Being Trapped by the Paranoid Dominator as His Wife, I Cant Run Away Anymore 103 (爱哈哈的小刀) (Z-Library)

Table of Contents
Intro
Intro
#1 Chapter 1
#2 Chapter 2
#3 Chapter 3
#4 Chapter 4
#5 Chapter 5
#6 Chapter 6
#7 Chapter 7
#8 Chapter 8
#9 Chapter 9
#10 Chapter 10
#11 Chapter 11
#12 Chapter 12
#13 Chapter 13
#14 Chapter 14
#15 Chapter 15
#16 Chapter 16
#17 Chapter 17
#18 Chapter 18
#19 Chapter 19
#20 Chapter 20
#21 Chapter 21
#22 Chapter 22
#23 Chapter 23
#24 Chapter 24
#25 Chapter 25
#26 Chapter 26
#27 Chapter 27
#28 Chapter 28
#29 Chapter 29
#30 Chapter 30
#31 Chapter 31
#32 Chapter 32
#33 Chapter 33
#34 Chapter 34
#35 Chapter 35
#36 Chapter 36
#37 Chapter 37
#38 Chapter 38
#39 Chapter 39
#40 Chapter 40
#41 Chapter 41
#42 Chapter 42
#43 Chapter 43:
#44 Chapter 44:
#45 Chapter 45:
#46 Chapter 46:
#47 Chapter 47:
#48 Chapter 48:
#49 Chapter 49
#50 Chapter 50
#51 Chapter 51
#52 Chapter 52
#53 Chapter 53
#54 Chapter 54
#55 Chapter 55
#56 Chapter 56
#57 Chapter 57
#58 Chapter 58
#59 Chapter 59
#60 Chapter 60.
#61 Chapter 61
#62 Chapter 62
#63 Chapter 63
#64 Chapter 64
#65 Chapter 65
#66 Chapter 66
#67 Chapter 67
#68 Chapter 68
#69 Chapter 69
#70 Chapter 70
#71 Chapter 71
#72 Chapter 72
#73 Chapter 73
#74 Chapter 74
#75 Chapter 75
#76 Chapter 76
#77 Chapter 77
#78 Chapter 78
#79 Chapter 79
#80 Chapter 80
#81 Chapter 81
#82 Chapter 82
#83 Chapter 83
#84 Chapter 84
#85 Chapter 85
#86 Chapter 86
#87 Chapter 87
#88 Chapter 88
#89 Chapter 89
#90 Chapter 90
#91 Chapter 91
#92 Chapter 92
#93 Chapter 93
#94 Chapter 94
#95 Chapter 95
#96 Chapter 96
#97 Chapter 97
#98 Chapter 98
#99 Chapter 99
#100 Chapter 100
#101 Chapter 101
#102 Chapter 102
#103 Chapter 103
Being Trapped by the Paranoid Dominator as His Wife, I
Can't Run Away Anymore #103
1. Intro
2. List Chapters
1. Intro
2. #1 Chapter 1
3. #2 Chapter 2
4. #3 Chapter 3
5. #4 Chapter 4
6. #5 Chapter 5
7. #6 Chapter 6
8. #7 Chapter 7
9. #8 Chapter 8
10. #9 Chapter 9
11. #10 Chapter 10
12. #11 Chapter 11
13. #12 Chapter 12
14. #13 Chapter 13
15. #14 Chapter 14
16. #15 Chapter 15
17. #16 Chapter 16
18. #17 Chapter 17
19. #18 Chapter 18
20. #19 Chapter 19
21. #20 Chapter 20
22. #21 Chapter 21
23. #22 Chapter 22
24. #23 Chapter 23
25. #24 Chapter 24
26. #25 Chapter 25
27. #26 Chapter 26
28. #27 Chapter 27
29. #28 Chapter 28
30. #29 Chapter 29
31. #30 Chapter 30
32. #31 Chapter 31
33. #32 Chapter 32
34. #33 Chapter 33
35. #34 Chapter 34
36. #35 Chapter 35
37. #36 Chapter 36
38. #37 Chapter 37
39. #38 Chapter 38
40. #39 Chapter 39
41. #40 Chapter 40
42. #41 Chapter 41
43. #42 Chapter 42
44. #43 Chapter 43:
45. #44 Chapter 44:
46. #45 Chapter 45:
47. #46 Chapter 46:
48. #47 Chapter 47:
49. #48 Chapter 48:
50. #49 Chapter 49
51. #50 Chapter 50
52. #51 Chapter 51
53. #52 Chapter 52
54. #53 Chapter 53
55. #54 Chapter 54
56. #55 Chapter 55
57. #56 Chapter 56
58. #57 Chapter 57
59. #58 Chapter 58
60. #59 Chapter 59
61. #60 Chapter 60.
62. #61 Chapter 61
63. #62 Chapter 62
64. #63 Chapter 63
65. #64 Chapter 64
66. #65 Chapter 65
67. #66 Chapter 66
68. #67 Chapter 67
69. #68 Chapter 68
70. #69 Chapter 69
71. #70 Chapter 70
72. #71 Chapter 71
73. #72 Chapter 72
74. #73 Chapter 73
75. #74 Chapter 74
76. #75 Chapter 75
77. #76 Chapter 76
78. #77 Chapter 77
79. #78 Chapter 78
80. #79 Chapter 79
81. #80 Chapter 80
82. #81 Chapter 81
83. #82 Chapter 82
84. #83 Chapter 83
85. #84 Chapter 84
86. #85 Chapter 85
87. #86 Chapter 86
88. #87 Chapter 87
89. #88 Chapter 88
90. #89 Chapter 89
91. #90 Chapter 90
92. #91 Chapter 91
93. #92 Chapter 92
94. #93 Chapter 93
95. #94 Chapter 94
96. #95 Chapter 95
97. #96 Chapter 96
98. #97 Chapter 97
99. #98 Chapter 98
100. #99 Chapter 99
101. #100 Chapter 100
102. #101 Chapter 101
103. #102 Chapter 102
104. #103 Chapter 103
Description
Being Trapped by the Paranoid Dominator as His Wife, I Can't Run Away
Anymore
Request/Generate ebook from BokGen.com
"Being Trapped by the Paranoid Dominator as His Wife, I Can't Run Away Anymore"
Before the rebirth, Yuanting evaluated her life as not bad at all. Despite being confined to
the villa by Cheng Nanyi and unable to go anywhere, she still had to sleep with him at
night. But!!! With chefs and servants to attend to her, unlimited online shopping, and the
option to order takeout, isn't this the ultimate dream for many people? Just lying around
like a lazy fish? Upon being reborn to the age of seven, Yuanting looked at the handsome
young man across from her and ran for her life. At the age of ten, young master Cheng
was composed, reserved, polite, and hadn't yet gone through a dramatic transformation
into a paranoid lunatic. So, when would be a better time to escape? What? Lying around
like a lazy fish? No, the price of freedom is even higher!
#1 Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Dark clouds loomed overhead, and the day was overcast from dawn. Yuanting, with a
shovel in hand, headed to the base of the wall, intending to dig up some soil for his
flowerpot.
The bodyguard, arms crossed, leaned against the wall, looking down at Yuanting digging:
"You aren't planning to dig a hole and escape, are you?"
"Are you calling me a dog?" Yuanting jabbed the shovel against the hard wall, "Go ahead,
try digging one yourself."
The bodyguard pursed his lips and huffed, "Anyway, don't even think about escaping
under my watch."
"Hah," Yuanting stood up and snorted at him disdainfully, "If I wanted to run, do you
think you could stop me? I'm just giving you face." He walked past the bodyguard,
proudly carrying a red bucket filled with soil.
Frustrated, the bodyguard ran off to complain to the butler.
The butler sighed, "If he really could, would he have been here for four years? If he could
escape, he would have done so long ago. Grow up, do your job, and stop provoking him."
"Yeah, stop provoking me, or I'll beat you up." Yuanting walked over, opened the fridge,
took out a Coke, waved his fist threateningly at the bodyguard, and left.
"Look at him, just look at him..." The bodyguard was so angry he almost jumped on the
spot, but before he could react, he saw Yuanting, who had reached the door, suddenly run
upstairs in terror, looking like a mouse that had seen a cat, even leaving behind his red
bucket.
The next second, the door opened and a man entered.
"Young master, you're back." Both the butler and the bodyguard greeted him.
The man who entered was handsome, with striking features, but unfortunately, he was
confined to a wheelchair.
The butler stepped forward to push the wheelchair.

The man was thin and pale, casting a gloomy glance up the stairs. The bodyguard
immediately reported, "He had a bowl of wonton soup and a cup of black coffee for
breakfast, two packets of chips and three red bean buns, dumplings for lunch, followed by
milk tea and fried chicken. After lunch, he took a nap, watched some TV, and then went to
the backyard to dig mud for planting... but I suspect he was trying to dig a hole at the
wall... After digging, he took a Coke and went upstairs."
Yuanting, listening from the stairway, rolled his eyes and returned to his bedroom.
Although it was only four in the afternoon, the sky outside had already turned completely
dark, indicating a stormy night ahead.
On the balcony were the starry sky flowers and mint seeds he had ordered online, meant
to be planted, but the small bucket filled with soil was still downstairs. And with Cheng
Nanyi's return, he didn't feel like going down.
"I'll do it tomorrow. Right now, time is what I have most."
After playing with his phone in bed for a while, Yuanting's eyelids grew heavy, and he
turned over and closed his eyes.
In recent years, Yuanting's sleep had been poor, often lying awake all night. Yet today,
strangely enough, despite having napped at noon, he felt extremely sleepy.
It wasn't until the sound of distant thunder that Yuanting startled awake, his room still
pitch-dark. The balcony window was open, the howling wind and pouring rain creating a
cacophony, barely overshadowing the sound of a wheelchair rolling, which Yuanting still
caught.
He switched on the bedside lamp, revealing Cheng Nanyi's cold, brooding face at the
bedside. Despite seeing it for years, Yuanting's heart still skipped a beat, "Damn, it's not a
horror movie. Who are you trying to scare?"
Lying still, Yuanting watched as Cheng Nanyi, with his arms, heaved himself up and then
turned to sit on the bed.
Yuanting, accustomed to his strength, nonchalantly shifted to the side.
Cheng Nanyi lay down on the other side, his breathing still a bit hurried from the effort.
Listening to his breathing, Yuanting slowly closed his eyes, brewing sleepiness. After four
years of sharing a bed with Cheng Nanyi, he had grown accustomed to it.
"Thinking of leaving?" A somber voice, accompanied by a crack of thunder, sounded in his

ear, as if it could strangle Yuanting's neck and twist his head off at any moment, startling
him.
"Damn it," Yuanting clutched his chest, "You're scaring me to death."
Yuanting quietly shifted to the other side and said resignedly, "Don't you think your
bodyguard is a bit off? You believe everything he says."
"So..." Cheng Nanyi scoffed, "Yuanting, are you telling me you've never thought of
leaving?"
"If I say no, would you believe me?" Yuanting yawned, feeling unusually sleepy today.
Usually, lying next to Cheng Nanyi, he'd only feel sleepy after the other fell asleep.
Cheng Nanyi gave a short, mocking laugh, clearly skeptical.
"Why don't you just kill me?"
"Do you really wish to die?"
Yuanting sighed deeply, earnestly responding, "If possible, I'd willingly give my life for
yours."
"Will taking your life turn back time to when nothing had happened?" Cheng Nanyi
sneered, "Don't worry, the day I die, I'll make sure to drag you to hell with me."
As thunder rumbled aptly, complementing Cheng Nanyi's sinister tone, Yuanting

shivered, pulling the blanket over his head and praying, "Dear God, please, if I go to hell,
don't let me be in the same level as Cheng Nanyi. Please, I beg you."
"Wake up, little Ting, wake up."
How could he be dreaming of a woman's voice?
Could it be he hadn't seen a woman for so long that he dreamed of their voice?
But this woman's voice sounded familiar, even nauseatingly so.
Yuanting's head ached terribly, and opening his eyes was a struggle. He wanted to keep
sleeping, but the woman's incessant voice irked him into reluctantly opening his eyes.
"Alright, no more sleeping, we're almost there."
A young, pretty woman with immaculate makeup casually stroked Yuanting's head,
helping him to sit up.
A faint perfume scent lingered around Yuanting, jolting him into full alertness.
Instinctively, he reached out to push away, finally getting a clear view of the woman's
face in front of him.
"Damn it," Yuanting cursed, utterly shocked.
The woman's brows furrowed instantly, and she lightly tapped on Yuanting's mouth,
chiding, "Don't swear. How did your grandma teach you? Such a young age and not
learning good manners."
Yuanting, holding his slightly aching mouth, was completely taken aback.
Why was he seeing his own mother?
Didn't she pass away three years ago?
And moreover...
Staring at his small arms and legs, Yuanting was baffled. Was he dreaming of his
childhood?
But this dream felt too real.
"I'm telling you again, when we get to Uncle Cheng's house, be obedient, call him Daddy
Cheng, and don’t cry or make a fuss."
"He has a little brother who doesn’t really like children. Don’t provoke him, understood?"
Yuanting, looking at the woman in front of him, felt a physiological urge to retch.
The woman frowned, even looking somewhat disdainful as she placed him on a nearby
seat.
Sitting there, Yuanting took a while to realize that it might not be a dream; the sensation
was too real.
Yuanting slowly turned to look out the window. The car drove into a familiar
neighborhood, made several turns, and then a familiar three-story house appeared in
front of him.
Yuanting blinked, confirming his age. This must be when he was seven, the day his
mother remarried and moved into the Cheng family's house with him.
Yuanting grabbed his mother's arm and bit down hard.
Shu Zhilan winced in pain, slapping his head, "What are you doing?"
Looking at her angry face, Yuanting blinked, realizing he might have been reborn.
The car stopped in front of the villa, and the door opened to reveal the butler’s familiar
face in front of Yuanting.
The butler, appearing to be in his forties, greeted Shu Zhilan and Yuanting with a smile,
"Madam and young master, welcome."
Shu Zhilan nodded faintly at him, stepping out of the car and then turning to take
Yuanting’s hand.
Yuanting swallowed hard, wondering if this was really not a dream.
Shu Zhilan walked a few steps but noticing her son hadn't moved, she turned back to
warn him, "Ting, be obedient."
Yuanting gazed at the three-story house, his breath becoming labored. He had lived many
years here, where all his beautiful childhood memories were made, but later, it became a
prison under Cheng Nanyi.
"Yuanting," Shu Zhilan tugged his hand impatiently, "Hurry up."
Yuanting sighed. If only he could have been reborn before his mother married his
stepfather, then he could have separated them. Unfortunately, it was too late; the
marriage had already happened.
"Young master, the little young master has arrived."
Hearing the butler's voice, Yuanting's mind buzzed.
Young master?
"The young master, isn't that Cheng Nanyi?"
"Save me! Save me!! Save me!!!"
Yuanting suddenly hid behind Shu Zhilan.
It was unclear who was more frightening at this moment, Shu Zhilan or Cheng Nanyi.
The butler, observing Yuanting's bird-like fright, couldn't help but smile, "Don't be afraid,
young master. Master Cheng is about your age. You can play together."
Hah!
Yuanting thought to himself, play what? A game of imprisonment?
He braced himself as if facing a great enemy.
Just like in his past life, today was the day he first met Cheng Nanyi.
As footsteps approached, Yuanting couldn’t help but poke his head out to look.
"Young master, this is young master Yuanting, he's three years younger than you, like a
little brother," introduced the butler.
Yuanting's gaze fixed on the tall, straight legs, strong and intact.
The slender youth stood there, more graceful and refined than the green bamboo in the
yard.
Nobody knew that in his past life, he had imprisoned Yuanting for four years.
Seeing the two not speaking, the butler said to Yuanting, "This is your brother, Nanyi
brother." Harmonious homes foster all success, and as a butler, balancing the relationship
between the two children was part of his job for a peaceful household atmosphere.
Yuanting glanced at him, and the butler encouraged him with a wink to take the first step.
The young master of the house had always been strictly raised, serious and taciturn
without a trace of youthful spirit, while Yuanting seemed lively and energetic, perhaps
even capable of brightening the young master's demeanor.
Yuanting looked up, his gaze rising to meet the distant expression on the youth’s face, his
mind racing with rapid images.
The man in the wheelchair, filled with gloom and hatred; the man who tied him to the
bed; the sinister figure asking, “Yuanting, do you want to escape?”...
Yuanting curled his lip and snorted disdainfully.
In his past life, he didn't dare to resist, but now... he was just a ten-year-old boy.
Yuanting pressed his lips firmly, gathering his strength.
Having a second chance at life, he thought he might as well start with a spit.
Just as he was about to spit towards Cheng Nanyi, Yuanting suddenly considered another
possibility.
If he really spat on Cheng Nanyi, would that twisted man bully him?
His small frame stood no chance against Cheng Nanyi.
So, Yuanting hesitated…
And out of impulsive self-preservation, he refrained.
Cheng Nanyi witnessed the boy with big eyes and pretty curls about to spit out a
mouthful of saliva, then abruptly suck it back in, and finally... swallow it.
Cheng Nanyi almost instinctively stepped back, his usually expressionless face unable to
maintain composure... and cracked a smile.
Author's Note:
New story: "The Silly Moonlight Always Pushes Me to the Dark Side" and "After Rebirth,
Forced to Bend by the Real Young Master" - Please add to your collection.
"The Silly Moonlight Always Pushes Me to the Dark Side"
After failing to secure his family's fortune, Zhao family's young master was abandoned in
the wilderness, left to fend for himself.
On a night of pouring rain, Qiu Zhuo walked over with an umbrella, looking down at him
from above.
The young master of the Zhao family, seeing the youth descending from the heavens,
gripped the knife in his hand tightly.
The next second, Qiu Zhuo threw away his umbrella and dragged the Zhao family's young
master away like a wild dog.
Qiu Zhuo transmigrated into a novel where the protagonist's family found and treated the
injured Zhao family's young master. However, when the young master's arch-enemy
arrived, they handed him over to save their own lives.
Later, the young master survived by a slim chance and, after becoming completely
darkened, turned into the biggest villain in the book, killing the protagonist's family.
The Qiu family, being unfriendly neighbors to the protagonist's family, was just a minor
background character. They ended up ruined due to bullying by the village tyrant.
After transmigrating, Qiu Zhuo realized he couldn't stand against the tyrant on his own
and thus thought of the future major villain.
A villain?
What about a villain? As long as it saved his life, he was willing to serve the villain, make
tea, and do menial tasks.
Lying in the wild, the Zhao family's young master witnessed a heavenly deity's descent.
The deity was a youthful boy with rosy lips and pearly teeth, who rescued him from dire
straits.
Since then, the boy became an obsession in his heart, his untouchable reverse scale.
However, his moonlight was somewhat different, always asking him, "Are you in a good
mood?"
"Do you feel like hitting someone today?"
"Do you have a desire to destroy the world?"
After he shook his head, his moonlight would beat his chest and stamp his feet,
exclaiming, "When will you finally turn dark? I'm dying of impatience here."
"After Rebirth, Forced to Bend by the Real Young Master"
Yan Shuo and Cheng Xiao grew up together, the best of friends.
But when Yan Shuo was retrieved by his biological parents to become a wealthy young
master, he turned his back on Cheng Xiao, severing their friendship and refusing to
acknowledge him.
Cheng Xiao, undeterred, attempted to visit Yan Shuo twice, only to be turned away at the
door.
Angered, Cheng Xiao accidentally fell down a mountain and was reborn in his eighteen-
year-old self.
*
Having a second chance at life, Cheng Xiao vowed not to let Yan Shuo hurt him again and
promptly broke off their friendship, out of sight, out of mind.
When Yan Shuo transformed into the true scion of a wealthy family, people mocked
Cheng Xiao for missing out on clinging to Yan Shuo's powerful coattails.
Cheng Xiao, unable to let go of his resentment: "He never needed us poor friends
anyway."
Some people, in an attempt to ingratiate themselves with Yan Shuo, went to teach Cheng
Xiao a lesson, only to be kicked out one by one by Yan Shuo.
Cheng Xiao retorted irritably, "You don't need to worry about me."
Yan Shuo swiftly grabbed his arm and pinned him against the wall, narrowing his eyes,
"Not let me worry? Then who should?"
When Yan Shuo leaned in for a kiss, Cheng Xiao was completely overwhelmed.
"Cheng Xiao, don’t even think about leaving me."
Cheng Xiao, terrified, protested, "I'm straight, I don't swing that way."
Yan Shuo’s cold fingers caressed Cheng Xiao’s face, murmuring ominously in his ear, "It
doesn't matter, just remember that you're mine."
#2 Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Yuanting felt disgusted with himself.
After all, who wouldn’t be disgusted having almost spit something out and then
swallowing it back?
He couldn't bear to think about it, and just the thought made Yuanting retch.
Cheng Nanyi, likely never having seen a child behave this way, lost control of his
expression for several seconds before stepping back, then bypassed Yuanting to head
upstairs. As he passed by Yuanting, he brushed his clothing near him, his body language
unmistakably clear.
Yuanting, watching his retreating figure, chuckled mischievously. After being confined by
Cheng Nanyi for so long, this felt like sweet retribution.
His laughter ceased as he looked up to meet the butler’s kind, smiling eyes.
Yuanting: "…"
The butler smiled and patted Yuanting's head, "Young master really likes you."
Yuanting: "…"
"Is his eyesight failing at just over forty?"
Yuanting hummed aggressively at him, and the butler's smile grew even wider.
Yuanting: "…"
Standing behind Yuanting, Shu Zhilan only saw Cheng Nanyi's indifference as he
ascended the stairs, missing Yuanting's actions. She softly warned Yuanting, "Don't
provoke your brother, understood?" Clearly, the young master of the Cheng family didn’t
take to Yuanting.
Yuanting snorted. He wouldn’t provoke him, as long as he wasn’t provoked.
Cheng Nanyi did have some obsessive-compulsive tendencies.
A teenager, even spat on by a little kid, wouldn't be disgusted for a lifetime; feeling
revulsion for three to four years and then avoiding him seemed plausible.
Even if he were to imprison him again, he probably wouldn’t share a bed with him
anymore, right?
Shu Zhilan, holding Yuanting’s hand, led him into the living room.
"So this is Yuanting, come, let grandpa have a look at you." The sixty-something-year-old
Mr. Cheng’s hair was still thick and dark, with only a few stray gray strands, making him
look more like he was in his forties.
Shu Zhilan nudged Yuanting's back from behind, "Go to grandpa."
Yuanting walked forward with his short legs, his eyes welling up in just a few steps.
It had been a long time since he had dreamed of the old man. It wasn't that he didn't want
to, but he was afraid. He feared that in his dreams, his grandfather might be so angry he'd
strangle him.
His mother's new husband, Cheng Shaolin, was the eldest son of the Cheng family, a
painter, and over forty years old, still unmarried.
The Cheng family was well-known locally, so many women aspired to become the wife of
the eldest Cheng son. However, Cheng Shaolin, being of average looks and a loner, quickly
ended a few brief romances and turned to focus on his art with a celibate dedication.
Perhaps there really is such a thing as fate between people. The odd Cheng Shaolin was
instantly captivated upon seeing Shu Zhilan, inviting her to become his model.
Shu Zhilan, with her delicate and kind appearance and naturally soft-spoken voice,
eventually won over Cheng Shaolin's heart, leading him to marry her.
The Cheng family was small; Cheng Shaolin had a brother who had died in a car accident
many years ago, leaving only the grandfather, Cheng Shaolin, and the deceased brother's
only son, Cheng Nanyi.
Initially, Shu Zhilan intended to live a good life with Cheng Shaolin, hoping to bear his
child and secure lifelong wealth. However, after years of trying without success, she
discovered that Cheng Shaolin was infertile.
This revelation devastated Shu Zhilan.
Cheng Shaolin had no business acumen, so he never involved himself in the family
business. The grandfather always focused on cultivating his talented grandson, Cheng
Nanyi.
Without a child of her own, Shu Zhilan knew that the Cheng family fortune would
eventually go to Cheng Nanyi. What would Cheng Shaolin have? Just a gallery. How could
she be content watching the vast family wealth slip away?
From then on, the Cheng family faced continuous disasters.
First, Cheng Nanyi suffered a car accident, injuring his legs and confining him to a
wheelchair. The once proud heir of the Cheng family became dispirited and aimless. The
grandfather, deteriorating in health, suddenly passed away, while her stepfather was
pushed down the stairs, becoming comatose. Shu Zhilan, with the help of her lover, took
control of the entire Cheng enterprise.
"This child is really beautiful," the grandfather said, patting Yuanting's head
affectionately.
Yuanting, with his slightly yellowish natural curls and wearing striped overalls, had a
chubby face with delicate features inherited from Shu Zhilan. His fair and smooth skin
made him irresistibly adorable.
"Ting, call him grandpa," Shu Zhilan smiled at Yuanting.
Yuanting stared at the old man.
If he were to shout in the living room, "My mother will drive you to ruin," nobody would
believe him, not even the current Shu Zhilan, who was only intent on bearing Cheng
Shaolin's child to claim her share of the inheritance.
Yuanting's only option was to ensure Cheng Shaolin and Shu Zhilan divorced as soon as
possible, to keep the Cheng family safe from Shu Zhilan.
The sooner the divorce, the better, ideally before Shu Zhilan harbored any thoughts of
coveting the Cheng family's wealth; otherwise, it would be even more complicated later.
Unfortunately, his stepfather was blinded by love. As long as Shu Zhilan didn’t betray
him, he would never initiate a divorce.
As for the old Mr. Cheng, he had always been indulgent towards Cheng Shaolin, a son with
no business acumen but a passion for painting. With a genius grandson, he let his son
pursue his interests, so without exceptional reasons, he would never interfere in Cheng
Shaolin’s marriage.
Thinking this through, it seemed a difficult situation.
Seeing Yuanting standing motionless, Shu Zhilan bent down slightly, coaxing softly, "Ting,
be good, don’t be afraid, this is grandpa."
Yuanting turned his head and sulkily sat aside, ignoring the old man.
After this episode, Yuanting had largely accepted the fact of his rebirth.
Therefore, in this life, he didn’t want to form such a deep bond with the old man.
In his past life, Yuanting was charming and sweet-talking, genuinely endearing. Mr. Cheng
and Cheng Shaolin never cared about his status as a stepson and grandson. Coupled with
Cheng Nanyi's introverted and quiet nature and the pressure of being the heir, the old
man was harsh on him, so all the unexpressed affection was showered on Yuanting.
Yuanting grew up enveloped in love from his stepfather and step-grandfather.
But such a child didn’t deserve that love.
Shu Zhilan, slightly embarrassed, said, "Dad, I’m sorry. Ting is young and grew up without
a mother, so he’s naturally a bit ignorant. I promise to teach him better."
Then, turning to Yuanting, she crouched down and spoke gently, "How can you be so
rude? Apologize to grandpa."
"No," Yuanting crossed his arms, displaying the attitude of a defiant child.
His lack of manners was a clear sign of poor upbringing, wasn't it?
And who is responsible for poor upbringing?
That would certainly be his biological mother.
The first rule of survival: tarnish the image of one's own mother.
“It’s okay, it’s okay,” the old master waved his hand dismissively, “Being shy around
strangers is normal, don’t be too harsh on him.” Yuanting’s background was well known
to the family, as Cheng Shaolin had explained. Shu Zhilan's ex-husband was a severe
alcoholic, often abusing his wife and child. Unable to bear it, Shu Zhilan chose divorce.
She always felt guilty for not being able to take proper care of Yuanting, and this time she
had to pay her ex-husband's family a hundred thousand yuan to bring her child back.
……
After a brief meeting, Yuanting was taken by Shu Zhilan to a room on the second floor.
The Cheng family had prepared a children’s room especially for Yuanting, filled with toys
any boy would love, just like in his previous life. Cheng Shaolin even personally painted a
starry sky mural on the wall for him.
This room was later set on fire by Cheng Nanyi, leaving it beyond recognition.
Seven-year-old Yuanting, weighing over forty kilograms, was lifted and thrown onto the
bed by Shu Zhilan, leaving him stunned. His mother usually appeared fragile and delicate,
yet she showed surprising strength when picking up her child.
Author’s note:
Thank you to the angels who voted for me or nourished me with nutrient solutions from
2023-06-24 20:39:46 to 2023-06-25 12:50:19~
Thanks to the angel who irrigated with nutrient solution: Shi Qing. 1 bottle;
Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!
#3 Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Yuanting drew back his short legs and looked at Shu Zhilan with a feigned expression of
confusion.
After watching him for a while, Shu Zhilan finally said softly, "Ting, you mustn't be so
rude to grandpa, understand?"
Yuanting blinked his large eyes, appearing bewildered and uncomprehending.
Shu Zhilan smiled, "If you don't behave, Mommy will send you back to grandma's and
take back the money for your brother's treatment. He will die then, do you understand?"
Yuanting: "…"
Damn! Isn't that just threatening a child?
Yuanting resembled Shu Zhilan, who was a great beauty. She had tried her hand in the
entertainment industry but was blacklisted due to lack of connections and offending
people.
At that time, Shu Zhilan, in her early twenties, although cunning, was frightened by such
circumstances and thought she had no other options but to marry a decent man.
That decent man was Yuanting's biological father, Yuan Qingguang.
The Yuan family were rural folk. Yuan Qingguang, the second child, had an older brother
and a younger sister. The family struggled financially, so he dropped out of school early
to work in the city. Fortunately, he was lucky and became a contractor after several years
of hard work.
Yuan Qingguang was quite handsome and generous with his earnings, making him an
attractive target for Shu Zhilan. A man who was decent, good-looking, somewhat wealthy,
and obedient was hard to find.
A rural lad who had made some money and married a "big star" who then bore him a
handsome son - this made Yuan Qingguang quite proud. He catered to Shu Zhilan's every
wish, spending all his money on her.
But contracting is a complicated business. It's tough to get payments from above and deal
with workers below. Yuan Qingguang, being soft-hearted, often covered expenses from
his own pocket, leading to financial strains. Shu Zhilan, unaccustomed to such a
constrained lifestyle, eventually cheated on Yuan and left him and their son.
When Shu Zhilan divorced Yuan Qingguang, she took a substantial amount of money with
her. However, after a year of lavish spending with her lover, the money ran out, and he
left her for a wealthier woman.
Shu Zhilan met Cheng Shaolin at a social gathering.
She then meticulously crafted an image of a muse goddess specifically for Cheng Shaolin,
ultimately succeeding in marrying into the Cheng family.
After Shu Zhilan and Yuan Qingguang divorced, Yuan Qingguang couldn’t handle the
blow, turning to alcohol and getting harassed for debts. Ultimately, it was Yuanting’s
uncle and aunt who pooled money to help him through the crisis, and then they took
Yuanting to the countryside to be cared for by his grandmother.
Yuanting stayed with his grandmother for a few years until Shu Zhilan suddenly
reappeared two months ago, claiming she wanted to take Yuanting with her. The family
naturally disagreed, but Yuanting himself packed a small backpack and took Shu Zhilan's
hand, telling his grandmother, uncle, and aunt, "I'm going to live a good life with Mommy
now, don’t worry about me, goodbye."
At that time, seven-year-old Yuanting, who had been missing parental affection with his
father rarely at home, was swayed by his mother's sudden tenderness and treats. Despite
his affection for his kind grandmother, the main reason for leaving was Shu Zhilan’s
promise to fund his cousin’s medical treatment.
His uncle’s son, a 12-year-old boy, suffered from a congenital heart condition and
wouldn’t survive much longer without treatment.
But the family had no money. Yuan Qingguang had indeed contributed to the family with
his earnings, but after his contracting business failed, the family’s financial aid had
depleted, and the medical treatment required a large sum.
At that time, Yuanting couldn’t think too much. Following his mother seemed not too bad,
especially if it meant helping his cousin.
Years later, Yuanting realized that Shu Zhilan had used him as a pawn.
When Shu Zhilan married Cheng Shaolin, she didn't hide her marital status since it was all
on record. Cheng Shaolin, unconcerned, even showed special care for Shu Zhilan's child.
To win over Cheng Shaolin, Shu Zhilan downplayed her previous marriage, making Cheng
Shaolin sympathize more with the child, leading him to welcome Yuanting into their
home.
At that time, Shu Zhilan hadn’t completely lost her conscience. Marrying into a wealthy
family with a husband who didn’t mind an extra son, she was willing to let her own child
live a better life, also proving to Cheng Shaolin that she was a loving mother.
Yuanting looked at Shu Zhilan, tears slowly welling up in his eyes, sobbing, "Mommy, I'll
be good, please don't send me away." Her thought of sending him away just because of a
little disobedience was a covert way to make her look bad, a tactic he couldn't openly
employ.
“Who’s sending you away?” The bedroom door opened, and a scholarly man with glasses
entered, a genial smile on his square face.
Yuanting stiffened at the sight of him.
This was his stepfather, Cheng Shaolin.
Before his rebirth, Cheng Shaolin, as a vegetative patient, lay in the hospital. Yuanting
hadn’t seen this lively, smiling version of his stepfather in many years.
The day Cheng Shaolin fell down the stone steps was arranged by Yuanting.
At that time, shortly after the grandfather's death, Yuanting returned to the country for
the funeral and had not yet left. He learned that Cheng Shaolin and Shu Zhilan were
separated but was unclear about the details, prompting him to arrange a meeting.
As a child, Cheng Shaolin often took Yuanting to a seaside café he liked, so Yuanting chose
that spot, hoping to provide some comfort.
Later, Cheng Shaolin inexplicably fell from the stone steps, hitting his head and becoming
comatose.
Yuanting later learned the truth: Cheng Shaolin had started to suspect Shu Zhilan's
involvement in Cheng Nanyi's car accident years ago and was planning to divorce her
while investigating.
If they divorced, Shu Zhilan would lose any ties to the Cheng family. Faced with the choice
between being a widow or an ex-wife, Shu Zhilan chose the former, leaving Cheng Shaolin
in a vegetative state.
For Shu Zhilan, it was like drawing a winning lot.
“Daddy…” Yuanting rushed to embrace Cheng Shaolin, crying heart-wrenchingly, "Wuu

wuu wuu..."
Yuanting of the past life only understood Shu Zhilan's actions after being imprisoned by
Cheng Nanyi; before that, he knew nothing.
Yuanting only started living with Shu Zhilan at the age of seven. Their mother-son bond
wasn’t strong, and at night, he would still cry for his grandmother. Shu Zhilan would then
weep about failing as a mother, making his stepfather, who was overly sympathetic, send
her to bed and take care of Yuanting himself.
With a nanny during the day and his stepfather at night, Shu Zhilan only sporadically
sought Yuanting’s attention when bored, otherwise dismissing him. Their interactions
were, frankly, limited.
But Yuanting, being adorable and charming, was a credit to Shu Zhilan, who never needed
to threaten him or contemplate sending him back to his grandmother.
Later, Yuanting went abroad for high school, returning only once or twice a year. His calls
to Shu Zhilan were met with perfunctory responses, and she never shared her ambitions
with him.
Until the grandfather's death and Cheng Shaolin's vegetative state, when the long-
dejected Cheng Nanyi finally revitalized and took back the company, Shu Zhilan, to save
herself, deceitfully sent Yuanting to Cheng Nanyi…
Yuanting was heartbroken to learn of Shu Zhilan's actions. She was his mother, after all.
Yet knowing Cheng Nanyi's instability, she chose to hand him over, effectively sending
him to his death.
At that time, Yuanting was prepared to die for Shu Zhilan to repay their mother-son
relationship. Although Cheng Nanyi didn’t kill him, in his heart, any connection with Shu
Zhilan was severed.
“……”
Yuanting's crying startled Cheng Shaolin, as if he was about to be sent away.
After a moment of surprise, Cheng Shaolin happily lifted Yuanting and playfully tossed
him into the air.
Cheng Shaolin had met Yuanting a few times before. Although Yuanting didn't show any
hostility, he wasn't very close either. Cheng Shaolin never expected Yuanting to suddenly
call him "Dad."
At over forty, Cheng Shaolin was hearing someone call him "Dad" for the first time, and it
was quite moving.
Cheng Shaolin glanced tenderly at Shu Zhilan, who leaned in to kiss his cheek. Holding
Yuanting in one arm and embracing Shu Zhilan with the other, Cheng Shaolin reassured,
“Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of Tingting.”
“Thank you, dear,” Shu Zhilan looked up at him, eyes full of adoration, “I love you.”
Cheng Shaolin then leaned down to kiss her.
Yuanting rolled his eyes and, with one hand pulling Shu Zhilan's hair and the other
hugging Cheng Shaolin's neck, he furiously tried to pull them apart.
A grown man in his forties, never been in love, acting all mushy.
Cheng Shaolin laughed heartily, ruffling Yuanting's hair: “Ah, Tingting is protecting
Mommy, so filial.”
Yuanting: “…”
Love-struck fools know no age, and it's truly terrifying.
It had been years since Yuanting was last coddled with phrases like “Tingting is so good,”
“Tingting is so cute,” “Come, let Daddy pat your head.” He couldn’t help but feel
goosebumps.
Cheng Shaolin did have a bit of natural talent for being a father.
Cheng Shaolin left the room only after fostering some stepfather-son bond with Yuanting.
Yuanting flopped onto the bed, feeling exhausted, as if his CPU was about to overheat.
Unlike with the grandfather, it didn't matter to Cheng Shaolin whether Yuanting behaved
well or not. Cheng Shaolin adored Shu Zhilan, viewing Yuanting through a biased lens. He
would never blame Shu Zhilan for any of Yuanting's poor behaviors.
Moreover, if Shu Zhilan ever thought of sending him away again, he would have to rely on
Cheng Shaolin.
The current situation was clear: they needed to divorce. If not, once Shu Zhilan's
ambitions inflated, Yuanting alone couldn’t predict when she might act against the Cheng
family.
But getting a love-struck fool to divorce is a tough task.
Did Shu Zhilan have any weaknesses left to exploit?

Yuanting racked his brain but couldn't come up with anything, as Shu Zhilan would
naturally not confide her deeds to him.
Lying back on the bed, Yuanting stared at the ceiling, his thoughts drifting to Cheng
Nanyi.
He wondered if his past self had died. If so, what would Cheng Nanyi feel upon waking up
handcuffed to a corpse—relief or anger?
Likely anger, considering Cheng Nanyi probably wanted to kill him personally.
But over the years, Cheng Nanyi never did kill him, just kept him confined in the Cheng
mansion.
With chefs and housekeepers at his service, and unrestricted access to takeout and
deliveries, the only constraints were not leaving the mansion and accompanying Cheng
Nanyi to bed at night.
The first time Yuanting saw Cheng Nanyi in his past life, he was awe-struck. Having
grown up in the countryside, seeing rough and unrefined boys, he had never encountered
someone so handsome and naturally aristocratic. Yuanting tried to cling to him but was
quickly pushed away by Cheng Nanyi. Persistent at first, Yuanting eventually stopped
bothering him after several rejections.
Cheng Nanyi was always cold, especially under the strict demands of the grandfather,
maturing faster than other children.
Living under the same roof with different ages and interests, the two shared little more
than meals at the same table, hardly communicating and coexisting without issue.
The opportunity for them to grow closer came after going abroad.
Both Cheng Nanyi and Yuanting started studying abroad in high school, with Cheng Nanyi
leaving for a foreign country three years before Yuanting. When Yuanting left, the family
asked Cheng Nanyi to look after him, to which he agreed.
Initially thought to be a mere formality, Yuanting didn’t expect Cheng Nanyi to actually
fulfill the promise.
Cheng Nanyi was in university, and Yuanting in high school, located in neighboring
countries just a three-hour drive apart.
Thus, every Saturday, Cheng Nanyi would drive over in the morning, they'd have lunch
together, exchange updates on their lives, and then Cheng Nanyi would drive back to his
school in the afternoon.
Yuanting often wondered why Cheng Nanyi, who didn’t seem to like him much in their
childhood, was so obediently taking care of him abroad.
The accident happened on an ordinary Saturday, with Cheng Nanyi driving the three
hundred kilometers to his school as usual.
It was a journey of three years of constant travel, a well-known route, a path inevitably
leading to death.
Author's Note:
Thanks to the angels who voted for me with their King Tickets or nourished me with
Nutrient Fluids from 2023-06-25 12:50:19 to 2023-06-26 14:01:20~
Thanks to the angel who nourished me with Nutrient Fluid: Ah Shan, 8 bottles; San Wu, 1
bottle;
I am very grateful for everyone's support and will continue to work hard!
#4 Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Dinner was a family affair.
The wedding of Shu Zhilan and Cheng Shaolin had already taken place a while ago, but
they only moved into the large mansion today. This meal was a welcome dinner for the
mother and son.
At the long dining table, the grandfather sat at the head, with Cheng Shaolin and his wife
on one side, and Yuanting seated between Cheng Shaolin and Shu Zhilan. Cheng Nanyi sat
alone on the other side.
Cheng Nanyi's father had passed away soon after his birth, and his mother, a dancer, was
currently leading a dance troupe abroad and rarely returned. Cheng Nanyi had always
lived with his uncle and grandfather.
After the grandfather offered some welcoming and optimistic words about their future
life together, everyone began to eat.
Yuanting, with his short arms and legs, sat noticeably lower in his chair than the others.
Cheng Shaolin took good care of him, serving him plenty of dishes. Yuanting was
genuinely hungry since thinking hard had exhausted him, and he needed to replenish his
energy.
Yuanting used to be very conscious of his image, growing up in such a family and being a
pseudo-rich second generation. But now, image... was the least of his concerns.
So, Yuanting put down his chopsticks, grabbing a rib with his left hand and a chicken foot
with his right, eating messily with oil dripping down his chin.
Shu Zhilan frowned slightly at his eating manner and whispered in his ear, "Don’t use
your hands, use chopsticks."
"But it's not convenient with chopsticks... blah," Yuanting replied loudly, ending with a
playful sound.
Everyone at the table looked over. Shu Zhilan felt embarrassed, her ears turning red with
shame.
“It’s okay,” the grandfather waved his hand, “He’s just a child, innocent and cheerful.
Don’t be too strict. He can learn gradually. Take your time, Tingting, no one is rushing
you.”
Yuanting blinked at the grandfather, who smiled warmly at him.
There, that smile made it clear he meant what he said.
Yuanting sighed internally, wondering why a chairman would allow someone to eat with
their hands at his dining table. Didn't he find it disgraceful?
Cheng Shaolin patted Shu Zhilan's shoulder, consoling her, “It’s okay, we’ll teach him
gradually. The child had a hard past. We need to love him even more now.” Saying this,
Cheng Shaolin looked at Yuanting with evident sympathy.
Yuanting: “…”
After hearing Cheng Shaolin's words, the grandfather glanced at Yuanting again,
seemingly deep in thought, and then instructed the chef, “Serve a bowl of ribs just for
Tingting.”
The chef happily brought over a bowl of ribs and placed it in front of Yuanting, looking at
him with eager anticipation.
He had been cooking for the Cheng family for many years, and aside from Cheng Shaolin,
no one had ever praised his cooking.
Both the grandfather and Cheng Nanyi were the types who showed little reaction when
eating; it was hard to tell if they found the food good or not. And as for Cheng Shaolin,
who frequently complimented him… he said everything was delicious, so the chef felt his
career lacked fulfillment.
Now, finally, there was someone who vividly expressed their likes and dislikes without
speaking. Yuanting's body language alone was a clear display, reigniting the chef’s
passion and giving his career new direction.
Yuanting was too preoccupied to notice the chef's eager gaze, instead marveling at the
large bowl of ribs in front of him, questioning inwardly, “Do wealthy families also make
such a large pot of ribs? Shouldn’t it be small and exquisite?”
In his past life, every dish was delicately garnished. Why so extravagant now?
Seeing Yuanting staring at the ribs motionless, the grandfather sighed affectionately, “Eat
up, you can have as much as you want in our house.”
Yuanting: “…”
Seeing the grandfather’s look, Yuanting imagined himself as a starving refugee drooling
over food, and then looked at the bowl of meat, thinking, "I brought this on myself."
Everyone watched Yuanting, and Cheng Shaolin coaxed him in a gentle voice, “Come on,
Tingting, eat your ribs.”
With no other choice, Yuanting shakily reached out his small hand to grab a rib and,
under everyone’s gaze, took a big bite, “Ow-woo,” eliciting satisfied smiles from everyone
as if they had saved a poor child.
Yuanting: “…” Just... absurd.
Yuanting actually wasn't accustomed to eating with his hands, so when it didn't achieve
the expected reaction, he discreetly switched back to using chopsticks.
Just as he picked up the chopsticks, his imaginative stepfather exclaimed with surprise,
"Look, Tingting can use chopsticks now, how clever."
The grandfather looked over, nodding in approval, "What a well-behaved child."
Yuanting: “…”
Yuanting continued eating, feeling mentally exhausted, and inadvertently locked eyes
with Cheng Nanyi.
Yuanting noticed that Cheng Nanyi's eating pace had slowed down considerably, and his
chopsticks no longer ventured towards the ribs or the large chicken dish.
Having shared meals with him for so many years, Yuanting knew Cheng Nanyi well.
Cheng Nanyi was meticulous in his actions, leaving no room for criticism. For instance,
while eating, he would evenly rotate between dishes, never focusing too much on one. It
was about fairness and not exposing any flaws.
Now, his deliberate avoidance of the ribs and chicken clearly indicated disgust.
The adult Cheng Nanyi, even if Yuanting were to urinate in front of him during a meal,
could maintain composure. But the current Cheng Nanyi evidently lacked such fortitude.
Glancing around and seeing no one noticing, Yuanting swallowed his mouthful of food
and then blew a bubble towards Cheng Nanyi sitting diagonally across from him...
Cheng Nanyi immediately looked disgusted, put down his chopsticks, and turned away,
refusing to glance in Yuanting's direction again.
Yuanting swung his legs with satisfaction, thinking, 'If I can't disgust others, at least I can
disgust you.'
As soon as Cheng Nanyi set down his chopsticks, the butler noticed and asked, "Young
master, are you not feeling well with your appetite?"
Cheng Nanyi replied indifferently, "I’m full."
The grandfather glanced at Cheng Nanyi's barely touched food, frowning slightly, "Are
you not feeling well? You've eaten so little today."
"Just not very hungry," Cheng Nanyi said, lowering his gaze to avoid looking across the
table.
"Perhaps he's just tired from playing basketball, losing his appetite for the moment. He
can have a snack later tonight if he gets hungry," suggested the butler.
The grandfather nodded, and as his gaze swept past Yuanting, who was eagerly eating
with a spoon, he couldn't help but chuckle, "Nanyi should learn from Tingting. Look how
heartily he eats."
"Tingting, you should invite your brother to eat more often… oh," the grandfather started
speaking playfully as well.
"Sure thing, Grandpa," Yuanting responded, opening his mouth wide and taking another
big bite.
Cheng Nanyi, unable to bear it any longer, kept his eyes downcast, following the Cheng
family rule that everyone must finish eating before leaving the table.
After dinner, the nanny brought dessert and fruit. Yuanting, already tired from the day,
didn't act up and obediently finished his meal before heading upstairs with Shu Zhilan.
Expecting a scolding from Shu Zhilan, Yuanting was surprised when she patted his head,
"You did well. I didn't expect the grandfather to like you so much. Keep being good like
this."
Yuanting: “…”
At seven, Yuanting still needed assistance with some tasks, so Shu Zhilan planned to help
him bathe.
"I’ll run the bath for you, can you wash yourself?" Shu Zhilan asked. Having just brought
Yuanting back, she still had some maternal patience, but before she could act, Cheng
Shaolin entered, "I’ll help Tingting bathe. You go rest."
"But you've had a long day too."
"It’s okay, and it's more convenient since Tingting is a boy."
"He's grown up now, he can bathe himself," Shu Zhilan said apologetically to Cheng
Shaolin, "I don’t want to burden you with Tingting."
"How can you say that? We’re a family now, and Tingting calls me Dad. I’ll treat him as my
own son."
"Husband…" Shu Zhilan's eyes welled up with emotion, nestling into Cheng Shaolin's
embrace.
“……”
Yuanting, feeling his teeth ache from the sappiness, rolled his eyes and pushed the two
out of the bathroom, saying, "I'm a big kid now, I can do it myself."
"Tingting is really capable," praised Cheng Shaolin.
Yuanting slammed the bathroom door shut with a "bang."
Go be lovey-dovey outside, you top-tier romantics.
Cheng Shaolin asked Shu Zhilan to leave and stayed outside the bathroom himself, feeling
uneasy about a seven-year-old bathing alone.
As Yuanting refused to let him enter, Cheng Shaolin stood by the door, talking to Yuanting
and listening to his voice to ensure his safety.
Listening to Cheng Shaolin's gentle baritone, Yuanting felt both moved and helpless.
If Cheng Shaolin weren't so love-struck, Yuanting might have lost a perfect stepfather.
Life is a mix of blessings and curses; one can't have it all.
After the bath, Cheng Shaolin insisted on telling Yuanting a bedtime story about
Cinderella and the Prince, which Yuanting reluctantly listened to after several
unsuccessful attempts to send him away.
Lying in bed with his legs crossed, Yuanting blinked his big eyes innocently and asked,
"Dad, why did the prince choose Cinderella instead of a princess?"
Cheng Shaolin laughed, "Because the prince didn't like the princess; he only loved
Cinderella. That's love, Tingting. You're young now, but you'll understand it when you're
older."
"Love can cross age, race, social class, and withstand all hardships. Just like your mom
and me, as long as we love each other, nothing can stop us from being together."
"Tingting, Dad will teach you an English word today: soulmate, which means a spiritual
companion. Your mom and I are just like that..."
"..." Yuanting was completely stupefied by this torrent of romantic notions.
Yuanting turned over and closed his eyes.
Truly, a top-tier romantic at over forty years old; his thoughts would leave anyone
reflective with a single word: incredible!
Seeing that Yuanting had fallen asleep obediently, Cheng Shaolin got out of bed, turned
off the bedside lamp, and tiptoed out of the room.
Even though Cheng Nanyi was in the family, Cheng Shaolin never felt the innocent charm
of a child in him.
Cheng Nanyi was like a carbon copy of the grandfather, composed and mature beyond his
years. Whenever Cheng Shaolin went out to play, his older nephew would look at him
with a disapproving gaze of 'lack of ambition.' If he tried telling bedtime stories to Cheng
Nanyi, he would be dismissed as 'childish.'
How could such a child invoke a sense of fatherly pride?
But Yuanting was different; soft, adorable, and endearing. He would ask questions during
story time, allowing Cheng Shaolin to experience the freshness of fatherhood and a
strong sense of accomplishment.
Hearing the door close, Yuanting breathed a sigh of relief.
After Yuanting's memories became clearer as he grew older, Cheng Shaolin had always
been a gentle and polite figure. Suddenly encountering a middle-aged man immersed in
love was something Yuanting found quite unaccustomed to.
Staring at the ceiling in the dark, Yuanting flexed his wrists. Without handcuffs or Cheng
Nanyi lying beside him, he should have felt relaxed and pleased. Yet, lying in the room
that Cheng Nanyi later set on fire, he felt a sense of unease, with images of Cheng Nanyi's
arson flooding his mind upon closing his eyes.
Unable to stay in bed, Yuanting quietly got up, planning to drink a cold cola to calm
himself.
As he opened his door to go downstairs, Yuanting heard the grandfather's voice.
Yuanting and Cheng Nanyi's rooms were adjacent, so he had to pass by Cheng Nanyi's
room to go downstairs, and the grandfather's voice was coming from there.
It was only nine in the evening. In his childhood, Cheng Nanyi's study hours extended
until eleven at night, so the grandfather was likely in his room to check on his studies.
Unable to resist, Yuanting tiptoed, intending to sneak downstairs.
"Now that there's a younger brother in the house, do you find anything difficult to adapt
to?" the grandfather asked.
"It's okay."
That was Cheng Nanyi's voice. Yuanting involuntarily stopped in his tracks, ears perked
up.
"Tingting is still young and has had his share of hardships, a bit simple and naive. You
should be more understanding towards him."
Yuanting grimaced. It was the first time he heard the terms 'simple and naive' associated
with himself.
"He..." Cheng Nanyi began, his voice tinged with hesitation.
Yuanting's heart raced. Would Cheng Nanyi complain to the grandfather about him being
slovenly and annoying?
Despite the grandfather's strictness with Cheng Nanyi, he was quite satisfied and proud
of his grandson. Cheng Nanyi, though young, always spoke thoughtfully and didn't talk
recklessly, so the grandfather held immense trust in him.
"He..." After a long pause, Cheng Nanyi finally said three words, "Is very unique."
Yuanting: “…”
Huh, that's hard to interpret. He couldn't quite fathom the meaning yet and decided to
observe more.
Author's Note:
Thanks to the angels who supported me with King Tickets and Nutrient Fluids from
2023-06-26 14:01:21 to 2023-06-29 17:09:03~
Thanks to the angel who nourished me with Nutrient Fluid: 'My Worldview Altered by
Yingyuan Jun', 12 bottles; 'Happy Chubby', 1 bottle;
I am very grateful for everyone's support and will continue to work hard!
#5 Chapter 5
Chapter 5
As expected, on the first night of his rebirth, Yuanting, who was sleeping alone without
handcuffs for the first time, dreamt of Cheng Nanyi.
In the dream, Cheng Nanyi, sitting in a wheelchair, whispered into Yuanting's ear with a
sinister tone, "Yuanting, you're so cute, I like you."
Ah, damn, damn, damn…
Yuanting sprang up from the bed like a carp leaping out of water, dashed towards the
balcony, nearly tumbling over the railing, which jolted him awake.
In his past life, he had once jumped from the second floor.
But it wasn't a suicide attempt; it was out of sheer boredom and to play a prank on his
bodyguard.
After all, the second floor wasn't very high. Inspired by parkour enthusiasts, Yuanting
jumped down from the second floor, bouncing here and there, until he misstepped and
broke his leg.
During that time, both he and Cheng Nanyi were in wheelchairs. Cheng Nanyi often
glanced at his leg, making Yuanting suspect he wanted to break his other leg to have a
companion in wheelchairs. Since then, Yuanting never dared to jump again, and Cheng
Nanyi had the balcony glass sealed, unlike now, where only a railing prevented a fall.
This scare brought Yuanting back to full alertness. There was no Cheng Nanyi in a
wheelchair here, only the ten-year-old version.
The early morning air was fresh, and from the balcony, he could see the entire Cheng
family's backyard.
Shu Zhilan, dressed in a pale blue gown, sat on a white bench among the bushes, while
Cheng Shaolin painted the scene from a short distance away.
Shu Zhilan was undeniably beautiful, the kind that takes your breath away at first sight.
On the other side, the grandfather was teaching Cheng Nanyi Tai Chi. Despite his young
age, Cheng Nanyi's form was impressive, an unusual hobby indeed.
"Ah, the young master is awake," the butler exclaimed, lifting his DV camera to capture
Yuanting.
Spotting the camera, Yuanting peeked his small head through the railing bars, tilting his
head and flashing a 'yeah' sign.
As Cheng Nanyi looked up, Yuanting cheekily stuck out his tongue at him, making a
playful sound.
Cheng Nanyi's expression cracked into a smile, then slowly shifted his gaze away, tilting
his head slightly towards the sun, perhaps questioning his way of waking up.
"Tingting... Hahaha..." Cheng Shaolin's hearty laughter rang out, "Be careful, don't fall
down... hahaha... Daddy will come up and help you dress, hahaha..."
The grandfather was laughing, so was the butler, the gardeners tending to the plants, the
secretary coming to pick up the grandfather for work, and even Cheng Nanyi turned his
gaze back to Yuanting.
Yuanting was full of question marks, wondering why everyone was so cheerful early in
the morning.
The warm August breeze blew over, and Yuanting, bending at the waist, retreated from
the railing, then inadvertently glanced down...
Damn!!!
Yuanting was completely stunned. Why was he stark naked?
Where were his underpants???
Life is full of surprises, like his sudden rebirth, or like taking a bath before bed wearing
only new, slightly large underpants, which slipped off during sleep...
Seeing the lonely Crayon Shin-chan on the bed, Yuanting dejectedly covered his little bird.
That's it, his innocence was lost, his little bird, never before exposed in either of his lives,
was now shamefully revealed...
……
Head drooping, Yuanting was led downstairs by Cheng Shaolin and Shu Zhilan for
breakfast, while the grandfather and the butler watched him with amusement.
Yuanting greeted them sullenly; though shameless, possessing the mind of an adult, such
an incident was still hard to accept.
Yuanting, lacking the mood for mischief, quietly ate his breakfast, unaware that he had
just upped his cuteness factor by two notches in the eyes of the Cheng family. After all,
who wouldn't adore a child with little yellow curls, innocently revealing his 'little bird'
first thing in the morning?
"Shaolin, Yuanting's hair seems a bit yellow. When you have time, take him to the hospital
to check if he's malnourished."
Cheng Shaolin gently stroked Yuanting's head, "I think so too. We'll get it checked soon."
The mention of malnutrition only heightened Cheng Shaolin's affection for the poor child.
Yuanting: “…”
After breakfast, the grandfather left for work, and Cheng Shaolin and Shu Zhilan went out
to visit friends, leaving only Yuanting and Cheng Nanyi at home.
Yuanting looked around and felt a sense of déjà vu.
This setting was exactly like his past life: the butler, bodyguard, chef, plus Yuanting and
Cheng Nanyi. It was almost identical, except everyone was younger.
Yuanting felt a chill down his spine.
The butler brought over some fruit, and Yuanting, tilting his head, tried to look cute:
"Uncle Butler, can I see the video you took this morning?"
At the mention of the video, the butler beamed with pride. He had captured it perfectly,
excellent material for future family gatherings.
When the young master gets a girlfriend, it would be a delightful memory to share with
her.
"The DV camera belongs to Brother Nanyi. If you want to watch it, you might ask him."
？？？
The DV camera belongs to Cheng Nanyi?
Yuanting was speechless. A wealthy family, and they only have one DV camera?
The thought of his fully exposed video being in Cheng Nanyi's hands gave Yuanting a bit
of anxiety. After mentally preparing himself, he carried a plate of fruit upstairs and
knocked on Cheng Nanyi's door.
"Come in," a youthful voice tinged with coldness and a hint of immaturity responded
from inside.
Yuanting held the fruit plate against his chest with one hand and struggled to turn the
doorknob with the other before entering.
He had shared this room with Cheng Nanyi for four years and was quite familiar with it.
Cheng Nanyi was sitting at his desk reading. Hearing the door, he turned around,
expecting the maid, but was surprised to see the little blond boy.
His brow instantly furrowed.
As an adult in his twenties, Yuanting was observant, especially of Cheng Nanyi's

