USWHC -Chapter 205 Sold by Someone Yet Still Counting the Money (Part 5)

Ji Mei immediately shot her mother an unhappy glance, as if blaming Old Madam Ji for meddling.

Zhu Jie is helping me—don’t you know that? She kept giving her mother frantic looks, trying to signal her.

When Zhu Jie saw this, she quickly put on an embarrassed expression and said, “It’s my fault for being a bit muddle-headed. I hope everyone can forgive me.”

Whether Old Madam Ji misunderstood the hint or not, she hurriedly chimed in, “Yes, yes. My second son is a bit of a fool by nature, and his wife is a little silly too! Please bear with them.”

Pfft! Zhu Jie almost spat blood. She’s silly? What a wonderfully flattering evaluation!

Even so, she had no choice but to echo it. “That’s right… sometimes I can be a bit foolish.”

Ji Yi burst out laughing, completely unrestrained.

*I can’t take this anymore!* Zhu Jie felt like crying. The Ji family was practically stabbing her to death here!

Madam Sun merely frowned slightly when she heard their words, but fortunately the moment passed. Zhu Jie sat down steadily once again.

After three rounds of wine, the Ji family finally began eating in earnest, chewing enthusiastically with greasy mouths, the table lively and noisy now that they had completely let themselves go.

Only Zhu Jie couldn’t swallow a single bite. Her poor little heart had gone through so many ups and downs today it almost forgot how to beat.

At last, Old Madam Ji seemed to be full. She let out a loud belch and said with a smile, “Ah, it’s getting late. We should head back now. If we leave too late, it’ll be completely dark by the time we get home.”

Old Master Ji had been happily clinking cups and chatting with Grand Secretary Sun. Hearing his wife say this, he obediently set down his chopsticks and said with a silly grin, “Yes, yes, we should head back.”

Visiting future in-laws wasn’t the same as freeloading a meal—you couldn’t just keep eating meal after meal. Even if the Ji family secretly wished they could, for the sake of being able to come again in the future, they had to show some restraint today. So the moment Old Madam Ji was full, she immediately suggested retreating.

Zhu Jie practically wanted to raise both hands and feet in agreement. She quickly nudged Ji Mei, then linked arms with her and stood up. Together they gracefully bowed to the Sun family, formally taking their leave.

*Finally!* They had survived today. Zhu Jie let out a long sigh of relief as she followed the Ji family toward the front gate.

But just then, Sun Shaoyan softly called out, “Miss Ji!”

Zhu Jie instantly broke out in a cold sweat. *Not again… what do you want now?*

Still, she quickly turned back, wearing a Mona Lisa-like smile. She and Ji Mei both turned around and looked gently at Sun Shaoyan.

Sun Shaoyan lowered his head shyly and softly handed over a slip of paper. His face was so red it almost rivaled Guan Gong’s.

Was this a secret love letter?

But Zhu Jie absolutely couldn’t take it right now! With so many people watching, what would it look like if she, the second sister-in-law, accepted it? Yet she also couldn’t refuse. The Sun family was watching—if “Ji Mei” didn’t accept it, what would that mean?

Ji Mei hesitated as well. *Should I take it or not?* She looked at Zhu Jie expectantly, clearly waiting for her guidance.

Zhu Jie gently nudged Ji Mei’s arm. Then the two of them extended their hands toward Sun Shaoyan together—the meaning was obvious: they’d take it together.

Sun Shaoyan froze for a moment and even glanced at Ji Mei—the real Ji Mei—in confusion. Why was she reaching out too?

Although puzzled, he still handed the note to Zhu Jie. But Zhu Jie subtly tilted her hand so that she and Ji Mei appeared to receive it together.

“Thank you, Young Master,” Zhu Jie said softly.

Ji Mei hurriedly echoed, “Thank you, Young Master.”

Sun Shaoyan was stunned again. Taking advantage of his moment of distraction, Zhu Jie quickly grabbed Ji Mei and hurried away.

By then the Ji family had already reached the gate. Their ox cart was right in front of them. As long as they got on the cart, even if the Sun family found something strange, there would be no chance to question them. They could muddle through this ordeal.

But just as the Ji family stepped out of the gate—

Suddenly, Old Madam Sun sharply called out once more, “Wait!”

Her voice sounded tense and urgent.

Everyone froze on the spot.

What was Old Madam Sun trying to do now? She hadn’t said much the entire day. Was she planning to give some kind of farewell summary?