Another Day of Pretending for the Wealthy Couple - Chapter 73

The older uncles of the Ji family were already fuming upon hearing Ji Tanyuan’s outrageous remarks. Now, as they listened to Ji Qing’s words, they demanded, “What do you mean? Weren’t they twins back then?”

Ji Ting chimed in, “If it’s not Sheng Wan’s child, you won’t acknowledge it?”

Ji Qing glanced at his elder brother, hesitating to speak. He still vividly remembered how, during their impoverished childhood, his parents had left home to work, and it was his elder brother who had taken care of him. Even when he attended university, it was his brother who funded his tuition. Ji Qing had always held onto this debt of gratitude, along with his parents’ dying wish for him not to forsake family bonds.

But now, the situation had escalated beyond a simple family matter. His elder brother had become entangled with the Shen family of Hu River. Not long ago, the Ji family had been cornered by the Shens, with Shen Xichen relentlessly pressuring him to hand over Huanghuang. It was only under immense strain that Ji Qing had struck a deal with the Zhong family, securing a way out.

No matter how substantial his capital, he still relied on the favor of officials. If the authorities were determined to target him, no business could withstand a thorough investigation.

The Zhong family merely wanted a share of the semiconductor industry, but Shen Xichen aimed to bring down the Ji family and, in the process…

At this thought, Ji Qing glanced at his daughter.

Then, taking a deep breath, he said, “I believe that my years of tolerating your embezzlement of funds should suffice as repayment. Spending 200 million on the clan should also demonstrate my goodwill toward all of you. However, the issue of corporate succession cannot be resolved simply by holding a meeting here.”

The matter involved complex layers of equity distribution, asset allocation, financial regulations, and political stances.

Ji Ting spat in disdain, “Stop hiding behind lofty, bureaucratic talk. Your child is kneeling right before you. I went through great pains to find them, and Zhihe was filled with anticipation upon learning the truth of their origins. I thought we were finally reuniting, only to realize I was the only one celebrating.”

“Fourth Brother, you’ve been blinded by greed!”

After his outburst, Ji Ting pointed at Ji Tanyuan. “My leg was broken because of your daughter. Just because she’s now the daughter-in-law of the Zhong family, does that mean everyone has to yield to her and let her run wild?”

Ji Tanyuan snapped out of her thoughts, her gaze falling upon Ji Zhihe kneeling on the floor. The young man remained silent, like a puppet.

A puppet…

Shen Xichen’s words, [Yu Jiang is not the real Yu Jiang], echoed in her ears.

So, it was also possible that,

, [Ji Zhihe is not the real Ji Zhihe].

“Uncle, I don’t trust your paternity test.”

Ji Ting retorted, “Then conduct one yourself. I won’t stop you.”

Ji Tanyuan smiled gently. “Very well.”

She locked eyes with the young man kneeling on the floor. You’d better pray you’re not the real child, at least that way, you might survive.

Under her intense gaze, Ji Zhihe grew uncomfortable and lowered his head, breaking eye contact.

Zhong Yan observed the commotion with detached amusement, thinking that behind closed doors, every family had its own mess to deal with.

The Ji family, having struck it rich overnight under Ji Qing’s leadership, had truly forgotten their roots. Instead of staying humble, they were now scheming to bring in a puppet to fight for control of the corporation.

Who had taught Ji Ting this tactic?

His eyes remained fixed on Ji Tanyuan, who stood out as the calmest and most composed person in the room, the only one who maintained her poise throughout the chaos.

After the gathering dispersed, Ji Tanyuan left with Zhong Yan.

She even found the mood to tease him, “So, how did you enjoy today’s spectacle?”

Zhong Yan gave a noncommittal hum. “Not bad. Your ancestral hall is quite grand, though the people inside don’t quite match its stature.”

Ji Tanyue chuckled. “Takes one to know one.”

Even a powerful family like the Zhongs, behind closed doors, was mired in trivial, absurd dramas.

Where power and money were involved, things were rarely beautiful.

The exterior might be polished, but the inside was inevitably stained.

“Will you be able to return to Yanjing next?”

Ji Tanyue replied, “Yes, I promised to spend the first year in Yanjing, and I won’t go back on my word.”

Zhong Yan gently pinched her earlobe and whispered in her ear, “Do you want him dead?”

Ji Tanyue’s eyelids twitched. “What do you mean?”

“Don’t play dumb. You’re no innocent little rabbit. But if he dies, will you just jump into another mess?”

“He’s a ticking time bomb. Whether you touch him or not, he’ll explode.”

Ji Tanyue’s mind had been racing all day, and now she was thoroughly fed up. The words slipped out before she could stop herself: “He’s a pile of shit! Whether you step in it or not, it’s disgusting!”

Zhong Yan: “…”

Chu He: “…”

Unprecedented. This was the first time, the very first time, Zhong Yan had heard Ji Tanyue speak like this. In the past, she wouldn’t even utter a curse word.

Ji Tanyue immediately regretted it. It was too vulgar, too crude.

She pushed him away, annoyed, and snapped, “Don’t talk to me anymore.”

Zhong Yan, shoved back slightly, caught sight of her flushed cheeks and couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re right.”

“But if he were your biological brother, wouldn’t it be inappropriate to say that?”

“He’s not,” Ji Tanyue retorted.

Her mother had told her plainly that she was an only child. She trusted her mother more.

Zhong Yan nodded. “Then I’ll wait for you for a couple of days. We’ll go back together the day before New Year’s.”

“Do you need help?”

Ji Tanyue shook her head. “No, he’s not a difficult problem to solve.”

The real problem was her father.

What if the DNA test results were true?

Ji Tanyue couldn’t imagine her father having an affair.

Yet the reality was that part of the reason her parents’ relationship had shattered was because of Ji Zhihe, and another part was because of the Ji family relatives.

Even so, her father stubbornly refused to divorce.

Their marriage had long been in name only, yet when her mother fell ill, her father was always the first to appear.

Ji Tanyue sighed deeply. “Do you think there’s no such thing as a good marriage?”

Zhong Yan disagreed. “There is. Ours.”

Ji Tanyue, who had been leaning against the window gazing outside, turned to him in surprise. “Husband, have you lost your mind?”

Had he gotten so into their act that he’d started believing it?

Zhong Yan was utterly serious and earnest. “Don’t you think that when a couple is harmonious in bed, it’s hard for major conflicts to arise?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, if you’re satisfied and content in that area, everything else tends to fall into place.”

Ji Tanyue shot back, “Who said I was satisfied?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, the car jolted. Chu He, startled, broke out in a cold sweat that dripped into his eyes. He widened his eyes but didn’t dare rub them, afraid the young master would notice him driving.

Damn it, he should’ve driven the car with the partition today.

But Zhong Yan had no mind to pay attention to the driver now. His smile vanished, and he gritted his teeth, his voice unnervingly gentle. “Oh? Is that so?”

Ji Tanyuan was just arguing for the sake of it. Truthfully, she wasn’t unsatisfied, sometimes she even reached the peak of pleasure, but right now, she was in a foul mood and didn’t want Zhong Yan to feel good either.

Just as Ji Tanyuan realized she had gone too far and was about to backtrack, her phone rang.

She picked it up, and in less than half a minute, her expression changed drastically. Turning to Chu He, she said urgently, “Head to Hujiang Hospital, quickly!”

After hanging up, she added, “My mom crashed into Ji Zhihe and Dad’s car. All three of them have been taken to the hospital.”