《Rebirth: Pampered by My Children and Husband》


 Chapter 1 - Chapter 1: Chapter 1 "I am your mother.

    Chapter 1: Chapter 1 ¡°I am your mother.


    Lin Xu was in a car accident.


    A large truck ran a red light and collided with her sedan, causing it to overturn.


    Steel pipes from the truck fell off, piercing through her body. Before the pain could even spread throughout her body, she lost consciousness.


    Numerous images flooded her mind, and Lin Xu realized that she was in a novel world; both her sons were villains in the story, and her daughter was a disposable supporting character.


    After she and her husband died, the three children were left to fend for themselves. With no one to guide them, the sons grew more twisted. One became a pervert who liked to imprison the novel¡¯s female protagonist and play dark room games, and the other was a villain who would nonchalantly draw blood from substitutes, harvesting their kidneys for the female protagonist, his moonlight.


    The only daughter, lacking affection in her childhood, grew up love-struck, revolving her life around the male protagonist and setting up traps for the female protagonist.


    Because they opposed the leads of the novel, it wasn¡¯t long before the villainous sons were caught and spent their lives in prison. The disposable daughter was manipulated by the male lead, losing the family business and ultimately falling off a cliff in a state of despair.


    ¡°Be careful!¡±


    Lin Xu suddenly sat up, gasping for air, her chest heaving violently.


    The image of her daughter falling from the cliff was still in her mind. She patted her chest, unsettled, and then noticed the gaping hole the steel pipe had left in her chest during the accident was gone. In fact, all her other wounds had also disappeared.


    Lin Xu was stunned. Before she could make sense of what was happening, she heard a loud shout near her.


    ¡°Ji Tingyang, I don¡¯t like you, let me go.¡±


    The man¡¯s clear voice was tinged with anger, ¡°I¡¯m telling you, impossible! Butler, take her back to her room!¡±


    Lin Xu followed the voice into the room and saw a man throwing things on the floor, all the cups and dishes swept off the surfaces and shattered into pieces.


    She tentatively called out a name, ¡°Ji Tingyang?¡±


    Ji Tingyang turned around, his brows furrowed in displeasure, ¡°Who are you, and what are you doing here?¡±


    Those familiar eyes and face made Lin Xu¡¯s heart tremble, ¡°I¡¯m your mother.¡±


    ¡°Say that again?!¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes were ice cold, his clear voice suppressing anger.


    Lin Xu stood her ground, responding, ¡°I said, I¡¯m your mother.¡±


    Ji Tingyang radiated a chilling aura, his frosty eyes piercing her like knives, ¡°You dare to joke about my mother, are you seeking death!¡±


    His mother had died twenty years ago, and even if she had been alive, she would be in her forties or fifties by now, but this woman looked to be in her twenties at most.


    ¡°I¡¯m not joking, I¡¯m serious. When you were five, you still wet the bed; at six, you liked Ultraman; at seven, you still enjoyed drinking milk,¡± Lin Xu revealed details about Ji Tingyang as if she were reciting treasures.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s forehead vein bulged, his teeth clenched in anger, ¡°You¡¯ve had someone investigate me.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need for an investigation, I¡¯ve told you I¡¯m your mother,¡± Lin Xu was also frustrated, why was this child so obstinate? He had been so cute as a child, believing everything she said.


    Lin Xu thought for a moment, then whispered, ¡°You have a red mole on your buttock, surely you can acknowledge that?¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression grew even colder. He stepped forward, gripping her wrist tightly, causing her pain, ¡°Is there someone else from your side in this house? Who is it, speak!¡±


    ¡°How can you be so stubborn, I already told you I¡¯m Lin Xu, your mother! After the car accident, when I woke up, I found myself here, completely confused. I¡¯m trying to talk to you, and you won¡¯t listen,¡± Lin Xu, infuriated, took to hitting him, raising her hand to slap his shoulder as she scolded him.


    The familiar tone and slap of anger made Ji Tingyang pause for a moment. He remembered, over twenty years ago when he cut his mother¡¯s dress, she had slapped him just like this when she was angry.


    Could she really be his mother?


    ¡°If you still don¡¯t believe me, then let¡¯s do a paternity test,¡± Lin Xu suggested wearily, proposing the most effective solution without further covert signals.


    Ji Tingyang had intended to throw her out of the Ji Family, but her face, so similar to her mother¡¯s, along with her actions and demeanor, made him hesitate for a moment.


    In the end, he called a doctor to draw blood for testing, but the results wouldn¡¯t be available until the next day.


    ¡°You¡­¡± Ji Tingyang glanced at Lin Xu and, for a moment, didn¡¯t know what to do with her.


    Lin Xu didn¡¯t mind his awkwardness and asked, ¡°Where are my brother and sister? Why haven¡¯t I seen them?¡±


    Ji Tingyang frowned, ¡°You want to find out where they are? Let me tell you, there¡¯s no¡­¡±


    Before he could finish, Lin Xu slapped him again.


    Ji Tingyang felt a surge of frustration rise in his chest, and he turned to glare fiercely at Lin Xu, about to let loose a curse but held it back upon seeing that familiar cheek, begrudgingly answering, ¡°They don¡¯t come home often; they don¡¯t live here.¡±


    When the test results come back, if this woman has deceived him, he would surely make her regret it.


    Lin Xu¡¯s slender brows furrowed, a hint of barely perceptible sadness in her expression, ¡°Do you not get along well?¡±


    Otherwise, why wouldn¡¯t the siblings live together?


    Ji Tingyang paused, then fell silent.


    Lin Xu wanted to ask more about them, but seeing Ji Tingyang¡¯s unhappy face, she swallowed her doubts.


    Forget it, she¡¯d ask another time.


    ¡°Is my old room still available? Where will I sleep tonight?¡± Lin Xu looked around, the house hadn¡¯t changed much, most of it still the way it used to be.


    ¡°Sleep in the guest room,¡± Ji Tingyang said coldly.


    Lin Xu¡¯s lips parted, about to speak, but then she met his uncompromising gaze, ¡°Alright.¡±


    Ji Tingyang was still wary of her and it made sense to not allow her to stay in the master bedroom.


    Lin Xu had received an overload of information today, leaving her head spinning. She told Ji Tingyang goodnight, went upstairs, chose a guest room she knew, and went to rest.


    She slept soundly through the night.


    Lin Xu woke up the next morning to the strange yet familiar surroundings of the house and realized she had truly been reborn.


    It took her a while to catch her breath and slowly accept this fact. As she opened the door to get something to eat, she saw Ji Tingyang standing in front of her room.


    He held an A4 paper in his hand, staring at its contents with an expression of disbelief written all over his pupils.


    Lin Xu¡¯s thoughts raced as she looked at the paper, ¡°Are the paternity results out?¡±


    Ji Tingyang looked up, his expression complex as he responded.


    Seeing him like this, there was no need to ask what the results were.


    As Lin Xu contemplated whether to offer him a long-awaited mother-son hug, the room at the end of the hallway erupted with the sound of objects being smashed.


    The nanny rushed out of the room, startled to see Ji Tingyang in the hallway, and hesitantly approached to say, ¡°Young Master, Lady Wen has thrown out all the breakfast.¡±


    Lin Xu¡¯s eyelid twitched as she remembered the novel¡¯s protagonist who was locked in the dark room.

 Chapter 2 - Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Fire Her If She Doesnt Eat

    Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Fire Her If She Doesn¡¯t Eat


    Upon hearing the woman in the room threatening a hunger strike, Ji Tingyang¡¯s face, which had been somewhat gentle just a moment ago, suddenly turned icy cold.


    He walked over and pushed open the door.


    He saw porridge and greens scattered on the floor, and beneath the bed, two lone buns had rolled away.


    A woman with waist-length hair stood inside, her figure exquisitely framed by the silk nightgown she wore.


    Her fair face was marked with traces of anger, and her eyes, brimming with unyielding tears, stared resentfully at Ji Tingyang, like a delicate white flower refusing to admit defeat in adversity.


    Lin Xu sighed inwardly.


    Worthy of being a novel¡¯s heroine, I can¡¯t help but sympathize.


    Ji Tingyang stood still, his face frosty: ¡°Housekeeper, since Lady Wen does not like the food, then dismiss Aunt Zhang.¡±


    The nanny next to him, hearing this, pleaded frantically with Ji Tingyang: ¡°President Ji, please don¡¯t dismiss me, I have two elderly to take care of at home and two children to put through school. If you dismiss me, my whole family won¡¯t be able to make ends meet!¡±


    Although the Ji Family was difficult to serve, the compensation was high, enough to sustain a family. But if she were to be dismissed, it would be hard to find another job that pays so well.


    Aunt Zhang continued to beg Ji Tingyang for mercy, and seeing him unmoved, she then turned to Wen Li with a beseeching look.


    ¡°Lady Wen, please, speak up for me, I beg you¡­¡±


    She knew that Young Master Ji would definitely listen to this woman.


    Wen Li bit her red lips, her eyes showing a struggle tinged with pain.


    After a long while, she softened her heart.


    ¡°I¡¯ll eat, don¡¯t fire her.¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression finally softened, and he walked in to grab the woman¡¯s slender wrist: ¡°Wen Li, don¡¯t threaten me with a hunger strike.¡±


    Wen Li¡¯s tears on the brink of falling made her seem all the more pitiable.


    Lin Xu, witnessing the entire scene from the threshold, was dumbfounded. In her faint dreams, she had seen her normally well-behaved and kind eldest son turn into a ruthless villain.


    But even now, witnessing it with her own eyes, she was still shocked.


    Just as Wen Li was tearfully upset over being threatened, a small hand reached out and struck Ji Tingyang¡¯s arm hard.


    ¡°Ji Tingyang, how dare you, you¡¯ve even learned to threaten people now?¡±


    Lin Xu angrily patted his arm, signaling him to let go of Wen Li.


    Wen Li looked shocked, not expecting that someone would dare to hit Ji Tingyang in the Ji household.


    Then, a wave of concern rose from deep within her. The woman standing before her had dared to confront Ji Tingyang for her sake. What if Ji Tingyang decided to dismiss this woman too?


    Just as Wen Li was about to plead on her behalf, she saw Ji Tingyang let go of her hand, his expression noticeably uncomfortable: ¡°I wasn¡¯t threatening.¡±


    Lin Xu stared at him with a stern face, silent.


    The familiar look brought back a flood of memories deep in Ji Tingyang¡¯s mind.


    Ji Tingyang remembered that when he was a child and lied about having a stomach ache because he didn¡¯t want to go to school, Lin Xu had the same stern expression, watching him in silence.


    Until he apologized out of guilt and was escorted to school.


    Now, under Lin Xu¡¯s gaze, Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes flickered, and he looked away.


    Lin Xu spoke sharply: ¡°How did I use to teach you?¡±


    However, Ji Tingyang was ultimately no longer the little boy he once was. His brow furrowed slightly, and he couldn¡¯t help retorting: ¡°You haven¡¯t been around for these twenty years, not fulfilling any responsibility, so what right do you have to say anything now?¡±


    Lin Xu was taken aback, the seriousness on her face gradually fading. She lowered her eyelids, her eyes tinged with a hint of desolation, and turned to leave.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and he rushed out after her in a panic.


    Wen Li was left standing there, utterly baffled.


    ¡ª-


    Lin Xu returned to her room, just about to close the door when a broad, powerful hand reached in, stopping the door.


    Lin Xu gave Ji Tingyang a glance, expressionless, let go of the door, and sat down on the edge of the bed.


    Ji Tingyang pushed the door open and stood awkwardly by the side. He had a flurry of apologies prepared in his heart, but now facing Lin Xu, he found them difficult to voice.


    As he struggled internally, a tear fell from Lin Xu¡¯s cheek.


    Ji Tingyang immediately panicked, ¡°I, I didn¡¯t mean to say that just now, please don¡¯t cry¡­¡±


    Lin Xu sobbed, ¡°It¡¯s not like I had the accident on purpose. You don¡¯t comfort me, fine, but you still blame me for not taking good care of you. You used to be so obedient when you were a child, saying you liked mom the most. Just twenty years have passed and you already hate me, wuwuwu¡­¡±


    The more she spoke, the more wronged she felt, and tears kept pouring from her eyes.


    Ji Tingyang quickly checked his pockets for a handkerchief but couldn¡¯t find one, so he reluctantly used his sleeve to wipe the tears from her cheeks, continually apologizing, ¡°From now on, I¡¯ll listen to whatever you say.¡±


    Lin Xu¡¯s eyes were rimmed with tear, and a subtle hint of cunning flashed through them. She bit her lip, fearing she couldn¡¯t help but laugh and give herself away.


    When he was little, Ji Tingyang was always disobedient. She would pretend to cry like this, and in less than two seconds, he would relent, wiping her tears and babbling promises to listen to mom in the future.


    She thought now that he was grown up, it might not work, but it was still effective.


    Gurgle.


    As Lin Xu was crying, her stomach suddenly let out a loud rumble. She and Ji Tingyang eyed each other awkwardly, and she sheepishly said, ¡°¡­I¡¯m hungry.¡±


    Ji Tingyang got up, ¡°I¡¯ll have Aunt Zhang prepare more breakfast.¡±


    Ten minutes later, Wen Li looked at Lin Xu sitting at the head of the table and ate, a flash of surprise in her eyes.


    This woman had just crossed Ji Tingyang and was still not kicked out?


    While she mulled over it, Aunt Zhang came out with the breakfast.


    The fragrant smell of steamed buns and dumplings filled the air, alongside an assortment of staples like corn porridge and pumpkin porridge¡­


    The breakfast was laid out with the spread of a buffet.


    Wen Li glanced at it, her expression listless, ¡°I don¡¯t feel like eating.¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s brows were furrowed, and he shot a fierce look at her, ¡°If what Aunt Zhang made doesn¡¯t suit your taste, then she no longer needs to work for the Ji Family.¡±


    Another threat.


    Wen Li clenched her hand by her side, seeing Aunt Zhang casting pleading eyes at her, anger burning increasingly fierce in her chest.


    She clenched her teeth, about to speak out, when she heard the person beside her put down her chopsticks.


    ¡°I don¡¯t feel like eating either,¡± Lin Xu sighed.


    Wen Li¡¯s brows slightly furrowed. Was she mimicking her?


    Ji Tingyang surely wouldn¡¯t pay her any mind.


    Just as Wen Li thought this, Ji Tingyang turned towards Lin Xu, concerned, ¡°Why, don¡¯t you like these? What would you like to eat? I¡¯ll have someone make it for you.¡±


    Lin Xu thought for a moment, ¡°Is that rice noodle shop on Liberty Road still open?¡±


    Ji Tingyang nodded, ¡°It¡¯s still there.¡±


    Lin Xu said, ¡°I¡¯d like to have their rice noodles.¡±


    Ji Tingyang immediately sent the butler to buy them, and also asked her about lunch and dinner preferences, ordering them to be made as well.


    Lin Xu made several requests, and Ji Tingyang agreed to all.


    Wen Li looked at the kind-faced Ji Tingyang in shock.


    In her memory, Ji Tingyang was always cold-faced, arrogant, and spoke only in threats and commands. She had never seen him treat anyone so obligingly.


    Who exactly was this woman?

 Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Chapter 3 "I will always love you.

    Chapter 3: Chapter 3 ¡°I will always love you.


    ¡°`


    Lin Xu¡¯s previous bedroom was still kept intact, and after eating breakfast, she moved back into it.


    The bedroom seemed like it was cleaned often; not having been lived in for twenty years, the furniture was still spotless.


    She walked in, looking around, and noticed that everything inside was still as it had been, except the family portrait on the wall had become yellowed with age and lost its original clarity.


    Lin Xu approached the desk, where a wedding photo was placed. In the photo, she was leaning against a handsome man, her smile blooming like a flower while the man¡¯s lips were slightly raised as he sweetly gazed down at her with a tender and sticky look.


    She reached out and gently touched the man in the photo, a pained expression appearing in her clear eyes as tears slid down.


    On the day of the accident, Lin Xu and her husband were driving together when the crash happened, he held her tightly in his arms as steel pipes from a truck pierced through both of their bodies.


    Now that she had been reborn, had he been reborn as well?


    Lin Xu thought to herself and then shook her head.


    If he really had been reborn, how come he hadn¡¯t come to find her, to check on their child?


    While she was grieving over her husband¡¯s death, a harsh noise of arguing came from downstairs.


    Ji Tingyang was gripping Wen Li¡¯s wrist tightly, his gaze dark and terrifying, ¡°What did you say?¡±


    Wen Li furrowed her brow in pain, yet she showed no sign of backing down, ¡°Ji Tingyang, I¡¯m a human being, not your pet. You can¡¯t keep me locked up in the villa forever, I want to go out!¡±


    ¡°Go out, and then what?¡± Ji Tingyang sneered coldly, ¡°To meet Xiao Yu?¡±


    Hearing the name of the man she loved, a shy blush spread across Wen Li¡¯s cheeks, and she ground her teeth, ¡°Whom I meet is none of your business.¡±


    Ji Tingyang, seeing her like this, felt a chill spread over him even more icily, ¡°Unless I die, you won¡¯t ever dream of leaving here in this lifetime.¡±


    Wen Li¡¯s face turned deathly pale, her red lips parting slightly, just as she was about to speak, a cry of surprise sounded not far away.


    ¡°Ji Tingyang!¡±


    As Lin Xu came downstairs, she heard her eldest son¡¯s declaration of restricting personal freedom, and felt darkness cloud her vision.


    She hurried over, twisted Ji Tingyang¡¯s arm, and pulled him aside.


    ¡°Who taught you to speak like that, to lock someone up? Aren¡¯t you afraid of the police arresting you?!¡±


    Ji Tingyang wanted to lose his temper from the pain, but the person in front of him was his mother, so he could only hold back his anger and rubbed his arm.


    ¡°Who would call the police?¡±


    Lin Xu said, ¡°Wen Li.¡±


    Ji Tingyang, ¡°She wouldn¡¯t dare.¡±


    Wen Li¡¯s parents worked in his company, and she wouldn¡¯t risk offending him and having her parents be unable to find work in the country.


    Lin Xu felt frantic inside.


    What wouldn¡¯t Wen Li dare to do? Your ultimate fate was still to end up in jail!


    Lin Xu wished she could do what she did when Ji Tingyang was a child and made a mistake: pick him up and spank him, but with his height now at 1.85 meters, even taller than herself, she had to give up that impulse.


    She decided to try a different approach, to appeal to his emotions, ¡°Do you really like her that much?¡±


    Ji Tingyang paused, then nodded slightly.


    Lin Xu asked him, ¡°Were your father and I not very much in love?¡±


    ¡°`


    Ji Tingyang reflected for a moment and continued nodding.


    Lin Xu: ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s because your dad would respect me and support every decision I make, which is why I like him. Of course, part of the reason is that he is both handsome and wealthy, seemingly cold on the outside, but every time I tease him, his ears would secretly turn red¡­¡±


    Ji Tingyang: ¡°¡­¡±


    He unexpectedly had to endure a round of his parents¡¯ public display of affection.


    ¡°Ahem, anyway¡­¡± Seeing the speechless look in her son¡¯s eyes, Lin Xu quickly steered the conversation back on track, ¡°What I mean is, if your dad was like you, cooping me up in a room all day, I would never have liked him. So, if you want Wen Li to like you, you should let her out even more because nobody likes a big villain who locks them up, you know?¡±


    Ji Tingyang pursed his lips, his thoughts in his mind kept pulling and struggling.


    A little black figure said that he should lock Wen Li up, this way she would always belong to him. Another little white figure said that his mother was right, love must learn to respect each other.


    The black figure contested, what mother, she wasn¡¯t there when he was bullied, wasn¡¯t there when he struggled alone to raise his two younger brothers and sister, and now she suddenly shows up to educate him about what love is¡­


    Suddenly.


    A hand gently ruffled his head, the gesture was so tender it even stirred the still waters at the bottom of his heart.


    Lin Xu tiptoed, her body swaying gently as she caressed his head, ¡°But our Tingyang is so powerful, no matter what others think, I will always love you.¡±


    A sourness welled up in Ji Tingyang¡¯s heart. He swallowed hard, took Lin Xu¡¯s hand from his head, and held it tightly in his.


    In the time not long after his parents died, Ji Tingyang would feel a sour envy when he saw children celebrating their birthdays with their parents kissing their cheeks and saying they loved them. But as time passed and he grew older, he had become numb to such scenes.


    However, today, hearing Lin Xu say this, he found that numbness beginning to waver.


    The little black figure in his mind also dissipated.


    ¡­


    Wen Li watched Ji Tingyang and Lin Xu from a distance. Even though she couldn¡¯t hear what they were saying, she knew from their occasional glances that they were talking about her.


    That woman seemed to be trying to persuade Ji Tingyang to let her out.


    Wen Li stood there uneasily, her hand at her side clenched into a fist. She knew that Ji Tingyang was a pervert, no matter what anyone said, he would never let her go.


    Suddenly, she saw the woman touch Ji Tingyang¡¯s head and, to her astonishment, not only did he not get angry, he also tightly held the woman¡¯s hand with a tenderness she had never seen before.


    Wen Li was stunned for a long while and before she could snap out of it, Ji Tingyang walked over and said something that completely shocked her.


    ¡°Butler, from now on, don¡¯t obstruct Miss Wen wherever she wants to go.¡±


    Wen Li couldn¡¯t believe her ears, ¡°Are you really willing to let me leave?¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression was as cold and ruthless as ever, as if the tenderness she had just glimpsed was her misperception.


    ¡°Leave? Don¡¯t even think about it. I¡¯m just letting you step outside, but if you aren¡¯t back by 10 p.m., I can¡¯t guarantee what might happen to your parents.¡±


    Wen Li¡¯s face turned pale, and although she was still unwilling at heart, at least she could now go outside.


    She bit her lip, nodding reluctantly.


    Lin Xu listening to the glaring threats in Ji Tingyang¡¯s words felt overwhelmed, sensing the daunting task of educating her child resting on her shoulders.


    But fortunately, there was now a good start, and the rest could be taught slowly.


    Wen Li, with secretly delighted lips curving up, looked up at Lin Xu walking beside Ji Tingyang, her confusion deepened.


    No one had ever been able to successfully dissuade Ji Tingyang¡­ perhaps that woman could become a breakthrough.

 Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: Chapter 4 Does She Want to Rise to Power?

    Chapter 4: Chapter 4 Does She Want to Rise to Power?


    At night, Lin Xu planned to go downstairs for a glass of water and noticed the light from the study shining through the gap under the door as she passed.


    The light wasn¡¯t turned off?


    She twisted the doorknob, intending to turn off the light, but paused when she saw Ji Tingyang at the desk.


    She glanced at the time¡ªit was already half past midnight. He was still dealing with work at this hour?


    A momentary flash of her own husband¡¯s face crossed Lin Xu¡¯s mind; it was not unusual for him to stay in the study all night long whenever he worked overtime.


    Lin Xu always urged him not to work so hard, and he would embrace her waist and say softly, ¡°I want you and our child to live a carefree life, and it¡¯s worth the hardship.¡±


    What had she responded at that time?


    Lin Xu thought for a moment.


    ¡°Health is the capital of revolution. If you wear yourself out, what will become of me and our child?¡±


    After that, she would forcibly drag him back to the bedroom to rest.


    This incident had just happened last week, yet it felt like twenty years had passed in the blink of an eye, and he was no longer with her¡­


    For a moment, her expression turned sad and melancholic.


    Lin Xu had stood at the doorway for too long. Ji Tingyang noticed the unusual presence at the door, looked up, and, seeing Lin Xu, asked in puzzlement, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Lin Xu came to her senses, walked in. ¡°Are you still working?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I still have some documents to deal with.¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s not urgent, you can handle it tomorrow. It¡¯s already very late. You should go to sleep,¡± Lin Xu urged.


    ¡°Wait¡­¡±


    ¡°Health is important!¡±


    Ji Tingyang opened his mouth about to say something when a small hand suddenly landed on his head and patted it.


    ¡°That¡¯s my boy,¡± Lin Xu said as if soothing a child.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s body stiffened, and while he still had something to say, he silently closed his mouth, letting her hand stroke his head.


    Since his parents had died, few had cared for him this way, and this nostalgic feeling made him reluctant to leave.


    It was Lin Xu who couldn¡¯t hold on any longer; she couldn¡¯t suppress a yawn and reminded him once more to go to bed before leaving the study.


    Just as she exited the study, she encountered Wen Li coming toward her.


    Wen Li, carrying a water glass, came up from downstairs and caught Lin Xu exiting the study, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. Ji Tingyang¡¯s study had always been off-limits to others, and she had only entered once or twice.


    Unexpectedly, this new woman entered and exited the study as if it were nothing.


    Lin Xu looked at Wen Li¡¯s slender figure; dark circles under her eyes and a haggard look adding a fragile beauty that was pitiful yet charming.


    Lin Xu knew that this was mostly due to fasting and poor rest.


    Anyone would feel down if they were confined to a villa all day.


    Thinking this, she spoke out, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will persuade Ji Tingyang to let you leave.¡±


    After leaving, find your leading man, and never see her son again. That way her son won¡¯t be in trouble, Ji Family¡¯s businesses won¡¯t go bankrupt, and everything will be wonderful.


    ¡°You?¡± Wen Li couldn¡¯t believe Lin Xu¡¯s words.


    Ji Tingyang loved her so much and had never heeded her requests, so why would he listen to another woman?


    Since meeting Lin Xu, she always told herself that she would persuade Ji Tingyang to let her go; could she be aiming for a higher position?


    Wen Li sneered inwardly.


    ¡°Yes, I will persuade him more during this period. Just wait a few more days,¡± Lin Xu said, oblivious to her thoughts, trying to offer comfort.


    ¡°Oh, then good luck,¡± Wen Li responded coldly and turned to go back to her room.

 Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Fear That She Will Never Return

    Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Fear That She Will Never Return


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    Lin Xu had thought of many ways to convince Ji Tingyang, but upon opening her wardrobe the next day, she was distracted by the big issue at hand.


    She realized she had no clothes to change into!


    Until the third day, Lin Xu was still wearing the set of clothes she started with after her rebirth.


    The clothes in the wardrobe still looked the same as they did twenty years ago, no different from a few days ago to Lin Xu, who glanced at them and then closed the wardrobe.


    It wasn¡¯t until now, when she wanted to change her clothes, that she discovered all the clothes in the wardrobe had faded and yellowed, leaving nothing she could wear out.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Ji Tingyang heard her scream and hurried over.


    Lin Xu was holding a red dress, looking pitifully at him, ¡°I just bought this dress less than a week ago and haven¡¯t worn it once, and now it¡¯s already old.¡±


    She had planned to wear it to a dinner party in a couple of days, but now it was completely ruined.


    ¡°All the clothes inside are unwearable,¡± she said dishearteningly.


    Ji Tingyang breathed a sigh of relief, thinking it was something serious, ¡°It¡¯s just clothes, you can always buy new ones.¡±


    Lin Xu looked at him pitifully.


    Ji Tingyang quickly realized, ¡°My bank card is in my room, I¡¯ll give it to you in a bit, you can buy whatever you want.¡±


    Lin Xu, moved, said, ¡°My son has grown up, he can earn money to spend on his mom.¡±


    In the past, when she went out to pick dresses for parties, she would always be indecisive among several options.


    Little Ji Tingyang would say, ¡°Why not buy them all?¡±


    Lin Xu would pretend it was difficult: ¡°We¡¯re too poor to buy so many clothes, mom can only choose one.¡±


    The shop assistant glanced at the handbag worth hundreds of thousands in her hand and the limited edition Black Card, and kept silent.


    If that¡¯s considered being poor, then oneself surely doesn¡¯t deserve to live.


    But children don¡¯t understand these things, immediately feeling sorry for their mom and hugging her neck to comfort her, ¡°Mom, when I grow up and earn money, I¡¯ll give it all to you, and you can buy as many dresses as you want.¡±


    Lin Xu kissed him on the cheek, smiling, ¡°My son is really great.¡±


    In the blink of an eye, that child had grown up and even told her dominantly to use his card.


    Lin Xu¡¯s eyes welled up with tears, moved.


    After having breakfast, Lin Xu was eagerly waiting at the door for today¡¯s shopping trip.


    Ji Tingyang handed her the Black Card, ¡°Shall I have the driver take you?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡± Lin Xu didn¡¯t insist otherwise. Twenty years had passed, and she probably didn¡¯t even recognize the roads anymore.


    ¡°What¡¯s the limit on this card? It wouldn¡¯t be good if I maxed it out.¡± She took the card, glanced at it, and casually asked.


    ¡°There¡¯s no limit, feel free to swipe it.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, talk about having the aura of a powerful CEO,¡± she teased.


    Ji Tingyang smiled.


    Lin Xu waved to him, turned around, and walked out, opening the car door.


    This scene was too familiar, so familiar that Ji Tingyang¡¯s heart ached painfully.


    It seemed like the last time he said goodbye to Lin Xu was just like this, waving, getting in the car, leaving, an accident¡­


    After which his relatives reluctantly told him that his parents had gone to heaven and would never return.


    With a heart full of bitterness, almost reflexively, he grabbed Lin Xu¡¯s arm.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lin Xu asked, puzzled.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s mouth opened slightly, hesitant to speak.


    He didn¡¯t dare say it was because he was afraid she would leave and never return, just like before.


    Lin Xu blinked, guessing what he might be thinking, and suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t you come with me? So many years have passed, and I don¡¯t understand anything. What if someone deceives me?¡±

 Chapter 6 - Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Love without material substance is like loose sand.

    Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Love without material substance is like loose sand.


    In the high-end clothing store, when Lin Xu came out of the fitting room wearing the tenth outfit and spun around in front of Ji Tingyang to ask for his opinion, he was already beginning to regret his impulsive decision.


    The interval had been too long, and he had forgotten just how enthusiastic Lin Xu was when shopping for clothes. Every time they went out to look at the latest season¡¯s offerings, she would try on clothes for half a day before buying everything.


    When he was a child, he could sit and wait while playing with toys, but now it seemed his patience was running thin.


    Seeing Lin Xu brimming with excitement, with no sign of finishing any time soon, Ji Tingyang took out his phone to look over a document sent by his secretary during the spare moment.


    Before long, he heard a commotion nearby.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with your staff? I already told you to reserve this dress for me. Why did you sell it to her?¡± A woman with short hair scolded the store employees in a fit of anger.


    The staff member wore a troubled expression, ¡°Miss Xu, our staff already explained to you earlier that our store does not offer reservation services, purchases can only be made on the spot.¡±


    The woman with short hair knew the store¡¯s rules, so she had hurried over as soon as she heard the skirt had arrived, but to her dismay, someone else had gotten to it first.


    Thinking of how the skirt was a limited edition, and the only one in the country, her anger surged, ¡°I spend millions in your store every year. Is this how you treat your customers?¡±


    Without caring for more, the short-haired woman snatched the desired dress from the pile of clothes Lin Xu was waiting to check out and tossed it to the clerk, ¡°Hurry up and process the payment for me.¡±


    Lin Xu was stunned by the woman¡¯s audacity.


    The employee hesitated, ¡°This miss was about to buy that¡­¡±


    ¡°Look at her, dressed all shabby. Everything on her is¡­¡± The short-haired woman scrutinized Lin Xu, her tone laced with disdain, ¡°Twenty-year-old outdated designs. Can she even afford it?¡±


    Lin Xu didn¡¯t really care for the skirt. She would have been willing to let her have it if she had spoken politely, but the woman was utterly lacking in manners.


    Lin Xu tugged at the corner of her mouth and pulled the skirt back towards her, pointing to the pile of clothes in front of her, ¡°I¡¯ll take all of these. Charge it to my card.¡±


    She handed over her Black Card from her purse.


    The employee¡¯s face lit up with delight; selling all these clothes would take care of her sales targets for the month. She eagerly reached out to take it.


    The short-haired woman froze for a moment. This bank card seemed all too familiar¡­ As she thought this, she had already snatched the card to examine it closely.


    Credit cards usually bear the owner¡¯s name, and she immediately looked at the name, which was spelt in the Roman alphabet as Ji Tingyang¡¯s.


    She remembered, she had seen the card in Wen Li¡¯s hands before.


    ¡°I was wondering how a pauper like you could afford these clothes. It turns out you¡¯ve stolen someone else¡¯s credit card.¡±


    ¡°Credit card fraud is illegal.¡± The short-haired woman sneered contemptuously, glancing at the nearby employee, ¡°What are you waiting for? Call the police, now!¡±


    ¡°What?¡± The employee, looking between the composed Lin Xu and the arrogant woman, was quite baffled for a moment.


    Lin Xu tucked her hair behind her ear, remaining serene, ¡°This card is indeed mine.¡±


    The short-haired woman seemed to hear a hilarious joke, ¡°The name on it clearly reads Ji Tingyang.¡±


    Lin Xu, ¡°That¡¯s right, Ji Tingyang gave it to me.¡±


    ¡°That card was obviously given to Wen Li by Ji Tingyang!¡± The woman exclaimed while pulling out her phone, ready to call the authorities.


    Seeing her causing trouble, Lin Xu¡¯s expression showed her annoyance, and just as she was about to retort, a voice from behind her preempted.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    Ji Tingyang came up beside Lin Xu and noticed her frowning, seemingly in a bad mood.


    Thinking she might have encountered some trouble.


    ¡°Nothing, just ran into someone causing a disturbance.¡± Lin Xu snatched the bank card back from the short-haired woman and handed it to the clerk again, ¡°Go ahead and check out.¡±


    The clerk snapped out of it and nodded repeatedly, ¡°Right away, I¡¯ll go get it!¡±


    As she passed by the short-haired woman, the clerk glanced at her disdainfully.


    What stealing a bank card, that man was none other than President Ji himself! Utter nonsense, she almost lost such a big sale because of it.


    When Ji Tingyang appeared, the short-haired woman just froze in place until the clerk had left before she came back to her senses.


    She smoothed her hair and greeted him with a smile, ¡°President Ji, so you are here.¡±


    Lin Xu looked at Ji Tingyang and raised an eyebrow, ¡°You know her?¡±


    If such an uncultured individual was a friend of her son, she would definitely have to educate him on the basic principles of making friends.


    Ji Tingyang just glanced at her and quickly looked away, saying coldly, ¡°I don¡¯t know her.¡±


    Lin Xu saved herself a lecture.


    The smile on the short-haired woman¡¯s face fell, and she hurriedly tried to salvage the situation, ¡°President Ji, I am friends with Wen Li, we¡¯ve met before at the club.¡±


    At the mention of Wen Li, Ji Tingyang¡¯s movements froze for a moment, and he looked at her again.


    The short-haired woman felt a surge of joy, thinking he had remembered her, but before she could speak, Ji Tingyang simply uttered a faint ¡°Oh,¡± and ignored her.


    The clerk was very efficient at checking out, and in no time, all the clothes were neatly packed.


    Dozens of bags, arranged neatly on the table.


    Lin Xu tilted her chin, motioning for Ji Tingyang to take them and walked out ahead of him.


    Ji Tingyang seemed experienced, giving the clerk the address to deliver everything to the villa, then strutted his long legs to catch up with Lin Xu.


    ¡°The club she just mentioned, it wouldn¡¯t happen to be a nightclub, would it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a leisure club opened by a friend.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a relief, if you dare go to a nightclub and get into trouble, don¡¯t expect to come back home.¡±


    ¡°¡­I wouldn¡¯t go.¡±


    Their casual conversation drifted away as they left, and it was only then that the short-haired woman came to her senses, quickly pulling out her phone to make a call.


    The phone was quickly answered, and a sweet voice said, ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡°Wen Li, I just saw Ji Tingyang at the mall, and guess what, he was actually shopping for clothes with another woman. What¡¯s with him, isn¡¯t he supposed to be head over heels for you? Isn¡¯t he supposed to do as you say?¡±


    Another woman?


    The first person Wen Li thought of was Lin Xu, and she felt a bit surprised.


    She knew Ji Tingyang was extremely busy with work every day, and yet, this busy Ji Tingyang actually took time off work to go shopping with Lin Xu?


    While Wen Li was still in shock, the short-haired woman continued, ¡°Didn¡¯t Ji Tingyang give you a Black Card before? How come it ended up in that woman¡¯s hands?¡±


    Wen Li subconsciously replied, ¡°I gave it back to him.¡±


    She didn¡¯t want to use Ji Tingyang¡¯s money.


    Then, the short-haired woman¡¯s voice exploded through the phone like fireworks, ¡°You gave it back to him?! Are you crazy? He¡¯s willing to spend money on you and you refuse it, are you still hung up on that poor guy?¡±


    ¡°He can¡¯t even afford a bouquet of flowers, what kind of life can he give you? A love without material aspects is like sand falling through fingers, don¡¯t you understand that?¡±

 Chapter 7 - Chapter 7: Chapter 7: It was you who provoked me first.

    Chapter 7: Chapter 7: It was you who provoked me first.


    After Lin Xu finished buying clothes, she went on to look at shoes and handbags. Just as she was excited to move onto jewelry, Ji Tingyang immediately stopped her.


    ¡°It¡¯s already noon. Aren¡¯t you hungry? Let¡¯s go have something to eat before we continue shopping; otherwise, you¡¯ll run out of energy to walk later.¡±


    Lin Xu hadn¡¯t felt it before, but hearing him say that made her feel hungry, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go have lunch then.¡±


    Ji Tingyang secretly breathed a sigh of relief.


    The driver had already been waiting at the entrance of the mall, and the two headed straight for the car.


    Suddenly, the giant electronic screen on the building across the mall switched displays. A handsome man with well-defined facial features appeared on the screen. He lifted the corners of his lips, showing a charming smile and gently kissed the perfume bottle he was holding near his lips.


    In an instant, the women on the street stopped, completely mesmerized, wishing they were the ones being kissed.


    ¡°Ah! It¡¯s Ji Zeqiu!¡±


    ¡°Husband, don¡¯t kiss it, kiss me!¡±


    ¡°If I use this perfume, it¡¯s almost like my husband is kissing me, right? Ah!! I need to buy it all!¡±


    The screams ebbed and flowed among the crowd, all showcasing how popular Ji Zeqiu was.


    Lin Xu stared at the screen showing a face that resembled Ji Tingyang by sixty to seventy percent and was stunned for a long moment. ¡°Is that¡­ Zeqiu?¡±


    Ji Tingyang also saw the person on the screen. His expression was indifferent as he pursed his lips and responded, ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Zeqiu is a big star now? That¡¯s impressive.¡±


    While Lin Xu was unconscious, she had only seen bits and pieces of her three children¡¯s experiences and their ultimate outcomes in visions. She knew nothing else.


    In all these days, Ji Tingyang had never mentioned his younger brother and sister, so what she could know was even less.


    Nevertheless, Lin Xu hadn¡¯t expected that the baby her mother used to hold all day had become a household name star overnight.


    Excited, Lin Xu gazed at the electronic screen, trying to take a longer look at her younger son¡¯s handsome face. However, the ad on the screen was short-lived and quickly moved to another advertisement.


    During lunch, Lin Xu was continuously searching for information about Ji Zeqiu on her phone.


    The information recorded all the hard times he had been through from his debut to his rise to fame, and the more she read, the tighter her brows furrowed.


    Lin Xu was upset that she hadn¡¯t been part of her children¡¯s growing up, so she read the information very seriously. She tried to imprint everything into her brain and then deceitfully convinced herself that she had been part of their experiences.


    However, she was so focused on the information that she completely failed to notice the times Ji Tingyang¡¯s face showed a complex expression that he tried to speak but stopped himself.


    Lin Xu¡¯s gaze fell on the entertainment company where Ji Zeqiu was signed and discovered it was Chenxing Entertainment. She suddenly lifted her head, looking at Ji Tingyang with a mixture of shock and confusion.


    ¡°Chenxing is our family group¡¯s competitor, right?¡±


    In her memory, Chenxing had always been Ji Group¡¯s competitor. Had it been acquired by Ji¡¯s over the years?


    ¡°Yes.¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s reply shattered her last illusion.


    ¡°Why would Zeqiu be at Chenxing? Doesn¡¯t the Ji family have its own entertainment company?¡±


    Lin Xu had always thought that Ji Zeqiu debuted under Ji Family¡¯s entertainment subsidiary, so when others mentioned how difficult and challenging his rise to fame was before becoming well-known, she felt both distressed and confused.


    Why would it be so difficult in his own family¡¯s company, especially when Ji Tingyang was supposedly looking out for him?


    It all became clear to her once she saw which company Ji Zeqiu was affiliated with.


    Ji Tingyang, under the scrutinizing gaze of Lin Xu, eyes focused on the sharp point of a knife on the dining table, remained silent.


    ¡°Did you two have a fight?¡±


    Having heard from Ji Tingyang previously that his younger son and daughter didn¡¯t often come home, she had already been suspicious. But now, Ji Tingyang¡¯s taciturn attitude further confirmed her suspicions.


    As Lin Xu contemplated the plot of the novel, a sudden suspicion arose in her heart.


    Could it be because of Wen Li?


    She remembered that the plot mentioned both antagonistic sons liking Wen Li, which caused a rift between the two brothers?


    The more Lin Xu thought about it, the more she felt she had uncovered the truth.


    ¡ª¡ª


    Distracted by her thoughts, Lin Xu lost the mood to continue shopping in the afternoon and asked the driver to turn around back to the villa.


    This relieved Ji Tingyang, sparing him from the torturous shopping experience.


    He couldn¡¯t understand how his father had endured it in the past, able to shop with his mother all day without tiring.


    His tie hung loosely around his neck, adding a touch of careless charm.


    Ji Tingyang was about to head to the bedroom when his gaze fell upon the door at the end of the hall, and he changed direction.


    He pushed open the door, and Wen Li was on the phone with her back to him.


    ¡°The weather has cooled down, remember to wear more clothes¡­ Yes, I¡¯m fine here¡­¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go on a date tomorrow¡­ It doesn¡¯t matter where we go as long as I¡¯m with you¡­¡±


    Her shy smile reflected on the windowpane, stinging Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes.


    He walked over and snatched the phone from Wen Li¡¯s hand; the screen brightly displayed the name Xiao Yu.


    Wen Li turned pale and reached to snatch the phone back.


    Ji Tingyang was quicker, hung up the call, and furiously threw the phone to the ground. He grasped her chin tightly and said harshly,


    ¡°Wen Li, I allowed you to go out, not to set dates with Xiao Yu.¡±


    Wen Li¡¯s eyes instantly welled up with tears, and she choked out, ¡°You have someone new now, why can¡¯t you let me go?¡±


    Newcomer?


    Ji Tingyang hadn¡¯t yet realized who she was referring to when he heard Wen Li continue, ¡°Isn¡¯t Lin Xu already with you? You¡¯re giving her your card, buying her clothes; why can¡¯t you just let me go?¡±


    Ji Tingyang hesitated, wanting to say that Lin Xu was only his mother. But given Lin Xu¡¯s youthful appearance now, that statement was hard to believe.


    All he could muster was a dry denial, ¡°She, she isn¡¯t¡­ not what you think¡­¡±


    Tears finally slid down Wen Li¡¯s cheeks, dropping onto the back of his hand. She said vulnerably, ¡°I beg you to let me leave; there¡¯s no chance for us.¡±


    Ji Tingyang felt as though her tears scalded him, and he released his grip on her chin.


    He stood there before murmuring a denial, ¡°Wen Li, it was you who approached me first.¡±


    At that time, he was despondent due to his parents¡¯ deaths, and all the relatives in the Ji Family were seizing the opportunity to plunder what his father had built.


    Throughout that time, he was listless, and Wen Li was the first person to approach him voluntarily.


    ¡°If I could turn back time, I definitely would not choose to approach you,¡± said Wen Li coldly, tears in her eyes.


    Upon hearing her words, Ji Tingyang¡¯s face paled as he stared intently at Wen Li.


    After a long moment, he turned and left.


    Before he left, he dropped a ruthless remark.


    ¡°I will tell the butler that you are to rest at home tomorrow.¡±

 Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: Chapter 8 "You will never leave me in this lifetime.

    Chapter 8: Chapter 8 ¡°You will never leave me in this lifetime.


    Even though she had to reluctantly return to the Ji Family home every night, Wen Li was still very happy to have seen the sunlight again for the past few days. However, a single sentence from Ji Tingyang once again imprisoned her in a cage.


    Those who have seen the light always find it hard to endure the darkness.


    Wen Li might have had a gentle nature, but after Ji Tingyang left, she also threw a tantrum, smashing everything in the room that could be smashed.


    She even refused to have dinner.


    The butler, carrying the untouched dinner tray, came downstairs, trembling with trepidation, and said to Ji Tingyang, ¡°Lady Wen won¡¯t open the door.¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s face was frosty, and he got up coldly, his chair scraping against the marble floor with a sharp, grating noise.


    The atmosphere in the living room turned to ice, as if one had fallen into an ice cellar, shivering uncontrollably.


    The surrounding nannies and butlers dared not even breathe, doing their best to become invisible.


    Ji Tingyang walked towards Wen Li¡¯s room, he twisted the doorknob, but it did not budge, locked from the inside.


    Before he could say a word, something smashed against the door, and with a crash, pieces fell to the floor.


    ¡°Get lost!¡±


    Wen Li¡¯s voice was choked with sobs, as she hysterically yelled.


    ¡°Tell Ji Tingyang that unless he lets me out tomorrow, I will starve myself!¡±


    Ji Tingyang closed his lips that had been about to speak, half his body shrouded in the shadows of the light, his dark pupils growing even more somber and menacing.


    He turned to the butler next to him and said, ¡°Since she wants to starve herself, let her wish be granted; no one is allowed to bring her food!¡±


    Having said that, he turned and went downstairs.


    In less than a moment, the sound of a car¡¯s engine roared to life in the garage, and it drifted away from the villa, growing fainter and fainter.


    In the club¡¯s private room, several men were cheerfully toasting to Ji Tingyang.


    ¡°President Ji actually chose not to stay at home with the beauty today, but joined us for drinks instead. This is indeed rare,¡± one of them commented.


    Everyone in the circle knew that Ji Tingyang kept a delicate flower at home, so bewitched was he that he hardly went to the office anymore, almost as if he feared she might run away; he stayed at home all day long.


    Ji Tingyang ignored their teasing and didn¡¯t care about how strong the drinks were on the table, just picking them up and guzzling them down.


    The burning sensation spread from his throat to his stomach and then throughout his body, as if it could numb the pain in his heart.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression gradually became vacant, and the exclamations of his good drinking capacity dissipated from his ears. He seemed to return to the afternoon when he first met Wen Li.


    He was 16 then, and it had been nine years since his parents died. His aunt and uncle reluctantly took in the three siblings, lured by their father¡¯s substantial inheritance.


    But that was barely enough to keep them from starving; there wasn¡¯t much more.


    Every morning before the chauffeur took them to school, Ji Tingyang would see his aunt caressing her son¡¯s head with a loving expression, wishing him a happy, safe, and smooth day, and if she was in a good mood, she¡¯d kiss his cheek too.


    Every time he saw this scene, Ji Tingyang would miss the gentle visage of his own mother, and the sourness in his heart would churn, causing his eyes to redden before he hastily looked away.


    His cousin was particularly resentful of them staying at his house and would pick on them on purpose.


    He would hold back a bit at home, but outside, he was unrestrained.


    One noon after school, Ji Tingyang was dragged into a corner of the academic building by this cousin and beaten up.


    Although Ji Tingyang was lean, fighting back was easy for him, but he couldn¡¯t.


    Because for every act of resistance, his cousin would seek retribution double-fold from his younger brother and sister at home, so Ji Tingyang could only endure it silently.


    It didn¡¯t matter; he had grown accustomed to it. Once he came of age, he would take back the family inheritance, move out with his brother and sister, and everything would get better.


    Ji Tingyang comforted himself with this thought, numbing his mind.


    His vision gradually blurred, and his mind began to swirl with confusion.


    ¡°What are you doing! Stop it, or I¡¯ll call the teacher!¡±


    The sweet voice, tinged with a barely perceptible tremble, rang out. The girl, who looked much younger than him, was clearly afraid, yet she bravely stepped forward.


    ¡°Mind your own business, or I¡¯ll hit you too,¡± the cousin threatened fiercely.


    The little girl clutched the straps of her backpack nervously, ¡°I already told the teacher, he¡¯ll be here to catch you soon!¡±


    Telling the teacher was shameful, but effective.


    Teachers naturally intimidated students, and after a few seconds of hesitation, he turned and ran off.


    Seeing the girl¡¯s subtle sigh of relief, Ji Tingyang knew her words were a lie.


    He slowly got up from the ground, clutching his bruised arm, and made his way step by step toward the school gate.


    The little girl followed behind him, chattering, ¡°Hey, I helped you, don¡¯t I get even a thank you?¡±


    ¡°Your hand is hurt, are you going to go back like this? Your family will be worried.¡±


    Ji Tingyang paused, thought of his younger brother and sister, and for the first time, hesitation crossed his emotionless face.


    The little girl bit her lip and mustered a second burst of courage, pulling him to sit down on a nearby stone staircase. Then she took several adhesive bandages out of her bag and patched up his wounds.


    Ji Tingyang remained still, letting her fuss over him, his attention drawn to a mother and child by the roadside.


    The little boy pointed at an ice cream shop, tugging at his mother¡¯s sleeve and whining, seemingly wanting some ice cream.


    The mother squatted down, said something to him that made the boy laugh out loud, and he no longer begged for the ice cream.


    The mother gently touched the boy¡¯s head, as if praising his good behavior, causing the boy to blush with a mix of pride and shyness.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s hand, which hung by his side, clenched involuntarily into a fist; the image of his mother was becoming blurrier, even the warm feeling of her caress in his memory was fading away.


    He tried desperately to remember, to recapture that warm sensation of love, to grasp it tightly and never let go¡­


    Suddenly.


    A small hand landed on his head and gave it a gentle rub¡ªthe warmth he yearned for¡­


    Ji Tingyang looked up, his dark pupils narrowing, fixated on the little girl before him.


    The girl was startled by his ominous gaze, retracting her hand in fear and explaining cautiously, ¡°I saw you looking over there with envy, I thought you might want someone to touch your head too, so I¡­¡±


    Had she misunderstood?


    How embarrassing.


    Ji Tingyang stood up and grabbed her wrist forcefully, causing her to let out a soft hiss of pain.


    He opened his mouth, straining his voice that had been silent for too long, to utter the first words she heard from him.


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°Wen¡­ Wen Li.¡±


    In the blink of an eye, the lonely, wounded boy had grown up into a grim and frightening man, keeping her captive in a luxurious villa.


    He gripped her hands above her head, leaned down over her, and pinned her to the bed.


    Another well-defined hand squeezed her neck, his eyes full of obsession and persistence, clinging to her like a demon.


    ¡°Wen Li, you¡¯ll never escape me in this lifetime.¡±

 Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: Chapter 9 "Dont Leave Me Behind...

    Chapter 9: Chapter 9 ¡°Don¡¯t Leave Me Behind¡­


    Wen Li suddenly awoke from her sleep, sitting up and massaging her temples, feeling a trace of dampness before she realized her forehead was already covered with cold sweat.


    She hadn¡¯t expected to dream of Ji Tingyang while sleeping; he was not only persistent in reality but also relentless even in her dreams.


    Just as she had told Ji Tingyang that day, if she had known he would one day confine her like a vengeful snake trapping its prey, she would have definitely stayed as far away from that corner as possible.


    She wiped the sweat with the back of her hand, patted her flustered chest, and began to feel calmer when she caught a glimpse of the ringing phone on the bedside table.


    Turning her body, she glanced at the caller ID¡ªit was from Ji Tingyang.


    She hesitated for a few seconds between hanging up and answering before finally picking up.


    ¡°Unless you¡¯re calling to tell me you¡¯ll let me go out tomorrow, then just forget it¡­¡±


    ¡°Lady Wen, I¡¯m President Ji¡¯s friend. He¡¯s had too much drink at the club, could you come and pick him up?¡±


    The caller¡¯s voice was loud and seemed to be slurred from drinking too much.


    There had been similar incidents before; when Ji Tingyang got drunk outside, someone would always call her without asking to pick him up.


    ¡°I¡¯m busy, please call the butler.¡±


    Wen Li declined as usual without waiting for a response and quickly hung up, then turned off her phone to prevent those people from calling persistently.


    She then lay back in bed, pulled the covers, and buried her head deep into her bedding.


    On the other end, the person was practiced; in no time, the butler¡¯s phone rang, ¡°¡­ Yes, thank you.¡±


    Lin Xu was just getting water in the kitchen when she came out and heard the butler¡¯s frantic, ¡°I¡¯ll head over right away.¡±


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± she asked casually.


    The butler, who had not worked for the Ji Family for long and therefore did not recognize Lin Xu, had come to understand after a few days that President Ji treated her quite differently.


    In front of this Miss Lin, President Ji¡¯s volatile temper always seemed to become very gentle.


    He had speculated that maybe Miss Lin was Ji¡¯s new love interest, but their interactions did not resemble those of lovers, they seemed more like¡­ relatives?


    But whatever the relationship, he dared not neglect Lin Xu, and so he immediately replied: ¡°Miss Lin, President Ji got drunk at the club, he asked me to go and pick him up.¡±


    Drunk?


    Lin Xu stared blankly, ¡°Is it for business?¡±


    The butler looked at her and hesitated: ¡°President Ji is probably, well, in a bad mood today¡­¡±


    There had been several occasions before when Ji Tingyang and Wen Li had a huge argument, and he would end up drinking himself into a stupor at the club.


    Remembering the quarrel between the two that afternoon, this time was likely no exception.


    Lin Xu also thought of Wen Li upstairs and sighed inwardly.


    ¡ª-


    In the club.


    A few young masters continued to pour drink for Ji Tingyang, pushing the women beside them onto him.


    ¡°President Ji, there are so many women in this world, why pine for just one? Look at this flower, so delicate and tender, try her out and you¡¯re guaranteed to like her.¡±


    They all knew Ji Tingyang was throwing his life away over a woman who didn¡¯t appreciate him. They didn¡¯t normally connect, but whenever they were called out to drink, it was clear Ji Tingyang got hurt by his ¡®canary¡¯ at home and was drowning his sorrows.


    They were curious about what kind of woman could drive Ji Tingyang to this state of utter despair.


    However, Ji Tingyang kept that woman very closely protected; no one had ever seen her, only knew a name¡ªWen Li.


    Though they were just fair-weather friends, they still tried to persuade Ji Tingyang not to hang himself over Wen Li.


    In the midst of their talk, one young master pushed the woman against Ji Tingyang¡¯s arm.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s brows were tightly furrowed, and his gloomy, cold eyes swept over the woman before he spat out a chilling word: ¡°Scram.¡±


    The woman was so frightened by his intimidating gaze that she felt a chill in her heart, her heart trembled, but she dared not get any closer.


    ¡°Worthless, you¡¯re useless even when given an opportunity,¡± the young master disdainfully pulled the woman aside.


    He turned his head and scolded the club manager, ¡°Didn¡¯t you see that President Ji is dissatisfied with the women here? What other beauties do you have? Call them all over!¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, I¡¯ll call them right away,¡± the manager nodded and bowed profusely.


    After a moment, a woman pushed the door open and entered.


    The woman was wearing a form-fitting long dress, perfectly showcasing her exquisite figure.


    She walked slowly in delicate white high heels, and her chestnut-colored long hair was casually draped over her shoulders, unstyled. Her delicate features were stunningly beautiful and luminous, her pale white skin appeared even more like creamy jade under the light, instantly attracting everyone¡¯s attention.


    The eyes of the young masters in the private room brightened instantly, their faces full of eagerness.


    Only one thought remained in their minds.


    Such a beauty.


    The young master nearest to the door had the advantage of proximity and quickly stood up to greet her. He reached out to embrace her slender waist, but she deftly avoided him.


    Normally, he would have cursed a few words at her prudishness.


    But now, he couldn¡¯t muster any irritation and even consoled himself.


    It¡¯s alright, beauties are entitled to their caprices.


    ¡°Miss, may I ask how to address you?¡± he asked with a smile.


    ¡°My surname is Lin.¡±


    ¡°Miss Lin, shall we have a drink?¡±


    ¡°No, thank you, I¡¯m here for Ji Tingyang.¡± She looked around the private room, and upon seeing Ji Tingyang, she walked straight over and took the wine glass from his hand. ¡°Stop drinking, we should go home now.¡±


    ¡°Home?¡± Ji Tingyang murmured, his consciousness was beginning to blur.


    Where was his home?


    His home had scattered twenty years ago¡­


    Lin Xu¡¯s voice was soft as she stroked his head, ¡°Yes, we¡¯re going home, I¡¯m here to pick you up.¡±


    Ji Tingyang looked up, the person in front of him seemed blurry. He strained his eyes, trying to make out who she was.


    Finally, he recognized the person from deep within his memories.


    Ji Tingyang grasped her hand in disbelief, his voice as light as if a breeze could blow it away, ¡°Mom?¡±


    His grip grew tighter, as though he wanted to clutch her to him forever. His voice was so fragile, ¡°Don¡¯t leave me behind¡­¡±


    Don¡¯t leave the three of them alone in this world¡­


    A sharp pain suddenly shot through Lin Xu¡¯s chest, as if it was being pricked by dense needles, and the corners of her eyes reddened.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I won¡¯t leave you behind again. I¡¯ll take you home now, is that okay?¡±


    Ji Tingyang nodded and stood up obediently, but his hand still clung to her fearfully.


    The young masters in the private room were dumbfounded by Ji Tingyang¡¯s compliant behavior towards this woman.


    They hadn¡¯t heard Ji Tingyang¡¯s reference to Lin Xu; they only heard his plea for her not to leave him behind.


    Could this person be his long-yearned-for Wen Li?


    But the woman clearly stated her surname was Lin, so was Ji Tingyang drowning his sorrows in alcohol tonight because of another woman?

 Chapter 10 - Chapter 10: Chapter 10 "Dont touch her.

    Chapter 10: Chapter 10 ¡°Don¡¯t touch her.


    As Lin Xu was about to leave with Ji Tingyang, a man hurriedly spoke up, ¡°Hey, hey, hey, don¡¯t go just yet.¡±


    Lin Xu turned back, ¡°Is there something else?¡±


    The man, also slightly drunk, stood up and staggered over, his eyes fixed intently on Lin Xu, ¡°Don¡¯t rush off, you¡¯re already here. Why don¡¯t we all have a few drinks together?¡±


    ¡°Ji Tingyang is intoxicated; I need to take him home first,¡± Lin Xu gently declined.


    As for whether she would come back after taking him home, that was another matter altogether.


    The man, under the influence of alcohol, evidently couldn¡¯t understand the subtext in her words and pointed to a sofa nearby, ¡°Just throw him on the couch to sleep it off. Come on, let¡¯s have a few drinks.¡±


    As he spoke, he reached out to pull Lin Xu.


    Many men in the club, once drunk, seemed to reveal their true nature, liking to make unwanted advances on young women.


    Lin Xu¡¯s brows furrowed, and as she was about to dodge to the side, someone preempted her by stopping the man¡¯s actions.


    His hand was restrained, and the person held him with considerable strength. He tried to retract his hand but couldn¡¯t break free.


    ¡°Who is it!¡±


    The man looked up, annoyed, and glared over, but the next second his eyes met Ji Tingyang¡¯s dark gaze.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s previously hazy demeanor was gone, replaced by a terrifying coldness in his eyes, and a faint menace emanated from his person, ¡°Don¡¯t touch her.¡±


    The pressure from Ji Tingyang¡¯s hand grew heavier, and his grasp made bones creak ominously as if they were about to break.


    The man suddenly felt sober from the pain, with cold sweat beading on his forehead, and he pleaded, ¡°Yes, yes, President Ji, I was wrong, please let me go¡­¡±


    Lin Xu placed her hand on Ji Tingyang¡¯s arm, signaling something, and in an instant, Ji Tingyang released his grip, tossing the man¡¯s hand aside.


    It wasn¡¯t until Lin Xu and Ji Tingyang had left that the frozen atmosphere seemed to thaw, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.


    ¡°Old Lan, you even dare to mess with Ji Tingyang¡¯s people? Are you tired of living?¡± someone chided nearby.


    The man rubbed his wrist, which was still sore, and was filled with fear, ¡°I was just drunk, why didn¡¯t any of you stop me?¡±


    They all knew that the last person who had verbally harassed Wen Li from afar was run into the ground financially by Ji¡¯s company; that person hadn¡¯t even met Wen Li and ended up in such a plight.


    If he had actually made a move just now, heaven knows what terrifying consequences would have followed.


    However, after this incident, they all reached a consensus in their minds.


    Ji Tingyang had finally cast aside the canary from his home and had found a new love.


    And the new love that everyone speculated about was at that moment sitting in the car with a cold face, silently looking down at her phone.


    Since leaving the club, Ji Tingyang had sobered up quite a bit. He glanced at Lin Xu next to him, and seeing that she was silent, he became increasingly anxious.


    It seemed like just a few days ago, Lin Xu had said that if he went to nightclubs to learn bad habits, she wouldn¡¯t allow him to come home.


    Though that wasn¡¯t quite right¡ªhe had just been to a private club.


    With this thought, Ji Tingyang straightened his back slightly.


    ¡°Were those people your friends?¡± Lin Xu was the first to break the silence in the car.


    Ji Tingyang couldn¡¯t quite gauge the meaning of her question, ¡°Not¡­ really.¡±


    ¡°Those few people looked unreliable at a glance, talking and acting so slick and without manners. They start pawing at a girl the moment they see one.¡± In just a few minutes and a brief encounter, Lin Xu had accumulated a heap of dissatisfaction with those men, ¡°Stay away from them in the future if you can, just to be careful you don¡¯t get led astray. If you ever¡­¡±


    It¡¯s as if becoming a mother imbues a love for nagging at their children, admonishing them not to do this or that.


    In the past, Ji Tingyang always heard his classmates complain about how annoying their mothers were, even interfering with whom they befriended.


    At that time, he couldn¡¯t help but envy and wonder, what would that feel like?


    So it turned out to be really that nagging, huh.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s body relaxed, leaning against the back seat, a faint, almost imperceptible smile curling on his lips. Listening to the unending chatter beside his ear, he felt an inexplicable warmth in his chest.


    Suddenly, the nagging voice came to an automatic halt.


    ¡°¡­Am I being too meddlesome?¡± Lin Xu¡¯s eyes flashed with a hint of annoyance.


    She remembered that many rebellious kids began their defiance because of too much parental control, eventually leading to discord within the family.


    As a child, she hated her parents¡¯ constant nagging in her ear and had secretly vowed never to become such a person, aspiring to be a new era mother.


    Before heading to the club, she had braced herself, but upon arriving and seeing Ji Tingyang being dragged around, drunk to the point of oblivion, anger still flared up inside her.


    She had held back her frustration all the way, yet in the end, she couldn¡¯t help but give him a dressing-down.


    Thinking about how she had inevitably become the very person she despised when she grew up, Lin Xu¡¯s emotions suddenly plummeted.


    Anyone unaware of the situation might have assumed Lin Xu was the one who just received a lecture.


    Ji Tingyang immediately took a stance, ¡°No, you can manage however you want.¡±


    However, his words failed to lift her sagging spirits.


    Ji Tingyang opened his mouth to speak, but unfortunately, he too was a president who loved to lecture on ordinary days, and now he couldn¡¯t muster any words of comfort.


    His mind raced, and catching a glimpse of a barbecue stall outside the car, he quickly said, ¡°Let¡¯s go have some barbecue?¡±


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    At a roadside stall, Lin Xu¡¯s table was covered with plate after plate of grilled meat skewers, emitting a tantalizing aroma after being roasted over charcoal.


    Taking a beef skewer to her mouth, the tender juices burst in her mouth as she happily swung her legs back and forth, as if the previous heaviness in the car was just an illusion.


    Ji Tingyang secretly heaved a sigh of relief.


    Thankfully, he remembered his mother loved barbecues, and whenever she felt down, his father would sneak her out. When they returned home, his mother¡¯s mood would always be exceptionally joyful and buoyant.


    The two of them thought they were hiding it well, yet they overlooked the scent of barbecue on their clothes.


    Every time he saw them acting secretively, he would sneer with disdain.


    He didn¡¯t like the roadside stalls at all, not sanitary in the slightest, and even if they took him there, he wouldn¡¯t go.


    Yet he hadn¡¯t expected that one day, he would take the initiative to bring Lin Xu to a roadside barbecue stall.


    ¡°This lamb skewer is delicious, try a bite,¡± Lin Xu offered the skewer in her hand to him.


    Ji Tingyang took it from her, looking at the meat skewer before him, and after hesitating for a moment under Lin Xu¡¯s expectant gaze, he bit into it.


    ¡°Not bad.¡±


    It was actually pretty delicious.


    Lin Xu¡¯s eyes crinkled with joy, ¡°Your dad used to sneak me out for barbecues all the time, I had always wanted to invite you and your siblings too, but your dad said it was our own little world just for the two of us¡­ ¡±


    Ji Tingyang fell silent.


    That was entirely like something that man, who used to monopolize his mother¡¯s time, would say.


    Lin Xu said, ¡°I always regretted not being able to go out for barbecue together, but now that wish has come true. If next time we could also invite Zeqiu and your sister, that would be even better.¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s thumb rubbed the water glass on the table, and after a long while, he finally said, ¡°We will.¡±

 Chapter 11 - Chapter 11: Chapter 11 The skill of chasing people is too poor

    Chapter 11: Chapter 11 The skill of chasing people is too poor


    ¡°`


    Because of the beer she had while eating barbecue that night, Lin Xu¡¯s head was heavy and dizzy, so she slept until nearly noon before waking up.


    She rubbed her head as she walked out of her room, and just as she was about to go downstairs, she heard the sound of intense and erratic arguing coming from the room at the end of the hallway.


    Lin Xu¡¯s heart stirred, and she walked towards it.


    The clearer sound of arguing seeped through the slightly ajar door.


    Wen Li had been injured somewhere, as her arm bore a fresh and glaringly red scar, and her complexion was terribly pale.


    She sat on the sofa, stubbornly biting her red lips and turning her head away, refusing to look at Ji Tingyang.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s face was as cold as ever; as he looked at the wound on her hand, he intended to say something comforting, but when he started to speak, it turned into sarcasm, ¡°Wen Li, you really are capable, climbing walls for a man.¡±


    The wall in the backyard was very high, topped with a thorny anti-theft net. A security guard happened to spot Wen Li attempting to climb it during his patrol and called out.


    Wen Li was startled, and in her carelessness, her arm was slashed with a horrifying wound, and she fell off the wall in pain, her face twisting.


    But no matter how much it hurt, she was unwilling to compromise with Ji Tingyang.


    At that moment, someone was tending to her wound, but she pulled her hand back, ¡°Leave me alone.¡±


    She had the air of someone who would rather bleed to death than let Ji Tingyang dictate her actions that day.


    The person withdrew their hand, skillfully stood aside, and looked up at the sky as if they were used to their quarrel and were just waiting for them to finish before, under the threat of Ji Tingyang, they would forcibly treat Wen Li¡¯s wound and then clock out for the day.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression turned cold, his fingers tightly gripping her chin as he stared into her eyes, ¡°Wen Li, who gave you the courage to threaten me over a man?¡±


    Wen Li clenched her teeth and remained silent.


    ¡°Since you don¡¯t want treatment, then as you wish. I hope you can last till the end and not beg me for mercy,¡± Ji Tingyang let go and walked away.


    As soon as he opened the door, he bumped right into Lin Xu.


    He paused for a moment and then saw Lin Xu shaking her head and clicking her tongue.


    ¡°Son, where did you learn your courting skills? They are awful.¡±


    ¡°What¡­ what?¡±


    ¡°Women need to be pampered. If your dad treated me like you do, I would have dumped him long ago. You should learn more from your father.¡±


    Ji Tingyang remembered how his father was always compliant and whipped by his mother, and for a moment, he felt disdainful.


    He didn¡¯t manage his facial expression well, and the disdain showed, which resulted in a slap from Lin Xu.


    ¡°Forget it, let me teach you,¡± Lin Xu said, eager to try.


    Because she had missed out on twenty years of her son¡¯s life and hadn¡¯t had the chance to guide him in many matters, not even fulfilling much of a mother¡¯s responsibilities.


    Now that Ji Tingyang was all grown up, he no longer needed guidance with his studies, and the business affairs of the company were too complex for her to teach anything about.


    Today, she had stumbled upon an opportunity where she could make a difference.


    Possibly, with her personal supervision and guidance, she might save her son from continuing down the path of a twisted villain.


    The more Lin Xu thought about it, the more excited she became.


    She urged Ji Tingyang to have someone properly bandage Wen Li¡¯s wound first.


    Ji Tingyang pursed his lips; he had just given the cold shoulder a moment ago, and it wasn¡¯t like him to backtrack so quickly.


    He was about to refuse when the memory of Lin Xu¡¯s look of disappointment the night before flashed through his mind.


    In front of his long-lost mother, where he was finally feeling a bit of maternal love, he still wanted to be a good son.


    Reluctantly, Ji Tingyang had no choice but to allow the person next to him to go back in and bandage Wen Li¡¯s wound.


    ¡°That¡¯s more like it, my son is really good,¡± Lin Xu said, especially fond of stroking his head.


    Ji Tingyang didn¡¯t resist; instead, he compliantly bowed his head.


    ¡°`


    Inside the room.


    Wen Li pulled out tissue after tissue, sobbing as she wiped away her tears.


    The ringtone of the mobile phone on the bed suddenly rang, and she picked it up to see, the caller ID glaringly showing the name Xiao Yu.


    She paused for a moment, and just before the ring was about to disconnect, she snapped back to reality and hurriedly answered the call.


    ¡°Xiao Yu¡­¡± Wen Li began, her voice thick with tears.


    The person on the other end of the line was taken aback for a moment, then frowned, ¡°What¡¯s happened?¡±


    ¡°I, I¡¯m okay,¡± she quickly replied.


    Xiao Yu was very perceptive; thinking of her weak nature, he immediately asked, ¡°Has someone bullied you?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not that.¡± Wen Li hurried to cover up, ¡°I accidentally fell today and can¡¯t accompany you to the movies. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    She secretly didn¡¯t want Xiao Yu to find out about Ji Tingyang.


    ¡°Are you hurt? How bad is it, are you still at home? I¡¯ll take you to the hospital!¡± Xiao Yu sounded somewhat anxious.


    Feeling the concern he had for her, a touch of warmth bubbled up in Wen Li¡¯s heart, a care she couldn¡¯t find with Ji Tingyang.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, you don¡¯t need to come over!¡± She wasn¡¯t staying at home right now; if Xiao Yu came over, she would give herself away.


    It took her thousands of words of persuasion to finally stop Xiao Yu from rushing over to take her to the hospital.


    ¡°Well, alright then, you must tell me if anything is wrong.¡±


    ¡°Sure, it¡¯s just a pity I can¡¯t go to the movies with you,¡± Wen Li said softly.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, there will be other chances for us to go together in the future.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Wen Li held the phone, smiling sweetly.


    The call went on and on with sugary affection before it finally ended.


    Xiao Yu looked at the phone which had long since disconnected; the ice cubes in his cola had melted and the condensation on the exterior of the glass wetted his left hand.


    He was obviously waiting in the movie theater for quite a while, worried that something had happened to Wen Li, which made him call her.


    He turned and put the cola on the trash can, crushing the two movie tickets in his pocket that had already passed showtime into a ball, and tossed them into the bin.


    Ignoring the flood of WeChat messages jumping out, he made a call to his boss, canceling his leave for the day and headed back to work.


    Last time, Wen Li seemed to take a liking to a necklace, she didn¡¯t say it, but he still noticed, and he needed to earn the money for it as soon as possible.


    ¡ª¡ª


    Early the next morning, Wen Li hurriedly headed downstairs.


    Since she hadn¡¯t been able to go out yesterday, she had to set out early today to find Xiao Yu and explain.


    But her luck wasn¡¯t good, for she ran into Ji Tingyang just as he was coming out of the gym.


    He was wearing tight clothes suitable for working out, his muscle lines smooth and powerful beneath the fabric. His short, slightly damp hair from sweat, had water droplets sliding down from the tips, exuding a stable male scent.


    Wen Li was stunned, and it took her a moment to regain her composure, quickly looking away as a suspicious blush crept onto her ear tips.


    It was the first time she saw Ji Tingyang like this.


    Ji Tingyang, holding a towel, casually wiped his hair, ¡°Want to have breakfast?¡±


    He lacked the usual sharp confrontational tone. Instead, his voice was a rare calm.


    Wen Li was a bit unused to this, and declined instinctively, ¡°No thanks, I¡¯ll eat out.¡±


    Her words hinted at her intent to go out, while she stealthily stole another glance at Ji Tingyang with a nervous heart.


    Just when she thought that Ji Tingyang, like usual, would suddenly turn hostile and forbid her from going out, he merely responded with a calm expression.


    Even after Wen Li left the house, she couldn¡¯t fathom what his reaction meant.

 Chapter 12 - Chapter 12: Chapter 12 "Who can hold on to this?

    Chapter 12: Chapter 12 ¡°Who can hold on to this?


    Wen Li didn¡¯t give Xiao Yu a heads-up before she secretly ran over to see him.


    At that time, Xiao Yu was working at the restaurant. There were quite a few customers, and he was busy serving them.


    It was not until he got a break that he realized Wen Li had arrived at some point.


    Seeing her, Xiao Yu was stunned for a moment, then his eyes lit up, and he quickly approached her.


    ¡°Why have you come?¡± Xiao Yu led her to a side table to sit down, ¡°I still have two hours before my shift ends, can you wait here for me for a bit?¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Wen Li nodded happily, her lips curving upwards and staying that way.


    It wasn¡¯t easy to come out and see Xiao Yu, not to mention waiting two hours; even waiting a whole day didn¡¯t matter to her.


    Xiao Yu took the menu and handed it to Wen Li, ¡°Take a look and see what you¡¯d like to eat while you wait for me.¡±


    Wen Li, who hadn¡¯t had breakfast, casually picked a few of her favorite morning bites. She took out her wallet to pay, but Xiao Yu quickly stopped her.


    He clenched his teeth, steeled his heart, and yet put on a relaxed face, ¡°I¡¯ll pay, I¡¯ve got an employee discount working here.¡±


    The girl he liked had come to see him; how could he, young and proud as he was, let her pay?


    But with this breakfast, his earnings for the day from his part-time job were all but spent.


    Wen Li, unaware of his thoughts, simply agreed without arguing when Xiao Yu insisted on paying.


    As the restaurant grew busier, Xiao Yu couldn¡¯t chat much before he had to turn around and get back to serving customers.


    Wen Li sat by herself, taking out her phone, buoyantly snapping away at the breakfast on the table.


    She then posted a status update on social media, ¡°A beautiful day starts with breakfast.¡±


    Upon refreshing her feed, she saw she already had instant likes.


    Wen Li clicked to see and immediately exited with disdain when she saw it was Ji Tingyang.


    Just as she returned to her messages, two texts popped up consecutively.


    Ji Tingyang had transferred 5200 yuan with a caring note telling her to eat more and buy anything she liked, and if it wasn¡¯t enough, to let him know.


    Who cares about his stinking money!


    Wen Li was furious with Ji Tingyang, feeling his transfer was an insult, and she grew even more disdainful.


    She deleted Ji Tingyang¡¯s chat thread, then checked the second message that had come from Xu Wei, a short-haired friend she had last encountered with Lin Xu and Ji Tingyang at a mall.


    The first thing she saw was Xu Wei¡¯s critical words.


    ¡°You¡¯ve gone to see Xiao Yu again?!¡±


    Such a cheap breakfast could only be from Xiao Yu¡¯s making, she thought without doubt.


    Before she could reply, Xu Wei¡¯s messages came flooding in.


    ¡°Soy milk and dough fritters with plain congee that just looking at kills the appetite, are you really satisfied with that?¡±


    Wen Li stubbornly retorted, ¡°As long as I¡¯m with Xiao Yu, I like whatever I eat.¡±


    ¡°You might enjoy it once or twice, but as time goes on and you¡¯re always worrying about household expenses, will you truly be happy? When Xiao Yu can¡¯t even afford to buy you a piece of clothing or jewelry you like, won¡¯t you feel disappointed?¡±


    Xu Wei earnestly advised her, hoping she wouldn¡¯t become blindly enamored with love.


    The opposition from two people instantly triggered Wen Li¡¯s rebellious spirit; they all doubted her relationship with Xiao Yu, so she was determined to stay with him and prove their love until the end, debunking everyone¡¯s skepticism!


    So when Xu Wei¡¯s tedious messages came through again, Wen Li decisively blocked her, and blocked Ji Tingyang as well.


    The two hours quickly passed, and Xiao Yu headed towards the corner table only to find Wen Li with her head down furiously typing on her phone, pressing so hard as if intending to punch a hole through the screen.


    He chuckled softly and walked over, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Wen Li shook her head and glanced at the time again, then asked excitedly, ¡°Are you off work?¡±


    ¡°Yes, where do you want to go? I¡¯m free this afternoon.¡±


    ¡°Shall we go for a walk by the river?¡± Wen Li suggested.


    The riverside was close by, just a walk through the city center and a bit further.


    Xiao Yu nodded, his gaze catching the barely touched breakfast on the table, ¡°Didn¡¯t the breakfast suit your taste?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m already full.¡± Wen Li, not too bothered about the wasted food, excitedly pulled Xiao Yu out.


    Xiao Yu¡¯s brow slightly furrowed, a trace of barely noticeable dissatisfaction surfaced in his heart, but before he could even notice his own slight emotion, it was interrupted by Wen Li¡¯s excited voice.


    He smiled lightly, letting Wen Li lead him outside.


    Savoring their rare time alone, they did not immediately take the bus to the riverside station, but walked leisurely instead.


    Walking to the city center, Wen Li passed by the usual luxurious jewelry store, gazing at the exquisite necklaces displayed in the glass window on the street. The gemstones sparkled brilliantly under the sunlight, capturing her attention instantly.


    It was the sapphire necklace she had spotted the last time she passed by. However, the necklace bore a hefty price tag, far beyond what she could afford.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Xiao Yu urged from beside her.


    Wen Li turned her head and saw Xiao Yu¡¯s indifferent expression, noticing he didn¡¯t even ask if she liked it.


    Although she knew he didn¡¯t have the money to buy the necklace, he could at least make a statement about earning money to buy it for her in the future.


    At that moment, she remembered what Xu Wei had said.


    ¡°When Xiao Yu can¡¯t even afford to buy you a piece of clothing or jewelry you like, won¡¯t you truly be disappointed?¡±


    Wen Li shook her head fiercely.


    No, no, she couldn¡¯t think like that.


    Xiao Yu was simply not good at this sort of flowery talk. Besides, she wasn¡¯t with Xiao Yu for the money. He worked so hard to earn money; it shouldn¡¯t be wasted foolishly on such things.


    She deleted the thoughts that shouldn¡¯t exist in her mind and continued with Xiao Yu toward the riverside.


    ¡ª¡ª


    Ji Mansion.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s facial expression had been icy and unpleasant ever since he discovered that Wen Li had blocked him, turning the surrounding atmosphere dark and oppressive.


    The household staff and the housekeeper didn¡¯t dare to breathe too loud, hastily lowering their presence to prevent Ji Tingyang¡¯s anger from turning towards them.


    At this time, only one person could ignore Ji Tingyang¡¯s rage and remain unharmed.


    Lin Xu walked over with freshly washed cherries, popping one into Ji Tingyang¡¯s mouth and sternly said, ¡°Eat some fruit to cool down your temper.¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyebrows twisted into a frown, and although cursing words rushed to his lips, his anger softened slightly when his eyes met Lin Xu¡¯s.


    ¡°Don¡¯t rush, this is just the beginning. Plus, look at your conversation with Wen Li this morning, didn¡¯t you both not argue and was a lot calmer?¡± Lin Xu analyzed with him, ¡°This shows physical temptation still works.¡±


    Ji Tingyang recalled the workout clothes he wore this morning, intentionally showing off his physique, a flash of embarrassment crossing his face.


    Although he was reluctant to admit it, it seemed to be true.


    ¡°Did you find this out online?¡± Ji Tingyang asked.


    ¡°No, these are the tricks your dad used to use. Knowing I liked handsome guys, he¡¯d intentionally show off his abs in front of me. Who could resist that?¡± Lin Xu criticized.


    Ji Tingyang: ¡°¡­¡±

 Chapter 13 - Chapter 13: Chapter 13 Awkwardness

    Chapter 13: Chapter 13 Awkwardness


    Ji Tingyang had never heard his parents¡¯ story; he was too young before, and even when Lin Xu spoke of it, he couldn¡¯t understand. Later, they had passed away as he grew up.


    Now, hearing Lin Xu bring it up, he suddenly became curious.


    ¡°Just because he showed off his abs, you went with him?¡± Ji Tingyang felt that was rather shallow of her.


    ¡°Not at all!¡± Lin Xu retorted, then shyly smiled, ¡°Of course, there was also your dad¡¯s financial onslaught.¡±


    He always liked to give her presents, from flowers and hair clips to jewelry and necklaces; there was always something every time they met.


    So much so that she often wondered if this man was intentionally using this method to elevate her standards to keep her from considering other suitors.


    Ji Tingyang thought he would hear about her well-considered reasons for choosing his father, but it was just for money?


    He disapproved, that still seemed shallow.


    ¡°These are all from my experience, listen to me and you won¡¯t go wrong!¡± Lin Xu said confidently, then started her enthusiastic talk, ¡°There was one time your dad¡­¡±


    Ji Tingyang harbored doubts, but still quietly listened to her, occasionally laughing at how silly Lin Xu was to be fooled by his father¡¯s tricks.


    Time gradually passed, and Ji Tingyang didn¡¯t even notice; he had completely forgotten to check his phone during this time.


    He no longer felt annoyed or angry because of that blocked friend, he had even forgotten about Wen Li.


    The butlers and servants around breathed a sigh of relief, it seemed today President Ji wouldn¡¯t be quick to lose his temper and dock their bonuses.


    Miss Lin sure was their savior!


    Wen Li returned to the Ji Mansion later in the evening.


    Before she came back, she had been uneasy; she had blocked Ji Tingyang¡¯s WeChat.


    From her experience, he was definitely going to lose his temper at her, and perhaps lock her up again.


    With this fearful thought, Wen Li opened the door, expecting to see Ji Tingyang waiting at the entrance, ready to confront her the moment she walked in, but there was no one at the vestibule.


    Only further inside the living room, did bursts of laughter occasionally sound.


    Wen Li walked over curiously and saw Ji Tingyang, who had been missing, and Lin Xu in the living room.


    The sofa was carelessly piled with clothes like a small mountain, and the table was covered with large and small jewelry boxes.


    Lin Xu, holding a piece of clothing against herself, was struggling to ask Ji Tingyang for his opinion, ¡°Does it look good?¡±


    Ji Tingyang didn¡¯t hesitate: ¡°It looks good!¡±


    He had received a call from the manager of a high-end clothing store that afternoon, informing him the latest season¡¯s clothes had just arrived and asking if he wanted some delivered to the mansion.


    These clothes were usually bought for Wen Li, but she had never used them, and gradually, he had stopped mentioning them.


    While Ji Tingyang was hesitating, Lin Xu, who had heard the conversation on the phone, was especially excited.


    Without a second thought, she asked the manager to send the clothes over and to also bring some jewelry from the store.


    Seeing a business opportunity, the manager acted swiftly, and in less than an hour, all the clothes and jewelry were delivered.


    Then Lin Xu spent the afternoon in the living room, trying on clothes, asking Ji Tingyang about each one.


    At first, Ji Tingyang sincerely gave his opinions, but as the time Lin Xu spent fussing over the clothes grew longer, he began to tire.


    Eventually, he simply agreed that everything looked good, regardless of Lin Xu¡¯s questions.


    After all, even if they weren¡¯t good-looking, leaving them here was something he could easily afford.


    The two were engrossed with the clothes and completely failed to notice Wen Li¡¯s return; it was a butler who first spotted her.


    ¡°Lady Wen, you¡¯re back?¡±


    Wen Li nodded in response, and then looked towards the sofa where Ji Tingyang had already seen her.


    Meeting his dark, deep eyes, her heartbeat suddenly quickened, and the air around seemed to still.


    Was he about to get angry?


    Wen Li clenched her hands in fear.


    ¡°Ting Yang, do you think this necklace looks nice?¡± Lin Xu¡¯s voice suddenly rang out.


    Ji Tingyang turned his head at the sound and gave her a faint smile, saying it looked good.


    Get angry? Question her about the blocklist? Prohibit her from going out?


    None of these happened.


    Ji Tingyang just glanced at her indifferently, then withdrew his gaze.


    Wen Li was dumbfounded; all the mental preparations she had just made were of no use.


    For a moment, she was at a loss, standing there stunned.


    If it had been any other time, Ji Tingyang ignoring her would have made her happy enough to eat two extra bowls of rice.


    In a daze, Wen Li saw the necklace in Lin Xu¡¯s hand, her pupils shrinking in shock.


    It was the sapphire necklace she had seen in the city center today, the one she had coveted for a long time!


    Its pricey tag had made her step back, yet, in a blink, Lin Xu had effortlessly acquired it. She tried it on, found it unsatisfactory, and tossed it back into the jewelry box on the table.


    Wen Li gazed at the necklace, biting her lip.


    In the past, these gifts had always been given to her by Ji Tingyang, which she had always scorned; now, they were given to Lin Xu.


    She felt an awkward sensation of something that had once belonged to her being picked up by someone else.


    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m feeling a bit unwell; I¡¯ll go back to my room first,¡± Wen Li spoke, trying to regain Ji Tingyang¡¯s attention.


    Her voice wasn¡¯t loud, but since no one else was speaking at the time, everyone heard her.


    Ji Tingyang stood up, walked over to Wen Li, and touched her forehead to check her temperature, ¡°Where do you feel uncomfortable?¡±


    Wen Li dared not look at him, her heartbeat inexplicably quickening, ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ my head hurts a bit.¡±


    Lin Xu, recalling today¡¯s weather, asked, ¡°Could it be the wind today was too strong and made your head cold and painful? Should we call a doctor to have a look?¡±


    Ji Tingyang thought the same and was about to make a call when Wen Li stopped him with her hand.


    ¡°No, no need! I¡¯ll be fine after sleeping in my room for a bit.¡±


    Lin Xu said, ¡°Oh, then you should go back and sleep soon.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Wen Li didn¡¯t move but looked up hesitantly at Ji Tingyang.


    Ji Tingyang, perhaps understanding the meaning in her eyes, took the initiative to say, ¡°I¡¯ll take you to your room.¡±


    Wen Li agreed and followed him.


    Before going upstairs, she glanced toward the living room. Lin Xu didn¡¯t mind at all that she called Ji Tingyang away; she was happily tidying up the clothes and jewelry on the couch.


    With too many things to handle alone, Lin Xu had to call the housekeeper to help her arrange them in the wardrobe.


    Busy till very late, Lin Xu was so tired that she finished the water in her glass in one breath; not having enough, she went downstairs with her cup to get more water.


    Out of the corner of her eye, she glimpsed the study lit up by light, thinking to herself, could it be that he¡¯s still working overtime at this hour?


    With that thought, Lin Xu pushed open the door of the study.


    Ji Tingyang seemed tired, leaning in his chair with his eyes closed, sleeping, with a pen still in his right hand, not forgetting his work.


    Lin Xu thought for a moment, went back to her room to get a small blanket, and covered him gently with it.


    However, Ji Tingyang was a light sleeper, and the slight movement woke him up.


    His body tensed, and he opened his bleary eyes, then relaxed again after seeing it was Lin Xu.


    Lin Xu, no longer afraid to wake him, directly called him to go to his room, ¡°If you¡¯re sleepy, go back to your room and sleep.¡±

 Chapter 14 - Chapter 14: Chapter 14 Tombstone

    Chapter 14: Chapter 14 Tombstone


    Back when he lived at his aunt¡¯s house, his cousin would get tired while doing homework late at night and fall asleep at the table.


    Concerned he might catch a cold, Aunt would fetch a blanket to cover him, and he watched this with some envy.


    Ji Tingyang wished someone would do the same for him, but as the eldest among his siblings, it was usually he who covered his sleeping brother and sister with blankets.


    When he first got to know Wen Li, she did cover him once. Her appearance seemed to fill a void in his heart.


    Later, when he saw his aunt praise his cousin for winning a first-place prize, he also took his award certificate to Wen Li, hoping to receive the same commendation.


    His aunt celebrated his cousin¡¯s birthday, and on his own birthday, he went to see Wen Li as well¡­


    But later, Wen Li¡¯s attention shifted from him to a poor boy, and the thought of even the last bit of warmth being stripped away frightened Ji Tingyang.


    He confined Wen Li in the villa, as if by doing so he could cling to that last bit of warmth. In the end, however, Wen Li grew ever more frightened of him, and the remaining warmth between them disappeared entirely.


    The more he tried to hold onto something, the more it slipped away from him.


    It was the case with Wen Li, and so it was with his younger brother and sister¡­


    In a daze, Ji Tingyang pulled the blanket closer, easing the weariness of his body¡ªhe pressed his nose into it, finding it wonderfully warm.


    ¡°There¡¯s a bit of paperwork I haven¡¯t finished. I¡¯ll go to bed after I¡¯m done,¡± he said, his voice lazy from just having woken up.


    He had spent the day with Lin Xu and had yet to finish his work.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Lin Xu didn¡¯t insist, simply advising him to take care of himself before she went to rest.


    Ji Tingyang pinched the blanket he was under and, on a whim, called out to stop her, ¡°Mom¡­¡±


    Lin Xu turned back, ¡°Hmm?¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s throat tightened, ¡°I want noodles¡­¡±


    In the past, his aunt would cook a bowl of noodles for his cousin when she pitied how late he stayed up doing homework.


    He had never tasted them before.


    After calling out to Lin Xu, he felt somewhat uneasy. Such a thing could simply be requested from Aunt Zhang; there was no need to bother her.


    What if Lin Xu got angry, finding him troublesome?


    Lin Xu was surprised but found it intriguing.


    She had seen little Ji Tingyang act coquettish many times, but to see CEO Ji Tingyang act this way was a first.


    Lin Xu chuckled, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go make them now.¡±


    Having said that, she left the study.


    Ji Tingyang turned his attention to the documents on the desk, planning to finish them before eating the noodles, but he kept looking up at the door, clearly his mind was not on the work anymore.


    After looking for over ten minutes, he hadn¡¯t even finished the first line.


    In less than half an hour, Ji Tingyang felt for the first time as if time was dragging on endlessly.


    As he anxiously waited, Lin Xu finally brought in a bowl of steaming scallion noodles.


    The bowl was too hot, and she hurriedly placed it on the table, turning the unfinished document into a makeshift placemat.


    Lin Xu didn¡¯t see it, but Ji Tingyang, who did notice, didn¡¯t mind at all.


    ¡°Quickly try it and tell me how it tastes?¡± Lin Xu asked excitedly.


    Lin Xu rarely entered the kitchen, being the type of daughter brought up in wealth, so she never needed to cook. After she got married, she did try once or twice to fry some sweet and sour pork ribs for her husband.


    The pork ribs didn¡¯t look appealing, and tasted even worse.


    Her confidence took a hit, and she never set foot in the kitchen again afterward.


    For today¡¯s bowl of noodles, Lin Xu had prepared thoroughly, even searching for recipes from famous chefs and following them, which is why it had taken her twice the time.


    Under Lin Xu¡¯s expectant gaze, Ji Tingyang picked up the chopsticks and took a bite without hesitation, ¡°Delicious.¡±


    Lin Xu asked doubtfully, ¡°Really?¡±


    Ji Tingyang smiled, ¡°Really.¡±


    It was just a bowl of ordinary scallion noodles, which couldn¡¯t taste bad no matter how poorly made they were, especially since Ji Tingyang had been looking forward to them for a long time.


    As if to prove his words, Ji Tingyang finished the noodles in just a few bites, not even sparing the soup.


    ¡°If you like it, I¡¯ll cook it for you again next time!¡± Lin Xu said happily.


    Ji Tingyang was of course willing, ¡°Okay!¡±


    This long-lost warmth seemed to have returned.


    ¡ª¡ª


    It had been over a week since Lin Xu returned and settled down, after which she started thinking about visiting her parents.


    Ji Tingyang hesitated for a moment before telling her that her grandparents had passed away a long time ago.


    Lin Xu was an only child in her family, and not long after she died in the car accident, her parents passed away successively within the year due to excessive grief.


    As he spoke, Ji Tingyang kept an eye on her expression, worried she would start crying.


    Although Lin Xu was sad, she had already had a vague guess in her heart.


    If her parents had still been alive, how could they have let their child stay at someone else¡¯s home?


    ¡°Your grandparents are buried in South Mountain Cemetery; shall we go together for a visit?¡± Ji Tingyang offered cautiously.


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    South Mountain Cemetery was located in the outskirts, occupying a large area and was beautifully decorated.


    When they passed the flower shop at the entrance, Lin Xu asked him to stop. She went in and bought two bouquets of white chrysanthemums.


    Then, she and Ji Tingyang walked into the cemetery, one after the other.


    Her parents¡¯ gravestones were next to each other. Gazing at the photographs on the headstones, Lin Xu¡¯s eyes reddened and her repressed emotions finally gave way to melancholy.


    To her, it felt like only a brief week had passed, and in the blink of an eye, they were lying in the cemetery.


    Just half a month ago, she had called her traveling parents and told them she wanted to eat her mother¡¯s pumpkin cakes. The day before her accident, her parents had just returned from their trip and told her they had bought the pumpkin and would make the pumpkin cakes for her once she returned.


    She laughed, saying she would bring the family of five over the next day, but she never got to taste those pumpkin cakes and was separated from them by life and death.


    Twenty years ago, they came to the cemetery to visit her, and twenty years later, it was her turn to visit them.


    The breeze brushed across her cheeks, blowing away the tears accumulating in her eyes and sending them falling to the ground.


    Since Lin Xu wanted to speak to her parents alone, Ji Tingyang stood at the entrance to wait for her.


    He glanced worriedly in Lin Xu¡¯s direction and, feeling the emptiness of his pockets, took out his phone, considering whether to ask the driver to bring over a pack of tissues.


    A message suddenly popped up on the screen; it was from Wen Li. Just a few days ago, even though Ji Tingyang had mentioned the matter of being on the blacklist, she had already taken him off it.


    ¡°I¡¯m busy today and won¡¯t make the curfew; can I come back late?¡±


    Ji Tingyang frowned. It just so happened there was an update in her Moments, and he clicked on it.


    There was a photo that captured half the body of a man, and he knew without doubt that it must be Xiao Yu.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s first reaction was to refuse, wanting to keep that bit of warmth to himself. Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Lin Xu approaching him.


    Somehow, the dark emotions faded away. He casually replied with a ¡°Hmm¡± and then tucked his phone back into his pocket as he walked up to meet Lin Xu.


    ¡°Ready to go back?¡±


    Lin Xu shook her head, ¡°Take me to see mine and your dad¡¯s gravestones.¡±


    She remembered Ji Tingyang saying that she and her husband¡¯s gravestones were also buried here.

 Chapter 15 - Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Don’t be afraid, I will protect you.

    Chapter 15: Chapter 15: ¡®Don¡¯t be afraid, I will protect you.


    On the gravestone was affixed a cheek bearing a bright smile, and just below it was engraved the name Lin Xu.


    Visiting one¡¯s own grave¡ªthis experience really was novel.


    Lin Xu noticed a bunch of lilies placed in front of the gravestone, her favorite flowers. A few petals had fallen, but they still looked fresh, as if they had been placed in recent days.


    It wasn¡¯t just her gravestone; her husband¡¯s next to hers also had fresh flowers on it.


    Besides the flowers, the gravestone had been cleaned very thoroughly.


    ¡°Did you buy these flowers?¡± Lin Xu asked Ji Tingyang.


    Ji Tingyang had also noticed the flowers and the offerings in front of the gravestones, seeming like someone had recently paid their respects, which also caused him some confusion.


    He shook his head, ¡°No.¡±


    Lin Xu made an ¡°Oh¡± sound, but didn¡¯t dwell on it.


    She casually glanced at her own gravestone, then walked over to the one beside it.


    The man on the gravestone had handsome features with a slight smile at the corner of his lips, composed yet dashing.


    Lin Xu gently stroked the photo with her hand, her eyes filled with sorrowful and nostalgic thoughts. She murmured softly, ¡°So foolish, you clearly wouldn¡¯t have been hit by the truck, yet you insisted on coming over to shield me.¡±


    During the accident, the truck hit Lin Xu first, who was in the passenger seat. Though the driver¡¯s seat might not have been completely unscathed, it wouldn¡¯t have been life-threatening.


    And yet, he had immediately leaned over, pulling her into his embrace.


    A steel rod pierced both their bodies and claimed both their lives.


    But now that she was reborn, had he also been reborn?


    Lin Xu couldn¡¯t help but think this.


    But if he had been reborn too, after so long, he should have come to find them by now.


    So had he truly died?


    The emotions she had just managed to calm at her parents¡¯ graves erupted once again, and tears welled up in Lin Xu¡¯s eyes.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s face suddenly stiffened, and he put out his hand, awkwardly patting Lin Xu on the back.


    He had never comforted someone before; his actions and tone were very unnatural: ¡°Don¡¯t be sad, you still have me, I will definitely protect you just like your father did!¡±


    As a boy, Ji Tingyang loved watching TV shows and movies about heroes, and every time a hero appeared, he would mimic them and run to Lin Xu proclaiming loudly, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, I will definitely protect you!¡±


    The cute, well-behaved child from back then overlapped with the current moment as Lin Xu smilingly said, ¡°Okay, thank you, darling.¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s cheeks turned red, slightly embarrassed as he averted his head.


    It was one thing to be called darling as a child, but now that he was grown up, how could she still call him that, it was so embarrassing.


    Thinking this, the smile that formed on his lips couldn¡¯t be suppressed; apparently, he was very pleased.


    Lin Xu didn¡¯t stay long at South Mountain Cemetery; after speaking a few more words with her husband, she headed back with Ji Tingyang.


    At the entrance to the cemetery, a black sedan was parked not far away, watching the two of them speak.


    Lin Xu rubbed her reddened eyes, petulantly said, ¡°I¡¯m not happy today, I want to go on a big shopping spree!¡±


    Her rule was to shop when happy, and even more so when unhappy.


    Ji Tingyang recalled the dressing room already overflowing with clothes within just a week of her return, paused, then said, ¡°Okay.¡±


    Let her buy if she wants to; he could afford it anyway.


    Lin Xu¡¯s mood brightened slightly, humming as she opened the car door, suddenly feeling as if someone was watching her.


    She looked up, and the window of the black sedan not far away slowly rose, blocking her view of the inside of the car.


    Lin Xu blinked and returned to the car at Ji Tingyang¡¯s urging. By the time she looked back at the sedan, it had already driven away.


    ¡ª¡ª


    ¡°Is something urgent going on?¡± Xiao Yu suddenly asked.


    Since meeting, Wen Li had been intermittently checking her phone, and her furrowed brows never eased.


    Wen Li was stunned for a moment, then snapped back to reality, ¡°No¡­ I¡¯m fine.¡±


    After saying that, she immediately put her phone back in her bag.


    She had just posted on her Moments, including Xiao Yu in the photo, but strangely, Ji Tingyang hadn¡¯t reacted at all.


    Even when she mentioned she would return home late tonight, he had agreed without any hesitation.


    Normally, he would have called to interrogate her, or even driven over to take her back personally.


    These were precisely the aspects of life she had once desperately wanted, so why couldn¡¯t she feel happy about them now?


    ¡°If you are busy, we can meet another time,¡± Xiao Yu offered considerately.


    ¡°I¡­¡± Wen Li hesitated.


    Xiao Yu thought she was reluctant to part with him and smiled, ¡°No worries, we have plenty of time ahead to meet.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    The two got up from the bench in the park, and Xiao Yu escorted her to the bus station. Before parting, he pulled a small box out of his pocket and gave it to Wen Li.


    Wen Li was slightly taken aback: ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°Take a look.¡±


    Wen Li opened it, and inside the small box lay an exquisite necklace with a sapphire embedded in it.


    At first, she was surprised, then upon closer examination, she noticed the sapphire seemed off.


    The gem appeared to be of poor quality, and the whole necklace was a high imitation.


    The smile on her lips froze instantly.


    ¡°I saw you liked this necklace yesterday, but I can¡¯t afford it right now, so I bought a cheap one to give you,¡± Xiao Yu¡¯s cheeks flashed with an awkward tinge, then he spoke with determination, ¡°but I promise you, once I earn enough money, I will buy it and give it to you.¡±


    Wen Li smiled weakly, ¡°Okay.¡±


    She didn¡¯t tell Xiao Yu that Ji Tingyang had already bought the necklace.


    After parting with Xiao Yu, Wen Li returned early to the Ji Mansion.


    She had said she would be back late, and now she was returning before it even got dark, which was somewhat embarrassing.


    She planned to tell Ji Tingyang that she had finished her business earlier than expected if he asked.


    As she was thinking this, she entered the mansion.


    Upon opening the door, she saw over a dozen bags placed on the cabinet in the foyer, all bearing logos of luxury brands, nearly overflowing the space.


    Wen Li almost instinctively thought these were gifts from Ji Tingyang for her. She reached out to check inside the bags, but just as her hand was mid-air, she heard Lin Xu¡¯s voice coming from upstairs.


    ¡°Housekeeper, could you please move everything from the foyer to my room? There¡¯s too much, and I can no longer carry it,¡± Lin Xu said.


    It turned out all these items were for Lin Xu.


    In no time, the housekeeper came from the backyard, first giving Wen Li a friendly and polite smile, then in front of her, he took all those bags away.


    From one of the open bags, Wen Li saw a shimmering, beautiful bracelet with crystal-clear gemstones; just one glance, and she knew it was incredibly expensive.


    Suddenly, Wen Li remembered the imitation poor-quality necklace in her bag, and her expression became unsightly.

 Chapter 16 - Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Why the Rich Girl Spends a Fortune

    Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Why the Rich Girl Spends a Fortune


    Since learning about her second son¡¯s activities, Lin Xu had started paying attention to the entertainment industry. However, she was mostly focused on Ji Zeqiu¡¯s updates, even infiltrating Ji Zeqiu¡¯s fan group.


    The fans in the group were very welcoming to newcomers. Hearing that Lin Xu was a new fan of Ji Zeqiu and didn¡¯t know much, they took the initiative to educate her.


    From Ji Zeqiu¡¯s height and blood type to every single work he had done after his debut, they told her everything.


    Some fans even compiled all the variety shows, drama cuts, and interviews in which Ji Zeqiu had appeared and sent Lin Xu a file package totaling more than ten gigabytes for her to dig into.


    Lin Xu felt so grateful that she no longer had to spend countless hours searching for information herself.


    If she had known about this great resource earlier, she would have joined much sooner.


    After receiving the files, to express her gratitude, she immediately sent out a sizable red envelope.


    When the fans opened the red envelope and saw it was 200 yuan each, their fondness for this new fan surged, and they began thanking Lin Xu and became even more eager to share knowledge.


    ¡°@Willow Wadding, tonight at eight o¡¯clock, the TV drama starring Ji Zeqiu is premiering. Remember to watch it on time!¡±


    The fans in the group also liked her as a newcomer and always took the initiative to remind her of any events.


    Lin Xu: ¡°Got it!¡±


    So, after dinner, Lin Xu forcefully kept Ji Tingyang behind, asking him to put his work aside for a while.


    Ji Tingyang puzzled, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a big deal!¡±


    Lin Xu pushed him onto the couch, tasked the butler with turning on the TV, and switched to the channel she wanted to watch.


    At eight o¡¯clock sharp, the TV drama began airing on time.


    Ji Tingyang chuckled lightly, ¡°You mean the big deal was about watching the TV drama?¡±


    Lin Xu, feigning mystery, ¡°You¡¯ll see soon enough.¡±


    As the TV drama plot deepened, a face so exquisitely handsome suddenly appeared, his narrow eyes possessing a blend of fierceness and gentleness, utterly captivating.


    Seeing that familiar face, Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression froze.


    She had him come over to watch Ji Zeqiu¡¯s TV drama together?


    As if to answer his question, Lin Xu said, ¡°Zeqiu has been working on this TV drama for a long time. We need to contribute more to the viewership ratings.¡±


    ¡°You can watch it by yourself; I¡¯m heading back to my room.¡± After watching for a while, Ji Tingyang went upstairs with a complex expression.


    Watching his retreating figure, Lin Xu sighed while popping grapes into her mouth.


    She wondered what kind of disagreement had occurred between the two brothers.


    Two hours later, after the drama ended, the once silent fan group erupted again.


    ¡°Ahhhh! Ji Zeqiu was so handsome tonight, and his acting was great too!¡±


    Seeing someone praise her son, Lin Xu felt a surge of pride swell inside her, smug with delight.


    ¡°Did you guys notice Ji Zeqiu wearing glasses? It somehow gave off a sense of a scholarly bad boy!¡±


    ¡°I saw it too; I really want to strip him down and pin him to the bed, hehehe¡­¡±


    Lin Xu: ¡°¡­¡±


    It wasn¡¯t as if she had never been a fan before; the things she said privately to her friends were wilder than this.


    But now, seeing others go wild about her own son was all kinds of awkward.


    She gave a resigned smile, closed the chat page, and did not join in their conversation.


    After joining the fan group, apart from occasionally asking if there were any more activities involving Ji Zeqiu, Lin Xu spent most of her time lurking.


    That day, she had nothing to do, so she opened her fan group chat and saw everyone was particularly indignant.


    ¡°The brands endorsed by our Baby Ji are way more high-end than theirs, and they still have the nerve to copy Baby Ji? Shameless!¡±


    ¡°Exactly! The perfume that Baby Ji endorses costs more than ten times theirs per bottle. Their brand is inferior, so they boast about their sales volume. Disgusting.¡±


    Lin Xu was confused and asked what had happened?


    Fans immediately explained to her.


    A couple of months ago, Ji Zeqiu endorsed a luxury brand perfume, and just last month, a competitor endorsed a budget domestic brand perfume. It wasn¡¯t a big deal, but suddenly fans of the competitor started causing trouble. They made a comparison chart of the sales volumes of the two perfumes and flaunted that their idol was much stronger than Ji Zeqiu.


    The prices of the two perfumes were different; the budget perfume was affordable for fans, who would buy one or two bottles to support their idol, naturally driving up its sales.


    However, the luxury brand perfume wasn¡¯t something every fan could afford, so it was understandable if its sales were somewhat lower.


    But someone from the competitor¡¯s side had to make a fuss, using such a petty issue to disparage Ji Zeqiu both openly and covertly.


    So, everyone discussed buying a few bottles of the perfume to boost Ji Zeqiu¡¯s sales, and some fans even went to Weibo to passionately argue about it.


    Lin Xu raised her eyebrows, now understanding the whole story.


    If her son needed defending, she would do it herself!


    Lin Xu opened the website and, with a generous gesture, crisply ordered a thousand bottles of the perfume.


    The next day, Ji Tingyang found the living room filled with perfume bottles and nowhere to step, and he fell silent.


    ¡°What are you doing with so many bottles of perfume?¡±


    Lin Xu, busy chatting with fans in the group, replied without looking up, ¡°These are the perfumes endorsed by Ji Zeqiu. I bought them to boost his sales.¡±


    Ji Tingyang: ¡°¡­You might as well have just given him the money.¡±


    ¡°The change must be there, and so must the sales!¡±


    Ji Tingyang didn¡¯t exactly try to argue the point, but glancing at the perfumes on the floor, he asked if the sales had been boosted enough or if they should boost them some more.


    Lin Xu suddenly stopped typing, looked at Ji Tingyang with a meaningful smile.


    She knew there were no overnight grudges between brothers.


    Ji Tingyang really did care about his brother!


    A trace of embarrassment crossed Ji Tingyang¡¯s face, and he turned to leave, ¡°Forget it, do what you want.¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t use all this perfume. Take some to your company, give them as benefits to the staff!¡±


    Lin Xu called out to him from behind.


    She didn¡¯t bother to see if he heard her and began setting up a giveaway in the fan group.


    ¡°Bought a lot of perfumes, can¡¯t use them all at home. If any friends want some, DM me your address, and I will send it to you, as a thank you for all the years of support and love for Ji Zeqiu.¡±


    She then posted a photo of the mountain of perfumes.


    The fan group instantly went wild.


    ¡°Is the newcomer Rich Sister? So powerful!¡±


    ¡°I can only afford one bottle when boosting sales; the difference between people is so huge.¡±


    ¡°With Sister Xu¡¯s help, our Baby Ji¡¯s sales will definitely surpass the competitors. Let¡¯s see if they have the face to jump around then!¡±


    Lin Xu smiled, stopped participating in their chat, laid her phone aside, and went off to tend the garden with the butler.


    Unbeknownst to anyone, a hot search quietly appeared.


    #WhyDidTheWealthyGirlSpendA FortuneOnJiZeqiu#

 Chapter 17 - Chapter 17: Chapter 17 "She never wears this kind of thing.

    Chapter 17: Chapter 17 ¡°She never wears this kind of thing.


    The mountainous pile of perfume photos belonging to Sister Xu, somehow found its way to Weibo, turning the act of fangirl splurging millions into an instant hot topic of discussion.


    Some condemned it as meaningless competition¡ªwondering why keeping the money for personal use wasn¡¯t better than spending it on someone else with no rewards in return.


    Others retorted, urging people not to be overly controlling over others¡¯ finances¡ªlet them spend their money however they wish.


    The two sides quarreled on Weibo, and quickly made it to the trending searches, sparking even more debates.


    However, Lin Xu wasn¡¯t aware, she knew nothing about it.


    But even if she had known, she would have dismissively said, it¡¯s her own son she¡¯s spending on.


    ¡°Hey, Zeqiu, have you seen the trending searches? A fan apparently made a few tens of millions in sales for you,¡±


    the agent remarked while shaking his head as he looked at the trending search.


    Another rich fanatic.


    He remembered another obsessed fan from before, smashing sales on endorsements for Ji Zeqiu and buying lots of things on Ji Zeqiu¡¯s behalf to bring to the crew, making sure to attend nearly every event.


    Eventually, it even escalated to the point of being a sasaeng fan, cornering Ji Zeqiu in the hallway to confess to him.


    Of course, the outcome was a merciless rejection, along with calling the police to arrest the sasaeng fan.


    After that, the obsessed fan disappeared, perhaps having moved on to another star.


    Has it not been long enough that another fanatic is emerging?


    Hopefully, there won¡¯t be any more incidents with sasaeng fans.


    ¡°You handle this; I have other things,¡± Ji Zeqiu said, not looking up from his rapid typing on his cellphone, not knowing who he was chatting with.


    Handling this kind of public relations was nothing more than issuing a statement, calling for everyone to chase stars sensibly.


    But whether it was sincere or not, who could tell?


    Ji Zeqiu then opened someone¡¯s WeChat Moments and zoomed in on a photo, carefully observing the visible half of a man in it.


    Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.


    The agent answered it to find a woman with picturesque eyebrows and a light makeup standing there, momentarily stunned.


    Upon closer inspection, this woman¡¯s features were somewhat similar to those of Wen Li.


    Seeing the door open, she came to her senses and nodded at the agent, ¡°Brother Zhao.¡±


    The agent looked back at Ji Zeqiu, but the man was sitting on the couch with no reaction whatsoever.


    He stepped aside, making way through a spacious passage, ¡°Come in.¡±


    The woman walked towards Ji Zeqiu with a worried expression and a flash of pain in her eyes, conflicted but eventually moving forward.


    The agent took the initiative to exit the room, carefully closing the door to seal off any sound from inside.


    ¡ª¡ª


    Because of the perfume incident, Sister Xu became quite popular in the fan group, and was often called upon for various activities.


    That day, someone in the group called her,


    ¡°Sister Xu, tomorrow morning Ji Zeqiu has a ribbon-cutting at the jewelry store downtown. If we go early to get a spot in the front row, there¡¯s a chance to meet him. Are you coming?¡±


    Being able to see Ji Zeqiu?


    Lin Xu quickly became excited, ¡°Let¡¯s go! Send me the address!¡±


    The next morning, Lin Xu did her makeup meticulously, ready to make a beautiful outing.


    After twenty years, she planned to make a good impression on her son.


    Ting Yang saw her and was momentarily stunned, ¡°Where are you off to?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ just, something came up, going out for a bit,¡± Lin Xu equivocated.


    She had mentioned wanting to see Ji Zeqiu a few times before, but it was either vaguely ignored or outright rejected by him.


    Thus, she did not want to tell Ting Yang the purpose of her outing this time.


    Watching Lin Xu hastily leaving the house, Ji Tingyang sank into deep thought. Recently, because she didn¡¯t want him to worry, Lin Xu would always tell him where she was going whenever she went out alone, but today she was hesitant and refused to say.


    Could it be shopping?


    She had already bought the latest clothes and bags, what else was there to buy?


    The more he thought about it, the more he felt something was off.


    Wen Li, sitting across from him, looked up at Ji Tingyang and noticed he was distracted, still thinking about Lin Xu.


    Her expression turned somewhat ugly, as in the past his attention had been solely on her. Yet now, even though she was right in front of him, his mind was on another woman.


    Wen Li bit her red lip lightly, seemingly casually mentioning, ¡°Dressed so beautifully, she might be going on a date.¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    Could it be that some bastard had taken advantage of his inattention to woo his mother?!


    His expression grew even grimmer, and he didn¡¯t even touch his breakfast. Putting down his chopsticks, he also decided to follow her out.


    Wen Li realized he was going to look for Lin Xu, and in a rush of anxiety, she blurted out his name.


    Ji Tingyang turned back, looking at her puzzled.


    ¡°I, I¡­¡± Wen Li, in her haste, made up a lie, ¡°I¡¯m feeling a bit unwell, can you accompany me to the hospital?¡±


    ¡°Let the butler accompany you, I have other matters.¡±


    ¡°Ji¡­¡±


    Before Wen Li could finish speaking, Ji Tingyang hurriedly left, not even looking back as he drove away.


    Wen Li tightly gripped her chopsticks, her fingertips turning white.


    She consoled herself, thinking that it was great Ji Tingyang didn¡¯t bother with her anymore, as now no one could stop her from meeting Xiao Yu.


    However, her face inevitably looked somewhat displeasing.


    ¡ª¡ª


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s fame was really too big, fans knowing he was having a ribbon-cutting event in the city center came out in droves, actually clogging up the roads for several kilometers outside the mall.


    Fans in the group were complaining about the severe traffic, worried they wouldn¡¯t make it to the ribbon-cutting on time.


    ¡°Miss, this might take two or three hours. We are not far from the mall, how about you walk over?¡±


    The driver, seeing Lin Xu¡¯s anxious expression, suggested.


    Lin Xu thought about it and agreed that it made sense, paid the fare, and then got out of the car to walk to the mall.


    After not recognizing the surroundings due to significant changes in the buildings over twenty years, Lin Xu lost her way after just a few hundred meters.


    Moreover, as the phone navigation made numerous twists and turns, she was already dizzy.


    At the ribbon-cutting event.


    Ji Zeqiu arrived on time, and the moment he appeared, flashes and the sound of shutters erupted intermittently while the fans around him screamed out loud.


    ¡°Ahhh! Ji Zeqiu, look at me!¡±


    ¡°Husband! I love you!¡±


    Ji Zeqiu seemed shy being called ¡®husband,¡¯ his ears turning red as he coyly waved to everyone.


    Such an innocently shy handsome guy made the screaming even louder.


    A few minutes¡¯ event blocked the mall completely, and even after it ended, with Ji Zeqiu disappearing into the crowd, the fans were still reluctant to leave.


    ¡°There are still many people outside, let¡¯s wait a bit longer before going out,¡± his agent said to Ji Zeqiu upon returning from outside.


    Ji Zeqiu responded vaguely, his gaze falling on the woman in the room, particularly on her fair clavicle, his eyebrows furrowing deeply.


    His fury uncontainable, he detested and hated, ¡°Who allowed you to wear a necklace, she never wore this kind of thing, throw it away!¡±


    His rude and overbearing demeanor at this moment was worlds apart from his gentle and innocent public persona.

 Chapter 18 - Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Is She a Mom Fan?

    Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Is She a Mom Fan?


    Shen Qingtang¡¯s face was pale as he took off the necklace and explained, ¡°I just finished a photoshoot and forgot to take it off.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care what you do outside, but in front of me, you have to follow my rules. Shen Qingtang, don¡¯t forget you are her substitute, you should properly play her role!¡±


    Ji Zeqiu gripped her chin viciously, the strength of his fingertips increasing, causing her eyes to turn red with pain, yet she dared not make a sound.


    The agent seemed to have grown accustomed to this kind of situation, sighed inwardly, turned around intending to leave, and left the space for the two of them.


    However, no sooner had he opened the door than a figure burst into the VIP room with the swiftness of a surprise attack.


    The agent was startled.


    His first reaction was that some obsessive fan had broken in again, and his second thought was that Ji Zeqiu¡¯s bad offstage image was about to be exposed.


    ¡°You have deviated from the destination, the route is now being recalculated, please go back 10 meters, then turn left.¡±


    An AI navigation voice awkwardly came out of someone¡¯s phone.


    ¡°Ah, wrong again, what a lousy navigation.¡± Lin Xu was very annoyed, almost wishing she could complain about the navigation software.


    Wrong again?


    The agent was stunned, wondering if it wasn¡¯t an obsessive fan after all?


    But who would walk the wrong way and end up in someone else¡¯s VIP room? That must surely be a trick!


    Thinking thus, the agent¡¯s gaze sharpened instantly as he approached Lin Xu, ¡°Miss, this is our private space, please leave!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, so sorry!¡± Lin Xu, wearing an apologetic face, made to leave.


    From the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure.


    Upon closer inspection, she froze, ¡°Ji Zeqiu?¡±


    The agent cursed inwardly, upset that she had recognized him.


    If it had been just Ji Zeqiu, it might have been fine, but there was also Shen Qingtang in the room!


    If anyone found out the relationship between Ji Zeqiu and the eighteenth-tier actor Shen Qingtang, it could cause an uproar among fans, and in the worst case, it could even lead to a complete collapse of his image.


    The agent¡¯s thoughts raced like lightning, and he immediately thought of bribing her with money.


    However, before he could speak, he heard Ji Zeqiu¡¯s voice, slightly surprised, ¡°Is that you?¡±


    The agent was dumbfounded, ¡°You know her?¡±


    If they knew each other, that would be great. They could use their relationship to have her keep quiet and not spread rumors.


    Lin Xu¡¯s face lit up with surprise, ¡°You still remember me?!¡±


    She had been struggling with how to approach Ji Zeqiu to explain their relationship and that unbelievable resurrection.


    But she never expected that he actually remembered her mother.


    However, what Ji Zeqiu meant by ¡®remembering¡¯ was entirely different from what she had thought, he sneered, ¡°Aren¡¯t you the woman by Ji Tingyang¡¯s side.¡±


    Last time, feeling irritable, he had driven around aimlessly and had ended up at South Mountain Cemetery without realizing it.


    Although he had visited just a few days before, he thought it wouldn¡¯t hurt to pay his respects again since he was there.


    However, before he could get out of the car, he saw Ji Tingyang and this woman walking hand in hand out of the cemetery.


    Ji Zeqiu scrutinized Lin Xu closely; aside from her face being decent, he really didn¡¯t know what Ji Tingyang liked about her.


    Wen Li was simply much better than her.


    Lin Xu was taken aback, not expecting Ji Zeqiu to have misunderstood.


    ¡°It¡¯s not like that, actually I am¡­¡±


    ¡°Whatever you are, it¡¯s none of my business.¡± Ji Zeqiu interrupted her, with no qualms about speaking in front of Lin Xu, and reached into his pocket to pull out a pack of cigarettes to light.


    Lin Xu¡¯s eyes widened, she strode over swiftly, and without a word, pinched out the cigarette in his hand.


    ¡°When did you learn to smoke, don¡¯t you know that smoking is harmful to your health!¡±


    ¡°You!¡±


    Ji Zeqiu was flabbergasted; he had not expected this woman to be so audacious as to dare snuff out his cigarette.


    ¡°Moreover, I detest the smell of smoke the most. In the past, when your father came home smelling of smoke from socializing, I was so angry that I sent him to sleep in the guest room. I also told you and your brother that you were absolutely forbidden from smoking when you grew up, yet it¡¯s only been twenty years, and you¡¯ve already forgotten.¡±


    ¡°But then again, you were only five years old at that time, so it¡¯s normal that you don¡¯t remember.¡±


    Lin Xu grumbled angrily to herself.


    Ji Zeqiu was still fuming, but when he heard her murmuring, it overlapped with a distant memory deep in his mind, and his expression became distant.


    He felt somewhat guilty for a moment, and his anger dissipated significantly. But then he thought differently, no, wait a minute, who is she to lecture him!


    ¡°Mind your own business!¡±


    Ji Zeqiu, ashamed and enraged, didn¡¯t relight the pack of cigarettes in his hand after all, and shoved it back into his pocket, flustered and annoyed.


    This move surprised both the agent and Shen Qingtang; they had seen Ji Zeqiu¡¯s stubborn temperament. He did what he wanted regardless of what anyone else said, and the agent had more than once tried to persuade him to quit smoking, but had never succeeded.


    They had not expected this woman to be so bold as to not only emerge unscathed after extinguishing his cigarette but also to make him give up smoking.


    The agent wanted to observe more, but glancing at his watch, it was a pity; the time was almost up.


    ¡°Zeqiu, your next appointment is coming up; we need to go,¡± the agent reminded him.


    Ji Zeqiu gave Lin Xu a cold stare before turning to leave.


    ¡°Zeqiu, remember to visit home when you have time, I¡­no, wait¡­¡± Lin Xu paused, hastily corrected herself, ¡°Your brother misses you a lot!¡±


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s expression soured, and he quickened his pace to leave.


    Would Ji Tingyang miss him?


    What a joke!


    Clearly, Ji Tingyang would rather he never returned home to avoid getting in his way with Wen Li.


    Ji Zeqiu quickly disappeared into the mall. Lin Xu felt a bit regretful; she had only seen her son for a moment before they were parted again.


    She sighed and walked out, considering when to arrange the next meeting.


    ¡°Miss, please wait a moment!¡±


    The agent was still there and, seeing Lin Xu leave, quickly called out to her.


    Lin Xu asked, puzzled, ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°May I ask your surname, Miss?¡±


    ¡°Lin, my name is Lin Xu.¡±


    ¡°Miss Lin, the thing is, could you keep everything you saw in the VIP room confidential?¡± the agent asked with a serious expression as he dealt with the aftermath of the incident at work.


    He even took out a check.


    ¡°Of course, I won¡¯t tell a soul.¡±


    ¡°I can offer you a sum of¡­ Eh? What?¡±


    Lin Xu¡¯s eager agreement caught him off guard.


    ¡°You want to give me money?¡± Lin Xu looked at the check in his hand, repeatedly refusing, ¡°I have money, you should keep your money and buy more food for Ji Zeqiu. He loves cherries, buy a lot of those, and he doesn¡¯t like vegetables, but not eating them isn¡¯t good, so make sure he eats some too.¡±


    ¡°Oh, and remember not to schedule too many appointments; you can see that he has gotten much thinner recently¡­¡±


    Listening to Lin Xu¡¯s nagging made the agent momentarily envision his own mother.


    Could this woman actually be Ji Zeqiu¡¯s fan mother?

 Chapter 19 - Chapter 19: Chapter 19 Obviously Not a Good Person

    Chapter 19: Chapter 19 Obviously Not a Good Person


    The agent escorted Lin Xu out of the mall and, after saying goodbye to her, turned and got into the small car parked by the roadside.


    Lin Xu craned her neck to look in that direction, trying to spot Ji Zeqiu¡¯s figure; however, the car windows were tinted with privacy film, and she couldn¡¯t see anything.


    ¡°Who was that man?¡±


    A voice suddenly rang out, startling her.


    Lin Xu turned her head and saw Ji Tingyang standing next to her, his face as cold as ice as he watched the departing car.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡± she asked, puzzled and feeling somewhat guilty.


    Could he have seen her with Zeqiu?


    But that didn¡¯t make sense, if he had seen them, why wouldn¡¯t he recognize the man and still ask her who that man was.


    Ji Tingyang didn¡¯t answer her question but continued, ¡°Wearing glasses and looking sneaky, he doesn¡¯t look like good news, don¡¯t get fooled by people.¡±


    Today¡¯s environment was far more complex than it was twenty years ago, with countless deceptive tricks at play.


    Some men just loved to deceive young girls, scamming both money and emotions.


    A certain face came to mind, and Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression grew even uglier.


    Wearing glasses?


    Lin Xu remembered and realized he was talking about the agent, feeling somewhat embarrassed.


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense, that person is actually quite nice.¡±


    He had been running around for Ji Zeqiu¡¯s affairs and even took notes on everything she said.


    Ji Tingyang was shocked.


    They had only been together a short while, and his mother was already speaking up for that man?!


    A sense of crisis immediately surged in his heart.


    He had to be more vigilant and couldn¡¯t let her get deceived by that man again.


    So, for the next few days, no matter where Lin Xu went, Ji Tingyang would follow, volunteering to be her driver.


    ¡°You¡¯re always following me, don¡¯t you have to work?¡± Lin Xu asked him.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go back to work later,¡± Ji Tingyang insisted on following her.


    ¡°In the past, when I went out, you didn¡¯t react at all, and you didn¡¯t like to stick around me; I even felt depressed for a while,¡± Lin Xu said.


    Other people¡¯s children would cry incessantly just seconds after being separated from their mothers; but little Ji Tingyang was especially cold, whereas it was Ji Zeqiu who was more clingy.


    ¡°So it¡¯s not that you were not clingy, but that you started to be clingy after you grew up,¡± Lin Xu teased.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s ears turned bright red from the teasing. He wanted to retort, but after a retort, he couldn¡¯t find a good reason to follow her anymore and had to tacitly agree.


    During these days out with Lin Xu, he found that besides shopping, she would just go to the beauty salon for skincare and never saw her on a date with that sneaky-looking man.


    Ji Tingyang even thought perhaps it was because he was following her, that¡¯s why Lin Xu couldn¡¯t conveniently go on dates.


    But regardless, after being Lin Xu¡¯s driver for a week, Ji Tingyang didn¡¯t want to follow her out anymore, no matter what.


    Lin Xu had a boundless energy for shopping, able to walk tens of thousands of steps without a break. Ji Tingyang suddenly felt that his choice not to stick with Lin Xu when he was younger was absolutely right.


    After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Ji Zeqiu had a few more events.


    The fans in the group knew Lin Xu got lost last time and missed the event on-site, and they all regretted it on her behalf.


    So when there was a new event, they would urge Lin Xu to join first thing. Unfortunately, Ji Tingyang was following her those days, and she couldn¡¯t go, so she had to painfully decline.


    Until today, she received a private message from a fan.


    ¡°Ji Zeqiu is going to make a cameo on set this afternoon; we¡¯re planning to visit the set. Sister Xu, do you want to come with us?¡±


    Lin Xu, of course, agreed without a second thought and went to her room to put on beautiful makeup.


    Little did she know, as soon as she went downstairs, she ran into Ji Tingyang sitting on the sofa.


    Ji Tingyang held a tablet in one hand and a coffee in the other, taking a light sip from his lips. His gaze was fixed on the news on the tablet, and the blue-white light occasionally flashed over his gold-rimmed glasses, adding a sense of mature steadiness.


    Wen Li wasn¡¯t going out today, which was rare. She sat on the sofa nearby, absentmindedly slicing an apple, and occasionally stealing a glance at Ji Tingyang.


    At the sound, both of them lifted their heads to look at Lin Xu.


    ¡°Are you going out?¡± Ji Tingyang asked.


    ¡°Yeah, do you want to come with me?¡± Lin Xu asked casually.


    She obviously thought about how he had been following her around lately.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s first instinct was to refuse, but seeing her makeup, which she had obviously taken time to apply, his brows furrowed slightly.


    Was she going on a date?


    His guard went up, and just as he was about to agree, he heard a hiss from the person next to him, drawing a sharp breath.


    Wen Li had been too careless while cutting fruit and had accidentally cut her finger, which was now bleeding profusely.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s face changed, and he immediately snatched the fruit knife out of her hand and shouted, ¡°Butler! Bring the medical kit over here!¡±


    ¡°Are you stupid, cutting yourself while slicing fruit! With so many servants in the house, just call them to slice fruit in the future, don¡¯t do it yourself.¡±


    Hearing his concern, Wen Li¡¯s recent unease gradually dissipated.


    Ji Tingyang still liked her.


    With tears welling up in her eyes from the pain, Wen Li said with a soft voice, ¡°Sorry, I just wanted to slice an apple for you.¡±


    If it had been before, Ji Tingyang would have been moved, and without a word, he would have eaten all those apples.


    He often saw his aunt cut up pieces of fruit and take them to his cousin¡¯s room, and he could hear his classmates complain about their mothers, who, despite being told they did not eat fruit, seemed not to understand and insisted on stuffing it into their mouths¡­


    Ji Tingyang had never experienced this himself but always had some longing for it.


    However, lately, all the fruit at home had been eaten by Lin Xu. It was one thing for her to eat it herself, but she also liked to stuff it into his mouth.


    At first, he was very happy to eat it, but as time went by and the number of times increased, he now felt so fed up that he didn¡¯t even want to see fruit anymore.


    When Ji Tingyang heard that the apple was cut for him, his brow immediately furrowed, ¡°No need, I don¡¯t like fruit.¡±


    Wen Li, however, misunderstood.


    Lin Xu gave him fruit, and he ate it.


    She sliced an apple for him, and he said he didn¡¯t like it.


    Wen Li bit her lip, her face that had just calmed down suddenly turning a few shades paler.


    Ji Tingyang wanted Lin Xu to wait a moment so he could tend to Wen Li¡¯s wound before seeing her out.


    However, when he turned around, there was no one there. Lin Xu had already sneaked away.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Ji Tingyang opened the medical kit and disinfected Wen Li¡¯s wound absentmindedly.


    Elsewhere.


    As soon as Lin Xu arrived at the filming location, there were already a few fans waiting for her at the door.


    If she thought about it, this was Lin Xu¡¯s first time meeting with the fans from the online group.


    Seeing a beautiful woman with pink cherry lips walking towards them, everyone¡¯s eyes flashed with admiration. Then they remembered this was a filming base, and it was normal to encounter beautiful women. The only question was which celebrity she might be.


    While everyone was wondering, they saw the woman who seemed to be a celebrity walk up to them, her tone apologetic: ¡°I¡¯m sorry for being late; there were a lot of cars at the intersection.¡±


    ¡°You are?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Willow Wadding,¡± Lin Xu gave her online nickname from the group.


    The crowd gasped, ¡°Sister Xu?!¡±


    Lin Xu had made such a generous contribution to Ji Zeqiu¡¯s sales, and they had thought she might be a wealthy woman in her thirties or forties. They never imagined she would look so young, only in her early twenties.

 Chapter 20 - Chapter 20: Chapter 20 "What about leaving Ji Tingyang and following me?

    Chapter 20: Chapter 20 ¡°What about leaving Ji Tingyang and following me?


    Inside the film and television city, the crew Ji Zeqiu cameoed in was filming in an ancient-style courtyard. The staff had set up isolation lines outside, so fans could only wait at the entrance and were not allowed inside.


    A few girls arrived at the entrance and deftly took out their support fans from their bags, excitedly waiting for Ji Zeqiu to come out and meet them.


    Lin Xu had prepared nothing and stood in place empty-handed, feeling a bit awkward for a moment.


    She had not heard that she needed to prepare these things.


    Fortunately, one of the girls had a spare one and lent Lin Xu a fan inscribed with ¡°I love Ji Zeqiu.¡±


    Lin Xu thanked her and also started waiting with the fan in hand.


    At the filming base, in a deserted alley somewhere.


    Ji Zeqiu was pressing Shen Qingtang against the wall, one hand gripping her chin, forcing her to look at him.


    His expression was exceptionally ugly, ¡°Just now, where did he touch you?¡±


    Shen Qingtang¡¯s face was pale as she explained, ¡°Calm down, that was just a scene for the film!¡±


    In the scene, she had to tangle with the male lead, and the kiss was just for positioning.


    Knowing well Ji Zeqiu¡¯s possessiveness, she had hoped to finish this take quickly while he was not on set.


    Yet when she finished, she discovered that Ji Zeqiu had already arrived at the set, watching her with a dark countenance, and she didn¡¯t know how much he had seen.


    She had just finished her scene when he furiously dragged her here.


    ¡°Filming?¡± Ji Zeqiu said icily, ¡°Who allowed you to film such scenes?!¡±


    The grip on Shen Qingtang¡¯s chin tightened.


    Shen Qingtang whimpered in pain, her clear, sparkling eyes showing a hint of mockery, ¡°Not allowing me to film intimate scenes¡­ Ji Zeqiu, could it be that you¡¯ve fallen for me?¡±


    ¡°Fallen for you?¡± Ji Zeqiu laughed as if hearing a joke, ¡°Shen Qingtang, don¡¯t forget that you¡¯re just a substitute. I could never like you!¡±


    From the day she accepted Ji Zeqiu¡¯s money, she was clear that she was nothing more than a substitute.


    A flicker of pain crossed Shen Qingtang¡¯s face, but she quickly said seriously, ¡°If I am just a substitute, what does it matter to you whom I kiss?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu sneered venomously, ¡°You like kissing others that much? Then I¡¯ll grant your wish.¡±


    With that, he bent down to kiss her red lips.


    Shen Qingtang struggled ceaselessly, trying to break free, ¡°Let me go! Let go!¡±


    She raised her hand, intending to slap him, but before she could, a bag beat her to it, smacking Ji Zeqiu on the head.


    For a moment, both of them were stunned.


    The person pulled Shen Qingtang out and kept swinging the bag in hand, mercilessly hitting Ji Zeqiu.


    While hitting, she cursed, ¡°You damn hooligan, disgusting pervert! I¡¯ll beat you to death!¡±


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s face turned ashen, his eyes wide with rage as he grabbed the bag, ¡°Enough!¡±


    ¡°You?¡± He saw the person clearly and immediately gritted his teeth.


    Lin Xu: ¡°¡­¡±


    So the hooligan was her own son.


    Lin Xu¡¯s guilt was fleeting, and she quickly stepped forward righteously and twisted Ji Zeqiu¡¯s ear.


    ¡°Who taught you to bully girls? Haven¡¯t I told you before not to bully others, and to be a kind and good child?¡±


    Even if he was her son, when it was time to discipline, she wouldn¡¯t hesitate. She absolutely couldn¡¯t let him grow up crooked and become a villain.


    Despite being 182 cm tall, Ji Zeqiu was made to bend down by Lin Xu grabbing his ear, his presence noticeably diminished.


    He held Lin Xu¡¯s wrist, protecting his ear, his cheeks flushed red, and it was unclear if he was flushed with anger as he loudly clamored for her to let go.


    Shen Qingtang watched this scene, her mouth agape in shock.


    Ji Zeqiu, a strong and healthy man, actually couldn¡¯t withstand a woman.


    What she didn¡¯t know was that Ji Zeqiu¡¯s ear was a sensitive spot.


    Whenever Xiao Zeqiu misbehaved in the past, Lin Xu would grab his ear and make him apologize.


    Xiao Zeqiu could never resist and could only obediently accept Lin Xu¡¯s punishment.


    Twenty years had passed, and many things had become blurred.


    Ji Zeqiu didn¡¯t have a strong memory of it, but Lin Xu still remembered.


    After all, for her, it was only about a month ago. Although her son had grown up, he was always her son, and it was easy for her to handle him.


    The commotion here was getting louder, and the agent who hadn¡¯t gone far hurriedly came back, only to go dark upon seeing the scene of Ji Zeqiu¡¯s ear being pulled.


    He quickly stepped forward to separate the two, recognizing the woman after recalling for a moment.


    Isn¡¯t this Ji Zeqiu¡¯s mom fan?!


    ¡°How come you are here?¡± the agent exclaimed in shock.


    Lin Xu: ¡°Uh¡­ just passing by.¡±


    She had just gone to use the restroom, not expecting the film studio to be so large, and then she got lost on the way back.


    While randomly running around looking for the way back, she heard someone yelling for help, so she immediately ran over to play the part of the hero.


    The agent, hearing her response, was skeptical.


    Last time it was a coincidence she barged into their VIP room, and now she coincidentally showed up here again.


    ¡°You aren¡¯t a sasaeng fan, are you?¡± the agent asked suspiciously.


    Lin Xu immediately shook her head: ¡°No, no, no! Absolutely not!¡±


    Although she had only recently started following the entertainment industry, she knew all too well that both artists and fans despised sasaeng fans.


    Ji Zeqiu finally caught his breath, covering his ear, furious: ¡°I¡¯ve only had my ear pulled by my mom in all my life! How dare you pull my ear!¡±


    ¡°That proves it, I am your mom,¡± Lin Xu said seriously.


    ¡°You dare to take advantage of me?!¡± Ji Zeqiu was completely enraged, ¡°I¡¯m going to sue her, sue her for intentional injury!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be like that, we¡¯re family. How about I let your brother explain to you?¡± Lin Xu actually meant for Ji Tingyang to tell him that she was indeed his mother.


    But Ji Zeqiu misunderstood, thinking Lin Xu was deliberately bringing up Ji Tingyang to press him down.


    He knew Lin Xu was Ji Tingyang¡¯s person, and if he sued her, who knew what means Ji Tingyang would use against him.


    ¡°You¡¯re ruthless,¡± he gritted his teeth.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so hot-tempered, it¡¯s bad for your health, cool down a bit,¡± Lin Xu said, pulling out a fan from her bag and considerately fanning him.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need your fake kindness.¡± Ji Zeqiu pushed away the fan, but then paused when he saw the words on it.


    After sizing up Lin Xu, his expression was one of disdain: ¡°Are you still my fan?¡±


    Lin Xu nodded repeatedly: ¡°Yes, yes! The number-one kind!¡±


    Ji Zeqiu suddenly thought of something, the corners of his mouth lifting into his professional sweet smile. It had to be said, that face really was handsome and charming; it was no wonder so many female fans were crazy about him.


    He leaned close to Lin Xu, his hand resting on her slender waist, his husky voice enchanting in her ear: ¡°How about you leave Ji Tingyang and be with me?¡±


    If Ji Tingyang took Wen Li from him, then as retribution, why couldn¡¯t he take Lin Xu?


    Thinking this, a hint of malice also spread across Ji Zeqiu¡¯s smile.


    Lin Xu¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and sweat poured down her back.


    Is this heading towards an incestuous affair?!

 Chapter 21 - Chapter 21: Chapter 21 "Zeqiu, will you take me away with you?

    Chapter 21: Chapter 21 ¡°Zeqiu, will you take me away with you?


    ¡°`


    Ji Zeqiu had been swamped with engagements these past few days, and the fans in the group were discussing which event to attend to see him. They even specifically mentioned Lin Xu.


    If it were a few days ago, Lin Xu would probably have been very eager to go with them, but today she rejected the idea.


    Such abnormal behavior led everyone to think she was going to stop being a fan.


    After all, in the entertainment industry, the speed of ¡°wall climbing¡± could be very fast, loving one artist one day and another the next.


    Lin Xu could only come out and explain that she was just busy with something these few days, and then everyone was relieved.


    Actually, after returning from the film city last time, Ji Zeqiu had given her a business card with his agent¡¯s contact information.


    ¡°After you think it through, call this number,¡± he¡¯d said.


    Then he left.


    Although it wasn¡¯t Ji Zeqiu¡¯s cell phone number, Lin Xu felt somewhat reassured having a way to contact him, and she no longer needed to go to great lengths to see him.


    After explaining everything to the group, Lin Xu opened the agent¡¯s WeChat.


    ¡°Brother Zhao, it¡¯s really hot outside today, remember to ensure Zeqiu has sun protection,¡± she messaged.


    ¡°When filming, make sure Zeqiu stays hydrated. He¡¯s always preferred drinks over water since he was young, not sure if he still does it now, but you should pay extra attention,¡± she continued.


    ¡°Also, he¡­¡±


    The agent¡¯s WeChat notification sound ¡°ding-dong¡± kept ringing, he checked his phone and his eyes went black.


    More than a dozen messages came through, all of them detailing various things about Ji Zeqiu.


    True to the form of Ji Zeqiu¡¯s ¡°mom fan.¡±


    Knowing that celebrities are very busy, Lin Xu was not in a rush for a reply. After sending the messages, she put her phone in her pocket, humming a tune as she went downstairs.


    Downstairs, Lin Xu ran into Wen Li and even nodded her head cheerfully before entering the kitchen and asking Aunt Zhang for sour cabbage fish for lunch.


    After getting a positive response from Aunt Zhang, she turned to leave, but she did not expect to bump into someone at the corner.


    Wen Li fell to the ground, her cup slipping from her hand. With a ¡°bang,¡± the cup shattered into pieces, scattering all over the floor.


    Lin Xu paused for a moment before her first reaction was to reach out to help her up.


    But Wen Li didn¡¯t move.


    At first glance, one might think Lin Xu had bullied her.


    Hearing the commotion, the housemaids all came to rubberneck, seeing it was Lin Xu and another, their expressions changed slightly.


    Ji Tingyang liked Wen Li, and this was common knowledge among the Ji Family¡¯s servants. Then suddenly Lin Xu appeared, and she had been spending a lot of time with Ji Tingyang recently.


    Two women and one man, was a dispute finally going to break out?


    Their faces were full of gossip.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Ji Tingyang strode in, quickly helping Wen Li to her feet.


    Wen Li was pale, shaking her head, ¡°It has nothing to do with Miss Lin, I wasn¡¯t paying attention and accidentally bumped into her.¡±


    Lin Xu raised an eyebrow.


    Didn¡¯t that sound a bit like some green tea (phony) behavior?


    Her love-struck son obviously lacked the ability to discern such behavior, and a flicker of surprise crossed Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes as he looked at Lin Xu.


    Could it be that his mother didn¡¯t like him being with Wen Li and was intentionally targeting her?


    He took a step forward, intending to have a proper talk with Lin Xu, when he heard a pained voice beside him, ¡°Ah¡­¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Ji Tingyang asked quickly.


    ¡°I might have accidentally got cut by the glass, it¡¯s bleeding,¡± Wen Li lifted her arm to show a thin cut.


    The wound wasn¡¯t serious, and the blood soon stopped, but it still looked a bit unsightly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go get¡­¡±


    Ji Tingyang hadn¡¯t finished speaking when he heard another sharp intake of breath.


    ¡°`


    This time, it was Lin Xu.


    She clutched her palm, with tears about to fall from her eyes, appearing pitifully endearing.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Ji Tingyang asked.


    ¡°I also got cut by the glass, it hurts so much.¡± Tears brimmed in Lin Xu¡¯s eyes.


    Ji Tingyang immediately became anxious, he let go of Wen Li and quickly took Lin Xu out of the living room.


    He asked with concern, ¡°How could you be so careless? Where are you hurt, let me have a look!¡±


    As Lin Xu brushed past Wen Li, she winked at her, a triumphant expression on her face as if the pain she had just shown was an illusion.


    Acting like a damsel in distress? She knew how to do that too.


    Ji Tingyang quickly brought Lin Xu to the sofa to sit down, and when she lifted her index finger to show him the cut that was barely a few millimeters, he fell silent.


    ¡°This wound¡­ Is it going to heal in a few minutes?¡±


    Lin Xu nodded seriously, ¡°It looks like it¡¯s about to heal, but it still hurts a lot.¡±


    Ji Tingyang looked at her skeptically.


    Lin Xu immediately started to rub her eyes pitifully, ¡°In the past, when I had even a small wound, your dad would get so worried. Now that your dad is gone, there¡¯s no one to care about me.¡±


    As she spoke, her mouth quivered, and she was on the verge of crying.


    Ji Tingyang swiftly surrendered, took a band-aid from the first-aid kit, and carefully stuck it on her, ¡°If it hurts, just be careful over the next few days.¡±


    Lin Xu, ¡°I can¡¯t be careful, I still need to use my hand to hold chopsticks for eating.¡±


    Ji Tingyang, ¡°¡­¡±


    Wen Li stood not far away, watching the two of them chatting and laughing on the sofa, her expression gradually darkening.


    Her own wound was far more severe than Lin Xu¡¯s insignificant cut, yet Ji Tingyang had left her to give Lin Xu a band-aid.


    Since when had she not been the top priority in Ji Tingyang¡¯s heart?


    Wen Li bit her lip, her mood sinking as she returned to her room.


    The cellphone thrown on the bed vibrated ¨C she had received a message.


    She reached for the phone. It was a message from an unknown number, but she recognized it ¨C it was from Ji Zeqiu.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be joining the crew and shooting in isolation the day after tomorrow, can I see you tomorrow?¡±


    The first thing Wen Li thought of was the image of Ji Tingyang gripping her hand tightly, insisting she cut off all contact with Ji Zeqiu.


    Although he had blocked all of Ji Zeqiu and Xiao Yu¡¯s contact information on her phone, he was still fearful she would contact them secretly, almost keeping a watch on her all the time.


    Had it been before, she would have deleted the message immediately, let alone replying.


    But now, Ji Tingyang was almost always by Lin Xu¡¯s side, did he really still care with whom she met?


    Wen Li hesitated for a long while, then replied with a single word, ¡°Okay.¡±


    The next day.


    Following the address, Wen Li arrived at a very private small restaurant. When she pushed open the room door, she found that Ji Zeqiu had already been waiting there for her.


    Upon her arrival, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s face lit up with surprise, and he quickly stood up, ¡°Wen Li!¡±


    He knew Ji Tingyang kept a close watch on Wen Li. Even though she was willing to meet him, he hadn¡¯t harbored much hope.


    Yet, when he actually saw her, his entire being radiated joy.


    He eagerly grasped her arm, only to hear her hiss in pain.


    Ji Zeqiu looked down and saw a gash on her arm that was scabbing over and coldly said, ¡°Did Ji Tingyang do this?!¡±


    Upon hearing his words, Wen Li¡¯s eyes seemed to open a floodgate of tears, dropping one by one.


    She choked up, ¡°Zeqiu, will you take me away, please?¡±

 Chapter 22 - Chapter 22: Chapter 22: The Desire for Warmth and Possessiveness

    Chapter 22: Chapter 22: The Desire for Warmth and Possessiveness


    Seeing Wen Li¡¯s tears, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s reason was completely gone, and he agreed without a second thought.


    In the past, he had also told Wen Li that he would take her away from the Ji Family. But she always hesitated because of Ji Tingyang¡¯s threats and was unwilling to leave with him.


    Although he did not know why she agreed today, upon hearing her request, Ji Zeqiu immediately took her away.


    He originally wanted Wen Li to go to the film set with him, so Ji Tingyang would not be able to find her immediately, but Wen Li, concerned about school resuming after summer vacation ended in a month, refused to go to the film set.


    After thinking it over, Ji Zeqiu arranged for Wen Li to stay in the presidential suite of a hotel. ¡°You should settle down here for now, I will have someone send over your clothes later.¡±


    Wen Li suddenly said she wanted to leave the Ji Mansion, not bringing anything with her, not even a change of clothes.


    After finishing speaking, he took out a medicine box, his head slightly bowed.


    Ji Zeqiu, with his prominent nasal bridge and tightly pursed lips, took care of her wounds seriously, exuding a reserved yet unique charm.


    His movements were so gentle.


    Even if one was not his fan, anyone would be moved by such meticulous care.


    Wen Li¡¯s cheeks flushed with a hint of red, and she murmured a thank you.


    After he had treated her wounds, Ji Zeqiu left the bedroom, allowing her to rest properly.


    He walked over to the floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room, lit a cigarette, and looked at the hustle and bustle below, inexplicably recalling the past.


    Since his parents died early, he and his siblings had depended on each other. After living at their aunt¡¯s house for a few years, they moved to another relative¡¯s home due to their cousin¡¯s annoyance with them.


    But no one likes outsiders occupying their home, so not long after, they were thrown into somebody else¡¯s house.


    Coming and going, until Ji Tingyang came of age and reclaimed the Ji Mansion where his parents had lived, they finally had a place to settle down.


    As Ji Tingyang was busy reclaiming the Ji Family¡¯s properties and his sister ran around outside all day, the siblings gradually saw less of each other.


    One day, he fell ill, and trying to support himself to the hospital, he fainted at the entrance hall.


    ¡°Your temperature is so hot, wake up, I¡¯m taking you to the hospital,¡± a small hand poked him.


    He tried to open his eyes to see who it was, but it felt as if his eyes were glued shut, unable to open them at all.


    In a blurry haze, he felt someone applying a wet towel to his forehead, mumbling for him to wake up soon.


    It felt so familiar¡­


    When he was a child and often had fevers, his mother did the same, anxiously staying by his bedside all night, checking his forehead every few minutes, wishing for him to get better soon.


    His heart filled with longing and warmth.


    ¡°Mom¡­¡±


    His hand moved slightly, grasping that warm dream.


    When he woke up again, Ji Zeqiu was already in the hospital.


    ¡°That¡¯s great, you¡¯re finally awake!¡± a sweet voice exclaimed joyfully.


    He turned his head, and what he saw was a young girl, her eyes smiling at him.


    She blushed and pointed to her other hand. ¡°Your hand is hurting me, can you let go?¡±


    Only then did Ji Zeqiu come to his senses and realize he had been holding onto someone else¡¯s wrist.


    He quickly released her, apologizing with a hoarse and dry voice.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡±


    The young girl¡¯s smile was sweet, and he couldn¡¯t help but take a few more glances at her.


    It was only later that he found out she was a friend of Ji Tingyang¡¯s, who had come to the Ji Mansion that day to help Ji Tingyang fetch something and found him fainted.


    Perhaps because he and Ji Tingyang were similar, he could see that Ji Tingyang¡¯s gaze towards Wen Li was the same as his, both filled with a longing for and possessiveness of this warmth.


    In the end, it turned into a huge mess¡­


    ¡°Knock, knock, knock.¡±


    The sound of knocking at the door outside interrupted his thoughts.


    Ji Zeqiu extinguished the cigarette in his hand and turned to open the door.


    Upon seeing Ji Zeqiu, Shen Qingtang handed him the bag she was carrying, ¡°Here¡¯s what you asked for.¡±


    Inside were some daily necessities and women¡¯s undergarments, all of which Ji Zeqiu had asked her to buy.


    When Shen Qingtang saw that Ji Zeqiu wanted her to deliver the items to the hotel, her expression turned ugly.


    Everyone was an adult and naturally understood what it meant.


    Still, she harbored a sliver of hope.


    She had known Ji Zeqiu for so long and besides her, she had never seen another woman by his side.


    Perhaps it was a misunderstanding, or maybe it was for someone else?


    However, Ji Zeqiu lazily received the bag without any intention of explaining.


    Shen Qingtang¡¯s hand by her side clenched into a fist. She was just about to ask when she saw a woman wearing a bathrobe come out of the bedroom calling for him.


    ¡°Zeqiu, everything here is too smart; I can¡¯t figure out how to use the showerhead.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll check it out.¡±


    After saying this, Ji Zeqiu heartlessly shut the door.


    Shen Qingtang stood in the hallway outside, the image of the woman she had seen in the room flashing through her mind, her face turning pale.


    That woman¡­ resembled her somewhat.


    Ji Zeqiu had once said she was just a substitute, so was the woman in the room the real deal?


    The woman Ji Zeqiu had always been obsessed with?


    So they were together in the room now¡­


    The more Shen Qingtang thought about it, the more her chest hurt, and eventually, she forgot how she had even left the hotel.


    ¡ª¡ª


    The first night Wen Li left Ji Mansion, Ji Tingyang did not notice.


    She should have been happy, thinking that Ji Tingyang had finally given up his persistence on her, yet somehow she felt a loss, and couldn¡¯t sleep well.


    The next day, Ji Tingyang seemed to finally remember her, calling her early in the morning. The ringtone sounded particularly impatient, breaking off and resuming over and over again.


    After quite a while, Wen Li answered the phone slowly.


    ¡°Wen Li! Who gave you the audacity not to come home at night! Come back right this instant!¡±


    Even through the phone, one could feel Ji Tingyang¡¯s raging fury.


    Wen Li gripped her phone, resisting, ¡°I don¡¯t want to go back.¡±


    ¡°You!¡±


    ¡°Anyway, you don¡¯t like me anymore, you didn¡¯t even notice I didn¡¯t come home. Since that¡¯s the case, please let me go.¡±


    There was a moment of silence on the other end, then through gritted teeth, three words came out: ¡°Don¡¯t you dare!¡±


    Then the phone call was disconnected.


    Wen Li hadn¡¯t yet figured out what he meant when another call came in.


    It was her mother.


    Keeping in mind that her mother worked at Ji¡¯s, a wave of unease rose within her.


    ¡°Lili, have you been fighting with President Ji recently?¡± her mother asked bluntly.


    Wen Li: ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°The HR department just suddenly informed your dad that he¡¯s being transferred to work in the western branch. It¡¯s remote and hard there, how can your father endure it? And after your father leaves, what am I supposed to do by myself? I know you have a good relationship with President Ji, could you possibly ask him to make an exception?¡± her mother pleaded frantically.


    Wen Li instantly understood that Ji Tingyang was using her family to threaten her to return.

 Chapter 23 - Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Madman

    Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Madman


    Ji Tingyang seemed certain that Wen Li would return, so he didn¡¯t rush to contact her after that phone call.


    Instead, it was her mother¡¯s calls that came from time to time, persuading her to get along well with Ji Tingyang and avoid quarrels.


    ¡°Mom, why don¡¯t you ask Dad to quit his job and find another one? That way, he won¡¯t have to be transferred to a branch office, and we can all be together,¡± Wen Li said.


    ¡°Silly child, your dad is over fifty years old. If he leaves the Ji Family, which other company would want your dad and pay him such a high salary? And your brother, it¡¯s time for him to marry too¡­ If your dad quits, how would he earn the wedding money for your brother¡­¡± Mrs. Wen rambled on non-stop.


    Ever since her parents found out she knew the president of such a big company, they were persuading her to interact more with Ji Tingyang, almost wishing she could marry into the Ji Family and secure a large sum of money.


    Wen Li knew that if she didn¡¯t compromise, her parents might even find a way to the hotel.


    Hesitant until evening, Wen Li finally took a taxi and returned to the Ji Family¡¯s house.


    The air in the mansion was eerily calm, as if it were the precursor to a storm.


    As soon as the butler saw Wen Li return, he immediately came to welcome her: ¡®Lady Wen, you¡¯re finally back! Young Master Ji had a huge temper tantrum today. It¡¯s good you¡¯re back.¡¯


    ¡°Where is he?¡± Wen Li looked around but did not see him.


    Given Ji Tingyang¡¯s violent nature, it was surprising that he wasn¡¯t in the living room, waiting to settle scores with her the moment she returned.


    ¡°Young Master Ji was just persuaded by Miss Lin to return to his bedroom. I¡¯ll go let him know right now,¡± the butler made as if to head upstairs.


    Wen Li wanted to stop him, but he moved so quickly that in a blink of an eye he had knocked on Ji Tingyang¡¯s bedroom door.


    The next instant, she saw Ji Tingyang with a gloomy face, quickly walking towards her.


    His eyes were bloodshot, and his cheeks were so cold it seemed as if they could form frost.


    Seeing him drawing closer, Wen Li fearfully stepped back two steps.


    However, Ji Tingyang, without saying a word, silently gripped her wrist and led her back to the bedroom.


    His grip grew tighter, causing Wen Li¡¯s cheeks to contort with pain and her body to stagger a bit.


    Back in the bedroom, Ji Tingyang pulled something out of the drawer. Before Wen Li could see clearly what it was, she heard a ¡°click,¡± and her wrist was handcuffed to the ornate headboard.


    It was a pair of silver handcuffs.


    Wen Li¡¯s face drastically changed, and she incredulously looked at him, ¡°Are you insane?!¡±


    ¡°Yes, I am insane,¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s face was frighteningly somber, yet his touch was tender as he caressed her cheek and gently rubbed it: ¡°Only this way, you won¡¯t leave¡­¡±


    Wen Li¡¯s heart trembled, and she shrank back in fear.


    During this period, Ji Tingyang had been too gentle, making her completely forget that he was actually a madman.


    ¡°I¡­I won¡¯t leave. Will you let me go, please?¡± her voice quavered, pleading.


    However, Ji Tingyang remained silent, obsessively stroking her cheek.


    ¡°And if you lock me up like this, how will I eat?¡± Wen Li bit her lip.


    ¡°I will feed you.¡±


    ¡°What about going to the bathroom?¡±


    ¡°I will carry you.¡±


    She tried to persuade Ji Tingyang, but it was completely futile. Tears fell from her cheeks, only to be wiped away one by one by him.


    Wen Li angrily pushed him away, not even looking as she randomly grabbed something and threw it at him.


    Bang.


    Blood blossomed on Ji Tingyang¡¯s forehead.


    Wen Li paused for a moment, only to realize that she had thrown her frequently used water cup, which now lay shattered on the floor.

 Chapter 24 - Chapter 24: Chapter 24 Bedtime Story

    Chapter 24: Chapter 24 Bedtime Story


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s fingers grazed his forehead, and, upon seeing the blood on his fingertips, he remained composed, simply telling Wen Li to rest well before leaving her bedroom.


    As soon as he left the bedroom, he saw Lin Xu in the hallway, pacing back and forth with a nervous expression and occasionally stealing glances at the bedroom door.


    When Lin Xu saw Ji Tingyang emerge, she instinctively averted her gaze guiltily, but upon seeing the blood on his face, she ran forward in shock.


    ¡°What happened to your forehead? Why are you bleeding?!¡± Lin Xu asked anxiously, reaching out to touch his forehead but hesitating, afraid that the bacteria on her hands might infect the wound, her hand freezing in mid-air.


    She had heard the commotion inside and had been too scared to enter, never imagining that things had become so serious. Had they really started fighting?


    Ji Tingyang took her hand that was frozen in mid-air and rested his head on her shoulder, his deep and dark eyes showing a flicker of pain where she couldn¡¯t see.


    Lin Xu, not concerned about staining her clothes with blood, gently patted his head and cooed softly, ¡°Shall we let the doctor take a look at your wound first?¡±


    It took a long while before Ji Tingyang responded with a muffled affirmation.


    After receiving the call, the family doctor immediately rushed over. Upon seeing the wound, he inhaled sharply while fumbling with his medical kit, muttering, ¡°This wound needs two or three stitches.¡±


    Lin Xu stood up to make room for the doctor, but Ji Tingyang held onto her hand, leaving her no space to retreat.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go¡­¡± His voice was hoarse, and at this moment, he looked as vulnerable as a child on the brink of collapse.


    Lin Xu quickly reassured him, ¡°I¡¯m not going, just making some space.¡±


    With Ji Tingyang now half-lying on the bed and Lin Xu sitting on the edge, there was hardly any room for the doctor.


    Before Ji Tingyang could speak, the doctor quickly waved his hands, saying, ¡°It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s fine, let him hold your hand.¡±


    The doctor, seemingly well aware of Ji Tingyang¡¯s stubbornness, didn¡¯t bother attempting to persuade him, and instead took initiative to go to the other side of the bed to treat the wound.


    The doctor was very skilled, administering anesthetic, stitching, and then bandaging, all in under ten minutes.


    He then took out some prescriptions from his medical kit and handed them to Lin Xu, ¡°These are anti-inflammatory medications, take them three times a day.¡±


    ¡°Oh, and have you finished the previous medications? Do you need a refill?¡± the doctor asked further.


    No sooner had the words left his mouth than the doctor caught Ji Tingyang¡¯s sharp gaze. He tensed up, realizing he had misspoken, and promptly shut his mouth.


    ¡°What previous medication?¡± Lin Xu asked, puzzled.


    The doctor shook his head and did not elaborate, simply reiterated a few care instructions for the wound and left the villa.


    Lin Xu turned to look at Ji Tingyang, intending to get some answers, but found he had already leaned against the headboard, his eyes closed in rest.


    He was definitely doing it on purpose.


    That¡¯s what Lin Xu thought indignantly.


    ¡°If you want to sleep, lie down properly on the bed, otherwise you¡¯ll wake up with a stiff neck tomorrow,¡± she said, revealing his act without mercy.


    ¡°¡­¡± Ji Tingyang shifted his body and lay down properly on the bed.


    Lin Xu laughed softly, ¡°Alright, go to sleep. I¡¯m going back to my room.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t go¡­¡±


    Ji Tingyang seemed particularly clingy tonight.


    It seemed that in some ways, even after growing up, some things never change, Lin Xu thought with a chuckle to herself.


    ¡°Would you like a bedtime story?¡±


    ¡°Mhm¡­¡±


    Lin Xu remembered that the day before her car accident, she had told a bedtime story to the two brothers, but that night¡¯s story was only half-told.


    She recalled the rest and began, ¡°The big bad wolf opened its mouth to eat Little Red Riding Hood, but just then, the hunter appeared¡­¡±


    Lin Xu¡¯s voice was as gentle as a spring breeze, lightly soothing his restless heart, bringing tranquility and softness.


    Hearing her voice, Ji Tingyang drifted off to sleep unconsciously.


    That night, he had a dream.


    He dreamed of his childhood, where he and Ji Zeqiu slept in the same bed, with Lin Xu lying between them, her arms around both of them.


    Her gentle voice narrated the story, ¡°One day, Little Red Riding Hood carried the cake her mother made for her to bring to her grandmother¡¯s house, and on the way, she met a big, bad wolf¡­¡±


    The story continued without interruption, and from that day on, Little Red Riding Hood, along with her grandmother and mother, lived happily ever after.


    He was very satisfied with the ending of the story, as if their family of five shared the same happiness as the characters in the tale.


    ¡­


    The next day.


    Ji Tingyang woke up from a beautiful dream, he shifted his body and felt warmth in the palm of his hand.


    He turned his head to look, finding that his hand was still tightly grasping her wrist, and Lin Xu had not pulled away; she had made do with sleeping on the edge of the bed.


    Thinking of how he had again refused to let her go last night, insisting she tell a bedtime story, a flush of embarrassment crossed Ji Tingyang¡¯s cheeks.


    He got out of bed, reached out his hand, and carried Lin Xu onto his bed, wanting her to get a better sleep.


    Lin Xu had been lying on the edge of the bed all night without proper rest, her body stiff and aching. As soon as Ji Tingyang touched her hand, she awoke with a start.


    ¡°Hmm? Is it morning?¡± Lin Xu rubbed her bleary eyes.


    Ji Tingyang retracted his hand, ¡°Go sleep on the bed.¡±


    ¡°What about you?¡±


    ¡°I have to go to work.¡±


    ¡°Oh, okay.¡±


    Lin Xu, too drowsy to care, climbed onto the bed and quickly closed her eyes again.


    Before falling asleep, she muttered, asking Ji Tingyang to cool off and to throw away Wen Li¡¯s handcuffs.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s lips tightened, seemingly reluctant as his agitated emotions began to fester within him.


    He furrowed his brows irritably, but as his gaze landed on Lin Xu sleeping on the bed, he paused.


    The restlessness had just arisen but gradually subsided.


    As long as his mother was by his side, that was all that mattered¡­


    Ji Tingyang went to Wen Li¡¯s bedroom, Wen Li had not yet awakened, her cheeks streaked with two distinct lines of tears, as though she had cried all night.


    The skin where her right hand had been cuffed was chafed red.


    He rubbed his nose, feeling as if his emotions were increasingly hard to control.


    He let out a deep breath, quickly unlocked the handcuffs, and left the room.


    When Lin Xu woke up, it was already noon.


    Still concerned about Wen Li, she had planned to check on her after getting up. No sooner had she stepped out of her room than she encountered Wen Li in the hallway.


    But Wen Li looked as frightened as a mouse encountering a cat; upon seeing Lin Xu, she immediately ran back into her room and locked the door.


    Well, at least Ji Tingyang had listened to her and truly thrown the handcuffs away.


    Lin Xu had another matter on her mind.


    Taking advantage of Ji Tingyang still working in the study, she found the butler and got straight to the point, ¡°Butler, do you know if Ji Tingyang is taking any medicine?¡±


    The butler had worked for the Ji Family for several years and should have heard something.


    ¡°Uh, this¡­¡± Caught off guard by her question, the butler hesitated momentarily, his expression unsure.


    ¡°If you know anything, please tell me, even if it¡¯s a terminal illness, I will find a way to cure him!¡± Lin Xu covered her face with her hands, crying despondently.


    ¡°It¡¯s not as serious as a terminal illness, Miss Lin, please don¡¯t be sad,¡± the butler consoled uncertainly.


    ¡°Oh? So, you do know something?¡± Lin Xu looked up, her face devoid of any tears.


    Butler: ¡°¡­¡±


    He had been tricked.

 Chapter 25 - Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Paranoid Personality Disorder

    Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Paranoid Personality Disorder


    The butler wanted to feign ignorance at this point, but it was no use. As soon as he tried to divert the topic, Lin Xu dragged the conversation back with persistent inquiries.


    ¡°His mental state was off all day yesterday, extremely anxious and irritable. If there¡¯s anything you know, maybe you could help him,¡± Lin Xu said with a worried look in her eyes, which were brimming with tears, pitifully pleading, ¡°You can trust me, I¡¯ll keep it a secret and won¡¯t tell anyone that you told me!¡±


    The butler hesitated for a long time.


    After all, he had worked at the Ji Mansion for nine years, since the day Ji Tingyang took back the Ji Mansion and hired him.


    He had witnessed the warmth between the Ji siblings, and now only Ji Tingyang was left, living alone in the mansion¡­


    In the end, the butler¡¯s heart softened, ¡°Actually¡­ Young Master Ji has been taking antipsychotic medication, for two years now.¡±


    Lin Xu was startled.


    She had not expected this answer.


    ¡°¡­Psychotic disorder?¡± Her mind raced through various conditions, including schizophrenia.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s just medication for anxiety and depression, to help alleviate paranoid thoughts,¡± the butler reassured her, seeing the panic in her expression, knowing she was overthinking it.


    For a while, Ji Tingyang had been anxious and displayed symptoms of depression, which the butler initially thought were due to work stress.


    Until one day, Ji Tingyang suddenly brought Wen Li back to the Mansion.


    ¡°From now on, you¡¯ll live here. If you want anything, just tell me, and I¡¯ll have it sent to you,¡± he said softly, caressing Wen Li¡¯s cheek, his gaze intense with a trace of paranoia, ¡°If you want to go out, tell me, and I¡¯ll take you, or I¡¯ll have the bodyguards accompany you.¡±


    Wen Li¡¯s face turned pale, her normally fair skin growing even more ghastly. Tears fell like pearls off a broken string, as she nodded helplessly and fearfully.


    Ji Tingyang leaned forward slightly, placing her hand on his head, encouraging her to stroke it, and then, as if satisfied, a faint smile spread across his lips.


    Yet, even so, it did not prevent Ji Tingyang from becoming increasingly deranged.


    When he returned from work to an empty living room, his expression suddenly became frantic.


    He rushed upstairs and violently pushed open the door at the end of the hall.


    Wen Li was on the couch looking at her phone, startled by Ji Tingyang¡¯s actions, nearly dropping her phone on the floor.


    Before she could speak, Ji Tingyang, with a fierce expression, grabbed her chin, forcing her to look up at him, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you in the living room? Why aren¡¯t you waiting for me to come back the moment I arrive?¡±


    ¡°Who are you chatting with, Xiao Yu? What¡¯s so good about him? Do you like him that much?¡±


    Ji Tingyang started to curse, his gaze falling on her phone, feeling his eyes burning and aching, which spread pain throughout his temples.


    He snatched Wen Li¡¯s phone and nearly smashed it to the ground, the sharp shrieks echoing in his ears.


    What happened afterward, he couldn¡¯t quite remember, only knowing it was Ji Zeqiu who dragged him out.


    ¡°Are you out of your mind!¡± Ji Zeqiu snarled, grabbing his collar, grinding his teeth.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s back was against the wall, his body sliding down slowly until he was seated on the floor.


    He rubbed his forehead, looking exhausted, ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­¡±


    It happened twice, three times, becoming more frequent.


    Ji Zeqiu forcibly took him to see a psychiatrist, and the diagnosis revealed he had paranoid personality disorder.


    Ji Tingyang craved Wen Li¡¯s occasional warmth so much that it led to an obsessive possessiveness toward her, often accompanied by sensitivity, suspicion, jealousy, and other symptoms.


    ¡°The causes are generally divided into genetic, environmental, and familial factors.¡± However, the doctor said that Ji Tingyang¡¯s disorder was most likely due to family factors.


    Perhaps it was due to an early loss of love, the absence of parents in his childhood.


    Currently, there is no effective medication to treat it, but perhaps psychological therapy could be tried.


    However, after two years, Ji Tingyang¡¯s condition had not improved, and his quarrels with Wen Li became more frequent.


    Until a month ago, the sudden appearance of Lin Xu interrupted Ji Tingyang¡¯s outbursts.


    After that incident, Ji Tingyang¡¯s mood stabilized significantly, and his face held more smiles. Despite claiming it was a bother, he was still willingly accompanying her on shopping trips.


    If it were her, maybe she really could cure Young Master Ji¡¯s illness.


    With this thought, the butler told Lin Xu about it.


    After hearing this, Lin Xu grew silent, her mind a chaotic mess, her spirit somewhat bewildered.


    Seeing her not speaking, the butler felt uneasy.


    Had he said too much, causing Miss Lin to become scared? What if Miss Lin simply ran away?


    He wished he had just kept his mouth shut.


    As he was caught up in regret and self-reproach, Lin Xu thanked the butler and went back to her room with a solemn expression.


    That afternoon, Lin Xu spent almost the entire time shut in her room, sitting in front of the computer researching about obsessive-compulsive personality disorder for hours, even forgetting to have dinner, working even harder than Ji Tingyang when he reviewed documents.


    ¡°Knock knock.¡±


    The knocking sounded a few times before Ji Tingyang pushed the door open and sighed in relief upon seeing Lin Xu at the computer.


    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Lin Xu looked up, puzzled.


    ¡°It¡¯s already 9 PM, and you haven¡¯t come down for dinner¡­¡± Afraid that you might disappear again, Ji Tingyang paused, then effortlessly changed the subject, ¡°I was worried you might be hungry.¡±


    She hadn¡¯t felt it before he mentioned it, but as soon as he did, her stomach immediately grumbled.


    Lin Xu looked up embarrassedly, ready to say that feeling hungry is normal and not to laugh at it. However, Ji Tingyang, true to his form as a seasoned CEO, remained unflustered throughout.


    His serious demeanor made Lin Xu almost laugh.


    Closing her laptop, Lin Xu asked him before going downstairs, ¡°Have you had dinner yet?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ haven¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Then that¡¯s perfect, let¡¯s go down and eat together!¡±


    Lin Xu took Ji Tingyang¡¯s hand and they went downstairs.


    The dining table was set with food that had been kept warm. Lin Xu picked up her chopsticks, eager to eat a few bites, but noticed that Ji Tingyang hadn¡¯t even started.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you eating? Does it not suit your taste?¡± she blinked.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not that, I, I¡­¡± Ji Tingyang stammered.


    ¡°How about I cook you a bowl of scallion noodles?¡±


    Almost instantly, Lin Xu felt a gleam light up in Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes, which quickly faded.


    ¡°Okay,¡± he agreed, seeming a bit reluctant.


    Lin Xu smiled without calling him out and went into the kitchen to fetch the leftover noodles from last time, and started cooking.


    Through the glass door of the kitchen, Ji Tingyang watched Lin Xu busily moving about, and his mood lightened as well.


    He fiddled with the fingers at his side as if remembering something, then stood up to follow her into the kitchen, taking over the spatula from her hand, ¡°How do you do this?¡±


    Lin Xu was surprised to see he genuinely wanted to help, so she played the supervisor and instructed from the side, ¡°First, add a suitable amount of salt, then pour a suitable amount of oil.¡±


    ¡°¡­How much is a suitable amount?¡±


    ¡°As much as you like.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Hey hey hey! That¡¯s too much salt! Are you trying to salt yourself to death? Quickly add some water to dilute it!¡±


    The kitchen was chaos and pandemonium, yet there was a touch of warmth.

 Chapter 26 - Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Commuting Pick-up and Drop-off

    Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Commuting Pick-up and Drop-off


    The next day.


    Ji Tingyang walked toward his study as usual and started today¡¯s work.


    Ever since Lin Xu had been reborn, he had not been seen going out to work at Ji¡¯s, and his work had also been transferred and brought to his study by his secretary.


    Initially, it was to keep an eye on Wen Li and prevent her from sneaking out, but over time, he had grown accustomed to it.


    Lin Xu felt that staying at home all day, even a normal person would get sick of it.


    She needed to find a way to get him back to a normal life, starting with going out to work.


    So, during lunch, Lin Xu suddenly sighed deeply.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Ji Tingyang asked, ¡°Is the food not to your liking?¡±


    It seemed as if she just needed to nod, and he would immediately have the food on the table removed and replaced.


    Lin Xu shook her head, her expression still melancholic, ¡°I just watched a TV drama, there was a scene where a mother was sending her child to and from school, and it suddenly reminded me that I hardly ever did that for you. I feel somewhat guilty.¡±


    When Xiao Tingyang was in preschool, she would occasionally do it, but more often it was her husband. Every day before going to work at the company, he would first drop Xiao Tingyang off at preschool and pick him up after work.


    Later, when Xiao Tingyang started first grade, it shifted to the family driver doing the drop-offs and pickups. Lin Xu had even less opportunity to do so before she crossed into the future, twenty years later.


    As for the twenty years when she wasn¡¯t present, no one took care of their commuting anymore. At merely seven or eight years old, Xiao Tingyang took on the role of a responsible older brother, taking public buses to drop Xiao Zeqiu at the preschool before switching buses to go to school himself.


    Later, as his sister grew and also started school, he would be responsible for dropping both off.


    Ji Tingyang also remembered this, and said indifferently, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, it¡¯s all in the past.¡±


    ¡°How can that be!¡± Lin Xu said, still upset.


    Ji Tingyang wanted to continue to console her, but then he saw a bright idea light up in her eyes, and she made a suggestion.


    ¡°How about this, I¡¯ll drop you off and pick you up from work!¡±


    He paused for a moment.


    ¡°Now that you have graduated too, since I can¡¯t re-experience sending you to school, the only choice left is to drive you to and from work as a form of compensation. Get ready now, I¡¯ll take you to the company at two!¡± Lin Xu urged.


    ¡°I¡­¡± Ji Tingyang hesitated, but seeing her excited, he swallowed his words back, ¡°Okay.¡±


    Lin Xu was determined and efficient.


    As if afraid he would change his mind, the moment it was time, she immediately dragged him into the car.


    The location of the Ji Group was still the same as before, but over the many years, many aspects of its setup had changed.


    The mixed feelings in Lin Xu¡¯s heart were fleeting. She followed Ji Tingyang out of the car and meticulously reminded him at the door:


    ¡°I¡¯ll wander nearby. Call me when you get off work, and I¡¯ll come pick you up. Make sure to work hard.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not a child,¡± Ji Tingyang said helplessly.


    ¡°In a mother¡¯s eyes, you¡¯re always a child.¡± These words, which Lin Xu¡¯s mother used to say to her, were now spoken by her to Ji Tingyang.


    Yet, looking at the youthful cheek that wasn¡¯t much older than his, Ji Tingyang felt it somewhat strange.


    The president who hadn¡¯t been to the company for over two years suddenly appeared, startling the staff. The relaxed posture of slacking off the previous second was immediately replaced by a strict readiness, as they worked diligently.


    Only then did Ji Tingyang realize how lax each department had become at his arrival, no wonder the workload he had to handle was increasing and the efficiency was worse than in previous years.


    He snorted coldly.


    Just two hours ago, Ji Tingyang was reluctant to go to the office, but the next second, he initiated a major internal overhaul.


    Suddenly, the company was filled with sighs and complaints.


    Meanwhile, Lin Xu was leisurely tasting coffee in a caf¨¦.


    Thinking of Ji Zeqiu still enclosed in the filming crew, she felt better and sent many instructions to her agent to take good care of Ji Zeqiu.


    After more than ten minutes, the other party perfunctorily replied with a ¡°okay,¡± not knowing if they had read the message completely.


    ¡°Hiss, are you blind? This clothing is very expensive. Can you afford to compensate it? Where is your manager? I want to make a complaint about you!¡±


    A voice full of curses rose nearby.


    Lin Xu looked up and saw a customer quarreling with a waiter.


    The waiter hadn¡¯t held the cup steady, and coffee had spilled out, staining the clothes inside a paper bag that the customer carried.


    Just by seeing the logo of a high-end brand printed on the paper bag, she knew the price must be steep.


    The waiter bent down and apologized to the customer, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry, I wasn¡¯t holding it steady, it¡¯s all my fault. I¡¯ll clean it up for you right now¡­¡±


    ¡°Clean? Not all clothes can be washed, do you realize that because of what you did, I now don¡¯t have a gown to wear to tonight¡¯s banquet!¡± the customer, on the verge of a breakdown, demanded to see the manager for compensation again.


    ¡°I¡¯ll definitely clean it well, taking it to dry cleaning is also possible, please don¡¯t complain about me¡­¡± the waiter said, his expression conflicted.


    If he received one complaint, two hundred yuan would be deducted from his salary, which effectively meant working for free for two days.


    As the dispute remained unresolved, a girl suddenly pulled the waiter behind her and protected him, ¡°Xiao Yu, why do you even apologize! It¡¯s just a piece of clothing. How much can it be worth?¡±


    The girl showed disdain.


    ¡°Since it isn¡¯t worth much, then compensate one hundred thousand yuan,¡± the customer pulled out the invoice to prevent them from thinking she was extorting them.


    ¡°I thought it would be much more than that, it¡¯s just one hundred thousand yuan,¡± the girl pulled out her phone, scanned the customer¡¯s QR code, and in a few seconds, she transferred one hundred thousand yuan.


    Having received the compensation, the customer did no longer cared, sized up Xiao Yu and the girl once more before leaving, and clicked her tongue as she said, ¡°Nowadays, young girls start keeping kept men.¡±


    Xiao Yu¡¯s expression abruptly changed, and he looked at the girl with a cold gaze, ¡°I don¡¯t need your help, and I¡¯ll pay you back that one hundred thousand yuan later.¡±


    ¡°But if I hadn¡¯t helped you, she would have complained about you,¡± the girl hurriedly said, ¡°and besides, one hundred thousand yuan means nothing to me, it¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t pay it back.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t you stop bothering me?¡± Xiao Yu said to the girl who followed closely by his side.


    Lin Xu watched for a few minutes, withdrew her gaze, and clicked her tongue as she shook her head.


    The boy¡¯s attitude towards the girl was so poor, she really didn¡¯t understand why the girl kept pursuing it.


    But that was ultimately someone else¡¯s private affair, Lin Xu just sighed, and soon put the matter out of her mind.


    ¡ª¡ª


    Ji Group.


    Ji Tingyang occasionally looked at his watch, his expression impatient.


    The secretary beside him, sweating profusely, worriedly muttered to himself about why the director hadn¡¯t brought the annual financial report yet. President Ji was so anxious that he checked the time every two minutes.


    Every time Ji Tingyang looked at his watch, the secretary felt as if his life span was shortening by a few minutes.


    ¡°President Ji, here are this year¡¯s financial reports.¡±


    Under continuous prompting by the secretary, the director finally arrived.


    However, Ji Tingyang didn¡¯t even look at it, picked up his coat from the back of the chair, and took the report as well, ¡°Working hours have ended, I¡¯ll look at it when I get home.¡±


    ¡°Ah?¡± The secretary glanced at the time.


    Just on the dot, exactly six o¡¯clock.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s sudden appearance and the ensuing shake-up had prepared them all for overtime. Could the president really just leave on time?

 Chapter 27 - Chapter 27: Chapter 27 "I hate you!

    Chapter 27: Chapter 27 ¡°I hate you!


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s unexpected visit frightened many people. Although he had not come to the company for a long time, he quickly got into the swing of things upon arrival.


    The secretary followed Ji Tingyang with trepidation, visiting almost a dozen departments. At each one, a few employees who had slacked off had their bonuses docked, and then some who lacked sufficient work capabilities were dismissed.


    ¡°Do you think President Ji is planning a major staff overhaul?¡±


    ¡°Shh, don¡¯t talk nonsense, get back to work! Be careful, or we might be the next ones out the door.¡±


    In just one hour, the entire company was on edge, afraid they might be the next unlucky ones.


    Even as the end of the workday neared, not a single employee dared to relax, all having the resolve to strive on their posts until dawn if necessary.


    Some even canceled their evening dates.


    As soon as six o¡¯clock came, the secretary announced in the company group chat that President Ji had left work and everyone else could go home too.


    That¡¯s it for the day?


    What if President Ji comes back to do a surprise check and fires everyone who¡¯s not working overtime?


    It¡¯s quite possible.


    Everyone dragged their feet at their stations, afraid to leave.


    While everyone was nervous, Ji Tingyang had already gotten into the car and was on his way home with Lin Xu.


    As soon as Ji Tingyang got in the car, he saw Lin Xu mysteriously reaching for something out of his line of sight.


    ¡°Ta-da! Ice cream!¡±


    Ji Tingyang was stunned for a moment before a cone was thrust into his hand.


    The cold sensation spread in his palm. He stared at the ice cream for a few seconds until he heard Lin Xu urging him, and then he came to his senses.


    ¡°Eat it quick, or it¡¯ll melt.¡±


    Ji Tingyang responded tersely and took a bite. His lips and teeth clung to the cold sensation, which slightly alleviated the heat generated by the hot summer day.


    Feeling physically and mentally relaxed, Ji Tingyang¡¯s mood lifted a notch, and he took a few more bites.


    It seemed like going to work wasn¡¯t so bad after all.


    ¡°I saw there are a lot of food stalls near your company, so let¡¯s try something else tomorrow,¡± Lin Xu planned to sample everything at the food stall.


    He had thought that her visiting the company today was just a whim, but did she really want him to go to work again tomorrow?


    Ji Tingyang was reluctant, but he glanced at the ice cream in his hand and felt torn, falling silent.


    As the car drove past a school, they coincidentally ran into the rush of students leaving for the day and got stuck at the intersection in front of the school for a while.


    Ji Tingyang looked out the window to see young kids exiting the school and holding their parents¡¯ hands, quickly gathering around a nearby stall to buy grilled sausages.


    The atmosphere was warm and delightful.


    He looked at the grilled sausages, then back at the almost finished ice cream in his hand, his lips pursed slightly.


    After a long hesitation, he finally agreed.


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Before bed at night, Lin Xu pulled out a bedtime storybook she had bought at some point and asked Ji Tingyang, ¡°Do you want Mommy to read you a bedtime story?¡±


    Ji Tingyang looked embarrassed, his ears seemingly flushed with a touch of annoyed shyness: ¡°I¡¯m all grown up now!¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Lin Xu was skeptical.


    As if it wasn¡¯t him who had asked Lin Xu to tell a story just a few days ago.


    ¡°Yes!¡± he affirmed.


    ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll take it back and read it myself, goodnight,¡± Lin Xu waved goodbye.


    Ji Tingyang went back to his room and took a deep breath.


    As usual before bed, he picked up his phone to check if there was anything unsettled, only to find a missed expense notification.


    A transfer of one hundred thousand yuan.


    Seeing the card number associated with it, Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression turned stern, and he flipped open his WeChat contacts with a cold face.


    JTY: ¡°Screenshot.¡±


    JTY: ¡°Where did this one hundred thousand yuan go?¡±


    The response came back quickly.


    Raining Qiao: ¡°Buying clothes!¡±


    JTY: ¡°You think I can¡¯t track the receiving account?¡±


    The message ¡°The other party is typing¡± appeared for a few seconds but then no message was received.


    The other side seemed too guilty to make a sound.


    JTY: ¡°Did I not warn you that if you dare to use my money to finance some other man again, I¡¯ll cut off your card!¡±


    Raining Qiao: ¡°If you have the guts, just cut it off, starve me on the streets!¡±


    The provocation didn¡¯t work on Ji Tingyang; he scoffed coldly, operated his phone a few times, and quickly suspended the bank card.


    It seemed like the other party received the card suspension notification, and the next second, an angry message came through: ¡°I hate you!¡±


    JTY: ¡°When you break ties with that man, I¡¯ll restore it.¡±


    However, that message was not sent and was instead marked with a big red exclamation point.


    The other party had already blocked him.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression turned even fouler, tossing his phone aside irritably. He was going to see just how long the pampered her could last.


    ¡ª-


    In the following days, Lin Xu was particularly proactive in taking Ji Tingyang to and from work.


    Many employees of Ji¡¯s witnessed the entire process of a certain woman driving Ji Tingyang to and from work, and they all speculated, could that beauty be the legendary Wen Li?


    It was somewhat known within the employee circle that Ji Tingyang¡¯s family had a particularly pampered canary at home.


    But everyone just gossiped privately, no one dared to mention it in the company.


    After all, the current Ji Tingyang was a demon for docking bonuses and firing staff; no one dared to speak carelessly, and they were all being very cautious.


    ¡°Excuse me, is the President¡¯s office this way?¡±


    Someone came over to ask, the receptionist immediately put on a professional smile, ¡°Do you have an appointment?¡±


    ¡°Ah, I don¡¯t think so.¡±


    ¡°Without an appointment, you can¡¯t enter¡­¡± the receptionist was about to recite the well-rehearsed line when, after getting a clear look at the visitor, her voice suddenly faltered.


    Her tone changed, ¡°Even without an appointment, it¡¯s possible! Take that exclusive elevator there, and it goes straight to the President¡¯s office!¡±


    The visitor had a sweet smile, thanked her, and then headed in that direction.


    An employee said to the receptionist in horror, ¡°She doesn¡¯t have an appointment, aren¡¯t you afraid of getting scolded to death by President Ji?¡±


    The receptionist whispered, ¡°That woman is the beauty who often chauffeurs President Ji!¡±


    As she worked at the reception desk, close by, she had long since seen the woman who was in President Ji¡¯s car.


    ¡°If I don¡¯t let her go up and she complains to President Ji, then I¡¯ll be the one in trouble!¡±


    The employee thought about it and felt it made sense, then gave the receptionist a thumbs up, praising her cleverness.


    Lin Xu, holding a document, entered the elevator.


    She had just been sent to the beauty salon by the driver when she saw documents left in Ji Tingyang¡¯s car. Thinking that he might need them, she had the driver take her back.


    She had thought about not having an appointment and was planning to call Ji Tingyang so he could come down to get them himself, but the receptionist was so accommodating and let her through.


    The secretary had also seen Lin Xu, and was surprised to see her coming up but quickly ushered her into the President¡¯s office.


    The secretary then stepped out to tell the assistant, ¡°Lady Wen has arrived, quickly bring in a cup of coffee!¡±


    Clearly.


    They had mistaken Lin Xu for someone else.

 Chapter 28 - Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Mistaken Identity

    Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Mistaken Identity


    Lin Xu had intended to hand the documents to the secretary and let her handle them, but before she could speak, the secretary enthusiastically escorted her into the office.


    ¡°President Ji just went to a meeting, you can sit here and wait,¡± the secretary said, then hurriedly brought back a cup of coffee, ¡°I¡¯m just outside, just call me if you need anything.¡±


    Before Lin Xu could reply, the secretary turned and left the office, leaving her alone in the space.


    ¡°The secretary seems pretty busy,¡± Lin Xu muttered, placing the documents on Ji Tingyang¡¯s desk.


    Sitting down instinctively, she experienced a bit of what it felt like to be a president in the empty office.


    She played with the ornaments on the desk and pulled open the drawers here and there.


    When she opened the bottom drawer on the right, her attention was caught by a framed photo.


    Lin Xu picked up the frame and opened it to find a family portrait; she looked closely and found it vaguely familiar.


    In the photo, two young boys carefully protected the baby in the middle, their smiles radiant. Behind them, a couple held hands, gazing down at the two children sitting in front with indulgent expressions of resignation.


    This photo¡­ was the family portrait taken when her younger sister was just born, very heartwarming.


    But since everyone was not looking at the camera, they took another one.


    Unexpectedly, Ji Tingyang had printed it and brought it to the company, but why hadn¡¯t he displayed it?


    Lin Xu wiped the dust off it before putting the frame back in the drawer.


    Getting bored while waiting in the office, Lin Xu went out for another round and encountered a frantic woman coming out of the elevator area, heading straight for the president¡¯s office.


    She emerged again in less than two seconds, surveyed the area, didn¡¯t see the secretary, and then lifted her chin at Lin Xu, ¡°The new assistant?¡±


    ¡°Me? I¡¯m not¡­¡±


    Lin Xu paused, about to deny, only to hear her continue asking, ¡°Where¡¯s President Ji?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s at a meeting, if you¡¯re looking for him you can¡­¡±


    ¡°Help me make ten copies of this document, quickly,¡± she lifted the document in her hand, waving it at Lin Xu.


    Why do people never wait to hear others out, Lin Xu felt resigned, responding, ¡°I can¡¯t do it.¡±


    After over twenty years, many technologies had been upgraded; when Lin Xu had first come back to life, she couldn¡¯t even use the new features of mobile phones, let alone copy documents.


    The woman clicked her tongue disdainfully, ¡°If you can¡¯t, go check! How did you get hired as an assistant if you can¡¯t even do this?¡±


    She seemed very busy, her actions brisk, and she received another call while speaking.


    She shoved the document into Lin Xu¡¯s hands, turned to pick up the phone, and her domineering voice instantly softened, ¡°Darling~ what is it?¡±


    ¡°Oh, stop it~ Are we still on for tonight¡­¡±


    Seeing the woman only focused on flirting over the phone, Lin Xu had no choice but to pull out her phone, look up how to use the copier, and start making the copies for her.


    Just consider it a good deed for the day.


    The woman talked on the phone for half an hour, then, after hanging up, extended a hand toward Lin Xu expectantly.


    No response.


    She furrowed her brow in anger, waved her hand impatiently, and shouted, ¡°Where are the documents!¡±


    Lin Xu: ¡°Almost done, just two more to go.¡±


    ¡°Copying documents and still dawdling! I don¡¯t know what the company hired you for!¡± The woman stomped over, pushed Lin Xu aside, and started fiddling with the copier herself.


    But a few seconds later, paper jammed in the machine and the copier stopped working.


    After kicking the machine several times and realizing it was futile, she commanded Lin Xu in a bossy tone, ¡°What are you standing there stupidly for, come over here and fix it! Do you realize you¡¯ll be responsible if you delay President Ji¡¯s meeting materials?¡±


    Lin Xu¡¯s face grew cold, ¡°Maybe if you spent a few minutes less on the phone, you would have made it in time.¡±


    ¡°Half an hour to photocopy a document? With such sluggish work performance, you still dare to blame me?!¡± The woman sneered as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world.


    ¡°If you¡¯re so capable, why didn¡¯t you do the photocopying yourself?¡± Lin Xu rolled her eyes.


    The woman was fuming.


    As a director of the administrative department, everyone in the department dared not treat her with anything less than courtesy. And here was this mere assistant, not only slacking off at work but also having the audacity to give her attitude!


    At that moment, the private elevator opened.


    Ji Tingyang hurriedly walked towards his office.


    The meeting had just ended, and his secretary had informed him that Wen Li was waiting in his office.


    Wen Li had never visited the company to see him, and although Ji Tingyang was puzzled, his pace quickened significantly.


    However, when he saw Lin Xu outside his office, his expression grew even more astonished.


    Could it be that his mother had come with Wen Li?


    Ji Tingyang walked over, but before he could even ask, a woman ran up to him and pointed at Lin Xu, complaining.


    ¡°President Ji, how did you hire this assistant? She can¡¯t do anything right. It took her more than half an hour just to print a document, and I could have delivered it to the meeting room earlier. It¡¯s all her fault. Your meeting ended, but it still wasn¡¯t done, delaying our work.¡±


    An assistant?


    Since when had his mother become an assistant?


    Could it be that she had applied for a job at Ji¡¯s and that¡¯s why she was here?


    Ji Tingyang looked at Lin Xu perplexedly, who merely shrugged and offered no explanation.


    The woman was still complaining about the new assistant¡¯s lack of work competence, while Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression gradually turned icy.


    ¡°I informed you yesterday that I needed this document for today¡¯s meeting. You had all that time and didn¡¯t prepare, and now you¡¯re saying it¡¯s an assistant¡¯s fault?¡±


    The woman¡¯s body tensed slightly, and she said guiltily, ¡°Yesterday, yesterday I was too busy and forgot, I¡­ ¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all her fault! President Ji, if it weren¡¯t for her, my materials would have been ready long ago.¡± Her heart skipped a beat, and she recklessly blamed Lin Xu.


    Lin Xu¡¯s eyebrows lifted as she retorted, ¡°First, I¡¯m not an assistant; second, you brought the document when the meeting had already started¡ªyou were late; third, it wasn¡¯t me who delayed the task.¡±


    She wasn¡¯t a mute to be falsely accused and remain silent.


    ¡°I, I¡­¡± The woman still tried to argue.


    ¡°Don¡¯t explain to me. I only look at results, not the process.¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s working demeanor was formidable, his gaze sharp as a blade, daunting anyone from meeting his eyes, ¡°Go to HR to settle your salary, you don¡¯t need to come to work tomorrow.¡±


    The woman¡¯s eyes immediately filled with tears, ¡°President Ji, I won¡¯t dare anymore, please don¡¯t fire me¡­¡±


    Ji Tingyang bypassed her, taking Lin Xu back to the office, shutting out the noise of the crying woman outside.


    The office was empty. Just as Ji Tingyang was about to ask his secretary where Wen Li was, he heard the secretary apologize to Lin Xu, ¡°Lady Wen, I¡¯m sorry, I had gone to deliver meeting materials to President Ji and wasn¡¯t outside to attend to you, causing you trouble.¡±


    Ji Tingyang was surprised, his mother was actually pretending to be Wen Li?


    Lin Xu was also surprised, ¡°Lady Wen? My last name isn¡¯t Wen.¡±


    The secretary was even more astonished, ¡°Then who are you?¡±


    ¡°Lin Xu.¡±


    The secretary: ¡°¡­¡± Who the hell spread the rumor that Wen Li was the one dropping off and picking up President Ji from work every day!

 Chapter 29 - Chapter 29: Chapter 29 "I only like you.

    Chapter 29: Chapter 29 ¡°I only like you.


    One month had flown by in the blink of an eye, and with the end of summer vacation, September and the start of school had arrived.


    Though Ji Tingyang might¡¯ve been crazy, he still had some sense and didn¡¯t interfere with her studies, so school was the only place where she felt free.


    Since the last incident had frightened Wen Li, she had not dared to leave the Ji Family¡¯s residence. Xiao Yu had asked her out several times, but she had always found an excuse to decline.


    Now that school was finally starting, Wen Li¡¯s previously listless face had gained a bit of life.


    Upon reaching the school, Wen Li ran into Xu Wei, her classmate. They had not been in contact since Wen Li, in a fit of anger, had blocked Xu Wei.


    Running into her at school now, Wen Li felt somewhat embarrassed.


    Xu Wei was showing off her newly purchased bag to the other students, looking very pleased with herself, ¡°Be careful, this bag is limited to five in the country and its price is six figures. If you damage it, you couldn¡¯t afford to compensate.¡±


    ¡°Your boyfriend is so good to you, buying you such an expensive bag. Hey, Xu Wei, isn¡¯t that dress you¡¯re wearing the latest style from the magazines?¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯ve noticed as well, you really have an eye for it.¡± Hearing the envy in their tone, Xu Wei nearly burst with pride.


    She wanted to boast some more when she caught sight of Wen Li walking by them. She quickly called out to her, ¡°Wen Li.¡±


    Wen Li turned around, ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I shouldn¡¯t have spoken about you and Xiao Yu like that last time. I was blinded by money, thinking it was everything. Only later did I realize that there are things money can¡¯t measure.¡± Xu Wei clutched her bag and jogged over to Wen Li, her face filled with regret.


    Wen Li had thought her friendship with Xu Wei had reached its end, so when Xu Wei apologized, she was taken aback for a moment.


    ¡°Can you forgive me?¡± Xu Wei asked again.


    All along, everyone had called her foolish, for not choosing a wealthy and handsome guy, insisting on liking a poor boy instead.


    Wen Li comforted herself by saying they simply didn¡¯t understand love, and like fighting against the whole world, she held onto her own thoughts.


    But now, Wen Li found that finally, someone was on her side. She was overjoyed, feeling understood at last, and without a second thought, she forgave Xu Wei, no longer overthinking.


    The two walked arm in arm to the classroom, chatting about the joyful times they had during the summer holidays.


    When the topic turned to gossip, Xu Wei suddenly asked, ¡°Are you still staying with the Ji Family?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Ji Tingyang won¡¯t let me leave. I have to go back after class today,¡± Wen Li said.


    ¡°What right does he have to keep you locked up! It makes me so mad!¡± Xu Wei said indignantly, ¡°Do you plan to stay there indefinitely?¡±


    ¡°I want to leave, but I have no way out,¡± Wen Li said with a sorrowful expression.


    She had tried many methods before but to no avail.


    ¡°If Ji¡¯s goes bankrupt and Ji Tingyang loses his wealth and power, you would then be free!¡± After pondering for a moment, Xu Wei suddenly had an idea.


    ¡°Ji¡¯s has strong finances, it¡¯s not so easy for them to go bankrupt,¡± Wen Li sighed.


    Xu Wei¡¯s eyes rolled as she leaned in and whispered in Wen Li¡¯s ear, ¡°I heard that Ji¡¯s is launching a new energy project with a huge investment. If we can get hold of their project information and expose it to Ji Group¡¯s competitors, Ji Group is certain to suffer greatly. Then Ji Tingyang will be too busy dealing with the company¡¯s troubles to bother with you.¡±


    ¡°That¡­ doesn¡¯t seem right,¡± Wen Li hesitated.


    ¡°What¡¯s not right about it? It¡¯s his just deserts. Are you really planning to be controlled by Ji Tingyang for the rest of your life?¡± Xu Wei said.


    Wen Li bit her lip, her expression troubled, ¡°I, I¡­¡±


    ¡°Ah, forget it. I was just saying it offhand. Don¡¯t take it to heart,¡± Xu Wei suddenly changed her serious expression to a smile, ¡°Besides, project information is so confidential, it¡¯s not that easy to get.¡±


    Wen Li breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed. ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s walk faster, or we¡¯re going to be late.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª


    There weren¡¯t many classes today, and Wen Li finished after just two lessons. But she didn¡¯t want to go back yet, and wandered around the campus leisurely.


    She opened Xiao Yu¡¯s chat page, wanting to ask him what he was doing and thinking about finding him.


    As if fated, before she could send the typed message, she heard Xiao Yu¡¯s voice.


    ¡°Take this money for now. Even though it¡¯s not the full amount, I will pay you back slowly.¡±


    ¡°No need, I¡¯m not in a hurry. You can take the money back and give it to me when you have more in the future.¡±


    Wen Li followed the voices and saw a girl trailing behind Xiao Yu, constantly saying something.


    Wen Li recognized the girl, her name was Ji Yuqiao, Xiao Yu¡¯s classmate. Even though Xiao Yu always treated her coldly, she persisted, hanging around him relentlessly.


    Xiao Yu had clearly stated that he disliked Ji Yuqiao.


    So why was Xiao Yu with her now, talking and laughing, and even giving her money?


    Feeling a twinge of unease, Wen Li instinctively walked over and interrupted their conversation, ¡°Xiao Yu¡­¡±


    Upon seeing Wen Li, Xiao Yu¡¯s tightly pressed lips curved up slightly. ¡°Wen Li, did you just finish class?¡±


    ¡°Mhm, I saw you and came over,¡± Wen Li said, looking at him and Ji Yuqiao. She added shyly, ¡°Did I interrupt you? I can wait over there if you want.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao rolled her eyes in secret.


    If you know you¡¯re interrupting, then don¡¯t come over.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t interrupt. I just owed her some money and was paying her back,¡± Xiao Yu hastily explained, fearing she might misunderstand.


    ¡°Ah? Do you have enough money? Let me pay her back for you,¡± Wen Li said, flipping open her small purse.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± To her surprise, Xiao Yu and Ji Yuqiao responded in unison.


    Ji Yuqiao turned to Wen Li with a tone full of hostility. ¡°It¡¯s Xiao Yu who owes me. Who are you to him to pay it back for him?¡±


    Xiao Yu also had his pride; he couldn¡¯t allow the girl he liked to pay back his debt. ¡°Keep your money. I can pay it back slowly by myself.¡±


    Rebuked by both of them, the smile that often graced Wen Li¡¯s lips stiffened, and her expression soured. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, I know you meant well.¡± Xiao Yu stepped forward and took her hand.


    Seeing their fingers intertwined, Ji Yuqiao¡¯s expression darkened instantly; she had always known that Xiao Yu liked this gentle girl in front of her.


    At this moment, watching the two of them together so intimately, her heart felt as though it was being squeezed.


    ¡°I just remembered I haven¡¯t finished my homework. I have to go,¡± Ji Yuqiao made up an excuse and turned to leave.


    Watching Ji Yuqiao¡¯s retreating figure, Wen Li bit her lip. ¡°She seems to really like you¡­¡±


    Xiao Yu¡¯s grip on her hand tightened, his eyes fixed only on her. ¡°I¡¯ve told you before, the only person I like is you.¡±


    Hearing his declaration again, Wen Li¡¯s cheeks flushed with color.

 Chapter 30 - Chapter 30: Chapter 30 "I am her boyfriend.

    Chapter 30: Chapter 30 ¡°I am her boyfriend.


    Wen Li excused herself by saying that the first day of classes was very hectic, so she stayed out until evening with Xiao Yu before returning to the Ji Family residence.


    After two or three days, she encountered Ji Tingyang outside the school.


    The weather was scorching hot, and after strolling in the park for a while, Wen Li and Xiao Yu decided to seek refuge in a large shopping mall to enjoy the air conditioning.


    Xiao Yu bought her an ice cream. After taking a bite, Wen Li sat on a mall bench, swinging her legs with a joyful demeanor.


    The ice cream melted quickly in the summer heat, a few drips trickling down, making her palms sticky.


    Xiao Yu took out a wet wipe for her to clean her hands.


    Wen Li smiled, about to speak, when suddenly she was engulfed in a shadow.


    She looked up, and after she saw who it was, her smile abruptly froze on her face.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say your classes were heavy today?¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s profound eyes shifted, staring at the small hand Xiao Yu was holding, the surrounding atmosphere turning frighteningly oppressive.


    ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± Wen Li immediately withdrew her hand, her mind seizing up as if its gears were jammed, unable to articulate anything.


    Xiao Yu, entirely unaware of the danger, glanced at Ji Tingyang in confusion, ¡°Wen Li, who is this?¡±


    Could he be a relative from Wen Li¡¯s family?


    Ji Tingyang scoffed lightly, pulling Wen Li to his side, ¡°Tell him, who am I?¡±


    Wen Li¡¯s heartbeat suddenly accelerated, as if her heart was going to leap out of her throat. Facing Xiao Yu¡¯s gaze, she stammered nervously, ¡°He, he is a friend¡­¡±


    As soon as she said that, she felt the coldness radiating from Ji Tingyang intensify, the grip on her wrist tightening as if he intended to twist her wrist off.


    ¡°A friend?¡± Ji Tingyang eyed Wen Li¡¯s tense cheeks, his voice lowering mockingly at her ear, ¡°Do you want to tell him that for the past two years you¡¯ve been living at the house of this ¡®friend¡¯?¡±


    Wen Li turned pale, pleading softly, ¡°Please, don¡¯t tell him¡­¡±


    A sneer curled at Ji Tingyang¡¯s lips, his eyes growing darker and more ominous.


    Xiao Yu, oblivious to the storm brewing between them, raised a smile and reached out to Ji Tingyang, ¡°Hello, I am Wen Li¡¯s boyfriend, Xiao Yu.¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression darkened, glaring at the extended hand without moving.


    Xiao Yu awkwardly retracted his hand.


    Knowing she couldn¡¯t persuade Ji Tingyang, Wen Li thought about how to get Xiao Yu to leave first, her anxiety causing her to break into a cold sweat.


    Just as Xiao Yu¡¯s expression gradually turned puzzled, a clear, infuriated voice resounded from behind her.


    ¡°Ji Tingyang! I asked you to pay the bill, how come you vanished in the blink of an eye! If you don¡¯t like shopping with me, then I won¡¯t ask you again!¡±


    The person stormed up to Ji Tingyang, angrily stuffing the bags she carried into his arms.


    The load was so heavy that Ji Tingyang had to let go of the hand he was tightly holding onto Wen Li to embrace it all.


    The menacing aura around him also completely withdrew, as if the chilling atmosphere just before had been just Wen Li¡¯s misconception.


    ¡°I was just coming to say hello,¡± Ji Tingyang said obediently.


    Upon hearing this, the newcomer finally noticed Wen Li standing there, her tone slightly surprised, ¡°Wen Li?¡±


    Wen Li pursed her lips, ¡°Miss Lin.¡±


    Seeing Ji Tingyang subdue his aura, she knew the newcomer must be Lin Xu; it was no wonder Ji Tingyang appeared at the mall.


    Only she could make Ji Tingyang so docile and patient while shopping with a woman.


    Lin Xu greeted her, and when she saw the guy standing next to Wen Li, she raised an eyebrow.


    Xiao Yu noticed Lin Xu¡¯s gaze, introducing once again, ¡°Hello, I am Wen Li¡¯s boyfriend, Xiao Yu.¡±


    Boyfriend?


    Is that the male lead of the novel?!


    Lin Xu remembered because her antagonist son held a grudge against Wen Li¡¯s beloved male lead, he used many overt and covert ways to deal with him.


    As a result, the male lead had suffered a lot initially, and his feelings for Wen Li deepened. Later, he started a company from scratch, and within less than two years, he entered the top five national enterprises.


    As the saying goes, a gentleman¡¯s revenge is not too late even after ten years.


    Once he had both money and power, the male lead immediately started to suppress Ji Group. However, the antagonist couldn¡¯t defeat the male lead and was doomed to fail.


    Eventually, Ji¡¯s went bankrupt, and Ji Tingyang was also thrown into jail, ending his short life.


    Now, seeing Xiao Yu and Ji Tingyang standing together, Lin Xu instantly became alert.


    ¡°I¡¯m hungry, take me out to eat,¡± Lin Xu said to Ji Tingyang.


    She feared Ji Tingyang, in a fit of anger, might mock and suppress Xiao Yu, intending to separate the two.


    ¡°I¡­¡± Ji Tingyang glanced at Wen Li, hesitating for a moment.


    ¡°You just ran off to pay the bill, and now you don¡¯t want to take me out to eat. If you don¡¯t come now, I will never go shopping with you again, and take your stinking card back!¡± Lin Xu spoke petulantly, turning around to leave.


    Ji Tingyang became scared, didn¡¯t dare to delay, and immediately followed, ¡°Without my card, how will you shop?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go out and earn money myself!¡±


    ¡°Working is very tough, earning money at home alone is enough.¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡­¡±


    The two of them walked farther and farther away, Wen Li¡¯s body, which had been tense all this time, finally relaxed, and she sighed with relief.


    Xiao Yu glanced at Ji Tingyang¡¯s retreating figure and mentioned casually, ¡°When he heard I¡¯m your boyfriend, that man¡¯s face changed.¡±


    ¡°How is that possible¡­¡± Wen Li¡¯s heart skipped a beat, tension rising again, ¡°You didn¡¯t see the woman who just came by; she definitely has a girlfriend, don¡¯t talk nonsense.¡±


    Xiao Yu thought for a moment, then agreed.


    That man still needed to earn money to spend on her, other than a girlfriend who else could he pamper that way.


    ¡°I thought too much,¡± Xiao Yu said apologetically, ¡°Do you still want ice cream? I¡¯ll go buy it for you.¡±


    Wen Li shook her head, no longer having an appetite.


    ¡°Then where else do you want to go, shall we continue walking around?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s just sit here for a while,¡± as Wen Li took her phone out and answered while powering it on.


    After seeing the message, her voice suddenly stopped, and after a long pause, she said, ¡°I suddenly have something to take care of, I need to go home first.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll take you,¡± Xiao Yu stood up.


    ¡°No need! I can go back by myself!¡± Wen Li refused, seeming very anxious as she walked towards the exit of the mall.


    Xiao Yu didn¡¯t even have the chance to say goodbye.


    Once in the taxi, Wen Li looked at the text message on her phone again; it was from Ji Tingyang.


    [If you¡¯re not back at the villa in half an hour, you will bear the consequences.]


    Wen Li¡¯s hand holding the phone trembled slightly; she just knew Ji Tingyang wouldn¡¯t let her go easily.


    She clenched her hand beside her, and suddenly remembered what Xu Wei had said to her.


    If Ji¡¯s project data is leaked, Ji¡¯s will suffer a major blow, and Ji Tingyang, troubled by the company, will no longer have the ability to trap her.


    With this thought, it seemed like a chord in her heart was plucked.

 Chapter 32 - Chapter 32: Chapter 32 He must be sick

    Chapter 32: Chapter 32 He must be sick


    The Xie family was a prominent and wealthy clan, whereas the Ji family could still compete with them twenty years ago.


    However, after Lin Xu and her husband passed away, the Ji family¡¯s fortunes declined considerably. Despite Ji Tingyang¡¯s subsequent efforts to turn the tide and pull the Ji family back up, they still ranked lower than the Xie family.


    So even if Ji Tingyang was unwilling, he had no choice but to save face for the Xie family by attending the birthday banquet.


    This birthday banquet was attended by many people, all of whom were distinguished figures frequently mentioned in the financial newspapers.


    Lin Xu wore a shoulder-baring champagne-colored evening dress, its form-fitting design highlighting her perfect figure. The flowing hem of the gown swished with her every step. The necklace embedded with gems and the exquisite bracelet accentuated her elegance and nobility to their fullest extent.


    Having accompanied her husband to many such banquets before, Lin Xu¡¯s demeanor was dignified and composed.


    No sooner had she made her entrance with Ji Tingyang than she attracted the attention of many at the venue, a hint of amazement flickering at the bottom of their gaze.


    When they saw who accompanied Lin Xu, surprise immediately registered on their faces.


    Despite attending numerous banquets in the past, Ji Tingyang had never been seen with a female companion by his side. It was widely said to be because Young Master Ji was deeply devoted.


    Apart from the canary at home, no other woman seemed able to come close to Ji Tingyang.


    Today¡¯s anomalous appearance sparked speculation¡ªcould this lady be the canary he had kept hidden at home?


    This woman¡¯s beauty was stunning; no wonder Ji Tingyang was reluctant to bring her out in public.


    In an instant, various thoughts swirled through the minds of the onlookers.


    Many came over to greet Ji Tingyang, their glances and conversations awkwardly shifting towards Lin Xu.


    However, Ji Tingyang remained unmoved, showing no intention of introducing Lin Xu to them.


    They could only leave after a while.


    As the number of guests increased, Ji Tingyang had to socialize, exchanging a few polite words.


    ¡°You sit here for a while; I¡¯ll go greet a few people and then come back,¡± Ji Tingyang told Lin Xu as he led her to a sofa in the rest area.


    After taking a few steps, he turned back, as if concerned, and cautioned her, ¡°If someone else comes to talk to you, don¡¯t pay them any mind.¡±


    Lin Xu couldn¡¯t help but laugh and cry, ¡°I¡¯m not a three-year-old child, just go.¡±


    Still worried, Ji Tingyang frequently glanced back at Lin Xu to ensure her safety even while conversing with others not far away.


    As it turned out, Ji Tingyang¡¯s concerns were justified.


    He had only been away for a short while when a man approached Lin Xu to strike up a conversation.


    ¡°Miss, are you alone?¡±


    Lin Xu: ¡°No, I came with Ji Tingyang.¡±


    Upon hearing Ji Tingyang¡¯s name, the man¡¯s mind conjured an image of his somber and intimidating demeanor, and, frightened, he turned and left.


    He was mad; it was better not to provoke him.


    However, the second man who came to chat up Lin Xu clearly wasn¡¯t afraid of Ji Tingyang and was particularly nosy, inching closer to her.


    ¡°So you¡¯re the woman Ji Tingyang treasures at home, huh?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± Lin Xu frowned, shifting to the side to put some distance between them.


    ¡°If not, how about coming with me?¡± the man said, moving closer to Lin Xu and attempting to reach out to wrap his arm around her waist. ¡°Ji Tingyang¡¯s always so cold and intimidating. It must be scary, right? Leave him and come with me, I promise to treat you well¡ª¡± His hand hadn¡¯t yet touched her body when it was seized by a strong and firm grip.


    ¡°Sorry, Young Master Zhang, but this lady has already agreed to accompany me. You¡¯ll have to get in line behind me,¡± said a voice.


    Lin Xu turned to look.


    She saw Ji Zeqiu wearing a smart black suit, a faint smile playing on his lips, a look of gentle amusement in his eyes.


    ¡°What¡¯s this, Ji the superstar is interested too? How about we share?¡± The man¡¯s gaze shifted between Lin Xu and Ji Zeqiu, his intentions clearly malicious.


    That look was nauseating.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s smile remained unchanged as he leaned forward and whispered in the man¡¯s ear, ¡°It¡¯s not important whether I¡¯m interested or not. What¡¯s important is I wonder if Mrs. Zhang would be interested in knowing about Young Master Zhang¡¯s pampering of a beauty outside.¡±


    ¡°You!¡± the man gritted his teeth, ¡°Are you threatening me?¡±


    ¡°Of course, I wouldn¡¯t dare.¡±


    ¡°You just remember this!¡± the man glared at Ji Zeqiu with a dark look, snorted coldly, and turned to leave.


    The smile on Ji Zeqiu¡¯s face faded, and just as he was about to coldly mock Lin Xu, he saw her looking at him with a beaming smile.


    ¡°Thank you, it¡¯s good you came. Otherwise, who knows how long that man would have pestered me.¡±


    Hearing the relieved tone in her voice, Ji Zeqiu snorted, ¡°How do you know I didn¡¯t come to pester you?¡±


    ¡°Oh? So you¡¯re going to pester me?¡± Lin Xu appeared surprised.


    Ji Zeqiu choked.


    This woman didn¡¯t have even half the gentleness and consideration of Wen Li, so how could he possibly pester her!


    Lin Xu smiled and dropped the joking, asking him, ¡°What brings you here?¡±


    ¡°I work at Xie¡¯s. Is it strange for me to appear here?¡± Ji Zeqiu said.


    That¡¯s right.


    Only then did Lin Xu remember that Ji Zeqiu made his debut at a company competing with Ji¡¯s, and as a big star cultivated by the Xie Family, it wasn¡¯t strange for him to attend the Xie Family¡¯s birthday banquet.


    Not just Ji Zeqiu, but other top artists under Xie¡¯s were also present; however, Lin Xu¡¯s attention to the entertainment circle was limited to Ji Zeqiu only, and she couldn¡¯t recognize anyone else.


    ¡°As for you,¡± Ji Zeqiu snorted, ¡°Ji Tingyang is quite bold to leave you alone here. He must be really confident.¡±


    With so many people at the party, it was a mix of good and bad; if she got schemed against by any man, it would be terrible.


    ¡°Oh, he¡¯s concerned. Look, there he comes,¡± Lin Xu pointed to a spot not far away.


    Ji Zeqiu looked over and indeed saw Ji Tingyang quickly walking towards them.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s eyes shifted, and suddenly, a malicious smile appeared on his lips. He reached out, wrapped his arm around Lin Xu¡¯s waist, and pulled her into his embrace with an intimate gesture.


    He whispered in Lin Xu¡¯s ear, ¡°Tell me, if Ji Tingyang sees the two of us this close, do you think he¡¯ll go crazy on the spot?¡±


    In the past, when Wen Li spoke to him, Ji Tingyang would go crazy and disturb the peace of the entire Ji Family.


    And now, with Lin Xu in place of Wen Li, would he go crazy enough to ruin the entire Xie Family¡¯s birthday party and become the laughingstock of everyone there?


    Suddenly, he was somewhat looking forward to it.


    Lin Xu: ¡°¡­¡±


    Could he be sick?


    In the midst of speaking, Ji Tingyang had already approached them, his brows furrowing at the sight of Ji Zeqiu¡¯s actions.


    ¡°Let go of her. Can¡¯t you stand on your own? Holding her like that, how does it look?¡± Ji Tingyang said sternly.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let go. What can you do about it?¡± Ji Zeqiu intensified his grip, pulling Lin Xu even tighter into his arms, taunting in a very childish manner.


    ¡°You¡­¡±


    Just as Ji Tingyang was about to speak, he heard someone calling him over.


    It was the president of another collaborating firm.


