Another Day of Pretending for the Wealthy Couple - Chapter 16

Rong Xi went downstairs, and Zhao Qingye approached her.

“Did you tell him?”

Rong Xi shook her head. “Those two are completely wrapped up in each other. When would I have had the chance?”

Zhao Qingye chuckled lightly. “Zhong Yan is really taking it seriously.” But the smile didn’t reach his eyes.

Rong Xi pressed her lips together. “Let’s go.”

Zhao Qingye glanced at the window. “If the microelectronics collaboration between Zhongheng Group and the Ji family goes smoothly, do you think state-owned assets will get involved? Will Uncle Zhong climb even higher?”

Rong Xi walked ahead. “It’s a done deal. Originally, Shen Shan, the Party Secretary of Shanghai, was set to be transferred to the central government if things went well. But now that the Zhong and Ji families have joined forces, the Ji family has been brought back from the brink. The credit won’t go to Secretary Shen, it’ll go to Secretary Zhong in the capital instead.”

Not only did he facilitate cooperation between the north and south, but he also brought the leading enterprise of the south into his own camp. Zhongheng Group is expanding into the southern market, yet the taxes are paid in Beijing.

In that case, it might as well have gone bankrupt outright.

Zhao Qingye hummed in acknowledgment. “The Ji family’s earlier troubles might have been orchestrated by Zhong Yan, just so he could seize the opportunity.”

A flicker passed through Rong Xi’s eyes before she smiled and said, “Who knows?”

The two got into the car. Zhao Qingye fell silent, and Rong Xi was in no mood to talk either.

Rong Xi closed her eyes, but the image of the figure in that room lingered in her mind like a haunting thought.

“Zhong Yan despises foolishness the most. How could he like a good-for-nothing young lady?” She didn’t know if she was speaking to herself or asking the person beside her.

Zhao Qingye, however, thought she was expressing sympathy for Shu Yun. “Is that girl Shu Yun any smarter? Just sit back and enjoy the show.”

On the other side,

Cheng Gengxu and Gu Beiming, who lived in the same neighborhood, shared a ride back.

“Yanzi’s marriage alliance has too many people watching.”

Some are motivated by profit, some by power, and others by personal reasons, external threats.

“Fortunately, Ji Tanyuan isn’t a strong-willed person, or it would be internal strife on top of external threats.”

Cheng Gengxu raised an eyebrow. “What do you think of Ji Tanyuan?”

Gu Beiming glanced at him. “She’s not my woman, why ask me? Ultimately, she’s just a medium. The key lies in what Ji Qing and his shareholder brothers are planning.”

“They won’t fully align themselves with the Zhong family. They wouldn’t dare to seek profit with officials.”

It’s like political marriages in ancient times, when a real conflict breaks out, who would care about the princess? This is an obvious truth.

…

Early the next morning, Ji Tanyuan had no idea how she had returned the night before. When she woke up, she was already in the master bedroom’s bed.

She touched her face and realized her makeup had been removed.

She got up and went to the bathroom. Half an hour later, Ji Tanyuan came downstairs with damp hair, wrapped in a bathrobe.

The man behind the kitchen island was making coffee as usual.

The house staff hadn’t started work yet, so it was just the two of them at home.

Zhong Yan looked up. “Get ready. We’re going to the old house for breakfast.”

Ji Tanyuan walked over, sat on a barstool, and took the Americano. “Do you go every week? What if someone is away on business?”

“If you’re not in Beijing, of course, you don’t have to go. But if you can, you must. It’s a formality to strengthen the sense of family belonging,” Zhong Yan explained.

Ji Tanyuan drank half her coffee. She felt no sense of belonging, only the dread of rigid etiquette.

“Family doctrines are like this. Everything revolves around the family’s interests. Glory and loss are shared by all.”

Ji Tanyuan smiled. “Of course.”

Zhong Yan studied her for a long moment. “Did you take that to heart?”

Ji Tanyuan smiled cheerfully. “I’ve always known this principle, you made it clear in the prenuptial agreement. Being virtuous means being gentle and obedient.”

Zhong Yan felt inexplicably uncomfortable seeing her like this, but then he reminded himself that this was what they had agreed upon from the start, he wasn’t being unfair.

Soon after, Ji Tanyuan changed her top.

Zhong Yan, still in his usual white shirt and black suit pants, sat on the sofa with his legs crossed, waiting.

The sound of high heels soon echoed from upstairs. Zhong Yan looked up to see his wife descending the stairs in an exquisitely crafted blue maxi dress, the hem swaying gracefully as she moved, her smile radiant.

