"This is simple!" Qin Xiaoyan snapped her fingers. "Sister Jiang, do you have any relatives still alive?"
Ji Zhi Xiu's brows furrowed slightly, and he thought of a candidate. "Yes."
Qin Xiaoyan continued, "Close relatives, like parents or siblings. If you have any, they can call out the soul while I'm summoning it. This is a minor spell, easily broken."
Close relatives... Ji Zhi Xiu's eyes darkened.
Jiang Mian's mother was long gone, and she had no siblings, only a father with whom she hadn't been in contact for years.
It seemed he still had to find Song Xing Jia.
Seeing Ji Zhi Xiu remain silent for a while, Qin Xiaoyan asked, "Mr. Ji, this needs to be done quickly. We can't delay too long."
"Alright," Ji Zhi Xiu snapped back to attention and agreed. "Thank you for your hard work today, Miss Qin. I'll invite you again once I've made arrangements."
Qin Xiaoyan nodded. "No problem. You have my number anyway. If there are any issues, you can find me again."
Ji Zhi Xiu glanced outside. "Fan Cheng, escort Miss Qin out."
He called out, but there was no response.
Qin Xiaoyan could tell Ji Zhi Xiu didn't want to leave his wife. She said wisely, "It's alright, I can go out by myself."
Ji Zhi Xiu looked at her. "Do you know the way?"
The castle was vast, and Qin Xiaoyan was indeed a little disoriented.
Before she could refuse, Ji Zhi Xiu stood up and said, "Let's go, I'll walk you out."
It was only right that he escort Qin Xiaoyan.
Qin Xiaoyan's eyes curved, and she didn't refuse. "Then I'll trouble you, Mr. Ji!"
Ji Zhi Xiu escorted Qin Xiaoyan to the main gate.
From a distance, Qin Xiaoyan spotted a black car parked outside the castle.
She wasn't sure until she saw the familiar license plate number.
She immediately said, "That's far enough, Mr. Ji! I'll go now, you don't need to see me off!"
Saying that, Qin Xiaoyan started to run.
A light drizzle had begun to fall from the sky.
Ji Zhi Xiu's narrow eyes narrowed as he saw a man emerge from the car.
He wore a black suit, revealing only half of his refined profile, with a hint of coldness.
He held a black umbrella, shielding Qin Xiaoyan.
From his vantage point, Qin Xiaoyan seemed very obedient, a fawning smile on her face.
The man personally opened the car door for Qin Xiaoyan.
Ji Zhi Xiu recognized him as the youngest son of the Lu family, Lu Yun Shen.
Young as he was, he was already a renowned noble young master in Hong Kong.
And Qin Xiaoyan's nominal uncle.
He withdrew his gaze, having no time or inclination to investigate their relationship.
In the Maybach.
Qin Xiaoyan wiped her face with a dry towel. "Did Uncle come specifically to pick me up?"
Lu Yun Shen coughed lightly, his complexion paler than usual.
Hearing her question, he said indifferently, "Sister-in-law was looking for you at home."
Qin Xiaoyan playfully stuck out her tongue. "I came to see a friend."
Lu Yun Shen chuckled at her thinly veiled words. "When we get back, say I brought you out."
Qin Xiaoyan's brow furrowed, and she directly took his hand. "Uncle, did you wait for me for a long time? Your hands are so cold."
Qin Xiaoyan had been afraid of this uncle at first. She felt he had too powerful an aura, even though he always seemed frail.
But those eyes of his always seemed to see through people.
Especially when he looked at her, his deep, swirling irises felt like they could pull her in.
It was only after several encounters that Qin Xiaoyan dared to be bolder. After all, in the Lu family, her uncle and grandmother were the only two who treated her well.
Lu Yun Shen suppressed the flutter in his chest and looked at her innocent eyes. "I'm fine."
Qin Xiaoyan was convinced he was just too shy to admit it. She cupped both of Lu Yun Shen's hands and warmed them in her embrace. "What do you mean you're fine? Your hands are so cold! It's okay, I'll warm them up for Uncle!"
The two were extremely close. Lu Yun Shen could see her fluttering eyelashes and concerned expression by lowering his gaze.
He softened his tone. "Xiao Yan, could you let me know next time you go out, alright?"
Qin Xiaoyan nodded. The air conditioning in the car was on, and she was getting sleepy.
She tilted her head and unconsciously leaned on Lu Yun Shen's shoulder, her voice muffled. "Okay..."
...
Ji Zhi Xiu immediately contacted Song Xing Jia.
Song Xing Jia was surprised when he received his call. "Mr. Ji, has Mian Mian encountered some trouble?"
Ji Zhi Xiu: "I need you to help me contact Song Xing Zhi."
Song Xing Jia's eyes narrowed slightly. He had no doubt that Ji Zhi Xiu could uncover Jiang Mian's background. "Does Mian Mian want to see him?"
"You just need to say that I, Ji Zhi Xiu, want to see him."
Ji Zhi Xiu believed that Song Xing Zhi would not refuse.
Song Xing Jia put down his pen. "I will relay the message for you, but I still want to know if something has happened to Mian Mian? Mr. Ji, I am her relative too."
Ji Zhi Xiu remained noncommittal. Seeing his persistence, he briefly explained the situation.
Song Xing Jia quickly arranged for Song Xing Zhi to meet Ji Zhi Xiu.
They arranged to meet at a tea restaurant.
Song Xing Zhi had no particular feelings for his daughter, Jiang Mian. He had always believed that his separation from Jiang Yu Mei was amicable.
