Eilene suddenly got curious.
“What’s it like to be kept?”
Ji Yunxiao smiled deeply.
“You can only experience it, not describe it.”
Eilene raised her eyebrows but didn’t ask any more.
In the afternoon, Ji Yunxiao dressed up carefully, planning to go to Lin Group to ask Lin Qianwei about the thirty million, but when she arrived, she was told Lin Qianwei was on a business trip in a neighboring city.
Ji Yunxiao thought for a moment and called Lin Qianwei.
“Hello.” Lin Qianwei’s voice was cool and clear.
Ji Yunxiao almost laughed out loud.
She sighed, “President Lin, you sound so official.”
Lin Qianwei’s tone softened a bit when she heard that.
“Do you need something?”
Ji Yunxiao spoke gently.
“I was worried about the wound on your wrist.
Does it still hurt?”
This time Lin Qianwei told the truth.
“It stopped hurting a long time ago.”
Ji Yunxiao chuckled.
“That’s good.”
“Mm,” Lin Qianwei asked, neither warm nor cold, “Anything else?”
Ji Yunxiao’s tone was lazy.
“Yeah.”
Lin Qianwei said, “Spit it out.”
Ji Yunxiao lowered her lashes and smiled.
“I wanted to ask what’s up with that thirty million?”
There was a moment of silence on the other end.
After a while, Lin Qianwei replied lightly, “A reward.”
Ji Yunxiao raised her eyebrows.
“What kind of reward?”
Lin Qianwei’s voice was cold.
“You served me well, so I gave you a little extra.”
Ji Yunxiao burst out laughing.
“So should I start calling you my sugar mama?”
Lin Qianwei refused.
“Don’t.”
Her reason was, “It sounds awful.”
Ji Yunxiao was so amused she couldn’t stop laughing for a while, then she put on a serious face.
“Then let’s try another one.
How about I call you ‘Master’?”
She pronounced every word slowly and teasingly.
“Master, do you like it when I call you that?”
As expected, Lin Qianwei got annoyed.
Even over the phone, Ji Yunxiao could feel her unsteady breathing.
Lin Qianwei snapped, “Don’t call me that! I’m not like you, I don’t play around like that!”
Ji Yunxiao started acting aggrieved.
“How am I playing around?”
Lin Qianwei gritted her teeth.
“You’re always up to something.”
Ji Yunxiao simply admitted, “Maybe.”
Lin Qianwei said, “You’re also full of tricks.”
Ji Yunxiao laughed.
“President Lin, you’re pretty good with idioms.”
Lin Qianwei was at a loss for words and just hung up.
But Ji Yunxiao called again.
Lin Qianwei glanced at the phone and didn’t answer.
But Ji Yunxiao was persistent, calling over and over.
Lin Qianwei finally picked up and said, “I have a field survey later, I don’t have time to chat.
If you’re really bored, go check on Youran for me.”
Ji Yunxiao said, “Alright.”
She’d been busy with all sorts of things lately and had really neglected that cute little dumpling.
To make up for it, Ji Yunxiao brought over a whole cleaned lamb.
Actually, ever since Old Lady Liu’s seventieth birthday banquet, Lin Yuan’s attitude toward Ji Yunxiao had changed.
Before, whenever Ji Yunxiao went to the Lin family villa, Lin Yuan would always catch her for a scolding, berating her from head to toe, then nitpicking everything, basically saying she wasn’t good enough for Lin Qianwei and should hurry up and get divorced if she had any sense.
But now… Lin Yuan didn’t scold her anymore.
Whenever she saw Ji Yunxiao coming, she’d either rush out or hide.
Ji Yunxiao found it a bit helpless.
“Xiaoxiao-jie!” As soon as Ji Yunxiao stepped into the living room, that fair, bright-eyed, chubby little dumpling ran over to her with a “thump thump thump.”
Ji Yunxiao quickly squatted down and opened her arms to catch her, then patted her head and smiled gently.
“Slow down, what if you fall?”
“I want to eat the food you make, Xiaoxiao-jie.” Lin Youran blinked her big, grape-like eyes and spoke her mind.
Ji Yunxiao poked her soft cheek and said gently, “Okay, I’ll cook for you in a bit.”
Lin Yuan was standing not far away.
She was dressed like a wealthy lady, and thanks to good maintenance, looked very young.
Ji Yunxiao greeted her as usual.
“Mom, good afternoon.”
Lin Yuan’s expression was complicated, like she was holding her nose, and she barely managed a response.
“Mm.”
“I have to go out for something, so I’ll leave Youran to you.” After saying that, Lin Yuan left with a hard-to-describe look on her face.
Ji Yunxiao looked at little Lin Youran, and they exchanged glances.
