Translated by: Queen Dei Mos
Novel Update Schedule: Sporadic
Characters:
Ji Bai – MC
Ji Feifei – MC’s older sister
Ji Mingzhi – MC’s father
Tao Jiazhi – MC’s mother
Old lady Ji – paternal grandmother – Ji Mingzhi’s mother
Xie Sui – ML
Cong Yuzhou – ML friend
Jiang Zhongning – ML friend
Ai Xiaoxiao – MC’s close friend
Xu Huan – MC’s close friend
Yin Xiaxia – MC’s close friend
Madam Cheng / Cheng Xiao – ML’s birth mother
Chen Zheyang – Childhood friend of MC and Ji Feifei
Chen Zhenheng – Principal of Dexin High School, Father of Chen Zheyang
Director Qin – Director of Academic Affairs
Lu Weiwei – Ex-girlfriend of Jiang Zhongning
Assistant Qin – Assistant of Old Lady Ji
Ji Jing – Cousin from Eldest Uncle (Brother of Ji Mingzhi)
Li Chen – Young master of the Li Group
you1(Original Text): 您 – nín. (English): you – formal, courteous you. = formal speech
Xie Sui was aware that his mother had married into a wealthy family, but he was unclear about who her husband was and never cared to know.
This was his first time seeing Cheng Xiao’s current husband, a decent looking middle-aged man. He wasn’t particularly handsome, but he wasn’t ugly either. Compared to Xie Sui’s father, he was nowhere near as good-looking.
Only children would judge a person by their looks.
From the man’s gestures and bearing, Xie Sui could sense his superior lifestyle and his good social status.
Cheng Xiao and Xie Sui’s father were childhood sweethearts who eventually married and built a life together. His father was incredibly handsome in his youth, making Cheng Xiao the envy of many girls.
However, after getting married and having a child, the grind of daily life gradually made her realize that a pretty face couldn’t put food on the table. Especially when her former friends, who once envied her, found more reliable partners, which made her heart began to waver.
A man’s charisma after thirty is primarily fueled by his power and wealth. Without power or status, without a decent job or career, even the most handsome appearance will eventually fade away.
Growing up, the most frequent thing Xie Sui heard his mother say to his father was, “Without money, what fucking dignity do you have?”
This sentence gradually became Cheng Xiao’s favorite words and the reason why Xie Sui was so obsessed with money.
Money had taken his mother, his childhood, and everything else……
Holding a plate of pastries, he casually leaned against an ice-cold pillar, his eyes cold and distant as he observed his mother and her current husband.
There were no particular emotions, he just found it ironic that a mother and son would meet under such circumstances.
A sudden shock ran through Cheng Xiao as she turned and saw Xie Sui. Her wine glass fell to the ground and shattered on the floor.
Xie Sui found it amusing, watching her face go pale with shock.
The gentleman beside her protected Cheng Xiao from the broken glass on the ground. Cheng Xiao smiled at him, though her smile was pale.
She was so scared that her lips were trembling.
In her eyes, Xie Sui was a living reminder of her shameful past, a witness to her climb from the dirty and lowly depths to the heights of the wealthy, and respectable life she had now.
But it was undeniable that she was fundamentally different from the surrounding socialites and upper-class women.
**
Ji Bai frantically searched the entire dinner party garden but couldn’t find Xie Sui. She was a little worried.
Hearing some girls say they saw him heading towards the flower stand, Ji Bai hurried to the back garden.
The flower stand was located next to the fence on the side of the hotel garden, quite a distance from the garden where the dinner party was at, and almost no one would go to such a secluded corner.
Under the dim flower stand, there were two vague silhouettes. One of them was Xie Sui, and the other…seemed to be a woman.
As Ji Bai drew closer, she heard the woman’s agitated and suppressed voice, saying, “Xie Sui, do you want me die?!”
Goosebumps broke out on Ji Bai’s skin, thinking that Xie Sui must have gotten himself into a romantic entanglement. Intrigue overcame her, and she found herself eavesdropping.
The woman seemed to be on the verge of a breakdown, her voice low and strained, “Why do you always haunt me like a ghost?”
Xie Sui’s expression was awfully dull, his voice steady as he said, “I have your blood flowing through my veins. You can think it’s dirty, you can deny it, but it’s a part of me you can’t erase.”