She twirled in front of him. “What do you think? The dress is knee-length and has sleeves, is this considered proper enough?”

Zhong Yan’s expression remained neutral, but inwardly, he felt a stir. No matter how their relationship unfolded, he knew Ji Tanyuan was no longer someone he could easily forget as a passing figure in his life.

He smiled in return and praised, “Perfect. If the Empress Dowager isn’t satisfied with this, then it’s her fault.”

Ji Tanyuan hummed in agreement. “Let’s go.”

The Zhong family’s ancestral home was tucked away in an unremarkable alley. After retiring, the family patriarch had chosen not to stay in the official compound and instead moved out. Zhong Yan’s father, bound by disciplinary regulations, couldn’t reside there regularly and lived in government-provided housing, only visiting occasionally.

Cars had to be parked in public parking spaces. No matter how high-ranking the official, they had to navigate the narrow, bustling alley, passing through lively streets filled with the clamor of daily life, before reaching the private residential lane marked “No Entry for Tourists” and stepping through a red wooden gate.

Beyond the high threshold lay a spacious interior, a stark contrast to the cramped surroundings outside.

Zhong Yan’s elder brother, Zhong Jing, and his wife, Wen Yi’an, had already arrived and were chatting with the family. Seated in an armchair was the white-haired elder, Zhong Shuqing. At 80 years old, he was far from frail, still full of vitality. Ji Tanyuan thought he could easily be one of the seniors effortlessly working the parallel bars in a park.

Unlike his stern wife, Jiang Qiufen, this retired high-ranking official appeared amiable and kind. Of course, Ji Tanyuan wasn’t naive enough to believe he was genuinely benevolent.

Some people were hidden beneficiaries of privilege, like the men in this family.

As Zhong Yan entered, he greeted them first. “Grandfather, Grandmother.”

The elder nodded and smiled at Ji Tanyuan. “How are you adjusting, Second Daughter-in-Law?”

Ji Tanyuan put on a smile. “Thank you for your concern, Grandfather. I’m doing well.”

“That’s good to hear. I was worried you might find it hard to adapt, coming from a new city to old Beijing. Our family is very close-knit. Since Zhong Yan is often busy with work, if there’s anything you’re unsure about, don’t hesitate to ask your mother-in-law or sister-in-law, they’re locals.”

“I know you received an elite Western education, but don’t forget our fine traditions. Filial piety comes first. The reason our Zhong family has endured for generations is our unity. Only by standing together can we thrive.”

Ji Tanyuan understood this was a subtle reprimand for her reluctance to serve tea to the elder lady.

Her grip on Zhong Yan’s arm tightened, even though he bore the Zhong name and was one of them.

That nauseating feeling surged up again, a musty, shadowy dampness like rotting ancient wood clung to her heart. Ji Tanyuan didn’t think she’d ever be able to look at courtyard houses the same way again.

The old man stood up. “You all chat. Xiao Jing, A-Yan, come with me to the study.”

Zhong Yan chuckled. “Grandfather is right. This filial piety…”

Zhong Jing cut him off in a low voice, a warning tone in his words. “A-Yan.”

Zhong Yan met his brother’s gaze, a look meant to stop him. They both knew this was just a way to discipline outsiders. If she couldn’t endure this, Ji Tanyuan would face even more trouble in the future.

Ji Tanyuan watched helplessly as Zhong Yan ruffled her hair and whispered in her ear, “I’ll kneel for you tonight, but right now, it’s time to show how virtuous you can be.”

Then she watched him go upstairs.

A lump like a rusty coin stuck in Ji Tanyuan’s throat, dry, suffocating, and impossible to swallow or spit out.

Wen Yi’an held her hand. “You’ll get used to it.”

At first, she couldn’t accept it either, but the discomfort only lasted a moment. After that, everyone was happy. Zhong Jing wouldn’t be caught in the middle, and there’d be no unnecessary trouble. Better to avoid complications.

Ji Tanyuan looked at Wen Yi’an. “Sister-in-law, are you used to it?”

Wen Yi’an had a face that seemed difficult to mess with, fox-like eyes, a sharp chin, somewhat aloof. But when she moved, her demeanor softened into gentleness and humility. “Actually, it’s not so bad.”

Zhou Yanyu helped the old lady out and, seeing her two daughters-in-law, said indifferently, “You’re here?”

The old lady looked Ji Tanyuan up and down, then remarked grudgingly, “It seems Aunt Zhang taught you well.”