Chapter 75: Chapter 75: Sister is Back!

The next day.

Ji Zeqiu still had some work left before the Spring Festival and got up early in the morning.

After washing up, he changed his clothes.

He grasped the door handle of the bedroom, paused as he was about to leave, and looked back at the scarf lying beside the pillow.

He hesitated for a moment.

When he walked out again, his neck was wrapped in the warm scarf.

His manager, seeing it, pulled at the scarf in surprise, “Aren’t you the type who never wears a scarf?”

Havings never seen him wearing one for so many years, he was always a man who preferred style over warmth, burdened with the idol baggage.

And yet, today, he surprisingly put on a scarf.

“Are you in love?” The manager was very sensitive.

The manager had seen Wen Li and Shen Qingtang around Ji Zeqiu, but he always felt it was like neglected children playing petty games.

To put it bluntly, it was like children playing house, without much real affection, not lasting long.

So he didn’t interfere much.

But Ji Zeqiu seemed different today.

Hearing this, Ji Zeqiu suddenly choked on his saliva and coughed incessantly, “No, no! How could I possibly like that woman!”

The manager gave him a sidelong glance, “I don’t think I mentioned anyone, did I?”

Ji Zeqiu: “…”

The ringtone from the phone in his pocket went off, like a lifesaver, he grabbed his phone quickly, “I need to take this call!”

He ran hastily to the side, not even checking the caller ID, “Hello, may I ask who’s calling?”

Wen Li’s sweet voice came through, “It’s me, Wen Li.”

Due to the approaching Spring Festival, Wen Li did not continue to stay in the apartment but had gone home instead.

During these two or three days since her departure, Ji Zeqiu realized he seemed to have forgotten her and hardly thought of her.

Caught off-guard by her voice, Ji Zeqiu was stunned for a few seconds, “Um, do you need something?”

“Hehe.” Wen Li chuckled mysterly and then blurted out, “Happy birthday!”

“What birthday?” Ji Zeqiu was puzzled.

“Your birthday, of course! Is there anything you’d like as a gift? I’ll give it to you,” Wen Li cheerfully said.

Wen Li was one of the few who knew Ji Zeqiu’s real birthday from the time before he became an artist; she always sent him birthday wishes and asked if he wanted any gifts, just like now.

Ji Zeqiu knew her family was not well-off financially, so to save her some money, he always said that he needed nothing, just talking to her was enough.

Only…

Ji Zeqiu was silent for a moment, “Actually, yesterday was my birthday.”

There was a silence on the other end of the phone, as if she were hastily checking a calendar, followed by a startled exclamation, “Ah, I’m sorry! I’ve been so busy at home, I even got the date wrong.”

Wen Li was irritated by her mistake.

Ever since she met Xiao Yu, she either got his birthday wrong or completely forgot it.

Ji Zeqiu had long been used to it and couldn’t really reproach her, but still felt somewhat upset in his heart.

However, now…

He quietly felt his heart beating calmly, and even that upset feeling was gone…

Strange indeed.

Wen Li still sounded guilty in his ear, “How about I buy you a cake to make up for it? Do you like fruit cake or cream cake? Let’s go buy it together; I can also pick a birthday gift for you, I…”

“No need,” Ji Zeqiu declined.

He would rather have no gift at all than receive another unwanted second-hand gift.

Moreover…

Ji Zeqiu adjusted the scarf around his neck to block the biting cold wind, feeling warmer instantly.

Besides, he already had his gift.

——

On New Year’s Eve.

Lin Xu busily adorned the windows of Ji Mansion with paper cutouts, posted couplets outside the door, and hung Chinese knots inside, creating an atmosphere brimming with festive red.

Ji Zeqiu was also dragged by her to spend the New Year at the mansion, occasionally handing her some paste and helping out.

When the butler saw Ji Zeqiu had returned too, he was so excited that he murmured about cooking extra dishes and headed into the kitchen.

Lin Xu wanted to help as well, but each time Ji Zeqiu stopped her.

“You better not add to the chaos.”

If this woman dared to enter the kitchen, tonight’s New Year’s Eve dinner would be ruined!

“You despise my cooking?!” Lin Xu looked at him, hurt.

“I, I don’t,” Ji Zeqiu said, feeling guilty.

“I don’t mind; whatever you make, I like it,” Ji Tingyang immediately expressed his stance.

Lin Xu instantly beamed with a smile, “Ting Yang is the best.”

Ji Tingyang’s lips slightly curved upwards, his eyes gleaming with a mix of pride and provocation as he looked at Ji Zeqiu.

See, he was Mother’s favorite.

Ji Zeqiu gritted his teeth and went all out, “I like it too.”

“Really?!” Lin Xu smiled broadly, rolled up her sleeves, and turned into the kitchen, “Watch me show my skills!”

As her figure disappeared into the kitchen, Ji Zeqiu’s face immediately fell, and he somberly looked at Ji Tingyang, “Are you really going to eat it?”

Ji Tingyang didn’t pay him any attention, his demeanor calm and composed.

As time passed, the dinner table gradually filled with sumptuous dishes.

Lin Xu checked the time, ran over, and asked Ji Tingyang, “Did you ask Lanyue to come back for dinner? How come she hasn’t arrived yet?”

“I told her.” Although Ji Tingyang disliked sharing his mother with others, he didn’t want to disappoint her.

Initially, his sister was still upset that he had frozen her bank card and refused to come back for the New Year.

It wasn’t until he promised to unfreeze her bank card if she returned that she agreed without hesitation.

Considering the time, she should be almost here.

“That’s good.” During the wait, Lin Xu sat anxiously on the sofa, her fingers continuously twirling her hair, an uneasy expression on her face.

Her entire body was tense, constantly glancing towards the door.

When she passed away, Lanyue was only about a year old, her baby face chubby and pale; Lanyue was especially pretty back then, and it was uncertain what she would look like twenty years later.

Would she also dislike her mother like Ji Zeqiu?

If Lin Xu told Lanyue that she was her mother, would she believe her?

Various possibilities floated through Lin Xu’s mind. The more she waited, the more anxious she became.

“Ding dong.”

A message notification chimed on Ji Tingyang’s phone. He briefly glanced at it and said to the restless Lin Xu, “She’s back.”

“Huh?”

Lin Xu, initially confused, had a delayed realization that he meant his sister had returned.

Her lips parted slightly, about to ask more.

In the next instant, the sound of the mansion’s iron gate slowly opening rang in her ears.

Lanyue was back!

Lin Xu suddenly stood up, palms sweating from nervousness, and hurried towards the door.