Chapter 3- The Wealthy Heiress and Her Childhood Sweetheart(3)

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Chapter 3

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“A-Yang, I’m sorry.” Zheng Jiayue’s head was lowered, her eyes welling with tears as she clutched the corner of his shirt, her voice choked with emotion. “I was too impulsive.”

She knew how much Ji Yang longed for his father’s approval, for recognition from the shareholders, and wanted to properly develop the company that his mother and grandfather had worked so hard for. Now, she felt she had ruined it.

“It wasn’t because of you.” Ji Yang turned around, bent down slightly, and gently pinched her cheek, sighing softly. “Jiajia, I’m tired. No matter how hard I try, I’ll never gain their approval, and instead, you end up being wronged. I don’t want you to suffer because of me.”

Zheng Jiayue looked up, tears streaming down as she shook her head furiously. She didn’t feel wronged—being with him never felt like a hardship.

Ji Yang extended his fingers, wiping her tears away, holding her face with an apologetic expression. “I’ve lost my job, so I might not be able to give you the life I once promised, but I’ll try my best.”

“I can support you!” Zheng Jiayue sniffled, saying it with complete sincerity.

Ji Yang chuckled. “If it comes to that, then I’d be a real failure. How could I dare to marry you?”

Zheng Jiayue broke into a smile through her tears, burying herself in his arms and holding him tightly, her head resting on his chest. “I’m not afraid of hardship. Uncle Ji can’t see your worth.”

“That company isn’t the same as it once was. If Grandfather were here, he wouldn’t want you to be treated like this.”

…

She clung to him, venting about the injustices he faced, while carefully watching his reaction. Seeing that he wasn’t upset, she boldly continued, “Not only do you not have shares, you don’t even get dividends. All your hard work, all those long hours, end up being the capital Ji Wei uses to brag. Everything Uncle Ji once promised at board meetings—he hasn’t given you a single bit of it. They’re exploiting you.”

She’d wanted to say these words for a long time, but seeing the hope and determination in his eyes had kept her quiet, leaving her to silently feel sorry for him.

“I’m sorry to put you through this with me.” Ji Yang held her close, sighing. “I only wanted to gain his approval, to make sure you’d have a respectable marriage.”

“I’d marry you no matter what. I’ll convince my parents,” Zheng Jiayue whispered in his arms, “A-Yang is the only person I want to marry. No one else!”

Her voice was both tender and stubborn, full of innocence, and she had no defenses around him. Ji Yang wanted nothing more than to protect her purity.

He hugged her tighter, his hand resting on the back of her head, gently stroking her soft hair, and lowered his head to kiss the top of her head. “Silly girl.”

Ji family members were indeed scheming, and Zheng Jiayue saw it clearly.

For this project, Ji Yang and his team had been working overtime for nearly three months. When it succeeded, Ji Corporation’s stock soared, and all the credit went to Ji Wei. Everyone in the company knew it, but since Ji’s father favored Ji Wei, they all pretended not to see.

Despite the long hours and hard work, Ji Yang was still set up by Ji Wei and Ning Wen. Now, he wanted to see if Ji’s father would actually stand by his words and discard him as easily as he’d claimed.

“I’m not silly.” Zheng Jiayue looked at the bruise on his face, her eyes filled with worry. “Let me put some medicine on you, or it’ll look even worse tomorrow. Ji Wei was awful to hit you—I hate him!”

She puffed up her cheeks in frustration as she went to find the medicine.

Ji Yang didn’t argue, a smile flickering in his eyes.

In reality, Ji Wei had only managed to land one punch, while Ji Yang had aimed directly at Ji Wei’s joints and bones. Nothing obvious would show up, but Ji Wei would be in pain for months.

“I’ll be gentle. It won’t hurt.” Ji Yang sat on the sofa as she instructed, while she held a cotton swab, hesitant to touch the bruise. She dabbed at it softly, blowing on it slightly, her big, bright eyes wide with concern, careful not to cause him any pain.

Ji Yang’s lips curved in a tender smile as he wrapped his arms around her waist, drawing her closer. “Mm.”

“This medicine works really well; you’ll feel much better by tomorrow.” Zheng Jiayue applied the ointment, occasionally muttering curses at Ji Wei.

“It just breaks my heart.” After putting away the medicine, she climbed onto his lap, pouting as she looked at his face, fuming once more. “Ji Wei is so awful. I won’t let him off!”

