of girls Ji Zhiruo’s brother liked, so she could dress accordingly the next day.

Ji Zhiruo said she would go investigate immediately. She cracked her door open to peek and see if the three men were finished talking. The sofa was empty; Ji Chenchuan was at the bar counter drinking water, while Shi Yue and her parents were nowhere to be seen.

Seeing this, it was clear they had finished and headed off to bed.

Ji Zhiruo walked over to the bar with a practiced smile, leaning against the counter. She tested the waters: “Brother, can I ask what kind of girls you like?”

Ji Chenchuan looked at her, a bit surprised. “Why the sudden question?”

Ji Zhiruo gave a guilty, dry laugh. “Just curious! I was wondering what kind of girl a man as excellent and handsome as my brother would like.”

Ji Chenchuan’s brow furrowed slightly as if he were deep in thought, but Ji Zhiruo waited a long time without an answer.

“Mature, sexy, or cute?” Ji Zhiruo could not wait any longer and provided options.

“Cute, I suppose,” Ji Chenchuan said slowly, a small smile playing on his lips as if he already had someone in mind.

“Cute?” Ji Zhiruo cried out in surprise, making a cute pose. “Like me?”

“I thought you would like the mature type,” she added.

After all, for someone as steady and composed as Ji Chenchuan, “cute” did not seem to fit him at all. Ji Chenchuan simply smiled and did not answer.

Having secured her answer, Ji Zhiruo was secretly delighted. She ran back to her room to message Ding Nana, telling her that her brother liked the cute type and instructing her to wear Barbie pink and pigtails the next day.

Doing practice problems every night was Shi Yue’s habit. No matter how exciting the next day’s plans were, he would not break it.

He had originally wanted to sleep over at Ji Chenchuan’s tonight, but seeing how tired Chenchuan looked and knowing that his own late-night studying with a desk lamp would disturb his sleep, Shi Yue eventually went back to his own home.

Shi Yue showered and finished his schoolwork before tackling two math papers as usual. By the time he finished, it was past midnight. Compared to his usual schedule, it was not particularly late, and he could have read a bit more. However, thinking about the trip to the aquarium with Ji Chenchuan tomorrow, he did not want to show up with dark circles, so he hurried to bed.

But the thought of the outing made him so hyper that he could not sleep. He squeezed his eyes shut until they hurt, but he was wide awake; it was a total case of insomnia.

He eventually gave up and checked his phone. As soon as he opened a website, a watch advertisement popped up. A lightbulb went off in his head; he had been worrying about how to return the 8,000 yuan Ji Shengqiang had given him. Why not buy Ji Chenchuan a watch?

Shi Yue eagerly opened a shopping app and searched for “Men’s Watches,” setting the price filter to over 3,000. Screens full of various styles appeared. He immediately set his sights on a mechanical watch with a black dial and blue second hand. The design was very minimalist with a black steel strap; it suited Ji Chenchuan’s steady personality perfectly. The price was 4,900 yuan.

Shi Yue placed the order without hesitation.

With 3,100 yuan left, Shi Yue’s mind raced. Since he bought something for Ji Chenchuan, he should also get something for Ji Shengqiang and Feng Liuyu, as they were genuinely good to him.

After ten minutes of thinking, he slapped his forehead and decided on a foot-soaking basin for Ji Shengqiang and a bottle of perfume for Feng Liuyu. After checking out, he had actually spent 500 yuan of his own money. Satisfied, he finally fell asleep.

He had completely forgotten about Ji Zhiruo.

Shi Yue’s biological clock woke him up. Without looking at the time, he knew it was 6:00 AM. They had not specified a time for the aquarium the night before. Knowing Ji Chenchuan rarely had a day off, Shi Yue did not want to rush him. He wanted to let Chenchuan get enough sleep. So, he got ready, ate breakfast, and then practiced English phrases, sentence patterns, and essay materials on the balcony while waiting.

By 9:00 AM, Ji Chenchuan still had not come for him. Since Chenchuan never slept in, Shi Yue put down his book, grabbed his keys, and decided to check if he was actually still in bed.

Instead of using the doorbell, he gave three polite knocks, fearing the bell might be too loud if Chenchuan was still asleep.

The door opened from the inside, and Ji Zhiruo’s head popped out. She smiled happily at Shi Yue and swung the door wide.

Ji Zhiruo was wearing a grass-green, waist-cinching floral dress that hit her knees. The design made her look petite and delicate. Her hair reached her waist, flowing smoothly down her back, paired with sweet air bangs. She was the picture of a fresh and pure girl; it was obvious she had put a lot of effort into her appearance today.

