Ji Dongsheng was so unsettled by An Yubei's thoughts that he had even begun to worry.
Who exactly was trying to harm him?
Why would he end up in prison?
An ominous feeling lingered in his heart. Ji Dongsheng felt like he was going out of his mind.
An Yubei had left his thoughts unfinished, and Ji Dongsheng couldn't ask, so he could only start coaxing him.
"Xiao Bei, Dad transferred five million to you for pocket money. If it isn't enough, just tell me. Don't stint on yourself."
Although Ji Dongsheng wasn't in charge of the conglomerate, he received annual dividends, an astronomical sum that would let him squander money for several hundred years.
The Ji family elders knew Ji Dongsheng was an unambitious man content to eat, idle away his days, and wait for death, so they bypassed him and handed the family assets and company directly to Ji Shang.
It had to be said that this was a wise choice.
An Yubei stared wide-eyed at the deposit notification on his phone. Even his fingers trembled.
For a corporate slave earning three thousand a month, making five million would take a hundred and thirty-nine years of work without spending a cent on food or drink.
Heavens, my dad is so cool! He's so generous, giving me five million in pocket money!
Dad, love you!
An Yubei put down his phone and gave Ji Dongsheng a big hug. "Thanks, Dad. You're my idol."
Ji Dongsheng raised an eyebrow at Ji Shang, looking utterly smug, as though saying, See? I'm the most important person in Xiao Bei's heart. You don't measure up.
Ji Dongsheng was so pleased that he had already forgotten his earlier worries.
He felt the five million had been well spent and was already considering whether to increase the allowance.
An Yubei was happy, and so was he.
Hearing An Yubei's thoughts, Ji Shang, who had been sitting beside them all this time, was displeased. Xiao Bei loved Dad but didn't love him anymore?
The little guy really did discard the old for the new. Just a moment ago, he had been saying how handsome Ji Shang was and how much he loved Brother Shang. Now it was someone else.
Hmph. Scumbag.
Determined not to lose, Ji Shang made a lavish offer. "Money will run out eventually. Why not join me at the company? Brother Shang will mentor you and make sure you inherit the company as soon as possible."
Tempting me with the company?
Why did these two seem like they were fighting over someone's affection?
An Yubei: "...!"
Brother Shang is so good to me!
Before he could express his thoughts, Ji Dongsheng snorted. "What's so great about joining the company? You're just managing other people's money. Isn't collecting dividends every day much better?"
"Xiao Bei, don't fall for your Brother Shang's tricks. He only wants to train you because he wants to slack off."
"Don't worry. Dad will give you all his shares. You couldn't spend it all even if you squandered money for a lifetime."
Ji Shang refused to back down. "Dad, what's that supposed to mean? Do you want Xiao Bei to be like you, living comfortably without any ambition?"
Ji Dongsheng retorted, "What's wrong with being a happy salted fish? Who says people have to work hard?"
"You...!" Ji Shang changed tack and sneered. "Dad, can you really give all your shares to Xiao Bei? What about your young wife and that unborn child?"
"They both have inheritance rights."
Ji Shang had met Ji Dongsheng's young wife. She wasn't very old-eight years younger than him, only twenty. She was a former model and beautiful, but unfortunately, she was someone who went all out for money. There was no love in her eyes, only money.
But Ji Dongsheng couldn't see that. His love-addled brain kept telling him he had found true love, and father and son had argued endlessly over it.
Later, his young wife had married into the wealthy family with a pregnant belly, and Ji Shang, having seen his love-addled father for what he was, had stopped interfering altogether.
As though someone had touched a sore spot, Ji Dongsheng's expression grew grave, and he fell silent.
The atmosphere in the hospital room also turned strange, like a volcano on the verge of erupting.
With a battle about to break out, An Yubei pinched the bedsheet between his fingers and thought gloomily, Dad, please wise up. You've been cuckolded so badly there's a whole grassland growing on your head. The baby your young wife is carrying isn't yours. She and that man are plotting to seize your assets.
They're the ones who schemed to leave you penniless. They even carried out illegal fundraising in your name, then took the child and the money abroad, while you were arrested and sent to prison.
