Old Madam Ji was a jovial and carefree person but she knows when to be tough and strict. She does not discriminate but wouldn't tolerate any form of nonsense and disrespect. She was as sharp as a hawk, so, any hidden scheme around her will hardly pass by without her notice except if she just wanted to play blind.
However, in all of these, she had a favorite person in the world. This person wasn't her husband, neither was it her son or daughter. She'd always talk about everything they do together as her son was too busy and her daughter was not based in the same country. Her husband, a military general, and also the current head of the Ji Clan was scarcely available, where does he have the luxury to be with her all the time? Her young friend was a lady she met when she was on a visit to the orphanage.
All the children at the orphanage called her 'darling sister'. She was responsible for some of the children's livelihood as she supports them a lot even though she wasn't that rich. As time went by, they met so many times and got talking. They eventually became so close that they even began sharing secrets and will always go on cooking classes together as they both enjoyed cooking whenever they were free.
Madam Ji initially didn't want to probe too much into her friend's private life but she eventually got to find out some things about her. She got to know some of the reasons her friends wasn't sometimes available even the time she claimed she was jobless. However, this never affected their unusual friendship a bit, except for the fact that she gave up the thoughts of pairing this lady with her son. She thought they might not get along and she wanted the best for the both of them and all her children.
This lady had always tried to be there when she needed someone to shop with, play with, talk to, attend cooking classes, even spar with, and though she refused to introduce her friend to her family members, she'd always bring the food she cooked to Ji Fei whenever they attended any cooking class or try a new recipe together.
She'll give the food to him and say "don't you think my friend is a great cook? it's just a pity you both can't be together, else you would have enjoyed such great meals for the rest of your life. Anyway, do not bother, I'll continue to send you food cooked by potential future wives so you can make your pick. The first way to a man's heart is through his stomach."
Ji Fei could almost recite this rants off hand as he was forced to always listen to it every time his mother brought back her young friend's food.
Ji Fei got back to his room and sat on his bed after his usual tour of the punishment room.
He looked at the familiar food tray with many compartments and picked up his chopsticks to put a stir fried shrimp in his mouth.
That same taste! He could never forget. with that, he picked the dishes clean. Nothing from this sacred meal should go to waste!
After his meal, he laid on his bed and rested his head on his arm. With his phone in his other hand, he scrolled through his few contacts to stop at the newly added one... "psychologist".
He stared at the name for some seconds before typing a simple sentence.
"I'll not need consultation for tonight as requested".
...
On the other end of the city, Wei Zihao stared at the message on his phone for some few minutes before replying with an 'Okay'.
He dialed his father's number and reported when the call got through.
"Dad, Ji Fei cancelled his consultation for tonight".
It was unknown what the person at the other end of the phone said but he replied with a Yes before hanging up.
'Ji Fei'... He repeated the name once more with a sardonic smile