Chapter 25: “Mom, Your Face is Red.”…

Chapter 25 "Mom, your face is all red..."

Song Tan froze for about a minute, then her thoughts slowly cleared, and she fully grasped what he meant.

Cultivating feelings, formalizing a marital relationship.

This shocked her even more than his agreement to sign the contract. Still rational, Song Tan confirmed, "Do you know what you're saying?"

Ji Fuxi looked at her, his gaze steady. "I do. Shall I repeat it?"

"...No need." Song Tan composed herself and said, "Ji Fuxi, I think you might be acting impulsively. My purpose in saying those things earlier wasn't... wasn't to cultivate feelings with you, nor to become actual spouses. My sole intention was to ensure Xiao Chu lives happily. I hoped to find a balance point to prepare her for a future separation."

Ji Fuxi replied, "There is no such balance point. Separation is separation. Being caught between hope and fear will only make one sadder."

Song Tan furrowed her brow, remaining silent.

Ji Fuxi watched the woman before him, her thoughtful frown mirroring her daughter's, and mused that perhaps he was indeed asking too much. What if she already had someone she liked?

"If you don't agree, that's fine. We can think of other ways."

The living room fell silent again, so quiet that the sound of snow falling outside seemed audible.

After a long pause, Song Tan softly said, "I agree, but this is something whose outcome cannot be foreseen."

It might fail. Falling in love isn’t that easy.

She felt no particular affection for him; the only times her emotions had stirred were that night five years ago when Xiao Chu was conceived, a certain moment watching him with Xiao Chu, and the second he held her hand to wipe it clean last night. But none of that was love.

She admired his appearance, acknowledged his competence and character, but these didn't mean she would fall in love with him.

He said, "How will you know unless you try?"

After another long silence, Song Tan quietly chuckled to herself, stamping him with the "good guy" seal in her mind. For Song Chuqing, he was willing to go this far.

She had never imagined anything happening between them. The custody agreement was entirely selfishly for Xiao Chu's sake. She had no aspirations of becoming a wealthy wife.

The gap between them was too vast; family background alone was an insurmountable border, one that would leave them bruised if touched.

But wasn't this indeed the optimal solution?

Parents' loving relationship was the best medicine for Xiao Chu's growth.

If he was willing, what reason did she have to refuse?

Song Tan confirmed once more, "Mr. Ji, have you really thought this through?"

"I have."

"What about your grandfather?"

He replied, "I'll handle matters with Grandfather."

"Alright then." She stood up and extended her hand. "Pleasure working with you."

Ji Fuxi again didn't shake her hand, but this time, he added, "This isn't a collaboration."

Fine.

"How do we cultivate it?"

"..." Ji Fuxi lowered his gaze. "No need to be so deliberate."

He glanced at his watch. "I have something to attend to. I'll head back first."

Ji Fuxi picked up his suit jacket and left the villa.

The path, covered in a thick layer of snow, quickly bore a trail of hurried footprints.

Sitting in the car, he adjusted his seat and leaned back, his gaze fixed on the small lantern he and Xiao Chu had hung together on the tree in front of the car, letting the silence fill the cabin.

Perhaps three or four minutes, or seven or eight, passed. Ji Fuxi gave a wry smile.

He massaged his temples, slowly recalling the entire incident, feeling increasingly out of control.

Many things had veered off track the moment she appeared with Xiao Chu. He could no longer control them.

It was a terrible feeling; his life now had so much uncertainty. He had to cancel work to pick up his child from school, to coax her to sleep, to accompany her for meals, reading, and watching cartoons. Now, during the New Year, he was here taking care of someone. When had he ever taken care of anyone in his life?

Yet, in these past few months, he hadn't just experienced derailment and unpleasantness. Seeing the little girl's bright smile brought him relaxation and joy. At the kindergarten gate, he felt a faint sense of anticipation. Some indiscernible emotions were influencing his judgment.

Ji Gaozheng wouldn't be kept in the dark for long. Currently, he couldn't choose between Ji Gaozheng and Song Tan. He needed more compelling reasons.

