Chapter 19: Little Black’s Suspiciousness
The tumultuous events online gradually subsided in the latter half of the night.
After receiving Shengshi Group’s message, Qiao Ning’s agency didn’t dare to make a peep and directly abandoned him. After all, there was no need for them to offend such a large company for a minor artist. If they pushed their luck and their own company was crushed by Shengshi Group, it wouldn’t be worth it.
The most aggressive haters also didn’t dare to show their faces for a while, temporarily retreating behind their screens.
The netizens had their fun and then forgot about the matter, turning their attention to the gossip of other minor celebrities.
And Su Chimian, who had gone to bed blissfully, expecting to wake up to see Chi Xiasheng being ridiculed by the entire internet, woke up to find that the world had changed.
Looking at the news about Chi Xiasheng online, Su Chimian frowned deeply, his face turning ashen. He knew Chi Xiasheng better than anyone. After all, he had people secretly watching him almost every day, so he was well aware of his every move. Therefore, he didn’t believe for a second that he had any connection with Shengshi.
If Chi Xiasheng had such capabilities, how could he have been suppressed by him for so long? And with Chi Xiasheng’s unbending character, it was absolutely impossible for him to be involved in any scandals.
Unable to figure it out, Su Chimian had no appetite for breakfast. It was only after Mother Su’s coaxing that he ate a little.
“Mom, when is Dad coming back?” Su Chimian buried his head in his mother’s shoulder and said in a spoiled tone.
The corners of Mother Su’s eyes lifted slightly, revealing faint crow’s feet, each line etched with kindness and gentleness.
Stroking her younger son’s head, Mother Su’s voice softened. “Probably in the next two days. With so much happening at home, he’ll definitely come back. Besides, it’s your twentieth birthday soon. That’s an important day, we can’t be careless.”
Mother Su had already started preparing the venue and decorations for Su Chimian’s twentieth birthday. This birthday had a different meaning. For the Su family, turning twenty was the beginning of being able to inherit shares.
“I almost forgot if you hadn’t mentioned it, hehe.” Su Chimian giggled foolishly and continued to nestle in his mother’s arms, his round, almond-shaped eyes looking up at her with a watery gaze. “Mom, you’re so good to me!”
“Who else would I be good to if not you? You are Mom’s…” Mother Su paused slightly before continuing, “You are the treasure Mom has always longed for. After raising you for twenty years, the feelings are naturally different.”
Su Chimian had never doubted his mother’s love for him. Chi Xiasheng’s appearance had indeed made him anxious and uneasy at first, even causing him to lose sleep. At that time, it was Mother Su who would bring him milk or chicken soup every night, gently comforting him and telling him to let go of his anxiety. She had even given him most of her shares in the Su Group.
It was then that Su Chimian became convinced that his mother treated him differently. Even later, when he deliberately framed Chi Xiasheng behind his back, his mother would always unconditionally stand by his side.
Even Father Su, though he was stern and quiet, and didn’t show any obvious favoritism towards his three children on the surface, his tone and actions still revealed his doting on Su Chimian. This doting even carried a hint of nostalgia. Su Chimian always felt that his father was looking for something in him. Occasionally, when he threw a tantrum, not only would his father not get angry, but he would spoil him even more.
His family’s love and tolerance were his confidence.
“Mom, for the birthday party this time, let me choose the venue!” Su Chimian thought of something, his eyes darkening slightly, as he said to his mother in a spoiled tone.
Although Mother Su looked a little hesitant, Su Chimian repeatedly assured her that he wouldn’t cause any trouble. Worn down by his persistence, she had no choice but to agree.
“Thank you, Mom! I’ll go upstairs and change!”
Su Chimian ran upstairs happily, sat on the small sofa in his bedroom, and made a phone call.
When Chi Xiasheng woke up, he was lying on a soft, comfortable bed.
His limbs were still weak, and his head was throbbing as if it would split open. Chi Xiasheng rubbed his temples, trying to recall what had happened yesterday.
It seemed he had suddenly gotten a fever and wanted to go to the bedroom to find some fever reducers, and then…
Chi Xiasheng held his head, realizing he couldn’t remember anything after that. He didn’t even know how he had ended up in bed.
But he didn’t dwell on it for long. He got out of bed to look for his phone.
His fair, bare feet padded across the bedroom floor. Not watching where he was going, he accidentally kicked a small, furry thing.
“Little Black? You came into the bedroom?”
Chi Xiasheng squatted down and patted the little black furball curled up on the floor, mistaking its butt for its head and rubbing it several times.
Little Black woke up from his sleep and, seeing this person’s hand on his butt, almost bristled. He let out a low growl from his throat and took several steps back, his small, dark eyes staring intently at Chi Xiasheng.
