After dinner, Ji Xiu returned to his room to handle some work. Once finished, he was about to step out when he overheard Qi Qinxue and Ji Linlang talking outside.
He paused, not pushing the door open, and silently listened through it.
What was going on?
At first, Ji Xiu didn’t fully understand Ji Linlang’s words. But when he heard the term “Big Uncle,” a flash of insight struck him. He recalled the day Ji Chengsi had returned, when Qi Qinxue had smiled and remarked that Ji Chengsi looked very much like his elder brother, Ji You.
Father and son naturally resembled each other.
Ji Xiu narrowed his eyes. So that’s why Qi Qinxue had been so attentive to Ji Chengsi—out of misplaced affection for the elder son?
At that moment, the conversation outside paused, so Ji Xiu simply pushed the door open. He looked at the mother and daughter with a playful smile:
“What will I notice?”
Ji Linlang and Qi Qinxue froze on the spot, faces draining of color.
Ji Xiu, composed and arms crossed, fixed his gaze on them, waiting for an explanation.
“N-Nothing…” stammered Ji Linlang, her eyes flitting nervously. She immediately regretted bringing up the topic but was secretly relieved she had hinted rather than revealing it outright.
Perhaps Dad didn’t catch the full meaning…
She didn’t want her father or brother to learn this secret. If it were exposed, the hard-won peace of the household would collapse. While she didn’t mind the family breaking apart, her father and brother would be heartbroken.
Trembling, Ji Linlang tugged lightly at Qi Qinxue’s sleeve in a silent plea.
Qi Qinxue’s complexion had turned ghostly white. Her heart pounded violently as a thousand thoughts swirled in her mind. She forced herself to stay calm and supported Ji Linlang’s words:
“Yes, we were just chatting, nothing more.”
Ji Xiu’s gaze met hers. “Oh, really?”
Qi Qinxue almost collapsed under his eyes. Using all her lifelong composure, she forced a nonchalant smile. “Yes… but anyway, why are you in the room?”
The mother and daughter’s acting was quite poor.
Ji Xiu studied Qi Qinxue for a moment, then smiled and explained calmly, “Chengsi wants to play e-sports, so I came up to get him a card.”
Qi Qinxue’s gaze flicked downward to see the black-gold card in his hand. Her foggy mind managed a nod. “I see.”
Ji Xiu silently sighed in his heart, choosing not to expose them, and added with a smile, “I’ll go downstairs to find my son. You two continue your chat.”
Continue chatting? How dare they.
Watching Ji Xiu’s back retreat downstairs, Ji Linlang’s nearly-jumping heart finally calmed. She covered her chest and exhaled deeply.
Qi Qinxue, legs weak, collapsed onto the floor.
Ji Linlang looked at her, complicated emotions in her eyes, but no longer dared to continue the topic. She muttered vaguely:
“Good thing he didn’t hear. I’ll go back now. You also think carefully—don’t make mistakes…”
Had Ji Xiu not appeared, Qi Qinxue would have grabbed Ji Linlang’s hand, demanding how she had learned the secret.
But now, all she wanted was to lie down and recover.
Qi Qinxue nodded, eyes flustered. “Okay… you go first.”
Before entering her room, she finally collected herself, turning her back to Ji Linlang to say one sentence:
“Linlang… don’t mention this again. I know I was wrong.”
Ji Linlang, also turning away, paused and replied:
“I know.”
For the sake of the family’s peaceful life, this matter must not reach a third person.
Qi Qinxue finally exhaled, stepping lightly into her room and collapsing onto the bed, staring at the void to calm herself.
Did her husband hear them?
He smiled and walked away—probably unaware…
Recalling the events, Qi Qinxue felt uneasy and confused. She could never have imagined that after all these years, someone would uncover her secret.
…
The Ji family and the Qi family shared a long-standing bond. Before the Ji family went abroad, the two families had been old acquaintances. When the Ji family returned to the country, the Qi family assisted them.