“Xie Sui, you can’t blame me. If you want to blame someone, blame your father for being incompetent. I’ve had enough of it after so many years. I deserve a better life. Why should I suffer?”
Although her back was to Ji Bai, she could still imagine from Xie Sui’s handsome features that his mother must be incredibly beautiful.
A person’s troubles always come from being unsatisfied with their current situation. She deserved a better life. Why should she suffer with him?
“I don’t blame you.” Xie Sui calmly said, pulling out a cigarette pack from his pocket. His hand slightly shook as he said, “You can get lost.”
With an icy gaze, Cheng Xiao stated, “Xie Sui, you don’t belong in this place.”
Xie Sui laughed, snapped the lighter shut, and retorted, “If you can come, why can’t I?”
Cheng Xiao walked over, grabbed his collar with her left hand, which was adorned with a dazzling diamond ring, and said in a stern voice, “Even if you wear this nice suit, you’ll never belong in a place like this, never be good enough for the girls here. Do you know what the people in the garden are saying about you? They’re laughing at you!”
“I don’t care what others say.”
“You don’t care, but I do. You make me feel ashamed. Your existence is a constant reminder of my shameful past.”
Cheng Xiao almost screamed, “I beg you, don’t appear again. If you want money, I can give you as much as you want, as long as you stop interfering with my life.”
Ji Bai leaned against the flower stand, breaking off a wisteria vine.
“This madam, Xie Sui, is the male companion I invited. If you have any issues, please feel free to address them to me.”
Xie Sui’s fists involuntarily clenched.
Turning around, he found her standing in the moonlight, her custom-made little dress shimmering with a dazzling silver light, breathtakingly beautiful.
Cheng Xiao recognized Ji Bai, she was none other than the young miss of the Ji family, currently the apple of the Ji Chairman’s eye.
She looked at Ji Bai incredulously, “You invited him?”
Ji Bai walked to Xie Sui’s side and naturally linked her arm with his. Xie Sui still held the cigarette pack, which Ji Bai forcibly took away.
“Madam, if there are no other issues, I’d like to take my leave with Xie Sui. There are many people who want to meet him.”
With a firm grip on Xie Sui’s hand, Ji Bai led him away at a brisk pace.
As they brushed past, Cheng Xiao suddenly blurted out, “Miss Ji, do you know what kind of person he is?!”
Ji Bai halted abruptly for a few seconds, then suddenly turned around and looked at Cheng Xiao, “Miss Cheng, be careful what you say.”
Ji Bai was the younger generation so no matter what she should have addressed Cheng Xiao as madam but she didn’t. Instead, she called her miss clearly demonstrating her contempt for her.
The way Ji Bai addressed her reminded Cheng Xiao of the difference in their social status. Feeling humiliated, she bit her lip and retorted, “I am your elder.”
“And I am Chairman Ji’s granddaughter.” Ji Bai replied coldly, her eyes fixed on her. “Even your husband would have to greet me respectfully. What right do you have to disrespect my boyfriend here?”
Cheng Xiao was completely stunned. She hadn’t expected the usually gentle and refined Miss Ji to be so sharp.
It seemed like she had really angered her. Cheng Xiao didn’t dare imagine what would happen if her husband found out she had offended the chairman’s beloved granddaughter……
Forcing a smile, she said, “Miss Ji, that’s not what I meant.”
“There may be future opportunities to meet, but please pretend not to know Xie Sui. He might become my husband someday, and I don’t want people to know he has a mother like you.”
After saying that, Ji Bai didn’t even glance at Cheng Xiao’s ugly expression and hurriedly pulled Xie Sui away.
The two of them ran all the way to the lake.
It was deep into the night. A few scattered stars dotted the sky. A gentle breeze caressed the lake’s surface, creating shimmering ripples.
Xie Sui tried to take the cigarette pack back from her, but Ji Bai held on to it with a death grip.
“Xiao Bai…”
His hand trembled, and his voice trembled too, “Let me have one.”
Ji Bai had never seen Xie Sui tremble like this before. It seemed like he was trying his best to control his surging emotions and maintain a calm appearance.
Ji Bai lowered his head, took two cigarettes from the pack, handing one to him and placing the other between her own lips.
She fished out the lighter from his pocket, “Here, I’ll light it for you. I’ll keep you company.”
Xie Sui reached out and plucked the cigarette from her lips. There was a bit of crimson lipstick on the filter.
“No smoking.”