How could this person be so forward?! Seeing that the person showed no signs of remorse, Little Black turned his head away in a huff.
He was already annoyed enough when he patted his head, but this time, he had gone too far!
Chi Xiasheng also realized he had probably patted the wrong spot. Seeing Little Black’s angry expression, he couldn’t help but be amused. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I couldn’t see where your head was just now. I won’t do it next time!”
Little Black snorted, thinking to himself, There definitely won’t be a next time!
Chi Xiasheng was still worried about the collaboration with Shengshi and was in no mood to play with Little Black anymore. He got up and went to the living room.
His phone was on the sofa, with several missed calls from Li Ge.
Chi Xiasheng quickly called him back. “Li Ge, I had a bit of a fever last night, so I went to bed early. I didn’t get to see what was happening online. What’s Shengshi’s attitude?”
The joy in Li Ge’s voice was evident, making him sound very cheerful. “Shengshi posted on Weibo for you. And they also canceled their collaboration with Qiao Ning. I have to say, a big company is a big company. Qiao Ning was acting all tough online, but Shengshi didn’t even bother with him. Haha, you should have seen the netizens’ stunned and disbelieving faces when Shengshi Jewelry posted the announcement last night. It was hilarious!”
Li Ge said a lot in one breath, almost tangling up Chi Xiasheng’s thoughts, who was still a bit groggy from just waking up.
After sorting it out for a while, he finally understood. Shengshi had really stepped up to protect him!
The weight in Chi Xiasheng’s heart lifted a little. After so many days of suppression, there was finally a good result, and a smile appeared on his face.
Although he didn’t understand what Shengshi saw in him to help him, it meant that he still had value. He would definitely do a good job with this endorsement photo and not disappoint their expectations!
“And, Shengshi seems to be annoyed with Qiao Ning for unilaterally breaching the contract and making insinuations on Weibo. They’ve put out the word in the industry to suppress him. Qiao Ning was so angry last night he was hospitalized and still hasn’t come out.”
Li Ge laughed with satisfaction, and Chi Xiasheng’s expression also relaxed upon hearing the news.
After hanging up, Chi Xiasheng happily went to make breakfast for himself and Little Black.
Little Black still had his thoroughly cooked meat cutlet, while Chi Xiasheng had a piece of toast.
“What happened to you yesterday? How did you end up at Shengshi’s company? And you fell into the bushes.”
Although Chi Xiasheng was puzzled, he didn’t think too much about it. He just assumed Little Black had run out on his own and had accidentally ended up at Shengshi Jewelry’s building.
But he was still a little relieved. “It’s a good thing I went to sign the contract yesterday, otherwise you really wouldn’t have been able to come home.”
It was Chi Xiasheng’s first time raising a dog, and he had to learn a lot from the internet. The incident of the dog getting lost had really scared him, so his tone was tinged with lingering fear.
Little Black, who was eating his meat, moved his eyes at his words.
Although the other’s attitude towards him was one of love and doting on a pet, Little Black had to admit that he really couldn’t refuse this person’s kindness and gentleness.
It was only because he had been struck by lightning and had reverted to his cub form, coupled with this person’s soon-to-awaken merman talent, that he had so easily trusted him. If it were anyone else, Little Black wouldn’t have stayed by their side for so long.
Although he knew it was easy to get lost in it, when Chi Xiasheng’s fair fingers reached over, he still didn’t retreat, letting him rub his head.
“Little Black is so well-behaved today.”
Chi Xiasheng knew this little guy had a very proud temper. Usually, he was lucky if he could pat his head once out of ten times.
This time, it was so easy, which surprised him a little.
But it seemed the little guy also knew he had caused trouble and had suffered outside, so he had let down his guard a little.
Chi Xiasheng could vaguely sense the change in Little Black’s attitude towards him. Before, he had clearly treated him as a tool for cooking, unlike now, where his attitude had inexplicably softened a lot.
After breakfast, Chi Xiasheng prepared to take Little Black to the hospital for a check-up.
Thinking about the illness, Chi Xiasheng finally noticed something he had overlooked.
“Little Black, where’s the bandage on your leg? And you don’t seem to be limping anymore?”
Under Chi Xiasheng’s suspicious gaze, Little Black’s body stiffened slightly. He lay down on his soft cushion, pretending not to know anything, and curled up with his eyes closed.
After all, he was just a little puppy. Chi Xiasheng naturally couldn’t think of anything else and just rubbed his forehead in confusion.
But he never expected that even more ridiculous things were to come. When he went to wash up, he saw a bathtub full of water and a messy bathroom…
Did a thief break into my house?!
Chi Xiasheng couldn’t figure it out. Did a thief break into his house, steal nothing, and just take a bath?!
But before he could think about it any further, Su Chimian’s call came in.