For instance, falling in love with her.

...

For the next two days, Song Tan didn't see or hear from him. After proposing to cultivate feelings, he vanished completely.

She wasn't angry; instead, she felt a wave of relief. Since that day, the matter had weighed on her, feeling incredible and unsure how to proceed. Now, his disappearance gave her space to breathe and process.

With no New Year's visits or family gatherings, the mother and daughter had a very relaxed holiday.

It snowed again on the second day of the New Year. Now recovered, Song Tan built a snowman with Song Chuqing in the yard. After they finished, the little girl excitedly wanted to take photos to send to her friends.

On the third day, she took her to an amusement park. It was crowded, but the little girl was overjoyed, wanting to play on everything, full of energy all day—only to collapse and fall fast asleep the moment they got in the car.

On the fourth day, the little one, tired from a day of walking, slept in until ten. Song Tan massaged her feet. "Still want to go next time?"

"Yes!" Song Chuqing's face was full of anticipation. "Mom, let's go with Dad next time!"

Song Tan gave an awkward laugh. "Okay."

At this, Song Chuqing started asking, "What's Dad doing?"

"I don't know."

"Then let's call him."

"...Don't you have your watch? Call him yourself."

Song Chuqing tilted her head, looked at her, then blinked and smiled. "Mom, you're being strange."

"..." Song Tan squinted at her. "You're the strange one."

"Then why are you blushing?"

Song Tan's face darkened in warning. "Song Xiao Chu! Do you want this massage or not? Such a chatterbox!"

Song Chuqing covered her mouth with both hands—Mom really was strange!

On the fifth day, they stayed home. Song Chuqing played with Aqi, watched TV, and read books, while Song Tan read her script.

She was due back at work on the seventh—not many good days left.

Kindergarten wouldn't resume until after the Lantern Festival, so she'd probably have to ask Zhong Chen to look after her during this period. She messaged him in advance, and Zhong Chen said it was no problem. She also contacted Aunt Zhou again, asking her to come and cook on schedule as before.

After dinner, her phone rang with an unknown number. As soon as she answered, Xue Wanwan began to curse, "Song Tan, you just rely on hooking up with a sugar daddy, don't you? Look at your despicable tactics. I'd be ashamed for your mother to have a daughter like you..."

Song Tan immediately hung up, muttering "psycho" under her breath.

In the past few days, both Song Zongbo and Qi Yingchang had called her. She had answered them all, clearly stating that they should minimize contact in the future; every meeting only brought unhappiness anyway, so it was better not to meet.

What was Xue Wanwan's疯 today?

The next second, Zhao Geyun's message answered her question: [Xue Wanwan has withdrawn from "The Grand Dream" and will no longer play any role.]

Song Tan was startled, understanding the reason for her outburst. She messaged back to ask: [Why?]

Zhao Geyun: [Don't know, they didn't say, just that she "didn't fit the role."]

Song Tan: [But wasn't the contract already signed?]

Zhao Geyun: [They said she'd pay a certain percentage in compensation.]

Song Tan was still puzzled. Why would she suddenly...?

Something flashed in her mind, and she quickly messaged someone: [Did you have anything to do with Xue Wanwan's situation?]

Ji Fuxi: [Yes.]

"..."

Song Tan returned to the study and called him, whispering, "Personal matters aside, this isn't quite ethical."

The man's voice on the phone was steady. He simply said, "Song Tan, I am not you."

In the past few days, Zhuang Cheng had already delivered all the information about her: her parents' divorce, her grandparents' successive deaths, living alone, attending junior high, high school, university, entering the industry, every film she had acted in, and all important figures connected to her, all detailed one by one.

Naturally, her mother's stepdaughter was included.

In this world, there are purely good people and purely bad people. Xue Wanwan's character and way of dealing with others were truly terrible. Five years ago, she had caused Song Tan a lot of trouble, and that day, something unpleasant must have happened again.

He also had someone investigate Xue Wanwan's private life, and what they found were all fatal flaws that a celebrity could not expose, including but not limited to two-timing, stepping on minor actors to climb the ladder, and leading bullying.

