Chapter 8: Custody Agreement

Chapter 8: The Custody Agreement

Of course, he was stunned.

Who wouldn't be stunned to become an instant father? Who wouldn't be shocked to suddenly have a four-year-old daughter out of nowhere?

Song Tan gave him a minute to process before calmly continuing, "Xiao Chu's birthday is in November. The celebration banquet was in February. My period has always been irregular, so I only discovered I was pregnant in June. By then, Xiao Chu was already over four months along, with a strong heartbeat, and past the legal abortion limit in that area."

"All my plans came to a halt because of Xiao Chu's arrival. When I first got there, I was in an unfamiliar place, struggling to make ends meet. I had to find a nanny to help us, but I was naive back then and got scammed out of my deposit by a local domestic helper agency. One nanny even stole all the cash I had in my room."

Song Tan's voice was low, her expression moved as she recounted each detail: "But none of that matters. In the late stages of pregnancy, Xiao Chu was very restless, not only keeping me from sleeping or eating well, but she herself showed signs of fetal distress at one point. During that time, I could only stay indoors, carefully looking after her every day."

"Labor lasted seventeen hours. The epidural was completely useless. At one point, the pain was so excruciating I wished I could just die—let someone else give birth to this child. But the moment I heard Xiao Chu's cry, I felt that all those months of torment had been worth it."

"Do you know why she's named Chuqing? Because London, which had been raining for two consecutive months, cleared up on the day Xiao Chu arrived. I felt like my life had brightened too."

"Newborn Xiao Chu was exceptionally beautiful; her eyes, nose, and mouth all resembled mine." She looked at the silent man across from her, seemingly observing him carefully, then concluded, "Not a single thing like you."

"Breastfeeding wasn't easy either. I had to feed her twice every night and constantly care for her during the day. I had to learn everything—how to hold her, change diapers, burp her... I didn't get a single good night's sleep until she was two."

"Lack of sleep was secondary. If she ever got sick, my heart would be in my throat. Once, she had a recurring fever, her little face flushed crimson. I didn't sleep for three whole days, terrified I might lose her."

"I thought things would get better as she grew older, but this autumn, when she started kindergarten, she couldn't adapt to the environment. She was bullied by other children. My once lively and adorable little girl came home sullen and unhappy every day, completely changed."

Her intention in saying all this was to make him feel guilty and self-reproachful, so he wouldn't contend for custody. She knew that counting on a capitalist's kindness was like trying to scoop the moon from the water, but what if?

Yet, as she poured it all out, her heart grew heavier with each word.

She rarely revisited the past five years because she felt it was all worth it and was grateful that her past self hadn't given up on Xiao Chu, allowing her to come into her life.

Ji Fuxi remained silent throughout.

He couldn't respond, or even know how to react. Pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding—these terms felt so distant to him.

He looked at her, trying to discern any trace of deception or falsehood on her face. She was an actress; performing was her profession.

But there was none.

The tea had grown cold. The automatic water dispenser began to work, the gurgling sound echoing the heavy, oppressive atmosphere between them.

"I'm also at fault in this matter. I should have told you sooner." Song Tan pushed the document across again. "Take a look."

The words "Custody Agreement" were glaringly prominent. After a few moments of silence, Ji Fuxi opened the first page.

The agreement, meticulously drafted, contained a lot of content. As he read, Song Tan summarized it simply, trying to keep her tone calm: "First, regarding Xiao Chu's custody. I know your family is powerful and influential, and I know the disparity between us is vast. But I am Xiao Chu's mother. You have no right to take her from me. Therefore, you voluntarily relinquish Xiao Chu's custody."

"Second, Xiao Chu's child support. I've calculated it based on her living habits and estimated expenses until she's eighteen. The largest portion is tuition, over 200,000 a year, followed by living expenses for food, clothing, and housing, and other unforeseen costs. All in all, it adds up to 500,000 to 600,000 a year. So, you will pay me 1,000,000 per year, either annually or as a lump sum. For eighteen years, that's a total of 18,000,000."

