Hidden identities of the AI Heiress

Chapter 44: Chapter 44 Tingting? What happened to her?

Editor: Inschain

“Tingting? What happened to her?”

A fleeting thought crossed Lu Jingzhi’s mind that Qiao Yun was trying to sow discord, but he quickly dismissed it.

“She’s thinking of running away from home, which isn’t good. Mom and Dad will worry. You, being her older brother, should tell her.”

Qiao Yun still remembered the day of the coming-of-age ceremony when Lu Ting mentioned she would move out after finishing high school.

Regardless of whether Lu Ting intended to do so, since she had mentioned it, it was necessary to inform the family and take it seriously.

“I am also your older brother.” Lu Jingzhi was, however, caught up in the latter part of Qiao Yun’s sentence.

Qiao Yun’s lazy and delicate face showed little emotion: “Oh.”

Lu Jingzhi suddenly felt a pang in his heart, but let it be. Time was on his side, and he didn’t believe that Qiao Yun would refrain from calling him elder brother.

“When did Tingting say she wanted to run away from home?” Lu Jingzhi returned to the main issue.

He didn’t believe that Lu Ting would have such an idea.

Qiao Yun said, “On the day of the coming-of-age ceremony, many people heard it.”

Lu Jingzhi looked astonished, his voice somewhat stern, “Are you lying to me?”

Qiao Yun disliked being doubted, and Lu Jingzhi had doubted her more than once. Her voice was quite indifferent as she asked, “It seems you’ve never really trusted me, have you?”

Her straightforward nature made it painfully awkward for others.

Lu Jingzhi fell silent, staring at Qiao Yun.

She sat obediently, her entire demeanor lazy as if she could never muster any energy, yet her gaze was sincere and didn’t at all seem deceitful.

Lu Jingzhi then realized that before he had come back, he had already thought about how to apologize to Qiao Yun.

Why did it turn into him questioning her now?

His heart suddenly felt heavy.

“Qiaoqiao.”

Lu Jingzhi moved a bit closer.

Qiao Yun instinctively moved back, her frown very distinct.

Lu Jingzhi halted in place, then realized that his relationship with Qiao Yun had always been very cold.

“How could I not trust you? But I can’t just take your word for it.”

Qiao Yun was too detached, and he often didn’t know how to interact with her.

And he was very dissatisfied with Qiao Yun’s behavior since she’d come back, engrossed in games, and her lax attitude toward studying…

Qiao Yun showed little reaction, her eyes and brows expressing indifference.

“I’ve said what I needed to say, you can leave now.”

After she finished speaking, she turned to her computer, leaving Lu Jingzhi hanging.

Lu Jingzhi silently watched Qiao Yun’s back, realizing she had no interest in continuing the conversation.

He opened his mouth, then left the room.

Lu Jingzhi left home and drove to his office. His thoughts remained unsettled.

Rather than leading to an apology, it only added another layer of misunderstanding.

Thinking of what Qiao Yun had said, he stopped the car at the roadside and called Lu Xue.

As soon as the phone was answered, Lu Jingzhi asked, “Let me ask you something. Did Tingting ever talk to you about running away from home?”

Lu Xue was perplexed by this question and exclaimed in surprise, “Big Brother Lu, how did you know?”

Lu Jingzhi’s fingers tapping on the steering wheel paused, his tone grave, “When did she get this idea?”

“I only knew about it on Tingting’s coming-of-age day too. She said she has plans to move out after she graduates from high school, but I really don’t know what she’s thinking.”

“Big Brother Lu, you can’t be biased just because Qiao Yun has come back.”

Although Lu Xue was intimidated by Lu Jingzhi, she still wanted to speak out for her close friend.

“Did she say it in front of Qiao Yun?”

Lu Xue instinctively said, “Yes, if not for Qiao Yun’s dislike of her, Tingting wouldn’t have thought about moving out.”

Lu Jingzhi’s tone became even more solemn, “How do you know Qiaoqiao dislikes Tingting?”