The Sun Rose in the West

I wonder how Ji the Old Master would feel if he found out.

Just as Father Yan and Yan Yi'an entered the living room, they happened to hear that.

It was rather surprising. Yan Xianjue actually cared about Ji the Old Master's feelings?

The sun really had risen in the west.

The two changed their shoes at the entrance, and the butler immediately stepped forward to quietly remind them that there was a guest in the living room.

"Madam and the young master have gone upstairs to do homework."

Father Yan and Yan Yi'an exchanged a glance. Both men changed expressions at once, putting on icy faces.

The butler was used to this.

With impeccable professionalism, he returned to refill the guest's tea.

Whenever Madam had guests she did not wish to receive, she used the same excuse to make her escape.

The rest of the Yan Household would then know what attitude to adopt.

If there were special guests she had no choice but to receive, Mother Yan would have the butler give them a reminder.

Since the butler had said nothing, it meant Mother Yan did not think the guest was worth the trouble.

Ji Yue watched with a livid face as the two Yan men passed by her expressionlessly.

The two went straight upstairs without even glancing in her direction, much less asking after her.

She cursed the Yan Household's upbringing inwardly. It was nothing special!

They were not even as good as the Ji Household.

She had no idea how many times her tea had been refilled. Once it cooled, it was poured out and replaced with hot tea.

Madam Yan was like this, and so were the Yan Household's men!

What kind of hosts left their guests hanging like this?

Ji Yue gritted her teeth and maintained a smile in front of the butler.

But the Yan Household's butler was far more professional than she was. He would never say a single word that might reveal information about his employers.

Ji Yue sat for another half hour. Only after confirming that no one would come down to attend to her did she reluctantly rise and take her leave.

Ah! How could Mom do this?!

Father Yan and Yan Yi'an halted midway up the stairs.

What a novelty. Yan Xianjue was actually complaining about Mom.

Waaah! Wasn't I just casually making up an excuse to save Mom from the fire and water? Why did she take it seriously and decide to tutor me in physics?!

Damn it!

Upon hearing that, Father Yan and Yan Yi'an both stopped in their tracks.

They exchanged a glance, then silently turned at the next corner.

Instead of heading toward Yan Xianjue's bedroom, they turned toward the study.

Rule number one of the Yan Household's survival guide: never provoke Mother Yan and Yan Xianjue while she was teaching him physics.

Because that meant provoking two tyrannosaurs at once.

Never mind. There was no need to rush when it came to watching the drama.

At the same time.

Ji Xi silently followed beside Mother Ji, skillfully helping her pack up the snack cart.

"Mom, from now on, just sell breakfast."

Mother Ji smiled. "Aren't you going to college in the second half of the year? Mom wanted to save up more money."

"So you can go out and see more of the world."

Ji Xi said nothing more and silently helped Mother Ji finish packing.

One pushed while the other steadied the cart as they slowly made their way home.

When they returned to their shabby yet cozy old apartment building, Ji Xi smiled faintly.

But he quickly thought of something and his smile vanished. Pressing his lips together, he said, "Mom, don't go to the Ji Household."

Mother Ji paused in the middle of washing vegetables. She turned off the tap and dried her hands on her apron.

Then she took Ji Xi's hand and led him to the only fabric sofa in the cramped living room.

It was cheap but very neat, and the coffee table held an ornament made of dried wildflowers picked by the roadside.

After thinking for a moment, Mother Ji said, "Xixi, he's your grandfather."

Her voice was hoarse. "I haven't seen him in a very long time. I want to see him."

Ji Xi lowered his head.

Ever since he was young, he had known that it was because of his existence.

That his mother had become a street vendor.

She should have been the Ji Household's eldest daughter, someone who never had to lift a finger.

But when she returned to the Ji Household, she had already been pregnant with him.

Pregnant with him, a burden whose biological father was unknown.

Her biological parents had refused to acknowledge her. After giving birth to him, she had suffered countless cold stares and discrimination.

Her reputation had been ruined, and she had no choice but to lower her head and become someone struggling to survive at the bottom of society.

Mother Ji was not especially capable. She had to work incredibly hard just to raise him to this age.

Ji Heng had indeed always wanted to help the mother and son.

Even after Mother Ji had refused him countless times, he had persisted in visiting the old apartment building.

Mother Ji had initially disagreed, but gradually came to tacitly allow it.

But Ji Xi would rather make a deal with Yan Xianjue than seek out Ji Heng.

Simply because whenever Ji Heng looked at them, his eyes were full of complicated emotions and guilt.

Ji Xi had never needed their guilt. The Ji in his name came only from his mother, not from the Ji clan.

He could sell his time and his future because he was confident he could earn back everything he had lost now.

But if he sought Ji Heng's help, Ji Xi felt as though he had lost.

Perhaps he had remained silent for too long.

Mother Ji patted the back of his hand comfortingly. "Don't worry. I'm only going to see them once."

Ji Xi shook his head. "You should know that they don't have good intentions."

Mother Ji recalled the person who had been sent to deliver the invitation, and that condescending expression on their face.

She did not refute Ji Xi, but she still wanted to take a look.

To see the father who had never raised her for even a single day after giving birth to her, and the mother who had also risen from being a mistress yet despised her for becoming pregnant by another man.

Mother Ji knew far more than Ji Xi imagined.

But Ji Xi still hoped to protect his mother with his own strength.

"Mom, I'm already an adult. I can support this family."

Mother Ji nodded with a smile.

She had never regretted giving birth to this son. He was the only achievement of her life, and also her pride.

She nodded firmly. "Of course. Mom has always believed in you."

Believing in him did not stop her from wanting to go.

Ji Xi pressed his lips together before finally asking, "What did Ji Heng say?"

It was the first time Ji Xi had mentioned that name in front of Mother Ji.

Although they had both tacitly understood Ji Heng's occasional appearances.

It truly was the first time.

Mother Ji shook her head.

"Ji Heng said he could find a way to arrange for me to meet that man in private."

"But I don't want to." Mother Ji's back was ramrod straight.

"I have nothing to hide."

For a moment, Mother Ji's figure overlapped with Ji Heng's in Ji Xi's eyes.

They had the same pride, confidence, and radiant spirit.

In Ji Xi's memories, Mother Ji had never held her back so straight.

She had never believed that giving birth to a child whose father was unknown made her inferior to anyone.

Ji Xi understood his mother's personality. She looked frail, but she was actually very strong.

Especially when she had already made up her mind, Ji Xi could rarely change her decision.

He simply changed the subject. "Mom, I want to change classes."

Mother Ji asked, "Why? Is your current class not good?"

"Or is someone bullying you?"

Mother Ji's tone was anxious.

Far less calm than she had been just moments ago.

"No. I just feel that the elite class atmosphere is a little too tense. I don't really like it."

Mother Ji carefully studied her son's expression.

She truly could not see any reluctance on his face.

She knew she had never needed to worry about her son's grades.

He was as smart as his father.

There was nothing wrong with that. She was happy to see traces of that man in her son.

She was only worried that he would be as good at enduring things as his father had been.

At that thought, Mother Ji's expression turned resolute.

She was no longer the little girl who had been protected behind that man.

For her son, she had to fight back for what belonged to her!