Another Day of Pretending for the Wealthy Couple - Chapter 50

Downstairs, only Ji Tanyuan and Auntie Zhang were left.

This was the same Housekeeper Zhang who, under the “Old Buddha’s” orders, had tried to teach Ji Tanyuan etiquette, only to be brought to heel by Ji Tanyuan with evidence of her own son’s crimes.

Ji Tanyuan took a sip of tea. “Is the Old Madam seriously ill?”

She had grown suspicious from the moment Zhong Fangqi and Zhou Yanyu began to argue, disregarding the Old Madam’s supposed illness. It was impossible for the two of them to be that lacking in self-control.

Housekeeper Zhang looked hesitant.

Ji Tanyuan thought for a moment and said, “I won’t tell anyone.”

She then looked up with a smile. “It’s just that I’ve realized this family is playing me for a fool, and I’d like an answer.”

Housekeeper Zhang sighed. “The old woman just wanted a way to save face.”

“You and the Second Young Master weren’t coming back, and the Old Madam, who cares so much about her pride, was finding it unbearable. So, she came up with this method as a soft approach.”

Ji Tanyuan nodded. “I see. Thank you, Auntie Zhang.”

With that, she slipped a gold bracelet off her wrist. “Don’t let Qian Xiaobo gamble anymore. Keep this bracelet for yourself.”

Auntie Zhang refused, looking quite frightened. The bracelet was solid and thick; it had to be worth a lot of money. If the family found out, she would be done for.

“Oh, come on.” Ji Tanyuan said. “You’ve already started down this path, what’s there to be afraid of? There’s no turning back. Besides, it’s not like I’ll expose you.”

Ji Tanyuan withdrew her hand, and Housekeeper Zhang put the bracelet in her pocket. “Young Madam, please don’t do this again in the future. It scares me.”

Don’t ask, don’t give.

“I won’t.” Ji Tanyuan agreed.

“Actually, I’m quite curious. Who raised Zhong Yan? He’s different from all of you.”

Auntie Zhang thought for a moment. “It wasn’t one specific person, just the family nannies.”

“When the Second Young Master was little, the Old Madam and the Old Master were living in the grand courtyard with the Eldest Young Master. The Master was busy, and the Madam was also working, so he was looked after by nannies from a young age.”

Ji Tanyuan nodded. Of course, the second child wouldn’t be raised as meticulously as the first. Moreover, as the eldest son, Zhong Jing was highly valued and carried great expectations, while Zhong Yan, as the second son, had a bit more freedom.

As she sat on the sofa looking at her phone, Wen Yi’an came out of her room.

“Grandma wants you to bring Zhong Yan in to see her.” Wen Yi’an said.

Ji Tanyuan turned off her phone. “Should I wait a bit then? Zhong Yan is still upstairs talking with Grandpa.”

Wen Yi’an nodded, then sat down and poured herself a glass of water. “I should apologize to you.”

Ji Tanyuan was slightly surprised. “For what?”

“That comment I made last time about you starting a film and television company. I didn’t mean anything by it. I didn’t expect it to cause so much trouble for you and Zhong Yan.”

Ji Tanyuan replied, “Is that what this is about? It’s fine. I thought you were going to apologize for having some inexplicable hostility towards me all this time.”

Wen Yi’an froze, at a loss for words. “You’ve misunderstood.”

Ji Tanyuan just smiled without saying anything.

Wen Yi’an was too hard on herself and prone to getting stuck on trivial matters. Ji Tanyuan understood this and had no intention of engaging with her further. She stood up. “I’ll go get him. Otherwise, Grandma will fall asleep if it gets too late.”

Upstairs, in the study.

Just as Ji Tanyuan raised her hand to knock, she heard voices from inside.

The carpet on the corridor floor muffled her footsteps, and because the door was ajar, the people inside didn’t hear her approach.

The door wasn’t shut tight, leaving a small crack.

She clearly heard the Old Master’s voice: “You did very well this time, working with the Ji family to deliver a satisfactory result.”

There was no response.

The Old Master continued, “I can see that Tanyuan is quite fond of you. She’s even willing to compromise for you. Perhaps you could ask her about her intentions.”

“Our acquisition won’t shortchange them.”

Ji Tanyuan’s hand, poised to knock, fell to her side, her arm feeling a little numb. She stood at the door as something stirred within her heart before settling back into calm.

The Old Master retracted his gaze. Only after that figure was gone did he finish his sentence and look at Zhong Yan.

Zhong Yan let out a humorless laugh. It was finally his turn to speak.

“Are you joking?”

“Grandfather, I believe that even when one is unscrupulous in achieving their goals, there should still be a bottom line. You said you handpicked Ji Tanyuan, that she’s much better than the children of the other major shareholders at the Ji Corporation, and I actually agree.”

“You think she likes me, but that’s just an illusion created by her good character. The truth is, she’s very good to many of her friends.”

Loyalty, compromise, responsibility, sacrifice, these precious qualities in love are not determined by whether one loves or not, but by the other person’s character and integrity, which dictate how they manage a relationship.

The Old Master stared at him, his voice a low warning, “A-Yan, don’t forget what’s important.”

The smile on Zhong Yan’s face faded. “Isn’t managing a marriage an important part of life?”

Indeed, Zhong the Second’s mind never worked in a conventional way. The Old Master now had a reasonable suspicion that this boy’s obedience in entering the marriage alliance was driven by blatant lust, he had fallen for Ji Tanyuan.