She had always thought she was the one who was abandoned.
Ji Zhilan lowered her head, her expression unreadable. "Perhaps in the past, I would have blamed you for not taking me with you when you left. As I've grown older, I understand you more. Dad is sorry to you."
Mother Ji smiled, suddenly feeling a bit weary. "You are already grown. If we continue to interfere in your affairs, even if it's for your own good, it will always lead to your annoyance. Ask your brother for his opinion."
When Ji Zhilan called Ji Zhixiu, he initially thought she had come to her senses. After hearing what she had to say, he remained silent for a long time.
Ji Zhilan held her breath. "Brother, are you still there?"
"You want to marry Jiang Cheng, and you don't want a wedding banquet. Fine. Just consider the Ji family to no longer have a pampered daughter like you. I will give you a wedding apartment as part of your dowry," Ji Zhixiu said after some thought.
Ji Zhilan considered this. Even if she were married, she was still a member of the Ji family; that would never change.
She nodded. "Thank you, brother."
Jiang Family.
Jiang Cheng returned in a cheerful mood. Mother Jiang glanced at him. "What? Did something good happen today?"
Jiang Cheng handed her some medicine. "Mom, I just met Ji Zhilan. She's pregnant, with my child."
Mother Jiang's eyes lit up. "Really?"
Although she was annoyed that her son had to serve this rich young lady, ever since she started dating him, her son had never been short of money.
She smiled broadly. "My son is so capable."
Jiang Cheng also smiled. "It's all for you, Mom. As long as you can live a good life, I don't mind enduring some hardship."
"When will she marry into our family?"
Jiang Cheng frowned. "I don't know. The Ji family probably won't agree so easily. It all depends on Ji Zhilan."
As long as she was persistent, it wouldn't be a problem.
Jiang Cheng's biggest regret was not having laid hands on Ji Zhilan earlier, otherwise, they would have been married by now.
He hadn't expected the good news to arrive so quickly. Ji Zhilan asked him to bring their household registration book to get married immediately.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Cheng rushed to the entrance of the Civil Affairs Bureau. When he saw Ji Zhilan, he went to support her, still not showing her pregnancy. With a heartfelt gaze, he said, "Zhilan, thank you for still giving me this chance."
Ji Zhilan lowered her voice. "Did you delete the photos I asked you to delete?"
She hadn't forgotten that she had some nude photos in Jiang Cheng's possession. Although Jiang Cheng had later explained them away as playful intimacy.
Jiang Cheng quickly explained, "Deleted, deleted, all deleted. I didn't even keep the negatives."
Afraid Ji Zhilan wouldn't believe him, he added, "I'll show you at home."
Ji Zhilan breathed a sigh of relief. It was good they were deleted. At the same time, she pouted. "I'm not going to live at your place."
She didn't care for the small two-bedroom apartment in Jiang Cheng's home, where she'd hit her head if she turned around too quickly.
"Then where do you want to go? It's not really appropriate to live with your parents after getting married," Jiang Cheng said cautiously.
"My brother bought me a wedding villa," Ji Zhilan said proudly. "I'll allow you and your mother to move in."
Jiang Cheng suppressed a smirk and agreed. "Thank you, Zhilan, you're so kind."
"Alright. Let's stop talking and go in to get the marriage certificate. You should know that marrying you is a blessing for your family. You'll have to treat me well from now on."
"Don't worry, Your Majesty the Empress, please..."
After receiving the marriage certificate, Ji Zhilan presented it to her parents. "Dad, Mom, I'm getting married today. Thank you for raising me and taking care of me. I will definitely be happy."
Mother Ji's expression was complicated. Now that it had come to this, she managed a forced smile. "As long as you're happy."
Father Ji handed over a bank card with two million yuan. "You're married now, so calm your temper and don't be so willful anymore."
Ji Zhilan obediently nodded. "I understand, Dad."
While Ji Zhilan was packing, Mother Ji secretly slipped her a bank card with five million yuan. "Zhilan, keep this money for yourself. The password is your birthday. Don't tell Jiang Cheng. After the baby is born, diapers and formula will cost money. You can't rely on Jiang Cheng to raise you and your child. Be frugal with your spending."
Ji Zhilan's eyes welled up with tears. She was genuinely reluctant to leave, but she was going to get married sooner or later.
She tucked the card away and leaned into her mother's embrace. "Don't worry, Mom. Even if I'm married, I'm still your daughter. I'll come back to see you often."
Mother Ji gently stroked her back. "As long as you're well, I'll be content."
Ji Zhilan got her wish to keep the child and married Jiang Cheng.
When Jiang Mian heard about it, she nodded as if it were expected and commented, "Xiù, your sister is so different from you."
She said it tactfully, but Ji Zhixiu understood. He affectionately ruffled her hair. "There are nine sons in a dragon, each different, let alone us."
She tilted her head up and blinked. "You're actually quite angry about her decision, and a bit self-blaming, aren't you? You're disappointed that she didn't live up to your expectations?"
Caught off guard that she had seen through him so easily, Ji Zhixiu was momentarily taken aback. "Indeed. But I'm not angry anymore."
He couldn't protect his sister forever.
The Ji family did not have a good Chinese New Year.
But Ji Zhilan was comfortable, having moved into her new house. Mother Jiang was too old to take care of her, and Jiang Cheng had to work. Ji Zhilan hired a maid herself with her own money.