expressions. The look on Cheng Nanyi's face was clearly one of caution and disdain.
Wasn't he the one who called him cute and said he liked him last night?
Or had he imagined it?
"Hello, brother," Yuanting politely greeted, lifting the fruit plate, "I brought you some
fruit."
Cheng Nanyi glanced at the fruit plate in Yuanting's hand, his expression turning sour:
"Thanks, but I don’t want any. You can take it away."
As he spoke, Cheng Nanyi stood up, walked to the door, opened it, and gestured for
Yuanting to leave.
Yuanting: “???”
Am I not your little cutie anymore?
Yuanting felt he still had much to learn about Cheng Nanyi. How could he act one way in
front of the grandfather and another when alone?
Was he only saying those things to please the grandfather? As expected, a pervert from a
young age, always scheming.
"Brother, actually, I wanted to look at your DV camera, is that okay?" Yuanting batted his
large eyes, his eyelashes fluttering in what should have been quite a cute manner.
“No way,” Cheng Nanyi refused without a hint of mercy.
Yuanting’s face fell immediately: “Why not?” It was just a DV, after all. Cheng Nanyi didn’t
seem like someone who would refuse such a request.
"Because..." Cheng Nanyi lifted his eyelids to look over, "you're too dirty and will make
my DV dirty."
！！！
Yuanting's mouth fell open. Although he had crafted this persona himself, the blunt rebuff
was still a bit much.
Yuanting's little chest heaved with anger.
"If you want to play, you can ask Uncle to buy you one." Cheng Nanyi then gestured
towards the door, clearly eager for Yuanting to leave.
Receiving such a direct snub, Yuanting’s temper flared. If he’s disgusted by me, I’ll show
him just how 'dirty' I can be.
Yuanting's eyes gleamed mischievously as he picked up an apple from the fruit platter.
Squinting provocatively at Cheng Nanyi, Yuanting first licked the apple all around with
his tongue, then began biting into the skin, relishing the juicy crunch like a human
juicer…
Cheng Nanyi’s eyes widened in disbelief, seeing the richest expression on his face since
Yuanting’s rebirth.
Yuanting gnawed vigorously at the apple, spitting the peels into the trash can with a
series of pfft sounds. Apple juice dribbled down his chin onto the carpet, leaving Cheng
Nanyi’s face as cracked as the peeling walls of an old house.
Yuanting pushed the pit-marked apple forward, blinking his innocent eyes: “My mom
says eating an apple like this is healthy and hygienic. Saliva can disinfect, did you know,
brother?”
Cheng Nanyi retreated out of the room, while Yuanting shook his head triumphantly.
Score one for him, utterly satisfying.
Yuanting strutted away from Cheng Nanyi's room, hands on his back and walking with a
swagger.
Child's play, manipulating a ten-year-old Cheng Nanyi was nothing for him.
Cheng Nanyi watched Yuanting’s retreating figure and then glanced at the mess in his
bedroom, frowning slightly.
If Uncle hadn’t divorced his mom, that little dirty kid would have continued living in the
same space as Cheng Nanyi.
Between making Uncle divorce and dealing with the kid, Cheng Nanyi reluctantly chose
the latter for the time being.
Author’s note:
2023-06-29 17:09:03 to 2023-06-30 22:37:55~
Thanks to the angel who irrigated with nutrient solution: Happy Chubby 1 bottle;
#6 Chapter 6
Chapter 6
After Yuanting left, Cheng Nanyi called the butler and instructed him to throw out the
bedroom carpet and clean the room thoroughly.
The butler looked around the room and then noticed the apple with bite marks on the
desk, along with some juice nearby…
Looking at Cheng Nanyi, the butler saw him turn his head away, his face a picture of
resolute avoidance.
Seeing this, the butler imagined what had happened, especially since he was the one who
had sent Yuanting to find the young master.
“The young master has just arrived; his living habits might be different from ours. We
need to teach him gradually,” the butler said, trying to mediate any potential discord, “He
needs time to adapt.”
Cheng Nanyi remained expressionless, saying nothing.
The butler voiced his concern: “Young master, you won’t lose your temper and hit him,
will you?” After all, Yuanting wasn’t his blood relative, and it wouldn't sound good if news
spread that he was hit soon after arriving.
At these words, Cheng Nanyi frowned slightly, his hands subconsciously sliding into his
pockets as if to hide them.
Seeing Cheng Nanyi’s reaction, the butler felt reassured.
The young master of the house had some obsessive cleanliness habits. He probably
wouldn't dare come within three meters of young master Yuanting, let alone lay a hand
on him.
As if to confirm the butler's thoughts, Yuanting bounced out of the room and ran towards
Cheng Nanyi, shouting, “Brother, let’s play together…”
Cheng Nanyi's body reacted faster than his mind. By the time he realized it, he had
already sidestepped to avoid Yuanting.
Yuanting, however, had no intention of pouncing on him. It was just a feint. He changed
direction two meters away from Cheng Nanyi and dashed towards the staircase, singing
as he ran, “Hehehe, I am so smart, so smart… so smart, so smart…”
Cheng Nanyi stood straight, slowly exhaling before straightening his clothes with a flick
of his hand.
The butler, witnessing this, couldn't help but sigh.
If the young master ever got into a fight, just smearing something dirty on himself could
make the young master collapse on the spot without a scratch. He was like an unbeaten
warrior.
“Should I talk to the young master?” the butler asked tentatively.
“No need,” Cheng Nanyi replied, turning to enter his bedroom and closing the door
behind him.
The butler paused, the room was still a mess. Why had he gone in already? Was he
overwhelmed by frustration?
Cheng Nanyi stood at the bedroom door, staring at the oxidized apple on the table, slowly
steeling himself against the discomfort. To deal with a dirty kid, he first needed to
desensitize himself.
Lunch was shared between Yuanting and Cheng Nanyi. They sat at the long dining table
in the same positions as the previous day.
Normally, when Cheng Nanyi ate alone, the chef would prepare simpler meals. Today,
with Yuanting added, the menu was a bit more elaborate.
Regardless of simplicity or richness, the chef never dared to cut corners with Cheng
Nanyi, ensuring each dish was exquisitely plated. The carved radishes on each plate were
all different – red, white, yellow hearts… vibrant and showcasing excellent knife skills!
Yuanting forked a carved flower into his mouth, chewed it, then spat it out with a “ptui
ptui ptui.” As expected, something that looks good is just superficial; inside, it was still
just a white radish.
Feeling Cheng Nanyi's gaze, Yuanting swung his legs and spat out another piece.
Not to brag, but Cheng Nanyi now doesn’t dare come within a meter of Yuanting.
Yuanting's next goal is to make Cheng Nanyi avoid him whenever they meet.
Just thinking about it makes him ecstatically happy.
“Uncle Liu, serve him a separate portion,” Cheng Nanyi instructed the butler.
Though he needed to desensitize himself, it had to be gradual. Moving too fast could
backfire.
Yuanting was in high spirits. The more Cheng Nanyi despised him, the happier he was; it
meant his plan was working.
“Knowing young master Yuanting has short arms, I’ve specially served him a separate
portion…” the butler commented, gratified, “The young master has grown up, become
sensible, and knows how to take care of others.”
“???” Yuanting stared at the butler, wondering if such imaginative thinking could only
come from someone deeply in love, like his 'romantic brain' stepfather.
Cheng Nanyi remained expressionless, apparently used to the butler’s 'nonsense'.
The butler served Yuanting his own meal, and he ate quite properly. He too wanted to
enjoy a peaceful meal, as sometimes his antics even disgusted himself…
After eating his fill, Yuanting yawned. It was time for his afternoon nap.
Seven-year-old children need their naps, and Yuanting, who had poor sleep at night in his
previous life, often needed a midday rest. Lying in bed, he quickly fell into a deep sleep.
The butler peered through the door crack and sighed, “What a good child.”
What Yuanting didn’t realize was that acting like a child as an adult had its limitations. In
the butler's eyes, a child who ate obediently, communicated well, and didn’t cry in the
absence of parents was an absolute angel. A little untidiness was no major fault and could
be attributed to a tough past, something that could be rectified.
Plus, a pretty child, even if scruffy, was still endearing.
If Yuanting knew what the butler was thinking, he would definitely roll his eyes. He was
seven, not three years old, well past the age of throwing tantrums for his parents'
attention.
……
That evening, the old master didn't return for dinner due to the busyness at the company.
With a son unable to help and a grandson not yet grown up, the old master had no choice
but to take matters into his own hands.
Watching his stepfather and mother being affectionate at the dinner table, Yuanting lost
any desire to cause trouble. After all, there's no cure for being lovesick.
The old master didn't come home for the next few days, and according to the butler, he
was away on a business trip. Meanwhile, Cheng Shaolin kept busy, first taking Yuanting
for a medical check-up, which surprisingly revealed malnutrition. This confirmed the sad
reality of Yuanting’s unfortunate situation.
Unbelievable!
Yuanting touched his own blond hair, pondering how his stylish natural hair color could
be mistaken for a sign of malnutrition.
Malnutrition? In the Cheng household?
The chef rolled up his sleeves, determined to rectify this impossibility. Extra meals were a
must.
Ribs, pig trotters, chicken soup, and desserts – everything was arranged.
Yuanting: “…” Well, he would eat then. It was quite delicious, after all.
But why was Cheng Nanyi sitting on the sofa, watching him eat?
Yuanting scooped up a spoonful of sticky rice and walked towards Cheng Nanyi, his
eyelashes fluttering: “Brother, do you want some? I can feed you.”
Cheng Nanyi immediately stood up and left the scene of potential trouble.
Yuanting discreetly turned the spoon back to himself. Ugh… he didn't really want to eat
that sticky mess.
However, he couldn't deny that living life after rebirth was incredibly satisfying…
Hahaha…
……
In the days the old master was away, Yuanting readjusted his plans.
Besides attracting the prejudices of the old master and Cheng Nanyi, the key was to
internally disrupt the harmony between Cheng Shaolin and Shu Zhilan. The old master
and Cheng Nanyi were merely supplementary factors.
So, how to make a loving couple loathe each other and become enemies?
It must involve mutual disgust and aversion…
Making Shu Zhilan despise Cheng Shaolin seemed unlikely, as Cheng Shaolin’s financial
prowess could mask any flaws.
Therefore, the only option was to make Cheng Shaolin detest Shu Zhilan…
The question became how to make someone smitten with love loathe their muse.
Shu Zhilan was beautiful, gentle, virtuous, and generous – undoubtedly perfect in Cheng
Shaolin’s eyes. So how could this perception of perfection be shattered?
Yuanting, propping his chin in thought, realized this couldn’t be rushed. It required
gradual infiltration and preparation for a long-term battle, potentially lasting a year, two,
or even three to five years…
After all, it depended on the severity of Cheng Shaolin’s lovesickness.
If it was akin to cancer-level…
Sigh…
Indeed, disgusting Cheng Nanyi seemed much simpler.
Just as he thought of Cao Cao, hey, guess what? Cheng Nanyi appeared.
Yuanting hopped up happily to greet him, his voice high-pitched: “Brother, you’re back…”
Now, Cheng Nanyi looked at him as if he was seeing a plague, and Yuanting thoroughly
enjoyed this feeling of “Cheng Nanyi being afraid of him.”
The more Cheng Nan Yi seemed to fear him, the more Yuan Ting enjoyed getting closer to
him, thinking, 'I'll scare you, but not to death.'
Running along, Yuan Ting slowed down and then stopped, tilting his head to look at the
person following Cheng Nan Yi. Without any politeness, he asked, "And who are you?"
The person accompanying Cheng Nan Yi was his friend, Mo Yi Kai, two years his senior
and a neighbor of the Cheng family, resulting in a close relationship between the two.
This close relationship continued into their adulthood.
When Yuan Ting was confined in the villa, Mo Yi Kai often came to gawk. Every time he
saw Yuan Ting, he'd exclaim in mock surprise, "Wow, you're still alive?"
Yuan Ting had long wanted to beat him up.
But in his previous life, it wasn't feasible to act on this, especially with a bothersome
bodyguard always around. In this life, it was even less possible; at this time, Mo Yi Kai,
only twelve years old, could easily knock Yuan Ting over with a single kick.
"Wow, so this is Nan Yi's cheap little cousin, huh? Pretty handsome," Mo Yi Kai said,
walking up in feigned astonishment and ruffling Yuan Ting's hair. "Still a curly-haired kid.
Why's your hair so blond? Malnourished? Didn't your cousin feed you well?"
Yuan Ting glared at him through gritted teeth, finding him incredibly irritating.
Cheng Nan Yi glanced at Yuan Ting, handed the basketball he was holding to the nanny,
and said to Mo Yi Kai, "I'm going upstairs to shower. Make yourself at home… and it's
probably best if you stay away from him."
"Go ahead," Mo Yi Kai waved off nonchalantly. "Never seen you so fond of kids before,
giving me a special warning. What, am I going to eat him?"
Cheng Nan Yi: "..."
Good advice is wasted on those determined to ignore it.
Cheng Nan Yi then turned and went upstairs.
Author's note:
Thank you to the angels who supported me with Dominator Votes or Nutrient Solutions
from June 30, 2023, 22:37:55 to July 2, 2023, 09:32:33~
Thank you to the angel who sent Deep-Sea Torpedoes: Brown Sugar Medicine 16.
Thank you to the angels who sent Landmines: Your Favorite CPs Have Broken Up 2.
Thank you so much for your support, I will continue to work hard!
#7 Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Yuan Ting forcefully pulled away the hand covering his head and huffed loudly.
"Such an impolite kid," Mo Yi Kai clicked his tongue, "What a waste of a pretty face."
Yuan Ting bared his teeth at him, thinking, 'You're one to talk about manners, asking
everyone if they're 'still alive'.'
"Master Mo is here," the butler greeted with a smile, "Please come in, I'll make tea for
you."
"Thanks, Uncle Liu," Mo Yi Kai said, making himself comfortable on the sofa as if it was
his own home. Then he beckoned Yuan Ting, "Come here, curly hair, sing a song for me."
Yuan Ting: "..." Sing for your uncle, why don't you? You're really too familiar.
Seeing Mo Yi Kai teasing Yuan Ting, the butler commented with a laugh, "Our young
master is adorable, isn’t he?"
"Adorable, of course. I'd love to have a younger brother or sister, but my mom refuses to
have more kids," Mo Yi Kai sighed, "She says now that I’m grown, she doesn’t want to be
tied down by children again."
Yuan Ting smirked, thinking, 'Don't feel too bad. Your dad got someone else to have a
brother and a sister for you. They must be about three years old now.'
When the affair was exposed, the mistress’s twins were already in college, and much of
the property had been transferred.
Mo Yi Kai's mother had always believed her husband to be loyal and family-oriented.
When she suddenly learned about his two grown illegitimate children, she couldn't cope
and slit her wrists. By the time she was found, blood had flowed from the bathtub to the
stairs.
It was only after dealing with the aftermath that Mo Yi Kai discovered his father had
already fled the country.
"Your parents are still young; they might decide to have another child," the butler said as
he poured a cup of tea for him, then added, "Please make yourself comfortable, Master
Mo. I'll go wash some fruit."
"I'll help." Yuan Ting eagerly raised his hand. "I'll wash the fruit for this brother."
"Wow, curly hair can wash fruit, how impressive," Mo Yi Kai teased, giving Yuan Ting a
thumbs-up.
……
When Cheng Nan Yi came downstairs, he saw Mo Yi Kai sitting on the sofa eating an
apple, with Yuan Ting holding his little face up and blinking his big eyes, asking, "Is it
tasty?"
Yuanting was dressed simply today, in a white T-shirt and black shorts, looking like a
clean and tender young child. At first glance, he seemed quite likable.
Cheng Nanyi estimated the distance and then sat down on a sofa three meters away from
Yuanting.
"Why sit so far?" Mo Yikai asked, biting into an apple with a smug look. "This cheap little
cousin of yours is quite accommodating, even washed fruits for me. Maybe I should take
this kid home."
"You mean... that apple..." Cheng Nanyi instinctively leaned back, feeling a chill down his
spine, "was washed by this kid?"
"Yep." Mo Yikai took another bite, munching away happily.
"Having a little brother is really great. I'm envious and jealous. Come on, little brother,
bring your brother an apple."
Yuanting obediently grabbed an apple and shook it at Cheng Nanyi: "Brother, do you
want to eat?"
Cheng Nanyi, looking into Yuanting's beautiful, innocent, clear yet slightly foolish eyes,
was about to refuse when Yuanting stuck out his tongue and began licking the apple,
saying, "Don’t worry, brother, I’m disinfecting it for you."
Cheng Nanyi instinctively closed his eyes to avoid this uncomfortable scene, his legs
unconsciously splayed out in a fleeing motion.
But soon Cheng Nanyi opened his eyes and stared intently at Yuanting, without blinking.
Mo Yikai continued munching on his apple, but gradually slowed down and finally
stopped, turning stiffly and hesitantly towards Yuanting, glancing at the apple in his
hand: "What kind of disinfection?"
Yuanting was waiting for this question. He tilted his head, looking innocently at Mo Yikai:
"I’m using saliva to disinfect. I did the same for your apple, just like this…" saying this,
Yuanting licked the apple again.
He made a "slurping" sound.
"My mom taught me this. Saliva can disinfect. Didn't you know?"
"You're really dumb, not even knowing such a simple thing."
"But it's okay. If you want to eat fruits in the future, just come to me." Yuanting patted his
chest, confidently declaring, "I'll take care of the disinfection for you, making sure no spot
is contaminated by bacteria."
"Eradicate germs, starting with me! Oh yeah!"
"Ugh..."
……
Mo Yikai was retching as he ran out of Cheng's house, with Cheng Nanyi trailing three
meters behind him.
Leaning weakly against the wall and facing the insurmountable three-meter distance, Mo
Yikai said to Cheng Nanyi, "Damn, using saliva to disinfect... I'm utterly shocked, my
ancestors must be turning in their graves... Ugh..." The thought of possibly having
ingested the child's saliva made Mo Yikai feel like dying.
"What kind of idiocy is this... Ugh..."
Cheng Nanyi turned away, taking another step back, looking at Mo Yikai from afar: "I told
you to keep your distance from him."
Mo Yikai: "..." Had he known, he would never have stepped foot in the Cheng household.
"You, with your germophobia, how did you tolerate that little brat?" Mo Yikai knew Cheng
Nanyi well enough that under normal circumstances, he would have fled from such a
scene. Yet, he had sat there, watching the child lick the apple... "Damn, can't think about it,
just thinking makes me... Ugh..."
Cheng Nanyi, expressionless: "He might have had a hard life in the countryside before, so
he’s a bit more innocent and straightforward. He's smart, Aunt has raised him well...
Yikai, we should be more tolerant towards children."
Mo Yikai: "???" What? Are these words Cheng Nanyi would say?
"Tolerant?" Mo Yikai scoffed, "That's only because I'm in your house and it's not
appropriate to act. If this were outside, I’d beat that little brat until he’s down on the
ground..."
"You can't beat him," Cheng Nanyi said calmly, "Members of the Cheng family are not for
you to discipline as you please."
Mo Yikai immediately took a step back in his stance: "...Then you do it, you beat him up
for me."
"Hmm." Cheng Nanyi nodded, "But that'll have to wait until after my desensitization
treatment is successful."
"Desensitization treatment?" Mo Yikai was puzzled, "Are you ill? Is it your germophobia?
Or some hidden perversion flaring up?"
"It's not important." Cheng Nanyi looked at him, "What matters is, don't talk about
today's events with anyone else." He had to be direct, fearing Mo Yikai might not have
understood the implications of his previous statement.
"What?" Mo Yikai was indeed confused. He had been planning to warn his buddies to
keep their distance from that annoying kid when they visited Cheng's house.
"You're not to discuss today's events with anyone else." Cheng Nanyi lifted his chin, "Say
you understand."
"Alright, I understand." Mo Yikai waved dismissively, "I won't talk about it. I'm going
home now, and I'm not coming back again. Bad luck, ugh..."
Hearing Mo Yikai's affirmation, Cheng Nanyi felt relieved. Although Mo Yikai was a
blabbermouth, he would keep his word even if it killed him.
Back inside, the butler appeared troubled, "Why did Young Master Mo leave? Was there a
lapse in our hospitality?" Usually, Mo Yikai would stay for hours and often have meals,
but today he left after just half an hour.
"It's not that." Cheng Nanyi's gaze passed through the patio doors to Yuanting in the
garden, who was holding a hose... no, watering plants. He asked the butler, "Who washed
the fruits today?"
"The housekeeper did," replied the butler, puzzled, "Why do you ask?" It was unusual for
Cheng Nanyi to inquire about such trivial matters.
"Did... that child touch them?"
That child...
The butler took a moment to realize that "that child" referred to Yuanting, and chuckled,
"You could call him your brother, or little Ting, Tingting, or little cousin..."
"Answer my question."
"Oh... The young master went to the kitchen insisting on washing the fruits, but the
housekeeper didn’t let him touch them..." The butler frowned, "Why, is there a problem
with the fruits? I was supervising the whole time, no one else touched them... Could it be
an issue with the quality of the fruits? Then I must..."
"Just asking, it's not about the fruits." Cheng Nanyi interrupted him and then headed to
the backyard.
The butler, after some thought, decided to check the fruits in the kitchen.
In the garden, Yuanting was wildly enjoying himself with a hose, cornering the gardener
and leaving him no choice but to watch helplessly, unable to voice any objections.
The force of the water gun was strong, and Yuanting, buoyed by its power, darted around
the garden. Having just teased Mo Yikai, he was in high spirits.
Mo Yikai was known for his loose lips. Surely, he'd spread today's incident everywhere,
leading to potential gossip about the old master’s daughter-in-law teaching her step-
grandson to use saliva for disinfection...
The old master would surely be livid, turning blue with rage. "How embarrassing is that?"
Yuanting chuckled to himself.
In his past life, perhaps due to growing up or the environment, Yuanting seldom
experienced significant emotional fluctuations. But now, back in his childhood, his joys
and sorrows were vividly clear.
Yuanting relished this feeling, free and unbridled, like a bird in the sky.
Cheng Nanyi stood there, watching Yuanting frolic in the garden, reminiscent of a puppy
that had just been let out after a long confinement, exuberant and unbound.
This mood seemed contagious, and Cheng Nanyi couldn’t help but curl his lips in a smile.
"Oops..." Yuanting abruptly stopped, and the water gun slipped from his grasp, spinning
and landing near Cheng Nanyi's feet. Cheng Nanyi stepped aside as the gardener quickly
turned off the water valve.
Yuanting looked at him, tilting his head before blinking, "Did that brother leave?"
"He left." Cheng Nanyi looked down at him, "Did you lick the apple you gave him earlier?"
"Nope." Yuanting shook his head without hesitation.
Cheng Nanyi's brow furrowed slightly. As expected, the child was quite cunning...
The next second, Yuanting sweetly said, "How could I disinfect it for him? I only disinfect
for you, brother."
Cheng Nanyi: "..."
Feeling a chill, Cheng Nanyi touched his arm and stepped back, his progress in
overcoming his phobia plummeting to minus three hundred.
"How about I disinfect you right now, brother?" Yuanting said, rushing over like lightning
and licking the back of Cheng Nanyi's hand.
There was a 'crack' sound, as if thunder struck right beside Cheng Nanyi's ear, sending
shivers down his spine and goosebumps all over...
The gardener, watching from the side, was so shocked that his eyes widened at the sight
of Cheng Nanyi’s hair standing on end.
It was his first time witnessing someone's hair literally 'explode' from shock. The
germophobia must be kicking in.
The gardener blurted out, "Run..." Though he had never seen the young master angry, he
felt this level of agitation could be lethal...
Yuanting took off running, still questioning, "Why are we running? Uncle, why are you
telling me to run...?"
As Yuanting ran, he looked back to see the young man standing stiff, his back straight, the
afternoon sun casting a golden halo around him like a beautiful manga character.
Unfortunately, this character seemed disgusted enough to jump off a building.
"Hahaha... Oh no, what the heck..."
A stream of water shot towards Yuanting, drenching him completely.
"Wah wah wah..." Yuanting cried out, clutching his head and scurrying away, "Stop, stop,
stop..."
Cheng Nanyi stood not far away, holding the water gun and squinting slightly, accurately
aiming the stream at Yuanting's waist and hips.
Yuanting tugged at his loose shorts, realizing they might fall off...
"Brother, I was wrong..." Yuanting quickly admitted defeat, showing his ability to be
flexible.
Cheng Nanyi raised an eyebrow and advanced a few steps, blocking Yuanting's path of
escape. Utilizing his height advantage, he poured water downwards, leading to Yuanting’s
shorts, along with the oversized underwear his stepfather had bought him, instantly
falling down…
Freed from confinement, the tiny bird swayed in the storm…
Yuanting: "..."
Having achieved his goal, Cheng Nanyi tossed aside the water gun and walked away.
He had reached his limit. He needed to wash his hands, take a shower... disinfect... He
mustn't think about the word 'disinfect' now; it had become tainted…
Yuanting frantically scrambled to pull up his pants.
Why does everyone seem to have an issue with his bird?
In his previous life, he never had the chance to use it, but in this life, it seems to be used
far too frequently.
His pants, thoroughly soaked, were difficult to manage. After a struggle, he finally
managed to get his underwear on properly. Lifting his head, Yuanting saw a group of
people behind the patio glass door.
This group included his grandfather who had been away on business for several days, his
stepfather and mother who had just returned from a date, along with the housekeeper,
driver, and others... There was also the butler, who, holding a DV camera, was filming him
with a grin that revealed all his teeth.
Yuanting's mind was full of questions, the foremost being: where on earth did the butler
get that DV camera from?
Author’s Note:
A big thank you to the angels who supported me with their votes and nutritional liquid
from 2023-07-02 09:32:33 to 2023-07-03 16:39:25~
Special thanks to the angels for their nutritional liquid: 32189143 for 10 bottles; Snotty
Bubble for 5 bottles;
Thank you all very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!
#8 Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Shu Zhilan witnessed the "conflict" between Cheng Nanyi and Yuanting, her expression
turning sour.
Many things she only learned after marrying Cheng Shaolin.
For instance, Cheng Shaolin was not actually involved in the family business, possessing
only a small share of stocks. The old master controlled all the family assets, and Cheng
Shaolin had mentioned more than once that the business would eventually be handed
over to Cheng Nanyi.
Cheng Shaolin himself only managed a gallery, leaving the day-to-day operations to a
manager. His main activities were painting, traveling, and collecting artworks... In short,
he lived the life of a prodigal rich second generation, spending more than earning.
Shu Zhilan wasn't too worried about this. After all, Cheng Nanyi was only ten, and Cheng
Shaolin didn't have a concept of family when he spoke those words, being unmarried at
the time. She believed that once they had their own children, Cheng Shaolin would
naturally plan for them.
So, her goal was to secure her position in the family, as she was already the mistress of
the house. This position would be even more solidified once she had children.
However, an unexpected factor had arisen: Yuanting.
In the Cheng family, spanning three generations, Cheng Nanyi was undoubtedly the most
cherished. Despite the old master and Cheng Shaolin's apparent fondness for Yuanting,
Cheng Nanyi was the sole young master of the house. If Yuanting couldn't get along with
Cheng Nanyi, it would bring her a lot of trouble.
After all, Yuanting's actions were a reflection on her.
She was beginning to regret bringing Yuanting to the Cheng household, but under the
current circumstances, it was difficult to send him away.
If they really sent Yuanting away, it would ruin her and Cheng Shaolin's reputation.
People would mock them for being unable to accommodate a child in such a large
household.
Although there seemed to be no major conflicts, the old master still inquired about what
exactly had happened.
The butler, busy checking the fruits and looking for the DV camera, only saw the young
master spraying the little master with a water gun and wasn’t fully aware of the details.
The gardener, who had witnessed the entire incident, was thus called as a witness.
The gardener, excited to be a witness for the first time, gleamed with excitement: “I was
arranging two pots of flowers just delivered to the garden when the little master came
over wanting to play with the water gun. I let him. While he was playing, the young
master came over, probably intending to join in. The little master was overjoyed, telling
the young master how much he liked him, and then ran over and kissed his hand.”
Yuanting, who had just bathed, changed, and was brought downstairs by the nanny,
widened his eyes in disbelief: "???" What? When did he say he liked Cheng Nanyi, let
alone kissed him? Was that even a kiss?
After the gardener finished speaking, he confirmed his own thoughts: "That's exactly it."
He didn't quite understand the young master's words about disinfecting only for his
brother, but perhaps it was the young master's way of saying he only liked his brother, as
he had kissed the young master's hand in the end. Isn't that a sign of affection?
Yes, that's it. The expression of love and hate in children is very direct, like his own child,
who expresses his emotions by wreaking havoc at home.
Having heard the gardener's words, the Cheng family understood. Cheng Nan Yi, who was
a bit of a germophobe, must have reacted impulsively when suddenly kissed.
The old master, noticing the red, almost raw skin on Cheng Nan Yi's hands, believed the
gardener's explanation even more.
"Is that what Master Pei said?" the old master, fair and honest, asked the person involved,
following procedure.
Cheng Nan Yi frowned, realizing many previously unclear things from Master Pei's words.
Yuan Ting was a bit sloppy and messy. He ate with his hands, blew bubbles with his
saliva, and gnawed on apple peels. According to his great uncle and aunt, growing up in
the countryside without parents to guide him, it was normal for him to have some bad
habits, which Cheng Nan Yi also agreed with.
The incident of disinfecting with saliva, as Yuan Ting explained, was taught by his mother.
Cheng Nan Yi thought it over and realized that his great aunt might have only informed
him about the disinfectant properties of saliva, and using saliva to disinfect apples was
probably the child's own creative idea.
So, in the child's mind, disinfecting might be a meaningful act, reserved only for those he
likes and is close to. That's why he said he disinfected Mo Yi Kai's apple, but actually, he
did not.
From beginning to end, he kept insisting, "I only disinfect for my brother."
So, in conclusion, disinfecting might actually be a child's way of expressing affection.

Could it be that the child really likes him...???
Cheng Nan Yi's facial expression was incredibly complex.
This kind of persistent and pure expression of love and affection was something he was
encountering for the first time. He remained somewhat skeptical, even internally
resistant to believing it.
Cheng Nan Yi silently nodded, deciding to observe further.
Seeing Cheng Nanyi nod, the old master was satisfied. He beckoned Yuanting over and
gently said, "Little Ting, your brother doesn't like being touched casually. We need to
learn to respect others. Next time you want to kiss your brother, you should ask him if it's
okay first, alright?"
Yuanting: "???" Who started the rumor that he wanted to kiss Cheng Nanyi?
And why isn't Cheng Nanyi clarifying things?
Yuanting looked at Cheng Nanyi with confusion. Cheng Nanyi felt his gaze, glanced back,
then quickly averted his eyes, rubbing the back of his hand on his clothes.
Everyone waited for Yuanting's response. With no choice, he lowered his head and said
somewhat reluctantly, "Okay, I understand." Right now, he couldn't afford to be reckless
in front of Shu Zhilan and had to play the part of a good child.
Both the old master and Cheng Shaolin smiled. The old master then addressed Cheng
Nanyi, "Little Ting is just fond of you, so he behaved that way. It's not his fault. But you
shouldn't have doused your brother with water. What if he had gotten hurt?"
The old master's expression turned stern, "One must consider the consequences of their
actions."
Master Pei opened his mouth to explain, having seen the young master adjust the water
pressure. The main reason for the little master's pants falling was actually due to the
oversized underwear...
But before Master Pei could speak, Cheng Nanyi admitted, "It was my fault."
"Mistakes must be punished," said the old master.
"Okay."
"Then go ahead," the old master nodded.
Cheng Nanyi turned to leave.
Punishment?
"Wait, wait, wait a minute..." Yuanting quickly stepped forward, spreading his arms in
front of Cheng Nanyi protectively, his big eyes looking up at the old master, "Why, why
does he need to be punished..." It was a reaction faster than his thoughts.
During the times Cheng Nanyi visited him abroad every week, their relationship evolved
from initially silent and eager for the time to pass quickly to sharing laughs, drinks, and
casual conversations. The usually silent, cold, and distant young master of the Cheng
family had actually opened his heart to him.
Before Yuan Ting came to the Cheng family, Cheng Nan Yi thought all children were
treated as strictly as he was. But Yuan Ting’s arrival revealed that his grandfather could
also be tolerant and kind, forgiving mistakes and errors.
Without comparison, there's no sense of hurt. But with it, these things turned into tiny
thorns buried in his heart, causing a pricking pain each time he thought of them.
Cheng Nan Yi's parents were not around, and his emotional dependence was solely on his
grandfather, who gave that affection and tolerance to Yuan Ting instead.
When Cheng Nan Yi said these words that day, he was smiling, even looking relaxed. But
after hearing them, Yuan Ting felt a guilt like 'I didn't kill Boren, but Boren died because
of me.'
Living again, Yuan Ting didn’t want to be the root of these problems. He had no issue with
Cheng Nan Yi being punished, but the reasons for his punishment must not be linked to
him.
After all, every involvement might turn into shackles binding him in the future.
"When brother does something wrong, he must be punished," the old master explained
patiently.
"It wasn't wrong... it was just me and brother playing in the water. Brother didn't harm
me," Yuan Ting stuttered and hurriedly explained.
"You're still young, you don't understand these things. Grandpa will teach you these
principles later."
The old master was firm in his approach to educating Cheng Nan Yi, not swaying from his
principles because of a few words from Yuan Ting. Seeing this, Cheng Shao Lin stepped
forward to embrace Yuan Ting, intending to take him away.
Yuan Ting forcefully struggled free from Cheng Shao Lin's arms, hands on hips, furiously
yelling at the old master: "It's just kids' stuff, none of your business!!!"
The room fell into an eerie silence, with everyone stunned by the outburst.
Cheng Nan Yi gazed down at the child who only reached his chest, bravely confronting
the most authoritative elder in the family like an invincible warrior.
#9 Chapter 9
Chapter 9
The consequence of the warrior's brave defiance was shared punishment.
The old master really didn't have many demands for Yuanting.
Yuanting, brought into the family by his daughter-in-law, was naturally ensured good
treatment by the Cheng family. They would educate him as much as possible, but not in
the same way as Cheng Nanyi.
The old master was aware of the strictness with his grandson, but what could he do? At
over sixty years old, with Cheng Nanyi being only ten, as the leader of a conglomerate,
Cheng Nanyi had too much to shoulder. The old master felt he had no choice but to be
stern.
However, if Yuanting himself stepped up... the old master wouldn’t mind nurturing him as
well.
Having someone by Nan Yi's side who is wholeheartedly loyal and supportive would
naturally be the best.
Shu Zhilan and Cheng Shaolin, of course, had no objections, as Yuanting’s behavior was
indeed very rude. Shu Zhilan even broke out in a cold sweat because of Yuanting's recent
actions, resolving to find time to properly discipline him.
At this moment, Yuanting, with his curly hair drooping, followed behind Cheng Nanyi
towards the front door.
What a misfortune…
How did this turn into a heroic rescue?
……
The old master’s method of punishing Cheng Nanyi was to make him write calligraphy
with a brush.
However, the place for writing wasn’t the study but a stone table near the main entrance,
specifically prepared for Cheng Nanyi.
Whenever Cheng Nanyi made a mistake, he had to stand there writing calligraphy,
regardless of the scorching summer or freezing winter, without meals, practicing for four
hours.
The intention was to help him remain calm and composed, able to face any situation with
equanimity.
Cheng Nanyi was already accustomed to this, arranging the brush, ink, paper, and
inkstone. He poured a little water into the inkstone and picked up the ink stick to grind
the ink.
Yuanting lay sprawled on the stone table, his eyes rolling around.
The main entrance, of all places – he hadn't left the house in four years.
Perhaps due to being confined for so long in his previous life, since being reborn, he
hadn't even thought about going outside... The effects of being cooped up were truly
dreadful.
Cheng Nanyi estimated the distance between him and Yuanting: one meter.
And yet, he felt no discomfort.
"Why are you being punished with me?"
"Because my mom said I should try to please you," Yuanting turned his head, tilting it
cutely, "That way, when you become rich, you'll share some with me." This was the
excuse Yuanting had concocted.
He didn't want Cheng Nanyi to think that he was aiming for shared hardships just
because of his own outburst.
"Brother, is what my mom said true?"
Got it, young man? My mom and I are here for your family's money.
To please?
Cheng Nanyi's brow furrowed, realizing it wasn’t affection but flattery.
After a few seconds of contemplation, Cheng Nanyi said to Yuanting with a serious
expression, "It's possible, but you have to promise to continue to...”
Cheng Nanyi paused, then slowly enunciated three words: “Please – me.” He wouldn’t
mind giving him some money if it continued like this; after all, money was what he least
lacked.
Yuanting: "..." Please you?
To keep pleasing him... what a beautiful thought.
Once I manage to get my stepfather and mother to divorce, I'll pack up and leave, never to
cross paths again.
Besides, was the focus of his earlier statement really on pleasing others?
Do all members of the Cheng family have the same serious misconception?
Yuanting remained silent, leading Cheng Nanyi to assume agreement. For some reason,
he felt unusually cheerful, a stark contrast to the dejection he usually felt during his
grandfather's punishments.
In contrast to Cheng Nanyi's contentment, Yuanting was feeling somewhat unsettled.
The Cheng family now resided in a large villa complex for the convenience of Cheng
Nanyi's schooling, meaning it wasn't just their family there, but neighbors as well.
Standing and writing at the entrance, he and Cheng Nanyi undoubtedly made an eye-
catching spectacle.
The passersby weren’t numerous, but there were some, and each one glanced their way,
with some pointing and commenting.
"Look at that young man writing with a brush. You should learn from him, understand?"
"I don't want to learn that. Who writes with a brush these days..."
An elderly man, hands clasped behind his back, came closer for a better look: "Good, he
writes well, but the wrist strength needs work, needs more practice..."
A familiar person passed by, rolling down their car window: "Nan Yi, in trouble and being
punished again, huh? Try to make your grandfather less angry in the future..."
……
Yuanting clenched his teeth.
In his previous life, he had seen Cheng Nanyi practicing calligraphy at the gate countless
times.
Cheng Nanyi was actually already quite perfect, but due to the old master's harshness
and intolerance for even the slightest flaw, Cheng Nanyi was often punished.
Back then, Yuanting, like these passersby, was just an outsider passing by, sometimes
even sneaking to the butler to gossip and inquire about Cheng Nanyi’s latest misdeeds.
Now, standing alongside Cheng Nanyi, experiencing those gazes and hearing those
comments, Yuanting felt a surge of irritation. Damn it, doesn't the old master’s method of
punishment risk causing psychological issues for Cheng Nanyi?
The thick skin of adults is built up gradually through life's hardships, while children’s
skin is thin, especially at the sensitive age of early teens, when saving face is paramount.
Yuanting understood the old master’s intentions, but was this approach more beneficial
or harmful?
Perhaps the upbringing of an heir to a corporation is inherently different from that of an

ordinary child.
Not being an education expert, Yuanting couldn’t critique, only consoling himself with the
thought: Enduring the bitterest trials is the making of a great person.
"Do you feel embarrassed by this?" Yuanting leaned closer to Cheng Nanyi and asked
softly.
Cheng Nanyi measured the distance between them, half a meter.
"It's okay. I used to feel embarrassed at the beginning, but not anymore." Cheng Nanyi
looked at him, "Do you feel embarrassed?"
"Not really." Yuanting, at heart an adult and one who had been confined for four years at
that, considered these minor embarrassments. If Cheng Nanyi had expressed discomfort,
he would have been ready to stand up for him.
"Grind some ink for me," Cheng Nanyi requested.
Yuanting obediently picked up the ink stick and began grinding.
Cheng Nanyi had to stand and write for four hours, a difficult task even for an adult, let
alone for a ten-year-old child.
On an August evening, still muggy and hot, Cheng Nanyi’s forehead soon became dotted
with fine beads of sweat, his wrist trembling slightly.
Yuanting couldn't hold back anymore and tiptoed with a tissue to wipe Cheng Nanyi's
sweat.
Although writing was tiring, it truly allowed one to enter a realm of undisturbed focus.
Over the years, Cheng Nanyi had learned to quickly concentrate and isolate himself from
the surrounding hustle as soon as he picked up the brush. So, when Yuanting's small hand
reached out, he didn't react immediately, and the next second, the tissue had already
brushed across his forehead.
Cheng Nanyi tensed up, a tingling sensation rising on the back of his hand.
"Maybe you should stop writing," Yuanting muttered softly, "I can go and talk to
Grandfather for you. Continuing like this, you might get a heatstroke."
Sigh, Yuanting could never forget the scene of Cheng Nanyi lying bloodied at the car
accident scene in his past life. So, having the chance to relive, it’s best for Cheng Nanyi to
remain healthy and safe.
Who could blame him for feeling guilty?
Cheng Nanyi slowly exhaled, finding that the image from before wasn't as unbearable as
he had thought.
His hand had already been licked; this close contact of wiping sweat didn't seem like such
a big deal anymore.
His desensitization progress leapt from minus three hundred to ninety percent.
Perhaps this was a form of breakthrough after destruction?
Seeing Cheng Nanyi not responding, Yuanting suddenly realized what he was doing, then
squinted his eyes and started to deliberately wipe Cheng Nanyi’s face all over: “Brother,
I’m helping you wipe off the sweat... Hahaha…”
Cheng Nanyi dodged his hand, saying indifferently, “If you're hot, go sit in the shade.
There's a little over an hour left, it'll be over soon.”
Yuanting sighed. He really wanted to seek some cool shade himself, but he found it
incredibly hard to leave Cheng Nanyi alone here.
Yuanting suspected he had trauma-induced aftereffects; the trauma was brought by Shu
Zhilan, and the aftereffect was his inability to see any member of the Cheng family suffer.
The child, red-faced from the heat, still refused to leave, something Cheng Nanyi had
never seen before in a child.
This left Cheng Nanyi both surprised and at a loss.

Slowly shifting his gaze away from Yuanting's face, Cheng Nanyi lowered his eyes and
continued writing.
"When I have time, I'll teach you how to write with a brush."
"No," Yuanting refused without hesitation.
"Why?"
"Because it's tiring, and I don't want to learn." Yuanting had tried it in his previous life,
only to give up after a short while because his hand shook like a sieve whenever he held a
brush, resembling someone with Parkinson's.
"It is indeed tiring. What would you like to learn, then?"
"To make money," Yuanting’s eyes suddenly sparkled, "I want to earn lots and lots of
money…" In his previous life, he was cared for by the Cheng family, so he never worried
about food or clothing. But now, planning to leave the Cheng household, he naturally
couldn’t continue spending their money.
He would have to leave Shu Zhilan eventually and probably return to his grandmother's
house, a place that sorely lacked money.
As a pampered pseudo-young master, he wondered if he could endure such hardship.
Money?
Cheng Nanyi frowned, "Aren’t you planning to stay by my side? I will give you money."
Since the child wanted to please him, he must intend to stay close, and Cheng Nanyi
would surely not let him be short of money.
Yuanting: "???"
When did he ever say he wanted to stay by Cheng Nanyi's side?
As Yuanting was trying to recall which of his words might have led to this
misunderstanding, a bicycle screeched to a halt in front of them.
"What did you do to get punished by your grandfather again?" Mo Yikai propped himself
on one foot, his face full of curiosity.
"Nothing much." Cheng Nanyi continued his calligraphy without pausing, not even lifting
his eyelids, "Are you going out?"
Mo Yikai’s expression turned grotesque at the question, his sinister gaze falling on the
short figure beside him, gritting his teeth: "I’m going to get my teeth cleaned."
After returning home, the more Mo Yikai thought about it, the more disgusted he felt.
Even after brushing several times, he couldn’t shake off the feeling, so he decided to visit
a dental clinic for a thorough cleaning.
"Kid, you better not let me catch you, or I'll beat you to a pulp." Mo Yikai waved his fist
threateningly at Yuanting.
"..." Yuanting turned his head, his eyes instantly welling up, "Wah, brother..."
Cheng Nanyi looked up, "Don't scare him. He's timid, and he didn’t lick your apple, so
don't worry."
"Really?" Mo Yikai perked up, "Are you sure?"
"I asked Uncle Liu. The kid didn’t touch your apple."
Mo Yikai heaved a sigh of relief. He knew Cheng Nanyi wouldn't lie to him. That was a
close call, almost becoming a lifelong trauma.
"He doesn’t just disinfect for anyone," Cheng Nanyi added.
"What??" Mo Yikai's eyebrows shot up in shock, "What do you mean by that? Are you
saying I don't deserve his ‘disinfection’?"
Mo Yikai laughed as if he'd heard the biggest joke: "Cheng Nanyi, are you crazy? Did this
little brat infect you or something?"
Cheng Nanyi remained silent, continuing with his writing.
Mo Yikai no longer wanted to stay, but before leaving, he casually asked, "School's
starting in a few days. Have you finished writing my summer homework?"
Yuanting: "?? Ha?" If he remembered correctly, Mo Yikai was a year older and would be
going into the sixth grade, while Cheng Nanyi was in the fifth grade.
A sixth grader getting a fifth grader to do his summer homework?
What a talent.
"I've finished it. You can come and pick it up when you’re free," Cheng Nanyi said.
"Alright, did you change your handwriting? My mom’s going to check it. Don’t let her
realize."
"She’ll know without even looking," Yuanting said, tilting his head back and blinking up at
Mo Yikai.
"What’s it to you, little brat?" Mo Yikai glared at him. "And how do you know my mom
will know without looking? Stop talking nonsense."
"Because..." Yuanting raised a hand and pointed behind Mo Yikai, "Your mom is right
here. She heard everything."
Mo Yikai froze, turning around instinctively as a sinister and terrifying voice rang out:
"Mo, Yi, Kai..."
"Mom..." Mo Yikai’s legs wobbled, and his bicycle clattered to the ground.
The woman walking her Samoyed, pointing at Mo Yikai incredulously, was furious: "You
actually had Nan Yi do your homework? Are you an idiot? Nan Yi is two years younger
than you, and you’re getting him to do your work..."
Mo Yikai's mother grew angrier as she spoke, grabbing a branch from a flowerbed,
snapping it off, and starting to beat Mo Yikai with it.
"Ahhh…" Mo Yikai turned and ran.
Did he not check the almanac before leaving the house today?
Why so much misfortune…
Mo Yikai's mother, wielding the branch, chased after him: "You deadbeat child, I’ll beat
you to death..."
"Wow..." Yuanting's eyes widened in excitement, "His mom is really something..."
Seeing the abandoned dog, Yuanting picked up the leash and then dashed after Mo Yikai
and his mother, not wanting to miss the spectacle. Missing such a scene would surely be
regretted in the middle of the night.
"Yuan..." Cheng Nanyi could only utter a word before the child had run out of sight,
leaving only his clear childlike voice echoing in the distance: “Auntie, you dropped your
dog…”
Author’s Note:
A big thank you to the angels who supported me with their votes and nutritional liquid
from 2023-07-04 20:58:24 to 2023-07-05 17:56:19~
Special thanks to the angels for their nutritional liquid: Lovely and Cute for 19 bottles;
Lost in Fog for 1 bottle;
#10 Chapter 10
Chapter 10
The Samoyed’s name is Da Sha, which according to Mo Yikai, means it's a bit slow-witted.
Yuanting got a taste of this firsthand. Da Sha, not moving initially, suddenly ran like crazy,
nearly dragging Yuanting along, almost causing him to trip over his own feet.
In his previous life, Yuanting had only seen Da Sha from a distance when Mo Yikai’s mom
walked the dog. Back then, he wasn’t close to Mo Yikai, so he never had the chance to visit
his house and play with the dog. The next time he saw Da Sha was after Mo Yikai’s mom
committed suicide, and the dog died shortly after her death. It was Yuanting who
accompanied Mo Yikai to bury it.
Yuanting's relationship with Mo Yikai was actually quite good.
When Cheng Nanyi had his car accident abroad, his family was in China and couldn't
immediately come over. During those days, it was Mo Yikai, who was also studying
abroad, who stayed with Yuanting to handle everything.
Later, when Mo Yikai's family faced troubles, it coincided with the period when Cheng
Nanyi was most despondent due to his leg injury, so it was Yuanting who accompanied
Mo Yikai everywhere.
In a way, he and Mo Yikai had shared adversity together.
If possible, Yuanting still wanted to help him.
Arriving breathlessly at the Mo residence, he immediately heard Mo Yikai's screams.
Yuanting, thrilled, clung to the railing, waving his little fists and cheering wildly.
"Beat him up real good."
It was sheer exhilaration.
In the midst of darting around to avoid blows, Mo Yikai caught sight of Yuanting's excited
little face, baring his teeth at him in a grimace, "You just wait, little brat."
After Mo's mom grew tired from the beating, she came over, took Yuanting's hand, and
began treating him like a little guest.
"You must be the new child at the Cheng's house, such a handsome boy."
"Thank you, Auntie," Yuanting responded, blinking his big eyes at the woman, "You’re
very beautiful too."
Mo Yikai's mother was not yet forty and well-maintained, appearing to be only in her
early thirties.
Imposing, flamboyant, and straightforward – that was Yuanting's first impression of her.
Yuanting, the little charmer, nearly made Mo's mom tear up with delight, ruffling his
yellow hair: "Seeing you makes me want to have another child."
"Please don’t..." Mo Yikai, holding his buttocks in fear, waved his hands, "Don't, really, we
can't afford another one..." He now had a psychological shadow regarding children.
Mo's mom glared at him: "Go upstairs and do your homework. I’ll deal with you after I
rest a bit."
Turning back to Yuanting, her face softened into a warm smile, "Yuanting, right? Wait
here, Auntie will get you some treats."
"Okay, Auntie, thank you so much. You’re too kind."
"Auntie, don’t tire yourself out. Let me help you carry that."
"I really like you, Auntie. I wish you were my mom."
Mo Yikai's mom was almost melted by these sweet words, and her gaze towards Mo Yikai
became even fiercer.
Both sons, yet why was this child so considerate?
Mo Yikai: "..." Where on earth did this bear of a kid come from?
Really wanted to smack him.
Mo Yikai's mom brought over a lot of homemade snacks.
The Mo family was different from the Cheng family. The Chengs lived in this place for the
convenience of Cheng Nanyi's schooling, owning countless properties, of which this was
just one.
But the Mo family was different. Mo Yikai’s parents started from scratch, working hard
for years to achieve their current status. Once the business was stable, like many families,
the father continued working while the mother chose to return home, becoming a full-
time housewife.
A business built together, but in the end, it appeared as if the man was supporting the
woman.
With nothing much to do at home, Mo's mom would cultivate flowers and make snacks,
feeling blissful until her husband’s scandal broke.
Yuanting, while eating snacks, innocently suggested, “Auntie, you should have a little
brother for Yi Kai. If you don't, his dad might find someone else to have one.”
Mo Yikai's mom's eyes widened in shock, “Where did a kid like you learn such things?”
“Of course, I know,” Yuanting said proudly, tilting his little face, “In my hometown’s
village, Niu Niu’s family had the same situation. Her mom didn’t have a son, so her dad
found someone else to have a little brother.”
Mo Yikai's mom burst into laughter at Yuanting’s words, and Mo Yikai's dad, coming
downstairs, laughed too, “Where did this kid come from? He sure knows a lot.”
Mo's mom glared at him: "What, planning to go out and find someone to have a child for
you?"
"Do I have the guts?" Mo Yikai's dad clicked his tongue, "You'd chop me up with a knife
first."
Mo's mom snorted, "Good that you know."
Yuanting blinked and observed, noting how well the 'unfaithful man' act was played.
But it seemed like Mo's mom still held a dominant position in the household.
Mo Yikai's dad scrutinized Yuanting, "So this is the Cheng family's kid, huh? Is he
malnourished? Why is his hair so yellow?"
Yuanting bared his teeth. Typical of a jerk to say something so unpleasant.
"My hair is naturally this color, it's nice. You just don’t get it, huh!" Yuanting retorted
without reservation, amusing the couple.
Yuanting: Take that, jerk. Laughter is your punishment.
By the time Cheng Shaolin arrived, Yuanting had already become a part of the family –
sweets in one hand, yogurt in the other, with Mo's mom even peeling lychees and feeding
them to him.
"Auntie, you should eat too. After I finish, I’ll peel some for you."
"You sure make yourself at home," Cheng Shaolin tapped Yuanting’s head.
"This child of yours is just so lovable," Mo's mom said enviously, "Look at mine, twelve
years old and still having Nan Yi do his homework..."
Cheng Shaolin replied with pride, "Yeah, Little Ting is indeed very obedient. As for Nan Yi,
he’s always been smarter than other kids."
Mo's mom: "..." There's no need to be so brutally honest.
But indeed, she spoke the truth, and her gaze shot towards Mo Yikai like daggers.
Mo Yikai: "..." This is so annoying, really annoying.
When Yuanting was leaving with Cheng Shaolin, he said to Mo's mom, "Auntie, your
snacks are really delicious. Can I take some back for my brother?"
"Of course, I'm so happy you like them," Mo's mom quickly packed up all the remaining
snacks for Yuanting to take.
Mo Yikai frowned, "I haven’t even had any yet."
"Get lost," Mo's mom slapped him, "You never eat when I chase you with food, so shut up
now."
Yuanting hurriedly said, "Thank you, Auntie. I’ll eat whatever Yi Kai doesn’t. I really like
them. Auntie, your cooking is so delicious..."
Mo's mom was almost lost in Yuanting's flurry of compliments, wishing she could keep
Yuanting as her son and send Mo Yikai away.
Mo Yikai: "..." Isn’t this kid just a disaster?
No, he had to tell Cheng Nanyi, let him know this kid's true nature and teach him a lesson.
After his barrage of flattery, Yuanting was led away from the Mo residence by Cheng
Shaolin.
As they left, Yuanting looked back to see the Mo couple standing at the door, smiling and
waving, with the goofy dog circling around and Mo Yikai looking resentful. Under the
setting sun, it was a picture of serene domesticity.
Yuanting felt conflicted. In his previous life, when helping Mo Yikai deal with these
matters, he had figured out all about the mistress’s home. If he wanted to expose it this
time, it would be particularly easy.
But there was a variable in this situation – Mo Yikai's mom.
In his past life, she couldn't handle the shock and had committed suicide.
If she ended up the same way in this life, Yuanting would become a sinner.
If he didn't expose the truth, Mo's mom could at least live happily for another decade or
so.
Yuanting sighed, resolving to observe the situation further.
When he returned home, Cheng Nanyi's punishment had ended, and he was standing at
the front door waiting for him.
Seeing Yuanting, Cheng Nanyi's brows furrowed slightly, "Don't run off like that again."
Yuanting internally: As if you can control me, I’ll run even farther next time.
Outwardly, Yuanting stuck his tongue out at Cheng Nanyi, playfully making a face.
Cheng Nanyi: "..." Now, he could calmly deal with Yuanting sticking out his tongue at him.
It was Cheng Shaolin who patted Yuanting's head, "Don't stick out your tongue. You need
to break that bad habit."
Yuanting pouted, while Cheng Nanyi’s lips curved slightly in amusement. Actually, this
kid... was quite cute.
……
Although the Cheng family didn't take the punishment too seriously, Shu Zhilan still
lectured Yuanting that night.
"Don't bother your brother anymore, understood? He doesn’t like that," Shu Zhilan's
mood had fluctuated all day, ultimately blaming Yuanting for Cheng Nanyi's punishment.
And for talking back to the old master.
"And don't disobey your grandfather, or else..." Shu Zhilan looked down at Yuanting and
threatened softly, "I’ll send you back to your grandmother's place, and you won’t have a
big house, tasty food, or toys ever again."
Yuan Ting glanced at her. Quite the threat, indeed.
Did she think he was foolish? Even if she wanted to send him away now, it would be
difficult. The Cheng family might not even agree.
Still, he had to play along, knowing that an agitated Shu Zhi Lan was capable of anything.
Yuan Ting pouted, tears welling up: "But I really do like my brother so much... Wahhh..."
He broke down into loud sobs, seemingly overwhelmed with injustice, "Brother is so
kind, how can Grandfather punish him..."
A crack opened in Yuan Ting's bedroom door, his wailing almost earth-shattering.
Cheng Nan Yi stood at his own bedroom door, fingers slightly curled.
Grandfather always taught him to look forward, to be bold in his actions, and to never
regret them, as regret was the most useless thing in the world, even capable of eroding
one's resolve.
Cheng Nan Yi had always followed these teachings, but now he found himself feeling
some regret.
Ever since the child first spat at him, he had wanted to teach him a lesson, so he seized
today's opportunity. But unexpectedly, it resulted in the child being punished alongside
him.
Hearing the child's cries, Cheng Nan Yi hesitated before finally approaching his bedroom
and knocking on the door.
"Come in."
Cheng Nan Yi pushed the door open.
Shu Zhi Lan was surprised to see Cheng Nan Yi when the door opened.
"Nan Yi, what's wrong? Is there something you need?"
Cheng Nan Yi’s gaze fell on Yuan Ting, who was crying heart-wrenchingly beside him. The
child's eyes were red from crying, looking pitiful, and perhaps too engrossed in his tears,
he hiccupped and blew a snot bubble from his nose.
Cheng Nan Yi instinctively averted his gaze, his fingers curling into his palm.
"Great Aunt, it's not Yuan Ting's fault what happened today. Please don’t scold him,"
Cheng Nan Yi said.
"I didn’t scold him, just talked to him for a bit. I didn't expect him to feel so wronged and
start crying," Shu Zhi Lan explained with a smile. "It's okay, he's just a child. He'll be fine
soon."
"Oh." Cheng Nan Yi, unaccustomed to such situations, responded dryly and, after a few
seconds of silence, turned to leave.
After a couple of steps, he heard the uncontrollable sobbing of the child behind him and
found himself unable to move forward.
Taking a deep breath, Cheng Nan Yi turned back and walked a few steps to Yuan Ting. He
bent down slightly and, with a resigned air, took Yuan Ting’s hand, "I'll take him to wash
his face."
Shu Zhi Lan looked somewhat surprised. From her observations over the past few days,
she thought Cheng Nan Yi didn’t like Yuan Ting much. Why the sudden change?
Compared to Shu Zhi Lan's mild surprise, Yuan Ting felt as if struck by lightning, utterly
thunderstruck.
"What the heck, what the heck, what the heck..."
Why would Cheng Nan Yi hold his hand? How dare Cheng Nan Yi hold his hand?
Why? Why? What on earth was happening?
Was he no longer interested in living, planning to get himself dirty to death?
Author’s note:
from July 5, 2023, 17:56:19 to July 7, 2023, 18:20:10~
Thank you to the angels who nourished with Nutrient Solutions: Suo Ran 8 bottles; Chen
Lun Wu Se Li 1 bottle;
I'm truly grateful for everyone's support and will continue to work hard!
#11 Chapter 11
Chapter 11
Cheng Nan Yi led Yuan Ting out of his bedroom and then into his own.
All the while, Yuan Ting was utterly bewildered, his mind so full of questions it nearly
overwhelmed his small seven-year-old frame.
As the sound of water started, Yuan Ting finally snapped back to reality and saw Cheng
Nan Yi washing his hands with such intensity that it seemed he was about to scrub his
skin raw.
Yuan Ting's face scrunched up. Although he had established himself as a 'dirty kid', this
reaction from Cheng Nan Yi felt almost insulting.
A man can be killed, but not insulted. Yuan Ting couldn't help but ask cheekily, "Brother,
do you find me that disgusting?"
Cheng Nan Yi's hands stiffened.
Cheng Nan Yi wanted to say 'yes', but recalling Yuan Ting's valiant warrior-like behavior
today made it difficult to utter that word.
After hesitating at the sink for a while, Cheng Nan Yi finally took a towel, washed it, and
then gently placed it over Yuan Ting’s face, starting to wipe it.
Yuan Ting: ????
"What the heck is happening? What’s he doing???"
"Damn it, I really asked for it. Why did I have to ask that?"
Ah? Who made you ask that?
Cheng Nan Yi's hands, freshly washed with a light and refreshing scent of handwash,
were like a deadly toxin to Yuan Ting.
Unable to bear the shock, Yuan Ting "squealed and shrieked" as he ran out of Cheng Nan
Yi’s room. Why, why did Cheng Nan Yi have to wash his face?
Heavens, had Cheng Nan Yi been possessed by someone?

