As it turned out, Jiang Xizhi’s efforts to please him were effective—Ji Han Zhuo relented.
The man lowered his gaze, his expression unreadable as he looked at Jiang Xizhi’s delicate fingers. “Oh? Then tell me, Xi Xi, what birthday gift do you want?”
In her previous life, Ji Han Zhuo had asked her the same question at this time. Her answer had been: “I want freedom. Let me go.”
That had angered him. Ji Han Zhuo confiscated her phone and completely imprisoned her.
In her past life, she had only dared to be bold that once, but it had earned her Ji Han Zhuo’s cruel punishment. From then on, she never again dared to think of leaving him.
But in this life, she had to take it slow.
After thinking it over, Jiang Xizhi wrapped her arms around Ji Han Zhuo’s neck, buried her face against his shoulder, and replied sweetly, “I want to go back to school. I have exams next semester when classes start. I promise I’ll come straight back to the estate after class. Besides, I can’t stay in the estate forever, can I? If you ever take me out in the future and I don’t know anything, how embarrassing would that be? If I earn my certificate through my own efforts, then when I go out with you, I can say I’m a top graduate from a prestigious university—not like those society ladies who only know how to shop and buy bags. It’ll make you look good, and I can even help you at the company.” The university Jiang Xizhi attended, Jing University, was one of the top institutions in the country. The exam she mentioned was the TEM-8, the Test for English Majors, held in the senior year. It was highly prestigious and had an extremely low pass rate. She was currently in the second semester of her junior year; next semester would be her senior year. Her foundation was weak, and she had missed a lot of classes. To pass the exam and earn the certificate, she needed to start reviewing early.
And there was a reason she was so determined to obtain the TEM-8 certificate. If she ever succeeded in running away in the future, having an extra certificate would make it easier to find a job.
Ji Han Zhuo had said he could arrange everything for her, but she didn’t want to rely on him. She wanted to earn her certificate and diploma through her own efforts. In this life, she had to become self-reliant first to have the means to face difficulties.
With her arms around Ji Han Zhuo’s neck, neither of them could see the other’s expression. Ji Han Zhuo remained silent, and the atmosphere grew eerily quiet. Jiang Xizhi couldn’t help but feel afraid—it would be a lie to say she wasn’t scared. After all, in her previous life, it was from this point that she had been plunged into hell.
Just as Jiang Xizhi was so tense she could barely breathe, Ji Han Zhuo spoke, his voice calm and devoid of emotion. “No one would dare make you lose face. With me by your side, you don’t need to worry about anything. You can do whatever you want.”
As long as she stayed obediently by his side, even if she tore a hole in the sky, he could patch it up for her.
“Mm, I understand. So, can I go back to school now?” He had said she could do whatever she wanted.
Ji Han Zhuo suddenly chuckled and nudged her forehead with his. “You’re quite good at seizing opportunities. Yes, but I have conditions. I’ll tell you once I’ve thought them through.”
Suppressing her joy, Jiang Xizhi grabbed Ji Han Zhuo’s face and planted a quick kiss on it. “Thank you, Ji Han Zhuo.”
She was already halfway to success.
Ji Han Zhuo pinched the soft skin on the back of her neck and corrected her, “From now on, call me A Zhuo. Say it once for me.”
“A… A Zhuo,” Jiang Xizhi called out softly, her cheeks flushed.
It wasn’t that she was shy, but in her past life, whenever passion reached its peak, Ji Han Zhuo would also force her to call him that, and it was almost always in bed, so she always felt a sense of indecency in broad daylight.
The girl’s soft, sweet voice seemed to strike a chord in the man’s heart, making his heartbeat skip a beat. His deep phoenix eyes suddenly darkened, filled with an indescribable storm, ready to break free from restraint at any moment.
Ji Han Zhuo no longer wanted to hold back. He bit down on the girl’s soft, tempting cherry lips, plundering and conquering as if he wanted to devour her whole.
With one hand wrapped around Jiang Xizhi’s waist and the other pressing against the back of her neck, she had no strength to struggle, forced to endure his kiss.
