The gentle glow from the moonstone anklet on Lin Qianwei’s ankle fell softly on her fair skin, as if she was adorned with a touch of moonlight.
Ji Yunxiao’s gaze moved from her calf to her flawless, delicate face, and she heard the tension in Lin Qianwei’s cold voice: “Is it not allowed?” Lin Qianwei looked into her eyes, holding back her embarrassment, already feeling wronged: “Is it that hard for you to chase me?” Ji Yunxiao suddenly felt a sharp pain in her chest.
She strode over and pulled Lin Qianwei into her arms, giving her a clear answer: “It’s not hard at all.”
She had just spaced out because she was thinking of the past again.
Her childhood friend Song Qianqian was a stunning beauty who never lacked admirers.
Before graduating high school, she always turned down confessions, saying she wanted to focus on her studies.
After the college entrance exams, some people thought they finally had a chance and confessed again, but Song Qianqian just dragged Ji Yunxiao off on a trip, not giving their old classmates any opportunity.
Right before they boarded the plane, a boy even chased them to the airport with flowers, but Song Qianqian didn’t spare him a glance and had the Song family’s bodyguards stop him.
That night, after checking into their guesthouse, Ji Yunxiao lay beside the beautiful girl and couldn’t help but ask, “The guy who brought you flowers today, isn’t he the most popular guy at our school?” Song Qianqian peeled off her face mask, her eyes sharp and cold: “You care about him?” “I don’t,” Ji Yunxiao propped her head on her hand, smiling at her, “I’m just curious—if even a cute guy like that can’t catch your eye, what kind of person do you actually like?” Song Qianqian tossed the mask, washed her face, then dumped a bunch of skincare bottles in front of Ji Yunxiao, pouting: “I forgot which one to use at night.
You do it for me.”
With that, she knelt in front of Ji Yunxiao, lifting her flawless, porcelain face.
Anyone would be stunned by such breathtaking beauty, and Ji Yunxiao was no exception.
She stared, about to reach out and touch her, but Song Qianqian slapped her hand away, whining: “Go wash your hands first.”
She winked at Ji Yunxiao, her breath soft and sweet: “You can only touch me after you wash up.”
“Okay.” Ji Yunxiao washed her hands, came back, opened the toner, and patted it on for her, explaining, “Use this first, then the eye cream.”
With Qianqian’s memory, there’s no way she’d forget the skincare steps.
Ji Yunxiao knew she was just messing with her, but she was happy to play along, patiently explaining everything again.
“Did you remember this time?” Ji Yunxiao asked when she finished.
Her childhood friend lifted her long lashes and glanced at her, saying confidently, “Nope.
You’ll have to do it for me again tomorrow.”
“Alright,” Ji Yunxiao indulged her, “I’ll do it for you.”
Right before bed, Ji Yunxiao got a friend request from the guy who’d brought Song Qianqian flowers earlier.
She raised her eyebrows and declined it, then pulled Song Qianqian over and asked, “You still haven’t answered me—what kind of person do you like?” Song Qianqian still didn’t answer directly.
She grabbed Ji Yunxiao’s hand, stared at her nails, and suddenly got mad: “How can you keep your nails long? You’re not allowed to have long nails.”
Ji Yunxiao chuckled, “They’re not long, I just forgot to cut them.
And they’ve only grown a little.”
“I’m going to cut them all off.” Song Qianqian said, then ran off to get the nail clippers.
Ji Yunxiao let her do as she pleased.
At first, Song Qianqian sat across from her, but somehow, that gorgeous girl ended up snuggled in her arms, leaning on her shoulder, clipping her nails in an incredibly clingy way.
When she finally finished, Song Qianqian didn’t let go.
Instead, she held Ji Yunxiao’s wrist, staring at it, her face gradually turning red.
Ji Yunxiao called her, “Qianqian?” “Mm.” Song Qianqian buried her face in the blanket, her voice muffled with a nervousness Ji Yunxiao didn’t notice at the time, “You’re not allowed to get weird manicures either, especially those with sharp decorations.”
