Chapter 308

Chapter 308: Chapter 307

The Ji Family.

The blue light of a holographic projection flowed across the wooden walls. In the very center, a three-dimensional title in the Slender Gold script read: Ji Clan Council Hall.

“Since everyone’s here, take a look at this.”

Ji Shiyin’s fingertip swiped across his Star Brain screen, dragging a document titled “Side Line Adoption Agreement” in gold font to the center of the table.

Faint golden lines of text materialized on the long, cold-white table, and even the Star Network terminal on his wrist began to flash with a blue warning light.

The Clan Leader in the main seat’s expression changed drastically. “This…”

Beside him, Grandma Ji shot to her feet. The smart chair sensed the force of her movement and automatically slid back.

“You’ve gone too far today!”

Ji Shiyin remained unmoved, not even frowning.

Grandma Ji instinctively looked toward Ji San—her third son, Ji Shiyin’s biological father.

Ji San didn’t notice Grandma Ji’s gaze. He opened his mouth in a daze, then lowered his head in sorrow.

‘His son doesn’t want him anymore.’

Grandma Ji’s fingers trembled with rage. “I do not agree!”

She looked at Ji Shiyin. She didn’t throw a tantrum, but merely glared at him, her expression indignant.

“I am your biological grandmother, and we are your family! I was just asking you to help out your eldest uncle. If you didn’t want to, that’s one thing, but why cause such a scene!”

“You’re the Chief, an Admiral, the most successful person in the clan. If your eldest uncle and his family are doing well, it reflects well on you. You’d even earn a reputation for being filial.”

“But look at you now! The moment you get back, you start dredging up old accounts and haggling over every detail. You won’t do a single thing I ask. Have you forgotten all about family ties?”

“Biological grandmother?” Ji Shiyin looked up, the corners of his mouth curling into a mocking smile.

He stood up, and the holographic screen behind him automatically lit up, projecting streams of data.

“These are the energy stone and Star Coin allotments you’ve transferred from my father’s account over the years.”

“This is the deficit from Mecha maintenance that my parents covered for Eldest Uncle’s family.”

“These are the transaction records of someone from Eldest Uncle’s family colluding with hostile forces and illegally selling military-grade Mecha parts.”

“And all these are my own personal resources…”

“The clan invested in my development, and I’m willing to give back to the clan. But that doesn’t mean I’m willing to see all of it end up flowing to my eldest uncle’s family.”

With a tap of his finger, Ji Shiyin transformed the data streams into a three-dimensional ledger that hovered in the air. Every transaction was marked with the date, amount, and the person who handled it.

Ji the Third was incredulous. “How can you keep such clear track of all this? Little Yan, she’s your grandmother, not a stranger! How can you be so petty with your own grandmother? You’re so unfilial!”

Ji Shiyin sat in the heir’s seat, his presence heavy and subdued.

He said with a half-smile, “Ji Heyan, you’re the filial one. I can’t compare. I’ve had enough. So, I’ll get out of your sight. I am requesting to be adopted out.”

Ji San froze. His mouth worked, but no words came out. He closed his eyes and sighed.

‘Not only does my son not want me anymore, he’s even calling me by my full name.’

‘Such an unfilial son!’

Grandma Ji was dumbfounded. “I said I don’t agree! If you get adopted out, what about your eldest uncle, second uncle, and youngest uncle? Your father will have nothing left to support me with!”

Ji Shiyin glanced mockingly at Ji Heyan.

Ji San’s expression was grim. “…”

The Clan Leader’s initially grim expression suddenly softened.

He lowered his gaze, his mind racing.

Among those present, some were just watching the show, others were gloating over the misfortune, and some even had a hint of anticipation in their eyes.

There was no need to worry. Ji Shiyin was only being adopted into a side line, not leaving the clan entirely.

Without Eldest Ji’s branch hoarding all the resources, they might even get a larger share of the good stuff.

If they were lucky, Ji Shiyin might even be adopted into their family line, since the specific family hadn’t been chosen yet.