He might be unethical, but he wouldn't tolerate a speck of dust in his eye.

Having Xue Wanwan withdraw from "The Grand Dream" was just the first step. Procedures to terminate her agency contract were already underway.

Song Tan didn't know any of this and remained worried. "Doing this will only make her more frantic. Our relationship, and Xiao Chu..."

"She wouldn't dare."

Three words, perfectly showcasing the confidence of a man in power.

Song Tan didn't know what to say, so she asked again, "What else have you done?"

"Preparing to terminate her contract."

"...Won't that be too severe?"

Ji Fuxi didn't answer, his voice deepening. "Song Tan, have some backbone. You consider her, but has she ever considered you? Constant concession will only make her worse."

Song Tan fell silent, and at that moment, she suddenly felt truly foolish.

Yes, she had always backed down and dealt with many things with cold indifference, rarely engaging in direct conflict with Xue Wanwan because she couldn't be bothered, which led to Xue Wanwan repeatedly harassing her with WeChat messages and calls, even brazenly joining Qi Yingchang to upset her on New Year's Eve.

But what could she do?

She had no one behind her. Xue Wanwan had parents to support her when she felt wronged. Song Zongbo's daughter had him to plan her future. She would lose any fight she picked.

New Year's Eve was the first time she had ever snapped.

She still had no one behind her, but now there was a four-year-and-two-month-old little girl she needed to protect.

Song Tan suppressed the bitterness in her throat and said, "Thank you."

The man on the phone was quiet for a moment, then responded gently, "No need to be so polite."

Song Tan seemed to understand the meaning behind his words and softly said, "Oh."

Ji Fuxi, fearing she might overthink, explained, "It's not just because of you. Xue Wanwan herself is a risk. Aijia is just dealing with a potential problem in advance."

Song Tan understood. "Mm."

After discussing Xue Wanwan, the phone line suddenly went quiet.

Neither hung up, though they could have.

Song Tan felt awkward. She thought for a moment, then initiated a topic, "Xiao Chu asked what you've been doing lately."

But the moment she asked, it became even more awkward. Wasn't this just like her using Xiao Chu to ask what he was doing? And he even chuckled!

Song Tan instantly felt embarrassed.

Ji Fuxi: "I was visiting family with Grandpa the past couple of days. These two days I've been dealing with some matters. I'll call her later."

"Mm." The woman quickly said, "Okay, then I'll hang up."

But he stopped her. "Song Tan."

Song Tan was bewildered. "Huh?"

"When are you going to film?"

"The day after tomorrow."

"Still going to the film studio? Do you need a ride?"

Ji Fuxi's voice was gentle, deep, and pleasant to the ear. A subtle atmosphere flowed through the faint current, their breaths rising and falling, indistinguishable.

Song Tan softly said, "No, not anymore. The crew has set up scenes in the capital."

After a moment, the man asked in a consulting tone, "Shall we find a time to have dinner together?"

"...Mm."

This time, the call finally ended. The dial tone buzzed in her ear. Song Tan held her phone in one hand and touched her face with the other—it felt a little warm, and her mood was a bit subtle, truly strange.

After calming herself, she went upstairs.

The bathroom was empty; the little girl had already bathed. Song Tan pushed open the bedroom door and saw the small figure on the bed holding a tablet. She slightly pulled down her face, pretending to be angry, "No more watching. You've already watched for two hours today. Time to sleep."

"Mommy, I wasn't watching cartoons." Song Chuqing stared at her, sensitively noticing her unusual state. "Mommy, your face is all red. Are you sick again?"

Song Tan stiffened. "No."

"But it really is red."

"It's nothing. Turn off the tablet and go to sleep." Song Tan raised her voice to cover up the little girl's keen observation, walking over to take her tablet. But the moment she saw the screen, she was so startled her hand trembled.

Song Xiao Chu!!!! Why didn't you say you were on a video call?!

Song Chuqing pouted, looked at the man on the screen, and whined, "Waaah, Daddy, Mommy is so mean!"