The families always maintained a good relationship, and the children knew each other from an early age.
More than twenty years ago, Qi Qinxue visited the Ji household and immediately noticed the refined young man in a white shirt, falling for him at first sight.
He had brought his younger brother Ji Xiu along. The two laughed and chatted, equally handsome, yet with very different auras.
Yet her eyes only saw him.
That was Ji You, the eldest son of the Ji family.
He was brilliant, elegant, gentlemanly, talented, and had already assisted his father in business. His reputation in high society was flawless, the perfect heir groomed by Old Master Ji.
Qi Qinxue had heard of him but never met him until now.
And seeing him in person confirmed that hearing about him a hundred times wasn’t as good as seeing him once—his looks, talent, and emotional intelligence were all incomparable.
Compared to him, his brother Ji Xiu seemed like a mere playboy.
Later, her parents told her the family planned to arrange a marriage with the eldest son. Qi Qinxue was overjoyed and eagerly anticipated it.
After visiting the Ji family, however, her parents reluctantly told her that the eldest son was focused on his career and didn’t want to marry yet, asking if she would consider marrying the second son instead.
Her young heart was broken, silently waiting for the day Ji You agreed to marriage.
But she never got the chance.
Years passed. Ji You fell in love with a female colleague and brought her home to meet his parents. Upon hearing this, Qi Qinxue finally gave up and agreed to marry Ji Xiu.
Since she had to marry into the family anyway, if she couldn’t be with the one she loved, she might as well marry his brother—at least she could see him.
She was immature and naive at the time, and so entered the Ji household. However, Ji You did not stay, as Old Master Ji opposed it. He ran away with his girlfriend and died in a car accident during the escape.
Qi Qinxue was stunned upon hearing the news.
The brilliant eldest son… just like that, dead?
As an emotional woman, Qi Qinxue had already grown attached to Ji Xiu over the years, and had borne him two children. By then, she no longer loved Ji You. But still, Ji You had been her teenage dream, her husband’s beloved elder brother, Old Master Ji’s favorite eldest son, the legal heir. Even without her feelings, she couldn’t accept that he had died far away.
But he was indeed dead.
Along with him, the woman he loved who had rejected the empire for beauty also died. Only his son survived, though he went missing.
Time was cruel, never pausing for anyone.
For over ten years, the Ji family searched for the lost child, yet Qi Qinxue had almost forgotten Ji You’s appearance, focusing instead on raising the family.
Unexpectedly, Ji Chengsi, Ji You’s son, returned home.
Seeing a face seven-tenths similar to Ji You’s, she didn’t know what thoughts drove her, but she drew close to care for him—even more attentively than for her own two children.
No wonder Linlang noticed…
Qi Qinxue didn’t know how Ji Linlang discovered her old secret, since her connection with Ji You was known only to her parents and Old Master Ji.
Perhaps it was exposed when she visited the Ji family all those years ago?
Qi Qinxue couldn’t figure it out but felt relieved.
She had, in a sense, become obsessed with Ji You, projecting her youthful regret and love onto Ji Chengsi, neglecting those around her.
Thanks to Ji Linlang’s intervention, she was brought back from that path.
Of course, it would have been better if Ji Xiu hadn’t overheard.
If he had, outwardly silent, he would have investigated, and upon discovering the truth, would have slapped a divorce agreement in her face. The thought made her shiver, legs weak again.
She had to contact the family, making sure no one ever mentioned it again.
The family was in a good state now, and she loved her husband and children deeply. A moment of foolishness should not ruin that.
Many people behave this way—one wrong choice when encountering first love. First love represents the most beautiful feelings, leaving indelible marks.
In truth, what many miss isn’t the first love but the radiant time of youth itself.
The same was true for Qi Qinxue in her previous life.
Rather than missing Ji You, she missed her youth.
