Ji Wei said he wanted to have a good talk with Ji Yan, but he was a very busy man after all. Even after getting married, he still had a lot of things to deal with and couldn't be completely free.
He and Ji Yan had only exchanged a few words when his secretary came twice, handing over documents that needed his signature to Ji Wei, and also some urgent tasks that required his decision.
“I also want to take a break, put my work aside, and take a long vacation, but unfortunately I can’t stop,” Ji Wei sighed. “Actually, with my pace of life, I’m not really suited to getting married.”
Ji Wei was quite frank with Ji Yan—the Ji family was large and powerful, but now only Ji Wei was struggling to keep it afloat. Neither Ji Yushi nor Ji Xuekong were cut out for business, and they couldn't support such a large family business.
Before this, Ji Wei had assigned some tasks to the two of them, but unfortunately, Ji Yushi and Ji Xuekong had neither the talent nor any interest in doing business.
They prefer art and are used to a carefree lifestyle.
At this point, Jivi felt he needed an heir.
He was the eldest son. The Ji family business was established by his parents. When he took over the Ji family business, Ji Wei only had the idea of not letting his parents' hard work go to waste. He did not expect to carry forward the Ji family business. However, he showed good talent in business and was also quite quick-witted. After he took over, the Ji family business grew bigger and bigger. Naturally, Ji Wei could not let go of his responsibilities.
“If you’re interested, you can try taking over a part of it,” Ji Wei said with a smile. “Starting with the entertainment industry, your plan is quite good.”
Ji Yan remained silent. He had absolutely no interest in business and lacked Ji Wei's sense of responsibility. After confirming his relationship with Teacher Ning, Ji Yan never considered having children.
He felt that everything should be left to its own devices, and things should be as they are: "It doesn't matter if no one inherits the business. Do you want the company to run for a thousand years?"
The Ji family's development was already very stable, but even so, Ji Wei still encountered a lot of troubles during the company's growth. Many times, the problems were not caused by Ji Wei, but by the environment itself. The business world is unpredictable, and a once-thriving company may quickly be on the verge of bankruptcy within one or two years. A small decision can plunge a normally operating company into difficulties.
Even though Ji Yan wasn't involved, he had heard about this kind of thing all along.
He didn't think that once Ji Wei had an heir, that heir would necessarily be able to manage the Ji family business well.
“You’re not wrong in thinking that way,” Ji Wei smiled. “Really not interested?”
Ji Yan waved his hand dismissively: "Not interested."
He didn't want to have much to do with the Ji family, let alone financial dealings.
"Rain and snow..."
Before Ji Wei could finish speaking, Ji Yan interrupted him: "Seeing their faces is already quite difficult for me, don't make things difficult for me."
"You still hate them?" Ji Wei's smile faded, and his expression became slightly serious.
"No, not at all." Ji Yan shook his head honestly. "I'm just too lazy to see them. I don't hate them. That was so long ago. I'm not that petty."
"I'm just always busy, and I don't want to waste my time and energy on meaningless people and things."
“Alright.” Ji Wei sighed again. “It seems I really don’t need to say any more to you.”
Ji Wei knew that Ji Yan had a yardstick in his heart, and he had already measured the distance between himself and others.
His two mentally challenged brothers probably won't feel too good about it.
Over the past few years, Ji Yushi and Ji Xuekong have gradually come to their senses. They had put a lot of effort into Ji Ruan, but now, those efforts have become knives stabbing into their hearts.
If they continue to act foolishly, they might not feel this psychological burden, but once they realize it, they will naturally regret it.
Unfortunately, Ji Yan completely ignored them. No matter how many methods Ji Yushi and Ji Xuekong tried, Ji Yan showed no intention of getting involved with them. All Ji Yushi and Ji Xuekong could do was buy his albums and tickets when his movies were released, nothing more.