    Unable to refuse and yet not feeling reassured to leave Lin Xu alone, he could only say to Ji Zeqiu, ¡°I¡¯ll go there for a moment. Take good care of her.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu watched Ji Tingyang¡¯s retreating figure, dumbstruck.


    ¡°Why isn¡¯t he angry, why doesn¡¯t he freak out? Can¡¯t he see that I have ill intentions towards you, and he still dares to ask me to protect you?!¡±

 Chapter 32 - Chapter 32: Chapter 32 He must be sick

    Chapter 32: Chapter 32 He must be sick


    The Xie family was a prominent and wealthy clan, whereas the Ji family could still compete with them twenty years ago.


    However, after Lin Xu and her husband passed away, the Ji family¡¯s fortunes declined considerably. Despite Ji Tingyang¡¯s subsequent efforts to turn the tide and pull the Ji family back up, they still ranked lower than the Xie family.


    So even if Ji Tingyang was unwilling, he had no choice but to save face for the Xie family by attending the birthday banquet.


    This birthday banquet was attended by many people, all of whom were distinguished figures frequently mentioned in the financial newspapers.


    Lin Xu wore a shoulder-baring champagne-colored evening dress, its form-fitting design highlighting her perfect figure. The flowing hem of the gown swished with her every step. The necklace embedded with gems and the exquisite bracelet accentuated her elegance and nobility to their fullest extent.


    Having accompanied her husband to many such banquets before, Lin Xu¡¯s demeanor was dignified and composed.


    No sooner had she made her entrance with Ji Tingyang than she attracted the attention of many at the venue, a hint of amazement flickering at the bottom of their gaze.


    When they saw who accompanied Lin Xu, surprise immediately registered on their faces.


    Despite attending numerous banquets in the past, Ji Tingyang had never been seen with a female companion by his side. It was widely said to be because Young Master Ji was deeply devoted.


    Apart from the canary at home, no other woman seemed able to come close to Ji Tingyang.


    Today¡¯s anomalous appearance sparked speculation¡ªcould this lady be the canary he had kept hidden at home?


    This woman¡¯s beauty was stunning; no wonder Ji Tingyang was reluctant to bring her out in public.


    In an instant, various thoughts swirled through the minds of the onlookers.


    Many came over to greet Ji Tingyang, their glances and conversations awkwardly shifting towards Lin Xu.


    However, Ji Tingyang remained unmoved, showing no intention of introducing Lin Xu to them.


    They could only leave after a while.


    As the number of guests increased, Ji Tingyang had to socialize, exchanging a few polite words.


    ¡°You sit here for a while; I¡¯ll go greet a few people and then come back,¡± Ji Tingyang told Lin Xu as he led her to a sofa in the rest area.


    After taking a few steps, he turned back, as if concerned, and cautioned her, ¡°If someone else comes to talk to you, don¡¯t pay them any mind.¡±


    Lin Xu couldn¡¯t help but laugh and cry, ¡°I¡¯m not a three-year-old child, just go.¡±


    Still worried, Ji Tingyang frequently glanced back at Lin Xu to ensure her safety even while conversing with others not far away.


    As it turned out, Ji Tingyang¡¯s concerns were justified.


    He had only been away for a short while when a man approached Lin Xu to strike up a conversation.


    ¡°Miss, are you alone?¡±


    Lin Xu: ¡°No, I came with Ji Tingyang.¡±


    Upon hearing Ji Tingyang¡¯s name, the man¡¯s mind conjured an image of his somber and intimidating demeanor, and, frightened, he turned and left.


    He was mad; it was better not to provoke him.


    However, the second man who came to chat up Lin Xu clearly wasn¡¯t afraid of Ji Tingyang and was particularly nosy, inching closer to her.


    ¡°So you¡¯re the woman Ji Tingyang treasures at home, huh?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± Lin Xu frowned, shifting to the side to put some distance between them.


    ¡°If not, how about coming with me?¡± the man said, moving closer to Lin Xu and attempting to reach out to wrap his arm around her waist. ¡°Ji Tingyang¡¯s always so cold and intimidating. It must be scary, right? Leave him and come with me, I promise to treat you well¡ª¡± His hand hadn¡¯t yet touched her body when it was seized by a strong and firm grip.


    ¡°Sorry, Young Master Zhang, but this lady has already agreed to accompany me. You¡¯ll have to get in line behind me,¡± said a voice.


    Lin Xu turned to look.


    She saw Ji Zeqiu wearing a smart black suit, a faint smile playing on his lips, a look of gentle amusement in his eyes.


    ¡°What¡¯s this, Ji the superstar is interested too? How about we share?¡± The man¡¯s gaze shifted between Lin Xu and Ji Zeqiu, his intentions clearly malicious.


    That look was nauseating.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s smile remained unchanged as he leaned forward and whispered in the man¡¯s ear, ¡°It¡¯s not important whether I¡¯m interested or not. What¡¯s important is I wonder if Mrs. Zhang would be interested in knowing about Young Master Zhang¡¯s pampering of a beauty outside.¡±


    ¡°You!¡± the man gritted his teeth, ¡°Are you threatening me?¡±


    ¡°Of course, I wouldn¡¯t dare.¡±


    ¡°You just remember this!¡± the man glared at Ji Zeqiu with a dark look, snorted coldly, and turned to leave.


    The smile on Ji Zeqiu¡¯s face faded, and just as he was about to coldly mock Lin Xu, he saw her looking at him with a beaming smile.


    ¡°Thank you, it¡¯s good you came. Otherwise, who knows how long that man would have pestered me.¡±


    Hearing the relieved tone in her voice, Ji Zeqiu snorted, ¡°How do you know I didn¡¯t come to pester you?¡±


    ¡°Oh? So you¡¯re going to pester me?¡± Lin Xu appeared surprised.


    Ji Zeqiu choked.


    This woman didn¡¯t have even half the gentleness and consideration of Wen Li, so how could he possibly pester her!


    Lin Xu smiled and dropped the joking, asking him, ¡°What brings you here?¡±


    ¡°I work at Xie¡¯s. Is it strange for me to appear here?¡± Ji Zeqiu said.


    That¡¯s right.


    Only then did Lin Xu remember that Ji Zeqiu made his debut at a company competing with Ji¡¯s, and as a big star cultivated by the Xie Family, it wasn¡¯t strange for him to attend the Xie Family¡¯s birthday banquet.


    Not just Ji Zeqiu, but other top artists under Xie¡¯s were also present; however, Lin Xu¡¯s attention to the entertainment circle was limited to Ji Zeqiu only, and she couldn¡¯t recognize anyone else.


    ¡°As for you,¡± Ji Zeqiu snorted, ¡°Ji Tingyang is quite bold to leave you alone here. He must be really confident.¡±


    With so many people at the party, it was a mix of good and bad; if she got schemed against by any man, it would be terrible.


    ¡°Oh, he¡¯s concerned. Look, there he comes,¡± Lin Xu pointed to a spot not far away.


    Ji Zeqiu looked over and indeed saw Ji Tingyang quickly walking towards them.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s eyes shifted, and suddenly, a malicious smile appeared on his lips. He reached out, wrapped his arm around Lin Xu¡¯s waist, and pulled her into his embrace with an intimate gesture.


    He whispered in Lin Xu¡¯s ear, ¡°Tell me, if Ji Tingyang sees the two of us this close, do you think he¡¯ll go crazy on the spot?¡±


    In the past, when Wen Li spoke to him, Ji Tingyang would go crazy and disturb the peace of the entire Ji Family.


    And now, with Lin Xu in place of Wen Li, would he go crazy enough to ruin the entire Xie Family¡¯s birthday party and become the laughingstock of everyone there?


    Suddenly, he was somewhat looking forward to it.


    Lin Xu: ¡°¡­¡±


    Could he be sick?


    In the midst of speaking, Ji Tingyang had already approached them, his brows furrowing at the sight of Ji Zeqiu¡¯s actions.


    ¡°Let go of her. Can¡¯t you stand on your own? Holding her like that, how does it look?¡± Ji Tingyang said sternly.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let go. What can you do about it?¡± Ji Zeqiu intensified his grip, pulling Lin Xu even tighter into his arms, taunting in a very childish manner.


    ¡°You¡­¡±


    Just as Ji Tingyang was about to speak, he heard someone calling him over.


    It was the president of another collaborating firm.


    Unable to refuse and yet not feeling reassured to leave Lin Xu alone, he could only say to Ji Zeqiu, ¡°I¡¯ll go there for a moment. Take good care of her.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu watched Ji Tingyang¡¯s retreating figure, dumbstruck.


    ¡°Why isn¡¯t he angry, why doesn¡¯t he freak out? Can¡¯t he see that I have ill intentions towards you, and he still dares to ask me to protect you?!¡±

 Chapter 33 - Chapter 33: Chapter 33 "I think I saw your dad.

    Chapter 33: Chapter 33 ¡°I think I saw your dad.


    Lin Xu was forcefully pressed into Ji Zeqiu¡¯s embrace, struggling to breathe, and twisted a handful of flesh around his waist.


    Ji Zeqiu released Lin Xu only when the pain hit him.


    Deprived of oxygen, Lin Xu¡¯s face flushed as she glared at Ji Zeqiu, ¡°Are you being childish?¡±


    She wanted to deliberately make Ji Tingyang angry.


    ¡°I do what I want,¡± Ji Zeqiu straightened out the wrinkles on his clothes, dissatisfied that he hadn¡¯t managed to provoke Ji Tingyang. ¡°Seeing me with you, Ji Tingyang didn¡¯t react at all. He even dared to leave you with me. Seems like he doesn¡¯t like you that much.¡±


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because you¡¯re just a brat, not at all threatening,¡± Lin Xu casually remarked.


    In her eyes, Ji Zeqiu was nothing but a child.


    ¡°A brat? Not at all threatening?¡± Ji Zeqiu laughed out of exasperation, ¡°Do you know that for the past two years, I¡¯ve been voted the number one boyfriend to date on the women¡¯s magazine rankings?!¡±


    Which woman wouldn¡¯t be head over heels for him? And she said he¡¯s not a threat?!


    She must be blind!


    Lin Xu looked at him with a faint gaze, ¡°¡­In my view, only a brat would argue over such a thing, wouldn¡¯t they?¡±


    ¡°You!¡± Ji Zeqiu wanted to retort, but that would only prove her point even more.


    Biting back his anger, he swallowed his words and showed his mature side, magnanimously saying, ¡°I am magnanimous enough to forgive your poor judgment.¡±


    Lin Xu smiled.


    On TV, she always saw Ji Zeqiu with a gentle and simple demeanor, but in private, he was the complete opposite.


    Once again, she sighed, realizing that the personas celebrities present on screen are deceiving.


    ¡°Are you hungry? Do you want to go grab something to eat?¡± Lin Xu pointed to the table laden with desserts.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡±


    ¡°There are your favorite small cakes.¡±


    Lin Xu remembered, when she took little Zeqiu out, and they passed by a pastry shop, he would always drag her in to buy a small cake to take home.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s face suddenly turned red, ¡°Who¡­ who told you I like small cakes?! That¡¯s what little girls like; I don¡¯t like them at all!¡±


    ¡°Okay, you don¡¯t like them. It¡¯s me who wants to eat, can you accompany me over?¡± Lin Xu said.


    ¡°Well, alright then,¡± Ji Zeqiu agreed reluctantly.


    Lin Xu hadn¡¯t eaten much for dinner and felt quite digested by now. She walked over and chose a few small bread rolls to fill her stomach.


    From the corner of her eye, she saw Ji Zeqiu glancing stealthily at the small cakes and chuckled silently.


    She thought his tastes had changed as he grew up, but it seemed he still liked them.


    ¡°Do you want to have one?¡± Lin Xu offered him the one with the most cream.


    ¡°I really don¡¯t like them,¡± Ji Zeqiu refused quickly, his expression becoming conflicted a moment later, ¡°But if you insist on me eating, I¡¯ll have one just to please you.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t say I insisted. It¡¯s too painful to make someone eat what they dislike; I wouldn¡¯t do that, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    As if to prove she wouldn¡¯t force him, Lin Xu took a bite of the creamy small cake.


    This made Ji Zeqiu even more irritated.


    This woman!


    Not gentle or considerate at all; what on earth did Ji Tingyang like about her!


    ¡°You¡­¡± he began furiously, but before he could speak, a small cake was stuffed into his mouth, the taste of cream filling his senses.


    ¡°There, there, just eat it,¡± Lin Xu looked at him with a beaming smile.


    Looking at the appeasing smile on her cheeks, most of Ji Zeqiu¡¯s anger dissipated. He took the small cake from Lin Xu¡¯s hand and started eating it, not forgetting to threaten her.


    ¡°If you dare tell anyone about this, you¡¯re dead meat!¡±


    After turning twelve, in an effort to show his manliness, he had resisted and never eaten a small cake again.


    A grown man who actually likes to eat cream cake, if others knew, they¡¯d definitely mock him.


    Especially Ji Tingyang!


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t tell anyone.¡± Lin Xu assured him.


    Ji Zeqiu snorted and turned his head away.


    Well, this woman did have a tiny bit, an almost negligible amount of consideration.


    Once he had calmed down, Ji Zeqiu brought up the old topic again, ¡°What about that thing I asked you last time? How have you considered it?¡±


    ¡°Huh? What thing?¡± Lin Xu puzzled.


    ¡°The matter of leaving Ji Tingyang and coming with me!¡± Ji Zeqiu¡¯s temper rose again.


    Had she even taken his words to heart at all?


    Claiming she didn¡¯t care about him, yet she sent a long list of caring messages to the agent every day; claiming she did care, yet she was so cold when they met, showing no intention of playing up to him at all.


    ¡°Oh, that.¡± Lin Xu suddenly realized, then refused, ¡°That won¡¯t do.¡±


    With Ji Tingyang¡¯s temperament, who knew what madness would ensue if she wasn¡¯t at home to manage things.


    Ji Zeqiu wasn¡¯t surprised, just somewhat disheartened.


    Where exactly did he fall short compared to Ji Tingyang? Last time, Wen Li even left the Ji Family with him, but in the end, she ran back. He had been unable to leave the film crew at the time and could only watch helplessly as she went back.


    And now, even Lin Xu was rejecting him.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you come back to the Ji Family? That way, I won¡¯t have to leave, and you could live with me as well. How nice that would be.¡± Lin Xu suggested.


    ¡°I¡¯d rather not go back.¡± Ji Zeqiu said coldly.


    Lin Xu wanted to persuade him further when she heard an even colder voice from behind, ¡°Even better that he doesn¡¯t come back, so Aunt Zhang won¡¯t have to cook an extra portion of food, saving her the trouble.¡±


    Lin Xu turned her head and saw that Ji Tingyang had finished talking with the partners and had come back.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s expression was indifferent, ¡°Then you should fast, Aunt Zhang would have an even easier time.¡±


    Ji Tingyang glared at him, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m not a celebrity who needs to fast all day, getting as skinny as a monkey¡¯s kin.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu cursed, irritated, ¡°Do you know nothing about being ¡®thin in clothes, good in flesh¡¯?¡±


    The moment the two brothers met, the air was filled with gunpowder.


    Lin Xu¡¯s head was spinning, and she mentally sighed, interrupting the two who were about to continue arguing.


    ¡°I¡¯m a bit thirsty, Tingyang, could you get me a glass of champagne?¡±


    The argument halted abruptly, and Ji Tingyang left. In no time, he returned with a glass of water.


    ¡°Drinking alcohol is bad for your health, just have some water.¡± Very considerate.


    ¡°Okay.¡± Lin Xu accepted the water.


    It didn¡¯t matter what she drank, as long as the two of them stopped arguing.


    Ji Zeqiu snatched away the water and handed Lin Xu a cup of coffee, ¡°Only a straight man would make someone drink plain water, have mine instead.¡±


    Ji Tingyang took back the coffee, scornfully saying, ¡°Drinking coffee late at night, do you want her to have insomnia?¡±


    The two stood their ground, both turning to look at Lin Xu.


    ¡°You tell us, do you want water or coffee?!¡±


    Lin Xu: ¡°¡­¡±


    It seemed like whichever choice she made would lead to a storm of trouble.


    Feeling emotionally drained, Lin Xu¡¯s gaze drifted into the distance, her eyes catching a glimpse of someone in the crowd, and she suddenly froze.


    A familiar face passed fleetingly through the crowd.


    After a long moment, she snapped back to reality and said blankly, ¡°I think I just saw your dad¡­¡±

 Chapter 34 - Chapter 34: Chapter 34 "Why does it feel like picking cabbages?

    Chapter 34: Chapter 34 ¡°Why does it feel like picking cabbages?


    Lin Xu wove through the crowd at the birthday banquet for a long time but couldn¡¯t find that person, as if the glimpse she caught was just her imagination.


    Her beautiful face was tinged with a trace of anxiety, and her upturned hair became somewhat disheveled; she stood there helplessly, her disorientation breeding a sense of desolation.


    The people nearby couldn¡¯t help but cast sympathetic glances, and some even took steps forward, considering offering her a few words of comfort.


    The next second, Ji Tingyang rushed over and led her away.


    ¡°Tingyang, did you find your dad?¡± Lin Xu asked impatiently as soon as Ji Tingyang had brought her to the lounge.


    ¡°No,¡± he shook his head.


    After speaking to her father, Lin Xu rushed out, desperately searching through the banquet hall.


    Ji Tingyang also tried to look for him, but he had almost upturned the entire venue without finding anyone.


    Worried about Lin Xu, he returned.


    Thankfully he did.


    ¡°Maybe we missed something; should we check the surveillance?¡± Lin Xu¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Right, let¡¯s go check the surveillance now!¡±


    She abruptly stood up, her vision suddenly going blurry, and her body swayed.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it, you just rest here a bit,¡± Ji Tingyang quickly pressed her back onto the sofa.


    He was somewhat concerned about her mental state.


    ¡°Okay, then you go quickly. I¡¯ll be fine here by myself,¡± Lin Xu urged.


    Ji Tingyang hesitated.


    He originally wanted to tell her she might have been mistaken; if that person really were his father, why hadn¡¯t he come to find them?


    Even if he didn¡¯t know how to contact them, Ji¡¯s was so prominent, and the Ji Mansion¡¯s address hadn¡¯t changed¡ªif he had been reborn, he would have come looking long ago.


    Moreover, with the world being so vast, it wasn¡¯t strange for people to resemble one another, so there was a strong chance that Lin Xu had mistaken someone else for her father this time.


    But, seeing Lin Xu¡¯s expectant eyes, he didn¡¯t dare voice his guess, only telling her to call him if anything happened before going to check the surveillance as she wished.


    Two or three hours passed.


    Lin Xu was burning with impatience, one moment sending Ji Tingyang a message asking if there was any progress, the next pacing back and forth anxiously in the lounge.


    Upon seeing Ji Tingyang, she immediately rushed over to inquire, ¡°How did it go? Did you find him?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Ji Tingyang shook his head.


    ¡°Then, is it possible that he was in a blind spot of the cameras, so we missed him?¡± Lin Xu clutched his arm desperately, saying, ¡°Never mind, let¡¯s not just focus on the banquet hall, let¡¯s look outside too!¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay, we¡¯ll look slowly, don¡¯t worry,¡± Ji Tingyang soothed her.


    Just as the banquet came to an end, he escorted Lin Xu back to the Ji Family.


    In the second-floor drawing room.


    An elderly man sat in the seat of honor, clearly the center of the birthday festivities, his solemn aura permeating the room without a trace of a smile on his face.


    ¡°Changyan, with so many women here tonight, did you fancy any?¡± he said, turning his gaze to another man in the drawing room, his voice stern.


    Xie Changyan lowered his eyes, toying with the teacup in his hands, a slight smile on his lips, ¡°Grandpa, you make it sound as if you¡¯re picking cabbages, don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you be smart with me, you¡¯re not getting any younger. Do you plan to be a bachelor all your life?¡± Xie Mingwang reprimanded sharply, ¡°Your task right now is to get married and have children before I die!¡±


    His grandson was already thirty years old and still on his own. If he continued to be a bachelor for the rest of his life, what face would he have to meet his deceased son and daughter-in-law in the afterlife?


    For this occasion, he even threw a grand birthday feast and specially invited many industry insiders to attend, with each male guest instructed to bring a female companion.


    It was done so that he could pick someone he liked, but who would have known that this defiant grandson wouldn¡¯t take a fancy to anyone.


    Continuing to be this picky, by the time he died, he wouldn¡¯t have picked out a single one.


    ¡°Your standards shouldn¡¯t be so high,¡± Xie Mingwang wanted to persuade him further, only to hear his laughter.


    ¡°Just being a woman is okay?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­¡± Xie Mingwang was about to agree, but then he thought what if he brought back someone of ill repute, so he quickly added, ¡°At least she must be of good character.¡±


    Laughter spilled from Xie Changyan¡¯s throat as he put down his glass and stood up, ¡°Alright, Grandpa, I have my own judgment. The party has been over for so long, let¡¯s go home.¡±


    After Xie Mingwang got into the car, Xie Changyan walked around to the driver¡¯s seat. Just as he was about to get in, the manager in charge of the banquet venue rushed over.


    ¡°President Xie.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°The president of Ji Group would like to copy a portion of the surveillance footage from tonight¡¯s banquet. I wonder if it¡¯s convenient for you?¡±


    ¡°Ji¡¯s? Ji Tingyang?¡± Xie Changyan¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly, having some recollection of the president of this rival company.


    A somewhat capable man, but not much more.


    ¡°Yes,¡± the manager explained, ¡°President Ji said he wanted to use the footage to find someone.¡±


    ¡°Then give it to him.¡± It was just surveillance footage; there was nothing shameful about it.


    Xie Changyan didn¡¯t dwell on it, spoke his piece, and drove off.


    ¡ª¡ª


    Lin Xu couldn¡¯t let go of the matter and had Ji Tingyang bring back the surveillance tape for her to review, second by second, in meticulous detail.


    She watched the surveillance video for two days before finally admitting to herself that she had simply seen things wrong that day.


    Throughout those two days, Lin Xu felt downcast. Knowing she was in low spirits, Ji Tingyang accompanied her on a shopping spree, swiping his cards, and even brought home barbecue for her to enjoy, focusing on doing what he could.


    He was wondering what else he could do to cheer her up.


    But by the third day, Lin Xu had already bounced back, brimming with energy as she made her appearance in the living room.


    ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re okay now?¡± Ji Tingyang asked, worry evident in his eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, I¡¯ve come to understand that we can¡¯t keep looking back, we have to focus on the present.¡± Lin Xu quickly finished her breakfast and stood up, urging Ji Tingyang, ¡°Hurry up and eat, then I¡¯ll take you to the company.¡±


    ¡°I had already made arrangements to pick you up and drop you off from work, and I haven¡¯t been able to follow through these past few days; you must be disappointed.¡±


    ¡°Zeqiu used to nag me about this all the time.¡±


    She clearly remembered the time she had promised Xiao Zeqiu she would pick him up from kindergarten, but that day she got tied up with things and forgot, eventually resulting in the nanny bringing him home instead.


    The result was that Xiao Zeqiu, who was usually very clingy, became sullen and didn¡¯t want her to accompany him to sleep for several nights.


    Though going to school and work were not the same, a promise made should be kept; that¡¯s how to set a proper example for a child.


    Ji Tingyang also remembered this incident; although he was young at the time, memories of happy moments were deeply ingrained.


    He never missed an opportunity to tease Ji Zeqiu, ¡°I¡¯m definitely not the kind of whiny and noisy brat like Ji Zeqiu.¡±


    ¡°Right, right, our Tingyang is the best behaved~¡± Lin Xu said with a laugh as she vigorously ruffled his hair.


    Ji Tingyang grunted softly and quietly blushed.

 Chapter 35 - Chapter 35: Chapter 35 The Beauty Trap

    Chapter 35: Chapter 35 The Beauty Trap


    A month after school started, the students were greeted by their first long vacation, the National Day holiday.


    Before the vacation arrived, many classmates discussed where to go, talking excitedly.


    ¡°Wen Li, where are you planning to go? Why don¡¯t we go to the neighboring province together?¡± Xu Wei handed her phone to Wen Li with the searched scenery on the screen, ¡°Look, the scenery of this mountain is so beautiful, and you can even camp at the summit to watch the sunrise!¡±


    Wen Li¡¯s eyes lit up at the photos, but that light quickly dimmed.


    She hesitated, ¡°I probably can¡¯t go¡­¡±


    ¡°Ah, why not?¡±


    ¡°Ji Tingyang won¡¯t let me go.¡± She bit her lip.


    ¡°That¡¯s true, then let¡¯s forget about it.¡± Xu Wei also remembered and stopped discussing it with her, turning to talk with other classmates.


    Wen Li vaguely heard someone say, ¡°Should we invite Wen Li?¡± but before her expectation could arise, she heard Xu Wei say, ¡°She can¡¯t go, don¡¯t ask her.¡±


    They responded with an ¡°Oh,¡± and after that, they seemed to completely forget about Wen Li, never mentioning her again.


    A feeling of being ignored and unable to control her own freedom arose from the depths of her heart. Wen Li clenched her fist, sharp fingernails digging into her palm, spreading pain through her hand.


    She bit her teeth, struggled for a moment, and then called out to Xu Wei.


    ¡°You¡­ last time you said that leaking Ji¡¯s confidential documents could suppress Ji Tingyang, can it really¡­?¡±


    A shrewd light flashed in Xu Wei¡¯s eyes, fleeting. She suppressed the excitement in her heart and pretended to recall hard, ¡°Oh yeah, it was something¡­ something new energy?¡±


    ¡°Confidential, it must be very difficult to get, right?¡± Wen Li said.


    Ever since she was caught sneaking into the study last time, the door to the study started to be locked. Whenever she looked at the study a bit longer, Lin Xu would stare at her vigilantly.


    She couldn¡¯t even enter the study, let alone steal documents.


    ¡°That¡¯s true, but¡­¡± Xu Wei whispered into her ear, ¡°If you use a little seduction, couldn¡¯t you get your hands on anything confidential.¡±


    Wen Li looked hesitant.


    ¡°Haha, I¡¯m just kidding. Just take it as a casual remark.¡± Xu Wei laughed a few times and didn¡¯t continue the discussion on this topic, returning to talk about the vacation with a nearby classmate.


    Wen Li also forced an awkward laugh.


    The National Day is observed domestically, but not abroad, so the international business departments still had to work overtime.


    As the president, Ji Tingyang also had to work overtime.


    However, since Lin Xu would pick him up from work, to avoid making her wait too long, Ji Tingyang would bring unfinished work home and continue in the study after dinner.


    That night, Wen Li went downstairs to get water and saw the light was still on in the study, her thoughts stirring slightly.


    Her steps carried her to the study door, where she knocked.


    ¡°Come in,¡± a deep voice came from inside.


    The door was pushed open.


    Ji Tingyang set down his pen, rubbed his tired nose, and looked up while saying offhandedly, ¡°It¡¯s still early, I¡¯ll continue¡­¡±


    His voice trailed off.


    When he worked overtime in the study, Lin Xu would often come in to urge him to go back to his room to rest and would sometimes bring in some snacks.


    He had expected Lin Xu today, but unexpectedly, it was Wen Li, his expression one of startled surprise.


    ¡°Is there something you need?¡± Ji Tingyang asked.


    Meeting his gaze, Wen Li felt nervous, her voice tense, ¡°I¡­ I saw the light in the study was always on, so I came to check.¡±


    Her hand holding the cup tightened, as if mustering courage, ¡°Are you hungry, do you want to go down and eat something?¡±


    Ji Tingyang raised an eyebrow, somewhat amazed.


    Wen Li had always avoided him, and yet today she was actively showing concern for him, even inviting him to have late-night snacks together.


    Going a long time without a response, the courage that Wen Li had finally mustered up had all but vanished.


    ¡°Forget it, I¡¯m going back to my room,¡±


    She said and was about to turn around and leave.


    ¡°Wait,¡± Ji Tingyang hurriedly called after her, ¡°What would you like to eat?¡±


    Ji Tingyang felt this was a sign that Wen Li wanted to reconcile with him. If he missed this opportunity, their relationship would never improve.


    His mother often said to seize the moment, and this time he had to grasp it well.


    As he asked, he had already walked up to Wen Li¡¯s side.


    ¡°Is barbecue okay?¡± Wen Li asked.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll ask Aunt Zhang to get it ready.¡±


    There were many kitchen utensils at home, and Aunt Zhang quickly prepared everything needed for the barbecue.


    The pork belly sizzled on the grill, releasing a fragrance that wafted through the air.


    ¡°Do you want to have some alcohol?¡± Wen Li said.


    Ji Tingyang didn¡¯t want to dampen her spirits, so he agreed.


    He found that Wen Li really did seem to want to make up with him. She even took the initiative to pour him drinks. Overwhelmed with happiness, he unconsciously drank one cup after another.


    The scene before his eyes began to blur.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s tolerance was good; he didn¡¯t become violent when drunk, but simply sat in silence, staring at Wen Li.


    The way Wen Li was being watched made her feel uneasy. She broached tentatively, ¡°Shall I take you back to your room to rest?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡± Ji Tingyang was very agreeable after drinking.


    Wen Li supported his arm, led him back to the bedroom to lie down, and covered him with the quilt.


    When she passed by the study again and saw the open door, she slipped in.


    The project document about the new energy was openly lying on the desk, seemingly the one Ji Tingyang had just been looking at and hadn¡¯t had time to put away.


    She took out her phone and photographed every page of the document. Then she returned everything to its original state and left the study.


    Back in the bedroom, Wen Li excitedly paced around a few times, amazed at how easy everything had been.


    Eager to share this thrilling feeling, she immediately made a call to Xu Wei.


    ¡°I got it!¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Xu Wei was confused.


    ¡°The confidential document you told me about, I got it!¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Xu Wei was shocked, having not expected that Wen Li would actually succeed.


    ¡°Should I send it to Xie Group¡¯s email right now?¡± Wen Li remembered that Xie¡¯s and Ji¡¯s were rival companies.


    ¡°Wait a minute, don¡¯t send it yet! That would expose you,¡± Xu Wei advised, ¡°I know someone, we can go through him¡­¡±


    ¡ª-


    The National Day holiday meant that everyone was happily playing, but returning to work afterwards brought just as much depression.


    Especially for the employees of Ji Group, who felt a heavy atmosphere spreading from the top down.


    Who could have imagined that right after the National Day holiday, the company¡¯s major project would be snatched away by their competitor, Xie Group.


    They had invested a lot of effort in the project, even tightening the budget on other projects to ensure more funds were available for this one.


    The exchange with the partner had gone smoothly, so who could have anticipated that just before signing the contract, the partner would change their mind and choose Xie Group instead.


    Ji Tingyang was furious at the company, picking faults with everyone he met and deducting a lot of their bonuses.


    Within the company, everyone felt at risk, and nobody dared to provoke further trouble.

 Chapter 36 - Chapter 36: Chapter 36 Morbid Paranoia

    Chapter 36: Chapter 36 Morbid Paranoia


    Lin Xu arrived at the company just in time, outside the President¡¯s Office, to rescue a group of employees who didn¡¯t dare to go in and ask Ji Tingyang for signatures.


    ¡°Miss Lin, could you please take this document to President Ji for his signature?¡± the secretary first inquired tentatively.


    ¡°Ah, sure,¡± Lin Xu took it.


    ¡°Miss Lin, I also have a document here, could you please have President Ji sign this one too?¡± Then other employees followed suit.


    They didn¡¯t dare to just barge in, for fear of jeopardizing their meager bonuses.


    Lin Xu: ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°I have two documents here¡­¡±


    ¡°And I have this one here¡­¡±


    After accepting all the documents, Lin Xu¡¯s hands were full with a big stack, so full that she couldn¡¯t even free a hand to open the door.


    The door was ultimately pushed open by the secretary, who quickly shut it the next second, as if afraid that the anger from within would spill out.


    Within the short ten-step walk, Lin Xu¡¯s arms were already aching, so she hurriedly went to the desk and put the documents down, gasping for breath, ¡°President Ji, please sign these documents.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know how to knock before entering? Who allowed you in? Go tell the finance department to dock your bonus for the month!¡±


    Ji Tingyang was fuming with anger, slamming his pen down on the desk, creating a terrifyng ¡°bang.¡±


    As if that wasn¡¯t enough to vent his anger, he was preparing to scold her again, but when he looked up and saw Lin Xu¡¯s innocent face blinking back at him, his voice caught in his throat.


    ¡°Why are you here¡­¡± His anger mistakenly directed at the wrong person, Ji Tingyang felt somewhat helpless, his momentum somewhat deflated, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be off work yet.¡±


    ¡°I calculated on my fingers that you¡¯d be in a bad mood today, so I came to see if I was right,¡± Lin Xu rested her chin on her hands and nodded at him, ¡°It seems I was pretty accurate.¡±


    Ji Tingyang, resigned: ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were into fortune-telling.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a lot you don¡¯t know about me,¡± Lin Xu said mysteriously.


    Actually, she had come in early today, and while killing time downstairs, she overheard the employees discussing Ji Tingyang¡¯s outburst of anger. Fearing he would go crazy like he did at home, she thought of coming up to check on him.


    Lin Xu pulled a chair over to sit across from Ji Tingyang and massaged her sore arms.


    Ji Tingyang took her hand and started rubbing and pressing the flesh on her arms, his brows furrowed in concern: ¡°I pay them to work, and yet they expect you to deliver documents for them. It seems they don¡¯t want their jobs anymore.¡±


    Normally tired of carrying shopping bags, today she actually had to help them deliver documents.


    Ji Tingyang made a mental note to enforce a new rule in the future, prohibiting the transfer of documents through others.


    ¡°Then you might as well fire everyone in the company,¡± Lin Xu laughed.


    Ji Tingyang was frustrated.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xu withdrew her hand, then asked about the day¡¯s events, ¡°What happened to make you so angry?¡±


    ¡°Do you remember the document you asked about last time?¡± Ji Tingyang told her about the project that was snatched away.


    The head of the partnering company told him that Xie¡¯s proposal was very similar to his but had been refined on his basis with a few more concessions.


    People always gravitate towards money, so the partnering company refused Ji¡¯s and even insinuated to Ji Tingyang that there must be a mole within the company.


    Upon hearing the term ¡°mole,¡± Lin Xu immediately thought of Wen Li.


    She had seen Wen Li sneaking around the study last time, an action that aligned with the plot Lin Xu had seen.


    ¡°You also bring documents home to work on sometimes. Could someone from home have leaked the information?¡± Lin Xu ventured.


    ¡°That¡¯s unlikely. No one dares to go upstairs on normal days, and the butler has worked at the villa for eight or nine years. He wouldn¡¯t do such a thing,¡± Ji Tingyang dismissed the possibility.


    ¡°Wen Li¡­¡±


    ¡°She wouldn¡¯t do it!¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s volume surged suddenly, his emotions becoming intense.


    Lin Xu jumped with fright. She looked at Ji Tingyang and saw that he was struggling to maintain composure, his clenched fists trembling slightly, his brows furrowed in pain, his forehead breaking out in large beads of cold sweat.


    Something seemed off about his emotions.


    Lin Xu suddenly realized that Ji Tingyang¡¯s sickly obsession with Wen Li rendered him unable to doubt her, or perhaps he was afraid of getting hurt and therefore controlled himself from suspecting her.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s not her.¡± Lin Xu hurried over to comfort him, trying to calm him down.


    ¡°Mom, it couldn¡¯t be her¡­¡± Ji Tingyang rested his head on her shoulder, his voice heavy.


    ¡°Yes, if you say it¡¯s not her, then it¡¯s not her.¡± Lin Xu patted his head. It seemed better not to mention it until she had substantial evidence.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, anyone who dares to bully my son, I won¡¯t let her get away with it!¡±


    A faint laugh escaped Ji Tingyang¡¯s throat, realizing that it felt so good to be protected.


    ¡ª


    Due to the project being stolen, the other shareholders of Ji¡¯s were all making a fuss, and Ji Tingyang was so busy appeasing them that he hardly touched the ground.


    He didn¡¯t even have time to wait for Lin Xu to get up in the morning to send him to the company and just drove off.


    Not to mention controlling Wen Li¡¯s freedom.


    Even though she had been coming and going early and late these few days, Ji Tingyang was unaware and had no time to pay attention to her.


    Wen Li felt completely free, body and mind. Perhaps, in time, she could even leave the Ji Family for good.


    With that thought in mind, her mood lifted, and her appetite improved, allowing her to eat a little more for breakfast.


    Lin Xu, sitting opposite her, put down her cutlery and said to the butler, ¡°Have the driver wait for me at the door.¡±


    ¡°Miss Lin, Young Master Ji has already gone to the company.¡± The butler thought she didn¡¯t know, and kindly reminded her that there was no need to chauffeur Ji Tingyang today.


    ¡°I know, I¡¯m going to the Xie Group,¡± Lin Xu said.


    ¡°The Xie Group?¡± The butler was taken aback.


    ¡°One of Ji¡¯s projects was stolen, and Ji Tingyang suspects there might have been a leak. Just so happens I know a senior executive at Xie¡¯s who might do me a favor and tell me something,¡± Lin Xu explained.


    ¡°That would be great. Once we catch that scoundrel, we must punish them severely!¡± the butler said, excited.


    Clatter.


    The chopsticks in Wen Li¡¯s hand fell to the ground.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lin Xu looked at her.


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s nothing, I just didn¡¯t grip them properly,¡± Wen Li¡¯s palms sweated as her heart raced with nervous palpitations.


    ¡°Oh, have the butler bring you a new pair, and make sure to hold them properly this time,¡± Lin Xu said with a slight smile.


    Wen Li couldn¡¯t help feeling uneasy about the meaningful smile on Lin Xu¡¯s face as she watched her leave.


    The Xie Group¡¯s building shot up from the ground, even the grand and imposing architectural style and quality at the lobby on the ground floor showcased the company¡¯s mature and steady style.


    Truly befitting that of a grand family.


    As Lin Xu walked in, she sighed for a moment, remembering her mission. She came to her senses, took out her phone, and took a few pictures.


    Just then, a discreetly luxurious sedan stopped at the entrance of the company.


    A handsome and poised figure stepped out of the car. The man was dressed in a tailored suit, his facial features sharp and deep, a carefree smile hanging from his lips as he walked inside.


    A beautiful figure suddenly burst into his peripheral vision.


    The man turned his head to look, his pupils slightly dilated, his eyes as if veiled in mist, seeming to experience a sense of daze.

 Chapter 37 - Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Same City Express Delivery

    Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Same City Express Delivery


    Lin Xu was as radiant as the autumn moon, exceptionally beautiful, which often attracted male attention when she was out. She had been standing in the lobby of Xie¡¯s for a while when a man came over to express his concern.


    ¡°Miss, I see you¡¯ve been here for a few minutes, have you run into any trouble?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯ll leave in a moment,¡± Lin Xu said.


    ¡°Why not sit at the coffee shop across the street? I¡¯ll buy you a coffee, how does that sound?¡± the man suggested.


    ¡°Oh.¡± Lin Xu feigned difficulty, ¡°I¡¯d like to go, but I need to pick up my child from school soon.¡±


    Upon hearing this, the man immediately understood, ¡°Since you have matters to attend to, I won¡¯t disturb you any longer.¡±


    After saying that, he left with a look of regret on his face.


    This beautiful woman looked quite young; he hadn¡¯t expected her to be married with children so early.


    The sound here was not loud, but the handsome man at the entrance certainly heard it.


    ¡°President Xie, is there a problem?¡± Seeing the man stand still, the assistant beside him asked anxiously.


    Xie Changyan withdrew his gaze, ¡°No problem.¡±


    He continued walking inside and, just before stepping into the elevator, his peripheral vision glanced at Lin Xu once more.


    The strange feeling in his chest had disappeared as if it had been just his imagination, and then he entered the elevator with a calm expression.


    ¡ª¡ª


    Lin Xu returned to the villa in the afternoon, and the butler excitedly approached her to ask, ¡°Miss Lin, have you found the person who leaked the information?¡±


    Wen Li had no classes today. Had it been a few days earlier, she would have gone out to meet Xiao Yu already. But thinking of Lin Xu¡¯s purpose for visiting Xie¡¯s that morning, she was too scared to think of going out.


    Hearing the butler¡¯s question, she suddenly became nervous and clenched her hands.


    ¡°When I got there, my friend was busy and hadn¡¯t found anything yet,¡± Lin Xu sighed regretfully.


    The butler also expressed regret, ¡°I see.¡±


    ¡°But no worries, my friend told me that he will send me the person¡¯s information after he¡¯s free, probably in an hour or two,¡± Lin Xu said.


    Only then did the huge rock on Wen Li¡¯s chest begin to ease, yet the next second it was lifted to mid-air again, like a dagger hanging suspended, ready to drop and plunge into her heart at any moment.


    ¡°He should courier the information to the villa soon, so if you see a delivery person coming, please make sure to receive it,¡± Lin Xu told the butler. ¡°I¡¯m a bit tired, I¡¯ll go to my room to rest.¡±


    The butler naturally agreed, dutifully saying, ¡°Miss Lin, rest assured, I will bring it up to you as soon as we receive the delivery.¡±


    Lin Xu nodded, yawning as she headed upstairs.


    As she passed by Wen Li, seeing her pale face, Lin Xu¡¯s eyes widened with exaggerated surprise and she asked with concern, ¡°You look very pale, what happened?¡±


    ¡°I, I¡­ just didn¡¯t sleep well last night,¡± Wen Li, with a racing heart, struggled to keep her emotions steady.


    ¡°I see, then let¡¯s go upstairs and catch up on some sleep together?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m not sleepy yet, I won¡¯t go to sleep now.¡± Wen Li forced a smile, politely declining her offer.


    She wanted to wait for the courier to arrive to see if there was any chance to switch the information.


    Lin Xu did not insist, smiled at her, and went upstairs.


    Whether it was because of a guilty conscience, Wen Li always felt there was a deeper meaning behind her smile, which made her feel uneasy.


    For a moment, only Wen Li and the butler were left in the living room.


    In the hot summer, the villa had the air conditioning on, keeping the temperature inside comfortably cool.


    Yet even so, sweat began to bead on Wen Li¡¯s forehead.


    Every time there was any noise at the main gate, she broke out in more sweat, terrified that it might be the delivery person.


    ¡°Lady Wen, are you feeling unwell?¡± the butler, noticing her unusual behavior, asked with concern.


    ¡°I¡­ maybe.¡± Wen Li was about to deny it when she suddenly thought of something and changed her tone, ¡°I didn¡¯t eat much today and my stomach is a bit painful. Could you please make something to eat in the kitchen?¡±


    Aunt Zhang had gone out to buy groceries, so with Wen Li wanting something to eat, the butler had to go to the kitchen himself.


    ¡°But¡­ Miss Lin said the delivery person would come by later, and I need to get the package,¡± the butler hesitated.


    ¡°If the delivery person comes, I¡¯ll call you. My stomach really hurts too much, please,¡± Wen Li pleaded with moist eyes and a painful cold sweat on her forehead, which was heart-wrenching to see.


    Moved by compassion, the butler agreed.


    With only Wen Li left in the living room, she pondered hiding the materials first and then claiming that the delivery person hadn¡¯t come yet.


    As time ticked by, Wen Li grew more and more impatient, fearing that the delivery person would be slower than the butler making the meal.


    Finally, noise came from the iron gate outside the villa.


    The grating, irritating sound of rust at this moment seemed like heavenly music to Wen Li¡¯s ears; she quickly got up and walked toward the foyer, wanting to get the materials at the first opportunity.


    However, before she could open the door, it opened on its own.


    Upon seeing who entered, she froze for a moment.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s face also showed a hint of surprise as he hesitated, ¡°Were you waiting for me?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Wen Li restrained the panic on her face and smiled, ¡°You¡¯ve been very busy these past few days. I had the butler make some chicken soup to help nourish you.¡±


    Unexpectedly receiving her care, Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression mixed with astonishment and a hint of happiness.


    He smiled slightly, about to say something more, when his phone rang in his pocket.


    It was another annoying call from the shareholders.


    Ji Tingyang furrowed his brows and told Wen Li that he needed to take the call, then walked toward the backyard.


    Wen Li had not expected Ji Tingyang to return home unexpectedly early today, panicking her completely.


    Fortunately, he went to the backyard to take the call, and once more, she was left alone in the living room.


    It seemed that whatever she feared would happen always did, and hardly had she relaxed when the butler came out of the kitchen with the meal ready.


    ¡°Lady Wen, the meal is ready, and weren¡¯t you saying your stomach was hurting? Come and eat,¡± the butler called.


    The butler was really too kind-hearted, urging her several times, almost as if he would come over to personally escort her to the dining table.


    ¡°¡­¡± With no other choice, Wen Li reluctantly went over.


    Her mind had never worked as quickly as it did at that moment, as she continuously thought of ways to send the butler away again.


    ¡°Hello, Same-City Express!¡± The doorbell rang.


    Before she could think of a plan, the delivery arrived like a death knell.


    Watching the butler¡¯s silhouette move toward the door, Wen Li¡¯s face turned terrifyingly pale.


    It wasn¡¯t long before she saw the butler return with an A4-sized document envelope.


    He didn¡¯t take it to Lin Xu but instead went straight to the backyard to give it to Ji Tingyang.


    The butler thought, since this matter was so important, wasn¡¯t it better to directly hand it over to Ji Tingyang? Why bother going through Lin Xu and complicating things?


    Seeing Ji Tingyang take it, Wen Li abruptly stood up, her heart in turmoil. By the time she collected herself, she was already rushing toward the backyard.

 Chapter 38 - Chapter 38: Chapter 38: This is the Warmth that Truly Belongs to Him

    Chapter 38: Chapter 38: This is the Warmth that Truly Belongs to Him


    Ji Tingyang was making a phone call in the backyard, his expression anxious, his long legs moving unconsciously around as he responded to the other party¡¯s questions.


    Unconsciously, he walked to the edge of the swimming pool, his deep black eyes staring at the dark blue water in the pool. The irritation in his heart only increased, even feeling the urge to throw his phone in the water.


    It was at this moment that the butler walked in, excitedly handing him a document bag.


    It was said to be information about the leaker.


    Before he had a chance to ask where the information was from, the butler, seeming afraid of disturbing his phone call, left immediately after speaking.


    What a mess.


    Ji Tingyang took a deep breath out, massaging his throbbing temples, and did not take the document to heart, casually throwing it onto a small table by the pool.


    It was then that Wen Li ran in, she glanced at the still unopened document bag, her mind full of plans on how to deceive Ji Tingyang away.


    ¡°The chicken soup is ready, why don¡¯t you go and have some,¡± Wen Li tugged at his shirt corner, speaking softly.


    Her gentle and considerate demeanor was what Ji Tingyang loved the most about her.


    The irritation dissipated somewhat, and Ji Tingyang did not want to disregard her rare kindness. He gave perfunctory replies to the shareholders and then hung up the call.


    Before going out, Ji Tingyang spotted the document bag on the small table, and remembering the matter said, ¡°The butler seemed to say it was some information. Let me take a look first.¡±


    He casually picked it up and tore the seal on the document bag.


    Instantly, Wen Li felt as if her body had plunged into an ice cellar.


    For a few short seconds, time seemed to freeze, as painfully long as the moment before an execution.


    What was she to do?


    Rush over and tear up the document? Could she be faster than Ji Tingyang?


    Splash water on it, the paper would easily tear and the text would blur¡­


    But where could she get water at hand?


    She felt as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, various thoughts flashing through her mind.


    By the time she snapped out of it, her hands, beyond her control, had pushed the unsuspecting Ji Tingyang into the swimming pool, along with the document¡­


    Ah.


    The document would now be destroyed by the pool water.


    The merciless flow of water furiously entered Ji Tingyang¡¯s nose, ears, and eyes, engulfing his body, making breathing extremely difficult.


    He couldn¡¯t help coughing a few times as water poured into his lungs, as if someone were stabbing his organs, painfully curling up his body.


    He even forgot the instinct to swim.


    He squinted his eyes, and the scene above the water seemed fogged, dimly seeing Wen Li standing by the poolside, her face filled with terror.


    He distinctly felt a pair of hands push him down¡­


    As his consciousness gradually blurred, his mind flashed through many memories.


    Was it because she hated him that she was so merciless?


    His parents had died early, and as the eldest brother, he was forced to take on a brotherly role at just seven years old.


    He was forced to mature early, recognizing the reality of human relationships, living in rotation among relatives who despised them, with Zeqiu and his sister.


    He suppressed the pain in his heart and dared not show it in front of them. Until he met Wen Li, who made him feel a hint of warmth, reminding him of his gentle mother¡­


    Later, she met Xiao Yu and wanted to date him wholeheartedly, distancing herself from him.


    He feared even this last bit of warmth he owned would be taken away, and frantically trapped her by his side, possessing the warmth on her that wasn¡¯t truly his own.


    Was he finally facing retribution now?


    Ji Tingyang vividly felt his breath fading, perhaps a deathbed vision, recalling past pain.


    He derided himself for being too melodramatic.


    His eyes gradually closed¡­


    Thump.


    The water erupted, and a shadow enveloped him.


    Ji Tingyang strained to hold onto the last bit of consciousness, his eyes opening a slit.


    He saw Lin Xu floating in the water, her hair spreading out as she tried to swim toward him.


    Her eyes, possibly reddened from crying, were clear with concern, as if spanning a barrier of twenty years to rush toward him.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s heart, which was nearly stilled, throbbed wildly as he stared unwaveringly at Lin Xu, like a blazing sun, illuminating the darkness of his past twenty years.


    Watching the rippling waves between them grow shorter, he seemed to see his mother who used to sit by his bed telling stories in his childhood, the mother who laughed, asking him to make money and buy her clothes when he would be older, and the mother who touched his head and vowed never to let those who bullied him get away¡­


    A madness surged in his eyes as he etched her into his view.


    This was the real warmth that belonged to him.


    Lin Xu swam up to Ji Tingyang, sliding her arms under his from behind and embracing him as they surfaced from the water.


    Ji Tingyang moved his hands slightly, loosely embracing her body, before his consciousness finally dispersed and he sank into darkness.


    ¡ª


    When Ji Tingyang awoke, what he saw first was a stark white ceiling, and a slight pain on the back of his hand told him that he was receiving an IV drip.


    Not seeing the time, he had no idea how much time had passed.


    He moved slightly, and immediately, a choked voice of concern sounded next to him, ¡°Don¡¯t move yet, the doctor said your body hasn¡¯t recovered.¡±


    Ji Tingyang turned his head and only then belatedly realized that Wen Li was actually right beside him.


    Her eyes were red, probably from a lot of crying, and her cheeks somewhat swollen, as if she had been hit?


    But none of that mattered anymore.


    ¡°Where is Lin Xu?¡± Ji Tingyang looked around.


    Wen Li was stunned, not expecting his first question upon waking to be about Lin Xu. She squeezed her hands resting on her knees, feeling a sour rise in her heart, ¡°She¡­ is in the doctor¡¯s office.¡±


    Ji Tingyang murmured ¡°Oh¡± and closed his eyes again.


    His attitude was indifferent.


    Wen Li bit her lip, tears welling up again, and she apologized with a sob, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to push you into the water. I was all over the place at that moment, my thoughts were chaotic, I don¡¯t even understand why I did that¡­¡±


    The close call with accidental manslaughter made her anxious and unrestful.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry¡­ can you forgive me?¡± Large tears fell from her eyes, her beautiful face intermixed with tears, looking pitiful.


    In the past, Ji Tingyang would have comforted her the moment she cried, but this time he just quietly watched her, without speaking for a long while.


    The one-sided act was embarrassing, and Wen Li¡¯s crying gradually subsided.


    ¡°Can you touch my head?¡± Ji Tingyang suddenly asked.


    Wen Li paused, baffled, but still reached out her slender hand and rubbed his head according to his wish.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes dropped slightly, his expression unreadable.


    He smirked ambiguously with a snort.


    His heart was as calm as still water, without a ripple.


    Sure enough, that lingering warmth dissipated.


    He felt nothing anymore.

 Chapter 39 - Chapter 39: Chapter 39 The Skilled New Love

    Chapter 39: Chapter 39 The Skilled New Love


    Lin Xu said she had friends at Xie¡¯s, but actually, it was a lie; she did this just to deceive Wen Li.


    As for the so-called leaker¡¯s information, it was nothing but a blank sheet of paper. She had arranged with a courier to deliver it to the villa at a scheduled time, only to expose Wen Li¡¯s flaws.


    Fishing law enforcement.


    Let her steal the document and then catch her red-handed.


    In this way, even without evidence, she could make Ji Tingyang see her true colors.


    However, Lin Xu had not expected Ji Tingyang to return early, and she hadn¡¯t even started the rest of her plan yet.


    She also did not expect that Wen Li, in her panic, would push Ji Tingyang into the swimming pool.


    When Lin Xu found out, her mind went blank for a moment, and the fear of losing a loved one again swept over her. Without the slightest consideration of whether Ji Tingyang could swim or not, she dashed out impulsively.


    Ji Tingyang indeed knew how to swim, but the sudden drowning caught him off guard, and he couldn¡¯t react before the water rushed frantically into his nostrils.


    After Lin Xu pulled Ji Tingyang to shore, she felt a surge of fright, grateful she had rushed over.


    It seemed like Wen Li had just realized what she had done, her eyes brimming with tears and fear, and she sobbed intermittently.


    Lin Xu couldn¡¯t hold back and slapped her across the face, ¡°If anything happens to Ji Tingyang, I¡¯ll make sure you pay the price!¡±


    Hospital, the doctor was talking to her about the examination results.


    Ji Tingyang hadn¡¯t been underwater for long, so there were no serious issues, and he could be discharged after waking up.


    Lin Xu let out a sigh of relief, regretting that she hadn¡¯t been meticulous enough, and wondered if Ji Tingyang had awoken yet.


    Her mind occupied with thoughts of her son in the hospital room, she became oblivious to the doctor reiterating any precautions, clearly distracted.


    ¡°Miss Lin? Miss Lin?¡± The doctor called out to her a few times, ¡°Did you remember everything I just said?¡±


    Lin Xu was silent for a moment: ¡°¡­Could you please repeat it?¡±


    Doctor: ¡°¡­¡±


    After chatting with the doctor for about fifteen minutes, Lin Xu returned to the ward, and her first glance was at Ji Tingyang on the hospital bed.


    Her face brightened with joy.


    ¡°You¡¯re finally awake! How do you feel, is there anywhere that¡¯s uncomfortable?¡± Lin Xu quickly approached, asking a flurry of questions.


    Upon seeing Lin Xu, Ji Tingyang¡¯s expressionless face suddenly lit up with a hint of pleasure, and a bit of brightness entered his eyes as he looked at her.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± His voice was still hoarse from the drowning.


    ¡°Your voice is so hoarse, and yet you say you¡¯re fine!¡± Lin Xu gave him a cup of water to soothe his throat.


    Ji Tingyang obediently took the cup.


    After confirming there were no other issues with his health, Lin Xu felt the weight in her heart drop. She lifted her eyes to look at the IV drip beside him, only to realize that Wen Li was also here.


    Her face displayed undisguised displeasure, ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    Wen Li trembled, her eyes reddening again: ¡°I was worried about Ji Tingyang and came to see him¡­¡±


    ¡°Thanks to you, he¡¯s not dead yet, you must be so disappointed, right?¡± Lin Xu said coldly.


    ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t on purpose, I didn¡¯t mean it¡­¡± Wen Li¡¯s eyes welled up with tears as she repeatedly mumbled apologies.


    ¡°Whether it was intentional or not, move out of the Ji Family¡¯s house tonight!¡± Lin Xu¡¯s face darkened, her stern gaze chilling like shards of ice.


    Who knows if next time she would, while crying, say ¡°it wasn¡¯t on purpose,¡± and then do something dangerous again.


    Lin Xu didn¡¯t want to let her stay by Ji Tingyang any longer.


    Lin Xu was usually gentle, her eyes often carrying a smile, and even when she occasionally got angry, she could be calmed with a little bit of coaxing.


    The anger she displayed now, even Ji Tingyang had never seen before in his memory.


    Move out of the Ji Family¡¯s house?


    This was what Wen Li had always hoped for. Since the day Ji Tingyang had confined her in the villa, she had never ceased to yearn for it.


    Now, at last, she was about to realize her departure, but the way she was leaving was entirely different from what she had imagined.


    She wanted to leave honorably and openly, not be chased away in disgrace because she had accidentally made a mistake.


    What would others think of her if they found out?


    Wen Li looked helplessly at Ji Tingyang, hoping he would speak up for her. After all, Ji Tingyang was the master of the Ji Family, as long as he disapproved, no matter what Lin Xu said, she wouldn¡¯t have to move out.


    Ji Tingyang received Wen Li¡¯s pleading gaze, his thin lips parted slightly, ¡°I¡­¡±


    He had barely uttered a word when he was met with Lin Xu¡¯s sharp glare.


    ¡°Shut your mouth! Your throat is so hoarse, what are you talking about!¡± she glared at Ji Tingyang fiercely.


    She was seething inside.


    This foolish lad was nearly killed by Wen Li, and he still wanted to speak for her.


    She couldn¡¯t help but recall the ending she had witnessed before, where Ji Tingyang was locked up in jail, yet he still couldn¡¯t stop thinking about someone.


    What an idiot!


    Ji Tingyang was yelled at and stunned for a moment, holding the cup Lin Xu had just given him, blinking innocently.


    ¡°Don¡¯t speak. Just nod or shake your head when I ask you something,¡± Lin Xu said irritably, ¡°I want Wen Li to move out of the Ji family now, do you agree or not?¡±


    She stared at Ji Tingyang, her chest heaving violently, her hand beside her clenched into a fist, as if she would strangle him right there if he dared to shake his head.


    Under both of their gazes, Ji Tingyang nodded in agreement.


    He actually agreed?!


    Both Lin Xu and Wen Li were shocked.


    Was it because Ji Tingyang was angry with her? Wen Li¡¯s breathing hitched.


    As for Lin Xu, she didn¡¯t care why, as long as he agreed.


    As if he was worried she had not seen clearly, Ji Tingyang reached out, tugged at her clothes to draw her attention, and then nodded again.


    The rage in Lin Xu¡¯s heart dissipated in an instant, and a smile bloomed again on her face, her hand gently caressed his head, and she gave it a nice rub, ¡°Good boy.¡±


    A faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on Ji Tingyang¡¯s lips.


    Unlike Wen Li¡¯s feeling just now, he nonchalantly rubbed Lin Xu¡¯s palm.


    This time it was warm.


    ¡ª-


    Afternoon.


    Lin Xu had completed the discharge procedures for Ji Tingyang, and upon returning to the villa, she instructed the nanny to pack up Wen Li¡¯s belongings and send her back to school.


    ¡°Miss Lin, what is this?¡± the butler came over, puzzled.


    ¡°Wen Li is moving out, and her access to the villa is also being revoked,¡± Lin Xu said.


    Surprised, the butler instinctively looked at Ji Tingyang.


    Didn¡¯t Young Master Ji like Lady Wen very much, could he agree?


    To the butler¡¯s surprise, not only did Ji Tingyang agree, but he was also obedient to whatever Lin Xu said.


    Ji Tingyang had previously given many clothes and jewels to Wen Li, but she wanted none of that, so her belongings at the Ji Family¡¯s were not much, it took less than an hour to pack.


    The nanny unfeelingly threw her luggage onto the car, then just as unfeelingly stuffed the sobbing Wen Li into the vehicle, driving off from the villa.


    Where there are many people, there will be gossip, especially since so many servants had witnessed Lin Xu evicting Wen Li.


    In less than a day, rumors spread throughout the circle.


    The new darling by Ji Tingyang¡¯s side had impressive tactics, casting away the favored canary and securing her own position.

 Chapter 40 - Chapter 40: Chapter 40 "Do you like Ji Tingyang so much?

    Chapter 40: Chapter 40 ¡°Do you like Ji Tingyang so much?


    Lin Xu had thought that Ting Yang agreed to let Wen Li leave perhaps in a moment of anger or because he was coerced by her ¡°threat,¡± and that he would regret it once he calmed down.


    After all, in her impression, Ting Yang¡¯s possessiveness towards Wen Li was intensely and terrifyingly obsessive.


    However, after observing for a week, she noticed no extreme reactions from Ting Yang, so she gradually eased her worries.


    That Saturday, Lin Xu had an appointment with a beautician for a skincare treatment, and by the time she returned, it was already evening.


    The butler came running over in a panic to report, ¡°Miss Lin, Young Master Ji seems a bit off today!¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°Young Master Ji has been in the study all day long!¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t he just working? That¡¯s quite normal, isn¡¯t it?¡± The last project leak hadn¡¯t been sorted out yet, and Ting Yang was still incredibly busy.


    ¡°But when I went to knock on the door at noon to call Young Master Ji down for lunch, I heard noises of things being smashed inside! It happened periodically, all day long!¡±


    Shocked, Lin Xu immediately headed for the study.


    Bang!


    Something thudded dully onto the floor.


    She just so happened to arrive during his smashing spree.


    Lin Xu abruptly pushed open the door, and Ting Yang, whose face was still flushed with frustration, was caught off guard by her sudden appearance.


    Ting Yang was startled and suddenly felt guilty, as if caught doing something wrong. He was about to explain himself when he saw Lin Xu rush up and embrace him tightly.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, I understand. If you want to cry, just cry; don¡¯t keep it bottled up.¡± Lin Xu comforted him by patting his back.


    It seemed he still couldn¡¯t let go of Wen Li and even hid in the study to grieve alone, fearing that she would worry.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Ting Yang paused, unable to grasp the current situation.


    ¡°Wen Li has treated you like this, yet you still stubbornly cling to her, especially when she clearly doesn¡¯t like you. Listen to Mom, the world is full of beauties.¡± Lin Xu said.


    Hearing her words, Ting Yang couldn¡¯t help but give a bitter smile.


    Because of the stolen project, the company¡¯s stock had dropped several points, and today, phone calls from shareholders bombarded him nonstop, all aimed at blaming him.


    Furious, he had grabbed whatever was at hand and thrown it on the floor to vent.


    Even his phone screen had cracked from being smashed.


    So Lin Xu thought his distress was because of Wen Li?


    However, her hug was somewhat comforting. Ting Yang¡¯s irritation gradually eased.


    As a child, he wasn¡¯t as clingy as Ji Zeqiu, always refusing Lin Xu¡¯s hugs, finding them too cloying.


    After her death, he regretted why he had refused and began to miss those few hugs.


    Ting Yang wrapped his arms around her, resting his head on her shoulder, and suddenly thought that being a bit clingy might not be so bad after all.


    But he still had to clarify, ¡°I¡¯m not upset because of Wen Li.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t explain, I understand, I understand it all.¡± Lin Xu felt he was just putting on a brave face, refusing to believe his words.


    After all, in the plot she knew, he remained the villain who would pick wild vegetables for love even if he ended up in prison.


    It wasn¡¯t so easy to just get over the novel¡¯s heroine.


    Ting Yang smiled helplessly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be sad, Mom will cook you some scallion noodles, okay?¡± Lin Xu¡¯s tone was like coaxing a child.


    When he was a child, it was candies; grown up, it had become scallion noodles.


    Ting Yang, his mood brightened by the cajoling, rested his chin on her shoulder and his voice softened remarkably as he bargained, ¡°Add another egg.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡± Lin Xu said.


    Ji Tingyang pursed his lips and smiled.


    Feeling a bit ¡°sad¡± occasionally didn¡¯t seem too bad.


    After the minor incident, Ji Tingyang was still busy every day dealing with the company¡¯s old accounts.


    Every morning when Lin Xu woke up, Ji Tingyang had already arrived at the office, without even having time for breakfast.


    It is said that out of ten CEOs, nine suffer from stomach problems.


    Lin Xu worried that at this rate, Ji Tingyang would also end up with a stomach issue, so she even delivered breakfast to him several times.


    However, when she arrived at the office, she heard some staff whispering about rumors of Ji¡¯s going bankrupt.


    Lin Xu remembered that in the conclusion of the novel, the company was taken over by the male protagonist, but whether it was because of bankruptcy or some other decline, she wasn¡¯t quite sure.


    Regardless, in order to ease Ji Tingyang¡¯s burden and to prevent potential problems, she needed to find a way to address this matter.


    So Lin Xu took out her phone and sent a message to Ji Zeqiu¡¯s agent.


    Willow Wadding:[Ji Zeqiu! Ji¡¯s is going bankrupt!]


    After waiting a few minutes, she received a reply that took pleasure in their misfortune.


    Brother Zhao:[That is indeed cause for celebration.]


    At a glance, she knew this reply was from Ji Zeqiu using his agent¡¯s phone.


    This wretched kid.


    Aggravated, Lin Xu directly made a voice call.


    The voice on the other end was a bit noisy, interspersed with the director occasionally yelling at extras, which meant he was probably still on the set.


    A voice tinged with mockery replied, ¡°Are you calling to celebrate Ji¡¯s bankruptcy with me?¡±


    ¡°No, I want you to think of a way to help Ji¡¯s,¡± Lin Xu said.


    ¡°Me? What can I do?¡± Ji Zeqiu sounded unconcerned.


    ¡°Actually, Ji¡¯s has a new project, but the daughter of the president of the partner company is a fan of yours and insists that you be the spokesperson. But you know how your brother is, he¡¯s too embarrassed to ask you himself,¡± Lin Xu explained.


    If they could sign this contract, Ji¡¯s financial pressure could be relieved, helping them overcome this crisis.


    ¡°So he had you come and ask me?¡± Ji Zeqiu raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°Exactly!¡± Lin Xu nodded firmly.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s tone was teasing as he mercilessly exposed her, ¡°Your lying skills still need improvement.¡±


    The new project might be real, but hearing that the partner wanted him to be the spokesperson, Ji Tingyang would definitely have refused outright and wouldn¡¯t even consider it, let alone sending Lin Xu to persuade him.


    ¡°Ji Tingyang might not have said it to me, but he must be thinking it,¡± Lin Xu wasn¡¯t embarrassed by being exposed and even began to persuade, ¡°Besides, there¡¯s no such thing as lasting resentment between brothers. Although he didn¡¯t say it, in his heart, you are his most beloved younger brother!¡±


    Ji Zeqiu: ¡°¡­If you are here to disgust me, I¡¯m going to hang up.¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯ll stop talking; don¡¯t hang up,¡± Lin Xu surrendered.


    She had intended to mend their relationship, but Ji Zeqiu was impervious.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say last time to go with you?¡± Lin Xu brought up the past.


    ¡°What, now that Ji¡¯s is going bankrupt, you¡¯ve thought it through?¡± Ji Zeqiu¡¯s tone was laced with sarcasm.


    Ignoring his words, Lin Xu continued, ¡°If you help Ji Tingyang out with this, I¡¯ll go with you.¡±


    ¡°Do you like Ji Tingyang that much? Even to the point of selling yourself to help him!?¡±


    ¡°Just say whether you¡¯ll help or not!¡±


    ¡°Deal.¡± Ji Zeqiu smiled and readily agreed, ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up tomorrow.¡±


    He suddenly looked forward to seeing Ji Tingyang¡¯s reaction when he took Lin Xu away.

 Chapter 41 - Chapter 41: Chapter 41 "Will You Still Love Me When You Come Back?

    Chapter 41: Chapter 41 ¡°Will You Still Love Me When You Come Back?


    Planning to stay at Ji Zeqiu¡¯s place for a while, Lin Xu had yet to figure out how to tell Ji Tingyang when he already came home, fuming, to question her.


    He stormed over with a face full of rage, and before he could even speak, Lin Xu stepped forward with a bowl of black chicken soup she had prepared, offering it to him to drink.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been so busy lately, and you look haggard. I asked Aunt Zhang to make some soup to nourish you.¡± Lin Xu said.


    Even though it wasn¡¯t made by her own hands, seeing her bring the soup in front of him satisfied Ji Tingyang quite easily.


    He took the soup bowl, opened his mouth, and the voice that was initially surrounded by anger now carried a hint of grievance, ¡°Do you despise me?¡±


    ¡°Huh? Who said that?¡± Lin Xu was taken aback.


    ¡°Otherwise, why would you move out, go find Ji Zeqiu, isn¡¯t it good to continue living here with me?¡± Ji Tingyang asked.


    ¡°How did you know?¡± Lin Xu felt guilty.


    She hadn¡¯t even figured out what to say yet, and he already knew.


    ¡°Ji Zeqiu told me.¡± Ji Tingyang was suffocating with anger.


    That guy had called him with a smug face, first expressing concern for Ji¡¯s enterprises in a weird manner, and then sowing discord by saying Lin Xu despised him for being broke and was going to move to Ji Zeqiu¡¯s place the next day.


    Lin Xu had wanted to tell Ji Tingyang slowly, but Ji Zeqiu couldn¡¯t wait and, in less than two minutes, had called Ji Tingyang to gloat.


    ¡°The company is a bit chaotic right now, but I can handle it, and I will work hard to make money!¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes desperately gazed at her, continuously assuring her that he would work hard, almost crying as he begged her not to leave.


    Who knows what exactly Ji Zeqiu had exaggerated to make him so afraid of being abandoned.


    ¡°I won¡¯t leave, this is our home.¡± Lin Xu smiled.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes suddenly brightened, ¡°Then¡­¡±


    ¡°I asked Zeqiu to help you endorse the new project, and then I¡¯ll stay at Zeqiu¡¯s place for a few days. I¡¯ll come back soon,¡± Lin Xu explained to him.


    ¡°We don¡¯t need him, I can handle it myself,¡± Ji Tingyang showed resistance.


    Lin Xu: ¡°But it will take a long time. With Zeqiu there, the company can recover faster, right? After everything is settled, you can come and take me back.¡±


    Ji Tingyang remained silent, his silence expressing his reluctance.


    ¡°Besides, I¡¯ve been here for so long and I¡¯ve barely seen Ji Zeqiu a few times, including my sister. It would be great if I could call her to come and stay too.¡± Lin Xu still missed her children very much.


    Hearing the longing in her voice, Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression finally loosened, no longer resisting as much.


    ¡°Maybe I could even bring Zeqiu back to stay with the Ji family. A family should live together, right?¡± Lin Xu imagined happily.


    Ji Tingyang was unimpressed, ¡°As long as you come back, that¡¯s all that matters.¡±


    Lin Xu was surprised.


    Did his words mean, he agreed?


    She reached out to ruffle his hair, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will definitely come back.¡±


    Ji Tingyang pursed his lips, letting her mess up his hair.


    After a while, his expression became awkward, his voice so soft it was almost inaudible, ¡°Will you still love me after you come back¡­¡±


    Lin Xu was dumbfounded, completely unable to imagine the usually aloof Ji Tingyang saying something so coquettish.


    At first, she thought she had heard wrong, but Ji Tingyang¡¯s shy, reddened ear tips told her that he had indeed said those words.


    Pfft.


    Lin Xu laughed.


    It seemed that whether it was at seven or twenty-seven, he was still a little brat starved for love.


    ¡°You are the child I carried for ten months and gave birth to; no matter where I am, I love you,¡± Lin Xu laughed.


    The expression on Ji Tingyang¡¯s face visibly became more joyful, and he hummed a few times, ¡°Do you love me even more than Ji Zeqiu?¡±


    Was he really comparing even this?


    Lin Xu couldn¡¯t help but laugh and cry at his question, yet she still went along with him, ¡°Yes, you are mom¡¯s most beloved!¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s mood immediately brightened, and even when Ji Zeqiu came to pick up Lin Xu the next day, he didn¡¯t get angry.


    On the way over, Ji Zeqiu had imagined various scenarios of Ji Tingyang going crazy, and had come to the Ji Family with the intention of enjoying the chaos, but the scene that greeted him was the complete opposite of what he¡¯d expected.


    Ji Tingyang took the initiative to carry out Lin Xu¡¯s suitcase and repeatedly reminded her to take care, and to remember to call him if anything came up.


    He was reluctant to let her go, but he didn¡¯t go mad.


    Ji Zeqiu was clearly there to take Lin Xu away, yet it ended up feeling like she was just leaving on a long trip.


    He felt that this wasn¡¯t right, so he walked over, arrogantly draped his arm over Lin Xu¡¯s shoulders right in front of Ji Tingyang, and provocatively said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, since she¡¯s leaving with me, of course I¡¯ll take good care of her and see to everything.¡±


    Ji Tingyang gave him a glance, ¡°Someone who needs to be coaxed to sleep, what qualifications do you have to take care of someone else?¡±


    During the time after their parents died, Xiao Zeqiu almost cried every day, and almost every night it was Ji Tingyang who had to soothe him to sleep.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s cheeks flushed with anger and embarrassment, ¡°Stop bringing up childhood matters, I¡¯ve grown up now!¡±


    He was already twenty-five! This guy always brought up childhood embarrassments.


    ¡°If you¡¯re capable, then don¡¯t let her coax you to sleep,¡± Ji Tingyang said indifferently.


    ¡°I definitely don¡¯t need a woman to coax me to sleep!¡± Ji Zeqiu retorted angrily.


    Ji Tingyang ignored him and continued to remind Lin Xu, ¡°Did you take the bank card I gave you? If you see anything you like while you¡¯re out, just buy it.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need, I have money, I will buy it for her,¡± Ji Zeqiu interjected.


    ¡°Oh? How much do you have? Half of the Ji Group?¡± Ji Tingyang asked.


    Ji Zeqiu was speechless.


    Even though he was now a top-tier celebrity, making a fortune every day, compared to a publicly-listed major conglomerate, he was still significantly lacking.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about it, we are leaving anyway. Don¡¯t keep pining, she doesn¡¯t want you anymore, and she won¡¯t come back,¡± Ji Zeqiu said with a snort.


    Ji Tingyang was disdainful of his deliberately provocative words.


    His mother had said that this was their home, and she had guaranteed she would come back.


    ¡°How about this, why don¡¯t you two chat for a while longer, and then you can leave after dinner?¡± Lin Xu suggested.


    From the moment they met, the two had started arguing. They had been bickering for almost half an hour now; she hadn¡¯t even gotten in the car, and standing at the doorway was tiring.


    Ji Zeqiu suddenly came to his senses, a flash of irritation in his gaze, ¡°No need, we¡¯re leaving now!¡±


    Ji Tingyang nodded, still without much reaction.


    Ji Zeqiu was extremely frustrated and spitefully asked just before boarding the car, ¡°You¡¯re really okay with her living with me, alone with a man? Are you sure you¡¯re not worried?¡±


    He liked Lin Xu quite a lot, having even driven away Wen Li for her.


    Ji Tingyang was completely oblivious to his thoughts, ¡°If you feel unsure, she can stay at the Ji Family home.¡±


    ¡°Wishful thinking,¡± Ji Zeqiu turned around, heartlessly got in the car, and left.


    Once in the car, Ji Zeqiu still found the situation unbelievable.


    Ji Tingyang had shown no extreme reactions; it seemed like his feelings for Lin Xu weren¡¯t all that strong after all.

 Chapter 42 - Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Who Knew My Brother Was So Pitiful

    Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Who Knew My Brother Was So Pitiful


    Without a fierce struggle, Lin Xu was so easily taken away, which always left Ji Zeqiu feeling somewhat dispirited.


    Every few minutes, he would mutter to himself, ¡°Why hasn¡¯t Ji Tingyang gone mad?¡±


    ¡°Does he really not care at all?¡±


    Lin Xu helplessly shook her head.


    This child was beyond help.


    Ji Zeqiu had an apartment in the city center, which was very private; he bought it with his own money after earning as an actor.


    He casually pointed to a room for Lin Xu, ¡°You can stay in that room, order take-out if you want to eat anything.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu was particularly concerned about privacy; he did not employ a maid at home, and food had to be figured out on one¡¯s own, unlike the Ji Family that had servants at hand.


    ¡°Do you always order take-out?¡± Lin Xu looked at him with a mixture of sympathy.


    She hadn¡¯t realized how pitiful her brother was, relying on take-out for three meals a day.


    ¡°What¡¯s with that look! Pack it away!¡± Ji Zeqiu bristled.


    He had so many notices, and his rest periods were irregular; he hardly had time to cook for himself.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, just let me know before you come home in the future, and I¡¯ll cook for you in advance, so you won¡¯t have to eat take-out anymore.¡± Lin Xu¡¯s maternal instincts surfaced, feeling she must feed her son a good meal.


    ¡°Did you personally cook for Ji Tingyang at the Ji Family¡¯s house?¡± Ji Zeqiu asked.


    ¡°No, there was Aunt Zhang.¡±


    ¡°Then I don¡¯t need you to cook here either.¡±


    In the Ji Family, she never lifted a finger; if she started cooking for him here and Ji Tingyang found out, who knew how he would mock him.


    ¡°Alright.¡± Lin Xu didn¡¯t argue with him, but in her heart, she was still planning how to prepare a good meal for her son to nourish him.


    She pulled her suitcase back to the room, intending to tidy up the bedroom first, but shortly after, a cry of surprise came from inside.


    Ji Zeqiu hurried in, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Lin Xu, looking at the open wardrobe, said incredulously, ¡°Your house doesn¡¯t even have a walk-in closet, and the wardrobe is so small ¡­¡±


    Lin Xu originally came from a very wealthy background. As an only child, she was brought up in affluence, and after marrying, the Ji Family also had plenty of money, never letting her lack financially.


    This was her first time living in a large flat.


    Ji Zeqiu gritted his teeth, ¡°This is just a large flat, not Ji Tingyang¡¯s huge villa; there are no walk-in closets here!¡±


    ¡°Oh so ¡­¡± Lin Xu¡¯s eyes brimmed with pity as though ready to overflow.


    That look seemed to commiserate with him, for only being able to afford a flat instead of a large villa.


    Ji Zeqiu, suppressing his anger, explained, ¡°I don¡¯t need such a big place for myself!¡±


    ¡°No need to say more, I understand,¡± Lin Xu soothed him.


    But in her mind, she thought, so it was true when Ji Tingyang said he had no money.


    She definitely must not show it, to avoid wounding her son¡¯s pride.


    Ji Zeqiu: ¡°¡­¡±


    Because he had more work to do, after settling Lin Xu in, and warning her to not enter his bedroom, he hurriedly left.


    Today¡¯s filming scheduled was quite packed, and by the time Ji Zeqiu finished on set, it was already past ten in the evening.


    He picked up his phone and glanced at WeChat, the message he sent to Wen Li still hadn¡¯t gotten a reply.


    Knowing Wen Li had left the Ji Family made him very happy, and he called her the moment he found out.


    Ji Zeqiu wanted to bring Wen Li to his house.


    The call connected before he could speak, but all he heard was heartbreaking sobbing from the other end.


    ¡°Wen Li, what¡¯s wrong? Has someone been bullying you?¡± he asked anxiously.


    ¡°No, no one¡¯s bullied me ¡­¡±


    ¡°Is it Ji Tingyang!¡±


    ¡°No, not him, it¡¯s all my fault,¡± Wen Li just sobbed, unwilling to tell him anything.


    Later, when Ji Zeqiu investigated, he discovered Ji Tingyang had driven Wen Li away for another woman.


    He had also seen Lin Xu a few times and really didn¡¯t understand what was so good about that woman to make Ji Tingyang give up on Wen Li.


    Wen Li was so gentle and considerate, always took care of him when he was sick, and even made him soup¡­


    At that thought, Ji Zeqiu suddenly started to miss Wen Li.


    Ever since their last hurried meeting before he went into seclusion for a shoot, he hadn¡¯t seen her again.


    He composed another message, hoping to arrange a meeting with Wen Li.


    He stared at the screen for a long time but received no reply.


    Ji Zeqiu was extremely irritable and picked up the cigarettes he hadn¡¯t smoked for a long time and lit one.


    Soon, the RV was filled with smoke.


    When Shen Qingtang entered, she coughed a few times because of the thick smoke.


    Ji Zeqiu looked up.


    Through the haze of white smoke, the sight blurred, making Shen Qingtang¡¯s face, which already resembled Wen Li¡¯s, almost overlap with hers.


    Before she could react, she was pulled into an embrace.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s grip was strong, clutching her waist tightly, holding her as if he wanted to meld her into his bones.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you reply to my message?¡± he murmured softly.


    Shen Qingtang was stunned for a moment; she hadn¡¯t received any message at all.


    But soon, she realized this sentence wasn¡¯t meant for her.


    She bit her lip, feeling a stinging pain in her chest as if it were being pricked by needles.


    Ji Zeqiu had a muffled voice, ¡°Why won¡¯t you come with me, why¡­¡±


    With each word he spoke, the needles pushed deeper into Shen Qingtan¡¯s chest.


    The next second, her chin was grabbed, forcing her to look into Ji Zeqiu¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Why won¡¯t you speak? Do you really not like me at all?¡± Ji Zeqiu¡¯s eyes were bloodshot.


    Shen Qingtang¡¯s eyes reddened, and with slightly parted red lips, she said, ¡°I like you.¡±


    It was unclear whether she was responding as a substitute or answering for herself.


    Their gazes intertwined, and a sweet atmosphere spread in the air, tinged with a hint of ambiguity.


    Ji Zeqiu stared at her lips, then slowly leaned down, inching closer.


    Her heartbeat quickened, and Shen Qingtang, tense, gripped her hand beside her body and slowly closed her eyes.


    ¡°Thump, thump!¡±


    The sound of knocking interrupted the amorous atmosphere inside the RV.


    Ji Zeqiu paused, his eyes immediately cleared, and he released Shen Qingtang, decisively moving away.


    Shen Qingtang stood there blankly, remembering the cold look in his eyes before he left. Her chest hurt, and tears suddenly slid down her cheeks.


    Ji Zeqiu, feeling irked, rubbed his temples and did not stay at the set long before he asked his manager to drive him home.


    He pushed the door open.


    Finding the three dishes and one soup on the dining table, Ji Zeqiu paused for a moment, belatedly remembering that Lin Xu was now living at his place.


    He had originally thought Lin Xu was just talking, but she had actually cooked and waited for him.


    Having someone cook and wait for him to come home felt unusually strange to Ji Zeqiu.


    Wasn¡¯t this something only a family member would do?


    The room was filled with the aroma of the meal, and the bowls and chopsticks were set on the table specifically waiting for his return, making the cold house suddenly feel warm like a home.


    Softness stirred in Ji Zeqiu¡¯s heart, and he picked up the chopsticks and put a piece of meat into his mouth.


    The next second,


    His handsome features contorted, and he spat out the meat.


    It was so unpleasant to eat!

 Chapter 43 - Chapter 43: Chapter 43 The Forbidden Taboo

    Chapter 43: Chapter 43 The Forbidden Taboo


    Ji Tingyang had signed a contract with a partner, and a new project was put on the agenda; he frantically called Ji Zeqiu over to sign an endorsement contract.


    Receiving a call early in the morning, Ji Zeqiu was irritated, ¡°Is your damn company really going bankrupt? Can¡¯t you even wait these few hours?!¡±


    He didn¡¯t have many schedules today and was finally able to sleep in, all of which was disrupted by Ji Tingyang.


    ¡°Hurry up and come over to sign the contract, after which I need to take the person back,¡± Ji Tingyang made his intention clear.


    Ji Zeqiu laughed in annoyance, retorted ¡°In your dreams,¡± and decisively hung up the phone.


    Even for contract signing, it was the agent who would go to Ji¡¯s to handle everything before bringing it back for him to sign.


    He didn¡¯t want to see Ji Tingyang,


    With his sleep disrupted, Ji Zeqiu couldn¡¯t fall back to sleep and thought about ordering takeout while leaving the house.


    But as soon as he made it to the living room, he heard a noisy clatter coming from the kitchen.


    Recalling the dreadful meal from last night, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s cheeks twisted slightly, and he immediately rushed into the kitchen.


    ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡± he called out to stop whoever it was.


    Lin Xu held a cup of water, with the rim against her lips, and her motion to drink was halted.


    It turned out she was just drinking water.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s gaze swept across the messy kitchen; the breath he had just calmed now stuck in his chest, unable to come down.


    Since he moved in, the kitchen had never been used for cooking, more often than not resembling a useless decoration; and yet, Lin Xu had been there for just one day and had already made a mess of it.


    Seeing Ji Zeqiu tell her not to move and then silence for a long while, Lin Xu¡¯s lovely cheeks showed a hint of nervousness, ¡°Is there poison in this water?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu held back, so as not to let his rolling eyes show, and pointed to the kitchen that looked like a disaster zone, ¡°Did you manage to blow up the kitchen just by drinking a glass of water?¡±


    ¡°I initially wanted to make a cup of coffee, but I don¡¯t know how to use any of this stuff here.¡± After fiddling around for a while, it turned into this mess.


    Lin Xu blinked innocently.


    Ji Zeqiu was exasperated, ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you just order takeout!¡±


    Bad at cooking was one thing, but not even knowing how to use a coffee machine, how on earth had this woman survived until now.


    If it were Wen Li, all these things would be a piece of cake.


    She had always been clever and skilled; her cooking was fragrant and delicious, fitting perfectly with his idea of homemade meals.


    Before he could snap out of his recollections, he heard Lin Xu sighing into the phone, ¡°Ji Tingyang, your brother is having such a hard time, he can only order coffee as takeout.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu: ???


    Before he could burst into rage, he heard Ji Tingyang¡¯s deep voice tinged with sympathy, ¡°You¡¯ve really suffered today, I¡¯ll come over to take you home now.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu snatched her phone away, bellowing, ¡°Ji Tingyang! If you dare come over, do you believe I won¡¯t sign the contract?!¡±


    The response from the other side was calm, ¡°Then hurry up and sign the contract, so I can come pick her up.¡±


    Initially, Ji Tingyang had refused Ji Zeqiu¡¯s help, but with Lin Xu¡¯s meddling, he had no choice but to accept the situation.


    As for the matter of Lin Xu leaving with Ji Zeqiu once the contract was signed, he didn¡¯t take it seriously.


    Once Ji Zeqiu signed the contract, he would be the client, Ji Zeqiu would have to work for him, but Lin Xu would always be his mother, which no agreement could change.


    The only one at a loss would be Ji Zeqiu.


    Thinking this, Ji Tingyang¡¯s mood improved even more.


    Ji Zeqiu was astonished by Ji Tingyang¡¯s shamelessness.


    The man had clearly promised he could take Lin Xu away, but now, even before he signed the contract, he was already scheming to take her back.


    Ji Zeqiu was so angry that his chest heaved violently, and through clenched teeth, he sent back a single word, ¡°Scram,¡± and returned the phone to Lin Xu.


    She grabbed her phone and looked, ¡°Why did you block Ji Tingyang?¡±


    She said, intending to unblock him.


    ¡°You¡¯re with me now, is it appropriate to keep in contact with him!¡± Ji Zeqiu exclaimed angrily, ¡°Don¡¯t unblock him!¡±


    In his mind, it was supposed to be Lin Xu making a resolute decision to leave with him, cutting off all ties with Ji Tingyang, then Ji Tingyang suffering immensely, begging him to return Lin Xu.


    Until now, not a single thing had gone according to his plan; how was he supposed to take revenge on Ji Tingyang?


    Lin Xu immediately stuffed her phone back into her pocket, trying to calm him down, ¡°Alright, alright, I won¡¯t talk to him anymore, don¡¯t be angry.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s lips parted, ready to say something else, but then a rumbling noise came from his stomach.


    Lin Xu¡¯s cheeks turned slightly red, ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡±


    ¡°What do you want for breakfast?¡± Ji Zeqiu opened the food delivery app, letting her pick.


    While waiting for breakfast, Lin Xu nestled on the couch, scrolling through her phone to pass the time, until she was drawn to a message @all group members.


    She clicked on it, finding it was Ji Zeqiu¡¯s fan group she¡¯d joined before.


    The group leader was promoting Ji Zeqiu¡¯s upcoming new show, having released a few handsome stills from the costume photoshoot.


    He was dressed in a red outfit, holding a longsword, a heroic spirit visible in his brows, and a carefree smile on his lips. His black hair and the ribbons fluttered in the wind, like a spirited young nobleman boldly riding a horse.


    Once the pictures were out, all sorts of adoring messages from the group were frantically flooding the screen.


    Even Lin Xu opened the pictures and admired them for several minutes, marveling at how marvelous her own genes were, to have given birth to such a handsome son.


    In Ji Zeqiu¡¯s eyes, however, that was interpreted as fangirling.


    If his memory served him right, wasn¡¯t this woman once his fan?


    Ji Zeqiu clicked his tongue, not understanding, ¡°The real person is right in front of you, what¡¯s the point of staring at a picture?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true, then let me have a look at you!¡± Lin Xu suddenly picked up his cheeks with both hands, closely scrutinizing them.


    Under that piercing gaze, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s cheeks turned red, he slapped her hands away, and sternly said, ¡°I¡¯m going to add another rule!¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°Besides not being allowed in my room, you¡¯re also not allowed to harbor any indecent thoughts toward me, and definitively no touching!¡± Ji Zeqiu drew back, becoming solemn.


    He almost forgot, this woman was his fan; the last time he encountered her at the movie town, she was holding a fan that read, ¡°Ji Zeqiu, I love you.¡±


    What if she had some improper intentions toward him, what then?


    He had to cut off such wild fantasies promptly.


    Ji Zeqiu continued, ¡°I brought you back simply to take revenge on Ji Tingyang, I¡¯m not interested in you. Moreover, I already have someone I like, so you don¡¯t stand a chance.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Overwhelmed with retorts, Lin Xu suddenly didn¡¯t know where to begin.


    After a while, she came out with, ¡°You might not believe it if I tell you, but I¡¯m actually your real mother.¡±


    Suddenly, the atmosphere around Ji Zeqiu turned icy, his gaze became wary and as sharp as a blade, frightening Lin Xu to the point where her heart trembled.


    Lin Xu swallowed, ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, we could¡­¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s one more thing I forgot to say.¡± Ji Zeqiu¡¯s voice was like a cold stream, frighteningly chill, ¡°Don¡¯t talk about my mother in front of me.¡±


    ¡°I hate her.¡±


    He swallowed, throat so dry it hurt to swallow.


    He hated her¡­


    Hated that she died early, abandoning them¡­


    It also became a taboo he must not mention in his presence.

 Chapter 44 - Chapter 44: Chapter 44 I Dont Know Him

    Chapter 44: Chapter 44 I Don¡¯t Know Him


    After the finalized makeup photos were published a few days ago, Ji Zeqiu was about to start filming.


    No sooner had Ji Zeqiu arrived on set than other actors and artists warmly greeted him. Through the crowd, he caught sight of Shen Qingtang in the distance.


    She stood alone in a corner, her head bowed as she diligently read the script in her hands.


    Her character, a pitifully minor maidservant with not many lines, was still endearing and appeared from the beginning to the end of the story, which was considered decent.


    When the director had approached him for a discussion about the script and was short of this character, Ji Zeqiu had recommended her.


    This was also one of the conditions of their agreement.


    As a substitute, she had to be on call at all times, while Ji Zeqiu would pay her a sum of money and occasionally provide her with a few resources.


    A few staff members passed by Shen Qingtang, glanced at her, and muttered under their breath.


    ¡°She¡¯s been looking at the script for half a day for just a couple of lines, if you didn¡¯t know better, you¡¯d think she was playing the lead.¡±


    She had heard these kinds of comments far too many times, Shen Qingtang ignored them and was about to continue reading the script when she felt a gaze land on her.


    She looked up and locked eyes with Ji Zeqiu.


    In a flash, she remembered the kiss in the trailer from a few days ago, which had been interrupted and carried a hint of ambiguity, and a flush of embarrassment swept over her face.


    When Shen Qingtang had agreed to be a substitute, she had prepared herself mentally for close contact with Ji Zeqiu.


    Yet, contrary to her expectations, Ji Zeqiu more often than not asked her to dress like that girl and simply keep him company, talking, eating¡­


    It was more like¡­ pampering someone?


    That ambivalent atmosphere seemed to be a first.


    She bit her lip, pondering how to face Ji Zeqiu, only to see him withdraw his gaze indifferently as if she were a stranger, and then turn and walk away.


    Shen Qingtang felt as if her heart was tightly grasped by a hand, an uncomfortable feeling suffocating her.


    ¡­


    Ji Zeqiu had been busy on set for a week, and even moved into a hotel nearby the set booked by the production due to the distance from his home.


    It wasn¡¯t until he had a day off today with no scenes to film that he drove away from the set and found himself, unwittingly, at Wen Li¡¯s school.


    He had been sending messages to Wen Li these past few days, and her replies had always been sporadic. Yesterday, when he messaged her proposing they meet up, she had yet to respond.


    Ji Zeqiu watched the stream of students entering and leaving the school gates, scoffed at himself.


    The school was so big, even if he waited at the gate for a day, he probably wouldn¡¯t run into Wen Li.


    He sat in the car, lit a cigarette, and a moment later exhaled a ring of white smoke. His eyes were blurred by the smoke as he stared blankly at the entrance, his thoughts drifting aimlessly.


    ¡°Xu Wei, wait for me!¡±


    Xu Wei hurried to the school gate as soon as class ended, with Wen Li quickly following.


    ¡°Have you found members for today¡¯s group assignment? How about we team up?¡± Wen Li asked.


    ¡°Oh, about that, I¡¯ve already promised Xiaoyu and the others to be in their group,¡± Xu Wei said apologetically, without a trace of remorse on her face.


    In the past, Xu Wei would only wait for his invitation to the group, but now she had taken the initiative to join another.


    Wen Li paused for a moment, then quickly said, ¡°No problem, then I¡¯ll just join you all.¡±


    ¡°Our group is already full, you should go find someone else,¡± Xu Wei said indifferently, her gaze scanning the school entrance. Upon spotting a red sports car, her eyes suddenly lit up, and she rushed over.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got something to do, I need to go,¡± she said, not lingering over conversation with Wen Li, and without turning back, she got into the sports car.


    Wen Li bit her lower lip, her expression turning somewhat unsightly.


    She didn¡¯t know if it was her own misconception, but Xu Wei seemed to have grown much colder toward her.


    She no longer waited for her to go to class together, nor did she ask her out to go shopping, and even the messages she sent received few responses.


    ¡°Wen Li,¡±


    Wen Li was feeling down, just about to turn around to head back to school when she heard a familiar voice.


    She turned around and saw a man wearing a black mask leaning against a car, his eyes conveying a hint of joy.


    ¡°Ji Zeqiu?!¡± Wen Li exclaimed softly.


    Even though his face was obscured, Wen Li recognized him immediately; after all, he often wore a mask to meet her.


    In a blink, Ji Zeqiu had walked up to her and asked gently, ¡°Are you going out? Where to? Let me give you a ride.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu was always very gentle facing her, a stark contrast to Ji Tingyang¡¯s explosive temper.


    Wen Li was momentarily stunned, then quickly said, ¡°No need, I¡¯m heading back to the dorm now. You should leave quickly too, to avoid being recognized.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll take you back to the dorm. It just so happens that I¡¯ve never been to your school before.¡± Previously, when Wen Li was confined in the Ji Family home by Ji Tingyang, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s attempts to see her were always hindered. Now that she had finally left the Ji Family, he wanted to spend more time with Wen Li.


    ¡°Better not, what if someone recognizes you?¡± Wen Li discouraged him.


    Hearing her concern, Ji Zeqiu felt a bit pleased and said it was no problem before continuing to walk inside.


    Wen Li, in her urgency, grabbed his arm, then immediately heard him take a sharp intake of breath, followed by a sudden hiss.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Wen Li was startled.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just hurt my arm while filming, a minor injury.¡±


    Filming fight scenes inevitably led to bumps and scrapes, and the occasional bruises or cuts on his body were nothing new to Ji Zeqiu.


    He smoothed out the contorted expression on his face, quickly returning to a normal appearance.


    Wen Li parted her lips, about to say something, when she heard someone calling her.


    She turned her head and, upon seeing Xiao Yu, her expression suddenly became tense, and she stepped back to put a distance between herself and Ji Zeqiu.


    ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡± Xiao Yu, returning from outside of the school, spotted Wen Li standing with another man.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know him, he was just asking for directions.¡± Wen Li took Xiao Yu¡¯s hand and walked towards the school, ¡°Let¡¯s hurry back.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu had long known about Wen Li having a boyfriend, but seeing her disassociate herself from him now and leave with another man still caused a sharp pain in his heart.


    He watched their retreating figures for a long time before driving back to the apartment.


    Upon entering, Ji Zeqiu was startled by Lin Xu sitting on the floor, half of her body draped over the couch.


    Lin Xu¡¯s cheeks were buried in the sofa, her dark long hair scattered alongside her body, hiding her side face and petite figure, making it hard to discern the rise and fall of her breathing.


    She couldn¡¯t possibly be dead, could she?!


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s pupils trembled slightly as he hurried forward. He was about to reach out a finger towards her nose when he met her eyes that suddenly opened.


    His heart clenched violently, and it took him a moment to recover before he cursed, ¡°Are you sick or something, playing dead here!¡±


    With that effort, she might as well join a drama crew as an extra playing a corpse and at least get a red packet.


    Lin Xu¡¯s mouth puckered, and her eyes started to redden.


    Ji Zeqiu instantly felt a headache coming. Was this woman about to cry now?! His tone hadn¡¯t been that harsh.

 Chapter 45 - Chapter 45: Chapter 45 No Matter What, You Should Dislike Her

    Chapter 45: Chapter 45 No Matter What, You Should Dislike Her


    Lin Xu grabbed Ji Zeqiu¡¯s wrist, her eyes brimming with tears, and said with a quiver in her voice, ¡°Ji Zeqiu, I¡¯m so hungry!¡±


    ¡°¡­If you¡¯re hungry, just order takeout!¡± Ji Zeqiu was somewhat at a loss for words.


    This woman couldn¡¯t cook or make coffee, but couldn¡¯t she at least order takeout?


    How on earth did Ji Tingyang put up with her?


    ¡°The elevator was under maintenance this morning; it¡¯s more than twenty floors up, and no delivery person was willing to take the order.¡± Lin Xu took out her phone and saw that the takeout she had ordered two hours ago was cancelled again.


    Her orders kept getting cancelled, and she thought about fending for herself by going downstairs to get something to eat later, but ended up falling asleep on the sofa while playing with her phone.


    She only woke up faintly to the sound of Ji Zeqiu returning home, but by then, her stomach was so hungry it was at its limit.


    Upon seeing Ji Zeqiu return, she couldn¡¯t help but whine to her son with teary eyes.


    Hearing her words, Ji Zeqiu remembered the maintenance notice for the elevator downstairs. It seemed his luck wasn¡¯t bad; it had been fixed before he returned. Otherwise, if he had to climb more than twenty flights


    of stairs, he would¡¯ve definitely turned around and left.


    ¡°The elevator is already fixed. You can reorder now.¡± Ji Zeqiu, seeing her looking like she was about to starve to death, directly called a private restaurant and used his financial power to have them deliver within half an hour.


    ¡°Add an extra boiled egg,¡± Lin Xu quickly added to the order.


    ¡°What a hassle,¡± Ji Zeqiu said with an annoyed expression, but he still relayed her request for the boiled egg to the restaurant staff.


    It must be said, money can move mountains.


    In just fifteen minutes, the restaurant staff arrived at the door with three dishes and a soup.


    Lin Xu ate her fill and was revitalized.


    Ji Zeqiu glanced at the egg left on the table and reminded her, ¡°You ordered that egg yourself, remember to take care of it.¡±


    ¡°Oh, right!¡± Lin Xu suddenly remembered, and while peeling the egg, she seated Ji Zeqiu on the couch.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Ji Zeqiu frowned, about to remind her of the rule not to touch him, but saw her swiftly press the boiled egg onto his arm.


    He inhaled sharply in pain.


    The spot where Lin Xu was pressing was where he had a bruise from an injury.


    ¡°I heard that rolling a boiled egg over a bruise can be very effective,¡± Lin Xu murmured softly.


    In the past, when Lin Xu was a playful child and got bumps and bruises outside, Mrs. Lin always treated her with boiled eggs.


    And it also hurt enough to make her cry out.


    ¡°If I don¡¯t let you feel the pain, you won¡¯t learn your lesson. We¡¯ll see if you dare to climb walls again.¡± Mrs. Lin rolled the egg forcefully over her bruises without any mercy.


    Later, when she had children of her own, Lin Xu learned her mother¡¯s method and liked using boiled eggs too.


    Only Ji Zeqiu was different from her as a child; his injury was from work, he didn¡¯t need a lesson, and naturally, she was gentler.


    Ji Zeqiu was dumbfounded. So, she ordered the boiled egg at the beginning just to treat his wound?


    Had she noticed it as soon as he got back?


    Looking at Lin Xu, he saw her long, delicate eyelashes cast over a sincere, caring expression.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s heart skipped a beat, feeling an odd warmth like the sun¡¯s afterglow.


    Ever since he started acting, he had suffered many minor and major injuries. Whenever Wen Li saw them, she would apply medicine to him.


    Because of this, he would always love to show his injuries to her.


    Later, when Ji Zeqiu left the Ji Family and could no longer see Wen Li, he became indifferent to the new injuries he acquired.


    However, when he encountered Wen Li at the school gate and she noticed his injury, he still felt a vague hope stir within him.


    He hoped she would care for him as she had before, but in the end, she didn¡¯t say anything and left with someone else.


    Ji Zeqiu only felt panic and irritation, as if the little warmth he possessed was slipping through his fingers right before his eyes.


    Unexpectedly, it turned out to be Lin Xu who would help him with his bruise.


    But this method was really crude.


    Rolling an egg over the bruise was an old-fashioned remedy from over twenty years ago, it always seemed¡­ his mother had done the same for him, but she complained it was too tiring and switched to medicinal liquid halfway.


    However, too much time had passed, and he had been too young at the time, so that memory had long since become blurry.


    While he was in a daze, Lin Xu tossed the egg into the trash and suddenly said impatiently, ¡°This method is too tiring, let¡¯s just spray some medicinal liquid instead.¡±


    After just two or three minutes, her arm was already sore and tired, so she got up to look for the medicine box.


    The faint touch of memory at the bottom of Ji Zeqiu¡¯s heart instantly vanished, leaving him speechless.


    How was this woman just like his mother?


    He was startled and quickly shook the thought from his head.


    His mother had passed away twenty years ago, and even if she hadn¡¯t, she would be almost fifty by now, so how could she be so young?


    Watching Lin Xu¡¯s retreating figure, a slight struggle was barely noticeable beneath Ji Zeqiu¡¯s indifferent facade.


    A voice inside him was telling him that this woman had bullied Wen Li in the Ji Family, driven Wen Li away, and he should retaliate against her, or at the very least, dislike her.


    But when she came back with the medicinal liquid, it was as if he was a monk tempted by wine and meat, knowing he shouldn¡¯t, yet unable to refuse the warmth she offered.


    He sat quietly on the couch, letting Lin Xu spray the cold medicinal liquid on him and then rub it until it warmed up.


    Only his stiff body seemed to be making a final, stubborn resistance, indicating he wasn¡¯t so willing.


    ¡°There, done,¡± Lin Xu let go of his hand and put away the medicinal liquid, ¡°Don¡¯t touch water for a while to prevent washing off the medicine.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu rolled his throat and awkwardly responded, getting up to go back to his room.


    Underneath his sparse short hair, his ears were tinged with a faint blush.


    Back in his room, Ji Zeqiu began to despise himself again.


    Just because she applied medicine to you, you¡¯re softening up? Wen Li did more than just apply medicine for you, how can you justify that to her!


    After calming down, Ji Zeqiu took out his phone and suddenly started looking up information for hiring a caregiver.


    Just because of one elevator maintenance, Lin Xu went hungry without a meal; if there were other emergencies next time and he didn¡¯t make it back, wouldn¡¯t she starve to death?


    It would be better to hire a caregiver to cook for her.


    His fingers tapping the screen suddenly paused.


    No, she¡¯s a grown-up, if she¡¯s hungry she should know to find something to eat, why should he find her a caregiver!


    If she starved to death, it would serve her right!


    Ji Zeqiu angrily threw his phone onto the bed.


    Lin Xu¡¯s tearful, pitiful expression telling him she was hungry flashed through his mind, as well as the serious demeanor she had when applying medicine to him¡­


    After a long while.


    He rubbed his hair irritably, picked up the phone again, and sent a voice message to his agent, ¡°Brother Zhao, I want to hire a caregiver, find me a company that values privacy.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu thought, he was just afraid she¡¯d starve to death in his house, which would be bad luck.


    And if she went to complain to Ting Yang, Ting Yang would surely mock him for being so poor he couldn¡¯t even provide food.


    He would never give Ting Yang the chance to ridicule him.


    That¡¯s right!

 Chapter 46 - Chapter 46: Chapter 46 A Family of Bootlickers

    Chapter 46: Chapter 46 A Family of Bootlickers


    Ji Zeqiu had only a short break before he had to rush back to the film set the next day.


    With several nannies at home, Lin Xu finally didn¡¯t have to endure hunger while waiting for the takeout, so her mood had been very pleasant these days.


    She even made a trip to Ji Group to visit Ji Tingyang.


    ¡°Since that guy isn¡¯t at home, you might as well move back into the villa,¡± he urged.


    Lin Xu was determined to reconcile the relationship between the two brothers; if she went back, she definitely wanted to bring Ji Zeqiu along. Since her goal hadn¡¯t been achieved yet, she didn¡¯t want to return for the time being.


    So she changed the subject, ¡°Are you hungry, want to go eat?¡±


    Breakfast hadn¡¯t even fully digested yet, and Ji Tingyang¡¯s stomach wasn¡¯t hungry. Normally, he wouldn¡¯t even go for lunch.


    But hearing the meaning in Lin Xu¡¯s words, as if she wanted to have lunch with him, Ji Tingyang, fearing she might change her mind if he hesitated, immediately responded, ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s go to Flaming Lily Restaurant. I haven¡¯t had their food in a long time and I¡¯m really craving it,¡± Lin Xu muttered as she walked outside.


    Ji Tingyang stood up, not caring that it wasn¡¯t yet lunch break, and grabbed his coat from the back of the chair to follow her.


    Seeing the workaholic CEO suddenly leaving early, his secretary went from being surprised at first to not even batting an eye later.


    Without a doubt, it was Miss Lin¡¯s visit.


    Flaming Lily Restaurant was a well-known restaurant in town, always bustling with customers, and reservations for dining were backed up a month.


    However, Ji Tingyang had a private room that he could use at any time.


    ¡°How many times has it been, deducting the spilled food from your salary!¡±


    ¡°What right do you have to deduct my salary, believe it or not I¡¯ll file a complaint!¡±


    On her way back from the restroom, Lin Xu heard intense arguing in the corridor.


    Looking in the direction of the voices, she saw a strikingly beautiful girl, furiously retaliating.


    The middle-aged man seemed to have never encountered such an unreasonable employee, his chest heaving rapidly as he gasped, ¡°Because I¡¯m the manager! You¡¯re fired starting now, get out!¡±


    ¡°Fire me then, I don¡¯t fancy your lousy job!¡± the girl snatched off her name tag from her chest and threw it to the ground, continuing to berate relentlessly, ¡°This crummy restaurant, even if you beg, I won¡¯t come to dine! Neither will my family!¡±


    The name tag tumbled on the ground, and the sunlight outside reflected off it, dazzling Lin Xu¡¯s eyes.


    She looked down at the tag, which had the name ¡°Ji Yuqiao¡± written in flowing script.


    An unfamiliar name, but upon seeing the Ji surname, she briefly lost herself in thought¡ªwhat a coincidence to share the same surname with them.


    The man, hearing Ji Yuqiao¡¯s words, rolled his eyes. Her part-time salary for a month wouldn¡¯t even cover one meal here, could she afford it? He muttered under his breath, ¡°No princess life but full of princess symptoms,¡± and turned away.


    This was an internal conflict among the restaurant¡¯s staff, Lin Xu initially didn¡¯t want to get involved. But the girl¡¯s crying kept echoing in her ears; her heart softened and, unable to resist, she went over.


    ¡°Wipe your tears,¡± she offered a tissue.


    Ji Yuqiao, not one to play up, took the tissue and blew her nose vigorously, her voice choked up as she said, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°He just wait! I¡¯ll have my brother buy this crappy restaurant and have that so-called manager serve me every day!¡± she declared fiercely after her crying ceased, her eyebrows furrowed and her face full of anger.


    Lin Xu couldn¡¯t help but laugh and cry: ¡°You didn¡¯t do your job well, how can you still blame the manager for firing you?¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t see that the dish plate is almost bigger than a basketball, and it¡¯s heavy. How can I carry it alone, they are just bullying me,¡± Ji Yuqiao pouted, fuming.


    In the working world, who would sympathize with you? Even if it were several pounds of iron balls, to earn money, you¡¯d still have to grit your teeth and swallow them.


    Lin Xu sized her up, her clothes all high-end luxury brands, clearly a young lady who hadn¡¯t been toughened by society yet.


    Was she out experiencing life?


    Lin Xu muttered to herself.


    ¡°Gurgle gurgle¡­¡±


    Her stomach sounded like the rumbling of wagon wheels.


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s cheeks instantly flushed red, she rubbed her stomach awkwardly, ¡°I, I need to go¡­¡±


    ¡°Would you like to join me for a meal?¡± Lin Xu suddenly asked.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Ji Yuqiao was taken aback, pointing at herself.


    ¡°I was originally eating with my son, but he suddenly had to leave. We ordered so many dishes, I can¡¯t finish them all by myself.¡± Lin Xu seemed somewhat distressed.


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes lit up: ¡°Really, can I?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Lin Xu led the way.


    Although this girl seemed a bit spoiled and capricious, Lin Xu inexplicably liked her, so sharing a meal wouldn¡¯t hurt.


    ¡°You just mentioned your son, how old are you?¡± Ji Yuqiao suddenly remembered to ask this.


    She looked about the same age as her ¡ª was she already married with children?


    Lin Xu had a car accident at twenty-seven, and twenty years had passed since then; logically, she should be forty-seven, but she hadn¡¯t lived those twenty years, so why add them to her age?


    Thus, Lin Xu said calmly, ¡°Twenty-seven.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao responded briefly, her mind filled with doubts.


    At the same age of twenty-seven, some people were already married with children, yet her older brother was still a single dog, a pathetic follower.


    But after the image of a certain detestable woman flashed through her mind, she thought it was better to remain single.


    As they talked, Lin Xu had already returned to the private room, and the dishes on the table were mostly untouched.


    Ji Yuqiao didn¡¯t hold back, grabbing a new pair of chopsticks and started devouring the food.


    ¡°Eat slower, no one is competing with you,¡± Lin Xu said as she poured a glass of water and placed it beside her.


    ¡°I can¡¯t slow down, I haven¡¯t eaten well in two days,¡± Ji Yuqiao said with her mouth full.


    Lin Xu raised an eyebrow in surprise, hesitatingly said, ¡°You¡­ don¡¯t look very poor.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know, my jerk of a brother cut off my allowance, I had to fend for myself,¡± Ji Yuqiao gritted her teeth.


    At first, she thought her brother surely wouldn¡¯t stand to see her starve and would unfreeze the card in a couple of days, but after half a month with no change, she realized he was serious.


    Used to living lavishly, Ji Yuqiao had long spent all her modest savings and had to sell her designer bags.


    Late, almost out of bags to sell, she had to look for part-time jobs.


    Working wasn¡¯t a big deal, Xiao Yu managed to work part-time while studying; she could do it too.


    With that idea, she went out to apply for jobs, but she couldn¡¯t last till the second day at any job before she was fired.


    ¡°Why did your brother cut off your allowance?¡± Though Lin Xu knew it wasn¡¯t proper to pry into personal matters, she was curious.


    ¡°Because he doesn¡¯t want me spending money on the guy I like,¡± Ji Yuqiao said, getting worked up as she slammed her fist on the table, ¡°He has spent so much on that woman, and I¡¯ve kept quiet about it. Yet, he dares to criticize me for spending on other men!¡±


    Lin Xu: ¡°¡­¡±


    What a family of hopeless followers.


    Lin Xu was too exhausted to comment, and as she was about to continue eating, her phone received a video call from Ji Tingyang.

 Chapter 47 - Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Get lost.

    Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Get lost.


    Lin Xu didn¡¯t answer the video call and sent back a message, ¡°Someone is nearby, it¡¯s inconvenient to talk.¡±


    Ji Tingyang didn¡¯t really have anything important to say either. He had left in a hurry and was worried that she hadn¡¯t eaten well, so he replied with ¡°Eat more¡± and continued with his work.


    Ji Yuqiao was getting more and more heated, incessantly complaining about her brother to Lin Xu.


    It seemed she had harbored resentment towards her brother for a long time.


    ¡°So, the boy you like is so outstanding that you would give up your brother and your superior lifestyle?¡±


    Listening to her grievances, Lin Xu suddenly spoke up.


    Ji Yuqiao paused; her previously incessant voice choked, stammering, ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t mean to give up on my brother¡­¡±


    From her earliest memories, she had lived with her brother. Their parents had died a few months after her birth, and it was her brother who had raised her.


    She was just angry; she hadn¡¯t thought about severing ties with her brother.


    ¡°Then go and apologize to your brother and stop taking part-time jobs,¡± Lin Xu advised.


    It was clear she was a daughter pampered by her family. Out here being bossed around, doing all sorts of dirty and tiring work was truly heartbreaking.


    Lin Xu thought of her own daughter whom she had yet to meet, and a wave of melancholy washed over her.


    If her daughter were suffering like this outside, she would certainly be very worried.


    ¡°I¡¯ll think about it,¡± Ji Yuqiao pursed her lips, her expression still somewhat reluctant, and her eating slowed down.


    She rested her cheek in one hand while the other held chopsticks, absently stirring the food.


    Ji Yuqiao was still preoccupied with thoughts of her brother when the back of her hand was lightly slapped, spreading pain and bringing her attention back.


    She hissed and quickly withdrew her hand, glaring at Lin Xu with anger in her tone, ¡°Why did you hit me!¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re going to eat, eat properly. You¡¯ve messed the food into a mess; how are others supposed to eat it?¡± Lin Xu frowned deeply.


    Without a smile, Lin Xu¡¯s demeanor changed, exuding an aura of authority that involuntarily made Ji Yuqiao think of her older brother, who always had the same stern face when scolding her, sending shivers down her spine.


    Ji Yuqiao reflexively sat up straight and timidly said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Seeing that she wasn¡¯t the type to act unreasonably spoiled, at least acknowledging her mistake and apologizing quietly, Lin Xu¡¯s expression softened and she asked, ¡°Alright, are you still eating?¡±


    Ji Yuqiao shook her head, ¡°I¡¯m full, thank you.¡±


    ¡°I still have something to do, so I¡¯ll go first,¡± Lin Xu stood up, picked up her bag, and before leaving, she said to her again, ¡°Hurry back and make up with your family, goodbye.¡±


    Just after leaving Flaming Lily Restaurant, Lin Xu¡¯s phone rang.


    ¡°Sister Xu, where are you? We¡¯re almost there.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I was delayed a bit by some matters; I¡¯m taking a taxi over now.¡±


    This morning, someone in the fan group had messaged her privately, asking if she wanted to join them on a visit to a film set.


    As for which film set, it was, of course, the historical drama currently being shot by Ji Zeqiu.


    To solidify support from big fans, celebrities often give them special privileges. Thus, this big fan had received the manager¡¯s permission to take photos with Ji Zeqiu and get autographs during the shooting breaks, and could bring two more people along.


    Remembering Lin Xu¡¯s recent success boosting Ji Zeqiu¡¯s endorsement sales, the big fan thought she should definitely not miss out on this good opportunity, so they invited Lin Xu.


    Eager to support her son, Lin Xu was more than willing and immediately agreed.


    Today¡¯s filming had moved to a remote mountain for shooting some action scenes outdoors.


    When Lin Xu got out of the taxi, the big fan and another girl were already waiting at the base of the mountain.


    She rushed over, apologizing for her lateness. The two girls didn¡¯t mind and led Lin Xu up the mountain, continuously expressing their excitement about soon meeting Ji Zeqiu.


    Compared to their excitement, Lin Xu was much calmer.


    The one to welcome them to the production team was Ji Zeqiu¡¯s manager, who showed a brief flash of surprise upon seeing Lin Xu.


    But soon after realizing that this person was a fan of Ji Zeqiu¡¯s mother, seeing her here felt quite normal.


    Recently, however, she hadn¡¯t continued sending him messages to ask him to add a few more clothes for Ji Zeqiu or make sure he ate his meals on time. He even thought she had stopped being a fan.


    After all, in the entertainment industry, changing loyalties is nothing out of the ordinary. Today you might admire one artist, and tomorrow, you might like another.


    What the manager didn¡¯t know was that Lin Xu had already added Ji Zeqiu as a personal friend, and all those messages were directly sent to the man himself on WeChat.


    As the manager was pondering this, they had already reached the outdoor location of the filming.


    This was Lin Xu¡¯s first time observing filming from such a close distance. At that moment, Ji Zeqiu was suspended by wires, his body nimbly leaping upwards with a long sword in his hand, mercilessly thrusting at the enemy before him.


    His long hair tied with a red band fluttered with his movements, and his actions were sharp, quickly defeating his opponent.


    ¡°Ah, so handsome! I¡¯m going to faint from adoration!¡±


    Lin Xu, still engrossed in his impressive martial display, heard a burst of high-pitched screams from two fangirls nearby.


    She smiled and nodded in agreement, ¡°Yes, indeed.¡±


    When this segment airs, who knows how many more followers it will attract.


    The director, watching the scenes on the monitor, was also very pleased and approved the take on the first attempt.


    Upon seeing Ji Zeqiu come over, he started lavishing praise non-stop.


    Great acting skills, perfect sense of the scene, securing a Best Actor award would be merely a matter of time.


    Ji Zeqiu, with a smile playing at the corners of his mouth, listened silently until it was time for the next person¡¯s scene to start filming. The director then let him rest and called him over by his manager.


    He was aware that fans were coming to visit the set today.


    With a smile on his face, exhibiting an innocent and gentle demeanor, his expression cracked for a moment when he saw Lin Xu but quickly returned to normal.


    Why isn¡¯t this woman staying at home? Why has she come here?


    Ji Zeqiu grumbled in his heart, but his engagement with the fans didn¡¯t waver as he signed autographs and took photos with two girls, all the while thanking them for their support.


    The two girls were so excited they could barely contain themselves.


    ¡°Won¡¯t this fan join us for a group photo?¡± Ji Zeqiu looked towards Lin Xu with a smiling gaze, suddenly speaking up.


    Before Lin Xu could reply, those two fans pushed her towards Ji Zeqiu, ¡°Let¡¯s take it, let¡¯s take it!¡±


    Ji Zeqiu wrapped an arm around Lin Xu¡¯s shoulders, leaned his head close enough to bridge any distance between them, their cheeks nearly touching.


    This close contact was in stark contrast to the photo taken with the other two fans from a distance.


    Just as his manager was about to remind him to maintain a proper distance, he saw Ji Zeqiu pull out his own phone and start snapping away furiously, a flurry of selfies ensued.


    He had taken dozens of photos in no time.


    He picked a few good ones and pulled up Ting Yang from his WeChat contacts, and sent them over.


    The next second, he received a text from Ting Yang.


    JTY: ¡°If you¡¯re taking a photo, take it. Why get so close.¡±


    Ting Yang, looking at the photo, felt a twinge of displeasure; he hadn¡¯t even taken a photo with his mother yet.


    He felt even more annoyed.


    JTY: ¡°Back off a bit!¡±


    Ji Zeqiu ignored him, his eyes glittering with triumphant glee, and with a victorious air, he stashed his phone back in his pocket.

 Chapter 48 - Chapter 48: Chapter 48 This woman is crazy!

    Chapter 48: Chapter 48 This woman is crazy!


    No one noticed that the photo with Lin Xu was taken on Ji Zeqiu¡¯s own phone.


    He deliberately used the photo to provoke Ji Tingyang, leaving Lin Xu feeling helpless.


    ¡°Send me a copy of the photo too,¡± Lin Xu took out her phone, her expression hopeful.


    She had indeed taken many photos with Xiao Zeqiu when he was three or four years old, but this was the first one of them together since he had grown up.


    Lin Xu printed it out to keep.


    ¡°I already deleted it,¡± Ji Zeqiu shrugged.


    If it weren¡¯t for the sake of annoying Ji Tingyang, he wouldn¡¯t have kept another woman¡¯s photo in his phone at all.


    Lin Xu was also irritated, ¡°Can¡¯t you send it to me before deleting it!¡±


    Such a meaningful photo it was!


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s break wasn¡¯t long, and soon it was his turn to film again.


    When the business ended, the manager seemed to forget them altogether, didn¡¯t ask them to leave, and went off to be busy elsewhere.


    The two girls and Lin Xu discussed staying a little longer to watch the scene before leaving, so the three of them hid in a corner where they wouldn¡¯t disturb the staff and continued watching Ji Zeqiu act.


    The scene was Ji Zeqiu being chased by enemies to the edge of a cliff, engaging in a life-and-death duel.


    The crew had set up many safety measures on the edge of the cliff, but even so, every time Ji Zeqiu was suspended in mid-air, Lin Xu still felt a surge of fear.


    Five or six enemies with long swords surrounded Ji Zeqiu at one edge of the cliff, and as he stepped back, frail stones tumbled down and quickly disappeared from sight.


    The atmosphere of danger was intense, making everyone on site nervous.


    The enemies advanced again, and Ji Zeqiu stepped back once more, but this time he stepped too far, his heel hung in the air, and he lost his balance, falling backward toward the cliff.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    ¡°Be careful!¡±


    The crew members all gasped in unison, screaming in alarm.


    Fortunately, there was no real danger, as the safety net at the edge of the cliff caught Ji Zeqiu, and the harness forcefully pulled him back, safely landing him on the ground.


    Seeing Ji Zeqiu safe, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.


    ¡°Let¡¯s not get too close here later, it¡¯s too dangerous,¡± the director instructed the staff to move the set around, feeling a wave of relief.


    Ji Zeqiu was also frightened, his heart still pounding fiercely despite being safe.


    ¡°Ji Zeqiu!¡±


    He heard an anxious and urgent voice, looked up, and saw Lin Xu with red-rimmed eyes, looking like she was about to cry, frantically running towards him.


    ¡°Are you alright? Are you hurt? Let me see¡­¡± she said urgently.


    When Ji Zeqiu was injured while acting, the staff would also be worried about him, fearing that he might lose his job over any serious issues.


    But she seemed different from those people, her clear eyes brimming with tears, seemingly just genuinely concerned about him.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± This straightforward and pure concern was somewhat overwhelming for Ji Zeqiu.


    ¡°Don¡¯t move, let me check first,¡± Lin Xu pulled up his sleeve to check for any wounds, then suddenly paused, ¡°Wait, we should get out of here first, it¡¯s too dangerous!¡±


    As she spoke, she started to pull him back toward the crowd.


    However, unexpectedly, the ground beneath them suddenly loosened, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s body swayed, and he slid down the edge of the cliff.


    ¡°Ji Zeqiu!¡±


    Amidst cries of alarm, Ji Zeqiu felt his wrist tighten as if someone had grabbed him, steadying his body for a few seconds.


    He looked up and saw Lin Xu sprawled on the ground, her hands gripping him tightly, her fingertips turning white and a dense cold sweat seeping from her forehead.


    Because the shooting had ended, the staff around them had dispersed, and no one was paying attention to Ji Zeqiu anymore, so when he was in danger again, they couldn¡¯t react in time.


    It was Lin Xu, who was closest to Ji Zeqiu, who grabbed him.


    However, Lin Xu¡¯s strength was limited; even carrying a shopping bag usually made her arms sore, so holding on for four to five seconds was already the limit for her.


    Her grip loosened, and before the staff could reach them, Ji Zeqiu plummeted down the cliff.


    He was falling fast, yet at that moment, he felt as if it were taking forever.


    They say one¡¯s life flashes before their eyes just before they die, and in that instant, the faces of Ji Tingyang, his sister, and Wen Li flashed before his eyes.


    Seeing the figures of family and a loved one was normal, but why did he also see Lin Xu?


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s confusion was soon cleared up when Lin Xu, still holding his hand, fell down with him.


    His pupils constricted, and his eyes filled with disbelief.


    This woman must be crazy!


    She could have stayed safely at the top just by letting go.


    Why¡­


    Behind the cliff was a very steep slope, and almost instantly, Ji Zeqiu and Lin Xu were rolling down it, their bodies continuously slamming against the protruding rocks on the slope, spreading pain throughout his body.


    But soon, he felt the pain on his body easing slightly.


    Before he could figure out why, his consciousness plunged into darkness, and he passed out.


    They had rolled down to the bottom of the slope, and it wasn¡¯t clear how long they had been unconscious, but when Ji Zeqiu opened his eyes, he noticed that the bright sky had already darkened.


    He barely sat up, took a deep breath, and his breath carried a rusty blood scent.


    The moon hanging in the sky cast a faint glimmer of light, and he looked around by the moonlight.


    Surrounded by trees and no signs of human life, it was so quiet that he could only hear the beating of his own heart.


    Lin Xu lay not far from him. Ji Zeqiu supported his body and walked over, nudging her shoulder, ¡°Hey, are you okay?¡±


    There was no response.


    ¡°Wake up!¡±


    ¡°Lin Xu!¡±


    His voice became increasingly anxious as he called out, even reaching out a finger towards her nose, fearing she had stopped breathing.


    Relieved to find she was still breathing, the stone hanging over his heart finally dropped.


    Ji Zeqiu called her name a few more times. Her eyelids twitched, and she slowly opened her eyes, looking confused.


    Seeing Ji Zeqiu, she paused for a moment, finally remembering why she was here.


    Her mouth quivered, and she flung herself onto Ji Zeqiu, bursting into tears, ¡°Wu wu wu¡­ Are you all right? Where are you hurt, is it serious? I thought you were going to die¡­¡±


    Ji Zeqiu staggered a few steps back when she bumped into him, the taste of blood in his throat intensifying.


    He opened his mouth, wanting to curse, but hearing her concern about his injuries the moment she woke up, he swallowed his words and stiffly reassured, ¡°I¡¯m still alive, aren¡¯t I? Don¡¯t cry.¡±


    ¡°As long as you¡¯re alive.¡± Lin Xu gradually stopped her crying.


    ¡°How about you, are you feeling any discomfort?¡± Ji Zeqiu asked.


    His question only made Lin Xu¡¯s mouth quiver more, and she cried even louder, ¡°Ji Zeqiu, it hurts so much!¡±


    ¡°Where does it hurt?!¡± Ji Zeqiu became anxious.


    ¡°My head, hands, legs, and my back¡­ my whole body hurts,¡± Lin Xu sobbed, crying even harder.

 Chapter 49 - Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Deeply Afflicted

    Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Deeply Afflicted


    Blood flowed out from the wound, soaking the clothes on the body, a horrifying sight.


    Apart from the obvious scars on Lin Xu¡¯s cheeks, the other wounds on her body were concealed by fresh blood and indistinguishable in the dark night.


    ¡°Are you stupid?¡± Seeing her severe injuries, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s pupils constricted and a surge of irritation welled up. He clenched a handful of his hair fiercely, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you let go? Was falling down with me fun?¡±


    ¡°Why are you being so fierce! I¡¯m already so badly injured, and you¡¯re still scolding me.¡± Lin Xu pouted grievously and retorted loudly.


    Ji Zeqiu choked and, seeing her teardrop-sized tears and slightly parted lips wanting to say something but hesitating, ultimately didn¡¯t utter a word.


    He forced himself to calm down and reached for his mobile phone in his pocket.


    His hand touched the silky red robe on his body, and he paused in his actions.


    He had been filming just before and did not have his mobile phone with him.


    ¡°Do you have your mobile phone?¡± He turned his head and asked Lin Xu.


    Lin Xu felt her pocket, her voice still tinged with a cry, ¡°It¡¯s gone.¡±


    Having rolled down the slope for so long, it was hard to know where it had fallen.


    ¡°What else do you have on you that we can use?¡± Ji Zeqiu asked.


    Lin Xu fumbled in her pockets, finally pulling out a cracked, small light stick.


    Switching it on, the multicolored light instantly flickered through the pitch-dark forest, resembling the atmosphere lights of a dance floor in a KTV.


    ¡°Ji Zeqiu, I love you¡± ¨C these six small characters on the light stick were clearly visible, striking Ji Zeqiu, causing him to shudder.


    In such a dangerous setting, his thoughts were momentarily scattered.


    Lin Xu used to say she was his fan.


    What type of fan, a girlfriend fan perhaps!?


    ¡°Great, it still works!¡± Lin Xu waved the light stick excitedly.


    This was a fan gift from those two girls, only the length of a finger, carelessly stuffed into her pocket.


    Unexpectedly, it was actually proving useful now.


    A light lit up in the dense forest, dispelling the darkness, comforting Lin Xu somewhat.


    The cheerful sound snapped Ji Zeqiu out of his thoughts, his gaze towards the light stick tinged with caution.


    ¡°It¡¯s too dark now, it¡¯s not safe to walk around blindly, let¡¯s stay here and rest, the crew members should be looking for us.¡± Ji Zeqiu walked to a tree, sat down leaning against its trunk,


    He shut his eyes. His body ached subtly, and the faint scent of blood entered his nostrils, agitating his nerves.


    Lin Xu agreed with his suggestion and seeing Ji Zeqiu a bit far, she propped herself up and walked over to sit beside him.


    Ji Zeqiu suddenly opened his eyes: ¡°Why are you coming over?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m scared alone,¡± Lin Xu said


    Hearing her trembling voice, Ji Zeqiu closed his mouth and ultimately couldn¡¯t bear to push her away.


    He crossed his arms, closing his eyes to rest.


    Thinking about what to do if they still couldn¡¯t be found by tomorrow.


    The whistling wind and the chirping of insects resonated in the quiet forest. The dry branches crackled in the cold wind, the surroundings filled with suffocating terror.


    Lin Xu shivered, too anxious to sleep, and initiated conversation with Ji Zeqiu. ¡°Did you fall asleep?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± No response.


    ¡°My body hurts so much, my arm hurts, and my head feels dizzy.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°I might be dying.¡± She murmured pitifully.


    Ji Zeqiu moved slightly, finally reacting, lifting his dark eyes to glare at her, and said gruffly: ¡°If you don¡¯t want to die, shut your mouth.¡±


    This woman talks so much, it¡¯s making his ears buzz.


    Wen Li was always gentle and quiet, never as annoying as her.


    ¡°But it hurts so much,¡± Lin Xu¡¯s lips puckered up again.


    Other than bruising her knees when she fell from a tree as a child, this was the most severe injury she had ever suffered.


    ¡°My body hurts just as much, but I¡¯m not making a big deal out of it like you,¡± Ji Zeqiu¡¯s narrow eyes showed a hint of impatience.


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because my skin is delicate, not tough and thick like yours,¡± Lin Xu explained.


    Ji Zeqiu rolled his eyes, turned over, and faced away from her with his back.


    Soon, he felt something poking his back, and a voice rang out at the same time, ¡°Ji Zeqiu, don¡¯t go to sleep yet, talk to me.¡±


    The veins on Ji Zeqiu¡¯s forehead throbbed, he really wanted to sew her mouth shut.


    He said impatiently, ¡°Talk about what?¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡± Lin Xu hesitated for a while, then asked, ¡°You said before that you hate your mother, why?¡±


    Hearing that statement back then had made Lin Xu depressed for several days.


    She had been reflecting on whether she had done something wrong in the past that made him hate her.


    As a child, Ji Zeqiu was always the one most attached to her, and as soon as she arrived at the door, he would run to her with tottering steps and dive into her embrace.


    At that moment, she would pick up little Zeqiu and receive a slobbery kiss on her cheek amidst his giggling smile.


    Back then, he was adorable and clingy, always shouting that his favorite person was his mom.


    Yet, twenty years later, she had become the person he hated.


    Lin Xu was deeply hurt.


    The atmosphere suddenly turned icy cold, and after a long moment, Ji Zeqiu spat out an indifferent phrase, ¡°Who do you think you are? Why should I tell you?¡±


    He apparently didn¡¯t want to discuss it with anyone.


    Lin Xu also grew silent, her mood downturned.


    After a while, she hugged her arms and whimpered pitifully, ¡°It¡¯s so cold.¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s cold, endure it.¡± Already upset about the mention of his mother, Ji Zeqiu grew even more irritated upon hearing her murmurs.


    Before Lin Xu could grumble a second time, suddenly a robe was thrown over her head.


    She clutched the robe, sobbing with gratitude, her lips slightly parted.


    ¡°Say one more word, and I¡¯ll take the robe back,¡± Ji Zeqiu said coldly.


    Fine then.


    Lin Xu closed her mouth, covered herself with the robe, and quietly fell asleep.


    As time passed, the glow stick placed on the ground for illumination progressively dimmed, casting its last bit of light before plunging into silence, retiring prematurely.


    During the early part of the night, Lin Xu was so cold that she clutched her arms tightly but by the latter half, she broke out in a dense sweat. Her back soaked through with sweat as if she were in a steam room, her body burning hot.


    ¡°Wake up, someone¡¯s coming.¡±


    ¡°Stop sleeping, wake up.¡±


    ¡°Lin Xu!¡±


    With furrowed brows in distress, Lin Xu was overwhelmed by the heat, unable to muster any strength, unable to open her eyes even though she heard Ji Zeqiu calling her.


    However, upon hearing that someone was coming to rescue them, Lin Xu¡¯s tightly wound nerves relaxed, and she fell into a burden-free sleep.


    Ji Zeqiu was awakened by the nearby search and rescue sounds. He reached out to push Lin Xu, who had at some point discarded the robe covering her.


    In the glaring bright sunlight, Ji Zeqiu finally saw clearly the various shades of wounds covering her body, the crimson blood coagulated, nearly obscuring the original color of her clothes.

 Chapter 50 - Chapter 50: Chapter 50 "Its your dad.

    Chapter 50: Chapter 50 ¡°It¡¯s your dad.


    Last night, Lin Xu kept telling him that she was in pain, and Ji Zeqiu thought she was just being too delicate.


    Both of them fell down together, so the injuries they sustained should not be much different. The pain wasn¡¯t unbearable, yet she seemed to be making a big fuss over it.


    However, when daylight came and the lighting was sufficient, Ji Zeqiu realized that her injuries were much more serious than his.


    Why was that?


    He was stunned for a moment, then suddenly remembered that during the tumble down the slope, the pain on his body had lightened.


    Could it be because she was protecting him?


    But why¡­


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s expression was vacant until Lin Xu furrowed her brows tightly in discomfort and let out a whimper, which snapped him back to reality.


    He called out to the search and rescue personnel nearby, his expression anxious, ¡°Quick, get her to the hospital!¡±


    ¡ª¡ª


    Ji Zeqiu met with an accident while filming and fell off a cliff.


    The incident was quickly reported by the media, trending on hot search, and even Ji Tingyang saw it.


    Under the butler¡¯s persuasion, Ji Tingyang hesitantly made a call to him, and the first thing he asked was whether Ji was ¡°dead or not.¡±


    ¡°That must disappoint you, not dead yet,¡± Ji Zeqiu said.


    Unexpectedly, Ji Tingyang didn¡¯t snap back but just told him to stay put in the hospital and not always trouble Lin Xu to take care of him.


    It seemed Ji Tingyang didn¡¯t yet know that Lin Xu had fallen with him.


    Ji Zeqiu lowered his gaze and glanced at the still unconscious Lin Xu on the hospital bed, and vaguely agreed.


    ¡°What is she doing now, hand the phone to her,¡± Ji Tingyang said.


    ¡°She, she went to the restroom,¡± Ji Zeqiu nervously lied, ¡°Call back later.¡±


    He hurriedly hung up the call and exhaled a breath of relief.


    If he told Ji Tingyang that Lin Xu had fallen off the cliff with him in order to protect him, it would mean she mattered more to herself than to Ji Tingyang.


    Knowing Ji Tingyang¡¯s temperament, he would surely get mad and go crazy, and with his possessiveness, he could never stand to see someone he liked being kind to others.


    Maybe he would end up hating Lin Xu too.


    And Ji Zeqiu would have achieved his goal of getting revenge on Ji Tingyang.


    But looking at the deathly pale Lin Xu on the bed, and recalling the moment she leaped to grab him, those words just couldn¡¯t leave his throat.


    Ji Zeqiu, feeling irritated, ruffled his hair into disarray, muttering under his breath, ¡°So annoying, so annoying!¡±


    He clearly despised this woman, so why didn¡¯t he take the opportunity to set them against each other?


    Alright.


    This time, he would consider it returning a favor to her. Next time, he would definitely get back at Ji Tingyang!


    Ji Zeqiu mumbled to himself and turned to leave the ward.


    By the time Lin Xu woke up, it was already two days later.


    Her body was almost completely wrapped in gauze, and she was calm until she saw the bandages on her face, then she screamed in panic.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to be scarred for life, am I?!¡±


    ¡°What do I do, I¡¯m so good-looking, if I¡¯m scarred, that would be such a huge loss!¡±


    Holding a mirror, Lin Xu¡¯s eyes reddened, as if she was about to start crying any moment.


    ¡°Scarring would just stop you from going on to bother other people,¡± Ji Zeqiu laughed indifferently.


    The next second, he received Lin Xu¡¯s teary-eyed, fierce glare, ¡°Do you have no conscience?!¡±


    Ji Zeqiu shrugged, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you won¡¯t get scarred, nor will there be any scarring.¡±


    The doctors had told him earlier that the wounds on her face were not deep, and with some ointment and proper care, they would heal well.


    ¡°Really?¡± Lin Xu was skeptical.


    ¡°Fake,¡± Ji Zeqiu glared at her, his tone annoyed.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Lin Xu fell silent, half-convinced, and shut her mouth, her gaze flitting back and forth to him, yet she didn¡¯t dare to continue questioning.


    Lin Xu had met with an accident while saving her own artist, so as an agent, she had to come and express gratitude, while also checking to see if she had any other requests.


    Providing some monetary reward, or even an autographed photo with Ji Zeqiu, could be considered.


    He stood by the side, waiting for the two to finish talking before he would chime in, but he hadn¡¯t expected that they would barely exchange a few words before they almost started to argue.


    He hurriedly interjected, trying to lighten the mood with what seemed like a joke, ¡°It¡¯s no big deal. If her face was ruined, just have Zeqiu marry her.¡±


    His comment left both of them dumbfounded, ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Brother Zhao, I have someone I like, it¡¯s better not to make such jokes,¡± Lin Xu said, her back sweating.


    ¡°Ji Tingyang?¡± Ji Zeqiu scoffed, unimpressed, ¡°Even though I don¡¯t like you either, I¡¯m obviously much better than Ji Tingyang, okay? Your eyes would have to be blind to not see that.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s your dad,¡± Lin Xu rolled her eyes.


    This statement expressed a fact.


    But in Ji Zeqiu¡¯s ears, these three words were interpreted as a curse, and his eyes bulged like copper bells, ¡°You¡¯re insulting people now?! Ji Tingyang is not that great!¡±


    ¡°Besides, what else can a woman like you do besides cry? You¡¯re already annoying enough as it is, only Ji Tingyang can put up with you,¡± Ji Zeqiu said, his words dripping with disdain, and he muttered to himself at the end, ¡°Wen Li is so much better than you by countless times.¡±


    His muttering wasn¡¯t loud, but Lin Xu still heard it, and laughed angrily.


    ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, Wen Li doesn¡¯t even like you, right? No matter how bad I am, I¡¯m still stronger than someone who¡¯s desperately acting like a sycophant,¡± she said.


    ¡°Who¡¯s acting like a sycophant!¡± Ji Zeqiu¡¯s face turned beet red, as if he was annoyed into fury.


    ¡°Whoever gets worked up is the one,¡± Lin Xu shrugged, imitating him.


    ¡°You, you, you¡­¡±


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s chest heaved violently, pointing at her, he stuttered ¡°you¡± for a long time before finally storming out, slamming the door behind him.


    He indeed hated this woman!


    The agent was stupefied.


    It was just a joke, so how did their argument get more and more intense?


    Lin Xu stayed in the hospital for a week. Besides the day she woke up, when Ji Zeqiu had come to see her, he never visited the hospital again.


    The agent said that Ji Zeqiu¡¯s injuries were not as serious as hers, and he had already returned to the set to continue filming.


    She pondered that perhaps she had wounded his pride with the words ¡°sycophant,¡± and that¡¯s why he was angry with her.


    Arguing isn¡¯t good for the harmony between mother and son.


    Lin Xu wanted to send him a message to smooth things over, but after sending it, she realized she¡¯d been blocked.


    ¡°¡­¡± Helpless.


    She could only be discharged and go home, waiting to talk to him after he finished filming.


    Lin Xu didn¡¯t dare to tell Ji Tingyang about her hospitalization, worried that he would drop his work and come to the hospital to take care of her.


    So, she handled the discharge procedures alone.


    Queueing to pay, then collecting medicine.


    The hospital was bustling with people, some relatives in such a hurry that they even ran down the corridors; Lin Xu wasn¡¯t paying attention, and her shoulder was bumped, causing her body to tilt to the side.


    Lin Xu was startled, already imagining the various types of pain that would follow the next second.


    However, the expected pain did not occur, as a sturdy and powerful palm supported her back, holding her up.


    Lin Xu didn¡¯t steady her footing and staggered into a firm and warm embrace.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she apologized as she looked up, but her pupils dilated sharply upon seeing the person before her.


    ¡°Are you all right?¡± Xie Changyan looked down at her with gentle eyes.

 Chapter 51 - Chapter 51: Chapter 51 This Man is Sinister and Vicious

    Chapter 51: Chapter 51 This Man is Sinister and Vicious


    The man¡¯s handsome face had distinct features, and his eyes were like stars; the clear amber orbs reflected Lin Xu¡¯s shocked and beautiful visage as the corners of his lips curved up slightly in a quasi-smile.


    Seeing the familiar face, Lin Xu¡¯s pupils quivered and she exclaimed in a delighted voice, ¡°Husband!¡±


    Emotionally touched, she clutched his arms with both hands.


    Xie Changyan paused for a moment, his lips spreading into a deeper smile, his tone carrying a hint of teasing, ¡°Miss, this approach of hitting on someone is quite special.¡±


    Hearing his words, Lin Xu finally recovered from her shock.


    The man in front of her resembled her husband to an extent of about sixty to seventy percent, but upon closer inspection, there were several parts that were clearly different.


    Most importantly, his tone and mannerisms were filled with unfamiliarity.


    ¡°Ji Yanli?¡± Lin Xu called out her husband¡¯s name tentatively.


    She received a confused look in response.


    ¡°My name is Lin Xu, does this name sound familiar to you?¡±


    Xie Changyan¡¯s handsome eyebrows knit slightly, and after pondering for a moment, he shook his head, ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t remember.¡±


    ¡°Then what is your name?¡±


    ¡°Xie Changyan.¡±


    Lin Xu was taken aback for an instant, the name sounding foreign to her. It wasn¡¯t her husband¡¯s name, it didn¡¯t even share his surname, Ji.


    Could she have really mistaken him for someone else?


    A sliver of doubt rose from the depths of her heart, her hands gradually releasing their grip on his arm, and she took a few steps back, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I may have mistaken you for someone else.¡±


    The joyful expression that had brightened her face just moments ago vanished completely as Xie Changyan watched her put distance between them, her behavior becoming alien yet polite.


    His right hand, which had just supported her back, folded slightly as Xie Changyan gathered his thoughts and smiled indifferently, ¡°No problem.¡±


    With that, he walked past Lin Xu and boarded the hospital elevator.


    Lin Xu watched his hastened departure, her mind in turmoil.


    Do people with similar looks really exist in this world?


    Then she remembered Wen Li and Shen Qingtang, well, indeed they do.


    If he truly were her husband, how could he not recognize her? He probably would have rushed to find her and their son by now, right?


    Lin Xu turned away, holding onto that thought as she left the hospital.


    A moment later, unable to put her mind at ease, she sent a message to Ji Tingyang.


    [Can you help me look up someone named Xie Changyan?]


    Xie Changyan entered the elevator, and just as the elevator doors were slowly closing, he glanced outside through his tawny eyes; Lin Xu¡¯s graceful figure was already out of sight.


    Next to him, the assistant who had witnessed everything shook his head and clicked his tongue, ¡°I can¡¯t believe how bold women are these days, calling any man ¡®husband¡¯.¡±


    With Xie Changyan¡¯s handsome and impressive looks, coupled with his distinguished family background, numerous women had tried to hook up with him, employing various tactics.


    The assistant obviously categorized Lin Xu as that kind of woman, just trying to latch onto someone higher up.


    He opened his mouth, intending to criticize further, but a side glance caught Xie Changyan¡¯s indifferent and ice-cold gaze, which promptly shut him up.


    Ding.


    The elevator doors opened again, reaching the cardiac inpatient department.


    With his long legs, Xie Changyan strode familiarly into a hospital room.


    The room was spacious and bright, luxuriously decorated, far from the cramped space between ordinary beds, resembling more a private sanatorium than a hospital ward.


    Lying in the hospital bed, Xie Mingwang showed not a trace of despondence; his majestic presence was palpable, and his eyes shone with vigor as he looked at the newspaper in his hands.


    Seeing Xie Changyan come in, he huffed unhappily, his face filled with dissatisfaction toward him.


    Xie Changyan chuckled, ¡°It seems like you¡¯re in good health, so it looks like there¡¯s no need for me to visit you.¡±


    ¡°If you could settle down and marry earlier, I¡¯d feel even better!¡± Xie Mingwang saw an opening and took the chance to urge marriage.


    ¡°I wish I could, but it¡¯s not like anyone fancies me, right?¡± Xie Changyan walked to the bedside, emphasizing in a casual manner with a smirk that bordered on ridiculing.


    ¡°You ungrateful brat!¡± When it came to this topic, Xie Mingwang was filled with anger. He crumpled the newspaper in his hands and threw it at him, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Miss Su from the Su Family has taken a liking to you, yet you, on the other hand, invited her out to some roadside stall and even had a street race!¡±


    Having heard that the Su Family¡¯s darling had taken a fancy to Xie Changyan after a banquet, Xie Mingwang thought of pairing the two together, looking to play matchmaker.


    But this kid, on such a serious occasion as a blind date, took her to eat barbecue at a roadside stall for their first dinner, ending up with both reeking of unpleasant grill smoke.


    That would have been tolerable.


    Afterward, he was asked to take Miss Su home, and he drove at speeds reaching two hundred, with the poor girl turning pale and trembling with fear, eventually leaning against a wall to vomit after getting out of the car.


    Not even an hour later, Xie Mingwang received a message from Miss Su, tactfully suggesting their incompatibility.


    This rotten kid clearly went out of his way to sabotage the date, yet he has the nerve to claim she wasn¡¯t interested in him.


    Nonsense!


    With a twist of his body, Xie Changyan dodged the paper ball; it brushed past his shoulder and rolled into a corner.


    He chuckled softly and said leisurely, ¡°Just focus on getting better and don¡¯t worry about anything else.¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t bring a girlfriend home, my illness won¡¯t improve!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just high blood pressure, you make it sound like a terminal illness. A couple of days¡¯ rest here will do it.¡±


    Xie Changyan was dismissive and wanted to tease some more, but under Xie Mingwang¡¯s stern gaze, he obediently shut his mouth.


    ¡°Be honest with me, have you fallen for someone?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± A muffled chuckle escaped Xie Changyan¡¯s chest.


    Having said that, he lowered his eyes, the corners of his lips curving up as he stared at the mottled shadows on the ground, his mind flickering to the image of a woman with gauze pressed against her cheek.


    The visible portions of her arms and neck were mostly wrapped in gauze, as though she had suffered some serious injuries.


    He recalled their last chance meeting at the company¡¯s entrance, where she had told him she was married with children.


    Now it seemed she had been misfortunate in her relationships, not having anyone to care for her, even having to manage her own hospital discharge procedures.


    Xie Changyan clicked his tongue in an unreadable tone and carelessly fiddled with his fingertips.


    Meanwhile:


    As soon as Ji Tingyang received a message from Lin Xu, he became instantly alert.


    JTY: [Xie Changyan? Why are you checking on him?]


    JTY: [Did he bully you?]


    Remembering the man who always had a smile in his eyes, nonchalant and shrewd, Ji Tingyang felt repulsed and annoyed.


    This person may present a gentle and smiling fa?ade, but his schemes are deep and numerous.


    In their past dealings, Ji Tingyang had been outmaneuvered by him, losing a project, and now, a new energy project that was nearly within his grasp was snatched away by Xie¡¯s, deepening his animosity toward him.


    Seeing Lin Xu reach out for information about this man, Ji Tingyang instantly became wary, fearing that his mother might have been made a target of this man¡¯s scheming as well.


    Upon seeing his message, Lin Xu was somewhat surprised, then replied.


    [You know him?]


    JTY: [If you¡¯re talking about Xie Changyan from Xie Group, yes, I do know him. That man is ruthless and cunning, you must stay away from him!]


    Lin Xu was surprised.


    Ruthless and cunning?


    Thinking back on Ji Yanli¡¯s mature and gentle demeanor, she might have indeed mistaken him for someone else.


    She nodded.

 Chapter 52 - Chapter 52: Mother Doesnt Like Him Anymore?

    Chapter 52: Mother Doesn¡¯t Like Him Anymore?


    ¡°`


    After learning that he was from the Xie Family, Lin Xu went online to search for information related to Xie Changyan.


    There wasn¡¯t much media coverage about Xie Changyan, but after a long search, Lin Xu still found a piece of news.


    The person in power of the Xie Family passed away twelve years ago, leaving behind his only son, Xie Changyan, who went overseas for further studies after graduating high school and returned three years ago to take over the Xie Family.


    Below was a photo of Xie Changyan at eighteen years old, whose youthful face also faintly resembled Ji Yanli in some aspects.


    Unlike her, who came out of nowhere, he was a real person who had lived for thirty years.


    Thinking of this, Lin Xu¡¯s belief that he was Ji Yanli wavered even more.


    Having not received a reply for a long time, Ji Tingyang became anxious and called her directly.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t told me why you¡¯re looking into Xie Changyan yet. Did he do something to you?¡±


    ¡°No, he is Zeqiu¡¯s boss, isn¡¯t he? I was worried they might not treat Zeqiu well, so I came to ask you,¡± Lin Xu vaguely made an excuse.


    She still wasn¡¯t sure whether Xie Changyan was Ji Yanli, so it was better not to tell him for the time being.


    So as to avoid another false celebration like the one during the birthday banquet.


    Ji Tingyang didn¡¯t suspect anything, and knowing that she hadn¡¯t been bullied by Xie Changyan, he felt somewhat relieved. However, hearing her concern for Ji Zeqiu, he felt a tinge of jealousy.


    Muttering under his breath, ¡°Ji Zeqiu is the face of their company. It would be good enough if he himself doesn¡¯t act like a diva; how could they possibly treat him badly?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s only me who¡¯s toiling away in the company¡­¡±


    Hearing his complaint, Lin Xu suddenly laughed and coaxed, ¡°Then should I come home and have dinner with you tonight?¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes lit up.


    Lin Xu pressed her lips into a slight smile, just about to reply, when she caught sight of her own reflection in the car window with her cheek pressed against a bandage, her voice caught.


    Engrossed in chatting with Ji Tingyang, she had completely forgotten about her current situation.


    The last time she had accidentally cut herself a bit while slicing fruit, Ji Tingyang was so anxious that he called the family doctor over, which resulted in the doctor rolling his eyes, saying the wound would have healed in a few more minutes anyhow.


    If he could make such a fuss over that, then discovering her current injuries would undoubtedly drive him mad.


    ¡°I¡ªI just remembered I have something to do tonight. Can I join you another time instead?¡± Lin Xu hastily changed her tune.


    ¡°¡­¡± There was silence on the other end of the phone.


    Having just promised to come home for dinner with him, and then breaking that promise the very next second, Lin Xu suddenly felt a bit guilty.


    Listening to the prolonged silence on the other end of the line, she nervously called out to him, ¡°Tingyang?¡±


    ¡°Mhm, I¡¯m fine,¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s tone was clearly downcast, his voice faint, ¡°Then let¡¯s eat together some other time.¡±


    Lin Xu let out a sigh of relief, advised him to take care of his health a few more times, and then hung up the call.


    In the office.


    Ji Tingyang stared at the darkened phone screen, his gaze gloomy and his fingertips holding the phone turning white from the pressure.


    His mother had clearly promised him they would have dinner together, how could she suddenly have something else to do¡­


    If it was really something tonight, it could be rescheduled for tomorrow, so why wait for some time later?


    Was it just perfunctory, did she not want to see him?


    Ji Tingyang reopened his phone and scrolled through the photo album to find a picture of Lin Xu.


    This photo was sent by Ji Zeqiu last time. It was a group photo with Lin Xu, which he had initially wanted to delete. But looking at Lin Xu in the picture, he felt reluctant to do so.


    In the end, he cropped out Ji Zeqiu from the photo, leaving only the half that showed Lin Xu.


    Ji Tingyang gazed at the smiling Lin Xu in the photo, his pupils tinged with crimson, his eyes deep and fearsome. Suddenly, the words Ji Zeqiu had once said echoed in his mind.


    ¡°Lin Xu is leaving with me. She doesn¡¯t want you anymore.¡±


    She doesn¡¯t want you anymore¡­


    So, his mother didn¡¯t like him anymore?


    ¡°`


    ¡°`


    She had promised herself that she would always love him.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s mind was always sensitive and suspicious. In the past, when facing Wen Li, he would become irritable and paranoid just because she showed favor to other men.


    Now that Lin Xu had replaced her, having her by his side had lessened these symptoms considerably, but they hadn¡¯t disappeared.


    Now they erupted because of Lin Xu¡¯s sudden change of heart.


    Ji Tingyang abruptly stood up, ignoring the secretary who was still reporting work in the office, and strode out of the office.


    The secretary looked baffled as she watched the door, which Ji Tingyang had pulled open so forcibly that it struck the wall, then she hurriedly followed him, only to see his figure departing in the elevator without looking back.


    The numbers on the elevator indicator jumped until they stopped at the parking garage on B1.


    Is the president leaving¡­ because it¡¯s the end of the day?


    But it¡¯s not time to get off work yet, so did Miss Lin make an appointment with President Ji?


    The secretary scratched her head and returned to her workstation, puzzled.


    Lin Xu took a taxi back to her apartment, feeling unsettled the whole way there.


    After much thought, she couldn¡¯t pinpoint the reason for her uneasiness and could only force herself to relax.


    ¡°Miss Lin, I made you ginseng black chicken soup to replenish your body. Come and have some,¡± the housekeeper called out to Lin Xu as she carried a pot of chicken soup from the kitchen.


    The housekeeper had been hired to take care of Lin Xu and had been planning various dishes and chicken soups to nourish her since hearing about her injury.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Lin Xu went to sit down.


    Just as she was drinking it, the sound of the doorbell rang from outside.


    ¡°Could it be Mr. Ji returning?¡± the housekeeper muttered to herself and walked over to open the door.


    Seeing a man who resembled Ji Zeqiu by two or three points, the housekeeper was startled. ¡°Who are you looking for?¡±


    ¡°Who is it?¡± Seeing the housekeeper frozen at the doorway, Lin Xu asked.


    The next second, a figure burst in directly, heading straight for Lin Xu.


    He grabbed Lin Xu¡¯s hand and tried to lead her away with him.


    ¡°Ji Tingyang?!¡± Lin Xu exclaimed, ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    ¡°I came to take you back¡­¡± His voice stopped abruptly as he clearly saw her cheek covered with gauze.


    After a long moment, his palm gently touched her bandaged cheek, his pupils trembling, his throat dry, ¡°What happened to your face?¡±


    Damn.


    He had discovered it after all.


    Lin Xu stammered, ¡°I, I accidentally¡­ took a fall, and¡­ and just¡­¡±


    ¡°Was it Ji Zeqiu¡¯s doing!¡± he ground out through clenched teeth.


    ¡°No, no!¡± Lin Xu quickly denied.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s fierce expression made her fear that if she denied it too slowly, he would go and start a fight with Ji Zeqiu.


    ¡°It¡¯s still his fault. He didn¡¯t protect you properly!¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s chest heaved violently, holding back a torrent of rage, ¡°If I had known, I wouldn¡¯t have let you go with him.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m really okay. Look, I¡¯m still jumping around, aren¡¯t I?¡± Lin Xu rubbed his head, her voice tenderly soothing.


    Ji Tingyang slowly closed his eyes and rested his head on her shoulder, calming his inner turmoil and unease with her gentle, comforting whispers.


    But his mood was still downcast, and he muttered in a low voice, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me¡­¡±


    The clueless housekeeper covered her mouth, shocked as she watched the intimately interacting pair.


    Miss Lin has another man behind Mr. Ji¡¯s back?!


    Should she tell Mr. Ji?


    ¡°`

 Chapter 53 - Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Its All Ji Zeqius Fault

    Chapter 53: Chapter 53: It¡¯s All Ji Zeqiu¡¯s Fault


    Ting Yang hung his head low for a while, then, as if he remembered something, suddenly lifted his head and pulled up her sleeves.


    Seeing the gauze nearly wrapping her arms tightly, his eyes turned red again.


    ¡°You lied to me!¡± Ting Yang¡¯s pupils trembled, both shocked and hurt.


    The amount of gauze on her body was like it was being sold by the pound¡ªif it was just a fall, how could it be so severe?


    Could it be¡­ there were injuries elsewhere?


    Thinking this, Ting Yang immediately lifted her tightly covered collar and saw the same type of gauze on her neck, then he began to lift the hem of her clothes.


    Lin Xu hurriedly grabbed his hand in a panic, exclaiming, ¡°Wait! Don¡¯t strip off my clothes!¡±


    The nanny nearby was also startled and quickly turned to go back to her room, fearing she might see something inappropriate.


    These two were too bold¡ªshe was still there, and they were already impatient to strip.


    As an outsider, it wasn¡¯t her place to meddle in their affairs. Shaking her head, the nanny went into the room.


    A moment later she picked up her cellphone, hesitating whether she should report to Ji Zeqiu.


    In the living room.


    Hearing Lin Xu¡¯s urging, Ting Yang realized it was not appropriate and quickly let go, his cheeks flushing as he stammered, ¡°I¡­ I just wanted to see if you were hurt anywhere else¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s gone, there really aren¡¯t any more injuries,¡± Lin Xu said with a helpless smile, tidying her disheveled clothes.


    Ting Yang didn¡¯t believe her words, his eerie eyes staring intensely at her, making Lin Xu feel even more guilty.


    ¡°Are you hungry? The nanny just made some chicken soup. Let¡¯s eat together,¡± she said with a forced laugh, trying to change the subject.


    ¡°¡­¡± Ting Yang didn¡¯t speak.


    Lin Xu also slowly dropped her smile, standing obediently as if she were the child being scolded by a parent.


    ¡°What exactly happened to these injuries? Don¡¯t lie to me!¡± Ting Yang asked again.


    Knowing she couldn¡¯t hide it any longer, Lin Xu had to tell him the truth.


    When he heard that Lin Xu had fallen off the cliff along with Ji Zeqiu, his eyes turned bloodshot and even his breathing became labored.


    His chest heaved violently, as if he couldn¡¯t catch his breath, his breathing rough as his hands tightened around her wrists, causing Lin Xu to cry out in pain.


    Lin Xu noticed his distress and stepped forward to embrace him, gently patting his back, ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay. Look, I¡¯m fine now, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Her voice was soft, like a spring breeze brushing against the face.


    As if afraid she would disappear, Ting Yang hugged her tightly, his throat catching with a barely noticeable choke, ¡°From now on, you mustn¡¯t hide anything from me.¡±


    If she were to encounter danger again and he remained as unaware as he had been twenty years ago, unable to even see her one last time.


    What would he do¡­


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I just didn¡¯t want you to worry.¡± Lin Xu sighed, realizing she still ended up making him worry.


    Ting Yang couldn¡¯t bear to blame her, but he still had to scold Ji Zeqiu, ¡°It¡¯s all because of that useless Ji Zeqiu.¡±


    It was bad enough that he hadn¡¯t protected their mother but to even have their mother protect him in return.


    Absolutely useless.


    Lin Xu smiled faintly, knowing Ting Yang just needed to vent his frustration, so she let him curse.


    After Ting Yang had cursed a few times, he suddenly became aware of Ji Zeqiu¡¯s unreliability, then he said to Lin Xu, ¡°Don¡¯t stay here anymore, I¡¯ll take you home.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Lin Xu was taken aback.


    Ji Tingyang led her towards the door but realized she was standing stiff in her spot, not showing any sign of wanting to walk with him.


    His grip on her palm froze.


    Didn¡¯t she want to go back with him because she liked Ji Zeqiu more?


    Ji Tingyang hadn¡¯t thought of Wen Li for a long time, but now he suddenly remembered her.


    In the beginning, Wen Li only had him by her side, but somehow, gradually, many people began to appear around her, and she no longer paid attention to him, her eyes seemingly able to hold only Xiao Yu.


    Eventually, she left his side.


    Was his mother also going to stop liking him like Wen Li and leave him?


    He started to worry that the warmth he had barely obtained from Lin Xu would slip away, even making breathing difficult.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s breathing halted for a moment, his mind flashing with the idea of forcefully taking Lin Xu back home, trapping her in the villa.


    Would his mother then belong only to him forever, and not even Ji Zeqiu or his sister could take her away?


    He would take good care of her in the villa, he wouldn¡¯t let her get hurt like Ji Zeqiu did, she wouldn¡¯t have any problems, so she wouldn¡¯t leave him again.


    Various dark thoughts sprouted in some corner of his heart, entwining and enveloping him like vines, urging him to do so¡­


    Suddenly, a pair of warm small hands touched his skin, bringing back his thoughts.


    Lin Xu held his cheeks with her hands, ¡°Stop thinking nonsense, mom will always like you.¡±


    Ji Tingyang looked downwards, his tone somewhat indistinctly aggrieved, ¡°Then why won¡¯t you go home with me¡­¡±


    ¡°Because the project at the company isn¡¯t finished yet, aren¡¯t you still waiting for Ji Zeqiu¡¯s endorsement? So, I¡¯m staying here because of you.¡±


    ¡°Think about it, if I don¡¯t stay, and if Ji¡¯s situation becomes difficult again, aren¡¯t you going to work overtime night after night? How heartbroken would I be?¡±


    ¡°And wouldn¡¯t the company lose a lot of money, and wouldn¡¯t your money become less? In that case, how would you support me? Wouldn¡¯t you disregard your health and desperately try to make money?¡±


    ¡°So, I¡¯m staying here because I care about you!¡± Lin Xu bluffed her way through.


    The Ji Tingyang who usually commanded the business world, continuously scheming through project collaborations, sly and sharp, at this moment didn¡¯t doubt Lin Xu¡¯s words, and was pacified by her.


    The little flowers wilting on his head suddenly straightened their backs, as if warmed by the sunlight, blossoming especially brilliantly.


    The corners of Ji Tingyang¡¯s lips uncontrollably curled upwards.


    He didn¡¯t realize he was so easy to appease.


    Lin Xu smiled, ¡°Alright, come over for lunch together.¡±


    He had just refused to have dinner with him, and unexpectedly now, they were having lunch together at Ji Zeqiu¡¯s house.


    During the night.


    Ji Tingyang once again dreamt of the scene at Lin Xu¡¯s funeral twenty years ago.


    His sight was filled with somber, understated black and white, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s crying echoed in his ears, and his sister, still in swaddling clothes, influenced by the atmosphere, cried out unknowingly.


    Ji Tingyang felt an immense heaviness in his chest, as if a massive stone had fallen, making it hard for him to breathe.


    His forehead was covered in cold sweat, and he suddenly opened his eyes.


    He stared blankly at the ceiling, for a long time, then picked up the cell phone from the bedside table, flipping out a photo from the gallery.


    Ji Tingyang looked nervously and seriously at the camera, Lin Xu snuggled up by his cheek, beaming.


    This was taken today with Lin Xu.


    He stared at the photo for a long while, until the unease dissipated, and then he closed his eyes and fell back asleep.

 Chapter 54 - Chapter 54: Chapter 54 Dont you think were too close?

    Chapter 54: Chapter 54 Don¡¯t you think we¡¯re too close?


    ¡°Mr. Ji, someone visited the house yesterday, and they seemed quite familiar with Miss Lin.¡±


    The housekeeper had been holding back all day, but ultimately couldn¡¯t resist; she still reported the situation to Ji Zeqiu.


    Mr. Ji was so good to his employees, he paid her such a high salary, and he was out there working diligently to shoot films and make money to provide for the family. If she kept this from him, she wouldn¡¯t be able to live with herself.


    Ji Zeqiu, who was shooting a film, seemed very busy and didn¡¯t reply until an hour later.


    ¡°What guest?¡±


    Upon reading the message, Ji Zeqiu was also somewhat puzzled.


    Lin Xu had been living in the apartment for about a month now, and he hadn¡¯t heard her mention any friends. He even suspected that this woman didn¡¯t have any friends at all.


    Suddenly, he remembered that yesterday was Lin Xu¡¯s hospital discharge day.


    Could it be someone visiting her?


    Thinking of Lin Xu¡¯s discharge, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s mood became complicated.


    Lin Xu was injured while saving him. Logically, he should have visited her once she was discharged, or at the very least, he should have helped her with the discharge process and taken her home.


    But instead, she mocked him, and in a fit of anger, he didn¡¯t even want to go to the hospital.


    Couldn¡¯t that woman speak more nicely? How was he behaving like a simp! Were there any simps as handsome as him?


    Ji Zeqiu thought angrily, then the housekeeper¡¯s message came again.


    ¡°It was a man, tall and handsome, I remember Miss Lin seemed to call him something with ¡®Yang¡¯.¡±


    Ting Yang?!


    Ji Zeqiu immediately thought of him.


    Had Ting Yang found out about Lin Xu getting hurt?


    But if he knew since yesterday, why hasn¡¯t he come to question him until now? It seemed his feelings for Lin Xu weren¡¯t that deep.


    Ji Zeqiu snorted coldly, then suddenly realized something and quickly sent a message to the housekeeper.


    ¡°Remember this man, if he comes again, chase him out with a broomstick!!!¡±


    As if Ting Yang would be allowed in his house!


    The housekeeper received Ji Zeqiu¡¯s message, full of rage and capped with three exclamation points, and hurriedly agreed.


    With her around, nobody would even think about stealing Miss Lin away!


    Having received the housekeeper¡¯s assurance, Ji Zeqiu finally felt at ease, picked up the script again to study it but then saw his agent rushing over.


    ¡°Brother Zhao, what¡¯s the hurry?¡±


    His agent caught his breath twice, ¡°Just got the notice, the new script we signed last week is changing the male lead.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu was to play the male lead in that drama; saying they were changing the male lead meant they were planning to replace him, didn¡¯t it?


    Back when he was a newcomer, without power or connections, it was common for his roles to be taken over. But ever since he became a top star, this hadn¡¯t happened again.


    No one dared to offend a first-line artist, nor did anyone dare to mess with Xie¡¯s.


    Yet, unexpectedly, someone now dared to so brazenly snatch his role?


    ¡°Who is replacing me?¡± Ji Zeqiu¡¯s face turned cold.


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­¡± The agent sneakily glanced at him, hesitating, ¡°It¡¯s an entertainment company under Ji¡¯s.¡±


    Ji¡¯s.


    Ting Yang.


    Ji Zeqiu immediately thought of him; his contract was already signed, and changing the actor at this time, it was hard to believe Ting Yang wasn¡¯t behind it.


    He furiously pulled out his phone and dialed a number, ¡°Ting Yang, what are you doing with your pathetic company, stealing my role!¡±


    Although Ji Group does have a subsidiary in the film and entertainment industry, that¡¯s not the main focus of Ji Group, and there aren¡¯t many top artists in the company. It wasn¡¯t worth Ting Yang spending a lot of money just to take a role.


    The moment the call connected, Ji Zeqiu cursed aloud.


    ¡°I¡¯m willing,¡± Ji Tingyang said indifferently.


    ¡°¡­Are you sick?!¡± Ji Zeqiu grimaced, managing to squeeze out a sentence.


    ¡°Film sets are so dangerous, you should call Lin Xu to visit less.¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s bland tone concealed a trace of displeasure.


    Ji Zeqiu was taken aback, ¡°You knew?¡±


    ¡°If you let her get hurt again, next time it won¡¯t be as simple as snatching a role,¡± Ji Tingyang said before hanging up the phone, with no intention of further indulging in brotherly affection.


    Ji Zeqiu, annoyed, scratched his head, messing up his handsome hairstyle.


    He knew it. How come Ji Tingyang showed no reaction when he found out Lin Xu was injured? He had been scheming behind his back all along.


    He hadn¡¯t even started to take revenge on Ji Tingyang, yet Ji Tingyang had beaten him to it.


    With a mindset bent on revenge, Ji Zeqiu sent him a message.


    Zeqiu: [This is blatant jealousy, jealous that Lin Xu protects me, loves me more than you!]


    The sentence was somewhat dazzling.


    Just yesterday, Ji Tingyang had even thought of bringing Lin Xu back to the villa because of this idea.


    But mother had said, her favorite person was him, not Ji Zeqiu.


    Saving Ji Zeqiu was only because of that bit of blood relation.


    He certainly wasn¡¯t angry.


    Ji Tingyang replied with the word ¡°Childish¡± and turned off his phone, continuing with his work.


    Ji Zeqiu sent many more provocative messages, but received no reply from Ji Tingyang for a long time, as if punching into cotton, making him feel powerless.


    That¡¯s when he stopped his torrent of cold jeers and hot jibes.


    However, not even half a day passed before his agent looked at the phone and delivered more bad news, ¡°That secondary male role with Director Chen, it¡¯s been snatched up by someone from Ji¡¯s.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu clenched his teeth in fury and sent a voice message to Ji Tingyang, ¡°You bastard!¡±


    ¡ª¡ª


    Lin Xu was bored in her apartment, with injuries on her face not yet healed, preventing her from going for beauty treatments, so she went to the mall to buy some clothes.


    The weather was fickle; one minute it was clear skies and the next a torrential downpour.


    Lin Xu raised her bag over her head to shield herself from the rain and headed toward the mall entrance with her head down.


    After only a few steps, she bumped into a body, stumbled, and sat down on the wet ground.


    The heavy rain immediately soaked through her clothes.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    A large black umbrella landed over her, shielding her from the pouring rain.


    Lin Xu looked up to see Xie Changyan watching her with a smile in his eyes.


    ¡°Miss Lin, we meet again. It seems every time I see you, you¡¯re somewhat disheveled.¡±


    It was the man who looked like her husband.


    Lin Xu was startled until he extended his hand to her. Only then did she snap back to reality and took his hand.


    His hand was well-defined and sturdy, with a gentle force lifting her off the ground.


    She was led forward a few steps, and a fresh pine scent mixed with a man¡¯s fragrance entered her nostrils.


    Lin Xu looked dazed, her heart skipping a beat.


    ¡°Miss Lin, don¡¯t you think¡­ we¡¯re a little too close?¡± Xie Changyan raised his eyebrows, his deep voice drawing out a lengthy tone, teasing her.


    Lin Xu sharply regained her senses, quickly stepping back two paces, releasing his hand that she still held and saying an embarrassed apology, then hastily thanked him for his help just now.


    The palm of his hand still retained the warm, delicate touch, and Xie Changyan, his deep eyes slightly downcast, smoothed his palm nonchalantly, as if to rub away that uncomfortable sensation.

 Chapter 55 - Chapter 55: Chapter 55 Can you accept it even if the other person is married?

    Chapter 55: Chapter 55 Can you accept it even if the other person is married?


    Rainwater trickled down her long, flowing hair, soaking her clothes and causing them to cling to Lin Xu¡¯s body in an extremely uncomfortable manner, sticky and unpleasant.


    The gauze on her cheek was also wet, allowing water to seep through and irritate her wound, which caused a bout of itchiness.


    Lin Xu¡¯s eyebrows knitted slightly as she subconsciously reached to scratch the gauze.


    But in the next instant, a large hand grasped her wrist, halting her movement.


    Lin Xu looked up in confusion.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s eyes and brows were relaxed with a smile as he reminded her, ¡°Be careful with your wound.¡±


    Realizing her reflex, Lin Xu exclaimed ¡°Ah¡± and quickly withdrew her hand, standing awkwardly on the spot, fidgeting with her wet clothes, unsure of what to do.


    She wanted to change into a fresh set of clothes, but she also didn¡¯t want to let Xie Changyan leave, still harboring the thought of testing whether he was truly her husband or not.


    As she hesitated on how to speak up, Xie Changyan, seeming to see through her discomfort, took the initiative to suggest, ¡°Why not go change into a new outfit first?¡±


    ¡°Can you, perhaps, come with me?¡± Lin Xu hesitated, her clear eyes looking at him, brimming with a subtle hint of hope that was not easily noticed.


    A ripple disturbed the calm surface of the lake as Xie Changyan paused, then lifted the corners of his mouth in response, ¡°Sure.¡±


    Lin Xu chose a women¡¯s clothing store nearby and randomly picked out a set of clothes to change into in the dressing room.


    Xie Changyan sat down inside the store, casting a glance toward the direction of the dressing room.


    Although he had never accompanied a woman to buy clothes, he had heard from friends that it was a time-consuming and boring affair, unable to understand why they needed to purchase so many pieces of clothing that seemed indistinguishable to him.


    This was clearly none of his concern, yet he had inexplicably agreed to it.


    This was a bad signal for him.


    ¡°President Xie, please try our store¡¯s coffee.¡± A store clerk interrupted his thoughts, bringing over a cup of coffee.


    This luxury brand store held shares from the Xie Family, and Xie Changyan had once visited for inspection with an assistant, so the clerk recognized him as one of the executives, and hurriedly offered coffee as a gesture of goodwill.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Xie Changyan replied with a light smile on his lips, his deep brown eyes briefly acknowledging her presence with a nod, every gesture exuding his nobility.


    The clerk¡¯s cheeks suddenly flushed with embarrassment, and she shyly returned to the counter.


    Minutes later, Lin Xu appeared in a pale pink long dress, instinctively twirling in front of him and asking with a bright smile, ¡°How does it look? Is it pretty?¡±


    The form-fitting dress perfectly accentuated her slender waist, which one could scarcely grasp, and her shiny, smooth hair cascaded down her back, revealing her fair and slender neck and creamy, delicate skin¡ªstunningly beautiful.


    Only the bandage peeking out from her sleeve was an eyesore.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s eyes flashed, ¡°It looks very good.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll take this one,¡± Lin Xu said, happily hurrying to the counter to pay.


    ¡°This dress has already been paid for by President Xie,¡± the clerk informed her.


    Lin Xu turned around in surprise to look at him, finding him sipping his coffee with an air of nonchalance as if the transaction that had just taken place was completely natural.


    Of course, she didn¡¯t mind having someone else pick up the tab, nor would she react with the same anxiousness as others, eager to return the money in fear of taking advantage of the situation.


    Lin Xu walked over, her dress skirt swaying gracefully with each step, ¡°Thank you for the dress, shall I treat you to a meal?¡±


    ¡°Another time, I have a little business to attend to later,¡± Xie Changyan stood up, taking the paper bag with her old clothes from the store clerk.


    This motion was so natural that it left Lin Xu momentarily dazed.


    ¡°Miss Lin, where will you be heading next? Should I have my driver take you?¡± Xie Changyan asked.


    ¡°No need, I¡¯ll just take a cab back,¡± Lin Xu shook her head.


    Before he got into his car and left, Lin Xu bit her red lips, struggling to ask a question, ¡°Can I add¡­ your contact information?¡±


    Xie Changyan¡¯s hand, which was opening the car door, paused a moment, thousands of thoughts twirling in his head, trying to understand whether her words carried an ulterior motive.


    But his hand was quicker than his brain and they exchanged WeChat contacts on their phones.


    Back in the car, Xie Changyan looked at the new friend in his WeChat and tapped into her Moments.


    Lin Xu rarely posted on Moments, and the few posts she had were all about her son, expressing her love for him in every possible way.


    He skimmed through them briefly, then irritably snapped his phone shut, his usual smiling eyes and brows now furrowing as he pinched the bridge of his nose.


    A while later, his phone rang.


    It was a call from Xie Mingwang.


    As soon as he answered, he heard his sonorous, excited voice, ¡°What¡¯s this about you not wanting to go on blind dates, turns out you¡¯ve secretly got a girlfriend!¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Xie Changyan was puzzled.


    ¡°I heard it from the driver, today you took a woman shopping for clothes, you sneaky kid, keeping it from me!¡± Although Xie Mingwang was cursing, his tone was filled with joy, ¡°When will you bring her home for me to see? Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m an open-minded old man, I can accept anyone no matter what.¡±


    Xie Changyan laughed, glancing at the driver sitting primly in the front row, not expecting he would go and snitch to Grandpa.


    Listening to Xie Mingwang¡¯s incessant urging on the phone, his long fingers tapping lightly on his thigh, his lips curved with amusement as he spoke in a nonchalant tone, ¡°Even if she¡¯s married, you could accept that?¡±


    ¡°Married?!¡± Xie Mingwang was taken aback, his loud voice getting even louder, ¡°With all the women out there, you choose a married one! Absolutely not! Break up with her immediately!¡±


    Xie Changyan was still laughing, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you could accept anything?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t accept this, I warn you, if you dare to break up a family and play the third wheel, get out of the Xie Family!¡± Xie Mingwang was so angry he was having trouble breathing, and the housekeeper beside him was advising him to take deep breaths and not to get too agitated.


    The Xie Family was a famed, wealthy clan, renowned in society as nobility; if Xie Changyan were to do something so shameful and immoral, he couldn¡¯t imagine how many people would laugh at him.


    ¡°Just kidding,¡± worried that Xie Mingwang might actually get enraged to death, Xie Changyan explained.


    ¡°Really?¡± Xie Mingwang was skeptical.


    ¡°Really.¡±


    Xie Mingwang finally took a deep breath, relieved, ¡°I won¡¯t press you about it for a while, just find yourself a girlfriend and bring her home to me soon.¡±


    He was afraid that if he urged Xie Changyan too fiercely, he might actually bring a married woman home just to spite him, as he was perfectly capable of doing something like that.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, go out for more walks in your free time, you might find yourself a second spring,¡± Xie Changyan laughed.


    ¡°You rascal, aren¡¯t you afraid your grandma will curse you from below!¡± Xie Mingwang cursed and chatted a bit more with him.


    In the end, after making various assurances to Xie Mingwang that he ¡°won¡¯t find a married girlfriend,¡± he hung up the phone, feeling relieved.


    On the screen, a message from Lin Xu popped up.


    ¡°Let me know when you¡¯re free, and I¡¯ll continue to treat you to a meal,¡± it read.


    Xie Changyan stared at the message for a long while, his fingers moved slightly, and he deleted the conversation.


    Grandpa was right, he really shouldn¡¯t have too much contact with her.

 Chapter 56 - Chapter 56: Chapter 56: How Could He Possibly Forgive You

    Chapter 56: Chapter 56: How Could He Possibly Forgive You


    ¡°Ji Tingyang, do you have time recently? I¡¯d like to meet and talk with you,¡±


    Wen Li hesitated for a long while before sending the text message to Ji Tingyang.


    She had already sent four or five messages to Ji Tingyang in the past few days and had received no reply, not a trace of a response.


    In the past, her messages were almost instantly replied to.


    Wen Li sighed, ready to give up contacting him, when her father¡¯s messages popped up on her screen one after another.


    [Lil¡¯ Li, have you made up with President Ji? The day for department layoffs is approaching, and I¡¯m feeling quite uneasy.]


    The department where Father Wen worked was performing poorly, and the leadership, aiming to improve performance, planned to lay off the employees with the worst performance next month.


    A month went by, and Father Wen¡¯s performance was still at the bottom, facing a layoff crisis. That was when Father Wen encountered Ji Tingyang at the company¡¯s building and cheerfully approached to greet him, hoping he would look out for him because of his daughter.


    But Ji Tingyang couldn¡¯t even remember who he was, his face frightful in its coldness: ¡°I don¡¯t know you.¡±


    The smile on Father Wen¡¯s face froze: ¡°President Ji, it seems the great often forget things. I¡¯m Wen Li¡¯s father.¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s brows slightly raised as if he remembered, but he still ignored him and remained silent.


    Having no choice, Father Wen continued, thick-faced, ¡°President Ji, the department is laying off people soon, and my performance this month isn¡¯t great¡­ um, could you possibly speak to the director? I will definitely work harder next month!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not convenient to interfere with department decisions,¡± responded Ji Tingyang without even a token pleasantry, and he went straight into his exclusive elevator and left.


    Father Wen felt his heart sink and immediately called Wen Li, only then learning that she had moved out of the Ji family¡¯s home.


    Moving out, doesn¡¯t that suggest a break-up with Ji Tingyang?


    If it were before, with Ji Tingyang supporting her from behind, she wouldn¡¯t even be considered for layoffs.


    Father Wen was furious.


    [Hurry up and apologize to Ji Tingyang, make up with him! Do you hear me!]


    The urging messages kept coming relentlessly, like death summons, making Wen Li so irritated that she turned off her phone.


    However, he was the father who had raised her for twenty years; she couldn¡¯t just ignore him. Clenching her teeth, she got up and left her dormitory.


    As night fell, the city lit up with unpredictable neon lights, illuminating every corner; the streets were noisy and lively, awash with the blaze of lights and the clink of glasses.


    Wen Li arrived at an entertainment club, carefully avoiding drunken patrons, trying to find Ji Tingyang here.


    She had heard that Ji Tingyang would be entertaining here tonight and decided to try her luck.


    Now she was unable to enter Ji¡¯s company or family houses, and with no replies to her messages or calls, she had no choice but to resort to this method.


    Wen Li peered through the glass of the private room¡¯s door, trying to spot Ji Tingyang.


    ¡°Wen Li?¡±


    After checking three or four private rooms, a familiar voice suddenly sounded from behind her.


    Wen Li turned around and saw Xu Wei holding a man¡¯s arm, her face full of surprise as she looked at her.


    The man by Xu Wei¡¯s side looked somewhat familiar; he was the intermediary Xu Wei recommended the last time she divulged Ji¡¯s secrets.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Xu Wei asked.


    Seeing a familiar face, Wen Li¡¯s face lit up with joy, and she stepped forward to grab her hand, ¡°I¡¯m here to find Ji Tingyang, do you know which private room he¡¯s in?¡±


    ¡°Look for him? You two made up?¡± Xu Wei¡¯s expression was odd.


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    Xu Wei laughed scornfully, ¡°I thought so, you stole Ji¡¯s secrets, how could he possibly forgive you? I almost thought his love-blinded brain was beyond saving.¡±


    Her words were full of mockery.


    Wen Li was confused and couldn¡¯t understand her meanining, and said blankly, ¡°I¡­I will apologize to him, beg for his forgiveness¡­.¡±


    ¡°Well then, good luck with that,¡± Xu Wei laughed, so hard that tears came out.


    ¡°You¡­can you help me, ask him which private room he¡¯s in?¡± Wen Li stammered.


    ¡°Why should I help you?¡± Xu Wei¡¯s tone turned suddenly cold.


    Wen Li had never heard her speak with such coldness, and nervously clutched the hem of her clothing, ¡°I¡­aren¡¯t we good friends?¡±


    ¡°Wen Li, grow a brain, don¡¯t just blindly trust what people say.¡± Xu Wei laughed so hard her body shook, ¡°I was lying to you all along.¡±


    Wen Li¡¯s mind went blank, staring at her in shock, ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°To make you willingly steal Ji Tingyang¡¯s documents,¡± Xu Wei fiddled with her purse, ¡°Thanks to you, look at how my boyfriend has been promoted and made money. He even bought me lots of clothes and purses.¡±


    The man beside her laughed as well, pinching Xu Wei¡¯s waist, ¡°You¡¯re the clever one, baby.¡±


    Seeing this, Wen Li finally realized she had been used by Xu Wei.


    She had foolishly thought Xu Wei genuinely agreed with her ideas and wanted to be good friends.


    Her eyes reddened, and she murmured, ¡°Why deceive me¡­.¡±


    Xu Wei stepped forward, leaned down to her ear and said with disgust, ¡°I hate your holier-than-thou attitude the most. You say money isn¡¯t important, putting on a miserable act, screaming about leaving Ji Tingyang for Xiao Yu. But what happened? Ji Tingyang dumped you, and you scurried right back to him.¡±


    ¡°Were you hoping to leech off his money, have him keep supporting you?¡±


    ¡°I¡­I¡­¡± Wen Li¡¯s mind was in turmoil, trying to deny her words, ¡°It was my family forcing me¡­ I didn¡¯t want to¡­¡±


    ¡°When Ji Tingyang pressured you, you were ready to die resisting; how come you are so compliant now that your family is pressuring you? Where is your courage to fight back like you did initially?¡± Xu Wei mocked.


    Wen Li opened her mouth but couldn¡¯t say a word, just kept repeating, ¡°It¡¯s not like that, it¡¯s not like that¡­.¡±


    Her tears fell like broken pearls, her frail shoulders trembling with sobs, pitifully.


    Passing by, a sympathetic man approached Wen Li, asking if someone had bullied her, his disapproving gaze fixed on Xu Wei.


    Xu Wei flashed a look of disdain and waved for the staff, ¡°What kind of job are you doing? This woman doesn¡¯t even have VIP access, how could you let her in?¡±


    Wen Li had followed another man inside, and the staff thought they were together, so they hadn¡¯t checked if Wen Li had VIP access.


    Hearing Xu Wei¡¯s complaint, they sprang into action, waving their batons to escort her out.


    But the man intervened on her behalf, offering his own VIP membership to allow her to stay.


    In the midst of the commotion, Wen Li suddenly heard someone call out ¡°President Ji.¡±


    She followed the voice, and there was Ji Tingyang, dressed in a white shirt neatly tucked into crisp suit trousers, standing upright with his noble demeanor enhanced by his calm expression, walking step by step towards her.


    Wen Li froze in place, her expression uneasy, her heart tightened, yet a faint hope arose.


    Was he there for her?

 Chapter 57 - Chapter 57: Chapter 57 He no longer needs Wen Li

    Chapter 57: Chapter 57 He no longer needs Wen Li


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s figure grew increasingly closer, and Wen Li clenched the hand by her side, growing more nervous under her quickening heartbeat.


    Eyes met.


    Wen Li¡¯s red lips parted slightly, whispering his name, ¡°Ji Tingyang¡­¡±


    However, Ji Tingyang seemed as if he hadn¡¯t heard her voice, his gaze indifferently sweeping over her, calm and unrippled.


    His figure brushed past hers without any communication, as if they were strangers.


    Wen Li¡¯s face turned deathly pale, frozen in place as if deeply struck, almost reflexively, she reached out and grabbed his clothes.


    Ji Tingyang stopped in his tracks, his sharp brows furrowed with impatience, as he looked at her silently.


    ¡°Can, can I have a word with you alone?¡± Wen Li looked up at him, her face devoid of color and filled with unease.


    ¡°No need, whatever you have to say can be said here.¡± Ji Tingyang replied with hands in his pockets, looking at her indifferently.


    Wen Li felt the gazes from the people around her, many tinged with mockery as if watching a show, those gazes biting into her painfully like silver needles.


    She wanted to avoid those looks, but Ji Tingyang showed no intention of helping her, frequently glancing at his watch as if he was in a hurry.


    Wen Li bit her lip, fearing he might say ¡°I have things to do¡± and leave her behind. Not wanting to delay, she apologized in a soft voice.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. The incident with the drowning last time, I truly didn¡¯t do it on purpose. I was out of my mind then, and I couldn¡¯t understand why I did that.¡± Her tears spilled over, her eyes brimming with pitiful tears as she spoke.


    She seemed to know how to use this to her advantage, stirring pity and tenderness in others, several men nearby even felt compelled to comfort her to stop crying.


    ¡°And the documents you stole, was your brain also swollen, your consciousness unclear?¡± Ji Tingyang said coldly.


    From the beginning, Ji Tingyang had considered the possibility that she might be the thief, but he didn¡¯t want to, nor was he willing to suspect Wen Li.


    When the butler brought that blank, so-called leaker¡¯s document, combined with Wen Li¡¯s reaction¡­


    Many things were self-explanatory.


    If this had happened before Lin Xu appeared, he might have continued to extract the last bit of warmth from her, unwilling to let her go, tormenting each other until the end of time.


    But now it was different, his mother had returned, and all the affection he had held for his mother had been withdrawn from Wen Li. Lin Xu also loved him unreservedly, their bond of blood ensuring they would never part.


    So, he no longer needed Wen Li.


    Because of his past torment of Wen Li, he still harbored a bit of guilt and had decided not to delve deeper into the matters of the leak and the drowning. Each would go their own way from now on.


    Hearing Ji Tingyang¡¯s words, Wen Li¡¯s head buzzed¡ªdid he already know?


    Her lips quivered, wanting to say something, then she heard Ji Tingyang continue, ¡°I have no intention of pursuing this matter; let¡¯s just let it go.¡±


    After speaking, he pulled his clothes from her grasp and turned away heartlessly.


    Wen Li watched his departing figure, tears swirling around finally slid silently down her cheeks.


    Sidon bystander Xu Wei chuckled out loud, ¡°Ah, what a drama to watch. Some people want to eat their cake and have it too, but sadly, they¡¯re utterly ignored.¡±


    Xu Wei laughed for a while, no longer caring about Wen Li, she left the club arm in arm with a man.


    Wen Li hung her head, sobbing softly.


    The crowd had dispersed, and the staff, who had been munching on popcorn, finally came back to their senses and remembered their duty, beckoning the non-member Wen Li to leave.


    ¡°Wen Li?!¡±


    A deep, surprised voice called her name from behind.


    Wen Li¡¯s steps halted as she heard the voice behind her and turned, pausing for a moment when she saw the face that had some resemblance to Ji Tingyang¡¯s.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡± Ji Zeqiu¡¯s face brightened with joy when he realized it was indeed Wen Li, quickly approaching her. But when he saw the tears on her face, he suddenly became worried, ¡°Why are you crying? Did someone bully you?¡±


    He frantically searched his pockets for a tissue, unable to find anything after a long search, then resorted to using his sleeve to wipe her tears away.


    Wen Li¡¯s suppressed agony released under Ji Zeqiu¡¯s brief warmth, like a hurt child who cries louder when consoled. She threw herself into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably.


    Ji Zeqiu held her, hand fumbling nervously.


    After a while.


    In Ji Zeqiu¡¯s car, Wen Li finally stopped crying. She gathered the tissues in her hands and softly said, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t need to be so formal with each other,¡± Ji Zeqiu said, smiling slightly, sounding a bit pleased, ¡°Did you come to see me?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here to find Ji Tingyang.¡± Wen Li¡¯s clear voice still carried a hint of tears.


    Upon hearing her words, the smile at the corners of Ji Zeqiu¡¯s mouth stiffened, and the joy in his eyes faded.


    He gripped the steering wheel tightly as his fingertips turned white.


    He really shouldn¡¯t have harbored any expectations; Wen Li never took the initiative to look for him.


    Could it be that in her heart, he would never measure up to Ji Tingyang?


    ¡°He¡­ didn¡¯t he leave you for Lin Xu, yet you still look for him, can¡¯t you let him go?¡± Ji Zeqiu¡¯s voice was slightly bitter.


    ¡°No!¡± Wen Li quickly retorted, not sure to whom she was trying to prove her point, ¡°I just wanted to talk to him about my father¡¯s situation.¡±


    She told Ji Zeqiu about her father being laid off and his troubles with work.


    Realizing it was not due to lingering feelings for Ji Tingyang, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s low spirits lifted, exclaiming, ¡°It¡¯s just a job, right? I can help your father find a job that pays no less than his current one.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu was no longer the rookie without any influence. In the past, when Wen Li¡¯s father needed a job, he couldn¡¯t help, allowing Ji Tingyang to jump ahead.


    But now, he had accumulated many connections in the entertainment industry over the years and introducing someone to a new job was a piece of cake for him.


    Hearing that Ji Zeqiu could help, Wen Li¡¯s face lit up with surprise, ¡°Really, can you do that?¡±


    ¡°Of course, I can arrange it tomorrow,¡± Ji Zeqiu assured.


    With the issue that had troubled her for days resolved, the worry on Wen Li¡¯s face vanished, leaving a bright smile on her lips.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s smile brightened in response, asking her, ¡°Are you hungry, do you want to eat something?¡±


    Wen Li hesitated for a moment, then shook her head, ¡°Just take me back to school, I have early classes tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Ji Zeqiu, handling the steering wheel, drove back to the school.


    Wen Li asked him to stop at the school gate, unbuckling her seatbelt while bidding Ji Zeqiu farewell.


    Ji Zeqiu glanced at her several times, hesitant to speak, but finally mustered the courage before she got out of the car, ¡°Wen Li.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°To you, am I forever just Ji Tingyang¡¯s little brother?¡±


    ¡°Of course not!¡±


    The excitement was just about to surface in Ji Zeqiu¡¯s heart when he heard her continue, ¡°You¡¯re also my friend!¡±

 Chapter 58 - Chapter 58: Chapter 58 So He Wasnt That Important?

    Chapter 58: Chapter 58 So He Wasn¡¯t That Important?


    Ji Zeqiu met Wen Li a bit later; from the day he met her, she was calling herself ¡°Ji Tingyang¡¯s little brother.¡±


    At first, he didn¡¯t think much of it.


    Until later¡­


    As a child, Ji Zeqiu was frail and frequently fell ill with fevers.


    Back then, Ji Tingyang was busy wrestling back the Ji Family¡¯s assets from relatives and was overwhelmed. Ji Zeqiu didn¡¯t want to worry Ji Tingyang, so he would force himself to cope, swallowing a few pills before dozing off in bed.


    Sometimes he would endure the illness by himself, but more often than not, Wen Li would be there taking care of him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m right here with you,¡± Wen Li would say, holding his hand and soothing him gently.


    Her voice was as light as a spring breeze, caressing his feverishly hot body, reminding him of the vague memory of his gentle mother.


    A sense of warmth bubbled up in his heart.


    However, the warmth she exuded wasn¡¯t exclusively for him; she was just as kind to Ji Tingyang and even told him about a boy she liked at school.


    A feeling of jealousy surged within him; he didn¡¯t want to share this warmth with anyone else.


    Late, the sound of Wen Li calling him ¡°Ji Tingyang¡¯s little brother¡±¡ªhe could no longer maintain the composure he initially had.


    ¡°My name is Ji Zeqiu. You can only call me by my name,¡± corrected Ji Zeqiu.


    He didn¡¯t want to forever be just somebody¡¯s little brother in her heart, but an independent individual instead.


    An independent man, and a potential partner.


    So, when he heard Wen Li say ¡°Of course not,¡± fireworks of excitement burst in his chest, only to be cruelly doused by a bucket of cold water.


    ¡°You¡¯re still my friend, though.¡±


    Just friends?


    Ji Zeqiu drove the car, his gaze fixed forward, his dark eyes brimming with stabbing pain.


    He arrived at the bottom of a residential building, and walked to an apartment door with familiar ease, entering the passcode before he proceeded inside.


    Hearing the sound of the door, the woman hurried out to see what was happening, relieved to find it wasn¡¯t a thief.


    Looking at Ji Zeqiu, she asked with some confusion, ¡°How come you¡¯re here¡­¡±


    Before she could finish, Ji Zeqiu pulled her into his embrace, burying his head in her neck, his voice muffled and despondent, ¡°Am I just a friend to you, why can¡¯t you like me?¡±


    Caught off guard by his abrupt words, Shen Qingtang paused for a moment before her hands tightened around Ji Zeqiu¡¯s waist, her lips curling into a bitter smile.


    She had thought Ji Zeqiu came to see her, but why couldn¡¯t she remember.


    Ji Zeqiu only remembered her, the substitute, when he was frustrated in the presence of that other woman.


    Ji Zeqiu grew more restless, his hands clasping around her waist tighter, causing her to hiss with pain.


    Despite the hurt inside, Shen Qingtang still patted his back, coaxing softly, ¡°I¡¯ve always liked you, liked you¡­¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Ji Zeqiu¡¯s rigid body gradually relaxed.


    The next morning.


    Sunlight penetrated the curtain, casting light on the floating dust particles and painting the room with a warm golden hue.


    Shen Qingtang opened her eyes groggily; she reached out to the other side of the bed to feel cold emptiness.


    She was jolted awake and sat up in bed.


    The bedroom was already devoid of Ji Zeqiu¡¯s presence.


    Her eyes lowered slightly as she fingered the blanket on her body, a sense of loss welling up inside her.


    The times Ji Zeqiu visited her home were few and far between, and occasionally, like this time, he would embrace her and quietly fall asleep after setbacks, but he always left before she woke up, as if he had never been there at all.


    She took the phone, and on the screen lay a transfer notification message.


    Without looking, Qingtang knew it was from Ji Zeqiu; she really wanted to be tough for once and return the money to him. But her family urgently needed the money, so she could only silently accept it.


    ¡ª¡ª


    Ji Zeqiu acted quickly. He merely mentioned it to his agent and soon found a job suitable for Father Wen.


    He couldn¡¯t wait to call Wen Li to tell her the good news and to hear her voice, but the call wouldn¡¯t go through.


    With the director urging him to get ready, Ji Zeqiu had no choice but to leave her a message and hand his phone to his agent for safekeeping.


    ¡°The weather is getting colder; this lake water is a bit icy. Let¡¯s aim for one take!¡± the director shouted through a megaphone.


    The scene was of the heroine being pushed into the water by the villain, with Ji Zeqiu, as the male lead, diving in to perform his heroic rescue.


    However, the actress playing the heroine wasn¡¯t in the right state of mind. The scene took many takes without success, which darkened the director¡¯s mood enough to scold her.


    Ji Zeqiu had no choice but to cooperate, entering the water over and over¡­


    The bitterly cold lake water splashed against him, sending a bone-chilling cold straight through to his heart.


    It had been a while.


    Ji Zeqiu fell ill.


    He lay in the hotel room, pale, coughing faintly and repeatedly, looking extremely gaunt.


    ¡°Brother Zhao, go see if Wen Li has come?¡± His expression was feeble, but his mind was still on Wen Li.


    After a day of classes, Wen Li finally had time to check her phone. Seeing his message that he¡¯d found a new job for her father, she happily sent a text thanking him.


    Ji Zeqiu stared at their conversation for a long time, and, as if possessed, he made a video call to her.


    Perhaps illness had made him more sentimental, and he desperately wanted to see her.


    ¡°Ah! What¡¯s happened to you?¡± exclaimed Wen Li upon seeing his pale cheeks.


    ¡°Seems like I have a fever, cough cough¡­¡±


    ¡°You look very serious. Where are you now? I¡¯ll come and see you.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu gave her the address of the hotel and then waited eagerly for her arrival, impatient as always, asking his agent every few minutes if she had come yet.


    However, hour after hour passed, the sky darkened, and he still hadn¡¯t seen Wen Li.


    The phone calls he made got no answer.


    The composure with which Ji Zeqiu had been waiting gradually slipped away. His heart felt as though it was being tightly squeezed, compressing into a tight mass, throbbing with dense pain.


    Perhaps due to his intense emotions, his illness worsened. In no time, Ji Zeqiu collapsed on the bed, falling into a deep sleep, his eyelids fluttering restlessly.


    Hadn¡¯t she promised to come see him?


    Why hadn¡¯t she come?


    Was he not important to her after all?


    Was even that slight warmth he felt slipping from his grasp¡­


    The feeling of sadness settled like silt in muddy bottle water, slowly settling down.


    In his hazy consciousness, Ji Zeqiu heard some noise at the door.


    ¡°You¡¯ve finally arrived. Zeqiu¡¯s illness seems to have gotten worse. He took some medicine but refuses to go to the hospital,¡± sighed the agent.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go check on him.¡± The voice was soft and gentle.


    In less than no time, Ji Zeqiu felt a cool touch on his forehead, and the heat inside him dissipated a little.


    ¡°Your temperature is so high. How did you get this sick?¡± Lin Xu held his hand, her lovely face showing a trace of concern.

 Chapter 59 - Chapter 59: Chapter 59: Accompanying Mom to Buy a Little Dress

    Chapter 59: Chapter 59: Accompanying Mom to Buy a Little Dress


    After Ji Zeqiu fell ill, the film crew needed to request leave, and his other engagements were subsequently postponed as well.


    The manager was so anxious he was running around in circles, even persuading Ji Zeqiu several times to go to the hospital and get an IV, which would help him recover faster.


    However, with his stubbornness kicking in, he just wouldn¡¯t budge, insisting on waiting here for Wen Li.


    The manager, fearing Ji Zeqiu was feverish to the point of delirium, could only procure some fever-reducing medicine for him, while praying that Wen Li would come quickly to convince this lord to get to the hospital.


    But from dawn to dusk, after five or six unanswered calls on Ji Zeqiu¡¯s mobile phone, nobody had picked up.


    He paced anxiously at the hotel entrance, and then it struck him like a flash of lightning. He thought of someone.


    Shen Qingtang.


    She and Wen Li were somewhat alike, and since Ji Zeqiu was out of his mind with fever, maybe he wouldn¡¯t be able to tell the two apart.


    Just as the manager was seriously considering this possibility, the phone finally rang.


    Without even checking the caller ID, he answered and blurted out, ¡°Lady Wen, where are you? If you don¡¯t come soon, Zeqiu is going to pass out from the fever!¡±


    ¡°What do you mean pass out from fever, what¡¯s happened to him!¡± There was a hitch in the breathing from the other end of the phone, and the delicate voice took on a tone of panic.


    It was a different timbre than Wen Li¡¯s.


    The manager glanced at the caller ID, only to realize that the person on the other side wasn¡¯t Wen Li, but Lin Xu.


    When had the two exchanged contact information?


    Just as a wisp of puzzlement began to form, Lin Xu¡¯s urgent voice cut through.


    ¡°Brother Zhao, hurry up and explain! What¡¯s happened to Zeqiu!¡±


    Under her prompting, the manager divulged Ji Zeqiu¡¯s condition to her.


    Lin Xu asked for the hotel¡¯s location, said she¡¯d be there soon, and hung up.


    This time, the manager really didn¡¯t have to wait long¡ªshe covered the several-dozen-kilometers distance from the city to the hotel in half an hour.


    At least someone had come.


    That¡¯s what the manager thought as he opened the door to let her in, ¡°You¡¯ve finally arrived, Zeqiu¡¯s condition seems to have worsened¡­¡±


    Lin Xu approached and saw Ji Zeqiu¡¯s cheeks burning red; he was clutching the blanket to his chest tightly, as if enduring a nightmare, sweat beading on his forehead with heavy, uneasy breaths.


    Lin Xu reached out and touched his forehead, the scalding temperature spreading from his skin to the palm of her hand, causing her to cry out in shock.


    She took out the fever-reducing patch she had bought on the way and applied it to his forehead, hoping it would help cool him down.


    The cool sensation dispelled the hot breaths, and Ji Zeqiu¡¯s furrowed brows gradually relaxed.


    Even though he had taken medicine, Lin Xu was still worried and asked the manager to call a doctor to give Ji Zeqiu a fever-reducing injection.


    ¡°What if he doesn¡¯t want to?¡± the manager hesitated.


    ¡°He¡¯s passed out, how would he know all this,¡± Lin Xu said.


    Hearing this, the manager thought it made sense and took out his phone to arrange a doctor¡¯s visit.


    Even in his dazed and slumbering state, Ji Zeqiu remained acutely sensitive; he began to struggle uncomfortably as soon as the doctor raised the needle.


    The familiar scene caused Lin Xu a moment of daze, and almost instinctively, she took Ji Zeqiu¡¯s hand. Without giving it much thought, the words came out as if they had been said a thousand times before:


    ¡°Zeqiu be good, we¡¯re just going to get a fever shot, and after it¡¯s done you¡¯ll feel much better, then you can continue to go shopping with mom~¡±


    Her voice was soft, melodic and pleasant, effortlessly conjuring shared memories.


    In one or two months before Lin Xu passed away, Xiao Zeqiu had just recovered from an illness with a severe fever.


    Just like all little kids, Xiao Zeqiu also hated going to the hospital and would rather take medicine than get an injection.


    However, after taking medicine for a day, his temperature didn¡¯t go down but instead increased, worrying Lin Xu so much she was close to crying. She had no choice but to call the family doctor to give him an injection.


    When Xiao Zeqiu saw the needle, he wrapped himself in the blanket and shrank into the bed, crying. The tears, as big as peas, kept spilling from his eyes, wetting his little rosy cheeks, making even the doctor feel pity.


    Lin Xu had to hold him in her arms and coax him, holding his little hand and saying, ¡°¡­ it¡¯ll be better soon after the injection, and then you can keep accompanying Mommy to go out shopping~¡±


    Because he was sick, Xiao Zeqiu had to lie in bed and couldn¡¯t continue accompanying Lin Xu to buy pretty dresses, wrinkling his little face with worry.


    After weighing the options between his mother and the injection for a few seconds, Xiao Zeqiu conceded, pouting, ¡°Alright then, just one shot, and after it¡¯s done, I¡¯ll go with Mommy to buy dresses.¡±


    As he watched the needle descend, those round eyes suddenly closed tight, fearfully shrinking into Lin Xu¡¯s embrace.


    The pain lasted for a few seconds, and then the fever-reducing injection was over.


    The doctor retracted the needle and the agent escorted him out.


    Most of the past, Ji Zeqiu hardly remembered now, even forgetting what his mother looked like.


    It was as though a big hole had been gouged out of his chest, with many memories excavated from it. The mouth of that hole would occasionally widen, lonely and painful.


    He also didn¡¯t dare to go through photos, afraid that he would remember the good life his family of five once had and tear a new bloody scar over that hole.


    He could only choose to forget.


    But today, he inexplicably remembered things he had long forgotten.


    Tears spilled from his tightly closed eyes, wetting Ji Zeqiu¡¯s long lashes, his grip on Lin Xu¡¯s hand getting stronger, murmuring softly at the corner of his mouth.


    Lin Xu leaned close to listen and heard him say, ¡°¡­ after the shot, I¡¯ll go with Mommy to buy dresses.¡±


    It seemed that even though he claimed to hate his mother, when he was sick and vulnerable, he still called for his mommy.


    Lin Xu took a tissue to wipe the sweat from his body and smiled faintly, ¡°Okay, then after you wake up we¡¯ll go buy dresses.¡±


    ¡°Mm¡­¡±


    Ji Zeqiu uttered a dull and blurry response, his breathing even, and he gradually fell asleep.


    He slept very deeply.


    Ji Zeqiu dreamed of many things from his childhood, hugging his mother and asking her to tell him stories, insisting she stay with him to sleep without going back to her room, the bits and pieces of the fun they had at the amusement park¡­


    However, his mother¡¯s face was like a mosaic, blurred and indistinct. He tried hard to open his eyes, but no matter how hard he looked, he couldn¡¯t see clearly.


    As dawn broke, his mother, like a mermaid, slowly became transparent, and like bubbles, the warm hand that held his also slipped away from his grasp.


    ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t go, don¡¯t go¡­¡± Ji Zeqiu flailed his hands in panic, trying to grab something.


    The next moment.


    He suddenly opened his eyes, staring blankly at the white ceiling, an uncomfortable feeling rising from his heart and spreading to his limbs.


    Ji Zeqiu reached out to clutch his chest but found his hand held by someone.


    He paused for a moment, remembering that Wen Li had said she would visit him the day before; a hint of joy appeared on his pale face.


    ¡°Wen¡­¡±


    Ji Zeqiu turned his head and the words abruptly halted when he saw the face resting quietly on the edge of the bed.


    How could it be Lin Xu?


    Has she been here all night?

 Chapter 60 - Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Having No Expectations at All

    Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Having No Expectations at All


    Rustling noises echoed by his ear, and Lin Xu¡¯s eyelids twitched as he slowly woke up, his eyes immediately meeting Ji Zeqiu¡¯s somewhat surprised gaze.


    ¡°You¡¯re awake? How do you feel? Has the fever gone down?¡± Lin Xu¡¯s voice was still groggy and slurred from sleepiness.


    He shuffled his stiff limbs around and sat up in the bed, reaching out to check the temperature on his forehead.


    The temperature was normal.


    Lin Xu breathed a sigh of relief and then poured a glass of water for him, ¡°You sweated a lot last night, drink some water to hydrate.¡±


    But Ji Zeqiu just stared at the glass in her hand, unmoving, apparently lost in thought.


    ¡°Do you want me to feed you?¡± Lin Xu asked, puzzled, but she had no objections to it.


    She had fed him his meals when they were children, so a glass of water now didn¡¯t make much difference.


    As the glass touched his lips, Ji Zeqiu suddenly snapped back to reality, jerking his head back and away from the glass.


    Even though the fever was gone, his cheeks were now flushed with redness, and his speech was unclear, ¡°Who-who-who¡­ Who said I wanted you to feed me!¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want me to feed you, then why don¡¯t you hold the glass yourself?¡± Lin Xu said, irritably pushing the cup into his hands.


    ¡°I was just thinking!¡± Ji Zeqiu huffed, gulping down the water in one go, ¡°How come you are here?¡±


    ¡°Your agent told me you were sick, I asked for the address and came to check on you.¡±


    ¡°He just told you like that!¡± Ji Zeqiu fumed.


    The woman in front of him was his fan, and possibly a girlfriend fan who waved ¡°I love you¡± support sticks!


    What if she did something sneaky!


    At that thought, Ji Zeqiu crossed his arms and looked at her with suspicion, ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything to me, did you?¡±


    Lin Xu rolled her eyes, ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask what you did to me?¡±


    ¡°What could I possibly do?¡± Ji Zeqiu dismissed the idea.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know who it was last night, holding my hand and constantly shouting not to go.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu: ?


    ¡°Impossible!¡± He exclaimed, his black eyes wide with conviction.


    Lin Xu pulled out her phone and played a recording in front of him, which indeed captured Ji Zeqiu¡¯s weak voice begging her not to leave.


    Hearing this irrefutable evidence, Ji Zeqiu froze in place, visibly shaken.


    How could he possibly beg this woman not to leave¡­


    ¡°I, I must have mistaken you for Wen Li last night,¡± he claimed, forcing a smile.


    Right! Exactly!


    Lin Xu glanced at him with a light expression, keeping to herself that the recording hadn¡¯t finished playing; the rest was filled with his painful cries for his ¡°mom.¡±


    Remembering his icy look whenever she mentioned his mother, she had no intention of telling him about it.


    Lin Xu yawned and pushed Ji Zeqiu from the bed, ¡°Get up, let me sleep for a while.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu had a persistent fever all last night, and Lin Xu busied herself wiping his sweat, and changing his fever-reducing patches until she fell asleep on the edge of the bed around three or four in the morning.


    ¡°I¡¯m still sick, why should I let¡­¡± He started angrily, but when he saw the dark circles under Lin Xu¡¯s eyes, his voice trailed off.


    He hesitated for a moment and got out of bed, ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand, I¡¯m just getting up to breathe some fresh air, not specifically to let you sleep on the bed.¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay, then go breathe, and don¡¯t forget to bring me back some breakfast, I¡¯m so hungry,¡± Lin Xu mumbled.


    ¡°Why should I bring breakfast for you, get it yourself if you¡¯re hungry!¡± Ji Zeqiu complained loudly, but when he turned around, he found she had already fallen asleep, like punching cotton.


    Fury subsided, Ji Zeqiu clenched his teeth, hummed in his throat, and turned to leave the room.


    The manager just happened to come back from outside and met an invigorated Ji Zeqiu in the hallway, finally putting to rest the worries that had plagued him all night.


    ¡°You¡¯ve just recovered, instead of staying in the room, where are you going?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Looking for something to eat,¡± Ji Zeqiu replied casually.


    The manager gave a grunt, and as he was about to return to his room, seemingly to rest, Ji Zeqiu stopped him before he could open the door.


    ¡°Brother Zhao, come with me,¡± he said.


    ¡°Okay, let me just grab something from my room,¡± the manager replied.


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother with that, let¡¯s hurry,¡± Ji Zeqiu seemed urgent, and dragged him away.


    The hotel¡¯s buffet was lavish, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s fever had subsided, but his appetite wasn¡¯t great, aimlessly poking at the scarce food on his plate.


    Just then, his phone in his pocket started ringing.


    It was Wen Li calling.


    If it had been any other day, receiving a call from her would have immediately thrilled him.


    But remembering how she had broken their agreement yesterday, his eyes grew complex as he stared at her picture on the incoming call screen.


    The phone rang for a long time, and just when it was about to disconnect automatically, he couldn¡¯t help but answer.


    He thought, maybe she really had something incredibly important that kept her away.


    Maybe she had an accident, fell ill, or there was some emergency at home¡­


    He should give her a chance to explain.


    Thinking this, Ji Zeqiu spoke, ¡°Wen Li, are you okay?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± The person on the other end was taken aback, not understanding what he meant by that, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, I said I would visit you yesterday, but my teacher suddenly demanded the homework early, and I pulled an all-nighter, didn¡¯t even have a chance to check my phone,¡± Wen Li explained. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. Are you feeling better now?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu opened his mouth to respond but felt his throat tighten with a prickly pain, and he couldn¡¯t speak.


    ¡°Wen Li, there¡¯s just a bit left, come over and finish it,¡± a distant voice came from her phone, someone beside Wen Li spoke.


    ¡°Xiao Yu, don¡¯t move, I¡¯m still on the phone!¡± Wen Li scolded playfully.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s throat rolled, his usually deep magnetic voice now raspy and harsh. ¡°Who are you with?¡± he asked, knowingly.


    Wen Li hesitated but responded, ¡°It¡¯s Xiao Yu, I don¡¯t know how to do a lot of the homework, and he said he could tutor me.¡±


    So had she been with Xiao Yu from yesterday to now?


    Ji Zeqiu felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, a chill running up from his feet.


    ¡°Right, are you feeling better now? I¡¯m free after class today, should I come see you?¡±


    Wen Li was still talking, but Ji Zeqiu no longer wanted to listen, holding no expectations, he abruptly hung up the phone.


    ¡°Are we done eating? Let¡¯s go back if we¡¯re done,¡± Ji Zeqiu stood up to leave, walked a few steps, then appeared to remember something, turned back, and packed up another breakfast.


    The manager assumed he hadn¡¯t eaten enough, and didn¡¯t ask further.


    It wasn¡¯t until they returned to the hotel room and saw him devouring the breakfast Ji Zeqiu had brought back that he realized.


    No wonder he didn¡¯t let him go back to the room earlier and insisted on grabbing food, as Lin Xu was inside.


    Indeed, being alone with a woman was not right.


    Confronted with the manager¡¯s teasing eyes, Ji Zeqiu thought he was referring to the breakfast and defensively retorted, ¡°I didn¡¯t bring it especially for her. I¡¯m just afraid she¡¯ll starve to death in my room and the police will come after me!¡±

 Chapter 61 - Chapter 61: Chapter 61: Auction House

    chapter 61: chapter 61: auction house


    ji zeqiu¡¯s fever had subsided, but his body was still somewhat weak. seeing that there were still two or three days left of his leave, his manager simply let him go home to rest.


    back at the apartment, after taking his medicine ji zeqiu lay in bed and drifted into a heavy sleep.


    his eyebrows were tightly furrowed, as if he was not sleeping peacefully.


    ji zeqiu dreamed he was curled up in a dark corner, endlessly waiting for wen li¡¯s arrival.


    the ticking of the clock echoed in his ears incessantly, at first, he followed the ticking sound in his mind, thirty, three hundred, three thousand¡­


    gradually, he lost track of the count, was it millions or tens of millions?


    the ticking sound continued, bit by bit torturing the will of his wait.


    but the door remained tightly shut, with no one coming to find him.


    he buried his head between his legs, biting his lips hard, just as he was about to give up, finally, there was a noise at the door.


    a beautiful figure in a dress walked in, extending her hand towards him with a gentle smile on her lips, ¡°mommy has come to take you home¡­¡±


    his hands trembling, he placed his hand on top of hers and looked up, wanting to see the face of the person clearly, only to be woken up by a clattering noise.


    he opened his eyes, escaping the gloomy and frightening room, and the tautness in his emotions eased.


    the noise arose once more.


    ¡°ah ah, the oil is splattering!¡±


    ¡°hiss, that hurts!¡±


    ji zeqiu rubbed his temples irritably and got up to go to the living room. seeing lin xu in the kitchen instantly invigorated him, ¡°what are you doing?!¡±


    ¡°you¡¯re awake, i was thinking of cooking something for you to strengthen your body,¡± lin xu gestured with the spatula in her hand.


    ji zeqiu glanced at the slightly charred meat in the pot, his expression somewhat complex, recalling the previous unpalatable stir-fried meat. he snatched the spatula from lin xu¡¯s hand, leading her to the living room, ¡°cooking is the nanny¡¯s job, let her handle it. you should do your own thing.¡±


    ¡°but i don¡¯t really have anything else to do,¡± lin xu blinked.


    ¡°then play with your phone or read a magazine,¡± ji zeqiu said, pushing a magazine into her arms without any discussion.


