Chapter 20: Su Chimian’s Birthday
The golden sunlight streamed through the window, scattering across the bathroom floor and refracting into rainbow-colored halos in the water droplets. The entire bathroom was a vibrant and bright kaleidoscope of colors.
Chi Xiasheng drained the water from the bathtub, thinking he must have unconsciously taken a bath last night, which was why the bathroom was in such a mess. But this state of his was too dangerous. He had to go to the hospital for a proper check-up when he had time in the next few days.
Just as he was about to clean up the bathroom, Su Chimian’s call came in.
Chi Xiasheng didn’t want to answer, but he knew Su Chimian would find other ways to contact him if he didn’t, so he reluctantly answered with a frown.
Su Chimian started with a cheerful greeting, as if the previous conflict and animosity between them had never existed. He then smilingly invited Chi Xiasheng to his birthday party.
“My birthday party will be at the Kelly Hotel. A lot of young people will be there. We can all get together and socialize!”
Chi Xiasheng suspected that either Mother Su or Father Su was with Su Chimian. Only when his elders were around did Su Chimian’s tone become so cloying.
“I’m not going. I have work.”
Su Chimian had expected Chi Xiasheng to refuse. He said a few words in a spoiled tone to the person next to him, and then the person on the other end of the line changed to a woman.
Mother Su’s gentle voice came through. “Little Chi, it’s just for one day, the day after tomorrow. The whole family will be there. It would be inappropriate for you not to show up. And, we also need to discuss your matter.”
Hearing this, Chi Xiasheng’s brow unconsciously twitched. The situation between him and the Su family was indeed ugly, and Father Su was a man with a strong sense of pride. He would definitely not let things continue like this. The matter of severing ties with the Su family had to be resolved sooner or later. And…
Chi Xiasheng also wanted to see what Father Su’s attitude towards him really was.
There was no need to mention his older brother, Su Jinfeng, and Mother Su. They both doted on and protected Su Chimian unconditionally. But in the year he had spent with the Su family, Father Su had indeed shown some fatherly affection for him. Although it wasn’t as good as his treatment of Su Chimian, he still treated him as his own child.
Therefore, among all the Su family members, Chi Xiasheng had the most longing and expectation for Father Su. And he was also the one who had been hurt the most.
Chi Xiasheng felt that he had to go, no matter what, to make things clear with the Su family and resolve this matter completely.
After agreeing, Chi Xiasheng, not wanting to listen to Su Chimian’s spoiled voice any longer, hung up the phone.
He rolled up his sleeves and cleaned the bathroom, then took Little Black to the hospital for a check-up. He found that the injury on his hind leg had indeed healed eighty or ninety percent. The doctor said it might have been a misdiagnosis before, and Chi Xiasheng reluctantly let go of his doubts and took Little Black home.
“Little Black, I won’t be home the day after tomorrow. You have to be good on your own. I’ll prepare food for you, but don’t overeat…”
Chi Xiasheng lectured Little Black like a doting father, then couldn’t help but laugh. Perhaps because Little Black always had a proud and disdainful look in his eyes, he often forgot that he was just a cute little puppy who couldn’t remember so many things. He would be leaving in the morning and coming back at night, so he would have plenty of time to prepare dinner for Little Black.
With this thought, Chi Xiasheng rested for another day. On the bright spring morning of the day after tomorrow, he looked at the little black dog tearing at its meat and said with a smile, “I’m leaving. Don’t run around. I’ll be back tonight.”
With that, Chi Xiasheng changed his shoes and left.
With no one around, Little Black found that even his favorite meat wasn’t as fragrant as usual. He took a couple of listless bites and then lay on the sofa in a daze.
He didn’t know where this person had gone, that he wouldn’t be back until night. His injuries hadn’t healed yet, otherwise he could have secretly transformed into his human form and followed him.
Then Little Black shook his head, thinking, Why would I follow him? He’s a grown man, it’s not like he can get lost, right?
It was still early when Chi Xiasheng arrived at the hotel, but there were already many people gathered in small groups in the lobby, chatting.
The Su family placed great importance on their young master’s birthday, and since it was a milestone birthday, it was naturally celebrated with great pomp and ceremony.
It was originally supposed to be held at a private resort, but Su Chimian had said he liked the liveliness of the city center, so it was changed to the Kelly Hotel. Although it couldn’t compare to the elegance, comfort, and privacy of a private hotel, the Kelly Hotel was worthy of its reputation as a place to burn money. The desserts and dishes for tonight alone could cost up to seven figures.
Su Chimian was also in the entertainment industry and had invited some well-known actors and singers. Even the most difficult-to-invite director in the industry, Wang Cheng, had given the Su family face and personally attended to present a gift.
One could imagine how grand this birthday party was. Many celebrities in the industry were proud to be able to attend Young Master Su’s birthday banquet.
But no matter how lively it was, it had nothing to do with Chi Xiasheng. He sat on a sofa in a small corner, eating dessert and waiting for the Su family to arrive.
