Chapter 91
The snow fell all night and hadn’t stopped by the next day. Chi Aibei braved the north wind to pick up Lin Xiu from class. Upon entering the teaching building, he shook the snow off his clothes, only for someone to call out to him from behind.
Ever since Chi Aibei’s birthday, He Chenjiang had been looking for a chance to talk to him alone. But every time, he was stuck to Lin Xiu like glue. He had just gone out for a bit and, upon returning, saw Chi Aibei running toward the building through the heavy snow, so He Chenjiang followed him.
Seeing it was him, Chi Aibei straightened the hood of his down jacket that He Chenjiang had pulled askew. “Is something wrong?”
He Chenjiang was also covered in snow, but he didn’t care. He walked over. “Are you and Lin Xiu really together?”
The fact that he was with Lin Xiu was already common knowledge. With his permission, Wang Yunmiao had posted the video recorded that night on the school forum. Since everyone knew, Chi Aibei didn’t know why He Chenjiang was asking again.
He Chenjiang said, “Have you ever thought about why he’s with you?”
Chi Aibei said confidently, “Because he likes me.”
He Chenjiang: “You’re too simple. He might like you, but does he like you for who you are or for your family’s money? His family situation is poor, and he’s always been supported by your family. People are greedy. Have you ever thought that his being with you actually has another purpose?”
Chi Aibei frowned and glared at him. How bizarre. This person must be sick.
Chi Aibei looked at He Chenjiang numbly. “Oh. And so?”
Seeing this indifferent attitude, He Chenjiang grabbed his shoulders and said, “Xiao Bei, wake up. If he’s really with you for money, you’ll regret it later. You should know that poor people have no bottom line.”
Meng Huaiqing happened to sneak out early before class ended. As soon as he came down, he saw someone flirting with his “brother-in-law.” “What do you mean poor people have no bottom line? Who’s poor?”
Chi Aibei looked over and pushed away He Chenjiang’s hands. “Brother Wheelchair.”
Meng Huaiqing walked over and glanced at He Chenjiang. “What are you talking about?”
Chi Aibei played a bit of a trick in his heart and said to Meng Huaiqing, “He says Brother Lin Xiu is poor and that being with me is for my family’s money.”
Meng Huaiqing raised an eyebrow. “That’s rich, coming from you. The He family might be large and influential, but don’t you also go around currying favor everywhere?”
As the heir to the Meng family, Meng Huaiqing was always smiling, but it was very difficult to truly become his friend. Even if one could exchange a few words with him at school, he was strictly business once outside that environment.
He Chenjiang didn’t know how Chi Aibei had met him, and he could tell Meng Huaiqing liked Chi Aibei quite a bit.
Seeing that Chi Aibei wouldn’t listen to him, He Chenjiang tried to win over Meng Huaiqing. “You might not know, but Lin Xiu has been supported by their family since high school. Is it not logical to say someone like that is after money?”
Chi Aibei looked at He Chenjiang like he was an idiot. What nonsense are you talking right in front of the guy’s cousin?
Meng Huaiqing glanced at Chi Aibei. “If you put it that way, logically he should…”
Just as He Chenjiang was waiting for him to say something that would convince Chi Aibei, Meng Huaiqing said, “Logically, he should be with you. After all, having spent so much of your family’s money, it wouldn’t be too much for him to give himself to you in return.”
Chi Aibei burst out laughing.
He Chenjiang stared at Meng Huaiqing in shock.
Lin Xiu came down from upstairs, wondering why Chi Aibei hadn’t come today. He was just about to text him when he saw the boy standing downstairs with Meng Huaiqing and He Chenjiang, laughing so hard he was trembling.
“What are you all doing here?”
Chi Aibei didn’t have time to restrain his laughter. He ran toward Lin Xiu and reached out for his hand. “Brother, you’re out of class.”
Lin Xiu squeezed his hand in return and looked at Meng Huaiqing. Meng Huaiqing said with a smile, “Nothing, just someone saying you’re poor.”
Seeing both Chi Aibei and Meng Huaiqing smiling mischievously, Lin Xiu didn’t even have to ask to know the two had teamed up to play He Chenjiang.
Meng Huaiqing: “Right, my aunt is back from abroad and says she wants to meet you. Grandpa asked me to ask when you’re free to come home for dinner.”
Lin Xiu had only been to the Meng house twice—once when Meng Huaiqing took them, and another time to see the Old Man.
It wasn’t that the Meng family didn’t welcome him; the Old Man often asked Meng Huaiqing to have him back, but Lin Xiu always used being busy as an excuse to decline.
Since his aunt was back, Lin Xiu had to see her eventually. He said, “Any day is fine.”
Meng Huaiqing asked Chi Aibei, “Xiao Bei, do you want to come along?”
Chi Aibei shook his head. “No, no, I’m not going.”
