Chapter 83

“Can you really be this perfunctory?” Shen Zhi looked at her with a gentle smile.

Ji Ran shook her head. No, absolutely not.

Clinging to Shen Zhi’s arm, she listed her demands in detail, “If you’re truly going to propose to me, the scene has to be grand! For roses, starting at 9,999 blooms would be best. As for the lighting and stage, it has to match Grammy standards.”

In truth, Ji Ran was talking nonsense just to ease the awkwardness. Having the topic of proposal come out of her own mouth made it seem as though she was desperately eager for it.

Yet Shen Zhi asked in all seriousness, “Do you want to go up and sing a song, too?”

Ji Ran felt completely speechless.

After the two of them left the hospital and got into the car, Ji Ran asked while fastening her seatbelt, “Where are we going now?”

“To see my mother.” Shen Zhi looked at her, his voice laced with delight.

Ji Ran, whose fingers were adjusting her seatbelt, paused instantly. She looked up in slight astonishment. “Right now?”

She was genuinely a bit dazed. Shouldn’t meeting the parents happen on an auspicious day after taking a ceremonial bath and burning incense? How could he be so casual about it?

Ji Ran’s head immediately shook like a little rattle drum.

“Don’t want to go?” Shen Zhi said as he started the car.

Ji Ran shook her head rapidly. How could she not want to go? Afraid that Shen Zhi might genuinely misunderstand, she quickly explained, “I haven’t prepared anything today. How can I go with you like this?”

Shen Zhi’s tone was relaxed. “You don’t need to prepare a thing. You are the best present.”

A light smile tugged at the corners of Ji Ran’s lips, yet she still said in all seriousness, “That won’t do. It’s basic etiquette. Who visits their boyfriend’s home for the first time empty-handed?”

Shen Zhi turned to look at her casually and said softly, “Perhaps I should be the one meeting your parents first, right?”

Having never been in a relationship before, Ji Ran naturally didn’t know all the formal etiquettes. However, whether it was Shen Zhi’s family or hers, both were quite complicated.

Pei Yuan always used the excuse that the Shen family was too complex to dissuade her, but what about her own household? Her parents were divorced, and neither her father’s remarried wife nor her stepdaughter were easy to deal with.

Ji Ran didn’t want to bring Shen Zhi to meet any of them just yet, much like how Shen Zhi wouldn’t bring her to meet his father, either.

“Do you want me to meet your dad?” Ji Ran asked, looking at him.

Shen Zhi shook his head immediately. His relationship with Shen Jiming was cold to the extreme, the kind where they wouldn’t even exchange greetings during holidays. Now that he was sticking with Gaotong Securities and had no intention of leaving, Shen Jiming was thoroughly furious with him, believing Shen Zhi was refusing to help him gain an edge in the fight over the Shen family’s inheritance.

As a result, the relationship between father and son had grown increasingly distant over the past few years.

As for Yuan Sheng and his maternal grandparents, once Shen Zhi gained the financial ability to care for them, he had long since moved them all to B City, buying them a villa in the suburbs.

His grandparents enjoyed farming, so the villa’s garden was converted into a vegetable patch where the elderly couple could potter around as much as they pleased.

As for Yuan Sheng, she had become increasingly focused on painting over the years. Even her doctors said her condition had been stable for a long time. Shen Zhi would take her to art exhibitions and had even hired a top domestic oil painting master to guide her technique.

Listening to Shen Zhi chat about these things along the way, Ji Ran felt a cozy warmth in her heart despite not having been part of it. This was the kind of family he truly wanted.

No matter how wealthy the Shen family was, he wasn’t welcome there.

When the car arrived outside the villa gates, Shen Zhi parked in an outdoor space. Once he came to a stop, Ji Ran got out of the car with him.

Just as she closed her car door, however, she suddenly grabbed the side-view mirror and said in a muffled voice, “Shen Zhi, can we come another time?”

She was still a bit nervous and hadn’t quite prepared herself mentally.

Even with major work matters, she never got nervous to this degree. Working in the Direct Investment Department, they had to negotiate through endless rounds for investment shares and valuations. Ji Ran was famous for being ruthless and sharp-handed.

