The air suddenly went quiet.
Lin Yuan stared at her daughter in disbelief, her eyes full of shock.
“You’re defending her?”
Lin Qianwei reminded her coldly, “Mom, Ji Yunxiao is still my wife right now.”
Lin Yuan was so angry she was about to explode.
She clutched her chest, on the verge of tears.
“Didn’t you say you’d divorce her? Have you forgotten everything that woman’s done? She ruined your project, embarrassed you at the banquet, and then she even hit and scolded Youran.
Why should a troublemaker like her stay in the Lin family?”
Lin Qianwei explained patiently, “She’s already changing.”
Lin Yuan didn’t believe it at all, still choking up as she said, “Haven’t you heard the saying, ‘A leopard can’t change its spots’? Who knows if she’s just pretending now?”
Lin Qianwei had a headache.
It was Ji Yunxiao who gently squeezed her wrist, soothing her softly, “It’s okay.”
Ji Yunxiao turned around and handed Lin Yuan a pack of tissues.
She hadn’t expected she could make her mother-in-law cry.
But Lin Yuan didn’t take it.
Instead, she slapped the tissues out of Ji Yunxiao’s hand, not giving her any face at all.
Ji Yunxiao didn’t get angry.
She just smiled faintly, bent down to pick up the tissues, and said calmly and firmly, “Auntie, I’ll prove to you that I’m worthy of Qianwei, and I’ll definitely be a good wife.”
Lin Yuan sneered on the spot.
Ji Yunxiao didn’t mind her attitude.
She just looked at the elegant and cold Lin Qianwei beside her and said considerately, “I’ll go now.”
Lin Qianwei’s lips instantly tightened.
Ji Yunxiao was about to leave when the little girl, Lin Youran, came running out with her chubby little legs.
Lin Yuan wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with her fingers, adjusted her expression, and stopped Lin Youran, smiling kindly.
“Youran, your aunt is here to see you.
Come, say a few words to her.”
Lin Youran did look up at Lin Qianwei.
When their eyes met, Lin Qianwei was still cold and silent.
Lin Youran pouted, broke free from Lin Yuan’s arm, and kept chasing after Ji Yunxiao.
“Youran! Where are you going!” Lin Yuan called anxiously.
Lin Youran ran to Ji Yunxiao’s side, opened her little arms, and hugged Ji Yunxiao’s leg, her voice soft and childish.
“Jiejie, I want to eat fish again.”
Ji Yunxiao took her soft little hand, squatted down, and rubbed her head.
“You mean the squirrel mandarin fish?”
Lin Youran nodded hard.
Lin Yuan was confused and asked Qiao Xi, who had been watching the whole time, “What squirrel mandarin fish?”
Qiao Xi quickly explained, “At lunch, Ji Yunxiao made a few dishes for Youran.
The squirrel mandarin fish was crispy outside and tender inside, sweet and sour, just perfect for Youran’s taste.”
Honestly, she hadn’t expected Ji Yunxiao could cook.
And her skills were on par with a professional chef.
Lin Yuan was shocked, and even looked at Qiao Xi with a hint of blame.
“Is it safe to eat what Ji Yunxiao makes? What if she took the chance to poison Youran?”
Lin Yuan even wanted to take Lin Youran to the hospital for a checkup, but Lin Qianwei stopped her.
Seeing this, Lin Yuan started crying again.
“What kind of spell did Ji Yunxiao put on you? I’m your real mother! I went through so much to give birth to you and raise you, and now you’re being mean to me for a woman who can’t even show her face in public…”
Lin Qianwei said, “I’m not being mean to you.”
Seeing another fight about to break out, Ji Yunxiao had no choice but to hand Lin Youran over to Qiao Xi and leave on her own.
Lin Qianwei took out a tissue to wipe Lin Yuan’s tears, helplessly saying, “She’s already gone, Mom.
Can you stop crying now?”
Lin Yuan gradually stopped crying, but Lin Youran started acting up.
At dinner, she refused to eat a single grain of rice.
Even though the chef made a beautiful and delicious squirrel mandarin fish, she only took one bite before pouting and looking up at Lin Yuan with her clear amber eyes.
“I want to eat the fish that Sister Xiaoxiao made.”
Lin Yuan was furious.
