After a Contract Marriage with a Cold and Older Person - Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Playfulness

Ji Wenxu didn’t walk fast.

Just as he entered the front yard, a lady in high heels rushed over to him from inside the house.

“Xiaoxu, where did you go? Your leg hasn’t healed, how can you run around everywhere?” Meng Ying quickly went to support Ji Wenxu, her face full of worry.

Ji Wenxu gave his mother a reassuring smile: “It’s almost healed, Mom, don’t worry about me.”

Meng Ying held his arm, slowing her steps to match her son’s. “How can I not worry? And you, if your mother doesn’t call you, you won’t call her? You didn’t answer my call today, so of course, I came over because I was worried about you.”

Ji Wenxu quickly took out his phone and indeed saw a missed call from over an hour ago.

He followed Meng Ying back into the villa and sat down on the sofa before remembering what he had been doing at that time.

“I was at the hospital doing a check-up, and I silenced my phone, so I didn’t answer,” Ji Wenxu explained.

Meng Ying was startled and quickly bent down to examine Ji Wenxu’s leg. Ji Wenxu immediately pulled her wrist, his tone gentle:

“It’s nothing serious. I went to the hospital to see Grandpa and did a check-up at the same time. The doctor said it’s recovering very well, and the cast should be removed by the end of the month.”

Meng Ying finally breathed a sigh of relief. “You boy, you scared your mother to death.”

“I’m this old, what kind of accident could I have? And the aunties are here in the villa, too, aren’t they?” Ji Wenxu felt Meng Ying was still treating him like a child.

Meng Ying was helpless: “Yes, Xiaoxu has grown up.”

She paused, then added, “Why don’t I hire two more aunties to take care of you? You’re so determined to move out, and since I can’t look after you, I have to rely on the aunties to be more attentive.”

“You don’t have to worry about me so much. I’m really fine.” Ji Wenxu stood up and performed a few single-leg hops in front of Meng Ying.

Meng Ying covered her mouth and chuckled lightly. “How is Grandpa today? I haven’t had a chance to visit him yet.”

She had planned to call Ji Wenxu and then go to the hospital to look after the old man, but the unanswered call reminded her of the call Ji Wenxu didn’t answer three months ago.

She couldn’t rest assured no matter what, so she specifically took a car to the villa.

Ji Wenxu sat down next to her. “He’s doing well. He was so happy thinking about being discharged tomorrow that he made me play a game of chess with him.”

Meng Ying patted her chest lightly in relief. “That’s good then.”

“Actually, I went and did something else,” Ji Wenxu said.

Meng Ying: “What?”

Ji Wenxu: “I met with my fiancé, Song Tingyun.”

Meng Ying’s expression was slightly surprised: “Did Grandpa ask you to go?”

Ji Wenxu shook his head: “I wanted to go myself. Aren’t we getting married? I thought I’d get to know him beforehand…”

“Xiaoxu, I know you don’t want to get married.” Meng Ying’s temperament was gentle, she always spoke softly, her eyebrows like willow leaves, her eyes mild, her hair in a bun, and she wore a light-colored qipao.

When talking to her, Ji Wenxu would subconsciously lower his voice.

Meng Ying frowned slightly: “It’s just that your grandpa is right, having someone to look after you is ultimately a good thing.”

“And Song Tingyun is indeed very good. I haven’t been involved in the family business for a long time, but I hear he is very capable. Whether it’s in dealing with people or in business management, he is someone you can learn from. Besides, he is very handsome. Maybe after you two get married, you can slowly develop feelings, just like your father and I?”

Ji Wenxu frowned and made a small sound of annoyance.

This was strange.

It was understandable for Grandpa and Father to praise Song Tingyun.

But why was his mother, who never interfered with the family business, also siding with Song Tingyun? She’d had hardly any contact with him, yet she was praising him to the high heavens?

Could it be that during the days he was hospitalized and unconscious, Song Tingyun took the opportunity to bewitch their whole family?

“Xiaoxu.” Seeing Ji Wenxu completely spaced out, Meng Ying raised her voice to call him. “Wenxu.”

Ji Wenxu was snapped back to attention and immediately felt his earlier thoughts were absurd. “Mom, what is it?”

Meng Ying: “What are you thinking about?”

Ji Wenxu: “Nothing, just thinking about marrying Song Tingyun.”

Meng Ying was greatly shocked. “Are you willing?”

Ji Wenxu nodded: “Yeah, don’t you all want me to get married?”

Meng Ying’s heart trembled at his seemingly sensible words. She lowered her head, avoiding Ji Wenxu’s eyes, and in a hoarse voice, as if she had thought of something, she said, “Mom knows you’re being sarcastic. You’re angry and don’t want to get married, but Wenxu, Mom really doesn’t want to receive another call from the hospital.”

“In those many photos the hospital sent, Mom couldn’t even see your face. You were covered in blood…”

She looked up at Ji Wenxu, her eyes teary.

Ji Wenxu was scared and frantically wiped away Meng Ying’s tears, saying, “Mom, it’s nothing serious. That was ages ago, wasn’t it? And I won’t go car racing anymore.”

“Besides, marriage is just marriage. Look how great you and Dad are doing now, right?”

He really couldn’t find words to comfort his mother, so he resorted to the same set of words his family used to coax him.

