Chapter 40: “Xixi’s Bed is Big, We Can…”

Chapter 40: "Xixi's bed is so big, we..."

Ever since filming wrapped, Ji Fuxi had become exceptionally proactive—so much so that Song Tan found herself a little flustered.

He took the initiative to cook, do chores, hold her hand during movies, pick her up from work with flowers waiting in the car, and unconsciously closed the distance between them, both verbally and physically—including that almost-kiss from last time.

Song Tan wasn’t foolish. She could sense the emotions in his eyes and the underlying meaning behind each of his actions.

Their bond grew rapidly. Now, even a brief glance felt intimate, making her too shy to look for long.

Early April, the Qingming Festival was approaching.

Song Tan explained the holiday arrangements to Song Chuqing in advance. The little girl nodded, "We’re going to see Daddy’s mommy and daddy, right?"

"Yes, and Daddy’s grandma too. But Daddy’s parents and grandma have already passed away. To be precise, we’re going to sweep their graves."

She had assumed Song Chuqing wouldn’t know about the holiday, but the little one, now in middle kindergarten, surprised her. "Mm, I know! Teacher Xiao Qing taught us. Qingming Festival is for honoring ancestors and loved ones. Dragon Boat Festival is for worshipping gods and ancestors, praying for blessings and warding off evil. Mid-Autumn Festival is for family reunions and eating mooncakes!"

"That’s right. Xiao Chu is so smart."

At noon on Qingming, the family of three set off from Rongyuan to the cemetery.

Song Chuqing was uncharacteristically quiet and well-behaved today.

When they arrived, Ji Gaozheng and Ji Jiangdie’s family were already waiting. Yao Peiqiu lit up when he saw them and called out, "Xiao—" then corrected himself, "Little sister!"

Ji Jiangdie tugged at him, but the boy, still grinning, was practically bouncing with excitement.

Ji Fuxi carried Song Chuqing while Song Tan stood beside him.

She had met Ji Gaozheng before, but things were different now. The old man’s gaze held far more complexity than when he had seen her only as the unrelated mother of his great-grandson’s classmate.

After a brief pause, Song Tan spoke first, "Grandpa."

With so many people present, Ji Gaozheng was uncharacteristically warm. He nodded and walked ahead.

The elderly man leaned slightly on his cane, his back somewhat hunched.

Song Chuqing squirmed out of her dad's hold and ran to take her great-grandpa’s hand, beaming up at him. "Great-Grandpa, I’ll walk with you!"

Ji Gaozheng looked down, visibly frozen for a long moment. Only when Yao Peiqiu—who had broken free from his mother—also rushed over did he come back to himself.

With one hand still holding his cane, Ji Gaozheng couldn’t take Yao Peiqiu’s hand, so the boy grabbed Song Chuqing’s instead. "Let’s go!"

Ji Fuxi and Song Tan followed, while Ji Jiangdie and Yao Liankang brought up the rear.

Ji Jiangdie kept her eyes locked on the pair ahead, unmoving. Yao Liankang, understanding his wife’s thoughts, tried to console her. "Jiang Die, the ship has sailed. Fu Xi was bound to marry eventually. Why not try to get along with Song Tan?"

Ji Jiangdie shot him a glare, exasperated. "You don’t understand anything."

Yao Liankang didn’t, but he didn’t want Ji Jiangdie to antagonize the Ji family—it would only hurt their own family in the end.

He sighed inwardly and tried again. "It’s Qingming today. Even the old man isn’t saying anything. Don’t make things harder."

Ji Jiangdie had been cautious for years—of course she knew. But precisely because she knew too well, she felt compelled to act.

Regardless of whether Song Tan could truly enter the Ji family, she was the mother of Ji Fuxi’s child.

She had assumed a mere celebrity would be easy to handle, but Ji Jiangdie had clearly underestimated her—and her place in Ji Fuxi’s heart.

How could this be a casual fling like the paperwork said? Bringing her to the cemetery today was no way to treat a one-night stand.

The graves of Ji Fuxi’s parents and grandmother lay side by side at the highest point of the cemetery, backed by mountains facing water—an auspicious feng shui location.

Uncle Li and Aunt Jiang, who had accompanied them, placed the flowers, fruits, and offerings before the tombstones. Ji Gaozheng didn’t approach, standing instead by a pine tree with his cane.

Song Chuqing glanced at her parents, then at her great-grandpa standing alone by the tree. After a moment’s thought, she walked over to him.

Because Great-Grandpa looked a little sad.

She tugged at Ji Gaozheng’s pants. "Great-Grandpa, can you hold me?"

