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The study door was half-closed, and the sound of the shredder working could be heard from the staircase. Typically, any documents fed into the shredder were related to sensitive business information.
Knowing better than to disturb Yu Jingxin, Ji Qingyuan hung up his suit and picked up a book to read in the living room.
Yu Jingxin waited and waited but didn’t hear a knock on the door.
Perhaps feeling guilty, her mind was now a jumbled mess. She decided to take this opportunity to go downstairs and ask Yu Qing if she still remembered what had been written on those papers earlier.
As she opened the door, her eyes met Ji Qingyuan’s in the living room.
Ji Qingyuan didn’t look away. “Are you done?”
Yu Jingxin remained composed. “No. I’m going downstairs to ask Yu Qing about something.”
Ji Qingyuan wasn’t sure if she was genuinely seeking advice or just using it as an excuse to avoid him, so he lied. “I didn’t see Yu Qing or Fu Jichen on the first floor—they’re probably in their room. Is it appropriate for you to go now?”
He set down his book. “What’s the question? Maybe I can help you with it.”
Yu Jingxin: “...Oh, it’s about legal matters.”
Ji Qingyuan didn’t hold back. “I know a bit. Why don’t I take a look?”
“Never mind.” Yu Jingxin awkwardly made up an excuse. “It involves trade secrets.”
Ji Qingyuan reminded her, “I’m your husband. All our assets are jointly owned.”
Yu Jingxin was speechless. She cursed herself for not having Yu Qing’s talent for twisting words. If it were Yu Qing, she would have surely left him speechless.
Ji Qingyuan stood up and poured her a glass of water.
Between them now, even getting close required finding a prop—otherwise, their hands would have nowhere to rest.
He handed her the glass of water. “Why are you avoiding me again today?”
It wasn’t avoidance—it was simply seeking help downstairs.
Yu Jingxin drank the water, using the glass as a cover.
Ji Qingyuan wrapped one arm around her waist and gently pulled her half a step closer. “What’s wrong?” He sensed that she was burdened with worries but couldn’t guess what they were.
To be precise, he had never accurately guessed what was on her mind.
Yu Jingxin looked up at him. She couldn’t recall the tailored guidance manual Yu Qing had prepared for her, but she remembered why she needed to act coquettish—it was because Jiashi Group had decided to invest in Wenning Media.
She met his familiar yet distant gaze. “Are you investing in Leng Wenning’s media company?” The words came out harsh and cold, like an accusation.
After saying it, she immediately regretted it.
Ji Qingyuan wasn’t surprised by how quickly she had learned the news. Over the past month, Yu Qing had been keeping a close eye on Leng Wenning, leaving her company no room to breathe.
Other investors, mindful of Fu Jichen’s face, had politely declined Leng Wenning’s funding requests.
He didn’t feel the need to spare Fu Jichen’s feelings since they were now under the same roof as family.
“Did Yu Qing tell you?”
“No, someone in the circle wanted to see me humiliated, so they rushed to let me know.” Yu Jingxin exhaled quietly. “You still can’t bear to see her suffer even the slightest bit, can you?”
An awkward silence fell.
This wasn’t her intention.
Suddenly, Yu Jingxin pushed Ji Qingyuan away and took a few steps back. “Let’s start over. I’ve ruined everything. I didn’t mean to question you—I wanted to act coquettish, but somehow it turned into this. Just pretend you didn’t hear what I said earlier. Let me try again.”
Ji Qingyuan was thoroughly confused, then looked at her with pity. Pulling her back into his arms, he kissed her eyes. “You don’t need to say it again. I understand.”
“You don’t!” Yu Jingxin was starting to panic.
This response, however, sounded more like coquettishness.
Ji Qingyuan soothed her. “Alright, alright. Let’s start over.”
He asked, “Should I drive the car out and pretend I just got home, or should I sit on the couch and ask you, ‘Are you done?’”
Yu Jingxin burst out laughing, feeling utterly embarrassed.
Ji Qingyuan took the glass from her hand, refilled it with water, and decided to restart from this point, playing along with her act.
He handed her the glass and repeated his earlier words verbatim. “Why are you avoiding me again today?”
After he finished, both of them laughed.
Ji Qingyuan felt like a lunatic, but the atmosphere had finally relaxed, which made it worth it.
Yu Jingxin placed the glass on the coffee table, turned her back to Ji Qingyuan, and took a deep breath. If she messed up again, she wouldn’t be able to face Yu Qing.
Turning her face, Ji Qingyuan naturally pulled her into his arms. “Go on about the investment in Wenning Media.”
Yu Jingxin bit her lip, throwing caution to the wind. She raised her hand to pull his neck closer, causing both their breaths to hitch. Their proximity entangled their breaths.
