Ji Zhonglin strode out of the building, his brows deeply furrowed.
His assistant and several foreign trade partners were accompanying him.
At least a third of the Ji Corporation’s business had now been handed over to him. However, the group’s most important industries—shipping and offshore oil and gas—were still controlled by several of his uncles.
Old Master Ji intended to assess his capabilities, and the overseas company he was negotiating with this time was particularly important to the group’s performance in the second half of the year. It would also give him a more advantageous position at the shareholders’ meeting at the end of the year.
That was why he was personally overseeing every step of these negotiations.
He had no intention of paying attention to Ji Yang. But when he caught sight of Ji Chengyi out of the corner of his eye, he thought it over briefly and still walked over.
He knew his younger brother Ji Yang too well.
Wherever Ji Chengyi was, Ji Yang was bound to make a huge scene, eventually causing things to spiral out of control.
And that remark—“That’s true. In my current condition, what right do I have to compete with anyone…” —had clearly reached everyone’s ears. It even made Ji Zhonglin’s footsteps falter.
Especially when he approached and his gaze fell on Ji Yang sitting in the wheelchair, he couldn’t help pausing in surprise.
He had never seen Ji Yang present himself in a wheelchair like this before. Or perhaps, with the oppressive frustration that had lodged in his chest last night finally gone, the fine weather allowed him to see the completely different changes in Ji Yang clearly for the first time.
At first glance, Ji Yang looked clean and neat from head to toe. Even the angle of his face as he lowered his eyelashes carried the pallor of someone who had yet to recover from a serious illness.
He remembered that the servants had indeed mentioned something last night about Ji Yang suffering an episode of phantom limb pain.
He knew what Ji Yang was like after an episode.
It was nothing like what he was seeing now.
“What are you talking about?” Ji Zhonglin asked, sweeping his gaze around the group.
He asked the question, but deep down, he already knew whose side he would instinctively take.
“President Ji.” The employee behind Ji Chengyi was the first to react. He hurriedly stepped forward and said with a hint of embarrassment, “It’s really nothing. We were just joking around with Fourth Young Master. Who would have thought he’d be so sensitive?”
Someone else chimed in. “Fourth Young Master even said President Chengyi would eventually take the Ji Corporation’s highest position. Isn’t that obviously an attempt to sow discord? Everyone knows that Third Young Master has been conscientious and diligent ever since joining the corporation. He’s always just done his own job.”
“Exactly! The bidding meeting is coming up. One person is so busy he can barely tell his head from his heels, while the other has only just come back and already—”
What came after that was left unsaid, but everyone understood.
Under normal circumstances, Ji Zhonglin should have considered these comments about Ji Yang entirely expected. But hearing everyone say them aloud, one after another, somehow made them sound particularly grating.
“Eldest Brother, why are you here?” Ji Chengyi turned and asked.
“I have to go to the factory.” Ji Zhonglin noticed the dark circles beneath his eyes, and most of the strange feeling he had experienced earlier faded away. He showed the appropriate, measured concern of an elder brother.
“Work can wait. Make sure you get some rest.”
Ji Chengyi nodded. “I knew things had already become unpleasant because of Nie Xu, yet I still brought it up myself. That’s why things turned out like this.” He glanced at the people behind Ji Zhonglin, then added hesitantly in a quiet voice, “Did this affect your business negotiations?”
Ji Zhonglin suddenly recalled the words, I have an unrequited crush on him.
The corner of his forehead twitched.
He shook his head in denial. “It’s fine. This isn’t your fault. Stop taking responsibility for everything.”
Ji Yang watched from the side, utterly amazed.
It wasn’t just Ji Chengyi’s ability to win people over. His way of speaking was also astonishing. He appeared to take the initiative to admit his mistake, yet with just a few words, he effortlessly placed himself in the position of the innocent party. It was a skill that left others hopelessly outclassed.
If the original Ji Yang had been here, things would definitely have descended into complete chaos by now.
Yet Ji Yang hadn’t said a word from beginning to end. He simply sat there quietly, without making a sound.
Even when Ji Zhonglin asked, “Don’t you have anything to say?”
