Ji Xingmi didn't pay attention to the rest of the conversation as they started gossiping about other families. Seeing her lack of interest, Gu Jingyi took her away. They walked to a secluded corner, where he pulled her in. Xiao Ji and Mushroom, aware of their relationship, stayed back without disturbing them.
Ji Xingmi was caught completely off guard as she was dragged into the corner. Fortunately, she knew who it was, or she would have been ready to fight back.
"What are you doing?"
"It's been so long since I've seen you. I haven't spent any time with you since you got back!"
Ji Xingmi looked at him suspiciously. She was quite sure he had been around her, even if not this close. Where did this "so long" come from?
Gu Jingyi seemed to sense her doubt and smiled, "I mean, like this. My A-xing is loved wherever she goes. The old men have been keeping a close eye on me, afraid I'd do something bad!"
Ji Xingmi realized he was complaining and teasingly asked, "Are you unhappy? Should I speak to Grandpa Hua and get you transferred back?"
"That can wait. At least I can see you now! If I left, I wouldn't know when I'd get to see you!"
"Mmm, I hear it, a little unhappy!"
"Not really. I just want to spend more time with you."
Seeing Gu Jingyi like this, Ji Xingmi laughed, put her arms around his neck, and stood on her tiptoes to whisper in his ear, "Then shall I make it up to you?" Before Gu Jingyi could react to her action and words, Ji Xingmi tried to pull away.
Would Gu Jingyi give her the chance? He turned the tables and kissed her, one hand around her waist, the other behind her head. By the time they emerged, it was already dark. Their situation was clearly that of a couple deeply in love. Gu Jingyi was the happiest, as he felt Ji Xingmi was slowly accepting him, and that was enough.
These past few days, Ji Xingmi had been busy tending to her vegetable garden, teaching Secretary Sun and Gu Jingyi how to use the computer and printer, and keeping up with the gossip from the Feng family. She was paying particularly close attention, even asking Xiao Ji and Mushroom to gather information. To her surprise, Xiao Ji was incredibly skilled at information gathering. Listening to him talk about gossip was like being there, very entertaining.
After Feng Xiang went to the hospital that day, the doctors found nothing wrong. He was diagnosed with a simple case of food poisoning and prescribed some medicine. Feng Xiang himself thought it was just bad food and threw a huge tantrum upon his return. A major argument erupted in the Feng household that day, with the Feng matriarch reportedly rolling on the floor and making a scene, almost causing Feng Xiang to pass out from anger again.
However, just when everyone thought it was a simple stomach bug and the medicine would suffice, Feng Xiang continued to suffer from diarrhea, with even anti-diarrheal medication proving ineffective. After several visits, the doctor noticed a pattern: his condition only improved when he avoided greasy foods. The doctor attributed it to a weak digestive system and advised him to eat more vegetables and fish.
Feng Xiang followed the doctor's advice. After a few days of improvement, a strange phenomenon occurred. He started feeling constantly nauseous, particularly during meals. Initially, he felt sick at the sight of greasy or fishy foods, and soon, even the smell would make him feel ill. More frighteningly, if he walked past a house where food was being cooked and the aroma, even slightly savory, wafted out, he would vomit uncontrollably and be unable to move.
This was beginning to affect his work. Not long ago, at a meeting organized by "Yi Hao" (Number One), he started retching and vomiting in front of everyone, possibly due to the smell of meat. Yi Hao didn't blame him and had him sent to the hospital.
Yi Hao knew what was happening but didn't reveal it. Frankly, he was waiting for the show to unfold. As for today, while the meeting was real, his vomiting could also be considered part of his plan. He had mentioned wanting some meat in the morning, and the housekeeper was already preparing it. Sending him to the hospital now would likely lead to some interesting developments.
However, before the meeting concluded, they received an unbelievable piece of news. The hospital reported that Feng Xiang was pregnant. This news shattered everyone's perception of reality. How could he be pregnant? Could the hospital have made a mistake? But the news they received was the confirmed result after multiple examinations by the hospital. Feng Xiang had become infamous overnight. There were all sorts of rumors, but people only spoke of them in private, as talk of ghosts and spirits couldn't be brought out into the open.
The only two people in the group who knew the truth were struggling to control their expressions, not wanting to show any unusual reaction. However, some of Feng Xiang's rivals, who were aware of the situation, couldn't help but smirk, their mouths practically splitting from ear to ear.
Upon hearing the news, Ji Xingmi burst into laughter, clutching her stomach. What surprised her most was how insidious Yi Hao was, sharing this news so openly in front of everyone, completely disregarding Old Master Feng's reputation.
After composing herself, Ji Xingmi wrote a letter and had Xiao Ji deliver it to the Ji family. When Xiao Ji returned, he brought back many things, one of which Ji Xingmi was particularly interested in: the compensation for her father's sacrifice. Although her father had already made arrangements earlier, it had been sent consistently until now, when she turned sixteen, marking its end.
Unknowingly, that day had arrived again. Ji Xingmi's smile vanished, and she returned directly to her room. Xiao Ji looked bewildered, unsure of what to do, and ended up guarding the door to Ji Xingmi's room.
When Elder Hua and the others returned, Ji Xingmi had still not emerged from her room. After finishing his work, Elder Hua went to Ji Xingmi's door and knocked. Ji Xingmi opened it quickly, surprised to see him, and followed him to a table in the courtyard to sit down.