Chapter 79

Chapter 79

◎ A Golden Path Ahead. (I’m on it!!!) ◎

Is that Jiang Baixi’s mom, Ms. Zheng Minman?

But she looks way too young, doesn’t she? Because according to what’s written in that novel, the ages don’t add up at all—this gorgeous woman in front of me can’t be over thirty, while Ms. Zheng Minman, who has four children, is already over sixty. Even if rich people are great at maintaining their looks and willing to spend a fortune on it, can they really look over thirty years younger?

Meng Qi’s lips moved, but the words “Hello, Auntie” that were already on the tip of his tongue just wouldn’t come out.

“Little Meng Qi, don’t you recognize your second sister anymore?”

The gorgeous woman raised a hand to touch her own bright red lips, then tilted her head to meet Meng Qi’s gaze, her eyes crinkled like crescent moons, a sly smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “I just got a little lip filler done, nothing else has changed much. Is it really that drastic? Even you can’t recognize me?”

So it was Jiang Baixi’s second sister, Jiang Yunxi—the sharpest businesswoman of the three Jiang sisters!

The moment he realized who she was, a description of Jiang Yunxi from that book immediately flashed through Meng Qi’s mind: nine years older than Jiang Baixi, now thirty-one, married, but because she and her photographer husband are firm believers in being childfree, they’ve had no children to this day.

Before marriage, she loved traveling the world, going everywhere, and during a trip through the Borneo rainforest, she met and fell in love with her husband, Xun Ting. After that, she went from flying solo to flying with him, and after two years of traveling together, they got married in a whirlwind. After getting married, they settled down and each focused on their own careers.

Jiang Yunxi runs her own film company and also serves as vice president of the Jiang Group. Meanwhile, her photographer husband, Xun Ting, specializes in jungle exploration photography, doing commercial shoots and hosting personal exhibitions. He’s supposedly already held several themed photography shows, each time drawing crowds of photography and jungle exploration enthusiasts so big they pack the whole venue.

Meng Qi remembered this couple so vividly not just because of their uniquely successful careers, which were refreshing, but also because of how unconventional they were in everyday life. When they got married, they set up their home inside the Jiang family’s old mansion, and they’ve lived and eaten there ever since, with no plans to buy another house from then to now. This decision led many outsiders who didn’t know the full story to mistakenly think Xun Ting had married into the Jiang family. You’d think he’d feel uncomfortable about that, but the opposite was true—Xun Ting himself didn’t care at all what others thought or said about him, living life quite freely. And besides him, no one in the Jiang family minded either, so he got along with them so well that people in the dark might mistake him for the Jiang couple’s biological son.

Jiang Baixi really liked his second brother-in-law, occasionally tagging along on less dangerous jungle trips for a few days, then sharing the stories with Ren Suiyi afterward.

But whenever the “Meng Qi” in the book wanted to hear about it too, Jiang Baixi would often say, “I’m tired, I don’t want to talk about it,” or “I forgot, I can’t go on,” which was pretty annoying. This would lead to arguments between the book’s “Meng Qi” and him, eventually forcing Ren Suiyi to step in as a mediator…

But that’s getting off track. Let’s get back to the moment Meng Qi realized who was standing in front of him.

Once he knew the gorgeous woman before him was Jiang Yunxi, Meng Qi immediately went on high alert. He dared not try any tricks in front of her—someone who could single-handedly take a film company public had to be incredibly sharp, no need to think twice about that!

Meng Qi quietly took a deep breath, then forced a smile onto his face, making sure it looked natural and not too stiff or fake. Only then did he dare to obediently call out “Second Sister.”

Jiang Baixi’s third sister, Jiang Lingxi, and Jiang Baixi himself both loved and feared their second sister. From the moment Jiang Yunxi appeared, they’d instantly turn into well-behaved little kittens. Over time, even the book’s “Meng Qi” became cautious and restrained around her.

Not to mention the male lead, Ren Suiyi, who also acted differently around Jiang Yunxi, unconsciously toning down his usual edge.

Meng Qi was especially careful, terrified that a single misstep might let Jiang Yunxi see right through him.

Luckily, all the younger ones were afraid of her, and she knew it. So when Meng Qi became unusually tense after seeing her, she took it as a normal reaction. When he called out “Second Sister” in a pitiful tone, her heart instantly softened. She looked at him like he was a trembling little white rabbit, her eyes sparkling with mischief. She couldn’t help reaching out to pinch his still-lingering baby-fat cheeks, then teased him with an exaggerated grin, “Finally recognized me as your second sister, huh?”

