Chapter 6 — IAVD (QT) Chapter 6

"Brother..."

Ji Wu cried out, her expression frantic as she chased after Ji Ze to stop him.

Ji Xiu: "Stay where you are!"

Ji Wu’s footsteps faltered. She turned her head slowly to look at him, her eyes filled with heartbreak. Unfortunately, Ji Xiu remained unmoved, his expression as cold as ever.

"Since you already know the truth, I won't say much more," Ji Xiu said. "Ruyue refused to send you away, so you will remain in the Ji family with the same treatment as before. But I want you to know one thing: this is not Qingqing's fault. It is the fault of your parents. You have no right to blame Qingqing; if you must blame someone, blame your own bad luck for having such parents."

He paused. "From now on... look out for yourself."

Ji Wu broke into tears on the spot.

Her tears were her weapon. In the past, she rarely cried, but once she did, her mother and brother would immediately yield. Even her workaholic father would rush home with gifts to make her happy. But at this moment, even though she was a sobbing mess, Ji Xiu remained indifferent.

Beside her, Song Ruyue felt the same old heartache. She pulled her daughter into her arms but didn't dare argue with Ji Xiu. She patted the girl's back and whispered, "My poor daughter..."

Ji Xiu glanced at them, feeling speechlessly annoyed, and walked away.

Poor? Compared to her, wasn't Zhou Qingqing the pitiful one?

Ji Xiu went upstairs to organize the original owner's documents, preparing to head to the company as per his agreement with Song Ruyue. Passing the second floor, he heard the voices of the two children discussing which room to pick for Zhou Qingqing’s bedroom.

Zhou Qingqing whispered, "I want to live next to Dad."

Ji Ze drew out his words: "That won't work. Mom and Dad live on the third floor; we live on the second."

Zhou Qingqing’s voice was full of disappointment. "Then... then I'll live next to you."

Ji Ze clicked his tongue, teasing her, "Living next to me is a grievance to you now?"

Despite his words, there wasn't a hint of anger on his face. He called for the servants to tidy up the room next to his.

Zhou Qingqing gripped the hem of her shirt and looked up at this unfamiliar but kind brother. For some reason, she suddenly let out a secret, happy giggle.

Seeing this, Ji Ze felt a pang of guilt. His sister was so cute, yet he had previously tried to stop his father from bringing her back. He really was a piece of work. He wanted to be good to her, to make up for the last ten years of debt, and to keep her smiling forever.

Ji Ze racked his brain and suggested, "It’ll take time to clean the room. Since you're just home, how about I take you on a tour? Let's check the back garden—there are lots of flowers, a swimming pool, and a court. You’ll love it."

Zhou Qingqing agreed in a sweet voice.

Hand in hand, the siblings happily prepared to head downstairs. They bumped into Ji Xiu and called out "Dad" in unison.

Ji Xiu nodded. "Keep an eye on your sister. Don't let her trip or bump into anything."

"Don't worry, Dad," Ji Ze replied casually. His entire focus was on his newly returned sister; even his biological father didn't get much attention.

Ji Xiu raised an eyebrow. Little brat.

Luckily, Zhou Qingqing hadn't forgotten her dear father. She waved goodbye with a brilliant smile before following Ji Ze downstairs. Ji Xiu smiled helplessly, shook his head, and continued upstairs.

After gathering the documents and combining them with the residual memories in his body, Ji Xiu had a clear grasp of the company's situation. He called Old Chen to pick him up and took the files down to the living room to wait.

Descending the stairs, he encountered Song Ruyue leading Ji Wu up. All three paused. Song Ruyue silently stepped aside to make room for him. Ji Xiu glanced at them, his brow knitting slightly. He wanted to say something, but seeing Ji Wu’s tear-reddened eyes, he figured she was just a girl after all and said nothing.

Seeing Old Chen arrive outside, he threw out a quick "I'm going to the office" and left.

