Chapter 36

The Spring Festival holiday passed in a flash, feeling incredibly brief.

On the first day back at work, everyone at the Chunxiang Firm was still struggling to adjust, looking sluggish and lethargic. The only highlight was receiving the traditional "lucky money" to kick off the new year.

In truth, Shu Shiran and Dai Jiao were also struggling. Shu Shiran had barely managed to get out of bed that morning, but they couldn't show it in front of the others, so they resorted to venting in the office.

Dai Jiao took a sip of coffee and said, "Sharon, you have no idea. On my way here this morning, I thought about the clients bombarding me for proposals, and I nearly cried in the car."

Shu Shiran sighed. "I feel you. I'm waiting for feedback myself." One of the clients she was working with had promised feedback on the first workday after the holiday.

"I saw your social media posts over the break—you were out traveling the whole time?" Shu Shiran asked.

"Yeah," Dai Jiao replied. "The first day back home was fine, but by the second day, I was fighting with my parents constantly, so I had to escape. I really can't stand being with them for more than twenty-four hours."

Dai Jiao’s parents were both teachers—strict and somewhat controlling—while Dai Jiao was much more free-spirited.

"Sharon," Dai Jiao asked, "did you take Ji Xi home with you for the New Year?"

Shu Shiran nodded. "I did."

"Do you have to act like you're madly in love in front of the elders?" Dai Jiao asked. "That's how they always do it in dramas." Her entire understanding of elite arranged marriages came from television.

Shu Shiran remained silent.

This post-holiday malaise lasted only a day. By the next day, Dai Jiao had left for a business trip, and the firm returned to its normal rhythm.

That afternoon, Shu Shiran took Wu Tianqi and her assistant, Yuanyuan, to a construction site in Sucheng. After finishing up, they met with a client and had dinner. It was past eight by the time they returned, and Shu Shiran gave Wu Tianqi an address to take her to directly.

Wu Tianqi checked the location and asked, "Are you heading to another event tonight, Sister Ran?"

"Do you want to come?" Shu Shiran asked. It was a gathering organized by Cheng Yexiu, and Xu Ying had invited her and Zheng Tingyan.

"No thanks, Feng Kuan is waiting for me," Wu Tianqi replied. If Feng Kuan knew about this, he would definitely want to come, but Wu wanted him to give up, so it was better to keep their distance.

Shu Shiran checked the navigation’s estimated arrival time and messaged Ji Xi.
-Shu Shiran: I’ll be there in about fifteen minutes.

Ji Xi had also been invited by Cheng Yexiu, though he had a prior engagement and hadn't arrived yet.
-Ji Xi: I'll be a few minutes behind you.

Upon reaching the destination, Shu Shiran had just said goodbye to Wu Tianqi and Yuanyuan when she received a call from Xu Ying.

"Ranran, are you back in Nancheng?"

"Yes, I’m currently at—"

As she spoke and walked inside, she nearly collided with someone reeking of alcohol. Fortunately, she stopped just in time, but the person was holding a glass, and the wine splashed onto her. Pale yellow liquid spilled onto the floor, filling the air with the scent of spirits. She took two steps back.

"Shu Shiran?"

Hearing the voice, Shu Shiran looked up. It was Ji Xi’s half-brother, Ji Yang.

Over the phone, Xu Ying sensed the commotion. "Ranran, what’s wrong?"

"It's nothing, I almost bumped into someone," Shu Shiran replied.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I'm at the entrance; someone just spilled a drink on me. I'll be in soon."

After hanging up, she took out a tissue to wipe the alcohol off her clothes. It wasn't just on her coat; some had splashed into her hair, dampening the tips. She wiped at it for a moment, then noticed out of the corner of her eye that Ji Yang was still standing there. She looked up at him.

Ji Yang sneered, "How could you marry that bastard?"

When the news of their marriage broke, the entire Ji family had been shocked and furious. They couldn't fathom how Ji Xi had managed to get close to Shu Shiran. Marrying her was undoubtedly a massive boost for Ji Xi, who was already riding high above the Ji family.

In Ji Yang’s view, Shu Shiran and Ji Xi should have had no connection whatsoever. The only link he could think of was that they had both attended Chongjia High School, but he had never seen them interact back then. In comparison, he felt he was much closer to her. With so many people in their circle pining for Shu Shiran, he couldn't understand why she would marry someone like Ji Xi.

Shu Shiran frowned at his crude words, her expression turning cold. "He shares the same father as you. So, what does that make you?"

Ji Yang choked. He gave a forced laugh and said, "Married already, I see, defending him. I heard your relationship isn't that great—that he’s always out playing around."

"What does that have to do with you?"