Jiang Cheng took good care of her after work, forbidding her from doing this and that. After staying home for so long, Ji Zhilan felt bored. When she received a call from Shen Tingyu, Ji Zhilan happily accepted the invitation.
Her stomach was only a little over a month along and not yet showing, but Ji Zhilan was very careful. When she met Shen Tingyu, she instinctively placed a hand on her belly, a gesture that made Shen Tingyu curious. "Zhilan, what's wrong?"
Ji Zhilan smiled faintly. "I have good news to tell you. I'm pregnant. We just got our marriage certificate."
Shen Tingyu knew Ji Zhilan had a boyfriend. She was surprised for a moment before saying, "Congratulations, congratulations! Is it the same one as before? No wedding banquet?"
In front of Shen Tingyu, Ji Zhilan didn't feel embarrassed, but she wouldn't say that Jiang Cheng didn't have the money for a wedding banquet. "Yes, the same one as before. I don't want a wedding banquet. I want to save the money for a honeymoon trip around the world."
Shen Tingyu understood. "That's good. I'm so envious of you. You married for love."
"Don't be sad. You and brother will too."
Shen Tingyu seized the opportunity. "Have you ever seen other women around your brother?"
She wanted to know who the woman accompanying Ji Zhixiu was. Chang Qin wouldn't tell her, and Lu Cong seemed to be deliberately avoiding her lately. She could only try to get information from Ji Zhilan.
Ji Zhilan shook her head. "No, I haven't. Brother has always been busy with work. Mom introduced a few women to him, but he rejected them all."
Even Ji Zhilan hadn't seen anyone, Shen Tingyu secretly speculated that this substitute seemed to hold no significant position in Ji Zhixiu's heart.
Shen Tingyu smiled. "Zhilan, you also know how popular your brother is. You..."
Ji Zhilan understood immediately. But she was already married, and besides, even when she was with the Ji family, Ji Zhixiu didn't come home very often.
Ji Zhilan seemed a bit conflicted. "Tingyu, you know I'm married now. I might not always be aware of my brother's situation in a timely manner."
"It's okay, Zhilan, you're still a member of the Ji family even after marriage, aren't you?" she said softly.
...
After the New Year, Director Wang announced the casting call for "Class Three High School." He stated beforehand that the film would not prioritize established stars and would be casting from across the entire network.
Jiang Mian felt she was a good fit, though she didn't say it out loud. However, Ji Zhixiu could tell she was very serious.
Every night before bed, she would read her script for a while.
Tonight was no different. After showering, Ji Zhixiu took the script from her hand and said in a calm tone, "It's getting late. Time to sleep."
Jiang Mian tilted her head, her voice tinged with worry. "Xiù, what if I don't get the role?"
Before Ji Zhixiu could answer, she muttered to herself, "Never mind. Casting hasn't even started yet. I can't give up so easily."
Ji Zhixiu pulled her closer, his hand sliding under her nightgown, his voice husky. "Let me teach you a way to relieve your stress."
"Mmm... Xiù..."
Jiang Mian met Shen Tingyu again on the tenth day of the Lunar New Year.
She was going back to school to pick up some things. When she came out, she saw Shen Tingyu.
She thought for a second. Given their two unpleasant previous encounters, she didn't seem to have anything to say to her.
Anyway, Ji Zhixiu wasn't here, so there was no need to save face for his white moonlight.
She walked past Shen Tingyu calmly, pretending not to see her, but was then called out to. "Let's talk."
Jiang Mian shook her head. "I refuse."
She didn't want to talk to her love rival!
Shen Tingyu seemed taken aback for a moment, then sneered, "You sure know how to put on airs. If you don't want to talk, say it here. We've met twice, and I still don't know your name? That's right, how would someone like you, a substitute, have a name? If you do, it's probably someone else's, isn't it?"
Jiang Mian truly couldn't understand why Miss Shen was acting so crazed. She looked so delicate and beautiful.
It was really cold outside. She stomped her foot and blew warm air into her palm. "My name is Jiang Mian, Jiang as in Jiangnan, Mian as in sleep."
She then continued, "I'm not a substitute."
Even if she were, she wouldn't admit it in front of the real person, would she? This was her last bit of defiance.
Shen Tingyu had seen her by chance while passing by and had the driver stop the car in a hurry.
She wanted to ask Jiang Mian personally.
But it seemed Jiang Mian was not affected by being a substitute. She thought that Jiang Mian, knowing the truth, would feel her self-esteem damaged and unable to cope with the blow, thus leaving Ji Zhixiu's side.
Shen Tingyu frowned, realizing for the first time the seriousness of the situation.
That is, this beautiful young woman in front of her was not easy to deal with.
Since they couldn't come to an understanding, Shen Tingyu looked up at the name of the university and sneered contemptuously. "I've seen too many college students like you who sell themselves for money. One day, I will expose your true colors to Zhixiu."
Jiang Mian nodded. "Oh, then I'll wait for you."
She truly couldn't see what it was about Shen Tingyu that Ji Zhixiu liked. Jiang Mian's mood was complicated.
With that, she hailed a taxi and left.
Shen Tingyu watched her retreating figure, furious. If she had known that one day her status beside Ji Zhixiu would be replaced by Jiang Mian, she would never have gone abroad!
Jiang Mian returned home feeling dejected. Why was everyone reminding her that she was a substitute? It was truly disheartening.