Chapter 8: The Beagle Demolishes the House
As the most dedicated and conscientious lackey by F1’s side, Chen Xin visited Jiang Xinian every weekend, and this week was no exception.
There was never a shortage of people trying to cling to Young Master Jiang. If Chen Xin slacked off even slightly, some treacherous person would usurp his position.
For example: Shi Huaibai.
Chen Xin had followed Jiang Xinian for so many years, yet he had never stayed overnight at Jiang Xinian’s house. Meanwhile, Shi Huaibai had moved in with such fanfare and self-righteousness.
This was undoubtedly a challenge to his status in Young Master Jiang’s heart.
If this could be tolerated, what couldn’t be?!
Although when others asked, Chen Xin always maintained: I’m not so poor that I can’t afford accommodation fees like Shi Huaibai. Even if it weren’t Shi Huaibai, it could be someone else; after all, Young Master Jiang is so kind and gentle.
But in reality?
Chen Xin wasn’t sure: If I were as destitute as Shi Huaibai, would Jiang Xinian treat me the same way?
Jiang Xinian’s external image was maintained with Chen Xin’s help, so no one knew better than him: Jiang Xinian was a genuine bastard, an egoist who wouldn’t get up early without a profit.
But he was unconvinced. How could the benefits Shi Huaibai brought to Jiang Xinian exceed what he brought?
Chen Xin nodded with a smile to the butler who opened the door, smoothing out the wrinkles on his clothes to ensure he was in perfect condition when meeting Jiang Xinian.
As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, Chen Xin froze at the entrance, the bag in his hand dropping to the ground with a thud. Was this really the private residence of the Jiang Group’s crown prince? It was clearly the ruins of a battlefield just plowed by artillery fire! The sight of broken walls and debris filling the courtyard was terrifying!
The Jiang residence was huge. Jiang Xinian liked quiet and elegance, so the style of this villa leaned toward an old castleāempty of people but dense with greenery.
It was isolated, with no village ahead and no shop behind.
But now… dust and noise filled the air, charred trees were visible everywhere, and one couldn’t even find a good spot in the yard.
Chen Xin asked uncertainly: “Is Young Master Jiang… planning to renovate the courtyard?”
The butler just smiled without speaking.
He simply guided Chen Xin away: “The room the Young Master is staying in now is different from before. Let me lead the way for you.”
Chen Xin understood: It really is a renovation; otherwise, why would Jiang Xinian change rooms? But what if staying in a place undergoing renovation affects his rest?
As the most trusted person by Xinian’s side, he decided he would help Xinian scout for a new house when he went back tonight.
Who knew the butler would lead him further and further astray, crossing the corridor and heading straight for the most remote corner room on the 6th floor.
Finally, the butler stood solemnly outside the door and knocked gently: “Young Master.”
Chen Xin was completely baffled. There were no bad rooms in the Jiang residence, but… this room, in terms of size and location, looked like a nanny’s room or a utility room no matter how you looked at it.
Jiang Xinian’s voice, thin as a thread, came from inside: “Enter.”
Chen Xin continued to be baffled.
The room in front of him was absolutely the most cramped in the Jiang residence. The window was tiny, there was no balcony, and one couldn’t see any of the flowers or trees in the yard. It was cold and lonely, seemingly cut off from the world.
If this room were in a sales office, it would definitely be the cheapest one in the Jiang residenceānot only getting no share of common areas but also having zero exposure to sunlight.
If the lights were turned off, this place would be hell.
Just as Chen Xin was wondering if the entire Jiang residence really couldn’t offer a decent room, he turned his head and saw a scene he would never forget in his life.
He had never seen Jiang Xinian look so haggard. The guy usually loved cleanliness and cared most about his image, but now he had dark circles under his eyes, looking like a walking corpse.
He was wearing an old man’s Tai Chi exercise shirt stained with ink. Under his hand was a crumpled sheet of rice paper, and ink bottles were toppled all around him, staining most of the paper.
