43 43_

The aftermath was settled behind back doors. Ji Ye Qiu's attempt on forcing 'Ji Haishan' to sign the documents greatly angered the patriarch. But he didn't have the intention on sending his own son to the prison.

He ordered for the whole Ji family bodyguards to drag his ungrateful son to him in less than 30 minutes. Or else.. he would just blow the rooftop in spite of his anger.

In Ji mansion, the old man was sitting inside his study. This place was the only private place where no one could enter except for the house butler in order to clean. But on this special occasion, Ji Ye Qiu and two bodyguards were able to enter, albeit for a not-so-noble reason.

Exactly 30 minutes later, Ji Ye Qiu's body was dragged harshly by the bodyguards and he was ruthlessly tossed on the floor right in front of his father.

His face almost touched the ground and he would have kissed the old man's feet if he didn't stop himself in time.

"What rights do you have to be so harsh on me, dad?!" Ji Ye Qiu's voice was cold and full of rage.

He wanted to sit up but the bodyguards held him in place, just like how his two men had held 'Ji Haishan' in place when he forced him to his demand.

"You dare talk to me about rights?!" Ji Zhang's tone instantly became loud, causing even the bodyguards to be tensed.

It wasn't everyday that the patriarch was this angry. He always controlled his feelings well because he might risk his health. His blood pressure would surely rise up again today.

"You don't learn.. do you?" the patriarch shook his head in disappointment. His heart was heavy because of what his son had done.

Ji Ye Qiu didn't know this but Ji Haishan had once experience the same kind of violence when he was much younger. And that too.. in the hands of that woman..

Ji Haishan was scarred due to that incident but he was finally better after he matured. Ji Zhang had his men monitored his grandson to see how he was doing these past few years even though Ji Haishan didn't visit him once.

The old man was finally relieved but Ji Ye Qiu's vain actions could trigger unwanted memories to surface again.

"You used violence on your own nephew just to have his signature! How desperate are you?!" the old man bellowed again as ripples of anger started to become unbearable for him to handle.

He began a coughing fit which worried the bodyguards in the study but not his son. Ji Ye Qiu spat unsympathetic words against his own father for caring for a stranger that had no relation to their family.

Ji Ye Qiu blamed the patriarch and told him he wouldn't be acting so foolish and desperate if not for the favoritism the old man gave to Ji Haishan.

Ji Zhang didn't want to try to correct his son as it was the truth. He could just shake his head, feeling so conflicted inside.

Then the old man sighed as he tried to keep calm. He then asked in a tone so flat "Do you know why you're not favored by me?"

Ji Ye Qiu creased his brows together and looked away. He just stayed silent while giving out a wounded man's vibe who was hostile even against the kindest of person. He thought that everything wasn't his fault.

It wasn't his choice.

He just wanted what was his.

What was so wrong with that??

The patriarch looked at his son who was acting arrogant even when he had failed miserably. He couldn't fathom what was in his son's mind at this moment but he knew it wasn't anything pleasant.

"Because you only care about yourself." the old man finally said.

Then he added "You're a selfish person, Ji Ye Qiu."

'I know this because I'm your old man.' Ji Zhang pursed his lips at this last sentence which he didn't let out. He would never.

He knew everything his son had done behind his back. A long list of fraud and embezzlement. It was terrible. He really wasn't a suitable person to lead the Ji Group. Even if Ji Haishan wasn't in the picture, Ji Zhang would never give the company to Ji Ye Qiu.

*

At Secret Sanctuary, both Ji Haishan and Bai Yulin were finally settled in after they got back from the hospital. Ji Haishan did everything he could in order to persuade Bai Yulin that he could help her take a bath.

At first, Bai Yulin was too shocked to even comprehend what he was saying. Was he a pervert?? Why did he suddenly want to help her bathe?

Ji Haishan told her not to think too much because the body he was going to bathe was his own original body, so there was nothing wrong with it. It would only turn wrong when it was the other way around, or so he said.

After bickering and arguing with his logic for some time, Bai Yulin finally relented. She got no more strength to refute his words. She was getting tired after the treatments from the hospital.

Ji Haishan's lips curved up into a smirk in which went unnoticed by Bai Yulin. She didn't know his real motive in helping her bathe was because he was trying to get her comfortable with him physically.

Only then would he be able to launch his secret mission: woo the girl!

Ji Haishan of course, never had any experience with how to court a woman but he believed in his guts. He never felt such strong feelings towards anyone other than Bai Yulin before, so he wanted to pursue his own instinct.

He wanted her to be happy, he wanted to keep her safe, and he was worried about her when she got hurt. If all of these weren't clues, then what was it?

Surprisingly at the same time, Bai Yulin was also trying hard to pretend not to like Ji Haishan's idea of helping her bathe.

It was actually the opposite!

She really wanted to experience how he would help her in the bathroom!

Bai Yulin wasn't a woman with perverted ideas! Instead, she was just a bit curious as to what would happen when they were inside the bathroom.

Call her shameless, but after Bai Yulin realized her feelings towards Ji Haishan, she also didn't want to just give up and wait. She was a strong, confident woman with virtue!

To make it simple, Bai Yulin always got what she wanted!

So, in order to slowly make Ji Haishan notice her and fall in love with her, Bai Yulin wanted to see his reaction and action whenever they were together. She wanted to look for hints even if small- that he held some interest in her.

Only then would Bai Yulin try to slowly creep into his soul, doing everything she could to steal his heart.

At this point, both Ji Haishan and Bai Yulin were so engrossed with their own thoughts and motives that they became so clueless about each other's real feelings.

If only they took one minute to talk out loud about their newfound feelings, then they wouldn't have wasted time to go beating around the bush like this.