President Ji’s Cat - Chapter 10

After firing the head of Xingyao, President Ji, seeing the myriad of issues within the company, decided to take charge personally. In any case, there wasn’t much for her to worry about at the Ji Group headquarters for the time being.

The news of the eldest daughter’s return as Acting Chairman of the Ji Group had already made reporters restless. Now, hearing that Ji Chufeng had personally taken over Xingyao Media—coupled with the fact that Xingyao’s Fu Sixue had recently been a “darling” of the trending topics—the reporters moved immediately, swarming the entrance of Xingyao to snatch first-hand information.

“President Ji, there are many reporters downstairs. I’ll have the guards clear them out before you exit the car,” An Yi said, touching her Bluetooth headset, about to give the order.

“No need.” Ji Chufeng raised a hand and glanced out the window, saying something cryptic: “It looks quite lively.”

An Yi: “???”

In the past few days, the online criticism of Fu Sixue had lessened. Xingyao’s PR team had begun operations, and the topic was gradually dropping off the trending list. However, for Ji Chufeng, this result felt like a pent-up grudge that hadn’t been fully vented.

She still felt that “little fresh meat” Liang Hao was incredibly ugly and rather effeminate. How on earth did Fu Sixue take a liking to him!

As soon as she stepped out of the car, reporters swarmed. Several security guards immediately separated the two from the press. Microphones were nearly shoved into Ji Chufeng’s face, and cameras clicked incessantly; the chaotic noise almost drowned out the sound of the shutters.

Ji Chufeng suddenly felt that being a celebrity wasn’t easy either.

“Little President Ji!” a voice called out to her. That “Little President Ji” title sounded extremely grating to her ears.

She stopped in her tracks and looked toward the reporter who had used the title, her brown eyes darkening.

“Correcting you.”

There was no warmth on Ji Chufeng’s face, and her gaze was terrifyingly deep. Her icy voice transmitted through the microphones, a chill seeming to seep into everyone’s hearts.

“The Ji family has only one President Ji.”

“And that is me.”

The moment she spoke, the reporters were so intimidated by her aura that they fell silent. The reporter who had called her “Little President Ji” felt his scalp go numb, as if countless blades were resting against him. He instinctively stammered, “Pre… President Ji…!”

President Ji was satisfied. She tilted her chin slightly, signaling him to ask his question.

By this simple gesture alone, the reporter felt as if he had been granted a royal favor. Damn it! Not forgetting his job, he immediately asked: “President Ji, what is your view on the rumors regarding your artist Fu Sixue and Liang Hao? Are they really just friends?”

Hearing this question, a fleeting smile appeared on Ji Chufeng’s cold, elegant face—a smile laced with profound contempt.

“Who is this ‘Liang Hao’ nobody?”

When she said this, the reporters were stunned. They clearly hadn’t expected her to publicly diss him so blatantly.

President Ji didn’t give them time to process, adding quickly: “Is he even worthy?”

That guy was far from worthy. As for how he wasn’t worthy, President Ji planned to leave that for the netizens to debate.

She had spent the last two days looking through the details of the incident. She could tell that the overwhelming online criticism directed at Fu Sixue was likely the work of Liang Hao’s paid internet trolls.

Ji Chufeng was always one to settle scores. How could she let Liang Hao walk away so clean? She naturally had to drag him into the mess.

As for the aftermath—a coward who valued his future more than his soul? If he had the guts to show up, Ji Chufeng would be waiting.

The “nobody” comment exploded online as expected. With Xingyao’s PR pushing from behind, the situation was favorable. Realizing that an entertainment company would inevitably deal with circle matters, Ji Chufeng opened a personal social media account.

“…” Ji Chufeng looked at the top comment on her Weibo, puzzled.

“Why are they calling me ‘Husband’?”

Having just returned to the country, Ji Chufeng naturally didn’t understand the slang used in domestic fan circles.

An Yi thought for a moment and explained: “It’s a form of validation from girls nowadays when they think a person is cool or ‘alpha.’ It’s not limited to men.”

“Alright.” It sounded like a compliment.

President Ji continued to tinker with Weibo. She went back to her profile and looked at her single-digit follow count. Clicking into her “Followed” list, among the “Mutuals,” one “Followed” was very prominent.

“…” She looked at a certain person’s profile. “Why hasn’t Fu Sixue followed me back yet?”

An Yi took a look and reached for her phone. “I can relay the message for you.”

“No need.” Ji Chufeng put her phone on the desk. Needing a reminder just to get a follow felt beneath her.

President Ji was displeased.

“President Ji.” An Yi returned from a phone call, having to interrupt the boss’s mood. “Word from the hospital—Madam Ji is causing a scene there again.”

“Tsk.” Ji Chufeng’s expression shifted visibly; the disdain in her eyes was almost overflowing.