She spread her hands.
“Your grandma left again.”
Lin Youran pouted, unconcerned.
“Let’s not worry about grandma for now.”
Ji Yunxiao smiled.
“Alright.”
She opened up what she’d brought and called Lin Youran over.
“Guess what gift I brought you this time?”
Lin Youran excitedly tore open the package, her big eyes full of confusion.
“What’s this?”
“This is a cleaned lamb,” Ji Yunxiao said.
“Last time I asked what you wanted to eat, didn’t you say roast whole lamb?”
Lin Youran jumped with joy.
“Roast whole lamb?”
Ji Yunxiao said, “Yep, this lamb has already been marinated with spices.
We’ll pour boiling water over it, hang it up to dry, and then roast it in the oven for a few hours.
It’ll turn into roast whole lamb.”
Lin Youran clapped her hands happily.
The villa had a full set of barbecue equipment.
Ji Yunxiao called the housekeeper over to help, and soon the lamb was in the roasting oven.
“It’ll take a while.” Ji Yunxiao washed her hands, came over, and ruffled Lin Youran’s hair, suggesting, “I’ll play the piano for you.
Want to listen?”
Lin Youran nodded.
Lin Youran was already six years old.
She should be in kindergarten, but she wasn’t sociable and didn’t like being with other kids.
Lin Yuan felt sorry for her granddaughter and couldn’t bear to force her, so she hired a private tutor at a high salary to teach Lin Youran at home.
Ji Yunxiao sat at the piano and played a song.
Lin Youran clapped and showered her with praise.
“Xiaoxiao-jie plays better than my teacher.”
Ji Yunxiao smiled and picked her up, gently pinching her soft, fair cheeks.
She couldn’t help but think, this kid is so lively and cute with me, so why did I hear she was withdrawn and introverted before?
Ji Yunxiao swung Lin Youran’s little hand and asked what the music teacher had taught her today.
Lin Youran answered obediently.
After hearing it, Ji Yunxiao praised, “Our Youran is amazing.”
Lin Youran happily swung her legs.
“Do you want to hear me play another song?” Ji Yunxiao asked the little dumpling in her arms.
Lin Youran nodded hard.
When Ji Liuliu and Yan Lulu came over, Ji Yunxiao was holding Lin Youran and playing the piano.
Holding a child in your arms should affect your performance, but the music flowing from Ji Yunxiao’s fingertips was still smooth and moving, not the least bit stiff.
Today, Ji Yunxiao was wearing a dress with ink-wash patterns.
From the side, she looked hazy and ethereal, both elegant and gentle.
Yan Lulu couldn’t help but stop, gritting her teeth.
“She actually looks a bit like a perfect wife and mother right now.”
Ji Liuliu’s expression was complicated and hard to read.
She muttered, “I didn’t expect she could play the piano.”
“Is playing the piano that impressive?” Yan Lulu sneered.
“She’s still not good enough for my Qianwei-jie.”
Ji Liuliu quietly agreed, “I think so too.”
Ji Yunxiao glanced at the two of them, her fingers never pausing.
She didn’t stop until the entire piano piece was finished, then got up and asked, “Why are you here?”
Yan Lulu crossed her arms. “Aunt Lin Yuan agreed to let us come over.
Do you have a problem with that?”
If Lin Qianwei spoke to her in that tone, Ji Yunxiao would find it cute.
But when it was someone else, she didn’t bother to be nice.
She picked up Lin Youran, ready to leave, and said carelessly, “Suit yourselves.”
Ji Liuliu hurriedly said, “Sis, we just came to see Youran.”
Ji Yunxiao was honestly impressed by her half-sister.
They’d already fallen out and made it clear in private that they disliked her, but in front of others, they could still act all polite and play the loving sisters.
Aren’t they tired?
Ji Yunxiao curled her lips.
“Alright, if you want to see Youran, go ahead.”
Ji Liuliu and Yan Lulu came over and gave Lin Youran gifts, including Barbie dolls and other girly things she liked, but Lin Youran just ignored them.
Ji Liuliu showed off a pretty little dress to Lin Youran and asked, “Youran, do you like it?”
Lin Youran gripped Ji Yunxiao’s fingers tightly and said nothing.
Yan Lulu came over with snacks, smiling.
“Little Youran, these are all your favorites.
Aren’t you happy?”
Lin Youran hid behind Ji Yunxiao, hugging her and burying her head, not saying a word.
Yan Lulu got a bit anxious.
She wanted to pull Lin Youran away and couldn’t help but raise her voice, “Youran, why are you clinging to Ji Yunxiao? Did you forget how she treated you?”