In places unknown to Ji Yan, they would introduce him to others, saying that the newly crowned Best Actor at the Chang Kong Awards was their younger brother. Ji Yushi and Ji Xuekong both went to "Wing's" concert this year, but they dared not let Ji Yan know—Ji Yushi and Ji Xuekong were very surprised by Ji Yan's development in the entertainment industry, whether it was becoming the youngest Best Actor at the Chang Kong Awards in history or the popularity he gained.
However, without their participation in Ji Yan's struggle, in Ji Yan's heart, they were not even strangers.
Ji Xuekong sometimes even wanted to hit himself. Being in the Ji family, money was clearly the one thing he had in abundance, so why did he have to point fingers at Ji Yan?
However, Ji Yan didn't care what he thought. Even when the two met at the hotel, Ji Yan ignored him. On the other hand, Dun Dun was quite happy to interact with him because he was good-looking. Ji Xuekong was quite gentle with Dun Dun. Several times when Dun Dun secretly ran out, Ji Xuekong brought him back.
"Let's leave it at that." Ji Yan and Ning Wei chatted. "Let's keep things as they are, without expecting too much. It's healthier for both of us that way."
Ning Wei posted photos in the chat box of the candied hawthorns he ate at home, as well as the increasingly lavish New Year's Eve dinner each year.
Ji Yan: "...I can't eat it anyway."
The food at the hotel wasn't bad, but the Ji family had specially invited several famous chefs to prepare the wedding banquet in preparation for Ji Wei's wedding. Unfortunately, the atmosphere of the wedding banquet was too solemn, and Ji Yan didn't know most of the guests at the hotel, nor were they in the same social circle. Rather than eating a tasteless meal with strangers, he preferred to go out for some barbecue with Teacher Ning.
"Sure enough, life with a partner is different from life without one," Ji Yan remarked. "I'll go to your place next time."
"It's settled."
"It's a promise! I'll definitely go!"
...
Ji Yan and Ji Wei didn't say much. Ji Wei reminded him to deal with the rental and sale of those houses, shops, and several buildings. Ji Yan directly suggested that the other party take them back—no matter how many houses the other party gave him, Ji Yan was only one person, and he couldn't divide himself into many parts to live in.
Besides, he prefers living in a house he bought himself, which gives him a sense of security and stability.
After returning from Ji Wei's wedding, the Spring Festival had already passed. Uncle Zhou really wanted to help the four brothers sit down and have a heart-to-heart talk and have a New Year's Eve dinner together, but unfortunately, Ji Yan did not give him the opportunity to prepare one.
Ji Wei didn't say anything, but the disappointment on Ji Yushi and Ji Xuekong's faces was obvious.
Ji Yan took Dun Dun out for a stroll, visiting the zoo and amusement park. The crowds during the Spring Festival made him wish he could stay in bed, but little Dun Dun remained enthusiastic. He was not only curious about the animals, but when there were too many people and he couldn't see the monkeys and red pandas, he would reach out and ask Ji Yan to pick him up.
Ji Yan's only consolation is that Ji Xiaodun is a lively and active child who usually hikes and wades through mountains and rivers on his own, without needing Ji Yan to carry him.
"That's because you're too incompetent, Teacher Ji. You lack practical experience. I could carry ten of Dun Dun's hefty size by myself." Fang Yu deeply condemned Ji Yan's incompetence.
While complaining about how tiring it was to go out to play, Ji Yan was showing off photos of himself and his nephew playing in the group chat. Fang Yu said that he had figured out Ji Yan's sinister intentions very well.
Ji Yan: "...Could you please not use the word 'tonnage'? Even underage children have self-esteem."
"Prove that you can hug ten of them, or I won't believe you."
Fang Yu showed off a photo of himself surrounded by three or four children, and Ji Yan couldn't help but complain, "What happened to the promised ten?"
Actually, Dun Dun isn't heavy. He's grown up a bit and looks thinner, unlike when he was chubby. His grandma said he was round like a cement block, so she gave him the nickname Dun Dun.
