At this moment, Ji Xi, who had become the center of attention, was brought to the Ji Family.
The child, aching all over, had tears streaming down his face. He sobbed and pleaded with Zhiliao, "Sister, it hurts so much. Can you be gentler?"
Zhiliao, who was gripping him roughly, had no intention of engaging in conversation. She simply threw him onto the ground.
Another cry of pain echoed.
Between sobs, Ji Xi tried to survey his surroundings, trying to figure out where he had been taken.
It was clear he was a clever child, as he quickly pieced it together: "Did my father send for me?"
"Can I see Dad?"
"I really am his son. I have a blood test report—we can do another one if needed."
He sniffled quietly, his dark, grape-like eyes brimming with tears. His pitiful appearance, combined with his young age, was enough to tug at anyone’s heartstrings.
Unfortunately, Zhiliao still didn’t spare him a glance. When You Er arrived, she left without a word.
You Er was also surprised.
He hadn’t expected this woman to just go and kidnap the kid.
Glancing down at the ignored child, most of his face was cast in shadow as he studied Ji Xi thoughtfully, considering…
This was his territory. Even if he were to quietly kill the boy now—
Sensing the murderous intent radiating from the man before him, Ji Xi struggled to inch himself away.
This time, he didn’t call out Ji Tingzhou’s name.
Because it seemed useless…
These people showed no restraint out of fear for his identity. Were they demons or something???
When Ji Tingzhou learned that Zhiliao had captured the boy, he had no intention of meeting the teenager named Ji Xi. Instead, he watched the surveillance footage in real-time.
Wei Yang was beside him, eating cherries.
You Er had someone draw a tube of Ji Xi’s blood and even examined his face. The doctor confirmed, "There are no signs of plastic surgery. His features are completely natural."
Ji Xi stopped clamoring to see his "father" and fell into silence.
Following instructions, You Er tapped his knuckles on the table in front of him. The child flinched and jerked his head up.
"You said you can make medicine?"
At the mention of medicine, just as Ji Tingzhou had anticipated, Ji Xi’s eyes lit up. "Yes."
"Do you know about the medicine I developed? It accelerates the healing of wounds and bones."
He turned his head, his gaze locking directly onto the camera. "Dad, I can be very useful."
You Er looked at the suddenly animated child. "The family head says if you call him 'Dad' one more time, he’ll cut off your fingers."
Hearing this, Ji Xi’s face instantly paled. His shoulders hunched as the memory of that merciless kick flashed through his mind.
Wei Yang, who was also watching the surveillance with Ji Tingzhou, clicked his tongue.
"Where the hell did he come from? We can’t even trace his background."
"Just kill him, bro."
Whether or not he was Ji Tingzhou’s child didn’t matter anymore.
Ji Nian had survived this long not because she was Ji Tingzhou’s biological daughter.
In fact, blood ties only fueled Ji Tingzhou’s murderous impulses. And this kid was clearly cunning—nothing like their simple-minded Ji Nian.
Normally, Ji Tingzhou would have resorted to interrogation. But the sight of that face, so similar to Ji Nian’s, filled him with disgust.
"Change his face first, then kill him."
Dying with Ji Nian’s likeness would be inauspicious.
Just as You Er was about to carry out the order—
Zhiliao suddenly walked in. "Wait."
Ji Tingzhou lifted his gaze.
Zhiliao’s dark eyes carried a trace of gloom. "Police Officer Wang is here."
Along with Chen Mo.
The familiar officers had come—to look for someone.
For Ji Xi.
Ji Tingzhou’s eyelid twitched.
"Boss Ji, given our years of friendship, let me give you a heads-up."
"This kid is exceptionally talented. The higher-ups… have taken an interest in protecting him."
"Let’s turn a blind eye this time. Hand him over quickly, alright?"
He pointed upward, his expression troubled.
Ji Tingzhou didn’t need the explanation. He had already guessed as much.
After all, if Zhiliao’s actions had been detected, there was only one explanation.
"Bro."
Wei Yang hadn’t expected this brat to be so difficult to deal with. He gritted his teeth in frustration.
Especially when Ji Xi, under protection as he was led away, had the audacity to say, "Dad, you’ll need me someday."
His tone was a mix of naive certainty and something more ominous.
Ji Tingzhou remained silent, sinking deeper into the couch. His emerald-green eyes flickered darkly, unreadable.
In a place no one could see, the woman in the red dress appeared again.
She looked just as she had in her youth, sitting across from Ji Tingzhou with a smile.
A blink later, she vanished without a trace.
Ji Tingzhou closed his eyes briefly. No one noticed the shift in his mood.
Then came the second piece of bad news.
Chen Mo walked in, his usually composed face uncharacteristically grim.
Forgoing any argument, he took a seat opposite Ji Tingzhou—right where the red-dressed woman had been moments ago.
"A company called Haitian has suddenly emerged, promoting a medicine that accelerates wound healing."
His voice grew heavier.
"There’s a mole in the company. The healing formula was stolen."
...
Ji Nian rubbed her nose and turned to look out the window at the darkening sky.
Summer rains were frequent, but the overcast weather did nothing to ease the stifling heat. Instead, the air grew thick with a sticky humidity that made Ji Nian nauseous. She reached over and shut the window.
"Ji Nian, I believe you."
At the end of class, her quiet deskmate suddenly whispered these words.
Hearing this, Ji Nian turned her head and smiled. "Thank you."
Her expression was perfectly calm, showing no trace of shadow.
Just in time for Lu Jinghuai, who had skipped the entire class, to arrive late and witness it.
He brushed back his rain-dampened hair—wet from the wind blowing under his umbrella—and took his seat.
Though he hadn’t been at school, Lu Jinghuai was always well-informed.
His silver-gray eyes, usually fixed on Ji Nian, now settled on a group of students chatting at the front left of the classroom.
As they spoke, their glances kept drifting toward Ji Nian at the other end of the room.
The warmth in his gaze faded, the clear silver darkening into something deeper.
But before Lu Jinghuai could act—
Yu Ying, who had been snickering under his breath, suddenly froze.
One by one, the others noticed his strange expression.
"And it smells like pee… What’s wrong with you? If you needed to go, why didn’t you say something?!"
The crowd around him scattered like startled birds.
Yu Ying sat alone, his face burning red.
"I… I…"
He hadn’t felt the urge to go at all! How did this happen?!
As Ji Nian walked past, she cast a glance his way and remarked airily, "If you can’t hold it in at this age, imagine how often your future nurses will have to slap you when you’re old?"
