Chapter 137

Chapter 137

Ji Mian leaned back lazily in his chair, barely mustering the energy. Noticing Zhou Ji smirking across from him, he asked, "In a good mood today?"

Zhou Ji was taken aback, then laughed, "Is it really that obvious?"

Ji Mian nodded.

Xue Zongguang beside Zhou Ji also nodded, "I could tell as soon as you walked in, your eyebrows were practically raised to the sky."

"It's not that exaggerated," Zhou Ji shook his head, "It's just that Mingsheng is looking to expand into Ningcheng and wants to collaborate with the Zhou family."

"Mingsheng?" Xue Zongguang was somewhat surprised.

Mingsheng was a software company that had risen to prominence in the industry within just five or six years, making waves.

"Yes, I thought they would approach Pei Qing first."

After all, Yun Chi still outshines the Zhou family in both capability and reputation.

"By the way, the news about Pei Qing's engagement..." Zhou Ji cautiously brought up, "Ji Fan, you’ve heard, haven’t you?"

Ji Mian pursed his lips, sat up, clutching his wine glass, and remained silent.

Last month, Pei Qing and Yu Yunkui announced their engagement, with the wedding set for the second half of the year at the latest. Having known each other for over a decade, they finally took this step.

"Affection Points +20, contributed by Zhou Ji."

"Affection Points +15, contributed by Xue Zongguang."

His silence made the two across from him assume he was upset. How could he not feel heartbroken after years of affection, hearing the other is getting married?

Zhou Ji comforted, "It’s been years; it’s time to move on."

In earlier years, he too thought Ji Mian's lingering feelings for Pei Qing were because of nostalgia. But how long has it been now?

Moreover, when Pei Qing was handling the Pei family affairs, he didn’t hold back against the Ji family either... almost bankrupting them, yet Ji Mian never badmouthed him.

Now at twenty-nine, Ji Mian still has no one by his side. The only person he ever had a relationship with was a stand-in from years ago.

"Affection Points +30, contributed by Zhou Ji."

Zhou Ji's gaze fell, noticing something, and he chuckled, "Why are you still wearing this after all these years? It’s rare to see you so attached to a watch."

From Ji Mian's sleeve, a blue watch peeked out.

"Didn’t you sell off your entire watch collection?" Xue Zongguang was also quite surprised, "This one you actually kept..."

"It’s not worth much, so I kept it to wear."

"Master Ji’s stuff, and there’s a cheap one?" Zhou Ji shook his head with a smile, "Isn’t the company doing well? Haven’t you thought about getting a new one?"

"Maybe later." Without a proper house, how could he even think about buying a watch?

Ji Mian currently resides in a modest duplex under three hundred square meters, bought near the company.

It's sufficient for him alone, but there are also the servants and Li Song, whom Ji Hai dismissed. Especially Li Song, who has mentioned many times wanting to return.

Once he’s more financially stable, he plans to see if he can reclaim the property Ji Hai sold. Compared to new houses and new residences, Ji Mian is more nostalgic.

Zhou Ji didn’t press further.

The watches Ji Mian sold were once his prized possessions, many of them rare antiques. These days, the best watches are just new models, many with odd designs that don’t appeal to him.

Since the Ji Family’s troubles began, the three rarely met up. Today, they all returned quite late. Xue Zongguang was heading the same way as Ji Mian, so he offered him a ride.

They parted ways, each heading home. Zhou Ji glanced back at their retreating figures, feeling a warmth in his chest.

It’s a blessing to have two or three close friends in life.

He withdrew his gaze.

A few weeks later, Mingsheng came to Ningcheng to discuss cooperation matters. Zhou Ji arrived early at the meeting room to wait for the Mingsheng team, demonstrating his sincerity.

Footsteps echoed from a distance, about eight or nine people, some from the company who went to greet them, and the rest from Mingsheng.

The meeting room door opened, and someone stepped in first. "President Yu..."

The words "President Yu" were the first to be heard.

Zhou Ji was puzzled, unaware that a President Yu was expected today. He figured if the other party couldn’t attend, it’d be rude to switch without notice, so it must be someone of a higher management level.

He stood up to welcome them.

As he forced a smile, he looked up and met a pair of intense, dark eyes, his lips freezing.

"You..."

He tried to speak, but no words came.

The man across from him extended his hand first, his voice deeper than Zhou Ji remembered: "President Zhou."

Zhou Ji came back to his senses, his lips slightly pale. Used to high-pressure situations, he steadied himself and shook the man’s hand.

Once seated, introductions were made on both sides. Zhou Ji heard one of the introductions: "The founder of Mingsheng, Yu Chuang, President Yu."

For the first ten minutes, Zhou Ji seemed distracted, but fortunately, it wasn’t his main stage.

The discussion wrapped up two hours later, going smoothly. But the Zhou team was sweating bullets.

