Pampered by My Ex's Cousin

Chapter 419 - 413: We Are All Adults, Why Can’t We Take It? (Part 2)

"Have you heard? The dorm auntie said that our school’s very handsome Mr. Ji stands under our dormitory building every night."

"It must be that he likes someone in our building."

"I’m dying to know who it is, such a handsome guy. I’d jump out of the window just to meet him."

Ji Anning entered the dorm with three other girls from her building, her heart clenched painfully as she heard their gossip.

It felt as if a sharp claw had grabbed hold of her, making it hard for her to breathe.

She held onto the stair rail, and numbly climbed the stairs, step by step.

The playful noises and laughter from the corridor gradually subsided, quieted down, as if everyone in the dorm building had already fallen asleep.

Ji Anning tossed and turned in bed, the pain in her thighs and fingers, all seemed ineffective at that moment.

’He stands under our dormitory building every night...’

’It must be because he likes someone in our building.’

Every time she closed her eyes, the words of those girls echoed in her ears, making her heartache unbearable. She threw off the covers, got up barefoot, and ran to the window to look down.

In the pitch-dark night, she immediately saw the figure standing below—a man under the white streetlight, his tall figure casting an elongately lonely, forlorn shadow.

He stood there, looking up at her window, motionless.

Tears instantly filled Ji Anning’s eyes; she covered her mouth with her hand, turned around, crouched down, and sat on the floor, hugging her knees.

It’s nothing less than heart-wrenching.

Ji Anning no longer counted how many days she hadn’t returned to the Ji Family, looking at the majestic palace-like house with a sigh.

With each step closer, her heart ached.

"You, child, you’re so grown up and yet not seeing anyone. Your cousin is getting married."

"My cousin has had a sweetheart since he was little. Even if I started looking now, I couldn’t catch up, could I? It’s all because dad favored him and didn’t find me a childhood fiancé."

Before she even stepped in, she already heard the joyful laughter inside.

Ji Ming Yue’s voice was always the loudest. She might be sharp-tongued, but she seemed carefree, as if she never had a worry.

The room was warm. Ji Anning unzipped her down jacket as she entered, holding onto the hall’s wall to change her shoes.

Then she entered the room, keeping her fuzzy gloves on.

The living room was filled with people, adults and children alike, and various snacks were laid out on the coffee table, like a tea party.

A quick glance around, except for Yang Yufang on Garden Island and Ji Chicheng, who never participated in such occasions, all members of the Ji Family were present.

The old patriarch sat in the center of the sofa; next to him was a man in his fifties, on whose lap sat a five or six-year-old boy, with the old man playfully engaging the child.

The old man’s public image had always been stern and authoritative.

Such a loving side was only ever shown toward Ji Chicheng. Ji Ruoqian was the youngest child in the family, and even in her childhood tantrums, he had never held her.

But each time he tried to embrace Ji Chicheng or play with him, Ji Chicheng would avoid him.

Do people really enjoy these seemingly joyful gatherings more as they grow older?

"Ah, this is... Anning, right?"

The first person to notice Ji Anning was a well-dressed lady next to the man holding the child, wearing a maroon wool sweater, her hair done up elegantly.