I'm the demise's white moonlight of the bigshot - Chapter 68-Part 2
Chapter 68-Part 2
Ji Qingli visibly relaxed when he saw her, “Ran Ran, remember to greet your grandparents properly when we go inside.”
Ji Ran pressed her lips together, saying nothing.
When they reached the doorway, it opened, and the old lady standing there immediately spotted Ji Ran in her white down jacket.
She quickly extended a hand and pulled her in.
Gently stroking the back of Ji Ran’s hand, she murmured, “It must be cold outside.”
“Let me see how many layers you’re wearing—oh my, only three?” The old lady shook her head in concern when she saw Ji Ran raise three fingers.
“Young girls nowadays, all you care about is looking stylish. Wearing so little, you’ll catch a chill!”
Ji Ran quickly shook her head.
“No, Grandma, my coat is very warm.”
The old lady’s gaze was fixed on Ji Ran, ignoring Ji Qingli and Jiang Liqi’s mother-daughter pair still standing by the door.
It was only when Ji Qingli spoke up, “Let’s go inside and talk,” that she glanced at them before leading Ji Ran into the living room.
“Ran Ran, have you lost weight?” Grandma’s first words echoed Ji Ran’s grandmother, who had said the same thing, as if in the eyes of elders, not gaining weight meant getting thinner.
Ji Ran shook her head.
“No, how come you and Grandma Pei say the same thing? Did you both plan this?”
Last night, with Pei Yuan shielding her, Ji Ran had no idea of her grandparents’ thoughts.
But today, Pei Yuan was off handling work matters, leaving the elderly couple free to speak their mind.
Their indirect message was clear: without anyone to care for her in B City, they wanted her to transfer back as soon as possible.
If Pei Yuan was too busy to look after her, they’d even move nearby her school to be there.
Not long after she arrived at her grandparents’, she was already hearing the same concern again.
It was obvious the four elders were united in hoping she’d return from B City to Jiangdu.
Previously, Ji Ran might have hesitated.
But now, her reason for staying was strong: she had people she cared about in B City—friends, classmates, and teachers.
She had no desire to come back.
Oblivious to her thoughts, her grandma still expressed her own, “It’s just that Grandma thinks your school is too far away.”
Across from them, Jiang Yi’s eyes lit up.
Although the old lady hadn’t even looked at her, the idea of Ji Ran returning to Jiangdu made Jiang Yi pay close attention to their conversation.
Ji Ran quickly shook her head, fearing Grandma would actually ask her to come back.
“Grandma, I’m in my second year now, and almost in my final year. Frequent transfers would greatly impact me.”
Still, Grandma wasn’t ready to give up.
She softly replied, “But you wouldn’t be transferring far; you’d be returning to Jiangdu, to your old school. Isn’t No. 1 High a good school?”
Ji Ran had attended Jiangdu No. 1 High before, so it wasn’t unfamiliar.
“Grandma, you don’t know. My first monthly exam after transferring was a disaster—I scored only 22 in math, just because I was adjusting to the new environment. My grades fluctuated, but I managed to stabilize in time.”
Grandma had no idea about her first monthly test.
She’d only heard on the phone that her midterm and final exam results were good.
She hadn’t expected this “22” story.
Ji Ran seized this moment to exaggerate, making the most of the issue.
“If I have to transfer again and my grades drop, adjusting will be a challenge. And if I can’t recover…”
Grandma was stunned, momentarily speechless.
Even Ji Qingli, across from them, found it a bit much.
“Ran Ran, Grandma is just concerned for you. Don’t scare her like that.”
Ji Ran bit her lips, falling silent.
Yet her words had worked.
Grandma dropped the topic.
Not long after, Grandpa woke from his nap.
Spotting Ji Ran, he immediately led her to the study, saying, “Our Spring Festival couplets are waiting for you to write them.”
“Grandpa, isn’t it a bit early? There’s still time until New Year’s.”
Ji Ran smiled.
Grandfather and granddaughter headed off to the study together.
Ji Qingli was about to follow, but Jiang Liqi held him back by the wrist.
Grandma no longer gave Jiang Liqi the cold shoulder, as Ji Qingli had married her.
