Volume One, Chapter 18: Be My Mistress!

As soon as the words left his mouth, Fu Mingyue’s mind, which had been restless all day, inexplicably settled into a calm.

But before he could fully savor the moment, Ji Yunzi calmly countered, “What about Li Susu?”

Fu Mingyue’s newfound peace was instantly disturbed again. He didn't understand why—after all, he had gotten what he wanted.

“Mr. Fu, you’ve had too much to drink. Please go home,” Ji Yunzi said as she saw him off.

Fu Mingyue looked into her impassive eyes and suddenly realized she had been crying.

“You cried,” he said softly, reaching out to touch her face, but she dodged, leaving his hand frozen midair.

“Mr. Fu, you’re looking for the wrong person. You should be looking for Li Susu,” Ji Yunzi said as she tucked away the divorce agreement.

Yet the sight of those words—“divorce agreement”—felt like a sting to Fu Mingyue’s eyes. Instinctively, he gripped Ji Yunzi’s shoulder.

“Ow,” Ji Yunzi winced, frowning.

Fu Mingyue immediately released his hold, then hesitated before saying, “Actually, I don’t have to divorce you. But you’ve been too troublesome, and I’m annoyed. If only you…”

“Won’t marry Li Susu?” Ji Yunzi asked in surprise.

She truly found it odd—wasn’t Fu Mingyue eager to get rid of her? Now that his wish had come true, why this sudden change? He claimed to be drunk, but his words were clear.

“She…”

“Do you want to have them both?” Ji Yunzi teased.

“That’s not impossible,” Fu Mingyue replied smoothly.

Ji Yunzi was momentarily stunned before bursting into bitter laughter.

“Mr. Fu, the Qing Dynasty is long gone,” she said pointedly. “Bigamy is illegal.”

Fu Mingyue pursed his thin lips, recalling the words he had heard at the hospital.

“I’m not talking bigamy. I’ll continue to support you. You…” He looked at Ji Yunzi, whose face still bore bruises and looked disheveled, yet strangely pleasing to his eyes. Slowly he said, “Susu can’t have children, you know that. I am the sole heir of the Fu family; I can’t remain childless. Over the years, I’ve treated you like a sister, so we never did those things. But I will overcome that. I will give you a child.”

His long hand gently clasped Ji Yunzi’s slender neck.

Only then did Fu Mingyue realize that the little girl who had always followed him had a delicate, smooth neck.

She had grown up—not a sister anymore, but his wife.

“Yunzi,” he called softly.

The elegant voice made the stunned Ji Yunzi’s heart flutter, but she quickly suppressed the feeling with cold composure.

---

After loving someone so deeply for more than a decade, it was impossible to be completely unmoved so quickly.

But that was all it amounted to.

Fu Mingyue mistook Ji Yunzi’s failure to pull away as consent and bent down, his gaze falling on her pale but moist lips, leaning in to kiss her.

“Smack!”

Ji Yunzi’s palm struck Fu Mingyue’s face decisively.

He was taken aback. “You hit me…”

“Shouldn’t I?” Ji Yunzi retorted. “Please leave. Don’t make me feel like the thing I loved for the past ten years is disgusting.”

Fu Mingyue’s peach blossom eyes darkened, returning to their usual cold stare. “What’s the matter? You think me supporting you isn’t enough? You act so willful and unruly—who else but me would indulge and tolerate you?”

Ji Yunzi felt her heart constrict with anger.

How could someone be so shameless and yet act as if it were entirely justified?

Taking a deep breath, Ji Yunzi heard Aunt Liu’s voice.

“Young madam, the old master has awakened and wants to see you.”

Ji Yunzi was stunned. “Grandfather Fu?”

“Yes,” Aunt Liu replied.

Though the door was open, Aunt Liu dared not look around, especially after catching sight of Fu Mingyue.

Ji Yunzi glanced at her legs and the hand hanging from her neck, feeling conflicted.

Fu Mingyue suddenly swept her into his arms.

Ji Yunzi was alarmed. “Put me down!”

He looked into her eyes but met only cold disdain.

He froze, and Ji Yunzi immediately pushed herself up with her crutch, struggling to get down.

“Aunt Liu, please bring my wheelchair over.”

“Alright,” Aunt Liu hurried away.

Ji Yunzi limped out.

Fu Mingyue followed and grabbed her crutch. “Why are you being so stubborn?”

“Don’t touch me,” Ji Yunzi pulled away.

Fu Mingyue’s face darkened. “Do you think I want to touch you? I’m just trying to keep up appearances so Grandfather won’t worry. He doesn’t know about our divorce.”

“I’ll tell him soon enough. There’s no need to hide it. Do you want me to pretend we’re still married?” Ji Yunzi mocked.

---

“I—I’m just worried Grandfather’s health is fragile, and sudden emotional shocks could be dangerous!” Fu Mingyue lowered his voice in warning. “We won’t hide it from him forever, just wait until he’s a bit stronger.”

Ji Yunzi fell silent.

Grandfather Fu had indeed liked her and treated her well.

He had always urged Fu Mingyue to treat her kindly, insisting they never divorce.

Now that they were divorced, it was uncertain how Grandfather would react.

At that moment, Aunt Liu returned with the wheelchair, and Ji Yunzi sat down.

Fu Mingyue took hold of the handles and began pushing. “I’ll explain to Grandfather later. You just say less and cooperate.”

“Maybe test the waters first. If Grandfather already suspected this day would come, then telling him won’t matter,” Ji Yunzi said regretfully. She wished she could continue to show filial respect, but things were settled—she couldn’t keep hiding the truth.

“We rarely stay at the old residence anymore. Grandfather knows I’m busy. Even if we hid it, it wouldn’t matter. Or are you trying to cause a scene so he’ll protect you and stop us from divorcing?” Fu Mingyue said knowingly. “So you’ve been waiting here all along?”

Ji Yunzi was speechless.

Just then, the elevator doors opened.

Li Susu suddenly appeared. “Mingyue, I heard Grandfather has awakened?”

“Yes, he wants to see Yunzi. Don’t worry about it. Go rest,” Fu Mingyue explained.

Li Susu hesitated. “Fu and Li families are old friends. It’s one thing when Grandfather was asleep, but now that he’s awake, I should at least greet him. Otherwise, it would be rude.”

Fu Mingyue glanced at Ji Yunzi, who remained expressionless. Irritated, he said, “If you want to go, then go.”

“Okay,” Li Susu pressed the elevator button and, as if it were natural, pushed Ji Yunzi inside.

Fu Mingyue followed into the elevator and looked at Ji Yunzi once more. “Remember what I said.”

Ji Yunzi was silent. Li Susu grew curious. “What did you say?”

“About the divorce—Grandfather’s health is poor, so keep it from him for now. You must remember not to upset him,” Fu Mingyue instructed.

Li Susu nodded obediently. “I understand. I won’t say a word.”

Fu Mingyue was pleased by her tactful demeanor and nodded approvingly. He glanced at Ji Yunzi again, who remained indifferent, and frowned involuntarily. “Ji Yunzi, did you hear me?”

“Why are you shouting?”

Grandfather Fu’s voice came from outside the elevator.

The doors opened simultaneously. Dressed in a simple Zhongshan suit, the lean and austere Grandfather Fu appeared, leaning on a cane.

Ji Yunzi looked up and met a pair of kind, pained old eyes...

“What’s going on? Yunzi, why are you in a wheelchair? You brat, have you been bullying her again?”