GBP Chapter 191 The Invisible Blade
Chapter 191 The Invisible Blade
"What's going on with the company? Don't you want to work here anymore? Are you feeling annoyed?" Old Master Ji asked calmly.
"I want to finish my studies first and improve my skills." This was the explanation Ji Xing had prepared beforehand, and it was reasonable.
The old man nodded, his gaze suddenly sharpening: "Your mother said that you and Jiang Lin?"
Without hesitation, Ji Xingyi answered earnestly, "I like Jiang Lin."
Grandpa Ji looked surprised: "You actually dared to say that? Aren't you afraid?"
Grandpa Ji suddenly realized that his familiar son was somewhat different. Before, there was a hint of awe in his eyes when he looked at him, but now his eyes were clear and without any impurities.
There was no tension, no fear, no worry.
Ji Xingyi: "I don't want to lie to you."
Although the relationship between the two was very abnormal, apart from not acknowledging that Ji Xingyi was his son, Old Master Ji never mistreated Ji Xingyi.
When Ji Wanzhi's first attempt failed, it was discovered by Old Master Ji. Later, Old Master Ji warned Ji Wanzhi that if Ji Xingyi did not come of age safely, Ji Wanzhi would not receive a single penny of the Ji family's property, which dissuaded Ji Wanzhi from trying a second time.
“If you stay with him, you will not only lose your inheritance rights, but I will also cut off your funding. You have always had the best of everything since you were a child. Can you endure a life of hardship, sleeping in the open and eating in the wind?” Old Master Ji laid out the facts for you, word by word.
“You’re mistaken. The property is registered in my name. Even if you cut off the funding and take back the company, I won’t take Jiang Lin to live a life of hardship. Besides, I have ten million in cash on hand, enough for Jiang Lin and me to finish university,” Ji Xingyi replied in the same calm tone.
This amount of money is a drop in the ocean compared to the massive Ji family, but at the bottom of the pyramid, it's more than an average family could earn in a lifetime. So no matter what, he and Jiang Lin would never end up living a life of hardship.
What the rich suffer is considered a good life by ordinary people.
Old Master Ji's face gradually darkened: "What if I ask you to break up with him? As a father?"
Ji Xingyi was slightly surprised, but still answered very decisively: "He is my life."
Grandpa Ji hadn't expected Ji Xingyi's feelings for Jiang Lin to have reached this point, so he asked, "Back then, you held a DNA report to your throat and forced me to tell you about your mother. If I don't allow you two to be together now, would you still do the same?"
“I’m not the same person I was back then,” Ji Xingyi shook his head.
As a young person, all I had was the courage to face the truth and one life; nothing else.
"Now I have the ability to choose, and the determination to cut off everything."
For some reason, Ji Xingyi kept thinking of Jiang Lin at this moment, and a smile involuntarily appeared on her lips: "He has the future I want."
Grandpa Ji remained silent. He knew how stubborn his son was; he was truly willing to risk his life. He remained silent for a very long time, until the second pot of tea was brewed, before finally sighing, "You should leave. I will send someone to take over the company. Focus on your studies."
Ji Xingyi breathed a sigh of relief; this outcome was far better than he had anticipated. He and Ji Wanzhi were destined to be irreconcilable, so if possible, he didn't want things to escalate too much with his father.
As she walked the dozen or so steps toward the door, Ji Xingyi was lost in thought, filled with many emotions. But just as she was about to step out of the room, she suddenly felt that something was amiss. Was this conversation too simple?
He is the only son of the Ji family in this generation. How could the powerful head of the Ji family, who is a force to be reckoned with in the business world, so easily accept that his son is gay?
Ji Xingyi turned around and tentatively asked, "Have you... met Jiang Lin before?"
Grandpa Ji paused, the teacup he was holding to his lips catching in his throat, and a little tea was accidentally spilled.
Ji Xingyi noticed this detail and his expression changed slightly: "You've met him!"
Grandpa Ji put down his teacup and looked at Ji Xingyi: "Since you've made up your mind about him, then I'll tell you."
Seven years ago, the Ji family faced a crisis. Its traditional industries were declining, and several key missteps led to a broken cash flow, forcing them to sell off core assets. At this critical moment, Jiang Lin appeared, representing New World.
"He said he could not only help the Ji family overcome their difficulties, but also elevate them to a higher level. I agreed, and his condition was..." Old Master Ji looked at Ji Xingyi and remained silent.
Ji Xingyi had only guessed that Jiang Lin would have the 17th pair of Grandpa Ji use hypnosis or something similar, never expecting that the two had made a deal in private. Her shoulders trembled almost imperceptibly, and her voice was hoarse: "You sold me to him?"
Old Master Ji: "If the Ji family goes bankrupt, hundreds of thousands of people will lose their jobs, including you all..."
"Stop talking." Ji Xingyi suddenly had no strength left. She didn't want to hear another word, and she didn't want to stay in this place any longer.
"Xingyi, if there's nothing urgent, why don't you have lunch before you leave?" Old Master Ji didn't regret his decision, nor did he regret telling Ji Xingyi about these things. He wanted his son to know what kind of person he truly loved.
"Heh, you sold me to Jiang Lin, and now I'm going to celebrate my master's birthday. Is that a big deal?" Ji Xingyi smirked. How ironic. He thought he still had a little bit of fatherly love, but it turns out everything had already been priced.
As Ji Xingyi descended the stairs with icy hands and feet, she heard a heated argument in the lobby. Ignoring it, she walked towards the door.
"Brother! Where are you going?" Lin Ruian rushed up to stop him, but Ji Xingyi gave him a cold glance, and Lin Ruian let go in fear.
Lu Xingtong quickly spoke up for him, "Brother Ji, it's already eleven o'clock. Why don't you stay for dinner? You can leave after you finish eating."
“Yes, brother! Let’s have dinner together!” Lin Rui’an nodded repeatedly.
Seeing that Ji Xingyi completely ignored Lin Rui'an and Lu Xingtong, Ji Wanzhi said sarcastically, "Xingtong, there's no need to call him for dinner. I think he's dirty!"
"Mom!" Lin Rui'an was so anxious he almost jumped up and down.
"What did I say wrong? I feel disgusted eating with people like them! Why do they like men instead of women?" Ji Wanzhi looked utterly disgusted. "If you ask me, we shouldn't have bothered with him in the first place. If he had committed suicide, he wouldn't be making a fool of himself like this now!"
"Mom! Why are you saying such things to my brother! You're not usually like this!"
Ji Wanzhi went too far, so far that Lin Rui'an couldn't understand his mother's behavior.
"Mom, I just don't understand, can't you just talk to my brother properly? It's always like this! Why do you have to say such awful things!"
Ji Xingyi, who was about to step out of the room, stopped. Her fingertips trembled as she turned to look at Ji Wanzhi, her eyes filled with shock and sorrow: "You did this on purpose?"
Prior to this, Ji Xingyi had always attributed Ji Wanzhi's harsh words to his own background.
Upon hearing Lin Rui'an's words, Ji Xingyi suddenly understood why the dignified and generous lady of the wealthy family was kind and polite to everyone else, but only to her eldest son, who suffered from severe depression and anxiety, uttered such vile and abusive words.
All of this woman's vicious words were not only expressions of deep-seated disgust, but also invisible blades aimed at taking lives.
Ji Xingyi walked step by step toward Ji Wanzhi, questioning her mother again and again: "Back then, you knew I was sick, so you kept provoking me?"
"You want to drive me to a breakdown and commit suicide? Are you doing this on purpose?"
"You still want me dead?"