President Ji’s Cat - Chapter 1

The plane streaked across the sky, leaving a long contrail in its wake.

After a dozen or so hours of flight, the aircraft landed in Yanjing City.

Passengers trickled out of the terminal exit, their faces etched with exhaustion. Thinking of the friends or family waiting for them, they instinctively quickened their pace toward the exit.

Only one person maintained a steady, unhurried gait. She was tall, and her vibrant red dress made her stand out strikingly against the drab, multicolored crowd.

She carried no luggage. She didn’t look like someone here for a vacation or a business trip; she looked more like someone making a brief stopover for the day.

Standing in the crowd, she possessed a singular uniqueness. Passersby couldn’t help but turn their heads, wondering if she was some celebrity.

Unfortunately, she wore a pair of dark sunglasses that obscured her face, and her lips remained in a flat line without the slightest curve, giving her a cold, unapproachable aura.

“Eldest Young Lady!” Xiao Zhang carefully checked the photo on his phone, instantly identifying the person with the most prominent presence in the crowd. He waved at her frantically.

To pick up the Eldest Young Lady, Xiao Zhang had specially brought along three bodyguards just to carry her luggage. As it turned out… she didn’t have any.

The woman clearly saw him and walked in his direction, her steps remaining calm and elegant.

As she approached, Xiao Zhang immediately said, “Eldest Young Lady, our car is already waiting at the entrance. If you’ll just follow me a few steps to the vehicle.”

Ji Chufeng didn’t say a word, walking straight toward a black Lincoln.

Before Xiao Zhang could even point out which car it was, she had identified it unerringly. He scratched his head and hurried to catch up.

As for how she recognized it? You only had to look at the license plate.

You couldn’t go wrong with “88888.”

From the moment they met, Ji Chufeng hadn’t uttered a single syllable. The air pressure inside the car was stiflingly low. Sitting across from her, Xiao Zhang felt an inexplicable sense of trepidation.

He wondered if he should find a topic to chat about…

“Eldest Young Lady, the driver will take you home to rest today. Tomorrow, the butler will take you to the hospital to visit the Chairman.”

Ji Chufeng looked down at a magazine. Hearing this, she flipped a page, her face expressionless, though her words were laced with biting sarcasm: “Oh. So the old man is still holding on, then?”

Xiao Zhang: “…” He didn’t dare respond. He could only manage a sheepish smile and shut his mouth, terrified that the Eldest Young Lady would say something even more shocking.

This young lady had lived abroad for years. If the Chairman hadn’t fallen critically ill and summoned her back, he wouldn’t be here picking her up today.

Before coming, Xiao Zhang had guessed that the relationship between Ji Chufeng and the Chairman wouldn’t be as close as that of the “Little President Ji,” but he hadn’t expected her to speak with such daggers.

The relationship between Ji Chufeng and Ji Shengjun wasn’t just “distant”—she practically treated him like an enemy.

Back then, their family—handsome husband, beautiful wife—was the ultimate high-society fairy tale envied by everyone. Who would have thought that one day Ji Shengjun would suddenly announce a divorce? Not long after, he brought back a woman and her son.

He publicly declared that the boy was his son. Ironically, that son was only two years younger than Ji Chufeng.

Everything started because of that woman.

But in the end, it was all due to a man blinded by greed and obsession.

When she turned eighteen, Ji Chufeng went abroad. The further away from that disgusting family of three, the better.

The Lincoln drove out of the airport. Just as it was about to turn toward the Ji Residence, the Eldest Young Lady spoke up again.

“Just find me a hotel.”

Xiao Zhang had come with a mission. Hearing that Ji Chufeng wasn’t going home, his face immediately twisted into a look of distress.

“Eldest Young Lady…” He wanted to say more, but he was silenced by a sharp glare from Ji Chufeng.

“If you still want to work for the Ji Corporation, I suggest you pick a side sooner rather than later.”

“…” Xiao Zhang didn’t dare speak. He hurriedly instructed the driver to head to a hotel.

Even if he was “Young Master Ji’s” man, he understood that if he truly offended this Buddha, there would be no good end for him.

After giving the order and seeing the Young Lady’s expression soften slightly, Xiao Zhang dared to say, “Eldest Young Lady, the Madame and Little President Ji are waiting for your return…”

“What, they want to see me?”

Xiao Zhang froze for a moment, then nodded vigorously like a chicken pecking at grain.

Ji Chufeng suddenly flashed a smile. She was clearly smiling, yet it sent a chill down the back of his neck.

“Are they missing legs? Tell them to come over themselves.”

Xiao Zhang rubbed his neck and quietly complied. It seemed the rumors about the Eldest Young Lady and her stepmother being at odds were true.

At the hotel, Ji Chufeng looked at the magnificent building with relative satisfaction. As soon as she stepped out of the car, the hotel manager hurried over to greet her.

The fawning expression on his face was a carbon copy of how people greeted the big boss, Chairman Ji.

“Hello, Eldest Young Lady. I am Zhao, the person in charge of this hotel. You may call me Xiao Zhao.”

