Returning to the Ji Family.
Rong Yu was watching TV with her great-grandson and Duoduo.
Duoduo loved Peppa Pig, so she joined in, and truth be told, it was quite entertaining.
By evening, the rest of the family had returned home one by one.
Ji Jingchuan had hired an English tutor, while Ji Zhouye clamored for a math and science tutor. From then on, the two would skip evening self-study sessions and study at home instead.
The entire family gathered around the dining table.
After dinner, Rong Yu spoke up, "A-Ting, come here. Let’s talk."
Ji Yanting, who was about to head out for a date, had changed out of his suit into casual wear. He walked over and asked, "What would you like to discuss, Great-Grandma?"
Rong Yu said, "Did Qiu Sang tell you about what happened this afternoon?"
"What happened?" Ji Yanting asked urgently. "I’ve been too busy and haven’t had the chance to contact her yet."
Rong Yu rested her chin on her hand.
She wasn’t sure how to bring it up.
And could something really be determined just from an essay?
What if it was just a fictional story imagined by the child?
After careful consideration, she said, "That child, Wei Xu—have you noticed anything unusual about his interactions with Qiu Sang?"
Ji Yanting fell silent for a moment.
Of course, he had noticed.
Every time Wei Xu appeared, Qiu Sang’s entire demeanor changed, becoming almost unrecognizable to him.
He loved the gentle Qiu Sang, the poised Qiu Sang, the composed Qiu Sang… but not the Qiu Sang who kept secrets.
The issue he had deliberately ignored was now pointed out by his great-grandmother, making him realize that perhaps it was time to have a serious talk with Qiu Sang.
"The Ji Family doesn’t judge potential spouses by their background," Rong Yu said softly. "As a talent agent, Qiu Sang is perfectly fine. But if she’s to become the Second Young Madam of the Ji Family, I believe there are still some considerations to be made."
"I understand, Great-Grandma."
With heavy steps, Ji Yanting got into his car and drove to Qiu Sang’s apartment.
Qiu Sang was busy with work when she heard a knock at the door. She hurried to open it. "Yan-Ting, what brings you here?"
"Have you eaten? I brought you dinner." Ji Yanting walked in, his gaze lingering on her outfit. "I remember when we first met, you were wearing a light pink professional suit just like this. You handed me your job application, and I loved your handwriting, so I signed the contract."
Qiu Sang smiled. "Why bring up the past all of a sudden?"
Ji Yanting sat down on the sofa. "We’ve known each other for ten years, but I’ve never heard you mention your family. You said Wei Xu is the child of a relative—which relative? An uncle or an aunt? Can you tell me about it?"
The smile on Qiu Sang’s face slowly faded.
She had met Yan-Ting when she was twenty-one, back when he was still a boy. She had accompanied him as he grew from adolescence to his prime years. She knew him too well.
He was simple-hearted, unable to hide his thoughts.
Just one look into his eyes told her what he was thinking.
But when she met his gaze, he looked away.
Qiu Sang lowered her lashes. "I have parents, but I cut ties with them long ago. There’s been no contact all these years, so there’s no point in mentioning them. As for Wei Xu—"
She suddenly lifted her head.
Her clear eyes were suddenly streaked with red veins, emotions surging uncontrollably.
With difficulty, she forced out the words, "Actually, Wei Xu isn’t the child of a relative. He… he…"
If Yan-Ting were just her boss, she wouldn’t need to share her private life.
But now, he was her boyfriend. He had the right to know the unsightly past of his partner.
Keeping it hidden for so long had exhausted her.
"He… he’s my… my…"
Tears rolled down Qiu Sang’s cheeks in large drops.
Ji Yanting pulled her into an embrace. "If you don’t want to say it, you don’t have to. I can wait."
"He’s my son!"
Qiu Sang practically shouted the words, finally releasing the sentence that had been lodged in her throat.
"Wh-what?"
Ji Yanting numbly released her.
"Son?!"
He had assumed Wei Xu was Qiu Sang’s half-brother—perhaps the illegitimate child of a parent, a secret she was ashamed of.
He had assumed she feared his judgment, which was why she kept it hidden.
He had even prepared himself to say, "It’s okay, I don’t mind…"
But the truth hit him like a hammer to the head.
"You…" Ji Yanting’s voice was strained. "Your son? Sang-Sang, he’s thirteen or fourteen. Are you telling me you have a son that old?"
"Yes! He’s my biological son!" Qiu Sang collapsed to the floor, covering her face with her hands. "I’m sorry, Yan-Ting. I’m so sorry. I should’ve told you sooner. I shouldn’t have hidden it for so long. I’m sorry… I’m sorry… And—there’s more. I have an ex-husband too. That man in Beijing who got into a fight with you? He wasn’t mistaken. I really was his wife…"
She poured out every ugly detail like spilled beans.
Ji Yanting took step after step back.
He still couldn’t believe it. The woman he had loved for so many years had a husband… a son…
She had always been such a beautiful presence in his life, someone who made his heart race, someone he relied on. He had truly believed he was the one who knew her best.
Never had he imagined she was an entirely different person.
Had she hidden it too well?
Or had he simply not cared enough to notice?
"I’m sorry…" Qiu Sang’s tears wouldn’t stop. "I know this is hard for you to accept. It’s my fault. I should’ve told you sooner… I always knew I wasn’t good enough for you. Let’s break up, Yan-Ting."
She turned away and shut the bedroom door behind her.
Ji Yanting stood frozen in place for who knows how long before finally leaving the apartment.
Rong Yu was in the living room reading a picture book with Duoduo when the child dozed off. Just as she carried the little one upstairs, she saw Ji Yanting return.
He staggered in, reeking of alcohol.
"Why are you so drunk?" Rong Yu steadied him. "How did the talk with Qiu Sang go? What’s the deal with Wei Xu?"
She was genuinely curious.
Ji Yanting swayed unsteadily.
He slumped onto Rong Yu’s shoulder and burst into loud, drunken sobs. "Great-Grandma… I’ve been deceived! I loved her so much… How could she lie to me? She was married… has a son… No wonder she never accepted my confessions all these years. No wonder she never let me get too close—not even a kiss! She must still have feelings for her ex-husband… Waaah… Great-Grandma, it hurts so much…"
Rong Yu’s face darkened.
While she was curious about certain things, she really didn’t need to hear her great-grandson’s lamentations about kissing and other overly private matters…
And besides…
Was this kid really sure Qiu Sang still had feelings for her ex?
Going by the timeline—Qiu Sang was thirty now, and the boy was in middle school, around fourteen. That would mean she had given birth at fifteen or sixteen.
Married and pregnant that young?
Even in her day, that was pushing it.
Rong Yu wanted to ask more, but Ji Yanting was a sobbing, drunken mess, clinging to her and babbling incoherently about his heartbreak.
Back when they first met, he had the aloof demeanor of an award-winning actor down to a tee. But now? He was no different from a child.
She dragged him upstairs, fed him a sobering pill, tossed him onto the bed, and left after instructing a servant to keep an ear out by the door.
