Chapter 371

Chapter 371

◎The Knotted Matrimonial Thread◎

The birthday banquet wasn’t a business cocktail party. After cutting the cake and receiving blessings, it wrapped up by 10 p.m. Ji Nanxing stood with his parents, brother, and sister at the entrance to bid farewell to the guests. Many of his parents’ close friends kept praising him, and even as they reached the door, they couldn’t stop complimenting Ji Xianhong’s accomplished children.

While many heirs of wealthy families were merely gilded, few were genuine top scorers in the national college entrance exams. This kind of achievement was entirely different from those rich kids who graduated from prestigious foreign universities. Everyone was clearly envious of the Ji family, and as they left, guests even grasped Ji Xianhong’s hand and sighed, “If my useless son were half as smart and obedient as yours, I could rest easy even with my eyes closed.”

Ji Xianhong was swelling with pride—his children’s success brought him more joy than closing a billion-dollar deal. Still, he remained modest: “Don’t say that. Every child has their own strengths. My youngest is just a bit sharper in academics. If you put him in business, he might not even compare to your son.”

Ji Yanting didn’t like hearing this and muttered behind her eldest brother, “Who wants to be compared to that playboy of theirs? Xiao Bao is only eighteen, and he’s already earned nearly ten million. Dad really knows how to lay it on thick with the modesty.”

Eldest Ji tapped his sister’s head. “Don’t talk nonsense.”

Ji Nanxing smiled and tugged his sister’s hand. A little modesty was necessary—too much pride would only invite resentment.

Once all the guests had finally left, Ji Nanxing returned to the banquet hall and asked staff to pack up several portions of the hardly eaten cake. He also asked Chen Shiyi and the others what they’d like to take home, letting them choose their favorites.

Chen Shiyi’s eyes lit up. “Can we take the lobster too?”

Ji Nanxing called a waiter and had them pack several untouched servings of lobster, seafood, and some delicious pastries. “I doubt you ate much earlier. Take these back for a midnight snack.”

Jiang Tangtang nodded eagerly. There were so many dishes she’d wanted to try, but dressed in a princess gown and in such a formal setting, even a social butterfly like her had felt too shy to indulge. She really hadn’t eaten her fill.

Watching Ji Nanxing arrange the food for them, she couldn’t help but laugh. “After knowing you, I’m not even sure what a real rich second-generation heir is supposed to be like anymore.”

Ji Nanxing looked puzzled. Xiao Xiao also smiled and nodded. “It’s not like what we see in TV dramas.”

She didn’t know about other wealthy heirs, but in her mind, none of them would pack up leftovers after a banquet. Just the gifts Ji Nanxing had received today—sports cars, luxury watches, crates of jewelry—were worth who knows how many millions combined. Yet this rich kid was still concerned about whether they’d eaten enough and had food packed for them.

Ji Nanxing chuckled. “It’s all untouched food. It’d be a waste not to take it.”

He didn’t know about others, but his family never wasted anything. Saving food wasn’t something to be ashamed of—he’d seen enough starving ghosts to know better.

Xiao Ye rushed in, undoing his suit buttons. “Naonao, where are you heading tonight?”

Ji Nanxing: “Home. Didn’t you leave earlier with your brother?”

Xiao Ye: “I walked them out. You’ve been busy socializing and barely ate. Want to get something to eat before I take you home?”

Ji Nanxing shook his head. “No, I’m full from all the drinks.”

Between all the toasts with low-alcohol champagne, there wasn’t much room left in his stomach for food.

Xiao Ye: “Alright, then I’ll make sure everyone gets home safe.”

Zhang Yuan teased, “You’re really claiming that boyfriend role now, huh?”

Xiao Ye gave him a light kick.

Only after everyone had left did Ji Nanxing finally relax. Thank God you only turn eighteen once—if he had to go through this every year, he’d rather skip birthdays altogether.

He left the gifts from other guests for the steward to handle, but the presents from close friends he took with him in the car.