Ever since she banned others from visiting Ji Shengjun, Xu Xiayun had been showing up at the hospital almost every other day, only to be turned away. She had tried calling before, but Ji Chufeng never picked up, so eventually, Xu Xiayun stopped calling. Once, she even charged into the company wanting to see her, but she was stopped by security before she could even get to the elevator.

Now, only the servants at the Ji Residence were still at their beck and call; that was already her greatest mercy.

Ji Chufeng knew the reason they hadn’t crossed the line yet: they held the “will” as their trump card. They only had to wait for Ji Shengjun to breathe his last to inherit the estate. As for being turned away at the hospital, they could spin that to the public as her being unfilial and preventing the family from reuniting.

President Ji, of course, would not sit and wait for death.

“How is the progress on the matter I assigned to you?”

“The agency said the results are out. They’ll have someone deliver the report today.”

Ji Chufeng nodded. She was very much looking forward to the results of this test.

In the afternoon, the paper report arrived.

Ji Chufeng stared at the manila envelope on her desk for a long while before reaching out to open it.

She pulled out several stapled A4 sheets. The title on the cover read: “Judicial Identification Opinion.”

Clearly, this was a DNA paternity test file.

Ji Chufeng flipped through page by page. She didn’t understand the technical jargon, but that didn’t hinder her reading.

On the penultimate page, her fingers paused. She quickly turned to the next page.

Amidst the black ink on white paper, the red stamp was extremely conspicuous.

— Confirmed: No Biological Relationship. —

“…” Ji Chufeng froze.

When she finally snapped out of it, she actually started laughing, shaking her head as she did.

How pathetic. How tragic.

One of the parties involved, Ji Shengjun, knew nothing of the impending storm. He watched the nurse inject medicine into his IV line; the pale yellow liquid flowed slowly into his body through the tube.

This was his daily routine.

He raised his arm and watched his hand tremble slightly in the air. A simple movement felt exhausting.

“Chairman!” The secretary entered and saw this, immediately running over to place his arm back on the bed. “Your body is weak right now; you shouldn’t move around.”

Ji Shengjun stared at the ceiling, his gaze a bit ethereal. “Did Xiayun come today?”

“She did.” The secretary paused, saying awkwardly, “The bodyguards wouldn’t let Madam in…”

Ji Shengjun’s chest began to heave rapidly; he was clearly angered. “She… she! Did you not call her and tell her to have the guards removed?!”

“I did, but…” The secretary trailed off.

“Tell me… what kind of ungrateful wretch have I raised all these years!” Ji Shengjun asked himself. Regarding his daughter Ji Chufeng, aside from physical presence, he hadn’t lacked in providing the care she was due.

When she went abroad, he sent her money regularly. When he reached out, he was met with a cold face. Sometimes he felt this daughter of his simply had no heart.

Fine if she resented him for the past, fine if she didn’t visit often while he was ill—but she had taken the opportunity to hollow out his power and even prevented his wife and son from visiting!

He began to regret it; her name shouldn’t have been in the will! He also hated his own failing body.

“Chairman, don’t be angry!” The secretary hurriedly patted his chest. He wanted to comfort him but didn’t know what to say, eventually settling on: “The doctor said you can’t get agitated. A good mood helps the recovery!”

“If I had known, I never would have given her those shares!” Ji Shengjun’s only concern now was his wife and son; knowing Ji Chufeng’s hatred for him, he worried they wouldn’t have a good life.

“Isn’t it a bit late for that now?”

The voice was suddenly picked up by another.

Ji Chufeng stood at the door. Having heard Ji Shengjun’s words from outside, her mood turned even more somber.

“You still have the face to show up!” Ji Shengjun instinctively tried to grab something to throw at her, but his hand flailed in the air without finding anything. His face turned red with rage.

“Why wouldn’t I have the face?” Seeing his struggle, Ji Chufeng leaned against the wall with her arms crossed, watching the show.

The mockery in her tone made even her wonder if she was being too cold-blooded.

“You… you!” Ji Shengjun pointed a trembling finger at her. “All these years, when have I ever mistreated you? I fulfilled my duties as a father, yet look at you! This is how you treat me now!”

“You really are a heartless, ungrateful wretch! Even if I raised a dog, it would still wag its tail at me!”

“Don’t make yourself sound so grand,” Ji Chufeng said coldly. “What you did for me was nothing more than a product of guilt.”

She walked toward the bed step by step, her expression dark. “When you drove Grandpa to his grave back then, did you ever think that one day you too would be lying in a hospital bed, unable to perform the most basic tasks?”

“Did you ever think of how Grandpa felt at that moment?” A smile played on her lips. Ji Shengjun froze at her words.

Ji Chufeng had no intention of letting him off that easily. “When you caused my mother to lose her ability to have more children, did you ever think of her feelings?”

“When you cheated, did you think of our feelings as your wife and daughter?”

Ji Shengjun’s complexion changed instantly. The man who had been screaming a moment ago fell silent.

She stopped at the bedside, looking down to meet his eyes directly.

“Ji Shengjun, do you believe in karma?”