By the time Ji Chengyi and the doctor entered the room for the second time, Ji Yang had already been settled against the headboard, his hair half-dry.
The belt of his bathrobe had been tied securely again, making him presentable enough to meet people.
The doctor didn’t look around unnecessarily after entering. He measured Ji Yang’s blood pressure, took his temperature, and carried out a series of basic examinations. Ji Yang cooperated throughout.
“The dizziness was caused by low blood sugar. It’s also closely related to prolonged improper eating habits and a persistent low-grade fever,” the doctor explained as he put away his stethoscope. “Fortunately, we discovered it in time, and someone was there with him. Otherwise, the consequences could have been much more serious.”
He added, “Overall, there’s nothing seriously wrong. He just needs to rest and avoid physical activity for the time being.”
Leaning against the headboard, Ji Yang said, “Indeed, it’s nothing serious.”
His gaze passed over the nameplate on the doctor’s chest.
Tao Jisheng.
Ji Yang continued, “I heard that Dr. Tao returned from further studies overseas. You had a promising future ahead of you. What made you decide to become the Ji family’s private doctor?”
The other man smiled. “Whether someone becomes a doctor or chooses another profession, ultimately, it’s all to make a living. The Ji family offers good benefits. It’s an opportunity plenty of people would fight to get, but can’t.”
“Then it seems Dr. Tao really does have excellent medical skills.” Ji Yang’s voice still sounded weak. “I’ve been suffering from phantom limb pain for two years. I suppose I have you to thank for that.”
Tao Jisheng paused slightly, but quickly returned to normal.
“Fourth Young Master, you’re too kind. It’s my job.”
Tao Jisheng.
Ji Yang vaguely remembered that this character hadn’t played much of a role in the novel either.
At that moment, Tao Jisheng suddenly asked, “Are you still taking your previous medication, Fourth Young Master?”
“Yes,” Nie Xu answered on his behalf.
He had originally been standing by the window, listening to Ji Chengyi, who had already calmed down, talk about the group’s affairs. Ji Yang had no idea when Nie Xu had come over.
The probing words I haven’t been taking it died in Ji Yang’s throat.
Upon hearing that he was still taking his medication, Tao Jisheng smiled and said, “Just keep taking it on schedule. Fourth Young Master’s phantom limb pain is relatively severe to begin with, and the attacks can be difficult to endure. After experiencing major trauma, it’s hard for a person to come to terms with it all at once. Take things slowly. There’s no need to rush.”
Ji Chengyi also walked over and glanced at Ji Yang’s legs.
“Since it’s nothing serious, rest properly and don’t go out for the time being.”
He had long since regained his composure. There was none of the agitation he’d displayed when he first entered the room.
“The Fu family’s factories have already been shut down. This matter has far-reaching implications, and the Ji Corporation must give the public an explanation.”
“How does Third Brother intend to explain it?” Ji Yang detected an unspoken meaning behind his words.
Ji Chengyi stared at him.
“You resign and take responsibility for what happened.”
After a two-second pause, he added, “It sounds better than being fired.”
Ji Yang let out a soft “Ah.”
“You want to fire me?”
Ji Chengyi frowned. “Ji Yang, this isn’t the time for you to act up. If you were willing to publicly admit to something like this, you should have anticipated the consequences today.”
Ji Yang nodded. “Sure.”
Just as Ji Chengyi was stunned by his agreement, Ji Yang changed the subject.
“But I’m taking my assistant with me.”
“No!” Ji Chengyi immediately objected.
He pinched the bridge of his nose, looking as though his patience had run out.
“Ji Yang, the group will retain Nie Xu’s position as an assistant. That’s also Grandpa’s decision. He’ll inevitably need to move around the company during this period, and having that position will make things more convenient for him.”
Ji Yang immediately laughed.
He was so righteous and self-assured that anyone who didn’t know better might genuinely believe he was acting entirely in the Ji family’s interests, just as he had in the novel.
But once someone had a selfish motive, it was difficult to conceal it completely.
Ji Yang still remembered that when he had first negotiated a deal with Nie Xu, one of his conditions had been that he retain his status as a legal heir to the Ji family.
Leaving the Ji family now really wasn’t a good idea, either.
Ji Yang said, “I’ll resign, but I’m not taking responsibility for the scandal. I haven’t done anything wrong. Surely Third Brother, who is practically shouldering half the Ji Corporation’s responsibilities now, doesn’t still believe the Ji Corporation is completely innocent?”