At that moment, Yu Qing’s voice echoed magically in her mind: ‘Kick off your shoes, stand on his feet, whimper a little, and ask if he’s missed you and how much.’
Yu Jingxin couldn’t manage the whining part, but she followed half the instruction. She kicked off her slippers, tiptoed onto Ji Qingyuan’s feet, and initiated a kiss.
Her attempt at coquettishness was clumsy, yet she desperately tried to be intimate. In the end, Ji Qingyuan couldn’t resist. His blood surged, and he surrendered completely.
He lifted her up and headed straight for the bedroom.
Yu Jingxin: “?”
They hadn’t even discussed the matter yet.
In a daze, she found herself pinned beneath Ji Qingyuan.
Yu Jingxin tried to speak, but Ji Qingyuan’s kisses conquered her thoughts.
Her mind went blank, just like when she forgot Yu Qing’s script earlier.
Eventually, she gave up thinking altogether.
Yu Jingxin couldn’t remember the last time she had been this intimate with Ji Qingyuan. Since their quarrel, she had become neglectful and even resistant to intimacy. In the past, Ji Qingyuan had always taken the initiative.
During their encounters, she merely complied reluctantly, and the experience was poor.
“Jingxin,” Ji Qingyuan called her name, signaling her to look at him.
Yu Jingxin turned her face away, ignoring him.
Ji Qingyuan pressed his lips against her ear, his voice low and hoarse. “Baby.”
Yu Jingxin: “...”
A tingling sensation and flutter spread from where their bodies connected to the tips of her heart.
Overwhelmed by the depth of their connection, Yu Jingxin had no choice but to surrender. She turned her face to press cheek-to-cheek with him, and they kissed deeply once more.
Peace returned at 9:15 PM.
Yu Jingxin blinked. Beauty truly distracted from important matters.
She hadn’t completed her task of acting coquettish, but the battlefield had already been lost.
Ji Qingyuan held her close, and for a while, neither of them spoke.
Yu Jingxin’s mind gradually cleared. She raised her arms again, wrapping them around Ji Qingyuan’s neck.
She mentally reassured herself: raising her arms counted as exercise for slimming them. Yu Qing’s slender arms must be the result of hanging onto Fu Jichen’s neck every day.
Their bodies were still intertwined.
Ji Qingyuan looked at her. “Do you want more?”
Yu Jingxin quickly shook her head. Her body couldn’t handle another round so soon.
She drafted her words carefully in her mind, aiming to make them as tactful and artistic as possible while shifting all responsibility onto him.
She locked eyes with him. “If Jiashi Group invests in Wenning Media, people who don’t know the truth—and even our relatives—will gossip behind our backs. They won’t care if it’s for profit; they’ll only be interested in the drama.”
“It’s been four years, and many people are waiting to see me humiliated. Can you… spoil me just this once?”
“I’m not forbidding you from investing in Wenning Media. Invest personally and sign a nominee shareholder agreement with Leng Wenning. That way, no one will know it’s you, and I won’t be gossiped about. Leng Wenning’s company can also operate normally.”
“If your friends find out and the gossip spreads, you can transfer the company shares to me at that time. Then no one can say anything. They’ll think it’s purely for profit.”
Letting his wife and ex-girlfriend hold shares in the same company—how could their lives ever be peaceful? Only a man who had lost his mind would do such a thing.
But Yu Jingxin rarely acted coquettish with him, and she was clearly jealous.
Unable to reject her plea, Ji Qingyuan reluctantly agreed.
He leaned down to kiss her, wanting her once more.
Yu Jingxin patted him. “Get up. You’re crushing me. I’m going to take a shower.”
Ji Qingyuan: “...”
________________________________________
Down by the lake, Yu Qing accompanied Yu Shaohong as he fished. On the wooden table were barbecued food, beer, and a pile of snacks.
Moonlight poured down, and the evening breeze brushed against their faces.
From the bushes by the lake, an unknown insect chirped intermittently.
Yu Shaohong hadn’t enjoyed such a relaxing life in many years. Though he hadn’t caught a single fish after half an hour, it didn’t dampen his cheerful mood.
“Little brat, have you contacted your mother?”
Yu Qing nodded. “Mm.”
She peeled a raw sunflower seed and popped it into her mouth. It had no flavor, but Yu Jingxin had said that raw seeds were more nutritious than roasted ones, so she ate dozens of them every day.
Since they were in contact, Yu Shaohong didn’t spoil the mood further.
The gates of the courtyard slowly opened, and a car drove in.
Everyone else was already home, so this must be Yu Jingze returning from his business trip.
Yu Qing leaned over to peek at the parking area. Seeing Yu Jingze step out of the car, she waved. “Brother, over here!” Whether or not he could see her, she waved anyway.