But as the man’s kisses gradually moved downward, Jiang Xizhi noticed something amiss. The thing beneath her legs seemed to be stirring awake. Jiang Xizhi was all too familiar with this and, using every ounce of her strength, pushed the man away, leaving behind a single word—”pervert”—before fleeing in panic.
Ji Han Zhuo didn’t stop her. He leaned back against the sofa with a wicked smirk, licking the corner of his lips, his refined brows and eyes burning with desire.
It seemed she had grown up. Calculating the time, it was about right to put things on the agenda. When the time came, he would surely collect what was owed from last time as well. He hoped she wouldn’t regret agreeing to his conditions today.
He was a businessman and never made deals at a loss.
But before that, he needed to set the rules for her, to let the whole world know she was his woman. Anyone who dared to covet her would have to die.
Jiang Xizhi ran upstairs at her fastest speed, quickly closing the door behind her. Leaning against it, she gasped for breath, the flush on her face refusing to fade. Her fair cheeks were tinged with a rosy hue, adding a touch of allure to her exquisite face, making her even more captivating.
One thing was certain: if Ji Han Zhuo had followed her up now, he would have undoubtedly given in to his primal instincts.
But the man didn’t follow. Only after confirming this did Jiang Xizhi relax. Sitting on the carpet, she took out her phone and sent a message to Wen Luoyue.
It had been several months since Ji Han Zhuo brought her back. During this time, Yueyue had sent her countless messages, asking if something had happened and when she would return. Jiang Xizhi could only brush it off by saying something had happened at home, rarely replying to her messages. Now, she could finally give her a definite answer.
Jiang Xizhi told Wen Luoyue she would return to school next week. She had already calculated the timing. Today was Wednesday. She would spend the next few days coaxing Ji Han Zhuo, then set aside two days to persuade him to take her out to buy some clothes. She still had some living expenses Father Jiang had given her, which should be enough for a couple of outfits.
All the clothes Ji Han Zhuo had prepared for her were custom-made, bearing the Ji family emblem. Her relationship with Ji Han Zhuo couldn’t be exposed, so those clothes were absolutely not to be worn to school.
During dinner, Chen Yi came upstairs to call Jiang Xizhi down. It took her a long time to mentally prepare herself before she went downstairs, convincing herself to forget what had happened that afternoon.
When she went downstairs and saw the empty dining room, Jiang Xizhi was momentarily surprised. “Chen Yi, isn’t your young master here?”
“You’ve forgotten, today is the day the young master returns to the old residence for dinner.”
“Oh, right, I remember now.”
She had indeed forgotten that on the fifteenth of every month, Ji Hanzhuo would return to the old family estate. The direct lineage of the Ji family was sparse, and Ji Hanzhuo was the only son. His parents had settled abroad, leaving the vast old estate inhabited solely by Old Master Ji. Ji Hanzhuo visited the elderly man every month.
However, what Ji Hanzhuo did not expect was that this visit would turn into a trap.
The Ji family old estate was located in the northern suburbs of the capital, occupying one of the wealthiest districts in the city, while Yucui Garden lay in the southern suburbs. The northern suburbs were a traditional affluent area, home to many old estates of prominent families, rich in history. In contrast, the southern suburbs represented a newly emerging affluent zone. The Ji family old estate, with its long history, boasted a distinctive architectural style. Though it had undergone numerous renovations in recent years, it retained its classical charm—a three-story Western-style villa nestled against mountains and water, offering breathtaking scenery and an imposing grandeur.
As soon as Ji Hanzhuo entered, he heard Old Master Ji’s hearty laughter, followed by a gentle woman’s voice. The subtle shift in his eyes was almost imperceptible, but upon seeing the woman’s appearance, his expression relaxed.
Though Old Master Ji was already in his seventies, his spirits remained high. He was particularly enthusiastic about arranging marriages and matchmaking for his grandchildren. Having just set up a blind date for Ji Hanzhuo’s cousin, it was now his turn.