Ji Xi suddenly noticed that the atmosphere in the Ji family had changed.
Everyone looked tense, whispering among themselves from time to time.
He curled up and hid himself, barely catching fragments of their conversation.
"It's today, right?... Let’s hope the family head recovers."
"Of course he will! The potions made by our Ji family’s alchemists are foolproof!"
Hearing this, Ji Xi finally understood what they were discussing.
Had they really found a way to cure Ji Tingzhou?
How was that possible?
His condition was genetic—a mental disorder rooted in his DNA.
"Clueless... talking nonsense," he muttered under his breath.
Maybe they’d discovered a temporary suppressant, but such treatments were risky. One misstep, and Ji Tingzhou could end up in a vegetative state.
The thought of Ji Tingzhou becoming a vegetable should have delighted Ji Xi.
But after spending so much time in the Ji household, he’d witnessed something he’d never seen before—the way Ji Nian and Ji Tingzhou interacted.
So this was how family could be... so close.
If something happened to Ji Tingzhou, she’d be devastated.
No wonder Ji Nian hated him... After what he’d done, it was only natural.
Ji Xi slumped in dejection.
"He’s here."
A bodyguard suddenly yanked Ji Xi out from behind the pillar where he’d been hiding.
Ji Xi’s heart lurched in fear, but he scowled and snapped, "Don’t touch me! What do you want?"
When he tried to bite, the man hoisted him up by the collar and said coldly, "You’ll find out soon enough."
Ji Xi was terrified.
Had they finally remembered him? Were they going to eliminate him now?
In a daze, he was dragged into a room.
But all they did was draw two vials of blood before letting him go.
Actually letting him go.
Standing outside the gates of the Ji estate, Ji Xi felt disoriented.
He was... free?
...
"Young Mistress, as you instructed, we’ve gotten rid of him. But... if the family head finds out, he might—"
After all, Ji Tingzhou’s murderous intent toward that boy, Ji Xi, hadn’t been subtle.
"Don’t worry. I’ll handle Father," Ji Nian replied before hanging up.
John Qiao approached her to confirm once more: "The antidote has been verified. With Ji Xi’s blood as the catalyst, there won’t be any issues."
"But..."
He glanced around cautiously, then lowered his voice conspiratorially. "Master."
"Ji Xi is a non-renewable resource. If we need to mass-produce this in the future, what then?"
Ji Nian’s gaze shifted toward the operating room as she reassured him, "We’re using his blood now because time is critical."
"Once Father is stable, you and Bruce will focus on researching alternatives."
Why wasn’t Ji Nian doing it herself?
She certainly had the means, but as the saying goes, a master leads the way—progress depends on the disciple. If Ji Nian spoon-fed John Qiao everything, he’d never grow.
John Qiao clearly understood her good intentions. Remembering how moved he’d been when he woke from his coma and learned Ji Nian had allowed him to copy her notes, he nearly teared up again.
Now, when he called her "Master," it carried even more sincerity—more sycophantic than Bruce’s tone.
...
Ji Tingzhou felt as though he were floating.
The world around him was void-like, and even his own existence seemed distant, as if separated by an invisible barrier.
This state lasted for an immeasurable amount of time. Just as he was growing weary of it, a small yellow chick suddenly appeared before him.
Waving two fluffy chicken wings in front of his face, the little pointed beak poked his cheek before suddenly tilting its neck back and letting out a resounding cry: "Cock-a-doodle-doo—!"
The sharp, clear call, like a hook, yanked him back violently. Ji Tingzhou felt as if he had crashed into something, and then everything went black.
...
"So Uncle Ji is still recovering from surgery."
Lu Jinghuai crouched in front of Ji Nian, helping her fasten the buckles and straps of her ski boots.
Ji Nian had initially refused, but the moment she did, Lu Jinghuai gazed at her with puppy-dog eyes, making her feel like denying him would be outright cruelty.
In the end, Ji Nian succumbed to his charm.
"Logically speaking, someone who just had surgery should be resting in bed, right?"
The mention of Ji Tingzhou made Ji Nian fume.