Cheng Nan Yi stood dumbfounded, looking at his hands. Why did Yuan Ting run away?
Could it be that he had scrubbed too hard and hurt him?
Indeed, a child's skin is delicate, and the towel might have been too rough. He should
replace them with softer ones.
Cheng Nan Yi called the butler and instructed him to replace all the towels in his and
Yuan Ting’s bedrooms.
The butler was perplexed but followed the young master's instructions, even though the
towels were already of baby skin-friendly quality.
After the butler left, Cheng Nan Yi went back to the bathroom to wash his hands again.
The progress was too rapid, and he was still struggling to adapt. His mind and obsessive
cleanliness fought fiercely, especially recalling the snot bubble he had seen on Yuan
Ting's face, which was even more unbearable than Yuan Ting licking him.
No, he needed a couple of days to adjust.
……
That night, Yuan Ting had another nightmare where Cheng Nan Yi, holding his hand,
walked to the edge of a cliff and then jumped off with him.
Waking up, Yuan Ting was speechless. Even if Cheng Nan Yi pushed him off, he wouldn't
consider it a nightmare, but jumping together was definitely a horror. What if the King of
Hell decided to keep them together in the same layer of hell?
No, something was off with him. He better lay low for the next few days and not cause any
trouble.
The next morning, Yuan Ting quietly opened his bedroom door to leave, planning to
quickly pass by Cheng Nan Yi's room. Just then, Cheng Nan Yi's door opened, and their
gazes met. Almost simultaneously, they both stepped back, widening the distance
between them.
Hey... Yuan Ting's eyes lit up.
"Good morning, brother," Yuan Ting ventured a greeting.
"Morning," Cheng Nan Yi quickly averted his gaze from Yuan Ting's face.
Oh ho, Yuan Ting's eyes brightened even more.

Cheng Nan Yi had already briskly walked past him and was swiftly descending the stairs.
Yuan Ting leaned over the railing, looking down, and called out, "Brother, wait for me..."
Cheng Nan Yi only quickened his pace.
"Hahaha," Yuan Ting sighed in relief and patted his chest theatrically. That scared him.
True to form, the obsession with cleanliness was hard to cure. Maybe Cheng Nan Yi woke
up in the middle of last night, regretting and crying?
The thought almost made Yuan Ting burst into laughter.
In high spirits, Yuan Ting went downstairs for breakfast. The old master, who was
reading the newspaper, waved him over. Yuan Ting approached, and the old master
patted his head and handed him a small black rectangular box.
Yuan Ting eyed the familiar black box with a start.
"School is about to start. This is a back-to-school gift from Grandpa."
Yuan Ting pursed his lips and didn't move.
Shu Zhi Lan gently nudged his arm and softly said, "It's a gift from Grandpa, you should
say thank you."
The old master also raised his hand to Yuan Ting again: "Take it."
Yuan Ting had no choice but to accept it and, under everyone's watchful eyes, he opened
the box.
Inside was a somewhat old Parker fountain pen.
Question marks sprouted in Yuan Ting's mind like wild weeds.
This pen had also been given to Yuan Ting in his past life, but it was during the second
winter after he went abroad for studies when he and Cheng Nan Yi returned home for the
New Year. The old master had presented it to him then.
The old master had explained that there were two of these pens. One was given to Cheng
Nan Yi when he started elementary school, and now this one was for Yuan Ting, hoping
they would trust and support each other in the future.
Yuan Ting understood the old master's intentions. Since Cheng Shao Lin couldn't have
children, Cheng Nan Yi and he, the pseudo-young master, were the only descendants of
this generation in the Cheng family. At that time, he and Cheng Nan Yi got along well,
often seen together at home, and could converse easily. The old master's gift of the pen
was to encourage Yuan Ting to assist Cheng Nan Yi in the future.
SO… what did the old master mean by giving it to him now?
Yuan Ting's eyebrows knotted into twists. This pen was an old and significant item of the
old master’s. Why suddenly give it to a little kid?
"Dad, this gift is too precious. He can barely write properly, please don't let him ruin it,"
Shu Zhi Lan interjected.
"It's alright. Nan Yi has one too. I hope the two brothers will grow closer and work
together in harmony," the old master responded.
Yuan Ting: "..." No, I don't want to.
Do you know your grandson locked me on his bed?
"Xiao Ting, quickly thank Grandpa," Shu Zhi Lan urged.
Yuan Ting blinked and then returned the box to the old master, politely declining,
"Grandpa, I don't know how to use a fountain pen yet. What if I damage it?"
"It's fine, the pen is for writing. If it gets damaged, Grandpa will buy you another," the old
master insisted, pushing the pen back into Yuan Ting's hands with an air of
determination.
Yuan Ting thought, perhaps his heroic act of saving the young master yesterday had
impressed the old master so much that he impulsively decided to give away the pen.
Unfortunately, Yuan Ting genuinely didn’t want it. He planned to leave the Cheng family
eventually, and they probably wouldn't cross paths again.
Yuan Ting pursed his lips, and with a close of his eyes and a stamp of his foot, he yelled, "I
don't want it! I don't like fountain pens. You can't force a child, hmph."
“……”
The room fell silent again. Shu Zhi Lan was almost stunned by Yuan Ting's outburst,
struggling to maintain her composure. How had she never realized her son could be so
difficult?
Could there be something wrong with his brain?

He's seven years old; this shouldn't be happening.
Just as Shu Zhi Lan was about to smooth things over, Yuan Ting had already left proudly,
his small frame seemingly bearing a declaration of "Wealth cannot corrupt me; poverty
cannot sway me."
Shu Zhi Lan was both angry and anxious: "Dad, Xiao Ting is still young, he..."
The old master waved his hand to interrupt her, watching Yuan Ting's retreating straight
back, a slow smile of approval appearing on his stern face: "Xiao Ting is a child with
character, backbone, and values loyalty. Good, very good."
The butler nodded in agreement: "Indeed, the young master really is different from
ordinary children."
Cheng Nan Yi, who had been silent, finally spoke: "Hmm."
Shu Zhi Lan: "???"
She didn’t understand...
……
After defying the old master again and embarrassing him, Yuan Ting stiffly ran into the
yard before finally exhaling sharply, then smugly raised an eyebrow. The effect should be
good; the old master must be annoyed with him by now.
He might even take his anger out on Shu Zhi Lan.
Sigh…
Yuan Ting sighed and shook his head, thinking to himself that being too smart can also be
a burden.
Author's note:
from July 7, 2023, 18:20:10 to July 8, 2023, 23:37:28~
Thank you to the angels who nourished with Nutrient Solutions: Chen Lun Wu Se Li 7
bottles; Ping Xuan 1 bottle;
#12 Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Yuan Ting previously attended a local primary school in the town, but now his stepfather
had transferred him to the best local private school. On the eve of school opening, Cheng
Shao Lin personally took Yuan Ting to the mall to buy school supplies.
Shu Zhi Lan suggested having someone buy and deliver them, but Cheng Shao Lin insisted
on personal involvement, saying it was essential for giving a child a sense of security. Shu
Zhi Lan was deeply moved.
Yuan Ting, observing Shu Zhi Lan's sincere gaze, which seemed genuine rather than
feigned, found himself unable to discern whether it was real or fake.
Perhaps at this stage, Shu Zhi Lan did harbor some genuine feelings for Cheng Shao Lin,
but sadly, such feelings were fleeting and worthless in the face of money.
Money was something the Cheng family never lacked, so Cheng Shao Lin spared no
expense for Yuan Ting. Anything Yuan Ting showed even a slight interest in was
promptly asked to be packed by Cheng Shao Lin.
"You're going to spoil him this way," Shu Zhi Lan remarked.
"That's because we can afford it. Should we consider it spoiling only if we buy things
worth ten or twenty yuan?" Cheng Shao Lin had his own philosophy, "Spending is
reasonable as long as it matches one’s wealth."
Yuan Ting wholeheartedly agreed, and with a wave of his hand declared, "This backpack,
this pencil case, and these, these, these... pack them all for me."
Yuan Ting's nouveau riche attitude amused Cheng Shao Lin, who praised, "Look at how
adaptable our son is."
Shu Zhi Lan: "..."
Does spending money require adaptation?
This son is indeed hers.
……
On the first day of school, Yuan Ting was dressed head to toe in new items. His clothes,
shoes, and backpack were all limited editions, and the water bottle he carried was a gift
for black card members at a certain store after a certain amount of spending. His outfit
totalled a six-figure sum, making him look more like a young master than Cheng Nan Yi.
Cheng Nan Yi, starting fifth grade, attended the same school as Yuan Ting, so they could
be driven together.
In the past life, Yuan Ting and Cheng Nan Yi were taken in separate cars, as Cheng Nan Yi
used to travel with Mo Yi Kai, who lived in the same neighborhood and was close friends
with him. This time, it somehow turned into three of them sharing one car.
Mo Yi Kai, whose backpack hung carelessly, exclaimed upon seeing Yuan Ting, “Wow, are
you going to a beauty pageant with that outfit?” He circled Yuan Ting, clicking his tongue,
“From a phoenix to a peacock…”
“Dad…” Yuan Ting pouted at Cheng Shao Lin, “He called me a phoenix.”
Mo Yi Kai quickly straightened up, “Sorry, Uncle Cheng, I misspoke.”
Shu Zhi Lan glanced at Mo Yi Kai with some displeasure. Calling her son a phoenix
implied a reflection on her.
Cheng Shao Lin smiled, “It’s fine, everyone, get in the car.”
Initially, Cheng Shao Lin and Shu Zhi Lan planned to take Yuan Ting to school together,
but with Mo Yi Kai there, the car didn’t have enough seats. So Cheng Shao Lin sent Shu Zhi
Lan back and took the three children himself.
Shu Zhi Lan had no objections. After all, it was just school drop-off – who did it didn’t
matter.
Previously, Mo Yi Kai and Cheng Nan Yi sat in the back row, each at one end, not touching
each other. Now, with Yuan Ting added…
Between touching elbows and knees with Mo Yi Kai or Yuan Ting, Cheng Nan Yi almost
unhesitatingly chose Yuan Ting.
As Cheng Nan Yi instinctively placed Yuan Ting in the middle seat, he gave Mo Yi Kai a
complicated look. He had never felt it before, but suddenly realized he disliked Mo Yi Kai
even more than the so-called dirty kid, Yuan Ting.
Mo Yi Kai, oblivious to Cheng Nan Yi's gaze, was quietly warning Yuan Ting: “Kid, you
better behave.” Although Cheng Nan Yi had clarified the rumor for Yuan Ting, the image
of using his tongue to lick an apple was vividly etched in Mo Yi Kai’s mind. He might not
have a cleanliness obsession, but that didn’t mean he was indifferent to such behaviors,
which most people would find unacceptable…
With this thought, Mo Yi Kai looked over Yuan Ting’s head towards Cheng Nan Yi... but
surprisingly, the one with the cleanliness obsession seemed quite fine with it...
“Damn, that’s twisted...” Mo Yi Kai shuddered, feeling goosebumps on his arm.
Cheng Nan Yi turned his head, their eyes met, then both quickly looked away towards the
window, each seeing a hint of disdain in the other’s eyes.
Cheng Shao Lin, sitting in the front passenger seat, advised Yuan Ting: “Xiao Ting, be good
at school, and make sure to tell your teacher if anything happens.”
He then addressed Cheng Nan Yi: “Nan Yi, keep an eye on your brother at school if he
encounters any problems.”
“Got it, Uncle,” Cheng Nan Yi replied.
Yuan Ting rolled his eyes and, leaning against the seat, looked up at Cheng Shao Lin: “Dad,
what if someone bullies me?”
“Then tell Dad, I will definitely seek justice for you,” Cheng Shao Lin turned to face Yuan
Ting, speaking seriously, “No matter how they threaten you, don’t be afraid. Tell me, or go
to your brother. We’ll help you, okay?” He was a bit worried, knowing that bullying was
common in schools and considering how well-mannered Yuan Ting was.
“Understood,” Yuan Ting nodded vigorously.
“Ha…” Mo Yi Kai couldn’t hold back his snicker, muttering, “As if anyone would dare bully
him. He’d be the one bullying others.” Recalling his own rough treatment at the hands of
Yuan Ting, Mo Yi Kai thought about how his mother now looked at him with sparks in her
eyes because of this kid.
Yuan Ting glanced sideways at Mo Yi Kai. So, he hadn’t learned his lesson.
Still daring to mess with him.
"You think I’m a pushover if I don’t show my claws."
“Dad, let me tell you a joke,” Yuan Ting said.
“Oh, Xiao Ting can tell jokes? Come on, tell Dad,” Cheng Shao Lin expressed his interest.
Yuan Ting cleared his throat with great importance, starting his joke with, "One day,
Brother Mo Yi Kai went to visit an old lady's house..."
"Hey..." Mo Yi Kai glared at him, "Why use my name? Am I a joke?"
"Hmph." Yuan Ting wrinkled his nose at him, then turned to Cheng Nan Yi, "Brother... he's
interrupting me."
Cheng Nan Yi, resignedly: "Just borrowing the name, we'll give it back later."
"..." Mo Yi Kai looked at Cheng Nan Yi speechlessly. What the heck, as if a name could be
returned?
Forget it, he was in their car and their parents were present. He'd let it slide this time.
Yuan Ting stuck his tongue out at Mo Yi Kai triumphantly and continued, "Brother Yi Kai
visited the old lady's house and saw peanuts on the living room table. After eating some
and finding them delicious, he asked the old lady where she bought them."
Mo Yi Kai huffed quietly, thinking, 'What kind of joke can this kid possibly tell?'
Yuan Ting raised his eyebrows, raising his voice: "The old lady sighed and said, 'Ever
since I lost all my teeth, I can’t bite into my favorite sugar-coated peanuts anymore. I just
lick the sugar off them. Luckily, Yi Kai, you came along, or these peanuts would have gone
to waste.' Hahaha, isn’t that funny?"
The car fell silent for a moment before erupting into laughter from the driver and Cheng
Shao Lin in the front, while Mo Yi Kai went berserk in the back.
Licking peanuts, oh licking peanuts, licking apples, sweet apples...
"Damn, damn... Does this kid have issues or what..."
Using his name in the joke... That sense of immersion... Damn, he was never going to eat
peanuts or apples again in his life.
"You little brat..." Mo Yi Kai glared at Yuan Ting menacingly, unable to hold back any
longer, "This kid is asking for it."
Yuan Ting was ready, immediately throwing himself into Cheng Nan Yi’s arms: "Brother,
he's going to hit me... So scary, waaah..."
Cheng Nanyi was feeling nauseated, the source of his discomfort so close... A mix of
emotions filled him momentarily.
With one hand, he held onto the waist to prevent him from falling, while the other hand
honestly pushed against Yuan Ting's chest to keep him from getting too close. He turned
his head away, unable to look at him.
Yuan Ting straddled Cheng Nanyi's lap, his hands wrapped around Cheng Nanyi's neck,
and he sweetly asked, "Big brother, was the joke I told funny? Why aren't you laughing?"
Laugh?
Not vomiting is already a sign of respect for you.
Cheng Nanyi forcefully removed Yuan Ting's soft hand from his neck, then inserted his
own hands under Yuan Ting's armpits, lifting him and placing him in the middle seat. He
then turned sideways, his forehead against the car window.
In the crowded seats, they managed to create a two-fist distance between them.
On the other side, Mo Yikai and Cheng Nanyi's actions mirrored each other. If the car
hadn't been moving, Mo Yikai might have jumped out.
Emperor Yuan Ting patted the seats on both sides and asked Cheng Shaolin, "Dad, was
my joke funny?"
"Of course, it was funny. Our little Ting is the cleverest."
Cheng Nanyi: "..."
Mo Yikai: "Ugh..." He must have been seen committing a crime in his past life, which is
why this brat was intentionally tormenting him in this life.
Finally, they arrived at school, and before the car had come to a complete stop, Cheng
Nanyi and Mo Yikai simultaneously opened the car doors and jumped out.
Mo Yikai sprinted off without stopping for a second.
Cheng Nanyi, on the other hand, didn't leave but instead walked with Cheng Shaolin to
take Yuan Ting to his classroom.
Cheng Shaolin held Yuan Ting's hand, leading the way, with Cheng Nanyi trailing behind
them by about two meters.
Yuan Ting quietly glanced back, then complained to Cheng Shaolin with a hint of
grievance, "Dad, brother doesn't like me. He didn't even hold my hand."
Cheng Shaolin just smiled, not bothering to explain. He understood his nephew well; the
mere fact that he hadn’t thrown Yuan Ting out of the car was proof enough of his
fondness.
He always found his nephew too serious and steady. It was good to see him showing
some emotion for a change.
"Brother... why are you staying so far away from me?" Yuan Ting felt he was being too
mouthy, but maybe it was because Cheng Nanyi had confined him for so long that he was
relishing this interaction too much, always unable to resist teasing him.
Cheng Nanyi kept his eyes forward, his youthful face cold and flawless like coated with
latex paint, but inside, he was probably riddled with wounds.
"Hahaha..."
"Refreshing!"
……
Yuan Ting was in the same class as his previous life, second grade, class three. The
homeroom teacher was a pretty woman in her twenties, surnamed Zhao. Her eyes lit up
upon seeing Yuan Ting, "Yuan Ting, hello, I'm Teacher Zhao. You're so cute."
"Thank you, Teacher. You're cute too, the prettiest young lady I've ever seen."
It was still the early 2000s, with mobile phones and computers just becoming popular.
There were no short video apps, so Yuan Ting's unique way of addressing someone as
"pretty young lady" was unheard of. Even the serious teachers couldn't help but smile
and squint their eyes at his charm: "Such a sweet talker."
"My child is quite timid, Teacher Zhao, please take extra care of him. I'm afraid he might
get bullied," Cheng Shaolin expressed his concerns.
"Don't worry, Mr. Cheng, I'll pair him with a well-behaved desk mate."
"Alright then, go to class, Yuan Ting. Daddy will pick you up after school."
"Okay, bye Dad." Yuan Ting waved at Cheng Shaolin, tilting his head and acting cute, "You
have to be the first one to pick me up, okay?"
"Sure, Daddy will be the first one to pick you up," Cheng Shaolin gently patted Yuan Ting's
head.
Only after the father and son had their affectionate moment, did Cheng Nanyi speak from
a distance to Yuan Ting, "I'm in fifth grade, class one, in building three. If you need
anything, come find me."
"Cheng Nanyi, don't worry about your brother; leave him with the teacher and head to
your class." Cheng Nanyi was well-known in school, recognized by nearly every teacher
for his distinguished family, excellent grades, and handsome appearance, a standout even
in this elite primary school.
Hesitating briefly, Cheng Nanyi reluctantly approached Yuan Ting, leaning down to
whisper, "Don't spit at others or disinfect them."
"Why not?" Yuan Ting blinked his innocent, large eyes, looking perplexed.
Faced with such a naïve child, Cheng Nanyi struggled to explain, finally saying, "You only
have so much saliva. If you spit too much, you could die and never see mom and dad
again."
Yuan Ting was almost speechless.
"You're treating me like a three-year-old. I'm triple that age plus one, and you think I'm a
fool, huh."
"Ah, I see." Yuan Ting, feigning fear, covered his mouth. "Then I'll never spit again, I'll
save it all for disinfecting my brother."
Cheng Nanyi, always taught by his grandfather to behave impeccably, walked away
briskly.
Yuan Ting sighed, feeling a sense of invincible loneliness.
……
Under Teacher Zhao's guidance, Yuan Ting went to his second-grade class, Class Three.
Cheng Shaolin watched from outside as Yuan Ting introduced himself at the podium, only
leaving after the teacher had assigned him a seat.
Looking at the classroom full of kids, Yuan Ting felt unusually content. After being
confined for so long in his past life, he treasured his newfound freedom.
Yuan Ting’s desk mate was the same girl as in his past life, but he had forgotten her name
over time.
"Hello, my name is Yuan Ting," he greeted her.
"H-hello, my name is Gu Yuqi…" The girl, pretty and timid, met his gaze shyly. Teacher
Zhao had indeed chosen a well-behaved desk mate for him.
With a dull "thud," a chubby little hand slammed onto Yuan Ting's desk, accompanied by
a brash young voice: "Hey blondie, what gives you the right to sit next to her?"
Yuan Ting, recognizing the voice from long ago, flexed his wrist in readiness. The hunt
was on.
Slowly turning around, Yuan Ting was met with the sight of a short, plump boy.
He remembered this one's name well.
The boy was Duan Wenze. The same scene had unfolded on Yuan Ting's first day of
school in his previous life. Duan Wenze, smitten with Gu Yuqi, had always wanted to sit
next to the girl. Now, with the start of the new term allowing for seat changes, Yuan
Ting's arrival had upset his plans.
Back then, Yuan Ting was genuinely a seven-year-old, an innocent child from the
countryside, unfamiliar with such confrontations, and was terrified.
After telling his mother, Shu Zhilan, she, not wanting trouble, had advised Yuan Ting to
ask the teacher for a seat change.
Even though Yuan Ting had conceded, it marked the beginning of his feud with Duan
Wenze.
Duan Wenze, finding Yuan Ting disagreeable, frequently harassed him. But Yuan Ting,
timid but not foolish, refused to be bullied. When direct confrontations failed, he resorted
to cunning tactics, often outsmarting Duan Wenze. Their grudge continued for years, only
pausing when Yuan Ting went abroad.
Years later, upon hearing Yuan Ting was confined by Cheng Nanyi, Duan Wenze, for some
inexplicable reason, decided to 'rescue' him. Attempting a midnight wall climb, he was
electrocuted by the fence and lay twitching on the ground, still muttering, "Wait for me...
I'll save you from this peril..."
Now, the brazen, chubby Duan Wenze nearly poked Yuan Ting in the face, threatening, "I
advise you to ask the teacher to change seats quickly, or else, you'll regret it."
Yuan Ting squinted at him, then moved his throat, launching a 'magical attack': "he tui..."
Feeling the wetness on his face, Duan Wenze was stunned.
After a moment of shock, he screamed, "Aaah! You spit on me! I'm going to beat you up..."
Yuan Ting cracked a slight smile. This was his initiative, after all.
"This life, my strategy is simple: beat you till you're convinced. If not, we'll do it again."
Author's Note:
Thank you to all the angels who supported me with their votes and nutrient solutions
from July 8, 2023, 23:37:28 to July 9, 2023, 18:08:40~
Special thanks to the angels for their nutrient solutions: Sanbai with 22 bottles; Pingxuan
with 1 bottle;
#13 Chapter 13
Chapter 13
The first day of school was a bit chaotic. Without the homeroom teacher around yet,
classmates who hadn't seen each other all summer were excitedly chattering non-stop,
while a few at the back were arguing fiercely over copying Cheng Nanyi's summer
homework.
Cheng Nanyi sat by the window, engrossed in a book, in a world of his own, detached
from the bustle around him, until a sudden outburst broke the peace: "Cheng Nanyi, that
little brat from your house is getting into a fight."
The familiar voice belonged to Mo Yikai, and by 'little brat'...
Cheng Nanyi's head shot up to see Mo Yikai hanging at the classroom door, wildly
gesticulating and excitedly shouting, "There's blood all over his face..."
Before Mo Yikai could finish, Cheng Nanyi was already in front of him: "Who hit him?"
As he spoke, Cheng Nanyi was already racing out of the classroom and down the stairs,
with Mo Yikai hurrying after him: "I don't know who he's fighting with. When I saw them,
they were rolling on the ground together. I came to get you right away."
"You didn't help?" Cheng Nanyi glanced sharply at Mo Yikai as they ran.
"No need for me." Mo Yikai, struggling to keep up and panting, said, "The teacher's
already there."
It was indeed a coincidence. Mo Yikai, as the leader of the school's health committee, was
busy with his team inspecting the hygiene of the lower grades on the first day of school,
and just happened to witness the fight.
A fight on the first day of school, such bravery. Mo Yikai squeezed through the crowd to
get a better view, only to spot a little blond-haired kid amidst the fray.
"Uh-oh, isn't that the kid who, in his past life, witnessed a murder and now, in this life,
has come to annoy the perpetrator?"
Mo Yikai really wanted to sneak in a few kicks on the little rascal, but ultimately his
conscience prevailed, and he ran to inform Cheng Nanyi.
"It's a shame I missed the whole scene. I'm just too kind-hearted, alas..."
"The kind-hearted always miss out on so much fun."
As Cheng Nanyi rushed towards Building No. 2, intending to go upstairs, Mo Yikai

shouted from behind, "Not here, there was blood. They've gone to the infirmary."
Cheng Nanyi frowned, quickening his pace without stopping. He had thought Mo Yikai
was exaggerating, but could the kid really have been hurt that badly?
Before reaching the infirmary, Cheng Nanyi could hear wailing and crying from afar and
sped up, pushing open the infirmary door.
The infirmary wasn't crowded, and Cheng Nanyi's gaze quickly found Yuan Ting standing
in a corner.
The child's clothes and hair were disheveled, his white shirt stained with blood, his curly
hair messy, some tufts standing up, looking very disheveled.
Fortunately, he was standing, and though his face was dirty, there were no visible
wounds.
Cheng Nanyi strode over, suppressing the panic in his heart, and asked softly, "Where did
he hit you? Where is the wound?"
Yuan Ting, not expecting Cheng Nanyi to come, was tiptoeing, hands behind his back,
shifting uncomfortably, his eyes darting around, avoiding Cheng Nanyi’s gaze, and then
his eyes landed on Mo Yikai, who looked excited.
"Why is he everywhere?"
Cheng Nanyi found his behavior odd and couldn't help but reach out to pat Yuan Ting’s
head. "Could his head have been injured?"
Yuan Ting leaned his head back and let out a dry laugh…
"Cheng Nanyi," Teacher Zhao called out from the side.
Cheng Nanyi turned around, his face expressionless, as he addressed Teacher Zhao:
"Teacher, my brother was attacked on the first day of school. We demand an explanation
from the other party. We will not accept a settlement."
Teacher Zhao appeared somewhat embarrassed, "Well… Cheng Nanyi, about your
brother… he's fine, actually. It was he who… knocked out Duan Wenze's tooth."
The room fell silent for a moment before the crying intensified, filled with anguish: "My
tooth… I'm bleeding… Ahhh, I'm going to die…"
Only then did Cheng Nanyi remember the other party involved and turned his gaze in
that direction.
At that moment, Duan Wenze was a mess of tears and snot, his hair as disheveled as a
bird's nest, his mouth wide open revealing a dark gap, and his white shirt covered in
blood, looking even more pitiful than Yuan Ting.
Cheng Nanyi stepped back and then looked at Yuan Ting.
Yuan Ting: "..." He was almost embarrassed on behalf of Cheng Nanyi…
Yuan Ting lowered his head, looking around but avoiding Cheng Nanyi’s gaze.
This situation was just... indescribable.
In his past life, a seven-year-old Yuan Ting definitely couldn't have bested Duan Wenze,
given the latter's considerable heft.
Even though Yuan Ting called him a 'little chubby boy,' he himself was a shorter and
thinner kid…
Yuan Ting, with the mindset of an adult, had learned Sanda and Taekwondo. Despite
being physically smaller, he knew how to use his strength cleverly. His intention was just
to give Duan Wenze a slight pain and then subdue him, asserting who was in charge.
Everything had seemed perfect, dealing with a seven-year-old seemed so easy…
It was supposed to be a harmless confrontation, but he hadn't expected that Duan Wenze
still had baby teeth. In the chaos, one of Duan Wenze's teeth got knocked out…
The tooth was gone… and then there was blood… As Duan Wenze cried with his mouth
wide open, it was as if he had lost an arm, the scene tumultuous and dramatic.
To be honest, Yuan Ting did feel a bit guilty for bullying a child as an adult.
Sighing, Yuan Ting thought, "Bad start to my mission... It must be because I shared a ride
with Mo Yikai this morning." He glanced up and shot Mo Yikai a glare.
Mo Yikai met Yuan Ting's gaze and gave him a thumbs-up, impressed!
Knocking out a tooth on the first day of school was an achievement he could boast about
for years.
"I've already called Duan Wenze's parents, and his father should be arriving soon. But I
can't seem to reach Yuan Ting's father..." Normally, such a scuffle wouldn’t warrant
notifying the parents, but losing a tooth and bleeding made it a serious matter requiring
parental presence.
Yuan Ting's eyes flickered: "Then call my grandfather." Let the old man experience the
challenge of raising a child and see the result of Shu Zhilan's failed education.
"No need, I can handle this," Cheng Nanyi said calmly, without the embarrassment Yuan
Ting expected, "There's no need to inform my uncle or grandfather."
Thinking Yuan Ting was scared, Cheng Nanyi patted his head again, lowering his voice,
"Don't worry, your brother is here."
Yuan Ting looked up at him. The teenager's features were sharp and clear, and despite his
growing height making him appear somewhat lanky and frail, his gaze was calm, showing
no sign of panic or confusion.
Yuan Ting couldn't help but admire, "The scion of a noble family truly lives up to the
name. Such a presence, it leaves one speechless: unparalleled!"
"You can... handle it?" Before Teacher Zhao could express her doubts, Duan Wenze's
father had arrived.
"Who hit my son?" A burly man about 1.9 meters tall, decked in gold chains, a flashy belt,
a patterned shirt, and carrying a briefcase, stomped in, shaking the ground as he moved.
"Daddy..." Duan Wenze rushed to him, wailing, "Look at my tooth, Daddy, someone
knocked it out..."
Yuan Ting: "..."
There's no need to stress he's your real dad; you two clearly look like father and son.
"Let me see." The sturdy man crouched down, opened his son's mouth to inspect the gap,
and upon seeing it, he erupted in anger, "Who did this? Come forward now."
Yuan Ting quietly hid behind Cheng Nanyi, fearing the burly man might kick him away in
anger.
"Mr. Duan, please calm down," Teacher Zhao urgently stepped in front of Yuan Ting and
Cheng Nanyi, also wary of the man’s temper. "Let's understand what happened first."
"Understand what? My son's tooth is gone, what if it doesn't grow back?"

"Well, that's unlikely..." Teacher Zhao said with a forced smile. "He's probably just losing
his baby teeth, and they'll grow back. The doctor has already examined both children, and
they're fine. If you're still worried, why don't we all go to the hospital to check?"
"Of course, we're going to the hospital." Duan Zhen Shan stood up, scanning the room,
"Where's the kid who hit my son?"
His gaze fell on Cheng Nanyi.
Mainly because Cheng Nanyi was already about 1.7 meters tall, towering over Teacher
Zhao who was under 1.6 meters... she couldn’t shield him.
However, Cheng Nanyi was effectively shielding Yuan Ting.
"You?" Duan Zhen Shan pointed at Cheng Nanyi. "Where are your parents? Come and
apologize to my son."
"It wasn't him, it was me." Yuan Ting, clutching Cheng Nanyi's clothes, peeked out from
behind, "Your son started the trouble with me." He was hiding because he feared Duan
Zhen Shan's uncontrollable rage, not because he was a coward.
"Started trouble with you? And that justifies knocking his tooth out?" Duan Zhen Shan
looked disbelievingly at the smaller, thinner Yuan Ting, who managed to knock out his
son's tooth despite looking so frail.
Duan Wenze, still grieving over his lost tooth, froze when he caught his father’s stern
gaze, letting out a gurgling hiccup.
"He started it," Yuan Ting reiterated.
"Even if he started it, you had no right to knock out his tooth."
Yuan Ting: "..."
"Hey, with my temper, do you really think being the weaker one makes you right?"
"Who's the actual victim here? Just because he lost a tooth, he's suddenly the aggrieved
party?"
Yuan Ting took a deep breath, thinking, "It's just a misery competition, right? Now my
heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys all hurt. I need to make a trip to the hospital."
"Having lived over two decades, if there's one thing I've learned, it's from watching too
many short videos. Say one more word, and I'll immediately lie down."
Just as Yuan Ting was about to burst, Cheng Nanyi spoke up, "I'm his guardian. Talk to me
about the issue. Don't scare the child."
Yuan Ting choked, coughing uncontrollably. Cheng Nanyi patted his back, and Teacher
Zhao, startled, hurried to get him water. Didn't the school doctor say it was nothing
serious? Why this sudden cough?
"You?" Duan Zhen Shan stepped forward. Cheng Nanyi was taller than his peers, but still
looked slender compared to the 1.9-meter-tall Duan Zhen Shan.
Duan Zhen Shan crossed his arms, tilting his chin at Cheng Nanyi, "You're the guardian,
huh? Fine, tell me how we’re going to deal with this."
Seeing the tension rise, Teacher Zhao intervened, "Mr. Duan, here's what happened."
Teacher Zhao explained the situation, "Duan Wenze wanted to be desk mates with Gu
Yuqi, but Gu Yuqi's desk mate was Yuan Ting. So, Duan Wenze approached Yuan Ting
about switching seats. They had a verbal altercation, and Duan Wenze struck first,
leading to a physical fight."
"You struck first?" Duan Zhen Shan, adept at identifying key points, turned to his son.
"Hmph." Duan Wenze scowled, pointing at Yuan Ting with his chubby finger, "He spat at
me first."
"You were the one pointing at me first," Yuan Ting retorted, not backing down. "You were
insulting me."
Cheng Nanyi: "???"
Retaliating with spit because of an insult? Isn't saliva supposed to be for disinfection?
"What, you spat at my son?" Duan Zhen Shan's eyes widened fiercely, looking
threatening. Teacher Zhao tensed up and protectively reached out to shield Yuan Ting.
But Duan Zhen Shan just glared, then waved it off, "Let it go, they're just kids. A little
roughhousing is normal. I won't pursue it this time, but be more careful in the future."
Teacher Zhao breathed a sigh of relief, surprised that the intimidating man was actually
quite reasonable.
As long as Duan Zhen Shan didn't press the matter, it would likely be resolved. However,
she didn't immediately agree, instead telling him, "I still need to contact Yuan Ting’s
parents." After all, it was Duan Wenze who had started the trouble.
"Then hurry up with that. I need to take this brat to the hospital to check his teeth. So
clumsy, why didn't he knock out all your teeth? Embarrassing. Can’t even handle a skinny
little blond kid after eating so much.”
"Skinny little blond kid?"
Yuan Ting was about to explode, but then a melodious, youthful voice spoke up, "We
don’t accept this resolution."
Duan Zhen Shan turned to Cheng Nanyi in shock, "What, you want compensation from
us?"
Yuan Ting too looked at Cheng Nanyi in surprise.
He had the mind of an adult. The scuffle with Duan Wenze would be considered mutual
assault at a police station. If Duan Wenze had been more seriously injured, he might even
have to pay compensation. Thus, a mutual settlement seemed like a good outcome.
Besides, he felt a bit guilty for instigating the fight and knocking out Duan Wenze's tooth,
causing quite a bit of bleeding, especially since Duan Wenze had once climbed a wall for
him.
"Cheng Nanyi, this matter should really involve Yuan Ting’s parents..."
"No need," Cheng Nanyi interrupted Teacher Zhao, looking at Duan Zhen Shan, "I demand
your son apologize to Yuan Ting and provide us with compensation."
"Ah, what?" Duan Zhen Shan's speech was jumbled in his shock, his eyebrows furrowed
in disbelief, "You want my son, who just lost a tooth, to apologize to you? Forget it, I won’t
stoop to arguing with kids. Where’s his dad? Why hasn’t he shown up?"
"Indeed, your understanding is quite ordinary," said Cheng Nanyi.
！！！
Yuan Ting almost clapped for Cheng Nanyi. His use of the idiom was explosively perfect.
"Today is my brother’s first day of school, a day that should have been happy and safe. It
was your son who caused him unwarranted harm."
"Your son, lacking in manners, instigated trouble, and the injury and lost tooth are his
own doing."
"Right on," Yuan Ting nodded vigorously. The logic was sound.
His own doing?
There was some truth in that...
Duan Zhen Shan's mouth twitched a few times, "You need to understand, it was your
brother who spat first. Who would tolerate that? In his place, I would have knocked the
sense out of him."
"But it was your son who provoked first."
"My son only spoke. Your brother spat. Are these harms equivalent?"
"In terms of harm, they are the same since neither was physically injured. My brother
was acting in self-defense."
Yuan Ting nodded vehemently in agreement.
Duan Zhen Shan was left speechless by the child's retort.
After glaring at Cheng Nanyi for a while, Duan Zhen Shan reiterated, "My son lost a tooth."
"Your son’s tooth wasn’t knocked out by my brother."
Duan Zhen Shan, now laughing in frustration: "So if not by your brother, did my son
knock out his own tooth?"
Cheng Nanyi, turning slightly, grasped Yuan Ting’s forearm and presented it forward,
"There’s a bite mark on his arm."
"It was your son who bit Yuan Ting first. His tooth was already loose, and it got knocked
out in the process."
Duan Zhen Shan and Teacher Zhao both bent down to look.
"He bit you?" Teacher Zhao asked Yuan Ting.
Yuan Ting nodded: "Yes..." but he wasn't sure if that's when the tooth fell out.
Cheng Nanyi spoke calmly, "If your son’s teeth were intact, it’s likely my brother’s arm
would have been bitten and bleeding instead. Then, it would be my brother who’s
injured."
"My brother hasn't done anything wrong from beginning to end. Why is he the one who
needs forgiveness instead of being pursued for justice?"
Duan Zhen Shan: "..."
Yuan Ting: "..." Is this really the thought process of a ten-year-old kid?
Today, he truly witnessed what it means to be a debate prodigy!
Teacher Zhao was also convinced, her mind somewhat in disarray: "Student Cheng Nan
Yi..."
"Teacher, like I said at the beginning, we will not accept a settlement.
Teacher Zhao: "..."
Teacher Zhao turned to look at Duan Zhen Shan.
Duan Zhen Shan: "..." Don't look at him; he's also in distress, feeling unexpectedly
persuaded by a child...
This shouldn't be the case, the injured one is his son, with the obvious wound glaring
right there.
Seeing him silent, Cheng Nan Yi added: "If today my brother had been bitten and bled, he
might have needed a rabies vaccine."
"Rabies vaccine?" Duan Zhen Shan puzzled, "Why a rabies vaccine?"
"Because we're not sure if your son's saliva carries the rabies virus."
Duan Zhen Shan: "???"
He was somewhat slow to react; why would his son's saliva contain the rabies vaccine?
Yuan Ting: "..."
"Cheng Nan Yi, have you elevated the art of insulting to such a high level now?"
"Considering that student Duan Wen Ze lost a tooth, we'll let this go. We won't ask for
compensation for the dirt on Yuan Ting's clothes either. Just apologize to Yuan Ting, and
that's it," summarized Cheng Nan Yi in his concluding statement.
Yuan Ting was utterly speechless in shock.
After hearing Cheng Nan Yi's words, the last bit of his guilt completely vanished.
What, he deliberately spit to provoke Duan Wen Ze?

Nonsense, that was just self-defense against Duan Wen Ze's outrageous remarks.
What, Duan Wen Ze lost a tooth?
If his tooth hadn't come out, he might have contracted rabies from the bite!
That was a close call!!!
In conclusion, he, Yuan Ting, was the clear victim here, no arguments accepted.
Yuan Ting stood in front of Cheng Nan Yi, hands on hips and brimming with indignation,
pointing at Duan Wen Ze: "You, apologize to me."
Duan Zhen Shan coughed lightly, unable to maintain his composure: "Well, let your
parents come; I don’t want to argue with you kids." He couldn't accept that his son had to
apologize after losing a tooth, still trying to make sense of how things had escalated to
this point.
Yuan Ting looked up at Cheng Nan Yi: "Nan Yi brother, what if he doesn't apologize?"
Cheng Nan Yi gently patted his head, speaking softly: "Don’t worry, our family has a team
of lawyers; we’ll take them to court if needed."
Duan Zhen Shan: "???"
Teacher Zhao: "Well, Cheng Nan Yi, that might be taking things a bit too far..."
"Mr. Duan," Cheng Nan Yi looked up at the towering figure, "My grandfather is Cheng He
Zhang."
……
Duan Wen Ze was dumbfounded when he was forced to bow and apologize to Yuan Ting.
Why should he apologize when he was the one who lost a tooth?
It was bad enough to apologize, but why did his father tell him to wait?
Usually, when his dad said that, it meant a scolding was waiting for him at home.
Duan Wen Ze glared resentfully at Yuan Ting, who quietly gestured a fist at him,
whispering, "Keep staring, and I'll knock out the rest of your teeth."
"Wah..." Duan Wen Ze burst into tears.

Oh heavens, what has this world come to...
Author’s note:
Thanks to the angels who cast their mighty votes or nourished me with nutrient solution
from 2023-07-09 18:08:40 to 2023-07-11 17:01:27~
Thanks to the angel who dropped a mine: Ping Xuan, 1;
Thanks to the angels who watered with nutrient solution: Xi Xi, 20 bottles; Hao Hen De
Xin, 2 bottles; Ping Xuan, 1 bottle;
#14 Chapter 14
Chapter 14
Duan Zhen Shan felt like he had neglected to check the almanac before leaving the house
today... No, he hadn't dispelled the bad luck from his ill-fated son. How did he manage to
offend the young master of the Cheng family?
Duan Zhen Shan worked in construction. His company always bid for projects offered by
Cheng Group, but never succeeded.
The reason was not only that his company didn't stand out among the bidders, but more
importantly, Duan Zhen Shan had offended a vice president of the Cheng family.
He had always wanted to network with other high-level executives but lacked the means.
Now, he didn't need to look further, as his son had outdone him by directly offending the
young master of the Cheng family.
Duan Zhen Shan looked at the composed and restrained young man before him and
sighed, "I need to take him to the hospital. Do you want to come?"
"No need," Cheng Nan Yi refused coldly, shaking his head.
Unable to reach Cheng Shao Lin by phone, Duan Zhen Shan left his number and then
departed with Duan Wen Ze.
Once out of school, Duan Wen Ze had stopped crying, clenching his fists: "I'll get my
revenge."
Duan Zhen Shan slapped his son's head lightly: "Alright, Mr. Big Shot, talking about
revenge, you're almost unable to continue at school." Just one word from the Cheng
family, and his son could be kicked out, and his company might be ruined.
He had heard of the reputation of this young master of the Cheng family. The Chengs
were known for being straightforward. Cheng Shao Lin, in his forties, had only recently
married, and the next generation consisted of only one heir, whom the old master was
grooming as a successor.
Ordinary kids are treasured in their families, let alone the heir of the Cheng family. Just
one word from him...
Ha, haha, hahaha...

Duan Zhen Shan couldn't even cry.
"Dad, you've changed," Duan Wen Ze looked up, eyes wide, "Don't you love me anymore?"
"Love my foot," Duan Zhen Shan hoisted him into the back seat and climbed in himself,
"Brat, I haven't even started with you. Tell me, who taught you to bully classmates?"
"I didn't bully him," Duan Wen Ze felt unjustly accused. "I like Gu Yu Qi, I just wanted to
scare him into changing seats. Who knew he would spit at me? Who could stand that?
Dad, tell me, who could bear that?" Thinking back, Duan Wen Ze still felt indignant. That
new kid was so impolite, spitting like that, disgusting...
Duan Zhen Shan was at a loss for words, struggling to find a way to teach Duan Wen Ze a
lesson. After all, being spat on is really hard to tolerate...
Duan Zhen Shan patted Duan Wen Ze's head, "It's indeed hard to tolerate. Dad
understands. So, when I spank you later, I'll make it two slaps less. But if you bully your
classmates again, I'll break your legs."
Duan Wen Ze was stunned for a moment, then burst into tears again.
……
In the school infirmary, Teacher Zhao handed a set of school uniforms to Cheng Nan Yi:
"Check if he's injured anywhere on his body."
Cheng Nan Yi took the clothes and led Yuan Ting to the restroom. After letting Yuan Ting
wash his hands and face, Cheng Nan Yi approached to help him change.
Yuan Ting jumped in fright, then defensively crossed his arms and backed away,
panicked: "No need, no need, I can do it myself." Don't do this, it's not right, why undress
someone, it's scary.
Cheng Nan Yi was sensitive to emotional changes. Yuan Ting's fright was palpable, and he
couldn't understand why the child was avoiding him. He pursed his lips and said, "Come
here, let me check if you're injured."
Yuan Ting had been observing Cheng Nan Yi's expressions for four years and instantly
knew Cheng Nan Yi was upset.
Yuan Ting chuckled nervously: "I'm not injured, I'm grown up, I can change my clothes
myself..."
Seeing Yuan Ting's lack of cooperation, Cheng Nan Yi's voice deepened: "Yuan Ting, come
here."
His youthful voice was crisp, but Yuan Ting was too familiar with that tone. Almost
instinctively, he walked towards Cheng Nan Yi.
Cheng Nan Yi's expression softened, and he began to remove Yuan Ting's dirtied clothes.
Yuan Ting: "..." Where's your germophobia? Why are you undressing a dirty kid?
Perhaps it was because Cheng Nan Yi had promised Cheng Shao Lin to look after him.
Just like in his previous life when he went abroad and his family asked Cheng Nan Yi to
look after him, Cheng Nan Yi did exactly that.
So, Cheng Nan Yi was just acting out of a sense of responsibility, Yuan Ting consoled
himself.
Yes, it must be that.
Yuan Ting, dressed in Crayon Shin-chan boxer shorts, stood in the restroom. When Cheng
Nan Yi asked him to raise his arms, he did; to lift his legs, he complied obediently.
Cheng Nan Yi inspected Yuan Ting thoroughly, from top to bottom, left to right, not even
sparing his feet.
There were two light bruises on Yuan Ting's body, not serious, but they looked rather bad
on his pale skin.
Looking down at the boy squatting in front of him with a cold expression, Yuan Ting felt a
bit aggrieved. Why, why, in this second life, he could knock out Duan Wen Ze's teeth, but
why was he still so timid around Cheng Nan Yi?
Can't he be a bit more assertive? Just asking, can he?!
Yes!
Yuan Ting kicked out his leg non-cooperatively, and Cheng Nan Yi looked up: "What's
wrong? Stay still, don't move."
Meeting Cheng Nan Yi's gaze, Yuan Ting looked up at the ceiling, thinking he'd be more
assertive another day.
After the check-up, Cheng Nan Yi picked up the school uniform to dress Yuan Ting.
Yuan Ting suddenly realized, from a different perspective, Cheng Nan Yi was serving him;
wasn't this what a nanny does?
Right?
Yes.
In his past life, Cheng Nan Yi found fault in everything about him, but in this life, he's
kneeling down to dress him...
Actually, when you think about it, it's quite satisfying...
Hahaha...
Once he figured it out, Yuan Ting felt completely at ease, propping himself on Cheng Nan
Yi's shoulder and kicking his legs like a victorious rooster: "Hurry up and put my pants
on."
See, didn't Cheng Nan Yi obediently pick up the pants and put them on him?
Sometimes people are just too stubborn; changing your perspective can open another
door, right?
Yuan Ting kicked his feet again, and Cheng Nan Yi helped him put on his shoes too.
Yuan Ting: "..." Wow, double the satisfaction!
After changing, Cheng Nan Yi personally escorted Yuan Ting back to the classroom. On
the way, Cheng Nan Yi said to him, "If you have any issues, come to me. Don't just fight
with anyone."
"He started it. He bullied me first," Yuan Ting said.
"Really?" Cheng Nan Yi looked at Yuan Ting, his gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny.
Being stared at with such a gaze by a ten-year-old, Yuan Ting suddenly felt a guilty sense
of being seen through.
Seeing the classroom close at hand, Yuan Ting hurriedly waved at Cheng Nan Yi and ran
off: "Brother, I'm going to class, bye."
In the future, he'd have to be more careful. Cheng Nan Yi was much smarter than he had
thought.
It's a good thing his way of thinking is different from most people; otherwise, he could
easily outsmart him.
When Yuan Ting returned to the classroom, the previously lively room fell silent
instantly. A group of kids gazed at him with a salute, fear evident in their eyes.
Yuan Ting clicked his tongue in approval. Excellent, he had managed to intimidate these
little brats on the first day of school.
Yuan Ting went back to his seat and sat down. Gu Yu Qi moved slightly to the side,
appearing even more timid than before.
"Hey..." A boy beside him tapped Yuan Ting's shoulder. "Did you really knock out Duan
Wen Ze's tooth?"
Yuan Ting turned his head. He remembered this boy; his name was Kang Xiao Yu, who
had often caused him trouble during elementary school.
Kang Xiao Yu's father was quite familiar with the Cheng family, knowing many of their
affairs, so this kid would always mockingly call him a hanger-on at school.
Back then, Yuan Ting was new and felt intimidated and insecure among so many affluent
young masters, living in constant fear and anxiety.
Kang Xiao Yu was different from Duan Wen Ze. Duan Wen Ze was openly arrogant and
entitled, always announcing his intentions before a fight with statements like, "Brace
yourself, I'm about to start." Kang Xiao Yu, on the other hand, never fought physically,
resorting instead to verbal attacks, mockery, and isolating others by forming cliques.
Yuan Ting was the one most often isolated.
Yuan Ting clenched his fist, waved it at him, and whispered with narrowed eyes, "What,
you want to try too?"
Kang Xiao Yu snorted and then turned to Gu Yu Qi, "If you're scared, I can help you ask
the teacher to change your seat."
Gu Yu Qi shrank away, quickly glanced at Yuan Ting, and then shook her head at Kang
Xiao Yu, whispering, "No, it's not necessary."
"Alright then, if he bullies you, you can tell me."
Yuan Ting looked over: "What does it have to do with you?"
Kang Xiao Yu gave Yuan Ting a sidelong glance and then turned away, staying silent.
Yuan Ting sighed. Ah, how much he wanted to knock out that kid's teeth too. What to do?
……
Yuan Ting's first day at school was marked by his formidable presence, leading to the
result that no one in the class, except the annoying Kang Xiao Yu, dared to speak to him.
But Yuan Ting was no child, and naturally, he didn't take these things to heart.
The textbooks for second grade were ridiculously easy for Yuan Ting; he didn’t even need
to study. So, he spent his first day in class just sighing.
So boring...
Each class lasted forty minutes, with nothing to do and hands to be kept flat on the desk,
properly aligned. He would rather be lying in his villa, scrolling through his phone and
ordering takeout.
And such a life was to continue for many more years...
"Yuan Ting, stand up and answer this question."
Yuan Ting obediently stood up.
"What is twenty-three plus five?"
Yuan Ting: "Twenty-eight."
"Good, very correct. Sit down."
Gu Yu Qi glanced at him, whispering, "You're so smart. I hadn't even figured it out yet."
Yuan Ting: "..."
What a predicament...
By noon, Teacher Zhao had contacted Cheng Shao Lin, but he was busy and couldn't
come, so Shu Zhi Lan arrived instead.
Teacher Zhao informed Shu Zhi Lan about the incident.
After hearing the entire story, Shu Zhi Lan's expression turned sour.
"Mrs. Yuan Ting, how do you think we should handle this matter?" Teacher Zhao asked.
"Duan Wen Ze's father has already apologized. If you don’t wish to pursue this further, we
can consider the matter closed."
Of course, Shu Zhi Lan didn't want to escalate the situation. Her son had knocked out
someone's tooth, and although the other party had apologized in the end...
But something about the situation didn’t make sense to her. She suspected that the
apology might have been due to recognizing Cheng Nan Yi and fearing the Cheng family's
influence.
"No need, Teacher. Sorry for the trouble. Yuan Ting is still immature; I'll make sure to
teach him a lesson when we get home."
After picking up Yuan Ting, Shu Zhi Lan walked briskly out of the school, struggling to
contain her anger.
She had always tread cautiously in the Cheng family, striving for perfection. But her son
kept causing trouble behind her back. Previous incidents were overlooked by the elders
and Cheng Shao Lin, but this time, what if the other party spread the word? How would
she face her social circles?
Moreover, Yuan Ting's actions were not only embarrassing for him but also for the Cheng
family.
The more Shu Zhi Lan thought about it, the angrier she got. Reaching her car, she let go of
Yuan Ting’s hand and hissed at him, "Can’t you stop causing trouble?"
"I don’t understand what you’re thinking. Why did you hit someone? If someone bullies
you, tell the teacher, or tell me and your father when you get home. Why resort to
violence?"
"I don't know how your grandmother raised you, lacking any manners."
"Yuan Ting, let me tell you, don't test my patience anymore. If this continues, I might
really send you away."
Yuan Ting looked at the young and beautiful woman in front of him, finding that his heart,
which he thought had grown cold, was uncontrollably filled with sadness.
Although he and Shu Zhi Lan were not very close, she was, after all, his biological mother.
In the years before the scandal broke out in his previous life, they were always mother
and son. In that household, even if she didn't pay much attention to Yuan Ting, he felt at
ease just thinking of her, as she was the one who brought him into the Cheng family,
where they were the closest.
After those incidents, Yuan Ting was nearly shattered, and it took countless sleepless,
drunken nights to forcibly extract the concept of 'mother' from his very bones.
He thought he could face Shu Zhi Lan indifferently, but he was wrong. He still felt hurt,
still felt sad.
"Speak up," Shu Zhi Lan said, pushing Yuan Ting somewhat roughly.
Yuan Ting was still a child, and he staggered backward, struggling to keep his balance.
Just as he thought he was going to fall, a hand steadied his shoulder, supporting him.
Yuan Ting looked up and saw Cheng Nan Yi’s impassive face.
Cheng Nan Yi pulled Yuan Ting to his side and frowned at Shu Zhi Lan. "Aunt, what are
you doing?"
Shu Zhi Lan quickly adjusted her expression. "Nothing, I was just telling Yuan Ting off for
fighting at school today, as his teacher informed me."
"Why scold him?" Cheng Nan Yi's tone was cold. "It was clearly the other party's fault.
What does it have to do with Yuan Ting?"
Shu Zhi Lan found herself at a loss for words, too intimidated to argue, her face a mask of
embarrassment.
"Come with me." Cheng Nan Yi took Yuan Ting’s hand and walked towards the car that
had come to pick him up.
Yuan Ting let himself be led, neither resisting nor speaking.
Reaching the car, the driver opened the door, and both of them got in.
The car moved smoothly, but the usually lively and active Yuan Ting sat quietly with his
head drooping, clearly in a low mood.
After some thought, Cheng Nan Yi took out a piece of chocolate from his backpack and
handed it to Yuan Ting: "Eating chocolate can improve your mood."
Yuan Ting accepted it, thanking him listlessly. He then bit into the chocolate wrapper
with his teeth to open it.
Just as Cheng Nan Yi was about to offer help, Yuan Ting had already bitten into the
chocolate, then wrinkled his brow and stuck out his tongue to Cheng Nan Yi, saying
unclearly, "It's a bit melted..."
His little tongue was covered in a sticky, black mess, moving around as he spoke...
Cheng Nan Yi: "..."
Author's note:
from 2023-07-11 17:01:27 to 2023-07-12 17:08:18~
Special thanks to the angels who watered with nutrient solution: lucky, 48360027, 1
bottle;
Thank you very much for your support; I will continue to work hard!
#15 Chapter 15
Chapter 15
There was no one at home for lunch. Previously, Cheng Nan Yi would eat lunch alone
after school. Today, there were two more people at the dining table: Shu Zhi Lan and
Yuan Ting.
Yuan Ting was about to sit next to Shu Zhi Lan when Cheng Nan Yi gestured for him to
come sit by his side: "Yuan Ting, come sit over here."
Both mother and son were momentarily stunned.
Yuan Ting: "???"
Shu Zhi Lan: "???"
Yuan Ting glanced at Cheng Nan Yi and then at Shu Zhi Lan. Without a doubt, between
Shu Zhi Lan and Cheng Nan Yi, Yuan Ting very firmly chose... Shu Zhi Lan.
"I, I'll sit with mom," Yuan Ting said timidly.
"Come here," Cheng Nan Yi repeated.
Yuan Ting immediately trudged over.
Neither Yuan Ting nor Shu Zhi Lan dared to defy Cheng Nan Yi, nor did they see the need
to.
Shu Zhi Lan had thought Cheng Nan Yi probably disliked Yuan Ting, but now it seemed
that wasn't quite accurate.
If Yuan Ting got along well with Cheng Nan Yi, she was naturally happy to see it.
After all, growing up in the same house, Yuan Ting could also benefit from Cheng Nan Yi's
influence in the future.
The butler, happy to see them getting closer, cheerfully pulled out a chair: "Young master,
please sit."
Yuan Ting then climbed onto the chair.
Cheng Nan Yi looked at Shu Zhi Lan: "Aunt, please start your meal."
The rule at the dining table was for the elders to start eating first. Shu Zhi Lan, now
awkwardly assuming this role, instinctively picked up her chopsticks: "Then... um, Nan Yi,
you eat too."
Cheng Nan Yi picked up his chopsticks and served Yuan Ting first, placing a serving of
food in his bowl.
Yuan Ting started eating without hesitation.
"Xiao Ting, remember to thank your brother," Shu Zhi Lan softly reminded Yuan Ting.
"No need for thanks; this and that, we won't get to eat at this rate," Cheng Nan Yi said
indifferently.
Shu Zhi Lan, receiving no face from Cheng Nan Yi, blushed with embarrassment and gave
a forced laugh.
The butler, looking back and forth, felt puzzled. Although the young master wasn't warm,
his basic manners and etiquette, personally taught by the patriarch, were impeccable.
Why was he acting like this today?
Yuan Ting, sensing what the butler felt, was also confused. He had been provoking
trouble for so long without any reaction from the Cheng family, so why did Cheng Nan Yi
suddenly seem to dislike Shu Zhi Lan?
Biting his chopsticks, Yuan Ting pondered. It could only be because Shu Zhi Lan scolded
him today.
Why did she scold him?
Because, in her view, Yuan Ting had done something wrong, whereas in Cheng Nan Yi’s
formidable logic, Yuan Ting was innocent.
So, Yuan Ting concluded that Cheng Nan Yi disliked people whose values didn't align with
his.
This was a direction worth exploring.
Yuan Ting loudly sucked on his chopsticks and then offered Cheng Nan Yi a piece of meat,
his voice muffled: "Brother, this is for you."
Shu Zhi Lan: "???" Was her son courting disaster?
Cheng Nan Yi glanced at him, then expressionlessly signaled the butler, who nodded and
made an 'ok' gesture. The maid was then called to separate dishes for Yuan Ting and to
replace Cheng Nan Yi’s tableware.
Yuan Ting: "..."
Are the coping methods always this practiced?
"Cheng—Nan—Yi—," a loud shout came from the doorway.
Everyone in the room turned to look, seeing an infuriated Mo Yi Kai, his face seething
with anger, storming in and glaring at Cheng Nan Yi.
Upon seeing Mo Yi Kai, a rare look of bewilderment appeared on Cheng Nan Yi's face.
Mo Yi Kai's school uniform was disheveled, his forehead beaded with sweat, hands on
hips, panting heavily.
Yuan Ting tilted his head: "What's up? If you're not eating at home, why come to my
place?"
"Me?" Mo Yi Kai pointed at himself, then at Yuan Ting, and let out a frustrated laugh,
"Come to your house, for what?"
"You two have the nerve to ask why I came to your house?"
Yuan Ting blinked, slowly catching on.
"Sorry," finally, Cheng Nan Yi spoke, "Something came up, and I... forgot you."
The driver assigned to pick up Cheng Nan Yi was new this summer, and no one had told
him he was supposed to pick up several kids. He only needed to follow Cheng Nan Yi's
instructions.
So, at noon, when Cheng Nan Yi asked to be driven, he just drove, forgetting that Mo Yi
Kai hadn't gotten into the car.
"Forgot me?" Mo Yi Kai almost spat blood, his eyes filled with resentment as he nearly
devoured Cheng Nan Yi with his gaze, "We've been friends for so many years, and you
just forgot about me? This little bunny shows up, and you completely forget me, you
actually... forgot me..."
Mo Yi Kai kept muttering: "Do you know how I got back? I had no money, couldn't use a
payphone, couldn't take a taxi. I ran all the way back, I freaking ran back, do you know?
Do you realize how far that is, how hot it is outside?"
"I didn’t know before, but now I do," Yuan Ting answered him, trying to suppress his
laughter and looking innocently at him.
Hahaha, to think they actually forgot Mo Yi Kai, hahaha...
What goes around comes around, one reaps what one sows...
The usually cautious and meticulous Cheng Nan Yi actually forgot about Mo Yi Kai...
This joke could keep him laughing for a year.
Mo Yi Kai choked on his words.
So angry, furiously angry at that darn kid.
The butler hurried forward: "It was the driver's fault. I'll speak to him later. Master Mo,
why don’t you join us for the meal?"
"I won’t eat." Mo Yi Kai huffed and walked out, "Cheng Nan Yi, we're no longer the best
friends in the world."
Yuan Ting almost spat out his soup, astonished. My goodness, this guy is twelve and still
talks about being 'the best friends in the world'? Isn’t he embarrassed?
Yuan Ting quickly climbed down from his chair and ran after Mo Yi Kai, shouting at his
retreating back: "My brother and I are the real best friends in the world." Take that.
Mo Yi Kai, grinding his teeth, continued walking without looking back.
He declared, he was unilaterally ending his friendship with Cheng Nan Yi.
Yuan Ting returned to his seat, pleased with himself. Cheng Nan Yi turned to look at him:
"You don’t like Mo Yi Kai?"
"No, I like him a lot," Yuan Ting shook his head vigorously, an innocent look on his face,
"But it’s just that my brother and I are the best friends in the world. Brother, let me peel
shrimp for you."
"No need." Cheng Nan Yi quickly and decisively refused, covering his plate immediately.
Yuan Ting: Hehe.
……
After lunch and a nap, the two got up to go back to school.

