Chapter 26
Chi Abei had a natural aversion to greasy guys. He hugged the juice and looked at Di Zuo. “I don’t have a phone. Add my brother’s WeChat. He often lets me play with his phone.”
Di Zuo was one of the two people Lin Xiu least wanted to be involved with. Hearing Chi Abei, he subconsciously frowned⌠Was the little fool trying to get him into trouble again?
Di Zuo was surprised. He looked at Lin Xiu. “What year is it? How can someone not have a phone?”
Chi Abei struck a pose, his eyes downcast, saying pitifully, “Because our family is poor. Our dad owes a lot of money to loan sharks, and our house was taken. My brother and I use our earnings to eat and pay tuition; we don’t have money for a phone.”
Hearing “our dad” again, Lin Xiu: “…”
Is our dad a brick? Used wherever needed?
Looking at Chi Abei’s habitual lying, if it weren’t for Di Zuo being there, Lin Xiu would have exposed him!
Di Zuo wasn’t stupid. The boy was pretty and well-dressed, not looking like he was from a poor family. “How much does your family owe? Let me lend you some money.”
Chi Abei shook his head. “No, thanks.”
Di Zuo: “Why not?”
Chi Abei looked up. “Brother, have you heard this saying?”
Di Zuo loved his soft “brother.” He asked, “What saying?”
Chi Abei said slowly, “Uninvited kindness, is either a trick or a trap.” He shrank back, hugging his stomach. “Brother, I’m a boy, and my kidneys aren’t very good.”
âBoys can’t be tricked, and someone with bad kidneys can’t be sold. Find someone else.
Di Zuo: “…”
Lin Xiu: “…”
You’re a smooth talker.
The guy who came with Di Zuo, currently queuing, had been a little down seeing Di Zuo hitting on someone else. Seeing him fail, he felt relieved.
Di Zuo wasn’t someone he could control. Di Zuo was with him for amusement. Rather than wait to be dumped, why not break up first?
Hearing laughter and whispers in the queue, Di Zuo was about to explain when his phone buzzedâ
Feng Di: ăLet’s break up.ă
Di Zuo, never dumped before, frowned, turning to look for the guy who should have been in the queue. He couldn’t find him. Di Zuo gritted his teeth. “Damn it!”
…
Business was good today; they sold out before 7 pm. Xu Kerui suggested a hot pot dinner.
The hot pot restaurant was at the other end of the pedestrian street. They arrived just as a table opened up.
Xu Kerui thought today was incredibly lucky. “They’re always full. We got a table right away.” She patted Chi Abei’s head. “It must be your lucky charm.”
Chi Abei chuckled, pointing to a sign. “Brother, it says this restaurant’s having its third anniversary today, and there’s a free meal raffle.”
Lin Xiu wasn’t interested. “Winning” and “luck” had never been his things.
Xu Kerui jokingly said, “You should draw for us, little lucky charm. You might win.”
Given the important task, Chi Abei nodded seriously. “Leave it to me!”
Lin Xiu: “…”
…
After ordering, Xu Kerui asked Lin Xiu, “Did your dad really owe loan sharks?”
Lin Xiu didn’t want to share this father. He gestured to Chi Abei. “…His dad did.”
Xu Kerui had believed Chi Abei’s afternoon story. She looked at Chi Abei. “You two don’t have the same dad?”
Lin Xiu was exasperated. He looked at Xu Kerui, thinking she’d been infected by the little fool. “We don’t even have the same surname.”
Xu Kerui realized. “…Oh, right.”
Oh, right my ass.
Lin Xiu was speechless.
Xu Kerui looked at Chi Abei stirring the dipping sauce. “Wow, you’re quite good at conning people. I almost believed you.”
Chi Abei smiled at Xu Kerui, thinking, you didn’t almost believe it; you completely believed it.
Lin Xiu watched Chi Abei, thinking he was impressive. He lied effortlessly, fooling He Chenjiang and Di Zuo, who were both his past nightmares.
Xu Kerui watched the boy across from her, liking him more and more. No wonder that man hit on him this afternoon. He’s attractive to both genders. “Forgot to ask, how old are you?”
The novel didn’t mention the little fool’s age; Chi Abei hesitated. “Um, sixteen?” He looked uncertainly at Lin Xiu. “…Seventeen?”
Lin Xiu: “…”
How does he claim to not be stupid?!
Seeing his look for help, Lin Xiu sighed. “Sixteen.”
Chi’s mother had skipped him a grade so he could be with He Chenjiang, making him a year younger. Lin Xiu had overheard He Chenjiang complaining about it.
Xu Kerui clicked her tongue. “That guy’s too bold, hitting on someone so young. Is he trying to commit a crime?”
As if on cue, Xu Kerui, complaining, saw two people waiting at the entrance, one with striking blue hair…
Di Zuo was dragged to the hot pot restaurant by his friend, Ge Lu. Knowing Di Zuo’s lack of patience, Ge Lu said, “Should we go somewhere else?”
Di Zuo was already in a bad mood and had no patience. But as he was about to leave, he stopped.
Ge Lu: “What’s wrong?”
Di Zuo stared at the restaurant window. “Do you think meeting someone three times in one day is fate?”
Ge Lu was momentarily confused, then understood. Following Di Zuo’s gaze, he saw a pretty woman.
“Yes, of course,” Ge Lu said, wondering when Di Zuo had become interested in women.
Lin Xiu saw Xu Kerui staring intently outside. He looked back but didn’t see anyone warranting such a sour expression. When he looked back, he saw Di Zuo and Ge Lu standing by their table.
Lin Xiu: “…”
He really was persistent.
Ge Lu looked at Lin Xiu and Chi Abei, hesitating over Chi Abei’s young age, before settling on Lin Xiu.
