RRP Chapter 71

Ji Ling knew that once Zong Jiqi received the proposal, he would definitely have some reaction, so he wasn’t in a rush.

 

However, after waiting for several days with no news, Ji Ling couldn’t help but wonder what his brother was thinking.

 

It wasn’t until his subordinate sent a report saying that the app in N City, the one Zong’s investment company had been competing for, had dropped out of the race, leaving the software entirely to them.

 

That’s when Ji Ling finally felt assured.

 

Ji Ling’s company’s new office building was leased from the real estate owned by the Yan family.

 

Although not as grand or tall as the Yan family’s building, it had become a little landmark in the area.

 

Naturally, Ji Ling’s office was on the top floor. As the company grew larger, he had less interaction with the staff below. He now took a direct elevator to his office every day, no longer passing by the open office area. He would miss seeing his employees smile at him, but at the same time, he found it a little regretful.

 

While working in his office, he received a WeChat message from Yan Yixuan.

 

“I’ll pick you up after work.”

 

Ji Ling smiled and replied, “Oh, today I get to ride in the chairman’s special car?”

 

As time went on, it was always Ji Ling who drove to pick up Yan Yixuan. It had been a long time since he had even seen Yan Yixuan’s driver.

 

Yan Yixuan sent a ‘I’m going to beat you’ emoji, saying, “Stop talking, there’s a dinner party tonight, let’s go together.”

 

Ji Ling understood it was definitely a dinner he could benefit from, so he replied, “Okay, see you there.”

 

Just as he put down his phone, his secretary knocked and entered, looking a bit nervous.

 

“Boss, Mr. Zong Jiqi from Zong Group wants to see you.”

 

Ji Ling thought to himself, ‘Finally’, and said, “Alright, have him schedule a time.”

 

The secretary seemed even more anxious, replying, “He’s downstairs, he wants to see you right away.”

 

Ji Ling was taken aback.

 

He didn’t expect Zong Jiqi to come straight to the office. He quickly added, “Bring him to my office.”

 

The secretary obeyed, leaving the room. After a while, she returned with Zong Jiqi in tow.

 

As soon as Ji Ling saw Zong Jiqi’s face, he thought, ‘Here we go, now that the chairman of Zong Group has stepped into my company’s doors, those gossip reporters in the entertainment industry will probably start speculating about what big move Ji Ling is about to make with Zong Group, what kind of collaboration is going on…’

 

Ji Ling motioned for Zong Jiqi to sit on the guest sofa in the corner of the office, and after the secretary brought in tea, she left the room completely.

 

Ji Ling took a seat across from Zong Jiqi, smiling as he said, “Mr. Zong, I’m surprised you made time to come directly over.”

 

Zong Jiqi had been silent since he entered, and now, even as Ji Ling spoke, he kept his eyes fixed on him, his expression unchanged.

 

Ji Ling sat there at ease, waiting patiently. He wasn’t in a rush.

 

Finally, Zong Jiqi spoke, asking, “What exactly do you mean by the things you sent me?”

 

Such a direct question. Ji Ling caught it and replied, “Last time, we discussed Zong Group’s need for development, and you’re looking for a way forward. I just wanted to share my thoughts with you— even if they don’t have much use, perhaps they might give you some inspiration.”

 

“Not much use?” Zong Jiqi asked, his tone somewhat skeptical. “It helps a lot—how could it have no impact? I don’t know the company as well as you do, but the ideas you suggested completely align with the company’s current situation. They could be implemented almost immediately.”

 

Ji Ling quickly responded, “I didn’t mean anything else, just offering it for your reference.” He said seriously, “Now Zong Group is your company, you can rest easy. I have no intention of interfering.”

 

Ji Ling was about to say more, but Zong Jiqi firmly interrupted him. “I showed your proposal to the company’s management team.”

 

He locked eyes with Ji Ling, something indescribable flickering in his gaze. “Some of the ideas in it were ones my older brother mentioned before.”

 

Ji Ling kept his composure and replied, “Seems like I’m on the same page as your brother.”

 

Then, unexpectedly, Zong Jiqi asked, “Do you know why my older brother is called Bolin, and I’m called Jiqi?”

 

Ji Ling was momentarily stunned.

 

But then, he quickly realized what was going on.