Middle age often brings nostalgia.
But now, Ji Linlang had guided her back to the right path. The previous life’s mistake—standing with Ji Chengsi and abandoning her son—would not repeat.
…
Ji Xiu had the same thoughts.
Looking across both past and current life, Qi Qinxue was not beyond redemption.
A Qi family heiress, holding family shares, she had no need to covet the Ji family fortune. Yet after the original self died in the previous life, she stayed on to care for Old Master Ji and two children, managing the household. At that time, Ji Chengsi didn’t exist, so her staying was not because of him—it was sincere devotion to the family.
As long as she didn’t repeat past mistakes, she could be forgiven.
Loving someone in youth was not wrong. As long as she let go, all would be well.
After that day, Ji Xiu observed silently for several days. He found that after Ji Linlang exposed the situation, Qi Qinxue quietly reined in her attention to Ji Chengsi, refocusing on him and the two children. Ji Xiu nodded internally and did not pursue the matter further.
Two weeks passed.
The reality show “Backpacking Family” was finally about to air.
Ji Xiu had lost interest during filming and hadn’t followed up. But he often checked his predecessor’s Weibo. When the show started promoting, his comments exploded, letting him know it was about to air.
The show heavily marketed the Ji family, showcasing them as a rich family traveling frugally.
Ji Xiu’s six million followers excitedly commented, anticipating his awkward moments on the show.
After all, the show was famous for being about traveling cheaply—the opposite of the Ji family’s wealth.
Ji Xiu scowled at the comments, unimpressed.
He, the Ji family’s second son, born rich, naturally would never embarrass himself.
The show aired to huge attention, gaining five trending topics in three hours, three of which were about the Ji family.
Ji Linlang showed the trending comments to Ji Xiu. He glanced briefly.
Sure enough, there were fans fawning over “Dad.”
[What luck—going to work led to a cameo in a movie?][Winners never need explanations and will never become poor.][Dad’s pronunciation is so smooth—awsl!!!]
With Ji Xiu’s participation, the reality show’s popularity soared, overshadowing competing shows.
At the same time, a film in Eiffel Country was released, winning the Best Film award at an international A-grade festival.
Ji Xiu and Ji Xian appeared as extras, Ji Linlang as a cameo. Their names gained massive exposure.
However, Ji Xiu and Ji Xian weren’t in the entertainment industry, so Ji Linlang benefited most.
Her portrayal of the queen, though brief, touched fans deeply with her character’s rich background and tragic story. When the film was approved domestically, it drew even more fans, making her a rising star.
Importantly, she gained some international recognition.
As a result, the next year, she was approached for a major production she had wanted in her past life but missed. She accepted, winning international acclaim and sweeping three major film festival awards.
In her previous life, the film only won Best Film due to flaws, but this time, Ji Linlang’s refined acting outshone the previous lead, sweeping the international circuit.
She cemented her status as a top actress, silencing any naysayers who claimed she succeeded only because of family connections.
…
Three years later, Ji Xian formed an e-sports team that won the LOL World Championship. Domestic fans erupted with joy.
Ji Xiu generously held a Weibo giveaway of 300 prizes of 10,000 each to celebrate, making the event widely known.
On award day, Ji Xian had grown into a young adult, standing on stage, aware of his family and fans watching, and smiled—a rare, genuine smile.
It was the smile of dreams fulfilled.
In the past, he had sacrificed his dreams for the family, only to end up with nothing and die young.
This life, he could pursue his dreams freely.
…
That same year, Ji Chengsi graduated early and took over the Ji family conglomerate.
Destined for greatness, under his management, the Ji family became a top domestic enterprise.
Ji Xiu didn’t care—he just enjoyed passive earnings from his comfortable position.
Thus, the second branch chased their dreams, Ji Chengsi achieved his, taking the nearly-fatherly corporate reins. Years later, they all bid farewell to the long-lived Old Master Ji.