A lot of girls their age loved nail art, but back then Ji Yunxiao was obsessed with racing, so it wasn’t convenient anyway.
Now that Song Qianqian had a request, of course she agreed.
Song Qianqian was satisfied, then pulled out a bottle of amber-red nail polish, waved it at Ji Yunxiao, and blinked: “You can wear this kind.”
Ji Yunxiao asked, “You want me to put this on?” Song Qianqian nodded, told her to hold out both hands, and after painting them, cupped her hands to blow them dry.
Watching her, Ji Yunxiao felt her heart soften, but she didn’t forget her earlier question.
Ji Yunxiao said, “Qianqian, you still haven’t answered me.”
Song Qianqian looked at her coldly, “Answered what?” Ji Yunxiao pressed, “What kind of person do you like?” Song Qianqian fell silent again.
The clock on the wall ticked steadily, and the room was silent at night.
The amber-red polish really suited Ji Yunxiao’s long, beautiful hands.
While waiting for it to dry, Lin Qianwei kept admiring them, and the more she looked, the redder her face became.
Suddenly, she hugged Ji Yunxiao, burying her face deep in her shoulder and neck.
“Xiaoxiao-jie,” Song Qianqian said.
Ji Yunxiao thought the girl was calling her, so she answered, “Hm?” “Xiaoxiao-jie,” Song Qianqian repeated.
Ji Yunxiao’s nail polish wasn’t fully dry.
She held her hands up, cradling the girl in her arms, smiling as she asked, “What is it?” “Xiaoxiao-jie,” Song Qianqian said for the third time, but Ji Yunxiao still didn’t get it and kept asking, “Why are you calling me?” Song Qianqian sat up, pushed her away, and said coldly, “Are you stupid?” Eighteen-year-old Ji Yunxiao was confused, “Why are you suddenly mad?” Song Qianqian ignored her.
Ji Yunxiao didn’t care about the nail polish anymore.
She pulled the girl out from under the covers and coaxed her, “I’m stupid, I’m stupid.
If you say I’m stupid, then I am.”
The girl looked at her for two seconds, then dove back into her arms.
“Don’t you want to know what kind of person I like?” Song Qianqian’s voice was low.
Ji Yunxiao: “Yeah, I’m curious.”
Song Qianqian said, “I like people who take the initiative with me.”
Ji Yunxiao laughed, “Babe, people lining up to take the initiative with you could stretch from here to France.”
Song Qianqian sat up straight, staring at her, “Anyway, I’m never going to chase anyone.
I want to wait for her to chase me.
Even though she hasn’t thought about it yet, I can tease her, I can hint at her, until she finally gets it and chases me like crazy.
Then I’ll mock her, all cold and aloof: Now you want to chase me? You had so many chances before, why didn’t you take them?” Ji Yunxiao frowned, “Who is this ‘she’? Don’t tell me you already like someone?” Song Qianqian: “……” If it were now, Ji Yunxiao would have immediately understood what the girl meant, but back then she was too dense.
She even thought Song Qianqian liked a boy, but no matter how many times she searched her memories, she couldn’t recall Song Qianqian ever being enthusiastic about any guy.
So it was left unresolved, with no conclusion.
It wasn’t until the end of nineteen that Song Qianqian finally came to her with the answer.
The always proud, beautiful girl was soft and vulnerable in front of her, her voice trembling with tears: “Xiaoxiao-jie, I’ve been waiting, waiting for you to chase me, but you never did.”
“I’ve liked you for so long, ever since we were kids… I used to think, when you finally figured it out and started liking me back, I’d really make you work for it.”
“But in reality, I can’t do it at all.
If you asked me to be with you, I’d be over the moon.
I wouldn’t even wait for you to finish before throwing myself into your arms, saying yes over and over again.”