Ji Chengyi’s expression darkened.
He glanced at Nie Xu, but surprisingly, didn’t say anything more.
He merely said, “Then go explain it to Grandpa yourself.”
He then turned around.
“Dr. Tao, I’ll see you out.”
“Of course. Thank you, Third Young Master.”
As soon as Ji Chengyi and the doctor left, Ji Yang pulled the blanket over himself and curled up beneath it. The soft, comfortable bed made him want to let out a contented sigh.
With his eyes closed, he could still feel his head spinning slightly.
Ji Yang asked, “Why did you stop me from saying anything just now?”
Nie Xu replied, “Tao Jisheng was the one who brought up the subject. That proves he doesn’t actually care whether the medication’s problems are discovered.”
Ji Yang had noticed that, too.
There hadn’t been the slightest hint of guilt in Tao Jisheng’s attitude. Instead, he had taken the initiative to ask whether Ji Yang was still taking the medication.
There was only one explanation: Tao Jisheng was certain that even if Ji Yang discovered the truth, he wouldn’t be able to do anything to the person behind it.
At present, there were only a handful of people in the Ji family who held enough power to stand completely above Ji Yang.
Ji Yang wasn’t in a hurry to find out the answer right away.
Sleepiness soon washed over him.
“Are you on duty tonight?” Ji Yang asked.
Nie Xu replied, “No.”
Ji Yang settled down without a trace of guilt.
“Then turn off the lights when you leave. Thanks.”
Ji Yang rolled over, allowing the exhaustion to overtake him and envelop him completely in darkness.
Perhaps it was because of everything he’d experienced over the past three days.
His dreams had become rather restless.
He actually dreamed of a swamp forest.
The evening sky cast the woods in a grayish-green hue. The water rose above his knees, cold and icy. Stepping into it barefoot produced a disgusting, sticky sensation.
He constantly felt as though something was chasing him from behind.
The urgency of his escape drove him onward, forcing him to keep moving forward, farther and farther.
Branches scratched his skin, and the soles of his feet were cut open.
He kept heading toward the last sliver of light on the horizon.
When he woke again, Ji Yang had to raise a hand to shield his eyes from the glaring sunlight streaming directly through the window. The room’s climate-control system hummed away tirelessly.
Propping himself up with one hand, Ji Yang sat up. When he saw the towel that had slipped down from his forehead, he stared at it in a daze.
Who put it there?
Nie Xu? Or had Aunt Mo come in afterward?
“Awake?” Just then, Aunt Mo came in from outside carrying a bowl of porridge. “Hurry up and eat something. The kitchen finished cooking this last night, but by the time they brought it upstairs, you were already asleep. Mr. Nie said to let you get a good night’s rest first, so he didn’t wake you.”
Ji Yang froze for a moment. “What time did he leave last night?”
Aunt Mo felt his forehead. “Good, your fever’s gone. Around eleven, I think. He waited until your fever came down before leaving. I even asked if he wanted a late-night snack, but he said no.”
Ji Yang took the bowl and slowly fed himself small spoonfuls.
Out of curiosity, he asked, “Aunt Mo, I’ve noticed you seem to have a pretty good opinion of him.”
“Mr. Nie? Well, I don’t think he’s a bad person.” As she tidied up his room, Aunt Mo continued, “I’ve worked for the Ji family for over twenty years. Back in the early days, there wasn’t even a Building Four. The Ji family used to keep a bunch of hired thugs, and those were the real hooligans, with no manners or decency whatsoever. He was just a child when he was brought here. Back then, everyone was saying that your grandfather intended to take him in as his adopted son.”
“Pfft!”
Ji Yang choked on his porridge, coughing so violently that it sounded as though the heavens were about to fall.
Aunt Mo hurried over and patted his back, scolding him, “I told you to eat slowly!”
Then, as she continued talking, she started cursing again.
“That old master really has grown senile. The older he gets, the more he seems to revert to his old ways.” Her hand changed from patting Ji Yang’s back to gently rubbing it. “How could he be so heartless to his own grandson? Just look at how thin you’ve gotten. Who knows how much you’ve suffered these past few days?”
Ji Yang finally managed to catch his breath.
“Adopted son?”
