Chapter 4
Where would he work?
Although the family owned its own company, they would never let an idiot wreak havoc there!
Chi’s mother looked at Chi Aibei as if facing a formidable enemy: “What do you mean you’re not going to school anymore?”
In recent years, Chi Aibei had become increasingly foolish, and Chi’s mother felt increasingly agitated whenever she saw him. To improve her mood, Chi’s father decided to send Chi Aibei to boarding school, not letting him return home except during holidays. If he did come back, they would find an excuse to leave the house—out of sight, out of mind.
Now that he said he wasn’t going to school, wouldn’t they have to see him under their noses every day?
Chi’s mother reacted just as Chi Aibei expected. He slumped onto the sofa and played the spoiled child: “I’m just not going. Brother Lin Xiu isn’t going to school anymore, and I’m not going either! I’m going to help Brother Lin Xiu make money!”
Chi’s father found the key point in his words. He asked Chi Wendong: “Who is he talking about?”
Chi Wendong was adopted from an orphanage by Chi’s parents after they discovered Chi Aibei was an idiot. Chi Wendong has always taken care of Chi Aibei over the years; for example, when he suddenly disappeared today, the school called Chi Wendong directly, not Chi’s father or mother.
Chi Wendong remembered Chi Aibei chasing someone and calling him “brother” at the school gate: “He’s probably from their school. I don’t know exactly who he is.”
Chi’s mother directed her anger at Chi Wendong: “Aren’t you supposed to be looking after him? You can’t even figure out this much. What use are you?”
Chi Wendong was scolded out of the blue. Chi Aibei was afraid he would take it out on him, so he quickly said: “Brother Lin Xiu is in our school. He studies really well! He’s never gotten a score lower than first place since high school. All the teachers like him, and I like him too!”
There seemed to be nothing wrong with this statement, but Chi Wendong looked at Chi Aibei strangely…
Chi’s parents may not know that Chi Aibei had never given reasons for his likes and dislikes. His logic was always weak, and sometimes his words were incoherent. This time, however, he said he liked the other person because of his good grades.
Chi Wendong subconsciously looked at Chi’s mother. Indeed, the woman, who had been almost frenzied about Chi Aibei not going to school, was now intrigued by Chi Aibei’s comment about “good grades.”
The Chi family, since adopting Chi Wendong, had always used charity as a way to cultivate a positive image for their company. However, sponsoring children in the mountains was intangible, and their success was uncertain. The money invested might not see a return for years. But sponsoring a high-achieving high school student was different.
Although Chi’s mother was interested, she didn’t fully believe a simpleton: “If he studies so well, why isn’t he going to school anymore?”
Chi Aibei pouted: “Because he doesn’t have parents, only his grandmother, who is sick and in the hospital. He doesn’t have money for school, and he has to take care of his grandmother.” Saying this, Chi Aibei started to cry, “Brother Lin Xiu isn’t going to school anymore, and I won’t see him again. I don’t want to go to school either.”
Chi Wendong looked at Chi Aibei, his mouth wide open in a dramatic cry. The eyes behind his glasses narrowed meaningfully…
Chi’s father understood Chi’s mother’s thoughts: “It’s just school. We can just sponsor him to go to school.”
Chi Aibei wanted to hear this, but it wasn’t enough. He had to fully commit to the act. He kicked the pillow on the sofa to the floor, crying and shouting, “No, no! Brother Lin Xiu’s grandmother is sick and needs care; he can’t go to school!”
Chi’s mother was bothered by his loud cries: “What kind of illness can’t be treated or cared for? We’ll find a nursing home for his grandmother. Then your Brother Lin Xiu can go to school with peace of mind, right?”
Chi Aibei looked at Chi’s mother with tear-filled eyes: “Really?”
Chi’s mother’s head was about to explode: “Really! Your brother will take care of it tomorrow.”
Chi’s mother looked at Chi Wendong. She would handle it, but she wouldn’t take Chi Aibei’s word for it. After all, he was an idiot; who knew if what he said was the truth?
Chi Wendong said nothing. He picked up the pillow from the floor and put it back on the sofa. Chi Aibei rolled up his sleeve: “This is his phone number.”
Chi Wendong was about to look when Chi Aibei suddenly remembered something and quickly pulled his arm back: “You can’t tell others that he’s being sponsored. It would embarrass him.”
Chi’s mother found this absurd: “He’s being sponsored, and he still cares about face? What else would we say besides that he’s being sponsored? Am I giving him money for free?”
Chi Aibei pouted, making Chi’s mother’s eyelids twitch: “Okay, okay, we won’t say anything.”
Chi’s mother made a mental calculation. She would agree to it first, and how they explained it publicly… well, this idiot wouldn’t know anyway.
Chi Aibei stared at Chi’s mother, making her feel uneasy: “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Chi Aibei: “Were you thinking, since I’m an idiot, even if you told me, I wouldn’t know?”
Chi’s mother: “…”
How did this idiot suddenly become so smart?
Seeing her silence, Chi Aibei knew he had guessed correctly. These people definitely wanted to harm Lin Xiu.
To prevent them from going back on their word, Chi Aibei said: “You need to write a contract.”
Chi’s mother was about to be driven mad: “Do you even remember your last name? Whose side are you on?”
Chi Aibei turned his head: “On the outside. Turning inward would break it.”
Chi’s mother: “…”
With the matter settled, before Chi’s parents could chase him away, Chi Aibei jumped off the sofa and asked Chi Wendong to take him back to school.
Neither of them spoke along the way. Chi Aibei didn’t know what to say, while Chi Wendong was digesting the events of the evening.
At the school gate, Chi Aibei didn’t want to stay even for a second. He unbuckled his seatbelt and ran: “Thanks, brother. See you later, brother.”
The doubts in Chi Wendong’s mind gradually subsided as he watched Chi Aibei run away. This evasive behavior, this avoidance of him like the plague, was more like the simpleton he knew. Had some dirty thing possessed him back at home?
…
When Chi Wendong returned home, Chi’s parents were watching the evening news in the living room. The medical dispute at Central Hospital had been recorded and posted online; the news was currently showing the incident.
Chi’s father scoffed: “What era is this? There are still such barbaric people causing trouble at the hospital.”
Chi’s mother: “Exactly. It’s shameful and embarrassing.”
A “righteous” figure suddenly appeared on screen, his back to the camera, stopping a stout middle-aged woman. Chi’s father praised, “Today’s children are really good.”
On TV, the boy tearfully recounted how his mother had died of overwork when he was young, and his father had died on the operating table. Now, only he and his brother were left to depend on each other.
Chi Wendong was about to go upstairs when he suddenly found the voice familiar. He turned to look at the television, seeing the familiar figure, and his eyelids twitched…
If he wasn’t mistaken, the clothes Chi Aibei wore under his school uniform when he came back were the same as the ones worn by the person on TV.
These clothes were bought by Chi Wendong. Regardless of the high price, someone burdened with their severely ill father’s medical expenses couldn’t afford them. And the person on TV, from any angle, looked exactly like Chi Aibei, especially that tuft of hair that always stuck up on the back of his head!
Chi’s mother sighed: “Heaven is so unfair. Such a good child has had such a hard life.”
Chi’s father understood what Chi’s mother meant. Their family had good conditions, but their child was an idiot; other children were healthy but had bad luck. He patted Chi’s mother’s shoulder comfortingly: “Who says it isn’t?”
Chi Wendong numbly looked at Chi’s parents… Let’s just say, can you at least recognize your own son? You were both declared dead by him in public, and you still have time to sigh?