“Because I really, really like you.”
“Ji Yunxiao, will you be my girlfriend?” That day finally came, the sun was bright and warm, the sea met the sky, and the romantic sea breeze carried all the love she’d hidden straight to Ji Yunxiao.
But Ji Yunxiao didn’t say yes.
She couldn’t untangle her messy feelings, but she couldn’t bear to say no either.
After the shock and confusion, all she could say was, “Qianqian, my head’s a mess right now.
Can you… can you give me some time?”
Who would have thought, after that, they just didn’t have any more time.
By the time Ji Yunxiao finally realized her feelings after drifting through the long river of years, the girl she loved most had already disappeared into the deep, unfathomable sea.
Song Qianqian didn’t seem like she was coming back.
Ji Yunxiao never gave up searching, year after year, but the answer was always disappointing.
Suddenly, Ji Yunxiao started crying.
She pulled Lin Qianwei into her arms and choked out, “I’m going to chase you.
This time, I’ll really chase you properly…”
Lin Qianwei was honestly a bit confused.
She had no idea why Ji Yunxiao was crying, but hearing her voice, she couldn’t help but feel a strange ache in her heart.
“Stop crying,” Lin Qianwei tried to comfort her, a little awkwardly.
Ji Yunxiao sniffled, held her shoulders, and looked up with teary eyes.
“Am I being kind of embarrassing right now?”
“Yeah.” Lin Qianwei couldn’t help but laugh.
“But you actually look pretty when you cry.
Maybe you should cry a little more?”
Ji Yunxiao hugged her again.
Lin Qianwei asked, “But why are you crying? Was it because of what I said just now?”
Thinking of this, the smile on Lin Qianwei’s face instantly faded.
She pressed her lips together and asked, unwilling to let it go, “All I said was I’d let you chase me, and you’re this upset about it?”
“It’s not that I don’t want to.
I’m just… so happy.
You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this day.” Ji Yunxiao cupped her face, her eyes shining with love through the tears.
Lin Qianwei’s face was blank.
“How long?”
Ji Yunxiao said, “A really, really long time.”
Ji Yunxiao wiped away her own tears and gave Lin Qianwei a bright smile.
“But it’s okay.
As long as I can wait for you, it’s all worth it.”
Hearing that, Lin Qianwei’s expression finally softened a little.
She wanted to reach out and touch the tears at the corner of Ji Yunxiao’s eyes, but as soon as she lifted her arm, she stopped herself.
Lin Qianwei just softened her tone a bit and said, “Don’t cry anymore.”
Ji Yunxiao was still overwhelmed by the rush of emotions from losing and regaining her, so she leaned in and pouted, “Kiss me and I’ll stop crying.”
Lin Qianwei: “…”
Lin Qianwei replied coldly, “Then keep crying.”
Ji Yunxiao laughed, pretending to be wronged.
“President Lin is so cold.”
Lin Qianwei lifted her chin, not to be outdone.
“Is this how you chase someone?”
“Fine, I won’t cry anymore.”
Ji Yunxiao wiped her tears, picked Lin Qianwei up in her arms, and even bounced her a little.
Lin Qianwei, afraid of falling, quickly wrapped her arms around Ji Yunxiao’s neck and complained, “What are you doing?”
“I’m taking you to rest.
Since I’m chasing you, I have to do it right.”
Ji Yunxiao pushed open the door with her elbow and gently set Lin Qianwei down on the soft bed.
She kissed the woman’s forehead, her expression gentle as water, her tone serious.
“Qianwei, thank you for giving me the chance to chase you.”
Seeing her so serious, Lin Qianwei actually felt a little embarrassed.
She could only close her eyes and pretend to be cold.
“Got it, you can go now.”
Ji Yunxiao laughed out loud.
Ji Yunxiao said, “Good night.”
The next morning, Ji Yunxiao was back to normal.
She wore an apron, but her bright, lively look was impossible to hide, making people feel refreshed just looking at her.