    ¡°¡­alright.¡± let¡¯s assume he is considering his tired mother.


    lin xu casually flipped through the magazine in her hands.


    seeing the spatula taken over by the nanny, ji zeqiu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.


    however, it wasn¡¯t long before he heard lin xu shout in surprise again.


    ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡± ji zeqiu asked.


    lin xu turned the magazine around, pointing at a jewelry necklace on the page, her eyes sparkling, ¡°this necklace is so beautiful!¡±


    ji zeqiu wasn¡¯t interested in that kind of thing, he glanced over briefly and said indifferently, ¡°it¡¯s alright.¡±


    ¡°let¡¯s go buy it!¡± lin xu was excited.


    ¡°if you want to go, go by yourself,¡± he had no intention of going out with her.


    ¡°how can i buy it if you don¡¯t go?¡±


    ¡°don¡¯t tell me you want me to buy it for you?¡± ji zeqiu was astonished.


    ¡°is that not okay?¡± lin xu batted her eyes at him, those translucent and sparkling eyes so affecting that they softened one¡¯s heart.


    ji zeqiu abruptly turned his head away, his voice stiff, ¡°of course, it¡¯s not okay!¡±


    he wasn¡¯t ji tingyang, why should he buy it for her, especially with such an entitled tone.


    ¡°really, it can¡¯t be?¡± lin xu reached out to touch the necklace on the magazine, a look of regret on her face.


    her lips pursed into a straight line, the joyous expression she had earlier fell, her long lashes quivered slightly, displaying a pitiful appearance.


    ¡°actually¡­¡± ji zeqiu¡¯s eyes flickered awkwardly, ¡°it¡¯s not that i can¡¯t buy it for you¡­¡±


    should he let ji tingyang buy it for her? this thought had just surfaced when he heard his own change of heart.


    ¡°really?!¡± lin xu abruptly looked up, her dim eyes suddenly bursting with light as she gazed straight at him, ¡°i knew you were the best to me!¡±


    the ears hidden beneath her tousled hair slowly reddened as ji zeqiu stiffened his neck and shouted, ¡°i¡¯m not buying you a necklace because i¡¯m good to you! this is a thank-you gift for protecting me on the cliff before, and for taking care of me yesterday. after this, we¡¯re even. got it!¡±


    ¡°alright, alright, i understand.¡± lin xu cheerfully cupped her cheeks.


    ¡°as long as you know.¡± ji zeqiu muttered, taking the magazine to see how to make the purchase.


    ¡°i¡¯ve checked already, it¡¯s at the auction house over there, the time is this afternoon, and setting off now is just right.¡± lin xu had already memorized the details and was pulling him to leave.


    as a public figure, ji zeqiu found it inconvenient to appear in public with lin xu, as getting photographed could easily land them in the hot searches.


    hence, he contacted the auction house staff, secured a private box, and took lin xu with him.


    with about ten minutes until the start of the auction, lin xu passed the time by casually flipping through the booklet of the evening¡¯s auction items.


    she was drawn to a pink diamond bracelet and after counting the zeroes following the starting bid, she quickly abandoned the thought of asking ji zeqiu to buy it for her.


    there were too many zeroes behind; her son still lived in a pitiful little apartment, so she might as well forget about the bracelet.


    sitting opposite, ji zeqiu was completely unaware that lin xu was pitying him in her heart again, or else he would have insisted on showing her his bank account balance to prove his capability.


    one by one, the attendees of the auction began to arrive, and the auction started.


    the first items were antiques and calligraphy that lin xu had no interest in. it wasn¡¯t until mid-auction that the staff brought up the gemstone necklace she had set her eyes on.


    many men who had come with their female companions started bidding, and in no time, the price had shot up to a million.


    ¡°one million two hundred thousand.¡± lin xu hurriedly raised the bid.


    ¡°one million five hundred thousand.¡± someone quickly outbid her.


    lin xu: ¡°one million six hundred thousand.¡±


    ¡°one million eight hundred thousand.¡± outbid again.


    after several rounds, the price had escalated to three million, and each of lin xu¡¯s bids was suppressed.


    this feeling was extremely unpleasant.


    lin xu was so frustrated her eyes bulged, even tempted to go straight to five million, but the thought of wasting ji zeqiu¡¯s money made her suppress this urge, downcast as she sipped her tea.


    ji zeqiu clicked his tongue and as the staff¡¯s gavel was about to fall for the first time, a deep voice came from the box, ¡°seven million.¡±


    he boldly added four million more, full of determination to secure the necklace.


    the man who had been competing with lin xu downstairs paused for a moment, and then sheepishly put down his bidding card.


    he gave up.


    no one else continued to bid, and the necklace went to ji zeqiu without contest.


    ji zeqiu looked away, meeting lin xu¡¯s eyes shining with touched emotion.


    ¡°i didn¡¯t think you would spend so much money for a necklace for me.¡±


    ji zeqiu averted his gaze, his voice stumbling and stiff, ¡°don¡¯t get me wrong, i just couldn¡¯t stand that guy!¡±

 Chapter 62 - Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Ji Zeqiu Didnt Know After All

    chapter 62: chapter 62: ji zeqiu didn¡¯t know after all


    the auction was still ongoing, and the pink diamond bracelet that lin xu had seen in the auction booklet was also up for bidding.


    the bidding was even more intense than for the necklace earlier and had quickly escalated to ten million.


    ¡°do you want it?¡± ji zeqiu noticed that lin xu occasionally looked up at the stage, seeming interested in the bracelet.


    thinking that since they were already there, buying two items was just as good as buying one¡ªif she wanted it, he might as well buy it for her.


    it certainly wasn¡¯t for any other reason.


    seeing that ji zeqiu was considering placing a higher bid, lin xu shook her head vigorously at him, ¡°no, no, don¡¯t buy it.¡±


    this bracelet was much more expensive than the necklace, and she feared he would go bankrupt.


    ¡°really?¡± ji zeqiu was skeptical.


    ¡°yes, yes, i don¡¯t like this bracelet at all!¡± lin xu said earnestly.


    ¡°alright then,¡± ji zeqiu had no choice but to abandon the idea of continuing to bid.


    during their conversation, the bracelet was sold for twenty million.


    lin xu patted her chest, relieved that she hadn¡¯t let ji zeqiu buy it.


    after the auction ended, ji zeqiu and lin xu went backstage at the auction hall, paid the money, and then collected the jewelry necklace.


    lin xu gazed at the necklace, feeling somewhat emotional: ¡°thinking about it, this seems to be the first gift you¡¯ve given me. i will cherish it, even holding it while i sleep!¡±


    the latter statement was clearly an exaggeration.


    ji zeqiu¡¯s cheeks flashed with embarrassment as he snapped, ¡°this isn¡¯t a gift, it¡¯s a return gift, a return gift! don¡¯t you understand?¡±


    he certainly wasn¡¯t the type to give gifts to this woman!


    plus, her accepting it meant they were even, understand?


    ¡°a gift and a return gift are both gifts, they¡¯re the same, don¡¯t overreact.¡± lin xu soothed him.


    ¡°how are they the same!¡± ji zeqiu glared at her.


    giving a gift was willingly, while a return gift was merely a social nicety, a kind of morally obligatory act.


    he wouldn¡¯t admit that he would give gifts to lin xu.


    the two bickered as they walked out of the auction hall¡¯s backstage.


    ji zeqiu realized he couldn¡¯t outtalk this woman at all, and was fuming all the way; just as he was brooding, he noticed lin xu halted her steps abruptly.


    before he could ask, he heard her shout toward a not-too-distant place, ¡°ji tingyang!¡±


    following her gaze, ji zeqiu saw ji tingyang¡¯s upright figure standing at the entrance of the auction hall, talking to someone.


    hearing her voice, ji tingyang paused in his conversation, then turned his head.


    the moment he saw lin xu, ji zeqiu noticed his eyes suddenly sparkled with energy. he left the person he was with and quickly walked toward lin xu.


    the expression on ji tingyang¡¯s face overflowed with unspoken joy, but upon seeing ji zeqiu next to her, that joy faded slightly, and he clicked his tongue in disapproval.


    ¡°what¡¯s with that tongue-clicking! do you think i wanted to see you!¡± ji zeqiu snapped.


    ji tingyang paid him no heed and turned to lin xu, ¡°are you here to see me?¡±


    ¡°don¡¯t flatter yourself, who knew you were here? she came here to shop with me,¡± ji zeqiu interjected. ¡°if we had known you were here, we wouldn¡¯t have come today.¡±


    ji tingyang ignored ji zeqiu and continued chatting with lin xu, ¡°i just bought you a gift, guess what it is?¡±


    ji zeqiu: ¡°what good gift could it possibly be?¡±


    ji tingyang to lin xu: ¡°it¡¯s something you¡¯ll like.¡±


    ji zeqiu: ¡°whatever she likes, i¡¯ve already bought, what else could you possibly buy?¡±


    ji tingyang: ¡°the moment i saw it, i felt it was perfect for you. i thought i had to buy it and give it to you.¡±


    ji zeqiu, ¡°suitability isn¡¯t important, liking it is what matters most.¡±


    ¡°can you just shut up!¡± ji tingyang couldn¡¯t bear it anymore.


    their mother hadn¡¯t even spoken yet, and he kept on complaining!


    who wanted to hear him talk!


    seeing the two brothers about to start arguing again, lin xu quickly interjected, changing the subject, ¡°what¡¯s the gift? let me see it quick!¡±


    hearing her words, ji tingyang didn¡¯t bother with ji zeqiu anymore and took a small box out of the bag he was holding, opening it.


    inside lay a pink diamond-studded bracelet.


    it was the very bracelet that had sold at the auction for twenty million.


    a flash of surprise and joy crossed lin xu¡¯s eyes. just as she was about to speak, she heard ji zeqiu¡¯s scoff.


    ¡°this is the gift you said she¡¯d definitely like? hahaha, she doesn¡¯t like this bracelet at all.¡±


    that¡¯s what lin xu had told him when he wanted to buy it just a moment ago.


    ji tingyang¡¯s smile at the corner of his lips froze, and his eyes filled with a touch of disappointment as he sought confirmation from lin xu, ¡°is that true?¡±


    ¡°tell him you don¡¯t like it at all,¡± ji zeqiu urged¡ª he was eager to see ji tingyang made a fool of.


    lin xu, ¡°¡­¡±


    with both their gazes fixed intently on her, she suddenly felt tremendously pressured.


    whichever answer she gave, she felt like she couldn¡¯t treat them both equally.


    ¡°i, i¡­¡± lin xu¡¯s mind raced, and she bent over clutching her stomach, moaning in pain, ¡°ouch, my stomach hurts so much, i must have eaten something wrong. i¡¯m going to the restroom first!¡±


    with that, she slipped away swiftly and dashed towards the restroom without looking back.


    ji tingyang and ji zeqiu were left standing there, looking at each other.


    ji zeqiu glanced at the bracelet and, recalling the twenty million bid, sarcastically remarked, ¡°twenty million for a bracelet, president ji really is generous.¡±


    ¡°as long as she likes it, even fifty million wouldn¡¯t matter,¡± ji tingyang said calmly.


    ¡°do you really like lin xu that much?¡± ji zeqiu recalled how ji tingyang had gotten rid of wen li for lin xu, clenching his fists, ¡°more than you liked wen li?¡±


    ¡°what are you talking about?¡± ji tingyang frowned, not understanding.


    he liked his mother, what did that have to do with wen li.


    ¡°what¡¯s so good about lin xu compared to wen li, her cooking isn¡¯t as good, nor is she as gentle and simple as wen li, who doesn¡¯t love to buy so many pieces of jewelry and bags¡­¡± ji zeqiu listed a multitude of lin xu¡¯s shortcomings.


    he couldn¡¯t understand, ¡°you¡¯re not thinking of marrying her into the family in the future, are you? well, i won¡¯t agree to that!¡±


    ji tingyang¡¯s mind became clear all of a sudden.


    ji tingyang had always thought that lin xu had gone to do a paternity test with ji zeqiu long ago, telling him about her identity, and that ji zeqiu also knew lin xu was their mother.


    that¡¯s why he felt so reassured letting ji zeqiu protect lin xu at the banquet.


    it was also because ji zeqiu couldn¡¯t stand seeing him get along well with his mother, always trying to separate him from her, urging her to move in with him.


    but what ji tingyang hadn¡¯t expected was that¡­


    could it be that ji zeqiu didn¡¯t know?


    so that¡¯s why he showed a bit of hostility towards their mother from time to time?


    ji tingyang¡¯s lips quietly curled up.


    not knowing was better.


    he certainly wouldn¡¯t go out of his way to tell ji zeqiu. that way, his mother would forever be just his own.


    thinking this, his mood gradually lightened, and even ji zeqiu appeared somewhat more agreeable to him.

 Chapter 63 - Chapter 63: Chapter 63: From now on, we are friends.

    chapter 63: chapter 63: from now on, we are friends.


    during the few days of sick leave at home, ji zeqiu hadn¡¯t been resting well, tossing and turning every night, only to return to that dream where he curled up in a dark corner whenever he fell asleep.


    he tossed and turned, waking up several times throughout each night.


    ¡°can¡¯t you sleep?¡± a voice as small and subdued as that of a mosquito came from outside the door.


    since the housekeeper didn¡¯t stay overnight, the person speaking outside had to be lin xu.


    ji zeqiu turned over and replied, ¡°i was already asleep.¡±


    ¡°liar, how can you talk if you are asleep?¡± lin xu murmured.


    ji zeqiu ignored her. after a moment of silence, there came a ¡°thud thud¡± of knocking at the door.


    the knocking had a rhythm that set one¡¯s heart on edge.


    ji zeqiu¡¯s temples throbbed with impatience as he got up to open the door, his heart skipping a beat at the sight of lin xu¡¯s face hidden in the darkness.


    this silhouette was so much like the person in his dreams¡­


    it was almost as if it were¡­


    ¡°are you having nightmares and afraid to sleep? do you want me to lull you to sleep?¡± lin xu¡¯s voice interrupted his train of thought.


    ¡°who said i¡¯m afraid to sleep? i was sleeping just fine until you woke me up!¡± ji zeqiu protested.


    ¡°i could hear noises from your bedroom in the bathroom; if you¡¯re not having trouble sleeping, were you sleepwalking then?¡± lin xu eyed him.


    she had drunk too much water and got up two or three times to use the bathroom that night, each time hearing noises from his bedroom.


    ultimately, she couldn¡¯t rest easy, so she had come to check on him.


    ji zeqiu¡¯s cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but thankfully it was not very noticeable in the dim night. ¡°yes, that¡¯s right, it¡¯s sleepwalking.¡±


    ¡°oh~¡± lin xu chuckled lightly, ¡°i¡¯ve been staying over for quite a while, and this is the first time i¡¯ve heard that you sleepwalk.¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s not like it happens every night, just that it happened today, is that a problem!¡± hearing the mockery in her words, ji zeqiu¡¯s cheeks reddened even further as he spoke indignantly.


    ¡°alright, i won¡¯t tease you,¡± lin xu said as she pushed him back toward the bed.


    in no time, ji zeqiu found himself half-pushed, half-pulled back onto the bed and tucked under the covers.


    ¡°i¡¯ll stay right here by your side, so you don¡¯t have to be scared of having nightmares. i¡¯ll wait until you fall asleep before i go back. sleep now,¡± lin xu said softly, patting the blanket over his chest, her voice quietly comforting.


    ji zeqiu¡¯s restless feelings gradually subsided in the softness of her voice.


    suddenly,


    he remembered the words ji tingyang had said when he took lin xu away from the villa.


    ¡°let¡¯s see if you can avoid letting her lull you to sleep.¡±


    what had he answered back then?


    he wouldn¡¯t let this woman lull him.


    but what about now?


    the words he had spoken back then hit him like a boomerang.


    ji zeqiu¡¯s cheeks burned with shame as he struggled awkwardly, ¡°i don¡¯t need you to lull me!¡±


    ¡°be good, don¡¯t talk,¡± lin xu said, patting his head.


    ¡°you¡ª¡± he was about to say more when she shushed him.


    lin xu was quite adept at lulling someone to sleep; just a few months ago, she had used the same methods to put the five-year-old xiao zeqiu to bed.


    it was no challenge for her.


    an involuntary hum of a lullaby came from her lips, a favorite when she used to put the three children to sleep.


    no lyrics, just this light, floating melody that wafted through the room.


    ji zeqiu felt as though he had heard it somewhere before, but where exactly?


    he thought and thought, and before he knew it, he had fallen asleep.


    the melody was like sunshine, illuminating his dark dreams, filling the entire room, leaving him no place to hide.


    his whole being was basking in warmth, making him comfortable and at ease.


    the nightmare did not continue, and that night he slept very peacefully.


    when he woke up the next day,


    lin xu was no longer by his side, and he didn¡¯t know when she had left.


    after waking up, ji zeqiu lingered in the bedroom, hesitating to open the door with his hand raised then lowered, never daring to face lin xu.


    at his age, he actually needed someone else to coax him to sleep.


    what if that woman laughed at him!


    he hesitated for a long time but finally, responding to the nanny¡¯s call of ¡°time to eat¡±, he walked out of the bedroom.


    during the meal, ji zeqiu kept his eyes down, without looking at lin xu the whole time.


    it was only when picking up food, when their chopsticks touched in the dish, that ji zeqiu instinctively looked up at her, and then collided with her seemingly smiling eyes.


    he flinched like a startled kitten, his fur bristling before lin xu had said anything.


    ¡°you insisted on coming in to coax me to sleep last night. i had no choice! it wasn¡¯t voluntary!¡±


    ¡°alright, you were forced by me.¡±


    he turned his head and snorted coldly.


    after his sick leave ended and he had lunch, ji zeqiu got into his agent¡¯s car and continued on to the filming location.


    now with some free time and her injuries healed, lin xu finally had a chance to go out for a beauty treatment.


    in the midst of it, she also took the time to visit a mall, but she didn¡¯t expect to run into the little girl again in the luxury bag store.


    ¡°this bag was bought here, why on earth would you suspect it¡¯s a fake!¡± ji yuqiao slammed the table, indignant.


    ¡°i¡¯m sorry, miss, we¡¯re not saying this bag of yours is counterfeit. it¡¯s just that it¡¯s too worn and it¡¯s also an old model now, so we¡¯re unable to take it back,¡± the staff explained to her.


    ¡°then you could give me a discount, i wouldn¡¯t mind even if it¡¯s just twenty thousand yuan.¡± this bag had cost her hundreds of thousands when she bought it.


    ¡°i¡¯m sorry¡­¡± the staff¡¯s expression showed difficulty.


    ¡°if you don¡¯t take it, call your manager over, let¡¯s see if he¡¯ll take it!¡± ji yuqiao demonstrated her unreasonable stubbornness.


    lin xu walked over and smiled at the staff, ¡°although this bag is an old model, it was a global limited edition of only ten at the time. such a limited and discontinued item should be quite easy to resell. maybe you could reassess its value?¡±


    ¡°this¡­ alright.¡± lin xu was also a valued customer of the store, and upon hearing her suggestion, the staff nodded and took the bag to the back.


    it wasn¡¯t long before the staff came back out.


    the bag could indeed be taken back, but due to significant wear, they could only offer twenty thousand yuan for it.


    this was already quite good for ji yuqiao, who readily accepted.


    ¡°thank you so much! i didn¡¯t expect to see you again. if it hadn¡¯t been for you, i wouldn¡¯t have been able to sell this bag.¡± receiving the money, ji yuqiao was overly excited, even wanting to treat lin xu to a meal.


    ¡°no need.¡± lin xu was too embarrassed to let her foot the bill.


    seeing her selling the bag for cash, lin xu could guess she hadn¡¯t reconciled with her family yet and was running low on funds.


    another meal would have left her with very little of the twenty thousand yuan. at this rate, who knew how many more bags she had left to sell.


    ¡°alright.¡± ji yuqiao was not pushy, slapping her chest in a very hearty manner, ¡°given you¡¯ve helped me so many times, we¡¯re friends now. let me know if you need anything in the future, i¡¯m here to help.¡±


    though lin xu didn¡¯t know what she could possibly need her help with, she still smiled and responded, ¡°okay.¡±


    ¡°since we¡¯re friends now, let¡¯s add each other on wechat,¡± ji yuqiao took out her phone.


    lin xu likewise pulled out her phone.


    but upon seeing the photo of lin xu with ji zeqiu on her phone screen, ji yuqiao¡¯s expression suddenly turned to shock.

 Chapter 64 - Chapter 64: Chapter 64 Letting Down His Guard

    chapter 64: chapter 64 letting down his guard


    ji yuqiao looked at lin xu, then at her phone, the selfie of the two of them still vivid in her mind.


    in the photo, ji zeqiu was dressed in ancient costume, it seemed to be taken on set, and their cheeks were very close together.


    why did lin xu have a selfie with ji zeqiu?


    could it be¡­


    ¡°you¡¯re a fan of ji zeqiu?¡± ji yuqiao asked, puzzled.


    many of her classmates were fans of ji zeqiu, attending events, so having a few selfies with him wasn¡¯t unusual.


    ji yuqiao also understood his appeal, from ten-year-old girls to women in their forties and fifties, he had a wide fan base.


    ¡°yes.¡± lin xu smiled faintly, knowing she must have seen the picture on the screen.


    after ji zeqiu deleted the photo, lin xu had been upset for a while but eventually retrieved it from his chat history with ji tingyang and immediately saved a copy for herself.


    however, as it was a family matter, she didn¡¯t elaborate to ji yuqiao.


    ¡°then next time, i¡¯ll invite you to our house,¡± ji yuqiao said with a mysterious smile.


    if she met her second brother, she¡¯d definitely be very happy.


    it would be like returning a favor.


    inviting friends over was normal. without overthinking, lin xu laughed and said, ¡°to visit your house, you¡¯d have to make up with your family first, right?¡±


    ¡°maybe after some more time¡­¡± when ji yuqiao thought about this, her mood visibly dropped, and she pursed her lips.


    so much time had passed, and her eldest brother still hadn¡¯t called to check on her.


    was he really going to cut ties with her?


    ¡°if you delay it further, you¡¯ll have sold all the bags around you,¡± lin xu said.


    ji yuqiao looked down, pursing her lips.


    ¡°don¡¯t be sad. can i treat you to coffee? or maybe¡­ bubble tea?¡± lin xu ruffled her hair and offered.


    even though ji yuqiao was at the age for college, lin xu subconsciously always treated her like a child.


    ¡°really! can we go to the coffee shop next to the mall?¡± ji yuqiao¡¯s eyes lit up.


    she used to frequent that coffee shop, but since her bank card was stopped, she hesitated to indulge in coffee.


    lin xu: ¡°sure.¡±


    drinking her favorite coffee, ji yuqiao¡¯s eyes were smiling, her happiness visibly growing.


    her phone vibrated in her pocket.


    ji yuqiao took out her phone and opened the message. after a moment, she widened her eyes, staring blankly as she set her phone face down on the table and gulped down her coffee, grimacing at the bitterness.


    ¡°what happened?¡± lin xu asked, confused.


    ¡°i failed a course,¡± ji yuqiao said with a tear-streaked face. ¡°now my brother is even less likely to give me money.¡±


    she had just scraped by in her previous exams and hadn¡¯t expected to fail this time.


    ¡°don¡¯t lose heart. isn¡¯t there a retake? just study hard these days, and you¡¯ll pass,¡± lin xu said.


    ¡°but i have to work part-time these few days, i don¡¯t have time to study.¡± ji yuqiao worried.


    the final exams and retakes were closely scheduled at their school, with only a week in between, followed by the collective winter vacation.


    ¡°which is more important, part-time work or exams?¡± lin xu thought she would realize once reminded, but¡­


    ¡°of course, the part-time job! i got hired at a restaurant, and the guy i like works there too, i can get one step closer to him,¡± ji yuqiao said excitedly, her eyes dancing.


    lin xu held her forehead.


    she had forgotten that ji yuqiao was always romance-driven.


    ¡°the guy you like, are his grades good?¡± lin xu asked.


    ¡°of course, he¡¯s the top of their major in every exam and has won many awards in different competitions.¡± ji yuqiao said with a proud and happy face, as if she were talking about herself.


    lin xu: ¡°then he must really love studying. if he finds out you failed and have to retake a course, don¡¯t you think his impression of you will get even worse?¡±


    ¡°this¡­¡±


    ¡°and, someone who loves studying would definitely go to the library often, right? you should go to the library to read too; then you¡¯d naturally run into each other. you can take that chance to ask him questions, and as you interact more, wouldn¡¯t your relationship get closer?¡±


    listened to lin xu¡¯s words, ji yuqiao¡¯s eyes shined brighter and she suddenly realized, ¡°you¡¯re absolutely right! i¡¯ll go to the library tomorrow!¡±


    ¡ª¡ª


    the next day.


    ji yuqiao walked around the library with a book in hand, but didn¡¯t see xiao yu. she found a corner to sit down and sent a crestfallen message to lin xu.


    raining qiao: [he¡¯s not at the library today.]


    raining qiao: [big cry.jpg]


    willow wadding: [maybe he will come later. focus on your reading for now and don¡¯t rush it.]


    ji yuqiao reluctantly replied with an ¡°okay¡± and had no choice but to review the calculus she¡¯d failed.


    she flipped through the book absentmindedly, occasionally looking around.


    it wasn¡¯t until the afternoon that she finally spotted xiao yu sitting at a table about ten meters away.


    raining qiao: [he finally came to the library!]


    raining qiao: [spinning.jpg]


    ji yuqiao took out her phone to share the good news with lin xu, then hurried over and sat opposite xiao yu with her book.


    xiao yu looked up and frowned displeasedly when he saw ji yuqiao, ¡°can you stop bothering me?¡±


    ¡°i didn¡¯t follow you here; i¡­ i came to read!¡± ji yuqiao lifted her calculus textbook to show him.


    ¡°if you¡¯re here to read, then why did you come over to my side?¡± xiao yu glanced at her indifferently.


    ¡°i, i just wanted to say hi,¡± she said.


    ¡°no need. go back to your seat,¡± he replied.


    after that, xiao yu opened his book and returned to reading with a focused look, clearly signaling he wouldn¡¯t pay her any further attention.


    ji yuqiao bit her lip in anger.


    just then, lin xu¡¯s message came through.


    willow wadding: [don¡¯t rush over as soon as you see him. we need to take this step by step.]


    willow wadding: [listen to me, ask him a few questions, then go back to your seat after. let him realize you¡¯re not there for him, and start by lowering his guard slowly.]


    understood.


    ji yuqiao quickly turned to a page in the textbook and said to xiao yu, ¡°actually, i came over to ask you about a problem; this question is too hard, i don¡¯t understand it.¡±


    xiao yu looked at her skeptically, then looked at the calculus problem she was pointing to; it was indeed a difficult one.


    but he didn¡¯t want to interact with ji yuqiao, so he simply wrote down the solution on a piece of scratch paper and handed it to her, saying coldly, ¡°think about it yourself.¡±


    ¡°okay, thank you!¡± ji yuqiao took the paper and without another word, she went back to sit down in the corner.


    her departure was quick and decisive, with not a hint of hesitation, as if she really just came to ask a question.


    a flash of surprise crossed xiao yu¡¯s eyes.


    ji yuqiao had come to the library before to disturb him, sitting opposite him, staring at him, not doing anything else, always talking in his ear.


    could it be that this time she really came to study?


    but he didn¡¯t think too much about it and soon cast the doubt aside, continuing to read.


    until a few days later, when he was seen by wen li¡­

 Chapter 65 - Chapter 65: Chapter 65 The Pain of Being Neglected

    chapter 65: chapter 65 the pain of being neglected


    in the following week, ji yuqiao occasionally ran into xiao yu at the library.


    at first, when she went to ask questions, xiao yu would coldly write down the process of solving them, telling her to figure it out herself.


    after a few days, upon learning that she had failed her advanced mathematics exam and that she was probably at the library purely to study, xiao yu started to explain the solutions to her when she came with questions.


    ¡°you¡¯re really amazing, i understand everything as soon as you explain it, thank you so much!¡± ji yuqiao said with a smile.


    xiao yu still had a cold expression, but he said ¡°good luck on your exam¡± as she returned to her seat.


    ji yuqiao¡¯s eyes lit up, and she excitedly went back to her desk, holding her book.


    raining bridge: [he just told me good luck on my exam!]


    raining bridge: [excited.jpg]


    willow wadding: [calm down, make sure you pass the make-up exam first.]


    raining bridge: [okay! working hard.jpg]


    ji yuqiao put down her phone and continued to study diligently.


    afternoon.


    wen li finished her last exam paper and finally felt liberated; she sent a message to xiao yu wanting to invite him out for dinner that evening.


    but the sent message received no reply for a long time.


    she knew xiao yu was studying in the library and wouldn¡¯t be looking at his phone and didn¡¯t mind it.


    considering the library was close to the teaching building, she decided to go ask him in person.


    wen li entered the library with a beaming smile, heading straight for the area where he usually sat.


    but the next moment, she froze on the spot.


    she saw xiao yu and ji yuqiao sitting together, their heads very close. xiao yu occasionally wrote something on scratch paper and explained it to ji yuqiao.


    their interactions seemed very friendly, even¡­ somewhat irritating to her eyes.


    didn¡¯t xiao yu dislike ji yuqiao? why was he sitting with her?


    was he coming to the library every day just to be with ji yuqiao?


    why hadn¡¯t he told her?


    biting her lip, wen li quickly walked over there, her steps betraying a hint of panic.


    ¡°xiao yu.¡± wen li interrupted their conversation, sat down beside him, and even affectionately wrapped her arm around his, ¡°i couldn¡¯t wait to find you after i finished my exam. did you miss me?¡±


    ¡°mhm.¡± xiao yu¡¯s lips curved into a smile, obviously happy, but remembering they were in a public place, he restrained himself from more intimate gestures.


    ji yuqiao rolled her eyes inwardly at wen li¡¯s coy demeanor and poked xiao yu with her pen, ¡°xiao yu, you haven¡¯t told me how to do the next part of this problem.¡±


    ¡°oh, so student ji is here too, huh?¡± wen li pretended to have only just noticed her, a touch of annoyance in her voice, ¡°sorry for interrupting you two.¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s okay, wait for me for a moment, i need to help her with a question first.¡± xiao yu pulled his arm away from wen li.


    he took ji yuqiao¡¯s textbook, and they leaned in again, resuming their discussion.


    although wen li knew they were only discussing the problem, being left out made her feel uncomfortable, like an outsider.


    ¡°by the way, xiao yu, it¡¯ll be winter break in a few days, do you have any plans?¡± wen li asked casually.


    the sudden question interrupted his explanation, and xiao yu paused for a moment before replying, ¡°not going back home; there¡¯s a senior who¡¯s already graduated and starting up a business; he invited me to join them. so, i¡¯m going to work with him over the winter break, we¡¯re starting a business together.¡±


    xiao yu always had clear plans for himself, like starting up a business to make money. the offer from his senior, which was in line with his interests, was why he agreed.


    given his intelligence and talent, it was only a matter of time before the company grew and became strong.


    ¡°so, you¡¯ll be the big boss then, president xiao,¡± wen li smiled.


    xiao yu gave a light smile, just about to say something more when his shoulder got poked again by ji yuqiao.


    ji yuqiao¡¯s voice was sullen, ¡°you haven¡¯t finished explaining.¡±


    ¡°ah, right, let me take another look.¡± xiao yu brought his focus back to the problem at hand, ¡°it should be like this, you first¡­¡±


    wen li was neglected again, but this time when she tried to say something to xiao yu, he didn¡¯t respond, instead concentrating on explaining the problem to ji yuqiao.


    xiao yu had already felt embarrassed about being distracted once, so he planned to finish this problem and then continue talking with wen li.


    however, wen li felt increasingly ignored, her complexion growing paler until she finally said softly, ¡°i¡¯ll go first,¡± and stood up to leave.


    she even forgot about wanting to ask him to have dinner together.


    when ji zeqiu received wen li¡¯s call, he was at shen qingtang¡¯s home.


    ji zeqiu had just given shen qingtang another role in a drama, this time a significant one as the second female lead. in her excitement, she let out the frustrations she had bottled up for a long time.


    ¡°to thank you, may i cook a meal for you?¡± she offered.


    ¡°ah,¡± ji zeqiu was a bit absent-minded, nodding noncommittally, ¡°sure.¡±


    shen qingtang busied herself in the kitchen, occasionally glancing through the glass door to see ji zeqiu sitting on the couch like the warm sun of a spring day, making everything around him seem bright and sunny, unable to suppress the smile on his lips.


    after being busy for a while, she looked at the dishes on the table, brimming with the aroma of delicious food, feeling a sense of accomplishment.


    ¡°food¡¯s ready, you can come and eat now,¡± she said to ji zeqiu.


    ¡°okay.¡± ji zeqiu came over and tried a piece of the braised prawns with his chopsticks.


    ¡°how is it?¡± shen qingtang asked with faint expectation in her eyes.


    ¡°not bad,¡± ji zeqiu wasn¡¯t picky about the taste or texture of the food. as long as it wasn¡¯t as difficult to swallow as lin xu¡¯s cooking, he could eat it.


    ¡°then eat more,¡± shen qingtang said with curving brows and eyes, using her chopsticks to give him another meatball.


    it was then that the cell phone rang.


    ji zeqiu had just picked up the call when he heard silent sobs on the other end that tugged at his heartstrings.


    he suddenly became anxious, ¡°wen li, what¡¯s wrong? did something happen?¡±


    wen li seemed to be greatly wronged, sobbing softly. her voice wasn¡¯t loud but was piercing enough to twist ji zeqiu¡¯s heart.


    overwhelmed with pity, he forgot about the time she had not come to see him when he was sick.


    ¡°where are you now? i¡¯m coming to find you!¡± ji zeqiu stood up, grabbed his coat from the sofa like a gust of wind, and hurriedly left.


    as the door slammed shut with a ¡°bang.¡±


    the once bright apartment suddenly turned chilly and dim. shen qingtang¡¯s fingertips holding the chopsticks turned white, and her heart felt as if it were being pricked by a thousand needles, the unrelenting pain unbearable.


    she hadn¡¯t heard ji zeqiu mention wen li in a long time, nor had she asked herself to dress as plainly as that girl anymore.


    shen qingtang thought he had moved on from that girl. yet she never imagined that just a call without a single word spoken could summon him away directly.


    however savory the dishes on the table were, she no longer had the appetite. she dumped them all into the trash can.


    meanwhile, at another place.


    wen li saw ji zeqiu rush over and threw herself into his arms with tearful eyes.

 Chapter 66 - Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Falling for someone else?!

    chapter 66: chapter 66: falling for someone else?!


    wen li¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears that twinkled like dewdrops, slowly sliding down from her eyelids, soaking the clothes on ji zeqiu¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°who bullied you? i¡¯ll go settle the score with them!¡± ji zeqiu looked anxious.


    ¡°no one bullied me, it¡¯s my own problem,¡± wen li shook her head.


    her phone, tucked away in her pocket, rang. she stepped back from ji zeqiu¡¯s chest and took out her phone.


    it was a call from xiao yu.


    ji zeqiu also saw the name displayed on the incoming call, and his expression fell. he had already pictured wen li answering the call and then leaving.


    each time xiao yu called wen li, she would leave him behind, and it had become a habit.


    however, wen li seemed not to have seen xiao yu¡¯s name at all, as she directly hung up the call.


    without needing to ask, ji zeqiu knew she must be having a conflict with xiao yu. beneath his calm facade, a hint of pleasure was hidden.


    ¡°are you hungry? i¡¯ll take you to a restaurant for dinner, okay?¡± his gaze was gentle, his lips slightly upturned, giving off a tender feeling.


    wen li nodded, and got into ji zeqiu¡¯s car.


    during the meal, she remained silent, only speaking out urgently when ji zeqiu asked if she wanted to be taken back to school.


    ¡°no! i don¡¯t want to go back to school.¡±


    ¡°then where do you plan to stay tonight?¡± ji zeqiu asked.


    wen li thought of her parents at home who favored boys over girls, and her lazy brother, and she dismissed the idea of going back to live there.


    she bit her lip and shook her head with a lost look on her face.


    ¡°then¡­ how about staying at my place for the time being?¡± ji zeqiu tentatively suggested.


    wen li glanced at him, as if hesitating.


    ¡°you can go back to school whenever you want,¡± he quickly added.


    ¡°mm, thank you,¡± wen li said, her mood low, and she nodded.


    ji zeqiu quickly brought her back to the apartment and pushed the door open.


    upon entering, they saw lin xu eating dinner.


    ji zeqiu froze.


    in his excitement, he had completely forgotten about lin xu.


    lin xu also paused, seeing her son, who had just texted her saying he was busy with work and not coming home, not only back but also holding a woman in his arms.


    that woman was none other than wen li, whom she disliked.


    when wen li saw lin xu, she too was taken aback, the shock in her eyes fleeting.


    a brief silence fell among the three of them, as if even the air had stilled for a moment.


    the first to break this frozen atmosphere was the housekeeper, noticing their awkward expressions, ¡°ah, mr. ji, you told me not to prepare your meal, so i only cooked a portion for one.¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s okay, we¡¯ve eaten outside already,¡± ji zeqiu came in with wen li, telling the housekeeper, ¡°her name is wen li, she¡¯ll be staying here for a while. please take good care of her.¡±


    the housekeeper nodded in agreement, her gaze surreptitiously turning to lin xu, who continued to eat unhurriedly, her curiosity ablaze.


    mr. ji brought another woman home, could it be that there was a problem in his relationship with miss lin?


    or could it be a change of heart?!


    the housekeeper¡¯s desire for gossip surged, and she couldn¡¯t help wanting to discuss it with friends. but recalling the confidentiality agreement in her contract and the hefty penalty for breaching it, she could only suffer in silence watching the drama unfold.


    having said that, ji zeqiu led wen li to choose a bedroom.


    the bedroom door shut, blocking the view and noise of the living room. as soon as she entered, wen li hesitantly asked him, ¡°lin xu, why is she here?¡±


    ji zeqiu, afraid of being misunderstood, hurriedly explained, ¡°i had heard she bullied you at ji family¡¯s house and used tricks to drive you away. in a moment of anger, i snatched her from ji tingyang¡¯s side, wanting to take revenge for you.¡±


    ¡°there¡¯s nothing between her and me, believe me! if you don¡¯t like it, i¡¯ll send her away right now.¡±


    a look of panic spread across his face, as if he was about to raise his hand and swear.


    wen li¡¯s gaze flickered.


    the incident where she accidentally pushed ji tingyang into the water was known by very few. the majority of the ji family¡¯s servants were also in the dark, concocting their own version of events based on their imagination.


    so even ji zeqiu didn¡¯t know about the incident, but she had never expected him to claim he was taking revenge for her.


    ¡°actually¡­¡±


    wen li¡¯s red lips parted slightly, but upon seeing ji zeqiu¡¯s gentle and eager face, she swallowed the words back down.


    ji tingyang was his brother; what if he found out and ended up hating her?


    wen li twisted the hem of her clothes, the smile on her face somewhat forced, ¡°no need to explain, i believe you.¡±


    ji zeqiu breathed a sigh of relief and also broke into a smile.


    although wen li said she believed him, ji zeqiu still felt it was inconvenient to have lin xu stay.


    so, while wen li was packing her things, he pulled lin xu aside, ¡°weren¡¯t you always reluctant to leave ji tingyang? i¡¯m letting you go back now. pack your things and leave later.¡±


    lin xu clicked her tongue and shook her head, ¡°you want me to leave as soon as wen li arrives, that¡¯s so ungrateful. have you forgotten who promised to visit you when you were sick, then stood you up, and who took care of you all night?¡±


    ¡°you, i¡­¡± ji zeqiu also remembered the incident, his expression awkward, ¡°you like ji tingyang so much, isn¡¯t it good if i send you back¡­¡±


    ¡°no way.¡± lin xu gave him a disdainful look, ¡°what if wen li means to harm you?¡±


    it¡¯s easy to invite a deity over but hard to send one away; there¡¯s no way she¡¯d leave so easily, especially since she didn¡¯t trust ji zeqiu to be alone with wen li.


    ¡°harm me?¡± ji zeqiu was puzzled.


    ¡°don¡¯t you know that wen li pushed ji tingyang into the swimming pool and almost killed him, which is why she was driven out of the ji family in the first place?¡± lin xu said.


    ¡°that¡¯s impossible.¡± ji zeqiu dismissed the idea, ¡°wen li is so gentle and kind-hearted, how could she do such a thing? she even feeds stray cats she sees on the street.¡±


    ¡°you¡­¡±


    ¡°forget it, if you refuse, then it¡¯s no big deal. i¡¯ll just buy another apartment and move in with wen li,¡± he muttered softly.


    ¡°really? i think the apartments in jiangbin district are quite nice. when are you buying? i¡¯ll move in too,¡± lin xu considered a moment.


    ji zeqiu glared at her, huffing, ¡°i¡¯m not going to let you move in!¡±


    just as they were staring each other down, a cry of surprise from wen li came from the living room.


    ji zeqiu hastily turned and ran towards wen li in a panic, ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°no need to rush, i just accidentally bumped into the cabinet, i¡¯m fine,¡± wen li pointed to the shoe cabinet at the entryway, where she bumped her head while trying to change shoes.


    ¡°where are you going?¡± ji zeqiu asked, puzzled.


    was it because she saw lin xu here that she didn¡¯t want to stay at his house?!


    ¡°i came without bringing anything, so i was thinking of going down to buy some toiletries,¡± wen li explained.


    ¡°i¡¯ll go down and buy them for you!¡±


    without another word, ji zeqiu headed out the door, as lin xu shook her head at his love-struck foolishness.


    once ji zeqiu left, only lin xu and wen li were left alone in the living room¡­

 Chapter 67 - Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Drawing Blood from the Substitute

    chapter 67: chapter 67: drawing blood from the substitute


    wen li turned around and saw the fierce look in lin xu¡¯s eyes, her heart shuddered, and her body quivered.


    ¡°i warned you before, never to appear before me,¡± lin xu¡¯s face chilled as she stepped toward wen li, ¡°ji tingyang might be willing to let you off, but i won¡¯t let things end so easily.¡±


    wen li stepped back until she hit the wall, which stopped her from retreating further, ¡°i¡¯m sorry, i really didn¡¯t mean it that day, i¡¯ve already apologized to ji tingyang, can you forgive me?¡±


    ¡°sure,¡± lin xu said with a light smile.


    a glint of joy flashed through wen li¡¯s heart.


    but then she heard lin xu¡¯s following words, ¡°the day i push you into the water and leave you half-dead, if you can forgive me then, i will forgive you just the same.¡±


    the corners of lin xu¡¯s lips were raised in a sweet smile, but it felt chilling to wen li, sending shivers down her spine.


    ¡°i¡¯m, i¡¯m sorry,¡± wen li¡¯s eyes reddened, and fear spilled out from her heart.


    she couldn¡¯t even wait for ji zeqiu to return and ran out the door.


    so easily frightened.


    lin xu snorted disdainfully.


    she had thought that wen li wouldn¡¯t come back, but unexpectedly, ji zeqiu brought her back after returning from the convenience store downstairs.


    ¡°this is my home, by what right do you send her away!¡± he burst in, furious at lin xu from the moment he entered.


    he had just bought toiletries and on the way back, he happened to see wen li leaving. no matter how he asked, she wouldn¡¯t say why she left.


    it took him a long time to persuade wen li to come back.


    ¡°i didn¡¯t do anything,¡± lin xu blinked innocently, feigning ignorance, ¡°do you have any evidence?¡±


    ¡°who else but you would make her leave?¡± ji zeqiu clearly didn¡¯t believe her.


    moreover, lin xu¡¯s dislike for wen li was well-known, she had bullied her back at ji mansion, there was a ¡°record.¡±


    ¡°then you ask her yourself, was it me?¡± lin xu said.


    ji zeqiu turned his head towards wen li.


    however, wen li was just reddening her eyes, looking unwilling to speak, ¡°stop asking, it was my own decision to leave.¡±


    that hesitant look, as if hiding something, made ji zeqiu convinced it wasn¡¯t voluntary.


    ¡°it must be lin xu¡­ ah¡­¡±


    ji zeqiu was about to argue for wen li in anger, but in the next second, his ear was pinched, and his previously fierce demeanour disappeared instantly.


    lin xu twisted his ear and scolded in a hushed voice, ¡°she herself said it wasn¡¯t me, yet you still insist on blaming me, are you doing this on purpose?¡±


    at that moment, ji zeqiu was like a paper tiger, ferocious one second and meek as a kitten once his ear was seized.


    ¡°i did not, let go of me!¡± ji zeqiu was annoyed.


    it was bad enough that she pulled his ear in front of shen qingtang, and now she was doing it again in front of wen li.


    his reputation was on the line because of her!


    what would wen li think of him if this continued?


    lin xu: ¡°i won¡¯t let go unless you apologize to me.¡±


    ji zeqiu reluctantly pursed his lips.


    lin xu increased her grip, and ji zeqiu immediately cried out in pain, ¡°i apologize, i¡¯m sorry, okay!¡±


    ¡°that¡¯s more like it,¡± lin xu was satisfied.


    ¡°then let go of me,¡± ji zeqiu said, frustrated.


    ¡°go make me a cup of milk, then i¡¯ll let go.¡±


    ¡°don¡¯t be too much!¡±


    ¡°are you going or not?¡±


    ¡°i¡¯m going, i¡¯m going!¡±


    wen li watched the two of them with a nuanced expression, feeling perplexed.


    ji zeqiu had said that he snatched lin xu away to retaliate against her, so why did it look as though it was lin xu who was retaliating against him?


    as time passed, at ji zeqiu¡¯s insistent urging, wen li temporarily took up residence.


    the next day.


    lin xu received another message from ji yuqiao. unlike the previous request to be her military strategist, this time it was to share good news.


    raining qiao: [i passed the makeup exam! scored a high score of ninety on the paper too!]


    her ability to learn wasn¡¯t poor; it was just that she used to focus all her attention on xiao yu, daydreaming during class and failing to learn much.


    this time, after nearly a week of revision in the library and the motivation of having xiao yu tutor her, she easily passed the makeup exam.


    willow wadding: [congratulations! how about i treat you to coffee tomorrow?]


    raining qiao: [embarrassed.jpg]


    raining qiao: [i still need to go to the library tomorrow.]


    now that the makeup exam was over, the real purpose of her library visit had nothing to do with studying.


    lin xu felt helpless.


    she thought of another love-struck person by her side, ji zeqiu.


    because of wen li¡¯s presence at home, he even considered abandoning work and wanted to take leave from the film crew.


    in the end, after the frantic scolding of his agent, he left reluctantly.


    since wen li had already finished her last final exam and entered winter break early, she didn¡¯t need to go to school anymore.


    but with ji zeqiu gone, she did not dare to stay alone with lin xu and also left the house without a set destination.


    with no one to scold nearby, lin xu was left at home to idle aimlessly.


    she aimlessly scrolled through her phone until her fingertips paused on xie changyan¡¯s friend portrait, zoning out.


    several successive messages inviting him out for a meal had gone unanswered; if it weren¡¯t for occasionally seeing his work-related posts on social media, she would have doubted whether she had been blocked.


    was she really so terrible that not even a single message deserved a reply?


    lin xu poked the screen irritably; halfway through, a call came in. her finger accidentally hit the answer button, and she picked up the call.


    ¡°lin xu, hurry to the city¡¯s central hospital. wen li¡¯s been in a car accident! pay some fees to help out first. i¡¯m on my way there now, right now!¡± ji zeqiu¡¯s anxious and disordered words came through.


    lin xu sat up abruptly from the couch, her eyes filled with shock.


    though she wasn¡¯t too keen on dealing with wen li¡¯s life or death, ji zeqiu kept pleading with her for help, and faced with her son¡¯s request, she momentarily softened and agreed.


    when lin xu arrived at the hospital, the doctors were performing surgery on wen li, and it seemed to be a serious situation.


    the driver responsible for the accident was there with the police as well.


    he crouched on the ground, clutching his hair in a state of collapse, mumbling non-stop, ¡°i didn¡¯t do it on purpose. i was just too tired, i spaced out for a moment, i really didn¡¯t expect something like this to happen¡­¡±


    lin xu furrowed her brows; why did this scene feel so familiar?


    it wasn¡¯t until ji zeqiu arrived at the hospital drenched in sweat that the doctor informed him that wen li had an rh-negative blood type, and the hospital didn¡¯t have this blood type in stock. it could be very dangerous for the patient.


    of course, even as the novel¡¯s female protagonist, her blood type had to be special.


    lin xu had a sudden realization.


    she remembered reading about ji zeqiu when she was reborn, a villainous character in the novel who would frequently have to give blood transfusions from his substitute to the female protagonist.


    of course, this included various plotlines of the female protagonist getting injured, car accidents, and blood shortages.


    she snapped back to reality.


    sure enough, she saw ji zeqiu resolutely pull out his phone.


    it looked like he was calling that substitute.

 Chapter 68 - Chapter 68: Chapter 68 "I am reminded of my parents.

    chapter 68: chapter 68 ¡°i am reminded of my parents.


    ji zeqiu had known shen qingtang¡¯s blood type was the same as wen li¡¯s since he met her, and since she bore a resemblance to wen li, he helped her out when she was in danger.


    back then, shen qingtang had just entered the entertainment industry for a year and had played many minor roles, some with a line or two, others without any lines at all.


    even so, she cherished these opportunities, believing that gold would eventually shine and that one day her abilities would be acknowledged by others.


    but reality would slap her hard in the face.


    when she finally got the role of the second female lead and was so excited that she couldn¡¯t sleep well for two days, director li told her the part was being recast and callously offered her a minor role instead.


    later, her agent told her it was because the actress was sleeping with the director, which was why the director gave her the part.


    ¡°sometimes, in this circle, education isn¡¯t the most important. taking a shortcut isn¡¯t necessarily a bad thing,¡± her agent hinted darkly.


    shen qingtang bit her lip hard, feeling as though a giant stone was pressing on her chest, making it hard to breathe.


    she stared blankly at the script on the table, filled with notes; she bit her lip until it bled, unaware of the pain, the taste of iron and blood filling her mouth.


    unwilling to admit defeat, she continued to play minor roles that only amounted to a few minutes of screen time.


    later she met a director at a party, and he approached her.


    ¡°i¡¯ve seen your previous work; you¡¯re a good actress. how about playing the lead in another movie i¡¯m planning?¡±


    ¡°really?!¡± shen qingtang¡¯s eyes lit up, thinking someone had recognized her talent.


    ¡°of course,¡± the director said with a smile forming on his skin as he caressed her hand. ¡°there¡¯s just a little condition.¡±


    the implication was clear.


    shen qingtang¡¯s face stiffened and her heart sank as she tactfully declined.


    but nobody expected him to start cursing her in public: ¡°who do you think you are? i thought your acting was good and recommended you for the role, and you don¡¯t even appreciate it. don¡¯t be ungrateful!¡±


    suddenly, everyone at the party turned to look at her; their probing and mocking eyes made her feel indescribably embarrassed.


    ¡°no, it¡¯s not like that,¡± she tried to defend herself.


    but no one paid her any attention.


    the director turned around and complained to a colleague, ¡°you better never work with this woman. an 18th-tier actor pretending to be a diva, not even aware of her own insignificance.¡±


    ¡°alright, alright,¡± the colleague nodded.


    hearing his defamation, along with the echoes of many industry insiders, as if they wanted to blacklist her, shen qingtang¡¯s face turned abruptly pale.


    ¡°i didn¡¯t¡­ he¡¯s talking nonsense; he was clearly harassing me just now.¡±


    the group seemed to be in cahoots, and no matter how she tried to defend herself, no one would listen.


    it was at this moment that ji zeqiu appeared before her, smiling lightly as he handed shen qingtang a glass of champagne, ¡°director li, let¡¯s not joke around. my friend here is very timid, how could she dare to act like a diva with you?¡±


    the director paused, ¡°she¡¯s your friend, teacher ji?¡±


    ¡°yes, and i¡¯d appreciate it if you could forgive her for my sake,¡± ji zeqiu nudged shen qingtang¡¯s back, signaling her to toast.


    shen qingtang hurriedly raised her glass of champagne.


    ¡°haha, it¡¯s all a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding,¡± director li laughed and, no longer daring to harass shen qingtang, turned and left.


    ¡°teacher ji, thank you!¡± shen qingtang looked up at ji zeqiu with a bright smile.


    she never expected the top-tier influencer, ji zeqiu, to stand up for her.


    seeing a smile similar to the one he knew, ji zeqiu was stunned for a moment, his facial expression a complex mixture of emotions.


    after a while, he said, ¡°this circle is too complicated, and if you want to stay out of trouble, it¡¯s impossible. what will you do when this happens again in the future?¡±


    ¡°i¡­¡± shen qingtang clenched her fists so tightly that her fingertips turned white.


    she knew that she would only encounter more of these situations in the future, not less.


    but what could she do?


    ¡°would you be willing to make a deal with me?¡± ji zeqiu¡¯s deep, dark eyes stared at her.


    strangely, shen qingtang¡¯s cheeks felt somewhat hot, and her heart was beating a bit faster.


    ¡°instead of dealing with those people, how about following me? in return, i¡¯ll give you money and resources, and be your background,¡± he said.


    ¡°why¡­ would you choose me?¡±


    shen qingtang had thought that ji zeqiu might have chosen her because he had some feelings for her.


    but he said,


    ¡°you resemble the person i like to some extent. if you¡¯re unwilling, i won¡¯t force you.¡±


    the ripples that had begun to form at the bottom of shen qingtang¡¯s heart suddenly vanished.


    knowing this, she still agreed to the deal.


    because her grandmother, whom she depended on for survival, was sick and needed a large sum of money for treatment, and there was no time to wait for her.


    later, ji zeqiu helped her a lot, found doctors for her grandmother, and she gradually had some works, her name becoming known to the audience.


    to shen qingtang, she was very grateful to ji zeqiu in her heart, so when she received his call and rushed to the hospital, even though she knew he needed her blood to save wen li, she still agreed.


    ¡°doctor! she has the rh negative blood type too, she can donate blood to the patient!¡± ji zeqiu anxiously told the doctor.


    ¡°that¡¯s great, come with me quickly!¡± the doctor hurried toward the blood donation room.


    shen qingtang looked up at ji zeqiu and noticed his attention was entirely on the operating room, not sparing a glance for her.


    her nose felt sour, and she held back her tears as she followed the doctor.


    ji zeqiu watched the door of the operating room, his hands by his side shaking fiercely, and his back was sweating coldly, soaking his clothes.


    a car accident¡­


    again, a car accident¡­


    long-sealed memories were unlocked, reminding him of his parents¡¯ deaths in a car accident. his chest felt a pressure he couldn¡¯t breathe through.


    ji zeqiu¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, and stomach acid churned inside him, as he desperately resisted the urge to vomit.


    lin xu stepped forward, wanting to tell ji zeqiu to take care of shen qingtang, but then she noticed his current state seemed a bit abnormal.


    his cheeks were devoid of color, and his forehead was soaked with dense, cold sweat.


    ¡°what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± lin xu stepped forward, taking his hand.


    she found the temperature of his palm to be frighteningly cold.


    ji zeqiu gripped her hand in return, very tightly, as if seeking some sense of security.


    he closed his eyes, and it took a long while for him to recover, his voice hoarse and terrifying, ¡°i remembered my parents¡­¡±


    lin xu was stunned.


    she instantly understood what he was saying.


    he was afraid of car accidents, afraid they would take away everyone around him.


    ¡°don¡¯t worry, wen li will be okay,¡± lin xu rubbed his head.


    although she didn¡¯t like wen li, seeing her son in such a mental state, she thought she should comfort him first.


    ¡°not only will wen li be fine, but your mother will be too.¡± as for his father¡¯s words, that couldn¡¯t be confirmed yet.


    ¡°what did you say?¡± ji zeqiu was stunned.

 Chapter 69 - Chapter 69: Chapter 69 As long as you hate her, you wont be in pain anymore

    Chapter 69: Chapter 69 As long as you hate her, you won¡¯t be in pain anymore


    ¡°What do you mean, ¡®my mother will be fine too¡¯?¡± Ji Zeqiu¡¯s gaze fixed intently on her.


    ¡°Is there a possibility that she didn¡¯t die?¡± Lin Xu said.


    ¡°Not dead¡­¡± Ji Zeqiu¡¯s throat tightened, his heart clenched suddenly, and he said in a daze, ¡°How is that possible? They¡¯ve all been buried¡­ If she really didn¡¯t die, why didn¡¯t she come to find us when we were struggling so much in the past?¡±


    ¡°Maybe she wasn¡¯t able to find you at that time, but now she can,¡± Lin Xu explained.


    The volume of Ji Zeqiu¡¯s voice suddenly rose, his throat so dry it hurt, ¡°When we needed her the most before, she wasn¡¯t there, and now that I don¡¯t need her anymore, why should she show up!¡±


    The hand at his side clenched into a fist, the nails digging fiercely into his palm, piercing the fragile skin and letting blood seep out.


    Once, as a child, his longing for his mother would uncontrollably burst forth, his nightly dreams filled with her figure, taking him to amusement parks, teaching him to read, sleeping beside him, telling him bedtime stories¡­


    As if she had never left.


    But upon waking, he would realize it was all his fantasy, the dull ache at his heart becoming a sharp hilt that kept churning, so painful he couldn¡¯t catch his breath, collapsed on the ground dry heaving incessantly.


    Late.r, he found a method.


    As long as he stopped loving her, started hating her, forgot about her¡­ he wouldn¡¯t hurt so much again.


    Yes, he hated her.


    He didn¡¯t need her.


    So even if she truly never showed up in the end, his emotions wouldn¡¯t fluctuate at all.


    ¡°I hate her¡­¡± Ji Zeqiu murmured hoarsely, as if to remind himself.


    Lin Xu, standing close by, held herself back after hearing his words, a sour emotion churning in her chest, the corners of her eyes turning red.


    ¡°Don¡¯t shout or argue in the hospital.¡± It seemed they had disturbed someone, and a nurse nearby shouted, interrupting their conversation,


    There was a moment of silence.


    Both of their emotions cooled down.


    ¡°Alright, go check on Shen Qingtang. She even donated blood for you, but you don¡¯t even think of keeping her company,¡± Lin Xu urged.


    Although she¡¯d rather have stopped the blood donation, Ji Zeqiu would definitely not agree, and she didn¡¯t want to continue making him dislike her.


    Ji Zeqiu pursed his lips, ¡°I want to stay here to watch over Wen Li.¡±


    ¡°She won¡¯t die if you leave for a moment. Go and accompany Shen Qingtang right now, immediately!¡± Lin Xu glared at him with fierce eyes.


    The authority bursting from her made Ji Zeqiu¡¯s body shudder, just as he feared his father Ji Tingyang¡¯s harsh scoldings when he was a disobedient child, his body instinctively obeyed her command to go find Shen Qingtang.


    Naturally, Lin Xu followed him there.


    A larger needle punctured Shen Qingtang¡¯s arm. She gritted her teeth, enduring the fear, but as soon as she saw Ji Zeqiu, the fear and discomfort all vanished, leaving only joy.


    ¡°Being alone and donating so much blood must be scary. Hurry and hold her hand, comfort her,¡± Lin Xu urged.


    Ji Zeqiu did as told.


    ¡°What do you say when someone helps you?¡± Lin Xu said.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s expression was awkward: ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Shen Qingtang¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief.


    Why was Ji Zeqiu so obedient to Lin Xu¡¯s instructions?!


    ¡ª-


    After the blood transfusion, Wen Li woke up groggily on the hospital bed, staring at the white ceiling, feeling a throbbing pain on her forehead.


    She recalled for a moment why she was in the hospital.


    She was hit by a car while crossing the street.


    She was taken to the hospital; at that time, she hadn¡¯t lost consciousness yet and her mind retained a last shred of clarity. The doctors said they couldn¡¯t get in touch with her family and asked her if she had any other relatives or friends they could contact.


    Her first thought was of Xiao Yu, but afraid to make him worry, she changed her words at the last moment and gave them Ji Zeqiu¡¯s phone number.


    What happened next, she had no memory of it anymore.


    Wen Li turned her head, looking around the ward; it was empty, save for the ticking of machines, eerily quiet.


    Where was Ji Zeqiu?


    Just as she was wondering, she heard some noisy commotion outside the door, growing closer to the ward.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t the doctor say that she¡¯s out of danger now? Can¡¯t her family be notified to take care of her? Why do you neglect Shen Qingtang to come here?¡± Lin Xu was somewhat dissatisfied with her son¡¯s eagerness.


    ¡°I just wanted to come and see if she had woken up. I¡¯ll leave after checking on her.¡±


    As they spoke, they walked in.


    ¡°Wen Li! You finally woke up. How do you feel? Is there anything that¡¯s still uncomfortable?¡± Ji Zeqiu nearly threw himself on the hospital bed.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, don¡¯t worry.¡± Wen Li¡¯s pale cheeks lifted into a faint smile, like a tough little white flower, heartrendingly fragile.


    ¡°Do you have any idea how scared I was when you were taken into the operating room? Luckily you¡¯re alright, or I wouldn¡¯t know what to do¡­¡± Ji Zeqiu gripped her other hand tightly, feeling a wave of fear in retrospect.


    Lin Xu wanted to persuade him to leave, but Ji Zeqiu refused to go, holding Wen Li¡¯s hand and saying a bunch of things that showed his concern for her.


    A little while later.


    Shen Qingtang also came in, her cheeks deprived of their usual rosiness due to donating too much blood.


    When she saw the two holding hands, she averted her gaze and smiled, ¡°Lady Wen, I¡¯m so glad you¡¯re alright.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Wen Li nodded at her, but continued talking to Ji Zeqiu.


    Feeling neglected like no one was attending to her, Shen Qingtang stood awkwardly in place.


    Lin Xu stepped forward and kicked Ji Zeqiu, ¡°Go wash some dates and cherries.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu yelped in pain. He wanted to resist but was also afraid she¡¯d twist his ear and so he reluctantly took some fruit from the table to wash.


    These were all things to replenish blood.


    Wen Li thought they were for her, so when Ji Zeqiu returned with the fruit, she instinctively reached out to take some.


    But she saw him give all the fruit to Shen Qingtang.


    Over the past couple of days, Lin Xu had been nagging Ji Zeqiu non-stop, telling him to buy some thank-you gifts for Shen Qingtang, and to bring her some chicken soup and other things to replenish her blood.


    He had done as told, bringing her many things.


    Since dates and cherries were somewhat nourishing and good for replenishing blood, Ji Zeqiu habitually gave them to Shen Qingtang.


    Both Wen Li and Shen Qingtang were taken aback, their expressions one of surprise.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Shen Qingtang took them, a hint of color returning to her pallid cheeks.


    Wen Li withdrew her hand, her complexion turning a bit unsightly.


    Ji Zeqiu immediately realized his mistake and hurriedly tried to make amends, ¡°Wen Li, I¡¯ll go wash some more for you!¡±


    Having said this, he rushed out with the fruit basket.


    Wen Li looked at Shen Qingtang in front of her, cheeks flushed and eating cherries, and suddenly spoke, ¡°Thank you, Miss Shen. I heard from Zeqiu that it was you who donated blood for me. If it hadn¡¯t been for you, I would surely still be lying in the emergency room now.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.¡± Shen Qingtang said with a light smile.


    ¡°You know, Miss Shen and I seem to have quite a fate. We look a little alike, and even our blood types are the same.¡± Wen Li said.


    In an instant, Shen Qingtang¡¯s complexion turned awkward.

 Chapter 70 - Chapter 70: Chapter 70 Gifts

    Chapter 70: Chapter 70 Gifts


    Shen Qingtang lowered her gaze, the cherry in her hand now somewhat deformed by her grip, and her complexion growing increasingly grim.


    It was because she resembled Wen Li that Ji Zeqiu had chosen her as a substitute.


    The care and concern Ji Zeqiu had shown her these past few days had made her accidentally forget about this matter.


    The person Ji Zeqiu liked was Wen Li, not her.


    ¡°I remember now, also that last time in the hotel, it was Miss Shen who helped me buy daily necessities. Do you still recall?¡± Wen Li reminisced about the past.


    Shen Qingtang bit her lower lip lightly.


    Of course, she remembered.


    Buying daily necessities and clothes for another woman on behalf of the man she liked, the sourness in her heart from that day still lingered.


    The words Wen Li spoke to her seemed to be a reminder once again.


    The kindness Ji Zeqiu showed her was merely because of Wen Li.


    ¡°Thinking about it that way, Miss Shen has helped me out a lot, hasn¡¯t she? When I get discharged, may I treat you to a meal?¡± Wen Li said with a smile.


    ¡°No, no need¡­ I have some things to do, I should get going.¡± The smile on Shen Qingtang¡¯s face was forced, no longer in the mood to stay, she found an excuse and turned to leave.


    After Shen Qingtang left, only Wen Li and Lin Xu remained in the ward.


    Wen Li remembered her hostility towards herself and clutched at the blanket on her body nervously.


    She was somewhat afraid of being alone with Lin Xu.


    Fortunately, Ji Zeqiu returned soon, giving all the fruits from the fruit basket to Wen Li.


    Because Wen Li did not have a good relationship with her family, she rarely went home to stay and even during vacations she applied to stay on campus.


    But Ji Zeqiu was worried about her being alone on campus during the winter break, so he still took her back to the apartment after her discharge, and even the meals prepared by the housekeeper were prioritized for Wen Li.


    Every day after finishing his engagements, no matter how late, Ji Zeqiu would rush back to the apartment to check on Wen Li.


    Seeing that she was okay, he would finally breathe a sigh of relief.


    ¡°Wen Li, this is goji berry and red date soup I made for you, drink it up, and nourish your body.¡± Late at night, Ji Zeqiu brought a bowl of chicken soup to Wen Li¡¯s bedroom.


    Wen Li had had far too much nourishment these past few days; just the sight of the soup made her feel queasy, her stomach bloated uncomfortably.


    She wanted to refuse, but seeing his expectant, caring eyes, she managed to say ¡°thank you,¡± took the soup, and closed the bedroom door behind her.


    Less than two minutes later, Ji Zeqiu came running with fruit, asking if she wanted some.


    The expression on Wen Li¡¯s face was a bit stiff as she took the fruit back to her room with reluctance.


    After a while, Lin Xu saw Ji Zeqiu heading toward Wen Li¡¯s bedroom again.


    ¡°You¡¯ve almost paid a third visit this evening; if she wants anything, she¡¯ll say so herself. You don¡¯t need to keep asking. Aren¡¯t you tired? I¡¯m getting tired just watching you, come sit down and take a break.¡± Lin Xu pulled him back and pressed him down onto the sofa.


    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m just worried about her.¡± Ji Zeqiu looked towards Wen Li¡¯s bedroom door, his eyes hiding a trace of anxiety and unease, his heart unable to calm down.


    ¡°She¡¯s fine now, quit worrying for nothing.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu pressed his lips together, remaining silent.


    ¡°There you go.¡± Lin Xu rubbed his head, her voice very gentle, ¡°Not every car accident is so terrible.¡±


    A flicker of embarrassment crossed Ji Zeqiu¡¯s face, as if someone had discovered a secret in his heart, he murmured quietly, ¡°How did you know¡­¡±


    His worries about Wen Li were mostly because of the car accident.


    Just seeing her safe and sound would ease his inner restlessness somewhat, as if through her, he could offer some solace regarding his parents¡¯ past incident.


    Lin Xu simply smiled faintly, offering no explanation, her hands tousling his hair even more.


    ¡°I¡¯m not Ji Tingyang, that guy. Stop ruffling my hair all the time,¡± Ji Zeqiu muttered.


    But he didn¡¯t push her hand away; her touch was so gentle that it made one unconsciously feel intimacy and harmony.


    The irritation in his heart gradually faded.


    Seeing his mood had calmed down, Lin Xu promptly urged him to go back to his room to rest, ¡°Look how tired you¡¯ve been these past few days, you¡¯ve even got dark circles under your eyes. Go rest, or the fans are going to be heartbroken.¡±


    Perhaps because of the car accident, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s mental state had been off for the past few days, occasionally having nightmares, always rushing back to the apartment late, looking somewhat haggard.


    The fans were all calling out in concern, urging the company not to overwork Ji Zeqiu and to give him more time to rest.


    The fan groups were also in an uproar.


    Thinking of the nightmares, Ji Zeqiu reluctantly went back to his room.


    ¡°If you can¡¯t sleep, do you want me to tell you a bedtime story?¡± Lin Xu suggested.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s ears instantly turned red, and a flicker of embarrassment crossed his face as he loudly declared, ¡°I don¡¯t need it,¡± and slammed the door shut.


    Half a month had passed since the winter break.


    Xiao Yu sent messages to Wen Li every day, telling her about his daily activities.


    Wen Li, because she was jealous of Xiao Yu and Ji Yuqiao being together, had not responded to his messages until now.


    But so much time had passed that Wen Li had long since let it go.


    Thinking that today was Xiao Yu¡¯s birthday, she had prepared a gift a few days earlier, planning to give it to him today, and then to apologize and make amends.


    Xiao Yu had set up a studio with his seniors in the suburbs, and Wen Li took a taxi there, touching the gift box in her pocket and smiling sweetly.


    She imagined the surprise he would show upon receiving the gift.


    However, Wen Li had never anticipated seeing Ji Yuqiao at the studio, and she froze in place as she walked in.


    ¡°Xiao Yu, this is my gift to you, happy birthday!¡± Ji Yuqiao said with a radiant smile, handing him the gift in her hands.


    Xiao Yu¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, ¡°Thank you, but I don¡¯t need the gift.¡±


    He didn¡¯t want to get too entangled with Ji Yuqiao.


    ¡°How can you not accept a birthday gift? Just take it,¡± Ji Yuqiao insisted, thrusting the box into his hands and not allowing him to refuse, ¡°Think of it as a thank you for helping me with my studies in the library. Open it and see!¡±


    Xiao Yu could only thank her again and opened the gift.


    Inside the palm-sized box lay an exquisitely crafted mechanical watch, with a unique design that clearly indicated it was expensive.


    ¡°This¡­ is too expensive,¡± Xiao Yu said with a furrowed brow, trying to return the watch to her.


    ¡°This watch can¡¯t be returned. If you don¡¯t want it, just throw it away,¡± Ji Yuqiao said, unwilling to take it back.


    ¡°I¡­¡± Xiao Yu started to say something, but suddenly heard a noise at the door.


    He turned his head and his face brightened upon seeing Wen Li, hurrying forward: ¡°Wen Li, where have you been lately? You¡¯re not answering calls or replying to messages, I was worried something had happened to you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine¡­¡± Wen Li forced a smile.


    ¡­


    Back at the apartment, Wen Li took out the ungifted present, feeling a twinge of bitterness in her heart.


    ¡°Wen Li, you¡¯re back?¡± Ji Zeqiu heard movement at the entrance and came to see, indeed finding her there.


    ¡°Is this gift¡­ for me?¡± he asked hesitantly.


    Wen Li paused for a moment, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Excitement gleamed in Ji Zeqiu¡¯s eyes as he happily took the gift box.

 Chapter 71 - Chapter 71: Chapter 71: The Person Seen is No Longer Wen Li

    Chapter 71: Chapter 71: The Person Seen is No Longer Wen Li


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s gift, the watch, was too expensive, and Wen Li, seeing it, felt she could never present the cheap gift she had brought.


    After having dinner with Xiao Yu, she hurriedly left.


    Wen Li originally wanted to throw away the gift box, but seeing the look of anticipation in Ji Zeqiu¡¯s eyes, she felt guilty for a moment, and before she knew it, she had handed him the gift box.


    Ji Zeqiu couldn¡¯t wait to open it and inside lay a pair of silver cufflinks.


    After Xiao Yu started working in the studio, he often wore suits, so Wen Li thought of buying him a pair of cufflinks.


    Although they were inexpensive, they were delicately and attractively designed.


    ¡°They¡¯re beautiful, I really like them,¡± Ji Zeqiu¡¯s eyes sparkled as he drew Wen Li into his arms. ¡°Thank you for your gift.¡±


    Wen Li¡¯s eyes flickered, ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t have much money, I can¡¯t afford expensive gifts¡­¡±


    ¡°As long as it¡¯s from you, no matter what it is, I like it,¡± Ji Zeqiu¡¯s lips couldn¡¯t help but curl up into a smile.


    Hearing his words, Wen Li¡¯s expression briefly became dazed.


    It seemed that it was indeed true¡­


    She and Ji Zeqiu had known each other for many years, and on his birthdays, she occasionally gave him handmade gifts, but no matter what they were, he was always very happy when he received them.


    ¡°As long as you like it,¡± Wen Li lifted her red lips, finally showing her first smile of the day, forgetting everything else, ¡°and thank you for taking care of me during this time.¡±


    After Wen Li returned to her room, Ji Zeqiu still held those cufflinks, thrilled as if he had received a treasure, carefully examining them.


    Suddenly, he seemed to notice something, and the smile on his face abruptly froze.


    The small cufflinks had two letters engraved on the back.


    X, Y.


    Xiao Yu.


    Ji Zeqiu silently mouthed the name, and the happy expression on his face slowly sank, his mood instantly plummeted, and the wave of discomfort engulfed him like a tide.


    The more excited he had been a second ago, the more miserable he felt now.


    ¡°Zeqiu, my toothbrush accidentally fell into the toilet, do you have a new one?¡± Wen Li came out of the bathroom with a frustrated expression.


    ¡°I have one.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu masked the sad expression on his face, not letting her see the clue, his face returned to normal, and he turned to get her a new toothbrush.


    ¡ª


    Perhaps due to the calls from his fans, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s workload had decreased over the past few days, and he gradually had more holidays.


    Normally, Ji Zeqiu would have rushed home eagerly.


    However, two days into his holiday, he still stayed at Shen Qingtang¡¯s place, unwilling to go back.


    He was afraid that seeing Wen Li would remind him of the gift that had been passed on to him.


    Shen Qingtang was conveniently staying in the crew¡¯s accommodations during this time, allowing him some solitude.


    The sun rose, its orange rays lighting up every spot, yet in a certain small apartment, thick curtains were drawn, blocking out the daylight.


    The room was as dark as midnight.


    Ji Zeqiu lay in bed, unable to differentiate between day and night, awakened not by an alarm, but by waves of severe cramps in his stomach.


    He groaned, waking from the dream, clutching tightly to the painful area of his abdomen.


    His stomach muscles spasmed continuously, as if someone was stirring a dagger inside, the pain making him break out in a cold sweat, causing the entire bed to become wet and slippery.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s vision was dim and blurry, he gritted his teeth, barely holding on to the last bit of consciousness, and made a call to his agent.


    His voice was hoarse and unpleasant, ¡°Brother Zhao, I¡¯m at Shen Qingtang¡¯s place, take me¡­¡±


    He didn¡¯t manage to finish his sentence before his consciousness was engulfed in darkness.


    Once again, Ji Zeqiu found himself in the hospital.


    He had not felt the sunlight for a long time, and now the dazzling light streamed through the hospital window, illuminating the room so brightly that it made his eyes ache.


    His stomach no longer ached, and even the color had returned to his face, making him look less frightening.


    The hand lying on the bed was held by someone, warmth spreading from the palm to his entire body¡­


    Ji Zeqiu sighed internally, it seemed Brother Zhao was extremely worried and had been staying in the ward all this time.


    ¡°Brother Zhao, I¡­¡± He turned his head, and upon seeing that gentle profile like a lotus, he was momentarily stunned.


    The sunlight touched her cheeks, outlining her delicate features.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Lin Xu¡¯s clear voice grunted softly as she slowly opened her eyes, meeting Ji Zeqiu¡¯s surprised gaze and was foolishly stunned.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Ji Zeqiu asked, puzzled.


    As he spoke, Lin Xu¡¯s eyes reddened instantly, tears swirling but not falling, which was heart-wrenching to see.


    Ji Zeqiu chuckled lightly, ¡°Crying so hard, I haven¡¯t caught some terminal illness, have I?¡±


    ¡°Tsk, tsk, tsk! What nonsense!¡± Lin Xu¡¯s eye tears were chocked back by his remark, ¡°The doctor only said you have gastroenteritis, probably caused by your erratic diet these past few days and eating irresponsibly.¡±


    When she had arrived at Shen Qingtang¡¯s house, the table was piled with many takeaway boxes, and he lay on the bed, his body cold, his complexion pallid as if he were dead.


    It scared her so much her heart nearly stopped.


    Thinking back, Lin Xu still felt a shiver of fear.


    Ji Zeqiu tugged at his lips, about to speak, then saw Lin Xu suddenly throw herself at him, embracing him tightly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t ever do this to yourself again, do you know how scared I was¡­¡± her voice choked up.


    He looked somewhat awkward, ¡°I¡¯m fine, what¡¯s there for you to fear?¡±


    ¡°I fear you might die¡­¡±


    Suddenly, Ji Zeqiu felt his shoulder becoming damp, and as he realized what was happening, his body stiffened abruptly.


    A bittersweet emotion surged in his chest, yet it also felt warm.


    When he was a child and fell ill, it was his mother who cared for him. Later, his mother¡¯s image in his heart became blurred, impossible to delineate.


    After he met Wen Li, that blurred image automatically morphed into Wen Li.


    Seeing Wen Li always made him feel like his mother had never left him.


    But now, that blurred image had changed into Lin Xu.


    Several times upon waking, it was only her he saw.


    It was just a minor illness, yet she always got extremely worried, and this time even cried.


    Experiencing such direct concern for the first time, Ji Zeqiu did not know how to respond, stammering, ¡°I, I¡¯m fine, don¡¯t cry.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t run out on your own anymore, making me worry,¡± a sad and muffled voice said from his shoulder.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Ji Zeqiu agreed awkwardly.


    It took a while before Lin Xu stopped crying and came out of his embrace.


    She wiped her tears and said fiercely, ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone I cried!¡±


    Ji Zeqiu awkwardly looked away, ¡°I couldn¡¯t care less to mention it.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go call the doctor to come and check on you,¡± Lin Xu remembered this only now.


    She turned to leave, but her wrist was suddenly grasped.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s cheeks flushed with an unnoticeable blush, ¡°Could you maybe not leave just yet¡­¡±

 Chapter 72 - Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Captivating

    Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Captivating


    When sick, people become much more fragile.


    Ji Zeqiu, who usually faced Lin Xu¡¯s fierce temper, now acted much more obediently. He lay in bed, quietly glancing at Lin Xu beside him; she was confirming his medication with the nurse. The sunshine outside the window spilled onto her cheeks, making even the fine fuzz on her face visible, bathed in the sunlight.


    It was a sight that made it hard to look away.


    Feeling the gaze upon her, Lin Xu turned to look and met Ji Zeqiu¡¯s eyes.


    He quickly turned his head away, pretending to look up at the IV drip hanging above, counting how much time was left until it was finished.


    Lin Xu¡¯s eyes curved, and after listening to the nurse¡¯s instructions, she stepped forward to pat his head.


    ¡°My hairstyle is all messed up,¡± Ji Zeqiu muttered quietly, yet unusually, he did not resist, and a blush silently crept up to his ears hidden under the blanket.


    ¡°Your hair looks handsome even when it¡¯s messy,¡± Lin Xu laughed.


    Ji Zeqiu humphed, visibly happier on his face.


    That expression made Lin Xu momentarily envision him at the tender age of four or five, cute and well-behaved.


    Perhaps because Xiao Zeqiu often accompanied her shopping for clothes, he had developed a bit of a fashion sense.


    ¡°Today my hairstyle got blown messy, not handsome anymore, Mommy won¡¯t like me now,¡± Xiao Zeqiu covered his face with his hands, lying sadly on the couch with his little bottom sticking up in the air.


    Lin Xu lifted him from the couch and kissed his chubby cheeks, ¡°Even with messy hair, you¡¯re still handsome, and you¡¯re always Mommy¡¯s favorite little darling.¡±


    Xiao Zeqiu, holding onto her neck, giggled non-stop.


    It was unexpected that he would remain so vain as he grew up.


    During the days of his hospital stay, the manager also came to visit occasionally, sometimes taking turns with Lin Xu to watch over him.


    Originally, Ji Zeqiu had intended to call his manager, but that day the pain was so severe that he accidentally dialed the wrong number.


    At first, when he saw Lin Xu, he thought about having his manager come over instead.


    Now that the manager was here, he felt distracted, looking towards the door of the ward from time to time.


    ¡°If you find me annoying, I¡¯ll just leave,¡± the manager said with a heartbroken expression.


    ¡°I, I don¡¯t, I was just looking to see why the nurse hasn¡¯t come to change the IV drip,¡± Ji Zeqiu retorted.


    The manager rolled his eyes, pointing to the more than half-full IV bag overhead, ¡°This bag hasn¡¯t even finished yet, what are you talking about changing it, you don¡¯t even make an effort to lie convincingly.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Ji Zeqiu closed his mouth, choosing to remain silent.


    In the afternoon, the manager had to leave due to some work, and Lin Xu took over his place to care for Ji Zeqiu.


    ¡°Zeqiu has been looking forward to you all day, now that you¡¯re here, he finally doesn¡¯t have to keep craning his neck to look at the door,¡± the manager teased.


    A flicker of surprise passed through Lin Xu¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°You, you, don¡¯t get the wrong idea, I, I wasn¡¯t waiting for you, Brother Zhao is just talking nonsense,¡± Ji Zeqiu stuttered.


    Ji Zeqiu didn¡¯t know whether she believed him, but after hearing her acknowledge with a word, he felt relieved.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s recovery went well; he should be able to leave the hospital in two or three days.


    ¡°The doctor said you need to eat lightly for a while, and also have meals on time. I need to remind the housekeeper about this. Ah, never mind, it would be better to find a nutritionist and have a diet plan made.¡±


    Lin Xu and Ji Zeqiu returned to the apartment, and she kept rambling the whole way, enough to make his ears grow callous.


    Even though his ears found it annoying, there was an odd sense of warmth in his heart.


    Ji Zeqiu responded noncommittally, while opening the door to the apartment and walking in.


    ¡°Zeqiu!¡±


    As soon as he entered, a joyous voice sounded, and Wen Li hurriedly ran to the vestibule to greet him.


    ¡°I heard you were sick and wanted to visit you at the hospital, but Miss Lin wouldn¡¯t tell me which ward you were in¡­ so I couldn¡¯t go¡­¡± Her expression was a bit aggrieved, and as she spoke, she sneakily glanced at Lin Xu.


    Lin Xu couldn¡¯t even be bothered to spare her a sidelong glance, treating her like air as she walked past her into the house.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Ji Zeqiu responded curtly, without any further reaction.


    Wen Li¡¯s face stiffened, but she immediately smiled again and said, ¡°Fortunately, you¡¯re discharged and fully healed now. Is there anything you¡¯d like to eat? I¡¯ll make it for you tonight.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need, you were so badly injured in the last car accident, and your body hasn¡¯t fully recovered yet,¡± Ji Zeqiu said.


    Hearing his concern, Wen Li nodded happily.


    As evening approached, Lin Xu got the menu from the nutritionist and went to the kitchen to talk with the nanny.


    Ji Zeqiu was holding a remote control, continuously flipping through television channels, seemingly choosing a program. However, his attention wasn¡¯t on the TV at all, as his line of sight kept sneaking peeks toward the kitchen.


    ¡°Ah.¡±


    Suddenly, a sharp scream came from nearby, disrupting his thoughts.


    Wen Li accidentally hit her calf against a chair. Her cheek paled from pain as she clutched her leg and gasped sharply.


    Ji Zeqiu abruptly stood up as if spurred by years of habit, intending to show concern for her.


    However, after only a step, he came to his senses and instinctively looked toward the kitchen.


    Lin Xu also noticed the commotion outside and turned her head to look, her gaze meeting Ji Zeqiu¡¯s.


    For some reason, Ji Zeqiu felt guilty. Knowing that Lin Xu disliked Wen Li, he withdrew his step and didn¡¯t go forward to help Wen Li.


    ¡°Hiss, it hurts so much.¡± Wen Li¡¯s face twisted with pain, and as she lifted her trouser leg, she found a bruised patch on her calf, ¡°Zeqiu, do you have any medicine at home?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu sat upright on the couch, staring straight at the TV without looking away, and pointed to the cabinet below, ¡°The medicine box is here.¡±


    Wen Li waited for a moment, realizing he had no intention of helping her get it. She paused in surprise and then tiptoed to get it herself.


    The antiseptic spray caused a sharp, scratching pain on her calf.


    She looked up at Ji Zeqiu, still sitting on the couch, and felt an inexplicable sourness in her heart.


    After a while, Lin Xu and the nanny brought out dinner from the kitchen.


    Five or six dishes, almost entirely vegetarian, with not even a shadow of minced meat¡ªalthough the doctor had advised a bland diet, this seemed too bland.


    Ji Zeqiu seldom ate vegetables, and his face stiffened when he saw the all-vegetarian meal.


    ¡°Come on, eat more vegetables,¡± Lin Xu said, adding a piece of greens to his bowl.


    Ji Zeqiu didn¡¯t like vegetables, something Wen Li was aware of, so she immediately spoke up, ¡°Ji Zeqiu doesn¡¯t like these. I¡¯ll go make him something else.¡±


    ¡°Even if he doesn¡¯t like them, he needs to eat them so he can recover quickly,¡± Lin Xu warned as she tapped the rim of his bowl with her chopsticks, ¡°No being picky.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu looked at Lin Xu, saw her determined expression, and his brows suddenly furrowed.


    He looked at the greens in his bowl, his face carrying a serious and weighty expression, as though making a monumental decision.


    After a long pause, he finally prepared himself mentally, picked up his chopsticks, and ate the greens.


    Wen Li opened her mouth, shock written all over her face.


    Why¡­

 Chapter 73 - Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Could it be that she likes me?

    Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Could it be that she likes me?


    ¡°`


    The winter vacation had passed its halfway point, and New Year¡¯s Eve was approaching.


    At the end of the year, everyone became busy, striving to finish their work before the holiday to have a good celebration.


    ¡°What kind of report is this? It¡¯s utter nonsense. Take it back and rewrite it immediately. If it¡¯s not done before the holiday, you¡¯ll have to work overtime during New Year¡¯s to finish it!¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s face was livid with rage as he slammed the document on the desk with a ¡°bang¡±.


    ¡°I¡¯ll rewrite it right away!¡± the project manager of the department trembled in fear, hurriedly grabbing the document, and dashed out of the office as if a lion were chasing him.


    Even the secretary outside the office shivered, holding the documents in her hands with a look of terror, not daring to go in.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, standing at the door and not going in?¡±


    A melodious voice rang out from behind.


    The secretary turned around and saw Miss Lin¡¯s graceful figure, like an angel, her eyes shining with excitement.


    ¡°Miss Lin, the president has been in a bad mood recently, I¡¯m a bit scared to go in. Could you please handle this document¡­¡±


    ¡°Give it to me, I¡¯ll take it in for you,¡± Lin Xu took the document.


    ¡°Thank you! Thank you!¡± The secretary couldn¡¯t stop thanking her, as if she had heard the most beautiful music.


    Lin Xu smiled, pushed the door open, and entered.


    Her high heels clicked on the marble floor with a ¡°clack¡±.


    Ji Tingyang put his hand to his temple and pinched it fiercely, scolding like he was nitpicking, ¡°Who allowed you to wear high heels!¡±


    ¡°Ah, are high heels not allowed here either? Then should I take them off next time before I come in?¡± Lin Xu said teasingly.


    Hearing the familiar voice, Ji Tingyang abruptly lifted his head, his deep eyes instantly lighting up.


    ¡°Are you in a bad mood? Why such a temper?¡± Lin Xu went over and rubbed his head.


    Ji Tingyang suppressed the upward curve of his lips and gently rubbed his cheek against her palm, ¡°When did you come over? Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡±


    ¡°To give you a surprise. Are you happy?¡±


    ¡°Happy,¡± Ji Tingyang pressed his lifted lips together, pulled Lin Xu over to the sofa beside him, and sat down with her.


    ¡°By the way, do you have Lanyue¡¯s contact information?¡± Lin Xu asked.


    Ji Lanyue.


    It had been a long time since Ji Tingyang had heard this name, and he paused, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°For New Year¡¯s! On New Year¡¯s Eve, let¡¯s invite Zeqiu and your sister back for the reunion dinner. We can all gather as a family!¡± The more Lin Xu thought about the scene, the more excited she became, wishing that today was already New Year¡¯s Eve.


    She had wanted to ask for her sister¡¯s contact information a long time ago, but Ji Tingyang said she was busy with her studies at school and it wouldn¡¯t be convenient to disturb her.


    Now that winter break was here and New Year¡¯s was approaching, she thought she should be able to see her.


    Lin Xu was filled with anticipation.


    However, Ji Tingyang hesitated, feeling a slight displeasure rising in his heart.


    He wanted to spend New Year¡¯s Eve and New Year¡¯s alone with his mother, without anyone else¡­


    If the two of them came back, they would surely compete with him for his mother¡¯s attention.


    He hadn¡¯t had enough alone time with his mother yet.


    His brow creased slightly, the happy expression on his face suddenly turning sullen.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lin Xu saw that he hadn¡¯t responded for a while and stood there looking puzzled.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Ji Tingyang gathered up the gloom from his face, ¡°Celebrities have to work even during New Year¡¯s, don¡¯t they? Ji Zeqiu definitely won¡¯t have time for New Year¡¯s, and Lanyue has recently taken up some part-time job, I don¡¯t know if she¡¯ll have the time to come back either.¡±


    He muttered, implying through his words that he wasn¡¯t too keen on contacting them.


    ¡°Just ask, please,¡± Lin Xu cooed.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Ji Tingyang replied, his voice dull with unhappiness as he rested his head on her shoulder, then with some anticipation, ¡°Mother, let¡¯s have dinner together tonight.¡±


    ¡°Sure, come with me to Zeqiu¡¯s place for dinner.¡±


    ¡°Why do we have to go to his place!¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s entire body filled with dissatisfaction.


    ¡°`


    He had dinner with his mother, so why did they have to include Ji Zeqiu? It was such a mood killer.


    ¡°You forgot? Today is his birthday,¡± Lin Xu reminded.


    Ji Tingyang was taken aback for a moment, he truly had forgotten.


    The three siblings, when they were young, had no money to celebrate their birthdays. They would woefully eat a bowl of instant noodles as longevity noodles, not even candles were involved. Later, as they grew up, each got busy with their own affairs, and their relationship was no longer as close, hence they never again celebrated birthdays together.


    ¡°I even bought a cake. Let¡¯s go together and celebrate. It would be even better if we could also invite Lanyue,¡± that was also one of the reasons Lin Xu had come over.


    ¡°No,¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s face was still filled with refusal.


    ¡°Come on, this is my personal invitation. If you refuse, I¡¯ll be really sad. Do you really want to make me sad?¡± Lin Xu looked at him with those dewy eyes, blinking.


    Ji Tingyang was struck by her moist gaze, his heart softened, and by the time he came back to his senses, he had already agreed.


    ¡ª-


    After finishing shooting for the day, Ji Zeqiu saw the message from Lin Xu asking him to come home early tonight.


    ¡°I¡¯m practically dead from filming, how can I get back that early.¡± Ji Zeqiu muttered, but when he saw the director coming over, he still took the initiative to ask, ¡°Director, I have something to do tonight, may I leave a bit earlier?¡±


    In the car on the way home, he realized something was off.


    Why should he go home just because she told him to?!


    Why should he listen to her?


    But then, when he texted her asking what the matter was and she wouldn¡¯t say, what if she was in danger?


    If she was in danger, wouldn¡¯t she call the police? What could he do by going home!


    So, Ji Zeqiu struggled with his thoughts just for a moment, and before he knew it, the car had already arrived at the apartment building.


    He was just a little worried, after all, it was his home, and he would be responsible if anything happened.


    With that thought, Ji Zeqiu pushed open the door.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    With a loud bang, streamers and confetti rushed out competing to fall on Ji Zeqiu¡¯s body.


    ¡°Happy Birthday!¡± Lin Xu was holding a popper, cheering joyfully.


    Her eyes were curved in joy, her smile as warm and brilliant as the sun on a winter day, lighting up a dark corner in the depths of his heart.


    Ticklish, warm.


    Ji Zeqiu felt an impulse in his heart, and hurriedly looked away, not daring to meet her eyes, his ears reddening.


    He stuttered in confusion, ¡°How-how-how did you know today is my birthday?¡±


    After becoming an entertainer, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s public birthday was all fake, chosen by his agent as an auspicious day, saying it made it easier for fans to celebrate with him.


    For many years, he had been celebrating that fake birthday and had grown accustomed to it.


    Even he had forgotten about today.


    How did she find out?


    Aside from his family, not many people knew his real birthday.


    No sooner had he spoken than Ji Zeqiu saw an unwelcome Ji Tingyang appear behind Lin Xu, and the joy on his face immediately collapsed, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    It turned out Ji Tingyang had told her.


    Wait a minute.


    Ji Tingyang would never celebrate his birthday. Could it be that Lin Xu had asked him for the information?


    She took the initiative to find out his birthday?


    Could it be¡­ she likes him?


    A sweet feeling suddenly rose in Ji Zeqiu¡¯s heart.

 Chapter 74 - Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Birthday Wish

    Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Birthday Wish


    ¡°This is for your birthday,¡±


    Lin Xu pulled Ji Zeqiu into the room and handed him a large box.


    Ji Zeqiu looked at the gift box in front of him. Excitement crawled into his eyes, but he still pointed to himself uncertainly, ¡°Is it really for me?¡±


    ¡°Yes, why don¡¯t you open it and see?¡± Lin Xu said.


    Ji Zeqiu opened the box and saw a brown scarf inside.


    He took out the scarf and turned it over painstakingly, examining it meticulously as if he were inspecting some relic or antique.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, don¡¯t you like it?¡± Lin Xu asked, puzzled.


    She knew she should have asked him first about his preferences before making a decision, especially since she ended up choosing a gift he didn¡¯t like.


    She was somewhat annoyed.


    Ji Zeqiu didn¡¯t answer until after examining the scarf for a long time and not finding anyone else¡¯s name phonetically stitched on it. Only then did he relax, wrapped the scarf around his neck several times, and happily put it on.


    He sniffed the scarf without changing his expression; it was very warm. A ripple of joy fluttered in his heart, and he clearly liked it very much.


    Yet he still suppressed the smile tugging at his lips and stubbornly said, ¡°This scarf is just average.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re so reluctant, then give it to me, and I¡¯ll exchange it for something else,¡± Ji Tingyang glared at him, about to step forward.


    Ji Zeqiu, fearing he would come over and snatch it, quickly protected the scarf around his neck, ¡°Even though it¡¯s average, I can still accept it. Besides, this is a birthday gift from Lin Xu, and even if I don¡¯t like it, I should accept it. That¡¯s basic manners, understand?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± Ji Tingyang retorted irritably.


    After growing up, their mother hadn¡¯t even given him a birthday gift, nor had he received anything from her.


    Why should Ji Zeqiu receive one first?


    Ji Tingyang initially didn¡¯t want to come, and now he was even more dissatisfied with this birthday celebration.


    ¡°The gift¡¯s given, and he can eat the cake by himself. Let¡¯s go,¡± Ji Tingyang said, pulling Lin Xu¡¯s hand, his mood foul.


    ¡°If you want to leave, go by yourself; Lin Xu is still staying at my house!¡± Ji Zeqiu grabbed Lin Xu¡¯s other hand, not letting her leave.


    The two brothers faced each other, and the air was thick with tension, as if about to ignite.


    ¡°Family shouldn¡¯t fight; brothers should get along,¡± Lin Xu felt overwhelmed and took both of their hands, making them hold each other.


    Both jolted as if they had touched something disgusting and quickly let go of each other¡¯s hands.


    In this regard, they surprisingly agreed.


    Lin Xu: ¡°¡­¡±


    The cake Lin Xu bought wasn¡¯t big, but it had a thick layer of cream, which was Ji Zeqiu¡¯s favorite type of small cream cake.


    When Ji Zeqiu saw the cake, his eyes lit up.


    Lin Xu put a candle on it and urged him to make a wish.


    ¡°I¡¯m too old for this.¡± Only children do this kind of thing, Ji Zeqiu muttered, but seeing Lin Xu¡¯s excited expression, he paused and ultimately didn¡¯t want to spoil her mood and walked over.


    Make a wish ¡­


    What to wish for?


    Ji Zeqiu was momentarily at a loss.


    If it were his childhood, he might have made an unrealistic wish for his parents to come back to him.


    But he had long understood that it was impossible.


    What about the things he cared about now ¡­


    Wen Li?


    Ji Zeqiu pursed his lips, and his gaze suddenly caught the smiling Lin Xu beside him. He quickly looked away and closed his eyes in panic.


    ¡°I wish ¡­¡±


    He silently recited his wish, and the image in his mind became chaotic for a moment, finally settling on Lin Xu.


    After a moment, Ji Zeqiu opened his eyes and, not daring to look at Lin Xu, stammered, ¡°I-I, I¡¯ve made my wish.¡±


    ¡°What did you wish for?¡± Your ears are so red.


    Lin Xu looked at his ears, red as ripe cherries, somewhat puzzled.


    ¡°!!¡± Ji Zeqiu¡¯s ears turned even redder, ¡°If a wish is spoken, it, it won¡¯t come true.¡±


    Ji Tingyang shot him a look, ¡°Besides Wen Li, what else could it be?¡±


    It had to be said that Ji Tingyang knew him quite well.


    If it were before, Ji Zeqiu indeed would have wished for that.


    But now things had changed.


    ¡°It¡¯s not her!¡± Ji Zeqiu hurriedly countered, afraid of being misunderstood, and stole a guilty glance at Lin Xu, ¡°My feelings for Wen Li are just¡­¡±


    Just what?


    Just coveting the warmth she radiates?


    Or seeing the image of his mother in her, thus developing a dependency?


    Ji Zeqiu suddenly didn¡¯t know how to describe it, his intended words stuck, and he froze.


    Suddenly.


    His cheek was grazed.


    Ji Zeqiu came to his senses, only to see Lin Xu¡¯s finger dipped in cream, cheerfully smearing a streak on his face.


    She didn¡¯t ask about the words he hadn¡¯t finished, but instead, smilingly continued with the birthday proceedings.


    The sweet, creamy scent softly floated in the air, entering his nostrils, enticingly intoxicating.


    The ripples in Ji Zeqiu¡¯s heart grew bigger.


    Compared to previous years, this year¡¯s birthday was unusually noisy.


    The apartment was filled more with the sounds of Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu arguing; though annoying, it was lively.


    By the time the birthday celebration ended, it was almost midnight.


    Ji Tingyang, reluctant to let Lin Xu clean up the dishes, took the initiative to carry them to the kitchen and washed them as well.


    When he finished washing the dishes and came out, Lin Xu was already sleeping on the couch, her head resting on Ji Zeqiu¡¯s shoulder, looking serene.


    Ji Zeqiu looked at the head on his shoulder, his body stiff, dare not moving.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s temple pulsed, and he sat down beside Lin Xu.


    He reached out, gently cradling Lin Xu¡¯s head, drawing her into his embrace, letting her head rest against his shoulder.


    The mother belonged to him.


    She could only sleep leaning on him.


    Ji Zeqiu was amused and annoyed by his move, glared at him, and snatched Lin Xu back into his arms, making her rest against his shoulder again.


    Lin Xu clearly wanted to lean on his side!


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression darkened instantly, and the next second, he snatched Lin Xu back again.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s cheeks also cooled, bringing Lin Xu back to his side.


    Back and forth.


    Lin Xu felt as though she was sitting on a boat, her body swaying non-stop with the waves, dizzy and bleary-eyed.


    ¡°Stop! Stop!¡± she woke from her sleep, holding back the urge to vomit, and timely stopped their actions, ¡°I was just sleeping on the couch, you didn¡¯t need to be so rough to wake me up?¡±


    Lin Xu was completely unaware of the tension between the two brothers, innocently thinking they were just trying to wake her up to go back to her room to sleep.


    She yawned, got up, and went to her room, ¡°I¡¯m a bit sleepy, I¡¯m going to sleep first, you guys should go to sleep early too.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu smugly tilted his chin at Ji Tingyang, ¡°Yeah, President Ji should better head back to the Ji family home to rest soon.¡±


    This was his home.


    Ji Tingyang had to leave.


    However, Ji Tingyang scanned the apartment and calmly said, ¡°I¡¯ll stay here tonight.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu was furious, ¡°Over my dead body!¡±

 Chapter 75 - Chapter 75: Chapter 75: Sister is Back!

    Chapter 75: Chapter 75: Sister is Back!


    The next day.


    Ji Zeqiu still had some work left before the Spring Festival and got up early in the morning.


    After washing up, he changed his clothes.


    He grasped the door handle of the bedroom, paused as he was about to leave, and looked back at the scarf lying beside the pillow.


    He hesitated for a moment.


    When he walked out again, his neck was wrapped in the warm scarf.


    His manager, seeing it, pulled at the scarf in surprise, ¡°Aren¡¯t you the type who never wears a scarf?¡±


    Havings never seen him wearing one for so many years, he was always a man who preferred style over warmth, burdened with the idol baggage.


    And yet, today, he surprisingly put on a scarf.


    ¡°Are you in love?¡± The manager was very sensitive.


    The manager had seen Wen Li and Shen Qingtang around Ji Zeqiu, but he always felt it was like neglected children playing petty games.


    To put it bluntly, it was like children playing house, without much real affection, not lasting long.


    So he didn¡¯t interfere much.


    But Ji Zeqiu seemed different today.


    Hearing this, Ji Zeqiu suddenly choked on his saliva and coughed incessantly, ¡°No, no! How could I possibly like that woman!¡±


    The manager gave him a sidelong glance, ¡°I don¡¯t think I mentioned anyone, did I?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu: ¡°¡­¡±


    The ringtone from the phone in his pocket went off, like a lifesaver, he grabbed his phone quickly, ¡°I need to take this call!¡±


    He ran hastily to the side, not even checking the caller ID, ¡°Hello, may I ask who¡¯s calling?¡±


    Wen Li¡¯s sweet voice came through, ¡°It¡¯s me, Wen Li.¡±


    Due to the approaching Spring Festival, Wen Li did not continue to stay in the apartment but had gone home instead.


    During these two or three days since her departure, Ji Zeqiu realized he seemed to have forgotten her and hardly thought of her.


    Caught off-guard by her voice, Ji Zeqiu was stunned for a few seconds, ¡°Um, do you need something?¡±


    ¡°Hehe.¡± Wen Li chuckled mysterly and then blurted out, ¡°Happy birthday!¡±


    ¡°What birthday?¡± Ji Zeqiu was puzzled.


    ¡°Your birthday, of course! Is there anything you¡¯d like as a gift? I¡¯ll give it to you,¡± Wen Li cheerfully said.


    Wen Li was one of the few who knew Ji Zeqiu¡¯s real birthday from the time before he became an artist; she always sent him birthday wishes and asked if he wanted any gifts, just like now.


    Ji Zeqiu knew her family was not well-off financially, so to save her some money, he always said that he needed nothing, just talking to her was enough.


    Only¡­


    Ji Zeqiu was silent for a moment, ¡°Actually, yesterday was my birthday.¡±


    There was a silence on the other end of the phone, as if she were hastily checking a calendar, followed by a startled exclamation, ¡°Ah, I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯ve been so busy at home, I even got the date wrong.¡±


    Wen Li was irritated by her mistake.


    Ever since she met Xiao Yu, she either got his birthday wrong or completely forgot it.


    Ji Zeqiu had long been used to it and couldn¡¯t really reproach her, but still felt somewhat upset in his heart.


    However, now¡­


    He quietly felt his heart beating calmly, and even that upset feeling was gone¡­


    Strange indeed.


    Wen Li still sounded guilty in his ear, ¡°How about I buy you a cake to make up for it? Do you like fruit cake or cream cake? Let¡¯s go buy it together; I can also pick a birthday gift for you, I¡­¡±


    ¡°No need,¡± Ji Zeqiu declined.


    He would rather have no gift at all than receive another unwanted second-hand gift.


    Moreover¡­


    Ji Zeqiu adjusted the scarf around his neck to block the biting cold wind, feeling warmer instantly.


    Besides, he already had his gift.


    ¡ª¡ª


    On New Year¡¯s Eve.


    Lin Xu busily adorned the windows of Ji Mansion with paper cutouts, posted couplets outside the door, and hung Chinese knots inside, creating an atmosphere brimming with festive red.


    Ji Zeqiu was also dragged by her to spend the New Year at the mansion, occasionally handing her some paste and helping out.


    When the butler saw Ji Zeqiu had returned too, he was so excited that he murmured about cooking extra dishes and headed into the kitchen.


    Lin Xu wanted to help as well, but each time Ji Zeqiu stopped her.


    ¡°You better not add to the chaos.¡±


    If this woman dared to enter the kitchen, tonight¡¯s New Year¡¯s Eve dinner would be ruined!


    ¡°You despise my cooking?!¡± Lin Xu looked at him, hurt.


    ¡°I, I don¡¯t,¡± Ji Zeqiu said, feeling guilty.


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind; whatever you make, I like it,¡± Ji Tingyang immediately expressed his stance.


    Lin Xu instantly beamed with a smile, ¡°Ting Yang is the best.¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s lips slightly curved upwards, his eyes gleaming with a mix of pride and provocation as he looked at Ji Zeqiu.


    See, he was Mother¡¯s favorite.


    Ji Zeqiu gritted his teeth and went all out, ¡°I like it too.¡±


    ¡°Really?!¡± Lin Xu smiled broadly, rolled up her sleeves, and turned into the kitchen, ¡°Watch me show my skills!¡±


    As her figure disappeared into the kitchen, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s face immediately fell, and he somberly looked at Ji Tingyang, ¡°Are you really going to eat it?¡±


    Ji Tingyang didn¡¯t pay him any attention, his demeanor calm and composed.


    As time passed, the dinner table gradually filled with sumptuous dishes.


    Lin Xu checked the time, ran over, and asked Ji Tingyang, ¡°Did you ask Lanyue to come back for dinner? How come she hasn¡¯t arrived yet?¡±


    ¡°I told her.¡± Although Ji Tingyang disliked sharing his mother with others, he didn¡¯t want to disappoint her.


    Initially, his sister was still upset that he had frozen her bank card and refused to come back for the New Year.


    It wasn¡¯t until he promised to unfreeze her bank card if she returned that she agreed without hesitation.


    Considering the time, she should be almost here.


    ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± During the wait, Lin Xu sat anxiously on the sofa, her fingers continuously twirling her hair, an uneasy expression on her face.


    Her entire body was tense, constantly glancing towards the door.


    When she passed away, Lanyue was only about a year old, her baby face chubby and pale; Lanyue was especially pretty back then, and it was uncertain what she would look like twenty years later.


    Would she also dislike her mother like Ji Zeqiu?


    If Lin Xu told Lanyue that she was her mother, would she believe her?


    Various possibilities floated through Lin Xu¡¯s mind. The more she waited, the more anxious she became.


    ¡°Ding dong.¡±


    A message notification chimed on Ji Tingyang¡¯s phone. He briefly glanced at it and said to the restless Lin Xu, ¡°She¡¯s back.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Lin Xu, initially confused, had a delayed realization that he meant his sister had returned.


    Her lips parted slightly, about to ask more.


    In the next instant, the sound of the mansion¡¯s iron gate slowly opening rang in her ears.


    Lanyue was back!


    Lin Xu suddenly stood up, palms sweating from nervousness, and hurried towards the door.

 Chapter 76 - Chapter 76: Chapter 76: This Woman Dare to Kiss Him!

    Chapter 76: Chapter 76: This Woman Dare to Kiss Him!


    Lin Xu walked to the doorway and saw a slender figure with a high ponytail. Her head slightly bowed, she stopped in front of the iron gate looking at her phone.


    Was that person Lanyue?


    She hadn¡¯t expected the little baby from her childhood to have grown so tall.


    She wondered whether, now that she had grown up, she resembled her mother more or her father.


    The corners of Lin Xu¡¯s lips lifted, her eyes brimming with excitement as she stepped forward to approach, only to see the figure abruptly turn and hurry away.


    The person left in such a rush, as if they had gone to the wrong door by mistake.


    Lin Xu¡¯s steps faltered, filled with doubt.


    Could it be that the person wasn¡¯t Lanyue?


    After hesitating for a moment, the figure disappeared from her sight.


    Lin Xu continued to stand at the door, looking around to see if anyone else would enter.


    After a while, Ji Tingyang came out from the house, ¡°Mother, Lanyue just told me she suddenly has something to do and won¡¯t be coming back for dinner tonight.¡±


    The hope Lin Xu held for the person outside gradually faded, and the smile at her lips also slowly dispersed.


    Seeing her downcast expression, Ji Tingyang clumsily tried to comfort her, ¡°Even if she doesn¡¯t come back today, she¡¯ll still need to come back for the New Year¡¯s celebration tomorrow or the day after. Don¡¯t be sad¡­¡±


    Sometimes Ji Tingyang wondered if his mother only had him as a son, would she then stay with him forever?


    That way, she would not go to live with Ji Zeqiu and would not always be thinking about her little sister.


    But all these thoughts were cast aside when he saw Lin Xu upset, as he only thought about how to comfort her.


    ¡°If she still doesn¡¯t come back, I will get a rope and tie her up and bring her back for you,¡± Ji Tingyang said.


    Seeing the serious expression on his face, Lin Xu actually felt he might just tie her up and bring her back.


    She imagined that scene and couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll trouble you to tie her up and bring her back when the time comes.¡±


    New Year¡¯s Eve was far from over, and she still had two sons waiting to celebrate with her, so she couldn¡¯t afford to dampen everyone¡¯s mood with a gloomy face during such a joyous time.


    With this thought, Lin Xu¡¯s expression returned to normal, and she took Ji Tingyang by the hand to go back inside, ¡°Let¡¯s go back and have our New Year¡¯s Eve dinner.¡±


    Most of the servants in the villa had gone home for the New Year, leaving only the butler and Aunt Zhang to work overtime. Lin Xu called them over to join them at the table.


    The butler looked at Ji Tingyang and then at Ji Zeqiu, feeling quite excited.


    It had been a long time since he had seen the two young masters eating together so harmoniously.


    While the butler was moved by this sight, the quiet that had settled between the two young masters soon broke as they began to argue again.


    ¡°This rib is very tasty, you should try it,¡± Ji Tingyang offered Lin Xu a piece of rib.


    ¡°Cut it out, that rib has such a big bone, it¡¯s so troublesome to eat. This is definitely better,¡± Ji Zeqiu offered Lin Xu a meatball.


    ¡°Have some chicken,¡± Ji Tingyang continued to serve her.


    ¡°Duck tastes better,¡± Ji Zeqiu also offered.


    Ji Tingyang: ¡°Eat this.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu: ¡°Eat mine!¡±


    Before Lin Xu could even take a few bites of her meal, the dishes had piled up into a small mountain on top of her bowl.


    After the meal, Lin Xu lay on the couch, touching her round belly, unable to even walk.


    Ji Tingyang felt a bit annoyed with himself for arguing with Ji Zeqiu, that little brat, then handed her a glass of water, ¡°Have some digestive tablets.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the use of digestive tablets¡­¡± Ji Zeqiu was about to continue the argument on impulse, but seeing Lin Xu¡¯s discomfort and remembering he was partly to blame, he promptly shut his mouth.


    Lin Xu didn¡¯t want to spend such a wonderful evening lying on the couch, ¡°There¡¯s still the most important part of the evening to come.¡±


    ¡°What else is there?¡± Ji Tingyang inquired.


    Ji Zeqiu was also puzzled.


    Soon after, the two of them saw Lin Xu and the butler secretly entering the storage room, and after a while, they each came out carrying a big bag of heavy fireworks.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to set off fireworks, of course!¡± Lin Xu said joyfully.


    The colorful fireworks soared into the sky, turning the night into a kaleidoscope of brilliant purples and reds, shining with the brightest of lights.


    Ji Zeqiu was holding a sparkler, hissing as it burned, sending out beautiful sparks and fireworks.


    However, his attention was not on the fireworks at all as he absentmindedly glanced over at Lin Xu by his side.


    She was holding a fairy wand and lighting fireworks with Ji Tingyang, her face blooming with a bright, floral smile that was so captivating it made even the current fireworks seem dim in comparison.


    Ji Zeqiu muttered under his breath, ¡°Does she really like Ji Tingyang that much¡­¡±


    It was one thing to specially call him back to the Ji Family for New Year¡¯s Eve, but she didn¡¯t even go home herself, choosing instead to stay here and accompany Ji Tingyang for the New Year.


    And she looked so happy doing it.


    Ji Zeqiu took another glance at her, and seeing that radiant smile still on her face, he immediately put on a sour expression.


    ¡°Zeqiu.¡±


    The person next to him suddenly called out.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Ji Zeqiu replied gloomily.


    It was completely unexpected.


    A soft kiss landed on his cheek.


    Gentle and sweet.


    His body stiffened abruptly, and his neck, as if rusted, turned awkwardly to look at her.


    The fairy wand in his hand was still burning, but those fireworks had exploded in his heart, falling like a shower of stars, brilliant and multicolored.


    ¡°Happy New Year, from now on let¡¯s always be together as a family,¡± Lin Xu said to him with a smile.


    However, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s head was spinning, his ears ringing, and he couldn¡¯t hear any other sounds following her words.


    His mind was filled with a single shocking thought.


    This woman, she actually dared to kiss him!


    And in front of Ji Tingyang, no less.


    What did this mean?


    Could it be that she liked him?


    Ji Zeqiu pursed his lips, trying hard to suppress the corners of his mouth from turning up, not letting her see the joy on his face.


    But in the next moment.


    He saw Lin Xu walk over to Ji Tingyang and gently kiss his cheek just the same.


    She was muttering something to Ji Tingyang, then he saw Ji Tingyang happily wrap her in a hug.


    The joyful expression that had not yet faded from Ji Zeqiu¡¯s face suddenly collapsed, and he looked as if he were owed seven or eight hundred million, his face somber.


    This bad woman who kisses anyone she sees!


    During the New Year¡¯s Eve celebration, when Lin Xu was planning to wrap dumplings with the two of them, her phone rang with a call from Ji Yuqiao.


    Moving to the side to answer, Lin Xu hadn¡¯t even had the chance to wish her a happy New Year¡¯s Eve before Ji Yuqiao¡¯s sobs came through the phone first.


    Lin Xu suddenly became anxious, ¡°Why are you crying?¡±


    ¡°Why doesn¡¯t he like me? How am I not as good as that woman, sob sob¡­¡± Ji Yuqiao¡¯s sobs were intermittent, and her voice had become hoarse.


    Besides her crying, there was also the sound of loud music and clinking glasses over the phone.


    ¡°Where are you right now?¡±


    Worried about her being alone, Lin Xu asked for the address and hurried over.

 Chapter 77 - Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Ah Yan, Happy New Years Eve

    Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Ah Yan, Happy New Year¡¯s Eve


    Even on New Year¡¯s Eve, the bar was still buzzing with noise, and the perplexing lights flickered before her eyes as the music blared deafeningly.


    Lin Xu walked around the bar, rejecting many men¡¯s advances, until she finally found Ji Yuqiao, drunk in a corner of the bar.


    Next to her sat two men with ill intentions, continuously pouring drinks into her glass.


    ¡°Beauty, come on, let¡¯s have another drink,¡± one of the men said with a laugh, even attempting to reach for her waist.


    Lin Xu grabbed the man¡¯s hand that was about to grope and pulled him away from Ji Yuqiao, ¡°Sorry, my friend is drunk, and I am taking her home.¡±


    The interrupted man¡¯s face turned furious, his eyebrows furrowed in displeasure, and he was about to spew a swear word but swallowed it back upon seeing Lin Xu, his eyes lighting up, staring wide-eyed.


    ¡°Beauty, don¡¯t be in a rush to leave, how about you drink one with your friend?¡± the man said insinuatingly, raising his eyebrows at her.


    ¡°Maybe next time. It¡¯s so late now, I still need to go back for New Year¡¯s. If my family finds out, I might get a beating,¡± Lin Xu declined.


    ¡°Who even cares about New Year¡¯s now? It¡¯s us youngsters who go out on our own play,¡± the man said as he grabbed Lin Xu¡¯s wrist and tried to pull her into the sofa.


    Lin Xu immediately straightened her face and said coldly, ¡°No need.¡±


    ¡°We just want to chat with you girls, we aren¡¯t going to do anything. Don¡¯t make a face when given face,¡± another man on the sofa suddenly stood up.


    Then, around three or four men also stood up and all turned their attention to Lin Xu.


    Clearly, they were in a group.


    Lin Xu hesitated whether to call Ji Tingyang or to directly call the police when she heard the man speak again, ¡°Look, we won¡¯t make it difficult, just drink this cup and we will let you go, how about that?¡±


    The man picked up a drink that looked like iced tea and handed it to her.


    Lin Xu recognized the drink.


    Long Island Iced Tea.


    The name and appearance were deceptive, making one think it was just a regular tea, yet in truth, it was a strong liquor.


    They clearly thought Lin Xu, the good girl, wouldn¡¯t know, their eyes filled with a bit of schadenfreude.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Lin Xu slightly arched her eyebrows, took the drink, and downed it in one gulp. ¡°Can we go now?¡±


    The men, seeing Lin Xu as calm as ever, were momentarily stunned, ¡°Yes¡­ you can go.¡±


    It was only after Lin Xu and Ji Yuqiao had walked away that they came back to their senses.


    ¡°Did you really just give her a drink? Why didn¡¯t she react at all?¡±


    ¡°I¡ªI don¡¯t know either.¡±


    While they were confused, Lin Xu had already settled Ji Yuqiao in a nearby hotel.


    Lin Xu didn¡¯t know where Ji Yuqiao lived, so she had to get a room for Ji Yuqiao first and let her rest until tomorrow to find out what had happened.


    It was so late now, especially on New Year¡¯s Eve, that it was virtually impossible to hail a cab outside.


    Lin Xu then sent Ji Tingyang an address to come pick her up.


    As she stood by the roadside waiting, her head suddenly began to spin.


    The effects of the alcohol she had forced down seemed to surge up at that moment. Lin Xu¡¯s body swayed, and she clung to the lamppost rail, retching a few times.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    A deep, magnetic voice sounded from behind her.


    Lin Xu turned around and saw Xie Changyan standing behind her, offering her a blue and white striped handkerchief.


    ¡°Why is it that every time I see you, you¡¯re somewhat in a mess?¡± the man said with a tone that was teasingly light.


    Lin Xu stared blankly at him, his somewhat familiar face blurring into one under the catalysis of alcohol, indistinguishable.


    She staggered and threw herself into Xie Changyan¡¯s arms, hugging his waist tightly, her head nuzzling against his neck like a spoiled child, ¡°Where have you been? Why haven¡¯t you come to see me? Do you know how much I¡¯ve missed you¡­?¡±


    The scent of alcohol on the woman mingled with a hint of a sweet aroma, infiltrating his nostrils.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s breathing paused for a moment before he let out a slight chuckle.


    With one hand in his pocket and the other around her waist to steady her, a slight curve played at the corners of his mouth, his tone laced with a subtlety of mockery, ¡°Miss Lin, are you mistaking me for someone else?¡±


    Lin Xu didn¡¯t respond to him, but continued to talk to herself, ¡°I sent you so many messages, why didn¡¯t you reply to any of them?¡±


    ¡°Is there another woman by your side, and you don¡¯t like me anymore?¡±


    As Lin Xu spoke, her voice suddenly choked up.


    For some reason, hearing her cry, Xie Changyan felt as if something was stuck in his chest, creating a sense of heaviness in his heart.


    This abnormal state made his eyebrows furrow.


    But he had finally realized that the person she kept mentioning indeed seemed to be him.


    His fingertips, separated by her thick clothing at the waist, gently caressed, with Xie Changyan¡¯s deep brown eyes slightly downcast, he watched her face resting on his shoulder and casually commented, ¡°Isn¡¯t Miss Lin already married? Isn¡¯t it inappropriate to say such things to another man?¡±


    And he himself knew well that he should keep a distance from her, but when he saw her in the car, he still couldn¡¯t resist walking over.


    He inwardly clicked his tongue, feeling that this was unlike him.


    He also said these words as a reminder of her status.


    However, she seemed not to understand at all, her beautiful, misty eyes blinked, blurting out naively, ¡°I don¡¯t really understand, why would it be bad?¡±


    Her warm breath fell on his neck, tickling and stirring his heartstrings.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s breathing suddenly became heavier, the hand around her waist loosened, trying to pull away from her.


    ¡°Miss Lin, where is your cell phone? I will call your family to come and take you home,¡± he said.


    Lin Xu didn¡¯t respond, her arms encircling his neck and her body once again pressing close.


    The soft touch of their lips meeting.


    In that moment, time around them seemed to stop, with only the sound of their breathing and the sudden acceleration of his heartbeat echoing in his ears.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s adam¡¯s apple bobbed, and the hand on her waist suddenly tightened.


    Lin Xu smiled with her eyes, loosening her grip around his neck.


    ¡°Ah Yan, happy New Year¡¯s Eve,¡±


    she said.


    Xie Changyan breathed deeply, his deep eyes harboring a subtle desire.


    He pulled her back into his arms, looking at her rosy lips as his head slowly leaned in.


    Suddenly,


    a hand fiercely pulled Xie Changyan away, and a fist landed heavily on his face.


    At the same time, a voice snarled through clenched teeth.


    ¡°You bastard! Stay away from her!¡±


    Xie Changyan staggered back a few steps, he let out a low hiss, a taste of blood suddenly spreading in his mouth.


    He reached up to wipe the blood from the corner of his lips, scoffing coldly as he looked up.


    He saw Ji Tingyang had already taken Lin Xu into his arms, his eyes cold and sinister as they met his, filled with hostility.

 Chapter 78 - Chapter 78: Chapter 78 Maybe Hes Having an Affair with a Married Woman

    Chapter 78: Chapter 78 Maybe He¡¯s Having an Affair with a Married Woman


    The aftereffects of last night¡¯s drink were a bit strong, and Lin Xu lay in bed, only groggily waking up at noon.


    Realizing she had missed the morning ritual of handing out red envelopes to her two sons, she quickly washed up and hurried downstairs.


    In the living room, only Ji Tingyang was there, looking at the tablet in his hands with a grim face, seemingly reviewing some documents as if facing a great enemy.


    ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Seeing his serious expression, Lin Xu asked, puzzled.


    Could it be that the company had another issue?


    Ji Tingyang seemed to jump in surprise, quickly covering the tablet, ¡°Nothing, nothing¡­¡±


    Lin Xu didn¡¯t press further, but just looked around the villa and asked, ¡°Why haven¡¯t I seen Zeqiu?¡±


    ¡°Not long after you left last night, he did too; he probably went back to his apartment,¡± Ji Tingyang answered, stealing glances at her now and then, his eyes full of conflict.


    He had questions he wanted to ask her. However, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbed for a moment but he still couldn¡¯t find the words, and he hesitated.


    Lin Xu noticed his struggling expression, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°You, you¡­ last night, why were you with Xie Changyan?¡± Ji Tingyang finally blurted out the question that had been choking him up.


    She had taken a phone call last night and hurried out. Was it to meet Xie Changyan?


    When did the two of them meet?


    Xie Changyan even wanted to kiss her!


    If he had been a moment later, who knows what might have happened. What if his mother had been tricked away by someone else?


    The more Ji Tingyang thought about it, the angrier he felt, thinking that the punch he threw last night was too light.


    ¡°Last night? I wasn¡¯t with him,¡± Lin Xu said with a bewildered look, ¡°I just went to the bar to pick up a friend last night, settled her in a hotel, and then you came and took me home, right?¡±


    Lin Xu had blacked out from the alcohol and had forgotten everything that happened in between.


    ¡°Did something else happen last night?¡± She furrowed her brow, pinched her temples, and tried to recall the events of last night.


    ¡°Nothing! Nothing happened!¡± Ji Tingyang quickly answered, his tone firm.


    He absolutely couldn¡¯t let his mother find out about this.


    ¡°But why did you go to the bar alone, how unsafe is that, why didn¡¯t you call me to come along?¡± Ji Tingyang frowned, his concerns spilling out unceasingly.


    ¡°It was just too urgent, and I forgot about it, next time I¡¯ll definitely not run around on my own,¡± Lin Xu promised, afraid he would keep nagging. She quickly pulled out a red envelope and handed it to him to change the subject, ¡°Happy New Year, this is your red envelope. I wish our Tingyang health, safety, and happiness in the future.¡±


    Ji Tingyang was indeed distracted from last night¡¯s events, his eyes suddenly lighting up.


    He took the red envelope without opening it, just staring at it, a smile he couldn¡¯t suppress tugging at his lips.


    This was a New Year¡¯s red envelope from his mother.


    This was the first New Year¡¯s red envelope he had received in twenty years.


    Ji Zeqiu was invited by a TV station to participate in their live New Year¡¯s program, so even on the first day of the New Year, he had to go out for work.


    After interacting with the fans for over an hour in the studio, he completed his task, making way for the next artist to come on stage.


    ¡°Tonight another local TV station has invited us to join their New Year¡¯s gala. I¡¯ve arranged the schedule; we¡¯ll go to the airport in an hour¡­¡± The manager looked at the notebook in his hand, informing Ji Zeqiu of the arrangements to come.


    Ji Zeqiu nodded, half-listening, while he opened his phone to check messages.


    Many artists and friends he¡¯d collaborated with had sent him New Year¡¯s greetings; he skipped past each one, and his fingertips suddenly paused on Wen Li¡¯s avatar. It displayed an unread message from her.


    It was just a simple ¡°Happy New Year.¡±


    Wen Li rarely initiated messages to him, so even a holiday greeting would usually make him happy for a while.


    But why was it that now, there was no flutter in his heart at all?


    Even a bit annoyed.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s fingers were swiping across WeChat once more, halting at the empty message box belonging to Lin Xu.


    Not even a perfunctory ¡®Happy New Year¡¯ from this woman!


    Just as he was fuming, he saw that Ji Tingyang had surprisingly posted a moment.


    JTY: ¡°Received the first red envelope of the New Year.¡±


    Below was a photo of a red envelope.


    In the top right corner of the photo, the edge of a skirt had accidentally made it into the frame, and the comments below, aside from exchanging festive greetings, were all guessing which beauty was the woman in the picture.


    Ji Zeqiu knew without guessing that it was Lin Xu.


    The red envelope was also from her.


    Because she had posted a photo with Ji Tingyang on her moments, holding the same type of red envelope in her hand.


    Yet he hadn¡¯t received a red envelope, let alone a New Year¡¯s blessing.


    Ji Zeqiu grew increasingly annoyed as he thought about it.


    Just then, Lin Xu¡¯s belated New Year¡¯s greetings finally arrived.


    Willow Wadding: ¡°Happy New Year! I hope every day in your future is happy, safe, healthy, and successful!¡±


    Willow Wadding: ¡°Also, there¡¯s a New Year¡¯s red envelope for you, but I have to go out today, so I left it with Ting Yang. If you come back early, go get it from him.¡±


    Just a moment ago Ji Zeqiu¡¯s sullen face instantly brightened upon seeing the message about his red envelope being in that guy Ji Tingyang¡¯s hands, then felt a sudden unease, and immediately called him.


    The first thing he said was, ¡°Give me my red envelope!¡±


    Ji Tingyang replied unhurriedly, ¡°What red envelope? I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡±


    ¡°Stop playing dumb, Lin Xu told me the red envelope is with you,¡± Ji Zeqiu snapped, having known this bastard would hog it for himself.


    ¡°Alright then.¡± The other end of the phone fell silent for a few seconds, then continued, ¡°The red envelope has been sent to you, check your WeChat.¡±


    When Ji Zeqiu checked, he found that Ji Tingyang had transferred two thousand yuan to his WeChat, and he burst into laughter, ¡°Who wants your transfer!¡±


    He wanted that red envelope, not the money!


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want it then return it to me.¡± Ji Tingyang finished speaking, and then, as if casually showing off, said, ¡°Lin Xu just made dumplings for me, I¡¯m off to try them.¡±


    After saying that, he hung up.


    ¡°¡­¡± Ji Zeqiu clenched his teeth.


    That woman¡¯s cooking skills were so terrible, what was there to show off about a meal of dumplings.


    Ji Tingyang was really putting on a front.


    Meanwhile, on the other side.


    When Xie Changyan saw that moment, he was being dragged by a few friends to the racing track to play.


    ¡°Yo, Young Master Xie, what¡¯s with the face? Could it be that someone hit you?¡± A man dressed in a racing suit came over, noticed the bruise at the corner of Xie Changyan¡¯s mouth, and his face was filled with schadenfreude, ¡°Could it be, it¡¯s because of a woman that you got hit?¡±


    Xie Changyan tugged at the corner of his mouth, the wound stinging.


    He chuckled lightly, the mirth in his eyes not reaching the depths, ¡°What do you think?¡±


    ¡°I guess it is.¡± The man sat down next to him, actually guessing with glee, ¡°Is it because you rejected some woman again, and in a fit of rage, she punched you?¡±


    Xie Changyan lowered his gaze, holding the photo from Lin Xu¡¯s moments showing her and Ji Tingyang smiling happily together, his expression flickering.


    ¡°Perhaps, it¡¯s because of flirting with a married woman?¡±

 Chapter 79 - Chapter 79: Chapter 79 It would be great if you were my mother

    Chapter 79: Chapter 79 It would be great if you were my mother


    Lin Xu received Xie Changyan¡¯s message on the way to the hotel.


    Xie: ¡°Do you have time to meet and talk today?¡±


    She flipped through the chat history, where she had sent five or six messages inviting him to have dinner without receiving a reply, which made her give up the idea.


    But today, he actually took the initiative to send her a message, and a moment of surprise flashed in her eyes.


    Willow Wadding: ¡°Did you send that to the wrong person?¡±


    Xie: ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ve been too busy to get back to you before.¡±


    Lin Xu smiled faintly, not choosing to call him out, and simply replied ¡°See you this afternoon¡± before entering the hotel.


    Ji Yuqiao had cried so hard and drank herself into a stupor last night that Lin Xu was worried and came to check on her.


    When she entered the room, Ji Yuqiao hadn¡¯t gotten up yet and was fiddling with her phone in bed, unwilling to rise.


    Seeing Lin Xu, Ji Yuqiao shed her haughty missy temper and became sheepish, ¡°Sorry for drunkenly bothering you with calls and disturbing your New Year¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, you said we¡¯re friends, right? Friends don¡¯t need to be so formal,¡± Lin Xu said with an unconcerned smile, ¡°How are you feeling now?¡±


    Ji Yuqiao pursed her lips with a sad expression, not really wanting to speak.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to talk about it, then let¡¯s not,¡± Lin Xu said as she sat on the edge of the bed, gently caressing Ji Yuqiao¡¯s cheek, ¡°You¡¯ve slept for quite a while; are you hungry? How about I take you out for a meal?¡±


    Lin Xu¡¯s voice was as gentle as a spring breeze, soothing like one would comfort a child, making the once troubled heart all warm.


    Ji Yuqiao looked at her and felt the warmth on her face and chest where Lin Xu had touched, ¡°Your tone makes it seem like you¡¯re coaxing a child.


    ¡°Maybe because I have three kids at home,¡± Lin Xu said.


    Although they had grown up, she still couldn¡¯t get used to it and treated them like children.


    Ji Yuqiao thought of her two brothers at home. Although they also loved her and had indulged her from childhood, never letting her suffer, their hearts were never as delicate as a girl¡¯s; they had never coaxed her so tenderly.


    She curled up in the bed, a flash of embarrassment crossing her eyes as she gazed at Lin Xu, suddenly sighing, ¡°It would be nice if you were my mother¡­ ¡±


    ¡°What did you say?¡± Lin Xu didn¡¯t catch that clearly.


    ¡°Nothing, nothing,¡± Ji Yuqiao quickly shook her head, her cheeks flushing as she hurriedly threw off the blankets to get out of bed, ¡°Let¡¯s go eat, I¡¯m so hungry.¡±


    The restaurant they went to was chosen by Ji Yuqiao, an upscale venue that served only VIP customers.


    She took the menu and asked Lin Xu, ¡°Do you want anything in particular?¡±


    ¡°No, you can go ahead and order.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± She proficiently ordered several dishes.


    Once the food was served, Ji Yuqiao gobbled down her meal as if she hadn¡¯t eaten in a long time, ¡°Ever since my brother cut off my allowance, I haven¡¯t been able to eat here for ages. Thank you for treating me.¡±


    ¡°Eat slowly, no one is racing you,¡± Lin Xu said, worried she might choke and handed her a glass of water.


    After the meal, the heaviness in Ji Yuqiao¡¯s chest seemed to have lifted. She vented her frustrations to Lin Xu: ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you last time about a guy I liked? He suddenly asked to meet me last night.¡±


    ¡°I skipped the New Year¡¯s Eve dinner and rushed over, thinking that he had been moved by my persistence and was finally ready to be with me. Turns out, he just wanted to repay the money.¡±


    Previously, Xiao Yu had been working part-time in a coffee shop and stained a customer¡¯s clothing; she helped Xiao Yu by giving him one hundred thousand yuan.


    He had been eager to establish boundaries and repay her as soon as he had saved enough money.


    Thinking of this, Ji Yuqiao felt particularly frustrated and, after taking a gulp of water, slammed the cup down hard on the table.


    She gritted her teeth, ¡°I actually thought there had been progress between us during those days in the library, but it was all in my imagination! He said the person he liked was never me!¡±


    Out of impulse and heartache, Ji Yuqiao went to a bar and spent all the money he had returned to her.


    ¡°Am I not pretty enough, why doesn¡¯t he like me? What do I have to do to make him like me?¡± Ji Yuqiao complained to Lin Xu as if she were drowning her sorrows in liquor, downing the water in her cup in one gulp.


    ¡°If he doesn¡¯t like you, then why can¡¯t you bring yourself to give up?¡± Lin Xu was puzzled.


    ¡°My brother says that you have to fight for the things you like by any means necessary, and never give up easily,¡± Ji Yuqiao stated as if it were a matter of course.


    Wen Li didn¡¯t like her older brother either, but he still managed to keep Wen Li by his side.


    Her brother succeeded, so he must be right, she thought.


    Lin Xu: ¡°¡­¡±


    It made sense in principle, but it sounded so strange when she heard it.


    ¡°You can strive for what you want, but we shouldn¡¯t demean ourselves. Everyone says you have to learn to love yourself first before others will love you, understand?¡± Lin Xu told her.


    Ji Yuqiao shook her head blankly, ¡°I don¡¯t understand¡­¡±


    Lin Xu tried a different angle, ¡°You said he has very good academic achievements and has won many competition awards, so he must love to study. Maybe, if you enter the same competition and beat him, he would definitely see you in a new light.¡±


    The main task of a student is to study; she shouldn¡¯t give up her studies just to pursue someone else.


    Of course, if the two could be compatible, that would be even better.


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s face lit up at the suggestion, but then faltered, hesitant, ¡°Those competitions are very difficult¡­¡±


    How could she possibly score higher than Xiao Yu.


    ¡°Last time you had only a week, and you passed the make-up exam successfully, which proves your learning capability is strong. You¡¯ll definitely have no problem with competitions either,¡± Lin Xu encouraged her, ¡°Why not trust my words and give it a shot?¡±


    Ji Yuqiao looked down and took a bite of her meal, ¡°I¡¯ll think about it¡­¡±


    After lunch, the two of them walked around the mall. As it neared the time to meet Xie Changyan, Lin Xu parted ways with her.


    When Lin Xu arrived at the cafe, Xie Changyan was already there, holding a cup of coffee as if he had been waiting for a long time.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for being late,¡± Lin Xu sat down opposite him.


    ¡°I was the early one,¡± Xie Changyan put down his cup, revealing a conspicuously swollen corner of his lips.


    Lin Xu was stunned, staring at his injury, speechless, ¡°What happened to your face?¡±


    Xie Changyan¡¯s usually composed expression became subtly complex, ¡°You don¡¯t remember?¡±


    ¡°Huh? Should I remember something?¡± Lin Xu blinked in bewilderment.


    ¡°¡­¡± Xie Changyan fell silent.


    He initially wanted to ask her what last night¡¯s kiss meant, but now, seeing that she didn¡¯t remember it at all, his distress from the entire night became laughable.


    After a while, he snorted as if in self-mockery, lowered his eyes to the coffee in front of him, and gently swirled the rim of the cup with the pads of his fingers, ¡°Miss Lin, we¡­¡±


    ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Lin Xu suddenly interjected, cutting him off, her clear eyes filled with a hint of concern as they collided with his.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s breath hitched, and his actions on the cup abruptly stopped.

 Chapter 80 - Chapter 80: Chapter 80: How did the water in the swimming pool drain?

    Chapter 80: Chapter 80: How did the water in the swimming pool drain?


    Lin Xu looked curiously at the wound on his face, the corner of his mouth torn and tinged with bruising, not seeming like a bump, but more like it was inflicted by someone.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s eyes flickered as he felt a slight warmth where her gaze touched.


    His thin lips parted, about to speak, when he saw Lin Xu¡¯s slender, fair fingers reaching toward his wound.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s brown eyes gradually deepened, knowing that a small shift in his posture would be enough to dodge her touch, yet his body remained frozen in place¡­


    ¡°Ah, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Lin Xu was the first to come to her senses, quickly retracting her hand just before touching him.


    She picked up the coffee on the table, took a sip, and masked her embarrassment.


    She had almost mistaken Xie Changyan for her husband.


    And even reached out to touch him.


    What if someone called the police?


    Xie Changyan reigned in the emotions at the bottom of his eyes, his expression returning to normal, with a smile that was not quite a smile on his lips. He leaned back in his chair in a relaxed and casual pose, casually gesturing to the waiter to refill his cup of coffee.


    Then he casually asked Lin Xu, ¡°Miss Lin seems to be quite familiar with President Ji?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lin Xu said as if it were obvious.


    ¡°President Ji seems to care a lot about Miss Lin, not like an ordinary friend,¡± he commented offhandedly.


    ¡°He and I¡­¡± Lin Xu thought for a moment, then suddenly was unsure how to describe their relationship to someone else.


    The thoughtful atmosphere fell silent for a long while, so long that Xie Changyan thought she wouldn¡¯t answer, when she finally said, ¡°We are family.¡±


    A mother-son relationship is also a family relationship, and this description was very fitting.


    Remembering Ji Tingyang¡¯s anger the night before, and recalling that Lin Xu had mentioned she was married, Xie Changyan¡¯s smile faded a little.


    He had heard before that Ji Tingyang kept a beloved canary at the Ji Mansion.


    So it was.


    He tore open the sugar syrup, his face casually indifferent as he stirred the freshly served coffee. Yet the aura he exuded added a touch more distance between them, ¡°Next time I see President Ji, I¡¯ll convey¡­¡±


    ¡°Do you also like to add half a packet of sugar syrup to your coffee?¡±


    Before he could finish, he heard Lin Xu¡¯s voice, full of surprise and delight as if she had discovered something astonishingly pleasant, looking at his coffee.


    Xie Changyan seized on the key word in her sentence.


    Also?


    Who else is like him?


    Ji Tingyang?


    Lin Xu continued to ask excitedly, ¡°Do you go to eat barbecue? Do you prefer girls with long hair or short hair? What kind of music do you like? Do you have any hobbies¡­¡±


    It seemed she was searching for some common ground with him.


    Xie Changyan maintained his composure, but internally, he felt irritated.


    ¡­


    Even during the Spring Festival, Ji Zeqiu was still busy, traveling all over for his job.


    And his sister had suddenly become obsessed with something, insisting on going back to school to work hard during New Year¡¯s, which meant that Ji Tingyang couldn¡¯t get her to come home.


    The family reunion dinner that Lin Xu had hoped for didn¡¯t materialize.


    And so the Spring Festival passed.


    As soon as Ji Zeqiu finished his work, the first thing he did after getting off the plane was to rush back to his apartment.


    Although Lin Xu had been messaging him during this time and they had communicated, for some reason, he felt an eagerness to get back to the apartment, knowing that Lin Xu was there.


    No, that¡¯s not right.


    He wasn¡¯t rushing back to see Lin Xu.


    He was just worn out from working so much and wanted to get home and rest as soon as possible!


    That¡¯s right!


    Ji Zeqiu thought so, suppressing the excitement in his heart, and feigned a calm expression as he pushed the door open and entered.


    However, upon seeing Wen Li in the room, he was stunned for a long while, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    As he spoke, he looked around the room but did not find Lin Xu.


    ¡°I came back from home after the first day of the new year,¡± Wen Li explained.


    Initially, her parents were angry because her relationship with Ji Tingyang had ended, losing such a big financial opportunity until Ji Zeqiu found a new job for her father, which finally settled things down.


    During the days of the New Year¡¯s celebration at home, her parents kept insinuating and probing about her relationship with Ji Zeqiu, warning her not to lose another wealthy man.


    ¡°With these men being so rich, why do you have to hang yourself on that poor student?!¡± They were furious, wanting her to bring more money home for the family.


    Wen Li was annoyed by all the nagging. She left home even before the Spring Festival ended and came to stay here.


    Upon hearing her words, Ji Zeqiu belatedly remembered that it was he who had told Wen Li to move in here.


    He had even told her the apartment¡¯s passcode, so it wasn¡¯t surprising to see her here.


    It¡¯s just that he hadn¡¯t thought of her during this time and had somehow forgotten about it.


    Lin Xu didn¡¯t like Wen Li, so of course, she wouldn¡¯t come to the apartment to live with her.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s little anticipation before coming home suddenly vanished, he merely responded indifferently and pushed his suitcase into the apartment.


    Then he sneakily glanced at Wen Li, feeling somewhat conflicted in his heart.


    If Wen Li continued to live here, would Lin Xu never come back?


    Should he ask Wen Li to leave?


    While he was still indecisive, Wen Li spoke first, ¡°Zeqiu, I plan to move back to the school today.¡±


    ¡°Ah?¡± Ji Zeqiu¡¯s eyes lit up for a moment, and he quickly said, ¡°Are you leaving now? Do you have a lot of luggage? Do you need my help to move it?¡±


    His inquiry seemed gentle and considerate, but why did Wen Li feel it sounded strange, as if he was eager?


    She had thought that Ji Zeqiu would at least try to persuade her to stay for a while, but he didn¡¯t say a word.


    Wen Li was stunned for a moment, ¡°No, there¡¯s no need, I can manage on my own.¡±


    Since she had arrived in a hurry initially, she didn¡¯t have much luggage and had already packed up.


    ¡°Thanks for letting me stay during this time, I¡­.¡±


    ¡°No need to be polite, let me take you downstairs,¡± he interrupted.


    Before Wen Li could finish speaking, Ji Zeqiu took her suitcase and, without another word, began pulling it out the door.


    Wen Li: ¡°¡­¡±


    After watching Wen Li get into the taxi and leave, Ji Zeqiu did not return to the apartment but drove directly to the Ji Mansion.


    Halfway through the journey, he found himself entangled again.


    Why was he so anxious to find Lin Xu, showing no restraint at all?


    In his head, another voice said that Lin Xu had already promised to go with him, so he couldn¡¯t let her continue to stay at the Ji family¡¯s house.


    Otherwise, how could he get his revenge on Ji Tingyang?


    Right!


    Thinking so, he pressed the accelerator even harder.


    Arriving at the mansion.


    Ji Zeqiu forced himself to remain calm as he secretly searched inside the mansion but didn¡¯t find Lin Xu.


    Just as he was about to ask the butler, his attention was caught by the empty and dry pool in the backyard.


    He had not noticed anything strange about the pool during the last New Year¡¯s Eve fireworks in the backyard.


    ¡°Butler, why has all the water been drained from the pool?¡±


    ¡°Oh, that. The young master fell into the pool and nearly drowned last time, and Miss Lin was very scared for a while, so she asked us to drain the water. Later, the young master didn¡¯t ask us to refill it, and it¡¯s just been left like that.¡±

 Chapter 81 - Chapter 81: Chapter 81: Never Saw Her Clearly

    Chapter 81: Chapter 81: Never Saw Her Clearly


    Fell into the swimming pool?


    Drowned?


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s heart skipped a beat, ¡°Isn¡¯t he a good swimmer? How could he possibly drown?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all because of that Wen Li, her motives are unclear. Taking advantage of the eldest master¡¯s distraction, she pushed him into the pool. Even a swimmer wouldn¡¯t have been able to react in time,¡± the butler said angrily. ¡°Even if she doesn¡¯t like the eldest master, there¡¯s no need to harm him like this. Thankfully, Miss Lin was there at the time; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable¡­¡±


    The butler still felt a wave of fright when he thought about it.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s mind suddenly flashed back to what Lin Xu had told him¡ª¡±Wen Li pushed Ji Tingyang into the swimming pool, almost killing him¡­¡±


    What had he said back then?


    He said he didn¡¯t believe it, he had seen Wen Li¡¯s kindness and couldn¡¯t believe she would do such a thing.


    Ji Zeqiu gripped his hand by his side, his throat tight as he swallowed hard, ¡°When did this happen, how come I don¡¯t know about it?¡±


    The butler recalled, ¡°It happened several months ago. The eldest master was even hospitalized for a few days. I wanted to tell you, but the eldest master disagreed, so I didn¡¯t mention it to you.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu took a deep breath, his complexion darkening as he stared at the drained swimming pool for a long time, remaining silent.


    ¡°Second master?¡± the butler peered at him cautiously, uncertain of what he was thinking, feeling uneasy.


    Suddenly, there was a noise at the door.


    Ji Zeqiu turned his head and saw Ji Tingyang and Lin Xu returning from outside.


    Ji Tingyang was carrying a few bags filled with vegetables and snacks, looking like he had gone to the supermarket with Lin Xu.


    He handed the bags to the nanny and upon seeing Ji Zeqiu inside, his eyebrows furrowed slightly, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    His tone was full of disdain, as if he wasn¡¯t too pleased to see Ji Zeqiu¡¯s presence.


    The bit of conflict and discomfort Ji Zeqiu felt initially dissipated with that unwelcome remark, reverting back to his previous confrontational state with Ji Tingyang, ¡°Why can¡¯t I be here? This is also my home. I come and go as I please.¡±


    Ji Tingyang glanced at him, ¡°You say it¡¯s your home now, but who was it that said they would never come back to live here when they moved out?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not here to stay! I came to take Lin Xu with me. She¡¯s going to live with me!¡±


    ¡°No way!¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯m not doing the endorsement for your project!¡±


    ¡°The contract has already been signed. If you don¡¯t want to pay the penalty¡­¡±


    ¡°You!¡±


    In no time, the two brothers were arguing again.


    ¡°Sit down! No fighting allowed!¡± Lin Xu, with her hands on her hips, glared fiercely at them.


    Watching the two obediently sit up straight on the sofa, she nodded in satisfaction and took the fruit she had just bought from the supermarket into the kitchen, ¡°I¡¯ll go wash the fruit for you.¡±


    The noisy atmosphere fell silent.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s hands on his knees twisted the fabric of his pants as he sneakily glanced at Ji Tingyang.


    After a while, he spoke hesitantly, ¡°You¡­ have been alright lately, right?¡±


    Ji Tingyang looked at him, a flash of surprise in his gaze.


    Ji Zeqiu opened his mouth, the words wrestling in his throat for a long time, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to say them.


    Feeling Ji Tingyang¡¯s gaze, he suddenly became nervous and blurted out, ¡°I mean, with all the work you do every day, your body must be pretty weak, right? You¡¯re getting up there in age, and you should take better care, or no one will want you later.¡±


    ¡°¡­Sick in the head.¡±


    Ji Tingyang rolled his eyes and leaving behind that remark, he got up and went into the kitchen.


    Ji Zeqiu turned to look at his brother¡¯s retreating figure, muttering to himself silently.


    If he has the energy to insult me like that, he must have recovered a long time ago.


    ¡ª-


    Dark clouds were densely packed in the sky, and the gloomy weather looked as though it might rain at any moment.


    Ji Zeqiu finished his work for the day, declined his agent¡¯s offer for a ride, and drove back to his apartment by himself.


    He didn¡¯t know whether it was out of habit or something else.


    Ji Zeqiu drove around the downtown area aimlessly until, before he knew it, he had arrived at the university¡¯s gates.


    In the past, whenever he felt down or really wanted to see Wen Li, he would drive here.


    Even if he couldn¡¯t see her, just being closer to her would often lift his spirits significantly.


    But now¡­


    Ji Zeqiu leaned against the car door, a cigarette burning intermittently between his fingers as smoke spilled from his mouth, his mood still heavy.


    ¡°Zeqiu?¡± A small, uncertain voice called out not far away.


    Ji Zeqiu turned his head to look and found Wen Li staring at him in surprise.


    She jogged up to him, looking somewhat flustered, ¡°Why did you come? You¡¯re not even wearing a mask, what if someone recognizes you?¡±


    Fortunately, it was during class time, and there weren¡¯t many students moving around the school gates; everyone was in a hurry and didn¡¯t notice him.


    Wen Li said worriedly, looking up at him only to meet his deep and profound eyes, which were like a bottomless cold pond that sent a chill to one¡¯s heart.


    ¡°Why did Ji Tingyang suddenly agree to let you leave the villa?¡±


    He suddenly spoke.


    Wen Li¡¯s heart tightened unexpectedly, not understanding the meaning behind his question. Her voice stuttered, ¡°I, I¡­¡±


    Did Ji Zeqiu know?


    Was that why he had come to confront her?


    Her mind was a mess, and she couldn¡¯t utter a complete sentence for a while.


    ¡°Was it because of Lin Xu?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, maybe it was,¡± Wen Li¡¯s smile at the corner of her mouth was somewhat forced, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you, suddenly bringing this up?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu saw a flicker of guilt hiding behind her evasive eyes.


    After knowing each other for over a decade, it felt like he had never truly seen her, suddenly sensing a wave of strangeness.


    He extinguished the cigarette in his hand, expelling both the brooding feeling in his heart and the smoke from his mouth as if he was letting go of some burden, making his heavy chest feel somewhat lighter.


    He chuckled softly, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, it¡¯s about to rain, you should hurry back.¡±


    After saying that, without waiting for Wen Li to respond, he opened the car door and got back inside.


    The car quickly drove off.


    Shortly after, a fine rain began to fall from the sky, pitter-pattering against the car windows.


    The ringing of the cell phone sounded.


    Ji Zeqiu answered the call on speaker.


    A soft voice with a hint of coquetry echoed in the car, ¡°You finished work, right? Why haven¡¯t you come back yet, I¡¯m starving.¡±


    For some reason, hearing Lin Xu¡¯s voice, Ji Zeqiu felt his mood unexpectedly lighten, ¡°If you¡¯re hungry, eat first, don¡¯t wait for me.¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to eat a meal today, I want kebabs!¡±


    ¡°There are no kebabs to eat in broad daylight.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care, you figure it out.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    His mood was not at all lightened, it was indeed his misconception!


    Ji Zeqiu was infuriated.


    This woman always found new ways to torment him, and at this moment, he somewhat regretted bringing Lin Xu back home.


    It would have been better to leave her at the villa to trouble Ji Tingyang.


    Ji Zeqiu fumed to himself.


    However, when he returned to the apartment, he resignedly brought a bag of kebabs with him.


    Before entering the door, something occurred to him, and he casually changed the apartment¡¯s entry code.

 Chapter 82 - Chapter 82: Chapter 82 Lin Xu and Her Mother Look Alike

    Chapter 82: Chapter 82 Lin Xu and Her Mother Look Alike


    Lin Xu was in a cheerful mood as she ate the barbecue, happily swinging her little legs.


    ¡°Do you like eating skewers that much?¡± Ji Zeqiu murmured softly, looking at the skewers on the table.


    In a daze, he realized the last time he had barbecue was actually twenty years ago.


    In his memory, his mother had really liked barbecue.


    Sometimes late at night, she would sneak out with his father to eat, and when they returned, he¡¯d catch them and smell the grilled meat on her.


    The next time they went to eat, they would bring back one or two skewers for him, then watch as he sweated profusely from the spiciness, laughing nonstop beside him.


    There was no sense of a mother¡¯s awareness to care for her son.


    Suddenly, the memory was abruptly interrupted.


    Ji Zeqiu pinched his nose bridge, annoyed. He had been inexplicably recalling things about his mother lately.


    He clearly shouldn¡¯t be thinking of those.


    He shook his head, clearing all these memories from his mind.


    Suddenly, a skewer was held up before his eyes.


    ¡°This is for you to eat.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu didn¡¯t react in time and took an absent-minded bite.


    The next second, his throat felt like there was a fiery blaze burning within, the spiciness causing him intense pain, with sweat beading on his forehead.


    A clear, cheerful laughter sounded beside his ear.


    In that moment, he felt as if he was being pulled back into the memories he desperately wanted to forget, his chest aching as though it was being torn apart.


    ¡°How are you still unable to handle spicy food just like when you were a kid?¡± Lin Xu laughed as she passed him a glass of water.


    Ji Zeqiu froze, ¡°What, what did you just say?¡±


    Lin Xu didn¡¯t hear his question and hit her head in annoyance, ¡°Ah, right, milk eases the spiciness, I¡¯ll go pour you a glass.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu stared blankly at her retreating figure.


    How did she know he couldn¡¯t eat spicy food?


    Did Ji Tingyang tell her?


    But¡­would Ji Tingyang talk to her about such things?


    The more he cared, the more he noticed things he usually paid no attention to.


    When she was in a good mood, Ji Zeqiu found she liked to hum tuneless little melodies.


    Similar to the vague, unclear lullabies his mother used to hum to him, as he recalled.


    ¡°What song are you humming? I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve heard it before,¡± Ji Zeqiu asked casually.


    ¡°It¡¯s not a song, I was just humming randomly,¡± Lin Xu replied, while watching a TV series.


    ¡°Oh¡­¡±


    Ji Zeqiu glanced again at the TV series she was watching; it was an idol drama he had starred in before.


    Would his mother have liked to watch idol dramas before?


    He tried hard to remember but found these things had long been forgotten by him.


    Ji Zeqiu had once tried hard to forget things about his mother, and now he desperately wanted to remember them.


    However, so much time had passed, and many things had been wiped from his memory.


    It wasn¡¯t something he could remember simply by trying.


    Ji Zeqiu returned to his bedroom and rummaged through the bookcase and drawers, trying to find something about his mother, but came up empty-handed.


    He only then realized, belatedly, that for fear of being reminded of his mother again, all photos and items related to her were left behind at the villa, and he hadn¡¯t taken a single one with him.


    Just as he was hesitating whether to take a trip back to the villa, his phone suddenly received a call from Ji Tingyang.


    The first thing he said was, ¡°Is Lin Xu not at home? I called her and she didn¡¯t pick up.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Ji Zeqiu suppressed the urge to hang up the phone, rolled his eyes at the air, and said irritably, ¡°She¡¯s probably out shopping and hasn¡¯t looked at her phone, and another thing! I¡¯m not her nanny, don¡¯t ask me about everything.¡±


    ¡°Then let her stay at the villa, and I won¡¯t ask you anymore.¡±


    ¡°Dream on!¡±


    ¡°Hanging up.¡± Ji Tingyang, not having obtained any useful information, was utterly bored and about to end the call.


    ¡°Wait a minute!¡± Ji Zeqiu quickly shouted.


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°You, you¡­¡± Ji Zeqiu stammered, and just before Ji Tingyang¡¯s patience was about to run out, he finally voiced his inner question, ¡°Do you not think that Lin Xu resembles our mother a bit?¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Ji Tingyang answered decisively.


    ¡°Then why do you care so much about her? It can¡¯t possibly be because you actually like her.¡± Ji Zeqiu asked.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right, I like her.¡± Ji Tingyang confirmed.


    Ji Zeqiu didn¡¯t believe him, ¡°Are mother¡¯s things from back then still there? I want to go back and see them.¡±


    ¡°After so many years, even if they¡¯re still there, they must have yellowed and rotted by now,¡± Ji Tingyang offered a rare comfort, ¡°It¡¯s been so long since that happened, thinking about it again is meaningless, you should let go sooner.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu clenched his phone tight, his fingertips turning white, a tumult of endless waves churning within him, seemingly ready to shatter the calm he had feigned over the years.


    He had clearly forgotten about his mother¡¯s matter, but ever since Lin Xu appeared, he would inexplicably recall the past.


    Is it because he has never let go of that matter, that he sees his mother¡¯s shadow in everything?


    ¡°Don¡¯t think too much,¡± Ji Tingyang said and then hung up the phone.


    Ji Zeqiu took a deep breath but still felt suffocated and pressured, his mind in utter disarray.


    Perhaps because his attention was divided by this matter, Ji Zeqiu had been absent-minded recently, even messing up scenes he usually nailed in one take.


    The director, face aflame with rage, wanted to scold him but didn¡¯t dare to.


    The agent hurried over to appease the director, continuously bowing and apologizing, then pulled Ji Zeqiu aside for a scolding.


    ¡°What¡¯s up with you lately? You¡¯ve been off your game. Could it be because of Wen Li again?¡± the agent asked.


    It was always because of Wen Li whenever his condition was poor in the past.


    So the agent had gotten used to it.


    ¡°It¡¯s not her,¡± Ji Zeqiu responded in a muffled voice.


    ¡°Shen Qingtang?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Then it must be Lin Xu.¡± The agent had pretty much guessed everyone close to him by now.


    ¡°Pretty much,¡± Ji Zeqiu, agitated by the thought, subconsciously reached into his pocket for a cigarette.


    Realizing his pocket was empty, he remembered he was wearing a costume.


    ¡°Talk to me, what¡¯s going on?¡± the agent offered him a cigarette.


    Ji Zeqiu took a drag of the cigarette and drawled, ¡°I feel Lin Xu resembles my mother in some ways.¡±


    ¡°Huh, and then?¡± the agent knew his mother had passed away long ago.


    Ji Zeqiu suddenly fell silent again, wrestling with how to express his thoughts.


    Then he believed she was the same person as his mother?


    Clearly, his mother had died long ago, and even if she were alive, she shouldn¡¯t look so young.


    Even Ji Tingyang had said he was just overthinking, and the agent would surely think him mentally troubled.


    Maybe he was indeed overthinking.


    Ji Zeqiu exhaled a faint puff of smoke, as indistinct as his wavering thoughts, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just suddenly missed her a bit.¡±


    The agent knew that the ¡°her¡± Ji Zeqiu meant was his mother.


    ¡°I want to go to South Mountain Cemetery,¡± Ji Zeqiu said.


    For fear that seeing those two gravestones would bring pain again, he had not visited his parents for a long time.

 Chapter 83 - Chapter 83: Chapter 83: The Photo of Mother is Missing

    Chapter 83: Chapter 83: The Photo of Mother is Missing


    The trees at South Mountain Cemetery were lush, and the ground was covered with neatly trimmed green grass, creating a serene and tranquil environment.


    Ji Zeqiu held two bouquets of flowers as he walked on the bluestone path, the swaying breeze brushing across his cheeks, sweeping away his troubled thoughts of recently.


    Perhaps he should have come here earlier; then he wouldn¡¯t have thought so much.


    Following the path etched in his memory, he arrived in front of his parents¡¯ tombstone.


    Because no one had visited for a long time, a layer of dust had accumulated there.


    Ji Zeqiu squatted down, took out the handkerchief he brought with him, and gently wiped the tombstone, clearing the dust to gradually reveal the names inscribed on it.


    Lin Xu.


    It was a very common name, he had even encountered three or four people with the same name as his mother over the years.


    So he was only surprised the first time he heard the name Lin Xu, and then he never cared much about it afterward.


    The mother in his memory was gentle and perfect, nothing like that woman.


    His mother was a thousand times more beautiful than her!


    Ji Zeqiu firmly thought this as he raised his eyes to look at the photo on the tombstone, and suddenly froze.


    The place on the tombstone where the photo should be was empty.


    How could there be no photo? He vaguely remembered that there had been a photo here when he visited before.


    Ji Zeqiu then looked over at his father¡¯s tombstone; the photo was still there.


    Only his mother¡¯s photo was missing.


    Occasionally he had heard of people stealing offerings, but now even the photos?


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s expression turned stern as he found the cemetery caretaker, speaking sharply, ¡°We pay you so much in management fees every year, not for you to neglect your duties, and not even a photo on a tombstone can be kept secure!¡±


    The caretaker wiped the cold sweat beading on his forehead frantically, hastily reassuring Ji Zeqiu, ¡°Mr. Ji, please give us a little time, we¡¯ll look into it right away! We guarantee we¡¯ll give you a satisfactory explanation, is that okay?¡±


    Although Ji Zeqiu was angry, considering there was no other option, he had to accept their investigation.


    ¡°Just two days, you must clear this up for me in two days!¡±


    Having set the deadline, Ji Zeqiu left the cemetery.


    His mood, which had calmed down, became irritable again because of this incident, and Ji Zeqiu hid in his car to smoke another cigarette before he left the parking lot to return home.


    ¡°I¡¯m back,¡± Ji Zeqiu said to the room.


    In the past, his home was always silent, until Lin Xu had scolded him once. She wasn¡¯t anyone to him, so why should he listen to her?


    Yet, every time he came back, Ji Zeqiu would inadvertently say it.


    Sometimes, he didn¡¯t even understand why he listened to her.


    ¡°Welcome back!¡± Lin Xu¡¯s cheerful voice came from the kitchen.


    Her sweet, jubilant voice was like the chirping of birds in the morning, crisp and melodious, giving a feeling of freedom and ease.


    Was that the reason he obediently complied?


    Ji Zeqiu walked towards the kitchen and saw her and the housekeeper tinkering with something, immediately raising his guard, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m learning how to smash cucumbers,¡± Lin Xu chuckled, looking up at him.


    The next instant, she suddenly frowned at Ji Zeqiu.


    It made his heart skip a beat.


    ¡°What a horrible smell of smoke, you¡¯ve been smoking again, haven¡¯t you!¡± Lin Xu¡¯s face flared with a trace of anger.


    Ji Zeqiu felt a flurry of confusion.


    His mother had been just like that, particularly detesting the smell of smoke.


    ¡°I just smoked for a little while.¡± Ji Zeqiu guiltily, quickly went to his room to change his clothes.


    After returning to his room, his face again clouded with annoyance.


    He had just once again projected the identity of a mother onto Lin Xu, to the point where he was even afraid of her opinion, worried she might come to dislike him.


    Ji Tingyang said it was because he had never let go, which was why he always looked for his mother¡¯s shadow in Lin Xu.


    He should have let go, his mother had been gone for a long time.


    Ji Zeqiu shook his head, pushing the memories of his mother out of his mind once again.


    ¡°The smashed cucumbers are ready, Ji Zeqiu, come out and try it!¡± Lin Xu¡¯s cheerful voice called from outside the room.


    Ji Zeqiu had been reminding himself to stay calm just a second ago, but upon hearing her words, he scurried out to try the smashed cucumbers.


    ¡°Do you think I should live outside for a while, wait until I have completely let go before coming home, so I won¡¯t always be trying to find something of her in her?¡±


    In the production crew, Ji Zeqiu said to his agent with a conflicted expression.


    ¡°You¡¯ve asked me that question over a dozen times already.¡± The agent¡¯s ears were about to form calluses.


    Initially, when Ji Zeqiu asked him, he would seriously offer suggestions.


    ¡°Moving out is an option, how about I arrange a few months of enclosed filming for you?¡±


    Or perhaps,


    ¡°Why not have Ji Tingyang take her away?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu would nod seriously at the time, but as soon as he finished listening, it was just words passing by, and he did nothing. After a couple of minutes, he would start brooding with him again.


    If he bothered with Ji Zeqiu now, he might as well be a dog.


    The agent rolled his eyes in secret and continued with his other work.


    While Ji Zeqiu continued to brood, his phone rang.


    It was a call from South Mountain Cemetery.


    Before he could remember what it was about, the caretaker reported first.


    ¡°Mr. Ji, last time you mentioned that the photo on your mother¡¯s tombstone was missing, this has been investigated. Mr. Ji Tingyang was the one who took the photo, saying he was going to replace it with a new one, but for some reason, he never brought the new photo to replace it.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu was startled, ¡°When did this happen?¡±


    Caretaker: ¡°About half a year ago, because it was quite some time ago, I didn¡¯t recall it when you asked me.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s brows furrowed tightly, and he immediately called to confront him.


    ¡°Ji Tingyang, what gives you the right to take away mother¡¯s photo!¡±


    There was a pause on the other end before asking, ¡°What photo?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t play dumb, the photo from the tombstone at South Mountain Cemetery!¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly, and after walking some distance, he finally spoke, reiterating his earlier excuse to the caretaker. ¡°I was only thinking of changing the photo, what¡¯s the rush?¡±


    ¡°What photo takes you half a year to replace?¡± Ji Zeqiu scoffed.


    ¡°Many of the old photos were faded, unclear, it needs time to select or restore.¡±


    ¡°So why go through the unnecessary trouble, the hassle of changing photos? Why not pick the new photo first and then make the swap?!¡±


    ¡°There aren¡¯t so many whys. I¡¯ll do as I please,¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s voice turned impatient and cold.


    Ji Zeqiu gritted his teeth, furious to the point that even breathing became difficult. Just as he was about to speak again, he heard the crisp and clear voice of the announcer through the phone.


    ¡°Next, Lin Xu, please come to Surgical Clinic Number Two.¡±


    ¡°Hang up.¡±


    Before Ji Zeqiu could react, Ji Tingyang abruptly ended the call.


    Ji Zeqiu thought back to the voice he heard on the phone, staring blankly at the phone that had already gone off.


    Seeing a doctor?


    Was she sick, or had she been injured?


    His heart was in turmoil.

 Chapter 84 - Chapter 84: Chapter 84: Ji Tingyang Calls Her Mother?

    Chapter 84: Chapter 84: Ji Tingyang Calls Her Mother?


    Ji Tingyang had accompanied Lin Xu to South Mountain Cemetery. Since then, he had been thinking about removing that annoying tombstone.


    After all, his mother was still alive, and it was unheard of to worship the living.


    Moreover, it made him feel as if the fear of ¡°mother still being alive¡± was just his imagination.


    But Lin Xu didn¡¯t want to remove it, saying that leaving her father there alone would be too lonely.


    So, Ji Tingyang gave up, but he finally went back and took down the photo from the tombstone.


    At least that way, the tombstone would look less real.


    Unexpectedly, Ji Zeqiu had gone to the cemetery today.


    At the same time, he felt somewhat relieved.


    That Ji Zeqiu hadn¡¯t discovered that his mother was Lin Xu.


    Hearing her name over the PA system, Ji Tingyang quickly tucked his cellphone back into his pocket and carefully helped her, limping towards the consultation room.


    After Lin Xu sat down, she expressed her pain, ¡°Doctor, I accidentally twisted my foot.¡±


    Today, she went to Ji¡¯s to find Ji Tingyang and slipped in a puddle of water in the first-floor lobby. Her high heels weren¡¯t stable, and she twisted her ankle.


    She didn¡¯t expect to twist her foot, wearing high heels she had worn for so long. It was embarrassing.


    Lin Xu hadn¡¯t figured out how to keep it from Ji Tingyang before she saw him rushing over with a grave expression and brisk steps.


    She immediately realized that it must be some employee who had told him.


    Too much attention was the downside of being noticed; she didn¡¯t even need to say anything herself, as an employee had already reported to Ji Tingyang ahead of her.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s face was gloomy as he emitted a chilling aura, and he dropped the words, ¡°Deduct the bonus of the cleaning staff today,¡± and without another word, carried her to the hospital for a check-up.


    While waiting to register, his expression remained icy throughout, his eyes and eyebrows seemingly frosted over, adding to his stern demeanor.


    Lin Xu poked his cheek and laughed, ¡°I just twisted my foot, but your expression is so dark, others might think I¡¯m about to have an amputation.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense,¡± scolded Ji Tingyang. He firmly held her hand, feeling uneasy, ¡°Don¡¯t wear high heels anymore.¡±


    ¡°Wow!¡± Lin Xu widened her eyes, exaggeratingly exclaimed, ¡°Even your dad doesn¡¯t interfere with my freedom to dress how I like. Why are you controlling it now?¡±


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t say such things to a girl in the future. If they find it annoying, how will you pursue girls afterward?¡±


    ¡°Then, do you find me annoying?¡± Ji Tingyang asked, his tone suddenly tense.


    ¡°Not at all.¡±


    Only then did Ji Tingyang breathe a sigh of relief.


    As long as his mother didn¡¯t dislike him, he didn¡¯t care about anyone else¡¯s opinions.


    He looked down, his gaze falling again on her swollen ankle.


    The injury seemed severe, but to the experienced doctor, it was a minor issue.


    The doctor glanced at her injury and quickly wrote a prescription.


    ¡°This spray will activate the blood and disperse clots. Use it for a few days and it will be fine, and take these tablets with each meal¡­¡±


    As the doctor gave the instructions, Ji Tingyang listened more intently than he did at company meetings.


    When leaving the hospital, Ji Tingyang reached out to carry her out but Lin Xu, blushing, refused.


    ¡°No need to carry me, just find a wheelchair.¡±


    So many people in the hospital were watching, which was embarrassing.


    Ji Tingyang stared at her for a while, making sure she really wanted to use a wheelchair, then left with a look of regret to find one.


    A girl nearby elbowed her boyfriend and complained, ¡°Look at how considerate and loving someone else¡¯s boyfriend is, then look at you!¡±


    ¡°Ah, I was wrong, I was wrong,¡± the boy pleaded.


    Lin Xu smiled helplessly. ¡°He¡¯s my son, not my boyfriend.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry,¡± the girl said apologetically, then with surprise, ¡°You look so young, I couldn¡¯t tell you have a son that old. How do you take care of yourself, can you teach me¡­¡±


    The girl clung to Lin Xu, becoming more excited as she talked.


    Seeing Ji Tingyang¡¯s cheeks growing colder, the boy quickly pulled his girlfriend back, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±


    Ji Tingyang drove Lin Xu back to the villa.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you drop me off at my apartment?¡± Lin Xu asked.


    ¡°Ji Zeqiu gets busy and often doesn¡¯t come home for two or three days. There¡¯s no one to take care of you at the apartment, and I¡¯m worried,¡± Ji Tingyang said.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll just let him know, so he won¡¯t worry.¡± Lin Xu picked up her phone to inform Ji Zeqiu.


    Hearing her continuously mention Ji Zeqiu, Ji Tingyang¡¯s lips slightly pursed, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.


    But the thought that he would be living with his mother for the next few days eased that discomfort somewhat.


    Lin Xu twisted her ankle and couldn¡¯t go anywhere as she sat on the couch, making everything inconvenient and having to trouble others.


    ¡°Butler, could you pour me a glass of water?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Just as the butler picked up Lin Xu¡¯s glass, Ji Tingyang snatched it away.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it,¡± Ji Tingyang said.


    ¡°Aunt Zhang, could you help me to the bathroom?¡± Lin Xu called out again.


    Aunt Zhang was about to walk over when Ji Tingyang rushed ahead and carried her to the bathroom.


    Initially, he was tense and scared when he discovered his mother was injured. However, when he realized she couldn¡¯t move and had to rely on him for everything, a hint of pleasure rose secretly in his heart.


    It was as if his mother couldn¡¯t do without him¡­


    After recognizing this unspeakable pleasure in his heart, Ji Tingyang became even more proactive, taking over five or six tasks from the servants in just a few hours.


    Late Lin Xu simply stopped calling others and directly instructed him, ¡°Ji Tingyang, wash this apple for me, I want to eat it.¡±


    A few minutes later, the apple was not only washed but also sliced.


    He picked up a small piece of apple with a toothpick and held it to Lin Xu¡¯s lips, intending to feed her.


    Lin Xu: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°I twisted my ankle, I didn¡¯t lose my hands, I can eat by myself.¡± Lin Xu slapped his hand away and took the apple to eat it herself.


    A flash of disappointment crossed Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes, and seeing apple juice splatter and wet her fingers, his eyes suddenly brightened, and he grabbed a napkin from the table to wipe her fingers clean.


    Lin Xu quickly withdrew her hand, ¡°I can do it myself.¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s brows furrowed deeply, feeling a surge of irritation after being rejected twice.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you today?¡± Lin Xu noticed his off mood, cupped his cheeks with both hands, and made him look into her eyes.


    Could it be that his obsessive-compulsive disorder was acting up again?


    Meeting her clear eyes, Ji Tingyang¡¯s irritation gradually subsided. He hugged Lin Xu, resting his head on her shoulder and muttered, ¡°Mother, would it be okay if you came back to live here?¡±


    Ever since his mother moved out, she often mentioned another son, Ji Zeqiu.


    Even though she had always said that he was her favorite son, she was still sending messages to Ji Zeqiu when he was right beside her.


    It was all because of that annoying guy.


    And at that moment, that annoying guy Ji Zeqiu ¡ª was standing nearby, staring blankly.


    Had Ji Tingyang just called her mother?

 Chapter 85 - Chapter 85: Chapter 85: Forgotten Memories Gradually Recover

    Chapter 85: Chapter 85: Forgotten Memories Gradually Recover


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s mind wandered off when he heard about Lin Xu¡¯s hospital check-up. He kept thinking, had she fallen ill? And if so, what sickness could it be¡­


    He had just told himself that he should stay calm for a while, not to project his mother¡¯s image onto her, and to treat her like anyone else.


    Yet, another voice in his head emerged, telling him.


    Even if you treat her as anyone else, it¡¯s normal to show concern if you know the other person is sick.


    After much internal struggle, he finally found a reason to convince himself. Just as he was about to call Lin Xu, he received a message from her.


    Willow Wadding: ¡°Can I stay at the Ji Mansion for a few days?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s reply came almost instantaneously.


    Zeqiu: ¡°Why?¡±


    Willow Wadding: ¡°Aren¡¯t you staying with the film crew these days? I¡¯m a bit bored being home alone, so I thought of staying at the mansion for a while. Is that really not okay?¡±


    Willow Wadding: ¡°PitifulKitty.jpg¡±


    The kitten in the picture had teary eyes, irresistibly inducing sympathy, very much like Lin Xu¡¯s usual way of feigning pitifulness.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s face gradually darkened as he looked at the kitten expression pack.


    Zeqiu: ¡°Is there anything else, besides this?¡±


    Willow Wadding: ¡°No, that¡¯s it.¡±


    Willow Wadding: ¡°Ah, and remember to take care of yourself while you¡¯re out. Be careful not to get hurt while filming, and watch your diet. You had gastroenteritis last time¡­¡±


    Lin Xu sent many caring reminders, which would usually annoy Ji Zeqiu, and then he would take screenshots to send to Ji Tingyang while mocking him.


    But right now, he had no such inclination.


    His gaze swept over the full screen of text, yet he could not find the information he wished to see.


    His expressionless face was clouded with gloom.


    Why hadn¡¯t she told him about her sickness?


    Did she find him less reliable than Ji Tingyang, so she said nothing and moved to the mansion for Ji Tingyang to take care of her?


    ¡°The male supporting role has NG-ed more than a dozen times already, and the shooting has been continuously delayed. It probably won¡¯t be our turn today. How about we go back to the hotel and rest?¡± The agent came over from the director¡¯s side, muttering under his breath.


    Seeing Ji Zeqiu¡¯s grim expression, he was momentarily shocked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t you feel well?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going back to the hotel. I have something to take care of,¡± Ji Zeqiu said, heading straight for the exit.


    All the way, Ji Zeqiu was agitated and restless. Unconsciously, he found himself driving to the Ji Mansion. A wave of annoyance passed through his eyes.


    Why had he driven here?


    But since he was here, why not sneak in for a quick look?


    As long as he saw that she was alright, he would leave.


    Thinking so, Ji Zeqiu lightened his footsteps and entered.


    He immediately saw Lin Xu sitting on the sofa, alongside a Ji Tingyang.


    In the next moment, he saw Ji Tingyang wrapping his arms around Lin Xu. Before Ji Zeqiu¡¯s displeasure could rise, he heard Ji Tingyang¡¯s voice tinged with a whiny tone that was not easily detected.


    ¡°Mother, would you please come back and stay here?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu was shocked and lost color in his face, feeling a ringing in his ears, his thoughts came to a complete halt, and he stood rooted to the spot.


    Mother?


    Why was Ji Tingyang calling her ¡®Mother¡¯?


    Did he, like Ji Zeqiu, see Lin Xu as similar to their mother and was treating her like a shadow?


    Or perhaps¡­


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s mind was in chaos, his brain seemingly rusted, unable to turn.


    In the living room.


    Lin Xu extended her hand and gently stroked Ji Tingyang¡¯s head, a faint smile hanging on her lips, ¡°You used to accompany me shopping so unwillingly as a child, why have you become so clingy as you¡¯ve grown up?¡±


    Xiao Tingyang had always been a cold and distant child, not liking to be held, nor fond of going out with her.


    Back then, she even discussed with her husband with sadness, wondering if their oldest son didn¡¯t like her.


    To her surprise, he had completely changed his personality as he grew up.


    Hearing her teasing, Ji Tingyang¡¯s ears turned red, and he didn¡¯t make a sound for a long time.


    Meanwhile, at the entrance of the Ji Mansion, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s figure had long since disappeared.


    He drove away, in a daze as he returned to his apartment.


    The place felt much lonelier without Lin Xu, darkness filling the entire apartment.


    Ji Zeqiu didn¡¯t turn on the lights, collapsing straight onto the couch and lying face down.


    Only one question repeated in his mind.


    Why?


    The next morning.


    Persistent ringing kept sounding off in the apartment.


    The phone kept ringing, automatically hanging up only to ring again.


    It conveyed a determination to ring indefinitely, until someone picked up.


    Ji Zeqiu turned over on the couch with a frown, his long arm picking up the mobile phone from the floor and carelessly placing it to his ear to answer, his voice hoarse, ¡°Hello, what is it?¡±


    ¡°What is it? You¡¯re asking me what it is?!¡± The agent roared angrily, ¡°Where on earth have you run off to! Don¡¯t you know you have scenes to shoot today!¡±


    ¡°I forgot,¡± Ji Zeqiu rubbed his forehead, irritable, ¡°I have something to do today, so I won¡¯t be going.¡±


    The agent was fuming, ¡°The whole crew has been waiting for you for half a day, and now you say you can¡¯t make it, do you want tomorrow¡¯s headlines to be all about your diva behavior and not showing up?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu was indifferent, ¡°Just ask the director for a leave, that¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re telling me to ask for a leave now, at the last minute, do you want the director to blow up at me!¡± the agent hysterically protested.


    Because today was supposed to be Ji Zeqiu¡¯s shooting day, the location, props, and supporting actors had all been prepared in advance, and his absence now meant he was standing up the entire crew.


    Moreover, the schedules of other actors had been fixed well in advance, it wasn¡¯t easy to adjust on the fly.


    Just the waste of today would cost the crew how much time and money.


    Thinking about it made the agent¡¯s head ache, ¡°Big brother, do you think you¡¯re too famous already?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu paid no attention to his complaints, casually saying, ¡°Just make up any excuse you like, say I got hit by a car or something. Anyway, don¡¯t disturb me today.¡±


    After speaking, he turned off his phone.


    Ji Zeqiu lay on the couch for a while longer, and through the night, Ji Tingyang¡¯s call of ¡°mother¡± still echoed in his mind.


    After a long while, he abruptly got up, grabbed his car keys, and left the house.


    Arriving at the Ji Mansion once more, both Ji Tingyang and Lin Xu were absent.


    Seeing him, the butler thought he was looking for Ji Tingyang, and said, ¡°The eldest young master went out with Miss Lin, I¡¯ll pass on the message to him.¡±


    ¡°No need, I came back to get some things, not to see him,¡± Ji Zeqiu replied without breaking stride, heading straight to his old room.


    Under the bed hid an old wooden box, its once glossy surface now mottled and faded.


    Ji Zeqiu had hidden all the things related to his parents in this wooden box, abandoning it here when he moved.


    He pulled out the wooden box, a thick layer of dust accumulated on it, sealing the years inside that he yearned for.


    The box was reopened by him, as if opening Pandora¡¯s box, those memories he had tried hard to forget gradually came back.

 Chapter 86 - Chapter 86: 86 chapters Why should I tell you

    Chapter 86: 86 chapters Why should I tell you


    The wooden box was filled with space for many children¡¯s toys, from building blocks to race cars to toy guns¡­ a dazzling array.


    Most of them were bought by Ji Zeqiu¡¯s parents in the past.


    Back then, he had thought these were the last things his parents had left for him, so later, no matter which relative¡¯s house he ended up at, he would carry them along even if it meant becoming a burden.


    Ji Zeqiu picked up a small race car, and a circle of nostalgic ripples stirred in the stagnant waters of his heart.


    This race car had been a gift from his father, complete with a remote control, but due to aging and damaged parts from the passage of time, it had long since been unable to operate.


    He carefully placed it on the ground and then took a Barbie doll out of the box, suddenly letting out a light laugh.


    Actually, this Barbie doll had been bought by his mother for his younger sister to play with.


    At that time, his sister had been ill with a fever for a long time, and his mother had been taking care of her, neglecting him. Jealous of his sister for stealing the affection of the mother he loved, he had snatched the Barbie doll his sister adored.


    Holding the doll, he stood in front of his sister¡¯s crib and muttered, ¡°Sister, if you want your doll back, trade mom for it.¡±


    But his sister couldn¡¯t yet speak, so the trade was never completed.


    He planned to keep it until his sister grew older and then trade with her?


    He kept it until now.


    Piece by piece, Ji Zeqiu took out the toys from the box, his memories becoming clearer, until the thick old photo album appeared at the bottom of the box; then he stopped.


    His fingertips caressed the yellowing cover, apprehensive as if he was nearing his hometown, staring at the album for a long while without daring to open it.


    With the album in his numb, stiffened arms, he finally shook himself back to reality and nervously flipped open the cover.


    The first page of the photo was a family portrait of five.


    He and Ji Tingyang were trying hard to hold their sister, both sporting brilliant smiles for the camera.


    Their parents stood behind them, faces brimming with happy smiles.


    Ji Zeqiu looked at his mother in the photo, her black lustrous hair falling over her shoulders, her eyes like autumn waters as she gazed at the camera, her face tender and beautiful, gentle as water.


    Even though he had braced himself, the moment he truly saw that his mother¡¯s features matched Lin Xu¡¯s exactly, his pupils shrank, and his mind went blank with a buzz.


    His lips parted slightly, but he couldn¡¯t make a sound, his gaze empty.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s hand trembled slightly as if in disbelief. He kept flipping through the photos, desperately searching for one that differed to disprove his thoughts, but every one of them mirrored Lin Xu¡¯s current appearance.


    The album slid from his hands, and his facial expression gradually stiffened.


    After a while, Ji Zeqiu got up from the floor and walked aimlessly towards the study, looking lost and helpless.


    He remembered that Ji Tingyang also had an album, stored in the study.


    Perhaps Ji Tingyang¡¯s album was different from his.


    His unsteady steps faltered, his body hitting the wall several times.


    The butler, hearing the commotion upstairs, went to check and, seeing Ji Zeqiu¡¯s ashen face, his heart tightened.


    ¡°Second Young Master, what has happened to you? Let me help you.¡±


    ¡°No need.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu brushed away the butler¡¯s outstretched hand, trembling as he entered the study.


    He seemed possessed, opening drawer after drawer, obsessed with finding that album.


    At this point, he could no longer tell if he was searching to confirm or to deny these thoughts.


    Suddenly, a series of special characters caught his attention.


    Parental DNA test results.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s searching halted; he pulled out the document, his palm sweating profusely.


    He opened the document and read it word by word.


    Subjects of the test: Ji Tingyang, Lin Xu.


    Value of the paternity test: 99.999%.


    Test result: The applicant and the respondent have a biological parent-child relationship.


    So, Lin Xu was really his mother?


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s vision became blurry, a tear the size of a bean splashed onto the document, soaking the paper.


    Lin Xu was his mother.


    She really was his mother¡­


    Why hadn¡¯t she told him?


    Ji Zeqiu clenched the clothes over his chest, the sour gastric juice churned in his body, his breathing abruptly became rapid,


    That wasn¡¯t right.


    That wasn¡¯t right.


    She had told him.


    The day he brought Lin Xu back to the apartment, she had seriously told him, ¡°You might not believe it, but I¡¯m actually your biological mother¡­¡±


    Ji Zeqiu still remembered she had said this, but he had decisively not believed her. Although they shared the same name, his mother had passed away long ago and it was impossible for her to be so young now.


    In this scientific world, he simply hadn¡¯t thought of anything supernatural.


    Ji Zeqiu hadn¡¯t come out of the study for a long time; the butler paced back and forth in the living room, looking anxious, occasionally glancing upstairs.


    Could the second young master have fainted in the study?


    As his unease in the chest gradually expanded to the point of wanting to rush to the study, Ji Tingyang finally returned.


    He pushed Lin Xu, who was sitting in a wheelchair, through the door. The butler quickly walked up, ¡°Eldest young master, the second young master is here.¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, ¡°What is he doing here?¡±


    Mother had only been here for one day, and he was in such a hurry to take her back?


    ¡°The second young master said he came back to get something, but I noticed he looked very pale, like he wasn¡¯t feeling well.¡± Worry appeared on the butler¡¯s face, ¡°He¡¯s been in the study for several hours now, and he hasn¡¯t come out yet.¡±


    Ji Tingyang looked toward the staircase, slightly pensive.


    If it weren¡¯t for her twisted foot, Lin Xu on the wheelchair would have already raced to the study.


    Lin Xu pushed Ji Tingyang¡¯s hand, urging anxiously, ¡°Go check on him in the study.¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s lips thinned, reluctantly heading toward the study.


    The study door wasn¡¯t locked, and upon entering, he saw Ji Zeqiu staring at a document with red-rimmed eyes, frozen in place.


    That document looked familiar.


    Ji Tingyang took a few steps closer, then realized his hand was holding that paternity test and was also stunned.


    ¡°You¡­¡±


    A word barely escaped his throat when a swift gust of wind rose, and a fist heavily landed on his face.


    His cheek hurt nearly to numbness, his ear buzzed, and a trickle of blood slowly seeped from the corner of his mouth.


    Ji Tingyang staggered, his palm stabilizing his body against the desk.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s eyes were cold as ice, his low voice seething with rage, he gritted his teeth, ¡°Ji Tingyang, you¡¯re a bastard!¡±


    ¡°Why did you hide it from me!¡±


    Ji Tingyang obviously knew everything, yet he deliberately didn¡¯t tell him.


    Even when he had doubted this issue, that bastard lied to him, saying it was just an illusion.


    The next second, Ji Tingyang¡¯s collar was tightly grasped.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s chest heaved violently, the fists in his hand grew fierce, veins on the back of his hand bulging as he continued to swing at him.


    This time, Ji Tingyang was prepared, slightly tilting his head to dodge the fist.


    Ji Zeqiu missed, and as he tried to swing a second time, a fierce fist first struck his own face,


    Ji Tingyang shook his wrist, sneering, ¡°Why should I tell you.¡±

 Chapter 87 - Chapter 87: Chapter 87: Mom Came Back

    Chapter 87: Chapter 87: Mom Came Back


    The two fiercely tangled together, and the violent sounds of fighting echoed in the study as their fists smashed sharply against each other, seemingly venting years of dissatisfaction.


    Vases and cups slid off the table one after another, shattering sounds accompanying the punching, with porcelain shards flying everywhere.


    The noise was so loud it could be heard throughout the entire villa.


    Lin Xu, with the help of the butler, limped to the study and, upon seeing the two fighting, was so frightened that her heart skipped a beat, her voice trembling, ¡°Stop fighting, stop it all!¡±


    She stepped forward to intervene, forgetting entirely about the injury on her foot in her panic, causing a tearing pain in her ankle.


    ¡°Hiss.¡±


    Lin Xu bent over in pain.


    This moan was more effective than any attempts to stop the fight; the brothers fighting immediately stopped, their faces tense.


    ¡°Did you hit your wound? Why aren¡¯t you in the wheelchair?¡±


    ¡°What happened to you? Where are you hurt?¡±


    Their concerned voices rose simultaneously beside her.


    Just as Ji Zeqiu thought Lin Xu had stepped on the porcelain shards on the floor and was about to check on her, Ji Tingyang had already picked her up and hurried away.


    He hesitated for a moment, then quickly followed.


    Ji Tingyang set her down on the sofa and lifted her ankle to check it, not relaxing until he confirmed that the swelling hadn¡¯t worsened.


    ¡°The doctor told you not to walk,¡± Ji Tingyang fretted, talking incessantly in his anxiety, more naggy than Lin Xu ever was, ¡°You could have had the butler push you or if you needed to go upstairs, call me to carry you, I¡­¡±


    A pair of delicate white hands suddenly cupped his cheeks, looking into his eyes that were equally urgent and worried.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s voice trailed off abruptly, letting her gaze at him.


    Lin Xu studied his face, her furrowed brows expressing deep concern, ¡°Your corner of the mouth is bleeding¡ªdoes it hurt? I just asked you to check on Zeqiu, how did it turn into a fight?¡±


    She took the ointment the butler handed her and gently applied it to his split lip.


    The ointment touching the wound spread a dense pain from the corner of the mouth, eliciting a grunt from Ji Tingyang, which made Lin Xu even more anxious, ¡°Does it hurt? I¡¯ll be gentler.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Ji Tingyang sneaked a glance at her, his eyes finding only her concern for him, secretly pleased, a barely perceptible smile tugging at his lips before he suppressed it quickly.


    Standing not far away, Ji Zeqiu felt helpless, unaware that his mother¡¯s ankle was injured.


    Seeing Lin Xu urgently applying medicine to Ji Tingyang provoked a sour feeling in his chest, stirring uncomfortably in his stomach.


    He was hurt too; why did his mother only care for Ji Tingyang?


    Did she not like him, her own son?


    Ji Zeqiu watched them blankly, his eyes stinging as he felt the pain in his cheek worsen, spreading pain throughout his body.


    His chest also felt terribly uncomfortable.


    He averted his gaze, no longer wanting to see their interaction.


    Several times, he parted his lips to say he was leaving, but his throat was raw and painful, and he couldn¡¯t utter a word.


    ¡°What are you daydreaming about?¡±


    ¡°Why are you just standing there? Come here.¡±


    ¡°Ji Zeqiu!¡±


    Calls in quick succession brought Ji Zeqiu back to reality.


    He looked dully at Lin Xu, who was waving him over. After confirming several times in his uneasy mind that she was indeed calling him, he hurried over and sat down.


    Lin Xu reached out, similarly cradling his cheeks, inspecting the bruised wounds on his face.


    She lightly touched one of his wounds, her expression both pained and angry, ¡°Your face is swollen; it must hurt a lot. Do you brothers have a grudge or something, hitting each other so hard? Are you trying to kill me?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s eyes flickered guiltily as he and Ji Tingyang maintained a tacit silence.


    Lin Xu picked up the ointment and started applying it to him.


    Her fingertips glided over his wounds, bringing out stings of pain, but more so, joy.


    Ji Zeqiu stared at her as if he was afraid she would disappear from in front of his eyes.


    Watching her rush about for him, watching her brow furrow with worry for him, the stifling emotions in his chest slowly gave way to happiness.


    His mother did care about him; she loved him too¡­


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s eyes curved, and his mouth couldn¡¯t help but lift into a smile.


    ¡°You got hit, why are you still foolishly smiling?¡± Lin Xu scolded him, smacked his head, then sighed, ¡°Such a handsome face, what a pity it is to get hurt.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu tensed suddenly.


    He remembered his mother really liked handsome guys.


    Now that his face was injured and had become ugly, would his mother dislike him?


    In just a few minutes, he had felt loss and gain several times.


    ¡°I, I will heal this wound,¡± Ji Zeqiu hurriedly and dryly assured her.


    So don¡¯t dislike him¡­


    ¡°So, how long will you need to heal, you still have to shoot in the next few days, what about the wound on your face?¡± Lin Xu said.


    Ji Zeqiu choked.


    He had completely forgotten about this.


    Lin Xu then turned to Ji Tingyang and scolded him, ¡°You too, you know the faces of artists are important, yet you still hit the face.¡±


    ¡°He started it,¡± Ji Tingyang darted a glance at Ji Zeqiu, ¡°And my face is equally important, visible to hundreds of people in the company.¡±


    ¡°Hundreds of people aren¡¯t even a fraction of my fans, what importance do they have.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind taking a photo of you right now to show your important fans,¡± Ji Tingyang retorted.


    ¡°You!¡±


    ¡°Both of you shut up, no fighting!¡± Lin Xu roared, glaring at the two of them.


    Both immediately closed their mouths.


    Due to the injury on his cheek, Ji Zeqiu was scolded for several hours by his agent, and eventually, under immense pressure, continued to ask for leave from the director.


    Ji Zeqiu hung up the phone, leaned back, and sank deep into the soft sofa.


    His eyes stared vacantly at the room he hadn¡¯t returned to for years, his mind long wandering elsewhere.


    At that moment,


    Several rhythmic knocks came from outside the quiet room.


    ¡°Who is it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s me, I have something I want to talk to you about.¡±


    As soon as Lin Xu¡¯s voice rang out, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s body sprang up, and he immediately ran to open the door.


    Lin Xu wheeled herself in, looked at Ji Zeqiu for a moment, then hesitated.


    ¡°What is it?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I heard from Ji Tingyang,¡± Lin Xu pursed her lips, a trace of apology appearing on her face, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I should have been more adamant in telling you that I was still alive.¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s not too late now, we still have so much time to spend together, right?¡± Lin Xu smiled lightly, pulled his hand, brought his rigid body down, and embraced him, ¡°Zeqiu, Mom is back.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s throat moved subtly as the emotions he had been desperately suppressing all day suddenly burst through, wildly surging from his chest.


    His vision was already blurry, and tears uncontrollably fell onto her shoulder.

 Chapter 88 - Chapter 88: Chapter 88 Welcome Back

    Chapter 88: Chapter 88 Welcome Back


    Ji Zeqiu embraced her body, his arms strong and firm as if wanting to embed her into his chest, never to part again.


    His eyes captive with tears, his voice choked with a hoarse whisper, he was finally able to voice the unrealistic hope and illusion he had harbored for years, ¡°Welcome back.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu lay on her shoulder, quietly crying for a long time, his shoulders quivering, wetting the clothes on her shoulder.


    After a while, the night grew dense.


    Ji Zeqiu lay in bed, the blanket almost covering his entire cheek, leaving only his swollen eyes visible, staring at Lin Xu, unwilling to close his eyes.


    Lin Xu looked at his hand holding hers firmly and couldn¡¯t help but laugh and cry, ¡°I¡¯m just going back to my room to sleep, I won¡¯t disappear.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu hesitated for a moment, and then, his ears red, he whispered softly after a long pause, ¡°¡­you sleep here.¡±


    Lin Xu laughed lightly, teasingly said, ¡°You¡¯re all grown up, and you still want Mom to sleep with you?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not it!¡± The redness on his ears spread to his cheeks, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s face almost completely red, he stammered, ¡°I mean, you sleep on the bed, I¡¯ll go to the sofa¡­¡±


    But if his mother wanted to sleep with him, it wouldn¡¯t be a problem.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s eyes flickered, muttering in his heart.


    Knowing his unease, Lin Xu just smiled and went along with him, ¡°Alright, then get up.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu suddenly sat up, his movements very brisk.


    Knowing Lin Xu had difficulty moving, he considerately lifted her onto the bed and tucked her in under the blanket.


    Then he scampered off to the sofa and happily closed his eyes.


    After two minutes, he opened his eyes to look at the bed. After seeing Lin Xu¡¯s figure, he closed his eyes again, reassured.


    However, he opened his eyes again after less than two minutes, wanting to confirm Lin Xu¡¯s presence.


    Feeling the frequent gazes falling on her, Lin Xu helplessly said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m right here.¡±


    Thankfully the darkness hid the embarrassment on Ji Zeqiu¡¯s cheeks, ¡°I was just checking if the door was closed, I wasn¡¯t looking at you.¡±


    ¡°So you weren¡¯t looking at me huh, I¡¯m a bit sad, what should I do?¡± Lin Xu¡¯s sigh sounded exceptionally clear in the quiet room.


    Ji Zeqiu suddenly became nervous, even sitting up a bit more on the sofa, his tone rigid as he tried to comfort her, ¡°I was actually looking at you just now, don¡¯t be sad.¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡±.


    Lin Xu¡¯s crisp laughter rang out from the bed, her body shaking with laughter.


    Ji Zeqiu then realized she was just teasing him. Now even his neck turned red, he huffily faced Lin Xu and hemmed and hawed for a long time without being able to utter a serious word.


    In the end, he could only lie back on the sofa angrily, the blanket pulled over his head, forming a high mound, hiding in the cocoon, irritated and embarrassed.


    Lin Xu even felt the urge to lift the blanket over him, wanting to see if he was still like when he was little, with his hands covering his cheeks lying on the sofa, his butt stuck up high.


    But considering her injured foot, she had to let go of that thought.


    ¡°Alright, alright, I won¡¯t tease you anymore, pull your head out, otherwise you¡¯ll struggle to breathe.¡± Lin Xu said with a laugh, yet Ji Zeqiu remained unmoved.


    This bit of temper was just like when he was a child.


    After Lin Xu¡¯s teasing, Ji Zeqiu dared not look at her anymore, his head hiding in the blanket, and he drifted off to sleep unknowingly.


    In his dream,


    it was still that dark room.


    Ji Zeqiu curled up in the corner, his head buried between his arms, his eyes peering through the gap toward the door, hoping for something.


    After a while, the same graceful figure in a skirt came in, extending her hand toward him with a gentle smile on her lips, ¡°Mom is here to take you home¡­¡±


    He hesitated for a moment, finally mustered up the courage, and lifted his head to look at her.


    What he saw was no longer a blurry face, but Lin Xu¡¯s face brimming with a smile.


    Sunlight poured in from the window, driving away the darkness and loneliness in the room; the incandescent light pierced his eyes.


    Ji Zeqiu frowned, extended his arm in front of his eyes to block the glare, and opened his eyes in a blurred state.


    He was groggy, as if he had not fully awakened from a dream, looking around in confusion.


    It wasn¡¯t until he saw the empty large bed that his heart suddenly startled, then he came to his senses, quickly got up from the sofa, and rushed out without even having time to put on his shoes.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s face turned pale, his heartbeat grew faster with anxiety, and his palms sweated nervously as he continued to search for Lin Xu in the villa.


    He began to fear that everything yesterday had been an illusion.


    Not until he saw Lin Xu in the living room did his tense body finally relax.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, running so fast without even wearing shoes?¡± Lin Xu, noticing the breathless Ji Zeqiu, was surprised and quickly wheeled the chair over.


    A cool palm brought a warm sensation; Ji Zeqiu instinctively tightened his grip on her small hand, feeling her temperature, only then truly sensing that his mother was really there.


    ¡°I, I¡­ was just too hungry and wanted to find something to eat.¡± He guiltily darted his eyes around.


    Ji Tingyang, not far away, saw through him unmercifully, ¡°He was worried you disappeared, right?¡±


    It must be said, there are indeed some similarities between brothers.


    Not long ago, Ji Tingyang had felt this same unease.


    ¡°I was just about to tell Zeqiu,¡± Lin Xu annoyed, glared at Ji Tingyang.


    When she woke up, Ji Zeqiu was still in a deep sleep, sleeping more peacefully than usual; it was nearly ten o¡¯clock and there was no sign of him waking up.


    Lin Xu hesitated whether to wake him so they could go downstairs to eat together, when Ji Tingyang entered the room and imperiously took her downstairs.


    ¡°It¡¯s just at home, what¡¯s there to say,¡± Ji Tingyang said unconcernedly.


    Ji Zeqiu had monopolized his mother all night yesterday; if not for his mother¡¯s sake, he would have gone over to take her back last night.


    Ji Zeqiu glared at Ji Tingyang through gritted teeth.


    It was this bastard again!


    His teeth itched with anger, and even during lunch, he glared fiercely at Ji Tingyang; his sharp gaze was like blades, wishing to cut him a thousand times.


    Ji Tingyang was very calm, unmoved.


    Only unintentionally touching the cracked wound at the corner of his lip, he winced in pain, distorting his face.


    Lin Xu, frightened, immediately put down her chopsticks, and anxiously held his cheek to check the wound, ¡°Why weren¡¯t you careful while eating? Does it hurt? Should I get some ointment for you?¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Ji Tingyang subtly rubbed her palm, responding softly.


    As Lin Xu bent down to look for the ointment, he held her small hand in his; beneath his dark pupils flickered a victorious spark; his thin lips curled into a slight smile.


    Ji Zeqiu watched, dumbfounded.


    Ji Tingyang had previously endured bone fractures without changing his expression, and now he was just punched a few times; how could it possibly hurt enough to grimace.


    This bastard!


    He was actually pretending to be in pain in front of their mother.

 Chapter 89 - Chapter 89: Chapter 89 The Two Brothers Always Like the Same Woman

    Chapter 89: Chapter 89 The Two Brothers Always Like the Same Woman


    Lin Xu¡¯s movements as she applied the medicine were gentle, asking him with unease whether it hurt or not.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt,¡± Ji Tingyang said, while his brows knotted as if he were enduring the pain.


    Seeing this, Lin Xu felt even more distressed, ¡°Speak up if it hurts. Don¡¯t bear it silently.¡±


    Ji Tingyang pursed his lips, suppressing the urge to smile, and shifted closer to her.


    At that moment, a hand reached over, snatched the ointment from Lin Xu, and squeezed a large dollop, roughly smearing it on Ji Tingyang¡¯s face.


    ¡°Since it doesn¡¯t hurt, there¡¯s no need to be so gentle,¡± Ji Zeqiu deliberately pressed hard on the bruise on his face, ¡°There, now the medicine is properly applied.¡±


    Ji Tingyang clenched his teeth and let out a muffled grunt, glaring fiercely at Ji Zeqiu.


    ¡°What are you looking at me for, to thank me?¡± Ji Zeqiu twisted his meaning, his eyebrows raised in smugness, ¡°No need for thanks, it was a trifle.¡±


    It seemed the two of them were about to start arguing again.


    The butler sighed as he watched them from the sidelines.


    In the past, the eldest and second young master had argued over Wen Li, leading to discord between the brothers, and eventually, the second young master moved out of the villa.


    The butler had thought that once the eldest young master let go of Wen Li, he would no longer compete with the second young master, and their brotherly bond would eventually be restored.


    But who would have thought that the second young master would no longer care about Wen Li, and like the eldest young master, started to fancy Miss Lin Xu instead.


    Rather than reconciling, they argued even more fiercely, and just yesterday, they actually came to blows over Miss Lin Xu.


    The butler lamented, should he say they truly are brothers?


    The two brothers always liked the same woman.


    He glanced again at the two of them bickering, shook his head, and spoke to interrupt their quarrel, ¡°Second young master, do you need your room cleaned?¡±


    As soon as he spoke, they were both startled.


    Ji Zeqiu did not live in the villa, and his room was usually cleaned once a week, but he had come back to stay last night, and it was only proper to ask about the regular cleaning today.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s first instinct was to say it was not needed.


    He was going to go back to the apartment with his mother today, and he had no desire to live with Ji Tingyang.


    However, his heart wavered when he caught Lin Xu¡¯s expectant eyes, shimmering with anticipation.


    Lin Xu tugged at his hand, her voice tinged with hope, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be nice for us to live together as a family if you came back?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu knew Lin Xu had always wanted him to move back in. Right from the start, when he moved to the apartment with her, she kept nagging in his ear, asking why he argued with Ji Tingyang, why he moved out of the villa, and when he would move back.


    At that time, he found Lin Xu¡¯s incessant curiosity about others¡¯ family affairs annoying.


    Now, he thought she must have always hoped they could all live together forever.


    Looking into Lin Xu¡¯s eager eyes, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s lips parted several times, but he found himself unable to utter the words to refuse her.


    His tone was gruff, his expression awkward, ¡°If you insist on my coming back to live¡­ it¡¯s not impossible¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s wonderful!¡± Lin Xu beamed with joy.


    Seeing his mother¡¯s smile, Ji Zeqiu felt cheerful, as if sunshine warmed his heart, infusing his body with vitality.


    Ji Tingyang opened his mouth, about to speak.


    Suddenly, his mouth was covered by Lin Xu, effectively silencing him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense, got it?¡± Lin Xu warned him.


    The two brothers always provoked each other. What if the hard-won return of Ji Zeqiu was spoiled by another argument?


    The weekend passed in the blink of an eye.


    Even though his face was still bruised, Ji Tingyang had to continue going to the company.


    He stood at the entryway, his expression conflicted, glancing at Lin Xu several times.


    His mother¡¯s ankle was still injured, and now Ji Zeqiu had joined them in the house.


    What if, when he came back, he discovered Ji Zeqiu had taken his mother away?


    What if Ji Zeqiu secretly spoke ill of him and he found that his mother no longer liked him when he returned?


    What if¡­


    In just one minute, Ji Tingyang¡¯s mind flooded with countless thoughts, his heart ballooning like an ever-expanding balloon, as if it would explode at any moment due to any of those unsettling ideas.


    Suddenly.


    Lin Xu waved at him.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s mind was in disarray, and he subconsciously lowered his head to let her touch it.


    Lin Xu paused for a moment, then suddenly laughed.


    He looked at her, not understanding the reason.


    It wasn¡¯t until Lin Xu smiled and adjusted his tie, correcting its length, that Ji Tingyang realized he had been overthinking. A flash of embarrassment crossed his eyes.


    Lin Xu straightened the tie, looked it over carefully, and nodded in satisfaction, ¡°That looks much better.¡±


    His mother had tied his tie for him, and Ji Tingyang¡¯s previously restless heart suddenly overflowed with happiness.


    ¡°Is it getting late? Hurry up and leave. Don¡¯t be late,¡± Lin Xu said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Ji Tingyang responded and finally was willing to leave.


    In the car, he kept touching the tie that Lin Xu had adjusted, his heart almost bursting with joy.


    Not long after Ji Tingyang had left, Ji Zeqiu also woke up.


    He still had soap residue on the corner of his mouth that he hadn¡¯t managed to rinse off, hurriedly running into the living room. On seeing Lin Xu, he secretly heaved a sigh of relief.


    Even though three or four days had passed, the anxiety in his heart had not completely disappeared.


    ¡°Is it time for a follow-up at the hospital today?¡± Ji Zeqiu asked.


    Lin Xu¡¯s ankle had swelled frighteningly at first, but the swelling had subsided quickly, leaving only a slight, unnoticeable puffiness.


    During the days in the wheelchair, the two brothers treated her as if she could no longer care for herself. Though it was her foot that was injured, they even wanted to feed her water and meals.


    If this continued, Lin Xu feared they would want to help her dress too, so after the swelling subsided and the pain lessened, she was adamantly against sitting in the wheelchair any longer.


    For the first time, the two brothers agreed and insisted on keeping her in the wheelchair until she fully recovered.


    However, as soon as Lin Xu¡¯s eyes reddened, the brothers¡¯ resolve crumbled, and they compromised.


    But they were still not to be careless.


    Ji Zeqiu looked at her nervously, ¡°I¡¯ll accompany you!¡±


    ¡°The hospital has so many people. You might be recognized,¡± Lin Xu worried about causing a disturbance.


    ¡°I¡¯ll wear a hat and a mask,¡± Ji Zeqiu said confidently. Disguised, few people would notice him.


    Unless they were particularly familiar with him, they wouldn¡¯t recognize him at all.


    With his insistence on accompanying her, Lin Xu reluctantly agreed.


    Upon arriving at the hospital.


    The doctor¡¯s advice was as she expected: she didn¡¯t need to use the wheelchair anymore, and she just needed to continue her medication for a few more days until the swelling completely subsided.


    Upon hearing the doctor¡¯s words, Ji Zeqiu even felt a bit disappointed.


    He had hoped to be on the same side as the doctor, convincing his mother to sit in the wheelchair for a few more days.


    He hadn¡¯t taken care of her enough yet.


    Lin Xu smiled helplessly and pulled him to the window to get the medication.


    A figure suddenly appeared from around the corner and before almost bumping into Lin Xu, Ji Zeqiu quickly shielded her.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± Ji Zeqiu asked anxiously.


    She was just about to speak when she heard the person exclaim.


    ¡°Ji Zeqiu?¡±


    Lin Xu looked up, her eyebrows suddenly raising.


    It was actually Wen Li.

 Chapter 90 - Chapter 90: Chapter 90 I Want to Retire

    Chapter 90: Chapter 90 I Want to Retire


    Wen Li¡¯s forehead was wrapped with a piece of gauze, and her clothes were stained with an eye-catching patch of blood. Her complexion was so pale it was terrible to look at, as she staggered around the corner.


    When she saw Lin Xu, she was somewhat stunned, but even more surprised when she saw the man beside her.


    Even though he was wearing a mask and hat, Wen Li recognized him as Ji Zeqiu at first glance.


    After all, he came to find her many times while wearing this disguise.


    ¡°Ji Zeqiu?¡± she whispered.


    Ji Zeqiu hadn¡¯t seen Wen Li in a long time. When he saw her, he was stunned for several seconds before he remembered her.


    His gaze indifferently swept over the gauze on her forehead, and his voice was low as he responded.


    Wen Li noticed his gaze and explained to him as if talking to herself, ¡°I accidentally got hit by a motorcycle when I went out today, and I bled a little. The doctor said there¡¯s nothing serious besides a bit of anemia, so don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu still responded casually, his eyes hidden under the brim of his hat, making it impossible to see his expression at the moment.


    Without the expected concern, Wen Li stood in place awkwardly, fidgeting with the hem of her clothes.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s reaction was indifferent, but Lin Xu¡¯s heart suddenly skipped a beat,


    Anemia?


    She gripped Ji Zeqiu¡¯s hand suddenly with strength.


    In the scenes she saw at the time of her rebirth, Ji Zeqiu had forced the ¡°substitute¡± to donate blood many times for Wen Li.


    Ji Zeqiu was usually very calm, but he would become especially unsettled whenever Wen Li was involved.


    Lin Xu was afraid that once he heard Wen Li say she was anemic, he would, like last time, call Shen Qingtang without considering anything else.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, does your leg hurt again? Do you want me to carry you, or shall I find you a wheelchair?¡± Ji Zeqiu, who just moments ago appeared nonchalant, suddenly grew anxious after feeling the pressure of her grip on his arm.


    ¡°My leg is fine. It¡¯s just that standing for a long time has made me a bit tired.¡± Lin Xu was pondering how to find a way to get Ji Zeqiu to leave, to prevent him from having too much contact with Wen Li.


    As soon as Ji Zeqiu heard her say she was tired, he looked around and, upon seeing a public bench not far away, he helped her go there to rest.


    ¡°You sit here for a while, and I will go get your medicine.¡± He took the prescription and headed straight for the dispensary.


    The neglected Wen Li was stunned as she watched Ji Zeqiu queue up for the medicine, her expression a bit vacant.


    So it turned out he knew how to care, it was just that the person he cared for wasn¡¯t her.


    But their past relationship had been so good, since when had it become so indifferent?


    Wen Li looked towards Lin Xu on the bench, being cared for, and clenched her hand at her side.


    Hadn¡¯t Ji Zeqiu said that he sought Lin Xu out to take revenge on her and to vent his anger?


    But why did he care so much about her now, even more than he cared for herself?


    Wen Li bit her lip, leaving in a lost and disheartened state.


    Seeing Wen Li walk far away, Lin Xu finally let out a sigh of relief and turned to educate Ji Zeqiu beside her, ¡°From now on, you¡¯re not allowed to keep in touch with her, got it?¡±


    ¡°I got it.¡± Ji Zeqiu nodded without hesitation.


    Lin Xu was surprised, ¡°Why are you so obedient?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Ji Zeqiu was puzzled.


    ¡°Last time I told you to make Wen Li move out of the apartment, you told me not to be prejudiced against her and you were so fierce towards me. I was heartbroken at that time.¡± Lin Xu still felt a sense of sorrow, like that of a mother whose son has grown up and rebellious, no longer listening to her.


    ¡°From now on, I will listen to everything you say! Don¡¯t¡­¡± Ji Zeqiu hurriedly reassured her, but by the end, his gaze wandered and his tone was awkwardly comforting, ¡°Don¡¯t, don¡¯t be sad.¡±


    ¡°Listen to everything I say?¡± Lin Xu thought for a moment, then extended her palm towards him, ¡°Give me your hand.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu reached out.


    Lin Xu: ¡°Lean your head a little closer.¡±


    Confused, Ji Zeqiu complied and bent down slightly towards her.


    Lin Xu took off his hat and rubbed his hair back and forth. The soft locks under her palm were messed with, and the ends flipped out, turning his stylish hairdo into a mess.


    Ji Zeqiu, who cared about his hairstyle, didn¡¯t complain at all. His ears subtly turned red as she stroked his hair.


    He was just like a little dog being played with by its owner.


    Lin Xu couldn¡¯t help but let out a light laugh.


    The sweet sound of her laughter spread in his ears, making Ji Zeqiu even more embarrassed. He leaned his head on her shoulder to hide his hot red ears and protested in a weak voice, ¡°Don¡¯t laugh.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª


    After continuous icing and medication, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s facial bruising finally disappeared completely after two weeks.


    His agent insisted again and again that he must report back to the filming set today, ¡°You¡¯ve been resting for so long, if you don¡¯t come back now, the director might kill me!¡±


    ¡°Can I have a few more days off?¡± Ji Zeqiu frowned.


    Going back to the set meant having to leave his mother, and he didn¡¯t feel he had spent enough time with her yet.


    ¡°If you dare to take more time off, do you believe I¡¯ll jump off the company building right now?¡± the agent¡¯s voice came through the speaker, sounding on the verge of a breakdown.


    With his agent threatening his life, Ji Zeqiu had no choice but to reluctantly return to work.


    ¡°Work hard. I¡¯m still waiting for your new drama to premiere,¡± she said.


    It was only after Lin Xu said this that he felt a bit more motivated to work.


    Ji Tingyang wrapped an arm around Lin Xu¡¯s shoulder, raising his eyebrows in pride as he taunted him, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about going to the set. I¡¯ll take care of mother at home.¡±


    During his recovery, Ji Zeqiu spent every day at home with his mother, and they even went out shopping for clothes.


    And he had to go to work begrudgingly.


    Now that Ji Zeqiu was finally leaving, Ji Tingyang felt the air around him become much fresher and more natural.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s gaze was as sharp as a knife as he glared at Ji Tingyang.


    His eyes fell on the hand on his mother¡¯s shoulder, and the more he looked at it, the more irksome it became.


    The urge not to work surged in Ji Zeqiu.


    In the car on the way to the set.


    ¡°You¡¯ve delayed the filming for so many days, and the director is holding quite a grudge. When you get to the set, remember to sweet-talk the director, he¡­¡± The agent was lecturing Ji Zeqiu, but then he turned his head to see him holding his phone, constantly messaging someone.


    His chest almost couldn¡¯t catch the breath.


    ¡°Are you even listening to me?¡±


    ¡°I heard you,¡± Ji Zeqiu finally shifted his attention from the phone, ¡°I¡¯ll apologize to the director.¡±


    The agent felt relieved.


    ¡°Brother Zhao, after this drama, don¡¯t accept new scripts, and gradually cut down on the events as well,¡± Ji Zeqiu said.


    ¡°What? Haven¡¯t you rested enough?¡± the agent sighed, ¡°You¡¯re on the rise right now, you¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that,¡± Ji Zeqiu paused for a moment, his expression serious and earnest as if about to make a major decision, ¡°I want to retire from acting.¡±


    A sharp screech of brakes pierced his ears.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s body lurched forward violently but was then pulled back into the seat by the shoulder belt, followed by the agent¡¯s shocked and excited roar.


    ¡°You want to retire?!¡±

 Chapter 91 - Chapter 91: Chapter 91: Dont Like Him

    Chapter 91: Chapter 91: Don¡¯t Like Him


    ¡°If filming has exhausted you, let¡¯s take a break for a month, no, even half a year would do!¡± The manager was frantically persuading Ji Zeqiu all the way, finally gritting his teeth, ¡°If half a year seems too short, then let¡¯s just take a whole year off!¡±


    ¡°If you think the compensation isn¡¯t good enough, then we can discuss it in detail. Signing a new contract is also an option.¡± The manager was so anxious that he broke out in sweat on his forehead, his mind almost smoking, not understanding why he suddenly wanted to leave the industry.


    ¡°Could it be you got a girlfriend? Or are you thinking about marrying her, afraid that the fans might oppose?¡±


    ¡°Even if that¡¯s the case, there¡¯s no need to quit the industry, right? We can date in secret or even have a secret marriage, it could also be made public. Although the latter might cause many fans to leave, it could be recovered gradually¡­¡±


    Ji Zeqiu was the cash cow of their company, with his commercial value growing higher every day. Not to mention his manager, even the company¡¯s top executives wouldn¡¯t let him leave easily.