He’s better-looking than Feng Di.
Chi Abei was looking at the raffle when his view was blocked. Looking up, he saw him again. Chi Abei looked surprised. “Human trafficker?”
Di Zuo: “…”
Ge Lu twitched his mouth. “Brother, what did he call you?”
Di Zuo ignored Ge Lu, leaning slightly forward, hands on the table, looking at Chi Abei. “No more working to pay off debts? Eating hot pot?”
Chi Abei: “And you? Did you meet your human trafficking quota?”
Di Zuo sighed. “I’m not a human trafficker.”
Chi Abei looked at him disbelievingly. “Then why were you following me?” He glanced at Ge Lu. “And you brought someone with you. Are you trying to kidnap me?”
Did I really look that much like a bad guy?
Di Zuo touched his hair. Was it the color giving that impression?
He’d dyed his hair blue yesterday to anger his father, not to deter romantic advances. He should have dyed it pink!
Ge Lu was stunned before realizing Di Zuo wasn’t interested in the person inside, but the seemingly young boy who kept calling him a “human trafficker.”
Ge Lu: “Who’s trying to kidnap you? It’s broad daylight.”
Chi Abei narrowed his eyes. “So you’re planning to kidnap me somewhere more secluded?”
These two weren’t bright. If they continued, they wouldn’t eat. Lin Xiu stopped Chi Abei, asking, “What do you want?”
Di Zuo was sincere. “This place is full. Share a table? My treat.”
Xu Kerui didn’t think they looked trustworthy. “We’re not sharing, and I’m paying, not you.”
Chi Abei nodded in agreement. “Right, we’re not sharing, someone’s already paying.”
Di Zuo said, “I’ll pay this time. I’ll have your boss treat you tomorrow. Two meals, right?”
Chi Abei: “But I’m not talking about the boss.” He pointed to the raffle area. “I’m going to draw for the free meal coupon. The restaurant’s paying for this.”
Ge Lu scoffed. “That’s just a gimmick. You actually believe you’ll win?”
Chi Abei: “Why not? It says so on the sign.”
Ge Lu never believed in such things; he’d never even won an eraser.
Seeing Ge Lu’s mockery, Chi Abei got angry. This crow mouth was annoying!
The raffle started. Chi Abei, without removing his apron, ran over.
Ge Lu: “Wait, he really thinks he’ll win?”
Xu Kerui knew it was a marketing ploy, but the kid believed it; why mock him?
Seeing the man continuing to say he wouldn’t win, Xu Kerui glared. “Whether he wins or not is none of your business; you won’t get anything either way.”
Ge Lu stammered. “…I was just saying.”
Xu Kerui rolled her eyes. “I didn’t ask you, mind your own business.”
Lin Xiu watched Chi Abei at the raffle, hands clasped, eyes closed, muttering. Lin Xiu glanced at Xu Kerui; they both wondered how to comfort the kid later.
A “Congratulations!” suddenly rang out from the raffle stage.
The hot pot restaurant manager: “Congratulations to this guest for winning tonight’s first free meal!”
Seeing Chi Abei accept the coupon and wave to them, Lin Xiu and Xu Kerui were stunned.
Di Zuo: “…”
Ge Lu: “????”
Lin Xiu raised an eyebrow. This kid’s luck was…
Xu Kerui exclaimed, “Wow, seriously? Is he a lucky charm?”
Chi Abei ran back with the coupon, showing off to Ge Lu with a wiggle, looking smug. “Heehee, I won!”
He slipped, and Lin Xiu grabbed his arm. “Don’t be so cocky.”
Chi Abei was overjoyed. He looked at Di Zuo. “Why aren’t you leaving?”
Di Zuo found this kid increasingly endearing. His wiggle had made his heart race. He reached out. “I still don’t know your name⌔
Chi Abei suddenly hid his hands. “No way! This is my free meal coupon; you can’t take it!”
Di Zuo: “…” Who wants your coupon?!
Chi Abei put the coupon in his chest pocket, zipped his jacket, and looked warily at Di Zuo.
Ge Lu frowned. “Are you stupid? Does my Brother Zuo look like he needs a free meal?”
Chi Abei glared. “How would I know? I don’t know him.”
Ge Lu was about to speak when Di Zuo’s phone rang. He answered, silent for a few seconds. “Got it, I’ll be right back.”
Hanging up, he looked reluctantly at Chi Abei. “I have something to do. See you next time.”
Who wants to see you next time?
Chi Abei muttered inwardly.
Seeing them leave, Chi Abei unzipped his jacket and sat down, patting the coupon nervously. He asked Xu Kerui and Lin Xiu, “He was trying to steal my coupon, right?”
Lin Xiu: “…”
Xu Kerui: “…Uh.”
Xu Kerui didn’t know how to say it. She had seen clearly; that guy wasn’t after the coupon, he wanted toâŚtouch him!
She looked at Lin Xiu, unsure how to tell him.
Lin Xiu put a piece of beef in front of Chi Abei. “Good job, you didn’t let him take the coupon. This is your reward.”
Xu Kerui: “…”
After dinner, Chi Abei went to pay with the coupon. Xu Kerui finally asked Lin Xiu, “Was it okay to deceive him like that? What if they meet again?”
Lin Xiu: “It’s fine. He won’t do anything to him.”
Xu Kerui had seen clearly. That blue-haired guy clearly had ulterior motives. “How do you know he won’t?”
Lin Xiu knew. The Di family’s status was equal to the Chi family’s. Di Zuo, no matter how frivolous, wouldn’t dare do anything to Chi Abei. Besides, the little fool had charmed Chi Wendong, and if Chi Wendong knew Di Zuo’s intentions, the Di family might disappear from Dongcheng ten years early.
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