Ji Gaozheng looked down at the affectionate child, then bent to pick her up.

His strength wasn't what it once was, but lifting a small child was no issue.

Cradled in his arms, Song Chuqing gazed at the grave sites and asked softly, "Great-Grandpa, are my grandparents inside?"

"Mm."

Grandparents were Daddy’s mommy and daddy—Great-Grandpa’s children. Xiao Chu was Mommy’s daughter, Mommy’s baby, so she added, "So they’re Great-Grandpa’s babies too, right?"

Children say the darndest things. Ji Gaozheng smiled faintly. "Yes."

Song Chuqing wasn’t scared at all now. She cupped the old man’s face with both hands. "Great-Grandpa, don’t be sad. Mommy said when people die, they turn into stars. So Great-Grandpa’s babies and my grandparents—oh, and Daddy’s grandma—they’ve all become stars in the sky!"

At seventy-eight, Ji Gaozheng hadn’t expected to be comforted by a four-year-old’s innocent words. After a stunned pause, he smiled again. "Great-Grandpa knows."

Song Chuqing knew just how to cheer people up. She grinned, eyes crinkling. "Great-Grandpa has me, Mommy, Daddy, Pei Qiu, and Pei Qiu’s mommy and daddy now. So Great-Grandpa has lots of babies, right?"

She ended with a question, insisting on a reply. "Right."

Meanwhile, Song Tan watched the old man and child beneath the tree, wondering what they were talking about. Worried her daughter might say something inappropriate on such a day, she moved to take the child away, but Ji Fuxi stopped her. "It’s fine. Grandpa always stands alone when he comes here. Let Xiao Chu keep him company today."

Song Tan glanced over once more and said nothing else.

The ceremony was simple. Aunt Jiang passed out burning incense sticks to Ji Fuxi, Song Tan, and Ji Jiangdie’s family of three.

Ji Fuxi held the incense, closed his eyes briefly, then bowed and placed it in the dedicated incense holder.

Song Tan followed suit.

With a newcomer with them today, Ji Fuxi introduced, "Grandma, Mom, Dad, this is Song Tan—your daughter-in-law and granddaughter-in-law. The one with Grandpa is our daughter, Xiao Chu. She’s four this year."

Then he fell silent.

Song Tan turned to him. His expression was calm, but his eyes looked suspiciously bright.

She stepped closer and took his hand, naturally speaking to the graves too. "Grandma, Mom, Dad, I’m Song Tan."

The spring breeze was warm. The incense smoke drifted over the tombstones, brushing lightly over the mourners.

After a while, the couple joined Ji Gaozheng. The old man, his arms tiring, passed the child to Ji Fuxi.

He glanced at the recently cleaned gravesites, then turned away, his voice rough with age. "Let’s go."

They arrived at the Ji family's old residence a little past four in the afternoon.

This was Song Tan’s second time visiting, which made her a little nervous.

The two children ran off to the play area in the living room, while Ji Jiangdie and her husband went inside to talk. Noticing Song Tan’s unease, Ji Fuxi took the initiative and said, "Aunt Jiang’s in the kitchen. Want to go help?"

Song Tan immediately nodded. "Okay."

Once in the kitchen, Song Tan exhaled deeply in relief.

Though it wasn’t overly formal, she still felt that inexplicable nervousness of visiting her husband’s family for the first time—weird and new.

Aunt Jiang greeted her warmly. "Tantan, come help me wash these vegetables."

In other households, no one would dare ask the young mistress to cook, and Aunt Jiang wouldn’t normally order her around either. But earlier, Xixi had given her a look, and she got the hint—he wanted her to look after his wife.

She wasn’t impressed by fame or celebrity. All she knew was that Ji Fuxi had accepted Song Tan, and Old Li mentioned they’d even gotten their marriage certificate. Being officially married was different from just being the mother of his child—now she was the rightful lady of the house.

Besides, Xiao Chu had managed to cheer up the old master. For years, every time he returned from paying respects at the graves, he’d say he didn’t want to eat. Today, for the first time ever, he asked when dinner would be ready. What a change.

At least the Ji family’s grandfather and grandson finally seemed lively again. That was enough.

Aunt Jiang handed her a bunch of baby bok choy, grumbling as usual, "Xixi never liked eating greens. Didn’t like them as a child, likes them even less now. No amount of bribing or scolding helped."

This was the first time Song Tan had heard that nickname. "Xixi?"

"Yes, his nickname growing up. His mother and grandmother both called him that." Aunt Jiang reminisced, "Come to think of it, Xixi looked a lot like Xiao Chu when he was little—chubby cheeks and huge, bright eyes."

