Chapter 10: Ji Jing’s Fiancée

This was not a plan she could execute alone; she had found companions. There were many people like Qin Lang, and she sought out their families. Together, they spent four years devising this plan.

Among them, Ji Jing was the most important and crucial figure.

Though he was not a member of the Qiao family, he was engaged to Qiao Zhilin. The Qiao family relied on Ji Jing to revive their automobile enterprise from the brink of collapse. More importantly, Qiao Zhilin loved him.

At that time, it was Qiao Zhilin who had selected Qin Lang and led to his demise.

The name Qiao Zhilin alone stirred an uncontrollable bitterness in Yu Xiangsi’s heart.

Yu Xiangsi had spent a year investigating the Qiao family and four years planning—five years in total—until she finally stood by Ji Jing’s side.

After reviewing data all day, Yu Xiangsi found that this collaboration with the Qiao family was vital to both companies. The materials were thick and abundant. On her first day at work, she stayed late, as did the entire executive office; even Ji Jing had not left the company.

At half past eight that evening, Ji Jing took his suit jacket and left the office.

Once he left, the atmosphere in the executive office seemed to relax slightly.

Ten minutes later, Yu Xiangsi received a message on WeChat: “Come down.” It was from Ji Jing. A second message followed: “I’m waiting for you in the underground garage.”

Yu Xiangsi’s lips curved into a slight smile, her eyes clear and bright.

It seemed Ji Jing was quite attentive to her.

She immediately grabbed her bag and laptop, preparing to leave.

Yuna saw this and sneered coldly, “Leaving so early on your first day? Newcomers nowadays are truly delicate. Not like us back then—no one dared to leave until everyone else had.”

Yuna’s words instantly drew everyone’s gaze to Yu Xiangsi. With a gentle voice, Yu Xiangsi explained, “My home is far away; it takes over two hours to get there. If I stay late, I’ll miss the last bus.” She added shyly, “I’ll continue working after I get home.”

Everyone understood immediately. Newly employed students had little money and rented places far from the city center to save costs.

Everyone in the city had once been in that position. Seeing Yu Xiangsi’s situation, their expressions softened.

Peng, the most experienced in the office, said, “Go home quickly. It’s not safe for a young woman to be out too late.”

Yu Xiangsi smiled and nodded, then hurried away.

She soon reached the underground garage, a level reserved exclusively for company executives.

Hurrying to Ji Jing’s car, she bent down, wary of being seen. “Let’s go quickly,” she whispered.

Ji Jing raised an eyebrow, watching her secretive demeanor.

“Having an affair?” he asked with a teasing tone.

Yu Xiangsi cursed him silently, as if he actually wanted others to know about their relationship.

The car pulled out of the company parking lot before Yu Xiangsi settled into her seat.

She wore a compliant, gentle expression. “I just don’t want to cause you any trouble,” she said softly. “This is a critical period for cooperation with the Qiao family, and I… don’t want my presence to ruin your relationship with them.”

Ji Jing’s expression faltered briefly. His engagement to Qiao Zhilin was no secret; the entire company knew, and naturally, so did she.

Seeing her downcast demeanor, Ji Jing’s heart softened. He reached out and ruffled her hair. “I know you’re sensible. Let me take you somewhere nice to eat.”

Aristocratic marriages were merely alliances of interests; no one demanded loyalty from the other.

This was almost an unspoken rule.

Yu Xiangsi turned her head to look at his calm face. He never saw the engagement as connected to his relationship with her; to him, they were entirely separate matters.

From what she understood, Ji Jing had no intention of rejecting the arranged marriage.

Such alliances were powerful unions between two enterprises, entangled in massive interests. Ji Jing’s rational mind accepted the arrangement.

Moreover, the marriage was orchestrated by his uncle, Ji Mingchuan.

This brought the story to Ji Jing’s background. He was the nephew of Ji Mingchuan; his father, Ji Mingyuan, was Ji Mingchuan’s elder brother. Ji Mingyuan was originally the head of the Ji family, but when Ji Jing was seven, his parents died in a plane crash. Ji Mingchuan was urgently recalled to take over the company.

At that time, with Ji Mingyuan’s death, the Ji family was in turmoil. Ji Mingchuan was thrown into the role and arranged a marriage alliance with the Wei family. The shares held by Ji Mingyuan and his wife were, under the elder Ji’s decision, transferred entirely to Ji Mingchuan, enabling him to quickly consolidate control.

However, had Ji Mingyuan survived, Ji Jing would have been the rightful heir to the Ji family’s legacy, and the shares and assets left behind would have belonged to him.

Ji Mingchuan promised that when Ji Jing turned eighteen, he would return all the shares to him.

At the time, most people heard this promise but did not take it seriously. In noble families, where massive interests are at stake, there is little room for genuine familial affection. Rivalry and betrayal among relatives is no secret, especially between uncles and nephews.

After losing his parents, Ji Mingchuan took great care of Ji Jing, bringing him close and personally mentoring him.

Many conspiracy theories arose, with people doubting Ji Mingchuan’s sincerity in raising Ji Jing.

But they were mistaken. Ji Mingchuan genuinely cared for Ji Jing, even more so than for his own daughter. Ji Jing never lacked a father’s love.

When Ji Jing turned eighteen, the day after his birthday, Ji Mingchuan immediately transferred the shares originally held by Ji Mingyuan to him.

This move silenced all doubts about Ji Mingchuan. He publicly declared Ji Jing the sole heir of the Ji family.

Of course, many still questioned Ji Mingchuan, as he had only one daughter, Ji Qing, who suffered from kidney disease.

Yet these doubts never affected the close relationship between Ji Mingchuan and Ji Jing. The uncle and nephew got along well, and Ji Jing deeply respected Ji Mingchuan.

Qiao Zhilin was chosen by Ji Mingchuan as Ji Jing’s fiancée, so Ji Jing did not refuse.