A fluffy yellow puppy dashed in through the main gate, whimpering a few times.
Old Master Ji was just about to pick up the little dog when Ji Liuguang raised his foot and kicked out. "What are the servants doing? Don’t they know I hate dogs? How dare they let a stray in? Get it out of here now!"
The puppy yelped in pain from the kick.
Rong Yu caught the dog in time—had it been kicked and then fallen to the ground, it might not have survived.
Holding the puppy, she stood up and lifted her gaze. A quiet intensity radiated from her eyes, making Ji Liuguang inexplicably uneasy.
He stiffened his neck and asked, "New maid?"
"Insolence!" Old Master Ji snapped coldly. "She is your—"
He cut himself off mid-sentence, noticing the number of servants in the room, and swallowed the last two words.
Rong Yu sat down on the sofa. "I saved the old master’s life. Who do you think I am?"
Steward Yu, standing nearby, finally understood Rong Yu’s identity.
No wonder Old Master Ji treated Miss Rong with such respect—she was his lifesaver.
As the old master’s savior, she was the benefactor of the entire Ji family. Naturally, Miss Rong deserved the highest regard in the household.
Rong Yu stroked Songguo’s fur. The little one licked her fingers—thankfully, it was unharmed.
She looked up and spoke calmly, "Academic qualifications may not be everything, but if someone can’t even achieve basic education, it only proves one thing: they’re foolish."
"You!" Ji Liuguang’s eyes widened. "How dare you call me stupid? Who do you think you are?"
"I gave her the right. Got a problem with that?" Old Master Ji’s voice was low and dangerous. "No matter the reason you were expelled, it shows you lack sense. And with that, you think you can just waltz into the Ji Corporation? Do you take me for dead?"
"N-no, Old Master, I didn’t mean it like that—" Ji Liuguang shrank back, stammering. "I… I…"
He racked his brain but couldn’t come up with a defense.
Old Master Ji’s tone was icy. "Your eldest brother studied abroad and earned his own living expenses. Your second brother made his way in the entertainment industry on his own. Your third brother hasn’t taken a single cent from the family since starting university. As for the fifth, he’s younger than you—I won’t even compare him to you! Look at yourself. In four years abroad, 100,000 a month wasn’t enough—you spent at least 200,000 to 300,000. I indulged you, thinking you were young and struggling overseas. And how have you repaid me?"
Ji Liuguang hung his head low.
But Rong Yu didn’t miss the disdainful twist of his lips.
This child, left unchecked abroad for four years, seemed to have developed a rotten streak.
Unlike the other Ji children—whether it was A’Yuan or A’Ye—who, no matter how unruly, still carried the family’s inherent kindness in their bones, this fourth son had kicked Songguo without hesitation. That level of cruelty was concerning.
"Old Master, calm down," Nanny Zhang interjected, cutting off the lecture. "The fourth young master’s arm needs its dressing changed."
Old Master Ji huffed and sat back on the sofa, cradling the frightened Songguo. "This is my dog, not some stray. If you kick Songguo again, I’ll kick you out of this house!"
Ji Liuguang smirked. "Understood."
Nanny Zhang carefully unwrapped the bandage on his arm and applied medicine. Suddenly, she spoke up, "Miss Rong, was it? Could you help me with the medicine?"
Hearing Nanny Zhang dare to order Miss Rong around, Steward Yu immediately stepped forward. "I’ll handle it. No need to trouble Miss Rong."
Nanny Zhang glanced at Rong Yu.
This so-called lifesaver of the old master was acting far too high and mighty—lounging on the sofa, sipping tea leisurely, as if she owned the place.
By evening, the Ji family members had returned one by one.
Ji Zhouye was ecstatic. "Fourth Brother! You’re finally back! I missed you so much!"
Ji Zhiyuan’s expression was more subdued. "Now that you’re back, focus on recovering."
Ji Liuguang pulled a small trinket from his pocket and handed it to Duoduo. "Got this from a claw machine at the airport. Boredom purchase. It’s yours."
"Thanks, Fourth Uncle." Though Duoduo hadn’t met her fourth uncle in person since she could remember, she wasn’t entirely unfamiliar with him—she’d often been around during video calls between him and Old Master Ji.
Old Master Ji approached the dining table. "Everyone, sit down and eat."
He pulled out the chair at the head of the table—and Rong Yu took the seat.
Nanny Zhang, who had been attending to Ji Liuguang, gaped in shock. "Miss Rong! That’s the head seat—the old master’s place! As a junior, it’s inappropriate for you to sit there!"
Old Master Ji’s expression darkened. "Didn’t I order everyone to leave? Why are you still here?"
The old master’s icy tone startled Nanny Zhang. She bowed her head hastily. "The fourth young master’s hand is injured. I stayed to feed him."
"Old enough to need hand-feeding? Even Duoduo doesn’t need that!" Old Master Ji’s face turned livid. "How did the Ji family end up with such a useless brat?"
Ji Liuguang shot Nanny Zhang a glare. "Mind your own business. Get out!"
Nanny Zhang didn’t dare argue and quickly retreated from the dining room.
Steward Yu looked at her and said, "After all these years abroad, don’t forget the Ji family’s rules. Let me remind you—disrespecting Miss Rong is disrespecting the old master. The Ji family won’t tolerate it. This is your only warning."
Nanny Zhang shuddered and nodded. "Understood."
With all outsiders gone from the dining room, Ji Zhouye blurted out, "Great—"
A sharp look from Rong Yu cut him off mid-word.
Then, she glanced meaningfully at Ji Liuguang.
Having spent nearly every day with Rong Yu lately—attending school together, coming home together—Ji Zhouye had become fluent in reading her expressions.
This meant: Don’t call her "Great-Grandma" in front of Fourth Brother.
Ji Zhouye suddenly grinned.
Previously, he’d been at the bottom of the family hierarchy.
Now, with Fourth Brother back, his status had risen.
Heh. Served Fourth Brother right for getting expelled. A little too immature, wasn’t he?
Ji Zhouye served Rong Yu a dish. "Try this."
Ji Zhiyuan ladled her a bowl of soup.
Old Master Ji picked out fish bones for Duoduo, who then gave the fish to Rong Yu.
Ji Liuguang narrowed his eyes.
This Miss Rong… wasn’t her status in the Ji family a bit too elevated?
Why was everyone fawning over her?
Even as the old master’s savior, wasn’t this excessive?
After dinner, Ji Zhouye dragged Ji Liuguang off to play games.
Ji Zhiyuan pulled up a report on his phone and addressed the elders. "Great-Grandma, Old Master, I had someone investigate. Fourth Brother was expelled because he and a European man were pursuing the same woman. When she chose the other guy, Fourth Brother couldn’t accept it. He took his friends to ambush the man, but the guy fought back—that’s how Fourth Brother’s arm was broken. Since he instigated the fight and had a history of brawling, the school expelled him… This is now in his academic record. No reputable institution abroad will take him."
Old Master Ji was so furious he nearly toppled over.
Rong Yu steadied him and said, "A kite that's flown too far may drift off course—it's no surprise. If you can reel it back in, do so. If not, there's no need for anger. Everyone has their own fate."
