Chapter 603: good job, brother

"MOM, Yan Yan is the one older," Yu Jiao said, quickly correcting her mother.

"Oh, I'm sorry.  I shouldn't have just assumed that," Ji Xiuying said, looking very embarrassed.

Luo Yan smiled and said with a good temper, "It's alright, Auntie.  It's not your fault that Ah Jin looks older than his age."

Luo Jin wasn't angry with that jibe.  Probably because he was still holding in his laughter.  He took a deep breath first before introducing himself to Yu Jiao's mother.  "Hello, Auntie, I'm Luo Jin."

Even though Luo Jin was not smiling, he even looked a bit fierce, the way he talked to Yu Jiao's mother was still respectful.

The embarrassment that Ji Xiuying felt subsided a bit and she smiled at the tall teenager.  She was glad that the two weren't offended because of that blunder.  After all, it's her fault for not being tactful enough. 

Her daughter had already told her about Luo Yan's situation before.  That he had been in a coma for seven years before regaining consciousness this past Spring.  Yu Jiao had to explain that to her when she asked why the boy looked so much younger than his age. 

The mother in her immediately felt sad for the boy.  He looked so energetic and happy that no one would probably think that he had gone through such an ordeal.  According to Yu Jiao, Luo Yan was also very friendly and smart as well. 

The fact that he was able to acclimate to his new surrounding that quickly showed that his family had been very supportive, loving, and caring towards him.  Ji Xiuying couldn't help but feel respect for the Luo family because of that.  Which was proven even further by the conversation she had with Luo Ren earlier.

She was really surprised when the other visited again this morning.  Not only that, she also felt suspicious.  How could she not?  The older brother of her daughter's friend visited her daughter so early in the morning.  Especially after she saw how gentle he was treating Yu Jiao.  How could she not feel vigilant when there's a chance that an adult man was looking at her daughter that way?

It only intensified when the conversation she had with the young man after that. 

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"Auntie, I heard that you are looking for an apartment near Guizu Academy.  My assistant happened to find one yesterday.  He will come later and the two of you could talk of the details."

Ji Xiuying was wondering what this young man wanted to talk to her that they had to go out of Yu Jiao's hospital room.  Now, hearing what he had to say, she couldn't help but be vigilant once again.  Was her guess really correct? Could this young man really have those kinds of thoughts on her daughter?

Luo Ren might have noticed her vigilance because he quickly followed that up;

"Auntie, please, don't think I have bad intentions for doing this.  Yan Yan heard from Jiao- I mean, your daughter that you're currently looking for an apartment.  My brother asked me if I could help out a little.  And since it's a request from my lovely little brother, I couldn't just say no and disappoint him," he said with a helpless smile.  "I don't know if Auntie knows this but, Yu Jiao is Yan Yan's first friend.  He values her very much.  Just think of this as a help from him and not from me."

Ji Xiuying seemed to wake up when she heard that last part.  She suddenly remembered what Yu Jiao had told her about Luo Yan.  About the boy being in a coma for seven years. 

If Yu Jiao was the very first friend he made after waking up from a coma and entering society, then it wouldn't be weird for him to be attached to her daughter this much.  It would only be natural to think of helping Yu Jiao.  Especially for such a sweet and kind boy like Luo Yan. 

And considering how much the rest of his family wanted to make him happy, it wouldn't be weird for Luo Ren to do his best for his younger brother's request.  She remembered that the Luo family was in the real estate business.  So, something like finding an apartment wasn't probably even a big deal.  She was probably the only one making a big deal out of this.

She shouldn't have rush to conclusion just like that.  As an elder, she felt ashamed.  She should have been more open-minded.  She didn't even notice that her experience with Mo Guang Lin actually made her a bit paranoid. 

She shook her head, took a deep breath and said to Luo Ren.  "Thank you very much, Xiao Ren.  That would really be a big help for us."

"There's no need for thanks, Auntie.  Yan Yan is treating Yu Jiao as a sister.  So, it's almost like we're family, don't you think?" 

The other said it so naturally that Ji Xiuying didn't think much about it and just smiled and agreed.

What she didn't know was, in the near future, she would definitely regret why she didn't think more when Luo Ren said that.

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"I'm happy to meet you, Xiao Jin.  Thank you for always taking care of our Jiao Jiao," Ji Xiuying said to the tall teenager.

"No, Auntie.  Yan is the one who takes care of Yu Jiao.  I don't really do anything."

Ji Xiuying chuckled at the boy's honesty.  "Nevertheless, I still thank you for being her friend."

"Mom, did you already settle the bills?" Yu Jiao asked, changing the subject.

"Oh, yes.  Although I felt a bit weird because I didn't pay as much as I expected," Ji Xiuying answered.  In fact, the cost was so low that it almost felt like Yu Jiao only went to the ER instead of staying in a private room for a day.  "Well, they did say that there was a discount since Jiao Jiao is still a student."

Hearing that, Luo Yan almost smiled weirdly.  Because he was sure that the hospital bill being so low was not because of some 'student discount'.  His older brother must have paid for the majority of it when he visited earlier.  And then most likely told the one in-charge of the hospital's billing department to not inform Yu Jiao and her mother about it.

Good job, Brother.