“And Mom, do you know? I met Song Tingyun today and found that he’s actually not bad. We’ve already agreed to get married in early October.”

Meng Ying stared blankly at her son. “Are you really thinking that?”

“Yes, we’ve decided to get married in early October. You’re not going to disagree, are you?”

Meng Ying said, “Whether I agree or not is another matter. Does your grandpa know?”

“Yes, I told him at the hospital today.”

“Good, alright…” Meng Ying held his hand. “You have half a month to recover from your injury, and Mom will help you organize the wedding.”

She accepted Ji Wenxu’s decision to marry Song Tingyun very easily.

“Mm, okay.” This was just a marriage agreement that only he and Song Tingyun knew about.

But Ji Wenxu still felt a bit unsatisfied. He tentatively asked, “Mom, I suddenly thought today, if I had gone abroad with my cousin after graduation and this hadn’t happened, would you have made me get married?”

Meng Ying lowered her eyes, slowly shook her head, and spoke softly: “No, I wouldn’t have. Actually, the idea of the arranged marriage was proposed by your grandpa. I don’t know his specific thoughts. I just feel that if the person you marry is Song Tingyun, I would be very relieved.”

Ji Wenxu frowned. “Do you know him well?”

Meng Ying thought seriously: “Not really, but I know he’s a very good person.”

Ji Wenxu began to suspect that the bewitchment might actually be real.

“Oh.” Ji Wenxu suddenly remembered something and added, “When I met Grandpa today, he said he wants me to move in with Song Tingyun now, saying it’s to get familiar with each other first.”

Meng Ying: “Was that Grandpa’s decision?”

Ji Wenxu nodded: “Yes, he told me.”

Meng Ying pondered for a moment, then approved: “That’s good. Getting familiar beforehand will lead to a more harmonious relationship after marriage.”

Ji Wenxu tilted his head, looking at his gentle mother beside him, his eyes filled with doubt. He felt the whole family was hiding something from him.

So he asked, “Mom, is there something you guys are hiding from me?”

Meng Ying lightly coughed. “You child, what are you imagining now?”

Then she stood up and continued, “Alright, seeing that you’re fine, I’m relieved. I’m going to the hospital now to look after your grandpa.”

“Grandpa is being discharged tomorrow. Since your leg is injured, you don’t need to come. Just wait for us at home.”

Ji Wenxu leaned back against the sofa: “I promised Grandpa I’d pick him up from the hospital.”

“He also said he’s inviting Song Tingyun home as a guest after being discharged.”

Meng Ying could only reply gently: “Alright, Mom won’t stop you. You’ll be taking a car anyway, so there’s no danger.”

“I’m going to the hospital to look after your grandpa now. I already asked the auntie to stew chicken soup for you in the kitchen. Remember to drink it later,” Meng Ying instructed again.

“Got it, got it…” Ji Wenxu’s reply was very perfunctory.

He felt that everyone in the family was treating him like an immature, rebellious teenager.

Meng Ying sighed lightly, picked up her shoulder bag from the sofa, and turned to leave.

Ji Wenxu was about to get up to walk her out, but Meng Ying saw his intention immediately and instructed, “Xiaoxu, you don’t need to see me out. The doctor said your leg injury is recovering well, and he must have warned you to use that leg less, right?”

Without waiting for Ji Wenxu’s agreement or disagreement, she turned and left the villa.

Ji Wenxu looked out the window and saw Meng Ying walk out, patiently talking to the bodyguards and aunties of the villa, giving them some instructions.

His eyelashes trembled slightly, and he slowly withdrew his gaze.

Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it was late at night.

The night sky was dotted with stars. It was around eleven o’clock when Ji Wenxu finished showering and came out.

With his leg injury, showering was inconvenient, and he was not used to having others wait on him, so it took him nearly an hour to finish.

While blow-drying his hair, the phone on the table buzzed twice.

Two messages popped up.

They were from Song Tingyun.

【Song Tingyun: Your grandpa discussed something with me this afternoon】

【Song Tingyun: He said he wants you to move in with me, do you know about this?】

Ji Wenxu put down the hairdryer, picked up his phone, and replied: 【Yes】

【Song Tingyun: What do you think?】

【Ji Wenxu: Just as he said, let’s move in and get along first】

A few minutes later, Song Tingyun replied: 【Okay】

Ji Wenxu found it strange and asked: 【What were you doing?】

【Song Tingyun: Telling Grandpa that I agree to move in with you early】

Ji Wenxu’s eyes immediately widened: 【What do you mean?】

【Song Tingyun: I was asking for your opinion, you see. I thought if you didn’t agree, I would tell Grandpa it wasn’t suitable, but since you     agreed, I can’t really reject Grandpa’s arrangement now ^^】

Ji Wenxu was so angry he felt like spitting blood. He typed furiously: 【Why didn’t you tell me just now?!!】

He had thought Song Tingyun was just consulting him, which was why he said those words.

Song Tingyun saw the newly sent message, and a slight smile gradually appeared in the cool eyes behind his lenses. He typed slowly: 【I thought you knew】

Ji Wenxu clutched his rapidly beating heart. It wasn’t because of infatuation, it was pure anger.

However, he had already expected them to move in together early, so this small incident wasn’t enough to make it unacceptable.

He just felt that the person chatting with him was exactly like an unreasonable fox.