The people waiting for Ji Yang to throw a tantrum, or even go completely berserk, received nothing more than a casual reply.
“Since I’ve already won the man, wouldn’t it really make me look like I’m flaunting my victory if I said anything else?”
The entire scene fell into an eerie silence.
Ji Zhonglin’s expression darkened, and before he could speak, Ji Yang added, “Besides, no matter what I say, Eldest Brother won’t believe me anyway, will he?”
Once again, he caught everyone completely off guard.
Ji Zhonglin frowned, but before he could open his mouth, Ji Chengyi cut in.
He took two steps forward and stopped directly in front of Ji Yang.
“Ji Yang, this has nothing to do with Eldest Brother. If you’re really upset, fine. I’ll apologize to you on behalf of my people.”
Ji Yang smiled. “So Third Brother admits that you haven’t kept your own people’s mouths in check?”
Ji Chengyi’s expression changed slightly. “Don’t twist my words.”
“Then I’m curious.” Ji Yang continued resting his chin on one hand. He raised the index finger of his right hand and slowly pointed toward the people standing behind Ji Chengyi, one by one. “Third Brother, you’re so dedicated and busy with work, yet you let your own people provoke me in public and behave as though they’re itching for a fight. This one, and this one, and that one—they’ve all been loudly taking your side. You could have stopped them at any time, but you didn’t. Now, all of a sudden, you can’t wait to step in.”
He paused before continuing, “Since you never really intended to stand up for your own people, I can’t help suspecting that you’re using them to pin the accusation of being unreasonable on me. Or perhaps Third Brother should just admit that he failed to steal another man’s lover and is so consumed by resentment that he’s deliberately taking revenge on me?”
Everyone present wore remarkably colorful expressions.
The few people Ji Yang had pointed out were especially red-faced, their complexions turning as dark as pig liver.
Ji Yang had seen enough of the show.
He turned his gaze back to Ji Zhonglin.
This eldest brother of his was no ordinary person, and certainly no fool.
Ji Yang said, “Eldest Brother, two years ago, after my car accident, Grandpa promised me the position of regional deputy general manager. Now you’ve quietly handed that position to Third Brother instead. I haven’t said anything because I know my own capabilities and understand my current situation.”
He closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them again, his gaze swept over the business partners before returning to Ji Zhonglin.
“Eldest Brother is incredibly busy. I’m sure you have important matters to attend to. It really wouldn’t be right to trouble you over something this trivial.”
“It’s a little cold outside. Let’s just leave it at that.”
Just when he seemed to have gained the upper hand, Ji Yang suddenly chose to give it up.
After saying this, he pushed his wheelchair away from the group and turned to enter the building.
Thank you, Ji Chengyi.
His image as a vulnerable victim who had only just turned over a new leaf, only to become disheartened again, should have left an impression on Ji Zhonglin.
Once Ji Yang left, the atmosphere behind him immediately grew tense.
Ji Zhonglin withdrew his gaze from Ji Yang’s retreating figure. When he turned to look at those few people, his expression was rather cold.
Ji Chengyi clenched his fist slightly. “Eldest Brother…”
“Causing trouble at the corporation’s entrance and damaging the company’s image. All of your year-end bonuses will be deducted. This matter ends here.”
His decision was final.
Ji Yang pushed his wheelchair slowly, his back turned to the others as he discreetly curled the corners of his mouth into a smile. When he looked back, he happened to catch a fleeting expression of disbelief in Ji Chengyi’s eyes.
Apparently, Ji Chengyi hadn’t expected Ji Zhonglin to actually punish his own people.
Ji Yang had deliberately brought up Nie Xu because Ji Zhonglin was already wary of him. Given that, Ji Zhonglin certainly wouldn’t want Ji Chengyi getting involved with Nie Xu.
As for mentioning the regional deputy general manager position, that was meant to stir up what little guilt Ji Zhonglin had left in his heart.
If Ji Yang wanted to survive, he couldn’t afford to make the remaining time he spent with the Ji family too miserable.
It didn’t matter whether his methods were highbrow or lowbrow, as long as they worked.
