Chapter 204: The North-South marriage ended in divorce, but the outcome was a truly sincere one.
Ji Fuying's birth brought liveliness to the otherwise quiet social circle.
Zhong Yan was the first among his childhood friends to become a father. Don't be fooled by the fact that the Second Young Master Zhong usually seems lazy and carefree, with an attitude of indifference to life and death.
But when they get serious, their life trajectory leaves other young masters far behind.
Now, the man Zhong Yan has found is rich and handsome. Last time, for his birthday, he gave Zhong a limited edition Koenigsegg that was flown in from headquarters. In return, Zhong Yan gave him a Cartier Crown Jewel. It looks extravagant and ostentatious, but it seems perfectly normal for the two of them.
The longevity of a marriage depends mainly on mutual reciprocity. Small, long-term exchanges of goodwill build an emotional foundation that allows the couple to overcome difficulties together.
Ji Tanyuan and Zhong Yan's attitude of devoting themselves to each other shows their seriousness. Who didn't know that the marriage between the North and South, which ended in divorce, was actually the result of a truly sincere relationship?
Although the two have not remarried, they still have everything they need. Their youngest daughter still takes her mother's surname and is valued by her grandfather's family.
The next day, Zhou Yanyu took a generous gift to Shanghai. Everyone in the Yanjing circle said that the Zhong family was only willing to let the child follow the Ji family because they were considerate of the Ji family's only daughter. Given the difference in status between the Zhong and Ji families, no one would think that the Zhong family was trying to please the Ji family. They would only think that the two families were getting closer because of a child.
The name that Secretary Zhong had thought of all night was inadvertently leaked to everyone's ears by the secretariat, further confirming how much the Zhong family valued their eldest grandson.
Such a joyous occasion will attract everyone who wants to share in the happiness.
As a result, Ji Fuying had godparents as soon as she was born.
Lingbu no longer needs to undergo long periods of closed training in the military.
He took a trip to Shanghai in his spare time, even faster than Cheng Gengxu and the others, saying that he had to be the godfather.
He looked down at the baby, whose features were exquisitely beautiful: "I'll be your child's godfather."
Ji Tanyuan replied with a smile, "It's our honor to have Major Ren as my daughter's godfather."
Zhong Yan chuckled:
"Nonsense, it's not that easy to get my daughter to call you dad."
"You didn't even give me a gift when we first met, you've been a father for nothing."
Ling Bu has thick eyebrows and big eyes, possessing the ruggedness of a tough northern man, while the scars on his eyebrows add a touch of ferocity.
He took out a jade pendant from his pocket: "This is my talisman. I've been on countless missions without incident. I'm giving it to Little One."
He laughed and said, "Is this alright?"
Ji Tanyuan was taken aback, thinking that this gift was too precious.
Zhong Yan accepted it, saying, "Alright, I'll call you when the child can call me Dad."
Later, Zhong Yan told Ji Tanyuan that Ling Bu would rise rapidly in the Military Commission, and that it wouldn't hurt for Ji Fuying to have multiple godfathers.
As for the amulet, it carries weight and represents a promise.
Ji Tanyuan was not familiar with Ling Bu, only knowing that his original name was Ling Bubu. She had heard before that children of high-ranking officials liked to use reduplicated characters as pseudonyms, and his name had a rather absurd feel to it.
She didn't ask too many questions. The favors were with the Zhong family, and she only had a superficial understanding of the Zhong faction.
Ji Tanyuan bent down to tease her daughter, "Fuying, you're under a lot of pressure."
Two weeks after giving birth, Duan Huaixu arrived.
Ji Tanyuan and he hadn't seen each other for a year. Over the years, one of them had been in China and the other abroad, working through video calls and barely managing to have a meal together when they were on business trips.
Ji Tanyuan still doesn't know Duan Huaixu's feelings for her. Duan Huaixu keeps this vague and impossible feeling to himself. He knows that once Ji Tanyuan finds out, they won't even have these occasional meetings anymore.
He took the document. "A gift for you."
Upon hearing this, Ji Tanyuan accepted it and laughed, "A gift for me? Not for my daughter?"
Duan Huaixu chuckled, "Both."
