All eyes turned in unison toward the entrance.
The light from the crystal chandelier overhead cascaded onto the man who had just walked in.
Dressed in a flawlessly tailored silver-gray suit without a single wrinkle, his features were impeccable, and the commanding aura of a man in power radiated from him.
Those around him recognized him instantly.
"It's the CEO of Ji Corporation!"
"The future heir of Ji Group!"
"..."
Amid the crowd, a woman in a white professional suit froze for a moment.
She was Wen Yan.
Ji Corporation's resort project included plans for a private hospital, and her hospital's leadership was highly interested in the venture. They had specifically arranged for her to attend this cocktail party.
Having just returned from abroad, she wasn't entirely familiar with the etiquette of domestic social gatherings. While still trying to get her bearings, she noticed a man walking in.
Wasn't that Duoduo's father?
She heard the murmurs around her—everyone addressing him as "President Ji."
He was the CEO of Ji Corporation?
"Big brother..." Ji Liuguang's face instantly paled. "Big brother, I... I..."
Ji Zhiyuan looked at him with deep disappointment. "Using the name of the fourth young master of the Ji family to throw your weight around—no one in the Ji family has ever been as spoiled and arrogant as you!"
Ji Liuguang pressed his lips together, humiliated.
When they were children, his eldest brother had doted on him the most, often taking him everywhere and standing up for him whenever someone bullied him.
Why, then, was he now publicly humiliating him in front of so many people?
Ji Zhiyuan's voice was firm. "Apologize to He Jingchuan. Now."
"I did nothing wrong! Why should I apologize?" Ji Liuguang stared at him with resentment. "Big brother, I'm your own brother! How could you side with an outsider and put me in such a position? How am I supposed to hold my head up after this? I hate you! I hate you so much!"
He shoved through the crowd and stormed out.
The disappointment in Ji Zhiyuan's eyes deepened.
Suppressing his emotions, he turned to the group of men who had been with Ji Liuguang. "I’ll make time to have a word with your parents."
The men broke into a cold sweat, hastily replying, "President Ji, don’t worry—we’ll keep our distance from the fourth young master. Nothing like today will happen again..."
Not daring to linger, they slunk away.
For generations, the Ji family had only publicly showcased Ji Zhiyuan and the elderly Ji patriarch. Since the latter had stepped back from public life, Ji Zhiyuan had become the sole face of the family in the media.
No one had believed Rong Yu earlier.
But when Ji Zhiyuan spoke, there was no room for doubt.
A crowd quickly swarmed around him, eager to flatter him.
Ji Zhiyuan had no patience for these opportunistic people.
He walked over to He Jingchuan and said, "Jingchuan, let me apologize on behalf of my younger brother. Your hand is injured—do you need to go to the hospital?"
"It's nothing," He Jingchuan replied. "You don’t need to trouble yourself with me, Young Master."
He bent down to continue cleaning up the broken glass on the floor.
Rong Yu caught his wrist. "The glass cut deep. If you don’t treat it properly, your right hand could suffer long-term damage. Come with me to the lounge."
"Yeah, Uncle Jingchuan," Duoduo piped up, looking at him with wide eyes. "At least put on a band-aid!"
Ji Zhiyuan signaled for the manager to send someone to clean up.
Rong Yu led He Jingchuan into the lounge, where a doctor treated his wound—cleaning, disinfecting, and bandaging it.
Duoduo leaned in. "Uncle Jingchuan, does it hurt? Let me blow on it for you."
A rare softness flickered in He Jingchuan's eyes.
Throughout his life, he had suffered far worse injuries than this, yet no one had ever cared whether he was hurt.
Who would have thought he’d find warmth from strangers?
Buzz buzz!
He glanced at his phone, and the gentleness in his expression vanished, replaced by a shadow that darkened his entire demeanor.
Duoduo shrank back fearfully into Rong Yu’s arms.
He Jingchuan answered the call.
"He Jingchuan!"
A furious roar erupted from the phone.
Rong Yu, sitting nearby, clearly heard the voice—it was Nanny Zhang.
"It’s you again! Because of you, the fourth young master was humiliated in front of everyone! You wretched bastard, always causing trouble—why don’t you just drop dead?"
Rong Yu’s face filled with disbelief.
A mother could be strict and cold toward her son, but to curse him like this?
Was he really her own child?
He Jingchuan seemed accustomed to it, his expression barely shifting. "I didn’t—"
"Don’t lie to me! I’m warning you—leave the Ji family immediately! Having a son like you is nothing but bad luck, and you keep making trouble for me! If you don’t come home tomorrow, you might as well come back to collect my corpse!"
The call ended abruptly.
He Jingchuan smiled faintly.
Again with this—using her life to threaten him.
He didn’t understand why he couldn’t stay at the Ji residence.
As long as he kept that potted plant alive, Steward Yu would pay him three thousand yuan. The offer was too tempting to refuse.
But... if his mother died, he would truly have no family left.
Money could always be earned again, couldn’t it?
"Miss Rong..." He Jingchuan began.
Rong Yu cut him off. "I don’t know much about your family situation, but if you let yourself be blackmailed, you’ll be trapped forever."
She took Duoduo’s hand and walked out.
Outside, the banquet was in full swing. Rong Yu handed Duoduo over to Ji Zhiyuan. "Take her around to meet people. Who knows—I might just pick her as my successor one day."
Ji Zhiyuan: "..."
He knew his great-grandmother was dissatisfied with him, but skipping him for a four-year-old? That was a bit much.
Still, he had no choice but to obey.
"Daddy, look over there..." Duoduo pointed with wide eyes. "Isn’t that Auntie Wen Yan?"
Ji Zhiyuan followed her gaze—it was indeed her.
The last time he’d seen Wen Yan, she’d been in a white lab coat, her identity purely that of a doctor. Now, in her professional white suit, she looked sharp yet undeniably gentle.
He was about to approach when Duoduo dashed ahead, flinging herself toward Wen Yan.
"Auntie Wen Yan!"
"Duoduo!" Wen Yan smiled and crouched down. "Your dress is so pretty today! Did your daddy buy it for you?"
"Daddy never has time to buy me clothes. My auntie got this for me." Duoduo tilted her head. "Auntie Wen Yan, you’re so pretty too. I really like you."
Her cheeks flushed as she said it.
Wen Yan’s gaze lifted as a pair of long legs came into view. She looked up and met Ji Zhiyuan’s eyes.
For some reason, every time she saw this man, she instinctively wanted to retreat. But tonight, she had a mission. Steeling herself, she spoke. "So Duoduo’s father is the CEO of Ji Corporation. It’s an honor."
Ji Zhiyuan extended his hand. "Dr. Wen."
"President Ji, do you have a moment to talk?" Wen Yan, ever direct, smiled. "It’s about the hospital project in your resort. I’d like to discuss it with you."
Duoduo tugged at Ji Zhiyuan’s sleeve. "Daddy, talk to her! Please talk to Auntie Wen Yan!"