“Breakfast is ready.” Ji Yunxiao pulled out a chair and invited Lin Qianwei to sit.
Lin Qianwei picked up her spoon and, seeing Ji Yunxiao still standing to the side, naturally asked, “Why aren’t you sitting?”
Ji Yunxiao smiled lightly.
“I have to get President Lin’s permission before I can sit at the table.”
Thinking of her own bad behavior before, Lin Qianwei’s face grew hot.
She tugged on Ji Yunxiao’s apron and said coldly, “From now on, you eat with me.
Don’t say things like that again.”
Ji Yunxiao sat down.
At the table, Ji Yunxiao said to Lin Qianwei, “Tell your driver not to come today.
I’ll take you.”
Lin Qianwei’s eyes lit up, and even though she tried to keep her voice down, she couldn’t hide her excitement.
“You’ll take me?”
“Yeah, is that okay? Give me a chance.” Ji Yunxiao smiled lazily.
Lin Qianwei wiped her mouth, forced down the corners of her lips, and said with restraint, “I guess I’ll agree, just this once.”
When she opened the car door, Lin Qianwei found a bouquet of roses lying on the passenger seat.
The roses were dreamy in color, a pink-purple-blue mermaid gradient, with silver on the edges, almost glowing when you held them up.
Ji Yunxiao asked, “Do you like them?”
Lin Qianwei didn’t answer, but asked, “Spray-painted roses?”
“Yeah,” Ji Yunxiao said, “I sprayed this one myself.”
Lin Qianwei said, “You really are multi-talented.”
Her tone was casual, but she held the rose carefully, as if it were precious.
Ji Yunxiao watched her for a while, then got in the driver’s seat and started the engine.
At the office, Lin Qianwei put the mermaid rose in a glass vase and set it on her desk.
The secretary saw the beautiful color, complimented it, and asked, “Is there only one?”
Lin Qianwei sprayed the rose with a little water, then gently touched the dreamy petals with her finger.
She was in a good mood, her voice rising a little.
“One is enough.”
After all, it was a rose Ji Yunxiao had spray-painted herself.
…
After watching Lin Qianwei enter the building, Ji Yunxiao made a call and had someone deliver something directly to the Lin family villa.
Half an hour later, Ji Yunxiao showed up at the villa gate, took the big box, and walked steadily into the yard.
Lin Youran knew Ji Yunxiao was here and ran out on her little legs, calling out cheerfully, “Sister Xiao Xiao!”
Ji Yunxiao bent down and patted her head.
“Go call your grandma.”
Soon, Lin Youran came out holding Lin Yuan’s hand.
Although she was already sober, Lin Yuan still didn’t look happy to see Ji Yunxiao.
“Is there something you want?” Lin Yuan wouldn’t even look at Ji Yunxiao directly.
Ji Yunxiao said gently, “Mom, I came to bring you a gift.”
Lin Yuan scoffed, “No need, don’t try to butter me up.”
Ji Yunxiao unhurriedly opened the packaging and said casually, “Why don’t you take a look?”
At first, Lin Yuan was full of disdain, but when she saw the attached rock five-needle pine bonsai, she couldn’t take her eyes off it.
Not long ago, she had her eye on a similar bonsai, but unfortunately, it belonged to an old artist who had no intention of selling.
She’d looked at other similar bonsais since, but none of them were satisfactory.
But this one was different.
This attached rock five-needle pine looked natural, with straight and curved lines perfectly balanced, exuding a strong sense of tranquil elegance—exactly Lin Yuan’s favorite style.
Ji Yunxiao said calmly, “If you like it, keep it.
If not, I’ll give it to Aunt Liu Zhi.
She likes this bonsai too.”
Lin Yuan immediately said, “Why give it to Liu Zhi? She’s a businesswoman, she doesn’t have any appreciation for this kind of thing.
Giving her such a masterpiece would be a waste.”