Cheng Nan Yi instructed the driver to stop at Mo Yi Kai’s house. Five minutes later, Mo Yi
Kai came out with a scowl, his backpack in tow. Seeing the car, he snorted and continued
walking past it.
Cheng Nan Yi lowered the car window: "Mo Yi Kai, the new game console Uncle bought
for me, I'm giving it to you."
Mo Yi Kai stopped in his tracks, turned, and ran back, clinging to the window, his face lit
up with excitement: "Really?"
"Of course," Cheng Nan Yi nodded. "When have I ever lied to you?"
Mo Yi Kai’s eyes sparkled like bright light bulbs. He opened the car door to get in but
hesitated upon seeing Yuan Ting in the back seat. Snorting again, he closed the door and
sat in the passenger seat, feigning nonchalance: "I'll forgive you this time." Internally, Mo
Yi Kai cursed in disbelief, thinking how lucky he was and how forgetting him a few more
times could potentially empty Cheng Nan Yi’s study of its treasures.
Yuan Ting was surprised. Cheng Nan Yi really liked that game console; it was the latest
model bought overseas by Cheng Shao Lin. Even after it was discontinued and no longer
popular, Cheng Nan Yi still played it alone in his study.
Yuan Ting glanced at the straight-backed youth sitting there. In truth, this person was
very loyal. On the surface, he seemed indifferent about forgetting Mo Yi Kai today, but
inside, he was feeling guilty.
"Yi Kai brother, I also have a gift for you," Yuan Ting clung to the front seat. "It wasn’t my
brother's intention to forget you today; it was all because of me that you were forgotten."
Mo Yi Kai: "???"
Why did those words sound so annoyingly punchable?
"You're giving a gift too?" Cheng Nan Yi asked, somewhat surprised.
Taking the blame onto himself, this kid was quite considerate.
"Yes," Yuan Ting's eyes sparkled. "I’m giving Yi Kai brother my most favorite, most
precious thing."
Most favorite, most precious?
Cheng Nan Yi’s brow furrowed slightly.

Mo Yi Kai, piqued with curiosity, turned to him: "What is it?"
Yuan Ting carefully pulled something out of his backpack and held it up with his small
hands, offering it to Mo Yi Kai: "Yi Kai brother, this is for you."
"Paper toy?" Mo Yi Kai frowned deeply, "You’re giving me this?"
This toy, usually made from cigarette cartons or sturdier paper folded into a square
shape, was called a 'paper toy' by them. It was used in a game where one player places it
on the ground and the other tries to flip it over to win. It's a common game among kids,
with everyone carrying these in their backpacks to play during breaks.
"Yi Kai brother, let me tell you, this one is really amazing. It's the king of paper toys,
undefeated in battle. I really, really, really like it, and now I'm giving it to you."
"I don't want it." Mo Yi Kai disdainfully pushed his hand away. What is this, some kind of
joke? Cheng Nan Yi gives him a game console worth thousands, and he offers a worthless
paper toy, claiming it's his favorite?
Yuan Ting’s lips quivered, his eyes welling up with tears: "If you don't want it, then forget
it."
Seeing Yuan Ting's distressed look, Cheng Nan Yi couldn't help saying, "Yi Kai, it’s the
thought that counts."
"Fine, fine, I’ll take it," grumbled Mo Yi Kai, taking it reluctantly. "Stop crying, will you?
Kids are such a hassle."
Yuan Ting’s face brightened immediately, his voice cheerier: "Yi Kai brother, am I really
good to you?"
Mo Yi Kai: "..."
What's wrong with him, thinking a simple paper toy makes him especially kind?
Has this brat forgotten why his mother scolded him?
This kid really knows how to get under your skin.
"Yi Kai brother, I gave you my most favorite thing. Doesn't that make me really kind?"
"Yi Kai brother, I..."
"Enough, stop talking." Cheng Nan Yi grabbed Yuan Ting by the back of his neck and
pulled him back, saying coldly, "Sit properly."
Yuan Ting stuck out his tongue. He couldn’t afford to offend Mo Yi Kai too much; after all,
Mo Yi Kai wasn't the easiest person to deal with. It would be truly unfortunate if Mo Yi
Kai actually decided to beat him up behind his back.
When they arrived at school, the trio walked together towards the teaching building.
They dropped Yuan Ting off first, and after watching him enter, Cheng Nan Yi and Mo Yi
Kai headed to their own classroom.
Cheng Nan Yi extended his hand towards Mo Yi Kai.
"???" Mo Yi Kai was puzzled. "What for?"
"The paper toy," said Cheng Nan Yi.
"Ah?" Mo Yi Kai took out the toy from his pocket and tossed it to him. "I thought you
didn’t play this game? What, you believe that kid’s talk about it being unbeatable?"
Cheng Nan Yi nonchalantly hummed in agreement, stuffing the paper toy into his
backpack before walking away briskly.
Mo Yi Kai scratched his head, confused. Ever since that kid came along, Cheng Nan Yi had
been acting strange.
Whatever, he got a free game console out of it. Hehehe...
Author's note:
from 2023-07-12 17:08:18 to 2023-07-13 22:01:05~
Special thanks to the angels who watered with nutrient solution: Guo Lin, 18 bottles;
lucky, 1 bottle;
#16 Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Duan Wen Ze also attended school in the afternoon, lying low at his desk without saying a
word, and no one dared to approach him.
Duan Wen Ze, known for his arrogance in his grade, was now overshadowed by the even
more infamous Yuan Ting.
After all, Duan Wen Ze was only known within his grade, whereas Yuan Ting, who had
knocked out a classmate's tooth upon transferring, had become a sensation throughout
the entire school, thanks largely to Mo Yi Kai's gossiping.
Kang Xiao Yu, ever the troublemaker, tried to approach Duan Wen Ze, only to be met with
a glare and a threatening fist: "What, looking for trouble?"
Kang Xiao Yu sheepishly returned to his seat, snorting arrogantly as he passed Yuan
Ting's desk.
Yuan Ting: "???" Definitely looking for trouble.
In the evening, Cheng Shao Lin came home and inquired about the incident from Shu Zhi
Lan. Observing Cheng Shao Lin’s reaction carefully, she noted he laughed after hearing
the story: "Good, both kids know how to protect themselves. They won’t be easily bullied
outside."
Shu Zhi Lan: "......"
Well, Cheng Shao Lin and Cheng Nan Yi, uncle and nephew, seemed to have the same
mindset.
Since Cheng Nan Yi had resolved the issue and Cheng Shao Lin didn't pursue it further
with Yuan Ting, and with the patriarch not at home, the matter was dropped.
Shu Zhi Lan secretly sighed in relief. She didn’t want the patriarch to get wind of it,
knowing his seemingly tolerant nature towards Yuan Ting, but understanding his high
standards from how he treated Cheng Nan Yi.
Moreover, the resolution of the issue somewhat relied on the patriarch’s reputation, a
fact Teacher Zhao had glossed over, which Shu Zhi Lan chose not to mention to Cheng
Shao Lin.
In Shu Zhi Lan’s view, Yuan Ting and Cheng Nan Yi were acting like young masters,
misbehaving under the cover of the patriarch’s name. She feared the patriarch would be
especially angry if he knew, perhaps even thinking Yuan Ting was leading Cheng Nan Yi
astray.
By the time the patriarch returned home a week later, the incident had long ceased to be
a topic of conversation. Yuan Ting continued to attend school gloomily and returned
home with a heavy heart.
Previously, Yuan Ting used to sleep until he woke up naturally, but now, he had to get up
early to face tedious studies and a bunch of dull classmates, and crucially, he was without
his phone.
For someone as heavily dependent on his phone as Yuan Ting, it was like undergoing
withdrawal, an itch he couldn't scratch...
Munching on an apple, Yuan Ting descended the stairs and plopped down next to the
patriarch.
Today was Saturday, and the patriarch was home resting after a week-long business trip,
but still had some unfinished work. Thus, several company executives were gathered at
the house for a meeting.
Cheng Nan Yi was sitting on a small sofa nearby; joining the patriarch for meetings was
routine for him.
The patriarch glanced at Yuan Ting, who was unfazed by the setting, and chuckled as he
patted his head: "What’s up?"
"I want to listen to your conversation," Yuan Ting said with an obedient look.
Maybe he could hear some insider information, find a path to fortune. His own father had
lived in poverty all his life; following in his footsteps, he'd surely end up the same. Better
to rely on oneself...
It's tough.
Really tough.
The patriarch, amused by his serious expression, laughed heartily and tacitly allowed him
to stay. The executives looked curiously at Yuan Ting; this kid was something special,
earning the patriarch’s fondness despite being a tag-along.
Today's discussion focused on constructing a shopping mall on the eastern side of the
city, with many companies bidding. They hadn’t decided on a contractor yet, and today
they were reviewing proposals for the patriarch.
Yuan Ting blinked, thinking that the mall in the eastern district later became one of the
busiest commercial centers. Renting a shop there would be great.
But the rents in the mall were exorbitantly high, and his father certainly couldn’t afford it.
Besides, deciding what business to run would be a challenge, given his father’s lack of
skills...
Thinking this way, he sighed; relying on his father to rise to success seemed impractical.
"What are you thinking about?" The patriarch teased Yuan Ting’s nose, observing his
alternating frowns and pouts. "Such a range of expressions."
Cheng Nan Yi also glanced at him.
Yuan Ting gave a dry chuckle.
"How about I give you a shop?" the patriarch suggested.
The executives showed surprise at this remark, but Yuan Ting just curled his lip, knowing
the offer of a shop was really meant for Shu Zhi Lan, not him.
And even if the patriarch genuinely offered him a shop, he couldn't accept it.
In this life, he wanted nothing to do with the Cheng family's wealth.
Initially, the patriarch had given Shu Zhi Lan a shop to manage or rent out as she pleased.
Using it to sell cosmetics, Shu Zhi Lan had done quite well, leading to her later request to
work in the company. The patriarch, recognizing her capability, had not refused.
Aside from being exceptionally strict with Cheng Nan Yi, the patriarch was indeed a very
open-minded and tolerant person.
Yuan Ting couldn’t resist hugging the patriarch’s neck and whimpering softly.
He had intended to avoid getting too emotionally entangled with the Cheng family, but...
he just couldn't help it.
The patriarch patted Yuan Ting’s back, seemingly enjoying the child's affection, a rare
treat given Cheng Nan Yi’s reserve and the patriarch's own strictness toward him.
Just as the grandfather and grandson were enjoying this harmonious moment, the butler
approached: "Sir, a Mr. Duan Zhen Shan is here to see you."
"Duan Zhen Shan?" Before the patriarch could respond, one of the executives frowned,
"How did he find this place?"
The patriarch turned his attention to the matter.
The executive explained, "Duan Zhen Shan also participated in this bid, but was
eliminated early on. It's unclear how he found this place."
The patriarch was about to instruct the butler to dismiss the visitor, but the butler,
glancing at Yuan Ting, cleared his throat: "That Mr. Duan says he's here to apologize."
"Apologize?"
"Yes, about..." The butler paused before speaking truthfully, "the fight at school between
the young master and his son."
The patriarch's gaze fell on Yuan Ting.
Yuan Ting laughed awkwardly: "Ha, haha, hahaha..."
……
When Duan Zhen Shan entered carrying several items, the first person he saw was his
nemesis, Wang Yi Chang, thinking to himself about his bad luck.
He had thought the matter was over, but after a recent project issue, he learned someone
from Cheng’s side was interfering. Unsure if it was due to his rivalry with Wang Yi Chang
or his son offending Cheng Nan Yi, Duan Zhen Shan decided to personally apologize after
several days of distress.
After hearing the whole story, Wang Yi Chang couldn't help but snicker, "Ah, Mr. Duan's
son truly takes after his father."
Duan Zhen Shan clenched his teeth and bowed slightly, cautiously saying, "Mr. Cheng, I
deeply apologize. The fault lies with my son. I'm here specifically to apologize, and I hope
you can forgive this minor transgression."
The patriarch looked at Yuan Ting: "You knocked out his son's tooth?"
Yuan Ting, swinging his legs on the sofa, replied nonchalantly, "My mom says if someone
bullies me, I should fight back tooth for tooth, eye for eye. We may be poor, but we have
our pride. We can't be looked down upon. So, if anyone bullies me, I'll return it twofold..."
Then, clenching his little fist and shaking it at Duan Zhen Shan, he added, "If Duan Wen Ze
bothers me again, I'll hit him again, hmph."
Duan Zhen Shan: "......"
The executives: "......"
Cheng Nan Yi sighed helplessly.
Shu Zhi Lan, who hurried downstairs upon hearing Duan Zhen Shan was visiting, looked
confused: "????" When had she ever said those things?
Wasn't this tarnishing her image?
And in front of so many people.
The patriarch frowned slightly and asked, "If it's an apology, why didn’t your son come?"
"He..." Duan Zhen Shan wiped the sweat from his face. "I've already given him a good
beating. He said he understands his mistake, and I will ensure to discipline him properly
in the future." Beating a child was to teach him manners, but coming here today was
about social etiquette. His son was only seven... He didn't want his son to grow up so
subservient, nor to see him in such a sorry state.
But why didn't the patriarch know about this?
Was the Cheng family targeting him, or was that scoundrel Wang Yi Chang causing
trouble behind his back?
After a moment of silence, the patriarch looked at Cheng Nan Yi: "Since you handled this,
I'll leave it to you."
Duan Zhen Shan involuntarily stepped back. That was unnecessary.
This prince’s way of thinking was extraordinary; he might just ruin him.
After pondering, Cheng Nan Yi looked at Duan Zhen Shan: "I just heard from Uncle Wang
that you also bid for this project?"
"Ah?" Duan Zhen Shan was perplexed. "Which project?"
"The Moonlight City project in the eastern district," Cheng Nan Yi said.
"Ah, yes, I did bid, but it was passed over," Duan Zhen Shan replied, confused about how
the topic had shifted to the project.
"Did you bring the proposal?"

"No, I didn't bring it." He came to apologize, why would he bring a proposal?
"Then just tell us about it."
Huh????
Wang Yi Chang felt something was off and interjected, "Mr. Cheng..."
The patriarch waved his hand to stop him.
Everyone’s eyes were now fixed on Duan Zhen Shan.
After a few seconds of stunned silence, Duan Zhen Shan quickly adapted. Although
unclear about the situation, he wasn’t going to miss this opportunity to speak.
Duan Zhen Shan had been fully involved in preparing the bid. Despite knowing the
chances were slim from the start, he had put his heart into it, so he could easily recall the
details.
After Duan Zhen Shan energetically finished, Cheng Nan Yi turned to another executive,
"Uncle Chen, what do you think?"
Uncle Chen gave a fair assessment: "Not bad, but his company is a bit small, so we passed
it over after comprehensive consideration."
Cheng Nan Yi nodded, then suggested to the patriarch, "Grandpa, let's give him another
chance."
Everyone: "???"
Duan Zhen Shan: "???" Why? Why give him another chance?
Is this a stroke of unexpected fortune?
Yuan Ting too was puzzled, wondering how things had escalated to this point.
Wang Yi Chang felt uneasy, "Nan Yi, you're still a kid and may not fully understand the
complexities of business..."
Both the patriarch and Cheng Nan Yi turned to Wang Yi Chang with furrowed brows.
Wang Yi Chang abruptly swallowed his words, mentally cursing his rashness. He knew
the patriarch was grooming Cheng Nan Yi for business, yet he implied Cheng Nan Yi was
ignorant. Wasn’t this just asking for trouble?
"Your reasoning," the patriarch demanded, turning his displeased gaze back to Cheng
Nan Yi.
"From my interaction with Mr. Duan that day, I sensed he's a reasonable person."
Reasonable?
Duan Zhen Shan himself was stunned; his behavior that day hardly seemed reasonable.
Yuan Ting, hearing this, shifted from his initial shock to some understanding.
Although Duan Zhen Shan appeared blustery that day, he initially decided not to pursue
the matter, believing Duan Wen Ze was at a disadvantage. After Cheng Nan Yi’s
unconventional reasoning, which most people would outright dismiss or even perceive as
being argumentative, Duan Zhen Shan's response seemed relatively commendable.
Recalling Cheng Nan Yi’s choices for roles like bodyguards in his past life, Yuan Ting
started to understand.
So, his discernment has always been unconventional since he was young.
"And he knows when to yield and when to stand firm," Cheng Nan Yi added.
"Just for these reasons?" the patriarch questioned.
Cheng Nan Yi nodded and then shook his head: "Besides these, it's also intuition. I think
he's not bad."
The patriarch stared at Duan Zhen Shan, who was sweating profusely, his mind going
blank.
After a long moment, the patriarch withdrew his gaze and addressed Cheng Nan Yi: "Do
you dare to gamble on your own judgment of character?"
"How do we gamble?" Cheng Nan Yi stood tall, a competitive spark shining in his eyes.
"I'll assign him a portion of the project. If he fails, you'll bear the consequences."
"And if he succeeds?" Cheng Nan Yi inquired.
"Then I'll grant you one request."
"Any request?"
"Yes, anything."
Cheng Nan Yi thought for a moment. It seemed like a fair deal.
Nodding, Cheng Nan Yi extended his hand, and the patriarch reciprocated with a high-
five, instructing his secretary, "Go, prepare an agreement."
Everyone, especially Wang Yi Chang and Duan Zhen Shan, was astounded.
The rivalry between Wang Yi Chang and Duan Zhen Shan had persisted for years, with
intense competition for projects in the past. Eventually, Wang Yi Chang's company
faltered, leading him to join the Cheng corporation as an executive.
Backed by the Cheng corporation, Wang Yi Chang had frequently sabotaged Duan Zhen
Shan from behind the scenes. But now, how could such a significant project fall into Duan
Zhen Shan's hands?
The patriarch then said to Duan Zhen Shan, "Refine your proposal and come to the
company the day after tomorrow." He glanced at Cheng Nan Yi, "Who knows, the
proposal might not even pass the first stage."
Cheng Nan Yi's gaze was heavy as he looked at Duan Zhen Shan.
Duan Zhen Shan promptly assured, "I will do my utmost, I assure you."
Yuan Ting was wide-eyed in astonishment. Damn, the patriarch was using such a major
project to test his grandson. Truly bold.
Impressive, the heir of the privileged class plays games far different from others.
Unlike himself, who at over twenty years old is back to being seven, still playing with
paper toys.
Of course, he shouldn't belittle himself either, his innate innocence is something Cheng
Nan Yi cannot match.
Yuan Ting comforted himself with these thoughts.
Duan Zhen Shan, feeling like he’d drunk fake liquor, staggered out, completely dazed by
the unexpected boon.
His son's tooth turned out to be incredibly valuable.
Cheng Nan Yi followed him to the door, the slender youth looking up at the towering
figure: "Uncle Duan, I hope you won't disappoint me."
Duan Zhen Shan swallowed hard. The young man's inherent arrogance gave him the eerie
feeling that failure might lead to dire consequences.
"Rest assured, Young Master Cheng, I won’t let you down."
"Good," Cheng Nan Yi paused at the door, coldly stating, "Take care. I won’t see you out."
Duan Zhen Shan involuntarily bowed slightly, retreating a few steps before turning to
leave.
Yuan Ting, who had been following, hurriedly ran after him, calling out, "Uncle Duan..."
Duan Zhen Shan promptly stopped.
Yuan Ting ran up to him and waved.
Duan Zhen Shan immediately bent down to listen.
Yuan Ting looked at him seriously: "Uncle Duan, remember, your fortune today is all
thanks to me. Understand?"
Duan Zhen Shan nodded emphatically: "I get it, I totally get it."
Satisfied, Yuan Ting thought, as long as you understand.
Whether or not it would be useful in the future, it was always good to have favors owed.
After Duan Zhen Shan left, Yuan Ting returned to Cheng Nan Yi's side and asked quietly,
"Brother, what if you lose? What are the consequences?"
"I don’t know," Cheng Nan Yi shook his head.
"You don’t know, and yet you dared to bet?" Yuan Ting was shocked.
With other kids, Yuan Ting would assume the adults were just playing along, but Cheng
Nan Yi was different. The patriarch was seriously training him; a promised consequence
would be a real consequence.
Cheng Nan Yi was calm: "Because the reward for winning is very appealing to me. To gain
something, you have to accept risks. Besides, such opportunities are rare; if I don't seize
it, there might not be a next time."
Yuan Ting clicked his tongue, shaking his head in admiration. Impressive.
The difference between people...

Author's note:
from 2023-07-13 22:01:05 to 2023-07-15 14:18:20~
Special thanks to the angels who watered with nutrient solution: Ci Tang Fei Bi Tang, Hai
Shang Can Ye Jiu Nian Shi, 3 bottles; Hao Hen De Xin, 2 bottles;
#17 Chapter 17
Chapter 17
Yuan Ting and Cheng Nan Yi returned to the living room, where the patriarch nodded at
them on seeing the pair.
Cheng Nan Yi nodded back, "Okay, I understand." He then said to Yuan Ting, "Let's go."
Yuan Ting was confused,
Go?
Go where?
Following him out while asking, "Where are we going? I don’t want to go anywhere. I
want to play on the game console. Get the one you gave to Mo Yi Kai back for me."
Cheng Nan Yi stopped, looking down at the youngster, "Firstly, you can’t ask for
something back once it’s given. If you really want one, I can buy another for you."
"Oh." Yuan Ting pouted. He was just upset about the game console; it wasn't something
easily purchasable. Mo Yi Kai sure got lucky.
"Now, let’s go practice calligraphy with a brush." That was the answer to the first
question.
"Why practice calligraphy?" Yuan Ting immediately bristled, eyes widening in disbelief,
"What have I done to deserve this?" Calligraphy practice was torturous—standing at the
door for four hours. No wonder Cheng Nan Yi turned out so eccentric.
Cheng Nan Yi’s lips curled slightly as he guided the little one in a different direction, "No
complaining."
Yuan Ting, grinding ink at the door in silent bafflement, asked sincerely, "Brother, didn’t
you say I wasn’t wrong? So why am I being punished?"
"Fighting is always wrong," Cheng Nan Yi said while writing with his brush, sparing a
moment to address Yuan Ting.
Besides, he had covered for Yuan Ting and used the patriarch’s influence to intimidate
others. The punishment was deserved.
"???" Yuan Ting dropped the ink stick and, with half his body sprawled over the stone
table, craned his head under Cheng Nan Yi’s gaze, looking up at him, "Brother, you didn't
say that before. You said I was the victim."
Cheng Nan Yi moved his brush a bit further away, gazing down at Yuan Ting’s innocent
eyes, raising an eyebrow, "A victim spits at others? Is your saliva disinfectant? Why did
you spit at him?"
Yuan Ting blinked slowly, retracting his head, then stood up straight and continued
grinding the ink, all the while sweetly complimenting, "Brother, your writing is really
beautiful."
Trying to change the subject, too.
Cheng Nan Yi, glancing at Yuan Ting who was avoiding eye contact, suddenly asked, "So,
Yuan Ting, do you really dislike me?" That’s why he spat.
He had thought the kid was just naive, but now realized he had been deceived by his
innocent appearance. Yuan Ting was actually quite cunning, his large eyes twinkling,
easily misleading.
Upon hearing this, Yuan Ting couldn’t help but cheer inwardly. Had he finally realized?
Dislike? It was more a desire to never meet again in his life.
Cheng Nan Yi observed the blinking child, his eyes narrowing slightly, his tone edging
towards dangerous, "What, am I right?"
Right?
Of course, he was right, but Yuan Ting dared not admit it.
Obsessive and vindictive people often hold grudges; he couldn’t afford to plant a seed of
hatred in him.
"Nod if you dislike me, shake your head if you don't," Cheng Nan Yi coaxed, determined to
get a clear answer.
Yuan Ting instinctively shook his head; he couldn’t dare admit it in his presence.
And it wasn’t really dislike; fleeing and disliking were two different things. He preferred
not to describe his relationship with Cheng Nan Yi as dislike.
Seeing Yuan Ting shake his head, Cheng Nan Yi's lips curved into a smile, nodding,
"Alright, I understand."
？？？
"You..." Yuan Ting cautiously asked, "What do you know?"
Cheng Nan Yi glanced at him, the brush in his hand brushing against Yuan Ting's face
before he continued writing.
Since it wasn't dislike, the only other reason was "to get his attention," especially since
the child had once tearfully expressed his fondness for him.
Children's thoughts are often unconventional, and Yuan Ting, a quirky child, was no
exception. Indeed, he had successfully caught his attention.
Previously, Cheng Nan Yi didn’t like children, finding them bothersome, but Yuan Ting
was different. He even... quite liked him.
Of course, it would be better if the youngster were a bit cleaner.
However, that could be changed in time; he could teach him.
Yuan Ting, feeling the damp ink on his face, swallowed nervously. He wasn't sure what
Cheng Nan Yi was thinking, but felt something was off in their conversation, as if they had
diverged off topic.
"I..."
"Shh, concentrate."
Yuan Ting had no choice but to close his mouth.
Keeping Yuan Ting quiet while writing was impossible; his eyes wandered, eventually
resting on Cheng Nan Yi.
He could tell Cheng Nan Yi was in a good mood, the pleasure evident in his eyes and
brows.
The youth was truly striking, standing tall and straight like a young pine. Yuan Ting
watched, somewhat captivated, thinking that such a person should be standing in the
sunlight, not confined to a wheelchair.
Yuan Ting hadn’t seen a happy Cheng Nan Yi in many years; he was used to the cold,
brooding expression. Yuan Ting wasn't afraid, just felt a sense of regret. Once a favored
son of heaven, but eventually trapped and immobilized.
Cheng Nan Yi, in this life, you must live well, shine brightly, and be the proud heir of the
Cheng family. You must be the envy and aspiration of all.
You just need to walk your life's path well. As for the rest, Yuan Ting patted his chest,
don't worry, I'll take care of it.
Yuan Ting, dancing around like a gorilla, caught Cheng Nan Yi's suspicious glance: "Are
you feeling okay?"
Yuan Ting snorted haughtily, thinking, 'Little kid, what do you know.'
Tired of writing, Yuan Ting eventually climbed onto the table and lay down, closing his
eyes.
The stone table was not too small, and the child was not too big, sprawling across half of
it, his legs crossed, blending in with the spread-out rice paper as if he naturally belonged
there.
Despite being small, Yuan Ting was full of vitality, reminiscent of the vibrant energy of
spring.
Cheng Nan Yi playfully flicked Yuan Ting's smooth head, prompting a hearty chuckle from
the boy.
Cheng Nan Yi smiled too.
The early autumn day was cloudless, with a gentle breeze, truly delightful.
Yuan Ting, resting his head on his arms and swinging his feet, felt as if time had stood
still.
Until a car pulled up at the gate, disrupting the harmony.
The car window lowered, revealing a man’s head: "Hey, Nan Yi, punished to write again?"
"Hello, Uncle Mo," Cheng Nan Yi greeted him.
Mo Yi Kai’s father?
Yuan Ting opened his eyes lazily, glancing over, "Come on, let’s see this scumbag."
He wished he hadn’t looked, almost dumbfounded by what he saw.
Damn, why is this woman in Mo Yi Kai’s dad’s car?

Through the open car window, the woman sitting in the passenger seat was none other
than that mistress, wasn’t it?
In his previous life, Yuan Ting had seen this woman and remembered her vividly because
she resembled a movie star he liked. It had annoyed Yuan Ting for quite some time.
Now younger, probably in her thirties rather than her twenties, the woman had aged
well, making her instantly recognizable to Yuan Ting.
What’s going on? Why bring the mistress to our doorstep all of a sudden?
This is way too brazen.
After greeting, Mo Yi Kai’s dad drove off towards his home, and Yuan Ting quickly rolled
off the table and dashed after the car.
I have to see what this scumbag is up to.
This shouldn’t be happening. Is this life’s story changing?
"Yuan Ting..." Cheng Nan Yi watched the small figure running away helplessly. Why was
he so eager to go to Mo Yi Kai’s house?
What exactly was attracting him there?
Could it be that he too wanted to get Mo Yi Kai’s attention?
Cheng Nan Yi's brow furrowed; he too had once playfully stuck out his tongue and spat at
Mo Yi Kai. Right, he had also given Mo Yi Kai his favorite 'King of Paper Toys'.
Yet, he had never received any gift in return.

#18 Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Privately, Yuan Ting hoped that reliving his life would bring changes, preferably for the
better, like Mo Yi Kai’s dad not having an affair.
But reality proved Yuan Ting’s hopes too optimistic. He arrived at Mo Yi Kai's house out
of breath, just as Mo Yi Kai’s dad was getting out of the car, the woman by his side. Their
hands briefly touched, followed by a shared smile before they entered the house together.
Enough said, Yuan Ting wasn't naive. The intimate atmosphere between them was
unmistakable, like pink bubbles rising in a green field.
Yuan Ting hurried inside, overhearing the woman say, "Mrs. Mo, I’ve brought some
jewelry for you to see."
"Thank you for coming, Ms. Fang," Mo Yi Kai’s mother replied, clearly delighted.
"No trouble at all. It’s part of our service. I'm also grateful for your support, Mrs. Mo, and
for Mr. Mo driving me here." The woman approached, opening a silver case filled with
shimmering jewelry. She was a jewelry salesperson.
"He was just on the way," Mo Yi Kai’s mother said nonchalantly, "Let’s see what you have.
My mother's birthday is coming up, so please help me choose something nice."
Ms. Fang knelt beside the coffee table, assisting Mo’s mother in selecting jewelry. Her
tone was always respectful and flattering, making Mrs. Mo laugh heartily. Her customer
service was exemplary.
Yuan Ting stood at the door, hands on his hips, his young face scrunched in disbelief and
anger.
He had thought she was just a hidden mistress, but she was openly flaunting herself in
front of the wife. Who wouldn’t find that disgusting?
He suspected that Mrs. Mo's eventual suicide was largely due to the realization that the
mistress had been openly around for years, while she was oblivious like a fool, unable to
bear the humiliation.
Yuan Ting inwardly cursed, feeling unable to tolerate it any longer. But what could he do?
How could he ensure justice? Ideally, Mrs. Mo would kick out the scoundrel, taking her
son and their wealth with her.
"Hey, kiddo, what are you doing here?" Mo Yi Kai, munching on a pack of cheap spicy
strips, sauntered down the stairs and spotted Yuan Ting peeking around the door.
Yuan Ting, looking at the silly figure before him, retorted unenthusiastically, "Tastes
good, those spicy strips?"
"Delicious," Mo Yi Kai generously offered, extending his hand, "Want some?" Since the
incident with the game console, he found all kids more bearable.
"My mom says spicy strips are made of poop."
"???" Mo Yi Kai instinctively tossed the spicy strips away, exclaiming, "What the hell, are
you crazy?" Usually, he'd ignore such a remark and defiantly eat more, but coming from a
kid, the image became grotesquely vivid, like imagining an old lady licking peanuts.
Mo Yi Kai, trying to calm himself, thought, 'Don't get angry, stay cool... think of the game
console... relax...'
The next moment, Yuan Ting tilted his head and asked, "Yi Kai, what would you do if your
dad left you and your mom for another woman?" Testing the waters to see if Mo Yi Kai
had the brains to help.
Mo Yi Kai glared silently at him, then took a deep breath and yelled, "You little brat, I'm
gonna beat you..." He'd change his surname to his mother's, Zhu, if he didn't thrash the
kid today. He'd be Zhu Yi Kai from then on.
……
The patriarch escorted the company executives out, glancing at the two kids being
punished. Before reaching the door, he heard a mix of wails, screams, and barking.
"Brother, save me..."
Hearing the commotion, Cheng Nan Yi looked up just in time to catch Yuan Ting, who
dashed over like a cannonball. He barely put down his brush when the kid leaped onto
him, wrapping his arms and legs tightly around Cheng Nan Yi, babbling incessantly,
"Brother, brother, save me, save me..."
Cheng Nan Yi, still youthful, staggered backward under the impact, back against the wall,
instinctively embracing the child tightly, his first thought being, 'Great, now I'm
completely dirty.'
Not far off, Mo Yi Kai and his dog charged over menacingly.
"Come here, you little brat."
Yuan Ting clung to Cheng Nan Yi’s neck, whimpering, "Brother, he's so fierce."
Cheng Nan Yi, finally standing upright while holding the child, tried to set Yuan Ting
down, but the kid clung on, refusing to let go: "No, no, he's going to hit me."
Cheng Nan Yi, feeling helpless, addressed Mo Yi Kai, "What’s the problem now between
you two?"
Mo Yi Kai, noticing the adults at the door, swallowed his words and finally said, "…He said
the spicy strips I was eating were made of poop."
Cheng Nan Yi: "…"
The executives at the doorway: "…" So, even the CEO's child speaks so bluntly and
earthily.
Cheng Nan Yi struggled to free Yuan Ting’s arms, keen on putting him down, but the child
clung to him like glue, impossible to detach.
"Enough, you two," the patriarch spoke, then turned to the others, "Excuse us."
"Oh, not at all, children are naturally lively and adorable, quite endearing," the executives
diplomatically praised Yuan Ting, turning his crude remark into a sign of uniqueness.
They left only after seeing the patriarch's satisfied smile.
The patriarch turned to see the three kids and a dog, feeling a bit overwhelmed. Since
Yuan Ting's arrival, the house had become livelier, and his grandson more cheerful, but
also more chaotic.
Yuan Ting sneaked a glance at him and then buried his head again, thinking, 'It wasn't on
purpose, honestly, just an accident.'
The patriarch decided to ignore it and walked in, leaving the children's quarrels for them
to resolve.
Seeing the patriarch uninvolved, Mo Yi Kai grew bolder: "Come on, you little brat, get
down if you dare." Daring to accuse his dad of infidelity, he was determined to discipline
this outspoken kid.
"I can't," Yuan Ting, still hugging Cheng Nan Yi's neck, tilted his head and snorted at Mo Yi
Kai. "Hmph." Mo Yi Kai was beyond help, a complete brute.
"Hey, watch my temper," Mo Yi Kai, feeling provoked, commanded his Samoyed, "Big
Dummy, attack, bite him!"
Big Dummy just turned in a circle and relieved himself.
Yuan Ting burst into laughter, "Even the dog's smarter than you, knowing better than to
mess with me."
“……”
Mo Yi Kai, rolling up his sleeves to step forward, was halted by Cheng Nan Yi's sigh, "Your
birthday's next month, pick any gift you want."
Mo Yi Kai paused mid-motion, uncertain, "Really?"
Cheng Nan Yi nodded.
Heh, heh, heh.
Mo Yi Kai touched his nose, his eyes lighting up at Yuan Ting like he'd found treasure. If
he beat up this brat daily, would Cheng Nan Yi become his personal genie, granting his
every wish?
"Kid," Mo Yi Kai pointed at Yuan Ting, threatening, "I warn you, never be alone. Or else,
every time I see you, you'll get a beating."
Yuan Ting, clinging to Cheng Nan Yi's neck, turned and mustered all his strength to spit,
"Pah...idiot."
Cheng Nan Yi: "..." He realized perhaps he overthought it; these two just genuinely
couldn't stand each other.
Author's note:
I'm struggling with word count, so updates are less frequent. It'll improve post-VIP.
Apologies and thanks for the support during 2023-07-16 23:20:57 to 2023-07-18
11:05:41~
Special thanks to the supporters who provided nutrient fluids: 海上残夜旧年时 and 山吹
析木 for one bottle each.
Your support is greatly appreciated, and I'll keep trying my best!

#19 Chapter 19
Chapter 19
After finally sending Mo Yi Kai and Big Dummy away, Cheng Nan Yi placed Yuan Ting on
the ground and rubbed his arm, covered in goosebumps.
“Why did you talk about Mo Yi Kai's spicy strips?” Was it another attempt to grab his
attention? Not spitting, but now using a more... disgusting approach?
“It's not about the spicy strips.” Yuan Ting gestured for Cheng Nan Yi to bend down and
lower his head.
With a look of mystery, Yuan Ting coaxed Cheng Nan Yi, who eventually obliged.
“I just saw Yi Kai's dad holding hands with that woman in the car,” Yuan Ting whispered.
“What?” Cheng Nan Yi's brows furrowed instantly, “Are you sure?”
Children from wealthy families, unlike those from ordinary homes, are exposed to more
material wealth and darker realities. While average kids naively believe in a beautiful
world, rich kids often witness various mistresses and even come from such backgrounds.
Therefore, Cheng Nan Yi understood what Yuan Ting implied by “holding hands.”
“Of course,” Yuan Ting said earnestly, “I saw it very clearly. That's why I asked Yi Kai
what he would do if his dad left them. He got angry at my concern. When my parents
split, I was sent to live with my grandma. Would Yi Kai also end up with his grandma?” He
hoped to glean insights from Cheng Nan Yi's unusual thinking.
Blinking his innocent eyes, Yuan Ting looked at Cheng Nan Yi, who pondered the child’s
seemingly genuine concern. Could Mo Yi Kai's father really be having an affair?
Cheng Nan Yi stroked Yuan Ting's head, empathizing with the child’s early family
troubles.
Yuan Ting tilted his head, puzzled by the sudden affection, feeling a bit anxious inside.
“Brother?”
After a moment of thought, Cheng Nan Yi shook his head: “I don’t know.”
Yuan Ting: “…” So even the prodigious Cheng Nan Yi has uncertainties.
"That’s more like it for a ten-year-old child."
……
Cheng Nan Yi had been restless these past few days, mainly due to some concerns.
He remembered seeing his mother embracing an uncle; not long after, she left with that
man, leaving him without a home.
He didn't want Mo Yi Kai to end up like him.
At 3 AM, the grandfather came downstairs to find Cheng Nan Yi holding a glass of ice
water, lost in thought at the mini-bar.
“Why are you up so late, sitting here and thinking?” the grandfather approached.
Hearing this, Cheng Nan Yi looked up, meeting his grandfather’s stern yet kind gaze.
The grandfather’s strictness lay in his intolerance for mistakes, which made Cheng Nan Yi
respect him more than fear him.
Hesitating only briefly, Cheng Nan Yi revealed, “Yuan Ting said he saw Mo Yi Kai's father
with another woman, suspecting infidelity.”
The grandfather frowned slightly. “Yuan Ting saw this?”
“Yes,” Cheng Nan Yi nodded.
The grandfather and Cheng Nan Yi shared the same thought. Although Yuan Ting was
mischievous, he was unlikely to lie about such matters, especially since such young
children typically don't grasp these concepts.
“What do you think?”
Staying awake at this hour clearly indicated deep thoughts.
After a pause, Cheng Nanyi added quietly, "If his dad leaves with another woman, Mo
Yikai will be left without a home."
The grandfather remained silent for a few seconds before gently patting Cheng Nanyi’s
head.
"Grandpa, how can I help him?" Mo Yikai’s dad hadn't left yet, so there might still be a
chance.
The grandfather poured a cup of water and sat down opposite Cheng Nanyi, slowly
saying, "I've taught you not to meddle in others’ affairs. If there really is an issue, it's
something Mo Yikai must experience himself. Life’s trials and tribulations are essential
for true growth. That’s his journey."
"So just because it’s his journey, as a friend who knows some things, should I just stand
by and watch?" Cheng Nanyi looked at his grandfather seriously. "You taught me not to
interfere in others’ matters, but also that true friends should stand by each other in
solidarity."
"You say it's his life, but his life includes me too."
Yuan Ting, standing at the top of the stairs, couldn’t help but look over.
The lighting at the small bar was dim. The grandfather and grandson sat facing each
other, the youth’s face a mix of confusion, calmness, and fearlessness, showing maturity
beyond his years, yet retaining the innocence of his age.
The grandfather paused, a touch of pride in his eyes.
He looked at Cheng Nanyi and asked, "What do you think we should do?"
Cheng Nanyi shook his head honestly: "I don’t understand these matters, but if possible, I
wish Mo Yikai’s parents could stay with him. So, Grandpa, can you make that woman
leave Uncle Mo?"
After pondering his words, the grandfather said, "Nanyi, you are still young. The world of
adults is complex, not as simple as you think. If only making that woman leave Mo Yikai's
dad could restore everything, I would agree to help you, but..."
"But maybe he no longer loves Aunt Zhu, or even Mo Yikai, and there’s a high chance it
could hurt them, right?" Cheng Nanyi's eyes were clear and discerning.
"Yes," the grandfather nodded. "And I still maintain, I don't want you getting involved in
this matter."
"Okay, I understand." Cheng Nanyi stood up. "I need to go to my room to think things
over. You should rest early, Grandpa. Goodnight."
Seeing him approaching, Yuan Ting quickly stood up and silently returned to his room.
He always thought the harshly treated boy had a strong heart, but he too was just a child
yearning for familial love.
……
The next morning, after breakfast, while waiting for the driver, Yuan Ting saw Cheng
Nanyi with a notebook, writing and drawing.
Peeking over, Yuan Ting saw it was filled with numbers.
"Brother, what are you doing?" Yuan Ting asked.
"Calculating probabilities," Cheng Nanyi replied, looking down.
"Probabilities? Of what?" Yuan Ting was puzzled.
"Maximizing benefits."
Yuan Ting: "???"
Cheng Nanyi handed the notebook to him, "I've been thinking about what you said about
Uncle Mo. If you were mistaken, that would be best. But if what you saw is true, we need
to ensure Mo Yikai's interests are protected."
"What do you mean?" Yuan Ting scratched his head.
Seeing Yuan Ting's confusion, Cheng Nanyi patiently explained, "There are many
scenarios to consider, like Uncle Mo leaving that woman to return to his family, or him
choosing her over Mo Yikai and his mother, or taking Mo Yikai and leaving Aunt Zhu.
These scenarios also involve financial matters. My dad had a friend who transferred all
his assets abroad during a divorce, leaving his wife with nothing. You might not
understand all this, but in short, we need to calculate the probabilities of each situation to
see which is most beneficial for Mo Yikai. It's about being prepared by understanding
both sides."
Yuan Ting's eyes widened in shock, "Wow, this kind of thinking is mind-blowing."
Disregarding emotions and perspectives, focusing solely on what's best for Mo Yikai, he
envied Mo Yikai for having such a friend.
Swallowing hard, Yuan Ting asked, "So, what's the best scenario for Mo Yikai?"
"The best would be his parents not divorcing and continuing their life as before. The
worst would be Uncle Mo abandoning both Aunt Zhu and Mo Yikai and taking all the
assets," Cheng Nanyi closed the notebook, "So, first we need to confirm if Mo Yikai’s dad
is really having an affair."
Yuan Ting was beginning to understand Cheng Nanyi’s thought process, "Then, if Mo
Yikai's dad doesn't want a divorce, you'll just let it be?"
"Of course," Cheng Nanyi nodded. "We can't control how things unfold; we can only
calculate probabilities and act in the most beneficial way."
Yuan Ting frowned, "According to your probability method, there's like a 95% chance of
Mo Yikai's mom committing suicide."
"What's wrong?" Cheng Nanyi, seeing Yuan Ting's worried face, was puzzled.
"In my grandmother's village, Dabao's mom was abandoned and then she drank
pesticide. What if Aunt Zhu does the same? I really like her."
"She won’t," Cheng Nanyi shook his head confidently, "Aunt Zhu wouldn’t do such a thing
over this." He had seen too much of such family dramas, where divorces often resulted in
fierce fights over assets. In his experience, the act of seeking death was often a bluff by
mistresses; only fools would actually attempt it, and Aunt Zhu was certainly not a fool.
"But what if? You just said it's about probabilities."
"That’s not a probability issue, because it's controllable."
"Controllable?" Yuan Ting was shocked again, "You can control that?"
"Certainly," Cheng Nanyi replied calmly, "Keep her confined, hands bound, preventing
any self-harm. If she refuses to eat, administer nutrient injections. If she becomes too
agitated, sedatives can be used. Once she comes to terms with the situation, she will
recover."
！！！！！
"Wow!!!"
Yuan Ting was completely taken aback, stepping back rapidly. What had he just heard?
Locked up? Confined?
Wasn't this exactly how he had been treated?
Why? Why would a ten-year-old Cheng Nanyi have such a twisted idea?
"Aaaaaah... Help!!!" Yuan Ting panicked.
Hopping in place with goosebumps all over, Yuan Ting thought, bizarrely, he felt like he
had stumbled upon a surprising revelation.
Author's Note:
from July 18, 2023, 11:05:41 to July 19, 2023, 14:10:34~
Special thanks to the angels for their nutrient solutions: Clara, 67647145 with 1 bottle
each;
#20 Chapter 20
Chapter 20
When Mo Yikai casually strolled over with his backpack, just as the driver parked the car
at the door, Yuan Ting quickly jumped into the front passenger seat.
Since the three started going to school together, Mo Yikai had always sat in the front. His
sudden change puzzled Mo Yikai, "Hey, kiddo, you feeling alright?"
Yuan Ting's mouth twitched, and he pressed his forehead against the car window, not
wanting to talk to anyone.
The goosebumps hadn't even subsided yet.
"What's wrong, did you upset him?" Mo Yikai asked as he opened the rear door and got
into the car.
Cheng Nanyi glanced at the front seat, where Yuan Ting had suddenly turned into an
'ostrich,' remaining silent without speaking.
His words might have frightened the child.
As the car reached the school entrance, Yuan Ting immediately opened the door and
dashed out, his backpack swinging on his back, running faster than the time Mo Yikai had
been disgusted by the old lady licking peanuts.
Mo Yikai found it very strange; something was definitely off with the kid.
Turning back, Mo Yikai saw Cheng Nanyi still hadn’t left the car, so he leaned in to ask,
"Come on, what are you doing?"
"I have something to discuss with Brother Zhang, go ahead without me."
"Alright, I'll go ahead then." Mo Yikai, spotting classmates, quickly scurried off.
The driver looked back at Cheng Nanyi, who leaned in and whispered a few words. The
driver initially frowned, then nodded in understanding.
After Cheng Nanyi also got out of the car with his backpack, the driver picked up his
phone, about to make a call, when the car door opened again.
The driver looked up, and Cheng Nanyi, slightly bending forward, hands on the car door,
said, "I know you’ll report this to Grandpa. He might disagree with my approach, but
remember, since you started driving me to school, you're on my side. Only I decide your
fate."
The driver, looking at the young man's calm face, swallowed nervously, "I understand, I
get it."
It was only after watching Cheng Nanyi enter the school that the driver pondered for a
while before dialing again.
After listening to the driver, the grandfather paused before asking, "What do you think?"
The driver, breaking into a cold sweat, hadn’t expected to choose sides when he became a
driver. How had it come to this, grandson against grandfather?
"Well, Mr. Cheng, I was just making a routine report... uh, the young master instructed me,
so I'll just do as told..." The driver was almost in tears.
"Alright, I understand," the grandfather said before abruptly ending the call.
“？？？”
What does that mean? Can't he be a bit more explicit?
The driver wiped the sweat from his forehead, thinking, "Forget it, I'm not going to worry
about it anymore. In such situations, you just have to take a gamble. Maybe I'll end up
becoming the young master's confidant."
The butler, observing the grandfather hang up, remarked, "It's best not to interfere in
these matters. The young master is still quite young, after all."
"Have Secretary Zhao keep an eye on them, ensuring they don’t escalate the situation
beyond control."
The butler hesitated, wanting to advise further. It's tricky to meddle in family affairs, but
before he could speak, the grandfather gestured dismissively, "If a young man doesn’t
even have this much spirit, I'd be disappointed."
Butler: "..." Alright, the grandfather is always right.
……
In the second-grade third-class Chinese lesson, the teacher was leading the reading, while
Yuan Ting mimicked moving his lips without making a sound.
Yuan Ting gazed out the window, his mind racing.
Although Cheng Nanyi was a bit "peculiar," his idea gave Yuan Ting a new perspective.
His previous worry was about Mo Yikai's mother potentially committing suicide, but now
that concern seemed resolved.
It was brutal, but effective, and he knew this from experience.
From initial frustration and suffocation to a more serene, resigned state, the change
hadn't taken long.
"Do you eat apples?" Gu Yuqi asked him quietly.
"Yes, thanks." Yuan Ting, without turning his head, reached out, and Gu Yuqi placed an
apple larger than her face in his hand, "You break it, we'll share one each... Ah..."
Before she could finish, the distracted Yuan Ting had already taken a bite. Hearing her
last words, he paused after another couple of bites, turning his eyes towards her.
Their eyes met, and after a few seconds, Yuan Ting slowly pushed the apple forward, "Uh,
do you still... want some?"
Gu Yuqi shook her head with reddened eyes, then turned away, sulking and listening to
the class.
Yuan Ting held the apple, unsure whether to eat it or not, and finally pulled out a box of
chocolates from his desk and offered it to Gu Yuqi.
Seeing him, Yuan Ting whispered, "Let's trade."
The little girl brightened up, opened the box delightedly, then let out a sharp scream,
jumping and running from her seat, crying loudly.
The teacher, in the middle of a lesson, was startled, "What happened?"
"There are bugs... Wahhh..." Gu Yuqi, trembling, hid behind the teacher, her face turning
pale with fright.
The two students in front of them, hearing this, turned to join the commotion, and then
started screaming and jumping up like Gu Yuqi.
The classroom instantly descended into chaos.
Yuan Ting, looking at the assortment of various insects' carcasses in the chocolate box,
slowly turned his gaze towards Duan Wenze.
Impressive indeed. Cockroaches, spiders, caterpillars - quite the collection.
Duan Wenze's head nearly buried into the desk, acknowledging the obvious perpetrator
without needing a guess, although he probably didn't anticipate Gu Yuqi becoming the
unintended victim.
The teacher, infuriated, slammed the desk, "Where did these bugs come from?"
Gu Yuqi, trembling, pointed towards Yuan Ting.
Yuan Ting: "..."
Indeed, that was the case.
"Yuan Ting, explain why you used bugs to scare your classmates."
Yuan Ting: "..."
How can I explain? What's there to explain?
Without a word, Yuan Ting picked up the apple and started munching on it voraciously.
Can't waste it, or it'll oxidize and become inedible.
Teacher: "..." Fine, even defiant now.
Consequently, Yuan Ting was punished by standing in the hallway.
In his past life, although Yuan Ting wasn’t exactly a model student, he had never been
punished to stand in the hallway. This life, thanks to Duan Wenze, was a different story.
"You just wait, Duan Wenze. Once I deal with Mo Yikai's matter, you're next."
One after another, they're all his trials!
It's like he owed all these people in his past life.
After being punished, Yuan Ting was taken to the office for a scolding and then asked to
apologize to Gu Yuqi. Gu Yuqi, with her eyes red from crying, finally forgave him between
sobs.
The little girl was an innocent victim, looking pitiful. After some thought, the teacher
asked her if she wanted to change seats.
She glanced at Yuanting and whispered to him, "Will you stop scaring me from now on?"
"Damn!"
Yuanting felt a sudden pang of conscience. Where did this angelic creature come from?
"I will," Yuanting vowed, raising three fingers to the sky.
"Then, then..." The girl glanced at the teacher and fidgeted with her fingers, "I'll stay
seated with him then."
"Aren't you afraid he'll bully you again?" the teacher asked her softly.
The girl timidly looked at Yuanting, then whispered to the teacher, "But he's handsome,
no one in the class is more handsome than him. I want to sit next to someone handsome."
Teacher: "..."
Yuanting: "..." This is difficult to comment on. This young girl has been a beauty admirer
since childhood.
Yuanting touched his face, admitting to himself that the girl had good taste.
Not to boast, but in his previous life, his face was much better looking than those
celebrities. If it weren't for being kept in a villa by Cheng Nanyi, living a carefree life, his
good looks alone wouldn't have left him without food.
Yuanting cocked his chin at Guyu Qi and arrogantly declared, "From now on, I've got your
back."
"..." The teacher was speechless, "Yuanting, go back and write a fifty-word reflection."
Yuanting: "..."
"Why should I?"
Having been reborn, he hadn't yet made his mark, and now he was already being asked to
write a reflection?
And a fifty-word reflection at that. Was this some kind of insult?
Yuanting returned to the classroom with Guyu Qi, one after the other. He squinted at
Duan Wenze, who, thinking Yuanting had no proof, became arrogant again, looking at
Yuanting with scorn.
Yuanting was amused. "Fine. I planned to deal with you later, but since you dare to
provoke me, I'll have to show you some color now."
After school, Yuanting went to the back garden to find the gardener. They whispered
together for a while. In the afternoon, his backpack was bulging. Mo Yikai, puzzled, asked,
"What's in your bag?" He reached out to feel it but was dodged by Yuanting: "None of
your business."
Mo Yikai clicked his tongue, his hands cracking, and asked Cheng Nanyi through gritted
teeth, "Are you really not going to let me teach this brat a lesson?"
Cheng Nanyi watched the child get into the passenger seat and said expressionlessly,
"None of your business."
Author's Note:
Thank you to the angels who cast their tyrant votes or nourished me with nutrient
solution from 2023-07-19 14:10:34 to 2023-07-21 10:21:31~
Thanks to the angels who nourished with nutrient solutions: d4325 3 bottles; Si Liang 2
bottles; Shan Chui Xi Mu, Shui Feng Qing, huttuu, piapiaxing 1 bottle each;
#21 Chapter 21
Chapter 21
The third class in the afternoon was physical education. Yuanting hid his backpack under
a tree. After the teacher finished the warm-up exercises and dismissed them for free
activity, he beckoned to Duan Wenze: "Hey, Fatty, come here."
"Who are you calling 'Fatty'?" Duan Wenze jumped up, his gap-toothed mouth wide open,
whistling as he spoke.
Yuanting pointed at him: "I'm talking about you, the chubby white kid. Dare to follow
me?"
Who else did Duan Wenze fear besides his father?
He still remembered the grudge of getting his teeth knocked out. Losing to this scrawny
blond kid last time was a mistake, not a sign of fear.
So, Duan Wenze fearlessly followed Yuanting.
Yuanting lured Duan Wenze behind a tree and pulled out two solid wooden boards from
his backpack.
"What are you doing?" Duan Wenze stepped back in alarm, pointing at him, "You're going
to hit me? I'll tell the teacher." He feared being killed by such a large board hitting his
head.
"Hmph," Yuanting scoffed, "Don't think I don't know it was you who put bugs in the
chocolate box. Thinking I'm easy to bully? Today, I'll show you my strength."
Yuanting placed the wooden boards on the branches, stretched his limbs, warmed up his
hands and feet, and taunted Duan Wenze: "I warned you before. If you dare mess with me
again, I'll knock out your teeth. You think I'm bluffing."
Just as Duan Wenze was about to speak, Yuanting suddenly leaped, smashing his
clenched fist on the wooden boards. They broke into four pieces upon impact. Yuanting
landed steadily, lifted his head, and glared at Duan Wenze: "See? Am I not impressive?"
Duan Wenze's words got stuck in his throat, utterly shocked.
Back then, the internet wasn't developed. Kids like Duan Wenze, unlike future
generations who would see anything on short videos, were quite naive. Seeing Yuanting
break two boards with a punch left him gaping in awe, thinking, "Wow, impressive!"
Yuanting blew on his fist and then shook it at Duan Wenze: "How about it? You try
breaking one."
Duan Wenze swallowed hard, struggling to respond: "You, you... I'm not afraid of you. I
can ask my brother to back me up. My brother can break boards too."
"Heh," Yuanting said disdainfully, "You think you're the only one with a brother? I have a
brother too, and he can not only break boards but bricks as well."
Duan Wenze's lips trembled, and he blurted out defiantly: "My brother can... can kick you
flying with one foot."
"My brother could flatten you with one arm."
"I, I..." Duan Wenze stuttered, at a loss for words, "My brother, my brother..."
Yuanting felt this scene was eerily familiar, almost instinctively blurting out as if it was
etched in his brain from countless repetitions: "My brother dares to eat shit, does yours?"
The world fell silent. Duan Wenze's already agape mouth widened further, his eyes
shifting from fear and competitiveness to confusion and helplessness.
His brother is so badass!
"Kid, what's your brother's name?" Suddenly, a voice suppressing laughter chimed in.
“？？？”
Yuanting was about to retort with "None of your business," but upon turning around, he
saw a group of boys and girls a head taller than him. The words died in his throat; he
couldn't afford to provoke them, or he would suffer terribly.
The school had two playgrounds, but one was temporarily closed for maintenance,
making the other especially crowded with students from higher grades.
A miscalculation.
Just as Yuanting was planning to lead Duan Wenze away from the trouble, he heard a
familiar voice: "What's everyone doing here? Keep standing like that, and Coach Ma will
lose it."
"There are two really interesting kids arguing over here. Come and see. I think this kid
dyed his hair; it's so yellow."
Yuanting stood there, watching as Mo Yikai swaggered over, shaking his head.
Boys in the sixth grade can be so full of themselves. Even in those few steps, his fringe
flicked up several times.
Mo Yikai approached, frowning: "Yuanting? What are you doing here? Are you the one
arguing?"
"Mo Yikai, you know him?" a girl asked.
"I know him, he's... my brother." Although Mo Yikai was reluctant to admit it, Yuanting
was still Cheng Nanyi's brother and needed his support in public.
Yuanting was silent for a moment, then called out, "Brother..." Life is so strange, like
enemies often meet, perhaps from the first time Mo Yikai called him 'curly hair,' the
wheels of fate had started to turn.
The surroundings fell into a hush, as if someone had pressed the pause button.
Mo Yikai glanced at the chubby white kid opposite Yuanting. Ah, isn't this the brave soul
who lost his teeth last time?
"What's up, seeking revenge?"
"Did he bully you? Want me to teach him a lesson?" Although he wished the brat would
get a beating, if the brat got hit in front of him, Cheng Nanyi wouldn't let him off the hook.
Duan Wenze shrank back at these words, looking almost ready to cry.
Yuanting swallowed, stepped back a few steps, then grabbed Duan Wenze's wrist and
bolted, saying, "Run!" If they didn't run now, they wouldn't even know how they'd die.
Behind them, there was a moment of silence, then an eruption of thunderous laughter,
interspersed with Mo Yikai's puzzled voice: "What's wrong with you guys, laughing like
that?"
"So, he really is your brother? That makes you his brother, right?"
"Yeah, what about it?"
"Hahaha..."
……
Duan Wenze, completely baffled, started running after Yuanting, asking as they ran, "Why
are we running?"
"My brother is coming to beat you up," Yuanting said.
Duan Wenze: "???"
He knew that, so why was Yuanting dragging him to run? Shouldn't they be playing
doubles against him?
After running across the playground, they hid in the bathroom. Yuanting, panting and
leaning on his legs, said to Duan Wenze, "I just saved you. Otherwise, my brother would
have beaten you to death. Shouldn't you be thanking me?"
He was actually saving him?
Duan Wenze felt like Yuanting was a godsend at that moment. Although he had knocked
out one of his teeth and threatened him, he also helped him escape a beating from the
shit-eating brother. He was too kind.
"Thank you," Duan Wenze sincerely thanked Yuanting.
Was he that easy to deceive?
If it weren't for Duan Wenze's naiveté, Yuanting might have thought he was being
mocked.
Yuanting touched his neck and coughed lightly: "Then call me your boss."
"Boss," Duan Wenze looked at him with starry eyes.
"Good boy," Yuanting tiptoed to pat his head, "From now on, the boss will look after you."
He then pulled out a golden ingot from his pocket, "This is my King of Ingots, unbeatable
and invincible. Now, I give it to you as a welcoming gift from your boss."
"Really?" Duan Wenze's eyes lit up, "Truly invincible?"
"Of course," Yuanting said solemnly, "A Chinese doesn't lie to another Chinese."
"Thank you, boss," Duan Wenze happily accepted the invincible ingot.
Yuanting nodded in satisfaction: "Alright, tonight you'll do something for the boss."
"What task?"
"Write a reflection," Yuanting squinted at him. "You scared me with bugs, and the teacher
asked me to write a reflection. You'll write it, a hundred words."
"But I don't know how to write..." Duan Wenze frowned, looking troubled.
Yuanting clenched his fist: "Say that again?"
Duan Wenze nervously scratched his head and muttered, "Fine, I'll write it. Why so
fierce?"
Yuanting hummed with satisfaction, thinking that after two lifetimes in the 'underworld,'
he surely could handle a little kid.
……
Cheng Nanyi had duty today, so after school, he stayed back to clean the classroom. After
finishing, he headed downstairs, only to see the curly-haired kid standing by the flower
bed.
"What are you doing here?" Cheng Nanyi walked over, surprised.
"I'm here to pick you up from school," Yuanting tilted his head, looking innocently and
endearingly at Cheng Nanyi, and offered earnestly, "Brother, let me carry your backpack.
You must be tired after a whole day."
Cheng Nanyi looked at the sincere and eager kid, his large eyes blinking, clear and bright
like the stars in the night sky over the grasslands.
If he hadn't heard about the "Mo Yikai from sixth grade, class five, will eat shit" incident,
he would have believed without a doubt that the kid genuinely came to pick him up.
Cheng Nanyi silently handed his backpack to the kid. Yuanting shouldered it, only to find
it as heavy as if filled with bricks. He toppled backward, landing on his bottom.
"It's okay, it's okay," Yuanting blocked Cheng Nanyi's hand, attempting to help him, and
bravely got up, his face a portrait of fearless determination. "For my brother, I wouldn't
hesitate to climb a mountain of swords or plunge into a sea of flames."
Cheng Nanyi: "..." You probably want your brother to climb the mountain of swords and
plunge into the sea of flames, don't you?
Author's Note:
"A big thank you to the angels who cast their tyrant votes or nourished me with nutrient
solution from 2023-07-21 10:21:31 to 2023-07-22 15:57:16~"
"Thanks to the angels who nourished with nutrient solutions: 'Cheers to No More Tears'
with 15 bottles; 'Lemon Sound', 'No Lewdness', 'Snot Bubble' with 5 bottles each; 'Golden
Analysis Wood', 'Pigeon King' with 1 bottle each."
"I'm truly grateful for everyone's support, and I'll continue to work hard!"
#22 Chapter 22
Chapter 22
Yuanting, panting and struggling, carried Cheng Nanyi's backpack to the school gate. He
had expected to see his 'shit-eating brother' but found only Driver Little Zhang.
"Kai's mom picked him up on her way, said his grandma and aunt are coming over for
dinner tonight, and asked him to head home early," the driver explained.
"Phew..." Yuanting heaved a sigh of relief, scared out of his wits by the whole ordeal.
The danger was not yet over; he needed to keep his guard up.
Clutching two backpacks, Yuanting climbed into the backseat of the car.
"Not sitting in the passenger seat today, Yuanting?" the driver inquired through the
rearview mirror.
The kid: "..." Damn, he'd forgotten about that.
But even if he hadn't forgotten, it wouldn't have mattered. He had to stick close to Cheng
Nanyi now. He had a feeling that Mo Yikai might seriously try to kill him this time.
"Of course, I want to sit with my brother," Yuanting said, moving towards Cheng Nanyi.
Cheng Nanyi extended his arm to block him: "Stay in your seat, don't move."
Yuanting pouted, thinking, fine, I won't move. Who cares anyway.
"Brother, have some," Yuanting pulled out a packet of crispy noodles from his backpack
and offered it to Cheng Nanyi pleasingly. "There's a card inside. Do you want it? If you
want, I'll give it all to you."
"I don't want the card, and I won't eat the noodles. You have them."
"Brother is so good to me, not willing to eat and leaving it all for me," Yuanting mumbled
while struggling to tear open the noodle packet with his teeth, "I'll always be good to
brother too... can't bite it open..."
Cheng Nanyi watched Yuanting's ferocious struggle with the packet, inching towards the
car door and then turning his gaze out the window.
Seeing Cheng Nanyi's lack of intention to help, the driver offered during a red light stop:
"Let me help you open it."
"Thank you, Little Zhang brother, you're so kind." Yuanting immediately handed over the
crispy noodles to the driver. The stubborn packet, and Cheng Nanyi pretending not to see
it, as if a bit of saliva mattered.
The driver took the noodles, wiped them with a tissue before tearing open the packet and
handing it back to Yuanting.
"Eat less, we still have dinner later," Cheng Nanyi advised.
"Okay, I'll listen to brother. Whatever brother says, goes," Yuanting waved a large chunk
of the noodle cake in front of Cheng Nanyi, "Brother, can I eat these?"
Cheng Nanyi: "..."
The driver clicked his tongue, finding it quite peculiar: "Yuanting is really obedient
today." He used to be like a little thorn, and suddenly turning so compliant was somewhat
hard to get used to.
Yuanting chuckled, "I've always been this obedient."
"Brother, may I eat?" Yuanting, seeing Cheng Nanyi not responding, insisted on waiting
for his nod before putting it in his mouth.
Cheng Nanyi nodded, and only then did Yuanting happily start eating: "I always listen to
brother."
Cheng Nanyi just quietly watched him, thinking that the trouble he caused today must be
significant, his cunning and charm all too evident on his little face.
He wasn't entirely sure what had happened today, but at the moment, he didn't want to
ask. He was curious to see what else this kid could do.
……
After munching through half a bag of crispy noodles, the car stopped in front of their
house.
Getting out of the car, Yuanting suddenly stopped, standing motionless.
Cheng Nanyi turned to look at him.
Yuanting took a deep breath and sighed, "Brother, I want to go play at Kai's house."
Cheng Nanyi raised his eyebrows in surprise, "Are you sure?"
Yuanting nodded as if resigned to his fate, "…Yes." He didn't really want to go; going now
was akin to seeking death, but he couldn't avoid it.
He needed to meet Mo Yikai's aunt and grandmother. Being just a seven-year-old, if

