Ji Ya sat with a tense expression.

Some people were simply heaven’s favorites.

Like Ji Ya!

She was born as the Ji family’s daughter, specifically their youngest, at a time when the family’s circumstances were good enough to spare no expense in nurturing her. She received a diverse education, including art fundamentals for cultural refinement. Years of cultivation developed her aesthetic appreciation, allowing her to successfully attend a fashion design school in America and become a fashion designer.

Many Chinese immigrants found their domestic credentials unrecognized abroad, and with poor language skills, ended up washing dishes in restaurants. People like Ji Ya who could achieve middle-class life abroad were extremely rare.

Of course, her success in America came from both the Ji family’s support and help from certain romantic connections.

The latter was another example of heaven’s favoritism – blessing Ji Ya with good looks.

Even with a twenty-year-old son and being in her early forties, Ji Ya maintained herself exceptionally well. Though tall, she had a small bone structure.

Ji Ya had never been overweight since her youth, though she did have baby fat then. Now with collagen loss, her facial bone structure held up well, her face remaining small and lean without sagging cheeks… If Ji Ya were slightly taller, she’d have a supermodel figure perfect for the runway. She dressed tastefully, and even in her forties, remained very attractive to the opposite sex.

Moreover, her appearance and temperament suited this cold demeanor, emanating a kind of aloof, ascetic air. For instance, right now, as Ji Ya sat motionless with an expressionless face, though George felt troubled, seeing her face somehow made things more bearable.

Ji Ya had every right to be angry.

After a tiring journey to a northern county, they found nothing.

Harold hadn’t gone north hunting at all.

Neither wild boars nor bears had attracted the American millionaire’s attention.

Harold had bypassed her and George, coming to Pengcheng with Ji Jiang Yuan… Ji Ya’s anger stemmed both from Harold’s deception and Ji Jiang Yuan’s disloyalty in not informing her and George promptly. The latter was perhaps the main reason – Ji Jiang Yuan not only received $100 per day from George but was also her son!

Ji Ya’s mindset had always been thus – she could ignore others, but others couldn’t show her even the slightest negligence or disrespect.

On the way here, Ji Ya had already suggested that George stop paying Ji Jiang Yuan, but George disagreed:

“Darling, Uncle Harold’s fondness for Jiang Yuan has already achieved my goal. You can’t expect someone as young as Jiang Yuan to influence Uncle Harold’s decisions.”

If they stopped paying now, why would Ji Jiang Yuan tell them anything?

Harold secretly bringing Ji Jiang Yuan to Pengcheng showed at least some trust in him.

Ji Ya might be beautiful and talented, but in matters of such importance, she wasn’t as astute as George. However, George wasn’t disappointed – Ji Ya’s appeal to him wasn’t about business acumen; he was looking for a soulmate, not a business school graduate assistant!

After waiting for quite a while, a figure finally appeared at the door – not Harold, but Ji Jiang Yuan.

George stood up and hugged him, patting his back:

“How is it? Have you learned anything useful following Uncle Harold? These days must have been fulfilling – Uncle Harold is someone who never stops moving!”

No blame, no anger – this was quite unexpected for Ji Jiang Yuan.

Of course, George had always been one of the most even-tempered among his mother’s boyfriends. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have lasted so long with Ji Ya, not only following her to China but reaching the point of discussing marriage.

Ji Jiang Yuan had always had a good impression of George, and now felt somewhat guilty:

“Uncle George, I should have told you, but Mr. Harold left so suddenly, I had no time to react.”

This explanation was completely acceptable to George.

Butler Allen always called him stupid, but at over forty years old, even though he wasn’t trusted to manage the family company, George had been running his own business with trust funds and assets inherited from his forebears. How could he believe Ji Jiang Yuan’s excuse?

But this excuse gave both sides a way to save face. George didn’t probe further, instead laughing heartily:

“It’s fine, your mother and I got to take a short trip to the north anyway.”

Ji Ya maintained her stern expression, unwilling to acknowledge Ji Jiang Yuan.

Ji Jiang Yuan didn’t force the issue – he’d already made the effort to greet them. If his mother wouldn’t respond, was he supposed to kneel in repentance?

George didn’t ask why Harold hadn’t appeared. He showed only concern for Ji Jiang Yuan, inquiring about his recent life. After chatting for a while, as if just remembering, he took out an envelope and handed it to Ji Jiang Yuan:

“Your wages for these days – 2,000 dollars.”

It was now July 16th, counting the two weekend days before final exams, Ji Jiang Yuan had only been Harold’s companion for 15 days.

He shouldn’t be getting 2,000 dollars!

However, Ji Jiang Yuan still accepted the envelope, “Thank you, Uncle George. I see that Mr. Harold has no intention of leaving Pengcheng soon, so consider the extra days’ wages as an advance payment.”

George’s eyes lit up, “Harold sees great potential in Pengcheng?”

This was crucial information, definitely worth more than 2,000 dollars.

Besides, the money wasn’t going to a stranger but his future stepson – George had no regrets.

Ji Jiang Yuan had no hesitation either. Harold’s investment plans in Pengcheng were already public knowledge; if he hadn’t told George, George would have learned it from other sources. Ji Jiang Yuan didn’t feel like he was betraying Harold – after all, Harold had used him first!

“Mr. Harold is very optimistic about Pengcheng. After conducting field research, he intends to invest in a golf course here and has already discussed investment intentions with the Pengcheng government!”

Golf course?

George was momentarily stunned.

Hadn’t Chinese people probably never even encountered golf as a sport?

George doubted whether Ji Jiang Yuan had heard correctly.

Was this helping Harold keep secrets, or did Ji Jiang Yuan himself not know?

Building a golf course sounded like Harold’s smoke screen. George didn’t know much about Pengcheng, but on the way to the hotel, construction sites were visible everywhere. For investing in Pengcheng, acquiring a renovation company as Ji Ya suggested seemed like a better idea.

Ji Ya raised her eyelids, speaking coldly:

“You’re so content in Pengcheng because here, you’re the mayor’s son. Surely many people flatter and curry favor with you. I must warn you, don’t let these superficial things deceive you at such a young age. Given China’s overall environment, even a mayor’s son might not live as comfortably as America’s middle class. In China, you won’t even earn tens of thousands of dollars to repay me!”

Since Harold was already in contact with the Pengcheng government, Ji Jiang Yuan must have met Tang Hong En, as mayors in China typically focused on economic development.

Tang Hong En, regardless of his other abilities, had spent so long in the system that he was an expert at preaching principles. Ji Ya suspected Tang Hong En would brainwash Ji Jiang Yuan, making him stay in China permanently to contribute to China’s economic construction… Ji Ya despised Tang Hong En’s sanctimonious behavior.

A man who considered work more important than his wife and children – so what if he was now mayor? Even if he became provincial governor or an even higher leader, Ji Ya would never look back!