Chapter 38: I’m Xiao Chu (Part Two)…

Chapter 38: I'm Xiao Chu (Second Update)...

The living room fell silent.

Ji Fuxi lifted his daughter into his arms.

Song Chuqing clutched his neck tightly, whispering, "Daddy, I'm scared."

Ji Fuxi patted her back. "Don't be afraid, Daddy's here."

Everyone's expressions were a sight to behold—utterly stunned and speechless, unable to grasp the meaning of that single word: "Daddy."

Ji Fuxi had a daughter? And one this old?

Yao Peiqiu was bewildered. Why was Xiao Chu calling Uncle "Daddy"?

Li Keke was equally dumbfounded. She'd only ever seen Xiao Chu's father wearing a mask and never imagined he'd be so handsome—he must be a celebrity!

The only one in the room who remained composed was Ji Gaozheng, though his face grew progressively darker. His eyes, fixed on the large and small figures, burned with barely suppressed fury.

That brat had kept this from him for so long!

Ji Zhongliang gasped in surprise, "Fuxi..."

Ji Jiarui was already moving, striding quickly toward them. "Bro, what's going on...?" He then looked at the little girl in his arms. "This..."

Ji Fuxi spoke gently to his daughter, "Xiao Chu, say hello to Uncle."

Song Chuqing sweetly chirped, "Hello, Uncle."

Ji Jiarui met the little girl's sweet, sparkling eyes and immediately dismissed the barrage of questions swirling in his mind.

Fantastic—now he had a little niece to play with!

Father and daughter approached Ji Gaozheng. Ji Fuxi set her down and knelt beside her. "Xiao Chu, this is Great-Grandpa."

Song Chuqing knew this was Peiqiu's great-grandpa, but today, Great-Grandpa seemed a little scary. She leaned against her father and softly greeted him, "Hello, Great-Grandpa."

Ji Gaozheng didn't respond, his gaze fixed on her as if trying to bore a hole through her.

The girl's features didn't resemble Ji Fuxi much; he hadn't noticed anything last time she visited.

The thought made his glare at his grandson intensify. That scoundrel! What kind of mess had he gotten himself into?

Ignoring Ji Gaozheng's simmering anger, Ji Fuxi had Song Chuqing greet everyone one by one—like a formal family introduction.

Once the introductions were complete, Ji Fuxi waved Yao Peiqiu over. "Peiqiu, take Keke and your little sister outside to play."

Yao Peiqiu stared at Song Chuqing, still somewhat dazed, his mind brimming with questions. "Xiao Chu..."

Ji Fuxi patiently explained, "Xiao Chu is Uncle's daughter—Peiqiu's little sister."

"Oh..."

The little boy dazedly took Song Chuqing's hand, opening and closing his mouth, unsure whether to call her "Xiao Chu" or "little sister" now.

Song Chuqing was equally confused. Was Peiqiu her brother?

Meanwhile, Li Keke's mother nudged her forward, and Li Keke rescued Yao Peiqiu from the awkwardness. "Come on, let's go play outside!"

The two bewildered children were led away by Li Keke, with Aunt Jiang following them out.

Once the children were gone, Ji Gaozheng slammed his cane down. "You—come with me!"

Grandfather and grandson entered the study, leaving the still-recovering adults in the living room.

Ji Zhongliang asked Ji Jiarui, "You and your brother are close—when did this happen?"

Ji Jiarui shrugged. "Beats me."

But his brother really had guts—to boldly bring in a four-year-old daughter like this. Impressive.

Aunt Chen Mei asked, "Jiang Die, did you know about this? Who's the mother?"

Ji Jiangdie shook her head, speechless.

The child's mother was Song Tan—the actress who had visited their home before. This girl was her daughter, in the same class as Peiqiu.

She couldn't help but wonder: how could it be such a coincidence that she was in Peiqiu's class?

Why had she specifically come to the Ji family last time?

She didn't follow entertainment news much, but she knew some recent hot topics—Song Tan had been in a staged romance with an actor, then intentionally revealed the child's father during a livestream.

Now, thinking back, the exposed man's figure looked familiar—it was undoubtedly her brother.

Step by step... and now her brother had brought the child to formally acknowledge her.

Ji Jiangdie's brow furrowed, and she inwardly sighed, "What a clever scheme."

Mrs. Li, who also knew who the mother was, glanced at her husband, then at the Ji family members in the room, unsure whether to speak up.

She softly called, "Miss Ji?"

Ji Jiangdie snapped back to attention and smiled. "Brother will tell us who the mother is when he's ready. If he intends to bring her here, we'll meet her eventually."

The thought somewhat eased her mind. Bringing the child but not the mother suggested Ji Fuxi was being cautious, not allowing an actress to leverage the child for status.

Everyone seemed to grasp this unspoken understanding, tactfully dropping the subject.

...

In the study, Ji Gaozheng's anger still hadn't subsided. His sharp eyes fixed on his grandson, who stood obediently before him.

"What exactly is going on?!"

The desk was covered with documents and photos the old man had specifically investigated. Ji Fuxi smirked. "Haven't you already figured it out?"