anything happened, no one would believe him. It was essential for their family to be
united.
After a few seconds of watching the dejected kid, Cheng Nanyi nodded, "Alright, I'll go
with you."
Cheng Nanyi asked the nanny for some snacks and then walked with Yuanting towards
Mo Yikai's house.
Yuanting, with his drooping blond hair, followed behind, his steps heavy.
Some things must be faced eventually.
Like that brother who dares to eat shit.
"Brother," Yuanting hurried a few steps, grabbed Cheng Nanyi's hand, and looked up at
him earnestly, "If the world were to end, I'd protect you too."
Cheng Nanyi: "???"
"I'm so good to you, you should be the same to me, right?"
The eager, pleading look in the little rascal's eyes was unmistakably earnest.
His pretty face and well-behaved appearance made it hard not to indulge him.
Cheng Nanyi was silent for a moment: "...It depends on how you behave."
Yuanting: "..."
Damn, sincerity really can't buy sincerity.
This Cheng Nanyi has been cold-hearted since he was young.
Upon reaching Mo Yikai's house, Cheng Nanyi knocked. The nanny opened the door, and
Yuanting peeped in sneakily.
"Nanyi, come in, just in time for dinner," Mo Yikai's mother greeted warmly. "Is Yuanting
not with you?"
"He's here." Cheng Nanyi glanced inside and asked on Yuanting's behalf, "Where's Kai?"
"His dad said he won't be home for dinner tonight and asked him to pick something up at
the entrance of the community."
Realizing he wasn't home, Yuanting straightened up and strutted in: "Hello, Auntie."
"Hello, little Yuanting," Aunt Zhu patted his head.
Yuanting scampered under her arm and rushed towards a girl sitting on the couch:
"Sister, you're so pretty!"
The girl, idly flipping channels with the remote, looked in surprise at the little blond
curly-haired boy who cheerfully complimented, "Sister, how come you're so beautiful?"
Everyone in the room paused for a moment, then burst into laughter. Mo Yikai's
grandmother laughed heartily: "Where did this charming child come from? So good-
looking and sweet-talking."
"This is a neighbor's kid, so adorable and likable," Aunt Zhu said with a smile.
"Grandma, you're also very pretty."
"Oh my, this child's words are dripping with honey," the grandmother chuckled
delightfully. "What's your name?" Her voice was laced with enthusiasm.
Yuanting climbed onto the couch, squeezing himself between them, and introduced
himself: "I'm Yuanting, 'Yuan' as in 'one yuan, two yuan', and 'Ting' as in 'courtyard'. Isn't
my name lovely?"
"Sister, what's your name? You're so pretty, your name must be beautiful too."
"You can't call her sister; you should call her auntie," the grandmother corrected him.
"But she clearly looks like a sister."
……
Fifteen minutes later, Yuanting was holding watermelon in one hand and pastries in the
other, while the grandmother fed him juice and Mo Yikai's aunt wiped his mouth with a
napkin. Aunt Zhu looked at him lovingly, as if he were already part of the family.
Cheng Nanyi couldn't help but sigh. He had known Mo Yikai for years, and Mo Yikai had
never received such treatment.
Yuanting accidentally caught Cheng Nanyi's indescribable expression and sighed too.
Keeping three women happy at once, did they think it was easy?
"Here, Yuanting, try this little biscuit, it's strawberry-flavored," Aunt Zhu offered, holding
it to his mouth.
Yuanting bit into it: "Thank you, auntie, you're so kind." See, I'm so busy, my mouth
doesn't even get a break.
Author's Note:
"I know the word count is low, and the V update is on Wednesday, so there will be fewer
updates these two days. Sorry about that."
"Thanks for your support, love you all, muah! A special thanks to the angels who cast
their tyrant votes or nourished me with nutrient solution from 2023-07-22 15:57:16 to
2023-07-23 22:59:35~"
"Thanks to the angels who sent deep-sea torpedoes: 'Today is a Good Day' with 22
torpedoes;"
"Thanks to the angels who nourished with nutrient solutions: 'Timely Encouragement'
with 30 bottles; 62009058 with 20 bottles; Deep Blue, Snow Moon Rose, Ryo with 10
bottles each; Noooook with 5 bottles; d4325 with 3 bottles; Hazelnut, Late Summer Yet to
Come, hxl, Gugu with 2 bottles each; 67419552, 59551281, huttuu, lucky, Remnants of
the Sea, Old Year's Time, A Lone Diver, Promise, Pond Fish with 1 bottle each;"
"I'm very grateful for everyone's support and will continue to work hard!"
#23 Chapter 23
Chapter 23
Yuanting, fed by the three women, managed to swallow and immediately seized the
opportunity to speak before the next bite was offered.
"Grandma, I'll tell you something really scary. Big Bao's mom from the western end of my
grandma's village drank pesticide and committed suicide. It was so frightening."
Cheng Nanyi looked at Yuanting, who appeared innocent with his big, guileless eyes
blinking as if he was just casually sharing some big gossip.
But he remembered Yuanting telling him before about Big Bao from the eastern end of
the village.
The child seemed genuinely afraid of someone around him committing suicide.
"Oh dear, why did she commit suicide?" the grandmother asked, patting Yuanting's curly
hair, "There, there, don't be scared."
"Because his dad had another woman outside, so his mom committed suicide by drinking
pesticide," Yuanting said with his legs swinging, innocently.
"That's foolish, to throw away her life over a man, not even caring about her child," the
grandmother said dismissively, "Such women are not thinking straight, can't live without
a man? If it were me, I would have dealt with him first."
"Mom," Aunt Zhu said helplessly, "Mind your words in front of the child."
Aunt Zhu's sister glanced at her and suddenly snorted, "If it were my sister, she might just
do something like that. After all, living as a wealthy wife for so long, one’s practical skills
tend to..."
Before she could finish, their grandmother smacked her hard on the back, scolding, "Stop
talking nonsense, or I'll really hit you. Can't you keep your mouth shut?"
"Hmph," Aunt Zhu scoffed coldly, "At least I never ran off namelessly with a man."
Dropping her cookie, she stood up and went into the kitchen.
Aunt Zhu's sister shrugged nonchalantly: "See how petty she is."
Fuming, their grandmother slapped her again, grinding her molars, "Can't you stop
provoking your sister? Can't you let me live in peace?"
Yuanting felt the gust from the grandmother’s slaps above his head, realizing she was
genuinely hitting hard, no pretense.
Aunt Zhu's sister rolled her eyes, then patted Yuanting's head, "Curly hair, call me 'sister'
again, I dare you."
Yuanting: "..."
Can't a handsome guy get some respect?
"Auntie, auntie, don’t mess up the family hierarchy. Don’t you know your own age?" the
grandmother glared at her disapprovingly.
Aunt Zhu's sister shrugged, picked up the remote, and stopped talking.
Yuanting sighed to himself; Aunt Zhu's sister was exactly as the rumors described.
Mo Yikai's maternal grandparents had divorced early, and the grandmother raised her
two daughters alone. As a family of three, Aunt Zhu's sister was known to be the biggest
'troublemaker.'
The grandmother, working hard for a living, left the care of the younger sister to the
older one. The sisters were twelve years apart, making Aunt Zhu more like a mother to
her sister.
Aunt Zhu's sister was rebellious from a young age, poor in academics and stubborn in
temperament. She was notorious for her bar-hopping and dating escapades, and
eventually, after failing to get into college, she ran off with a boyfriend to another city.
Aunt Zhu personally drove to bring her sister back, but Aunt Zhu's sister refused, yelling
at her, "You're not my mom, what right do you have to control me?"
Aunt Zhu, who had spent years caring for her, was utterly exhausted and heartbroken by
this incident, deciding then to truly stop meddling in her sister’s life.
Aunt Zhu's sister lived with her poor boyfriend for two years before they bitterly split up.
She returned alone and opened a women's clothing store locally, managing fairly well.
Over the past two years, their relationship had thawed somewhat, but only in front of
their grandmother. Privately, they hardly communicated.
This awkward relationship lasted for many years, never truly resolving even when Aunt
Zhu committed suicide.
After Aunt Zhu's death, Aunt Zhu's sister took care of all matters related to Mo Yikai, and
Yuanting had interacted with her many times.
Yuanting’s impression of Aunt Zhu's sister, now in her forties, was of a woman obsessed
with making money, rejecting romance, with a clear head and stable emotions.
In Mo Yikai's words, the relationship between his mother and aunt was very strained.
Yet, Yuanting had inadvertently witnessed Aunt Zhu's sister crying heart-wrenchingly
alone in the cemetery.
The next update about her came two years later when Mo Yikai mentioned that his aunt
had sold her shop, house, and car to go abroad alone.
Later, news came that a fire had broken out in Mo Yikai's father's house abroad, killing
him and his mistress.
At that time, Yuanting was overwhelmed and unclear about the details. Cheng Nanyi had
sent people to investigate, but before any news came, Yuanting was reborn.
At this point, Aunt Zhu's sister was twenty-six years old, indeed at odds with her sister as
Mo Yikai had described.
In his heart, Yuanting thought, 'Auntie, it's all up to you now. Please don't let me down.'
……
Mo Yikai had been waiting at the roadside for half an hour and was just getting impatient
when his father's car finally arrived.
The car window rolled down, revealing the face of Mo Zhao Hua.
"The stuff is in the trunk, get it yourself."
Mo Yikai leaned on the car window and spoke to his father, "Dad, my aunt came over
today, which is rare. Are you so busy that you don't even have time for a meal?"
"Your aunt and your mom together would make the meal indigestible for me. I really do
have important matters to attend to, no time to talk."
Mo Yikai didn't move but leaned further into the car, sniffing, "Dad, there’s a perfume
smell in your car, and it's quite strong."
Mo Zhao Hua's face changed. Before he could respond, Mo Yikai added, "When you come
back, get the car washed. Mom hates strong scents; careful she doesn’t scold you."
Mo Zhao Hua: "..." Thanks for the reminder! Useful suggestion.
"Mom was actually looking forward to you joining them for dinner. Maybe buy her a gift
and apologize tonight," suggested Mo Yikai.
"Alright, I got it. I never realized you talked this much before."
"This is called being sensible," Mo Yikai retorted with a snort. "Just look at that little
blond curly-haired boy, and you'll see how likable your son is."
After speaking, Mo Yikai extended his hand, "For being so sensible, don’t you think you
should reward me a bit?"
"…Always up to something, you cunning kid." Mo Zhao Hua opened his wallet and handed
him three hundred-yuan bills.
Satisfied, Mo Yikai finally walked to the back of the car, took the stuff from the trunk, and
headed home.
Passing by Cheng Nanyi's house, he noticed the car that picked up Cheng Nanyi had
returned. Deciding not to go back to his own home just yet, he walked into the courtyard.
The gardener, busy arranging the flower racks, saw Mo Yikai and smiled, "Nanyi and
Yuanting went to your house looking for you."
To his house?
Huh, is that little brat seeking his own doom?
Mo Yikai immediately quickened his pace, running towards home.
He had made up his mind today; even if Cheng Nanyi gave him the entire Cheng family's
wealth, it wouldn’t matter – he was determined to deal with that kid.
After the kid ran off during gym class, everyone laughed so hard they nearly rolled on the
ground. It took a while before he found out the truth amidst the chatter, and by then, the
whole class knew... and later, the entire school.
Damn it, he never imagined his fame throughout the school would be because of... daring
to eat shit.
His perfect primary school life, about to conclude, was ruined by this shitty incident.
Mo Yikai stormed home, sleeves rolled up in anger. As he pushed open the door, he saw
the little kid swinging his legs on the couch. His fiery-tempered grandmother and the
aunt who disdained him were feeding the kid and wiping his mouth.
？？？
What kind of fantasy scenario is this?
For a moment, Mo Yikai wondered if he had entered the wrong house.
"Yuan—ting?" Mo Yikai called out menacingly.
！！！！！
Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit!!!
Alarm bells were ringing!!!
Yuanting's eyes widened in terror at the sound, and upon seeing Mo Yikai's angry face, he
instinctively jumped off the couch.
"Ahhh!" Yuanting screamed, arms outstretched as he ran towards Cheng Nanyi, crying,
"Brother, brother, brother..."
Watching the kid bolt like a frightened rabbit, Cheng Nanyi instinctively stood up, his
hands hanging by his sides ready to catch the little one, although he didn't move.
Just as Yuanting was about to throw himself into Cheng Nanyi's arms, a sudden thought
struck him – there was a safer place than Cheng Nanyi's embrace.
So, Yuanting turned and dashed towards the kitchen.
Mo Yikai's mother had just walked out of the kitchen. In those few meters, Yuanting
quickly thought, rushing into her arms might not be ideal. After all, he was a man in his
twenties, and hugging her legs didn't seem right either, so...
Yuanting slid to his knees and sat at Mo Yikai's mother's feet, clinging to her legs, crying
dramatically, "Auntie, Kai is going to hit me, wuwuwu, I'm so scared, please protect me!"
Mo Yikai, standing five meters away: "???"
Damn, is this kid actually playing the victim?
Cheng Nanyi was also stunned for a moment, his fingers curling slightly as he watched
Yuanting clinging to Mo Yikai's mother’s legs, his brow unconsciously furrowing.
He felt oddly uncomfortable. Just moments ago, Yuanting was being sweet and seeking
his protection, and now, without any hesitation, he had switched to someone else.
Author's Note:
My new works "The Silly Moonlight Always Urges Me to Darken" and "After Rebirth, The
True Young Master Forces Me to Bend" are up for collection.
"The Silly Moonlight Always Urges Me to Darken"
The young master of the Zhao family, failing to win the family inheritance, was
abandoned in the wilderness, left to fend for himself.
On a night of torrential rain, Qiu Zhuo, holding an umbrella, approached and towered
over him.
The young Zhao family heir looked up at the youth descending from the sky, his grip
tightening on the knife in his hand.
In the next second, Qiu Zhuo tossed the umbrella aside and dragged the young Zhao heir
away like a wild dog.
Qiu Zhuo found himself in a novel where the protagonist's family rescued and healed the
young Zhao heir. However, when the heir's mortal enemy came looking, they handed him
over to save their own lives.
The young Zhao heir barely survived, and after becoming utterly ruthless, he turned into
the biggest villain in the book, destroying the protagonist's family.
The Qiu family, mere background characters in the story, were the protagonist’s
neighbors with a strained relationship. They ultimately met their doom due to the
bullying by the village's tyrant.
After entering the story, Qiu Zhuo realized he couldn’t stand against the tyrant on his
own, so he thought of the future villain.
A villain?
What did it matter if he was a villain? As long as he could save his own life, he was willing
to serve the villain, even if it meant being a lowly servant.
*
Lying in the wilderness, the young Zhao heir witnessed a divine figure descending.
This deity was a handsome young man with rosy lips and white teeth, rescuing him from
a dire situation.
Henceforth, this young man became an obsession in his heart, his untouchable Achilles'
heel.
However, his moonlight love was unique, always asking him, “Are you in a good mood?”
"Do you feel like hitting someone today?"
"Do you have a desire to destroy the world?"
After he shook his head, his moonlight love stomped and beat his chest: "When will you
finally turn evil? I'm dying of impatience here."
"After Being Reborn, the True Young Master Forces Me to Bend"
Yan Shuo and Cheng Xiao grew up together and were best friends.
But when Yan Shuo was reclaimed by his biological parents to become a wealthy heir, he
turned his back on Cheng Xiao, severing ties and refusing to acknowledge their
friendship.
Undeterred, Cheng Xiao tried to approach Yan Shuo twice, only to be rejected at the door.
Angered and frustrated, Cheng Xiao accidentally fell off a cliff and was reborn, returning
to his eighteen-year-old self.
Given a second chance, Cheng Xiao vowed not to let Yan Shuo hurt him again and
promptly ended their friendship, out of sight, out of mind.
When Yan Shuo later emerged as the misidentified true heir of a wealthy family,
everyone mocked Cheng Xiao for missing out on such a powerful ally.
Cheng Xiao, still harboring resentment, remarked bitterly: "He never needed poor friends
like us."
Some people, trying to please Yan Shuo, attempted to teach Cheng Xiao a lesson, only to
be kicked out by Yan Shuo himself.
Cheng Xiao snapped irritably, "You don't need to interfere."
Yan Shuo grabbed his arm and pinned him against the wall, eyes narrowed, "Not let me
interfere? Then who should?"
When Yan Shuo kissed him, Cheng Xiao felt completely overwhelmed.
"Cheng Xiao, don't even think about leaving me."
Cheng Xiao, terrified, protested, "I'm straight, I'm not into guys."
Yan Shuo's cold fingers caressed Cheng Xiao's face, whispering ominously, "It doesn't
matter. Just remember, you're mine."
#24 Chapter 24
Chapter 24
"Mo, Yi, Kai," Aunt Zhu glared at Mo Yikai, "What are you trying to do?"
"Mom, stay out of this, this is between me and Yuanting," Mo Yikai moved to grab
Yuanting but was slapped on the arm by Aunt Zhu, "Who are you calling 'dead kid'? Have
you no manners?"
"He called me a dead kid," Yuanting quickly retorted, looking up at Mo Yikai's mother
with reddening eyes, "Auntie, am I a dead kid?"
Look at this pitiful little thing... Aunt Zhu slapped Mo Yikai again, "Who taught you to
swear? How old are you, picking on a child? And having Nanyi do your homework, now
arguing with a seven-year-old, aren’t you ashamed?"
"I’m ashamed?" Mo Yikai pointed to his nose, infuriated, "More than ashamed. Do you
know what he did? He said I eat shit at school, now the whole school knows... I can’t live
like this..."
The room fell silent for a moment, then Aunt Zhu's sister burst into laughter: "Hahaha..."
Aunt Zhu's slap brought Aunt Zhu's sister's laughter to an abrupt halt.
"I didn't," Yuanting said, looking righteously, "I never said you eat shit."
"You dare deny it? I stood up for you, and you accused me of eating shit, you ungrateful
brat, I’m furious..."
Mo Yikai lunged again, only to be kicked out by Aunt Zhu with a swift kick to his behind.
"Mom..."
"I, I, I..." Yuanting quickly raised his hand, "I have something to say."
Mo Yikai was about to tell him to shut up but, meeting his mother's murderous gaze,
could only remain silent, glaring at Yuanting with resentment.
Seizing the opportunity, Yuanting immediately said, "Today, it was that short, white,
chubby kid bullying me. I said that to warn him. He said his brother could kick me flying,
so I said my brother could eat shit..."
Aunt Zhu's eyes widened, wondering if she had heard wrong.
Such a cute little curly-haired boy saying such crude words in a childish voice... somehow
adorable.
The more Yuanting spoke, the more justified he felt. Right, he hadn't started it. Why
should he avoid Mo Yikai?
Yuanting’s confidence surged: "I never said you were my brother. You went over there
saying you were my brother. Think about it, really think, isn’t that what happened?"
Mo Yikai: "..."
This seemed to be true, but don't take him for a fool. Clearly, the kid had later called him
'brother.'
Don't say it wasn’t intentional.
Seeing Mo Yikai silent, Yuanting sensed an opening. He got up from the ground and took a
step forward, planning to bow and apologize. After all, a wise man knows when to yield.
Just then, a familiar burst of laughter erupted.
"Hahaha... hahaha... hic... hahaha..."
Yuanting looked towards the source of the laughter, speechless.
Aunt Zhu's sister, clutching her chest and gasping for air from laughter, waved her hand,
"Sorry, sorry, it's just too funny, hahaha, my brother dares to eat shit, hahaha..."
Yuanting: "..." Sister, no, auntie, are you alright?
Mo Yikai, already on the verge of accepting defeat, became infuriated and took a deep
breath before shouting, "Yuanting, I'm going to beat you up."
"Ahhh!" Yuanting took off running.
Mo Yikai chased after him, "Stop running, stand still!"
"I won't, I'm not stupid," Yuanting darted around the room, pondering whether to dive
into Grandma Zhu's or Cheng Nanyi's arms, when Aunt Zhu, still wiping away tears of
laughter, added fuel to the fire: "Mo Yikai, don't you always say you're the school's
heartthrob? Are you the 'shit-eating' heartthrob?"
"Hahaha..."
This time, Yuanting couldn't help but laugh, "Damn, I just can't help it. Shit-eating
heartthrob... hahaha..."
This really was too fitting for Mo Yikai.
Mo Yikai: "??" Was this really his aunt? Was she projecting her resentment towards his
mom onto him?
Only Yuanting and Aunt Zhu's sister found this elementary school joke hilarious. Aunt
Zhu and Grandma Zhu didn’t get it, and Cheng Nanyi's sense of humor was always a
mystery, so the only truly amused ones were Yuanting and Aunt Zhu's sister.
Yuanting, laughing while running, eventually stopped, turned around, and bowed deeply
to Mo Yikai, "Sincerely sorry, Brother Kai."
The sudden bow startled Mo Yikai, almost causing him to stumble.
What, apologizing with a bow? Are you crazy?
"Enough, Kai. Your little brother apologized, no more fussing," Aunt Zhu, thinking Mo
Yikai was being unreasonable over such a trivial matter, said, "Tell your little brother you
forgive him."
Yuanting, still bowing, shouted again, "Brother Kai, it's my fault, I'm sorry, wuwuwu..."
adding a fake cry for effect.
Who would've thought? At my age, I'm acting cute. It's really asking for trouble.
Mo Yikai, struggling to restrain his urge to hit someone, yielded reluctantly due to his
mother's stern authority, bringing an end to the farce.
Sitting sullenly on the sofa, Mo Yikai's eyes landed on Cheng Nanyi, who had remained
silent and expressionless, like an outsider. He vented, "Don’t you have anything to say?"
Cheng Nanyi, leisurely sipping his juice, slowly turned to Mo Yikai after a pause and
drawled, "So, can you actually do it?"
"Do what?" Mo Yikai, puzzled, failed to catch on.
Aunt Zhu's sister burst into laughter, leaning back and forth, "He's asking if you can
actually eat shit... hahaha..."
Taking a deep breath, Mo Yikai declared, "Cheng Nanyi, we're done as friends."
……
Yuanting, not daring to go near Mo Yikai, sweet-talked Aunt Zhu instead, following her
around like a little tail.
Aunt Zhu opened the items Mo Yikai had brought back. Inside were some nutritional
supplements for Grandma Zhu and extra dishes for the evening.
"What's this?" Aunt Zhu opened a shopping bag, pulling out two beautiful small
backpacks, one pink and one blue, clearly meant for children.
"Where did these come from?" Aunt Zhu laughed, gesturing, "Mo Yikai certainly can't use
these." She then casually tossed the backpacks back into the paper bag.
Yuanting: "..."
"Auntie, the backpacks are so pretty. I really like them. Can I have one, please?" Yuanting
asked.
"Of course, you can take both," Aunt Zhu retrieved the shopping bag and stuffed it into
Yuanting's arms.
Yuanting, gritting his teeth, spoke in a voice almost squeezed through clenched teeth,
"Shouldn't we call Uncle Mo to ask? After all, he bought them?"
"Oh, right, we should ask him," Aunt Zhu then picked up her phone and called Mo Zhao
Hua.
The call was quickly answered.
"So they were gifts for clients, huh."
"Yuanting likes them, so let’s give these two to him. You can buy a couple more for the
clients."
"Okay, then I'm hanging up."
After ending the call, Aunt Zhu turned to Yuanting, "Your Uncle Mo agrees. These two
backpacks are yours now."
Yuanting, dumbfounded: "..." She really has a big heart!
After admiring his stepfather's love-struck brain, he now admired the magnanimity of Mo
Yikai's mother.
Mo Zhao Hua has children outside who are three or four years old, and she seems
completely unaware.
Yuanting even thought critically, "If people like them aren’t miserable, who is?"
Yuanting, holding the two backpacks, approached Aunt Zhu's sister: "Auntie, you're so
nice, giving me two backpacks."
"These backpacks were meant to be gifts from Uncle Mo to someone else. Brother Kai
accidentally took the wrong ones, so they were given to me."
"Sister, do I look good with them on?"
The small backpacks, meant for three or four-year-old children and adorned with cartoon
characters, hung on Yuanting - one pink in front and one blue behind - as he twirled 360
degrees in the living room, showing them off from every angle.
Cheng Nanyi frowned, "Yuanting, you shouldn't just accept gifts from people."
"Oh." Yuanting promptly removed the backpacks and deliberately placed them in Aunt
Zhu's sister's hands, "Then I don't want them. Let Brother Kai wear them."
Mo Yikai, annoyed, retorted, "I'm not wearing them."
Aunt Zhu's sister flipped through the backpacks, laughing, "Hahaha, you can wear them to
school and perform your 'shit-eating' act."
Yuanting: "..." Damn, that’s actually funny, I can't hold it in.
Hahaha, but can we please focus on the backpacks?
Please!
Grandma Zhu immediately smacked her: "Can't you be more serious? Can you?"
Aunt Zhu's sister laughed while dodging, her gaze returning to the backpacks with a hint
of doubt, "What kind of client needs such small backpacks?"
Mo Yikai's fingers cracked as he clenched them tightly, glaring fiercely at Yuanting, who
then ran over and grabbed Cheng Nanyi's hand, "Brother, let’s go home."
Yuanting pulled Cheng Nanyi away, running off despite Aunt Zhu calling after them. She
sighed in resignation, "This kid, first he says he wants the backpacks, then he doesn’t. If
your dad buys two more, it’s just wasteful."
……
Yuanting, pulling Cheng Nanyi out of the Mo residence, didn’t hear Aunt Zhu's last
remark, or else he would've been exasperated, thinking her reasoning was beyond
saving.
The night had fully descended, and the streetlights in the community were lit. Yuanting
walked ahead, his small hand holding Cheng Nanyi's, their hands swinging. Aside from
the touch of holding someone's hand, there was no sound from the person behind.
Yuanting turned his head, walking backward, tilting his head to look at Cheng Nanyi,
"Brother, why aren't you talking? It's kind of creepy."
"Just thinking," Cheng Nanyi murmured.
"What are you thinking about?" Yuanting quickly asked.
Cheng Nanyi just lifted his eyelids to look at him.
Meeting his gaze, Yuanting, for some reason, suddenly had an ominous premonition.
Serve you right for being nosy. Why ask such questions?
"I've figured out your situation with Mo Yikai."
"Oh…" Yuanting carefully let go of Cheng Nanyi's hand.
It was an instinctive reaction for self-preservation.
Cheng Nanyi glanced at his own hand and, after a few seconds, slowly retracted it.
"So if it wasn't Mo Yikai, then who was it?" Cheng Nanyi inquired.
"What? Who was what?" Yuanting was somewhat bewildered.
Cheng Nanyi looked down, "When you argued and mentioned 'brother', who were you
thinking of?"
Yuanting blinked, pondering for five seconds, before a chill ran down his spine in an
instant.
Holy shit! Holy shit!! Holy shit!!! Big trouble!
His mind is just brilliant!

He was silent all night just thinking about this, wasn’t he?
Yuanting swallowed hard, his mind racing, "I, I, I... just said it without thinking?" Do you
believe it?
I really did just say it without thinking.
Short videos really do more harm than good!
Does Cheng Nanyi believe it?
Of course, he doesn’t believe it. How could such an outrageous statement be made
casually?
He quietly observed Yuanting, not uttering a word.
Yuanting chuckled nervously, switching to another excuse, "In my hometown, my uncle’s

family has brothers too..."
A brother doesn’t necessarily mean you; don’t assume it’s about yourself, okay?
Hearing this, Cheng Nanyi paused, his already expressionless face revealing even less
emotion.
After a while, Cheng Nanyi finally asked, "So, you have many brothers?"
Unable to gauge his thoughts, Yuanting hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "Yes."
Yuanting counted on his fingers, "Two in my uncle’s family, two in my aunt’s family, one
in my aunt’s family on my mother’s side, one in my uncle’s family on my mother’s side,
my cousins' families..."
Meanwhile, his mind blared a background music, "How many good brothers do you have,
how many good brothers, good brothers..."
Cheng Nanyi remained silent. Yuanting quietly breathed a sigh of relief, touching his
chest, hoping he had managed to deflect the situation.
He figured Mo Yikai probably wouldn’t dare do anything to him anymore, especially now
that he was Aunt Zhu's little sweetheart. If Mo Yikai dared to hit him, he would complain
to Aunt Zhu, and her hits were for real.
With the crisis averted, Yuanting became lively again, humming a song as he rushed
home, "I'm back, so hungry, I want a big chicken leg..."
Cheng Nanyi followed Yuanting into the living room, where the butler immediately asked
him, "Young master, what's wrong? Are you unhappy?"
"No," Cheng Nanyi shook his head.
The butler smiled, "You clearly are unhappy, I can tell."
Cheng Nanyi then looked at him, and the butler quickly became serious, "You seem very
happy tonight, young master. Let's have dinner, it will be a delightful meal."
"Of course..." Yuanting, having washed his hands, breezed by, even hopping twice,
"There's my favorite sweet and sour ribs."
Cheng Nanyi: "..."
It was clear; the kid was genuinely happy.
……
Feeling completely out of danger, Yuanting cheerfully greeted Mo Yikai the next morning,
"Good morning, Brother Kai, have a peach, these honey peaches are really sweet."
"I don't want it," Mo Yikai replied coldly, "Who knows if you licked it clean."
You lick it, not me.
"Brother, will you have one?" Yuanting then asked Cheng Nanyi.
Cheng Nanyi responded indifferently, "No."
If they don't want it, that's fine. Yuanting, holding his honey peaches, climbed into the
back seat, only to be pulled by Mo Yikai, who held his backpack, into the passenger seat.
Yuanting: "?? What are you doing?"
Mo Yikai settled himself in the back seat, maintaining a silent front.
But if he wasn’t speaking to them, then they wouldn’t speak to each other either. If it was
a cold war, then all three would be in it together, with no one getting close to anyone else.
Fine by me, Yuanting thought, you think I want to sit with Cheng Nanyi.
I'd rather be far away from him.
Normally, when Driver Xiao drove them to school, the car was always noisy, especially
with Yuanting and Mo Yikai, neither yielding to the other. But today was eerily quiet, not
a single word spoken.
Driver Xiao glanced in the rearview mirror at the two sitting in the back, each on opposite
sides, heads turned towards the window, creating a tense atmosphere...
Racking his brain, Driver Xiao tried to think of a topic to break the silence...
"Driver Xiao, do you like honey peaches? I brought two for you, they're really sweet."
"Thank you, Yuanting."
"Driver Xiao, you're so handsome, are you married?"
"Yes, I am."
"Do you have children?"
"Yes, one is five months old."
"Wow, five months already, must be wearing diapers, right?"
Driver Xiao: "..." You sure know a lot.
"Driver Xiao..."
"Driver Xiao..."
"Driver Xiao..."
Driver Xiao: "..." What a noisy kid, no wonder the other two don’t want to talk.
"Hey..." Mo Yikai nudged Cheng Nanyi with his foot, intending to ask him to control the
noisy kid and make him shut up. Before he could speak, Yuanting suddenly turned his
head and glared at him: "Why are you kicking my brother? Do you think you can just kick
my brother like that?"
Mo Yikai: "???"
Damn, it seems like yesterday's lesson wasn’t enough; he’s getting bold again.
Those eyes glaring, almost as big as a bull's.
Yuanting raised his fist and waved it at Mo Yikai, then turned to Cheng Nanyi, "Brother,
don't worry, I will protect you." I'll butter you all up.
Cheng Nanyi: "..."
Driver Xiao: "..."
Mo Yikai: "..." Speechless, too tired to argue with him.
His mom was right; arguing with a seven-year-old is an intelligence trap.
When the car reached the school gate, Yuanting burst out of the door, rushing out like the
wind, his backpack swinging on his back as if about to take flight.
Mo Yikai couldn’t help but ask, "Can you really stand him?"
Cheng Nanyi, his expression unchanging, spoke calmly, "He hasn't annoyed me, he's
annoyed you."
Mo Yikai: "..."
Break off the friendship, then. If he initiates a conversation with Cheng Nanyi again, he's a
dog.
Yuanting arrived in the classroom in high spirits. Actually, he didn't mean to provoke
those two, but sometimes he just couldn't help himself.
Living life a bit more freely and spontaneously the second time around is understandable,
right? After all, he was too repressed in his previous life.
Yuanting made excuses for himself, refusing to admit he was just petty and seeking
revenge on them.
Yuanting's good mood lasted until the morning class meeting when the teacher walked in
and called his name, "Yuanting, come up and read your apology letter."
Apology letter?
Damn, he had forgotten about that. Why did it have to be a public reading?
Doesn't he have any dignity?
Yuanting turned to Duan Wenzhe and gestured with his hand, mouthing, "The letter,
quick, quick..."
Duan Wenzhe, obedient as ever, had actually written the letter the night before. Hearing
Yuanting's call, he immediately pulled the paper from his pocket and tossed it onto
Yuanting's desk.
Yuanting picked up the paper and walked up to the podium.
Just reading an apology letter, he thought, might as well give these naive little kids a bit of
a show.
Clearing his throat, Yuanting began, "Apology letter... I was wrong... I shouldn’t have used
bugs to scare... no, to intimidate Gu Yiqi. I was wrong, I shouldn’t have... huh?"
"Damn it," Yuanting's eyes widened in shock, "Why is this repetitive?"
"I was wrong, I shouldn’t have scared Gu Yiqi with bugs," just this one sentence was
repeated over an entire sheet of paper.
Definitely more than a hundred words.
Yuanting slowly lifted his head to look towards Duan Wenzhe.
Duan Wenzhe sat up straight, his eyes sparkling as he watched Yuanting. After all, they
were only in second grade and had never seen anyone read an apology letter so
conspicuously. His 'big brother' was the first, and he had written the letter himself.
He was told to write a hundred words, but he had written a hundred and fifty, his hand
still aching.
Yuanting took a deep breath, thinking, "Walk the night road long enough, and you’ll
eventually meet a ghost," Duan Wenzhe was that bumbling ghost.
Was his brain fried in a past life or what?
"Why have you stopped reading?" The teacher interjected, "Continue."
With no choice, Yuanting started to improvise with closed eyes, "I have truly realized my
mistake. How could I bully a girl? Girls are like delicate, beautiful flowers, meant to be
cherished. From now on, not only will I not bully girls, but I will also protect them,
shining and electrifying like Ultraman, guarding all the girls in our class."
Teacher: "???"
The speech sounded fine, but upon closer thought, it seemed rather problematic.
Before the teacher could react, Gu Yiqi started clapping, shouting, "Yuanting, I forgive
you, but you have to keep your promise."
Clapping for an apology reading? Just as the teacher was about to intervene, Duan
Wenzhe suddenly stood up, one arm horizontal and the other vertical, and yelled,
"Ultraman, protect humanity, counterattack from the brink!"
Yuanting: "???" Are you an idiot?
The classroom erupted into chaos, with everyone laughing and shouting "Ultraman
Shockwave," "Watch as I, Ace Ultraman, enter," "I, Tiga, will never give up."
“……”
Yuanting looked at the teacher with sincere eyes, "Teacher, believe me, I didn’t do it on
purpose."
Yuanting and Duan Wenzhe were punished to clean the toilets.
Yuanting, broom in hand, chased Duan Wenzhe, "Is your brain okay? Can’t even write a
simple hundred-word apology letter..."
Duan Wenzhe wailed in response, "Why didn’t you write it yourself?"
"You dare talk back to me? Ultraman Shockwave, tatatatatata..."
"Hahaha, counterattack, charge..."
Cheng Nanyi walked into the toilet to find this scene: two kids chasing each other with
dirty brooms in the smelly restroom, laughing and yelling.
Cheng Nanyi instinctively stopped in his tracks.
A classmate who came with him looked at him curiously, "What’s wrong?"
Following his gaze, the classmate then burst out laughing, "Hahaha, I know that kid, he’s
the one who said his brother eats shit on the playground yesterday. You should know
him, that’s Mo Yikai’s brother."
Cheng Nanyi's fingers curled into his palm.
His grandfather had always taught him to be decisive; most choices have pros and cons,
so there’s no need for hesitation. Once a choice is made, don't regret it. But witnessing the
notorious 'My brother can eat shit' kid waving a dirty broom in the restroom, Cheng
Nanyi had to admit, he hesitated!
He even thought a lot in that instant, like him and Mo Yikai standing together surrounded
by the whole school: "Look, those are Yuanting's two brothers who dare eat shit."
For the first time, Cheng Nanyi genuinely felt this indecision, yet he remained standing
still.
Hearing Mo Yikai’s name, Yuanting turned his head and met Cheng Nanyi’s gaze.
"Hey, kid, where's your brother?" that classmate teased with a mischievous smile.
Yuanting, looking at Cheng Nanyi, really wanted to shout, "He's my real brother."
Before Yuanting could speak, the smarty-pants beside him blurted out, "Isn’t this also
your brother... umm..." Duan Wenzhe's words were cut short as Yuanting covered his
mouth, then pushed him away, running, "Don't know him, don’t know him, let's go, let's
go..." Survival instincts demanded silence.
One Mo Yikai branded as the 'shit-eater' was enough, they definitely didn’t need a 'shit-
eating' Cheng Nanyi.
If that were to happen, Cheng Nanyi might lock him in the bathroom for four years,
without even the luxury of ordering takeout.
Just the thought of that scenario was enough to randomly scare a little Yuanting to death.
Cheng Nanyi watched the fleeing figure of the kid, somewhat in disbelief. The little rascal
was actually pretending not to know him?
The wind carried Duan Wenzhe's angry shout, "Don't cover my mouth with your hand,
you just touched shit..."
"Your hand touched shit... I used a mop..."
Cheng Nanyi's fingers, hanging at his side, slowly relaxed as his lips curved into a faint
smile. The kid was still on his side, after all.
Having enjoyed the commotion, the classmate laughed and headed into the restroom.
Seeing Cheng Nanyi unmoving, he called out, "Let's go, what are you doing?"
Cheng Nanyi's smile disappeared, his brow furrowed, and he stepped back, "Never mind,
I'm not in a hurry." A restroom cleaned by Yuanting... might have too many hazards.
Classmate: "???" Does that even make sense?
They were already at the restroom door. Out of respect for the restroom, shouldn't you at
least squeeze in?
……
After school at noon, Yuanting and Duan Wenzhe left the school gates together, with one
draping an arm over the other’s shoulder and the other looping his arm around the waist,
looking like a pair of close brothers.
Mo Yikai was taken aback, "How did those two end up together?"
He had gone to the extent of eating shit to defend the little brat, and the kid just made up
with someone else? So, he’s the only one hurt in the end?
Duan Zhen Shan, who came to pick up Duan Wenzhe, was also surprised. His son was
now buddy-buddy with the young master of the Cheng family?
Spotting Duan Zhen Shan, Yuanting ran up to him, looking up earnestly, "Uncle Duan, I
hope you can teach Duan Wenzhe how to write a proper apology letter when you get
home."
"Huh?" Duan Zhen Shan was utterly confused.
Yuanting patted Duan Wenzhe on the shoulder, "Learn to write a good apology letter.
Next time it’s your turn, you won’t embarrass yourself, since you don’t have my
exceptional adaptability. You’ll be in charge of writing apologies from now on,
considering today's situation, this could be a long journey."
"Got it, big bro, I’ll work hard," Duan Wenzhe nodded vigorously, then crossed his arms
and shouted, "Ultraman never admits defeat."
Yuanting: "..." Is he crazy?
So this guy has been a bit off since childhood.
Duan Zhen Shan, not understanding the strange dynamics of kids, approached Cheng
Nanyi, "Master Cheng, I haven’t had the chance to tell you, my bid was successful."
"Hmm," Cheng Nanyi nodded, "Do well then, don’t disappoint me."
"Once the project starts, I’ll take you to the site. You’re also welcome to inspect my
company if you have time," Duan Zhen Shan always treated Cheng Nanyi as more than
just a kid, knowing that the elder Mr. Cheng was using these challenging projects to
groom his grandson.
"That won’t be necessary," Cheng Nanyi declined.
"Huh?" Duan Zhen Shan was momentarily taken aback by such a straightforward
rejection, but then Cheng Nanyi added, "After all, I don’t understand it."
Duan Zhen Shan: "..."
Truly a young master of the Cheng family, utterly unpretentious.
On second thought, realizing he had caught the eye of Master Cheng, he felt like an
undiscovered gem, now shining brightly with the right recognition.
After exchanging greetings, they each headed to their respective cars.
Cheng Nanyi immediately opened the passenger door and sat in.
Mo Yikai: "???"
What's going on? Why did he take the passenger seat?
He was puzzled but couldn't ask; after all, he had sworn that if he spoke to Cheng Nanyi
first, he’d be a dog.
Yuanting glanced at Mo Yikai, then climbed into the back seat with a look of disdain.
Leaning forward from the back seat, Yuanting asked, "Brother, what's wrong, aren’t you
happy?" Spill it out and cheer me up.
Seeing the sudden appearance of the little head, Cheng Nanyi instinctively leaned
forward, realizing his miscalculation; he should have sat in his usual spot, the farthest
from the kid.
Cheng Nanyi remained stiff all the way home. As they arrived and Yuanting was about to
dash into the house, Cheng Nanyi called him back.
Turning around, Yuanting said, "What's up? I'm really hungry, time for dinner."
Instead of answering his question, Cheng Nanyi instructed the housekeeper, "Quick, go
give him a bath, he cleaned the toilets today."
Yuanting: "..."
The housekeeper was astonished, "Why would the young master clean toilets?"
"I..." Yuanting started to explain, but before he could speak, Cheng Nanyi added, "And he
might have touched something with his hands..." His face expressed it all, even though his
words were unsaid.
The housekeeper and the nanny both stepped back, their gazes towards Yuanting
changed.
Yuanting: "???" What the hell, why are you spreading rumors?
Ignoring Yuanting's reaction, Cheng Nanyi ascended the stairs, instructing the
housekeeper, "Uncle Liu, make sure he’s thoroughly cleaned. His clothes... just throw
them away, and the shoes too."
Yuanting: "..."
"Understood." The housekeeper stepped forward to grab Yuanting's arm, "Come on,
young master, let’s get you cleaned up."
"I don’t want to!" Yuanting roared, his pride deeply wounded. Did he have no shame?
From the staircase, Cheng Nanyi turned, looking down at him, "What did you say?"
Yuanting looked up, swallowing hard, "I said, I’ll be sparkling clean and smelling good,
brother, don't worry."
The housekeeper sighed, "The two young masters really do have a good relationship."
Author’s note:
One more update to come.
Thank you to the angels who voted for me or provided nutrient fluids from 2023-07-24
18:02:44 to 2023-07-25 22:38:33~
Thanks to the angel who threw deep-water torpedoes: Qu An Naide, 21 of them;
Thank you to the angels who provided nutrient fluids: Origin of the Universe, 16 bottles;
Graceful You, 10 bottles; Soap Pod Rice z, Lonely Swan, 5 bottles; Wakakaka, 3 bottles;
Mountain Chrysanthemum, Ying Nian Xiao Yi, Miss Bunny, huttuu, Cheng Ge Most
Handsome, Wen An wl, 1 bottle each;
I'm truly grateful for everyone’s support and will continue to work hard!
#25 Chapter 25
Chapter 25
This was the cleanest bath Yuanting had ever taken, from his past life to this one; the
housekeeper nearly used a shoe brush on him.
Yuanting's face, flushed and despondent: "Uncle Liu, I really never touched any feces."
"I understand," the housekeeper nodded, giving him a knowing look. "I understand
everything."
Yuanting: "..." You understand nothing.
Also, could you be a bit gentler?
It was too much, simply too much, but even more outrageous was Cheng Nanyi coming to
inspect him after his bath, scrutinizing him from top to bottom, hesitating for a moment
before leaning in to sniff Yuanting, then nodding in satisfaction: "Clean now."
Yuanting glared at him with dead-fish eyes. Do I look even remotely happy to you?
Obsess about cleanliness on your own, why are you fussing over me?
Humph!
After both had bathed, they went downstairs for dinner. Just as they were about to take a
nap, Brother Xiao Zhang walked in, glancing at Cheng Nanyi, hesitating to speak.
"What is it?" Cheng Nanyi asked.
Xiao Zhang touched his nose, glancing at the bright-eyed Yuanting and then at the
housekeeper standing aside.
"Is it about the matter I asked you to investigate?"
Xiao Zhang nodded in affirmation.
"It's fine, go ahead," Cheng Nanyi said, rising from the dining table and settling onto the
sofa.
Xiao Zhang would likely repeat this to the housekeeper anyway, so there was no need to
ask him to leave. They might as well listen openly.
Investigate what?
It must be about the Mo family. Yuanting dashed over and hopped onto the sofa next to
Cheng Nanyi.
Cheng Nanyi shifted slightly, creating a space of about two fist widths.
Yuanting: "!!!" Feeling slighted, are we?
Fine, although it irked him, this ironically achieved what he once wanted: Cheng Nanyi's
aversion.
Xiao Zhang looked at Cheng Nanyi, his expression a mix of emotions, shocked by the
findings.
Cheng Nanyi had asked him to investigate Mo Yikai's father, and the information
provided was quite comprehensive. Yuanting mentioned the woman worked at a jewelry
store, so it was easy to trace.
The woman, Fang Lu, had an easily traceable address. Xiao Zhang had surveilled the place
last night and shockingly saw Mo Yikai's father enter the complex and stay for over three
hours. He hadn't rushed to report, planning to observe a few more days, but today's
findings were even more explosive.
The driver swallowed hard: "He was seen entering and leaving with that woman,
appearing very intimate, and they were holding two children."
"Two children?" Cheng Nanyi paused, perplexed, "Whose children?"
Xiao Zhang's revelation hinted at a scandal involving Mo Yikai's father, a situation that
was evidently more complex than expected.
The butler frowned, looking over. The situation seemed to be getting complicated.
Cheng Nanyi was somewhat confused, still just a ten-year-old, and slow to grasp certain
things.
Xiao Zhang didn't speak, and after a few seconds, Cheng Nanyi repeated his question.
Finally, Xiao Zhang replied slowly, "It's the child of a woman named Fang Lu, three years
old, twins, a boy and a girl."
"I've checked, and this Fang Lu isn’t married, no husband. It’s unclear where these two
children came from."
Cheng Nanyi fell silent. Though young and initially slow to respond, growing up in a
wealthy family, he had seen many instances of illegitimate children. However, he was
reluctant to believe that Mo Yikai's father would do such a thing.
Yuan Ting just smirked, thinking how this life was just like the last, with no change
whatsoever.
Xiao Zhang, observing Cheng Nanyi’s expression, asked quietly, "Should I investigate
more thoroughly?" He had taken photos with his camera, which should be enough to
confirm the affair. A further step would involve paternity testing.
Cheng Nanyi hadn't expected things to turn out this way. If Mo Yikai's father indeed had
illegitimate children, would he bring them home to raise?
What about Mo Yikai?
Or worse, could he abandon Mo Yikai?
Xiao Zhang looked at the butler, who also seemed troubled. He hadn't expected the
situation to be this complex – twins, no less. Mr. Mo certainly had his ways.
"I have photos of the children, and they look like..." Xiao Zhang touched his nose, "quite
similar to Yikai."
Yuan Ting glanced at Cheng Nanyi's expression instinctively.
Cheng Nanyi’s face darkened, and after a long moment, he nodded, "I understand."
As Cheng Nanyi went upstairs and was about to close the door, a little head squeezed in,
clinging to the door frame and looking up, "Brother, what do you think?"
"Think about what?"
"About Brother Yikai's family situation." Yuan Ting wriggled under his arm, sitting down
on the carpet, "Tell me what you think."
The child had taken a bath, making Cheng Nanyi's tolerance for his presence momentarily
bearable.
"We should tell Aunt Zhu," said Cheng Nanyi.
Yuan Ting's eyes widened in surprise. He thought Cheng Nanyi would return to his room
to work on his so-called probabilities, not make such a decisive statement.
Noticing the child's confusion, Cheng Nanyi explained, "It's no longer about preserving a
warm family facade. If those children are indeed Uncle Mo's, it's crucial to secure the
assets. Aunt Zhu and Mo Yikai will suffer great losses if kept in the dark."
"As for whether those children are Uncle Mo’s, only Aunt Zhu can find out. We can’t be
involved anymore." The situation was much more complicated than he initially thought.
Respect flashed in Yuan Ting’s eyes; Cheng Nanyi’s clarity of thought was indeed
frightening.
Worthy of someone who would later be considered a bit twisted.
Unlike him, who had always been so innocent and cute, naive and kind, handsome and
charismatic...
"I support you, brother. When will we tell Aunt Zhu?"
"We'll find an opportunity to talk to Aunt Zhu privately."
"And call Mo Yikai’s aunt as well," Yuan Ting suggested.
"Why?" Cheng Nanyi felt such family matters should involve as few people as possible.
"What if Aunt Zhu considers suicide?"
Cheng Nanyi stared at Yuan Ting, "Why do you always think Aunt Zhu might commit
suicide? She's not that type of person." If Aunt Zhu knew about this, she might be more
likely to confront Uncle Mo aggressively, not resort to suicide.
"Brother, you can never truly know someone," Yuan Ting said, waving his hand
confidently, "Like Dabao’s mom, no one expected her to commit suicide, but she did.
Inviting the pretty sister ensures that whatever Aunt Zhu's reaction, whether suicide or
fury, there will be someone to restrain her, preventing harm to us."
Cheng Nanyi: "..." That made sense.
"Don’t talk about this to anyone else. I need to think more about it. Understand?" Cheng
Nanyi instructed Yuan Ting.
"Got it," the little guy obediently nodded. "I always listen to you, brother." With the
situation having progressed this far, there was no turning back. Decisive action was the
best approach.
Aunt Zhu, if you could live your life over again, you’d want it to change too, right?
The child sat sincerely on the carpet, his face filled with genuine trust. It was a rather
pleasant feeling.
"Alright, go back to sleep."
"Okay." Yuan Ting clambered up from the floor, eyes twinkling mischievously. Suddenly,
he jumped onto the bed, rolling around while exclaiming, "Brother, I smell nice, let me
freshen up your bed... Hahaha..." After rolling, he leaped off and rushed out the door
without even bothering with his slippers.
That’s for making me scrub off a layer of skin, see if I don't annoy you.
Cheng Nanyi: "..."
After staring blankly at the wrinkled bedspread for a while, Cheng Nanyi touched the
sheets with his hand before reluctantly getting into bed with his slippers on.
This was a form of desensitization. He had already held the child's hand; as long as he
didn't conjure certain images, it should be fine.
……
Because of this incident, both Cheng Nanyi and Yuan Ting had been somewhat silent
recently. Cheng Nanyi was constantly buried in a book, whether walking, sitting, or even
in the car.
After several days, Mo Yikai finally nudged Cheng Nanyi with his elbow.
Cheng Nanyi looked up at him.
Mo Yikai didn’t speak but nudged him again.
Cheng Nanyi frowned, "What’s up?"
Mo Yikai breathed a sigh of relief. See, Cheng Nanyi spoke to him first, so he wasn’t being
treated like a dog.
"What are you reading?" Mo Yikai grabbed Cheng Nanyi's book, surprised to see it was
about law, "Why are you reading this?"
"It's interesting," Cheng Nanyi replied, taking back his book to continue reading.
After flipping through a few pages, Cheng Nanyi suddenly turned to Mo Yikai and asked,
"If both your parents fell into the water and neither could swim, who would you choose
to save?"
Yuan Ting immediately turned to look at Mo Yikai.
"Are you nuts? Asking such a cliché question," Mo Yikai scoffed. "It’s supposed to be
about choosing between wife and mother, not parents."
"It's about your parents. Answer me."
"Obviously, I'd save my mom. She takes care of my food and clothes. What does my dad
do? Just gives money," Mo Yikai sighed.
Yuan Ting: "..."
Cheng Nanyi asked again, "What if you and your mom were both in danger and only one
could be saved? Would you save yourself or your mom?"
Mo Yikai turned to him, "Are you feverish? Why ask such weird questions?"
"Answer me."
"Of course, I'd save my mom," Mo Yikai said nonchalantly, waving his hand. "Isn't that
obvious?"
Yuan Ting gave Mo Yikai a thumbs-up: "Brother Yikai, you're such a dutiful son."
Mo Yikai frowned: "Huh??"
Although he spoke the truth, he couldn't shake the feeling that Yuan Ting was mocking
him.
After glaring at Yuan Ting for a while, Mo Yikai narrowed his eyes and turned to Cheng
Nanyi: "If this brat and I fell into the water, who would you save?"
Yuan Ting: "...Seriously? Are you asking this because you're seriously ill or something?"
Mo Yikai stared intently at Cheng Nanyi, his posture screaming, "Dare not to choose me,
and we'll both perish."
Yuan Ting, hating to see him smug, lifted his chin and looked at Cheng Nanyi: "I bet my
brother would save me."
"Hmph," Mo Yikai snorted coldly through his nostrils.
Xiao Zhang sensed the tension in the car, instinctively glancing in the rearview mirror,
and thought, 'Wow, a real battle royal, I love watching this.'
Cheng Nanyi, unfazed by such a nonsensical question, thought for a moment before
saying earnestly: "Whoever gives me five hundred bucks, I'll answer their question."
Mo Yikai: "???"
Yuan Ting: "???"
"You want money to answer a question?" Mo Yikai was utterly flabbergasted.
"Of course," Cheng Nanyi said indifferently, "I'm not obligated to satisfy your curiosity."
"I mean..." Mo Yikai was at a loss for words, "I just answered your question too."
"That was your choice."
"..." Mo Yikai was speechless.
He felt like smacking someone.
Cheng Nanyi scanned both faces and then extended his hand: "So, which of you two wants
to know the answer?"
Yuan Ting curled his lips slightly: "...I don't have money." Not to mention he didn't have
five hundred, even if he did, he couldn't just fork it out. Spending five hundred to hear an
answer, that would be pure stupidity.
"Here." Mo Yikai pulled out five hundred-yuan bills from his wallet and slapped them into
Cheng Nanyi's hand.
Yuan Ting: "!!!” So, the fool was right before his eyes. This money was too easy to earn.
Five hundred was half a month's salary for an ordinary person.
Cheng Nanyi raised an eyebrow, turned his hand, and offered the money to Yuan Ting,
asking him: "Do you want me to answer 'save you,' or do you want this five hundred?"
！！！
Damn! Is this really happening?
"..." Yuan Ting swallowed hard, shakily reached out to grasp the five hundred-yuan bills,
gently pulled them from Cheng Nanyi's hand, quickly crumpled them, and stuffed them
into the deepest part of his backpack. After carefully zipping it up, he shouted at Cheng
Nanyi, "Brother, go ahead and save Brother Yikai. As long as Brother Yikai is safe, I'm
willing to sacrifice myself."
Mo Yikai watched his five hundred yuan disappear into the kid's backpack, completely
speechless.
"Seriously, is he sick? Thinking I'm an easy mark?"
Xiao Zhang: "???" Is that even possible?
Mo Yikai, frustrated: "Cheng—Nan—Yi—"
"Why call me brother? I'll take the fall, don't hurt my brother." Yuan Ting peeked over,
clinging to the seat to look at Cheng Nanyi, his face resolute: "Brother, if Brother Yikai
and I fell off a cliff together, who would you save?"
Then turning to Mo Yikai: "Brother Yikai, do you want to know the answer?"
Again turning to Cheng Nanyi: "Brother, if Brother Yikai and I were trapped under a huge
rock, one under each end, and you could only save one, who would it be?"
And once more to Mo Yikai: "Brother Yikai, do you want to know the answer? Give me
five hundred, thanks!"
Turning again to Cheng Nanyi: "Brother, if Brother Yikai and I were hanging from a tree,
and you could only save one, who would you choose?"
"Brother Yikai..."
"Shut up." Mo Yikai glared at him coldly, "Say one more word and I'll beat you to death."
"Okay then." Yuan Ting zipped his mouth with his hand and turned back to sit down.
Always ready to bend or stretch.
Three minutes later.
"Brother Xiao Zhang, do you want to know who my brother would save if you and I were
caught in a fire?"
Brother Xiao Zhang: "...Not really."
Yuan Ting: "Oh, what a pity. Well, whenever you want to know, just ask me, I'm always
here."
Brother Xiao Zhang: "...Alright then."

