Ji Renran's intentions were clear to Ji Zizhao.
She wanted to use her humble position to force Ji Zizhao to agree to let Gu Peilan and Ji Zongyou into the family.
To willingly walk into a situation of emotional blackmail?
Ji Zizhao's mind was not that easily swayed.
Ji Renran watched Ji Zizhao, who remained unmoved and unyielding, her chest heaving with anger.
She had said so much; anyone else would have nodded in agreement, even if reluctant.
But look at Ji Zizhao…
She was completely impervious!
The atmosphere on the small boat grew increasingly strained. Zhong Xinyi, caught in the middle, was…
Anxious!
On one side was Ji Zizhao, completely unresponsive. On the other was Ji Renran, who had worn her lips thin. Caught between them, Zhong Xinyi didn't know whether to speak or remain silent.
Zhong Xinyi, with a pang of regret, thought she shouldn't have sat there at all!
Suddenly, her sleeve was gently tugged.
Zhong Xinyi turned her head and saw Ji Renran's plea, "Eldest Miss Zhong, please, I beg you, put in a good word for me. I truly don't know how to ask my elder sister to let me go home. I'm truly at my wit's end…"
Ji Renran's voice trembled as she spoke.
Seeing Ji Renran like this, it was impossible for Zhong Xinyi not to feel a pang of sympathy. She turned to Ji Zizhao, who remained serene, and reluctantly spoke, "Eldest Miss Ji, as the saying goes, harmony brings prosperity. Eldest Miss Ji is about to take a position in the Imperial Academy; why must you be so petty with a junior?"
Ji Zizhao turned her head, her gaze settling on Zhong Xinyi's face.
Zhong Xinyi's scalp tingled as she saw the smile playing on Ji Zizhao's lips.
If she remembered correctly, the last time they were at her estate, Ji Zizhao had used that very same smile to counter her to the point of self-doubt.
Before Zhong Xinyi's lingering psychological shadows had fully faded, Ji Zizhao's voice rang out, "Miss Zhong only hears one side of the story and then advises me to be kind. I'm quite curious, if you were truly bullied to your face, would you, Miss Zhong, be as magnanimous as you preach?"
Zhong Xinyi: "..."
As expected, Ji Zizhao never spoke without a sharp edge!
"Last time at my own estate, there were some unpleasant exchanges between myself and Eldest Miss Ji, yet I still invited Eldest Miss Ji for a boat ride. Even one's tongue can accidentally bite one's teeth, let alone the interactions between people. Do you agree, Eldest Miss Ji?"
Ji Zizhao looked at the genuine expression on Zhong Xinyi's face, quite surprised.
The last time they met, this Miss Zhong had been quite sharp.
Glancing at Ji Renran, who was anxiously waiting nearby, Ji Zizhao smiled, "I didn't expect Eldest Miss Zhong to have such a reasonable side; you've truly surprised me. As the saying goes, it's only through conflict that friendships are forged. I didn't take the last incident to heart at all, and Miss Zhong needn't dwell on it either."
Zhong Xinyi truly felt…
Speechless!
They were talking about Ji Renran's situation, yet it had somehow shifted to her.
However, upon closer reflection, the fact that Ji Zizhao was willing to be on this boat meant she wasn't truly angry anymore.
Thinking further, Zhong Xinyi frowned.
She and Ji Zizhao barely knew each other, yet Ji Zizhao could let go of past grievances. Why was she so bothered by her own sister?
Or perhaps, Ji Renran had done something unforgivable.
Seeing Zhong Xinyi frown, Ji Zizhao knew that Ji Renran had likely not told Zhong Xinyi the whole truth, but merely pretended to be pitiful to manipulate her and use Zhong Xinyi as a pawn.
But whether Ji Renran could manipulate people depended on whether she wanted Zhong Xinyi to understand.
Just like now, Zhong Xinyi was clearly beginning to doubt.
Zhong Xinyi pondered, the more she thought about it, the more something felt amiss. She turned to ask Ji Renran what had happened, but at that moment, the smoothly sailing boat suddenly lurched violently.
It happened without warning, startling even the young boatman.
Although this lake was privately owned by the Zou family and not as deep as wild lakes, the boat was currently in the middle of the lake. If they fell in, it wouldn't be a trivial matter.
