Chapter 8 — IAVD (QT) Chapter 8

The change in Ji Wu’s expression was glaringly obvious.

Ji Xiu took one look and guessed exactly what she was thinking. He mused noncommittally to himself that she had likely missed the mark.

Having grown up in the Zhou family, Ji Mingzhu hadn't just lacked private tutors and elite one-on-one coaching; even her regular schooling had been constantly interrupted by chores. Unless she were a heaven-defying genius, how could she possibly pass the entrance exam for Xiguang on her own?

The only reason she got in was that he had donated two laboratory buildings in the company's name.

Years ago, when Ji Wu failed the exam, Song Ruyue had wanted to donate her way in, but the original owner had refused. To the original owner, life was about the "survival of the fittest." If one couldn't get in on merit, they didn't deserve elite resources or social circles; he would never spend a cent to smooth the way.

But Ji Xiu was a different breed—a total "doting father" fanatic.

To Ji Xiu, anything that could be solved with money wasn't a problem. Besides, he’d likely be leaving the Song family company soon; if he didn't spend the money now, he couldn't take it with him. Given Song Ruyue's extreme personality, she certainly wouldn't leave an inheritance for Mingzhu in a hundred years.

So why shouldn't he spend big while he could?

Moreover, this money rightfully belonged to Mingzhu. Over the past fifteen years, the amount the Ji family spent on raising Ji Wu was far more expensive than two buildings. Now, by simply donating two blocks, he could secure a bright future for Mingzhu at Xiguang. Why not?

Of course, Ji Xiu didn't say any of this in front of the family. He knew Song Ruyue and Ji Wu wouldn't be able to handle it, and it would just lead to more bickering.

He rose with a calm air, gesturing for Mingzhu to follow him and cutting off the girl's attempt to explain the "exam" truth. "It's time to head out. Let's go."

Mingzhu quickly put down her chopsticks and followed. "Dad, wait for me!"

Behind them, Ji Ze caught up. "Wait for me! I have school too; let's go together."

Ji Xiu stopped and gave Ji Ze a half-smile. Ji Ze pleaded in a low voice, "I don't want to stay here and listen to their complaining."

Ji Xiu shook his head and said nothing more.

In the garage, Old Chen opened the car door. Ji Xiu got in first, and Ji Ze pulled open the other side, shielding Mingzhu as she entered. He wasn't going the same way, as he had his own car for school, but he wanted to see her off.

Before she got in, he mimicked his father by ruffling her hair. "Mingzhu, finish your paperwork quickly so you can start school. I'll be waiting for you at Xiguang."

Mingzhu looked up at him in confusion.

Ji Ze complained with feigned annoyance, "Didn't Dad tell you? I study at Xiguang too."

He was in the High School division and only had a few months left before the College Entrance Exam, so he only had a short window to accompany her. He wanted her to enroll fast so he could back her up and help her integrate. Seeing it was getting late, he pushed her into the car. "Go, go! Big brother is heading to school now."

Mingzhu got into the car, feeling overwhelmed by the unexpected kindness. She stared at him through the window, wondering why Ji Ze had suddenly become so attentive. She eventually decided it didn't matter; she could feel his sincerity, and that was enough. A happy smile spread across her face.

The two cars drove out of the Ji estate simultaneously.

...

Transferring the household registration and changing the name wasn't difficult. By noon, Ji Xiu had completed all the formalities. Looking at the freshly minted name "Ji Mingzhu" on the registration booklet, he handed it to his daughter without a word.

Mingzhu froze. She took the booklet, lowered her head, and traced the characters with her fingers. She was silent, but her eyes were rimmed with red. Now, she was truly a child of the Ji family—her father's daughter.

Ji Xiu patted her head in silent comfort. Once she calmed down, he asked, "Things went faster than I expected. Since we have half a day left, where would you like to go? Dad will take you."

"Ah?" Mingzhu looked up. "Don't you have to work?"

Ji Xiu replied dismissively, "If I can't even take one day off, why am I paying so many employees? Work can wait until tomorrow. Tell me, where do you want to play? Dad will accompany you."

Mingzhu had never really had free time before. Since returning to him, she had been busy catching up on studies and learning the household rules. Ji Xiu waited patiently for her to speak.

She hesitated, then asked tentatively, "Can we go to my old school? I'm going to a new school soon, and I want to say goodbye to an old friend."

Ji Xiu agreed immediately. Mingzhu’s face lit up with joy, and the car turned toward its destination. During the drive, she kept peering out the window, looking nervous yet expectant.

Ji Xiu narrowed his eyes subtly. Was she really just saying goodbye to a "friend"? He didn't quite believe it.