 

Zong Jiqi wasn’t like Luo Teng.

 

Luo Teng— could look away, pretend not to know, play dumb to protect himself from facing too much truth.

 

But Zong Jiqi couldn’t.

 

He was Zong Bolin’s real family. He couldn’t pretend not to see.

 

That’s why he had come all this way—to ask for the truth.

 

Ji Ling thought that if the younger brother had already moved on from the past, there would be no need to bring it up again.

 

But now that Zong Jiqi was asking, it meant Zong Jiqi had made up his mind.

 

Ji Ling felt that he should respond.

 

So, Ji Ling said, “When your father named your brother, he didn’t think much about it. Later, when you came along, he felt that having two children was enough, so he named you Jiqi, to match Bolin. It means there’s no Zhong or Shu; you are the last one.”

 

Zong Jiqi then asked, “There was something I really wanted once. My brother was almost about to buy it for me, but in the end, I gave up. Do you know what it was?”

 

Ji Ling replied, “You went to the UK, wanted a horse so badly, but then suddenly said you didn’t care about it anymore.” He had been quite puzzled by that at the time.

 

Zong Jiqi’s voice became hoarse as he said, “That was because my father told me, if you want something, go fight for it yourself, don’t ask your brother.”

 

So that was it.

 

Ji Ling couldn’t help but feel a bit melancholic. His father’s strict education had shaped Zong Bolin into a confident, strong character, while it made Zong Jiqi more passive and enduring.

 

Zong Jiqi continued to ask a few more things, which brought back some memories for Ji Ling.

 

Zong Jiqi suddenly stood up as he spoke, his voice full of emotion.

 

“My brother, strong and capable, has always been my role model.” He got up from the sofa and started pacing back and forth in the office, as though talking to Ji Ling but also to himself. “When I got the news of his car accident in the U.S., I felt like the sky had fallen.”

 

He stopped walking, looked at Ji Ling, his mind seemingly in disarray. Then he changed the subject. “I investigated you. I asked a lot of people about you.”

 

“Until I asked Zhong Mingwei, she said she always thought some of your actions and the way you came across were very similar to my brother’s.” He paused, then said, “I felt it too, that strange sense of familiarity. Then I talked to Luo from the Luo family. He was my brother’s close friend. He told me that if I really wanted the truth, I should just come and ask you.”

 

He walked back to Ji Ling, his eyes full of a desperate and urgent struggle, almost on the verge of breaking down. “Just tell me, please, tell me everything.”

 

Ji Ling stared at him for a moment, finally saying, “It’s a bit of a long story. You should brace yourself.”

 

…

 

When Ji Ling and Zong Jiqi stepped out of the office building, Zong Jiqi was still in a daze.

 

He said, “I think this might be the transfer of biological energy. In that moment of the accident, your frequencies synced, and because the original self’s consciousness got cut off, you somehow transferred into him.”

 

“…” Ji Ling suddenly remembered—his younger brother had a PhD.

 

Zong Jiqi rubbed his temples and said, “I need time to process this. I still feel like I’m dreaming.”

 

After the emotional conversation, Zong Jiqi decided to return to the hotel to rest. Ji Ling didn’t stop him, wanting to give him some time to think things through.

 

As they exited the building, Ji Ling arranged for a car to take Zong Jiqi, but at the entrance, they bumped into Yan Yixuan, who had come to pick him up.

 

That’s when Ji Ling remembered the dinner appointment he had with Yan Yixuan.

 

Yan Yixuan walked up to them, his gaze shifting between them. “I didn’t expect to run into Mr. Zong here.”

 

Yan Yixuan was taken aback. What was going on with him? Every now and then, he seemed to be making connections with wealthy individuals, one after another.

 

Ji Ling cleared his throat and said, “Mr. Zong came here to discuss business with me.”

 

Who are they trying to fool? The boss of the Zong Corporation personally coming here to talk business with an entertainment industry leader?

 

Yan Yixuan thought of the proposal Ji Ling had written—no doubt that was what had shaken Zong Jiqi enough to show up himself.

 

He scanned the two of them up and down, as though silently asking, what exactly is the relationship between you two?

 

Zong Jiqi also sized up Yan Yixuan before glancing at Ji Ling. Ji Ling casually replied, “Tonight, I’m going to dinner with Chairman Yan.”