Yet now, she was showing cold feet over meeting his family.

Shen Zhi walked over to her unhurriedly, opening his arms and saying softly, “Let’s hug first.”

Ji Ran obediently stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his waist. She said in a tiny voice, “Shen Zhi, your mom must be really pretty, right?”

“Go in and see for yourself in a moment, then you’ll know.” His voice was gentle and warm, laced with coaxing temptation.

Ji Ran wasn’t about to fall for his trick. She didn’t know why she was being such a coward again.

As the two stood there hugging, the gate suddenly creaked softly on its hinges as it opened. A woman with long hair wearing a long dress stood in the doorway.

“Xiao Jing.”

At her call, Ji Ran and Shen Zhi looked back immediately.

Only then did Ji Ran catch sight of the woman at the door. She looked to be forty at the absolute most, perhaps not even that. Her raven-black hair reached her waist, glowing with a soft, glossy sheen.

Ji Ran couldn’t help but feel a wave of awe in her heart. Even after all these years, the person before her still carried an ethereal, gentle, and deeply comforting aura.

In truth, her features didn’t look particularly similar to Shen Zhi’s. Ji Ran had seen Shen Zhi’s father before, and Shen Zhi favored his father more. Yet this face was breathtakingly beautiful and full of grace.

So this was Ah Zhi’s mother.

Yuan Sheng held onto the gate with one hand, looking at them with a touch of embarrassment. When her eyes fell upon Ji Ran, a shy smile suddenly broke across her face.

The moment she smiled, Ji Ran felt that despite the passage of time, Yuan Sheng still possessed a rare, pure innocence.

“Xiao Jing, is this your girlfriend?” Yuan Sheng asked curiously.

Not only during the years after moving to B City, but even when she was still living in Jiangdu, Shen Zhi had never brought a girl home. Yuan Sheng had occasionally mentioned to him that life wasn’t just about work, and that he didn’t need to push himself so hard.

Yuan Sheng had even told him that she could go out and work, as an art friend of hers had offered a recommendation. Shen Zhi, however, hadn’t agreed, prioritizing her rest above all else. He was afraid that somewhere out of his sight, Yuan Sheng might be triggered by others.

Ji Ran gave her a bashful look, not simply because she was Shen Zhi’s mother, but also because Yuan Sheng was truly beautiful, both ethereal and lovely.

“Hello, Auntie. I’m Ji Ran.” Ji Ran took the initiative to greet her.

Yuan Sheng rarely interacted with outsiders. Even with her painting friends, it had taken a long time to gradually get familiar. But the girl before her was the first girl Xiao Jing had ever brought home.

Even though she felt a tiny bit timid in her heart, she still smiled and replied, “Hello, I’m Yuan Sheng.”

Shen Zhi looked at the apron she was wearing, which was stained with fresh oil paint, and asked with a light smile, “Are you painting again?”

Yuan Sheng nodded happily. After glancing at him, she turned to Ji Ran and asked softly, “Would you like to see my new painting?”

“My mom rarely shares her paintings with others.” Shen Zhi reminded her with a smile.

Yuan Sheng was sensitive and delicate. Painting was her way of opening up her inner world, projecting her thoughts onto the canvas, much like how ordinary people write in a diary. Because of this, not even Shen Zhi’s grandparents easily entered her studio.

Yet upon meeting Ji Ran for the first time, she had invited her to see her artwork, showing just how much she liked her.

After Ji Ran followed them inside, Shen Zhi’s grandparents came out of the kitchen. The family kept a housekeeper. After all, a villa of this size needed someone to clean it. Though the elderly couple had lived simply their whole lives and weren’t quite used to having a housekeeper around, they fortunately listened to Shen Zhi.

“Grandma, do you still recognize her?” Shen Zhi held Ji Ran’s hand as he walked over to his grandmother’s side.

Even as composed as Shen Zhi usually was, at this moment it felt as if he was returning to that scorching hot summer, where a little boy sat quietly under the shade watching a little girl work on her Sudoku puzzles.

