Chapter 059: Realizing They Were Dating After the Fact

Chapter 059: Realizing They Were Dating After the Fact

Ji Pushu hadn't thought about the problem of who to choose ever since she let it go.

She was now in the ranks of hardworking career women, spending her days either at the company or at home fooling around with Qin Ce.

With Qin Ce's guidance behind the scenes, she grew quickly. When she went out, people called her Young President Ji, and she enjoyed the admiration in people's eyes.

Father Ji was very relieved. From now on, even if the company were handed over to this little princess, he wouldn't have to worry about it being devoured down to the last scrap.

Today, having just returned from the company, Ji Pushu went back to the Ji family home for dinner to spend some time with her father. It really wouldn't be right if she never came home.

As for Qin Ce, he seemed to be busy.

For now, he was still pretending to have a broken leg. She had no idea what scheme he was cooking up.

Ji Pushu didn't ask. She was sure that if she did, Qin Ce would tell her.

But her gut told her that this was something she couldn't help with, so it was better not to pry. Knowing too much would only be a burden.

"Shushu, how are things going with you and Qin Ce? If your relationship is stable, bring him home for a meal." Father Ji was quite satisfied with Qin Ce as a person.

Although he regretted that Qin Ce was in a wheelchair, since his daughter had chosen to be with him anyway, as an elder, he didn't want to be a spoilsport. The matter should be settled.

They weren't getting any younger. Life was short—where was the time to waste year after year?

"Huh?" Ji Pushu was startled. "Me and Brother Ce?"

Father Ji nodded. "Yes. Haven't you two been dating for almost three years now? Since you don't mind Qin Ce's condition now, bring him home for a meal and at least make it official."

"Huh?" Ji Pushu was even more confused. "Brother Ce and I are dating?"

Her response confused Father Ji.

"You're not dating? If you're not, then how come you're together all the time, inseparable?" Father Ji looked at her suspiciously. "You're not planning to be the one who walks away after having your fun, are you?"

He highly suspected that this little princess was capable of such a thing. Though she hadn't inherited his playboy tendencies, she certainly had his knack for wanting the best of everything.

"It's not that..." Ji Pushu was just realizing the issue. She and Qin Ce had never explicitly said they were together!

They had never confirmed their relationship face-to-face. It was just something that happened naturally, like water finding its course.

Father Ji could tell there was a minor issue here, but it probably wasn't a big deal.

"You young people, figure it out yourselves." He didn't want to meddle and create problems.

Ji Pushu didn't stay long at home.

Father Ji wasn't lonely. In recent years, perhaps because he was getting older or had grown bored of the philandering, he had stopped looking for mistresses and focused on his family.

When he had married Jiang Hui, it was for her own sake and for her child's sake. At this age, what was there to talk about when it came to love? They had to be realistic. So she turned a blind eye to his affairs outside the marriage, and she couldn't control him anyway, as long as he provided her with a lavish life.

Now, they got along quite well, with the easy harmony of an old married couple.

Jiang Hanwei had her own job and had moved out long ago, coming home once or twice a week.

She was at home today.

The two sisters left together, exchanging a few casual words with hardly anything to say.

Jiang Hanwei was still being pestered by He Su, but she hadn't relented yet, so the two were at a standoff.

"By the way, sis, I heard a tall, rich, and handsome guy has returned from studying abroad. His family is pretty well-off too. Have you met him?" She recalled the recent gossip.

"I have." Ji Pushu nodded. "I've not only met him, he even tried to date me. Can you believe it, in this day and age, he still sent ninety-nine red roses? So tacky."

She could list a bunch of flaws. "Anyway, he's nowhere near Qin Ce. His complexion isn't as good, he's not tall enough, his physique isn't great, and his voice isn't nice either."

"..." Jiang Hanwei was speechless for a couple of seconds. "I think Qin Ce is absolutely perfect in your eyes."

Everyone has flaws. But when you like someone, their flaws become endearing traits. That's when you really know you're in love.

Ji Pushu hadn't realized this herself.

"Exactly." She nodded frankly.

"Sis, I think you and Qin Ce are perfect for each other. Really." Jiang Hanwei sincerely offered her blessings.

