Pampered by My Ex's Cousin-Chapter 300 - 294: Knocking at the Door at Midnight (Eighteen)

Her hands, tucked into the pockets of her hoodie, clenched into nervous fists. After composing herself, she finally took a step forward and entered through the gate.

"I saw this news today on the internet; this person is utterly devoid of humanity."

The sound of the TV and Ji Xiangting’s voice came from the living room.

Ji Anning glanced inside, where the elder was leaning on the couch, dressed in dark gray home attire, looking less imposing and more approachable.

Ji Xiangting was sitting next to him, affectionately holding onto the elder’s arm.

Seeing no one else, she changed her shoes, took a deep breath, and walked in.

"Grandpa!"

This ’Grandpa,’ though smoothly spoken, was awfully complicated. She was positioned as his grandson’s wife, yet she was with his son, calling him Grandpa.

Ji Anning lowered her gaze slightly, her eyes shifting guiltily, not daring to meet the elder’s sharp eyes.

"Anning is back." Seeing Ji Anning return, the elder’s face softened from the sternness caused by the news, and a slight smile appeared. He looked at Ji Anning amiably and said, "Your uncle just got home too. Let’s get ready for dinner."

The elder’s kindness left Ji Anning with a sense of guilt. She replied softly, "I already had dinner at school."

Hearing this, Ji Xiangting, sitting beside the elder, scolded her with a cold voice, "The whole family was waiting for you to have dinner, and now you say you’ve already eaten. You’re becoming more and more improper."

A flicker of surprise passed through Ji Anning’s eyes. The whole family was waiting for her to have dinner...

So, they were sitting here watching TV, waiting for her to come back for dinner?

In the past, dinner started as soon as the elder returned, and they never waited for anyone, of course... except for the elder’s favorite.

Let alone her, this was the first time she experienced being ’waited for’ by this family.

She couldn’t help but wonder, looking at the elder, why had his attitude toward her changed so much?

As her cousin, Ji Xiangting had the right to discipline her, and there wasn’t much to say about that.

The elder didn’t intervene, but his gaze towards Ji Anning was still warm, "You’ve eaten, but come join us for some soup."

Upon the elder’s invitation, Ji Anning promptly collected her thoughts, nodded to him, and said, "Alright, let me just take my bag upstairs first."

"Go ahead," the elder waved to her and then, with hands pressing down on his knees, he got up and headed to the dining room.

Ji Xiangting stood up too. As she turned around, her gaze swept over Ji Anning, and like her, she was also brimming with confusion.

Why had Grandpa suddenly changed his attitude towards Ji Anning?

...

Considering everyone was waiting for her, Ji Anning didn’t linger on her thoughts, quickly ascending the stairs, sprinting towards her room.

She had just reached the door when the door to the neighboring room opened, and a tall male figure emerged.

She glanced for a moment before guiltily averting her eyes, her heartbeat involuntarily quickening. She reached for the doorknob and turned it open.

"Let’s go down for dinner."

The man suddenly leaned in close, resting his elbow on the doorframe, his tall frame almost enveloping Ji Anning.

Ji Anning pushed him away, "I know, now go away, stay away from me."

This was home, for goodness’ sake; was the guy completely disregarding that?

She hurriedly pushed the door open, intending to slip inside.

"Wait a second." Ji Chicheng suddenly reached out and grasped her wrist, pulling her to a stop.