 

Zong Jiqi nodded and said, “Then I won’t disturb you. I’ll take my leave first.”

 

Just as he was about to leave, he hesitated, then suddenly turned around and hugged Ji Ling. He whispered in Ji Ling’s ear, his voice barely audible, “Let’s keep in touch, brother.”

 

He let go of Ji Ling and turned to Yan Yixuan, saying, “Mr. Ji and I are like brothers.”

 

And with that, clearly struggling to hold himself together, Zong Jiqi left in a hurry.

 

Ji Ling stood frozen, completely stunned.

 

He hadn’t expected Zong Jiqi to accept things so soon—or at all. Even Zong Jiqi himself had seemed confused and uncertain just moments before.

 

But in the end, he still called him ‘brother.’

 

Yan Yixuan, thoroughly baffled, looked at Ji Ling. Ji Ling suddenly met his gaze and said, “You’re really handsome.”

 

Yan Yixuan was even more confused now.

 

Then Ji Ling threw his arms around him and burst out laughing. “Every time something good happens, having you here makes it ten times better.”

 

“Whoa—!”

 

At that moment, the receptionist and Mo Yulan came out of the building together after work—and walked right into the sight of their boss hugging the chairman of the Yan family without letting go.

 

The receptionist gasped, and Mo Yulan instinctively covered her eyes.

 

“…” The receptionist pulled her hand away, saying, “What’s there to hide? I’ve known their relationship for ages, okay?”

 

As one of the company’s oldest employees, the receptionist knew everything from the start. She said proudly, “At first, our boss was just some fresh-faced young man, and it was Young Master Yan who picked him up and supported him—”

 

Mo Yulan quickly covered her mouth.

 

“Alright, alright, let’s not talk about it. It’s all in the past now.” Mo Yulan said this while staring at their boss, who looked like he’d completely forgotten they were still standing in front of the office building.

 

Oh my god, seriously—could they please take it somewhere else? This was the front of the company, for goodness’ sake.

 

Ji Ling was still so joyful that he couldn’t contain himself. He hugged Yan Yixuan and said, “Yan Yixuan, I love you so much!”

 

Even though Yan Yixuan had no idea what had just happened, he still wrapped his arms gently around Ji Ling and said with a chuckle, “You’re acting like a fool.”

 

Everything seemed to be back on track now. Even though life had hit the reset button, Ji Ling once again found himself surrounded by friends and family—and this time, he also had love and a thriving career.

 

There didn’t seem to be anything left to ask for.

 

The morning light in Jin Garden was still as beautiful as ever.

 

Ji Ling looked at himself in the mirror, adjusted his tie with satisfaction, and then walked out of the room.

 

Yan Yixuan glanced over and said lazily, “What’s with the flashy getup?”

 

Ji Ling responded, “A magazine is coming to do an interview with me today.”

 

Yan Yixuan raised an eyebrow, “Oh? Are you going to be on the cover?”

 

Ji Ling puffed up with pride, completely forgetting how he once looked down on the idea of being on a magazine.

 

Yan Yixuan found him amusingly childish sometimes.

 

Ji Ling walked over, kissed him, and said, “I’m off.”

 

Yan Yixuan raised an eyebrow, “Aren’t you having breakfast?”

 

Ji Ling waved his hand, “No, I’ll eat at the company.”

 

Yan Yixuan thought to himself, he used to praise the chefs at Jin Garden, but now he had eaten so much, he was starting to get tired of it.

 

Ji Ling put on his coat and headed for the door.

 

Yan Yixuan thought for a moment, then leaned out and called out, “Good luck, Boss Ji.”

 

Ji Ling was already at the door, but when he heard that, he turned around with a smile and replied, “Thanks, Young Master.”

 

*

 

Author’s Note:

 

Emmmm, it’s over.

 

Thank you all for your support~

 

The only regret is… Boss Ji still isn’t as rich as Young Master Yan [laughs].

 

It’s been years since I last wrote, and this story honestly came from a random burst of inspiration. But once I started, I realized I’d been away from writing for so long that I couldn’t quite keep up with the times.

 

As a result, I ended up adjusting things as I wrote, and it turned out this way. The career plotline didn’t quite keep up with the romance plotline—oops!

 

But at least there’s a happy ending.

 

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