He’d seen Meng Yuanduo last time because he didn’t know he was Lin Xiu’s father. Now, the thought of going to the Meng house again made him feel strange.
Lin Xiu glanced at him. “Why not?”
Chi Aibei whispered, “That’s your house, not mine. Why would I go when you’re seeing your aunt?”
Lin Xiu: “Didn’t I also go to your house?”
Chi Aibei: “That’s different.”
The forgotten He Chenjiang was completely stunned… Meng Huaiqing’s grandfather wants Lin Xiu to go to his house for dinner? Whose aunt? How did Meng Huaiqing’s aunt become Lin Xiu’s aunt?
Lin Xiu said it didn’t matter, so Meng Huaiqing set a date. After delivering the message, he noticed He Chenjiang was still there. He deliberately asked Lin Xiu, “By the way, you really don’t plan on coming back to inherit the family property with me?”
Lin Xiu looked at Meng Huaiqing but didn’t speak.
Meng Huaiqing said, “You’re my Xiao Shu’s biological son, after all. Letting people talk about you being poor all day… ignoring your own family property while eyeing someone else’s, what’s with that?”
Lin Xiu: “…”
He Chenjiang stared blankly at Lin Xiu, his eyes full of disbelief.
Lin Xiu: “People can say whatever they want; I don’t care.”
Meng Huaiqing smiled and patted his shoulder. “You really are… this temperament is just like my Xiao Shu.”
…
The next evening, Lin Xiu went back to the Meng house with Meng Huaiqing. Meng Huaiqing’s aunt was a fashion designer who spent more than half the year abroad.
She was the one who wanted to meet him, yet she was the last to arrive, only returning after dinner had started. The Old Man sat at the table and scolded her dissatisfiedly, “Why so late? You’re a grown adult, yet you have no sense of time.”
Meng Yaqing said with a smile, “Wasn’t I off preparing a meeting gift for Xiao Xiu?”
Meng Yaqing looked at Lin Xiu with delight. “This must be Xiao Xiu. I haven’t seen you for twenty years, and you’ve grown so big.”
“…” Lin Xiu was a bit speechless, but he still called her “Aunt.”
Meng Yaqing: “Good heavens, he’s practically carved from the same mold as the Third Brother. No one would believe you aren’t father and son! Third Brother, could this be considered a ‘late-blooming son’ for you?”
Meng Yuanduo glared at her with a smile. “Cut the nonsense. Didn’t you say you went to prepare a meeting gift? Where is it?”
Meng Yaqing placed a brand-new car key in front of Lin Xiu. “I originally wanted to give you a house, but I figured that’s a gift better left to your dad. I just picked up this car; it’s parked in the courtyard.”
Fearing Lin Xiu wouldn’t accept, the Old Man said, “If she gives it to you, take it. Don’t be polite with her. In the future, your cars will be your second aunt’s responsibility.”
Lin Xiu hadn’t intended to rebuff Meng Yaqing. Conveniently, he had also been thinking of finding time to get his driver’s license recently. “Thank you, Aunt.”
Meng Yaqing rubbed Lin Xiu’s head. “No need for thanks. Just tell me whenever you want anything in the future.”
Meng Yaqing sat down next to the Old Man. Meng Huaiqing teased, “Second Aunt, you finally come back and prepare a gift only for Lin Xiu. Where’s mine?”
Meng Yaqing glared at him. “What about you? You’re in charge of such a big company, and you have the face to come and exploit me?”
Meng Yuanduo had already told the Old Man that Lin Xiu didn’t plan to return to the family company after graduation. The Old Man had originally wanted to try and persuade him further, but Meng Yuanduo said, “It’s no use. That kid has a mind of his own.”
The Old Man shot him a look and scolded, “Isn’t he just like you and your rebellious streak!”
Lin Xiu was only a freshman, and graduation was still years away. With Meng Huaiqing at the helm of the company, the Old Man wasn’t in a hurry, thinking he would talk to Lin Xiu about it slowly in the future.
During dinner, Meng Yaqing suddenly brought up the subject of his boyfriend.
Meng Yaqing: “I heard you have a boyfriend?”
Lin Xiu glanced at Meng Huaiqing, who immediately threw the blame to Meng Ying. “She told me.”
The suddenly mentioned Meng Ying looked up at Lin Xiu—her junior for several years who had suddenly become her cousin. “It wasn’t me; it was He Youyou.”
He Youyou had heard Second Aunt was back and had run over last night to ask for a gift, and had mentioned the thing between Lin Xiu and Chi Aibei in passing.
Meng Yaqing said, “I’m just asking. Our family isn’t taboo about those things; no one will have an issue whether you like boys or girls.”
Lin Xiu could tell. The first time he met Meng Yuanduo, he had spoken openly about it. Not only did he not have an issue, but he also accepted it quite calmly. What surprised him was that even Old Man Meng didn’t say anything.
