Chapter 54 p1
The driver was waiting outside the bookstore. Zhong Yuxiao pulled out a tissue, wiped his hands, and sent the number he had just memorized to a private investigator. “Help me find out who this is.”
He had known for a while that the school bully and his gang were planning to confront Xi Shi. These past few days, he had deliberately stuck with Xi Shi, creating the illusion that they had a good relationship. Coming here today was not only for buying books but also for waiting for the school bully and his gang to come and “bully” him.
“Give me the information as soon as possible.”
After hanging up, Zhong Yuxiao got into the car with the books he had bought.
Xi Shi was fishing with his grandfather. He had sent a few messages, complaining that fishing was even more boring than chess. The word “boring” appeared with high frequency.
Zhong Yuxiao imagined him sitting by the river, his head drooping, and couldn’t help but smile.
“Young Master, are we going home?”
“Wait a moment.” Zhong Yuxiao took out his phone.
[LittleRiceBall: Where are you fishing?]
[Xi Shi Gege: You’re coming?]
Xi Shi’s eyes lit up, and he threw down his fishing rod.
Xi Chongyang glared at him, his tone sarcastic. “Tsk tsk tsk, what kind of love potion did that Zhong family kid give you? Just a message and you’re this happy?”
“He said he’s coming.” Xi Shi turned around and started walking to the road.
They had come to the outskirts of Lincheng today. It was a private fish pond, and Xi Chongyang had reserved it. The fish pond wasn’t open to other guests today, and if Zhong Yuxiao was coming, he would need him to pick him up.
“I’m going to pick him up.”
“Just call the owner. Come back and sit down, don’t act so useless.”
Xi Shi thought for a moment, his tone cheerful. “Then I’ll go get him a set of fishing gear.”
Xi Chongyang: “…”
They said that once a daughter was married off, she was like water that had been poured out. But his grandson was a different story. He hadn’t even started dating, and he was already helping someone else. It seemed that if he didn’t marry into the Zhong family, that would be the end of it.
As Xi Chongyang had expected, Xi Shi didn’t come back. After half an hour, he came back leading a clean-cut young man.
Zhong Yuxiao saw Xi Chongyang from afar. He had only seen Xi Chongyang when he was a child. After Xi Yue’s death and Xi Shi’s departure, Xi Chongyang rarely showed his face. He was mostly secluded, and to Zhong Yuxiao, Xi Chongyang was a vague memory.
“That’s my grandfather. You saw him when you were little.” Xi Shi whispered. “The old man is going through menopause. Don’t take what he says to heart.”
Zhong Yuxiao was speechless. Who talked about their grandfather like that?
“You said you were going to the bookstore?”
“I finished buying the books early, so I had nothing to do.”
“So you came to me because you had nothing to do?” Xi Shi clutched his heart, pretending to be sad. “Little Xiaoyao, so I’m just your second choice. My heart is broken.”
Zhong Yuxiao watched him silently. Xi Shi was a drama queen. Give him one line, and he would create a whole character for himself, and act according to that character.
Today, his character was a green tea with a black heart.
“Do you need me to buy you some super glue?”
“You want to pick up the pieces of my heart and glue them back together?” Xi Shi raised his eyebrows.
Zhong Yuxiao smiled slightly. “I want to glue your mouth shut.”
Xi Shi: “…”
Tsk, no sense of romance.
There were fishing spots along the bank, and Zhong Yuxiao stopped, taking the initiative to greet Xi Chongyang. “Hello, Grandpa Xi. I’m Zhong Yuxiao.”
“Grandpa?” Xi Chongyang’s eyes narrowed, looking at Xi Shi with a mocking gaze.
Xi Shi pursed his lips, suppressing his displeasure. “You called him wrong, call him grandfather.”
There was a hidden rivalry between the two of them. Zhong Yuxiao was confused, but he didn’t let it show.
Calling an unrelated elder “grandfather” was a polite thing to do, but calling him “grandfather” had an intimate meaning, from Xi Shi’s side.
Zhong Yuxiao pondered for a moment, then said softly, “Grandfather.”
Xi Chongyang didn’t show any reaction, nodding. “Sit down. Have you ever gone fishing before?”
“No.”
“Then why are you here?”
Xi Shi’s eyes darted around, and Xi Chongyang pretended not to notice.
Zhong Yuxiao looked at Xi Shi, his voice calm. “I wanted to know more about it, so that I can accompany my elders in the future.”
Xi Chongyang was noncommittal. “Fishing takes patience, and you need to stay calm. If you don’t have the patience, you’ll lose interest before the fish even come.”
He paused, his tone cold. “Don’t learn from Xi Shi.”
Zhong Yuxiao immediately took a stand, moving his stool to sit next to Xi Chongyang. “Okay, I’ll sit next to grandfather.”
Xi Shi: “???”
Was he being isolated?
