Control (Futa) - Chapter 5

The next day, when the butler informed her that Ji Xun had come to visit again, Tang Mingling didn’t show her face at all. She simply instructed the butler to take them to see Tang Ximin.

“Miss Ji brought a bouquet of flowers for you, Miss. Should I keep them or…?” The butler was unsure how to handle the guest’s gift, given her bad attitude.

“Throw them away,” Tang Mingling instructed without lifting her head from her work in the study. She didn’t enter the family business, but she had many personal external investments and had developed well under her family’s patronage. Most were managed by professional managers, and she regularly reviewed the reports.

The butler hesitated, wanting to speak, but finally agreed and withdrew.

“Miss is busy with work and cannot receive guests. She has asked me to take you to see the young miss,” the butler apologized to Ji Xun downstairs.

“It’s us who are disturbing you with our sudden visit,” Ji Xun said. She was sitting upright, dressed sharply in a shirt and trousers, her long hair neatly pinned up. She turned to Tang Shuyu beside her and said gently, “Go and see Ximin, alright?”

Tang Shuyu’s eyes lit up. Knowing she was allowed to go today, she hugged her small backpack, full of gifts for her friend, and nodded.

Seeing her niece’s innocent and adorable appearance, Ji Xun patted her head. “Please take her there. As for the flowers, I would like to deliver them to Mingling myself.” Seeing the butler unable to respond, she smiled faintly. “Just tell me where she is, and Tang Mingling won’t scold you.”

The butler had looked after Tang Mingling since she was a child and, of course, recognized Ji Xun. He knew that the miss had competed with her since childhood, always wanting to surpass her. They were, in a way, friends from a young age. The butler did not want the miss to offend the Ji family and also did not want to disobey his employer’s orders. After much thought, he could only say, “Miss is in the second study on the left on the third floor. I will take you up.” He instructed the to take the young guest to the young miss’s room and led Ji Xun upstairs himself.

After escorting her to the study door, he hurried back down to prepare tea and snacks.

“Is there something else? If it’s about Ji Xun and them, don’t come and ask me.” Tang Mingling was looking down, making notes on paper, when she heard the door open, assuming it was the butler asking for instructions.

She was so absorbed in her work that she didn’t realize there was no response. It wasn’t until her neck and shoulders felt tired, and she looked up to change position, that she saw the figure sitting on the sofa, her eyes widening in surprise.

“Done with work?” Ji Xun closed the book she had casually picked up and walked toward the desk. She looked down at Tang Mingling.

“What are you here for?” Under Ji Xun’s gaze, Tang Mingling involuntarily straightened her back, displaying a dominant front. “After yesterday, I thought you would exercise some self-respect, Miss Ji.”

A flash of interest crossed Ji Xun’s eyes. “I also said yesterday that I would formally pursue you. I was not consulting you. I’ve come today merely to express my sincerity.”

Tang Mingling pursed her lips, not expecting her to be so brazen… “Don’t waste your effort. I will never agree to you. If you want a , even though you… are a little different, what kind of person can’t you find?” She had been hurt once in love and no longer trusted people easily. Especially not Ji Xun, whom she couldn’t see through. She feared the other woman was simply playing a joke on her.

“What kind of person can’t I find? But those people aren’t you. I can’t trust them.” Ji Xun leaned against the desk. Her tall, slender figure and feminine, graceful physique showed that she was a charming woman whom many men had always admired.

If the two of them hadn’t shared a night of , and if the marks from that night didn’t still remain on her body… Tang Mingling would not believe that the other woman hid something so astonishing in her trousers.

“Well, I didn’t expect you to agree to me right away. That wouldn’t be like you.” Unlike Tang Mingling, Ji Xun was quite familiar with the woman she grew up with. Tang Mingling had always been unable to hide her feelings, with an outgoing personality. The stubborn determination to compete with her, and the smugness after winning, were always visible on her face.

Just like now, her brow was slightly furrowed, feeling troubled and distressed by Ji Xun’s words, yet not knowing how to refuse.

So easy to fool, Ji Xun thought, a secret smile playing on her lips. “Until you agree to me, everyone will know that I am pursuing you.”

Tang Mingling’s expression darkened. The thing she feared most was rumors.

Ji Xun seemed to have seen through her fear. She bent down and reached out to stroke her cheek, coaxing her with intimate tenderness: “Don’t worry.”

“Don’t flatter yourself,” Tang Mingling slapped her hand away.

Ji Xun just smiled. After a moment, she said, “Stop working and come with me to check on her.” Her undeniable tone made Tang Mingling feel nervous. Fearing that she might do something brazen, she hastily put away her things and followed her downstairs.

After following Ji Xun to her daughter’s room, Tang Mingling saw Tang Ximin’s smile suddenly fade and dim. Tang Shuyu, on the side, turned around and noticed the two adults, but, unaware of her friend’s change of expression, simply called out, “Auntie Tang, Ximin said she wants to eat fish .”

Tang Mingling froze slightly, her gaze drifting to her frail-looking daughter. The little face involuntarily carried a hopeful expression. A sudden pang went through her heart, and she turned to the behind her and said, “Hurry up and prepare it. Also, stew a separate portion of chicken soup.”

Tang Ximin blinked in surprise. Tang Shuyu smiled happily at her.

