Chapter 349 - Chapter 349: Chapter 349 Intensification of Contradictions (1) Second Update

Chapter 349: Chapter 349 Intensification of Contradictions (1) Second Update

Translator: 549690339

Song Zhizhi returned home.

Despite the late hour, Ji Baijian had yet to sleep.

He was in the habit of sitting at the head of the bed, leaving a dim lamp on while reading a particularly ancient book.

When he saw Song Zhizhi return, he looked up, “Madam.”

Song Zhizhi naturally walked over and nestled into Ji Baijian’s embrace.

Ji Baijian put aside his book and held her in his arms.

“Tired?” he asked.

“I’m tired.”

“Let me massage you.”

Song Zhizhi looked at him.

Ji Baijian had already laid her down on the bed.

She was still in a little dress.

It was black, contrasting sharply with her extraordinarily fair skin.

Her delicate shoulders were bare, quite … under the light.

The dress was form-fitting, perfectly showcasing her alluring figure.

Ji Baijian’s hand worked on Song Zhizhi’s body, his touch just right.

She enjoyed it. “Ji Baijian, you must have practiced this before.”

“Did Madam find it comfortable?”

“Mm.”

“Then, I’ll give Madam more massages in the future.”

Song Zhizhi nodded.

Her husband really was capable.

Able to handle official business, skilled in domestic affairs and also…

Wait a minute.

Song Zhizhi stiffened suddenly.

She turned to look at Ji Baijian.

A smile was tugging at his lips.

He just couldn’t take a compliment.

One compliment and he’d blow his cover.

Hurt by his gaffe, he quickly rectified his behaviour.

Song Zhizhi dared not let him touch her anymore. She got up. “I want to take a bath.”

“Let me run the bath for you.”

Song Zhizhi watched as Ji Baijian went inside.

Slowly, Ji Baijian came out. “Madam, the bath is ready.”

“Ji Baijian, why are you acting like a little wife!” Song Zhizhi purposely said.

Ji Baijian chuckled, “After all, I need to recuperate for a long time. I naturally have to take care of the household chores as I rely on Madam to nurse me during this period.”

He is just pretending. This chauvinistic pig.

He wants to …

She turned and walked into the bathroom, bolting the door behind her.

Ji Baijian looked towards the direction of the bathroom door, his smile slowly fading.

He picked up the phone on the bedside table.

Picked it up and walked to the garden within the house.

From across the line came Jun Mingyu’s voice, “It seems like you no longer have a choice but to collaborate with me.”

Overlooking the city’s resplendent night view from the fully transparent floor-to-ceiling windows of the Sky Garden, Ji Baijian said nothing.

Undeterred by Ji Baijian’s silence, Jun Mingyu continued, “Today, Jun Minghan introduced my sister, Jun Mingxi, to Song Zhizhi’s brother. His intention is evident. He plans to align the Song Family with us, but in fact, Jun Minghan has always conspired with Qian Guanshu and Ye Wenhan. If he’s suddenly being amicable towards Song Shan, anyone as smart as you would be able to guess his intentions—I’m sure that not just you, but Song Zhizhi too.”

Ji Baijian pursed his lips.

Jun Mingyu continued, “There are two possibilities. First, Jun Minghan is genuinely trying to win over the Song Family, hence he offered his favourite sister’s hand in marriage to Song Zhizhi’s brother. But even if Jun Minghan genuinely wanted to court Song Shan, between you and her father, whom do you think Song Zhizhi would choose?”

Ji Baijian’s grip around his phone tightened.

Jun Mingyu continued, “Second, if Jun Minghan wasn’t sincere in courting Song Shan but was merely goading Qian Guanshu, what would this imply? A person as crafty as Qian Guanshu could not have missed the significance of our friendly gestures towards the Song Family. For the sake of his own authority and position, wouldn’t Qian Guanshu and Ye Wenhan find ways to strike Song Shan? And if Jun Minghan helped Qian Guanshu to deal with the Song family secretly, don’t you think that you would need official power, such as myself, to support your wife and her family? Personally, I think if you remain aloof to this matter, your wife might have quite a few complaints about you.”

Ji Baijian’s gaze was enigmatic.

He understood their plight better than Jun Minghan did.

Actually, from the moment he had an inkling about Song Shan’s relationship with officials, he knew he had no choice but to cooperate.

