Ji Zhixiu saw his mother coming to find him and thought something had happened at home.
After all, his mother rarely visited his company.
"Mom, is something wrong at home?"
Fan Cheng served tea to Ji's mother and left the office.
Ji's mother sat on the sofa, "It's nothing, I just came from your place."
Ji Zhixiu's fingers moved, and he naturally picked up the teacup and asked, "Why did you suddenly think of going to my place?"
"I wanted to see you. Since you rarely come back to the old house, your mother had to come to you," Ji's mother said.
Ji Zhixiu nodded slightly, "You know I'm busy. I'll visit more often when I have time."
It seemed his mother hadn't run into Mianmian. He thought to himself, relieved. With his mother's personality, she wouldn't be this calm if she knew he was keeping a mistress.
"I came to talk to you about something," she said, as if she had made up her mind.
"What is it?"
"Mom won't interfere with your choice of partner anymore." Ji's mother seemed to have suddenly come to her senses.
She had truly come to her senses. Fate couldn't be forced.
Her daughter's marriage had already been so messy; she didn't want her son's marriage to cause further discord in the family. Mutual love and understanding were more important than anything else.
Ji Zhixiu guessed that she had a change of heart because of Ji Zhilan. Ironically, this had made his mother more open-minded, which was a good thing.
Ji Zhixiu smiled sincerely, walked around his desk, and hugged his mother, "Thank you, Mom."
How many years had it been since he saw his son smile so purely and wholeheartedly? Ji's mother felt a pang of sadness.
"Xiu'er, Mom loves you," she whispered.
"I know, Mom."
If his mother didn't love him, she would have divorced Ji's father long ago when she discovered his affair, instead of considering the family's reputation. She had to protect his position as heir while dealing with the mistress and struggling with the Ji family.
"Mom, you don't have to be so tired. If you still want to divorce Dad, I support you," Ji Zhixiu said. With his power, he had the final say.
She was gratified that her son wasn't urging her to let go of her past grievances and live well with Ji's father. Ji's mother smiled through her tears, "I'm already old, divorcing would be so undignified, so embarrassing."
Since his mother was unwilling, Ji Zhixiu didn't push it. "As your son, I want you to be happier. If you divorce, I'll take care of you and support you for the rest of your life. But if you don't want to, that's fine. You should travel more and relax. Isn't playing mahjong with your friends fun?"
Ji's mother looked up, her eyes moist and bright, "Yes, you're right, I am old. I will take good care of myself. I raised you and Zhilan, so my mission is complete."
Fan Cheng knocked on the door, "Mr. Ji, there's a document that needs your signature."
Ji's mother wiped her eyes, "Okay, I won't talk anymore. I'm leaving, I won't disturb you."
Ji Zhixiu nodded, "Fan Cheng, escort Madam out."
The door closed, and Ji Zhixiu called Jiang Mian.
"Mianmian."
Jiang Mian knew what he was going to say and spoke before he could ask, "Don't worry, I didn't run into your mother. We agreed on a secret marriage, so even if I met her someday, I wouldn't admit it."
Ji Zhixiu's brow furrowed, and a nameless anger suddenly rose in his heart.
He called her by her full name, "Jiang Mian."
Jiang Mian rubbed her ear, "Does President Ji have any other instructions?"
"Are you angry?"
Jiang Mian: "No."
Heaven knows, what was there for her to be angry about?
She was self-aware enough for that.
Besides, she wasn't sure how to interact with a mother-in-law.
If she wasn't angry, it meant she didn't care at all. Ji Zhixiu's expression turned grim.
The next second, Jiang Mian looked at the phone that had been hung up, "Such a spoiled young master's temper."
She let out a sigh and browsed Weibo.
Since Jiang Mian decided to return to the entertainment industry, she hadn't livestreamed.
As she was watching, Sister Ning sent her a text message, saying she had hired a few assistants for her and that she should go to the company to pick one.
Jiang Mian got up.
The company Jiang Mian belonged to was an obscure small entertainment company.
The company's boss was a second-generation rich heir who had started it for fun. He never expected it to last this long, having invested a lot of manpower and financial resources.
The scout who discovered Jiang Mian was from this company, but they had already retired from the industry.
Jiang Mian hadn't been to the company in a long time.
She guessed that Ji Zhixiu must have contacted the company, otherwise, why would the company tolerate her silence for three years without terminating her contract?
When she arrived at the company, three young girls were waiting for her in the reception room.
Seeing her arrive, Sister Ning stood up, "I can't personally attend to everything when you return, I still have a few other artists under me. I applied to my superiors to assign a junior assistant to you first."
"These have all passed the initial screening. You can pick your favorite one for the final review."
Jiang Mian nodded, "Thank you, Sister Ning, I'll take a look."
The three girls standing in front of her were all young and lively. The one in the middle had a round, likable face. Seeing Jiang Mian, she wasn't timid and said crisply, "Hello, Sister Mian."
Jiang Mian smiled, "Hello. What are your majors?"
