Another Day of Pretending for the Wealthy Couple - Chapter 57

Zhong Fangqi heard these words as soon as he stepped out.

He looked over in shock. How shameless.

He warned in a low voice, “A-Yan.”

Zhong Yan didn’t look at his father. Instead, he lowered his head, focusing intently on Ji Tanyuan.

“Are you going to find another man? Didn’t you say I was handsome?”

Ji Tanyuan lifted her foot and stomped on his. Was he insane? Why was he acting so flirtatious in front of the adults?

This time, it was Ji Qing’s turn to frown. “Huanghuang, don’t say things in anger.”

Sheng Wan said calmly, “I said it.”

Ji Qing draped a coat over her. “The children aren’t at fault here. Weren’t you just saying we shouldn’t interfere with them?”

Ji Tanyuan stood before her parents and looked at her mother. “Where are you staying tonight?”

“Your mother and I plan to go to a hotel.”

“Why go to a hotel? Stay at my place. Zhong Yan happens to not be going home, and Puppy misses you.”

Zhong Yan tilted his head to look at her. When had he said he wasn’t going home?

Feeling his gaze, Ji Tanyuan smiled gently. “Didn’t you just say you were staying here to take care of Grandpa?”

Ji Tanyuan smiled sweetly, but her eyes conveyed a clear message: “Wherever you go, you’re not allowed to come home.”

Zhong Yan frowned. “Why can’t I go back just because your parents are here? Aren’t we family?”

Ji Tanyuan glared. “No!”

Zhong Yan: “…”

In the end, only Zhong Yan was left at the hospital.

He watched as two cars drove away, standing still for a long time.

With one hand in his pocket and the other holding a cigarette, he crouched by the roadside curb, smoking.

His assistant and Chu He approached from downstairs. Assistant Liang said, “Boss, are you really staying at the hospital?”

Zhong Yan lifted his eyelids to look at him. “What do you think? My wife won’t let me come home.”

Assistant Liang inwardly complained: Making yourself sound so pitiful. It’s not like you only have one place in Beijing.

Zhong Yan took another drag of his cigarette, squinting into the distance. “Tell the CEO of Zidian Technology to release news about increasing fixed asset investments. As for the Ji family, I’ll handle it.”

Assistant Liang nodded, thinking about the recent arrangements. “The Zhongheng annual meeting requires you and your wife to attend. The Ji family also just informed me that their annual meeting has invited you and your wife, as well as the Nanjiang General Chamber of Commerce banquet. The Entrepreneurs Club has also invited you and your wife to attend together. This will be your first public appearance since you got married.”

Zhong Yan: “Oh, I don’t want to go.”

Assistant Liang: “…”

He took a deep breath. It was one thing to skip events before, but if he skipped this one too, did he think it was because he was low-key? No, it was laziness, sheer laziness when it came to socializing.

Assistant Liang felt numb but still tried to persuade him. “It’s your first public appearance together. It’s better to go.”

“Send a representative. Don’t bother me with these things in the future.”

He stood up, cigarette in hand, found a trash can, extinguished the cigarette in an ashtray, and tossed it in. He reached out his hand, and Chu He quickly handed him a wet wipe. Zhong Yan wiped his hands and threw the wipe into the trash. His movements were unhurried, his tall and handsome figure as pleasing to the eye as that of a nobleman.

The man spoke, “Alright, give me the car keys. You two can go.”

“Are you really going up?”

Zhong Yan frowned. “Nonsense. If I don’t go, are you going to go?”

Assistant Liang shook his head like a rattle drum. He wasn’t going.

Zhong Yan took the car keys and pulled out his phone as he walked, making a call. “Come out tonight. I need to talk to you.”

“After I finish with the old man.”

…

Ji Tanyuan returned to the villa with her parents. Sheng Wan bent down to pick up the puppy, murmuring, “Did our baby feel neglected? Hmm?”

The puppy, upon seeing Ji Tanyuan’s parents, grew unusually excited, wagging its tail joyfully.

Ji Qing, having just finished a phone call, caught up from behind. He noticed Sheng Wan holding the dog and then glanced at Ji Tanyuan, who was busy instructing the servants to clean the rooms.

Sheng Wan surveyed the surroundings, a tidy yet lived-in space. Every corner bore traces of Ji Tanyuan’s thoughtful touches, from purchased decorations to other items that likely belonged to Zhong Yan. It was evident the two were genuinely committed to their life together.

Ji Tanyuan descended the stairs and announced, “I’ve prepared two guest rooms. After dinner, you two should rest early.”

Sheng Wan withdrew her gaze and looked at Ji Tanyuan. Her daughter was clearly overjoyed, happy to share a meal with her parents, grateful they had come to support her. Yet, she remained sensible enough not to mention divorce, aware that their families could not afford such a split and sparing her father any guilt.

Sheng Wan lowered her eyes and fell silent. The puppy, squeezed a bit too tightly, yelped but didn’t struggle; instead, it nuzzled closer to comfort her. Hearing the noise, Ji Tanyuan turned and asked, “Mom?”

Sheng Wan’s hands trembled. Ji Qing stepped forward, gently pulling her wrist away to release the dog. He then retrieved medicine from his pocket and took a water cup. When Sheng Wan tried to push him away, he whispered, “Our daughter is watching.”

