President Ji’s Cat - Chapter 2

Manager Zhao was extremely efficient. In the time it took Ji Chufeng to take a shower, he had already prepared her clothes.

Dresses, professional suits, and casual wear of every type were categorized by color and hung on racks, which several shop assistants then wheeled into the suite together.

“Eldest Young Lady, I wasn’t sure what style you preferred, so I prepared a bit of everything.” Manager Zhao maintained that same fawning expression.

Ji Chufeng’s fingers brushed across the rows of clothing. The texture under her fingertips was excellent, and she nodded in satisfaction.

In addition to the clothes, Manager Zhao had also prepared some food.

After finishing her meal, before she could rest for even a moment, her phone rang again.

This time, upon seeing the caller ID, Ji Chufeng instinctively let out a cold sneer and declined the call without hesitation.

After hanging up, she dialed another number. It wasn’t saved in her contacts, but she had long ago committed those eleven digits to memory.

The phone rang twice before someone picked up. Ji Chufeng couldn’t wait to call out, “Mom.”

“Fengfeng, what’s wrong? Are you in trouble again?” The voice on the other end sounded very young, with a light and cheerful tone that suggested the speaker was in a bright mood.

“Why do you make it sound like I’m a constant troublemaker?” Ji Chufeng instinctively pouted. The cold hard shell she wore for outsiders vanished, replaced by a relaxed expression.

There was a light chuckle from the other end. Once the laughter subsided, Ji Chufeng said, “I’m back in the country.”

“How long are you staying this time?”

Ji Chufeng looked up at the sky, then down at the heavy traffic below. “I’m not leaving this time.”

The response wasn’t as joyful as one might expect. After a moment of silence, the voice asked, “What happened?”

“The old man is critically ill and wanted me back. Probably thinking about distributing the inheritance.”

“Fengfeng.” Hearing her daughter speak of her own father like that, the voice sounded a bit helpless. “He is your father, after all. Don’t talk like that.”

She knew about Ji Shengjun being hospitalized; it had been trending on Weibo recently, making it hard to miss. From the reports, it didn’t seem that severe.

“Heh.” Ji Chufeng gave a cold laugh, crossing one arm over her elbow, her voice low. “Ji Chengye is his only ‘real’ son in his eyes.”

A sigh came from the other end. “It’s been so many years, you…”

Ji Chufeng knew exactly what her mother’s next line would be. She nearly exploded with rage, cutting her off coldly: “When he cheated on you during your marriage, hurt you, and caused Grandpa’s death, why didn’t he think about today? Don’t talk to me about forgiveness. I wish he’d die sooner. This is his karma!”

“…” The other side fell silent, seemingly at a loss for words.

“…” Ji Chufeng took two deep breaths. When she opened her eyes again, her gaze had returned to its usual calm. “Sorry, I lost my composure.”

The other side sighed softly, knowing her daughter’s temperament well. “Whatever you need help with, just say the word.”

Ji Chufeng gripped the railing tightly, then quickly let go, saying calmly, “I need an assistant.”

If she was going to fight, she couldn’t do it empty-handed.

She was used to her indulgent lifestyle abroad and had no original intention of coming back to fight over the family estate; it would have been fine to let others work their lives away to earn money for her to squander. But since the old man was begging her to return on his deathbed, she couldn’t let him down.

The family business her grandfather left behind—did that mistress’s son even deserve a piece of it?

Once a straw man like Ji Chengye took power, no amount of wealth would be enough for him to waste.

She would have to nip that in the bud.

After staying one night at the hotel, Ji Chufeng was awakened by a phone call while she was still dreaming.

It was an unsaved, stranger’s number. Frowning, Ji Chufeng sat up in bed and answered with an unfriendly tone, “Who is this?”

“Hello, President Ji.” A pleasant and steady female voice came from the other end. “I am your assistant, An Yi. I will be responsible for assisting you with all work-related matters from now on. Is it convenient for me to come meet you now?”

Hearing the caller identify herself, the frown on Ji Chufeng’s face relaxed slightly. It seemed her mother worked quite fast.