Meng Qi awkwardly stepped back to dodge her attack, then gave a sheepish smile. “I always knew who you were, Second Sister. It’s just that you’re so beautiful today, I didn’t react in time.”

“Oh, what a sweet talker! You’re much more likable than your Brother Baixi. He only says nice things when he needs something from me—such a pain.” When she mentioned Jiang Baixi, Jiang Yunxi’s smile was radiant. It was clear she genuinely meant the compliment for Meng Qi, and equally clear she wasn’t truly annoyed with Jiang Baixi. Her affection for him was obvious, overwhelming, so vast that the entire Jiang family mansion couldn’t contain it.

Meng Qi, knowing his place, played along. “Brother Baixi is always bragging about how great you are in front of us, Second Sister. It drives us crazy with envy—he really is annoying.”

“Hahahaha, am I not good to you? Why envy him?” Jiang Yunxi laughed, covering her mouth. Clearly, Meng Qi’s words had hit the spot.

But whether she was good to him or not, Meng Qi had no idea. Still, he knew how to say the right things. “Of course you are, but compared to Brother Baixi, it’s just a tiny bit less. And that tiny bit is enough to make us jealous for ages.”

“You little rascal, are you hinting at me? Fine, I’ll spoil you now so you don’t have to envy your Brother Baixi anymore.” After saying this, Jiang Yunxi’s face suddenly turned serious. She furrowed her brows at Meng Qi and asked in a deep tone, “Second Sister asks you—have you been having trouble lately? How much more money do you need?”

A chill swept through the air, hitting Meng Qi like a cold front. He blinked, and his heart felt drenched by an icy wave, making him shiver again… As his smile vanished, he glanced nervously at Jiang Yunxi and mumbled, “Second Sister.”

That was the power of a strong woman—just looking at you without expression could make you feel like you’d walked through a frozen wasteland.

“Let me tell you, I was already here when you were on the phone earlier, so don’t tell me nothing’s wrong. If it were nothing, would you be scrambling for money? Getting that excited over just a million or so?”

Meng Qi: …

Jiang Yunxi’s focus was truly unique—her reason for thinking he was short on cash was… honestly laughable and left him feeling like he’d punched a cotton ball, unsure how to respond.

“Don’t worry, Second Sister won’t tell anyone. A man’s pride is precious—I get it. Just tell me how much more you need, and I’ll give it to you. You can pay me back quietly later.”

The ice melted, and spring returned.

“Second Sister…”

In just a few minutes, with just a few words, Meng Qi inexplicably felt like crying.

Were all rich people this generous and kind? Or was he just lucky to meet wealthy folks who were kind and generous?

“Thank you, Second Sister, but I don’t need any more money. I’ve… I’ve already got enough.” Meng Qi sniffled, lowering his head to answer Jiang Yunxi, not daring to let her see his embarrassment.

Jiang Yunxi reached up and ruffled Meng Qi’s hair. Good thing he was looking down—otherwise, someone barely 1.7 meters tall trying to pat the head of someone over 1.8 meters wouldn’t be easy. Her movements were gentle, warm, and carried an undeniable sense of attachment.

Then she said to him, “Silly little brother, Second Sister has watched you all grow up. We may not be blood-related, but I’ve always treated you like my own little brothers. Life won’t always be smooth sailing, but it won’t always be muddy either. Second Sister believes you have a bright future ahead. So when you face difficulties, don’t get discouraged, don’t give up easily, and don’t take the wrong path, okay? Always remember—the people standing behind you are no ordinary folks.”

It was probably the “don’t take the wrong path” part that was the main reason Jiang Yunxi offered to lend him money. Understanding this, Meng Qi perked up, nodded at her, and said solemnly, “I won’t, Second Sister. Don’t worry—I’m a true-blue successor to the socialist cause.”

“What a cheeky kid,” Jiang Yunxi laughed again. This time, she couldn’t reach his head, so she patted his shoulder instead, smiling warmly. “You don’t want to talk about it, fine. Second Sister won’t push you. Just make sure you know what you’re doing.”

“Thank you, Second Sister.” Meng Qi thanked her sincerely.

Jiang Yunxi smiled without another word, but she pulled out her phone and tapped a few times. Soon, Meng Qi heard his phone ring. He looked at her, and she waved her phone at him before saying, “Second Sister sent you some money. Use it for now, and ask me for more if it’s not enough.”