    Yet, now, despite all the talking, the manager couldn¡¯t persuade him to reconsider.


    Throughout the trip, Ji Zeqiu remained silent.


    After arriving at the film set.


    Although the director was displeased internally, he still had to keep up appearances and went over to make small talk with Ji Zeqiu, ¡°Brother Zhao mentioned that you were injured in a car accident recently, how¡¯s your body now?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu glanced at his manager expressionlessly.


    The manager gave a forced laugh.


    It was he who had said it, that he had been hit by a car too, just as an excuse to take leave.


    The manager looked at Ji Zeqiu, suddenly feeling worried again, fearful that he was still contemplating quitting the industry and would confess everything to the director.


    Fortunately, Ji Zeqiu still knew how to behave.


    He put on his innocent persona, smiling at the director, ¡°Exactly, as you can see, I still have injuries on my face that haven¡¯t healed yet.¡±


    He then pointed to the faint bruise on his cheek.


    Ji Zeqiu had planned to fully recover before returning to set, but his manager couldn¡¯t wait any longer. He argued that the minor injuries could simply be covered with makeup, unwilling to let him rest any longer.


    Now Ji Zeqiu used it as evidence right away.


    The director, upon seeing it, indeed noticed some marks.


    He had initially thought Ji Zeqiu was looking down on him as a minor director, deliberately acting like a prima donna and standing him up, but it seemed he had truly misjudged him.


    The director immediately seemed more pleasant, flattering, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wait until the injuries were completely healed before coming? We¡¯re not in a hurry here, hehe¡­¡±


    ¡°I just couldn¡¯t wait to start filming with you.¡±


    Upon hearing the compliment, a smile spread across the director¡¯s face.


    Ji Zeqiu kept a slight smile on his lips, ¡°My body¡¯s fine, thank you for your concern, Director. I¡¯ll go change my clothes now.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead, go ahead.¡±


    After parting with the director, Ji Zeqiu headed towards the dressing room.


    The manager covertly gave him a thumbs up, ¡°You¡¯re the skilled one, a few words and you¡¯ve got him cheerful.¡±


    As the male lead, Ji Zeqiu had a private dressing room.


    Just as he was about to enter, the door of the adjacent dressing room opened, and a man walked out from it.


    With so many people coming and going on the set, Ji Zeqiu usually didn¡¯t pay attention to everyone, but when that man saw him, he scoffed at him derisively.


    Ji Zeqiu paused and raised an eyebrow at him.


    Everyone in the circle was accustomed to wearing masks, and even if they were displeased with a certain artist, they would only speak ill of them behind their back.


    Plus, with his high status in the circle, it had been a long time since anyone had dared to mock him so openly.


    He even found it a bit novel for a moment.


    ¡°It¡¯s just because of a bit of popularity, taking leaves in the crew at will, showing no serious attitude toward work. This society that values looks is truly sad.¡± The man looked at Ji Zeqiu with disdain.


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Ji Zeqiu chuckled lightly, ¡°I think, people who say such things are purely out of jealousy, because they know their looks are not up to par, so they like to judge others everywhere.¡±


    ¡°Who are you calling!¡± The man¡¯s face turned ugly, his eyes filled with fury as he glared at him.


    ¡°I am talking about someone else, don¡¯t take it personally.¡± Ji Zeqiu gave him a casual glance and turned to enter the dressing room.


    Closing the door, he left the irate man outside in the hallway.


    The agent couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°I didn¡¯t even know, your skill at confronting people is so formidable, he must be fuming by now.¡±


    ¡°Who is that man?¡± Ji Zeqiu didn¡¯t have any impression of him.


    ¡°Zhou Hongwen, a new generation actor. He acted in a small web drama before, and many say his acting is good, he¡¯s a true talent, so he probably looks down on you popular actors,¡± the agent, who was well-versed with every little happenings in the entertainment circle, said, ¡°He was invited to the crew by the director last week, so you haven¡¯t seen him.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu nodded his head, having no other thoughts about the man except for work-related interactions.


    However, unexpectedly, that very night, he heard about Zhou Hongwen again through Lin Xu.


    ¡°I saw online that an actor named Zhou Hongwen also joined your crew, eh, do you get along with him? Can you ask for an autograph for me?¡± Lin Xu asked over the phone.


    Ji Zeqiu was instantly alarmed, ¡°You like him? Are you his fan?!¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s that little secretary sister in Ji Tingyang¡¯s company, she¡¯s a fan of Zhou Hongwen. She helped me out before, so I thought of getting an autograph for her,¡± Lin Xu said.


    Hearing her words, Ji Zeqiu breathed a sigh of relief and countered, ¡°Then, would you like him?¡±


    ¡°Not really.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t like him, he¡¯s not a nice person at all, he even spoke ill of me today.¡± Ji Zeqiu complained to Lin Xu like a child.


    ¡°What?!¡± Lin Xu was furious, ¡°What did he say about you!¡±


    ¡°He said the only thing presentable about me is my face,¡± Ji Zeqiu spoke with a voice tinged with a whiny charm.


    ¡°What nonsense he speaks, you have won so many awards for your works, can¡¯t he see that! You also recorded a single before, which is so pleasant to listen to, and your singing skills are impressive! And¡­¡± Lin Xu listed the advantages of her own son.


    Listening to her praise, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s lips couldn¡¯t help but curl into a smile.


    If he had a tail, it might have been wagging non-stop by now.


    Lin Xu spoke until she was dry-mouthed, finally paused to catch her breath, ¡°That Zhou what¡¯s-his-name, he has no discernment at all!¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Ji Zeqiu agreed, ¡°So don¡¯t like him.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, I don¡¯t like them,¡± she agreed.


    Ji Zeqiu fiddled with his phone, hesitating and hardly daring to speak, but finally mustered up the courage, ¡°Then, who do you like?¡±


    ¡°I of course like Ji Zeqiu!¡±


    Lin Xu¡¯s smiling voice came through the phone, making his ears burn hot.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s cheeks immediately bloomed into a smile more splendid than flowers, as bright as the sunshine.

 Chapter 92 - Chapter 92: Chapter 92 No Need to Be a Substitute Anymore

    Chapter 92: Chapter 92 No Need to Be a Substitute Anymore


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s agent had thought that Zeqiu¡¯s clamoring about retiring was just a moment of impulsiveness, but to their surprise, Zeqiu rejected all the work they continued to arrange for him afterward.


    Zeqiu picked up a script from the table and flipped through it.


    Thinking that he was interested in the script, the agent became excited, ¡°This is a show by Director Ma, every series he makes becomes a huge hit, and they all have great reviews. If you could land the male lead, it would definitely be a massive success!¡±


    ¡°How about I contact Director Ma right now to arrange a screen test for you?¡±


    The agent eagerly took out their phone, ready to make the call.


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard about this script before, it¡¯s indeed good,¡± Zeqiu pondered for a moment, ¡°Could we arrange a female role in the drama?¡±


    ¡°A female role?¡± The agent was stunned for an instant before quickly realizing, ¡°Are you thinking of Shen Qingtang?¡±


    As a top-star, Zeqiu had ample resources and had often used his influence to help Qingtang get through the back door by recommending scripts and variety shows.


    Now that he heard Zeqiu mention this, the agent wasn¡¯t surprised.


    ¡°It¡¯s possible, but if we try to squeeze another person into the cast now, it might make it more difficult for you to secure the male lead role,¡± the agent fretted.


    They still wanted to prioritize Zeqiu¡¯s career with their resources.


    ¡°I¡¯m not taking the male lead role, haven¡¯t I said that I¡¯m retiring?¡±


    With that one sentence from Zeqiu, the agent was moved to tears.


    So when he was flipping through the script earlier, wasn¡¯t it because he had changed his mind, but because he wanted to push some resources onto Qingtang?


    After finishing his statement, Zeqiu also picked up a certain variety show announcement on his phone and said, ¡°Give this to her as well, and this¡­¡±


    It was as if he were passing on an inheritance; he was pushing almost all the resources he had in hand to Qingtang.


    Just as he was about to pass on the last variety show, the agent quickly interjected in panic, ¡°No, no, no, we¡¯ve already signed a contract for that one, you have to be on it!¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Zeqiu sighed with evident regret.


    ¡°You never seemed to care much about Qingtang before, how come all of a sudden you¡¯re thinking of her,¡± the agent muttered.


    Zeqiu¡¯s gaze flickered, a hint of guilt spreading across his cheeks.


    A few days ago, Lin Xu was watching a TV series where the male lead¡¯s childhood sweetheart went abroad, and he found a substitute who resembled her, commencing a poignant and torturous romance.


    There was a plot in the series where the childhood sweetheart had a car accident, and the male lead forced the substitute to donate blood to her.


    Lin Xu had taken the opportunity to rant about it in front of Zeqiu.


    ¡°It¡¯s the twenty-first century now, how can they still be doing this whole blood donation and kidney transplant thing!¡±


    ¡°The male lead is so silly too. If he wanted to save his childhood sweetheart, wouldn¡¯t he use his own blood, give his own kidney!¡±


    ¡°Furthermore, if the male lead really loved his childhood sweetheart, how could he go looking for a substitute? To find the shadow of another person in someone else, merely to satisfy one¡¯s own preferences, is so selfish. No one would like them,¡±


    ¡°Am I right?¡±


    It always felt like his mother was speaking to them with that sentence.


    The brothers suddenly had evasive looks and their tones sounded unnatural, stammering, ¡°Right, that¡¯s correct.¡±


    Zeqiu¡¯s hands fidgeted with the hem of his clothes, feeling guilty and anxious inside.


    The plot she mentioned, wasn¡¯t it about him?


    Mother said no one would like such a person.


    Mother said no one would like him.


    At that thought, Zeqiu¡¯s face turned pale, a wave of intense fear surged in his chest, and his breathing became labored.


    ¡°No, I have to ask Director Yang again. He owes me a favor; I¡¯ll have him find a role for Qingtang,¡± he said, immediately taking out his phone to contact the aforementioned Director Yang.


    ¡ª-


    In the club.


    Many celebrities and corporate executives attended a film emperor¡¯s birthday event.


    Ji Zeqiu was naturally invited as well, and after exchanging pleasantries with the people around, he stood in a corner staring at his cell phone with a frown on his face.


    The screen displayed his chat with Lin Xu.


    She had yet to respond to the message he sent five minutes ago.


    Was his mother out for a walk with Ji Tingyang after dinner? Or had they gone shopping? Or maybe they were watching a movie together?


    Which was why she hadn¡¯t replied to his message yet.


    Thinking of these possibilities, he became anxious and agitated.


    If it weren¡¯t for this party that he couldn¡¯t excuse himself from, he would definitely have stayed at home tonight and never let Ji Tingyang be alone with his mother.


    That bastard might be badmouthing him behind his back and might even be slyly trying to hide his mother from him.


    Every time Ji Zeqiu thought of this, he was still grinding his teeth in anger.


    In the blink of an eye.


    It had been eight minutes since his mother hadn¡¯t replied to his message.


    Just as Ji Zeqiu hesitated over whether to give his mother a call, a clear and clean voice sounded beside him.


    ¡°Teacher Ji¡­¡±


    He lifted his gaze from the phone and saw Shen Qingtang in a complex and intricately designed mignonette-colored gown, her dense brown short hair cascading down her back, elegant yet simple. Her lustrous eyes gazed at him, clearly wanting to say something yet hesitating.


    Even though they had an intimate transactional relationship, in front of so many people, Shen Qingtang still dared not speak carelessly and chose, like everyone else, to call him Teacher Ji formally.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Ji Zeqiu asked.


    ¡°Thank you for giving me so many resources recently,¡± Shen Qingtang thanked him. After a pause, she half-jokingly added, ¡°These past few days, I¡¯ve been signing so many contracts that my hand is cramping up.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu replied briefly and said nothing more.


    He was always like that, mostly cold and silent when interacting with her.


    Was it only when he was with Miss Wen Li that he became talkative?


    Shen Qingtang¡¯s hand, holding the wine glass, tightened, her mood suddenly a little downcast.


    ¡°Do you want to act in movies?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu suddenly spoke up.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°If you want to act in movies, I can help you get in touch with directors or producers.¡±


    It seemed as though all she needed to do was nod to indicate her interest, and he would immediately arrange it for her.


    Shen Qingtang was startled by his sudden warmth and quickly tried to stop him, ¡°No, no, no, my schedule is already full, there¡¯s no need to contact other jobs for me, this is enough as it is.¡±


    ¡°Is it really enough?¡± Ji Zeqiu always seemed to feel it wasn¡¯t enough, ¡°With just these, will you forgive me?¡±


    Would his mother forgive him as well?


    ¡°Forgive?¡± Shen Qingtang was puzzled.


    ¡°Previously¡­¡± Ji Zeqiu paused, as if finding it difficult to express himself, stuttering for a long while, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for having you donate blood to Wen Li, I won¡¯t do that again in the future.¡±


    A sweetness surged in Shen Qingtang¡¯s heart.


    It seemed like the first time that he¡¯d taken her feelings into account.


    Did this mean that she was now somewhat different in his heart?


    However, just as a small sprout of joy began to emerge in her heart, she heard his next words that seemed to sever ties with her.


    ¡°Let¡¯s end our contract here, there¡¯s no need for you to be a substitute anymore.¡±

 Chapter 93 - Chapter 93: Chapter 93 Two-Person World

    Chapter 93: Chapter 93 Two-Person World


    Qingtang heard this sentence, and her face turned ugly in an instant, her ears ringing.


    In the past, every time Ji Zeqiu held her, calling Wen Li¡¯s name, her chest felt as if it had been torn apart in pain.


    At that time, she always despised her identity as a substitute.


    But now, after Ji Zeqiu had really terminated the contract with her, the feeling of discomfort in her heart couldn¡¯t be dispelled.


    Once she was no longer a substitute, she had no reason to approach Ji Zeqiu anymore.


    Qingtang¡¯s throat was dry and bitter as she downed the drink in her hand, ¡°Why?¡±


    Was it because he was already with Miss Wen Li, so he didn¡¯t need her as a substitute anymore?


    ¡°There¡¯s no why, it¡¯s just not needed anymore,¡± Ji Zeqiu said offhandedly.


    In the past, he wanted to find the warmth and love similar to that of his blurry memory of his mother in Wen Li.


    He knew that Ji Tingyang felt the same.


    But now that his mother had returned, he did not need anyone else.


    ¡°I understand,¡± Qingtang managed a strained smile on her cheeks, gripping her glass as she staggered away.


    The party was more than halfway through.


    Many people present were a bit drunk, their behavior becoming less restrained and more daring than at the beginning.


    Ji Zeqiu found it really uninteresting and glanced at his phone.


    Lin Xu still hadn¡¯t replied, but instead, it was Ji Tingyang who had sent him a message.


    He opened it to see.


    It was a photo taken at a movie theater.


    In the photo, Lin Xu was holding a large bucket of popcorn, wearing a pair of 3D glasses, and looking at the screen with novelty and surprise.


    Twenty years later, movie theaters had advanced even further in technology.


    Lin Xu was shocked by the three-dimensional images above, her cherry-like red lips slightly parted, and her dazed expression had a touch of cuteness.


    Ji Zeqiu couldn¡¯t resist and took a few extra glances at Lin Xu in the photo.


    Then he suddenly realized.


    That guy, Ji Tingyang, actually took his mother to the movies while he was not at home!


    He had yet to go to the movie theater with his mother, so why should Ji Tingyang take her!


    Below that, were the words sent by Ji Tingyang.


    jty: ¡°Mother says, stop messaging her and disturbing our time together.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s anger soared instantly, nearly poking a hole through the phone screen.


    Zeqiu: ¡°Bullshit! Mother would never say such a thing!¡±


    jty: ¡°Oh, don¡¯t disturb our time together.¡±


    Zeqiu: ¡°Mother also said she¡¯s my number one fan!¡±


    jty: ¡°Our time together.¡±


    Zeqiu: ¡°Mother said her favorite son is me!¡±


    jty: ¡°Our time together.¡±


    These childish actions of Ji Tingyang were just like revenge, mirroring the time he had boasted to him about his on-set photo with Lin Xu.


    Ji Zeqiu was unable to contain his rage, sending a sixty-second tirade over a voice message, ¡°Are you sick or something, only knowing how to say those four words? Believe it or not, I¡¯ll smash your study when I get back! Hmph, I don¡¯t care at all, actually. It¡¯s just a movie, what¡¯s there to be proud of¡­¡±


    Just as the club¡¯s music transitioned, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s roaring voice was particularly jarring during those quiet two seconds, drawing many curious glances his way.


    Awkward, social suicide.


    His agent hurried over, lowering his voice to ask, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu looked somewhat unnatural, ¡°Nothing, I¡¯ve got something to do. I¡¯m heading back first.¡±


    Setting down his glass, he looked around the room; before leaving, he needed to greet the birthday celebrant, the guest of honor at the party.


    Before he found the birthday star, however, he saw Shen Qingtang being harassed nearby first.


    ¡°Miss Shen, I didn¡¯t expect us to be so fated, to be partners in the next film too.¡± A man with bleached brown hair reached out and grabbed her arm, ¡°How about we discuss the script later on?¡±


    ¡°I have other commitments later,¡± Shen Qingtang¡¯s face showed difficulty, ¡°It¡¯s better if we discuss it at the film set next time.¡±


    ¡°By that time it¡¯ll be too late, how about I visit you tomorrow, how about that?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m pretty busy with my schedule these days.¡± The forced smile on her face was nearly slipping off.


    Most people here had seniority over her, and faced with such a situation, she didn¡¯t dare to confront them directly, fearing oppression and blacklisting from the industry veterans.


    However, the man seemed completely oblivious to the subtext of her words, moving even closer to her, ¡°What are you so busy with, maybe I can lend a hand?¡±


    ¡°No¡­ it¡¯s not necessary¡­¡±


    Just as the man was about to wrap an arm around her waist, a strong hand suddenly seized his wrist.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear her say she doesn¡¯t need it?¡± Ji Zeqiu was not in a good mood, and his icy, fierce glare was frightening.


    ¡°Ji Zeqiu?¡± The man sobered up a bit, laughing, ¡°We¡¯re all here to have fun, so let¡¯s not play the hero, shall we?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu ignored him, taking Shen Qingtang with him to leave.


    But the man had no intention of letting them go, grabbing Ji Zeqiu¡¯s arm, chuckling, ¡°Don¡¯t go, if you¡¯re interested too, why not join us?¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want your dirty laundry aired, take your hand off,¡± Ji Zeqiu said coldly.


    ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± The man narrowed his eyes, his tone laced with scornful mockery, ¡°Do you know who¡¯s behind me?¡±


    ¡°Who is it?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m an artist under the Ji Subgroup, and the company¡¯s senior executive is my cousin.¡±


    Backed by a top 100 global enterprise, no one had ever dared to oppose him. Since his debut, he had received a steady stream of resources, quickly rising to become one of the top-rated celebrities.


    Upon hearing this, Ji Zeqiu snorted derisively, ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me about your cousin, even if Ji Tingyang himself showed up, what could he do.¡±


    ¡°Ji Tingyang is just an asshole! It would be better if this crappy company just went bankrupt.¡± Just mentioning him reminded Ji Zeqiu of the secret time he spent with his mother, and he couldn¡¯t hold back the curse that slipped out.


    A fellow artist nearby kindly warned Ji Zeqiu, ¡°Don¡¯t speak recklessly, they might blow this up. What if it gets to President Ji and you get blacklisted.¡±


    They were unaware of the relationship between Ji Zeqiu and Ji Tingyang.


    They had only heard that the president of Ji¡¯s had deliberately spent money to snatch several roles from him, including some as significant as leading male roles.


    It was likely that they were not on good terms any longer.


    They knew Ji Zeqiu must harbor some resentment, but to swear in front of so many people, if Ji Tingyang found out, what if this time it was not just about stealing roles, but an outright ban?


    Artists friendly with Ji Zeqiu tried to offer their advice, while others simply watched the drama unfold.


    The man waved his phone in Ji Zeqiu¡¯s face, a twenty to thirty-second voice clip visible on the screen, a hint of smugness in his eyes, ¡°Teacher Ji, what a coincidence, I just happen to have President Ji¡¯s WeChat, and I sent the things you said to President Ji to listen to.¡±


    ¡°I sure hope you can be just as tough tomorrow.¡±

 Chapter 94 - Chapter 94: Chapter 94 Drunk and Foolish

    Chapter 94: Chapter 94 Drunk and Foolish


    Lin Xu returned from watching the movie; it was already 11 p.m.


    The butler and servants had all gone to rest, and most of the lights in the villa were turned off, leaving only a single incandescent bulb on in the living room.


    ¡°Zeqiu?¡± Lin Xu saw Ji Zeqiu lying on the couch, her expression one of surprise, ¡°Why are you lying here and not sleeping in your room?¡±


    She approached and smelled the alcohol on him, her eyebrows knitting slightly.


    Was he drunk?


    Ji Zeqiu heard the voice and lethargically opened his eyes.


    Seeing the familiar figure, his thin lips pursed, and he wrapped his arms around her, alcohol clouding his judgment. He buried his head in her stomach and sounded somewhat displeased, ¡°Why did you come back so late? Was the movie that good?¡±


    He had been waiting on the couch for an hour or two, only for Mother to return.


    And she was laughing so happily.


    The more Ji Zeqiu thought about it, the angrier he got, feeling he hadn¡¯t scolded Ji Tingyang enough earlier that evening.


    ¡°It was not bad,¡± Lin Xu rubbed his head, ¡°If you want to see it too, next time you¡¯re free, we can go to the cinema together, okay?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s eyes lit up, and he said eagerly, ¡°I¡¯m free tomorrow!¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to go to the set tomorrow?¡± Lin Xu noted.


    Ji Zeqiu paused, sobered by her reminder, and then remembered he had to film, ¡°Then, the day after tomorrow, no, I mean the day after that¡­¡±


    He tried hard to recall his schedule, looking to find a free day.


    But the alcohol muddled his thoughts, and he couldn¡¯t remember a thing.


    ¡°Don¡¯t listen to his nonsense.¡± Ji Tingyang, who had been watching for a while, finally couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. He walked over, grabbed Ji Zeqiu by the collar, and pulled him out of Lin Xu¡¯s arms, ¡°An artist like him going to the cinema? In the end, it would just be others watching him, not the movie.¡±


    ¡°I can disguise myself!¡± Ji Zeqiu retorted, glaring at him.


    ¡°We have a projector at home. If you want to watch a movie, you can watch it here. It¡¯s more convenient,¡± Ji Tingyang suggested to Lin Xu.


    Lin Xu thought it over and hesitated, ¡°That¡¯s true.¡±


    ¡°No! I want to go to the cinema!¡± Ji Zeqiu protested.


    Looking at Ji Tingyang¡¯s nonchalant expression, Ji Zeqiu found it more and more insidious.


    So scheming!


    Ji Tingyang went to the cinema with Mother; they sat so close, sharing a popcorn, happily discussing the film, and enjoying their time together.


    And when it was his turn, he was supposed to watch a projector at home?


    For all he knew, Ji Tingyang might barge in halfway and ruin his date with Mother.


    Ji Tingyang, that bastard!


    Definitely on purpose!


    Not wanting him to also have a time alone with Mother!


    ¡°I want to go watch it at the cinema!¡± Ji Zeqiu said angrily, clinging to Lin Xu¡¯s hand, refusing to let go.


    He was acting just like a child throwing a tantrum.


    ¡°Alright, alright, we¡¯ll go to the cinema,¡± Lin Xu quickly pacified him.


    Ji Zeqiu smiled contentedly, but before he could continue to cling to Lin Xu, Ji Tingyang reached out and dragged him up from the couch.


    ¡°He¡¯s drunk and acting dumb; I¡¯ll take him to his room.¡±


    What a loving scene.


    When the younger brother was drunk, the older brother gently helped him to his bedroom, assisted him with changing and washing, and thoughtfully covered him with a blanket.


    Just as Lin Xu was touched by the harmonious relationship between the two brothers, she saw Ji Tingyang dragging Ji Zeqiu off the couch, roughly hustling him upstairs, annoyance clear on his face.


    In a moment of inattention, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s head hit the wall.


    ¡°Tsk, so stupid,¡± Ji Tingyang scoffed.


    ¡°Ji Tingyang! I warn you, I¡¯ve tolerated you for a long time! With those thieving brows and rat eyes, you don¡¯t look like anything good, and your employees are the same, nothing but bullies! You even said you¡¯d blacklist me, you lunatic¡­¡±


    ¡°No, I need to tell Mother how your company¡¯s artist bullied me, make Mother dislike you¡­¡±


    It was unclear if it was the fake liquor talking, but Ji Zeqiu kept rambling incessantly in his ear.


    Veins on Ji Tingyang¡¯s forehead bulged.


    Ji Zeqiu seemed gentle on the surface, but in private, he was remarkably tough, who could bully him?


    That artist under Ji¡¯s company had said he would record all he said and send it to Ji Tingyang.


    While smilingly saying, ¡°I hope you can still be this tough tomorrow.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu went straight over to snatch the man¡¯s phone.


    The man thought he wanted to retract the chat history and was shocked.


    But in front of everyone, he directly dialed Ji Tingyang¡¯s voicemail.


    Ji Tingyang, confused, was met with a barrage of scolding as soon as he answered.


    The vocabulary was quite extensive, so many swear words, yet not one was repeated.


    Everyone in the club was dumbstruck.


    No one expected Ji Zeqiu to be so bold and fearless, even daring to berate the president of Ji¡¯s.


    Ji Tingyang ground his teeth, ¡°Ji Zeqiu, are you sick?¡±


    All he did was post a photo of him going to the movies with his mother, and this warranted a phone call full of insults?


    The agent hurried over, hung up the phone, returned it to the man, and escorted him away.


    Ji Zeqiu, evidently not having finished his tirade over the phone, continued to rant at the person in front of him.


    Ji Tingyang could take no more and pulled out a handkerchief, covering Ji Zeqiu¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°Mmm mmm mmm¡­¡±


    The world finally became peaceful.


    Lin Xu looked at them both with a worried expression.


    She thought their brotherly harmony was false.


    The fact that the two didn¡¯t continue to come to blows was already a huge relief.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s demeanor when he was drunk was quite different from when he was sober.


    The next day when the effects of the alcohol wore off, and he remembered how he had clung to Lin Xu¡¯s hand the night before, begging to go to the cinema, his cheeks flushed red with embarrassment.


    Not to mention how he had relentlessly scolded Ji Tingyang, although Ji Tingyang indeed deserved it.


    But would his mother think he was too crude, not a good son?


    As he agonized over this, he heard Lin Xu saying, ¡°Let me know when you¡¯re free, and we¡¯ll set a date to go to the movies.¡±


    Lin Xu still remembered about going to the cinema.


    ¡°Actually, I was just talking nonsense last night, I don¡¯t particularly want to go to the cinema,¡± Ji Zeqiu said, his gaze drifting away, a hint of guilt on his face.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Lin Xu replied, putting her phone down, no longer looking up movie times.


    As if she had truly given up on going to a movie with him.


    Ji Zeqiu hastily added, his voice trembling, ¡°But if you really want to go with me, I¡¯m not completely opposed to the idea¡­¡±


    Lin Xu suddenly smiled, without piercing through his little ploy.


    ¡°Yes, I really do want to go see a movie with you, can you find some time to accompany me?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Alright, let me check my schedule!¡±


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s lips unconsciously curved upwards, his eyes sparkling with excitement as he quickly checked his upcoming schedule.


    Even after cancelling many appointments and filming engagements, his calendar was still packed, with no time to go to the cinema for at least the coming week.


    The upward curve of his lips quickly fell.


    His expression darkened, and he sent a message to his agent.


    ¡°Brother Zhao! I want to quit the industry! Right now!¡±


    He didn¡¯t even have time to watch a movie with his mother!


    Agent: ¡°¡­¡±

 Chapter 95 - Chapter 95: Chapter 95: Who says Im retiring?

    Chapter 95: Chapter 95: Who says I¡¯m retiring?


    Ji Zeqiu returned to the crew with a listless expression, his eyes on the script, but his thoughts had already wandered far away.


    Seeing him in this state, the manager sighed, ¡°In a little while, some fans will come to visit the set and take some behind-the-scenes footage for online. Remember to smile and put on a good show.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± Ji Zeqiu replied nonchalantly, then turned to ask his manager, ¡°When are we sending out my retirement announcement?¡±


    The manager was at a loss for words.


    He didn¡¯t expect that after dragging his feet for so long, Ji Zeqiu still hadn¡¯t let go of the idea.


    ¡°You¡¯re doing so well, your career is on the rise, and nobody is bullying or suppressing you, why insist on retiring?¡±


    He couldn¡¯t understand it at all.


    Ji Zeqiu closed the script, looked up at the sky, and sighed desolately.


    The manager¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    Could there be some unspeakable reason?


    Then he heard him say.


    ¡°Being a celebrity is too busy, I hardly have any personal time left.¡±


    Actually, becoming an artist was not originally his intention.


    Wen Li once chased after a certain celebrity, always mentioning the celebrity¡¯s name, even having him as her phone wallpaper.


    To catch Wen Li¡¯s attention for a few more seconds, Ji Zeqiu chose to become an artist before he even graduated.


    At that time, Chenxing Entertainment was recruiting trainees, he signed up and was eventually picked by Brother Zhao, and has been with him ever since.


    He had no complaints about this job.


    Not until he learned that his mother had come back.


    They had missed twenty years of time together, and now he just wanted to fill that gap.


    But now, having to join the crew, he could only return home to see Lin Xu after intervals of time.


    Unlike Ji Tingyang, who could go home to see his mother every day, they even went for walks after dinner, watched movies, and shopped together¡­


    The more Ji Zeqiu imagined it, the more agitated he felt in his chest.


    He feared that just like Wen Li was snatched away by Ji Tingyang, even his mother would be taken away by him.


    ¡°If you want some personal time, we can discuss it, arrange less¡­¡±


    ¡°Forget it.¡± Ji Zeqiu felt a surge of frustration in his chest, wanting to light a cigarette on impulse, but remembering Lin Xu disliked the smell of smoke, his hand paused with the cigarette and then put it back.


    ¡°Brother Zhao, thank you for your help these past few years.¡± His expression was serious and solemn.


    The manager knew he couldn¡¯t dissuade him any longer and finally compromised, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll arrange it as soon as possible.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    After finishing a scene, the fan groups who came to visit the set arrived.


    Ji Zeqiu followed his manager to greet them, his mood was not good, but he still forced a faint smile at the corners of his mouth.


    ¡°Ah! Ji Zeqiu! You look so handsome in person!¡±


    ¡°Baby Ji, this is the letter I wrote for you!¡±


    ¡°Baby Ji, look here! Mommy is here!¡±


    The one shouting this was obviously a ¡®mom fan.¡¯


    Upon hearing the word ¡®mommy,¡¯ the smile on Ji Zeqiu¡¯s lips faded a bit.


    When he had just debuted, he was very resistant to fans who called themselves ¡®mommy.¡¯


    Even then, when he was unwilling to recall the existence of his own mother, he believed that a mother¡¯s place in his heart was irreplaceable.


    But such is the entertainment industry, even though he repeatedly expressed his dislike for the title, fans would still pop up calling him that.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s eyes flashed with a hint of displeasure as he glanced towards that person; however, when he spotted a figure in the crowd he had been longing to see day and night, he was instantly rooted to the spot in shock.


    Right next to that fan who crazily claimed to be his mother, Lin Xu was looking at him with a beaming smile.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s coldly indifferent smile suddenly burst into endless radiance, like a ray of sunlight piercing through dark clouds and illuminating everything around.


    Backstage at the drama set.


    After saying goodbye to the visiting fans, Ji Zeqiu couldn¡¯t wait to go meet Lin Xu, who was waiting backstage.


    ¡°How did you get here?¡± Ji Zeqiu asked excitedly, his cheeks flushed red.


    He reached out to hold Lin Xu¡¯s hand but felt somewhat embarrassed, so he stealthily shifted closer to her, sitting nearer to her side.


    ¡°I came to see you, isn¡¯t it a surprise?¡± Lin Xu smiled.


    Lately, Ji Zeqiu had been listless, even sounding somewhat downhearted when he talked to her on the phone.


    Worried about him, Lin Xu signed up to visit the set after seeing that there were spots available in the fan group.


    She purposefully didn¡¯t tell him because she wanted to surprise him.


    Seeing the smile brimming on his face now, he must be satisfied with the surprise.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s lips couldn¡¯t help but curve upwards, trying to play it cool despite being overjoyed, he said, ¡°It¡¯s alright, not that much of a surprise.¡±


    ¡°Ah? So you don¡¯t like me visiting the set?¡± Lin Xu¡¯s face fell, missing the sarcasm in his words, ¡°Then maybe I should go home.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± The smile on Ji Zeqiu¡¯s face vanished suddenly as he hastily grabbed her hand, his expression anxious, ¡°Don¡¯t go back, I¡­ I¡­¡±


    Lin Xu cupped his cheeks with both hands, as if chiding a child, ¡°You need to tell the truth, okay?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu pursed his lips, his ear tips reddening with embarrassment, yet he obediently admitted, ¡°I like you visiting the set.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± Lin Xu nodded in satisfaction, ¡°Even if you¡¯re too embarrassed to say it out loud in the future, you shouldn¡¯t talk in reverse, otherwise others might be really hurt if they hear you, understand?¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Ji Zeqiu pulled her into his embrace, burying his head in her neck, and murmured in response, ¡°So you¡¯re not leaving now, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, since you like me visiting the set, I won¡¯t leave,¡± Lin Xu said.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s smile almost stretched to his ears, his nose softly inhaling.


    The fragrance of his mother was sweet and warm, so pleasant.


    ¡°Have you recently encountered some problems at work? You never seem to be happy on set,¡± Lin Xu casually inquired about her son¡¯s mental wellbeing.


    ¡°No problems.¡± He was happy as long as his mother was here.


    ¡°You need to work hard, okay? I¡¯m still looking forward to watching your new drama,¡± she said.


    ¡°You want to watch my new drama?¡±


    ¡°Yes, of course, I watch every one of them. I heard online that there¡¯s a martial arts drama that wants to cast you. You looked particularly dashing in the fight scenes of your last period drama; this one will surely be even more striking,¡± Lin Xu said with anticipation.


    Ji Zeqiu stiffened for a moment.


    He hadn¡¯t yet had the chance to tell his mother about his desire to retire, and he had asked his agent to reject all the scripts and variety shows, including, it seems, the martial arts drama his mother just mentioned.


    Suddenly.


    The door to the dressing room was pushed open.


    ¡°Zeqiu, I¡¯ve already mentioned to the top brass about you retiring, and they said that¡­¡± The agent walked in mid-sentence, but he stopped abruptly when he saw the two hugging each other, his professionalism kicking in immediately as he turned around, covering his eyes, ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t see anything.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll discuss with you later¡­¡±


    Before the agent could finish, he heard Ji Zeqiu say, ¡°Retirement? Who¡¯s retiring?¡±


    His mother still wanted to watch his TV shows!


    The agent: ??

 Chapter 96 - Chapter 96: Chapter 96 "She is mine!

    Chapter 96: Chapter 96 ¡°She is mine!


    Ji Zeqiu clung to Lin Xu, chatting backstage for a while until a crew member came over to hurry him to filming, then he reluctantly left.


    ¡°I have to go film now¡­¡±


    ¡°Go on, good luck with work,¡± Lin Xu encouraged.


    ¡°So¡­¡± Ji Zeqiu hesitated, glanced at her, his lips parted slightly, wanted to speak but stopped.


    After struggling for a long time, he still couldn¡¯t say what was on his mind, ¡°You go back first, otherwise it will be dark later and not safe.¡±


    ¡°I just got here, and you¡¯re rushing me to go back?¡± Lin Xu raised her eyebrow, teasing.


    ¡°What?¡± Ji Zeqiu was stunned and didn¡¯t catch on.


    ¡°I booked a room in a nearby hotel, I¡¯ll leave tomorrow.¡± Lin Xu said.


    Hearing her words, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s sad eyes suddenly sparkled, glowing with vitality.


    Mother is not going back today, she wants to be with him!


    Without Ji Tingyang around, it was a date just for him and his mother!


    If they weren¡¯t on set, didn¡¯t need to film, and had no one to disturb them, it would be even more perfect.


    Ji Zeqiu once again thought about retiring from filming.


    But his mother still wanted to watch his TV dramas, so he suppressed the thought again.


    ¡°Then wait here for me, I will come right after I finish filming, make sure you wait for me!¡± Ji Zeqiu insisted, worried she might leave before he returned.


    Lin Xu smiled, ¡°Come to think of it, apart from that cliff assassination scene last time, I haven¡¯t seen you film other scenes, can I go watch, I promise I won¡¯t disturb anyone.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu naturally couldn¡¯t ask for more, and without another word, he took her to the set.


    Ji Zeqiu found her a cushy chair, and fearing she would catch cold, he found a blanket to cover her, eventually he came over with a thermal flask, advising her like a child to remember to drink water.


    The staff nearby whispered, ¡°Who is this woman? Why is Teacher Ji so concerned about her?¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t just concern, it is attentiveness.¡±


    ¡°Could she be some financier?¡±


    Such things weren¡¯t uncommon in the entertainment industry.


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t talk recklessly, be careful of being sued for defamation and infringement of reputation,¡± the agent suddenly appeared behind them, smiling amiably.


    The few staff members got a fright, apologized repeatedly, and then scattered.


    Just thinking that Lin Xu was still waiting on set, Ji Zeqiu became especially proactive in his shooting, thinking about finishing today¡¯s filming quickly and then having a meal with his mother, and maybe a stroll after dinner.


    Oh, right.


    There seems to be a cinema nearby too.


    Ji Zeqiu still remembered the matter of watching a movie.


    What good movies have been released recently?


    Which one should they watch tonight?


    While the director was discussing the script, Ji Zeqiu had already scheduled his date with his mother in his mind.


    In the upcoming solo scenes, he completed them all in one go, earning praise from the director throughout.


    Whenever the director praised him, Ji Zeqiu would stealthily glance towards Lin Xu.


    Would mother also be very happy, feeling proud?


    When he caught the smile that Lin Xu sent his way, he felt elated.


    He felt as buoyant as a child who is praised by a teacher in front of his parents.


    Before the next scene was about to start, Ji Zeqiu glanced towards Lin Xu, suddenly freezing.


    He saw a man standing beside Lin Xu, his bright eyes staring straight at her, mumbling under his breath, not knowing what he was saying.


    His eyes narrowed slightly as he looked carefully and realized that the man was Zhou Hongwen.


    What was he saying to his mother?


    Why did his mother seem so happy?


    Ji Zeqiu suddenly felt an indescribable discomfort surge in his heart, with a sour tide churning in his chest, and his complexion darkened.


    Zhou Hongwen also had a shoot today and had arrived at the set early to wait.


    He glanced at Ji Zeqiu, who was in the middle of filming, and a hint of disdain flashed in his eyes.


    Those who attract fans with their looks, what skills could they have?


    People nowadays are just too superficial.


    He snorted coldly and looked away.


    But his gaze suddenly intruded upon a delicate and clear cheek, abruptly capturing his attention.


    Zhou Hongwen suddenly stood stunned, for a moment, it seemed as if the whole world had stopped, leaving only his throbbing heart, beating incessantly, along with her stunning, charming figure.


    Blushing, he walked up to the woman, his voice trembling a bit with nervousness, ¡°Hello, you.¡±


    ¡°Hello.¡± Someone greeted her, and Lin Xu responded with a greeting and a slight smile.


    Her smile was sweet, blooming like a fresh flower, captivating and bringing ease to both mind and body.


    Zhou Hongwen¡¯s heart skipped a beat, feeling his face heat up, his cheeks surely flushed red, ¡°Are you a staff member here, or a newly debuted artist? I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve seen you before.¡±


    ¡°Neither, I¡¯m here to watch a family member film,¡± Lin Xu said.


    ¡°Oh? Who is it? I can ask the director to take special care of them, perhaps even add a few more scenes,¡± Zhou Hongwen stammered.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Lin Xu just smiled and did not reply.


    Zhou Hongwen felt a bit uneasy, hesitating for a while before finally gathering the courage, ¡°Can, can I add you on a contact method?¡±


    ¡°You can not!¡±


    Surprise flashed in Lin Xu¡¯s eyes, and before she could speak, a firm voice came from behind him.


    Ji Zeqiu rushed over with hurried steps, his expression panicked as he pulled Lin Xu behind him.


    His gaze was cold and merciless, like the sharp edge of a knife gleaming with chill light, as if he was ready to dissect Zhou Hongwen¡¯s body, sinister and terrifying, ¡°Don¡¯t project your filthy thoughts onto her!¡±


    There were too many sleazy things in the entertainment industry, and he would not let those people touch his mother.


    The flush on Zhou Hongwen¡¯s cheeks faded, and he straightened his expression, ¡°I didn¡¯t have those thoughts, I just wanted to make friends with her.¡±


    ¡°Making friends is not allowed either!¡± Ji Zeqiu said dominantly, ¡°She is mine!¡±


    Zhou Hongwen was stunned for a moment, looking at their clasped hands and Lin Xu¡¯s complete trust displayed towards him, he seemed to understand something, his eyes filled with loss.


    So she had a boyfriend.


    ¡°Sorry for the interruption,¡± Zhou Hongwen¡¯s gaze dimmed slightly, the corners of his mouth drooping a little.


    Only after seeing him walk away did Ji Zeqiu¡¯s tense body finally relax, turning to Lin Xu with a hint of grievance in his dark eyes.


    Why did his mother have to talk to Zhou Hongwen?


    Could his mother possibly like Zhou Hongwen?


    The more Ji Zeqiu thought, the more uneasy he felt.


    Lin Xu innocently blinked, ¡°He came over on his own.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t like him!¡±


    ¡°He is not my son, why would I like him?¡± Lin Xu laughed.


    Upon hearing this, Ji Zeqiu finally showed a hint of happiness and excitement in his eyes, then quickly added, ¡°Ji Tingyang can¡¯t like him either, you can only like me!¡±

 Chapter 97 - Chapter 97: Chapter 97: Top Artist Ji Zeqius Financial Backer Exposed

    Chapter 97: Chapter 97: Top Artist Ji Zeqiu¡¯s Financial Backer Exposed


    Ever since that hurried glimpse of his sister¡¯s back on New Year¡¯s Eve, Lin Xu had not had the chance to see her again, and his longing lingered endlessly in his heart.


    ¡°Ting Yang, can you give Lanyue a call and ask when she¡¯s free to come home for a meal?¡±


    Lin Xu looked at Ji Tingyang with pleading eyes.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s lips were tightly pursed, a twinge of discomfort rising from the depths of his heart as he rested his head on Lin Xu¡¯s shoulder, remaining silent.


    He found himself missing the days just after their mother had returned, when she only had him in her heart and would even make him scallion pancakes at night.


    But now there was Ji Zeqiu as well.


    This guy was always competing with him for their mother¡¯s attention.


    Recently, his mother had even gone to the film set to keep him company.


    Ji Zeqiu had even sent him a bunch of photos of him and their mother together.


    When Ji Tingyang thought about this, it felt as if his heart was being entwined by sour vines, constricting and impossible to free himself from the anger and bitterness within him.


    If another sister were to return, surely his mother would forget about him. At that time, where would he stand in her heart?


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s spine became rigid, and his hand holding Lin Xu tightened slightly, his dark, inky eyes brimming with a trace of restlessness and chill.


    Once again, the thought of keeping his mother all to himself crept into his mind.


    Noticing his distress, Lin Xu quickly soothed his back, coaxing in a soft voice, ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay, if you don¡¯t want to contact her, we won¡¯t do it for now.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve always been Mom¡¯s favorite son, you know. Don¡¯t think too much, okay?¡±


    ¡°Mhm,¡± Ji Tingyang uttered a muffled sound. The soothing fragrance from Lin Xu¡¯s body calmed his agitation gradually.


    Only after his mood had settled did he speak, ¡°I can¡¯t get in touch with her.¡±


    Lin Xu paused for a moment before realizing that ¡®her¡¯ referred to Lanyue.


    ¡°She blocked me on WeChat, and she¡¯s not answering my calls either,¡± Ji Tingyang said.


    Ever since he had stopped her bank card the last time, she had blocked him.


    And now she wasn¡¯t even willing to answer his calls.


    She clearly didn¡¯t have much money on her, yet she had stubbornly endured until now without coming to him in tears, probably because she had gone to Ji Zeqiu for money instead.


    ¡°Why would she block you?¡± Lin Xu asked.


    Ji Tingyang hesitated, a look of reluctance appearing on his face, as if he didn¡¯t really want to talk about it.


    If their mother found out it was because he had stopped his sister¡¯s bank card, would she have a bad impression of him?


    Would she think he was the bad brother who made his sister wander outside?


    Ji Tingyang suddenly became nervous and quickly changed the subject.


    ¡°I just remembered I have a project document I haven¡¯t looked at; I¡¯m going to the study,¡± he said abruptly as he stood up.


    Lin Xu watched his hurried retreat, puzzled.


    Just a second ago, he had been holding her, saying he didn¡¯t want to work overtime and wanted to watch TV series with her in the living room. How had he shifted back to wanting to work overtime so rapidly?


    She shook her head, not understanding, and turned her attention back to the TV.


    After a while, her phone ¡°ding donged,¡± signaling the arrival of a message.


    Lin Xu picked up her phone to find a message from Ji Yuqiao.


    Raining Qiao:[After two months of relentless hard work, I finally won the math competition at our school! All the internet curfews I endured have paid off!]


    Raining Qiao:[Photo.jpg]


    Attached was a photo of the award certificate.


    Raining Qiao:[You didn¡¯t see his shocked face when I went up on stage to receive the award with him; he looked at me more times today than he has in the past few years combined!]


    Raining Qiao:[TriumphantCat.jpg]


    Seeing the emoticon of the triumphant little cat, Lin Xu could almost see Ji Yuqiao¡¯s proud expression, head tilted up, willful and radiant.


    She smiled lightly and replied.


    Willow Wadding: ¡°You haven¡¯t forgotten what I told you afterwards, have you?¡±


    Raining Qiao: ¡°Of course not!¡±


    Ji Yuqiao hung her head, excitedly texting Lin Xu.


    Xiao Yu glanced at her with an indescribably subtle expression.


    It was hard to imagine that someone who was cramming for re-examinations due to failing grades last semester could, within just two months, actually secure the second place in the school competition.


    ¡°Xiao Yu, look, she won a competition award for you. Why don¡¯t you just give in to her, huh? Hahaha¡­¡±


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s fervent pursuit of Xiao Yu over the past few years had made her a well-known name amongst his classmates.


    It was just a pity that Xiao Yu had already had someone in his heart and had rejected her in all sorts of ways.


    Many people had secretly wagered on whether it would be Ji Yuqiao who gave up the chase first, or Xiao Yu who would be moved by her persistence.


    Hearing the teasing from his classmates, Xiao Yu¡¯s face grew colder as his eyebrows drew together in irritation.


    He stepped forward, ¡°Student Ji.¡±


    This was the first time he had initiated a conversation with Ji Yuqiao.


    Ji Yuqiao, busy and flustered, looked up from her phone, sparing him a glance, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    Unlike her eyes which usually brimmed with joy when looking at him, her gaze now held only indifference.


    Xiao Yu paused for a moment.


    The words he had intended her to stop pestering him got stuck in his throat, unable to come out.


    After a moment¡¯s hesitation, he regained his composure and said something different, ¡°The teacher asked us to go to his office.¡±


    The teacher had called them to his office for a meeting after the award ceremony had concluded.


    He had already told the other students about this but had always avoided telling Ji Yuqiao.


    Just because he didn¡¯t want to deal with her.


    In the end, it was still him who ended up informing her.


    ¡°Oh, I know,¡± Ji Yuqiao replied expressionlessly, her voice indifferent.


    She tucked her phone back into her pocket, with a haughty expression on her face, and followed behind Xiao Yu and the other students to the office.


    Xiao Yu was walking ahead when a student beside him gave him a nudge.


    ¡°Hey, Ji Yuqiao is being so indifferent to you today. You think she has given up on you?¡±


    Xiao Yu said indifferently, ¡°That would be for the best.¡±


    ¡°Tsk,¡± the classmate sighed. ¡°I think Ji Yuqiao is quite good-looking, and she¡¯s way richer than Wen Li. I really don¡¯t understand why you would ignore a white, rich beauty and stick with a Wen Li.¡±


    Xiao Yu frowned.


    He and Ji Yuqiao were simply not from the same world.


    Just keeping up with work and studies was already keeping him busy enough; he didn¡¯t have time to play around with a lady like her.


    Moreover, feelings were never something that could be measured with money.


    In silence, they had arrived at the teacher¡¯s office.


    Students who had performed well in the school competition could sign up for the city-level contest, which would then lead to the provincial level and finally the national level.


    The teacher expressed his hope that during the period leading up to the competition, they could help each other, make progress together, and aim to win a few more awards for the school.


    The teacher could talk about grand principles non-stop for an hour without repeating himself.


    By the time everyone left, their bodies and minds were filled with exhaustion.


    Ji Yuqiao took out her mobile phone, intending to complain to Lin Xu about their teacher, but instead, her attention was captured by an entertainment news alert that popped up.


    #Shocking! Celebrity Ji Zeqiu¡¯s behind-the-scenes financial backer exposed!#

 Chapter 98 - Chapter 98: Chapter 98 If Her Mother is Lin Xu

    Chapter 98: Chapter 98 If Her Mother is Lin Xu


    That day.


    Hot searches on Weibo exploded.


    #Top Artist Ji Zeqiu¡¯s Love Affair Exposed#


    #Shocking! Ji Zeqiu¡¯s Financial Backer Revealed#


    #Financial Backer or Girlfriend?#


    Looking at the hot searches, almost all of them were about Ji Zeqiu¡¯s gossip news, and even photos of the two together were released.


    However, the woman¡¯s face in the photo was blocked, and nothing was visible, leading everyone to speculate about who this woman might be.


    Even various marketing accounts concocted elaborate stories.


    Some claimed she was a female university student, accompanied by a photo of Ji Zeqiu meeting a girl at a university entrance.


    Others said she was a wealthy beauty, showing a woman taking Ji Zeqiu shopping for clothes and paying with her card.


    Some even posted Ji Zeqiu accompanying a woman to the hospital, carefully supporting her throughout and released the photo.


    ¡°The woman is suspected to be pregnant; Ji Zeqiu was very careful, going with her to the hospital for a pregnancy check-up.¡±


    Rumors of all sorts started circulating online.


    Ji Yuqiao scrolled through the screen, and the more she read those ridiculous posts, the more sullen her expression became, her brow furrowing deeply.


    Although she hated how Ji Zeqiu constantly pursued Wen Li, seeing those posts slandering him still made her feel uncomfortable.


    Before they had reclaimed their parents¡¯ estate, all three siblings had been poor, but whenever her second brother had something tasty, he would always save it for her and never made her do any chores.


    Apart from his liking of someone she despised, Ji Zeqiu was perfect in her eyes.


    Just as Ji Yuqiao was about to explode with anger, Ji Zeqiu finally responded.


    ¡°The woman in the photo is my sister, meeting at the university entrance because she studies there, and the girl in the other photos is also her. She is not kept, nor is she pregnant¡­¡±


    Ji Zeqiu posted a long explanation online, and together with his manager handling PR, they hired some online commentators and sent out legal warning letters to the marketing accounts demanding they delete their posts, which greatly decreased the rumors.


    ¡°Can these unscrupulous marketing accounts just disappear? Any fan knows about Ji Zeqiu¡¯s difficult early days in his career when he was being suppressed by capital and couldn¡¯t get a script for months. If he had a financial backer, he would¡¯ve been successful long ago and wouldn¡¯t have needed to suffer like this!¡±


    ¡°Exactly! Just because someone goes to the hospital, does it mean they are pregnant? Can¡¯t they just have a cold or fever?¡±


    The fans knew Ji Zeqiu had a sister who was well protected, and they came out to condemn the marketing accounts, finally suppressing the negative news.


    This incident was somewhat resolved.


    Ji Yuqiao breathed a sigh of relief, but seeing herself used as a shield in the announcement, she couldn¡¯t help but pout in dissatisfaction.


    She then made a call to Ji Zeqiu.


    ¡°Ji Zeqiu! You got caught being careless, and now you want to use me as a shield for Wen Li? Transfer me one hundred thousand, no, two hundred thousand as hush money right now, or I¡¯ll tell the media!¡± As soon as the call connected, Ji Yuqiao began complaining, ¡°After all these years, why do you still like that Wen Li? I just don¡¯t get what you and big brother like about her.¡±


    Her complaints were full of resentment.


    ¡°And why have you liked Xiao Yu for all these years? I don¡¯t understand what you see in him either,¡± Ji Zeqiu said.


    ¡°That¡¯s different, he¡¯s actually a good person! If you let go of your prejudices and observe him carefully, you¡¯d see that he has many good qualities, like¡­¡±


    Just as Ji Yuqiao was about to launch into a lengthy speech, Ji Zeqiu interrupted her.


    Just as Ji Yuqiao hated Wen Li, Ji Zeqiu despised Xiao Yu.


    He had no interest in listening to her recommend another man.


    ¡°That woman wasn¡¯t Wen Li.¡±


    Upon hearing his words, Ji Yuqiao froze for a moment before realizing he was referring to the woman in the news, not Wen Li.


    ¡°You¡¯ve finally seen the light!¡± she exclaimed excitedly, her eyes twinkling with incredulous joy, ¡°So who is that woman in the news?¡±


    ¡°Who really has such charm to make you give up on Wen Li?!¡±


    She even wanted to present a banner to that woman, thanking her for saving her stubborn second brother.


    Upon hearing her question, Ji Zeqiu tapped his fingertips back and forth on the tabletop. His thin lips parted slightly, quickly closed again, and his furrowed brow appeared very conflicted.


    ¡°Brother?¡± After a long silence without hearing his voice, Ji Yuqiao was somewhat puzzled.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Ji Zeqiu hesitated for a moment but still asked, ¡°Over the years, have you ever thought about mother?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Ji Yuqiao did not understand how the topic had suddenly shifted.


    ¡°If mother were to return, would you be happy? Or say¡­ if you had mother¡¯s company now, would you be happier?¡±


    ¡°Not really, I have you and elder brother, and that¡¯s enough,¡± Ji Yuqiao said.


    To her, the mother was a dispensable role.


    She was not like Ting Yang and Ji Zeqiu who had never even seen their mother, thus she lacked any fixation on her.


    As a child, she had indeed been curious about her parents and had asked them about their parents, but children are forgetful, and she would forget everything by the next day.


    Ji Zeqiu fell silent.


    ¡°You¡¯re not trying to find me a mother, are you?¡± Ji Yuqiao became wary and quickly rejected the idea firmly, ¡°I don¡¯t want one!¡±


    She had indeed wanted a mother as a child.


    Because in kindergarten, her classmates were always picked up by their parents, while she was picked up by her two brothers.


    For a while, she envied others and tearfully told them she also wanted her mother to take her to school.


    They wore bitter expressions but had no choice but to soothe her patiently.


    Looking back now, they must have been hurt inside as well.


    Later, as she grew older and understood some things, she never mentioned wanting parents in front of them again.


    Now she was twenty-two, long past the age of wanting a mother.


    In Ji Yuqiao¡¯s current perception, parents liked to control their children.


    Not only did they control their friendships, studies, and love lives, but there was also a deep generational gap.


    Every day, she could hear her dorm mates complain about their parents interfering in their lives under the guise of ¡°it¡¯s for your own good.¡±


    Getting a mother to control her?


    Ji Yuqiao only felt terrified and firmly shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t want, I don¡¯t want, I don¡¯t want! Not to mention, she had already passed away, even if she could really come back, I still wouldn¡¯t want her!¡±


    She felt that having the mother exist in her beautiful fantasies was enough.


    ¡°¡­Alright,¡± Ji Zeqiu gave up.


    Upon hearing Ji Yuqiao¡¯s frantic refusal, he decided not to bring up the matter again.


    They hung up the phone.


    Ji Yuqiao patted her chest as if she had survived a disaster.


    In Weibo messages, it was Lin Xu who sent the messages.


    [Not only in universities, but even kindergarten teachers can talk for hours in meetings!]


    [Frustrated.jpg]


    [That¡¯s why when I used to attend my son¡¯s parent-teacher meetings, I liked to pretend to be sick and take a leave.]


    [If you also dislike it, next time I can help you pretend to be a parent taking leave.]


    Ji Yuqiao chuckled softly.


    If her mother were Lin Xu, she might not be so opposed to it after all.

 Chapter 99 - Chapter 99: Chapter 99 Whats Wrong with Him Liking Lin Xu?

    Chapter 99: Chapter 99 What¡¯s Wrong with Him Liking Lin Xu?


    At first, Lin Xu was exposed due to Ji Zeqiu¡¯s involvement, and almost had her personal information human-flesh searched by paparazzi and his fans.


    While Ji Zeqiu¡¯s PR team was handling the situation, Ji Tingyang was also working behind the scenes, contacting those marketing accounts to delete posts.


    It wasn¡¯t long before the matter was suppressed.


    Although the issue was resolved, there were still some paparazzi who refused to give up. They continued to delve deeper, investigating Lin Xu¡¯s information.


    But Ji Tingyang had already discovered those paparazzi and had his secretary pressure their company to stop investigating the matter.


    ¡°Ji Zeqiu, when you¡¯re gallivanting around the world with her, could you at least be a little more cautious! Not every incident can be resolved as smoothly as this time!¡±


    Ji Tingyang attended his friend¡¯s banquet and his face turned cold when he discovered that Ji Zeqiu was also invited.


    When Ji Zeqiu approached, Ji Tingyang immediately shielded Lin Xu behind him, not allowing him to get close.


    His gaze was sharp as he shot it toward him, coldly reprimanding him.


    Ji Zeqiu looked at Lin Xu, a flash of regret in his eyes, ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±


    He clenched the hand by his side, a sour and uneasy emotion surged in his chest, making it uncomfortable to breathe.


    Would Mother dislike him?


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, look, I¡¯m still fine now, aren¡¯t I?¡± Lin Xu comforted him with a slight smile, ¡°It¡¯s also my fault for not noticing someone taking photos and still taking you out shopping.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not¡­¡± Ji Zeqiu looked down, murmuring softly.


    It wasn¡¯t Mother¡¯s fault.


    His chest felt as if it was being pressed by a heavy stone, making it hard for him to breathe.


    He wanted to lean on Mother¡¯s shoulder for comfort but there were too many people at the party. It was too risky to make contact with Lin Xu.


    He just came over to take a brief look at Lin Xu and then reluctantly left.


    He returned to his agent¡¯s side and took a sip of drinks in silence.


    ¡°To be honest, did you offend someone?¡± Even the agent was puzzled.


    With that disguise of his, if it wasn¡¯t for someone familiar, it would be impossible to recognize him.


    Yet he still got so many photos taken and released at the same time.


    Besides this idea, he really couldn¡¯t think of any other reason.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Ji Zeqiu¡¯s voice was muffled, clearly in low spirits, ¡°Go check the source of the photos with the new media company.¡±


    As he said this, he glanced again in Lin Xu¡¯s direction. Seeing her laughing and speaking with Ji Tingyang, he felt even more downhearted.


    He too wanted to stand by Mother¡¯s side.


    ¡°We¡¯re already on it,¡± the agent said.


    The banquet, thrown by high society bachelors, had invited many famous artists to boost the event¡¯s profile.


    After coming back from the restroom, Lin Xu bumped into Zhou Hongwen again, and surprise flickered in her eyes.


    Zhou Hongwen¡¯s eyes lit up suddenly, he hurried over, and greeted her with flushed cheeks, ¡°Hello! I didn¡¯t expect to see you here by such a coincidence.¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡± Lin Xu smiled.


    ¡°Are you, are you here with Ji Zeqiu today too?¡± Faced with her, Zhou Hongwen was so nervous he stuttered.


    Previously on the set, when he saw her so close to Ji Zeqiu, he thought they were a couple.


    After that, he had been disheartened for a while.


    Until later, when he saw Ji Zeqiu¡¯s trending topic.


    Although the woman in the photo¡¯s face was not clear, Zhou Hongwen still recognized at a glance that the woman was Lin Xu, after all, she was so dazzlingly beautiful¡­


    When he saw Ji Zeqiu¡¯s clarification, he felt as though the world suddenly brightened.


    Ji Zeqiu said that was his sister.


    They were not a couple.


    He suddenly felt his hopes rise again, and after seeing Lin Xu, he couldn¡¯t wait to come over and greet her.


    ¡°I, I¡¯m Zhou Hongwen.¡± They had parted in a rush last time, and he hadn¡¯t greeted her yet.


    ¡°I know.¡± Lin Xu smiled.


    Zhou Hongwen was struck by her smile, and his heart suddenly skipped a beat, uncontrollably picking up its pace.


    He had only recently started his career, and his sole notable work was a small web series, leaving him relatively unknown among the multitude of celebrities.


    But she actually recognized him!


    She actually followed him!


    Realizing this, Zhou Hongwen felt his cheeks grow hot and spread to his ears, even his ears turned red.


    His voice suddenly became a stutter, ¡°I, I didn¡¯t expect, you actually recognize me.¡±


    ¡°I heard Zeqiu mention it. He said, you think he¡¯s made it to the top purely based on his looks and fan traffic, and you also deeply lamented the sadness of society today,¡± Lin Xu recalled what Ji Zeqiu had once told her.


    And he had said many bad things about Zhou Hongwen, fervently warning her not to become a fan of his.


    Thinking back on it, it was somewhat amusing.


    ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Hongwen¡¯s flush rapidly faded, his complexion turning pale and unsightly.


    ¡°I, I¡­ I wasn¡¯t talking about him¡­¡±


    Zhou Hongwen tried to explain, but Lin Xu¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up and she left him with a ¡°I¡¯m going to find a friend¡± before hurriedly departing.


    ¡°Wait¡­¡± He frantically followed after her.


    But he hadn¡¯t gone two steps before someone grabbed his arm.


    He turned around to see Ji Zeqiu with a frightening, thundercloud-like grim expression, blocking his way.


    ¡°I¡¯ve warned you before, don¡¯t you dare have designs on her!¡±


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s grip on his arm tightened, his eyes sharp as blades as if he wanted to slice up the man coveting his mother into a thousand pieces.


    ¡°I told you, I just want to be friends with her,¡± Zhou Hongwen said, eyes drifting, sounding somewhat guilty.


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t need friends,¡± Ji Zeqiu said sharply.


    ¡°You¡¯re not her, how do you know what she needs?¡± Zhou Hongwen retorted.


    ¡°You!¡±


    Just as Ji Zeqiu was about to explode in anger, his manager called him over to chat with some producers.


    He hesitated for a moment.


    If he let go of Zhou Hongwen, the latter would definitely go and harass his mother again.


    Ji Zeqiu was conflicted for a few seconds.


    Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of Ji Tingyang in his sight and blurted out, ¡°Ji Tingyang!¡±


    Ji Tingyang turned around and saw him, his eyebrows slightly raised, showing no intention of coming over.


    ¡°Come over here and watch him, don¡¯t let him run off,¡± Ji Zeqiu said.


    ¡°Why should I help you?¡± Ji Tingyang replied indifferently.


    Ji Zeqiu clenched his teeth, whispering, ¡°He wants to pursue Lin Xu.¡±


    In the presence of so many people, it wasn¡¯t appropriate for Ji Zeqiu to address his mother directly.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s gaze suddenly turned icy cold, staring menacingly at Zhou Hongwen. The atmosphere around him carried a chilling, cutting edge, pressing down on Zhou Hongwen overwhelmingly.


    The reluctant Ji Tingyang promptly walked over.


    ¡°You like Lin Xu?¡±


    He fixed Zhou Hongwen with a stare, his dark eyes swirling with a bleak darkness, brimming with murderous intent.


    This man actually dared to like his mother?!


    He wanted to take his mother away from him?!


    At that thought, Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression became even more terrifying.


    Zhou Hongwen, scared stiff, felt his legs go weak, and his heart also trembled.


    What was wrong with him liking Lin Xu?


    Why were Ji Zeqiu and this man more frightening than the other, as if he had committed some unforgivable crime?

 Chapter 100 - Chapter 100: Chapter 100 She is Ji Tingyangs Person

    Chapter 100: Chapter 100 She is Ji Tingyang¡¯s Person


    ¡°Young Master Xie, do you have any plans after the party ends? Why not join us and head to the club for some fun?¡± The woman brushed her sexy, beautiful curls back over her shoulder, her eyes brimming with seductive ripples as she looked at him.


    Xie Changyan lowered his gaze, swirled the glass in his hand, and a slight smile hooked at the corner of his lips, ¡°Young Master Su has invited me to the racetrack, care to join us?¡±


    The woman¡¯s smile stiffened slightly, and her voice trembled with a hint of fear, ¡°No¡­ no, thank you.¡±


    She had been to the racetrack once before with Young Master Su.


    At that time, she was sitting in the passenger seat. The countdown had just ended, and before she could even react, the racing car took off like a bolt of lightning, streaking across the sky.


    At every turn, it felt as if she would be thrown out of the car. Her face turned pale, and she gripped the car handles in terror throughout the ride, ending up embarrassingly sick to her stomach as soon as she got out of the car.


    For the following month, she was so scared that she dared not even ride in her family¡¯s car.


    Now, just hearing the words ¡®racetrack¡¯ made her legs go weak, as she hurriedly ducked aside.


    The other women clustered around them were no exception, swiftly clearing several meters of space.


    ¡°Every time someone tries to hit on you, you use racing as an excuse,¡± Su Linzhou said with a grin as he walked over, ¡°After all these years, you¡¯ve never taken a liking to any woman. Your family¡¯s patriarch must be worried sick, right?¡±


    Xie Changyan¡¯s narrow eyes swept over him, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯s been anxious for two years now, but he¡¯s still living just fine.¡±


    ¡°But seriously, tell me in secret¡­¡± Su Linzhou¡¯s face took on a mysterious air as he lowered his voice, ¡°You couldn¡¯t possibly dislike women, could you?!¡±


    Xie Changyan lifted his eyes, his gaze drifting lightly toward him.


    A chill lingered in the depths of his pupils.


    Su Linzhou immediately shivered, jokingly saying, ¡°Just kidding, just kidding¡­¡±


    He let out a couple of awkward laughs, his eyes wandering around.


    When he caught sight of a certain figure at the banquet, he froze in place, murmuring to himself, ¡°I don¡¯t know what kind of woman you like, but I now know what kind of woman I like.¡±


    Su Linzhou watched as the dazzling figure drew closer, and his heart skipped a beat.


    Then he heard the sweet, delightful voice of the woman.


    ¡°Xie Changyan?¡±


    His heart broke; he hadn¡¯t expected her to be coming for his brother.


    From the moment she appeared, Xie Changyan¡¯s peripheral vision had been keeping track of her, though he hadn¡¯t expected her to approach him.


    He pressed his lips together, his greeting sounding casual, ¡°Miss Lin, what a coincidence.¡±


    Lin Xu¡¯s eyes curved, sparkling with ripples, ¡°Such a coincidence indeed.¡±


    From a distance, she felt the figure seemed familiar, so after hurriedly bidding farewell to Zhou Hongwen, she came over.


    She hadn¡¯t expected it to be him.


    Their last encounter was too brief; she hadn¡¯t managed to ask much before Xie Changyan had to leave.


    The messages she sent afterward vanished without a trace.


    Now that she had finally seen him again, Lin Xu decided to seize this opportunity to ask him many things.


    Just as she was about to speak, her eyes caught sight of the glass in his hand, a flicker of joy passing through her gaze, ¡°You also like drinking rum?¡±


    ¡°Also?¡±


    Xie Changyan raised an eyebrow but before he could respond, he heard her continue with an unending stream of questions.


    ¡°What else do you like to drink? What do you do when you¡¯re bored¡­¡±


    Her endless inquiries unfolded, and Xie Changyan watched her pair of lips moving up and down, suddenly recalling the fleeting kiss on New Year¡¯s Eve, with his deep brown eyes growing more profound.


    ¡°Are you listening?¡±


    After asking many questions and not getting a response for a long time, Lin Xu felt a bit perplexed.


    Su Linzhou smiled, ¡°Miss Lin, if you¡¯re thinking of chasing him, don¡¯t bother¡ªhe¡¯s not interested in women.¡±


    ¡°But I¡¯m different, if you ask me, I¡¯ll tell you everything, including my measurements~¡±


    No sooner had he finished speaking than his shin was kicked hard.


    Su Linzhou clutched his shin and jumped up in pain, hissing, ¡°Xie Changyan, are you sick!¡±


    ¡°Just ignore him.¡±


    Tonight, Xie Changyan finally spoke, addressing her with his second sentence of the evening.


    Suddenly, Lin Xu¡¯s lips curled into a smile.


    She remembered when she first saw Ji Yanli, surrounded by a few nonchalant boys, and he had kicked them away just like that, with an air of nonchalance.


    The boys, furious, had quieted down and scurried away in fear after seeing him.


    As if finding something in common, Lin Xu¡¯s eyes shone even brighter, gleaming like stars, ¡°Another question, why do you never reply to my messages?¡±


    Xie Changyan seemed scorched by the gleam in her eyes, his gaze flickering before he looked away.


    He didn¡¯t know how to answer.


    Su Linzhou recovered from his pain and realized that the two of them had already connected on WeChat.


    ¡°Miss Lin, you keep asking about him, do you like him?¡± Su Linzhou asked, all smiles.


    Hearing his question, Lin Xu was suddenly at a loss for words.


    How should she respond?


    Should she say she was just trying to confirm if he was the man she liked?


    As she hesitated, Xie Changyan¡¯s usually indifferent expression grew serious, his polite smile fading as he shot Su Linzhou a look, ¡°Will you die if you don¡¯t talk?¡±


    Su Linzhou chuckled, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Lin Xu was still struggling with the previous question when she suddenly saw Ji Tingyang frantically searching for someone in the crowd, her expression turning tense at once.


    She remembered Ji Tingyang telling her to stay away from Xie Changyan.


    If he found her here, God knows she would get another earful from him.


    ¡°I just remembered I have something to do, I should go.¡± Lin Xu turned and hurried away.


    ¡°Where is she going?¡± Su Linzhou looked puzzled, ¡°She wasn¡¯t scared off by your cold demeanor, was she?¡±


    Xie Changyan stayed silent, watching Lin Xu¡¯s retreating figure.


    He saw her run up to Ji Tingyang and say something, causing Ji Tingyang to sigh in relief.


    Ji Tingyang looked up, about to glance over, but was hastily dragged away by Lin Xu the next moment.


    ¡°Why would she be with Ji Tingyang?¡± Su Linzhou was astonished.


    Although the Su Family and Ji¡¯s had collaborated a few times and weren¡¯t closely acquainted, Su Linzhou knew Ji Tingyang was fierce in business and not someone to be trifled with.


    Seeing them together and seemingly close, he was shocked.


    Xie Changyan furrowed his brow, downing the glass of wine in his hand, ¡°She¡¯s Ji Tingyang¡¯s person.¡±


    Su Linzhou was dumbfounded, and after a long moment, he turned and patted Xie Changyan on the shoulder, speaking earnestly, ¡°Brother, you should give up on a woman who¡¯s already taken, stop liking her.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Xie Changyan frowned.


    ¡°If you didn¡¯t like her, why did you kick me when I was flirting with her just now?¡± After being friends for more than a decade, Su Linzhou saw right through him.


    Xie Changyan: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Take my advice, brother, you should give up.¡±

 Chapter 101 - Chapter 101: Chapter 101: My Friend is Still Your Fan

    Chapter 101: Chapter 101: My Friend is Still Your Fan


    After the banquet ended.


    Xie Changyan got into Su Linzhou¡¯s car, heading to the racetrack.


    Along the way, his phone kept buzzing with messages.


    Xie Changyan leaned languidly against the seat, with his shirt collar slightly open and a hint of alcohol on him, the breeze coming through the car window ruffled his hair, giving him an air of casual charm.


    Whenever a message came through, he would glance at it but never replied, his fingertips tapping lightly on the car window as he looked outside, seemingly lost in thought.


    ¡°Who keeps sending them, so persistent?¡± Su Linzhou asked.


    Xie Changyan remained silent.


    Driven by curiosity, Su Linzhou took a quick peek at Xie Changyan¡¯s phone screen when he checked it once more.


    With a swift move, Xie Changyan locked the screen, his eyes shot a cold glance at him.


    That nervous?


    Suddenly realizing something, Su Linzhou shuddered, ¡°The person texting you can¡¯t be Lin Xu, can it?¡±


    Other than her, Su Linzhou couldn¡¯t think of anyone else Xie Changyan would allow to incessantly send him messages.


    If he didn¡¯t want to deal, he would¡¯ve blacklisted them already.


    ¡°What¡¯s she constantly texting you for? She can¡¯t really like you, can she? Isn¡¯t she Ji Tingyang¡¯s girlfriend?¡± Su Linzhou wondered.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Xie Changyan¡¯s voice was quiet.


    What he didn¡¯t say was that she might be more than just a girlfriend.


    The first time he met her at the company¡¯s entrance, she had said she was married.


    Perhaps¡­


    Xie Changyan felt a wave of irritation and hastily closed his eyes, no longer looking at the phone.


    ¡°She is quite pretty; I was a bit smitten myself.¡±


    ¡°I was about to say, if you like her, I¡¯d step aside for you, brother. After all, you¡¯ve been single since birth for thirty years. But to my surprise, she already has a boyfriend; looks like your first crush is going to be hurt,¡± Su Linzhou continued rambling while driving, without taking his eyes off the road, ¡°Better not try to steal someone else¡¯s girl, it¡¯s ungentlemanly.¡±


    Xie Changyan rubbed his forehead irritably, ¡°Can you shut up?¡±


    ¡­


    Lin Xu sighed deeply as she stared at the chat page with no reply.


    ¡°Tell me, if someone constantly ignores your messages, does that mean they dislike you?¡±


    Ji Yuqiao thought for a moment, then nodded, ¡°Possibly!¡±


    After all, when she used to text Xiao Yu, he never replied to her either.


    But ever since she won the award and Teacher Ji organized a competition support group, Xiao Yu began sending her messages more and more frequently.


    Ji Yuqiao held her phone with pride swelling in her heart.


    Then she received another message from Xiao Yu:


    Xiao Yu: [Teacher Ji assigned us a set of papers, come pick it up when you have time.]


    Even though they were all about the competition, it was still a significant step forward.


    ¡°How should I reply to him?¡± Ji Yuqiao asked Lin Xu nervously.


    ¡°Just respond with ¡®Oh,¡¯ keep it cool,¡± Lin Xu suggested.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Ji Yuqiao replied as advised.


    Ever since Lin Xu started giving her advice, her relationship with Xiao Yu had made some progress.


    Xiao Yu used to be very busy, barely seeing her once a week; but now, in Teacher Ji¡¯s group, they could meet every day.


    She tried hard to play it cool every day, and Xiao Yu wasn¡¯t bothering her anymore, even urging her to leave.


    Out of gratitude, Ji Yuqiao, upon receiving the two hundred thousand hush money, excitedly insisted on treating Lin Xu to a big meal.


    Meanwhile, before the meal was even served, both of them sat together, fretting over text messages.


    After replying, Ji Yuqiao pocketed her phone and turned to see Lin Xu still staring at her own phone screen with a look of dismay.


    ¡°Weren¡¯t you really good at teaching me the strategies of playing hard to get, blowing hot and cold? Now it¡¯s your turn, and you can¡¯t even reply to a message?¡± Ji Yuqiao asked in confusion.


    Lin Xu chuckled awkwardly.


    It¡¯s like the saying goes, strategists can¡¯t fight the battle themselves.


    After all, it was always Ji Yanli who pursued her; she had never experienced such eagerness to send messages to someone else.


    ¡°Let me show you how!¡± Ji Yuqiao reached out for her phone.


    Willow Wadding: [What kind of books do you usually like to read?]


    Willow Wadding: [Do you drink tea?]


    Willow Wadding: [Do you prefer to drink Pu¡¯er or Oolong tea, or some other kind of tea?]


    She saw her chat page filled with dry topics.


    Ji Yuqiao: ¡°¡­What on earth are you sending?¡±


    The messages she sent were even stiffer than when she had fervently pursued Xiao Yu, making them completely uninviting for a chat.


    Lin Xu blinked her eyes.


    She just wanted to know if Xie Changyan¡¯s preferences matched those of her husband; she thought it was perfectly normal to ask.


    ¡°You can¡¯t do it like this!¡± Ji Yuqiao said earnestly.


    Lin Xu immediately sat up straight, looking at her seriously: ¡°Teacher Ji, please teach me.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao typed a message.


    [Why are you ignoring me? Didn¡¯t my mass messages reach you today?]


    Still no reply.


    Ji Yuqiao scratched her head and sent another one.


    [Darling, why aren¡¯t you replying to my messages? Are you trying to restrain your fondness for me?]


    At that moment.


    Su Linzhou, who was hanging out at the Xie¡¯s office, was wandering around with a cup of coffee in hand and saw Xie Changyan¡¯s phone screen light up on the desk. Curiously craning his neck to look, he couldn¡¯t help but spit out his coffee, spraying Xie Changyan¡¯s face.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s expression instantly darkened.


    ¡°Sorry, I just couldn¡¯t hold it in.¡± Su Linzhou immediately reached for a tissue and handed it to him, laughing as he explained, ¡°The message from Lin Xu is just too greasy, hahaha.¡±


    Xie Changyan picked up his phone and, seeing the message, his expression subtly changed.


    ¡°Ding dong.¡±


    The text message reply tone sounded.


    Ji Yuqiao and Lin Xu, who were standing by, opened their phones.


    Xie Changyan had replied.


    Xie: [.]


    ¡°Even though it¡¯s only a period, it¡¯s a good start, a qualitative leap!¡± Ji Yuqiao solemnly said to Lin Xu, ¡°Keep sending messages like this. He¡¯s responded to you once, and by tomorrow he could respond a second time.¡±


    Lin Xu hesitated, ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Trust me.¡± Ji Yuqiao affirmed confidently.


    ¡°Alright.¡± Lin Xu replied, half-convinced.


    As the two casually chatted, their lavish meal took two hours to finish.


    Just as Lin Xu was about to pay, Ji Yuqiao stopped her, ¡°I have money now, let me do it.¡±


    She took out her phone and scanned to make the payment.


    The number in her balance immediately halved.


    Ji Yuqiao, unruffled, leisurely sent a message to someone.


    Raining Qiao: [Send me another two hundred thousand as hush money.]


    In less than a minute, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s call came through.


    ¡°Ji Yuqiao! You¡¯ve blown through two hundred thousand in less than a week. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re spending money on Xiao Yu again!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve long since stopped spending money on him, I¡¯m just treating a friend to a meal,¡± Ji Yuqiao pouted.


    ¡°What friend?¡± Ji Zeqiu furrowed his brows, worried she might be getting scammed.


    Ji Yuqiao suddenly lit up, remembering something, ¡°Speaking of which, this friend of mine is actually your fan!¡±

 Chapter 102 - Chapter 102: Chapter 102: The First Person to Treat Me So Well Besides My Brother

    Chapter 102: Chapter 102: The First Person to Treat Me So Well Besides My Brother


    Lin Xu wasn¡¯t like those fanatic fans who would constantly talk about Ji Zeqiu, so when Ji Yuqiao spent time with her, she would unconsciously forget that Lin Xu was a fan of Ji Zeqiu.


    It wasn¡¯t until she received Ji Zeqiu¡¯s call that she remembered it.


    She recalled the photo on Lin Xu¡¯s phone screen with Ji Zeqiu, and Lin Xu even said she was a super fan.


    Ji Yuqiao felt like she shouldn¡¯t let her friend down, so she said to Ji Zeqiu, ¡°Why don¡¯t you send me an autographed photo, I¡¯ll give it to her.¡±


    A flicker of surprise crossed Ji Zeqiu¡¯s eyes. Previously, she would have disdainfully said that her classmates had no taste for being fans of someone so romantically obsessed.


    Not to mention asking her for an autograph, she would even act like a stranger in front of her classmates.


    And now, she was actually asking him for an autograph for a friend.


    ¡°This friend of yours¡­¡± Ji Zeqiu hesitated for a moment, ¡°Is it a guy or a girl?¡±


    He was worried it might be another Xiao Yu.


    ¡°A girl, of course!¡± Ji Yuqiao said helplessly, ¡°If you¡¯re not sure, next time you come to see me, I¡¯ll arrange for her to meet you.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao imagined the scene and thought that Lin Xu would definitely be extremely excited.


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it another time, I¡¯m still busy with work here, gotta hang up.¡± Ji Zeqiu¡¯s manager seemed to be rushing him, gave a few hurried instructions and then hung up.


    Looking at the disconnected call, Ji Yuqiao then remembered she had actually come to ask him for money.


    Just as she anxiously wondered whether to continue asking him for money, her bank account abruptly received a stingy deposit of two hundred thousand.


    ¡°That stinky older brother, can¡¯t he give me a bit more living money?¡± Ji Yuqiao grumbled discontentedly, ¡°He used to spend tens and hundreds of thousands on Wen Li, now when it comes to spending money on his sister, he¡¯s so stingy.¡±


    When Lin Xu came back from the restroom, Ji Yuqiao joyfully grabbed her arm, shook the phone balance at her, and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go buy some clothes!¡±


    She had been broke for several months, and the bags she had bought before were almost sold out.


    Although the pocket money Ji Zeqiu gave was nothing compared to the unlimited Black Card from Ting Yang, at least she finally had some spending money now!


    Ji Yuqiao, full of enthusiasm, pulled Lin Xu towards the shopping mall.


    Her eyes sparkled, her steps were lively, and her face, beaming with a radiant smile, was filled with energy, a stark contrast to her previous forlorn appearance at the bar.


    Just as Lin Xu caught up, her phone vibrated several times in her pocket.


    After entering a clothing store, Ji Yuqiao picked through the clothes on the racks, and after a while, she took a heap into the fitting room.


    Only then did Lin Xu take out her phone.


    In WeChat, it was Ji Zeqiu frantically sending money transfers.


    Only when he hit the transfer limit did he stop, quite discontentedly saying,


    Zeqiu: ¡°This transfer limit is way too low!¡±


    Zeqiu: ¡°Wait till tomorrow, I¡¯ll give you all the cards I have on me, buy whatever you want!¡±


    After giving his sister some pocket money, Ji Zeqiu realized that his mother hadn¡¯t spent any of his money for such a long time.


    In his haste, he made ten transfers in a row,


    As if he wanted to pass all his belongings to her.


    It was too exaggerated.


    Lin Xu hurriedly refused.


    Willow Wadding: ¡°There¡¯s no need to give me so much, just keep the money for yourself. Besides, I still have the card Ting Yang gave me, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    She still remembered that Ji Zeqiu himself was strapped for cash, having had to live in that small apartment before.


    If I give her all the money, won¡¯t I be left so poor that I can only eat dirt later on?


    Ji Zeqiu felt a bubble of happiness when he read the first part of the sentence, thinking that his mother was feeling pity for him. However, when he saw the second part of the sentence, he instantly reacted.


    Zeqiu: ¡°No! I can¡¯t use that bastard¡¯s money, I can only spend mine!¡±


    Zeqiu: ¡°I won¡¯t wait till tomorrow, I¡¯m going home tonight to give you the money!¡±


    Lin Xu tried to persuade him a few more times on WeChat, but she didn¡¯t see any more replies from him.


    Perhaps he got busy again.


    ¡°Lin Xu, do you think I look good in this?¡± Ji Yuqiao came out of the changing room.


    Lin Xu put away her phone and looked up.


    She saw Ji Yuqiao wearing a simple white dress, turning around in front of her with a face full of anticipation.


    The plain and simple clothing clashed with her flamboyant and headstrong character, making it look quite awkward.


    After thinking for a moment, Lin Xu picked out an orange dress for her, ¡°I think this dress suits you better.¡±


    ¡°Really? Then I¡¯ll try it.¡± Ji Yuqiao took the dress from Lin Xu¡¯s hand.


    A moment later, she came out of the changing room.


    The bright orange dress complemented her cheerful and flamboyant demeanor, as if infusing the beauty of the entire summer into it, radiating vitality.


    Ji Yuqiao turned several times in front of the mirror, seemingly very satisfied with this dress.


    ¡°Let¡¯s buy this one,¡± Lin Xu suggested.


    ¡°Okay¡­¡± Ji Yuqiao was about to agree when her voice suddenly halted, becoming tangled, ¡°Never mind, let¡¯s not.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Lin Xu didn¡¯t understand.


    She clearly liked the dress very much. Could it be a problem with the money?


    ¡°The girl he likes dresses simply and plainly; if I wear this, he¡¯ll definitely like me even less,¡± Ji Yuqiao said, feeling downcast.


    Lin Xu knew the ¡°he¡± she referred to was the boy Ji Yuqiao liked, but she was still somewhat puzzled, ¡°So if you wear the white dress, he will like you?¡±


    ¡°Probably, that girl dresses like this. I¡¯m sure I won¡¯t be wrong if I mimic her style,¡± Ji Yuqiao said.


    Since the day Lin Xu met Ji Yuqiao, she had seen her wearing plain and mismatched clothes. Lin Xu thought she just didn¡¯t know how to dress or perhaps just preferred that kind of attire.


    Now she realized Ji Yuqiao had always been imitating someone else.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to imitate anyone else; it will only cause you to lose yourself. Just be yourself,¡± Lin Xu said seriously as she looked into her eyes. ¡°Everyone has their own unique qualities, and the people who truly like you will be moved by your spark, not because you are someone¡¯s substitute. You know?¡±


    Ji Yuqiao shook her head, not fully understanding, ¡°I don¡¯t get it¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, you¡¯ll understand when you¡¯re a bit older,¡± Lin Xu said with a light laugh, reaching out to touch her head.


    Her palm was warm and gentle, and a warmth spread through Ji Yuqiao¡¯s chest, softening a corner of her heart.


    ¡°So, do you still want to buy the white dress?¡± Lin Xu asked her.


    ¡°No, not anymore,¡± Ji Yuqiao cast a furtive glance at Lin Xu, her ears turning slightly red, and sheepishly returned to the changing room to change back into her original clothes.


    When she brought the bright orange dress to the counter to pay, the cashier told her it had already been paid for.


    Ji Yuqiao looked at Lin Xu in surprise.


    ¡°It¡¯s a gift for winning the school competition. Remember to wear it,¡± Lin Xu winked at her.


    Ji Yuqiao paused for a moment, then her face burst into a radiant smile. She excitedly hugged Lin Xu, wrapping her arms around her neck and said joyfully, ¡°I really like you, you¡¯re the first person besides my brother who has been so good to me!¡±

 Chapter 103 - Chapter 103: Chapter 103 Everything Lin Xu Says is Right

    Chapter 103: Chapter 103 Everything Lin Xu Says is Right


    ¡°`


    Parting ways with Lin Xu.


    Ji Yuqiao carried the paper bag with the dress in her hands, happily humming a tune all the way back to school.


    ¡°You seem so happy, did something good happen?¡± her roommate asked, seeing the uncontrollable smile at the corners of her lips.


    ¡°What else could it be but about Xiao Yu,¡± another roommate said dismissively.


    Ji Yuqiao had previously pursued Xiao Yu, causing a stir throughout the entire school.


    Even though Xiao Yu had someone he liked, she did not give up, buying him various gifts to show her affection¡ªher persistence was admirable.


    Everyone was guessing that if Xiao Yu didn¡¯t mind, with Ji Yuqiao¡¯s infatuation with love, would she be very willing to even be someone¡¯s secret girlfriend?


    For someone so love-brained, besides Xiao Yu, what else could make her happy?


    However.


    Ji Yuqiao shook her head in denial and said with a silly laugh, ¡°It¡¯s not Xiao Yu, it was a good friend who gave me a skirt.¡±


    ¡°Just a skirt and you¡¯re this happy?¡± her roommate wondered.


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand, I just am happy,¡± Ji Yuqiao snorted and put away the dress.


    In the evening.


    It was time for their competition team to study in the classroom.


    Before leaving, Ji Yuqiao habitually picked up a set of plain, clean black and white clothes, but when her gaze touched the bright orange dress in the suitcase, her hand holding the clothes paused.


    In her mind, she remembered Lin Xu¡¯s winking smile and her instruction¡ª¡±Remember to wear it.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao hesitated for a few seconds and then changed into that dress.


    Following Lin Xu¡¯s advice, she also applied a stunningly beautiful makeup.


    When she stood in front of the full-length mirror in the dorm, her roommates were all stunned.


    ¡°Am I seeing things? Are you really Ji Yuqiao? How did you suddenly turn into a great beauty!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s true, you¡¯re not mistaken,¡± Ji Yuqiao said happily, holding up her skirt, ¡°Do I look good?¡±


    Ji Yuqiao was naturally beautiful and attractive, but usually dressed in simple attire like Wen Li, giving her a somewhat comical air of failing to emulate someone successfully, which made people overlook her beauty.


    But now, her makeup was bright and radiant, seeming to shine a dazzling light all around her, as if she had become a different person.


    ¡°You look amazing!¡± her roommates gaped, ¡°If you had dressed up like this earlier, the title of school beauty would have been yours, not Wen Li¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, I¡¯m off to class now,¡± Ji Yuqiao said goodbye to them.


    The roommates knew she was going to the classroom for studying the competition, but Xiao Yu was also there.


    They quickly called out to Ji Yuqiao, who was about to leave, ¡°Wait, you¡¯re going out like this?¡±


    ¡°Is there something wrong?¡±


    ¡°Xiao Yu doesn¡¯t like girls dressed up like this, didn¡¯t you say you wanted to dress simply like Wen Li?¡±


    ¡°My friend told me to be myself, and I think she¡¯s right,¡± Ji Yuqiao affirmed.


    Lin Xu had previously told her to go to the library to study and work hard at the competition to win awards, and she had done as told.


    Sure enough, her relationship with Xiao Yu had progressed.


    So, whatever Lin Xu said about being herself must also be right.


    Besides, the dress was a gift from Lin Xu; she had promised to wear it. Otherwise, Lin Xu would surely be saddened.


    Thinking this, Ji Yuqiao paid no attention to her roommates¡¯ persuasion and left the dorm.


    There was still some time before the teacher arrived, and the few students in the classroom were making noise.


    Suddenly, someone whispered, ¡°There¡¯s a beauty,¡± and the room fell silent.


    Everyone hurried to look at the door.


    They saw a stunningly beautiful girl with a smile walking into the classroom.


    The classroom went quiet for a moment until a boy with flushed cheeks plucked up the courage to approach her, ¡°Classmate, are you here looking for someone?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here for class,¡± the girl said.


    ¡°Ah? Then why haven¡¯t I seen you before?¡± the boy asked, confused.


    Could she be a new student the teacher had just brought in?


    ¡°How could you not have seen me before, I am Ji Yuqiao.¡±


    ¡°`


    ¡°Fuck.¡±


    The boy was startled.


    She was actually Ji Yuqiao?!


    Upon closer inspection, the boy indeed saw the features of Ji Yuqiao etched in her face.


    He was inwardly shocked.


    Since when had Ji Yuqiao become so beautiful?


    During the class, the boy kept sneaking glances at Ji Yuqiao, looking as if he had seen a ghost.


    He nudged Xiao Yu beside him and whispered, ¡°With her dressed up like that, could it be for you?¡±


    Xiao Yu glanced at her and remained silent.


    ¡°Tell me the truth, are you moved at all? Why not consider her?¡± teased the boy.


    Xiao Yu¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense.¡±


    No matter what Ji Yuqiao did, he would never like her.


    ¡°Alright then, since you don¡¯t like her, I¡¯ll have to pursue her myself,¡± said the boy.


    Boys are visual creatures; initially indifferent to Ji Yuqiao, now they were moved by her beauty.


    So, as soon as the class was over, he ran to Ji Yuqiao¡¯s side, offering to tidy up the stationery on her desk, ¡°Student Ji, it¡¯s late, and it¡¯s not safe for you to be alone. Let me walk you back to your dorm?¡±


    ¡°No need to trouble yourself, thank you.¡± Ji Yuqiao declined without hesitation.


    ¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all. Let me walk you,¡± the boy insisted, even attempting to take the bag off her.


    Ji Yuqiao was forced to retreat step by step until the stairs behind her were empty, and she suddenly fell backward.


    Her pupils contracted, and her heart stopped for a moment.


    In the nick of time.


    A strong, firm hand grabbed her wrist, pulling her back.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± Xiao Yu asked in a deep voice.


    ¡°No, no issues.¡± Ji Yuqiao seemed a bit shaken, still on edge.


    The boy frantically apologized, ¡°Sorry, that wasn¡¯t on purpose, I just wanted to help you with your stuff, I¡­¡±


    ¡°Student Ji, the teacher just called us to the office. Let¡¯s go.¡± Xiao Yu interrupted the boy¡¯s continuous chatter.


    ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Ji Yuqiao didn¡¯t bother with the boy anymore and followed Xiao Yu out of the classroom.


    They walked in silence for a few minutes before realizing this wasn¡¯t the way to the office.


    Ji Yuqiao asked, puzzled, ¡°Aren¡¯t we going to the office?¡±


    Xiao Yu: ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°If I hadn¡¯t said that just now, you wouldn¡¯t have been able to leave.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao paused for a moment, feeling a surge of joy in her heart.


    Xiao Yu had never bothered with her before; now, he was starting to protect her.


    Could this be what Lin Xu talked about, the charm of being oneself?


    Lin Xu¡¯s revered status in her heart suddenly climbed several notches.


    Feeling excited and happy, Ji Yuqiao still maintained an expressionless face.


    Reaching a fork in the road, Xiao Yu stopped.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Ji Yuqiao looked at him.


    Xiao Yu¡¯s face held a hint of imperceptible resignation, ¡°This way leads to the boys¡¯ dormitory.¡±


    The path to the girls¡¯ dormitory was at the other side of the fork; Ji Yuqiao had been so engrossed in her thoughts that she had mindlessly followed him.


    ¡°Ah! I forgot!¡± Ji Yuqiao exclaimed in panic and turned to run off.


    A quiet chuckle escaped from Xiao Yu¡¯s throat.


    Not far away, Wen Li watched their retreating figures, her face pale as she clenched her teeth.

 Chapter 104 - Chapter 104: Chapter 104 "Ji Tingyang, you lunatic!

    Chapter 104: Chapter 104 ¡°Ji Tingyang, you lunatic!


    Xiao Yu and Ji Yuqiao¡¯s figures kept appearing in Wen Li¡¯s mind as they walked around the campus.


    Ji Yuqiao used to pester Xiao Yu before, but back then, Xiao Yu paid no attention to her, giving Wen Li a sense of security. Therefore, Wen Li wasn¡¯t worried and chose him firmly despite many people trying to stop her.


    Wen Li had been jealous because Xiao Yu accepted Ji Yuqiao¡¯s birthday gift and had not spoken to him all winter break.


    It wasn¡¯t until school started again that Xiao Yu found her.


    He explained to her about the watch and that he had paid back all the money he owed to Ji Yuqiao, and now there was no relationship between them.


    Only then did Wen Li forgive him.


    She also heard that Ji Yuqiao, in her pursuit of Xiao Yu, had joined the school¡¯s math competition.


    At first, she didn¡¯t care at all because she knew that no matter what Ji Yuqiao did, Xiao Yu would not be moved by her.


    She had always believed this so firmly.


    However, when she came out of the library last night and was on her way back to the dorm, she happened to see the two of them alone together.


    Although they were not doing anything, just simply walking around the campus, the expression on Xiao Yu¡¯s face was completely devoid of the resistance he had shown before.


    Xiao Yu no longer repelled Ji Yuqiao?


    At this thought, Wen Li¡¯s heart felt as if it was being tightly gripped, causing her some pain.


    Her rosy complexion turned a few shades paler as she looked down at her phone, which displayed the message she had sent to Xiao Yu.


    [There are a few new movies out recently, are you free tonight? Let¡¯s go watch a movie?]


    Xiao: [I have to go to class with the competition group tonight, I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t make it, sorry.]


    Wen Li¡¯s hand holding the phone tightened, her fingertips turning white.


    Even though she knew he was just going to class, the thought of him meeting Ji Yuqiao in the classroom and possibly engaging in an enthusiastic discussion was like a stone weighing on her chest, oppressively uncomfortable.


    She pursed her lips and proposed another time.


    [What about tomorrow night then?]


    Xiao Yu seemed to be very busy and hadn¡¯t replied after half an hour.


    Wen Li¡¯s eyes reddened, and her fingers slid across the phone screen, inadvertently clicking on Ji Zeqiu¡¯s chat page.


    [Zeqiu, are you free right now, I¡­]


    She had typed half a sentence in the chat box when Wen Li suddenly came to her senses and deleted everything she had written.


    She had gotten used to venting to Ji Zeqiu whenever she felt aggrieved by Ji Tingyang and Xiao Yu.


    Almost every time, Ji Zeqiu was willing to do anything she asked of him.


    Wen Li still remembered how Ji Zeqiu had even argued with Ji Tingyang over her when Ji Tingyang first confined her in the villa.


    ¡°She is a living person, not your pet, Ji Tingyang. What right do you have to keep her trapped in the villa forever!¡± Ji Zeqiu¡¯s back hand veins bulged as he clenched Ji Tingyang¡¯s collar fiercely and cursed.


    ¡°This has nothing to do with you.¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s back was tight, his eyes gathered with crimson fury, radiating a cold and violent aura.


    His eyes were as black as ink, the madness in their depths nearly twisted.


    ¡°Ji Tingyang, do you realize that restricting someone¡¯s freedom like this is illegal!¡± Ji Zeqiu¡¯s eyes swirled with rage.


    However, Ji Tingyang was entirely unconcerned, ¡°Do you think she would go to the police?¡±


    Wen Li¡¯s parents were dazzled by money. When they found out that their daughter was going to be with the CEO of Ji¡¯s, they were thrilled and encouraged her to accept a life of wealth and privilege.


    Even Father Wen was so excited that he went to work for Ji¡¯s.


    Her family used moral coercion to make Wen Li obey Ji Tingyang¡¯s words.


    Wen Li didn¡¯t dare go to the police.


    ¡°Or are you saying¡­¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s mouth curled up into a mocking smile, his expression becoming even colder as he looked at Ji Zeqiu, ¡°do you want to take me into custody?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu was startled.


    After a long moment, he almost hissed through clenched teeth, ¡°Ji Tingyang, you madman!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, I have gone mad.¡± Ji Tingyang stared at Wen Li, his chest heaving with a pathologically obsessive desire.


    Desperately wanting to possess that bit of warmth.


    Wen Li was frightened by his gaze and hid behind Ji Zeqiu with fear.


    Watching her small hand clutching at Ji Zeqiu¡¯s shirt corner, the color in Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes suddenly turned cold as he said to the butler beside him, ¡°Take Wen Li back to her room.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it, I¡¯m taking her away today!¡± Ji Zeqiu shielded her behind him, ¡°I¡¯ll never let her be trapped by you.¡±


    Ji Tingyang said coldly, ¡°Ji Zeqiu, are you really just trying to help, or are your thoughts the same as mine? You know it in your heart.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s expression stiffened as if his inner thoughts had been prodded.


    While he was still in a daze, Ji Tingyang yanked Wen Li out from behind him, his grip on her arm seemingly strong enough to break it.


    The butler took Wen Li upstairs.


    Sounds of a fierce fight echoed from the living room, accompanied by intermittent pained grunts.


    After that, Ji Zeqiu couldn¡¯t bring himself to report Ji Tingyang nor could he bear to watch Wen Li suffer under his gaze, so he moved out of the villa.


    ¡°Wow, isn¡¯t this friend on your WeChat Ji Zeqiu?!¡±


    A surprised shout from the roommate pulled Wen Li¡¯s thoughts back.


    Wen Li quickly locked her phone screen, her expression panicked, ¡°You saw wrong, it¡¯s not¡­¡±


    ¡°That WeChat profile picture looks so much like Ji Zeqiu¡¯s, it can¡¯t really be him, can it?!¡± Her roommate¡¯s eyes widened in excitement, gripping Wen Li¡¯s arm eagerly.


    Ji Zeqiu had accidentally revealed his WeChat page on a variety show, and many fans remembered it.


    And the profile picture of Wen Li¡¯s friend was exactly the same as Ji Zeqiu¡¯s.


    There were many fans of Ji Zeqiu, and this roommate of Wen Li¡¯s was one of them.


    ¡°Just tell me secretly, I promise I won¡¯t tell anyone else!¡± the roommate pleaded earnestly with Wen Li.


    Wen Li hesitated, ¡°Then you mustn¡¯t tell anyone else, okay?¡±


    The roommate nodded excitedly, ¡°I promise!¡±


    ¡°I met him before he debuted, we are just ordinary friends.¡± Wen Li briefly shared with her the story of how they met.


    ¡°So you two are that close? Can you please help me get an autographed photo next time?¡± her roommate looked at her with pleading, moist eyes, begging, ¡°Please!¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ll ask him next time I see him,¡± Wen Li hesitated.


    Since the last time Ji Zeqiu suddenly came to her school, she hadn¡¯t seen him again.


    She didn¡¯t know if it was because he was too busy filming, but the several messages she recently sent to Ji Zeqiu received no reply.


    Ji Zeqiu had always replied to her messages promptly, she had never experienced this before.


    Wen Li felt a sense of unease for no apparent reason.


    ¡°Alright, alright, you must ask him for me!¡± her roommate happily spun around a few times, then rushed Wen Li to change clothes.


    Wen Li forced a laugh, feeling unsure about the matter.


    However, just a few days later, she would unexpectedly encounter Ji Zeqiu again in a club where a friend was celebrating their birthday.


    Not only Ji Zeqiu, but also the tall and upright Ji Tingyang beside him.

 Chapter 105 - Chapter 105: Chapter 105 The Object of Obsession Became Someone Else

    Chapter 105: Chapter 105 The Object of Obsession Became Someone Else


    A classmate¡¯s birthday was today, and in the afternoon, they took everyone to a luxurious upscale club in the city to celebrate.


    It was said that this club had excellent privacy. Many officials, nobles, and artists liked to go there, and it was possible to run into a couple of big stars.


    Wen Li¡¯s roommate was incredibly excited upon hearing this and dragged Wen Li to join them.


    Unable to refuse their classmate¡¯s warm invitation and persistent pestering by her roommate, Wen Li ended up going along with everyone.


    Glasses clinked amidst the boisterous laughter, and the spirited music blended with the joyous atmosphere, resounding through the private room.


    After drinking a little, Wen Li felt her head spin because of the noisy chatter inside and made the excuse of going to the restroom to leave the room.


    The thick door muffled the noise inside, allowing Wen Li to breathe a sigh of relief.


    She checked her phone.


    She wondered if Xiao Yu had been too busy to remember; their chat was still on the last question she had sent.


    Wen Li¡¯s heart was filled with disarray, unable to calm down.


    Just as she sighed, she faintly heard a familiar voice.


    ¡°If I didn¡¯t need to avoid the paparazzi recently, I wouldn¡¯t have left Mother in your care, you bastard. How could you just leave her alone and come here?¡±


    ¡°She said she wanted to pick up a dress first before coming over, and it¡¯s not far from here anyways.¡±


    ¡°The place has changed so much; she can¡¯t use navigation, and yet you¡¯re quite content.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Wen Li followed the voices and saw two tall men walking out from a nearby private room, bickering as they went.


    The man dressed in a black suit had a tall figure with a touch of coldness and impatience on his hard facial contours; his dark eyes were deep and inscrutable, and he moved with a leisurely stride.


    The man beside him had his face covered by a hat, wearing a loose casual suit, glasses on his nose that seemed meant to disguise him. Even without seeing his face clearly, his graceful demeanor was unmistakably handsome and charming.


    These two men, with their noble air, merely had to stand there to attract most people¡¯s attention.


    It was Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu.


    It had been a long time since she¡¯d seen them.


    Wen Li¡¯s head buzzed, her mind went blank, and even her body froze in place.


    She was standing close to the club¡¯s entrance, and the brothers were approaching in her direction.


    Their paths would inevitably cross.


    As Wen Li¡¯s palms started sweating and she felt increasingly tense, debating whether to stay or hide, a sudden voice rang out beside her.


    ¡°Why are you standing here, won¡¯t you go inside?¡±


    The door of the adjacent private room opened, and Wen Li¡¯s roommate came out, surprised to find Wen Li standing against the wall in a daze.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go in soon,¡± Wen Li stammered, taking a sneaky glance at Ji Tingyang, her expression growing tense.


    ¡°Oh.¡± Her roommate didn¡¯t ask further, just noticing that the restroom inside was occupied and decided to go use another one.


    She was about to pass by when her gaze inadvertently swept over the two men, causing her to stop dead in her tracks.


    Coming to her senses, she suddenly grabbed Wen Li¡¯s arm and whispered with a high-pitched scream, ¡°Ah!!!


    ¡°Wen Li, am I seeing right?¡±


    ¡°Is that Ji Zeqiu?!¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s him. Calm down,¡± Wen Li said, trying to soothe her roommate, who was so excited she was almost jumping.


    Taking several deep breaths to suppress her excitement, her roommate suddenly had a thought and looked at Wen Li with surprise. ¡°You¡¯re friends with Ji Zeqiu, aren¡¯t you here to meet you?¡±


    Wen Li forced a smile, her expression a bit stiff, ¡°Probably not¡­¡±


    They didn¡¯t even know she was here.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go say hello.¡± Her roommate¡¯s attention was all on Ji Zeqiu; she didn¡¯t hear Wen Li clearly and pulled her toward them to greet them.


    ¡°Wait¡­ Ah.¡±


    In the midst of the tussle, Wen Li lost her balance and stumbled, falling squarely on the ground.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, so sorry,¡± her roommate hastily apologized, reaching out to help her up, ¡°Wen Li, are you okay?¡±


    It was too embarrassing.


    Wen Li¡¯s cheeks were burning hot. Just as she was about to push herself up from the floor, she saw Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu nearby, their expressions changing abruptly, their footsteps quickening as they walked toward her in a flurry.


    A ripple disturbed the calm waters of her heart, and a moment of panic flashed through her eyes.


    Were they coming for her?


    Did they see her fall?


    Wen Li scrambled to her feet, and as they approached, she said nervously, ¡°I, I¡¯m not¡­¡±


    Before she could finish, the two brushed past her.


    It was as if they didn¡¯t see Wen Li at all, walking straight past her.


    ¡°What happened to your forehead?!¡±


    ¡°Are you hurt?!¡±


    Their voices, shocked and worried, rose behind her.


    Wen Li looked back to see Ji Tingyang holding a woman¡¯s hand, his dark eyes filled with intense unease and concern, his low voice trembling subtly.


    He gripped the woman¡¯s hand tightly, his composed facade showing signs of pathological obsession and tension under the glaring white lights.


    There was a time when Ji Tingyang had looked at her with the same frightening intensity.


    But now, his obsession had shifted to someone else.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s worried expression was no less intense, his hands cradling the woman¡¯s face, his eyes fixed on the reddened patch of skin on her forehead.


    The woman cried out in pain the moment his fingertips made contact.


    ¡°Hiss.¡± Lin Xu swatted Ji Zeqiu¡¯s hand away, holding her forehead and drawing a sharp breath, ¡°The glass door at the clubhouse was too clean, I didn¡¯t notice it and accidentally walked into it.¡±


    The impact was so severe that a large area swelled up red in less than two seconds.


    Although it was nothing serious, Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu acted as if it was a major crisis, insisting on taking her to the hospital for a check-up.


    ¡°It¡¯s all Ji Tingyang¡¯s fault, this useless guy. If he had brought you over, you wouldn¡¯t have been hurt,¡± Ji Zeqiu frowned, seizing the opportunity to belittle Ji Tingyang in front of Lin Xu.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s face darkened, his aura heavy and repressed, but unusually, he didn¡¯t retort, apparently feeling regretful as well.


    ¡°It¡¯s my own fault for not being careful, it has nothing to do with you,¡± Lin Xu tiptoed and patted Ji Tingyang¡¯s head, urging him not to blame himself.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s gloomy expression finally eased.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go eat, I¡¯m starving,¡± Lin Xu placated the two brothers who wanted to rush her to the hospital.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already ordered food for you!¡± Ji Tingyang moved quickly, pulling her towards the private room.


    Ji Zeqiu followed.


    As they passed by Wen Li again, an excited voice called out to him.


    ¡°Ji Zeqiu!¡±


    Ji Zeqiu stopped in his tracks.


    Wen Li¡¯s roommate, thrilled, said to him, ¡°I¡¯m Wen Li¡¯s friend, you probably know each other, can I get your autograph?¡±


    Hearing this, Ji Zeqiu turned toward her and for the first time noticed that Wen Li was also there.


    Their eyes met.


    He saw Wen Li¡¯s reddened eyes.

 Chapter 106 - Chapter 106: Chapter 106: We Dont Need to Associate Anymore

    Chapter 106: Chapter 106: We Don¡¯t Need to Associate Anymore


    ¡°Ji Zeqiu¡­¡±


    Wen Li¡¯s soft, glutinous voice murmured.


    Ji Zeqiu snapped back to reality, his expression calm and unemotional. He replied indifferently to his roommate, ¡°We don¡¯t know each other.¡±


    Having said that, he passed by Wen Li and caught up with Lin Xu.


    Wen Li clenched her hand by her side, and her cheeks suddenly turned pale.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s indifferent attitude throughout, as if she were a stranger, reminded her of the previous incident at the school gate.


    She was worried that Xiao Yu would misunderstand, and told him that Ji Zeqiu had only asked for directions and that she didn¡¯t know him.


    Now, these words had come from Ji Zeqiu himself.


    Any small hope she had felt upon seeing Ji Zeqiu was instantly eradicated.


    ¡°Don¡¯t know each other?¡± Her roommate looked at Wen Li in confusion, ¡°Why would he say he doesn¡¯t know you? Didn¡¯t you say you were friends?¡±


    Wen Li bit her lip and remained silent.


    Her roommate looked at Wen Li, then glanced in the direction where Ji Zeqiu had disappeared, scratching her head in puzzlement.


    After a long moment, as if she couldn¡¯t hold back any longer, she remembered that she had come out to use the restroom and immediately ran to the end of the hallway.


    Once her roommate was gone, Wen Li hesitated for a moment and sent Ji Zeqiu a message.


    [¡°Sorry, when I wanted to message you last time, my roommate accidentally saw my WeChat, and that¡¯s how she knew we were acquainted.¡±]


    [¡°I didn¡¯t expect her to suddenly call out to you just now. Saying you didn¡¯t know me was right, otherwise she might bother me next time to ask for your autograph.¡±]


    Her message this time was not ignored.


    After a while, Ji Zeqiu replied to her.


    Ji: [¡°Hmm.¡±]


    Wen Li felt a surge of happiness and was just about to suggest they meet up next time when his next message restrained her.


    Ji: [¡°If there¡¯s nothing important, better not to contact me anymore. You probably don¡¯t want Xiao Yu to misunderstand, and I don¡¯t want Lin Xu to misunderstand either.¡±]


    The smile that Wen Li had just formed froze instantaneously.


    His words sounded like a severance of ties.


    Her fingers trembled slightly as she typed.


    [¡°If there¡¯s nothing important, can¡¯t we just chat¡­ Aren¡¯t we friends?¡±]


    Ji: [¡°We hardly ever chatted before.¡±]


    They rarely chatted; Ji Zeqiu used to send Wen Li interesting things, but he seldom received a response from her, more like a one-sided wish.


    And whenever Wen Li messaged him, it was always with a request.


    Asking him to take her away from the Ji Family, or when Xiao Yu had another girl by his side¡­


    She kept crying to him.


    ¡°Then let me take you away from them, okay?¡± Ji Zeqiu had offered with concern.


    ¡°Forget it¡­¡±


    The response he always received was Wen Li¡¯s rejection.


    It was a repeating cycle.


    Yet, even so, Ji Zeqiu never tired of it.


    Until Lin Xu came into the picture, the frequency of messages Ji Zeqiu sent her decreased. Even if she initiated contact, he rarely replied anymore.


    Since they never used to chat much before, there was no need for them to maintain any kind of friendship now.


    Was this what Ji Zeqiu meant?


    Wen Li¡¯s whole face turned pale and powerless, [¡°Sorry, I ignored too many of your messages before, I won¡¯t do it again.¡±]


    Ji: [¡°My point wasn¡¯t to blame your previous actions, but rather that there¡¯s no need for us to keep in touch anymore.¡±]


    As if worried she wouldn¡¯t understand, Ji Zeqiu made himself exceptionally clear this time.


    Wen Li bit her lip hard.


    [¡°Why, is it because of Lin Xu?¡±]


    [¡°But isn¡¯t she with Ji Tingyang? She keeps coming to find you, harassing you, staying near your apartment. Don¡¯t let her deceive you, she doesn¡¯t really like you¡­¡±]


    Wen Li¡¯s messages were incessant.


    Ji Zeqiu picked up his phone and saw the derogatory comments about Lin Xu, his frown deepening.


    He was about to reply with a cold face when a pair of chopsticks carrying food reached into his bowl.


    ¡°Stop staring at your phone. You haven¡¯t had lunch yet, eat something to fill your stomach,¡± Lin Xu said as she placed a piece of ribs into his bowl.


    Ji Zeqiu looked at Lin Xu, his chilly expression instantly softened.


    His mother was concerned about him skipping lunch, how could she not like him.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s eyes shone with a brilliant starlight, his tone reluctantly coquettish, ¡°I, I want to eat roast duck.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Lin Xu immediately picked up a piece of roast duck for him.


    Ji Zeqiu took a bite of the roast duck, his tail almost wagging with joy.


    The dish his mother picked was delicious.


    He looked at Lin Xu, his ear tips tinged with a slight blush, ¡°I want some beef too.¡±


    As Lin Xu was about to pick up some beef with her chopsticks, a well-defined palm beat her to it, loading Ji Zeqiu¡¯s bowl with a large piece of greens.


    ¡°No need to trouble mother, I¡¯ll do it,¡± Ji Tingyang said with a hooked corner of his lips, almost putting all the greens from the table into Ji Zeqiu¡¯s bowl, ¡°If you¡¯re hungry, eat more, no rush.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s hand holding the chopsticks twitched as he looked at the pile of greens in his bowl, not knowing where to start.


    This asshole was doing it on purpose.


    Jealous that mother liked him, purposely picking the greens he hated.


    He glared fiercely at Ji Tingyang, ¡°Get lost, I¡¯m not eating this.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be picky!¡±


    Lin Xu¡¯s scolding voice rang beside him.


    ¡°I¡¯m not being picky,¡± Ji Zeqiu said guiltily, ¡°I¡¯m just too hungry and want to eat some meat first.¡±


    ¡°Eat the greens first, then I¡¯ll pick some meat for you, be good,¡± Lin Xu said.


    ¡°¡­¡± Ji Zeqiu¡¯s hand trembled as he held his chopsticks, and under Lin Xu¡¯s watchful eye, he stuffed the greens into his mouth.


    The next second, his face screwed up unpleasantly.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s slightly raised eyebrows carried a schadenfreude expression.


    Under the assault of the greens, Ji Zeqiu completely forgot about Wen Li¡¯s messages, his meal was both painful and joyous.


    Due to the previous affair about Ji Zeqiu¡¯s withdrawal from the circle, he had canceled many appointments. Now his manager had taken them all back, and work piled up all at once.


    After he managed to grab a meal with Lin Xu, he had to rush off to another appointment.


    Just as Ji Zeqiu got into the car, his manager threw a folder at him.


    ¡°These are the questions for tonight¡¯s interview; take a look yourself and think about how to answer them,¡± the manager said.


    Ji Zeqiu acknowledged.


    They arrived at the destination.


    Ji Zeqiu did not expect to see Shen Qingtang there and was somewhat surprised.


    Shen Qingtang felt the same.


    Ever since Ji Zeqiu told her that she didn¡¯t need to be a substitute anymore, they had had no further contact.


    She occasionally saw him on the set, but didn¡¯t have the courage to approach him.


    All she could do was watch him from afar, as he animatedly engaged with his phone.


    She wondered if he was chatting with Lady Wen.


    They must be together by now.


    That¡¯s why he completely didn¡¯t need her anymore¡­


    Upon meeting, the moment their eyes met, many memories flashed through Shen Qingtang¡¯s mind.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to say hello?¡± the manager asked.


    Ji Zeqiu pondered for a moment, just as he took a step towards Shen Qingtang, a man came over and skillfully draped his arm over her shoulders.


    After a brief exchange, Shen Qingtang decisively left with the man.


    The manager joked, ¡°You didn¡¯t hold on to such a beautiful woman, and now she¡¯s gone. Any regrets?¡±

 Chapter 107 - Chapter 107: Chapter 107: Its Okay Not to Come Back

    Chapter 107: Chapter 107: It¡¯s Okay Not to Come Back


    Ji Zeqiu gave his agent a glance and spoke indifferently, ¡°What do I have to regret?¡±


    Having said that, he entered the interview room.


    The agent shrugged indifferently and followed him in.


    The interview went very smoothly, and after that, they took a few sets of photos. With that done, their work for this time was complete.


    ¡°Once the video from the interview is edited, I will send it along with the photos for your review. If there is a chance to collaborate again in the future, I hope Teacher Ji will take good care of us,¡± the staff member shook hands with Ji Zeqiu cheerfully.


    Ji Zeqiu had a gentle smile on the corner of his lips as he bid farewell to the staff members.


    Just as he stepped out, his agent approached him slyly. ¡°I just found out for you that Shen Qingtang is filming an interview in Hall 2. It should still be going on. Do you want to go have a look?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu gave him a glance, ¡°If you have nothing better to do, go keep an eye on a couple more artists.¡±


    ¡°Really not going?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going home.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu turned and left.


    His mother was still at home, and Ji Tingyang might have sneaked her out to play by now. He needed to hurry back.


    It¡¯s not unusual to bump into each other at work in such a small entertainment circle.


    So Ji Zeqiu didn¡¯t take today¡¯s encounter with Shen Qingtang to heart, but unexpectedly, the very next day, they met again.


    He and Shen Qingtang, as temporary guests, participated in the recording of a variety show together.


    Because they were only temporary cameo guests, the content they needed to record wasn¡¯t much, and it was completed in one day.


    When dinner time came, Ji Zeqiu and Shen Qingtang were dragged by other artists to have dinner together at a restaurant.


    Shen Qingtang sneaked a glance at Ji Zeqiu and, seeing him nod, also agreed to go along.


    During the meal, a staff member ordered a few bottles of alcohol and walked around with a glass, toasting people here and there.


    As the biggest celebrity among them, Ji Zeqiu was approached for a toast. After he gently declined, no one dared to press him, and their gaze wandered around the private room, looking for the next target to toast.


    If it had been in the past, as an eighteenth-tier nobody, Shen Qingtang wouldn¡¯t have been noticed by anyone.


    Nobody would have gone out of their way to chat with her, let alone toast her.


    However, Shen Qingtang had been appearing frequently on the screen recently with the many resources Ji Zeqiu had given her, and even her fame had increased considerably.


    She was already considered an actress with a bit of a reputation.


    For this reason, other artists came over to Shen Qingtang to exchange pleasantries and offer her a drink, hoping to build a good relationship with her.


    Who knows, she might become a big shot in the future.


    ¡°Qingtang, come on, eat more, you¡¯re so thin now,¡± a woman earnestly piled food on her plate.


    ¡°Mr. Shen, come on, let¡¯s have a drink,¡± a staff member came up to Shen Qingtang with a glass of alcohol, almost lifting it to her face.


    With so many people watching, Shen Qingtang could not afford to embarrass him publicly, so she had no choice but to stiffly drink it down.


    Glass after glass.


    Person after person came to offer a toast.


    Shen Qingtang wasn¡¯t a heavy drinker to begin with, and it didn¡¯t take long before she became dizzy.


    ¡°Mr. Shen, our show crew has a room at a nearby hotel. Seeing you like this, it would be dangerous to go back alone. How about I help you rest at the hotel first?¡± At the end of the gathering, a male artist took the initiative to support her and suggested.


    ¡°No need,¡± Shen Qingtang managed to cling to her last shred of sanity and pushed away the man¡¯s hand, ¡°My agent is coming to pick me up soon, she¡¯ll take me home.¡±


    ¡°You can rest at the hotel and wait for her. When your agent arrives, let her come and get you,¡± he said.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just wait here; there¡¯s no need for all that trouble,¡± said Shen Qingtang, who had seen too many hidden rules in the industry. She dared not follow a man after drinking.


    The man was still trying to persuade her.


    Shen Qingtang felt a rising panic inside her as she incessantly scanned her surroundings for a familiar face to help.


    But the people from the dinner party had mostly dispersed, and despite her anxious waiting, she saw no one else coming out of the restaurant.


    As she was about to be pulled away, a familiar figure broke into her line of sight.


    Shen Qingtang staggered over and clutched his arm.


    ¡°Can you take me home?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu looked up and saw the plea and urgency in her clear eyes.


    Even though there was no longer a transaction or relationship between them, Shen Qingtang still subconsciously relied on him when she saw him.


    ¡°Ah, Teacher Ji, you haven¡¯t left yet?¡± The man seemed surprised, then pointed to Shen Qingtang, ¡°Mr. Shen has had too much to drink; I was just about to take her to the hotel to rest.¡±


    He explained what he had been doing.


    Shen Qingtang¡¯s mind was already fuzzy; she gripped Ji Zeqiu¡¯s hand and exerted a slight force, ¡°I don¡¯t want to go to the hotel, I want to go home¡­¡±


    Ji Zeqiu immediately understood her concerns, steadied her swaying body, and said to the man, ¡°There¡¯s no need for a hotel, I¡¯ll take her home.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    The man was about to say something more when Ji Zeqiu had already left with Shen Qingtang in his car.


    The traffic was a bit congested on the road, the car kept stopping and starting, and they weren¡¯t moving quickly.


    Shen Qingtang lay on the passenger seat, her voice murky as she answered her agent¡¯s call, ¡°Sister Han, a friend is already taking me home, don¡¯t worry¡­¡±


    ¡°Mhm¡­ just turn around and go back¡­¡±


    ¡°Mhm, mhm¡­¡±


    She closed her eyes, as if unconscious, repeatedly murmuring ¡°mhm¡± while she was already comfortably asleep.


    After arriving at the entrance of Shen Qingtang¡¯s residential building, Ji Zeqiu called out to her a few times, ¡°You¡¯re home.¡±


    Shen Qingtang opened her eyes groggily, and as soon as she got out of the car, a wave of nausea surged up in her stomach, and she clung to a nearby pillar to vomit.


    She squatted on the ground, unable to move.


    It seemed she didn¡¯t even have the strength to walk upstairs to her home.


    Ji Zeqiu sighed, went over to pick her up, and frowned in warning, ¡°Don¡¯t throw up on me.¡±


    Shen Qingtang made a few hums, unsure if she heard his words.


    Standing at the door of her apartment, Ji Zeqiu looked at the tightly shut door and wanted to ask for her password, but she was so drunk that her words didn¡¯t make sense. He simply couldn¡¯t ask.


    He pursed his lips and, taking a chance, tried the old door code.


    When the door opened, a flash of surprise crossed his eyes.


    He hadn¡¯t expected Shen Qingtang to have not changed her password.


    That was far too unsafe.


    Ji Zeqiu casually placed her on the bed and was about to leave when Lin Xu¡¯s call came in.


    ¡°Zeqiu, didn¡¯t you say you were on your way home? Why haven¡¯t you arrived yet? You also haven¡¯t been replying to my messages. Is everything alright?¡±


    Hearing Lin Xu¡¯s concern, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s mood of frustration for being delayed brightened considerably.


    ¡°I got a bit held up just now, but I¡¯m coming back now!¡±


    Just then, a hand held him back, and a soft voice spoke up, ¡°Don¡¯t go¡­¡±


    On the other end of the phone, Lin Xu fell silent for a moment, remembering that her own son had grown up, ¡°Forget this phone call, I didn¡¯t ask anything, and it¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t come back.¡±

 Chapter 108 - Chapter 108: Chapter 108: Doing Laundry for Mother

    Chapter 108: Chapter 108: Doing Laundry for Mother


    Ji Zeqiu hurried to convince Lin Xu, who was about to hang up, explaining anxiously, ¡°It¡¯s not what you¡¯re thinking! I just ran into Shen Qingtang while working, and she happened to get drunk during the meal, so I took her home. Nothing else happened!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re all grown up now, Mom understands,¡± Lin Xu is now an open-minded parent.


    ¡°Don¡¯t just understand anything, I¡¯m coming home now!¡± Ji Zeqiu held the phone, both angry and panicked, while he struggled to shake off Shen Qingtang¡¯s hand, ¡°Let go, I¡¯m leaving.¡±


    ¡°Shen Qingtang! Even if you vomit on the bed now, I¡¯m not going to care about you.¡± Nobody could stop him from going home!


    ¡°Where¡¯s your phone, I¡¯ll call your agent.¡±


    ¡°Ah, you actually threw up!¡±


    The chaos on Ji Zeqiu¡¯s side was palpable over the phone, and Lin Xu could sense his meltdown.


    Hearing Ji Zeqiu really seemed heartless in wanting to leave, Lin Xu quickly advised, ¡°Don¡¯t rush off, stay there and take care of her first.¡±


    ¡°How can a man like me take care of her conveniently,¡± Ji Zeqiu was reluctant, his mind still set on going back home to Lin Xu.


    ¡°¡­I¡¯ll come over and see.¡± Lin Xu, feeling helpless, asked him for the address.


    Half an hour later, Lin Xu arrived at Shen Qingtang¡¯s place.


    Upon entering the house, she was hit by the sour smell of vomit coming from the bedroom.


    Lin Xu slapped Ji Zeqiu and glared at him, ¡°You couldn¡¯t even clean up a little first.¡±


    ¡°She threw up all over herself¡­ was I supposed to undress her or what¡­¡± Ji Zeqiu¡¯s voice carried a hint of grievance.


    Indeed, that would not have been appropriate.


    Having no other option, Lin Xu left Ji Zeqiu in the living room, went into the bedroom to help Shen Qingtang change into a set of pajamas, and then came out with the dirty clothes and bedsheet.


    Hesitating over the dirty laundry, she thought it might not be good to leave them piled up overnight.


    Thinking to wash them for her, Lin Xu was about to do so when Ji Zeqiu took the clothes from her hands, ¡°I¡¯ll scrub them a bit.¡±


    The mother at home had never had to dip her fingers into wash water.


    Ji Zeqiu didn¡¯t want Lin Xu to do these chores either and took the initiative to take them on himself.


    Lin Xu did not decline, handing him the clothes and said with a light smile, ¡°You even know how to wash clothes?¡±


    ¡°I know a lot more than that.¡± Ji Zeqiu¡¯s expression was proud as he puffed out his chest and entered the bathroom as if showing off a skill.


    In the past, when the three siblings were staying at a relative¡¯s house, there were no servants to do chores for them; all the dirty laundry was always scrubbed by them with their own hands, crouched on the bathroom floor with a basin of water.


    As for his sister¡¯s clothes, they were washed alternatively by him and Ji Tingyang.


    It wasn¡¯t until she reached junior high school that she no longer wanted her brothers to wash her clothes for her.


    Ji Zeqiu scrubbed the clothes in his hands, while flashes of past memories flickered through his mind.


    ¡°Our Zeqiu is really wonderful,¡± Lin Xu squatted beside him, noticing his skilled movements, and affectionately patted his head in praise.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s ears, beneath his tousled hair, suddenly flushed red, and his expression was bashful, ¡°Of course.¡±


    His hands scrubbing the clothes became even more diligent.


    Moments later, he sneaked another glance at Lin Xu, his face awkward, hesitantly murmuring, ¡°If, if you have clothes that need to be hand-washed, it wouldn¡¯t be impossible for me to do them for you in the future.¡±


    ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll rely on you from now on~¡±


    Ji Zeqiu, looking at her brilliantly radiant smile, felt his heart pounding uncontrollably, his face expressionless, but he was secretly delighted on the inside.


    He could wash clothes for his mother.


    Ji Tingyang had never washed clothes for their mother.


    He was the first one to wash clothes for their mother!


    Lin Xu watched in the bathroom for a while and then went into the bedroom to take care of Shen Qingtang.


    As soon as she entered, she saw Shen Qingtang heaving by the bed, and Lin Xu hurriedly supported her body and offered her a cup of water.


    Shen Qingtang drained the cup with Lin Xu¡¯s help.


    ¡°Drink slowly, don¡¯t hurry,¡± Lin Xu soothed her back, speaking softly.


    Lin Xu¡¯s gentle voice, like a low breeze whispering in the ear, slowly soothed Shen Qingtang¡¯s agitation caused by alcohol.


    She lifted her eyes, squinting as she tried to make out Lin Xu¡¯s figure.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, do you want another glass of water?¡± Lin Xu asked, about to get up to pour the water.


    The next instant, she was grabbed by the hand by Shen Qingtang, who muttered, ¡°Don¡¯t go¡­¡±


    ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t leave,¡± Lin Xu sat back down, coaxing her to lie down on the bed.


    Shen Qingtang nodded her head and lay back on the bed. As Lin Xu hummed a soft tune, a warm current surged through her heart, and she gradually fell asleep.


    At this moment, the cell phone on the bedside lit up the screen.


    Lin Xu thought it wasn¡¯t good to look at someone else¡¯s phone and was about to turn her head away, but the message on the screen made her freeze.


    The next day.


    When Shen Qingtang woke up, it was already close to noon.


    She ran her hands through her messy hair as she walked out of the bedroom, and upon reaching the living room, she saw Lin Xu asleep on the sofa. A look of shock flashed across her eyes.


    She hasn¡¯t left yet?


    Lin Xu, stirred by the noise, fluttered her eyelids and opened her eyes, blurry with sleep. She immediately bumped into Shen Qingtang¡¯s surprised gaze and explained last night¡¯s situation to her, fearing that she might be mistaken for a thief.


    ¡°I remember everything from last night, no need to explain,¡± Shen Qingtang wasn¡¯t to the point of losing her memory from drinking, ¡°Thank you for taking care of me last night.¡±


    Last night, she had felt terrible from the alcohol, and it was Lin Xu who had stayed by her side to take care of her.


    It made her think back to the times when she was sick as a child, how her mother was also so tender and warm, watching by her bedside.


    Suddenly, Shen Qingtang¡¯s attitude towards Lin Xu grew much more amiable.


    She caught a glimpse of the washed shirts and trousers hanging on the balcony and felt even more embarrassed, ¡°There was really no need for you to do that, I could have washed the clothes myself when I woke up.¡±


    ¡°Leaving them till the next day, they would have stunk by then, I checked, Ji Zeqiu washed them pretty clean, don¡¯t worry,¡± Lin Xu said.


    Ji Zeqiu washed them?!


    Shen Qingtang¡¯s cheeks suddenly flushed, her voice stammering, ¡°He, he, how could he¡­¡±


    How could he end up washing her clothes?!


    ¡°He seemed quite willing to do it,¡± Lin Xu said, recalling last night¡¯s diligent washing.


    Willing?


    Shen Qingtang remembered Ji Zeqiu taking her home last night, even carrying her upstairs, and now he had even washed her clothes for her.


    Could it be that he¡­ actually had feelings for her?


    Her heart suddenly skipped a beat.


    At this moment.


    The apartment door opened, and Ji Zeqiu entered, carrying two big bags of stuff.


    Perplexed, Shen Qingtang was about to ask when she heard Lin Xu inquire, ¡°What did you buy?¡±


    ¡°Lunch.¡±


    ¡°Did you buy it specially for me? How considerate of you,¡± Lin Xu said as her stomach growled, her eyes shining at the sight of the two big bags of meal boxes.


    Ji Zeqiu turned awkwardly, ¡°Not, not specially, I was just passing by and happened to see someone selling food downstairs.¡±


    The takeout bags clearly bore the name Flaming Lily Restaurant¡ªthe kind of upscale restaurant that only catered to those with VIP status. It couldn¡¯t possibly be that someone was selling it just downstairs.


    Lin Xu smiled helplessly, knowing full well his tendencies to say one thing but mean another.


    She walked over and opened the bags to look, ¡°Wow, it¡¯s all the food I like.¡±


    Seeing the happiness in her eyes, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s lips slightly curled, and he maintained his facade, ¡°I just bought it randomly.¡±


    Lin Xu noticed Shen Qingtang standing there in a daze, quickly pulling her over, ¡°Come and join us, I have something I want to discuss with you after we eat.¡±


    Shen Qingtang was puzzled; they didn¡¯t seem to have much in common, did they?


    Could it be she wanted her to stop pestering Ji Zeqiu?!

 Chapter 109 - Chapter 109: Chapter 109: Who Matters More Than a Son

    Chapter 109: Chapter 109: Who Matters More Than a Son


    Shen Qingtang¡¯s mind was preoccupied with the fact that Lin Xu had something to say to her, so much so that she was barely present during lunch.


    On the way, she sneaked a glance sideways and saw Ji Zeqiu sitting next to Lin Xu, gazing at her with sparkling eyes, even eagerly serving her food.


    If she had a tail behind her, it would certainly be wagging to the skies.


    Shen Qingtang had seen Ji Zeqiu¡¯s thorough care for Wen Li before, but now, in front of Lin Xu, he was even more meticulous.


    At this thought, a dense pain surged within her chest, bringing discomfort.


    Towards Wen Li, towards Lin Xu¡­ just not towards herself.


    A tinge of disappointment flashed through Shen Qingtang¡¯s eyes; as she wallowed in her thoughts, she suddenly met Lin Xu¡¯s warmly smiling face and her cheeks flushed red, quickly averting her gaze.


    After lunch, Shen Qingtang stood up to tidy up the trash on the table.


    Lin Xu quickly grabbed her hand, ¡°Let Ji Zeqiu clean up, let¡¯s chat on the side.¡±


    ¡°Ah?¡± Shen Qingtang paused.


    She suddenly remembered a time during filming when Brother Zhao asked Ji Zeqiu to tidy up some scattered makeup on the table, and he was reluctant, so how could he be willing to clean up these kitchen scraps?


    Shen Qingtang worried about how Lin Xu would react if Ji Zeqiu gave her a cold look.


    ¡°I¡¯d better¡­¡± Shen Qingtang was about to take over the task.


    But then she saw Ji Zeqiu without a word obediently cleaning up the table, leaving her stunned.


    Lin Xu pulled Shen Qingtang further away to the balcony, and the first thing she said was an apology, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, someone sent you a text message last night, and I accidentally saw the content when the phone lit up.¡±


    Shen Qingtang was taken aback.


    Having mentally prepared herself beforehand, could it be that all this was just to apologize for seeing a text message?


    ¡°I saw your agent asking you to reconsider going abroad for further studies, and not to hastily refuse.¡± Lin Xu hesitated for a moment, then voiced her suspicion, ¡°Is it because of Ji Zeqiu?¡±


    Last night, Shen Qingtang grabbed her hand, curled up on the bed, and silently cried, occasionally mumbling something.


    Lin Xu leaned closer and realized she was murmuring Ji Zeqiu¡¯s name.


    Considering her refusal to study abroad, Lin Xu made a connection and tentatively asked.


    Shen Qingtang¡¯s face stiffened, and she stuttered without being able to utter a single phrase for a long time.


    As she had gained some fame recently, various opportunities, both big and small, had come her way.


    Just a few days ago, Shen Qingtang met a man who introduced her to an overseas opportunity to study acting, which even her agent thought was favorable.


    While still young, going abroad to study would make it much easier to establish herself once she returned.


    Over the years, she had saved a considerable amount of money from her work, and along with the money Ji Zeqiu had given her intermittently, she had recently paid off a substantial home loan.


    Her grandmother¡¯s health had improved, and she had been discharged from the hospital.


    She no longer needed to shoulder any family burdens, and going abroad for further studies seemed like an ideal opportunity.


    But¡­


    When her agent awaited her decision, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s face flashed across her mind, and the words of agreement stuck in her throat, leaving her unable to speak.


    The man came to see her again later, incidentally just when Ji Zeqiu was present.


    Initially, she had harbored a slight hope, wondering if his presence would make Ji Zeqiu care that there was a new man around her, but it turned out, she had thought too much.


    Shen Qingtang could not deny it.


    In the two or three years of her relationship with Ji Zeqiu, she had indeed developed feelings for him.


    Ji Zeqiu was completely indifferent to her, yet she refused further training because of that petty thought.


    Seeing Shen Qingtang¡¯s silence, Lin Xu knew she had guessed correctly.


    ¡°Giving up your career for love is not advisable. You are the only one responsible for your life, and no man should stop our progress. It¡¯s very important for women to be independent. I don¡¯t want you to look back and regret this,¡± Lin Xu said.


    This was originally someone else¡¯s business, and Lin Xu shouldn¡¯t have interfered or tried to dissuade her.


    But seeing Shen Qingtang¡¯s behavior reminded her of the tragedy of the young daughter in the drama due to being blinded by love, which evoked a sense of empathy. This, along with the previous incident about Ji Zeqiu asking her for a blood donation, made her feel somewhat guilty towards her.


    Lin Xu couldn¡¯t resist and wanted to give her some advice.


    ¡°Moreover,¡± Lin Xu whispered mysteriously into Shen Qingtang¡¯s ear, ¡°Ji Zeqiu is just a conceited kid who throws a tantrum over anything not to his liking and always likes to argue with his brother¡­ He¡¯s no match for a mature and charming man. We don¡¯t need to be fixated on him, right?¡±


    Lost in thought, Shen Qingtang looked up and through the floor-to-ceiling window into the living room.


    Ji Zeqiu was carelessly dealing with a dinner box on the table, throwing it into the trash can. The juice from the box leaked onto his hands, and his brow furrowed immediately, his face showing a sign of irritability, completely lacking any composure.


    At that moment, Ji Zeqiu seemed to notice their gaze and looked up.


    Upon seeing someone¡¯s face, the irritation on his face retreated entirely. His dark eyes were like a pool of spring water, shimmering, and the forcefully suppressed corners of his lips could not hide the happiness on his face.


    Shen Qingtang¡¯s heart still uncontrollably jerked for a moment.


    Then she saw Lin Xu next to her, helplessly rubbing her forehead and walking over, ¡°Stop grinning, and wipe the table too.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡±


    Ji Zeqiu hummed twice and dragged his voice as he went to the kitchen to get a rag.


    After cleaning the living room, Lin Xu dragged Ji Zeqiu away.


    Before leaving, Lin Xu still left a word: ¡°Think carefully about what I just told you, don¡¯t be so hasty to refuse.¡±


    ¡°Okay, thank you,¡± Shen Qingtang nodded.


    ¡°What were you talking about?¡± Ji Zeqiu wondered.


    ¡°Nothing.¡±


    ¡°You actually have something to hide from me!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t pry into girls¡¯ matters.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Ji Zeqiu pouted, then as if nonchalantly added, ¡°Tomorrow I have to go record a variety show at the TV station. It just so happens that I have an extra ticket no one wants. It would be a waste to leave it, so I¡¯ll give it to you.¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow I have plans with a friend and won¡¯t be available. Why don¡¯t you give it to Ting Yang?¡±


    ¡°That guy doesn¡¯t deserve to watch my show!¡± Ji Zeqiu roared, then after a while he reacted, ¡°Wait, which friend are you going shopping with, a guy or a girl?!¡±


    ¡°A girl.¡±


    Only then did Ji Zeqiu relax, yet he still felt a bit jealous.


    He had rarely invited his mother to watch his show¡¯s filming, and she had actually declined.


    What friend could be more important than her most beloved son.


    The next day.


    As soon as Lin Xu arrived at a chic caf¨¦, a figure suddenly pounced on her.


    ¡°Lin Xu, you¡¯re finally here!¡±


    Ji Yuqiao hugged her arm, her bright eyes sparkling as she looked at her.

 Chapter 110 - Chapter 110: Chapter 110 I want to introduce someone to you

    Chapter 110: Chapter 110 I want to introduce someone to you


    ¡°`


    After her brief encounter with Xiao Yu last time, Ji Yuqiao began to admire Lin Xu.


    ¡°Strategist, you¡¯re amazing!¡± Ji Yuqiao eagerly handed the coffee in front of her over to Lin Xu, clasping her hands in front of her chest, her eyes sparkling, ¡°Do you have any other strategies?¡±


    Lin Xu smiled, ¡°There should be one more.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± Ji Yuqiao couldn¡¯t wait.


    Lin Xu: ¡°You¡¯re going to the city¡¯s math competition at the end of the month, right?¡±


    Ji Yuqiao nodded.


    Lin Xu: ¡°Defeat him at the competition, make him admire you completely.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ the competition is so difficult, and he has been selected for the national competition for three consecutive years, and he has won first place.¡± Ji Yuqiao hesitated, ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯m good enough¡­¡±


    ¡°If you were able to get the second place in the school competition within two months, it shows that you have a solid foundation and the ability, don¡¯t sell yourself short.¡± Lin Xu said.


    Ji Yuqiao was still hesitant.


    ¡°If¡­¡± Lin Xu looked at her with a bright smile, ¡°you really get the first place, I¡¯ll give you another gift, how about that?¡±


    A gift?


    Thinking of the orange dress she liked so much, Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes immediately lit up, ¡°What gift? What is it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a secret, you¡¯ll have to wait until you get first place before I can tell you.¡± Lin Xu winked at her.


    ¡°It¡¯s a deal!¡± Ji Yuqiao said happily.


    She didn¡¯t realize that her reason for wanting to get first place had changed from gaining Xiao Yu¡¯s attention to wanting to receive Lin Xu¡¯s gift.


    After talking about her own matters, Ji Yuqiao asked about Lin Xu.


    ¡°Last time you said, that friend who never replied to your messages, has he replied now?¡± Ji Yuqiao asked.


    ¡°He replied.¡± Lin Xu¡¯s expression was subtly complex as she took out her phone and showed it to Ji Yuqiao.


    [Do you have time tomorrow? Can I take you out for a meal?]


    [Why don¡¯t you reply to my messages? Are you replying to others now, and it¡¯s finally my turn?]


    [Why are you ignoring me? Is it against the law for you to reply to me?]


    In the chat window with Xie Changyan, most of the messages were from her, with a rare couple of replies that he couldn¡¯t resist sending.


    Xie: [..]


    Looking at the chat history, Ji Yuqiao contemplated for a moment before consoling Lin Xu, ¡°At least there¡¯s one more period than before, that¡¯s a good start, keep it up!¡±


    Lin Xu offered a resigned smile and put away her phone, ¡°Forget it.¡±


    She¡¯d sent so many messages, if he wanted to reply, he would have done so long ago.


    For Lin Xu to thick-skinnedly send that many messages was already her limit.


    Even if Xie Changyan really was her husband, how could he ignore her and show absolutely no reaction?


    He had clearly once said that even if he forgot about her in the next life, he would still be smitten with her, sticking to her persistently.


    ¡°No matter where I am, I will always fall for you at first sight.¡±


    Lin Xu¡¯s mind flashed back to his proposal, and a sweet smile unconsciously spread across her lips.


    Ji Yuqiao comforted her, ¡°You¡¯re so nice, if he still doesn¡¯t reply to your messages, he¡¯s definitely a jerk. When I see him later, I¡¯ll scold him for you!¡±


    ¡°Okay, thank you.¡± Lin Xu responded with a slight smile.


    Matching Lin Xu¡¯s smile, Ji Yuqiao¡¯s ears turned red, and she chuckled unconsciously.


    Meanwhile, she decided in her heart to scold him a couple more times for Lin Xu.


    ¡°I suddenly have something to take care of and need to go back home; I can¡¯t go shopping with you.¡± Lin Xu said.


    After spending two hours with Lin Xu, Ji Yuqiao felt reluctant to part as they said goodbye.


    She had originally planned to stay until the evening and have dinner with Lin Xu before returning to school.


    ¡°`


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, then we¡¯ll make another date for next time.¡±


    Lin Xu saw her off to the taxi and waved goodbye.


    The car sped towards the Ji Mansion.


    As soon as Ji Yuqiao got out of the car, she hastily greeted the butler and then dashed upstairs to her bedroom, like a gust of wind sweeping through the living room.


    The butler stood in the yard, his hand paused from watering the plants, rubbing his eyes in disbelief as if he couldn¡¯t believe what he saw.


    He hadn¡¯t seen wrongly, had he?


    The young miss had returned?


    The butler set down the watering can and hurriedly ran to inform Ji Tingyang in the study.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s usually impassive face showed a flicker of surprise when he heard the news.


    He went to Ji Yuqiao¡¯s bedroom and saw her rummaging through her bookshelf, pulling out books and notes, scattering them on the floor.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s mind suddenly flashed back to the last time Ji Zeqiu was doing the same, searching for Lin Xu¡¯s photos, and the veins on his forehead twitched.


    ¡°What are you looking for?¡± Ji Tingyang asked.


    ¡°Notes from high school,¡± Ji Yuqiao replied without looking up or stopping her search.


    Ji Yuqiao had been an excellent student in high school, always ranking at the top of her class, until she met Xiao Yu in university and devoted all her attention to him, neglecting her studies.


    She had also participated in math and physics competitions in high school and had made quite a few notes.


    Since she had promised Lin Xu to work hard, she wanted to find them to study.


    ¡°Oh,¡± said Ji Tingyang, standing at the doorway, responding briefly as he watched Ji Yuqiao. But his thoughts drifted to Lin Xu.


    His mother had always wanted him to call his sister back for a family meeting.


    But due to his wishes, his mother had been accommodating him and hadn¡¯t asked his sister to return.


    Now that she had come back on her own accord, should he ask their mother to return as well¡­


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s thoughts were a tangled mess.


    While he was hesitating, Ji Yuqiao had already found her notes and was getting up to leave.


    The words Ji Tingyang had on the tip of his tongue suddenly shifted, ¡°Why have you changed clothes?¡±


    Ever since entering university, Ji Yuqiao had always worn simple shirts and pants, like a frugal student managing her family¡¯s budget.


    Ji Tingyang had made so much money, not for her to be frugal with herself.


    But no matter what he and Ji Zeqiu said, they couldn¡¯t convince her otherwise.


    However, now she was wearing an orange dress and had returned to her previous, meticulous appearance.


    Seeing him looking at her dress, Ji Yuqiao smiled and twirled, lifting her skirt, ¡°How is it? Isn¡¯t it very pretty? A friend gave it to me.¡±


    Her tone was laced with a hint of pride.


    She had worn it specially to show Lin Xu today, but inadvertently gave Ji Tingyang a peek as well.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Ji Tingyang replied noncommittally.


    ¡°No taste,¡± Ji Yuqiao snorted with a roll of her eyes, checked the time, and said, ¡°I have a class tonight, I¡¯m going back to campus now. Have the maid tidy up my room, will you?¡±


    ¡°Wait,¡± Ji Tingyang called out to her, ¡°I¡¯ve asked Aunt Zhang to make more food; have dinner before you go back to school.¡±


    ¡°No need,¡± Ji Yuqiao dismissed with a wave of her hand.


    ¡°I wanted to introduce someone to you.¡±


    Ji Tingyang finally opened up, the pressure and worries of many days dissipating with the breath he let out.


    No sooner had the words left his mouth,


    than Ji Yuqiao¡¯s hand froze mid-air, her voice wary as she asked, ¡°Who?¡±

 Chapter 111 - Chapter 111: Chapter 111: Did You Really Fall?

    Chapter 111: Chapter 111: Did You Really Fall?


    Ji Tingyang thought about when their mother had died; his sister had been young, her childhood bearing no memories of their mother, unlike him and Ji Zeqiu.


    Now, telling her that their mother had come back, resurrected from the dead, she would probably think he was either crazy or had met a scammer.


    Should he just tell her it was a friend?


    As Ji Tingyang hesitated on how to explain, Ji Yuqiao was already growing impatient.


    ¡°Who is it, anyway? If you don¡¯t tell me, I¡¯m leaving.¡±


    She clutched her notebook and hurried past Ji Tingyang, who stood at the door, and quickly left.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have the driver take you to school later,¡± Ji Tingyang called after her, but the faster he spoke, the quicker she walked until he sharply shouted her name, ¡°Ji Lanyue.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s steps halted suddenly, then she frowned slightly, turned around with a displeased look, and glared at Ji Tingyang, ¡°I¡¯ve changed my name a long time ago. Don¡¯t call me by my old name.¡±


    ¡°What about your name change? Your mother chose that too,¡± Ji Tingyang replied steadily, his dark eyes casually glanced at Ji Yuqiao, carrying an air of authority that didn¡¯t need anger to be imposing.


    Every time she faced this version of Ji Tingyang, her heart trembled with fear.


    Like a naughty child facing a strict parent.


    As a child, mischievous as she was, she followed her classmates to swim in the river and was nearly swept away by the rapid currents, which led the teacher to notify her parents.


    When she got home, she saw Ji Tingyang¡¯s stern face, his demeanour as cold as ice, casting a shadow over her heart.


    Ji Yuqiao pursed her lips, lacking the courage to argue any further, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, but I really need to get back to school or I¡¯ll be late for class tonight. You can introduce your friend some other time.¡±


    With that, she dashed off, running as if a fierce beast were chasing her, not looking back.


    Once out of the villa¡¯s gate, Ji Yuqiao patted her chest, still frightened.


    She took out her phone and sent a message to Lin Xu.


    Raining Qiao: [It was terrifying, I just went home and my brother said he wants to introduce me to someone.]


    Raining Qiao: [From what I¡¯ve seen on TV, usually in this kind of situation, it¡¯s about matchmaking. Good thing I ran fast!]


    This wasn¡¯t the first time something like this had happened.


    Because Ji Tingyang disapproved of her clinging to Xiao Yu all day, he had introduced her to a young master from Zhao¡¯s household, saying it was to broaden her horizons and meet outstanding men, instead of always pining over a poor boy.


    Ji Tingyang arranged for her to meet Young Master Zhao by Century Lake, but that day Ji Yuqiao heard Xiao Yu was working part-time at a restaurant and ran over to find him, completely forgetting about meeting Zhao.


    By the time Ji Yuqiao remembered, it was already evening.


    He must have left after waiting an hour or two, right?


    Ji Yuqiao nervously thought to herself, and after waiting for a long time without any sign of Young Master Zhao seeking out her brother, she gradually relaxed, while silently despising Ji Tingyang¡¯s meddling behavior.


    Little did she expect, after such a long time, her brother had ¡°relapsed.¡±


    Lin Xu was a bit surprised to see the message.


    Willow Wadding: [How old are you even, to start thinking about matchmaking?]


    Raining Qiao: [Exactly, everyone advocates for free love these days.]


    Willow Wadding: [Good thing you ran fast.]


    Raining Qiao: [Good thing I¡¯m clever.]


    While Lin Xu and Ji Yuqiao¡¯s exchange of messages was heated, it was quite chilly on Xie Changyan¡¯s end.


    On the golf course, Xie Changyan sat under a sun umbrella, frequently glancing at his phone.


    Su Linzhou approached with a golf club from not far away and asked in confusion, ¡°Are you waiting for someone¡¯s message?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Xie Changyan leaned back in his chair with a languid expression, crossing his long legs and tapping his phone absentmindedly on the table.


    Su Linzhou didn¡¯t think much of it, casually placing his cue on the side of the table while chatting about a few beauties he had met on the lawn.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s eyes slightly closed, responding half-heartedly.


    ¡°They invited me to the bar tonight, how about it, wanna come along and have fun?¡± Su Linzhou continued talking about those beauties, winking at him.


    ¡°I won¡¯t go,¡± Xie Changyan, predictably, refused.


    ¡°You really have no luck with women,¡± Su Linzhou shook his head.


    ¡°Your luck with women isn¡¯t shallow, just make sure you don¡¯t end up catching more than good fortune,¡± Xie Changyan sneered.


    ¡°Dude, don¡¯t jinx me!¡± Su Linzhou shivered in fear.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll introduce you to a good doctor if it comes to that, friend¡¯s price,¡± Xie Changyan¡¯s narrowing, beautiful eyes carried a hint of chill, ¡°Even if it¡¯s incurable, I¡¯ll burn a few more beauties for you in front of your tombstone, so you won¡¯t be so lonely down there.¡±


    Su Linzhou couldn¡¯t take it anymore, somewhat losing his composure, ¡°Brother, did you eat firecrackers today? You¡¯re so snappy.¡±


    He had often said similar things to Xie Changyan before, and at that time Xie Changyan would usually just listen silently, throwing in a teasing comment or two.


    Unlike now, it was almost as if he was burying him in ridicule.


    Xie Changyan remained silent.


    Suddenly.


    The phone vibrated once, as a message came in.


    He opened his eyes, checked WeChat, saw the irrelevant content, and then locked the screen, a trace of irritation flickering in his brown eyes.


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t be waiting for Lin Xu¡¯s message, would you?¡± Su Linzhou suddenly realized.


    Xie Changyan: ¡°¡­¡±


    Su Linzhou shocked, ¡°Brother, you didn¡¯t really fall for her, did you!¡±


    Recently, he had occasionally seen messages from Lin Xu on Xie Changyan¡¯s phone, and he felt somewhat resentful about it.


    She clearly already had a boyfriend, why keep messaging Xie Changyan?


    Trying to play the field wasn¡¯t supposed to be so blatant.


    Fortunately, Xie Changyan was sober, knew his limits, and hadn¡¯t responded to her.


    Lin Xu seemed to have given up too.


    But it turned out his own brother had never been sober at all.


    ¡°She has a boyfriend, you need to stay calm!¡± Su Linzhou felt as if struck by lightning, his mind all muddled.


    The noise from Su Linzhou made Xie Changyan¡¯s head buzz, his irritable tone growing colder, ¡°What if I can¡¯t stay calm.¡±


    Su Linzhou froze on the spot, throat seemingly losing its voice, opening his mouth but unable to utter a word.


    After a long while, he found his voice again, with an indescribable look, ¡°If you really like her that much¡­ maybe just go for it.¡±


    Xie Changyan¡¯s gaze turned deep as he looked at him.


    ¡°After all, neither of you are married, and even if it¡¯s a relationship, they can end in break-ups, right?¡± Su Linzhou, seeing his friend hopelessly in love, reluctantly gave him a piece of advice, ¡°With your qualifications, you¡¯re much better than Ji Tingyang. If she¡¯s not blind, she¡¯d definitely choose you and break up with Ji Tingyang.¡±


    ¡°Then, you¡¯d really get the beauty in the end.¡±


    Listening to his words, Xie Changyan¡¯s eyes lowered slightly, as if pondering something.


    A faint string in his heart was touched.

 Chapter 112 - Chapter 112: Chapter 112: A Wolf in Sheeps Clothing Behind the Scenes

    Chapter 112: Chapter 112: A Wolf in Sheep¡¯s Clothing Behind the Scenes


    Words from Su Linzhou kept echoing in Xie Changyan¡¯s head¡ª¡±The man is not married, the woman not yet wed.¡±


    ¡°Love also has its breakups¡­¡±


    And there are divorces after marriage, he added silently to himself.


    Xie Changyan looked at the chatbox of Lin Xu¡¯s friend and fell into deep conflict.


    His fingertips hovered over the chatbox, yet after a long while, he didn¡¯t type a single word.


    He irritably tugged at his tie, with a brooding demeanor.


    Seeing him so moody these past few days, Su Linzhou suggested they go to the countryside to relax: ¡°I have a friend who opened a new equestrian center in the suburbs. He¡¯s inviting me to help warm up the place this weekend. Why don¡¯t you come along? It¡¯ll be a good chance to unwind.¡±


    Xie Changyan pocketed his phone and agreed.


    However, neither of them expected to encounter Lin Xu at the equestrian center.


    Lin Xu, dressed in British equestrian attire, looked spirited and handsome atop her horse. Led by the instructor, she rode the white horse around the equestrian center, her face brimming with a joyful smile.


    Such a coincidence?


    If this visit to the equestrian center hadn¡¯t been a spontaneous decision, Su Linzhou would have suspected that she was deliberately following Xie Changyan.


    ¡°You two¡­¡± as Su Linzhou turned to speak, he saw Xie Changyan¡¯s gaze almost stuck on her.


    He cleared his throat, ¡°Her riding seems quite unpracticed, like a beginner. Why don¡¯t you go over and give some pointers?¡±


    Xie Changyan withdrew his gaze and gave him a penetrating look, ¡°How about you go?


    Then he turned and entered the changing room for riding attire.


    ¡°Tsk, putting on an act now,¡± Su Linzhou clicked his tongue, followed him into the changing room one after the other, and complained while walking, ¡°If I really went to give pointers, wouldn¡¯t you want to kill me?¡±


    After changing into riding attire, Xie Changyan chose a spirited horse. With sharp movements, he vaulted into the saddle, skillfully took up the reins, and galloped off, displaying a dashing and formidable demeanor.


    The sound of horse hooves approached from behind, drawing nearer. Lin Xu looked back curiously and when she realized the rider was Xie Changyan, a flicker of surprise passed through her smiling eyes.


    She had also not expected him to be there.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s horse charged forward, swiftly overtaking Lin Xu and racing away with a whoosh.


    His posture was exceedingly graceful.


    A look of astonishment surfaced on Lin Xu¡¯s face.


    After a while, she suddenly remembered all those messages she sent that had fallen on deaf ears, and her previously cheer-filled expression immediately darkened.


    ¡°I¡¯m a bit tired and want to rest for a bit,¡± Lin Xu told the instructor.


    The instructor nodded, led the horse back to the entrance, and then helped Lin Xu dismount.


    Lin Xu found a secluded rest table and had just taken a few sips of water when a figure took a seat across from her.


    With a beaming smile, Su Linzhou looked at her, ¡°Miss Lin, do you remember me?¡±


    Lin Xu nodded, ¡°Young Master Su.¡±


    A friend of Xie Changyan, she had met him once before at the club and still had some impression.


    ¡°It¡¯s an honor to be remembered by such a beautiful lady,¡± Su Linzhou said with a smile. ¡°Are you here by yourself, Miss Lin? How about joining us? Xie Changyan is quite skilled at horseback riding; he could teach you later.¡±


    ¡°No need, I came here with Ji Tingyang, and he stepped away to take a call; he¡¯ll be back later,¡± Lin Xu replied.


    Receiving no response time and again, Lin Xu had lost the patience to continue probing and declined outright.


    ¡°So President Ji is also here, huh? Can he ride? If not, I could teach him later, and Xie Changyan can teach you. The four of us together would be just right,¡± Su Linzhou still did not give up and continued to suggest with a smile.


    Thinking to himself, for his brother¡¯s happiness, he was willing to go all out.


    Lin Xu gave him a subtly complex look.


    Just as Su Linzhou was about to lose his patience, Xie Changyan had already come back riding a horse, hurriedly waving to him, ¡°Over here, over here.¡±


    Xie Changyan saw Lin Xu, hesitated for a moment, but still walked over.


    He sat down on a chair, leisurely poured himself a cup of tea, and savored it slowly.


    Su Linzhou rolled his eyes inwardly.


    When they were alone, he was so irritable that he would snap at anyone; now that the main character had arrived, he started to put on an act.


    Su Linzhou silently mocked but still enthusiastically helped his brother create opportunities, ¡°Miss Lin, what do you usually like to do? Maybe we share similar interests and could hang out sometime.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have any particular hobbies, but I like to try anything new,¡± Lin Xu said.


    ¡°Anything new?¡± Su Linzhou¡¯s eyes brightened, ¡°How about trying racing?¡±


    Lin Xu was surprised, ¡°You guys race, too?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we often hang out at the racetrack south of the city. If you¡¯re interested, I¡¯ll have Xie Changyan take you next time. His skills are the best among us.¡± Su Linzhou sneakily kicked the nonchalant Xie Changyan, urging him to speak up.


    Xie Changyan raised an eyebrow lazily, his voice deep, ¡°Hmm, if you want to go, you can call me.¡±


    ¡°Do you really like racing?¡± Lin Xu asked.


    ¡°Indeed, I¡¯m quite interested.¡±


    Hearing that he liked racing, a brief flash of excitement passed through Lin Xu¡¯s eyes, completely forgetting that he had previously snubbed her, and she excitedly inquired about other hobbies, ¡°What else do you like to do? Like mountain climbing?¡±


    As Xie Changyan looked at Lin Xu¡¯s sparkling, clear eyes, a chord in his heart was gently plucked, and he unconsciously swallowed.


    Whatever his intentions of keeping his distance, under Su Linzhou¡¯s encouragement and Lin Xu¡¯s joyful gaze, all were cast aside.


    ¡°I am not too interested in mountain climbing; occasionally, I go abroad to see the aurora,¡± Xie Changyan said.


    ¡°Then do you have any books you like to read?¡±


    ¡°There are a few¡­¡±


    Seeing Xie Changyan so cooperative for the first time, Lin Xu hurriedly asked all she wanted to know.


    Watching the two of them getting increasingly engaged in their conversation, Su Linzhou felt extremely satisfied on the side.


    Until the person he had forgotten made an appearance.


    ¡°What are you guys doing?¡±


    A cold and piercing voice interrupted their conversation.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s face was dark as he strode over.


    Su Linzhou¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    Damn.


    He had forgotten about her actual boyfriend.


    ¡°Are you done with your call?¡± Lin Xu pulled Ji Tingyang to sit beside her, poked his cheek, ¡°We¡¯re just chatting, don¡¯t be so cold all the time.¡±


    Ji Tingyang grabbed Lin Xu¡¯s hand, holding it tightly and glared at Xie Changyan with hostility and suspicion, ¡°Don¡¯t talk to just anybody. Some people may seem honorable on the surface but are beasts at heart.¡±


    He still remembered that this man had tried to kiss her while taking advantage of his mother being drunk.


    Xie Changyan watched their intertwined hands, and the indifferent look in his eyes deepened.


    The cheerful atmosphere had suddenly turned ice-cold upon Ji Tingyang¡¯s arrival.


    Su Linzhou instantly tensed up, his palms sweating slightly.


    A beast at heart?


    Could it be that Ji Tingyang already knew about Xie Changyan¡¯s intention to steal his girl?

 Chapter 113 - Chapter 113: Chapter 113: Why Not Do a Paternity Test?

    Chapter 113: Chapter 113: Why Not Do a Paternity Test?


    Ting Yang¡¯s eyes sparked with uncontrollable rage as they met Xie Changyan¡¯s cool, insincere gaze, filling the air with the scent of gunpowder.


    Su Linzhou looked left and right, his heart pounding with fear.


    If these two started fighting, should he step in and help his brother?


    The three men present each had their own ulterior motives.


    Lin Xu, feeling out of the loop, questioned, ¡°What animal in human clothing?¡±


    ¡°No, nothing,¡± Ting Yang paused, his eyes flickering, ¡°I was just saying there are so many villains out there, you must be careful about your safety.¡±


    Lin Xu couldn¡¯t remember that incident, and Ting Yang didn¡¯t want to tell her.


    As long as his mother was happy and fortunate, staying by his side was enough; all other troublesome matters were for him to bear alone.


    If Ting Yang didn¡¯t want to talk about it, Xie Changyan naturally wouldn¡¯t bring it up either.


    That kiss that night was indeed inappropriate, and knowing she was not fully conscious, he had still thought to take advantage of her.


    His slender fingers lifted the teacup from the table. He touched it to his lips and took a sip of tea, concealing a fleeting look of regret in his eyes.


    Just as the atmosphere reached a rigid climax, the instructor who had been teaching Lin Xu to ride a horse approached.


    ¡°Miss Lin, a guest has taken an interest in the white horse you were riding earlier. Do you think that white horse is suitable, or should we reserve it for you?¡±


    Lin Xu looked conflicted, still undecided, when Ting Yang spoke up.


    ¡°No need, that horse isn¡¯t suitable. I¡¯ll pick a more gentle one for her.¡±


    He had noticed Lin Xu¡¯s situation while riding during the interval when he had made a phone call.


    The white horse had a stubborn temperament, unsuitable for her.


    She had ridden for a while and still hadn¡¯t grasped any skills.


    ¡°Okay,¡± the instructor nodded and walked away.


    Ting Yang didn¡¯t want to waste the time he could be spending with his mother on irrelevant people, so he stood up, intending to go and pick another horse with Lin Xu.


    ¡°Hey! President Ji, you sound like you have a lot of experience with horses. How about you pick a good horse for me too?¡± Su Linzhou suddenly stood up, slinging an arm around Ting Yang¡¯s neck and walking towards the stables.


    ¡°I¡¯m busy,¡± Ting Yang frowned, trying to remove his hand, only to find Su Linzhou¡¯s grip surprisingly strong.


    Pushed along by Su Linzhou, Ting Yang walked toward the stables.


    Xie Changyan glanced inexplicably at Su Linzhou¡¯s back.


    He wasn¡¯t a novice; how could he still not know how to pick a horse?


    Suddenly.


    Su Linzhou turned his head, threw a meaningful look at Xie Changyan, and then wildly blinked at Lin Xu standing beside him.


    Brother, go for it.


    Make good use of this chance to be alone.


    Don¡¯t waste my sacrifice!


    Xie Changyan: ¡°¡­¡±


    Those bizarre gestures, yet he could decipher them all.


    ¡°What is he gesturing to you?¡± Lin Xu also saw his movements and asked, puzzled.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Xie Changyan pursed his lips, choosing to ignore Su Linzhou¡¯s intentions, sitting undisturbed on the chair.


    ¡°Oh.¡± Lin Xu shrugged nonchalantly, resting her cheek on her hand, her expression bored as she watched people riding outside.


    Xie Changyan lounged lazily on the chair back, eyes closed, occasionally tapping his fingers on the table, seemingly rejuvenating himself.


    A fragrance wafted into his nose, reminding him of Lin Xu¡¯s presence.


    A restless emotion in his chest wouldn¡¯t settle down.


    His brow slightly furrowed, he finally gave up on the rejuvenation, abruptly opening his eyes.


    The lovely visage of Chuntao burst into his vision, her eyes shining with liquid brightness, seductive as silk. In the moment of their encounter, it stirred a thousand waves, drowning him in an irresistible trance.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple visibly bobbed, and the heat inside him seethed fiercely, as if it would surge out of his chest the next second and spiral out of control.


    He hadn¡¯t expected to get caught while sneaking a peek.


    A hint of embarrassment crossed Lin Xu¡¯s face as she sat back down and let out a few awkward chuckles.


    After a moment, Xie Changyan suppressed the emotions in his eyes and resumed his previous relaxed demeanor, casually asking, ¡°Shall we go horseback riding?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d like to,¡± Lin Xu nodded, ¡°but I don¡¯t have a horse right now.¡±


    Ji Tingyang had gone to pick one for her and hadn¡¯t returned yet.


    ¡°Ride mine,¡± Xie Changyan offered.


    The spirited horse he had been riding hadn¡¯t been taken back to the stables yet and was tied up at the entrance.


    Lin Xu¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up, but then dimmed again as she hesitated, ¡°I don¡¯t know how to ride by myself.¡±


    Xie Changyan had already stood up and nodded towards that direction, ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll teach you.¡±


    Lin Xu hurriedly followed Xie Changyan¡¯s pace.


    Lin Xu stepped into the stirrup and, with the help of the hands clasped around her waist, smoothly mounted onto the horse.


    Xie Changyan stood below, holding the reins, his deep voice intermittently guiding her movements, ¡°Keep your body upright, don¡¯t lean forward or backward, balance your weight evenly on both sides¡­¡±


    ¡°When the horse trots, make sure to press down on the stirrups, slightly lift your buttocks¡­¡±


    Xie Changyan¡¯s instructions were effective, and within a short while, Lin Xu was already able to ride the spirited horse around the field on her own.


    ¡°Look, I can ride by myself now!¡±


    A radiant smile spread across Lin Xu¡¯s face, her eyes curving into crescents.


    Unintentionally, Xie Changyan¡¯s lips curled up at the corners, the gloom that had lingered in his heart for days seemed to dissipate with her bright smile, easing his mood.


    Lin Xu circled back to where he was standing.


    ¡°Do you want to come down, or continue?¡± he stretched out his hand to hold the reins.


    ¡°Um¡­¡±


    While Lin Xu hesitated, a hand suddenly reached out and snatched the reins from Xie Changyan¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Young Master Xie, I really appreciate your help, but I¡¯ll take over from here,¡± Ji Tingyang said with an icy face and a cool frost covering his expression.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he indifferently turned and walked back to the rest area.


    Su Linzhou followed him, his face full of worry, ¡°How are you two getting along? I really went out on a limb to get you this little bit of time.¡±


    Ji Tingyang was as cold as ice throughout, using every excuse he could to delay facing the murderous glares.


    Xie Changyan remained silent.


    Over at the horse arena.


    Ji Tingyang led the horse by the reins, his expression sour, ¡°This horse isn¡¯t good, I¡¯ve found another, more docile horse for you; go ride that one.¡±


    ¡°I think it¡¯s pretty good though,¡± she had ridden a whole lap with no issues.


    ¡°Not good, not good at all.¡±


    Lin Xu smiled and, knowing he had objections to Xie Changyan, appeased him, ¡°Alright, alright, let¡¯s switch then.¡±


    Ji Tingyang helped her down from the horse and looked at her cheeks, repeatedly hesitating to speak.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lin Xu noticed his unusual behavior.


    ¡°Mother, can you please not get so close to Xie Changyan? That man definitely has ulterior motives¡­¡± Ji Tingyang gritted his teeth.


    ¡°But don¡¯t you think he resembles your father?¡± Lin Xu asked.


    Ji Tingyang paused, recalling that there indeed were some resemblances, but then immediately denied it, ¡°Impossible, he definitely isn¡¯t!¡±


    ¡°But I think he looks like him,¡± Lin Xu sighed.


    Knowing Lin Xu missed her father too much, Ji Tingyang pursed his lips.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t believe it, how about I do a paternity test with him?¡±

 Chapter 114 - Chapter 114: Chapter 114: Suspecting That My Older Brother Has Another Woman Outside

    Chapter 114: Chapter 114: Suspecting That My Older Brother Has Another Woman Outside


    Paternity test?


    Lin Xu was stunned for a moment when she heard this.


    ¡°Is this method feasible?¡± she asked uncertainly.


    ¡°If he really is the father, it will definitely work,¡± Ji Tingyang believed firmly.


    When his mother came back, wasn¡¯t it through a paternity test that their relationship was confirmed? If Xie Changyan was his father, then it would definitely work as well.


    Lin Xu was hesitant.


    ¡°If the result of the test proves that he is the father, then naturally it¡¯s best. If not, you can also eliminate one possibility, can¡¯t you?¡± Ji Tingyang said.


    If the result turns out not in favor, mother wouldn¡¯t have to think about Xie Changyan all the time anymore.


    Just earlier, his mother didn¡¯t even wait for him and went horseback riding with Xie Changyan so intimately.


    The more Ji Tingyang thought about it, the angrier he became.


    He wished Xie Changyan would disappear from his mother¡¯s sight.


    After a long struggle, Lin Xu finally agreed to his suggestion, ¡°Alright, but how do we do a paternity test?¡±


    If she directly asked Xie Changyan to take a paternity test with Ji Tingyang.


    She would definitely be treated like an idiot, wouldn¡¯t she?


    Ji Tingyang thought for a moment, ¡°It would be much easier if we could get a hold of something like his hair.¡±


    Hair?


    Lin Xu¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up, ¡°I have an idea!¡±


    With that, she hurriedly ran in the direction Xie Changyan had left.


    Luckily, Xie Changyan had just changed out of his riding attire and hadn¡¯t left the racecourse yet.


    ¡°Wait a moment!¡± Lin Xu quickly called out to him.


    Xie Changyan paused in his step, a fleeting look of surprise in his eyes.


    ¡°How did she catch up?¡± Su Linzhou was also surprised but then seemed to think of something, grinning and winking at Xie Changyan, ¡°She must be unable to part with you and came over to say she broke up with Ji Tingyang, perhaps?¡±


    Xie Changyan glanced at him, his handsome brow and eyes cold as ice.


    Su Linzhou immediately got the hint and shut his mouth.


    No longer daring to speak recklessly.


    Xie Changyan took steps toward Lin Xu.


    He looked around for a few moments and did not spot Ji Tingyang.


    ¡°Are you going back now?¡± asked Lin Xu.


    ¡°Hmm, is there something you need?¡± Xie Changyan¡¯s tone was nonchalant as he slightly pursed his lips.


    ¡°I¡¯d like to ask you for a favor¡­¡± Lin Xu looked at him, a blush of embarrassment rising on her face.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s hand pocketed, clenched for a moment as his gaze shifting slightly, his voice deepening, ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Can I pluck a strand of your hair?¡±


    ¡°¡­ What?¡± Xie Changyan choked up, momentarily thinking he had misheard.


    ¡°Just one strand of hair, that¡¯s all! I definitely won¡¯t use it for anything bad, can I?¡± Lin Xu¡¯s eyes were full of pleading, shining brightly.


    Xie Changyan, the words of refusal stuck in his throat, could only watch helplessly as Lin Xu¡¯s figure got closer and closer.


    Lin Xu tip-toed, her fair arm reaching toward his hair.


    The warm breath on his cheek felt like a feather, ticklish and numbing.


    As her scent madly surged into his nostrils, becoming even more intense, an inexplicable restlessness stirred in Xie Changyan¡¯s mind.


    Just as he was about to grasp Lin Xu, she suddenly stepped back several steps, putting distance between them.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got it, just one hair,¡± Lin Xu pinched the hair, waving it in front of him.


    Whether it was because of something else that caught his attention, pulling out a hair didn¡¯t cause Xie Changyan any pain at all.


    ¡°Thank you so much.¡± Just like using him until she got what she needed, Lin Xu ran off immediately after plucking the hair.


    Xie Changyan heaved out a deep sigh.


    Turning around, he faced Su Linzhou¡¯s eyes full of teasing.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Su Linzhou said with a playful laugh, ¡°What do you think she¡¯s going to do with your hair? She couldn¡¯t possibly be thinking of taking it home to secretly tie a lovers¡¯ knot, could she? Like a married couple?¡±


    ¡°But you, you¡¯re usually so cautious. Not to mention pulling your hair, even the trash you¡¯ve used is handled carefully. How come you didn¡¯t utter a word when she wanted to pull out one of your hairs?¡±


    ¡°Tsk tsk, truly blinded by love, huh?¡±


    Su Linzhou¡¯s voice went on and on.


    Xie Changyan didn¡¯t respond; instead, he quickened his pace.


    When Lin Xu handed the hair to Ji Tingyang, a hint of shock crossed his eyes.


    Was it that easy?


    Did she get it just like that?


    ¡°This hair has the follicle; it will definitely work for a paternity test. You should take it and try,¡± Lin Xu said.


    Ji Tingyang nodded.


    Because she was anxious to get back and do the paternity test, Lin Xu lost the desire to continue strolling around the equestrian club and asked Ji Tingyang to drive back.


    On the way home, they passed a mall.


    Suddenly, Ji Tingyang remembered the clothes Lin Xu had custom-made and said to her, ¡°Do you want to go in and get the clothes?¡±


    Lin Xu: ¡°Okay.¡±


    Ji Tingyang parked the car at an open parking spot by the roadside, then he and Lin Xu got out and entered the mall.


    Ji Yuqiao sat in the caf¨¦ organizing her notes, resting, and her eyes wandered around.


    It was at this moment that she saw Ji Tingyang entering the mall across from her.


    Most importantly, next to her brother was a woman with a graceful figure, their movements intimate, appearing to be very close.


    Who was that woman?


    Ji Yuqiao couldn¡¯t make out her face clearly.


    But who else could it be beside Ji Tingyang if not Wen Li?!


    A rage surged in Ji Yuqiao¡¯s heart, and she breathed heavily, grinding her teeth.


    She then picked up her phone, intending to call Ji Tingyang and give him a piece of her mind.


    She opened WeChat, and there was a notification for an updated Moments post.


    It was from Wen Li.


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s face was filled with anger.


    She couldn¡¯t believe that she and Ji Tingyang were just out for a stroll, yet she had to show off on Moments!


    With the intention of reprimanding someone, Ji Yuqiao clicked on her Moments and was immediately dumbfounded.


    Wen Li had posted a photo of herself studying in the library, and the person next to her was Xiao Yu.


    Then who was the woman by her brother¡¯s side?


    Had Ji Tingyang really found someone new?


    Ji Yuqiao had heard some whispers and rumors before saying President Ji had abandoned his old flame for a new one, but she never took them seriously.


    After all, she knew Ji Tingyang the best.


    With Ji Tingyang¡¯s stubborn old ways, even she and Ji Zeqiu couldn¡¯t persuade him, how could a man who would forsake even his brother and sister for someone else abandon Wen Li for another woman?


    Yet today, Ji Yuqiao realized, this rumor might actually be true.


    She quickly gathered her books and stationery, slung her backpack over her shoulder, and ran to the mall across the street.


    She had to see who Ji Tingyang¡¯s new favorite was.


    What kind of unmatched beauty could make him give up on Wen Li.


    But no matter how Ji Yuqiao scoured the mall from the first floor to the sixth, she couldn¡¯t find Ji Tingyang and that woman.


    Had she arrived too late, had they already left?


    Ji Yuqiao felt stifled, pulled out her phone, and sent a message to Lin Xu.


    Raining Qiao: [My brother actually has another woman outside!]

 Chapter 115 - Chapter 115: Chapter 115 "Im not a love-brained person.

    Chapter 115: Chapter 115 ¡°I¡¯m not a love-brained person.


    Ji Yuqiao searched the mall twice, but she did not see Ji Tingyang, leaving in the end without any results.


    On her way back to school, she took out her phone and sent a message to Ji Zeqiu.


    Raining Qiao: ¡°Have you seen big brother¡¯s new love interest?¡±


    After waiting for a good fifteen minutes, Ji Zeqiu finally had a chance to reply after wrapping up his chores.


    Qiu: ¡°What new love interest?¡±


    Raining Qiao: ¡°I saw him shopping with another woman today, there must be a new romance!¡±


    Qiu: ¡°What did that woman look like?¡±


    Raining Qiao: ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but just from her silhouette, she looked quite attractive.¡±


    The woman¡¯s silhouette was graceful and captivating, her jet-black hair brushing past her waist, sketching out an enchanting curve, exuding a subtle and gentle beauty.


    With just a brief glance, Ji Yuqiao felt she was stunning.


    Ji Zeqiu looked at the message, his eyebrows slightly raised.


    If Ji Tingyang really had a new romantic interest, wouldn¡¯t that mean no one would fight him for their mother¡¯s attention?


    Feeling a bit excited at the thought, his typing speed increased a notch.


    Qiu: ¡°You go and investigate.¡±


    Raining Qiao: ¡°¡­I don¡¯t want to.¡±


    In Ji Yuqiao¡¯s heart, Ji Tingyang was the strictest of family heads, always displaying a gloomy face as if everyone owed him eight hundred million.


    Ji Yuqiao certainly wasn¡¯t eager to ask for trouble.


    As if afraid that Ji Zeqiu would urge her to inquire, she pocketed her phone and ignored the subsequent messages from him.


    She grumbled all the way back to school.


    With one week left until the city competition, teachers urgently told students to use their free time for self-study in the classroom.


    Ji Yuqiao arrived at the classroom as usual, but paused when she saw Wen Li sitting next to Xiao Yu.


    Because Ji Tingyang¡¯s situation had occupied her attention, she just now realized, belatedly remembering Wen Li¡¯s social media post, that they had actually spent the whole day together.


    A sudden indescribable displeasure surged in Ji Yuqiao¡¯s heart, though she had to maintain an indifferent facade.


    She chose a seat not far from Xiao Yu with a cold expression on her face.


    Xiao Yu was chatting with Wen Li, completely unaware of Ji Yuqiao¡¯s presence.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been focusing on preparing for the competition and also dealing with a lot of work at the studio, I¡¯ve neglected you¡­¡±


    A flicker of regret crossed his features.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, whenever I¡¯m free, I¡¯ll come to the classroom and accompany you in class,¡± Wen Li said with a light smile, lifting her lips, ¡°Don¡¯t rush with the studio; I believe you will be successful.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your support,¡± said Xiao Yu with a smile.


    Ji Yuqiao jabbed the pen she held fiercely into the paper, pursing her lips and huffing to herself.


    She had wished for Xiao Yu¡¯s studio to be successful before, so why didn¡¯t he thank her?


    Xiao Yu¡¯s voice carried over intermittently, ¡°The studio has just started recently. Besides looking for projects, we also need to find investors, we¡­¡±


    Find investors?


    Ji Yuqiao suddenly had an idea.


    ¡°I want to sell all my bags and invest in his studio!¡± The next day, Ji Yuqiao immediately shared this plan with Lin Xu.


    Lin Xu was her strategist, and her good friend, so whenever she had any idea, she liked to ask Lin Xu for advice.


    Lin Xu was shocked, ¡°Do you know how much money it takes to invest in a studio? The money from selling your bags won¡¯t be nearly enough.¡±


    So I might as well give up.


    However, before Lin Xu could voice her words of dissuasion, she heard her resolute speech.


    ¡°I still have a little spending money left from my brother,¡± Ji Yuqiao pondered and resolutely decided to hand over her savings, ¡°If that¡¯s still not enough, then I¡¯ll ask my brother.¡±


    On the other end of the phone, Lin Xu was silent for a moment before saying to her, ¡°Take a look at the message I just sent you on WeChat.¡±


    A message?


    Ji Yuqiao took her phone away from her ear, opened WeChat with confusion,


    and saw several pieces of news forwarded by Lin Xu.


    [Getting back two million, ¡°love-struck¡± beware!]


    [Blinded by love, rich young lady spends a fortune for love, ends up swindled of all her wealth!]


    ¡°¡­¡± After reading these news headlines, Ji Yuqiao silently protested, ¡°I¡¯m not love-struck.¡±


    Xiao Yu didn¡¯t want her money, and everything about the investment was her own volition.


    Moreover, Xiao Yu was so capable, his studio was bound to grow and develop; when the time came, her investment would even yield dividend returns, which was a totally beneficial investment with no harm.


    The more Ji Yuqiao thought about it, the more she felt her decision to invest was absolutely right.


    ¡°The love-struck never admit they are love-struck,¡± Lin Xu shook her head helplessly, ¡°Calm down, don¡¯t be so impulsive.¡±


    ¡°I am very calm,¡± Ji Yuqiao retorted, mouth pouted in slight guilt.


    ¡°Then can you tell me why you like that boy?¡± Lin Xu only knew that she was particularly persistent about the boy but didn¡¯t know why.


    Recalling her first encounter with Xiao Yu, Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes suddenly sparkled with joy.


    Back then, the Ji Family was filled with a cold, oppressive atmosphere day in and day out, distant and indifferent.


    Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu were always quarreling over Wen Li, and their relationship, once harmonious, had gradually deteriorated.


    One time, on a whim, Ji Yuqiao wanted to cook for her two brothers. Due to her lack of skills, she cut her finger with the kitchen knife.


    Ji Yuqiao, with teary eyes, held up her finger and went to seek comfort from Ji Tingyang. After searching the villa, she finally found the two brothers in the study.


    ¡°Brother, my finger¡­¡±


    No sooner had Ji Yuqiao stepped into the study than the violent argument between the two brothers suddenly erupted.


    ¡°Ji Tingyang, she said she didn¡¯t like you at all; stop going crazy!¡± Ji Zeqiu gritted his teeth.


    ¡°As long as she¡¯s here, what does that matter,¡± Ji Tingyang replied with icy eyes.


    ¡°Do you know the consequences if you keep this up?¡±


    ¡°No matter the consequences, I don¡¯t care. But you, being so proactive, do you think that will make her like you?¡±


    ¡°You!¡±


    Their argument had reached an uncontrollable level, with every word uttered sharp as a dagger, repeatedly stabbing into the other¡¯s heart. Each accusation and mockery became a blade, severing their bond cut by cut.


    Their heated dispute utterly ignored Ji Yuqiao¡¯s presence.


    This wasn¡¯t their first fight.


    Each intense argument made Ji Yuqiao feel oppressed and suffocated, unable to bear their relationship becoming so adversarial.


    Her eyes suddenly reddened, and she turned to flee the villa, haphazardly running through the drizzly rain.


    When she came to her senses, she had no idea where she was.


    A sense of overwhelming powerlessness spread through her chest, and she suddenly collapsed, crouching down as tears fell like pearls off a string, her shoulders trembling as if immersed in endless sorrow.


    And it was at this moment that Ji Yuqiao met Xiao Yu.

 Chapter 116 - Chapter 116: Chapter 116: Hero Saves the Beauty, Twice

    Chapter 116: Chapter 116: Hero Saves the Beauty, Twice


    Ji Yuqiao squatted on the ground sobbing, and a black umbrella fell over her head, shielding her from all the raindrops.


    Xiao Yu¡¯s expression was stern and silent, looking at her with a trace of puzzlement in his cold eyes, as if he did not understand why she was squatting there.


    Ji Yuqiao hurriedly wiped the tears from her face, stood up, and said with an embarrassed expression, ¡°I, I got lost¡­¡±


    Xiao Yu nodded slightly, ¡°The bus station?¡±


    Ji Yuqiao nodded haphazardly, just wanting to quickly end this embarrassing scene of being caught crying.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Xiao Yu lifted his leg, signaling Ji Yuqiao to follow.


    Ji Yuqiao silently followed beside him.


    Suddenly.


    The pace of the person beside her stopped.


    Ji Yuqiao looked over in confusion.


    She only saw Xiao Yu pull out an adhesive bandage from his pocket and hand it to her.


    She blinked, not understanding.


    ¡°Your wound.¡± Xiao Yu¡¯s eyes fell on her fingertip, oozing fresh blood.


    He had actually noticed her injury.


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s cheeks suddenly turned red, her heart seemed to skip a beat, and she took the bandage, stammering a ¡°thank you¡± to him.


    Afterwards, the two walked silently to the bus station and parted ways.


    Ji Yuqiao thought this was just a fleeting encounter since, after all, the provincial city was so big, the chances of two strangers meeting again were virtually zero.


    However, she did not expect that shortly after she started college, they would meet again.


    During gym class.


    Ji Yuqiao breathlessly ran the 800-meter test, as each classmate who passed by cast a curious glance at her.


    When a female classmate passed by her, Ji Yuqiao asked, ¡°Why is everyone looking at me?¡±


    ¡°Your pants are dirty.¡± The female classmate hesitated and finally told her the truth.


    Ji Yuqiao twisted her body, turning her head to glance at her pants, and found that the seat of her pants was stained with fresh red blood.


    She immediately stopped, standing helplessly in place.


    She could still faintly hear the vulgar teasing of the male classmates nearby, a rush of embarrassment spreading throughout her body, making her feel utterly ashamed.


    Just as she instinctively wanted to find a hole to crawl into, a jacket suddenly fell over her body.


    Ji Yuqiao looked up and saw Xiao Yu, like a knight, appearing beside her against the sun, dazzlingly bright.


    ¡°Take this to cover up,¡± he said.


    His voice was low and melodious, as if magical, causing Ji Yuqiao¡¯s heart to throb along with his sound.


    Like a spring breeze brushing across a lake, stirring up ripples.


    Twice he appeared in such a heroic rescue, and that was how she became enamored.


    ¡°Thank you¡­¡± Ji Yuqiao¡¯s cheeks turned fiery red as she tied his jacket around her waist.


    She hadn¡¯t even had a chance to ask his name and contact details when Xiao Yu turned and walked away.


    Before Ji Yuqiao had even learned how to like someone, she first met the person who made her heart flutter.


    But with two living examples at home, pursuing someone shouldn¡¯t be difficult, so she learned from Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu¡¯s methods.


    She inquired about Xiao Yu¡¯s name, major, and class from her classmates, and started showing up in front of him daily to make her presence felt.


    First, like Ji Zeqiu buying gifts for Wen Li, she bought various high-end jewels for Xiao Yu every day.


    Then, like Ji Tingyang who confined Wen Li in the villa, she handed Xiao Yu a bank card, asking him not to take a part-time job anymore and to stay by her side after class.


    But for some reason, her relationship with Xiao Yu grew increasingly tense until, ultimately, Xiao Yu became completely indifferent toward her.


    Thinking of this, Ji Yuqiao sighed.


    ¡°It¡¯s good to have you by my side to help me, otherwise now I wouldn¡¯t even be able to get within ten meters of him without receiving cold stares,¡± she gratefully said to Lin Xu.


    ¡°¡­¡± Lin Xu was at a loss for words.


    With her way of pursuing, it would be strange if their relationship weren¡¯t awkward.


    ¡°To love someone is to give your all, that¡¯s what the internet says, so it¡¯s right for me to invest money in him, right?¡± Ji Yuqiao talked herself into believing she was right, clenching her fists determinedly.


    ¡°You should watch less toxic online advice,¡± Lin Xu said helplessly, rubbing her forehead.


    Ji Yuqiao pouted.


    ¡°Since you¡¯ve already given him so many expensive gifts before, and he wasn¡¯t willing to accept them, that shows he isn¡¯t someone who¡¯s swayed by money. Even if you want to invest, he wouldn¡¯t agree, would he? You should really think it over before doing anything impulsive, and at least discuss it with your family,¡± Lin Xu said.


    ¡°¡­Okay,¡± Ji Yuqiao nodded reluctantly.


    Lin Xu kept advising her for a long time before finally ending the call.


    It was only after she put away her phone that she noticed Ji Tingyang, who had been sitting next to her with a sulking look on his face without her knowing.


    ¡°Who were you talking to?¡± Ji Tingyang glanced at her phone, his lips pressed tight, as jealousy surged like a tide within him.


    Since he came over, he had seen Lin Xu on the phone the entire time, even failing to notice when he sat down beside her.


    Counting the time, the call had lasted almost an hour.


    He hadn¡¯t even talked with his mother for that long before.


    Could it be that bastard Ji Zeqiu?


    ¡°Just a friend,¡± Lin Xu smiled, but then quickly asked, as if remembering something urgent, ¡°Did the result from before come out yet?¡±


    Knowing she was referring to the paternity test with Xie Changyan.


    Ji Tingyang shook his head, ¡°Not yet.¡±


    ¡°The last time it came out in a day, why is it taking so long this time?¡± Lin Xu counted, it had been almost three or four days.


    Ji Tingyang pursed his lips, silent.


    His mother and Xie Changyan were not comparable.


    Xie Changyan didn¡¯t deserve for him to rush the test.


    ¡°Maybe call and ask?¡± Lin Xu was genuinely concerned about this matter, she urged anxiously.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lin Xu noticed his grim face and pinched his cheek.


    Ji Tingyang grabbed her hand, his dark eyes downcast, as he murmured, ¡°If he really is my father, will you leave me again?¡±


    Just like when his mother found Ji Zeqiu and left him behind, preferring not to live in their big mansion but to cram into a tiny apartment with that guy.


    Was it going to be the same this time, leaving him to go to Xie Changyan?


    Thinking this, his emotions became agitated, his furrowed brow revealing his irritation, even his breathing grew rapid.


    ¡°What nonsense are you talking? We¡¯re all family, how could I possibly leave you?¡± Lin Xu, knowing he felt insecure, clasped his hand back, soothing him softly.


    Ji Tingyang moodily nodded his head, though he still felt somewhat anxious and uneasy.


    At that moment,


    the ringtone of his phone sounded.


    Although Ji Tingyang was not pleased that his time with Lin Xu was interrupted, he still answered the call, ¡°What is it?¡±


    After listening to the person on the other end, his icy gaze suddenly became excited and joyful.


    Lin Xu, puzzled, watched him.


    It was only after he hung up that she asked, ¡°What happened?¡±


    Ji Tingyang: ¡°The doctor said the paternity test results are in.¡±

 Chapter 117 - Chapter 117: Chapter 117: Lose and become my girlfriend

    Chapter 117: Chapter 117: Lose and become my girlfriend


    Ji Tingyang finished the phone call, his eyebrows brimming with an indescribable touch of smugness.


    Lin Xu asked in confusion, ¡°What did the doctor say exactly?¡±


    ¡°The doctor said the paternity test was negative; there¡¯s no blood relation between him and me,¡± Ji Tingyang said.


    If he wasn¡¯t the father, then Lin Xu wouldn¡¯t leave.


    A hint of joy tugged at the corners of his mouth.


    ¡°First, Xie Changyan doesn¡¯t know you, and second, there¡¯s no blood relation between him and me. It¡¯s just that their similar appearances have deceived you,¡± Ji Tingyang earnestly persuaded, trying to convince Lin Xu not to be fooled by him any longer.


    Lin Xu¡¯s shoulders slumped, and the corners of her mouth turned down slightly, a feeling of inexplicable loss washing over her.


    Seeing her in low spirits, a flash of panic crossed Ji Tingyang¡¯s face, and he awkwardly adjusted his hand on his lap, ¡°There are new magazines that came in yesterday. Mother, see if there¡¯s anything you like; how about I go buy them for you tomorrow?¡±


    He quickly handed the fashion magazine to Lin Xu.


    Knowing that he was worried about her, Lin Xu restrained the despondency on her face and smiled as she took the magazine, ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll have a look.¡±


    ¡°You can buy them all,¡± he said. All the money he earned was for his mother to spend.


    ¡°Won¡¯t that lead to bankruptcy?¡± she teased.


    ¡°We¡¯re not at that point with this amount of money.¡±


    ¡°Our Tingyang is really amazing.¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s deep eyes sparkled with mirth, and the curve of his lips refused to be suppressed.


    As if worried she would be upset, over the next few days, Ji Tingyang took her to a jewelry auction and for relaxation in the countryside, all to distract her attention.


    In the midst of it all, Lin Xu found herself mediating a quarrel between brothers, leaving her physically and mentally exhausted.


    By the time she received a message from Su Linzhou, she had already pushed Xie Changyan to the back of her mind.


    Great Moral Person: [Miss Lin, would you like to go to the racing track with me this weekend?]


    Last time at the horse track, Su Linzhou had added her on WeChat, mentioning that he¡¯d like to invite her to the racing track when they were both free.


    These past few days, Lin Xu had completely forgotten about it.


    Though when she saw his nickname, she still couldn¡¯t help but make a couple of jokes in her head.


    As for the racing track¡­


    After much hesitation, Lin Xu agreed.


    Another message from Su Linzhou came through.


    Great Moral Person: [Then I¡¯ll have Xie Changyan pick you up this weekend.]


    Lin Xu suddenly felt nervous and quickly typed a response to refuse: [No need, just send me the address, and I¡¯ll take a car there myself.]


    If Ji Tingyang saw this, he would definitely be angry.


    Fortunately, Su Linzhou didn¡¯t insist. He sent Lin Xu an address, and after saying they would meet over the weekend, he disappeared.


    When the weekend arrived,


    Lin Xu made up an excuse to avoid going with Ji Tingyang, hailed a taxi, and made her way to the racing track in the south of the city.


    The racing track sprawled over a vast area, spanning fifty to sixty thousand square meters in size. Not only was the racetrack aesthetically pleasing, but each turn was also designed to be thrilling and incredibly challenging, testing the drivers¡¯ skills and capabilities.


    Since it wasn¡¯t a competition day, there were only a few scattered drivers and spectators around.


    Upon her arrival, Lin Xu spotted Xie Changyan at a glance.


    Clad in a black and white racing suit, which was neatly fitted and outlined his perfect physique, he leant casually against a racing car with a helmet tucked under his arm, exuding a cool and aloof aura.


    He instantly captured her attention.


    She approached him and greeted him.


    Su Linzhou watched her with a cheery smile and casually pointed to a race car, ¡°Miss Lin, would you be interested in taking a test drive?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t drive. Better not,¡± Lin Xu shook her head.


    ¡°Then let Xie Changyan teach you,¡± Su Linzhou winked at Xie Changyan with his right eye.


    Before Lin Xu could respond, Xie Changyan approached her with a composed and casual tone, as if making small talk, ¡°Which one would you like to try?¡±


    In the racing pit, there were more than a dozen different models of race cars. Lin Xu didn¡¯t know much about them and dared not try them at random, ¡°Better not, I¡¯ll just cheer you on from here.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s there to cheer for here? Just get in the passenger seat with Xie Changyan and let him take you for a lap. Cheer properly inside the car,¡± Su Linzhou interjected.


    Xie Changyan glanced at him lightly, and a shock went through Su Linzhou¡¯s heart as he suddenly remembered.


    Previously, a few fearless girls who¡¯d sat in Xie Changyan¡¯s passenger seat came off the track looking half-dead and pale as ghosts. Afterwards, they developed a psychological shadow whenever they saw him.


    If Lin Xu got scared by his brother too, and kept her distance respectfully, how would he ever pursue her?


    Su Linzhou immediately changed his tune, ¡°Forget it, maybe I¡­¡±


    ¡°Really? Can you actually take me for a lap?!¡±


    Su Linzhou hadn¡¯t finished speaking when he was interrupted by Lin Xu¡¯s eager tone.


    Under her bright, expectant gaze, Xie Changyan swallowed and his voice changed as he spoke, ¡°I can.¡±


    Lin Xu¡¯s eyes curved into lovely arcs as she smiled at him lightly.


    He got a helmet for Lin Xu and was about to put it on her when she skillfully donned it first.


    Xie Changyan raised an eyebrow slightly, ¡°Have you had experience before?¡±


    Lin Xu smiled, ¡°Not much, I just know how to wear a helmet.¡±


    Xie Changyan silently nodded and then got into the race car with Lin Xu.


    Seeing her settled in, he stepped on the gas, and the race car immediately sped off.


    The race cars on the track were all very fast, like untamed horses running wild, kicking up a cloud of dust. In contrast, Xie Changyan¡¯s race car seemed slow and leisurely amidst the speeding cars, distinctly out of place.


    Seeing this, Su Linzhou couldn¡¯t help but feel amused.


    After scaring off so many potential dates with his racing, he seemed to have learned to be gentle and considerate.


    He had never imagined this guy would see the day.


    Sitting in the car, Lin Xu watched one car after another overtake them, disappearing into the distance. The corners of her lips curved slightly, and suddenly, memories from the past came to her mind.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were very skilled at racing? Why is everyone overtaking you?¡± she asked discontentedly, her lips puckered as she got out of the car.


    ¡°I win too much normally and attract envy. It¡¯s practice, so I let them have it,¡± Ji Yanli tugged at the corner of his lips, his attractive eyes appearing to smile yet not smile.


    ¡°That won¡¯t do. You should give your one hundred percent even in practice races!¡± Lin Xu chided him for his passive approach.


    Ji Yanli¡¯s eyes twinkled with a faint smile, ¡°If I really showed my full strength, you¡¯d be clinging to the side of the car throwing up by now. How come when I¡¯m gentle and considerate with you, I still get criticized?¡±


    ¡°I am not that weak!¡± Lin Xu¡¯s cheeks flushed slightly, but she still retorted defiantly.


    ¡°Then¡­¡± His deep voice dragged out a long drawl, ¡°how about we make a bet?¡±


    ¡°Bet on what?¡±


    ¡°If you win, I¡¯ll agree to any request of yours. If I win¡­¡±


    ¡°Yeah?¡±


    ¡°How about becoming my girlfriend?¡±


    Lin Xu¡¯s cheeks went suddenly red, as if ripened, and she stammered, ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t want to be your girlfriend!¡±


    ¡°Then how about I be your boyfriend?¡±

 Chapter 118 - Chapter 118: Chapter 118: Utterly Convinced That He Is Ji Yanli

    Chapter 118: Chapter 118: Utterly Convinced That He Is Ji Yanli


    The engine¡¯s roar rose in their ears.


    Lin Xu snapped back from her memories, her gaze stealthily glancing over at Xie Changyan next to her, a smile involuntarily curving upwards at the corner of her mouth, as she silently laughed to herself.


    Every one of his actions was so similar to Ji Yanli¡¯s, yet why couldn¡¯t he be the same person?


    She sighed internally, puzzling over it without understanding.


    Suddenly.


    Two racing cars overtook them from behind, their shrill and grating brake sounds assaulting their eardrums, stopping across the track a few hundred meters in front of them, effectively blocking their way.


    Two men got out of the cars, flicking their fingers provokingly at Xie Changyan.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly, and he said to Lin Xu in the co-driver¡¯s seat, ¡°Don¡¯t get out of the car,¡± before opening the car door and getting out himself.


    ¡°Young Master Xie, last time you won so easily, do you dare to race with us again?¡± a man with flowing red hair challenged as soon as he spoke.


    Xie Changyan chuckled, as if he had heard some joke, the tone in his voice carrying a pleasurable note, and he nonchalantly replied, ¡°What, Young Master Guo didn¡¯t lose enough last time and wants to lose again?¡±


    The red-haired man clenched his teeth, spitting, ¡°Last time I was just unprepared, this time I might not lose to you!¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Xie Changyan¡¯s chin tilted slightly, ¡°What are you planning to give me this time, another house?¡±


    Their previous race had been wagered on a large flat in the city center.


    A house was nothing to these wealthy young men, but losing face in a race mattered much more than the house itself.


    Lately, no matter which clubhouse they went to, there was always someone mocking them for not seeing clearly.


    ¡°Young Master Guo, I thought you claimed to be unbeatable in racing, how come I heard you lost to Xie Changyan, hahahaha¡­¡±


    ¡°No way, no way, didn¡¯t Young Master Guo sweep up a gold trophy at an international event, claiming to be undefeated? How could he lose to an amateur?¡±


    ¡°What do you all know, Young Master Guo likes to do charity now and then, giving away houses and such.¡±


    ¡°So when will Young Master Guo give me a house as well, hahahaha¡­¡±


    Due to his usual braggadocio, some who disliked him seized the chance to mock him mercilessly after learning of his setback.


    Young Master Guo had been so angry in those days that he felt dizzy, never before had he felt such humiliation; he wanted to recoup his losses from Xie Changyan, ¡°Just say it, will you race or not!¡±


    Xie Changyan shrugged his shoulders, looking completely uninterested, ¡°I have no interest in such a guaranteed win, or didn¡¯t last time¡¯s race make the gap between us clear enough for you?¡±


    ¡°You!¡± Young Master Guo was choked up.


    Last time¡¯s race was basically a thrashing by Xie Changyan.


    He also knew he currently had no chance against Xie Changyan¡¯s ability.


    He felt intimidated for a moment.


    ¡°Young Master Guo, don¡¯t be afraid of him. Didn¡¯t we make our calculations?¡± the man beside him came up to Young Master Guo, muttering in his ear.


    Calculations?


    Right.


    They had quietly spilled lubricant oil on a certain part of the race track, guaranteeing a spectacular crash for him.


    Knowing where the oil was spilled meant he could drive past it safely and secure a flawless victory.


    Thinking of this, Young Master Guo¡¯s face regained its previous arrogance, snorting coldly, ¡°Even if there is a gap, that was before!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s good to be confident, keep it up,¡± said Xie Changyan, losing any will to chat further, and he turned back to his racing car.


    ¡°Xie Changyan, don¡¯t run, let¡¯s race one more time!¡± Young Master Guo was still yelling from behind.


    ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it next time.¡± Xie Changyan waved his hand.


    Then he started the car and drove past them.


    Lin Xu looked at him and blinked, ¡°They¡¯ve come to challenge you, and you¡¯re letting them go just like that, without racing them?¡±


    Xie Changyan¡¯s mouth quirked into a smile, chuckling ¡°How about a race? Should I drop you off first?¡±


    ¡°I can sit in the passenger seat and watch you guys race.¡± Lin Xu said nonchalantly.


    ¡°Then throw up in my car, affecting my performance?¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t throw up, don¡¯t underestimate me!¡±


    Xie Changyan¡¯s laughter grew brighter, ¡°Then¡­ shall we make a bet?¡±


    Familiar words made Lin Xu¡¯s heart suddenly tighten, her voice slightly trembling, ¡°Bet on what?¡±


    Xie Changyan¡¯s gaze drifted off into the distance, as if contemplating the content of the bet, ¡°If you win, I can grant you a request, but if I win, then you¡­¡±


    Lin Xu clenched her fists nervously, her heart pounding nonstop.


    Suddenly.


    The car tires skidded, the racecar went out of control, the screeching of brakes and the collision were terrifyingly sharp, chaos ensued for a moment.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s expression turned grave as he clutched the steering wheel tightly, preventing the car from flipping over.


    The high-speed racecar was heading straight for the right-side guardrail.


    A moment before the collision, Lin Xu saw a figure throwing themselves in front of her, tightly shielding her in their embrace.


    In that instant.


    Lin Xu¡¯s pupils constricted, as if she saw the car accident that occurred before her rebirth.


    Just like now, she was fiercely protected in Ji Yanli¡¯s arms, and both were impaled by steel pipes from the truck ahead.


    The color drained from Lin Xu¡¯s face, turning ashen, and the painful, fearful memories almost made her scream out loud.


    She gasped for air, her chest heaving violently.


    After the collision, the racecar came to a stop.


    Xie Changyan took a deep breath and let go of Lin Xu. Noticing her unusual state, his heartbeat went haywire, concern spreading across his solemn face, ¡°Where are you hurt, let me see.¡±


    He took off Lin Xu¡¯s helmet, cupped her cheeks, and scrutinized her face carefully, but found no wounds.


    Could it be her body?


    He frowned and looked around, but saw no trace of blood.


    Yet her eyes brimmed with tears, her body still shaking uncontrollably.


    Xie Changyan took her ice-cold hand and with his other hand caressed her cheek, his finger pads gently rubbing her face, urging her to look into his eyes and calm down.


    Although he clearly lacked experience, the actions to soothe her were so natural when he saw her fear and sadness.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, I¡¯m here, tell me where you¡¯re hurt, okay?¡± Xie Changyan pressed his forehead against hers, his voice tender.


    Lin Xu¡¯s tear-filled eyes were fixed immovably on his face.


    Past images surged toward her like a fierce flood, the motion and tone so familiar.


    Traversing years and time, the casually handsome man from her memories overlapped with the man in front of her, who was concerned about her.


    It was as if she could see Ji Yanli right in front of her.


    Years of affection and intuition transcended all time and space, also surpassing all evidence that denied her feelings.


    At this moment, she was completely certain that Xie Changyan was Ji Yanli.


    Her husband.


    Although she did not understand why Ji Yanli would forget himself and end up in another¡¯s body.


    Tears lingered, finally slipping from her eyes.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s chest inexplicably ached, and he reached out to wipe away the tears from the corner of her eyes.


    Just as he was about to speak, Lin Xu leaned forward and kissed his lips.


    His breath halted momentarily.

 Chapter 119 - Chapter 119: Chapter 119 His Status in His Mothers Heart Soars

    Chapter 119: Chapter 119 His Status in His Mother¡¯s Heart Soars


    Outside the President¡¯s office at Ji Group.


    An employee stood at the door, trembling, not daring to push it open for a long time.


    ¡°Sis, do you think President Ji calling me in means he¡¯s going to fire me?¡±


    ¡°I really didn¡¯t make a mistake in the report on purpose. I was just taking care of my mother in the hospital while rushing to deal with work, and I accidentally read a line of data wrong¡­¡±


    This matter could be big or small; it would be over once a new report was done.


    But that¡¯s the cold and heartless Ji Tingyang.


    He would definitely fire him.


    The salary and benefits at Ji¡¯s are quite good. If he gets thrown out at this time, how will he support his family¡¯s living expenses?


    Thinking of this, the employee¡¯s face filled with worry, wanting to cry but unable to shed tears.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, go in. You¡¯ll certainly be fine today,¡± the secretary patted his shoulder, assuring him.


    The employee¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Sis, do you have some kind of trick up your sleeve?¡±


    ¡°No tricks,¡± the secretary said, winking at him mysteriously, ¡°there¡¯s just a benefactor present.¡±


    Confused, the employee walked in, shivering as he approached the desk and called out, ¡°President Ji.¡±


    Ji Tingyang was frowning, his deep and icy eyes swiftly scanning the documents on the folder. The further down he looked, the deeper the furrow between his brows became.


    After a long pause, he exhaled heavily through his nose and tossed the file onto the desk.


    ¡°The company pays you a hefty salary, and you can¡¯t even get such simple data right?!¡±


    The employee bowed his head, lips turning pale, cold sweat beading on his forehead as he stammered, ¡°President Ji, I¡¯m sorry. My mother has been sick, and I¡¯ve been taking care of her in the hospital lately. I¡¯ve been a bit down, and I read off a line wrong when inputting the data¡­ ¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t make excuses for me,¡± the pressure around Ji Tingyang dropped further, ¡°go to the HR department now¡­¡±


    Suddenly, his voice stopped, and his expression was no longer so cold.


    ¡°Your mother is sick?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yes, President Ji. My wife will come to take care of my mother later, and I promise it won¡¯t affect my work again!¡± The employee was about to swear on it.


    Ji Tingyang was silent for a moment, ¡°If you¡¯re busy, then take leave. Focus on taking care of your mother and don¡¯t let it affect your work. Take the report back and redo it, and give it to me next week.¡±


    There was no rage as expected, nor was there a firing.


    Such affability from Ji Tingyang made the employee uncomfortably stunned, standing still for a long time.


    ¡°Anything else?¡± Ji Tingyang raised his eyebrows.


    ¡°No, no, thank you, President Ji. I will definitely work hard from now on, dedicating myself to the company!¡± The employee shouted excitedly, leaving the office.


    Outside, he enthusiastically told the secretary, ¡°Sis, you really are a prophet. There was no trouble at all!¡±


    The secretary smiled.


    Every time Miss Lin came to Ji¡¯s, it was the time when President Ji was the gentlest and most agreeable.


    After dealing with the matter, Ji Tingyang rubbed the bridge of his nose and his gaze drifted to Lin Xu, who was sitting on the couch with a beaming smile.


    Lin Xu was looking at a magazine, her eyebrows and eyes curved, her eyes brightened by laughter, humming a tune unconsciously, displaying a delightful demeanor.


    The stern face softened in an instant.


    He stood up, sat down beside Lin Xu, looked at the magazine in her hands and noticed that after half an hour, she was still on the first page, obviously lost in thought.


    ¡°Mother, what are you thinking about?¡± Ji Tingyang asked, puzzled.


    Startled, Lin Xu jolted slightly, her tone somewhat guilty, ¡°Nothing, I wasn¡¯t thinking of anything.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Ji Tingyang was skeptical.


    She was laughing so happily; there must be something good happening, and she was even keeping it from him.


    Wasn¡¯t she putting him first anymore?


    His brows furrowed slightly.


    ¡°Did you finish all your work? Are you tired?¡± Lin Xu snapped back to reality, remembering the true reason for her visit, and immediately picked up the food box on the table, ¡°The butler said you didn¡¯t have breakfast today; you must be starving.¡±


    When she got up this morning, she had seen the butler agonizing over whether to send breakfast to Ji Tingyang.


    If the butler sent it over, he definitely wouldn¡¯t eat it.


    Lin Xu happened to have time, so she personally came to deliver breakfast to her son and to make sure he ate it.


    Looking at the steaming breakfast, the irritability in Ji Tingyang¡¯s heart subsided in an instant, and his lips curled up in a slight smile.


    His mother still cared about him; otherwise, why would she bring him breakfast?


    Thinking this, the smile on his lips grew even wider.


    ¡°Mother, did you see that employee just now?¡± Ji Tingyang asked.


    ¡°I did. It¡¯s proper for you to dock his salary and bonus since he made a mistake at work,¡± Lin Xu said.


    ¡°He said it was because he was taking care of his sick mother and got distracted. I didn¡¯t want to make a big deal out of it.¡± Ji Tingyang stole a glance at her, his ears turning slightly red as he stammered, ¡°If¡­ if you were sick, I¡¯d definitely be unable to focus on work too.¡±


    Before, he certainly couldn¡¯t understand such a feeling.


    Lin Xu smiled sweetly, ¡°Then I¡¯ll definitely take good care of myself and not let you worry.¡±


    Her smile was radiant, and Ji Tingyang¡¯s ears grew even redder.


    With mother so happy, his place in her heart must be rising fast!


    As Ji Tingyang quietly ate his breakfast, the secretary knocked and came in.


    ¡°President Ji, we¡¯ve found out that President Zhou is currently at the Northern City golf course, and we¡¯ve heard that Young Master Xie has already gone there to meet him. Should we send someone over immediately too?¡±


    Zhou¡¯s had a big project in hand that many were eyeing.


    Among them, Ji¡¯s and Xie¡¯s were competing most fiercely.


    Hearing that Xie Changyan had already gone, Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes instantly turned cold, and he stood up abruptly, ¡°Arrange the driver; I¡¯ll go personally.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡± The secretary immediately went out to make arrangements.


    Just as Ji Tingyang took a few steps, he remembered Lin Xu in the office and hesitated, ¡°I, I¡­¡±


    His mother had finally come to the company to bring him breakfast, and he had to leave without spending much time with her. What if she started to dislike him?


    He clenched his fists tightly, looking at her anxiously.


    Lin Xu, hearing a certain name, her eyes flickered, ¡°Can I come with you? I promise not to disturb your work.¡±


    ¡°Of course, you can.¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes lit up with a glint.


    So, his mother didn¡¯t want to leave him either?


    Suddenly, his happy expression fell, and he hesitated, ¡°Still, it might be better if I go alone.¡±


    With Xie Changyan on-site, he might come to pester Lin Xu again.


    His mother was always charmed by his look; what if she was unwittingly wooed away by him?


    ¡°You just promised me; you can¡¯t go back on your word. Haven¡¯t I taught you before that you can¡¯t break your promises? Otherwise, we will have no trust between us,¡± Lin Xu looked at him sternly.


    Ji Tingyang relented.


    His mother not trusting him was far more serious than anything involving Xie Changyan. He¡¯d just have to keep a closer eye on things and absolutely prevent Xie Changyan from getting close to his mother!

 Chapter 120 - Chapter 120: Chapter 120: I thought I had to compete with him

    Chapter 120: Chapter 120: I thought I had to compete with him


    Inside the President¡¯s Office at Xie Group.


    Xie Changyan leaned lazily on the sofa, his eyes cast down at the ceramic teacup in his hands, silent.


    In front of him, a middle-aged man was furiously berating Young Master Guo in his presence.


    ¡°You must have the gall of a bear and the heart of a leopard to do something so dangerous. It seems I¡¯ve been too lenient with you, allowing you to engage in such unlawful and disorderly acts!¡± The middle-aged man reprimanded harshly, ¡°Now apologize to Young Master Xie immediately!¡±


    Young Master Guo quickly admitted his mistake and bowed to apologize.


    ¡°Young Master Xie, I¡¯m sorry, it was all my foolishness that led me to think of such an improper method,¡± he said.


    ¡°It was all my fault.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re lucky Young Master Xie is blessed with a good fortune; otherwise, even ten of your lives wouldn¡¯t be enough to make up for it!¡± The middle-aged man scolded before turning to Xie Changyan with a sweat-wiped forehead, ¡°Young Master Xie, it¡¯s my failure to discipline him properly. I¡¯m begging you, please forgive him just this once.¡±


    Su Linzhou smirked, his eyes narrowing slightly, ¡°President Guo, that¡¯s quite an interesting statement. Your son has caused such a big mess, and you think you can just brush it off with a single remark about his immaturity?¡±


    ¡°This¡­¡± The man glanced at Xie Changyan, hesitantly said, ¡°Isn¡¯t that why I brought him here to ask for forgiveness? You tell me what you want to do, Young Master Xie. Beat him, scold him, it¡¯s all up to you, I won¡¯t say a word.¡±


    Xie Changyan remained silent, leaving the man to feel uneasy, unsure of his thoughts.


    With a snort of ridicule, Su Linzhou added, ¡°Young Master Xie nearly lost his life because of your son. If we called the police, your son would have to do time, wouldn¡¯t he? Merely scolding or beating him doesn¡¯t compare at all.¡±


    The man¡¯s heart squeezed tight at the thought.


    Young Master Guo also grew panicked, looking at his father, his forehead breaking out in sweat, tugging at the man¡¯s sleeve, urging him to think of something quickly.


    The man glared fiercely at Young Master Guo and whispered harshly in his ear, ¡°Now you know to panic, why didn¡¯t you use your brain when you did such a thing!¡±


    But after all, it was his own son.


    After scolding him, the man turned back to Su Linzhou in a fluster, ¡°Don¡¯t call the police, please, Young Master Su. just tell me what to do, and I won¡¯t have any objections!¡±


    ¡°As for this matter, it¡¯s still up to Young Master Xie,¡± Su Linzhou said with a smile in his eyes as he looked toward Xie Changyan.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s long fingers toyed with the teacup, exuding an aura of composure and indifference, though his thoughts had already drifted back to that day.


    Lin Xu¡¯s lips covered his own, sending an electric feeling coursing through his body, his heart throbbing wildly, as if a feeling too complex for words was surging in his chest.


    It was different from the kiss on New Year¡¯s Eve when she was drunk; this time, she did it completely sober.


    What was she trying to say¡­


    Xie Changyan¡¯s eyes darkened, his grip on the teacup tightening, the tips of his fingers turning white.


