My Wealthy Ex-Girlfriend Knelt and Begged Me to Come Back [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 30

Assistant Li repeated Qiu Miaoran’s words:

“President Qiu means that our Qiushui Venture Capital will also be bidding for the land in the western suburbs. This prime piece of land, destined to become a future technology park, doesn’t belong solely to Tongda Real Estate.”

“President Qiu isn’t even here. And you, just an assistant—how dare you speak on her behalf?” Director Wu of Tongda Real Estate sneered, lifting his folder and flipping it open to the first page—the bidding proposal.

“This is our bidding document. Assistant Li, you’d better leave.”

“Please wait, Director Wu.” Assistant Li pulled out his phone and pressed the speakerphone button.

After two beeps, the call was connected. A woman’s voice came through—calm, almost like chilled water:

“I heard Tongda Real Estate is applying for a carbon market license. But according to the due diligence report, Tongda’s total emission control doesn’t meet the standard. I have a question for your Chairman Lin.”

“Does your company have enough patents reserved?”

Qiu Miaoran’s voice, indifferent as ever, nevertheless struck every vital point. Each word was like a sharp needle pricking into Director Wu’s heart.

Qiu Miaoran tapped her Bluetooth earpiece, ending the call.

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Ji Chen’s brows lowering slightly. The corners of her eyes and lips curved upward, her smile blooming warmly across her face—so different from Qiu Miaoran’s cold detachment. Ji Chen’s entire aura radiated warmth and gentleness.

“Auntie, what are you smiling at?”

“I’m just chatting with a friend I haven’t seen in years. She’s still as… adorable as ever.” Ji Chen sent a message, put her phone down, and turned her head toward Qiu Miaoran. “I heard that the Lin family’s daughter is coming back to China soon. You’re about to get married, aren’t you?”

“No. I won’t be marrying her.”

Ji Chen raised her brows. “Oh? Did you two have a fight?”

“There are things I won’t trade for marriage.” Qiu Miaoran tightened her grip on the steering wheel. “More than that, I’ve already met someone who’s more suitable.”

“That’s good, then.” Ji Chen nodded, glancing at the dashboard where a pink plush fox sat. “But this in your car… it’s quite cute, isn’t it?”

For someone like Qiu Miaoran—naturally cold and fond of minimalism, her life usually filled with muted Morandi tones and no unnecessary adornments—the plush fox seemed completely out of place.

“She gave it to me.” Qiu Miaoran’s tone was faint.

Ji Chen’s voice softened. “Whoever she is, I wish you happiness…”

—Whoever she is?

What if she’s the one you entrusted to me, before leaving as a visiting scholar, asking me to take care of her?

I did take care of her… even into my own bed.

I’m sorry, Auntie…

Qiu Miaoran’s lips twitched slightly, her expression stiffening. Her long lashes trembled once as she blinked. She didn’t say anything, only gave a faint “Mm,” lifting a hand to rub the tip of her nose.

Such a tiny gesture, yet it betrayed her guilty conscience.

The Rolls-Royce Vision braked suddenly, making Ji Chen’s body lurch forward.

“What happened?”

“There’s a traffic jam ahead.”

“There’s a traffic jam ahead.”

“From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. is rush hour. Would you like to get off here instead?”

The ride-hailing driver turned his head and asked her.

“Yes, it’s not far from here. I can walk the rest of the way.” Ji Jiayu nodded, glancing at her phone’s screen showing the remaining distance. “Thank you, sir.”

“You’re welcome.”

Ji Jiayu got out of the car, walked about three hundred meters, and stopped at a corner.

It was a Cantonese restaurant in the center of the business district.

The attendant at the front door asked, “Hello, do you have a reservation?”

“Yes, under Ms. Lin Wan.”

“Yanjing Hall Fifteen,” the attendant smiled. “Please follow me.”

They entered the elevator and stopped in front of a private dining room.

“This is the one,” the attendant said before leaving.

“Knock knock—” Ji Jiayu lightly rapped on the door.

“Come in, it’s unlocked,” Lin Wan’s voice came from inside.

With a click, the lock turned. Ji Jiayu pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Two people were already seated.