Ji Wu raised her tear-blurred face, watching his retreating back. She collapsed into Song Ruyue’s arms again. "Mom, does Dad hate me now?"

A flash of resentment toward Ji Xiu crossed Song Ruyue's eyes. She patted the girl's back. "Don't be afraid. I'm here. No one can bully you."

Ji Wu shook her head, saying nothing, only letting the tears flow. Song Ruyue’s brow twitched as she suppressed her emotions, taking her daughter back to her room to rest.

Once she finally calmed her daughter down, she felt physically and mentally exhausted. Just as she stepped out of the room, she saw the servants cleaning the room next to Ji Ze’s. She frowned. "What is this for?"

The servant replied honestly, "Madam, the young master told us to prepare this for the girl the master brought back."

Song Ruyue nearly ground her teeth to dust. In just a few minutes, Ji Ze had defected. Indeed, a son is never as considerate as a daughter!

Song Ruyue closed her eyes, waved her hand to dismiss them—out of sight, out of mind—and headed upstairs. If it weren't to get Ji Xiu back, she would never have let that wild girl through the door. Now she had to watch her move in; it was agonizing.

She stopped in her tracks. No, I must find a way to take back management of the company! She would find professional managers to run things. Then, Ji Xiu wouldn't be able to threaten her so easily.

...

While Song Ruyue was plotting a power grab, Ji Xiu had arrived at the company. He hadn't been to work in five days, and a mountain of files awaited him. As soon as he appeared, the internal WeChat and QQ groups lit up with the news. Secretaries and managers scrambled to gather their files and waited outside the top-floor office.

The moment the elevator opened, they swarmed him.

Ji Xiu remained calm and unruffled. He waved them off. "What's the panic? Go back to work. Wait for my internal call; we'll handle things one by one. I’m here to hold up the sky."

"Yes, President Ji!"

His calm demeanor and steady aura acted like an anchor. Even the most flustered employees found their footing upon seeing him. They responded in unison and watched him enter, some feeling ashamed as they retreated with their files.

One person remarked, "I haven't seen him in days, but President Ji’s presence is even stronger. It’s reassuring just looking at him."

"President Ji is just that capable. The company can survive without anyone else, but it truly can't turn without him."

Everyone returned to their departments. Soon, the calls started coming.

"President Ji, as mentioned to Madam on the phone, the raw materials at the South City factory are tight. The batch from Australia..."

Ji Xiu flipped through a few pages. "Since they breached the contract, stop the cooperation. Have the legal team contact them. Look for other suppliers. I recall a company called Kangle sought cooperation six months ago. Contact them. If necessary, offer a one-percent profit concession. We must stay on schedule; every second is money."

One problem solved, another took its place.

"President Ji, the new series under the subsidiary has quality issues. There are multiple reports online, and they refused our request to delete them..."

"If they aren't up to standard, recall them all! Do you want to destroy years of corporate reputation for one product line? Manager Huang, I am disappointed in your performance. Recall the products immediately, apologize on Weibo, and compensate the users. Minimize the impact at all costs!"

Manager Huang scrambled away to redeem himself. Ji Xiu continued calling the next person up. His swift, decisive actions cleared the backlog of work by the time the workday ended.

Looking at his now-empty desk, Ji Xiu rubbed his temples, grabbed his coat, and prepared to head home.

"Safe travels, President Ji."

"See you, President Ji."

The secretarial staff stood up to greet him. Ji Xiu waved and smiled warmly. "It's late. Don't overwork yourselves; go home early."

In the parking lot, Old Chen was waiting with a gift box. Seeing Ji Xiu, he hurriedly set it down to open the car door.

Ji Xiu glanced at it. "What's that?"

Old Chen looked a bit embarrassed. "It's my daughter's eighteenth birthday today. We're having a party; this is her gift."

Ji Xiu nodded, lost in thought. Come to think of it, Zhou Qingqing’s birthday was coming up soon. Should he hold a banquet for her to introduce her to society?

Old Chen noticed his silence and didn't dare disturb him, quietly starting the car.