Zhong Yuxiao held the fishing rod steadily, his eyes focused on the water.
Xi Shi frowned, whispering, “What’s so interesting about fishing? Have you seen any fish?”
“…”
Zhong Yuxiao said righteously, “Don’t disturb me.”
Xi Shi was speechless.
Zhong Yuxiao was holding the fishing rod steadily, and he secretly observed Xi Chongyang. He was trying to leave a good impression, in case he kidnapped his grandson.
After a while, Xi Shi got bored and started fishing as well.
The three of them didn’t speak, the atmosphere was harmonious, yet also a bit awkward.
“They said there are a lot of fish here, how come I haven’t caught any after all this time?” Xi Shi couldn’t help but complain.
Xi Chongyang said calmly, “If your heart isn’t calm, you won’t catch any fish.”
“Grandpa, that’s ‘when the water is too clear, there are no fish’. Are you getting old and slow?”
Xi Chongyang looked around and started looking for his cane.
He thought Xi Shi was itching for a beating.
“Oof, that’s heavy!” Xi Shi exclaimed and stood up, holding his fishing rod. “I think I caught a fish!”
“Hold it tight, and reel it in.”
Xi Shi gave a sharp tug, and a big fish jumped out of the water, its scales covered in water and shining in the sunlight.
The fish was about five pounds, a rare sight in the pond.
After a morning of busy work, the person who was the least focused had caught a big fish. Xi Shi was gloating, holding the fish and laughing.
“I thought fishing was hard, but it’s nothing, I caught one so easily, and it’s so big.” Xi Shi was beaming, holding the fish in front of Xi Chongyang. “Grandpa, have you ever caught a fish this big?”
Xi Chongyang: “…”
Xi Chongyang put down the fishing rod he had been holding all morning, and picked up his cane.
Zhong Yuxiao thought Xi Chongyang was angry at Xi Shi and didn’t want to fish anymore, but the next second, Xi Chongyang raised his cane and hit Xi Shi. “You unfilial grandson, you need a good beating!”
Zhong Yuxiao was startled and quickly stopped Xi Chongyang. “Grandfather, calm down, calm down.”
“Zhong family kid, let go.” Xi Chongyang said through gritted teeth. “I have to teach him a lesson today!”
Zhong Yuxiao looked troubled but didn’t back away.
Xi Shi squatted behind him, looking smug. “Grandpa, look carefully, don’t hit the kid from another family. He’s not as tough as me. If you hurt him, you’ll have to give your company to Zhong’s parents.”
“You say one more word, and I’ll hit you too!” Zhong Yuxiao scolded softly, giving him a warning look.
Xi Shi raised his eyebrows and closed his mouth.
“Grandfather, Xi Shi didn’t mean it that way. He, he was just too happy to catch a fish, he went crazy.”
“I think he’s just lost his mind!”
“Yes, he’s just lost his mind. Don’t take it to heart.”
Zhong Yuxiao took the opportunity to lower the cane and helped Xi Chongyang walk towards the shore. “Grandfather, let’s go eat. It’s time for lunch. Let the kitchen cook the fish that Xi Shi just caught.”
Xi Shi followed behind them. “Tsk, you want to cook my fish? Did you ask for my permission?”
Zhong Yuxiao was aggressive. “You don’t have a choice.”
Xi Shi’s eyes curved into a smile, his tone filled with teasing but also a hint of sweetness. “Okay, you decide.”
Zhong Yuxiao’s face flushed, and he muttered something.
Xi Chongyang watched their interaction, his heart filled with satisfaction.
At noon, they cooked the fish that Xi Shi had caught. Half of it was stewed, and the other half was grilled. Xi Chongyang also had the kitchen prepare a few other dishes, turning it into a feast that didn’t look like it was for a friend of his grandson.
Zhong Yuxiao was overwhelmed. The Zhong family wasn’t a small family, and he had learned all the proper etiquette, but Xi Chongyang’s hospitality was too formal.
He had come to visit Xi Shi unexpectedly, without bringing a gift or making a formal visit. A simple meal should have been enough.
A hint of doubt rose in Zhong Yuxiao’s heart. From the company projects to today’s events, it was hard for him not to think.
After lunch, Xi Chongyang wanted to go back to fishing and told Xi Shi to take Zhong Yuxiao home.
Xi Shi was eager to leave and dragged Zhong Yuxiao away.
Xi Chongyang’s voice came from behind them. “Will you be coming home tonight?”
Xi Shi paused, his voice vague. “We’ll see.”
“Oh, then I won’t keep a door open for you.” Xi Chongyang chuckled. “Don’t cause trouble. Otherwise, our company won’t be enough to pay for it.”
Xi Shi: “…”
It was still early, and Xi Shi was thinking of taking Zhong Yuxiao out for a walk. It was a weekend, and it would be a waste not to have fun.
