Chapter 76:
Ji Wei ran away from marriage.
When Ji Ran heard this sentence, he raised his eyebrows unexpectedly, taking quite some time to digest this information.
The person who always followed the words of Ji Guozheng since childhood, actually ran away from marriage?
Ji Ran suddenly felt the anger in him extinguished completely, leaving only astonishment and amusement.
Two days ago, Ji Wei started to go missing. At first, everyone thought he might have been delayed by something, but when he didn’t show up at work on a workday, they realized the seriousness of the situation.
The only message left behind was a letter on his desk where he made it clear that he wouldn’t marry and was willing to face the consequences for it.
Although Grandma Ji’s words were vague, Ji Ran could easily guess that the consequence would either be giving up the company or leaving the Ji family.
But the invitations from the Ji family were already printed, and the venue was arranged. The elders were spreading the news of the wedding within the industry. Ji Guozheng couldn’t afford to lose face, so the wedding had to proceed.
Fortunately, the invitations hadn’t been sent out yet, so they thought of another member of the Ji family. They could come up with an excuse later, like saying that the younger brother had taken the elder brother’s wedding date, or the elder brother had set his eyes on another wedding date… any excuse would work. They would delay and wait until they found Ji Wei before making any decisions.
“These girls might not be from prominent families, but they are all delicate and refined, specially chosen by me for you. They are all good, and won’t let you down.” Grandma Ji hurried back from overseas, her face full of exhaustion. “You’re getting older too, it’s better for you to marry and have children soon.”
Ji Ran snapped back to reality and sneered, “Grandma, you might not be up to date with news from abroad. Perhaps you haven’t heard… I have no relation to the Ji family anymore, and I have no interest in helping you fill this gap.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, we’re discussing serious matters here. I know you have conflicts with your father, but no matter what, he’s still your father. Your blood relationship cannot be erased…”
“Then how can I break free from you all?” Ji Ran lazily asked, “Money? How much is Ji Guozheng’s pride worth? Over the years, I’ve repaid every penny I owed, both principal and interest. I don’t owe you anything. I’m also an adult now, I don’t need a guardian.”
His words were blunt and vulgar, shocking Grandma Ji as she looked at him, taking a while to find her words again. “…How dare you speak to me like this? Don’t forget, your life was saved by me. If I hadn’t agreed back then, you wouldn’t even have had a chance to be born—”
“My life? Saved by you?” Ji Ran seemed to find it amusing, intending to speak calmly, but the mention of past events added fuel to his small flame of anger.
“You know well, all you did was nod your head. Did you carry me for ten months and give birth to me? Or do you really think that without your agreement, Zhao Qingtong would have beaten me? If you hadn’t nodded, could the Ji family still have forcefully made Zhao Qingtong abort me?” Ji Ran paused, then chuckled sarcastically, “Oh, you people really are capable of anything.”
Grandma Ji’s face turned pale.
Having lived in a sheltered environment for almost her entire life, it was the first time she had been questioned like this. She had heard rumors that Ji Ran had become rebellious, but she hadn’t expected it to reach this level.
“Do you really think that by repaying the money, you’ve cleared all those debts?” Her voice raised a few notches, “If it weren’t for me, could you have grown up pampered and privileged? Could you have attended such good schools, ridden in such luxurious cars, eaten such fine food?! Without all that, you would have ended up as a street thug with nothing!”
Ji Ran couldn’t help but find it laughable.
If it weren’t for the Ji family…
If it weren’t for all of this.
How could he have endured years of verbal attacks and schoolyard violence?
If it weren’t for all this, perhaps he would have settled down with Zhao Qingtong in some remote and peaceful place. He wasn’t afraid of hardship, and neither was Zhao Qingtong. With so many ways to make money in the world, they would have found a way. Maybe they wouldn’t live a luxurious life, but at least they could get by, living simply and happily.
There would be no cold words or discrimination.
He wouldn’t be the butt of children’s jokes, and Zhao Qingtong wouldn’t be treated as gossip fodder by those so-called high society women.
In fact, since Ji Ran came of age, he had already harbored thoughts of distancing himself from the Ji family. But at that time, Zhao Qingtong had already passed away, and his guardian had written Ji Guozheng’s name. He was a family embarrassment, and Ji Guozheng wouldn’t allow him to break free from his control. He couldn’t even manage to obtain a simple visa.
Later, Ji Ran found a diary among Zhao Qingtong’s belongings. The little book had been carefully hidden in her pillowcase, so it hadn’t been discovered by the Ji family’s people.
So he kept it.
He snapped out of his thoughts and looked at the person in front of him, who was now breathing heavily.
Grandma Ji was getting older, and naturally, her body had some minor ailments. When she got excited, she couldn’t help but have more significant physiological reactions than usual.
Ji Ran paused and looked at the person behind her. “Did you bring the medicine? Give her some. Bring out the calming pills and such first.”
The assistant took out a few pills from the medicine box they carried.
Grandma Ji, upon hearing this, thought Ji Ran had finally regained some conscience.
She swallowed two pills and finally regained her composure. “I spoke too hastily just now, don’t mind it. But you’re too unruly, don’t speak to your elders like that in the future, understand?”
Ji Ran sneered but didn’t respond.
Grandma Ji continued, “Take a look at the photos, or if you want more detailed information about them, I’ll have someone send it over. Invitations need to be sent out the day after tomorrow, so you must give me a choice before then.”
Ji Ran asked coolly, “Do these women know you’re putting their photos together like you’re picking pork?”
