Chapter 5
The next afternoon, Lin Xiu received a call from an unfamiliar number. The caller said he was Chi Aibei’s brother and wanted to discuss sponsoring his education.
Lin Xiu would have refused anyone else, but hearing that it was Chi Aibei’s brother… Lin Xiu hesitated for a few seconds before agreeing to meet.
If his choices in his past life had led him into a quagmire, this time he was willing to risk the abyss. After all, no one knew if the bottom of the abyss held a surprising paradise.
In the coffee shop, Lin Xiu put down the contract: “Why are you sponsoring me?”
Chi Wendong and Chi Aibei didn’t look alike. Chi Aibei had cat-like eyes that curved into a smile, like a vibrant little sun. Chi Wendong, however, had narrow, elongated eyes behind his glasses, his whole being exuding a dark, sinister aura. They didn’t look like brothers at all.
In his past life, Lin Xiu had met Chi Wendong once, at a bidding conference. He had helped He Chenjiang win the bid, and before leaving, he encountered Chi Wendong, who asked, “You’re Lin Xiu?”
Just as everyone knew Chi Wendong was Chi’s adopted son, it was equally well-known that Lin Xiu was “raised” by He Chenjiang. Lin Xiu thought he would say something sarcastic, but unexpectedly, he said, “Interested in working for my company?”
How did he answer…? Oh, he didn’t answer, because He Chenjiang refused for him before he could.
Chi Wendong put down his coffee cup: “Xiao Bei requested it. Last night, he came home and said he wanted to drop out of school because you weren’t going to school, and he wanted to work to earn money for you.”
Lin Xiu was curious. How did the simpleton know he was short of money? Did he look that poor? He had even ordered him a bowl of beef noodles with extra meat yesterday!
Chi Wendong said: “My parents hope he continues his studies. You can consider this sponsorship as us paying for him to have a study buddy. As for your grandmother, our company has a partner nursing home. Or you can choose another one.”
The nursing home offer hit Lin Xiu’s most pressing need. As a high school student, he couldn’t afford a good nursing home for his grandmother.
Chi Wendong had a meeting soon. He checked the time: “If you think the contract is okay, sign it.”
The contract itself was fine, detailed and thorough, even including the clause about not disclosing that he was being sponsored, considering even his feelings.
Lin Xiu asked: “Is this contract with you or your parents?”
Chi Wendong didn’t expect this question: “What’s the difference?”
There was a difference, but Lin Xiu couldn’t say it directly: “From what I know, your parents don’t seem to treat Chi Aibei very well. Someone who isn’t willing to treat their own child well, I don’t think they would be sincere to me.”
Chi Wendong remained silent, somehow feeling that Lin Xiu possessed a composure beyond his years.
Before coming, he had investigated Lin Xiu. His family background was simple, much like Chi Aibei had described. He expected him to be more mature than the average high school student, but after meeting him, he realized his assumption was narrow. He wasn’t just mature; he was also very shrewd.
Lin Xiu asked this question because he remembered a shocking incident ten years later in Nancheng. Chi’s adopted son had been incredibly cruel, seizing Chi’s company and throwing his adoptive parents out, keeping only the simpleton. He had taken the simpleton back from He Chenjiang and retaliated against those who had mistreated him, almost taking over half of Nancheng, nearly bringing down the He family in the process.
He didn’t know the reason behind the Chi couple’s downfall, only that Chi Wendong was a madman. If he went crazy one day, Lin Xiu didn’t want to be collateral damage with Chi’s parents.
Since Lin Xiu had come, he didn’t intend to leave empty-handed: “If you’re willing to sponsor me, after graduating from university, I’m willing to work for you for free for ten years.”
For a talented person, offering ten years of service was a sincere offer, even more so if it were free.
Chi Wendong rarely smiled: “Ten years. Do you know what that means?”
Lin Xiu, who had been on guard since sitting down, joked: “It means I won’t have to worry about a job after graduation.”
Chi Wendong raised an eyebrow. The coldness behind his glasses faded, replaced by a hint of appreciation. He took back the contract: “Free is unnecessary. Xiao Bei might make a fuss if he knew.”
He took out a card and handed it to Lin Xiu: “This is your and Xiao Bei’s living expenses for this month. I’ll leave his school affairs to you from now on.”
Lin Xiu paused before taking the card: “Including helping him get into university?”
Chi Wendong sounded as if he’d heard a joke: “Do you think he can get in?”
This wasn’t a question, but a statement of fact.
Lin Xiu took the card, thinking, Yes, even you, his brother, think he can’t get in, yet the simpleton is so confident.
Chi Wendong suddenly remembered something. He took out his phone, opened a video, and asked Lin Xiu, “Is this Xiao Bei?”
Lin Xiu glanced at it. The phone showed the footage of yesterday’s medical dispute: “Yes.”
Lin Xiu thought Chi Wendong would be unhappy with Chi Aibei’s words, but he wasn’t. Chi Wendong simply confirmed he hadn’t mistaken the person and put away his phone, getting up: “I’ll go pay the bill.”
Lin Xiu thought, As expected of someone who kicked out his adoptive parents without batting an eye. Perhaps he hopes Chi Aibei’s words come true.
Leaving the coffee shop, Lin Xiu received a call from Chi Aibei: “Brother! It’s Xiao Bei!”
Lin Xiu looked at the incoming number: “Whose phone are you using?”
Chi Aibei said: “My own phone. I found it; it was under my pillow.”
Lin Xiu: “…Why was your phone under your pillow?”
Chi Aibei didn’t know why he put his phone under his pillow either; maybe he thought it was safer than keeping it on his body.
Chi Aibei asked: “Brother, did my brother come to find you?”
Chi Wendong happened to come out after paying the bill.
Lin Xiu: “Do you want to talk to him?”
Chi Aibei whispered, “Did he sign the contract with you? Are there any unfair clauses? You should check the contract before signing it.” Chi Aibei said a lot, still uneasy: “Or wait for me; I’ll come and check the contract with you.”
Chi Wendong took the phone from Lin Xiu, thinking Chi Aibei needed something. Instead, he heard his younger brother suspiciously interrogating him, giving Chi Wendong a taste of Chi’s mother’s experience from the previous night.
Chi Wendong: “…Can you read properly?”
Chi Aibei paused: “Who are you?”
Chi Wendong said gravely: “Who do you think I am?”
Chi Aibei hesitated: “You are… my father?”
Chi Wendong was exasperated: “Yes, remember to change your words next time!”
Chi Wendong threw the phone back at Lin Xiu and left in his car.
Lin Xiu watched Chi Wendong leave, his face dark, then called Chi Aibei: “What did you say to your brother?”
Chi Aibei chuckled: “I asked him if he was my father.”
Lin Xiu: “…”
Chi Aibei thought, Otherwise? Such an awkward situation; wouldn’t it be better to get him to leave? I can’t keep talking.
Lin Xiu thought he was reckless. Was Chi Wendong someone he could toy with?
Lin Xiu said: “Don’t mess with your brother next time.”
Or I might not have time to bury you.