    Suddenly.


    An elbow nudged him, pulling him back from his reminiscence.


    ¡°Brother, what are you doing, talk,¡± Su Linzhou¡¯s hushed voice rang in his ear.


    Xie Changyan lifted his gaze, looking at the anxious middle-aged man and Young Master Guo before him, and spoke casually, ¡°I heard that Guo¡¯s has recently taken on a renewable energy project.¡±


    The man¡¯s face abruptly changed color, looking grim, ¡°That, that¡­¡±


    That was their key project for the second half of the year.


    If it was handed over to Ji¡¯s, their profits for the year would definitely plummet.


    As he hesitated, Xie Changyan¡¯s phone rang.


    He answered the call, casually placing it to his ear, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    After a while, Xie Changyan hung up the phone, saying to the man before him, ¡°No worries, President Guo. You can take your time deciding. I¡¯ve got something to attend to now. Later, I¡¯ll have Old Master Xie discuss it with you personally.¡±


    The man turned as pale as a sheet at the mention of ¡°Old Master Xie.¡±


    Xie Family now had only one precious successor, Xie Changyan, and everyone in the circle knew how much Old Master Xie doted on him. If he found out that Xie Changyan was nearly harmed at the hands of his son, the consequences would be far more severe than a loss of just one project.


    Perhaps the entire Guo¡¯s will have to be compensated.


    Sweat poured down like rain in an instant.


    Xie Changyan didn¡¯t have time to bother with his thoughts, calling out to Su Linzhou as he walked outside.


    Just as he was about to leave the office, the man bit his teeth and finally made up his mind, ¡°Young Master Xie, I¡¯ll bring the project contract over tomorrow.¡±


    The man¡¯s anxious voice came from behind, and Su Linzhou sneered, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it have been better to do this earlier?¡±


    Upon reaching the parking lot, Su Linzhou remembered to ask Xie Changyan, ¡°Where are we heading?¡±


    ¡°President Zhou is at the Northern City golf course,¡± Xie Changyan said indifferently.


    Understanding dawned on Su Linzhou, but moments later he reacted, ¡°Wait, why should I go to a project negotiation with you?¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you idling your time away?¡± Xie Changyan raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°¡­Who says that, my family¡¯s company also has a pile of work waiting for me,¡± Su Linzhou rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t your elder brother in control of your family business; when did it become your turn to handle these things?¡± Xie Changyan said.


    Su Linzhou, as if a sore spot had been poked, cursed inwardly.


    With so many siblings vying for power within the Su Family, Su Linzhou couldn¡¯t compete with them and had no choice but to give way.


    Xie Changyan drove proficiently, leaving the parking lot behind.


    Upon his arrival at the golf course, while accompanying President Zhou for a few swings, before even delving into the main conversation, Zhou¡¯s assistant interjected, ¡°President Zhou, the president of Ji¡¯s has arrived.¡±


    ¡°Oh? I didn¡¯t expect President Ji to be so well-informed either,¡± President Zhou laughed heartily, his voice deep.


    Xie Changyan looked in the direction the assistant indicated, and his grip on the golf club paused upon seeing the graceful figure.


    Ji Tingyang was with a woman, appearing very doting.


    Concerned about her getting sunburnt, he carefully adjusted her sun hat.


    He then pointed to a shaded seat under an umbrella, seemingly suggesting she should rest there.


    President Zhou, observing this, laughed even more heartily, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the usually icy President Ji to be quite tender to ladies, haha¡­¡±


    The casual smile on Xie Changyan¡¯s face faded, and his eyes darkened slightly.


    The woman, as if sensing his gaze, wore a bright, enchanting smile that was utterly captivating, and she waved at him abruptly.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s fingers twitched.


    Ji Tingyang turned around, looked in the direction of her wave, and upon seeing him, nervously pulled the woman¡¯s hand back, hiding her cautiously at his side.


    Xie Changyan snorted coldly.


    It was just a woman.


    As if he really wanted to compete for her.


    Xie Changyan shifted his gaze away, continuing to play golf with President Zhou.


    Not long after, Ji Tingyang too picked up a golf club and joined President Zhou¡¯s side.


    The woman was nowhere to be seen.


    Xie Changyan looked around casually and spotted her in the resting area.


    A drink was placed before her; she held her head in her hands, overflowing with laughter.


    A feeling stirred in him, and he put his golf club aside and walked towards her.

 Chapter 121 - Chapter 121: Chapter 121 Finally Seeing Ones Own Feelings

    Chapter 121: Chapter 121 Finally Seeing One¡¯s Own Feelings


    Seeing Xie Changyan reel in his rod and gesture to walk aside.


    Su Linzhou was puzzled, ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    As he was speaking to President Zhou, Ji Tingyang also suddenly looked over with a face full of alertness.


    ¡°To the restroom,¡± Xie Changyan tossed the rod to Su Linzhou and replied indifferently.


    Ji Tingyang watched him, and only after he saw that Xie Changyan had indeed entered the restroom did he breathe a sigh of relief.


    A while later.


    Xie Changyan took out a paper towel, leisurely wiping his hands, and while coming out of the restroom, his gaze inadvertently swept over the place where Lin Xu was sitting.


    Seeing no one in the seat, his expression stalled for a moment.


    Just as he was about to look towards Ji Tingyang, a joyful voice rose to his ear, ¡°What a coincidence!¡±


    Xie Changyan turned his head and saw Lin Xu coming out from the women¡¯s restroom next door, looking at him with a radiant smile.


    A slight curve formed on the corners of his mouth as he said, with a hint of indifference, ¡°Indeed, a coincidence.¡±


    After pondering for a moment, as if remembering something, Xie Changyan said, ¡°Sorry for causing you injury last time.¡±


    ¡°That day was just an accident, it¡¯s not your fault. Moreover, you protected me well that day, I wasn¡¯t hurt at all,¡± Lin Xu waved her hands repeatedly.


    When the car lost control, Xie Changyan held her tightly in his arms, completely shielding her from the harm outside.


    It was only after they got out of the car that she realized the injuries on his body were more severe than hers.


    At the scene, Lin Xu was so anxious that the tears she had just stopped were about to fall again.


    Thinking of this, Lin Xu hurriedly examined his body, but with the clothes in the way, she could see nothing, nor did she know whether his injuries had healed.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s narrow, attractive eyes slightly curved, and a light laugh escaped his throat, ¡°It¡¯s funny how I was the one injured, yet you cried so hard.¡±


    His words tugged at her thoughts, and Lin Xu¡¯s mind drifted back to that day.


    Fear and chaos, crying fiercely.


    And¡­ that kiss with tears.


    She was too excited to recognize him that day and didn¡¯t consider anything else.


    In the eyes of Xie Changyan, who had forgotten about her, would he think she was taking advantage of him?


    With that thought, Lin Xu¡¯s ears suddenly turned red, and she even wanted to find a hole to crawl into.


    Watching her blush, a faint smile appeared in the depths of Xie Changyan¡¯s eyes, and as he was about to speak, the vibration of his phone interrupted him.


    Buzz buzz¡­


    As if it was an urgent matter, vibrating non-stop.


    Xie Changyan pulled out his phone, the screen seemingly about to freeze from the flood of messages from Su Linzhou.


    Great Moral Person: ¡°I was wondering why you suddenly wanted to go to the restroom, turns out you sneaked off to flirt with a girl.¡±


    Great Moral Person: ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve, flirting with her right in front of Ji Tingyang¡¯s face.¡±


    Great Moral Person: ¡°Hurry up and hide, Ji Tingyang is going to the restroom, he¡¯ll definitely see you guys!¡±


    Great Moral Person: ¡°I can¡¯t hold him off much longer!¡±


    Great Moral Person: ¡°1111¡±


    Messages continued to flood in.


    Xie Changyan lifted his eyes to look over at the lawn, where he saw Su Linzhou desperately hugging Ji Tingyang¡¯s neck, blocking the view from Ji Tingyang who wanted to look over.


    His eyes, filled with laughter, darkened slightly, still standing in place, unmoved.


    It wasn¡¯t until his phone was almost bombed with messages from Su Linzhou that he seemed to finally persuade himself, turning to Lin Xu, ¡°There are quite a few desserts offered here, would you like to try some?¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Lin Xu nodded readily.


    It was only after their figures had disappeared that Su Linzhou¡¯s bombardment stopped.


    This was Lin Xu¡¯s first time here, and she had not expected to find a delicate and elegant restaurant inside.


    The waiter pushed open the heavy door, and as far as the eye could see, inside was a luxurious and grand space.


    From the ceiling hung a grand chandelier, and the room was adorned with opulent European armchairs and a delicate bar. Beside, someone was playing a beautiful violin piece on the small stage, exuding an aura fit for nobility at every turn.


    With curiosity, she glanced around and then continued walking forward.


    Suddenly.


    A hurrying waiter brushed past Lin Xu, heavily bumping her shoulder.


    She exclaimed softly, her balance lost, and she leaned forward.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s gaze sharpened, his hand shot out to grab her wrist, and with a stagger, she crashed into his embrace.


    ¡°Thank goodness you were here, otherwise I would have fallen,¡± Lin Xu said, her beautiful eyes curving up.


    Her face was so close he could see the reflection of his own figure in her clear, water-like eyes.


    The scent from her body was gentle and warm, lingering at the tip of his nose, making his heartbeat skip a rhythm.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s eyes darkened, and certain emotions churned at the depths of his profound gaze, his hand tightening around her wrist.


    If he had been wavering before, now he was thoroughly certain of his feelings.


    A self-mocking chuckle escaped his chest, ridiculing himself silently as he parted his lips slightly.


    It was then that the waiter interjected, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, I was in such a hurry I wasn¡¯t looking where I was going¡­¡±


    The waiter bowed repeatedly, terrified.


    The clients who could afford to patronize this establishment were all either rich or noble, worried that a single complaint could cost them their job.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, go on with your work,¡± Lin Xu said to the waiter, pulling away from Xie Changyan.


    The waiter breathed a sigh of relief, thanking Lin Xu before hurrying back to work.


    ¡°It¡¯s good you caught me just now, otherwise falling would have been really painful,¡± Lin Xu said, patting her chest.


    His hold on her hand involuntarily loosened.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go order something,¡± Xie Changyan suggested, his eyebrows and eyes lifting lightly, as he naturally took Lin Xu¡¯s hand again.


    Having confirmed what was in his heart, the next steps seemed much simpler for him.


    He led Lin Xu boldly, completely ignoring the surprise in her eyes.


    After they sat down, the waiter from earlier, wanting to express an apology, brought Lin Xu a mango ice cream.


    Lin Xu frowned slightly at the sight of the mango on top.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Xie Changyan looked over.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to eat mango,¡± she murmured, her spoon playing with the mango.


    Just as she was about to scoop the mango onto the empty plate beside her, Xie Changyan pulled her wrist, diverting the direction of the spoon into his mouth instead.


    His teeth crushed the mango, and the rich and sweet juice spread in his mouth.


    With lazy eyes, he squinted and smiled at her, ¡°Not bad at all.¡±


    His narrow eyes glimmered, tempting the heart.


    Under his gaze, Lin Xu¡¯s cheeks suddenly burned hot.


    Was he¡­ seducing her?


    The dessert didn¡¯t take long, and Lin Xu had only just finished a Brittany when she received a call from Ji Tingyang.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m just having a bite to eat at the restaurant.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I understand.¡±


    ¡°No! Don¡¯t come over! I¡¯m returning right now!¡±


    Lin Xu became vigilant all over.


    She knew Ji Tingyang harbored hostility towards Xie Changyan, and if he saw the two of them together, he would surely get angry.


    Lin Xu stood up and quickly bid farewell to Xie Changyan.


    Watching her retreating figure, Xie Changyan smiled wryly at himself.


    After all the trouble he went through to hook someone¡¯s attention, it seemed he still couldn¡¯t compete with a single phone call from Ji Tingyang.

 Chapter 122 - Chapter 122: Chapter 122: Mending an Uneasy Conscience

    Chapter 122: Chapter 122: Mending an Uneasy Conscience


    Just a few days after coming back from the golf course, Zhou¡¯s announced their intention to collaborate with Ji¡¯s.


    Upon hearing this news, Su Linzhou was utterly dumbfounded.


    ¡°Are you out of your mind? How can you just give up such an important project and hand it over to Ji Tingyang like that?¡±


    ¡°Weren¡¯t you highly interested in this project? You even dragged me into it. Now when President Zhou is ready to choose you, you reject it. Then what was all your recent hustle for?¡±


    Su Linzhou couldn¡¯t figure it out.


    Xie Changyan sat in the chair with a lazy tone, ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s to make up for a slight pang of conscience afterward¡­¡±


    Su Linzhou was momentarily puzzled but quickly caught on.


    He was at a loss for words, ¡°Holy shit, you¡¯ve really set your mind on poaching their corner, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    What conscience.


    He just wanted to snatch Ji Tingyang¡¯s person, then compensated with a big project.


    ¡°Tsk tsk, if Ji Tingyang knew the little schemes in your heart, he surely wouldn¡¯t let you off easy.¡± Imagining the two of them coming to blows, Su Linzhou¡¯s smile carried a bit more schadenfreude.


    ¡°¡­¡± Xie Changyan gave him a sidewards glance and remained silent.


    Ji Mansion.


    Completely unaware of the situation, Ji Tingyang, after receiving the good news about President Zhou¡¯s decision to collaborate with Ji¡¯s, couldn¡¯t help but feel a touch of pride in his eyes.


    He was still upset about the new energy project that Xie¡¯s had snatched away last time.


    Being able to take Zhou¡¯s project away from Xie Changyan this time, Ji Tingyang even felt a sense of relief.


    Even though he appeared nonchalant, Lin Xu could sense the happy aura emanating from him.


    ¡°Amazing, you landed another big project. To celebrate, how about we have a feast tonight?¡± Lin Xu praised.


    Pressing his lips together, Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes flickered with a hint of discomfort, ¡°Can we not have a feast, but eat something else¡­¡±


    ¡°Sure, whatever you want to eat is fine.¡±


    ¡°I want to have scallion noodles¡­¡± his eyes shimmered.


    Lin Xu had always told him to take care of his health and not work overtime too much.


    As a result, he reduced the times he worked overtime at home, which meant he hadn¡¯t had the late-night meals cooked by Lin Xu for quite a while.


    Thinking this, he lifted his eyes to glance at Lin Xu.


    Meeting her smiling gaze, a blush crept stealthily over the ears beneath his tousled hair.


    ¡°Okay, but just noodles might leave you hungry. I¡¯ll ask Aunt Zhang to make some other dishes too, alright?¡± Lin Xu said.


    He only had a craving for scallion noodles, everything else was inconsequential.


    Ji Tingyang nodded.


    ¡°What should I tell Aunt Zhang to make?¡± Lin Xu murmured to herself as she went into the kitchen.


    Having grown accustomed to the process, Lin Xu was much more adept at noodle-making this time. In less than five to six minutes, she brought out a bowl of fragrant scallion noodles from the kitchen.


    Ji Tingyang picked up his chopsticks, just as a pair of hands suddenly reached out, snatching the bowl of scallion noodles from in front of him.


    The person hoisted the large bowl and began slurping down the noodles with the broth.


    In less than a moment, more than half of that bowl of scallion noodles had been devoured.


    ¡°What perfect timing coming back from work. How did you know I was hungry?¡± Ji Zeqiu held the bowl with a joyful expression.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression darkened in an instant, like the sky before a thunderstorm, a storm ready to burst.


    He enunciated each word through clenched teeth, calling out Ji Zeqiu¡¯s name with a chillingly cold demeanor, ¡°That was made for me by mother!¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Ji Zeqiu raised his eyebrows, pushing the bowl he was holding forward, ¡°So give it back to you?¡±


    The noodles, now halved, and the broth tinged with Ji Zeqiu¡¯s saliva.


    A cold gleam exploded from the depths of Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes, filled with menacing wrath.


    Who would want to eat his saliva!


    But¡­


    This was the noodles his mother cooked for him.


    They were cooked by his mother.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s sense of coldness paused for a moment, a fleeting hesitation flashed in the depths of his eyes.


    Before his internal struggle had ended, Ji Zeqiu had snatched the chopsticks from his hand and continued to eat the remaining noodles, ¡°You¡¯re the one who didn¡¯t want them.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s fist clenched tightly by his side, creaking in frustration.


    Worried that the two brothers would start fighting again, Lin Xu spoke up, ¡°There¡¯s more in the kitchen, a bowl each, no more arguing.¡±


    Upon hearing her words, Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression finally eased a bit.


    Before Lin Xu could return from the kitchen with another bowl of noodles, Ji Tingyang cast a glance at Ji Zeqiu, who was slurping away beside him, and a vein throbbed on his forehead, ¡°Ji Zeqiu, are you sick!¡±


    ¡°Who told you to hog it all to yourself,¡± Ji Zeqiu snorted.


    Ji Tingyang had made a point of flaunting to him before, both openly and covertly, that their mother had cooked him scallion noodles, and one could only imagine how sullen he felt at that time.


    He wanted to eat them too.


    But every time he saw Lin Xu¡¯s smiling face, the words ¡®I want to eat¡¯ that were on his lips would go around and around, only to be swallowed back down.


    This matter had been on his mind for a long time.


    Little did he expect that upon his return this time, he¡¯d coincidentally catch his mother cooking noodles.


    Who cared about Ji Tingyang anymore.


    Ji Tingyang bit his lip, suppressing the urge to expose all of Ji Zeqiu¡¯s dark secrets.


    As if worried that the last bowl of noodles would also be taken by Ji Zeqiu, Lin Xu had barely set it down before he hurriedly took a bite.


    Ji Zeqiu rolled his eyes at him.


    Watching the two bickering brothers, Lin Xu was caught between laughter and tears, somehow reminded of a past scene.


    One noon, when Xiao Zeqiu was two or three years old, he woke up from a nightmare, crying and running out of the bedroom with a small teddy bear clutched in his hand.


    No matter how the servants tried to soothe him, it was no use; he kept crying for his mother.


    After receiving a call from the servant, Lin Xu rushed home in a panic.


    Unexpectedly, on her return, the house was quiet.


    Lin Xu was surprised, ¡°Where¡¯s Zeqiu?¡±


    The servant smiled, ¡°The eldest young master took the second young master back to his room.¡±


    As Lin Xu walked towards the bedroom on the second floor, she quietly opened the bedroom door.


    She saw the two children lying in bed together, fast asleep in each other¡¯s arms.


    Xiao Zeqiu¡¯s rosy cheeks still bore the marks of dried tears, his little hands restlessly clutched Ji Tingyang¡¯s clothes, their heads touching together, creating a harmonious and beautiful scene.


    Even though the brothers were so close in their childhood, how did they become so antagonistic after growing up?


    Lin Xu had even sneakily taken a photo back then.


    Had she uploaded that photo to the cloud?


    She wondered if it was still retrievable.


    While Lin Xu tried hard to remember, a series of urgent phone rings pulled her back from her memories.


    She picked up the phone and saw an unfamiliar number.


    ¡°Hello?¡± Lin Xu answered the call.


    ¡°Miss Lin, this is Shen Qingtang,¡± the person on the other end identified themselves.


    ¡°Are you looking for Ji Zeqiu? I¡¯ll get him for you¡­¡± Lin Xu said.


    After all, their only common link seemed to be Ji Zeqiu.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not that. I¡¯m specifically calling for you,¡± Shen Qingtang hurriedly said, ¡°I¡¯ve thought about it for a while, and I believe what you said to me before makes sense.¡±


    She took a deep breath.


    ¡°I¡¯ve decided to go abroad.¡±

 Chapter 123 - Chapter 123: Chapter 123 Smooth Sailing

    Chapter 123: Chapter 123 Smooth Sailing


    Shen Qingtang hesitated for a long time between Ji Zeqiu and going abroad to study.


    Every night before falling asleep, she would recall the words Lin Xu said to her.


    No one can block the pace of our progress.


    She thought about it over and over again, and only when her agent confirmed with her for the last time a few days ago did she finally make up her mind to agree to go abroad.


    Remembering that Lin Xu had advised her to think it through, she decided to let Lin Xu know once she¡¯d made up her mind.


    Shen Qingtang asked Brother Zhao for Lin Xu¡¯s phone number, wanting to express her gratitude, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you, I definitely wouldn¡¯t be able to make this decision now, thank you.¡±


    Lin Xu seemed very happy, and even her cheerful tone could be heard, ¡°I¡¯m so glad you could make this decision. Have you decided when you¡¯ll be leaving for abroad?¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s flight, my luggage is almost packed.¡± Shen Qingtang had acquired Lin Xu¡¯s number early on, but she had been worried that calling her out of the blue would be a disturbance, and thus she delayed for several days.


    Not until the day before her departure did Shen Qingtang make the call.


    ¡°So soon?¡± Lin Xu was surprised, ¡°What time is your flight tomorrow? Let me come to the airport to see you off.¡±


    Shen Qingtang politely declined her idea of seeing her off and chatted with her for a few more moments.


    After hanging up the phone, Shen Qingtang looked at the now empty apartment, as if she could see memories with Ji Zeqiu in every corner.


    Though most were just wishful thinking on her part.


    Shen Qingtang shook her head, casting all those memories out of her mind.


    The next morning.


    Shen Qingtang sat in her agent¡¯s small car and arrived at the airport.


    ¡°I¡¯ll see you off here. Remember to study hard abroad, and call me if there¡¯s anything,¡± her agent reminded her when they parted.


    ¡°Thank you, Sister Han.¡±


    Shen Qingtang waved goodbye, pulling her suitcase into the airport.


    However, when she got to the security checkpoint and saw two familiar figures, her steps froze in place.


    ¡°You¡­ why did you come?¡± Shen Qingtang¡¯s lips parted slightly, and she remained stunned for quite a while.


    She took a deep look at Ji Zeqiu, then her gaze fell on Lin Xu with a trace of surprise in her eyes.


    Lin Xu smiled without answering and handed her the small bag she was carrying.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Shen Qingtang took the bag with confusion and found a small gift box inside.


    ¡°It¡¯s a gift for you, wishing you a smooth journey abroad,¡± Lin Xu said.


    Inside the small gift box lay a golden necklace, with a tiny sailboat hanging from it, glittering under the sunlight as if sailing across a starry sea.


    Shen Qingtang¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Thank you for your gift, I really like it, and I will wear it every day.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s very important to share evenly,¡± Lin Xu laughed.


    Shen Qingtang¡¯s eyes crinkled into a smile, twinkling with joy.


    Their interaction wasn¡¯t frequent and, after a brief chat back and forth, the atmosphere fell silent.


    Shen Qingtang clenched her hand tighter beside her as her gaze unconsciously settled on Ji Zeqiu again, her lips parting several times as if she was about to speak but then hesitating.


    Ji Zeqiu stood with his head bowed in front of her, and even though his hat and mask concealed much of his face, she could still feel the calm detachment in his demeanor.


    Shen Qingtang nervously poked her fingertips with her fingernails, making crescent-shaped indentations, as the words in her heart went round and round but couldn¡¯t find their way out.


    At that moment.


    A hand stealthily nudged Ji Zeqiu.


    His body jolted sharply, looking at Lin Xu in puzzlement.


    Lin Xu gave him a glare and then looked at Shen Qingtang as if hinting at him to say something more.


    Ji Zeqiu struggled for a moment before he dryly spit out a ¡°Have a safe trip.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s too perfunctory, can¡¯t you say something more!¡± Lin Xu¡¯s lowered voice carried a tinge of mockery, ¡°You¡¯re being way too straightforward.¡±


    ¡°How am I being straightforward?¡± Ji Zeqiu defended himself.


    He had bought his mother lots of jewelry and handbags, and every time his mother cried watching a movie, he would pass tissues and pat her back to comfort her.


    He would always buy her tasty things to eat.


    He was simply the most considerate son, even Ji Tingyang couldn¡¯t compare with him!


    Shen Qingtang saw them whispering something to each other. She couldn¡¯t hear their voices, but she could see the lively expressions in Ji Zeqiu¡¯s eyes.


    The look he gave Lin Xu was filled with urgency and tension, starkly different from the calm he showed when facing her just moments ago.


    Suddenly.


    For some reason, the knot in Shen Qingtang¡¯s heart unraveled at that moment, and all concerns about love faded away, becoming less important than carving out her own career.


    Having come to that realization, the gloominess in her eyes cleared, and they became bright and clear.


    ¡°It¡¯s almost time, I need to go board the plane,¡± Shen Qingtang spoke up.


    Lin Xu snapped out of their mother-son debate, a trace of annoyance flickering in her eyes, ¡°It¡¯s all my fault for wasting the time to say goodbye to you. Hurry and go, don¡¯t be late.¡±


    Just before parting, Shen Qingtang suddenly stepped forward and unexpectedly hugged Lin Xu.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Her voice was soft as the breeze.


    Before Lin Xu could react, she was pulling her luggage and hurrying through the security checkpoint.


    Lin Xu¡¯s eyes bore intense disapproval as she looked at Ji Zeqiu.


    ¡°I knew I shouldn¡¯t have called you here, can¡¯t you say a couple nice words?¡±


    ¡°Who says I can¡¯t.¡± Ji Zeqiu was indignant, ¡°If you want to hear it, I can say it right now.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t say it just now, what¡¯s the use of saying it now?¡± Lin Xu said hopelessly, ¡°When you sent off friends in the past, were you also this silent? Don¡¯t tell me if I go abroad, you won¡¯t say a single word either?¡±


    No sooner had she finished speaking than Ji Zeqiu tensely grabbed Lin Xu¡¯s arm, his face anxious.


    ¡°You¡¯re going abroad?!¡±


    ¡°Why! When are you going abroad, what for, and with whom, Ji Tingyang?!¡±


    His rapid-fire questions left Lin Xu dizzy.


    ¡°Stop, stop, stop, I was just using a metaphor, do you understand metaphor?¡± Lin Xu cut off his barrage of questions.


    Upon hearing this, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s heart, which had been hanging in mid-air, finally settled down as he muttered softly, ¡°As long as you¡¯re not going abroad.¡±


    After a little while, he softly added more.


    ¡°I, I¡¯m not saying you can¡¯t go abroad, it¡¯s just too dangerous for you to go alone. If you want to travel abroad, I might as well, reluctantly, accompany you.¡±


    ¡°Is it that much of a hassle? Then I might as well ask Ting Yang to go with me.¡±


    ¡°No way!¡± Ji Zeqiu abruptly looked up, but upon seeing the teasing in Lin Xu¡¯s eyes, he quickly pretended to be calm again, ¡°He¡¯s a busy CEO with no time to spare; we can¡¯t ask him.¡±


    ¡°You have a point,¡± Lin Xu chuckled inwardly.


    Ji Zeqiu pursed his lips, about to speak, when a low call came from behind.


    ¡°Ji Zeqiu?!¡±


    Ji Zeqiu thought his disguise had been blown and his heart suddenly clenched.


    However, when he turned and saw the figure of the man, his face turned an ashen grey, his eyes flickering with a cold, harsh light.

 Chapter 124 - Chapter 124: Chapter 124: What It Feels Like to Complain to Mom

    Chapter 124: Chapter 124: What It Feels Like to Complain to Mom


    ¡°Ji Zeqiu, I never expected it to be you.¡±


    The man walked over with a smile, as if familiar, and heavily clapped Ji Zeqiu¡¯s shoulder.


    When facing others, Ji Zeqiu always had a gentle and harmless smile on his face.


    However, at that moment, a cold chill emanated from him, and his silent eyes were exceptionally icy.


    ¡°You¡¯ve mistaken me for someone else.¡± Ji Zeqiu¡¯s voice was so indifferent it was almost ruthless, as he took Lin Xu¡¯s hand and headed outside.


    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t go.¡± The man quickly caught up and blocked Ji Zeqiu¡¯s path.


    ¡°I¡¯m your cousin, Wu Yanghui!¡± Excitement flickered across the man¡¯s face, then he started rambling, ¡°We haven¡¯t seen each other for over a decade, I¡¯ve changed quite a bit, you might not remember me, but my mother, who is also your aunt, once had you and your siblings stay at our house for a while.¡±


    ¡°Who would have thought that the kid who always cried for his mother would become a big star now? I always see you on TV, haha¡­¡±


    As the man rambled on, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s face grew darker, as if dripping with ink, his brows filled with an irritable air.


    ¡°I¡¯ve said, you¡¯ve got the wrong person,¡± Ji Zeqiu stepped away.


    Wu Yanghui seemed determined to recognize him.


    ¡°How could I possibly mistake you?¡± Hearing his repeated denials, Wu Yanghui¡¯s tone suddenly became uncertain, reaching out to grab his mask.


    Ji Zeqiu quickly stepped back, creating distance between them.


    Lin Xu also extended her arms to shield Ji Zeqiu behind her, ¡°He said you¡¯ve got the wrong person. If you keep harassing us, we¡¯ll call the police.¡±


    Lin Xu suddenly came forward, and Wu Yanghui then noticed her, staring for a moment, ¡°Who is this?¡±


    The next instant, his eyes lit up.


    ¡°Is this Lanyue?¡±


    ¡°Women change so much by eighteen, I didn¡¯t expect my sister to have become so beautiful. If you didn¡¯t still resemble how you looked as a child, I might not have recognized you, haha¡­¡±


    Just as he reached out to touch Lin Xu, Ji Zeqiu grabbed his hand forcefully, his eyes filled with anger, ¡°Don¡¯t touch her.¡±


    Wu Yanghui chuckled nervously, ¡°I just wanted to greet my sister.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s grip on his hand grew even tighter, his indifferent expression fracturing moment by moment.


    ¡°Wait here for me,¡± he said to Lin Xu, then pulled Wu Yanghui away to a distance.


    Lin Xu couldn¡¯t hear their conversation, only seeing Ji Zeqiu¡¯s body tensed up, remaining cold and heartless throughout.


    After a while, Wu Yanghui began to look anxious, pulling at Ji Zeqiu and saying something.


    Ji Zeqiu paid him no heed, walking straight towards Lin Xu, then without looking back, they left the airport.


    Back in the car.


    Even though they had long left the airport, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s body was still tense, his dark eyes harboring a chilling storm, his expression devoid of warmth.


    ¡°That person just now¡­ was he your aunt¡¯s son? He used to resemble your aunt quite a bit as a child, I didn¡¯t expect him to change so much that I wouldn¡¯t recognize him,¡± Lin Xu started, trying to break the heavy atmosphere in the car.


    ¡°Ji Tingyang mentioned before that you stayed at your aunt¡¯s when you were kids, but you guys never talk about that time, I don¡¯t know how you were treated then, whether someone bullied you¡­¡±


    ¡°If it was happy, that¡¯s good. If it wasn¡¯t, I¡­¡± Lin Xu¡¯s voice suddenly stopped, her heart tugged by sorrow and discomfort every time she thought of the twenty years missing from their growth, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, if only I could have been there as you grew up.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu pulled the car over to the roadside, the harshness in his face faded, replaced by a touch of urgency.


    He held Lin Xu¡¯s hand, ¡°That¡¯s not your fault!¡±


    He had thought so before.


    Lanyue resented why others had parents to accompany them, while his parents were not by his side.


    He even hated them at times.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s mood became somber, he reached out to hug Lin Xu, resting his head on her shoulder, his voice muffled, ¡°It¡¯s not your fault¡­¡±


    Lin Xu touched his head, asking softly, ¡°Did Wu Yanghui bully you when you were a child?¡±


    She could only think of this reason for Ji Zeqiu¡¯s coldness towards him, his demeanor filled with hostility.


    ¡°Tell mom, and shall I help you take revenge?¡± Caressing his hair slowly like petting a dog, Lin Xu spoke softly.


    A schoolchild tattling?


    This d¨¦j¨¤ vu made Ji Zeqiu¡¯s heavy chest release a light chuckle.


    As children, when classmates were bullied at school, they would rush into their parents¡¯ arms the moment school ended, crying and tattling to their parents.


    Those parents would angrily accompany their children to talk to the teachers, backing them up.


    Each time Ji Zeqiu saw their overreactions, he would scoff disdainfully.


    His brother said that a true man should always solve things on his own.


    So, when he saw Wu Yanghui take his sister¡¯s toy, he raised his little fists and went for it.


    But this approach never worked at his aunt¡¯s place.


    After Wu Yanghui cried from being hit, he would immediately pull his aunt over to back him up.


    ¡°Your cousin just wanted to play with your sister¡¯s toy for a bit, what¡¯s wrong with letting him play?¡± Without further ado, his aunt snatched the little duck toy from his sister¡¯s hands.


    ¡°This was bought by mom for my sister!¡± Ji Zeqiu lunged to snatch the little duck back.


    However, a seven or eight-year-old child could not overpower an adult in their thirties and could only watch helplessly as his aunt took the little duck away.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been living at my place for two or three years and I haven¡¯t said a word. Is it not okay for your cousin to play with your sister¡¯s toy? Once he is done, he¡¯ll give it back.¡±


    The aunt handed the little duck to Wu Yanghui and turned to leave.


    ¡°Besides, it¡¯s been so long since your parents passed away, it¡¯s just a toy, what¡¯s there to treasure,¡± a murmuring voice came faintly.


    Ji Zeqiu clenched his fists tighter, and before he could storm over, his sister¡¯s crying pierced the air.


    ¡°Wuu wuu wuu¡­ my little duck¡­¡±


    ¡°I want my little duck, wuu wuu wuu¡­¡±


    Before his rage could erupt, he suppressed it and knelt down to comfort his sister.


    That¡¯s when he realized all that talk about relying on oneself was false.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s grip around Lin Xu¡¯s hand tightened gradually, a sour feeling surged in his chest, horribly distressing, and his eyes subtly reddened from the sourness.


    He buried his head deeper into Lin Xu¡¯s neck, not wanting her to notice his abnormality.


    Fortunately, his mother was back, and she said she¡¯d back him up.


    ¡°Yes, he bullied me.¡± The feeling of tattling felt so good, a subtle smile lifted the corners of Ji Zeqiu¡¯s lips.


    Hearing her son¡¯s grievance, Lin Xu¡¯s fury ignited, ¡°I must teach him a lesson!¡±


    She just didn¡¯t expect the opportunity to teach him a lesson to come so soon.


    During a meeting with Xie Changyan, Lin Xu encountered Wu Yanghui again in a restaurant.

 Chapter 125 - Chapter 125: Chapter 125 Everybody is Relatives

    Chapter 125: Chapter 125 Everybody is Relatives


    Since their last encounter at the golf course, Xie Changyan had occasionally sent her a few messages.


    Lin Xu felt stifled.


    Remembering the indifference with which he had previously treated her messages, when he took the initiative to message her, a desire for revenge stirred within her, and she decided to intentionally ignore him for a few days.


    However, this plan hadn¡¯t even been in effect for two days before she drooled over a picture sent by Xie Changyan.


    Xie: ¡°Flaming Lily Restaurant has recently introduced a few new dishes. Would you like to try them?¡±


    Lin Xu, who had not yet eaten lunch, swallowed her saliva as her stomach growled on cue.


    But she resisted and did not give in.


    It wasn¡¯t as if she had to eat with him.


    Ji Tingyang also had VIP access to Flaming Lily Restaurant, so he could take her there.


    Muttering this to herself, Lin Xu saw the next message from Xie Changyan.


    Xie: ¡°The opportunities to try the new dishes are limited. I just got the last one, and if you¡¯re not interested, I¡¯ll tell the boss to give it up.¡±


    Limited opportunities?!


    She¡¯d miss out if she didn¡¯t act?!


    Before Lin Xu could fully process it, her hands moved faster than her brain, and she sent out a message first.


    Willow Wadding: ¡°I¡¯m very interested!¡±


    As if she couldn¡¯t wait.


    Lin Xu regretfully slapped her own palm, and before she could retract the message, Xie Changyan¡¯s ¡°See you in a bit¡± got there first.


    Alright then.


    She had to keep the appointment.


    Lin Xu had intended to take her time getting there, but her stomach¡¯s growling from her procrastination rushed her, forcing her to ask the driver to go faster.


    Upon arriving at Flaming Lily Restaurant¡­


    After giving the private room number to the waiter, Lin Xu followed him there.


    Xie Changyan sat with his long legs crossed, leaning languidly back in his chair, exuding a casual yet noble air.


    He looked up when he heard noise.


    Upon seeing Lin Xu, the corners of his eyes lifted, and his gaze filled with a light smile.


    ¡°I just happened to be hungry.¡± It¡¯s not that she wanted to see him.


    Lin Xu pouted.


    Xie Changyan let out a pleasant chuckle and handed her the menu, ¡°Take a look and see what you want to eat, don¡¯t starve yourself.¡±


    Lin Xu skillfully ordered a few of her favorite dishes and then reminded the waiter not to forget to serve one of each new dish.


    ¡°Of course, we¡¯ll prepare them for you right away, please wait a moment.¡± After taking note, the waiter nodded and left.


    Once the waiter served all the dishes, Lin Xu continued to eat in silence as if she came just for the food, showing no intention of communicating with Xie Changyan throughout the meal.


    Xie Changyan didn¡¯t speak either, just occasionally topping up her tea and serving her dishes.


    He almost seemed like a waiter.


    Until Lin Xu couldn¡¯t keep up and her bowl was nearly overflowing, she hastily said, ¡°Stop, stop, stop, I can¡¯t finish all this. You eat too, don¡¯t just keep serving me.¡±


    Xie Changyan pulled back his hand and looked at her with a genial smile, ¡°Not angry anymore?¡±


    Lin Xu¡¯s eyes flickered with a hint of guilt as she stammered, ¡°I¡¯m not angry, I was just focusing on my food. It¡¯s proper to not speak when eating and not talk when sleeping.¡±


    Her stubbornness was just like Ji Zeqiu¡¯s.


    Lin Xu wasn¡¯t sure if her inability to cope was inherited or if she had caught it from Ji Zeqiu.


    Staring at his smiling, silent eyes, Lin Xu¡¯s ears grew even hotter as she muttered softly, ¡°You never responded to my messages in the past few weeks, and now it¡¯s only been two days.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ll continue sending you messages after this, and you can keep me waiting as long as you like. But¡­¡± Xie Changyan smiled, ¡°can you reply to my date invitation at least?¡±


    ¡°Date?!¡± Lin Xu¡¯s eyes widened in surprise.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t a one-on-one time between a man and a woman a date?¡± Xie Changyan teased with a light smile.


    As expected, she couldn¡¯t outtalk him. Even with memory loss, he was still so good at arguing.


    Lin Xu¡¯s cheeks quietly flushed with crimson, huffing as she poked at the food in her bowl, until she went to the restroom and the blush on her cheeks had still not faded.


    Before she returned, a call suddenly came from behind her.


    ¡°Lanyue.¡±


    Upon hearing her daughter¡¯s name, Lin Xu immediately halted her steps and quickly looked around.


    Could her daughter be here?


    ¡°I¡¯m over here, over here.¡± A man walked up to her, squinting and smiling.


    Lin Xu stared at his face for a while before she remembered who the man in front of her was.


    It was Wu Yanghui.


    He mistook her for his sister.


    ¡°How coincidental, you¡¯re eating here too?¡± he said, scanning the surroundings in a circle, ¡°Did you come by yourself, or are Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu here too?¡±


    Wu Yanghui¡¯s face was plump; his cheeks shined with an oily redness, his lips plastered with a fake smile, his eyes darting around, sizing up his next scheme.


    ¡°I came by myself. Is there something you want?¡± Seeing him reminded Lin Xu of what Ji Zeqiu told her about being bullied, so her expression naturally wasn¡¯t pleasant.


    ¡°Nothing much, just that it¡¯s been so many years since I¡¯ve seen you, and I wanted to say hello.¡± Wu Yanghui said with a smile.


    ¡°What hello? Are we on good terms?¡± Lin Xu gave him a sideways glance.


    If they were on good terms, Ji Zeqiu wouldn¡¯t treat him with such disdain.


    Wu Yanghui¡¯s expression stiffened, but he quickly put on an even broader smile, ¡°Look at what you¡¯re saying, we¡¯re all relatives here. If we don¡¯t get along, who can we get along with?¡±


    Seeing Lin Xu remain silent and cold, he rushed to justify himself.


    ¡°Yes, I did hit Ji Tingyang several times when we were kids, locked up Ji Zeqiu in a little cabin, and I even took your toys. But I was too young then, I didn¡¯t understand anything.¡±


    ¡°Now I¡¯ve grown up and I know I was wrong. Plus, my parents took you three siblings in for four or five years. Let¡¯s just put those things in the past, what do you say?¡±


    The more she listened to his words, the uglier Lin Xu¡¯s expression became.


    She wondered if hiding the bad news and only sharing the good was inherent in children, as Ji Zeqiu did the same.


    He merely lightly mentioned that his cousin bullied him, without discussing any details.


    And Ji Tingyang hadn¡¯t mentioned anything to her at all.


    She had imagined some scenarios herself, thinking they were just the usual child¡¯s play of pushing and pulling.


    After all, they were relatives, and she hadn¡¯t thought there was more to it.


    But she hadn¡¯t expected the bullying to be this severe.


    She laughed in anger, her eyebrows and eyes filled with frost, as she replied coldly, ¡°How can we put it in the past?¡±


    ¡°How about I beat you half to death first, lock you in a dark room, and then take your stuff and see if you can say it¡¯s all in the past, how about that?¡±


    Wu Yanghui¡¯s smile faded from his face, looking at her sternly, ¡°Even if I did something wrong in the past, if it weren¡¯t for my family taking you guys in, you three siblings would have ended up in an orphanage! I can¡¯t believe you have no sense of gratitude at all. It¡¯s a good thing your parents died early; otherwise, they would be so ashamed of you.¡±


    ¡°Do you really think your family took us in out of kindness?¡± Lin Xu scoffed.


    She didn¡¯t need to ask to know why things happened as they did.

 Chapter 126 - Chapter 126: Chapter 126: Beat Them Every Time We Meet

    Chapter 126: Chapter 126: Beat Them Every Time We Meet


    Ji Yanli¡¯s parents had died early, but Lin Xu¡¯s parents were still alive.


    Even if she and her husband had died, her parents would never let her children end up in an orphanage. They would adopt them immediately and without a doubt, the children would have a better life with them than with his family.


    But in the end, it was their aunt who took them in, and the reason behind this wasn¡¯t hard to guess.


    Lin Xu and Ji Yanli passed away, leaving behind a vast Ji Family fortune.


    Even though their aunt could get some of the money, most of the inheritance belonged to Ji Tingyang and the others.


    However, since all three children were minors, the inheritance would be managed by their guardian until they came of age and could handle it themselves.


    So their aunt did everything she could to fight for guardianship.


    ¡°Both of you are in your fifties or sixties already, how could you have the energy to raise three young children?¡±


    ¡°If anything happened to you two, who knows if in the end it will be you taking care of these three kids or them taking care of you.¡±


    ¡°But our family is different. My husband and I are young, and we have experience raising children.¡±


    ¡°Besides, when Tingyang and the others come over, they could keep company with my son, which is good for a child¡¯s development.¡±


    During the court battle for guardianship, the aunt spoke in such a manner.


    As expected, the guardianship of the three children, along with the inheritance, fell into the aunt¡¯s hands.


    At first, they treated Ji Tingyang and his siblings quite well, and Mr. and Mrs. Lin would occasionally come to visit them.


    Not long after, Mr. and Mrs. Lin passed away one after another due to excessive grief.


    Lin Xu was an only child, and after her death, the Lin Family¡¯s inheritance went to their grandchildren.


    After getting more money, the aunt didn¡¯t just switch to a luxury house and cars but also hired several more maids and butlers.


    Gradually, their attitude towards the three siblings got worse and worse until they even started treating them as burdens and directly handed them off to other distant relatives.


    Those distant relatives, having not received any inheritance, were naturally unhappy with three more dependents added to their household.


    Disdain filled their hearts and showed plainly on their faces.


    It wasn¡¯t long before they passed the children to the next distant relative.


    Everyone played hot potato with them until Ji Tingyang became an adult¡­


    Hearing the sarcasm in Lin Xu¡¯s words, Wu Yanghui¡¯s expression suddenly turned cold.


    ¡°What do you mean? Wasn¡¯t my mother kindheartedly taking you in? What else could it be? I told my mom back then not to bother with this thankless task. Sure enough, no one appreciated her efforts, and now she¡¯s been turned into the bad guy.¡±


    Especially Ji Tingyang.


    The moment he came of age, he came asking his mom for money and even wanted to take back the company.


    He had no idea who had been managing everything for them for the past decade. They¡¯ve got no merit but have the toil, and when he was asked just to give some share dividends, he was unwilling.


    ¡°You¡¯ve really got some nerve, haven¡¯t you? Able to spin black into white, that skin of yours¡­¡± Lin Xu paused, glancing at him with disdain, ¡°it wouldn¡¯t happen to be from a pig, would it?¡±


    ¡°You!¡±


    Wu Yanghui¡¯s expression turned ugly.


    Perhaps the volume of their argument had risen too high, drawing the attention of someone nearby.


    ¡°Little Wu, why aren¡¯t you back in the private room having dinner? What are you doing here?¡± A portly middle-aged man in a suit approached, his round eyes exuding a sense of authority, and with an air of leadership.


    Upon seeing him, Wu Yanghui¡¯s ashen complexion immediately broke into a smile, ¡°Manager Qian, how did you get here? I just saw my cousin outside, so I came to say hello.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re Wu¡¯s cousin, huh? Why don¡¯t you join us for dinner then?¡± Manager Qian looked Lin Xu up and down, his smiling eyes narrowing slightly.


    ¡°Sure, sure.¡± Wu Yanghui promptly agreed.


    Then he lowered his voice and whispered in Lin Xu¡¯s ear, ¡°Manager Qian is a very important client for our family. Do me a favor for now, and I won¡¯t hold past issues against you.¡±


    Their small company had been struggling lately and was on the verge of shutting down.


    The last time they met Ji Zeqiu, they had thought that with his high profile, it would be good if he could endorse their company¡¯s products.


    But Ji Zeqiu didn¡¯t give them any face and rejected them so flatly.


    Thinking of this, Wu Yanghui¡¯s expression grew colder.


    Just as he was about to grab Lin Xu, she shook off his hand.


    Manager Qian looked puzzled, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°Oh, Manager Qian.¡± Wu Yanghui sighed, his face full of worry, ¡°My cousin here, she lost her parents early on and had no one to discipline her, which has led to some rebellious behavior. She doesn¡¯t even listen to me, she¡­¡±


    Before he could finish.


    A cup of cold water was splashed on Wu Yanghui¡¯s face, running down his cheeks and dripping onto his clothes, soaking a large patch.


    ¡°Ji Lanyue!¡± He spoke her name with such spacing as if he wanted to tear her to pieces, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at Lin Xu.


    ¡°Sorry, my cousin here always likes to spout nonsense. I just wanted to wake him up a bit.¡± Lin Xu¡¯s eyes curved into a smile as she handed the empty glass back to a passing waiter, ¡°Actually, our relationship is not good at all. If you happen to see me again, please pretend you haven¡¯t, otherwise I can¡¯t guarantee if the water I splash next time will be cold or hot.¡±


    With a look of anger on his face, Wu Yanghui¡¯s hand had just lifted into the air.


    A man with a straight posture walked up beside Lin Xu.


    Seeing the man¡¯s mocking smile, Lin Xu paused, ¡°Why did you come out?¡±


    ¡°I was worried you might fall into the restroom, so I came out to check,¡± Xie Changyan chuckled softly.


    Lin Xu retorted in a low voice, ¡°I¡¯m not that clumsy.¡±


    The smile on Xie Changyan¡¯s lips deepened, his gaze flicking over Wu Yanghui¡¯s frozen hand, carrying a subtlety that was not easily detected.


    ¡°Your friend?¡± Xie Changyan asked.


    ¡°Don¡¯t know him. We better not stick around to hear a dog bark,¡± Lin Xu said.


    Xie Changyan understood and led Lin Xu away.


    Wu Yanghui¡¯s neck was red with anger, but due to the presence of clients, he didn¡¯t dare to make a scene and could only speak to Manager Qian with a hint of sarcasm, ¡°Kids with no discipline are all like this. If their parents were still around, they¡¯d be infuriated to death by now. Don¡¯t be angry, Manager Qian, I¡¯ll sort it out later¡­¡±


    Suddenly, a fierce slap landed on his face.


    It made a crisp slapping sound.


    Wu Yanghui¡¯s ears rang, and he heard nothing.


    It took him a while to recover, his cheek burning. He looked incredulously at Lin Xu who had returned.


    ¡°If I ever hear you speak ill of my family or parents again, I¡¯ll hit you every time I see you,¡± Lin Xu¡¯s eyes were icy cold.


    ¡°You¡­¡± Wu Yanghui was about to explode when he was interrupted by a sneer.


    ¡°Manager Qian, is this how you vet your business partners?¡±


    Xie Changyan¡¯s eyes were cold.


    Wu Yanghui didn¡¯t realize that ever since Xie Changyan had appeared, Manager Qian beside him had already been sweating profusely and trembling with fear.

 Chapter 127 - Chapter 127: Chapter 127: Still So Charming After Losing Memory

    Chapter 127: Chapter 127: Still So Charming After Losing Memory


    When Manager Qian heard Xie Changyan call him, his heart clenched suddenly, and dense sweat seeped out on his forehead.


    It seemed that the woman in front of him was very familiar with Young Master Xie. His initial attitude of watching the drama from the sidelines disappeared all at once, replaced by tension.


    ¡°Manager Qian, since when did our company become so lax in auditing partners that we now choose to cooperate with people who have no integrity or quality?¡± Xie Changyan frowned and scoffed, his eyes harboring a chill as they swept over Wu Yanghui.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Wu Yanghui, hearing the ridicule directed at himself, glared angrily at Xie Changyan, ¡°This is a family matter, mind your own business!¡±


    Lin Xu mocked, ¡°Family matter? How come I didn¡¯t know we had a family member like you?¡±


    ¡°You ingrate!¡± Wu Yanghui kept repeating himself, with the same old rhetoric spouting from his mouth.


    The cheek that had just been slapped still throbbed faintly with pain, and thinking about this only fueled his anger further.


    He waved his hand and took two steps forward, intending to return the slap he had received.


    Seeing Wu Yanghui getting furious, Manager Qian quickly grabbed his arm and whispered in his ear, ¡°This is our company¡¯s CEO, Xie Changyan. Your cousin obviously has a close relationship with Young Master Xie. If you offend your cousin, not to mention that Xie¡¯s won¡¯t cooperate with you, you won¡¯t be able to get by in this country afterward!¡±


    Upon hearing this, Wu Yanghui¡¯s rationality instantly returned.


    He looked at Xie Changyan, and his face immediately twisted into an eager smile, ¡°Young Master Xie, look at me, completely unaware of who you are, my sincerest apologies for not recognizing you.¡±


    Seeing that Xie Changyan was not paying him any attention, he turned his head to Lin Xu and said, ¡°It was all my fault just now. I shouldn¡¯t have spoken about you and your family like that. I apologize to you, please don¡¯t hold it against me, will you?¡±


    His face changed so quickly.


    Lin Xu, with a cold expression, revealed a hint of mockery and, not wanting to see his hypocritical flattery anymore, decisively pulled Xie Changyan back to the private room.


    The mood that had been quite good for Lin Xu was completely ruined after encountering Wu Yanghui, and her chopsticks angrily stabbed at the food in her bowl.


    ¡°It seems like the slap you gave him earlier was too light, considering you still haven¡¯t cooled down.¡±


    Lin Xu heard Xie Changyan¡¯s voice, looked up, and saw his eyes carrying a slight smile, his lips parting lightly, ¡°Do you want to take revenge?¡±


    ¡°How should I take revenge?¡± Lin Xu was startled for a moment, and it took her a few seconds to react.


    She had just heard that Wu Yanghui wanted to do business with Xie¡¯s, and the person in charge of Xie¡¯s was right before her eyes.


    Whether to cooperate with Wu Yanghui or not was merely a word from Xie Changyan.


    Besides.


    Xie Changyan was also the father of their child.


    If their child was bullied, as a father, wasn¡¯t it only right for him to take revenge for his own child?


    With that thought, Lin Xu¡¯s eyes suddenly burst with excitement, ¡°Yes, please help me!¡±


    Xie Changyan chuckled softly, his deep voice drawing out a long tone, ¡°Depends on the mood~¡±


    Lin Xu immediately got up, sat beside him, and gently pounded his shoulder with her small fists as if massaging it.


    Her clear, beautiful eyes brimmed with joy as she gazed at him intently,


    as if luring someone into temptation.


    ¡°Are you feeling better now?¡± Lin Xu tilted her head slightly


    Since he did not speak for a long time, Lin Xu shifted, thinking about massaging his other shoulder.


    Shift and shift.


    The chair on the other side of her body tipped up due to being unbalanced, and Lin Xu fell straight onto Xie Changyan.


    Xie Changyan instinctively wrapped his arms around her waist, steadying her body.


    Their bodies pressed closely together, and they could even feel each other¡¯s soft bodily curves. Their breaths intermingled in that instant, and warmth gradually spread between them.


    Their gazes locked onto each other, and everything around them seemed eerily quiet, with only the sounds of their breathing and heartbeats audible to each other.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s hand tightened around her waist, his gaze grew deeper, a restlessness surged up in his heart, and his Adam¡¯s apple unconsciously bobbed up and down.


    Just as Lin Xu slightly lifted her chin, he suddenly helped her back to the chair, creating some distance between them.


    ¡°I do feel much better,¡± Xie Changyan¡¯s voice emerged with a soft chuckle.


    His deep, magnetic voice reached Lin Xu¡¯s ears, making them burn with heat.


    She wasn¡¯t sure if he was answering her previous question or referring to the pleasure of her literally throwing herself into his arms.


    Lin Xu secretly pressed on her wildly thumping heart and pursed her lips.


    How could this man still be so flirtatious even with amnesia?


    The next day.


    Su Linzhou arrived at Xie¡¯s and saw Xie Changyan, who was leisurely lounging with a hand resting casually on the back of the sofa chair.


    His long legs were carelessly crossed, his other hand holding a cellphone, eyes on the screen, the corners of his lips unconsciously curling into a faint smile.


    It was a message from Lin Xu.


    [The necklace you gave isn¡¯t bad, I quite like it.]


    Before they parted the day before, he had given Lin Xu a little gift; it seemed she really liked it.


    ¡°Yo, you seem to be in a good mood today?¡± Su Linzhou¡¯s brows lightly lifted as he sat down opposite him, teasingly saying, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you won the beauty¡¯s affection?¡±


    Xie Changyan gave him a sidelong glance and turned off his cellphone screen.


    His indifferent demeanor was a stark contrast to the second before.


    Su Linzhou protested noisily, ¡°What¡¯s with this double standard of yours!¡±


    Xie Changyan extended his hand, ¡°Where¡¯s the thing I asked for?¡±


    Su Linzhou placed the document he was holding onto the table, ¡°Here, do you have a grudge against this Wu Yanghui? To even need me to personally check his background, what a waste of resources.¡±


    Xie Changyan flipped through the pages nonchalantly, nothing stood out as peculiar, except when he saw that Wu Yanghui was a cousin of Ji Tingyang, his gaze turned noticeably colder.


    His thoughts became tangled once more.


    Did she want to deal with Wu Yanghui because of herself, or because of Ji Tingyang?


    There was no warmth in Xie Changyan¡¯s eyes, and his tone was calm and unrippled as he tossed the documents onto the table, ¡°Handle this for me, make them all stop transacting with this man.¡±


    ¡°No way, you¡¯re really going that far?¡± Su Linzhou was surprised.


    Before bringing over this document, Su Linzhou had also seen it and knew Wu Yanghui was Ji Tingyang¡¯s cousin.


    If Xie Changyan were to blacklist Wu Yanghui within the circle, wouldn¡¯t that be equivalent to directly opposing the Ji Family?


    All of this for a woman?


    ¡°Are you really going to confront Ji Tingyang head-on?¡± Su Linzhou asked.


    ¡°Less talking,¡± Xie Changyan¡¯s cold eyes glared at him.


    Su Linzhou shook his head and clicked his tongue, ¡°You¡¯re really lost in love, beyond saving.¡±


    In the following days.


    Lin Xu occasionally received updates from Xie Changyan.


    He told her about how Wu Yanghui had repeatedly sought partnerships outside and hit a wall every time.


    Lin Xu felt greatly satisfied upon hearing this, and her mood improved a lot.


    However, she hadn¡¯t expected Wu Yanghui to be so shameless as to directly run to the Ji Mansion to look for them.

 Chapter 128 - Chapter 128: Chapter 128 "All my money is yours.

    Chapter 128: Chapter 128 ¡°All my money is yours.


    Lin Xu had been holding her phone and smiling foolishly for some time, which caught Ji Tingyang¡¯s attention. Moreover, she had been wearing that necklace around her neck for two to three days now.


    You have to know that Lin Xu¡¯s jewelry collection is quite extensive, and she wears different pieces each day, never repeating the same one the next day.


    Yet she had been wearing this necklace for so long.


    Ji Tingyang suddenly felt a hidden crisis brewing.


    He glanced at Lin Xu, who was sitting on the sofa and happily looking at her phone, then quietly went over to sit beside her, attempting to peek at her phone without drawing attention.


    Lin Xu seemed to sense something and immediately locked her phone screen.


    She turned her head to meet Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes, and they looked at each other in silence.


    ¡°¡­Mother, what are you looking at?¡± Ji Tingyang was the first to speak.


    ¡°Nothing much, just some funny videos,¡± Lin Xu feigned nonchalance.


    ¡°Let me have a look,¡± Ji Tingyang reached out to take her phone.


    ¡°They were just randomly found, I swiped past and can¡¯t find them anymore,¡± Lin Xu dodged to the side.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s gaze instantly filled with suspicion.


    Lin Xu laughed awkwardly, ¡°If you want to see, I can follow a few funny bloggers for you.¡±


    ¡°No need,¡± Ji Tingyang wasn¡¯t actually interested in funny videos, his gaze fell back on the necklace around her neck, and he asked nonchalantly, ¡°When did you buy this necklace? I don¡¯t recall seeing it before.¡±


    ¡°Just bought it a few days ago. You were at work when I went out, I saw it and liked it, so I bought it. It¡¯s so pretty that I¡¯ve worn it for several days,¡± Lin Xu¡¯s explanation seemed impeccable.


    Ji Tingyang fell silent, still feeling that something was off.


    Just as he was about to continue questioning, the butler came back from outside, ¡°Young Master, there is a visitor outside, claiming to be your cousin.¡±


    Wu Yanghui?


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s facial expression became as cold as Ji Zeqiu¡¯s had been before, instantly frosty.


    Lin Xu¡¯s face also slightly darkened.


    She hadn¡¯t expected him to have the audacity to come knocking.


    Seeing Ji Tingyang¡¯s grim expression, the butler felt somewhat uneasy, ¡°Should I¡­ should I go and send him away?¡±


    Looking into the young master¡¯s eyes that were cold enough to kill, the butler understood clearly.


    This person definitely had a bad relationship with the Ji Family.


    After the butler spoke, he waited a few seconds, and seeing Ji Tingyang¡¯s silent agreement, he hurried out to send the visitor away.


    Ji Tingyang was mostly a very reserved person, and now with his lips pressed tightly together, he looked even more intimidating, and the low pressure emanating from him was enough to make anyone shiver.


    At this moment.


    A small hand took hold of his cold palm, the warmth from the touch spreading through his palm like the warm sun on a winter day, gradually melting the ice within his body.


    Ji Tingyang clasped Lin Xu¡¯s hand in return, putting on an unconcerned facade, and said, ¡°There are always some people who come to claim kinship in order to get some money. That person is certainly no different; just chase him away.¡±


    He didn¡¯t wish to talk about it, and Lin Xu didn¡¯t press him, pretending to be unaware as well.


    She smiled, rubbing Ji Tingyang¡¯s head with her other hand, ¡°Our Tingyang is so rich now, naturally many people want to cozy up to him, you see, even I have to try to ingratiate myself with you.¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes flickered, and his ears turned red, ¡°No, there¡¯s no need to ingratiate, all my money is yours¡­¡±


    The money he earned was meant for his mother to spend after all.


    ¡°So there¡¯s no need to ingratiate, then next time I won¡¯t bother making scallion pancakes for you,¡± Lin Xu nodded as if she just had a revelation.


    Ji Tingyang was momentarily stunned; his usually calm and composed face suddenly filled with conflict and struggle.


    He wanted to spend money on his mother, but he also wanted to eat scallion noodle soup¡­


    For a long while.


    A ¡°Pfft¡± of laughter rang in his ears, and Lin Xu¡¯s face bloomed into a smile, ¡°I was joking, you can eat as much as you want, I¡¯ll cook it for you anytime.¡±


    Hearing her say that, the conflicted look on Ji Tingyang¡¯s face finally faded away, and he quietly breathed a sigh of relief.


    In the midst of speaking, while Lin Xu wasn¡¯t paying attention, Ji Tingyang stealthily glanced towards the villa¡¯s main gate.


    After not seeing Wu Yanghui there, his tense nerves gradually relaxed.


    Just when he thought the matter was over, Wu Yanghui came back the next day.


    ¡°Miss Lin, that person from yesterday came back, insisting on seeing the young master. I¡¯ve told him the young master isn¡¯t home, but he won¡¯t believe it. This time no matter how we tried to send him away, he wouldn¡¯t leave. What should we do¡­¡± the butler said with a troubled look.


    ¡°Then bring over someone from property management with security, and say we¡¯ve been harassed by a stranger; have them drive the person away,¡± Lin Xu said.


    ¡°Okay,¡± the butler nodded.


    A moment later, the butler returned, ¡°Miss Lin, that man is still clinging to the gate, refusing to let go. Even the security guards couldn¡¯t drive him away. He keeps shouting loudly to see the young master, saying he will keep coming back tomorrow if he doesn¡¯t get to see him today.¡±


    A surge of anger rose in Lin Xu¡¯s chest as she started walking outside, and from afar, she could see Wu Yanghui with both hands clinging to the iron gate.


    Security personnel were also struggling to deal with him.


    Noticing Lin Xu, Wu Yanghui¡¯s eyes suddenly brightened as he called out to her loudly, ¡°Sister! I¡¯m your cousin, hurry and explain to these guards that we¡¯re relatives, not any suspicious persons.¡±


    Lin Xu walked over and asked through the iron gate, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°We haven¡¯t seen each other for so many years, I just wanted to come and see how you all are,¡± Wu Yanghui said with a sycophantic smile.


    ¡°If you¡¯re not going to explain, I¡¯m leaving.¡±


    Lin Xu turned to walk away, and he became anxious.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go, sister, I¡¯ll tell you!¡±


    ¡°Our family¡¯s snack company has recently run into some issues, and we¡¯re trying to find some connections to expand our sales channels, but for some reason, every company we¡¯ve approached has rejected us.¡±


    ¡°The Ji¡¯s are now a well-known big company, and after all, we are relatives. Do you think you could ask Ji Tingyang to help us out?¡±


    Wu Yanghui and his parents had recently been so worried about this issue that they were nearly pulling their hair out.


    When Ji Tingyang had reclaimed his inheritance, their family had begged and pleaded, employing all sorts of methods, to secure a small company from Ji Tingyang¡¯s hands.


    The small company wasn¡¯t large scale, and although it couldn¡¯t compare to the Ji Group, it was enough to keep their family¡¯s economic status above average.


    Lately, the food projects weren¡¯t going well, and the profits were poor; if they couldn¡¯t find new projects and capital soon, the company feared it wouldn¡¯t last another year or two before closing down.


    At that point, not only would employing people become a problem, but they might not even be able to afford a fancy house.


    The saying goes that it¡¯s difficult to transition from luxury to frugality, and they couldn¡¯t bear such a drastic fall, desperately seeking partnership opportunities.


    A few days ago, Wu Yanghui had finally managed to get in touch with Manager Qian. The two had come to an agreement, just waiting for the contract to be stamped; but the day before stamping, Manager Qian backed out.


    Wu Yanghui immediately thought of Xie Changyan; it must have been because of the incident at the Flaming Lily Restaurant that had offended him.


    ¡°I remember you¡¯re also familiar with Young Master Xie, could you please also plead with him on my behalf?¡± Wu Yanghui exclaimed as he leaned forward abruptly, his long arms reaching through the iron gate to grab Lin Xu.


    Lin Xu stepped back several paces.


    Yet his fingernails still managed to scratch a shallow bloody mark on the back of her pale hand.

 Chapter 129 - Chapter 129: Chapter 129: This Guy Is Too Bad, Stay Away from Him in the Future

    Chapter 129: Chapter 129: This Guy Is Too Bad, Stay Away from Him in the Future


    Lin Xu¡¯s skin was fair, and the two bloodstains on the back of her hand were particularly conspicuous.


    While she was picking up the food, Ji Tingyang noticed the bloodstains on the back of her hand at a glance, his expression suddenly turned grave, and he took her hand and asked, ¡°Who scratched you?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu also looked over, straightening his body from a previously relaxed posture, ¡°What happened?!¡±


    ¡°I scratched myself accidentally.¡± Facing the serious gazes of her two sons, Lin Xu calmly withdrew her hand, ¡°Today in the backyard, I was bitten by a mosquito and it itched a bit, so I scratched it, and it turned red.¡±


    Wu Yanghui, as if clinging to the last straw, gripped her hand with unusual strength, and inadvertently left two or three bloody scratches on Lin Xu¡¯s hand.


    A droplet of blood slowly oozed from the wound.


    Lin Xu watched the drop of blood, her expression gloomy, and said to the security personnel, ¡°This man is emotionally unstable and has the potential to intentionally injure others. I hope you can carefully review the people coming and going next time, don¡¯t just casually let anyone in.¡±


    The security personnel also saw the drop of blood on her hand, and they were so frightened they hastily assured her that they would put the man on the blacklist and he wouldn¡¯t be allowed to visit anymore.


    In the end, Wu Yanghui was almost driven out disgracefully by security personnel wielding steel forks.


    Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu both felt a loathing and resistance towards Wu Yanghui¡¯s actions; not wanting to worry them, Lin Xu did not tell them about the incident in the afternoon.


    After all, Wu Yanghui was now blacklisted and wouldn¡¯t be able to disturb them at the villa anymore.


    However, should she also talk to the security at Ji¡¯s side in advance?


    ¡°What a crappy villa, there are even mosquitoes. Let¡¯s go back to living in the apartment, I guarantee there won¡¯t be a single mosquito.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s disdainful voice rang out, interrupting Lin Xu¡¯s thoughts.


    ¡°Your little apartment is even more run-down. Last time I visited, I even saw a cockroach. How could you have the cheek to let anyone live there?¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes lifted slightly, casting a dismissive glance at him.


    This guy was actually slandering his good image in front of their mother!


    Ji Zeqiu glared at him angrily and quickly defended himself, ¡°Don¡¯t you falsely accuse me. I¡¯ve been living there for years and I haven¡¯t even seen an ant, let alone a cockroach!¡±


    After saying that, he hurriedly sought confirmation from Lin Xu.


    ¡°Mother, you say, isn¡¯t my apartment always kept very clean?¡±


    He looked anxious, as if he feared Lin Xu would doubt he was a hygienic person.


    Before Lin Xu had a chance to answer, the phrase ¡°furious from embarrassment¡± floated to her ears, infuriating Ji Zeqiu so much he nearly went over to hit him.


    ¡°Your brother is just joking. If you get angry, wouldn¡¯t you be playing into his hands? Good boy, sit down and eat,¡± Lin Xu quickly held on to Ji Zeqiu.


    Ji Zeqiu sat down huffily and whispered to Lin Xu, ¡°Mother, that guy is too mean, you should stay away from him in the future.¡±


    No sooner had the words left his mouth than his lower leg was kicked fiercely from underneath the table.


    ¡°Mother, he hit me!¡± Ji Zeqiu complained to Lin Xu.


    Lin Xu: ¡°¡­¡±


    The dinner went on amidst chaos like chickens flying and dogs jumping.


    At night.


    Ji Tingyang asked the butler for the villa¡¯s surveillance footage from today.


    The butler hesitated, but unable to withstand Ji Tingyang¡¯s piercing gaze, shakily went to copy the surveillance footage.


    ¡°What do you want the surveillance for?¡± Ji Zeqiu, who happened to pass by, asked curiously.


    Ji Tingyang shot him a look, ¡°Do you really think the bloodstain on mother¡¯s hand is from her scratching herself?¡±


    The villa was always undergoing pest control; it was impossible for there to be mosquitoes.


    ¡°What are you implying?¡± Ji Zeqiu didn¡¯t understand.


    Ji Tingyang was silent, for he needed to review the surveillance footage before he could know.


    It wasn¡¯t until they saw Wu Yanghui¡¯s figure in the surveillance that both of their expressions turned grim.


    Upon witnessing the process of Lin Xu¡¯s hand being scratched, the atmosphere in the room suddenly turned chillingly cold.


    A good while passed.


    Ji Zeqiu, gritting his teeth, broke the silence in the subdued room, ¡°I didn¡¯t think he would dare to come to our home.¡±


    Ji Tingyang lifted his dark, cold eyes, ¡°What do you mean, have you seen him?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu remained silent for a moment.


    Then he told him about the encounter at the airport that day.


    ¡ª¡ª


    The following day.


    Just as Lin Xu had feared, after Wu Yanghui was unable to approach the villa, he found his way to the Ji Group¡¯s corporate building.


    However, to his surprise, as soon as he told the front desk that he was Ji Tingyang¡¯s cousin, someone immediately escorted him upstairs, respectfully leading him to the president¡¯s office.


    Wu Yanghui was somewhat shocked by this reception that made him feel like an esteemed guest.


    Wu Yanghui followed the employee to the office and upon entering, he saw Ji Tingyang sitting straight and proper.


    He was holding a mouse, his eyebrows slightly furrowed as he looked at the computer screen, his sharp features touched with a trace of coolness, and his whole being emanating a proud and indifferent aura, warning strangers to keep their distance.


    When he heard the noise, he looked up.


    Wu Yanghui only felt a cold breath hit him full in the face, as if falling into an ice cellar, the chill spreading from the soles of his feet throughout his body.


    In almost an instant, this chill seemed to retract back into Ji Tingyang¡¯s body, as if what Wu Yanghui had just sensed was merely an illusion.


    ¡°Cousin, do you have something to discuss with me?¡± Ji Tingyang asked with a trace of warmth on his face.


    Wu Yanghui, with surprise and excitement on his face, replied, ¡°Tingyang, I didn¡¯t think you would still remember me.¡±


    ¡°Of course, I heard that cousin visited the house a few days ago, but I happened to be away and missed you,¡± Ji Tingyang seemed a bit regretful.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, it¡¯s my fault for not letting you know in advance before coming to see you,¡± Wu Yanghui said.


    Ji Tingyang asked, ¡°Is there a particular reason you came to see me all of a sudden?¡±


    ¡°Actually, there is something I was hoping you might help me with,¡± Wu Yanghui looked somewhat troubled.


    ¡°What is it? If there¡¯s anything I can help with, just say it.¡± Ji Tingyang poured him a cup of tea.


    Wu Yanghui, feeling flattered as he took the tea, and hearing these words, knew today would probably go smoothly.


    He breathed a sigh of relief and voiced the difficulties of the food company back home.


    As he had anticipated, his conversation with Ji Tingyang went very smoothly.


    It felt like a dream.


    The smile on Wu Yanghui¡¯s face bloomed brightly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have my secretary draft an investment contract for you. If there aren¡¯t any issues, we can sign it and seal the deal. If you need any other sales channels, I can help you look for them,¡± Ji Tingyang offered his help eagerly.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been running around out there until my legs about fell off, and nobody would give me the time of day. Relatives really are reliable,¡± Wu Yanghui slapped his thigh, unable to contain his joy.


    Before long, he became greedier, ¡°Actually, with the economy being so difficult right now, an investment of one or two million won¡¯t last long. How about adding another two or three million? Even twenty or thirty million would do.¡±


    A hint of coldness flickered through Ji Tingyang¡¯s smiling eyes.

 Chapter 130 - Chapter 130: Chapter 130 "I wont object to you being with him.

    Chapter 130: Chapter 130 ¡°I won¡¯t object to you being with him.


    It was the end of the month in a blink.


    The city¡¯s mathematics competition selection had begun.


    The teacher escorted the students participating in the competition to the entrance of the examination hall, continuously offering words of encouragement.


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s ears had practically grown calluses from listening, so she hid to one side, playing with her phone.


    Raining Qiao: ¡°I¡¯m about to go in for the exam.¡±


    Willow Wadding: ¡°Good luck with your test, my gift is still waiting for its owner to arrive.¡±


    Raining Qiao: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, after this period of preparation, my strength has reached the realm of being invincible!¡±


    Willow Wadding: ¡°CatCatThrowFlowers.jpg¡±


    Ji Yuqiao grinned, wearing a smug and mischievous smile, her gleaming eyes sparkling brightly.


    As she was thinking of chatting more with Lin Xu, the teacher caught her playing with her phone and scolded sharply, ¡°Ji Yuqiao! There are only ten minutes before you need to go into the examination hall, and you still have the mood to play with your phone on the side!¡±


    ¡°Hand over your phone, I¡¯m confiscating it. Come and ask me for it after you finish your exam.¡±


    The teacher reached out to grab her phone, but Ji Yuqiao bolted.


    For a moment, outside the examination hall, it was a scene of one chasing and the other fleeing, just like an eagle chasing a chick.


    Seeing this, the other students burst into laughter, and the tense atmosphere before the exam dissipated with their laughter.


    Xiao Yu looked up and glanced at Ji Yuqiao, who was dodging, a faint smile appearing in his eyes.


    After entering the examination hall.


    Ji Yuqiao found her seat and sat down, twirling a pen in one hand and propping her cheek with the other, waiting for the invigilator to distribute the examination papers.


    In a corner of the same examination hall, someone looked at Ji Yuqiao¡¯s figure and a fleeting look of surprise crossed his eyes.


    ¡­


    Two hours later, the exam was over.


    Ji Yuqiao rushed out of the examination hall and searched her bag, which was kept by the teacher, for her phone.


    She immediately sent a message to Lin Xu: ¡°The exam is over!¡±


    ¡°Ji Yuqiao?¡±


    Suddenly, a somewhat uncertain voice came from behind.


    Ji Yuqiao turned around to see a young man standing behind her, tall and straight, dressed in a simple white hoodie.


    His fringed bangs partially covered his eyebrows, revealing a pair of clear, bright eyes that carried a gentle smile.


    Ji Yuqiao thought for a long time but couldn¡¯t match him with anyone from her memory. ¡°Who are you?¡±


    ¡°Zhao Jiayan.¡± The young man said his name.


    Zhao Jiayan?


    Zhao?


    Ji Yuqiao suddenly realized.


    This was none other than the Zhao¡¯s young master that Ji Tingyang had intended to introduce to her!


    ¡°So it¡¯s you! What are you doing here?¡± Ji Yuqiao, wide-eyed, hadn¡¯t expected them to meet again.


    ¡°Just like you, came here for the exam.¡± Zhao Jiayan smiled lightly and gestured with the stationery and admission ticket in his hand.


    Ji Yuqiao forced a laugh, feeling embarrassed, ¡°Oh, I see.¡±


    Who else could be here at this time if not for taking the exam?


    ¡°Long time no see, we last met a year or two ago, right? How have you been recently?¡± Zhao Jiayan said.


    Back then, he had followed his family to a banquet and had just stepped out onto the balcony for some air when he stumbled upon Ji Tingyang and Ji Yuqiao arguing.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s cold eyes that day seemed almost murderous, ¡°What¡¯s so good about Xiao Yu, that poor boy? Any family here at this banquet has a better background than he does.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Ji Tingyang had asked Zhao Jiayan, who had suddenly appeared.


    ¡°Zhao¡­ Zhao Jiayan¡­¡±


    ¡°Good.¡± Ji Tingyang nodded and then turned to look at Ji Yuqiao, ¡°Even Zhao Jiayan is a thousand times, a hundred times better than Xiao Yu. I will have absolutely no objections if you are with him.¡±


    Huh?


    Who¡¯s together with whom?


    Zhao Jiayan¡¯s mind was a bit muddled.


    Ji Yuqiao looked at Ji Tingyang with a subtly expressive gaze and cursed, ¡°Are you sick?¡±


    Zhao Jiayan had never expected that he was just looking for a place to catch his breath, and the next second, he was forcefully introduced to a girl.


    The day after the party.


    Ji Tingyang took it upon himself to arrange for Zhao Jiayan and Ji Yuqiao to meet at Century Lake.


    It would have been simple to refuse, but for some reason, Zhao Jiayan agreed as if driven by a ghost.


    That was also the first time in his life he had been stood up.


    Thinking of this, a bitter smile appeared on Zhao Jiayan¡¯s lips.


    ¡°Are you heading back to school now? My car is outside. Do you need a ride?¡± he asked.


    ¡°No need, our teacher will take us back,¡± Ji Yuqiao also remembered her own trifling issues and felt embarrassed to trouble him.


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Zhao Jiayan¡¯s lips parted slightly, wanting to say something more, but he was interrupted by a sudden voice from the side.


    ¡°Student Ji, the teacher is calling us to gather,¡± Xiao Yu walked over, casting a discreet glance at Zhao Jiayan.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯m coming now,¡± Ji Yuqiao nodded and turned to run off.


    At the front of the bus, the teacher was still tediously going over safety instructions.


    Ji Yuqiao hung her head, listlessly kicking the pebbles at her feet.


    ¡°If you encounter any troublemakers, you can tell me,¡± Xiao Yu, having quietly approached her, said in a low voice.


    Ji Yuqiao looked up to see Xiao Yu¡¯s face expressionless, his eyes unblinkingly fixed on the teacher as if the words he had just spoken weren¡¯t meant for her.


    ¡°You, are you talking to me?¡± Ji Yuqiao was puzzled.


    Xiao Yu tersely responded.


    After Ji Yuqiao changed dramatically, walking around the school always resulted in many classmates coming up to chat.


    Even while reading in the library, classmates with ulterior motives would come to share her table.


    Sometimes, when she encountered a few persistent pursuers, Xiao Yu would come over with the excuse that a ¡°teacher was looking for her¡± to call Ji Yuqiao away.


    Each time, she would thank him gleefully.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a small effort,¡± Xiao Yu would say.


    So, after leaving the examination hall and seeing Ji Yuqiao being bothered by boys from another school, he instinctively went over to help.


    Hearing his concern, Ji Yuqiao felt thrilled.


    She knew long ago that Xiao Yu wouldn¡¯t have bothered with her business.


    She struggled to suppress her smiling lips, maintaining a calm facade, ¡°Thanks, but that person wasn¡¯t trying to hit on me. We know each other; he was just coming over to say hi.¡±


    Seeing her slightly lifted lips, Xiao Yu paused for a moment.


    So, they were friends.


    Is that why she was smiling so happily?


    Xiao Yu suddenly froze for a moment; whether she was happy or not was none of his concern.


    He concealed the emotions on his face and, after hearing the teacher announce they could board the bus, got on without looking back.


    Ji Yuqiao watched his retreating figure, scratching her head in confusion.


    They were just talking fine a second ago; why did his expression suddenly turn so awful?


    Did she say something wrong?


    Ji Yuqiao thought long and hard on the bus, unable to figure it out, but still habitually reported her emotional progress to her strategist.


    Raining Qiao: [I feel like I¡¯ve gotten a step closer to him!]


    Raining Qiao: [Excited.jpg]

 Chapter 131 - Chapter 131: Chapter 131: Its Time to Pay Back What I Owe Them

    Chapter 131: Chapter 131: It¡¯s Time to Pay Back What I Owe Them


    A couple of days later, the results of the city competition were announced.


    The teacher announced the competition results in a small group chat.


    In past years at their university, Xiao Yu was the only one selected for the national competition and the only one to win an award, but this time was different¡ªJi Yuqiao had been added.


    Her score ranked exactly tenth in the city, right at the cutoff for selection, allowing her to represent their school in the national mathematics competition.


    The teacher, thinking of the additional achievement he had gained this year, was visibly delighted.


    On the day Xiao Yu and Ji Yuqiao went to receive their certificates, he shook with excitement, his smile so broad it wouldn¡¯t fit in his mouth.


    Xiao Yu glanced at Ji Yuqiao next to him, who was taking pictures of her certificate with her phone, a gentle smile tugging at the corners of her lips, her eyes glistening.


    His expression turned slightly bewildered.


    Previously, Xiao Yu¡¯s impression of Ji Yuqiao was that of a capricious and troublesome young lady, with mediocre grades, who seemed not to do well academically and had even failed some subjects.


    But now, she seemed to have completely changed. She appeared to have lost interest in the frivolous pursuits of a young lady; she no longer pestered him, her studies became serious, and with her always intelligent mind, her grades had improved dramatically.


    Even earning a spot to compete in the national mathematics competition.


    Xiao Yu realized that she had truly changed a lot during this time.


    ¡°Xiao Yu, what are you thinking about?¡±


    The teacher patted Xiao Yu¡¯s shoulder, and he snapped back to reality, a flash of annoyance crossing his eyes.


    ¡°Nothing, do you need something, teacher?¡± Xiao Yu asked.


    After Ji Yuqiao finished sending the photo to Lin Xu, she looked up to find Xiao Yu and saw that he was talking with the teacher, stopping in her tracks and kicking the floor in disappointment.


    ¡°Ji Yuqiao.¡± Someone called her from behind.


    Ji Yuqiao turned around and was surprised to see Zhao Jiayan, her lips parting in surprise.


    But then she remembered something Ji Tingyang had mentioned, that his academic performance was very good, and he was smart.


    So, his coming here to pick up the certificate wasn¡¯t so unexpected after all.


    ¡°Rein in the surprise in your eyes. My image can¡¯t be that bad, right?¡± Zhao Jiayan laughed.


    ¡°No, not bad at all, really good,¡± Ji Yuqiao quickly shook her head and then sneakily peeked at his certificate, very curious about his rank.


    Zhao Jiayan chuckled softly, openly unfolding his certificate for her to see.


    Upon seeing the bolded print ¡°First Place¡± on the certificate, Ji Yuqiao was genuinely shocked.


    If it had been before, Ji Yuqiao wouldn¡¯t have thought much of it, preferring to bother Xiao Yu a bit more since she might get to talk to him.


    But after some time immersed in studying, Ji Yuqiao was acutely aware of how much larger the gap was between her tenth place and the first place. She couldn¡¯t help but admire him for a moment, ¡°If only I could become that amazing.¡±


    ¡°Do you need me to tutor you?¡± Zhao Jiayan asked, a smile playing on his gentle and soft features.


    ¡°No need, our schools are different, it would be too troublesome to run back and forth,¡± Ji Yuqiao declined with a shake of her head.


    ¡°Haven¡¯t you forgotten we can also communicate via WeChat? If you have any questions, you can message me. I can answer them when I¡¯m free. As for the fee, a meal will do,¡± Zhao Jiayan said.


    After being reminded, Ji Yuqiao suddenly remembered the existence of the WeChat app, and quickly took out her phone, ¡°Quick, add me as a friend.¡±


    The smile on Zhao Jiayan¡¯s face was tinged with a trace of bitterness, ¡°Just release me from your blacklist and that¡¯ll do.¡±


    Blacklist?


    How could he possibly be in her blacklist?


    Ji Yuqiao dubiously scrolled through her blacklist, only to indeed find his contact¡ªher memory abruptly raced back.


    On the day they met, Ji Tingyang had forced them both to add each other on WeChat, but at the time, she only had eyes for Xiao Yu, and had no interest in keeping other guys in her WeChat, so she put him in the blacklist as soon as she got home.


    Now, facing the person himself, her expression became somewhat embarrassed. While she removed him from the blacklist, she feigned ignorance, ¡°Huh? How strange, how could you be on the blacklist, it must be a system bug!¡±


    Zhao Jiayan just smiled.


    Even though they hadn¡¯t said much, Ji Yuqiao felt her face and ears redden under the influence of his low laughter, as if she¡¯d been seen through and was feeling a little guilty.


    ¡°Do you have time later?¡± Ji Yuqiao asked.


    ¡°What for?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree that your tutoring fee would be a meal? I want to invite you to a big dinner later, so I¡¯m checking your availability.¡±


    ¡°Of course, I have time.¡±


    ¡°Then later we will¡­¡±


    Before Ji Yuqiao could finish, Xiao Yu came over, interrupting her.


    ¡°Student Ji, there are still classes tonight.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s only morning now; there¡¯s a long time until evening.¡± Zhao Jiayan¡¯s lips curled up slightly as he looked at Xiao Yu, ¡°I assure you I¡¯ll have her back at school before tonight¡¯s class.¡±


    ¡°She¡­¡±


    Before Xiao Yu could finish, Zhao Jiayan had already led Ji Yuqiao away.


    He watched their departing figures, his brows furrowing slightly.


    Zhao Jiayan¡¯s car was parked outside. As soon as they got in, he asked Ji Yuqiao what she wanted to eat.


    Ji Yuqiao: ¡°I¡¯m fine with anything. It¡¯s my treat, so you pick whatever you like.¡±


    He thought for a moment, ¡°How about Flaming Lily Restaurant?¡±


    Ji Yuqiao: ¡°No way!¡±


    She hadn¡¯t forgotten the grudge from last time she worked part-time there, when the manager yelled at her.


    She definitely didn¡¯t want to go there to eat.


    Zhao Jiayan: ¡°Then, how about Hunan cuisine?¡±


    Ji Yuqiao nodded: ¡°That works.¡±


    Even though she had just said they should go with Zhao Jiayan¡¯s preference, in the end, they chose according to Ji Yuqiao¡¯s tastes, but he didn¡¯t seem to mind.


    On the way to the Hunan restaurant, they passed by the Ji Group building.


    Zhao Jiayan even asked, ¡°Do you want to stop by and say hi to your brother?¡±


    Ji Yuqiao pursed her lips, showing clear reluctance, ¡°I don¡¯t want to go!¡±


    ¡°Are you still fighting with your brother?¡± Zhao Jiayan laughed.


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t deserve to fight with me,¡± Ji Yuqiao muttered under her breath, yet her gaze inadvertently drifted towards the Ji Group building.


    Unexpectedly, at the main entrance, she saw Ji Tingyang¡¯s figure.


    He had a gentle demeanor, discussing something with the man next to him.


    At first, Ji Yuqiao didn¡¯t think much of it, but when she got a clear view of the man¡¯s face, rage immediately flared in her eyes.


    Wasn¡¯t that bastard Wu Yanghui?!


    Why was her brother with him, and why was he being so polite?!


    If it weren¡¯t for the fact they were on a moving road where it was inconvenient to stop the car, Ji Yuqiao would have certainly gotten out and run over to confront Ji Tingyang.


    She could not confront him face-to-face, but she had her phone.


    Without a second thought, she dialed Ji Tingyang¡¯s number.


    The first question she asked was, ¡°Why are you with Wu Yanghui?¡±


    Ji Tingyang was taken aback, ¡°How do you know¡­¡±


    ¡°Never mind how I know. Have you forgotten how he used to treat us?¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t forgotten,¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes darkened.


    The debts owed to them should be repaid in kind.

 Chapter 132 - Chapter 132: Chapter 132: Your father loves you just like I do

    Chapter 132: Chapter 132: Your father loves you just like I do


    A week later.


    Wu Yanghui rushed over to find Ji Tingyang, ¡°Cousin, you must help me this time.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡± Ji Tingyang signaled him not to panic.


    ¡°There are a few companies I have been cooperating with for a while. We¡¯ve had a good partnership, but recently they all want to terminate the contract with me. When I asked them why, they refused to tell me,¡± Wu Yanghui barely contained his anger.


    Ji Tingyang raised his eyebrows slightly, ¡°Oh, why is that?¡±


    ¡°I later found out it¡¯s a food company I¡¯ve been competing with for a long time. They¡¯re willing to undercut costs to snatch away my companies,¡± Wu Yanghui slammed the table angrily. ¡°This is absolutely vicious competition. It¡¯s nauseating!¡±


    ¡°Then, why don¡¯t we also lower our prices?¡± Ji Tingyang suggested.


    At the mention of this, Wu Yanghui sighed even more, ¡°You know the situation of that food company. It¡¯s just a small workshop and now, coincidentally, it¡¯s lacking in capital turnover. I really can¡¯t afford to engage in a price war with them.¡±


    Even with the one million fund that Ji Tingyang had provided, if the price war continued, his small company would inevitably go bankrupt faster than their competitor.


    Recently, Wu Yanghui had been so worried about this matter that it turned his hair white.


    ¡°Moreover, that major client you introduced to me earlier, we talked very well every time, but he always hesitates when it comes to signing the contract, and nothing gets finalized, nor does any money change hands. Whenever I ask, they say they¡¯re not confident about the background of our small company.


    ¡°This partnership was introduced by you, a president of Ji¡¯s, and besides, our families are relatives. Isn¡¯t that a strong enough background? What is there to worry about?¡± Wu Yanghui was desperate.


    Ji Tingyang poured him a cup of water and soothed, ¡°A multimillion-dollar deal is a big deal; it¡¯s only natural for the other party to be cautious.¡±


    ¡°I understand that, but although I can wait, my small company can¡¯t afford to,¡± Wu Yanghui sighed.


    ¡°Maybe¡­¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s thin lips parted slightly and then closed again, ¡°never mind.¡±


    This hesitation piqued Wu Yanghui¡¯s curiosity, ¡°Maybe what?¡±


    ¡°I was thinking that their concerns are merely about the capability and subsequent financing of your company, but if I invest in your company, Ji Group would naturally become your backing, providing funds and various resources. This should reassure them,¡± Ji Tingyang explained.


    After thinking it over, Wu Yanghui felt his point made a lot of sense.


    But the idea of giving shares of his company to Ji Tingyang made him quite hesitant.


    Seeing his conflicted expression, Ji Tingyang quickly said, ¡°I was just saying that offhand, cousin. Don¡¯t take it to heart. Maybe tomorrow they¡¯ll come around and agree to sign the contract.¡±


    ¡°Heh¡­¡± Wu Yanghui laughed awkwardly.


    He was about to say something more when his phone received a message from the big client.


    [President Wu, after several days of consideration, our president is still uneasy about the background of your company and has decided to abandon the partnership with you. We truly apologize.]


    Wu Yanghui¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    In a split second, his mind made a choice between the multimillion deal and that tiny five percent share.


    He hastily looked at Ji Tingyang, ¡°Tingyang, I think what you just said makes a lot of sense. Let¡¯s sign the investment contract right away!¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s lips curled into a slight smile, a trace of cold cunning flickering in the depths of his eyes.


    Ji Mansion.


    Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu were having a rare harmonious conversation in the study.


    ¡°The contract is already signed, and I¡¯ve got five percent of the shares. How about you?¡± Ji Tingyang tossed the contract onto the table.


    Ji Zeqiu counted the contracts he had acquired, ¡°Due to limited time, I¡¯ve only gradually acquired 35% of the shares, with another 10% still under negotiation. I should be able to sign the contract and get it tomorrow. By then, including your five percent, we¡¯ll have enough.¡±


    Wu Yanghui held 45% of the shares in his company, which meant he had the majority and decision-making power.


    While other shares were scattered among several smaller shareholders, even if Ji Tingyang was given 5% of the shares, Wu Yanghui would still hold the majority.


    He probably never anticipated that someone would gather up these scattered shares.


    Ji Tingyang nodded.


    The two continued discussing in the study for a while before Ji Zeqiu left.


    Ji Tingyang sat in the chair, looking at the several contracts on the desk, his thoughts drifting far away, not knowing what he was thinking about.


    Suddenly.


    Someone knocked on the door of the study.


    Ji Tingyang looked up and saw Lin Xu smiling at him.


    ¡°Are you still working overtime?¡± Lin Xu stood at the doorway, looking at him.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s already over.¡±


    Ji Tingyang got up and walked over to Lin Xu. Upon getting closer, he noticed she was holding a bowl of scallion noodles, topped with an added egg.


    ¡°It¡¯s over then; it looks like I can skip this late-night snack. I wonder if Ji Zeqiu has the habit of dieting at night,¡± Lin Xu mumbled to herself, intending to walk out.


    ¡°Can¡¯t we eat if we¡¯re not working overtime?¡± Ji Tingyang looked at her with a hint of almost imperceptible sadness in his eyes, contemplating whether to check the two documents now and work overtime.


    ¡°I¡¯m just teasing you; of course, you can eat,¡± Lin Xu placed the bowl on the table and waved Ji Tingyang over.


    Ji Tingyang watched her, his lips curling into a slight smile.


    Lin Xu rested her cheek on her hand and muttered as she watched him eat, ¡°I wonder what you and your brother have been hiding in the study every day, working on something, and never telling when asked.¡±


    While eating his noodles, Ji Tingyang paused, his expression hesitating, ¡°Mother, what do you think about our cousin¡¯s family?¡±


    Lin Xu¡¯s expression suddenly turned stern, ¡°Did he come to see you?!¡±


    ¡°No, I mean if their family encountered difficulties, wouldn¡¯t it be bad if we just stood by without helping?¡± He glanced sneakily at Lin Xu.


    And even to kick them while they¡¯re down.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that? They weren¡¯t much good to you before anyway.¡±


    ¡°But they are still my father¡¯s sister¡­¡±


    It was precisely because of this that, over the years, no matter what they did, Ji Tingyang had always ignored them.


    ¡°Fool, your father and I love you just as much. If he knew what your aunt had done to you, he¡¯d even come out of his grave to give them a lesson,¡± Lin Xu ruffled his hair.


    Hearing her say this, Ji Tingyang¡¯s internal conflict over the past few days finally lifted.


    His mood while eating the noodles greatly improved.


    Two days later.


    Unsurprisingly, Wu Yanghui arrived at the Ji Group building and started cursing loudly.


    A crowd of onlookers stayed around, whispering to each other.


    ¡°Ji Tingyang, come out here!¡±


    ¡°Our family used to treat you well, but I never expected you all to be such ingrates, even scheming against your relative¡¯s company.¡±

 Chapter 133 - Chapter 133: Chapter 133 "You want to report your cousin?

    Chapter 133: Chapter 133 ¡°You want to report your cousin?


    Wu Yanghui went to work at the company as usual, and saw his assistant running out of the office in a panic, looking perplexed.


    Could it be that there was a problem with a contract with a client?


    ¡°What¡¯s the rush? What happened?¡± Wu Yanghui stopped him.


    ¡°President Wu, something big has happened,¡± the assistant said, panic-stricken.


    ¡­


    When Wu Yanghui pushed the door and entered the conference room, Ji Tingyang¡¯s secretary had just finished a meeting with the rest of the minority shareholders.


    ¡°That¡¯s the way it is. From now on, our Ji¡¯s will take over the company. Please take good care of us in the future,¡± the secretary said.


    ¡°Bullshit! Who says this company is yours, what gives you the right to take over!¡± Wu Yanghui¡¯s eyes were red as he stared fiercely at the secretary.


    Miss Secretary pushed up her glasses on the bridge of her nose and smiled slightly, ¡°Don¡¯t be in such a hurry, President Wu. After you read this document, you¡¯ll understand.¡±


    Before today, Ji Tingyang had acquired a few more small percentages of shares; all in all, he now had 52% of the company¡¯s shares, making him the person with the most shares and with absolute controlling and decision-making power.


    And this document was the proof of Ji Tingyang¡¯s shareholding.


    Wu Yanghui read every word, and his expression turned uglier by the second.


    He had thought that when Ji Tingyang talked about buying shares, he really wanted to help him; he hadn¡¯t realized that Ji Tingyang had his eye on taking over his small company.


    Wu Yanghui¡¯s face darkened as he dialed Ji Tingyang¡¯s phone number, wanting to confront him.


    However, to his surprise, the number that had been very accessible just two days ago was now unreachable.


    Clearly, Ji Tingyang had blacklisted him.


    Wu Yanghui¡¯s face turned an even darker shade than the bottom of a pot, ¡°Call Ji Tingyang for me; I have words for him!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a bit inconvenient. If you have something important, I can relay it for you,¡± said the secretary.


    ¡°Relay what? Have him come over and talk to me himself!¡± Wu Yanghui knew well enough that these were all delaying tactics, and relaying messages would never receive a response until who knows when.


    Secretary: ¡°Having just taken over your company, President Ji is too busy with many things. If you wish to see President Ji, I can arrange an appointment for you.¡±


    More of the same delaying tactics.


    Wu Yanghui, furious, strode directly out to go to the Ji Group.


    The security and receptionist, who had previously treated him with utter respect, now stopped him right outside the main gate, pretending not to recognize him.


    ¡°Sir, I¡¯m sorry, but you can¡¯t enter without an appointment.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve come here many times; when did I ever need an appointment.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but you can¡¯t enter without an appointment.¡± The security guard kept repeating this same sentence.


    By now, Wu Yanghui knew well enough that all this was an expression of Ji Tingyang¡¯s stance.


    He started swearing on the spot.


    ¡°Ji Tingyang, you ungrateful scum, come out here!¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no justice in this world. Everybody, judge for yourselves. My mother kindly adopted Ji Tingyang and those orphans, and not only do they not show gratitude, but they also want to snatch away our family¡¯s company! There¡¯s no justice!¡±


    Wu Yanghui¡¯s ranting caused a commotion and attracted many employees at Ji¡¯s headquarters.


    ¡°What are you looking at? Don¡¯t you need to work, or do you not want your salaries?!¡±


    Someone shouted, and the onlooking employees quickly dispersed.


    After all, gossip isn¡¯t as important as salary.


    And after that, no matter how much Wu Yanghui wailed, no one dared to give him another glance.


    Without an audience, Wu Yanghui¡¯s one-man show couldn¡¯t last long, and he left ignominiously in less than half an hour.


    Just when the receptionist sighed with relief, that very afternoon an even more significant guest arrived¡ªWu Yanghui came with a middle-aged woman, making a scene at the entrance with shrieking and rolling on the ground, howling like banshees, refusing to leave despite the security guards¡¯ efforts to remove them.


    As the receptionist hesitated about whether to call the police, Ji Tingyang¡¯s call came through.


    ¡°The two of you, President Ji invites you upstairs,¡± the receptionist said, approaching them.


    Upon hearing this, the woman instantly stopped crying and wailing, as if everything before had been their delusion, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it have been better to do this from the start?¡±


    They went up to the office.


    The woman walked to the sofa as if she were in her own home, sat down with one leg over the other, and looked arrogantly at Ji Tingyang, ¡°Little Ji, just give us back those shares, and we¡¯ll forget all about this.¡±


    A sneer escaped Ji Tingyang¡¯s throat, ¡°Auntie seems not to recognize the situation. If you want to ask for a favor, you¡¯d better change your attitude first.¡±


    The woman looked at him, ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Auntie wants the shares back? That¡¯s not impossible. Give two billion, and I¡¯ll transfer them to you. How about that?¡± Ji Tingyang said.


    Upon hearing this, the woman¡¯s complexion immediately turned cold.


    Their small company¡¯s total market value wasn¡¯t even two billion, and Ji Tingyang¡¯s demand was utterly preposterous.


    ¡°Impossible!¡± the woman flatly refused, ¡°I won¡¯t pay a dime.¡±


    Ji Tingyang smiled, unsurprised, ¡°Is it that you won¡¯t pay, or you don¡¯t have the money to pay?¡±


    The woman felt her heart skip a beat and before she could grasp the meaning of his words, she heard what came next.


    ¡°I heard that when cousin was in charge, he embezzled a significant amount of company funds, which are almost squandered now. What do you think would happen if I, as a shareholder, demand a financial audit?¡±


    Then it wouldn¡¯t just be a matter of money anymore¡ªserving a few years in prison could also be a possibility.


    Wu Yanghui¡¯s face turned ashen, and his forehead began to sweat profusely.


    He had kept this secret well; how did Ji Tingyang know?


    The woman¡¯s body shook, staring at Ji Tingyang in disbelief, ¡°Are you going to report your own cousin? Are you insane?!¡±


    ¡°When your parents died, I selflessly took you and your siblings in for several years. I didn¡¯t expect repayment after you grew up, and now this is how you repay me?!¡±


    A cold and threatening shade passed through Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes, ¡°I know very well what your intentions were when you took us in. Leaving that small company to you was already more than generous. And now I¡¯m merely buying the company back.¡±


    ¡°As for the public funds Wu Yanghui embezzled, it would be best if they were returned within a month, or else I can¡¯t guarantee the police won¡¯t come knocking.¡±


    The woman stood up, glaring furiously into Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes, one hand clutching her chest, so angry she seemed on the verge of fainting, her mouth repeating a single word, ¡°You, you¡­¡±


    Wu Yanghui, tense, quickly helped the woman sit down, ¡°Mom, calm down.¡±


    As he reached for the water glass on the desk, he suddenly felt hot water splash onto the back of his hand, scalding him to a pale white.


    The woman quickly grabbed Wu Yanghui¡¯s hand, shouting at Ji Tingyang, ¡°What are you doing?!¡±


    Wu Yanghui¡¯s hand was bright red, almost instantly blistering in a gruesome sight.


    More severe than the bloodstains on Lin Xu¡¯s hand, Ji Tingyang found this much more pleasing to the eye, his eyes narrowed with ruthless coldness.


    ¡°Nothing much, just a reminder to keep his nails short in the future.¡±

 Chapter 134 - Chapter 134: Chapter 134: Why Make It Seem Like an Affair?

    Chapter 134: Chapter 134: Why Make It Seem Like an Affair?


    The woman was afraid that Ji Tingyang would go mad again¡ªwhat if he splashed hot water on Wu Yanghui¡¯s face?


    If they couldn¡¯t retrieve the shares, they might even face the possibility of imprisonment.


    Not daring to stay any longer, the woman hurriedly left with the pale-faced Wu Yanghui, muttering to herself.


    ¡°He¡¯s simply a madman, doesn¡¯t know the first thing about gratitude. It wouldn¡¯t surprise me if your parents were cursed to death by this lunatic. Son, let me tell you, you must stay away from such people, or who knows what disasters might follow.¡±


    Their voices faded into the distance.


    Ji Tingyang clenched the hand at his side tightly, his fingertips turning white from the pressure; gloom and aggression churned ceaselessly in his chest, and the atmosphere surrounding him dipped to an all-time low.


    The secretary, carrying a report, had just pushed the door open when she was frightened into closing the door again the next second.


    President Ji was in a bad mood¡ªshe decided it was better not to go in and provoke him at this time.


    Ji Tingyang stayed in his office for a long while until his emotions had calmed down, and then he drove back to the villa.


    Upon arriving home, his first instinct was to look towards the sofa.


    The familiar figure that used to sit there watching TV dramas was nowhere to be seen. He looked around the villa, but still didn¡¯t see the figure he had hoped for.


    His calm expression gradually cracked, a heavy stone of unease pressing on his chest, his breathing and footsteps becoming increasingly hurried as he frantically searched the villa for something.


    ¡°Tingyang, what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    A soft voice arose behind him, soothing like a clear spring, calming the restlessness in his heart.


    Ji Tingyang turned around and saw Lin Xu coming from the backyard, holding a watering can, seemingly having just finished watering the flowers in the garden, looking at him with puzzled eyes.


    Lin Xu¡¯s face showed concern, ¡°What¡¯s the rush just now? Are you looking for something very important? Do you need help looking for it¡­¡±


    Before she could finish, Ji Tingyang bent his upright body and held her tightly in his arms.


    His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, and his voice was a bit hoarse, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I¡¯ve found it.¡±


    Although his mother was still there, and the past few months of daily interaction weren¡¯t an illusion, the moment he didn¡¯t see Lin Xu, he couldn¡¯t help but feel afraid.


    Noticing that his emotions were off, Lin Xu released the watering can and gently stroked his back, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, feeling upset?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Ji Tingyang mumbled, shaking his head.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree that you have to tell me everything and not keep it bottled up inside?¡±


    A struggle flashed in Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes, ¡°¡­If I had convinced you and father not to go out twenty years ago, would the accident have never happened?¡±


    He couldn¡¯t help think that maybe it really was because of his bad fortune that his father and mother had died.


    Even though he knew his aunt¡¯s words were nonsense, he still couldn¡¯t control his thoughts.


    ¡°Who told you such a thing?¡± Lin Xu¡¯s face became stern and serious, her hands cupping his cheeks, looking into his eyes and saying earnestly, ¡°How could the car accident be your fault?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all the fault of the driver who blindly ran the red light; if you keep thinking this way, I¡¯ll get angry!¡±


    Ji Tingyang lowered his gaze, remaining silent.


    After a moment of contemplation, Lin Xu said, ¡°Even if you are at fault, it¡¯s only a tiny bit.¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s face turned pale, ¡°What, what¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s because our Tingyang was so cute and adorable when he was little, making mom want to hug you more every day. But every time I wanted to hug you, I was met with disdain, which really broke my heart.¡±


    Lin Xu lowered her head, the corners of her mouth turned down, and it seemed like tears of grievance twinkled in the corner of her eyes.


    ¡°¡­¡± Knowing she was pretending, Ji Tingyang still panicked at the sight of her tears, opening and closing his mouth several times, hesitant to speak.


    ¡°So, do I get a few extra hugs now?¡± Lin Xu opened her arms wide.


    Ji Tingyang pursed his lips, the embrace this time was much gentler than before, and a flush of red quietly climbed his ears out of her sight.


    Their bodies held close together, the embrace warm to the touch, soothing the unease in Ji Tingyang¡¯s heart.


    His voice took on a hint of whine, somewhat coyly, ¡°Can you come pick me up from work tomorrow?¡±


    It had been a long time since his mother had picked him up from work.


    ¡°How about I pick you up for lunch tomorrow? I heard there¡¯s an expensive Western restaurant that opened downtown, just waiting to mooch off President Ji¡¯s wallet,¡± Lin Xu said with a light smile.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes twinkled with laughter, ¡°Okay.¡±


    The next afternoon.


    Ji Tingyang brought Lin Xu to that Western restaurant, and as they headed for their table, from the corner of her eye, Lin Xu suddenly caught a glimpse of a familiar figure.


    She paused in her steps.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Ji Tingyang asked with concern.


    ¡°Nothing, let¡¯s check out the menu and see what¡¯s good,¡± Lin Xu shook her head.


    Around the corner at another table.


    Su Linzhou and Xie Changyan were discussing matters, their eyes errantly scanning around for beautiful women to strike up a conversation with.


    Suddenly, Su Linzhou remarked with a curious tone, ¡°Isn¡¯t that Lin Xu over there?¡±


    Xie Changyan turned his head to look and quickly found Lin Xu, who was talking and laughing with Ji Tingyang, his narrow eyes slightly squinting.


    ¡°Are they here on a date? They seem to be getting along quite well,¡± Su Linzhou clicked his tongue.


    Xie Changyan diverted his gaze, his previously casual expression suddenly turning somber.


    ¡°Brother, I set up so many opportunities for alone time for you guys in the past, how come you haven¡¯t gotten her yet?¡± Su Linzhou sounded as if he were disappointed, ¡°Otherwise, what would you have to do with Ji Tingyang now?¡±


    Xie Changyan gave him a sidelong glance, ¡°Would you die if you didn¡¯t speak?¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t die, but not being able to tease someone is pretty much like being dead,¡± Su Linzhou laughed, ¡°Seriously, do you want me, a veteran of the love field, to give you a few pointers?¡±


    ¡°Not necessary,¡± Xie Changyan calmly cut his steak, head down.


    ¡°With the way you¡¯re pursuing her, she¡¯ll be married by the time you get your act together, and you¡¯ll still be here pining away,¡± Su Linzhou sneered.


    He was about to say more when his eyes swept across a certain figure, and his leg kicked Xie Changyan under the table, ¡°Here she comes.¡±


    ¡°What¡­¡± Before Xie Changyan could finish, Lin Xu had already sat down beside him.


    ¡°What a coincidence, I didn¡¯t expect to see you guys here,¡± Lin Xu smiled faintly, as radiant as the spring blossoms.


    Xie Changyan slightly lifted his gaze, scanning inconspicuously the spot where Lin Xu had just seated herself.


    There was no one there; Ji Tingyang had disappeared somewhere.


    ¡°Did Miss Lin come here alone?¡± Su Linzhou asked knowingly.


    ¡°Not exactly, I came here with Ting Yang,¡± Lin Xu answered openly, without any intention of hiding it, ¡°He went outside to take a call, so I sneaked over to say hello to you guys.¡±


    Xie Changyan looked down, his knife repeatedly slicing through the steak, a deliberate and poised motion that betrayed an inexplicable irritation.


    Su Linzhou couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°This sneaking around seems almost like having an affair.¡±


    The next moment, he received a look from Xie Changyan as sharp as a knife.

 Chapter 135 - Chapter 135: Chapter 135: Be More Low-Key, Is It So Glorious?

    Chapter 135: Chapter 135: Be More Low-Key, Is It So Glorious?


    Su Linzhou saw the sharp, knife-like gaze of Xie Changyan and felt a chill crawl up from the soles of his feet, as if he feared he would die under Xie Changyan¡¯s murderous intent. He suddenly shut his mouth.


    The abrupt silence made the atmosphere somewhat awkward for a moment.


    Just as Su Linzhou was thinking of changing the subject to lighten the mood, Lin Xu surprisingly began to laugh first, ¡°You know, now that you mention it, it does seem a bit strange, but don¡¯t you think you two are even more peculiar?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s peculiar?¡± Su Linzhou asked, puzzled.


    Even Xie Changyan glanced over.


    ¡°The two of you always seem to be together, even having dinner in this Western restaurant. Look at that table of girls over there, they¡¯ve been giving you subtle glances quite a few times,¡± Lin Xu said, batting her eyes.


    ¡°Damn!¡± Su Linzhou exploded in fury, glaring resentfully at Xie Changyan, ¡°Now I understand why my love life has been so lackluster recently, it¡¯s all your fault. From now on, if you have anything, let¡¯s not meet in person. Let¡¯s communicate over the phone.¡±


    Xie Changyan gave him a sidelong glance, too lazy to bother.


    Next to them, a finger surreptitiously poked his arm.


    Turning his head, Xie Changyan met Lin Xu¡¯s eyes brimming with laughter.


    ¡°Thank you for helping me with the Wu Yanghui incident,¡± she said.


    Lin Xu remembered that Wu Yanghui had said Xie¡¯s had canceled their cooperation and that other companies refused to see him. Remembering Xie Changyan¡¯s promise to stand up for her, she thought she should come over to thank him.


    ¡°How will you thank me?¡± Xie Changyan asked with a quirk of his lips, seemingly indifferent.


    ¡°Ah?¡± Lin Xu, caught off guard by the direct question about a thank-you gift, hesitated, ¡°Well, how about I treat you to dinner?¡±


    With a faint glance from the corner of his eye, Xie Changyan¡¯s languid tone carried a hint of mockery, ¡°Do I look like I¡¯m in need of a free meal?¡±


    Indeed, he didn¡¯t.


    Lin Xu pondered, ¡°Then¡­¡±


    At that moment, her contemplation was interrupted by the sound of an incoming call.


    Seeing Ji Tingyang¡¯s name, Lin Xu¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    Turning her head, she indeed saw that Ji Tingyang had returned.


    Perhaps because he hadn¡¯t seen her, he was looking around while calling Lin Xu.


    Bending over, Lin Xu ducked under the table and answered the call, ¡°What¡¯s up¡­I went to the restroom. Yeah, you eat first; I¡¯ll be back in a bit¡­¡±


    Ji Tingyang didn¡¯t suspect anything, merely reminding her to come back soon before hanging up.


    No sooner had Lin Xu breathed a sigh of relief than she stood up to meet the meaningful gazes of Xie Changyan and Su Linzhou.


    She chuckled awkwardly, ¡°Ji Tingyang didn¡¯t see me; he was worried, so he called to check on me.¡±


    Su Linzhou teased, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect President Ji to be so insecure about you. Just a few minutes out of sight and he has to call to check on you? That¡¯s really suffocating. If it were Xie Changyan, surely he wouldn¡¯t be like that. He would give his girlfriend enough respect and freedom, right?¡±


    He subtly praised and trampled at the same time, feeling too clever for his own good, and shot Xie Changyan a look that said no thanks were necessary.


    Xie Changyan: ¡°¡­¡±


    Lin Xu was utterly confused.


    ¡°By the way, Miss Lin, do you have any plans for the weekend? My buddy here has been working overtime for several nights in a row and looks exhausted. How about you take him out for some fun?¡± Su Linzhou suddenly added.


    ¡°Tomorrow?¡± Lin Xu looked conflicted, ¡°Tomorrow I have plans to go out with Ji Tingyang.¡±


    Xie Changyan¡¯s placid expression darkened slightly.


    The mention of Ji Tingyang brought another worried message.


    JTY: ¡°Haven¡¯t you come back yet? Did something happen? I¡¯m coming to find you.¡±


    Willow Wadding: ¡°No need, no need. It¡¯s just that the restroom is crowded, and the line is quite long. I¡¯m coming back now.¡±


    While frantically reassuring Ji Tingyang, Lin Xu stood up and bid farewell to Xie Changyan, ¡°I should head back now, you two enjoy your meal.¡±


    Just as she was about to leave, Xie Changyan suddenly spoke, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to thank me?¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Lin Xu looked towards him.


    ¡°How about being my female companion for a day tomorrow?¡± Xie Changyan said indifferently.


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    ¡°Just consider it a way of saying thanks.¡±


    Lin Xu hesitated for a long time before finally relenting, ¡°Okay then.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t until after Lin Xu had left that Su Linzhou looked at Xie Changyan with a teasing interest, ¡°Tsk, tsk, tsk, you¡¯re really gone for her. To compete with Ji Tingyang for a girl, you¡¯ve learned to use gratitude as pressure.¡±


    ¡°Do you realize what you¡¯re doing?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Xie Changyan lifted his eyes.


    ¡°This is called hitting on someone¡¯s girl, being the third party in love, and you¡¯re bound to get beaten for that,¡± Su Linzhou said with a tone of schadenfreude.


    No one had expected a cold and aloof Xie Changyan to fall for a woman who was already taken.


    Xie Changyan lowered his gaze, responding to the teasing with an indifferent expression, ¡°If she truly liked Ji Tingyang, no matter what I said just now, she wouldn¡¯t choose me over him.¡±


    What he implied was that Lin Xu did not like Ji Tingyang.


    At least, in her heart, he held a higher place than Ji Tingyang.


    With that thought, a slight pleasure tinged Xie Changyan¡¯s casual demeanor.


    ¡°And now you feel proud,¡± Su Linzhou clicked his tongue, ¡°Tone it down, is this something to be proud of?¡±


    Xie Changyan: ¡°¡­¡±


    The next day.


    Since they were going to an event, Xie Changyan picked up Lin Xu and took her to get styled first.


    Lin Xu understood that this was the norm for attending events, a simple touch-up.


    But she hadn¡¯t expected the stylist to fuss over her for four to five hours before finishing.


    ¡°Is today¡¯s event so grand, what kind of event is it, what if I screw it up?¡± Lin Xu asked Xie Changyan, worrying as she carried the hem of her dress to the resting area.


    ¡°Not an important event, if it flops, it flops¡­¡±


    Xie Changyan put down the financial magazine he was reading, and his eyes slightly lifted. As soon as he saw Lin Xu, the words in his throat stopped abruptly.


    Lin Xu¡¯s long hair was loosely pinned up, leaving two curling tendrils framing her face. Her skin was fair as snow, her bright makeup in harmony with the pale purple mermaid-style dress blossoming quietly with unspeakable allure, conspicuously captivating.


    Seeing that he suddenly fell silent as he looked at her, Lin Xu nervously rubbed the dress beneath her, ¡°How, how does it look, is it pretty?¡±


    Xie Changyan took long strides towards Lin Xu, step by step.


    Suddenly.


    Lin Xu¡¯s heart raced uncontrollably, her palms damp with sweat as her eyes fixed on him.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s lips curved into a gentle smile as he reached out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear, his voice low with laughter, ¡°Very pretty.¡±


    ¡°Tha-thank you¡­.¡± Lin Xu quickly averted her gaze, feeling her cheeks scorching hot.


    A deep chuckle echoed by her ear, like a feather grazing past her eardrum, eliciting a fluttering sensation.


    In a matter of moments, even her ears began to feel hot.


    She was a mother, yet she was so easily flustered by him.


    Lin Xu scorned herself inwardly as she followed Xie Changyan to the venue.


    Only then did she discover that the event Xie Changyan had invited her to was the charity dinner Ji Tingyang had planned to take her to.

 Chapter 136 - Chapter 136: Chapter 136: Not Just Cruel, But Also Fickle

    Chapter 136: Chapter 136: Not Just Cruel, But Also Fickle


    After dinner yesterday, Lin Xu approached Ji Tingyang reluctantly.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, is there something you need?¡± Ji Tingyang asked, seeing her hesitant expression.


    ¡°Tomorrow¡­ I suddenly have something to do, so I might not be able to go to the dinner with you,¡± Lin Xu said guiltily, fiddling with the hem of her clothes.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Ji Tingyang inquired.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m not feeling well and I don¡¯t want to go out tomorrow,¡± Lin Xu answered, her eyes flickering.


    No sooner had she finished speaking than Ji Tingyang¡¯s face tensed up with concern. He grabbed her hand and asked urgently, ¡°Where does it hurt? I¡¯ll call our family doctor right now.¡±


    He quickly dismissed the idea, ¡°No, let¡¯s not. The hospital has better equipment. I¡¯ll take you there for a check-up. Wait here for me; I¡¯m going to get the car.¡±


    With that, he hurried toward the parking lot.


    Lin Xu held him back, ¡°Wait, there¡¯s no need to go to the hospital!¡±


    ¡°How can we not go to the hospital if you¡¯re feeling unwell, you¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just on my period, there¡¯s no need for the hospital,¡± Lin Xu shouted, drowning out Ji Tingyang¡¯s frantic voice.


    There was a moment of dead silence.


    Suddenly, Ji Tingyang¡¯s face turned rapidly red, as if a ripened blush had spread from his cheeks to behind his ears.


    Lin Xu couldn¡¯t help but laugh softly.


    She wasn¡¯t embarrassed at all, so why was he the one feeling shy?


    The blush on his face contrasted sharply with his usual cold indifference, making Lin Xu almost want to take out her phone and snap a picture to remember the moment.


    But knowing Ji Tingyang¡¯s personality, he would definitely refuse, so she reluctantly abandoned the idea.


    ¡°So I¡¯ll just lie down at home tomorrow, is it okay if you go to the charity banquet alone?¡± Lin Xu asked.


    ¡°Okay.¡± Ji Tingyang coughed slightly, his ears still tinged with red, ¡°Then you should go back to your room and rest.¡±


    Just as Lin Xu went back to her room, after washing up and preparing to lie down to rest, someone knocked on her bedroom door.


    She walked over and saw Ji Tingyang standing at her door with a tray.


    On the tray were two cups of water.


    One was a reddish-brown color and the other was steaming as though it were hot water, with a pill next to it.


    His expression was shy, and he stuttered, ¡°I, I heard from others that if you have a stomachache, you could drink a cup of brown sugar water, and if that doesn¡¯t work, you could take an Ibuprofen.¡±


    Seeing her thoughtful and clever son, Lin Xu¡¯s conscience slightly pricked her, and she silently apologized to him in her heart.


    I¡¯m so sorry, son. All these mistakes are your dad¡¯s fault.


    The next day.


    Ji Tingyang went to check on Lin Xu in the bedroom before leaving, and even though she didn¡¯t look any different, he still felt uneasy, ¡°Or maybe I should just stay home with you.¡±


    ¡°No, no, no!¡± Lin Xu shook her head frantically, ¡°I¡¯ll be fine at home by myself. If I cause any delays to your schedule, I¡¯ll feel so guilty!¡±


    After much persuasion, she finally managed to send Ji Tingyang off and then slipped out of the villa to find Xie Changyan.


    It turned out, both of their events were the same?!


    If Ji Tingyang saw her, who was supposedly resting at home, now accompanying Xie Changyan here, Lin Xu couldn¡¯t imagine the storm that would ensue.


    With this thought, she hastily looked around, trying to spot Ji Tingyang.


    ¡°Are you looking for someone?¡± Xie Changyan glanced at her from the corner of his eye.


    Lin Xu almost forgot there was another person beside her, and she returned her gaze, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡±


    She didn¡¯t dare to move recklessly again and could only try to shrink next to Xie Changyan, striving to minimize her own presence.


    However, as Xie Changyan¡¯s companion, she already stood out even without doing anything.


    For many years, Xie Changyan had never brought a female companion to any event, so from the moment they entered, Lin Xu had already attracted the attention of many people, who began whispering among themselves.


    ¡°Who is this woman who can actually be with Young Master Xie?¡±


    ¡°I remember Young Master Xie was matchmaking not too long ago, could it be that he has taken a liking to some family¡¯s daughter?¡±


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t seem to be from our circle, at least I haven¡¯t seen her before.¡±


    Although everyone was curious about Lin Xu¡¯s background, no one dared to go over and ask.


    Upon seeing Xie Changyan¡¯s arrival, the organizer of the charity gala approached with a smiling face.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Young Master Xie to attend our event, this truly embellishes our gala,¡± the man shook hands with Xie Changyan then turned to Lin Xu, ¡°And who is this lady?¡±


    Lin Xu also extended her hand and shook with him, ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Lin Xu.¡±


    ¡°Miss Lin, hello. There will be a charity auction later, if there¡¯s anything you like just tell me, I can give it to you,¡± the organizer said with a smile.


    After all, she was accompanying Xie Changyan; it couldn¡¯t go wrong to flatter her a bit.


    Lin Xu smiled but said nothing.


    The organizer, feeling somewhat embarrassed to linger longer, exchanged a few more words with Xie Changyan before turning away to attend to other guests.


    During this time, many other people approached Xie Changyan to strike up a conversation, and Lin Xu kept a forced smile all the while, visibly tense.


    ¡°Tired?¡± Xie Changyan noticed her distracted state. ¡°Do you want to rest?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­¡± Lin Xu was just about to nod when those eagle-eyed 5.2 vision eyes immediately caught sight of Ji Tingyang near the resting area.


    He was dressed in a sleek black suit, holding a glass of champagne, seemingly absent-mindedly chatting with the people next to him.


    ¡°No no no, I¡¯m not tired at all, just a bit hungry. Let¡¯s go and get something to eat over there.¡± Lin Xu suddenly jolted, pulling Xie Changyan to quickly leave and move out of Ji Tingyang¡¯s line of sight.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s narrow eyes slightly drooped, contemplating Lin Xu¡¯s flustered demeanor.


    Meanwhile, near the rest area.


    A man whispered secretively into Ji Tingyang¡¯s ear, ¡°Xie Changyan is also here tonight.¡±


    ¡°So what?¡± Ji Tingyang frowned unhappily upon hearing Xie Changyan¡¯s name.


    ¡°I heard he brought a very beautiful companion tonight, and they seem quite close. I don¡¯t know which family¡¯s daughter she is, but if he really marries into a powerful family, the Xie Family¡¯s position in our circle could rise significantly,¡± the man sighed.


    Ji Tingyang had little interest in such matters, but on hearing that Xie Changyan brought a female companion, his anger surged a bit more.


    Xie Changyan had always had sinister designs on his mother, and now he had quickly switched to another woman.


    That bastard was not only cruel-hearted but also fickle!


    Such a man was indeed unreliable; it was right not to let Xie Changyan get close to his mother!


    Thinking of Lin Xu, Ji Tingyang¡¯s thoughts drifted off again.


    He wondered how his mother was doing alone at home, if her stomach still hurt?


    He should have stayed home and kept his mother company; the gala wasn¡¯t worth attending.


    His gaze swept over the crowd.


    Suddenly, Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes stalled for a moment.


    A familiar figure darted into his sight, but before he could take a closer look, the woman had disappeared from his view.


    That figure resembled his mother¡­

 Chapter 137 - Chapter 137: Chapter 137 Aquarium

    Chapter 137: Chapter 137 Aquarium


    Seeing that familiar figure, Ji Tingyang¡¯s heart stirred, and he put down the champagne in his hand and walked toward the crowd.


    There were too many guests at the banquet hall, and despite looking around for a long time, he couldn¡¯t find that familiar figure again.


    Could it have been an illusion?


    He stood in place, his thin lips pressed tightly together.


    Suddenly, that familiar figure once again burst into his line of sight.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s pupils shuddered, and he had just taken a step forward when a piercing, noisy microphone sound echoed through the venue, piercing people¡¯s eardrums.


    ¡°Welcome everyone to tonight¡¯s charity event. Everyone has waited so long, and you must all be looking forward to tonight¡¯s highlight. So, without further ado, let¡¯s start tonight¡¯s charity auction now.¡±


    ¡°All the money raised tonight will be donated to the charity foundation¡­¡±


    Afterward, waiters in the venue came forward to guide everyone to their designated seats.


    The crowd surged, and one person after another swept past Ji Tingyang, blocking his view.


    In the blink of an eye, that figure had disappeared again.


    The repeated missed opportunities caused Ji Tingyang¡¯s brow to furrow slightly, a wave of irritation rising from within, and his frustration expelled with his breath as he turned and followed a waiter to his seat.


    Sometimes, when you deliberately search for something, it always seems elusive, but then it often appears unexpectedly when you look back.


    Like now.


    After Ji Tingyang had taken his seat, he spotted her figure four or five tables directly in front.


    The venue¡¯s lights were all focused on the auction stage, making it dim below and blurring the woman¡¯s face so that he couldn¡¯t see her features clearly.


    But the man beside her¡­


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes suddenly turned sharp.


    It was Xie Changyan!


    So she was Xie Changyan¡¯s female companion?


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s heart tightened, thinking of a possibility, his expression slightly darkened as he took out his phone and sent a message.


    JTY: [Mother, where are you now?]


    Willow Wadding: [I¡¯m at home, what¡¯s up?]


    The message also included a photo of legs entering the bedroom, lying on the bed resting.


    It was indeed their home¡¯s bedroom.


    JTY: [Are you feeling better? I should come back and be with you.]


    Willow Wadding: [Sure, but could you bring me some snacks on your way back? I didn¡¯t eat much for dinner and am so hungry.]


    Ji Tingyang initially thought she would persuade him not to come back, but seeing her response, his tight brows gradually relaxed.


    If the woman next to Xie Changyan truly was his mother, she definitely wouldn¡¯t have let him come back.


    He then confirmed with the housekeeper again and, after receiving the answer that Lin Xu was indeed at home, his suspended heart was settled.


    It seems he was being paranoid, thinking too much.


    Ji Tingyang put away his phone and refocused his attention on the auction in front of him.


    Meanwhile, Lin Xu, having received Ji Tingyang¡¯s message that he couldn¡¯t return home early, felt a sigh of relief.


    Luckily, she had prepared well today, having taken a picture of the bedroom in advance and sneaking out behind the housekeeper¡¯s back.


    The housekeeper probably still thought she was resting in the bedroom.


    With the crisis averted, she patted her chest.


    Only when her tense nerves had relaxed did Lin Xu realize that a gaze had been fixed on her side all along.


    She looked up and met Xie Changyan¡¯s narrow eyes.


    His fingertips casually tapped on the tabletop, looking at her leisurely as he slightly raised his eyebrows, ¡°Not interested in the auction?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s, it¡¯s okay¡­¡± Lin Xu lightly bit her lower lip, her grip on her phone tightening, wanting to say that she wasn¡¯t playing with her phone just because she was bored.


    She wanted to speak but stopped, feeling embarrassed to explain.


    Explaining that she had sneaked over here behind Ji Tingyang¡¯s back would be too embarrassing.


    ¡°Want to change the place?¡± Xie Changyan¡¯s lips carried a relaxed smile.


    Lin Xu paused for a moment. ¡°Change to where?¡±


    Could it be that besides this charity auction, there were other events at the venue?


    As she puzzled over this, Xie Changyan stood up, casually circling her waist, and brazenly led her away from the venue.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s departure again caused quite a stir, with many people whispering to each other.


    Only Ji Tingyang sat in his place, unmoved.


    He was extremely uninterested in matters concerning Xie Changyan.


    Lin Xu followed Xie Changyan out of the venue and noticed a black Bentley parked at the door as if waiting for them.


    Not until they had driven a distance did Lin Xu react and asked him, ¡°Where are we going?¡±


    Xie Changyan leaned back in the seat, his narrow eyes slightly raised, a lazy smile on his lips. ¡°Why ask now?¡±


    His implication seemed to be that she had willingly followed him without knowing anything, and wasn¡¯t afraid of being sold.


    Lin Xu hummed and turned her head away. ¡°Then I won¡¯t ask.¡±


    A light laugh spilled from his throat, particularly clear in the confined space of the car, reaching her ears and bringing a tingling sensation.


    Lin Xu stared unblinkingly out of the car window, her cheeks already deeply flushed.


    After about ten minutes, the car stopped in front of an aquarium.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s relaxed voice sounded, ¡°We¡¯ve arrived.¡±


    Lin Xu got out of the car, looked at the aquarium entrance, then turned to Xie Changyan. ¡°Is this what you meant by changing the place?¡±


    Xie Changyan smiled without a word, and led Lin Xu inside.


    ¡°It¡¯s so late; shouldn¡¯t it be closed? Can we still go in?¡± Lin Xu muttered as she followed alongside him.


    However, to her surprise, there was a small passageway left beside the tightly closed door, and Xie Changyan led her through without any obstruction.


    Inside, lights were on everywhere, but there were no other visitors in sight.


    Could he have rented out the place?


    Lin Xu felt a slight stirring in her chest.


    Xie Changyan led her into a glass corridor, where various amazing marine creatures swam in the water, creating the impression of a dazzling world.


    Twenty years later, the aquarium design had become even more exquisitely breathtaking, with marine creatures swimming so realistically before her eyes that Lin Xu could barely keep up.


    Lin Xu, excited, took out her phone and took many photos.


    ¡°Ah Yan, look¡­¡±


    She turned excitedly, but stopped abruptly upon seeing Xie Changyan.


    She had always called Ji Yanli ¡°Ah Yan,¡± and now had habitually blurted it out, forgetting that the person before her was Xie Changyan.


    Lin Xu quickly corrected herself, pointing at a fish in the distance, she said to him, ¡°Xie Changyan, look at that fish striped in red and white, it¡¯s so cute.¡±


    Xie Changyan walked up to her with his hands in his pockets, his tone carrying his usual indifferent laziness, ¡°You can call me whatever you like, no need to correct yourself.¡±


    Was he saying she could call him Ah Yan?


    Lin Xu hesitated for a moment, met his deep eyes, and her lips parted slightly, ¡°Ah Yan?¡±


    Her soft voice entered his ears, tapping gently at Xie Changyan¡¯s heart, like a buoy lightly bouncing on the surface of a lake.


    He paused, then handed Lin Xu a small gift box.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Lin Xu took it, memories of Ji Yanli always giving her gifts flashing through her mind, her heart seemingly understanding a bit.


    Indeed, she heard Xie Changyan¡¯s casual voice.


    ¡°It¡¯s for you.¡±

 Chapter 138 - Chapter 138: Chapter 138: Wait for Her to Divorce Before Bringing Her Home

    Chapter 138: Chapter 138: Wait for Her to Divorce Before Bringing Her Home


    The charity dinner ended, and it was already past eleven at night.


    As soon as Ji Tingyang got home, he went straight to Lin Xu¡¯s bedroom.


    He lingered anxiously at the door for a long time, his hand raising then lowering repeatedly, unable to muster the courage to knock.


    What if his mother really wasn¡¯t at home, had actually gone to the charity dinner?


    Perhaps it was better to pretend to know nothing¡­


    Ji Tingyang turned to leave, but just then, the bedroom door opened from the inside.


    Wearing pajamas, Lin Xu came out of the bedroom. Seeing him, a flicker of surprise passed through her eyes. ¡°Why are you standing here? I heard footsteps at the door and thought a thief had broken in.¡±


    Seeing her, Ji Tingyang¡¯s inner turmoil finally dissipated.


    His mother was really at home.


    His eyes darted around, stammering, ¡°I, I just came back. I have something to tell you but was worried you were asleep. Knocking might wake you¡­¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± Lin Xu asked.


    ¡°I saw a beautiful bracelet at the charity auction tonight and bought it,¡± Ji Tingyang hurriedly handed her the bag he was holding.


    At the venue, the women were all raising their bids to compete. Ji Tingyang initially had no interest, but then he thought of Lin Xu, imagined how happy his mother would be receiving the bracelet, and without a second thought joined the bidding.


    The people around were all stunned.


    ¡°President Ji is really generous. I heard that last time he also spent twenty million at an auction for a gemstone bracelet, maybe also a gift for a new love at home.¡±


    ¡°It makes me more and more curious about President Ji¡¯s canary.¡±


    ¡°Me too¡­¡±


    Ji Tingyang opened the gift box in front of her, which contained a dazzling jewel bracelet, each gem sparkling with unique radiance.


    Exquisite and beautiful.


    ¡°Such a beautiful bracelet, thank you, our Tingyang.¡± Lin Xu took the gift box and reached out to ruffle his hair.


    Ji Tingyang pursed his lips slightly, a faint smile curling on his face, seemingly very pleased.


    ¡°Alright, it¡¯s late and you must be tired from the event tonight. Go back to your room and rest. Next time you have something, remember to knock on the door directly, don¡¯t just stand there foolishly,¡± Lin Xu said, about to close the door and rest.


    ¡°Mother¡­¡± Ji Tingyang called out to her, an anxious expression in his eyes.


    ¡°Is there something else?¡±


    ¡°Won¡¯t you try it on?¡±


    His voice was very soft, as if a breeze could blow it away, but Lin Xu still heard him.


    She smiled lightly at him, ¡°So, should I try it on now?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll help you!¡± Ji Tingyang eagerly took her hand upon hearing this.


    His movements suddenly halted.


    On her left wrist, a silver fish bracelet was visible.


    Although the bracelet was delicate, it lacked the glamour of the jewel bracelet and wasn¡¯t a style Lin Xu would typically buy.


    ¡°When did you buy this bracelet?¡± Ji Tingyang frowned.


    Lin Xu¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly took off the bracelet and stashed it in her pocket, ¡°Just, a few days ago, bought it casually on the street.¡±


    She hurriedly donned the new bracelet, stretched her wrist out in front of him and shook it, ¡°My son has really good taste!¡±


    Seeing her radiant smile, Ji Tingyang quickly put the fish bracelet out of his mind, contentedly watching for a long while before he left.


    Back in her bedroom, Lin Xu collapsed directly onto the bed, sighing with relief.


    She turned over and took the little fish bracelet out of her pocket, staring at it for a long time.


    Scenes from the Aquarium reappeared in her mind.


    Xie Changyan picked up the bracelet and wrapped it around her wrist, his fingertips occasionally touching her skin, sending a tingling current throughout her body.


    Their distance was so close that their breaths intertwined, the temperature in the room seemed to rise continuously, and something was quietly spreading between them.


    Xie Changyan looked up, their eyes met, and in that instant, it seemed as though time had stopped.


    Lin Xu¡¯s heartbeat became erratic, throbbing rapidly like a drum, her cheeks burning up.


    In a daze, she thought she saw his head slowly leaning in.


    Amid the jumbled sound of heartbeats, she quietly closed her eyes.


    However, after waiting for a long time, she did not receive the kiss she had imagined.


    Lin Xu stealthily opened her eyes, only to see Xie Changyan looking at her with a faint smile in his eyes.


    She had been played.


    A touch of annoyance crossed Lin Xu¡¯s cheeks as she tiptoed up and took the initiative to plant a light kiss on his lips.


    Like a dragonfly touching the water, the contact was brief.


    Xie Changyan paused for a moment, his brown eyes filled with a stirred emotion, his voice husky and deep, ¡°Do you know what you¡¯re doing?¡±


    ¡°Kissing you.¡± Lin Xu bluntly said.


    After all, they were old married folks, who cares about acting reserved?


    Her words seemed enticing, Xie Changyan¡¯s eyelashes trembled slightly, completely caught in her trap.


    He advanced, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her into his embrace, kissing her red lips again.


    Like opening a valve, his kisses fell delicately, his breathing grew heavier, turning into an entanglement between lips and teeth.


    Lin Xu lay in her bed, her cheeks as hot as before.


    She shyly rolled around on the bed, pulling the blanket next to her and burying herself inside.


    Elsewhere.


    Xie Changyan returned to the old mansion, his long fingers tugging at his tie, his eyes and lips tinged with a smile, seemingly in a good mood.


    He turned on the living room lights, discovering Xie Mingwang sitting spiritedly on the sofa, his piercing eyes looking over.


    Xie Changyan approached, his voice tinged with teasing, ¡°Grandfather, shouldn¡¯t all you elderly be asleep at this hour?¡±


    Xie Mingwang tapped his cane heavily on the floor, his booming authoritative voice resounding, ¡°You rascal! Why wouldn¡¯t I sleep if I know you can tell me why?!¡±


    ¡°No idea.¡± Xie Changyan laughed.


    ¡°You rascal.¡± Xie Mingwang scolded him again before getting to the point, ¡°The woman who was with you tonight, bring her home tomorrow for me to see.¡±


    ¡°What woman, I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about?¡±


    ¡°Keeping it from me? If Old Man Chen from next door hadn¡¯t gone to the charity dinner and told me afterward, I wouldn¡¯t have known that you¡¯d secretly gotten a girlfriend and hid it from me.¡± Xie Mingwang was furious.


    He had grown white hair worrying over his grandson¡¯s romantic life, invested so much care, yet this lad showed no regard at all.


    Secretly dating a girlfriend and keeping it hidden.


    He wasn¡¯t some feudal patriarch; he wouldn¡¯t interfere with the two of them, yet he still kept it secret.


    Xie Changyan chuckled lightly, ¡°Bringing a female companion to an event means she¡¯s my girlfriend?¡±


    ¡°Cut it out! Even if she¡¯s not your girlfriend, you¡¯re obviously interested in her. Otherwise, with your nature, how could you possibly bring an unrelated woman along?¡± Xie Mingwang knew him well,¡±Anyway, bring her home tomorrow so I can have a look.¡±


    The mirth in Xie Changyan¡¯s eyes remained, he carelessly responded, ¡°Next time, maybe when she gets a divorce, I¡¯ll bring her home for you to see.¡±

 Chapter 139 - Chapter 139: Chapter 139 "Try to find out if she really likes you or not.

    Chapter 139: Chapter 139 ¡°Try to find out if she really likes you or not.


    Divorce?!


    Upon hearing these words, Xie Mingwang flew into a rage as expected, his lips trembling, one hand clutching his wildly heaving chest as if he were about to faint from struggling for breath.


    Xie Changyan coolly took out a bottle of antihypertensive medication from his pocket and handed him a pill along with some water.


    After quite some time, Xie Mingwang finally caught his breath, but when he looked up and saw Xie Changyan¡¯s calm demeanor, his anger flared up again.


    ¡°Are you serious or just joking?¡± Xie Mingwang glared at him.


    Xie Changyan reclined casually beside him, eyes downcast as he fiddled with the medication box in his hand, silent.


    Xie Mingwang immediately realized that this matter was most likely true.


    He pleaded gently, ¡°You, the grand CEO of Xie¡¯s, can have any woman you want. What¡¯s so good about a married woman? Cut ties with her right away, do you hear me?¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t rush you into marriage anymore. Take your time to find someone you like¡­¡±


    Xie Mingwang talked for quite a while, but Xie Changyan remained silently unresponsive.


    Xie Mingwang, enraged, grabbed a walking stick from nearby and hit Xie Changyan¡¯s leg with it. ¡°Did you even hear what I said!¡±


    Xie Changyan¡¯s face showed reluctant amusement as he tugged at the corner of his mouth, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about my business; just go back to your room and rest.¡±


    After finishing his sentence, he stood up and returned to the bedroom, leaving Xie Mingwang fuming in the living room.


    The next morning.


    After washing up, Xie Changyan was just about to go downstairs to head to the company when he was stopped by Xie Mingwang.


    ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± he asked, his face full of suspicion.


    ¡°Where else can I go other than to the office?¡± Xie Changyan laughed.


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard there¡¯s nothing much going on at the company lately, you might as well work from home for the time being. Don¡¯t go out.¡±


    Xie Changyan laughed wryly, ¡°I¡¯m already this old, and you¡¯re putting me under house arrest? Is that appropriate?¡±


    Xie Mingwang glared at him, ¡°You¡¯ll stay home for the next few days, don¡¯t worry about anything else.¡±


    Who knows where he would run off to if he went out? What if he went to see that married woman again?


    ¡°If I¡¯m not to worry about business, then you shouldn¡¯t worry about me either.¡± Xie Changyan smiled, walked past him, and headed straight for the door, ignoring Xie Mingwang¡¯s furious roars behind him.


    As soon as Xie Changyan arrived at the company, he received a message from Lin Xu.


    It was a photo of her wearing the little fish bracelet.


    His thoughts immediately returned to last night¡¯s kiss¡­


    Amorous and lingering.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s lips curved up into a subtle smile, his fingertips tapping on the keyboard.


    Xie: [Shall we have lunch together?]


    He waited for a while but didn¡¯t receive a reply from Lin Xu, feeling a stir in his heart, his fingers already dialing out.


    The phone rang for several seconds before it was answered.


    He barely parted his lips to speak when he heard a man¡¯s icy, indifferent voice come through the receiver.


    ¡°Calling so early in the morning, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s voice was as cold as ice.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s grip on the phone tightened, and he restrained the smile on his face, his fingertips idly tapping the desk, ¡°Nothing much, just wanted to invite Miss Lin to lunch.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that won¡¯t be possible, as she is having lunch with me today.¡±


    ¡°No problem, I¡¯ll just invite her for dinner.¡±


    ¡°From now on, she will only have meals with me every day. No matter how many times Xie invites her, it won¡¯t make a difference.¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s voice deepened.


    A laugh escaped Xie Changyan¡¯s throat, he said nonchalantly, ¡°How do you know it won¡¯t work if you haven¡¯t tried?¡±


    ¡°Xie Changyan, I¡¯m warning you, keep your distance from her. She will never like you!¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s voice was fierce, his face dark with anger.


    Xie Changyan lowered his eyes as if unmoved, ¡°Is that so? Then who do you think she was with last night?¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s presence was icily intimidating.


    He wasn¡¯t without his suspicions, and those suspicions were confirmed upon seeing the little fish charm bracelet.


    Yet still, he acted as though he knew nothing.


    Just like Xie Changyan had discovered, Lin Xu was avoiding Ji Tingyang throughout the charity banquet, utterly distracted the entire time.


    In the end, he simply took her away from the venue, letting her breathe a sigh of relief.


    After a moment, Ji Tingyang sneered, ¡°¡­Want to give it a try?¡±


    ¡°Try what?¡±


    ¡°Try if she really likes you or not.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Upon hearing his silence, a scoff of mockery spilled from Ji Tingyang¡¯s throat, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, you¡¯re scared? Because you know that in her heart, I¡¯m more important. She and I are each other¡¯s most significant others, and she will absolutely not choose you, so stop bothering her.¡±


    The dial tone of the phone hanging up buzzed in his ear, and Xie Changyan¡¯s expression darkened, his grip on his cellphone tightening until his fingertips turned white.


    The air pressure in the office was terrifyingly low.


    And Ji Tingyang¡¯s face was no better, chilling to the bone.


    ¡°Eh, how come my phone is with you?¡±


    Lin Xu had just sent a message to Xie Changyan and had been called away by Aunt Zhang. She casually placed her phone on the table, and when she came out of the kitchen, it was gone.


    She searched all the way and didn¡¯t expect to find it in Ji Tingyang¡¯s hands.


    Ji Tingyang smoothed out the forbidding look on his face, his tone carrying a hint of apology, ¡°I didn¡¯t know where my phone was, so I used yours to make a call, I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°You can use it to make calls as long as you like; no need to apologize to me,¡± Lin Xu patted his head, ¡°Aunt Zhang has made breakfast, let¡¯s go and eat quick, don¡¯t starve your stomach.¡±


    Ji Tingyang nodded and then casually said, ¡°Mother, how about we have lunch together at noon?¡±


    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll come to find you at noon,¡± Lin Xu agreed readily.


    Not until after Ji Tingyang left for work did Lin Xu retrieve her phone and notice an unread message on WeChat.


    Xie Changyan had invited her to lunch.


    Willow Wadding: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I have plans at noon.¡±


    Xie: ¡°No problem.¡±


    Willow Wadding: ¡°How about we meet later in the evening?¡±


    However, after sending this message, Xie Changyan did not reply anymore.


    Maybe he¡¯s busy with work?


    Lin Xu didn¡¯t mind and put down her phone to do other things.


    In the following few days, Xie Changyan still had not contacted her.


    Just when she was about to ask if Xie¡¯s was very busy, she received a call from Su Linzhou.


    He whispered into the phone, his voice low, ¡°Miss Lin, did you and Xie Changyan have a fight?¡±


    Lin Xu was puzzled, ¡°Not at all.¡±


    ¡°He looks smiling on the surface, like nothing is wrong, but as soon as he speaks, he¡¯s like a firecracker, almost driving all the employees of Xie¡¯s to resign.¡±


    Su Linzhou was on the edge of madness, Xie Changyan¡¯s jeering laugh coming from a farther location.


    ¡°Su Linzhou, why are you hiding so far away, making a funeral call? But with all the romantic debts you provoke outside, maybe one day you¡¯ll actually die at a woman¡¯s hand, so it¡¯s good to get a tombstone settled earlier.¡±


    ¡°Stop yelling, stop yelling.¡± Su Linzhou collapsed, yelling into the phone, ¡°Miss Lin, come quickly to save the day in Jianghu!¡±


    Then he hastily hung up the call.

 Chapter 140 - Chapter 140: Chapter 140: In Her Heart, I Am More Important Than You

    Chapter 140: Chapter 140: In Her Heart, I Am More Important Than You


    Lin Xu arrived at Xie¡¯s, the atmosphere in the office was so chillingly low that it made one shiver.


    Su Linzhou looked at her as if she were a savior, with a sorrowful expression, he said, ¡°Miss Lin, if you had come any later, you would have found my corpse.¡±


    Lin Xu smiled, ¡°Aren¡¯t you still in one piece right now?¡±


    ¡°My body may look intact,¡± Su Linzhou clutched his chest, feigning agony, ¡°but my heart is completely shattered.¡± This amused Lin Xu immensely.


    Xie Changyan, unable to stand it any longer, kicked him aside.


    After receiving a razor-sharp glare, Su Linzhou¡¯s body shuddered, ¡°You two chat, I¡¯m taking off.¡±


    With that, he turned and fled as if the wind was at his heels.


    In the spacious office, only she and Xie Changyan were left, facing each other.


    ¡°Have you been in a bad mood lately? Is it because of me?¡± Lin Xu asked.


    Xie Changyan, seeing the caution in her gaze, scrambled his words before finally speaking indifferently, ¡°No, don¡¯t overthink it.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Lin Xu breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°You haven¡¯t replied to my messages lately, I thought you were mad at me.¡±


    Xie Changyan lowered his gaze and fiddled with the teacup in his hands, remaining silent.


    Lin Xu sat down beside him on the couch, naturally looping her arm through his, ¡°Stop being upset, how about I take you somewhere?¡±


    ¡°Where?¡± Xie Changyan turned his head.


    ¡°You¡¯ll know when we get there,¡± Lin Xu said with a mysterious smile.


    At night.


    The bustling outdoor food stall was lively even though it wasn¡¯t deep into the night yet.


    Lin Xu, bringing Xie Changyan along, sat down and ordered twenty to thirty skewers.


    ¡°Eat up, they won¡¯t taste as good once they cool down.¡± Lin Xu handed him a skewer of grilled meat.


    Xie Changyan chuckled softly, ¡°Is this the place you were talking about?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve tried this place before. The skewers here are exceptionally delicious. The owner¡¯s skills are unmatched, guaranteed to cheer you up,¡± Lin Xu said with a beaming smile.


    She used to come eat grilled meat whenever she felt down.


    They say that people who spend a lot of time together eventually develop similar habits. Later on, Ji Yanli also liked to bring her here to eat skewers whenever he had troubles.


    Even though he didn¡¯t remember many things now, his interests remained the same, so he probably liked skewers too.


    That¡¯s what Lin Xu thought.


    Suddenly.


    She heard a light chuckle.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s sullen face cleared, returning to his usual casual expression.


    He took a bite of the skewer and chuckleed lowly, ¡°It¡¯s indeed quite delicious.¡±


    ¡°Right? I searched a long time for this place,¡± Lin Xu said with a hint of pride.


    ¡°I also know a good barbecue place. If you want, I can take you there next time.¡± Xie Changyan, who had visited many barbecue restaurants, often went alone since Su Linzhou and the others didn¡¯t like it.


    This was the first time Xie Changyan realized he had someone who shared his tastes.


    Grilled meat and beer.


    The two of them ate comfortably, and even walking along the roadside afterward, their moods lightened.


    Suddenly, a small cat darted out of the bushes ahead. Lin Xu, surprised and delighted, chased after the cat and crouched in front of it, playingwith it.


    The cat, seemingly shy, squeaked after being petted by Lin Xu a few times before darting back into the bushes, disappearing into the night.


    Xie Changyan leaned casually against a tree trunk, lifting his gaze nonchalantly to watch her face fall as she walked back with a faint smile.


    ¡°That cat is too stingy, it ran away just as I was about to kiss it,¡± Lin Xu complained.


    ¡°Wild cats out here aren¡¯t clean, don¡¯t go kissing everything you see,¡± Xie Changyan said.


    Her eyes playfully shifted, ¡°Then I won¡¯t kiss it, can I kiss something else?¡±


    ¡°Wha¡­¡±


    Her warm lips landed on his, cutting off his unfinished sentence.


    Lin Xu¡¯s sweet scent lingered at the tip of his nose, his heartbeat seemed to skip a beat, and everything around them fell silent.


    His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, just as he was about to touch her, Lin Xu stepped back yet continued smiling at him.


    ¡°Do you feel better now?¡±


    She still remembered he was in a bad mood¡­


    Xie Changyan wondered, what exactly did she think of him.


    She must like him, right?


    Otherwise, why would she go out of her way to cheer him up and be so close to him¡­


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s words might have just been to deceive him.


    Xie Changyan looked at the joyful her, his eyes darkened slightly, he pulled her into his embrace and cupped the back of her head. His passionate kiss descended like a storm, catching her off guard.


    Their breaths intertwined, the temperature rose, and their heartbeats amplified infinitely in the silent night.


    After what felt like ages, Xie Changyan finally released her, resting against her forehead, his hot breath on her cheeks, as his deep eyes intensely gazed at her.


    Even in the dim night, one could see the fiery blush on Lin Xu¡¯s cheeks and her misty, seductive eyes.


    ¡°Does this mean we¡¯re so¡­¡±


    Xie Changyan¡¯s low, hoarse voice began, but before he could finish, a shrill ringtone shattered the ambiguity between them.


    Lin Xu¡¯s long eyelashes trembled, a shade of embarrassment appeared on her cheeks, ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ll take this call first.¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡±


    Xie Changyan let her go, and from the corner of his eye, he saw the name on the display of her phone. His heart tightened suddenly, a discomfort quietly rising.


    Lin Xu took a few steps to the side, brought the phone to her ear and casually answered, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    He didn¡¯t know what was said on the other end.


    In a flash, her facial expression changed dramatically, her tone tightened, ¡°Where are you now?¡±


    ¡°Have the butler handle it for now, I¡¯m on my way back!¡±


    She hung up quickly, hurriedly bidding Xie Changyan farewell, her voice trembled with panic, ¡°Ji Tingyang is injured, I have to go first.¡±


    Mysteriously.


    Xie Changyan thought about Ji Tingyang¡¯s earlier test and those words¡ª¡±In her heart, I am more important than you are.¡±


    ¡°Wait.¡± Xie Changyan grabbed her arm.


    Lin Xu turned around; her originally rosy cheeks now pale and unattractive.


    Xie Changyan choked up, the words he had yet to voice swirled in his throat, ¡°I¡¯ll drive you there.¡±


    Upon reaching the entrance of Ji Mansion.


    The car hadn¡¯t yet come to a complete stop when Lin Xu opened the door and rushed out.


    Ji Tingyang was already waiting at the entrance. Upon seeing Lin Xu, he quickly pulled her into his embrace.


    His brooding eyes glanced towards the direction of the car, locked eyes with someone, then provocatively raised his eyebrows.


    ¡°Where are you hurt, let me see!¡± Lin Xu pushed him away.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a small cut on the back of my hand, it¡¯s not serious, don¡¯t worry.¡± Ji Tingyang reassured her.


    ¡°It¡¯s bleeding, how can you say it¡¯s not serious?¡± Lin Xu glared at him and hurriedly led him inside to tend to his wound.


    Completely forgetting about Xie Changyan still in the car.

 Chapter 141 - Chapter 141: Chapter 141: Its Not That No One Cares About Him

    Chapter 141: Chapter 141: It¡¯s Not That No One Cares About Him


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s hand was slashed with a long wound, nearly spreading across his entire backhand, blood streaming out.


    Lin Xu¡¯s hands trembled slightly, and even her speech became inarticulate, ¡°Butler, quickly call the family doctor to come over¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already called, the doctor is on the way,¡± the butler said.


    ¡°Then go ask how much longer,¡± Lin Xu was still not reassured and suddenly stood up, ¡°Never mind, just tell the driver to take us to the hospital, I¡­¡±


    At that moment, Ji Tingyang took hold of her, speaking to comfort her, ¡°The wound isn¡¯t deep, it just looks serious, don¡¯t worry,¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    ¡°I really am fine.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xu sat back down, her eyes full of worry as she watched his wound, muttering about how much longer until the doctor arrives.


    Ji Tingyang watched her worried expression, the corners of his lips quietly lifting in a place no one noticed.


    Previously, Wen Li had also snuck off to meet with Xiao Yu, but even if he was badly injured, she wouldn¡¯t care.


    ¡°Lady Wen, no matter how I advise him, the young master refuses to go to the hospital. Please come back and help me persuade him,¡± the butler said to Wen Li on the other end of the call with an urgent tone.


    ¡°I¡¯m already going crazy being locked up in the villa all the time, and now that I finally have a bit of freedom, I won¡¯t come back!¡± Wen Li resolutely refused, ¡°Please tell him to stop doing such self-harming things; no one really cares!¡±


    The call was hung up.


    The butler turned around, his expression uneasy as he glanced at Ji Tingyang, whose face was somber.


    His complexion was like a dark cloud overcasting his visage, his deep eyes chillingly cold and terrifying, the atmosphere around him at an absolute low.


    Just when the butler thought a storm of fury was about to erupt, Ji Tingyang turned and went upstairs without saying a word.


    Blood flowed down from his hand, staining the carpet on the floor red, spreading all the way to the second floor.


    The butler sighed and made a call to the family doctor, ¡°The elder young master¡¯s condition has worsened, please hurry over doctor¡­¡±


    ¡°Please hurry over, doctor, I¡¯m afraid if he keeps bleeding like this, he¡¯s going to suffer from blood loss,¡± Lin Xu, anxious from the wait, couldn¡¯t help but dial the doctor to urge him on.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s thoughts were pulled back as he grasped her hand, which was trembling slightly.


    It was not true that no one cared about him.


    His mother was worried and cared about him, she was the one who cared about him the most.


    Even Xie Changyan could not compare to him.


    Xie Changyan, after all, was a stranger, while he and his mother were related by blood, the closest of people.


    With this thought, Ji Tingyang¡¯s heavy heart became much lighter.


    Warmth spread from the hands they held, like the warm sun of spring, making everything around them warm and bright.


    Under the urging of Lin Xu, the doctor finally arrived in his car.


    Just as Ji Tingyang had said, the wound looked terrible but was not serious.


    As the doctor disinfected and treated him, he lectured, ¡°President Ji, I¡¯ve told you so many times not to do such self¡­¡±


    ¡°Cough, cough!¡±


    Ji Tingyang coughed a few times forcefully, interrupting what the doctor was about to say.


    Lin Xu looked puzzled, ¡°Doctor, what were you just about to say not to do?¡±


    Under Ji Tingyang¡¯s slightly threatening gaze, the doctor swiftly changed his words, ¡°Not to touch water¡­ don¡¯t let the wound come into contact with water for the next few days, or it might get infected. Remember that, okay?¡±


    Lin Xu nodded, ¡°Yes, I will keep an eye on him.¡±


    Not until Ji Tingyang¡¯s wound was completely treated did Lin Xu¡¯s anxious mood gradually calm down, and then she suddenly remembered Xie Changyan.


    When she saw Ji Tingyang get injured, all she thought about was attending to his wound as quickly as possible, forgetting to even thank Xie Changyan.


    She looked outside through the living room window and saw nothing but darkness outside the gate; there was no sign of a car.


    She had no idea when he had left.


    Lin Xu pondered for a moment, then took out her phone and sent him a message.


    Willow Wadding: ¡°Thank you for taking me back just now. Ji Tingyang¡¯s injury isn¡¯t serious, and he should recover in a while.¡±


    Lin Xu thought he might be busy, so after waiting for a while without a reply, she put down her phone and started doing other things.


    However, on the second and third day, Xie Changyan still hadn¡¯t replied.


    Could it be that his mood hadn¡¯t improved from last time?


    Lin Xu considered visiting Xie¡¯s to see him again, but Ji Tingyang, who was recuperating at home due to his injury, had been clinging to her, preventing her from having any free time to see Xie Changyan.


    ¡°Mother, your favorite snacks are gone; let¡¯s go to the supermarket together today,¡± Ji Tingyang said, his eyes twinkling with anticipation.


    Lin Xu smiled helplessly. ¡°There¡¯s no hurry to buy snacks, but shouldn¡¯t you be going to work?¡±


    ¡°The injury on my hand hasn¡¯t healed yet,¡± Ji Tingyang said.


    ¡°The wound has already scabbed over, and the doctor also said it doesn¡¯t interfere with work,¡± Lin Xu replied.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes flickered, and a look of struggle appeared on his face. He remained silent.


    ¡°Alright, if you don¡¯t want to go to work, then don¡¯t. You¡¯ve been working for so many years, what¡¯s wrong with our Ting Yang being lazy for a few days?¡± Lin Xu ruffled his hair and didn¡¯t press the issue.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s cheeks turned a subtle red, and he responded in a low voice.


    Ji Tingyang stayed at home for another week or so until the wound on his hand healed completely, and without any more excuses to stay, he went to work reluctantly.


    Just as Lin Xu was about to breathe a sigh of relief, the person ¡°monitoring¡± her switched from Ji Tingyang to Ji Zeqiu.


    Lin Xu: ???


    ¡°Don¡¯t you have to shoot your scenes?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve just finished my last job, and there¡¯s nothing else planned for now, so I can stay at home for a bit longer,¡± Ji Zeqiu said.


    ¡°Then you rest well at home, I have to go out for a while and will be back late,¡± Lin Xu said while changing her shoes in the entryway.


    Ji Zeqiu suddenly stood up, ¡°I¡¯ll come with you!¡±


    He remembered Ji Tingyang¡¯s instructions before leaving.


    ¡°Someone has been harassing mother recently; remember to keep an eye out and don¡¯t let anyone get close to her.¡±


    ¡°Who? Who¡¯s harassing her?!¡± Ji Zeqiu¡¯s vigilance kicked in instantly. ¡°Is it Zhou Hongwen, he hasn¡¯t given up yet?!¡±


    Ji Tingyang paused, ¡°Right, it¡¯s him. So, if mother goes out, you have to keep an extra watch.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu couldn¡¯t afford to relax upon seeing Lin Xu about to leave and quickly followed suit.


    ¡°Why are you following me?¡± Lin Xu asked, puzzled.


    ¡°Lately, there have been many bad people outside, and it¡¯s not safe for a girl to go out alone,¡± Ji Zeqiu¡¯s gaze shifted uneasily.


    Unable to win over Ji Zeqiu, Lin Xu had to let him accompany her, and the destination changed from Xie¡¯s to the shopping mall.


    The pair walked side by side, chatting and laughing through the mall.


    As they passed by a clothing store, Ji Yuqiao was inside shopping for clothes.


    Ji Yuqiao was no stranger to the figure of Ji Zeqiu, and she noticed him at first glance.


    Her eyes lit up, and just as she was about to call out to him, she was distracted by the woman beside him.


    Ji Zeqiu obediently bent down as the woman snugged the hat on his head tightly.


    The pair seemed intimately close.


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, finding the woman beside him strangely familiar.


    After thinking for a long while, her pupils suddenly dilated in recognition.


    She finally remembered who the woman by Ji Zeqiu¡¯s side was!

 Chapter 142 - Chapter 142: Chapter 142 Unique Warmth

    Chapter 142: Chapter 142 Unique Warmth


    The slender and graceful figure, the elegant posture, and that familiar light-blue long dress, along with the same Hermes bag¡ªevery trait was pointing to the same person.


    That was the woman Ji Yuqiao had seen last time at the caf¨¦, the one who was shopping with Ji Tingyang!


    She was the new love interest Ji Yuqiao had seen with Ji Tingyang!


    Ji Yuqiao hadn¡¯t expected to see her again by Ji Zeqiu¡¯s side.


    In an instant, Ji Yuqiao remembered Wen Li.


    Could this woman be toying with the affections of her two brothers just like Wen Li, playing them both?!


    At this thought, Ji Yuqiao was suddenly alarmed and chased after her, leaving the clothes behind.


    However, as soon as she stepped out the door, the two figures had vanished.


    In the vast mall, she could no longer see their figures, almost as if she had imagined them.


    Ji Yuqiao clenched her teeth, pulled out her phone, her fingers almost piercing the screen.


    Raining Qiao: ¡°Lin Xu, I found a bad woman playing with the feelings of both my brothers, two-timing them!¡±


    The next day.


    Lin Xu was called out by Ji Yuqiao on the pretext of an investigation.


    ¡°So you want me to help you investigate who that bad woman really is?!¡± Lin Xu¡¯s expression was somewhat peculiar.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯d like to look into it myself, but I don¡¯t know how to go about it. You know more than I do, so you definitely know how to investigate,¡± Ji Yuqiao nodded, expressing her absolute trust in her.


    ¡°This¡­¡± Lin Xu hesitated, ¡°I¡¯d rather be your adviser.¡±


    Even the best of friends should not meddle in family affairs too much.


    ¡°All right,¡± Ji Yuqiao didn¡¯t insist.


    ¡°Also, it¡¯s better not to spread this kind of thing around before we have investigated thoroughly. First, see if you can find the mall¡¯s surveillance footage. Maybe you can see that woman¡¯s face clearly and figure out if she¡¯s the same person,¡± Lin Xu offered her some advice.


    Ji Yuqiao listened intently, her eyes shining with admiration, ¡°You are indeed much better than me!¡±


    Lin Xu¡¯s light laughter was tinged with a hint of helplessness.


    This was hardly what she would call remarkable.


    ¡°If I find out who that bad woman is, I definitely won¡¯t let her off!¡± Ji Yuqiao gritted her teeth and clenched her fist, hammering the table hard.


    Lin Xu laughed silently, quietly listening to her rant.


    Not until the coffee in the cup was finished did Lin Xu speak up, ¡°Another cup? Or if not, I can take you somewhere.¡±


    ¡°Where to?¡±


    ¡°To get your gift.¡±


    A gift?


    Ji Yuqiao was puzzled for a moment but quickly remembered the promise Lin Xu had made to give her a gift if she won the city competition.


    She rose abruptly, her enthusiasm evident, ¡°Finished, finished! Where¡¯s the gift? Let¡¯s hurry!¡±


    After that, Ji Yuqiao followed Lin Xu into an upscale boutique that sold handbags.


    Could it be that Lin Xu wanted to gift her a bag?


    Ji Yuqiao glanced around, but nothing caught her eye as particularly attractive, nor were there any new models on display.


    As soon as Lin Xu entered the store, the manager hurried over to serve her.


    ¡°Miss Lin, welcome.¡±


    ¡°Are all the items I bought before ready?¡± Lin Xu inquired.


    Manager: ¡°Everything¡¯s ready. Would you like me to have them sent to your house now?¡±


    Lin Xu: ¡°No need, just take me to have a look first.¡±


    ¡°Right this way, please.¡±


    The manager took Lin Xu into the rest room and asked her to wait there for a moment.


    After a while, the manager came in pushing a cart hung with handbags.


    There were various styles on top, including limited editions from years ago that were no longer available for purchase and popular models from recent years¡­


    Ji Yuqiao looked more and more familiar as she looked.


    Why did they look so much like her old handbags?


    ¡°Why are you standing there like a fool? Come and see the gift I got you,¡± Lin Xu smiled.


    Ji Yuqiao froze in place, looking at her in disbelief, ¡°These, aren¡¯t these the bags I sold when I was out of money? You bought them all back?!¡±


    Because she spent money on Xiao Yu, Ji Tingyang had cut off her allowance.


    Being desperately poor, she would rather sell all the bags she had than compromise with Ji Tingyang.


    Some bags were birthday gifts from Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu, and some were styles that she particularly liked; they were all things she was reluctant to part with.


    But she wasn¡¯t as capable as Xiao Yu, who could support himself by working part-time, and she felt frustrated.


    She told herself that Xiao Yu was much more important than these bags.


    The next day, she sold them all.


    However, she never expected to see these bags again!


    Ji Yuqiao looked at them with joy filling her heart.


    ¡°None of these are the ones you sold originally. I could only buy new ones or the same models. I¡¯m not sure if you will like this gift,¡± Lin Xu was initially uncertain, but seeing her excitement, she felt that the gift was well chosen.


    Ji Yuqiao suddenly hugged Lin Xu tightly, wrapping her arms around her neck, her eyebrows and eyes curved, ¡°I really like it, especially like it. Even if they are not the original ones, I like them!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s good that you like them.¡± Lin Xu rubbed her head, ¡°Don¡¯t sell them off carelessly again, otherwise I will be sad.¡±


    Lin Xu¡¯s palm was warm, and Ji Yuqiao couldn¡¯t help rubbing against it, her cheeks blushing faintly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, even if I starve to death, I will definitely not sell them!¡± Ji Yuqiao looked into Lin Xu¡¯s eyes, which were sparkling, and eagerly assured her.


    Lin Xu smiled, ¡°If you¡¯re going to starve, it¡¯s still better to sell them to fill your stomach.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao buried her head in her neck, her voice cheerful with a hint of coquettishness, ¡°I won¡¯t sell them, I promise I won¡¯t sell them.¡±


    ¡°Do not let love control your life. I just hope these are things that can give you pleasure.¡±


    ¡°Hm?¡± Ji Yuqiao blinked, not quite understanding.


    But Lin Xu was always right.


    Whatever it was, nod first and then talk.


    Lin Xu chuckled, ¡°Alright, go receive your gift.¡±


    ¡°Just hug me a little longer,¡± Ji Yuqiao smiled and snuggled into her again.


    She just felt that there was a unique warmth to Lin Xu.


    Lin Xu rubbed her head again.


    Seeing Ji Yuqiao¡¯s smiling face brought to her mind the beaming little face of the daughter who lay in the crib as a baby.


    That day, Ji Yuqiao and Lin Xu stayed together for a long time.


    Because she needed to prepare for the upcoming national competition, Ji Yuqiao had to study and prepare at school, and she wouldn¡¯t have the time to meet Lin Xu again before the competition was over.


    So when it was time to part, Ji Yuqiao¡¯s face was full of reluctance.


    However, a few days after parting,


    Lin Xu received a call from Ji Yuqiao in the evening; she was crying so hard on the other end of the phone that she could barely catch her breath.


    ¡°Lin Xu, what should I do, he said that no matter how hard I try, he will never like me¡­¡±


    ¡°Where are you now? I¡¯m coming to find you right away,¡± Lin Xu said anxiously.

 Chapter 143 - Chapter 143: Chapter 143: I Feel Like Youre Treating Me Like Your Daughter

    Chapter 143: Chapter 143: I Feel Like You¡¯re Treating Me Like Your Daughter


    The night was still, the small lake at the school tranquil and serene.


    Several young couples, hand in hand, headed towards the lake for a date, only to find a bench and sit down before they heard the soft sobs coming from nearby.


    The sobbing was intermittent, sorrowful yet piercing.


    Lin Xu watched as the couples around her hurried away, finding herself torn between laughter and tears.


    She followed the sobs and, sure enough, found Ji Yuqiao under a tree.


    Ji Yuqiao seemed to hear her approach, lifting her head from her knees. In the light by the lake, Lin Xu saw tears swirling in her swollen, red eyes, helpless and fragile.


    Seeing Lin Xu¡¯s figure, Ji Yuqiao clearly paused, ¡°You, you really came?¡±


    When she had called Lin Xu, it was already very late, and given the school¡¯s remote location, she had asked for her location but had not really expected Lin Xu to come.


    After all, even her roommate at the same school had only comforted her over the phone.


    ¡°I said I would come, so of course I followed through,¡± Lin Xu sat down beside her, pulling out a tissue from her bag, ¡°Your snot has merged with your tears.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s cheeks suddenly reddened, still carrying a bit of her vanity, she quickly took the tissue and wiped away.


    ¡°Is it still there?¡± she asked, embarrassed.


    Lin Xu took another tissue and wiped away the remaining tears, softly saying, ¡°There, now you¡¯re our beautiful girl again.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s lips just began to curve into a smile when they suddenly drooped again, and she murmured sadly, ¡°What does it matter if I am beautiful? He still doesn¡¯t like me.¡±


    Because they were both attending the national competition, she had been seeing Xiao Yu more frequently.


    Xiao Yu¡¯s attitude towards her had softened a lot, especially when she solved some problems that even Xiao Yu could not, he would even praise her.


    So, after she solved another competition question for Xiao Yu tonight and saw his smiling face, Ji Yuqiao¡¯s heart fluttered once again, and carried away, she couldn¡¯t help confessing her feelings to Xiao Yu again.


    Ji Yuqiao thought, she was not the same as before now.


    She had become more excellent and more attractive¡­


    At least many classmates said she had become prettier.


    Xiao Yu surely wouldn¡¯t dislike her, reject her anymore, right?


    Ji Yuqiao looked at him, full of joyous anticipation.


    However, she saw the smile on Xiao Yu¡¯s lips suddenly vanish.


    He paused, as if remembering something, then his expression turned very serious, ¡°Student Ji, I already have a girlfriend, no matter how hard you try, no matter how excellent you are, I still won¡¯t like you.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s hopeful face cracked bit by bit, the smile on her face slowly failing to hold.


    Just as tears were about to burst forth, she abruptly left the classroom.


    She hid by the lake and cried for a long time.


    During that time, her roommate also called her, and upon hearing that she had been rejected by Xiao Yu again, showed an unsurprised attitude, casually comforting her not to be sad, and then hung up the phone.


    Before the phone hung up, she clearly heard the jeering voices coming through the speaker.


    ¡°Ji Yuqiao has been rejected by Xiao Yu again, haha¡­¡±


    ¡°She still hasn¡¯t given up, how could Xiao Yu possibly like her¡­¡±


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s hand holding the phone trembled, as if a layer of salt was being sprinkled on an open wound, painful and unbearable.


    Fingers sliding across the screen, her eyes brimming with tears paused when she saw Lin Xu¡¯s name.


    By the time she snapped back to reality, the call had already gone through.


    Her intuition told her that Lin Xu wouldn¡¯t laugh at her.


    True to her instincts, Lin Xu not only didn¡¯t laugh at her but had traveled from so far just to see her.


    A warm surge seemed to flow through her chest.


    The tears in Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes swirled as she turned to hug Lin Xu¡¯s body, breaking into loud sobs.


    Seeing her cry so sadly, Lin Xu became flustered, her mind only recalling how she used to soothe babies. She rummaged through her bag and pulled out a little yellow duck to give to her.


    ¡°Little yellow duck, quack quack quack, wag your tail and sing cheerfully, please heal our lovely Yuqiao¡¯s heart soon.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s crying gradually subsided, and she looked at the little yellow duck in her hand with a puzzled expression, ¡°What is this?¡±


    ¡°It was a free gift that came with the snacks at the supermarket,¡± Lin Xu said.


    She and Ji Zeqiu had bought a lot of snacks at the supermarket yesterday, and the clerk had given her a little yellow duck as a freebie.


    She had tossed it into her bag when checking out without giving it much thought, not expecting it to come in handy now.


    ¡°And what was that cheer you just said?¡± Ji Yuqiao asked.


    ¡°Just a little rhyme I made up on the spot when I used to soothe my daughter,¡± Lin Xu said with a smile.


    As Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu grew up, they seldom cried or fussed, only Lanyue, still in her crib, would cry and make a scene regardless of time.


    Whenever that happened, she would pull out the little yellow duck and recite those few lines, and Lanyue would always burst into big laughter looking at the yellow duck.


    A hint of nostalgia shone through Lin Xu¡¯s curved eyes.


    Hearing her say this, Ji Yuqiao was reminded that Lin Xu was married and had a child.


    Because Lin Xu looked so young, she always subconsciously neglected this fact.


    Hearing her mention her daughter with a tone filled with joy and happiness, a trace of envy flickered in Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes, ¡°Your daughter must be very happy and fortunate to have such a wonderful mother like you¡­¡±


    Ji Yuqiao pinched the little yellow duck in her hand, the plastic toy squeaked in the quiet night, and she said softly, ¡°I used to have a little yellow duck too, it was a gift from my mother, but then someone took it away.¡±


    She had always carried that little duck with her since she was little, but then it was taken by Wu Yanghui.


    He clearly had countless toys, his aunt would buy him new toys every day, which made her deeply envious.


    Even so, he still snatched her only little duck.


    Her aunt said it was just to let her cousin play with it for a while and would return it to her after a few days, but since that day, she had never seen her little duck again.


    ¡°Then, I¡¯ll give you this little yellow duck. Although it can¡¯t replace the one from your childhood, I hope it can also bring you some happiness,¡± Lin Xu said as she patted her head, ¡°Don¡¯t cry anymore.¡±


    ¡°Somehow it feels like you¡¯re treating me like your daughter,¡± said Ji Yuqiao, playing with the little yellow duck in her hand and smiling shyly, ¡°I wonder if my mother was as good as you.¡±


    Lin Xu paused briefly, ¡°Maybe even better.¡±


    ¡°Maybe,¡± said Ji Yuqiao.


    If that weren¡¯t the case, why would Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu always cherish the memory of their mother?


    When she was young, she would often hear them talking in their sleep, calling out for their mother¡­


    Sometimes she envied them for having memories of their mother, unlike herself, who drew a blank whenever she thought of her mother and father.

 Chapter 144 - Chapter 144: Chapter 144 The Sick Grandmother

    Chapter 144: Chapter 144 The Sick Grandmother


    Perhaps it was the sorrow overwhelming her, or maybe it was because the topic of her mother had come up, Ji Yuqiao suddenly felt like pouring out her feelings.


    ¡°Even though my mom passed away early, I did meet someone who was as gentle as my mother,¡± Ji Yuqiao said.


    When she was seven or eight years old, because they didn¡¯t feel at ease leaving her alone, Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu would always take turns picking her up from school.


    But for some reason, neither of them came that day.


    As the school gradually emptied out, Ji Yuqiao stood at the school gates, beginning to panic.


    She started to find her own way home.


    Until the sky turned darker, she found herself crying in a deserted alley.


    She cried with a heartbreaking intensity, her sobs echoing through the alley.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that our Lanyue, why are you crying so sadly?¡± a hoarse yet somewhat kind voice asked.


    An old woman with silvery white hair and a hunched figure walked toward her, supporting herself with a cane.


    The elderly face, covered with wrinkles, wore a gentle smile as she reached out to pat her head, ¡°Tell grandma, why are you crying?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I can¡¯t find my way home¡­¡± Ji Lanyue looked at the old woman with teary eyes, sobbing.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, grandma will take you home now,¡± the old woman said, taking Ji Lanyue¡¯s hand and leading her out of the alley.


    Ji Lanyue thought she was going to take her to find her brothers, but instead, she was led into a strange and ramshackle room.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t my home! You¡¯re a bad person! Let me go!¡± Ji Lanyue, thinking she had encountered the human traffickers Ji Tingyang often mentioned, lashed out in fear and bit the old lady.


    The old woman winced in pain, her grip on Ji Lanyue¡¯s hand loosening significantly.


    Seizing the opportunity, Ji Lanyue slipped away, not daring to look back.


    Crying, she ran onto the main road until she was found by a police officer who took her back to her relatives¡¯ house.


    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, the child ran off, it truly was a bother for you all,¡± the relatives were apologizing to the police officer.


    Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu, clutching Ji Yuqiao¡¯s hand, were sweating profusely, their clothes covered with mud, trembling as they apologized to her.


    ¡°Sorry, brother was late today, I didn¡¯t pick you up¡­¡±


    Ji Lanyue threw her arms around Ji Tingyang¡¯s neck, clinging to his body and weeping bitterly, ¡°Brother, there was a bad person over there, you almost couldn¡¯t see me again¡­¡±


    After that, Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu never dared to be late again.


    Just when Ji Lanyue thought this incident was over, a few days later she came across the old woman again at the school gate.


    The old woman stood at the school gate, continually craning her neck to look inside, smiling and waving at Ji Lanyue once their eyes met.


    Ji Lanyue was startled and quickly complained to the teacher, ¡°Teacher, there¡¯s a bad person over there, that old lady is a trafficker! She shouted someone else¡¯s name at me last time and took me to a different place!¡±


    The teacher glanced over, sighed after seeing the old woman, and explained to her, ¡°That old lady isn¡¯t a bad person, she¡¯s just sick and mistook you for her granddaughter.¡±


    What kind of illness makes one mistake their granddaughter?


    Ji Lanyue didn¡¯t understand.


    But hearing the teacher say the old woman was not bad, she breathed a sigh of relief and let down her guard.


    Later during PE class, as Ji Lanyue was running on the field, she accidentally tripped.


    The pain spread from her knee, and just when her tears began to well up, a pair of wrinkled hands embraced her.


    ¡°Lanyue, don¡¯t cry, grandma will hug you, and the pain will fly away¡­¡± The old woman, it was unclear how she got inside, held her gently and comforted her.


    Ji Lanyue somehow managed to stop crying.


    ¡°Lanyue is such a good girl, grandma will give you some candy.¡± The old woman pulled out a milk candy from her tattered pocket and handed it to her.


    ¡°`


    This piece of milk candy had been sitting around for who knows how long, covered with a few spots of black mold.


    ¡°Grandma, you can¡¯t eat candy that¡¯s expired. It can make you sick,¡± Ji Lanyue said.


    ¡°Is that so? It¡¯s all grandma¡¯s fault. Shall I take you to buy some new candy?¡± the elderly woman said with regret.


    ¡°No, school will let out in just a few minutes, and my brother will worry if he doesn¡¯t see me,¡± Ji Lanyue shook her head and said goodbye to her.


    However, unexpectedly, the old woman came again the next day. This time her pockets were full of fresh candy, which she stuffed into Ji Lanyue¡¯s backpack.


    ¡°This is the candy grandma bought secretly. Lanyue, you must hide it well; otherwise, if your parents find out when you get home, it will be taken away,¡± the old woman instructed.


    Ji Lanyue scratched her head.


    Her parents had passed away a long time ago.


    Then on the third day, the fourth day¡­


    Ji Lanyue would encounter the elderly woman at the school gates. The old woman was especially gentle, would hug her, tell her stories, and buy her lots of tasty treats.


    ¡°Lanyue, whatever you want to eat, just tell grandma, and I will buy it for you,¡± the old woman said cheerfully.


    ¡°Grandma, you¡¯re so nice!¡±


    Ji Lanyue thought to herself, is this warm feeling what teacher often described as the warmth of a mother¡¯s love?


    This feeling was so good.


    But the good times didn¡¯t last.


    After half a month, she never saw the old woman¡¯s figure at the school gates again.


    Ji Lanyue couldn¡¯t resist, and ran to ask the teacher.


    The teacher told her that the old woman had been hit by a car while crossing the road and had passed away.


    ¡°She usually doesn¡¯t need to cross the street when she goes out. I don¡¯t know why she took that road that day. I heard that when she was hit, she was clutching a box of colored pencils,¡±


    Ji Lanyue stood frozen.


    She suddenly remembered a casual remark she had made to the old woman a few days ago¡ª¡±I want a box of colored pencils.¡±


    During art class, the other students all had colorful pencils, while she only had one black pencil.


    She didn¡¯t dare to ask her brothers because they would definitely save their breakfast money in secret to buy her the colored pencils.


    Yet, she never expected that her casual remark would lead to¡­


    Tears suddenly welled up, and a pricking pain spread densely across Ji Lanyue¡¯s chest.


    That night when she went home, she locked herself in her room and cried for a long time, no matter how Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu tried to console her, it was no use.


    The next day, with her eyes still swollen, she told Ji Tingyang that she wanted to change her name.


    ¡°No! Your name was given by mom, you can¡¯t change it,¡± Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu refused sternly.


    Ji Lanyue cried and made a fuss.


    To her at that time, that old grandma seemed much closer to her than her absent mother.


    Using her brothers¡¯ affection to her advantage, she resolutely chose to go on a hunger strike. After two or three days of her persistence, they reluctantly agreed.


    Ji Yuqiao, looking back on it now, feels like she was too wilful back then.


    Lin Xu listened to her story and smiled.


    It seemed that this wilful nature of hers was largely pampered into existence by her two brothers.


    ¡°By the way, what was your original name?¡± Lin Xu asked curiously.


    ¡°`

 Chapter 145 - Chapter 145: Chapter 145: How Do I Qualify to Argue with Her?

    Chapter 145: Chapter 145: How Do I Qualify to Argue with Her?


    ¡°Can I ask what your original name was, or is it okay if you don¡¯t want to say?¡± Lin Xu asked curiously the first time she heard that Ji Yuqiao had changed her name.


    ¡°My previous name was¡­¡±


    The three syllables ¡°Ji Lanyue¡± coincided with the ringtone of a cell phone.


    At the tranquil lakeside, the ringtone exploded abruptly, startling Lin Xu so much that her heart trembled.


    She patted her chest, it took a while for her heart to calm its rapid beating, ¡°I didn¡¯t catch that. What did you just say?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, you answer the phone first.¡± Ji Yuqiao said.


    Lin Xu nodded and had just answered the call when Ji Tingyang¡¯s anxious voice came from the other end.


    ¡°Mom, why have you not come back yet, it¡¯s almost midnight. Where are you now, I¡¯ll come and pick you up!¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you before I left that I was just going out to meet a friend?¡± Lin Xu replied.


    ¡°¡­Which friend are you meeting, that it¡¯s so late and you¡¯re still not home?¡± Ji Tingyang cautiously probed, several times wanting to directly ask if she was meeting with Xie Changyan.


    Initially, when Lin Xu was leaving the house that evening, Ji Tingyang wanted to go with her.


    But Lin Xu had sent him upstairs to fetch a piece of clothing, and by the time he came down, she was already gone.


    Ji Tingyang was both angry and anxious.


    He had held back until now, watching as it was about to pass midnight, finally unable to restrain himself, he made the call.


    But before he could say much, Lin Xu efficiently hung up the phone, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be back in a bit, let¡¯s leave it at that.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao vaguely heard the voice from the other end, urging Lin Xu to come home.


    She glanced at the time, startled, ¡°Is your family calling you home? Then you should hurry back. I forgot to check the time; I didn¡¯t realize it was so late.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine now, you should rush home.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao also urged, pushing and pulling the reluctant Lin Xu, finally sending her off in a taxi.


    Not until the taxi¡¯s silhouette vanished from her sight did Ji Yuqiao turn around and slowly walk back to the dorm.


    On the way back to the dorm, she thought of Xiao Yu again, and her eyes welled up with tears once more.


    That night, she was not the only one heartbroken.


    Deep into the night at the bar, the place was awash with colored lights and drinks.


    Su Linzhou had just said goodbye to a few beauties and returned to his booth, only to see Xie Changyan sitting there, drinking sullenly.


    ¡°I used to invite you to the bar and you never wanted to come; how come now that you¡¯ve finally agreed, you¡¯re hiding in the corner drinking all gloomy?¡± Su Linzhou sat down, clicking his tongue and shaking his head, ¡°With so many beauties around, what fun is there in drinking alone?¡±


    Xie Changyan looked at the glass on the table, his slender, pale fingers slowly tracing the rim. His drooped eyelashes obscured his brown eyes, concealing his expression. The atmosphere around him was chillingly low and intimidating.


    After a while, he picked up the glass and downed it in one go.


    ¡°Over fifty degrees of strong alcohol, and you just downed it like that?¡± Su Linzhou stared in disbelief, moving closer to Xie Changyan, he whispered cautiously, ¡°Do you, perhaps, have something on your mind?¡±


    Xie Changyan remained silent.


    ¡°Is it¡­ about Lin Xu?¡± Su Linzhou ventured cautiously.


    Xie Changyan was exceptionally capable and had achieved extraordinary success in business at a young age, leading Xie¡¯s to even greater heights.


    Everyone said he was extremely talented, having never faced setbacks in his early life.


    Yet now, this favored son of heaven seemed so despondent, and aside from Lin Xu, Su Linzhou couldn¡¯t think of any other reason.


    Sure enough, upon hearing this name, Xie Changyan¡¯s expression tightened, his face as if shrouded in the gloomy night sky, turned even darker.


    ¡°It couldn¡¯t be that you failed to steal someone¡¯s girl, could it?!¡± Su Linzhou exclaimed.


    No sooner had he spoken than Xie Changyan¡¯s whole aura turned even colder.


    Su Linzhou swallowed, feeling his guess was probably right on the mark.


    ¡°Look¡­there¡¯s plenty of fish in the sea, why not just give up?¡± Su Linzhou advised.


    Anxiety stirred in his eyes, as Xie Changyan closed them and rubbed his nose bridge.


    After a while, when he opened his eyes again, the emotions in his eyes had settled into calmness.


    He stood up, picked up the coat beside him, casually draped it over his arm, and headed straight for the door.


    ¡°The night is just beginning, why head back so early? Stay around here a bit longer, perhaps you¡¯ll find another one soon!¡± Su Linzhou¡¯s voice carried from behind.


    Xie¡¯s Family.


    The lights in the living room were still on.


    As soon as Xie Changyan entered, he saw Xie Mingwang sitting on the sofa, his face somber.


    ¡°Grandpa, why haven¡¯t you gone to bed?¡± Xie Changyan casually threw his coat on the rack and breezily said, ¡°I¡¯m heading to my room now, you should rest early too.¡±


    ¡°Wait a second!¡± Xie Mingwang called out to him.


    Xie Mingwang looked at him, his brows tightly furrowed.


    From a distance, the smell of alcohol wafted from him.


    ¡°Why are you back so late, where have you been?¡±


    ¡°Where else could I have been besides drinking?¡± Xie Changyan pulled at the corner of his lips, his tone slack.


    ¡°Really?¡± Xie Mingwang was skeptical.


    Xie Changyan, knowing what he was thinking, snorted, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve been coming back late these days because of the bars, not because I met her.¡±


    Xie Mingwang, as if seen through, coughed awkwardly, ¡°I¡¯m just worried about you coming back so late these past few days.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m grown up now, there¡¯s nothing to worry about. You should worry more about your own health.¡± After saying that, Xie Changyan went back to his room to rest.


    Knowing that his grandson hadn¡¯t met with that woman again, Xie Mingwang initially breathed a sigh of relief.


    However, over the next several days, repeatedly seeing Xie Changyan coming back late and smelling of alcohol raised Xie Mingwang¡¯s concerns again.


    ¡°Tell me the truth, has something happened at the company recently?¡± One night, Xie Mingwang blocked Xie Changyan who had come back in the middle of the night and asked.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you a director of the company? How could any troubles at the company be hidden from you?¡± Xie Changyan responded nonchalantly.


    ¡°Then is it that my health is failing?¡± Xie Mingwang added.


    ¡°¡­Have you been watching too many TV dramas?¡±


    ¡°So it¡¯s that you had a quarrel with that woman?¡±


    Xie Changyan paused for a moment, a self-mocking smile appearing on his handsome face, ¡°What right do I have to quarrel with anyone?¡±


    He remembered it had been half a month since he last took Lin Xu back to Ji Family, besides a message thanking him initially, she hadn¡¯t sent him any more.


    He didn¡¯t know if it was because she was busy caring for the injured Ji Tingyang, or if she had simply forgotten him.


    Perhaps, as Ji Tingyang had said, he was simply not important to her, insignificant to the extent of not even meriting contact.


    A bitter, indescribable ache surged from the depths of his heart, rising to his chest and throat, ultimately escaping in a bitter chuckle.


    Xie Mingwang, hearing this, immediately understood.


    There must have been some misunderstanding between him and that woman.

 Chapter 146 - Chapter 146: Chapter 146 "You go and divorce him tomorrow...

    Chapter 146: Chapter 146 ¡°You go and divorce him tomorrow¡­


    Xie Mingwang¡¯s cane thudded heavily against the floor, his anger seething.


    ¡°I¡¯ve told you time and time again not to associate with that woman, yet you refuse to listen to advice.¡±


    ¡°You have no status or title by her side, what do you have to compare with her husband?¡±


    Xie Mingwang had seen plenty of men in the circle who kept mistresses, but it was all just for fun; how could there be any feelings involved.


    To his dismay, his own grandson had now secretly become another woman¡¯s lover.


    Xie Mingwang was so angry he could barely contain himself.


    You¡¯re hurt now, aren¡¯t you?!


    ¡°That woman obviously doesn¡¯t like you; it¡¯s good that you see it clearly now. Don¡¯t go looking for her anymore,¡± Xie Mingwang instructed.


    Doesn¡¯t like you¡­


    Xie Changyan thought again of Ji Tingyang¡¯s words, feeling something stuck in his throat, uncomfortable and piercing.


    He adjusted his tie, a trace of restlessness flashing in his eyes, and replied impatiently, ¡°I know my own limits.¡±


    The next evening.


    Because he needed to entertain clients, Xie Changyan declined Su Linzhou¡¯s invitation to continue to the bar and headed to Flaming Lily Restaurant with his secretary.


    ¡°I¡¯ve long heard of President Xie¡¯s reputation, and seeing you today, you truly carry an impressive presence,¡± the business partner said, holding up his glass to toast with him.


    The secretary stepped forward to intercept, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, President Xie rarely drinks, let me¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Xie Changyan took a glass from the table, touched it lightly with the other¡¯s, and downed it in one go.


    The business partner laughed heartily, ¡°President Xie is indeed generous.¡±


    As the evening progressed, most of the wine on the table had been consumed.


    However, no one expected that the business partner, who seemed to have a good tolerance, would be the first to collapse, vomiting continuously in the restroom of the private room.


    The secretary poured a cup of tea and handed it to Xie Changyan, looking worried, ¡°President Xie, are you alright?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. I need to use the restroom. Remember to send President Li home later,¡± Xie Changyan said as he got up to leave, his steady strides showing no sign of the four or five bottles of alcohol he had drunk that night.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect President Xie to have such a strong capacity for alcohol,¡± the secretary murmured as he watched Xie Changyan¡¯s retreating figure.


    In the restroom.


    Xie Changyan supported himself with both hands on the sink, the cold water splashing on his face bringing some clarity to his muddled head.


    He leaned against the counter for some time until the buzz in his head subsided, then he turned to leave.


    ¡°Ah Yan?¡±


    Suddenly, a clear yet slightly confused voice called out from behind him.


    Xie Changyan turned around to see Lin Xu standing at the corridor¡¯s edge. A flash of surprise flit across her eyes the moment she saw him, and then she burst into a radiant smile.


    Is she happy to see me?


    Xie Changyan fell silent.


    He suddenly felt uncertain.


    Was he drunk, or why else would he see her?


    Shouldn¡¯t she be with Ji Tingyang¡­


    Seeing him standing there in a daze, Lin Xu walked up a few steps with a smile to greet him. As she got closer, she wrinkled her nose in dissatisfaction, ¡°Why have you drunk so much? It stinks.¡±


    Apparently unable to stand the smell of alcohol on him, Lin Xu couldn¡¯t help but move a little further away from him.


    But she had only retreated a few steps when Xie Changyan swiftly approached, grabbed her wrist, and spun her around, pinning her against the wall.


    His gaze toward her was deep and unfathomable, murky and obscure, growing increasingly fervent as he looked at her.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lin Xu asked, puzzled.


    Without waiting for her to speak further, he leaned down and covered her lips with his, kissing her without explanation.


    The man¡¯s lips, imparting a faint scent of wine, forcefully held the back of her head as he deepened the kiss, gnawing and ravaging.


    The kiss was long and intense.


    After an indefinite amount of time, Xie Changyan finally released her, gasping softly against her forehead.


    He looked at Lin Xu, a hoarse voice mingled with a touch of sourness spilling from his throat, ¡°What exactly do you feel for me?¡±


    Lin Xu¡¯s cheeks still retained the suggestive flush from moments ago, her voice light and soft, ¡°Of course I like you.¡±


    ¡°Then what is going on between you and Ji Tingyang?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on with him and me?¡±


    A struggle flashed through Xie Changyan¡¯s eyes, and finally, as if resigning himself, he said, ¡°Go divorce him tomorrow¡­¡±


    Lin Xu was stunned for a moment, ¡°What, what?¡±


    Divorce who?


    ¡°Divorce him and be with me,¡± Xie Changyan stared at her intently, fearing he might see even a hint of reluctance on her face.


    ¡°Do you think I married Ji Tingyang?¡± Lin Xu was dumbfounded.


    Xie Changyan frowned, ¡°Isn¡¯t that the case?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    After a long while.


    Lin Xu burst into laughter.


    She laughed so hard that her shoulders shook, and tears welled up at the corners of her eyes.


    ¡°What are you laughing at?¡± Xie Changyan furrowed his brows.


    Lin Xu wrapped her arms around his neck, her eyes brimming with mirth as she looked at him, ¡°Do you like me?¡±


    Xie Changyan didn¡¯t answer, nuzzling her cheek with the forehead that was against hers, his brown eyes showing a haziness from the alcohol.


    ¡°Say something, if you don¡¯t speak up I¡¯m going to leave,¡± Lin Xu¡¯s tone carried a hint of coquettishness.


    ¡°¡­I like you,¡± Xie Changyan¡¯s raspy voice resonated in her ear.


    ¡°Then even if I¡¯m already married, how can you still like me?¡± Lin Xu blinked, with a teasing light in her eyes.


    A tide of bitter emotions churned in Xie Changyan¡¯s chest, ¡°Even if you were married, I still couldn¡¯t let go¡­¡±


    He knew he shouldn¡¯t have fallen for her, but every time he saw her, his body acted before his mind could, incapable of restraint.


    Su Linzhou had advised him more than once, and even his grandfather was not in favor.


    But every time he thought of letting go, the pain felt like needles in his spine, leaving him restless.


    Xie Changyan finally understood.


    He didn¡¯t want to let go.


    Even if she had someone she liked, even if she was married, he still didn¡¯t want to let go.


    Xie Changyan looked straight at her, his deep gaze holding a surge of emotion, darker than the night outside the window.


    The fiercely suppressed desire from earlier seemed to break through its bounds in this moment, overthrowing the last of his rationality.


    Xie Changyan pulled her into a dim emergency passageway nearby, allowing the desires from the depths of his heart to spread and fill the darkness.


    He kissed Lin Xu¡¯s lips again, biting forcefully, as if he wanted to devour her.


    The ringtone from Lin Xu¡¯s phone in her pocket sounded again and again, Xie Changyan stopping her attempts to answer it time after time, pinning her wrists with one hand and pressing them above her head.


    Only when Ji Tingyang¡¯s calling voice faintly reached them from the corridor outside, did Lin Xu¡¯s rationality slowly return, and she struggled to escape his kisses.


    Lin Xu¡¯s face flushed with a hint of panic, ¡°If I don¡¯t go back now, Ji Tingyang is going to call the police.¡±


    ¡°Alright¡­¡± Xie Changyan swallowed, calming his spirit, then lightly pecked her lips again, ¡°Go divorce Ji Tingyang tomorrow.¡±


    Lin Xu blinked innocently, ¡°But tomorrow¡¯s the weekend, I think the civil affairs office is closed.¡±


    Xie Changyan paused, then through gritted teeth, said, ¡°Then do it first thing Monday morning.¡±

 Chapter 147 - Chapter 147: Chapter 147 She Likes Too Many People

    Chapter 147: Chapter 147 She Likes Too Many People


    At the southern city¡¯s racetrack on the weekend.


    Xie Changyan leaned back in the spectator¡¯s seat with a relaxed posture, his long legs casually crossed over. His eyes slightly closed, and the corners of his lips curled up lazily, exuding an air of indulgent nonchalance.


    It was a stark contrast from the downcast mood of the previous few days.


    Su Linzhou stepped out of the race car, helmet tucked under his arm, and walked over to him, clicking his tongue, ¡°You look all smitten. What, have you and Lin Xu made up again?¡±


    A faint pleasure glinted in the slightly lifted eyes of Xie Changyan as he replied leisurely, ¡°She said she would divorce Ji Tingyang.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Su Linzhou nodded and took a seat beside him.


    After a moment, Su Linzhou, belatedly shocked, let out an exclamation, ¡°Divorce?!¡±


    ¡°Wait, she¡¯s married already?!¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say she was just Ji Tingyang¡¯s girlfriend? How did it turn into marriage?¡±


    Xie Changyan paused for a moment, then responded with composed nonchalance, ¡°You heard wrong, I said they broke up.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t play dumb with me, I¡¯m not deaf, I heard you loud and clear!¡± Su Linzhou glared angrily.


    ¡°If you heard so clearly, then why ask?¡± Xie Changyan said casually.


    ¡°You, you, you¡­¡± Su Linzhou was so shocked he was speechless. Many thoughts flashed through his mind, but recalling Xie Changyan¡¯s recent despondent state, the words got stuck in his throat.


    Su Linzhou and he were about the same age, and with their homes in close proximity, they could be said to have grown up together, even attending the same schools.


    From elementary to university, he had almost witnessed Xie Changyan¡¯s pride and legends, a dashing figure at school, always surrounded by more girls than less.


    A man like that could be considered a favored son of the heavens, yet now he had fallen to earth like an ordinary man, muddied with the stains of romance.


    If only his affections were for another woman, he wouldn¡¯t have been as abject as he was now.


    Su Linzhou heaved a sigh, as if disappointed, ¡°Xie Changyan, you¡¯ve lost yourself!¡±


    Xie Changyan gave him a sidelong glance, ¡°Speak normally.¡±


    Su Linzhou chuckled, ¡°Seriously though, are you sure she¡¯s really going to divorce Ji Tingyang?¡±


    ¡°She promised me.¡± A smile flashed across Xie Changyan¡¯s lips at the thought.


    Only one day remained until Monday.


    Xie Changyan had even thought about taking the household registration book there, so as soon as she got out with the divorce certificate, he would follow her in and get the marriage certificate.


    But Xie Mingwang had the household registration book tucked away tightly, so he had to drop that idea.


    ¡°What if she changes her mind at the last minute?¡± Su Linzhou, seemingly loath to see him happy, continued to throw cold water, ¡°Ji Tingyang is not much less than you, and moreover, he¡¯s a few years younger than you. Don¡¯t women nowadays all like younger men? In this way, he does have a bit of an advantage over you, she¡­¡±


    Before he could finish, Su Linzhou¡¯s shin was met with a fierce kick.


    And following that, a mocking and sharp gaze like the edge of a knife.


    Right.


    He was angry.


    Xie Changyan checked his watch, noting the time was almost up. He stood up to leave.


    ¡°Hey, where are you going? I was just joking,¡± Su Linzhou called out behind him.


    ¡°On a date,¡± Xie Changyan didn¡¯t look back.


    Outside the movie theater.


    Lin Xu had finally managed to slip away from her two sons to head out alone and was rushing towards the movie theater.


    Upon arriving, she caught sight of Xie Changyan being chatted up by a girl.


    He leaned against a pillar, his eyes languid and cool, gazing down at the floor, and it was unclear whether he was listening to the girl or not.


    Just as Lin Xu was about to approach, a young man suddenly stood in front of her.


    ¡°Hello, are you here to watch a movie alone?¡± The boy¡¯s ears turned red, and his voice trembled nervously as he looked at her with flickering eyes.


    Lin Xu smiled slightly, and her red lips parted.


    An unexpected palm wrapped around her waist and pulled her into a broad and sturdy chest. Xie Changyan¡¯s eyebrows slightly raised, ¡°Sorry, but I already made a prior reservation.¡±


    The male student apologized to her with embarrassment and turned to run away.


    Lin Xu turned her head to look around; the girl who had initially started a conversation with Xie Changyan had already disappeared without a trace.


    ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Xie Changyan asked.


    ¡°I was thinking, should I also go tell that girl from earlier, ¡®I¡¯ve already made a reservation for you too.''¡±


    Xie Changyan chuckled, ¡°No need, I already relayed that message to her for you.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good then.¡± Lin Xu¡¯s eyes were tinged with laughter, making them exceptionally bright.


    Xie Changyan rarely came to crowded cinemas to watch movies. The seats around them were filled with people, and occasionally, the noisy whispers next to them could be heard, as he mostly went to private cinemas.


    The movie had just started not long ago when whispers began to sound from behind.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s brows furrowed slightly.


    ¡°Do you see that actor behind us? Do you think he¡¯s somewhat handsome?¡± Lin Xu leaned close to Xie Changyan¡¯s ear and whispered.


    Lin Xu was so close to him, her entire body seemed to be hanging on him; her warm breath on his earlobe caused a tingling sensation.


    He paused for a moment, suddenly feeling that the cinema wasn¡¯t that bad after all.


    Lin Xu continued to inquire by his ear, ¡°The actor that¡¯s speaking now, what do you think of him?¡±


    Xie Changyan raised his eyes to glance at the screen and said indifferently, ¡°Not bad.¡±


    ¡°So, would you like him?¡± Lin Xu asked with a glint of expectation shining in her eyes.


    Xie Changyan retorted, ¡°Do you like him?¡±


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯m a big fan of his!¡± Lin Xu said excitedly, and didn¡¯t forget to remind him, ¡°You have to become a fan with me, okay?¡±


    Xie Changyan felt an inexplicable gloom in his mood.


    It just seemed that she had too many people she liked.


    He glanced at the screen again; the character¡¯s cast introduction had just appeared in the bottom left corner, indicating that the actor Lin Xu liked was named Ji Zeqiu.


    The name sounded somewhat familiar.


    It seemed he had heard it mentioned in the company.


    The romantic movie was a bit dull. Lin Xu watched for a while before leaning on Xie Changyan¡¯s shoulder and starting to criticize the plot with him, only paying careful attention when Ji Zeqiu appeared on screen.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you think this plot is a bit silly? They obviously¡­ ¡±


    She was mid-critique when she suddenly felt a cool sensation on her neck.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s fingers were fiddling with something on the back of her neck.


    Lin Xu looked up, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Tying a gift.¡±


    Lin Xu¡¯s eyes curved into a smile. She reached up to wrap her hand around his neck and brushed her lips against his in a fleeting kiss, ¡°This is a return gift.¡±


    In the dim light, their gazes met, and a hot and ambiguous atmosphere began to rise between them.


    That evening,


    Lin Xu had just hummed a tune as she walked through the door and saw Ji Tingyang waiting for her at the entrance.


    He had a stern look on his face as if he was about to question her like a commander.


    ¡°Where have you been today? Why didn¡¯t you let me go out with you?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I went out to play with friends. It would be awkward for a big guy like you to tag along,¡± Lin Xu¡¯s eyes flitted about, carrying a trace of guilt, ¡°Plus, you¡¯re an adult now. People will laugh if you keep clinging to your mom.¡±


    ¡°Let them laugh,¡± Ji Tingyang never cared about what others thought.


    He took her hand, about to say something, when he noticed her swollen lips; his pupils constricted sharply.

 Chapter 148 - Chapter 148: Chapter 148: Just Play With Him As a Substitute

    Chapter 148: Chapter 148: Just Play With Him As a Substitute


    Upon seeing Lin Xu¡¯s swollen lips, Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes shifted from a serene calm to an icy and predatory chill, with tumultuous waves brewing deep within his gaze as his grip on her wrist suddenly tightened.


    He didn¡¯t need to guess; Ji Tingyang already knew whom she had met with that day.


    ¡°What, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Lin Xu¡¯s wrist hurt so much that she hissed in pain.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s aura grew heavy as he wanted to expose her lies.


    He wanted to see her panic and then apologize to him, promising she would never meet Xie Changyan again¡­


    His lips parted slightly, the words he wanted to say revolving in his throat, over and over. Although he knew he should call her out, when he saw Lin Xu¡¯s clear and pure eyes brimming with a smile, curving like a crescent moon, he swallowed back the words that reached his throat.


    He adjusted his breathing, closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, the gloom in his eyes had slowly retracted.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Ji Tingyang let go of her hand and said indifferently, ¡°It¡¯s very late now, hurry back to the bedroom to rest.¡±


    Lin Xu seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, her tense nerves relaxing as she wished him good night and hurried back to the bedroom.


    Ji Tingyang watched her ascend the stairs, pursing his lips.


    For the past twenty years, Ji Tingyang¡¯s sleep had never been good.


    Most of the time, he would dream of Lin Xu, dream of her growing up with him, but each time he awoke and realized it was all false, his heart felt as if it had been hollowed out, empty and echoing.


    He also became resistant to falling asleep, resistant to dreaming¡­


    Ever since Lin Xu was reborn, Ji Tingyang¡¯s sleep had improved significantly.


    At least when he dreamed of Lin Xu leaving him, he could tell himself that this time, his mother was truly by his side.


    However, that night, Ji Tingyang lay in bed once again, plagued by insomnia.


    His thoughts tangled like hemp rope, unable to find peace for a long time.


    The next day, Ji Tingyang slept in, something that was completely out of the ordinary for him.


    He looked at the time, which was nearing noon, and fell silent.


    In the past few days, his mother had come up with all kinds of excuses to slip out and see Xie Changyan, and now that he had overslept, without his intervention, perhaps his mother had already left the house.


    A faint frost seemed to cover his dull cheeks as he rubbed his weary nose bridge and went downstairs, his gaze casually sweeping over the couch before freezing.


    Lin Xu was earnestly trimming flower branches, arranging the bloom in the vase on the table into an eye-pleasing and exquisite design.


    Today¡­ she had not left the house.


    Perhaps hearing the noise at the staircase, Lin Xu¡¯s attention shifted from arranging flowers, and she looked up.


    Upon seeing him, Lin Xu exclaimed in surprise, her furrowed brows laced with concern, ¡°Why are the dark circles under your eyes so severe, didn¡¯t you sleep well last night?¡±


    Ji Tingyang approached and sat down beside Lin Xu, silently resting his head on her shoulder.


    Inhaling the warm scent mixed with the fragrance of flowers from her body, the restlessness in his heart seemed to gradually subside.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, did you work late yesterday?¡± Lin Xu rubbed his head, ¡°Do you want to go back to sleep for a while?¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s voice was somewhat muffled, ¡°No need.¡±


    ¡°Are you in a bad mood?¡± Lin Xu seemed to notice a pattern; every time he was feeling down, he always liked to lean silently on her shoulder.


    Like a little animal, always seeking a sense of security in the comfort of his mother¡¯s embrace.


    ¡°Do you miss father?¡± Ji Tingyang suddenly asked.


    ¡°Of course, I do,¡± Lin Xu was taken aback, her words rearranging themselves in her heart, preparing to tell him once more about Xie Changyan, ¡°Actually¡­¡±


    ¡°So that¡¯s why you are with Xie Changyan?¡± Ji Tingyang questioned.


    Lin Xu looked embarrassed, ¡°How did you know¡­¡±


    She thought she had hidden it well.


    ¡°Are you using Xie Changyan as a substitute for father because he resembles father somewhat?¡± Ji Tingyang, who had thought about it all night, seemed to have found the answer.


    It must be so.


    Otherwise, with how much mother and father loved each other, how could she suddenly take a liking to someone else.


    Lin Xu¡¯s face stiffened for a moment, never expecting Ji Tingyang¡¯s imagination to be so wild.


    Lin Xu didn¡¯t speak, and Ji Tingyang took her silence as an admission.


    He lifted his head, his eyes showing a glimmer of struggle and then resignedly said, ¡°You can play along with him as a substitute, but you can¡¯t really be with him.¡±


    Lin Xu couldn¡¯t help but cry and laugh, tapping his head, ¡°What are you talking about? He is your father, even though I don¡¯t know why he doesn¡¯t remember us and couldn¡¯t prove that ¡®blood relation¡¯, but believe me, I would never mistake your father!¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Ji Tingyang pursed his lips and nodded in response.


    It was unclear whether he truly believed her or was just humoring Lin Xu with his reply.


    ¡°Anyway¡­¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s voice was downcast, ¡°you promised me that we would always be together in the future, that you wouldn¡¯t leave because of him.¡±


    He clutched Lin Xu¡¯s hand tightly, the sourness churning in his stomach somewhat unbearable.


    Their relationship had already lacked twenty years, and they had to make up for all the coming days.


    Lin Xu smiled faintly, ¡°We will always be together as a family in the future, of course.¡±


    ¡°And will you always love me¡­¡± His gaze flickered, his voice very light.


    ¡°Our Ting Yang is so good, of course Mom loves you,¡± Lin Xu said jokingly, ¡°I was the one who changed your diapers and coaxed you to sleep, if I didn¡¯t love you, I would have left you to a nanny a long time ago.¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s ears reddened, he stuttered, ¡°That¡¯s all from when I was a child, I¡¯ve grown up now.¡±


    Mother liked him when he was a child, but what about now?


    Could it be that he hadn¡¯t grown into the person mother had hoped for, and as a result, she was disappointed in him, even her love had diminished?


    Now that he thought about it, hadn¡¯t mother once said she hoped he would grow up to be a scientist?


    The more he thought about it, the lower Ji Tingyang¡¯s mood sank.


    Lin Xu knew, perhaps it was because the three children lacked love in their childhood that they felt insecure so often.


    All she could do was tell him over and over, ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it, just remember that whether you¡¯re seven, twenty-seven, or forty-seven, I will love you just the same.¡±


    Ji Tingyang nodded, and the restlessness at the bottom of his heart finally eased somewhat.


    ¡ª¡ª


    On Monday morning, the sunshine rose slowly.


    Unlike the workers¡¯ resentment and dejection towards Monday, Xie Changyan¡¯s mood was extremely good all morning.


    Even when an employee made a mistake at work, he was particularly forgiving and generous.


    ¡°Is there some happy event today, President Xie¡¯s mood is so good?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but what I do know is, if there¡¯s any work mishap, now¡¯s the time to come clean to President Xie; you might even get a special pardon.¡±


    ¡°That makes sense, I¡¯ll go later!¡±


    The subordinates whispered among themselves.


    However, this great mood was destroyed in an instant with a phone call from Su Linzhou.


    ¡°Are you sure she said she¡¯s going to divorce Ji Tingyang today? But how come I still see her and Ji Tingyang together, laughing and talking?¡±

 Chapter 149 - Chapter 149: Chapter 149 When to Divorce

    Chapter 149: Chapter 149 When to Divorce


    ¡°Knock, knock¡­¡±


    The sound of knocking came from outside the office door.


    An employee, having mentally prepared along the way, entered with documents in hand.


    ¡°President Xie, I found some errors in the data of this document I prepared last week. May I correct it and give it to the client tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°You only found the error in last week¡¯s data now? Are your eyes just for decoration?¡± Xie Changyan scoffed, a chill flashing in his casual gaze, yet his tone remained leisurely, ¡°Give it to the client tomorrow? Why don¡¯t you wait until the day the client is buried to give it to them?¡±


    The employee¡¯s eyes immediately filled with tears, and after being scolded by Xie Changyan, they left the CEO¡¯s office crying.


    Who said that President Xie would grant a pardon today?!


    All liars!


    Sobbing¡­


    A trace of restlessness crossed Xie Changyan¡¯s lazy eyes, and he tugged at his tie.


    His gaze returned to his phone, the message he¡¯d sent to Lin Xu still unanswered.


    At the top of the screen, a new message from Su Linzhou popped up.


    It was a photo of Lin Xu touching Ji Tingyang¡¯s head, both of them appearing to be in a great relationship, nothing like a couple on the brink of divorce.


    Great Moral Person: ¡°Brother, you haven¡¯t been deceived, have you?¡±


    Xie Changyan stared at the photo for a long time, until the phone automatically went dark, his sullen cheek clearly reflected on the black screen.


    ¡ª¡ª


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s mood was still off today, his brows tightly furrowed as though covered by clouds, hesitating several times before leaving as he looked at Lin Xu.


    After a moment, Lin Xu tentatively suggested, ¡°How about I accompany you to the company today?¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes lit up for a moment.


    Lin Xu smiled helplessly, gathered her things, and left with Ji Tingyang.


    She thought, it wouldn¡¯t be too late to see Xie Changyan in the afternoon.


    Ji Tingyang worked quickly and efficiently, completing one document after another on his desk and after receiving a phone call, he hurriedly left with Lin Xu.


    It was only upon reaching their destination that Lin Xu learned Ji Tingyang and Su Linzhou¡¯s family businesses had collaborations.


    Seeing Su Linzhou¡¯s smiling face from afar, Lin Xu felt somewhat guilty.


    Because it was inconvenient to bring Lin Xu to the meeting, she had to wait in the lounge.


    ¡°I¡¯ll finish the talks quickly and won¡¯t keep you waiting too long,¡± said Ji Tingyang, looking anxious.


    Lin Xu patted his head gently, soothing him, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll wait here no matter how long it takes.¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression eased a bit, and his gaze swept over Su Linzhou, his brow furrowing.


    Due to Xie Changyan, Ji Tingyang¡¯s attitude towards him wasn¡¯t any better, but as it was someone else¡¯s territory, he had to show some respect.


    Ji Tingyang nodded at him, then turned and followed Su Family¡¯s young master into the meeting room.


    These projects were not something Su Linzhou was involved in; he just hung around outside.


    He looked at Lin Xu inscrutably and said, ¡°Miss Lin and President Ji really do seem affectionate, even wanting to be together at work.¡±


    ¡°Actually, you misunderstand, my relationship with Ji Tingyang isn¡¯t what you think,¡± Lin Xu explained.


    ¡°What kind of relationship is it?¡±


    ¡°Err¡­¡± Lin Xu hesitated, her tone uncertain, ¡°If I say he¡¯s my son, would you believe me?¡±


    Su Linzhou choked, then burst into an exasperated laugh after a moment, ¡°Miss Lin, do I look that foolish in your eyes?¡±


    Lin Xu chuckled nervously, ¡°Not foolish, not foolish.¡±


    Well, this matter indeed seemed rather fantastical.


    If she hadn¡¯t experienced it herself, she wouldn¡¯t believe it either.


    Lin Xu sighed and quietly sat on the lounge¡¯s sofa, not engaging further in conversation with him.


    Now that she was free, she took out her phone and saw that Xie Changyan had sent her several messages that morning.


    From initially reminding her to remember to go get divorced to eventually asking her current whereabouts¡­


    There were also several missed calls.


    Because she worried about disturbing Ji Tingyang while he was working, Lin Xu had her phone on silent mode and only now discovered these unread messages.


    Lin Xu quickly returned the call, but no one answered on the other end.


    Was he too busy with work to check his phone?


    Lin Xu didn¡¯t mind, she put away her phone and stood up to go to the restroom.


    Just as she came out of the restroom, a strong, firm hand grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the adjacent room.


    After a whirlwind of motion, she found herself pinned against the door.


    Before she could regain her senses, a hot, dense kiss descended like a storm, sealing her red lips that were about to scream.


    The kiss was fierce, harshly biting her red lips as if to vent all his dissatisfaction through it.


    After a long time, when Lin Xu¡¯s breath became short, Xie Changyan finally let her go.


    With Su Linzhou around, she wasn¡¯t surprised to see Xie Changyan appear here.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you reply to my messages?¡± his hot breath fell on her cheek.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t check my phone.¡±


    ¡°You said that you would divorce him today.¡±


    ¡°But today hasn¡¯t ended yet,¡± Lin Xu blinked innocently.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s expression darkened further, his hand around her waist tightened fiercely, as if intending to break it, causing Lin Xu to frown slightly in pain.


    She lifted her chin and pecked at his lips, ¡°Don¡¯t be mad.¡±


    Her eyes curved, a sly smile flickering in them, and her words sounded perfunctory, lacking any seriousness.


    Even knowing she was like this, Xie Changyan still couldn¡¯t utter harsh words. He loosened his grip, resting his forehead against hers in silent resignation.


    Just then.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s voice sounded outside the room.


    ¡°Are you sure Lin Xu went to the restroom?¡±


    ¡°If President Ji isn¡¯t assured, why not personally check the restroom?¡± Su Linzhou raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°¡­No need.¡±


    Lin Xu, inside the room, chuckled softly.


    She believed that if it weren¡¯t for the restroom being separated by gender, Ji Tingyang would have definitely barged in without a second thought.