Cheng Nanyi: "..."
Author's Note:
This is my first time writing such a slow-paced story, starting from a child's perspective. I
particularly enjoy depicting Yuan Ting's mischievous antics, so some plot developments
may progress slowly. Please bear with me!
Thank you for your support, love you all, muah! Special thanks to the angels who cast
Overlord votes or nourished me with nutrient solutions between 2023-07-25 22:38:33
and 2023-07-26 15:24:06~
Thanks to the angels who cast deep-sea torpedoes: Yu Dian Dian 21; Zhai Niang Niang 11;
Thanks to the angels who cast landmines: Nan Ke 1;
Thanks to the angels who nourished with nutrient solutions: Yu Yu 20 bottles; Aim to
Find a Great Book 10 bottles; Origin of the Universe 6 bottles; Ning Yin, Little Trolley's
Makabaka 5 bottles; Joes, Chang'an City, Lucky 1 bottle;
I'm truly grateful for everyone's support, and I will continue to work hard!
#26 Chapter 26
Chapter 26
After a few days of studying law books, Cheng Nanyi welcomed Saturday.
During breakfast, Cheng Shaolin suggested that he, Shu Zhilan, Yuan Ting, and Cheng
Nanyi should all go to the amusement park together.
"No, thanks." Yuan Ting shook his head. "My brother and I have something to do today."
Upon hearing this, Shu Zhilan immediately looked up. What could he and Cheng Nanyi
possibly need to do together? She hoped they weren't getting into trouble again; she
really had enough of it.
"We're going to a bookstore to buy books," Cheng Nanyi said.
"The bookstore isn't as fun as the amusement park. We're free today anyway, so let's go
to the park first and then the bookstore," Cheng Shaolin suggested.
"No need," Cheng Nanyi shook his head. "Uncle, you and Auntie should go on a date. I'll
take care of Yuan Ting."
Shu Zhilan hurriedly said, "He can be quite a handful. It's better not to trouble you with
it."
"It's no trouble," Cheng Nanyi said coolly.
Before Shu Zhilan could respond, the grandfather interrupted, "Let the kids go together.
Don't worry, Nanyi will take good care of Ting."
With the grandfather speaking up, Shu Zhilan reluctantly agreed, "Then, I'll have to
trouble you, Nanyi."
Before leaving, Shu Zhilan cautioned Yuan Ting repeatedly, "Don't make your brother
angry, no mischief, no stirring up trouble, or else..."
"I know, or else you'll send me back to grandma's, right? I get it. So, mom, can you give me
five hundred yuan? I want to buy something."
"What do you need five hundred yuan for?" Shu Zhilan handed Yuan Ting one hundred
yuan.
Yuan Ting: "..." A lady of such a grand household only giving a hundred yuan, not even as
generous as Mo Yikai.
But even a fly's leg is meat; as long as it's money, he won't despise it.
Yuan Ting arrived at the car with his bulging backpack, Cheng Nanyi already waiting.
Seeing the backpack, he frowned, "What have you got in there, a plank of wood?"
"Of course not," Yuan Ting said mysteriously, "It's something good, rest assured, it'll come
in handy."
He and Cheng Nanyi had already made a plan: to confront Aunt Zhu today, choosing her
clothing store as the location.
"Let's go," Yuan Ting gestured grandly, like a warrior setting off to battle.
Xiao Zhang started the car and drove off. Throughout the journey, Cheng Nanyi remained
silent, appearing to be in a somber mood.
Cheng Nanyi's face rarely betrayed his emotions, but Yuan Ting, having lived with him in
his previous life, understood him too well. Moreover, the current Cheng Nanyi was only
ten, not quite adept at managing his emotions yet.
After some thought, Yuan Ting asked softly, "Brother, what if Brother Yikai gets angry
with you over this?"
Mo Yikai, also just a teenager, could very well misdirect his anger towards Cheng Nanyi
due to the upheaval in his family.
Yuan Ting understood this feeling all too well. 'I do not kill Boren, but Boren died because
of me.' In his past life, there was something similar between him and Cheng Nanyi.
"The likelihood of him getting angry with me is as high as seventy percent," Cheng Nanyi
said.
As expected, Cheng Nanyi had already considered this.
"Knowing that, you still want to do it?" Yuan Ting asked quietly.
"Of course," Cheng Nanyi replied without hesitation.
Sigh…
Looking at the still youthful boy in front of him, Yuan Ting couldn't help but feel moved,
thinking that those who follow him in the future are bound to be utterly devoted.
If it were him, he too would find it hard not to be swayed by such a charismatic
personality.
Unfortunately, in this life, he and Cheng Nanyi were destined not to walk side by side, as
Grandfather had hoped.
While Yuan Ting was lost in these thoughts, he heard Cheng Nanyi continue, "If Mo Yikai
really breaks off our friendship over this, that's fine too. After all, 'Those who do not
share the same values cannot work together.'"
Yuan Ting: "..."
Never attempt to fully comprehend the mindset of a 'pervert'.
The car stopped at the intersection of the commercial street, and Yuan Ting and Cheng
Nanyi got out. Cheng Nanyi took Yuan Ting's hand, saying, "It's crowded here, stay close
to me and don’t get lost."
This street mainly sold clothes and shoes. Cheng Nanyi had already had Xiao Zhang find
out that Aunt Zhu's shop was on this street, a two-story building with the shop on the
first floor and living quarters on the second.
Aunt Zhu was currently single, without a boyfriend, wholly devoted to her business,
living at the shop, with Grandma Zhu occasionally helping out.
The shop was easy to locate, named Yue Qiang Women's Clothing.
Cheng Nanyi, holding Yuan Ting's hand, entered the store, where Aunt Zhu was attending
to customers, looking somewhat surprised to see them.
"Hello, pretty sister," Yuan Ting greeted her proactively.
"Ah, little curly hair, what are you doing here?" Aunt Zhu, seeing only Cheng Nanyi and
Yuan Ting, asked, “Where’s your daredevil brother? Isn’t he with you?"
Yuan Ting's expression cracked a bit, 'Auntie, that's your own nephew, please be a bit
more respectful.'
"Yikai didn’t come. I brought my little brother out today. Can we rest here for a while,
Auntie?" asked Cheng Nanyi.
"Of course, you can. Feel free to rest."
Aunt Zhu arranged for them to sit on a small sofa in the corner, bringing them juice, cut
fruit, and a lot of snacks before returning to her busy work.
Aunt Zhu seemed quite busy at the moment, with the shop appearing full of regular
customers, chatting amicably with her. There was another staff member in the store, both
seemingly overwhelmed with work.
Taking advantage of Aunt Zhu's busyness, Yuan Ting ran over, tugging at her sleeve and
shaking it: “Sister, can I use your phone to make a call, please?”
Aunt Zhu handed over her phone to Yuan Ting without hesitation.
With the phone in hand, Yuan Ting ran to a corner and dialed Aunt Zhu's number.
Cheng Nanyi had copied Aunt Zhu's phone number from the butler. Upon entering it, the
name displayed on Aunt Zhu's phone was: 'Tigress!'
Yuan Ting: "..." Clearly, the two were like fire and water.
Yuan Ting dialed the number, and the call was quickly answered, but Aunt Zhu's tone was
not pleasant: "What is it?"
"Auntie, it's Yuan Ting."
"Yuan Ting?" Aunt Zhu sounded very surprised, "Why are you calling?"
"My brother and I were out shopping and just happened to be in the beautiful sister's
store. She accidentally fell off a shelf. You should come quickly."
"Fell off?" Aunt Zhu's voice immediately became anxious, "Is it serious? Did you call an
ambulance?"
"It's not serious, not serious..." Yuan Ting hurriedly replied, "The beautiful sister said not
to tell Grandma... You should come and see for yourself."
"Okay, you guys wait there, don’t panic, I’m coming right away."
After hanging up, Yuan Ting breathed a sigh of relief.
Twenty minutes later, Aunt Zhu hurried into Aunt Zhu's clothing store, causing Aunt Zhu
to freeze in surprise upon seeing her.
She had been running the store for five or six years, and Aunt Zhu had never set foot in it
before.
The usually quick-witted Aunt Zhu found herself at a loss for words for a moment.
"Weren’t you the one who fell?" Aunt Zhu scrutinized her, her brows deeply furrowed.
"Who fell?" Aunt Zhu was also confused, "Are you cursing me?"
Aunt Zhu: "..."
"Me." A small arm raised beside them, "I made the call, saying the beautiful sister had
fallen."
Both Aunt Zhu and Aunt Zhu turned to look.
Cheng Nanyi, standing next to Yuan Ting, looked at Aunt Zhu: "Auntie, I have something
to say to you. Sorry for arranging this meeting in such a manner."
Aunt Zhu, confused, handed over the shop to an employee and led the group upstairs.
Yuan Ting gestured to Xiao Zhang outside to come up too, fearing that Aunt Zhu alone
might not be able to handle the situation. People prone to suicidal tendencies can become
extremely emotional, so it was better to be doubly sure.
The second floor had a separate reception room. The group settled inside, with Xiao
Zhang standing guard at the door.
Aunt Zhu's questions were almost visibly emanating from her. She couldn't fathom what
Cheng Nanyi and Yuan Ting could want by tricking her into coming. With any other child,
she would have taken it as a joke, but Cheng Nanyi was different. Though only ten, he was
as composed as an adult, and she couldn't treat him as just a regular child.
"Nanyi, what do you need to talk to me about? Did Yikai get into trouble?" That was the
only thing Aunt Zhu could think of. "Is he in an early relationship?"
"It's not about Yikai." Cheng Nanyi looked at Aunt Zhu, who had rushed out without even
time for makeup, pondering how to broach the topic, how to be considerate of her
feelings, and how to soften the blow of his words.
After half a minute of contemplation, Cheng Nanyi gave up. Sorry, he really wasn't good at
this.
Might as well be direct, save time and effort.
So, Cheng Nanyi pulled out a stack of photos from his backpack and placed them in front
of Aunt Zhu.
Aunt Zhu picked them up, puzzled, while Aunt Zhu also curiously took a few to look at.
The photos were very clear. The man and woman Aunt Zhu recognized: one was her
husband, and the other a clerk from the jewelry store she often visited. Their intimate
posture in the same photo spoke volumes without words.
Aunt Zhu's pace of flipping through the photos increased, her face growing increasingly
grim, until her hands were trembling.
"This woman's name is Fang Lu. She has no husband but two children, twins, three years
old this year."
Cheng Nanyi spoke slowly: "Yuan Ting saw Uncle Mo and this Fang Lu being intimate in
your house last time, so…"
"I thought I should tell you. Please forgive me if this offends you."
Having said his piece, Cheng Nanyi fell silent.
With a loud "smack," Aunt Zhu slammed the photos down and rose from her seat in fury:
"Damn him, I'll kill him! These two kids are obviously Mo Zhaohua's illegitimate children.
He dares to do such a thing, as if he wants to die."
Aunt Zhu was steaming with anger, speaking incoherently, her head spinning: "Where’s
my knife? Right, in the kitchen. I’m going to chop that bastard to pieces."
As Aunt Zhu moved to storm out, Aunt Zhu finally spoke up: "What does this have to do
with you?"
Aunt Zhu stopped in her tracks, incredulously turning to Aunt Zhu: "What did you say?"
Aunt Zhu was eerily calm, her hands which trembled while viewing the photos now
emotionless.
Not only did she gather all the photos into her bag, but she also thanked Cheng Nanyi:
"Nanyi, thank you, but I hope you can keep this matter confidential for me for now."
"Confidential?" Aunt Zhu took a deep breath, "Zhuyan Hong, you're not planning to
protect that dead man after being betrayed like this, are you?"
"Mind your own business. Don’t meddle in my affairs," Aunt Zhu retorted irritably.
"Me, meddle?" Aunt Zhu was so angry she could barely breathe, pointing to her nose, "Me,
me, me... Fine, I won’t argue with you. We can’t communicate anyway. Think whatever
you want, do whatever you like, but I will kill that man today, and it has nothing to do
with you. Stay out of it."
"Zhuyan Hong!" Aunt Zhu was exasperated, glaring at her, "What does this have to do
with you?"
"I've told you I changed my name. I'm not Zhuyan Yan anymore, I'm Zhu Yueqiang. Don't
call me Yan Yan; it sounds terrible." Aunt Zhu, ignoring her, headed for the door. "Today
it's him or me. No one should interfere. If anyone tries, I'll cut them down. They think
they can cross me and live? I'll show them what it means to court death."
Aunt Zhu became frantic, getting up to chase after her: "Zhuyan Yan, come back here!"
Cheng Nanyi was stunned. This wasn't going as he had planned. He had so much more to
say, like about the company issues, division of assets, transfer of property, custody of the
children, and how to reclaim the shared property given to the mistress...
But what was happening now?
Cheng Nanyi: "Aunts... ah?"
Aunt Zhu, stumbling inexplicably, fell right onto Aunt Zhu. They both tumbled against the
wall, with Aunt Zhu letting out a cry of pain.
Only then did Cheng Nanyi notice that someone had tied a rope around Aunt Zhu's ankle,
the other end fastened to a table leg.
Yuan Ting, who had been silent as if he had vanished into thin air, crawled out from
under the table and yelled: "Brother Xiao Zhang…"
Xiao Zhang, who had been on standby outside, rushed in.
"Brother Xiao Zhang, quick, tie them up?" The situation had exceeded his expectations.
Xiao Zhang: "???" What, what did he just hear?
Tie them up?
Is this turning into a kidnapping?
Yuan Ting threw two bundles of rope from his backpack: "Quick, quick, quick, tie them up
first, we'll talk later."
Xiao Zhang looked at Cheng Nanyi, who, unsure how to react, could only silently nod.
Xiao Zhang rolled up his sleeves, thinking, well, let's tie them up.
Aunt Zhu herself was stunned, not knowing when her ankle had been tied with rope, nor
understanding why Yuan Ting would do such a thing. However, assuming no harm would
come from the children and overwhelmed with distress by her lover's betrayal and her
sister's antics, she resignedly allowed Yuan Ting and Cheng Nanyi to wrap the rope
around her and tie her to a chair.
Meanwhile, Aunt Zhu, now Zhu Yueqiang, fiercely resisted Xiao Zhang, who exerted
considerable effort to finally secure her. Panting heavily after the ordeal, Xiao Zhang
reflected on how being a driver these days was not an easy task.
Yuan Ting, hands on hips and panting, glared at Zhu Yueqiang.
Yueqiang, the more she struggled, the stronger she seemed! Truly formidable!
Yuan Ting couldn't believe it. He had planned everything, even the preemptive move of
hiding under the table to tie up Aunt Zhu, fearing she might escape and cause
uncontrollable chaos. But he never anticipated the real "troublemaker" would be Zhu
Yueqiang, with her unpredictable emotions...
Where could he even begin to reason this out?
Finally, calming down, Yuan Ting said wearily, "Aunts, can we please calm down for a
moment?" Comrade Zhu Yueqiang, I urge you not to lose my trust.
Aunt Zhu spoke tiredly, "Nanyi, Ting, don’t worry, I’m calm. I know you’re doing this for
my best."
Zhu Yueqiang, teeth clenched and eyes red with fury, retorted: "Calm down, my foot! Who
could stay calm in this situation? Certainly not me. Let me go, I'll kill him."
“……”
Yuan Ting felt like he was choking on his frustration. What a mess!
Author's Note:
Special thanks to the angels who voted for me with Overlord votes or nourished me with
nutrient solutions between 2023-07-26 15:24:06 and 2023-07-27 14:33:39~
Thanks to the angels who nourished with nutrient solutions: Chenwu Jingmian, Origin of
the Universe 10 bottles; Bai Mu Sheng 8 bottles; 67967640 3 bottles; Chen Jin Ru Juan 2
bottles; Joes, Chalupian Ansheng, Wakaka, Wo Boluoxiue, Xiao Man, Song Ci 1 bottle each;
I’m truly grateful for everyone’s support and will continue to work hard!
#27 Chapter 27
Chapter 27
With Xiao Zhang's help, the three of them moved Aunt Zhu out of the reception room.
Xiao Zhang then went back to watch over Aunt Zhu, while Yuan Ting and Cheng Nanyi
confronted Aunt Zhu directly.
The scene looked disturbingly like a kidnapping or extortion.
Yuan Ting sighed wearily.
Aunt Zhu looked at them expressionlessly: "What exactly are you trying to do?"
"Are you planning to find Uncle Mo to inform him that you know about his affair, so he
can prepare himself?" Cheng Nanyi asked bluntly.
Yuan Ting felt like applauding. Look how clear-headed our ten-year-old young master is.
Couldn't you, a twenty-six-year-old adult, be more rational?
There was a moment of silence in the room before Aunt Zhu seemed to have an epiphany.
After a long pause, she said dismissively, "She probably already knows and just wants to
continue living with him like this."
'She' obviously referred to Aunt Zhu.
Before Yuan Ting and Cheng Nanyi could respond, Aunt Zhu nodded at them: "Okay, I get
it. Now untie me."
Yuan Ting, now having almost zero trust in her, asked warily, "What do you get?"
"You kids wouldn’t understand even if I told you."
"How would I not understand?" Yuan Ting glared. "You, a person who’s emotionally
unstable and ready to wield a knife, have the nerve to say we don’t understand. Where do
you get the audacity?"
Aunt Zhu, seemingly growing angrier the more she thought about it, said through gritted
teeth, "First, we keep quiet. We need to verify if the photos you took are real. If that
bastard really fathered two children outside, we need to gather evidence, find a lawyer,
and ideally leave him with nothing."
Yuan Ting breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed her mind was indeed clear now.
Cheng Nanyi nodded in agreement. This was the real issue at hand.
Aunt Zhu snorted coldly, "After all this is done, then I'll go kill him."
Yuan Ting: "..."
He was starting to believe that the fire in his past life might have been Aunt Zhu's doing.
Yuan Ting walked over and crouched beside her, looking at her earnestly, "Beautiful
sister, what if Aunt Zhu attempts suicide?"
"What?" Aunt Zhu was stunned again, "Suicide?"
"Have you forgotten what I told you about Da Bao's mom in my grandma's village?" Yuan
Ting's face was full of expression, "What if Aunt Zhu can't cope?"
Aunt Zhu's brows furrowed immediately. She had received too much shocking news
today, preoccupied with thoughts of revenge, and hadn't considered this aspect.
Any woman whose husband has fathered two children with another woman would be
devastated. Suicide was not impossible, especially for a woman wholly devoted to her
family.
Therefore, Aunt Zhu found Yuan Ting's point very sensible.
Aunt Zhu grimly said, "Thank you for the reminder. I’ll keep an eye on her."
Yuan Ting felt much relieved; Aunt Zhu seemed much more reliable now.
"My brother said just lock her up and tie her down, she'll be fine after this period passes."
Cheng Nanyi: "???" I said that?
Alright, he did say it, but he hadn't expected the kid to actually go through with it, coming
prepared with rope in his backpack.
"Uh..." Aunt Zhu didn't expect such a blunt suggestion from a child. Lock up? Tie down?
This isn't how you treat animals, is it?
However…
Aunt Zhu glanced towards the room. Actually, it seemed like a good idea, mainly because
it was worry-free and effortless. Maybe even gag her, just provide some food and drink.
Cheng Nanyi, seeing they were seriously considering it: "Actually, it's not necessary to go
to such lengths. Just ensuring someone is always with Aunt Zhu to prevent her from
doing something foolish should suffice."
"No, she needs to be tied up." Seeing that Aunt Zhu’s emotions had stabilized and she no
longer seemed on the verge of violence, Yuan Ting went to untie her. "Better safe than
sorry. What if you can’t watch her and she jumps out a window? What if you fall asleep
and she cuts her wrists? Or what if she drinks a bottle of pesticide? Or overdoses on
sleeping pills, tries carbon monoxide poisoning, slits her throat, cuts an artery…"
Aunt Zhu listened, stunned, no longer wondering how a child knew so much, her mind
overwhelmed by Yuan Ting's relentless stream of possibilities.
In her heart, her sister was very fragile, often breaking into tears.
They had argued so many times, but never satisfactorily, because her sister would start
crying in the middle of it…
After getting married and having children, her sister lived the life of a wealthy housewife,
pampered by her husband, her world revolving around him and the kids. Now, with
everything changed, she surely couldn't handle it.
Aunt Zhu sat motionless in her chair, her brow furrowed in deep thought, clearly
processing everything.
Satisfied that she wouldn't cause any trouble, Yuan Ting then turned and went into the
reception room.
Aunt Zhu sat in the chair, staring blankly out the window, her gaze hollow and unfocused,
as if her soul had been drained.
Yuan Ting slowly walked over and sat down beside her leg, gently calling out, "Auntie."
From the beginning, he wasn't sure if his approach was right. Seeing Aunt Zhu in this
state, he felt even more uneasy. If his actions caused irreparable regret, he wouldn't be
able to bear it either.
Hearing the child's voice, Aunt Zhu turned her face, her eyes focusing, and she even
managed a slight smile for Yuan Ting, "Good child, come, untie your aunt."
"Auntie, are you feeling really heartbroken?"
Aunt Zhu gave a bitter smile: "Not too much, I’m somewhat okay."
Yuan Ting: "..."
That's it, she's definitely overly shocked. She hasn’t shed a tear, which isn't a good sign.
Could she be so devastated she's contemplating suicide?
Yuan Ting observed her expression, unsure of what to say. If she was truly so stricken
that she harbored thoughts of dying, then saying anything would be futile. So... better to
keep her tied up for now.
"Auntie..." Yuan Ting looked up at her, his eyes welling up, "Please don’t lose hope."
Having a second chance at life, he wanted everyone to be alright.
Aunt Zhu was the first person he tried to change.
Aunt Zhu looked down at Yuan Ting, and though she wasn’t sure if it was her imagination,
she thought she saw a look of pity and pleading in the eyes of the seven-year-old child.
Aunt Zhu's voice softened unconsciously: "Ting, I haven’t lost hope, I’m very lucid. Please,
let me go, I have a lot to do."
Of course, Yuan Ting wouldn’t let her go. After all, in his past life, blood had flowed down
the hallway. He couldn’t simply release her on her word alone.
Seeing that Yuan Ting wouldn’t listen, Aunt Zhu called out towards the door: "Zhuyan
Yan."
No response.
Aunt Zhu took a deep breath: "Zhu Yueqiang."
Aunt Zhu walked in, their eyes meeting. Aunt Zhu moved her arms slightly, "Let me go."
Aunt Zhu stood there, now completely calm: "I think you should stay here and reflect for
a while. I'm going to investigate Mo Zhaohua's affair. But these kids haven't lied to you, so
it's highly likely that this is true. You need to be mentally prepared."
"My advice is to get a divorce. I know you might want to continue with him, considering
your traditional views on marriage and the belief that men's infidelity is natural. But,
Zhuyan Hong, he has fathered children outside. He could leave you and your child any
time. You need to divorce him and secure your finances... I'll talk more about this later.
For now, you should cry. I know you must want to."
Yuan Ting: "..." Auntie, I'm relieved you haven't let me down.
After hearing Aunt Zhu's words, Aunt Zhu remained speechless for a long time, finally
taking a deep breath, turning away and refusing to look at her, not wanting to say a word.
She wanted to find a quiet place to think things through, but being tied up, she couldn’t go
anywhere. It was truly frustrating. She knew her sister too well – a stubborn person who,
once decided on something, couldn’t be swayed.
Seeing her sister finally calm, Aunt Zhu turned to Yuan Ting and Cheng Nanyi: "Thank you
both for today. Please keep this confidential until the matter is resolved, especially from
that shit-eating brother of yours, Mo Yikai. Can you do that?"
Yuan Ting nodded; if the shit-eating brother knew, they might end up having to tie
another person up.
Aunt Zhu then sat down and began making phone calls to several people, including Da
Bing, Xiao Jiang, and more, rallying her forces.
Aunt Zhu couldn't help but protest: "Don't make such a big fuss."
"Relax, these guys are all my good brothers." After lighting a slim cigarette, Aunt Zhu
continued, "Whether you want to continue with him or divorce, the first step is to gather
evidence against Mo Zhaohua while he's unaware, to gain the upper hand. Zhuyan Hong,
don’t expect a man to weep and beg for forgiveness. Wake up."
Aunt Zhu closed her eyes, too overwhelmed to speak further, leaving it to her.
Cheng Nanyi patted Yuan Ting's head: "Alright, let’s go." They had informed Aunt Zhu of
the situation; it wasn’t their place to intervene further.
"Ah, we're leaving just like that?" Yuan Ting wrinkled his nose. He felt Aunt Zhu's state
was off, but he hadn’t seen her before her suicide in his past life, so he didn't know what
led her to that decision. He worried Aunt Zhu might not watch her properly.
But he couldn’t monitor her day and night. What a headache.
Seeing Yuan Ting reluctant to leave, Cheng Nanyi crouched down to his level: "Are you
that worried Aunt Zhu might commit suicide?" In Cheng Nanyi's view, Aunt Zhu didn’t
seem like someone contemplating suicide.
Yuan Ting hesitated for a moment, then nodded while fiddling with his fingers, "Brother,
I'm scared."
Cheng Nanyi, recalling Yuan Ting's frequent mentions of the Da Bao's mom incident, felt
that the child might be traumatized, making him especially sensitive.
Observing the worried expression on the little guy’s face, after a moment of silence,
Cheng Nanyi called out, "Brother Xiao Zhang."
Xiao Zhang, who had been observing everything, approached upon hearing his name and
suggested, "Young master, I have a fellow disciple who is skilled in martial arts. How
about asking her to stay with Mrs. Mo for a few days?" Although Xiao Zhang was a driver,
the Cheng family required more than just driving skills when hiring, especially since he
transported three children to and from school every day.
"Is she reliable?" Cheng Nanyi asked.
"Very reliable," Xiao Zhang could guarantee that.
"Okay," Cheng Nanyi nodded, "Have her come over."
After speaking, Cheng Nanyi turned to the young boy and gently said, "I’ll have someone
watch over Aunt Zhu. Will that make you feel better, alright?"
Yuan Ting looked at Cheng Nanyi, his eyes almost sparkling with admiration. Young
master, you're my hero!
"Thank you, brother," Yuan Ting expressed his gratitude sincerely.
Xiao Zhang made the call, and the disciple arrived promptly.
A young woman in her twenties, tall and with a cool demeanor, Yuan Ting felt reassured
the moment he saw her.
Her name was Ning Wan, and she had a brother who had a son named Ning Yang, who
should be over two years old by now.
Yuan Ting had met Ning Wan a few times and wasn't very familiar with her, but he knew
Ning Yang quite well.
That was because, in his past life, the pesky boy had been responsible for watching over
Yuan Ting, serving as Cheng Nanyi's fiercely loyal bodyguard.
Yuan Ting often resented Ning Yang for secretly drinking his iced Coke.
The arrival of Ning Wan relieved some of the pressure on Aunt Zhu. There were only
three women in the Zhu family, and they couldn't tell Grandma Zhu about this matter, as
she might end up confronting Mo Zhaohua in a deadly encounter. Ning Wan was just the
person needed to keep an eye on Aunt Zhu.
"Thank you, Young Master Cheng," Aunt Zhu expressed her trust in the person Cheng
Nanyi had brought.
"You're welcome," Cheng Nanyi said. "Auntie, Ning Wan will only be responsible for Aunt
Zhu's safety. She won’t interfere in other matters or say a word more than necessary. You
can rest assured. And don’t forget to pay her."
Aunt Zhu: "..."
Yuan Ting: "..."
Aunt Zhu, a bit exasperated: "I know, she won't be shortchanged, don’t worry."
With Ning Wan there, Yuan Ting finally felt completely relieved.
In his past life, Ning Wan had run a bodyguard company, and Ning Yang had learned all
his skills from her. Ning Yang had been so vigilant in guarding Yuan Ting that he felt
suffocated, like a shadow he couldn’t shake off. The memory still made Yuan Ting’s teeth
itch with irritation.
He hoped Aunt Zhu would be equally well-guarded.
……
On the ride back, Yuan Ting sat close to Cheng Nanyi.
Cheng Nanyi touched Yuan Ting's hand, feeling its coldness.
Glancing at the sun outside the window, Cheng Nanyi frowned slightly.
Yuan Ting clutched Cheng Nanyi's clothes. Although in his past life, he and Cheng Nanyi
had caused a lot of chaos, he still found comfort and tranquility in Cheng Nanyi's
presence during moments of anxiety and helplessness.
He had done all he could, hoping that the wheels of fate would look favorably upon Aunt
Zhu.
It was the weekend, and the grandfather was at home. He glanced at the two boys upon
their return but didn’t say anything.
However, Cheng Nanyi and Yuan Ting knew that their grandfather was certainly aware of
what they had done.
"Let's eat," said the grandfather.
After having a meal with their grandfather, he reminded Cheng Nanyi, "Don’t forget your
calligraphy practice."
Aside from his regular punishments, Cheng Nanyi also had a weekly task of practicing
calligraphy.
Yuan Ting thought to himself, that’s tough.
"Let Yuan Ting start practicing with you from today," the grandfather added.
Yuan Ting's face fell, not wanting to do it. He didn’t want to write.
"Calligraphy helps to calm and steady the mind. It’s time for Ting to start learning some
discipline."
Yuan Ting: "..." Was this because he was too unruly?
Usually, Yuan Ting would throw a tantrum in front of his grandfather to gain some
sympathy, but he was too drained today to put up such an act, so he silently accepted the
task.
The grandfather nodded in approval, finding the boy noisy yet smart and clever.
The grandfather's intention was for them both to write and calm their minds, but the
butler misunderstood, taking Yuan Ting to Cheng Nanyi's study to practice calligraphy
together.
Seeing Yuan Ting standing at the doorway of the study with an innocent expression,
Cheng Nanyi ultimately didn’t refuse and let him into his study by default.
The grandfather, surprised to hear that the butler had sent someone to Cheng Nanyi's
study, asked, "Nanyi agreed?"
"He did," the butler replied cheerfully. "I've always said, the young master is very fond of
the little master." Cheng Nanyi's study, a space more private than even his bedroom, was
off-limits to everyone but the grandfather. Cheng Nanyi himself cleaned it, not allowing
anyone else to enter.
While others could enter his bedroom, the study was a different matter.
The butler had only tried his luck and hadn't expected Cheng Nanyi to agree.
Indeed, the young master had been lacking childhood companions.
The grandfather mused with emotion, "That's good, very good."

"The young master was too serious before. Now, with the little master around, he's
gained a bit of youthful spirit."
The grandfather sighed helplessly.
He had two sons: the elder one was carefree and uninterested in business affairs, while
the younger one was talented but had passed away early. The huge family business had
ultimately fallen into the hands of his grandson.
Nanyi was promising, both intelligent and steady. The grandfather was both happy and
sad about this. The child had grown up without his parents, lacking a certain childhood
innocence. Plus, he had been strict with him, making the boy seem more mature than
even his uncles at times.
He worried that Nanyi might resent him for not providing a happier childhood.
Now, Yuan Ting's arrival seemed to fill the void he couldn't.
There were two desks in Cheng Nanyi's study: one with a computer and the other for
reading and writing.
Yuan Ting was well-acquainted with Cheng Nanyi's study.
Cheng Nanyi's study was a forbidden area in the Cheng household. Previously the study
of Cheng Nanyi's father, it became Cheng Nanyi's own space, where even Cheng Shaolin,
the grandfather, was not permitted to enter.
In his past life, Yuan Ting had never entered it, always obediently respecting the rules.
It wasn’t until Cheng Nanyi was preparing to go abroad for high school that he
unexpectedly asked Yuan Ting to clean his study, granting Yuan Ting his first entry into
the room.
Reentering the study now, Yuan Ting suddenly realized that Cheng Nanyi's attentive care
for him while he was abroad might have been because he had cleaned his study for three
years.
Cheng Nanyi set up the ink and brushes, and Yuan Ting instinctively picked up the ink
stick to grind ink for him.
He only wanted to be a little book boy, not interested in writing.
Cheng Nanyi glanced at him. The child was resting his chin in his hands, looking
distracted. Since returning, he had been listless, hardly eating anything at dinner,
seeming preoccupied.
Cheng Nanyi observed him for a few seconds, then pushed the ink stick towards Yuan
Ting: “You can help me disinfect it.”
Yuan Ting paused, surprised.
？？？？
What? What did he just hear?
Yuan Ting was completely stunned, wondering if he had misheard.
"...Brother, what did you say?" What did Cheng Nanyi want him to do? Disinfect the ink
stick?
Was this a task meant for humans?
"Disinfect it. Your saliva has disinfectant properties, right? So, why not disinfect my ink
stick as well?"
“……”
Despite being internally shocked beyond belief, Yuan Ting managed to keep a composed
expression, tilting his head in confusion: "Why do we need to disinfect this, brother?"
"Because..." Cheng Nanyi said seriously, "This kind of ink harbors bacteria, and the
characters written with it can be eaten by bugs. So, it needs to be disinfected to ensure
that the writing lasts for thousands of years without being damaged by insects."
"Damn," Yuan Ting thought to himself in disbelief: Is Cheng Nanyi trying to fool a child
here?
While inwardly cursing, Yuan Ting pouted, "Then, brother, you could also use your saliva
to disinfect it..."
"That won't work," Cheng Nanyi shook his head, "Your mother might not have told you,
but only the saliva of a child your age is effective..."
Pausing for a moment, Cheng Nanyi added, "Yuan Ting is very powerful... oh."
Yuan Ting: "..."
"I really want to smack you right now," he thought. "Still 'oh'? If you can’t handle it, don’t
play along. You’re stretching it too far."
The early autumn breeze blew through the window, scattering papers on the desk. The
youth sat behind the desk, his eyes and brows cool and detached.
No one would believe he was engaging in such a deceptive act.
And the child standing opposite him, hands propped on the desk, appeared confused and
a bit naive.
Yuan Ting blinked, hesitating between shattering or maintaining his persona.
Although he and Cheng Nanyi both knew the truth about the saliva issue, they had never
openly acknowledged it. So, he had to continue playing the fool. He couldn’t expose
himself when Cheng Nanyi wasn’t calling him out, right?
It’s forgivable to be a victim of circumstance, but self-inflicted troubles are beyond

redemption...
Cheng Nanyi watched Yuan Ting's changing expressions with amusement.
The child wasn’t foolish, but rather cunningly clever. He was just trying to tease him a
little.
Then, Cheng Nanyi watched as Yuan Ting picked up the ink stick and, extending his
tongue, licked it.
Cheng Nanyi, holding his brush, stood gaping, his expression slowly turning into a
bewildered smile, reminiscent of the first time he saw Yuan Ting swallow saliva.
#28 Chapter 28
Chapter 28
What does an ink stick taste like?
With his tongue blackened with ink, Yuan Ting mumbled to Cheng Nanyi, "Brother,
what's written in books is deceptive. The taste of ink... it's not fragrant at all, it's foul."
Today, he had truly sacrificed himself for literature... Ugh...
Cheng Nanyi stumbled backward several steps, leaning against the bookshelf. A globe on
the shelf fell to the floor with a loud clang.
Yuan Ting, seeing his reaction, thought disdainfully: What, you can dish it out but can't
take it?
Trying to play these games with me? Kid, you're still too green.
In this life, I'm all about following my whims. You're no match for me.
Moreover... Yuan Ting glanced at the ink stick, thinking Cheng Nanyi wouldn’t want it
anymore. Cheng Nanyi used only high-quality ink, which could be sold second-hand for a
good price. The inkstone was even more valuable. Yuan Ting pondered whether he
should just go all out and lick the inkstone too.
Before he could act, Cheng Nanyi had already opened the door of the study and called out,
"Uncle Liu."
When Yuan Ting was being dragged to the bathroom by the butler, he hadn’t grasped the
severity of the situation.
It was only when his mouth was forced open for brushing that he began to feel utterly
despondent. What had he done wrong?
What exactly had he done wrong!!!
Cheng Nanyi stood at a distance, frowning, "Uncle Liu, give it a few more brushes."
"Alright," the butler said as he brushed, sounding resigned, "Young Master, why do you
put everything in your mouth? That ink isn't edible, you know?"
Yuan Ting, his mouth full of foam: "Hrrmph, hrrmph..." Did I want to eat that? It was
Cheng Nanyi who tricked me into it.
"From now on, don't just eat anything you find. Tell me if you want something."
Yuan Ting, still struggling with the foam: "Mrrmph, mrrmph..." Can you be gentler? I just
licked the ink, I didn’t eat dirt. You’re brushing so hard, my teeth might fall out.
"Don't worry, Young Master, we’ll be done soon," the butler chattered on, "Eating ink, of
all things... Maybe you're lacking some nutrients. Shall we see a doctor about it?"
Yuan Ting: "..." You really have quite the imagination.
Yuan Ting glanced at Cheng Nanyi through the mirror, noticing him deep in thought.
Clearly, he was considering the butler's suggestion and finally nodded, "Alright, let's
make an appointment. And while we’re at it, let's test him for..."
Yuan Ting instinctively felt uneasy, hearing Cheng Nanyi hesitate before adding, "Test his
IQ."
Yuan Ting's eyes widened in shock.
！！！！
What? What did he just hear? An IQ test?
Yuan Ting's expression fell apart. He could tolerate anything but having his intelligence
questioned.
What’s wrong with his IQ?
He wanted to know, what’s wrong with his IQ???
Yuan Ting forcefully pulled away from the butler and turned, glaring furiously at Cheng
Nanyi, "Are you saying I'm stupid?"
"I didn't mean that," Cheng Nanyi reflexively denied.
"You did, you just did. I heard you say 'IQ' clearly," Yuan Ting fumed, his little face full of
anger, "I tried to make you happy, and you insult my intelligence."
"Hmph." Yuan Ting grew more indignant as he spoke, turning on the tap to gulp down
water, then spun around and sprayed it towards Cheng Nanyi's feet.
Forget it, let it all be ruined.

Cheng Nanyi instinctively dodged backward, but his feet still got splashed. The butler
froze with a grimace, thinking, 'The young master is going to lose it.'
Sensing that Cheng Nanyi might blow up, Yuan Ting quickly pushed open the bathroom
door and ran out: "Hmph, I’m mad now, the kind you can't easily appease."
Yuan Ting retreated to his room, lying on his bed, genuinely upset.
From his last life to this, it was the first time someone had questioned his intelligence.
Wasn't this a pure insult?
Could anyone tolerate that?
Surely no one could.
So angry, he could die of anger.
……
In the bathroom, the butler cautiously said to Cheng Nanyi, "The young master didn’t do
it on purpose..."
Seeing Cheng Nanyi staring at his wet feet, the butler swallowed nervously, "We still need
to keep the feet, can't chop them off. They're useful."
"..." Cheng Nanyi looked at him with an indescribable expression. Are you the one who
needs an IQ test?
Watching Cheng Nanyi leave expressionlessly and stiffly, the butler felt a bad
premonition. This might lead to a conflict between the two, especially since it seemed to
hit a sore spot for the young master.
As the butler had anticipated, the atmosphere was tense during dinner, with both parties
not speaking to each other, a tension the whole family noticed.
After dinner, Shu Zhilan came to Yuan Ting's room and immediately asked, "Did you
upset Nanyi?"
"I didn't," Yuan Ting huffed, "He said I was stupid, Mom..." Suddenly, he ran to Shu Zhilan,
clutching her legs and began to fake cry, "You'll stand up for me, right?"
Shu Zhilan pushed him away, exasperated, "How many times have I told you not to
provoke him? Why must you always disobey?"
Yuan Ting: "..." Really no maternal love at all.
Yuan Ting pouted and turned to lie on the bed, but Shu Zhilan promptly pulled him up:
"Go, apologize to your brother."
"I don't want to," Yuan Ting resisted, scrunching his nose, "He should apologize to me."
"Apologize to you?" Shu Zhilan laughed in disbelief, "You're living off the Cheng family
and now you want the young master of the Cheng family to apologize to you? You wish."
After saying this, Shu Zhilan softened her tone, "Come on, apologize to your brother and
I’ll get you a gift."
"A gift?" Yuan Ting guessed he couldn’t avoid it this time and blinked at her, "What kind
of gift?"
"How about I buy you a Transformer?" Shu Zhilan coaxed him, somewhat impatiently.
A Transformer?
Yuan Ting scoffed disdainfully, unimpressed. Who cares about Transformers?
"I don’t want a Transformer; I want money," Yuan Ting extended his hand.
"Didn’t I just give you some today? Why do you want more money now?"
Yuan Ting petulantly insisted, "You said you’d give me a Transformer, but I don’t want
one. Just give me the money instead."
Shu Zhilan thought about it and agreed, "Alright, first go apologize to your brother. Once
he forgives you, I’ll give you the money."
Yuan Ting pouted, cleverly ensuring the deal before acting.
Taking a deep breath, Yuan Ting resigned himself to the situation. Under someone else’s
roof, one must bow their head.
Just as Yuan Ting was about to leave, a knock sounded at the bedroom door. Shu Zhilan
opened it to find Cheng Nanyi standing there.
"Nanyi, what brings you here?" Shu Zhilan was surprised, "I was just about to send Ting
to apologize to you. He upset you today, didn’t he? He’s still young, so please don't be too
hard on him."
Hearing this, Cheng Nanyi glanced into the room, and Yuan Ting, seeing him, quickly
jumped onto the bed and buried his head in the covers.
"Auntie, he didn’t upset me," Cheng Nanyi hesitated slightly before asking, "Can I talk to
him alone for a moment?"
"Oh?" Shu Zhilan was puzzled but responded, "Of course." Turning to Yuan Ting, who was
still hiding under the covers, she gently but warningly said, "Listen to your brother and
don’t upset him again, or the promise I made won’t be honored."
Without a response from Yuan Ting, Shu Zhilan awkwardly smiled, "Then I'll leave you
two to talk," and left, glancing back repeatedly.
After Shu Zhilan left, Cheng Nanyi entered the room and closed the door behind him.
Yuan Ting, his head still under the covers, listened intently. What was Cheng Nanyi here
for? He wasn’t coming to vent his disgust, was he?
After a long silence, just as Yuan Ting was about to lift the covers for air, he heard Cheng
Nanyi speak, "Ning Wan called. Do you want to hear about it?"
Yuan Ting immediately sat up after throwing off the covers, looking anxious: "What did
she say? Did something happen to Aunt Zhu?"
"No," Cheng Nanyi sat down on a chair, dialed a number on his phone, then put it on
speaker and placed it on the table.
Ning Wan's voice soon came through: "Hello, Young Master Cheng."
Yuan Ting leaned in eagerly, "Is Aunt Zhu okay?"
"She's fine. After you left, Aunt Zhu's sister also went out. Mrs. Mo has been in a daze, not
asking to leave or anything."
"Make sure you keep a close eye on her, remember to feed her and give her water. If it
gets too bad, take her to the hospital for a nutrient injection," Yuan Ting instructed.
Ning Wan: "..." It's not that serious.
Cheng Nanyi: "..." The kid is quite adept at applying what he learns. His IQ doesn't seem to
be an issue.
After finishing the call with Ning Wan, Cheng Nanyi put away his phone: "Aunt Zhu is fine,
you don't need to worry."
Yuan Ting turned and buried himself back under the covers, presenting his back to Cheng
Nanyi in a clear sign of 'I don't want to see you.'
"I have my pride, you know. Just because you say I'm intellectually challenged, does it
make it true?"
Cheng Nanyi, watching the upset youngster, sighed silently: "Yuan Ting, I'm sorry."
！！！
What? What did he just hear?
An apology?
Cheng Nanyi was apologizing to him?
Oh my God!
He must be hearing things.
Yuan Ting lifted a corner of the blanket, curious about what was going on. He wanted to
hear this properly.
"So... can you forgive me?" The first 'sorry' was hard for Cheng Nanyi to say, especially
since he had never apologized in his short life, as he never provoked anyone. Yuan Ting
was the first.
But after the initial apology, it became much easier to say.
Yuan Ting: "!!!!"
Damn, had he woken up on the wrong side of the bed today? He actually heard Cheng
Nanyi apologizing.
Yuan Ting threw off the covers and sat up to look at Cheng Nanyi.
This put him in a bit of a quandary. The young master had always been aloof. When had
he ever humbled himself to apologize?
If he didn't accept the apology, would Cheng Nanyi feel insulted and hold a grudge?
Cheng Nanyi bent down to make eye contact with Yuan Ting, softly asking, "Can you
forgive me?"
Yuan Ting looked at him sideways, thinking that since he was given an out, he should take
it. After all, it's hard to predict the thoughts of a disturbed mind, and one might
inadvertently leave loopholes.
But just forgiving him like that didn’t sit well with him.
Yuan Ting got out of bed, opened a drawer, and took out a small mirror. Then he shouted
at the mirror, "Magic mirror, tell me, who is the smartest person in the world?"
Cheng Nanyi's expression froze for a moment, as if he was about to crack up.
Are we sure we don’t need to make a doctor’s appointment?
Silence followed.
After a few seconds, Yuan Ting asked again, "Magic mirror, tell me, who is the smartest
person in the world?"
Still no response.
Yuan Ting persisted, asking the same question for the fifth time, when a rigid voice finally
responded: "Yuan Ting."
Yuan Ting almost couldn’t hold back a laugh.
"Magic mirror, tell me, who is the most handsome child in the world?"
Cheng Nanyi clenched his fists and closed his eyes, resignedly saying, "Yuan Ting."
"Magic mirror, tell me, who is the cutest child in the world?"
"Yuan Ting."
Satisfied, Yuan Ting turned to Cheng Nanyi with a beaming smile: "Brother, you're so
nice."
"..." Cheng Nanyi forced a stiff smile, then quickly left the room.
He hadn't played such a childish game in all his remembered life.
Climbing into bed, Yuan Ting felt utterly pleased with himself. What a rush!
Let's see who dares to question my intelligence now!
I am the chosen one, with off-the-charts intelligence!
The next day, Ning Wan called Cheng Nanyi again to update him on the situation.
Aunt Zhu kept wanting to leave, but her sister wouldn’t allow it. The two were at a
standoff, but Aunt Zhu couldn’t out-stubborn her sister and was forced to compromise.
Other than that, there were no issues, and Aunt Zhu's mood was relatively stable.
Yuan Ting was relieved to hear that Ning Wan was handling things well, and Aunt Zhu's
sister was doing a good job implementing the plan.
On Monday morning, going to school, Mo Yikai was yawning constantly, with obvious
dark circles under his eyes.
Yuan Ting was alarmed and ran up to him, looking up, "Yikai brother, what happened to
you? Did something happen at home?"
"Hey, brat," Mo Yikai glared at him, "Are you wishing something bad happened to me?"
Yuan Ting just huffed in response.
Cheng Nanyi glanced at him and took over the conversation, "What did you do last night
that you're so tired?"
"Ah..." Mo Yikai shook his head, "I don’t know what got into my mom, she suddenly went
to stay at my aunt's. Can you believe it? They usually can’t stand each other. My mom
actually going there is like a red rain from the sky."
"With my mom not home and my dad out for the night, I was alone. So I seized the chance
to enjoy myself and played video games until 3 AM," he said, yawning again.
No parents at home, it was bliss.
Cheng Nanyi: "..." No need to ask further.
Yuan Ting: "..." Speechless.
Yuan Ting, sitting in the back seat, stared at Mo Yikai’s profile. Feeling his gaze, Mo Yikai
turned to look at him, squinting his eyes, "Kid, why are you staring at me? Have you never
seen someone as handsome as me?"
"Heh," Yuan Ting scoffed, "You say you're handsome, but does anyone else agree?"
"Hey, you dare to question my good looks? Don't you know I'm the school heartthrob?"
"Your title of 'school heartthrob' is self-proclaimed. Nobody actually acknowledges it,"

Yuan Ting retorted, pulling out a familiar small mirror from his backpack.
Cheng Nanyi caught a glimpse of his action and stiffened, a sense of foreboding washing
over him.
Yuan Ting raised the mirror, looking at his own curly-haired reflection, and posed with
his hand under his chin, tilting his head and raising an eyebrow, "Magic mirror, tell me,
who is the handsomest person in the world?"
Mo Yikai was utterly shocked, thinking, 'Where did this idiot come from?'
Even Xiao Zhang, glancing at Yuan Ting through the rearview mirror, couldn’t help but
stifle his laughter, his shoulders shaking.
There was no response.
Yuan Ting huffed and repeated, "Magic mirror, tell me, who is the handsomest person in
the world?"
Mo Yikai, still in shock, finally managed to find his voice, "You don’t really think your
magic mirror will answer you, do you?"
Yuan Ting slowly turned his head towards the other person in the back seat.
Cheng Nanyi leaned against the car door, his forehead against the glass, looking outside
with a cold and detached air, as if he were oblivious to the world around him.
Yuan Ting hummed softly, moving closer to Cheng Nanyi while continuing to ask, "Magic
mirror, tell me, who is the handsomest person in the world?"
The question repeated like a haunting chant, until the soft body of the child was pressed
against him. Cheng Nanyi, with nowhere left to retreat, sighed deeply, resignedly saying,
"Yuan Ting, Yuan Ting is the handsomest person in the world."
Yuan Ting, thoroughly pleased, shrugged and spread his hands triumphantly at Mo Yikai,
"See, the magic mirror officially confirms that Yuan Ting is the handsomest person in the
world."
A peculiar silence descended in the car.
After a long pause, Xiao Zhang burst into a snicker, quickly stifling it back.
Mo Yikai, gripping the back of his chair, twisted around to look at Cheng Nanyi, his eyes
as wide as bells: "Bro, have you taken the wrong medicine?"
"You’re the one who's taken the wrong medicine," Yuan Ting spread his arms in front of
Cheng Nanyi, shouting, "Don’t you dare talk about my brother like that."
"..." Cheng Nanyi held his forehead, shielding his eyes.
Yuan Ting glared at Mo Yikai, huffed, and then asked the mirror, "Magic mirror, tell me,
who is the ugliest, dumbest person in the world?"
No one spoke. Yuan Ting elbowed the person next to him.
Cheng Nanyi, expressionless, slowly uttered three words: "Mo Yikai."
Mo Yikai: "..." Damn, was he hallucinating from too much gaming? First, his mom
unexpectedly stayed at his aunt's, and now his buddy inexplicably turned into a magic
mirror. What on earth was happening to the world?
Was it the end times?
Xiao Zhang burst into loud laughter: "Hahaha..."
He couldn’t take it anymore, praying his salary wouldn’t be docked.
Author’s note:
Thank you to the little angels who cast their King Tickets or Nutrient Solutions for me
from 2023-07-28 13:22:40 to 2023-07-29 23:00:45~
Thanks to the little angels who threw mines: Qing Shan 1;
Thank you to the little angels who irrigated with nutrient solutions: Tu Tu Tu Tang, A
Little Salty Fish 20 bottles; Rain Color A Zhi 15 bottles; ssr, Wan Feng, Soft's only fan club,
Lin Xia Feng, Bai Wei Soda 10 bottles; I'm Happy Again, ˙ー˙, Snot Bubble 5 bottles; Xiang
Shi., Qi Sui is a Fox 4 bottles; Xiao Yu's Wife, Zui Wan Autumn Wind, AY, 63879529, Lan
Tian Sheng Yan, Wo Bo Luo Chui Xue 3 bottles; XL 2 bottles; Ai Hei Hei, 40763603, Nian
Nian., Ye Jia Li Yuan, Chi Yu, Kan Qian, Procrastination Late Stage Rabbit, lucky, Jing Hong,
Mian Cha 1 bottle each;
Thank you all for your support. I'll keep working hard!
#29 Chapter 29
Chapter 29
Monday afternoon's last period was time for the big clean-up.
Each class was responsible for a part of the school; Yuan Ting’s class was assigned an
area near the playground, bustling with many people. Many pointed at Yuan Ting and
whispered, while others approached to greet him.
"You're Yuan Ting from second grade, class three, right?"
"Yeah, that’s me, the boss," Duan Wenze bragged, holding a broom, "Got a problem with
that?"
"No problem, just looking, haha..." The person laughed and walked away, then spoke to a
companion. After that, the companion also glanced over, leading to a chorus of giggles.
Yuan Ting rolled his eyes: "..."
He was self-aware. After punching out a classmate's tooth and the notorious incident
involving his brother, he was somewhat of a celebrity at school.
Yuan Ting directed Duan Wenze, "That spot's still dirty, sweep it again, here and here
too..."
Duan Wenze, spun around by his orders, finally protested, "Why aren't you sweeping?"
Yuan Ting, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, replied, "I'm the group leader,
I'm in charge. You guys do the sweeping."
"Oh," Duan Wenze continued to sweep. After a few seconds, he realized, "Wait, I'm the
group leader. When did you become the leader?"
"I'm the boss of the group leader. Doesn’t that make me better than you?"
Duan Wenze frowned, "..." Accepting him as the boss didn't seem to change much; he still
bossed him around.
Duan Wenze sneaked a few glances at Yuan Ting, contemplating whether to break away
from his command.
"Hey, isn’t that your brother?" Duan Wenze, spotting someone leisurely approaching with
a broom, pointed somewhat apprehensively.
He forgot, Yuan Ting had a brother. What if his brother beat him up?
Following his gesture, Yuan Ting looked over, "Oh, isn't that my brother who loves eating
shit?"
As soon as Yuan Ting and Mo Yikai spotted each other, Mo Yikai paused and then turned
to run away.
Duan Wenze: "??? What’s up with your brother?"
Yuan Ting sneered coldly.
"Hey, your other brother..." Duan Wenze, with sharp eyes, spotted Cheng Nanyi
approaching with a stack of books.
Yuan Ting turned around, locking eyes with Cheng Nanyi.
After a three-second pause, Cheng Nanyi abruptly changed direction and started walking
faster, eventually breaking into a jog and disappearing into the school building.
Duan Wenze, puzzled, asked, "Why do your brothers ignore you like that?"
Yuan Ting gritted his teeth, "Heh, heh..." Turning to Duan Wenze with a clenched fist, he
said, "From now on, in this school, anyone who offends me becomes my brother."
Duan Wenze: "!!!"
"I’ll chase after them, calling 'Brother, brother, brother...'” Yuan Ting said with narrowed
eyes, swinging his legs, "Do you want to be my brother?"
"No way," Duan Wenze refused without hesitation. "Being your brother means eating
shit. Count me out."
"Then get back to cleaning."
Duan Wenze pursed his lips, resigned. Better to sweep than to risk being called Yuan
Ting's brother.
Being Yuan Ting’s brother seemed like a miserable fate.
……
After school, as Yuan Ting got into the car, both of his brothers seemed hesitant to look at
him, instead gazing out the window.
Yuan Ting bit his back teeth and then flashed an innocently sweet smile, "Brother, why
didn't you talk to me at school today?"
"Really?" Cheng Nanyi looked genuinely puzzled. "Where did you see me? I didn't see
you."
Damn it!
Yuan Ting incredulously watched Cheng Nanyi, who was lying with a straight face.
"Master Cheng, have you evolved? Weren't you the one who disdained lying? How come
you're spouting lies without even stuttering now?"
Yuan Ting pouted, deciding to let it slide this time considering Cheng Nanyi's role as his
'magic mirror.' He then turned to Mo Yikai, clinging to the seat, "Brother Yikai, you saw
me too. Why did you run away?"
"What, wait for you to call me brother?" Mo Yikai replied, irritated.
"Then you are my brother," Yuan Ting declared.
"No way." Mo Yikai blocked Yuan Ting’s advancing head with his hand. "We're not
related. Your real brother is sitting right behind us. Could you please bother him
instead?"
"Brother Yikai, do you really dislike me that much?" Yuan Ting’s voice trailed off into a
whimper, his expression one of dejection.
Mo Yikai, turning to look in confusion, saw the child looking rather pitiful with his head
drooping down.
"Hey..." Mo Yikai motioned to Cheng Nanyi, hinting for him to deal with his sibling. Cheng
Nanyi glanced at Mo Yikai and then turned to look out the window, adhering to the
principle of not meddling in others' affairs to avoid trouble.
"Hey," Mo Yikai sighed in exasperation. "Never mind, no point arguing with a child."
Mo Yikai turned and cleared his throat, "So, um..."
"Hey!" Yuanting's head shot up, his eyes sparkling as he gazed at him. "Yikai brother, how
about I bring you a drink every day to your classroom? Then you won't dislike me
anymore."
Mo Yikai was momentarily speechless. "Are you crazy? Bringing drinks? Does he think I
need his drink?"
What, trying to win me over?
Sorry, but I'm not swayed by such tactics.
"Yikai brother, how can you say I'm sick?" Yuanting glared at him. "Saying that, I'm
getting angry."
"You're angry? Hahaha..." Mo Yikai burst into laughter. "You're really funny..."
"He really will go to your classroom and shout, 'Brother, I've brought you a drink,'" came
a soft reminder from the side.
"Burp..." Mo Yikai's laughter choked in his throat as he realized: offering the drink was a
ruse, calling him 'brother' was the real aim...
This kid must be the devil, right?
He had never felt so frustrated in his life. He swore right then and there to find a chance
to give this brat a thrashing.
"Just wait until middle school," he thought. "Once I'm there, no one will remember
'brother eats poop', and then I'll thrash him for good."
Yuanting breathed a sigh of relief, feeling satisfied. "Let them try to avoid me, hmph."
As the car turned the corner, Yuanting, peering out the window, spotted a KFC and
immediately cried out, "Brother, I want a burger, chicken wings, and a cold cola."
"It's been years since I've eaten a fried chicken burger at the restaurant; delivery just isn't
the same."
Cheng Nanyi glanced back and then said to Little Zhang, "Turn the car around."
Little Zhang promptly turned the steering wheel.
The three got out of the car, and Yuanting dashed into the store, shouting as he ran,
"Burgers and cola, here I come..."
Mo Yikai rubbed his face in exasperation, asking Cheng Nanyi seriously, "Do you really
plan on spoiling him like this?"
Cheng Nanyi sighed, "Do you want to be the magic mirror?"

