Chapter 14
Meeting the parents is usually a nerve-wracking experience for most people.
But Xi Shi was clearly not most people.
Zhong Yuxiao glanced at Xi Shi swaggering in front of him and had a sudden illusion that they weren’t going to meet his brother, but Xi Shi’s.
“Only my old man likes this kind of place. Is your brother thirty or fifty?”
Shuiyun Painting Boat had a unique characteristic: all dishes incorporated tea leaves, either as decoration or for flavor. Different tea leaves were used to cook different dishes, making them both appetizing and elegant, quite stylish.
But how could someone used to alcohol appreciate tea? Xi Shi wasn’t particularly fond of the food here.
“My brother is only 32,” Zhong Yuxiao said, glancing at him lightly. “Only three years older than you. ‘A woman three years older brings gold,’ ‘A man three years older turns the world upside down.’ If you had an arranged marriage with my brother, it would have been quite lively.”
Xi Shi: “…”
That was a horror story.
If Xi Chongyang had forced him to marry Zhong Da, he would have chosen death over compliance.
“Three years older is still older. I’m younger than him.” Xi Shi retorted, sticking his neck out. “We’re both in our twenties, we have things in common. Your brother is in his thirties and successful in his career. Just looking at him, you can tell there’s a generation gap.”
He was a good-for-nothing slacker and naturally assumed Zhong Yuxiao was also unemployed.
“Do you think everyone is as useless as you?”
The sudden voice behind them startled both of them.
Zhong Yuxiao was surprised. “Brother, you just arrived?”
They had agreed to meet at 12:00, and it was almost 12:30.
Zhong Zhili’s face was frosty. “Mm.”
He had originally planned to arrive late to assert his dominance and suppress Xi Shi’s arrogance, but he didn’t expect that being half an hour late would lead to him encountering Zhong Yuxiao and Xi Shi, who were also late.
Being late was one thing, but these two were actually badmouthing him outside the private room!
Zhong Zhili almost lost his composure. Saying that he had a generation gap with his brother, Xi Shi was trying to sow discord between them!!
So shameless!!
Inside the private room, the three of them sat around a large round table.
Zhong Zhili booked the largest private room, with a table that could seat twenty people. He had instructed the waiter beforehand, and there were only three chairs in the room, evenly spaced around the table. After they sat down, it felt like a three-way standoff.
Xi Shi directly moved his chair next to Zhong Yuxiao. “We’re married, we should sit together, so the three of us can be distinguished.”
Zhong Zhili looked displeased. Xi Shi was the future heir of the Xi family, how could he be so lacking in manners?
“Distinguished as what?”
“Married men and single dogs.”
“…”
Xi Shi held a grudge. Zhong Zhili called him useless, so he retaliated by calling him a single dog.
The atmosphere in the room was tense. Zhong Yuxiao was sandwiched between Zhong Zhili and Xi Shi, listening to their sarcastic remarks.
“Married man? Who knows whose husband you are.” Zhong Zhili sneered.
How could he be worthy of my brother?
Xi Shi crossed his legs, grinning. “The past is in the past. Now, my only legal husband is Xiaoyao.”
Zhong Yuxiao shuddered.
He really couldn’t stand being called Xiaoyao. Last time it was Chu Yi, this time it was Xi Shi. Had the young master taken the wrong medication?
“I know Big Brother, you’re saying this because you’re jealous of me. It’s okay, I forgive you.”
“Jealous of you?!”
That was utterly ridiculous.
Zhong Zhili was so angry he laughed. “What is there about you that’s worth my jealousy?”
Was it his endless romantic history or his terrible reputation?
“There’s too much to list. First of all, many people chase after me, those who want to marry me could line up from Chenxi International all the way to your company’s doorstep. Single old men like you who don’t even have a partner would definitely be envious.”
Xi Shi slouched, his arm draped over the back of Zhong Yuxiao’s chair, half of his body almost leaning on him.
He pretended to sigh. “But there’s nothing I can do. I’m just more handsome and charming than you.”
His tone was so melancholic, it was infuriating.
“…”
Zhong Yuxiao discreetly tugged at his sleeve, signaling him to restrain himself.