"Film and Television."
"Music."
"Pig Postpartum Care."
The other two applicants couldn't help but chuckle with a hint of mockery. The girl in the middle was straightforward and unashamed.
Jiang Mian nodded inwardly, "I've finished the interviews. I'll notify you by tomorrow at the latest."
After everyone left, Sister Ning asked her, "Did you like anyone?"
Jiang Mian asked her, "What's the name of the one in the middle?"
Sister Ning: "Li Laidi."
That name... Jiang Mian frowned. Her family background was obvious.
She nodded, "I'll take her."
Sister Ning was surprised, "Why her?"
Jiang Mian smiled, "Although there are no major restrictions, her major is too far removed from this line of work. Even so, she passed the initial screening. Doesn't that mean you're quite optimistic about her, Sister Ning?"
Sister Ning sighed, "Yes, that's true. This little girl is very persistent."
"She generously stated her major just now and wasn't angry even when mocked. It's not that she doesn't care, but she's trying hard to suppress it. I saw her hands clenched tightly at her sides, and her clothes were slightly worn and ill-fitting, looking like they were borrowed. Combined with her name, it indicates a difficult family background. Since she wants to escape so badly, why shouldn't I help her?"
"You're so kind."
Jiang Mian still smiled, "Doing good deeds every day."
Sister Ning shrugged, "The most important thing is that you like her. Fine, it'll be her then."
Li Laidi received the message just as she reached the alley.
This area was the slums of the capital, filled with all sorts of people. The garbage can at the alley entrance emanated a foul odor, and the cold wind on her face was bone-chilling.
But Li Laidi didn't care. Looking at the message in her hand, she slowly smiled, eager to share it with her family.
As soon as she reached the door, she heard familiar curses, "You unlucky woman, if it weren't for you, how could I still not have a son? You slut! Always working outside, how could you not have money? Did you cheat on someone? Tell me!"
As he spoke, there was the sound of a belt whipping. Li Laidi's scalp tightened, and she quickly ran in to stop him.
The door curtain was lifted, revealing a sliver of sunlight. Li's mother squinted and saw her daughter blocking her.
Li Laidi looked at the whip marks all over her mother's body. She gasped. In this cold weather, with no heating here, Li's mother was only wearing a thin sweater.
Li Laidi's heart ached. Her eyes reddened as she looked at the man who stood above them, whom she didn't even want to call her father.
"You've been drinking again?"
Li's father sneered, "The money-loser is back. What, found a job? How much money do you make? Enough to support your old man?"
Li Laidi's body trembled uncontrollably, but she knew she couldn't show weakness in front of this man.
She gritted her teeth and said, "If you kill my mother, I won't give you another cent."
She took out the two hundred yuan she had received as a refund from her company registration and threw it on the ground, "Take this to buy wine. Don't bother my mother again."
Li's father's eyes lit up. He dropped the belt, picked up the banknote, and kissed it. "You should have said you had money earlier, you brat. You made your mother take a beating for nothing."
He revealed his yellow teeth, "I'm leaving. You two women can eat whatever you want for dinner."
Li Laidi struggled to help her mother onto the bed. At this moment, tears finally flowed, "Mom, let me take you to the hospital."
Li's mother gently stroked her hair, "You gave him all the money, where will we get money? Get the first-aid kit, and some medicine will do."
Li Laidi choked and nodded, "Okay, Mom, wait for me."
She got up and searched the room, which was less than ten square meters. The house was in disarray from Li's father's ransacking.
Finally, she pulled out the first-aid kit, "Found it, Mom."
After applying the medicine, she hugged her mother, "Mom, I will definitely take you away."
Li's mother smiled, her eyes filled with deep affection for her, "Did you find a job?"
Li Laidi nodded seriously, "I found one, Mom. I'm going to be a celebrity assistant. Do you know how much money celebrity assistants make? Mom, just wait a bit longer. When I earn money, I'll definitely take you away from him."
Li's mother listened quietly. After she finished speaking, she said, "Xiaobao, don't argue with your father. You can't go against him yet. If you leave later, don't worry about me. Go, go as far as you can. Don't worry, he wouldn't dare do anything to me."
Seeing her like this, how could Li Laidi believe such words? "Mom, he beats you like this even when I'm not here. I hate him. Why isn't he dead yet? Only when he dies can we have a good life."
"Cough... cough... Xiaobao. Don't say that. No matter what, he's still your father. Evil people will eventually get their comeuppance. Don't be impulsive."
Li Laidi patted her mother's back gently, "Mom, don't worry, I won't be impulsive. I won't sacrifice myself for the sake of his worthless life."
Li's mother nodded, "Xiaobao, you are Mom's treasure, not the 'money-loser' your father calls you. Don't listen to your father's nonsense. Mom wants you to be happy."
Li Laidi nestled in her embrace, "Mom, you have to promise me, don't have any more children with this man."
Li's mother's expression was complicated, "No."
There would never be another chance.