Back at the villa, Ji Xiu snapped out of it. As he got out, he said to Old Chen, "Since it's your child's birthday, go home early. I won't need the car again tonight."

"Thank you, boss!" Old Chen replied with surprise and drove off.

Ji Xiu smiled. That clever Old Chen—showing off the gift just to get off work early? Oh well, given his usual honesty, he’d turn a blind eye just this once.

However, Old Chen’s mention of the party reminded him that Zhou Qingqing was living here without an "official" status. Even the servants didn't know who she was. It was unfair. He needed to hold a banquet to formally introduce her and clear her name. That way, no one would look down on her in social circles.

Determined, he brought up the idea during dinner.

A clatter echoed as the soup bowl in Ji Wu’s hand flipped onto the table.

Ji Xiu glanced at her but made no comment. He signaled the servants to clean up and continued, "This banquet is very important. It’s Qingqing’s fifteenth birthday and her debut. I don't trust the event planners entirely. Ruyue, you keep an eye on things. There can be no mistakes. And the dress—prepare it early. She must outshine everyone. Our daughter cannot be intimidated at her first banquet."

Song Ruyue’s face was dark. "I’ll see to it," she said through gritted teeth.

Zhou Qingqing saw Song Ruyue’s expression and thought she was being a burden. She gripped her clothes and whispered, "Thank you, Dad, but it's not necessary. This is fine."

Ji Xiu frowned and shot a dissatisfied look at Song Ruyue.

Song Ruyue offered a dry smile. "It's nothing. Qingqing coming home is a joyous occasion. A banquet will help clear out the bad luck."

Zhou Qingqing blinked and finally relaxed, smiling as she continued eating.

Ignored the whole time, Ji Wu lowered her head and gripped her chopsticks so hard they squeaked. The noise was so loud that even the usually dense Ji Ze noticed the tension. He looked at Ji Wu and felt a twinge of disappointment.

After dinner, everyone dispersed. Just as Ji Xiu was heading upstairs, Zhou Qingqing called out softly, "Dad, I don't have any clothes..."

Her old clothes were at the Zhou house, and the new ones Ji Xiu bought were at the temporary apartment. She didn't even have a change of clothes for the night. She didn't dare ask Song Ruyue, sensing her mother’s coldness, so she asked Ji Xiu.

Ji Xiu paused. He had forgotten. Luckily, it wasn't too late; they could buy new ones or go back to the apartment. But Old Chen had left early. Ji Ze, seeing Ji Xiu holding the car keys, volunteered.

"You?" Ji Xiu studied him critically before tossing the keys over. "Only the mall near the house. Don't go far, and drive carefully."

Ji Ze was thrilled. "Don't worry, Dad! With Qingqing in the car, I’ll be careful!"

He pulled Zhou Qingqing toward the door. As they passed Ji Wu, she suddenly spoke up: "Brother, you just got your license. It's unsafe. Why doesn't Qingqing just wear some of mine? Uncle Chen can take her to get her clothes tomorrow."

Ji Ze, eager to drive his father's car, waved her off. "You've already worn those clothes. Why should Qingqing wear them? It's not late; I’ll take her to the mall and buy her a whole wardrobe."

Ji Wu’s eyes flashed with irritation. "But... it costs so much money..."

"What does that matter? The family never said a word when you spent money. Why can't Qingqing spend a little?" Ji Ze, annoyed at being blocked, said seriously: "Besides, Qingqing just got back. I’ll pay for it! Consider it my welcome gift to her!"

Ji Wu was utterly speechless. In front of everyone, she felt like Ji Ze had slapped her across the face. Her cheeks burned with humiliation. Noticing the servants' gazes, a wave of grievance flooded her heart. She was just trying to help by offering her old clothes—why did her brother misunderstand her and scold her in public?

Wiping her tears, she ignored Ji Ze and ran upstairs to her room.

Ji Ze muttered, "What’s she running for? Makes it look like I did something wrong..."