Dad, stop being so love-addled. Wake up!
Ji Dongsheng was inwardly horrified and clenched his fists in anger. He had been cuckolded?
Prompted by An Yubei's reminder, he suddenly recalled how his young wife had nestled in his arms a few days earlier and brought up starting a finance company.
Ji Dongsheng's blood surged. So his young wife had already begun plotting against him.
He was the company's legal representative. If something went wrong, wouldn't he be the one held responsible?
How vicious.
Ji Dongsheng clenched his fists, a plan already forming in his mind. Soon, he said with a smile, "Xiao Bei, focus on getting better. Dad has something to do, so I'll leave first. I'll come see you once I've dealt with it."
An Yubei was still agonizing over whether to tell his dad about his young wife. Seeing that Ji Dongsheng was leaving, he hurried out of bed, wanting to tell him about her.
Dad, don't go! I haven't told you about your young wife yet!
An Yubei had barely taken a step when Ji Shang swiftly scooped him up around the waist. "If he wants to leave, let him. Don't worry about him."
"With some things, nothing anyone else says will help. The person involved can't see clearly."
Ji Shang simply didn't want to meddle in Ji Dongsheng's affairs. Ji Dongsheng had always been love-addled and called himself a master of romance, but he was really just someone taken in by sweet talk.
Not only did he refuse to listen to advice, but he also stubbornly insisted on making his own decisions.
Ji Shang had made up his mind. If Ji Dongsheng was going to be scammed, so be it. He had to suffer a loss and learn a lesson.
Otherwise, there was no curing that love-addled brain of his.
An Yubei nestled quietly in Ji Shang's arms, as good as a baby. His embrace was steady and reassuring, giving him all the security he needed.
He took Ji Shang's words to heart. That really was how it worked. If he told Ji Dongsheng outright, Ji Dongsheng definitely wouldn't believe him and might even think An Yubei was the problem.
No, I have to investigate this myself and throw the evidence in Dad's face so he can see his young wife's true colors.
After putting An Yubei back on the bed, Ji Shang frowned slightly. It seemed he would have to handle this matter himself after all. He couldn't let Xiao Bei tire himself out.
Then I'll take care of it while I'm at it!
Once An Yubei was settled in bed, Ji Shang said, "Xiao Bei, come to a banquet with me tomorrow. I'll introduce you to the people in our circle."
"And let everyone know that our Ji family has a Young Master An."
Ji Shang had never concerned himself with An Yubei before. All he had heard were rumors about how An Yubei wasn't favored or didn't get along with the family. Some had even boldly speculated that he would be kicked out of the Ji family within six months.
Ji Shang had let it all go before, but things were different now. An Yubei had saved his life, so naturally, he had to protect him properly.
He wouldn't give anyone a chance to bully his younger brother.
Lying in bed, An Yubei looked less than happy. "Brother Shang, can I not go?"
At an occasion like a banquet, An Yubei wanted nothing to do with either the setting or the people there.
He already had five million in this life. Why the hell should he work hard? Time to slack off!
Ji Shang asked patiently, "Why don't you want to go? Xiao Bei, I just want to tell everyone that you have someone protecting you, and no one can bully you."
The corners of An Yubei's eyes grew a little damp, and warmth filled his heart.
He had lived for over twenty years without any family, yet after transmigrating into a novel, he had gained familial affection. Ji Shang treated him so well that he was moved to tears.
"Thank you, Brother Shang, but I don't want to inherit the family assets or build a career at the company. I just want to slack off and be a salted fish, eating and idling my days away until I die."
"Brother Shang, I really don't want to work hard anymore. But don't worry. I'll definitely be a quiet salted fish and never cause you any trouble. I'll spend whatever you give me without complaining or grumbling."
Without slacking off, life is only half as fun. I don't want to work hard!
An Yubei's words made Ji Shang laugh. He ruffled An Yubei's hair and said dotingly, "All right. Brother Shang will support you."
If Ji Dongsheng had still been there to hear Ji Shang's words, he would definitely have flown into a rage. That's not what you told me back then.
Hmph. Two-faced scumbag. In the end, my trust was misplaced.