Every time President Yu spoke, the room seemed to freeze. He wasn’t intimidating, but his presence was so commanding it made everyone uneasy.

Zhou Ji escorted the Mingsheng team out, but one person lingered.

"President Yu?"

Yu Chuang simply said, "I’ll catch up with President Zhou."

Zhou Ji looked over in surprise.

The questioner was startled, recalling that Yu Chuang and Zhou Ji were both Ning University alumni. After understanding, he left with the others.

When only Yu Chuang and Zhou Ji were left, Yu Chuang politely addressed him: "Senior."

Zhou Ji responded reluctantly, praising the other’s early achievements.

But his mind was filled with thoughts of another person, thinking to himself that he was really a jinx—what he said years ago actually came true! Yu Chuang really came back, and at such a low point for the Ji Family.

He silently hoped the other could move on, though he doubted it was likely.

The coffee shop was right downstairs from their office building. Zhou Ji and Yu Chuang entered and ordered two cups of coffee. A few employees goofing off in the coffee shop nearly choked on their coffee and slipped away.

Zhou Ji discreetly sized up the other man.

Yu Chuang had taken off his coat and hung it on the back of the chair. Under his shirt was a well-defined, athletic build. The youthful spark in his eyes had faded, replaced by a calm, detached demeanor.

His features hadn’t changed much, yet somehow he didn’t resemble Pei Qing anymore.

Zhou Ji studied him carefully and realized it was the coldness in his eyes and demeanor that completely masked any resemblance. Now, no one would think he looked like Pei Qing.

Things were different now. Although Yu Chuang was a junior from Ning University, Zhou Ji couldn’t call him by his first name and said, "When did you return to Ningcheng, President Yu?"

"Yesterday."

What Zhou Ji really wanted to know was when he’d leave. But naturally, he could only keep that thought to himself.

He wasn’t sure how Yu Chuang felt about Ji Mian now. Hatred? Looking for payback? Or had he moved on and didn’t care anymore...

"A lot has happened in Ningcheng over the past few years. Since you just arrived yesterday, President Yu, you probably haven’t heard about it yet?" he asked, fishing for information, wanting to know if Yu Chuang had heard about the Pei Family and the Ji Family.

Yu Chuang’s tone was flat and indifferent, "I haven’t heard, and I’m not interested."

"..."

That one line shut down Zhou Ji’s train of thought.

Yu Chuang had mentioned wanting to catch up, but if he had no interest in bringing up the past, what was there to catch up on?

Zhou Ji talked about the changes at Ning University over the years, speaking for more than ten minutes. Although the other person responded, the response was tepid.

Zhou Ji suspected Yu Chuang’s "not interested" wasn’t entirely genuine.

He thought that when it came to Ji Mian, this guy probably still held a grudge.

What kind of person Ji Mian was back then... Zhou Ji knew better than anyone how hated he was.

Mind racing, Zhou Ji spoke up, "You must have heard about Pei Qing’s engagement, President Yu?"

Knowing that his former benefactor wasn’t doing well might give Yu Chuang some small satisfaction.

He didn’t notice the slight tremor in Yu Chuang’s coffee cup.

"...Is that so," Yu Chuang lowered his eyes, "Congratulations."

Congratulations... to whom? Yu Chuang’s tone stayed calm, but Zhou Ji felt an inexplicable chill.

Zhou Ji continued, "It’s with Yunchi Group’s Yu Yunkui."

At that, the other person suddenly fell silent. The silence stretched on.

"Not with him?"

Zhou Ji naturally knew who "him" referred to.

"No, Pei Qing severed ties with the Pei Family years ago, and the marriage alliance never went anywhere."

Yu Chuang’s eyelashes were lowered, motionless like a statue, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking at that moment.

He shouldn’t ask, nor did he want to. He had long since let go of what happened years ago.

After a long silence, a cold voice broke the silence:

"What about him?"

Zhou Ji's heart tightened upon hearing this.

He knew what Yu Chuang wanted to hear—he must be hoping that the worse Ji Mian was faring, the more satisfied he would feel.

Ji Mian indeed wasn’t doing well these days, but even a starved camel is bigger than a horse. Despite the Ji Family's decline, it was once one of the top wealthy families in Ningcheng. His lifestyle wasn’t much worse than before.

If Zhou Ji told the truth, Yu Chuang would likely not be able to quell his resentment. Zhou Ji gripped the cup handle tightly, genuinely worried that his friend might face retaliation.

The Ji Family had managed to recover somewhat in the past two years, thanks to Ji Mian's efforts... Pei Qing had shown some leniency back then, but if Yu Chuang were to do something now, Ji Family truly wouldn’t be able to withstand it.

"Him..." Zhou Ji sighed, avoiding any direct mention of Ji Mian’s situation, only letting out a long sigh. Everything went unspoken.

Yu Chuang's deep, unfathomable pupils suddenly contracted, his eyes shifting to pin Zhou Ji with an intense stare.