Chapter 401: Biological Father

"You must not let anyone from the Ji Family except you see Xu Jia, you must not let anyone know her appearance or school, anyone—including your mother, your young nephews and nieces—Jia Jia doesn't lack playmates or relatives; I just don't want to find her a stepfather!"

"Alright, Mingyue!"

"No problem, Mingyue!"

Ji Tianlin heard the sensitive words, didn't even think, and instantly agreed!

He had already been fooled once; how could he be duped a second time?

"Mingyue, the second son of the Ji Family came to find me; I suspect someone is watching me, deliberately using them to test me, to torment me!"

He has become successful in Shencheng; the underachieving elder brother and those who always feel guilty toward the elder brother's parents might still show up, asking him to arrange a position for the elder brother.

Xu Mingyue heard this, her face fell, "Just pretend we never saw each other!"

"Not that, Mingyue, I mean, could you have the Su Family invest, have them send someone to take over the company. Then put my share under Jia Jia's name, you're busy with work, I'll go home to take care of Jia Jia?"

"When you need my help, I can also work from home and over the phone; I won't go out!"

Xu Mingyue was not very willing! No wall in the world is airtight; if he moves over there, someone will always leak information.

"I don't want to see an old woman kneeling at my office door, begging me to return her son!"

Throughout history, when filial piety is mentioned, many people naturally side with the parents. Some might even say, so what if the child is lost? The child isn't dead, right? Over the years, how many girls have died? Xu Mingyue is being pretentious! Shencheng is a severe region of son‑preference! "How about this: let the Su Clan hold a press conference with me; I'll explain my reasons for leaving at the conference, then pretend to go abroad, but actually take a yacht to this villa?"

Ji Tianlin stared eagerly at Xu Mingyue, hoping she would agree.

Xu Mingyue thought seriously, "I'll ask Ms. Yang!"

Xu Mingyue made a call; Yang Zhichun was, of course, willing. They had already intended to invest in Ji Tianlin's enterprises, so his cooperation was even better! "Let's go, we'll clarify things with Jia Jia!"

Ji Tianlin waddled along with Xu Mingyue to meet Xu Jia, a goofy smile on his face.

He finally has a family of his own! Fortunately he held on!

Xu Mingyue turned back, saw Ji Tianlin's expression, and said sternly, "Don't use that expression; Jia Jia will think you're a fool."

Ji Tianlin immediately composed himself, switching to a gentle, smiling expression.

"Is this okay?"

Xu Mingyue nodded, "It'll do!"

Xu Mingyue arrived with Ji Tianlin; Xu Jia was playing in the sand with Su Xi's brothers and several children from the Xu family.

"Jia Jia, come here a moment!"

Xu Jia was barefoot on the beach, making Ji Tianlin's heart race, fearing a shell might scratch her little foot!

"Mom!"

Xu Jia, hugging Xu Mingyue, looked puzzled at Ji Tianlin, "Is this the new stepfather?"

Ji Tianlin's whole body jolted, and he immediately said, "I am the biological father, your birth dad!"

Xu Mingyue nodded, indicating it was correct.

Ji Tianlin worried Xu Jia might throw a tantrum, become furious, curse, but Xu Jia simply tilted her head calmly, "Isn't my biological dad also a jerk?"

Ji Tianlin: …

"I'm not a jerk; I'm just more foolish and stupid, and I really like you and your mother!"

Xu Jia said nothing, watching Ji Tianlin.

Ji Tianlin continued, "My dad, mom, older brother, sister‑in‑law, nephews and nieces are all bad people. I used to be dim‑witted and stupid, didn't protect your mother and you, so your mother and you left."

Xu Jia asked, "Can you now protect me and Mom?"

Ji Tianlin was silent for a moment, "My bloodline is an unbreakable thing; I can only stay away. Forcing a break with them would hurt your mother."

Ji Tianlin had previously considered splitting the family in Jingdu; he and Xu Mingyue had lived alone. But "filial piety" pressed heavily on him.

He and Xu Mingyue were both in the same workplace; their reputations were tarnished, making a promotion almost impossible.

The best arrangement, he now says, is that Mingyue never approached him, but he can't voice it; he greedily wants a wife and children.

Xu Jia frowned, "So you would hurt Mom?"

"No, I'll stay away from everyone, wait here for you to return home; publicly, I'm abroad."

Xu Jia looked up at Xu Mingyue, "Mom, is he really my biological dad?"

"Don't you like him?"

Xu Jia glanced at Ji Tianlin, then at Xu Mingyue, and stayed silent.