“Don’t speak so harshly. The Ji family is prominent, many people would never have the chance to get close.”
Ji Ran nodded, “Yeah, the Ji family is like an electrifying myth, every woman in the world wants to marry into it.”
Grandma Ji didn’t understand what he was saying, “I’ll have the dresses custom-made, don’t worry. The wedding will be splendid. I’ll decide for you and even give the newlyweds two sets of houses. I also have some connections with real estate, you can pick a few from there, and there will be wedding cars…”
“Wait a moment,” Ji Ran interrupted, wearing an expression of resignation. “It’s not that I want to oppose you, but… I can’t marry any of them.”
Grandma Ji frowned. “What’s wrong with you? Are you not satisfied with any of these women?”
“No,” Ji Ran said, a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. “It’s just… I don’t like women.”
“I like men.”
“I’m gay. How could I possibly marry a woman?”
Grandma Ji was dumbfounded.
For a moment, the living room fell silent, even the assistant couldn’t help but inhale sharply.
After a while, Grandma Ji found her voice again, speaking slowly, “Even if you don’t like my arrangements and don’t want to marry, don’t use such ridiculous reasons to try to deceive me…”
Ji Ran chuckled, “Do you think I would use something like this as an excuse?”
Grandma Ji’s eyes narrowed, lips pressed tight as she looked at him.
She carefully recalled… her grandson had caused quite a bit of trouble since childhood, getting into fights, arguing with teachers, skipping school, but the one taboo he hadn’t crossed was early romance.
At first, she was somewhat reassured— at least this way, he wouldn’t get into any trouble with underage pregnancies.
Seeing her expression darken, Ji Ran chuckled, tossing out one last bombshell, “If you don’t believe me, have him take a look behind the vase at the door.”
The assistant stood frozen in place, looking conflicted, unsure whether to go or not.
After a while, Grandma Ji managed to squeeze out a sentence, “Go and look.”
The assistant hurried over, picked up the vase, and with just one glance, was stunned. They dared not look further, gripping the vase tightly as they returned to stand behind Grandma Ji.
“What is it?” the old lady raised her hand. “Bring it here, let me see.”
The assistant hesitated, “Madam, this… “
“It’s okay,” Ji Ran smiled. “It’s still sealed, perfectly clean.”
Grandma Ji insisted, “Bring it here!”
She took the item from the assistant’s hand and looked at it in her palm. Due to social obligations, she had started learning various languages since she was young. She never expected that one day, this part of her knowledge would be used on… such product packaging.
It was written in Japanese.
Stimulating, lubricating, intensified sensation.
If she hadn’t just taken two pills, she might have fainted by now.
She realized that Ji Ran giving her the pills earlier wasn’t an attempt to reconcile with her.
She was furious and slammed the item onto the coffee table. The small bottle hit the glass, producing a dull thud.
“You…” Grandma Ji began.
Clang.
A sound of something falling in the bedroom.
Ji Ran’s expression changed.
Grandma Ji caught his reaction and became even more enraged. “Is someone in there?!”
Thinking about it, since these items were in the living room, it meant… it meant they were used at home.
“You actually brought someone home?” Grandma Ji felt like no amount of pills could help her now. “Do you realize what could happen if this gets exposed? The Ji family…”
“I told you, I have nothing to do with the Ji family anymore,” Ji Ran interrupted impatiently.
He looked a bit annoyed.
What fell in the bedroom? What was that one-armed hero doing in there…
Grandma Ji looked at his expression and instantly made up her mind.
Not only did Ji Ran bring someone home, but even now, at this very moment, there was a man in the room.
Grandma Ji suddenly stood up, her posture and speed not at all like someone approaching seventy.
Ji Ran quickly followed suit as she stood up. “Are you finally leaving?”
Grandma Ji didn’t say a word. Her face was terrifyingly grim as she marched straight towards the bedroom door.
Ji Ran immediately caught up, but just as he was about to grab Grandma Ji, his hand hesitated in mid-air.
Afraid that he might lose control, he withdrew his hand and positioned himself directly in front of the bedroom door, his back pressed firmly against it. “What exactly do you intend to do?”
“Move aside!” Grandma Ji exclaimed angrily. “I want to see who corrupted you—”
“No one corrupted me.” He frowned.
Grandma Ji took a deep breath and reached out to grab his arm, trying to pull him away. Unable to move him, her nails scratched his skin, leaving a few red marks.
“What can you do even if you see the person?” Ji Ran remained unmoved. He couldn’t feel any pain from her slight grip. He sneered at her, “And even if it’s not him, I would still fall for another man. I’ll never marry a woman in my life. Even if I weren’t gay, I wouldn’t clean up this mess for you…”
Before Ji Ran could finish his sentence, he felt an extra force against the door panel.
Before he could react, he was pushed forward two steps by the force against the door panel.
The bedroom door was pushed open from the inside, revealing several people outside in a standoff. The man inside the room walked out leisurely.
He was dressed casually, with his arm in a cast, his expression unchanged.
Meeting Grandma Ji’s astonished gaze, he even smiled politely and distantly greeted her, “Madam Ji, how are you feeling?”
Grandma Ji’s current shock was no less than when she found out Ji Ran was gay. She had made countless guesses about the person inside the room, but she never expected it to be Qin Man, the ideal son-in-law she had in mind.
Huge shoutout to @_nyanmaru_ on Discord for commissioning this! The chapter will be posted regularly, show your support for Ciacia at Kofi.