It wasn't his wish for Jiang Yu Mei to have given birth to this child behind his back. He had made his stance clear years ago that he would not accept it.
He hadn't expected that after all this time, he would still be entangled with this child.
In the restaurant, Song Xing Zhi waited for the waiter to leave before speaking. "Xing Jia has already explained everything to me. Helping you is a small matter, but I do have one request, which I hope Mr. Ji can agree to."
He spoke politely, but Ji Zhi Xiu knew he meant that he would absolutely not help unless his request was granted.
He raised his eyelids, not even bothering to spare a glance, and said indifferently, "Alright."
Song Xing Zhi was overjoyed. "Really?"
He hadn't expected Ji Zhi Xiu to be so agreeable, nor did he expect Jiang Mian to hold such importance in Ji Zhi Xiu's heart.
An irrepressible smile appeared on his face. "Mr. Ji, rest assured, it's not an excessive request. I hope my youngest son, Song Yin, can be fostered by you for three years."
Perhaps his request was a bit much, but Song Xing Zhi understood that for Jiang Mian's sake, Ji Zhi Xiu would surely agree.
The Song family was experiencing severe internal strife, with fierce competition among the collateral branches. For Ji Zhi Xiu to approach him at this time was undoubtedly a great help.
Song Yin was simple-minded and utterly unsuited to remain in the Song family. If he were fostered by Ji Zhi Xiu, Song Xing Zhi believed no one would dare to harm him.
Three years was more than enough time.
He and Xing Jia would surely resolve these obstacles within the Song family and then bring Song Yin back.
Ji Zhi Xiu's lips curled into a sarcastic arc.
Before meeting Song Xing Zhi, he had already investigated the current situation of the Song family.
He hadn't expected Song Xing Zhi to plan so far ahead for this son.
A faint pang of heartache welled up in his heart, a heartache for Jiang Mian.
Seeing Ji Zhi Xiu's silence, Song Xing Zhi quickly added, "Mr. Ji, please be assured that I will not interfere with Song Yin's upbringing during these three years."
The air in the private room grew heavy. Ji Zhi Xiu stood up, eager to return to see the young lady.
"I will arrange for someone to pick you up tomorrow."
He delivered the cold statement.
Song Xing Zhi nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, then I'll trouble Mr. Ji!"
He had said this because he had agreed.
His objective achieved, Song Xing Zhi breathed a sigh of relief.
In fact, he had been gambling earlier. Even if Ji Zhi Xiu hadn't agreed, Song Xing Zhi knew this man would have found a hundred ways to force him to agree.
Moreover, even if Ji Zhi Xiu truly refused, Song Xing Zhi would not have stood by and watched Jiang Mian die.
After all, that child was still his blood.
He sat in the private room for a while before coming out.
Song Xing Jia had been waiting outside. Seeing Song Xing Zhi emerge, he frowned. "What did Brother discuss with Mr. Ji? Why wasn't I allowed in?"
Song Xing Zhi gestured for him to be patient. "We'll talk at home."
Upon returning to the Song residence, Song Xing Zhi also called his wife out.
The three of them gathered in the living room. Song Xing Zhi then said, "I have something to announce."
Luo Man Man, unsure of her husband's intentions, said, "Go ahead."
"I have entrusted Xiao Yin to Ji Zhi Xiu! For a period of three years, until the internal chaos of the Song family is completely resolved, I will bring him back."
Luo Man Man had no idea who Ji Zhi Xiu was and immediately stood up from her chair. "What do you mean, husband? Are you sending Xiao Yin away?"
"Of course not," Song Xing Zhi quickly reassured her. "Listen to me. Our home is not safe right now. Think about it, last week Xiao Yin was inexplicably hit on the head during an activity class and was hospitalized for a week. This week he was locked in the library, and luckily the driver found him. Doesn't this all indicate that someone is targeting Xiao Yin? At a time like this, Xiao Yin will only be safe by Ji's side. Besides, it's only three years, we'll bring him back soon."
Luo Man Man understood the logic, but she couldn't bear to part with her son.
She raised her face, tears welling up in her eyes. "Who is this Mr. Ji? Is he reliable?"
Her question indicated that she was softening.
Song Xing Zhi breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Luo Man Man didn't object, this matter would be much easier to handle.
"Reliable, absolutely reliable. This Mr. Ji is a famous..."
Finally, Song Xing Zhi said, "I don't think Mr. Ji will stay in Hong Kong for too long. Don't waste time, while you have the chance, go and spend more time with Xiao Yin!"
Luo Man Man nodded tearfully. "Okay, I understand..."
After finally seeing his wife off, Song Xing Zhi looked at Song Xing Jia, who was sitting beside him.
"Xing Jia, why aren't you speaking?"
Song Xing Jia didn't know what to say. From the moment his elder brother started speaking,
He had figured out the entire situation. Needless to say, his brother must have used his help as leverage to get Ji Zhi Xiu to agree to this.
He looked up, a hint of disappointment in his heart. "Brother, do you only care about Xiao Yin as your son and not your daughter?"
If it weren't for the requirement of direct relatives, Song Xing Jia would have rushed to help Jiang Mian himself.
Song Xing Zhi's expression stiffened, and then he sat down. "Xing Jia, Ji Zhi Xiu asked for my help, and I agreed. Are there any other issues? I've never interacted with her, so how could I have any feelings for her? Her mother insisted on giving birth to her, and didn't even tell me! Then she forced me to marry her. At that time, your sister-in-law and I were already married. How could I divorce and then marry Jiang Mian's mother?"