He was repulsed by the prospect of collaborating with officials; he held traditional values and refused to break them. It was his belief that once commercial management got entangled with the official family, it would easily become the official family’s tool.

Therefore, cooperating with officials was like walking on thin ice that could any moment break and plummet one into the abyss from which there would be no return.

“Ji Baijian, think it over carefully. I believe you’ve thought of more than I have said. These are just trivial matters. In summary, I await your answer,” said Jun Mingyu.

Ji Baijian hung up the call.

After all, many things had already been spoken out loud.

He lit a cigarette and stood in the darkness, watching it slowly burn.

After who knows how long.

Someone embraced him from behind.

Ji Baijian instinctively put out the cigarette.

He seldom smoked in Song Zhizhi’s presence.

“What’s wrong?” asked Song Zhizhi, leaning on Ji Baijian’s back.

It felt so secure and warm.

Regardless of how much time passed or how many years, she could never forget the feeling Ji Baijian gave her—it was lodged in her heart.

“Just now, Jun Mingyu called me.” Ji Baijian did not hide anything.

“Mm.” She buried her face deeply into Ji Baijian’s back.

“He proposed that we collaborate.”

“Jun Mingyu also contacted me today.” Song Zhizhi said, “In fact, we may not be able to separate from the official family anytime soon. My brother, Song Zhidao, is now dating the youngest daughter of the official family.”

“I know.”

“I even suspect that this is an ill-intentioned move by the official family. They deliberately approached our Song family with the aim of causing Qian Guanshu and Ye Wenhan to target us. This way, when the official family couldn’t interfere with commercial management, a split within us would be incited, which would enable them to take on commercial management.” Song Zhizhi had thought it out quite clearly.

She was aware of everything but temporarily couldn’t find a better way to respond. Thus, they could only let things unfold.

Ji Baijian turned around and held Song Zhizhi in his arms.

Song Zhizhi leaned on Ji Baijian’s chest.

The two of them didn’t say a word.

Song Zhizhi did not ask Ji Baijian to help her cooperate with Jun Mingyu.

Indeed, currently, cooperating with the official family is the best way for their Song Family.

Ji Baijian also did not tell Song Zhizhi that her father had already colluded with the official family.

In fact, what Song Zhizhi guessed about the official family’s purpose is only part of it. She did not know about the deeper intentions because there were some things she did not know. Like Jun Minghan suddenly introducing Jun Mingxi to Song Zhidao, partly to threaten Qian Guanshu, using him to get rid of the Song Shan family. Song Zhizhi making Jun Minghan suffer forced him to endure it. More importantly, Jun Mingyu wanted to win him over. Jun Minghan was worried that his relationship with Song Zhizhi would end up benefiting Jun Mingyu instead, he cannot afford the risk of harbouring a potential threat. On the other hand, Jun Minghan was using Song Shan’s ambition to control him, providing him with benefits that could make him choose over Qian Guanshu. By doing so, he hugely won over Song Shan, securing his loyalty for a long time, which prevented Song Shan from turning against him all of a sudden, something he can’t guard against.

Jun Minghan was 35 years old. If he didn’t have someone backing him, to be able to calculate so accurately is no small feat. This man is not to be underestimated.

Naturally, Jun Mingyu wouldn’t stand a chance against Jun Minghan. Currently, Jun Mingyu, watched by thousands, manages to stay alive because Jun Minghan wouldn’t dare to act recklessly against Jun Mingyu, while the current Dean is still in charge.

Once Jun Minghan takes charge, Jun Mingyu’s existence will be in great danger. Now, Jun Minghan already has his own power and is deeply involved with the government, rumors are spreading that it’s possible for Jun Minghan to take over at any moment.

Thus, Jun Mingyu had no choice but to resist.

Jun Mingyu is not stupid, to be alive till now without missing an arm or a leg isn’t an easy feat.

Ji Baijian is also very clear that the reason he is seen as a thorn in Jun Minghan’s side is because Jun Mingyu is deliberately trying to win him over.

Those Jun Mingyu wants to win over, Jun Minghan will not let him succeed, naturally he would be targeted. He would certainly be compromised to work with Jun Mingyu to protect himself, now that he is under the official’s watch.

Ji Baijian held Song Zhizhi in his arms.

