Chapter 396: 153 Dean Jian, Jian Zhe’s Cheating Friend (Second Update)_3
 

Tang Ming complained to Jian Zhe, “Why don’t we have one?”

Jian Zhe: “… Maybe it’s because you’re just average-looking.”

Tang Ming: “Then what about Teacher Jiang?”

Jian Zhe: “…”

A death sentence.

Luckily, a phone call saved Jian Zhe. He had never been more grateful for his dad’s call than at this moment.

“Didn’t I tell you there’s a banquet today?” Jian’s father whispered from the other end of the phone, “Where are you?”

Jian Zhe walked to the side and spoke softly, “I’m having dinner at a friend’s house, I won’t be coming.”

Anyway, his presence wouldn’t make a difference—it was likely a banquet that Jian Zhonghai was hosting to promote Jian Rong. Whether he attended or not was inconsequential.

“You…”

On the phone, Jian’s father glanced at Jian Rong talking to Jian Zhonghai on the sofa and then back down at his phone. He couldn’t understand why Jian Zhe lacked ambition.

“Master Jian Zhe doesn’t have time? Where did he go?” Jian’s assistant looked at Jian’s father, surprised.

Jian’s father forced a smile, “He’s having dinner with a few friends.”

Friends?

Those fair-weather friends from Xiangcheng?

Taking another look at Jian’s father, the assistant then realized and went to report back to Jian Zhonghai.

It wasn’t that the assistant looked down on Jian Zhe’s friends; it was mainly because Jian Rong’s friends included well-known figures from the Beicheng circle, and one of them was even the top scholar of Beicheng’s college entrance exams from last year.

The contrast was simply too stark.

Jian’s father felt humiliated by that look. If Jian Zhe were by his side, he would surely have been beaten up again.

“If he’s busy, let it be,” Jian Zhonghai said indifferently. Where Jian Zhe went to eat wasn’t a concern to him, as long as Jian Rong was there. Then he turned amiably to Jian Rong and said, “Are you sure your uncle added you?”

Jian Zhongyou was an odd one.

Jian Zhonghai knew his contact methods, yet Jian Zhongyou didn’t add the older generation to his contacts, only some younger family members and occasional assistants or secretaries went through.

“Mhm,” Jian Rong nodded. “I was just asking Uncle about where he lives.”

“Good, good.” Jian Zhonghai laughed heartily and clapped Jian Rong on the shoulders vigorously.

**

Meanwhile, Jian Zhe hung up the phone.

Tang Ming and Ning Xiao each carried a bag, and they handed one to Jian Zhe as well, “Let’s go.”

The group made their way to Ji Heng’s yard.

Ning Xiao, who had been there once, recognized the way and led Tang Ming and the others.

Bai Lian walked behind with Jiang Fulai and was accompanied by Jiang He. The setting sun stretched their shadows long.

Bai Lian was wearing a lead-white top with batwing sleeves and a silver-white pleated skirt that fluttered as she walked.

After a few steps, she paused, looking Jiang He up and down before lazily commenting, “Your legs are really short.”

Jiang Fulai followed leisurely behind Bai Lian; his gaze was light, only looking down at Jiang He disdainfully when Bai Lian spoke, “Heh.”

He gazed at Jiang He, emitting a heartless chuckle.

Jiang He: “…”

He quickened his pace, clearly frustrated.

Jiang He was slow, and Ning Xiao’s group had already reached Ji Heng’s place, while the three of them hadn’t even made it to the corner.

“Does Sister Bai live here?” Jian Zhe asked curiously, looking around.

“Right,” Tang Ming said, chatting with Jian Zhe on the side.

Ning Xiao raised his hand to knock on the yard’s door. As soon as his hand reached up, Shen Qing opened the door, “I could hear Tang Ming talking from far away, come in quickly, I’ve specially simmered soup for you both today.”

Jian Zhe, who hadn’t met Shen Qing before, entered hesitantly behind Ning Xiao.

There were only two others in the yard besides Shen Qing.

They were Director Chen and Dean Jian.

Both squatted in the middle of the yard watching fish. Director Chen greeted Ning Xiao and then pointing to the largest fish in the middle, introduced it to the group, “I caught this one.”

Dean Jian pointed to the fish next to him, slowly saying, “This one is the one I caught.”