3737-chapter-67-part-2
Chapter 67-Part 2
Ji Ran caught up with Pei Yuan, walking quietly beside her.
Pei Yuan didn’t say anything, and Ji Ran thought the silence would last until they got into the car.
Suddenly, Pei Yuan turned her head to look at her, smiling coldly, “Do you enjoy living with your father?”
Earlier, when Ji Ran walked out behind Ji Qingli, they had appeared quite like a family.
Ji Ran quickly shook her head, “I don’t.”
Her decisive answer seemed to soften Pei Yuan’s expression slightly, and she said nothing more.
Once they were in the car, Pei Yuan began handling her work.
She was never the type of woman like Jiang Liqi, who relied only on men.
Pei Yuan was independent and strong, more capable than most men.
Thankfully, Pei Yuan was too busy to pay Ji Ran any attention during the ride.
The car drove into a new neighborhood, not the one Ji Ran had previously lived in while in Jiangdu.
She softly asked, “Did we move?”
Pei Yuan, just finishing her work, rubbed her eyes to ease the strain caused by reading documents.
After feeling a little better, she turned to look out the window.
“The old house was full of memories from when I was married to Ji Qingli, with his traces everywhere. Living there disgusted me.”
Ji Ran: “…”
Suddenly, Ji Ran felt that her mother still coming to pick her up from the airport, despite sharing half of Ji Qingli’s blood, might indeed be an act of motherly love.
“Thank you for picking me up today,” Ji Ran said, realizing that it was necessary to show some gratitude.
She knew that Pei Yuan’s personality was different from Ji Qingli’s.
When dealing with Ji Qingli, Ji Ran was adept.
But with Pei Yuan, even though they had been mother and daughter for many years, she still felt a bit cautious, always wanting to please her.
Perhaps because she didn’t want to make her mother upset and wanted her to be happy, Ji Ran subconsciously tried to ingratiate herself.
Pei Yuan glanced at her and suddenly smiled.
She was already beautiful, and the smile made her even more stunning.
She said softly, “I returned to Jiangdu today too, only because Kevin reminded me of your flight.”
The Kevin she referred to was the assistant who had helped with Ji Ran’s luggage earlier and was now sitting in the front passenger seat.
Ji Ran was slightly taken aback.
Then she looked toward Kevin and politely said, “Thank you.”
“Miss, there’s no need to thank me,” Kevin immediately turned around and nodded politely.
When they arrived home, Pei Yuan took off her coat.
The housekeeper came over to take their luggage and smiled warmly when she saw Ji Ran, “Ranran’s back!”
Although the house was different, the housekeeper was the same old one from before.
“If you’re tired, you can go rest in your room first. Tonight, I’ll take you to your grandparent’s house,” Pei Yuan said, seeing Ji Ran standing in the living room.
She then pinched the bridge of her nose.
Ji Ran nodded.
Meanwhile, Ji Qingli, along with Jiang Liqi and Jiang Yi, arrived at the Ji family estate.
The old Ji family members lived in a villa in the suburbs.
It wasn’t lively, but the environment was elegant, with beautiful scenery.
Even in winter, the surrounding landscape was quite lovely.
When the car stopped at the entrance, Ji Qingli got out first, only to be met by the family maid coming out.
The maid glanced into the car a few times before asking Ji Qingli, “Sir, didn’t Ranran come back with you?”
“She was taken by her mother,” Ji Qingli replied without much expression.
Since leaving the airport, he had kept a cold face, looking like someone who had been owed money and couldn’t celebrate the holidays because of it.
The maid, upon hearing this, turned back and went inside.
While the driver unloaded the luggage, the maid returned from the villa and said to Ji Qingli, “Sir, the old lady said she hasn’t been feeling well these past few days and isn’t up for hosting guests, so she’s asking you to stay at your own home for now.”
Jiang Liqi, just getting out of the car, heard this clearly.
She already wasn’t feeling great from the long trip, and now her face went pale, like a sheet of paper that could tear with the slightest poke.
Ji Qingli’s expression wasn’t much better.
They had traveled all this way, only to be turned away by his own mother.
What kind of situation was this?
He strode inside, and upon opening the door, found the old lady calmly sipping tea in the living room—there was no sign of her feeling unwell.
Ji Qingli said helplessly, “Mom, we just got back. Even if you’re upset…”
“Where’s Ranran?” The old lady’s soft words interrupted him.
Ji Qingli’s face darkened, and he said quietly, “She was picked up by her mother at the airport. If you miss her, I can have her come tomorrow.”
Grandma Ji was from Shanghai, and even when scolding someone, her tone was soft.
“Do you think I’ve been eagerly waiting just to see you? I’m here for my granddaughter, my precious granddaughter.”
There was a sharp sound as her teacup hit the table.
Ji Qingli laughed in frustration.
“Ranran will be here tomorrow. Why are you in such a hurry?”
“Then why didn’t you just come tomorrow?” she asked, looking at him sideways.