Song Ruyue glared at him. "What are you saying? That’s your sister! Why were you so mean to her?" She then rushed upstairs to comfort her daughter.

Ji Ze rolled his eyes. Fortunately, Ji Xiu reminded them: "Go on, it'll be unsafe once it gets too dark."

The sound of the car starting reached the second floor. Ji Wu hit the windowsill in frustration. Even after she cried, Ji Ze still took Zhou Qingqing out!

"Sigh!" Song Ruyue entered the room and sighed. "Xiao Wu, don't mind your brother. He’s just thick-headed."

Ji Wu pulled her hand back and wiped her eyes. "B-but Brother used to love me most... now..."

She didn't dare speak ill of Zhou Qingqing in front of Song Ruyue. She didn't know if her mother would truly love the real daughter later. Ji Wu never underestimated anyone. If she were truly sent to those slums, she would die.

She had overheard the truth and asked a classmate about the Zhou family's neighborhood. The classmate had been shocked: "Xiao Wu, why ask? That's a famous slum! It's full of thugs and lowlifes. Living there is like living in a trash heap."

Ji Wu’s heart sank. Her classmate continued: "I heard from my brother that it's so chaotic. Girls our age there are doing 'compensated dating' just to afford school. It’s been in the papers many times."

Ji Wu felt sick. She had acted spoiled, played nice, and been considerate to keep Song Ruyue on her side. She succeeded; her mother had refused to bring the other girl back. But Dad had been stubborn and brought her home anyway, showing how much he valued her.

She hated it, but she had to maintain a facade of peace.

But now, Dad wanted to hold a banquet. She could tolerate the "thief" Zhou Qingqing at home, but she couldn't let the world know. Once the banquet happened, how would her friends look at her? Would they laugh behind her back and call her a thief who stole someone else's parents?

All her glory would vanish. She had to stop the banquet. She was at the bottom of the family hierarchy now, but she had Song Ruyue. She had to make Song Ruyue ruin the banquet!

Ji Wu cried silently, knowing she looked most pitiful this way. Song Ruyue indeed felt pained.

"Mom!" Ji Wu looked up. "Can we not have that party? My classmates will laugh at me."

"Your father insists..."

"Doesn't Dad listen to you most? Tell him not to do it!" Ji Wu saw her mother remain silent and grew frustrated, but she kept crying. "What’s wrong with Dad? He used to listen to everything you said!"

Song Ruyue’s eyes sharpened. "It’s different now... Before, his wings weren't strong enough. Now the company can't function without him. But don't worry. Once I find a proper manager to replace him, I’ll settle the score for you."

Ji Wu’s eyes flickered, but thinking of the upcoming party, she wept: "How long will that take? Dad is going to tell everyone about my identity soon."

Song Ruyue looked helpless. Finding a good manager took months. The two looked at each other in sad silence. Ji Wu felt a bit of disdain—Song Ruyue, once so powerful, was actually this useless?

Song Ruyue comforted her: "Xiao Wu, don't be afraid. Even if there's a party, someone like Zhou Qingqing won't be liked by anyone. You are still my proudest daughter. I don't know what your dad is thinking. Zhou Qingqing is unpresentable! And she's into 'puppy love'—ignoring her studies to please a man. If we introduce her, I'll lose face..."

"Pleasing a man?" Ji Wu caught her hand.

Song Ruyue explained that she had seen Zhou Qingqing carrying a boy's bag with a shy smile. "How can such a child be my daughter?"

Ji Wu’s eyes lit up. "Mom, does Dad know this?"

"Not yet..."

"Then... why don't you tell him?"

Ji Wu suggested that if Dad felt ashamed, he might cancel the banquet.

To make her mother more resolute, Ji Wu repeated the "compensated dating" rumors about that neighborhood. When Song Ruyue heard those words, her face turned red with rage. She stood up and stormed out.

Ji Wu sat on the bed, wiped her tears, and felt a sense of satisfaction. It worked.