Yu Jingze looked weary, his face showing signs of fatigue. “I’m going to take a shower,” he said, heading straight into the villa.
Fu Jichen was in the kitchen making juice for Yu Qing. From peeling mangosteens to juicing, he handled everything himself.
He had already made one glass and was preparing another for his father-in-law.
It wasn’t until tonight that he had learned to use the juicer, so his movements were a bit slow.
Seeing Fu Jichen busy, Yu Jingze walked over and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge.
Fu Jichen glanced at him. “Finally back?”
Yu Jingze pondered over the subtle emphasis on “finally.” “What, did someone ask about me?”
“Do you really not know who you’ve upset?” Fu Jichen poured the freshly made mangosteen juice into another empty glass.
Yu Jingze gave Fu Jichen a thoughtful look, understanding what he meant. “Tell Zou Lexiao not to waste her time on me.”
Fu Jichen: “I don’t have time. You tell her yourself.”
Yu Jingze also felt it inappropriate to relay such a message through Fu Jichen. The awkward topic ended there. He pointed to the glass. “What kind of juice is this?”
“Mangosteen.”
“Give me a glass.”
“There’s none left. One for Yu Qing, one for Dad. We’ve used up all the mangosteens.”
Yu Jingze opened a cabinet, took out a glass, poured half of his father’s drink into it, then added some cold water to top off the original glass.
Fu Jichen: “...”
Even more devious than him.
The unique sweet-and-sour taste of mangosteen lingered in his mouth, even after being diluted with water.
After drinking half the glass, Yu Jingze went upstairs to shower but turned back after a few steps. “Zou Lexiao’s back in the country?”
Fu Jichen: “She’s back at school. She’ll return to work at Shuoyu Law Firm in early June.”
Yu Jingze nodded, hesitating as if he wanted to say something but decided against it. He left.
Fu Jichen’s phone rang—it was Secretary Pan.
“President Fu, Chairman Pang has expressed interest in cooperation. His secretary asked about your schedule.”
Fu Jichen thought for a moment. “Book a flight for tomorrow morning.”
He instructed Secretary Pan to contact Qiao Han and have him join him.
He wasn’t very familiar with Xinja Technology’s specific operations, so he needed Qiao Han to decide whether the proposed collaboration method was feasible.
After hanging up, Fu Jichen took the two glasses of juice and headed toward the lake.
Yu Qing had eaten quite a bit and was strolling along the viewing platform. She occasionally glanced at the third floor, wondering if Yu Jingxin had successfully acted coquettish.
Fu Jichen handed her the juice. “I have to go on a business trip tomorrow.”
Surprised, Yu Qing asked, “Where to?”
Fu Jichen: “To meet with Pang Linbin to discuss the Xinja partnership. You introduced us earlier, and now there’s progress. I just received the call.”
Pang Linbin was an elder. He couldn’t very well ask Pang Linbin to fly over to meet him.
The trip would take about three days, plus travel time, totaling five or six days.
“I’ll try to finish early.”
As they chatted, Ji Qingyuan and Yu Jingxin came out. They had smelled the barbecue aroma from the terrace.
Yu Qing raised her eyebrows at Yu Jingxin, who responded with an OK gesture. Both women exchanged knowing smiles.
Fu Jichen and Ji Qingyuan joined Yu Shaohong for drinks, while Yu Qing and Yu Jingxin leaned against the railing, whispering quietly.
“I worried all night,” Yu Qing said.
Yu Jingxin: “I almost messed it up.” Fortunately, the outcome wasn’t bad. “Ji Qingyuan agreed to sign a nominee investment contract with Leng Wenning.”
“Next time, I’ll notify you in advance when I plan to act coquettish.” Yu Qing advised earnestly, “You should practice flirting more often.”
Yu Jingxin changed the subject. “Let’s not just talk about me. What about you? What are your plans?”
“I still don’t want to invest in the high-risk futures market of marriage.” Yu Qing leaned on the railing, gazing at the calm lake surface. Looking down, she could see her reflection—a simple black outline.
She explained to Yu Jingxin why she wasn’t interested in marriage as a “high-risk investment.” “Once you invest, you hope it will pay off. Even if it crashes and you’re on the verge of bankruptcy, you’ll still be unwilling to give up. You’ll borrow money to gamble again, thinking maybe it will rebound tomorrow. Then tomorrow comes, and the next, and eventually, you’re completely trapped.”
Such a life would be miserable.
Yu Jingxin: “The process of waiting for it to rebound can also be a kind of happiness. Didn’t you say that life itself is about finding joy amidst suffering? Although marriage doubles the pain, it also doubles the joy.”
Yu Qing turned to look at her sister and suddenly smiled.
It seemed that acting coquettish had worked well—now she was encouraging her to enter the “castle.”