Lin Xiu nodded. “Mhm. His name is Chi Aibei.”
Although Meng Yaqing often traveled abroad, as a member of the Meng family, she wasn’t entirely unaware of the happenings in the West City circles. “I heard that child seems to be a bit…”
Although the Chi couple never brought Chi Aibei out to meet people, the fact that he was a “fool” was no secret.
Lin Xiu knew what she wanted to say. “He isn’t a fool.”
Meng Yaqing smiled. “I didn’t mean that. I was just a bit curious. The Chi family never seems to bring that child out to meet people; I’ve seen their foster son, though.”
Lin Xiu: “I’ll bring him next time.”
It was very late after dinner, and snow was falling outside. Fearing the mountain roads weren’t safe, the Old Man insisted that Lin Xiu stay the night.
The room was one Meng Yuanduo had someone prepare over a month ago. Lin Xiu sat on the bed and looked at the messages sent by Chi Aibei—
Chi Aibei: [Brother, when are you coming back?]
Chi Aibei: [It’s past nine already. Brother, are you still coming back?]
Chi Aibei: [BROTHER! REPLY! TO! ME!]
Looking at the tone that was gradually losing patience, Lin Xiu gave a small laugh and made a video call—
Chi Aibei answered the video. The dorm lights had already been turned out, and he was using a small wireless lamp to illuminate his face. Seeing that the background behind Lin Xiu wasn’t on the way back, Chi Aibei’s smile faded. “Brother, are you not coming back today?”
Seeing his suddenly disappointed expression, Lin Xiu walked to the window and took a look. Not only had the snow not stopped, it was falling even harder than before. “They want me to stay the night. I’ll be back tomorrow morning.”
The lights in the room were bright. Seeing Lin Xiu’s slightly red face, Chi Aibei asked, “Brother, did you drink?”
Lin Xiu hadn’t just drunk; he’d had quite a bit. Meng Yaqing had originally wanted Lin Xiu to drink with her, but he ended up drinking her under the table. It was also because he’d drunk that Old Man Meng wouldn’t let him leave.
Lin Xiu sat on the window sill, one foot on the floor. Looking at Chi Aibei in the camera, who was staring at him with wide, anxious eyes, he suddenly said, “I want to kiss you.”
Chi Aibei threw back the quilt and abruptly pulled it over his head. “Brother, Zhuang Yuan and the others haven’t slept yet!”
Looking at the suddenly black screen, Lin Xiu said, “I can’t see you anymore.”
Chi Aibei reached out his hand to pull the small lamp into the quilt with him. He sat up, the quilt bunched up like a small mound.
Lin Xiu: “In my bed?”
Chi Aibei mumbled, “I thought you’d be back.”
Lin Xiu liked him sleeping in his bed. Although he was restless in his sleep, he would behave as long as he was held tightly.
Lin Xiu: “I’ll bring you with me next time.”
Chi Aibei: “Okay!”
Lin Xiu had wanted to bring Chi Aibei along today, but no matter what he said, Chi Aibei refused. Seeing him agree to come along next time, Lin Xiu was a bit curious. “Hmm? You agreed?”
Chi Aibei gave a little chuckle.
Earlier that evening, Zhuang Yuan had asked where Lin Xiu was. Upon hearing he’d gone home and that Aibei had refused to go with him, Zhuang Yuan had given him some earnest advice, telling him that an “ugly daughter-in-law” would have to see her in-laws sooner or later.
Chi Aibei thought about it and felt it made sense. Only an ugly daughter-in-law would be afraid to see the parents; he wasn’t ugly, and it wasn’t like he hadn’t seen them before.
Chi Aibei slept in Lin Xiu’s bed that night. The next day, before dawn, he was woken up by a wave of cold. Opening his eyes, he saw Lin Xiu sitting by the bed, still in his clothes, kissing him.
Chi Aibei blinked. “Brother, you’re back?”
Lin Xiu: “Shh, keep your voice down.”
Lin Xiu stripped off his cold clothes and got into bed, lifting the quilt to pull the warm person into his arms. He closed his eyes. “I didn’t sleep well last night.”
Chi Aibei looked up at him. “Why? Was the bed unfamiliar?”
Lin Xiu: “No, the person was unfamiliar, because you weren’t there.”
Hearing such words so early in the morning made Chi Aibei’s spirits soar. “Brother, if you were a scumbag, you’d definitely be able to fool a lot of people.”
Lin Xiu glanced at him. “Wish me something better.”
Chi Aibei burrowed into Lin Xiu’s arms, hugging his waist and chuckling. “I even dreamed about you just now.”
“Is that so?” Lin Xiu smiled and pinched his ear. “Then continue.”
Recommended Reads
![Those Years When the Son of Destiny Was Severely Scammed [Quick Transmigration]](https://beereads.space/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/QUICK-TRANSMIGRATION1-214x300.jpg)
![[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)