He had anticipated that this day would come, only it came earlier than he thought.

“Ji Baijian.” Song Zhizhi called his name.

“Hm.”

“I don’t want you to abandon your principles for my sake.” Song Zhizhi seemed to know Ji Baijian’s plan.

“It’s not for you, but because the situation forces it.”

So, it was still because of her lack of ruthlessness back then, allowing Qian Guanshu and Ye Wenhan to leave that way, which had become their biggest problem, forcing them to be involved with the official now.

She knew very clearly what Ji Baijian had given up for her.

She held him tighter.

She didn’t know how significant her role was in his world, but she would do whatever it takes!

Central city hospital.

Mu Cidian got off the bed, slowly moved his body to promote blood circulation and wound healing.

The post-operative wound tearing severely took a toll on him on the first day, which made him more careful since then.

After being hospitalized for 10 days, he recovered well except not being able to move about normally, and is able to on a liquid diet.

The doctor came in for rounds.

Mu Cidian patiently waited on the bed for the doctor’s examination.

The doctor checked the wound and asked a few questions, saying, “You can be discharged from the hospital now.”

Mu Cidian paused for a moment, “Let me stay a few more days.”

“Hm?” The doctor was staring at Mu Cidian, there was no patient who has ever requested to stay longer in the hospital.

The medical fees are expensive, not to mention that the hospital could never be as comfortable as home, even though this is a vip single room.

“I still remember clearly the pain from the tearing of the wound last time, it’s better to be careful after learning from one’s mistakes.”

The doctor laughed, “Having learned a lesson is a good thing. But your wound has basically healed, as long as you take a little care and avoid vigorous movements, generally there’s no problem.”

“Let me stay a few more days.”

“Suit yourself.” The doctor didn’t say much more, “But since your operation, you have been alone. Where’s your family? Didn’t your sister come to sign the surgical consent form last time?”

“She’s very busy.” Mu Cidian replied indifferently.

Luckily, the doctor didn’t watch the gossip news, or else she would have a clear understanding of his past with Xin Zaozao.

“Don’t lie, your sister just doesn’t care about you. When I came out after your operation, she was looking at me coldly, showing no concern at all.”

Mu Cidian laughed.

He knew, she didn’t care about him.

“It’s a good thing for you to stay a few more days in the hospital. The hospital has nutritionists who can prepare meals for you, it’s hard to get better care if you go back without anyone to look after you.”

“Thank you, doctor.” Mu Cidian thanked the doctor.

Maybe because he was alone from beginning to end, the doctor gave him more attention.

After the doctor finished the checkup and repeated a few words of caution, she left.

Xin Zaozao was standing at the door of the ward.

Mu Cidian sat up from the bed and saw Xin Zaozao.

His eyes moved, watching the doctor looked at Xin Zaozao and left, and then Xin Zaozao walked in.

Mu Cidian didn’t know how long Xin Zaozao had been standing at the door.

He silently watched Xin Zaozao.

Xin Zaozao opened her mouth. Without any emotion. Perhaps she didn’t hear anything just now, or even if she did, she would still remain the same.

She said, “Jones asked about you.”

Mu Cidian pursed his thin lips.

Fortunately, he had no expectations of Xin Zaozao.

“We were supposed to sign a contract with him today. Jones suddenly asked about you, saying that he was brought to Jin City by you, and he hopes to continue working with you.” Xin Zaozao looked at Mu Cidian, “So, today’s contract was unsuccessful.”

“What do you want me to do?” Mu Cidian asked bluntly.

“The doctor just said you can be discharged.” Xin Zaozao looked at him.

So, she heard everything.

“Hm.”

“I’ve scheduled with Jones for another signing at Xin Family at 10 o’clock tomorrow morning.”

“Alright, I got it.” Mu Cidian nodded his head.

Xin Zaozao pursed her lips and swallowed a few words.

She turned around to leave.

“Xin Zaozao.” Mu Cidian called her.

Xin Zaozao looked back at him.

“My carer isn’t here today. If you’re not busy…”

“I’m very busy.” Xin Zaozao flatly rejected him.

Mu Cidian chose to remain silent, saying nothing more but smiling.

In fact, Yin Qin still doesn’t understand Xin Zaozao well.

Xin Zaozao, her loves and hates are clearly defined.