Both cigarettes, along with the cigarette pack, were thrown into the trash can by him.
Ji Bai rummaged through his pocket again and found a pack of rainbow candies. She popped one into her mouth.
Hmm, sour pineapple flavor.
Facing the surface of the sparkling lake, Xie Sui, with his back to Ji Bai, asked in a low voice, “Were they laughing at me?”
Ji Bai joked, “Laugh at how handsome you are, outshining all the other boys.”
There was no way that was the reason. Xie Sui knew he must have done something wrong, something that made her lose face.
Xie Sui’s hand clenched tightly within his suit sleeve. His voice was deep and restrained as he said, “I made you lose face.”
This was what he cared about the most.
Hearing his words, Ji Bai felt a sharp pain in her heart. Sucking on a rainbow candy to mask the pain, she walked over to his side and gently tugged at his sleeve. “I told you, you are my boyfriend. Maybe you will become my future husband, my true love for life. Those who look down on you aren’t worth even a finger of yours.”
Xie Sui was in a daze as he stared fixedly at the girl’s gentle and serene face, “You…say that again?”
Ji Bai’s ears turned red, shyly averting her gaze, “Good words aren’t said twice. If you didn’t hear it, too bad.”
He had, of course, heard it. The girl said he would be her true love for life.
In this long journey called life, some people accompany you through countless stormy seas and gaze at the stars with you. Yet, how many of these relationships could withstand the test of time and be deemed “true love”?
The gentle night breeze softly caressed them. Xie Sui looked at the girl’s gentle face and softly asked, “Can I hug you?”
Before Ji Bai could react, Xie Sui had already placed his hands on her waist. With a gentle lift, she rose on her tiptoes, her whole body pressing against him.
“Not answering means yes.”
“……”
The young man’s robust frame pressed against hers, resting his head on her frail shoulder in a fierce bear hug, almost pressing her into his burning body.
Ji Bai blushed and she was too stunned to speak.
“Can I kiss you?”
Sensing that something might go wrong again, Ji Bai hurriedly covered her lips with her hand, “You’re being unreasonable ah…”
Before she could finish her sentence, Xie Sui lowered his head and kissed the back of her hand.
**
That night, when Ji Bai returned home, her parents were sitting on the sofa with their faces grim, waiting for her. As expected, Ji Feifei was also there.
At the dinner party, Ji Bai saw Ji Feifei, who was accompanied by Chen Zheyang. He had returned to his former attentive manner towards her, and the two seemed very intimate.
To Ji Bai, this was the best possible outcome.
Ji Mingzhi was about to lose his cool and speak when Tao Jiazhi stopped him with her hand. Turning to Ji Bai, she smiled, “Bai Bai, are you hungry? I asked the auntie to prepare a late-night snack. Quick, eat it while it’s warm.”
“I’m not hungry.”
Ji Bai saw that her parents seemed to have something to say, so she sat down and directly asked, “Mom, Dad, if you have something to say, just say it.”
Ji Mingzhi couldn’t hold back any longer and asked, “The boy who was with you tonight, who was he?”
Ji Bai guessed it would be about this and casually answered, “He’s my friend.”
“Bai Bai, wasn’t he the one Principal Chen mentioned…the child of that murderer?” Tao Jiazhi exclaimed, clearly concerned. “How could you associate with a boy like that!”
“He is the child of a murderer, but he is not a murderer himself.” Ji Bai firmly said. “Why can’t I associate with him?”
“The child of a murderer might have violent tendencies. Have you thought about how dangerous it is to associate with such a person?”
Ji Feifei chimed in at just the right moment, “Mom, Dad, that boy is known at our school as a troublemaker whom nobody dares to provoke, even the teachers are afraid of him.”
Ji Bai’s gaze swept coldly over Ji Feifei, who had a look of satisfaction on her face.
“You look! Look!” Tao Jiazhi cried, exasperated. “Bai Bai, you actually brought this kind of person to the dinner party, and even introduced him to your grandmother. Heavens, what were you thinking? If your grandmother finds out you’re associating with such trash, she’ll think we’ve failed as parents!”
The way her mother kept calling him “trash” made Ji Bai feel particularly disgusted. With a wooden expression, she replied, “First of all, he is not trash, he is my friend. Secondly, grandma has a very good impression of Xie Sui. If she thinks you’ve failed as parents, it certainly isn’t because of me.”