He was actually very clever. When Ji Ran explained her solving methods to him, he quickly caught on just by watching. Back then, whenever he finished helping his grandmother with her work, Ji Ran would come out to play with him.

The grandmother stared at Ji Ran’s face for a long time. Being old and with more than a decade having passed, she shook her head after a moment. “She looks a bit familiar, but I can’t quite remember.”

She said to Shen Zhi with a smile, “Is Grandma truly getting old? I can’t even remember such a pretty young girl.”

Ji Ran wasn’t wearing much makeup today, nor was she dressed in her usual sharp, glamorous work attire. She was bare-faced, making her look even younger than her actual age.

Hearing the grandmother call her a “young girl” made Ji Ran feel quite embarrassed.

Shen Zhi said softly, “Grandma, when I was nine and helped you clean on weekends, wasn’t there always a little girl who came to find me and play every time?”

The grandmother was getting on in years, so even with Shen Zhi laying it out so clearly, she still pondered for a long time without recalling it.

Shen Zhi smiled. “The one who always brought me snacks. You even said that when I look for a wife in the future, I should find one like her.”

All at once, the old lady’s memory was sparked.

Aiya, speaking of which, it really had been so many years. Though she couldn’t remember the little girl’s face, she did recall faint memories of such a girl.

Back then, no other kids were willing to play with Xiao Jing, and seeing that made his grandparents feel sad. When a little girl finally showed a willingness to play with Shen Zhi, his grandmother even told him to stop helping her clean so he wouldn’t be disliked by the other child.

The little girl had fair, delicate skin and wore beautiful clothes. One look told you she came from a wealthy family. Yet even though Shen Zhi continued to work for his grandmother, the little girl didn’t mind at all. During breaks, she would sneak out from the Children’s Palace to hand Shen Zhi a piece of chocolate or jelly, sometimes even giving him a whole bag of treats. Her snacks were never the same twice.

Shen Zhi didn’t always eat them himself. Whenever there were sweet treats, he would take them home for Yuan Sheng. Thus, whenever his grandmother walked home with him after work, she would always ask with a chuckle what his “little wife” had brought him today.

His grandmother’s playful teasing used to make Shen Zhi feel embarrassed, tightening his grip on his things while shaking his head.

Even his grandmother had never expected that a playful comment made more than ten years ago would actually come true.

She gasped, “Ah! So this is that child from back then, the one Grandma always called your little wife!”

Ji Ran hadn’t realized that his grandmother had teased them like that in private. A rosy blush instantly flushed her cheeks. No matter how accustomed she was to major occasions, right now she didn’t even know where to put her hands and feet.

Yuan Sheng listened from the side with novelty, asking in surprise, “You two knew each other that early?”

Shen Zhi nodded. “When I was nine, we already knew each other.”

From age nine to twenty-seven, through all the twists and turns of fate, he had ultimately held onto her hand tightly.

Seeing Ji Ran’s embarrassment under his grandmother’s barrage of questions, Yuan Sheng chimed in, “Mom, I’m going to take them up to see my studio. Why don’t you and Auntie go prepare dinner? Xiao Jing hasn’t been back in days, and it’s Ranran’s first time visiting.”

Grandma nodded.

Shen Zhi had grown up eating his grandmother’s cooking. Even though he had tasted dishes prepared by the world’s finest chefs, his grandmother’s cooking remained his absolute favorite flavor. Because his work was so busy, he couldn’t visit home often, but every time he returned, his grandmother would make one or two of her specialty dishes for him.

Yuan Sheng’s studio was on the second floor. The room was exceptionally large, featuring beautiful French windows. Right now, a half-finished oil painting stood on an easel in the room. Although Ji Ran didn’t have much professional appreciation for oil painting, even though this piece was just a simple countryside landscape, its colors were rich and vivid. Even unfinished, it filled one with anticipation.

Turning to look at the pieces hanging on the walls and resting on the floor, Ji Ran asked curiously, “Auntie, did you paint all of these?”

Having never met Yuan Sheng before, and only hearing Pei Yuan repeatedly refer to her as a mental patient, Ji Ran naturally hadn’t cared. She was even willing to care for his mother alongside Shen Zhi, simply because she was his mother.