Jiang Xinian seemed to see nothing, continuing to write without changing his expression.
“Brother Jiang, what happened to you?”
Did the Jiang family go bankrupt? Can they not even afford rice paper anymore? How did I not know?
“You’re here.” Jiang Xinian finally put down the brush in his hand, his smile bleak: “Yesterday, when I went out with Shi Huaibai, we ran into Song Chi.”
Chen Xin blurted out: “Did Song Chi hit you?”
Then, Chen Xin reconsidered: That’s not right. Given the generational friendship between the Jiang and Song families, Song Chi wouldn’t be stupid enough to hit Jiang Xinian.
Jiang Xinian replied: “It was Shi Huaibai who hit Song Chi.”
Chen Xin was thoroughly shocked. That seemingly obedient and timid Shi Huaibaiāhad he become so swollen with arrogance just after latching onto the big tree that is Jiang Xinian? He actually dared to hit F2!
Chen Xin said: “Then he really has no sense of propriety or boundaries. He only causes trouble, and you’ll end up having to clean up his mess. Song Chi isn’t someone easily fooled; since he hit Song Chi, Song Chi will definitely hit back.”
But… seeing Brother Jiang looking so distracted, did he really care about Shi Huaibai to this extent? Protecting Shi Huaibai even at the cost of falling out with Song Chi? Worrying to this degree because of what might happen to Shi Huaibai?
Why…
“Brother Jiang, do you really think it’s worth tearing up your relationship with Song Chi for Shi Huaibai?”
“Of course it’s not worth it.”
Jiang Xinian knew that to be a rich second generation who at least looked like he had high moral character, the most important thing was to stay out of matters that didn’t concern him.
“But…”
His lips moved as if he wanted to speak, but the words stuck in his throat, hard to articulate.
Finally, Jiang Xinian’s expression looked constipated: “I didn’t want to get involved at the time. After all, if I let Song Chi take revenge on Shi Huaibai a little, I could sit back and relax. How could I truly be a kind, good person?”
“But after Song Chi left, Shi Huaibai said: ‘I thank you for being willing to help me solve this matter.'”
“Shi Huaibai also said: ‘But this is my own business.'”
“Shi Huaibai said righteously: ‘I don’t cause trouble, but I’m not afraid of it!'”
After hearing this story, Chen Xin was still very puzzled: “Isn’t this a good thing? Since Shi Huaibai has some sense and knows this matter shouldn’t involve you, let’s just grant his wish.”
“Heh…” Jiang Xinian cracked completely: “He indeed isn’t afraid of trouble; he creates trouble!”
As soon as the words fell, a huge noise suddenly came from the courtyardāBOOM!!!
The earth shook and the mountains swayed, as if the building were about to collapse, like the end of the world.
The ink bottle on Jiang Xinian’s desk fell over again.
Chen Xin was so scared he dove under the desk: “E… Earthquake!?”
Jiang Xinian, however, seemed accustomed to it, looking as if he had seen through life and death. He laughed with incomparable bleakness, like a concubine gone mad in the deep palace: “Hehe… heh heh heh heh…”
Jiang “Mad Concubine in the Deep Palace” Xinian continued to laugh maniacally: “Do you know how Shi Huaibai plans to handle this ‘business of his own’? He bought sulfur and other miscellaneous stuff from god knows where, then fiddled around to make homemade bombs, saying he’s going to blow up Song Chi!!!”
“Then, he even said that the area around my house is desolate and not a residential area, so it won’t hurt anyone, making it perfect for testing bombs.”
Finally, Jiang Xinian moved to the utility room because it was currently the quietest place in the house.
Chen Xin: “…”
Oh, what an outrageous story.
Jiang Xinian punched the table heavily: “He is forcing me to handle the matter between him and Song Chi!”
Chen Xin still felt bitter. So what…
So, does Jiang Xinian still have to tear up his relationship with Song Chi for Shi Huaibai?
If he were the one targeted by Song Chi, Chen Xin had no doubt he would become a discarded pawn.