“Lin Youran, do you only remember the good and forget the bad? Have you forgotten how Ji Yunxiao treated you?”
Lin Youran puffed out her cheeks and said nothing.
Lin Yuan tried to coax her, picking up some food.
“Be good, Ranran, open your mouth.
Grandma will feed you fish.”
Lin Youran turned her head away, climbed down from her chair, and went back to her room.
Lin Yuan was instantly even angrier.
“What’s wrong with everyone in this house?”
That night, Lin Youran didn’t eat a single bite.
Lin Yuan worried for a while, then thought maybe the kid just ate too many snacks and wasn’t hungry, so she didn’t push it.
But the next morning, Lin Youran still wouldn’t eat breakfast.
When Lin Yuan tried to coax her, she just said, “I want to eat the fish Sister Xiaoxiao made.”
Lin Yuan: “……”
Fine.
Lin Yuan was out of patience.
She was still angry, but for the sake of her precious granddaughter’s health, she pinched her nose and said to Lin Qianwei, “Tell Ji Yunxiao to come over.”
Lin Qianwei asked, “What for?”
Lin Yuan snapped, “To cook for Youran, of course!”
Lin Qianwei couldn’t help but smile.
“Got it.”
Soon, she called Ji Yunxiao.
When the call connected, that lazy, gentle voice came through the phone, like an electric current, making Lin Qianwei’s ears tingle.
She was dazed for a moment, then suddenly realized she’d never eaten Ji Yunxiao’s squirrel mandarin fish.
On the other end, Ji Yunxiao laughed and asked, “Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Lin Qianwei came back to her senses and asked softly, “Do you have time right now?”
Ji Yunxiao: “Why? Want to ask me out?”
Lin Qianwei said coldly, “Youran wants to eat your fish.”
Ji Yunxiao asked, “Did your mom agree to let me come over?”
Lin Qianwei: “She agreed.
She’s the one who asked me to call you.”
Ji Yunxiao agreed, “I’ll be right over.”
Lin Qianwei said, “Sorry to trouble you.”
“You’re too polite, baby,” Ji Yunxiao deliberately drew out the words, “You know I’d do anything for you.”
“Stop saying things like that.
According to the prenup, you take care of Youran and I’ll pay you for it.” Lin Qianwei hung up right after she finished.
Ji Yunxiao sighed softly, “Still can’t handle a little flirting.”
She changed into a new Chinese-style qipao dress, the fabric silky satin in a misty blue, looking gentle and elegant, the picture of serenity.
She dressed up like this to please Lin Yuan.
Ji Yunxiao had studied Lin Yuan’s taste carefully before picking out this outfit, but when she arrived at the Lin house, Lin Yuan still didn’t like her.
“I asked you to cook, not to dress up like a peacock.
And can you even cook in that outfit?” Lin Yuan rolled her eyes.
Ji Yunxiao smiled lightly.
“Don’t worry, I’ll put on an apron.
It won’t get in the way.”
Lin Yuan had no patience for her and didn’t bother to be nice.
“Then hurry up and cook.
Don’t you know Youran is still hungry?”
Ji Yunxiao said, “Okay.”
Lin Yuan had originally planned to send Ji Yunxiao away after she finished cooking, but that little girl, who looked like a white dumpling, ran over to hug her leg as soon as she saw Ji Yunxiao.
Lin Yuan was helpless.
“Youran!”
Lin Youran refused to let go of her arm and looked up at Lin Yuan, blinking innocently.
Lin Yuan was defeated by her.
So Ji Yunxiao ended up eating this meal with Lin Youran.
After they finished, Lin Youran started to get sleepy and yawned, so Ji Yunxiao naturally picked her up and coaxed her to sleep.
When the housekeeper came to clear the dishes, Lin Yuan stopped her.
After making sure Ji Yunxiao wasn’t around, she picked up a clean pair of chopsticks and tried a piece of the leftover fish.
The taste was surprisingly good.
But Lin Yuan still sneered and put down her chopsticks.
When Ji Yunxiao came out after putting Lin Youran to sleep, Lin Yuan mocked her, “Don’t think you can control Youran just because you can cook.
And don’t think that just because you make good food, you’re worthy of Weiwei.
No matter how good your cooking is, so what? At the end of the day, you’re just a cook.”
Ji Yunxiao didn’t argue, just politely agreed, “You’re right.”