Their personalities just unexpectedly clicked.

Ji Pushu's lips curled up in smugness. "Of course!"

The man she had fallen for at first sight—of course he was the perfect match.

·

But on the way back, Ji Pushu was mulling over a question.

Was she with Qin Ce because she had no other options, or did she actually like him?

At first, her pursuit had been with a purpose. But Qin Ce wasn't the center of the universe or the most amazing person. There were plenty of people more capable than him. Yet he was the only one who had blown her away at first sight—the only one she wanted to win over.

When she got home, Ji Pushu looked up photos of many people from their social circle—outstanding talents like a medical PhD, a researcher, and others.

Aside from Qin Ce, many from prestigious families were equally well-mannered and charismatic, each excelling in their own field.

But when she looked at them, she acknowledged they were excellent and impressive, yet she felt no spark, let alone any desire to consider them as options.

They all came from the same social circle. They had seen each other at social functions with their parents, even if they didn't interact much. If she really wanted to get to know them, it wouldn't have been difficult.

It was hopeless.

Ji Pushu put down her phone, staring blankly. She really did... like Qin Ce. Not because he was her only choice for a bunch of reasons.

In other words, he could also be considered her only choice.

Ahhh!

As a selfish and vain person, she should only love money and power. How could she be foolish enough to actually fall for a man!

Loving a man is the beginning of a tragedy.

Like now. Qin Ce clearly hadn't broken his leg, yet he had kept it from her, deceived her for so long—was he just testing her? Was he laughing at her behind her back?

Now everything had happened between them, but he hasn't even confessed once. He's a sly, cunning liar.

Sure, she was the one who initiated things. But when your feelings change, your perspective changes too. You get all emotional. In any case, it's all Qin Ce's fault—his entire fault—because he didn't do enough!

The more Ji Pushu thought about it, the more upset and angry she felt. She sat cross-legged on the sofa, clutching a cushion, about to cry.

Tears were falling, drop by drop.

"What's wrong? Who made you angry? Why are you crying out of nowhere?"

Qin Ce came back from outside and saw Ji Pushu crying. He waved his hand, and all the servants quietly left.

He walked over, bent down, and wanted to wipe away her tears, but Ji Pushu just let out a heavy, nasal snort, turned her head, and dodged his hand.

"If there's a problem, we talk it through. This kind of cliché, dramatic scene shouldn't appear in our lives," Qin Ce said, his voice steady.

He set his coat aside, sat down, and despite Ji Pushu's struggles, pulled her into his lap, forcing her to look at him.

"Now you can tell me, what did I do wrong, or what did I forget, that made you angry?" Qin Ce had never seen her cry before, and it hurt him deeply. His voice was gentle and doting as he softly wiped away her tears with his fingers.

"You never even confessed to me! When two people start dating, there has to be a proper confession. Everyone else got one, but I didn't," Ji Pushu accused.

Even Jiang Hanwei had one back then, and her social media was full of lovey-dovey posts that day. Now it was her turn, and she had nothing.

"And you lied to me too. You pretended your legs weren't broken, and you kept it from me without saying a word. You're not being honest at all!"

Even though she herself hadn't been honest at first, her first thought being whether to continue or not, that didn't stop her from blaming Qin Ce for everything now.

Qin Ce listened seriously. She still had the energy to talk, so she was fine. "Mm, those two things are definitely my fault. Anything else?"

"... " Ji Pushu saw him admit it so fast, and she couldn't even muster any crocodile tears. "No, that's it."

Then she added, fierce, "But these two are already major crimes! Heinous crimes!"

Qin Ce curled his lips, a smile in his eyes. "Then can this sinner get permission from the judge to have a chance to make it up to you?"

His good temper and patience were all saved for Ji Pushu.

"It depends on how you atone," Ji Pushu said, feeling smug about his good attitude, her eyelashes still wet, making her look even more adorable and naive.

"How about I give you the Qin family as a peace offering for hiding the fact that my legs weren't broken? That's what you've always wanted, right? As for the confession, I've already arranged it."

But what Qin Ce said next shocked Ji Pushu.

"You're giving me the Qin family? Didn't Qin Jie already inherit it?"