Ji Gaozheng barked, "You still won't explain?!"

Fearing he might truly upset the old man, Ji Fuxi honestly confessed, "Five years ago, there was an accident, and Xiao Chu was conceived. Song Tan only found out after going abroad. She returned five years later, and I acknowledged Xiao Chu. It's that simple."

Ji Gaozheng, of course, knew all this—he had every piece of information about the child from birth to now, including details about the woman.

Narrowing his eyes, he asked, "Did she threaten you?"

"No."

"Then why did you give her shares?"

The man raised an eyebrow. "You even found that out?"

"Don't change the subject!"

Ji Fuxi pulled out a chair from the desk and sat down calmly. "No, she didn't ask for anything. I gave those shares of my own free will."

"And you moved in together?"

"Yes."

After a long pause, Ji Gaozheng spoke heavily, "Fuxi, you have little experience with relationships. Sometimes, an outsider sees things more clearly. Have you ever considered what that woman truly wants? Is she really content with just your 1% shares?"

Ji Fuxi understood his grandfather's concerns.

Of course, he had considered it. Given his position, many people coveted what he had—that agreement, that marriage certificate, all laid bare.

But Ji Fuxi wouldn't let himself be easily manipulated. If he signed an agreement with her, he naturally had safeguards in place.

And even if he took a step back, that one night of accidental folly wasn't solely Song Tan's fault—he was equally responsible. And those five years... Even if she truly wanted to take something from him, she had earned it.

After four or five months together, he could discern a person's character.

Ji Fuxi looked up at the old man's worried face. "Grandfather, I know what I'm doing."

Ji Gaozheng sighed and averted his gaze, his voice suddenly weary. "Your father also said he knew what he was doing."

And what happened in the end? The family fell apart, and when he left, the company was nearly carved up by others.

"I'm not like him."

The old man lowered his eyes. "Fuxi, your mother and grandmother both came from prominent families. I have no personal objection to her, but you must understand what it means to become a daughter-in-law of the Ji family. Can she uphold the Ji family legacy? Can she help you raise future generations properly? Not to mention, can she even hold her own against Jiang Die?"

"When you attend events in the future, with an actress by your side—how will people see you?" Ji Gaozheng spoke earnestly. "What benefit does she bring you? Do you even have love between you? Does love pay the bills?"

"The young lady from the Mu family I chose for you—her education, background, and appearance, in what way is she inferior? With the Mu family’s backing, your path would be much smoother."

That woman, Song Tan, came from a troubled family. Though her record was clean and she seemed intelligent—winning many awards as an actress—Ji Fuxi was no ordinary man either. They were simply not well-matched.

And with such a situation unfolding around Ji Fuxi, Ji Gaozheng couldn’t help but suspect her motives. "Now she's bound you with a child. If she truly has ulterior motives for entering the Ji family, one day, the Ji family will be ruined because of you."

The atmosphere in the study was tense. Ji Fuxi remained silent.

His grandfather, having lived his life by these principles, naturally had his concerns. That he was speaking this calmly now showed restraint. Changing someone’s mindset wasn’t easy.

Of course, Ji Fuxi had many ways to make Ji Gaozheng "accept" Song Tan and Xiao Chu, but that wasn’t the outcome he wanted—nor would it be fair to Song Tan.

He wanted his grandfather’s approval, but he wanted Song Tan and Xiao Chu too.

Ji Fuxi met the old man’s gaze steadily, his tone gentle but persuasive. "Grandfather, I understand your worries. But Song Tan isn’t what you think. After spending months with her, I have my own clear judgment. You don't know her, so it’s natural for you to have doubts. But even if you don’t trust her, shouldn’t you at least trust me?"

"I hope you’ll give us a chance." Ji Fuxi spoke methodically, his expression calm. "Grandfather, Xiao Chu is my daughter. She will never be illegitimate, and she will never have a stepmother."

Ji Gaozheng studied the resolute man before him, understanding the weight behind those words and that gaze.

After a long pause, he sighed again and said quietly, "If she causes turmoil for you and this family, I will intervene."

"Fine."

***

On the lawn, apart from Li Keke, the two children were still confused.

Yao Peiqiu glanced at the adorable girl beside him, suddenly looking shy. He asked cautiously, "Xiao Chu, is your father my uncle?"

Song Chuqing blinked and countered, "Is your uncle my dad?"

I guess so...

Yao Peiqiu: "So you’re my little sister!"

Song Chuqing thought for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah, Daddy just said you’re my brother."

This change was so sudden that neither had quite grasped it yet.

Li Keke cheered beside them, "This is awesome! Xiao Chu and Pei Qiu are siblings now, so we can all play together forever!"

Yao Peiqiu tilted his head—right! If Xiao Chu was his sister, they could play together whenever, and she’d even live with him!

The thought immediately thrilled him. "Xiao Chu, when are you moving in with us?"

The little girl hesitated. "...I can’t. I need to stay with Mommy."

