Chapter 6
The next day, when Lin Xiu took his grandmother to the nursing home to complete the procedures, she was worried.
The environment looked expensive. Grandma said Lin Xiu was wasting money. Lin Xiu didn’t tell her about the sponsorship, only that Chi Aibei’s brother knew the director here and had helped arrange it, and that the cost was cheaper than staying in the hospital.
Grandma was doubtful until Lin Xiu said he was in his second year of high school and was busy with his studies and couldn’t take care of her. Grandma reluctantly agreed to stay so as not to interrupt his studies.
In the afternoon, Lin Xiu returned to school and saw a police car parked at the entrance. He was wondering why a police car was there when a black Maybach suddenly stopped beside him.
Chi Wendong got out, still impeccably dressed in a suit: “Is everything arranged for your grandmother?”
“Yes.” Lin Xiu asked, “Are you here to transfer Chi Aibei to another class?”
After their agreement yesterday, Chi Wendong had said he would transfer Chi Aibei to Lin Xiu’s class. Lin Xiu’s Class 1 was the top class, and he thought the learning environment might not suit Chi Aibei. He suggested transferring Chi Aibei to his class, but Chi Wendong refused.
Chi Wendong said: “I’ve wanted to do this for a while.”
Chi Wendong didn’t say why, but Lin Xiu guessed it was because of He Chenjiang. Judging from Chi Wendong later taking Chi Aibei away from He Chenjiang and suppressing the He family, he probably disliked He Chenjiang.
The two, one in school uniform and the other in a suit, walking side-by-side in school, attracted much attention. But the two seemed unfazed, continuing their conversation.
Chi Wendong said: “Since I’m here, I’ll transfer him.”
Lin Xiu: “Since you’re here?”
Chi Wendong calmly said: “The principal called me; Chi Aibei reported someone for fraud. I came to see what’s going on.”
“Reported someone for fraud?” Lin Xiu looked back at the police car at the school gate: “Those two cars are probably…”
Chi Wendong: “Probably.”
Chi Wendong was as surprised as Lin Xiu when he received the principal’s call. Chi Aibei reporting someone was unusual; in his impression, Chi Aibei wouldn’t even know the number for emergency services.
…
In the principal’s office, Chi Aibei sat with his legs crossed on the chair. The principal repeatedly asked him to stand up, but he refused, insisting he was the “plaintiff” and that only the defendant stood; plaintiffs sat. This raised the principal’s blood pressure.
Chi Aibei had printed out the bank transfer records and chat logs on A4 paper. After the police arrived, he handed over the “evidence,” showing over 200,000 yuan in transactions, making it impossible for the “defendant,” Zhou Mingming, to deny it.
When Lin Xiu entered, he saw this scene—Zhou Mingming’s mother, under the control of the police and teachers, slapped Zhou Mingming. Chi Aibei, like a boss, sat in the principal’s chair with a large teacup, acting like a park elder, blowing on the drink.
Seeing Lin Xiu at the door, he waved: “Brother!”
Chi Wendong, who had arrived with Lin Xiu, felt that this enthusiastic “Brother” wasn’t addressed to him.
Lin Xiu greeted the principal, who asked blankly: “Lin Xiu? What’s wrong?”
Lin Xiu: “Nothing. Picking someone up.”
Watching Lin Xiu walk towards Chi Aibei, the principal looked puzzled. Before he could understand what was happening, Chi Wendong came in.
Lin Xiu walked to Chi Aibei and looked into his large teacup. He saw something resembling tea leaves floating on top.
Lin Xiu asked: “What are you drinking?”
Chi Aibei pointed to a small pimple next to his nose: “Honeysuckle tea. I’m a little angry.”
Suddenly transported to a novel, with uncaring parents, he must be stressed out—he’s even breaking out.
Lin Xiu: “…You’re quite the health enthusiast.”
Chi Aibei picked up the teacup: “Brother, do you want to cool down too?”
Lin Xiu: “Give it to your brother.” He’s probably stressed out every time he comes to handle your problems.
Chi Aibei turned his head, as if only now seeing Chi Wendong: “Brother, you’re here too.”
Chi Wendong, who had been talking to the principal, glanced at him: “…” Didn’t you see me come in with Lin Xiu?
Chi Wendong learned about the situation from the principal and looked at Chi Aibei’s evidence, which was surprisingly thorough.
Chi Wendong asked: “What’s going on?”
Chi Aibei had already explained it several times, but both the homeroom teacher and the principal wanted to settle it quickly. Seeing someone coming to help, Chi Aibei explained again.
The night before, after Chi Wendong sent him back to the dormitory, he found his phone under his pillow. He wanted to see if he was really that poor, so he checked his balance and found there was nothing. He checked his spending records, and there were none, only some transfer records.
The transfer records clearly showed where each sum of money went. He had transferred it all to someone noted as “my good friend.” From the chat logs, the other party’s methods were clumsy, even blatant, almost equivalent to saying “Idiot, take some money to spend.”