"But no—he and Zhiliao ran off somewhere to have fun."
When she woke up and didn’t see Zhiliao, her world had practically collapsed.
"Are they on a date?"
Lu Jinghuai finished adjusting her boots and chuckled lightly.
Ji Nian shuddered violently, shaking her head frantically.
"No way."
"Dad rarely fears anyone, but Zhiliao is one of them."
"Their relationship is purely sibling-like—so straightforward no one could possibly misunderstand."
Wei Yang had once joked that all three of them had deep-seated trauma from Zhiliao, considering they’d been beaten up by her since childhood...
"I see."
Lu Jinghuai nodded understandingly and stood up.
The white-and-purple ski suit complemented his fair complexion and delicate features. The hat Ji Nian had just gifted him—designed to be worn over a helmet—had two pointed kitten ears on top.
Unlike Gu Xiuyuan, he didn’t find it childish at all. After changing, he’d immediately put it on, revealing his refined brows and eyes, and asked Ji Nian if it looked good.
"I think I know what they’re up to..."
Lu Jinghuai steadied Ji Nian as she stood, and she discreetly inhaled the faint scent lingering around him.
So nice… Only younger boys smell this good.
Ji Nian wasn’t much of a skier. She didn’t particularly like cold places, and only came when Shen Qingtang invited her—mostly to enjoy local snacks and snowball fights rather than actual skiing. She wasn’t skilled at it, and she had no qualms admitting it to Lu Jinghuai.
The ever-considerate young prince assured her it was fine.
"Like this."
Standing behind her to correct her posture, Lu Jinghuai praised, "Yes, just like that. You’re amazing."
It sounded like he was coaxing a child, but his expression was utterly sincere, as if he genuinely believed it.
Ji Nian had gradually gone from feeling awkward to begrudgingly accepting his habit of praising even the smallest things—like "Wow, you peed so well!"
She was on a snowboard and soon hit the slopes.
The strands of hair peeking out from under her helmet fluttered in the icy wind. Out of the corner of her eye, Ji Nian saw Lu Jinghuai keeping pace beside her effortlessly.
Compared to her stiff movements, his form was graceful and fluid, a pleasure to watch.
Does Shen Qingtang ski like this with Gu Xiuyuan?
She’d never really paid attention before.
"Careful."
As Ji Nian suddenly zoned out, her snowboard lost control—the front edge caught, sending her tumbling forward. Lu Jinghuai reacted swiftly, reaching out to catch her, and the two instantly rolled together, sliding a short distance before coming to a stop.
"Ji Nian? Are you okay?"
Lu Jinghuai anxiously lifted his helmet, checking her over. His nose was flushed red, and his silver-gray eyes brimmed with concern—an expression so endearing it tugged at the heart.
"I'm fine..." Ji Nian raised a hand weakly.
Pulled up by Lu Jinghuai, she murmured sheepishly, "Sorry for dragging you into that."
"You didn’t have to catch me, really. A fall wouldn’t have been a big deal."
Lu Jinghuai stared at her without a word, his lips pressed into a thin line.
"...Won’t happen again."
It was rare to see him upset, and Ji Nian was a little surprised.
Of course, Lu Jinghuai couldn’t stay mad at her for long. He let out a quiet grunt and moved to stand up.
Ji Nian blinked, then reached out to tug him back. He stumbled slightly, pulled back down to her level.
"Don’t be mad. Happy birthday."
Like a magician revealing a trick, she peeled off her glove and, with her now-warm hand, suddenly brushed against Lu Jinghuai’s fair, rounded earlobe.
A fleeting, unfamiliar sensation—then she withdrew just as quickly.
Lu Jinghuai’s first instinct was to tell her to put her glove back on. Only afterward did he touch his own ear.
Where there had been nothing before, there was now a small, unfamiliar weight—something delicate, its material impossible to discern by touch alone.
His voice dripped with sweetness: "You knew."
Why he’d asked her out today.
Because it was Lu Jinghuai’s birthday.
He hadn’t said it, but he’d wanted Ji Nian by his side.