Silence is consent, consent means the daughter doesn't like him! Ji Tianlin's heart went cold! "Can you tell me why?"

"You can't protect Mom, you're stupid, and there's a lot of trouble; if you were in your place, would you like it?"

Xu Jia sighed, "Mom, what if I inherit Dad's stupidity, what would I do?"

Xu Mingyue: Calm down! You're already born, dear!

Ji Tianlin: That hits deep! Xu Jia looked up, "Do you want to hide like this for the rest of your life?"

He can't help with anything, only adds burden to her mother! If only the father‑daughter bond could be cut, she doesn't want a dad; having Mom is enough!

"No, when my parents die, I'll be free!"

He only has a duty to support his parents; they even announced in the newspaper that they cut off the father‑son relationship. Logically he's no longer tied to the family, but seeing the Ji Family's second son, they would definitely cause a big fight for money!

It was indeed the case; the Su Family sent people who found the Ji Family already packing up, preparing to come over.

Thus, after Ji Tianlin left, that afternoon he held a press conference with the Su Family, transferred authority, then went to the airport, disguised himself, and was rerouted by Su Zhengda back to the seaside villa.

Ji Tianlin lived in Xu Mingyue's villa; he began learning to cook and do chores from the chef and the maid.

Xu Jia saw this, a bit puzzled, "You don't need to learn this; there's a maid at home."

Ji Tianlin squatted, looking at his five‑year‑old daughter, "I didn't know before, now I'm learning; if any special situation arises, I can take care of you. This is a self‑reliance skill; you may not like learning, but you must know how."

Xu Mingyue was too busy! She was the little princess at home as a child, and grew up with the means to hire a maid. Ji Tianlin is a boy; no one ever required him to learn.

But during this period, he seriously considered the future.

If the relationship with his wife and daughter smooths, then when they go out later, even with a maid, someone still needs to shoulder part of the housework. He can't let Xu Mingyue bear it, so he learns himself.

The family's situation is good now, and the daughter might study abroad, so she must learn basic skills; going out will be safer.

"But Mom doesn't know!"

Xu Jia thinks there's no need to learn things that even Mom doesn't know!

"Your mother has me; I will stay with her forever!"

The scheming men outside can go away! "So you're the pretty boy my mother raised?"

Xu Jia thinks of the TV drama Aunt Qing was watching.

Ji Tianlin, who just made a profit in the stock market and was about to hand it over for household expenses, says, "If your mother agrees, it would be an honor!"

Ji Tianlin's current status is not even that of a pretty boy; he's merely someone who lives there because of his blood relation to Xu Jia.

Xu Jia is willing to boost his status, and Ji Tianlin is thrilled! After Xu Mingyue returns home, Ji Tianlin dresses himself, prances over holding a bank card and brings up the matter.

"Get lost!"

Xu Mingyue takes the money and ignores the dejected Ji Tianlin standing in the living room.

Ji Tianlin sighs, then quickly reminds himself that he now lives with Xu Mingyue, and there will be opportunities in the future!

With that thought, Ji Tianlin feels he can have it all again! Especially since the neighbor is the Su Family!

That Su Zeyan guy can't even get through the door.

Ji Tianlin lives happily in a seaside villa! Every morning he can see his wife and daughter; during the day he plays with his daughter and Su Yi. At night he sweats it out in the gym, keeping his figure.

He just has strong opinions about the neighboring Su Yi. He occasionally likes to give him a lecherous glance, slandering him.

He says, since his daughter already has a father and mother, will there be a brother or sister? The current national policy only allows one child! Even if it were permitted, he doesn't want Mingyue to endure the pain of pregnancy again.

After the Ji family leaves, Ji Tianlin and Xu Mingyue agree that he will undergo a vasectomy at the hospital, with Xu Mingyue providing care.

…

A year later, Xu Jia and Su Yi are six, in second grade; Ji Shouguo's old associate has risen in power, and they cannot abandon Jingdu's influence, so the whole family leaves Shencheng and returns to Jingdu.

Ji Tianlin then gets a chance to openly serve as a househusband in the unit villa assigned to Xu Mingyue, responsible for taking Su Yi and Xu Jia to school and picking them up.

Zheng Dongqing devotes herself entirely to accompanying Su Xi around the country, caring for him while also enjoying the domestic scenery.

"Dad, what are you doing?"

After eating, Xu Jia sees Ji Tianlin preparing some very appetizing snacks.

"In a bit we'll take the snacks to your mother; she has to work overtime."

