After returning from the racetrack, Jing Zejun appeared preoccupied, maintaining this demeanor even after arriving at the Jing family home.
Jing Zeqian, somewhat concerned, asked, "Junjun, what's wrong?" Jing Yi's worried gaze also turned towards her.
Jing Zejun quickly forced a smile, saying unnaturally, "It's nothing, just thinking about work matters."
Jing Zeqian, recalling that Jing Zejun's company was in the process of assembling a new team for her, assumed she was worried about the issue of her manager.
"Is there anything I can help with?"
Although he had promised Jing Zejun not to insist on her joining 'Startrack' anymore, Jing Zeqian was still keeping an eye on Jing Zejun's affairs privately.
After all, being in the same entertainment industry, he couldn't simply ignore everything, especially when it concerned his sister.
Jing Zeqian might not be involved in Jing Zejun's career, but at least in these small matters, he hoped his sister wouldn't have to worry.
Jing Zejun's expression softened, "It's just some minor things, Second Brother doesn't need to worry..."
The sound of a car echoed in the courtyard. "Looks like Big Brother is back," Jing Zejun quickly changed the subject, fearing Jing Zeqian would probe further.
Jing Yi also looked over, a hint of surprise in her eyes.
Jing Zeyou had been collaborating with a company recently, presumably an important partnership, causing him to return home later than usual these days.
On several nights, when Jing Yi was preparing to go to bed, she still saw Jing Zeyou pouring coffee, burning the midnight oil in his study.
[Big Brother actually finished work on time today, that's rare!]
The "rare" Jing Zeyou walked into the living room, seeing his three siblings gathered there, and asked, "Where are Mom and Dad?"
Jing Zejun walked towards the kitchen, telling Jing Zeyou, "They went to attend a friend's gathering."
When they returned, they hadn't seen their parents, and Aunt Wang said the couple had left early to attend a gathering.
Instead of going to his room to change first, Jing Zeyou waited for Jing Zejun to come out of the kitchen before handing two gift boxes to Jing Yi and Jing Zejun respectively.
These were two items his assistant had acquired for him at a jewelry auction earlier.
As for the jade bracelet, since Lin Ruiqing wasn't present, Jing Zeyou decided to keep it in his study first, planning to give it to her when they returned from the gathering.
Jing Yi looked down at the gift box in her hands, asking curiously, "Big Brother, what's this?"
Jing Zeyou's lips curved slightly upward, "The partner company happened to have a jewelry auction, so I had someone bid on a necklace each for you and Junjun." He spoke as if it were a casual purchase from a street vendor.
Beside him, Jing Zejun curiously opened the box in her hands, revealing a pearl and gemstone necklace with a dazzling blue sapphire.
Jing Yi opened her box to find a diamond necklace inside.
Her pupils dilated as she gazed at the shimmering diamond necklace, though what truly caught the eye was the blue sapphire pendant.
Jing Yi looked up at Jing Zeyou in disbelief, "Big Brother, is this a real gemstone?" The jewel was emitting a soft blue glow.
She was asking somewhat rhetorically, knowing that anything Jing Zeyou gifted couldn't possibly be a plastic ornament.
Jing Zeyou nodded, "This is one of the more special blue sapphires from Baoqing's auction items this year. I thought it looked decent."
[This is just 'decent'?!]
Jing Yi's expression was complex, feeling that perhaps she was simply inexperienced in such matters.
Seeing that both his sisters seemed to like their gifts, Jing Zeyou felt somewhat satisfied, glad that he had his assistant bid on them.
As Jing Zeyou went upstairs, Jing Zeqian, sitting nearby, watched his two sisters excitedly comparing their gifts and felt a twinge of jealousy.
Not only did he not have a gift to give, but now he seemed to have lost his standing as well.
He had spent the entire day accompanying them, yet he hadn't seen them smile like this...
When Jing Zeyou came back downstairs, he noticed Jing Zeqian's somewhat sour expression, not understanding what was wrong this time.
"Where did you all go today?" Jing Zeyou asked, sitting on the sofa with his long legs crossed.
Jing Zeqian replied listlessly, "We went to Shanchi."
Jing Zeyou knew his brother had invested in a professional racing track, which was quite profitable.
But what was with his expression?
Jing Zeyou raised an eyebrow slightly, "Wasn't it fun?"
[It was super fun! Extremely fun!]
Before Jing Zeqian could say anything, Jing Yi couldn't hide her thoughts anymore.
Jing Zeyou's lips curved upward, at least one person seemed to have enjoyed today's outing.
Hearing Jing Yi's excited voice, Jing Zeqian immediately poured cold water on the situation, "I don't know if Junjun found it fun, but Jing Yi certainly did! She was like a wild horse let loose on the racetrack!"
[Always tattling! Tattletale extraordinaire!]
Jing Zeqian's mouth twitched, but he went on to completely sell out Jing Yi, including how she had beaten his friend to win first place on the track, and all those dazzling drift techniques.
Jing Zeyou raised an eyebrow slightly. Although he could somewhat guess Jing Yi's skill level given her fondness for 'Black Night', hearing Jing Zeqian's account still surprised him. This didn't sound like the level of an ordinary racing enthusiast.
By ordinary enthusiast, he meant someone like Jing Zeqian, who occasionally went racing but whom Jing Zeyou would rather call a typical example of a 'stationery collector' - his racing skills hadn't improved much, but he kept several professional race cars.
Moreover, this guy cared more about the profits from the racetrack, with the hobby itself being secondary.
Hearing her second brother's complaints, Jing Zejun intercepted, "Second Brother, Yi Yi is very skilled, and she knows her limits."
Jing Zejun worried that the more Jing Zeqian said, the more likely Jing Yi would be to hide her other side.
Jing Zeyou, sitting nearby, also spoke up, "If you were watching and still let little Yi get into trouble, then clearly it wasn't her fault."
Jing Zeqian choked a bit, having thought his eldest brother would take his side, but unexpectedly hearing such a response.
Seeing Jing Yi already sweetly chatting with Jing Zeyou, he shot Jing Zeyou a look that said, 'You got me this time!'
Jing Zeyou said gently, "If you want to go to the racetrack again in the future, go ahead. But you must be careful. If you get hurt, forget about your second brother being worried, I might not even agree to let you go anymore."
Jing Yi was surprised and delighted that Jing Zeyou would support her racing hobby.
"Mmhm! Don't worry, Big Brother! I'll always put safety first!"
Beside them, Jing Zeqian side-eyed the three siblings with their great rapport, leaning back on the sofa, silently fuming.
Jing Zeyou hadn't seen Jing Yi drive, if he had, he wouldn't be so nonchalant about it.
Jing Zeyou raised his hand to check the time, then looked towards the kitchen with a puzzled expression, "Is Aunt Wang not home today?"
Usually by this time, dinner at home would have started, but even at this hour, there was no sign of it.
Jing Zejun smiled, "Big Brother, we're eating out today." She had just gone to the kitchen to tell Aunt Wang not to prepare dinner.
