Genuine surprise flickered in Ji Yunhuai's eyes when he saw that the newcomer was Fang Youcheng.
He had assumed that after the upheaval that had utterly disgraced Ji Cheng, Fang Youcheng would immediately follow his father, who had fled in humiliation, or... at least slip away quietly rather than approach him of his own accord.
But that surprise passed in an instant.
Ji Yunhuai soon raised his hand and gave the bodyguard blocking Fang Youcheng a slight gesture. Understanding his meaning, the bodyguard stepped aside to let him through.
In the past, given Ji Yunhuai's temperament, he would most likely have treated Fang Youcheng as though he did not exist, never giving him a chance to come close enough to speak.
But ever since discovering during the previous bidding project that Fang Youcheng had chosen his conscience over following Ji Cheng's orders to set him up, Ji Yunhuai's feelings toward his older half brother had grown far more complicated-at least they were no longer the pure disgust and indifference he had felt at first.
He still could not say he liked him, but... he could treat him with relative equanimity now.
"What is it?" Ji Yunhuai's voice held his usual coolness toward people he barely knew, betraying no emotion.
Fang Youcheng was clearly very nervous. He hurried forward, wringing his hands uneasily. The fine rain had soaked the loose strands of hair over his forehead, plastering them to his skin and making him look even more bedraggled. He lifted his head, his gaze wavering, unable to look Ji Yunhuai in the eye as he stammered:
"Mr... Mr. Ji..." He swallowed with difficulty, seemingly summoning an enormous amount of courage. "It's... it's my mother... she'd like to meet you."
He paused to study Ji Yunhuai's expression. When Ji Yunhuai did not