My Perfect Enemy is Finally Broke Novel - Chap 6
Ji Ran sped home in his car. Once he arrived in his neighbourhood, he saw a black Mercedes-Benz outside his house.
He released the accelerator and pulled up next to the Benz. Winding down his window, he looked towards the backseat of the car and called, “Grandmother.”
The woman sitting in the back didn’t respond. Instead, the window at the driver’s seat rolled down. The chauffeur spoke, “Mr. Ji, why don’t you open the garage. The wind is rather strong and the madam is wary of the cold.”
Ji Ran was silent for a moment before he retracted his gaze. The car moved forward, allowing his license plate to be scanned and the garage door slowly opened.
The black Benz drove in first.
Ji Ran parked his car and recalled something before he got out. He retrieved the pack of cigarettes from his pocket and carelessly threw it to the backseat. On the other side, the backdoor of the other car finally opened, revealing an old woman slowly getting out.
The old woman’s hair was white and her style of dressing made her appear extremely elegant. She slightly raised her brow, although when she glanced at Ji Ran’s clothes, they couldn’t help but dip for a second before returning to normal.
They hadn’t met in many years, but Ji Ran’s tone when greeting her was still very respectful, “Grandmother.”
In the Ji family, if there was anyone who ever cared for him even a little, it would be the old madam. Without her, Ji Ran would probably be a poor country bumpkin with no one else to rely on.
Ji Ran wasn’t an ingrate. Even if he went against everyone in the Ji family, he wouldn’t disregard his grandmother.
Old Madam Ji finally replied, “Let’s go in and talk.”
In the living room, Madam Ji sat with her back as straight as a rod, sipping on a cup of hot tea poured from a thermos flask they’d specially brought over.
“I haven’t seen you for many years, you’ve grown,” Madam Ji said.
“Grandmother, it’s been seven years,” Ji Ran smiled and reminded her. His tone couldn’t be considered as friendly.
She nodded, “It’s been seven years, but you’ve only come to visit me once.”
Madam Ji had left Mancheng1 seven years ago to live in the all-year round, spring-like climate of Haicheng2.
Ji Ran laughed, revealing a row of white teeth, “I’ve been busy.”
Madam Ji naturally knew that that was just an excuse. After all, this was her shameful grandson; the one who’d bother his teachers and didn’t try to find a job after graduation. Apart from spending money and playing around, how was he busy?
“After I left, how many times have you gone home?” She asked.
Ji Ran leaned against the sofa, his posture relaxed, “What are you saying? I come home everyday.”
“Sit properly.” Madam Ji frowned, “You know what I’m talking about.”
Once she mentioned home, Ji Ran’s patience completely dried up, “Grandmother, get to the point. What’s your purpose for visiting this time?”
Madam Ji took off her shawl and set it aside, “This Friday is your brother’s engagement party. It’s being held at the villa with a garden, I want you to attend.”
Such a matter should’ve required only a simple message, she didn’t need to personally come down. However, Ji Ran’s relationship with his brother and family was destined to never be amicable. If someone else had come to pass on this message, they would probably be unable to sway him.
Coincidentally, she was returning home from the airport and happened to pass through his area.
When Ji Ran heard this, he only raised his brow as he fiddled with the cellphone in his hands. He was itching for a smoke.
Seeing that he didn’t refuse, Madam Ji continued, “This is a big event for our family and many reporters will be present. You need to be there.”
In this technologically driven era, no matter how powerful a person was, they wouldn’t be able to completely erase all traces of their existence. From a long time ago, Ji Ran’s existence was no longer a secret . If he didn’t show up, they were afraid that rumours of ‘the Ji family severing their ties with their illegitimate son’ would spread.
“Ji Ran…”
“I understand,” Ji Ran interrupted her with a smile, “I’ll be there.”
His blunt acceptance left old Madam Ji somewhat stunned.
The grandson she hadn’t seen for many years was sitting across her and smiling obediently as he promised, “How can I be absent from such a grand occasion? Don’t worry, I’ll definitely be there on time.”
——
“You’re really going to your brother’s engagement party?!” Yue Wen Wen asked in astonishment.
“Mn.” Ji Ran sat with his legs crossed on the sofa, his hands under his chin as he stared at Yue Wen Wen.
He never imagined there’d be a day where he would enter a nail salon with pink Hello Kitty wallpaper covering every wall.
“The flower here needs to be bigger,” Yue Wen Wen told the nail technician.
“It’s just a flower, how big do you want it to be? Why don’t you just ask for a bee to go with it,” Ji Ran commented with disdain. “What’s wrong with you? Why are you doing your nails?”