She ended the call and got out of bed, ordering the hotel to send up breakfast.

By the time she finished washing up and dressing, it was only nine o’clock. This was truly a “disturbing one’s dreams” kind of morning.

An Yi was fast, arriving almost at the same time as the room service. When she entered, Ji Chufeng was sitting on the sofa elegantly sipping coffee.

“Have a seat.” Seeing her arrive, Ji Chufeng habitually scanned her from head to toe. Under her unabashedly inquisitive gaze, the other woman sat down quite calmly.

Her looks and figure were both excellent, and she looked rather cool and detached in her professional suit. Ji Chufeng was quite interested in the “cold and abstinent” type of woman.

“President Ji, this is my resume.” An Yi handed it to her. Rather than a long-winded self-marketing speech, it was better to let the employer see for themselves.

Ji Chufeng didn’t like people who rambled either. This method of introduction was much better than a traditional Q&A, even if they currently looked like they were in the middle of a job interview.

The room was silent, save for the sound of the air conditioner. Ji Chufeng looked at the resume without saying a word, her face unreadable. Holding the handle of her cup, she occasionally tapped the porcelain with her finger.

“You’ve touched upon many industries.” After finishing, Ji Chufeng offered this appraisal.

She had been at a magazine, a multinational trading company, and her last job was at a talent agency. She also knew minor languages. To the current Ji Chufeng, she was indeed a talent.

“Whatever President Ji needs, as long as I understand it, I will do my best to help.”

Ji Chufeng took a sip of coffee, looked at her, and suddenly broke into a bright smile, asking something completely unrelated to work.

“Single?”

“Yes.”

“Oh.” Ji Chufeng raised an eyebrow, a meaningful smile playing on her lips.

An Yi could read some implication in her expression. She sat up straight and said in an even tone, “President Ji, Teacher Yu instructed me that my main role is to assist you with work matters. Other things are not under my jurisdiction.”

To put it plainly, the subtext was: “Don’t get any ideas, or I’ll tell your mother.”

Ji Chufeng: “…”

No fun.

After finishing her business with An Yi, her phone rang.

It was Ji Shengjun’s secretary calling. Hearing that his daughter was back, the old man desperately wanted to see her.

Ji Chufeng originally didn’t want to go so soon, but under the secretary’s repeated pleas, and realizing she had nothing to do before evening, she reluctantly agreed.

“Great, Eldest Young Lady. I’ll send someone to pick you up right away!”

Tsk.

After hanging up, before the sarcasm in Ji Chufeng’s eyes could fade, she heard An Yi say, “President Ji, everything is packed. We can leave anytime.”

While she was on the phone, An Yi had already packed the laptop into a briefcase, looking ready to go.

Seeing this, Ji Chufeng waved her hand. “I’m going alone. You go handle the things I assigned to you.”

“Understood.” An Yi nodded, stood up from the sofa, and said, “Then I’ll take my leave.”

Ji Chufeng glanced at her, then stared at her phone screen thoughtfully.

The person picking her up arrived quickly—it was Xiao Zhang from yesterday.

The hospital wasn’t far from the hotel. Combined with the driver’s fast yet exceptionally steady driving, the car entered the hospital grounds ten minutes later.

As the owner of immense wealth, Ji Shengjun naturally stayed in the best ward, which was so strict that everyone entering had to be disinfected first.

Looking at the hand sanitizer the bodyguard held out, Ji Chufeng only gave it a glance, remaining indifferent and even somewhat disgusted.

“No need. I won’t be touching him.”

The secretary dismissed the awkward-looking bodyguard. “Eldest Young Lady, the Chairman has been waiting for you for a long time.”

Ji Chufeng walked straight in, just as the doctor was finishing a routine check-up. After the consultation, the doctor said, “Chairman Ji, your current condition is stable. The main thing is your mood. Being optimistic is good for recovery. You absolutely must not get angry; keep your emotions stable.”

Ji Chufeng stood to the side, coldly watching Ji Shengjun let the doctor draw blood like a fish on a chopping block.

Not seeing him for a few years, he had aged a lot.