The man was nearly forty, more mature and steady, but he hadn't changed. He was outwardly refined and gentlemanly, but inwardly ruthless. Ji Tanyuan felt that half of her personality traits were learned from him.
Ji Tanyuan opened it and was surprised to find it was a manor in Beverly Hills.
The 1.1-acre fully enclosed estate, adjacent to the fifth fairway of a golf course, boasts exclusive views of both the city skyline and the National Ridge. Ji Tanyuan remembered it because she had expressed her fondness for this area to Duan Huaixu when she was playing golf with a client.
"You bought it?"
Duan Huaixu hummed in agreement, "You won't mind, will you? After all, all I have left is money."
Ji Tanyuan: "Of course I won't mind, I love it."
"I've already thought of what to give you for your wedding."
Duan Huaixu said calmly, "I will not get married. I'll say it again: marriage is foolish. Being bound by the institution of marriage will only restrict your own interests."
Ji Tanyuan waved her hand: "I know, I have no intention of remarrying."
Ji Tanyuan suddenly remembered that the other person was also looking after the child, so she moved the little one who was sleeping on the side to him.
"Look at the daughter I gave birth to."
The little girl is growing up and has become incredibly beautiful, with long eyelashes and skin as smooth as a peeled egg. She is very cute.
Duan Huaixu laughed and said, "Very cute, you are very capable."
Ji Tanyuan was praised, especially by the usually stern Duan Huaixu, and laughed, "I thought you wouldn't agree with me having children."
After all, having children would affect her work, and she never thought she would have a child at the age of 29, which is indeed considered early for her industry.
But now she's different; she's the boss, still holds shares, and has some freedom without worrying about the punishment of being a mother.
Duan Huaixu: "Giving birth is a great thing, and you did a great job."
He stood up. "Just don't let it affect your life."
Ji Tanyuan nodded, "Of course, I'll fly to the United States on a business trip after I've rested. We'll meet again then. Tongji High-Tech is expected to be officially listed early next year."
Duan Huaixu nodded. He was the largest investor and knew the general plan.
"Have your assistant contact me then, and I'll come over. If I don't have time, I'll send a representative."
Duan Huaixu stayed for a while and then left.
On the way out, Duan Huaixu asked Zhong Yan the question that had been bothering him: "I thought you would tell her my feelings so that she would stay away from me."
Upon hearing this, Zhong Yan's expression turned cold. He did indeed dislike Duan Huaixu, but he preferred Ji Tanyuan.
“Ji Tanyuan regards you as her mentor, someone as important as her father.”
Ji Tanyuan's proficiency in the financial industry and her ease in handling it are reminiscent of Duan Huaixu. Their tacit understanding at work even makes Zhong Yan jealous.
But what could be done? Ji Tanyuan valued her work.
His brows were furrowed, his black shirt accentuated his sharp features, and the moment he stepped outside, his gentle demeanor vanished, replaced by a suppressed indifference and a domineering presence. He spoke as if observing coldly, devoid of any emotion:
"Whether you know or not depends on whether Ji Tanyuan can discover it herself, on how well you can keep it a secret, on your ability. If you know, it's your fate; if you don't know, it's also your fate."
In truth, Zhong Yan was seething with hatred, but he couldn't tell Ji Tanyuan that Duan Huaixu liked her. Not only would Ji Tanyuan doubt her social skills, but he would also become a terrible whistleblower and be implicated.
Duan Huaixu was stunned; he hadn't expected this reason.
He said indifferently, "Don't worry, she likes you, I won't do anything else."
Zhong Yan sneered, her eyes full of mockery: "It's not like you can just take it away because you can do it. I'm not saying this to make you proud, but to make you realize your place."
——
“Look, our daughter is very well-behaved, she doesn’t cause any trouble at all.”
After seeing the person off, Zhong Yan heard Ji Tanyuan's words and looked at his harmless and adorable daughter.
"I also think we should stop calling it stinky tofu and start calling it sweet tofu."
But soon after, Zhong Yan started giving his daughter the nickname "Ever-Changing Little Ying" to target her stubbornness.
She even went to an island with Ji Tanyuan for a romantic getaway, leaving the child with a nanny, only to be scolded back by Ji Qing over the phone.
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