Thinking of how she’d refused earlier, Lin Yuan’s face felt a little hot, but she really liked the bonsai, so she could only slap her own face.
Lin Yuan cleared her throat and said, “Better give it to me.”
Ji Yunxiao smiled, “Then please take good care of it.”
Since Ji Yunxiao said that, Lin Yuan was delighted.
She directed people to move the bonsai to her favorite spot and stood there admiring it for a long time.
After coaxing Lin Youran for a while, Ji Yunxiao went over to Lin Yuan to explain how to care for the bonsai.
Lin Yuan had the butler take notes, but after her happiness faded, she started nitpicking again: “Don’t think I’ll thank you.
A bonsai of this quality isn’t cheap.
You spent my daughter’s money, didn’t you? In the end, you’re just giving a gift with someone else’s flowers.”
Ji Yunxiao replied lightly, “You’re not short on money, are you? But even so, you still couldn’t get a bonsai like this.”
Lin Yuan was left speechless.
Yeah, if she couldn’t get it, how did Ji Yunxiao manage? Ji Yunxiao said slowly, “Mom, I think sometimes it’s not about the money.
Otherwise, it’s just tacky.
A bonsai of this quality isn’t easy to come by.
I put a lot of effort into bringing it here.
It represents my sincerity, not something money can measure.”
Lin Yuan was already embarrassed by her words, but she still forced herself to say, “But a few days ago, Weiwei did transfer you thirty million, didn’t she? That’s a fact, right?” “Yeah,” Ji Yunxiao said lazily, “but I could’ve spent that thirty million on myself.
Even if I blew it all, Qianwei wouldn’t blame me at all.”
What Ji Yunxiao said was true, but Lin Yuan just felt uncomfortable hearing it.
But then Ji Yunxiao changed the subject: “Even so, I still chose to spend the money on you.
Do you know why?” This time, before she could answer, Ji Yunxiao said, “Because I want our family to be harmonious, so Qianwei has nothing to worry about.
Behind every successful woman is a harmonious family.
If things are a mess at home, how can Qianwei focus on her career?”
Lin Yuan: “……”
Lin Yuan looked at Ji Yunxiao, her expression twitching.
The logic made sense, but thinking of Ji Yunxiao’s past behavior, Lin Yuan just felt a sense of absurdity that didn’t match her face.
But it was clearly the same face.
Lin Yuan struggled to speak, “Are you sure you’re not a different person now?”
Ji Yunxiao nodded, “That’s right, I’m not who I used to be.
You have to believe I’ve changed for the better.
And your daughter just likes me, that’s a fact.
Even when I was a mess before, she couldn’t bear to divorce me.
Now that I’ve changed, do you think she’d leave me?”
Ji Yunxiao tried to persuade her, “Mom, just stop overthinking it.
There’s no need to waste your energy.
You can’t break me and Qianwei up.
Before, I was just rebellious.
Now that’s over, I’ll only get better and better.
You have to believe that.
Don’t let outsiders stir things up.”
Lin Yuan’s expression was awkward, “No one’s stirring me up.”
Ji Yunxiao snorted, “You don’t think Ji Liuliu’s stirring counts?”
Lin Yuan argued, “Liuliu means well.”
Ji Yunxiao half-smiled, “She wants Qianwei to dump me so she can take my place.
To do that, she’s been fanning the flames in front of you.
You think that’s well-intentioned?”
Lin Yuan looked like a clueless middle-aged woman, surprised, “What do you mean? Are you saying Liuliu likes our Weiwei too? How is that possible?”
Ji Yunxiao: “……”
Ji Yunxiao felt exhausted, “It’s actually possible.”
Lin Yuan thought about it and sighed, “If only Liuliu had married into our family.
She’s at a top university, has a bright future, and a good business mind.
She’s already a vice president at such a young age.
She and Weiwei would have so much in common.”
Ji Yunxiao: Heh.
