"Mainly because I can't manage it either."
"That's true, once the children are grown, they should enjoy themselves."
Ji's mother was in a good mood, and her luck at mahjong was also good. She smiled and said, "Mahjong!"
"You've won it all by yourself today."
"Let's go, let's go, we'll continue tomorrow."
"I'll have the driver take you out."
After seeing off her mahjong friends, Ji's mother went upstairs to change her clothes.
When she came downstairs again, she looked down and said, "You're already here."
Jiang Mian stood up from the sofa, her eyes sparkling as she smiled, "Mom, Xiu intentionally didn't go to the company today. We came as soon as we finished our work."
Ji Zhixiu glanced at her, that little liar. He intentionally didn't go to the company, but it was to spend more time with her.
Ji's mother was clearly pleased to hear this, at least it showed her son valued coming back for dinner. "Since everyone's here, let's start the meal. Your grandfather isn't home; he's out visiting old friends."
At the dinner table.
Ji's mother couldn't help but say, "When do you plan to give me a grandson?"
Jiang Mian was startled and was about to speak.
The man held her hand under the table and preempted her, saying in a deep voice, "Mom, I don't have any plans right now. I don't want children."
Ji's mother frowned, "People like Chang Qin get married and have children, completing the major events of life. Why are you so different? While I'm still young, have children early, and I'll have the energy to help you take care of them."
"There are nannies to take care of children. Why would you need to do it, Mom?"
Ji's mother was choked by him, "In short, you just don't listen to me, do you? I understand now."
Ji's father picked up a piece of food, "You're being unreasonable. Our son has his own ideas. What are you interfering with so much?"
He had intended to help his son out of a difficult spot, but neither mother nor son even glanced at him.
Ji's mother sneered, "I interfere too much? Do you want me to be like you and not care about anything?"
It was ridiculous, after all these years, what fatherly responsibility had he ever fulfilled?
Ji Zhilan remained like an invisible person, saying nothing.
Ji's father wished he could slap himself, "Fine, I'll mind my own business."
This woman, for decades, had never changed her attitude towards him.
His interjection made even Jiang Mian feel a sense of awkwardness in the atmosphere.
Ji's mother didn't bring up anything else. After dinner, she pointed to a pile of gift boxes on the sofa and said, "These are all for you. Take them with you."
Jiang Mian looked in the direction she pointed. They were all food, drinks, and some daily necessities.
The maid said, "These were all personally selected by Madam, and some were even made by Madam herself."
Ji's mother glanced at her, "You talk too much. No one will eat these if they stay here. Take them with you."
Jiang Mian naturally accepted, and said obediently, "Thank you, Mom."
Ji Zhixiu also nodded slightly, "Thank you for your trouble, Mom."
Ji's mother waved her hand, "Go back early."
On the way back, Jiang Mian said, "Why do I feel like Mom's attitude towards Dad is a bit strange?"
Actually, she had felt it the first time they met, but she had forgotten to ask.
Ji Zhixiu turned his head to look at her. The little girl was astonishingly perceptive in some ways.
"They were a marriage of convenience. Mom was proud when she was young, and after marrying my dad, they were respectful. However, when I was ten, a mistress came to the door and threatened to usurp her position, bringing a love child who was five years younger than me." A trace of sarcasm flickered across his brows.
Jiang Mian's heart tightened. Even though it had been so long, she couldn't help but look at Ji Zhixiu with concern.
The man's voice spoke again, "With Mom's personality, she couldn't have tolerated it, but for me and Zhilan, and for the sake of the Ji family's reputation, she endured it. And he hid behind my grandfather, never truly apologizing to my mother. What happened today is his own doing."
"Even dealing with the mistress was handled by Grandpa. Later, Grandpa bypassed him and handed over the Ji Corporation to me."
He knew that his mother had never let go of her resentment over the years.
If it weren't for his cowardice, his mother wouldn't have needed psychological therapy after returning from Jiangnan.
He held the little girl's hand, brought it to his lips and kissed it, a smile appearing. "From the moment I knew, I decided that I would only love one person in this life, cherish her with all my heart, and never let her suffer any harm."
Meeting the little girl was his good fortune.
It didn't matter if she forgot their first meeting; they had a future together.
Jiang Mian leaned in and hugged him, "Xiu."
Ji Zhixiu lowered his head, and a gentle kiss landed on her eyes.
...
After Ji's mother saw her son off, she instructed the maid to bring a fruit platter and then applied a facial mask.
Then she opened her phone and saw a push notification for entertainment gossip. She couldn't help but click on it.
#Jiang Mian President of Floral Blossom#
Entertainment Elder v: Jiang Mian, as the most popular artist under Floral Blossom Company, even her boss has come out to speak for her. Look at this Weibo full of protective words. Moreover! This boss is so handsome! How motivating it is to go to work every day! [Image][Image]
Ji's mother clicked on the enlarged photo. The person in the photo felt vaguely familiar.
But she couldn't remember who it was. The hand holding the phone trembled. Ji's mother looked up and asked the maid beside her, "When will the old master be back?"
"He probably won't be back tonight." the maid said.
Ji's mother felt a sense of unease. She dialed a number, "Hello, Dad, when are you coming back? It's nothing, nothing. Do you need me to pick you up?"
"Okay, I'll wait for you then."
After hanging up, she closed her eyes. For many years, she hadn't thought of that mother and son.
"Qi Shuhua, Ah Sheng doesn't love you at all! You were just lucky to marry him. And now? Your family is almost bankrupt, and you're still clinging to the status of Mrs. Ji?"