Ji Yunxiao pushed Yan Lulu aside, frowning and scolding, “What do you think you’re doing?”
Yan Lulu stammered, “I-I just wanted to hug Youran…”
“Can’t you see she doesn’t want to talk to you?” Ji Yunxiao picked up the little girl and patted her back to comfort her.
“Let’s go see how the lamb is roasting, okay?”
Lin Youran nodded in her arms.
Seeing her agree, Ji Yunxiao carried her away.
Yan Lulu and Ji Liuliu instinctively wanted to follow, but Ji Yunxiao stopped, turned her head, and said coldly, “Don’t follow.”
Ji Liuliu pulled Yan Lulu back and advised, “Forget it.”
Yan Lulu’s frustrated voice came from behind, “How can that woman be like this?”
The smell from the grill was already wafting over.
Lin Youran was practically drooling, staring intently and letting out a, “Wow!”
Ji Yunxiao saw her let her guard down and brighten up again, so she pulled the little dumpling over and asked, “Why didn’t you say anything just now?”
Lin Youran touched her index fingers together and mumbled, “I don’t like talking to them.”
“If you don’t like it, then don’t.
What matters most is that you’re happy.” Ji Yunxiao smiled.
“But I’m curious, who do you like talking to?”
Lin Youran started counting on her fingers.
“Xiaoxiao-jie, and Cheng Zhiyi-jie.”
Cheng Zhiyi? That little star from the entertainment industry?
Ji Yunxiao asked, “Why do you like talking to us?”
Lin Youran answered confidently, “Because you’re pretty.”
So she’s a little face-con.
Ji Yunxiao coaxed, “Anyone else? Who else do you like talking to?”
Lin Youran tilted her head, thought for a bit, and said, “Hmm… also Qiao Xi-jie and my grandma.
That’s not because they’re pretty, it’s because they’re nice to me.”
“Alright,” Ji Yunxiao couldn’t help but laugh.
“But did you forget someone? What about your aunt? Your aunt is a super beautiful woman.
Don’t you like talking to her?”
At the mention of Lin Qianwei, Lin Youran’s bright eyes faded.
She went quiet, and only after Ji Yunxiao coaxed her for a while did she mumble, “Auntie is really pretty.
I used to like her a lot, but she doesn’t like me, so I don’t want to like her anymore.”
Ji Yunxiao was surprised.
“How could your aunt not like you?”
Lin Youran pouted.
“She just doesn’t.”
Ji Yunxiao sighed inwardly.
She’d already noticed there was some tension between Lin Qianwei and Lin Youran, but she didn’t expect this was the reason.
“Actually, your aunt likes you, she just doesn’t know how to show it,” Ji Yunxiao chose her words carefully.
“It’s like… she’s starting to like me too, but she’s stubborn and won’t admit it.
That’s just how your aunt is.”
Ji Yunxiao said, “Don’t be fooled by how decisive she is at work.
In private, when it comes to feelings, she’s really tsundere.”
Lin Youran asked in confusion, “What’s tsundere?”
Ji Yunxiao explained, “For example, your aunt likes both of us, but she’s too shy.
To cover it up, she acts cold and proud on purpose.”
Lin Youran only half understood.
“Okay.”
Ji Yunxiao shook her little hand and said, “With people like your aunt, we just have to coax her more.
She needs to be coaxed.”
Lin Youran scratched her head, puzzled.
“But I’m just a kid.
Do kids have to coax adults too?”
That really is a lot to ask of a child.
But after laughing, Ji Yunxiao still hugged Lin Youran and said softly, “Since Xiaoxiao-jie is making you roast lamb, just coax her a little, okay?”
Lin Youran sniffed the delicious smell and almost drooled again.
She agreed, “Alright then.”
Lin Youran looked up and asked, “So how do I coax Auntie?”
Ji Yunxiao told her, “Next time your aunt comes over, don’t ignore her.
Just call her ‘Auntie’ and she’ll be really happy.”
Lin Youran blinked.
“Really?”
“Really,” Ji Yunxiao didn’t forget to tempt her, “After you coax your aunt, I’ll make you a state banquet dish—boiled cabbage.
Want to try it?”
Lin Youran shook her head like a rattle drum.
“No cabbage, I want meat.”
Ji Yunxiao couldn’t help but laugh.
“Then how about five-spice braised beef?”
Lin Youran cheered, “Okay!”
The roast lamb still needed another hour, so Ji Yunxiao carried Lin Youran back to the room and sent Lin Qianwei a message: [I just got something done.]
Lin Qianwei asked: [What is it?]
Ji Yunxiao: [Consider it a little surprise.]
Lin Qianwei held back, but in the end couldn’t resist and called her, asking, “What is it?”