After stating this, Song Tan looked at the man's unperturbed composure and felt a slight regret. Eighteen million was nothing to him, perhaps the cost of a single property. She should have asked for more. Plucking one more feather from a capitalist wouldn't hurt.

"Third, as Xiao Chu's father, you have an obligation to ensure her healthy and safe growth. If there's any negative news online, you are responsible for handling it. If public opinion leads to safety concerns, you must assign personnel for 24-hour protection."

"Fourth, I hope you can fulfill the responsibilities a father should bear. My agreement details this very thoroughly: you need to pick up the child, have meals with her, and put her to bed six times each month, go on outings twice, and send her gifts every month. Oh, and if there are any kindergarten activities that require your participation, I hope you can actively attend."

More than abstract paternal love, Song Chuqing needed his financial support and his power for protection. Of course, if he could fulfill these, it would be a bonus. If not, or if his character was questionable, she would not allow Song Chuqing to see him.

"I reserve the right to interpret this clause."

Ji Fuxi didn't respond. He paused for a moment, then continued reading.

"Fifth, if possible, I need a marriage of convenience. However, you can refuse; it's fine."

This clause was added last night. She hadn't considered this aspect before, but she feared the label of "illegitimate daughter" being placed on Song Chuqing in the future. She shouldn't have to endure such scrutiny.

Song Tan paused, then continued: "Two years. We don't need to live together. The prenuptial agreement will clearly state that I won't ask for a single cent from you beyond child support. We will simply co-parent her as her parents."

"That's all. You can raise your objections, and we can discuss them together."

Having said it all in one breath, Song Tan felt a little nauseous. She picked up her teacup and drained it, trying to suppress her discomfort.

From his perspective, this agreement was entirely a tyrannical imposition—a sudden daughter, massive child support, and a "marriage into a wealthy family." If this were reported, she would undoubtedly be labeled as a scheming gold-digger aspiring to marry into wealth, scorned by all.

She wasn't familiar with him. Rumor had it that Ji Fuxi was difficult to get along with, and their few meetings confirmed this. Class, power, money, wealthy families, actresses—these societal perceptions stood as barriers between them.

He had a hundred ways to refuse her.

Whether he acknowledged Song Chuqing or accepted this agreement depended entirely on his conscience.

The private room fell silent once more. Song Tan said nothing further.

Two minutes later, he finally spoke: "I need to consider."

"Understood."

Song Tan took a transparent bag from her purse and pushed it across. "This is Xiao Chu's hair."

...

Ji Fuxi returned directly to his suite in the city center hotel.

The Ji family owned countless properties—villas, apartments—but he preferred this one.

Across from his floor-to-ceiling windows, a new advertisement had been put up. A high-end residential project developed by the Ji family was about to launch, with promotional campaigns blanketing the entire capital.

Ji Fuxi stood before the window, his gaze unfocused.

Five years ago, this advertising space belonged to a once-popular actress. The dazzling jewelry around her neck couldn't outshine her captivating red lips, especially her eyes—luminous and enchanting, it was no exaggeration to say they were soul-stirring.

Every time he stood by the window, he would think: if he were a jeweler, he would never choose her as an endorser.

Her beauty was too overwhelming, stealing the spotlight.

The heating in the room seemed to be set too high, making it hot and stuffy. Ji Fuxi loosened his tie with one hand.

A message arrived; Zhuang Cheng had sent the first wave of investigation results.

Time was short, so he could only find some surveillance screenshots: she was pregnant, she was holding a child, she was pushing a stroller, she was going out alone, the child was walking... Years condensed into a dozen blurry images.

Ji Fuxi silently repeated her name: Xiao Chu, Song Chuqing.

His heart felt as if it had been pricked by a needle, a tingling sensation accompanied by a momentary sharp pain.

