Lai Li: “And then?”
Dai Linxuan slowly explained, “A couple who had been unable to have children for a long time adopted Song Zichu. Not long after, they finally got pregnant and had a child of their own. Unfortunately, it didn’t last. When that child was three years old, he ‘playfully’ climbed onto the anti-theft window and fell from the seventh floor, dying on the spot. It wasn’t until a couple of years ago that the couple finally overcame their psychological trauma and had another child…”
Lai Li had already anticipated the ending. He calmly asked, “Did that one die too?”
Dai Linxuan glanced at him. “This time was even worse. Song Zichu’s adoptive mother suffered from postpartum depression. A little over a year ago, she suffocated herself and the child with charcoal. Her husband was devastated and soon passed away as well.”
There wasn’t a trace of sympathy for the family on Lai Li’s face. His eyes darkened slightly. “Then why are you still asking me why Song Zichu is dangerous?”
Dai Linxuan let out a soft sigh. “You think he did all that? He was only fourteen when his first little brother fell from the building.”
Lai Li said softly, “There are no other possibilities.”
He understood himself, so he understood Song Zichu too.
Dai Linxuan continued eating his dinner and didn’t speak for a long time.
Lai Li had no idea what his brother was thinking at that moment. Would he believe it? If he did believe that Song Zichu was such a twisted and vicious person, what would he think of Lai Li, who had also come from the Slum District?
Would he be afraid of him?
Would he want to stay away from him?
Lai Li gripped the pillow tightly and stared intently at his brother. A hint of gloom gradually appeared in his brows and eyes.
“When I get back, we’ll have a good talk,” Dai Linxuan said calmly, his expression even and betraying little emotion. “For example, about you seeing a psychologist.”
Some things weren’t suitable to discuss over video from a thousand kilometers away. If any unusual emotions arose, he wouldn’t be able to comfort him right away.
“I’ll be at the airport Tuesday afternoon,” Dai Linxuan said unhurriedly. “Then I’ll pick you up from school for dinner. There’s a new private restaurant on Upper Pear Street. I hear the food is pretty good.”
A breath of frustration suddenly escaped Lai Li. He couldn’t help but touch the screen. “I’ll come pick you up.”
Dai Linxuan replied, “You have class in the afternoon.”
“It’s a public class. Really boring.” Lai Li pursed his lips. “Bro…”
Dai Linxuan lifted his eyelids. “No use acting spoiled. You’re not skipping class.”
Lai Li fell silent and quietly watched his brother eat.
Dai Linxuan asked, “You’re staying at the mansion. Will you make it to your eight a.m. class tomorrow?”
Lai Li mumbled, “I set an alarm.”
“Have Uncle Zeng drive you,” Dai Linxuan said. “Getting up that early, your head won’t be clear. It’s not safe to drive.”
“Okay.” Lai Li agreed indifferently and applied scar removal cream in front of the camera.
“Rub it in a bit longer.”
“Mm.”
Dai Linxuan averted his gaze and slowly sipped his soup.
Half an hour later, they ended the video call.
Lai Li curled up in Dai Linxuan’s bed and slept there that night. Early the next morning, Third Uncle finally couldn’t hold back and sent a video.
Lai Li had seen this video before—it was the one Jiang Qiujun had slammed onto Dai Linxuan’s desk on the first day of the long holiday. In the footage, Dai Linxuan was nothing like his usual self-restrained and proper demeanor. He puffed on a “cigar,” clouds of smoke billowing, while a boy squatted between his legs.
Lai Li’s fingertip rubbed against the screen. He only wanted to crawl in, drag that boy out, and slit his throat.
His face darkened as he saved the video. Right then, Third Uncle called—
“Little Li, I just saw this video too. Do you know if Dai Linxuan has this kind of habit normally?”
Lai Li took a deep breath and closed his eyes. “What do you mean?”
Third Uncle said, “Smoking weed…”
Lai Li replied, “Isn’t that a cigar?”
“You’re still too innocent. That’s no cigar…” Third Uncle continued, “What about him playing with little boys? Did you know about that?”
“No idea.” Lai Li said coldly, “He’s at that age. Isn’t it normal to get a duck outside? Third Uncle, you’ve never done it?”
Third Uncle choked. “Don’t talk nonsense! My loyalty to your third aunt is plain as day!”
Lai Li let out a scoff.
Third Uncle said righteously, “I’m not calling for anything else. I’m just worried you’ve been bullied. If Dai Linxuan treats you badly, you have to tell Third Uncle. I’ll stand up for you!”
“What can you do to stand up for me?” Lai Li deliberately left an ambiguous remark and hung up.
Sure enough, Third Uncle took the bait and sent several messages in a row, asking him to gather evidence of Dai Linxuan’s bad habits. That way, they could take him down and make it easier for Lai Li to claim his ancestry later.
Lai Li didn’t reply and headed straight to school.
As he walked toward the counselor’s office, he called Jing Zixiao. “Any results yet?”
“The sample you sent wasn’t great quality, especially A. You didn’t pull out the hair follicle,” Jing Zixiao said, holding back a laugh. “Couldn’t you yank harder?”
“…Can it still be tested?” If not, he’d have to get something else.