She gave Ji Feifei a meaningful glance as she finished speaking.
Ji Feifei snapped, “Why are you looking at me?”
“Why can’t I look at you?”
Ji Mingzhi interrupted the sisters’ argument and brought the topic back on track, “Bai Bai, you must distance yourself from that Xie guy. Otherwise…I can only make other measures to keep him away from you.”
Ji Bai’s expression darkened. “What are you planning to do?”
“There are many ways to deal with trash like him.” Ji Mingzhi said, “Getting him expelled from your school and out of Jiangcheng is just a matter of snapping a finger.”
This made Ji Bai genuinely angry. “My matter is none of your business. You have no say in my life.”
Ji Mingzhi slammed the table and shouted, “How could you say it’s none of our business? We are your parents! How do we not have any say in your life?
Ji Bai’s voice was cold as she retorted, “You are Ji Feifei’s parents. What am I in your eyes?”
“You…you’re going to make me die of anger!” Tao Jiazhi clutched her chest, struggling to breathe. “We gave you life, provided you food and water, raised you, and now that you’ve grown wings, you don’t recognize your own parents? What kind of ungrateful wretch have I raised?”
Since her parents wanted to settle scores from the past, Ji Bai didn’t mind. She’ll settle all the accounts with them.
“You gave me life and provided for me. You know very well in your hearts what your purpose was.”
She stood at the top of the stairs, she surveyed them with a critical eye, making them grow apprehensive.
“Ji Bai, what are you saying ah?”
Ji Bai rolled up her sleeve, revealing the ghastly sight of countless needle marks on her pale left arm!
“You gave birth to me and raised me, but it was all just to create a ‘man-made blood bank’ for Ji Feifei. All these years, she has taken so much of my blood. Don’t tell me that isn’t enough to repay your kindness in raising me?”
Ji Bai’s unexpected accusation caught her parents off guard as they were unable to refute her words, as every word she said was true and sharp.
“Bai Bai, mom and dad know that you’ve been wronged a lot over the years. But can you bear to watch your older sister be tormented by her illness? Whatever our reasons were for bringing you into this world, you’re here now, and with that comes certain responsibilities.”
Ji Mingzhi attempted to reason with her. “When your older sister needs you, you should bravely step up.”
Ji Bai’s eyes twitched slightly. “If I don’t agree, she will die, right?”
“Bai Bai, you’re scaring mom. Do you know what you’re saying?”
“I think we have reached an understanding.” Ji Bai glanced at Ji Feifei, “Ji Feifei’s life is in my hands. So, please weigh your options carefully before taking any action.”
With those words, she turned and went to her room, slamming the door behind her.
“You look! Look at how you’ve spoiled her!” Tao Jiazhi was nearly in tears from anger.
Ji Mingzhi slammed the table again. “Does she think she can get away with this? I will kick this girl out. She thinks her wings have grown strong? Let’s see if she can survive outside without relying on her family!”
Tao Jiazhi quickly pulled Ji Mingzhi back. “Calm down a bit. If you kick her out and by chance something happens to Fei Fei, what will we do? Are you stupid?”
……
Ji Bai returned to her room, pulled out a suitcase, and began to start packing.
She no longer harbored any expectations or fantasies from her parents. In the past, she had hoped that if she were smarter and more pleasing, perhaps they would love her as much as they loved Ji Feifei. But the truth was, she had hoped for too much.
They never had any love for her.
Seeing Ji Bai dragging her luggage out, Tao Jiazhi chased after her. “Where are you going?!”
“Out for a few days.”
Ji Mingzhi angrily said, “Remember your attitude today. If you want to leave, then leave. I won’t give you a single yuan. If you can’t make it out on your own, don’t come crying back.”
Ji Bai gritted her teeth and said, “Don’t worry, even if I come back, I’ll make sure to do it with a smile.”
**
Ji Bai dragged her suitcase out of the house. Over the past six months, she had saved quite a bit of money, not only did she have the credit card her grandmother had given her, but also the pocket money she had saved by living frugally.
For the time being, Ji Bai didn’t have to worry about money. She found a hotel close to her school and checked in.
She used her grandmother’s credit card, and before she could even bring her luggage to her room, her grandmother called——
“Xiao Bai, why are you staying in a hotel?”
Ji Bai was in the hallway, her voice hushed as she spoke into the phone. “I had a little disagreement with mom and dad. It’s nothing serious, grandma. Don’t worry, I’ll be back in a few days.”
