Pampered by My Ex's Cousin-Chapter 71 Reluctant Cohabitation (Part 17)

Next time, he would definitely let her know there was a shortcut in this world called... "the unwritten rules!"

...

Although she walked fast from the street corner to her home, it felt unprecedentedly tough and far.

Ji Anning entered the yard, took a deep breath, rubbed her reddened eyes, and went through the front door.

It was already ten o’clock. The living room light was still on, and Lin Yanqin was sitting on the sofa with her two daughters, watching a popular variety show on a certain TV channel.

The trio was laughing heartily.

After changing her shoes, Ji Anning walked into the resplendent living room. She instinctively held her breath for a moment and took measured steps.

It wasn’t just her; even her mother had never really let loose in this house over the years, never watching TV late at night in the living room and bursting into laughter like Lin Yanqin and her daughters.

Perhaps they were all the same, no matter how many years they had lived in this house, they could never really fit in.

And her mother was still trying, which goes to say that some things don’t necessarily succeed by merely putting in effort.

"Auntie,"

Passing by the sofa, Ji Anning gave Lin Yanqin a slight nod, without stopping, and headed straight for the stairs.

"Ji Anning."

Just then, Ji Ruoqian suddenly turned her head, her tone imperious as she looked at her, "Grandfather said you could manage your own time in the evenings, but he asked you not to come back too late. You, always not returning home at night, or coming back after ten, aren’t you getting a bit too arrogant?" 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

The attitude was clearly that of an elder lecturing a younger one.

Ji Anning was already in a bad mood, and faced with Ji Ruoqian’s aggressive manner, she became annoyed too, "Are you standing in for Grandfather to control me?"

As soon as she spoke, she immediately regretted it, but it was too late to take it back.

Ji Ruoqian didn’t expect Ji Anning to retort so bluntly and was momentarily caught off guard, staring at her in astonishment.

’Ha’

Lin Yanqin, sitting next to Ji Ruoqian, let out a cold laugh and spoke in a mocking tone, "This girl, becoming sharper and more articulate by the day. I see it won’t take many years before you’re climbing over all of our heads."

She gave Ji Anning a disdainful look, picked up a kumquat from the fruit plate, and popped it into her mouth.

Ji Anning quickly shook her head, "Auntie, I didn’t mean that."

She felt very tired at heart and didn’t want to bother anyone else so late, especially Grandfather, so she simply offered a brief explanation and then nodded politely at Lin Yanqin, "I’ll go upstairs now."

Saying this, she turned around, lifted her foot, and ascended the stairs.

"Anning, you’re back."

As Ji Anning was about to reach the second floor, Yang Yufang suddenly came down from upstairs and quickened her pace when she saw her.

She reached Ji Anning, took her hand, and started leading her upstairs.

Lin Yanqin’s voice came from downstairs, "Yang Yufang, aren’t you going to control your lovely daughter-in-law who always comes back late at night? You’re really too laid-back."

Anyone would be upset by those words, especially Yang Yufang.

She coldly responded to Lin Yanqin, "Sister-in-law, Anning surely had something to do, that’s why she came back late."

Lin Yanqin smirked coldly, "That’s true, you used to work night shifts, so this hour probably seems normal to you."

Hearing this, Yang Yufang’s expression changed. She looked at Lin Yanqin, a hint of fierceness flashing through her eyes as she unconsciously tightened her grip on Ji Anning’s hand.

Ji Anning silently endured the pain.