A Little Trick, the Scumbag Dad Can’t Hold the Knife After Understanding Love

Chapter 74

After sending the person away, the subordinate asked, "What is the boss suspecting?"

Although two trusted aides had been dispatched, given Ji Tingzhou's affection for the child, it didn't seem like much.

It was just accompanying the child to play, after all.

Chen Mo could guess his thoughts and shook his head.

"It's not that simple."

"Accompanying the child is probably just a cover."

The subordinate was taken aback. "What do you mean?"

A cryptic smile appeared on Chen Mo's pale face. "Most likely, it's to cover for Ji Tingzhou's pharmacist."

The subordinate was confused. "But the person earlier said only three people went."

"And it's just an ordinary essential oil factory. Why would the pharmacist go there?"

Chen Mo's fingers twitched, and his gaze was almost chillingly lucid. "Why would a child want to visit an essential oil factory for fun?"

The subordinate paused, then realized belatedly. "Are you saying the pharmacist needed to do something there, and used Ji Tingzhou's daughter as a cover?"

Chen Mo didn't respond, which was as good as confirmation.

But if that were the case, they only had information about three people going.

Could the pharmacist be one of those three?

"If Wei Yang or Zhiliao were the pharmacist, why would Ji Tingzhou have recruited Bruce all those years ago?"

The subordinate immediately ruled out the five-year-old Ji Nian, completely unaware that the most outrageous idea might be the truth.

"Could it be..."

His expression shifted, and he glanced at the thin, somewhat gloomy Chen Mo lying on the bed.

"Are they like you, suddenly waking up one day and—"

"Impossible."

Chen Mo cut him off, his voice weak but his tone firm.

Seeing Chen Mo's expression darken, the subordinate fell silent.

"There must be something we're missing. Keep investigating, and don't overlook any details."

The subordinate nodded.

"Ji Tingzhou is already suspicious of us. Inform them to proceed with caution. From now on, Vengeance will no longer sell potions to outsiders."

After saying this, he fell silent, his gaze fixed on the window. Though he appeared calm, a wave of madness and resentment surged in his eyes.

For the time being, he couldn't act against the Ji family, but he could use this time to investigate the pharmacist.

Having his plans thwarted repeatedly, even the patient Chen Mo was growing frustrated.

"Cough... cough, cough, cough!"

He bent over, coughing violently, and bright red blood splattered onto the blanket.

Once he recovered, Chen Mo pressed the call button without much concern, summoning someone to clean up.

"Just a little more time..."

His brow furrowed slightly, and he closed his eyes, revealing a rare moment of vulnerability.

When he opened his eyes again, he was back to being the cold, emotionless Chen Mo.

...

Perhaps the wish Zhiliao had made had come true.

Two years passed in the blink of an eye, and life in the Ji household was peaceful and warm. Since Ji Nian had come into their lives, the lifeless aura that once surrounded Ji Tingzhou had disappeared.

He had gradually transformed from a gloomy recluse into a more lively one.

Now twenty-five, Ji Tingzhou sat on his favorite sofa, his features and demeanor more mature than they had been two years ago.

Standing in front of him were his seven-year-old biological daughter and adopted daughter, who had just started elementary school a month ago.

The air conditioning was on full blast, and Ji Tingzhou wore a light long-sleeved shirt with casual pants. His hair was smooth and jet black, and a dark green gemstone earring that matched his eye color adorned his right ear.

He was reading Shen Qingtang's essay.

Shen Qingtang excelled in Chinese, and her essays were often showcased on the school's "Rising Stars" board for all the students to read.

"Well written," Ji Tingzhou said.

He was notoriously stingy with his emotions, especially toward anyone other than Ji Nian. Even though Shen Qingtang was the orphaned daughter of Shen Rushan, he provided her with money and resources but rarely any emotional support.

However, over the past two years, under Ji Nian's "tutelage," Ji Tingzhou had become a somewhat competent foster father.

As Ji Nian would say, "It's just using your words. It's not like you're being asked to push out a boulder."