He rubbed his chin, recalling Song Ruyue's accusations from the night before. He didn't believe for a second that Mingzhu had done anything sordid, but Song Ruyue wasn't the type to make things up out of thin air; she must have seen something that she misinterpreted under Ji Wu's prodding.

Ji Xiu glanced at Mingzhu. "What are you thinking about, Mingzhu?"

She jumped, her ears turning red. "Nothing... I'm just thinking about how to say goodbye."

Ji Xiu shook his head. If she wasn't hiding a little secret, he’d eat his hat. But he wasn't in a hurry; they were almost there anyway.

The car stopped in front of her old school. It was located in a rough area with a massive, rowdy student population. It was noon dismissal, and students in various mismatched outfits were pouring out of the gates. Mingzhu hurriedly got out and ran toward the entrance, seemingly afraid of missing someone.

Ji Xiu stayed in the car, observing calmly. Old Chen smacked his lips and whispered, "Boss, is the young lady here to see a little boyfriend?"

Ji Xiu shot him a cold look. "No one would think you're a mute if you stayed quiet." Even though he suspected the same thing seeing her blushing face, Old Chen's bluntness was still grating.

At the school gate, Mingzhu stopped and looked around anxiously. She didn't find the person she was looking for immediately, but her old acquaintances found her.

"Hey, isn't that Zhou Qingqing?"

"Yeah, didn't she transfer? Why is she back?"

"Her clothes look expensive. What happened? Did our 'purity goddess' finally go down the same path as us?"

The whispers were loud, malicious, and aimed right at her. Mingzhu used to be immune to these looks, but after a few days of being shielded by Ji Xiu and Ji Ze, her "armor" had thinned. She shifted uncomfortably, wondering if she should just go to his house to wait.

Just then, a familiar voice called from behind. "Zhou Qingqing?"

She froze, her face lighting up with joy as she turned around. A handsome boy in a faded uniform walked out, carrying his bag with one hand. He looked genuinely surprised to see her. Naturally, he tossed his bag toward her. "I thought you weren't coming back. Come on, follow me."

With a thud, the dusty bag hit Mingzhu’s arms, the dirt staining her new yellow princess dress.

The boy stopped, sensing something was wrong. He studied her, took the bag back hesitantly, and said, "I'll carry it myself."

The girl before him was different—expensive clothes, delicate accessories. She wasn't the scruffy girl who used to carry his bag anymore. He frowned, feeling a sudden, sinking distance between them.

Mingzhu didn't notice. Seeing her crush made her forget everything else. She clasped her hands nervously. "Ye Yiyang, I came to say goodbye."

Ye Yiyang thinned his lips and led her to a quiet corner. "What do you mean?"

Away from the crowd, Mingzhu relaxed. She poked the ground with her toe. "I found my biological parents. My dad arranged a transfer, so I'm going to a new school soon."

Ye Yiyang was dazed. The news was so bizarre and sudden it took him a long time to process. Then, he glanced at the car parked nearby, and his heart sank further. Even though he was poor, he recognized the Maybach emblem. This meant she was telling the truth—her parents were incredibly wealthy.

He felt a surge of irritation. If she just transferred, they could still keep in touch. But if her parents were rich, would they let her associate with someone like him? He lived in a slum, had no parents, and was burdened with a sick brother. How could he be worthy of her now? A trace of insecurity appeared in the boy's normally proud heart.

Mingzhu noticed his mood. "Ye Yiyang, what's wrong?"

He immediately resumed his cool, detached expression. "Nothing."

Mingzhu was suspicious but couldn't get more out of him. She just stole glances at his handsome face. In her eyes, Ye Yiyang was the sweetest thing. Before her father appeared to save her, Ye Yiyang was the one who had accompanied her through the darkness.

They were best friends and confidants—the only two people in this decadent school who actually studied. Ye Yiyang was a genius, and Mingzhu, knowing education was her only way out of the Zhou family, had sought his help. He tutored her; she carried his bag and brought him breakfast. They ignored the mockery of others and survived the campus bullying together. Over those three years, she had naturally fallen in love with him.

When her dad asked about transferring, she had hesitated only because of him. But she figured as long as they were in the same city, they’d meet again.

"Ye Yiyang, aren't you going to No. 1 High School? I've decided I'm going to test into that high school too. We can be classmates again."

Ye Yiyang froze, looking at her hopeful eyes. He suppressed his emotions and nodded firmly. "Okay. See you at No. 1."

Mingzhu smiled brightly. "Then I'm going back now."

Ye Yiyang still felt heavy, but the glimmer of hope improved his mood. "I'll walk you."