Ji Chufeng glanced at him. A middle-aged man in his thirties asking a junior to call him “Xiao Zhao”—it was clear that one didn’t become a hotel manager without being a “person of character.”

“Manager Zhao.” As soon as Ji Chufeng said this, the smile on Manager Zhao’s face deepened. Calling himself “Xiao Zhao” was a humble gesture; he only said it because she was the eldest daughter of the Ji family.

Hearing a “respectful title” naturally made him feel quite comfortable.

Xiao Zhang tried to follow Ji Chufeng inside, but she turned to look at him. “What are you still doing here?” She finished with an ambiguous smile. “Or are you under orders to spy on me?”

“No, no!” Xiao Zhang shook his head frantically, his face turning pale with fright. “I’m going to the hospital now to see the Chairman. If you need anything, Eldest Young Lady, you can call me. I’ll be there the moment you call!”

Heh.

Ji Chufeng didn’t give him another look. She walked into the hotel lobby, listening to Manager Zhao tirelessly introduce the hotel’s entertainment facilities.

“Eldest Young Lady, this is the grand suite prepared for you. If you have any requests, you can call me anytime or contact the front desk.” Manager Zhao led her to the massive suite on the 66th floor. Having received the call only half an hour ago that a “leader” was coming, he had urgently arranged for housekeeping to clean it again to ensure nothing was missed.

Ji Chufeng gave a cursory glance and was satisfied enough.

“I didn’t bring any clothes. Have someone prepare a few sets for me.” Pausing, she added, “Also, help me find an apartment.”

“Certainly, I will get on that immediately.” Manager Zhao pulled a small notebook from his suit pocket. “Are there any requirements for the apartment?”

“Large. Good privacy.” She waited for him to finish his note before saying, “Also, buy a car. It doesn’t need to be too fancy—anything over five million will do.”

“…” The pen in Manager Zhao’s hand almost fell in shock. He looked at Ji Chufeng cautiously; surely this “Crown Princess” wasn’t going to drain the hotel’s petty cash the moment she arrived?

Ji Chufeng crossed her arms and watched him, suddenly finding his panicked look quite amusing. Seeing him look so pitiful, she added: “The Ji Corporation will reimburse it.”

“Understood!”

“That’s all. Go on then.”

Ji Chufeng dismissed him and took another look around the suite. A study, a bedroom, a massive living room, and a kitchen fully stocked with a fridge, microwave, and cookware.

Standing on the balcony, one could take in the entire view of Yanjing City at a glance.

Manager Zhao’s efficiency was indeed high. Not long after he left, Ji Chengye’s call came through to her phone.

Looking at the name “Ji Chengye” on the screen, Ji Chufeng’s lips curled into a cold arc.

The old man really knew how to pick names. Chengye—”Succeeding the Business.” It was a blatant declaration to the world that he wanted this illegitimate son to inherit the family legacy.

“Sister, the secretary just told me you went to stay at a hotel?” The moment he spoke, it was a demand for answers.

Ji Chufeng sat on the sofa, holding the phone in one hand while examining her other hand. Her nails were getting a bit long; they needed a trim.

On the other end, Ji Chengye, receiving no answer, called out “Sister” again, his impatience more obvious this time.

“Ji Chengye.” Ji Chufeng addressed him by full name immediately. That mother-son duo loved to play at social niceties, but she wasn’t that type of person.

“Are you questioning me?”

“…” Ji Chengye’s voice returned to a calm tone. “No.”

“I’ll be blunt with you.” Ji Chufeng flicked her nail and leaned back comfortably against the sofa. “I don’t plan on leaving this time. I’ve already given my requirements to Manager Zhao. I assume you’re calling me because you already know what I’ve asked for.”

“I know.” The other side seemed to take a deep breath, clearly suppressing a fire. “The house is a small matter, but isn’t a five-million-dollar car a bit over budget?”

The car he currently drove was only worth a little over a million, and that was a reward given to him only when the old man was in a good mood.

“Is it?” Ji Chufeng said with a half-smile.

“The company can’t pull that much cash out all at once…” Ji Chengye paused. “We can manage one million.”

Ji Chufeng let out two sharp, cold laughs. The chill in her voice practically bled through the receiver.

“Ji Chengye, don’t haggle with me,” she said coldly. “If I wanted to kick you down, do you think you’d still be sitting in the seat of General Manager of the Ji Corporation?”

…

After hanging up the phone, Ji Chengye’s face was ashen. He wanted to see just how arrogant this “Elder Sister” could remain once the old man died and he officially took control of the company.

The Ji Corporation was a leading enterprise in Yanjing City, and even nationwide, it was a top-tier well-known company. Its industries spanned various sectors; as long as there was money to be made, the Ji family had a hand in it.

And this massive family business had been founded single-handedly by Ji Junting. She would never allow her grandfather’s life’s work to be handed over to a spineless waste like Ji Chengye.

Ji Chufeng tossed her phone onto the sofa and stood up, walking to the balcony to stare at the scenery outside.

She suddenly raised a hand and clenched it into a tight fist in the air until her knuckles turned white before letting go.

Now that she was back, she would collect every single debt owed to her.

At that thought, Ji Chufeng’s gaze grew even darker.