Now seven years old, Shen Qingtang had lost much of her baby fat, and her features were beginning to hint at the beauty she would grow into.

Hearing Ji Tingzhou's praise, she beamed.

"But this time, my essay didn't get first place."

Though she said this, her expression seemed to eagerly anticipate Ji Tingzhou asking who had taken the top spot.

Ji Tingzhou wasn't particularly interested, but when he glanced at the little girl standing beside Shen Qingtang—wearing a sleeveless school uniform dress, her curly hair cascading down her back with a butterfly clip on one side, slightly shorter than Shen Qingtang, and as pretty as a doll—he decided to humor her.

"Who got first place, then?"

Shen Qingtang, as if she had been waiting for this question, straightened up and took a step toward Ji Nian, pointing at her. "Ta-da!"

"It's Ji Nian!"

At the mention of Ji Nian's name, everyone in the room turned to look at her.

Ji Tingzhou, who had been sitting, Zhiliao, who was walking over with a glass of watermelon juice, Wei Yang, who was holding the children's backpacks, and even Da Dan, who had been lazily lying at Ji Tingzhou's feet, all stared at Ji Nian.

Their collective gaze seemed to say—

'No way.'

Ji Nian, seven years old, first grade, consistently scored A+ in math but only managed an A- in Chinese, primarily because her essays read like laundry lists.

And now, she had taken first place in an essay competition?

Even Ji Tingzhou, who suspected Ji Nian of holding back, found it hard to believe.

"What did you write? Let me see."

Ji Tingzhou's interest was piqued, and he reached out for the essay.

Ji Nian wore an "I told you so" expression.

Over the past two years, Ji Nian had grown taller and filled out a bit. Her skin tone, likely inherited from Ji Tingzhou, remained strikingly fair, even after golf lessons where all the other children, including Shen Qingtang, had tanned.

"The teacher didn't give us a topic; we could write whatever we wanted. I really outdid myself this time," Ji Nian said with a sly smile, proudly handing over her essay.

Shen Qingtang had written about "An Unforgettable Trip," inspired by an animated movie the family had watched last year, which led to a trip to the country featured in the film, coinciding with their Day of the Dead festival.

Ji Tingzhou assumed Ji Nian's essay would be along similar lines.

With a faint smile, he looked down at the title—

"My Billionaire CEO Father."

Ji Tingzhou: "......"

Zhiliao, who had leaned in: "......"

Wei Yang, who had also leaned in: "......"

Da Dan, who had joined the crowd: "......"

Well, the dog didn't understand; he was just there for the show.

Ji Nian puffed out her chest. "What do you think? Doesn't it have award-winning potential?"

Gu Xiuyuan had been nagging her about her Chinese grades, sighing every time he saw her essays.

Ji Tingzhou actually read through the entire piece.

Though the title was cringe-worthy, it could easily be summarized as "My Father."

She had written about him in her essay—how could that not be considered filial piety?

"Very good. Your teacher has excellent taste," Ji Tingzhou said approvingly, pointing to a particular line. "This part is especially well-written."

The passage in question was a lavish description of her father's impossibly handsome face and eyes so captivating they made all the jewels in the world pale in comparison.

Ji Nian's favorite part too, she sat beside her father, nodding eagerly. "Right? Right?"

Ji Tingzhou instructed Zhiliao to find a suitable frame so he could display the essay alongside Ji Nian's artwork from over the years.

Wei Yang, snapping out of his daze, nodded as well. "It really is well-written, Nian Nian. You could be a great author someday."

Ji Nian humbly replied, "Hehe, just Nobel Prize in Literature material, no big deal."

Zhiliao also patted the child's head. "I'll have someone make your favorite bird-shaped red bean mochi as a reward. You need to replenish your brainpower."

Ji Nian grinned even wider. "Thank you, Zhiliao jiejie!"

"What a joyous occasion!"

The nanny standing beside Shen Qingtang: "......"

It's a miracle Ji Nian hasn't been spoiled into a little tyrant by all of you.