Lin Wan, sitting in the middle, waved. “Jiayu, come here and sit.”

Ji Jiayu walked over and sat down.

“Kate, this is the girl I told you about yesterday…”

“Jiayu, this is Kate—she’s half-Chinese, half-English. She’s my partner.”

Ji Jiayu removed her coat, hung it on the rack, and after sitting down, nodded politely. “Hello.”

The woman beside Lin Wan had deep-set eyes, striking red lips, prominent brows, and dark brown curls that fell over her shoulders—a face with clearly Western bone structure.

“Hello, Jiayu.” Kate’s Chinese was flawless. “I’m your mother’s wife.”

“Mo… mother?” Ji Jiayu echoed, her tone slow and hesitant. “What are you talking about?”

Lin Wan pressed her lips together, lightly patting Kate’s arm with a hint of reproach. “Oh, why did you blurt it out like that?”

She looked across the table at Ji Jiayu, sighing softly. “Jiayu, I am your…”

“Mother.”

The moment those two syllables landed, her eyes burned and her nose stung.

Ji Jiayu wanted to run.

Like a kitten abandoned too many times, entering yet another new home, curling into the smallest, darkest corner just to protect itself.

She had felt something the first time they met at the Qiushui Venture Capital annual gala—an unexplainable pull. But she’d chosen to walk away, seized by an inexplicable fear, afraid of getting close to Lin Wan.

When faced with something life-changing, people often want to escape.

And for a child raised in an orphanage, who had never once called anyone “mother,” that word was unbearably foreign.

Her heart swelled with grievance, deep and overwhelming…

The scrape of a chair against the floor cut the air.

“You must be joking.” Ji Jiayu’s breath hitched, her voice trembling even as she forced calm. She stood. “Excuse me… I need to step out.”

Suddenly, a hand gripped her arm tightly.

Kate held her fast. “I think you should listen to her finish.”

“Lin Wan already had your hair tested. You are her child.”

“Listen to your mother.”

Ji Jiayu’s fingers trembled, though Kate held her firmly. “Is that so? Then what does it matter?”

“Did you ever really care about me? When you abandoned me… why didn’t you care then? And now—you claim to be my mother?”

Her voice, fragile but forced into steadiness, trembled at the very end, betraying her.

“I never abandoned my child…” Lin Wan coughed lightly, pulled tissues to dab at her eyes, and offered some across the table.

Ji Jiayu’s lashes quivered as she slowly accepted the tissue with trembling fingers.

Her eyes brimmed with tears. “All I remember is being called Xiaoyu…”

“Xiaoyu, back then you were kidnapped. You were only five or six, traumatized, and it’s normal you don’t remember. I failed you…”

“After divorcing your father, he demanded more compensation. I refused. I never imagined he’d have you kidnapped. When I finally gave him the money… he told me you were lost.”

“I searched every orphanage in the city and the province, but I couldn’t find you.”

What Lin Wan didn’t know was that traffickers had intercepted Ji Jiayu, but the police had rescued her mid-journey. She had been placed in a southern suburban orphanage in the capital.

Meanwhile, Lin Wan had brought back another child, Lin Qiaoxuan, about Ji Jiayu’s age, who became her substitute—receiving all of Lin Wan’s guilt-driven love.

“I only regret being consumed by work and neglecting you. Can you forgive me?”

“Will you return to me, as my daughter?”

Another knock sounded at the door.

Kate rose to open it.

A fourth person entered, heels clicking across the floor until they reached the table—beside Ji Jiayu’s seat.

“And this is?”

Ji Jiayu turned slightly. “Hello, my surname is Ji—Ji Jiayu.”

When she saw the woman’s face, her fingers clenched, crumpling the tissue in her hand.

Lin Qiaoxuan. They’d met before—just yesterday, at the gala on the hotel terrace.

Sitting side by side now, their resemblance wasn’t as strong as it first seemed.

Ji Jiayu’s nose bridge was sharper, her lips fuller and softer, her eyes slightly upturned, adding a sultry charm. She was striking, breathtaking at first glance—and even more so on a second.

Lin Qiaoxuan’s lips were thinner, her nose smaller—more of a delicate, girl-next-door beauty.