Lin Yuan felt like she’d punched a pillow, and got even more annoyed.
She asked Ji Yunxiao, “Yesterday you said you wanted to prove to me that you’re good enough for Weiwei, right?”
Ji Yunxiao replied, “Yes.”
“Face reality, Miss Ji,” Lin Yuan continued to attack her, “I have a PhD and used to be a music professor.
Weiwei has a master’s degree and is now the chairwoman of the Lin Group board.
And you? You only have a high school diploma, no job, living off your family, and you still think you’re good enough for Weiwei? Based on what? Because you can cook and might become a chef someday? Have you even looked in the mirror to see what you really are?”
Right next to her was a floor-to-ceiling window that reflected her figure.
Ji Yunxiao glanced at it and thought with some amusement, Maybe I’m just a pretty face.
This outfit really does look good today.
If only Qianqian could see it.
Ji Yunxiao lowered her eyes and replied to Lin Yuan, “I really don’t count for much.”
Lin Yuan was speechless.
The Ji Yunxiao in front of her was completely different from before.
Maybe someone had given her some advice.
But Lin Yuan didn’t believe for a second that she could really change.
Even if Ji Yunxiao acted like this, she still thought it was all for show.
Ji Yunxiao remained polite and calm.
“Auntie, I’ve remembered everything you said.
I think if I stay here, you’ll just be unhappy, so I’ll head back.”
After leaving the Lin family villa, Ji Yunxiao called Lin Qianwei.
Lin Qianwei asked her, “Did my mom give you a hard time?”
Ji Yunxiao smiled, her eyes and brows full of joy.
She said, “No.”
In fact, Lin Yuan’s troublemaking hadn’t affected her at all.
She even found it a little funny.
Ji Yunxiao focused on the present and asked Lin Qianwei, “Are you worried about me?”
Lin Qianwei replied coldly, “You’re overthinking it.”
Ji Yunxiao could tell she was being stubborn, but didn’t mind.
She asked gently, “When do you get off work? I’ll come pick you up.”
Lin Qianwei said, “I have a business dinner tonight.”
Ji Yunxiao laughed, “Perfect, I’ll go with you.”
Lin Qianwei frowned, “Why would you come with me?”
Ji Yunxiao joked, “To be your knight in shining armor, okay?”
In the end, Lin Qianwei didn’t refuse.
The business meeting tonight was at a bar.
Ji Yunxiao followed along and raised her eyebrows.
“It’s lively in here.”
Lin Qianwei glanced at her and said coldly, “Not as lively as when you and Gao Xiaohong came and booked a private room.”
Ji Yunxiao pressed her knuckles to her brow, a little embarrassed.
“You still remember that?”
Lin Qianwei said, “I can’t forget.”
Luckily, she was friends with the bar owner.
That day, the owner saw Ji Yunxiao come in with someone, acting all close, and called her, so she was able to stop it in time.
If someone else had found Ji Yunxiao drunk and unconscious that day… Lin Qianwei didn’t dare think about it, her face turning cold.
This time, the business partner liked a lively atmosphere, so Lin Qianwei didn’t book a private room and just talked in the main hall.
Ji Yunxiao didn’t come over to interrupt, just leaned against the bar and watched from a distance.
Even just that was enough to make Lin Qianwei feel at ease.
But her comfort didn’t last long, because when she looked up again, Ji Yunxiao was already chatting with the hot bartender, and later even went behind the bar to help mix drinks.
Lin Qianwei pressed her lips together.
Ji Yunxiao was wearing that Qingshan blue modern qipao, looking tall and striking.
She stood there with a charming smile, every move full of effortless grace.
She was just too good at attracting attention.
Lin Qianwei bit her lip.
She still finished the business talk seriously, but after it was over, she dismissed the manager and secretary and sat alone, drinking.
She couldn’t help but wonder, Why won’t Ji Yunxiao look at me? She said she’d wait for me, but now she’s laughing and chatting with another woman.
She started to wonder, Does Ji Yunxiao really like her? If she did, why would she be so flirty with someone else?
Lin Qianwei drank in frustration, and just as she was about to raise her glass again, her wrist was suddenly grabbed.
Ji Yunxiao came over and asked, “Still want to drink?”
Lin Qianwei stared at her.