“That’s right.” Aunt Mo nodded. “But later, for some reason, the matter came to nothing. He’d only been with the Ji family for a few years, yet he was already more capable than your father and those uncles of yours. Even your eldest brother, Ji Zhonglin, regarded him as a rival when he was little.”
Ji Yang fell silent.
He’d always assumed that Ji Zhonglin was wary of Nie Xu because he’d discovered that Ji Chengyi was in love with Nie Xu.
Who would’ve thought there was another reason?
Just then, a voice rang out from downstairs.
“Ji Yang!”
Ji Yang recognized Ji Mingyue’s voice. Aunt Mo went over and opened the window for him, and Ji Yang finally managed to hop over to it.
Down below, Ji Mingyue was leaning against a blazing-red supercar. She tilted her head up and called, “Have you gone stupid after being locked up for three days? Come downstairs. I’m taking you for a drive!”
Ji Yang looked up and surveyed the quiet grounds. Apart from the gardeners and cleaning staff, there wasn’t another member of the Ji family in sight.
He lowered his head and chuckled.
“Miss, the Ji family is in such a huge mess, and you still have the mood to go joyriding? Or are you hoping to spend some time in the warehouse yourself and see what it’s like?”
“Are you coming or not?” Ji Mingyue had very little patience.
Ji Yang remembered hearing Ji Mingyue cursing at Lu Li’s men outside the warehouse during those few days he’d been locked up. His heart softened.
“I’m coming!”
Aunt Mo disapproved. “In your condition, where do you think you’re going?”
“It’s fine.” Ji Yang patted her shoulder. “I’m young. I can take a beating.”
Ji Yang changed his clothes and went downstairs. Sure enough, Ji Mingyue was still waiting outside.
He looked at the car behind her and remarked, “This doesn’t seem like your style.”
“What’s wrong with trying a different style?” Ji Mingyue pulled open the car door. “Get in.”
Ji Yang hadn’t even fastened his seat belt properly when the sports car roared forward.
The fierce wind rushing through the convertible swept his hair backward. Calmly fastening his seat belt, Ji Yang looked at the winding coastal road and said, “I get it now. You think the Ji family’s scandal isn’t explosive enough, so you want to add another one. Something like ‘Ji Family Heiress Takes Fourth Young Master on a Daytime Joyride…’ Of course, I’d prefer the ending to be ‘Dies After Plunging into the Sea’ rather than something like ‘Causes a Chain-Reaction Crash.’ That way, I’ll feel less guilty when I drink Granny Meng’s soup.”
After hearing that, Ji Mingyue actually slowed down.
She glanced sideways at him with disdain. “Your face is so pale. Are you really that easily frightened?”
“I have low blood sugar, thank you very much,” Ji Yang replied.
The car slowed down a little more.
Only after her mood had settled did Ji Mingyue speak again.
“My wedding with the Qi family is scheduled for next week.”
“Next week?” Ji Yang frowned deeply.
“Yeah. They only settled the date last night. Grandpa and the Qi family discussed it together. Today, that bastard Qi Yiming has already rented a cruise ship to throw his last bachelor party.”
A trace of disgust flashed through Ji Yang’s heart.
Not for any other reason.
The moment the Ji family ran into trouble, their first thought was still to sacrifice one of the women in the family.
The Qi family was in the oil extraction business. They and the Ji family were essentially in the same boat.
Now that the Ji family’s projects had been suspended halfway through, and the family was mired in public scandal and financial controversy, the Qi family had still agreed to the marriage alliance. That meant they either stood to gain something from it or had some compelling reason they couldn’t refuse.
But with the marriage happening at a time like this, it was easy to imagine what Ji Mingyue’s life in the Qi family would be like.
“Where’s the cruise ship he rented?” Ji Yang asked.
Ji Mingyue looked at him. “Why do you want to know?”
“He’s planning one last night of wild partying, isn’t he? Why don’t we go join the fun? I’m single too, after all.”
Ji Mingyue hesitated, looking as though she wanted to say something but couldn’t quite bring herself to.
Ji Yang reassured her. “Relax. We’re not going there to cause trouble.”
By dusk, the luxury cruise ship at the pier was ablaze with lights.
Young women in bikinis moved back and forth across the deck, while the area around the outdoor swimming pool was filled with men and women laughing and fooling around.
It reminded Ji Yang of a phrase: a life of wine and women.
