Chapter 53
For the next few days, Xi Shi followed Zhong Yuxiao to school and back home.
Xi Shi had moved into the Xi family’s main residence after he transferred schools. He had been expelled for fighting, and Xi Chongyang was eager for him to socialize with the well-behaved Zhong Yuxiao. He was very supportive of him going to the Zhong family so often, and he even treated Zhong’s parents to a meal, and sent them a few projects as well.
Zhong’s parents were both amused and helpless, and they delicately mentioned it to Zhong Yuxiao.
“Xiaoyao, about Xi Shi, your father and I want to know what you’re planning.”
The projects weren’t small matters, and it was too much for Xi Chongyang to make such a big deal out of his children’s social life.
Zhong’s parents had always respected Zhong Zhili and Zhong Yuxiao and would consult them about matters that concerned them.
Zhong Zhili had applied to a military academy, which was unique in their circle, and after talking to him, Zhong’s parents had supported his choice.
As for Zhong Yuxiao, they were very respectful of his choices, whether it was his studies or his social life.
Zhong Yuxiao’s reaction was calm. “Since he gave it to us, then we should just accept it.”
“Xi Shi was your childhood friend. It’s good that you two have a good relationship, but you haven’t seen each other for a long time.” Zhong Mu carefully chose her words, asking softly, “Xiaoyao, tell me honestly, do you have other plans besides being friends with Xi Shi?”
Other plans…
Zhong Fu frowned. “Are you perhaps trying to improve your relationship with the Xi family through Xi Shi?”
Chenxi International was Xi’s family’s company, and it was one of the top companies in Lincheng. Although the Zhong family was also a wealthy family, they couldn’t compare to the Xi family’s vast resources.
Xi Chongyang only had one daughter, Xi Yue, and everything in the future would be left to her son, Xi Shi.
Zhong Yuxiao and Zhong Mu were both helpless. She chided him. “Xiaoyao is already so old, do you think he’s a greedy businessman?”
“Wasn’t that what you meant by other plans?” Zhong Fu said innocently.
“Other plans are not necessarily bad plans, oh dear, forget it.” Zhong Mu glossed over the topic. “Don’t you have a video conference? Go ahead, I’ll talk to Xiaoyao.”
As soon as Zhong Fu left, Zhong Mu’s expression became serious. “Xiaoyao, what I really want to ask is…”
“Yes, I have other feelings for him.” Zhong Yuxiao said directly. “We hadn’t seen each other for many years after Xi Shi moved away, but we kept in contact. My other feelings for him are a recent thing.”
Zhong Yuxiao paused and said softly, “I dreamt of him.”
In his dream, Xi Shi was soft and warm, like a spirit from a fantasy novel, able to bewitch people and absorb their energy.
That intense dream had confirmed his feelings.
Zhong Yuxiao was a decisive person, and he always knew what he wanted. “No matter what, I won’t let him go.”
Perhaps he had prepared himself, and Zhong Mu wasn’t too surprised, but Zhong Yuxiao’s determination made her pause. Her tone was tinged with bitterness. “Xiaoyao, are you sure it’s him? It’s a difficult path, and setting aside how the Xi family will react, you’ll have to endure a lot together.”
Same-sex relationships were not accepted by the world. They would be judged even if they walked hand in hand in the streets, let alone receive the guarantee of marriage or the blessings of others.
Zhong Yuxiao’s gaze was determined. “It has to be him, it can only be him.”
“In the entire world, I only want one Xi Shi.”
Xi Shi sensed that the atmosphere was off. It was as if an invisible cloud was hanging over the Zhong family. Besides Zhong Yuxiao, Zhong’s parents didn’t seem to be in a good mood.
After dinner, Xi Shi suggested that he should go home.
Zhong Yuxiao immediately frowned. “Why?”
“Why do I need a reason to go home? Because it’s my home.” Xi Shi shrugged. “I already carried your bag back today. We’ve settled our debt. My grandfather has been asking me to go home and keep him company. It’s the weekend tomorrow, so I’ll go fishing with him.”
“Do you even know how to fish?” Zhong Yuxiao asked skeptically.
“…It doesn’t matter if I know how, it’s the company that matters.” Xi Shi gave all the “payment” he had earned from carrying the bag back to Zhong Yuxiao. “Here, your older brother will treat you to candy.”
He earned two lollipops every day. He ate one and saved one. Unknowingly, he had accumulated a large handful of them.
“I don’t like candy.”
“Then just keep it.” Xi Shi joked. “This is what I worked hard for. I’m basically giving you my paycheck, don’t be ungrateful.”
Everything was affected by meaning, just like those lollipops. After Xi Shi gave them a special meaning, their value had increased greatly, having transformed from ordinary lollipops to rare treasures.
Zhong Yuxiao’s eyes flickered. “Isn’t a paycheck supposed to be given to one’s wife?”
He paused, pretending to be troubled. “But I’ve already given it to you, do you want it back?”
Zhong Yuxiao didn’t make a sound and silently put the lollipops in his pocket.
Once he had pocketed them, there was no way he was giving them back.
As soon as Xi Shi left, the room became much quieter. Zhong Yuxiao tidied up the blanket that had been abused by him and opened his game.
These days, he and Xi Shi played games together every night. Zhong Yuxiao had been a newbie at the beginning, but now he could kill people with his own skills.
His teammate, Xi Shi, was not online.
What was Xi Shi doing?
Zhong Yuxiao looked at the chat messages and suddenly got an answer.