“And remember—if something comes up, tell me right away. Don’t bottle it up. You young folks can’t handle too heavy a load yet. Even if you have to, wait until you’re truly independent. Pass that on to Baixi and the others for me, too. Bad things need to be nipped in the bud early. Second Sister—or the other adults in the Jiang, Meng, and Ren families—aren’t exactly eager to clean up your messes.”

The words were harsh, but Meng Qi was genuinely moved. The warmth of this other world easily made his eyes red. He couldn’t help stepping forward to hug Jiang Yunxi, choking out “Second Sister” several times in a row. If he hadn’t been abandoned, maybe his own sister would have doted on him like this second sister did.

Jiang Yunxi patted his shoulder, comforting him with a laugh. “Alright, alright. A man doesn’t cry easily. Don’t get all mushy. Go find Baixi and the others to play.”

Not until Jiang Yunxi had disappeared did Meng Qi open his phone to check the transfer, counting how many digits she’d sent.

Alright! Now he truly didn’t need to worry about money anymore, nor did he have to take risks for it.

The path ahead wasn’t just “bright”—it was completely “golden”! As he walked back to the screening room, Meng Qi’s steps were as light as flying, a world apart from when he’d slipped out to use the bathroom. Even Jiang Baixi, who was watching the movie through his fingers, noticed the change. He looked over, sizing him up and teasing, “Feeling better? No need to keep trying to cheer you up, huh?”

Uh…

As if anyone had been cheering him up—wasn’t it more like they were annoying him?!

Meng Qi pouted inwardly, tempted to snap back at Jiang Baixi, but with several million yuan already in his account, he chose not to argue.

The movie ran for 160 minutes, nearly three hours. By the time the post-credits scene appeared, it was almost ten at night. The Jiang family naturally didn’t feel comfortable letting Ren Suiyi and the other two drive back at that hour, so the Jiang couple, who had returned early, insisted they stay. Unable to refuse, they agreed to spend the night at the Jiang mansion and head back the next morning.

“That’s right. You’ve stayed here before when you were kids. There’s no reason to be so formal with us now that you’re older,” Zheng Minman said softly, instructing the servants to prepare the guest rooms. “Clean out the three rooms next to Baixi’s, so the four brothers can sleep close together. They might want to mess around a bit before bed.”

“Auntie, I want to sleep with my brother. Just prepare two rooms,” Meng Kaize said.

Zheng Minman turned to look at Meng Kaize and smiled. “Alright, two rooms it is. You’re all grown up now—you shouldn’t be fighting anymore, right?”

Meng Kaize’s face flushed slightly as he waved his hand. “No, we won’t.”

“That’s good. Brothers should get along.”

Meng Qi's mouth twitched. If he had a choice, he really didn't want to be "playing nice" tonight. One room per person was just fine—there was no need to squeeze together and sleep...

"Mom, why bother cleaning the guest rooms? My bed is big enough for all four of us. Let them sleep in my room," Jiang Baixi said, tugging on Zheng Minman's arm, acting spoiled as he made the suggestion.

Zheng Minman scolded him playfully. "Nonsense. How can you treat guests like this? People would laugh at you if they heard about it."

Jiang Baixi pouted, then turned and nudged Meng Qi with his shoulder. "What do you think?"

Of course, he thought one room per person was better! But if he had to choose between sharing a room with Meng Kaize or sharing one with Jiang Baixi, Ren Suiyi, and Meng Kaize, he'd lean toward the latter. With more people making a racket, who would even notice him! With that thought, he cast his vote for Jiang Baixi. "Auntie, let's go with what Brother Baixi said. Besides, it'll be a good chance for Brother Yiyi to tell Xiaoze about things to watch out for during the trip before bed."

"In that case, we'll do as you say. But when it comes to these matters, Xunting is far more knowledgeable than Suiyi. Once Xunting comes back, I'll have him go to Baixi's room to find you all and give you a proper talk."

"Why use a sledgehammer to kill a fly?" Meng Qi refused bluntly.

That was about as crude as it gets. Before coming here, he could say whatever he wanted, but saying something like that here was a bit out of place. So as soon as he finished speaking, everyone in the room froze for a moment, and the room went quiet.

Just as Meng Qi, realizing his mistake, was looking down, wishing the ground would swallow him up, Ren Suiyi squeezed his neck and laughed first. "Brother Xunting will be really happy to hear you praise him like that."

The others followed suit, laughing as well.

"Author's Note"

I'm hammered, my head's spinning.

My writing career is about to face its first lockdown—let's just treat it like "a college student who's never cut class isn't a real college student" and commemorate it that way...