CH 72.3

With the three big bosses of the filming studio all present, the film crew decided to end their work early and have a feast. Ji Fanyin was planning to foot the bill, but the restaurant manager informed her that He Shen had beat her to it. 

So, she put away her phone and headed back to the compartment room.

They had a toasting session afterward. Naturally, Ji Fanyin wouldn’t let Chen Yunsheng take any drinks for her… though it appeared that there was no need for that at all. 

She happened to be sandwiched between Zhang Ning and He Shen, so that hardly anyone had the guts to approach her and make a toast to her. 

Even if someone did come over, Zhang Ning already had a cup of tea prepared for her. 

When the company dinner finally concluded, Ji Fanyin became the other two’s chauffeur, responsible for sending them safely back home. Driving Zhang Ning’s striking pink Maserati, she first drove He Shen to Song Shiyu’s neighborhood before making her way to Zhang Ning’s place. 

“When are you moving?” the tipsy Zhang Ning asked. “You’re able to move into the apartment you bought right away, right? Do you need any help? We can get some free labor from the studio and frame it as a ‘corporate team-building exercise’.”

“It’s more convenient to hire a moving company,” Ji Fanyin replied as she drove into a high-class residential area. “I’m free for the next two days, so I’m planning to get it done by then.”

“That’s nice~ You don’t have anything for New Year…” Zhang Ning let out an envious long sigh. “I ALSO WANT TO GO ON A BREAKKKK…”

After driving the drunk and rampaging Zhang Ning back home, Ji Fanyin hailed a cab. 

She might have cleared her schedule, but she didn’t think that she would really be that free. Similar to what happened over her year-end break, it was completely possible that urgent business might just pop up and ruin her break. 

Li Xiaoxing, who would be proposing on the third day of the Chinese New Year, was one such example. Even though the odds were on their side, their chances of winning weren't 100%.

Thinking back, she had done quite a lot to push Ji Xinxin toward Li Xiaoxing so as to fulfill his wishes, or, at least, what he thought his greatest wish was. 

… 

The 11th of February was Chinese New Year Eve. The Ji Family excluding Ji Fanyin gathered for a warm reunion dinner. They tacitly chose to neglect the existence of their other daughter. 

That same night, Ji Xinxin began packing her suitcase in preparation for her Japan trip. 

Mother Ji secretly snuck her a set of lace nightwear, telling her to grasp her opportunity. Ji Xinxin hesitated for a moment before placing it into her suitcase.

While she wasn’t certain of whether Li Xiaoxing was capable of engaging in nightly activities, it didn’t hurt to be prepared. 

Mother Ji looked at her with a heartened smile and said, “You were always sickly as a child, but you’ve matured into a beautiful woman before I knew it. It won’t be long before you marry and have your own family.”

Ji Xinxin lowered her head shyly. “It’s too early to say that. I’m just going abroad with him for a few days.”

“Just the two of you, right?” teased Mother Ji. “It’s good that your partner is someone as affluent as Mr. Li. He’ll be able to lend your father a helping hand. Your father has been stressed out managing the company recently.”

Ji Xinxin’s movement stalled to a halt. She turned to her mother and asked concernedly, “Is dad’s company facing problems again?”

“Yeah.” Mother Ji sighed. “Little Song used to take care of your father, but it seems like he’s a little strapped on cash recently. Do you know what happened to him?”

What could possibly happen to him? He just willingly spent all of his money on Ji Fanyin!

Ji Xinxin had to purse her lips to stop a sneer from forming on her lips. She shook her head and replied, “I’m not too sure. I was abroad.”

“We were planning to have your big sis marry someone in hopes that her partner could offer some help to the family…” Mother Ji began nagging again. “At least she has a good face. It’s a different story for you, but if she could just…”

“Mom,” Ji Xinxin interrupted her ramble with a gentle voice. “You shouldn’t rely on big sis. She’ll only disappoint dad and you just as she did many times before. Have you forgotten? The daughter whom you dote and rely on is me.”

Mother Ji stared at Ji Xinxin in a daze for a long while before finally nodding. “Of course.”

“I’ll make sure dad’s company tides through this crisis. I have always been able to do it, isn’t that so?” asked Ji Xinxin.