[Xi Shi Gege: Helping grandpa play chess, so boring, ahhh]
[Xi Shi Gege: I regret coming back QAQ]
The nickname had been changed by Xi Shi himself. Since he had learned his phone password, Xi Shi would secretly take his phone and change his nickname. Every time Zhong Yuxiao changed it back, it would be changed again the next day, so Zhong Yuxiao had eventually given up.
Forget it, whatever.
[LittleRiceBall: The door is closed, no turning back.]
[Xi Shi Gege: You’re so heartless, so cold, my heart is broken.]
Xi Shi seemed to have a glass heart that healed itself. After a few seconds, he had already recovered.
[Xi Shi Gege: Do you want to go fishing tomorrow?]
[LittleRiceBall: No, I have to go to the bookstore.]
[Xi Shi Gege: What for?]
[LittleRiceBall: My university entrance exam has very high score requirements.]
[Xi Shi Gege: How high?]
[LittleRiceBall: Double your total score in the last monthly exam.]
[Xi Shi Gege: …]
Xi Shi sighed deeply, looking as if he had given up on life.
Xi Chongyang glanced at him. “What are you chatting about with your little boyfriend?”
“Nothing much.” Xi Shi casually made his move on the chessboard, correcting him. “He’s not my little boyfriend yet.”
“It’s only a matter of time.”
“You think so?”
Xi Chongyang choked. “Are you so sure that he’ll be with you? What if he doesn’t like you?”
“Then I’ll work harder and acquire his family’s company. Then I’ll use my power to force him to be my wife.”
“…”
Xi Chongyang picked up his cane.
Xi Shi quickly begged for mercy. “I’m just kidding. If he doesn’t like me, then I’ll pursue him. With my handsome face, I can definitely win him over.”
Xi Shi had supreme confidence in his looks.
“I’ll pester him for ten or twenty years, I’m sure he’ll eventually like me. If that doesn’t work, I’ll go to the temple and ask for a red string to tie us together.”
“…”
Xi Chongyang was angered by his frivolous tone and grumbled, “Why don’t you just hire someone to put a spell on him and make him devoted to you?”
Xi Shi was shocked. “Do those kinds of spells really exist? I thought they were just made up for novels. Where can I hire someone to do that? I want to try it.”
The cane fell on the chessboard, and the chess pieces scattered everywhere. Xi Shi immediately jumped up. “Grandpa, what are you doing?”
“Cleaning up the mess.”
“…”
On Saturday, Zhong Yuxiao went to the bookstore, heading straight to the third-year section. He picked up a large pile of study guides.
He thought for a moment, and bought the first and second-year study guides as well.
Xi Shi’s monthly exam scores were terrible. He only passed Chinese and English. He didn’t expect Xi Shi to go to the same university as him, but he had to at least get into a decent university.
Their family was considered scholarly, and all his elders had studied overseas. His partner couldn’t just be a high school graduate.
Even if he wanted to go abroad, a higher score would mean more choices.
Zhong Yuxiao paid and, carrying a huge pile of books, called his driver at the door.
“Hey kid, it’s you.”
Several guys surrounded him. The one in the lead had a bandage on his face. Zhong Yuxiao remembered him. He had been in the picture from the deleted post. He was the school bully who had almost been killed by Xi Shi.
The school bully looked aggressive. He had been wanting to take revenge on Xi Shi, but Xi Shi always went home with Zhong Yuxiao, never having a chance to be alone.
“You know Xi Shi, right? Call him. Tell him to come and play with us.”
Zhong Yuxiao put away his phone. “I won’t.”
“Damn it, you’re not going to accept a toast, so you’ll have to drink a penalty.”
A group of people pushed Zhong Yuxiao into a nearby alley, and the school bully grabbed Zhong Yuxiao’s collar, pushing him against the wall. “I’m asking you one last time, are you going to call him or not?”
“I won’t call him, but I can do something else.”
Zhong Yuxiao grabbed his wrist and squeezed a pressure point. The school bully instinctively let go, and Zhong Yuxiao kicked him away.
Zhong Yuxiao stretched his wrist, his expression cold, completely unlike the weak person who had been pushed around earlier. “I’ve been waiting for you guys for days. Want to take revenge on Xi Shi? Keep dreaming.”
Zhong Yuxiao had been practicing martial arts since he was young, sparring with professional trainers. The school bully and his friends were just students. They were bigger than him, but they lacked the power, and weren’t qualified to even be his sparring partners.
In a few minutes, the school bully and his gang were all on the ground.
Zhong Yuxiao grabbed the school bully’s hair and stepped on his chest. “Why do you have a problem with Xi Shi?”
The school bully couldn’t believe that he and his friends had been so easily defeated by a younger student and cursed. “Damn it, I just don’t like him, so what?!”
Zhong Yuxiao smashed his head on the ground. “Say it. Why do you have a problem with him?”
Xi Shi wasn’t someone who would cause trouble. He had asked Xi Shi for the reason for the fight, but Xi Shi had been vague. From his reaction, it seemed that it was more than just a simple dislike.
Zhong Yuxiao smashed his head again, his grip getting tighter. “It seems like you want to spend a few months in the hospital.”
His cold voice was filled with anger. The school bully’s heart skipped a beat, and he couldn’t see clearly. He begged for mercy. “Don’t, don’t beat me. I’ll tell you, someone paid me to cause trouble for him…”
A cold glint flashed in Zhong Yuxiao’s eyes. “Who was it?”
“It seems like it was someone who was his enemy from his old school, a young master. Oh, I have his phone number!” The school bully quickly took out his phone.
Zhong Yuxiao memorized the number and let go. “Don’t go looking for trouble with Xi Shi again. I have a bad temper, and I can’t stand anyone bullying him.”
