Volume 1, Chapter 8: She Returned Late, and He Required an Explanation

Cheng Qian stopped in her tracks and glanced sideways at the car.

“Mrs. Ji, this place is quite far from the exit. Why don’t you take my car over there?” Ji Yichen suggested.

Cheng Qian nodded. “Thank you!”

She opened the car door and got in.

Not far away, inside the business van, a pair of cold eyes fixed on the Maybach, the expression heavy and brooding.

“Sir, shall we continue to follow?” Assistant Wang Rui was also greatly shocked.

The lady had driven to the airport late at night, and it was all for a man. Now, she had even gotten into his car.

Wang Rui felt the atmosphere inside the vehicle drop to zero. Would President Li rush over and drag out that male interloper?

“Go home!” Proud self-esteem wouldn’t allow the man to step out of this car.

From his understanding of Cheng Qian, she wouldn’t have the courage to engage in such shameless behavior.

Perhaps he should go home and wait for her to explain in person.

At the airport exit, Cheng Qian wore a khaki trench coat. Her thick, jet-black hair was loosely swept to one side. There was no flashy jewelry on her, only a pair of pink pearl earrings gracing her earlobes.

Her gaze was fixed toward the exit, where a crowd was beginning to surge outward.

Ji Yichen stood by her side. At first, his attention was also on the direction the crowd was coming from.

But after a moment, his gaze gradually became absorbed by the woman beside him.

Among the wealthy wives he had met, Cheng Qian was the least like one.

She wore no expensive jewelry, no million-dollar handbag, no ultra-luxurious heels or custom-made items.

If it weren’t for the noble aura her face naturally exuded, it would be hard to associate her with the richest woman in the city.

Ji Yichen stood behind Cheng Qian, in a place where she couldn’t see him, his eyes casually appraising her.

Just then, Cheng Qian was pushed by an elderly woman nearby and lost her balance for a moment.

She was forced back a few steps, and her back inadvertently brushed against the solid chest of the man behind her.

“Careful…” Ji Yichen instinctively reached out to support her waist to prevent her from falling.

Cheng Qian turned around awkwardly and apologized, “Sorry, Mr. Ji, there are too many people.”

“It’s fine. Let’s step back a bit. No rush. My father is quite slow; he’ll definitely be the last to come out.”

Hearing this, Cheng Qian lowered her head and smiled softly. “Really? I’m beginning to forget Uncle Ji’s character.”

Ji Yichen wanted to say more but saw the woman before him lower her gaze with a gentle smile. Her clear, bright eyes resembled amber shining with countless hues—an indescribable beauty.

At that moment, a middle-aged man’s voice called out, “Xiao Qian.”

Cheng Qian was pleasantly surprised by the familiar call and turned around promptly to see a casually dressed middle-aged man striding through the crowd.

“Uncle Ji…” Cheng Qian happily held the flowers and walked toward him. “Long time no see.”

Ji Nan looked at the elegant and graceful woman before him and sighed, “You’ve grown up so beautifully after all these years abroad. You really resemble your mother.”

As he spoke, he handed the suitcase in his hand to his son standing nearby, freeing his hands to take the bouquet Cheng Qian brought.

Ji Yichen accepted the suitcase, a trace of helplessness flashing in his eyes.

He knew well that his father’s greatest regret was never having a daughter.

Now, seeing Cheng Qian, his presence as a son seemed to vanish completely.

His father was fully focused on chatting with Cheng Qian.

Ji Nan anxiously inquired about Cheng Qian’s life after the loss of her parents, feeling deeply relieved to learn she had never given up on continuing her parents’ work.

“Dad, we’re going the wrong way,” Ji Nan said as they chatted outside the airport, unaware of the correct path until a large hand tugged his sleeve.

Only then did Ji Nan suddenly remember he had a son beside him.

He smiled and introduced, “Xiao Qian, you’ve already met my son. From now on, you can just call him ‘big brother.’”

Cheng Qian was momentarily stunned and looked at Ji Yichen with a delicate blush.

Ji Yichen didn’t miss the fleeting shyness on her face, as lovely as peach blossoms blooming in spring.

“I have no objections,” Ji Yichen spoke first. “Having such an outstanding little sister makes me want to wake up laughing even in my dreams.”

“Stop talking nonsense,” Ji Nan lightly rebuked. “Xiao Qian, I heard you received an investment to revive your father’s research lab. How is the progress lately?”

Cheng Qian replied bitterly, “That’s a long story, Uncle Ji. Let’s talk in the restaurant. You must be tired after such a long flight.”

“Alright!” Ji Nan didn’t press further.

“Uncle Ji, I drove here. You two go to the restaurant first. I’ll be there soon,” Cheng Qian said by the roadside as she parted ways with the Ji family.

When Cheng Qian arrived at the restaurant, it was already past nine in the evening.

But to welcome Ji Nan, Ji Yichen still ordered a tableful of dishes. Cheng Qian hurried upstairs, just as her phone rang.

She glanced at it—it was Li Zhinan calling.

“Hello,” Cheng Qian’s voice was calm.

“My son misses you. When will you come back?” The man’s deep voice carried a chill.