Yet their mannerisms were uncannily alike, creating the illusion of resemblance.

The way Lin Qiaoxuan stroked her glass with her fingertips, the way she blinked slowly when thinking—it was like watching Ji Jiayu’s reflection.

“Hello.” Lin Qiaoxuan sat, resting her crossbody bag on her lap. “I’m Lin Qiaoxuan. Ji Miss, I’ve seen your photos and your new drama. Honestly, you’re more beautiful than me.”

Ji Jiayu lowered her eyes, smiling faintly without responding. Instead, she poured a glass of sour plum juice and handed it over. “Here, have a drink.”

“Thank you.” Lin Qiaoxuan smiled, accepting the glass, but didn’t drink—placing it aside instead. She looked across at Lin Wan.

“Mom. Why did you invite Ji Miss here?”

“Our matters, as young people, we should handle ourselves. You don’t need to play the overbearing mother-in-law.”

The Lin family and the Qiu family, each the wealthiest in their respective cities, would become an even stronger force if joined by marriage.

By inviting Ji Jiayu, Lin Wan was simply pushing her to step away from Qiu Miaoran, cutting off lingering ties, and preventing gossip that might taint the alliance.

But Ji Jiayu was only a kept companion. For Lin Wan, a city’s richest, to intervene—it was nothing short of using power to oppress.

It would only invite ridicule.

That’s what Lin Qiaoxuan thought.

“What are you thinking, Qiaoxuan?” Kate asked lightly, tapping twice on the table in front of Ji Jiayu, then introduced, “This is your elder sister.”

Lin Qiaoxuan murmured, “Elder sister?”

“Yes.” Lin Wan nodded gently. “Your sister has finally been found. From now on, both you and Jiayu are my daughters.”

Lin Qiaoxuan’s lashes trembled faintly. “…Mm. I’ll get along well with my sister.”

Just then, the waiter entered again, bringing in dish after dish.

Beneath the table, Lin Qiaoxuan’s right hand clenched, nails biting into her palm until it hurt.

All these years, to please Lin Wan, she had unconsciously adopted Ji Jiayu’s little gestures, her mannerisms—until they had become her own.

But now, it seemed, she had trapped herself. Like painting a tiger only to end up with a mangy dog.

Years of scheming had finally persuaded Qiu Miaoran into an engagement, securing her position as Lin Wan’s adopted daughter.

But now—Lin Wan’s real daughter was back. Worse still, she was Qiu Miaoran’s hidden lover.

Against Ji Jiayu, she had no chance at all.

Ridiculous. All her plotting, all her effort—the empire she nearly had in her grasp—was crumbling.

How hateful…

Lin Qiaoxuan lowered her eyes, a dull pain throbbing at the back of her skull. She pulled out her phone and typed:

[Lin Qiaoxuan]: Are you free tonight? I’m still in the capital.

A minute later, the reply came:

[Chen Yiying]: I’m free. Wait for me!! [Puppy wagging tail.jpg]

Another dish was served. The waiter left.

Lin Qiaoxuan locked her phone screen and raised her head. “Mom, Kate, a friend in the city just asked to meet. I’ll have to go first.”

She paused, biting back her words before finally grinding them out through clenched teeth. “…Sister, please take care of Mom and Kate.”

After Lin Qiaoxuan left—

“Xiaoyu, your mother and I originally planned to return to Nancheng this week.” Kate set down her chopsticks and poured Ji Jiayu a glass of sour plum juice. “When would you like to come home with us?”

Unlike Chinese people, Kate’s speech wasn’t overly tactful—she was too direct.

Lin Wan pushed her lightly, disapproving. “Don’t pressure the child. What she means is—would you be willing to come home with us?”

Hesitant, Lin Wan added softly, “If you’re willing, we can come fetch you anytime.”

“Thank you.” Ji Jiayu accepted the glass, nodding solemnly. “Of course I’m willing. I just need some time to pack… and throw away what I no longer need.”

She had only ten “lifepoints” left.

Just one more time with Qiu Miaoran—and she could go home.

Go home…

She had a home now.

A strange joy welled up in her chest.

