Ji Jingchuan's face instantly flushed crimson.
He looked like a boiled shrimp, even his ears turning red. His hands didn't know where to put themselves, and he didn't dare look at Tang Jin, glancing left and right instead. Then, he spotted a few sneaky figures outside the greenhouse.
Tang Jin also looked over and froze completely.
Had... had Old Master Ji seen the scene of her actively kissing Ji Jingchuan?
Would the old master think she was a frivolous girl?
She nearly dropped the pot of orchids she was holding.
Ji Jingchuan put an arm around her shoulders. Despite his own face burning with embarrassment, he managed to say, "Duoduo, Fourth Uncle sees you."
Old Master Ji's face stiffened.
Ji Zhouye wiped his own face.
Seeing Duoduo meant they had been seen too.
Getting caught eavesdropping was really quite awkward.
Old Master Ji coughed. "It was this kid, Ah Ye, who insisted on dragging me over."
Before Ji Zhouye could defend himself, the old man gave him a kick. "School's starting soon. Shouldn't you hurry back to your room and study? Always sticking your nose where it doesn't belong. Someone who can't even get into university doesn't deserve to get a wife."
Ji Zhouye: "..."
Always picking on him, just because he was an easy target. Just wait, he'd get into Tsinghua University and then strut around the house.
"Now that you two have settled your relationship, my mind is at ease," Old Master Ji said, putting on a dignified elder's air. "Shall we pick an auspicious date and start preparing for the engagement?"
Ji Jingchuan looked at Tang Jin. "What do you think?"
Tang Jin was still feeling dizzy. "An-anything is fine. Um, Grandfather Ji, it's getting late, I should head home."
Duoduo waved, saying sweetly, "Goodbye, Fourth Auntie!"
That "Fourth Auntie" nearly made Tang Jin faint.
Ji Jingchuan quickly saw Tang Jin out.
He had gotten his driver's license and bought a modest, sensible car. Finally, he didn't need to be driven around by a girl anymore.
Inside the car, in the confined space, an inexplicable sense of intimacy flowed.
Ji Jingchuan found it a little hard to breathe.
He glanced at Tang Jin, saw her looking straight ahead with a calm expression, quickly adjusted his breathing, and turned on the music. With other sounds filling the air, he finally relaxed a bit more.
Tang Jin tilted her head slightly, looking at Ji Jingchuan's profile.
His features were truly outstanding, and he looked so well-behaved, making it hard for anyone not to feel fondness for him.
During these days together, he did whatever she said, went wherever she suggested. Who wouldn't like such an obedient boyfriend?
The drive continued until they reached the small villa where Tang Jin lived with her mother.
He got out, opened the car door for Tang Jin, and said, "I'll walk you in. It's a good chance to pay my respects to your mother."
Tang Jin led him inside.
Upon opening the door, they saw there was actually a guest inside—Tang Jiaquan, the eldest grandson of the Tang family's current generation.
"Well, well, if it isn't Little Jin," Tang Jiaquan chuckled. "It's Valentine's Day today. Been out on a date?"
Tang Jin frowned. "What are you trying to say?"
Tang Jiaquan stood up.
He had come to visit his second aunt to find out exactly what the relationship was between Tang Jin and Ji Jingchuan. Now, seeing them together, it was perfectly clear.
He patted Ji Jingchuan's shoulder. "There's a guys' gathering later, lots of young people. Ah Chuan, why don't you come along and have some fun, see a bit of the world?"
A well-mannered smile appeared on Ji Jingchuan's face. "No need, Brother Jiaquan. I still have to go home and study."
Tang Jiaquan's eyes revealed disdain.
As expected of a kid raised in the countryside, too honest and simple. This kind of person was easy to manipulate.
He would never allow Tang Jin to marry into the Ji family. Otherwise, his position as the eldest grandson would be under immense threat.
He smiled. "We must hang out together sometime, for sure."
With that, he strode out.
"Jingchuan, it's getting late. I won't keep you," Mrs. Tang said, seeing him out. She then turned back to Tang Jin with a worried expression. "Tang Jiaquan is the eldest grandson of the main branch. It's only natural for him to inherit the Tang family. Why are you wading into this muddy water? If he gets ruthless, you won't be able to handle it."
Tang Jin said calmly, "If I can't even handle Tang Jiaquan, then I truly don't deserve to inherit the Tang family. Mom, don't worry about these things."
The winter break passed in the blink of an eye.
On the first day of the new semester, the school gate was bustling. Rong Yu brought her two "grandsons" to school.
Classmates in the classroom were sharing stories from their winter break.
The class monitor and the class secretary wrote a line on the blackboard at the back of the classroom: 109 Days Until the College Entrance Exam.
"Classmates, from now on, every single day, you must double your efforts in studying. Every drop of sweat you shed now will be the confidence you feel when opening your admission letters in the future. Top universities don't hand out passes to the lazy," Pei Yaru declared loudly. "Look at the countdown on the classroom wall. Doesn't it look like the sign for the last hundred meters of a marathon? Can't catch your breath? Legs feel like lead? Pressure overwhelming? But those who cross the finish line are always the tough ones who grit their teeth and never stop..."
The study atmosphere in Class Twenty grew even more intense.
Somehow, without anyone quite noticing, the label of "the class of underachievers" had been quietly shed.
The boys who used to skip class no longer missed a single lesson.
The girls who loved reading novels now took notes seriously.
Their precious youth was being poured out in the classroom... In such an atmosphere, even Rong Yu felt particularly motivated. By the end of the day, she had broken through two data nodes.
The day's studies concluded.
Driving home, before even entering the main gate, Rong Yu heard her "old son" roaring: "Mei Wan, you're of an age now. Aren't you afraid the younger generation will laugh at you for doing such things? I really don't have time for your antics."
In the living room sat an elegant lady in her seventies, wearing a graceful dress. Her face was pale, her eyes glistening with tears, her voice hoarse. "Shunying, I just... don't want to leave any regrets in this life."
Old Master Ji turned his head away. "You know very well my feelings for my late wife. Some things cannot be forced."
"Alright then," Mei Wan stood up. "I'll come again tomorrow. Don't worry, I won't do anything. Just keep me company for some tea and conversation."
She took one last look at Ji Shunying and walked out, her steps somewhat unsteady.
Old Master Ji was exasperated. He instructed, "Old Yu, if she comes again tomorrow, tell her I'm not in."
Rong Yu watched Mei Wan leave the estate before getting out of the car, frowning. "That old lady's health doesn't seem very good."
"Great-grandmother is right," Ji Zhiyuan said quietly. "Grandson Mei just contacted me. The old lady was recently diagnosed with brain cancer. The tumor's in a tricky spot, inoperable. Her life expectancy is less than a month..."
Old Master Ji was stunned. "What did you say?"
Mei Wan was his high school classmate. They had shared the most passionate years of their youth. While there were no romantic feelings, they had a deep friendship as classmates.
Moreover, the Mei and Ji families often interacted and had a very good relationship.
To hear that a friend his own age was nearing the end of her life... how could it not be heartbreaking?