Ji Yunxiao propped her chin on her hand, her smile soft and lingering.
“If you want to keep drinking, I can wait for you.
But since I have to drive you home later, I can’t drink with you.”
Lin Qianwei wanted to ask, Didn’t you just drink with that hot bartender?
But she held back.
She just kept drinking in silence.
Finally, when her cheeks were flushed and she was about to lose it, Ji Yunxiao stopped her.
Ji Yunxiao softened her voice and coaxed her, “You’ve already had a lot.”
Lin Qianwei’s long, thick lashes trembled as her shoulder pressed against Ji Yunxiao’s chest, but she still muttered, “None of your business.”
Ji Yunxiao gazed at her exquisite, striking face in the dim, hazy light, her eyes growing even darker.
Ji Yunxiao half-carried Lin Qianwei away.
When they got home, Ji Yunxiao tried to get Lin Qianwei to drink some water.
Lin Qianwei refused, still clutching her collar, drunkenly lashing out, “Why were you flirting with that hottie?”
Ji Yunxiao was stunned for a moment.
“I only flirt with you.
I’d never flirt with anyone else.”
Lin Qianwei had lost all her usual cold, intimidating aura.
She pouted, her voice muffled and aggrieved.
“But you talked to her, and you… you even smiled at her…”
Ji Yunxiao couldn’t help but laugh.
“Who?”
Lin Qianwei suddenly spoke up, full of energy.
“That bartender!”
Ji Yunxiao still managed to get her to take a sip of water, then patiently explained, “I just haven’t mixed drinks in a long time, my hands were itching, so I talked to her for a bit.
It was all normal conversation, nothing even remotely flirty.”
Lin Qianwei grumbled, “Really?”
Ji Yunxiao was about to die from how cute she was, barely holding herself back from kissing her, and just said seriously, “Really.”
But Lin Qianwei reached out and hit her again, demanding, “Why do you even know how to mix drinks?”
Ji Yunxiao pinched her cheek, smiling.
“That’s just the kind of woman your wife is—she knows a little bit of everything.”
Lin Qianwei’s eyes went wide.
“Who’s my wife?”
Ji Yunxiao pointed at her own nose.
“Right here.
Me.”
Lin Qianwei leaned in, pressing her forehead to hers.
Just as Ji Yunxiao’s mind started to wander and she was about to do something bad, Lin Qianwei pulled away again, muttering, “But my mom doesn’t like you.
She’s always pushing me to divorce you.
Maybe soon… you won’t be my wife anymore.”
Ji Yunxiao said, “It’s fine.
Mom’s easy to win over.”
Lin Qianwei perked up, tilting her head.
“How are you going to do that?”
Ji Yunxiao took her soft, fair fingers and kissed them, speaking slowly, “She used to be a music professor, right?”
Lin Qianwei nodded, looking very obedient.
Ji Yunxiao told her, “What a coincidence, I just happen to have a bit of talent in music.
As long as I get the right chance to show it, I can change her mind about me.”
Lin Qianwei suddenly cupped her face, leaning in.
“Ji Yunxiao, how do you know how to do everything?”
Ji Yunxiao’s heart skipped a beat.
But Lin Qianwei kept mumbling, oblivious, “Logically, I shouldn’t believe you.
You used to be such a loser.
You say you know music, it’s almost laughable.
But for some reason, when I hear you say it now, I just believe you.
It’s like… it’s like the Ji Yunxiao in my memory was always good at everything…”
Ji Yunxiao’s eyes lit up.
Her hand tightened on the back of Lin Qianwei’s neck, her voice trembling.
“Qianqian, did you… did you remember something?”
“Remember what? I do feel like I forgot something…” Lin Qianwei’s beautiful eyes turned, then she suddenly shouted, “Oh, right! You helped Youran cook today.
I should pay you.”
Ji Yunxiao’s hope that had just risen faded, but she wasn’t disappointed, just a little helpless.
She smiled softly, saying gently, “I don’t need…”
Ji Yunxiao wanted to say she didn’t need payment, but the words never came out, because a kiss tasting of alcohol landed on her lips, sweeping away all her thoughts.
Ji Yunxiao froze, and Lin Qianwei kissed her again on her soft, red lips, smiling sweetly.
“Is this okay, Sister Xiaoxiao?”
