Chapter 57
On the day the exam results were released, Chi Aibei’s grades caused a massive stir.
He ranked twentieth in the entire grade. With only thirty-five students in Class 1, ranking twentieth in the grade meant he could now rely on his own strength to remain in the top class.
Jiang Yu knew Chi Aibei had been studying well lately, but seeing the actual results still gave him a shock. “Not bad, kid.”
Lin Yang was completely stunned. “Youâyouâ”
Chi Aibei wasn’t entirely satisfied with this result. Thinking Lin Yang was about to mock him, he quickly added, “Itâs only been less than two months, after all.”
Lin Yangâs lips twitched. “…” Is that what I was going to say? You absolute monster!
…
Summer vacation was set to begin the next day. Although the break wasn’t long, for students about to enter their third year of high school, even the smallest scrap of meat was still food. Any holiday was enough to make one happy.
As usual, Chi Aibei planned to head home with Lin Xiu, but as soon as they stepped out of the school gates, they saw Chi Wendongâs car parked at the curb.
Lin Xiu noted, “Your brother is here to pick you up.”
Chi Aibei had almost forgotten he even had a home in this world. Unfortunately, he had zero interest in that house. “Gege, do you remember you promised me a reward?”
Lin Xiu hadn’t forgotten, but Chi Aibei hadn’t decided what he wanted yet. He asked, “Have you thought of what you want?”
Chi Aibei hadn’t, but he really didn’t want to go back to that house. He suggested, “Letâs go out and have some fun.”
Lin Xiu replied, “Sure. But I have some business to attend to for the next few days. I’ll come find you once Iâm finished.”
Just as Chi Aibei was about to ask what kind of business, Chi Wendong stepped out of the car. He asked Lin Xiu, “Need a lift?”
“No thanks,” Lin Xiu replied. “I’m going to see my grandmother.”
Chi Aibei chimed in immediately, “I want to see Grandma too!”
Chi Wendong grabbed Chi Aibei by the collar and hauled him back. “What ‘Grandma’ are you seeing? It’s finally the holidays; give Lin Xiu some peace and quiet.”
Chi Aibei was bundled into the car. Inside, Chi Wendong remarked, “I heard from Lin Xiu that you did quite well on your exams this time.”
Seeing that Chi Wendong wasn’t surprised by his grades at all, Chi Aibei felt a bit strange. “Ge, don’t you find it odd?”
Ever since Chi Wendong had been bestowed with the title of “Dear Older Brother,” his already meager bottom line had dwindled to almost nothing. “What’s there to be surprised about? You were never stupid to begin with.”
Even Chi Aibei, a man who lied through his teeth on a daily basis, felt a twinge of guilt hearing that. Just how thick was this brother’s filter? He had been so foolish before, yet Wendong still claimed he wasn’t stupid.
Chi Wendong had watched Chi Aibei grow up; how could he not see the changes? He simply didn’t want to expose them. He started the engine. “Letâs go home.”
“I don’t want to go home,” Chi Aibei said.
Chi Wendong glanced at him. “If you don’t go home, where do you want to go?”
Chi Aibei didn’t know where he could go either. He looked at Chi Wendong. “Ge, can you also… not tell them my exam results? I don’t want them to know.”
For years, the Chi parents had never hidden their loathing for him, often letting their negative emotions leak out right in front of him. Facing such parents, it was understandable that he didn’t want to go home or let them know about his progress. Chi Wendong understood this all too well.
“They are your parents, after all.”
When it came to coaxing people, Chi Aibei was second to none. He said, “I have you, and that’s enough. Youâre my guardian. Itâs enough if only you know my grades. Besides, even if they found out, theyâd just say, ‘Itâs not like youâre first place anyway.'”
Chi Aibei hugged Chi Wendongâs arm and acted spoiled. “Ge~ I don’t want to go back.”
How could Chi Wendong resist that?
He asked Chi Aibei, “If one day they really weren’t around anymore, and I was the only one left by your side, would you be sad?”
Chi Aibei immediately understood the underlying meaning. So, the idea of swallowing the company and driving the parents away had already taken root?
So early…
But on second thought, it wasn’t really that early. After all, he had endured it for so many years.
Chi Aibeiâs grip on Chi Wendongâs arm tightened, as if he were holding onto a life-saving tree. “I wouldn’t be.”
Chi Wendongâs scrutinizing gaze seemed to want to peer right through him. Chi Aibei said firmly, “You’re my brother. Having you is enough for me.”
