Lan Rouxue was on the phone.
"Zhiyuan, haven’t you gathered the four million yet? How many more days will my brother have to stay in detention?"
"Don’t worry, I’ll have it ready within three days."
Ji Zhiyuan’s voice carried obvious exhaustion.
Lan Rouxue knew not to push too hard and softened her tone. "Alright, go ahead with your work then."
After hanging up, she glanced around the small villa.
This had been her refuge when she first returned to the country after her divorce, homeless with Little Yue. Back then, Ji Zhiyuan had bought it for her without hesitation—a property worth over ten million. The gesture had left her stunned for a long time.
It was then that she realized Ji Zhiyuan was wealthy.
When they first met abroad, he had lived with a host family, washing dishes at a restaurant to make ends meet, often working late into the night.
Brilliant in academics, strikingly handsome, responsible, and dependable—she couldn’t help but be drawn to him. From the age of twelve to eighteen, they naturally became a couple. But as an adult, she wanted more.
Then she happened to meet a wealthy businessman.
And coincidentally, Ji Zhiyuan returned to China.
She rushed into marriage...
Had she known Ji Zhiyuan was the heir to the Ji family, she would never have hastily married someone else. Regret gnawed at her now.
Just then, the villa’s intercom buzzed.
She pressed the button to answer.
"Hello, Secretary Lan. This is Rong Ruoyao. We met briefly at the talent show—do you remember?"
Lan Rouxue smiled. "Of course I remember. Please, come in."
She had been wanting to speak with the Rong family about Rong Yu.
She was dying to know how someone like Rong Yu had caught Old Master Ji’s eye—why he was so adamant about making her his granddaughter-in-law...
Five minutes later, the villa’s door was knocked.
Lan Rouxue opened it warmly. "President Rong, Madame Rong, Miss Rong, you shouldn’t have brought gifts! Please, come in."
Rong Wangtian eagerly shook her hand. "We apologize for the sudden visit."
He had tried countless times to arrange a meeting with Secretary Lan, only to be brushed off.
Yet now, thanks to Ruoyao, she was welcoming them so warmly... If this led to a collaboration between the Rong and Ji families, Ruoyao would deserve all the credit.
After serving tea and exchanging pleasantries, Lan Rouxue smiled and asked, "President Rong, do you have an elder daughter as well?"
"Yes," Rong Wangtian replied awkwardly. "She’s from my previous marriage. Grew up in the countryside—quite unrefined. We only recently brought her to live with us."
Lan Rouxue smirked. "No wonder."
No wonder Rong Yu had moved into the Ji household before the marriage was even settled. Shamelessly lacking in manners—truly unfit for high society.
But...
The Rong family clearly wanted to use her to secure a deal with the Ji Group.
Wouldn’t approaching Rong Yu be simpler?
That could only mean one thing: the Rong elders had no idea about Rong Yu’s connection to the Ji family!
Why would Rong Yu keep something so significant from her own family?
Unless...
Lan Rouxue abruptly stood up.
She had been wrong.
Rong Yu wasn’t clinging to Ji Zhiyuan—she had seduced Old Master Ji!
Now she understood why Ji Zhiyuan had remained tight-lipped whenever she asked about Rong Yu’s identity.
And why Old Master Ji defended Rong Yu unconditionally.
Because Rong Yu was his kept mistress!
At just eighteen, she had entangled herself with a seventy-eight-year-old man. A scandal like this would never be made public.
"Secretary Lan, is something wrong?"
Shen Lin, startled, also rose to her feet.
Lan Rouxue dared not speak carelessly.
If Old Master Ji’s scandal leaked through her, she’d be run out of Haicheng.
Her goal was to marry into the Ji family, not make enemies of them.
Dusk settled in.
The dining table at the Ji residence was laden with dishes.
"Papa said he won’t eat," Duoduo announced, scampering in from the study. "He told us to start without him."
Old Master Ji frowned. "No matter how busy he is, he must eat."
Steward Yu lowered his voice. "His assistant came by this afternoon. It seems the young master took on a personal case and is working overtime."
"Personal case?" Old Master Ji paused. "With the Ji Group’s endless workload, he’s taking side jobs? What’s going on?"
Rong Yu chuckled. "Filling someone else’s financial hole."
Old Master Ji’s expression darkened. "That Lan boy swindled forty million from our family, and now we’re covering the loss? Yuan’s always been sharp—why does he suddenly seem so foolish?"
Ji Zhouye shoveled rice into his mouth. "Brother isn’t foolish. He just cares too much about Rouxue-jie."
Rong Yu scoffed.
Caring was fine—but only if the person deserved it.
From their very first meeting, Lan Rouxue had schemed, manipulated, and played dirty. A woman like her had no place in the Ji household.
Sometimes, a hard fall was necessary.
Otherwise, he’d never grow into the pillar the Ji family needed.
After dinner, Duoduo had Steward Yu pack a meal and carried it to the study.
The moment she pushed the door open—
"I said I’m working. Don’t interrupt me." Ji Zhiyuan’s voice was icy.
"Papa, I just... I just..." The little girl stammered, her eyes misty. "Papa works too hard. Skipping meals isn’t good."
Ji Zhiyuan remained indifferent. "Leave."
Biting her lip, Duoduo mustered her courage and approached the desk.
The closer she got, the colder his expression became.
From her pocket, she produced a card and placed it gingerly on the desk. "Great-Grandpa said Papa needs money. This is my New Year’s money card. Steward Yu says there’s over twenty million inside. Please use it, Papa."
Ji Zhiyuan froze.
He stared at his biological daughter.
He and Duoduo’s mother had met at a banquet, both drunk, ending up in bed together—hence the marriage.
He never loved that woman, so the child she bore held little meaning for him.
He assumed the Ji family would provide Duoduo with everything—he didn’t need to invest emotion. Yet somehow, that wailing infant had grown into this little girl... who now worried about him.
Against his will, his heart softened.
He returned the card. "Papa isn’t short on money. Keep it safe."
Duoduo blinked. "Really?"
Ji Zhiyuan ruffled her hair. "Really. Now go. Papa has work to do."
Like a kitten, Duoduo instinctively shrank slightly—afraid yet pleased by the rare affection.
Clutching her card, she stepped into the hallway—
Only to be blocked by a grinning figure. "Well, well, Duoduo. Didn’t know you were this rich—richer than your uncle! How about lending me some?"