Why… why Shi Huaibai? Why can Jiang Xinian protect Shi Huaibai so selflessly?
Jiang Xinian spoke again through gritted teeth: “I really didn’t expect that one day I would actually have to go warn that bastard Song ChiāI have to protect Song Chi!”
Chen Xin was dumbfounded: “Ah…”
Protect Song Chi?
Jiang Xinian’s expression was grim: “Shi Huaibai will really go blow up Song Chi. If something happens to Song Chi then, how can I continue being the Student Council President?”
Chen Xin: “…”
This is simply turning the world upside down.
He said viciously: “Then kick Shi Huaibai out! He’s just a lowly commoner, does he really think this is his home!”
Jiang Xinian regained his composure, resolute: “I can’t. I took so many cars and picked Shi Huaibai up from the White Tower dormitory area with such a high profile. It’s only been one day; if I kick him out now, how will others view me?”
At the time, he had picked Shi Huaibai up with great fanfare to show everyone: He, Jiang Xinian, makes friends regardless of status. He, Jiang Xinian, is simply a good person, simply loyal.
Who knew that what he had painstakingly brought into his home was a hot potato!!!
Now it’s great; he can only swallow his broken teeth with blood.
He can’t even complain.
Jiang Xinian said painfully: “I didn’t know Shi Huaibai’s energy was so exuberant. If he stays at home any longer, I won’t have a home anymore.”
“I want to hold him and jump off the 16th floor right now just for some peace and quiet.”
Speaking of this, Jiang Xinian collapsed onto the chair as if exhausted, crooking his finger at Chen Xin: “Where are the two auction tickets I asked you for?”
Chen Xin immediately took the invitation out of his bag: “You usually don’t participate in such activities, do you? Why did you ask for them this time?”
Jiang Xinian’s grandfather was in politics and was an honest official. Although the family started doing business from his father’s generation, influenced by his grandfather, Jiang Xinian rarely participated in such lavish spending events. After all, spending money to buy so many luxury goods didn’t fit his fresh and refined persona.
Why did he actively ask to participate this time?
Jiang Xinian saw the confusion in Chen Xin’s eyes. He took the gold-rimmed glasses off the bridge of his nose and wiped them with his clothes: “There’s no other way. I have to find something to burn off this puppy’s energy, otherwise…”
Shi Huaibai would really dismantle his house.
Chen Xin: “…”
He used to be jealous of Shi Huaibai, but now he just feels that Jiang Xinian’s life is so bitter.
Jiang Xinian changed his clothes, seemingly having made a decision. He grinned a bitter smile at the mirror, got into the elevator with Chen Xin, and went out to the courtyard.
Another “BOOM” of an explosion sounded. Amidst the “collapse of Mount Tai,” Chen Xin could see the corner of Jiang Xinian’s mouth twitching; his face was turning green.
The instigator, Shi Huaibai, turned his head with an innocent look. There was still a bit of dirty dust on the tip of his small nose, pure and unpretentious: “Xinian, why did you come down? It’s dangerous here.”
Chen Xin: “…”
You’re surprisingly thoughtful.
Looking just at his face, who would have thought Shi Huaibai was a devil incarnate?
Jiang Xinian’s smile stiffened. He told himself: Don’t get angry, don’t get angry.
After a deep breath, Jiang Xinian flashed his warm-as-jade smile. In that moment, Chen Xin truly admired Jiang Xinian’s consistent “pretentiousness.”
He pretended not to care about the ruins of the courtyard, his expression even seemingly praising Shi Huaibai for doing a good job.
Jiang Xinian coaxed gently, even spreading his arms open, simply enduring humiliation for a greater purpose:
“Dear Little Qian Xuesen, do you want to go out and play with me now?”
Author’s Note: Dear Little Qian Xuesen~
Recommended Reads
![[ABO] President Shou Is Not a Total Shou](https://beereads.space/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/the-shou-is-not-a-total-shou-214x300.jpg)