Perhaps it was due to the illness, but his hair was almost entirely white and sparse. The high spirits of his past were gone; he really was an “old man.”

Seeing her arrive, a sliver of a smile appeared on Ji Shengjun’s face. He reached out his hand, gesturing for her to come closer. Seeing this, the nurse immediately raised the head of the bed to help him sit up.

“Daugh… daughter…”

Ji Chufeng walked over but stopped half a meter away, showing no intention of getting closer. She crossed her arms and looked down at him: “You’re not dead yet.”

The words weren’t warm; on the contrary, they were quite vicious.

Ji Shengjun seemed to know his daughter would say that. He gave a bitter smile and withdrew his hand. “After all these years, do you still hate your father?”

Ji Chufeng didn’t answer.

“Fine then.” Ji Shengjun sighed softly. “The fact that you came back to see me is enough to satisfy me.”

Ji Chufeng was completely unmoved by Ji Shengjun’s act of fatherly affection. Just as she was about to pour cold water on him directly, hurried footsteps echoed from the doorway.

“Oh, Chufeng is back!” Xu Xiayun appeared at the door with Ji Chengye, her face wearing that same fake smile Ji Chufeng knew so well. “Why haven’t you come home for dinner? Auntie made so many dishes for you last night!”

Ji Chufeng’s lips curled into a smile that wasn’t quite a smile. “Naturally, I was afraid you’d poison me.” The words were three parts joke and seven parts mockery; the coldness in her eyes made one shiver.

The timing of Xu Xiayun’s arrival was so perfect; clearly, she was afraid of what she might do to the old man or how she might affect the inheritance. She had run over specifically to spy.

As soon as she finished speaking, seeing his mother insulted so sarcastically, Ji Chengye was the first to lose his cool: “You…!”

Before he could speak, he was stopped by Xu Xiayun. “Chengye, she’s your sister, she’s just joking.” It was that same “White Lotus” act from before.

“Enough!” Ji Shengjun barked from the hospital bed. His voice was a bit too loud, causing him to choke and cough violently.

Xu Xiayun immediately walked over, pulling out a tissue to wipe his mouth. “Husband, don’t get excited. Your health comes first!”

After Ji Shengjun calmed down, there was a hint of reproach in his eyes as he looked at Ji Chufeng. This was something she had long since grown accustomed to.

After he had brought the mistress and her son into the house, Xu Xiayun was extremely good at acting. Every time, with just a few soft words, Ji Chufeng became the one who had done something wrong.

She should have paid back these tricks in full, but she disdained wasting her expressions on insignificant people.

Ji Chufeng gave them a cold glance. Ji Chengye helped him sit up while Xu Xiayun peeled a grape for him.

The room felt like it was divided into two worlds. They were over there, and she was over here.

She didn’t intend to stay any longer. She took two steps back and turned to leave.

“Chufeng!” Xu Xiayun put down the grape and chased after her. “Come home for dinner tonight. Auntie will cook a couple of her specialty dishes for you.”

Ji Chufeng’s hand stopped on the doorknob. She was about to refuse, but she swallowed the words.

She knew Xu Xiayun was only saying this to put on a show in front of Ji Shengjun. After all these years, hadn’t she performed enough? She had calculated that Ji Chufeng would refuse or even continue to mock her, thereby gaining Ji Shengjun’s pity.

Ji Chufeng turned to look at the woman and suddenly flashed a smile: “Sure.”

“Tonight then.”

After Ji Chufeng left, Xu Xiayun adjusted her hair and walked back down the hallway toward the bed.

On the bed, Ji Shengjun had heard their conversation at the door. Knowing his daughter never had a kind look for her stepmother, he reached out and patted Xu Xiayun’s hand. “It’s hard on you. Chufeng, she…”

“Oh.” Xu Xiayun wiped the corner of her eye and said understandingly, “We’re family; no need for outside talk. Since I married into the Ji family, Chufeng is also my daughter. This is what I should do.”

Ji Shengjun didn’t speak, but his gaze toward Xu Xiayun grew a bit more guilt-ridden.