"You have a son, and so do I!" The woman pulled out a timid little boy from behind her.
Looking at Ji's mother's shocked face, she said triumphantly, "You can tell, right? The resemblance is so strong, it's impossible to say they aren't related!"
The past flashed before her eyes. Ji's mother clutched her chest. The facial mask fell to the ground with a 'pap' sound. Ji's mother ignored it and slowly got up and walked upstairs.
Ji's father had just come out of the kitchen. Seeing her like this, he couldn't help but ask with concern, "What's wrong? Do you need any help?"
Ji's mother turned around, her eyes red, and cursed, "Get lost!"
To be cursed at for no reason, Ji's father's expression turned ugly. He wanted to help her but his outstretched hand fell in mid-air. After she walked away, he muttered, "After all these years, her temper really hasn't changed! Who can stand it?"
...
The promised blockbuster revelation had not yet been released, and many people were already impatient.
The comment section of Nanfang You Entertainment's Weibo was flooded with messages, with netizens demanding to know if he had any real gossip.
Night Wing was also getting impatient. He crossed his legs, leaning back on the sofa, with a pile of snacks on the coffee table in front of him.
He pouted, and Night Three immediately understood, unwrapping a bag of wavy potato chips and handing it to him.
He took the chips, his eyes still fixed on the computer. The only Weibo comment had already undergone a complete reversal.
From "What are you pretending to be?" to "My husband."
Within a few hours, Night Wing had gained a group of online wives.
Night Wing tutted, "If I debuted, wouldn't I drive them crazy? It wouldn't be too much to compare myself to Daniel Wu, right?"
Night Three kept his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart.
Night Wing didn't expect him to speak. "Call them and urge them to release it quickly."
Night Three was silent. Was this something he could urge? But he still took out his phone.
"Wait, no need," Night Wing interrupted him and sat up straight.
Nanfang You Entertainment v: Although there are not many clean people in the entertainment industry, this video can prove that Jiang Mian is not as pure as she appears ~ [Video]
He clicked on the video, and his gaze gradually became serious.
"Tell Ning Jie to tell Jiang Mian not to come to the company for a few days. I'll handle the rest."
At home, the old man Ji Zhixiu should be able to protect her, right?
Xiushui Villa, deep into the night.
Jiang Mian hooked her arms around the man's neck, their eyes met, and she said coquettishly, "Let's just sleep well tonight!"
Ji Zhixiu put his arm around her waist and nodded in agreement, "We do need to sleep well."
Jiang Mian felt that the man's agreement was too quick, making it feel unreal.
But no matter what, he agreed, which was good. Jiang Mian pushed him into the bathroom, "Then hurry up and take a bath."
Ji Zhixiu gave her a meaningful look, "Wait for me."
Jiang Mian threw back the covers and got into bed. She habitually picked up her phone and unlocked it to check Weibo.
On Weibo's trending topics, Nanfang You Entertainment and Jiang Mian were listed side by side.
Jiang Mian curiously clicked in.
The moment she saw the video, Jiang Mian's face turned slightly pale.
The video was not long, only a little over two minutes, and looked like surveillance footage.
In a dimly lit hotel corridor, Jiang Mian stood at the door of a room.
Eighteen-year-old Jiang Mian looked even more youthful, wearing only a white T-shirt and jeans. However, even with such low pixelation, her beautiful face was undeniable, possessing a hazy beauty.
From the surveillance, it could be seen that she hesitated at the door for a moment before finally raising her hand to knock. Soon, a man opened the door and let her in.
Then, the camera panned, and there was nothing more.
Memories surged back like a tide.
Jiang Mian had never forgotten the memory of that night.
She stared blankly at the phone screen. The video began to play on repeat automatically.
Comments also floated by.
【So what? What does this video want to express?】
【I recognize this man, it's Director Song Yang. His family is very rich.】
【Didn't come out all night?】
【I still don't believe Jiang Mian is that kind of person.】
【Disgusting, the entertainment industry is truly a cesspool. I actually gained a bit more good impression of this woman because of Actor Song!!】
Jiang Mian hugged her knees, feeling a bit lost.
She had never imagined that this matter would be exposed.
Nor had she imagined that someone had painstakingly found this surveillance footage.
Ji Zhixiu came out of the bathroom, "Mianmian."
There was no response.
Ji Zhixiu frowned imperceptibly and walked to the bedside.
The little girl's back was facing him, and she was leaning on her knees.
Her posture looked inexplicably pathetic.
The soft mattress dipped slightly. Ji Zhixiu wrapped his long arm around her and pulled her into his embrace, saying softly, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, nothing." Jiang Mian was a little dazed.
Ji Zhixiu's gaze fell on her phone, and his narrow eyes slightly narrowed. "What are you looking at?"
"Nothing!" She snatched the phone and pressed the lock button.
"It's time to sleep." Saying this, she smiled and reached out to turn off the bedside lamp.
In the darkness, Jiang Mian hugged the man and actively pressed against him, even with a hint of urgency.
Ji Zhixiu frowned. If he couldn't see Jiang Mian's abnormality now, he would be blind.
Jiang Mian hugged his waist and kissed his chin. Usually, the man would have already overwhelmed her.
However, at this moment, he was indifferent. Jiang Mian felt a bit lost at his coldness.
Her voice held a hint of grievance, "You... why..."
The words of seeking pleasure were difficult to utter, and Jiang Mian's long eyelashes trembled.