Ji Yan had given up hope of his family's ability to name their children.
Despite the crowd, Ji Yan was quite happy to see Dun Dun so cheerful. He took Dun Dun to the wedding, and the little boy was very well-behaved throughout, doing whatever Ji Yan asked him to do. However, the wedding atmosphere was clearly a bit too restrictive for the child.
At the very least, Ji Yan hopes that Dun Dun can have some fun here.
Now Ji Yan has truly experienced the hardships of taking care of a child. Dun Dun is already a very obedient child, but as long as he is around, Ji Yan has to stay vigilant the whole time and can't let his guard down for even a moment.
It was probably even more difficult for his brother to take care of him back then.
Ji Yan went through a rebellious phase, and was later recognized and returned to the Ji family. After all that happened, his brother probably went through a very difficult time.
...
Dun Dun stayed in City A for a few days before Ji Yan drove him home. His school start date was still far off, but his grandmother was a little worried about him being alone outside. After all, Ji Yan wasn't exactly a reliable person, not in terms of his character, but in terms of his lifestyle.
When at home, with Grandma and Mom watching over him, Ji Yan still indulges the child a lot. You can imagine how exaggerated Ji Yan's indulgence would be when no one is supervising him.
In reality, Ji Yan had only given the kids a few extra snacks and a lot of fruit, but under the kind gazes of his sister-in-law and Dun Dun's grandmother, Ji Yan inexplicably felt a little guilty.
He silently cast a pleading look at his brother.
Ji Qing silently stepped back.
Ji Yan: "..."
After returning home, his brother and sister-in-law treated him to a big meal. It has to be said that Ji Yan felt he had really suffered these past few days. With his rough cooking skills, even he himself found it hard to eat the food he made, but he still had to take care of the child's nutrition.
Judging from Dun Dun's expression, Ji Yan's cooking was indeed not very good.
That evening, Ji Qing stopped Ji Yan. Ji Yan thought he was going to ask about Ji Wei's wedding, but Ji Qing told him, "Your brother... also sent me an invitation, but I didn't attend. It would have been awkward to go there, and I've been busy at home."
Ji Yan asked curiously, "So that's why you lent Dundun to me?"
“It wasn’t a loan. I asked him if he wanted to come over to your place, and he said yes, so I let him come.” Ji Qing hesitated for a moment before finally handing her phone to Ji Yan. “Take a look, I received this a few days ago.”
Ji Yan leaned closer to take a look. It was a message from an unknown number to Ji Qing, but after reading the content, the two brothers fell silent for a moment.
There's no need to guess who sent the message; everything is obvious.
"Has he texted you before?" Ji Yan asked.
Ji Qing slowly shook his head: "Never before, this is the first time."
Actually, if Ji Ruan hadn't sent him the message, Ji Qing usually wouldn't have thought of him. But the message didn't contain anything else; it was all about how he hadn't been good enough to Ji Yan in the past. He hoped Ji Yan could put in a good word for him so that he could meet with Ji Wei and his brothers.
Although the text message was sent to Ji Qing, it barely mentioned Ji Qing at all.
“I ignored him,” Ji Qing said. “If they really wanted to meet him, they wouldn’t have asked you to be their intermediary, would they?”
What Ji Yan does is his own business, especially when it involves the Ji family. Ji Qing will never make choices for him.
“They definitely didn’t see them.” Ji Yan told Ji Qing what he had heard and seen, and casually mentioned that Ji Ruan had tricked Ji Yushi and Ji Xuekong before.
"What is he trying to do?" Ji Qing could only sigh.
He didn't want to say it in front of Ji Yan, but occasionally, when he looked at his parents' photos, he would think that if the baby swap hadn't happened, Ji Yan wouldn't have been wronged, and Ji Ruan... probably wouldn't be like this now.
“He won’t contact you for now,” Ji Qing said softly. “But if he does contact you later, remember, don’t agree to any of his requests.”
"I know."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