He didn't like children.

When Ji Jiangdie came to the Ji family at just over a year old, Ji Zhonghe called her his sister. Five-year-old Ji Fuxi, having already received two years of education, knew how sisters were made. He had also personally witnessed his father and another woman together, believing him to be asleep.

This little sister was a nightmare for him and his mother.

He loathed the sound of children crying, detested the saying "the crying child gets the candy," abhorred messy rooms, hated soiled books and clothes—he detested everything about them.

Being young was not a shield for misbehavior; no one was innocent.

He had never intended to have children in his life, a thought that had remained constant.

The doorbell interrupted his thoughts. Ji Fuxi closed his eyes briefly, put down his phone, and went to open the door.

As soon as he opened the door a crack, Ji Jiarui slipped in. "Hey, bro, I knew you were here."

Ji Jiarui was a grandson from a collateral branch of the Ji family, an uneducated idler who spent his days racing cars, gambling on horses, and frequenting bars—a true playboy.

As soon as he entered, he flopped onto the sofa and dialed room service. "Send up a bottle of wine for me. Yes, the one stored in this room. Right, right, the Romanée-Conti."

Ji Fuxi put his hands in his pockets, his voice cold: "What is it?"

"Oh, come on, bro, don't be so cold. Your little brother just missed you."

"If you have nothing to say, get out."

Ji Jiarui glanced at his brother's extremely gloomy face, thinking someone must have annoyed him. He quickly stepped forward, "Bro, I came to bring you some news." Without waiting for him to ask, he blurted out, "The Mu family is visiting the old house next weekend. Most likely it's still about your marriage with Miss Mu. It seems like Ji Jiangdie's idea."

Ji Fuxi sat on the sofa, unconcerned. "Useless."

Ji Jiarui, of course, knew it was useless. Five years ago, when their uncle was critically ill and the group was in turmoil, their grandfather had tried to force a business marriage on him. He had refused. Now that his brother single-handedly supported the entire Ji family, was there any hope of forcing something that couldn't be forced before?

He wondered what Ji Jiangdie was thinking, provoking Ji Fuxi like this. As an illegitimate daughter who depended on the Ji family for her livelihood, wasn't enjoying wealth and luxury enough for her?

The wine arrived quickly. Ji Jiarui took two glasses, poured, and handed one over, then whispered, "But bro, let me ask you honestly, when are you planning to find me a sister-in-law?"

Ji Fuxi glanced at him. Ji Jiarui continued, "I'm not rushing you, but look, our family only has Pei Qiu as a junior right now. That kid is clever and mischievous, and Grandpa loves him. If you don't give me a little nephew or niece, won't all of our Ji family's assets go to him in the future? Are you okay with that, bro?"

Ji Jiarui spoke the last sentence slowly, carefully observing his expression.

But unfortunately, the man remained as impassive as ever.

Ji Fuxi didn't touch the wine. He took a lighter from the coffee table, the mechanical wheel spinning, a faint blue flame licking the cigarette tip, emitting a crimson glow.

He exhaled a smoke ring, the pale smoke swirling, his voice hoarse from the smoke, "Spit it out."

Ji Jiarui immediately sat up straight, "My friends and I plan to open a horse farm. We're short on funds."

"How much?"

"Three million."

"Talk to Zhuang Cheng. Put it on the tab."

Ji Jiarui was inwardly surprised. Was his brother's money so easy to get today? Usually, he had to beg and plead endlessly to get anything.

Anyway, he got it. He was afraid Ji Fuxi might change his mind if he stayed another second, so he quickly prepared to leave. At the door, he turned back, giving a thumbs-up, "Bro, I wish you an early true love and a house full of children."

"Get out."

"Got it."

The room returned to silence. Ji Fuxi stared at the soft strand of hair on the table for a long time, then extinguished the cigarette.

He dialed Zhuang Cheng's number. "Come over."