Chi Aibei was short of money and wanted to get it back, so he messaged the person asking for the money back. The person shamelessly claimed they didn’t owe him anything, saying he had given the money willingly.
Chi Aibei had never seen such a shameless person. He gave his “good friend” a deadline, saying he would report them to the police if the money wasn’t returned, but Zhou Mingming clearly didn’t take him seriously.
In front of Lin Xiu, Chi Aibei abandoned his previous arrogance and said aggrievedly: “I just wanted to get my money back. It was my brother’s allowance. My brother doesn’t earn money easily. He wakes up earlier than a rooster and sleeps later than a dog. That’s his hard-earned money.”
Chi Wendong: “…” It was only 200,000 yuan; it wasn’t that difficult to earn.
But since his silly brother was worried about him, Chi Wendong naturally had to help: “Take him back to the classroom to pack his things first.”
Chi Aibei asked blankly: “Pack what?”
“To transfer you to a new class.” Chi Wendong hadn’t told Chi Aibei about this yet. Knowing he had insisted on being in the same class as He Chenjiang, and fearing he would make a fuss, Chi Wendong asked, “Is it okay to transfer you to Lin Xiu’s class?”
Chi Aibei’s homeroom teacher, Zhang Cuilin, was stunned: “…Transfer to where?”
Zhang Cuilin suddenly looked at the principal—what a joke! Class 1 was the top class. Putting a simpleton there was ridiculous!
The principal also thought it was excessive: “This… this isn’t very good, is it?”
Lin Xiu knew they wouldn’t agree: “Then transfer him to Class 2. I’ll go to Class 2 with him.”
The principal was startled.
Lin Xiu to Class 2? If Chen Jiang found out, wouldn’t he tear down the wall between Class 1 and Class 2?
Chi Aibei didn’t care which class he was in. He jumped up and hugged Chi Wendong: “Okay! Great! Thank you, brother! You’re the best! I swear, even if you never marry or have kids, I’ll still take care of you in your old age!”
Chi Wendong: “…” There’s no need for such filial piety.
Chi Wendong pulled Chi Aibei away and pushed him towards Lin Xiu: “Take him out. It’s too noisy.”
Chi Aibei secretly glanced at Chi Wendong: Heh, you’re insincere! You clearly like it!
Chi Wendong did like it. The child hadn’t acted so affectionately towards him in a long time. When he was first adopted, he had called Chi’s mother “Auntie” in front of others, and she had locked him in a room for two days without food. It was Chi Aibei, whom he had slightly disliked at the time, who secretly brought him a half-eaten bag of cookies, squatting in front of him and letting him eat. He still remembered; the cookies were damp, even with Chi Aibei’s teeth marks, but still delicious.
But later, Chi Aibei started to avoid him, no longer calling him brother, even hiding when he saw him. He later learned that He Chenjiang’s group had been telling Chi Aibei that he wasn’t his real brother and scaring him, saying he would abuse him.
…
In the corridor, Chi Aibei, hugging his large teacup, hopped along. In just two days, he had accepted the fact that he had transmigrated. What’s done is done. His life had always been like this.
Lin Xiu: “Why did you report him?”
Chi Aibei insisted on his answer: “Because my brother works so hard to earn money.”
The main reason Chi Aibei wanted the money back was that he was afraid Lin Xiu and Chi Wendong might not reach an agreement. He could use this money to find a nursing home for Lin Xiu’s grandmother. 200,000 yuan wasn’t much, but combined with Lin Xiu’s earnings, it should be enough until the college entrance exam.
Chi Aibei suddenly remembered something: “Brother, let me see the contract you signed with my brother.”
Lin Xiu looked at him: “I didn’t sign a contract.”
Chi Aibei’s eyes widened: “What do you mean you didn’t sign a contract?”
Lin Xiu: “Exactly what it means.”
“They tricked me?” Chi Aibei couldn’t believe he had been fooled. He turned around and walked back: “I’ll go ask Chi Wendong to clarify. He broke his promise!”
Chi Aibei was furious. What was wrong with Chi Wendong? He thought he wouldn’t side with Chi’s parents!
Seeing the simpleton’s sudden change in attitude—from wanting to care for his brother to just calling him “Chi Wendong”—Lin Xiu grabbed him: “He didn’t break his promise. I saw the contract; I didn’t sign it.”
Chi Aibei didn’t understand: “Why?” That was the guarantee he had secured by acting crazy!
Lin Xiu didn’t know how to explain to a simpleton that he had rejected his parents’ sponsorship and asked Chi Wendong to sponsor him instead. The situation was complex, and he was afraid the simpleton wouldn’t understand.
Lin Xiu pulled him forward: “Because I have a hostage.”
Chi Aibei frowned. He understood that the “hostage” was him, but he still thought Lin Xiu was too reckless.
How could he be considered a hostage? Chi’s parents didn’t care about him at all!
Chi Aibei: “Do you believe that if I were kidnapped, my parents wouldn’t pay a ransom?”
Lin Xiu was surprised. He didn’t expect the simpleton to know his parents didn’t treat him well: “Don’t worry, your brother will.”