As they walked toward the Maybach, someone interrupted the harmony.

"Ye Yiyang, didn't you look down on me for doing 'that'? How come it's okay for Zhou Qingqing?" A girl with a "worldly" air, looking angry and humiliated, blocked their path. She had rushed over after being notified by a classmate.

Ye Yiyang didn't even look at her, trying to lead Mingzhu around. The girl blocked them again, her eyes fixed on their touching hands. "Ye Yiyang, you ignore me and call me fallen, but you don't care about Zhou Qingqing? Isn't that a double standard!"

Mingzhu was stunned. Then she realized what the girl meant. She looked at the Maybach and said with a dark face, "That's my Dad!"

The surrounding students began to jeer. "Yeah, your 'Dad,' your 'Sugar Daddy,' hahaha!"

People in the mud hate seeing anyone stay clean. They loved believing in the worst of others.

"That's my biological father!" Mingzhu shouted, but her voice lacked authority.

"Hahaha, as if we haven't seen your dad before." Everyone in this area knew the Zhou couple.

The girl in front of them looked at Mingzhu with pure contempt. Mingzhu shook with rage, and ignoring Ye Yiyang’s attempt to defend her, she turned toward the car and shouted, "Dad!"

The crowd scoffed, ready to mock her further—until Ji Xiu stepped out of the car.

The students froze. Seeing that refined, noble figure approach, their mouths hung open. When he was in the car, they couldn't see him clearly, but standing there... he was a mirror image of Mingzhu. Holy crap, it really is her biological dad? A wave of shock rippled through the crowd. They looked at Ji Xiu, then at Mingzhu’s new clothes and jewelry, feeling a mix of jealousy and bitterness. But what about the Zhou couple?

Ji Xiu had been watching and decided it was time to intervene. He walked to Mingzhu and asked gently, "What's wrong?"

Mingzhu bit her lip, looking aggrieved and unsure of how to explain. Ji Xiu glanced at her hand touching Ye Yiyang's. The boy felt uncomfortable and let go. Ji Xiu rubbed her head, satisfied, and turned a piercing gaze on the crowd that made them recoil.

"Does anyone have something to say to my daughter?"

No one spoke. The girl who started it turned red, then pale, unable to mutter a single word. Ji Xiu scoffed and turned his gaze to Ye Yiyang.

For the first time in his life, the calm genius felt so nervous he didn't know where to put his hands. Luckily, Ji Xiu shifted his gaze back to Mingzhu. "Finished saying goodbye to your friend?"

Mingzhu nodded frantically, blushing and not daring to look at Ye Yiyang. "Yes, let's go."

Ji Xiu didn't leave immediately. Instead, he studied Ye Yiyang leisurely. "So, you're the friend Mingzhu insisted on seeing?"

Ye Yiyang looked at Mingzhu’s profile. A warmth appeared in his eyes. "I suppose I am."

"I am Mingzhu’s father," Ji Xiu said slowly, his words aimed at the crowd as much as the boy. "Mingzhu was swapped at birth and we only found her recently. Our whole family dotes on her. She's transferring to Xiguang, but she insisted on saying goodbye to a friend who was very important to her. Thank you for taking care of her all these years."

He wanted to make it clear: his daughter was clean and upright. Even if she was leaving, he wouldn't allow her reputation to be smeared. "By the way," he added, "she has changed her name. She is now Ji Mingzhu."

Ye Yiyang understood Ji Xiu’s intent. "Mingzhu is a great person. She would have been fine even without me. I'm nothing special."

Ji Xiu nodded. "Since the goodbye is done, we’ll be off. Until we meet again."

Mingzhu pulled on his arm, eager to leave. Ye Yiyang watched them, feeling he had no way to ask her to stay. She was a rich heiress now; they weren't in the same world. His only chance was to make it to No. 1 Middle School as she said.

"I'll see you off, Uncle, Mingzhu."

Ji Xiu felt a trace of admiration for the boy's composure. Then he remembered something. "What is your name?"

"Ye Yiyang," the boy answered respectfully. So it really is him... Ji Xiu’s expression turned strange. He knew the original plot: if Mingzhu hadn't poisoned everyone and caused the world to collapse, a young man named Ye Yiyang would have built a massive career twelve years later and taken Mingzhu away from the Ji family. They would have moved abroad, away from the protagonists. And in the timeline where the world broke, the person who had collected Mingzhu’s body was also a young man named Ye Yiyang.

In other words, this boy was Mingzhu’s "canon" husband.

Ji Xiu narrowed his eyes. Thinking of it that way, I'm suddenly a bit annoyed.