“We’re organizing an oriental-themed event… ah, what does a smelly guy like you know?!” Yue Wen Wen rebuked. “Why did you call me to come? To shop? Right, such events need a suit. Do you have one?”
“I do.” Ji Ran seemed to recall something and gave a low laugh, “My grandmother sent a suit over.” As if afraid his manner of dressing would bring them shame.
Yue Wen Wen asked suspiciously, “Then, why’d you come to the shopping district today? You usually hate shopping.”
“I…” Ji Ran hesitated. He touched his hair and finally questioned, “Where did you dye your hair before?”
Yue Wen Wen replied, “Upstairs. Why? You want to fix your hair? Don’t tell me you’re going to style it? Wah, that’s evil!”
Ji Ran didn’t want to waste time talking nonsense. He stood up and said, “I’m going up.”
“Fine, I’ll come after I’m done,” Yue Wen Wen called back.
The one doing Yue Wen Wen’s nails was the boss of the shop. Once Ji Ran left, the lady boss immediately asked in a low voice, “Little Wen Wen, why didn’t you tell me Ji Ran was coming today? I would’ve worn a nicer skirt.”
“I also didn’t think he would come,” Yue Wen Wen answered. “And you don’t need to keep dreaming, Ji Ran doesn’t like women.”
The lady boss was astonished, “Ah? Is he…”
“That’s right.” Yue Wen Wen raised an eyebrow, “Can’t you tell?”
“I can’t.” The lady boss sounded exasperated, “God, all the handsome men are yours while we don’t get any.”
Yue Wen Wen shook his head, the light reflecting off his shiny studs, “Don’t. He’s not mine.”
“What, is Ji Ran not handsome enough? You don’t like him?” The lady boss was extremely gossipy, “Then, has he ever been with anyone?”
“We’re too close. There aren’t any feelings and I also can’t bring myself to like him.” The nails on one hand were done. Yue Wen Wen raised his hand in a lotus shape and rested his chin, “No, our little Ran Ran is still pure. Although he likes men… it’s been so many years. I haven’t seen him with anyone.”
The designs on Yue Wen Wen’s nails were complicated. It took an entire hour before it was finished.
When he walked into the salon, he chatted with the boss for a while before asking, “Eh, where’s Ji Ran?”
The boss replied, “Inside. The first round of colour just set. He’s washing his hair.”
Yue Wen Wen’s footsteps halted, “…Colour?”
——
After Qin Man handed his car over to the valet staff, he looked inside.
The garden in the villa was extremely large and filled with many flora and balloons. At the side, there was a picture of today’s main couple of the event framed up. Numerous cameras were lined up below the stage as the reporters who’d rushed over were currently adjusting their positions.
Today was the engagement party of the Ji family’s young master. Ji Wei had already sent out the invitations as early as half a month ago.
“Qin Man.” Standing at the entrance and entertaining the arriving guests, Ji Wei immediately spotted his good friend and bid farewell to the person he’d been chatting with. He hurriedly reached Qin Man’s side, “I was afraid you wouldn’t come.”
“Why wouldn’t I?” Qin Man smiled dully. His black suit made him appear much more elegant and restrained. Even if he was just standing by the side, his presence attracted much more attention than Ji Wei, who’d dressed up.
He handed a gift to him, “This is your engagement gift. Congratulations.”
“Thank you,” Ji Wei accepted the present. “Is your family… alright?”
“We’re fine,” Qin Man answered.
“I wasn’t in the country during that period of time and only heard of it recently.” Ji Wei patted his shoulders and said, “What’s done can’t be undone, so I won’t say anything else, but if you need any help, just let me know.”
The reporters saw Qin Man and all picked up their microphones, wanting to ask him questions.
Qin Man made a sound of agreement, “I’ll go in first. You should continue to welcome the other guests.”
“Wait, that…” Ji Wei coughed quietly, “your seat is at the main table, don’t go to the wrong one.”
Qin Man raised an eyebrow and wanted to say something.
“Brother.”
A familiar voice came from behind. Their heads simultaneously turned towards the source of the sound.
When he saw who it was, the corners of Qin Man’s lips couldn’t help but lift.
Ji Ran stood behind them. He adorned an expensive looking black suit that accentuated his long legs and refined his elegance. Coupled with his exquisite features, he resembled an extremely pampered little prince.
However, he had a head full of green hair. Under the bright sunlight, it looked particularly… conspicuous.
When Ji Ran noticed Qin Man, he also froze. But he quickly recovered and put on a harmless smile, looking towards a frowning Ji Wei as he said, “Congratulations on your engagement, brother.”
1
A district in the city of Baoding, China
2
County in Anshan city, China