She had initially assumed Yuan Sheng would be the type who stayed indoors year-round, with pale skin, a haggard expression, looking terrified as if she might be frightened at any moment.

Now she realized that Yuan Sheng was nothing like that.

Though she was ill, she loved to paint. Judging from these artworks, her inner world wasn’t dark at all. Rather, it was richer and brighter than most people’s.

It wasn’t until she saw a pencil sketch hanging on the wall, specially framed, that Ji Ran walked closer and said with a smile, “This is Shen Zhi, right?”

“It’s Xiao Jing.” Yuan Sheng nodded happily, whispering a small complaint, “Xiao Jing never wants to be my model. I had to make a wish on my birthday just to beg for this.”

Ji Ran said in awe, “It’s so well drawn.”

Sketched in black-and-white lead lines, Shen Zhi’s nose bridge was straight and sharp, the corners of his eyes drooping slightly to give him a somewhat deep and solemn look. Features this sharp and profound looked less like a real person and more like a comic book character drawn at whim.

“So handsome.” Ji Ran marvelled as she stared at it.

Yuan Sheng seized the opportunity to ask, “Would you like to try?”

Ji Ran’s eyes widened slightly, her dark pupils flashing with surprise. “Me draw him too?”

Amused by her thought, Yuan Sheng chuckled softly and said in a low voice, “I didn’t mean that. I meant, would you like to try being my model?”

“Can I?” Ji Ran’s interest grew even further upon hearing that Yuan Sheng wanted to paint her.

However, seeing her about to jump into this pitfall, Shen Zhi felt it was his duty as a boyfriend to remind her, “Sitting there for two hours per session, can you endure that?”

Ji Ran replied, “Of course I can.”

Shen Zhi raised his brows slightly, showing a peculiar expression as he warned her again, “Even if it gets boring, you can’t give up midway, because Mom is the one painting.”

He was telling her that if she didn’t want to leave a bad impression on her future mother-in-law, she had better stick it through if she agreed.

Ji Ran merely froze for a few seconds before nodding vigorously.

Yuan Sheng was even happier than she was. After having Ji Ran sit down, she immediately set up another canvas for herself, pulling out a sketching pencil to begin drawing.

Shen Zhi stood by the side, watching quietly for two hours. For so many years, especially since starting university, he had been busy every single day with how to complete his studies faster and how to make money quicker.

Why had he studied finance? Why had he chosen investment banking?

Because this job brought a high income. His desire to avoid relying on the Shen family was never just lip service.

Ever since entering university, he had slowly begun making preparations to sever ties with the Shen family. Step by step, he had reached where he was today. Though outsiders believed he relied on his family’s formidable background, only Shen Zhi himself knew that everything he possessed was forged through his own relentless effort.

Working thirty-five hours straight without sleep, treating the company as his home, working while others worked, working while others rested, and even reviewing documents while on an IV drip when sick.

Finally, relying on his own capabilities, he had brought his mother and grandparents to his side.

Now, on an early summer afternoon, sunlight filtered through the window. The girl sitting quietly on the stool smiled gently at the person opposite her, while the artist holding the brush lightly traced lines on the paper, occasionally using the pencil to measure proportions.

Shen Zhi leaned against the wall, taking in the scene.

All his hard work had been for this single moment of peaceful tenderness.

When it was time to leave, Yuan Sheng presented that sketch to Ji Ran as a gift.

Ji Ran happily looked at the drawing all the way through the ride, until Shen Zhi pulled the car up to the neighborhood entrance and said softly, “Let’s go.”

Only then did she raise her head to look outside. One glance looked familiar, and a second later she realized this was her own home. Having only been away for a single night, it actually felt a little unfamiliar.

As Shen Zhi got out of the car, Ji Ran tugged at his hand, saying in a low voice, “Drive carefully on your way back, okay?”

Having finally gotten together, they still had to part ways. Even she felt a bit of emotion bubbling up, regardless of whether Shen Zhi could see how reluctant she was to separate from him.

However, the man’s fingers pinched her wrist as he let out a sudden chuckle, “I’m going up with you to grab your change of clothes. Who said I was sending you home tonight?”