Shu Shiran, impatient, gave her coat a few more cursory wipes and prepared to leave.

Ji Yang pointed at a lock of her hair she had missed. "You've still got some there—"

Suddenly, a hand reached out and intercepted his. Shu Shiran was pulled back gently, enveloped by a familiar scent.

Ji Yang, his hand blocked, was annoyed. "Ji Xi, what are you doing?"

Ji Xi looked at Shu Shiran, his gaze landing on her coat.

"I almost bumped into him, and he spilled his drink on me," Shu Shiran explained.

Ji Xi finally turned to look at Ji Yang, asking coldly, "What are *you* doing?"

Watching the two of them together, Ji Yang felt a surge of irritation. He had been particularly angry since hearing about their marriage, partly because his cousin, Ji Tang, had once tried to set him up with Shu Shiran. She had told him it was time to settle down and that a match between the Ji and Shu families would be beneficial. Shu Shiran had been beautiful since childhood, and Ji Yang hadn't been entirely indifferent, but there were too many temptations around, and they hadn't crossed paths much after graduation. Now, hearing that she had married Ji Xi, he couldn't help but think, *What does he have that I don't?*

Ji Yang couldn't stand seeing Ji Xi act so arrogant. He scoffed, "Do you think your money makes you any different? A bastard is a bastard for life—you’ll never be respectable. People only play along because they need something from you, but everyone knows exactly what you are." He glanced at Shu Shiran. "They’ll all leave you sooner or later, just like your mother—"

Shu Shiran was standing so close to Ji Xi that she felt his aura suddenly turn icy. For a split second, the ambient temperature seemed to plummet.

Ji Yang’s voice cut off abruptly, a chill running down his spine.

Then, Ji Xi let out a soft, mocking laugh. "Is that so? Well, at least they’re all putting on a good show for now." His tone was his usual lazy, sardonic drawl. "Your family is quite impressive, too. I love how they’re forced to act out of greed for my money, even though it clearly pains them to do so."

Ji Xi looked at him and added, "If they weren't working so hard, you probably wouldn't even be able to get into a place like this today."

Ji Yang’s face flushed with rage.

Just then, the club manager hurried over. "Mr. Ji, Young Master Ji, Miss Shu, why are you all standing here?"

Ji Yang was unhappy with the manager’s use of the title "Mr. Ji" for his half-brother. The manager forced a smile and asked, "Are you leaving so soon, Young Master Ji?"

Ji Yang, not wanting to be a laughingstock and feeling he had lost face by failing to finish his insult, scowled. "I have another place to be." He shoved the glass he had been holding into the manager’s hand and left.

The manager turned to Shu Shiran and Ji Xi. "Mr. Ji, Miss Shu, shall I have someone show you to your private room?"

"No need," Ji Xi replied. He took Shu Shiran’s arm through her coat, and they walked inside.

The club was brightly lit, their shadows stretching out over the marble floor. Shu Shiran stared at the ground, her mind lingering on the encounter. Although Ji Yang had been thoroughly rattled, his words had been cruel and direct. It was the first time she had heard anything about Ji Xi’s mother; judging by Ji Yang’s tone, it sounded as though she had abandoned him.

The silence between them was heavy. Shu Shiran opened her mouth to say something, but stopped—anything she said would only circle back to what Ji Yang had just spewed. She had felt Ji Xi’s emotional shift; if it were her, she wouldn't want her partner to witness such a demeaning confrontation.

"Do you want me to have someone bring you a change of clothes?" Ji Xi’s voice broke the silence, still carrying a lingering chill.

Shu Shiran paused. "No, it's fine." Only the coat was dirty; her sweater underneath should be clean.

Ji Xi gave a short "hm."

They continued in silence until they saw Zheng Tingyan.

"Ranran!"

"Why are you out here?" Shu Shiran asked.

Zheng Tingyan greeted Ji Xi before explaining, "Ying said you had a little trouble at the door. She couldn't get away, so she sent me to check on you. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, just almost bumped into someone and got some wine on my coat."

"You ran into Ji Yang?" Zheng Tingyan asked, surprised. "Nancheng is really small; enemies always cross paths." She added, "Did you guys argue?"

Shu Shiran nodded.

"That explains it." Zheng Tingyan knew Ji Yang was a profligate among profligates. The Ji family currently loathed Ji Xi, so Ji Yang would naturally be hostile. "But I doubt Ji Yang could get the better of Ji Xi." In her eyes, Ji Yang was good for nothing but partying and spending money; he was no match for a man like Ji Xi.

After freshening up, Shu Shiran took her coat and headed to the private room with Zheng Tingyan. The room was dim, and stepping in from the bright hallway felt like entering a different world.