As one sows, so shall they reap. Everything was a cycle of cause and effect. Chi Aibei didn’t think he had the power to change the bitter fruit that had been rooted in the Chi family for years.
Chi Wendong reached out and gently ruffled Chi Aibeiâs hair. “You’re right. I’m your brother. No matter what happens in the future, that will never change.”
A week later, the plane landed in Nancheng.
Lin Xiu and Chi Wendong had gone to secure a project. The CEO on the other side was a cautious man who had shopped around extensively before finally choosing them. This was largely thanks to Lin Xiuâs precise handling of the man, which allowed things to proceed so smoothly.
Coming out of the airport, Chi Wendong asked Lin Xiu, “Where to? I’ll drop you off.”
The business trip hadn’t been taxing for Lin Xiu, especially since the client had treated them well. He didn’t feel tired. “Your place, I guess. I promised Chi Aibei I’d take him out to play before the break.”
Chi Wendong wasn’t the type of boss who only knew how to order people around. He asked, “Where do you plan on taking him?”
Lin Xiu hadn’t researched much into ‘playing.’ “I don’t know.”
Chi Wendong suggested, “I know a hot spring hotel that’s quite good. You’ve worked hard these past few days, too. I’ll take you guys there to relax.”
Lin Xiu had no objections, saying he would just ask Chi Aibei.
When the car pulled up in front of a hotel, Lin Xiu asked, “Aren’t we picking up Chi Aibei?”
“We are,” Chi Wendong replied. “He didn’t go home. He’s been staying here for the past few days.”
Lin Xiu was stunned for a moment and followed Chi Wendong out of the car. “Heâs living in a hotel?”
“He said he didn’t want to go home.”
Lin Xiu could roughly guess why Chi Aibei didn’t want to go back, but thinking about how the kid had been living alone in a hotel for a week, pitifully lacking anyone to talk to, Lin Xiu felt a strange discomfort in his heart.
The two took the elevator upstairs. Chi Wendong had a room card. Upon opening the door, they heard Chi Aibei shouting inside. It sounded like he wasn’t alone.
In the room, Chi Aibei was sitting cross-legged on the bed, yelling at his phone, “Go, go, go! Faster! Itâs almost dead! Lin Yang, can you even do this?!”
Lin Yangâs voice drifted from the phone: “I’m fighting! I know you’re anxious, but stop being anxious first!”
Lin Yang had recommended a game to Chi Aibei. For the past week, Aibei had been busy clearing levels, never even stepping foot outside the hotel door. He had ordered room service for every meal.
Other than eating, sleeping, and gaming, the only time he set aside was to send messages to Lin Xiu. However, Lin Xiu was busy and sometimes couldn’t reply in time. Gradually, Aibei reduced the frequency of his messages and poured all his time into the game.
When Lin Xiu entered, Chi Aibei had just been cut down by a monster. He suddenly jumped up, standing on the bed and screaming at the phone, “Are you guys all useless? You couldn’t even protect meâAH!”
Hearing Chi Aibeiâs scream, Lin Yang asked, “What happened? Are you okay?”
Chi Wendong had called out to him before entering, but Chi Aibei was too focused and didn’t hear. Seeing two people suddenly appear in his room gave him a fright.
After seeing who it was, Chi Aibei leapt off the bed and bounded over to Lin Xiu. “Gege, you’re back!”
Chi Wendong, who stood beside Lin Xiu and was completely bypassed: “…”
Whatever happened to ‘Dear Older Brother’?
Though Chi Aibei was showing clear favoritism, he wasn’t too outrageous. He turned to Chi Wendong and called out “Ge” with a beaming smile.
Even though he had been acknowledged, Chi Wendong still felt like something was missing. That “Ge” lacked the surprise and anticipation present when he called for Lin Xiu.
Lin Xiu glanced at the phone still chattering on the bed… To think he had worried the little fool would be lonely. Was he the type of person who would ever let himself be lonely?
Translator’s Note: Hi everyone! Aibei is definitely living his best life as a shut-in gamer while his “geges” are out doing business. It’s funny how Wendong is starting to realize he’s been replaced as the favorite brother. Also, the term “potential stock” (ć˝ĺčĄ) used by the teacher is a common Chinese idiom for someone who shows great potential for future success, often compared to a stock that’s about to skyrocket. See you in the next chapter!
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