Song Tan imagined a mini version of Ji Fuxi and smiled to herself as she picked off the old leaves.

"Xiao Chu doesn’t like greens either."

"Exactly! Like father, like daughter." Aunt Jiang glanced at her. "Kids will be kids, but adults ought to behave. Xixi hasn’t passed this habit to Xiao Chu, has he?"

"No, when he’s around, Xiao Chu eats a little."

"That’s good."

Aunt Jiang chopped vegetables as she talked. "Old Li told me Xixi lives with you?"

"Mhm."

"That can’t be easy for you. Xixi’s temper isn’t the easiest to deal with." Aunt Jiang gave her a knowing look. "Bet you change the bedsheets a lot, huh?"

"..." Song Tan lied, feeling awkward, "Mhm."

"He wasn’t that picky as a child, but as he grew older, he became pickier. Bedsheets and covers had to be changed daily, clothes and shoes had to be brand new daily, everything he ate or used had to be spotless—or he’d refuse to use them."

Song Tan already lived with a bit of a neat freak, so she hadn’t noticed anything unusual about his eating or daily habits. But his personal habits were another story—changing bedsheets and covers every day? Even Xiao Chu wasn’t that picky.

Thinking ahead, she asked cautiously, "He really changes them every day?"

"Ah." Aunt Jiang seemed to catch herself and dropped the topic, though she still returned to talking about Ji Fuxi, sighing sympathetically. "Xixi had it rough growing up. His family situation was different from others’, and his mother died young. That little boy rarely smiled."

"The old master was strict, and with only one grandson, of course he pushed him to excel. While other kids ran around the alleys playing after school, Xixi had to stay home studying nonstop."

Song Tan paused her work, then asked tentatively, "His sister..."

Aunt Jiang had been with the family since Ji Fuxi’s birth. The old madam and madam had treated her well, and she knew her place. She glanced outside and said vaguely, "People say the old master is foolish, but he isn’t. This family’s name is still Ji."

Yao Liankang had been personally chosen by the old master for Ji Jiangdie—good looks, decent temperament, clear-headed, and ambitious, but his family was middle-class at best. He’d never get his hands on the Ji family money.

Back then, Yao’s parents had suggested he marry into the family, and Ji Jiangdie agreed, but the old master refused. The children could only take the Yao surname.

The Ji family’s daughter would never go hungry, but that’s where it ended.

Aunt Jiang sighed. "Enough of this, or we won’t have dinner ready."

By seven, dinner was prepared.

Aunt Jiang knocked on the study door and pushed it open. "Old Master, Xixi, dinner’s ready."

Xiao Chu, who’d wandered in somehow, leaned out from next to Ji Gaozheng’s chair. "Who’s Xixi?"

Aunt Jiang glanced at the man, who looked sheepish, and chuckled. "That’s your dad."

Xiao Chu’s eyes widened. "Daddy, your name is Xixi?"

"...Mhm." Ji Fuxi walked over and scooped her up. "Let’s go eat."

"Okay! Great-Grandpa, time to eat!" Then she giggled at him. "Xixi, let’s eat!"

The man smiled. "Okay, let’s eat."

At the square table, the two children each sat in high chairs flanking Ji Gaozheng.

Xiao Chu served Great-Grandpa some meat, and Yao Peiqiu copied her. Xiao Chu gave him a chicken wing, and Yao Peiqiu did the same. Soon, Ji Gaozheng’s bowl was piled high.

Ji Jiangdie, having been lectured by her husband, kept quiet and just glanced at her silly son beside her, suppressing a sigh. The boy had never served anyone before—today, he was learning fast.

Yao Liankang laughed and cut in. "Alright, you two, let Great-Grandpa eat a little first."

Xiao Chu grinned. "Hehe, Great-Grandpa, Mom made these wings! They’re sooo good—try them!"

Ji Gaozheng looked at the beaming little girl, then at the woman seated beside his grandson, and picked up his chopsticks.

After a while, Yao Liankang started making small talk. "Song Tan, you just finished filming recently, right? What’s next?"

Song Tan answered simply, "Preparing for the next project."

"I’ve got to hand it to you actors. I’ve heard that filming summer scenes in winter means wearing summer clothes—must freeze your butt off."

"Yeah."

"I know a couple of connections at the broadcasting bureau. If you ever need anything, feel free to reach out."

This wasn’t Ji Jiangdie’s patronizing handout. Song Tan glanced at the man beside her, who didn’t react, so she accepted. "Mhm, thank you."

