Meanwhile, in the study of the Ji Family's old residence, the atmosphere was entirely different from the subtle calm surrounding Gu Sipei.
Documents lay spread across the heavy rosewood desk. The steady fragrance of fine sandalwood filled the air, but it could not suppress the agitation and anger radiating from Ji Cheng.
Old Master Ji, Ji Wenzhong, sat upright in a traditional armchair, rolling two glossy walnuts in his hand. His face remained expressionless as he listened to his second son deliver his impassioned "account."
"Father, don't you think Yun Huai is getting more and more out of line?" Ji Cheng tried to keep his voice steady, but the slight rise at the end betrayed his displeasure. "He came back yesterday and, without a word of explanation, wanted to commit our resources to snatching the Riverside project right out of the Gu Corporation's mouth! That's a tough nut to crack. How long has Gu Sipei had his eye on it? All these years, the Ji Family and the Gu Family have stayed out of each other's way, cooperating more than competing. What is he trying to do, pulling something like this out of nowhere?"
Ji Wenzhong did not even raise his eyelids. He spoke unhurriedly, his voice carrying the serenity of someone who had weathered a lifetime, yet retaining its inherent authority. "It's good for young people to have drive and ideas. Yun Huai may go too far at times, but by and large, he has a method to what he does. It's only a project. If he wants to try, let him test the waters. If he hits a wall, he'll know to turn back. And if he succeeds, wouldn't that be even better?"
His words reflected his usual indulgence toward Ji Yunhuai. Clearly, he did not consider the