Chapter 58
When Chi Wendong mentioned taking them to the hot springs, Chi Aibei agreed without a second thought.
Since it was still early, Chi Wendong had to stop by the office, and Lin Xiu needed to go home to drop off his luggage. Chi Aibei volunteered to go home with Lin Xiu.
Lin Xiu didn’t let Chi Wendong drive them. Instead, he called a car for himself and Chi Aibei. In the car, Chi Aibei peppered him with questions. Upon learning that Chi Wendong had dragged Lin Xiu along for a business trip while leaving him behind for a week, Aibei grumbled in dissatisfaction. “How could my brother do that? Why did he take you on a business trip? You’re still a student!”
Chi Wendong had taken Lin Xiu because Lin Xiu was involved in many of the projects; in fact, many of the proposals had been drafted by him. Lin Xiu replied, “Wasn’t your brother also sent to the company by your parents when he was my age?”
“That’s different!” Chi Aibei protested.
Chi Wendong was forced into itâit was exploitation, born from the parents’ selfishness! Chi Wendongâs high school life had been incredibly stifling, and Chi Aibei didn’t want Lin Xiuâs life to be the same.
“Itâs not really different,” Lin Xiu said. “I wanted to go with him. An opportunity like that doesn’t come to everyone. Think of it as gaining experience. It’s quite good.”
Hearing this, Chi Aibei couldn’t help but think of the original novel, where Lin Xiu had worked diligently for He Chenjiang, busy day and night. Was work some kind of personal hobby for him? Why did he love working so much?
Chi Aibei muttered, “Gege, I have a premonition. You’re definitely going to be a corporate drone in the future.”
Lin Xiu chuckled. He did indeed have the essence of a corporate drone in him. He was one in the past, and even more so now.
Back at Lin Xiuâs home, which he hadn’t visited in a week, Chi Aibei threw himself onto the not-so-comfortable sofa as soon as he entered. “Ah, home is still the best.”
Lin Xiu glanced at him. He wasn’t sure when the little fool had started treating this place like his own home.
Lin Xiu went to his room, and Chi Aibei followed him. “Gege, Qi Yuan said he organized a basketball game for the day after tomorrow and wants us to go together. Do you think I should say yes?”
Qi Yuan had been asking him for days, but Chi Aibei hadn’t agreed because he didn’t know when Lin Xiu would be back.
Lin Xiu knew Aibei got along well with the basketball team. “If you want to go, go.”
Chi Aibei replied to Qi Yuanâs message. Qi Yuan called back immediately, repeatedly asking if Lin Xiu was coming along as well.
Given his previous experience, Qi Yuan didn’t dare catch Chi Aibeiâs passes again. Not just himâthe entire team was terrified of him. If Lin Xiu didn’t come, he wouldn’t let Chi Aibei on the court, lest they lose the game to their own teammate.
Sensing the other partyâs disdain, Chi Aibei asked unhappily, “Whatâs that supposed to mean? Are you looking down on me?”
“Who would dare look down on you?” Qi Yuan replied. “I’m just scared of you. But as long as Lin Xiu is there, you’re a king.”
That sounded acceptable.
Around three o’clock, Chi Wendong arrived to pick them up.
The hot spring hotel Chi Wendong mentioned was located in a mountain villa resort, a newly developed project. It was Chi Wendongâs first time there as well.
After checking in, Chi Wendong handed one of the room cards to Lin Xiu. “You take one room. Xiao Bei and I will share the other.”
Chi Aibei looked at the card in Lin Xiuâs hand. He had already intended to follow Lin Xiu, but Chi Wendongâs words made him pause. He looked up at his brother.
Seeing that he seemed to have something to say, Chi Wendong asked, “What is it?”
Before Aibei could speak, Lin Xiu pushed him toward Chi Wendong. “Go with your brother.”
Chi Aibei looked at Lin Xiu, the words “I want to share a room with you” practically burning in his eyes.
Chi Wendong led Chi Aibei away. The two rooms were adjacent. Chi Aibei did one lap around his room before running over to knock on Lin Xiuâs door.
Lin Xiu knew he would come; the door wasn’t even fully closed. “Come in.”
Chi Aibei pushed the door open, sticking his head in to ask, “Gege, my brother asked me to check with youâdo you want to eat first or go to the hot springs first?”
Lin Xiu thought he would come inside, but he was just peeking through the doorway. “Whatever you want.”
Chi Aibei brought up old grievances: “Hmph. Why wasn’t it ‘whatever I want’ when I wanted to share a room with you earlier?”
Lin Xiu smiled. “Your brother is right here. You aren’t going to sleep with your brother, but you want to sleep with me?”
“Is that not allowed?” Chi Aibei asked.
“Itâs not appropriate,” Lin Xiu replied.
Chi Aibei didn’t see what was inappropriate about it. He gave a huff and stomped away.