In less than half a morning, Ji Yang’s name had spread throughout the entire corporation. The incident involving several people who had walked straight into Ji Zhonglin’s line of fire early that morning had also become common knowledge.
The division of floors in the Ji Corporation’s building subtly reflected the hierarchy of status, with the core senior departments occupying the top floor.
The New Media Department was on the twelfth floor.
Because of the building’s orientation, the natural lighting wasn’t great. The office door stood half-open, and the department truly lived up to its reputation as a place where people were left out in the cold. Some were gaming, some were slacking off, and others were watching television or surfing the internet. Everyone had their own way of keeping busy.
Then Qian Yitian, the undisputed king of office gossip and an employee of the New Media Operations Department, came charging into the office with a bag of soup dumplings.
“Big news! Check the group chats!”
Several people sitting nearby instinctively gathered around him. By then, messages were flying through the various group chats at lightning speed.
[Image] [Video]
…What a spectacular battlefield in a wealthy family’s power struggle.
I hereby name this battle: Ji Yang, the domineering legitimate grandson of the Ji family’s eldest branch, VS Ji Chengyi, the refined illegitimate son. The rematch! And clearly, the legitimate son won.
Is that really Fourth Young Master Ji? He’s changed so much.
Isn’t the real shock that the rumors about them fighting over a man are actually true??? I initially said only an idiot would believe that. Turns out I’m the idiot.
Everyone keeps saying they fought over someone, but where’s the man? Who are they fighting over? This is clearly just a baseless rumor!
At that moment, someone jumped into the conversation and typed two words:
Nie Xu.
A long string of question marks immediately followed.
The person who had spoken continued:
Just look up the execution lists for major Ji Corporation projects from previous years, and you’ll find this name appearing again and again. This man has deep ties to the Ji Corporation. On the surface, he’s merely a bodyguard for the Ji family, but in reality, he’s been involved in many of the family’s business dealings. Don’t be fooled by the respectable appearance of those old men on the board of directors. Dig up certain things, and some of them would be scared enough to piss their pants on the spot.
Now that you mention it, I remember! Wasn’t he the person in charge of the Blue Bay project two years ago? His title was handed to him out of nowhere, directly appointed by the former chairman. Nobody knew where he came from. Then, for some reason, the project was suspended.
I tried searching for him. How come there’s absolutely no information?
Obviously. Do you think someone like him would let you find anything?
So the man Fourth Young Master called his man really is this Nie Xu? What’s the story here? A domineering young master forcing his love on someone, or a bodyguard submitting to his master’s authority because he has no choice?
Ji Yang had no idea what kinds of gossip were circulating through the various channels.
However, the moment he arrived at the New Media Department’s entrance, he heard someone say:
“A wealthy young master and his bodyguard. In a novel or a screenplay, no matter how you look at it, they seem destined for a tragic ending.”
“What if two young masters fall in love with the same man?”
“Uh… By the end, not a single one of them survives?”
“That tragic?”
Ji Yang pushed open the door and entered.
The people who had been huddled together turned to look at him. Their expressions now genuinely conveyed what it meant for not a single person to survive.
Ji Yang couldn’t help laughing at the sight. He placed a hand over his chest and solemnly added a classic line:
“But to me, loving him matters more. Even if we don’t end up together, at least I’ll know I tried.”
The entire New Media Department fell into deep self-doubt as they stared at this suddenly appearing young master from a wealthy family.
What exactly had he come here for?
After teasing them, Ji Yang asked, “Where’s Director Peng?”
His main purpose that day was to meet Peng Jiaying, the director of the New Media Department.
But the man turned out to be completely different from what Ji Yang had imagined.
In Ji Yang’s mind, someone capable of escaping the sinking ship that was the Ji Corporation completely unscathed and then building something of his own should have looked shrewd and sophisticated, someone skilled at navigating all kinds of social situations.
Peng Jiaying, however, was around thirty and wore a pair of beer-bottle-bottom glasses. He looked as though he had the makings of a rather idealistic young man who liked to criticize society.
He was unremarkable, and he didn’t talk much.