Ji Ran froze.

Her dark, large eyes looked up at him. Even after ten years, her black pupils hadn’t dimmed with time, growing only deeper. Showing such a startled expression right now made her look all the more endearing.

Taking advantage of the moment, he leaned down and kissed her lips gently.

“Now that I’ve finally brought you home, I’m not sending you back.”

Ji Ran smiled, reaching out to wrap her arms around him.

The next day, Ji Ran didn’t expect to receive a call from Ji Qingli. The father and daughter hadn’t spoken over the phone since being discharged from the hospital, though Ji Qingli had sent her a few WeChat messages telling her not to overwork herself.

Hearing that Ji Qingli was asking to meet her, Ji Ran thought it over and agreed.

She had come to Shen Zhi’s place in his car, and since he was working from home today, she borrowed his car to head out. As she was leaving, Shen Zhi sat in his chair, looking at her across the desk, “Are you really not taking me to see my old father-in-law?”

“If your father-in-law knew you used ‘old’ to describe him, he probably wouldn’t want to acknowledge you as his son-in-law for the rest of his life.”

Ji Ran rested her hands on the desk, leaning across to give him a kiss. She really didn’t dare cross the desk, fearing this devilish man would grab her and refuse to let go.

The place Ji Qingli chose was a private club, clearly a spot favored by men of his age. Decorated in traditional Chinese style, the vase placed inside the private room was blue-and-white porcelain, the carpet laid on the floor was Chinese red, and even the paintings on the wall were landscape art.

When Ji Ran walked in, she glanced at Ji Qingli. In truth, he was quite a flamboyant man, dressing meticulously.

Yet now, his sideburns carried a touch of white frost. It clearly told her that time had indeed left its mark on him.

After Ji Ran sat down, Ji Qingli actually poured her a cup of Kung Fu tea himself. The tea aroma overflowed, filling the air with a rich fragrance.

“Do you have something to discuss with me?” Ji Ran asked.

Ji Qingli pushed a folder in front of her. Not understanding his intent, Ji Ran picked it up and opened it, reviewing the documents inside.

The more Ji Ran read, the more shocked she became. She looked up at him, “What does this mean?”

“I originally wanted to give these to you when you got married, but after your car accident, I thought it best to hand them over earlier so you can manage them yourself.”

The items Ji Qingli handed her included not only shares in the Ji family enterprises, but also funds and real estate worth well over a hundred million. Calling these things astronomical wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

Although Ji Qingli gave her a sum of money every year, compared to the assets before her, it wasn’t even worth mentioning.

Ji Ran fell into thought.

Ji Qingli said instead, “I know that your mother has been the one taking care of you all these years, and I’ve shown too little concern for you as a father…”

“So is this compensation for me?” Ji Ran suddenly looked up at Ji Qingli.

She suddenly found it a bit ironic. At a moment like this, shouldn’t she slam the folder in front of Ji Qingli and yell, “Where were you earlier? Only now do you realize you cared too little? I don’t need your charity!”

Did she really not care?

Suddenly, Ji Ran recalled that in that alternate timeline, when Jiang Liqi lost her child, Ji Qingli had stated he believed her. He believed his daughter was not that kind of person.

Time was the cruelest enemy, mercilessly taking away youth, beauty, and even life. Yet time was also so merciful to her, allowing her to discover the secrets hidden within its fold.

Those precious pearls had been hidden inside sealed shells. One by one, she pried them open to discover the brilliant pearls within.

That was the first time she realized Ji Qingli loved her.

At this moment, she felt the same ache and distress she had felt that day. With all these emotions tangled in her heart, she didn’t even know what to say to Ji Qingli. Should she blame him for ignoring her for so many years? Or blame him for his past coldness?

Was she completely blameless herself? She had kept her distance from him, rejected him, and treated him with endless annoyance.

Suddenly, following that question, she recalled what he had said that day. The resentment she had suppressed in her heart, resentment she once thought didn’t exist, began to surge out like a tiny needle puncturing a barrier.

She couldn’t help widening her eyes to look out the window.