No matter which family he was adopted into, Ji Shiyin would still be the heir to the position of Family Head. For them, it was a no-lose situation.

The Clan Leader cleared his throat. “Young Master, are you serious about what you’ve said today? Also, have you decided which family you wish to be adopted into?”

Ji Shiyin: “Ji Lü.”

Ji Lü stood up, his face beaming. “Me! It’s me! Fath—Ji Clan Leader, the Young Master spoke with me last night. I’m all for it!”

The Clan Leader’s eyes flickered.

‘That kid, he really kept this under wraps.’

‘To think Ji Shiyin actually chose his son.’

The Clan Leader sat back down.

Heir—Young Master—Family Head.

‘If that’s the case, then the position of Family Head must belong to Ji Shiyin.’

A hush fell over the room.

Grandma Ji glared at Ji the Third.

Ji the Third opened his mouth. “Little Yan…”

“Don’t call me that! Mother was tormented to death, and I don’t want to be next,” Ji Shiyin said coldly. “From now on, you can keep letting Grandmother come and tear our home apart to subsidize Eldest Uncle and his family. Even if you die, I won’t say another word about it.”

Ji Heyan said anxiously, “It’s not that serious. Your grandmother isn’t a dog; she wouldn’t tear our house down.”

Ji Shiyin shot him a cold glance. “Blindly filial and utterly foolish. I’ve had more than enough of having a father like you.”

‘He loves it when people call him filial, when they say he’s capable enough to support his eldest brother. He gets so puffed up with praise he can’t even stand straight. And his brilliant defense is to point out that Grandmother isn’t a dog? Is that supposed to be funny? Every time a critical moment arrives, he just dodges the issue and sides with outsiders.’

‘It’s laughable… and pathetic!’

Ji Shiyin’s gaze swept across the faces of everyone present, finally landing on his grandmother’s indignant and embarrassed expression.

Grandma Ji was used to glaring at Ji the Third, expecting him to handle Ji Shiyin’s ‘willfulness’.

But this time, Ji the Third had also been publicly humiliated.

Realizing Ji Shiyin was serious, Grandma Ji asked, exasperated, “What is it you really want? Will you only be satisfied when this family is torn apart?”

Ji Shiyin’s breathing grew slightly heavier.

‘That same line again. It’s always like this.’

‘They’re the ones who were always scheming, targeting me, and favoring Eldest Uncle, yet in the end, they always look at me as if he’s the one being unreasonable.’

Ji Shiyin’s tone was calm. “The sight of you disgusts me. I’m not afraid to tell you plainly: today, it’s either the adoption or we split the family. I’ve been more than fair to you as a grandmother!”

The old woman’s face flushed red.

She had forgotten to turn off the auto-pop-up feature on her Star Network terminal’s floating screen, and a new message pleading for help from Eldest Uncle appeared.

The characters were large and clear; Ji Shiyin understood it all at a glance.

His cousin had been illegally selling Mecha, was suspected of colluding with the Emperor Wolf Star People, and had gotten his entire family—Eldest Uncle included—detained in prison by the interstellar police team.

Grandma Ji looked at Ji Shiyin, her expression pleading.

Ji Shiyin cut her off before she could even speak.

“Eldest Uncle colluded with others to sell Mecha, the Alliance came to investigate, and you immediately blame me without even asking what happened? And you still want me to go bail them out?”

“Over all these years, haven’t you taken enough from me? Haven’t you made my parents do enough for Eldest Uncle’s family?”

“Eldest Uncle’s family has nothing to do with me. My mother only gave birth to me! If you want to take advantage of someone, can’t you stop targeting just me to drain dry? Why don’t you go see what your precious Eldest, Second, and Fourth sons have ever given you? Go ask them if they’re willing to rip their hearts out for you!”

Grandma Ji sensed something was wrong.

Her gaze swept over the figures of the Second and Fourth families cowering in the corner.

The Second was clenching his fists, playing dead. The Fourth was staring down at his boots. The rest of them looked like they wished they could bury their faces in the table.