He was also neither warm nor cold toward Ji Yang.
Nevertheless, he still organized a welcome party for Ji Yang on behalf of the entire department.
At a fairly famous bar in Fanzhou.
It was called Billion.
By eight that evening, Ji Yang had already sent Uncle Liu home. He rode in Peng Jiaying’s car, which also had two other colleagues squeezed inside. They didn’t chat much during the drive.
Inside the bar, colorful lights flashed, and the place was packed with people and noise.
The entire department, more than a dozen people in total, occupied a large booth that could seat around thirty. They were mostly office workers who had lost their zest for life and were now being forced to attend a team-building event, so nobody felt particularly comfortable letting loose.
Fortunately, there were two people like Qian Yitian who were accustomed to livening up a gathering. Gradually, they managed to get the atmosphere going.
They were all young people, after all. Once they got into it, having fun came easily enough.
Peng Jiaying sat off to one side the entire time, drinking alone. Nobody went over to disturb him. He simply kept drinking one glass after another, showing no signs of stopping.
The two people who had spoken to Ji Yang that morning were relatively bold. They squeezed over to sit beside him.
They seemed to be trying to curry favor with him, probably because they still hadn’t figured out what he was really up to.
“Fourth Young Master, don’t take it personally. Our director is actually a pretty good person. He’s just in a bad mood.”
“Exactly.” The other person picked up where he left off. “I heard the Project Department held a meeting last week and discussed laying off our entire department. Director Peng has been worrying about it for days.”
“He just has a strong sense of responsibility. He feels he ought to take responsibility for everyone.”
Ji Yang looked at Peng Jiaying.
For someone like him, if he didn’t have a genuine sense of responsibility, things definitely wouldn’t have turned out the way they did later.
Just then—
Thud!
Peng Jiaying placed a bottle of foreign liquor on the table in front of Ji Yang.
His face was already flushed red with drunkenness. He raised his voice and said, “Young Master, our department was established after the group made a comprehensive assessment of current trends and technological development. I know a young master like you looks down on people like us.” 
As he spoke, he let out a huge, drunken burp.
A colleague beside him tried to intervene.
Peng Jiaying waved the person away, sweeping one large hand through the air as he continued, “What do you think of the place we picked today? I heard Fourth Young Master used to love places like this. It really is lively… Ordinary people like us have to flatter and placate young masters like you, make you happy!”
Peng Jiaying asked, “Are you happy? Because I’m pretty happy.”
Was this what people meant by alcohol giving a coward courage?
Ji Yang nodded. “Yeah, I’m happy.”
Peng Jiaying looked at him. His eyes appeared even smaller behind his thick lenses.
“You…”
“Xiao Yang?”
Another voice interrupted Peng Jiaying.
Everyone turned to look at the elegantly dressed man who had suddenly appeared before them.
He looked to be around thirty, with his hair combed back in a mature, slicked-back style. At first glance, he was the kind of successful man people would find quite charming.
He walked naturally over to Ji Yang, wearing an appropriately surprised expression. “Why didn’t you tell Brother Wei you were coming here, Xiao Yang? And are all these people your friends?”
“We’re Fourth Young Master’s colleagues.” Qian Yitian held out a glass of alcohol to him, then asked in return, “And you are?”
“Wei Qiming.”
Wei Qiming nodded and naturally sat down beside Ji Yang, smiling as he said, “You could say I’m Xiao Yang’s… friend and older brother.”
What an act.
Not only did this man sit down without the slightest hesitation, but he also naturally placed his hand behind Ji Yang.
He leaned sideways and whispered in his ear, “You’ve started working, Xiao Yang? How come I haven’t heard you mention something this important? And your leg…” His gaze swept toward it. “You’re going out just like this? A place like this is so chaotic. You could easily get taken advantage of.”
Ji Yang caught the strong scent of men’s cologne on him and felt inexplicably nauseated.
He turned to look at Wei Qiming and smiled falsely. “Taken advantage of how? By you?”
“Still angry?” Wei Qiming swept his gaze over Ji Yang from head to toe in a way that made him extremely uncomfortable before finally looking him in the eyes. “Brother Wei would never let you suffer a loss. You still haven’t told me what I did to upset you. Are you really not going to take me off your blacklist?”