Construction in Shencheng is now accelerating, with many places running three shifts day and night; more people means more work. Xu Mingyue working overtime is common; she usually calls Ji Tianlin to tell them not to wait for her and to eat earlier.

When Xu Jia needs to do homework, Ji Tianlin must stay home with them. If it's Friday or the day before a holiday, Ji Tianlin will take Xu Jia and Su Yi over to keep Xu Mingyue company.

"Didn't you used to bring meals before?"

Xu Jia leans over to look; the round cookies are full of childlike fun, as if made especially for kids.

"Here, try a bite of my cooking."

Xu Jia eats one, "Hmm, not bad!"

Ji Tianlin: I'm your biological father! Can't you praise me? "This thing won't fill Mom up!"

"Your mother said she's already eaten."

Ji Tianlin plates it, leaving a dish, "Those are for you and Su Yi to share, half each; don't eat too much, you're still losing teeth!"

"Alright!"

Xu Jia happily carries the snacks over.

Ji Tianlin lifts the bag, one hand holding his precious daughter, the other holding the snacks while also pulling Su Yi; after registering downstairs at the unit, he goes upstairs to find Xu Mingyue.

"Miss Xu, you could consider it! It's a win‑win situation!"

"Thanks, but I won't consider it."

The man hears footsteps, sees Ji Tianlin outside the door, and leaves with a stern face.

Ji Tianlin gestures for his daughter to sit, arranges the snacks, pierces them with a fork, places them within Xu Mingyue's easy reach, then guides Xu Jia and Su Yi on their homework.

Xu Mingyue eats a few bites of the snacks, "We're going abroad for research during this holiday; do you want to come along?"

During the day at home, besides caring for Xu Jia and Su Yi, Ji Tianlin either trades stocks or studies. The Su Family can obtain advanced foreign technology, and Ji Tianlin's abilities in computing and artificial intelligence have improved greatly!

His original company is now one of the tech giants.

Therefore, the family's luxurious lifestyle no longer needs the Su Family's gifts; the money Ji Tianlin earns not only covers household expenses but also allows him to buy real estate in Shencheng. When Xu Mingyue goes out for research and a holiday aligns, they usually travel together as a family.

Xu Mingyue's expenses are public‑funded; theirs are self‑funded.

"We usually always go out together; what's the problem this time?"

Xu Mingyue bites an egg tart, looks at Su Yi, "Is Su Xi coming back?"

"Yes, he'll be back tomorrow."

Su Yi hears the news and jumps up happily, "Aunt Mingyue, really? Brother is finally coming back?"

His brother has been touring many places, saying he wants to buy land to grow fruits and vegetables, for some high‑end sales.

Su Yi doesn't understand; he's been feeling depressed, his brother goes out with Mom and ignores him. Usually when he misses his brother, he can't even get through on the phone.

Now, brother is finally back!

"Right, he's back tomorrow, so you and Jia Jia are going abroad?"

Ji Tianlin looks forward to a family trip of three. This year, whenever they go out, Su Yi follows them. Previously Xu Mingyue and Xu Jia relied entirely on the Su Family's care; Ji Tianlin doesn't dislike Su Yi, but feels a bit sorry! His daughter always plays with Su Yi when they go out, and he can only watch the children with the bodyguards, unable to join in.

Xu Jia looks at Su Yi, then at Xu Mingyue, "Mom, I want to follow you!"

Su Yi hangs his head, "Jia Jia little sister, you should come back soon!"

He really wants to see his brother!

"Mm‑mm!"

Ji Tianlin is deeply moved inside, though it doesn't show on his face. His daughter's expression is off, and he doesn't want to make her even angrier!

Xu Mingyue didn't say anything. Parting is normal; they won't be apart past today, once they come back they'll see each other again.

Ji Tianlin, Xu Mingyue, and Xu Jiafei went abroad to live as a family of three.

Su Yi was only briefly unhappy, then he circled around Su Xi.

"Brother, you've gotten thin!"

"Brother, do you miss me?"

"Brother, how did you go away for so long?"

"Brother, are you going to repeat a grade?"

……

Su Yi chattered nonstop, Su Xi's packing motions didn't stop; he had already grown accustomed to this nagging questioning, because his mother was like that too.

This year, he gained his mother's care and the same nagging as his younger brother.

However, the advantage of his mother over his younger brother is that she won't cause trouble.

"Those clothes are all clean."

Su Yi threw the clothes into the laundry basket.

Making up for previous updates~

402 is under review; I don't know when it will be released; if this revision fails, I can only wait for the editor to go to work QAQ