…
There weren’t many people at the outdoor pools. As soon as Chi Wendong stepped into the water, his glasses were instantly fogged up by the steam. Chi Aibei pointed at his glasses and laughed, “Ge, you look like Ultraman.”
Chi Wendong took off his glasses and placed them on a stone ledge. “I don’t remember you watching cartoons when you were little. How do you know about Ultraman?”
“…” Chi Aibei silently scooted from beside Chi Wendong to the other end of the pool. Can’t you just chat normally without exposing me?
“I did watch them,” Chi Aibei insisted. “Maybe you just didn’t know.”
Lin Xiu glanced at Chi Aibei. The expression on his face was clearly that of someone telling a lie. But why lie about something like that?
Going to the hot springs first had been Chi Aibeiâs suggestion, yet after soaking for only a short while, he started complaining about being hungry.
It was rare for Chi Wendong to relax. Not only had Chi Aibei been splashing water all over his face, but now he was clamoring to leave. Chi Wendong opened his eyes. Without his glasses, his already sharp gaze looked even more piercing as he glared.
Chi Aibei was too intimidated to splash anymore and silently crouched down into the water.
Chi Wendong put his glasses back on. “You really can’t stay still for a single moment.”
Lin Xiu stood up to head out. He thought to himself: This is nothing. Wait until tonight when you experience a one-man martial arts convention; then you’ll know what ‘not staying still’ truly means.
…
At the restaurant entrance, Chi Wendong stepped aside to take a call.
Lin Xiu and Chi Aibei had just walked in when they heard someone call out Aibeiâs name.
Di Zuo hadn’t expected to see him here. He had invited Chi Aibei out several times before, but Aibei never agreed. Di Zuo walked over, reaching out to drape an arm over Chi Aibeiâs shoulder. Chi Aibei quickly dodged. “Di Zuo Gege, what a coincidence.”
Di Zuo had been a bit annoyed by Aibeiâs dodge, but hearing that “Di Zuo Gege,” he instantly felt refreshed. “Long time no see. Did you miss me?”
Chi Aibei looked past him at the two people sitting behind him. Meng Ying waved at him. “Hi, Junior.”
Beside Meng Ying sat He Youyou, who was staring at Chi Aibei and Lin Xiu with wide, strangely discerning eyes. Chi Aibei asked Meng Ying, “Is Wheelchair Gege not here?”
“My brother is busy,” Meng Ying replied. “He didn’t have time.”
He Youyou looked at Di Zuo, who was hovering over Chi Aibei like an old lecher. “Ge, you know my junior?”
Chi Aibei looked at Di Zuo in confusion. “Ge?”
“He’s my cousin,” He Youyou explained.
Only then did Chi Aibei realize that their namesâDi Zuo and He Youyouâmeant “Left” and “Right.”
He Youyouâs gossip instincts flared. She asked Chi Aibei, “Just the two of you?”
“My brother is here too,” Chi Aibei said. “He’s outside on the phone.”
Hearing there was someone else, He Youyou gave a disappointed “Oh.”
Seeing that Chi Aibei was focused on talking to He Youyou and ignoring him, Di Zuo hooked an arm around him, pulling him into a half-embrace. “Babe, you still haven’t said if you missed me or not?”
Before Di Zuo could finish, the arm draped over Chi Aibeiâs shoulder was yanked away. The force wasn’t small. Di Zuo turned around to see Chi Wendong, who had arrived unnoticed.
Chi Wendong shoved his arm aside and pulled Chi Aibei over with his other hand. His eyes, hidden behind his lenses, glared darkly at Di Zuo. “What did you just call him?”
Di Zuo wasn’t afraid of Chi Wendong, but there was no need to provoke him. He smiled and said, “Just joking with your brother. Is CEO Chi not busy lately? How do you have the time to come here?”
Chi Wendong wasn’t some immortal who lived under a rock; he was well aware of Di Zuoâs messy social life, which even the Di family found a headache. Seeing the frivolous way he had held Chi Aibei, Chi Wendong would have to be incredibly dense not to see what the guy was thinking.
Chi Wendong handed Chi Aibei over to Lin Xiu. “Something came up at the office. I have to head back. I’m leaving him in your hands.”
“Ge, you’re leaving?” Chi Aibei asked.
Chi Wendong handed the room card to Chi Aibei. “Yeah. Have fun. I’ll pick you up tomorrow afternoon.”
Chi Wendong left in a hurry. As soon as he was gone, Di Zuoâs true nature resurfaced. He looked at Chi Aibei with a beaming smile. “Come on, sit with us.”
Chi Aibei was conflicted. As one of the antagonists who had driven Lin Xiu into a corner in the original novel, Aibei wanted to maintain a good relationship with him, but he also didn’t want Di Zuo to get too close to Lin Xiu.
