"You don't seem too bright either?" Old Master Ji felt thoroughly embarrassed.
He patiently guided, "Dad's mother is called grandma, so what is grandpa's mother called?"
Ji Zhouye: "..."
He wasn’t a three-year-old child.
Old Master Ji kicked him in the backside. "I’m asking you, what is grandpa’s mother called?"
Ji Zhouye finally spoke up, "Great-grandma."
"Mm." Rong Yu curved her lips into a smile. "Good boy."
"You—you—you!" Ji Zhouye’s peach-blossom eyes widened. "Who the hell do you think you—"
"Enough." Ji Zhiyuan’s voice was calm.
He wondered if he had looked just as shocked yesterday. It really was quite undignified.
"Big brother," Ji Zhouye gaped, "Why did she respond when I called her 'Great-grandma'? That’s disrespectful to our late great-grandma’s spirit! And who let her in here? Sure, she’s my classmate, but we have zero connection! Steward Yu, throw her out right now!"
Whack!
Old Master Ji smacked the back of his head.
Ji Zhouye was aggrieved.
Before he could protest further, he heard his usually revered big brother address Rong Yu, "Great-grandma, he’s always been this excitable. Besides, the situation is rather unbelievable—it’s normal for him to struggle accepting it."
Ji Zhouye slowly turned his head. "Big brother… what did you just call her?"
Ji Zhiyuan had already come to terms with it. "She really is our great-grandma."
"No way!" Ji Zhouye’s mind turned to mush. "She’s a fraud, tricking all of you! She’s—"
"Utterly stupid!" Old Master Ji shot Rong Yu an apologetic look. "The fifth one is a bit slow, but his grades aren’t bad—top three in his class..."
Rong Yu smirked. "Oh really?"
Ji Zhouye: "..."
He hated studying. He’d never willingly hit the books in his life.
With Old Master Ji’s poor health, his eldest brother busy with work, and his second, third, and fourth brothers too far away to keep an eye on him, he’d spun a little… white lie to keep the old man from worrying.
A harmless fib—was that so wrong?
But under Rong Yu’s piercing gaze, he felt utterly exposed, as if stripped bare.
"Idiot, come here." Old Master Ji’s voice was icy. "Let me make this clear—Rong Yu is my mother, your great-grandmother. You will respect her, cherish her, obey her, and honor her. Anyone who dares defy her can get out of the Ji Family. I’ve got plenty of grandsons to spare."
Ji Zhiyuan: "Understood, Old Master."
Ji Zhouye: "..."
His big brother was smarter.
If even he accepted it, then it must be true.
But calling his classmate "Great-grandma"? That was impossible.
Still, if his brother could do it, he reluctantly muttered, "Great-grandma."
He was also afraid Rong Yu might expose his lie and ruin his image in Old Master Ji’s eyes.
Luckily, she said nothing, only smiling. "Sit. Let’s eat together."
After breakfast, Old Master Ji said, "Fifth, go pick up Duoduo from school. Let your great-grandma meet her. But kids can’t keep secrets, so just say we have a very important guest. What should she call you?" He scratched his head. "Mom, what do you want Duoduo to call you?"
Rong Yu paused. "Duoduo?"
"Ah Yuan’s daughter." Old Master Ji sighed. "Her mother passed from an amniotic fluid embolism during childbirth. The poor girl never knew her."
Rong Yu chuckled. "I thought Ah Yuan didn’t have kids, which is why he was so eager to play daddy to someone else’s."
Ji Zhiyuan: "..."
That "not-too-bright" feeling struck again…
Ji Zhouye was a man of action. He grabbed his car keys and drove straight to the school to fetch Duoduo.
Duoduo was four, attending a boarding kindergarten. She had hair like seaweed, big round eyes, long lashes, and fair skin—a beautiful child. Yet she walked timidly, head bowed, speaking softly when she entered. "Great-grandpa… Daddy… Uncle..."
She tilted her head at Rong Yu. "Auntie."
Rong Yu picked her up. "What a sweetheart."
Who hadn’t dreamed of having a soft, cuddly little girl in their youth?
She turned to the others. "You said Duoduo was in boarding school—I thought she was in middle school. She’s just in kindergarten, and you’re leaving her there all week?" Her voice darkened. "Yingbao, even at eight, I never kept you away from home like this."
Old Master Ji coughed. "Ah Yuan said independence should be nurtured early. That kindergarten follows international education standards, with renowned child experts. It’s top-tier."
"Putting so much stock in foreign parenting methods." Rong Yu scoffed. "Ah Yuan, tell me—is Secretary Lan’s daughter also in boarding kindergarten?"
Ji Zhiyuan shifted uncomfortably. "Little Yue doesn’t have a father. She’s insecure—boarding school would only worsen her anxiety..."
Rong Yu nearly laughed in frustration.
She wasn’t wrong—this boy really wasn’t the sharpest tool.
Before she could retort, Ji Zhouye chimed in, "Little Yue has no dad? How sad! Big brother, you and Rou Xue should marry soon, give her a proper family."
Old Master Ji beamed. "That child’s lively and clever. I quite like her. Let’s set a date."
Rong Yu: "..."
She glanced down at Duoduo in her arms.
The little girl’s fingers twisted nervously.
Just then, Steward Yu announced from the doorway, "Secretary Lan and Miss Yue are here."
Ji Zhiyuan, who had shown no particular warmth toward his own daughter, now softened and rose to greet them.
Lan Yue, in a floral dress, dashed into his arms. "Daddy!"
Lan Rouxue entered with gifts. "Old Master, how are you feeling?"
Lan Yue clung to Old Master Ji’s knee, her voice dripping with concern. "Great-grandpa, you have to take care of yourself! If you get sick again, I’ll be so sad!"
"Such a sweet talker." Old Master Ji chuckled. "Stay for dinner."
Only then did Lan Rouxue notice Rong Yu.
Though unsure of her identity, anyone seated at the Ji Family table had to be significant.
She forced a smile. "Miss Rong, I asked Yue about yesterday. She admitted she fell into the water herself but lied because she was afraid I’d scold her. I apologize for not disciplining her better. Please don’t hold it against a child."
Old Master Ji’s expression darkened. He pushed Lan Yue off his knee. "Why would you do that?"
Lan Yue froze.
The old man had always doted on her—this sternness was a first.
She looked genuinely frightened.
Ji Zhiyuan pulled her into his arms. "Lan Yue is still young. It's normal for her to lie. Old Master Ji, don't make a fuss over nothing."
Duoduo lifted her gaze slightly.
She remembered a time when she had lied—her father had punished her by making her stand for two hours.
So why was it that when Lan Yue lied, not only did she face no consequences, but she was even cradled in their father's arms and comforted?
She was the one who was his real daughter.