Ji Yang was a calm and composed person, but with no family left, even his grandmother had spent her last years bedridden and had passed away a few years ago. He’d had to depend on his father, who reluctantly covered her medical expenses. Over time, he’d come to feel like an outsider in the Ji family.

This quiet endurance, repression, and indifference had shaped part of the original host’s personality, making him become something like his father, even sending Zheng Jiayue away in the end.

Having witnessed all of this from a young age, Zheng Jiayue’s heart had ached for him. She tried to become a light in his life, warming him as best she could, though she hadn’t realized she’d lose herself in the process.

“I won’t let him bully me again.” Ji Yang wrapped his arms around her, promising.

“He never hit you before,” Zheng Jiayue said, her face dark, still seething. “This isn’t over!”

“I was the one who hit him first,” Ji Yang reminded her.

“That’s still his fault; he must’ve provoked you. That guy only causes trouble, can’t stand to see you doing well, and he’s arrogant and conceited. He’s a menace to society.” She ranted on.

Ji Yang held her, chuckling quietly, feeling deeply content.

This girl truly believed in him.

Just as Zheng Jiayue was about to say something else, her phone on the table rang.

Ji Yang reached over to hand it to her. She took the phone and saw that it was Ning Wen calling. Her heart sank, “Oh no, I forgot I was supposed to call Ning Wen.”

When she’d heard about Ji Yang’s injury, she’d panicked and rushed to the hospital, then come home still feeling dazed and had forgotten all about it.

She pressed “answer,” but before she could speak, Ning Wen’s voice came through, “Jiayue, where did you go? I just finished going over all the requirements for the custom dress. Where did you disappear to?”

Her tone was anxious, with a hint of reproach.

Ji Yang kept his arms around her, absentmindedly playing with her hair, which helped Zheng Jiayue calm down. “I’m home.”

“What?” Ning Wen’s voice suddenly sharpened. “Didn’t you say you’d stay with me to customize the dress? We’re about to pay the deposit. How could you just leave without saying anything? What about the deposit?”

It dawned on Zheng Jiayue then—the custom dress deposit was expected to come from her.

But her offering a gift was different from someone demanding it.

“I had to leave suddenly. I’m sorry. Are you short on the deposit? Do you need me to lend you some money?” Her voice was apologetic, emphasizing the word “lend.”

Lending implied it needed to be repaid.

Ning Wen hesitated, realizing she’d been too forward, and softened her tone, “Jiayue, I didn’t bring any money. I thought you could cover it for me first? I just didn’t want you to feel embarrassed at your birthday party.”

Zheng Jiayue usually didn’t mind covering small expenses for Ning Wen; her spare change was enough to cover those. This was why Ning Wen would occasionally play the pity card with her.

“It’s no big deal. Just wear whatever you think looks nice. That dress is so expensive, and it’ll only be worn once. It’s not worth it.” Zheng Jiayue replied smoothly.

She considered Ning Wen’s situation and usually wouldn’t let her spend money. When they went shopping or out to eat, she’d always offer to pay, since it was small change. But that didn’t mean she was an ATM.

In truth, the living allowance her family provided wasn’t a huge sum—enough for her to live comfortably on her own, but for larger expenses, she’d have to use Ji Yang’s card.

Ning Wen froze, surprised that she’d respond this way, but still tried to argue, “But I’ve already placed the order and given all the specifications. Canceling now would be so embarrassing.”

She wanted to wear a luxury brand to that kind of party to mingle with the rich kids.

“Even if I give you the deposit, can you pay the rest?” Zheng Jiayue asked. Ning Wen cut her off immediately, her voice sounding hurt, “Jiayue, are you calling me poor? I know I’m poor, and I don’t want to embarrass you.”

“That’s not what I meant.” Zheng Jiayue sighed, “You’re still working part-time, and I just don’t think it’s worth it.”

“I know it would take

me a long time to save that money from work, but it’s for your birthday party. We’ll be graduating soon, and I might go back home, so this could be the last birthday party of yours I attend.” Ning Wen paused, sounding downcast. “Forget it. I won’t wear it; a poor person like me can’t afford it anyway.”

She quickly ended the call after that.

Watching the call end, Ning Wen sneered, In less than five minutes, Jiayue will send me the money.