CHAPTER 338: CHAPTER 338: BLOOD JADE BRACELET (4)_1

Seeing the alluring scene in the room, the group was momentarily stunned. Shangguan You wore an oversized T-shirt that hung loosely on her, one side pulled down to reveal a smooth shoulder and her snow-white skin. Her long legs were bare, and she stood barefoot on the floor.

Yu Zijin and Gui Luo were trying to pull off her clothes, intending to change her themselves. "Big Brother Qing, save me!" Shangguan You cried out upon seeing Shangguan Qing. She quickly dodged behind him. Just as Yu Zifeng and the others were about to leave, a faint, pleasant fragrance wafted past them. Shangguan You, now hidden behind Shangguan Qing, eyed Yu Zijin and Gui Luo warily.

"Youyou," Shangguan Qing couldn’t help but gulp. His little girl had truly grown up. He pulled her into his embrace and adjusted the T-shirt that had been tugged askew. Fortunately, it was long enough that nothing inappropriate was revealed.

Plenty of people on the streets wore much more revealing outfits. Still, seeing Shangguan You like this, and knowing Yu Zifeng, Zhang Yuchen, Gui Mo, and Gui Jun had seen her, made him inexplicably angry.

Shangguan Qing’s cool gaze swept over Yu Zijin and Gui Luo. Confronted by his stare, both girls involuntarily retreated a few steps. They were just trying to be helpful and change Youyou’s clothes for her; it wasn’t their fault the girl was lazy.

Feeling Shangguan Qing’s icy glare, Gui Luo lowered her head, her heart pounding. Yu Zijin, however, glared back defiantly before speaking with a challenging tone.

"Youyou, come here. I’ll help you change," Yu Zijin said.

"No, no, I can do it myself! I’ll be fine!" Shangguan You exclaimed. Recalling Yu Zijin’s predatory gaze from moments before, she flinched, quickly snatched the clothes from Yu Zijin’s hands, and dashed into the bathroom with a SLAM of the door to change.

"Youyou, put on your shoes." Shangguan Qing ignored Yu Zijin, placed Shangguan You’s shoes by the bathroom door, and then led the men out of the room. Seeing Shangguan Qing’s considerate gesture, Gui Luo’s heart beat even faster. If I married Shangguan Qing and he treated me so gently, I’d die of happiness! The more Gui Luo daydreamed, the redder her face became.

"Gui Luo, don’t tell me you’re lovesick?" Yu Zijin shot a disdainful look at Gui Luo’s flushed face. I saw through her little crush ages ago. Shangguan Qing’s tender gaze is only for his sister, Shangguan You. Gui Luo is destined for disappointment.

"Yu Zijin, what nonsense are you talking about?" Gui Luo’s face grew even redder.

"Whether it’s nonsense or not, you know the truth in your heart," Yu Zijin said with a smile, casually flipping through one of Shangguan You’s textbooks. I can’t believe it, this girl’s books are even neater than mine! How on earth has she been studying for the past six months?

"Okay, I’m ready. Let’s go." Shangguan You pushed open the bathroom door and emerged. She wore a flowing white maxi dress, and her jet-black hair cascaded down her back. The dress, on her, exuded an air of both elegance and effortless grace.

Yu Zijin felt her breath catch, and she stared blankly at Shangguan You for a few seconds before snapping out of it.

"Mm."

"Shangguan You, you look gorgeous in anything!" Gui Luo exclaimed, her eyes fixed on Shangguan You. She’s a natural clotheshorse; she can pull off any style and make it her own.

"Oh, right, why are we going on an outing today?" Shangguan You asked, puzzled. We should be focusing on our revision right now. Besides, I didn’t hear anything about an outing last night.

"To de-stress, of course! Besides, our brothers rarely get a day off, so we should make the most of it and have a fun day out. Then they can help us revise at home for the next few days," Yu Zijin said with a chuckle, linking her arm through Shangguan You’s. She leaned in and whispered, "Let me tell you, I’ve already cleared it with my family. For these five days, I’m moving in with you. We can revise together, and my brother and your brother can be our study buddies. And... I’ll share your room. How about that?"

"What?" Shangguan You exclaimed. She didn’t mind Yu Zijin staying over, but sharing a room—and likely a bed—with her? That’s a problem. A very big problem. If Yu Zijin sleeps with me, what about my nighttime activities?

"You don’t want to sleep with me?" Yu Zijin’s brow furrowed, and she looked at Shangguan You, her expression tense.

"My house has plenty of guest rooms. You could stay in one of those," Shangguan You said, finding it hard to voice her objection. If Yu Zijin sleeps in my room, I won’t be able to go out at night.

"But I just want to stay with you for the week! It’s such a small request. You won’t turn me down, will you?" Yu Zijin said, looking a little dejected and casting a plaintive glance at Shangguan You.

"Of course not, it’s just..."

"Great! As long as it’s not a ’just’. Then it’s settled!" Yu Zijin cheered. "My brother and I will go back to get our luggage tonight. Starting tonight, we’ll sleep together!"

"I’m so envious of you both. My mom won’t let me come. She wants me to stay home and revise properly," Gui Luo said dejectedly, looking at Shangguan You and Yu Zijin with undisguised envy. If only my grades were as good as theirs, maybe I could be as free as them.

"Actually, revising at home is good too. It’s much quieter when you’re alone," Shangguan You said, patting Gui Luo’s shoulder. She swallowed the next words unspoken. She also wished she could be alone.

"Youyou, let’s go." The three girls had just come downstairs when Shangguan Qing and his group quickly approached. Shangguan Qing handed Shangguan You a bag with steamed buns and soy milk.

"Thanks, Big Brother Qing. Where are Grandpa and the others?" Shangguan You accepted the bag, her gaze sweeping the area as she spoke.

"They had some matters to attend to and left early this morning," Shangguan Qing said, affectionately ruffling her hair.

"Let’s go, Youyou! I’ll be the driver today. I want to drive your awesome sports car!" Gui Jun announced with a grin, already heading towards the garage.

The group of eight piled into two cars and sped off towards their destination.

The summer sun blazed fiercely in a vast, cloudless azure sky.

July, the peak of the year’s heat. An oppressive stuffiness hung in the air, making the scorching weather intensely uncomfortable. Even the wind that blew was hot; instead of offering relief, it only intensified the sweltering conditions.