When Ji Yueniann announced her plans to take someone mountain climbing over the mini-holiday, everyone voiced their approval, but as for who she was bringing, nobody asked.
Just like Hu Li and Yao Shiming, Luo Yikang and Liu Yao—everyone knew the other had secrets, but all kept silent, never exposing the truth.
When Ji Yueniann returned home after school and told her parents and older brother about her plan to go hiking with classmates over the holiday, the three of them each reacted differently.
“Going hiking? Oh, have fun.” Huang Qingchuan, applying a face mask, responded absentmindedly upon hearing her second son wanted to go hiking with classmates during the mini-holiday.
But just as Ji Yueniann was turning to find Ji Hong, she was stopped by Huang Qingchuan, who had her sit down. Supporting her cheeks with both hands, Huang Qingchuan wore a worried expression.
“Yueyue, I feel like Xiao Rourou’s acting strange lately. She hardly goes out shopping with me anymore.”
“Aren’t you getting along quite well with Xiao Rourou’s A Chi recently? Could you ask Xiao Rourou for me, see what’s up with her?”
Ji Yueniann could only look on with a deadpan face.
“Hiking with friends?”
When Ji Hong heard about Ji Yueniann’s holiday plans, he frowned at first, then went into the study and handed her a book, “Thirty-Six Strategies for Treating Depression,” as if it were a secret weapon.
“Have a good time. Show them more of the beautiful scenery, don’t just focus on eating.”
“For a patient to recover from depression, they need the care and love of others. Since you’ve chosen her, as a man of the Ji family, you must take responsibility.”
Ji Hong’s warm, strong hand landed on Ji Yueniann’s shoulder with a heartfelt pat. His face was serious, but there was a hint of satisfaction amid the sternness.
Ji Yueniann opened her mouth, wanting to explain it was just a friend, not a girlfriend, but when she met her father’s gaze—like a farmer seeing his piglet finally rooting for cabbage—all words were swallowed back down.
“What? Going hiking with a friend?”
“Is it a boyfriend or a girlfriend?!”
Of all the people who heard about Ji Yueniann’s holiday plans, none was more excited than Ji Haotong, who nearly leapt from the sofa.
“Bro, what are you thinking? Boyfriend, girlfriend, it’s just an ordinary friend.” Ji Yueniann’s face twitched, black lines all over, totally failing to understand why her brother was so worked up.
“Oh, oh, my mistake, slip of the tongue. It’s all Mengmeng Rabbit’s fault—she dragged me to watch a bunch of boys’ love movies recently.”
Ji Haotong realized his overreaction and explained awkwardly, but he still couldn’t help giving Ji Yueniann a quick once-over.
“Little bro, you’ve changed a lot lately.”
“The former domineering campus tyrant, now…” His gaze lingered for a moment on that skin, fair as a woman’s. “You’ve really got an artistic vibe.”
“Campus tyrant? That’s just classmates exaggerating.” Still concerned about her tyrant status, the beauty played at humility but couldn’t hide the joy in her eyes.
“I’ve transformed now—I’m taking the artist’s route. Girls like that more. You don’t know, but a few junior girls even asked me for my WeChat recently.”
Ji Haotong:
When Ji Yueniann had finished dealing with the family, she took her parents’ supplementary card, stretched out her long, 1.3-meter legs, and strode out of the house without a backward glance.
Not until her figure had completely disappeared did Ji Haotong finally sit back on the sofa. Once he was sure the living room was empty, he pulled something from his pocket.
It was a photo: two boys posing together on a basketball court. One, with blue eyes, had his head slightly turned toward the other—a delicate, almost androgynous boy—appearing as if he were inhaling his scent.
Looking at the photo, Ji Haotong’s brow furrowed deeply. After a long silence, he let out a heavy sigh.
Little bro, of all the people you could go after, why pick our family’s business partner?
After all, Uncle Yushu has only one son.
*****
Tuesday. As the end-of-class bell rang, students—oppressed by rescheduled classes, forced to attend school for ten days straight—could no longer hold back their excitement. They hurriedly packed their luggage, dragging their suitcases behind them, and surged out of the school like zombies breaking free from their cage.
Ji Yueniann was naturally among them, but unlike most, she slipped out through the back gate, taking Jiang Chi with her, sneaking out ten minutes early.
“Ah! Finally on holiday! Ten days of classes in a row—anyone would go crazy. I really don’t get what those old men in the Federation were thinking, coming up with ‘rescheduling’—it’s just brain-dead!”
In the alley behind the school, Ji Yueniann complained about the government as she dragged her suitcase along. Next to her, the boy with short black hair and blue eyes pulled his own suitcase, phone in hand, not even pausing from reading a few pages of “White Moonlight and Red Mole” as he walked.
“Chi-bao, don’t get lost in that novel.”
Without invitation, a small hand landed on the man’s shoulder. The stunning beauty naturally hooked his arm, smiling brightly, “Chi-bao, have you decided where we’re going to have fun these days?”
“I looked it up—there’s a Daoguan near the place we’re hiking, incense burning strong. Want to go in together? Not for anything in particular, but I heard the konjac snacks there are amazing.”
Jiang Chi, one hand on his suitcase and one flipping through his e-book, replied with a disinterested “Oh,” his obsession with novels clear as day.
Seeing this, Ji Yueniann’s eyes spun with mischief. A sly smile crept onto her face, and in a flash, she hugged Jiang Chi’s arm tightly.
“Chi-bao, I’ve been abstinent for so long. Will you satisfy me on the train later~~”
Her soft body pressed up close, chest brushing against the man’s arm, intentionally or not.
The beauty’s older-sisterly voice carried a hint of coquettishness, her eyes filled with hope and pleading. She tilted her head up, gazing at Jiang Chi, long lashes fluttering like an adorable little deer.
“After all, we’re friends with benefits. You can’t just take the doctor’s word and make me abstinent. I’m not even talking about whether I’m really mentally ill—just abstinence alone is driving me mad!”
“I really, really want it. Please, just this once, Chi-bao? Please?”
Her cheeks flushed with excitement, her sulky charm impossible to resist.
Still clinging to Jiang Chi’s arm, Ji Yueniann seemed determined to use this method to soften him up.
Jiang Chi was caught off guard by her sudden move. He tried to push her away, but Ji Yueniann only hugged him tighter, her two soft mounds squishing against his firm arm, making his body stiffen involuntarily at the tingling sensation.
Left with no choice, Jiang Chi nodded his agreement, and as soon as Ji Yueniann got what she wanted, she let go.
A woman’s three great weapons: crying, making a scene, and threatening to hang herself.
The ancestors were right!
Inwardly, Ji Yueniann flashed a victory sign—✌️!