"No way, it's like being an idiot."
"..." Cheng Nanyi gave him a flat look. "If you don't want to be, then keep it down."
It was midday, and KFC was crowded. Yuanting stood in line, counting on his fingers,
"Fries, fried chicken, chicken nuggets... I'll start with a family bucket, and then some ice
cream..."
"Eating so much, you'll burst," Mo Yikai grumbled.
Yuanting snorted, "If I can't finish, I'll bring it to your classroom, brother. Come quickly
for burgers..."
"Hey, you little devil, you really think I can't handle you... Dad?"
Yuanting paused, then promptly responded loudly, "Ah, good son..."
Cheng Nanyi: "..."
Mo Yikai and Cheng Nanyi simultaneously smacked Yuanting on the head.
Mo Yikai gave him a sharp glance and exclaimed in surprise, "What are you doing here?"
Yuanting slowly turned around and saw Mo Zhaohua holding a receipt in his hand.
Mo Zhaohua, clearly not expecting to see Mo Yikai here, was also taken aback.
One wondered why his son, who never came to this KFC, was here, and the other was
puzzled to see his father, a distinguished CEO, in a burger joint at dinner time.
Father and son looked at each other, speechless.
"I was...," Mo Zhaohua was the first to recover, "on my way home and thought I'd buy you
something. I didn't expect you'd come yourself."
"Wow, the sun must be rising from the west. You're buying me a burger? I don't even like
this stuff."
Mo Zhaohua gave a dry laugh, "You don't like it? I remember you enjoying it."
"This little rascal loves it," Mo Yikai quickly tapped Yuanting on the head, seizing the
opportunity. "Perfect, buy it for him, saves us queuing."
Yuanting was too distracted to bother with Mo Yikai, as his eyes fell on two kids - a pair of
twins in dungarees, walking towards Mo Zhaohua.
Damn it.
Why did he have to come eat this foreign rubbish today? Just looking for trouble.
Instinctively, Yuanting grabbed Mo Yikai's clothes, intending to drag him away from
there.
Now wasn't the right time to expose Mo Zhaohua; Aunt Zhu needed more time.
"Daddy, I want ice cream..."
It was too late; the two children were already running over. Mo Yikai instinctively looked
towards the sound, while Mo Zhaohua stiffened completely.
Cheng Nanyi also noticed and instinctively tightened his grip on Mo Yikai's arm,
intending to forcefully take him away from there.
Just then, a woman grabbed the two children, sounding slightly panicked, "Don't run off,
come sit with mommy."
"Isn't that Auntie Fang?" Mo Yikai immediately raised his hand in greeting. "Hi, Auntie
Fang, what a coincidence."
"...," Yuanting looked speechless. Do you have some kind of social brilliance syndrome?
You can chat with anyone.
Fang Lu, not expecting Mo Yikai to greet her, managed a stiff smile: "Mr. Mo, Yikai, it is
indeed a coincidence."
Mo Zhaohua awkwardly nodded in her direction: "Hello."
"Auntie Fang, are these your children?" Mo Yikai asked in surprise. "Twins?"
Fang Lu, covering each child's mouth with one hand, laughed dryly: "Fraternal twins."
"You have children? I thought you didn't even have a boyfriend. My mother was even
thinking of setting you up with someone."
Yuanting was almost jumping in frustration. How did they even start this conversation?
"Is that so? Please thank Mrs. Mo for her concern. Anyway, we've finished eating and have
to go. Enjoy your meal," Fang Lu said quickly before leading the children out.
"Mommy, where are we going? Daddy is still inside..."

"We'll go outside and wait for Daddy..."
Mo Yikai puzzled: "Has she already finished eating? I thought she just arrived."
"Probably," Mo Zhaohua redirected his attention. "Never mind her. What are you guys
eating? It's on me."
Mo Yikai glanced outside, then tapped Yuan Ting’s head, "Quick, say what you want to
eat."
Yuan Ting, tilting his head back, started to order, "I’ll have one of everything."
Mo Zhaohua, glancing at Cheng Nanyi, thought about his carefree, simple-minded son and
the young Yuan Ting, who was too young to understand, but was wary of the mature and
calculating young master of the Cheng family.
Cheng Nanyi, seemingly unaware of Mo Zhaohua’s gaze, calmly told Yuan Ting, "Eating
too much of this stuff isn’t good. You can only order three items, and only one drink."
"I don’t want to." Yuan Ting refused.
Cheng Nanyi asked, "What?"
Yuan Ting coughed softly, "…I mean, I’ll only eat three items. The rest is for brother."
"Good boy," Cheng Nanyi affectionately ruffled Yuan Ting’s hair.
Mo Zhaohua relaxed, thinking if Cheng Nanyi had indeed noticed something and
remained so composed, it would make the child alarmingly formidable.
Author's Note:
Due to the lack of pre-written chapters, the update schedule is a bit irregular, usually
around 10 PM. I'll notify if there’s any delay!
A deep bow of thanks, love you all, muah! Thanks to the angels who supported me with
their votes and nutrient solutions from July 29, 2023, 23:00:45 to July 30, 2023,
20:58:34~
Special thanks to the angels for their nutrient solutions: Universe's Origin 20 bottles; Let
Me See, Over the Moon, 00000001 10 bottles each; 67772334 7 bottles; huttuu, Big
Strawberry Butt, Ningyin, Rainy Aizhi 5 bottles each; 22388030, Drunk in Autumn Wind,
This Tang Is Not That Sugar, ˙ー˙ 3 bottles each; Kanjian, Snow Moon Rose, One Diving
Gentleman, Yihuan - Weichuan, XL, Indigo, lucky 1 bottle each.
Thank you all for your support. I'll keep working hard!
#30 Chapter 30
Chapter 30
Mo Yikai went back with his dad’s car, while Yuan Ting and Cheng Nanyi returned home
together. Despite having bought his favorite burgers and cola, the little boy didn’t seem
happy.
Cheng Nanyi patted his head.
Yuan Ting pouted, "Brother, it's so annoying."
"Perhaps this is just the world of adults," Cheng Nanyi said calmly.
It’s not the world of adults; it's the world of scumbags.
"Uncle Liu, do you have any yellow paper?" Yuan Ting dashed off to find the butler.
"What do you need yellow paper for, young master?"
"Never mind why. Do you have it?"
"Yes, I'll get it for you." The butler fetched a stack of yellow paper, "What do you need it
for? I can help."
Yuan Ting, leaning over the table, cut out a paper figure with scissors, then grabbed a pen
to write on it.
"Mo..." As Yuan Ting was about to write the second character, he paused, looking up at
the butler, "Uncle Liu, what's Mo Yikai's dad's name?" A friend's father's name wasn’t
something he should know; he almost wrote it down just now.
"Mo Zhaohua," the butler answered.
"You write it," Yuan Ting handed him the pen.
The butler then wrote the name for him.
"What is this for?" Cheng Nanyi was somewhat puzzled.
"This is..." Yuan Ting said with narrowed eyes, menacingly, "a cursing ritual."
"A cursing ritual?"

"Yes, to curse the scumbag." Yuan Ting placed the paper figure on the chair, sat cross-
legged on the floor, and started hitting the figure with a slipper, muttering, "I hit your
dead head, I hit your dead face..."
"May you step in dog poop when you leave the house, bird poop on your head, may
misfortune follow you everywhere..."
Cheng Nanyi: "..."
Butler: "..."
Seeing their bewildered faces, Yuan Ting clicked his tongue, "Haven't you guys ever seen
Hong Kong dramas about cursing rituals?"
Cheng Nanyi genuinely hadn't, while the butler had, but this was his first time witnessing
it in real life.
"You watch Hong Kong dramas?" Cheng Nanyi asked.
Yuan Ting just gave him a look. Hah, what do you think I did all those four years I was
locked up?
The thing I learned most about was how to kill without leaving evidence. Cheng Nanyi,
you're alive only because of my mercy.
Cheng Nanyi, catching Yuan Ting's bright and oddly captivating eyes, thought they looked
quite attractive.
After venting his anger on the paper figure, Yuan Ting felt somewhat relieved. He really
wanted to give that despicable man a good beating.
The next morning, Yuan Ting deliberately brought a lovely little pastry, saying, "Eating
something sweet is good for the mood."
The treat was for Mo Yikai, but they were greeted by Mo Yikai’s nanny instead.
"Yikai asked me to tell you that he’s not feeling well and won’t be attending school today."
"Not feeling well?" Yuan Ting was surprised. "What's wrong with him? Is he sick? He was
fine yesterday."
The nanny chuckled awkwardly, "Maybe sick, but nothing serious. He should be fine with
some rest."
Cheng Nanyi remained silent for a moment, then nodded, "Alright, I understand."
Yuan Ting felt something was off. 'Not very serious,' and he's taking a day off? When I was
his age, I wouldn’t miss school unless I had a fever of 39 degrees.
And why doesn't Cheng Nanyi seem concerned about Mo Yikai being sick?
Could that guy be faking illness to skip school?
That’s a great idea! I can do that too. I'm sick of second grade; it's like being around
dimwits all day.
"Ow..." Yuan Ting clutched his stomach, his face scrunching up, "My stomach hurts..."
"What's wrong, what's wrong?" The butler, seeing them off, hurried over. "Young master,
where does it hurt? Breakfast was healthy; it shouldn’t be causing any discomfort, right?"
The butler's hands moved over Yuan Ting's stomach, "Where exactly does it hurt? Upper,
lower, left, right? Shall I call an ambulance, maybe have a doctor give you a couple of
injections…?"
Yuan Ting straightened up, expressionless, and climbed into the car, "I'm not in pain
anymore."
"Young master got better so quickly, that's really impressive," praised the butler.
Yuan Ting slammed the car door shut, thinking about the numerous stumbling blocks in
his life's journey.
Faking sickness to skip school seemed impossible with the butler around. Yuan Ting felt
frustrated. Why could Mo Yikai successfully fake illness, but not him?
Cheng Nanyi, with a hint of amusement in his eyes, got into the car and saw Yuan Ting
with a sullen face, singing, "Life’s journey, like a long dream, filled with hardships,
hardships blowing against the face..."
The kid knew quite a bit, and his pronunciation of the Cantonese song was surprisingly
accurate. The stuff his grandmother had him watch seemed quite interesting.
After school, upon reaching home, Yuan Ting dashed towards Mo Yikai’s house to see
how he faked his illness.
Cheng Nanyi had no choice but to follow.
Just around the corner, they saw Aunt Zhu.

Yuan Ting's eyes widened in surprise, "Auntie, what are you doing here?" Wait, why was
Aunt Zhu back? What was going on?
Seeing them, Aunt Zhu approached quickly, "Nanyi, do you know where Yikai is?"
Cheng Nanyi was taken aback by the question, "Isn’t he sick and took a day off?"
"Yes, but he's gone missing."
Yuan Ting was stunned, "What do you mean he's gone missing?"
With the nanny's explanation, Yuan Ting and Cheng Nanyi finally understood what had
happened.
Early in the morning, Mo Yikai complained of feeling unwell and, after pestering his
father, was allowed to stay home. His father even called the school to excuse his absence.
The nanny knew he was faking it, as Mo Yikai often used such tricks to skip school once
or twice each term. This time, with Aunt Zhu not at home, there was no one to keep an
eye on him.
After Mo Zhaohua left, Mo Yikai said he wanted to sleep and not be disturbed, locking his
room door. The nanny, aware he was likely just playing games, didn’t bother him until
lunchtime. Finding no response after knocking for a while, she opened the door to find
the room empty, the bed neatly made, and the sheets wrinkle-free, indicating he hadn't
been there all morning.
The nanny, panicked, immediately called Aunt Zhu.
Aunt Zhu, along with Aunt Zhu’s sister and Ning Wan, hurried over.
Mo Yikai had a phone, but it was turned off.
"Did he go to find his dad?" Yuan Ting asked.
"No," the nanny shook her head, "Mr. Mo left on a business trip this morning."
Aunt Zhu, relatively calm but also a bit angry, asked, "Nanyi, where do you and Yikai
usually hang out? Has he recently made some bad friends, perhaps sneaking out to go
online or being taken somewhere?"
At twelve, Mo Yikai was almost as tall as an adult and unlikely to be easily deceived.
Instead, he was at an age where he might get involved in fights or other trouble.
Cheng Nanyi frowned, "No, he wouldn’t do that." He found the situation suspicious. Mo
Yikai spent every day with him; if he'd met someone new, Cheng Nanyi would surely
know. So why had he disappeared without a trace?
Yuan Ting was also confused. He couldn't recall anything like this happening at this point
in his previous life.
"Let's start searching," Aunt Zhu’s sister suggested. "Where do you guys usually go?"
Cheng Nanyi thought for a moment, "The bookstore, but he doesn’t really like it there; he
just accompanies me. Then there’s the gym, where we play basketball."
"Do you guys usually go to internet cafes?" Aunt Zhu’s sister asked.
Cheng Nanyi replied, "Occasionally, but not often."
Cheng Nanyi listed all the places he and Mo Yikai frequented, and Aunt Zhu thanked him.
Cheng Nanyi suggested, "Let’s split up and search. I’ll check the internet cafes, you all go
to the gym. We’ll keep in touch by phone."
Xiao Zhang drove Cheng Nanyi and Yuan Ting to the internet cafes. On the way, Yuan Ting
was perplexed, "He skipped school just to surf the net at an internet cafe or play
basketball at the gym? That seems too strange, doesn’t it?" He doubted it; Mo Yikai might
be a bit foolish, but not to such an extent.
Cheng Nanyi called their mutual friends on his phone. These friends were all in school,
and naturally, none had seen Mo Yikai.
Arriving at the internet cafe Cheng Nanyi and Mo Yikai frequented, Yuan Ting rushed
inside. The place wasn’t crowded, mostly populated by young adults, not students.
Yuan Ting checked each spot but found no sign of Mo Yikai. To be thorough, he shouted,
"Mo Yikai!"
Someone looked up and glared, prompting Yuan Ting to dash out.
There were two more internet cafes on the street. Cheng Nanyi and Yuan Ting checked
each one without success. Aunt Zhu also called to report no sign of Mo Yikai at the gym or
bookstore.
Yuan Ting was brimming with questions, "Where could he have gone?"
Cheng Nanyi knew Mo Yikai sometimes faked sickness to skip school, but that was just to
play video games at home. He'd even have his dad call the school for him. What urgent
matter could Mo Yikai have to leave without telling anyone?
After searching all the likely places without any sign of Mo Yikai, Aunt Zhu became
genuinely anxious, "What on earth could this child be doing?" Mo Yikai, although careless
at times, never left without telling anyone.
"We should call the police," Aunt Zhu’s sister suggested.
"It's not very useful to call the police now," Ning Wan commented calmly. "Could
something have happened to him? Did he have any arguments or conflicts with family
members?"
"No, nothing like that," the nanny almost cried. "He came back fine last night. Mr. Mo even
bought him KFC. This morning, he pretended to be sick, and Mr. Mo didn’t say much, just
helped him call in sick. Everything seemed normal."
Hearing this, Yuan Ting and Cheng Nanyi exchanged glances. If there was anything
unusual, it was their encounter with Mo Zhaohua and his mistress at the KFC.
But at that time, Mo Yikai seemed normal, not as if he'd noticed anything.
Yuan Ting gestured for Cheng Nanyi to come closer and whispered, "Does Yikai really
have the brains for this?"
Cheng Nanyi pondered for a moment, then shook his head, "I don’t know."
Although Mo Zhaohua had another family outside, he managed his primary family quite
well. To outsiders, they appeared as a happy family with loving parents and no worries
about food or clothing. Mo Yikai, a carefree teenager, wasn't under much academic
pressure, as his family planned to send him abroad. This was evident from the fact that
his father would call in sick for him, indicating a positive family atmosphere.
Mo Yikai had hardly faced any real challenges, so Cheng Nanyi found it hard to gauge his
intelligence when faced with a real situation.
"Even if he did realize something, what could he possibly do?" Yuan Ting scratched his
head in frustration, unable to make sense of it.
"If it were me..." Cheng Nanyi tapped his fingers on the table, his brow furrowed, "I'd first
clarify whether his father was indeed involved in any wrongdoing. So, it's likely he might
have tried to follow his dad, but his dad is away on a business trip..."
"Auntie," Yuan Ting immediately turned to the nanny upon hearing this, "where did Uncle
Mo go for his business trip? Did he drive or take a train?"
"The sir took a flight. He called me half an hour ago after landing, and he hadn't seen
Yikai," said the nanny.
A flight.
So, it's almost impossible for Mo Yikai to have followed him.
So... Yuan Ting's face crumpled in thought, could he have gone to look for Fang Lu?
But Yuan Ting still harbored doubts. Mo Yikai didn't seem like a person with such stable
emotions. If he had noticed something yesterday, he would have exploded in anger
immediately. How could he be so calm and even consider catching an affair?
Ah, what a headache!
"Did you think of something?" Aunt Zhu, noticing Cheng Nanyi and Yuan Ting whispering,
asked.
Cheng Nanyi sent the nanny away first before recounting the events of the previous night.
Aunt Zhu slammed the table in fury: "Damn it, Mo Zhaohua, just you wait. If I can't make
you pay, I'll take your surname."
"But..." Aunt Zhu changed her tone, expressing doubt about Mo Yikai's intelligence, "Do
you think he could really figure it out?"
Yuan Ting also had his doubts. Although Mo Zhaohua and Fang Lu acted unnaturally, it
was because he and Cheng Nanyi already knew about their affair, making it noticeable to
them. If one didn't know beforehand and just happened upon them, they really wouldn't
think much of it, especially since kids calling out for their parents are a common sight in
places like KFC.
Aunt Zhu's face looked troubled. After taking a few deep breaths to compose herself, she
said to Zhu Xiaoyi, "Whether it's true or not, this is our best lead right now. Yikai knows
that Fang Lu. Let's check around the jewelry store and her house."
"We've been searching all afternoon. Nanyi, take your brother home for lunch. It's almost
time for school, don't be late," Aunt Zhu added.
"Auntie, I'll take the afternoon off," Cheng Nanyi suggested.
"No need," Aunt Zhu shook her head, "We've searched everywhere we could. Taking leave
won't make a difference. If you think of anything else, call me. If we still can't find him in a
few hours, we'll report it to the police."
……
Cheng Nanyi, walking home with Yuan Ting, felt something was amiss. Just as he was
about to speak, his phone rang. Surprised, he said, "It's Mo Yikai's call."
"Answer it, quickly..." Yuan Ting urged.
Cheng Nanyi answered and put the phone on speaker, Yuan Ting leaned in to listen.
"Hello, Cheng Nanyi..." Mo Yikai's voice was tinged with a sobbing tone, "Can you come to
find me?"
"Where are you?" Cheng Nanyi frowned, "Are you in danger?"
"No, I'm on Qiuliang Mountain. Can you take a leave and come find me? Please..."
"Why are you there? Your mom is frantic looking for you."
"No, no, don't tell my mom, just come find me first."
"Can I come too, Brother Yikai?" Yuan Ting eagerly interjected.
Mo Yikai sniffled, "Why are you involved in everything..."
Yuan Ting nodded, "Alright, you've agreed."
Mo Yikai quickly hung up, and Cheng Nanyi, after a moment's thought, turned back to
Mo's house to inform them about Mo Yikai's call.
Aunt Zhu and Zhu Xiaoyi, relieved to hear that the boy was found, were then infuriated,
thinking the child was being reckless and wanted to go fetch him immediately.
"Auntie, Yikai said he only wants to see me. How about I go first to see what's going on
with him, okay?" Cheng Nanyi proposed.
Aunt Zhu hesitated. She had been searching for half the day and was anxious. She wasn't
in the mood to indulge in the child's strange request.
Yuan Ting hurriedly said, "Auntie, we promised Brother Yikai. We can't break our word.
We'll go get him for you, and then you can scold him, okay?"
"Actually, we should respect the child's wishes," Zhu Xiaoyi, regaining her reason, began
to persuade her sister.
After considering, Aunt Zhu reluctantly agreed but instructed the maid, "Find the feather
duster from the storage room."
……
Cheng Nanyi's parents were not at home, so he asked the butler to call in sick for him and
Yuan Ting. The butler, knowing the urgency, called the teacher and even packed
sandwiches made by the chef, as the boys hadn't eaten all afternoon.
Qiuliang Mountain, located by the sea, was an hour and a half's drive from the city center.
Qiuliang Mountain wasn't a famous scenic spot, but its scenery was still pleasant,
attracting many locals for hiking.
Arriving at the base of the mountain, Yuan Ting sighed at the sight of the imposing peak.
"Mo Yikai really is something, running away from home to climb a mountain. Does he
have a masochistic streak?"
"It would take an average person at least three to four hours to climb this mountain,"
Yuan Ting stretched his limbs, readying himself. "Let's face this storm head-on."
Yuan Ting prepared mentally for a tough climb, but to his surprise, after only half an
hour, he heard a familiar voice: "You've finally arrived..."
Looking up, Yuan Ting saw Mo Yikai sitting in a pavilion, his eyes red as if he had been
wronged, looking at them with a pitiful expression.
"Weren't you at the mountain top? How come you're here?" Yuan Ting asked
instinctively.
"I couldn't climb any further halfway up, so I stopped," Mo Yikai sniffled, choking up,
"Cheng Nanyi, I'm doomed, my family is ruined..."
Cheng Nanyi: "You..."
"What happened to your family?" blurted Yuan Ting, unable to hold back his curiosity.
"Wuu wuu wuu..." Mo Yikai burst into sobs, "My dad... he has another woman outside, and
they even have a child..."
Cheng Nanyi: "You..."
Yuan Ting: "How did you find out about your dad having another woman and a child?"
Knowing Mo Zhaohua had an affair seemed plausible, but how could he be so sure about
Mo Zhaohua having a child with that woman? He spoke with such certainty, it must be
confirmed.
Had this guy suddenly grown a brain without him knowing?
"Ahhhh..." Mo Yikai cried out loud, looking up to the sky, "You guys might be too naive to
notice, but the woman yesterday at KFC, she's my dad's mistress... I didn't realize it at the
time... Ahhhh..."
Mo Yikai wiped his tears with his elbow, continuing to wail: "It's just that those two kids
looked somewhat familiar, but I couldn't remember where I had seen them. I woke up in
the middle of the night, and it suddenly hit me... Wuu wuu ahhh... They looked exactly like
me when I was little..."
Cheng Nanyi: "..."
Yuan Ting: "..."
Author's Note:
Thank you to all the angels who voted for me with their mighty votes or nourished me
with nutrient fluid from 2023-07-30 20:58:34 to 2023-07-31 19:41:11~
Thanks to the little angels who threw mines: 57562849, 63907929, each with one;
Special thanks to the little angels who nourished me with nutrient fluid: Happy Dian Dian
for 31 bottles; Bu Ning Wei Shi for 22 bottles; Bu Ai Chi Yan Sui for 10 bottles; I Love ~,
d4325, Yinzi for 5 bottles; 63907929 for 4 bottles; AY for 3 bottles; Zhan Man Chai Zi De
Mi, Shu Chen, Lin Wu Yu Today Did You Eat Well, Fan Bu Liao Shen De Xian Yu for 2
bottles; XL, Ye Jia Li Yuan, 40763603, Dao Hua Xiang Li Shuo Feng Nian for 1 bottle each;
#31 Chapter 31
Chapter 31
Yuan Ting and Cheng Nanyi walked over to Mo Yikai and sat down on either side of him.
Sniffling, Mo Yikai asked, "Aren't you guys shocked?"
"Shocked," Cheng Nanyi replied calmly, "So why did you run up to the mountain?"
At these words, Mo Yikai immediately gritted his teeth, "Do you know what I saw today?"
Mo Yikai, agitated, slammed his hand on Cheng Nanyi's shoulder.
Cheng Nanyi: "..."
The next moment, Mo Yikai huffed, "This morning, I had my dad call in sick for me and
then I secretly followed him. I just wanted to see if he was really going on a business trip
or sneaking out to meet that woman while my mom was away. He did go to the airport,
but unexpectedly, that woman, who is a regular customer of my mom’s jewelry store..."
"Okay, what about the woman?" Yuan Ting interrupted, unable to wait.
"...That woman also went to the airport. They hugged each other..." Mo Yikai's chest
heaved with anger, pausing between words, "...and—they—kissed... Ugh..."
Yuan Ting: "..." Alright, this confirms it, better than any photo.
"I think those two kids are the product of my dad and that woman," Mo Yikai's voice
lowered further.
Both Yuan Ting and Cheng Nanyi remained silent, unsure of what to say, especially since
Mo Yikai had guessed everything correctly.
After waiting for a while with no one contradicting him, Mo Yikai turned his head
towards Cheng Nanyi, “Aren’t you going to say something?”
“What do you want me to say?” Cheng Nanyi’s voice was low.
“Aren’t you known for your meticulous thinking? You could find flaws in my story to
contradict me,” Mo Yikai looked at him expectantly.
Cheng Nanyi was silent for a moment before speaking softly, “I’m sorry.”
Mo Yikai fell silent, then tears started to fall in big drops, “I don’t know if I should tell my
mom. I don’t want to lose this family, but I also don’t want my mom to get hurt. He has
other children now, does that mean he doesn’t want me and my mom anymore?”
From loud sobbing, Mo Yikai shifted to silent tears, while Cheng Nanyi and Yuan Ting
found themselves unable to offer any comforting words.
After crying for a while, Mo Yikai turned to Cheng Nanyi and said, “You have to help me.”
“How can I help?” Cheng Nanyi asked.
“I don’t know,” Mo Yikai wiped his nose, “I just want to protect my mom. I can do
anything as long as it keeps her safe.”
“Okay,” Cheng Nanyi nodded, “I promise you, I’ll help you.”
Mo Yikai, as if finding a pillar of strength, let out a sigh of relief, then his lips quivered,
“My dad used to bring me here to climb the mountain.”
“Yes, I know,” Cheng Nanyi nodded, “He forced you to come every Saturday, but you
hated it. Later, I think after the fourth grade, your dad stopped bringing you, and you
were so happy.”
Mo Yikai said with a tone of grievance, “Maybe that was when he had the other children,
and he stopped liking me.”
Yuan Ting, listening on the side, felt a pang in his heart and suddenly stood up to bow to
Mo Yikai, “I’m sorry, Brother Yikai.”
Mo Yikai, startled, shrank towards Cheng Nanyi, forgetting his tears and frowning, “Are
you crazy? What are you trying to do?”
Yuan Ting sighed deeply.
Although Mo Yikai's life in his past incarnation was quite tragic, those events unfolded
over a decade later.
If one's life is like a tree, then childhood is the roots. The stronger the roots, the more
resilient the tree is in adulthood, standing firm even amidst storms.
Many, despite appearing lush and thriving on the surface, have roots riddled with holes,
vulnerable to collapsing at the slightest breeze.
Mo Yikai had a happier childhood than most, with loving parents and a blissful life. He
grew up without major setbacks, his arrogance and pride a testament to his nurtured
youth. But now, the greenhouse boy's protective glass has been shattered, forcing him to
face life's storms prematurely.
And all these changes were brought about by Yuan Ting.
Yuan Ting quietly sat back down.
Mo Yikai dismissed it as a sudden outburst and paid him no further attention.
Cheng Nanyi, however, understood Yuan Ting's thoughts and gained new respect for him.
Despite his outward brashness, he was internally sensitive.
Cheng Nanyi reached over from behind Mo Yikai to ruffle Yuan Ting's hair.
As the sun set, broken-hearted figures sat in the pavilion.
Mo Yikai began to sob again, "Is there anyone in this world more miserable than me?"
Though comforting words often feel hollow in times of sorrow, kind-hearted Yuan Ting
couldn’t just stand by and watch him cry.
So, Yuan Ting sighed and revealed his own pain, "My parents are divorced. My mom
remarried, and now I'm living under someone else's roof."
Living under someone else's roof?
Cheng Nanyi glanced at Yuan Ting before quietly adding, "My dad passed away, my mom
has a new boyfriend, and I hardly see her a few times a year."
Mo Yikai: “Uh…”
Yuan Ting added, “My mom might have another baby soon.”
Cheng Nanyi: “The next time I see my mom, she might also be holding another child.”
“Hic...” Mo Yikai hiccupped through his tears, realizing he might not be the most
miserable after all, but he was still heartbroken, “So, should I still cry?”
“Go ahead and cry,” Yuan Ting patted his back, “It’s okay for men to cry.”
Mo Yikai: “...” Now he couldn’t bring himself to cry anymore.
The three sat in the pavilion watching the sunset. Cheng Nanyi stood up, “It's getting
dark. Time to head home.”
Mo Yikai, hesitant to leave, lingered, “What should I do when I get back?”
Cheng Nanyi thought for a moment: “You don’t need to do anything special, just listen to
your mom.”
Yuan Ting: “...” Well said!
“Let’s go,” Cheng Nanyi beckoned to Yuan Ting, who sat still, looking up at him, “Brother,
I’m so tired. My legs and feet hurt. I can’t walk anymore…”
Yuan Ting, indeed exhausted from running around all day, prompted Cheng Nanyi to
squat in front of him, “I’ll carry you.”
Yuan Ting immediately stood up, climbing onto a stone bench to clamber onto Cheng
Nanyi’s back, just as Mo Yikai jealously remarked, “I’m tired too, why isn’t anyone
offering to carry me?”
“Ever since this brat came, you're always with him. My dad doesn’t want me, and now
you don’t either…” Mo Yikai’s voice quivered, nose tingling, “I’m so miserable… Wuu wuu
wuu…” The more he thought, the more heartbroken he felt, as if he had nothing left.
Yuan Ting: “...” Is he really getting jealous now?
“Fine, take all the attention. We'll lock you up and tie you to the bed. Then he'll surely
visit you every day to check: 'Hey, still alive?'”
Cheng Nanyi, somewhat helpless, pondered for a moment before suggesting to Mo Yikai,
“How about this? We both carry him together, what do you think?”
？？？？
Mo Yikai was startled, “What’s this now?”
Cheng Nanyi explained, “This way, you won’t feel left out.” It would turn a two-person
activity into one involving all three, ensuring fairness.
Mo Yikai felt even more despair.
“You won’t carry me, but you want me to help carry him?”
“Do I look like I’m out of my mind?”
Mo Yikai walked silently down the mountain, his figure exuding solitude and coldness.
Cheng Nanyi carried Yuan Ting on his back, following behind Mo Yikai. Yuan Ting, with
his arms around Cheng Nanyi’s neck, pretended to be serious, “Brother, why don’t you
put me down and carry Brother Yikai instead?”
Cheng Nanyi simply said, “I can’t carry him.”
“Oh…” Yuan Ting called out to Mo Yikai, “Brother Yikai, it’s not that my brother doesn’t
want to carry you, he just can’t. He still cares about you.”
Mo Yikai ignored them and continued walking on his own.
Cheng Nanyi didn’t deliberately chase after him, giving him time to cool off, especially
since today’s revelation had been quite a shock.
After walking for more than ten minutes, Mo Yikai suddenly stopped, turned around, and
looked at them with a face full of terror, “You don’t think, when we grow up, there will be
three people who look just like me, do you?”
Cheng Nanyi's steps faltered in surprise; he hadn't expected Mo Yikai to be dwelling on

this all the way.
Mo Yikai's eyes reddened again, “I’m so pitiful. I’ll be laughed at to death in the future. My
dad’s illegitimate child looks exactly like me…”
Yuan Ting: “...” Just speechless.
“No, they don’t look like you at all, not as handsome as you are,” Yuan Ting said.
“How do you know that?” Mo Yikai asked between sobs.
“I saw it.”
“How did you see them?” Mo Yikai was skeptical, “Are you just trying to comfort me?”
Yuan Ting: “...” Can’t you understand a white lie?
“He’s right,” Cheng Nanyi chimed in, “According to genetics, no two people in the world
are exactly alike, not even twins. You are unique.”
“Right,” Yuan Ting nodded, “You are a different spark.”
Mo Yikai finally relaxed, then his lips quivered again, “I’m feeling so terrible now, if my
mom finds out, won’t she be even more upset? What should my mom do…”
Cheng Nanyi didn’t know how to answer, but Yuan Ting felt reassured. “Aunt Zhu, rest
assured, whether in this life or the last, your son has always been on your side. You
haven’t raised him in vain.”
After walking some more, Mo Yikai, feeling sentimental, asked, “Cheng Nanyi, Yuan Ting,
you’ll always be with me, right? We’ll always be together, and you won’t abandon me?”
“Yeah,” Cheng Nanyi responded, but thought differently. If even parents can abandon
their children, who can promise to stay together forever?
“Then, let’s buy a big house in the future, and the three of us can live together, okay?” Mo
Yikai suggested.
Cheng Nanyi: “...”
Seeing no response, Mo Yikai turned back to them, meeting Cheng Nanyi’s gaze with his
red, teary eyes. Cheng Nanyi, not wanting to crush his hopes, reluctantly nodded.
“What about you?” Mo Yikai glared at Yuan Ting, “Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Yuan Ting chuckled nervously, “Me? I’ll pass. You two live together. I need to get married,
you know.” I plan to find a soft, cute, and charming boy to marry. As for you two, just stay
out of my way.
“Right, getting married,” Mo Yikai wiped his eyes, his voice barely audible, “Then forget it,
I won’t live with you. I’ll live with my wife... and her parents. We’ll be a happy, blissful
family... But I still feel so terrible, what should I do?”
Yuan Ting looked at Mo Yikai's slender figure, sighing.
These young men, lacking a father or a mother’s love, though their path is rugged, aren’t
they fortunate to have each other’s company?
……
After descending the mountain and an hour’s drive, the trio finally returned home.
Cheng Nanyi and Yuan Ting escorted Mo Yikai back to his place.
The Mo residence was brightly lit, with Aunt Zhu and Zhu Xiaoyi sitting on the couch in a
somber atmosphere.
The moment Mo Yikai saw Aunt Zhu, his eyes immediately filled with tears, and he
approached her, calling out, “Mom…”
As the young master of a wealthy family, Mo Yikai’s interactions with his mother usually
revolved around dodging studies and playing video games. His mother was generally
cheerful, hardly bothered by anything.
So, this was the first time he genuinely felt heartache for his mother.
Watching him, Yuan Ting felt a tinge of envy. After all, Mo Yikai and his mother shared a
loving bond, and the scene was indeed touching.
The next moment, Aunt Zhu pulled out a feather duster from behind the couch, her gaze
icy and devoid of emotion: “So, you’ve learned to run away from home, have you? Today,
I’ll break your legs for that.”
“Aaaah...” Mo Yikai turned and ran for his life, screaming, “Help meeee...”
“...Uh...”
Yuan Ting immediately stepped forward, blocking Mo Yikai's escape route.
While there were reasons for his actions, disappearing without a word was indeed
annoying and probably deserved a scolding.
Author’s note:
Mo Yikai is just a friend, don't overthink it, haha...
Also, a reminder to everyone commenting: please avoid phrases like 'must die,' 'must
perish,' and so on. Comments like 'the scumbag must die' from the last chapter were
deleted.
#32 Chapter 32
Chapter 32
Aunt Zhu didn't hold back at all, and after a thorough scolding, it was Zhu Xiaoyi who
finally pulled her aside, unable to watch anymore.
Mo Yikai didn't cry, just slumped in his chair, looking utterly dejected.
Aunt Zhu, catching her breath and calming herself, sat down on the couch and then
turned to Mo Yikai, “Now that you know everything, I won’t hide it from you. I’m thinking
of getting a divorce. What do you think?”
Mo Yikai pouted, his voice small and pitiful, “Do you have to divorce?”
Aunt Zhu stared at him for a few seconds, “If you disagree, I can consider not going
through with it.”
“Are you insane?” Before Mo Yikai could respond, Zhu Xiaoyi exploded, “Zhu Yanhong,
has your brain been kicked by a donkey? Or were you deprived of oxygen at birth?
Without divorcing, do you plan to stay with that scumbag and raise his mistress and their
child? Or bring the mistress’s child to live with us? Oh, I forgot, you’re the queen here. All
his children should kneel before you, right? Here, let me kowtow to you, Your Majesty.”
Yuan Ting was astounded, speechless: “...” That was some impressive talk.
Mo Yikai looked up, clearly shocked by his aunt’s words. She didn’t spare him either,
addressing him directly: “Oh, so you're the crown prince, huh? Followed by two half-
brothers of royal blood. How does it feel? Ready to put on a grand family drama of
brotherly love and respect?”
Yuan Ting: “...” Her combat power is off the charts.
Aunt Zhu, now too weary to deal with her, just focused on Mo Yikai: “Think it over and let
me know.”
“No need to think,” Mo Yikai mumbled, “Cheng Nanyi explained it all in the car. I think you
should divorce, but don’t leave me behind. You need to take me with you.”
“Of course,” Aunt Zhu’s eyes also reddened, gently touching his hair, “How could mom
ever abandon you.”
“That settles it then,” Mo Yikai wiped his nose with the back of his hand, and then said
indignantly, “Not only should you divorce, but we should also take our share of the
money. We can’t let those illegitimate kids take it all.” Mo Yikai’s voice quivered, eyes
brimming with tears, “He doesn’t want me, so I don’t want him either.”
Aunt Zhu sighed silently, pulling Mo Yikai into her arms and patting his back firmly:
“Alright, I promise you. Even without your father, we will live a good life.”
Mo Yikai couldn’t hold back any longer and burst into tears in Aunt Zhu’s arms.
Yuan Ting, witnessing this, found it odd, “Aunt Zhu doesn’t seem like she’s suicidal.”
Could it be that in the past life, Mo Yikai had grown up, and Aunt Zhu, being older, had
changed in temperament and personality, leading her to that tragic end?
This explanation seemed plausible; after all, Mo Yikai was just in his teens now, and Aunt
Zhu was in the prime of her life. Not wanting to die was the normal reaction.
Realizing this, Yuan Ting felt somewhat relieved.
Aunt Zhu refused to return to Zhu Xiaoyi’s place, so Zhu Xiaoyi decided to stay here, and
Ning Wan, as a friend, also moved in.
In the past few days, Zhu Xiaoyi had thoroughly investigated Mo Zhaohua’s affairs. Fang
Lu wasn’t someone Mo Zhaohua met later; she was his first love.
Mo Zhaohua, a poor boy, was Fang Lu’s high school classmate. After graduating, they
worked together, planning to save up for marriage. However, Fang Lu’s parents
disapproved of Mo Zhaohua and forcibly separated them, marrying her off to another
man with a higher dowry.
Mo Zhaohua met Aunt Zhu after renting an attic room in her house.
Back then, Aunt Zhu's family was also struggling financially, barely scraping by with her
two daughters and a troublesome “tumor” that constantly caused problems. Mo Zhaohua
was hardworking and smart, often helping Aunt Zhu with chores, which naturally led to
their relationship.
Both accustomed to hardship and with the economy booming, they worked their way up
to wealth and success.
During a stable period in their family and business, Mo Zhaohua unexpectedly

encountered his first love, who was now divorced and working as a jewelry store
salesperson.
The resurgence of past memories, regret, and the mindset of a poor man suddenly
wealthy spurred on this affair, spiraling out of control.
However, the company was built together by Mo Zhaohua and Aunt Zhu. Even as she
gradually stepped back into a domestic role, she still held significant influence. A divorce
would be a severe loss for Mo Zhaohua, while Fang Lu willingly bore his children without
demanding official recognition, allowing him to seamlessly maintain two families, thanks
to her “understanding” nature.
During Mo Zhaohua's absence, Aunt Zhu sought legal and financial advice, scrutinizing
the accounts and investigating Mo Zhaohua’s expenditures over the years on his mistress.
Everything progressed smoothly. Aunt Zhu was clear-headed and Zhu Xiaoyi capable.
Although the sisters had a fiery relationship, they worked well together.
After updating Cheng Nanyi about the Mo family’s situation, Ning Wan added, “Mo
Zhaohua will be back soon. It’s not appropriate for me to stay at their house any longer.”
“From my observation, Mrs. Mo, no, Ms. Zhu, shows no signs of suicidal intent. My
presence there is not necessary and might even arouse Mo Zhaohua’s suspicions.”
Cheng Nanyi looked at Yuan Ting, who agreed with Ning Wan’s reasoning. Ning Wan
couldn’t stay with Aunt Zhu forever, and this life's Aunt Zhu indeed didn’t seem suicidal.
With Zhu Xiaoyi by her side daily, there shouldn’t be any major issues, so he also agreed.
Everything was set, just waiting for the right moment to bring up divorce with Mo
Zhaohua.
Zhu Xiaoyi was also gearing up, eagerly awaiting the divorce to give Mo Zhaohua a piece
of her mind.
……
These days, Mo Yikai was attending school as usual but his demeanor had noticeably
changed, as if he had matured overnight.
Yuan Ting's attempts at making funny faces couldn’t even bring a smile to Mo Yikai's face.
“Brother Yikai, how about I treat you to something tasty tonight? There’s a restaurant
with an amazing kids' meal. Do you want to try it?”
“A kids' meal?” Mo Yikai scoffed, “Do I look like someone who eats kids' meals?”
“Alright then,” Yuan Ting said regretfully, “What do you want to eat? I’ll treat you with my
own money.”
“Your own money?” Mo Yikai scoffed again, “Isn’t that just money conned from me?”
Yuan Ting: “...” If you’re going to talk like that, we can’t play nicely together.
“I’ll treat you,” Cheng Nanyi interjected, “and I’ll even give you a gift, your choice.”
“Me me me me…” Yuan Ting eagerly raised his hand, “I want a gift too, brother, will you
give me one too?”
“Okay, I’ll get you one too,” Cheng Nanyi agreed.
“Forget it, I won’t go,” Mo Yikai said sullenly, “My dad is coming back tonight.”
Yuan Ting: “He’s coming back already?”
“My mom said to temporarily keep it from my dad and act happy, but how can I?” Mo
Yikai gritted his teeth, “I just want to ask him why he cheated, why he had kids with
another woman. Why, why, why... Aaaaah...”
“Then don’t go home for now,” Yuan Ting suggested, “Stay at my place. You’re good
friends with my brother, so your dad won’t suspect anything.”
After thinking it over, Mo Yikai nodded, “Fine, but just so you know, I’m staying in the
guest room. I’m not sharing a bed with this brat.”
？？？
Yuan Ting couldn't help but laugh, “You think you can just sleep on my bed whenever you
want? In your dreams.”
The trio got off the car and walked towards Cheng's house. Not wanting to return home,
Mo Yikai decided to call his mother and let her know.
Just as they reached the courtyard, Cheng Shaolin came out, all smiles, and said to Yuan
Ting, “Xiaoting, Dad has a gift for you. Guess what it is?”
A gift?
Yuan Ting had been so preoccupied with Mo Yikai's family matters that he had almost
forgotten about this.
In his past life, it was around this time that Cheng Shaolin had given Yuan Ting a gift he
would never forget.
“A gift?” Yuan Ting’s face lit up with happiness, “What is it?” He didn’t need to guess; he
already knew.
“Come here and see.” Cheng Shaolin covered Yuan Ting’s eyes and led him towards the
backyard.
Cheng Nanyi and Mo Yikai, curious, followed them.
Yuan Ting knew what the gift was, but the anticipation still mounted as his eyes were
covered, for this gift had been a significant part of his childhood.
As they reached the backyard, Yuan Ting first heard Mo Yikai's gasp before his eyes were
uncovered.
In the corner of the yard was a huge, colorful playhouse.
It had a slide, a trampoline, a tent, and all sorts of toys. While it couldn't compare to the
large children's play areas in shopping malls, this toy house was incredibly attractive in
its own right.
“How do you like it?” Cheng Shaolin bent down to look at Yuan Ting.
Yuan Ting blinked, his eyes welling up with tears.
“I like it, thank you, Dad,” Yuan Ting said softly.
In his past life, he was overjoyed, jumping around happily for months, inviting many
classmates to see it. But in this life, seeing the gift again only brought tears to his eyes.
Cheng Shaolin glanced at Yuan Ting, feeling somewhat disappointed as the child wasn’t as
excited as he had expected. He had thought this gift would be a big hit. It seemed he
would have to think of something even more fun next time.
Cheng Shaolin then said to Cheng Nanyi, “Come, Nanyi, Uncle also has a gift for you.”
He walked to another corner of the yard, gesturing towards an object covered with a
black cloth, “Go on, take a look.”
Cheng Nanyi lifted the cloth, revealing an unassembled telescope.
Cheng Nanyi's eyes lit up immediately. He had wanted this for a long time but had never
mentioned it. He hadn’t expected his uncle to gift it to him directly.
Touching it fondly, Cheng Nanyi said, “Thank you, Uncle.”
“You’re welcome. I’m glad you like it.” Finally, a childlike reaction. He’s always so serious,
lacking any vibrancy.
Cheng Shaolin, seeing both children content, was very pleased with himself, his eyes
crinkling in a smile.
While the family joyfully examined the gifts, Mo Yikai, with tearful eyes, walked out of
Cheng's house, thinking, “What is this? They say they have it worse, but clearly, I’m the
most miserable…”
Returning to his house and seeing the familiar car, Mo Yikai felt even more heartbroken.
His detestable father had returned.
“Others get playhouses from their stepfathers, while my own father just has children
with other women. It’s infuriating to compare,” he thought bitterly.
Author’s note:
Thank you to the little angels who voted for me with their mighty votes or nourished me
Thanks to the little angels who nourished me with nutrient fluid: Ling, (a string of
gibberish) for 10 bottles; Nanguo for 5 bottles; Yunshen Qianqian for 3 bottles; A Sweet
Orange, huttuu, XL, 46939403, Fang Tang for 1 bottle each;
"Thank you all so much for your support, I will continue to work hard!"
#33 Chapter 33
Chapter 33
Cheng Shaolin not only bought Yuan Ting a gift but also insisted on tutoring him in his
homework that evening, aiming to be a good father who accompanies his child's growth.
Yuan Ting was forced to start doing addition and subtraction within a hundred under
Cheng Shaolin's supervision.
Not to brag, but since Yuan Ting started school, he never really did homework; it was
always coerced or bribed out of Duan Wenzhe and Gu Yuqi.
This was his first time genuinely doing homework, and it was... annoying.
“Xiaoting is so smart,” Cheng Shaolin remarked, watching Yuan Ting do math with a
surprised look. Yuan Ting was calculating so quickly, some of the answers he hadn't even
figured out yet, but Yuan Ting had already written them down.
“Xiaoting is really a genius.”
Yuan Ting nodded, “Yes, indeed. So, no need to teach me. You should go back to sleep, I'm
really tired from a whole day at school and don’t have time to play this fatherly love
game.”
Cheng Shaolin became more enthusiastic, “Let's do some preview of new lessons, I want
to see just how smart Xiaoting is.”
Yuan Ting's expression cracked: “??? Any reason for this?”
Does a genius like me need to preview? Are you underestimating me?
“I don’t know.”
“I don’t understand.”
Yuan Ting leaned back in his chair and started to slack off.
“I don’t understand this.”
“What does this mean?”
“It’s too hard…”

Cheng Shaolin: “...”
Well, a genius is a rare gem after all, can’t be too demanding.
“Alright, time for bed. Come on, let Dad tell you a story.”
“No thanks,” Yuan Ting was almost at his wit’s end. “Go back to your romance, is your
love sickness cured? Why come here to torment me?”
Cheng Shaolin, undeterred, climbed onto the bed and lay on his side, patting the blanket
while talking to Yuan Ting.
Yuan Ting: “...” Where is my wicked mother when I need her?
“Xiaoting, is there something your mom really likes?” Cheng Shaolin asked softly.
“???” Yuan Ting realized, so that’s what he was waiting for.
Thinking of giving a surprise, Yuan Ting remembered that in his past life, when Cheng
Shaolin asked him this, he honestly said he didn’t know because he really didn’t know
what his mother liked, given their limited time together.
Of course, Yuan Ting later understood that his mother liked money – gifts like limited
edition bags, shoes, jewelry, and the like.
“My mom likes things with sincerity. She dislikes money the most, says it smells of
copper.”
Cheng Shaolin nodded involuntarily, “Your mom is indeed unique. I knew it the first time
I saw her.”
Yuan Ting: “...” Wow, why does this add even more luster to her image?
“My mom likes flowers,” Yuan Ting patted Cheng Shaolin’s arm, “Dad, why don’t you
make a bouquet of artificial flowers for her? She would definitely, definitely love it.”
“Artificial flowers?” Cheng Shaolin frowned, “But I don’t know how to make them.”
“I do,” Yuan Ting’s eyes widened, “They taught us in kindergarten. You can make them
with tissue paper.”
“Tissue paper flowers?” Cheng Shaolin looked astounded, having never heard of such a
thing.
“Of course, I can,” Yuan Ting patted his chest confidently, “Don’t worry, Dad, I’ll teach
you.”
“My son is amazing,” Cheng Shaolin ruffled Yuan Ting’s hair affectionately.
Naturally, Yuan Ting kicked him lightly, “Dad, I want to sleep now.” The implication was
clear: you can leave now. I’m in second grade, who needs bedtime stories?
Cheng Shaolin then reluctantly left Yuan Ting’s room, obviously feeling like he hadn’t had
enough of being a dad.
Yuan Ting sighed in relief, thinking, fatherly love can be so heavy.
Yuan Ting got up to use the bathroom, and when he came back, he heard a fierce wind
outside, signaling an impending rainstorm.
The door was gently pushed open, and Yuan Ting immediately jumped into bed, covering
himself with the blanket, pretending to sleep.
Cheng Shaolin whispered from the doorway, “Xiaoting, are you scared? Do you want Dad
to stay with you?”
Yuan Ting remained silent. After a while, the door closed, and his beloved stepdad finally
left.
The wind howled for half the night, but not a drop of rain fell. Yuan Ting woke up startled,
sitting up with a jolt.
“Woof, woof...”
A dog barking?
Yuan Ting thought he must be hearing things. The Cheng family didn’t have a dog, and
with the strong wind outside, where would a dog come from?
For some reason, Yuan Ting felt a sense of panic in his heart.
Climbing out of bed, he forcefully opened the balcony door, leaned over the railing on
tiptoe, and peered outside. Under the dim streetlight near the front gate, there seemed to
be a dog, barely visible in the darkness.
Yuan Ting’s unease grew stronger, and without much thought, he ran towards the door,
planning to go downstairs. As he opened his bedroom door, he saw a dark figure standing
there.
“What the…” Yuan Ting jumped in fright.
“It’s me,” Cheng Nanyi quickly said, “I was worried you might be scared, so I came to
check on you. Where are you going? For a drink? I brought you a cup of water.”
“Brother, I heard a dog barking,” Yuan Ting took the water glass and put it on a side table,
then grabbed Cheng Nanyi’s hand, “Let’s go, let’s check it out.”
“A dog barking?” Cheng Nanyi followed him while wondering, “Where would a dog come
from? Are you sure you weren’t dreaming?”
“It sounded like Dashao.” When the two reached the front door, they indeed saw Dashao
barking wildly.
Seeing Yuan Ting, Dashao ran over and grabbed his clothes with his mouth. Yuan Ting’s
anxiety increased, and he patted the dog’s head, “Good boy, let's go.”
Dashao took off towards his home, with Yuan Ting and Cheng Nanyi following.
They quickly arrived at Mo Yikai's house.
At midnight, all the lights in Mo Yikai's house were off, and everything seemed peaceful.
Dashao jumped over the low fence, and Cheng Nanyi agilely climbed the fence and
followed suit.
！！！
Yuan Ting: “Brother, brother, quick, give me a hand.”
Cheng Nanyi turned back and extended his hand to Yuan Ting, who clung to Cheng
Nanyi's neck as he helped him down.
They first approached the window to peer inside. It was pitch black, and nothing was
visible.
“Is something wrong?” Yuan Ting murmured to himself, suddenly recalling Mo Yikai’s
past life recounting blood flowing down the stairs, then shivered, “No way, Mo Zhaohua
couldn’t be so inhumane, could he?”
Once his mind began to race, Yuan Ting felt a chill overtake him, and everything started
to connect. Why would the calm Aunt Zhu commit suicide? Why did Zhu Xiaoyi go abroad
only two years later? Could it be she discovered something?
Yuan Ting swallowed hard, beginning to feel an uncontrollable fear.