Wearing nothing more than a T-shirt and jeans, Ji Yang didn’t look particularly out of place among all the shirtless men in shorts. What made him stand out was how ridiculously good-looking he was. From the moment he arrived, people of both sexes kept approaching him to flirt.
Some even recognized him as the Ji family’s Fourth Young Master, but they all assumed Qi Yiming had invited him.
Ji Yang parted ways with Ji Mingyue halfway through and headed toward the private-room area. Half an hour later, he came back out.
Eventually, he found Qi Yiming.
The man was at the largest swimming pool on the cruise ship, surrounded by a crowd of rich second-generation playboys from Fanzhou.
They were all cut from the same cloth. Each was lounging on a sunbed beside the pool, with one or two curvaceous beauties draped over him.
Someone teased, “Yiming, I honestly never expected you to be the first one among us to get married.”
“Exactly! Once you’re married, won’t you have to submit a formal request just to come out and have fun like this?”
“Of course he will! I hear that Ji Mingyue woman is fierce as hell.”
“What’s it like marrying a tigress, Yiming? Come on, tell us!”
Qi Yiming’s hand had been roaming over the shoulder of the young woman beside him. Hearing their remarks, he sneered twice.
“You guys think Ji Mingyue is still the same Ji Mingyue she used to be? Let me tell you something in confidence. The Ji family’s current troubles are no small matter. At a time like this, who else would be willing to marry her besides me? She should be lighting incense and praying to Buddha in gratitude that I’m willing to marry her—Ah!”
The instant Qi Yiming was kicked into the swimming pool, screams erupted all around him.
Ji Yang steadied his slightly unbalanced body, withdrew his right leg, and rotated his knee joint.
The internet had been right about one thing: kicking people really was an effective technique.
So effective that the kick had nearly knocked the breath out of Qi Yiming, leaving him on the verge of drowning in the pool.
After finally managing to stand upright, Qi Yiming wiped the water from his face and glared at the man standing on the poolside with his arms folded. His expression twisted with rage and humiliation.
“Ji Si’er?! Who told you to come here?!”
“You never said I wasn’t allowed to come.” Ji Yang glanced around. “Or does this kind of low-class party of yours have an entry requirement?”
Qi Yiming pointed at him. “You’re finished!”
“I think you’re the one who’s finished.” Ji Yang shook his head lightly and waved the record of his police report on his phone. “Inducing, harboring, or procuring prostitution, as well as providing a venue for it, can get you detained for ten to fifteen days. Looks like your wedding will have to wait until next time.”
As soon as Ji Yang finished speaking, a large number of police officers rushed onto the scene.
Screams and frantic attempts to cover themselves filled the area.
With Qi Yiming’s face turning ashen, Ji Yang smiled falsely.
“I passed by some of the private rooms earlier and already recorded quite a bit of evidence. And you know what kind of influence I have online these days. If you don’t want the Qi family to be accused of interfering with the judicial process, I suggest you cooperate.”
“Mr. Ji.”
The police officer who approached looked vaguely familiar. Ji Yang had met him before.
His surname was Wu.
“Officer Wu? What a coincidence.” Ji Yang smiled.
Officer Wu glanced around, then looked at the young master standing before him.
“We came as soon as we received the report. However, five minutes ago, I received another phone call.”
Ji Yang blinked. “Hmm?”
The officer handed him his phone.
Puzzled, Ji Yang said, “Hello?”
“Can you really not stay in bed for even one day?” the person on the other end asked.
Ji Yang paused. “How do you even have Officer Wu’s phone number?”
“Is that the point?” Nie Xu’s voice betrayed no emotion.
Ji Yang had no idea where he was, but it sounded pretty noisy on his end too. Someone could be heard calling him “Boss.”
Ji Yang wasn’t particularly surprised that Nie Xu had managed to keep track of his whereabouts. Remembering something, he brought the conversation back to the topic at hand.
“By the way, I heard you almost became my uncle. Is that true?”
The other end fell silent for a second.
Ji Yang immediately sensed danger.
He hurriedly added, “I don’t mean anything by it. I’m just a little shocked that I almost ended up in an incestuous situation, that’s all.”
“Ji Yang.”
It was the first time Nie Xu had called him by his name.
Ji Yang thought to himself: Great. The danger hasn’t disappeared. It’s just changed into someone grinding his teeth in anger.