“Go and see the child. Spend some time with her,” Ji Xun said, holding her shoulder. Tang Mingling unexpectedly didn’t resist and silently agreed. Only then did Ji Xun speak to her niece: “Tang Shuyu, we should go. Your mom said we have to go home for dinner tonight.”

“Okay!” Tang Shuyu left the small bag she brought behind. She said to Tang Ximin, “Ximin, these are all for you to play with. With the little bear to keep you company tonight, you won’t be scared.”

Tang Mingling looked at the object in the child’s hand—a bear. She saw her daughter reluctantly holding the person and the bear, her eyes slightly red as she said goodbye to her friend.

“I’ll come back to see you tomorrow,” Tang Shuyu comforted her like a little adult and walked toward Ji Xun by the door.

“We’re leaving now. We will visit again tomorrow. I hope you will be free to see us then,” Ji Xun said meaningfully. She took her niece’s hand and left under the guidance of the butler, leaving the mother and daughter alone.

Tang Ximin returned to her expressionless state, lowering her head. Normally, Tang Mingling would have left by now, but the guilt from yesterday prevented her from leaving. After hesitating for a moment, she walked over to her daughter’s bed and sat down. To Tang Ximin’s surprised look, she stiffly asked, “Are you feeling any better?”

“…Yes,” Tang Ximin replied quietly, clutching the small bear.

There was silence between the mother and daughter for a while. It wasn’t until the brought dinner that Tang Mingling took the porcelain bowl first, carefully stirred the to cool it, and then scooped a spoonful to her daughter’s mouth. “Eat.”

Tang Ximin had never received her mother’s care since she was little. At this moment, she was at a loss, partly thinking Tang Mingling was putting on a show, but deep down, a faint hope still lingered. She hesitated for a few seconds and opened her mouth to eat.

Tang Mingling, interacting with her daughter like a mother for the first time, was awkward. They didn’t know what to say to each other. After silently finishing the meal, both unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.

“Rest early.” After hastily clearing the bowls and chopsticks for the to take away, Tang Mingling stood up, intending to leave. But under her daughter’s surprised look, which she failed to conceal, she turned back, bent down, and pulled the blanket over her. After giving her daughter a deep look, she finally got up and walked out of the room.

The next day was the weekend. Early in the morning, Ji Xun came to visit with her niece. The butler was about to ask them to rest in the living room before consulting Tang Mingling when the latter gracefully descended the stairs.

Although it was deep winter, the air conditioning was on all day indoors. Tang Mingling was wearing a light white dress with a plain knitted cardigan over it. Seeing them show up again, she instructed the butler, “Take the guests to see Ximin. Prepare tea and snacks and send them in together.”

“Auntie, we brought dessert today,” Tang Shuyu said sheepishly, holding a cardboard box in her hand, having overheard the instruction to prepare snacks.

Tang Mingling glanced at her, her gaze dropping to the familiar box in her hand. She paused, then looked up at Ji Xun’s serious, professional demeanor, and coldly averted her eyes. “The guest brought dessert. Ask the kitchen to handle it.” After the butler walked toward Tang Shuyu, she considered her duties as the hostess complete and planned to leave. She smiled distantly. “I have some things to attend to. Please excuse me.”

In the conservatory in the backyard, Tang Mingling stood in front of her easel, unable to move her brush. Although she pretended to be unconcerned in front of Ji Xun, seeing her figure disrupted Tang Mingling’s thoughts. The state of being out of control made her extremely anxious.

“Are you still painting?”

Tang Mingling was startled. She turned around, and Ji Xun was standing behind her. She unconsciously took two steps back, stopping when she reached a safe distance. She glared at her defensively. “This is my private studio. Who brought you here?” Her tone was cold and harsh. She hadn’t expected someone in this house to disobey her orders.

“I told the butler I had work to discuss with you, and he brought me here.” Ji Xun’s intention was to find her. Now that she had found her, she didn’t intend to corner her immediately. She leisurely looked at the painting behind Tang Mingling. “Are you still painting?”

“What do you want from me?” Tang Mingling didn’t want to talk much to her and asked her coolly. She glanced toward the door and relaxed slightly when she saw a maid standing guard.

“I came to bring you a cake,” Ji Xun said, lifting the cake box in her hand.

Tang Mingling’s gaze shifted to the familiar cake box in her hand and paused. “I’m avoiding sugar.” Her expression hardened. “I already clearly refused you last time. Your proposal is too absurd. I will not disclose what happened that night to anyone. You keep your own mouth shut.”

Ji Xun stared at her and suddenly began to laugh.

Tang Mingling watched her warily.

“I really just came to bring you a cake.” Ji Xun placed the cake on the table and raised her hands to indicate she had no other intentions. Her gaze fell on the canvas. “The painting is beautiful.”

Tang Mingling snorted coldly. The painting Ji Xun called beautiful was merely a random she did out of frustration. It used many dark colors, with black and deep red dominating most of the space. Such a painting, and she called it beautiful? “The cake has been delivered. You can leave now.”

Not bothered by her coldness, Ji Xun nodded. “I will visit you again tomorrow.” With that, she turned and left the conservatory.

Tang Mingling couldn’t help but frown. She’s coming back to visit tomorrow? She didn’t understand what Ji Xun meant. Was she treating her like one of those ignorant, pathetic girls outside who could be charmed with just a few cakes?