However, her demeanor was politely distant, as if dealing with a guest rather than family.
In the evening, Ji Ran stayed the night, while Ji Qingli and his family returned to his house.
Before leaving, Ji Qingli managed to chat with Grandpa, bringing up Jiang Yi’s name change.
Jiang Liqi’s reasoning was that the baby she was expecting would certainly bear the Ji surname.
Among three children, it was difficult for the only one with a different surname to not feel left out.
As a well-spoken person, Jiang Liqi made her case logically and persuasively.
Given her pregnancy and the doctor’s advice to keep her happy, Ji Qingli saw no reason to argue over this minor issue.
When he told Grandpa his intention to change Jiang Yi’s surname, Grandpa listened quietly, then gave him a calm look.
“If you want to change it, then change it.”
Ji Qingli hadn’t expected Grandpa to be so agreeable, given Grandma’s cold attitude toward Jiang Liqi and her daughter.
“Thank you, Dad,” Ji Qingli said with a smile.
Grandpa replied, “Why thank me? It’s only a surname. If she wants it, let her have it.”
But then he added firmly, “Only, remember: the Ji family’s assets don’t go to just anyone.”
The words were a pointed reminder to Ji Qingli: the Ji family’s wealth was for Ji family children alone.
Ji Ran wasn’t sure when they left.
She was busy chatting with friends.
It was a small group chat that Xia Jiangming had set up with just the four boys, plus Ji Ran and Wen Qianxia.
Wen Qianxia: “Vacation is so boring, so boring, so boring! Ran Ran, are you bored too?”
Ji Ran wasn’t, but she kindly replied, “Yeah.”
Xia Jiangming: “Let’s all go out tomorrow!”
This suggestion perked Wen Qianxia up, who even wanted Ji Ran to come along.
But Ji Ran was busy with holiday homework—her teachers had assigned so many sheets that even at two or three per day, she’d be working until break’s end.
Ji Ran: “I can’t. I’m in Jiangdu right now.”
Wen Qianxia replied disappointedly, “Boo hoo! I miss you so much, Ran Ran!”
Xia Jiangming teased, “Brother Zhi hasn’t said he wants it yet, is it your turn?.”
Annoyed, Wen Qianxia argued that as Ji Ran’s best friend, she had every right to miss her, replying, “Ran Ran, send me your address. I’ll come find you tomorrow!”
Though she was joking, Ji Ran still sent her grandparents’ address, making Wen Qianxia laugh.
Ji Ran glanced at Shen Zhi’s avatar, which was still dark.
He’d promised to contact her today, yet there’d been no sign of him.
But knowing he might be busy, she resisted the urge to call.
After completing two sets of math problems, she went to bed.
The next morning, as she slept soundly, her phone buzzed on her bedside table.
She fumbled for it groggily.
“Little lazy pig, are you still sleeping?” Shen Zhi’s soft laugh on the other end was warm and gentle.
Ji Ran’s heart raced, instantly awake and overwhelmed with a sudden wave of frustration.
He’d said not to worry, but he hadn’t contacted her in over a day.
A full day!
Practically a missing person case!
Before she could voice her frustration, Shen Zhi added, “If you’re up, come outside. I’m here to take you out. Didn’t you say you were bored?”
Ji Ran sat up.
Go out?
With a trembling voice, she asked, “Where are you?”
“I saw the address in the group chat.”
Her sleepy head cleared instantly as she squealed, hanging up abruptly.
After washing up and changing in record time, she ran downstairs.
Her grandmother, watching TV, called out, “Ran Ran, do you want breakfast? I can have something made for you.”
“No need, Grandma, I’m meeting a friend!” she replied, pulling on her shoes.
At the gate, she spotted a boy in a black down jacket, hands in his pockets, his dark hair gleaming in the sunlight.
She sprinted over, and hearing her approach, he raised his head, his soft gaze warming her heart.
As he opened his arms, Ji Ran cast aside all hesitation and threw herself into his embrace.
Shen Zhi chuckled, surprised, “Aren’t you afraid of being seen this time?”
Ji Ran looked up, her voice sweet to the core, “I don’t care. I want the whole world to know.”
Liking you is something I want the world to see.
And holding you, too.