As she spoke, she saw the mysterious smile on Qin Ce's face, and she knew he was up to something.

"Brother Ce, did you fake your leg injury on purpose just to take down the Qin family?" Ji Pushu asked, looking surprised.

After all, Qin Ce was part of the Qin family himself, and now he was turning against his own family—that was really shocking.

"Shushu's really smart." Qin Ce's praise didn't make Ji Pushu happy; she just pouted in response. Wasn't it obvious?

But she still didn't get it. "Why? I get that you hate Uncle Qin and Qin Jie, but there's no need to go this far, is there?"

"If I hadn't done this, how could I have made them let their guard down and run wild?" Qin Ce didn't want to tell her too much about the ugly side of things.

"Anyway, in about ten days, the Qin family is yours."

The Qin family's assets are extensive, so it's not like the whole thing would collapse. It would just change hands and shrink some.

Ji Pushu thought it over seriously and then shook her head. "Forget it, I don't want the Qin family. But you can give me a few projects to practice on. As long as I have you, the Qin family is mine anyway—it's no different."

She knew her own abilities and the strength of the Ji family. She couldn't possibly take it all. If she naively thought she could easily control it, she would only fall from a height. Just dealing with other families competing with the Qin family would be exhausting.

"The Qin family's projects aren't suitable for you, but LJ's are. If you follow along, you can make the transition," Qin Ce said with a faint smile, not surprised by her choice.

She wasn't exceptionally smart, but she wasn't stupid either—she knew her limits.

Ji Pushu caught the implication. "Brother Ce, what's your relationship with LJ?"

"That's my own company. It's doing reasonably well now," Qin Ce said calmly, something that would make anyone else proud.

Ji Pushu was stunned!

"Reasonably well"? It was skyrocketing!

"Brother Ce! What else are you hiding from me?" Ji Pushu demanded, hands on her hips, cheeks puffed in anger.

"Well... actually, the first time I saw you was abroad. You were traveling with friends, got lost on your own, and asked someone for directions."

Qin Ce recalled, looking at her with extraordinary tenderness. "It was winter, snowing. Your face was red from the cold, like a little lost rabbit. I thought, if you ran into a big bad wolf, you'd be devoured without a trace."

Ji Pushu fell into memory.

This was several years ago.

She was just a freshman then, traveling with a group of fair-weather friends to a small town in Europe, and she got lost.

Back then, she met someone wearing a hat, sunglasses, a trench coat, and a scarf—she couldn't see their face. From the figure and fluent foreign language, she thought they were a local. After asking for directions, she didn't pay much attention, just wanted to get back quickly.

"That was you..." Ji Pushu never knew that she had met Qin Ce so early without realizing it.

"Yes." Qin Ce took her hand. "A brief encounter—I remembered it for a long time, but I didn't go looking. I left fate to time. Later, after I returned home, I didn't expect you to come up to me. I recognized you. Your character was completely different from the naive girl I first met—you weren't that innocent at all. But surprisingly, I found it very interesting. Gradually, I became more and more invested. I listened carefully to every message you sent; I didn't miss a single one."

This sounded like a confession. Ji Pushu's heart was sweet. She hugged Qin Ce and laughed happily. "Hehe, did Brother Ce name LJ 'Love Ji Pushu'?"

"Really smart." Qin Ce smiled and tapped her nose. "I came back to deal with the Qin family, of course. I thought for a long time about moving and restructuring the industry. Then I ran into you again, and you came up to me with all those funny attempts at pursuing me, so I thought, why not use that name?"

He wouldn't make up sweet lies to please her, so this was naturally the truth.

Ji Pushu teased, "Brother Ce, you're a secret love-brain."

"Yeah, my brain isn't quite normal. Do you mind?"

"No, I love it!" Who wouldn't love their man being a love-brain for them?

"From the heart?"

"Kiss me!"

Ji Pushu lifted her head and pressed her lips against his to shut him up.

"You..."

At times like this, Qin Ce indulged her. He didn't have the habit of forcing a clear answer.

He also enjoyed Ji Pushu's initiative.

He stroked her hair, pulled her closer, and deepened this kiss of mutual understanding.