Without needing Ji Bai to elaborate, Old Lady Ji knew that the household of her second son, Ji Mingzhi, was always the most unsettled. She didn’t try to persuade Ji Bai to go back but instead said, “Grandma’s house is too far from your school, and it wouldn’t be convenient for you to stay here. Why don’t you stay at the Huanyu Hotel near your school? It’s under the Ji Group, and I’ll feel more at ease with you staying there.”
Ji Bai didn’t go against her grandmother’s wishes. She checked out of her current hotel and dragged her suitcase about 500 meters to the Huanyu Grand Hotel.
This hotel was the only six-star hotel in Jiangcheng so it was exceptionally high-end.
As soon as Ji Bai walked in, an attendant politely took her luggage. When Ji Bai went to the front desk to check in, the receptionist, upon seeing her ID, immediately said, “Miss Ji, the chairman has already called. You don’t need to check in. We’ve already reserved the best VIP room for you. I’ll take you up there.”
“Thank you.”
Ji Bai’s room was arranged in the VIP area above the 18th floor. This section was exclusively reserved for the hotel’s platinum VIP guests. It was impossible for ordinary people to book these rooms online or through the front desk, ensuring a high level of security.
The room was a suite with a floor-to-ceiling glass window. Standing by the window, one can overlook the bustling Jiangcheng.
The king-sized bed was so soft that Ji Bai comfortably sprawled out on it and drew a big “大”.
Ji Bai wasn’t an impulsive person. While her decision to leave home might have been a moment of anger, she needed to make it clear to Ji Mingzhi and Tao Jiazhi that she was no longer the timid coward who wouldn’t dare to speak up.
Since she had her heart set on becoming the successor and competing with the others, she couldn’t allow her parents to hold her back.
Therefore, there are some things that they should be made aware of.
Ji Feifei complained to Chen Zheyang about Ji Bai moving out, naturally adding her own spin, saying that Ji Bai was too immature and had worried their parents to no end. She even wondered who Ji Bai had been spending so much time with to become so rebellious.
Ji Feifei’s intent was to make Chen Zheyang see that Ji Bai was no longer the gentle and kind younger sister he thought she was. She wanted him to see her true colors and stop being so obsessed with her.
Unexpectedly, Chen Zeyang, in a fit of anger, confronted Xie Sui, accusing him of leading Ji Bai astray and making her run away from home. He demanded to know if Xie Sui was intent on ruining her life!
At 8 p.m., Ji Bai was comfortably soaking in a bubble bath in the luxurious bathtub when her phone rang on the nearby table.
Unable to get up to answer it, Ji Bai let it ring.
However, the caller seemed quite persistent. Despite Ji Bai’s initial refusal to answer, her phone continued to ring continuously for five minutes.
Ji Bai reluctantly wrapped herself in a towel and picked up her phone.
Sure enough, it was Xie Sui, the one person she couldn’t afford to ignore. Besides him, no one else would bombard her with calls like this.
She let out a sigh and answered the call.
“Where are you?” Xie Sui’s voice sounded urgent.
“I’m at…”
Ji Bai was about to brush it off but he caught her off guard by directly asking, “Which hotel?”
“……”
Well, he was quite well-informed.
“I had a little disagreement with my family, so I moved out for a few days.” Ji Bai emphasized. “Only for a few days. I’ll go back home soon.”
“Which hotel and room number?”
Ji Bai frowned. “Why are you asking?”
“To make sure you’re safe.”
“I’m perfectly safe.”
“Ji Bai, I’m not joking with you.” Xie Sui’s voice was deep and serious. “Either tell me now, or wait for me at school tomorrow.”
It’s over, he was really angry.
When he was angry, he would call her by her full name.
Ji Bai was genuinely afraid of him.
“Xie Sui, are you coming to see me?”
“Yes.”
“But it’s so late now.”
“Let me take a look at you, and then I’ll leave.” Xie Sui paused, and then added, “It’s for my homework. I have a few questions I don’t understand.”
Reasonable and hard to refuse.
Ji Bai sighed and reluctantly gave Xie Sui the hotel’s name and room number.
T/N:
Please comment and share if you like the story!
If you like what I do, please do support me thru ko-fi~ Every $2 is an extra chapter. |･ω･｀)So, I am thoroughly disgusted with the parents again.
Chapters Left: 46
