The farce came to an end, and the surroundings quieted down.
Old Master Ji seemed to have aged several years in an instant. He lay on the sofa, looking utterly drained.
Rong Yu spoke up, "Everyone has their own path to walk. Since he chose this road, let’s help him see it through to the bitter end."
Old Master Ji sighed, "But he... he’s only twenty-one, still a child. Kicking him out of the house like this—won’t it be too harsh?"
"I heard from Steward Yu that Jingchuan and the fourth young master were born in the same year, the same age. Yet Jingchuan has long been independent," Rong Yu said calmly. "If you want the fourth young master to stand on his own, he must have no safety net to rely on. Otherwise, he’ll forever remain a child who needs others to clean up his mess."
Old Master Ji immediately agreed, "You’re absolutely right."
Rong Yu waved her hand, "Duoduo, come here for a moment."
Duoduo, who had been reading a picture book, set it down and obediently walked over. "Auntie, what is it?"
"Do you know how to write your name?" Rong Yu flipped open the share transfer agreement. "Sign your name here."
Duoduo could recognize the characters, but she didn’t fully understand what they meant when put together. Still, she didn’t ask questions—if she was told to sign, she signed.
"Ji Zhiyi."
She wrote her full name in the blank space.
Rong Yu smiled.
Now, Duoduo held four percent of the shares.
She pinched Duoduo’s chubby cheeks affectionately and said cheerfully, "From now on, our Duoduo is going to be a CEO. When we have time, Auntie will take you out to see the world."
As they were chatting, Ji Zhiyuan returned home.
The moment he stepped inside, Steward Yu reported the matter concerning the fourth young master.
The more he listened, the deeper his frown became.
Old Master Ji’s health wasn’t good, and yet the fourth young master had never shown any concern—instead, he had caused such a scene that Old Master Ji had to take medicine?
Served him right to be kicked out. It was time for him to grow up.
"Zhiyuan, sit," Rong Yu said. "Do you have any information on the assets the fourth young master still holds?"
Ji Zhiyuan replied, "Domestically, not much. But during his years abroad, he bought two properties and four cars. The rest are minor assets, hard to track."
"Take everything back," Rong Yu said, her tone indifferent. "Also, inform your brothers—none of them are to lend him a hand."
Ji Zhiyuan immediately carried out the orders.
Just as he finished, he noticed Duoduo peeking into the study. He beckoned her over. "Duoduo, do you need something from Daddy?"
Duoduo blinked her big eyes and asked, "Last time, when I was in the hospital getting a shot, did Daddy add Aunt Wen’s contact?"
At the mention of "Aunt Wen," Ji Zhiyuan’s mind conjured an image of a gentle, smiling face—one that exuded warmth and comfort.
He crouched down. "Do you want to see Aunt Wen?"
"I... I kinda miss Aunt Wen," Duoduo admitted shyly. "Daddy, can I borrow your phone to video call her?"
Duoduo rarely made requests of him.
Naturally, Ji Zhiyuan agreed.
He pulled up Wen Yan’s WeChat and initiated the call for her.
The video connected almost instantly.
Wen Yan had assumed that Duoduo’s father was contacting her because the child was sick again. But when she saw Duoduo’s rosy, healthy face on the screen, she was pleasantly surprised. "Duoduo, why did you call Auntie?"
"I... I..."
Duoduo’s cheeks flushed even redder. She couldn’t bring herself to say something so mushy.
After struggling for a moment, she finally managed, "Last time at the hospital, Aunt Wen said you’d come visit me when you had time. I wanted to ask... when will you be free?"
Wen Yan had only said it casually, never expecting the child to take it to heart.
But if she were honest, among all the children she had treated in pediatrics, Duoduo was the only one she couldn’t forget.
For some reason, she found herself thinking about the little girl often.
She wanted to see her again.
Just as she was about to suggest a time, the screen suddenly shifted—revealing the sharp profile of Ji Zhiyuan.
She knew this was Duoduo’s father.
Duoduo resembled him strikingly, their features and bone structure nearly identical.
Yet while Duoduo was adorable, the man was icy and unapproachable, the kind of person one instinctively wanted to keep at a distance.
Originally, Wen Yan had been ready to arrange a meeting.
But the sight of Ji Zhiyuan made her hesitate. She forced a smile. "Auntie has several surgeries scheduled recently, so I really can’t spare the time. Can we plan for another day?"
Disappointment spilled from Duoduo’s eyes. "Okay..."
Wen Yan’s heart ached. She wanted to console the child, but the screen jolted again—this time, the phone was in Ji Zhiyuan’s hands.
His strikingly handsome face abruptly filled the screen. Wen Yan instinctively straightened her posture.
"My apologies, Dr. Wen. I’ll explain things to Duoduo so she won’t disturb your work again," Ji Zhiyuan said evenly. "Goodbye, Dr. Wen."
He ended the call without waiting for a response.
Looking down, he saw Duoduo hanging her head like a dejected kitten.
He knelt and spoke gently, "Duoduo, Aunt Wen doesn’t dislike you. She’s a doctor, and she has more important things to do. When she’s free, Daddy will take you to the hospital to see her, okay?"
Duoduo lifted her gaze. "Will Daddy really have time?"
For as long as she could remember, her father’s time had always been divided between the company and Lan Yue. Rarely did he set aside moments just for her.
A pang of guilt struck Ji Zhiyuan. "Daddy promises. Let’s pinky swear on it, okay?"
Duoduo immediately brightened. "No need for a pinky swear! I believe Daddy. I won’t bother you anymore."
She left the study and spotted Rong Yu sitting on a wicker chair by the greenhouse door, cradling a pinecone in her arms.
Book in hand, Duoduo approached, intending to read together—only to find Rong Yu had dozed off.
"Shh, Pinecone, don’t make noise."
Duoduo carefully moved the pinecone aside.
It was mid-afternoon, the autumn sun still gentle. Rong Yu didn’t know how she had fallen asleep.
She dreamed—of an ordinary noon over seventy years ago.
She seemed to be on an ocean liner, lounging on the deck, squinting against the sunlight. Then, a man appeared in her line of sight, walking toward her against the light. He draped a coat over her shoulders, and in that moment, she met the partner she would entrust her life to.
But on the return voyage, he was shot—and fell into the ocean.
His blood stained that very coat he had once wrapped around her...
Pain surged. Rong Yu jolted awake.
And there, before her, stood a figure—holding a blanket, carefully spreading it over her.
Backlit, the glow haloed his silhouette, obscuring his face. But the outline... it was so much like the man from her dream.
For a heartbeat, she was lost in the illusion.
Until his voice broke the spell.
"Miss Rong, you’re awake."
Rong Yu snapped back to reality.
Not the man from her dreams.
It was He Jingchuan.
