Feng Qi said, “My father is a powerful and smart man. He used his old connections to quickly pave his way in the business world. In just a few years, Ji Corporation grew bigger and bigger, but they got into trouble again. The bigger the Ji Corporation is, the more it earns. The more they earn, the less others earn.
“However, at that age, the family became more and more powerful. My mother-in-law gave birth to Xiaoyu when she was older, and I gave birth to Xiaowen. The whole family celebrated and held all kinds of banquets. The Ji family would also bring the children to participate in such activities, and the two children became the Ji family’s weakness.”
Fang Xiaonuan sat on the sofa, listening attentively.
Feng Qi continued, “One day, Xiaowen and Xiaoyu were playing a game. A group of people rushed into the house and picked up Xiaowen, wanting to leave with him. Lingchen happened to be at home during the holidays. He was looking after the two children, and when he saw that Xiaowen was about to be taken away, he desperately held onto Xiaowen. The commotion was so loud that it got the entire family’s attention. That group of people could only give up on kidnapping Xiaowen and turn around to take Xiaoyu away.”
“Where was my husband?” Fang Xiaonuan only cared about her husband.
Feng Qi thought back to that day. “He grabbed one of the kidnapper’s legs and tried to stop them from taking Xiaoyu away. The kidnappers ended up grabbing him as well.”
Fang Xiaonuan furrowed her brows. She did not expect to hear that her husband was kidnapped as well.
“Then why did Xiaoyu go missing in the end?” Fang Xiaonuan asked.
Feng Qi shook her head. She did not know. At that time, the whole family was in a panic. Xiaowen was almost kidnapped. Her mind was blank. When she came back to her senses, she heard from her family that the kidnappers had asked the Ji family for a ransom amount of 10 billion.
Old Master Ji immediately called the police, and the kidnapper sent him a photo of Lingchen. He was covered in blood and looked like he had been beaten up. Any parent would not be able to take seeing their child in that state. When she saw her son and daughter covered in blood, Mrs. Ji fainted immediately.
Later, the Ji family gathered 10 billion in cash according to the kidnappers’ request and sent it to the location they were given.
However, only Ji Lingchen was returned, and Ji Xiaoyu disappeared.
“What happened after that?” Fang Xiaonuan’s eyes were filled with worry.
Feng Qi said, “Lingchen was saved by the Lin family. Lin Rou’s father saved him. That’s why our family has been helping the Lin family all these years. It was only after you married Lingchen that the Ji family cut off all ties with the Lin family.
“Not long after Xiaoyu disappeared, Mrs. Ji became bedridden with a serious illness and passed away. From then on, Lingchen blamed himself for not being able to protect his sister. He went to look for Xiaoyu every day even while he was wearing his hospital gown. His mother’s death was an even greater blow to him. He felt that he was useless, and that his mother died because of him.
“When he was 13 years old, he moved out and started living alone in Spirit Creek Villa. He didn’t accept anyone’s help. Once, I went to wash his clothes for him, but he chased me out. He doesn’t let us into Spirit Creek Villa without his permission, not even Dad.
“Xiaonuan, since he fell in love with you, you both might end up moving to Spirit Creek Villa someday. I hope you can give him a home. Don’t let him be alone again or he might ruminate about Xiaoyu.”
Fang Xiaonuan nodded solemnly. “Don’t worry, sister-in-law. I’ll give him a home. He’s also someone that I can rely on.”
Even though Feng Qi was his sister-in-law, she was still worried about Ji Lingchen. There were a few times when Ji Lingchen spent the holidays by himself, refusing to come home for New Year’s dinner.
Left with no choice, Feng Qi could only lie to Ji Wen. “Son, go and do something bad.”
“Mom, is there something wrong with my brain or yours?” Ji Wen asked.
Feng Qi pointed at the chandelier, and said to Ji Wen, “Son, take a stick and hit the lamp down.”
Ji Wen looked at the chandelier. Why did she want him to knock it down? But Feng Qi insisted that he did so. Ji Wen was also young at the time, so he did as he was told.
Then, his mother, who had forced him into misbehaving, picked up the phone and called Ji Lingchen. “Lingchen, come back and take care of your nephew. He’s so naughty that he knocked down the chandelier and almost hurt us.”
Ji Wen was speechless.
Not long after, Ji Lingchen returned home, grabbed Ji Wen, and gave him a good beating.
On New Year’s Eve, the entire house was filled with the sound of Young Master Ji crying. However, no one in the Ji family was angry. Instead, their faces were full of joy. Only Ji Wen, this unlucky child, could only stand and eat his New Year’s Eve dinner because his butt hurt too much.
In the days that followed, Feng Qi continued to fool her son. “Xiaowen, listen to your mother. Go and take a walk.”
“I won’t!”
They had no choice but to let Ji Kangde handle it. Later, Ji Lingchen returned home, and Ji Wen got beaten again.