“Do I look pretty today?”

Ji Zhiruo lifted her skirt and did a little twirl in front of him, asking with a sweet smile.

“It is alright,” Shi Yue said, giving her a cursory glance before immediately asking, “Is Chenchuan-ge up yet?”

“Did you even look? You are just humoring me,” Ji Zhiruo said, displeased.

“You look the same as usual; how much more do I need to look?”

“Shi Yue, do you have any idea how much it hurts a girl’s feelings when you talk like that? I am wearing a dress, I have my hair down, and I have bangs! Usually, I am in a school uniform with a ponytail and no bangs. Are you blind? How is this ‘the same’?” She had promised herself she would be gentle, but she was shouting again. Ji Zhiruo quickly patted her chest to calm herself down.

Seeing her genuine anger, Shi Yue took another look at her and said indifferently, “I guess it is a bit different.” Then he asked again, “So, where is Chenchuan-ge? Still in bed?”

“ARGH!”

Ji Zhiruo let out a frustrated scream.

She had never woken up this early in her life. She had been primping since 6:00 AM just to dazzle Shi Yue, but all he did was ask about her brother.

“My brother went to meet a client,” Ji Zhiruo said, her cheeks puffed out in a huff.

“Meet a client?” Shi Yue was both surprised and disappointed. “Did we not agree to go to the aquarium together? Did Uncle Ji make him go?”

“No. It is a client he has been trying to meet for a while who finally had an opening today. So, we are going to the aquarium by ourselves.”

Shi Yue’s excitement vanished instantly. He felt a sense of emptiness. “Then I am not going. You go by yourself.”

With that, Shi Yue turned to go back home.

“Can you not survive without my brother?” Seeing his dejected look, Ji Zhiruo huffed and told the truth: “The client my brother is meeting happens to be near the aquarium. By the time we take the bus there, he should be done and will meet up with us.”

“Oh!” Upon hearing this, Shi Yue immediately beamed. He hurried her, “Then let’s go!”

His mood swung faster than the pages of a book, leaving Ji Zhiruo practically driven mad with rage.

The trip from their neighborhood to the aquarium took about eighty minutes. There was a dedicated long-distance bus that cost six yuan, and the stop was conveniently located 500 meters away.

Shi Yue was dressed in a white T-shirt, khaki shorts, and high-top sneakers; it was simple and youthful.

At the bus stop, a breeze ruffled Ji Zhiruo’s long hair. She watched Shi Yue’s hair blowing in the wind and thought that the sunny, handsome boys in posters must be modeled after him.

“I thought you said your brother would come? Where is he?”

Ding Nana suddenly squeezed through the crowd to Ji Zhiruo’s side and whispered. She had arrived early and had been scouting every male profile at the stop, but none looked like Ji Chenchuan.

Ding Nana had followed Ji Zhiruo’s “cute style” instructions to the letter. She wore a Barbie pink JK outfit, two pigtails, and a matching small bag. With her delicate features and fair skin, the pink suited her perfectly, making her look adorable.

“My brother went to see a client.”

“No way. Then I am not going,” Ding Nana said, disappointed as soon as Ji Zhiruo finished her sentence.

The tone was exactly like Shi Yue’s. Ji Zhiruo was speechless, glaring at Ding Nana in annoyance. If it were not for her brother, she thought, she would have cursed anyone else’s ancestors back into their graves.

“Oh, do not be mad! It is just that if your brother is not there, why would I go? To be a third wheel for you and Shi Yue?” Ding Nana hugged Ji Zhiruo’s arm and swayed, acting cute to appease her. She stole a glance at Shi Yue. “Honestly though, Shi Yue is so handsome today! It is the first time I have seen him out of uniform.”

Praising Shi Yue seemed to work on Ji Zhiruo. She smiled and looked at him; he truly was a sight for sore eyes.

“The bus is here,” Shi Yue told them.

Shi Yue was more than happy to have Ding Nana along. With her there to occupy Ji Zhiruo, he was certain Ji Zhiruo would pester him significantly less.

Ding Nana did not want to go, but Ji Zhiruo dragged her onto the bus, whispering that her brother would meet them there. Only then did Ding Nana cheer up.

Shi Yue boarded after the two girls. He stood by the coin box to scan his fare. Surprisingly, the bus was not crowded. Seeing that both girls had found seats and there was a single empty spot in the back row, Shi Yue headed straight for the back.

As soon as he sat down, he immediately sent a WeChat message to Ji Chenchuan: “Chenchuan-ge, we are on the bus. When will you be finished with your client?”