"That's not how it works! Siblings always live together!" Pei Qiu’s mind raced. "Then your mom is my aunt! Auntie can move in too! Uncle has a huge room, and you can stay right next to me!"

The more he thought about it, the happier he became. "Then we can go to school together, come home together, and play together every day! It’ll be so cool!"

Before Xiao Chu could answer, Keke pouted. "What about me?"

"You can move in too!"

"Really?"

"Of course! Our house has lots of rooms!"

Li Keke beamed. "Then I’ll go ask my mom!"

"Yeah!"

Yao Peiqiu had it all figured out now, bouncing excitedly. He leaned in and said sweetly, "Sister, sister! Hehe, Xiao Chu is my sister!"

The more he said it, the happier he got. The little boy clenched his fists. "Nobody can pick on Xiao Chu anymore! I’m her brother—I’ll protect her!"

Li Keke: "What about me? What about me?"

"You’re my best friend! Of course I've got your back too!"

"Hehe."

"Come on, let’s go play balloon games!"

Song Chuqing let herself be pulled along. After a few steps, she started smiling too. Now she had a brother—Pei Qiu was her brother! Wow, this was so cool.

The lawn was set up for the birthday celebration. Three other children, around seven or eight years old, had also come out to play. Soon, the kids were all running around wildly.

As evening fell, Aunt Jiang called them in for supper.

The birthday party for a four-year-old was primarily focused on the children's happiness, while the adults chatted with their own social purposes. The kids sat at one table and the adults at another.

Dinner lasted less than twenty minutes before Yao Peiqiu announced he was full and begged to cut the cake.

From the head of the adults' table, Ji Gaozheng gave a nod, and Aunt Jiang brought the cake into the living room. Everyone gathered around the birthday boy Yao Peiqiu, ready to sing "Happy Birthday."

Yao Peiqiu remembered his good friends and dragged Song Chuqing and Li Keke over to sit with him. "Let's blow out the candles together!"

Aunt Jiang turned off the lights, and Ji Jiarui played the accompaniment. The adults barely sang, but the children’s voices were boisterous and joyful. "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you…"

After singing the song all the way through, the three kids pursed their lips and blew out the candles together.

Next came cutting the cake. Ji Jiangdie handed the cake knife to Yao Peiqiu. "Pei Qiu, you can cut the cake yourself. The first slice goes to Great-Grandpa."

"Okay!"

Yao Peiqiu wrestled with it for a while before finally managing to cut out a lopsided piece. "Xiao Chu, you take this to Great-Grandpa."

Ji Jiangdie, standing nearby, nearly had a stroke—what a kid!

Obediently, Song Chuqing carefully picked up the plate. Great-Grandpa and her father were still seated at the dining table, a bit far away, so she cupped the cake plate in both hands, taking small, cautious steps.

Great-Grandpa wasn't giving her that scary look anymore, so she wasn’t afraid now.

When she reached him, the little girl held out the cake. "Great-Grandpa, this is for you!"

Ji Gaozheng looked at the small, slender, fair-skinned child before him, his feelings mixed. Then, noticing the eyes that were nearly identical to his grandson’s, his heart softened slightly. He took the cake and set it on the table.

Great-Grandpa accepted the cake but didn’t eat it. Song Chuqing tilted her head. "Great-Grandpa, don’t you like cake?"

At his age, Ji Gaozheng naturally wasn't interested in cake, so he didn't answer.

The little girl who had received the first slice of cake wasn't about to give up. "Great-Grandpa, cake is super yummy! You should try it. Eating cake makes you happy!"

Ji Gaozheng still didn’t move.

Beside him, Ji Fuxi, seeing the old man’s stony face, worried he might actually scare Song Chuqing and cleared his throat.

Ji Gaozheng crossed his hands over his cane and glared at his exasperating grandson.

Still, he wouldn’t snap at a four-year-old girl. Just as he was about to make a move, Song Chuqing had already risen on her tiptoes, scooped up a spoonful of cake, and held it up to feed him. "Great-Grandpa, say 'ah'!"

Great-Grandpa had been scowling all day—maybe he was in a bad mood. When people were upset, they needed cheering up. When she had to get shots, her mom would comfort her and feed her treats. So, she could cheer up Great-Grandpa too.

The nearly eighty-year-old man froze.

Ji Fuxi couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

"Ah…" The little spoon inched closer.

Ji Gaozheng looked positively flustered but, after what felt like forever, finally accepted the spoon and ate the cake.

Satisfied, Song Chuqing skipped back to her father, and Ji Fuxi naturally picked her up.

The little girl peered up sweetly and asked, "Daddy, is Great-Grandpa your grandpa?"

"Yes."

Her whole face lit up with realization. "Then Great-Grandpa is my great-grandpa too! He’s Xiao Chu’s family!"

"Mm-hmm."

Song Chuqing squirmed down again and walked over to the still-sour old man, standing even closer than when she’d handed him the cake.

She rested her hands naturally on Ji Gaozheng’s knees, looking up at him with big, round eyes. Blinking up at him with innocent eyes, she said in her little voice, "Great-Grandpa, I’m Xiao Chu!"