Zhong Xinyi, who had no idea how to swim, turned pale and instinctively reached out to grab the side of the boat.
Just then, the boat lurched violently again.
Ji Zizhao and Ji Renran swayed with the boat, instinctively moving closer to Zhong Xinyi.
Zhong Xinyi felt as if someone had forcefully pushed her from behind. She didn't even have time to cry for help before she was tumbling towards the lake.
"Plop—!" With a splash, water scattered.
Choked with lake water, Zhong Xinyi was terrified and instinctively tried to struggle with her hands.
However, when she moved her hands, she found one of them couldn't move!
Zhong Xinyi opened her eyes in surprise and saw her right hand being held tightly by another hand.
Following that hand upwards, she saw Ji Zizhao's eternally calm face.
At this moment, Ji Zizhao was leaning precariously over the side of the boat. To maintain balance, she had to brace her leg against the other side of the boat.
Her body was stretched to its maximum, and with Zhong Xinyi's weight pulling her down, the skin of her armpit pressing against the boat had been scraped raw and was bleeding.
"Don't be afraid. Just remember to hold onto my hand and don't let go," Ji Zizhao said, looking steadily at Zhong Xinyi, seemingly oblivious to her own injuries.
Zhong Xinyi nodded frantically, then reached out with her left hand to grasp Ji Zizhao's hand as well.
Seizing the opportunity, Ji Zizhao looked back at Ji Renran, "Come and lend a hand!"
Ji Renran, perhaps out of fear, looked extremely pale. She heard Ji Zizhao's words but didn't move for a long time.
Seeing this, the boatman was about to step forward to help.
Ji Zizhao quickly stopped him, "Hold the boat steady!"
If the boat lost its balance completely, they would all end up feeding the fish.
Ji Zizhao then glared at Ji Renran and reprimanded, "Ji Renran, if anything happens to Eldest Miss Zhong now, neither of us can escape responsibility. Come and help quickly!"
Under the scorching sun, her dark eyes flashed with an imposing sharpness.
Ji Renran's shocked senses returned, and she quickly rushed over, grabbing Zhong Xinyi's hand.
The commotion on the lake was quite significant, alarming everyone in the rear garden.
Fortunately, Zhong Xinyi was soon pulled back onto the boat, though she was trembling violently.
It was summer, and everyone was dressed in thin clothing.
Ji Zizhao had the boatman remove his outer garment and draped it over Zhong Xinyi.
Looking at Ji Zizhao, who had been busy taking care of her, Zhong Xinyi was overcome with emotion.
As soon as the boat docked, Zhong Shaowen, who had been waiting impatiently, rushed over and looked at his sister, "How are you? Are you injured anywhere?"
As soon as Zhong Xinyi saw her brother, tears streamed down her face.
Zhong Shaowen asked, "What exactly happened?"
Ji Zizhao, holding Zhong Xinyi, looked at Zhong Shaowen and said, "The most important thing is to let Eldest Miss Zhong change her clothes first."
Zou Hansheng quickly interjected, "I've already asked a maid to prepare clothes for my sister."
Ji Zizhao helped Zhong Xinyi off the boat and walked towards a maid who was waiting not far away.
The other male guests, to avoid suspicion, all remained on the shore.
Zhong Shaowen looked at Ji Renran beside him and then asked anxiously, "How did Xinyi fall into the water out of the blue?"
Ji Renran's face was pale. As Zhong Shaowen questioned her, tears began to fall.
After a long while, she choked out, "At the time, Eldest Miss Zhong was trying to persuade Eldest Sister to be nicer to me, to plead for me. I didn't expect Eldest Sister to not even give Eldest Miss Zhong any face. I felt bad for Eldest Miss Zhong and was about to advise Eldest Sister not to trouble Eldest Miss Zhong on my behalf, when the boat began to shake…"
As Ji Renran spoke, her tears flowed more profusely.
"Both Eldest Sister and I inadvertently moved towards Eldest Miss Zhong. I was so scared I closed my eyes. When I opened them again, I… I saw…"
Zhong Shaowen was frantic, "You saw what?"
Ji Renran covered her face with her hands, her voice breaking as she cried, "I saw Eldest Miss Zhong fall into the water."
Zhong Shaowen and the others listened, their expressions shifting.
So, it was Ji Zizhao who pushed Zhong Xinyi into the water!