Cheng Qian paused, then answered, “I might be back very late. Please take care of Xiao Ye first.”

“Very late?” The man’s tone was accusatory. “Is it something important?”

“Yes, it is very important,” Cheng Qian said, just as Ji Nan called her from outside the private room, “Xiao Qian, this way.”

Seeing Ji Nan, Cheng Qian immediately hung up.

At the table, Cheng Qian updated Ji Nan on the research lab’s situation.

Ji Nan slammed his hand on the table, splashing tea from his cup.

“That scoundrel Cheng Zhifei! I never expected he’d get an investment from the Li family. I bet he’s the one behind the scenes scheming to swallow up your father’s lab—such a treacherous villain, his greed is written all over his face.”

Ji Yichen sat nearby, sipping tea quietly with a thoughtful look as he watched Cheng Qian.

They had talked for so long, yet she hadn’t mentioned anything about her marriage to Li Zhinan.

Was it some secret?

“Xiao Qian, resigning was the right choice. Stand firm in your position, show your stance. If there’s a chance, prove to everyone the vile tactics and despicable face of that Cheng Zhifei,” Ji Nan said with deep pain, the past still vivid.

Cheng Qian’s eyes reddened. Suppressing her sadness and grievance, she firmly said, “I will. I will work hard to prove everything.”

“Yichen, I want to adopt Xiao Qian as my daughter. Do you have any objections?” Ji Nan had thought about this before, but Cheng Qian was the little princess of the Cheng family, and he didn’t want to take away what others loved.

Now that the Cheng family’s glory was history and Cheng Qian was alone, he felt uneasy leaving her unaided. With the Cheng family’s biotechnology company backed by powerful forces, her situation was even more precarious.

Ji Nan would never allow his friend’s orphaned child to suffer injustice.

“Dad, I have no objections,” Ji Yichen said, raising his glass toward Cheng Qian. “So should I start calling you Sister Xiao Qian?”

Cheng Qian’s face flushed with embarrassment. She whispered, “Uncle Ji, thank you for your kindness. I’m already married, so there’s no need for adoption. I just hope to have more opportunities to learn from you at work.”

Ji Nan was surprised. “Married?”

Cheng Qian nodded. “Yes. I got married a year after my parents passed away.”

Ji Nan frowned anxiously. “How is your husband’s background? Is he a good person? Does he treat you well?”

Cheng Qian’s expression darkened. She glanced quickly at Ji Yichen.

Had Ji Yichen never mentioned her situation to Uncle Ji?

Thinking of her looming divorce, Cheng Qian didn’t want to burden Ji Nan with her miserable marriage.

“Uncle Ji, rest assured, I’m doing well,” she forced a smile.

“Ahem…” For some reason, Ji Yichen choked on his tea and coughed twice.

Ji Nan glanced at him. “Really pathetic, even choking on tea.”

Ji Yichen: “…”

Checking the time, Ji Nan said to Cheng Qian, “Xiao Qian, I’m staying permanently in the country now. If you’ve resigned, that works perfectly. Come work with me. I’m currently collaborating with several foreign biotech companies, and the government has invited me to seek pilot projects domestically. I need your help.”

Cheng Qian’s face brightened. “Okay, thank you, Uncle Ji. I would be glad to work here.”

Ji Nan nodded with satisfaction. “It’s late, you should head home early.”

Learning of Cheng Qian’s marriage, Ji Nan wanted her to return home promptly and urged her to leave.

After bidding farewell to the Ji family, Cheng Qian drove home.

She arrived at eleven o’clock.

The villa’s lights had already dimmed.

She stepped lightly into the living room.

“Care to explain?” A cold, deep male voice came from the sofa.

Cheng Qian paused and saw a flickering red dot—the cigarette glowing between the man’s fingers.

“Why aren’t you asleep yet?” Cheng Qian frowned.

The man stretched out a long arm and turned on the nearby switch, lighting the wall lamps.

The tall figure rose from the sofa and approached coldly. “I wasn’t waiting for you.”

Cheng Qian was taken aback. She hadn’t thought that.

“I’m a bit tired; I’ll go rest upstairs first,” she said, heading upstairs.

“Twentieth!” The man suddenly said a number.

Cheng Qian, halfway up the stairs, lowered her eyes to look at him.

The dim light fell on the man’s deep, brooding eyes, where a faint chill glimmered.

“What?” Cheng Qian asked.

Li Zhinan’s voice was cold. “The day your relative arrives.”

Cheng Qian was stunned. Why did he remember that?

“So, you didn’t come for good reasons, right?” Thinking of her repeated refusals, Li Zhinan’s face darkened further.

Cheng Qian had no obligation to explain. She said coolly, “Apparently, you still don’t understand a woman’s cycle.”

With that, she continued upstairs, leaving the man’s face stiff with displeasure.

After showering and kissing her son’s little cheek, Cheng Qian drifted into sleep.

At one in the morning, the study light was still on.

The man resting in the black leather chair received a message.

The text read: The Maybach’s owner is Fang Chi.

His brows furrowed deeply, and a surge of anger rose in his dark eyes.

That irresponsible prodigal son of the Fang family?