Held in Ji Qing’s embrace, Sheng Wan remained still. Ji Tanyuan’s smile faded as she approached, her eyes filled with worry, her hands gripping the sofa tightly.

“How did this happen? I thought she was stable?” she asked quietly.

Was it because of her? Because her mother was worried about her?

Ji Qing reassured her, “It’s sporadic, not because of you.”

A dull ache settled in Ji Tanyuan’s heart. She handed the water cup to her father. In Ji Qing’s arms, Sheng Wan pinched her wrist, using the pain to force herself to calm down.

Sheng Wan insisted, “Let’s go back to Shanghai.”

Ji Qing, supporting her, understood she didn’t want their daughter to witness her struggle with bipolar disorder. He lifted her and headed for the door. Ji Tanyuan hurried after them, saying, “I’ll drive you to the hospital.”

“No need. We’re heading back. Huanghuang, let’s have dinner another day, alright?”

Ji Tanyuan froze in place, stunned. “What?”

“There’s a driver outside. We’ll be on our way now.”

The room, once filled with the presence of three, suddenly felt empty and cold. Ji Tanyuan stood motionless, lost in thought.

The evening breeze slipped through the door, carrying a chill of loneliness.

After a moment, Ji Tanyuan snapped out of her daze and rushed outside, catching up to her father. “Dad, if Mom doesn’t want me to see, then go to the hospital. I won’t follow. But driving all the way back is too far, and I won’t feel at ease.”

“Let me arrange for someone to take you there, okay? Once Mom stabilizes tomorrow, you can return.”

Ji Qing settled Sheng Wan into the car, then paused and walked back to Ji Tanyuan. Bloodstained scratches were visible on his wrist beneath his suit, and Ji Tanyuan noticed them before he could speak.

She pleaded, “Don’t leave now. Even with a driver and bodyguards, it’s risky. Please go to Jing Hospital. I’ll make arrangements right away. Otherwise, I won’t be able to rest.”

Seeing the concern in his daughter’s eyes, Ji Qing bent down and ruffled her hair. “Alright, we’ll do as you say.”

Ji Tanyuan nodded. “I’ll go inside to make a call. You two go ahead quickly.”

Xi Qian, who had just come out with an overcoat, happened to meet Ji Tanyuan at the door. She draped the coat over Ji Tanyuan’s shoulders. “Don’t worry, I’ve made the arrangements.”

The team Zhong Yan had hired was equipped with the best emergency measures. With just one call, they could directly contact the corresponding department at Beijing Hospital to arrange for a doctor to attend to her immediately.

Ji Tanyuan pulled the coat tighter around herself and nodded, then sat back on the sofa. “Pour me a cup of hot water.”

Xi Qian nodded.

She poured a cup of warm water and placed it in Ji Tanyuan’s hands. “Should we call Mr. Zhong?”

Ji Tanyuan shook her head. “No need.”

Her head was lowered, making her expression unreadable. “I just need some quiet time alone.”

She leaned back on the sofa, closing her eyes as if dozing. Seeing her mistress like this, Xi Qian sighed. “Maybe you should eat something first.”

Ji Tanyuan waved her hand. “Take it away.”

To avoid affecting Ji Tanyuan with her emotional struggles, Sheng Wan had been living separately from her ever since her psychological issues emerged. She didn’t even want to live with Ji Qing.

Ji Tanyuan was studying in the United States, Ji Qing was working in Shanghai, and Sheng Wan was traveling for treatment, striving to live. The three of them had been living apart for ten years.

So, Ji Tanyuan was used to it, everyone had their own struggles.

As she lay on the sofa, Xi Qian approached softly and said, “Madam, why don’t you go upstairs to rest? If you stay like this, Mr. Ji and Mrs. Ji will worry too.”

Ji Tanyuan hummed in agreement but made no move to get up.

Seeing Ji Tanyuan so listless, Xi Qian naturally felt uneasy. After all, everyone has a heart of flesh and blood, regardless of wealth or status.

In her experience, Ji Tanyuan and Zhong Yan were the most amiable among the wealthy class, they never lost their temper or made unreasonable demands without cause.

Witnessing Ji Tanyuan’s shift from happily ordering extra meals to being weighed down with worry and sadness, Xi Qian couldn’t help but feel affected by her emotions.

All she could do was fetch a blanket and drape it over Ji Tanyuan.

“Call me anytime if you need anything.”

Ji Tanyuan murmured softly, her voice muffled, “Go and rest. I’ll be fine after a while.”

Xi Qian waited for a while, but Zhong Yan still hadn’t returned, so she decided to call him.

But the call was declined.

It wasn’t until 11 p.m. that Zhong Yan figured his wife and her family should have finished catching up. He bid Cheng Gengxu farewell and prepared to head home.

Zhong Yan asked, “Did you understand what Rong Xi said earlier?”

Cheng Gengxu replied, “She told you she’s taking over most of the Qinghe real estate business of the Ji family.”

Zhong Yan chuckled coldly. “Guess what the consequences will be?”

Coming to him and announcing she was going to acquire his wife’s company, Rong Xi must have been driven mad by excitement. He had already warned her, yet she was still eagerly jumping into the trap.

“Let me give you a piece of advice: when someone is rushing headlong to their doom, neither of us should get involved.”