Another Day of Pretending for the Wealthy Couple - Chapter 49

Ji Tanyuan had been busy in Shanghai for a week, and during that same week, Zhong Yan was also working in Shanghai.

What ultimately landed on Ji Qing’s desk was an asset disposal report that had been polished with carefully chosen words.

Rubbing her temples, Ji Tanyuan reflected on how this week of overtime work had genuinely cost her quite a few strands of hair. She still needed to hurry off for her beauty treatment and had no intention of engaging in a lengthy heart-to-heart.

Moreover, Ji Tanyuan was currently so irritated with her father that she feared she might say something reckless and end up regretting it later.

In his youth, Ji Qing had been strikingly handsome, and Ji Tanyuan had inherited his prominent double eyelids. Even past the age of 50, his figure remained unchanged, though his face bore the marks of time.

“Mom’s gone traveling. You should take some time off and go enjoy yourself too. Stop worrying all the time, it’s all pointless anyway.”

Ji Qing waved his hand dismissively. “I know, I know. Stop nagging.”

Ji Tanyuan fell silent for a moment, then chuckled.

She and Zhang Zhang went to a high-end beauty salon reserved for premium members, where the ambiance was exceptional.

Lying face down on the spa beds, Ji Tanyuan let out a contented sigh. “Why didn’t your magazine accept the business opportunity I referred to you last time?”

Zhang Zhang retorted, “You have the nerve to ask? The other party referred to you as ‘Mrs. Zhong,’ and it scared me half to death. If they’d said ‘Ji Tanyuan,’ I would’ve taken it. But ‘Mrs. Zhong’? How could I dare?”

Ji Tanyuan shrugged. “Just take it. If they’re bold enough to use my identity through you, then I’m bold enough to leverage that identity to get you some benefits.”

She then added with a playful tone, “But make sure to allocate more fashion resources to our little sweetheart.”

“Little sweetheart?”

It took Zhang Zhang a moment to realize she was referring to the actress named Xin Gan.

“Are you really planning to promote her? I thought you were just toying around.”

Ji Tanyuan pouted. “Don’t be ridiculous, she’s a person, you know.”

Zhang Zhang sat up. “Ji Tanyuan, just because she’s a person doesn’t mean you won’t lose interest after three days, does it?”

Ji Tanyuan cracked her eyes open slightly. “When have I ever been a three-minute wonder? I’ve always been very devoted.”

Zhang Zhang countered, “From childhood till now, you’ve dabbled in piano, violin, guzheng, pipa, saxophone, horseback riding, and cooking. You never mastered any of them, you got bored after a short while.”

And that wasn’t even the full list. Thanks to this young lady’s whims, Zhang Zhang had been dragged along to learn every one of them.

Ji Tanyuan thought for a moment. “But Xin Gan is a person.”

“And just because she’s a person, you’ll stay devoted?”

“Isn’t that obvious? Look how many years our friendship has lasted.”

Zhang Zhang nodded. It sounded reasonable, yet something felt off.

“What if it were a man?”

Ji Tanyuan fell silent.

“Forget it, let’s not talk about it.”

Ji Tanyuan blinked. “I don’t know. I’d have to wait until I’m divorced to compare with other men.”

Zhang Zhang: “…”

“You’re still thinking about divorce?”

Ji Tanyuan: “Of course… I guess.”

She felt she probably couldn’t stay with the Zhong family forever, she’d either be assimilated or go mad.

After her massage, Ji Tanyuan felt much more relaxed. She had dinner before heading home. Just as she reached the parking spot, she happened to run into her aunt, Ji Ying, Ji Ziqian, and Ji Ziqian’s wife, who had come for a meal.

Her aunt smiled upon seeing Ji Tanyuan. “Tanyuan, you’re back? I had no idea.”

Ji Tanyuan responded coolly, but her aunt remained amiable.

After Ji Tanyuan left, Tian Ruomei’s expression darkened. “She’s so arrogant, just like her mother.”

Ji Ying sighed. “Don’t be upset. Isn’t her mother already insane?”

Tian Ruomei remembered, then her mood sank, and she turned to leave.

Ji Tanyuan got into the car, and Zhang Zhang drove. “I think your uncle did more than just save your father’s life.”

He was even more filial than a son.

Ji Tanyuan: “He’s willing to do it, and I can’t be bothered to interfere.”

Zhong Yan was waiting for Ji Tanyuan at home. Seeing her return, he said directly, “Pack your things, we need to go back. Grandma is in the hospital.”

Ji Tanyuan nodded and then packed a few essentials.

On the way, Zhong Yan said the situation was serious.

Ji Tanyuan: “How could it be so serious?”