He couldn’t stop Zhong Zhili. A graduate of a prestigious military academy, the champion of the special forces combat competition, if they really fought, he was afraid Xi Shi would end up with a bruised and swollen face.
Such a delicate face couldn’t be ruined.
Xi Shi thought he was scared and patted his hand reassuringly. “Of course, I’m not intentionally comparing myself to you, nor am I intentionally calling you a single old man. Big Brother, you’re in your thirties, you shouldn’t bicker with an immature youngster like me, right?”
You’re 29, not 19, how can you have the nerve to call yourself young?
Zhong Zhili, who was always eloquent in negotiations, was speechless. He dealt with respectable people and had never encountered such a shameless rogue like Xi Shi.
He didn’t just want to bicker, he wanted to twist Xi Shi’s head off and kick it around like a ball.
Zhong Yuxiao quickly intervened. “Let’s eat first.”
If he still couldn’t see that Xi Shi was deliberately targeting Zhong Zhili, he might as well be blind.
Last time, he used him as an excuse to teach Shi Chengze a lesson, and this time, he was using him to provoke Zhong Zhili. Young Master Xi treated him like an all-purpose excuse.
Zhong Yuxiao was inwardly amused, and seeing Zhong Zhili’s livid face, he couldn’t help but smile.
His brother’s life had always been smooth sailing, and today, he was actually speechless. Who wouldn’t admire Young Master Xi’s audacity?
The two of them temporarily quieted down, and Zhong Yuxiao thought they would finally have a proper meal, but the real battle had just begun.
Xi Shi controlled the lazy susan on the table, spinning it whenever Zhong Zhili tried to pick up food. Once or twice could be a coincidence, but five or six times was deliberate.
“What do you mean?”
“This dish is green and looks very healthy. I can’t reach it if I don’t spin the table.” Under Zhong Zhili’s icy glare, Xi Shi picked up some food and put it…in Zhong Yuxiao’s bowl.
Zhong Yuxiao: “?”
“Xiaoyao, eat more.”
His voice was so gentle it could melt butter.
Zhong Yuxiao shuddered. “No need to pick food for me, just eat normally.”
Stop causing trouble.
“It’s fine, it’s not a bother for me to pick food for you.” Xi Shi quickly spun the table again just as Zhong Zhili’s chopsticks were about to reach the Longjing shrimp.
The chopsticks clattered against the plate, making a jarring sound.
Zhong Zhili couldn’t bear it any longer. “Xi Shi, what are you trying to do?”
“I just want my Xiaoyao to eat more. He’s been abroad alone since he was young, unable to come home. I feel sorry for him, is that wrong?”
You bastard, you forced your own brother away for the family fortune, and you have the nerve to ask me what I mean? Why don’t you examine your conscience and ask yourself when you’ll get your comeuppance?
Xi Shi sneered, dropping the act. “Zhong Yuxiao is my person now. Even if he’s the future head of the Zhong family, if you want to steal his food, you’ll have to think twice.”
Zhong Zhili: “…”
There were so many dishes on the table, was it illegal for him to eat a bite?
Also, what did he mean by “unable to come home?”
Zhong Zhili looked at Zhong Yuxiao, puzzled. “Have I ever stolen your food?”
Zhong Yuxiao: “…”
He seemed to understand what Xi Shi was up to.
According to the rumors outside, the Zhong brothers didn’t get along and fought fiercely for the family fortune, and Zhong Er was even driven abroad.
Zhong, the “stray dog,” couldn’t bring himself to laugh. So this was what Xi Shi meant by “backing him up.”
The two brothers exchanged a look. Zhong Zhili wasn’t stupid and quickly guessed the reason for Xi Shi’s strange behavior. He was both amused and exasperated. So, in Xi Shi’s eyes, he was playing the role of the evil older brother.
“Then I won’t eat. Leave it all for Xiaoyao.”
Zhong Zhili imitated Xi Shi’s tone, deliberately calling Zhong Yuxiao that.
“…”
How could one person experience social death twice in just an hour?
Meeting Zhong Zhili’s playful gaze, Zhong Yuxiao felt suffocated. He had completely lost face.
At the table, only Xi Shi was full of fighting spirit, like a domineering CEO from a novel, declaring that all the dishes on the table were reserved for him.