…

Night fell over the villa district. The artificial lake lay still, reflecting the glow of street lamps, veiled in faint mist.

By the lakeside stood the Qiushui Residence.

At the front door, Qiu Miaoran stood beneath the porch light. Shadows cut across her sharp nose, darkening one side of her face.

She pressed the door lock. With a click, the door swung open.

The sound startled Ji Jiayu awake from the sofa.

She rose quietly, her bare feet padding soundlessly across the wooden floor, moving like a little cat waiting for its master to return.

Qiu Miaoran’s eyes dropped to her round pink toes—delicate, soft-looking.

“Why aren’t you wearing shoes?” Her voice was a little hoarse.

Ji Jiayu’s lashes trembled, her gaze darting. “Aunt Chen had something to do, so she took leave and went back…”

Disjointed words.

A hint—that without Aunt Chen, only the two of them remained in the house.

“I cooked dinner. What would you like first?” Ji Jiayu twisted her fingers together, her voice growing smaller.

“I already ate with clients,” Qiu Miaoran replied automatically—then quickly coughed and amended, “But I can eat a little more.”

“Then should we eat first, or…” Ji Jiayu leaned closer.

The last word—“me”—was breathed softly into her ear, tickling.

Ji Jiayu tugged at Qiu Miaoran’s collar, pulling her close.

Buttons popped—two fell to the floor with sharp little clacks.

The girl pressed forward, lips claiming hers. She tasted lipstick—sweet like chocolate.

She felt the dryness of her lips, the faint tang of tobacco—no trace of alcohol. Qiu Miaoran hadn’t drunk tonight.

Once more, she was enveloped in the faint sandalwood scent that clung to Qiu Miaoran, like incense smoldering in a temple.

This woman—like an ascetic monk, icy and restrained—held a warm body in her arms yet remained unshaken, so detached it seemed she belonged to another century.

Ji Jiayu opened her eyes slightly, her gaze shimmering with moisture. She guided Qiu Miaoran’s hand to her waist. “Why won’t you answer me, President Qiu? Don’t you want to eat?”

Qiu Miaoran’s fingers brushed against the zipper of her dress. Her chest rose and fell, voice steady in pretense, though her ending trembled:

“Let’s eat first…”

She turned her head aside, resisting stiffly like a rusty machine. “If we don’t, the food will go cold.”

“Elder sister… we haven’t tried anywhere else yet. I want to, here… Elder sister…” Ji Jiayu’s soft voice pleaded, her eyes glowing, lashes fluttering like butterfly wings—enchanting.

The one thing Qiu Miaoran couldn’t withstand—Ji Jiayu’s gentle, sweet “Elder sister.”

Ji Jiayu laughed softly, slipping her arms around Qiu Miaoran’s neck, drawing closer until she was pressed against the door. Heat spread through the cool wood beneath them.

They had been together for two years.

This is it. The last time, President Qiu.

…

Her handbag had already fallen to the floor.

Inside, her phone rang—muffled, but insistent, cutting through the heat.

Neither moved to answer.

But it kept ringing, endlessly, until it became unbearable.

Too noisy.

Qiu Miaoran rose abruptly, throwing on her clothes, fumbling at the buttons as she retreated into the study to take the call.

Ji Jiayu remained on the floor, bathed in cream-colored light. Her cheeks flushed, her eyes damp with desire and tears.

Again. She had cried again.

These two years with Qiu Miaoran, every time, Ji Jiayu demanded the lights stay on—so she could see her face clearly. Just looking was enough to make her heart surge.

She indulged with her, fell with her.

But Ji Chen had returned.

She had thought Ji Chen would never come back.

Now it felt like blasphemy—like defiling a god. Shame, guilt pressing down on her.

Just earlier, in the height of passion, she’d heard the cold system voice—

[Lifepoints +3]

Just a little more. One more time.

Then she could go home.

Ji Jiayu pulled her dress back on, sitting quietly.

Footsteps approached.

“Are you leaving?” she asked.

“Mm. Back to the office. A project negotiation fell through earlier.” Qiu Miaoran’s breath hitched, a sudden panic rising within her, as if she had lost all confidence. Her voice dropped at once.

“But I have my reasons…”