Zhong Yan, seated on the plane, turned off his phone. “I don’t know.”

“Maybe she didn’t take care when the weather turned cold.”

When Ji Tanyuan and Zhong Yan arrived at the Zhong family home, they happened to run into the doctor leaving. The fact that a top-tier doctor had come to the house showed just how serious it was.

Wen Yi’an hadn’t seen the two of them in two months. Their industries were different, so they rarely had time to meet.

Ji Tanyuan was young, having just turned 24. She still spent her time shopping with her wealthy, attractive peers, gathering with a group of elites at bars, or working in the office.

It seemed the lifestyles of the second-generation rich in Shanghai and Beijing were worlds apart.

Ji Tanyuan stepped forward and looked at the elderly lady on oxygen. Zhong Yan, hands in his pockets, immediately saw the issue but said nothing.

Ji Tanyuan pursed her lips. “I’m sorry, it’s our fault.”

“Please don’t take it to heart, Grandma. It’s fine if I get angry, but not you. You’re prone to falling ill when upset, don’t make things harder for yourself.” Ji Tanyuan spoke softly and sincerely.

She meant every word. When she got angry, buying a piece of jewelry would calm her down, but if the old lady got worked up, her blood pressure could spike and she might not make it. She couldn’t understand why the elderly woman was always fixated on her, a younger family member.

Trying to absorb yang energy to live a few more years was less effective than following a scientific approach and getting more sun.

The conflict ended with Ji Tanyuan backing down. She thought, since the old lady was bedridden and too ill to get up, what was the point?

After all, she didn’t have many years left. Ji Tanyuan was young, only 24, even if she were 42, she’d still be decades younger than the old lady.

But this act of yielding…

Zhong Yan watched Ji Tanyuan with genuine surprise. She really had a talent for infuriating people while keeping a straight face.

Zhong Yan then chimed in, “The words may be blunt, but the reasoning isn’t. We’re adults now, Grandma. There’s no need to worry so much, we won’t cause trouble or bring shame to the Zhong family.”

Zhong Fangqi really wanted to say that the words were as crude as the reasoning, and the two of them were so in sync they could perform a comedy duo.

But then he thought about the recent success of the collaboration between Ji Corporation and Zhongheng and held his tongue. He turned his head away and saw his wife’s cold expression, which only added to his irritation.

Since the last incident, Zhou Yanyu had been avoiding staying home, working overtime every day. It was only in the past few days, with the old lady’s illness, that she had started coming home earlier, a belated rebellious phase.

Listening to Ji Tanyuan’s sarcastic remarks, Zhou Yanyu actually found some truth in them.

During a recent check-up, the doctor had advised her to avoid getting angry during menopause.

She said, “Just stop upsetting the old lady, that’s all.”

Zhong Yan: “We haven’t been back for two months.”

“Isn’t that the reason? You all have such big tempers, flying all over the place without a care for the elderly at home. Everyone’s busy with work.” Zhong Fangqi remarked.

Zhou Yanyu knew his words were aimed at her too, as she had been using overtime as an excuse to avoid being home lately.

But what right did he have? For thirty years, she had been the one managing the household. It had only been a month, how could Zhong Fangqi, who was never in a hurry and always busy, have the right to blame her?

“Yes, it’s truly remarkable. Some people only realize this truth after half a lifetime. A-Yan, your departure wasn’t entirely useless.”

Zhong Fangqi’s expression turned cold. “Zhou Yanyu! What nonsense are you spouting in front of the child?”

Ji Tanyuan shrank closer to Zhong Yan. Her own parents argued too, but never with such intensity. So even these leaders quarreled just like any ordinary family.

Zhong Fangqi, mindful of his daughter-in-law’s presence, a man who usually avoided direct reprimands and valued discretion, naturally wouldn’t air his and his wife’s grievances in front of them.

With a cold snort, Zhong Fangqi left.

The elderly lady looked at the group and coughed twice. “All of you, get out. Let Yi’an stay.”

Wen Yi’an nodded and sat down. “I’ll stay with you.”

As soon as Zhong Yan stepped out, the old man called him into the study. The old man was practicing calligraphy. Leaning against the doorframe, Zhong Yan let out a soft, mocking laugh. “The two of you combined are almost two centuries old, yet you came up with the idea of faking an illness?”

The old man set down his brush. “I would’ve preferred to summon you back directly, but in that case, Tanyuan wouldn’t have conceded.”

Zhong Yan hooked the door shut with his foot and strode inside. Placing both hands on the rosewood desk, his posture was impeccably straight, his long legs fully on display. He leaned forward slightly, his expression unreadable, though the corners of his lips curled faintly.

“This isn’t exactly an honorable approach, Grandfather.”