Chapter 22
This time, Chi Wendong came to school in a better mood than usual, so good that he felt he hadn’t done enough as an older brother by leaving Chi Abei at school without a word.
Chi Abei was also in a good mood. He came out to see Chi Wendong off: “Brother, are you going home?”
“I still need to go to the company,” Chi Wendong said, glancing at him. “Do you need anything at school? Is there anything you want me to buy for you?”
There actually was. Chi Abei said, “I want some exercise books, for the first year of high school.”
Blinded by brotherly love, Chi Wendong didn’t ask what a little fool who always ranked last in exams wanted exercise books for, and readily agreed: “Okay, I’ll buy them for you. I’ll bring them over on the weekend and take you out to eat then.”
Chi Abei only wanted the exercise books, not to eat with him. “I have something to do with Brother Lin Xiu on the weekend.”
Hearing “Brother Lin Xiu,” Chi Wendong inexplicably felt a pang of jealousy. Chi Abei called him “Brother” (哥 – ge), but called Lin Xiu “Elder Brother” (哥哥 – gege). The missing character also meant less intimacy, and he felt a little cheated.
Chi Abei, acting like a spoiled child, clung to Chi Wendong’s arm. “Brother~ Can you tell the school not to stop me from leaving campus, or let me go out with Brother Lin Xiu? Otherwise, the gatekeeper always stops me.”
Chi Wendong almost relented at the soft, slightly drawn-out “Brother,” but this reminded him of Chi Abei running away last night.
Chi Wendong looked at the little guy clinging to his arm, his tone turning serious. “Did you lie and say Dad had cancer just so you could get out?”
Chi Abei knew he couldn’t escape. He said, “I couldn’t say you were in a car accident, you’re my real brother!”
The real Chi Wendong, the “brother,” immediately lost his temper. Not only did he lose his temper, he was completely controlled by Chi Abei and immediately called the principal.
Chi Abei seemed to have found the switch to control Chi Wendong. Seeing him hang up, Chi Abei threw himself at Chi Wendong. “Brother, you’re the best!”
Chi Wendong was thrown forward, and hypocritically said, “You’re such a pest.”
Jiang Yu also came out to see his father off. Compared to Chi Abei, who was glued to Chi Wendong like 502 glue, Jiang Yu and his father walked in silence, with enough space between them to fit three pairs of Chi Wendong and Chi Abei.
Before getting in the car, Jiang Father only said to Jiang Yu, “Go back to class.”
Chi Abei waved to the departing car until it was far away before lowering his hand. He turned around and was startled by Jiang Yu standing behind him.
Chi Abei: “What are you doing?”
Jiang Yu asked curiously, “Aren’t you two brothers? Isn’t he adopted into your family?”
The Chi family was different from the Jiang family. Unlike Jiang Father who hid Jiang Yu’s true identity, the fact that Chi Wendong was adopted by the Chi family was no secret.
The Chi couple rarely brought Chi Abei to important occasions; they usually only took Chi Wendong. Some people had met Chi Wendong alone, and some had met Chi Abei alone, but few had seen them appear together. Jiang Yu hadn’t expected their relationship to be like this. If they didn’t look completely unlike, he would have believed they were real brothers.
Chi Abei said: “We’re not real brothers, but we’re closer than brothers. You wouldn’t understand.”
The words “real brothers” were equivalent to his retirement insurance. The more he said it, the greater the security. Seeing Chi Wendong arrive with a gloomy face and leave happily, this proved that his flattery was very successful.
Jiang Yu didn’t know about his little scheme. He thought, this is probably the gap between people. Some people, even without blood ties, can get along peacefully, while he, even with a blood relation to Jiang Wenshi and Jiang Wenyu, was destined to be enemies.
“I heard you say you’re going out with Lin Xiu on the weekend,” Jiang Yu asked, “Where are you going?”
Chi Abei looked at him: “Why were you eavesdropping?”
Jiang Yu was speechless: “Who was eavesdropping? You were speaking so loudly, and I’m not deaf.”
Chi Abei still thought he was eavesdropping; otherwise, why didn’t he hear him talking to his dad? Were you two whispering like crickets?
Chi Abei had a sudden idea, smiling slyly. “My brother and I are going to the gym on Saturday. Do you want to pretend to run into us?”
Jiang Yu thought he was going to Lin Xiu for tutoring or to ask Lin Xiu to take him out to play, but it turned out to be the gym.
Jiang Yu looked him over. “Why the gym? Aren’t you fine as you are?”
Chi Abei: “I’m accompanying my brother.”
“Lin Xiu?” Jiang Yu was even more puzzled. “Why would he go to the gym?”
Chi Abei: “That’s not the point. The point is, do you want to pretend to bump into us? Be proactive then, say you’ll treat him to a meal. There’s nothing a meal can’t solve, and if it can’t, add a cup of milk tea!”
Compared to Lin Xiu, Jiang Yu was now more interested in Chi Abei.
After this commotion, even if Jiang Yu was stupid, he realized that the little fool wasn’t actually stupid. Not only wasn’t he stupid, he was very cunning.
Jiang Yu: “Okay, you decide what to eat, I’ll treat.”
Chi Abei didn’t hear that Jiang Yu had changed the main target of the “chance encounter” to him. He was still immersed in repairing his relationship with Lin Xiu. “I’ll say what? Let Brother Lin Xiu decide. You should perform well, I’ll help you smooth things over. Let’s strive to win in one go.”
Seeing him constantly mention Lin Xiu, Jiang Yu asked: “Why are you so good to Lin Xiu?”
Chi Abei said matter-of-factly: “Because he’s my brother.”
Jiang Yu reasoned: “Isn’t your brother Chi Wendong?”
Chi Abei glanced at him: “Lin Xiu is my other brother.” (Implying a different kind of brother, a more intimate one)
Jiang Yu naturally didn’t get it, but Jiang Yu found his own explanation, nodding. “That’s not wrong either. Lin Xiu is sponsored by your family. Except for not living in your house and not having the same household registration as you, he’s no different from your brother.”
Jiang Yu suddenly envied Lin Xiu. Although Lin Xiu’s family was poor and he needed financial aid to continue his studies, he got Chi Abei, such a brother, for free.
Jiang Yu looked at Chi Abei… so envious, he wanted one too.
Chi Abei didn’t notice Jiang Yu’s gaze. He was preoccupied with the phrase “not on the same household registration” that Jiang Yu had just said.
He couldn’t help but think, if he could put his and Lin Xiu’s household registrations in the same book in the future, it would be even better. The first page would read—Head of Household: Chi Abei.
The next page—Eldest Son: Lin Xiu.