The room was so quiet.

After an unknown amount of time, Ji Ran suddenly spoke, “When I get married, will you come?”

Ji Qingli responded immediately, “What nonsense are you talking about? I only have one daughter, and you only have one father. If I don’t go to walk you down the aisle, who will? Are you planning to walk up to the groom all by yourself?”

After blurting out this string of words, he suddenly looked at Ji Ran suspiciously, “You’re not planning a flash marriage on me, are you?”

Ji Ran’s voice sounded muffled, “Anyway, I have a boyfriend right now, and I really like him.”

Fearing Ji Qingli would oppose it like Pei Yuan, she murmured, “It’s useless even if you oppose it.”

Ji Qingli felt helpless about her use of “you all,” but after a moment’s thought, he said, “It’s your mother opposing it, right?”

Ji Ran didn’t make a sound. That meant he had hit the nail right on the head.

After thinking it over, Ji Qingli suddenly said, “It can’t be that kid named Shen, right?”

“You know him?” This time, it was Ji Ran’s turn to be surprised.

“He practically wished he could live in your hospital room every day. I couldn’t ignore him even if I tried.” Ji Qingli snorted. Previously, Ji Ran had shown no signs of dating, yet just days after waking from her coma, she was talking about relationships. Furthermore, judging by her tone, they were already bringing up marriage, so Ji Qingli guessed it was Shen Zhi.

He said in an unfriendly tone, “I know his father, Shen Jiming. Now that’s not a good man.”

Ji Ran suddenly laughed. She still remembered in her seventeen-year-old memories how he had acted like best buds with Shen Jiming. Now he looked down on him instead.

She asked, “Then what do you think of Shen Zhi?”

“That kid…” Ji Qingli deliberately paused to take a slow sip of tea, only speaking up casually after seeing the impatient look on Ji Ran’s face, “He has backbone and a clear head.”

In truth, Ji Qingli had chatted with Shen Zhi at the hospital before. As a man, he understood men. His daughter had been unconscious in the hospital for two months, yet Shen Zhi was willing to guard her there rather than work. He was truly madly in love with Ji Ran.

Moreover, he had indeed heard of Shen Zhi’s name before and had met him in public settings, where Shen Zhi was always respectful to him. Ji Qingli had felt quite proud, pleased that such a young and capable investor was willing to be on good terms with him.

Only later did he realize the kid had been targeting his daughter all along.

As for having backbone, it was naturally because despite the massive scale of the Hengchi Group, he hadn’t relied on a single bit of it, forging his own path through sheer capability.

Furthermore, though Hengchi appeared peaceful on the surface, dark undercurrents surged beneath. The inheritance rights alone were enough to cause endless trouble. Not only did he avoid getting involved, but he also kept himself clean. If that wasn’t having a clear head, what was?

“You like him a lot?” Ji Ran felt quite happy. Even if Ji Qingli’s opinion held no weight with Pei Yuan, at least Ji Ran wasn’t standing alone.

Ji Qingli looked at her with a smile, “Are you afraid your mother will oppose it?”

He couldn’t help sneering, “Your mother has been proud her entire life. Aside from herself and you, whom she strictly educated, she looks down on everyone else. So in her eyes, Shen Zhi is just someone foolishly wishing to be her son-in-law. It’s completely normal for her to look down on him.”

Ji Ran felt Ji Qingli’s words were spot-on. Even though the two had been divorced for ten years, they were still the people who knew each other best.

“Work on your mother’s mindset properly. After all, this is the man you like yourself.” This time, Ji Qingli stood firmly on her side without hesitation.

Ji Ran looked at him. After holding it in for a long time, she finally said softly, “Thank you, Dad.”

Ji Qingli looked at her with a peculiar expression, unable to help saying, “No wonder people say daughters grow distant once they fall in love. I gave you so many assets and you didn’t say a single thank you, yet just because I spoke a few good words on that kid’s behalf, you’re thanking me.”

Ji Ran remained silent.

Before leaving, Ji Ran thought it over and said, “Your current wife has been causing trouble for my mom’s company. Did you know?”

Her words caused Ji Qingli’s footsteps to stall.