Ji Qingli was left speechless.
The old lady slowly stood up.
Though she didn’t walk to the window, from her vantage point, she could still see outside.
“That woman came back with you, didn’t she?”
Ji Qingli nodded.
The old lady wasn’t angry, her tone remaining calm as she said, “You know where your father and I stand. But since you insist on marrying her, we can’t stop you. After all, you’re over forty now and can make your own decisions. But I’ve never compromised in my life, and I won’t see someone I don’t want to see.”
She made it very clear—she didn’t want to see Jiang Liqi and wouldn’t even let her in the house.
“Mom, Liqi and I are married now. Why do you still have to be so stubborn?” Ji Qingli truly didn’t understand why his mother was so opposed to Jiang Liqi.
Grandma Ji glanced at him and replied, “Accepting your marriage is my biggest concession. But asking me to welcome her into my home is asking too much.”
Ji Qingli tried to persuade her, “Mom, Liqi is pregnant.”
He thought his mother might soften when she heard she had a grandchild on the way.
But to his surprise, she just laughed.
“Do you think I’m like those other old ladies who lose all sense of principle and standards when they hear the word ‘grandchild’?”
Grandma Ji had been the trendiest girl in her youth, and she hadn’t become conventional in her old age.
Besides, to be honest, she hadn’t even seen this unborn grandchild, but she was already very fond of Pei Yuan’s daughter, Ji Ran.
She also adored Pei Yuan as a daughter-in-law.
When Ji Qingli first wanted a divorce, she hadn’t been in favor of it, feeling that he couldn’t possibly find a better wife than Pei Yuan.
But some people never appreciate what they have.
Her son was one of them.
“Fine, if you’re really worried about her being tired from the flight, take her home to rest. Come back for a meal in a few days,” she said, which was likely her biggest concession.
Ji Qingli knew that his mother was very stubborn and that once she made up her mind, nothing could change it.
So, he had no choice but to take Jiang Liqi back to the city.
Fortunately, he had property in Jiangdu, so they wouldn’t be without a place to stay.
Meanwhile, Ji Ran had just gone to her room when she received a call from her grandmother.
As soon as the call connected, her grandmother playfully scolded, “You little rascal, you’re on vacation and didn’t even come see me!”
“Grandma, I just got back today. I promise I’ll come visit you tomorrow,” Ji Ran said with a smile.
She really liked her grandmother.
Sometimes, she felt her grandmother’s personality was very similar to Pei Yuan’s, but her grandmother wasn’t as strict.
In her previous life, when Ji Ran studied abroad, she would always visit her grandmother first upon returning to China.
Lowering her voice, her grandmother said, “Your father came by earlier, but I didn’t let them stay. You know, Grandma is always on your side.”
Ji Ran couldn’t help but smile.
She knew that no matter what, her grandmother would always support her.
When Jiang Yi changed her name to Ji Yi, because Ji Ran was often abroad, many people mistakenly thought Jiang Yi was the eldest daughter of the Ji family.
But her grandmother reassured her, “Don’t worry, everything in the Ji family belongs to you. It will always be yours.”
“Thank you,” Ji Ran said softly, her nose tingling with emotion. She felt a little like crying but didn’t want to seem too sentimental.
In a small voice, she added, “I love you the most, Grandma.”
Her grandmother laughed at that and said teasingly, “Oh, sweet talker. Just wait until you have a boyfriend. Then he’ll be your favorite.”
Her grandmother was always candid with Ji Ran.
Ji Ran still felt a bit nervous.
Even though she knew there was no way her grandmother could know about her and Shen Zhi, she felt a little guilty and softly said, “Grandma, I’m still young. What are you talking about?”
“Then who was that handsome boy dancing with you last night?” her grandmother asked.
Ji Ran’s mind went blank in an instant.
Her grandmother actually knew.
“How did you find out?”
Ji Ran covered her burning cheeks, feeling the heat spreading from her ears.
Her grandmother casually replied, “Old Shen sent a video to your grandpa. It really upset him. But honestly, your grandpa was just jealous. He said he’s never danced with you, and now some random boy gets to take his place.”
Ji Ran suddenly remembered that Shen Zhi’s grandfather was indeed friends with her own, so it made sense her grandmother would know.
She felt a bit relieved.
But her grandmother’s next words made her heart skip a beat.
With deliberate calm, her grandmother added, “And that old Shen even teased your grandpa, suggesting we arrange a marriage between our families.”
Ji Ran was stunned.
Her grandmother gave a small scoff, “These people, honestly. How could they think it’s so easy? Our Ji family’s carefully raised little girl isn’t just someone they can casually claim.”
At this point, her grandmother comforted Ji Ran, “Don’t worry. You’re grandma’s precious baby. We would never hand you over to just any boy.”
Ji Ran: “…”
She silently sighed to herself.
Actually… she might agree to it.
After all, it was Shen Zhi.