    Hearing her laughter, Xie Changyan¡¯s gaze deepened even more.


    She laughs so happily at the sound of Ji Tingyang¡¯s voice?


    ¡°I should go out now, otherwise he really will crash into the restroom,¡± Lin Xu pushed Xie Changyan¡¯s shoulder.


    Xie Changyan, unmoved, clasped her head and kissed her again.


    ¡°Wait, hold on¡­¡± Lin Xu dodged his kiss, and her head accidentally hit the door, making a loud ¡®bang¡¯.


    ¡°Did you hear something?¡± Ji Tingyang looked around.


    ¡°What sound? I didn¡¯t hear anything,¡± Su Linzhou smiled slightly, feigning composure.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s brows furrowed slightly.


    In the room separated by just a door.


    Lin Xu whispered to him, ¡°There are still people outside.¡±


    Being discovered didn¡¯t matter.


    Xie Changyan even contemplated personally opening the door, letting Ji Tingyang see their intimacy at this moment.


    So she would stop making excuses.


    But seeing her distressed cheeks, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it.


    One hand gently rubbed her head that had hit the door, his lips barely opening on hers, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to be discovered, don¡¯t move around.¡±


    Under the dense kisses, Lin Xu¡¯s eyes gradually became misty and blurred.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s voice was murky, his kisses traveling from her lips to her cheek, he huskily asked, ¡°When will you divorce him?¡±

 Chapter 150 - Chapter 150: Chapter 150: Asking for Leave or Quitting the Industry?

    Chapter 150: Chapter 150: Asking for Leave or Quitting the Industry?


    Xie Group was about to celebrate its anniversary, and the administrative department had prepared three or four event proposals for Xie Changyan to review.


    His hand, with distinct knuckles, flipped through the documents, and his eyebrows slightly lifted when he saw a somewhat familiar name.


    Ji Zeqiu.


    The actor Lin Xu liked.


    Thinking of Lin Xu, Xie Changyan¡¯s thoughts unconsciously drifted from the documents back to that day at the Su¡¯s.


    He was holding back frustration, having cornered her in the room for a long time.


    Several times, Ji Tingyang tried to burst into the bathroom, even considering calling the police, but in the end, he was dissuaded by a sweat-drenched Su Linzhou.


    Lin Xu was also furious, raising her leg and kicking Xie Changyan¡¯s shin.


    She had either been speaking out of anger or meant it; facing his inquiry about when they would get a divorce, she glared at him with her round eyes and said, ¡°Next lifetime!¡±


    Xie Changyan¡¯s hand gradually tightened, crumpling the document in his grip.


    Seeing this, the director of the administrative department¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and he stuttered, ¡°President Xie, is there a problem with this proposal? I have alternatives here if this one isn¡¯t satisfactory, I can continue¡­¡±


    Xie Changyan¡¯s thoughts were pulled back, and he rubbed his nose bridge, ¡°Why are there artists on the invitation list?¡±


    ¡°These artists are all under Xie¡¯s banner, so we¡¯ve invited them to the anniversary celebration as well. It¡¯s also a good opportunity for promotion,¡± the director explained.


    Of course, not every artist under the banner was invited, mostly it was just the well-known ones from the first and second tiers.


    As Chenxing Entertainment¡¯s leading star, Ji Zeqiu was naturally among those invited.


    After explaining, the director looked at the silent Xie Changyan, feeling somewhat uneasy, ¡°Actually, we don¡¯t necessarily have to invite the artists. If you think it¡¯s inappropriate, President Xie, we can¡­¡±


    ¡°No need, let¡¯s keep it as it is,¡± Xie Changyan closed the document in his hand, tossing it onto the desk.


    The director acknowledged and waited a while to see if there was anything else Xie Changyan wanted to say, preparing to leave when Xie Changyan spoke again.


    ¡°You¡­¡± Xie Changyan seemed hesitant, ¡°go get me a few signed photos of Ji Zeqiu.¡±


    Su Linzhou always said that to woo a woman, you must cater to her likes; maybe this would help Lin Xu cool down.


    ¡°Ah?¡± The director was taken aback for a moment.


    There were no shortage of employees chasing stars in the company, and many tried to cozy up to their counterparts at Chenxing Entertainment in the hopes of getting an idol¡¯s signed photo.


    He had seen it all and thought nothing of it, but it never crossed his mind that President Xie would be a star-chaser too?!


    And it was Ji Zeqiu, a celebrity highly sought after by female fans at that!


    Considering the rumor that Xie Changyan was indifferent to women¡¯s charms, the director shook slightly as if he had stumbled upon some truth.


    ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Xie Changyan asked indifferently, looking up.


    The director immediately shook his head, ¡°No problem, I¡¯ll bring them to you this afternoon!¡±


    Xie Changyan nodded.


    After a while, he added, ¡°I remember Chenxing is planning to invest in a movie, right? Arrange it for him, give him more resources,¡±


    Xie Changyan still remembered.


    That day at the cinema, Lin Xu had complained about the scarcity of Ji Zeqiu¡¯s movie opportunities.


    ¡°Alright,¡± the director replied.


    Perhaps it was because of Xie Changyan¡¯s words that Ji Zeqiu¡¯s recent work schedule became so packed he could hardly keep up; as soon as he opened his eyes each day, it was time to rush off to another engagement.


    Ji Zeqiu collapsed onto the sofa, exhausted, with heavy eyelids.


    After only a short nap, he was woken by his agent¡¯s curses.


    ¡°These marketing accounts just make stuff up; I¡¯ll tell the company later, we¡¯ll sue them all!¡± the agent said angrily, looking at his phone.


    Ji Zeqiu slightly furrowed his brows, his voice still hoarse with sleep, ¡°Brother Zhao, what¡¯s going on?¡±


    The agent turned around and tossed the mobile phone in his hand to him.


    Ji Zeqiu reached out to catch it, and the phone landed firmly in his palm, immediately followed by the sight of a marketing account¡¯s headline, emboldened and highlighted in red.


    #Ji Zeqiu¡¯s Resources Soar, Surely Backed by a Financial Patron#


    The post listed a bunch of Ji Zeqiu¡¯s recent engagements, the resources even doubling from before, with both web traffic and fame following suit.


    It speculated that all of this must be due to a financial backer pouring in money. It also dredged up the old, unclear photos of him with Lin Xu, stirring up past controversy.


    The marketing account exaggerated and analyzed a lot, trying to convince fans and bystanders of their narrative.


    However, few in the comments took it seriously, calling out the marketing account for spouting nonsense.


    Looking at the photo of him and Lin Xu entering the country together, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s eyes grew colder, ¡°Why are these photos still around? Weren¡¯t they all dealt with last time?¡±


    Last time, amidst the storm of controversy over Lin Xu, Ji Zeqiu and Ji Tingyang had worked tirelessly with the media to remove the photos, which then disappeared from the internet after a few days.


    ¡°Someone probably saved a few back then,¡± the agent said nonchalantly. ¡°I¡¯ll have my assistant file a complaint and take down that post later.¡±


    ¡°Mm,¡± Ji Zeqiu nodded, handing the phone back.


    After this conversation, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s sleepiness had greatly diminished. Perhaps it was because he had just seen Lin Xu¡¯s photo, he belatedly realized that due to his busy workload, he hadn¡¯t spent time with Lin Xu in a long while.


    Sometimes he was so occupied that he didn¡¯t even have time to return to his villa, settling instead for sleep at hotels arranged by the production team.


    He pursed his lips.


    He wondered what his mother was doing right now.


    Ji Zeqiu took out his own phone, opened WeChat, and saw that the most recent message was still from Lin Xu, reminding him to take care of his health.


    His fingertips scrolled across the screen and a sweet warmth flowed through his heart.


    His mother was still caring for him.


    Suddenly.


    His finger tapped on Lin Xu¡¯s profile picture, entering her Moments. The moment he saw the photos there, his complexion instantly darkened.


    The location in the photo was not unfamiliar to him; it was Ji Tingyang¡¯s office.


    That bastard Ji Tingyang had actually asked his mother to accompany him to work!


    His mother had never even accompanied him to work before.


    A sour feeling churned in Ji Zeqiu¡¯s stomach, and the more he scrolled through Lin Xu¡¯s Moments, the more bitter he felt.


    They even flaunted amusement park tickets?!


    He zoomed in on the photo and saw the date was just two days away!


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s pupils constricted and he punched the couch furiously, ¡°No way, I am taking a leave to go home!¡±


    The agent¡¯s face stiffened, his expression aggrieved, ¡°Are you serious?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu looked up, ¡°Choose between my leave and my withdrawal from the circle.¡±


    Agent: ¡°¡­¡±


    You play hardball.


    Decisive and efficient, Ji Zeqiu packed his bags and rushed back to the villa that very evening after getting his leave.


    As soon as he entered, he saw Lin Xu handing over some sliced apples to Ji Tingyang.


    He strode over and took a bite out of the apple in Lin Xu¡¯s hand.


    Ji Tingyang, watching the apple disappear in his mouth in just two or three seconds, his cheeks as black as coal, said, ¡°Eating so fast, and not even choking to death.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu gave him a sidelong glance, his expression slightly provocative, ¡°Choking to death is better than someone dying of envy without getting any.¡±


    The moment they met, they started arguing again.

 Chapter 151 - Chapter 151: Chapter 151: Found the Woman Whos Two-Timing

    Chapter 151: Chapter 151: Found the Woman Who¡¯s Two-Timing


    Ji Zeqiu was excited about going home.


    It was like how a child was pampered for the first few days after coming home for the holidays. Lin Xu, with all her concern, pulled at Ji Zeqiu, asking him what he wanted to eat, and even wanted to cook for him herself.


    Thinking about Lin Xu¡¯s cooking skills, Ji Zeqiu conservatively answered, ¡°I¡¯d like to have scallion noodles.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go cook them now,¡± Lin Xu said excitedly as she entered the kitchen.


    Taking advantage of this time, Ji Zeqiu went upstairs to put away his luggage and tidy up the bedroom, changing into home clothes.


    Feeling that it was about time, he went downstairs with anticipation, ready to eat the noodles Lin Xu had cooked for him.


    However, as soon as he reached the bottom of the stairs, he saw Ji Tingyang sitting at the dining table, in front of him an empty soup bowl, as if he had just finished a satisfying meal, calmly reaching for a napkin to wipe his mouth.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s pace faltered, and then his face flushed with raging anger as he ran over and grabbed Ji Tingyang by the collar, grinding his teeth, ¡°You bastard, you actually ate my noodles!¡±


    ¡°You also ate my apple, so we¡¯re even,¡± Ji Tingyang said indifferently.


    ¡°Even? Mom has been at home with you for so long, and she hasn¡¯t even spent time with me, and now you¡¯ve even eaten my noodles.¡± Ji Zeqiu¡¯s chest heaved violently, his eyes bulging wide, as if the fury in his heart was about to erupt.


    Just as he was considering whether to beat up Ji Tingyang to vent his anger, Lin Xu came out of the kitchen.


    Seeing the two brothers about to start fighting again, Lin Xu became incredibly flustered, ¡°How many times have I told you, no fighting!¡±


    The scene where the two brothers had fought in the study, ending up bruised and swollen, was still vivid in Lin Xu¡¯s mind, scaring her so much it felt like she had lost several years of her life.


    Since that day, she had been warning them repeatedly¡ªif anyone started a fight, she would move out and live alone with the other son.


    Both of them immediately behaved.


    Perhaps remembering Lin Xu¡¯s words, Ji Zeqiu let go of the collar he had been gripping, his eyes looking at her with a hint of grievance, ¡°Ji Tingyang ate all my noodles.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu pursed his lips, his eyes reddening, which softened Lin Xu¡¯s heart, and she immediately tried to console him, ¡°I cooked a lot, it¡¯s all in the kitchen. I¡¯ll go and get you a bowl right now.¡±


    After saying this, Lin Xu glanced helplessly at Ji Tingyang, ¡°You as the older brother, why are you always arguing with Zeqiu?¡±


    It wasn¡¯t until Lin Xu went back into the kitchen that Ji Zeqiu¡¯s face shifted from the look of being wronged, he crossed his legs and sat back leisurely, his gaze at Ji Tingyang revealing a touch of provocation.


    He knew his mother favored him the most, even scolding Ji Tingyang for him.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression remained indifferent, coldly sneering, ¡°What, is the role you¡¯re playing recently ¡®Green Tea¡¯? You¡¯re quite masterful at it.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu didn¡¯t care and humphed, ¡°You¡¯re just jealous.¡±


    Jealous of the affection mother showed to him.


    Lin Xu returned with a bowl of noodles, this time with an added fried egg. Ji Zeqiu saw this, his eyes gleaming with triumphant delight.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s bowl earlier didn¡¯t have an egg, only his own had an egg to eat.


    He knew he was the one his mother loved the most!


    Ji Tingyang had clearly seen the egg as well, pausing for a moment before looking up at Lin Xu.


    In that brief exchange of glances, Lin Xu felt as if she could sense his silent reproach.


    Lin Xu¡¯s heart skipped a beat, feeling that trouble was brewing.


    She remembered a friend saying that when raising children, one must be fair.


    Hurriedly, Lin Xu said to Ji Tingyang, ¡°I¡¯ll go and boil an egg for you now, just wait.¡±


    Ji Tingyang stopped her turning away, gently shaking his head, ¡°It¡¯s okay, no need to boil one.¡±


    There was no point in comparing himself to that immature fool, Ji Zeqiu.


    He didn¡¯t want Lin Xu going back to busy herself, so he pulled out a napkin from the table and carefully wiped the grease from her hands.


    The atmosphere finally eased, and as Ji Zeqiu ate his noodles, he mumbled insincerely, ¡°Even if she boiled one for you, it¡¯s useless, I¡¯m the one mother loves the most.¡±


    He emphasized the word ¡°most.¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s wiping hands paused, and his gaze towards her was calm and untroubled.


    Lin Xu immediately added, ¡°I also like Ting Yang the best.¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t there only be one ¡®the best¡¯? You can only choose one,¡± Ji Zeqiu frowned.


    Ji Tingyang also quietly waited for her response.


    The burning gazes of both men were fixed on her so intently that Lin Xu instantly broke out in a sweat.


    ¡°My stomach kind of hurts, I¡¯ll go to the bathroom first.¡± She bent over, clutching her stomach as if in discomfort, then briskly walked back to the bedroom.


    Shutting the door, locking it, all in one smooth motion.


    Leaving behind two brothers who found each other¡¯s presence disagreeable.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The next day.


    Just as Lin Xu thought she had dodged a bullet and hadn¡¯t even taken a breath of relief, she heard the brothers squabbling over a cherry.


    ¡°The cherry mother gave me is bigger than yours; she definitely loves me a little bit more,¡± Ji Zeqiu declared confidently.


    ¡°If you¡¯re blind, then go get treatment. Can¡¯t you see mine is bigger?¡± Ji Tingyang scoffed.


    Lin Xu had seen two five or six-year-old children quarrel over who their mother liked better, but these two brothers were both in their twenties. How could they still be acting like children?


    Before the brothers¡¯ quarrel could affect her, she turned to leave.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    The voices of Ji Zeqiu and Ji Tingyang rang out, in unison.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to the supermarket to buy some things,¡± Lin Xu said.


    ¡°I¡¯m coming too!¡± Ji Zeqiu suddenly stood up, then as if afraid Lin Xu would think he was too clingy, he stammered an explanation, ¡°I, I just also happen to have something to buy. It¡¯s not because I¡¯m following you.¡±


    Unlike Ji Zeqiu, who wasn¡¯t saying what he meant, Ji Tingyang had already walked over to Lin Xu¡¯s side and silently took her hand to lead her out the door.


    ¡­


    In the supermarket.


    A roommate placed shower gel in the shopping cart and looked toward Ji Yuqiao who was listlessly by the side, asking, ¡°I¡¯ve finished buying my stuff, do you need anything else?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m done too,¡± Ji Yuqiao shook her head.


    ¡°Okay, then let¡¯s head back to school,¡± the roommate said.


    Just as Ji Yuqiao and her classmate were going to pay, she caught a glimpse of several familiar figures out of the corner of her eye.


    At the checkout counter in front, her two brothers were arguing with each other about paying for the woman with them.


    In the end, Ji Zeqiu was defeated, looking rather unwilling as he voluntarily took her bags and pulled her to leave the place.


    Ji Tingyang frowned and pulled the woman back to his side.


    Wasn¡¯t that woman the one who played her two brothers for fools?


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes widened as she watched them drive off, and she hurriedly said goodbye to her roommate and chased after them.


    She hailed a taxi and asked the driver to follow the car ahead.


    After several twists and turns, the car stopped outside the Ji Mansion.


    She hadn¡¯t expected that bad woman to actually be living in their house!


    She rushed into the mansion while pulling out her phone to call Lin Xu, ¡°Lin Xu, I¡¯ve found that two-timing bad woman, come help me beat her up!¡±


    ¡°Calm down. Where should I come to help you?¡±


    Lin Xu asked over the phone, only to see Ji Yuqiao charge in furiously the next second.


    The two looked at each other, dumbfounded.

 Chapter 152 - Chapter 152: Chapter 152: Blood Relations

    Chapter 152: Chapter 152: Blood Relations


    Since Ji Yuqiao had once again failed to confess her feelings to Xiao Yu last time, she had been downcast ever since.


    ¡°Cheer up, it¡¯s not like this is the first or second time you¡¯ve been rejected,¡± her roommate commented nonchalantly.


    ¡°¡­¡± Ji Yuqiao glared at her resentfully.


    Realizing she might have hit a sore spot, the roommate chuckled awkwardly, ¡°I happen to be going to the supermarket to buy some necessities, why don¡¯t you come along? It might help take your mind off things. If you focus on something else, it won¡¯t feel so bad.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao thought about it and decided it made sense, so she went along.


    However, Ji Yuqiao never anticipated that she would run into her two brothers at the supermarket, along with that wicked woman who was playing with their feelings and two-timing them!


    She had investigated for a long time before, even trying what Lin Xu suggested about checking the shopping mall¡¯s surveillance.


    But the manager of the mall was particularly rigid and wouldn¡¯t let her check the surveillance, no matter what excuse she provided.


    ¡°Unless the police are involved, we cannot allow you to view the surveillance.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao couldn¡¯t exactly report a fake emergency, so she had to give up.


    But today, encountering this dreadful woman again, she couldn¡¯t afford to lose track of her.


    Ji Yuqiao abandoned her roommate and followed the woman all the way to the villa.


    Before entering, she hesitated. On her own, she didn¡¯t stand a chance, so she pulled out her phone to call for backup, ¡°Lin Xu, hurry over, let¡¯s catch them in the act together!¡±


    Lin Xu: ¡°Calm down for a second, I¡¯ll be right there.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no time, I¡¯m going in. Just wait a bit and¡­¡± Ji Yuqiao abruptly pushed open the door, froze on the spot upon clearly seeing the woman¡¯s figure.


    Lin Xu was also stunned.


    It was so quiet, they could even hear each other¡¯s breathing through their phones.


    After a while, Ji Yuqiao gathered her senses, her mind rusting as it struggled to make sense of the situation, ¡°You got here so quickly, I didn¡¯t even send you the address.¡±


    ¡°The wicked woman you mentioned lives here?¡± Lin Xu was equally baffled.


    ¡°Yes, I followed them all the way here,¡± Ji Yuqiao said dryly.


    ¡°So, the ¡®brother¡¯ you mentioned?¡± Lin Xu¡¯s heart skipped a beat, a suspicion forming in her mind.


    Before Ji Yuqiao could answer, her question was confirmed.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you needed to focus on the competition this term and asked us not to contact you and disturb you? Why are you back today?¡± Ji Zeqiu¡¯s voice resounded behind Lin Xu.


    ¡°I, I just missed you all¡­¡± Ji Yuqiao said with a hint of guilt, then quickly wrapped her arm around Ji Zeqiu¡¯s, whispering, ¡°Brother, is there another woman at home?¡±


    ¡°What woman?¡± Ji Zeqiu asked, puzzled.


    ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ it¡¯s just¡­¡±


    Ji Yuqiao scratched her head, pondering over what she should say when she suddenly heard Lin Xu calling out her old name.


    ¡°Lanyue?¡±


    ¡°Huh? What¡¯s up?¡± Ji Yuqiao turned around.


    Lin Xu stared at her blankly, walking toward her in a trance, not even noticing when her body bumped into the corner of the table.


    The cup that was knocked off balance wobbled perilously before falling to the floor beside Lin Xu¡¯s feet, shattering into pieces.


    With a slight hiss from Lin Xu, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s composed expression instantly turned anxious, he quickly stepped forward, helped her to a chair, ¡°Did it hit your foot? Where are you hurt?!¡±


    Hearing the noise, Ji Tingyang also rushed over and, seeing the situation on the floor, his eyebrows knitted tightly, his voice filled with disdain for Ji Zeqiu, ¡°I leave for just a moment and she gets hurt, can¡¯t you take care of someone properly, are you useless?¡±


    He knelt down, lifting Lin Xu¡¯s foot to check the injury.


    Typically, if Ji Tingyang said two words, Ji Zeqiu could retort with ten, but now, facing his contempt, Ji Zeqiu couldn¡¯t muster a single reply, a flicker of annoyance passing through his eyes.


    Ji Yuqiao watched her two brothers fussing over Lin Xu, her rusty mind gradually starting to turn.


    She had followed that bad woman back to the villa, and Lin Xu was in the villa¡­


    Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu were so concerned about her¡­


    Was Lin Xu that bad woman who toyed with the emotions of her two brothers?!


    All the pieces seemed to fit together.


    Ji Yuqiao gasped in shock.


    She had originally wanted that woman to leave her brother, and if the woman was unwilling, to beat her up.


    But now the bad woman had turned out to be Lin Xu, and Lin Xu was her good friend.


    What should she do now?


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s thoughts were in a tangled mess, and she stood frozen, not knowing what to do.


    The Lin Xu, who was pressed into the chair, also stared blankly at Ji Yuqiao and whispered softly, ¡°Is she Lanyue? Is she your sister?¡±


    Ji Tingyang knew how much Lin Xu longed for a sister, and now that Ji Yuqiao was at home, he didn¡¯t want to hide it anymore and nodded in response, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Lin Xu¡¯s breathing became rapid, her face showing a mix of tension and excitement.


    Lin Xu pushed the two brothers aside, ran to Ji Yuqiao, and held her hand with excitement and remorse, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t recognize you earlier. I can¡¯t believe it¡¯s been so long since we last met, our Lanyue has grown up so much and become so beautiful.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Ji Yuqiao looked confused, ¡°Didn¡¯t we just meet a couple of weeks ago?¡±


    It hadn¡¯t been that long, had it?


    The things Lin Xu said sounded so strange.


    ¡°You¡¯ve met?¡± Ji Tingyang was surprised.


    ¡°Yes, she¡¯s the friend I mentioned to you before, and she¡¯s also the fan of the second brother,¡± Ji Yuqiao nodded.


    Lin Xu had helped her a lot and even gave her gifts, she truly liked Lin Xu.


    But¡­


    Thinking of her two brothers, Ji Yuqiao looked at Lin Xu with a complex expression in her eyes.


    ¡°I have something to say to you.¡± Ji Yuqiao pulled Lin Xu to the backyard.


    Only when Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu were out of sight did Ji Yuqiao whisper, ¡°Lin Xu, what is your relationship with my elder brother and second brother?¡±


    ¡°We¡­¡±


    Lin Xu had not finished speaking when Ji Yuqiao pursed her lips in displeasure, ¡°Both my elder brother and second brother are very good to me, and although I really like you, you can¡¯t hurt them.¡±


    Lin Xu paused for a moment.


    She belatedly realized why Ji Yuqiao was here¡ªit was because she was chasing after that so-called two-timing bad woman.


    So that bad woman was herself?


    Lin Xu choked, ¡°It¡¯s not like that, my relationship with them is not what you think.¡±


    ¡°They aren¡¯t chasing you, are they?!¡± Ji Yuqiao panicked, ¡°Don¡¯t they know you are already married!¡±


    ¡°They aren¡¯t chasing me, don¡¯t worry,¡± Lin Xu smiled helplessly.


    ¡°That¡¯s a relief!¡± Ji Yuqiao¡¯s furrowed brows relaxed, and she breathed a sigh of relief.


    As long as Lin Xu said it wasn¡¯t so, she believed Lin Xu.


    ¡°So why are you here?¡± The question came back around.


    If it was said that Lin Xu was incredibly eager to see her daughter before meeting her, after meeting her, she became anxious and started to fear that her daughter might not accept her suddenly appearing mother.


    Lin Xu hesitated, ¡°Actually, we have a blood relation¡­¡±

 Chapter 153 - Chapter 153: Chapter 153: Just Pretend Im your Auntie

    Chapter 153: Chapter 153: Just Pretend I¡¯m your Auntie


    ¡°Actually, I am your mother,¡± Lin Xu said seriously, looking at her.


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes widened, then slowly returned to calm, ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, you can go ask your two brothers,¡± Lin Xu added, afraid she wouldn¡¯t believe her.


    Ji Yuqiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    Lin Xu: ¡°It¡¯s true.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    Lin Xu watched her for a long while without speaking, unsure of what she was thinking, suddenly feeling uncertain and falling silent.


    Fortunately, at this moment, Ji Zeqiu came over, ¡°What are you both whispering about?¡±


    ¡°Second Brother, she said she is our mother,¡± Ji Yuqiao said with a laugh, as if she had heard a joke.


    Hearing her words, Ji Zeqiu paused.


    He suddenly remembered that because Ji Yuqiao had been too resistant last time, he had not found the right moment to tell her the truth.


    Now that their whole family was here today, it might be the right time to tell her.


    Thinking this, Ji Zeqiu vouched for her, ¡°What she said is all true.¡±


    ¡°Why would you conspire to deceive me?¡± Ji Yuqiao flicked her bangs disbelievingly.


    Twenty years ago, Lin Xu was still a child herself, how could she possibly have given birth to them?


    ¡°Then go ask Ji Tingyang,¡± Ji Zeqiu said.


    Ji Yuqiao, although she found Ji Tingyang too strict and feared him, she highly trusted his words.


    Of course, there were exceptions.


    Except for when he told her to stay away from Xiao Yu.


    After hearing this, Ji Yuqiao bolted off to find Ji Tingyang, rushing to his side and blurting out, ¡°Brother, Second Brother says Lin Xu is our mother, you must tell me if he is lying to me, right?¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression froze for an instant, it was clear he also remembered not having told her this matter yet.


    As he lifted his gaze towards Lin Xu not far away and saw the defeat in her eyes, he instantly understood how hard it would be to convince Ji Yuqiao.


    Ji Yuqiao had her subjective beliefs about certain matters.


    If it was something she didn¡¯t believe in, even if the truth was laid before her eyes, she would assume it to be false.


    Even if he now presented a paternity test, she¡¯d probably think it was faked.


    Nevertheless, Ji Tingyang still spoke up for Lin Xu, ¡°It¡¯s true, we are not deceiving you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not funny; today is not April Fool¡¯s Day.¡± Ji Yuqiao¡¯s lips pouted so much she could hang a kettle on them, she glanced at Lin Xu and walked over to her, asking in a low voice, ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried that I would hate you for toying with my two brothers¡¯ feelings, so you collaborated in making up this tale to deceive me?¡±


    ¡°Actually, if you were my sister-in-law, I would be really happy,¡± Ji Yuqiao muttered.


    At least happier than with that Wen Li.


    But after saying that, Ji Yuqiao became conflicted again, ¡°But you are already married, and you have a child¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t imagine wild things,¡± Lin Xu quickly stopped her rampant train of thought, fearing she would voice some taboo idea the next second, ¡°We really do have a blood relationship, so it¡¯s not what you think.¡±


    ¡°What blood relationship?¡± Ji Yuqiao was skeptical.


    ¡°You¡­ just think of me as your younger aunt,¡± Lin Xu casually made up a family relationship from a clan genealogy, at least more plausible than having her acknowledge her real mother.


    Lin Xu had made up her mind.


    After all, being able to see her daughter was enough, and her daughter was doing well now, that was all that mattered.


    There was no need to force Ji Yuqiao to recognize her as her mother.


    Ji Yuqiao hesitated for an instant, as if she believed this new explanation more, and the next moment she brightened up with a happy smile, ¡°So that¡¯s how it is, why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier?¡±


    Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu looked at each other, ¡°¡­¡±


    Lin Xu also stopped worrying, she stepped forward to take Ji Yuqiao¡¯s hand, and led her to sit down on the sofa.


    ¡°Today I¡¯ll ask Aunt Zhang to make more dishes, so you can stay here with us for dinner, okay? How about you also stay over tonight and I¡¯ll take you back to school tomorrow.¡±


    It was the weekend and there were no classes, so Ji Yuqiao thought about it a bit and then nodded in agreement.


    ¡ª¡ª


    Before going to bed that night.


    Lin Xu, hugging her pillow, knocked on Ji Yuqiao¡¯s bedroom door, ¡°I want to talk with you, can I sleep with you tonight?¡±


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up.


    She had always heard her classmates mention how when they went to a friend¡¯s house to play, they would sleep together and gossip in the dark, sometimes even talking until dawn without stopping.


    It was a beautiful and enviable experience.


    Ji Yuqiao also wanted to experience this kind of scene, but even after so many years, she still hadn¡¯t found a friend with whom she was close enough to sleep together.


    But now Lin Xu was coming over of her own accord, wanting to sleep with her.


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement as she dragged Lin Xu into the room, ¡°Of course, you can, very much so!¡±


    After the lights went off at night, the bedroom became quiet and still.


    The bodies nestled in the covers squirmed slightly, and a faint voice filled with barely hidden joy whispered, ¡°So we¡¯re relatives, no wonder I like you so much.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I like you too.¡± Lin Xu turned to look at her, her lips curling into a small smile.


    Ji Yuqiao asked, ¡°Are you going to stay here for a while, how long are you staying?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know yet.¡±


    ¡°If you like, you can stay here forever, it¡¯s no problem.¡±


    ¡°That would be great.¡±


    ¡°Let me tell you, I¡¯ve been working really hard at school lately¡­¡±


    Whispered conversations kept emanating in the room.


    It¡¯s unclear why there was so much to talk about, but Ji Yuqiao kept on talking to Lin Xu nonstop from the previous night until the next day.


    Seeing Ji Yuqiao about to monopolize Lin Xu for the entire day, Ji Tingyang frowned and pulled the two apart.


    ¡°Why are you still here, don¡¯t you have to go back to school to study?¡± he asked Ji Yuqiao.


    Ji Yuqiao was nonchalant, ¡°Skipping studying for one day won¡¯t kill me, now move aside, stop blocking me from talking to Lin Xu.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no time to listen to you, we have things to do later,¡± Ji Tingyang snatched Lin Xu back.


    A few days ago, a business partner had given him two tickets to an amusement park, a place Ji Tingyang didn¡¯t care for.


    The last time he went to an amusement park was when he was six or seven years old and he went with Lin Xu.


    But then he thought about it and decided to keep the tickets.


    He was entertaining a small hope of going to the amusement park again with Lin Xu.


    However, seeing Ji Yuqiao eager to hoard Lin Xu for the day, he immediately came out to interrupt.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Ji Yuqiao was puzzled.


    Ji Tingyang didn¡¯t answer.


    Reminded by him, Lin Xu, realizing a bit late, happily said to Ji Yuqiao, ¡°We¡¯re going to the amusement park, Lanyue is coming with us!¡±


    Ji Zeqiu, with his highly sensitive hearing not far away, immediately shouted, ¡°I want to go too!¡±


    He had taken leave to come home specifically for this reason.


    Then, Ji Yuqiao¡¯s sudden return happened, and he almost forgot about it.


    The two-person trip to the amusement park suddenly turned into a family outing for four, and Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression instantly darkened.


    And Xie Changyan, who saw the posts of Lin Xu and Ji Tingyang¡¯s trip to the amusement park on social media, didn¡¯t look any happier either, irritatedly tossing his phone onto the sofa.

 Chapter 154 - Chapter 154: Chapter 154: They Must Not Love Me Anymore

    Chapter 154: Chapter 154: They Must Not Love Me Anymore


    The thrilling roller coaster raced along the track, screams mingled with laughter, quickly drowned out by the wind against their faces.


    After several breathtaking turns, the long roller coaster finally came to a stop.


    Lin Xu¡¯s feet touched the ground, and she stood up, trembling.


    She hadn¡¯t expected that after only taking a few steps, her legs would give way, and she nearly fell straight down.


    Luckily, Ji Zeqiu was quick to react, his hand capturing her shoulder to steady her.


    Ji Tingyang, who had ridden the roller coaster with them, appeared unruffled as he swiftly walked up to Lin Xu and handed her a bottle of water, ¡°Take a sip and rest.¡±


    Behind them, Ji Yuqiao¡¯s face was even paler than Lin Xu¡¯s as she clung to the railing, crouching on the ground and dry heaving, her voice weak, ¡°Brother, brother¡­ there¡¯s another person here who needs support.¡±


    Ji Tingyang looked back and with a look of disgust, hoisted her onto a bench, ¡°Knowing full well that you get sick on roller coasters, you still encouraged everyone to go on it. You¡¯ve got some nerve.¡±


    ¡°If you come to the amusement park and don¡¯t go on the roller coasters, it¡¯s a waste, don¡¯t you get it?!¡± Ji Yuqiao retorted.


    The next second, she bent over and dry heaved again.


    Ji Tingyang: ¡°¡­¡±


    For the next attraction, Ji Tingyang firmly refused to let Ji Yuqiao make the choice.


    He glanced at the map and chose a gentler teacups ride.


    Controlling the speed, Ji Tingyang ensured the cup spun leisurely throughout the ride. Lin Xu felt better, but Ji Yuqiao kept rolling her eyes at him.


    ¡°Bro, you haven¡¯t even hit thirty yet, and you¡¯re already starting to take it easy like an old man?¡± Ji Yuqiao said with disdain once it was over.


    Ji Tingyang lifted his gaze, his dark eyes solemnly watching her.


    Ji Yuqiao choked, frightened into immediate silence.


    Maybe it¡¯s the pre-thirty crisis, but big brother has become particularly sensitive lately, turning glum whenever his age is mentioned.


    Better not to provoke him.


    ¡°It¡¯s my turn to pick!¡± Ji Zeqiu snatched the map, enthusiastic.


    The haunted house was dimly lit and eerie, with terrifying-looking staff suddenly appearing along the way to scare people.


    Every time the staff dressed as ghosts came to scare them, Ji Zeqiu would cover Lin Xu¡¯s eyes, his tone carrying a barely perceptible smugness, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid with me here to protect you!¡±


    ¡°Okay, thank you, Zeqiu.¡± Lin Xu, frightened, swallowed hard, her grip tight on his shirt.


    ¡°If you¡¯re still scared, you can hold me too,¡± Ji Zeqiu coughed and said, his ears hidden in the darkness turning quietly red.


    Ji Tingyang repressed the urge to throw Ji Zeqiu into a pile of skeletons and followed with a cold face the whole time, his grim expression scarier than any ghost around.


    No matter how the ghosts tried to frighten him, his expression remained unchanged.


    The staff was extremely frustrated.


    At this time, Ji Yuqiao, who was left alone, became the favored target of the ghosts¡¯ antics.


    ¡°Big brother, second brother¡­ save me!¡± Ji Yuqiao¡¯s screaming voice trembled, ¡°You¡¯ve got a cute sister right behind you, don¡¯t forget about me!¡±


    Ji Tingyang clicked his tongue and turned to pull her along, ¡°With such little courage, don¡¯t go around saying you¡¯re my sister.¡±


    ¡°Lin Xu is also scared, but you don¡¯t say the same about her!¡± Ji Yuqiao protested.


    Ji Tingyang glanced at her, ¡°Say one more word and I¡¯ll leave you here.¡±


    ¡°No, no!¡± Ji Yuqiao clung to him, nearly hanging off his arm.


    After spending a day in the amusement park, Ji Yuqiao had seen enough of her brothers¡¯ double standards.


    She wanted to go on the water slide, not allowed.


    Lin Xu wanted to go on the water slide, permitted.


    If she was afraid of heights, it was because she was a coward.


    Lin Xu¡¯s fear of heights had to be protected.


    Ji Yuqiao threw herself into Lin Xu¡¯s embrace, sobbing, ¡°They must not love me anymore, boo hoo¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not true, everyone likes you the best.¡± Lin Xu consoled her anxiously, and it took quite a while to soothe her.


    ¡­


    It was rare for the whole family to get together and spend a pleasant weekend, time flew by in the blink of an eye.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s vacation had ended, and he had to go back to work.


    Ji Yuqiao also had to go back to school for her classes.


    All of a sudden, two children were gone, and Lin Xu felt for the first time that the villa was so empty and cold.


    In contrast, Ting Yang was in a very good mood, as no one else would disturb him and his mother anymore.


    However, his happiness did not last for a few hours, as it was shattered by encountering Xie Changyan in the same little restaurant.


    Su Linzhou seemed not to understand Ting Yang¡¯s standoffish expression and approached with a cheeky grin. Without waiting for his permission, he sat down, ¡°President Ji, what a coincidence, why don¡¯t we combine tables? More people make for a livelier atmosphere, and the food tastes better.¡±


    At the rectangular dining table, Lin Xu and Ting Yang sat facing each other, and because Su Linzhou had taken the seat next to Ting Yang, Xie Changyan naturally sat down next to Lin Xu.


    An icy frost seemed to coat Ting Yang¡¯s face, ¡°We don¡¯t need to combine tables.¡±


    ¡°Combine for a bit, right? What do you say, Miss Lin?¡± Su Linzhou looked at Lin Xu with a smiley face.


    Lin Xu smiled awkwardly and before she could even speak, her hand was grasped underneath the table.


    She looked at Xie Changyan in surprise, only to see him leaning back in his chair with an indifferent expression, as if the hand that sneaked under the table wasn¡¯t his.


    His thumb gently caressed her palm, like a feather across her skin, inducing a tingling sensation.


    Xie Changyan raised his eyebrows and lazily stretched out the tone, ¡°What do you say?¡±


    He tightened his grip on her hand, as if to stop her from rejecting.


    Lin Xu paused, ¡°Let¡¯s combine then.¡±


    As soon as she had spoken, a low chuckle spilled from Xie Changyan¡¯s throat.


    The chuckle, laced with a teasing tone, echoed in her ear, making her cheeks flush red.


    The atmosphere between them was as if they were alone.


    Ting Yang¡¯s lips were tightly drawn into a straight line, his face growing colder and colder, and in the end, he neither agreed nor refused, but the overly familiar Su Linzhou had already started ordering dishes from the waitress.


    Several minutes later, the waitress brought the dishes to the table.


    Lin Xu quietly pinched the flesh on Xie Changyan¡¯s hand and withdrew hers from his grasp to reach for chopsticks.


    ¡°Eat more meat, build up your strength.¡± Lin Xu picked up a piece of meat and placed it into Ting Yang¡¯s bowl.


    His somber face lightened slightly as he picked up his chopsticks to start eating.


    Suddenly.


    Lin Xu felt a leg brush against hers under the table.


    She felt a chill run up her scalp and turned her neck stiffly to look at Xie Changyan beside her.


    He was eating the dishes unhurriedly, and with his calm demeanor, Lin Xu almost thought it was her own illusion.


    Lin Xu shifted to the side to avoid his leg under the table and stammered, ¡°I, I¡¯m going to the restroom.¡±


    After entering the restroom, she quickly pulled out her phone and frantically sent messages to Xie Changyan, scolding him while asking him to restrain himself a bit.


    But before she could finish sending the messages, the next second, she was pulled by the waist, spun around, and her back pressed against the edge of the washbasin counter.


    Xie Changyan gripped her waist, his eyes slightly narrowed, his voice lazy yet carrying a dangerous tone, ¡°Did you have fun at the amusement park?¡±

 Chapter 155 - Chapter 155: Chapter 155: Im Afraid He Wont Find Out

    Chapter 155: Chapter 155: I¡¯m Afraid He Won¡¯t Find Out


    Xie Changyan pinned Lin Xu against the body, surrounding her in the middle of the washbasin, his fingertips gently tracing her cheek, his narrow eyes flashing a dangerous gleam.


    Lin Xu¡¯s eyes bright and seductive, contained a hint of teasing as they moved, and she flashed a cunning smile, ¡°It seems like we¡¯re having quite a bit of fun.¡±


    Xie Changyan¡¯s hand on her waist tightened slightly, his voice deepened, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m having fun?¡±


    Lin Xu blinked innocently, ¡°Then why aren¡¯t you happy?¡±


    Xie Changyan chuckled angrily, ¡°Lin Xu, do you have no conscience?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be mad.¡± Lin Xu tilted her chin up, coaxing him with a kiss on his thin lips.


    The kiss was brief and stopped just there.


    Just as she was about to leave, a hand clutched her head and pulled her back.


    His distinctively jointed fingers wove through her hair, gently stroking, their intermingling breaths growing hotter, both lost in this soft temptation.


    After a long while, a scream at the door pulled them back from their deep entanglement.


    The woman at the door exclaimed, then quickly dragging her companion who had not yet entered the restroom, urging her to leave while explaining in a low voice, ¡°Hurry up, inside they are being all lovey-dovey.¡±


    ¡°What! They¡¯re doing this kind of thing in broad daylight? Let me have a look too.¡±


    ¡°¡­look at what, you ghost!¡±


    The muttering voice faded into the distance.


    Lin Xu, hands against Xie Changyan¡¯s chest, joked, ¡°Looks like the news of President Xie entering the women¡¯s restroom won¡¯t stay hidden. Could it make the news tomorrow? What should we do?¡±


    ¡°Making the news isn¡¯t bad, it¡¯s a good chance for Ji Tingyang to see who I entered the restroom with.¡± Xie Changyan¡¯s grip around her waist tightened continuously.


    Upon mentioning Ji Tingyang, Lin Xu suddenly sobered up, anxiously pushing Xie Changyan away, ¡°I¡¯ve been away to the restroom for so long, they¡¯re bound to be suspicious.¡±


    ¡°Let them suspect,¡± Xie Changyan said indifferently, yet seeing her anxious expression, his brow furrowed slightly, ¡°Or do you not want to divorce him?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll divorce, I¡¯ll deal with it as soon as I get back,¡± Lin Xu tidied her hair, ready to leave the restroom.


    Just two steps out, she turned to Xie Changyan walking beside her, surprised, ¡°Why are you following me?¡±


    Xie Changyan: ¡°Aren¡¯t we going back?¡±


    Lin Xu: ¡°If we go back together, we¡¯ll definitely be suspected. I¡¯ll head back first, and you can follow a few minutes later.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Xie Changyan paused momentarily, a slight mocking tone in his voice, ¡°You¡¯re quite experienced, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Lin Xu knew things were bad and laughed dryly, ¡°What experience do I have? I read it all online, hahaha¡­¡±


    Without waiting for Xie Changyan to ask again, she took off running.


    Because she had been gone for quite a while, Ji Tingyang indeed asked, ¡°Why did it take you so long?¡±


    Lin Xu leaned close to his ear and whispered two words: ¡°Constipated.¡±


    A perfect excuse.


    ¡­Ji Tingyang looked at Lin Xu, hesitating to speak.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the hospital tomorrow to have it checked out.¡±


    ¡°¡­No, that won¡¯t be necessary,¡± Lin Xu felt embarrassed, not expecting him to care so much about her.


    If Lin Xu initially didn¡¯t explain her relationship with Ji Tingyang to Xie Changyan because she harbored playful thoughts, wanting to see his reaction,


    then now, as Xie Changyan quietly provoked Ji Tingyang, Lin Xu began to feel a headache and regretted it.


    Not long after Xie Changyan returned, he stealthily took her hand again and explained calmly to everyone, ¡°Sorry, that call took a bit long, got caught up by a little cat.¡±


    Ji Tingyang ignored him, not even sparing him a sidelong glance.


    Throughout the dining process, Xie Changyan either held Lin Xu¡¯s hand or slid his slender leg against hers.


    Several times, Ji Tingyang almost caught them.


    Lin Xu even started to suspect it was deliberate, almost as if he wanted Ji Tingyang to find out.


    Angered, she stomped hard on Xie Changyan¡¯s foot, but the man didn¡¯t seem annoyed at all. His chest vibrated slightly, and a low chuckle escaped from his throat.


    After the meal, Ji Tingyang was eager to pull Lin Xu away, leaving only Xie Changyan, leaning back in his chair looking seemingly relaxed, and Su Linzhou behind.


    ¡°I¡¯m saying, kid, you¡¯re really bold, daring to make a move right in front of her actual boyfriend. Aren¡¯t you afraid of being discovered?¡± Su Linzhou clicked his tongue.


    Xie Changyan was unconcerned, ¡°I¡¯m actually afraid he won¡¯t discover it.¡±


    It saved Lin Xu from being reluctant to break it off with him.


    ¡°You better restrain yourself. If this causes a fight, I¡¯d be embarrassed to help you,¡± Su Linzhou thought to himself, feeling the shame.


    Xie Changyan scoffed coldly.


    ¡ª¡ª


    Unlike Ji Tingyang, who had to be on guard against Xie Changyan all day, Ji Zeqiu, oblivious to everything, was living a lot more comfortably.


    He couldn¡¯t suppress the curve rising at the corners of his lips as he looked at the caring messages from Lin Xu on his phone.


    He tapped on the screen, quoting and replying to each message Lin Xu sent, without missing a single one.


    ¡°Teacher Ji, are you done with your makeup? We¡¯re ready to head to Xie¡¯s anniversary event venue,¡± a staff member knocked and asked at the door.


    ¡°I¡¯m ready, let¡¯s go now,¡± Ji Zeqiu put away his phone.


    Most attendees at the Xie¡¯s anniversary venue were Xie¡¯s employees, many of whom, despite years of being fans, had never had the chance to meet their idols. Tonight, Xie had invited numerous celebrities, giving them a chance for company-sponsored fan interactions.


    Of course, a large portion of the crowd were fans of Ji Zeqiu, each of them excited beyond measure, all wanting a photo or an autograph.


    The crowd blocked Ji Zeqiu¡¯s path completely for a moment.


    ¡°Baby Ji, look at me, look at me!¡±


    ¡°Ji Zeqiu, this is a letter I wrote for you. May I give it to you?¡±


    ¡°Hubby, can you sign an autograph for me!¡±


    The various screams were deafening.


    It was only after the security personnel came out to maintain order that everyone gradually dispersed back to their places.


    ¡°Teacher Ji, are you okay?¡± Xie¡¯s assistant rushed over, apologizing, ¡°We underestimated your fans¡¯ enthusiasm. We didn¡¯t control the scene well at the beginning, and I¡¯m really sorry.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯m used to it,¡± Ji Zeqiu didn¡¯t mind.


    The assistant smiled, ¡°There¡¯s still some time before the anniversary event starts. Would you have a moment to meet someone now? She is also your fan.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu instantly understood.


    At various events he attended in the past, there always seemed to be some executives who used their positions to score a benefit for their daughters or relatives and friends, arranging private meetings and photo sessions.


    He was used to it by now.


    ¡°Sure, no problem.¡±


    The assistant led Ji Zeqiu to a backstage lounge and knocked, ¡°President Xie, Teacher Ji is here.¡±


    ¡°Come in,¡± Xie Changyan¡¯s voice responded from inside.


    Ji Zeqiu followed the assistant inside and stopped in his tracks when he saw the familiar figure wrapped in Xie Changyan¡¯s arms.


    How could his mother be here?!

 Chapter 156 - Chapter 156: Chapter 156: Are You Finding Us a Stepfather?!

    Chapter 156: Chapter 156: Are You Finding Us a Stepfather?!


    Before the anniversary celebration began, Xie Changyan had sent Lin Xu an invitation.


    Looking at the express delivery she received, Lin Xu asked with confusion over the phone, ¡°Why am I being invited to your company¡¯s anniversary celebration?¡±


    ¡°Come and you¡¯ll find out, there might be something you like,¡± Xie Changyan said.


    ¡°Something I like?¡± Lin Xu¡¯s eyes twinkled mischievously, her tone playful, ¡°You?¡±


    With a casual stance, Xie Changyan propped his hand in his pocket, his eyelids lazily watching the hustle and bustle through the floor-to-ceiling windows, ¡°Just like?¡±


    Was it just a mere liking for him?


    Lin Xu caught his insinuation and chuckled lightly, ¡°If you¡¯re thinking about an upgrade, it won¡¯t be so simple.¡±


    His low chuckle resonated through the receiver, tickling her ear.


    On the night of the anniversary celebration.


    Xie Changyan had arrived early with Lin Xu, waiting in the backstage lounge.


    ¡°What¡¯s this gift all about, so mysterious?¡±


    Lin Xu asked him all day, but besides a ¡°You won¡¯t be surprised if you find out in advance,¡± she couldn¡¯t pry anything else from his lips.


    Xie Changyan leaned back on the sofa, his hand rubbing her earlobe as it draped over her back, ¡°Why are you so impatient?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s clearly you who¡¯s been keeping me on tenterhooks,¡± Lin Xu complained, swatting his hand away.


    Just as her patience was running thin, the door suddenly made a sound.


    ¡°President Xie, Teacher Ji has arrived.¡±


    Xie Changyan raised an eyebrow, stretching his arm to pull Lin Xu into his embrace, ¡°Come in.¡±


    Lin Xu was still bewildered.


    Teacher Ji?


    What kind of teacher?


    The door was slowly pushed open.


    A familiar figure appeared before Lin Xu¡¯s eyes, and her body stiffened, unable to move.


    Ji Zeqiu was similarly frozen, staring at Lin Xu in astonishment, unable to regain his composure for a long while.


    Until Xie Changyan¡¯s voice was heard.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you a fan of Ji Zeqiu? He¡¯s an artist under our subsidiary, and it just so happens he¡¯s here for the anniversary.¡±


    Previously, when watching movies, she was always looking at Ji Zeqiu. Later, when she saw some promotional material about Ji Zeqiu online, including any new TV dramas, she would even forward them to him.


    Xie Changyan recalled what he had overheard female employees saying in the office.


    ¡°If someone could get me my idol¡¯s autograph and photo, I¡¯d be their girlfriend on the spot! And if I could have a chat with my idol in person, I¡¯d marry him right there!¡±


    Su Linzhou, that seasoned player in the game of love, always said that to pursue a woman, one should start with what she likes.


    Xie Changyan looked towards Lin Xu.


    She liked Ji Zeqiu so much that her excitement was probably only going to be more, not less.


    With that thought, Xie Changyan said to her, ¡°You can ask him for a photo together or an autograph, if you like.¡±


    Their shock was interrupted by his voice, and both Lin Xu and Ji Tingyang abruptly snapped back to reality.


    Ji Zeqiu was aware of Xie Changyan, being the CEO of the company he was with, but they had no interaction.


    Now, seeing him standing with Lin Xu, his expression became subtly complex.


    He glanced at Xie Changyan, then at his hand around Lin Xu¡¯s waist, ¡°You two are¡­¡±


    Lin Xu dashed over, grabbed Ji Zeqiu¡¯s hand, and rushed out of the lounge, ¡°Let¡¯s talk outside!¡±


    Xie Changyan¡¯s empty hand froze mid-air, and his brow furrowed slightly, seemingly puzzled by their need to talk outside.


    Special Assistant Wu hurriedly explained, ¡°With fans, there are always some shy things that aren¡¯t easy to say in front of everyone.¡±


    A hint of irritation appeared between Xie Changyan¡¯s furrowed brows.


    Outside the lounge.


    Lin Xu pulled Ji Zeqiu aside into a secluded corner, and their voices rose simultaneously.


    ¡°Listen to me explain!¡±


    ¡°You cheated?!¡±


    Lin Xu: ???


    A trace of pain flickered through Ji Zeqiu¡¯s eyes, ¡°Are you with Xie Changyan now?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you love father anymore, how could you be with another man?¡±


    ¡°Even though father has been dead for twenty years, you and father have been apart for less than a year¡­¡±


    ¡°You and father were clearly so in love before.¡± Ji Zeqiu¡¯s shoulders slumped, the sparkle in his eyes faded, his tone laced with a hint of loss, ¡°Are you going to find us a new dad?¡±


    By then, if mother had a new life, would she still care about them¡­


    A string of questions left Lin Xu both crying and laughing, ¡°Where did your mind wander off to, don¡¯t you think he looks a lot like your father?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu was stunned for a moment, ¡°You mean?¡±


    ¡°He is your father,¡± Lin Xu affirmed.


    Sometimes, it must be said that Ji Zeqiu and Ji Tingyang are brothers, reacting identically to certain situations.


    Suspicion immediately surfaced on Ji Zeqiu¡¯s face, ¡°Could he be deceiving you?!¡±


    ¡°¡­No.¡±


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t remember us, he doesn¡¯t even remember you, I don¡¯t believe he is our father!¡± Ji Zeqiu gritted his teeth, refusing to accept this, ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by him, you don¡¯t know how deceiving men can be these days!¡±


    Lin Xu¡¯s gaze deepened as she looked at Ji Zeqiu, ¡°Is that so?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu coughed once, ¡°Except for me.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu kept advising her in the corner not to be deceived by men, until his agent called to tell him that the anniversary celebration had started, and he had to return to the event with Lin Xu.


    ¡°Mother, let¡¯s watch the evening show together,¡± Ji Zeqiu took Lin Xu to his own seat, preventing her from seeking out Xie Changyan.


    ¡°But¡­¡± Lin Xu hesitated.


    Ji Zeqiu lowered his head, looking pitiful, ¡°We¡¯ve never watched a show together.¡±


    This tactic was incredibly effective on Lin Xu.


    Recalling the past twenty years, the times she hadn¡¯t spent with them, Lin Xu¡¯s heart softened instantaneously, ¡°Okay, let¡¯s watch it together.¡±


    The pitiful look in Ji Zeqiu¡¯s eyes disappeared, his gaze became lively in an instant, and he shifted closer to her.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s seat was right in the center of the stage, and the anniversary evening show had been going on for a while, with the seat beside him still empty.


    His eyebrows were nearly twisted together.


    What shy words needed to be discussed for so long?


    As he scanned the venue, when he saw a familiar figure beside Ji Zeqiu, his expression suddenly froze.


    The two of them seemed to be engaged in a conversation, with Lin Xu¡¯s eyes brimming with bright smiles.


    A breeze passed by, messing up the hair by her ears.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s move was very natural as he stretched out his hand to tuck the stray hair behind her ear, so intimately.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s cheeks suddenly became enveloped in a layer of frost, the air pressure around him dropping to the extreme.


    Suddenly, he felt a little regret.


    ¡°Special Assistant Wu, is it no longer necessary for our company¡¯s artists to avoid impropriety with the opposite sex?¡± Xie Changyan¡¯s gaze was icy cold.


    Despite the flat, unemotional tone, the assistant perceived danger in his voice, shuddering, ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ll speak to their agents right away.¡±


    ¡°No need,¡± Xie Changyan stood up, taking long strides directly towards where Ji Zeqiu was.


    As he approached, Xie Changyan could hear their conversation.


    Ji Zeqiu spoke with a wistful tone, ¡°You said before that the person you loved the most was mine¡­¡±


    Lin Xu didn¡¯t expect him to still be hung up on competing for Ji Tingyang¡¯s affection and laughed helplessly, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡±


    Xie Changyan¡¯s steps faltered.

 Chapter 157 - Chapter 157: Chapter 157: Ji Zeqius Romance Exposed?

    Chapter 157: Chapter 157: Ji Zeqiu¡¯s Romance Exposed?


    Listening to Lin Xu comforting him with her words, Ji Zeqiu muttered resentfully, ¡°I already know now, everything you said was just to deceive me.¡±


    Last time at home, their mother hadn¡¯t acknowledged in front of Ji Tingyang that her favorite son was him.


    As a result, Ji Tingyang later mocked him for being overemotional.


    Ji Zeqiu was infuriated.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be mad,¡± Lin Xu said with a gentle smile as she squeezed Ji Zeqiu¡¯s annoyed cheeks with both hands.


    Lin Xu¡¯s palms were warm, heating his cheeks soothingly, and Ji Zeqiu¡¯s anger dissipated in an instant.


    He suppressed the upward curve of his lips and huffed.


    The next moment, a hand encircled Lin Xu¡¯s waist and pulled her away, and she stumbled into a sturdy chest.


    He took her back from Ji Zeqiu¡¯s side.


    As if declaring sovereignty, Xie Changyan tightened his hold around her body and glanced at Ji Zeqiu indifferently, ¡°What were you talking about?¡±


    Before she knew it, the person beside Lin Xu had changed to Xie Changyan.


    Lin Xu inwardly cursed, ¡°Crap.¡±


    She was so engrossed in talking with Ji Zeqiu that she had forgotten to inform Xie Changyan.


    Someone¡¯s jealousy seemed casual on the surface but was actually overwhelming behind his calm demeanor.


    Caught in the act, Lin Xu chuckled awkwardly, ¡°We weren¡¯t talking about much, how did you get here?¡±


    ¡°What do you think?¡± Xie Changyan glanced coldly at Lin Xu.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be going back in a bit,¡± Lin Xu muttered softly.


    Xie Changyan chuckled meaningfully from his throat, ¡°Guess you must have forgotten already.¡±


    Watching the two of them whispering together, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s usually gentle face froze with a trace of anger in his eyes, and he reached out to pull Lin Xu back.


    ¡°Although it is not like outside, there are still quite a few journalists at today¡¯s venue, and as an artist, perhaps it would be better to be more discreet?¡± Xie Changyan eyed Ji Zeqiu leisurely and reminded, ¡°After all, if rumors get out, the loss will affect more than just the company.¡±


    Recalling a past incident of being secretly photographed, Ji Zeqiu belatedly remembered this and his extending hand froze mid-air.


    His icy gaze shot Xie Changyan a look but he reluctantly withdrew his hand.


    But the sight of that hand around Lin Xu¡¯s waist seemed particularly irksome no matter how he looked at it.


    Unable to approach her, Ji Zeqiu could only pull out his phone, furiously sending Lin Xu messages.


    Zeqiu: [Furious.jpg]


    Zeqiu: [Mom, stay away from him! You don¡¯t know how many jerks are out there these days, always looking around even while holding a bowl. Of course, except for me.]


    Zeqiu: [I am not trying to interfere in your love life, I¡¯m just worried you¡¯re being deceived.]


    Zeqiu: [He looks like no good, maybe has a dozen lovers behind your back!]


    Watching Ji Zeqiu nearly bursting with frustration as he kept sending her messages, Lin Xu chuckled softly, finally brushing away Xie Changyan¡¯s hand and sitting up straight.


    Seeing this, Ji Zeqiu snorted twice, and his mood finally began to ease.


    Xie Changyan leaned back in his chair, gathered his empty palms, and watched her maintaining a distance from him in front of Ji Zeqiu, a trace of irritation flashing through his eyes.


    First it was Ji Tingyang, and now Ji Zeqiu¡­


    He even doubted if he was the last one in her heart.


    His original intention was to let Lin Xu meet her idol to please her, but it ended up causing more trouble for himself.


    After the anniversary celebration, the atmosphere in the president¡¯s office was ominously tense.


    Not many employees could walk out of Xie Changyan¡¯s office with smiles on their faces.


    ¡°You look so cold you could almost freeze someone to death. If it were summer, you¡¯d save on air-conditioning costs,¡± Su Linzhou entered and casually flopped onto the sofa.


    Xie Changyan gave him a sidelong glance, ¡°What, has Su¡¯s gone bankrupt? Even saving on air conditioning now?¡±


    ¡°Just a joke, why so tense?¡± Su Linzhou grinned as he moved closer, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you and Lin Xu are having issues again?¡±


    Xie Changyan slumped into his chair and irritably tugged at his tie.


    ¡°Come on, spill it. What¡¯s the problem? Your strategist here might just solve it for you,¡± Su Linzhou teased, arching an eyebrow.


    Who knew whether he wanted to help solve the problems or just craved some gossip.


    ¡°Solve what?¡± Xie Changyan¡¯s gaze slowly swept over Su Linzhou, ¡°Can you resolve Ji Tingyang, make him divorce?¡±


    Su Linzhou choked, recoiling back with a forced smile, ¡°That one, you¡¯d have to solve yourself.¡±


    He returned to the sofa, steering the conversation back to the project, his main purpose for visiting.


    ¡°What do you think? Does this project reorganization have a chance?¡± Su Linzhou poked at his phone, nonchalantly said.


    ¡°Sounds okay. We¡¯ll need to wait for the assessment. You¡­¡± Xie Changyan began, suddenly interrupted by Su Linzhou¡¯s curse.


    ¡°Damn!¡±


    Su Linzhou, who had been lounging on the sofa, jerked upright, his expression shocked as he stared at his phone.


    Xie Changyan glanced over, clueless about what was happening.


    ¡°What¡¯s the relationship between Lin Xu and Ji Zeqiu?¡± Su Linzhou¡¯s look towards Xie Changyan was rather telling.


    Mentioning Ji Zeqiu, Xie Changyan remembered the scene from the anniversary night, agitation rising within him again, ¡°She is a fan of Ji Zeqiu.¡±


    ¡°This doesn¡¯t look just like a simple fan and idol relationship,¡± Su Linzhou frowned at his phone.


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Xie Changyan frowned.


    ¡°The news on the trending search, haven¡¯t you seen it?¡± Su Linzhou tossed his phone in front of him.


    Many photos of Lin Xu and Ji Zeqiu were posted on the trending posts.


    There were photos of them shopping together, visiting film sets, and even from the anniversary where Ji Zeqiu was styling Lin Xu¡¯s hair¡­


    There were even photos of them entering and leaving a villa together, with the caption ¡°Top artists suspected of cohabiting with girlfriend, photos revealed.¡±


    Unlike previous rumors, these photos clearly captured Lin Xu¡¯s face.


    As soon as the photos were released, fans on Weibo were in an uproar.


    ¡°These photos must be photoshopped, right? They look so fake.¡±


    ¡°Fans above, stop trying to salvage their dignity, these photos couldn¡¯t be more real.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t Ji Zeqiu have a sister? Maybe the person in the photos is his sister. People these days just start rumors from one photo.¡±


    ¡°That villa¡¯s price was sky-high more than 20 years ago, mostly inhabited by business tycoons. Do you think Ji Zeqiu¡¯s family could afford that? I think he¡¯s not dating a girlfriend but clinging to a sugar daddy. That¡¯s why his recently obtained resources have skyrocketed, there¡¯s the reason.¡±


    People argued relentlessly, pushing the topic to explode onto the trending searches.


    #Ji Zeqiu¡¯s Romantic Relationship Exposed, Suspected Cohabitation#


    #Romance or Sugar Daddy?#


    Xie Changyan¡¯s gaze swept over the content of the post, his breath hitching for a moment.


    So she and Ji Zeqiu had known each other for a long time¡­

 Chapter 158 - Chapter 158: Chapter 158: She and Ji Tingyang Are Not Husband and Wife?!

    Chapter 158: Chapter 158: She and Ji Tingyang Are Not Husband and Wife?!


    When the trending search exploded, Ji Zeqiu was still filming on the set.


    His agent had issued a press release immediately, clarifying the rumors.


    However, the word ¡®friends¡¯ wasn¡¯t convincing enough, and the scandal couldn¡¯t be suppressed, with the heat of the discussion remaining intense.


    As soon as Ji Zeqiu finished his part, the agent rushed over anxiously, ¡°There¡¯s trouble, take a look at this trending post¡­¡±


    The moment he glanced over, his expression turned cold and serious.


    Lin Xu was chatting with the housekeeper in the villa when she received Ji Zeqiu¡¯s call.


    The moment the call connected, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s anxious voice came through from the other end of the phone, ¡°Did you receive any strange calls today?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Lin Xu was puzzled.


    ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± He breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°From now on, don¡¯t answer any calls from unknown numbers, and don¡¯t read any messages either, okay?¡±


    With so many radical people on the internet nowadays, Ji Zeqiu couldn¡¯t guarantee what they might do.


    In the past, the photos didn¡¯t capture Lin Xu¡¯s face, but now that her appearance had been photographed, what if some extreme fans doxxed her and bombarded her with all sorts of harassing calls¡­


    Ji Zeqiu had seen such scenarios in the entertainment circle. Some artists got girlfriends, and their fans, emotionally charged, would express their dissatisfaction by digging up information on those girls.


    It started with abusive messages, and eventually escalated to harassing phone calls, leaving the girl distressed and depressed.


    Just the thought of Lin Xu possibly facing such a situation placed a heavy weight on Ji Zeqiu¡¯s chest, making it hard for him to breathe.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Lin Xu, sensing the seriousness in his tone, asked with concern.


    Ji Zeqiu paused, knowing he couldn¡¯t keep the issue hidden, and remorse flickered in his eyes, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s my fault, you were photographed again¡­¡±


    He knew he was a public figure and should¡¯ve kept his distance from Lin Xu even when outside, but he couldn¡¯t help it¡­


    He couldn¡¯t resist taking his mother out, buying her various little dresses, the money he saved was meant for her after all.


    All the things he couldn¡¯t do with his mother as a child, he now wanted to make up for them all.


    Watching movies, visiting amusement parks¡­


    But because of his status as a public figure, he had to be extremely careful wherever he went.


    He even felt frustrated that he couldn¡¯t accompany his mother openly like Ji Tingyang could.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s hand clenched the phone tighter, a pent-up frustration in his heart.


    Hearing him say this, Lin Xu guessed what had happened and began to comfort him, ¡°It¡¯s not your fault, please don¡¯t blame yourself, okay?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu replied gloomily, ¡°Don¡¯t go out today, wait until I get back.¡±


    When Ji Zeqiu rushed back, Ji Tingyang had already returned from the company.


    He looked at Ji Zeqiu, his eyes filled with mocking scorn, ¡°You told me before that you would protect her, is this how you protect her?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Ji Zeqiu bit his lip, unable to retort.


    ¡°Don¡¯t blame Zeqiu,¡± Lin Xu nudged Ji Tingyang¡¯s arm secretly, urging him to soften his tone.


    Ji Tingyang snorted coldly, ¡°Mother is very angry, she said she wants to sever the mother-son relationship with you.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu suddenly looked at Lin Xu in shock, his eyes filled with hurt.


    ¡°¡­Don¡¯t listen to your brother¡¯s nonsense, I never said anything like that,¡± Lin Xu explained immediately, giving Ji Tingyang a stern look.


    Ji Zeqiu let out a relieved breath, feeling distressed as he sought comfort in Lin Xu¡¯s embrace.


    Ji Tingyang saw him getting touchy-feely, and his anger surged. He grabbed him by the back of his collar and pulled him away from Lin Xu¡¯s embrace, ¡°Stop acting pitiful and sort this out immediately.¡±


    Being unable to continue snuggling with Lin Xu, Ji Zeqiu felt dissatisfied, but considering the trouble he had caused, he lost the nerve to talk back to Ji Tingyang, ¡°I¡¯ll do a live broadcast later to clarify things.¡±


    Clarifying things should be easy.


    But what they were more worried about was that after Lin Xu¡¯s photos had been released, she would inevitably be subject to public scrutiny every time she went out.


    ¡°Just say we¡¯re friends? Or stick to the previous story, calling her sister?¡± Ji Zeqiu pondered.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you just say she¡¯s my young aunt?¡± Lin Xu suddenly spoke up.


    Remembering the explanation he had given for Ji Yuqiao last time, he thought it would be a waste not to use such a good cover.


    After thinking it over, Ji Zeqiu said, ¡°That works, I¡¯ll get in touch with Brother Zhao right away to arrange it.¡±


    Once they had a plan, Ji Zeqiu hosted a live broadcast that evening to clear up the matter.


    As soon as the live broadcast started, it was flooded with hundreds of thousands of viewers.


    Watching Ji Zeqiu¡¯s sharp-featured handsome face on the screen, many fans in the barrage excitedly shouted for their hubby.


    ¡°Hello, everyone, I have a few points to clarify about today¡¯s trending topic. Can you all hear me?¡± Ji Zeqiu said with a slight smile on his lips.


    Baby Ji¡¯s Cutie: [I knew today¡¯s trending topic had to be false!]


    Zeqiu Marry Me Please: [Hubby, clarify quickly and then sue those marketing accounts!]


    The barrage on the screen was a blur of one message after another.


    ¡°Actually, the person in the picture is neither a girlfriend nor a sugar mama, she is actually my young aunt, and we are related by blood,¡± Ji Zeqiu said.


    Won¡¯t Change My Name If Under 95 Pounds: [Just because you say she¡¯s your aunt, she¡¯s your aunt? I might as well say the richest man is my dad.]


    Full Belly of Meat at Every Meal: [Running off to a big villa and still talking about a young aunt?]


    The smile on Ji Zeqiu¡¯s lips didn¡¯t fade, ¡°The reason we went to the big villa is very simple, because it¡¯s my house.¡±


    Orange Wants to Be Big: [Stop talking nonsense, someone already checked that villa, it¡¯s registered under Ji Tingyang. You¡¯re not pretending that just because you share a surname, you can claim it¡¯s your house, are you?]


    Little Corn: [You¡¯re not going to say you and Ji Tingyang are from the same family now, are you, hahaha, that man is a business magnate, a rising star, with the enterprise among the global top 500, you, a penniless actor, shouldn¡¯t be freeloading off his fame.]


    The barrage was increasingly filled with mocking comments, laughing at his apparent lies.


    Ji Zeqiu glanced at the barrage with an unperturbed expression.


    With a look of disdain, he pulled someone into the frame from the side.


    The man with the starry eyes and arched eyebrows, wearing a white shirt, exuded nobility with his calm, black eyes; merely standing there shocked everyone.


    Many news articles about Ji Tingyang could be found online, and his photo could easily be searched on the official website of the Ji Group.


    Quite a few of the live audience recognized Ji Tingyang and were surprised.


    The news that Ji Zeqiu and Ji Tingyang were brothers, topped the trending searches, even more explosive than the previous scandal.


    However, Xie Changyan wasn¡¯t concerned about that. His eyes were fixed on the words ¡°young aunt,¡± his expression fluctuating.


    In less than a day, his emotions had roller-coastered from rock-bottom to a peak.


    So.


    She and Ji Tingyang weren¡¯t husband and wife?

 Chapter 159 - Chapter 159: Chapter 159: These three faces are obviously relatives

    Chapter 159: Chapter 159: These three faces are obviously relatives


    The heat in the livestream remained high, and no one had expected that the seemingly mismatched pair would turn out to be brothers.


    One was a young and promising entrepreneur who was said to have taken over a large company as soon as he became an adult, acted decisively, and had a net worth of over a hundred billion.


    The other was an artist who had a particularly bitter and difficult journey from debut to fame. At the beginning, it could be said that he had no resources and was even suppressed by some seniors. Everyone had seen Ji Zeqiu¡¯s cheap clothes when he first debuted and his skilled wood chopping, cooking, doing laundry, and so on, on variety shows. They all thought he came from a poor household, a child who had to shoulder responsibilities early on.


    With such a huge gap between them, no one associated the two together.


    But when Ji Zeqiu and Ji Tingyang stood side by side, everyone was surprised to find that their faces were somewhat similar.


    Xiao Qiao: ¡°Oh my god, these two definitely look like real brothers¡ªI believe it now!¡±


    The Bling of Nightlife: ¡°Now that you mention it, I seem to remember the woman in the photos does resemble Ji Zeqiu a bit. Looks like she¡¯s really his aunt!¡±


    At this time, Lin Xu also appeared in the livestream and greeted everyone, ¡°Hi everyone, I¡¯m staying here temporarily. I didn¡¯t expect to be misunderstood by everyone, I¡¯m really sorry.¡±


    The three of them appeared in front of the camera together, creating an even more striking contrast.


    These three faces clearly belonged to relatives!


    By now, everyone had completely believed it.


    Kept as a lover? Ji Zeqiu¡¯s brother was the President of Ji¡¯s. Who could afford to keep him?


    As for a girlfriend? Didn¡¯t you see the faces that looked so similar as if they were blood-related? Not to mention calling her an aunt, it wouldn¡¯t be too much to even say she was their mother!


    The previously emotional fans and troublemaking passersby in the livestream had all calmed down, beginning to praise the Ji family¡¯s good genes, saying that both brothers were so handsome, and Lin Xu, even placed in the entertainment industry, was a great beauty.


    Lin Xu couldn¡¯t stop smiling as she looked at the screen full of praises for Ji Zeqiu and Ji Tingyang.


    Who wouldn¡¯t be overjoyed to see their own children being complimented?


    Seeing Lin Xu¡¯s surprised and delighted expression towards the livestream, Ji Zeqiu simply handed over control of the livestream to her.


    However, he regretted this impulsive decision just a minute later.


    ¡°Lift your arms and make a heart shape above your heads,¡± Lin Xu directed Ji Zeqiu and Ji Tingyang, as if they were posing for a photo.


    Seeing her lively manner, neither brother had the heart to dampen her spirits. They exchanged glances, gritted their teeth, and emotionlessly made heart signs at the camera.


    Baby Ji¡¯s Beloved: ¡°Ahhh! Screenshot! I never thought I¡¯d get to see such an eye-pleasing pair of brothers make a heart sign together. I can die without regrets now! Thank you, Auntie, my god!¡±


    Chips: ¡°Auntie, I want to see the brothers hug each other, please satisfy my request!¡±


    Lin Xu glanced at the barrage and turned to the two brothers, ¡°Hug each other.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s just too cringy, I don¡¯t want to hug him!¡± Ji Zeqiu protested first.


    Bearing the heart sign was enough, but why add a hug?


    Ji Tingyang also expressed his distaste, his indifferent eyes sweeping across the camera lens, and those emotionless eyes gave off a faint sense of pressure, ¡°Don¡¯t make excessive requests.¡±


    Cotton Comforter: ¡°Big brother is so cool, I¡¯m in love, I¡¯ve become a fan!¡±


    Chips: ¡°Wuwu, Auntie, big brother scolded me¡­¡±


    The livestream that night was very lively, and several threads about Ji Zeqiu and Ji Tingyang stayed high on the trending searches.


    This matter was thus settled.


    But what made Ji Zeqiu happiest was that from now on, there was no need to be so careful when going out with Lin Xu.


    By the next day, the scandal involving Ji Zeqiu had calmed down.


    The agent organized some material, ready to sue those rumor-spreading marketing accounts and trolls to take down the rumors about Ji Zeqiu and Lin Xu.


    However, what was unexpected was the strong support received upon reporting the issue to the higher-ups.


    ¡°President Xie said we must firmly protect the rights and interests of our artists. Just go ahead with it, the company will cover the expenses,¡± the agent was told.


    The agent was pleasantly surprised and quickly shared the good news with Ji Zeqiu.


    Who knew that upon hearing this, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s expression suddenly turned sour, ¡°Self-serving under the guise of public interest, who knows if he¡¯s protecting the company¡¯s artists or someone else.¡±


    ¡°Someone else?¡± the agent asked back in confusion.


    ¡°¡­It¡¯s nothing.¡± Ji Zeqiu¡¯s eyes flickered, not saying much, ¡°Right, have you found out about the photos?¡±


    ¡°Found them.¡± The agent sent the findings to Ji Zeqiu, excitement evident in their expression, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect it to be someone from Chenxing Entertainment, isn¡¯t this putting them right in your line of fire? With a move from your big brother, couldn¡¯t this all be easily dealt with?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu pursed his lips tightly, ¡°I don¡¯t need him to intervene in my affairs.¡±


    Meanwhile, inside Chenxing Entertainment.


    After seeing that Ji Zeqiu and Ji Tingyang were brothers, the man held his phone with hands shaking slightly and abruptly stood up to enter the office.


    ¡°Cousin, what should we do?!¡± The man¡¯s lips trembled involuntarily as he spoke, his heart in turmoil, ¡°What if President Ji investigates this, will I be kicked out of Chenxing?¡±


    The woman sitting at the office desk was already frazzled with worry, ¡°Getting out of the contract is one thing, but what I¡¯m most afraid of is President Ji blacklisting you in the industry to protect his brother.¡±


    ¡°Cousin, you have to help me!¡± The man¡¯s voice was shrill, almost breaking, his pupils filled with fear.


    ¡°Zheng Haoguang, have you lost your mind? Why did you have to provoke Ji Zeqiu? It would have been fine if it didn¡¯t work out the first time, but you didn¡¯t know when to stop and insisted on fighting him,¡± the woman almost ground her teeth in frustration.


    Zheng Haoguang¡¯s eyes flickered as he guiltily said, ¡°I just couldn¡¯t swallow that pride.¡±


    At a party last time, he had merely hit on Shen Qingtang, only to be publicly chastised by Ji Zeqiu, making it impossible for him to save face.


    He had never suffered such humiliation before.


    He then collected some dirt on Ji Zeqiu, wanting to teach him a lesson.


    And he indeed found something.


    Although the woman¡¯s face in the photos was blurred, it was more than sufficient; a few marketing accounts would make a fuss and that would be enough to give Ji Zeqiu a headache.


    But unexpectedly, those photos didn¡¯t cause much of a stir at all and were quickly brushed aside by Ji Zeqiu.


    Lately, a few paparazzi he¡¯d worked with before captured new photos, and he posted them all online, hoping to cause another commotion. But what came out instead was the wave revealing that he was Ji Tingyang¡¯s brother.


    Now Zheng Haoguang really regretted being honest.


    ¡°What can I even say to you.¡± The woman sighed, praying that he had been discreet enough not to get discovered, only to see the next moment on her phone the news about her cousin.


    #Shock, a popular actor behind the scenes harassing a female actress.#

 Chapter 160 - Chapter 160: Chapter 160: Do You Find It Fun to Deceive Me?

    Chapter 160: Chapter 160: Do You Find It Fun to Deceive Me?


    Weibo exploded with a scandal involving a popular actor harassing female artists. The post contained numerous testimonies from lesser-known actresses, saying that although the actor appeared gentlemanly and polite on the surface, behind closed doors, he was actually a player.


    He enjoyed harassing artists without fame, convincing them to spend the night with him in exchange for career opportunities.


    To make their claims more convincing, they even shared the actor¡¯s chat logs.


    ¡°Come over tonight, and I¡¯ll introduce you to Director Guo tomorrow. How about getting you a supporting role in his drama?¡±


    ¡°Baby, you looked really sexy today. Did you miss me?¡±


    ¡°Room number 106¡­¡±


    The identity of the male actor was not revealed in the post, but the power of the masses is formidable.


    In less than half an hour, sleuthing netizens traced the connections from the shared experiences of the female artists and the unique traits and profile picture in the chat logs to Zheng Haoguang.


    As Zheng Haoguang looked at his private messages and the growing list of insults in the comments section of the post, he panicked, ¡°Cousin, what should I do? You must help me!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t panic, you must not admit to anything, got it?¡± the woman consoled him while calling the agent and the public relations department to issue legal letters debunking the rumors.


    ¡°Sis, this is a bit difficult to handle¡­¡± someone from the PR department hesitated.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a legal notice, what¡¯s so difficult about that!¡± the woman snapped.


    ¡°Actually¡­ President Ji has already contacted us, saying that he posted on Weibo to disassociate Chenxing from Zheng. By now, that post must have been published; you should be able to see it.¡± The PR department informed her.


    What post?


    The woman frowned, ended the call, and logged back into Weibo.


    Sure enough, the latest response included an official post from Chenxing Entertainment.


    The statement declared a refusal to work with subpar artists and announced the termination of their contract with Mr. Zheng Haoguang.


    With this statement, it was basically an indirect admission that Zheng Haoguang was the actor accused of harassment on the trending searches.


    The online discussion erupted instantaneously, condemning Zheng Haoguang with unforgiving criticism.


    All of a sudden, every product he endorsed rushed to issue statements announcing the termination of their endorsement contracts with him.


    ¡°Ding-ling-ling¡­¡±


    The phone¡¯s ringing broke the silence.


    As soon as Zheng Haoguang answered the phone, a reporter¡¯s questions came through, ¡°Mr. Zheng, what do you have to say about the news of you harassing female artists on the internet? Does Chenxing ending their contract with you have anything to do with this? Is this matter true? Are you¡­¡±


    The incessant questioning buzzed annoyingly like a mosquito.


    Zheng Haoguang quickly hung up, but to his dismay, another call came through instantly.


    It was from other media outlets seeking to cover the harassment issue.


    With the phone ringing non-stop, a helpless Zheng Haoguang had no choice but to turn off his phone.


    ¡°Cousin¡­¡± His face paled, hands shaking as he clutched the phone.


    The woman¡¯s face also turned sour.


    The situation had escalated so rapidly, just minutes after the Ji Zeqiu scandal was over, Ji Tingyang had the PR department issue the statement.


    This coincidence could very well mean that they had found out what Zheng Haoguang had done.


    And since she and Zheng Haoguang were cousins, what if Ji Tingyang thought she was involved in the scandal too and it ended up affecting her as well?


    At this thought, her expression suddenly became grim.


    ¡°President Ji will definitely act in his own family¡¯s interest. You dared to recklessly do such a thing, now learn to take responsibility. Leave now, I can no longer protect you.¡±


    Zheng Haoguang¡¯s face drained of all color as he pleaded, clutching the woman¡¯s arm, ¡°Cousin, you can¡¯t abandon me like this. We¡¯re family!¡±


    ¡°Instead of begging me, you should beg President Ji for leniency.¡± The woman shook off his hand and walked away.


    Women can turn heartless on a dime.


    The affection between cousins could never outweigh the importance of one¡¯s own future.


    ¡°Cousin¡­¡±


    Perhaps inspired by the bravery of someone stepping forward, other victims mustered their courage, coming forth with evidence to expose him online.


    The incident with Zheng Haoguang sparked discussions on the internet for three or four days.


    However, Lin Xu was completely unaware of these events; she truly believed that the paparazzi had caught her and Ji Zeqiu by accident during their outing.


    The two brothers tacitly decided not to explain the matter to her.


    Ji Zeqiu thought he could handle the issues himself without causing Lin Xu any additional worries, and Ji Tingyang didn¡¯t want an outsider to divert Lin Xu¡¯s attention ¨C it was best if his mother only thought of him.


    ¡°Mother, be careful when you go out, okay? If any paparazzi try to take your picture, you must tell me,¡± Ji Zeqiu couldn¡¯t help but remind her again.


    Lin Xu¡¯s eyes remained on her phone, and without lifting her head, she nodded, ¡°Okay, I got it.¡±


    ¡°I have to go to work now.¡±


    ¡°Alright, off you go.¡±


    ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Ji Zeqiu pursed his lips, slightly dissatisfied that her attention wasn¡¯t on him.


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Mother wasn¡¯t even listening to him!


    Annoyed, Ji Zeqiu nuzzled against her shoulder and complained, ¡°Is the phone more interesting than your son?¡±


    Lin Xu couldn¡¯t help but laugh, her attention finally returning to him.


    ¡°I¡¯m chatting with your fans, asking them to support you more,¡± Lin Xu turned her phone to show him.


    Willow Wadding: [Ji Zeqiu¡¯s new drama is premiering soon. Everyone remember to watch on time, okay?]


    [Ahhh, Sister Xu is here!]


    [To think the biggest insider was among us fans all along! I can¡¯t believe Sister Xu is Baby Ji¡¯s aunt!]


    [How could you bear to keep this from us for so long, wuu wuu wuu¡­]


    There had been fans in Ji Zeqiu¡¯s fan club who had met Lin Xu before and had participated in support events together, so as soon as the news came out, they immediately knew it was Lin Xu.


    [Auntie, can you get me a few autographed photos of Baby Ji? I¡¯ve really liked him for a long time.]


    Seeing that his mother was concerned about his affairs, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s lips curled uncontrollably, and he couldn¡¯t suppress his joy, ¡°I¡¯ll ask Brother Zhao to get some posters later. You can give them to them.¡±


    ¡°Okay, you better get going to work,¡± Lin Xu said, ruffling his hair.


    Calmed by Lin Xu¡¯s soothing touch, Ji Zeqiu left for work with a bounce in his step, looking particularly smug.


    And over these past few days, Lin Xu kept feeling like she had forgotten something.


    But no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn¡¯t remember what it was.


    Until she bumped into Xie Changyan in the elevator at the mall¡­


    The elevator doors opened, and Xie Changyan stood with his hands in his pockets, leaning casually against the elevator¡¯s interior, his eyes lazily swirling with a sense of languor.


    Even though he had reached the first floor, he made no move, his gaze brushing over her as if waiting for her to enter.


    Lin Xu steeled herself and stepped in, the elevator doors closing once more behind her.


    Xie Changyan pulled her into his embrace, his fingers pinching her chin, his tone leisurely yet with a hint of danger.


    ¡°Did you have fun deceiving me?¡±

 Chapter 161 - Chapter 161: Chapter 161: Discordant Father-Daughter Relationship

    Chapter 161: Chapter 161: Discordant Father-Daughter Relationship


    Because of the scandal involving Ji Zeqiu, Lin Xu dared not leave her house for several days, filling her time by arranging flowers and flipping through magazines at home.


    She felt as if she was about to grow mold, but Ji Tingyang was secretly happy about it.


    Only today, when everything had calmed down and no one paid attention to the matter any longer, did Lin Xu finally dare to go out, but she hadn¡¯t expected to run into Xie Changyan at the mall, coincidentally.


    In the moment she saw him, Lin Xu finally remembered what she had forgotten before.


    She had intended to find time to clarify her relationship with Ji Tingyang to Xie Changyan, but who would have thought that an accident would happen first?


    The first person she confessed to was the public, not Xie Changyan.


    Lin Xu had thought about calling him to explain, but she dared not turn on her phone during that time and intended to tell him later.


    But some things, once postponed, can easily be forgotten.


    The hand Xie Changyan used to pinch her chin was forceful, and his long, beautiful eyes held a deadly danger, ¡°Did you find it fun to lie to me?¡±


    The moment he saw the trending search, he wanted to call Lin Xu to confirm, but her phone was off, and she was unreachable.


    Because of this, he even called Ji Tingyang, attempting to find Lin Xu through him.


    Sure enough, after hearing it was him, Ji Tingyang immediately blocked his number.


    He had waited a long time for Lin Xu to reach out, and yet, he ran into her shopping at the mall.


    Seeing the happiness on her face just moments before encountering him, Xie Changyan didn¡¯t need to guess to know she must have forgotten about him.


    Truly heartless.


    Thinking of this, the hand he held around her waist grew heavier.


    Lin Xu¡¯s gaze wandered all around, avoiding looking into his eyes as she argued, ¡°I didn¡¯t lie to you, you misunderstood.¡±


    A scoff sounded beside her ear, and Xie Changyan¡¯s lazy eyes narrowed, ¡°Then who said they would get a divorce?¡±


    Lin Xu¡¯s face revealed a pleasing smile, and her voice weakened, ¡°I later thought it was too fun, sorry.


    When she used to encounter Ji Yanli, he always played tricks on her with his lazy, indifferent, and confident demeanor.


    Now that he had rare lapses of memory, she couldn¡¯t help but tease him a bit whenever she saw him getting jealous in secret.


    Xie Changyan felt a wave of irritation surge in his heart, unsure if he was annoyed by her evasiveness or irked by the fact that he couldn¡¯t bring himself to scold her even though he knew she was feigning innocence.


    All the previous struggles and conflicts seemed like a joke.


    He closed his eyes, his palm resting on the back of her head as if venting, and bit hard on her soft lips.


    Lin Xu let out a soft hiss of pain. Unable to break free from the control of his hand, she had no choice but to silently endure his biting filled with rage.


    ¡°Xie Changyan, there¡¯s a camera in the elevator¡­¡± Lin Xu¡¯s voice was muffled, her breaths intermingling with her lips and teeth uneven.


    However, the man completely ignored her words, invading her red lips without consent, taking everything from her.


    The ¡°ding¡± sound.


    The elevator doors slowly opened.


    Lin Xu¡¯s blurry consciousness suddenly cleared, and she pushed against his chest to prevent him from coming closer again.


    Xie Changyan also knew this was not the place for solitude. He took a deep breath, calming the turbulent breath within him, and his hoarse voice rang in her ear, ¡°Go wait for me in the parking lot.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t, I have an appointment today.¡± Lin Xu refused to leave with him.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s brow furrowed, ¡°What appointment?¡±


    As soon as the words were spoken, a voice came from not far away.


    ¡°Lin Xu!¡± Ji Yuqiao waved her hand and ran over with joy in her steps.


    ¡°Look, we made plans to go shopping together.¡± Lin Xu¡¯s eyes twinkled with amusement as she teased about his momentary doubt, ¡°It¡¯s with girls, no guys involved.¡±


    Without the awkwardness of being exposed, Xie Changyan¡¯s expression remained composed, ¡°Call me when you¡¯re done shopping.¡±


    ¡°After I finish shopping, it will depend on my mood.¡± Lin Xu said.


    Xie Changyan let out a chuckle, his fingers gently brushing the stray hairs beside her ear, leaving only the words ¡°Let¡¯s have dinner together tonight¡± before he was urged by the phone call in his hand to step back into the elevator and head down to the first floor once more.


    It wasn¡¯t until his figure disappeared that Ji Yuqiao, gripping Lin Xu¡¯s arm, whispered in a shrill scream, ¡°Lin Xu, who is he? He¡¯s even more handsome than Big Brother and Second Brother!¡±


    ¡°You must never say that in front of them, or they would never let you off the hook.¡± Lin Xu chuckled softly.


    Ji Yuqiao snorted, ¡°Of course not.¡±


    She had once complimented a handsome actor she saw on TV, and Ji Zeqiu felt unsatisfied when he heard it.


    He insisted she choose between him and that actor, as to who was more handsome.


    She was tired of the face she¡¯d seen for over a decade, no matter how handsome, but for the sake of her allowance, she reluctantly chose Ji Zeqiu against her guilty conscience, and only then did he let it go.


    As Ji Yuqiao strolled with Lin Xu, she vented about Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu.


    Listening to their past amusing life stories, Lin Xu felt closer to them and was engrossed in the tales.


    Time quickly passed, and the afternoon arrived.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s call came as promised, asking where Lin Xu and Ji Yuqiao were now, planning to pick them up for dinner.


    ¡°You two go ahead and eat. I¡¯ll head back to school first.¡± Ji Yuqiao didn¡¯t want to intrude on their time together.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a meal, let¡¯s eat together and then head back to school.¡± Lin Xu was keen to give the father and daughter more time together.


    Ji Yuqiao hesitated for a moment, then agreed.


    However, once they arrived at the restaurant, Ji Yuqiao deeply regretted her decision.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been studying so hard lately, eat more meat and maybe win another award in the national competition.¡± Lin Xu almost made a little mountain out of the food in her bowl.


    ¡°That¡¯s too much, I can¡¯t eat all that, I need to diet.¡± Ji Yuqiao stopped her from putting more food in her bowl.


    Diet?


    Lin Xu glanced at her slender figure with a slight frown. Before she could speak, a low and stern voice arose next to them.


    ¡°No need to diet, eat everything.¡±


    Xie Changyan tapped next to Ji Yuqiao¡¯s bowl and chopsticks, his tone authoritative and brooking no argument, signaling her to finish all the food in her bowl.


    This serious demeanor inexplicably reminded Ji Yuqiao of Ji Tingyang, who often lectured her, but this man was even more intimidating.


    Whether it was the pressure of their blood ties or something else, she shuddered and quickly grabbed her chopsticks to start eating.


    Throughout the meal, Ji Yuqiao sat very straight, not daring to be picky, eating until her stomach felt like it would burst.


    When Xie Changyan stepped out to get the car, Ji Yuqiao, in pain, whispered a complaint to Lin Xu, ¡°He¡¯s so scary, I never want to have dinner with him again.¡±


    Lin Xu didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry.


    She wondered what kind of ability Xie Changyan had that made all three kids want to avoid him so much.


    Could it be that future father-son and father-daughter relationships would all be strained?

 Chapter 162 - Chapter 162: Chapter 162: Speaking with Confidence

    Chapter 162: Chapter 162: Speaking with Confidence


    When Ji Tingyang changed into casual clothes and came down from the second floor, he happened to see Lin Xu and Ji Yuqiao returning home together.


    Both of them were carrying many things, and as soon as they got home, they collapsed on the sofa, wincing in pain as they rubbed their arms.


    Ji Tingyang walked over and started to massage Lin Xu¡¯s arms, ¡°You bought so much stuff, why didn¡¯t you ask me to help you carry it?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t think of it. After shopping, we rushed to eat and I forgot,¡± Ji Yuqiao stretched her arms out in front of Ji Tingyang, insisting he massage her as well, but Ji Tingyang coldly and disdainfully shrugged her off.


    ¡°Where did you go to eat?¡± Ji Tingyang asked.


    Ji Yuqiao was extremely dissatisfied with her brother¡¯s partial treatment.


    Her elder brother used to dote on her so much; when she had nightmares at night as a child, he would pat her back and coax her to sleep, now he didn¡¯t even want to massage her arms.


    ¡°We went to a private restaurant with a friend of Lin Xu. He¡¯s much handsomer than you, big brother!¡± Ji Yuqiao snorted coldly. In the next second, she whispered, ¡°but the man is a bit fierce, I¡­¡±


    She hadn¡¯t finished mumbling when her knee got nudged.


    Lin Xu nudged her leg towards Ji Yuqiao, and as Ji Yuqiao looked her way, Lin Xu frantically gestured with her eyes.


    Only then did Ji Yuqiao remember Lin Xu¡¯s warning and suddenly shut her mouth, not daring to say another word.


    Before coming back, Lin Xu had told her never to mention Xie Changyan to her brother, otherwise, he would get angry.


    Thinking of this, Ji Yuqiao carefully looked at Ji Tingyang.


    All she saw was his unfazed eyes and fingertips massaging Lin Xu¡¯s arms as if he hadn¡¯t heard what she had said.


    Lin Xu also noticed his indifferent appearance and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.


    ¡°We¡¯ll go upstairs to put away the things first.¡± She withdrew her hand and then beckoned to Ji Yuqiao. The two hurriedly went upstairs.


    As soon as their figures disappeared, the calmness in Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes deepened, and his face instantly turned as dark as ink.


    It was Xie Changyan again¡­


    Unlike Ji Tingyang¡¯s gloom, Xie Changyan, who was hated, was feeling very pleased these days.


    Wherever he went, the light smile in his eyes never faded.


    ¡°You seem very happy these days, President Xie,¡± Su Linzhou said as he watched his pleased appearance leaning on the sofa, unable to resist teasing, ¡°even coming to fetch documents yourself, something so minor.¡±


    In the past, it was always Su Linzhou who went to Xie¡¯s to find him, so Su Linzhou was shocked when he saw him actively coming to Su¡¯s this time.


    Xie Changyan lifted a long leg lazily glancing at him, with a casual voice that carried a hint of bragging, ¡°Just dropped her off and passed by here on the way, so I came to pick it up.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, I know you just finished a date. Taking the trouble to come and rub it in, be careful it backfires.¡± Su Linzhou disliked his smug attitude and clicked his tongue in disgust.


    It was unknown who, just a few days ago, walked around with a cold face, almost ready to hire a hitman to kill Ji Tingyang.


    Now knowing that Lin Xu and Ji Tingyang weren¡¯t the married couple he had imagined, the smile at the corner of his lips never dissipated.


    ¡°I should go.¡± Xie Changyan ignored his teasing, picked up the documents, and then got up to leave.


    However, just as he left the office, he unexpectedly bumped into someone in the corridor.


    Ji Tingyang walked along the corridor following an employee. Their eyes met when Xie Changyan arrived, and Ji Tingyang¡¯s steps faltered.


    At that moment, both of them paused imperceptibly.


    ¡°President Ji, are you here to see my brother?¡± Su Linzhou greeted Ji Tingyang.


    Ji Tingyang nodded and responded briefly, his cold gaze swept past Xie Changyan without any intention of engaging in conversation.


    Xie Changyan didn¡¯t mind, brushing past Ji Tingyang and casually said to Su Linzhou, ¡°I¡¯m off tomorrow, don¡¯t call me unless it¡¯s urgent.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re off tomorrow, and it¡¯s not even the weekend. What are you taking a break for?¡± Su Linzhou was initially puzzled, but soon caught on, his tone teasing, ¡°Oh? Are you going on a date?¡±


    Xie Changyan raised his eyebrows noncommittally.


    Ji Tingyang remembered that Lin Xu had mentioned they were going to the Aquarium tomorrow. His indifferent eyes darkened a bit. He couldn¡¯t suppress the gloom weighing on his chest and stopped in his tracks, ¡°It seems Young Master Xie won¡¯t be able to join tomorrow, we are going for a picnic in the countryside.¡±


    A few chuckles escaped from Xie Changyan¡¯s chest. He turned to look at him, ¡°The day after tomorrow is also not bad.¡±


    ¡°We are staying overnight in the countryside, and we won¡¯t be free for the next week,¡± Ji Tingyang said coldly.


    ¡°If not this week, then next week, or next month. She will have to meet me eventually,¡± Xie Changyan smiled slightly, ¡°Do you really plan to watch over her for a lifetime?¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s hand clenched tightly, his fingertips turning white, and his nails dug a painful indent in the palm of his hand.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be too controlling over someone else¡¯s emotional life,¡± Xie Changyan¡¯s tone was nonchalant, yet it hit Ji Tingyang¡¯s face, making him look even worse.


    Su Linzhou couldn¡¯t help but admire him by Xie Changyan¡¯s side, ¡°Ever since he knew he wasn¡¯t the other man, he has spoken much more boldly.¡±


    Previously, even a hand-hold had to be sneaky; he wouldn¡¯t dare to confront Ji Tingyang so openly.


    He wanted to joke a bit more, but then, after receiving Xie Changyan¡¯s cold warning look, he immediately fell silent.


    Suddenly.


    An ambiguous scoffing sound came.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes held a hint of mockery, ¡°Do you think she really likes you?¡±


    His mother was willing to give him more glances merely because of his face that resembled his father¡¯s.


    He was just a substitute.


    Xie Changyan raised an eyebrow, waiting for Ji Tingyang to speak further, but Ji Tingyang said no more and walked into another office.


    ¡°What did he mean by that?¡± Su Linzhou wondered.


    Xie Changyan simply shrugged it off.


    The next day.


    Xie Changyan went to pick up Lin Xu. Seeing her cheerful expression as she got into the car, he casually asked, ¡°Weren¡¯t you supposed to go for a picnic?¡±


    ¡°Ah? What picnic?¡± Lin Xu blinked in confusion.


    Xie Changyan tapped his fingers on the steering wheel and scoffed lightly, ¡°Never mind.¡±


    It was unclear whether Ji Tingyang had spoken casually or had cancelled the picnic because of what he said.


    But none of that mattered.


    He started the car and drove to the Aquarium.


    Unlike the last time when they had the place to themselves, today the Aquarium was packed with tourists, bustling and lively.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t today a workday? Why are there so many people?¡± Lin Xu sweated from her forehead as she squeezed through the crowd, ¡°I remember you don¡¯t like crowded places, right?¡±


    Xie Changyan held her hand tightly to prevent her from getting lost in the crowd, ¡°Do I?¡±


    ¡°Ah, isn¡¯t it? Maybe I remembered wrong¡­¡± Lin Xu quickly corrected herself.


    Previously, Ji Yanli disliked going to crowded places, and she subconsciously thought Xie Changyan was the same, speaking without thinking.


    Xie Changyan watched her slightly guilty shifting gaze, and a strange feeling suddenly surged in his chest.


    Unexplainable.


    He remembered Ji Tingyang¡¯s words¡ª¡±Do you think she really likes you?¡±

 Chapter 163 - Chapter 163: Chapter 163 You Are Just a Substitute

    Chapter 163: Chapter 163 You Are Just a Substitute


    The Aquarium had an event today, and most of the visitors had come specifically for that.


    Xie Changyan guarded Lin Xu as he led her to the front row.


    ¡°What exactly is this event, you didn¡¯t reveal a single word, it¡¯s so mysterious.¡± Lin Xu muttered dissatisfactorily.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s fingers caressed her cheek a few times, and a light laugh escaped his throat, ¡°It¡¯s almost time, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    As soon as his voice faded.


    In the huge observation glass in front of Lin Xu, suddenly there was a mermaid with a graceful and elegant posture.


    She swam freely among the crystal-clear jellyfish, accompanied by ethereal and melodious music, occasionally dancing with the beluga beside her, displaying a dreamlike beauty.


    Not far away, the figure of a Prince emerged. At the moment the music was about to end, the mermaid leapt into his arms, and with a kiss, both disappeared into the water.


    The somewhat familiar scene made Lin Xu involuntarily think of Ji Yanli¡­


    It was their second big argument, Lin Xu crossed her arms and turned her back to him, unwilling to forgive him easily.


    ¡°I clearly told you I needed to go out today, how am I supposed to leave looking like this!¡± she was infuriated.


    Her lips were swollen, with broken skin in the middle oozing a vague pain, and she could even smell the metallic scent of blood.


    He embraced her from behind, his chin resting on her shoulder and his warm breath against her ear, ¡°It¡¯s my fault, I lost control. I know I was wrong, forgive me, please~¡±


    His slightly magnetic voice carried a hint of coaxing, but she couldn¡¯t sense any remorse in it.


    She became even angrier.


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me.¡±


    ¡°What can I do to be forgiven? Should I pluck stars or the moon for you?¡± Ji Yanli¡¯s deep voice carried a playful tone by her ears.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want those.¡± Lin Xu turned her head away.


    With his capabilities, buying the naming rights for a small planet was easy, so it wouldn¡¯t be too easy for him.


    His lips slightly parted, and the tip of his teeth gently grazed her earlobe, ¡°Then tell me, what should I do?¡±


    It felt like electricity flowing through her ears, causing Lin Xu¡¯s body to shiver involuntarily.


    She turned around and pushed Ji Yanli away, glaring at his mischievous mouth, ¡°Unless you get the director to change the script, making the Mermaid Princess and the Prince end up together in the movie!¡±


    She had watched a romance movie two days prior where the mermaid died under the villain¡¯s sword to save the Prince.


    Lin Xu was devastated, crying until she had used up a whole box of tissues, yet he showed no reaction, even going as far as to bluntly state that everything in the movie was fake.


    On hearing this, Ji Yanli laughed softly, ¡°The mermaid in the movie couldn¡¯t survive, but what about this mermaid of mine?¡±


    He laughed as he pinned Lin Xu down on the sofa, which meant she ultimately couldn¡¯t make it out of the house.


    The cheers of the nearby visitors pulled Lin Xu out of her memories.


    Her eyes brightened, and she turned to Xie Changyan in astonishment, ¡°Where did they disappear to at the end? I didn¡¯t see them come up, and their breath-holding is too incredible!¡±


    Not only was the mermaid¡¯s tail impressively realistic, but their breath-holding skill too, as she didn¡¯t see them come to the surface to breathe throughout the performance.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s eyes held a faint smile, ¡°All of these are 3D projection technology, they don¡¯t need to hold their breath, and it¡¯s more visually appealing too.¡±


    ¡°So that¡¯s what it was.¡± Lin Xu was shocked.


    The technology 20 years later is truly impressive.


    Last time in the Aquarium, these marine creatures seemed just within reach, and this time, even a mermaid indistinguishable from a real one was created.


    The event ended.


    The crowded visitors had already dispersed, and the air became much clearer.


    ¡°As long as you like it, this technology hasn¡¯t been wasted.¡± Xie Changyan smiled.


    ¡°Is this technology done by your company?¡± Lin Xu¡¯s eyes widened slightly.


    ¡°Mm.¡±


    ¡°Was this specifically for me to see today, why did you make this short film, and why did you end with the mermaid and the prince?¡± Her eyes shone brightly, harboring barely noticeable expectations.


    ¡°It was just a random plot idea.¡±


    ¡°¡­Oh.¡±


    Xie Changyan caught a fleeting hint of disappointment in her eyes, and that strange feeling surged up from the bottom of his heart again.


    And this odd feeling became even more pronounced when Lin Xu took him to buy ice cream on the roadside.


    She ordered one scoop of each flavor at the display, cradling a big bowl full of them.


    ¡°What flavor would the gentleman like?¡± the clerk asked Xie Changyan.


    Xie Changyan looked at Lin Xu holding a big bowl full of ice cream scoops, a faint smile playing on his lips.


    The words ¡°the same as hers¡± had not yet left his mouth when Lin Xu answered for him.


    ¡°No need, he doesn¡¯t like ice cream.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± the clerk nodded.


    Xie Changyan narrowed his eyes, pinched her cheek narrowly, ¡°Who said I don¡¯t like ice cream?¡±


    ¡°Ah, you like it?¡± Lin Xu stared briefly, ¡°I¡­ I might have remembered wrong. What flavor would you like? I have a lot in my bowl, we could share.¡±


    She apologetically held up her bowl of ice cream toward him.


    Misremembered¡­


    Misremembered who?


    Xie Changyan¡¯s gaze lowered, a myriad of doubts and irritations churning in his chest.


    The night grew dark.


    Lin Xu was tired from the day¡¯s activities, sitting drowsily in the car, her head bobbing like a pecking chicken.


    Xie Changyan leaned her head against his shoulder, his fingertips lightly brushing her cheek while he cautioned the driver to drive slower.


    But even the slowest speed eventually reaches its destination.


    ¡°We¡¯re home now, time to wake up.¡±


    Perhaps Xie Changyan¡¯s voice was too gentle, for Lin Xu continued to sleep soundly in her dreams.


    Just as he hesitated about whether to wake her up, Ji Tingyang, noticing the car at the door, came straight over.


    Without a greeting, Ji Tingyang abruptly opened the car door, and his cheeks seemed to be enveloped in a layer of cold frost when he saw Lin Xu leaning on Xie Changyan¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Thanks for bringing her back, Young Master Xie.¡±


    He leaned into the car, reaching to lift Lin Xu out.


    ¡°No trouble, I¡¯ve got it.¡± Xie Changyan swiftly took Lin Xu down from the car, intending to walk towards the villa.


    Ji Tingyang naturally blocked him, his gaze as sharp as a blade on Xie Changyan, ¡°No need, this is our home.¡±


    Xie Changyan¡¯s relaxed tone carried a smile, ¡°Maybe we¡¯ll be family in the future.¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s hand at his side clenched and then loosened, unable to contain the anger that had been suppressed in his heart for days, suddenly surging forth.


    ¡°Family?¡± he scoffed: ¡°You¡¯re too full of yourself. In her heart, you¡¯re nothing but a substitute.¡±


    Ji Tingyang ignored Xie Changyan¡¯s stunned expression, took Lin Xu from his arms, and carried her into the house.

 Chapter 164 - Chapter 164: Chapter 164: Who Does She Think He Is?

    Chapter 164: Chapter 164: Who Does She Think He Is?


    Substitute?


    Did he think he was in a TV drama?


    Xie Changyan didn¡¯t take Ji Tingyang¡¯s words to heart. His spoon casually stirred in the coffee cup as he looked up at the woman sitting in front of him.


    In her arms, she held a small cat, first stroking its ears and then playfully squeezing its belly. Watching the kitty meowing comfortably in her palm brought a bright smile to her eyes.


    Her smiling face curved like a crescent moon as she gently rubbed the kitten against her cheek.


    Without guessing, Xie Changyan could tell she really liked this little cat.


    ¡°Is this the place you said you really wanted to visit?¡± he asked, watching the woman play with the kitten, a faint smile on his lips.


    Before the weekend arrived, Lin Xu had sent him a message, asking him to meet up over the weekend as there was a place she really wanted to visit.


    Lin Xu¡¯s lips curved into a smile, which spread across her face, ¡°Of course, so many people online recommend this cat caf¨¦. Look at how adorable this little cat is.¡±


    She placed the kitten on the table and held its tiny paws, posing it in a couple of cute positions for Xie Changyan.


    The kitten, as if unwilling to endure her playfulness anymore, meowed in protest a couple of times before struggling out of her hands and quickly vanished into a nearby group of cats.


    ¡°Ah, it ran away¡­¡± Lin Xu¡¯s voice carried a tone of regret.


    The next instant, another unafraid little cat jumped onto her lap, cooing and acting cute.


    Lin Xu quickly forgot about the previous cat and held the new arrival, unwilling to let go.


    Xie Changyan suddenly remembered another time they had barbeque when she had excitedly chased after a stray cat she saw from afar.


    However, the stray cat ran too fast and what was meant for the kitten landed on his lips instead.


    Thinking back, Xie Changyan¡¯s smile deepened, ¡°Do you like little cats?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve wanted to keep one for a while, but never had the chance,¡± Lin Xu said regretfully.


    At that time, Ji Tingyang was only a few months old, and she was worried that cat fur might affect the baby¡¯s breathing, thinking of waiting until he was older to get a cat.


    But then Ji Zeqiu and Ji Yuqiao came along, and the idea of getting a cat kept being postponed until it never happened.


    ¡°Back when I was overseas, I saw a vendor selling Scottish Fold cats, and you even said you would buy one for me, but then you got busy and forgot about it,¡± Lin Xu puffed up her cheeks, sounding huffy.


    Xie Changyan paused in his stirring of the coffee, ¡°Me?¡±


    Seeing the confusion in his eyes, Lin Xu quickly realized he didn¡¯t remember those things and hurried to explain, ¡°No, I was talking about someone else.¡±


    Someone else?


    Whom did she mistake him for?


    Xie Changyan looked down, his gaze on the dark coffee in his cup, his fingers slightly curved.


    Oddly enough.


    The word ¡°substitute¡± flashed through his mind.


    But seeing Lin Xu¡¯s brimming smile, Xie Changyan pushed that absurd thought down.


    The two of them stayed in the cat caf¨¦ for an afternoon. Before driving away, Xie Changyan still handed her the gift box that had been in the car.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Lin Xu asked surprisedly as she took it.


    Inside lay a pair of pink diamond-studded earrings, sparkling softly under the sunlight.


    ¡°A gift for you, try them on?¡± Xie Changyan said.


    Lin Xu replaced the old earrings she wore and then reached up to wrap her arms around his neck. She drew her head very close to him, ¡°Do they look good?¡±


    Xie Changyan¡¯s fingers traced her ear before sliding down to her cheek, gently lifting her chin and planting a light, barely-there kiss.


    ¡°They look very nice,¡± his voice was slightly husky.


    Lin Xu laughed softly, ¡°Is this an anniversary gift? Just this little bit isn¡¯t enough.¡±


    Today was their 10th anniversary of being together. In the past, Ji Yanli always prepared a lot of surprise gifts for her, making this day especially grand.


    A few days earlier, when she had seen the date, she even found herself secretly hoping, hoping that although he had forgotten her, perhaps instinctively he would remember today was a special day.


    The moment she received the gift, Lin Xu couldn¡¯t stop her joy.


    As he touched her cheek, his hand paused, and Xie Changyan¡¯s brows furrowed, ¡°Anniversary?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Lin Xu.


    Disaster.


    She had accidentally blurted out what was in her heart.


    The annoyance in her eyes flickered briefly. She widened her eyes, trying to get away with a naive and innocent expression, ¡°Anniv¡­ anniversary of our first day coming to the cat cafe.¡±


    Xie Changyan caught the uneasiness in her voice, and his emotions sank.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s words echoed again in his mind¡ª


    ¡°Do you really think she likes you?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re just a substitute.¡±


    He knew he shouldn¡¯t take Ji Tingyang¡¯s words to heart, but those words were like a fly that found its way into any opening. Whenever he sensed something odd, those sentences would pop up in his mind, replaying over and over.


    Seeing that Xie Changyan was staring at her without speaking for a long while, Lin Xu¡¯s heart suddenly tightened, ¡°What¡¯s, what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Nothing, just thinking¡­¡± Xie Changyan pressed down the discomfort in his heart, his fingers curling a strand of hair behind her ear, ¡°Should we also commemorate our first meeting, first movie, and also.¡±


    His deep voice sounded in her ear, carrying a tempting huskiness, ¡°Our first kiss.¡±


    Lin Xu¡¯s cheeks suddenly turned red, ¡°Um, if you want to commemorate that, I guess we could.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll take you out tomorrow for an anniversary.¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°The thirtieth day anniversary of our first movie.¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow won¡¯t work, I have other plans,¡± Lin Xu was slightly troubled.


    Ji Yuqiao was going to the neighboring city tomorrow to participate in a national math competition, taken there by her teacher by high speed train. But since it was a long trip, she still wanted to go to the train station to see her off.


    The next day.


    Ji Tingyang, working part-time as a driver, took Lin Xu to the train station.


    ¡°Lin Xu, you really came to see me off?!¡± Ji Yuqiao ran over and hugged her neck, jumping excitedly on the spot, ¡°You¡¯re so kind.¡±


    ¡°Did you forget there is another person here?¡± A light tone came from beside them.


    ¡°Do you want a hug too?¡± Ji Yuqiao glanced at Ji Tingyang, then huffed and turned her head, ¡°Only if you unfreeze the credit card and give me back my allowance.¡±


    If it weren¡¯t for her second brother and Lin Xu, she would have definitely starved during this period.


    ¡°Unfreeze it and then spend money on Xiao Yu?¡± Ji Tingyang glared at her.


    ¡°¡­ I didn¡¯t, stop talking nonsense,¡± Ji Yuqiao whispered back, afraid of being overheard by Xiao Yu, who was nearby, and she sneakily glanced at him.


    However, she was momentarily stunned when she saw the girl next to him.


    Just like Lin Xu came to cheer her on and see her off, Wen Li had also arrived at some point and was quietly talking to Xiao Yu.


    Perhaps noticing the gaze on her, Wen Li followed the look.


    The first person she saw was Ji Tingyang.

 Chapter 165 - Chapter 165: Chapter 165: The Crack in the Chest

    Chapter 165: Chapter 165: The Crack in the Chest


    The vast high-speed train station, where the gazes of two collided.


    After a long time apart, Wen Li saw Ji Tingyang again, her expression a fleeting moment of bewilderment.


    Her red lips parted slightly, but before she could say anything, he indifferently shifted his gaze away.


    Wen Li pursed her lips tightly, a multitude of emotions swirling in her heart at that moment.


    Unlike the complex emotions in Wen Li¡¯s heart, Lin Xu looked Xiao Yu up and down with dissatisfaction after seeing him.


    The boy was dressed in casual clothes, his lean jawline a mix of youthful and sharp angles, his straight posture exuding a mature yet cool aura, indeed giving off a campus idol vibe.


    Was he the male protagonist of the novel that Ji Yuqiao liked?


    If Lin Xu had met Xiao Yu somewhere else, she might have complimented his handsomeness, but knowing he was the culprit behind her daughter¡¯s heartache, Lin Xu simply couldn¡¯t bring herself to like him.


    Thinking this, a spark of anger surged in Lin Xu¡¯s heart, and she glared at him fiercely.


    Xiao Yu was utterly confused.


    ¡°It¡¯s almost time; we should go check our tickets and board the train,¡± the teacher said, glancing at the clock before calling Ji Yuqiao and Xiao Yu over to gather.


    It was just a simple trip to another place for an exam; there were no lingering goodbyes, just a brief reminder to be safe before the teacher led the two of them through the ticket gate.


    Only the three of them were left outside the ticket gate.


    Wen Li¡¯s gaze unconsciously drifted to the side, meeting Lin Xu¡¯s icy stare.


    Remembering Lin Xu¡¯s earlier warning not to appear before her again, Wen Li¡¯s heart instinctively quivered, her steps retreating in fear.


    Just when she was nervously on edge, a scoffing laugh intermixed with footsteps sounded by her ear.


    Lifting her head, she saw that Lin Xu and Ji Tingyang had already walked far away.


    Lin Xu¡¯s figure was graceful; the pair of silver-white earrings on her ears swayed with her movements, reflecting a dazzling light in the sunlight that seemed to strike Wen Li¡¯s eyes, causing a sharp pain.


    The earrings looked very expensive.


    Wen Li could even imagine Ji Tingyang collecting many pieces of jewelry to give to Lin Xu, just as he had done for her before.


    She subconsciously touched her own earrings, feeling the cheap texture at her fingertips; the stinging in her eyes intensified, like a sharp blade slicing a small crack in her calm chest.


    And when she saw Lin Xu and Ji Tingyang getting into a Maybach with poise as she jostled with others at the crowded public bus stop, the crack in her chest seemed to widen.


    On the bus, swaying back and forth, Wen Li held onto the handrail, looking at the message from Xiao Yu on her phone, no longer having the desire to reply.


    ¡ª¡ª


    The journey to the neighboring city wasn¡¯t very far; less than two hours by high-speed rail and they had arrived.


    Ji Yuqiao followed the teacher to the hotel they had booked, and it was only then she discovered that Zhao Jiayan was staying there too.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± she exclaimed in surprise.


    There were many five-star hotels in the city, and Ji Yuqiao knew that people in their circles mostly refused to stay anywhere that wasn¡¯t luxurious, so seeing him choose a hotel that couldn¡¯t even be rated with stars was somewhat baffling to her.


    Zhao Jiayan smiled and gave a very sound reason, ¡°I picked it following the teacher, and besides, it¡¯s close to the examination venue.¡±


    Once they arrived at the hotel, the teacher no longer restricted their movements.


    They could move around freely today, as long as they returned to their rooms by ten o¡¯clock in the evening.


    Ji Yuqiao carefully glanced at Xiao Yu, ¡°Xiao Yu, do you have any plans later?¡±


    ¡°I plan to read in my room today, do not disturb me if it¡¯s not important.¡± Xiao Yu¡¯s voice was as light as the wind, and after speaking, he picked up his luggage and turned to leave.


    Before Ji Yuqiao could finish speaking, her words got stuck in her throat, and the animated expression on her face quickly faded.


    ¡°Where do you want to go? I have time today and can accompany you for a stroll,¡± Zhao Jiayan¡¯s gentle voice interjected.


    Ji Yuqiao was not enthusiastic about the idea, ¡°The exam is tomorrow, don¡¯t you plan to go back to the room to read?¡±


    ¡°Let me, the top scorer, share some techniques with you. A proper relaxation can help you study better.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s for the top scorer. I, trailing behind, should go back and study hard. You go rest by yourself.¡±


    Having said that, Ji Yuqiao was about to leave.


    ¡°Going out by myself doesn¡¯t seem very fun,¡± Zhao Jiayan¡¯s interest waned, but then his tone suddenly shifted, ¡°However, now that you know the top scorer is right here, why don¡¯t you ask him for some study tips?¡±


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s steps halted on the spot, ¡°Aren¡¯t we competitors? Would you really teach me?¡±


    The national competition was so intense, and the rankings were so competitive. Everyone was aiming for the top three for a substantial scholarship and the resources for postgraduate entrance exams, Xiao Yu included.


    Wasn¡¯t he afraid that after teaching her, she might bump him down a spot?


    ¡°Scholarships and postgraduate exams are not within my considerations. It¡¯s just that the elders at home told me to achieve something in school, so I¡¯m just participating for fun,¡± Zhao Jiayan said with a laugh.


    ¡°Participating for fun, that phrase is too Versailles. I suggest you don¡¯t say it casually in the future, you could get beaten up,¡± Ji Yuqiao felt like he deserved a beating just listening to him.


    In that period of time, she was so consumed by this damned competition, opening her eyes to books and problems, even dreaming of reading at night.


    She was so exhausted she felt like vomiting, barely scraping through to the national level.


    And there he was, saying he was just participating for fun, the gap between people was truly too big.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll remember that,¡± Zhao Jiayan¡¯s eyes curved into a gentle smile, ¡°Don¡¯t hit me.¡±


    A hint of embarrassment raced through Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes, and she countered softly, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t hit someone.¡±


    The two joked around, and in the end, none of them went out.


    Zhao Jiayan explained some tips at a small table in the hotel lobby to Ji Yuqiao all afternoon.


    Perhaps it really was those little methods that worked, Ji Yuqiao felt divinely inspired while writing her exam, like a fish in water.


    After the exam, she hurried over to Zhao Jiayan to share her joy, ¡°You¡¯re amazing. There were even a few questions you predicted would be on the test!¡±


    ¡°You seem so happy, it looks like you did well.¡±


    ¡°All thanks to my master¡¯s excellent guidance.¡±


    Zhao Jiayan looked at her, his handsome lips curved into a faint smile, about to speak, when suddenly someone yanked his neck from the side, causing him to stumble a few steps.


    ¡°I was wondering why you disappeared right after the exam, turns out you were here chatting with a beauty.¡± A male student wrapped an arm familiarly around his neck, his tone teasing.


    After speaking, he turned to Ji Yuqiao, ¡°Hi there, beauty. The competition is over, why don¡¯t we go out for supper tonight and relax?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d rather not¡­¡± she started to decline.


    The boy added another line: ¡°Student Xiao from your school will be there too.¡±


    The next instant, she changed her tune, ¡°Let¡¯s go then.¡±

 Chapter 166 - Chapter 166: Chapter 166: Different from you rich people

    Chapter 166: Chapter 166: Different from you rich people


    Ji Yuqiao had thought their mention of a late-night snack referred to some random street food stall, but following them to their destination and seeing the resplendently lavish clubhouse, she was surprised for a moment.


    The interior of the clubhouse was exquisitely decorated, the luxurious environment exuding an aura of glittering preciousness everywhere.


    As soon as their group entered, three or four waiters came over to greet them with bows.


    This display hardly seemed like they were there for a casual late-night snack.


    ¡°Everyone, feel free to order whatever you want, and feel free to use the facilities here. I¡¯m treating everyone tonight,¡± the inviting boy said with a grand gesture. His classmates, like wild horses unleashed, immediately cheered loudly and rushed to play on the arcade machines.


    Of course, there were a few students who sat reservedly, not daring to touch anything in the place.


    Xiao Yu glanced around, seeming like Ji Yuqiao to have misunderstood the nature of this late-night meal, his eyebrows tightly furrowed.


    He must already be regretting agreeing to come here for a late-night snack.


    For such occasions, Ji Yuqiao was very familiar; she casually ordered a few dishes that seemed to have a good appearance and then, holding a pad, walked up to Xiao Yu.


    ¡°Xiao Yu, what would you like to eat? I¡¯ll order for you,¡± she offered the screen to him, very eager to help him choose.


    The prices displayed for each dish on the menu were followed by three or four zeroes.


    Xiao Yu glanced at the dishes she had ordered, which had already cost fifty to sixty thousand.


    ¡°No need,¡± Xiao Yu looked away.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Ji Yuqiao passed the pad to other classmates to order and then stealthily glanced back at Xiao Yu, ¡°Are you not hungry yet? How about we go over there and play some games?¡±


    Xiao Yu didn¡¯t speak, just glanced at the gaming area with a lack of interest.


    Ji Yuqiao seemed completely accustomed to being repeatedly rejected by Xiao Yu, suppressing the sadness in her heart and undiscouraged, she continued to engage Xiao Yu in conversation as if persistence would eventually yield a response.


    However, even as her stomach growled, Xiao Yu remained silent.


    She could only turn to the food the waiters brought over, preparing to fill her stomach first.


    Ji Yuqiao had just spread the napkin from the cup onto her laps when she heard a burst of laughter next to her ear.


    She saw a few classmates misusing the napkins, stuffing them into their collars, which elicited a round of laughter from everyone.


    ¡°Silly Lin, it¡¯s supposed to cover your legs, take it off ha ha ha¡­¡±


    ¡°Damn, it¡¯s my first time eating in such a fancy place; who knows how to use all these things, stop laughing!¡±


    ¡°No worries, hang out more with your dad here, and you¡¯ll get it.¡±


    ¡°Screw you¡­¡±


    They teased each other, and the atmosphere immediately became lively; even Ji Yuqiao couldn¡¯t help but laugh with them.


    Xiao Yu¡¯s lips, tightly pressed into a rigid straight line, relaxed in the midst of everyone¡¯s laughter; he pulled the napkin from his collar and abruptly stood up, ¡°I¡¯ve just remembered I have something to do, I¡¯m going back to the hotel.¡±


    Watching his figure recede into the distance, Ji Yuqiao hastily stood up and chased after him, ¡°Xiao Yu, wait a second, where are you going? I¡¯ll go with you¡­¡±


    ¡°Can you not follow me?¡± His tone was tinged with annoyance.


    Ji Yuqiao was startled by his angry voice, her body trembling, ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t follow you. Where are you going? I¡¯ll call a cab for you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not a cripple; I¡¯m perfectly capable of hailing a cab,¡± Xiao Yu¡¯s expression grew even darker, ¡°or do you think that we who can¡¯t even use napkins properly need someone else to teach us how to call a cab?¡±


    ¡°Do you rich kids, pampered from birth, find it amusing to mock us commoners who lack any kind of experience?¡±


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes widened slightly, disbelief flickering in her pupils, ¡°I have never thought that way.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t just her who lacked this thought, everyone who had just been jeering probably never entertained it either.


    Everyone was only joking for a few sentences, and the topic quickly shifted elsewhere.


    However, it was such an unintentional joke that hit Xiao Yu¡¯s fragile self-esteem.


    His face cold, his brows and eyes dark with gloom, ¡°Who knows what you really think.¡±


    ¡°Student Xiao, we were just horsing around with a friend, if our words just now offended you, we truly apologize. As for what you mentioned, none of us ever thought that way.¡± Zhao Jiayan also walked out of the private room, unheard of by what, and after hearing their conversation, he began to apologize and explain to him.


    Xiao Yu looked at him, silent.


    He knew this person.


    The young master of the Zhao Family, Xiao Yu would encounter him in the competitions every year, where his scores always ranked among the top.


    From the very beginning, he received all kinds of fine education, a starting point that Xiao Yu could never match.


    No matter how hard he tried, he was always unable to surpass him.


    Sometimes, Xiao Yu thought.


    These wealthy people, with their vast family fortunes, still insist on competing with him for that competition prize money.


    Even if they don¡¯t need the honor or the money, they can live comfortably while that prize money means a semester¡¯s tuition for someone like him.


    What he strived so hard and desperately to earn, was merely a plaything for their amusement in their eyes.


    Xiao Yu clenched his hand at his side, his usually serious face seemed to be covered with a layer of cold frost.


    ¡°Xiao Yu, everyone really didn¡¯t mean any harm,¡± Ji Yuqiao said, grabbing his arm, urgently trying to explain.


    ¡°The competition is over, don¡¯t look for me anymore,¡± Xiao Yu said coldly, ¡°I am not like you, rich people with nothing to worry about, just of better birth, you never understand the hardships we go through, I don¡¯t have time to waste on these emotions.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao was stunned for a moment, ¡°How do you know I haven¡¯t experienced¡­¡±


    Ever since she had memories, her family had always been living off relatives¡¯ charity.


    While they had a huge inheritance, they never enjoyed it when they were young.


    The three children lived off a pitiful allowance every day, even the money for her school notebooks was saved up by her older and second brothers through frugality.


    She never discussed those times of suffering with Xiao Yu, and now he lumped it all into one category with the phrase ¡°rich people with nothing to worry about.¡±


    As for the Zhao Family.


    Although she didn¡¯t know them well, she had heard that Zhao Jiayan¡¯s father was self-made.


    They too had gone through difficult times, enduring days of just eating steamed buns to make life better for their family in the future.


    Xiao Yu dismissed all their efforts and struggles with the single phrase ¡°of better birth¡± as if it were nothing.


    This too was a form of discrimination.


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s face turned ashen, her heart sinking abruptly; her grip on Xiao Yu¡¯s arm loosened, slowly falling away.


    Xiao Yu did not notice her change in expression and, with a cold glance at Zhao Jiayan, turned and walked out of the club¡¯s main entrance.

 Chapter 167 - Chapter 167: Chapter 167 A Bit of Love, But Not Much

    Chapter 167: Chapter 167 A Bit of Love, But Not Much


    Before the exam, Ji Yuqiao was all smiles, but after spending two or three days in another city, Lin Xu noticed she had been downcast ever since she returned.


    Lin Xu nudged Ji Tingyang with her elbow and leaned in to whisper, ¡°Do you think our little sister is unhappy because she didn¡¯t do well on the test?¡±


    Ji Tingyang looked up, his brow furrowing slightly as he gazed at Ji Yuqiao, who sat on the couch with a troubled expression, ¡°It¡¯s just an exam¡­¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know how much Lanyue values this competition, she¡¯s been preparing for it since the start of the semester.¡± Lin Xu said.


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s thoughts were almost entirely consumed by Xiao Yu, to the point that even her dedication to the exams was to close the distance between them.


    Maybe she was so sad because she hadn¡¯t done well and couldn¡¯t get closer to Xiao Yu.


    ¡°If only there were some way to divert her attention,¡± Lin Xu said, cradling her cheek in her hand, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. Then, her eyes lit up, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say there was a cruise activity the other day? Let¡¯s take Lanyue with us.¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s hand, holding a cup, stiffened for a moment before returning to normal, ¡°I only have two tickets for the boat.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just Lanyue and me, isn¡¯t that perfect?¡± Lin Xu said happily.


    Ji Tingyang glanced at Lin Xu with a placid expression that took on a hint of grievance, ¡°And what about me?¡±


    The event was an invitation to Ji Tingyang; it seemed really wrong to leave him out.


    Lin Xu realized as well, ¡°Then you and Lanyue should go together.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not taking a kid with me,¡± Ji Tingyang turned his head away, then, after a moment, took hold of Lin Xu¡¯s hand again, ¡°We two should go by ourselves.¡±


    His voice was very soft, laced with a subtle whine.


    He just wanted to go on the cruise with his mother, just the two of them.


    Lin Xu laughed softly, ¡°This time you bring Lanyue with you, and next time we¡¯ll go somewhere else together, maybe go to a movie or have barbecue, how does that sound?¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s thin lips were tightly pressed, but when Lin Xu held his cheeks in her hands and coaxed him softly, he couldn¡¯t help but give in.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll ask the organizers for an extra boat ticket,¡± he conceded reluctantly.


    That way, he could go out with his mother and also bring along an extra little burden.


    Once it was decided, the three of them set out on their journey.


    What about Ji Zeqiu?


    Ji Tingyang: Who¡¯s that?


    ¡ª¡ª


    This luxurious cruise ship, a behemoth like a moving castle, dominated the entire horizon as it sailed for two days and one night.


    The interior was even more opulent, with world-class entertainment facilities on every deck, too many to behold all at once.


    ¡°What shall we play first?¡± Lin Xu¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement.


    Ji Yuqiao was also on a cruise for the first time and found everything she saw thrillingly novel.


    ¡°That looks fun, let¡¯s try it?¡± Lin Xu said, heading in that direction.


    Just as Ji Yuqiao was about to follow, she heard a voice.


    ¡°Ji Yuqiao?¡±


    She turned around, a flash of surprise in her eyes, ¡°Zhao Jiayan, what are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°I came with my family. They said to relax a bit after the exams,¡± Zhao Jiayan approached, greeting Ji Tingyang adeptly, ¡°President Ji.¡±


    Ji Tingyang nodded slightly, ¡°And you are?¡±


    Just as Zhao Jiayan was about to speak, Ji Yuqiao rolled her eyes sarcastically at her brother, ¡°That¡¯s Zhao Jiayan, weren¡¯t you insistent on introducing him to me before?¡±


    Ji Tingyang thought for a moment but still couldn¡¯t remember who he was.


    In the past, when Ji Yuqiao was wholeheartedly fixated on Xiao Yu, Ji Tingyang only wanted to keep her away from Xiao Yu, picking someone carelessly, without much impression of Zhao Jiayan.


    Ji Tingyang responded indifferently, with not a trace of embarrassment on his face.


    Zhao Jiayan didn¡¯t mind either and looked towards Ji Yuqiao, inviting her, ¡°We have a few friends over there, do you want to come and join us?¡±


    ¡°What friends, males or females, how many people?¡± Ji Tingyang suddenly became vigilant, as if afraid that Zhao Jiayan would abduct someone.


    A warm current suddenly flowed through Ji Yuqiao¡¯s heart, her tone tinged with a touch of emotion.


    Previously, when Lin Xu said she would take her on a cruise, her elder brother had a disdainful expression on his face.


    She thought that as she grew up, her brother didn¡¯t love her anymore.


    But it turned out her brother still cared about her.


    However, in the next second, Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression suddenly changed, as if he had no time to worry about Ji Yuqiao, ¡°Forget it, you guys go have fun, just make sure to return to the room on time in the evening.¡±


    After saying that, he quickly walked towards Lin Xu with long strides.


    Ji Yuqiao watched as he put his arm around Lin Xu¡¯s shoulders, using his cool and resolute face to scare off a man who was trying to strike up a conversation.


    It seemed her brother was more worried about Lin Xu being abducted first.


    Ji Yuqiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    Alright then.


    There is love, but it¡¯s not plentiful.


    ¡°Looks like no one¡¯s watching over me now.¡± Ji Yuqiao pouted, looking at Zhao Jiayan, ¡°I might as well go play with you guys.¡±


    ¡°Relax, I won¡¯t sell you out.¡± Zhao Jiayan chuckled light-heartedly.


    When Ji Yuqiao followed Zhao Jiayan over, their group of friends were swinging golf clubs on the ship¡¯s small golf course, including two people she had seen at the club the other day.


    On a lounge chair nearby, a boy took off the sunglasses from his nose bridge and looked at Ji Yuqiao in surprise, ¡°Yo, Young Master Zhao brought a new friend over?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s my friend, be careful around her,¡± Zhao Jiayan warned.


    ¡°We know, Young Master Zhao¡¯s friend is our friend too, right?¡± The boy pulled a chair for her, grinning, ¡°Come on, beauty, sit here.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao hesitated for a moment, unsure, and looked at Zhao Jiayan.


    Zhao Jiayan led her to a seat far away from the boy.


    ¡°You¡¯re protecting her really well.¡± The boy winked and laughed teasingly at Zhao Jiayan before moving his chair closer to them, looking at Ji Yuqiao with curiosity, ¡°Beauty, what¡¯s your relationship with him?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t pay attention to him, otherwise he¡¯ll definitely keep asking nonstop,¡± Zhao Jiayan said, speaking up when Ji Yuqiao was at a loss.


    He looked at the boy again, his voice carrying a hint of warning, ¡°If you¡¯re bored, go play golf.¡±


    ¡°Golf is so boring, why don¡¯t we play a fun little game?¡± suggested the boy.


    Zhao Jiayan inquired, ¡°What game?¡±


    ¡°The traditional Truth or Dare,¡± the boy said, pulling out a bottle from under the table. ¡°Whoever the bottle points to, everyone asks him a question.¡±


    The rest of the friends on the field agreed immediately, and even Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes were filled with eagerness.


    She didn¡¯t have many friends around her, and her classmates rarely invited her to participate in such group games.


    She had seen her classmates play this game before, always having a blast, and Ji Yuqiao wanted to join in on the fun.


    ¡°Alright,¡± seeing the anticipation in her eyes, Zhao Jiayan nodded in agreement.


    However, unexpectedly, in the very first round, the bottle pointed straight at him.

 Chapter 168 - Chapter 168: Chapter 168 The Lingering Spirit

    Chapter 168: Chapter 168 The Lingering Spirit


    When the bottle pointed directly at Zhao Jiayan, there was a burst of cheers and applause all around.


    ¡°How come it¡¯s so accurate? You didn¡¯t cheat, did you?¡± someone teased from the side.


    ¡°Go away, what cheating? This is purely a display of superior skill!¡± the boy defended himself.


    Having said that, he looked at Zhao Jiayan again, ¡°Young Master Zhao, would you like to answer a truth or take a dare? If you choose a dare, you¡¯ll have to down this big glass of alcohol.¡±


    The alcohol in that glass looked quite strong.


    Zhao Jiayan helplessly tugged at the corner of his lips, ¡°Truth.¡±


    ¡°Alright, then I¡¯m going to ask,¡± the boy¡¯s eyes gleamed with mischief, ¡°do you have someone you like?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Zhao Jiayan hesitated for a moment, his voice caught in his throat.


    The next moment, he picked up the glass of alcohol on the table and drank it down.


    The teasing from the crowd grew even louder.


    ¡°In my experience, this kind of reaction usually means there is someone, but you¡¯re too embarrassed to say it!¡± the boy joked.


    ¡°So experienced, a veteran of the love scene, huh.¡± someone chimed in with a tease.


    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± The boy wore a proud expression.


    The next round began, the bottle continued to spin on the table, but this time luck wasn¡¯t as good.


    After several spins, the bottle pointed straight at the boy.


    ¡°I¡¯ll ask, I¡¯ll ask,¡± someone raised a hand excitedly, amusement in their eyes, ¡°I want to ask the veteran of the love scene, have you ever been dumped by a woman?¡±


    The boy gritted his teeth, ¡°¡­Yes.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, who¡¯s the brave soul that deserves our admiration?¡±


    The game continued, with many people getting chosen by the bottle, and even Ji Yuqiao answering a few innocuous questions.


    However, after that first time for Zhao Jiayan, the bottle seemed to be bewitched; it simply couldn¡¯t point at him again.


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe it. If it doesn¡¯t point to him this time, I¡¯ll jump into the lake from the boat!¡± the boy said, rubbing his palms together and clenching his fists.


    ¡°Then I¡¯d rather see you jump off the boat, hahaha¡­¡±


    Perhaps the heavens were merciful, not wanting him to lose his life right there, and lent a helping hand.


    When the bottle stopped spinning, it actually pointed right at Zhao Jiayan.


    The boy slapped his thigh with excitement and insisted on digging some funny dirt out of Zhao Jiayan, ¡°Have you ever been stood up by a woman?¡±


    Zhao Jiayan paused for a moment, and just when they thought they would get a negative response, he spoke softly, ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Damn, who is it?!¡±


    ¡°Which woman?¡±


    Everyone¡¯s faces were immediately filled with various gossipy expressions, even Ji Yuqiao looked over with curiosity.


    Considering Zhao Jiayan¡¯s exemplary character and prosperous family background, he was the moonlight in many people¡¯s eyes.


    Exactly which woman lacked such vision to stand him up on a date?


    Everyone kept guessing, nearly naming every woman they knew.


    Zhao Jiayan looked at Ji Yuqiao, who was listening with great interest next to him, and tugged at the corner of his lips again.


    Perhaps sensing the gaze upon her, Ji Yuqiao turned to look and met his eyes, which carried a resigned smile.


    For no apparent reason.


    Even though they hadn¡¯t interacted much, Ji Yuqiao suddenly had an inkling.


    Could the woman he meant, who had stood him up, possibly be her?!


    She opened her mouth, just about to inquire when Zhao Jiayan had already looked away, addressing the crowd, ¡°I¡¯ve already finished answering questions for this round.¡±


    ¡°Why so stingy? Tell us a bit more.¡±


    ¡°Come on, come on, show them your strength and find out who that woman is.¡± Everyone¡¯s enthusiasm surged in a moment.


    So, unsurprisingly, Zhao Jiayan got targeted again.


    ¡°Who¡¯s that woman you stood up?¡± the boys asked eagerly.


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s hand resting on her leg tightened, and she felt a knot of nervousness in her stomach.


    Under everyone¡¯s expectant gaze, Zhao Jiayan opened his mouth and slowly uttered two words, ¡°A secret.¡±


    After saying that, he took a glass of wine from the table and started drinking.


    ¡°Tch¡­¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t take a joke¡­¡±


    A chorus of boos came from the crowd.


    The game continued.


    Everyone quickly put the incident behind them, except for Ji Yuqiao, who kept glancing at Zhao Jiayan, wanting but hesitating to speak.


    ¡°Are you bored? Do you want to go somewhere else to play?¡± Zhao Jiayan asked with concern.


    Ji Yuqiao shook her head and seemed to have finally mustered up her courage. She leaned in and whispered in his ear, ¡°You don¡¯t mean that person is me, do you?¡±


    Zhao Jiayan chuckled softly, causing her cheeks to flush. ¡°It seems that some people have a good memory and haven¡¯t completely forgotten.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao paused for a moment, ¡°When¡­?¡±


    ¡°That time your brother asked to meet with you and me at Century Lake,¡± Zhao Jiayan reminded her.


    ¡°Ah.¡± Ji Yuqiao finally remembered. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you would go. You didn¡¯t wait there for me for a long time, did you?¡±


    Zhao Jiayan looked at her with twinkling eyes and a guilty expression, but he just smiled.


    He had met Ji Yuqiao only once before, and he could have refused Ji Tingyang¡¯s invitation.


    But for some reason, he had inexplicably agreed to it.


    He waited at Century Lake for a whole day until darkness fell before he finally realized he¡¯d been stood up.


    However, when he was about to say it, Zhao Jiayan shook his head. ¡°Not too long.¡±


    ¡°How long is ¡®not too long¡¯?¡± Ji Yuqiao insisted.


    ¡°Just¡­ half an hour.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao let out a sigh of relief and felt a bit less guilty. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I really didn¡¯t know you would go. My brother¡¯s words were obviously a joke, he can¡¯t even remember your name now.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, it¡¯s my fault too, I should have confirmed with you by sending a message,¡± Zhao Jiayan said.


    Speaking of messages, Ji Yuqiao¡¯s guilt intensified.


    After being forced by Ji Tingyang to add him on WeChat that day, she blocked him before she even got home.


    ¡°To make it up to you, I, I¡¯ll treat you to a milk tea later!¡± As if to cover her guilt, Ji Yuqiao quickly offered.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Zhao Jiayan smiled.


    Ji Yuqiao patted her chest and breathed a sigh of relief.


    Compared to the fun atmosphere around Ji Yuqiao, Ji Tingyang was in a foul mood the whole time.


    He didn¡¯t expect there to be so many frivolous men on the boat. He had only gone to get Lin Xu a glass of water, and when he came back, he saw two or three men crowding around her, nearly stuffing their business cards directly into her purse.


    Ji Tingyang felt like he had a fire of rage burning repeatedly in his chest. He had barely chased those men away when he saw that persistent man again.


    Xie Changyan appeared from nowhere, raising his brows lightly and curling his lips into a faint smile as he handed one of the champagne glasses to Lin Xu, his tone leisurely yet elegant.


    ¡°Would the lady honor me with a drink?¡±


    Lin Xu took the champagne with a light smile.


    Before she could even respond, Ji Tingyang expressionlessly snatched away the champagne and gulped it down in front of Xie Changyan.


    Lin Xu: ¡°¡­¡±

 Chapter 169 - Chapter 169: Chapter 169 "Dont touch her.

    Chapter 169: Chapter 169 ¡°Don¡¯t touch her.


    The cruise ship¡¯s buffet was laid out with many tempting foods.


    Lin Xu walked around, her plate piled high with food when she returned.


    Back at the table, Xie Changyan and Ji Tingyang were still engaged in an inexplicable standoff.


    Xie Changyan slouched casually, one leg crossed over the other, with a relaxed palm resting on the table, occasionally tapping his fingertips on the surface.


    Meanwhile, Ji Tingyang sat upright, his eyes slightly narrowed as he looked at Xie Changyan, exuding a sharp aura all around him.


    Although they were silent, Lin Xu could feel the tension and animosity between them.


    The moment Lin Xu approached, Xie Changyan reached out to her, gesturing for her to sit beside him.


    The next instant, Ji Tingyang also grasped her arm, his voice cold as if leaving no room for argument, ¡°She can only sit by my side!¡±


    Xie Changyan raised an eyebrow and glanced at Lin Xu with a light look, ¡°Where do you want to sit?¡±


    Ji Tingyang looked over as well.


    With their intense stares, Lin Xu felt so pressured she began to sweat and became flustered.


    ¡°I¡ªI¡¯ll sit here,¡± Lin Xu chose a separate spot to sit down.


    Ji Tingyang pursed his lips, clearly dissatisfied with this third-party choice. Just as he was about to speak, his mouth was stuffed with a lobster.


    ¡°Stop talking and eat some food, be good,¡± Lin Xu said, sharing half of the food she had brought back with Ji Tingyang.


    His cold expression gradually softened as he accepted the small lobster in his mouth, satisfied.


    He knew it.


    In his mother¡¯s heart, he was much more important than Xie Changyan.


    She would worry about him being hungry and had specifically brought back so much food to share with him.


    But Xie Changyan had nothing.


    However, Ji Tingyang couldn¡¯t smile the next second.


    He saw Xie Changyan grab Lin Xu¡¯s hand and place a piece of crab meat she had just peeled into his mouth, his teeth inadvertently grazing over her fingertips, sending a tingle through her.


    His hand gripping her wrist tightened slightly, his long, beautiful eyes curved, and his gaze seemed to hold twinkling peach blossoms, tantalizing and seductive.


    ¡°Not bad at all, quite delicious,¡± he whispered with a low laugh, his words seemingly loaded with double meaning.


    Lin Xu¡¯s ears suddenly grew hot, and her heartbeat involuntarily quickened.


    Ji Tingyang: ¡°¡­¡±


    He hadn¡¯t expected this man to be so frivolous, daring to flirt with his mother in front of him.


    The color had just returned to Ji Tingyang¡¯s face, but now it became frosty again.


    A chill permeated the air, making Lin Xu¡¯s hair stand on end, and she shivered.


    She immediately glared at Xie Changyan, her voice fierce, ¡°Sit properly; don¡¯t steal my food, and don¡¯t lean in!¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Xie Changyan¡¯s eyes almost overflowed with amusement.


    ¡°Let¡¯s ignore him,¡± Lin Xu whispered soothingly to Ji Tingyang and placed a slice of well-cut steak on his plate, ¡°This steak is delicious, try it.¡±


    The chill dissipated, and Ji Tingyang¡¯s mood finally improved.


    Throughout the meal, Xie Changyan seemed to have found his conscience, sitting properly in his chair without causing Ji Tingyang any more trouble.


    After the meal, Ji Tingyang had eaten quite a lot.


    ¡°Let¡¯s ignore him, ignore him¡­¡± Lin Xu tilted her head, her cheeks flushed and slightly inebriated, mumbling something indistinctly.


    Coming to his senses, Ji Tingyang realized she had drunk quite a bit of red wine during the meal and was likely on the edge of drunkenness now.


    Seeing Ji Tingyang put down his knife and fork, Lin Xu opened her bleary eyes and pushed the food on her plate towards him, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you eating anymore? Eat more, don¡¯t starve.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m already full. I¡¯ll take you back to your room to rest.¡± Ji Tingyang frowned and reached out to drape an arm over her shoulder.


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to go back. I want to go there and play on the water slide¡­¡± Lin Xu looked around and pushed his hand away, staggering towards the front.


    She hadn¡¯t gone two steps before her legs gave way, and she started to fall to the side.


    It was Xie Changyan who caught her.


    ¡°Which room are you staying in, I¡¯ll take her back.¡± Xie Changyan, having been quiet for so long, finally made a move.


    ¡°No need, I can handle it myself¡­¡± Ji Tingyang said coldly, but before he could finish, the urgent ring of a phone call came from his pocket.


    He glanced at it; it was Ji Yuqiao calling.


    ¡°Big brother, guess where I am, hehehe¡­¡± Ji Yuqiao¡¯s giggles came through the phone, ¡°I¡¯m going to be a mermaid in the sea¡­¡±


    ¡°Nonsense,¡± Ji Tingyang said harshly.


    ¡°Wuwuwu, why doesn¡¯t he like me, why¡­¡± Ji Yuqiao suddenly cried loudly, her sobbing intensifying.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s brows nearly twisted into a ¡°Sichuan¡± character. ¡°Where are you right now?¡±


    The pitiful sobs suddenly moved away from the microphone, and then the frantic voice of Zhao Jiayan followed.


    ¡°President Ji, this is Zhao Jiayan. Ji Yuqiao is drunk. Don¡¯t worry; I¡¯ll take good care of her.¡±


    As their game wore on, each question became sharper and sharper. Ji Yuqiao found herself unable to answer at times and had to drink as a penalty.


    Upon hearing this, how could Ji Tingyang not worry?


    There were quite a few male voices in the background. Who could predict what might happen next? He didn¡¯t dare to leave a drunk Ji Yuqiao over there.


    His stern voice carried a trace of anger, ¡°Where are you now, I¡¯ll come to pick her up right away.¡±


    He hung up the phone and was just about to rush over when he belatedly remembered Lin Xu beside him, who was also drunk.


    How could he cope with two drunkards by himself?


    He suddenly regretted it.


    Why hadn¡¯t he dragged Ji Zeqiu along to look after Ji Yuqiao? That would¡¯ve been perfect.


    As Ji Tingyang was struggling with what to do, Xie Changyan seemed to see his predicament and spoke up with a light laugh, ¡°How about I take her back to her room for you?¡±


    ¡°No need,¡± Ji Tingyang refused coldly.


    He would send his mother back to her room first and then hurry over.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t do anything to her. But if you¡¯re a few minutes late getting to your sister, it¡¯s a mixed crowd over there, and I can¡¯t guarantee nothing will happen,¡± Xie Changyan raised an eyebrow.


    Ji Tingyang: ¡°¡­¡±


    He clenched the hand by his side, struggling internally for two or three seconds before begrudgingly handing Lin Xu over to Xie Changyan.


    Although Ji Tingyang disliked Xie Changyan, to some extent, he was indeed more reliable than others.


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch her,¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s gaze was as sharp as a knife as he glared at him.


    ¡°That touch, it shouldn¡¯t include kissing, right?¡± Xie Changyan said with a smirk.


    ¡°You!¡± Anger surged within Ji Tingyang.


    Xie Changyan reminded him, ¡°If you don¡¯t go now, it¡¯ll be too late.¡±


    ¡°If you dare to touch her, I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Ji Tingyang left those fierce words behind and turned to leave.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s chest vibrated lightly with a few chuckles.


    ¡°Ah Yan, why do you always like to provoke your son? What if he gets angry again?¡± Lin Xu snuggled up against his chest and mumbled.

 Chapter 172 - Chapter 172: Chapter 172: Does She Know Who She Is Calling?

    Chapter 172: Chapter 172: Does She Know Who She Is Calling?


    When Lin Xu arrived at the race track, a racing car whizzed past her, shooting down the track like lightning right before her eyes.


    The track echoed with Su Linzhou¡¯s curses, ¡°Xie Changyan, dammit, stop the car, I need to get out! Get out!¡±


    The roaring of the racing car reverberated in her ears, and just standing outside the track and watching from a distance, Lin Xu felt her heart skip a beat.


    Her heart uncontrollably trembled, and images of a past car accident suddenly flashed through her mind.


    Lin Xu¡¯s face instantly turned deathly pale, and she slowly squatted down to the ground.


    Seconds later, the racing car abruptly stopped beside her.


    Xie Changyan stepped out of the car in a rush and hurried over to her side.


    His usual carefree expression was gone, replaced by a look of urgent concern, ¡°What happened, are you feeling unwell?¡±


    Xie Changyan supported her body and felt her ice-cold palms, frowning deeply, ¡°Why is your body so cold?¡±


    He bent down to pick up Lin Xu and turned to look at Su Linzhou, who was trembling and almost crawling out of the racing car, and asked, ¡°Su Linzhou, give me your car key, I¡¯m taking her to the hospital.¡±


    Su Linzhou¡¯s voice trembled, ¡°¡­Brother, I think you should take me to the hospital first.¡±


    Saying this, he leaned against the car door and vomited another mouthful of acid liquid.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s frown deepened with a hint of disgust, and just as he was about to say something else, his chest was poked.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, no need to take me to the hospital, I just need to rest a bit,¡± Lin Xu¡¯s cheeks had already regained their color.


    Xie Changyan looked into her eyes for a long time, and finally gave up the idea of taking her to the hospital. He carried her to a nearby chair, setting her down and admonishing with concern.


    ¡°If you¡¯re feeling unwell, tell me, and I¡¯ll take you to the hospital.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Lin Xu sat on the chair, holding his hand while tilting her head back to look at him, her eyes curving into a smile.


    The pad of Xie Changyan¡¯s thumb gently caressed the back of her hand, which had gradually warmed from its initial coldness.


    He watched Lin Xu, his deep eyes appearing to be lost in thought before his mind drifted off into the distance.


    ¡°Ah Yan.¡±


    ¡°Ah Yan¡­¡±


    Lin Xu shook his hand, calling him back from his reverie with each gentle call.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Xie Changyan asked her.


    Lin Xu¡¯s lips parted as if she wanted to say something, then stopped and shook her head. Her beautiful eyes curved, ¡°I heard that Century Square is having a fountain show; let¡¯s go watch it together?¡±


    The soft light in her eyes sparkled with the glow of spring, and Xie Changyan felt a stir within him. By the time he snapped back to reality, he had already agreed to her invitation.


    The square was busy with people coming and going, but not many were stopping to watch the fountain show.


    Lin Xu easily found a prime viewing spot and pulled Xie Changyan to watch alongside her.


    The water sprayed in various shapes, and under the shine of the sun, the droplets formed a stunning rainbow in the air.


    Nearby, many children carelessly ran through the fountain¡¯s water, unconcerned about their clothes getting drenched.


    Xie Changyan watched for a while when suddenly, a stream of water droplets splashed onto his cheek, ice-cold and unexpected.


    He turned around in surprise and saw Lin Xu holding a small water gun, her eyebrows slightly raised in a triumphant manner.


    Her eyes shone with a bright, infectious smile, so beautiful and captivating that it was hard to look away.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s lips curved slightly, ¡°Where did you get the water gun?¡±


    ¡°Borrowed it from a little kid,¡± Lin Xu said, pointing to a child holding a lollipop nearby.


    It was clear she had made a trade with the child.


    No sooner had she spoken than another burst of water from the gun splattered onto his face.


    ¡°If you surrender nicely, I might consider letting you off,¡± Lin Xu¡¯s eyes twinkled with triumph, looking every bit the victor.


    ¡°I surrender,¡± Xie Changyan replied decisively.


    ¡°Then I must claim my spoils of war.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, what do you want?¡±


    A sly sparkle passed through Lin Xu¡¯s eyes as she tiptoed to place a light, dragonfly-like kiss on his lips, ¡°I¡¯ll claim this then.¡±


    Joy brimmed in Xie Changyan¡¯s eyes, ¡°It wouldn¡¯t hurt to claim a bit more from you.¡±


    Lin Xu smiled faintly, ¡°Do you feel better now?¡±


    The things he had forgotten surged back into his mind at her words, and the smile at the corner of Xie Changyan¡¯s mouth stiffened.


    He suddenly wanted to know.


    Was he the one in her eyes now, or was it that Ji Yanli?


    Did she bring him here to see the fountain because she wanted to cheer him up, or was it because she wanted to cheer up Ji Yanli?


    Seeing him lost in thought, Lin Xu called out with a hint of confusion, ¡°Ah Yan?¡±


    Xie Changyan¡¯s lips pressed tightly together, feeling a sour, fierce turmoil in his chest, almost spilling out of his throat.


    Ah Yan?


    Did she utter these two words so naturally because she used to call them out frequently?


    He suddenly remembered that night on New Year¡¯s Eve when she lightly kissed his lips and uttered those trembling words¡ª ¡°Ah Yan, happy New Year¡¯s Eve.¡±


    Had she mistaken him for someone else from that moment on?


    His heart felt as if it was being tightly clenched, the pain was excruciating, nearly leaving him breathless.


    Lin Xu noticed his increasingly unwell complexion and immediately became anxious, ¡°Ah Yan, are you not feeling well?¡±


    Xie Changyan reached out to encircle her waist and pulled her into his embrace, burying his head in the nape of her neck, letting out a deep breath.


    It was as if he had developed a stress response.


    Every time he heard her call out ¡®Ah Yan,¡¯ he couldn¡¯t help but ponder, who was she really calling?


    Could she distinguish clearly whether the ¡®Ah Yan¡¯ she mentioned was really him or someone else?


    Xie Changyan closed his eyes, containing the restlessness deep within his gaze.


    Lin Xu¡¯s hand gently patted his back, her expression somewhat anxious, ¡°Should we go to the hospital to have a look?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Xie Changyan tightened his hold around her waist, suppressing the emotions churning inside him.


    After pulling away from her embrace, his face resumed its usual nonchalance, ¡°I feel much better now.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Lin Xu breathed a sigh of relief, returning the water gun to the child, ¡°If you¡¯re ever upset again, remember to tell me.¡±


    ¡°I might not be able to solve your problem, but I¡¯m first-rate at water fights.¡±


    Xie Changyan chuckled silently, flicking her forehead.


    By the time he returned to the Xie Family home, it was late at night.


    After parting with Lin Xu, the leisurely expression on Xie Changyan¡¯s face faded, turning into an expressionless stone statue, cold as ice.


    Just as he entered the house, he saw Xie Mingwang, who should have been asleep, still sitting on the couch as if waiting for him to return.


    Seeing him come back, Xie Mingwang¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, ¡°Have you been drinking again?¡±


    ¡°Just a little.¡± Xie Changyan was nonchalant.


    ¡°Is it because of that woman again?¡±


    Xie Changyan didn¡¯t respond.


    Xie Mingwang eyed him for a long while, his grip on the cane tightened, as if the struggle deep within him had finally come to a decision, letting out a sigh.


    ¡°If you really do like her that much, I won¡¯t stop you anymore. As long as she is willing to divorce and be with you in earnest.¡±

 Chapter 171 - Chapter 171: Chapter 171: Almost Died at His Hands

    Chapter 171: Chapter 171: Almost Died at His Hands


    ¡°Who are you concerned about?¡± Lin Xu tilted her head, her lips curving into a light smile, ¡°Of course, I am concerned about you.¡±


    Xie Changyan looked at her bright, smiling face, his eyes swirling with emotions that Lin Xu could not understand.


    After a while, he averted his gaze, his throat producing a light, emotionless voice, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Lin Xu responded, pointing to the stage in the center of the deck, ¡°There seems to be a performance over there, shall we go watch it together?¡±


    Seeing the excitement on her face, Xie Changyan choked on the words of refusal lingering in his throat and eventually squeezed out a ¡°yes.¡±


    He walked beside Lin Xu when suddenly a warm, soft touch came from his palm.


    Xie Changyan looked down and saw that Lin Xu had naturally taken his hand.


    ¡°What, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Lin Xu noticed his expression was somewhat off and was about to retract her hand when, in the next second, Xie Changyan gripped it even tighter.


    Fingers threaded through hers, locking their hands together.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, let¡¯s go.¡± Xie Changyan led her towards a position closer to the stage.


    In a place where Lin Xu couldn¡¯t see, irritation flickered through his eyes, feeling a bout of annoyance and turmoil.


    He didn¡¯t know if he was angry at her for treating him as a substitute, or angry at himself for knowing she saw him as a substitute yet being unable to refuse her.


    On the stage at the center of the deck, a symphony orchestra was playing, their instruments emitting melodious tunes.


    The surrounding tourists, as if by instinct, took their companion¡¯s hands and began to dance gracefully to the music.


    Lin Xu looked up at Xie Changyan, her eyes shimmering with eagerness, ¡°Shall we dance too?¡±


    Xie Changyan nodded his chin, and before he could speak, someone else had pulled Lin Xu away.


    Ji Ting Yang wrapped his arms around her shoulders, first casting a wary glance at Xie Changyan and, finding that he had not done anything to Lin Xu, he finally relaxed.


    Then, turning to Lin Xu, his tone carried a barely noticeable tinge of grievance, ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree to meet at the entrance?¡±


    ¡°It was too lively over here, I couldn¡¯t help coming to check it out.¡± Lin Xu offered a appeasing smile.


    Seeing her smile, Ji Ting Yang¡¯s irritation dissolved, ¡°Alright then.¡±


    Lin Xu glanced around, not seeing another familiar figure, ¡°Where¡¯s Lanyue?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s drunker than you, still sleeping in the room.¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes darkened as he spoke.


    Letting her stay in the school all these years, no one could properly supervise her. He hadn¡¯t expected that she would dare to get drunk so casually among strangers.


    Lin Xu surprised, ¡°She got drunk too?¡±


    Ji Ting Yang nodded. A moment later, he brought the conversation back, ¡°Do you want to dance?¡±


    ¡°A little.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll join you.¡±


    He looked at Lin Xu, his eyes faintly filled with expectancy.


    He had not yet danced with his mother.


    ¡°I¡­¡± Lin Xu hesitated, glancing discreetly at Xie Changyan.


    She actually wanted to dance with Xie Changyan,


    Xie Changyan¡¯s thin lips parted slightly, his gaze shifting to Ji Tingyang¡¯s confrontational expression and pausing momentarily.


    Suddenly, that tormenting voice echoed again in his ears¡ª


    ¡°In her heart, you are merely a substitute.¡±


    His breathing once again pulled at the pain in his chest, Xie Changyan closed his eyes briefly, then reopened them, ¡°I still have some matters to handle, I need to go.¡±


    Lin Xu watched his retreating figure in a moment of stunned silence.


    Just now, seeing Ji Tingyang and Xie Changyan appear at the same time, her head was still throbbing with pain, thinking that the father and son were about to start arguing again.


    So, Xie Changyan left without even a hint of argument¡ªjust like that, easily? Unbelievable.


    Yet Ji Tingyang stood tall, the victor, his posture radiating triumph.


    ¡°May I have this dance with you?¡± he asked, standing before Lin Xu, extending his inviting hand.


    Lin Xu smiled and placed her hand in his.


    The night on the cruise was like a city that never sleeps, with neon lights twinkling, spreading glamor and bustle over the dark, lonely sea.


    Then, the next morning, the ship slowly turned back towards the port.


    When Ji Yuqiao woke up, she was a mess, tearlessly crying as she looked at Ji Tingyang, ¡°The ship is heading back and I haven¡¯t had any fun yet. Why didn¡¯t you wake me up, boo hoo¡­¡±


    ¡°Who told you to drink?¡± Ji Tingyang sternly squinted at her, ¡°You¡¯ve made your bed, now lie in it.¡±


    Unable to find comfort with Ji Tingyang, Ji Yuqiao then turned to embrace Lin Xu, ¡°Big brother is scolding me.¡±


    ¡°Little sister realizes her mistake, don¡¯t scold her anymore,¡± Lin Xu gently patted Ji Yuqiao¡¯s head, speaking softly, ¡°If you still want to play on the cruise, we can come again next time, but you can¡¯t drink then.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao rubbed her cheek against hers, her tone cheerful, ¡°You are the best.¡±


    Watching the two cuddle, Ji Tingyang felt a surge of irritability in his heart.


    He hadn¡¯t even been this close with his mother yet.


    He grabbed Ji Yuqiao by the nape of her neck, like picking up a kitten, pulled her away expressionlessly, ¡°Sit properly, stop rubbing against everything.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s so bad about a little rub, it¡¯s not like I¡¯m rubbing against you,¡± Ji Yuqiao puffed her cheeks, glaring at him furiously.


    ¡°Want to lose your allowance?¡± Ji Tingyang glanced at her.


    ¡°You jerk, you¡¯re actually threatening me!¡± Ji Yuqiao gnashed her teeth.


    Lin Xu rubbed her temples in agony.


    It was enough that the brothers were fighting, but now the siblings were at it too.


    ¡­


    After the cruise trip, Ji Yuqiao¡¯s mood improved a lot, at least she was not resistant to going back to school.


    Ji Tingyang went to work at the company, while Lin Xu sneaked out of the villa.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t today Tuesday? Are you sure Xie Changyan isn¡¯t at work?¡±


    In Xie¡¯s lobby, Lin Xu confirmed over and over again with the receptionist.


    Receptionist: ¡°Yes, I just called the assistant to confirm, President Xie is not in the office. As for his exact whereabouts, we are not quite sure, you could call President Xie and ask.¡±


    ¡°Okay, thank you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡±


    Not working on a weekday, where had he gone?


    She had quietly come here, hoping to surprise him.


    Lin Xu pulled out her phone and was about to dial Xie Changyan¡¯s number, when Su Linzhou¡¯s call came through first.


    As soon as it connected, his howls for help came through.


    ¡°Miss Lin, help! Have you had another fight with Xie Changyan? This lunatic insists on dragging me to a car race!¡±


    ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for the seatbelt I¡¯m wearing, I¡¯d be thrown out of the car by now. If we hit the guardrail, it would be a tragedy for both of us!¡±


    ¡°Xie Changyan, calm down! I have elders above and dozens of beauties below, I don¡¯t want to die so soon.¡±


    Su Linzhou¡¯s cries for help were mixed with several painful retches, ¡°Lin Xu, come quickly and save me, ugh¡­ if you don¡¯t come soon, I¡¯ll die at his hands, ugh¡­¡±


    Even Su Linzhou, who raced cars himself, was about to vomit in the car, which shows how fiercely fast Xie Changyan was driving.

 Chapter 172 - Chapter 172: Chapter 172: Does She Know Who She Is Calling?

    Chapter 172: Chapter 172: Does She Know Who She Is Calling?


    When Lin Xu arrived at the race track, a racing car whizzed past her, shooting down the track like lightning right before her eyes.


    The track echoed with Su Linzhou¡¯s curses, ¡°Xie Changyan, dammit, stop the car, I need to get out! Get out!¡±


    The roaring of the racing car reverberated in her ears, and just standing outside the track and watching from a distance, Lin Xu felt her heart skip a beat.


    Her heart uncontrollably trembled, and images of a past car accident suddenly flashed through her mind.


    Lin Xu¡¯s face instantly turned deathly pale, and she slowly squatted down to the ground.


    Seconds later, the racing car abruptly stopped beside her.


    Xie Changyan stepped out of the car in a rush and hurried over to her side.


    His usual carefree expression was gone, replaced by a look of urgent concern, ¡°What happened, are you feeling unwell?¡±


    Xie Changyan supported her body and felt her ice-cold palms, frowning deeply, ¡°Why is your body so cold?¡±


    He bent down to pick up Lin Xu and turned to look at Su Linzhou, who was trembling and almost crawling out of the racing car, and asked, ¡°Su Linzhou, give me your car key, I¡¯m taking her to the hospital.¡±


    Su Linzhou¡¯s voice trembled, ¡°¡­Brother, I think you should take me to the hospital first.¡±


    Saying this, he leaned against the car door and vomited another mouthful of acid liquid.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s frown deepened with a hint of disgust, and just as he was about to say something else, his chest was poked.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, no need to take me to the hospital, I just need to rest a bit,¡± Lin Xu¡¯s cheeks had already regained their color.


    Xie Changyan looked into her eyes for a long time, and finally gave up the idea of taking her to the hospital. He carried her to a nearby chair, setting her down and admonishing with concern.


    ¡°If you¡¯re feeling unwell, tell me, and I¡¯ll take you to the hospital.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Lin Xu sat on the chair, holding his hand while tilting her head back to look at him, her eyes curving into a smile.


    The pad of Xie Changyan¡¯s thumb gently caressed the back of her hand, which had gradually warmed from its initial coldness.


    He watched Lin Xu, his deep eyes appearing to be lost in thought before his mind drifted off into the distance.


    ¡°Ah Yan.¡±


    ¡°Ah Yan¡­¡±


    Lin Xu shook his hand, calling him back from his reverie with each gentle call.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Xie Changyan asked her.


    Lin Xu¡¯s lips parted as if she wanted to say something, then stopped and shook her head. Her beautiful eyes curved, ¡°I heard that Century Square is having a fountain show; let¡¯s go watch it together?¡±


    The soft light in her eyes sparkled with the glow of spring, and Xie Changyan felt a stir within him. By the time he snapped back to reality, he had already agreed to her invitation.


    The square was busy with people coming and going, but not many were stopping to watch the fountain show.


    Lin Xu easily found a prime viewing spot and pulled Xie Changyan to watch alongside her.


    The water sprayed in various shapes, and under the shine of the sun, the droplets formed a stunning rainbow in the air.


    Nearby, many children carelessly ran through the fountain¡¯s water, unconcerned about their clothes getting drenched.


    Xie Changyan watched for a while when suddenly, a stream of water droplets splashed onto his cheek, ice-cold and unexpected.


    He turned around in surprise and saw Lin Xu holding a small water gun, her eyebrows slightly raised in a triumphant manner.


    Her eyes shone with a bright, infectious smile, so beautiful and captivating that it was hard to look away.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s lips curved slightly, ¡°Where did you get the water gun?¡±


    ¡°Borrowed it from a little kid,¡± Lin Xu said, pointing to a child holding a lollipop nearby.


    It was clear she had made a trade with the child.


    No sooner had she spoken than another burst of water from the gun splattered onto his face.


    ¡°If you surrender nicely, I might consider letting you off,¡± Lin Xu¡¯s eyes twinkled with triumph, looking every bit the victor.


    ¡°I surrender,¡± Xie Changyan replied decisively.


    ¡°Then I must claim my spoils of war.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, what do you want?¡±


    A sly sparkle passed through Lin Xu¡¯s eyes as she tiptoed to place a light, dragonfly-like kiss on his lips, ¡°I¡¯ll claim this then.¡±


    Joy brimmed in Xie Changyan¡¯s eyes, ¡°It wouldn¡¯t hurt to claim a bit more from you.¡±


    Lin Xu smiled faintly, ¡°Do you feel better now?¡±


    The things he had forgotten surged back into his mind at her words, and the smile at the corner of Xie Changyan¡¯s mouth stiffened.


    He suddenly wanted to know.


    Was he the one in her eyes now, or was it that Ji Yanli?


    Did she bring him here to see the fountain because she wanted to cheer him up, or was it because she wanted to cheer up Ji Yanli?


    Seeing him lost in thought, Lin Xu called out with a hint of confusion, ¡°Ah Yan?¡±


    Xie Changyan¡¯s lips pressed tightly together, feeling a sour, fierce turmoil in his chest, almost spilling out of his throat.


    Ah Yan?


    Did she utter these two words so naturally because she used to call them out frequently?


    He suddenly remembered that night on New Year¡¯s Eve when she lightly kissed his lips and uttered those trembling words¡ª ¡°Ah Yan, happy New Year¡¯s Eve.¡±


    Had she mistaken him for someone else from that moment on?


    His heart felt as if it was being tightly clenched, the pain was excruciating, nearly leaving him breathless.


    Lin Xu noticed his increasingly unwell complexion and immediately became anxious, ¡°Ah Yan, are you not feeling well?¡±


    Xie Changyan reached out to encircle her waist and pulled her into his embrace, burying his head in the nape of her neck, letting out a deep breath.


    It was as if he had developed a stress response.


    Every time he heard her call out ¡®Ah Yan,¡¯ he couldn¡¯t help but ponder, who was she really calling?


    Could she distinguish clearly whether the ¡®Ah Yan¡¯ she mentioned was really him or someone else?


    Xie Changyan closed his eyes, containing the restlessness deep within his gaze.


    Lin Xu¡¯s hand gently patted his back, her expression somewhat anxious, ¡°Should we go to the hospital to have a look?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Xie Changyan tightened his hold around her waist, suppressing the emotions churning inside him.


    After pulling away from her embrace, his face resumed its usual nonchalance, ¡°I feel much better now.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Lin Xu breathed a sigh of relief, returning the water gun to the child, ¡°If you¡¯re ever upset again, remember to tell me.¡±


    ¡°I might not be able to solve your problem, but I¡¯m first-rate at water fights.¡±


    Xie Changyan chuckled silently, flicking her forehead.


    By the time he returned to the Xie Family home, it was late at night.


    After parting with Lin Xu, the leisurely expression on Xie Changyan¡¯s face faded, turning into an expressionless stone statue, cold as ice.


    Just as he entered the house, he saw Xie Mingwang, who should have been asleep, still sitting on the couch as if waiting for him to return.


    Seeing him come back, Xie Mingwang¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, ¡°Have you been drinking again?¡±


    ¡°Just a little.¡± Xie Changyan was nonchalant.


    ¡°Is it because of that woman again?¡±


    Xie Changyan didn¡¯t respond.


    Xie Mingwang eyed him for a long while, his grip on the cane tightened, as if the struggle deep within him had finally come to a decision, letting out a sigh.


    ¡°If you really do like her that much, I won¡¯t stop you anymore. As long as she is willing to divorce and be with you in earnest.¡±

 Chapter 173 - Chapter 173: Chapter 173: The "Have a Friend" Series

    Chapter 173: Chapter 173: The ¡°Have a Friend¡± Series


    Xie Mingwang greatly valued the only seedling of the Xie Family, and in some respects, he nearly doted on Xie Changyan to excess.


    Watching Xie Changyan wear a somber expression every day recently and drink almost half of the liquor cabinet, Xie Mingwang knew without guessing that it must have something to do with that woman.


    He never expected that, despite all his efforts to cultivate a grandson who could be said to stand out from the crowd, he would ultimately fall because of love.


    Every time Xie Mingwang saw Xie Changyan¡¯s dejected appearance because of that woman, he was so angry he couldn¡¯t take it, his heart filled with frustration and rage at failing to meet expectations.


    There are so many women in the world, whom he could like, yet he chose to fancy a married woman.


    This punishment is what he deserves, Xie Mingwang thought angrily.


    But then he began to worry and feel distressed again.


    They now had only one grandson in the Xie Family; what if he got trapped in love and couldn¡¯t see a way out?


    With that thought, Xie Mingwang suddenly felt that liking a married woman might not be so bad after all.


    After an inner struggle, Xie Mingwang finally made a compromise, ¡°As long as she gets a divorce and settles down with you properly, I, this old man, won¡¯t stand in your way anymore.¡±


    Xie Changyan paused, then suddenly let out a light chuckle, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid the Xie Family will become a laughingstock?¡±


    ¡°Laugh at what? Who dares to laugh at the Xie Family, I¡¯ll immediately have them pack up and roll out of the country!¡± Xie Mingwang said fiercely.


    As long as you have enough strength, no one dares to gossip mindlessly.


    And the Xie Family just happened to have that strength.


    ¡°You get her to hurry up and divorce, then bring her home for me to see,¡± Xie Mingwang wanted to see for himself what kind of magic that woman had, to bewitch his grandson to the point of losing his soul.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s lips twisted bitterly, and he remained silent.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Seeing his grandson still looked unhappy, Xie Mingwang asked puzzledly, ¡°Doesn¡¯t she want to get a divorce?!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not about the divorce,¡± Xie Changyan said softly.


    ¡°If it¡¯s not about the divorce, then what is the problem?¡± Xie Mingwang thought for a moment, his expression slightly gossipy, ¡°Does she not like you?¡±


    ¡°¡­Don¡¯t bother with it anymore,¡± Xie Changyan tugged at his tie, a flash of restlessness crossing his eyes.


    Seeing his reaction, what more could Xie Mingwang not understand? It was very likely that he hit the nail on the head.


    ¡°I read on the internet that modern women all like tall, rich, and handsome men, and you have it all, and are outstanding; who wouldn¡¯t like you!¡± Xie Mingwang¡¯s filter for his own grandson was very thick, and he went on to speak as if he knew it all, ¡°If you are willing to spend money, buy her cars, houses, and bags, I dare say no woman could resist feeling moved.¡±


    A hint of helplessness colored Xie Changyan¡¯s eyes and brows.


    If only it were really that simple.


    ¡­


    The bar on the following night.


    Su Linzhou was ensconced in a booth, flanked by two beauties, chatting about something that had both women tittering with suppressed laughter.


    Xie Changyan arrived belatedly and had just sat down when one of the beauties¡¯ eyes suddenly lit up, and she shifted, trying to lean towards him.


    ¡°Get lost,¡± his narrow eyes glinted coldly, not even giving her a glance.


    His indifferent and light-toned voice carried a terrifying chill, and the woman¡¯s body stiffened instantly.


    Su Linzhou laughed, pulling the beauty back to his side, and looked at Xie Changyan, clicking his tongue, ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯m the one who¡¯s upset you, no need to take out your anger on us.¡±


    He had called him out to race cars yesterday, almost costing him his life, and now he had called him to drink.


    It was obvious he was in a bad mood.


    Xie Changyan paid no attention to him and casually grabbed a cup of alcohol from the table, gulping down a large mouthful.


    ¡°Spill it, what happened with Lin Xu again?¡± Su Linzhou crossed his legs, his tone leisurely.


    ¡°It has nothing to do with her,¡± Xie Changyan said, his long fingers swaying the glass, his voice deep.


    Su Linzhou rolled his eyes inwardly.


    Every time he made a scene, it was somehow related to Lin Xu.


    ¡°What¡¯s the reason?¡± Yet, Su Linzhou still pretended not to understand.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s grip on his glass paused slightly, and he mentioned casually, ¡°Remember Young Master Zhou?¡±


    ¡°Him¡­?¡± Su Linzhou feigned sudden realization, ¡°What happened to him?¡±


    Which Young Master Zhou?


    But it didn¡¯t matter, he knew the story of ¡°just a friend¡±.


    ¡°He¡¯s recently taken a fancy to a woman. But that woman doesn¡¯t like him, and is only with him because she sees him as a substitute. What do you think he should do?¡± Xie Changyan said, furrowing his brow.


    Su Linzhou was stunned for a moment, and a storm surged in his heart once he understood the implications of Xie Changyan¡¯s words.


    What the fuck!


    Lin Xu doesn¡¯t like Xie Changyan?!


    She sees Xie Changyan as a substitute?!


    Perhaps because his shock lasted too long, Xie Changyan kicked him impatiently, ¡°I¡¯m asking you a question.¡±


    ¡°Ah, oh¡­¡± Su Linzhou¡¯s mind was still in a daze, ¡°What did you just ask me?¡±


    Xie Changyan let out a breath, ¡°I¡¯m asking what he should do?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s simple, if that woman doesn¡¯t like him, then they should just break up,¡± Su Linzhou said matter-of-factly.


    ¡°¡­¡± Xie Changyan fell silent.


    ¡°You see, if she¡¯s looking for a substitute, that means she loves that other person deeply. They¡¯re the ¡®white moonlight¡¯ type. Haven¡¯t you seen it on TV? No matter how hard the substitute tries, as soon as the white moonlight comes back, the substitute has to step aside,¡± Su Linzhou patted his shoulder sympathetically, ¡°So bro, listen to me, you should just give up.¡±


    Xie Changyan¡¯s brows were tightly knit as he downed the remaining wine in one gulp, his disdain for Su Linzhou¡¯s advice apparent, ¡°What kind of nonsense are you talking about? It¡¯s completely useless, forget I said anything.¡±


    Having said that, he got up and left the bar straight away.


    Su Linzhou: ???


    ¡°My advice was useless?!¡± Su Linzhou asked the two beauties beside him incredulously.


    ¡°Young Master Su, your friend probably doesn¡¯t want to break up with that woman,¡± the beauty pointed out sharply.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    It bewildered him.


    What charm did Lin Xu possess that made Xie Changyan unable to let go of her, whether it was a misunderstanding about a marriage in the past or now being considered a substitute?


    Su Linzhou shook his head and continued to drink with the two beauties, while Xie Changyan drove to the Ji Mansion.


    Lin Xu was just about to go to sleep after washing up when she received his call.


    ¡°Are you asleep?¡± Xie Changyan¡¯s voice was deeper than usual.


    ¡°Not yet, what¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°Come out and collect a gift.¡±


    ¡°A gift? Did you send something over to me?¡± Lin Xu asked, confused, as she hurriedly put on a coat and rushed outside.


    Outside the gate of the mansion, Xie Changyan was leaning on his car, half-submerged in the dark night, his expression indiscernible.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡± Lin Xu ran over in surprise, only noticing the smell of alcohol on him as she drew closer.


    Xie Changyan clasped her neck and nestled his head against her forehead affectionately, smelling the orange scent of her shower gel and feeling his restlessness gradually subside, ¡°I came to give you a gift.¡±


    ¡°What gift?¡±


    As Lin Xu¡¯s question was asked, a set of keys was placed into her palm.


    ¡°I bought you an apartment,¡± Xie Changyan said lightly.

 Chapter 174 - Chapter 174: Chapter 174: Even a Substitute Has a Time to Turn Official

    Chapter 174: Chapter 174: Even a Substitute Has a Time to Turn Official


    Ever since returning from the cruise, Lin Xu felt that Xie Changyan had become very strange.


    It was either buying her a house or wanting to buy her cars and bags.


    He even pushed his Black Card into her hands, ¡°Don¡¯t use Ji Tingyang¡¯s card. Use mine.¡±


    He seemed the same as usual, but only Lin Xu knew that every time they met he became overly enthusiastic, always luring her into secluded places.


    In the office of Xie Group, Xie Changyan almost pinned her down on the couch, his lazy eyes gently sweeping over her rosy cheeks after being kissed.


    The air between their breaths was filled with unyielding heat and adhesive, his forehead against hers as he dragged out his words, ¡°Who is the person before your eyes?¡±


    Lin Xu¡¯s heart skipped a beat, ¡°Ah Yan.¡±


    ¡°Say my name.¡±


    ¡°Xie Changyan.¡±


    Xie Changyan seemed satisfied, squinting his eyes and lifting her chin for another kiss, his passion and tenderness enveloping her.


    The scent of his hormones lingered at the tip of her nose, Lin Xu¡¯s cheeks becoming even more flushed, her heart uncontrollably racing as both her thoughts and reason sank.


    ¡°President Xie, the meeting is starting in ten minutes,¡± the voice of his assistant, followed by a knock, interrupted.


    Lin Xu suddenly snapped back to reality, frantically pushing him away and clumsily fixing her disheveled clothes, her flushed face not to be concealed.


    Xie Changyan took his time enjoying her panic, chuckling softly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I locked it. He can¡¯t come in.¡±


    Lin Xu¡¯s cheeks grew hotter.


    Having been locked inside for so long, anyone could guess what had happened.


    ¡°I won¡¯t come over next time,¡± Lin Xu murmured under her breath.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll go to the Ji Family to find you,¡± Xie Changyan said with a light laugh.


    Imagining Xie Changyan confronting her two sons in a tense standoff, Lin Xu felt her head swell with the pressure, ¡°Never mind, let¡¯s not.¡±


    Just as Xie Changyan was about to say something else, there was another knock from his assistant outside.


    ¡°President Xie, the meeting time is almost here.¡±


    ¡°You should go now,¡± Lin Xu pushed at his chest.


    ¡°Wait for me here; I¡¯ll take you home after work,¡± Xie Changyan said.


    Xie Changyan had said the meeting would only take an hour or two, so Lin Xu decided to wait for him for a while, but unexpectedly, that wait turned into an entire evening.


    When Xie Changyan came out of the meeting room, Lin Xu had already fallen asleep on the sofa.


    Perhaps hearing some noise, Lin Xu rubbed the pillow under her head and slowly opened her eyes.


    Her eyes, still sleepy and confused, seemed as though she hadn¡¯t fully awakened from her dreams.


    ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t know this meeting would take so long,¡± Xie Changyan apologized as he tidied the wisps of hair by her ear, ¡°Are you hungry? I¡¯ll take you to dinner.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not hungry; I¡¯ve finished the meals you ordered for me,¡± Lin Xu said.


    As if instructed by Xie Changyan, right at mealtime, his assistant brought in a meal box from Flaming Lily Restaurant for her.


    She had no choice but to eat; the assistant was almost crying, ¡°Miss Lin, please eat a little. Otherwise, President Xie will dock my bonus.¡±


    Lin Xu¡¯s stomach was still filled to the brim.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s fingertips playfully twirled the tips of her hair, ¡°Then shall I take you home?¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Xie Changyan drove Lin Xu back to the villa, and just as they were lingering at the door, a black sedan passed by them and stopped alongside.


    Ji Tingyang stepped out of the car, his sharp eyes fixating on their clasped hands, his usually stern expression turning even colder.


    Although she was already the mother of three children, Lin Xu still felt a pang of guilt at that moment, like a student caught in a forbidden romance.


    She quickly withdrew her hand and looked at Ji Tingyang with a feigned calm, ¡°Did you just get off work? Why are you coming back so late?¡±


    ¡°Are you hungry? Let¡¯s go in and have Aunt Zhang make dinner.¡±


    She hurriedly grabbed Ji Tingyang¡¯s hand, wanting to lead him into the house.


    However, Ji Tingyang stood still, ¡°You go in first.¡±


    His words were addressed to Lin Xu, but his eyes were locked on Xie Changyan.


    ¡°I¡­¡± Lin Xu looked at both men, hesitating.


    Xie Changyan chuckled softly and said to Lin Xu, ¡°Go inside.¡±


    ¡°All right.¡± Lin Xu shuffled her feet and whispered ¡°Don¡¯t fight¡± in Xie Changyan¡¯s ear before reluctantly heading inside the house, glancing back every few steps.


    Then, as if worried, she leaned against the window looking out toward the front door.


    Fearing that the two of them would come to blows.


    The air at the entrance grew still for a moment as Xie Changyan casually stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked at him, breaking the silence first, ¡°Have something to say to me?¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s lips were tightly closed, his cold eyes conveying his distaste, ¡°I believe I¡¯ve told you before, she does not like you.¡±


    A person with a bit of pride like him should have kept his distance by now.


    Yet he still shamelessly clung to their mother.


    Xie Changyan lifted the corner of his mouth nonchalantly, ¡°So what? I¡¯m the one by her side right now, and besides, even substitutes have their moment to become official.¡±


    Want him to leave?


    He couldn¡¯t do it.


    It would be better to make her forget that man.


    ¡°Since President Xie is so confident¡­¡± Ji Tingyang lifted his eyes to glance at him, his tone mockingly, ¡°then why do you still investigate secretly?¡±


    The words fell.


    Xie Changyan paused.


    Seeing his complexion gradually sour, Ji Tingyang silently sneered.


    Xie Changyan wanted to investigate the Ji Family, and no matter how careful, Ji Tingyang would find out.


    ¡°Want to know who she liked?¡± Ji Tingyang said, as if he had caught his tail, lips curling into a smirk.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, his sharp gaze sweeping toward him.


    He took out his phone, selected a photo from the album, and held it up in front of Xie Changyan.


    In the photo, two people stood hand in hand on the beach against the sunlight. They stood together intimately, basked in the sunlight, looking warm and sweet as if in a painting.


    When Xie Changyan saw the man in the photo, his originally indifferent face began to crack, and his hand in his pocket clenched tightly.


    The man in the photo shared several similar features with him¡ªhis brows, cheeks, everything. If he wasn¡¯t certain his parents only had him as their son, he might have thought the man in the photo was his brother.


    ¡°They were each other¡¯s first love, remarkably affectionate, living a happy and fulfilled life,¡± Ji Tingyang said in a tone as if recounting a fairy tale, sounding pleased with himself, ¡°They both swore to each other, in this life and the next, they would only love one another.¡±


    Heaven knows how many times Ji Tingyang had watched his parents¡¯ wedding video over and over again.


    He could almost recite their vows by heart.


    ¡°So you will never stand a chance.¡± Ji Tingyang seemed triumphant, his eyes brimming with joy, he put away his phone and turned to enter the house.


    Xie Changyan remained standing in place.


    The face of the man in the photo still lingered in his mind, the veins on his forehead throbbing, causing waves of pain.

 Chapter 175 - Chapter 175: Chapter 175 "Who is Ji Yanli?

    Chapter 175: Chapter 175 ¡°Who is Ji Yanli?


    Xie Changyan couldn¡¯t deny it. Ji Tingyang¡¯s words pierced his chest like a thorn, leaving behind a scar.


    Every time he thought of the man in the photo, the thorn in his chest plunged deeper.


    A cold aura enveloped Xie Changyan, setting off alarms among the employees in the company. Everyone tensed up, and no one dared to bother him during such a time.


    Except for one person.


    ¡°Is Ah Yan inside?¡± Lin Xu asked as she arrived.


    The assistant saw her and reacted as if he had seen light, nodding frantically, ¡°Yes, yes, yes, Miss Lin, please go in.¡±


    He knew President Xie was dating Miss Lin and that President Xie¡¯s mood always brightened when he saw her.


    He had been eagerly awaiting Lin Xu¡¯s arrival.


    ¡°Oh, if it¡¯s convenient for you, could you also take this document to President Xie?¡± The assistant handed the file to Lin Xu.


    Lin Xu smiled, it seemed that not only at Ji¡¯s was she asked to deliver documents, but now at Xie¡¯s too, ¡°Sure.¡±


    She pushed the door open and was greeted by a piercing cold so intense it made her shiver.


    Xie Changyan looked up when he heard the door, a complex emotion briefly flitting across his eyes when he saw Lin Xu.


    The next instant, he retracted the chill around him.


    ¡°What brings you here?¡± Xie Changyan set down his pen.


    ¡°Maybe because someone called me, saying there was a severe fire here and asked me to come put it out,¡± Lin Xu said with a chuckle.


    She stepped forward, concern showing in her eyes as she gazed into his clear ones, ¡°Did Ji Tingyang say something to you last night?¡±


    Lin Xu didn¡¯t understand. Ji Tingyang had been so sweet and cute as a child; how could he have turned out so twisted?


    Not only was his personality venomous, but Ji Zeqiu often couldn¡¯t argue with him and ended up frustrated under his dominance, getting angry most of the times.


    She had listened at the window for a while last night and hadn¡¯t heard anything, so she had no idea what Ji Tingyang had said to Xie Changyan.


    ¡°Indeed, he said quite a bit,¡± Xie Changyan replied.


    ¡°Don¡¯t take his words seriously, he often talks nonsense,¡± Lin Xu soothed.


    ¡°Even the ¡®substitute¡¯ part?¡± Xie Changyan suddenly looked up at her.


    Lin Xu puzzled, ¡°What substitute?¡±


    ¡°He said you don¡¯t like me, that I¡¯m just someone¡¯s substitute,¡± Xie Changyan stood, backed her against the wall with no escape.


    He looked down at her from above, his imposing aura radiating around, his fingertips lightly lifting her chin, his deep eyes gradually darkening, ¡°Is that also false?¡±


    Substitute?


    Lin Xu was stunned for a moment.


    She recalled what Ji Tingyang had told her earlier ¨C ¡°Just play with him as a substitute¡­¡±


    It was no wonder Xie Changyan had been acting so oddly recently; perhaps that phrase had been festering in his mind for a long time.


    Lin Xu found herself torn between laughter and tears for a moment.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you speaking?¡± Xie Changyan¡¯s presence grew even more chilling.


    ¡°If I say it¡¯s not true, would you believe me?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Xie Changyan¡¯s fingertips gently caressed her chin, his earnest eyes close at hand, ¡°I¡¯ll believe anything you say.¡±


    ¡°You are not a substitute.¡±


    ¡°Then who is Ji Yanli?¡±


    ¡°How did you know?¡± Lin Xu was startled.


    Had Ji Tingyang told him?


    ¡°¡­ When you¡¯re drunk, you call that name at me.¡± As he said this, Xie Changyan¡¯s grip tightened, momentarily marking her fair skin with a red imprint.


    Lin Xu¡¯s brows furrowed lightly in pain, and a wave of astonishment surged through her heart.


    Was it really her fault?


    ¡°He, I¡­¡± Lin Xu stammered, her gaze flickering, her mind racing.


    Telling Xie Changyan that Ji Yanli was him?


    Not only was there no evidence, but there was also the possibility of being regarded as insane.


    Just make up an excuse?


    But what would be a good lie? A friend? A relative?


    Lin Xu furrowed her brows and thought for a long time. Perhaps Xie Changyan had grown impatient. He lifted her chin and took the initiative to ask, ¡°First love?¡±


    ¡°¡­Close, almost.¡±


    ¡°How did you break up, and where is he now?¡± With each question Xie Changyan asked, the gloom in his heart intensified.


    ¡°He¡­ died,¡± Lin Xu paused.


    He had become a different person, and had forgotten himself.


    That situation might as well be considered almost like being dead.


    Xie Changyan was startled for a moment. This answer was somewhat unexpected.


    He seemed to understand why she always thought of that man.


    It was for the best that he was dead.


    Now, she only had him by her side.


    Yet inexplicably, he suddenly recalled a phrase Su Linzhou had teased him with, ¡°No matter how you compare, the living can¡¯t outshine the dead.¡±


    The living would wear away the passion and edges in day-to-day life, whereas the dead would become increasingly perfect through the filter of memories.


    A hint of irritability flickered through Xie Changyan¡¯s eyes, and a dark cloud seemed to hover between his brows, ¡°So, are you using me as his substitute?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve said he¡¯s not a substitute,¡± Lin Xu glared at him.


    She knew it; his claims of believing her were all false.


    ¡°You¡­¡± As Xie Changyan was about to speak, Lin Xu suddenly pulled on his tie, tiptoed, and kissed him, sealing his lips from continuing.


    Xie Changyan froze, then closed his eyes the next instant, his hold on her waist tightening, almost melding her into his embrace.


    The irritability and unrest in his heart receded with this intense kiss.


    It was unclear how much time had passed.


    Xie Changyan, having shed his earlier stormy gloom, resumed his usual relaxed demeanor, sitting in the office chair looking at the files on his computer.


    Occasionally, he would absent-mindedly glance at Lin Xu on the sofa.


    After intermittently finishing a document, Xie Changyan looked toward the sofa again.


    Meeting her eyes brimming with laughter, she was clearly looking at him, but deep in her eyes, there was a sense of reminiscence, as if looking through her at someone else.


    The stab in his chest seemed to grow again, inflicting more pain.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s expression suddenly turned cold, and he strode over to Lin Xu, seizing her chin, ¡°Who are you looking at?¡±


    Was she looking at him?


    Or was she missing Ji Yanli?


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯m looking at you. What¡¯s up?¡± Lin Xu reached up, smoothed a stray hair on his head, and said with a smile, ¡°There¡¯s a hair sticking up here.¡±


    Xie Changyan¡¯s hand stiffened. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, seemingly suppressing the emotions inside him.


    ¡°¡­You can only look at me.¡± He pressed his forehead against hers, his deep voice rising beside her ear, sounding more like a threat, ¡°If you dare treat me as a substitute, I¡¯ll never forgive you.¡±


    Lin Xu appeared amused, ¡°How exactly will you not forgive me?¡±


    He was obviously someone who would only feel miserable on the inside, never daring to question her, and was even willing to make sacrifices for love. How could he not forgive her?

 Chapter 176 - Chapter 176: Chapter 176: I Didnt Expect the Love-struck Fool to Be Right Beside Me

    Chapter 176: Chapter 176: I Didn¡¯t Expect the Love-struck Fool to Be Right Beside Me


    Perhaps after getting a response from Lin Xu, Xie Changyan¡¯s gloomy mood has dissipated over the past few days, and he hasn¡¯t been hounding Su Linzhou anymore.


    ¡°How come you haven¡¯t asked me to go drinking recently?¡± Su Linzhou hadn¡¯t received an invitation to drink for a long time and had nothing better to do, so he took a detour to Xie¡¯s to find him.


    ¡°No time,¡± Xie Changyan said, sitting in the swivel chair in his office, idly spinning a pen with his fingertips before lazily responding.


    ¡°No time? Is your company really busy lately?¡± Su Linzhou inquired suspiciously.


    Looking at him like this, he seemed pretty relaxed.


    Xie Changyan appeared to be in an exceptionally good mood, his lips slightly curving, ¡°Busy with dates, no time.¡±


    Su Linzhou fell silent for a few seconds, ¡°¡­You¡¯ve made up again?¡±


    Xie Changyan replied, light as a feather, ¡°Mhm.¡±


    Su Linzhou suddenly burst out with a swear word, as if in disbelief, his tone filled with shock, ¡°You don¡¯t care that she treated you as a substitute?¡±


    Xie Changyan lifted his eyes to him and explained, ¡°She didn¡¯t treat me as a substitute.¡±


    ¡°¡­And then you just believed her and made up with her? Don¡¯t you suspect she¡¯s deceiving you?¡±


    ¡°She said she wouldn¡¯t lie to me.¡± Xie Changyan¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, his eyes looking at Su Linzhou with a hint of displeasure, ¡°She¡¯s not the kind of person you think she is.¡±


    Su Linzhou opened his mouth, the words stuck in his throat, his expression as if he had eaten something disgusting.


    He had heard such stories from beautiful women around him before¡ªgirlfriends crying to him about their boyfriend¡¯s scummy behavior, and while he consoled and urged them to split up, the next thing he knew, they were back together.


    Back then, he didn¡¯t take it seriously and smugly said that men didn¡¯t have this kind of trouble.


    It wasn¡¯t that there was no payback, just that the time hadn¡¯t come yet.


    Every time Xie Changyan encountered something related to Lin Xu, it was as if it was a life or death situation.


    From initially enduring the agony of trying to poach someone to playing the role of a substitute¡­


    And when Xie Changyan was in a bad mood, he always liked to drag him into his misery. Just like the last time at the racetrack, he nearly lost his life trying to advise Xie Changyan to break up with Lin Xu.


    Turns out, Xie Changyan bounced back and made up with Lin Xu just like that.


    After all the talk, it seemed not a single word had gotten through to Xie Changyan.


    The more Su Linzhou thought about it, the angrier he became, his chest heaving dramatically, ¡°I never expected to encounter a love-struck fool in my own circle.¡±


    By rights, he and Xie Changyan had grown up together.


    Surrounded by beauties, he had the potential never to pin all his hopes on one person. How come Xie Changyan hadn¡¯t picked up even a bit of that from him?


    Su Linzhou clutched his chest as if frustrated with Xie Changyan¡¯s stubbornness, took a deep breath, and said harshly to Xie Changyan, ¡°If I ever pay you any mind again, I¡¯m a dog!¡±


    ¡°Oh? So you don¡¯t want this project either?¡± Xie Changyan pulled out a file from the drawer, and placed it on the table, eyebrows arching subtly.


    ¡°What project?¡± Su Linzhou glanced at it, his eyes instantly lighting up, ¡°I want it, I want it, I want it!¡±


    He excitedly picked up the project proposal.


    With it, he would be able to one-up his older brother.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s eyes carried a hint of mockery, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say if you paid any more attention to me, you¡¯d be a dog?¡±


    ¡°¡­Get lost,¡± Su Linzhou rolled his eyes and sworn at him irritably.


    Xie Changyan chuckled, standing up to walk out.


    ¡°There¡¯s still half an hour before quitting time, where are you going?¡± Su Linzhou watched his receding figure.


    ¡°A date.¡±


    ¡°¡­Never mind, forget I asked.¡±


    Xie Changyan followed the address sent by Lin Xu and arrived at a luxurious store. Just as he entered, he saw Lin Xu just coming out from trying on clothes.


    She was dressed in a light blue skirt paired with an off-white coat. Her long, lustrous black hair was tied into a ponytail, cascading down her back and framing her stunningly beautiful face.


    ¡°Does it look good?¡± Lin Xu spun around a few times for the person seated in the sofa area.


    Ji Yuqiao, with her cheek resting on her hand, scrutinized carefully.


    Just as she was about to speak, a man with a straight posture walked up to Lin Xu and affectionately wrapped his arm around her waist, ¡°It looks very good.¡±


    ¡°If you think it looks good, then go pay for it already,¡± Lin Xu puffed her cheeks and poked his chest.


    Xie Changyan placed a light kiss behind her ear, his voice muffled with a chuckle, ¡°You¡¯re right, I will do that right now.¡±


    Seeing the two so intimate, Ji Yuqiao suddenly stood up, as if only just realizing, and came to Lin Xu¡¯s side, asking, ¡°He¡¯s not my uncle, is he?!¡±


    She had originally thought that Xie Changyan and Lin Xu were simply friends.


    Plus, Lin Xu had not introduced Xie Changyan¡¯s identity, so Ji Yuqiao hadn¡¯t given it any further thought.


    Now that she saw them kissing, Ji Yuqiao realized belatedly.


    ¡°Well¡­ you could say that,¡± Lin Xu nodded.


    ¡°Then why don¡¯t you go home with him and live there instead of staying at the Ji family¡¯s place?¡± Ji Yuqiao¡¯s curiosity surged, and after asking, she quickly added, ¡°I don¡¯t mean to drive you away, you can stay as long as you like!¡±


    Lin Xu was suddenly at a loss, unsure of how to smooth over this matter.


    Ji Yuqiao voiced her guess, ¡°Is it because he¡¯s too fierce, so you don¡¯t want to go back?¡±


    It seemed that Ji Yuqiao¡¯s impression of Xie Changyan was just one of fierceness.


    A hint of helplessness tinged Lin Xu¡¯s smile.


    Then Ji Yuqiao continued, ¡°We¡¯re not going to have dinner with him later, are we?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to eat with him?¡± Lin Xu saw the reluctance on her face.


    ¡°He¡¯s too fierce; I don¡¯t want to eat with him,¡± Ji Yuqiao pouted.


    He was even fiercer than her older brother.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, if he continues to be fierce with you, I will help you beat him up,¡± Lin Xu continued to tempt her, ¡°And didn¡¯t you say you wanted to go to Wangjiang Pavilion? This is a good opportunity to have him take you there.¡±


    Wangjiang Pavilion could be described as an establishment that combined entertainment and dining, but it was not open to the public. Their VIPs were by invitation only, and additionally, customers were required to pay a hefty annual fee for the reservation of a private dining room.


    Once reserved, that private dining room was to be used exclusively by them.


    Many high-society individuals had their own private dining rooms there, and it seemed that Ji Tingyang also had one.


    Ji Yuqiao had previously asked Ji Tingyang to take her to see it, but Ji Tingyang had a condition.


    ¡°As long as you give up on Xiao Yu, I will take you there.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao was immediately indignant, ¡°If I don¡¯t go, it¡¯s not a big deal. It¡¯s just a restaurant. Not going there won¡¯t kill me. What¡¯s so great about it.¡±


    She talked tough, but these past few days, she couldn¡¯t stop mentioning it to Lin Xu.


    Moved by her persistence, Lin Xu ended up calling Xie Changyan.


    Sure enough.


    Upon hearing what Lin Xu said, Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement, and she vigorously shook Lin Xu¡¯s arm, ¡°Let¡¯s hurry up then, let¡¯s go right now!¡±


    However, Lin Xu did not expect the totally unaffiliated Xiao Yu to show up at Wangjiang Pavilion.

 Chapter 177 - Chapter 177: Chapter 177: The Arrogance of the Upper Class

    Chapter 177: Chapter 177: The Arrogance of the Upper Class


    After the competition ended, Xiao Yu had more time and had been immersing himself in the studio since coming back from the neighboring city.


    His senior partner, seeing his hard work, felt somewhat ashamed.


    ¡°Xiao Yu, just like with studies, work requires a balance of rest and labor. Don¡¯t exhaust yourself,¡± the senior partner said caringly, seeing him spending all his time in the studio. ¡°You could also go out with Wen Li once in a while. How long has it been since you two went on a date?¡±


    At the mention of Wen Li¡¯s name, Xiao Yu¡¯s expression softened for a moment, and his typing halted briefly.


    He realized that he had indeed been neglecting Wen Li recently.


    Xiao Yu took out his phone and opened his chat with Wen Li, only to find their conversation had dwindled for an unknown period.


    Their last conversation was three days ago.


    Wen Li: ¡°Shall we go eat something behind the school tonight?¡±


    Xiao Yu: ¡°I¡¯ve been really busy with the studio recently, I have to head back soon and won¡¯t be able to join you.¡±


    Wen Li: ¡°Okay, then good luck with your work.¡±


    There was no follow-up after that.


    Xiao Yu pursed his lips, the conflict in his heart lingering only for a moment before dissipating.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, she will understand,¡± he said to himself as he put his phone back in his pocket and continued working on the project proposal on his computer. ¡°Getting this project is the most important thing right now.¡±


    Securing this big project would not only ensure funding for their operations for the upcoming year but might even allow them to move into a better office.


    Then they could take on more projects, hire staff, and expand the size of their studio¡­


    Xiao Yu could even imagine how their studio would grow and thrive in the future.


    With this thought, his fingers flew even faster over the keyboard.


    Seeing him like this, the senior partner didn¡¯t feel it was his place to advise further, just reminded him, ¡°President Wang has scheduled a meeting with us at Wangjiang Pavilion tomorrow to discuss this project; make sure you¡¯re not late.¡±


    Xiao Yu: ¡°Okay.¡±


    The next day.


    Xiao Yu and his senior partner arrived early at the gates of Wangjiang Pavilion to wait.


    Under the glaring sun, they had been waiting for almost two hours when President Wang finally arrived, late, apologizing, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, there was some traffic on the road which delayed me.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t even peak traffic hours. How could there be traffic?


    But what else could they say besides ¡°It¡¯s alright¡±?


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you sit inside and wait, being out in such harsh sunlight?¡± President Wang casually mentioned as he walked inside.


    Xiao Yu and the senior partner followed behind him, not taking his words seriously.


    If he had really wanted them to wait inside, he would have called ahead to let security let them through.


    Once inside the private room, President Wang didn¡¯t even glance at the menu, just told the waiter, ¡°The usual.¡±


    It was only after the waiter left that he seemed to remember the other two, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I got used to eating by myself; I forgot to ask what you guys wanted. I¡¯ll have the waiter bring the menu back.¡±


    The senior partner hurriedly waved his hand, ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay. We¡¯re not picky, whatever you¡¯ve ordered is fine.¡±


    President Wang nodded nonchalantly.


    ¡°President Wang, while we wait for the food to arrive, let me share our project ideas with you,¡± Xiao Yu said as he brought out the documents.


    No sooner had he handed them over than President Wang frowned, ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about this during the meal. We¡¯ll talk after we eat.¡±


    Xiao Yu¡¯s hand, suspended in mid-air, stiffened for a moment.


    The senior hastily pulled his hand back and said to President Wang, ¡°President Wang is right. Let¡¯s talk after we eat, after we eat¡­¡±


    Throughout the meal, the senior drank quite a bit of alcohol.


    No matter what President Wang said, he would nod in agreement, his posture for toasting almost bowing to the ground.


    The bowing and scraping posture just to secure a contract was so painful to watch that Xiao Yu felt as if his eyes were stinging and his chest was blocked by something.


    ¡°Xiao Xiao, why haven¡¯t you touched the glass of wine in your hand?¡± President Wang noticed the silent Xiao Yu.


    The senior secretly kicked Xiao Yu under the table, giving him a look that urged him to toast.


    Xiao Yu gripped the wine glass slightly harder, forcing himself to toast to President Wang.


    The red wine poured down his throat, its bitterness spreading in his mouth, overtaking his taste buds.


    ¡°This is a ¡¯98 Aleurites Wine Estate red wine. You probably don¡¯t get the chance to taste this often; take advantage of the opportunity and drink more.¡± President Wang¡¯s eyes carried the arrogance of the upper class.


    Xiao Yu clenched his fists, his fingernails digging into his palm, the pain spreading from his hand to his whole body.


    After the meal, Xiao Yu took out the documents again, ¡°President Wang, about this project we¡­¡±


    ¡°Ah.¡± President Wang frowned slightly, ¡°Young man, don¡¯t be in such a rush. By the way, there are a lot of entertainment facilities here. Since it¡¯s your first visit, why don¡¯t we go have a look?¡±


    ¡°Sure, thank you for the trouble, President Wang.¡± The senior hurriedly agreed.


    Xiao Yu¡¯s expression darkened.


    If he really didn¡¯t want to sign a contract with them, then why invite them out for a meal; but if he was interested in signing, why did he always change the subject whenever the project was mentioned.


    They followed President Wang around Wangjiang Pavilion. When they passed by the bowling area, they heard noises from inside, as if someone was there.


    President Wang looked inside and his eyes suddenly brightened, his steps quickly leading him that way.


    ¡°Young Master Xie, didn¡¯t expect you to be here today as well, what a coincidence!¡± President Wang¡¯s face was full of smiles, his respectful words tainted with flattery.


    Xie Changyan glanced back at him and responded in an indifferent tone.


    ¡°Young Master Xie, I don¡¯t know if you are free now. I mentioned a project in the west of the city to you last time, and would like to discuss it with you,¡± President Wang said, bending over as he spoke.


    ¡°It¡¯s my rest time now, let¡¯s not talk shop.¡± Xie Changyan averted his gaze, looking back at the two people in front of him.


    ¡°Yes, yes, you are right. Shall I come to Xie¡¯s tomorrow?¡± President Wang said cautiously.


    Before he even received a response, he heard the sound of a bowling ball hitting pins followed by a cheer.


    ¡°Strike! See how good I am!¡± Ji Yuqiao stood with her hands on her hips, proudly.


    ¡°No way, one more game.¡± Lin Xu protested.


    Xie Changyan chuckled and walked over, his fingertips brushing through Lin Xu¡¯s hair damp with sweat, ¡°You¡¯re sweating a lot. Take a rest first; I¡¯ll win it back for you.¡±


    ¡°No way, no cheating!¡± Ji Yuqiao¡¯s head shook vehemently. Suddenly, her gaze swept to Xiao Yu nearby, her body instantly stiffening.


    Lin Xu noticed her reaction and followed her gaze to Xiao Yu, her eyebrows knitting together.


    Why is he here?


    Xiao Yu had noticed Ji Yuqiao earlier.


    Watching President Wang trying to talk to Xie Changyan with the same respectful manner they had shown at the dinner table, he could only feel a sense of mockery inside.

 Chapter 178 - Chapter 178: Chapter 178: Dont Need Her, Can Still Make the Studio Great

    Chapter 178: Chapter 178: Don¡¯t Need Her, Can Still Make the Studio Great


    Ever since they parted ways in the neighboring city that one time, Ji Yuqiao hadn¡¯t seen Xiao Yu again, even though they were at the same university, it was hard to run into him on campus.


    Ji Yuqiao therefore breathed a sigh of relief, because she hadn¡¯t yet decided what attitude to take when facing him.


    But she didn¡¯t expect that they would meet at Wangjiang Pavilion.


    Ji Yuqiao stared blankly at Xiao Yu, feeling somewhat complex inside.


    It wasn¡¯t until a senior¡¯s voice, full of surprise, rang out that she snapped back from her trance.


    ¡°Junior sister? What are you doing here?¡±


    Back when the studio was just established, the senior often saw Ji Yuqiao at the office.


    Each time she came, she would bring a lot of tasty treats to share with them and liked to follow Xiao Yu around all day, but for some reason, she stopped coming later on.


    The senior even secretly speculated, was it because she failed to confess to Xiao Yu, so she stopped showing up?


    But now, seeing Ji Yuqiao in the upscale Wangjiang Pavilion, his heart was still filled with astonishment.


    The senior glanced at Ji Yuqiao and then at Xie Changyan and Lin Xu, and in a flash, thoughts of gold-digging crossed his mind.


    ¡°You know each other?¡± President Wang heard the voice and looked over.


    ¡°We are alumni of the same university,¡± explained Ji Yuqiao.


    Go to ????????????????????.co


    ¡°So you¡¯re Miss Ji¡¯s schoolmate, then I¡¯m relieved. There¡¯s no need to talk about this contract, let¡¯s just sign it straight away!¡± said President Wang with a lifted corner of his mouth, revealing an ingratiating smile.


    Hearing this, the senior was even more shocked.


    When they first met today, President Wang had been dragging his feet all along, mentioning nothing about the contract.


    He had started to believe that this project might fall through, but who could have expected this sudden turn of events.


    The senior quietly nudged Xiao Yu with his elbow and asked in a low voice, ¡°Why is this President Wang so respectful to Ji Yuqiao?¡±


    Isn¡¯t she just an escort?


    ¡°She is the younger sister of Ji Group¡¯s CEO,¡± Xiao Yu explained.


    Ji¡¯s?


    Which Ji¡¯s?


    The senior¡¯s mind took a moment to reboot, and the next instant his eyes widened as he said in disbelief with a subdued voice, ¡°You mean Ji Tingyang¡¯s younger sister?¡±


    Although he had seen Ji Yuqiao spend money generously, he did not know that her family was so affluent.


    Xiao Yu gave a slight nod.


    The senior took a sharp breath, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier? With such a good connection, why not use it?¡±


    If Ji Yuqiao could help to pull some strings and secure a contract with Ji¡¯s to do a project or something, their studio might have already gained some fame by now.


    Xiao Yu¡¯s eyes and brows habitually furrowed, ¡°We don¡¯t need her, we can make the studio successful on our own.¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡± The senior opened his mouth, then thought better of it.


    Having interacted with Xiao Yu for so long, he knew Xiao Yu was capable, but also clearly recognized his pride.


    Knowing he couldn¡¯t persuade Xiao Yu, the senior sighed, said no more, and continued watching President Wang, who was still talking with Ji Yuqiao, hoping that his mention of signing the contract directly was for real.


    However, the very next second, the senior heard Lin Xu¡¯s voice ring out.


    ¡°Careful assessment is still needed before signing a contract, in case there are any issues, Ji¡¯s won¡¯t cover for you.¡±


    These words, distancing themselves from the relationship, left both President Wang and the senior frozen for a moment.


    Ji Yuqiao quietly tugged at Lin Xu¡¯s sleeve, her expression somewhat conflicted, ¡°Lin Xu, let¡¯s just help Xiao Yu, shall we?¡±


    The look on Lin Xu¡¯s face was serious, ¡°Even if we want to help, we can¡¯t use your brother¡¯s name. What if something happens later and your brother gets dragged down?¡±


    Lin Xu was vigilant about anything related to the novel¡¯s protagonists, to prevent the actual occurrence of the novel¡¯s ending.


    It was best to keep as far away from them as possible.


    Although she wanted to help Xiao Yu, when she heard that it could involve Ji Tingyang, Ji Yuqiao hesitated for a moment and then gave up the idea.


    Upon hearing her words, President Wang¡¯s intent to curry favor with Ji Yuqiao and earn a favor instantly fell through, and he chuckled awkwardly a few times, ¡°Right, right, you have to consider these things carefully.¡±


    ¡°Is there anything else?¡± Xie Changyan¡¯s indifferent eyes swept over President Wang before he spoke, his tone flat.


    ¡°No, nothing else. You guys enjoy, we won¡¯t disturb you any further.¡± President Wang immediately understood the meaning behind his words and turned to leave with Xiao Yu and the others.


    Once they left the bowling amusement area, the smile that had been on his face instantly faded away.


    ¡°I have some matters at my company, so I¡¯ll be leaving.¡± President Wang lost his enthusiasm and his face took on a hint of impatience.


    The senior student quickly spoke up, ¡°President Wang, our contract¡­¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll talk about the contract next time.¡± President Wang didn¡¯t look back as he entered his car and departed.


    Watching the car¡¯s exhaust dust trailing away, the senior student spoke resentfully to Xiao Yu, ¡°Do you see? As soon as Ji Yuqiao made it clear she wouldn¡¯t associate with you, President Wang¡¯s expression changed faster than flipping through a book.¡±


    ¡°If you ask me, you shouldn¡¯t be so stubborn. Go and have a chat with Ji Yuqiao, see if she¡¯s willing to help you out because of your past relationship.¡±


    Xiao Yu¡¯s lips were tightly pursed, ¡°I don¡¯t need her, I will find a way to handle this.¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡± the senior student was so frustrated he couldn¡¯t speak, ¡°I¡¯d like to see what you can come up with.¡±


    After Xiao Yu and the others left, Ji Yuqiao became distracted. Holding the bowling ball in her hand, she was lost in thought for a long while and didn¡¯t throw it.


    ¡°Does she want to help those two alumni from before?¡± Xie Changyan¡¯s gaze swept over.


    ¡°Mhm.¡± Lin Xu nodded with a sigh. The next second, seeing Xie Changyan¡¯s thoughtful expression, she grabbed his tie and warned emphatically, ¡°I¡¯m warning you, don¡¯t even think about helping those two, do you hear me?!¡±


    What if he saw his daughter upset and, out of pity, secretly helped Xiao Yu?


    Absolutely not!


    Xie Changyan seemed amused and let out a quiet laugh, ¡°Do you dislike those two from before?¡±


    The hostility emanating from her was quite clear.


    Lin Xu indeed nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t like them, especially the one who didn¡¯t speak just now.¡±


    Xie Changyan drew closer, staring into her clear, attractive eyes and asked, ¡°So who do you like?¡±


    ¡°I like¡­¡± Lin Xu pretended to ponder, a sly hint flashing through her eyes, ¡°I like someone who easily gets jealous, who thinks he¡¯s the third wheel, yet also feels he¡¯s the substitute.¡±


    Xie Changyan¡¯s narrowed eyes froze, and, as if in retaliation, he leaned down and bit her lip.


    Lin Xu chuckled.


    Suddenly, a somber voice came from nearby, ¡°Please be mindful; there¡¯s still a single dog here, so stop flaunting your love.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao looked at them with a grievous expression.


    She was still feeling bad about Xiao Yu¡¯s situation, and when she turned around, there were two people behind her showing affection without a care in the world.


    ¡°Then stop looking and go play elsewhere,¡± Xie Changyan said, his voice filled with a cheery tone.


    Ji Yuqiao immediately felt displeased, tossed the bowling ball aside, and huffed, ¡°I¡¯m not playing anymore, I¡¯m going back to the university!¡±

 Chapter 179 - Chapter 179: Chapter 179: High Definition Dark History

    Chapter 179: Chapter 179: High Definition Dark History


    After their meeting at Wangjiang Pavilion a few days had passed.


    Ji Yuqiao suddenly received a call from her competition coach, asking her to visit his office.


    She guessed that the competition results might have been released, so she hurried over as soon as class ended.


    Upon entering, the first thing she saw was Xiao Yu¡¯s stern face, which made her pause for a moment.


    Then she thought, since they had attended the competition together, it seemed normal for the teacher to call Xiao Yu as well.


    ¡°Both of you are here,¡± the teacher said with a chuckle as he looked at them. ¡°The competition results are out, guess what prizes you two won?¡±


    ¡°Teacher, just tell us already, don¡¯t keep us in suspense,¡± Ji Yuqiao urged impatiently.