Ji Yanting rode with him, curious about what his friends had given. She had no interest in the other gifts—those were just expensive purchases, nothing special. But gifts from close friends were different—they were thoughtful gifts.

Ji Nanxing started with the smallest box. The first one was from Zhang Yuan—inside was a hand-sized sword made of cinnabar, a decoration. It was beautifully crafted and well-sealed, suitable for hanging on a wooden stand or as a bag charm.

Chen Shiyi gave two crochet dolls, one of him and the other of Xiao Ye, holding hands together, looking adorable.

Ji Yanting took the dolls: "So cute, are these custom-made?"

Ji Nanxing smiled: "No, he made them himself."

Ji Yanting: "Wow, that's thoughtful. What about the other one? What's in that big box?"

Ji Nanxing opened the last box, which turned out to be filled with badges—or in fan community slang, "'bajis.'" All the badges featured him: in school uniforms, casual wear, traveling, full-body shots, and close-ups—each crafted with exquisite detail.

Ji Yanting exclaimed again: "Xiao Bao (nickname meaning 'Little Treasure'), your friend is amazing! These even have silver chains—so pretty! You could totally wear them as brooches. Have the steward find something to display them all when we get back."

Ji Nanxing: "Wouldn’t hanging them all up be a bit narcissistic?"

These weren't anime characters but real-life images of him—from youthful innocence to maturity. They included moments from high school through their recent trip together, almost tracing his entire high school growth journey.

Ji Yanting poked his cheek: "This is your friends’ heartfelt gift. Hang them up, all of them!"

Ji Nanxing carefully stored his friends’ gifts, then turned to his sister: "Today I noticed Sister Lingling shows signs their relationship is cracking. Something might go wrong between her and that Deng guy."

Ji Yanting frowned: "Can you tell who’s at fault? Is Lingling changing her mind or is that Deng guy cheating?"

They were already engaged. She’d gone from disliking him to slowly accepting him as Lingling’s lifelong partner, and now this? Did they think Ji Yanting was a pushover? No one messes with her friends.

Ji Nanxing: "Hard to say without seeing Deng Zhiyan, but Sister Lingling doesn’t seem to be the issue."

Ji Yanting: "If Lingling isn’t the problem, then it’s that Deng guy!"

Ji Nanxing: "Don’t act rashly. Let’s investigate first."

Ji Yanting placed a call immediately. She was going to dig into Deng Zhiyan. If he dared cheat, she’d make sure Xiang Ling cut ties with him—even if she had to play the villain. No way was her best friend keeping a trashy man!

Xiang Ling had just arrived home when her fiancé Deng Zhiyan followed. As soon as he entered, he pulled her into a hug: "Sorry for leaving you alone today. With your best friend’s temper, I’m sure she gave me an earful."

Xiang Ling smiled but didn’t deny it: "Did you finish handling your business?"

Deng Zhiyan’s eyes briefly wavered before he nodded lightly: "It’s fine now. You must be tired. Let me draw you a bath."

Xiang Ling didn’t press about his work. She rarely did. If he wanted to share, she’d listen; if not, she wouldn’t pry: "I’ll handle it. You just got back—change and rest. Are you hungry? Want something to eat?"

Deng Zhiyan ruffled her hair: "You go bathe. I’ll whip up something light, and we’ll eat together when you’re done."

Xiang Ling agreed. As she headed upstairs, Deng Zhiyan pulled her back for a kiss. Only after she disappeared upstairs did he sigh heavily, pulling out his phone to browse travel recommendations his assistant had compiled earlier. But as he scrolled, his expression showed his inner conflict.

He knew he should drop everything and take Xiang Ling on a trip to rekindle their past happiness, yet he felt inexplicable resistance.

Deng Zhiyan ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident. Was this typical male fickleness—finally winning the one they loved, only to grow restless so soon?

He couldn’t reconcile with this version of himself, yet his feelings insisted: he’d changed.