He nodded and said, “Jiang Liqi indeed reached too far. I’ve already apologized to your mother regarding this matter. It won’t happen again.”

Ji Ran hadn’t known that Ji Qingli already knew and had dealt with it. She nodded. After all, this was Ji Qingli’s own family matter, and she didn’t want to meddle too much.

What she didn’t know was that as soon as Ji Qingli returned home by car, he ran right into Jiang Liqi in the living room. Seeing him return, she immediately came up to question him, “Where did you go?”

Ji Qingli said indifferently, “Do you need something?”

Seeing his cold attitude, Jiang Liqi smiled. “I just saw you weren’t answering your phone and was a bit worried, that’s all.”

“I went to see Ranran and gave her a few things.” Ji Qingli said casually, as if the assets worth over a billion he had given away were merely a few sheets of paper.

Jiang Liqi looked at him suspiciously. Recalling the items in his study, she suddenly said, “You didn’t actually give her all the shares and stock, did you? And that house in Heqing Court, you didn’t prepare that for her too, did you?”

When the flagship building of Heqing Court opened last year, its price of several hundred thousand per square meter had rich buyers fighting over it. She had been tempted at the time, but couldn’t come up with that much cash.

Who knew that a wealthy wife acquainted with her mentioned Ji Qingli had bought a house there and told his friends it was a wedding gift? That woman had been green with envy, assuming the so-called wedding gift was meant for Jiang Liqi.

Jiang Liqi had been filled with anticipation at first, but after waiting six months without news, she subtly probed Ji Qingli. She hadn’t expected that the house was indeed a wedding gift, but one he bought intending to give to Ji Ran.

“Since you gave Heqing Court to Ji Ran, what about Ji Yi? Her relationship with Shen Yue is so stable and they’re marrying soon. What wedding dowry do you plan to give her?”

Ji Qingli sat down on the sofa and casually named a residential compound. Jiang Liqi drew in a sharp breath, saying angrily, “A house in Wanyue Garden is worth a little over ten million at most, while that house in Heqing Court is worth well over a hundred million! Qingli, aren’t you being far too biased between the two children?”

Having been married to him for ten years, Jiang Liqi was no longer the timid woman she used to be. Ten years as Mrs. Ji had given her plenty of confidence.

Ji Qingli glanced at her, suddenly breaking into laughter, “Biased? Ji Yi has grown up by our side all these years, enjoying so many things that Ranran should have enjoyed. So what’s wrong with me compensating Ranran a bit more?”

Jiang Liqi felt slightly embarrassed by his words, but she forced herself to remain calm, “It’s not as if we mistreated her. Her mother was the one who didn’t allow her to come here.”

For so many years, Jiang Liqi had used this exact excuse time and again to deepen the rift between father and daughter.

It wasn’t until the day of Ji Ran’s car accident, when he and Jiang Liqi rushed over. The child had just been wheeled out of the operating room when Jiang Liqi yawned and said to him, “Old Ji, why don’t we head back first? Don’t you have a very important meeting tomorrow? I see there’s nothing critical going on here with Ji Ran.”

In that moment, looking at the way she spoke to him, Ji Qingli only felt it was absurd.

He considered himself a good stepfather, fulfilling every request from Jiang Liqi’s daughter. Yet in that moment, when his own daughter had just been wheeled out of surgery and wasn’t entirely out of danger, she actually asked him to go back and rest, just because of an important meeting tomorrow.

Did she think a meeting was more important than his daughter’s life?

Only then did Ji Qingli realize his own failure as a father. Perhaps it was his usual coldness toward Ji Ran that had allowed Jiang Liqi to be so indifferent and heartless toward her. If it were Ji Yi lying there today, she would never have let him go home to rest.

Unaware that Ji Qingli had taken that hospital incident to heart, Jiang Liqi said discontentedly, “We are her maiden family. If the dowry is too small, the Shen family will look down on Xiao Yi. A prominent family like the Shen family has such high standards. How about this: as sisters, let’s not be biased and give them the exact same dowry, okay? If we can’t buy a house in Heqing Court, how about buying one for Xiao Yi in New York? It’ll be so convenient when our future grandchildren study abroad.”