The atmosphere at the table gradually relaxed, with the two children squabbling now and then and drawing laughter. Ji Gaozheng was smiling more than he had in ages.

They finished before eight and went their separate ways.

Song Tan tugged Ji Fuxi aside, glancing toward the study. "Should I go talk to Grandpa?"

Ji Fuxi had a rough idea of the old man’s stance—thanks to Xiao Chu, they probably didn’t need to exert much effort. Still, he worried. "I’ll go with you."

Song Tan thought for a moment, then shook her head. "I’ll go alone."

"Sure?"

She smiled with her eyes. "What, do you think Grandpa might actually hurt me?"

Ji Fuxi gave her a serious look for a moment before nodding. "Go on then."

Song Tan walked to the study door, paused for a few seconds, then raised her hand to knock.

"Come in."

She pushed the door open. "Grandpa."

Ji Gaozheng stood by the window and turned at the sound of her voice. After a brief silence upon seeing her, he moved to the sofa.

Song Tan entered and took a seat at one end of the sofa.

She pursed her lips, then spoke first. "Grandpa, thank you for giving us a chance."

Today, as the granddaughter-in-law of the Ji family, she had paid respects at the ancestral memorial and shared a meal—none of which would have happened without Ji Gaozheng's tacit approval.

She spoke candidly. "I know what concerns you. There’s a disparity between my career background and Fu Xi’s. How Xiao Chu and I entered the family is also controversial. You must have looked into all this, so you surely know I haven't demanded anything. I’ll sign any agreement you want me to."

"Fu Xi and I decided to be together so Xiao Chu could have a complete family. We’re both working to accept each other and raise her in a loving environment."

Her purpose today wasn’t to escalate tensions. Song Tan made an emotional appeal. "Auntie Jiang just told me some things about Fu Xi’s childhood. He’s been living with us this whole time, and I believe you’ve seen the changes in him. You must know better than anyone what he needs most."

"Grandpa, I’m not perfect, but I’m not that bad either. Maybe I’m not the best match for him, but I’m willing to do everything I can to stay by his side."

Ji Gaozheng listened, still for a long moment.

After a pause, he chuckled lowly. "Quite the sharp-tongued one." No wonder her daughter never stops talking—she must have taken after her.

The old man lifted his head, his gaze sharp. "What if I asked you to quit your job?"

Song Tan didn’t hesitate. "I won’t."

Ji Gaozheng narrowed his eyes. "What if I insist?"

"Then we might have to consider other options. As long as Xiao Chu grows up healthy and happy, Fu Xi and I could divorce amicably."

Ji Gaozheng settled back into the sofa, his smile mocking. "You've already decided? So everything you just said means nothing?"

Yes, she had thought it through.

But now, something felt different.

After a pause, Song Tan spoke slowly, unwavering. "Grandpa, if I gave up my career to be a housewife, or changed myself to fit a role I don’t want just to become Mrs. Ji, this relationship and this family would eventually fall apart. It’s better to end things before they get worse."

"You won't even do that much. Why should I let you into the Ji family?"

Song Tan lightly bit her lip. The question wasn’t why Ji Gaozheng should allow it—it was why she deserved to be here at all.

Because of the smiles on Xiao Chu’s face over the past six months. Because the longing in her heart to build a family with Ji Fuxi had grown stronger every day.

The study was heavy with the smell of ink. The silence now made the children’s laughter outside the door clearly audible.

Ji Gaozheng pushed further. Song Tan clenched her fists and looked him straight in the eye. "Because of what you want most."

She was gambling—betting on what this lonely old man truly desired in his later years.

Silence fell again.

After a long moment, Ji Gaozheng stood and walked back to the floor-to-ceiling window.

Outside was the pigpen. The little pet pig from last year now weighed a hundred pounds.

"You may go."

...

Ji Fuxi was waiting outside. "How did it go?"

No definite answer, but perhaps a good sign. "It went okay."

Song Chuqing, tired from playing in the living room, ran over and clung to her mother’s leg. "Mommy, are we going home now?"

Song Tan picked the little girl up. Glancing at the worried man beside her, then back at the closed study door, she tweaked her daughter’s cheek and smiled. "We’re not leaving. We’re staying at Great-Grandpa’s tonight."

Song Chuqing’s eyes sparkled. "Really?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Where will we sleep?"

"..." Song Tan’s mind went blank for a second. Had only three minutes passed? Was it too late to take it back?

The little girl bounced with excitement. "Pei Qiu said Xixi’s bed is huge! We can all sleep together!"

Song Tan’s tension turned to amusement. "Who told you to call him that?"

"Hehe, Xixi is Daddy!"