Ji Xixing felt that, having read hundreds of novels, she was perfectly capable of playing the innocent white lotus role if people liked that sort of thing.
So her previous strategy of confronting people head on and slapping faces wasn’t working?
Fine, she’d switch tactics!
Acting immediately, Ji Xixing imitated Ji Chenhuan’s affected manner and weakly said, “Dad, you’ve been scolding me for so long. Aren’t you tired? Would you like some water before continuing?”
“Xingxing has remembered everything you said. I definitely won’t make the same mistakes again.”
Suppressing her disgust, Ji Xixing forced those words out, and sure enough, Ji Lifeng’s expression immediately turned strange.
The curse that had reached his lips stopped midway, and he stared thoughtfully at the glass of water on the table.
Just as Ji Xixing rejoiced, thinking this approach might actually work, Ji Lifeng’s gaze slowly shifted back to her.
“You poisoned the water?”
Ji Xixing: “?!”
Amazing!
When the novel’s heroine spoke like this, she was his sweet little daughter. But when she did it, he suspected poisoning?
Still forcing a smile, Ji Xixing gritted her teeth and said, “How would I dare? I just thought you’ve spent so much time scolding me, so you must be tired. I wanted you to drink some water and soothe your throat.”
Clearly unconvinced, Ji Lifeng swept his shrewd eyes over her before saying, “Since you know you were wrong, then you must pay for your actions.”
Ji Xixing knew that everything he had said earlier had merely been paving the way for what was coming next. She squeezed out another smile.
“Please go ahead, Dad.”
“First, you will apologize to Miss Cheng. You made inappropriate remarks in public and damaged her reputation, which has greatly harmed the friendly relationship between our two families.”
“Second, as Cheng Songjin’s fiancée, you spent the night with another man. Have you considered what would happen if the Cheng family found out? Where would the Ji family’s dignity go?”
“I want you to apologize publicly to the Cheng family and to Cheng Songjin, break off the engagement, and explain that your personal behavior has nothing to do with the Ji family.”
“Then, as the eldest daughter of the Ji family, you must remember that your interests are tied to those of the Ji family. Staying by that man’s side is your choice, and I won’t interfere.”
“But as your father, I must remind you that he and you aren’t from the same world. He’ll never marry you. You should think more about the Ji family.”
“When you’re with him, you should mention from time to time that he should help the Ji family. If the Ji family prospers, you’ll prosper too. You must understand that what is just a few words from him is something unimaginably difficult for us.”
“Lastly, I hope you’ll stop bringing up anything related to your mother, and stop contacting those people. Never forget that you’re my daughter. Everything you have comes from me, and has nothing to do with them.”
Ji Lifeng rattled off a whole speech, and after listening to it, Ji Xixing only wanted to type out “666.”
His use of “firstly, secondly, then, lastly” was impeccable. Ji Xixing couldn’t help thinking that if Ji Lifeng wrote elementary school essays, he’d definitely score highly.
Such orderly logic. Such godlike PUA tactics.
At last, Ji Xixing understood why the original owner had ended up so miserable.
PUA made people insecure, but fortunately, Ji Xixing simply didn’t buy any of it.
Seeing her remain silent, Ji Lifeng frowned.
“Did you understand?”
“I did.”
Rarely obedient, Ji Xixing nodded. Looking up sincerely at Ji Lifeng, she asked an unrelated question.
“Dad, after saying so much, aren’t you thirsty?”
“Would you like some water and clear your head first?”
There was a trace of mockery in her words. Since the white lotus heroine’s methods didn’t work for her, she had already decided to abandon them.
She was just about to reveal her true nature when, unexpectedly, Ji Lifeng really was thirsty and completely failed to catch the sarcasm.
His eyes shifted to the glass of water. After a few moments of silence, he looked at the bodyguard.
The bodyguard immediately understood and quickly picked up the glass and threw it away.
When he returned, he brought a fresh cup filled with water.
Ji Xixing: “…”
Amazing!
Just how little did this man trust her?!
So women like Ji Chenhuan, who appeared pure and innocent while hiding vicious thoughts, were adored by everyone, whereas someone as straightforward as her was suspected by all?
Heaven truly wasn’t fair.
After this farce, Ji Xixing’s desire to break everything and turn against Ji Lifeng cooled considerably.
Taking a sip of water, Ji Lifeng looked at her again.
“Since you understood, then do as I said.”
“Though you’ve always been disobedient, as your father, would I ever harm you?”
“As long as you listen, there will always be a place for you in the Ji family.”
Ji Xixing: “…”
Wonderful!
Even while drinking water, he hadn’t forgotten to PUA her.
After hesitating for two seconds and carefully choosing her words, she said, “Dad, I know you’re doing this for my own good, but I think you’ve misunderstood some things.”
Though her tone was already gentle and tactful, Ji Lifeng’s expression darkened immediately.
Without saying a word, he merely stared at her.
Ji Xixing continued, “As for what happened with Miss Cheng, she was the one who provoked me first. I only defended myself.”
Under Ji Lifeng’s increasingly cold gaze, she persisted.
“I’ve never offended her, yet she humiliated me mercilessly in public. Dad, she wasn’t just insulting me, she was insulting the Ji family.”
Reverse PUA was something Ji Xixing excelled at.
Her words were full of sincerity, and Ji Lifeng’s brows knitted together as if he were genuinely considering whether she was telling the truth.
Seizing the opportunity, Ji Xixing added fuel to the fire.
“And now they’re using their power to force me, the victim, to apologize. Isn’t that just proof that they don’t take our Ji family seriously?”
“Miss Cheng started the trouble, and I merely defended the dignity of the Ji family.”
“If we’re being fair, both of us are at fault, but Miss Cheng bears greater responsibility. Why doesn’t she apologize to me, yet insists that I apologize to her?”
Ji Lifeng was beginning to waver.
“I can’t simply trust your side of the story.”
“If you don’t believe me, you can investigate. I would never dare lie to you, Dad.”
Seeing her sincere expression, Ji Lifeng became even more hesitant.
“Then we’ll set this matter aside for now. But the other things must be done exactly as I said.”
“Dad.”
Ji Xixing interrupted him.
“I haven’t finished speaking yet.”
“Actually, there are some small misunderstandings regarding the other matters too.”
Suppressing his temper with great difficulty, Ji Lifeng coldly uttered a single word.
“Speak.”