Jiang Liqi was still indulged in her sweet fantasy.

Ji Qingli suddenly let out a faint laugh and said directly, “I can’t afford that much.”

Jiang Liqi’s expression froze, and she argued, “How can that be? How can you be so unfair…”

“Ranran is my biological daughter.”

Ji Qingli’s sentence cut off all of Jiang Liqi’s arguments instantly.

She stared blankly at Ji Qingli, saying in disbelief, “Old Ji, Xiao Yi has been by your side all these years. If she hears you say this, it’ll break her heart. Isn’t she just like your own biological daughter?”

“Then did you treat Ji Ran as your biological daughter?”

Ji Qingli’s direct question rendered Jiang Liqi speechless. She wasn’t thick-skinned enough to tell blatant lies to his face. Besides, even if she claimed she did, Ji Qingli wouldn’t believe her.

“I said before that Ranran’s grandparents treated her very well, so the Ji family’s assets belong to her. As for Ji Yi, I can give her a house as a wedding gift, and I’ll buy her a car she likes. As for cash, you’ve saved quite a lot yourself over the years.”

Ji Qingli made it crystal clear: for Ji Yi’s marriage, he would provide a house and a car. But anything more… none.

Ji Qingli didn’t want to entangle with her on this matter any further, walking straight into the first-floor study. Shortly after the study door closed, a figure walked down from upstairs.

Ji Yi walked up to Jiang Liqi like a lost ghost, startling her.

Jiang Liqi frowned at her appearance, letting out a sudden sigh, “You heard everything?”

“Mom, you promised me that when I got married, there would be stock, cash, and over a hundred million in dowry! If you’re like this, how will Shen Yue’s mother look at me then?”

The ladies of the Shen family held their heads high. Because she was merely Ji Qingli’s stepdaughter, she had suffered plenty of cold looks from Shen Yue’s mother. Fortunately, she had hinted multiple times that she would have a share in the Ji family company’s stock upon marriage, which could be brought over as dowry.

Now, she had nothing.

Jiang Liqi sighed. “I don’t know what got into your father. Ever since that Ji Ran returned to the country, I haven’t had a single good day. I thought she would just stay asleep and never wake up, but she actually woke up.”

How wonderful it would have been if she had just stayed asleep forever.

As Jiang Liqi spoke, the exact same thought flashed through Ji Yi’s heart.

How wonderful it would be then. She wouldn’t be able to snatch or fight for anything with me.

Ji Yi’s eyes turned venomous.

When Ji Ran returned, she saw Shen Zhi still working in the study. Investment banking work was inherently busy, and overtime was a regular occurrence. Shen Zhi staying home over the weekend was entirely because of her.

Standing at the door, she watched him conducting a meeting. On the other end of the computer screen was a work team across the ocean. He conversed fluently in English, reaching out to crook his finger at Ji Ran when he looked up and saw her.

Ji Ran walked over with a smile.

Upon discovering it was only an audio call rather than a video meeting, she sat directly on Shen Zhi’s lap. She hadn’t expected the meeting to drag on for another half hour.

It wasn’t until he hung up the phone that Ji Ran let out a yawn.

“Tired?” Shen Zhi turned his head to look at her.

Ji Ran nodded. “I used to never feel tired working on my own projects, but suddenly I feel so exhausted.”

“Ah Zhi, are you tired?” she asked softly.

Shen Zhi was thoroughly charmed by her obedient, soft demeanor, yet he still nodded.

Ji Ran suddenly acted as if presenting a treasure, showing him the folder she had been holding and playing with, saying triumphantly, “Ah Zhi, do you know what this is?”

Looking at her, Shen Zhi chuckled, “A gift from my father-in-law?”

“Mm,” Ji Ran nodded, whispering, “My dad gave it to me as my dowry.”

She paused for a second, looking into his eyes, and said earnestly, “If you’re willing, it can also count as the betrothal gift from your side.”

Even if you’re expensive to keep, I’m not afraid anymore.

Her soft, sweet voice was captivating, “I’m willing to support you.”