Chi Aibei glanced at Lin Xiu.
First it was Jiang Yu, and now Di Zuo. Although Lin Xiu still hadn’t figured out many things, he could more or less guess what Aibei was thinking.
Lin Xiu didn’t want to waste the kid’s good intentions, but currently, Di Zuoâs target wasn’t him. He wasn’t sure if the little fool had realized that yet.
“Yeah,” He Youyou urged. “Come sit with us. The more the merrier. We just got here too.”
He Youyou invited them enthusiastically, eventually pulling Chi Aibei over directly.
The meal wasn’t awkward. He Youyou acted as the primary atmosphere-maker, her mouth never stopping throughout the entire dinner.
“I heard you did well on your exams this time,” Meng Ying remarked.
In front of two grade-toppers, Chi Aibei had to be humble. “My gege is the one who did well.”
Lin Xiu sat there, barely speaking. Seeing that Chi Aibei couldn’t go three sentences without mentioning Lin Xiu, Meng Ying smiled.
He Youyou had noticed this long ago. While Meng Ying held back, He Youyou couldn’t help herself. “Alright, alright. We know your Lin Xiu Gege is amazing. You really are a Lin Xiu stan.”
After speaking, He Youyou nudged Meng Ying, and the two shared a private giggle.
Chi Aibei didn’t know what they were laughing about. Di Zuo was also confused. “What’s wrong with you two?”
He Youyou glared at Di Zuo. “None of your business.”
Di Zuo ignored her and looked at Chi Aibei. “Letâs go to the hot springs after dinner. They’re great here. This is the place I wanted to bring you to before, but you ignored me.”
Chi Aibei didn’t remember ever receiving such a message. Mostly because Di Zuo messaged him so frequently it was bordering on spam.
This was a hot spring hotel, so it was only natural for everyone to go for a soak after dinner. But while Di Zuo said “everyone,” his eyes were fixed solely on Chi Aibei, and they were practically glowing green.
Lin Xiu, who had been silent, finally spoke up. “We already went.”
Di Zuo glanced at this “Cheng Yaojin” who had appeared out of nowhere. He didn’t think much of this adopted son of the Chi family. “If you’ve gone once, you can go again. Isn’t that what people come here for?”
Lin Xiu didn’t argue. He just asked Chi Aibei, “Are you going?”
Chi Aibeiâs scalp tightened. Lin Xiu was clearly asking for his opinion, but for some reason, he felt that if he dared to say yes, he would be dealt with later.
Chi Aibeiâs head shook like a rattle. “No. I’m not going.”
The tingling sensation on his scalp slowly dissipated. Lin Xiu looked back at Di Zuo. “He’s sensitive to the heat. We won’t be going.”
After dinner, Lin Xiu led Chi Aibei away first.
He Youyou asked Di Zuo, “You don’t actually have designs on my junior, do you?”
After finally seeing him, the boy was led away again. Di Zuo was quite annoyed. “Got a problem with that?”
He Youyou knew his old habit was acting up again. “Though your taste is actually good this time, I suggest you drop that idea as soon as possible.”
He Youyou was the person in the family who cared the least about his business. Hearing her say this, Di Zuo asked, “Why?”
He Youyou gave a mysterious smile.
Di Zuo didn’t understand the meaning behind that grin. He looked at Meng Ying. “Is she possessed?”
As a fellow girl, Meng Ying understood He Youyou. She said, “Sheâs not possessed; sheâs hit the jackpot. Those two juniors are her latest hobby.”
Di Zuo: “…”
He Youyou only had two hobbies: one was dark-skinned athletes, and the other was shipping CPs. Compared to Di Zuoâs ‘gay-dar,’ He Youyouâs radar in this area was far more sensitive. From shipping celebrities to finding ‘sugar’ in the people around her, she was always spot on.
But she was also picky. She never shipped someone like Di Zuo; no matter how good-looking the person beside him was, she just found it distasteful.
Di Zuo was shocked. “Are you saying they’re together?”
He Youyou looked at him with disdain. “Does it have to be ‘together’ to be sweet? The ambiguity phase is even more addictive, okay?”
Di Zuo hadn’t seen any ambiguity. “Impossible. He’s not even an adult yet!”
“Have you ever heard of the ‘nurture-type’?” He Youyou asked.
Di Zuo didn’t know where she got these weird terms. ‘Nurture-type’ my ass. But if that term were applied to him…
While Di Zuo was pondering this new concept, He Youyou poured a bucket of cold water over him with absolute certainty. “I’ll bet my entire yearâs allowance that Chi Aibei definitely likes Lin Xiu. Unless Lin Xiu explicitly says no, no one is taking him away from Lin Xiuâs side.”
Di Zuo, who was still imagining having a ‘nurtured’ little sweetie of his own: “…”
You are the last person in this family I want to hear from!
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