“It can. It’ll just take a bit longer,” Jing Zixiao said. “Results for sure tomorrow.”
After hanging up, Lai Li knocked on the office door. Hearing “Come in,” he pushed it open and submitted the depression proof and other written reports that Jing Zixiao had prepared for him.
The counselor looked down at the black-and-white printout, then up at Lai Li’s face, not quite believing it. “Depression? I might need to talk to your parent…”
“No one else on my household registry. Don’t waste your effort.” Lai Li pulled out a bronze small knife and said coldly, “Want me to slit my wrist right here to prove it?”
The counselor stuttered, “N-No, that’s not necessary—”
Fuck!
Work was tough enough without running into this kind of “psycho” student.
Lai Li left the office satisfied, walked down the long corridor, and pushed open the dorm door.
Huang Hao and Jiang Xiao were getting dressed and froze when they saw him. “I thought you weren’t coming to first period.”
Lai Li glanced at Song Zichu’s bed. “Where is he?”
“He took leave,” Huang Hao sighed. “No idea when he’ll be back.”
Lai Li gave him a look.
Jiang Xiao spelled it out. “Song Zichu took a long vacation this time. You barely stay in the dorm, so it’s just me and Huang Hao cleaning and stuff. It’s a lot of pressure.”
Lai Li opened his phone and tapped a few times. “Accept the friend request.”
Huang Hao puzzledly grabbed his phone. As soon as he accepted, he and Jiang Xiao each received a transfer of ten thousand yuan.
“I’ll need you to keep working hard for a bit, about ten days,” Lai Li said something halfway human, then ruined it with the next line, making their blood boil. “Is ten thousand enough?”
“…” Jiang Xiao took a deep breath. “With that temper, you must’ve gotten beaten a lot.”
“Who could beat him?” Huang Hao happily tapped accept. His family was well-off, but for a college student with two or three thousand in monthly living expenses, ten thousand was no small sum.
Jiang Xiao had nothing to say, suspecting Lai Li knew he was the type to piss people off, so he’d worked out those nice muscles to avoid beatings.
Having money makes you great, huh!
Yeah, it really did.
Jiang Xiao tearfully accepted the ten thousand and, swallowing his pride, invited Lai Li to breakfast.
Dan Da Cafeteria was pretty good—clean and bright, decent flavors. Lai Li had come several times before to lure Song Zichu out, so he had a decent impression.
He snapped a photo of his breakfast and sent it to “My Home.” “My Home” replied with a photo of an empty porridge bowl and eggshells.
Lai Li found it unreliable. He still needed to watch him finish it himself to believe it.
Jiang Xiao asked, munching on a bun, “You applying for day student status?”
Lai Li replied to the message while saying, “I’m taking a leave of absence.”
The two across from him froze. “What? Why?”
Lai Li said matter-of-factly, “My brother’s not well lately. I’m going to be his life assistant.”
Huang Hao and Jiang Xiao both went, “Ah?”
No way—which family needed a brother to drop out to care for a sick sibling? And with their money, they could hire ten private doctors for 24/7 care!
Jiang Xiao thought for a bit. “Are you planning to study abroad? I see a lot of rich young masters and ladies skipping domestic undergrad.”
“No.” Lai Li’s eyes darkened. “I need to watch my brother eat.”
“…”
Jiang Xiao silently texted Huang Hao under the table: This guy’s a toxic stan even if he doesn’t like his bro. Scary.
“Alright, then we won’t see much of each other anymore.” Huang Hao sounded regretful for a second, then grinned. “But I still gotta share some good news with you.”
Jiang Xiao’s teeth started to ache. “Enough already!”
Huang Hao beamed smugly. “I got a girlfriend!”
For a guy fresh out of high school into college, getting a girlfriend was something worth bragging and comparing about.
Too bad the guy across was Lai Li.
He didn’t care about anything other guys his age obsessed over.
“Don’t delete my WeChat. If you run into a life-or-death matter, contact me.” Lai Li unexpectedly said, “…Stay away from Song Zichu.”
Huang Hao and Jiang Xiao paused, automatically ignoring the second half, a bit touched.
“When are you leaving? We’ll send you off.”
“No need.” Lai Li said, “Don’t waste my time.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Jiang Xiao’s touch faded in three seconds. “All your time’s for tending to your bro’s daily life, right?”
Lai Li actually nodded.
“…”
“Hey?” Jiang Xiao suddenly nudged Huang Hao and pointed behind Lai Li.
A uniformed delivery guy carrying a bouquet walked toward them and zeroed in on Lai Li. “Hello, are you Mr. Lai?”
Lai Li looked at him and narrowed his eyes.
The delivery guy said, “This is a bouquet from one of your friends.”
The cafeteria was packed, and curious gazes turned their way. Lai Li didn’t take the flowers but picked up the card and glanced at it.
Huang Hao hadn’t meant to peek, but the card was right in his line of sight—
“I love you, even if I’m a monster, I love you…” Huang Hao read softly, chuckling. “Pretty romantic.”
“Hiss…” Jiang Xiao suddenly sucked in a sharp breath and whispered to Huang Hao, “That sounds like a line from Lolita.”
Huang Hao, not well-read, didn’t get it. “What’s Lolita*?”
