Rong Yu arrived at Hibiscus Manor as usual.
In the grand hall, Lan Rouxue and Lan Yue were also present.
The moment she stepped in, Lan Yue recoiled as if seeing some monstrous beast, flinging herself into Ji Zhiyuan’s arms and shrinking back. "Daddy, I'm scared..." she whimpered.
Lan Rouxue spoke up with a smile. "Little Yue is timid. Please forgive her, Miss Rong."
She had deliberately looked into this Miss Rong’s background.
Eighteen years old, the eldest daughter of the Rong family—but with a stepmother in charge, the girl’s life couldn’t be easy.
And yet, she had even participated in a talent show produced by Ji's Entertainment.
She passed both the preliminary and initial rounds.
Clearly, Ji Zhiyuan was intent on promoting her.
Losing the position of Mrs. Ji to a naive little girl—Lan Rouxue couldn’t help but feel a twinge of resentment.
"Steward," Lan Rouxue spoke first, "prepare dinner for Miss Rong."
Her tone carried the authority of a mistress of the house.
The steward nodded and went to arrange it.
Rong Yu walked into the inner chamber and sat by the bed, sketching as usual before picking up a book—today, it was The Moon and Sixpence.
Back when Yingbao was just eight, she had adored this book, always begging Rong Yu to read it to her over and over.
"The desire to gain approval is one of the deepest instincts of civilized man..."
At this line, Rong Yu’s voice faltered. Her gaze flickered, and she suddenly stood. "Doctor! The patient moved!"
Ji family’s private physician rushed in, surrounding the bed to examine Old Master Ji’s condition.
"There are indeed signs of the old master waking. It could be today, tomorrow, or even next week—it’s hard to say for certain..."
A pang of melancholy struck Rong Yu.
"Everyone, please leave," she said softly. "I’ll stay a little longer."
The room emptied, leaving only the gentle murmur of her voice flowing through the chamber.
Ji Zhiyuan sat on the living room sofa, listening quietly.
Lan Rouxue entered from outside and lowered her voice. "President Ji, the international board meeting is about to begin. Should we proceed now or delay it by half an hour?"
She always knew her place.
During official matters, she addressed him as President Ji.
In private, she called him Zhiyuan.
It was this very sense of propriety that had kept her at Ji Corporation for so many years.
Ji Zhiyuan put on his headphones. "I’ll attend the meeting. You hold Little Yue."
Lan Yue pouted. "Daddy, how long will your meeting take? I wanted you to take me shopping for a new dress."
A faint smile touched Ji Zhiyuan’s sharp lips. "We’ll go tonight."
He headed into the study for his meeting.
The grand hall was left with only Lan Rouxue and Lan Yue.
Before long, Rong Yu emerged from the inner chamber.
"Miss Rong," Lan Rouxue rose with a practiced smile, "Zhiyuan has some matters to attend to. Let me see you out."
Rong Yu slung her bag over her shoulder. "No need to trouble yourself, Secretary Lan."
"How could it be trouble?" Lan Rouxue walked alongside her toward the exit. "Are you still in school, Miss Rong? Doesn’t traveling back and forth like this interfere with your studies?"
Rong Yu frowned. "Secretary Lan, there’s no need to escort me further."
Lan Rouxue pressed her lips together. "Very well. Do be careful on your way, Miss Rong."
Just as they reached the edge of the lotus pond outside—
Splash!
A small figure tumbled into the water.
Rong Yu spun around—
But someone was faster.
Ji Zhiyuan plunged into the pond, scooping up a drenched Lan Yue in one swift motion.
"Daddy..." Lan Yue coughed up water. "I almost died... I almost couldn’t see you and Mommy again..."
She burst into tears, then suddenly lifted her head—
Pointing straight at Rong Yu. "Auntie Rong pushed me! She wanted to drown me!"
The air around Ji Zhiyuan turned glacial.
"Miss Rong," Lan Rouxue’s voice trembled with suppressed emotion, "Little Yue only nearly spilled water on you last time by accident. How could you hold a grudge against a child—even push her into the pond? She’s just a little girl. If she’s done anything wrong, it’s my fault as her mother. Let me apologize on her behalf."
Rong Yu laughed.
She met Ji Zhiyuan’s gaze. "Zhiyuan, what do you think?"
Lan Rouxue bit her lip.
Zhiyuan?
Since when were they on such intimate terms?
"Perhaps Miss Rong misunderstands my relationship with Zhiyuan," she said carefully. "He only pities Little Yue for growing up without a father, which is why he’s been so kind to us. Why would you target a child...?"
Ji Zhiyuan’s voice was ice. "Miss Rong, there’s no need for you to visit the Ji residence anymore."
He must have been out of his mind—allowing someone with ulterior motives to step foot in the Ji household day after day.
Rong Yu smirked. "With intelligence like yours, it’s a wonder you’re the heir of Ji Corporation. If you can’t even see through this, you might as well step down sooner rather than later."
She paused.
Step down... for Ji Zhouye?
Now that would be even worse.
Without another word, she strode away.
Ji Zhiyuan let out a cold laugh.
Since when did a little girl have the right to dictate Ji family affairs?
Allowing her into the household for so many days—that had been his mistake.
And he would correct it.
Lan Rouxue glanced at Ji Zhiyuan, relieved to see no trace of concern for Rong Yu’s departure.
She quickly turned to Lan Yue. "Sweetheart, are you alright—?"
Before she could finish—
Steward Yu rushed out from inside. "Young Master! The old master has opened his eyes! Quickly—come to his room at once!"
Ji Zhiyuan thrust the soaked Lan Yue into Lan Rouxue’s arms. "Change her clothes first."
With long strides, he crossed the hall and entered Old Master Ji’s chamber.
The old man lay with his eyes open, undergoing a final examination. Only after the doctor confirmed his stable condition did they withdraw.
"You’ve finally awakened," Ji Zhiyuan said, helping the old man sit up before offering a bowl of congee. "Have some porridge to nourish your stomach—"
Old Master Ji turned his head to sip—
Then froze.
His gaze locked onto the nightstand. With a trembling hand, he reached for the stack of simple sketches resting there.
"Wh-who drew these?" His voice was hoarse with emotion.
Before Ji Zhiyuan could react, the old man raised his voice. "Old Yu! Who left these drawings here?"
Steward Yu stepped forward. "They belong to Miss Rong."
Old Master Ji’s hands shook. "Which Miss Rong? Where is she? Bring her to me—now!"
Ji Zhiyuan interjected, "Grandfather, Miss Rong just left. We can invite her tomorrow—"
The old man’s reaction puzzled him. If he didn’t know Miss Rong, how had she known the Ji family’s private passcode?
"I want to see her today!" Old Master Ji threw off the covers. "If she cannot come, then I will go to her! Old Yu—help me up!"
Meanwhile, Rong Yu had just arrived at her university dormitory.
As she reached the entrance, Steward Yu suddenly appeared before her. "Miss Rong, the old master has awakened. He wishes to see you. Given his frail condition, we must ask you to return with us."