Yu Jingze came downstairs in fresh clothes. From the wooden table, Yu Shaohong called them over.
This was the first time the entire family sat together, eating late-night snacks, enjoying the lake breeze, and chatting casually.
Yu Qing sat close to Fu Jichen, with her father beside her.
Yu Jingxin intended to sit between her father and Yu Qing. Though the space wasn’t wide, squeezing in would make it work.
Before she could move, Ji Qingyuan pulled her over. She nearly fell into his lap but quickly steadied herself by gripping his thigh.
Ji Qingyuan glanced at her. She had been so affectionate with him in bed, but now she pretended not to know him after getting up.
Fu Jichen had a task for Yu Jingze since he was leaving on a business trip. “I have an early flight tomorrow and won’t be back until next week. During these days, go home early and keep Yu Qing company. Talk to her.”
Yu Jingze grabbed a skewer of grilled chicken wings. “Are you afraid she’ll become introverted without anyone to talk to? Don’t worry, she can entertain herself.”
Yu Qing nudged her father’s arm. Yu Shaohong understood and snatched the skewer from Yu Jingze’s hand. “Eat less at night, or hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes might catch up with you.”
Everyone laughed.
Yu Jingze: “...”
Speechless for a long while.
Fu Jichen opened a can of beer, originally intending to give it to Yu Jingze but redirected it to Ji Qingyuan instead.
He continued the earlier topic. “I want you to keep Yu Qing company, not just for chatting. Mainly, when she wants to vent frustration, give her someone to rant to. Since I’m not home, you’ll be on duty for me.”
Yu Qing shifted closer to him, leaning on his shoulder. “Thank you, President Fu.”
Regarding the companionship, Ji Qingyuan had a suggestion. “Don’t you have a tech company? Have the tech company develop a chatbot specifically for her. All problems will be solved.”
Yu Qing was particularly interested, mainly because she wanted to challenge a robot. “I can invest appropriately to customize one specifically for me. If the chat experience is good, we can mass-produce it.”
Many people stay at home and don’t want to go out. Over time, not talking becomes an issue—no one is around to relieve boredom.
Fu Jichen thought it was a good idea but wasn’t sure if it could be produced. “I’ll ask Qiao Han about it tomorrow.”
Yu Jingze interjected, “Don’t forget to add a romance and marriage module. Let her listen to more of that.”
Speaking of romance, Yu Qing suddenly thought of Zou Lexiao. She sat up straight and gestured to Yu Jingze. “Brother, give me your hand.”
Yu Jingze examined her. “What for?”
Yu Qing: “Just give me your hand.”
Knowing it was a trap, Yu Jingze still extended it.
Yu Qing placed her fingers on his pulse, pretending to take his pulse. “Brother, have you been having vivid dreams lately?”
Yu Jingze grabbed a skewer of vegetables to eat. “I’m having a nightmare right now.”
Laughter spread across the lakeside again.
Yu Qing slapped the back of his hand. “When you come to see me for treatment in the future, ten bottles of perfume as the starting fee.”
Amidst the playful banter, it was almost eleven o’clock.
Most of the barbecue was eaten, and several rounds of beer were finished.
Yu Shaohong still had half a can of beer. After the alcohol hit, he became more talkative than usual. “Today, I want to drink with Jichen and Qingyuan. Thank you both. The house is lively and fun now. I’ve never admired anyone before, but you two are exceptions.”
“Dad, you flatter us.”
Yu Qing reached up to scratch her father’s temples. There were no white hairs, but time had left its marks on his handsome face.
The once dashing playboy from a wealthy family, after many years, had settled into a grounded life.
Yu Shaohong turned to look at Yu Qing. “I especially want to thank my little brat. Aside from money, I haven’t given you much paternal love since you were young. Once, I was so busy that I didn’t visit you for a long time, and you didn’t recognize me… Now you’ve given me so much in return. Too much. I feel unworthy as a father.”
As he spoke, his eyes reddened.
Yu Jingxin tried to lighten the mood by opening a music player and searching for a song. It was fitting: “The sky is filled with whose tears flying.”
The melody drifted across the lakeside.
Everyone: “...”
Unable to hold back, they burst out laughing.
Yu Shaohong was exasperated and demanded, “Who played it?”
He looked around. The sound came from Yu Jingxin’s direction. “Jingxin, you…”
Before he could finish, Ji Qingyuan interrupted. “Dad, I accidentally pressed it.”
Yu Shaohong: “You sure know how to press things.”
“...”
Yu Shaohong suddenly remembered something. “Qingyuan, someone anonymously reported that you washed lettuce all night, wasting water. Do you have anything to say?”
Ji Qingyuan: “...”
He glanced at Fu Jichen—it was obviously him who had anonymously reported it.
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