Before he could untangle his thoughts, Ji Yanting stormed into his office in a dress and heels, dragging Ji Nanxing along.

Deng Zhiyan instinctively tensed at Ji Yanting’s arrival but quickly steadied himself. He’d never betrayed Xiang Ling or gotten too close to other women. His turmoil was internal, never voiced.

Lacking the resources for a whole office building, Deng Zhiyan’s company only occupied a few floors. Ji Yanting ignored the surroundings, marching straight to his office.

Deng Zhiyan ordered tea, smiling at Ji Yanting and Ji Nanxing: "Sorry for missing your graduation party yesterday, Nanxing. Something came up suddenly."

Ji Nanxing smiled at him, his eyes gleaming with insight. Seeing the matrimonial thread entangled around Deng Zhiyan’s body twisted into chaos, he found it quite strange.

Ji Yanting stayed silent, glancing at her brother to see if he had noticed anything unusual.

Puzzled by the siblings' quietness, Deng Zhiyan asked, "Did you come here for something? You're not here to scold me for not accompanying Xiang Ling yesterday, are you?"

Ji Yanting snapped back, "Maybe I am! On such an occasion, you let Xiang Ling go alone. Everyone knows she's engaged and has a fiancé. Didn't you consider how it would look for her to attend alone, especially with the Xiang family there? How could you bear to make her face them by herself?"

Deng Zhiyan lowered his gaze. He knew he shouldn’t have done it, but at that moment, it felt like an uncontrollable urge—he couldn’t help himself.

Ji Nanxing asked, "What exactly happened yesterday?"

Deng Zhiyan replied, "A friend of mine was in a car accident."

Ji Yanting scoffed, "You told Xiang Ling it was someone from your company."

Deng Zhiyan explained, "It was someone from my company—introduced through my mother’s connections. They’re also a friend, so I couldn’t just ignore it."

Ji Yanting shot back, "Couldn’t ignore it? Are you a cop or a doctor? Don’t they have their own people to handle this? Was it a man or a woman? It was a woman, wasn’t it? Deng Zhiyan, when you were courting Xiang Ling, you made all those sweet promises—saying you’d cherish her forever, treat her like a princess. And now, not long after, you left her to attend a banquet alone and face the Xiang family on her own. Do you think Xiang Ling is easy to bully, or that I am? Honestly, you shouldn’t even run this company anymore. Too many employees, too many distractions. Just focus entirely on taking care of Xiang Ling."

After her outburst, Ji Yanting turned to Ji Nanxing and said, "When we get back, tell our eldest brother—I want this company. Tell him to buy it for me."

Deng Zhiyan stood up abruptly. "Miss Ji!"

Ji Nanxing gently calmed his sister. "Something isn’t right here."

Both Deng Zhiyan and Ji Yanting looked at Ji Nanxing, with Ji Yanting frowning. "What do you mean, not right? When a man strays, it’s due to his own weakness. Unless someone forced him into it, what else could it be?"

Ji Nanxing explained, "The matrimonial thread on him is tangled—it looks like someone tampered with it."

Confused, Deng Zhiyan asked, "What matrimonial thread? What are you talking about?"

Deng Zhiyan knew Ji Nanxing understood mystical arts—it was Ji Nanxing who had previously intervened to save Xiang Ling from being framed. Lately, he had been tormented not only emotionally but also by guilt. He refused to believe he had become the kind of man who would betray someone he loved, yet he couldn’t stop thinking about another woman.

Now, Ji Nanxing’s words felt like a lifeline. "Did someone cast a spell on me? I knew it—I never stopped loving Xiang Ling!"

He still loved Xiang Ling deeply. Seeing her still filled him with joy and longing. Kissing and touching her still stirred intense desire within him—his feelings for her hadn’t faded at all.

Yet, there was another woman stuck in his mind.

If this was the result of someone’s deliberate interference, then everything suddenly made sense.