The hotel was decorated in a magnificent palace style, with a large, intricately carved white stone pillar in each of the four corners. Chi Xiasheng hid behind a pillar in the southeast corner, listening to the guests’ gossip.
“Is Film Emperor Pei coming today? He’s so handsome in person, ahh!”
“Luckily, I know a big shot and managed to get into this banquet. Tsk tsk, as expected of a wealthy family, they’re so generous!”
“Isn’t that right? But they’re both young masters of the Su family, why didn’t Chi Xiasheng have a banquet or anything for his birthday a few months ago?”
“Who knows? I heard that the Su family and Chi Xiasheng had a really ugly fallout. I don’t know what Chi Xiasheng was thinking, giving up a good life in a wealthy family to break ties with them.”
People in the industry had the best gossip. Most of the people at this banquet would compare Su Chimian and Chi Xiasheng. And when they did, they found that Chi Xiasheng was like a child who had been picked up off the street.
“I heard that Chi Xiasheng was only recently found and brought back. He seems to have lived in an orphanage before.”
This news was quite fresh. After all, there was a gap between people in the industry and wealthy families. Many people still didn’t know that Chi Xiasheng had only been found recently!
“No wonder there’s a distance between him and the Su family. I saw their family photo before. Chi Xiasheng was standing at the very edge, looking like he had accidentally wandered in. It was really awkward.”
Chi Xiasheng ate a couple of bites of dessert and found it too sweet. He put it down and rested his chin on his hand, lost in a daze.
So even outsiders could see that he didn’t fit in. Chi Xiasheng thought of the only family photo he had with the Su family and his expression froze.
It was summer at the time, and the Su family had a rare gathering. Su Chimian had insisted on taking a family photo with his brother and mother, saying that it was good for the whole family to be together. He had even enthusiastically invited Chi Xiasheng to join, saying it was good for the family to be complete.
Chi Xiasheng had felt a warmth in his heart, and looking at his brother’s smiling face, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of warmth himself.
But at that time, Su Chimian and the others were visiting an old friend of Father Su’s and were dressed formally and respectably, while Chi Xiasheng, who was about to go to school, was still wearing his white shirt and jeans.
But Chi Xiasheng hadn’t paid much attention to it at the time. He had even carefully placed the photo in his wallet.
It wasn’t until recently that Chi Xiasheng had torn up the photo and thrown it into the trash can downstairs.
Thinking back now, it was indeed quite embarrassing. Just by looking at their clothes, you could tell they were from completely different worlds.
Just like now, Chi Xiasheng sat on the small sofa, watching Su Chimian standing smilingly on the stage at the front, being flattered and blessed, like a little prince surrounded by stars. He was wearing magnificent clothes, looking noble and exquisite, calmly enjoying the glory that belonged to him.
Father and Mother Su stood by his side, their eyes filled with encouragement and expectation, as they watched Su Chimian speak with teary eyes. “Thank you to my best mother and father. If it weren’t for your guidance and upbringing, I wouldn’t be who I am today. I hope that every birthday in the future, we can spend it happily together as a family!”
Mother Su’s eyes also glistened with tears. She was about to say “good boy,” but then she thought of something and just nodded, holding back her words.
It was Father Su who went on stage and said a few words of encouragement, giving Su Chimian a large red envelope.
Before Su Chimian could even say “thank you, Dad,” Su Jinfeng tapped him on the head and asked with mock anger, “What, you forgot about your older brother? It seems you don’t want your limited edition Lego set?”
Su Chimian pouted angrily and pulled on his mother’s arm. “Mom, look at my brother. He’s bullying me on my birthday!”
Mother Su chided Su Jinfeng a few times. Su Jinfeng laughed it off and pulled Su Chimian over to give him his birthday wishes.
The Su family’s tradition was to make a birthday wish at the exact moment of one’s birth. It was now ten o’clock in the morning, and the sun was already hot, streaming in from the huge floor-to-ceiling window on the left, casting a warm glow on the Su family.
Seeing that the time had come, Su Chimian made a wish seriously and blew out the candles on the birthday cake.
The crowd below cheered. A minor celebrity next to Chi Xiasheng clicked his tongue in envy several times.
“To have such a happy family in a wealthy family is really enviable.”
Chi Xiasheng didn’t feel much watching it. He lowered his eyes and stared at the sickeningly sweet little cake. He remembered that on his last birthday, he seemed to have only had a small cake like this…
Chi Xiasheng waited until their clamor had subsided and the waves of blessings were finally over. He then composed himself and went up to find Su Chimian and Mother Su.
“Are you ready? When are you going to resolve the matter?”
Father Su’s brow furrowed deeply when he saw Chi Xiasheng appear.
“Let’s go to the small living room first.”
Not wanting outsiders to see their family drama, Father Su led them to a small room in the hallway of the lobby.
As soon as Mother Su closed the door, Father Su slammed his hand on the table.
“Chi Xiasheng! Do you have any respect for me as your father and for your brother? It’s your brother’s birthday today, and you came empty-handed?”
Chi Xiasheng pursed his lips. “What else? Should I give him a slap?”
Father Su: “…”
Now Father Su was even angrier.