    Contrary to the excited Ji Yuqiao, Xiao Yu was rather calm.


    Even if the teacher didn¡¯t say it, he knew his capabilities were enough to secure a first prize.


    ¡°Alright, alright.¡± The teacher took out two certificates from the drawer and handed them to them, beaming with excitement. ¡°I won¡¯t keep you in suspense any longer, see for yourselves.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao quickly opened her certificate.


    The bold, black characters spelling ¡°First Prize¡± froze her in place for several seconds, her expression shifting gradually from surprise to excitement.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect our school to produce two first prizes this year,¡± the teacher was overjoyed, thinking that this year¡¯s performance and bonus were promising.


    Go to ????????????????????.co


    Xiao Yu was surprised when he heard that Ji Yuqiao also won a first prize.


    From initially failing to winning a national competition, her improvement was unexpectedly huge.


    ¡°Xiao Yu, did you see that? It¡¯s a first prize! It¡¯s all because of your tutoring these past days,¡± Ji Yuqiao said joyfully, forgetting the previous conflicts with Xiao Yu, waving her certificate in front of him excitedly.


    Xiao Yu, caught off guard by her sudden closeness, visibly shivered and froze awkwardly.


    Seeing his stiff expression, Ji Yuqiao belatedly realized something was wrong and finally stopped her exuberant display, stepping back a few paces with an embarrassed look.


    Noticing the blush that had crept up to her ears, Xiao Yu¡¯s gaze flickered and he quickly looked away.


    After Ji Yuqiao¡¯s excitement subsided, the teacher continued, ¡°I¡¯m giving you the certificates now, and the prize money will be distributed by city officials tomorrow. We¡¯ll go together.¡±


    ¡°Great, thank you, teacher!¡± Ji Yuqiao smiled with pursed lips, looking over her certificate several times.


    Before they left, the teacher added a reminder, ¡°Oh, and dress nicely tomorrow, there might be a photo shoot and interview.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao: ¡°Okay!¡±


    Knowing her daughter had won an award in the competition, Lin Xu was thrilled.


    When she heard that Ji Yuqiao needed to dress up for a photo shoot and interview the next day, Lin Xu called the manager over, dragging several racks of clothes for her to choose from.


    She even took out all the jewelry from her walk-in wardrobe for her to pick from.


    ¡°These jewels seem too few, shall we go pick out some more now?¡± Lin Xu wondered aloud.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it just a small interview for a competition? Isn¡¯t this a bit too much?¡± Ji Zeqiu watched in surprise.


    The setup was almost more intense than his own TV station interviews.


    ¡°Too much? I always feel it¡¯s not quite right,¡± Lin Xu assessed Ji Yuqiao¡¯s attire and makeup, then paused to think.


    The next second, as if a light bulb went off, she declared, ¡°Right, she¡¯s still missing a good outfit!¡±


    ¡°Zeqiu, can you lend your styling team to your sister?¡± Lin Xu quickly asked Ji Zeqiu.


    Ji Zeqiu: ¡°¡­It¡¯s just taking a few photos; using my styling team seems a bit over the top, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°How is it over the top? This is the first time I¡¯m watching my little sister¡¯s award interview, I have to make it the best,¡± Lin Xu said.


    In the past, when Ji Tingyang ranked first in exams at kindergarten, there were parent-teacher meetings, and it was Lin Xu who would attend.


    That day, she prepared a particularly handsome and adorable outfit for Ji Tingyang the night before.


    Watching Ji Tingyang, who was five or six years old, step up to the podium with small strides to receive his award and occasionally hearing a few compliments, Lin Xu felt a swell of pride.


    At that time, she vowed in her heart never to miss any of her children¡¯s award moments in the future.


    However, she never expected that even this simple wish would not be fulfilled.


    She missed the next twenty years.


    So she deemed it essential to take Ji Yuqiao¡¯s competition award seriously this time, no matter what.


    Ji Zeqiu glanced at Lin Xu, his tone containing a hint of barely noticeable grievance, ¡°I¡¯ve attended so many interviews and film award ceremonies before, and I¡¯ve never seen you take them so seriously¡­¡±


    She didn¡¯t personally pick out clothes for him, nor did she look for a styling team for him¡­


    Hearing his complaint, Lin Xu suddenly laughed, cupped his cheeks with both hands, and rubbed them vigorously, ¡°Why, are you even jealous of your sister?¡±


    ¡°And how would you know I didn¡¯t care? I saved every interview and award ceremony video carefully, compiling a huge archive,¡± she added.


    Hearing her words, a gleam flashed through Ji Zeqiu¡¯s eyes, and the curve of his lips uplifted uncontrollably, ¡°Really?¡±


    Lin Xu: ¡°Of course.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu grasped her hand on his face, his smile growing even more radiant, almost as if his tail was wagging up to the sky.


    ¡°Not only did I save the award ceremony videos, but I also saved your embarrassing moments. Want to take a look?¡± Ji Tingyang couldn¡¯t stand his smile and casually threw in a comment.


    The smile on Ji Zeqiu¡¯s face froze instantly, ¡°What embarrassing moments?¡±


    ¡°Like that time you accidentally stepped on dog poop during a variety show, sprained your ankle going up the stairs, got hit by a basketball, and more¡­¡± Ji Tingyang elaborated.


    The advantage of being a celebrity is that even your embarrassing moments are in high definition.


    One could easily find collections of these embarrassing moments created by haters online, without Ji Tingyang needing to search for them one by one.


    Watching Ji Zeqiu¡¯s face turn from shock to fear, Ji Tingyang felt much more satisfied.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Lin Xu.


    ¡°Don¡¯t listen to your brother spouting nonsense, I didn¡¯t save any of those!¡± Lin Xu hurriedly denied.


    ¡°Really?¡± Ji Zeqiu was skeptical.


    ¡°Really, really!¡± Lin Xu nodded.


    Ji Zeqiu had just breathed a sigh of relief when he heard her slightly guilty voice rise, ¡°I did keep one video of you singing off-key.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s cheeks abruptly reddened, his demeanor resembling an indignant little cat, he blurted out, ¡°No way, you can only keep my cool videos, delete that one now!¡±


    ¡°But that video is really cute, how could it be considered embarrassing?¡± Lin Xu argued.


    ¡°Then¡­ then you¡¯re only allowed to keep that one,¡± Ji Zeqiu said, twisting awkwardly, his voice tinged with a hint of embarrassment.


    ¡°No worries, I have a few gigabytes saved on my side; feel free to ask me if you want to see them,¡± Ji Tingyang said.


    ¡°¡­Get lost!¡± Ji Zeqiu gritted his teeth.

 Chapter 180 - Chapter 180: Chapter 180: Grand Prize

    Chapter 180: Chapter 180: Grand Prize


    The day she went to receive the award and pose for photos.


    Ji Yuqiao wore a pale pink long dress, her black, long hair neatly tied up high, and around her fair, swan-like neck hung a matching pink gemstone necklace, which complemented her smooth, jade-like skin perfectly.


    Xiao Yu¡¯s eyes flickered imperceptibly and then he looked away.


    ¡°Student Ji, you look really nice today. Even the teachers feel honored walking by your side,¡± the teacher praised.


    Ji Yuqiao smiled and entered the venue with the teacher.


    As soon as she came in, she attracted everyone¡¯s attention.


    ¡°Which school is she from? How come I didn¡¯t know there is such a beautiful girl?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know either. Why don¡¯t you go ask for her contact information while you¡¯re at it?¡±


    Among the whisperings of several students nearby, Zhao Jiayan came over with a hint of warmth and soft light in his eyes, a faint smile on his lips, ¡°You¡¯re dressed very beautifully today.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Ji Yuqiao said.


    ¡°And¡­¡± Zhao Jiayan¡¯s voice paused, his eyes showing a trace of guilt, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for not taking good care of you on the cruise last time, which resulted in you drinking so much.¡±


    Although Ji Tingyang didn¡¯t say anything when he came to pick up Ji Yuqiao that day, Zhao Jiayan could see the anger towards him on Ji Tingyang¡¯s dark, ink-like face.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, my brother just made a big deal out of nothing,¡± Ji Yuqiao had also been scolded badly after sobering up that day, and after a while, she suddenly asked, ¡°What prize did you win in the competition this time?¡±


    Go to ????????????????????.co


    For Zhao Jiayan to be present here, it meant that he certainly had won an award.


    Moreover, Ji Yuqiao had heard before that he was a frequent winner of awards in previous years, which naturally aroused her curiosity.


    ¡°I¡­¡± Zhao Jiayan was just about to speak when the loudspeaker announced the call to gather.


    ¡°May I ask all the leaders, teachers, and students to take their seats¡­¡±


    The scattered crowd in the venue quickly returned to their respective school areas and sat down.


    Before walking away to his seat, Zhao Jiayan left the words, ¡°You¡¯ll find out in a bit.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao was puzzled for a moment, but quickly realized.


    Soon, the leaders would call the winners to the stage one by one to give out the awards and take photos, so she would naturally learn his ranking.


    However, from the third prize up to the first prize, both Ji Yuqiao and Xiao Yu had gone on stage, but she had not seen Zhao Jiayan¡¯s turn.


    With his good grades, it was impossible for him not to win an award, right?


    Ji Yuqiao looked down from the stage at Zhao Jiayan in confusion, and he returned her gaze with a calm and collected smile.


    ¡°Next, please invite student Zhao Jiayan, the recipient of the grand prize, to come on stage and give a speech,¡± the host¡¯s voice spread through the microphone across the venue.


    Ji Yuqiao blinked, stunned for a long time before coming back to her senses.


    When she had signed up for the competition, she was only following Xiao Yu, not even bothering to understand many of the rules.


    She always thought that there were only three awards in this competition. Hearing there was a grand prize brought out the surprise in her pupils.


    But Xiao Yu, who had participated in many competitions over the years, calmly watched Zhao Jiayan on stage as if he had long expected this outcome.


    No matter how many competitions he took part in, he was always surpassed by Zhao Jiayan.


    Thinking of this, he clenched the hand resting on his leg.


    Zhao Jiayan stood up straight on the stage, delivering his inspiring speech with confidence and ease, his resounding voice reaching everyone¡¯s ears through the microphone.


    As the speech concluded, the surroundings erupted with enthusiastic applause.


    By the end, all the classmates went on stage for a group photo.


    Ji Yuqiao had just stood next to Xiao Yu when Zhao Jiayan also came over, ¡°Can I take a photo here?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡± Ji Yuqiao didn¡¯t mind, it¡¯s not like this place was her home; he could stand wherever he wanted.


    Still, seeing Zhao Jiayan, she couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be so incredible, actually winning the special prize.¡±


    She had just learned from her teacher that only the top-ranked in the national competition would receive the special prize.


    Zhao Jiayan¡¯s tone carried a faint smile, ¡°It¡¯s just that my family hired many tutors for me. If you ask President Ji to hire some famous teachers for you, maybe next year¡¯s special prize will be yours.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want his help.¡± Ji Yuqiao snorted coldly.


    That guy only knows how to nag her all day about staying away from Xiao Yu, it¡¯s so annoying it could make one¡¯s ears callous.


    While the photographer was adjusting the positions of the students, Ji Yuqiao and Zhao Jiayan chatted sporadically.


    ¡°I just counted the first prize money, it¡¯s only ten thousand yuan. How much is the special prize money?¡± Ji Yuqiao was somewhat curious.


    ¡°It¡¯s usually twenty thousand; it should be the same this year.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s so stingy.¡± Ji Yuqiao muttered.


    Their monthly allowances were much more than that.


    ¡°It¡¯s enough for a meal at a restaurant. After this, do you want to go eat together? It¡¯s my treat,¡± Zhao Jiayan said.


    Their whispers reached Xiao Yu¡¯s ears. Hearing them complain about the prize money, a layer of frost suddenly covered his stern cheeks, becoming more and more irritating as he listened.


    Their life classes were completely different. The prize money, which could support his tuition for a whole semester, had become an object of disdain once it reached their lips.


    His self-esteem was trampled upon by their words.


    Xiao Yu¡¯s expression grew darker.


    ¡°Xiao Yu, Zhao Jiayan said he¡¯s treating us to a meal, let¡¯s go together!¡± When the session ended, Ji Yuqiao stopped Xiao Yu as he was about to leave.


    She was intent on repairing their relationship.


    But Xiao Yu¡¯s voice was distant and cold, ¡°I have to go back to the studio to organize project materials; I don¡¯t have time to dine with you guys.¡±


    After saying that, he left without looking back.


    After arriving at the studio, his senior looked troubled as he shared some bad news with Xiao Yu.


    ¡°We¡¯ve been dealing with President Wang these past few days, he seemed quite positive on the surface, but he turned around and signed a contract with someone else.¡±


    The senior slammed his fist on the desk in frustration, causing the cup on it to tremble as well.


    Turns out, after all the running around they did, President Wang had been playing them for fools.


    ¡°He never intended to sign a contract with us from the start. That day he took us to Wangjiang Pavilion, just to flaunt his noble status, feeling that our studio was beneath him.¡± Xiao Yu wasn¡¯t surprised by the outcome.


    All those people were like that, shrouded in their self-perceived superiority, looking down on everyone.


    ¡°But we could have definitely secured the contract!¡± The senior tried to suppress his emotional outburst, ¡°I told you before, you should have made good use of Ji Yuqiao as a networking resource; maybe by now, we would have even got the money.¡±


    But Xiao Yu insisted on going his own way.


    ¡°You said you didn¡¯t need it, that you had a way. Well, tell me, what do we do now? If things keep going like this, our studio will inevitably go bankrupt sooner or later!¡± The senior suddenly felt some regret, wondering if it was a mistake to have started the studio with Xiao Yu.


    ¡°I remember Su¡¯s is developing a project similar to the one we have in hand.¡± Xiao Yu pursed his lips and continued, ¡°Next week, a director at Su¡¯s will celebrate his 60th birthday with a banquet event. I¡¯ll find a chance to sneak in and see if we can strike a deal with them.¡±

 Chapter 181 - Chapter 181: Chapter 181: Wishing to Split Oneself in Two

    Chapter 181: Chapter 181: Wishing to Split Oneself in Two


    The Old Master Su¡¯s 60th birthday celebration, invited many friends and businesses with whom they had cooperated.


    Ji Tingyang, due to ongoing cooperative projects with Su¡¯s, also received an invitation from the Su Family and had no choice but to attend.


    Upon receiving the invitation, Ji Tingyang immediately sought out Lin Xu, ¡°Mother, do you have time next week? The Su Family is hosting a birthday feast, would you be my date?¡±


    Lin Xu¡¯s gaze flitted about uncertainly, her words hesitant, ¡°I, I¡­¡±


    Seeing her stammer, Ji Tingyang seemed to realize something, and his face immediately soured, ¡°Did Xie Changyan invite you?¡±


    Lin Xu clumsily twirled a lock of hair at her temple, not daring to look at him, ¡°He told me yesterday, I didn¡¯t know you were going too, so¡­¡±


    As a friend of Su Linzhou, Xie Changyan had received the invitation even earlier than Ji Tingyang had.


    Although it was not a situation that required a female companion, he still called Lin Xu.


    Ji Tingyang walked to Lin Xu¡¯s side, took her hand, and his slightly furrowed brows showed a trace of dissatisfaction, ¡°Who is more important, him, an outsider, or your son?¡±


    ¡°Of course, you are more important,¡± Lin Xu replied without hesitation.


    If she dared to say Xie Changyan was more important, she feared that Ji Tingyang would give her the cold shoulder for the following week.


    Upon hearing her answer, Ji Tingyang¡¯s face softened a bit, ¡°Then forget about him and come with me, okay?¡±


    ¡°But, I¡¯ve already promised him¡­¡±


    Go to ????????????????????.co


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say I¡¯m more important than he is?¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression tensed, an icy aura enveloping him.


    Palm sweating, Lin Xu felt as if a moment of life or death had arrived, her mouth speaking before her brain, ¡°I wasn¡¯t lying, I¡¯ll reject him right now!¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s tense expression relaxed, spreading into a leisurely smile from the corners of his mouth.


    He knew his mother would choose him.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go get your outfit ready,¡± Ji Tingyang said with a smile in his eyes, then turned and left.


    No sooner had Ji Tingyang gone than Lin Xu¡¯s phone rang with a call from Xie Changyan, as if he had a premonition of being cast aside.


    Her hand trembled as she held the phone.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s voice was laced with a hint of languor, ¡°Shall I pick you up tomorrow to choose a dress?¡±


    ¡°I, I just remembered, next week I might¡­¡± Lin Xu suddenly became tongue-tied.


    Xie Changyan seemed to guess her next words, his eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°You¡¯re not about to say that you can¡¯t be my date next week because you¡¯re accompanying Ji Tingyang, are you?¡±


    ¡°Haha¡­¡± Lin Xu forced a laugh, ¡°What if I say yes?¡±


    A chuckle sounded in her ear, Xie Changyan spoke in a relaxed but threatening tone, ¡°If you dare, then perhaps there will be an additional piece of good news at the 60th birthday banquet.¡±


    ¡°What good news?¡± Lin Xu asked, puzzled.


    ¡°Our engagement announcement, what do you think?¡± Xie Changyan tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, his brows arching slightly, ¡°Save him the trouble of pining for someone else¡¯s girlfriend.¡±


    ¡°¡­are you joking?¡±


    Xie Changyan snickered silently, ¡°Well, you can try and see if it¡¯s a joke or not.¡±


    She certainly wouldn¡¯t try.


    Given his temperament, Lin Xu believed he would dare to do something like that.


    And with Ji Tingyang¡¯s temper, the birthday celebration might very well turn into a brawl.


    Lin Xu suddenly felt a headache coming on.


    ¡°So, what were you just about to say?¡± Xie Changyan asked.


    ¡°I was about to say, next week is absolutely no problem! I promise to be there on time!¡± she blurted out.


    ¡°That¡¯s really too bad,¡± Xie Changyan¡¯s tone contained a hint of regret, mixed with mocking laughter.


    Lin Xu was completely at his mercy due to his little tricks.


    ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up tomorrow to select your gown,¡± Xie Changyan added.


    ¡°No need, no need, I still have many gowns I haven¡¯t worn yet; I¡¯ll just wear one of those,¡± Lin Xu said in a hurry, ¡°Oh, right, you don¡¯t have to come pick me up on the evening of the banquet either. I can go there by myself.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Xie Changyan asked.


    ¡°I, I just think it would be too much trouble for you to go out of your way. I¡¯m just concerned about you, so I¡¯ll go there by myself.¡±


    Xie Changyan smiled cheerfully, ¡°It¡¯s no trouble; you just wait for me to come.¡±


    ¡°Just listen to me, you don¡¯t need to come pick me up,¡± Lin Xu pleaded, racking her brains to persuade Xie Changyan to abandon the idea of coming to get her.


    After hanging up the phone, her face was filled with worry.


    Unable to refuse Xie Changyan, should she discuss it with Ji Tingyang again?


    But how should she tell him?


    Lin Xu¡¯s expression showed her conflict, and just then Ji Tingyang returned with a magazine in his hand, his eyes brimming with sparkle: ¡°Mother, I just took a glance at the gowns in the book, each one suits you, and I¡¯ve ordered them all for you. They should be delivered tomorrow.¡±


    His mouth curved into a smile, and as Lin Xu met his bright, sparkling eyes, a sense of guilt surged from within her. Her mouth opened and closed, but she just couldn¡¯t speak.


    ¡°Alright, thank you, Tingyang,¡± Lin Xu¡¯s smile was somewhat unnatural.


    ¡°And the jewelry,¡± Ji Tingyang seemed to remember something and immediately made a phone call to arrange it.


    Seeing his eagerness, Lin Xu still couldn¡¯t bring herself to speak the words of rejection.


    She slumped dejectedly onto the sofa.


    Forget it.


    Let things take their own course.


    She had completely given up.


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, on the other side.


    Wen Li¡¯s roommate brought back an invitation, waving it excitedly in front of Wen Li, and asked in a secretive tone, ¡°Guess what this is?¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± Wen Li inquired.


    ¡°An invitation to the Su¡¯s banquet!¡± The roommates¡¯ eyes gleamed with excitement as she danced around holding the invitation, ¡°My boyfriend went through a lot of trouble to get this!¡±


    Su¡¯s?


    Wen Li wasn¡¯t familiar with them, but she could tell it was a prestigious family.


    Seeing her roommate¡¯s bright eyes and thrilled expression, Wen Li asked with curiosity, ¡°Are you going to attend?¡±


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯ve never seen such a grand scene before.¡± Her roommate held her hands, indulging in her fantasies.


    The ostentatiously elegant upper-class society was filled with luxury, a place many ordinary people envied and longed for.


    ¡°You surely haven¡¯t been to such a high-end place either, right?¡± The roommate winked at Wen Li, ¡°If you want to go, just copy my homework for me, and I might consider taking you with me.¡±


    Wen Li smiled faintly.


    She indeed hadn¡¯t been there before. Ji Tingyang never used to take her to such places; she mostly stayed in the villa.


    But that was fine, she had no interest in such places anyway.


    However, for some reason, the image of Lin Xu¡¯s silver-white earrings flashed through her mind, and the words of refusal were stuck in her throat.


    ¡°I¡­¡± Wen Li hesitated momentarily, then changed her tune, ¡°Okay.¡±

 Chapter 182 - Chapter 182: 182 Chapter: Companions for Two People

    Chapter 182: 182 Chapter: Companions for Two People


    On the evening of the banquet, Lin Xu followed Ji Tingyang to the venue.


    With her by his side, Ji Tingyang made a brief appearance before Old Master Su. While Su Linzhou and Ji Tingyang exchanged pleasantries, Su Linzhou gave Lin Xu a puzzled look.


    It was as if he was asking her¡ª¡±Weren¡¯t you supposed to be accompanying Xie Changyan to the banquet, why are you here with Ji Tingyang?¡±


    A few days ago, when he had asked whether Xie Changyan would come alone to the event, Xie Changyan had been quite pleased, saying he would bring a female companion.


    A female companion.


    Su Linzhou didn¡¯t need to guess to know it was Lin Xu.


    Apart from her, he had never seen Xie Changyan bring any other female companion to an event.


    Never had Su Linzhou thought he would see Lin Xu by Ji Tingyang¡¯s side.


    Could it be that the female companion Xie Changyan wanted to invite wasn¡¯t Lin Xu?


    Was he overthinking it?


    In the face of Su Linzhou¡¯s astonishment, Lin Xu returned a calm and collected smile, and then left with Ji Tingyang who had finished his greetings.


    As others approached to speak with Ji Tingyang, Lin Xu¡¯s phone rang quietly in her bag.


    She sneaked a glance, saw it was a call from Xie Changyan, and her nerves instantly tensed, promptly hanging up.


    Go to ????????????????????.co


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you answer?¡± Ji Tingyang noticed her actions.


    ¡°It¡¯s a spam call, no need to answer,¡± Lin Xu said, the smile on her face hiding her unease, and then she added, ¡°I¡¯m a little hungry, I¡¯m going to grab something to eat over there.¡±


    Ji Tingyang glanced at the buffet table not far away, ¡°I¡¯ll go with you¡­¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re all adults here, why are you clinging to me when I¡¯m just getting some food? I can go by myself.¡±


    At Lin Xu¡¯s teasing, a flash of embarrassment flickered in Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes, and he slowly released her hand.


    Lin Xu walked to the buffet table, then took out her phone and returned Xie Changyan¡¯s call.


    ¡°Why did you hang up on me?¡± Xie Changyan said.


    ¡°I was in the bathroom just now,¡± Lin Xu coughed, feigning composure, ¡°Have you arrived yet?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m about to leave. Are you sure I don¡¯t need to pick you up?¡± Xie Changyan sounded like he was confirming with her over the phone.


    ¡°Really, there¡¯s no need to pick me up. I¡¯m already on my way there by car, I might even arrive before you, hehe¡­¡± Lin Xu¡¯s smile was somewhat unnatural.


    ¡°Alright, if you get there early, go ahead and find a place to sit down. Su Linzhou won¡¯t dare stop you.¡±


    ¡°Drive safe, take your time, no rush.¡± It would be even better if he could arrive after Ji Tingyang had left.


    ¡°Is this you worrying about me?¡± Xie Changyan¡¯s low chuckle came through, lightly brushing against her eardrum like a feather, making her ears burn hot.


    Why was he flirting at a time like this?


    With her cheeks burning, Lin Xu retorted as if irritated, ¡°I don¡¯t care about you. Arrive whenever you want.¡±


    Xie Changyan chuckled lightly, said he would arrive as soon as possible, and then hung up.


    Lin Xu smiled at her phone, but when she turned around, she saw Ji Tingyang standing behind her. Her heart skipped a beat, causing her phone to slip from her startled grasp.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s quick reflexes saved her phone from falling, ¡°Why so flustered?¡±


    ¡°You, you made no sound at all, you scared me¡­¡± Lin Xu patted her chest, trying to calm her racing heart.


    A flicker of annoyance passed through his eyes, ¡°It won¡¯t happen again.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it, I¡¯m not blaming you.¡± Lin Xu picked up a small pastry, touched it to his lips, bringing him out of his rueful thoughts, ¡°Have something to eat, fill up your stomach a little.¡±


    Ji Tingyang instinctively opened his mouth, biting the pastry from her hand, only realizing what had happened when his mouth was filled with the nutty taste of the pastry.


    He had just been fed by his mother!


    He stared at the half-eaten pastry in Lin Xu¡¯s hand, his stern face harboring an imperceptible anticipation, ¡°Let me have another bite¡­¡±


    Lin Xu placed the remaining pastry in his hand, ¡°Eat up.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Ji Tingyang paused.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°¡­Nothing.¡± He muttered, finishing the pastry.


    Lin Xu stayed with Ji Tingyang for a few more minutes, guessing that Xie Changyan was about to arrive, she then said to him, ¡°I¡¯m going to the restroom.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take you there.¡± Ji Tingyang worried she might not know the way.


    ¡°No need, no need, just wait here for me.¡± Lin Xu hurried toward the restroom.


    Ji Tingyang watched her briskly move away, disappearing like a breeze before his eyes, puzzled in his heart.


    Is it really that urgent?


    Could it be a stomach upset?


    Lin Xu didn¡¯t enter the restroom upon reaching it, but instead, took a detour and headed outside to the entrance of the venue.


    Her timing was perfect; she saw Xie Changyan¡¯s car just as she came out.


    The man, clad in a well-fitted black suit, walked towards Lin Xu with long strides, and naturally wrapped his arm around her waist, ¡°How long have you been waiting?¡±


    Suppressing the short breaths from running, Lin Xu remained calm and composed, ¡°I¡¯ve just arrived too.¡±


    Xie Changyan¡¯s lips curved slightly, his fingertip brushing away the sweat on her forehead, ¡°It¡¯s hot, isn¡¯t it? Why are you sweating?¡±


    The corner of Lin Xu¡¯s mouth twitched.


    After running a great distance from the venue, wouldn¡¯t one sweat?


    ¡°Perhaps.¡± Lin Xu¡¯s eyes darted away, hastily pulling him inside.


    Reentering the banquet hall, she appeared before Old Master Su again alongside Xie Changyan.


    Meeting Su Linzhou¡¯s astonished expression, Lin Xu managed a serene smile and then covertly made a gesture to him where Xie Changyan couldn¡¯t see¡ª ¡°Don¡¯t you dare tell!¡±


    Su Linzhou found himself both amused and exasperated.


    Well, that¡¯s something.


    He had never seen someone playing two roles as a companion.


    If Xie Changyan found out, he¡¯d certainly flay her skin.


    Su Linzhou watched Lin Xu with amusement, his eyebrows slightly raised¡ª ¡°I can keep quiet, but what¡¯s in it for me?¡±


    Lin Xu opened her mouth, silently saying, ¡°Introduce you to a beautiful girl?¡±


    This offer hit right at Su Linzhou¡¯s sweet spot. He was about to nod when Xie Changyan¡¯s body shifted, obstructing the view between Lin Xu and Su Linzhou.


    ¡°What are you looking at?¡± He cast a wary glance at Su Linzhou.


    Su Linzhou, who hadn¡¯t forgotten about his brother¡¯s jealousy, quickly looked away, ¡°Nothing.¡±


    Xie Changyan was barely covering it up, while Lin Xu couldn¡¯t help feeling smug about her successful sneaky plan.


    Latter, she¡¯d swing by Ji Tingyang¡¯s side to show her face, and no one would know she was accompanying the other.


    This was the perfect trick she had come up with after several days of thinking.


    About ten minutes later, Ji Tingyang, still waiting by the side of the banquet hall, hadn¡¯t seen Lin Xu return.


    Recalling her hurried departure, he wondered if she was having trouble in the restroom.


    As he hesitated about asking a waiter for medicine, a sweet voice with a hint of hesitation called out from behind him.


    ¡°Ji Tingyang?¡±


    Ji Tingyang turned around, and his face froze for a moment upon seeing Wen Li, ¡°How come you are here?¡±

 Chapter 183 - Chapter 183: Chapter 183 "So you know Ji Tingyang?

    Chapter 183: Chapter 183 ¡°So you know Ji Tingyang?


    The grand birthday party shimmered with golden decorations, and as one¡¯s gaze fell upon the scene, the venue was crowded with celebrities, showcasing opulence amidst the clinking of glasses and exchange of toasts.


    Wen Li and her roommate had just arrived, and were immediately astounded by the luxurious atmosphere.


    ¡°It really is a high-society banquet, truffles are as freely available here as if they were worthless.¡± Her roommate ogled the white truffles on the buffet, eyes wide with astonishment, and a second later, spotted something else, covering her mouth to exclaim softly, ¡°I¡¯ve seen this brand of caviar before. I heard it costs 50,000 yuan per gram!¡±


    Wen Li glanced at the food on the buffet table but wasn¡¯t as excited as her roommate.


    She had seen and tasted most of these things at the Ji Family¡¯s home¡­


    Thinking of the Ji Family, Wen Li suddenly remembered Ji Tingyang.


    All of a sudden.


    Her roommate suddenly clutched Wen Li¡¯s hand fiercely, pulling her thoughts back to the present.


    ¡°Wen Li, isn¡¯t that the real estate tycoon we saw in the financial magazine last time?¡±


    ¡°And the one on the right, the nouveaux riche from the financial sector, look, just the Patek Philippe watch on his wrist is nearly one million.¡±


    She had done her homework before coming and kept feeding Wen Li with information.


    ¡°Ah! I think I¡¯ve seen that person in the financial magazine too, he seems to be the president of Ji¡¯s, called Ji¡­ what was it again?¡±


    Her roommate racked her brain, struggling to recall.


    Go to ????????????????????.co


    Following her gaze, Wen Li¡¯s heart trembled slightly and she softly breathed out his name, ¡°Ji Tingyang.¡±


    ¡°Right, Ji Tingyang, your memory is really good.¡± Her roommate didn¡¯t notice the change in her expression, her smile rippling across her face, ¡°Did you see the news recently? He¡¯s actually Ji Zeqiu¡¯s brother. With a family full of such handsome men, I wonder what type of women these hunks prefer.¡±


    Wen Li remained silent, silently observing Ji Tingyang not far away.


    Every now and then he glanced at his wristwatch, his brows furrowed, exuding a serious and heavy aura, deterring others from approaching.


    Wen Li pursed her lips, and by the time she came back to her senses, she was already walking towards Ji Tingyang.


    ¡°Ji Tingyang.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve come back¡­¡± Ji Tingyang turned around, his knitted brows relaxing, but when he saw Wen Li, he froze suddenly, his brows furrowing once again, as his voice turned in his throat, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°Never mind, it doesn¡¯t matter,¡± he added.


    Ji Tingyang shifted his gaze away, undecided as he looked at his phone.


    He was anxious, having made phone calls after just ten minutes of her absence, wondering if his mother would again say he was too clingy.


    His heart tangled in conflict.


    Wen Li, looking at Ji Tingyang¡¯s indifference, felt her cheerful expression darken.


    She bit her lower lip lightly, ¡°I came with a friend.¡±


    Ji Tingyang gave her a cursory glance, seemingly puzzled why she was telling him this.


    Her eyes began to turn red involuntarily, and she mustered her courage, ¡°I¡¯m sorry about what happened before, the new energy project, and the pool incident, I¡­¡±


    Listeing to her attempt to dredge up the past, Ji Tingyang¡¯s face showed a flicker of irritation, cutting her off.


    ¡°Stop.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to talk about it anymore. I¡¯ve already said it¡¯s in the past, and bringing it up now is pointless.¡±


    ¡°Besides, weren¡¯t you the one who always resented me for keeping you trapped, wanting to leave the Ji Family? Now you¡¯ve got your freedom, everything is as you wished, isn¡¯t that good?¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you living well now with Xiao Yu? If you came to see me now, aren¡¯t you worried he¡¯ll find out?¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression was calm yet bland, radiating a sense of aloofness everywhere.


    Wen Li¡¯s words got stuck in her throat.


    After a while, she opened her mouth and murmured, ¡°He won¡¯t know¡­¡±


    At such an event, how could Xiao Yu possibly appear here¡­


    However.


    Just a few meters behind them, Xiao Yu, dressed in a waiter¡¯s uniform and still holding a tray, stood frozen in astonishment, his mind a tangled mess.


    Wen Li knew Ji Tingyang?


    She had always lived at the Ji Family¡¯s place?


    So all those words from her parents about not letting her go out were lies to him?


    And what did Ji Tingyang mean by saying he had imprisoned her?


    The more he thought about it, the more chaotic his thoughts became, and the tray slipped from his hands.


    With a clang.


    It startled the surrounding guests.


    Wen Li also looked back instinctively, but upon seeing Xiao Yu suddenly stiffen, her mind buzzed blankly.


    Ji Tingyang also saw Xiao Yu, his eyes narrowing slightly with undisguised disgust.


    The hostility towards Xiao Yu was mostly because of Wen Li, but now it had all become about Ji Yuqiao.


    Thinking of how his sister had cried and made a fuss over this man, causing their mother so much distress, his aura became even colder.


    ¡­


    Lin Xu figured the time was about right and was preparing to slip away from Xie Changyan using the excuse of needing a restroom.


    Her keen ears picked up the murmurs of the surrounding people.


    ¡°Why has a crowd suddenly gathered over there?¡±


    ¡°It seems like two men are fighting over a woman?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it another rich playboy snatching someone here?¡± They seemed so used to these spectacles that they just laughed it off and moved on.


    A fight?


    Lin Xu followed their gaze.


    It seemed to be around the buffet area.


    Peering through gaps in the crowd, Lin Xu saw a familiar figure, and her heart missed a beat, jolting her into alertness.


    Without considering Xie Changyan beside her, she quickly ran over and squeezed through the crowd.


    Her view suddenly cleared.


    She saw Xiao Yu gripping Ji Tingyang¡¯s collar, his eyes full of anger.


    Ji Tingyang stood tall, his dark eyes glancing disparagingly, looking down at him from above.


    That composed demeanor, as if the person being grabbed by the collar was not him at all.


    Wen Li reached out to pull on Xiao Yu, her voice urgent and excited, ¡°Xiao Yu, calm down, making a scene here will get you arrested.¡±


    ¡°But how could he have treated you like that in the past!¡± Xiao Yu could guess the truth from their conversation, and his anger surged uncontrollably.


    ¡°So are you here to demand justice for her, or compensation? Do you want a house, a car, or money?¡± Ji Tingyang asked with a scornful smile at the corner of his mouth.


    It was that same superior attitude of the wealthy, igniting Xiao Yu¡¯s rage completely, his hand clenched into a fist.


    Just at that moment, Lin Xu burst forth.


    She pushed Xiao Yu away and stood in front of Ji Tingyang, her gaze wary as she faced Xiao Yu, ¡°The security is already on their way, I advise you not to throw a punch.¡±


    Seeing Lin Xu protecting him sent a moment of astonishment through Ji Tingyang, followed by a sweet feeling in his chest.


    He quickly hid the scorn in his eyes, and suddenly put on a well-behaved look of a model student, standing behind Lin Xu.


    After dissuading Xiao Yu, Lin Xu finally breathed a sigh of relief and took a closer look at Ji Tingyang behind her, her voice tense, ¡°Are you hurt?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Ji Tingyang said contentedly, taking her hand.

 Chapter 184 - Chapter 184: Chapter 184: Evil Intentions Never Die

    Chapter 184: Chapter 184: Evil Intentions Never Die


    As Ting Yang watched Lin Xu¡¯s figure blocking his path, the corners of his lips involuntarily curled upwards, forming an attractive arc.


    Lin Xu first anxiously checked him over, and only after not seeing any wounds on his body did her suspended heart finally settle down.


    ¡°I¡¯m really not hurt,¡± Ting Yang reassured softly as he held her hand.


    Shortly thereafter, Xie Changyan also came forward from the crowd of onlookers and asked, ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°Ting Yang almost got hit,¡± Lin Xu couldn¡¯t help but complain to the father of her child as someone had grabbed Ting Yang¡¯s collar.


    However, Xie Changyan had no intention of defending Ting Yang and spoke with a tone of disdain, ¡°Got hit? That useless?¡±


    The smile on Ting Yang¡¯s lips vanished instantly, the veins on his forehead twitched, and his eyes turned cold.


    The retort swirled in his throat, but because Lin Xu was present, he reluctantly swallowed it back down.


    Noticing Ting Yang¡¯s darkened expression, Lin Xu secretly nudged Xie Changyan to stop him from mocking Ting Yang.


    Xie Changyan chuckled lightly, grabbing her restless hand and pulling her to his side, ¡°All right, no harm done, no need to be so tense.¡±


    Seeing Lin Xu being led away by Xie Changyan, Ting Yang¡¯s face grew even colder, and frustration swirled within him.


    ¡°Hiss.¡± He gasped, clutching his arm.


    Lin Xu was startled, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Go to ????????????????????.co


    His eyes flickered slightly, ¡°I might be hurt¡­¡±


    Upon hearing this, Lin Xu hurried back to Ting Yang¡¯s side, ¡°Where are you hurt? Let me see!¡±


    The sourness in his chest was dispelled by her constant concern, and Ting Yang¡¯s expression brightened from gloomy to sunny.


    Lin Xu, still searching for the injury, muttered, ¡°Where could it be?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s, it¡¯s¡­¡± Ting Yang faltered, and finally, under Lin Xu¡¯s urging, he pointed to a red mark on his forearm the size of a fingernail.


    Lin Xu: ¡°¡­¡±


    Xie Changyan heard and silently laughed at what seemed like a joke, his voice filled with mockery, ¡°Surely you didn¡¯t pinch that mark yourself just now?¡±


    He nodded, ¡°Indeed, a grave injury, should fade in a few minutes.¡±


    Unable to hold back, Lin Xu chuckled softly.


    With his ears subtly turning red beneath his tousled hair, Ting Yang maintained a composed demeanor, ¡°¡­It hurts.¡±


    Amusement in Lin Xu¡¯s eyes tinged with helplessness, ¡°Does it hurt that much? Should I call an ambulance for you?¡±


    ¡°So serious, probably an ambulance won¡¯t help, maybe we should just amputate?¡± Xie Changyan mocked lightly.


    Ting Yang glanced at him and said to Lin Xu: ¡°This man is malicious, obviously no good, keep your distance from him.¡±


    Xie Changyan: ¡°¡­¡±


    Sparks flew in the tense exchange of glances between the two men.


    Lin Xu shook her head, having lost all desire to intervene.


    Let father and son argue it out.


    Meanwhile, on the other side.


    Wen Li¡¯s face paled from fear, anxiously pulling Xiao Yu aside, ¡°Keep calm, don¡¯t fight here, we can¡¯t afford to offend these people.¡±


    This event tonight is so important, and everyone present is a high official or nobility. Causing a scene here would definitely get you arrested.


    If it were just being kicked out of the venue, that would be one thing, but what if someone filed a complaint for provoking trouble and he got detained for a few days?


    Their school had very strict penalties for students who broke the law or were undisciplined, and he would certainly be expelled if he had a record.


    Xiao Yu was about to graduate, he couldn¡¯t afford any mistakes at this point.


    Xiao Yu seemed to realize this as well, his hands clenched and then relaxed, the impulsive anger gradually dissipating as he calmed down.


    He looked at Wen Li, about to speak but then hesitated, ¡°You and him¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll explain it to you later, can you go back first today?¡± Wen Li said.


    Hearing her words, Xiao Yu finally remembered the purpose of his visit to the banquet today.


    He had no other way to get into the banquet, only through applying as a waiter.


    Fortunately, he had done many part-time jobs before, and seeing his experience, the supervisor hired him.


    He hadn¡¯t met the president of Su¡¯s yet, so he couldn¡¯t leave at least for now.


    ¡°Hmm, I have something else to do, I must get back to work,¡± Xiao Yu remembered what he was here for and turned to leave.


    A voice called out from behind him, stopping Xiao Yu in his tracks, ¡°Wait a moment.¡±


    Xie Changyan gave a glance at the security personnel rushing over and jerked his chin slightly toward Xiao Yu, ¡°This waiter is too emotional. I¡¯m afraid he might hurt other guests if he stays. Please ask him to leave.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Young Master Xie.¡± Two or three security personnel approached Xiao Yu, reached out their hands in a ¡°please¡± gesture, and asked him to leave.


    Xiao Yu¡¯s expression suddenly stiffened, ¡°I won¡¯t hurt anyone.¡±


    The security personnel were unmoved and kept their hands extended.


    Xiao Yu looked at Xie Changyan, who appeared unconcerned and indifferent to his situation. He pursed his lips, unable to utter the plea stuck in his throat, and finally left reluctantly, following the security personnel.


    As the disturber left, the guests who had nothing exciting to watch also gradually dispersed.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go as well,¡± Ji Tingyang pulled Lin Xu.


    ¡°She came with me, where are you taking her?¡± Xie Changyan also grabbed Lin Xu¡¯s other hand.


    ¡°She clearly came as my female companion,¡± Ji Tingyang glared at him, a trace of irritation flashing through his eyes.


    This person always tried to snatch her from him.


    His mother clearly didn¡¯t like him and was just a substitute, yet he harbored unrealistic hopes.


    Both held onto Lin Xu¡¯s hands, neither willing to let go.


    Lin Xu suddenly felt sweat drench her back.


    She had actually forgotten about the female companion issue!


    And she had let them meet each other.


    Xie Changyan looked at Lin Xu with a slightly raised eyebrow, his tone leisurely, ¡°You were his female companion?¡±


    Lin Xu¡¯s eyes darted around, ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡±


    In the current situation, answering either side seemed inappropriate.


    ¡°Ouch, that hurts.¡± Her eyes rolled around, and she suddenly cried out.


    Ji Tingyang and Xie Changyan were startled, loosening their grip on her hand, worry appearing in their eyes, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Lin Xu slowly bent over, clutching her stomach, appearing to be in great pain.


    Using an age-old lame excuse, she said, ¡°My stomach hurts a lot, maybe something I ate wasn¡¯t clean. I need to go to the restroom first. Don¡¯t wait for me!¡±


    Having said that, she quickened her pace and rushed toward the restroom.


    When Lin Xu came out of the restroom, she didn¡¯t head back to the banquet hall but took a turn and left the venue directly.


    Fortunately, the location of the banquet hall was in the city center, and Lin Xu easily flagged down a taxi by the roadside.


    After getting into the taxi, she sent messages to Ji Tingyang and Xie Changyan separately.


    Willow Wadding: [I suddenly remembered I have some urgent matters, so I¡¯m heading home first. You don¡¯t have to wait for me.]


    Since her task as a female companion was also completed, there was no one left to confront her anymore.


    A sly glint flashed through Lin Xu¡¯s eyes, and she couldn¡¯t help but praise her own cleverness.

 Chapter 185 - Chapter 185: Chapter 185: "Would you confront your brother for me?

    Chapter 185: Chapter 185: ¡°Would you confront your brother for me?


    Ever since the day of the banquet, Xiao Yu¡¯s expression had never been quite right.


    He wanted to see Wen Li for an explanation, but he was afraid to confront her.


    So, after returning, he had persistently avoided seeking Wen Li out.


    Now and then, there were messages from Wen Li on his phone, wanting to chat with him, but he had been dragging his feet and not replying.


    He was idly swiping through his phone screen when he saw a message from his senior.


    Senior: ¡°I couldn¡¯t find Su Family¡¯s young master¡¯s itinerary, but I heard Su Linzhou is currently at the golf course in Northern City, you should be able to meet him if you go now.¡±


    Xiao Yu: ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Senior: ¡°Do you need me to come with you?¡±


    Xiao Yu: ¡°No need, I can go by myself.¡±


    Senior: ¡°Alright, this time remember to stay calm, don¡¯t act like last time.¡±


    That referred to the last time at the birthday party, when he was ejected without even seeing anyone from the Su Family.


    The senior¡¯s expression looked a bit ugly upon hearing this, but for the sake of their studio, he still helped Xiao Yu to investigate the whereabouts of the Su Family.


    After finishing his daytime classes, Xiao Yu walked toward the school¡¯s gate, ready to take the bus to Northern City.


    Go to ????????????????????.co


    However, he never expected to run into Ji Yuqiao on the same road, also heading towards the school gate.


    Seeing Xiao Yu, Ji Yuqiao¡¯s face flashed with excitement as she happily ran over, ¡°Xiao Yu, are you going to the studio?¡±


    Xiao Yu¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, and he ignored her, striding past her to continue onward.


    Used to his resoluteness, Ji Yuqiao chattered on as she followed him, ¡°I heard from the senior a couple of days ago that your studio ran into some difficulties, that President Wang played you guys.¡±


    ¡°Otherwise, I can ask my brother to help, to speak to President Wang for you?¡±


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s brother.


    Isn¡¯t that Ji Tingyang?


    Images from that day at the banquet and Ji Tingyang¡¯s slightly mocking gaze abruptly surfaced in Xiao Yu¡¯s mind, as his expression grew icy cold, colder still.


    However, Ji Yuqiao didn¡¯t notice his irritation at all and continued cheerfully, ¡°That President Wang seems to have also asked my brother for a favor; just a word from my brother, and he will definitely sign the contract with you.¡±


    ¡°If your studio is lacking funds, I can also¡­¡±


    Xiao Yu¡¯s voice, cold as frost, interrupted her, ¡°Have you said enough?¡±


    The look on his face was frightfully chilly, ¡°Do you think that we can only survive on your charity?¡±


    Whether it was the help she kept speaking about, or Ji Tingyang¡¯s question¡ª ¡°Do you want a house? A car? Or money?¡±


    They both exuded a contemptuous superiority that disgusted him.


    Ji Yuqiao was startled by the cold hostility bursting from his eyes, and her voice trembled a little, ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t mean that¡­ ¡±


    ¡°Both you and your brother disgust me just the same,¡± Xiao Yu¡¯s eyes flashed with savagery.


    Ji Tingyang was even more of a madman, all decorum on the surface.


    Hearing his words, Ji Yuqiao¡¯s complexion suddenly turned pale, ¡°Why¡­ why would you say that¡­ ¡±


    The next moment.


    Xiao Yu stared intently at Ji Yuqiao.


    His cool, deep eyes chilled Ji Yuqiao to the core, and she couldn¡¯t help but step back twice.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you liked me?¡± Xiao Yu suddenly stepped closer, his hands resting on her shoulders.


    ¡°Hmm.¡± Ji Yuqiao nodded her head.


    ¡°If you had to choose between me and your brother, who would you choose?¡±


    For some reason, Ji Yuqiao¡¯s heart tightened abruptly.


    ¡°Would you go against your brother for me?¡±


    Xiao Yu¡¯s words echoed in her mind, long lingering.


    With Lin Xu¡¯s involvement, many plots had drastically differed from the original story, yet some parts were still unfolding according to the original narrative.


    ¡­


    When there were no classes during the weekend, Ji Yuqiao returned to the Ji Mansion.


    She sat on the sofa, furrowing her brows as if troubled by something, her thoughts adrift to an unknown place.


    Even when Lin Xu called her several times, there was no response.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? What are you thinking about?¡± Lin Xu walked over, waving her hand in front of Ji Yuqiao.


    Ji Yuqiao was startled, snapping back to reality, stammering, ¡°It¡¯s nothing¡­ no big deal¡­¡±


    ¡°Do you feel unwell?¡± Lin Xu, with a concerned expression, reached out to touch her forehead, feeling relieved to find her temperature normal.


    ¡°If you¡¯re tired, you should go back to your room to rest first. I will call you once Aunt Zhang has prepared lunch,¡± Lin Xu said.


    ¡°Okay.¡± Ji Yuqiao nodded and headed upstairs.


    At the stairway¡¯s turn, her gaze involuntarily fell on the study door.


    Compelled, she had already pushed open the study door and walked in.


    On the desk were documents Ji Tingyang had yet to tidy up. She picked up one and began to read, filled with many technical terms she did not understand.


    In the empty study, Xiao Yu¡¯s words resounded in her mind like a devil¡¯s whisper, ¡°Between me and your brother, whom will you choose?¡±


    ¡°Will you go against your brother for me?¡±


    If she helped Xiao Yu, would he come to like her?


    She did not know¡­


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s hands shook involuntarily, her heart suddenly racing.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± A voice tinged with confusion sounded from behind her.


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s heart missed a beat, she hastily put down the documents and turned around in a panic.


    She saw Lin Xu standing at the doorway of the study, looking at her with puzzlement.


    ¡°I thought¡­ I thought my brother was in here, so I came to have a look, but he¡¯s not,¡± Ji Yuqiao¡¯s voice faltered.


    ¡°He had to leave for something earlier. Did you forget?¡± Lin Xu said.


    Ji Tingyang had left the house while Ji Yuqiao was in the living room.


    However, given her distracted demeanor, it appeared she had entirely missed Ji Tingyang¡¯s departure.


    ¡°Oh, is that so¡­¡± Ji Yuqiao fidgeted unnaturally with the hem of her clothes, ¡°I¡¯ll go back to my room then.¡±


    Having said that,


    she quickly left the study.


    Watching Ji Yuqiao¡¯s hasty retreat, Lin Xu felt a sudden surge of unease.


    After the previous incident with Wen Li stealing documents, Ji Tingyang would always lock the study door when leaving. But this time, in a bit of a rush, he had asked Lin Xu to do it.


    She was on her way up to lock the study when she hadn¡¯t expected to find Ji Yuqiao inside.


    Lin Xu walked over to the desk and picked up the document that Ji Yuqiao had touched, lost deep in thought.


    This document,


    in a flash of realization, she remembered something.


    According to the novel¡¯s plot, Ji Yuqiao would eventually be schemed against by Xiao Yu, who would then seize the family business, leading her to fall despondently off a cliff.


    Could it be that this scheme was to have Ji Yuqiao help him steal documents?


    Thinking of her daughter¡¯s tragic end, Lin Xu¡¯s body stiffened abruptly, her palms sweating.


    No,


    she had to think of a way to stop Ji Yuqiao!

 Chapter 186 - Chapter 186: Chapter 186 "No one will laugh at you.

    Chapter 186: Chapter 186 ¡°No one will laugh at you.


    ¡°Your brother¡¯s company is so large, even losing a few partnerships won¡¯t have much of an impact,¡± Xiao Yu placed his hands on Ji Yuqiao¡¯s shoulders, looking at her with earnest concern, ¡°And you said you¡¯d help me, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡± Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes filled with hesitation.


    ¡°Once my studio grows and thrives, we can be together forever,¡± Xiao Yu said.


    Ji Yuqiao bit her lip, remaining silent.


    In the next instant, Xiao Yu¡¯s gentle expression suddenly turned ugly; he let go of her hands, and his tone was shockingly cold, ¡°If you¡¯re unwilling, then go. From now on, don¡¯t ever come to see me again.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao panicked at that moment, grabbing his hand and saying, ¡°I¡¯m willing, I¡¯m willing, whatever you need help with, I¡¯ll do it!¡±


    The indifference faded from his face, and Xiao Yu hugged Ji Yuqiao happily.


    With his persuasion, not only in the study, Ji Yuqiao also stole many confidential files from Ji Group¡¯s CEO office and gave them to Xiao Yu.


    Xiao Yu collaborated with Ji Group¡¯s rival companies, dealing Ji Group a severe blow.


    Ji Group faced the threat of bankruptcy, even their villa was repossessed, and the family was left homeless, with nowhere to go.


    Ji Yuqiao, crying, sought out Xiao Yu, ¡°You said it wouldn¡¯t affect the Ji Family, did you lie to me?!¡±


    Xiao Yu¡¯s face showed a scoff, ¡°So what if I lied to you? It¡¯s only because you were too naive; you believed anything I said. And as for the Ji Family¡¯s current state, it¡¯s all your doing, your own family will never forgive you.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s face drained of all color, and walking down the street in a daze, she unknowingly ventured deep into the mountains. Her footing slipped, and she tumbled down the cliffside.


    Go to ????????????????????.co


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    Lin Xu suddenly woke up, sitting up abruptly in bed.


    Her chest heaved violently, sweat on her forehead so dense it seemed to ooze, even the back of her shirt was drenched.


    Thankfully, it was all just a dream.


    But the dream was so real, it left her heart trembling with fear.


    Lin Xu gasped deeply, wiping the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand. She picked up her phone from the nightstand to see that she had slept straight through to the afternoon.


    She lingered in her room for a while, not going downstairs until her emotions had settled.


    Only Ji Zeqiu was in the living room, Lin Xu had no idea when he had finished work and come back.


    Seeing Lin Xu come downstairs, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s face brightened, and he immediately went over to greet her, ¡°Mother.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s Lanyue, isn¡¯t she up yet?¡± Lin Xu looked around, not spotting Ji Yuqiao.


    ¡°Have you forgotten? It¡¯s Monday, she¡¯s gone back to school for classes,¡± Ji Zeqiu approached and suddenly his heart tightened at the sight of her pale face, ¡°Why do you look so unwell?¡±


    His expression instantly grew tense as he guided Lin Xu to sit down on the sofa.


    ¡°Is it hypoglycemia, or are you feeling ill? I¡¯ll go get you something¡­¡± Ji Zeqiu said as he started to head to the kitchen.


    Lin Xu held onto him, shaking her head, ¡°I¡¯m fine, it was just a nightmare.¡±


    Relief washed over Ji Zeqiu upon hearing her words.


    ¡°A nightmare, it must be because you dreamed of Ji Tingyang,¡± Ji Zeqiu said, his eyes flashing slightly, his tone tinged with a hint of embarrassment, ¡°In the future, if you dream of me, it¡¯ll turn into a sweet dream.¡±


    Lin Xu laughed softly, reaching out to ruffle his cheek, ¡°Okay, if I dream again, I¡¯ll dream of you.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu pursed his lips, secretly lifting the corners in a smile.


    ¡ª¡ª


    At the school.


    The teacher looked at the list in hand and said to the students arranged in several rows, ¡°We¡¯ll divide into groups shortly for the 800-meter run test. Now, I will call out names to form one group¡­¡±


    Yuqiao hung her head low, mindlessly kicking the pebbles at her feet.


    The force was too strong for a moment, and the pebble flew out.


    Yuqiao looked up and suddenly saw Xiao Yu not far away.


    It seemed like their class was also having physical education class at this time, and two or three students were lined up in front for a running test.


    It was unclear whether Xiao Yu had finished running or it wasn¡¯t his turn yet, as he was hiding in the shade of a tree to cool off.


    Seemingly noticing her gaze, Xiao Yu turned his head, and their eyes met.


    Yuqiao¡¯s heart suddenly skipped a beat, and his voice echoed in her mind again¡ª¡±If you had to choose between me and your brother, who would you choose?¡±


    At that moment, her mind went blank; she couldn¡¯t say a word and eventually fled in panic.


    She had always been puzzled why Xiao Yu would say such a thing, and even after thinking over it for several days, she didn¡¯t know how to answer his question.


    Subconsciously, she found herself not very keen on seeing him, fearing he would pursue her for an answer.


    This was the first time she didn¡¯t want to see Xiao Yu.


    Previously, when Yuqiao wanted to see him, it was always hard to run into him at school, but now that she didn¡¯t want to, she seemed to encounter him unintentionally all the time.


    Yuqiao stood frozen in place, staring blankly at Xiao Yu.


    ¡°Yuqiao, Yuqiao!¡± a voice as loud as a bell called her back to her senses.


    The teacher looked at her displeased, ¡°What are you daydreaming about? I¡¯ve called you so many times and you didn¡¯t hear. Come over for the test; it¡¯s your turn.¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes!¡± Yuqiao immediately went over.


    With the teacher¡¯s whistle, Yuqiao and a few female classmates sprinted out from the starting line.


    Whether it was from running too hard or something else, Yuqiao began to feel a sharp pain in her lower abdomen, and her running pace slowed down.


    Just then, a female classmate caught up from behind and said to her, ¡°Yuqiao, there¡¯s something dirty on the back of your pants.¡±


    Yuqiao looked back in confusion and saw the glaringly obvious bloodstain on her white sports pants.


    Her head buzzed, and her mind turned completely blank in an instant.


    The whispers around her kept growing louder, like lines of mockery drilling into her ears, making her feel utterly humiliated.


    Yuqiao stood there petrified, her hands and feet turning ice cold.


    Almost instinctively, she looked at Xiao Yu, who was cooling off in the shade of the tree.


    Xiao Yu seemed to notice her predicament as well, frowning as he looked over.


    Yuqiao¡¯s heart swelled with hope, hoping he would come to help her as he had in the past and take her away from here¡­


    However, Xiao Yu averted his gaze indifferently, his eyes nearly closed, as if resting, showing no intention of coming to help her.


    Yuqiao turned pale and walked stiffly toward the edge of the track field, heading towards the teacher.


    Would the teacher mock her as well¡­


    If she asked for leave, what would happen to her physical test¡­


    Her lips trembled slightly, unsure of what to say.


    At that moment, a hand landed on Yuqiao¡¯s shoulder.


    A clear voice sounded in her ear, softly comforting her, ¡°You don¡¯t need to be so scared, nobody will laugh at you.¡±

 Chapter 187 - Chapter 187: Chapter 187: Hero Descending from the Sky

    Chapter 187: Chapter 187: Hero Descending from the Sky


    Lin Xu didn¡¯t know when she had come over, but she raised the corners of her mouth to Ji Yuqiao and revealed a shallow smile.


    That smile was like the warm sun of spring, slowly dispelling the cold within Ji Yuqiao¡¯s body.


    ¡°This is all a very normal physiological phenomenon; there¡¯s no need to feel ashamed,¡± Lin Xu told her.


    ¡°But¡­¡± Ji Yuqiao glanced at the classmates who were still muttering nearby, quickly averted her eyes, and her head almost drooped to the ground.


    ¡°Listen closely, no one is laughing at you,¡± Lin Xu took her face in her hands, encouraging her to muster the courage to face them.


    A struggle flickered in Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes, she bit her teeth, and carefully listened to the whispers of those classmates.


    ¡°Shall we go to the back street to buy food after class ends?¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow we¡¯ve got that damn English class again, and I still haven¡¯t finished my homework, sigh¡­¡±


    ¡°This physical test is literally killing me, if only I could take a leave.¡±


    She had thought that everyone was laughing at her, but when she really listened to the voices of her classmates, she realized she had been overthinking everything.


    The color gradually returned to Ji Yuqiao¡¯s pale cheeks.


    ¡°See, isn¡¯t it true that no one is laughing at you?¡± Lin Xu curved the corners of her mouth.


    ¡°Mhm,¡± Ji Yuqiao nodded her head.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go ask the teacher for a leave,¡± Lin Xu said, leading her towards the physical education teacher.


    Ji Yuqiao held Lin Xu¡¯s hand and squeezed it slightly, still feeling a bit nervous; despite having just overcome the sound of her classmates¡¯ voices, she still didn¡¯t know how to begin talking to the teacher.


    However, Lin Xu straightforwardly said to the teacher, ¡°Teacher, Ji Yuqiao has gotten her period. Could you please give her a leave so she can skip the physical test and run it next time instead?¡±


    The physical education teacher looked over at Ji Yuqiao.


    His face was resolute, and his sharp eyes emitted a seriousness and an awe-inspiring presence.


    His brows furrowed slightly, making Ji Yuqiao¡¯s heart skip a beat from fear.


    Just when she thought the teacher would refuse her request for leave, or even possibly mock her, he actually nodded.


    ¡°Okay, go back to the dormitory and rest well. We¡¯ll save your physical test for next week¡¯s PE class.¡±


    Just like that, simple and easy, she was granted leave.


    Ji Yuqiao took a deep breath, almost feeling it was unbelievable.


    ¡°Thank you, teacher,¡± After thanking the teacher, Lin Xu led Ji Yuqiao away from the track field.


    After leaving the track field, there were more students moving around outside.


    Ji Yuqiao wasn¡¯t quite used to it and still felt a bit awkward as she reached out to cover the back of her pants.


    Lin Xu took off her jacket and tied it around her waist, ¡°Use this to cover up for now.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao looked at the jacket around her waist, her expression momentarily dazed.


    It was exactly like the situation when she first started school.


    At that time, she thought the suddenly appearing Xiao Yu was like a hero descended from the skies, rescuing her bewildered self.


    But today, in the same situation, Xiao Yu didn¡¯t come over, and the hero who descended was Lin Xu.


    She told herself not to be ashamed, that no one would laugh at her¡­


    Ji Yuqiao touched the jacket around her waist, feeling as if her heart was warmly comforted.


    ¡°By the way, how come you were here?¡± Ji Yuqiao suddenly remembered this.


    Lin Xu paused, her eyes guiltily drifting around. ¡°I¡­ was just passing by¡­¡±


    In truth, after she woke up that day, the nightmare had kept lingering in her mind. She felt nervous and worried that her daughter really might have been deceived by Xiao Yu.


    Unable to sit still at home, she decided to take the bus to the school to check on her daughter.


    However, Lin Xu didn¡¯t know which classroom Ji Yuqiao was in, nor did she know where her dormitory was, so she wandered around the school.


    As she wandered, she arrived at the track and field area, and perhaps due to the mother-daughter bond, she immediately spotted Ji Yuqiao standing on the track, looking helpless.


    Hearing her words, Ji Yuqiao¡¯s expression turned somewhat skeptical. ¡°Passing by?¡±


    Their school was located in a remote area, not a downtown shopping mall that one might happen upon. How could anyone just ¡°pass by¡± the school?


    ¡°Yes, I have a friend who lives nearby, and I just thought I¡¯d walk around the school while I was visiting her,¡± Lin Xu pretended to be nonchalant and nodded emphatically.


    Convinced by Lin Xu¡¯s adamant appearance, Ji Yuqiao believed her. ¡°I see.¡±


    After a while, Lin Xu followed Ji Yuqiao back to her dormitory.


    The dormitory environment was quite nice in the school. The four-person rooms with bunk beds over desks were not too cramped and had good lighting.


    Lin Xu had been worried her daughter wasn¡¯t living comfortably in the dorm and wanted her to come home, but after seeing the dormitory, she felt somewhat relieved.


    Ji Yuqiao took out a new pair of pants from the closet and then ran to the bathroom to change.


    Just as she was about to pick up a basin to wash her clothes, Lin Xu pushed her by the shoulders, nudging her aside.


    ¡°You should avoid cold water when you have a stomachache. I¡¯ll wash it for you. You just go and sit outside,¡± Lin Xu said.


    Ji Yuqiao looked a bit embarrassed. ¡°I can do it myself.¡±


    She had never had anyone wash her clothes for her.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, I won¡¯t wash them for you every day. I just happened to run into you today. You relax and rest,¡± Lin Xu had not fulfilled her responsibility as a mother over the past twenty years. Now, she just wanted to try to make up for it.


    Lin Xu walked Ji Yuqiao over to the chair to sit down.


    She handed Ji Yuqiao a bottle of warm water. ¡°If you¡¯re thirsty, take a sip. If your stomach hurts, use it to warm yourself up.¡±


    She couldn¡¯t find a hot water bottle, so for now she had to make do with this water bottle.


    After making sure Ji Yuqiao was settled, Lin Xu went to wash her clothes.


    Holding the water bottle, Ji Yuqiao didn¡¯t know if it was too hot or what, but her cheeks also became burning hot.


    Watching Lin Xu busy in the bathroom, she suddenly remembered the first time she got her period when she was little. Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu were busy in the bathroom just like this.


    Back then, she understood nothing, clutching her blood-stained pants as she went to Ji Tingyang, crying as if she had a fatal disease.


    Fortunately, Ji Tingyang had attended a couple of health education classes at school and was able to explain to her, while comforting her, that it wasn¡¯t a deadly illness.


    Meanwhile, Ji Zeqiu blushed furiously as he scurried to the store to buy her a pack of sanitary pads.


    In the end, it turned into Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu washing her pants in the bathroom.


    Ji Yuqiao had not felt this was inappropriate until one time, she overhead a conversation between her female classmates in the school bathroom.


    ¡°Your pants are dirty, did you get your period?¡±


    ¡°Ah, it really is. What should I do? I don¡¯t have another pair of pants to change into.¡±


    ¡°First use a jacket to cover it up, so the boys won¡¯t see. Otherwise, they will definitely mock you behind your back.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s previously unconcerned heart quietly changed.


    ¡°So this is something to be mocked for¡­¡±

 Chapter 188 - Chapter 188: 188 Chapter Unique Necklace

    Chapter 188: 188 Chapter Unique Necklace


    The late afternoon sky was speckled with a drizzling rain, washing away the budding irritability of the coming summer.


    Outside the villa¡¯s gate, a black sedan slowly drove in.


    Soon, Ji Tingyang walked in from outside and, seeing Ji Yuqiao on the sofa, a flicker of surprise crossed his deep eyes, ¡°Why are you at home?¡±


    Ji Yuqiao usually preferred staying in the dormitory, and even during the school breaks, she was reluctant to come home, saying she didn¡¯t want to see the people she disliked there.


    After Wen Li had left, persuaded by Lin Xu, she started to come home occasionally during weekends and holidays.


    Today was neither a weekend nor a holiday, seeing her at home was indeed surprising.


    Hearing Ji Tingyang¡¯s words, Ji Yuqiao showed her displeasure, ¡°What, can¡¯t I come home now?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Ji Tingyang said.


    Ji Yuqiao glared at him, relentless, ¡°Then what do you mean?¡±


    Lin Xu hadn¡¯t even come down from the second floor when she heard the siblings arguing and hurried down the stairs, rushing to intervene, ¡°What happened? Why are you arguing again?¡±


    Tears sparkled in Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes like crystals as she complained to Lin Xu, ¡°Big Brother said I shouldn¡¯t come home, boo hoo¡­¡±


    Seeing her tears, Lin Xu felt extremely sympathetic, ¡°Don¡¯t cry, don¡¯t cry, I¡¯ll teach him a lesson in a bit.¡±


    Ji Tingyang: ¡°¡­I didn¡¯t say that.¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co


    He hadn¡¯t expected to be wrongly accused as soon as he returned.


    ¡°Actually, not teaching Big Brother a lesson could work too,¡± Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes twinkled, she muttered softly.


    Ji Tingyang instantly knew what she was up to, ¡°Go on, what do you want to buy?¡±


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up, she quickly flipped the magazine on the sofa to the page she was looking at just before, and her previously aggrieved tone suddenly became excited, ¡°This newly released necklace is so beautiful! I heard there¡¯s only one in the world, handmade, truly unique. Each gemstone embedded in it has a story about the stars, so romantic.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just a few million, surely not expensive for you,¡± her round eyes held a hint of hope, ¡°Right, Big Brother?¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s brow raised.


    So, the earlier quarrel was just her way of waiting for a chance to ask him.


    He glanced at the necklace in the magazine and nodded lightly, ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s not expensive.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement.


    Then his tone shifted, ¡°So go ahead and buy it yourself.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s joyful expression immediately stiffened, and she pitifully tugged at his clothing, ¡°Big Brother¡­¡±


    Her allowance card had been stopped, she had no money to buy any jewelry.


    Ji Tingyang remained expressionless, ¡°Calling for your Second Brother won¡¯t help.¡±


    Lin Xu took the magazine, ¡°Lanyue has good taste, this necklace really is pretty.¡±


    The moment before he coldly refused, Ji Tingyang immediately turned to Lin Xu, while pulling out his phone, ¡°You like it? I¡¯ll call them right now and buy it for you.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao: ???


    ¡°I say I like the necklace, but you won¡¯t buy it for me; Lin Xu says she likes it, and you buy it without a second word,¡± she angrily kicked Ji Tingyang, ¡°Stinky Big Brother, I don¡¯t want to deal with you ever again!¡±


    Big Brother was always so double-standard.


    ¡°Your Big Brother is buying it for you, he¡¯s just too embarrassed to say it outright,¡± Lin Xu quickly said.


    ¡°Really?¡± Ji Yuqiao was skeptical.


    Under Lin Xu¡¯s stern gaze, Ji Tingyang reluctantly nodded.


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s face suddenly bloomed into a happy smile, and she jubilantly ran back upstairs.


    The next day.


    Just as Ji Yuqiao was looking forward to the arrival of her new necklace, she spotted it around the neck of a classmate.


    A classmate from the neighboring dorm had come to visit their dorm, her fingers occasionally brushing her neck.


    That obvious gesture made it hard not to notice.


    ¡°Keke, is this the new necklace you bought? It looks so nice!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s so beautiful! Where did you buy this necklace? Can you send me a link?¡±


    ¡°Oh, you noticed my necklace?¡± Keke put on a show of modesty, a hint of pride coloring her eyes as though slightly annoyed, ¡°My boyfriend gifted it to me, and it cost him sixty to seventy million. It¡¯s not some cheap thing from the internet, there¡¯s no link available.¡±


    The dorm mate next to her immediately exclaimed in awe, ¡°Sixty to seventy million? Your boyfriend really treats you well!¡±


    Keke pursed her lips and smiled, ¡°I couldn¡¯t help it, he insisted on giving it to me, saying that it¡¯s a unique necklace in the world and also represents his unique love for me. Plus, each gemstone on it has a romantic celestial story.¡±


    The familiar slogan caught Ji Yuqiao¡¯s attention, and even she, who was initially uninterested, looked up.


    She hadn¡¯t known until she looked, and when she did, she was startled.


    Wasn¡¯t this the gemstone necklace that she had asked Ji Tingyang to buy for her yesterday?


    How did it end up with Keke?


    Could it be that her brother had been too slow in paying, and someone else had bought it?


    Thinking this, Ji Yuqiao angrily sent a message rebuking Ji Tingyang.


    Raining Qiao: [How could you fail to buy a necklace when I asked you to? You¡¯re really useless!]


    Raining Qiao: [Angry bear thumping.gif]


    JTY: [?]


    A photo and Ji Tingyang¡¯s question mark were sent over together.


    It was a photo of the gemstone necklace placed inside a black box.


    The necklace had already been delivered to Ji Tingyang.


    Ji Yuqiao blinked, enlarged the photo, and examined carefully, confirming that the two necklaces were indeed identical.


    A unique necklace, and now there were two of them.


    So there was only one conclusion.


    While her dorm mates were complimenting Keke, Ji Yuqiao¡¯s voice suddenly cut in, ¡°Your necklace is fake.¡±


    The dorm room suddenly fell silent.


    After a moment, Keke glanced disdainfully at Ji Yuqiao and sneered, ¡°Have you even seen a real gem? You claim it¡¯s fake just like that.¡±


    ¡°The real one was bought by my brother, so yours must be fake, your boyfriend is deceiving you,¡± Ji Yuqiao explained to her.


    ¡°Your brother bought it?¡± Keke laughed as if she heard a joke, overjoyed, ¡°Each gemstone on this necklace costs millions, your family is poor, could your brother afford it? It seems more likely to me that your brother is deceiving you.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao furrowed her brow, ¡°My brother would never lie to me, and he¡¯s definitely not poor.¡±


    ¡°Not poor? Could he possibly be a billionaire then?¡± Keke smiled slightly, her eyes filled with undisguised mockery, ¡°If your brother were a billionaire, would you end up having to sell bags?¡±


    Ji Yuqiao had been stopped by Ji Tingyang from using her bank cards before, and many classmates knew about her selling bags and even taking part-time jobs.


    With such a difficult daily life, how could they possibly be rich?


    So, when they heard Ji Yuqiao say that her brother had bought the necklace, they sneered and disbelieved in their hearts.


    ¡°What I¡¯m saying is true, if you don¡¯t believe me, you can call your boyfriend and ask,¡± Ji Yuqiao earnestly said.

 Chapter 189 - Chapter 189: Chapter 189 "Is it you...

    Chapter 189: Chapter 189 ¡°Is it you¡­


    Ji Yuqiao originally intended to warn Keke about possibly being deceived by her boyfriend.


    Unexpectedly, Keke was not at all grateful and even mocked her.


    She pursed her lips, feeling quite uncomfortable inside.


    ¡°Just ask,¡± Keke¡¯s face cooled, and she took out her phone in front of everyone to call her boyfriend.


    After two or three rings, the call was answered.


    ¡°Dear, barely an hour apart and you¡¯re already calling me¡ªdo you miss me?¡± A man¡¯s laughing voice came through the speakerphone.


    Keke¡¯s voice grew coquettish, ¡°Dear, a classmate of mine claims the necklace you just gifted me is fake¡ª¡±


    The man¡¯s voice instantly grew colder, ¡°Are you suggesting that I spent tens of millions on a fake necklace for you?¡±


    ¡°No, I never doubted you, it¡¯s all her making stuff up by my ear,¡± Keke quickly cleared herself.


    The man snorted coldly, ¡°Tell your classmate, every project in my company involves tens of millions, how could I possibly not afford a genuine gemstone necklace?¡±


    Keke hastily responded, ¡°Yes, yes, yes¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll send you the photo of the receipt on your phone, if anyone doubts again, just show them the receipt. I have a deal worth 20 million to discuss next, got to hang up.¡±


    Shortly after the man hung up, Keke received the photo of the receipt on her WeChat.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co


    She triumphantly held her phone up to Ji Yuqiao¡¯s face, ¡°Now you have nothing to say, do you?¡±


    A photo of a receipt can also be Photoshopped, right?


    Ji Yuqiao opened her mouth, ready to keep arguing, when her roommate tugged at her clothes, stopping the words before they could be spoken.


    ¡°Keke, don¡¯t be angry. Ji Yuqiao is probably just jealous seeing you with such a great boyfriend, that¡¯s why she said that,¡± another roommate commented.


    Keke regained her arrogant demeanor and snorted, ¡°Forget it, I won¡¯t stoop to her level.


    Ji Yuqiao fell silent, not speaking anymore, and returned to her seat to read a book.


    Having warned her, if she didn¡¯t believe it, then so be it.


    Ji Yuqiao no longer wanted to meddle in Keke and her boyfriend¡¯s affairs.


    However, unexpectedly, in the evening, Keke actually came looking for her.


    ¡°Tonight my boyfriend is treating me and some friends at a club, you should come too,¡± Keke said as if generously granting Ji Yuqiao the permission to join them.


    Ji Yuqiao disinterestedly replied, ¡°You guys go ahead, I don¡¯t want to go.¡±


    ¡°Rest assured, my boyfriend and I are very generous, we won¡¯t retaliate just because you spread rumors that the necklace was fake,¡± Keke proudly tilted her chin up.


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s all go, it¡¯s more fun with more people,¡± she insisted.


    The roommate also began persuading Ji Yuqiao to come along.


    With her roommates pushing her, Ji Yuqiao, unable to refuse, reluctantly followed them to the club.


    Upon opening the door, the private room was already filled with several people and the table was laden with bottles and jars of alcohol.


    Keke walked over to a man with an Azure Dragon tattooed on his arm, resting her head on his chest in an intimate manner, ¡°Dear, did you miss me?¡±


    ¡°Of course I did,¡± the man kissed her on the lips.


    Keke coyly hit his shoulder, ¡°There are so many people here.¡±


    ¡°We didn¡¯t see anything, no worries sister-in-law, hahaha¡­¡± someone from the crowd jeered.


    Keke¡¯s cheeks turned red, ¡°Stop teasing me, I¡¯ve brought a few classmates along too.¡±


    Upon hearing this, the man finally raised his head to look at them.


    He surveyed them for a moment and his gaze ultimately fell on Ji Yuqiao¡¯s face, passing a trace of astonishment, he stared at her for a long time, lost in thought.


    It wasn¡¯t until Keke showed displeasure and pinched him hard in the waist that the man snapped back to reality, wincing in pain.


    ¡°Keke, is this also your classmate?¡± the man asked, still holding her shoulders, but his eyes were fixated on Ji Yuqiao.


    Ji Yuqiao had clear, bright eyes beneath her delicately arched eyebrows, and her beauty was striking. Even standing among a crowd, she could catch one¡¯s eye, throbbing the heart.


    Keke glanced at Ji Yuqiao and suddenly regretted bringing her along.


    The smile on Keke¡¯s lips turned unnatural, ¡°Yes, she is the classmate who said you gave me a fake necklace.¡±


    ¡°The young girl has not seen much of the world, it¡¯s normal she couldn¡¯t recognize the real thing.¡± The man laughed and beckoned Ji Yuqiao over, ¡°Come here, sit next to me, how about I give you a gemstone necklace too?¡±


    Upon hearing his words, Keke¡¯s smile had already frozen.


    Ji Yuqiao merely gave him a brief glance and chose the furthest seat to sit down.


    ¡°Young lady, quite a personality,¡± the man chuckled, unfazed.


    Seeing that she didn¡¯t come over, Keke finally breathed a sigh of relief and leaned back against the man again.


    However, throughout the evening, the man¡¯s gaze kept straying to Ji Yuqiao, and he even failed to hear Keke speaking to him.


    Seeing Ji Yuqiao heading out, Keke got up immediately and followed, ¡°I¡¯m going to the restroom.¡±


    The man replied carelessly, ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    Keke slowed her pace, and by the time she got to the restroom, Ji Yuqiao had already come out.


    She immediately called Ji Yuqiao, ¡°The washstand is too wet, it might dirty my bag, could you hold it for me?¡±


    Ji Yuqiao nodded her head, seemingly unconcerned, and stood at the restroom door waiting for her.


    While waiting, she idly looked around.


    Suddenly, she saw a familiar figure in the corridor.


    Xiao Yu was dressed in a suit, holding some documents and talking to someone beside him, looking calm and composed.


    Ji Yuqiao stood there stunned, staring at him for a long time until Keke came out of the restroom and called out to her, which finally snapped her out of it.


    ¡°Thanks, you can give me my bag now,¡± Keke said.


    Ji Yuqiao handed her the bag and looked up towards the corridor again, but Xiao Yu had disappeared.


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s thoughts momentarily wandered, and she lost the desire to stay there any longer.


    Her lips slightly parted, just as she was about to tell Keke she wanted to leave early, a sharp, piercing scream rang out.


    ¡°Ah!¡± Keke frantically rummaged through her bag.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Ji Yuqiao was puzzled.


    ¡°The gemstone necklace my boyfriend gave me is gone!¡± Keke frenziedly searched, even dumping everything out of her bag onto the floor, with compact powder and lipstick scattering everywhere.


    ¡°Think again, could you have placed it somewhere else?¡± Ji Yuqiao suggested.


    ¡°Impossible, I was worried about dirtying the necklace, so I specifically put it in my bag when I went to the restroom. Such an expensive necklace¡­¡± Keke¡¯s face suddenly lost all color.


    After a moment, she looked up, incredulous, staring at Ji Yuqiao, ¡°After going to the restroom, you were the only one who touched my bag, could it be you¡­¡±

 Chapter 190 - Chapter 190: 190

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 Chapter 191 - Chapter 191: Chapter 191 Change the View of Him

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 Chapter 192 - Chapter 192: Chapter 192: Car Accident? Who is it?

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 Chapter 193 - Chapter 193: Chapter 193: Mother?

    Chapter 193: Chapter 193: Mother?


    Watching Ji Yuqiao¡¯s utterly distraught expression, the doctor immediately understood, ¡°You¡¯re family, right? Then get in the car quickly!¡±


    Ji Yuqiao lifted her leg to get in.


    The next second, someone grabbed her wrist.


    ¡°Lanyue, where are you going? Do you know this person?¡±


    A gentle and familiar voice sounded in her ear, causing Ji Yuqiao¡¯s body to freeze for a moment before stiffly turning her neck to look back.


    There she saw Lin Xu holding a bag of dried sweet potatoes, standing perfectly unharmed in front of her, without a trace of blood on her body.


    ¡°You, you¡¯re not¡­¡± Ji Yuqiao pointed at the person in the ambulance, then at her, her throat unclear and mumbled, unable to articulate anything.


    ¡°You couldn¡¯t possibly think the person in the accident was me, did you?¡± Lin Xu chuckled lightly, stepping forward to rub her cheek, ¡°Even if you couldn¡¯t see her face clearly, our clothes are completely different. How did you mistake us for each other?¡±


    Ji Yuqiao glanced at the red dress on the person in the ambulance and then at Lin Xu¡¯s blue dress, her thoughts spinning chaotically in her head.


    ¡°Young girl, didn¡¯t you say you wanted to get in? Are you getting in or not?¡± the ambulance doctor asked anxiously.


    Lin Xu pulled Ji Yuqiao aside, ¡°Sorry, doctor, she mistook someone else for a family member; we don¡¯t know her.¡±


    No sooner had she finished speaking than the doctor closed the ambulance doors, not wasting any words on them, and quickly drove off.


    Leaving Lin Xu and Ji Yuqiao sprayed with exhaust.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï


    Lin Xu looked at the still dazed Ji Yuqiao, her eyes red enough to break one¡¯s heart.


    She patted Ji Yuqiao on the head, coaxing softly, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared. Look, I¡¯m perfectly fine now. We¡­¡±


    She hadn¡¯t finished her sentence when Ji Yuqiao suddenly flung herself into her arms, clinging tightly around her neck.


    Ji Yuqiao buried her head in her neck, feeling the warmth of her body, experiencing the relief of having something restored, the strength of her embrace as if she wanted to merge her into her body, afraid to let go.


    Lin Xu could only repeatedly stroke her back, ¡°I won¡¯t leave you all again, from now on we¡¯ll always be together¡­¡±


    It seemed this event left a shadow in Ji Yuqiao¡¯s heart. Even after returning home, she kept clinging to Lin Xu.


    At the bedroom door, Lin Xu¡¯s smile was tinged with helplessness. ¡°We¡¯re back home now, nothing will happen, so you should go to your room.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Ji Yuqiao shook her head, still clinging to her arm, unwilling to let go.


    ¡°Go to bed now.¡± Ji Tingyang said sternly from the side.


    ¡°I want to sleep with Lin Xu.¡± Ji Yuqiao pouted.


    Seeing her pitiful gaze, Lin Xu¡¯s heart softened, ¡°Alright.¡±


    ¡°Yay!¡± Ji Yuqiao immediately scurried into Lin Xu¡¯s bedroom, excitedly jumping onto the bed.


    She burrowed into the covers, patting the space next to her, ¡°Hurry up, get in~¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s cheeks suddenly darkened, his dark eyes carrying a touch of sharpness as they swept toward Ji Yuqiao, ¡°Don¡¯t get on the bed, go sleep on the couch.¡±


    ¡°Why! We¡¯re both girls, why can¡¯t we sleep in the same bed!¡± Ji Yuqiao refused to listen to him, lying directly on the bed, spreading her body into a ¡®big¡¯ shape.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s tone was serious, ¡°Get up, no means no!¡±


    A grown person like this, still wanting to sleep with her mother.


    What¡¯s more¡­ he had never shared a bed with his mother, so why should she be allowed to sleep with her?


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s lips were pressed into a straight line, his expression displeased as he watched Ji Yuqiao.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, let Lanyue sleep with me,¡± Lin Xu suggested, wanting to spend the night with her daughter and perhaps share some quiet words.


    ¡°¡­¡± Ji Tingyang looked at her, holding back his words.


    Contemplating the possibility of him joining them to sleep together.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Lin Xu asked.


    ¡°¡­Forget it.¡± Ji Tingyang bent down and hugged her, ¡°Goodnight, Mother.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª


    Lin Xu originally thought that a few days after Ji Yuqiao¡¯s fear subsided, she would return to her previous state, but unexpectedly, she became even more clingy.


    She didn¡¯t even go back to the dorm to stay anymore; she ran home right after classes each day.


    ¡°Lin Xu, can we sleep together tonight, too?¡±


    ¡°Lin Xu, which outfit do you think I should wear today?¡±


    ¡°Lin Xu, I don¡¯t know how to do this math problem.¡±


    ¡°Lin Xu¡­¡± Ji Yuqiao had just opened her mouth when Ji Tingyang stuffed a piece of bread into it.


    The noise in his ears suddenly ceased.


    ¡°Just eat your breakfast, and if you say one more word, you can walk to school by yourself,¡± Ji Tingyang said sternly.


    As if wanting to chew Ji Tingyang to pieces, Ji Yuqiao bit down on the bread in her mouth with force.


    After finally finishing it, her eyes brimming with tears, she looked pitifully at Lin Xu, ¡°Lin Xu, Big Brother is bullying me, let¡¯s not be nice to him.¡±


    ¡°Ji Yuqiao!¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s voice was filled with anger, enunciating each word.


    Ji Yuqiao immediately jumped up from the chair and hurriedly ran out the door, not forgetting to turn back and remind Lin Xu, ¡°Don¡¯t sneak out to play, remember to wait for me to come home after class.¡±


    Lin Xu sighed with relief; it was only after she went to class that she could do something else.


    Once at school.


    Ji Yuqiao was always worried about Lin Xu, taking out her phone every now and then to send a message, asking where she was at the moment.


    ¡°Why are you always looking at your phone during a class? You wouldn¡¯t be messaging Xiao Yu, would you?¡± A classmate joked.


    After all, it was well known that Ji Yuqiao liked Xiao Yu.


    They had even joked in private, whether Xiao Yu would regret rejecting her after learning how rich Ji Yuqiao¡¯s family was.


    Maybe Xiao Yu had a change of heart, and they were already together.


    Ji Yuqiao was stunned for a moment; it seemed like some time since she had heard that name.


    For some reason, hearing Xiao Yu¡¯s name now left her feeling unexpectedly calm and undisturbed.


    She shook her head, ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± The classmate nodded and then added, ¡°I heard there¡¯s a basketball game at the court later, and Xiao Yu might play. Do you want to go watch?¡±


    ¡°No thanks, I need to get home.¡± Ji Yuqiao finished packing up her stationery and turned to leave the classroom.


    A look of surprise crossed the classmate¡¯s face.


    The Ji Yuqiao who used to appear wherever Xiao Yu went now seemed indifferent to him.


    Ji Yuqiao took the car and hurried back to the villa in a rush.


    She did not see Lin Xu in the living room.


    ¡°Butler, where is Lin Xu?¡± Ji Yuqiao asked anxiously.


    ¡°Miss Lin and the Second Young Master are watering flowers in the backyard. Oh yes, the Second Young Master just came back¡­¡±


    Before the butler could finish speaking, Ji Yuqiao ran toward the backyard.


    ¡°Brother Zhao got me another role in a TV series. I have to join the closed set next week to shoot for a few months.¡± Ji Zeqiu was watering the flowers for Lin Xu, stealing glances at her now and then, ¡°Mother, will you come to visit the set?¡±


    Ji Yuqiao blinked.


    Mother?

 Chapter 194 - Chapter 194: Chapter 194 What Kind of Person is Mother?

    Chapter 194: Chapter 194 What Kind of Person is Mother?


    ¡°What are you guys talking about?¡±


    Ji Yuqiao walked in, interrupting their conversation.


    She returned in a hurry, and still had a small backpack on her shoulder she had not yet had the chance to put down.


    Lin Xu went over to help her take off the backpack, while walking toward the living room, ¡°Your second brother said he¡¯s going into the film crew to shoot a movie again; he can¡¯t come back for several months, so he¡¯s asking us to visit the set.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just a few months, what¡¯s there to see? Second Brother used to live outside for years without coming home, and he¡¯s still living well, isn¡¯t he? He never asked us to visit the set before.¡± Ji Yuqiao followed into the living room, nonchalantly said.


    No sooner had she finished speaking than her head was knocked hard.


    Ji Zeqiu was behind her, pulling at the corner of his mouth with a sneer but not really smiling, looking at her, ¡°What¡¯s there to visit? Don¡¯t you want your allowance anymore?¡±


    Ji Yuqiao immediately changed her tune, ¡°Actually, not being able to see Second Brother for so long, I do miss you. When the time comes, I¡¯ll visit the set every day!¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter whether you come or not.¡± Ji Zeqiu¡¯s tone was slightly disdainful.


    As long as the mother went, it would be fine.


    ¡°I don¡¯t even want to go.¡± Ji Yuqiao pouted.


    After a while, she remembered something and poked Ji Zeqiu, ¡°Second Brother, why did I hear you calling Lin Xu ¡®mother¡¯ in the backyard just now?¡±


    ¡°Did I?¡± Ji Zeqiu said with an indifferent expression, ¡°You might have heard wrong.¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï


    Really?


    Ji Yuqiao scratched her head, and her doubts didn¡¯t last long before fading away.


    ¡­


    Before going to the film crew to shoot, Ji Zeqiu had about a week of rest.


    Finding it hard to get home once, he wanted to spend more time with Lin Xu, go see movies with his mother, have big meals, and buy his mother a dress¡­


    But he didn¡¯t expect that he got rid of Ji Tingyang only to have Ji Yuqiao to compete for their mother¡¯s attention.


    Lin Xu couldn¡¯t go anywhere without her following, and she even wanted to sleep together.


    Watching her about to squeeze into her mother¡¯s bedroom, Ji Zeqiu quickly grabbed the back of her collar, ¡°You¡¯re so grown up, go sleep in your own room.¡±


    ¡°No way, I want to sleep with Lin Xu, we haven¡¯t finished our whispers from last night yet.¡± Ji Yuqiao shook her head unwillingly.


    ¡°What whispers?¡± Curiosity surfaced on Ji Zeqiu¡¯s face.


    The mother had never whispered to him.


    ¡°That¡¯s a secret, so I can¡¯t tell you.¡± Ji Yuqiao broke free from his grasp and slipped into the room, about to close the door.


    Ji Zeqiu stretched out his hand to block the closing door.


    Ji Yuqiao looked at him, with a teasing light in her eyes, ¡°Second Brother, you don¡¯t want to come in to hear the whispers, do you?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s gaze wavered, and he coughed and said, ¡°¡­It¡¯s starting to rain and thunder outside, weren¡¯t you always afraid of thunder when you were little? I¡¯m going in to protect you.¡±


    ¡°Second Brother, I¡¯ve grown up so much, I¡¯m not afraid of thunder anymore.¡± Ji Yuqiao rolled her eyes, then said with a bit of pride, ¡°Besides, even if I were afraid of thunder, Lin Xu is here to protect me.¡±


    After saying that, she didn¡¯t give Ji Zeqiu any more time to delay, and she closed the door firmly.


    Ji Yuqiao happily returned to the bed, shifted a bit, and cuddled closer to Lin Xu, ¡°Now nobody will disturb us anymore.¡±


    Lin Xu smiled, ¡°What are you going to tell me tonight?¡±


    In recent nights, Ji Yuqiao always liked to chat with her, talking about everything from childhood stories to school gossip.


    Lin Xu also listened avidly.


    Time flew, and before they knew it, it was morning.


    It wasn¡¯t until Ji Tingyang noticed Lin Xu had been sleep-deprived recently, constantly dozing off, after scolding Ji Yuqiao once, that she finally quieted down a bit.


    ¡°How about you tell me about yourself instead?¡± Ji Yuqiao thought over the fact that they had been focusing on her stories; it seemed she hadn¡¯t really understood Lin Xu.


    ¡°Do you have anything you like?¡±


    ¡°And¡­¡± Ji Yuqiao looked somewhat conflicted, ¡°My auntie, also my mom¡¯s younger sister, right? Have you met her? What kind of person is she?¡±


    Before when she would ask her brothers about their parents, their expressions always turned sad.


    Over time, she dared not ask anymore.


    But sometimes, I just couldn¡¯t help being curious.


    After Ji Yuqiao asked her question, a long time passed without an answer from Lin Xu.


    Thinking that she might also be feeling sad, Ji Yuqiao looked up only to find that Lin Xu had already fallen asleep.


    Alright then.


    I¡¯ll ask next time.


    Ji Yuqiao also closed her eyes and slowly fell asleep while holding her.


    The sweet scent seeped into Ji Yuqiao¡¯s nose.


    So fragrant.


    And so warm.


    She wondered if the embrace of a mother that her classmates often wrote about in their essays was also this warm¡­


    The next day.


    When Ji Yuqiao woke up, Lin Xu was no longer in the bedroom.


    She rubbed her eyes and went downstairs, where she found only Ji Tingyang in the living room. ¡°Big brother, where¡¯s Lin Xu?¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression clearly wasn¡¯t too good. He answered in a muffled voice, ¡°She went out with Ji Zeqiu.¡±


    Now it was Ji Yuqiao¡¯s turn to be so angry that she gritted her teeth.


    Ji Zeqiu had actually sneaked out to have fun with Lin Xu while she was still not fully awake!


    She took out her phone and fiercely jabbed at the screen, as if to punch a hole through it, sending several hundred words of condemnation to Ji Zeqiu.


    However, Ji Zeqiu was far from repentant and was completely indifferent.


    Qiu: [Who told you to oversleep?]


    Qiu: [You deserve it.]


    Ji Yuqiao threw her phone onto the sofa, huffily saying to Ji Tingyang, ¡°Big brother, tell the crew to keep second brother there for a few more months, don¡¯t let him come home!¡±


    Ji Tingyang took a sip of coffee, his eyebrows slightly raised. ¡°That¡¯s a good idea.¡±


    He glanced at the time on his watch; his lunch break was almost over, and it was time for him to go back to the company.


    Ji Tingyang got up and headed for the door. Just after he had changed his shoes, as if remembering something, he turned to Ji Yuqiao, ¡°There¡¯s a sealed file bag on the desk in the study, help me get it.¡±


    ¡°Sure, the errand fee is 1 million.¡± Ji Yuqiao looked at him with a beaming smile.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s dark gaze swept over lightly. Before he even spoke, Ji Yuqiao backed down, ¡°Forget it, no errand fee then, consider it charity on my part.¡±


    She quickly scurried to the study.


    However, she searched the entire desk and couldn¡¯t find any file bag.


    Could it be in the drawer?


    Ji Yuqiao muttered to herself while pulling open each drawer of the desk.


    But as soon as she opened the bottom drawer, a photo caught her eye.


    The photo looked like a family portrait, a family of five smiling resplendently at the camera, their happiness and warmth palpable even through the picture.


    The people in the photo were very familiar.


    Even without asking, she knew that the two little boys were Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu.


    But why did the woman in the photo look exactly like Lin Xu?


    She glanced at the time in the bottom left corner of the photo.


    Twenty years ago.


    Twenty years ago, Lin Xu would have also been a child, wouldn¡¯t she? Could that be her mother?


    It¡¯s normal for Lin Xu and her mother to look alike if they were sisters.


    But why did the man next to her also look so much like Xie Changyan?

 Chapter 195 - Chapter 195: Chapter 195: Is Lin Xu Really Our Mother?

    Chapter 195: Chapter 195: Is Lin Xu Really Our Mother?


    ¡°I forgot, the file bag isn¡¯t on the desk, I placed it inside the bookshelf.¡±


    A deep voice pulled Ji Yuqiao back from her drifting thoughts.


    Ji Tingyang walked in, took a file bag from the wall bookshelf.


    Ji Yuqiao came back to her senses and hurriedly called out to Ji Tingyang, ¡°Big brother, who¡¯s the person in this photo?¡±


    Ji Tingyang saw the photo in her hand and paused for a moment, ¡°¡­It¡¯s our family portrait.¡±


    ¡°So the woman in the photo is our mother, right? She resembles Lin Xu so much. And this man, he looks like Xie¡­¡±


    ¡°Resembles who?¡± Ji Tingyang suddenly turned cold, ¡°That man doesn¡¯t look like our father at all.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao hadn¡¯t finished her sentence when she was frightened into swallowing her words back down by Ji Tingyang.


    ¡°If you¡¯re nearsighted, go get glasses instead of talking nonsense.¡± Ji Tingyang left the study room with a frown on his face.


    Ji Yuqiao patted her trembling heart.


    What was big brother¡¯s temper about all of a sudden?


    It clearly looked alike.


    He should be the one to get a pair of glasses instead.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï


    Ji Yuqiao scrutinized the photo for a long time before she finally placed it back into the drawer.


    When she returned to the living room, the image of the photo was still on her mind.


    Seeing the butler nearby, an idea struck Ji Yuqiao, and she immediately asked, ¡°Uncle Butler, do you know when Lin Xu came to our house?¡±


    The butler thought for a moment, ¡°It seems it was half a year ago¡­¡±


    ¡°How did she come to us?¡± Ji Yuqiao asked.


    ¡°Hiss, I¡¯m not too clear either, it seems like she just appeared out of nowhere.¡±


    ¡°Then, have you ever seen her child?¡±


    ¡°Child? Does Miss Lin have a child? I¡¯ve never heard her mention one.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I see¡­ maybe I misremembered¡­¡± Ji Yuqiao forced a few laughs.


    Ji Zeqiu and Lin Xu had been out for quite a while, not returning until after it got dark, laden with large and small packages.


    Ji Tingyang hurried over to greet them, taking the things from Lin Xu¡¯s hands, ¡°Why did you buy so much?¡±


    ¡°I saw lots of new clothing in the stores, and I bought them for you all,¡± Lin Xu said.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes suddenly brightened as he pulled out a shirt from the bag, a hint of pleasure in his expression, ¡°Is this for me?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu snatched the shirt back, ¡°This is for me!¡±


    Ji Tingyang surveyed the dozen or so bags on the ground as if trying to discern which one was his.


    Ji Zeqiu pulled a small box from one of the bags, ¡°Stop looking, only these cufflinks are yours, the rest are for me.¡±


    He threw a glance at Ji Tingyang, his eyes brimming with a hint of triumph.


    As if to say, mother bought me so many things, but for you, there¡¯s only this one.


    The person mother loves most is definitely me.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s forehead vein throbbed, his face exceptionally unpleasant.


    Lin Xu glared at Ji Zeqiu and quickly picked up a few bags to hand to Ji Tingyang, ¡°Don¡¯t listen to your brother¡¯s nonsense, these are yours. There are also some for Lanyue, the amount I bought for everyone is the same.¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression improved slightly, but his face still held a trace of grievance.


    Lin Xu soothingly stroked his head.


    Now it was Ji Tingyang¡¯s turn to secretly throw a challenging glance at Ji Zeqiu.


    Ji Zeqiu clenched his teeth and snorted coldly.


    If this were the past, Ji Yuqiao would definitely be gloating at the side.


    However, now she felt somewhat puzzled.


    Why did both her big brother and second brother like Lin Xu so much?


    She wasn¡¯t unfamiliar with other relatives in the family, but Lanyue and Zeqiu always despised those relatives and never allowed her to interact with them much.


    So why did they like Lin Xu, who had only appeared not long ago?


    Perhaps it was because she cared about this matter that she noticed many things she hadn¡¯t paid attention to before.


    For instance, Lin Xu never talked about her children.


    Yet from the things she had mentioned before, one could feel that she clearly loved her children, but she had never been seen calling them.


    Another example was how Lanyue and Zeqiu always seemed to depend on Lin Xu.


    When Lanyue was in a bad mood, he always liked to lean on Lin Xu¡¯s shoulder.


    Zeqiu, who obviously hated greens, used to refuse to eat them no matter how she and Lanyue persuaded him, but with just a look from Lin Xu, he would obediently eat them.


    With too many thoughts on her mind, Ji Yuqiao lay in bed tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.


    At that moment.


    A hand reached out, pulling her into an embrace, the palm gently caressing her back.


    ¡°Can¡¯t sleep?¡± Lin Xu¡¯s voice was soft and subtle, like a gentle breeze slowly brushing over her restless chest.


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s mood gradually calmed down, ¡°Mmm.¡±


    ¡°Shall I tell you a bedtime story?¡±


    ¡°I am already so big¡­¡± Ji Yuqiao muttered under her breath, her face flushed with embarrassment in the darkness.


    ¡°No matter how old you are, you can still listen to stories,¡± said Lin Xu.


    ¡°Then go ahead,¡± Ji Yuqiao¡¯s tone was a bit coy.


    ¡°Once there was a lioness and her cub, the mother took the little lion to climb the steep slopes¡­¡±


    Lin Xu¡¯s voice was tender, like a mountain stream flowing quietly, clear and melodious.


    Ji Yuqiao, with her eyes closed, felt her mood smooth itself out, and her mind, previously wide awake, unknowingly began to grow heavy.


    In a daze, she seemed to feel a warm kiss fall on her cheek.


    The gentle voice at her ear carried a sad tinge of regret, ¡°I realize that I never had the chance to lull you to sleep before¡­¡±


    ¡°But at least now the opportunity is here, and from now on, our family will always be together.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s heartstrings were faintly touched.


    That night, she had a dream.


    She dreamed that her parents were still alive, and the family was having a joyous picnic in the countryside.


    Her mother walked towards her with a sandwich, and when she looked up, she was greeted by the smiling face of Lin Xu, as beautiful as flowers.


    The scene shifted, taking her back to the day she had first seen Lin Xu at the villa.


    Lanyue and Zeqiu had both said that Lin Xu was their mother¡­


    ¡ª-


    Ji Zeqiu had stayed at home for a week, and after dinner that day, he went back to his room to pack clothes to take to the drama set.


    Ji Yuqiao knocked on Ji Zeqiu¡¯s bedroom door.


    His packing was practiced and smooth. Seeing her enter, he didn¡¯t look up, ¡°Run out of spending money?¡±


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s mouth twitched as if she only came to him for money, ¡°No, it¡¯s something else¡­¡±


    ¡°You could have something else?¡± Ji Zeqiu seemed somewhat intrigued as he glanced at her.


    Ji Yuqiao rolled her eyes, not intending to argue with him.


    The words she wanted to say had been fermenting in her heart for a long time, her hands unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes, her eyebrows almost knotting together, her eyes reflecting a mix of entanglement and hesitation.


    ¡°So what is it?¡± Seeing her silent for so long, Ji Zeqiu stopped his movements and looked at her.


    Just as Ji Zeqiu was growing impatient, she spoke her mind.


    ¡°Is Lin Xu really our mother?¡±

 Chapter 196 - Chapter 196: Chapter 196: Dont Want to Have Anything to Do with the Ji Family

    Chapter 196: Chapter 196: Don¡¯t Want to Have Anything to Do with the Ji Family


    That night, Ji Yuqiao suffered from insomnia again.


    She lay in bed, tossing and turning, and most of the time, she simply stared at Lin Xu¡¯s sleeping face, her mind a tangled mess of jumbled thoughts, completely devoid of any urge to sleep.


    As a result, when she got up the next day to send Ji Zeqiu out, she looked groggy and sleepy.


    With a dazed expression, she rubbed her eyes at the door, bidding farewell to Ji Zeqiu, ¡°Second brother, just go ahead, and if you miss me too much, just send me some extra pocket money.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re still not awake, go back to your room and sleep some more, so you don¡¯t talk in your sleep during the middle of the day,¡± Ji Zeqiu tapped her on the head.


    Ji Yuqiao yelped in pain and staggered towards the sofa, covering her head, then collapsed straight onto the couch with her eyes closed.


    ¡°Don¡¯t sleep here; you¡¯ll catch a cold,¡± Lin Xu said, intending to ask her to go back to her room to sleep, but she had barely turned around when Ji Zeqiu grabbed her wrist.


    He looked at Lin Xu, his tone faltering slightly, ¡°Mother, you promised to visit me on the set¡­ ¡±


    ¡°Actually, it¡¯s not a big deal whether you come or not, after all, I¡¯m not a little child who needs constant company¡­¡±


    He hesitated, then added, ¡°But you promised me, you said that people shouldn¡¯t break their word.¡±


    Lin Xu¡¯s eyes curved into a smile, pinching his coy, proud cheek, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll come see you in a few days.¡±


    Under her teasing, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s cheeks turned red, and he stared at her, asking, ¡°Which day is ¡®in a few days¡¯?¡±


    The vague promise of ¡®in a few days¡¯ was just like the empty offer of ¡®let¡¯s have a meal together next time¡¯, which often led to nothing.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï


    Lin Xu pondered, ¡°Hm, whenever I¡¯m free.¡±


    This uncertain response visibly dissatisfied Ji Zeqiu, who pouted. He wanted to say more, but his agent was already urging him from behind.


    ¡°Alright, you should get going, don¡¯t make your agent wait. I promise I will come to see you,¡± Lin Xu assured him.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Ji Zeqiu reluctantly bent down to hug Lin Xu, said goodbye, and reluctantly got into his agent¡¯s car and left.


    After watching the car vanish from sight, Lin Xu turned and entered the house.


    She approached the sofa and gently soothed her forehead, ¡°The couch isn¡¯t comfortable to sleep on, better go back to your room.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao opened her bleary eyes and looked at her mother¡¯s tender gaze, her heart slightly stirred.


    ¡°Mom¡­¡±


    The sudden ringing of the phone interrupted the words she had been struggling to form.


    Ji Yuqiao, annoyed, punched the sofa, ¡°Second brother is so annoying, he just got on the car and he¡¯s already calling back.¡±


    Her voice was muffled, and she muttered indistinctly, ¡°No one is going to like a momma¡¯s boy who is this clingy.¡±


    Lin Xu didn¡¯t catch her last words, as a deep voice was already coming through from the phone call,


    ¡°It¡¯s the weekend today, want to come to the racetrack and have some fun?¡± Xie Changyan asked.


    Ji Yuqiao, who was close by to Lin Xu, naturally heard his voice and abruptly sat up from the sofa, ¡°Racetrack? I want to go see too!¡±


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement and anticipation.


    Her voice was spirited, and even through the phone, it reached Xie Changyan¡¯s ears loud and clear.


    Xie Changyan laughed softly as if he could already guess Lin Xu¡¯s answer, ¡°Then I¡¯ll come pick you up in a bit.¡±


    Knowing they were going out, Ji Yuqiao wasn¡¯t sleepy anymore; she quickly went upstairs to wash up and even changed into a new dress that Lin Xu had bought for her.


    But she never expected that she would encounter Xiao Yu again at the racetrack.


    Xiao Yu held a document in his hand, following a man dressed in a racing suit, incessantly talking about something.


    The senior also followed closely, his brows and eyes tinged with an anxious expression.


    ¡°Young Master Su, if this project can take off, it will definitely capture a large part of the future market, with huge profits. This is our proposal, would you please take a look?¡± Xiao Yu said.


    Su Linzhou sounded disinterested, ¡°I don¡¯t have much say in the company, I¡¯m just a figurehead. If you want to talk about projects, you¡¯d better go find my brother.¡±


    Xiao Yu pursed his lips.


    He had done so much homework, and he was well aware that the real power in Su¡¯s was held by Su Linzhou¡¯s brother.


    But President Su¡¯s schedule was not only secretive but also busy; even if he wanted to see President Su, he couldn¡¯t find an opportunity.


    He had no choice but to turn to Su Linzhou.


    After all, he was a member of the Su Family, and he should still have the ability to recommend a project.


    Hearing his words, the senior raised a smile and flattered, ¡°Young Master Su, you are really too modest. I have heard about the great achievements you made for Su¡¯s.¡±


    Su Linzhou smiled but didn¡¯t engage in the conversation.


    The senior kept praising Su Linzhou, attempting to soften his heart a little and get him to recommend their project to the company.


    But seeing the senior¡¯s ingratiating demeanor, Xiao Yu felt as if his eyes had been pierced by a needle, a prickling pain spreading from the depth of his gazes.


    He clenched the document in his hand tighter and set it on the table, ¡°If Young Master Su has time, please take a look at our project proposal before deciding.¡±


    Just as Su Linzhou was about to speak, his gaze swept over to Xie Changyan and the others approaching them.


    He nonchalantly whistled at Xie Changyan, ¡°Bro, the other beauty couldn¡¯t be for me, right? Finally, I don¡¯t have to watch you two show off your love.¡±


    ¡°This is my friend, she just came to watch the race, don¡¯t mess around,¡± Lin Xu said, knowing his usual playful antics; her gaze held a hint of warning.


    ¡°I never mess around with beauties, I only treat them with extra care,¡± Su Linzhou winked flirtatiously at Ji Yuqiao.


    However, Ji Yuqiao paid no attention to his gesture, her focus entirely on Xiao Yu.


    The senior waved and greeted Ji Yuqiao, ¡°Junior, long time no see.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao nodded and replied, ¡°Hello, senior.¡±


    Su Linzhou¡¯s brow raised slightly as he looked from Xiao Yu to Ji Yuqiao, ¡°So you know each other?¡±


    The senior immediately responded, ¡°Yes, yes, yes, we are alumni and friends.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Su Linzhou suddenly understood, his attitude shifting from indifference, ¡°What was that project you mentioned just now? Let me see the proposal.¡±


    The senior¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up.


    Su Linzhou¡¯s stance seemed to relax, apparently giving them a chance.


    Just as the senior was about to hand over the proposal, Xiao Yu snatched it back and turned to leave without another word.


    Everyone present was stunned.


    The senior chased after him anxiously, ¡°Xiao Yu, what are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Haven¡¯t we been hovering around Su Linzhou these past few days just for a chance to cooperate? Now that he¡¯s finally willing to give us a chance, why are you walking away?¡±


    Xiao Yu¡¯s face was stern, ¡°He was merely giving us a few extra looks for the sake of someone else. I can get cooperation based on my own strength; I don¡¯t need his charity, and I don¡¯t want to get involved with the Ji family.¡±


    His cold voice fell unmissably into the ears of Ji Yuqiao, who had followed them.

 Chapter 197 - Chapter 197: Chapter 197: Do me a favor.

    Chapter 197: Chapter 197: ¡®Do me a favor.


    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re so noble, so talented, you don¡¯t need anyone¡¯s charity, so why don¡¯t you bring in some projects?¡± His senior¡¯s face turned an iron shade of blue, his long-suppressed rage bursting from his chest.


    A low growl came from his throat, ¡°The studio was indeed built on your skills at the start, but what about now?¡±


    ¡°Because of your capriciousness, we don¡¯t even know how many opportunities we¡¯ve lost, and now the studio is about to shut down, do you even realize that?¡±


    ¡°Having missed President Wang, we finally got a chance to connect with Young Master Su and you blew it again!¡± His anger burned through his veins; the senior ripped off his tie and threw it on the ground furiously, ¡°I must be cursed!¡±


    After saying that, he stormed off.


    Xiao Yu gripped the file tightly, his face no less unpleasant.


    Ji Yuqiao knew Xiao Yu might not want to see her right now.


    But the brief moment of help and warmth when they first met made her change direction and walk towards him.


    ¡°Xiao Yu, are you alright?¡± she asked softly.


    Xiao Yu lifted his calm eyes and glanced at her.


    ¡°I know you might not want to hear me talk right now.¡± Ji Yuqiao pursed her lips and continued, ¡°You might not remember, but when we first met, you helped me. If there¡¯s anything I can do to help you, I would do my best¡­¡±


    ¡°What I¡¯m offering is not charity.¡± She looked at Xiao Yu and hesitated, ¡°I could ask my brother¡­¡±


    ¡°Ask Ji Tingyang to help me?¡± Xiao Yu interrupted her, his eyes flashing coldly with a hint of mockery, ¡°Help me in what way? By giving me money? A car? A house?¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã?


    Mentioning Ji Tingyang.


    The disdain he experienced at the banquet resurfaced in his mind.


    An indescribable sour pain surged in his chest, wreaking havoc, even making his head dizzy.


    In a daze.


    He seemed to see himself being mocked for misusing a napkin at the national competition;


    his forced smile while toasting President Wang at the Wangjiang Pavilion;


    and his relentless expulsion from the Su Family banquet¡­


    All these memories compiled together, like sharp blades, pierced through his already shaky self-esteem.


    Xiao Yu¡¯s breathing suddenly became rapid, sweat beaded on his forehead, he clenched his fist, his nails digging into his palm, blood flowing but he was indifferent.


    Ji Yuqiao startled, her voice trembling, ¡°Xiao Yu, what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Xiao Yu tugged at the corners of his lips, silently laughed, ¡°The things he did to Wen Li, I¡¯ll make sure he pays a price for them.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s face drained of color, ¡°You knew?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°What are you planning to do?¡±


    Looking at Ji Yuqiao¡¯s anxious face, almost uncontrollably, a dark vine spread from Xiao Yu¡¯s heart, tightening more and more around it, ¡°Wen Li has already collected some evidence. She¡¯s thinking about sending Ji Tingyang to jail.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s breath caught, ¡°Jail?¡±


    Xiao Yu¡¯s eyes reddened, ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve tried to persuade her, but she won¡¯t listen to me at all. She¡¯s set on taking revenge against your brother. But¡­¡±


    ¡°But what?¡± Ji Yuqiao asked urgently.


    ¡°If you could get the new energy core technology documents from Ji¡¯s, maybe I could persuade her again.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao was stunned.


    ¡°One document versus Ji Tingyang¡¯s safety. Which is more important to you?¡± Xiao Yu¡¯s voice was soft, his silent temptation lingering in her ear.


    ¡­


    Seeing that Ji Yuqiao had chased after Xiao Yu for so long without returning, Lin Xu was somewhat uneasy.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t she just talking to a friend? Why are you so worried?¡± Su Linzhou didn¡¯t understand.


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯m worried. What if she gets deceived?¡± Lin Xu said.


    ¡°Just because she¡¯s talking to a guy, you worry she¡¯ll be tricked away? You really do have the makings of a feudal parent from Southeast Asia.¡± Su Linzhou shrugged, half-jokingly.


    ¡°No, I need to go find her.¡±


    Lin Xu had just stood up when Ji Yuqiao walked back in a daze.


    Her heart instantly tightened as she asked anxiously, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did he say something to you?¡±


    Su Linzhou also looked over and took Ji Yuqiao¡¯s hand, showing concern, ¡°How can a beauty look so sad? You¡¯re not even pretty like that. Come on, tell big brother what happened.¡±


    Lin Xu slapped his hand away, glaring at him irritably, ¡°Don¡¯t touch me.¡±


    Su Linzhou chuckled awkwardly, ¡°I was just trying to comfort her.¡±


    Xie Changyan¡¯s lazy eyes carried a warning as they swept over him, ¡°Put away your antics and sit back down.¡±


    Su Linzhou touched his nose and muttered quietly, ¡°What¡¯s the harm in touching her a bit¡­¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s Ji Tingyang¡¯s biological sister,¡± Xie Changyan glanced at him sideways, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t want him complaining to your old man, would you?¡±


    As soon as Su Linzhou heard this, he immediately backed down.


    Listening to their conversation, Ji Yuqiao snapped back to reality and quietly glanced over at the relaxed Xie Changyan.


    Thinking back to the family photo she had seen in the study, he really resembled the father in the picture.


    But why did the big brother say that man wasn¡¯t Xie Changyan?


    It was strange.


    Perhaps her gaze was too intense, Xie Changyan noticed her looking and glanced back.


    He handed her an unopened juice, ¡°Want a drink?¡±


    Ji Yuqiao took it as if possessed, the sweet juice soothing her anxiety slightly, even reducing her previous fear of Xie Changyan.


    And when she saw Xie Changyan in the race car, overtaking one after another on the racetrack, any remaining fear turned into admiration.


    ¡°Wow, you¡¯re so amazing. Can you teach me how to do that?¡± Ji Yuqiao asked eagerly, her eyes sparkling.


    Su Linzhou holding his helmet, playfully flipped his hair, ¡°Sister, I can teach you just as well.¡±


    ¡°But you just lost,¡± Ji Yuqiao pointed out.


    Su Linzhou sounded a bit sheepish, ¡°I was letting him win on purpose.¡±


    Xie Changyan glanced at him, his lips curving into a smirk, ¡°Really? How about another match then?¡±


    Su Linzhou¡¯s mouth twitched, ¡°Damn it.¡±


    What¡¯s wrong with trying to look cool in front of a beauty!


    Ji Yuqiao stayed at the racetrack for nearly the whole day and had dinner with them before returning to the villa with Lin Xu.


    ¡°Why did you come back so late?¡± Ji Tingyang asked routinely.


    ¡°Got carried away driving the race car,¡± Ji Yuqiao was still somewhat enthralled.


    ¡°You know how to drive a race car?¡±


    ¡°No, Xie Changyan taught me,¡± Ji Yuqiao blurted out.


    The next moment.


    The aura around Ji Tingyang turned colder, his eyes darkly settling on Lin Xu.


    Ji Yuqiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    She forgot the warning from Lin Xu.


    Her big brother disliked Xie Changyan, and she absolutely should not mention him in front of her brother.


    ¡°I¡¯m suddenly really tired, going to my room to sleep now!¡± Ji Yuqiao quickly rushed upstairs.


    Leaving Ji Tingyang with a frosty expression in the living room and Lin Xu frantically trying to soothe him.


    Just stepping out of the staircase, the first room around the corner was the study.


    Seeing the open door, Ji Yuqiao thought of Xiao Yu¡¯s words, her eyes flickering.

 Chapter 198 - Chapter 198: Chapter 198: The Resort

    Chapter 198: Chapter 198: The Resort


    ¡°`


    Ji Mansion.


    Ji Yuqiao searched through the study, turning over every drawer and bookshelf, as if unable to find what she needed, she could only sheepishly go downstairs for breakfast.


    She poked at the porridge in her bowl with chopsticks, unable to take a single bite for a long time, her eyebrows knitted together as if troubled by something.


    ¡°I wonder what urgent matter there is at the company, the eldest young master left without even having breakfast,¡± the butler chatted idly with Aunt Zhang.


    ¡°Should I take some food and put it in an insulated box to send to the eldest young master?¡± Aunt Zhang suggested.


    ¡°Even if I send it, the eldest young master probably won¡¯t eat it,¡± the butler scratched his head.


    He had tried to send breakfast to Ji Tingyang before, but it always came back untouched by the secretary.


    However, ever since Miss Lin arrived, such incidents have seldom happened.


    ¡°Why not let Miss Lin deliver it?¡±


    No sooner had the butler spoken than Ji Yuqiao quickly took up the conversation, ¡°Uncle Butler, let me deliver breakfast to big brother!¡±


    Just like that.


    Ji Yuqiao took over the task of delivering breakfast to Ji¡¯s.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.?¦Ï


    The receptionist at the front desk had seen Ji Yuqiao before and let her through without a word.


    She easily entered the president¡¯s office, but there was no one inside.


    The empty office was unusually quiet, and Ji Yuqiao could even hear her own heartbeat speeding up due to nervousness, as some thoughts began to grow in this terrifying silence.


    She looked up, her gaze landing on the files on the work desk¡­


    The secretary hurried out of the meeting room, annoyed that she could have picked up the wrong documents for the meeting.


    As she passed by the president¡¯s office, she suddenly heard a faint noise from inside.


    All the employees on this floor were in the meeting room, so it was impossible for anyone to be here now.


    Could there be a thief?


    The secretary swallowed hard, picked up a broom from the corridor, and tiptoed towards the entrance of the president¡¯s office.


    But before she could push the door open, it was pulled open from the inside.


    The secretary had just raised the broom and was about to swing it down when Ji Yuqiao appeared in front of her.


    ¡°Miss Ji? What are you doing here?¡± the secretary exclaimed in surprise.


    Ji Yuqiao, startled by the broom in her hand, said, ¡°I, I came to bring breakfast to my brother.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao pointed to the insulated box on the glass table behind her.


    ¡°So it was you; I thought a thief had gotten in,¡± the secretary said embarrassedly, hiding the broom behind her back, ¡°President Ji is currently in a meeting, and it¡¯ll probably be another hour before it¡¯s over. Why don¡¯t you wait in the office?¡±


    ¡°No need, I have other things to do, I¡¯ll head back now,¡± Ji Yuqiao replied, her expression somewhat flustered, and she promptly bid farewell and left.


    The secretary didn¡¯t dwell on this little episode and returned to the meeting room after fetching the documents.


    The meeting dragged on even longer than anticipated, and it was two hours later when it finally ended.


    Ji Tingyang returned to his office and went straight to his desk.


    Noticing that the files that were initially opened were now closed, his sharp brows furrowed slightly, ¡°Who has been in my office?¡±


    ¡°Miss Ji came by this morning, said she came to deliver breakfast to you,¡± the secretary reported.


    After she finished speaking, Ji Tingyang noticed an insulated box had appeared on the desk.


    A faint smile flickered beneath his slightly raised eyebrows.


    So eager to deliver breakfast to him¡ªprobably looking for praise and some pocket money again.


    ¡ª


    In the small grove at the school.


    ¡°`


    Ji Yuqiao looked at Xiao Yu before her, a struggle emerging in the depths of her clear eyes, and she couldn¡¯t bring herself to hand over the document she was holding.


    Xiao Yu placed his hands on her shoulders, his tone cold but with an enticing edge, ¡°Give me the document, and I¡¯ll persuade Wen Li to destroy all that evidence afterwards.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s face turned deathly pale, her hand trembling as she clutched the document.


    Xiao Yu grabbed the document and tugged firmly, pulling it from Ji Yuqiao¡¯s grasp. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, if your brother knew you did this for him, he wouldn¡¯t blame you at all.¡±


    ¡°Will you really help me?¡± Ji Yuqiao looked up at him, her gaze holding a glimmer of hope.


    ¡°I definitely will,¡± Xiao Yu replied promptly.


    With Xiao Yu¡¯s affirmative answer, Ji Yuqiao felt relieved and went home to await the result from Xiao Yu.


    However, she waited for a week without any news.


    Even when she took the initiative to message him, Xiao Yu never replied.


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s face was filled with worry, her eyes lackluster as she lay motionless on the sofa, much like an eggplant wilted after a day in the scorching sun.


    Lin Xu pulled Ji Tingyang aside and whispered, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Lanyue? Why has she been so downcast lately?¡±


    Ji Tingyang shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m not sure either.¡±


    ¡°How about we take her out tomorrow, the weekend, and let her unwind a bit?¡± Lin Xu suggested.


    The last time they went go-karting, Ji Yuqiao was thrilled.


    Ji Tingyang considered many places, and finally decided on, ¡°The holiday resort in the countryside?¡±


    Lin Xu nodded.


    Ji Tingyang arranged everything swiftly.


    The next morning,


    he was driving the car, taking them out.


    From the moment Ji Yuqiao got in the car, she was distracted, periodically letting out sighs, and seemed lost in thought.


    It wasn¡¯t until they got out of the car and saw the picturesque scenery, along with the quaint wooden villas, that she was completely taken aback.


    ¡°Where are we going?¡± Ji Yuqiao asked, astounded.


    She had thought Lin Xu was just taking her to the shopping mall, but instead, they had arrived at an unfamiliar place.


    ¡°The holiday resort in the countryside. Your brother has been working too hard lately. He needs to come here to rest,¡± Lin Xu said without revealing it was out of concern for Ji Yuqiao.


    Hearing that Ji Tingyang was overworked, a flicker of guilt flashed through Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes. She immediately scuttled behind him and, standing on tiptoe, began to massage his shoulders, ¡°Big brother, have you been very tired lately? Let me rub your back for you!¡±


    Ji Tingyang, holding on to the collar of her coat, led her towards the resort¡¯s hotel, ¡°If you would give me fewer worries, I wouldn¡¯t be so tired.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes shifted guiltily, thinking about the documents she took, she didn¡¯t dare to speak.


    Over the weekend, Lin Xu took Ji Yuqiao to try many activities at the resort.


    Ji Yuqiao initially felt half-hearted, but there were so many fun things to do that she soon forgot all her troubles.


    Her radiant, lively smile returned to her face.


    Rowing, diving, and they even attended a wedding held at the resort¡­there was no end to the festivities.


    Unfortunately, on Sunday, it started to pour outside, and many outdoor activities were canceled.


    So Ji Yuqiao and the others could only partake in indoor activities.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to the restroom.¡± Humming a cheerful tune, she walked towards the end of the corridor.


    Her gaze swept over the resort hotel¡¯s lobby, and a familiar figure crashed into her line of sight.


    In an instant, Ji Yuqiao froze on the spot.


    Upon seeing Xiao Yu, all the things she had forgotten swirled back into her mind, and the smile on her lips stiffened.

 Chapter 199 - Chapter 199: Chapter 199 It seems that the affection between you is just so-so

    Chapter 199: Chapter 199 It seems that the affection between you is just so-so


    Xiao Yu, as the male protagonist of the novel, indeed possessed extraordinary capabilities.


    After losing the cooperation of President Wang and the Su Family, he found another company¡¯s president to discuss a partnership.


    Knowing that the president was resting at the resort, Xiao Yu specially took a taxi to meet him.


    Luckily, their conversation went very smoothly, and within less than an hour, they had signed a contract.


    Xiao Yu looked at the contract with the signed names, and a smile finally appeared on his stern face.


    ¡°It¡¯s raining outside, and it might be hard to get a taxi now. How about I have my driver give you a ride?¡± the man said.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, I can just wait here for the rain to stop,¡± Xiao Yu declined his offer.


    The man didn¡¯t insist on sending him with the driver, ¡°I have other things to do next, so I¡¯ll head back to my room. Let¡¯s stay in touch by phone.¡±


    ¡°Alright, goodbye, President Li,¡± Xiao Yu nodded and watched as the man entered the elevator.


    Just as he was about to look away, he caught a glimpse of Ji Yuqiao out of the corner of his eye.


    His expression imperceptibly froze for a moment, then he indifferently averted his gaze.


    Xiao Yu put the contract into his backpack and was about to head outside when Ji Yuqiao caught up with him.


    ¡°Xiao Yu!¡± she grabbed his arm, her voice urgent, ¡°Why haven¡¯t you replied to my messages these past few days? I¡¯ve already given you the documents. What did Wen Li say?¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï


    ¡°What documents? Who is Wen Li? I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,¡± Xiao Yu said coolly, shaking off her hand.


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s expression froze for a moment, and she numbly said, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say, as long as I gave you the core technology documents from Ji¡¯s, you would get Wen Li to destroy all the evidence?¡±


    ¡°Evidence? What evidence?¡± Xiao Yu scoffed as if he had heard a joke, his tone tinged with scorn, ¡°How can you be so naive, believing whatever others tell you?¡±


    ¡°That statement was just to deceive you. Who knew you would actually believe it so easily, even going as far as to steal the documents.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s head buzzed, her mind suddenly blank, and she felt as if she had been frozen in that moment, unable to move.


    Her voice turned hoarse, ¡°You¡¯re deceiving me?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Xiao Yu sneered.


    ¡°What about the documents I gave you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already handed them to a competing company of Ji¡¯s. Guess how long it will take them to bring down Ji¡¯s?¡±


    Ji Yuqiao opened her mouth silently, her throat seeming choked, unable to utter a single word.


    Her eyes reddened, brimming with tears that slid down her cheeks to the ground.


    Xiao Yu¡¯s eyes flickered with a hint of mockery, just as he was about to turn and leave, someone rapidly approached and shielded Ji Yuqiao behind them.


    Lin Xu, wiping her tears with a tissue, asked, ¡°Why are you crying? Did he bully you?¡±


    Ji Yuqiao sobbed quietly, unwilling to speak a word.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes dark and sharp as a blade, glared at Xiao Yu, ¡°What did you do?¡±


    With no hint of fear, Xiao Yu met his gaze, ¡°What do you think?¡±


    Ji Tingyang, not in the mood for riddles, turned to the nearby waiter, ¡°Check the surveillance here. If there¡¯s any inappropriate behavior captured, call the police immediately.¡±


    Xiao Yu laughed, ¡°President Ji really cares a lot about his little sister, just unsure if this sister cares as much about you.¡±


    Upon hearing his words, Ji Yuqiao¡¯s heart felt as though it was being squeezed, painfully and fearfully looking at Xiao Yu.


    Ji Tingyang gave him a contemptuous glance, his face showing disdain from a position of superiority.


    Inside, a dark vine in Xiao Yu¡¯s heart wildly grew, eager to disrupt his composed facade, ¡°Ji Yuqiao gave me a document, do you know what it was?¡±


    ¡°Xiao Yu!¡± Ji Yuqiao called out to him frantically.


    ¡°It¡¯s the core technology of Ji¡¯s new energy.¡± Xiao Yu said slowly, his lifted lips sneering, ¡°The sister you¡¯ve been protecting has been stealing your company¡¯s documents for me. As it seems now, the sibling love between you isn¡¯t much at all.¡±


    Ji Tingyang was stunned for a moment, then turned to look at Ji Yuqiao.


    And Lin Xu was just as shocked as she stared at her.


    Ji Yuqiao heard a buzzing in her ears, and suddenly all other sounds disappeared.


    Ji Tingyang and Lin Xu were saying something to her, but she couldn¡¯t hear any of it.


    Her thoughts were drained. Her body stiffened, rooted to the spot, she opened her mouth, lost her voice, and the thousand words she wanted to explain couldn¡¯t come out.


    By the time Ji Yuqiao came to her senses, she had already unconsciously rushed out of the hotel.


    Rain and tears mixed together, blurring her eyes.


    She ran aimlessly, in a mess, not daring to look back, afraid to meet her elder brother¡¯s gaze, nor daring to hear their accusations against her.


    Not knowing where she had run, her foot slipped, and she instantly lost her balance, falling to the side.


    Just then, a hand grabbed her.


    However, it couldn¡¯t pull her back from the edge of the slope, and the two of them rolled down together for several meters.


    Her head was spinning.


    After a long while, Ji Yuqiao finally came to, pain spreading from her foot to her whole body; she held her ankle, her face deathly pale.


    Lin Xu propped herself up and asked anxiously, ¡°Did you twist your foot? Let me help you back.¡±


    Lin Xu reached out both hands, just about to help her up, but Ji Yuqiao dodged away.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going back,¡± she sobbed, looking down, ¡°I did wrong, my brother must hate me now¡­ ¡±


    When she used to stubbornly pursue Xiao Yu, her brother used to get so angry.


    But even then, even when he was angry, he still worried about whether she was comfortable in the dormitory, whether she had enough pocket money.


    Before, she could say her brother was just a tough-talker with a soft heart, but now, he probably was really disappointed in her.


    Perhaps Lin Xu didn¡¯t like her anymore either.


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes were red and swollen, her chest heaving dramatically, crying breathlessly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I shouldn¡¯t have stolen my brother¡¯s documents¡­ It was Xiao Yu who fooled me, wanting to get my brother thrown in jail.¡±


    ¡°Before I gave the documents to Xiao Yu, I got scared and secretly replaced them with something else¡­ I¡¯m sorry, can you not hate me, please?¡±


    Lin Xu paused for a moment, then smiled wryly.


    In fact, she had been paying attention to Ji Yuqiao¡¯s movements all along, worried that Ji Yuqiao would be deceived by Xiao Yu into doing something irreversible.


    As early as the first time Ji Yuqiao entered the study, Lin Xu had advised Ji Tingyang to secure important documents.


    Therefore, anything Ji Yuqiao could get her hands on was insignificant.


    But she hadn¡¯t expected Ji Yuqiao to actually switch the documents too.


    ¡°I will never hate anyone from Lanyue, and neither will your brother. How could he possibly bear to hate you?¡± Lin Xu soothed her cheek.


    Ji Yuqiao threw herself into Lin Xu¡¯s arms, sobbing loudly, ¡°Wuuu¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­ ¡±


    ¡°Mom, I¡¯m sorry, I won¡¯t ever trust Xiao Yu again¡­¡±


    Lin Xu stroked her back, then froze for a moment, ¡°What did you just call me?¡±

 Chapter 200 - Chapter 200: Chapter 200 Is Xie Changyan Our Father?

    Chapter 200: Chapter 200 Is Xie Changyan Our Father?


    In the hospital.


    Ji Yuqiao lay on the hospital bed, one foot in a cast. She pulled the blanket over her face, peering out with cautious eyes at Ji Tingyang in the hospital room.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s face was expressionless, seemingly calm and undisturbed, yet the atmosphere around him was chillingly cold.


    He stood stiffly at the foot of the bed, staring at Ji Yuqiao who stood motionless. Neither of them spoke.


    For a moment.


    The silence in the room was somewhat terrifying.


    Lin Xu came in from outside, breaking the icy silence, ¡°The doctor said it¡¯s just a sprained ankle and a ligament strain. After the cast is done, you can go home to recuperate.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s great,¡± Ji Yuqiao cheered softly.


    ¡°Great? Is having a cast so great?¡± Ji Tingyang narrowed his eyes, the atmosphere tense.


    Ji Yuqiao shrank her neck and immediately fell silent, not daring to speak.


    Lin Xu smiled and touched her huddled head, ¡°Want some water?¡±


    Just as Ji Yuqiao nodded, Ji Tingyang¡¯s voice, laden with annoyance, rose again, ¡°Haven¡¯t you grown capable? Get the water yourself.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s extended hand trembled, then she quickly withdrew it back under the blanket, her eyes reddening as she looked at him with a swell of sourness in her nose, ¡°Big brother, I¡¯m sorry, I was wrong¡­¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã?


    ¡°Wrong about what?¡± Ji Tingyang asked sternly.


    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have stolen your files.¡± She bowed her head, tears falling from her eyes.


    After stealing them, she felt regret and randomly downloaded a document online, swapped it, and then handed it to Xiao Yu.


    Luckily, Xiao Yu wasn¡¯t very knowledgeable about new energy technologies and didn¡¯t recognize that the document was a fake.


    But no matter what, she had done something wrong.


    Ji Tingyang said coldly, ¡°Not that matter.¡±


    ¡°Then which matter?¡± She twisted the blanket in her hands and glanced up at him. Seeing his face as cold as ice, she quickly bowed her head out of fear.


    Ji Yuqiao couldn¡¯t understand no matter how much she thought, but Lin Xu did understand what Ji Tingyang meant.


    Lin Xu laughed a little and said, ¡°Your brother is worried about you.¡±


    Just as Lin Xu had said before, neither Lin Xu nor Ji Tingyang blamed her, but they were angry at her presumptuous actions.


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have kept things from your family, ending up deceived and used without knowing. No matter what happens in the future, remember to tell us, understand?¡± Lin Xu said.


    Ji Yuqiao sobbed softly, her tears falling heavily on the blanket as she looked at Ji Tingyang with tearful eyes, ¡°Big brother, I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±


    Ultimately, she was the sister who had depended on him for twenty years. Ji Tingyang also heard about this incident from Lin Xu, and seeing her sob, he couldn¡¯t bear it any longer.


    He pulled out a tissue and handed it to her, ¡°Your snot is coming out.¡±


    Sensing his softening heart, Ji Yuqiao¡¯s dim eyes suddenly brightened, and she quickly shifted her body, patting the edge of the bed, ¡°Big brother, aren¡¯t you tired? Come sit down.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d give me less worry, and I wouldn¡¯t be tired,¡± Ji Tingyang replied with an annoyed glance.


    ¡­


    Since Ji Yuqiao had trouble moving, she asked her teacher for a few days off to recuperate at home.


    In the first two days, she remained apprehensive at home, voluntarily massaging Ji Tingyang¡¯s shoulders and fetching water as if to make up for her mistakes.


    However, it didn¡¯t take long for her to revert to her carefree, unbothered self. Her shoulder massages and water fetching were as fleeting as a night-blooming flower. Every day at home, she pushed the wheelchair alongside Lin Xu, planting and watering the flowers.


    ¡°Ji Yuqiao, go get me a glass of water,¡± Ji Tingyang called out to her after coming home from work.


    She was behind, digging in the flowerbed with a shovel, and without looking up, she said, ¡°Can¡¯t you dump it yourself? I am injured right now!¡±


    Ji Tingyang glanced at her lightly, ¡°You¡¯re really not going?¡±


    ¡°Not going,¡± Ji Yuqiao was resolute.


    Ji Tingyang stepped forward and snatched the small shovel from her.


    Ji Yuqiao, sitting in the wheelchair, couldn¡¯t reach the shovel in his hand, so she turned and threw herself into Lin Xu¡¯s arms, sobbing, ¡°Wuu wuu wuu¡­ Mother, big brother is bullying me!¡±


    Ever since Ji Yuqiao learned that Lin Xu was indeed her mother, she had mastered the essence of tattling.


    Lin Xu looked at Ji Tingyang, ¡°If Lanyue wants to play, let her play. Her leg is injured, and she can¡¯t go anywhere. Gardening is a good way to pass the time.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao leaned in Lin Xu¡¯s arms, smugly blinking at him.


    Just then, Ji Tingyang raised an eyebrow slightly and his voice floated up, ¡°Mother, she has her final exams coming up. It¡¯s alright for her to rest at home, but she is so relaxed every day. What if she fails her finals again? Let her study more.¡±


    As expected, Lin Xu became anxious, ¡°Is it time to prepare for exams? When are they? Let¡¯s start tomorrow, no, start this evening, right after dinner she should head back to her room and study.¡±


    Studying indeed was a painful thing for a student; at Lin Xu¡¯s words, Ji Yuqiao¡¯s cheeks sagged in an instant.


    ¡°The exam isn¡¯t for another two weeks. After my injury heals, I can still review when I return to school¡­¡± Ji Yuqiao struggled.


    ¡°It will be too late to start once you go back to school,¡± Ji Tingyang added sternly.


    ¡°Your brother is right, start revising this evening. Do you need me to accompany you?¡± Lin Xu had never accompanied her child in studying before and was somewhat eager to start.


    Ji Yuqiao glared at Ji Tingyang.


    You¡¯re ruthless.


    In the following days at home, aside from eating and sleeping, Ji Yuqiao studied under Lin Xu¡¯s supervision every day, crying out in agony.


    But every time she wanted to slack off, seeing the hopeful look in Lin Xu¡¯s eyes made her heart soften, and she obediently bowed her head to study again.


    While she was focusing, her phone¡¯s ringtone rang on the desk, breaking her concentration.


    Ji Yuqiao looked at the name on it.


    Xie Changyan.


    She suddenly remembered the man who resembled the father in the photograph, still not over the shock, Lin Xu hung up the call.


    Ji Yuqiao asked in confusion, ¡°Why did you hang up the call?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll call him back after you finish revising,¡± Lin Xu said.


    A mischievous smile crossed Ji Yuqiao¡¯s face, ¡°Oh~ guess we¡¯ll have to wait until we¡¯re back in our room for the sweet nothings.¡±


    Lin Xu shot her a glance and tapped her on the head, ¡°Focus on your book, stop talking nonsense.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s curiosity was piqued, banishing any thought of studying, ¡°Mother, is that Xie Changyan really our father?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lin Xu didn¡¯t hide it from her.


    ¡°Then why doesn¡¯t he come live with us?¡± Ji Yuqiao asked.


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t remember us now, but once his memory returns, he¡¯ll definitely come back and live with us.¡±


    ¡°Is father very fierce? Will he love us the same as you do?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Lin Xu said.


    A week later, Ji Yuqiao finally ended her torturous period of home study and returned to the embrace of the campus.


    She also met Xiao Yu again.

 Chapter 201 - Chapter 201: Chapter 201: No One Can Bully Us Anymore

    Chapter 201: Chapter 201: No One Can Bully Us Anymore


    Ji Yuqiao was forced to revise at home for over a week, and when she saw Lin Xu¡¯s eyes full of adoration looking at her, she simply couldn¡¯t bring herself to utter the words that she wanted a rest.


    Now, having finally returned to school, Ji Yuqiao immediately felt a sense of relief wash over her body and mind.


    ¡°Ji Yuqiao, I heard that you hurt your leg before, is it better now?¡± Ever since learning about Ji Yuqiao¡¯s background, students who previously didn¡¯t bother with her occasionally struck up conversations with her.


    Ji Yuqiao, organizing her stationery on the desk, replied in a muted voice.


    ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. We¡¯re planning to go shopping at the mall later, do you want to come?¡± a few girls invited.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m going to the library to review later,¡± Ji Yuqiao declined.


    With the final exams only a few days away, although she didn¡¯t want to study, she also didn¡¯t want to fail her subjects and see the disappointed look in Lin Xu¡¯s eyes.


    After giving it some thought, she decided to go to the library to study.


    After bidding them farewell, Ji Yuqiao slung her small backpack over her shoulder and left the classroom, making her way to the library.


    Watching her leaving figure, a few girls whispered behind her, ¡°I told you she wouldn¡¯t want to go shopping with us. Should¡¯ve known better than to ask, how awkward.¡±


    ¡°Xiao Yu is at the library, you know. Ji Yuqiao likes Xiao Yu so much, she definitely went to the library to find him. It¡¯s normal she didn¡¯t want to go shopping, don¡¯t overthink it,¡± one of them said.


    ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± they nodded in agreement.


    Ji Yuqiao was completely unaware of this.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.??


    The library was packed with students as the finals approached, all of them coming here to read and review, leaving no vacant seats.


    After entering the library, she looked around, trying to find an unoccupied spot.


    Suddenly.


    She heard a low call near her ear.


    ¡°Ji Yuqiao, over here, over here¡­¡±


    Following the voice, she saw a male student frantically waving at her.


    Ji Yuqiao recognized him; he was a fellow student who had participated with her in the city¡¯s math competition and was also Xiao Yu¡¯s roommate.


    And sure enough, sitting beside him was Xiao Yu.


    Ji Yuqiao turned her head, locking eyes with Xiao Yu.


    She froze in place, her legs as though encased in ice, unable to move.


    For a moment, she remembered the coldness Xiao Yu had shown before, his words echoing in her ears¡ª¡±How can you be so stupid, believing whatever anyone tells you?¡±


    The pain in her ankle that had already healed flared up anew, the sensation prickling and throbbing until her vision blurred with agony.


    Her chest felt as if it was being tightly gripped, the pain unbearable.


    A trace of contempt flashed in Xiao Yu¡¯s eyes, and without another glance at her, he continued reading his book.


    The eager voice of the male student pulled Ji Yuqiao back from her daze, as he pointed to an empty seat next to him, ¡°No one¡¯s sitting here, come on over.¡±


    If it had been before, Ji Yuqiao might have run over eagerly. But now¡­


    She opened her mouth, and with a dry voice, said, ¡°No, thanks.¡±


    After speaking, she turned and rushed out of the library, her steps marked by a hint of panic.


    The male student scratched his head, puzzled. ¡°Strange, Ji Yuqiao usually likes you a lot, but this time when she saw you here, she just turned around and left.¡±


    Xiao Yu cast his eyes down to the textbook, remaining silent.


    Xiao Yu stayed in the library for a long time, not leaving until it was almost time for dinner.


    ¡°I¡¯m starving. Reading made my head spin. Let¡¯s hurry to the dining hall; I can hardly hold on anymore,¡± the male student said.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to the dining hall. You go ahead,¡± Xiao Yu replied.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± As soon as the boy asked, he saw Wen Li walking towards the library and instantly realized.


    ¡°Oh~ so you¡¯re going on a date. Then I won¡¯t bother you guys,¡± he teased, waving goodbye to him.


    Before long, Wen Li had already approached Xiao Yu.


    Xiao Yu took her hand and led her outside.


    ¡°Are we going to grab some street food?¡± Wen Li asked.


    The snack stalls behind the school were good and cheap, and when they were tired of the canteen food, they liked to eat there.


    Today, when she heard Xiao Yu was taking her out for a meal, her first thought was of the backstreet eateries.


    However, Xiao Yu shook his head, ¡°I¡¯ve booked a restaurant outside. Let¡¯s go eat there.¡±


    ¡°A restaurant?¡± Wen Li looked puzzled.


    She seriously recalled today¡¯s date,


    until Wen Li followed him into a simple yet elegant French restaurant, a flash of surprise flickering in her eyes.


    When she saw the prices on the menu, she was so shocked that she was speechless.


    She stole a glance at the waiter next to them and whispered to Xiao Yu, ¡°The prices here are quite expensive, let¡¯s go.¡±


    She knew Xiao Yu didn¡¯t come from a wealthy home, and even in the cafeteria, he wouldn¡¯t order the slightly more expensive dishes, let alone afford this kind of extravagant expense.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Xiao Yu took the menu, skillfully ordered a few dishes, then handed it back to the waiter.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we go somewhere else to eat?¡± Wen Li suggested.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I just signed a contract a few days ago and got a bonus. We can afford this meal,¡± Xiao Yu said.


    ¡°But¡­ you always used to save the money you earned.¡±


    Xiao Yu had worked many part-time jobs in the past, and he always saved all his wages. He hardly ever splurged like this, let alone dine at such a French restaurant.


    ¡°But now I realize that money isn¡¯t just to be saved, it¡¯s to be made,¡± Xiao Yu said as he passed a slice of steak he had cut to Wen Li.


    Watching his calm and collected demeanor, an odd feeling suddenly arose in the depths of Wen Li¡¯s heart.


    The meal passed with Wen Li eating absentmindedly.


    As soon as she put down her cutlery, Xiao Yu produced an exquisite box from somewhere and handed it to her, ¡°This is a gift for you.¡±


    ¡°What kind of gift?¡± Wen Li was taken aback.


    ¡°It¡¯s something you¡¯ve always wanted,¡± said Xiao Yu, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.


    Something she wanted?


    Wen Li opened the box with a curious expression and saw a delicate sapphire necklace lying inside.


    It was the one she had seen in a shop window while walking with Xiao Yu in the past.


    Back then, she had longed for this necklace, but Xiao Yu couldn¡¯t afford it at the time, which left her feeling disappointed.


    ¡°I promised you before that I¡¯d buy it for you as soon as I had the money,¡± said Xiao Yu with a gentle expression, speaking softly.


    Wen Li looked at the necklace in her hands, her lips gradually curving into a smile, ¡°Thank you, I really like it.¡±


    ¡°As long as you¡¯re happy,¡± Xiao Yu tightened his grip on her hand, ¡°whatever you want, I¡¯ll work hard to earn the money to buy it for you. No one will ever be able to bully us again, including Ji Tingyang.¡±


    At the mention of that name, Wen Li¡¯s body stiffened abruptly.


    She looked up at Xiao Yu, only to see a coldness added to the smile on his face, ¡°He bullied you in the past; I¡¯ll make sure he pays the price.¡±


    Wen Li¡¯s heart skipped a beat, finding his current appearance utterly unfamiliar.

 Chapter 202 - Chapter 202: Chapter 202 Cooperation Depends on Character too

    Chapter 202: Chapter 202 Cooperation Depends on Character too


    Ever since Xiao Yu signed the new contract, the senior¡¯s gloomy expression had vanished, his face beaming, bustling eagerly every day with Xiao Yu on the project matters.


    ¡°You must be about to start your graduation defense, right? Coming to the studio every day, will that not delay your thesis writing?¡± The senior suddenly asked, remembering that Xiao Yu was about to graduate.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine; I have already written my thesis, and the defense won¡¯t be a problem. Now I just need to focus on the studio¡¯s matters.¡± Xiao Yu continued to concentrate on the documents on the computer without lifting his head, ¡°Besides, I lost two partnerships before. Now that I¡¯ve finally signed one back, it¡¯s only right that I work harder.¡±


    Hearing his words, a touch of embarrassment flashed across the senior¡¯s face, ¡°The studio was in such difficulties back then, I was just anxious. Don¡¯t take it to heart¡­¡±


    ¡°I know, senior was all for the good of the studio.¡± Xiao Yu¡¯s voice was without a ripple.


    The senior couldn¡¯t read his thoughts and felt somewhat uneasy for a moment.


    Xiao Yu glanced at the time and said, ¡°It¡¯s about time. I have a dinner appointment tonight with the director of Renda Technology to discuss the new project. Senior, would you like to come along?¡±


    ¡°He asked to meet you; I¡¯d better not go.¡± The senior scratched his neck awkwardly.


    ¡°Alright.¡± Xiao Yu nodded, got up, and left.


    Inside the Flaming Lily Restaurant.


    Xiao Yu and the director of Renda talked at length, quickly finalizing the new partnership.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take the contract back with me, have the legal department look it over tomorrow, and if there¡¯s no issue, I¡¯ll sign it for you.¡± The director was very straightforward.


    ¡°Thank you very much.¡± Xiao Yu was overjoyed and toasted him several glasses of wine.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0


    As the alcohol kicked in, the director¡¯s cell phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID, and his foggy brain suddenly sobered up significantly.


    ¡°My wife is checking in; I have to step out to take a call.¡± He immediately rose and left the private room.


    After roughly an hour, Xiao Yu, concerned the director might have drunkenly dozed off somewhere, got up to look for him.


    Xiao Yu searched along the corridor but couldn¡¯t find the director of Renda anywhere.


    Could he have left first?


    Just as Xiao Yu hesitated about whether to call and search for him, the sound of the director¡¯s voice came from a partly open private room.


    ¡°Come on, let me toast to everyone¡­¡±


    Xiao Yu followed the sound and found his way there, but he never expected to see Ji Tingyang inside.


    There were quite a few people sitting in the private room, eating and chatting with a lively atmosphere.


    Only Ji Tingyang, seated at the head, maintained a serious face, expressionless.


    As the toasting went around, no one dared to make President Ji drink except for the director of Renda.


    He seemed quite drunk, not very sober, holding his glass up to Ji Tingyang, ¡°President Ji, I¡¯ve always heard of your achievements at a young age and wanted to meet you, but unfortunately never found the chance. I didn¡¯t expect to see you here today by such a coincidence. Let me toast to you!¡±


    ¡°The family rules are strict; no drinking allowed.¡± Ji Tingyang did not want to slight him, taking a teacup to clink with him instead.


    ¡°Understandable, understandable. My wife is also strict, and I can¡¯t avoid a scolding every time I go back after drinking.¡± The director of Renda chuckled and nodded in agreement.


    He wanted to say more, but when he caught a glimpse of Xiao Yu at the door, his eyes lit up, ¡°Hey, Xiao Xiao, come on in, come on in.¡±


    His voice was loud, attracting everyone¡¯s attention as soon as he spoke.


    Even Ji Tingyang looked over, his indifferent gaze tinged with a chill.


    The director from Renda kept calling out, and Xiao Yu had no way to leave, so he could only walk in under everyone¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°What¡¯s with the dilly-dallying? I¡¯m introducing you to a major client. If you can talk about a cooperation with Ji¡¯s, who knows, your little studio might go public next year!¡± The director pulled Xiao Yu over and exaggeratedly whispered in his ear.


    Xiao Yu kept a straight face, staying silent.


    ¡°President Ji, this is Xiao Yu, who has started a small studio. Don¡¯t be fooled by the size of the studio, but their capabilities are quite good.¡± The director was genuinely trying to introduce Xiao Yu to a major client, openly praising him in front of Ji Tingyang.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s gaze lifted, his cold and ruthless eyes like the gleam of a bladed knife shooting towards Xiao Yu, ¡°Cooperation is not just about capability, it¡¯s also about character. Before choosing a partner, it would be better to thoroughly investigate their character first.¡±


    The director was stunned for a moment, not quite grasping the meaning of his words, only to hear Xiao Yu¡¯s cold scoff.


    ¡°President Ji¡¯s words are quite right, character is indeed very important. Wouldn¡¯t want it that right after the contract is signed, the president of the cooperating company gets arrested for breaking the law.¡±


    This statement was obviously loaded with meaning.


    The color in Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes suddenly became even colder, his look towards Xiao Yu was filled with hostility, as if sparks flew between their gazes.


    Everyone present was a workplace elite, and sensing that the atmosphere had turned delicate, they quickly intervened to lighten the mood.


    ¡°Xiao Xiao, is it? Come on, let¡¯s have a drink, and then tell me more about your studio¡¯s services, maybe I can introduce some clients to you,¡± a middle-aged man looped his arm around Xiao Yu¡¯s shoulder, thrusting his glass of alcohol into his hand.


    One drink followed another into his stomach.


    Xiao Yu¡¯s head felt heavy and foggy as he looked towards the calm and composed Ji Tingyang, his blurry eyes seemingly catching the hint of a mocking sneer on the corner of Ji Tingyang¡¯s mouth.


    He gripped the cup in his hand tightly, the revulsion and anger churning in his heart reaching a peak at this moment as his gaze gradually became icy cold.


    The black vines entwined around his heart tightened, pulling him step by step towards the abyss.


    Just when Xiao Yu was about to reach his limit with the drinking, the socializing finally ended.


    He leaned against a utility pole on the roadside, bending over and retching miserably.


    Out of the corner of his eye, Ji Tingyang left in a sedan, unhurried and unmoved.


    The director from Renda came over and patted him on the back, ¡°Xiao Xiao, it¡¯s so late, how are you planning to get back? Do you need me to have the driver take you?¡±


    ¡°Thank you, my girlfriend will come pick me up,¡± Xiao Yu said.


    Not long ago, Wen Li had called him, worrying about his drunkenness, so she took the initiative to come and pick him up.


    No sooner had he spoken than a graceful figure hurried over.


    Wen Li supported him, her expression filled with concern, ¡°Why did you drink so much?¡±


    At the sight of Wen Li, a glint appeared in the director¡¯s eyes, quickly vanishing.


    ¡°So there¡¯s a beauty to pick you up, I see.¡± His gaze did a round over Wen Li.


    Wen Li helped Xiao Yu into the car and just as she was about to walk around to the other side, the director called out to her.


    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry; I didn¡¯t expect tonight¡¯s social event would make him drink so much,¡± he said.


    Wen Li pursed her lips and smiled, replying that it was no issue.


    ¡°How about this, take this watch as an apology,¡± the director said, pulling out an exquisite box and handing it to her.

 Chapter 203 - Chapter 203: Chapter 203 "For me, or for yourself?

    Chapter 203: Chapter 203 ¡°For me, or for yourself?


    The day after schmoozing, Renda¡¯s director called Xiao Yu.


    ¡°Director, have our contracts been signed? I¡¯ll come over and get them right away,¡± Xiao Yu said as he suddenly stood up and walked towards the door.


    ¡°About this contract¡­¡± the voice at the other end of the phone sounded somewhat embarrassed, ¡°Our legal department staff looked at it and mentioned several clauses that weren¡¯t quite reasonable, so it hasn¡¯t been signed yet.¡±


    Xiao Yu¡¯s pace halted, ¡°Which clauses? Tell me, and we can amend them right now.¡±


    ¡°No rush, let¡¯s wait until tonight. We will meet at the Flaming Lily Restaurant again this evening.¡±


    Xiao Yu responded, ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°By the way, why don¡¯t you bring your girlfriend along for a meal? It looked like she is quite fond of you, coming all the way to pick you up last time; you should really thank her properly,¡± the director chuckled.


    Xiao Yu¡¯s expression suddenly became stiff, and his grip on the phone tightened, ¡°She has a class tonight and probably can¡¯t make it¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s okay, then. We can arrange another time to meet if she¡¯s busy,¡± the voice on the phone obviously lost interest and quickly ended the call after a few perfunctory sentences.


    Looking at the disconnected call, Xiao Yu¡¯s expression immediately turned cold.


    Seeing him standing still, a senior walked over and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Weren¡¯t you going to Renda to get the contract today?¡±


    Xiao Yu put his phone back in his pocket, his face stern, ¡°The contract might not be signed.¡±


    The senior was stunned, ¡°Why?¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï


    As Xiao Yu had said, he called Renda¡¯s director several more times to inquire about the contract.


    But every time the director would ask about Wen Li, and once learning she wouldn¡¯t be coming, the director¡¯s attitude became very dismissive, either claiming there were problems with the contract or that there was no time.


    The collaboration was thus indefinitely on hold.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say the negotiations went well before? Why would he suddenly go back on his word?¡± the senior asked, anxiously running his hands through his hair.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go find him,¡± Xiao Yu stood up, picked up the laptop on the table, and left the studio.


    He waited for a long time outside Renda Technology¡¯s building and quickly stepped forward to intercept the director when he saw him.


    ¡°Director, I would like to know what the problem is with our collaboration?¡± Xiao Yu asked.


    The director hadn¡¯t expected him to show up in person and was taken aback, stumbling over his words, ¡°This, it¡¯s not really a problem, it¡¯s just that there are some issues with the contract¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve brought my laptop with me. If there are any issues with the contract, we can revise it on the spot,¡± Xiao Yu gestured with the laptop bag he was carrying.


    ¡°You¡­ I don¡¯t have time right now, let¡¯s do it another time,¡± the director said, trying to slip away.


    ¡°No problem, I can wait here for you, after you finish your business, we can talk about the contract,¡± Xiao Yu firmly implied he was prepared to wait all day if necessary.


    ¡°Why go to all this trouble,¡± the director¡¯s expression suddenly turned troubled, ¡°To be frank with you, you¡¯ve offended someone, there¡¯s pressure from above, and I don¡¯t want to go against the people at the top, so I¡¯ve been holding back your contract.¡±


    Xiao Yu was stunned for a moment, ¡°Offended who?¡±


    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t say, but you should be clear about the incident at the Flaming Lily Restaurant,¡± the director hinted just enough before patting Xiao Yu on the shoulder, ¡°I have to go, there¡¯s another matter I must attend to.¡±


    Xiao Yu remained frozen in place long after the director had left.


    Offended someone?


    At the Flaming Lily Restaurant?


    Xiao Yu immediately thought of Ji Tingyang, since among those present that day, only Ji Tingyang had a discord with him.


    ¡°It must have been his doing behind my back.¡± Thinking of Ji Tingyang, Xiao Yu¡¯s expression turned grim to the point of being frightening, a sour feeling churning in his stomach, almost reflexively wanting to retch.


    The documents he had earlier obtained from Ji Yuqiao turned out to be useless, leaving him unable to retaliate or fight back against Ji Tingyang¡¯s oppression.


    He desperately suppressed the discomfort in his chest, his hand at his side clenched into a fist, his nails digging into his palm without realizing it.


    The studio, which had just begun to look up, had now hit a bottleneck.


    Unable to reach a collaboration with Renda, Xiao Yu had no choice but to give up and look for other companies to partner with.


    Just as he was coming out of a company, he saw Wen Li¡¯s figure from afar.


    He had been busy running between companies discussing partnerships recently and hadn¡¯t seen Wen Li in a while.


    Xiao Yu hadn¡¯t expected to run into her here by chance, and as he started to approach, he saw a man rushing toward Wen Li.


    The man stuffed a gift box into Wen Li¡¯s hands, which she reluctantly tried to give back to him.


    Xiao Yu paused, then with a stern face, walked over and directly draped his arm over her shoulder, as if telling the man how close their relationship was.


    Surprise flickered across Wen Li¡¯s countenance, as if she had not expected him to be there.


    However, the man did not spare Xiao Yu a glance, his gaze fixed on Wen Li, ¡°Since you¡¯re busy, I¡¯ll head back first. We can meet another time.¡±


    Before leaving, he gave Xiao Yu a look, his eyes carrying a hint of disdainful indifference.


    Xiao Yu¡¯s arm around her shoulder tensed, ¡°Who is that man?¡±


    ¡°Just an ordinary friend,¡± Wen Li replied with a wince of pain.


    ¡°An ordinary friend?¡± Xiao Yu¡¯s throat let out a few sardonic chuckles, ¡°If he¡¯s just an ordinary friend, then why would he give you such a gift?¡±


    The wrapping of the box was so exquisite that the gift inside must have been incredibly costly.


    ¡°How am I supposed to know, and besides, didn¡¯t I return the gift to him?¡± said Wen Li.


    ¡°Really? If I hadn¡¯t shown up, would you have ended up accepting it?¡±


    Wen Li¡¯s eyes widened, looking at him in disbelief, ¡°Are you doubting me?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡± Xiao Yu lifted her left hand, his fingertips brushing over the watch on her wrist, he sighed softly, ¡°If you didn¡¯t want it, then why did you accept this watch?¡±


    That night, even though he was drunk, leaning back in the taxi seat with closed eyes, he still heard their conversation.


    Wen Li turned pale, her mouth opened but no words came out.


    Xiao Yu gripped her wrist tightly, his eyes red and slightly terrifying, the past accumulation of resentments and jealousies in his heart seemed to break free, erupting with fury from his chest, ¡°Do you look down on me in your heart, thinking I¡¯m poor and can¡¯t give you anything?¡±


    Wen Li rebuffed, ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been working hard so that we can have a good life in the future, to buy you the jewelry you like, to take you out for a nice meal, and now you¡­¡±


    Seeming to have heard enough, Wen Li shook off his hand, ¡°Is it really for me that you¡¯re doing all this, or for yourself? You know what¡¯s in your heart. Don¡¯t use me as a shield for everything.¡±


    Ever since learning about her affair with Ji Tingyang, Xiao Yu had constantly been making silent comparisons with Ji Tingyang.


    But every time he confronted Ji Tingyang, it was somehow always said to be for her sake.

 Chapter 204 - Chapter 204: Chapter 204: Breakup

    Chapter 204: Chapter 204: Breakup


    Every word in the argument was like a sharp arrow, attacking and hurting each other, piercing into the other¡¯s heart, leaving behind a scar that could not be erased.


    After that day, Xiao Yu and Wen Li began a cold war.


    For over a half a month, Xiao Yu finished his thesis defense, and even for his graduation ceremony, Wen Li did not attend.


    After graduation, without the busyness of school work, Xiao Yu had more time to devote to his job.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t the school on summer vacation, why are you soaking in the studio every day? Go out and have a date with Wen Li, relax a bit,¡± the senior came over and asked.


    ¡°The work is not finished yet, I¡¯ll talk about it afterward,¡± Xiao Yu said.


    ¡°Work is endless, you have to rest when it¡¯s time to rest,¡± the senior patted his shoulder.


    Xiao Yu remained silent.


    Seeing that his expression seemed a bit off, the senior paused for a moment and asked with concern, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, you guys didn¡¯t have an argument, did you? You have been together for so long, what¡¯s there to argue about? She¡¯s a girl and might not be able to let go of her pride to apologize to you, as men, we should be more magnanimous, proactively buy a bouquet of flowers and gifts to apologize and make amends¡­¡±


    Xiao Yu¡¯s expression was indifferent, it was unclear if he had taken any of it in, and without waiting for the senior to finish, he stood up, ¡°I have also arranged to meet President Li of Xingsheng Technology, I¡¯ll leave first.¡±


    ¡°Oh, go ahead, be careful on your way,¡± the senior shouted towards his retreating figure.


    The taxi traveled down the road, and when it passed through the city center, it came to a halt.


    ¡°Sir, it seems there has been an accident up ahead, it might be a blockage for about ten minutes or so,¡± the driver looked back at Xiao Yu with a somewhat troubled expression.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã?


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Xiao Yu had left early, so he wasn¡¯t in a rush for time.


    He leaned back in the seat, impatiently rubbing his nose bridge, his gaze flickering out the window.


    Wen Li, whom he hadn¡¯t contacted for over half a month, suddenly crashed into his sight. She seemed to have just finished shopping, holding a bag as she walked out of the mall.


    Xiao Yu¡¯s expression froze for a moment, suddenly recalling the senior¡¯s words¡ª¡±proactively buy a bouquet of flowers and gifts to apologize and make amends.¡±


    A flicker of intention crossed his mind, and he opened the car door.


    At the entrance of the mall.


    Having finished shopping, Wen Li looked down to take out her phone to call a taxi when a shadow fell upon her.


    She looked up and froze on the spot.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly, seemingly just as surprised by her presence.


    However, very quickly, he averted his gaze, looking indifferent elsewhere.


    ¡°Did you also come to shop?¡± Wen Li saw the bag in his hand and started to converse with him.


    Ji Tingyang did not respond.


    Wen Li hung her head, and just as she was nervously fidgeting with the hem of her clothes, a bouquet of flowers was thrust into her arms.


    She looked up abruptly, surprised by Xiao Yu¡¯s appearance.


    A faint smile played on Xiao Yu¡¯s face as he affectionately brushed away the stray hairs by her ear, ¡°I just happened to pass by and saw you, so I came over. Next time you go shopping, remember to invite me along. Even though I can¡¯t offer much opinion, I can still help you carry things, pay the bill.¡±


    At his sudden tenderness, Wen Li fell silent.


    Xiao Yu acted as if he had just noticed Ji Tingyang, ¡°President Ji, what a coincidence to meet you here. Unfortunately, I have been too busy recently, in talks with quite a few collaborations, otherwise I would have definitely invited you to a meal.¡±


    Ji Tingyang glanced at him sideways.


    Xiao Yu continued, ¡°After all, if there hadn¡¯t been someone meddling, the loss of the Renda deal wouldn¡¯t have spurred me to put all my effort into signing so many contracts.¡±


    ¡°Are you talking about Renda?¡± Ji Tingyang let out a light chuckle from his throat, ¡°Their reluctance to work with you has nothing to do with me.¡±


    Xiao Yu¡¯s gaze turned cold as he sneered, ¡°Are you trying to say I¡¯ve misunderstood you?¡±


    Ji Tingyang paid no attention to him and leisurely answered a phone call.


    A regretful female voice came from the other end of the phone, ¡°I swear, the moment I stepped out of the restroom, I wanted to come find you, but as I passed by a shop, the handbags inside were so attractive, they seduced me, and I couldn¡¯t resist¡­ ¡±


    A smile overflowed across Ji Tingyang¡¯s brows, his eyes soft and tender, ¡°Go ahead and buy it, I¡¯m coming over now to pay.¡±


    A cheer erupted, and the phone call ended.


    Ji Tingyang put away his phone and had just taken two steps when, as if he remembered something, he shot a glance at Xiao Yu, his tone laced with a hint of mockery.


    ¡°I merely wanted to say, my tactics haven¡¯t even begun.¡±


    Having said that, he re-entered the mall.


    Xiao Yu clenched his fists tightly, the anger in his eyes growing more intense. He turned to look at Wen Li and saw her staring at Ji Tingyang¡¯s retreating figure, igniting even stronger wrath within him.


    Xiao Yu said coldly with mockery, ¡°It seems I¡¯ve come at a bad time, interrupting your date.¡±


    Wen Li furrowed her brows, ¡°What are you talking about, running into him was just a coincidence.¡±


    ¡°Really just a coincidence? Even after he¡¯s gone, your eyes reluctantly followed him,¡± Xiao Yu sneered.


    Wen Li¡¯s complexion turned cold, she handed back the flowers to Xiao Yu and turned to leave.


    Xiao Yu grabbed her hand, his clear voice suppressing anger, ¡°Have you not been able to forget Ji Tingyang? Do you regret leaving the Ji Family, regret being with someone like me who has nothing?¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t,¡± Wen Li said sternly, furrowing her brow.


    Xiao Yu snorted as if he had heard a joke, ¡°If it hadn¡¯t been for me coming over just now, would you have wanted to leave with him?¡±


    ¡°I told you, I haven¡¯t.¡± Wen Li¡¯s beautiful eyes, tinted with indignation due to his absurdity, flared with anger, ¡°Since you don¡¯t believe what I say, then let¡¯s break up!¡±


    Xiao Yu paused for a moment, then let out a muffled chuckle from his throat, ¡°Have you been wanting to break up with me for some time?¡±


    ¡°Alright then, as you wish.¡± Xiao Yu¡¯s expression darkened, the bouquet fell to the ground from his embrace, and he turned to leave, ¡°Let¡¯s break up, then.¡±


    Xiao Yu¡¯s retreating figure, without a trace of attachment, mercilessly shredded their once beautiful and warm memories.


    Wen Li bit her lips tightly, her eyes moist with tears reflecting sadness and disappointment.


    In the original storyline of the novel, the male and female protagonists, despite the antagonists¡¯ obstruction, went through pain and trials, only to become more resolute in their decision to be together, facing difficulties side by side.


    In the end, like a fairytale, they lived happily ever after together.


    But now.


    No one was actively trying to keep them apart anymore, no longer facing adversity together, when confronted with the smallest of difficulties and temptations, love became fragile and brittle.


    And as if on cue, the partners Xiao Yu had spoken of with pleasure the day before started avoiding him the next day, refusing to work with him.


    Xiao Yu was haggard from this matter, and no matter how hard he tried to salvage the situation, it was futile, as if an invisible hand was choking his throat, unable to break free.


    Suddenly.


    He remembered the words Ji Tingyang had said¡ª ¡°My tactics haven¡¯t even begun.¡±

 Chapter 205 - Chapter 205: Chapter 205: Enchanting Thousands of Young Girls

    Chapter 205: Chapter 205: Enchanting Thousands of Young Girls


    After the final exams were over, Ji Yuqiao stepped into her summer vacation life.


    This summer vacation was different, she didn¡¯t choose to stay in the dormitory, instead she packed her luggage and moved back to the villa.


    Watching her desperately stuffing things into her suitcase, Ji Tingyang, who had come over to act as driver and porter, wore a look of disdain, ¡°Why are you bringing back so many clothes, we have plenty at home.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand, these were all bought by Mother,¡± Ji Yuqiao said nervously, ¡°There aren¡¯t many people in the school during the holidays, what if they get lost in the dormitory?¡±


    Lin Xu, worried that she wouldn¡¯t live well in the dormitory, had bought her quite a few things one after another.


    Ji Yuqiao packed all these things into her luggage.


    Ji Tingyang glanced at her desk and cabinet, which she had almost cleared up, and noticed a delicate bracelet lying on the desk. He reminded her, ¡°There¡¯s a bracelet on the desk, don¡¯t forget it.¡±


    He still had some recollection of the bracelet¡¯s style; a few weeks ago, Ji Yuqiao had been holding a photo and pestering him nonstop to buy one for her.


    Those few days, whether he opened or closed his eyes, he saw that bracelet.


    ¡°Oh, that,¡± Ji Yuqiao glanced at the desk, and said indifferently, ¡°That wasn¡¯t bought by Mother, I¡¯ll just leave it in the dormitory. It doesn¡¯t matter if it gets lost.¡±


    Ji Tingyang: ¡°¡­¡±


    The next time he buys something for her would mean he¡¯s out of his mind.


    As soon as Ji Yuqiao returned home, she monopolized Lin Xu for over a week.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã?


    Most of the time, she was modeling for Lin Xu.


    Not long after giving birth to Ji Yuqiao, Lin Xu dreamed of dressing her daughter up like a princess, beautiful every day, with a fresh outfit and jewelry.


    Unfortunately, this dream was never realized because she had a car accident, and her daughter grew up in the blink of an eye.


    But now it wasn¡¯t too late.


    Lin Xu, full of enthusiasm, pulled Ji Yuqiao to try on one beautiful outfit after another.


    From fluffy princess dresses to playful dungarees¡­


    Ji Yuqiao was tireless in her enjoyment.


    ¡°My daughter is really beautiful, inheriting my excellent genes,¡± Lin Xu praised as she cupped her daughter¡¯s cheeks and kissed her face.


    Her cheeks felt ticklish and numb.


    A tinge of redness silently climbed up on Ji Yuqiao¡¯s cheeks, slightly warm.


    When Ji Yuqiao was in primary school, she had more than once seen girls from her class, with their hair nicely done up and dressed in pretty clothes, holding their mothers¡¯ hands as they entered the school.


    She had been somewhat envious back then, and even imagined in her heart whether her own mother, if she were still around, would have bought her pretty dresses too.


    She never expected that the wishes from her childhood would come true after she grew up.


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes curled, sweet as if dipped in honey, spinning in her dress round and round, as if she wanted to show it off in front of everyone.


    ¡°Butler uncle, do you think I look good in this dress?¡±


    ¡°Very pretty, very pretty,¡± the butler¡¯s face was full of kindly smiles.


    ¡°Aunt Zhang, look at me¡­¡±


    ¡°My, who¡¯s this beautiful little girl? I almost didn¡¯t recognize you,¡± Aunt Zhang also said with a laugh.


    ¡°Big brother, look¡­.¡±


    Only Ji Tingyang gave her a cold glance, his eyes full of discontent. Before she could finish her sentence, he blurted out, ¡°Quite ordinary.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao: ¡°¡­ You¡¯re just blatantly jealous.¡±


    Jealous that Mother bought her so many clothes and helped her with makeup and hair.


    ¡°It¡¯s such a pity that you¡¯re not a girl, big brother. You can¡¯t snuggle up to sleep with Mother or have her do your makeup for you,¡± Ji Yuqiao stuck out her tongue at him.


    Ji Tingyang lifted his gaze and gave her a fleeting glance, silent yet bearing an oppressive aura that Ji Yuqiao unmistakably felt.


    Immediately intimidated, Ji Yuqiao saw Lin Xu coming down the stairs and quickly hid behind her.


    Seeing Lin Xu carrying a bag, Ji Tingyang approached and asked, ¡°Mother, where are you going?¡±


    ¡°Lanyue doesn¡¯t have enough clothes; I¡¯m going to accompany her to buy some,¡± Lin Xu replied.


    She had a sudden whim,


    Thinking of the cluttered walk-in closet in Ji Yuqiao¡¯s bedroom, Ji Tingyang¡¯s forehead vein throbbed, ¡°She already has plenty of clothes; there¡¯s no need to buy more.¡±


    ¡°Most of those clothes are out of season, and she¡¯s lacking matching hats and jewelry, I¡­¡±


    Ji Tingyang cut her off, speaking hurriedly, ¡°But today is the weekend, and you had promised to go to the restaurant with me, I¡¯ve already made the reservation¡­¡±


    Lin Xu¡¯s voice came to an abrupt halt.


    A certain image flashed through her mind.


    A couple of days ago, while she was doing Lanyue¡¯s makeup, Ji Tingyang had mentioned something to her.


    At that time, all her attention had been on her daughter, and she hadn¡¯t clearly heard what he said, simply nodding along distractedly.


    So that was about going out to eat this weekend?


    While Lin Xu was still in a daze, Ji Tingyang looked down, ¡°Never mind, go buy clothes with her, we can eat anytime.¡±


    His expression softened, a nearly imperceptible shadow passing across his eyes.


    Lin Xu¡¯s heart clenched,


    Lately she had focused all her attention on her daughter, neglecting Ji Tingyang.


    Her conscience felt painfully squeezed.


    Lin Xu quickly said, ¡°Buying clothes doesn¡¯t conflict with eating out. After we¡¯re done shopping for my sister, let¡¯s all go eat at the restaurant together, okay?¡±


    Ji Tingyang pursed his lips, not responding.


    Lin Xu cupped his cheeks with both hands and coaxed softly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I was wrong to forget about going to the restaurant. Can you forgive me? Otherwise, I won¡¯t be able to sleep peacefully tonight.¡±


    Ji Tingyang took her hands, his voice very low with a hint of shyness, ¡°You¡¯ve never bought me so many clothes or matched anything for me¡­¡±


    Lin Xu burst into laughter, the sound pleasant to the ear, reaching his ears and causing a blush to spread under his downy hair.


    How adorable her son was.


    Lin Xu rubbed his cheeks vigorously and laughed, ¡°Our Tingyang is so handsome, no matter what he wears, he¡¯ll swoon thousands of girls just by standing there; there¡¯s no need for any dressing up.¡±


    ¡°Do I also swoon you?¡± he asked, his eyes flickering.


    ¡°Swooned! Definitely swooned!¡± Lin Xu nodded vigorously.


    Hearing her words, Ji Tingyang¡¯s thin lips slowly curled into a smile.


    After finally pacifying Ji Tingyang, Ji Yuqiao¡¯s voice came resentfully from the side, ¡°So, Mother, you dress me up because I¡¯m not pretty, and I haven¡¯t swooned you?¡±


    Lin Xu¡¯s expression froze, turning to look at Ji Yuqiao, she declared seriously, ¡°Don¡¯t take things out of context.¡±


    Yet, Ji Tingyang seemed to enjoy stirring things up, ¡°After all, I am Mother¡¯s favorite; it¡¯s normal for you not to swoon her.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s round eyes turned towards Lin Xu; her mouth pouted as if she was about to cry.


    Lin Xu: ¡°¡­¡±


    Such a headache.


    ¡°Why isn¡¯t the driver here yet? I¡¯ll go out and see what¡¯s going on.¡± She changed the subject and hurried out the door as swift as the wind.

 Chapter 206 - Chapter 206: Chapter 206 You Should Let Go of Your Prejudices

    Chapter 206: Chapter 206 You Should Let Go of Your Prejudices


    Getting quality time with Lin Xu was hard enough, so even if it meant accompanying the two of them shopping, Ji Tingyang still followed, acting as their ATM.


    However, this time Lin Xu didn¡¯t forget about Ji Tingyang; she took him to look around a men¡¯s clothing store as well.


    ¡°This set looks pretty good.¡± Lin Xu picked up a casual outfit and compared it against Ji Tingyang¡¯s body.


    After looking for a while, she put it down and picked up a cool-toned gray suit to compare, ¡°You always wear black suits, wouldn¡¯t it be nice to change things up occasionally?¡±


    Lin Xu thought for a bit, then put the suit back and picked up a black trench coat, ¡°This is nice too, do you have any preference?¡±


    But when she turned around, she saw Ji Tingyang pulling out his bank card and handing it to the clerk, grandiosely declaring, ¡°Package all the clothes she just looked at.¡±


    Well, having money means you can do what you want.


    But Lin Xu blinked, ¡°¡­ Aren¡¯t you going to try them on first to see how they look?¡±


    Ji Tingyang looked serious, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that I look good in anything?¡±


    Which meant he didn¡¯t even need to try them on.


    From then on, whenever Lin Xu picked up a piece of clothing, Ji Tingyang would have the clerk package it, buying over a dozen items in one go.


    He counted the clothes and only after noticing he had bought more than Ji Yuqiao, did he nod his head in satisfaction.


    Noticing his little scheme, Ji Yuqiao whispered into Lin Xu¡¯s ear, ¡°Big brother is so childish.¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.?¦Ï


    A tinge of helplessness colored the smile in Lin Xu¡¯s eyes.


    After buying clothes, they followed Ji Tingyang to the restaurant he had reserved for dinner.


    Although the intended dinner for two turned into one with an added lightbulb of a sister, considering the number of clothes bought for her by their mother, it wasn¡¯t unbearable.


    But when the single lightbulb multiplied into three, cracks began to form on Ji Tingyang¡¯s calm and composed demeanor.


    ¡°Ah, President Ji, Miss Lin, and the little sister are all here too, what a coincidence, we must be fated,¡± Su Linzhou greeted them cheerily as he approached, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t mind if we joined tables, right?¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression suddenly darkened. He was about to speak, but a cheerful voice piped up before he could.


    ¡°Sure!¡±


    Ji Tingyang and Xie Changyan looked over in surprise.


    The one who answered wasn¡¯t Lin Xu; it was instead Ji Yuqiao.


    Ji Yuqiao, seeing her brother¡¯s face about to drip with ink, chuckled awkwardly, ¡°The more the merrier, right¡­¡±


    She was also curious about what kind of person their father was.


    With permission granted, Xie Changyan pulled out the chair next to Lin Xu and without a second thought, sat down beside her.


    ¡°How come every time I see you, you¡¯re out eating with Su Linzhou? You two meet so often, you¡¯re nearly catching up to me,¡± Lin Xu murmured.


    Xie Changyan raised an eyebrow, ¡°Isn¡¯t that because a certain someone is busier than I am, despite being a president?¡±


    It wasn¡¯t like he hadn¡¯t asked Lin Xu out before.


    But every time, she claimed to be busy. Upon further questioning, it would either be because of Ji Tingyang or that she was accompanying Ji Yuqiao.


    Lin Xu blinked innocently, ¡°Who is this certain someone you are talking about?¡±


    Xie Changyan chuckled, his gaze filled with interest, ¡°What do you think?¡±


    Their conversation hadn¡¯t gone on for long when a teasing voice interrupted them.


    ¡°Why start flirting as soon as you meet? We¡¯re not here to watch you display your affection; it¡¯s making the food less appetizing,¡± Su Linzhou said, turning to Ji Yuqiao with a smile, ¡°Right, little sister?¡±


    However, Ji Yuqiao didn¡¯t agree as he expected and instead gave him a cold stare.


    Ji Yuqiao looked unhappy.


    How annoying was this person, interrupting before her parents had even finished their conversation?


    Hadn¡¯t he seen the looks her parents were exchanging, nearly weaving silk between them, sweeter than the protagonists in the idol dramas she watched.


    Ji Yuqiao held her cheeks in her hands, feeling a wave of excitement.


    Su Linzhou inexplicably scratched his head.


    Xie Changyan lifted his gaze and looked at Su Linzhou with a somewhat stern expression, ¡°Has the Su Family been skimping on your meals? I¡¯ll ask them about it another day.¡±


    Su Linzhou shuddered in fear and said, ¡°I¡¯ll stop talking, you guys do as you please.¡±


    After all the dishes were served, everyone started to eat.


    Just as Lin Xu was about to pick up some food, a piece of steamed fish was placed in her bowl.


    ¡°The steamed fish here is really tasty, try it,¡± Xie Changyan said.


    Before she had a chance to eat, a piece of Dongpo pork followed suit and landed in her bowl.


    ¡°The Dongpo pork here is delicious,¡± Ji Tingyang stated.


    Lin Xu picked up the fish, but the next second she heard Ji Tingyang¡¯s voice tinged with complaint, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to try the Dongpo pork first?¡±


    Her hand trembled, the fish fell from her chopsticks, and she quickly picked up the Dongpo pork.


    ¡°The fish won¡¯t taste good once it gets cold; better try it first,¡± Xie Changyan¡¯s voice floated over.


    With two intense gazes fixed on her, Lin Xu was sweating and at a loss.


    ¡°I¡¯ll eat both at the same time.¡± She picked up both the fish and the Dongpo pork and stuffed them into her mouth, chewing vigorously.


    The next instant.


    Ji Tingyang swiftly placed a piece of Three Cup Chicken into her bowl.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s chopsticks hadn¡¯t yet extended when Lin Xu held his hand under the table, scratching the palm of his hand in a pleasing manner.


    A hint of amusement crossed Xie Changyan¡¯s eyes, and he finally stopped competing with Ji Tingyang in such a childish manner, gripping her hand instead.


    Seeing Ji Tingyang giving Lin Xu so many choices, Ji Yuqiao pushed the bowl on the table forward and said, ¡°Big brother, I want to eat the braised prawns in front of you.¡±


    Without even looking, Ji Tingyang said, ¡°Serve yourself.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    Stinky big brother!


    He served mother so much; why couldn¡¯t he give her even one shrimp.


    Don¡¯t be so obviously double-standard.


    Just as Ji Yuqiao¡¯s lips pouted and she was feeling downhearted, a braised prawn landed in her bowl.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s serving chopsticks were still in his hand, ¡°What else would you like to eat?¡±


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up, ¡°I¡¯d like to have some beef as well!¡±


    Xie Changyan leisurely picked up a piece of beef for her.


    Ji Yuqiao, happily eating the beef, had eyes curved like crescent moons.


    In certain situations, a father figure is much better than a double-standard big brother.


    Perhaps because she had allowed her fondness for Xie Changyan to show on her face, after dinner, Ji Tingyang pulled her aside for a scolding.


    ¡°Don¡¯t allow yourself to like him, didn¡¯t you see he¡¯s trying to take our mother away?¡±


    ¡°But isn¡¯t he our father?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not; he¡¯s just a substitute for our father,¡± Ji Tingyang couldn¡¯t accept it as quickly as Ji Yuqiao had.


    ¡°Big brother, you should let go of your prejudice,¡± Ji Yuqiao earnestly advised.


    Ji Tingyang: ¡°¡­¡±


    Ji Yuqiao patted his shoulder and, seeing Lin Xu walking away, hurried after her.


    As she approached, she heard Su Linzhou proposing that everyone go to a bar to hang out.


    Ji Yuqiao agreed with both hands, but she hadn¡¯t anticipated that upon arriving at the bar, they would see Xiao Yu trying to drown his sorrows in alcohol.

 Chapter 207 - Chapter 207: Chapter 207: Humanity Might Be Extinct But Still Wont Like You

    Chapter 207: Chapter 207: Humanity Might Be Extinct But Still Won¡¯t Like You


    When Su Linzhou suggested going to a bar, he was met with cold stares from both Ji Tingyang and Xie Changyan.


    ¡°What¡¯s so great about those messy places like bars?¡± Ji Tingyang said.


    ¡°It¡¯s not safe for the two of them to go to a bar,¡± Xie Changyan referred to Lin Xu and Ji Yuqiao.


    Su Linzhou was surprised, ¡°You two actually agree on something? That¡¯s rare.¡±


    However, in contrast to their opposition, Ji Yuqiao was excitedly all for it, ¡°Yes, yes, that¡¯s the kind of nightlife adults should have!¡±


    ¡°It seems that the incident of you throwing up all over the cruise last time hasn¡¯t taught you a lesson?¡± Ji Tingyang glared at her.


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes flickered guiltily, ¡°I definitely won¡¯t drink that much this time, and besides, I have you to protect me, big brother~¡±


    She swung Ji Tingyang¡¯s arm, cooing non-stop at him.


    Ji Tingyang wasn¡¯t swayed, ¡°No way.¡±


    ¡°Then I might as well go with Xie Changyan. He¡¯s so nice, he¡¯ll definitely agree. It would be even better if he were my father,¡± Ji Yuqiao said, pretending to walk toward Xie Changyan.


    Ji Tingyang immediately grabbed her by the back of her collar, his expressionless face showing a hint of gloom, ¡°You¡¯re not going with him.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s all go together this time,¡± Ji Yuqiao said.


    Once Ji Tingyang was persuaded, it was easier with Lin Xu and Xie Changyan.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï


    With a little coaxing to Lin Xu, her mother softened and agreed, and if mother was going to the bar, Xie Changyan naturally had to join.


    Su Linzhou secretly gave Ji Yuqiao a thumbs up.


    She was skilled indeed, persuading three people just like that.


    The bar was a blur of lights and color.


    Just upon arriving, Lin Xu was approached by a man with a drink, ¡°Hey beauty, are you alone? How about I buy you a drink?¡±


    ¡°Buddy, if you¡¯re blind then just forget it, can¡¯t you see there are four of us here?¡± Su Linzhou patted the man¡¯s shoulder, teasing.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s gaze was as sharp as a knife, piercing directly at the man as if ready to flay him alive.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s lazy eyes also took on a chilly sheen, like a deep and bottomless icy pool, sending shivers down one¡¯s spine when he looked over.


    Ji Yuqiao also put her hands on her hips, glaring angrily, staring daggers at the man.


    The man turned his head to see three pairs of eyes brimming with murderous intent fixed on him, as if ready to devour him whole.


    His legs went weak with fright, and he turned to run, spilling his drink along the way.


    When Lin Xu also turned to look over, the three men quickly hid the fury in their eyes, returning to a calm demeanor as they stood to the side.


    Su Linzhou couldn¡¯t help but marvel, ¡°The speed of changing faces could actually set a world record.¡±


    ¡°Looks like there¡¯s a spot over there, shall we sit there?¡± Lin Xu asked.


    Ji Tingyang stepped forward, preempting any possibility of someone blind coming over to hit on Lin Xu. He was just about to put his arm around her shoulder when Xie Changyan swept her into his embrace.


    Seeing the hand wrapped around Lin Xu¡¯s waist, Ji Tingyang¡¯s dark eyes turned as cold as tempered ice.


    He kept telling himself.


    His mother was only treating him as a substitute.


    His mother couldn¡¯t possibly like him.


    Noticing that Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression was sour, Ji Yuqiao cheerfully linked her arms through his, ¡°Big brother, just protect me and that¡¯s enough.¡±


    Ji Tingyang merely grunted and did not shake off her hand, taking Ji Yuqiao with him as they walked over.


    Ji Yuqiao was fascinated by the bar¡¯s offerings and couldn¡¯t sit still in the booth, always wanting to wander around.


    Only a moment after not keeping an eye on her, Ji Yuqiao had wandered off somewhere.


    ¡°Where has Lanyue gone? She hasn¡¯t gotten into trouble, has she?¡± Lin Xu asked anxiously.


    Ji Tingyang irritably rubbed his nose bridge and said as if resigned, ¡°Forget it, let¡¯s not worry about her. If something happens, she¡¯ll call me.¡±


    The bar was upscale, and Ji Yuqiao walked around, declining numerous men¡¯s advances. By the time she came to her senses, she had no idea where she was.


    She scratched her head, about to ask a waiter for directions when suddenly she heard an argument nearby.


    ¡°Are you deaf, kid? I¡¯m talking to you!¡±


    ¡°My clothes are designer brands, just the jacket alone costs 50,000 yuan, and now it¡¯s ruined by your vomit. I warn you, if you don¡¯t compensate, you¡¯re not leaving tonight!¡±


    The arguing voices grew louder, and Ji Yuqiao, intending to quickly leave the scene, instead heard a familiar voice coming from that direction.


    ¡°So what if it¡¯s a designer brand? Think you can look down on people just because you¡¯re rich?¡± Xiao Yu, with his hazy drunken eyes, looked disdainfully at the man before him.


    ¡°What do you mean look down on people? Are you sick or something? I¡¯m asking you to pay up, got it?¡± The man impatiently grabbed Xiao Yu¡¯s collar, his expression frustrated.


    Stumbling slightly, Xiao Yu felt a surge of gastric acid and couldn¡¯t help but vomit again.


    The man¡¯s face turned green with anger, and he raised his fist to smash it onto Xiao Yu¡¯s face.


    ¡°Wait a second!¡± Ji Yuqiao appeared just in time, grabbing the man¡¯s swinging hand, ¡°Sorry, my friend is drunk; he didn¡¯t do it on purpose. How much for your clothes? I¡¯ll compensate.¡±


    Seeing a beautiful woman, the man softened his attitude slightly. He folded the dirty outfit in half and demanded a compensation of 80,000 yuan.


    Ji Yuqiao was about to take out her phone to make the transfer, but then, as if remembering something, she put it back in her purse.


    Her money was hard-earned by her older brothers; why should she pay for him?


    Ji Yuqiao angrily fumbled in Xiao Yu¡¯s pockets, took out his phone, unlocked it with his fingerprint, and casually made the transfer to the man.


    ¡°Alright, I received it.¡± The man¡¯s displeased expression finally eased, and before leaving he said, ¡°Take care of your friend. I can¡¯t guarantee the next person will be as reasonable as me.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao apologized to him, and when she turned back to find Xiao Yu, he was already bent over a trash can, retching nonstop.


    Seeing his wretched state, Ji Yuqiao¡¯s expression became complicated for a moment.


    In the past when she encountered Xiao Yu, she always perceived an arrogant pride about him, but now he seemed hopelessly mired in despair.


    Ji Yuqiao looked away and searched for Wen Li¡¯s contact on his phone, ¡°I¡¯ll call Wen Li to come pick you up.¡±


    ¡°No need,¡± Xiao Yu coldly refused.


    After throwing up a few times, he had sobered up considerably.


    He stood up to take back his phone, making to leave the bar.


    ¡°It¡¯s not safe for you alone, I¡­¡±


    ¡°Wen Li and I have broken up,¡± Xiao Yu cut her off.


    Seeing the astonishment in Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes, his contemptuous gaze flashed with a hint of mockery, ¡°Isn¡¯t this what you¡¯ve always hoped for? Now that I¡¯ve broken up with her, aren¡¯t you very pleased?¡±


    ¡°Do you think this gives you a chance? I¡¯m telling you, it¡¯s impossible.¡±


    ¡°Even if humanity goes extinct, I will never like you.¡±

 Chapter 208 - Chapter 208: Chapter 208 Its Always Been You Who Looked Down on Yourself

    Chapter 208: Chapter 208 It¡¯s Always Been You Who Looked Down on Yourself


    Hearing his words, Ji Yuqiao¡¯s heart became exceptionally calm, without a hint of turmoil.


    If this had been before, she probably would have already been hurt beyond measure by now.


    Ji Yuqiao glanced at him and said indifferently, ¡°Since you¡¯re fine, I¡¯ll be leaving first.¡±


    Since she had returned from the resort, she had already decided to give up on Xiao Yu and stop dealing with him.


    When she saw him from afar just now, her first instinct was to leave.


    However, before she could get away, the image of him holding an umbrella to accompany her to find the bus station and the clothes he had handed her on the athletic field flashed through her mind again¡­


    Her steps stalled.


    And now, in the midst of his words of disgust, the lingering warmth he once offered had dissipated instantly.


    She shouldn¡¯t have come here.


    A trace of disappointment flickered in Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes.


    Xiao Yu saw the look in her eyes and suddenly remembered the way Wen Li had looked at him when they parted that day.


    The two scenes seemed to blend together, making it difficult for the drunken him to distinguish between them.


    Xiao Yu¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, and he pushed Ji Yuqiao against the wall, his hands pressing down on her shoulders with almost all his strength.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã?


    His cheeks seemed to bear a tinge of sickly mania as he gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Do you despise me, thinking I¡¯m inferior to Ji Tingyang in every way?¡±


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m poor and can¡¯t give you a better life?¡±


    ¡°Let me tell you, my studio is making money now, I have money now, even if you regret it and come back begging me it will be useless!¡±


    Ji Yuqiao endured the pain and pushed him away, ¡°Xiao Yu, get a grip, I¡¯m not Wen Li.¡±


    Xiao Yu staggered several steps backward before he could barely steady himself.


    ¡°No one has ever looked down on you, the one looking down on you has always been yourself.¡± Ji Yuqiao took a deep look at Xiao Yu and said softly, ¡°If you don¡¯t even respect yourself, how can you expect others to see you in a new light?¡±


    After saying this, Ji Yuqiao averted her gaze and left the place.


    The sound of dry heaving came from behind again as Xiao Yu leaned against the rubbish bin, painfully vomiting several times.


    He looked up at the fading silhouette walking away, with no trace of attachment, moving farther and farther away from him¡­


    Somewhere in the haze, it seemed as if something was drifting away from him once again.


    Ji Yuqiao walked in a circle and returned to the booth.


    Seeing Lin Xu on the couch, she hastened her steps, plunging into Lin Xu¡¯s embrace, rubbing her head against her neck.


    So fragrant, so warm¡­


    Lin Xu gently stroked her hair, ¡°Where did you go just now? Don¡¯t run around next time, okay? It¡¯s crowded and messy here, your brother and I will worry.¡±


    Hearing her mother¡¯s concern, Ji Yuqiao felt as happy as if her heart had been soaked in honey, giggling like a fool, ¡°I know.¡±


    She cuddled with Lin Xu for a while before noticing the tense atmosphere to the side.


    Although there were three of them playing with the dice cups, Ji Tingyang was looking at Xie Changyan as if he was his sole opponent, his gaze filled with explosive tension.


    However, after calling out several numbers and lifting the cup, Ji Tingyang lost again.


    His face stiffened and he lifted the liquor from the table, gulping it down fiercely.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on with big brother and them?¡± Ji Yuqiao asked curiously.


    Lin Xu smiled helplessly.


    At first, the two of them were fine.


    But as soon as Xie Changyan leaned over to speak to her, Ji Tingyang saw him holding Lin Xu¡¯s hand and his expression soured in an instant, ¡°Just talk, don¡¯t touch.¡±


    Xie Changyan¡¯s eyebrows rose slightly, deliberately interlocking his fingers with hers as if to provoke.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s face turned icy cold.


    Su Linzhou noticed that something was off and immediately spoke up to lighten the mood, ¡°We¡¯re at the bar to have fun, how boring it is to just sit around. Why don¡¯t we play dice?¡±


    Then as the game went on, Ji Tingyang ended up losing seven out of ten times.


    Bottle after bottle was opened on the table, and his cheeks were flushed with the redness of alcohol.


    Meanwhile, Xie Changyan leaned back on the sofa with a leisurely posture, one hand resting on the back of the chair, the other swirling the red wine in his hand, his expression lazy and indifferent.


    The states of the two men were worlds apart.


    Ji Yuqiao couldn¡¯t bear to watch any longer. ¡°Big brother, how much have you lost? If you keep drinking like this, you¡¯re going to pass out.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll win it back,¡± Ji Tingyang said sternly, unwilling to admit defeat.


    ¡°Big brother has gone red in the eyes from losing,¡± Ji Yuqiao clicked her tongue and shook her head.


    Lin Xu stretched her leg out to kick Xie Changyan and gave him a look, signalling him to go easy on Ji Tingyang.


    If he didn¡¯t feel sorry for his son, she certainly did.


    Xie Changyan chuckled under his breath and pushed the dice aside, ¡°It¡¯s no fun to keep winning. Let¡¯s call it quits.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s play something else,¡± Ji Tingyang insisted.


    How could he lose so many times in front of his mother and lose face like that? What if he made a bad impression on her?


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s lips were pressed tightly together; he was determined to win back a few rounds no matter what.


    However, as hours passed, they played rock-paper-scissors, poker¡­ every game imaginable.


    With each game, Ji Tingyang lost more and more until he finally passed out on the sofa, his face dyed red with alcohol.


    Lin Xu gave Xie Changyan a stern look, her tone slightly reproachful, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to let him win?¡±


    ¡°I was letting him. He was the one insisting on competing with me,¡± Xie Changyan laughed.


    Lin Xu sighed and called the driver to pick them up.


    Back at the villa.


    The butler helped Ji Tingyang back to his bedroom and settled him into bed.


    Lin Xu went to the bathroom to wet a towel and wiped Ji Tingyang¡¯s face for him.


    Just as she was about to leave, Ji Tingyang grabbed her wrist, his eyes slightly intoxicated and hazy, looking at her, ¡°Mother¡­¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?¡± Lin Xu sat back down on the bed, concerned.


    Ji Tingyang sat up on the bed, holding her body and resting his head on her shoulder, venting all the frustration of the night, ¡°Xie Changyan is not Father, don¡¯t like him¡­¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright, I don¡¯t like him,¡± Lin Xu cooed.


    The tightly pursed lips of Ji Tingyang all evening slowly curved into a contented smile, ¡°So you won¡¯t go with him, right?¡±


    ¡°No, I won¡¯t go. I¡¯m always at home, aren¡¯t I? I haven¡¯t gone anywhere,¡± Lin Xu said.


    Lin Xu knew that he had always lacked a sense of security, afraid that she would suddenly leave him as she had when he was a child.


    She stroked his uneasy head, ¡°I¡¯ve said before, we as a family will always be together from now on.¡±


    ¡°Mmm¡­ Mother, don¡¯t leave. I¡¯ll make lots and lots of money, and I¡¯ll buy you anything you want¡­¡±


    His voice grew lighter and lighter until his breath gradually became steady.


    ¡­


    Compared to Ji Tingyang¡¯s aversion, Ji Yuqiao was somewhat more enthusiastic about Xie Changyan.


    Having one more father who liked her was something Ji Yuqiao looked forward to.


    Only her mother said he had amnesia and remembered nothing.


    Ji Yuqiao searched for many cases of amnesia online, determined to help him recover his memory as soon as possible.

 Chapter 209 - Chapter 209: Chapter 209: Memory Recovery Plan

    Chapter 209: Chapter 209: Memory Recovery Plan


    Ji Yuqiao had looked at many cases and watched TV dramas, discovering that the most important thing for people who wanted to regain their memories was reenacting the scene.


    Creating a familiar environment for them, thereby eliciting their memories.


    Ji Yuqiao was a woman of decisive action, she did what she said.


    She picked a day when Ji Tingyang wasn¡¯t home and invited Xie Changyan to come over as a guest.


    When Xie Changyan received the call from Ji Yuqiao, a flash of surprise crossed his eyes, ¡°Go to the Ji Mansion? For what?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­¡± Ji Yuqiao hemmed and hawed, ¡°Lin Xu is cooking, she invited you to come over and try it, asking me to convey the invitation.¡±


    ¡°Cooking?¡± Xie Changyan¡¯s eyebrows rose ever so slightly, his tone laced with a hint of astonishment.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± Ji Yuqiao nodded.


    Xie Changyan glanced at his watch, ¡°I still have two hours of break time, I¡¯ll come over at noon.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t wait until noon, come over now, I¡¯ll be waiting for you,¡± Ji Yuqiao seemed quite impatient.


    Xie Changyan looked at the disconnected call, feeling a bit puzzled.


    Just then, his assistant knocked and entered, ¡°President Xie, the meeting will start in ten minutes, is there anything else that needs to be prepared?¡±


    ¡°The meeting is postponed to the afternoon, I need to go out for a bit right now,¡± Xie Changyan stood up, grabbed his coat from the back of the chair, and left without delay.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï


    When Xie Changyan arrived at Ji Mansion, Lin Xu had just finished cooking the last dish of ribs.


    The dining table was set with three hot dishes and a soup, all looking delicious.


    ¡°Why suddenly cook and invite me to eat today?¡± asked Xie Changyan, his interest piqued.


    ¡°Because I¡¯m in a good mood today, so I invited you to taste my masterpiece, is that a problem?¡± Lin Xu snorted, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to eat, you might as well go back.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s my first time trying your cooking, of course I¡¯ll eat,¡± Xie Changyan sat down and picked up his chopsticks.


    Lin Xu looked nervously at Ji Yuqiao, ¡°Just eating a meal, can it really help him recover his memory?¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡± Ji Yuqiao¡¯s fingers were interlaced, excitement gleaming in her eyes, ¡°That¡¯s how it¡¯s always shown on TV, eating the great meal personally prepared by a loved one, the familiar and unforgettable flavor surging on the taste buds, the lost memory suddenly returning¡­¡±


    ¡°Father used to eat food you cooked often, he must find it very familiar.¡±


    Lin Xu¡¯s face suddenly stiffened.


    She forgot to tell Ji Yuqiao that her cooking was not good, it had always been the nanny who cooked¡­


    Sure enough.


    Xie Changyan had just tasted a piece of pork, not even chewing twice, when his expression abruptly froze.


    Seeing his odd expression, Ji Yuqiao thought the method had worked, her eyes lit up, ¡°How is it, is it delicious, familiar, do you remember something?¡±


    Xie Changyan put down his chopsticks, his lips lifted in an inscrutable smile, ¡°Why don¡¯t you also try the deliciousness?¡±


    Try what?


    Though puzzled, Ji Yuqiao still picked up a piece of pork with her chopsticks.


    After chewing twice, her expression twisted, and she spat out the pork into a napkin.


    She looked incredulously, picked another green vegetable.


    The next second, she spat it out again.


    Ji Yuqiao had only ever eaten scallion noodles cooked by Lin Xu, subconsciously thinking her cooking was good.


    It wasn¡¯t until now that she realized, it wasn¡¯t that Lin Xu didn¡¯t cook for her, but that she couldn¡¯t cook.


    ¡°I think I understand why Big Brother doesn¡¯t like to eat vegetables,¡± Ji Yuqiao mused.


    It must be because the vegetables cooked by mother in the past were too terrible, giving Big Brother a psychological shadow.


    Lin Xu: ¡°¡­¡±


    Her cheeks burning with embarrassment, she quickly asked the butler to dispose of all the dishes, ¡°I will never cook again!¡±


    Xie Changyan¡¯s lips curved into a slight smile, a faint smirk blossoming at the edge of his mouth, ¡°No matter, from now on, whenever you crave something, call on me to make it for you.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes darted around, her expression somewhat surprised.


    Was it always her father who cooked before?


    Having failed to stimulate memories through familiar dishes, Ji Yuqiao immediately put her second plan into action.


    She took Xie Changyan on a tour around the mansion, to see if it would trigger any of his memories.


    ¡°This is the swimming pool, my elder brother said he learned to swim here, taught by our father.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s also a flower garden in the backyard; it used to be a big patch of violets, but later they were replaced with peonies.¡±


    ¡°The stairs here lead to the second floor, next to it is the study, and that room over there is the master bedroom where Lin Xu lives¡­¡±


    Ji Yuqiao chattered on about many things and finally looked at Xie Changyan expectantly, ¡°Do you remember anything?¡±


    ¡°Remember what?¡± Xie Changyan was puzzled.


    ¡°I mean¡­ do you feel a sense of familiarity?


    ¡°There is some.¡±


    Excitement sparkled in Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes; just as she was about to speak, she heard his next words.


    ¡°It¡¯s somewhat similar to the layout of the old Xie family mansion.¡± Xie Changyan said.


    Ji Yuqiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    Her head drooped, and she looked as deflated as a frostbitten eggplant, losing all the vitality and vigor usual to her.


    Ji Yuqiao sighed, not expecting that none of her well-prepared plans worked.


    Lin Xu tried to console her, ¡°Memories aren¡¯t so easily restored; don¡¯t lose heart.¡±


    Energized by the encouragement, Ji Yuqiao immediately perked up, ¡°Mother, wait for a moment, I still have one last plan I haven¡¯t tried yet, he¡­¡±


    ¡°Eh? Where did he go?¡± Ji Yuqiao looked around.


    In the time it took to say a few words, Xie Changyan had disappeared.


    Inside the master bedroom.


    Xie Changyan surveyed the surroundings of the bedroom, not sure why he had come in, as if¡­ something was drawing him.


    By the time he snapped back to his senses, he found himself already inside the bedroom.


    He took a look around the bedroom, his gaze landing on the vanity beside the bed.


    The table was adorned with many expensive cosmetics and skincare products. Although he had never seen them before, the image of Lin Xu sitting there applying makeup flashed through his mind.


    As if possessed, he approached, his fingers touching a drawer, and slowly pulled it open.


    His eyes darkened upon seeing what lay inside.


    The drawer was filled with frames, all containing pictures of Lin Xu and another man together.


    The photos were yellowed with age, as if from years gone by, yet they had been well preserved.


    She must have cherished these photos¡­


    Xie Changyan picked up one of the pictures, looking at the man who bore a slight resemblance to him, arm in arm with Lin Xu, both full of smiles.


    The hand holding the frame gradually tightened, the atmosphere around him becoming as heavy as it could go.


    ¡°Ah Yan?¡± Lin Xu¡¯s voice, tinged with surprise, came from behind him as she approached, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    Lin Xu noticed the frame in his hand, her eyes gleaming with a hint of joy, ¡°Have you remembered something?¡±


    ¡°Remembered what?¡± Xie Changyan put down the frame, his expression towards her somewhat complicated, ¡°Who do you take me for?¡±


    He grasped the back of Lin Xu¡¯s head, his forehead pressing against hers, a very faint breath escaping his throat, ¡°Look closely, I am Xie Changyan, not his substitute¡­¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t you forget him?

 Chapter 210 - Chapter 210: Chapter 210: Everything in Idol Dramas Is Deceptive

    Chapter 210: Chapter 210: Everything in Idol Dramas Is Deceptive


    Lin Xu saw the opened drawer, barely making out the old photos inside, and instantly felt somewhat enlightened.


    She tilted her chin up and pecked gently at the man¡¯s thin lips, her voice teasing with a mischievous laugh, ¡°Jealous?¡±


    Xie Changyan¡¯s index finger twirled a few times around the tips of her hair, entwining her locks, but he didn¡¯t reply.


    ¡°What if I still can¡¯t forget him?¡± Lin Xu cocked her head to the side, feigning distress.


    The action with her hair halted, and Xie Changyan¡¯s slender eyes narrowed slightly, exuding an intimidating aura, ¡°Then I wouldn¡¯t mind lending a hand to help you, for example¡­ by burning all these photos first.¡±


    To spare her the agony of pining after someone every day.


    ¡°If you dare to burn them, you¡¯ll definitely regret it later,¡± Lin Xu said.


    Once he regains his memory, he might just regret the foolish things he did.


    However, this remark took on a different meaning when it fell on Xie Changyan¡¯s ears.


    She liked that man so much that she even threatened me over a few photos.


    Xie Changyan clenched the photo frame in his hand, as if wanting to snap it in two, and irritability surged from the bottom of his heart, darkening his complexion.


    ¡°Alright, Lanyue is still looking for us, let¡¯s go out first,¡± Lin Xu withdrew the photo frame from his hand and placed it back in the drawer.


    Just as she was about to lead him out of the bedroom, she noticed a black box had mysteriously appeared in the drawer.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã?


    ¡°What¡¯s this, did you put it here?¡± Lin Xu picked up the box and examined it, not recognizing it at all.


    It certainly wasn¡¯t hers. Could it belong to Ji Yanli? Or was it something Ji Tingyang and the others had placed here later?


    She wanted to open it to see what was inside, but found a lock with a password on the box, which required the correct password to open.


    So secretive?


    Xie Changyan watched her holding the box, ¡°Found it in the corner of the drawer.¡±


    Seeing it sparked a sense of familiarity and nostalgia, as if he once had a box just like it.


    ¡°Do you know what the password is?¡± Lin Xu asked him.


    ¡°Do I look like a fortune teller to you, capable of divining the password for you?¡± Xie Changyan raised an eyebrow.


    Besides, it might be something left behind by that man.


    He certainly had no interest in helping her crack it.


    Lin Xu, after several unsuccessful attempts at the password, finally gave up and tossed the box back into the drawer.


    I¡¯ll ask Ji Tingyang about it tomorrow.


    Lin Xu pondered, then led Xie Changyan downstairs.


    Having found Xie Changyan, Ji Yuqiao had vanished to who knows where.


    It wouldn¡¯t be good to leave Xie Changyan again to look for her, so Lin Xu decided to stay in the living room to keep him company.


    ¡°This must be your first time touring the Ji Family residence, how do you feel about it?¡± Lin Xu asked.


    Today, both Lin Xu and Ji Yuqiao seemed especially keen on asking him this question, Xie Changyan gave her a glance, responding politely, ¡°The decor is nice.¡±


    ¡°Is there any place that left a deep impression on you?¡± Her eyes brimmed with faint anticipation.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s lips curled slightly, his tone sarcastic, ¡°The joint photos filling the drawers are indeed quite memorable, only now do I realize how passionate someone is.¡±


    Lin Xu choked up, her eyes guiltily drifting around, ¡°Right, I remember the butler brewed a pot of Puer Tea, let me pour you a cup!¡±


    With that, she quickly walked towards the kitchen.


    Her steps were hurried, her figure marked with a touch of panic.


    Once in the kitchen, Lin Xu patted her chest, and after a moment, grew melancholic again facing the teapot.


    ¡°`


    It seems that Lanyue¡¯s plan didn¡¯t work, huh.


    Xie Changyan had no recollection of the villa at all, let alone the old photos together, and upon seeing them, he even got irrationally jealous and wanted to burn them.


    Lin Xu sighed, poured a cup of tea, and then returned to the living room.


    She looked towards Xie Changyan, and the next second, her pupils constricted.


    Ji Yuqiao had popped up from nowhere, hiding behind Xie Changyan with both hands holding a heavy vase, as if to smash it on his head.


    Lin Xu gasped sharply, hurried over, snatched the vase from Ji Yuqiao¡¯s hands, pulled her aside, and whispered harshly, ¡°What are you doing?!¡±


    Lin Xu had always been gentle, and this was the first time Ji Yuqiao saw her with an angry face, sternly scolding her, which startled Ji Yuqiao and made her body shiver.


    Ji Yuqiao, nervously fidgeting with the hem of her clothes, stammered, ¡°I¡­ I saw on TV¡­ That if the head is hit, it might recover lost memories, so I wanted to try it¡­¡±


    ¡°The head is a vulnerable part of the body. What if you cause him serious harm or even death? What then?¡± Lin Xu felt a shiver even thinking about it and then advised, ¡°What are those crazy TV shows you¡¯re watching? They¡¯re all lies.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao said, ¡°It¡¯s the idol drama that second brother acted in.¡±


    Lin Xu: ¡°¡­Don¡¯t watch it anymore.¡±


    She would complain to Ji Zeqiu later that the idol drama he acted in was a bad influence on his sister.


    While the two of them whispered behind his back, Xie Changyan turned to look over, ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡±


    ¡°No, nothing.¡± Both of them quickly hid the vase behind them, shaking their heads fervently as if guilty.


    Xie Changyan glanced at them thoughtfully, then his gaze fell on the vase behind them.


    Lin Xu handed him the teacup from the table in a hurry, ¡°Ah, right! This is the Puer Tea I just poured for you. Give it a try.¡±


    Xie Changyan stayed at the villa until the afternoon, only leaving after his assistant called to remind him of a meeting he had later that day.


    After several hours, Xie Changyan hadn¡¯t recovered any memories.


    However, Ji Yuqiao seemed more determined than ever, encouraging Lin Xu, ¡°Mother, don¡¯t lose heart. I¡¯ll find some more methods, and father will surely remember us!¡±


    Recalling the incident with the vase, Lin Xu was still somewhat terrified and quickly cautioned, ¡°Don¡¯t try to learn from the scenes in idol dramas again; they¡¯re deceiving.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know what I¡¯m doing,¡± Ji Yuqiao nodded.


    Lin Xu: ¡°¡­¡±


    Could someone who wanted to hit someone¡¯s head with a vase really know what ¡®being careful¡¯ means?


    Lin Xu suddenly began to feel uneasy.


    In the blink of an eye, the sky grew darker with the night.


    There was the sound of a car engine outside the gate; Lin Xu guessed it was probably Ji Tingyang coming home.


    Lin Xu went downstairs to meet him.


    At the sight of her, a smile appeared on Ji Tingyang¡¯s stern face, as if a warm current flowed through his chest.


    His lips just started to curve into a smile when he suddenly dropped it again, furrowing his brows, ¡°Did someone come by today?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Lin Xu denied.


    ¡°Then why are there three teacups?¡± Ji Tingyang looked towards the table.


    She had been careless.


    She forgot to clean up the teacups.


    She hadn¡¯t expected Ji Tingyang to be so observant.


    ¡°One of the teacups is the butler¡¯s,¡± Lin Xu could only lie blatantly, then quickly changed the subject, ¡°Oh right, do you know what this box is?¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s attention was indeed diverted, he looked at the box in her hand, seemingly with a bit of recognition, ¡°This seems to be something from father.¡±


    ¡°`

 Chapter 211 - Chapter 211: Chapter 211 Ji Zeqiu Has an Accident

    Chapter 211: Chapter 211 Ji Zeqiu Has an Accident


    Seeing this familiar password box, Ji Tingyang¡¯s long-dusted memories were once again stirred up.


    It was during his parents¡¯ funeral when he was a child.


    Ji Tingyang quietly watched the burial scene, holding the hand of the tearfully sobbing Ji Zeqiu.


    The sharp and piercing cries of his sister in swaddling clothes, mingled with various weeping sounds around him, echoed in his ears. His palms trembled slightly, and his eyes were already bloodshot, but he forced himself to suppress the pain in his heart, holding back his tears.


    It was at that time that his grandmother handed him the black box.


    ¡°It was found in the car by the rescue team, it should belong to your father. We don¡¯t know the password, nor do we know what¡¯s inside,¡± she said.


    ¡°You should keep it to yourself.¡±


    When Ji Tingyang received the box, there was still fresh blood on it.


    For many years, he had tried numerous passwords but never managed to open it. For fear of damaging the contents, he simply left it untouched.


    Later, when he bought back the villa, he placed the box in the drawer of the master bedroom, along with a photo of his parents.


    So much time had passed that Ji Tingyang had nearly forgotten about it.


    He picked up the box and gently stroked it with his fingertips; the originally bright red bloodstains had oxidized to black after twenty years, merging with the box.


    If one didn¡¯t inspect it closely, the blood would be completely unnoticeable.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã?


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s emotions became somewhat complex. The first time he saw it, his parents had departed from him, and now, seeing it again, his mother had returned to his body.


    ¡°This belonged to my father, and I don¡¯t know the password either,¡± Ji Tingyang said.


    It belonged to Ji Yanli?


    That would be easy, then.


    Lin Xu suddenly had a few ideas in mind.


    The birthdays of family members, wedding anniversaries, the anniversaries of their relationship, the first time Ji Tingyang called out ¡°mom¡±¡­


    However, after trying all the passwords she could think of, they were all wrong.


    Lin Xu was so frustrated that she wanted to smash the box.


    ¡°Could your dad have had another woman outside, setting a password that has nothing to do with us?¡± Lin Xu said angrily as she punched the box twice.


    ¡°That¡¯s the only thing that¡¯s impossible,¡± Ji Tingyang asserted.


    His father adored her so much, how could there be another woman?


    ¡°Forget it, let¡¯s not bother with it,¡± Lin Xu, still angry, tossed it on the sofa and ignored it.


    She planned to settle accounts with Xie Changyan later when his memory was restored.


    Maybe it was the surge of anger, or something else, but Lin Xu felt restless and kept tossing and turning in bed, unable to settle down for sleep.


    It was as if something was about to happen¡­


    She began to feel drowsy just as the sky outside was faintly lighting up, and she slowly fell asleep as she closed her eyes.


    However, she hadn¡¯t slept long when hurried footsteps approached from afar, and Ji Yuqiao burst into the bedroom without even knocking, waking her up in a panic, ¡°Mother, something terrible has happened to Second Brother!¡±


    Lin Xu awoke with a start, sitting up in bed. The hazy drowsiness instantly vanished, ¡°What happened to Zeqiu?¡±


    ¡°Second Brother got injured on the film set,¡± Ji Yuqiao said, handing her the news on the phone.


    ££Ji Zeqiu meets with danger while filming, condition unclear££


    The news from last night detailed that Ji Zeqiu had fallen from a wire while shooting a night scene. He was rushed to the hospital overnight, and his specific condition was unknown.


