Ji Nian was gaining quite the experience, and it was no wonder—it was the male lead's birthday.
The entire Gu Family estate had been transformed into a massive theme park, complete with actors dressed as popular cartoon characters from trending IPs, serving as NPCs.
Even though Ji Nian wasn’t actually a child, she found herself thoroughly entertained.
“Do you like it?”
Seeing the child completely absorbed, Ji Tingzhou asked her in a low voice.
Ji Nian gestured for him to bend down.
Of course, it wouldn’t be elegant for the man to bend over while walking just to hear Ji Nian’s whispers.
So, he picked her up instead, allowing him to hear her without constantly bending over.
Ji Nian leaned close to his ear and whispered, “I prefer round-bottom flasks, preferably 5000 milliliters.”
Ji Tingzhou chuckled softly, glancing at the child who was openly asking for a gift. He replied lazily, “Noted.”
A mere round-bottom flask? As long as Ji Nian wasn’t playing with something disgusting, he could give her anything.
Of course, urine was also out of the question.
...
Gu Jing received the news that Ji Tingzhou had arrived just as he finished discussing matters with someone.
Five minutes earlier—
“If you don’t believe me, you can try it out.”
“The old lady’s illness isn’t difficult to treat.”
In the reception room, the man sitting across from Gu Jing pushed a wooden box toward him, smiling faintly.
Gu Jing’s expression darkened slightly as he replied in a low voice, “I’ll consider your conditions. Once I’ve tested it, the results will determine my answer.”
He had someone take the wooden box and leave.
Gu Jing’s secretary looked troubled and said, “Mr. Gu, if it works, are we really going to agree to his terms?”
“Are we really going to provoke the Ji Family?”
“The head of the Ji Family rarely makes public appearances. This time, he suddenly agreed to attend the young master’s birthday party. Does he know something?”
Gu Jing didn’t respond, his face clouded with worry.
For businessmen, seeking profit and avoiding harm was second nature, and someone like Gu Jing had taken this principle to the extreme. But this time, on the other side of the scale was his elderly mother’s life.
Closing his eyes briefly at the corner, he stepped out and, upon seeing Gu Xiuyuan, immediately regained his composure as a steady father.
“Mr. Ji.”
He walked over with Gu Xiuyuan toward the tall, striking figure.
Regardless of whether Ji Tingzhou knew something or what his purpose was for being here, on the surface, he was just a father bringing his daughter to attend Gu Xiuyuan’s birthday party.
“Mr. Gu.”
Ji Tingzhou nodded politely and, as a courtesy, said to the little boy standing beside his father, who looked like a miniature adult, “Happy birthday.”
Gu Xiuyuan replied very properly, “Thank you, Mr. Ji.”
Then, his gaze involuntarily shifted to the two girls standing beside Ji Tingzhou.
Shen Qingtang, as usual, blinked at him when she saw him, as if to say, “I’m here.”
Gu Xiuyuan’s polite smile turned genuine.
Next, he glanced reservedly at Ji Nian.
But she didn’t even spare him a look, instead busying herself by picking at the seam of her father’s pants.
She’d rather pick at her dad’s pants than look at him! Not even once!
Gu Xiuyuan shouted angrily in his heart.
The adults had their own matters to discuss, leaving the children to their own devices.
Especially since Ji Tingzhou was here today, the people around couldn’t help but gravitate toward him. Those with sharper instincts were already instructing their children to befriend Ji Nian.
Everyone’s eyes were subtly fixed on Ji Tingzhou, waiting for the right moment to strike up a conversation when the setting shifted.
Under everyone’s watchful gaze, Ji Tingzhou called the child over and instructed, “Tonight, you’re only allowed one drink, no more than two desserts, stay away from the pool and the grass, don’t eat anything from strangers, don’t follow anyone you don’t know, and wash your hands twice after using the restroom.”
Then he turned to Shen Qingtang and said, “Keep an eye on her.”
Shen Qingtang nodded solemnly, taking on the responsibility.
Of course, he had already secretly instructed Wei Yang to follow them discreetly.
Ji Nian listened to the series of “don’ts” and felt her head spinning.
[I miss the carefree princess from the beginning…]
Who is this nagging mother hen?
The others listening to Ji Tingzhou’s long list of instructions were equally stunned: So this is what Ji Tingzhou is like in private…
It made the other parents seem utterly inadequate in comparison.
Thus, the children, who were supposed to be having fun, were inexplicably subjected to a barrage of “rules” from their parents.
A world where only the children suffered had been achieved.
Ji Tingzhou couldn’t care less about the others. He stared at Ji Nian, pondering whether he should add one more rule: stay away from boys.
Ji Nian couldn’t take it anymore.
She whispered, “Dad, you’re embarrassing me.”
Seeing her pitiful, resentful expression, Ji Tingzhou pinched her cheek and said, “Who dares to laugh at you?”
As he spoke, his gaze swept indifferently across the room.
Those who met his eyes instinctively put on their most polite smiles.
After Ji Nian’s complaint, he didn’t nag further.
He waited for the child to say, “See you later, Dad,” before turning to leave.
As soon as he left, everyone else followed.
From Ji Nian’s perspective, her father looked like a princess being escorted by a crowd of ministers, making a grand exit.
With the adults gone, the scene became a paradise for the children.
Having been instructed by their parents, the children naturally gravitated toward Ji Nian.
Of course, even without the instructions, Ji Nian’s striking appearance—with her dark hair and green eyes—was enough to draw the attention of her peers.
Who wouldn’t want to play with a pretty little sister?
However, Ji Nian wasn’t actually a five-year-old child. She walked straight over to the birthday boy, Gu Xiuyuan, who was talking to Shen Qingtang.
[Although they’re still in the childhood friends stage, he’s truly the male lead. Look at how focused he is, only talking to Shen Qingtang.]
[It’s kind of adorable.]
Focused·Gu Xiuyuan: She’s coming over, she’s coming over, she’s coming over!
Gu Xiuyuan had made up his mind to be polite and distant, as if he didn’t know Ji Nian at all!
This time, Ji Nian didn’t ignore him.
Her first words were, “Hey, last time I let you see the fireflies for free.”
Her second sentence was a direct request: “Can I see your milk?”
Gu Xiuyuan’s mind exploded. By the time he processed what he’d just heard, the well-mannered little boy, raised in an elite environment surrounded by civilized people, felt as if he’d been struck by lightning.
His face turned as red as a boiled shrimp, and his composure shattered completely.
“You… you… how can you be so shameless!”
Last time, she wanted to see… that… and now she’s switching to a new topic!
“You’re disgraceful!”
Gu Xiuyuan glared at Ji Nian furiously, all pretense of politeness and distance forgotten.
A boy’s dignity was a precious thing. How could she so casually ask him for such a thing? No, he absolutely couldn’t agree.
But his father had told him to find a way to get along with her.
Could it be… could it be that he had to…
Gu Xiuyuan’s small hands trembled with humiliation.
In the past, Han Xin endured the humiliation of crawling between someone’s legs. Was he now destined to suffer the indignity of showing his milk?
Gu Xiuyuan had always known he was the heir, and his education had emphasized the importance of the family and the business.
Thinking of Ji Nian’s status, the little boy’s long eyelashes fluttered.
Finally…
Gu Xiuyuan looked at Ji Nian with a resolute, almost martyr-like expression. He raised his hand and slowly began to undo his bowtie, his voice trembling uncontrollably: “Okay…”
Ji Nian, standing opposite him: ?
I just wanted to visit the old lady. Why is this little brat taking off his clothes?