If Zhong Yuxiao and Zhong Zhili weren’t brothers, Young Master Xi would probably have added, “The sky is cold, the Zhong family is broken.”
“That’s good too.” Zhong Zhili put down his chopsticks.
Having his heart set on Zhong Yuxiao was better than having countless lovers outside.
Zhong Zhili clasped his hands on his lap. A person used to giving orders, he exuded an aura of authority when he became serious. “You seem to have some misunderstanding about my relationship with Xiaoyao.”
He became the always successful CEO Zhong again, confident of victory.
“I have something to do at the company. Let Xiaoyao explain it to you.”
With Xi Shi’s intelligence, he couldn’t possibly bully Zhong Yuxiao, he would only be the one being bullied.
Moreover, it seemed that Xi Shi cared about Zhong Yuxiao quite a bit.
Zhong Zhili was completely relieved.
“This meeting was too rushed, I didn’t prepare anything. This piece of jade is quite good. If it’s suitable, you can carve a pair of matching love locks.”
It was originally intended as a show of dominance, but it ended up as a meeting gift.
Inside the box was a palm-sized piece of white jade, long and thick, with a flower carved on one end, clearly a…playboy radish.
Zhong Yuxiao remembered Zhong Zhili’s previous assessment of Xi Shi. A playboy radish turned into a love lock, this was an affirmation of the prodigal son’s return.
Unexpectedly, the young master’s unintentional antics actually won over his brother.
Unfortunately, his relationship with Xi Shi wasn’t what Zhong Zhili thought it was.
“See you at the banquet in two days.” Zhong Zhili glanced at Zhong Yuxiao’s bowl, the green celery was picked by Xi Shi. “By the way, Xiaoyao doesn’t eat celery. Don’t give him celery next time.”
“…”
Zhong Zhili left as abruptly as he came, and Xi Shi hadn’t yet recovered. He stared at the celery left at the bottom of Zhong Yuxiao’s bowl, feeling displeased. “What did he ask you to explain to me?”
Celery was so delicious, how could he not eat it? This was picky eating!
Zhong Yuxiao looked at his bewildered expression and couldn’t help but laugh. “To explain that the rumors outside are false. My brother and I have a good relationship. I was practically raised by my brother. He’s very good to me, even better than my parents.”
Zhong Zhili was definitely a qualified doting older brother.
“I went abroad because I wanted to, no one forced me. I didn’t join the company because I’m not interested in the business world.”
Xi Shi’s brain short-circuited.
“This meeting with your family, tsk.” Zhong Yuxiao picked up some spicy diced chicken for him. “Quite explosive.”
Even spicier than spicy diced chicken.
“The rumors outside say you’ve turned over a new leaf because you’re madly in love with me.” Even Zhong Yuxiao found this ridiculous. “Remember, don’t believe everything you hear, it’s too naive.”
Xi Shi: “…”
That afternoon, the naive Xi Shi called out You Jiayu, the spreader of false rumors, and beat him up.
The news of the Zhong and Xi families’ marriage quickly spread. Zhong Yuxiao had been abroad, so the circle didn’t know much about him, but the news of the playboy Xi Shi finally entering marriage shocked everyone.
As Zhong Yuxiao said, the rumors outside were that Xi Shi was madly in love with him.
Because of his parents’ failed marriage, Xi Shi was very resistant to marriage. He didn’t do relationships, spending his days chasing fleeting pleasures and worldly desires.
Yet, this typical playboy suddenly got married.
Lincheng’s wealthy circles were shocked, and many were curious who had tamed Xi Shi.
Even Xu Linfeng, who was abroad, called to gossip. “I heard Young Master Xi is head over heels in love with you, is it true?”
Zhong Yuxiao was trying on the suit he was going to wear to the banquet and casually asked, “Why are you so concerned about him?”
Xu Linfeng was two years younger than him and had been abroad all these years, having no interaction with Xi Shi.
“I heard he’s very handsome and a top.” Even across the ocean, Zhong Yuxiao could hear Xu Linfeng’s eagerness for gossip. “Did you two have a fight in bed?”
A fight in bed…
Zhong Yuxiao paused. “We did have a fight last night.”