So much in common, huh? Lin Qianwei already blocked Ji Liuliu for her.
Even if they had things in common, they can’t talk now.
Ji Yunxiao held back her temper and explained what was really going on with Ji Liuliu’s vice president title, then summed up, “It’s just an empty title.
Ji Liuliu’s never made any decisions.
How did you decide she has business sense?”
Lin Yuan: “Uh…”
Lin Yuan couldn’t answer, so she attacked Ji Yunxiao instead: “You’re just jealous, saying Liuliu’s vice president title is fake.
You don’t even have a fake title like that.”
“I’m jealous of a fake vice president title at a small entertainment company?” Ji Yunxiao laughed at her own words.
Lin Yuan thought she’d hit a sore spot and pressed harder, “You are jealous! You don’t even have a fake vice president title.
And you call Shengji Entertainment a small company? If I remember right, the now-famous Cheng Zhiyi is with Shengji Entertainment, isn’t she?”
Ji Yunxiao: “Yeah.”
Lin Yuan raised her eyebrows, trying to psychoanalyze her, “So you’re just jealous.
You’re the Ji family’s real child, Liuliu was switched at birth, but she’s smarter and more capable than you.
You just can’t stand it, can you?”
Ji Yunxiao burst out laughing.
She paused, then sighed, “Shengji Entertainment is just a small company under Ji Group.
I never cared about it, but since you value it so much, I’ll just take it over one of these days.”
Lin Yuan: “?”
What nonsense is Ji Yunxiao talking about?
Just then, Lin Youran, who’d been playing with a ball, ran over.
Ji Yunxiao picked her up, poked her soft little cheek, and asked, “Do you like Sister Cheng Zhiyi?”
Lin Youran answered crisply, “I do!”
Ji Yunxiao’s eyes curved, “Sister Cheng Zhiyi is at Shengji Entertainment now.
In a few days, I’ll take over Shengji Entertainment and make you her boss.
How about that?”
Lin Youran’s eyes lit up and she answered loudly, “Yes!”
Lin Yuan laughed loudly too, even singing, “Blow, blow, just keep blowing.”
Ji Yunxiao glanced at her mother-in-law and shook her head almost imperceptibly.
After laughing enough, Lin Yuan said, “I always knew you were vain, but I didn’t know you could put on such a show.
I’ve really seen it all today.”
Lin Yuan went to Lin Youran and said, “Don’t listen to Ji Yunxiao’s nonsense.
She doesn’t have that kind of ability, you know? If you like Sister Cheng Zhiyi, get close to Sister Liuliu.
Liuliu is Cheng Zhiyi’s boss.”
Lin Youran was unhappy to hear that, “Sister Xiaoxiao is very capable! Grandma, stop badmouthing her!”
Ji Yunxiao just smiled without saying anything.
Before leaving, Lin Yuan pretended to be earnest, “You’re still young, don’t talk so big.”
Ji Yunxiao smiled carelessly, “Whether I’m talking big or not, just wait and see.”
Looking at Ji Yunxiao’s confident face, Lin Yuan suddenly had a moment of doubt.
Could Ji Yunxiao really pull it off? No way, right?
By the time she left the Lin family villa, it was almost noon.
Ji Yunxiao was about to contact Lin Qianwei when a message from her popped up: [Aren’t you having lunch?]
Ji Yunxiao smiled and called her.
Lin Qianwei’s clear, cool voice came through the phone, “Hello.”
Ji Yunxiao parked by the roadside, hand on the steering wheel, her tone gentle, “Why are you asking if I’m having lunch?”
Lin Qianwei’s tone was cold, “Because I haven’t eaten.”
Ji Yunxiao’s eyes sparkled with amusement, “So…”
She wanted to tease Lin Qianwei and deliberately paused.
Sure enough, Lin Qianwei got anxious and snapped, “Ji Yunxiao, is this how you chase a woman? You hear she hasn’t eaten and you don’t even invite her to lunch?”