    The news was released at around four in the morning. Because most people were asleep at night, it did not draw immediate attention.


    It wasn¡¯t until everyone had woken up that this piece of news gradually caught everyone¡¯s attention and shot up the trending searches.


    The fans had already been cursing in the comment section.


    [What kind of shitty production team is this, don¡¯t they know that props need to be maintained regularly? If anything happens to Ji Zeqiu, can you afford the consequences?]


    [The director and crew haven¡¯t come out to apologize yet, where did they die!]


    [Is the production team playing dead? Hurry up and come out to kneel and apologize!!!]


    Lin Xu¡¯s ears were ringing, her mind went blank, and she could no longer see the words clearly in front of her.


    Her hands trembling, she pulled out her phone and realized that the fans¡¯ group she had infiltrated before was also in an uproar, with many fans mentioning her.


    [@Willow Wadding, auntie, how is our Baby Ji now? What did the doctor say?]


    [@Willow Wadding, auntie, please come out and say something, we¡¯re scared, sob sob¡­]


    Say something?


    What to say?


    Oh, right, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s injury!


    Her rusty brain seemed to start spinning as Lin Xu hastily dialed Ji Zeqiu¡¯s number, but after several tones, no one answered.


    Then she called the agent, and with each unanswered second, she grew more and more uneasy.


    Just as the call was about to automatically disconnect, it finally got through.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can say about Ji Zeqiu¡¯s situation for now. We will¡­¡± the agent began as soon as the connection was made, his tone obviously irritated.


    ¡°Brother Zhao, it¡¯s Lin Xu.¡± Lin Xu cut him off immediately.


    Upon hearing her name, the agent¡¯s voice halted, and he rubbed the bridge of his nose and sighed, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you. Are you asking about Ji Zeqiu¡­ ¡±


    ¡°How is he now? Is the injury serious?¡± Lin Xu¡¯s voice was so frantic it trembled, her palm was clutching the blanket beneath her tightly, fearing any bad news.


    ¡°He¡­ ¡± the agent¡¯s voice paused for a few seconds, sighing as though struggling to speak, ¡°His condition is not very good. You should come and see for yourself.¡±


    The phone slipped from her grasp, and Lin Xu felt engulfed in darkness, not even bothering to pack her luggage, she and Ji Yuqiao bought the earliest flight and flew over.


    They took a taxi to the hospital address sent by the agent.


    Ji Zeqiu was staying in a VIP hospital room, and without permission, the nurse wouldn¡¯t let Lin Xu in.


    Lin Xu had no choice but to call the agent again.


    ¡°You got here so fast?¡± The agent expressed surprise when he saw her.


    Upon closer inspection, one could see the dark circles under her eyes and a look of exhaustion on her face.


    ¡°Which room is Ji Zeqiu in?¡± Lin Xu had no mood for small talk and cut straight to the chase.


    ¡°He¡¯s in there.¡± The agent pointed to a room ahead, hesitating, ¡°You should¡­ brace yourself.¡±


    Lin Xu and Ji Yuqiao quickly pulled open the door and walked in.


    They were greeted by a white cloth covering the person on the hospital bed, with the head covered, hiding his face from view.


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s legs instantly went weak; she approached the bedside, slowly lifted the white cloth, and revealed Ji Zeqiu¡¯s pale face.


    Her pupils contracted abruptly as she lay atop Ji Zeqiu and wept aloud, her loud, heartrending cries echoing in the room, leaving one feeling helpless and heartbroken.


    ¡°Sob sob sob¡­ Second brother, wake up, don¡¯t die¡­¡±


    ¡°Second brother, who¡¯s going to give me pocket money if you¡¯re gone, sob sob sob sob¡­¡±

 Chapter 212 - Chapter 212: Chapter 212: Give Him Some Credit for Having a Conscience

    Chapter 212: Chapter 212: Give Him Some Credit for Having a Conscience


    Ji Yuqiao cried so hard that her snot and tears mixed into a mess, staining the blanket with wet patches.


    With both hands, she vigorously shook Ji Zeqiu¡¯s body as if trying to wake him up.


    ¡°Ji Yuqiao! Are you trying to shake me to death?¡± Ji Zeqiu gritted his teeth and opened his eyes, which were filled with anger.


    Ji Yuqiao paused, then, as if seeing him come back to life, she threw herself onto him with tears of joy, hugging his neck and wailing, ¡°Wuu wuu wuu¡­ Second Brother, you finally came back to life!¡±


    ¡°What came back to life? I didn¡¯t die,¡± said Ji Zeqiu irritably.


    ¡°If you didn¡¯t die, then why are you lying here?¡± Ji Yuqiao asked incredulously, still with tears in her eyes.


    ¡°This is a bed. What else can I do lying here besides sleep?¡± Ji Zeqiu replied.


    When he arrived at the hospital last night, he had undergone many tests and had just managed to fall asleep when Ji Yuqiao woke him up with her crying.


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s face went through several expressions¡ªhappiness, confusion, and finally contempt¡ªas she spat at him, ¡°If you¡¯re not dead, why are you imitating others by covering your head with a white cloth?¡±


    ¡°The sunlight outside the window was too harsh. How could I sleep without covering up with the blanket? Moreover¡­¡± Ji Zeqiu poked her forehead with his finger, ¡°this is clearly a blanket, not some white cloth.¡±


    The blankets in the hospital are mostly white, which caused Ji Yuqiao to misunderstand.


    ¡°Also, who told you that covering your head means you¡¯re gone?¡± Ji Zeqiu glared at her.


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes flickered, slightly guilty, ¡°Don¡¯t they always show it like that in TV dramas¡­¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã?


    ¡°Watch less of that nonsense on TV.¡±


    ¡°But what I watched was the idol drama you acted in, is that also nonsense?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu was at a loss for words.


    ¡°Alright, enough chit-chat. Let¡¯s first ask your brother where he¡¯s injured,¡± said Lin Xu as she came over and offered Ji Yuqiao a tissue to wipe her tears and runny nose.


    In contrast to Ji Yuqiao¡¯s tearful agony, Lin Xu was quite composed.


    As soon as she entered the room and saw Ji Zeqiu covered with the blanket, she had calmed down instantly.


    If something really had happened to Ji Zeqiu, his agent wouldn¡¯t have maintained such composure, standing by calmly.


    It wasn¡¯t until Lin Xu spoke up that Ji Zeqiu noticed she was there.


    He was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly turned to look at the agent, his eyes filled with irritation and anger, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to tell her about my injury?¡±


    The agent innocently spread his hands, ¡°The paparazzi already blasted the news about your accident. It couldn¡¯t be hidden. It¡¯s better to let her come and see you. It would prevent you from holding your phone every night, making calls, and missing her.¡±


    So when he received the call from Lin Xu, he deliberately pretended to be in a difficult position.


    ¡°Besides, you seem pretty happy to see her, your mouth is practically grinning,¡± the agent said.


    Ji Zeqiu immediately reached for his mouth and, upon realizing he was deceived, glared at the agent again, only to meet his slightly mocking gaze the next moment.


    Suddenly.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s ears quietly heated up.


    The agent chuckled, ¡°I have other matters to deal with, so I¡¯ll be going. Ji Zeqiu¡¯s injuries are on his arm and back; just be careful not to touch the wounds.¡±


    With that, he left the hospital room.


    After hearing about the injuries from the agent, Lin Xu went over to take a closer look, only to notice his arm was wrapped in several layers of gauze.


    The wound was covered by gauze, so the severity of the injury couldn¡¯t be seen.


    She then tried to lift his shirt, but Ji Zeqiu firmly grabbed her hand, his ears growing even redder,


    ¡°Mother, what¡­ what are you doing¡­¡± he stammered nervously.


    ¡°I want to see how bad the wound on your back is,¡± Lin Xu said as she patted the back of his hand, prompting him to let go.


    The blush on Ji Zeqiu¡¯s ears spread to his cheeks, leaving him awkwardly stumbling over his words, but he didn¡¯t lessen the grip of his hands in the slightest. ¡°I¡¯m fine, it¡¯s not serious, no need to look¡­¡±


    ¡°When you were little, I saw plenty of you running around naked, so what¡¯s there to be shy about just taking off a shirt now?¡± Lin Xu said.


    ¡°Exactly, exactly.¡± Ji Yuqiao also chimed in on the side, ¡°Plus, you take off your shirt when you¡¯re filming too, Mom and I have seen it already. It¡¯s just like that.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s originally blushing cheeks were instantly taken over by anger, his face flushing red with irritation.


    ¡°What do you mean ¡®just like that¡¯? My physique is much better than those pale, chicken-like actors who even need substitutes for upper body shots, I even have an eight-pack!¡± Ji Zeqiu seethed, glaring at Ji Yuqiao.


    As if worried Lin Xu wouldn¡¯t believe him, Ji Zeqiu quickly took off his shirt, anxiously saying, ¡°Mother, look, I didn¡¯t lie to you.¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright.¡± Lin Xu nodded, her first glance going towards his back, where she noticed streaks of blood seeping through the gauze. ¡°It¡¯s bleeding, and you call this not serious?¡±


    ¡°I really am okay, don¡¯t worry.¡± Ji Zeqiu reassured her, taking her hand.


    ¡°Ji Zeqiu!¡± Lin Xu¡¯s eyebrows nearly knotted together, her expression growing stern.


    Just as she was about to speak, her phone rang from inside her bag.


    She had to hold back the scolding in her throat, and as soon as the call connected, Ji Tingyang¡¯s anxious voice came through.


    ¡°How is Ji Zeqiu doing? I¡¯m already at the airport. I¡¯ll be able to board the plane soon.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s fine, still jumping around.¡± Lin Xu soothed his anxious mood, ¡°Don¡¯t rush, you can come over slowly.¡±


    There was a pause on the other end of the phone for a few seconds. ¡°He¡¯s okay?¡±


    ¡°Yes, he isn¡¯t missing any arms or legs.¡±


    ¡°Then put him on the phone, I want to talk to him for a bit.¡±


    She knew that even though Ji Tingyang usually seemed to disapprove of Ji Zeqiu, when it came down to it, he was still very worried about him.


    After all, brothers are connected heart to heart.


    Lin Xu, imagining the harmonious scene between brothers, handed the phone to Ji Zeqiu.


    Ji Zeqiu looked at the phone, confusion on his face as he brought it to his ear. ¡°What did you want to talk about?¡±


    In the next instant, he became so angry his neck turned red and his voice carried a note of indignation, ¡°Ji Tingyang, are you sick? Why are you yelling at me!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not like I wanted to fall down!¡±


    ¡°Come if you want, or don¡¯t!¡±


    Ji Zeqiu was so irritated he felt itchy in his teeth, and he hung up the phone directly.


    Now why did they start fighting? Where was the friendly brotherly affection?


    Lin Xu blinked, ¡°What did Ting Yang say?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu pouted, grumpily complaining to Lin Xu, ¡°Mother, I¡¯m injured, and Ji Tingyang still yelled at me.¡±


    That jerk didn¡¯t even pretend to care when he heard he was alright, and immediately canceled his plane ticket.


    Not even putting on a facade.


    And to top it off, he had the nerve to mock and be sarcastic, saying that he even got hurt while filming.


    ¡°He¡¯s just saying one thing but feeling another, in truth, he turned pale when he heard you were injured. If it wasn¡¯t for some urgent matters he had to attend to at the company, he would have already been on the same flight with us,¡± Lin Xu explained.


    ¡°Really?¡± Ji Zeqiu was suspicious.


    ¡°Of course, I can vouch for that.¡± Ji Yuqiao raised her hand, ¡°Big brother really is very worried about you.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu coughed once, then his face suddenly took on an awkward expression, ¡°Suppose he has a bit of a conscience.¡±

 Chapter 213 - Chapter 213: Chapter 213: Feed You a Spoonful for 100,000

    Chapter 213: Chapter 213: Feed You a Spoonful for 100,000


    Lin Xu went to inquire about Ji Zeqiu¡¯s condition from the doctor and ran into Zhou Hongwen on her way back to the ward.


    That talented actor of the new generation, the one Ji Zeqiu had specifically warned her to steer clear of.


    And yet, unexpectedly, it was Zhou Hongwen who ended up saving him.


    Zhou Hongwen¡¯s arm was wrapped in a bandage, slung around his neck, and his forehead was covered with a few patches of gauze, but it wasn¡¯t clear if he was injured anywhere else.


    When he saw Lin Xu, a glint of light sparked in his eyes, ¡°Miss Lin, what are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°I came to visit Ji Zeqiu.¡± Lin Xu approached, her face etched with gratitude, ¡°I heard from Ji Zeqiu that when he fell from the wire, you caught him. Thank you.¡±


    At that moment, they were both filming a scene that required wire work; Ji Zeqiu¡¯s wire had snapped, and Zhou Hongwen, who was beside him, reached out and grabbed him, buying some time for the crew to come to their rescue.


    Even though they both ended up falling and getting injured, fortunately, it was nothing life-threatening.


    ¡°No need to be so formal, anyone there would have offered a hand to help. If only I had a little more strength back then, could¡¯ve held on a bit longer, perhaps he wouldn¡¯t have gotten injured,¡± Zhou Hongwen said, a shade of apology on his face.


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that, the fact that he¡¯s not in danger is already a big relief. If it wasn¡¯t for you, who knows what could have happened,¡± Lin Xu was still very grateful to him and, after thanking him, asked about his injury.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious, just a dislocated arm and a scratch on the forehead. It will heal in a few days,¡± Zhou Hongwen said.


    ¡°After your injury heals, let me treat you to a meal,¡± Lin Xu thought since he had saved Ji Zeqiu, it was only right to invite him for a meal.


    Zhou Hongwen¡¯s cheeks turned red as if tinted by the sunset, and he became suddenly nervous, stuttering, ¡°How¡­how can I let a lady pay¡­ ¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï


    ¡°It¡¯s the right thing to do, so it¡¯s settled,¡± Lin Xu said as they exchanged contact information before she returned to Ji Zeqiu¡¯s ward.


    Zhou Hongwen was left standing in place, stupidly grinning at the contact he had just added¡ªLin Xu¡¯s WeChat.


    A few days after staying in the hospital, Ji Zeqiu followed Lin Xu home to continue his recovery.


    Since the accident was due to a problem with the set¡¯s props, the director felt even less inclined to rush Ji Zeqiu back to the set and could only tell him not to worry, to recover well, and to return to the set when he was ready.


    Ji Zeqiu was actually quite thrilled about this.


    Because he was injured, he got a lot of attention from Lin Xu.


    ¡°Mother, I¡¯d like an apple,¡± Ji Zeqiu said, looking at his arm that he couldn¡¯t lift, his face a picture of distress.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go wash one for you,¡± Lin Xu immediately took an apple to the kitchen and came back with it cut into small pieces.


    She naturally picked up a little fork, speared a piece of apple, and brought it to Ji Zeqiu¡¯s mouth.


    He hesitated for a moment, a shy blush slowly creeping up to his ears as he awkwardly opened his mouth and took a bite of the apple.


    The sweet juice of the apple burst in his mouth, tasting sweeter than any fruit he¡¯d had before.


    In that moment, he wished the wound on his arm would never heal.


    When it was time for lunch, Ji Zeqiu again looked troubled at the food before him, ¡°Mother, my hand¡­¡±


    But then, as he saw Lin Xu pick up the spoon, intending to feed him, a subtle joy appeared in his eyes and brows.


    However, before the spoon reached his mouth, it was snatched away by Ji Tingyang.


    Ji Tingyang handed the spoon to Ji Yuqiao, ¡°Didn¡¯t you see your second brother is injured? Feed him.¡±


    ¡°Why should I do it?¡± Ji Yuqiao pouted.


    ¡°Feed him one spoonful and you¡¯ll get a hundred thousand in pocket money,¡± Ji Tingyang precisely hit Ji Yuqiao¡¯s weak spot.


    Her eyes instantly lit up, sparkling with excitement.


    She snatched the spoon, scooped up a spoonful of food, and stuffed it into Ji Zeqiu¡¯s mouth, ¡°Second brother, let me feed you.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s face turned iron blue as he glared fiercely at Ji Tingyang and awkwardly dodged Ji Yuqiao¡¯s spoon, ¡°I can eat by myself¡­¡±


    ¡°Second brother, we¡¯re siblings, you don¡¯t have to be so polite with me, let me feed you!¡± Ji Yuqiao forcefully pushed the spoon into his mouth.


    After finishing one spoonful, she continued to shove another spoonful in.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s chewing couldn¡¯t keep up with her feeding, and his mouth was stuffed full of food, his muffled voice filled with anger, ¡°Ji Yuqiao, are you trying to choke me?¡±


    ¡°Ten spoonfuls, fifteen spoonfuls, twenty spoonfuls¡­¡± She muttered under her breath, growing more excited as the count increased.


    It wasn¡¯t until Ji Zeqiu¡¯s rice bowl was empty that she still seemed unsatisfied, ¡°Second brother, you definitely haven¡¯t had enough, I¡¯ll go get you another bowl of rice, just wait for me.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu: ¡°¡­¡±


    When Ji Yuqiao came out with the freshly scooped rice, Ji Zeqiu had already disappeared from the dining table.


    ¡°Where is Second brother?¡± She looked around.


    ¡°He went back to his room,¡± said Ji Tingyang.


    She held the rice and pounded on the door as if slamming into a wall, shouting loudly, ¡°Second brother, open the door! I¡¯m here to feed you!¡±


    The commotion was akin to bandits breaking down the door, making Ji Zeqiu even less inclined to open it.


    A hint of helplessness tinted Miss Lin¡¯s smiling face as she turned to Ji Tingyang, ¡°Zeqiu is injured, and you¡¯re still teasing him.¡±


    ¡°Ji Zeqiu needs someone to feed him, the sister needs pocket money, isn¡¯t it killing two birds with one stone?¡± Ji Tingyang raised an eyebrow.


    Now that the two light bulbs had left, he could even have a meal alone with his mother, it was more like hitting three birds with one stone.


    Ji Tingyang pondered for a moment, contemplating the feasibility of making this a regular practice.


    ¡­


    Even though Ji Zeqiu was recuperating at home and didn¡¯t need to go to the set to film, he still had to attend some light engagements.


    The agent arranged some interviews, photo shoots, and endorsement events for him¡­


    All things considered, it wasn¡¯t much more relaxing than shooting a film.


    One day, while the agent was waiting for Ji Zeqiu to come downstairs in the living room, he casually asked Lin Xu, ¡°Are you coming to Zeqiu¡¯s birthday party the day after tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°Birthday party?¡± Lin Xu was startled, ¡°Isn¡¯t his birthday still half a year away?¡±


    Why was he celebrating his birthday so early?


    The agent explained, ¡°It¡¯s the birthday on his official profile. The injury incident a couple of weeks ago was a bit of a fiasco, right? This time we¡¯re planning a big birthday party, inviting some fans to attend, and it could also help soothe their feelings.¡±


    Lin Xu now understood, ¡°It¡¯s all fans, it might not be a good idea for me to go, I¡¯ll pass.¡±


    ¡°You can skip the daytime party, but you must come to the evening gathering, and bring President Ji along too,¡± the agent suggested with a wink.


    The evening gathering had invited quite a few people from the industry, and perhaps with Ji Tingyang¡¯s help, they could drum up some major collaborations for Ji Zeqiu.


    The agent¡¯s calculations were all set.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll bring him along then,¡± Lin Xu said with a smile.


    Only once she arrived did she realize that this birthday gathering was even larger than the previous ones, with many attendees.


    She even spotted Xie Changyan and Xiao Yu¡­

 Chapter 214 - Chapter 214: Chapter 214: Not Allowed to Like Her

    Chapter 214: Chapter 214: Not Allowed to Like Her


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s agent had invited Ji Tingyang to parties before but was always met with rejection.


    Given Ji Zeqiu¡¯s personality, he certainly wasn¡¯t willing to invite Ji Tingyang himself.


    The agent thought of many strategies and eventually settled on Lin Xu.


    The two brothers would do anything Lin Xu asked, so her invitation would surely be successful.


    And it seemed that was indeed the case.


    When Ji Tingyang heard Lin Xu¡¯s invitation to the party, he nodded in agreement before she even finished speaking.


    But when he learned it was Ji Zeqiu¡¯s birthday party, the smile that had just started to form on his lips faded away.


    ¡°What¡¯s so good about this party? I¡¯d rather go to a musical.¡± With that, he took two tickets out of the drawer.


    It was as if he had been prepared for a long time but had never found the right moment to invite someone.


    ¡°Let¡¯s listen to the concert another time. How about we go to Zeqiu¡¯s party this time?¡± Lin Xu gently rubbed his tense cheeks and coaxed in a soft voice, ¡°Pretend you¡¯re going just to accompany me, okay?¡±


    Unable to resist Lin Xu¡¯s coquettish plea, Ji Tingyang¡¯s ears burned a beat slower, and he nodded.


    The venue was bustling with people at the evening party.


    Ji Zeqiu was greeting the guests when he caught a glimpse of Zhou Hongwen repeatedly peering towards the entrance.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã?


    Ji Zeqiu didn¡¯t want to bother with him but remembering that Zhou Hongwen had saved him once, he figured he should go over and say thanks.


    Ji Zeqiu walked over, ¡°What are you looking at?¡±


    Zhou Hongwen jolted in surprise, spilling a few drops from his glass of wine, ¡°I¡¯m waiting for someone¡­ ¡±


    ¡°Who are you waiting for?¡± Ji Zeqiu asked nonchalantly.


    Zhou Hongwen hemmed and hawed, his eyes darting back to the entrance, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say¡­ Lin Xu would come too¡­¡±


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s eyes widened in an instant and his voice raised a few notches, ¡°You can¡¯t still like Lin Xu, can you?¡±


    He had almost forgotten about it.


    Zhou Hongwen had a crush on his mother.


    Zhou Hongwen¡¯s ears gradually turned red as he fiddled with his hem, too nervous to speak.


    But even without an answer, Ji Zeqiu could guess his shy intentions.


    ¡°Did you save me on the set because of Lin Xu?¡± Ji Zeqiu made a connection and looked at him with a hint of wariness in his eyes.


    Intentionally saving him to get closer to Lin Xu.


    Zhou Hongwen hurriedly denied it, ¡°Not at all, anyone in that situation would choose to save someone.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Ji Zeqiu¡¯s guarded look dissipated, and then he said sternly, ¡°But didn¡¯t I warn you not to like Lin Xu?¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡± Zhou Hongwen asked.


    ¡°She¡­ she already has someone she likes.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Zhou Hongwen was skeptical.


    ¡°Really. If you want to date, I can introduce you to other women.¡± Ji Zeqiu took Zhou Hongwen to meet the female artists at the event, hoping he would move on soon.


    They had just left when Lin Xu and her group arrived shortly afterward.


    As soon as Ji Tingyang entered, he was surrounded by many people, holding glasses of wine to exchange pleasantries with him.


    Lin Xu and Ji Yuqiao were pushed to the side.


    ¡°Who would have thought big brother is even more popular than second brother,¡± Ji Yuqiao remarked.


    Ji Tingyang rarely appeared at events outside of work necessities.


    Many of those who came to greet him also had ulterior motives, hoping to network with Ji¡¯s company on behalf of their families.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go sit over there for a while,¡± Ji Yuqiao suggested, pointing to a seating area not far away.


    Lin Xu glanced at Ji Tingyang and, guessing that he wouldn¡¯t be finished anytime soon, followed Ji Yuqiao away.


    She had not been sitting long before she heard someone calling her.


    ¡°Miss Lin, when did you get here?¡± Zhou Hongwen¡¯s face lit up with joy, having not expected to run into her just after escaping Ji Zeqiu¡¯s ¡°persecution.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve only been here for a few minutes,¡± Lin Xu smiled at him, ¡°Just call me Lin Xu, no need to be so formal.¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay,¡± Zhou Hongwen stuttered with a hint of bashfulness and nervousness in his twinkling eyes, calling out her name, ¡°Lin Xu.¡±


    Those two words seemed to have some kind of magic, making his cheeks burn so hot he didn¡¯t need a mirror to know his face was definitely red.


    Ji Yuqiao widened her eyes in disbelief at his flushed appearance, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t happen to like Lin Xu, would you?¡±


    His little secret poked at, Zhou Hongwen¡¯s cheeks burned even hotter.


    ¡°I, she¡­¡± He faltered, unable to articulate a complete sentence.


    ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to like her!¡± Ji Yuqiao said, hands on hips, glaring at him with wide, round eyes.


    ¡°Why?¡± Zhou Hongwen¡¯s question came out surprisingly clear and concise.


    Why did everyone keep telling him he wasn¡¯t allowed to like Lin Xu?


    Ji Tingyang had said it, Ji Zeqiu had said it, and now even this girl whose identity he wasn¡¯t sure of was saying the same thing.


    ¡°Because she already likes someone else!¡± Ji Yuqiao explained.


    ¡°Her liking someone else doesn¡¯t conflict with me liking her,¡± Zhou Hongwen said, and then glanced at Lin Xu with a blushing face.


    Not just Ji Yuqiao, but even Lin Xu herself was taken aback.


    Lin Xu¡¯s mouth fell open, but before she could speak, a voice of agreement sounded beside them, ¡°Well said.¡±


    The man clapped once, the corners of his lips curling up into a subtle smile as he walked to Lin Xu¡¯s side and wrapped his arm around her waist.


    The next second, in front of Zhou Hongwen, he kissed Lin Xu¡¯s lips briefly, like a dragonfly skimming the water.


    He made his claim over her clear to everyone else.


    ¡°Ah!¡± Ji Yuqiao covered her face with her hands, peering through the gaps in her fingers at the kiss, her voice low and excited as she screamed.


    Mom and dad are kissing!


    How embarrassing!


    In contrast to Ji Yuqiao¡¯s excitement, Zhou Hongwen stood frozen in place, his face turning ghostly pale.


    ¡°President Xie?¡± Once he saw the man was Xie Changyan, his face grew even more complicated, ¡°You¡­ she¡­?¡±


    ¡°Sorry, I forgot to introduce her. She¡¯s my fianc¨¦e,¡± Xie Changyan¡¯s eyes twinkled with mirth.


    His words were like a boulder, crushing Zhou Hongwen¡¯s heart, which just a second ago had been so full of joy.


    So her having someone she liked was true after all.


    He looked deeply at Lin Xu, his voice tinged with a hint of panic, ¡°I have something to do, I must go now.¡±


    He turned and left with all his might, as the last flicker of hope in his heart was completely extinguished, and he walked away dejected.


    Xie Changyan tightened his grip on her waist, a hint of jealousy in his voice, ¡°Stop looking; he¡¯s already gone without a trace.¡±


    Lin Xu couldn¡¯t help but laugh.


    He had just praised the other man¡¯s words, and yet he was already jealous.


    ¡°How come you¡¯re here?¡± Lin Xu asked.


    ¡°An artist under my company is celebrating their birthday, so I came to show my face,¡± Xie Changyan said with a lazy look, his eyes half-closed, ¡°It¡¯s lucky I came, otherwise I wouldn¡¯t have known that someone could be so charming.¡±


    Lin Xu nodded as if it was a significant matter, ¡°It¡¯s fortunate you came, otherwise I wouldn¡¯t have known I had gained a fianc¨¦.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not too late to find out now; you can start thinking about when we should go and register to make it official.¡± Xie Changyan chuckled softly, his voice a seductive whisper in her ear.

 Chapter 215 - Chapter 215: Chapter 215: Brothers Stand United

    Chapter 215: Chapter 215: Brothers Stand United


    Ji Zeqiu had done many persuading Zhou Hongwen to give up Lin Xu, but it had little effect.


    In the blink of an eye, Zhou Hongwen had disappeared.


    Before Ji Zeqiu had even started to look for him, he returned, looking pale and distraught.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Ji Zeqiu asked curiously.


    Zhou Hongwen hung his head and sighed.


    Ji Zeqiu was still puzzled about why he had disappeared for a few minutes and then returned even more dejected?


    He even had a flat reaction to the mention of Lin Xu¡¯s name.


    It wasn¡¯t until Ji Zeqiu saw Xie Changyan next to Lin Xu that he suddenly realized.


    It wasn¡¯t just Zhou Hongwen who had been rattled by Xie Changyan; even Ji Zeqiu¡¯s complexion had darkened.


    Xie Changyan was holding Lin Xu in a very affectionate manner, speaking with a faint smile at the corner of his lips.


    Meanwhile, Ji Yuqiao looked excited, as if struck by ¡°ship¡± fever, hands cupping her cheeks and excitedly watching the two of them.


    Ji Zeqiu went over, curled his fingers, and gave Ji Yuqiao¡¯s head a hard knock, ¡°Why are you smiling like an idiot, don¡¯t you see he¡¯s about to whisk mom away?¡±


    ¡°Why do you talk just like big brother?¡± Ji Yuqiao, pained, covered her head, ¡°Besides, what¡¯s wrong with father and mother being together?¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, looking at Ji Yuqiao as if she were a traitor, ¡°When did he buy you off? He could never be our father!¡±


    Looking at the two of them together, Ji Zeqiu grew increasingly displeased and pulled Lin Xu back to his side.


    He looked at Xie Changyan with a trace of anger in his eyes, and spoke impolitely, ¡°Thank you, President Xie, for attending tonight¡¯s party. However, President Xie has many matters to attend to. I won¡¯t keep you any longer.¡±


    It was clearly an intention to send him away.


    ¡°Indeed, there are quite a few things, next we¡¯re discussing buying rings, wedding dresses, holding a wedding¡­ not sure if there¡¯s enough time,¡± Xie Changyan pondered slightly.


    Hearing his words, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s pupils shrunk suddenly, a look of disbelief appearing on his face, his body trembling for a moment, ¡°You¡¯re going to marry him?!¡±


    His dark eyes instantly reddened, as if he had been struck by something, showing his hurt and sadness.


    Ji Tingyang, who had just made it through the crowd, also paused in his steps upon hearing their conversation.


    His face changed slightly, and the atmosphere around him instantly turned icy, his gaze towards Xie Changyan carrying a terrifying chill.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s mouth quirked, his tone casual with a drawn-out end, ¡°Ah, I forgot to say, it¡¯s a friend¡¯s wedding¡­¡±


    Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu paused for a moment, then quickly realized they had been played, and fury surged in their eyes, glaring at Xie Changyan as if wanting to shoot fire.


    The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder.


    Lin Xu¡¯s corner of the mouth twitched, truly unable to comprehend why father and son meetings always looked like enemies about to fight.


    Just as the brothers were about to be infuriated to death by Xie Changyan, Lin Xu quickly pulled them away from the ¡°battlefield¡±.


    ¡°Mother, don¡¯t be fooled by Xie Changyan!¡± the brothers exclaimed in unison.


    The brothers¡¯ tacit understanding appeared at a strange moment.


    Ji Tingyang: ¡°There are so many similar people in the world, don¡¯t be fooled by appearances.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu: ¡°Exactly, exactly!¡±


    Ji Tingyang: ¡°Apart from that face, he doesn¡¯t resemble our father in any way.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu: ¡°Exactly, exactly!¡±


    The two brothers stood united against the external, leaving Lin Xu torn between laughter and tears.


    Ji Yuqiao was unconvinced, ¡°Mother and father have been together for so many years, how could she possibly recognize the wrong father, he must be the one!¡±


    She was full of trust in Lin Xu¡¯s words.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression was stern as he glared at her, ¡°When adults are speaking, children should not interrupt.¡±


    A light voice from Ji Zeqiu came, ¡°Keep babbling, and your pocket money will be halved in the future.¡±


    A naked threat.


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s face immediately fell, and she threw herself into Lin Xu¡¯s arms to complain, ¡°Big brother and second brother are bullying me, wu wu wu¡­¡±


    Lin Xu patted her head to comfort her, ¡°If Zeqiu deducts your pocket money, mom will give it to you in the future, be good, don¡¯t cry~¡±


    Ji Yuqiao sniffled and rubbed her head against Lin Xu¡¯s neck with grievance.


    At that moment, her two brothers seemed like the villains in a TV drama who tear apart the male and female leads.


    Not only they wouldn¡¯t let their father and mother be together, but they also wanted to dock her pocket money.


    ¡°Okay, stop scaring Lanyue, otherwise I¡¯m going to get mad,¡± Lin Xu said to the two brothers.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything, it was Ji Zeqiu¡¯s remark about deducting pocket money that made her cry,¡± Ji Tingyang immediately abandoned Ji Zeqiu when it came to a crucial moment.


    Ji Zeqiu: ¡°¡­¡±


    If he ever speaks up for Ji Tingyang again, he¡¯ll be a dog.


    While the four of them were gathered talking, from time to time, artists passed by to greet them.


    ¡°Is this President Ji and Zeqiu¡¯s sister, she¡¯s really pretty,¡± a female artist remarked dramatically as she looked at Ji Yuqiao.


    ¡°Sister, have you ever thought about becoming an artist? Why don¡¯t you join our crew and make a cameo?¡± another person added.


    ¡°Ah, can I?¡± Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes lit up, sparkling with surprise.


    ¡°With her personality, she¡¯d debut in the morning and retire in the afternoon,¡± Ji Tingyang commented.


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t know anything, being an artist is not for her,¡± Ji Zeqiu added.


    ¡°Who says I can¡¯t do anything, I can¡­ I can¡­¡± Ji Yuqiao struggled to think of something impressive when her eyes suddenly caught the piano beside her, lighting up, ¡°I can play the piano!¡±


    ¡°You can play?¡± Ji Zeqiu was surprised.


    When they were kids, they had no money, and Ji Yuqiao had never taken any hobby classes. By the time Ji Tingyang reclaimed their parents¡¯ inheritance, she had grown up and lost interest in these activities.


    Seeing his disbelief, Ji Yuqiao felt a surge of defiance and quickly sat down at the piano.


    Her fair, slender fingers danced on the piano keys, and melodious piano sounds filled the air, flowing smoothly and beautifully, enchanting the listeners.


    A few minutes later, the piece ended.


    Ji Yuqiao stood up and, across the crowd, cockily lifted her chin at Ji Zeqiu, her eyes beaming with pride.


    Suddenly, the crowd burst into applause.


    Ji Yuqiao returned satisfied, feeling like she had vindicated herself, ¡°How about that, I played well, didn¡¯t I?¡±


    ¡°Where did you learn to play the piano?¡± Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu were both surprised.


    ¡°I learned it at the school music festival, and actually, I only know this one piece ¡®Fur Elice¡¯,¡± Ji Yuqiao chuckled and stuck out her tongue.


    And just a few seconds ago.


    In a corner of the venue, Xiao Yu caught just a fleeting glimpse, Ji Yuqiao¡¯s dazzling beauty with its edge unexpectedly burst into his sight.


    He stared dazedly at Ji Yuqiao beside the piano on stage, as if a droplet had fallen into his heart, rippling outwards in waves.

 Chapter 216 - Chapter 216: Chapter 216: Inexplicable Melancholy

    Chapter 216: Chapter 216: Inexplicable Melancholy


    Xiao Yu sat in front of his desk, his eyes on the computer screen, but his thoughts had long since drifted elsewhere.


    He typed absentmindedly on the keyboard, but all that appeared on the document was a mess of gibberish.


    The senior thought Xiao Yu was affected by a recent breakup, patted his shoulder, and consoled him, ¡°The world is full of beauties, don¡¯t be sad, you will definitely meet someone better in the future.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Xiao Yu frowned.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you upset about breaking up with Wen Li?¡± the senior asked.


    Xiao Yu paused for a moment, his expression complicated.


    Initially, he couldn¡¯t let go of the breakup, but since returning from the bar, he found he thought most about Ji Yuqiao.


    The words she said to him would occasionally surface in his mind¡ª¡±Abandon that pointless pride of yours, the one looking down on you is always yourself.¡±


    Her words haunted Xiao Yu like a curse, lingering in his mind and ears, unable to dissipate for a long time.


    It made it impossible for him to concentrate on life and work.


    Seeing Xiao Yu silent, the senior thought he had hit the mark and said in a heartfelt manner, ¡°The pain of a breakup is temporary, time will dilute everything.¡±


    ¡°There isn¡¯t anything particularly important happening lately. I¡¯ll give you some time off, take a few days to rest before coming back to work.¡±


    ¡°No need, I¡¯m fine,¡± Xiao Yu shook his head.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï


    ¡°While it¡¯s true that a man should prioritize his career, you don¡¯t have to be so strong-willed. Taking a break will be more beneficial for your work,¡± said the senior, remembering something and taking an invitation from his drawer, handing it to Xiao Yu, ¡°This is an invitation from a partner, there¡¯s a gathering tomorrow evening, it¡¯ll be good for you to relax a bit.¡±


    However, upon arriving, Xiao Yu discovered that the gathering was actually Ji Zeqiu¡¯s birthday party.


    Thinking of the Ji Family members, whether Ji Tingyang or Ji Yuqiao, he didn¡¯t want to see either of them.


    Yet just as he was about to leave, he saw a CEO he had been wanting to contact but had no way to, and his steps halted.


    Xiao Yu knit his brows, his heart in turmoil, as if two polar opposite selves were splitting in his mind.


    One little person said, ¡°Haven¡¯t you always detested the people of the Ji Family? If you approach that CEO now, it will be like riding on the Ji Family¡¯s coattails, where would your own merit be?¡±


    But another little person said, ¡°With your abilities, trying to contact that CEO is nothing short of a fool¡¯s dream. If you don¡¯t seize this chance, when will you ever?¡±


    His heart was a tangled mess of yarn, hesitant and lost, standing frozen in place.


    It was then that the gentle sound of a piano began to play.


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s figure appeared on stage, her chin up, lips curled in an unconstrained smile.


    Unlike the pleasing, yes-man attitude of the past, she now seemed bold and striking, capturing his attention completely.


    His heart skipped a beat, as if a stone had been dropped into the calm waters of his heart, sending out ripples.


    Suddenly, Xiao Yu remembered what Ji Yuqiao had said to him at the bar¡ª¡±Abandon that pointless pride of yours¡­¡±


    By the time he came back to his senses, he was already walking towards President Shen, ¡°President Shen, hello¡­¡±


    The conversation went unexpectedly smoothly.


    Xiao Yu and President Shen exchanged business cards, and he seemed quite interested in the project he had talked about.


    ¡°I have some other matters to attend to right now, let¡¯s find time to talk about this project in detail some other time.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Xiao Yu watched President Shen leave, and as he turned around, his eyes suddenly caught sight of Ji Yuqiao.


    And Ji Yuqiao saw him as well.


    They looked at each other across the crowd.


    Xiao Yu was startled for a moment, his mind flashing with images of her previous delight upon seeing him, and that figure rushing towards him at first opportunity¡­


    His hand at his side clenched, pondering what should he say to her later?


    However, none of this happened.


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s gaze remained indifferent as if she hadn¡¯t seen him at all, and she looked away.


    But when she saw Lin Xu, her clear and bright eyes sparkled like stars, and her steps became cheerful.


    She linked arms with Lin Xu, lips pursed with a hint of petulance in her expression, resting her head on Lin Xu¡¯s shoulder as if coquettishly whispering something.


    Xiao Yu watched for a while before awkwardly averting his gaze.


    Perhaps influenced by Ji Yuqiao recently, that night, Xiao Yu even dreamt about her.


    He dreamt of her wearing that orange-yellow dress, vibrant and lively, sitting beside him attending a competition class.


    He dreamt of her winning a prize in the competition, eyes playful and smug as she winked at him.


    He dreamt of her sitting at the piano, her slender fingers nimbly dancing across the black and white keys, her face brimming with confidence and poise¡­


    No matter which aspect, it was completely opposite to the former Ji Yuqiao, becoming dazzling and captivating.


    Just as he wanted to walk towards her, her smile vanished abruptly, her gaze at him cold and detached, as if isolating him from her world.


    In his sleep, Xiao Yu¡¯s brow furrowed, seeming to never quite settle into a peaceful rest.


    As the sky outside the window began to lighten, he awoke from the dream.


    He stared at the pale ceiling.


    For some reason, a sense of inexplicable melancholy arose in his heart.


    ¡­


    After the gathering ended.


    Ji Zeqiu had returned to the film set. Before leaving, he took Ji Yuqiao aside and reminded her.


    ¡°You must not let Xie Changyan get close to mother again, understand?!¡±


    Ji Tingyang had to go to work, so only Ji Yuqiao, who was on summer break, had the time to frequently be by Lin Xu¡¯s side.


    Ji Zeqiu nagged and admonished her.


    Ji Yuqiao, with impatience on her face, said, ¡°You and big brother have been harping on about it so much I¡¯m getting calluses in my ears.¡±


    ¡°If you can do it, I¡¯ll double your pocket money,¡± Ji Zeqiu tempted.


    Ji Yuqiao didn¡¯t hesitate, ¡°Deal!¡±


    However, in the blink of an eye, Ji Yuqiao took the unlimited supplementary card that Xie Changyan handed over, her eyes sparkling brightly.


    ¡°You both just go on your date, I¡¯ll keep it secret from big brother and second brother!¡± she promised, patting her chest.


    Isn¡¯t it only natural for father and mother to go on dates?


    How could she stop them!


    Ji Yuqiao convinced herself, then happily took the bank card to go shopping.


    Lin Xu looked at Xie Changyan with amusement in her eyes, ¡°Why so generous?¡±


    ¡°After all, if I want to abduct someone, I can¡¯t do it without letting go of the child to catch the wolf,¡± Xie Changyan said with a light laugh.


    ¡°Where do you plan to abduct me to then?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s fill our stomachs first.¡±


    Xie Changyan took Lin Xu to a restaurant but hadn¡¯t anticipated running into someone he was bound to meet.


    Xie Mingwang saw Xie Changyan from afar, leading a woman by the hand, shocked beyond measure.


    Could she be the woman who had troubled his grandson for so long?!


    He had to go and get a good look at this woman who had made Xie Changyan so fixated.

 Chapter 217 - Chapter 217: Chapter 217 When to Get Married License

    Chapter 217: Chapter 217 When to Get Married License


    Several years ago, as Xie Mingwang grew older, he began to worry about Xie Changyan¡¯s marriage.


    He was concerned that one day, when he was no longer around, his only grandson would have no one to take care of him.


    Afterward, Xie Mingwang started arranging blind dates for Xie Changyan.


    However, after meeting so many daughters of wealthy families, Xie Changyan didn¡¯t take a liking to even one.


    Xie Mingwang¡¯s worries shifted from being concerned about future care for Xie Changyan to fearing the Xie family line would end, causing him sleepless nights.


    But then, one day, Xie Changyan had an epiphany and fell for a woman, which thrilled Xie Mingwang to no end.


    Turns out, without asking, you wouldn¡¯t know, but upon asking, you¡¯d be startled.


    The woman was actually already married.


    Xie Mingwang exploded with anger on the spot, his blood pressure soared, and no matter how he tried to persuade them to split up, Xie Changyan remained indifferent, even stubbornly fixating on her as though she was the only one for him.


    As expected, he was hurt.


    For a while, Xie Changyan nearly drowned his sorrows in alcohol daily, the smell of liquor on him was even stronger than the fragrances at home.


    This was his grandson whom he had doted on for thirty years, yet he had never seen Xie Changyan in such a sorry state.


    That day, Xie Mingwang sat in his bedroom allday, holding a cigarette he hadn¡¯t smoked for a long while, watching the weather change from bright to pitch black outside the window.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï


    He contemplated for a long time, his thoughts drifting far away, reminiscing over every past moment.


    Until the dark night sky began to brighten again, and the sun slowly rose, he finally persuaded himself.


    As long as his grandson was happy, that was better than anything else.


    Xie Mingwang made a compromise.


    To his surprise, Xie Changyan then told him that the whole affair was a misunderstanding, and the woman was single?


    So all the mental preparation he had done was all for nothing?


    Xie Mingwang¡¯s chest heaved rapidly, gasping for breath, he raised his hand holding the cane and swung it towards Xie Changyan.


    ¡°You brat, chasing after someone without even clarifying their background,¡± Xie Mingwang gasped as he chased him around, beating him until his aged body could no longer handle it and he had to stop to rest.


    ¡°Now that there is no issue with the lady, find a time to bring her home for me to meet, and let¡¯s have a meal together while we¡¯re at it,¡± Xie Mingwang said breathlessly.


    Xie Changyan nodded in agreement, but until now, he still hadn¡¯t brought her home for a visit.


    Xie Mingwang was furious but at the same time powerless to do anything about it.


    But Xie Mingwang never expected to encounter them today while dining with an old friend here so serendipitously.


    Xie Mingwang watched them from a distance, appraisingly eyeing the woman.


    The woman was beautiful, with curved brows framing a pair of clear, bright eyes, and her fair, unblemished skin looked even more exquisite under the light.


    Her mouth curved into a gentle smile, and her whole being exuded a warm and bright aura.


    Xie Mingwang nodded in approval.


    Unexpectedly, his grandson¡¯s taste in picking a wife was like his own, even loving someone as beautiful as his grandmother.


    Perhaps his gaze was too intense, for Lin Xu sensed the stare on her and turned her head to look.


    She saw an old man not far away, smiling warmly at her and waving his hand.


    Lin Xu looked around and, once sure the gaze was meant for her, a wave of puzzlement rose within her.


    ¡°Ah Yan, it seems an old gentleman over there is looking at us,¡± she said.


    Xie Changyan followed her gaze and, upon seeing Xie Mingwang, appeared a bit taken aback, a subdued helplessness surfacing in his narrow eyes, ¡°Indeed, he is looking at us.¡±


    ¡°Do you know him?¡± Lin Xu asked.


    Xie Changyan didn¡¯t answer; instead, he directly led Lin Xu over, ¡°Grandfather, what are you doing here?¡±


    Lin Xu¡¯s mouth fell open slightly, surprised for quite a while.


    This person is actually Xie Changyan¡¯s grandfather?


    As soon as she thought about meeting the parents, Lin Xu suddenly became nervous, her whole body tensing up.


    She was afraid of leaving a bad impression.


    In the past, Ji Yanli¡¯s parents died early, and he didn¡¯t have a good relationship with his sister, not even seeing her when he got married.


    It turned out she had never experienced meeting the parents.


    Unexpectedly, she went through it twenty years later, and the experience was indeed special.


    ¡°I came to dine with a friend,¡± Xie Mingwang answered Xie Changyan, but his eyes were fixed on Lin Xu, ¡°Are you guys here to eat as well?¡±


    Lin Xu nodded stiffly, ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Then great, let¡¯s eat together,¡± Xie Mingwang said cheerfully.


    ¡°Haven¡¯t you already finished eating?¡± Xie Changyan¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly as he glanced at the private room behind him, where the waiters were already clearing the tableware.


    Xie Mingwang¡¯s voice choked, and his eyes flickered guiltily, ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t eat enough, I¡¯ll have a few more bites with you guys.¡±


    Xie Changyan¡¯s mouth curved into a light smile as he looked at him silently.


    Xie Mingwang suddenly felt at a loss.


    He sighed, his tone somewhat pitiful, ¡°Nevermind, no one cares about an old man like me. If I starve to death, so be it.¡±


    A muffled laugh escaped Xie Changyan¡¯s throat. He looked at Lin Xu, seeking her opinion, ¡°It seems our alone time is not happening. Would you mind an extra wheel?¡±


    Xie Mingwang immediately looked at Lin Xu, his eyes carrying a barely noticeable hopefulness as he stared straight at her.


    For some reason, she was reminded of Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu.


    Lin Xu smiled lightly, ¡°It¡¯s fine, let¡¯s eat together.¡±


    ¡°He might be very annoying, I advise you to consider it carefully,¡± Xie Changyan said with a laugh.


    Annoying?


    How annoying could he be?


    Lin Xu didn¡¯t take it to heart.


    However, it was not until after entering the private room that she fully understood the meaning behind Xie Changyan¡¯s words.


    ¡°Miss Lin looks very young. May I ask your age?¡± Xie Mingwang said.


    Lin Xu: ¡°I am twenty-seven now.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Xie Mingwang nodded, ¡°What about your family, what do they do for work?¡±


    ¡°But that¡¯s not important. I want to ask when you plan to marry Xie Changyan?¡±


    ¡°Oh, you need to discuss it with your family first, right?¡±


    ¡°I just looked, and there are a few good days this month, auspicious for weddings. How about getting your marriage license first?¡±


    ¡°Also, how many children do you plan to have after the marriage? I think two or three children would be best, more people means more company. And later on, the children¡¯s education¡­¡±


    Xie Mingwang talked on and on, leaving Lin Xu dizzy and unable to respond.


    ¡°Grandpa, if you keep this up, we¡¯re leaving,¡± Xie Changyan¡¯s light voice carried a hint of threat.


    Scared, Xie Mingwang immediately shut his mouth.


    After a while.


    He couldn¡¯t hold back, ¡°Just one last thing.¡±


    He took out his phone, opened an electronic almanac, and handed it to Lin Xu, ¡°The 10th of next month is a good day. What do you think about getting the license then?¡±


    Lin Xu: ¡°¡­¡±

 Chapter 218 - Chapter 218: Chapter 218: Climbing the Mountain

    Chapter 218: Chapter 218: Climbing the Mountain


    This lunch finally came to a strenuous end under Xie Mingwang¡¯s ceaseless chatter.


    Without any excuses left, Xie Mingwang could only reluctantly say goodbye to the two of them.


    Before leaving, he added Lin Xu on WeChat, mentioning he would visit with gifts in a few days.


    Visit whom?


    Ji Tingyang?


    If Ji Tingyang knew Xie Mingwang was coming over to discuss marriage matters, he would probably be so angry that he would grab a broom to chase him out of the villa and turn the house upside down in the process.


    Imagining this scene, Lin Xu shuddered with fear.


    Seeing her trembling body, Xie Changyan thought she was startled by Xie Mingwang¡¯s eager demeanour and chuckled as he wrapped his arm around Lin Xu¡¯s waist, ¡°I did warn you to be cautious.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve come to realize,¡± Lin Xu said, looking deeply at him.


    ¡°Realized what?¡±


    ¡°Realized that you can¡¯t find a wife without me, that¡¯s why your grandfather is so anxious,¡± Lin Xu teased him.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s eyes curved, and he laughed softly, ¡°Well, your observation skills are not bad.¡±


    ¡°But I still have so many suitors, I really need to choose carefully,¡± Lin Xu said seriously, nodding her head.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï


    ¡°Suitors? Are you referring to that actor with the last name Zhou? Or the man who hit on you at the coffee shop last week?¡± Xie Changyan¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly.


    Lin Xu paused, ¡°You saw that at the coffee shop?¡±


    ¡°If my eyesight wasn¡¯t failing me, I definitely saw it. And if I¡¯m not mistaken, you also gave him your phone number.¡±


    ¡°He was pestering me continuously, I had to say something, or who knows how long he would have lingered. But¡­¡± a sly glimmer passed through Lin Xu¡¯s eyes.


    She tiptoed, and her voice dropped into Xie Changyan¡¯s ear, ¡°I gave him your phone number.¡±


    ¡°No wonder I¡¯ve been getting calls from men asking me out lately.¡±


    ¡°Did you go?¡±


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    During their conversation, they had already returned to the car.


    Xie Changyan skillfully started the car, gripping the steering wheel as the black sedan wove through the busy highway.


    Outside the car window, the tall buildings gradually became scarce, and the roads on both sides turned wide and smooth, filling the air with a newfound tranquility and freshness.


    ¡°Where are we going?¡± Lin Xu observed for a while and questioned.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you mention a few days ago that you wanted to watch the sunrise from the mountaintop?¡±


    ¡°Are we going hiking?!¡± Lin Xu¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement, ¡°Are we also going to camp on the mountaintop like they do in television dramas?¡±


    ¡°But I haven¡¯t prepared any of those things.¡± Her face fell instantly.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got everything ready in the trunk.¡±


    As soon as Xie Changyan said this, Lin Xu¡¯s face brightened up again.


    However, her joy did not last long before she became conflicted again, ¡°But¡­ I didn¡¯t tell Ji Tingyang that I¡¯d be staying out overnight¡­¡±


    If Ji Tingyang knew she was going mountain climbing and camping overnight with Xie Changyan, he might climb up the mountain himself to drag her back home in the middle of the night.


    Speaking of which, she was already a mother of three children, and she was going camping overnight with her own husband; yet, there was still a feeling of early-romance like a high school student.


    Not only having to keep an eye on her family, ensuring they don¡¯t find out, but even a simple outing could not end with an overnight stay.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there¡¯s no need to worry about him,¡± Xie Changyan said.


    ¡°Did you do something?!¡± Lin Xu quickly lifted her head to look at him.


    ¡°Bribed an important person.¡±


    Bribed whom?


    Who else could deceive Ji Tingyang?


    Lin Xu thought for a moment, then suddenly realized.


    It was Ji Yuqiao.


    Over at the shopping mall.


    Ji Yuqiao walked into a store, pointed at some clothes without trying them on, and said, ¡°Not this one, not this one, and not this one¡­ I don¡¯t want the ones I pointed at, wrap up everything else for me.¡±


    Her action of handing over the credit card was very generous as she pushed up her sunglasses on her nose bridge, ¡°Swipe the card.¡±


    The shop assistants couldn¡¯t stop smiling as three or four of them kept packing clothes for her.


    This month¡¯s sales are going to be impressive!


    ¡°Just deliver the clothes to this villa.¡± Ji Yuqiao left them an address, then started her generous shopping at the next store.


    ¡°Not this one, not this one, and not this one, wrap up everything else.¡±


    Before long, every counter in the mall had heard the news that a wealthy person was shopping, craning their necks in anticipation of her arrival.


    Ji Yuqiao, carrying the latest limited edition handbag, walked through the mall with a happy stride.


    In the distance, a child broke free from his mother¡¯s hand, running around with an ice cream, laughing and giggling, and bumped into Ji Yuqiao.


    The chocolate-flavored ice cream smeared on her newly bought white work pants, conspicuously visible.


    ¡°Miss, I¡¯m sorry, the child didn¡¯t know better and dirtied your clothes.¡± The mother took out a tissue to wipe her pants, continuously apologizing.


    Then she pulled the child over, scolded sternly, ¡°Haven¡¯t I told you not to run around outside? You¡¯ve dirtied sister¡¯s clothes, now apologize to her immediately.¡±


    The child¡¯s eyes reddened slightly, and in a sticky voice said, ¡°Sister, I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±


    Ji Yuqiao bent down, smiled, and patted his head, ¡°It¡¯s okay, you shouldn¡¯t run around in public places in the future, okay?¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡± The child sniffled.


    ¡°Miss, how much are your pants? I¡¯ll pay for them.¡± The mother said.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll just wash them.¡± Ji Yuqiao accepted her apology but didn¡¯t ask for compensation.


    After the mother and child left, Ji Yuqiao took out a wet wipe and continued to clean her pants.


    However, the black chocolate stain spread more and more as she rubbed, extending from a small spot on her thigh to her knee, looking quite unsightly.


    She threw the tissue into the trash can and sighed at her pants.


    Suddenly.


    A thin jacket was handed to her.


    ¡°Use this to cover it up.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao looked up, saw Xiao Yu standing in front of her, not knowing when he had arrived.


    Just like before when she encountered trouble, he offered the jacket he was holding.


    If it had been before, she might have been very touched.


    She might even have fantasized in her heart whether he liked her?


    But now she was completely sober.


    ¡°Thanks, but no need.¡± Ji Yuqiao declined without hesitation.


    ¡°But your pants¡­¡± Xiao Yu hadn¡¯t finished speaking when he saw Ji Yuqiao turn and enter a women¡¯s clothing store, buying a new pair of pants.


    Xiao Yu¡¯s expression froze, realizing she genuinely didn¡¯t need his help.


    A sense of loss spread at the bottom of his heart.


    He clutched the jacket in his hands, eyes downcast.


    After Ji Yuqiao changed into the new pants and came out of the fitting room, Xiao Yu was no longer outside the shopping mall.


    Only after discarding the original pants did she realize that the newly bought ones looked even better and fit better.

 Chapter 219 - Chapter 219: Chapter 219 Secrets

    Chapter 219: Chapter 219 Secrets


    Ji Tingyang stayed late at work, only driving home when night fell.


    Aunt Zhang had long finished preparing dinner and started eating.


    At the dining table was only Ji Yuqiao.


    Ji Tingyang glanced over and asked in confusion, ¡°Why is it just you here? Where¡¯s mother?¡±


    Ji Yuqiao had a calm and composed look, ¡°She ate dinner early and then went back to her room to sleep.¡±


    ¡°Why is she sleeping so early?¡±


    ¡°Maybe she was too tired from playing today. She said no one should disturb her tonight and that she wanted to rest early.¡±


    Ji Tingyang nodded, without much suspicion, and sat down at the table to start his dinner.


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, atop Rong Mountain, a clear moonlight shrouded the peak, serene and beautiful.


    Several visitors had come to the mountaintop to watch the sunrise, and everyone had pitched their tents on the nearby flat ground.


    Lin Xu and the others came up late and could only set up their tents in the dark.


    But as for setting up a tent, Lin Xu was clueless, holding various tools with no idea where to start, ¡°Wait up, I¡¯ll look up a tutorial online.¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.??


    ¡°No need, just sit over there for a while, I¡¯ll have it set up quickly,¡± said Xie Changyan.


    Lin Xu did not respond.


    Just watching him work by himself, she couldn¡¯t help feeling uneasy.


    After all, it was her idea to watch the sunrise.


    Seeming to sense Lin Xu¡¯s internal struggle, Xie Changyan beckoned her over, ¡°Then hold this flashlight and help me with the light.¡±


    Lin Xu ran over with a smile, ¡°Okay!¡±


    Xie Changyan was very skilled with his hands, and in less than ten minutes had the tent set up.


    Lin Xu applauded in amazement, ¡°How are you so practiced at this? Did you learn it somewhere before?¡±


    Xie Changyan flicked her forehead, ¡°You don¡¯t need to learn such simple tasks.¡±


    She hadn¡¯t expected her compliments to make him show off.


    Lin Xu rubbed her head and sat down on the small chair in front of the tent.


    Next to the chair was a little table and a camping lamp. A breeze fluttered her hair, and the sounds of nature filled her ears as she gazed at the sparkling stars above, feeling quite content.


    ¡°When did you sneakily prepare all this?¡± Lin Xu, with her hands cupping her cheeks and elbows propped on the table, stared at Xie Changyan.


    Xie Changyan chuckled softly, ¡°The day after you mentioned wanting to see the sunrise.¡±


    Lin Xu occasionally called Xie Changyan before bedtime, and once casually mentioned a sunrise video she saw during the day, impulsively telling him she wanted to watch it.


    ¡°But there¡¯s so much to prepare, camping, tents, and climbing up the mountain, it¡¯s such a hassle¡­¡± Lin Xu complained offhandedly.


    Little did she know that just by saying that, Xie Changyan had prepared everything.


    Lin Xu stretched out her arm and poked his cheek, ¡°Come clean, what else have you been hiding from me?¡±


    Xie Changyan raised his eyebrows nonchalantly, ¡°Secret.¡±


    Lin Xu¡¯s voice suddenly rose, ¡°Do you really have something else you¡¯re hiding from me?¡±


    ¡°Secrets are to be confessed for leniency,¡± her curiosity was piqued.


    ¡°You¡¯ll know tomorrow,¡± Xie Changyan stubbornly revealed not a word.


    ¡°I have to wait until tomorrow, making it all so mysterious,¡± Lin Xu muttered dissatisfiedly.


    As they were chatting, a fellow traveler came over to invite them to share some food.


    The surrounding visitors had spontaneously gathered, joining their small tables to create one large one, and shared out the food they¡¯d brought.


    In the middle of the table was even a small stove, and everyone enjoyed themselves, eating and discussing topics from all corners of life.


    When Lin Xu and Xie Changyan arrived, everyone abruptly fell silent.


    Who still felt like chatting? They were all just staring at the handsome guys and beautiful women.


    No sooner had the two sat down than some tourists came over to strike up a conversation, ¡°Are you guys here to watch the sunrise too?¡±


    Lin Xu nodded, ¡°Mhm.¡±


    Tourist: ¡°Are you locals or from out of town?¡±


    Lin Xu: ¡°We¡¯re locals.¡±


    They fired a barrage of questions, all answered by Lin Xu.


    Xie Changyan casually leaned back in his chair, smiling without saying a word.


    It wasn¡¯t until a man said to Lin Xu, ¡°Beauty, how about we exchange WeChat contacts?¡±


    Xie Changyan raised his eyebrows subtly and without a change in expression, wrapped his arm around Lin Xu¡¯s shoulders, his deep eyes landing on the man, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my girlfriend didn¡¯t bring her phone.¡±


    With that one sentence, he had made his relationship clear.


    ¡°So you guys are a couple,¡± the man said with an awkward smile, putting away his phone.


    Initially, there hadn¡¯t been excessive intimacy between them, so he took a chance, but as luck would have it, they were indeed a couple.


    A girl with short hair laughed and teased, ¡°Old Li, that¡¯s not very honorable of you. Her boyfriend is right there, and you¡¯re trying to hit on her in front of him?¡±


    ¡°Get lost, don¡¯t talk nonsense,¡± the man replied, flustered, and stuffed a piece of bread into the girl¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°If you want a girlfriend, you can come to me.¡±


    ¡°You tigress, who would like you?¡±


    The two bantered and joked, quickly dissolving the awkward atmosphere.


    However, after that brief encounter, Xie Changyan¡¯s hand that rested on Lin Xu¡¯s shoulder never left, his expression still icy.


    Lin Xu couldn¡¯t help but snicker, ¡°Your face is so scary, they don¡¯t even dare to come over and talk to me.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that better?¡± Xie Changyan was pleased with such a result.


    After the gathering ended, everyone cleaned up the table and went their separate ways. Some went back to their tents to rest, while others enjoyed the night scenery not far away.


    Lin Xu and Xie Changyan went back to their tent to tidy up.


    The space was small, but it was enough to accommodate the two of them.


    When it was time to sleep at night, the two lay in the same tent, shoulders touching shoulders, and Lin Xu felt an inexplicable sense of tension.


    She inwardly despised herself.


    After living with him for so many years, and being the mother of three children, what was there to be nervous about?


    But the more she thought about it, the more nervous she became.


    She could even hear the loud pounding of her heart, as if it were about to leap out of her throat, and her palms were sweating.


    Carefully, she tried to turn on her side, to face away from Xie Changyan.


    As soon as she moved a bit, Xie Changyan¡¯s deep voice rang out, ¡°Can¡¯t sleep?¡±


    ¡°A little.¡±


    After some rustling noises, Xie Changyan shifted and took her small hand.


    He suddenly chuckled lowly, ¡°Why are your hands so sweaty?¡±


    Lin Xu¡¯s cheeks flushed red, thankfully hidden in the dark tent, ¡°I¡¯m a bit hot.¡±


    She quickly changed the subject, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you sleeping?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m thinking about things.¡±


    ¡°What things?¡±


    ¡°Thinking about¡­¡±


    Xie Changyan turned his body to face her, a warm hand on the back of her neck, and without any warning, he kissed her.


    In the darkness, his kiss was filled with tenderness, spreading a romantic and intimate atmosphere in the confined space. The gentle kiss gradually deepened into an entwined dance between lips and teeth.

 Chapter 220 - Chapter 220: Chapter 220 Car Accident

    Chapter 220: Chapter 220 Car Accident


    The shrill alarm pierced the quiet air, waking Lin Xu from her deep sleep.


    Groggily, she reached out to grab the phone by her side, shutting off the alarm without even looking at it and snuggled back into the warmth of her covers.


    But as if anticipating her own difficulty getting up, she had set multiple alarms last night, and within two minutes, the alarm went off again.


    When Xie Changyan came in, he saw Lin Xu sitting inside the tent with a sleepy expression, turning off one alarm after another.


    A hint of a smile curved on his lips, ¡°Weren¡¯t you going to watch the sunrise? It¡¯s time to get up.¡±


    ¡°So sleepy, you watch it for me,¡± Lin Xu said, her body leaning back to fall again.


    Xie Changyan caught her body and handed her a wet wipe, ¡°If you¡¯re really tired, you can watch the sunrise and come back to sleep afterward.¡±


    Lin Xu sleepily took the wet wipe, rubbing away the sleepiness from her face.


    She was the one who wanted to see the sunrise; it would be unacceptable not to get up in the morning.


    After a brief wash-up, Xie Changyan took her to the sunrise viewing platform on the mountain¡¯s edge. It was the best spot to watch the sunrise, and the tourists who had camped with them last night had already taken their spots on the platform.


    When Lin Xu and he arrived, a few people even greeted her.


    At sunrise, the sky in the distance gradually brightened.


    As time passed, the sun slowly peeked over the horizon, and the clouds took on a faint orange hue. It was a stunning beauty that almost seemed to stop time at that moment.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã?


    Lin Xu faced the morning breeze and witnessed the dawn¡¯s first light.


    ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± she exclaimed.


    She turned to share this moment with Xie Changyan beside her, but her fingers touched something cold.


    Lin Xu looked down in confusion and saw that her left ring finger now sported a patterned silver ring, which hadn¡¯t been there before.


    She stared at the ring on her hand in shock, her mind going blank.


    Her mouth opened, and it took her a while to find her voice, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°A ring,¡± Xie Changyan took her hand and kissed the ring finger with the ring on it.


    ¡°I know it¡¯s a ring, but giving a ring can mean many things.¡± Lin Xu gave him a coy raise of the eyebrow as she looked at him, ¡°So, what does this ring mean?¡±


    ¡°No special meaning. I saw this ring while inspecting a mall a few days ago and thought it suited you, so I bought it.¡± The smile in Xie Changyan¡¯s eyes blossomed, ¡°Unless you wish it had a special meaning, like¡­¡±


    He bent down, his voice deep with a hint of laughter spreading in her ear, ¡°A proposal?¡±


    The color rose to Lin Xu¡¯s cheeks instantly.


    She meant to tease him, but it was he who ended up teasing her instead.


    Feeling shy, Lin Xu looked away, ¡°I never said that.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s what I was thinking,¡± Xie Changyan pulled her into his embrace, and gently kissed her forehead, ¡°The ring for the proposal is still being custom-made, so it¡¯ll be a little later.¡±


    Lin Xu¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°You¡¯re really preparing it?!¡±


    Xie Changyan just smiled at her.


    Without an answer from him, Lin Xu couldn¡¯t determine whether his words were serious or just a casual joke.


    ¡°Is that the secret you talked about last night?¡± Lin Xu suddenly remembered him saying, ¡°You¡¯ll know tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Mhm, do you like it?¡± Xie Changyan asked.


    Lin Xu¡¯s back against his chest, she held up her left hand in the air, admiring how the fiery glow of the sunrise refracted dazzling light off the ring. Her beautiful eyes curved happily, and a radiant smile spread across her cheeks, ¡°Not bad taste, I like it very much.¡±


    She was so enamored with the ring that she kept admiring it, even in the car on the way back, lifting her hand to her eyes to enjoy it and occasionally touching it.


    ¡°If I remember correctly, haven¡¯t you been looking at it for two hours?¡± Xie Changyan drove, while Lin Xu¡¯s actions in the passenger seat caught his peripheral vision.


    ¡°One never tires of appreciating beautiful things,¡± Lin Xu¡¯s red lips captured a faint smile.


    Anyone could tell that she was very satisfied with the ring.


    As Lin Xu twirled the ring on her finger, she vaguely remembered an incident from the past.


    On their wedding anniversary, Ji Yanli had given her a ruby ring.


    The ring was so beautiful that she wore it for the entire next month, showing it off to her sons from time to time.


    ¡°Look, this is the ring Daddy gave to me, isn¡¯t it pretty?¡±


    The four-year-old Ji Tingyang, especially indulgent, said in his soft and mushy voice, ¡°Pretty.¡±


    The next day, when he came back from kindergarten, he walked with little steps, mysteriously holding up a clenched fist, ¡°Mommy, this is for you.¡±


    His tightly clenched little fist opened to reveal a small paper ring inside.


    ¡°The teacher helped me fold it, Mommy likes rings, so I¡¯m giving it to Mommy.¡±


    Lin Xu was both happy and moved, clutching his cheek and planting a firm kiss on it.


    Perhaps it was a mother-son telepathy, but as she thought of Ji Tingyang, the very next second his call came through.


    The thought that she had sneaked out without Ji Tingyang knowing made her so scared that her phone nearly slipped from her grasp, clattering to the ground.


    ¡°Why are you so flustered?¡± Xie Changyan glanced at her.


    Lin Xu stammered and by the time she picked up her phone, the call had already been disconnected.


    She hurriedly set her phone to silent and put it back in her purse, deciding she would later say that she had been sleeping in her room and hadn¡¯t heard it because it was on silent.


    Lin Xu contemplated her excuse.


    Suddenly.


    The car they were riding in seemed to have been hit with a violent collision, with a ¡°bang,¡± the windshield and the windows shattered instantly.


    Splinters of glass exploded and flew, slashing across her cheek, and before the pain could spread, blood seeped out ahead of it.


    Lin Xu¡¯s mind went blank, and for an instant, time around her seemed to slow down.


    She saw Xie Changyan bend over, forcefully pulling her into his embrace.


    Then the car began to tumble over and over.


    Her nostrils filled with the smell of fresh blood, Lin Xu¡¯s eyes darkened, and she suddenly lost consciousness.


    ¡­


    At the Ji Mansion.


    After finishing breakfast, Ji Tingyang prepared to leave for work at the company.


    Before heading out, he glanced towards the second floor, ¡°Mother went to bed so early last night, hasn¡¯t she gotten up yet?¡±


    With a bun in her mouth, Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes flickered, ¡°Maybe she¡¯s too tired.¡±


    ¡°Could she be sick?¡± Ji Tingyang was a bit worried and started to head towards the second floor.


    ¡°How could Mother be sick with her being so healthy, don¡¯t worry about it, just go to work,¡± Ji Yuqiao said hastily, blocking Ji Tingyang.


    Ji Tingyang narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze upon her held a hint of scrutiny.


    Ji Yuqiao felt the hairs on her back stand up, unable to hide her guilty expression, ¡°Big¡­ Big brother, why are you looking at me like that?¡±


    As if having realized something, Ji Tingyang bypassed her and went straight upstairs, pushing open the door to the master bedroom, only to find it empty.

 Chapter 221 - Chapter 221: Chapter 221 He Wants to Bring His Mother Back

    Chapter 221: Chapter 221 He Wants to Bring His Mother Back


    The atmosphere in the living room was dead silent, with an indescribable heaviness pervading the air that sent chills down one¡¯s spine.


    Ji Yuqiao sat rigidly on the sofa, back straight, nervously clutching the corner of her clothes, cautiously glancing at Ji Tingyang.


    His stern cheeks were void of warmth, and the icy coldness in his eyes when he looked at Ji Yuqiao made her shiver.


    Ji Yuqiao hurriedly averted her gaze, hanging her head low, her palms already sweaty with fear.


    Ji Tingyang looked her up and down with his deep and icy eyes, struggling to suppress the anger welling up in his chest, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he finally spoke wearily.


    ¡°Where on earth did mother go?¡±


    Ji Yuqiao shrank her neck, ¡°She¡­ She went to Rong Mountain¡¯s peak to watch the sunrise.¡±


    If she went to watch the sunrise, she could have just told him, why keep it a secret from him.


    Ji Tingyang seemed to think of something, a cold smile hanging on his lips, ¡°Did she go with Xie Changyan?¡±


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes flickered guiltily, ¡°How could that be, she went by herself¡­¡±


    As Ji Tingyang¡¯s gaze floated over lightly, Ji Yuqiao¡¯s voice came to an abrupt halt, not daring to make another sound.


    ¡°What did Xie Changyan bribe you with?¡± Ji Tingyang asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s nothing much, just an unlimited credit card,¡± Ji Yuqiao stammered.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï


    ¡°You were bought with just a bit of money?¡± Ji Tingyang laughed in utter disdain.


    ¡°There are also two limited edition designer bags from overseas. They are incredibly hard to get, petite, exquisite, and beautiful¡ªthe kind every girl dreams of owning. Unfortunately, there are only five in the whole world, and you can¡¯t just buy them with money, it takes connections and¡­¡±


    Under Ji Tingyang¡¯s increasingly menacing stare, Ji Yuqiao gradually closed her mouth.


    After a while, she added in an attempt to please, ¡°Big brother, rest assured, although he¡¯s bought me with money, my heart will always be on your side.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Ji Tingyang couldn¡¯t care less about Ji Yuqiao, as he took out his phone to call Lin Xu.


    However, the phone rang for a long time, and no one answered.


    He made several more calls, and still, the automated voice was all that resonated, ¡°The number you have dialed is currently unavailable¡­¡±


    Irritation overflowed his knitted brows and eyes.


    ¡°Maybe mother is on a sweet date, holding hands or kissing, not paying attention to her phone. There¡¯s no need for you to be so worried, big brother.¡± Ji Yuqiao imagined the dating scene between her mother and father, feeling sweetened by the thought.


    However, upon hearing her words, Ji Tingyang¡¯s face turned as black as ink, his aura chilling even further.


    His reason told him that he shouldn¡¯t interfere with mother¡¯s life, yet his emotions kept reminding him that he couldn¡¯t let someone else take his mother away.


    Reason and emotion tugged at each other ceaselessly, his thoughts tangled like a knotted thread in his mind, impossible to separate right from wrong.


    Suddenly.


    The vision of Lin Xu marrying Xie Changyan flashed across his mind¡ªher moving out of the villa, starting a new life, even having a new child.


    She no longer paid attention to him, her affection entirely directed at that child.


    Gradually, he saw less and less of Lin Xu.


    He became like he was in his childhood again, neglected and lonely in the villa¡­


    The mere possibility of this scenario caused Ji Tingyang¡¯s chest to wrench with pain, his face turned deathly pale, and even breathing became painful.


    Emotions overpowered reason.


    ¡°I¡¯m heading to Rong Mountain,¡± Ji Tingyang grabbed his car keys, taking rapid strides towards the door.


    He had to bring his mother back.


    He didn¡¯t want his mother to look for Xie Changyan to be her substitute anymore.


    ¡°Big Brother, don¡¯t go. It¡¯s already daylight, Mother should be on her way back,¡± Ji Yuqiao pleaded, tugging at his arm.


    Ji Tingyang was unmoved, insisting on going.


    No other way.


    Ji Yuqiao could only follow him into the car as well.


    Ji Tingyang started the car and merged onto the road. However, at this moment, it coincided with the rush hour for work. Even in a Cullinan, they were stuck in traffic, moving forward at a snail¡¯s pace.


    He looked at the outside cars crawling along, reaching to tug at his necktie, revealing an inexplicable irritation.


    For some reason, he felt uneasy, and the turmoil inside his heart couldn¡¯t settle down.


    ¡°Big Brother, why don¡¯t we go back? It¡¯s so congested now. It might be noon by the time we reach Rong Mountain. What if we just arrive and Mother has returned home?¡± Ji Yuqiao suggested.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s lips were tightly pressed together. He had considered this possibility, a hint of hesitation flashing across his eyes.


    As he took out his phone, pondering whether to call Lin Xu again, the phone¡¯s ringtone went off before he could make a decision.


    The incoming call displayed Lin Xu¡¯s name.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and he answered the call frantically, ¡°Mother, where are you now¡­¡±


    ¡°Hello, are you Ms. Lin Xu¡¯s family member?¡± A stranger¡¯s voice came from the other end of the phone.


    Ji Tingyang paused, the unease in his heart growing wider, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m her son.¡±


    ¡°She was in a car accident on the road and is now in the emergency room at the Central Hospital. Could you please come here? She¡­¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s mind suddenly went blank, his ears buzzing.


    The nurse was still talking, but he could no longer hear anything.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s face turned deathly pale, and the phone suddenly slipped from his palm, landing on the ground with a ¡°thud.¡±


    In a daze, he seemed to be back in his childhood, in those painful times.


    Someone had suddenly come to their house to tell him that his parents had been in a car accident and had died on the spot.


    The painful memories overlapped, and Ji Tingyang clutched at his chest, breathing becoming rapid.


    Ji Yuqiao hurriedly supported Ji Tingyang¡¯s body, asking in a panic, ¡°Big Brother, what¡¯s wrong with you? Don¡¯t scare me¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Ji Tingyang opened his mouth, voice becoming harsh and hoarse, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the hospital.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll call an ambulance to the hospital right now. Big Brother, you must not die, sob sob sob¡­¡± Her voice took on a sobbing tone, looking extremely frightened.


    However, Ji Tingyang couldn¡¯t afford to comfort her. He jerked the steering wheel, the car made a U-turn at the upcoming intersection, speeding towards the hospital.


    A half-hour journey, Ji Tingyang forcefully accelerated to ten minutes to get there.


    He found the nurse and ran to the ward she had directed him to.


    Pushing open the door of the ward, the smell of disinfectant rushed over him.


    Lin Xu lay quietly on the hospital bed, her already pale skin now terrifyingly paler, devoid of any color.


    She wore an oxygen mask on her face, an IV needle inserted into her arm, and the beeping of the machines echoed in the ward, instilling fear in those who heard it.


    Even with mental preparation, the sight of her lifelessly lying on the hospital bed caused Ji Tingyang¡¯s vision to momentarily black out, his body staggering back a few steps.

 Chapter 222 - Chapter 222: Chapter 222: Is He the Only One in Your Heart?

    Chapter 222: Chapter 222: Is He the Only One in Your Heart?


    Ji Zeqiu rushed to the hospital as soon as he received Ji Yuqiao¡¯s call.


    However, the film set was far from home, and by the time he finally took a flight back, it was already dark.


    Arriving at the hospital in a hurry, he saw Ji Yuqiao with eyes swollen like walnuts from crying as soon as he got out of the car.


    Her eyes shimmered with tears, falling non-stop in plops, a sight that was heart-wrenching to see.


    Ji Zeqiu anxiously asked, ¡°And mother? Where is she now?¡±


    ¡°Mother is still unconscious in the ward, big brother is taking care of her,¡± Ji Yuqiao sobbed as she spoke.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s heart was filled with panic and anxiety; he couldn¡¯t calm down until he saw Lin Xu.


    He had no mind to comfort Ji Yuqiao and hastily made his way toward the ward.


    As he pushed the door open, the first thing he saw was Lin Xu lying on the hospital bed, attached to various medical monitors, exuding an aura of death.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s body shook uncontrollably, as if a dagger was stirring in his chest, sharp and bone-piercing pain washing over him like a tide, too much for him to bear.


    He opened his mouth and with difficulty let out, ¡°Why¡­ why did the car accident happen?¡±


    Ji Tingyang looked up, his eyes devoid of their usual sparkle. His face had grown pale and haggard in just a day, his tightly furrowed brow filled with sorrow and pain.


    He responded, ¡°A truck driver was driving fatigued, ran a red light, and plowed into them¡­¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï


    Again with truck drivers¡­


    Again running red lights¡­


    Ji Zeqiu couldn¡¯t help but recall the car accident that took his parents¡¯ lives twenty years ago.


    It was exactly the same.


    The only difference was, this time there were no deadly steel pipes.


    Ji Zeqiu looked at Lin Xu on the bed, veins throbbing at his temples, he stepped forward, grabbed Ji Tingyang by the collar, and whispered hoarsely, ¡°Weren¡¯t you taking care of Mother? Is this how you let her come to harm? Is this your idea of care?!¡±


    He pulled Ji Tingyang up from the chair and slammed him against the wall with a ¡°bang.¡±


    Ji Tingyang bit his lip tightly, unable to offer a defense.


    Tears in Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes surged like a breached dam. She stepped forward and took hold of Ji Zeqiu¡¯s hand, weeping bitterly, ¡°It¡¯s not big brother¡¯s fault, it¡¯s all my doing, sob sob sob¡­¡±


    ¡°If I hadn¡¯t asked Mother to go to Rong Mountain, if I hadn¡¯t kept it from big brother, she wouldn¡¯t have had the accident¡­ sob sob sob¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all my fault¡­¡± She cried heart-wrenchingly.


    ¡°You!¡± Ji Zeqiu clenched his back teeth, looking at her tear-streaked face, the harsh words he had in his heart couldn¡¯t be voiced.


    He let go of Ji Tingyang¡¯s clothes, frustratedly ran his hands through his hair, and muttered a curse under his breath.


    Hearing the commotion that had just occurred in the ward, a nurse came over and knocked on the door, ¡°The patient needs quiet now, please don¡¯t make noise.¡±


    Hearing the nurse¡¯s reminder, Ji Yuqiao¡¯s loud crying turned into silent sobs.


    ¡°What did the doctor say?¡± Ji Zeqiu asked in a low voice.


    ¡°The doctor said there¡¯s no threat to her life, she just passed out, but it¡¯s not known when she will wake up,¡± Ji Tingyang said.


    Learning that Lin Xu¡¯s life was not in danger, the rock that had been hanging in Ji Zeqiu¡¯s heart finally settled down.


    ¡­


    As time gradually passed, the night grew deeper.


    The visiting hours at the hospital had ended, and only one person could stay in the ward overnight.


    However, none of the three of them were willing to go back, and in the end, it was Ji Tingyang, as the eldest brother, who made a suggestion, ¡°I¡¯ll stay tonight, and you guys can come over tomorrow to take over.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao was about to make a fuss but was stopped by Ji Tingyang¡¯s sharp gaze.


    ¡°Alright then, if Mother wakes up, you must call me right away,¡± Ji Yuqiao said, reluctantly leaving the hospital.


    Ji Zeqiu gave Lin Xu a deep look before turning to leave as well.


    The ward fell quiet again.


    In the deep silence of the night, Ji Tingyang could no longer suppress the sourness in his heart, his eyes reddening and filling with a layer of desolation.


    He held Lin Xu¡¯s hand, pressing it against his forehead and silently praying for her safety.


    He maintained this position for a long while, until the hand he was holding suddenly moved.


    Ji Tingyang abruptly raised his head, looking towards Lin Xu on the bed and tentatively called out to her, ¡°Mother?¡±


    Lin Xu slowly opened her eyes, her blurry vision gradually focusing to first fall upon Ji Tingyang¡¯s reddened eyes.


    She struggled to raise her hand, her fingertips gently brushing past the corner of his eyes, ¡°I¡¯m fine, don¡¯t be upset¡­¡±


    Her voice was very light, like a feather that could be blown away by a breeze.


    Hearing this, Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes reddened even more, and he hurriedly pressed the call button by the bed.


    The doctor bustled in to examine her, ¡°The patient¡¯s condition has stabilized, just focus on recovery from now on.¡±


    Relieved by the doctor¡¯s words, Ji Tingyang let out a breath, ¡°Mother, how do you feel? Is there any discomfort¡­?¡±


    ¡°How is Xie Changyan now?¡±


    He hadn¡¯t finished speaking when Lin Xu interrupted him.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s voice stalled, the joy he felt upon discovering she was awake immediately sinking, an unnoticeable fury shadowing his eyes and brows, ¡°He¡¯s very well, and he doesn¡¯t need your concern.¡±


    ¡°Really? How is he now¡­¡±


    ¡°Is he the only one in your heart?¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s voice was hoarse, his tone alarmingly calm.


    He looked at Lin Xu, his eyes flickering with a barely detectable dimness.


    He had worried about Lin Xu all day, yet the first thing she asked about upon waking up was Xie Changyan.


    Ji Tingyang clenched the hand at his side, his fingernails digging into his palm, a sensation of pain spreading from the hand.


    Lin Xu hesitated for a moment, then struggled to sit up from the bed.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s complexion wavered for a moment before he reached out to steady her.


    Lin Xu gently caressed his face, her fingertips tracing the tears at the corner of his eyes, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Tingyang must be very upset, you must have been scared when you heard about my accident.¡±


    Ji Tingyang tried to hide the loss on his face, but when he opened his mouth, a hoarse sob emerged, ¡°I don¡¯t want your apology.¡±


    He just couldn¡¯t accept his mother¡¯s neglect¡­


    ¡°I know Tingyang must be very upset, afraid something would happen to me, right?¡± Lin Xu touched his head, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have snuck out without telling you. I won¡¯t make you worry anymore, can you forgive me?¡±


    A sourness churned in his stomach, Ji Tingyang¡¯s lips parted and closed several times, wanting to voice his blame, but the words rolled back and forth in his throat, ultimately being swallowed down.


    He bent down, holding her hand tightly, yet fearing he might hurt her wounds, he relaxed his grip a bit.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s chin rested on her shoulder, his voice hoarse and low, ¡°Okay.¡±


    A simple word from Lin Xu easily dispelled the discomfort and grievances in his heart.

 Chapter 223 - Chapter 223: Chapter 223 Its All Xie Changyans Fault

    Chapter 223: Chapter 223 It¡¯s All Xie Changyan¡¯s Fault


    Lin Xu was still a little weak and, after talking to Ji Tingyang for a short while, her energy quickly depleted and she fell back into a deep sleep.


    Looking at the sleeping Lin Xu, Ji Tingyang leaned back in his chair, pressing the back of his hand against his eyes and let out a sigh of relief, as if a burden had been lifted.


    The next day, the sky outside the window was only faintly lit.


    Ji Zeqiu and Ji Yuqiao hurried to the hospital room to take over the shift from Ji Tingyang.


    Ji Yuqiao handed a steamed bun to Ji Tingyang and asked, ¡°Big brother, is mother¡¯s condition still good?¡±


    Ji Tingyang nodded, ¡°Mm, she woke up for a bit last night, then fell asleep again.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to call me if mother woke up? Why didn¡¯t you tell me!¡± Ji Zeqiu roared softly.


    When it came to their mother, this bastard always kept things from him.


    He had done the same when he first found out their mother hadn¡¯t died, and now that she was in a coma and had awakened, it was the same.


    Ji Tingyang was just jealous because mother liked him the best!


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s eyes burned with anger as he looked at Ji Tingyang.


    Ji Tingyang glanced at him indifferently, ¡°Mother is still sleeping, keep it down.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu immediately looked anxiously at the hospital bed, and upon realizing that Lin Xu hadn¡¯t been woken up by his loud voice, he finally exhaled in relief.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï


    Seeing the dark circles under Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes and his haggard face, Ji Yuqiao said, ¡°Big brother, you should go home and get some sleep. Just leave everything here to me and the second brother.¡±


    Ji Tingyang remained silent, still sitting in the chair and making no move to leave.


    ¡°Your dark circles are so severe, and you have stubble all over, not handsome at all. You certainly don¡¯t want mother to wake up and see that you don¡¯t look as good as the second brother, do you?¡± Ji Yuqiao precisely grasped Ji Tingyang¡¯s frame of mind.


    His eyes shifted, and using the reflection on the hospital room¡¯s black TV screen, he saw his own weary appearance.


    A mess of stubble, bloodshot eyes, disheveled hair, completely lacking his usual spirit.


    Compared to Ji Zeqiu, he indeed looked extremely disheveled.


    After a moment¡¯s silent, Ji Tingyang put down the half-eaten steamed bun and finally stood up to leave.


    Before leaving, he reminded Ji Yuqiao, ¡°Call me if anything happens.¡±


    As Ji Tingyang left the hospital room and had only taken a few steps, he saw two nurses come out from the room diagonally opposite, whispering something to each other.


    ¡°This patient had a severe seizure and even hit his head, I think it¡¯s a bit touch and go.¡±


    ¡°Shh, keep it down. If that old gentleman inside hears you, it could mean trouble, he might start a commotion again.¡±


    As if afraid, the nurse didn¡¯t dare to speak further and quickly left with the IV bottles.


    Ji Tingyang looked thoughtfully toward the room diagonally opposite and then, changing his pace, headed for that room.


    Peering through the glass on the door, he saw Xie Changyan lying on the hospital bed, his face pale as paper, with a thick bandage wrapped around his forehead, his body attached to even more devices than Lin Xu.


    His handsome brows were slightly furrowed, showing no signs of waking up.


    An old man sat beside the bed, his face wrinkled with deep sadness and weariness, sighing occasionally as he looked at Xie Changyan.


    Although Ji Tingyang disliked Xie Changyan, seeing him unconscious stirred an indescribable feeling in his heart.


    The doctors said that it was Xie Changyan who shielded Lin Xu with his body, absorbing most of the impact, which was why Lin Xu wasn¡¯t in life-threatening danger.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes flickered with complicated emotions, attributing the discomfort he felt upon seeing Xie Changyan unconscious to the irritability of not wanting to owe Xie Changyan any favors.


    No, that¡¯s not right.


    It was clearly Xie Changyan who insisted on taking their mother to Rong Mountain to watch the sunrise; if it weren¡¯t for that, mother wouldn¡¯t have been in a car accident at all.


    It was all Xie Changyan¡¯s fault.


    Ji Tingyang suppressed the discomfort in his heart, his expression once again turned dark and icy.


    He turned and left.


    ¡­


    He didn¡¯t know how much time had passed.


    Lin Xu¡¯s fingers twitched, and her consciousness slowly awakened in the darkness. Without opening her eyes, she heard excited shouts by her ear.


    ¡°Second Brother, I just saw Mother¡¯s fingers move. Is she about to wake up, or did I see it wrong?¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t see it wrong; I saw it too.¡±


    Rustling sounds filled her ears. Lin Xu¡¯s eyes slightly opened, and as her blurry vision gradually cleared, the first thing she saw was the two large faces of Ji Zeqiu and Ji Yuqiao, close up in front of her eyes.


    Both had red-rimmed eyes, and their moist gazes fixed intently on her, as if they had been crying.


    Lin Xu tugged at the corner of her lips, revealing a helpless smile, and placed a hand on each of their cheeks, ¡°Why are you both crying?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s gaze flickered, and he pouted, ¡°I didn¡¯t cry.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao couldn¡¯t care less about Ji Zeqiu¡¯s stubbornness; at the sight of Lin Xu waking up, her tears had already broken through the dam, sobbing as she threw herself onto the bed and hugged her.


    ¡°Wuu wuu wuu¡­ Mother, you¡¯ve been asleep for two days. I thought you were never going to wake up¡­¡±


    ¡°What do you mean never waking up, pah pah pah, don¡¯t talk nonsense.¡± Ji Zeqiu looked displeased, pulling at the back of Ji Yuqiao¡¯s collar, yanking her off Lin Xu, ¡°What are you hugging for, be careful not to hurt her injuries.¡±


    When Ji Yuqiao was pulled away, she was upset that Ji Zeqiu wouldn¡¯t let her hug their mother, but hearing his words, she instantly became obedient again.


    Lin Xu chuckled lightly, her breath still somewhat weak, ¡°I¡¯m not so fragile. A hug won¡¯t hurt.¡±


    Although she said so, Ji Yuqiao dared not touch Lin Xu carelessly anymore.


    ¡°No, no hugging allowed.¡± Ji Zeqiu was firm.


    ¡°Do you really not want to hug me at all?¡± Lin Xu blinked her eyes and opened her arms towards Ji Zeqiu.


    ¡°Since you said so, then I¡¯ll hug you for a bit,¡± said Ji Zeqiu in a muffled voice, as if very reluctantly walking over.


    He bent down and wrapped his arms around Lin Xu.


    All the worries and fears that had filled his heart over the last few days dissipated in this warm embrace.


    His nose filled with the warm scent of Lin Xu, and he felt extremely at ease.


    Seeing this, Ji Yuqiao complained discontentedly, ¡°Ah! Second Brother, you clearly said no hugging, yet you¡¯re the one holding on to Mother and not letting go. That¡¯s so sly!¡±


    ¡°No, I want to hug too!¡±


    She stretched out her arms and also pounced onto Lin Xu.


    When Ji Tingyang arrived, what he saw was the two siblings embracing Lin Xu.


    His expression first lit up with joy, then swiftly furrowed into a frown, as he stepped forward to pull the two apart.


    ¡°Big Brother, you¡¯re here, look, Mother woke up!¡± Ji Yuqiao said with a joyful smile on her face.


    ¡°Mmm, have you called for the doctor yet?¡± Ji Tingyang asked.


    The two of them suddenly froze.


    ¡°¡­I¡¯ll go call now.¡± Ji Zeqiu was somewhat annoyed, realizing he had forgotten about this.


    He hastened out of the sickroom, even forgetting the sickroom¡¯s call bell.


    As expected, one couldn¡¯t rely on these two to take care of Lin Xu, Ji Tingyang reached out to press the call bell.


    Suddenly.


    Outside, the sound of Ji Zeqiu¡¯s thunderous voice erupted, ¡°Stop right there! Are you the bastard who knocked her over?!¡±

 Chapter 224 - Chapter 224: Chapter 224 When Did We Start Abiding by the Law?

    Chapter 224: Chapter 224 When Did We Start Abiding by the Law?


    Ji Zeqiu had just walked out of the ward when he saw two policemen escorting a middle-aged man out of the elevator.


    He recognized one of the policemen.


    When Lin Xu was first hospitalized, that policeman had come to investigate the car accident. At that time, the driver who caused the accident had fled the scene and had not been caught.


    Could this middle-aged man be¡­


    An idea came to Ji Zeqiu¡¯s mind, and he went to ask the policeman. Sure enough.


    He clenched his teeth, grabbed the man¡¯s collar, and the veins on the back of his hand bulged, ¡°Was it you, you bastard, who hit her?!¡±


    ¡°And you even dared to flee without calling an ambulance immediately.¡±


    If it weren¡¯t for passersby calling the police, he might now be looking at Lin Xu¡¯s corpse.


    Thinking of this, Ji Zeqiu felt like he could chop this man into a thousand pieces.


    ¡°Mr. Ji, please, calm down.¡± The officer hurriedly pulled the two apart, fearing that Ji Zeqiu would impulsively strike.


    The man trembled behind the police, his voice shaking with fear, ¡°I¡­ I was just too afraid, I didn¡¯t want this to happen.¡±


    ¡°No matter how much it costs, I will definitely try to gather the money to compensate you, could you please issue a letter of forgiveness¡­¡±


    In the face of Ji Zeqiu¡¯s uncontrollable rage, the man¡¯s voice grew increasingly quieter.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï


    ¡°And you even dare to ask us for a letter of forgiveness?¡± Ji Zeqiu laughed in extreme anger, and his fist uncontrollably raised again.


    Suddenly.


    A hand gripped Ji Zeqiu¡¯s fist and pushed it down.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes swept over the man with a chillingly cold gaze, his fierce face growing even more stern.


    The man shivered uncontrollably.


    ¡°We don¡¯t need compensation, nor will we issue any letter of forgiveness, everything will be dealt with according to the law,¡± Ji Tingyang said.


    Ji Zeqiu seemed dissatisfied, ¡°Just jail seems too lenient for him, it would be better if¡­¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s stern gaze lightly landed on Ji Zeqiu, causing him to abruptly stop talking.


    Ji Tingyang, unwilling to relent, was unmoved no matter how pitifully the man pleaded.


    In the end, the police led the ashen-faced man away and entered Xie Changyan¡¯s ward.


    A roar erupted from the ward shortly after.


    It seemed Old Master Xie was also livid.


    Ji Zeqiu glanced at Ji Tingyang beside him, the anger brewing inside him, and mockingly said, ¡°Since when did you start to abide by the law?¡±


    He was not nearly as calm when dealing with Wen Li before.


    Mother truly had been too kind to Ji Tingyang.


    ¡°At least I¡¯m not as foolish as you,¡± Ji Tingyang coldly glared at Ji Zeqiu. ¡°I also know what not to say in front of the police.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu choked, and only afterward did he realize, ¡°Then¡­ what are you planning to do?¡±


    A fleeting viciousness shone in Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes, ¡°Of course, I¡¯m not going to let him off easily.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu wanted to ask more, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw several doctors enter Lin Xu¡¯s ward.


    Right.


    Mother was still waiting for the doctors to check on her!


    Seeing that man had made him forget about this.


    As he saw Ji Tingyang heading to the ward, Ji Zeqiu also hurriedly rushed back in agitation.


    ¡ª¡ª


    Lin Xu had been staying in the hospital for a few days and her physical condition had recovered well, allowing her to get out of bed and walk around with the doctor¡¯s permission.


    ¡°Don¡¯t just lie in bed all day. If family members are available, take her for walks frequently, which will help in her recovery,¡± the doctor said.


    Ji Yuqiao followed the doctor¡¯s advice, supporting Lin Xu as they walked along the hospital corridor.


    As they passed by Xie Changyan¡¯s ward, Lin Xu¡¯s pace halted, and she looked inside through the glass on the door with a worried expression.


    A week had passed.


    Xie Changyan had not woken up.


    Seeing him lying on the hospital bed without any sign of life, Lin Xu bit her lip, as if a needle lightly pricked her heart.


    The pain was minor, yet it spread throughout her body, infusing every inch of her skin with this subtle pain.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we go in and see Father?¡± Ji Yuqiao could tell that Lin Xu was very worried about Xie Changyan.


    But her elder and second brothers wouldn¡¯t let her visit Xie Changyan.


    A trace of hesitation crossed Lin Xu¡¯s face.


    ¡°Mom, don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t tell my elder and second brothers!¡±


    Hearing Ji Yuqiao¡¯s assurance, Lin Xu pushed open the door to the ward and slowly walked in.


    Xie Mingwang noticed Lin Xu and immediately stood up from the sofa, ¡°Miss Lin, how are you feeling?¡±


    ¡°The doctor said there¡¯s nothing serious. I¡¯ll be discharged after a few more days of hospital observation,¡± Lin Xu replied, her gaze falling on Xie Changyan, ¡°Grandpa, may I look at him?¡±


    ¡°Go ahead; who knows, maybe seeing you come might make him happy enough to bounce up from the bed,¡± Xie Mingwang sighed.


    Lin Xu walked over, held Xie Changyan¡¯s hand, and stared at his pale cheeks for a long while, feeling a surge of emotions.


    ¡°Don¡¯t foolishly jump in front like that again,¡± she said softly.


    The first time they had a car accident, he had sheltered her in his arms, and they were both pierced by a steel bar¡­


    After that, it seemed almost like a reflex for him to shield her every time.


    As soon as she finished speaking, Xie Mingwang¡¯s excited voice rang out from beside her.


    ¡°Did his hand just move a bit?¡± Xie Mingwang¡¯s eyes suddenly brightened.


    ¡°Really?¡± Lin Xu immediately looked at Xie Changyan¡¯s other hand, but she saw nothing.


    ¡°I think I saw it too, it really moved!¡± Ji Yuqiao was equally excited.


    ¡°This rascal! This old man has been taking care of him for so long with no response, and then his wife comes to look at him and he moves,¡± Xie Mingwang was both annoyed and delighted.


    After his delight, he hurriedly pleaded with Lin Xu, ¡°Miss Lin, could you come to see him more often? Maybe in a couple of days, he might wake up.¡±


    Lin Xu was certainly willing.


    Afterward, she always visited Xie Changyan quietly with Ji Yuqiao during the times she was keeping vigil.


    His fingers would occasionally move a bit, his eyebrows continually furrowed as if he was seeing something in his sleep.


    But no matter what, he never woke up.


    The day for Lin Xu to be discharged arrived swiftly.


    Taking advantage of Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu handling the paperwork, Lin Xu sneaked into the ward to see Xie Changyan one last time.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t wake up soon, my sons are going to take me back to the villa and lock me up, and then I¡¯ll never be able to come see you again!¡± Lin Xu twisted his arm, huffing in frustration.


    Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu were very apprehensive about the car accident.


    They even discussed never letting her leave the house, or wherever she went, they would always accompany her.


    ¡°Hurry up and wake up and discipline your two sons; I can¡¯t handle them alone,¡± Lin Xu complained endlessly, not noticing his eyelid move.


    Xie Changyan, unknown to her, had opened his eyes at some point and looked at her with a mixture of emotions in his gaze.

 Chapter 225 - Chapter 225: Chapter 225: Xie Changyan proposed to you?

    Chapter 225: Chapter 225: Xie Changyan proposed to you?


    Xie Changyan looked at Lin Xu with a profound gaze, his eyes swirling with an obscure and indefinable expression, quietly watching her prattle on.


    Lin Xu¡¯s attractive willow eyebrows furrowed, and she was still muttering about him waking up quickly to discipline their son.


    Suddenly.


    Her voice halted as if she felt the gaze upon her, and she looked down.


    Upon discovering that Xie Changyan had awakened, her dim eyes gradually gleamed with bright sparkles, her entire being exuded happiness, ¡°Ah Yan, you¡¯ve finally woken up.¡±


    In the next instant, her eyes reddened again, her voice choked with joy after saying, ¡°Do you know how long you¡¯ve been unconscious? The doctor said you injured your head, and if you didn¡¯t wake up, it could have been life-threatening.¡±


    She sobbed a few times, ¡°I almost thought you¡¯d never wake up again.¡±


    Xie Changyan stretched out his hand with difficulty, touching Lin Xu¡¯s cheek, his thumb gently caressing her skin.


    He didn¡¯t speak for a long time, his throat hoarse, ¡°I won¡¯t leave you guys, I¡­¡±


    Worried about his throat, Lin Xu covered his mouth before he could finish speaking, ¡°Don¡¯t talk, you need to rest for a bit, I¡¯ll call the doctor to come check on you.¡±


    She pressed the call button, and in no time, the doctor and nurses arrived in the ward.


    Following the doctor was Xie Mingwang, his bent figure taking hurried steps, perhaps too excited, for he almost lost his grip on his walking stick and nearly stumbled.


    Fortunately, Lin Xu noticed and steadied him in time.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í¨À0.§ã¦Ï


    Seeing Lin Xu, Xie Mingwang immediately understood, ¡°Miss Lin, thank you. If it weren¡¯t for you, we don¡¯t know when Changyan would have awakened.¡±


    ¡°Grandfather, I just came to see him, I didn¡¯t do anything, no need for such politeness,¡± Lin Xu said.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s good that you were here¡­¡± Xie Mingwang clenched his hand strongly, repeating the phrase in his throat, ¡°It¡¯s good that you were here¡­¡±


    That his grandson had shown responses twice before was because Lin Xu was around; he was clear that it was because of her that Xie Changyan had awakened.


    Many doctors and nurses surrounded Xie Changyan, busily conducting all sorts of checks on him.


    Lin Xu could only watch from the side, unable to say a word.


    Just then, a hand rested on her shoulder.


    Ji Tingyang appeared at her side at some unknown time, ¡°Mother, let¡¯s go home.¡±


    Lin Xu took another glance at Xie Changyan, her expression showing a tinge of indecision, ¡°I¡­¡±


    ¡°Anyway, he¡¯s awake now, and so many doctors are taking care of him. You can rest assured, there¡¯s no need to keep coming to see him,¡± Ji Tingyang said.


    He knew that Lin Xu had been worried about Xie Changyan lately and would sometimes sneak out to see him without telling him.


    All this he had pretended not to notice.


    On the day when it was time for them to be discharged and go home, he saw Lin Xu¡¯s hesitation and knew she was still concerned about Xie Changyan.


    After finishing the discharge procedures and not finding Lin Xu in their ward, he guessed she must be in Xie Changyan¡¯s.


    Fortunately, Xie Changyan was now awake, and mother could go home with him with peace of mind.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go home,¡± Ji Tingyang said, wrapping his arm around Lin Xu¡¯s shoulders, leading her out of the ward.


    Through the gaps in the crowd, Xie Changyan saw the retreating figures of the two, his dark eyes unable to discern his emotions.


    ¡­


    Just as the doctor had said, once Xie Changyan awoke, he was no longer in life-threatening danger.


    The following checks showed no major issues, and his body was gradually recovering.


    Xie Changyan leaned on the hospital bed, his weak appearance unable to hide the nobleness and aloofness emanating from him.


    His fingers lightly tapped on the phone screen, sending out the sentence he had typed.


    Xie: ¡°The doctor said I¡¯m recovering very well and I should be able to leave the hospital in a while.¡±


    Perhaps afraid that Lin Xu would worry, Xie Changyan took the initiative to report his health status to her every day.


    After returning home, Lin Xu¡¯s anxious emotions also eased a lot, and she immediately replied, ¡°To reward your good recovery, is there anything you¡¯d like to eat? I¡¯ll prepare it for you.¡±


    Xie: ¡°You¡¯re going to cook yourself?¡±


    Those six short words were thick with disbelief in her cooking skills.


    Lin Xu was well aware of her poor culinary abilities, yet being questioned like this made her feel somewhat annoyed and embarrassed.


    Willow Wadding: ¡°Is that not okay?¡±


    Xie: ¡°It¡¯s fine, I¡¯m looking forward to it.¡±


    Seeing him so compliant, Lin Xu¡¯s anger dissipated and she honestly told him that Aunt Zhang would be cooking and she would be assisting.


    The next afternoon.


    When Lin Xu had some free time, she asked Aunt Zhang to make some nutritious food for the body, and she went in to help wash the vegetables and be a kitchen helper.


    Mouthwatering aromas wafted out of the kitchen, causing Ji Yuqiao, who had skipped lunch, to swallow her saliva several times, her stomach growling with hunger.


    Lin Xu smiled and served a small dish to Ji Yuqiao to alleviate her cravings, ¡°How is it, does it taste good?¡±


    ¡°Delicious, father will definitely like it.¡± Ji Yuqiao licked her lips contentedly.


    Lin Xu felt a bit guilty, ¡°How do you know¡­¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re all meant to nourish the body, if not for father, who else could they be for?¡± Ji Yuqiao held her cheeks, shyly imagining, ¡°Father will definitely be moved to tears when he sees this dinner, and he¡¯ll hug you and kiss you~¡±


    Lin Xu blushed and tapped her head, ¡°Nonsense, don¡¯t you have any shame.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s there to be ashamed of? Kissing is a very normal thing.¡± Ji Yuqiao said.


    ¡°What¡¯s very normal?¡± Ji Tingyang came down from the second floor, overhearing their conversation.


    ¡°It¡¯s just¡­¡± Ji Yuqiao had just started to speak when Lin Xu covered her mouth.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, we were just talking about Lanyue being hungry, it¡¯s normal to be hungry after eating so little at noon,¡± Lin Xu diverted the topic.


    ¡°Who told her to diet and lose what weight, she deserves to be hungry,¡± Ji Tingyang said without a trace of sympathy on his face.


    While speaking, his gaze swept over Ji Yuqiao¡¯s face.


    The next instant.


    His eyes suddenly deepened, his piercing gaze locked tightly on Lin Xu¡¯s left hand.


    Lin Xu seemed to remember something and quickly withdrew her left hand, hiding it behind her back.


    But it was already too late.


    Ji Tingyang stepped forward and forcefully pulled her hand out.


    The silver ring shone with a blinding light under the sunlight.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s jaw tightened, his face turned gloomy, exuding a subtle coldness.


    Seeing that things were not right, Ji Yuqiao had already slipped away, leaving only Lin Xu and Ji Tingyang in the living room.


    ¡°Xie Changyan proposed to you?!¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s voice suppressed with anger, and his face grew even more somber.


    He had seen this ring in the advertisements on the big screens at the mall and vaguely remembered people around the ad marveling at the ring.


    ¡°I heard the success rate of proposing with this ring is 100%, why don¡¯t you buy it and propose to your girlfriend?¡±


    ¡°That ring costs millions, people who can afford it surely succeed in their proposal, I don¡¯t have that much money.¡±

 Chapter 226 - Chapter 226: Chapter 226: Pinky Promise

    Chapter 226: Chapter 226: Pinky Promise


    Lin Xu typically bought necklaces and earrings, rarely rings.


    So, the moment Ji Tingyang saw this ring, he knew it must have been a gift from Xie Changyan.


    Just the thought of Xie Changyan proposing to Lin Xu, trying to snatch his mother away from him, intensified the icy chill within him.


    Ji Tingyang had always been worried about Lin Xu abandoning them to choose a new life, and it seemed to be gradually approaching.


    He gripped Lin Xu¡¯s hand tighter, his dark eyes like ink seemingly harboring a storm, a tempest brewing.


    Lin Xu¡¯s fingers massaged his furrowed brow, explaining, ¡°There wasn¡¯t a proposal, don¡¯t imagine things.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡± Ji Tingyang hesitated, his gaze returning to the ring on her hand.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a simple gift, really not what you think,¡± Lin Xu reassured, cradling his cheek, her clear eyes roundly fixing on him, ¡°Don¡¯t you believe what I say?¡±


    The gloom on Ji Tingyang¡¯s face slowly faded, and he pressed his lips together before saying, ¡°I believe.¡±


    But his eyes still held dissatisfaction, ¡°Mother, don¡¯t wear it.¡±


    Seeing it, he would be reminded of Xie Changyan.


    Lin Xu knew he felt insecure and could only assure him time and again, ¡°Haven¡¯t I promised you that we will always be together as a family?¡±


    ¡°Even if I wear this ring or not, we¡¯ll always be together, right? How about I promise you that?¡± Like cajoling a child, Lin Xu extended her pinky to hook his, making a promise.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï


    This familiar gesture momentarily stunned Ji Tingyang.


    Memories he had forgotten suddenly flooded in.


    ¡°Mama had a lot of work and forgot to pick you up from kindergarten today, can you forgive me?¡± Lin Xu crouched in front of Ji Tingyang, a pitiful look in her eyes as she pleaded for his forgiveness.


    He didn¡¯t know who he got it from, but Ji Tingyang would always have a stern face, even though he was just a four or five-year-old child.


    He turned his little face away, huffily refusing to look at her.


    ¡°Mama will make a pinky promise with you, I guarantee I will pick you up from kindergarten tomorrow,¡± Lin Xu¡¯s pinky hooked Ji Tingyang¡¯s chubby little hand.


    ¡°The teacher says, if you pinky promise, you must keep your word,¡± Ji Tingyang said in his soft voice.


    Lin Xu nodded frantically, ¡°I definitely won¡¯t forget tomorrow.¡±


    Whether his mother did pick him up from kindergarten afterwards, he couldn¡¯t remember anymore.


    But looking at their linked pinkies, Ji Tingyang grasped her hand back, a wave of nostalgia washing over him.


    Perhaps because Lin Xu had pacified him, Ji Tingyang was exceptionally generous today in allowing her to visit Xie Changyan at the hospital.


    Of course, Ji Tingyang would be going with her.


    ¡°We¡¯ll go back right after delivering dinner to him, not a minute longer,¡± Ji Tingyang reminded her for the eleventh time on the hospital elevator.


    Lin Xu couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°Alright, alright, I got it, no need to nag like an old man.¡±


    Upon arriving at the patient¡¯s room.


    Lin Xu found that Xie Changyan¡¯s health was indeed recovering as well as he had said.


    All the dense array of medical devices previously attached to him had been removed, the gauze on his head was gone, and he could even get out of bed now.


    He was sitting by the window in a chair, flipping through a book nonchalantly yet quickly. It wasn¡¯t clear whether he had finished reading or was just flipping pages at random.


    Hearing noise, Xie Changyan looked up.


    As soon as Lin Xu entered, her eyes met his, which brimmed with warmth, more so than before.


    She felt a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu, pausing for a moment. Before she could figure it out, Xie Changyan put down the book he was holding.


    ¡°I think I smell the aroma of food,¡± he said.


    Lin Xu snapped back to reality and walked over, placing the thermal lunch box on the table in front of him, ¡°Did I come too late?¡±


    ¡°The timing is just right,¡± Xie Changyan replied with a light smile at the corner of his mouth.


    As Lin Xu took the dishes out of the thermal lunch box, a trace of pride crossed her face, ¡°These are all recipes I got from the nutritionist. They said these are the best for nourishing the body, and I¡¯ve already tested the taste. They¡¯re all delicious.¡±


    ¡°They do look delicious, you even forgot to wipe the oil from the corner of your mouth,¡± Xie Changyan chuckled, reaching out to wipe the grease from the corner of her mouth.


    The pad of his thumb gently caressed her lips, inadvertently brushing her rosy lips.


    Lin Xu¡¯s heart skipped a beat, her cheeks flushing with a wave of heat, and she knew without looking that her face must be very red.


    She fumbled with her sleeve, wiping her mouth in a messy fashion, ¡°There, now it¡¯s gone.¡±


    ¡°Now the clothes are dirty,¡± Xie Changyan shook his head with a tone of helpless amusement, ¡°How can you still be like this¡­¡±


    ¡°Hmm? What did you say?¡± Lin Xu asked, looking at him.


    Just as Xie Changyan was about to speak, Ji Tingyang¡¯s voice, cold as frost, rang out from the side, ¡°The food has been delivered, and we should leave now.¡±


    Ji Tingyang glared fiercely at Xie Changyan, as if he wanted to bore a hole through him with his stare.


    He moved his hands and feet in front of Lin Xu so casually, clearly not any kind of gentleman.


    Lin Xu looked hesitant, stuttering, ¡°Are you in such a hurry? Why don¡¯t we wait until he¡¯s finished eating before leaving, so we can take the thermal lunch box back with us?¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s lips were pressed tight, his face full of displeasure.


    He knew it.


    As soon as his mother saw Xie Changyan, she was unwilling to leave.


    She had agreed with him that they would leave after delivering the food, but now she wanted to wait until Xie Changyan had finished eating.


    ¡°I promise, as soon as he finishes eating, we will leave,¡± Lin Xu pleaded with those round, imploring eyes of hers.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s heart softened, and before he knew it, his head nodded involuntarily.


    A flicker of annoyance passed through his eyes.


    During the meal, a doctor came to check the room, saying he needed to prescribe some more medicine for Xie Changyan.


    Upon hearing this, Lin Xu immediately followed the doctor to the office, leaving the two incompatible men behind in the sickroom.


    The atmosphere in the sickroom became somewhat silent for a while, so quiet that only the sound of Xie Changyan¡¯s chopsticks could be heard.


    ¡°How have you been these past dozen or so years?¡± Xie Changyan was the first to break the stiff silence between them.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze wary as he responded, ¡°How I¡¯ve been is none of your business.¡±


    ¡°Lin Xu may like you, but I certainly don¡¯t. No matter how you try to ingratiate yourself, I will never agree to you two getting married,¡± he said harshly.


    Xie Changyan seemed to hear something amusing, his tone filled with a pleasant hint, ¡°And your disapproval makes a difference?¡±


    Ji Tingyang hesitated for a moment, realizing the truth as well.


    Whatever Lin Xu did, the one to make compromises would always only be himself in the end.


    Just like before, she delayed their return home once more.


    With a few sweet words, he found himself unable to resist compromising.


    Perhaps in the end, he would even watch as Lin Xu and Xie Changyan got married.


    As long as his mother was happy¡­


    With that thought, Ji Tingyang¡¯s face suddenly turned grim, adamantly rebutting, ¡°Anyway, you are just a substitute in her heart; she would never marry you.¡±

 Chapter 227 - Chapter 227: Chapter 227: Is that person that good in your heart?

    Chapter 227: Chapter 227: Is that person that good in your heart?


    Substitute.


    Every time this word came up, even though Xie Changyan said he didn¡¯t mind, a trace of displeasure always flashed through his eyes.


    However, at this moment, Xie Changyan sat in a relaxed posture on the chair, his face showing no reaction.


    He even looked at Ji Tingyang with interest, ¡°If I¡¯m the substitute, then who is the real deal?¡±


    ¡°A man that looks somewhat like you. Lin Xu¡¯s most beloved is him, so don¡¯t delude yourself into thinking you can take his place in Lin Xu¡¯s heart,¡± Ji Tingyang said coldly.


    ¡°You¡¯re not even one-thousandth of him. If you had any self-awareness, you would leave Lin Xu right away.¡±


    Ji Tingyang sneered at Xie Changyan, but the smile on his lips didn¡¯t fade, and he still showed no reaction.


    Ji Tingyang inwardly criticized his thick skin.


    ¡°Is that man really so great in your heart?¡± Xie Changyan asked with a mocking look in his eyes.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s face was stern as he averted his gaze, clearly not wishing to continue the conversation.


    The smile in Xie Changyan¡¯s eyes tinged with helplessness as he shook his head and resumed eating his dinner with the chopsticks in hand.


    After a while.


    Lin Xu returned from seeing the doctor, and the first thing she said to Xie Changyan was, ¡°The doctor has prescribed some medicine for you, the nurse will bring it over later.¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í¨À0.§ã¦Ï


    Perhaps due to haste, a bead of sweat had formed on her forehead.


    Xie Changyan gently swept the damp hair on her cheek behind her ear, ¡°Got it. There¡¯s no need to rush, sit down and rest for a while first.¡±


    Lin Xu was about to nod when a cold voice interrupted, ¡°No need, we¡¯ll go home to rest.¡±


    Ji Tingyang pulled Lin Xu to his side, preventing Xie Changyan from making any further moves.


    ¡°He¡¯s finished his meal. You said that once he finished, we would go home,¡± he said to Lin Xu in a muffled voice.


    Lin Xu looked at the table only to see that the food in the insulated box was completely gone.


    Lin Xu looked at Xie Changyan, her gaze somewhat resentful.


    Was he really that hungry?


    If he had eaten slower, wouldn¡¯t she have been able to stay a bit longer?


    Xie Changyan smiled, ¡°You too have just recovered. Go home and rest early, and stop running to the hospital.¡±


    Hearing this, Ji Tingyang nodded in agreement in his mind.


    He didn¡¯t expect him to say something sensible for once.


    What¡¯s so good about the hospital anyway?


    But after hearing Xie Changyan¡¯s next words, Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression darkened again.


    ¡°I¡¯ll come to see you after I¡¯m discharged,¡± Xie Changyan said.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xu responded.


    ¡­


    After returning to the villa.


    Lin Xu found that Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu, the brothers, were watching over her a bit too closely, as if she had a post-accident syndrome. Whenever she left their sight for a moment, both would become extremely anxious.


    One day, as she went to the backyard to water the flowers and had left for only a few minutes, she heard Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu¡¯s voices inside the villa searching for her.


    Their actions were as if they were about to turn the house upside down; Lin Xu hurriedly ran out with the watering can, ¡°I¡¯m here in the backyard watering the flowers.¡±


    Seeing her figure, the two of them finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    Ji Yuqiao, who had witnessed the whole process, clicked her tongue in ridicule, ¡°Big brother, second brother, you¡¯re grown men, yet you¡¯re so clingy. If word gets out, it¡¯s you who will be the butt of the joke.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you just as clingy?¡±, Ji Zeqiu rolled his eyes.


    Although Ji Yuqiao wasn¡¯t as excessive as them, at night, she would always take her pillow and run to the master bedroom to sleep with Lin Xu.


    ¡°How could that be the same!¡± Ji Yuqiao said seriously with a solemn face, ¡°Mommy¡¯s boys will be disliked by others. What if you can¡¯t get married later on?¡±


    ¡°But a mommy¡¯s girl is so adorable, and mother loves it most,¡± Ji Yuqiao ran over, holding Lin Xu¡¯s shoulder with a triumphant look.


    ¡°What kind of twisted logic is that?¡± Ji Zeqiu said irritably.


    Just as Ji Zeqiu and Ji Yuqiao were bickering, a ringtone sounded from a cell phone.


    Ji Tingyang took out his cell phone, glanced at the caller ID, and his eyes darkened slightly.


    With a calm voice, he said, ¡°I¡¯m going to take a call,¡± and then he went upstairs.


    Ji Zeqiu watched his retreating figure thoughtfully and soon followed.


    ¡°What are those two up to? All secretive,¡± Lin Xu muttered, puzzled.


    ¡°It¡¯s about the truck driver who ran the red light,¡± Ji Yuqiao explained.


    ¡°What happened to that driver?¡± Lin Xu asked in confusion.


    ¡°My elder brother is talking to a lawyer to get him a heavier sentence, and it¡¯s the same with our granddad on our father¡¯s side¡ªthey definitely won¡¯t let that scoundrel off easily,¡± Ji Yuqiao said indignantly.


    The driver had hit someone and then tried to flee the scene.


    If it wasn¡¯t for the police who caught him in time, he might have already fled somewhere else.


    If it wasn¡¯t for their parents¡¯ luck, she and her two brothers could have lost them again.


    Thinking about it, Ji Yuqiao wished she could carve that driver up herself.


    Lin Xu nodded in realization.


    She didn¡¯t ask any more about the matter, trusting her son to handle it.


    It was only later that Lin Xu inadvertently learned that the driver had been sentenced, and the sentence was heavier than in past cases.


    During this time, Lin Xu was forced to recuperate at home, consuming a lot of tonics and ginseng soup, even gaining a few pounds.


    By the time she found out about Xie Changyan¡¯s hospital discharge, a week had already passed.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me when you were discharged?¡± Lin Xu called and asked with dissatisfaction.


    ¡°Would you have come to the hospital to pick me up if I had told you?¡± Xie Changyan knew her well.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with coming to pick you up after such a big event as being discharged?¡± Lin Xu muttered softly.


    ¡°How is being discharged a big event?¡± Xie Changyan chuckled, ¡°Besides, it¡¯s so hot outside. Just rest well at home.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡± She wanted to know more about his health condition.


    ¡°I¡¯ll come visit you in a couple of days.¡±


    Hearing him say that, the little discontent in Lin Xu¡¯s heart finally dissipated, and she felt relieved.


    They continued their affectionate conversation for a few more moments before Lin Xu reluctantly hung up the phone.


    A while later, she suddenly realized: How was she going to leave the house?


    With two ever-present guardians by her side, leaving might be a bit difficult.


    After pondering for a while and coming up with no ideas, Lin Xu scratched her head and decided to let it be.


    Since Xie Changyan said he would come to pick her up, it was up to him to figure out how to get her out.


    Time flew, and soon it was two days later.


    It happened to be the weekend, and both Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu were at home.


    While they were watching a movie in the living room, the sound of a car driving up could be heard outside the villa.


    Ji Zeqiu looked outside curiously, ¡°Butler, who is it?¡±


    The butler went to check and returned quickly, stammering, ¡°It¡¯s, it¡¯s Young Master Xie¡­¡±


    He knew that the young masters didn¡¯t like Xie Changyan.


    As expected.


    Upon hearing it was Xie Changyan, both Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu¡¯s expressions immediately turned cold.


    Only Ji Yuqiao happily ran out, but after only a few steps, Ji Zeqiu grabbed her by the clothes, ¡°Don¡¯t you dare open the door!¡±

 Chapter 228 - Chapter 228: Chapter 228 We Dont Welcome You

    Chapter 228: Chapter 228 We Don¡¯t Welcome You


    However, within half a minute, Xie Changyan sauntered in from outside the door.


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief as he asked, ¡°How did you get in?!¡±


    Ji Tingyang glared at the butler.


    The butler was so frightened that he immediately broke out in a sweat and shook his head vigorously, ¡°I didn¡¯t open the door.¡±


    He knew that Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu disliked Xie Changyan, so how could he dare to open the door on his own?


    Xie Changyan¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly, and his tone, replete with a smile, was utterly nonchalant, ¡°Of course, I entered by typing in the password.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu immediately looked resentfully toward Lin Xu, as if silently blaming her for actually telling Xie Changyan the family¡¯s access codes.


    Even Ji Tingyang thought so.


    The home¡¯s password had always been the one set by their father twenty years ago, which he had never changed, yet their mother had casually told Xie Changyan the password.


    He felt somewhat disheartened for a moment.


    Lin Xu blinked in confusion, however.


    Had she told him the password before, she seemed unable to remember.


    Ji Tingyang concealed the expression in his eyes and looked at Xie Changyan with a cold tone, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯m here to take her out on a date,¡± Xie Changyan quipped with a slight raise of his eyebrows.


    ¡°No way!¡± Ji Zeqiu immediately objected.


    Ji Tingyang sneered, ¡°Go out for a date, and then get hit by a car again?¡±


    At the mention of the car accident, a momentary flicker of complex emotion passed through Xie Changyan¡¯s eyes.


    Soon, his expression returned to normal, ¡°Since none of you feel at ease, why don¡¯t we just have the date here in the villa?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu looked at him incredulously, as if shocked by his audacity.


    None of them welcomed him, yet he acted as if it was perfectly fine to stay here.


    ¡°We don¡¯t welcome you,¡± Ji Tingyang said coldly.


    ¡°We do welcome you, we do!¡± Ji Yuqiao pushed Ji Tingyang aside, stepped forward, and hooked her arm through Xie Changyan¡¯s, ¡°You didn¡¯t finish visiting last time you were here, let me take you for a tour, shall I?¡±


    Perhaps seeing something familiar might trigger his memory.


    However, as soon as the words left her mouth, Ji Tingyang¡¯s gaze swept over like a sharpened blade, ¡°Last time? He has been here before?¡±


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s voice suddenly choked, and her eyes drifted around guiltily, ¡°What are you talking about, big brother? You must have heard wrong, I didn¡¯t say that.¡±


    ¡°Ji Yuqiao,¡± Ji Tingyang enunciated her name with a chilling slowness, causing her to shiver with fear.


    Ji Yuqiao trembled, hastily pulling Xie Changyan away, ¡°Ah, a guest has come, let¡¯s visit the cinema room.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m worried about Lanyue; I¡¯ll go take a look as well,¡± Lin Xu chuckled dryly and followed after them.


    Within the villa, there was a private cinema room that they occasionally used to watch movies in.


    As Ji Yuqiao led Xie Changyan inside, she said, ¡°The equipment inside is a bit old, though. The projector works on and off. Sometimes when we watch a movie, it keeps cutting out.¡±


    She complained offhandedly.


    These items were all purchased by their parents in the past, and big brother always couldn¡¯t bear to throw them away.


    Apart from some essential items that would be replaced with new ones, everything else was what their parents had used over twenty years ago.


    ¡°Does it start dropping frames after watching awhile?¡± Xie Changyan asked.


    ¡°Exactly.¡±


    Xie Changyan walked over, glanced at the projector, and smiled knowingly.


    ¡°You¡¯ve plugged these two wires in the wrong way, that¡¯s why the frame was dropping,¡± he said, pointing to the two wires above and casually plugging them in correctly.


    ¡°Is it okay now?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Xie Changyan nodded, ¡°These devices are all handcrafted overseas, they won¡¯t have any issues even after a hundred years.¡±


    A look of admiration instantly burst in Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes. ¡°You even understand this?¡±


    Xie Changyan let out a light chuckle through his nose and reached out to ruffle her hair.


    Lin Xu watched his clear eyes crinkle with a smile, her expression momentarily dazed.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Xie Changyan noticed she kept looking at him.


    ¡°How do you know about this projector and that the wires were plugged in the wrong way?¡± Lin Xu asked.


    ¡°Did you remember something?¡± Ji Yuqiao interjected excitedly.


    ¡°Not much, just that we happen to have one at home too,¡± Xie Changyan said.


    So that¡¯s how it was?


    Lin Xu fell silent, repressing the small surge of emotion that had just welled up in her heart.


    ¡°Mother, don¡¯t worry, just take Father to look at it a few more times, he will definitely remember something,¡± Ji Yuqiao whispered comfortingly beside her.


    ¡°Right, there¡¯s one place!¡± Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up, and she hurriedly pulled Xie Changyan outside.


    They arrived at a wall in the backyard, where there were two lines, one red and one blue, each mark higher than the last, with a few simple watercolor red flowers painted beside them.


    ¡°Take a look at this, does it remind you of anything?¡± Ji Yuqiao pointed to the doodles on the wall and asked.


    After so many years, the graffiti on the wall was still perfectly preserved.


    Lin Xu could even recall the scenes from the past when she would measure the heights of Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu here.


    ¡°Our Tingyang is doing great, he¡¯s grown another two centimeters this month. Let¡¯s drink some more milk and then go out to run and exercise. You¡¯re sure to grow even taller and turn into a handsome boy,¡± Lin Xu squatted in front of him, clapping her hands happily.


    Having been praised, a trace of pride surfaced on Ji Tingyang¡¯s small, straight face.


    ¡°Mom, what about me, did I grow taller?¡± Ji Zeqiu, having just been measured for his height on Ji Yanli¡¯s hand, hurried over to ask.


    ¡°Our Zeqiu has grown taller too, that¡¯s great,¡± Lin Xu said, rubbing his little face.


    Ji Zeqiu giggled happily and ran over to hug her neck, ¡°I will grow even taller in the future and become a man who protects Mommy.¡±


    ¡°Real men don¡¯t cling to Mommy all the time,¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s tender voice carried a hint of disapproval toward his brother.


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Ji Yanli lifted Ji Zeqiu with one hand, ¡°Mommy belongs to Daddy, you can¡¯t just hug her randomly, understand?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu¡¯s little mouth puckered, and the next second he burst into tears, ¡°Wuwuwu¡­ I want Mommy, Daddy¡¯s a meanie¡­¡±


    Lin Xu gave the man a glare and took Ji Zeqiu back into her arms. ¡°What nonsense are you saying to the child?¡±


    Ji Yanli immediately admitted his mistake, smiling as he kissed her cheek, ¡°I was wrong.¡±


    Seeing this, Ji Zeqiu mimicked him and kissed Lin Xu¡¯s face as well, ¡°I kiss kiss too.¡±


    Ji Tingyang strained to look up at them, envy in his round and glistening eyes.


    Ji Yanli casually lifted him up too, ¡°If little brother kisses Mommy, then Tingyang can kiss Daddy.¡±


    Ji Tingyang looked over at Lin Xu and, in the end, still leaned in toward her to plant a kiss.


    ¡°You little rascal,¡± Ji Yanli clicked his tongue.


    However, the next moment, his cheek received a wet kiss.


    With a slight blush on his face, Ji Tingyang softly said, ¡°It has to be fair, both people should get a kiss.¡±

 Chapter 229 - Chapter 229: Chapter 229: Have You Regained Your Memory?

    Chapter 229: Chapter 229: Have You Regained Your Memory?


    Memories of the past flashed through Lin Xu¡¯s mind as she looked at the height markings on the wall, a nostalgic smile curling at the edges of her lips.


    Just as she was about to say something, she caught a glimpse of Xie Changyan, who also had a smile in his eyes.


    She didn¡¯t know what he was thinking about, but he chuckled looking at the graffiti on the wall.


    Ji Yuqiao looked at him with hopeful eyes, ¡°How does it feel, do you have a sense of familiarity?¡±


    She had heard from her older brother before that the height lines on the wall were drawn by their parents when measuring the height of her eldest brother and second brother as children.


    He must remember something.


    Xie Changyan just looked at her and smiled, without saying a word.


    ¡°Alright¡­¡± Ji Yuqiao hung her head.


    He didn¡¯t recall anything.


    She was disheartened for a few seconds but quickly perked up, clenching her fists to encourage herself.


    ¡°Next one, next one,¡± she murmured, scratching her head in thought.


    What next? What else could make him feel familiar, bring back old memories?


    ¡°How about we look at some of your old photos?¡± suggested Lin Xu from the side.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï


    Photos?


    Nothing else could evoke memories of the past better than photos.


    Ji Yuqiao remembered that Ji Tingyang had an album with many family portraits of all five of them.


    She rarely flipped through that album before; it was Ji Tingyang who often browsed it.


    Several times, as she passed by the study, she saw Ji Tingyang sighing while looking at the album, his expression sometimes nostalgic, other times melancholic.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go get the album right now!¡± Ji Yuqiao¡¯s heart leaped with excitement and she ran upstairs energetically.


    In the backyard, only Xie Changyan and Lin Xu were left.


    She approached, her fingers gently tracing the graffiti on the wall, and sighed, ¡°It seems like just recently the three of them were still kids, and in the blink of an eye, they¡¯ve all grown up so much. I wasn¡¯t there for them these twenty years, they have suffered so much¡­¡±


    After speaking, she stealthily glanced at Xie Changyan, curious about his reaction.


    However, Xie Changyan stood casually with his hands in his pockets, a mysterious half-smile on his face, silent.


    ¡°Lanyue told me before that when they were kids, they had to shuttle between relatives¡¯ houses, no one wanted to take care of them, they couldn¡¯t even get enough food¡­¡±


    ¡°I have no idea how they made it through these twenty years,¡± Lin Xu said, looking at Xie Changyan.


    In his eyes, a fleeting shadow of gloominess passed, his gaze becoming darker than before.


    Lin Xu carefully probed, ¡°Did you remember something?¡±


    Xie Changyan lifted his gaze to her, his eyes filled with a complex expression. He parted his lips slightly, about to say something, when Ji Yuqiao came running back excitedly, holding a thick photo album in her hands.


    ¡°Look, look, it¡¯s all our family portraits,¡± Ji Yuqiao handed the album to him.


    Xie Changyan flipped through a few pages.


    Although it was called a family album, it was mostly a record of the three children¡¯s growth.


    Pictures of the three kids shortly after birth, their first steps, their first birthdays, Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu¡¯s first day at nursery¡­


    These images were still vivid in Lin Xu¡¯s eyes.


    As Xie Changyan continued to flip through the album, he was suddenly confronted by a photo of a kiss.


    It was a picture of Lin Xu and Ji Yanli on a date at the amusement park, taken by a passerby.


    Lin Xu had forgotten the small incident that sparked their argument, but she remembered being very angry, giving him the silent treatment in the amusement park, refusing to speak a word.


    Ji Yanli had coaxed her for a long time, but she hadn¡¯t cooled down.


    It wasn¡¯t until she got so angry that she said the word ¡°break up¡± that his expression darkened, and he pressed her against the wall of the amusement park and began to kiss her.


    His kiss was lingering and fiery, leaving her heart in such disarray that she forgot what she had been mad about in the end.


    Lin Xu was somewhat surprised when she saw this photograph; she hadn¡¯t expected him to actually have it developed.


    ¡°Wow, father and mother¡¯s relationship is really good,¡± Ji Yuqiao said, holding her cheeks, her eyes twinkling with stars.


    If it were the past.


    Xie Changyan, seeing Lin Xu and the man in the photograph so intimately close, would probably have become so jealous that he¡¯d question her, asking if she was still hung up on this departed man and would try every possible way to make her throw the photograph away.


    But now.


    Lin Xu glanced at Xie Changyan without a trace, only to see that his expression was as usual, without any reaction.


    This was really too strange.


    Lin Xu, lost in thought, involuntarily curled the fingers of her hand at her side, the nail of her thumb pressing hard into the pad of her index finger, turning it white.


    When thinking about things, she always liked to press her fingernail into herself.


    This kind of pain could keep her clear-headed and thinking.


    However, just as the pain began to spread over her hand, Xie Changyan took her hand, unclenching her tightened palm.


    ¡°How come this bad habit can never change?¡± he said with a helpless smile, his fingers sliding through hers, interlocking their digits.


    This familiar gesture and tone were exactly like Ji Yanli¡¯s¡­


    Lin Xu looked at his profile, her expression flickered with bewilderment.


    She opened her mouth and asked softly, ¡°Have you regained your memory?¡±


    Xie Changyan¡¯s brows lifted slightly, ¡°What memory?¡±


    He looked completely puzzled.


    ¡°Then how do you know about this bad habit of mine?¡± Lin Xu stared at him intently.


    Xie Changyan said with a light, joking smile, ¡°Just a guess.¡±


    She could tell right away that this was a lie.


    Still pretending!


    The anger in Lin Xu¡¯s chest surged immediately, and she resolved to see just how long he intended to keep up this act.


    Just as she was pondering how to make Xie Changyan slip up, her gaze flicked to the cookie that Ji Yuqiao had popped into her mouth.


    ¡°Where did you get the cookies?¡± Lin Xu asked casually.


    ¡°I was a bit hungry, just went to get the album and passed by the dining room, so I grabbed some peanut cookies,¡± Ji Yuqiao finished off the cookies in two or three bites and swallowed them down.


    Lin Xu was taken aback, shaking her shoulders frantically, ¡°Have you forgotten about your peanut allergy, how could you eat peanut cookies, hurry up and spit them out!¡±


    Her eyes reddened suddenly, looking into Ji Yuqiao¡¯s mouth in a panic.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s brows furrowed, his expression also becoming grave, ¡°She¡¯s allergic to peanuts? When did this happen?¡±


    ¡°Lanyue has been allergic to peanuts since she was a child, how could you have forgotten? There was one time when you fed her peanut butter, her face turned so red, and if we hadn¡¯t gone to the emergency room, she might have lost her life,¡± Lin Xu¡¯s eyes brimmed with uncontrollable tears.


    ¡°You¡¯re remembering it wrong; that trip to the hospital was because she choked, not because of an allergy,¡± Xie Changyan consoled the anxious Lin Xu, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, she¡¯s fine.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao also looked confused.


    Is she allergic to peanuts?


    How come she didn¡¯t know about it?


    Lin Xu wiped away the tears from the corner of her eyes, her frantic expression calming down.


    She looked at Xie Changyan with a deep gaze, ¡°If you haven¡¯t regained your memory, how would you know it was because she choked?¡±


    Xie Changyan: ¡°¡­¡±

 Chapter 230 - Chapter 230: Chapter 230: So You Loved Him This Much?

    Chapter 230: Chapter 230: So You Loved Him This Much?


    ¡°If you haven¡¯t recovered your memory, how do you know Lanyue isn¡¯t allergic to peanuts?¡± Lin Xu¡¯s eyes narrowed, as she stepped closer to Xie Changyan.


    Xie Changyan stepped back, laughing, ¡°Is it possible¡­ I guessed it?¡±


    Flames of anger flared in Lin Xu¡¯s eyes, ¡°You guessed that accurately? Why don¡¯t you try guessing the next lottery numbers then?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­¡± Xie Changyan paused in thought, retreating two more steps, ¡°If you really want to know, should I tell you secretly later?¡±


    ¡°Ji! Chang! Yan!¡± Lin Xu gritted her teeth as she yelled his name, as if she was about to devour him alive, ¡°Give me an honest explanation!¡±


    Xie Changyan was cornered against the wall, with nowhere left to retreat.


    He chuckled helplessly, his fingers brushing past the stray hairs by Lin Xu¡¯s ear, ¡°Wife, can I get leniency if I confess?¡±


    That familiar phrase stirred thousands of waves in her heart.


    Each time he did something wrong in the past and hid it from her only to be discovered, he would always cajole her this way, ¡°Can I get leniency if I confess?¡±


    Lin Xu had thought she would be furious upon discovering he truly had been hiding his memory recovery, but hearing the confirmation, the raging storm in her chest subsided, and her eyes instantly turned red.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s fingertips wiped the tears at the corner of her eyes, ¡°You were so angry just now, why are you crying all of a sudden?¡±


    ¡°Mind your own business.¡± Lin Xu turned her head away, her tears glistening on her face, ¡°You could¡¯ve just continued pretending not to recognize me. You could even go and remarry.¡±


    ¡°One wife is enough, and whether I have my memory or not, aren¡¯t you the one who has charmed me? How could I possibly marry another woman?¡± Xie Changyan said.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï


    Lin Xu pouted, her eyes still red but her expression somewhat softened, ¡°When did you recover your memory, and why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡±


    ¡°During the car accident, didn¡¯t I hit my head and stay unconscious for several days? When I woke up, I remembered everything.¡±


    While he was unconscious, his lost memories played through his mind like a movie. By the time he woke up, he remembered everything.


    He had intended to find a quiet and suitable moment to discuss it with his family, but he never expected Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu to harbor such hostility towards him.


    ¡°Great, you recovered your memory so early and yet dared keep hiding it from me.¡± Lin Xu twisted his arm forcefully.


    Xie Changyan endured the pain, rendered speechless, and could only chuckle helplessly.


    Ji Yuqiao was watching in confusion, but she still caught the words ¡°recovered memory.¡±


    She stared blankly at Xie Changyan, eyes filled with faint hope, ¡°Father, have you remembered us too?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Xie Changyan¡¯s lips slightly curved, a gentle smile appearing. He waved Ji Yuqiao over.


    Ji Yuqiao walked over in a daze.


    A broad palm rested on her head, the tone leisurely yet with a hint of wonder, ¡°I never thought that Lanyue, who once lay in her crib unable to even speak, has grown up so much in the blink of an eye.¡±


    ¡°Are you really our father? Will you also love me like my older brothers and mother?¡± Ji Yuqiao stared at him, dazed.


    ¡°Did I not cherish you before?¡± Xie Changyan raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°You always seemed fierce before.¡± Ji Yuqiao fidgeted with her hands, mumbling softly.


    Clearly, his stern demeanor at the Flaming Lily Restaurant had scared her, and she still remembered it to this day.


    Xie Changyan curled his finger and tapped her forehead, ¡°First, return the bank card I gave you, then say that.¡±


    The unlimited credit card he and Lin Xu had given her on their trip to Rong Mountain had never been taken back.


    Ji Yuqiao touched her head, chuckled merrily, and her cheeks slowly blossomed into a smile as bright as the stars.


    She spread her arms and excitedly threw herself onto Xie Changyan¡¯s body, ¡°This is great, mother and father are back, Big Brother and Second Brother will definitely be very happy.¡±


    Although Big Brother and Second Brother never said it, she knew they really missed their father.


    The things father had bought for him were still hidden under the bed in his bedroom.


    When Lin Xu mentioned Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu, her face tensed up a bit, showing difficulty, ¡°They might not easily believe this¡­¡±


    She had also mentioned to them before that Xie Changyan was their father, but no matter what she said, they refused to believe it.


    ¡°I¡¯m the smartest, I just knew that what mother said had to be right,¡± Ji Yuqiao proudly lifted her chin.


    Even though Big Brother and Second Brother kept telling her not to be deceived by Xie Changyan, she believed what Lin Xu said and steadfastly did so.


    Lin Xu chuckled softly and patted her proud head.


    Perhaps because the three of them had spent too much time in the backyard, Ji Tingyang couldn¡¯t rest easy, and after finishing his work, he also came to the backyard.


    Looking at the harmonious trio, his face suddenly became overshadowed with gloom, his deep eyes cold as frost.


    ¡°Young Master Xie has been here for several hours already; as it¡¯s not yet dark, we will not keep you here for dinner,¡± he walked over and pulled Lin Xu and Ji Yuqiao back behind him.


    ¡°Big Brother, it¡¯s not like our home lacks a pair of chopsticks, let him stay for dinner,¡± Ji Yuqiao was the first to protest.


    ¡°Aunt Zhang didn¡¯t prepare his meal,¡± Ji Tingyang said coldly.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll ask Aunt Zhang to make some more!¡± Ji Yuqiao said, and immediately ran into the living room.


    She rushed so much that she tripped over the frame of the French window, losing her balance and stumbling forward.


    ¡°Be careful,¡± Lin Xu immediately went to help her.


    Seeing Ji Yuqiao was alright, Ji Tingyang then drew back his gaze and turned to see Xie Changyan watching Lin Xu¡¯s figure with a light smile.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression darkened instantly, ¡°Lin Xu will not like you; give up on that idea.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°She merely talks to you more because of your face, being a substitute should come with the self-awareness of a substitute.¡±


    Xie Changyan appeared to hear something amusing and smiled gently, ¡°Is that so?¡±


    ¡°What are you two talking about?¡± Lin Xu came back and saw the two of them talking.


    Wondering if the father and son were bonding.


    ¡°He said that you care so much for someone that you can¡¯t sleep at night, and so you treat me as his substitute?¡± Xie Changyan¡¯s tone carried a smile.


    Lin Xu¡¯s cheeks suddenly turned red, and she stuttered embarrassingly, ¡°I, I didn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°He also said you¡¯re so obsessed with that person that you can¡¯t stop thinking about him¡­¡± Xie Changyan¡¯s laughter trickled from his throat, ¡°How did I not know you loved him so much?¡±


    ¡°He¡­ he¡¯s talking nonsense, I don¡¯t like that person at all!¡± Had it been before, Lin Xu might have just admitted it.


    But since he had regained his memory, Lin Xu was reluctant to admit her feelings in front of him.


    Ji Tingyang was shocked, and looked at Lin Xu with a hurt expression, ¡°Mother?¡±

 Chapter 231 - Chapter 231: Chapter 231: Sowing Discord

    Chapter 231: Chapter 231: Sowing Discord


    Aunt Zhang had prepared the meal, and under Ji Yuqiao¡¯s insistent request, Xie Changyan stayed for dinner.


    During the meal, Ji Tingyang¡¯s gaze wandered toward Lin Xu from time to time.


    Remembering Lin Xu¡¯s words that she didn¡¯t like her father, Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression was listless, his eyes tinged with a hint of dejection.


    He couldn¡¯t believe she would abandon her father because of Xie Changyan.


    With that thought, Ji Tingyang¡¯s deep eyes became even more woeful, staring straight at Lin Xu.


    Feeling his intense gaze, Lin Xu felt a chill in her heart and reluctantly picked up a piece of meat for Ji Tingyang, flashing him a forced smile.


    Ji Tingyang struggled with the idea of not eating her offering as a form of protest, but after a short while, he still shamefully put the meat into his mouth.


    ¡°Cough cough¡­¡±


    The sudden coughing sound drew everyone¡¯s attention.


    Lin Xu looked over and saw Ji Zeqiu coughing in her direction again. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, is your throat uncomfortable?¡±


    Ji Zeqiu: ¡°¡­No.¡±


    ¡°Oh, then eat.¡±


    Lin Xu didn¡¯t mind.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã?


    As long as it wasn¡¯t a physical discomfort, she was relieved.


    However, not even a few seconds later, Ji Zeqiu pressed his fist to his lips and coughed again softly.


    When Lin Xu looked over, Ji Zeqiu put on a serious face and eyed the dish in front of her. ¡°That meat looks very fragrant; I wonder how it tastes but it¡¯s a bit too far away for me to reach.¡±


    There was a hint of regret in his tone.


    ¡°It¡¯s delicious, Second Brother, let me get it for you.¡± Ji Yuqiao stretched her arm out and placed the meat into Ji Zeqiu¡¯s bowl.


    Looking at the piece of meat in his bowl, Ji Zeqiu¡¯s countenance immediately fell. ¡°Who wanted you to do that?¡±


    Mother had picked vegetables for Ji Tingyang and hadn¡¯t done the same for him yet.


    ¡°If you wanted Lin Xu to pick it for you, you should have just said so.¡± Ji Yuqiao clicked her tongue disdainfully and took the meat from his bowl back to her own, ¡°Wasting my effort, give me my meat back.¡±


    Ji Zeqiu swiftly glanced at Lin Xu, his expression awkwardly fleeting.


    Ji Tingyang hadn¡¯t said anything but had just gazed adoringly at mother, and she had started picking food for him.


    Ji Zeqiu had thought that Lin Xu would also pick food for him eventually, but after waiting for a long time, it never happened.


    Did his mother not see him as her son anymore?


    As he sulkily poked at the rice in his bowl, Lin Xu finally picked some food for him.


    Spicy braised shrimp, beef, steamed fish¡­ eventually, she picked a bit of each dish for him.


    As the dishes slowly piled into a small mountain in his bowl, the corners of Ji Zeqiu¡¯s lips gradually curved upwards.


    Seeing his concealed joy, Lin Xu breathed a sigh of relief and hastily made sure to distribute food evenly to Ji Yuqiao as well.


    Watching Lin Xu bustling about, Xie Changyan¡¯s expression carried a hint of disapproval, ¡°They can pick up their own food; you¡¯re spoiling them too much.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just picking up food now and then, how is that spoiling them too much?¡± Lin Xu argued back.


    Not long ago, they were just six or seven-year-old children, and even the daughter needed to be fed by her.


    And with her son looking at her so pitifully, what was wrong with her picking some food for him?


    Xie Changyan frowned but before he could speak, someone beside him chimed in, ¡°We¡¯re a family; what¡¯s wrong with her spoiling us?¡±


    In the presence of the person in question, Ji Zeqiu provocatively sided with Lin Xu, ¡°He actually dared to criticize you; he doesn¡¯t like you at all. You should tell him to get lost.¡±


    Ji Tingyang rarely nodded, agreeing with Ji Zeqiu¡¯s words.


    He couldn¡¯t wait for Lin Xu to see Xie Changyan¡¯s true colors and for the two of them to break up quickly.


    Lin Xu had a teasing smile in her eyes as she looked at Xie Changyan with great interest.


    Let¡¯s see how he handles this.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s eyebrows slightly raised, his finger sweeping across her cheek, accompanied by a low chuckle, ¡°How could I not like you? I¡¯m so fond of you that I can¡¯t think of anything but tea or food; your image is all that fills my mind~¡±


    His deep voice spread by her ear, carrying a hint of seduction, and Lin Xu¡¯s cheeks suddenly reddened.


    This man, saying such things in front of a child, isn¡¯t embarrassed at all.


    Lin Xu glared at Xie Changyan, her eyes carrying a coy and shy resentment.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s face suddenly fell again, and the prejudice in his heart against Xie Changyan deepened a bit more.


    So much so that when he saw Xie Changyan the following evening at a business dinner, he did not give him any good looks.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡± Ji Tingyang asked coldly.


    This man is like a lingering spirit.


    Not only coming to his home, but he also encounters him at business functions.


    ¡°It¡¯s like this, I just happened to be discussing a contract at Xie¡¯s today, and when I saw President Xie, I thought I¡¯d invite him over, for everyone to dine together,¡± a man explained.


    No sooner had the man finished speaking than someone tugged at his arm, whispering in his ear, ¡°President Ji and Young Master Xie are like water and fire, incompatible. How could you put them together?¡±


    The man looked shocked at his companion, as if hearing this for the first time, ¡°Really? Then¡­ what should I do?!¡±


    Now it seems neither of them could be asked to leave.


    The people around him sighed and patted his shoulder, ¡°You¡¯re on your own, buddy.¡±


    The man¡¯s face instantly showed a mournful expression.


    Ji Tingyang wasn¡¯t too fond of Xie Changyan, but Xie Changyan didn¡¯t care and looked at him with slightly raised eyebrows: ¡°It seems we really do have fate.¡±


    Ji Tingyang looked away coldly.


    Who wants to have fate with him?


    Xie Changyan pulled out a chair and sat down, casually crossing one leg over the other on his knee.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t we going to eat? What are you all standing around for?¡± he glanced at the stunned people around him.


    Upon hearing Xie Changyan¡¯s words, those in the private room came back to their senses, chiming in unison, ¡°Right, right¡­ let¡¯s eat, let¡¯s eat¡­¡±


    Ji Tingyang felt a ripple of irritation flash in his eyes, he tugged at his tie, considering leaving.


    But seeing the nonchalant Xie Changyan, he felt that leaving now would mean losing to him, and so he sat back down.


    ¡°President Ji.¡± A woman with a graceful figure approached Ji Tingyang, her movements carrying a touch of flirtation, ¡°Our company appreciates your support these past days. Let me toast to you~¡±


    Ji Tingyang emptied the glass of wine in one swig.


    ¡°President Ji really can hold his liquor~¡± the woman said with a smile, her hand reaching for his shoulder.


    Just as she was about to lean in, Ji Tingyang¡¯s presence turned suddenly frosty, ¡°Get lost.¡±


    The woman was startled, her body shuddering, and she didn¡¯t handle her wine glass carefully, spilling a few drops onto Ji Tingyang.


    The displeasure in Ji Tingyang¡¯s eyes grew more intense.


    The woman¡¯s complexion turned pale, and her voice shook, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, President Ji, it wasn¡¯t on purpose, let me clean that up for you.¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s already irritated mood became even colder and more intimidating; he shook off the woman¡¯s hand that tried to clean up, ¡°Don¡¯t touch me with your filthy hands.¡±


    Just when everyone was too scared to utter a word, Xie Changyan¡¯s voice rang out, ¡°Who taught you to speak like that?¡±


    ¡°What, you want to teach me manners now?¡± Ji Tingyang shot back coldly.

 Chapter 232 - Chapter 232: Chapter 232 Apology

    Chapter 232: Chapter 232 Apology


    Xie Changyan and Ji Tingyang locked gazes, as if the air had frozen, filled with a thick scent of gunpowder.


    For a while, nobody dared to speak, fearing the rage would turn upon them.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s eyes were indifferent yet carried a stern air, his gaze fixed on Ji Tingyang, ¡°How so, can I not discipline you?¡±


    Ji Tingyang sneered coldly, his eyes filled with disdain as he looked at him.


    He wouldn¡¯t think that just because he was with his mother, he had the right to educate him, would he?


    ¡°What happened to the politeness I told you about before? Where did you forget it?¡± Xie Changyan lifted his eyes and said harshly.


    Ji Tingyang looked into those frosty eyes, his heart trembled, and memories of his father flashed in his mind.


    When she was in kindergarten, there was a little girl who often came over to play with him.


    He had just built a big tank with blocks, and the girl knocked it down, insisting that he build her a castle for a princess to live in.


    Seeing the tank knocked down for the third time by the little girl, Ji Tingyang became thoroughly enraged, his chubby little cheeks set firm, ¡°Get lost!¡±


    The little girl was stunned for a moment, then reached out to pull him.


    Ji Tingyang shook off her hand and repeated, ¡°Get lost, I don¡¯t want to play with an idiot.¡±


    Although the little girl didn¡¯t understand, she could tell from the tone that ¡®idiot¡¯ was an insult, and she burst into tears, ¡°I¡¯m not an idiot!¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï


    ¡°You are an idiot. You can¡¯t build a castle by yourself, and you don¡¯t even know the basic arithmetic within 1000,¡± Ji Tingyang said.


    ¡°But I know how to do it within 100, and both my dad and mom say I¡¯m a smart kid,¡± the little girl retorted with sobs.


    The little girl was not without intelligence; for a child of three or four to achieve that was quite smart and deserved praise.


    It was just that Ji Tingyang, under the education he received at home, was expected to do even better, to be even smarter.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that still an idiot? Your parents are lying to you,¡± Ji Tingyang repeated.


    The crying of the little girl grew louder, and she raised her little fists to hit Ji Tingyang.


    That afternoon, the parents of both children were called in.


    The little girl¡¯s parents, upon hearing that their daughter had been bullied, rushed to the kindergarten in a fury.


    However, upon seeing that the other child¡¯s parent was the President of Ji Group, they didn¡¯t dare release their pent-up anger, instead holding it back.


    ¡°President Ji, I¡¯m terribly sorry. The child is ignorant. I will discipline her when we get home,¡± the little girl¡¯s parent said with a bow and scrape.


    ¡°I heard from the teacher that it was our Ji Tingyang who was at fault here, no need to blame your child,¡± Ji Yanli said.


    After speaking, Ji Yanli then glanced down at Ji Tingyang standing by his side, his tone leaving no room for argument, ¡°Apologize.¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s little body quivered, but he stubbornly retorted with his neck stiffened, ¡°I don¡¯t want to apologize; I¡¯m not wrong, she is an idiot.¡±


    Hearing this, the little girl buried her face in her father¡¯s chest and cried even more.


    Ji Yanli¡¯s eyes narrowed, and a layer of icy coldness covered his cheeks, the severe chill pressuring one to the point of breathlessness.


    The subordinates in the company already found it hard to handle such a Ji Yanli, let alone a child like Ji Tingyang.


    Ji Tingyang clenched his hands nervously, his head lowered, not daring to speak.


    ¡°How did your mother and I educate you? Where have your manners gone? Have you forgotten how to be polite to others?¡± Ji Yanli stared at him sternly.


    ¡°I will say it again, apologize.¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s nose felt sour, and tears swirled in his eyes, yet he dared not let them fall.


    He knew tears were useless to his father.


    He sniffed, struggling not to let the tears fall, his soft and glutinous voice tinged with a sob, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I shouldn¡¯t have called you an idiot.¡±


    On the way home with Ji Tingyang, Ji Yanli took out a math test paper and threw it at him.


    ¡°You think you¡¯re so smart, huh? Then finish this test. For every question you get wrong, you¡¯ll skip a bite of dinner tonight,¡± Ji Yanli said mercilessly.


    Ji Tingyang, looking at the math test that might as well have been a foreign scripture, felt his vision blur. He couldn¡¯t even understand the questions, let alone solve them.


    Any small pride that had built up in the child¡¯s heart suddenly crumbled away.


    By the time they got back to the villa, Ji Tingyang finally couldn¡¯t hold back his tears anymore and ran into Lin Xu¡¯s arms, his little legs pumping.


    ¡°Mommy¡­ wuwuwu¡­ Daddy is a baddie¡­¡± His little hands clung tightly around Lin Xu¡¯s neck as he cried so hard he gasped for breath and hiccupped.


    Lin Xu felt a piercing ache in her heart.


    However, after Ji Yanli told her about the incident, even Lin Xu stopped siding with her son, ¡°A child who has no manners isn¡¯t Mommy¡¯s good child.¡±


    ¡°I was wrong, Mommy. Don¡¯t hate me,¡± Ji Tingyang pleaded, shaking his head wildly in her embrace.


    ¡°It¡¯s good that you know you were wrong. Now go to the bathroom and wash your tear-stained face,¡± Lin Xu said as she put him down.


    Ji Tingyang wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and obediently followed the servant to the bathroom.


    After he was gone, Lin Xu glared at Ji Yanli and said with irritation, ¡°You¡¯re really something, giving a calculus test to a three- or four-year-old child.¡±


    Ji Yanli just smiled indifferently, ¡°If we don¡¯t knock him down a peg now, he¡¯ll become too arrogant in the future.¡±


    That night, because he couldn¡¯t complete the test paper, Ji Tingyang didn¡¯t get a single bite to eat and went to bed on an empty stomach.


    Even now, Ji Tingyang still had a vivid memory of that event.


    Looking into Xie Changyan¡¯s sharp eyes and feeling the forceful aura emanating from him, Ji Tingyang thought that this version of Xie Changyan was somewhat similar to his father.


    At that thought, Ji Tingyang


    ¡°Apologize to the person.¡±


    No sooner had Xie Changyan finished speaking than Ji Tingyang reflexively blurted out, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Everyone in the private room was stunned.


    No one had expected that the subtle war between President Ji and President Xie would end with President Ji¡¯s submission.


    When Ji Tingyang came to his senses, the expression on his face turned even uglier.


    Why should he listen to Xie Changyan?


    Ji Tingyang clenched his fist at his side, the words he¡¯d been about to hurl swallowed back down when he caught sight of Xie Changyan¡¯s somewhat intimidating face.


    He gritted his teeth and, with a cold snort, stood up, slammed the door, and left.


    After a few seconds of silence, someone in the private room broke the awkward atmosphere, ¡°President Xie, shall we continue eating?¡±


    ¡°You guys go ahead, I have something else to take care of,¡± Xie Changyan said as he stood up to leave.


    As he walked away, he pulled out his phone and called Lin Xu, his tone light and teasing, ¡°Ji Tingyang will probably be back to cry to you in a bit.¡±


    In the past, knowing their father was too strict, and getting no traction from wheedling him, they would always turn to cry to their soft-hearted mother, Lin Xu.


    Unexpectedly, he hadn¡¯t changed one bit even after growing up.


    Lin Xu asked in shock, ¡°What have you done to our son?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m innocent. I only gave him a little lesson,¡± Xie Changyan said.

 Chapter 233 - Chapter 233: Chapter 233: Youll Never Get Close to My Big Brother

    Chapter 233: Chapter 233: You¡¯ll Never Get Close to My Big Brother


    Lin Xu was still admonishing Xie Changyan on the phone when a noise came from outside the door, and she immediately looked towards the entrance.


    Ji Tingyang entered with a stern expression, seemingly in a less than pleasant mood. He glanced at Lin Xu in the living room, who was on the phone by her ear.


    ¡°Back already? Are you hungry? Should I cook some noodles for you?¡± Lin Xu smiled faintly at him.


    Usually, Ji Tingyang would have responded with great joy.


    But now¡­


    His brows furrowed even deeper, he glanced at Lin Xu and went upstairs without saying a word.


    A hint of surprise crossed Lin Xu¡¯s face.


    She hadn¡¯t hung up the phone yet and said to Xie Changyan on the other end, ¡°You¡¯re on your own, Ting Yang didn¡¯t even acknowledge me just now.¡±


    For someone who usually clung to Lin Xu, his ignoring her this time showed just how angry he was.


    Xie Changyan chuckled softly.


    ¡°Big brother really doesn¡¯t know how to behave properly. No matter how angry he is, how can he ignore his own mother?¡± Ji Yuqiao, sitting on the sofa playing with her phone, didn¡¯t even look up as she made a disdainful tsk sound.


    Lin Xu walked over and sat beside Ji Yuqiao, ¡°Then, our sensible Lanyue, can you help me talk to your brother tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d like to help, but I have plans to go out tomorrow and won¡¯t have the time.¡± Ji Yuqiao stuck out her tongue.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?0


    She said she had plans, but in truth, it was Zhao Jiayan who had asked her out.


    The next day when Ji Yuqiao arrived at the cafe, he was already sitting there.


    ¡°What did you want to see me about?¡± Ji Yuqiao casually took a seat.


    ¡°Nothing much¡­¡± Zhao Jiayan paused for a moment and handed her the menu, ¡°Take a look, what would you like to drink?¡±


    ¡°A latte, please.¡± She hesitated for a moment.


    ¡°Sure.¡± Zhao Jiayan called over the waiter, handed back the menu, ¡°A latte and an iced Americano, thank you.¡±


    As they waited for the coffee, Zhao Jiayan took out a flyer and revealed the reason he had asked her out.


    ¡°There¡¯s a summer camp in two weeks, are you interested in joining?¡±


    ¡°Just for this?¡± Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes widened slightly, ¡°Couldn¡¯t you have just asked me on WeChat?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it clearer to talk in person?¡± Zhao Jiayan said.


    Of course, he had his own little selfish motive.


    ¡°Alright.¡± Ji Yuqiao picked up the flyer and started to read.


    This summer camp wasn¡¯t just for fun; it involved math instruction by teachers from prestigious foreign schools, akin to a training camp.


    But the price was also very steep, clearly targeting children from wealthy families, beyond what ordinary students could afford.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you ask me before about how to improve your competition scores? You¡¯ll understand once you participate,¡± Zhao Jiayan said.


    ¡°Is this camp really that impressive?¡± Ji Yuqiao was somewhat tempted.


    But seeing that the training was for half a month made her hesitate again.


    She used to not want to go home even when living at school all day, so to her, half a month was no different from half a year.


    Yet, knowing that her parents were still alive, even one day seemed too long.


    She hadn¡¯t been with them for long when she had to leave for half a month, and she really felt reluctant to part.


    Moreover, she needed to stay at home to protect her mother, what if no one was around to look after her mother and she got hurt again?


    Like a well-behaved baby unwilling to leave home, many hesitations entangled in her mind like a tangled skein of yarn.


    Perhaps seeing the indecision in Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes, Zhao Jiayan was somewhat puzzled, ¡°Don¡¯t you plan to participate in the competition next year?¡±


    The news of Ji Yuqiao previously liking Xiao Yu was not a secret; Zhao Jiayan found out about it with just a casual inquiry.


    Had she been working so hard to compete all because of Xiao Yu?


    And since Xiao Yu was graduating this year, he naturally wouldn¡¯t participate in the school¡¯s competitions next year, so did she also not wish to participate anymore?


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Ji Yuqiao refuted immediately without thinking, then hesitated the next moment, ¡°Give me a day or two to think, I¡¯ll give you an answer then.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Zhao Jiayan nodded, not pursuing the reasons behind her hesitation.


    After the topic ended, the two of them chatted idly while drinking coffee.


    But more often, it was Zhao Jiayan who initiated the topics, while Ji Yuqiao responded sporadically, occasionally speaking up a bit more.


    Suddenly.


    A sharp shriek sounded from nearby.


    ¡°Are you blind?! Do you know this bag can¡¯t get wet? If it gets wet, it¡¯s completely ruined,¡± the woman slammed the table, glaring at the man across from her.


    Ji Yuqiao recognized this woman¡ªZhou Manhui; she had met her when she went to a party with Ji Tingyang before.


    At that time, Zhou Manhui took a liking to Ji Tingyang and spent the entire evening looking for opportunities to strike up a conversation with him.


    Initially, Ji Yuqiao didn¡¯t mind, after all, her older brother was quite a catch, and it was common for women to approach him.


    That was until she overheard Zhou Manhui chatting with a friend in the restroom.


    ¡°Is there something wrong with Ji Tingyang? I hinted so obviously, and he showed no reaction,¡± Zhou Manhui angrily tossed her lipstick back into her bag.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t all men like that, pretending to be gentlemen at the start, but underneath they are scoundrels,¡± her friend chuckled, ¡°Look at your President Yan, initially claiming he only had his wife in his heart, and now, he loves you so much he doesn¡¯t even glance at his wife.¡±


    On mentioning President Yan, disdain crossed Zhou Manhui¡¯s face, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for his money, who would bother with that fatso. Ji Tingyang is much better, both handsome and wealthy.¡±


    ¡°Manman, when you become Mrs. Ji, the president of Ji¡¯s, don¡¯t you forget your best friend here,¡± her friend bumped her shoulder, laughing.


    ¡°That¡¯s easily said,¡± Zhou Manhui replied, her lips curled in a determined smirk, brushing her curly hair over her shoulder.


    When they returned to the banquet, whenever Ji Yuqiao saw Zhou Manhui approaching Ji Tingyang, she would always find ways to disrupt their interaction.


    If not interrupting their conversation, she would get Ji Tingyang to fetch her some food.


    After several instances, Zhou Manhui sensed something was off, looking at Ji Yuqiao¡¯s nearly undisguised disgust, she understood instantly.


    ¡°As long as I¡¯m here, you¡¯ll never get close to my brother!¡± Ji Yuqiao dropped the fierce words.


    And that was how her feud with Zhou Manhui began.


    Seeing Zhou Manhui, Ji Yuqiao¡¯s face crossed with a look of disgust, not expecting to encounter such an unpleasant person here.


    As for the man sitting across from her, Ji Yuqiao knew him even better.


    Xiao Yu steadied his cup in his hands, hastily apologizing, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, how much is your bag? I can compensate you for it.¡±

 Chapter 234 - Chapter 234: Chapter 234: The Relationship Between the Two Is Definitely Not Ordinary

    Chapter 234: Chapter 234: The Relationship Between the Two Is Definitely Not Ordinary


    Zhou Manhui seemed to have heard a ridiculously huge joke, scoffing with disdain from her throat, ¡°You pay?¡±


    ¡°This bag of mine is a limited edition, worth millions. What can you, a pauper, compensate me with?¡±


    She looked Xiao Yu up and down, her eyes filled with contempt and mockery, ¡°Even if you sold your studio, it wouldn¡¯t fetch such a price.¡±


    Xiao Yu¡¯s face turned somewhat ugly, he grasped the cup in his hand and fell silent.


    ¡°I will tell President Yan about this. Don¡¯t even think about this contract,¡± Zhou Manhui declared with an iron face as she looked at the damaged bag.


    ¡°Miss Zhou!¡± Xiao Yu was immediately anxious.


    Ji Yuqiao withdrew her gaze and did not continue to watch.


    Seeing two people she did not wish to encounter, she also instantly lost the interest to stay any longer.


    ¡°I have something to do, let¡¯s go,¡± Ji Yuqiao said to Zhao Jiayan.


    Zhao Jiayan was a bit surprised, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to say hello?¡±


    Doesn¡¯t she¡­ like Xiao Yu?


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing to say hello for,¡± Ji Yuqiao stood up and grabbed her bag.


    Just as she and Zhao Jiayan were leaving the caf¨¦, Zhou Manhui also saw them, her brows slightly lifting, ¡°Yo, isn¡¯t that our Miss Ji?¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.?¦Ï


    Her tone carried a hint of sarcasm.


    Following her voice, Xiao Yu looked up and saw Ji Yuqiao, his expression clearly stunned for a moment, instinctively blurting out, ¡°Ji Yuqiao¡­¡±


    It seemed like¡­ they hadn¡¯t seen each other for a long time.


    But soon, he also saw Zhao Jiayan standing beside her, a shadow passing through his eyes.


    Ji Yuqiao did not respond, she left the caf¨¦ with an expressionless face.


    ¡°You know each other?¡± Zhou Manhui asked Xiao Yu in surprise.


    It was somewhat late for Xiao Yu to say he didn¡¯t know her, and he awkwardly replied, ¡°We are alumni.¡±


    Zhou Manhui snickered.


    ¡­


    Zhao Jiayan had driven here, and upon seeing Ji Yuqiao about to take a taxi home, insisted on giving her a ride.


    Ji Yuqiao had no choice but to wait outside for him to drive the car over.


    A short while later, the caf¨¦¡¯s door opened, and someone approached her.


    ¡°Miss Ji, didn¡¯t you drive here today?¡± After speaking, as if realizing something, she covered her mouth feigning annoyance, ¡°Ah, I forgot. Our Miss Ji was kicked out by her big brother, so broke she could only sell her bags; how would she have a car to drive?¡±


    Previously, Ji Tingyang had kept a canary at home, spoiled beyond measure, and the news spread all over the social circle.


    Zhou Manhui naturally heard about it as well.


    She would say, with men, there¡¯s no such thing as a true gentleman.


    Watching Ji Tingyang¡¯s cold and stern facade, isn¡¯t he still playing that game.


    She had also incidentally heard that Ji Yuqiao had a big fight with Ji Tingyang over this matter and later heard the news that Ji Yuqiao moved to live at the school.


    Seeing Ji Yuqiao¡¯s misfortune, she was naturally schadenfreude.


    Later, she heard from a friend that Ji Yuqiao, dressed in cheap clothes, went to the counter to sell her bags, and she was overjoyed again.


    She never expected that the domineering Miss Ji would fall to the point of selling bags. It seemed she had truly and severely broken with the family.


    Serves her right.


    Zhou Manhui thought.


    ¡°Selling your bag because you¡¯re so poor?¡± Ji Yuqiao blinked innocently, looking at her, ¡°Haven¡¯t you realized that the bag I¡¯m wearing is the latest model?¡±


    ¡°The latest model?¡± Zhou Manhui smirked disdainfully, ¡°This latest model of yours isn¡¯t even worth a fraction of my bag.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao clicked her tongue and shook her head, ¡°If I were you, I wouldn¡¯t be caught dead carrying that bag around.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Zhou Manhui frowned.


    ¡°Haven¡¯t you realized that the bag you¡¯re holding is a fake?¡± Ji Yuqiao sighed, her eyes filled with sympathy, ¡°Well, I guess you¡¯ve been too busy serving your President Yan to notice such things.¡±


    ¡°You¡ªwhat nonsense are you talking about! How could this possibly be fake!¡± Zhou Manhui¡¯s expression turned to one of disbelief.


    ¡°Their bags always have a logo stamped on the inside; just check your bag for the mark, and you¡¯ll know,¡± Ji Yuqiao said.


    ¡°As if it¡¯s just there because you say so!¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, you can look up how to verify its authenticity online. I have no reason to lie to you,¡± Ji Yuqiao stated.


    Zhou Manhui hesitated, took out her phone to check, and after finding out that it matched what Ji Yuqiao had said, she started to search her bag.


    After a long moment, when she saw that her bag was completely empty, the color drained from her face, and she stood frozen in shock.


    She couldn¡¯t believe that the damn fatso had bought her a counterfeit!


    Her grip on the bag tightened, her fingertips turning white.


    ¡°Oh, right, I forgot to tell you,¡± Ji Yuqiao smiled smugly, ¡°The real version of that bag is currently in my wardrobe.¡±


    ¡°Trying to scam someone out of millions with a fake bag is, frankly, embarrassing,¡± she shook her head and sighed.


    Zhou Manhui¡¯s face changed, ¡°What, are you standing up for your schoolmate?¡±


    ¡°Of course not, what he does is none of my business.¡± Ji Yuqiao casually adjusted a strand of hair behind her ear, ¡°I just find this whole thing quite amusing. Do you think Mrs. Yan would find it funny if I told her?¡±


    ¡°You want to use Mrs. Yan to press me? Unfortunately for you, she¡¯s well aware of her husband¡¯s true colors and can¡¯t do anything about me either,¡± Zhou Manhui said.


    ¡°Perhaps she couldn¡¯t do anything before, but now it might be a different story. I¡¯ve heard that the Yan family has recently embarked on a big project with his wife¡¯s family. Do you think he¡¯d give up a billion-dollar project for your sake if his wife gives you trouble?¡±


    Hearing Ji Yuqiao¡¯s words, Zhou Manhui¡¯s expression instantly stiffened.


    A man who fobbed her off with a fake bag was predictable when it came to knowing who would be the one ultimately abandoned.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Zhou Manhui¡¯s voice was weaker.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to do anything.¡± Ji Yuqiao had just finished speaking when Zhao Jiayan¡¯s car drove over and stopped in front of them.


    She paused as she opened the car door and looked back at Zhou Manhui, ¡°Oh, just a heads-up, next time you see me, remember to take a detour. Otherwise, I can¡¯t guarantee I won¡¯t go and tell Mrs. Yan something.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao got into the car, catching sight of Zhou Manhui throwing her bag on the ground like a madwoman in the rearview mirror, her gaze filled with cunning triumph.


    She felt a satisfying release of pent-up frustration.


    Meanwhile, in front of the caf¨¦, Zhou Manhui pulled out her phone and made a call, ¡°Help me find out what¡¯s the relationship between Ji Yuqiao and Xiao Yu?¡±


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s threat must have been because of her schoolmate, because of that fake bag she used in the caf¨¦.


    She had a hunch that there was something unusual about their relationship.


    Otherwise, why would Ji Yuqiao talk out of the blue? She must be hinting at something.


    That evening.


    Zhou Manhui received the investigation call.


    Just as expected.


    Ji Yuqiao liked Xiao Yu.


    The whole school knew about Ji Yuqiao¡¯s pursuit of Xiao Yu.

 Chapter 235 - Chapter 235: Chapter 235: Could She Still Like Him?

    Chapter 235: Chapter 235: Could She Still Like Him?


    After investigating the relationship between Ji Yuqiao and Xiao Yu, Zhou Manhui¡¯s expression suddenly became clear. She scoffed coldly.


    It was indeed because of Xiao Yu.


    Their relationship was certainly out of the ordinary; they even pretended to be strangers in front of her.


    Zhou Manhui scoffed coldly again.


    She felt that it was her attitude towards Xiao Yu in the coffee shop that had angered Ji Yuqiao. To stand up for Xiao Yu, Ji Yuqiao used Mrs. Yan to press her.


    Having clarified this matter, Zhou Manhui went to look for Xiao Yu again the next day.


    ¡°The contract we talked about yesterday, President Yan has already signed and stamped it. Just give me the other copy after you sign and stamp it,¡± Zhou Manhui changed from the arrogance of yesterday, her demeanor had softened a lot.


    Xiao Yu looked at the contract, his expression stunned.


    Yesterday, Zhou Manhui was fuming and said she wouldn¡¯t sign a contract with him. He thought he was going to lose this cooperation. He didn¡¯t expect her to suddenly change her mind today.


    ¡°Thank you, Miss Zhou. I¡¯ll go sign the contract now!¡± The senior¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement as he joyfully took the contract and returned to his desk.


    Zhou Manhui sat on the sofa, idly twirling her hair with her finger, while sizing up their small studio.


    Xiao Yu noticed her new bag. Had yesterday¡¯s bag indeed been scrapped?


    After a moment of contemplation, he spoke up, ¡°Miss Zhou, about your bag yesterday¡­¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï


    ¡°That bag? I threw it away; you don¡¯t have to compensate me,¡± Zhou Manhui said casually with a wave of her hand.


    She wouldn¡¯t be caught dead carrying a fake bag outside.


    If her friends found out, she couldn¡¯t afford to lose that face.


    A flicker of surprise crossed Xiao Yu¡¯s eyes. He murmured in confusion, ¡°Why?¡±


    Yesterday, she had treated that bag as if it were so important, claiming that even selling his studio wouldn¡¯t be enough to repay it. Yet today, she had forgiven him so easily?


    Not only did she not seek compensation, but she even had the contract signed.


    ¡°Why else?¡± Zhou Manhui rolled her eyes. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Ji Yuqiao standing up for you, I couldn¡¯t be bothered with you.¡±


    Even if the bag Xiao Yu had ruined was a fake, and the cooperation was called off, it was just a matter of switching to another partner. She was no saint, and she felt no guilt towards Xiao Yu.


    Had it not been for Ji Yuqiao standing up for him, she wouldn¡¯t have bothered to bring the contract back.


    Hearing her words, Xiao Yu was clearly taken aback for a moment.


    Was it because of Ji Yuqiao?


    But hadn¡¯t she said that she would no longer have anything to do with him?


    When he had encountered her at the banquet and the mall, her indifferent attitude seemed to suggest that she didn¡¯t like him anymore.


    If so, why would she help him?


    Considering a certain possibility, Xiao Yu¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    Previously, he had avoided Ji Yuqiao at all costs, and her pursuit had been unbearable. However, now, thinking that she might still like him, the inexplicable melancholy from before slowly faded away, and even¡­


    Was there a hint of joy?


    Perhaps because Ji Yuqiao was brought up after so long, Xiao Yu had a dream that night.


    He dreamt of Ji Yuqiao shining brightly at the banquet, wearing a light dress, sitting at the piano playing lively and spirited notes.


    When she inadvertently looked up, their eyes met from below the stage.


    A radiant smile adorned her lips; she lifted her skirt, walking toward him step by step under everyone¡¯s gaze.


    Xiao Yu¡¯s heart raced uncontrollably, and he couldn¡¯t tear his eyes away from Ji Yuqiao.


    Just watching her come close to him, tiptoeing, her warm lips drawing nearer and nearer, his heart felt as though it would leap out of his throat.


    His legs seemed entirely frozen, unable to move a step, just watching her lips descend.


    Just as he was about to make contact, a sudden blare of an alarm clock exploded in his ears.


    The dreamlike imagery abruptly vanished.


    Xiao Yu came to his senses, staring at the ceiling in silence.


    The quickened heartbeat from his dream seemed to carry over into reality, leaving him unsure whether the interrupted dream was a relief or a regret.


    He took out his phone and sent Ji Yuqiao the message he had thought about all night.


    [¡°Zhou Manhui signed the contract with me yesterday, because of you,¡± the text read. ¡°Why did you help me?¡±]


    No sooner had he sent the message than a bright red exclamation mark appeared in the conversation box.


    ¡°You are not his (her) friend, please send a friend verification first¡­¡±


    Xiao Yu¡¯s racing heart instantly calmed down; he threw his phone beside the bed, his emotions suddenly cooling.


    For the next few days, he was busy with projects in the studio.


    He had thought about asking Ji Yuqiao for clarification the next time he saw her, at the very least to thank her in person.


    But since that chance encounter in the coffee shop, he hadn¡¯t seen Ji Yuqiao again.


    Gradually, just as he was engrossed with work and had forgotten about the incident, Ji Yuqiao appeared before him again.


    When Xiao Yu returned to the studio after meeting with a client, he saw Ji Yuqiao from afar, limping along the roadside.


    Xiao Yu frowned and hurriedly asked the driver to stop the car, getting out early.


    He rushed over, only realizing up close that Ji Yuqiao was not injured, but her high heel had broken, forcing her to walk unevenly.


    With her graceful eyebrows slightly furrowed, she was looking down and did not notice Xiao Yu¡¯s approach.


    As she continued limping forward, her body unsteady, she suddenly lost balance and pitched forward.


    Ji Yuqiao let out a cry of alarm and instinctively closed her eyes.


    Xiao Yu extended his hands and caught her, her soft body crashing into his embrace, her citrus perfume scent lingering on the tip of his nose.


    For some reason, it made him suddenly recall the unfinished kiss from his dream.


    As if his heart too had been struck, it began to pound fiercely.


    Ji Yuqiao, expecting pain that never came, slowly opened her eyes, meeting Xiao Yu¡¯s dark gaze.


    Silence hung between them for a moment.


    The next second, Ji Yuqiao quickly pushed away from Xiao Yu, propping herself against the wall to stand upright.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± she said, her tone light.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Xiao Yu replied, glancing at her shoes. ¡°You seem to have trouble walking. Where do you need to go? I can take you there.¡±


    ¡°No need, there¡¯s a shoe store up ahead. I¡¯ll just buy a new pair there,¡± said Ji Yuqiao, continuing to walk forward with her limp.


    Xiao Yu hesitated for a moment and then extended his arm, ¡°It¡¯s better if you lean on me.¡±


    ¡°No, thanks,¡± Ji Yuqiao declined again.


    ¡°Last time you helped me; consider this as my way of returning the favor,¡± Xiao Yu said.


    ¡°When did I help you?¡± Ji Yuqiao was puzzled.


    ¡°About the Zhou Manhui matter last time,¡± Xiao Yu explained. ¡°She said she renewed the contract with me because of you.¡±


    In the past, he would have outright rejected such help, but after being ridiculed by Ji Yuqiao, he had learned to accept it gracefully.


    To accept that his current abilities were still lacking.


    Ji Yuqiao: ?


    Zhou Manhui must be sick.

 Chapter 236 - Chapter 236: Chapter 236 He Seems to Have Taken a Liking to Her

    Chapter 236: Chapter 236 He Seems to Have Taken a Liking to Her


    Ji Yuqiao felt like she wanted to pry open Zhou Manhui¡¯s head and ask if there was something wrong with her IQ that made her think Yuqiao¡¯s mockery last time was because of Xiao Yu.


    She clearly just found Zhou Manhui displeasing to the eye, okay?


    Ji Yuqiao was momentarily speechless.


    Watching Xiao Yu in front of her, adamant about wanting to help her, Ji Yuqiao began to explain, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to help you; she misunderstood.¡±


    ¡°Even if she misunderstood, if you walk over there now, you might fall again, I¡­¡±


    ¡°Yuqiao, what happened to your foot?¡±


    Before Xiao Yu could finish, a clear and mellow voice sounded from the side.


    Zhao Jiayan walked over and naturally supported her arm.


    And Ji Yuqiao, utterly unlike her initial indifference toward Xiao Yu, looked at Zhao Jiayan with a hint of annoyance in her eyes, ¡°I had bad luck leaving the house today. As soon as I got out of the car, I accidentally stepped into a hole and broke my heel.¡±


    ¡°Help me for a second. There¡¯s a shoe store up ahead; I need to buy a new pair of shoes there,¡± Ji Yuqiao leaned her weight onto Zhao Jiayan.


    Xiao Yu clenched his hand tighter.


    So, it¡¯s not that she doesn¡¯t need help from others, just not from him.


    ¡°Okay, or shall I carry you?¡± Zhao Jiayan asked.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0


    ¡°No need; it¡¯s just a few steps, so a little support will do,¡± Ji Yuqiao shook her head.


    As they spoke, the two¡¯s figures crossed past Xiao Yu, as if he was completely ignored.


    Watching their hands joined together, Xiao Yu¡¯s gaze deepened, his heart as if pierced by a needle, slightly aching.


    He frowned, his palm pressing against the somewhat strange feeling in his chest.


    Forcing himself to suppress this unusual sensation.


    After arriving at the shoe store, Ji Yuqiao bought a new pair of high heels.


    With the new shoes on, she seemed to come back to life, her footsteps steady and vigorous, her pace even quickening a bit.


    ¡°Be careful not to fall into a hole again,¡± Zhao Jiayan smiled and kindly reminded.


    ¡°I won¡¯t trip over the same spot twice,¡± Ji Yuqiao walked briskly, circled around, and returned to Zhao Jiayan¡¯s side.


    ¡°Right, that summer camp you mentioned last time; I¡¯ve decided to join. Can you help me sign up?¡± She suddenly remembered the main reason she had asked to meet him and said it right away.


    Ji Yuqiao had been conflicted for the past few days, mentioning it to Lin Xu before going to sleep at night, and of course, Lin Xu supported her going.


    Even said that when she won the grand prize at the national competition next year, she would give her a big gift.


    Although her eldest and second brothers had given her plenty of gifts and she lacked nothing, if it was something from her mother, she would cherish it even if it was just a pen.


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s previously hesitant heart suddenly became firm¡ªshe wanted to study hard!


    Receiving her response, Zhao Jiayan replied, ¡°Of course, I can.¡±


    ¡°Then, what should I prepare for the departure? I might as well go buy it today while I have the time.¡±


    ¡°I need to buy some stuff too, so let¡¯s go together.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡­


    After hearing about Ji Yuqiao going to the summer camp, Ji Tingyang¡¯s impatience seemed to be written all over his face.


    ¡°I¡¯m leaving, and you¡¯re that happy?¡± Ji Yuqiao looked at Ji Tingyang with a grievance in her eyes.


    ¡°Not at all, you¡¯re overthinking it,¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s tone was detached.


    ¡°What do you mean ¡®not at all¡¯? I¡¯m not leaving until next week, and you¡¯ve already prepared my luggage,¡± Ji Yuqiao huffed.


    ¡°It¡¯s just preparation in advance so we don¡¯t forget,¡± Ji Tingyang said earnestly.


    ¡°Second brother has gone to another city to film a variety show and won¡¯t be back for a while, and I¡¯m going to the summer camp and won¡¯t be home. Are you happy to spend time alone with mother?¡± Ji Yuqiao stood with her hands on her hips, seeing right through his little scheme.


    Ji Tingyang coughed, ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it.¡±


    ¡°Since that¡¯s not the case, then it¡¯s fine. Mother was afraid you¡¯d be unhappy and didn¡¯t dare tell you, but actually, she¡¯s going to summer camp with me too,¡± Ji Yuqiao said delightedly.


    ¡°No way!¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression soured immediately, ¡°You¡¯re not a little kid, what does she need to accompany you for when you go to class?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not about accompanying me, it¡¯s called a vacation, you know? Mother can go out and have fun during the day when I¡¯m in class, and we can still be together at night.¡±


    Ji Tingyang fell silent for a moment, ¡°¡­It¡¯s not safe for her to be out there alone, so I might as well go too.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao patted his shoulder seriously, ¡°Big brother, you¡¯re not a child anymore, you can¡¯t always stick to mother, you need to learn to grow up.¡±


    Ji Tingyang lifted his eyes and gave Ji Yuqiao a cold glance.


    A sense of crisis immediately blossomed in the bottom of Ji Yuqiao¡¯s heart, and he ran off in fright.


    Big brother really is too clingy.


    But Xie Changyan was not much different.


    After he heard that Ji Yuqiao was going to summer camp, he only told her a few words to stay safe, but when he found out that Lin Xu was going too, he made a phone call right away.


    ¡°Cancel or postpone all of next week¡¯s work, I¡¯m going to be away for a while.¡±


    ¡°Father, where are you going?¡± Ji Yuqiao asked, puzzled.


    ¡°To go on vacation with your mother,¡± Xie Changyan said, his eyebrows arching slightly.


    Ji Yuqiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    I knew it!


    Our mother-daughter world was bound to be disrupted. I was wrong; I shouldn¡¯t have told big brother and father.


    Ji Yuqiao ran to Lin Xu with a gloomy face and complained tearfully.


    Lin Xu also looked at Xie Changyan in surprise, ¡°Are you joking, or is this for real?¡±


    How could a week¡¯s work be rescheduled just like that?


    Xie Changyan chuckled lightly, ¡°Of course it¡¯s for real.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s sobbing grew louder.


    Not until Lin Xu coaxed her, saying that this way she would have both her father and mother to accompany her at night, and two people to spoil her, did Ji Yuqiao¡¯s complexion improve slightly, but she still grumbled reluctantly, ¡°But at night, I want to sleep with mother.¡±


    Xie Changyan lifted his eyes and gave her a glance, carrying a hint of a faint threat.


    Ji Yuqiao got so scared that she immediately took off, ¡°It¡¯s such a waste to sit here all the time when we¡¯re at the golf course, I¡¯ll go and have some fun!¡±


    As if there was a beast chasing behind her, Ji Yuqiao ran while looking back over her shoulder.


    By accident, she bumped into a sturdy chest.


    ¡°Sorry.¡± As Ji Yuqiao said this and looked up, she paused upon seeing Xiao Yu.


    Why do I keep running into him lately?


    Ji Yuqiao frowned slightly, feeling somewhat impatient in her heart.


    Xiao Yu was just as surprised.


    After their last parting, something had been off with him; every time he closed his eyes, he¡¯d remember the scene of her leaving with Zhao Jiayan.


    And when she bumped into his arms again, the tumultuous thoughts in his mind scattered, and the calm lake in his heart rippled with waves.


    He steadied Ji Yuqiao¡¯s waist, the scent of her perfume lingering at his nose, as if the dream that had been interrupted last time had found its answer.


    It was regretful.


    He seemed to understand the feelings he had for Ji Yuqiao during this time.


    He felt like he was starting to like her.

 Chapter 237 - Chapter 237: Chapter 237: Safe Password

    Chapter 237: Chapter 237: Safe Password


    Ji Yuqiao had played alone on the golf course for a while, tactfully not disturbing Lin Xu and Xie Changyan¡¯s time together.


    It wasn¡¯t until nearly dusk that Ji Yuqiao and Lin Xu got into Xie Changyan¡¯s car to head home.


    Perhaps as a result of his two car accidents, Xie Changyan drove much more steadily, so smoothly that Ji Yuqiao fell asleep in the backseat without even realizing it.


    When she hazily awoke, the car had already stopped inside the villa.


    ¡°Lanyue must be tired; please take her inside to rest,¡± Xie Changyan said to Lin Xu. ¡°After you go in, I¡¯ll leave.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao rubbed her sleepy eyes, ¡°Father, where else do you have to go?¡±


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯m going home as well,¡± Xie Changyan said.


    ¡°But this is your home too; why not just move back in and live with us?¡± she grumbled discontentedly, as if he were about to abandon them.


    ¡°When you can convince your two brothers, I¡¯ll be able to move back in,¡± Xie Changyan said with a smile in his eyes.


    Ji Yuqiao pouted, knowing it wouldn¡¯t be an easy task. ¡°I¡¯ll definitely convince big brother and second brother later; don¡¯t be in such a rush to leave, Father.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao leaned her body over to the driver¡¯s seat, playfully shaking Xie Changyan¡¯s arm.


    Unable to refuse his daughter¡¯s warm invitation, Xie Changyan agreed to come in and sit for a while.


    ¡°Father, look, this is the photo from when I came first in the primary school exams, and the teacher even awarded me 100 yuan,¡± she said. ¡°I used the money to buy a T-shirt for each of my brothers, and they were so touched.¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï


    ¡°This is the photo of when I came first in the middle school final exams¡­ and this one¡­¡±


    ¡°Big brother and second brother always say I¡¯m especially smart, inheriting the intelligence of both our father and mother.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao took out the photo album that they hadn¡¯t finished looking at last time, flipping to her photos and showing them with a hint of pride in her expression.


    Her academic performance had always been among the top, up until she met Xiao Yu in college, which led her to neglect her studies.


    But it was precisely because of her solid academic foundation that she managed to win a place and certificate in a math competition within half a semester.


    ¡°Our Lanyue is so smart, clearly inheriting my excellent genes,¡± Lin Xu said, ruffling her hair.


    The smile in Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes shone even brighter, and she flipped through the album with renewed enthusiasm, ¡°And this one¡­¡±


    Time flew unaware, and Ji Yuqiao was in full swing speaking when the villa¡¯s gate stirred with noise.


    Ji Tingyang returned home from work.


    As soon as he saw Lin Xu, the weariness from a day¡¯s work seemed to suddenly vanish, and his mood lightened.


    He had just taken a step towards Lin Xu when he caught sight of Xie Changyan, obscured by Ji Yuqiao¡¯s figure, and his face instantly darkened.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± His gaze was cold, as if he were facing an unwelcome guest.


    And Xie Changyan even had their family album in his hands.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s gaze hardened, and he snatched back the album, ¡°Who let you touch our things?¡±


    ¡°Big brother, what are you doing? I took it out to show Father,¡± Ji Yuqiao pouted, stepping forward to take back the album.


    ¡°How many times have I told you? He¡¯s not our father.¡±


    ¡°But he is, he is! Why won¡¯t you just believe it?¡± Ji Yuqiao shouted.


    ¡°Fine, then ask him what the safe code in our family study is. If he knows it, I¡¯ll believe him,¡± Ji Tingyang roared.


    ¡°080900.¡±


    A calm voice floated in from the side.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression suddenly froze, and he turned his stiff neck to look at Xie Changyan sitting on the sofa.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s posture was relaxed, as he casually disclosed the password to the safe.


    Ji Tingyang lifted his gaze, looking over at Lin Xu.


    When Lin Xu heard the password, her face showed a look of understanding, and the corners of her lips curved into a shallow smile.


    As Ji Tingyang looked her way, she shook her head, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me who said it, you know I never meddle in the company¡¯s business, and I don¡¯t know the password to the safe.¡±


    Ji Tingyang then glanced at Ji Yuqiao, his gaze lingering on her for less than half a second before withdrawing it.


    Forget it.


    She¡¯s even less likely to know.


    So¡­ how exactly did Xie Changyan find out?


    Could it be Ji Zeqiu?


    No, that can¡¯t be right, the password was a secret between him and his father; Ji Zeqiu shouldn¡¯t know it either.


    For a moment, Ji Tingyang¡¯s facial expression was somewhat complicated.


    Ji Yuqiao was curious about the composition of the password, ¡°0809 is big brother¡¯s birthday, but what do the trailing zeroes stand for?¡±


    ¡°Tingyang was born right at midnight,¡± Lin Xu explained.


    She looked mockingly at Xie Changyan, her tone laced with teasing, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you and your son to have such a good relationship that even the password is your son¡¯s birthday.¡±


    When the topic was brought up, Xie Changyan¡¯s expression turned somewhat helpless, ¡°That day I was working in the study when he pushed past the servants and charged in, standing in front of the safe in the study, twisting the dial on the lock. When he found he couldn¡¯t open it, he was so upset he wouldn¡¯t stop crying.¡±


    Ji Tingyang was only three years old at that time, the age when children are eager to explore the world.


    The study door wasn¡¯t closed that day, and Ji Tingyang toddled in, his attention quickly drawn to the safe behind the desk.


    His small stature was almost as tall as the safe, and he peered around, inspecting it from left to right, fiddling for a long time. Upon realizing that he could not pull open the door of the safe, his wet eyes shed many small pearls.


    His shoulders shook slightly, and his chubby little face was smeared with tears.


    Ji Yanli, hearing his son¡¯s heart-wrenching cries, picked him up and held him close, pulling a tissue to wipe away the tears on his face, ¡°Be a man, don¡¯t cry easily, understand?¡±


    Ji Tingyang didn¡¯t grasp what that meant, but once back in his father¡¯s comforting embrace, the flood of tears had already stopped.


    He sniffled, pointing to the safe not far away, ¡°Daddy, open¡­¡±


    ¡°Do you want to open the safe?¡± Ji Yanli asked.


    Ji Tingyang nodded his head.


    With his son¡¯s words, Ji Yanli opened the safe that held the company¡¯s confidential files, with many folders inside.


    Ji Tingyang reached out to take one, but before he could touch it, Ji Yanli caught his little hand.


    ¡°Do you want to look at these files? Do you want to help daddy with his work?¡± Ji Yanli chuckled.


    Regardless of whether he understood or not, Ji Tingyang vaguely answered, ¡°Help.¡±


    ¡°Then daddy will change the safe¡¯s password to our Tingyang¡¯s birthday. From now on, you¡¯ll work hard to make money, so you can buy mommy lots of pretty dresses and jewelry, alright?¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡± Ji Tingyang nodded emphatically.


    Ji Yanli: ¡°The password is 080900. From now on, this safe is yours to safeguard.¡±

 Chapter 238 - Chapter 238: Chapter 238: No Stealing Between Father and Son

    Chapter 238: Chapter 238: No Stealing Between Father and Son


    Father had said that the code to the safe was their little secret, one that couldn¡¯t be shared with anyone else.


    Ji Tingyang had always remembered these words, never telling a soul.


    However, Xie Changyan had disclosed this code so effortlessly. Could he really be¡­


    ¡°Awesome, he really guessed the code to our family¡¯s safe right. He must be our father. Big brother, you must believe it now,¡± Ji Yuqiao said joyfully, clapping her hands loudly as if expressing her inner excitement.


    ¡°It¡¯s impossible, he must have guessed it.¡± Ji Tingyang was unwilling to admit it.


    ¡°How could someone guess that accurately?¡± Ji Yuqiao pouted.


    Big brother is too stubborn.


    ¡°If the code was guessed, was that little red mole on your butt also guessed?¡± Xie Changyan raised an eyebrow and said leisurely.


    ¡°What kind of secret is that? Plenty of people know about it, someone must have told you,¡± Ji Tingyang scoffed.


    The nanny who had looked after him during his childhood, his grandparents, Lin Xu, and Ji Zeqiu¡­


    They all knew. It might have been one of them who told Xie Changyan.


    Perhaps, it was mother who told him.


    Of course, there were also those who didn¡¯t know.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï


    Ji Yuqiao looked at Ji Tingyang with surprise, curiosity rising, ¡°What? Big brother has a red mole on his butt? What does it look like, let me see.¡±


    Ji Tingyang cast a sharp, icy glance her way, and Ji Yuqiao immediately backed off, standing obediently to one side.


    ¡°What about the time when you were four years old and wet the bed, then carried Ji Zeqiu to your bed to blame it on him?¡± Xie Changyan¡¯s eyes gleamed mischievously.


    ¡°And what about the time you took Lin Xu¡¯s lipstick and did your makeup while she wasn¡¯t home?¡±


    ¡°And more¡­¡± Xie Changyan began to reveal more and more, as if he was going to expose all of Ji Tingyang¡¯s past secrets.


    Under Lin Xu¡¯s and Ji Yuqiao¡¯s increasingly peculiar looks, Ji Tingyang¡¯s cheeks flushed, and he growled, ¡°Enough!¡±


    ¡°Is that enough?¡± Xie Changyan chuckled, ¡°If you still don¡¯t believe me, I can say even more.¡±


    ¡°Even if you say more, I will never believe you,¡± Ji Tingyang said, clearly infuriated, and glared at him fiercely.


    The air around them quieted for a long moment.


    Ji Yuqiao let out a snicker, ¡°Big brother, I didn¡¯t know you were such a troublemaker when you were little.¡±


    Lin Xu also expressed her astonishment, ¡°I wondered why my lipstick suddenly broke a piece off and sometimes disappeared mysteriously¡­¡±


    Ji Tingyang clenched his fists, his cheeks reddening up to his ears, his eyes flickering, not daring to speak.


    Suddenly.


    His gaze scanned over to the password box that had been thrown under the coffee table last time. It was a relic from their father; even their mother didn¡¯t know the code.


    He strode quickly forward in three large steps, picked up the password box, and threw it to Xie Changyan, ¡°Since you¡¯re so keen to prove it, open this password box.¡±


    Seeing the palm-sized black password box, Xie Changyan paused for a moment.


    His fingertips gently caressed the box, his eyes reflecting a hint of nostalgia, ¡°I thought it had broken, never expected it was still here¡­¡±


    As Lin Xu saw the box, her curiosity also overflowed, her tone filled with deep reproach, ¡°What on earth is inside this mysterious box?¡±


    ¡°I tried every date I could think of, and none worked,¡± she complained.


    Xie Changyan smiled and didn¡¯t reply.


    His slender fingers entered four digits¡ª0519.


    Click.


    The box opened.


    Lin Xu mulled over these four characters in her mind, and after finding no memory associated with them, she twisted Xie Changyan¡¯s arm and demanded, ¡°Is this date the birthday of one of your ex-girlfriends?¡±


    Enduring the pain, Xie Changyan let out a laugh, ¡°I don¡¯t have any ex-girlfriends.¡±


    ¡°Then what does 0519 mean?¡±


    ¡°Can I not say?¡±


    ¡°No, confess honestly, no lying!¡±


    ¡°It was the first time I met you.¡±


    ¡°Our first meeting was clearly on May 29th.¡± Lin Xu glared at him as if to accuse him of forgetting the date.


    Xie Changyan chuckled softly, ¡°You¡¯re talking about the first time we met face to face, while I¡¯m talking about the first time I saw you.¡±


    He had seen her before Lin Xu had ever met him.


    Lin Xu paused, and a hint of playfulness emerged in her clear eyes, her tone teasing and drawn-out, ¡°So, someone fell in love with me at first sight even before that~¡±


    Xie Changyan coughed a few times, then took out three small golden locks from the box to divert her attention.


    ¡°What are these?¡± Lin Xu picked up one of the small golden locks and examined it closely.


    On the back of the small golden lock were a few engraved words¡ª


    Stay safe and healthy.


    JTY.


    This was obviously intended for Ji Tingyang.


    ¡°When we were traveling before and passed by a temple, there was a monk who said our family would undergo a disaster. He recommended these safety locks,¡± Xie Changyan said.


    At that moment, he thought of their three children.


    Thinking the safety locks weren¡¯t expensive and worried about the kids getting into trouble, he bought one for each of them.


    But unexpectedly, the trouble happened to him and Lin Xu instead, and they never managed to give the locks to the children in time.


    Lin Xu smiled and handed the safety lock to Ji Tingyang.


    He looked at the safety lock in his hand, his eyes downcast, his long eyelashes shadowing the emotions hidden beneath, making it hard to discern his current feelings.


    Lin Xu then pulled out a paper ring from inside, her throat uttering a sound of amazement, ¡°How come you have this ring? Wasn¡¯t it lost?¡±


    Wasn¡¯t this paper ring the one that Ji Tingyang had brought back from kindergarten for her?


    It was the first small gift she received from her son, and she was so happy that she stopped wearing any gemstone rings, only wearing this paper ring every day.


    Then, after wearing it for two days, the paper ring disappeared.


    She and the maid turned the house upside-down but couldn¡¯t find it. She had felt down for several days because of it.


    She had never expected to find the paper ring here with him.


    Xie Changyan¡¯s gaze drifted around.


    Ji Tingyang also remembered this paper ring, and seeing Xie Changyan¡¯s guilty expression, he suddenly realized, ¡°You actually stole the ring I gave to my mother!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not stealing between father and son, just safeguarding it for your mother,¡± Xie Changyan asserted righteously.


    Lin Xu shot him a deep look, ¡°I never thought someone would be jealous even of a child.¡±


    At the time she took off the ruby ring Ji Yanli had given her, he had voiced some objections.


    She never expected him to be so childish.


    Just then, Ji Yuqiao cheered again, ¡°Yay, this box is open too! Big brother, now you must believe it, right?¡±


    Ji Tingyang seemed unable to believe the result, murmuring ¡°impossible,¡± and then left with a face of disbelief.

 Chapter 239 - Chapter 239: Chapter 239: Father and Son Sleep Together

    Chapter 239: Chapter 239: Father and Son Sleep Together


    Summer camp time had arrived.


    When Ji Yuqiao and Lin Xu were loading their luggage onto the bus, they saw Ji Tingyang already seated inside and were momentarily stunned.


    ¡°Big brother, why are you here?¡± Ji Yuqiao asked, puzzled.


    ¡°It¡¯s not very safe for you two girls to go out alone,¡± Ji Tingyang replied seriously.


    Ji Yuqiao immediately saw through his pretense, ¡°You¡¯re just jealous that Mom and I can go on a vacation together and you¡¯re trying to act all serious.¡±


    ¡°If Big Brother wants to go, let him come. We might as well treat it like a family vacation,¡± Lin Xu said, patting Ji Yuqiao¡¯s fuming head.


    ¡°I¡¯m not saying Big Brother can¡¯t come, but we only bought two tickets, and they¡¯re all sold out now. How is Big Brother supposed to go?¡± Ji Yuqiao blinked innocently.


    ¡°So I applied for a private jet route,¡± Ji Tingyang¡¯s voice floated over lightly.


    Ji Yuqiao choked and retorted, ¡°¡­Being rich must be nice.¡±


    Wanting to fly wherever.


    ¡°I also booked a presidential suite at a five-star hotel. Of course, if you¡¯d prefer to stay in your little hotel,¡± Ji Tingyang glanced over with a smirk.


    Ji Yuqiao paused, her dissatisfaction melting away, and she cheered excitedly, ¡°Being rich really is great!¡±


    Before they took off, she had called to book a presidential suite in a five-star hotel herself. Perhaps because she didn¡¯t appear very influential, the hotel manager said the presidential suite wasn¡¯t available to the public no matter how much she insisted.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0


    She had no choice but to settle for a luxury room in another hotel.


    Turns out, Ji Tingyang had managed to book that presidential suite, and that manager really knew how to choose his customers.


    But having a big room to stay in made Ji Yuqiao very happy.


    Considering the hotel, she reluctantly accepted Ji Tingyang joining their vacation.


    After about four to five hours of flying, the family of three arrived at a small island.


    The presidential suite in the hotel was huge, one room for each of the three of them.


    Just perfect.


    ¡°No, I want to sleep in the same room as Mom,¡± Ji Yuqiao clung to Lin Xu¡¯s arm, acting coquettishly unwilling to be separated from her.


    Ji Tingyang was unmoved by his sister¡¯s antics, grabbing her by the collar and mercilessly dragging her into another room.


    From inside the room, Lin Xu could faintly hear Ji Yuqiao¡¯s indignant protests from outside.


    ¡°You¡¯re just jealous that I can sleep with Mom and you¡¯re trying to separate us, you big bully. Jealousy makes people ugly!¡±


    ¡°One more word and you¡¯re sleeping in the hallway.¡±


    The noisy arguing quieted down immediately.


    After Lin Xu had put away the luggage and stepped out, Ji Yuqiao indeed stopped talking, expressing her displeasure by glaring at Ji Tingyang with her round eyes.


    Lin Xu smiled helplessly, ¡°We¡¯re out on a rare trip and it¡¯s still early, let¡¯s go have some fun.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao¡¯s eyes instantly sparkled, and she gripped Lin Xu¡¯s arm, beaming, ¡°Yes, let¡¯s! I¡¯ve looked up online and there are lots of delicious things to eat and beautiful sights to see here!¡±


    ¡°And you even prepared a travel guide, are you here for summer camp or a vacation?¡± Ji Tingyang followed closely behind.


    ¡°Mind your own business.¡±


    The sea was azure and the skies clear, with the shadows of trees swaying gently; the island¡¯s scenery was tranquil, peaceful, and uniquely charming.


    The locals were warm and hospitable, almost wanting to personally show you around if you just asked about a sightseeing spot.


    The trio walked around a lot, staying out until dusk before Lin Xu finally guided them back to the hotel.


    The nightlife on the island was too rich, and Ji Yuqiao hadn¡¯t had enough fun yet. Reluctantly before leaving, she complained, ¡°It¡¯s still early, why are we heading back so soon?¡±


    ¡°You have class tomorrow. If we get back too late, you¡¯ll be nodding off in class,¡± Lin Xu replied.


    Ji Yuqiao pouted, ¡°I definitely won¡¯t.¡±


    Ji Tingyang: ¡°Don¡¯t talk back.¡±


    Ji Yuqiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    The three of them returned to the hotel, laughing and talking, but none of them had expected to see Xie Changyan in the hotel lobby.


    Lin Xu¡¯s eyes flashed with surprise. ¡°Did you really come?¡±


    The last time Xie Changyan mentioned he¡¯d cancel a week of work to come on vacation, Lin Xu thought he was joking.


    ¡°Of course, what I said was true,¡± Xie Changyan said with a light laugh, walking over to Lin Xu.


    ¡°Did you book a room here as well?¡± Lin Xu asked.


    ¡°The rooms here are fully booked, I have nowhere to go, it looks like I¡¯ll need you to take me in.¡±


    The moment Ji Tingyang saw Xie Changyan, his initially happy expression suddenly darkened, and it grew even colder when he heard him mention he needed to stay with his mother.


    Ji Tingyang immediately objected. ¡°No way!¡±


    Xie Changyan raised an eyebrow at him.


    ¡°There¡¯s no way the rooms here could be fully booked. He must be lying to you,¡± Ji Tingyang didn¡¯t believe his words.


    He summoned the hotel manager, and in front of Xie Changyan, he requested a room for him.


    The manager spoke apologetically, ¡°Sorry, President Ji. It¡¯s peak tourist season, and our rooms are indeed fully booked.¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression froze. ¡°Then, let him stay at another hotel.¡±


    ¡°All the other hotels are probably fully booked at this time too,¡± the manager added.


    Xie Changyan looked at Ji Tingyang with a smile in his eyes.


    As if to say¡ªsee, I did not deceive you.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s face tensed, and he pursed his lips.


    ¡°Then he can just sleep with father and us, after all, the presidential suite my big brother booked is huge. It can comfortably accommodate two more people,¡± Ji Yuqiao didn¡¯t mind the situation.


    Since her and her mother¡¯s twosome was already broken, having one more person, her father, didn¡¯t matter.


    Ji Yuqiao cheerfully led Xie Changyan back to the room.


    Ji Tingyang looked a bit conflicted, but eventually, he didn¡¯t say anything else.


    It was only while allocating rooms that a serious disagreement arose.


    ¡°No, you cannot sleep with Lin Xu!¡± Ji Tingyang, his face frosty, stared at him coldly.


    ¡°We are husband and wife, why can¡¯t we sleep together?¡± Xie Changyan teased.


    ¡°Who said you¡¯re my parents? I¡¯m not even sure if you¡¯re my father,¡± Ji Tingyang firmly refused to acknowledge that Xie Changyan was his father.


    ¡°But he could tell our family safe¡¯s password, talk about your past embarrassments, and that password box¡­¡± Ji Yuqiao pointed out.


    A guess might explain one or two coincidences, but all together, it was likely to be true.


    Ji Tingyang knew it, too.


    But¡­


    His expression was full of struggle, yet he still stubbornly retorted, ¡°He¡¯s not.¡±


    Lin Xu knew Ji Tingyang wasn¡¯t disbelieving, but rather he needed time to accept it, so she quickly spoke up to help him.


    ¡°You¡¯re a grown man, why cram in a room with me? Go sleep with Tingyang.¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking,


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression soured even more.

 Chapter 240 - Chapter 240: Chapter 240 You Cant Even Protect Your Wife Well

    Chapter 240: Chapter 240 You Can¡¯t Even Protect Your Wife Well


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s face turned a shade of iron blue for a moment as he loudly objected, ¡°No way!¡±


    He definitely did not want to share a bed with Xie Changyan.


    His face showed strong resistance, ¡°Isn¡¯t there a sofa in the living room? Let him sleep on the sofa.¡±


    ¡°Is it so bad to sleep with your father, just like I sleep with my mother? We could cuddle and have some whispers deep into the night.¡± Ji Yuqiao couldn¡¯t understand Ji Tingyang¡¯s refusal.


    Imagining two grown men cuddling together in bed sent a chill through Ji Tingyang¡¯s heart.


    Xie Changyan couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound too bad?¡±


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s expression cooled, his tone of refusal even more resolute, ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it. I¡¯d rather sleep on the floor than share a bed with you!¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Xie Changyan raised an eyebrow. ¡°If that¡¯s the case and you¡¯re so determined, then you sleep on the floor.¡±


    Ji Tingyang: ¡°¡­¡±


    This man was nothing like his mother, caring for him. How could he possibly be his father!


    Ji Tingyang was fuming.


    In the end, it was Lin Xu who came up with a solution.


    She and Ji Yuqiao would sleep in one room, while Xie Changyan and Ji Tingyang each had their own rooms.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï


    Faced with the choice of letting Xie Changyan share a room with Lin Xu or with Ji Yuqiao, Ji Tingyang decisively chose the latter.


    As the only beneficiary of this smokeless dispute, Ji Yuqiao happily linked arms with Lin Xu and headed to their room, ¡°That¡¯s great, I finally get to sleep with my mother.¡±


    Lin Xu smiled.


    However, Ji Yuqiao and Lin Xu talked late into the night, and as a result, Ji Yuqiao struggled to get out of bed the next morning.


    ¡°Wake up, if we don¡¯t leave soon, we¡¯ll be late.¡± Lin Xu was like she was back to the days of waking Ji Tingyang up for kindergarten.


    Lin Xu pulled Ji Yuqiao out of bed and wiped her face with a wet towel.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sleepy. Can I skip today and go to the classroom tomorrow?¡± Ji Yuqiao mumbled, sitting drowsily on the bed.


    ¡°If you skip on your first day, the teacher will be upset. Don¡¯t you want to go to the beach? After your classes today, let¡¯s go to the beach together, okay?¡± Lin Xu gently wiped her cheeks with the towel.


    While coaxing Ji Yuqiao to get up, Lin Xu suddenly felt a sense of fulfillment.


    It was like she was accompanying her still infant daughter as she slowly grew up, coaxing her lazy daughter to school on a morning where she wanted to stay in bed.


    Lin Xu¡¯s gaze toward her became even more gentle.


    Ji Tingyang, however, wasn¡¯t as gentle as Lin Xu. Seeing Ji Yuqiao still sitting on the bed, he abruptly pulled off her blanket.


    ¡°I¡¯ll count to three. If you¡¯re not up by then, there¡¯s no breakfast for you today.¡±


    Years of habit triggered a conditioned reflex in Ji Yuqiao, who suddenly jumped out of the bed and rushed into the bathroom to wash up.


    ¡°Mother, you¡¯re spoiling her too much,¡± Ji Tingyang said.


    Lin Xu nodded solemnly, ¡°You¡¯re right, I¡¯ll be a bit stricter next time I wake you up.¡±


    Ji Tingyang coughed, ¡°Actually¡­ being gentle occasionally is okay too.¡±


    Lin Xu smiled.


    With time pressing, after breakfast, Ji Yuqiao hurriedly got into the car and headed for her classroom.


    As soon as she got out of the car, she saw Zhao Jiayan standing far away at the main gate.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it almost time for class? Why haven¡¯t you gone in yet?¡± Ji Yuqiao asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m waiting for someone,¡± Zhao Jiayan replied.


    ¡°Oh, then I¡¯ll go in first,¡± Ji Yuqiao waved at him and hurried to the classroom.


    Zhao Jiayan followed her. ¡°It¡¯s getting late. I won¡¯t wait anymore.¡±


    ¡°Maybe your friend overslept and hasn¡¯t gotten up yet. He¡¯s definitely going to be late,¡± Ji Yuqiao spoke from experience.


    A deeper smile appeared in Zhao Jiayan¡¯s eyes.


    After sending Ji Yuqiao off, Lin Xu had some free time and leisurely enjoyed her breakfast.


    Ji Tingyang lifted his eyes and hesitated before looking at Lin Xu, ¡°I heard there is a bustling ancient street here¡­¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s go check it out later,¡± Lin Xu said.


    A barely noticeable smile appeared on the corners of Ji Tingyang¡¯s lips, and his mood improved, ¡°Okay.¡±


    Of course,


    It would be even better if there wasn¡¯t a third wheel around while shopping.


    Ji Tingyang swept a displeased glance at Xie Changyan.


    In the middle of the ancient street, there were many small vendors selling little ornaments¡ªhairpins, bracelets, jade pendants¡­


    Most of them were imitation antiques.


    Though not worth much, they were still exquisitely beautiful.


    Lin Xu approached a small stall selling ornaments and picked up a plum blossom hairpin to examine it.


    ¡°The lady has a good eye, this hairpin suits you exceptionally well, you would look absolutely heavenly with it on,¡± the owner praised enthusiastically while giving a thumbs up.


    It was unclear how many customers he had said this to.


    Lin Xu smiled, just about to speak when Ji Tingyang assertively said, ¡°I¡¯ll buy this hairpin.¡±


    ¡°Fifty yuan!¡± the owner raised his hand, showing five fingers.


    As Ji Tingyang was taking out his phone to scan for payment, Xie Changyan handed the owner a hundred-yuan note, ¡°Keep the change.¡±


    He skillfully gathered Lin Xu¡¯s loose hair and inserted the hairpin, admiring it once done, ¡°It indeed looks beautiful.¡±


    Lin Xu took a mirror from the stall and looked at herself, ¡°Your hair styling skills have improved.¡±


    ¡°Having done your hair so many times, I¡¯ve naturally gotten more skilled,¡± Xie Changyan smiled.


    Ji Tingyang watched from the side, his face growing dark, grinding his teeth, ¡°I was the one who wanted to buy it for her.¡±


    It should have been him who was praised.


    ¡°But it seems I paid first,¡± Xie Changyan said.


    Ji Tingyang¡¯s lips pressed into a straight line, his face iron blue, likely cursing Xie Changyan countless times in his heart.


    He learned his lesson, and the next time Lin Xu barely touched a bracelet, he paid without a word.


    He bought everything Lin Xu touched.


    ¡°I¡¯m just looking; don¡¯t buy anymore,¡± Lin Xu hastily stopped him, seeing he was about to make another payment.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, they¡¯re not expensive, I¡¯ll buy you anything you want,¡± Ji Tingyang said.


    Though the items were not expensive, it was still a waste to buy them all.


    Frightened, Lin Xu didn¡¯t dare to linger in the ancient street any longer, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the Fishing Port Park over there.¡±


    It was the peak tourist season, and even the park was crowded with tourists.


    Lin Xu followed the crowd, when suddenly, she didn¡¯t know exactly what happened, but the crowd surged.


    Pushed by one person after another, Lin Xu accidentally got shoved to the ground.


    Ji Tingyang and Xie Changyan¡¯s expressions immediately turned grave as they pushed through the crowd to reach her.


    They helped Lin Xu to a seat by the flowerbed, only to see her knee was scraped by the cement ground, the wound swollen and red.


    Ji Tingyang stared at her wound, his face darkened unpleasantly, and his eyebrows furrowed.


    ¡°You were right by her side, how could you let her get hurt? You can¡¯t even take care of one person.¡±


    ¡°How many times has this happened! You can¡¯t even protect your wife, what good are you?¡± Ji Tingyang bellowed at Xie Changyan.