The police officers arrived on their motorcycles, looking fierce and imposing.
"What's going on here? What happened?"
People from Country O were generally tall, and these officers were all over six feet, their authoritative presence amplified by their uniforms as they strode forward.
The man who had been kicked to the ground and pretending to be dead suddenly sprang up at the sound of their voices, as if revived by an advertisement, wailing dramatically, "These two foreigners attacked me first!"
Wei Junze couldn’t understand what they were saying, but the man’s exaggerated act made it clear he was playing the victim.
Hearing that foreigners had assaulted one of their own, the officers’ expressions instantly turned stern.
One of them, presumably the leader, stepped forward and approached Ji Nian and Wei Junze, intending to take them away.
Wei Junze sighed inwardly. What a hassle. If I tell my family I didn’t start this, will they even believe me?
Just as he was about to speak, the blue-eyed officer, who had been stern-faced moments ago, suddenly widened his eyes like a startled husky.
"Miss Ji?!"
Ji Nian waved casually. "Hey."
They seemed to know each other.
Wei Junze raised an eyebrow.
They’re acquainted? Ji Nian and the local police?
Is the Ji family’s influence really this extensive? Though I’ve heard Ji Tingzhou is close with the Lu Family—maybe that’s why?
His thoughts raced as the officer exchanged a few more words with Ji Nian. She explained the situation, and upon hearing the full story, the officer looked both embarrassed and annoyed. He grabbed the confused man—who was just as lost as Wei Junze—and led his team away.
Just like that, the matter was resolved.
Wei Junze glanced at Ji Nian in surprise.
"You know that guy?"
Ji Nian replied nonchalantly, "Sort of."
Given that Lu Jinghuai had been targeted recently, the police had voluntarily patrolled the area, and Ji Nian had run into them a few times.
Wei Yang had even shared drinks with one of them.
Wei Junze smirked knowingly. "Because of Lu Jinghuai?"
A few days ago, his aunt had pulled him aside and warned him to stay away from that "little prince" from Country O.
Ji Nian gave him a strange look. "Never mind that. What are you doing in Country O? Isn’t this outside of holiday season?"
"Someone stopped replying to messages and ran off without a word. I had to come check on them," he said, then quickly added when he saw her expression shift, "After all, if something happened to my business partner, I’d be very troubled."
"Oh, really?"
A voice dripping with disdain came from behind them.
Wei Junze and Ji Nian turned simultaneously.
One froze; the other lit up with joy.
"Dad!"
Ji Nian nearly bounced on her feet but restrained herself, opting for a more composed walk instead.
Unlike the common platinum-haired locals, Ji Tingzhou stood out like a fresh bamboo shoot in a foreign land.
How did he get even more handsome in just a few days?
"You got a haircut, Dad. The new style suits you," Ji Nian observed, studying him closely.
Ji Tingzhou glanced at her, the earlier mockery in his expression replaced by a faint smile.
See? No one else gets this kind of reaction from my daughter.
"Not bad," he replied casually.
"Uncle Ji."
Wei Junze, undeterred by the cold shoulder, greeted him respectfully.
Ji Tingzhou’s gaze shifted to him, noticeably different from the warmth he’d shown Ji Nian.
"It’s still daytime. Shouldn’t you be out and about later?"
Before Wei Junze could decipher the remark, Ji Tingzhou added, "Nightclubs aren’t even open at this hour."
Wei Junze: "……"
Without giving him a chance to respond, Ji Tingzhou turned to Ji Nian. "Young Master Wei here is a regular on a certain street. Take a good look—this is the rare daytime version."
Ji Nian shot Wei Junze a sympathetic glance, as if asking, What did you do to upset him?
Wei Junze had no idea.
Sure, Ji Tingzhou wasn’t wrong—he did frequent bars—but the way he phrased it made it sound like Wei Junze was some kind of nightclub degenerate with no real responsibilities.
Ji Tingzhou had originally come to pick up Ji Nian, but he seemed to have urgent business with Lu Zhi. Learning that Lu Jinghuai had returned to the Lu Family estate, Ji Nian, not wanting to be bored alone, decided to join him.
As soon as she reached the front gate, she ran into Wei Junze again.
"Ji Nian."
He smirked, lazily waving at her.
The Lu Family’s butler stood before him and, upon seeing Ji Nian, warmly greeted her. "Miss Ji."
They knew she had been staying by Lu Jinghuai’s side these past few days and were deeply grateful.
Ji Nian exchanged pleasantries with the butler before learning that Wei Junze was here under the Wei family’s name to meet Lu Zhi.
She whispered to him, "Hemorrhoid cream?"
Wei Junze chuckled. "That’s our private business. Why would I involve outsiders?"
Besides, the Lu Family wouldn’t care about such trivial matters.
"I’m here on behalf of my father to pay respects to the head of the Lu Family."
Ji Nian nodded in understanding.
Of course. A hemorrhoid cream deal wouldn’t warrant this kind of visit.
The two chatted as they walked. Since Ji Nian was already familiar with the Lu Family’s estate, she didn’t need the butler to guide them and volunteered to lead Wei Junze inside.
Mid-conversation, she suddenly noticed Wei Junze’s strange gaze directed upward. Puzzled, Ji Nian followed his line of sight—
A massive, strikingly clear portrait of a young Ji Nian, hands on her hips, loomed before them.
Ji Nian: “……”
Wei Junze was stunned for a moment before recovering, then shot her a teasing glance. “You really did look like a little kitten back then.”
But why would the Lu Family hang a portrait of Ji Nian at their entrance?
And why was it so… enormous?
Ji Nian closed her eyes briefly.
That damned painting—why was it still here?!
Ever since she first saw it years ago, it had been a source of endless embarrassment.
Ji Tingzhou had even considered hanging a similar one at home. What had she said to stop him?
Oh, right—she’d threatened to dump toilet water on his face while he slept if he dared.
The sheer viciousness of the threat had forced Ji Tingzhou to reluctantly abandon the idea.
Wei Junze, the absolute menace, pulled out his phone and snapped a photo.
Not satisfied with just that, he tugged Ji Nian closer, positioning her to face the camera, ensuring the shot captured both of them alongside the ridiculous portrait.
...
Meanwhile, in his room, Lu Jinghuai was catching up on sleep at his father’s insistence.
At first, he couldn’t drift off—his exhaustion was so acute that even the slightest sound would jolt him awake. Eventually, he got up and retrieved a jacket Ji Nian had left behind during a visit to his mother’s place.
He hugged it tightly, as if wrapping his arms around Ji Nian herself, burying his face in the fabric that still carried her scent. Only then did he finally fall asleep.
But his rest was short-lived. A hesitant knock sounded at the door.
The butler’s voice filtered through. “Young Master, Miss Ji is here.”
He knew Lu Jinghuai had barely gotten any sleep, but the young master had given strict orders: anything concerning Ji Nian was to be reported immediately.
So he obeyed.
Lu Jinghuai’s eyes flew open.
Still clutching Ji Nian’s jacket, he drowsily pressed his face into it, inhaling deeply before nuzzling it affectionately. Then, after a moment’s hesitation, he tucked it under the blankets, hiding it securely.
After straightening his appearance, he headed out to see her.
But the softness in his expression vanished the instant he spotted Wei Junze downstairs, arm slung over Ji Nian’s shoulders as they posed for a photo.