How blind had the original Ji Yang been to trust someone like this?
Ji Yang really couldn’t be bothered to play verbal games with him.
He leaned forward and tapped the coffee table, calling out, “Old Peng.”
Peng Jiaying pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and looked over, not understanding.
Ji Yang’s smile spread. Pointing at Wei Qiming, he delivered the words that made everyone present tremble with fear in a very casual tone.
“If you dare hit him today, I’ll make sure the New Media Department survives. How about that?”
“Xiao Yang.” Wei Qiming’s tone was helpless, as though he were looking at an unreasonable child throwing a tantrum.
Meanwhile, Peng Jiaying swayed as he stood up, frowning at Ji Yang. Through his drunken haze, a flicker of struggle passed through his eyes, only to be quickly replaced by the attitude of someone who had decided to throw caution to the wind.
“Are you sure?” he asked. “You’re a young master who’s lost his influence. What makes you think you can protect us?”
Ji Yang didn’t say that he knew the Ji family would soon face a major public-relations crisis. After all, his real goal wasn’t to help the Ji family. He merely smiled. “When a young master gives his word, it’s naturally as good as gold.”
If they were going to tie their fates together, it remained to be seen whether Peng Jiaying had the determination to stake everything on one throw and the courage to fight his way out of a desperate situation.
The next second—
CRASH!
Glass shards from a beer bottle flew everywhere, and the colleagues’ screams filled the room.
Those who, over the course of the evening, had come to think that Ji Yang was rather good-tempered and looked quite pretty when he smiled now stared at the man sitting calmly in his seat, a faint smile still lingering at the corners of his mouth.
They couldn’t help thinking that the rumors had been wrong all along. How was this young master even more terrifying than before?
Twenty minutes later, at the Central District Branch of the Fanzhou Police Station.
A group of colleagues waited anxiously in the open space outside the station, waiting to hear the outcome.
Then they saw a discreet black sedan slowly pull up.
“Who is that?”
“Someone from the Ji family coming to bail him out?”
“What he did wasn’t that serious, right? It was Director Peng who threw the punch, and he was drunk.”
“Why do I get the feeling our director was actually quite happy to do it? The way he smashed that bottle over someone was downright swift and decisive.”
“Th-then will the young master get scolded?”
“Oh my God, who would dare scold him?”
As soon as those words fell, someone stepped out of the car.
It was already very late, and the lighting outside the police station was dim. Even so, they could make out the man’s broad shoulders and long legs, along with his imposing presence. Faint scars seemed to wind across his tanned forearm, exposed by the sleeves of his black shirt, which he had rolled up. Wearing sunglasses, he casually glanced over the crowd before looking away.
As he walked, he spoke on the phone. “Mm, I’m here. Inciting someone to assault another person. Send me the surveillance footage… It’s fine if the image isn’t clear.”
The voice on the other end could be faintly heard in the night. Amid the conversation, one name was mentioned.
Nie Xu.
Nie Xu????
Wasn’t that Fourth Young Master’s man?
The person on the other end said something. The man paused briefly in his steps.
“If you want to thank him, you should pick a better time.”
He raised his head and looked at the entrance to the police station. The trace of a mocking smile was carried away by the wind, leaving behind only the faintest, almost imperceptible hint of it.
“I thought he’d manage to keep up the act for a few more days.”
The people behind him exchanged uncertain looks.
This man probably didn’t like Young Master Ji very much.
It was the kind of dislike that seemed to have been there from the beginning, only to ease for some reason before piling up all over again.
Until, finally, his last words—
“Never learns.”
That was all that remained in the air, his final judgment of the person in question.
He walked straight into the police station, without noticing the people behind him shaking their heads and sighing.
“Sure enough, winning the man you love in a fight means nothing if he doesn’t love you back.”
“Is this what young masters from wealthy families have to worry about?”
“What worry? Oh, it’s midnight, and my man has come to bail me out of the police station?”
“Yeah, and he’ll call you a hopeless case who never learns.”