If that were true, everything could spiral out of control.
Dashao, anxiously pacing at the door, barked furiously at Yuan Ting, as if urging, “Come
on, hurry up.”
“Do you smell something?” Cheng Nanyi suddenly asked.
A smell?
Yuan Ting sniffed, and after a pause, realized, “Damn, it’s the smell of gas.”
Cheng Nanyi also quickly caught on, and the two ran towards the door.
The security door was ajar, likely opened by Dashao earlier. As Cheng Nanyi opened the
door, a strong smell of gas hit them.
What had happened was clear without words. Turning past the entryway, they saw two
motionless figures lying on the couch.
Running over, they found Aunt Zhu and Zhu Xiaoyi with their eyes closed.
Cheng Nanyi forcefully shook them both, but there was no response.
With such a strong smell of gas, they must have been unconscious.
Cheng Nanyi grabbed a phone from the coffee table and handed it to Yuan Ting, pushing
him outside: “Go to the yard and call 120 and 119. I’ll open the windows, hurry…”
Clutching the phone, Yuan Ting swallowed hard, his breathing rapid: “Don’t turn on the
lights. I’ll be back quickly, be very careful.”
Without time to think, knowing it was unsafe to make a call in the gas-filled room, Yuan
Ting rushed out of the house to the yard. He first called 120 and 119, then started
running towards his house for help, only to remember he had a phone and could call
someone.
Glancing back at the house, he saw Cheng Nanyi opening all the windows, letting the gas
escape.
Forcing himself to stay calm, Yuan Ting quickly dialed his home's landline number.
No one answered at first, making Yuan Ting anxiously stomp his feet. Through the
window, he saw Cheng Nanyi struggling to drag Aunt Zhu outside.
Fortunately, on the second try, the housekeeper answered. After Yuan Ting quickly
explained the situation, he hung up and rushed back into the house.
Helping Cheng Nanyi drag Aunt Zhu outside, Yuan Ting looked around, “Where’s Yikai?”
“Let’s get them outside first, he might be upstairs.” If he was upstairs, there likely wasn’t
much danger, since the kitchen was on the first floor.
But with such a large villa, a normal gas leak shouldn’t have been this intense.
Together, they managed to drag Aunt Zhu outside and then went back for Zhu Xiaoyi.
While dragging, Yuan Ting couldn’t help but look around, not believing this was a
coincidence. So where had Mo Yikai's dad gone?
“Xiaoting, Nanyi…” Shouts from the butler and Cheng Shaolin came from outside the
courtyard.
Just as Yuan Ting was about to respond, he saw a flash of fire inside the house.
Damn it!
Yuan Ting watched helplessly as the fire drifted through the air and fell into the kitchen...
He had just enough time to lunge forward: “Cheng Nanyi…”
Cheng Nanyi was knocked down by the sudden weight, and as he instinctively looked up
to turn around, he heard a loud ‘bang’. The kitchen exploded before his eyes, flames
bursting out and a wave of intense heat sweeping over them instantly.
In the hospital, Yuan Ting lay on the bed. The doctor, after examining the X-rays, said, “No
serious harm, just a sprained ankle. Rest for a month, and you should be fine.”
Cheng Shaolin and the butler sighed in relief.
Yuan Ting’s gaze shifted from his swollen foot to Mo Zhaohua, his smile stiff: “Thank you,
Uncle Mo, for saving me.”
“It is I who should thank you. You and Nanyi saved our entire family,” Mo Zhaohua said
sincerely.
Following the gas explosion and resulting fire, it was Mo Zhaohua who carried the injured
Yuan Ting out of the house.
Although Aunt Zhu and Zhu Xiaoyi were unconscious, they were brought to the hospital
in time and were out of danger. Mo Yikai, sleeping on the second floor, was unharmed.
When the explosion occurred, the firefighters had already arrived at the scene, enabling
them to rescue everyone in time.
Cheng Shaolin and the butler, having witnessed the explosion, were terrified out of their
wits. Still shaken, especially the butler, couldn’t help but ask, “Why were you at Yikai’s
house in the middle of the night?”
“Yes, how did you end up at my house?” Mo Zhaohua narrowed his eyes slightly.
Just as Yuan Ting was about to speak, Cheng Nanyi calmly said, “My uncle bought me a
telescope, and the little guy wanted to stargaze, so I took him. We were passing by your
house when we heard Dashao barking loudly, so we went to check.”
“Right, where’s Dashao? Did you bandage him up?” Yuan Ting asked Cheng Nanyi. “Bring
him here, I want to see him.”
During the explosion, Yuan Ting had thrown himself on Cheng Nanyi, and Dashao had
jumped on Yuan Ting.
Cheng Nanyi was unharmed, Yuan Ting sprained his ankle, and Dashao’s back was singed,
losing half of his fur.
“Don’t worry,” Cheng Nanyi gently touched Yuan Ting’s bald head, speaking softly, “He’s
been taken to the vet. We’ll visit him later.”
Author's note:
Thank you to the little angels who voted for me with their mighty votes or nourished me
Thanks to the little angels who nourished me with nutrient fluid: Ningyin, Ling for 10
bottles; Ban Ye Bu Shui Xie Zuo Ye for 6 bottles; 46939403 for 5 bottles; Keke Ai De Xiao
Bai Bai for 4 bottles; Xue Qing for 2 bottles;
Thank you all so much for your support, I will continue to work hard!
#34 Chapter 34
Chapter 34
What was done was done. The two boys had gone to save people, so Cheng Shaolin
couldn’t say much. He said to Mo Zhaohua, “Thank goodness it wasn’t worse. Go take care
of Mrs. Mo and the others. Yikai looks terrified too; you should comfort him.”
After repeatedly expressing his gratitude, Mo Zhaohua left the hospital room.
“I want to go see Aunt Zhu,” Yuan Ting sat up, trying to jump off the bed.
“No, don’t move,” the butler and Cheng Shaolin held Yuan Ting’s shoulders from either
side.
“Young master, you mustn’t move your foot; it needs to be kept elevated.”
“Then get me a wheelchair, I want to see Aunt Zhu,” Yuan Ting said anxiously.
The turn of events was entirely unexpected for him.
In the past, Yuan Ting wouldn’t have suspected Mo Zhaohua of committing such a
heinous act. To him, a divorce and splitting of assets didn’t seem like enough reason to
resort to such drastic measures.
However, after experiencing the era of advanced internet, Yuan Ting thought differently.
He frequently came across news of domestic violence and murder online. Some people
showed no humanity or limits, even for a few hundred or thousand yuan. The harrowing
experience from the previous night forced him to consider the worst possibilities.
If that was indeed the case, without Dashao’s intervention, the consequences could have
been unthinkable.
The thought still sent chills down Yuan Ting’s spine.
“Don’t move rashly...” Cheng Shaolin began, but Cheng Nanyi had already wheeled over a
wheelchair. Yuan Ting eagerly reached out, and Cheng Nanyi lifted him into the
wheelchair.
“Hurry, hurry, hurry…” Yuan Ting patted Cheng Nanyi’s leg, and Cheng Nanyi reassured
him, “Don’t worry, I’m taking you there now.”
Cheng Shaolin and the butler, feeling helpless, followed them out of the hospital room
and took the elevator to the tenth floor.
Aunt Zhu and Zhu Xiaoyi were treated in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber after being
admitted to the hospital and had now been moved to a regular room.
Mo Yikai, standing at the doorway of the hospital room, rushed over when he saw Cheng
Nanyi and Yuan Ting: “Yuan Ting, are you okay?”
“I’m fine. How are your mom and aunt?” Yuan Ting asked.
“The doctors said they need to stay in the hospital for treatment, but they are no longer in
life-threatening condition. We really have to thank you both; otherwise, our family would
have been ruined...”
“Where’s your dad?” Yuan Ting interrupted Mo Yikai, “Where did he go?”
“He...”
Before Mo Yikai could speak, a weak voice from Aunt Zhu inside the room said, “Officer, I
want to accuse Mo Zhaohua of attempted murder.”
“What are you saying? Accuse me of murder?”
Along with Mo Zhaohua’s astonished voice, Cheng Shaolin’s voice also rang out, “What?”
Cheng Shaolin, the head-in-the-clouds romantic of the Cheng family, was utterly stunned,
his brows and eyes knitted in confusion. Mo Yikai was equally shocked, as the accusation
of a mother against her husband was explosively serious in any context.
Cheng Nanyi was also taken aback, but his capacity for acceptance was somewhat
stronger. The butler, however, appeared calm, as if he had anticipated this.
“Officer, don’t listen to her nonsense. I was asleep upstairs and only came down when I
heard a noise. How could I possibly murder my own wife and child?”
“Yanhong, are you blaming me for not discovering it in time? I’m sorry, I was negligent. I
apologize to you.”
“Officer, my wife might be in shock, please don’t mind her.”
Aunt Zhu let out a cold laugh and began to recount what happened that evening.
After dinner, Mo Yikai went upstairs to rest. Aunt Zhu, not wanting to sleep in the same
room as Mo Zhaohua and also not wanting to arouse his suspicions, stayed downstairs to
watch TV with Zhu Xiaoyi.
Later, when the wind picked up, they closed all the doors and windows, and gradually fell
asleep, only to wake up in the hospital.
Mo Zhaohua: “It was all a coincidence, I have no reason to harm you.”
“You do,” Aunt Zhu said calmly, looking at him, “because you cheated and had children
with another woman, and I found out. I've been checking the accounts lately, thinking I
kept it from you, but you knew that I knew, didn’t you?” Aunt Zhu exposed the truth.
“What are you talking about? I didn’t, how could I betray you…” Mo Zhaohua looked
shocked, “Yanhong, where did you hear I cheated? That’s not true, are you being deceived
by someone?”
Aunt Zhu turned her face away, too tired to look at him.
“Alright, let’s not argue now. We will investigate thoroughly,” the police officer
interrupted, “We will take separate statements from you. We won’t wrong a good person,
nor will we let a bad one go.”
……
“What were you doing last night?” Yuan Ting quietly asked Mo Yikai.
“I, I, I…” Mo Yikai finally regained his composure, his voice trembling, “I was afraid of my
dad noticing something, so I went straight to my room after eating a little. Then I heard
the explosion… Cheng Nanyi…”
Mo Yikai looked at Cheng Nanyi in a panic: “It couldn’t really be my dad… He wouldn’t do
such a thing. He’s bad, but how could he murder? He couldn’t have wanted to kill my
mom… He used to be really good to me and my mom…”
“Calm down,” Cheng Nanyi gripped his shoulder firmly, “The police said they’ll find out
the truth. Let’s trust them.”
“Trust the police?” Mo Yikai’s voice was tinged with a sob, “What if it really was my dad?
What then?”
Mo Yikai crouched on the ground, helplessly hugging his head. How did things come to
this?
The police soon also approached Yuan Ting and Cheng Nanyi to understand their side of
the story.
After listening to Yuan Ting’s account, the officer asked him, “Are you sure you saw a
flame?”
“Positive,” Yuan Ting nodded firmly, “We were taught in school not to make calls or turn
on lights in case of a gas leak, as it could cause an explosion. So, when my brother and I
went in, we didn’t turn on the lights. I even went outside to the yard to call for help. The
room was very dark, so I saw the light very clearly.”
After answering the police’s questions, Yuan Ting and Cheng Nanyi went to see Aunt Zhu.
She was awake but still looked weak and needed to stay in the hospital for a few more
days.
Yuan Ting, who had only sprained his ankle, didn't need hospitalization, so he was free to
leave at any time.
“Nanyi, let Yikai stay at your place for a while,” Aunt Zhu said to Cheng Nanyi, “I can only
trust you guys now.” Even though the police were investigating, they wouldn’t arrest
anyone until the facts were clear. With Aunt Zhu in the hospital and no one to look after
Mo Yikai, he might have to face Mo Zhaohua at home.
“Auntie, don’t worry. I’ll take care of Yikai. Also, I’ll ask Ning Wan to take care of you and
your sister. Rest assured.”
“Nanyi, Xiaoting, thank you,” Aunt Zhu, holding Yuan Ting's hand, tears fell from her eyes.
Most of her friends were mutual friends with Mo Zhaohua, and at this moment, she didn’t
know who to turn to for help. In the end, it was her son's friends who came to her aid.
The irony of her life was not lost on her.
Yuan Ting held her hand back, softly saying, “Auntie, everything will get better. You must
stay strong.”
At the hospital, not only did Ning Wan come over, but the butler also helped arrange for a
nurse, and Zhu Xiaoyi’s friends, having heard the news, rushed over, relieving Yuan Ting
and Cheng Nanyi of further worries.
Yuan Ting and Cheng Nanyi took a car home, while Mo Yikai, worried about his mom and
aunt, insisted on staying at the hospital and didn’t return with them.
In the car, Cheng Shaolin was still in shock, “Impossible, how can this be? Mr. Mo and Mrs.
Mo seemed so loving, and Yikai is such a good kid, clearly from a happy family. How could
such a thing happen?”
“Impossible, not even TV dramas would dare to plot this. It can’t be.”
“There’s no reason for it. Why would he do this? What do you think?” Cheng Shaolin
looked at the butler, his eyes clear. What’s happening with the world?
For money? Is money that important?
The butler patted his arm calmly, “Anything is possible.”
Cheng Shaolin: “...”
Yuan Ting rubbed his face, relieved that, regardless, they had averted disaster. Now with
the police investigating, Mo Zhaohua wouldn’t dare do anything further. In fact, things
were moving in a positive direction.
But he couldn’t help thinking, what if Dashao hadn’t been there?
On the way back, they detoured to pick up Dashao. Dashao was fine, just missing some fur
on his back…
Missing fur?
Yuan Ting touched his own head, exclaiming internally, “Ahhh…”
“What happened to the young master’s head?” The nanny was surprised to see Yuan
Ting's bald head.
The butler had informed Cheng Shaolin after receiving Yuan Ting’s call last night, but
they hadn’t disturbed the other family members. After the explosion, everyone in the
Cheng household woke up, but since Yuan Ting wasn’t seriously hurt, Cheng Shaolin
didn’t ask Shu Zhilan to go to the hospital.
Seeing her son’s bald head, Shu Zhilan was shocked too: “I thought he sprained his ankle?
Did he hurt his head too?”
Yuan Ting, holding Dashao, sat on the sofa with his foot propped on a raised stool,
looking glum.
His hair had been singed off in the fire, and it was shaved off at the hospital during the
examination...
“It looks good, the bald head suits you,” Cheng Nanyi commented.
“Right, right, right, the bald head looks good,” the butler agreed.
“Yes, Xiaoting is handsome. Even without hair, he’s cute,” Cheng Shaolin patted his head.
Yuan Ting: “...” Could we not mention ‘bald head’?

He used to complain about his curly hair, and then the curls left him.
The old master, understanding what had happened, sighed helplessly, “People are never
satisfied.”
“I think this might be a misunderstanding; I still find it hard to believe that Yikai’s dad
would do such a thing,” Cheng Shaolin held Shu Zhilan’s hand, looking at her, “Lanlan,
what do you think?”
“I don’t believe it either,” Shu Zhilan, leaning fearfully against him, expressed disbelief,
“How can there be such evil people in the world, living among us? It’s frightening. It gives
me the chills.”
Yuan Ting slowly looked up at his mother, who rubbed his bald head in passing:
“Xiaoting, don’t be afraid.”
“Alright, let’s not talk about this anymore. For the next few days, the chef will make some
special dishes to help Xiaoting recover,” the old master said to Shu Zhilan, “Nanyi said
Xiaoting got injured trying to save him. I need to thank you for raising such a good child.”
“Dad, what are you saying?” Shu Zhilan quickly interjected, “They are brothers, it’s
natural for them to protect each other. Right, Xiaoting?”
Yuan Ting looked bewilderedly at the old master, thinking, I saved someone, and you’re
thanking her? Is this even polite?
Besides, it wasn’t really a rescue; it was more like forming a human stack in danger. Even
if he hadn’t done that, Cheng Nanyi wouldn’t have been in any real danger.
“Go, get the sapphire necklace from the safe,” the old master instructed the butler.
Seeing the sapphire necklace brought by the butler, Yuan Ting’s eyes nearly popped out,
“Wow, that must be worth eight figures…”
“Dad, there’s no need,” Shu Zhilan kept refusing, “It’s too valuable, I can’t accept it.”
“Just keep it,” the old master gestured for Cheng Shaolin to take it for Shu Zhilan, “The
children are close, and our family is united. Our days will only get better.”
“If dad gives it to you, just take it,” Cheng Shaolin smiled as he took the jewelry box and
handed it to Shu Zhilan.
Shu Zhilan reluctantly accepted it: “Thank you, dad.”
“Nanyi,” the old master then turned to Cheng Nanyi, “Xiaoting saved you, you should
personally thank him.”
“I know, grandpa,” Cheng Nanyi nodded.
Yuan Ting didn’t elevate the incident to the level of “life-saving debt,” but he heard Cheng
Nanyi was supposed to thank him…
“Brother,” Yuan Ting tugged at Cheng Nanyi's sleeve, whispering, “I want a necklace like
that too.”
Cheng Nanyi replied quietly, “I can’t afford such a necklace right now, and besides, you’re
a boy, you don’t need a necklace like that. I’ll give you something else.”
“That’s fine,” Yuan Ting stared into Cheng Nanyi’s eyes, trying to make him see the dollar
signs sparkling in his own, “Brother, it should be something meaningful.”
As Cheng Nanyi was about to go upstairs to find a gift, Yuan Ting insisted on going along.
The butler stepped forward to carry Yuan Ting upstairs, but Cheng Nanyi stopped him,
“I’ll do it.”
Yuan Ting had not yet reached his growth spurt, while Cheng Nanyi was considerably
taller than his peers, so Cheng Nanyi easily scooped up Yuan Ting in a princess carry.
Yuan Ting, who initially thought he could hop along, was pleasantly surprised by this
unexpected embrace.
Well, it saved him the effort of hopping around.
Cheng Nanyi carried Yuan Ting upstairs and laid him on his bed. After setting up a small
table to elevate Yuan Ting’s leg, he asked the butler to bring Dashao up.
Yuan Ting lay on his bed, stroking Dashao while awaiting his gift.
“Silly boy, do you think he might give me his inkstone?” Yuan Ting knew about Cheng
Nanyi's assets; that inkstone was definitely the most valuable.
Cheng Nanyi couldn’t afford a sapphire necklace, but the inkstone was within reach.
Although he didn’t covet the Cheng family’s wealth, he considered it his hard-earned
reward and felt entitled to it.
“Woof…” Dashao, with his fur singed, seemed a bit disheartened, his bark lacking its usual
vigor.
“It’s okay, the fur will grow back.” Yuan Ting patted his bald head, “I’m here with you.
Don’t worry, I’ll buy you the most expensive dog food. I’m grateful and will ensure you
get the best.”
The door opened, and Cheng Nanyi entered with a beautifully wrapped box.
Yuan Ting’s eyes sparkled with excitement. It might not be the inkstone, but with such
exquisite packaging, could it be gold?
Gold was fine too, eight or ten pounds wouldn’t be too much, and three or four pounds
wouldn’t be too little. He was easy to please.
“Yuan Ting, this is my most treasured possession. Now, I’m giving it to you as a thank you
for protecting me in our most dangerous moment.”
That expression and attitude made Yuan Ting think for a second that Cheng Nanyi was
declaring his affection, if only Cheng Nanyi wasn’t just a ten-year-old kid.
But that wasn’t the focus. The focus was on the box.
“Thank you, brother,” Yuan Ting immediately took the box and opened it, with Dashao
also poking his head in.
Four eyes peered into the box simultaneously.
How to describe it? It was... complicated.
The item was indeed precious, Cheng Nanyi’s most treasured possession, guarded in his
study in his past life, untouchable and immovable.
Now, he was giving it to Yuan Ting, which was utterly shocking and incomprehensible to
him.
All he did was form a human stack; it didn’t warrant such an expensive gift.
But this valuable item was actually just... a large seashell.
It was collected by Cheng Nanyi with his father during a visit to the beach when his father
was still alive. His father had picked one and given it to Cheng Nanyi, and Cheng Nanyi
had found one himself. The two seashells were a shared memory between Cheng Nanyi
and his father.
“This one I found myself, and I really like it. There’s another one my dad gave me. Let’s
each have one, okay?” Cheng Nanyi said to Yuan Ting.
Yuan Ting blinked.

“Uh... ah…” Yuan Ting scratched his head, feeling reluctant to accept such a priceless yet
invaluable item.
“What’s wrong? Don’t you like it?” Cheng Nanyi’s grip on the box tightened, a hint of
disappointment in his voice, “This is the most valuable thing I have…”
Yuan Ting couldn’t stand to see Cheng Nanyi looking so pitiful. Didn’t he know he was a
bit of a tyrant in his past life? Who was this pitiable expression for?
“I love it, I really love it.” Yuan Ting took the box and hugged it tightly, his face beaming
with sincerity, “Brother, I really, really like it. Thank you.”
Cheng Nanyi breathed a sigh of relief: “As long as you like it.”
Yuan Ting: “…” Who can understand this, ah…
Cheng Nanyi observed Yuan Ting sitting on the bed, embracing a bald dog, appearing
calm on the surface but experiencing a whirlwind of emotions inside.
Apart from being a bit scruffy, this little guy really was the best in the world.
The very best, without a doubt.
His very own best little guy.
Yuan Ting met Cheng Nanyi’s gaze, unsure of his thoughts, only managing a nervous
laugh as he hugged Dashao tighter: “Silly boy, do you like it?”
Dashao glanced at him, then turned his head away, wagging his tail.
Yuan Ting, almost in tears, thought, see, even the dog is speechless.
Author’s note:
Thank you to the little angels who voted for me and nourished me with nutrient solutions
from 2023-08-03 23:13:39 to 2023-08-04 18:10:32~
Special thanks for the nutrient solutions from: Yin Jieyi, can you not? 20 bottles; Ci Tang
Fei Bi Tang 4 bottles; Yu Ci 2 bottles; XL, Bei Hai 1 bottle;
#35 Chapter 35
Chapter 35
After making sure the little guy was settled, Cheng Nanyi returned to the hospital, where
Mo Yikai sat alone in the corridor, looking lonely and helpless.
Cheng Nanyi walked over and sat beside him.
“Why did you come again?”
“To pick you up.”
“It’s not time yet.”
“Then, I’ll keep you company.”
“Your company won’t change anything,” Mo Yikai’s voice choked up, his hands crossed
and resting on his forehead.
Cheng Nanyi remained silent, staring blankly at the ceiling.
After a while, Mo Yikai asked, “Cheng Nanyi, what did you feel when your dad died?”
“I didn’t feel much because I barely have any memories of him.”
Mo Yikai couldn’t help but snicker, “I wish he were dead, actually.”
As the sun set, a broken-hearted person, after enduring many hardships, had no choice
but to learn to face them.
……
At night, Yuan Ting's foot hurt terribly. Despite applying medicine, it didn’t help much,
and he lay in bed groaning.
Cheng Nanyi brought ice for cold compresses, “I’ll sleep with you tonight.”
“No, no, no…” Yuan Ting, frightened, almost jumped up, “What kind of morbid joke is
that?”
“What’s wrong?” Cheng Shaolin and Shu Zhilan, also in the room, thought something was
seriously wrong, seeing Yuan Ting so agitated.
“I don’t want to disturb brother’s sleep, he doesn’t need to stay with me,” Yuan Ting
explained.
“Yuan Ting is so considerate,” Cheng Shaolin said with a comforting smile. “No problem,
Yuan Ting hasn’t slept with mom for a long time, right? Tonight, you sleep between us,
and your mom and I will both stay with you.”
Yuan Ting: “???” What are you talking about?
Sleep between you two?
Ha, haha, hahaha…
This is the funniest joke he's heard since being reborn.
Cheng Nanyi, observing the dazed little bald head, asked, “So, who do you want to sleep
with, me, or with your uncle and aunt?”
Yuan Ting, with a vacant look in his eyes, blinked as if seeing the mythical figures of Black
and White Impermanence. On his left, Black Impermanence grimly said, “Come this way,
less pain, one swift end.”
On his right, White Impermanence, with a pale face, said, “Come this way, a thousand
cuts, but with a one percent chance of survival.”
“I’ll sleep alone,” Yuan Ting said expressionlessly. “I’m used to sleeping by myself, don’t
push me. If you push me, I’ll jump down.”
The little guy was very headstrong, and no one dared to press him.
After sending everyone away, Yuan Ting lay in bed groaning alone. Damn Mo Zhaohua, it
hurt so much.
The pain of a sprained ankle wasn’t heart-wrenching, but it was grating. Yuan Ting woke
up multiple times throughout the night, hardly getting any good sleep, and hazily noticed
at least two people entering his room to apply ointment and do cold compresses.
Only close to dawn did Yuan Ting finally fall into a deep sleep.
The next day, Cheng Shaolin called in sick for Yuan Ting, allowing him to rest at home.
Yuan Ting, lounging with his feet up, watching TV, and eating chips, felt that faking a
sprained ankle was worthwhile, as it saved him from going to school.
Shu Zhilan still remembered she was a mother, whether just for show or genuinely
caring. She spent the morning with Yuan Ting, playing with the dog, watching TV, and
sharing the pig's trotters soup the nanny made.
"Where’s dad?" Yuan Ting felt uncomfortable with this 'mother-son bonding' time. Not
going to school was great, but Shu Zhilan's presence dampened his enjoyment.
"Painting," Shu Zhilan responded, pursing her lips. "Once he starts, it’s all day, and
nobody can disturb him."
"Why don't you pose for him?"
Shu Zhilan picked up a piece of watermelon and said listlessly, "He can't paint me every
day. Too much of it loses the novelty."
"Oh..." Yuan Ting stole a glance at Shu Zhilan, who sensed his gaze, "Why are you looking
at me?"
"Nothing, just a glance," Yuan Ting swung his feet. "After all, you’re my mom. When I
grow up, you’ll be old. Every look counts."
Shu Zhilan: "..."
"By the way, what exactly is happening with Mo Yikai’s family? Did his father really have
children with another woman?" Gossip is natural, and Shu Zhilan was no exception.
"Seems like it," Yuan Ting pondered, then feigned innocence to ask her, "Mom, do you
think Uncle Mo is trying to harm Aunt Zhu?"
"Maybe," Shu Zhilan looked at her nails, "If it's really him, that's quite impatient."
Yuan Ting shuddered, cautiously turned his face away and asked carefully, "What do you
mean?"
"Don't meddle in adult affairs, child," Shu Zhilan glanced at him, "Not hurting anymore?
I’m going to get my nails done. You play by yourself."
Shu Zhilan slung her bag over her shoulder and left.
Yuan Ting: "......"
At noon, Cheng Nanyi and Mo Yikai came back for lunch. Mo Yikai approached Yuan Ting
and placed a bag in front of him, filled with snacks from the school gate.
Yuan Ting, surprised and delighted, asked, "For me?" Did the sun rise from the west?
Mo Yikai, silent, sat on the sofa hugging Da Shao, appearing distracted and preoccupied.
Cheng Nanyi gently patted Yuan Ting's head, affirming, "Yes, it's all for you."
Suddenly, Mo Yikai stood up, "I'm going to visit my mom at the hospital. Can you ask the
driver to take me?"
"There's not much time at noon. Maybe it's better to go in the evening," the housekeeper
suggested.
Mo Yikai pressed his lips together, not responding. Cheng Nanyi then said, "Let him go.
Have Xiao Zhang accompany him. They can come back in time to pick me up for school."
After Mo Yikai and Xiao Zhang left, the housekeeper sighed, "I used to think Yikai was so
fortunate. How did it come to this... Ah, life is really unpredictable."
After lunch, which would typically be time for a nap, Cheng Nanyi, too restless to sleep,
stayed downstairs to watch TV with Yuan Ting.
"Does it still hurt?" Cheng Nanyi inquired of Yuan Ting.
"It hurts." Yuan Ting lifted his foot and extended it towards Cheng Nanyi, "Will you blow
on it for me?"
！！！
The housekeeper's eyes nearly popped out in shock.
Cheng Nanyi averted his gaze silently, "No need, blowing won't help. Better to keep icing
it."
"Oh," Yuan Ting then turned his foot toward the housekeeper, "Uncle Liu, doesn't my foot
now look like those steamed buns we had for lunch?"
The housekeeper instinctively glanced at Cheng Nanyi, noticing his expressionless face.
Turning to walk towards the kitchen, the housekeeper called out to the nanny, "Let's skip
buns for the next few days and switch to rice."
After resting at home for two days, Yuan Ting grew restless. Not that he wanted to go to
school, but there had been no news from the police. He even saw Mo Zhao Hua's car
coming and going today from the balcony, suggesting the case was challenging to
investigate.
Yuan Ting was helpless but also couldn’t do much. However, the silver lining was that
after such an incident, Mo Zhao Hua wouldn’t dare harm Aunt Zhu anymore, ensuring her
safety.
"What a lousy piece of work," he thought about the scoundrel Mo Zhao Hua.
……
Mo Yikai visited Aunt Zhu at the hospital every day at noon before picking up Cheng
Nanyi for school.
But today, they were over ten minutes late than usual. Just as the housekeeper was about
to call Xiao Zhang for an update, the landline in the living room rang.
Yuan Ting, closer to the phone, answered casually, "Moshi moshi, this is the Cheng
residence, Operator Yuan Ting speaking. Who's this, and whom would you like to speak
with?"
“Young master, Yikai's father fell down the stairs and is now in emergency care,” Xiao
Zhang's panicked voice came from the other end.
“What?” Operator Yuan Ting was stunned.
Unable to find another driver, the housekeeper personally drove Cheng Nanyi and Yuan
Ting to the hospital.
Arriving at the emergency room, they saw Mo Yikai and Xiao Zhang. Xiao Zhang quickly
approached them and quietly explained the situation.
Today, Mo Zhao Hua had also visited the hospital, and everyone ended up meeting there.
Before the police could find evidence, Mo Zhao Hua was still Aunt Zhu's husband, an
unchangeable fact, and no one could restrict his actions.
Aunt Zhu, seeing him, became infuriated, picked up a chair, and was about to smash it on
his head. Chaos ensued, and Mo Yikai then pulled Mo Zhao Hua into the stairwell. Xiao
Zhang, fearing Yikai might get hurt, stood outside listening to their voices. Initially, the
voices were low, but soon escalated into a loud argument, followed by a thud. Rushing in,
Xiao Zhang found Mo Zhao Hua tumbling down the stairs.
Normally, falling down a dozen steps shouldn’t be too serious, perhaps just some bruises,
but it seemed his head had struck something, causing him to lose consciousness.
The three fell silent for a moment, their eyes simultaneously turning to Mo Yikai.
The young boy stood there, head lowered, his slender figure emanating silence and
loneliness.
Yuan Ting swallowed hard and looked away, whispering, “Did the police ask anything?
Any eyewitnesses?” His first thought was that stairwells often lack surveillance, making
many details unclear...
This might be a good thing.
“No police,” Xiao Zhang shook his head, speaking softly, “No one called them, just
summoned a doctor for help.”
Yuan Ting and Cheng Nanyi exchanged glances, realizing, indeed, police involvement
requires a call.
Both turned to Xiao Zhang, who nervously rubbed his hands, “I really didn’t see
anything.”
The emergency room door opened, and a doctor came out, “Family of Mo Zhao Hua?”
Mo Yikai was about to speak when a woman’s voice interrupted, “I’m his wife, you can
talk to me.”
Yuan Ting, hearing this, turned to see Aunt Zhu approaching from the other end of the
hallway.
Aunt Zhu seemed to have recovered quite well physically, looking thinner but otherwise
in good spirits.
“Mr. Mo is currently suffering from a brain hemorrhage and herniation, and he is

unconscious.”
"Brain herniation?"
"Yes, simply put, it’s bleeding in the brain or acute extensive cerebral infarction, leading
to increased intracranial pressure, which is brain herniation."
Yuan Ting touched his neck, thinking it was quite a coincidence. In his previous life, his
stepfather also became a vegetative state after falling down the stairs, so he was quite
knowledgeable in this area. If it was indeed a brain herniation, both the mortality and
disability rates were high. Mo Zhaohua was unlikely to ever return to normal life.
"Please proceed with the surgery, doctor. You must save my husband," Aunt Zhu said
calmly.
After Aunt Zhu signed the critical condition notice, the hospital immediately performed a
craniotomy on Mo Zhaohua.
The surgery was relatively successful. The patient was saved but paralyzed, unable to
move anything below his neck.
Aunt Zhu’s mother, who initially wanted to stab Mo Zhaohua upon hearing the news,
arrived at the hospital to find him lying in bed, drooling with a twisted neck.
"Divorce him," Aunt Zhu’s mother slammed the table, "Divorce him immediately, let him
fend for himself. My daughter's life was completely ruined by him."
"No divorce," Aunt Zhu calmly wiped Mo Zhaohua’s mouth with a tissue, her gaze steady,
"Don't worry, I won’t divorce you. I won't press charges against you either. From now on,
we’ll live together, and I’ll take care of you for the rest of your life."
"Are you crazy, are you out of your mind?" Aunt Zhu’s mother furiously grabbed her
daughter. "You're going to take care of him for the rest of your life? Have you lost your
senses?"
She was so angry she almost fainted and turned to berate Zhu Yanyan, "Why are you
quiet now? Are you happy to see your sister in this mess?"
"Of course," Zhu Yanyan, chewing her gum and blowing a bubble, responded coolly. "I
support my sister's decision not to divorce. All men are the same; who cares who she’s
with? It’s better to stay married." Besides, all the property would now belong to her
sister.
"And, it’s Zhu Yueqiang, not Yanyan," she corrected, stepping forward to look at the
bedridden Mo Zhaohua with a genuine smile, "Brother-in-law, I'll take good care of you
too, don't worry."
Mo Zhaohua blinked in terror and started to murmur unintelligibly, unable to form

coherent words.
"It's okay, no need to rush," Aunt Zhu comforted him. "You can slowly regain your speech.
I’ll be here to help you practice."
"You can do it," Zhu Yueqiang cheered, clenching her fist. "Brother-in-law, I’ll always
support you."
Author's Note:
"Couldn’t sleep last night until 2 AM. Took a melatonin and then slept like a log, didn’t
even wake up for the earthquake."
"Woke up and saw everyone in my neighborhood chat had run downstairs in the middle
of the night, and there I was..."
"So, I lay in bed contemplating what I should take with me if there was an earthquake.
The first thing I thought of was my computer – too much important stuff in there. The
thought of rewriting everything is terrifying."
"But then I realized something even scarier!!! I don’t have any backups of my work, so I
wouldn’t even have the trouble of rewriting!"
"Content and peaceful.jpg"
"Thanks to the little angels who voted for me and watered me with nutrients between
August 4th, 18:10:32, and August 6th, 23:00:50, 2023~"
"Thanks to the angel who dropped a mine: Mu Zilin 1 piece;"
"Thanks for the nutrient fluid: Blue Series 15 bottles; Cloud Shallow 5 bottles; Bada
Horse, huttuu 1 bottle each;"
"Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!"
#36 Chapter 36
Chapter 36
"Life is unpredictable, which Yuan Ting aptly terms as karma."
"After being discharged from the hospital, Aunt Zhu, with her house burned down and
temporarily uninhabitable, had to buy a new one. Consequently, Mo Kai temporarily
stayed at Cheng's house."
"First, for saving Mo Kai's life, and then for taking care of him, Aunt Zhu was extremely
grateful to the Cheng family. She brought a multitude of gifts, practically covering Yuan
Ting and Cheng Nanyi's clothing for all seasons. Besides, she also bought an exclusive
limited-edition bag for Shu Zhilan alone."
"As for Cheng Shaolin and the old man, Aunt Zhu didn’t buy individual gifts. Anything too
cheap wouldn't be appropriate, and anything too expensive they certainly wouldn’t
accept. Therefore, she only brought this gift for the lady of the house."
"Yuan Ting was quite speechless about this and jokingly wrote 'filial son' on a label and
stuck it on his forehead."
"He really was a little money-making expert."
"After all these experiences, Aunt Zhu remained as calm and composed as before. Aunt
Zhu's sister was still her usual irritable self, disliking everyone she saw. The only one who
changed was Mo Kai, who became silent and seldom smiled, a complete contrast to his
previous self."
"Watching from a distance as Mo Kai sat in the toy house in the backyard, lost in thought,
Yuan Ting whispered, 'Brother, do you think Mo Kai might be too traumatized, perhaps
suffering some psychological issues?'"
"Regarding the incident of Mo Zhaohua falling down the stairs, Xiao Zhang claimed he
saw nothing. Whether he spoke the truth or not, he insisted on having seen nothing."
"Yuan Ting and Cheng Nanyi also tacitly never asked Mo Kai about it, and Mo Kai himself
never mentioned it. As for the truth, only Mo Kai knew."
"Yuan Ting hopped over and sat beside Mo Kai. 'Bro, let's chat for a bit?' It's important to
pay attention to a teenager's psychological issues."
"Don’t want to talk," Mo Kai replied.

"Then let's play video games, I'll join you."
"I don't feel like playing either," Mo Kai shook his head.
"Then what do you want to do?" Yuan Ting said, feeling exasperated.
"I want to be alone," Mo Kai gazed up into the sky at a forty-five-degree angle, his
expression distant. "You're somewhat annoying."
Yuan Ting: "......"
Yuan Ting then hopped away again.
Just feeling so irritated.
When Yuan Ting hopped back, he saw Cheng Nanyi sitting motionless on the sofa. Yuan
Ting couldn't help but ask, "Aren’t you worried about Brother Kai?"
"I am worried," Cheng Nanyi replied.
"Then why don’t you go and try to talk to him?" asked Yuan Ting.
Cheng Nanyi calmly said, "It’s obvious he doesn't want to talk. Going there would just be
bothering him."
Yuan Ting: "......" Who's bothering whom?
Cheng Nanyi, your insults are becoming more sophisticated.
Yuan Ting was still very concerned about Mo Kai's mental state. After all, in his previous
life, even someone as emotionally stable as Cheng Nanyi had become twisted after a
series of tragedies. He feared Mo Kai might follow the same path.
Initially, Cheng Nanyi's first symptom was silence.
The next day was Monday again, the start of a new week. Yuan Ting lay half on the sofa,
feet up, full of regret: "Ah, I do want to go to school. I miss the teachers, my classmates,
my little brothers, and the 365 days at school, but..."
Yuan Ting sighed: "Unfortunately, my foot can't walk, so I can't go to school." Saying these
words, his delight seemed to double.
Yuan Ting moved his foot, now less swollen but still bruised: "When can I return to the
school I miss so dearly, alas—"
After delivering his speech, Yuan Ting waved to Mo Kai and Cheng Nanyi, who were
carrying their school bags: “Farewell, my brothers, I stay behind with envious tears.”
Cheng Nanyi, expressionless, had grown accustomed to Yuan Ting's antics. He could tell
which of the little guy's words were true or false. At this moment, he saw no tears, just
drool marks from a good night's sleep.
Mo Kai, slightly frowning, hesitated, then suddenly tossed his backpack into Cheng
Nanyi's arms. Stepping forward, he picked up Yuan Ting and placed him in the
wheelchair: “Yuan Ting, you were injured because of our family. I'll take responsibility
and help you get to and from school. Don’t worry.”
Huh???
What did he just hear? Yuan Ting stared at Mo Kai in shock. What are you talking about?
“Uncle Liu, please grab Yuan Ting’s school bag,” Mo Kai requested the butler.
“Wait, hold on,” Yuan Ting hastily gestured to stop them, his face filled with panic,
“Brother Kai, you, you, you might have misunderstood something…”
“Misunderstood?” Mo Kai looked at Yuan Ting earnestly. “Didn’t you just say you wanted
to go to school?”
“！！！”
My goodness, has he gone completely delusional?
“I know, all of this happened because of our family,” Mo Kai said guiltily. “Don’t worry, I’ll
make it up to you.”
“！！！”
Yuan Ting instinctively looked at Cheng Nanyi. Cheng Nanyi shrugged helplessly and then
turned... and left…
Yuan Ting swallowed hard, noticing a sort of “I’m sincere to you, don’t you dare deceive
me, or I’ll go berserk” kind of madness in Mo Kai’s face…
He wasn’t like this before. In the past, if Yuan Ting had said this, Mo Kai would have
laughed loudly and launched a mocking barrage.
Finally, Yuan Ting managed to squeeze out a sentence: “Thank you, Brother Kai. Then, I’ll
trouble you.”
Yuan Ting was forcibly taken to school by Mo Kai. Upon reaching the classroom building,
Cheng Nanyi carried Yuan Ting, Mo Kai held the wheelchair, and a group of classmates
followed them in a grand entrance into the classroom.
As a notable figure in the school, Yuan Ting maintained a calm demeanor, indifferent and
nonchalant, as if he didn’t care at all.
When Duan Wenzhe saw Yuan Ting, he was stunned: "Boss, what happened to your hair?
How did you become bald in just a few days?"
Bald?
Bald!!!
Yuan Ting glared resentfully at Duan Wenzhe, thinking, ‘You wait, I’ll make you pay for
those words.’
“Yuan Ting, what happened to your hair?” Gu Yuzi tugged at his clothes and whispered.
“…” Turning to Gu Yuzi, Yuan Ting mumbled and then bluffed, “My mom consulted a
master who said if I shave my head, I’d rank first in the final exams this year.”
“Really? You’re that superstitious?” Duan Wenzhe was skeptical.
“Me, superstitious?” Yuan Ting scoffed, “Doesn’t your family worship the God of Wealth,
Bodhisattva, and Guanyin?”
Most of their classmates’ parents were businesspeople, who tended to believe in such
things.
As expected, Duan Wenzhe fell silent upon hearing this; his family indeed had such a
practice, and his father was quite devout.
Kang Xiaoyu, from the front row, turned around with sarcasm in his eyes: “Didn’t the
master foresee your sprained ankle?”
“I visited the master after I sprained my ankle. He said it was fate. You wouldn’t
understand. Look at Ikkyu, how smart he is being bald. Monks shave their heads because
hair growth takes away nutrients needed by brain cells, making them dull and poor in
studies.”
“I see…” Duan Wenzhe, touching his hair, started to believe it a bit.
“Stop spouting nonsense. Gu Yuzi ties her hair in braids and still tops the grade,” retorted
Kang Xiaoyu, sharp-witted as always.
“That’s because her brain has enough nutrients to spare; it’s not affected by hair growth.
You guys are naturally slow and still have hair. If you don’t rank at the bottom, who will?”
Duan Wenzhe, who ranks last: “……”
Kang Xiaoyu, second to last: “……”
“You don’t believe it, do you?” Yuan Ting snorted with a laugh. “Come on, test me. Ask me
something we haven’t learned yet. You’ll see if I know it.”
After a few seconds of hesitation, Gu Yuzi flipped to an unlearned chapter in the textbook
and asked, “What is five plus eight times six?”
Yuan Ting sneered and promptly answered, “Fifty-three.”
“That’s correct.” Gu Yuzi, surprised, saw the answer in her book. “Yuan Ting, you're really
amazing, so quick at calculating.” She could solve these problems, but not as quickly as
Yuan Ting.
“Just average.” Yuan Ting patted his bald head and shrugged. “Don’t be disheartened.
After all, I don’t have hair, so being a bit smarter than you is normal.”
Duan Wenzhe: “……” Our bald leader is so impressive.
Kang Xiaoyu: “……” Hmph...
With that, those kids who wanted to mock Yuan Ting’s baldness were thoroughly
silenced.
Yuan Ting hummed to himself, thinking, ‘Mock my baldness? Better wait for your next
life.’
“I am the coolest bald kid in the second grade, class three.”
Knowledge can overcome everything! Indeed, it's the truth.
During the break, Mo Kai and Cheng Nanyi appeared in the second-grade third class; they
were there to help Yuan Ting go to the bathroom.
One person held him, while another person carried his wheelchair, taking turns to escort
him to the restroom.
Yuanting couldn't understand why he had to stand on one leg in the restroom to urinate.
He should have been comfortably lying at home.
With a resentful gaze, he looked at Mo Yikai, who still had that lifeless look, as if his soul
had been sucked away.
After returning home at noon, Yuanting found an opportunity to sneak away from Mo
Yikai and whispered in Cheng Nanyi's ear, "Big brother, Onekai is really not normal."
"I've noticed," Cheng Nanyi nodded. "Keep observing. If it doesn't get better, tell Aunt Zhu
and have her take him to see a psychologist."
"Okay," Yuanting sighed, feeling exhausted. He hadn't finished sighing when he saw Mo
Yikai approaching. Mo Yikai had a calm expression as he looked at the two of them and
said, "Yuanting, Cheng Nanyi, let's become sworn brothers."
"Sworn brothers?" Cheng Nanyi furrowed his brow in disbelief.
"Yes, I've thought about it for several days. That night was so dangerous, thanks to both
of you. Otherwise, my mom, my aunt, and I might already be dead. You two are my
lifesavers, so let's become sworn brothers."
Could they refuse?
Looking at Mo Yikai's sincere and determined gaze, Yuanting, who had been imprisoned
for four years, told you that they couldn't.
However...
"Where does the fourth person come from?" Yuanting asked cautiously. He was pretty
sure Mo Yikai wasn't normal anymore, considering he couldn't even count properly.
There were only three of them here, at best.
Could it be... he developed a split personality?
Yuanting, as a devoted fan of Hong Kong dramas, already had another image of Mo Yikai
in his mind – one that was strong and hot-tempered. This personality emerged to protect
the vulnerable Mo Yikai, and perhaps the one in the stairwell that day was the other Mo
Yikai...
Oh my god...
"One," Mo Yikai pointed to Yuanting, then to Cheng Nanyi, "Two," and finally pointed to
himself, "Three."
Yuanting swallowed hard.

Finally, Mo Yikai stretched out his hand again, pointing towards the figure lying at Yuan
Ting's feet, eyes closed, resting... Big Silly!
Yuan Ting: "..."
Uh...
Like, speechlessness opening the door for more speechlessness, speechlessness has
arrived home!
"I don't." Before Yuan Ting could complete his speechless response, Cheng Nanyi
decisively rejected the idea, finding it too absurd.
"You're rejecting me?" Mo Yikai looked at Cheng Nanyi, unable to believe what he had
heard.
Cheng Nanyi, without any hesitation and about to admit it, was suddenly silenced by a
small hand covering his mouth.
Cheng Nanyi turned to look at Yuan Ting, who was frantically signaling him with his eyes,
urging him not to provoke him, not to provoke him, as the incubation period maniac
should not be agitated.
If Cheng Nanyi angered Mo Yikai, the stimulated Mo Yikai might even end up imprisoning
Cheng Nanyi in the future...
This thought was too thrilling to entertain; the mere idea was exhilarating!
After enjoying the thrill, Yuan Ting returned to reality and cautiously looked at Mo Yikai:
"Is becoming sworn brothers the only option?"
"Yes," Mo Yikai stubbornly said, "You three are my best friends, how can you refuse me?"
Yuan Ting wasn't too resistant to the idea of becoming sworn brothers with a dog, but
Cheng Nanyi would definitely not accept it.
Yuan Ting looked again at Cheng Nanyi and, as expected, saw the same uncompromising
expression.
Sigh, dealing with either an incubator maniac or a reservist maniac is difficult.
Yuan Ting had a sudden inspiration: "How about we ask the dog if it agrees?"
Author's Note:
A big thank you to all the little angels who supported me with their Overlord Votes and
Nutrient Solutions from August 6, 2023, 23:00:50 to August 7, 2023, 20:44:11~
Special thanks to the little angels for their Nutrient Solutions: ran (51 bottles); Heihei (8
bottles); Fanfeng (4 bottles); Kan Kan, Shu Chen, and The Helpless Salty Fish (1 bottle
each);
I'm deeply grateful for everyone's support and will continue to work hard!
#37 Chapter 37
Chapter 37
Does the dog agree?
The dog seems not to understand.
"I'm its owner, so I'll agree on its behalf," Mo Yikai said.
Yuan Ting glanced at Cheng Nanyi, whose face was quite displeased, and jokingly asked:
“How old is Big Silly this year?”
"Just over six months, not yet a year old," Mo Yikai replied.
"Oh, haha..." Yuan Ting laughed, patting Cheng Nanyi's shoulder reassuringly, "No
worries, just treat it like gaining a little brother, relax…" Then he whispered into Cheng
Nanyi’s ear, audible only to the two of them: "Just play along, don't provoke him."
Cheng Nanyi, with a stern face, thought accepting the role of a younger brother was
somewhat bearable.
Seeing Cheng Nanyi’s softening stance, Yuan Ting breathed a sigh of relief. Wasn't it tough
for him?
"Not a younger brother, but an older brother," Mo Yikai corrected seriously, "A dog's life
is short. At over six months, a dog is like a teenager, so I am the eldest brother, Big Silly is
the second, and you two are the younger brothers."
Yuan Ting: "???" Are you joking with me?
Mo Yikai, I'm warning you, don't push your luck.
"Less than six months, let's say nine years old," Cheng Nanyi said coldly.
Nine years old?
Mo Yikai glanced at Cheng Nanyi, hesitated for a moment without speaking, seemingly
agreeing.
And so, Yuan Ting found himself dazedly participating in the swearing of brotherhood.
Mo Yikai held the dog's head, Cheng Nanyi held his, as the three men and a dog bowed
towards the distance.
Mo Yikai: "With the heavens above and the earth below, today the four of us become
brothers here, to share our fortunes and face our challenges together, unswerving until
death."
Cheng Nanyi: "..." Just speechless.
Big Silly: "Woof..."
Yuan Ting: "Huh?" Did he just gain three brothers like that?
Why did he feel like he was the only one hurt in this?
But after the ceremony, Mo Yikai seemed much happier, even eating an extra bowl at
lunch.
Well, as long as he's happy, it's fine.
Maybe he's just deeply shaken and needs more security; they should offer him more love
now.
Yuan Ting, petting Big Silly's head: "Third Brother Dog, do you like eating poop as much
as my other two brothers?"
Big Silly: "Woof woof woof... woof woof woof..."
Yuan Ting dodged Big Silly's playful headbutt: "Why the rush now?"
……
After school in the afternoon, Aunt Zhu came to take Mo Yikai to her place for dinner, so
Mo Yikai didn't stay at Cheng's house that night.
Seizing the opportunity, the next morning Yuan Ting threw a tantrum, complaining of
foot pain and refusing to go to school. Without Mo Yikai, the incubation period maniac, no
one could stop Yuan Ting.
However, Yuan Ting's foot really was inconvenient for school, still aching, so Cheng
Shaolin made a call to excuse him for another day.
Yuan Ting once again relished lounging on the couch, his feet up, watching TV and
munching on chips, basking in a sense of rebirth.
Shu Zhilan went out with a wealthy friend for a shopping spree, and Cheng Shaolin,
having a light schedule, stayed home, watching TV with Yuan Ting and even
enthusiastically prepared a bowl of salt-free, lovingly made noodles for him.
Yuan Ting, somewhat speechless, shared half of it with his Dog Third Brother: "Share joys
and sorrows alike!"
Witnessing this, Cheng Shaolin was greatly impressed: "Our little Ting really has a heart
of gold, such a kind child."
Yuan Ting: "..." Just speechless.
The phone rang, and Yuan Ting answered: "Moshi moshi, this is the Cheng residence,
operator Little Ting speaking. May I ask who you're looking for?"
"Is this Mr. Cheng's house? There is a Mr. Yuan here to visit at the front gate."
"Mr. Yuan?" Yuan Ting immediately sat up straight, "Which Mr. Yuan?"
"He said his name is Yuan Qingguang."
Yuan Qingguang?
His biological father?
Why has he come here?
"Let him in," Yuan Ting quickly said.
Hearing the voice, Cheng Shaolin looked over. Yuan Ting hung up the phone and, blinking
innocently, looked at Cheng Shaolin: "Dad, my biological father's here, I've let him in."
"Your biological dad?" Cheng Shaolin was somewhat surprised. Realizing the situation, he
quickly said, "Of course, Uncle Liu, hurry to the front gate to welcome him."
Yuan Ting was also quite surprised; his biological father had never visited the Cheng
residence in his past life, only once confronted him at the school gate.
It must have been around this time, Yuan Ting didn't remember clearly.
It's impossible to remember everything, especially from childhood. You only selectively
remember the most impactful things.
Yuan Ting remembered that Yuan Qingguang once stopped him at the school gate for a
chat. He couldn't recall what was said, but one sentence stuck with him: "Yuan Ting, your
dad won't be your dad anymore. Let's end our father-son relationship here."
Since then, these words had been deeply etched in Yuan Ting's memory, even in his
second life.
Because back then, he had been very upset.
After that, Yuan Qingguang truly never visited Yuan Ting again. Yuan Ting occasionally
saw him when visiting his grandmother, but they barely spoke, and Yuan Qingguang even
avoided him.
Uncle Liu soon led a middle-aged man back. Cheng Shaolin warmly greeted him: "Hello,
you must be Yuan Ting's dad. My name is Cheng Shaolin."
"Hello, hello," Yuan Qingguang greeted Cheng Shaolin awkwardly, then quickly explained,
"I just wanted to see Little Ting at the school gate, but I haven't seen him for a few days. I
saw him yesterday and noticed his injured foot. This morning, I couldn't find him again,
so I was really worried and decided to visit. Sorry for the intrusion."
"No problem at all, you're just concerned about your child," Cheng Shaolin gestured
invitingly, "Please, come sit over here. Yuan Ting is here. Uncle Liu, please bring some
tea."
Yuan Qingguang took a few steps forward, meeting the gaze of his son, who sat on the
sofa with his foot propped up.
The man in his early thirties looked like he was in his forties, appearing much older than
Cheng Shaolin, who was actually in that age group.
Perhaps due to the heavy blows life had dealt him in recent years, Yuan Qingguang's eyes
lacked sparkle, revealing only world-weariness and fatigue.
"Xiaoting, how's your foot?" Yuan Qingguang asked with concern.
Seeing Yuan Ting just blinking and not speaking, Cheng Shaolin spoke up: "It's just a
sprain. He needs some rest and he'll be fine. Mr. Yuan, you needn't worry."
"Oh, that's good. Make sure to take care of it properly. Don't be too active too soon, or it
might lead to complications," Yuan Qingguang advised Yuan Ting.
Yuan Ting remained silent.
Yuan Qingguang felt awkward, his gaze lingering on Yuan Ting's face for a while before
reluctantly addressing Cheng Shaolin: "Well, now that I've seen my son, I'll leave. I've
brought some snacks he likes, all bought from the supermarket… you can be assured..."
"You've just arrived and hardly spoken," Cheng Shaolin patted Yuan Ting's head, "Why
don't you call him to stay?"
Yuan Ting still didn't speak.
Cheng Shaolin looked between them: "I have some work to attend to, I'll make a call
upstairs. Mr. Yuan, please don't hurry off, could you look after Yuan Ting for me?"
After saying this, Cheng Shaolin signaled the butler and went upstairs.
Having heard some things about Yuan Qingguang from Shu Zhilan, Cheng Shaolin didn't
have a good impression of her former husband. But a husband and a father are different
roles, and he couldn't deny Yuan Ting the chance to connect with his father just because
Yuan Qingguang wasn't a good spouse.
So, Cheng Shaolin didn't truly leave Yuan Ting in his care. The butler, understanding his
signal, discreetly stood in a corner, watching the father and son.
Yuan Qingguang stood beside Yuan Ting, awkward and unsure. It had been a long time
since he last saw his son. Yuan Ting had grown a lot, but his gaze was that of a stranger,
which pained Yuan Qingguang.
"Xiaoting, are you doing well here?"
"Yes." Yuan Ting nodded, finally speaking his first words.
Yuan Qingguang gave a bitter smile, sighed, and gently touched Yuan Ting's head: "Son,
don't worry, your dad won't hold you back. You don't need to worry about me becoming
a burden to you in the future. I won't depend on you, and you don't need to take care of
me in my old age. Just consider Mr. Cheng as your real father and live your own life. I
can't provide you with a stable life, nor will I become a burden to you. That's probably the
best I can do for you."
As he spoke, Yuan Qingguang couldn't help sniffling, his voice choked with emotion: "I'm
not capable enough, let's end our father-son relationship here. I won't come to see you
anymore. Live a good life, make something of yourself."
Having said that, Yuan Qingguang turned and walked away.
Yuan Ting blinked; the words he remembered differed significantly from what Yuan
Qingguang had just said.
Watching Yuan Qingguang's lonely figure, Yuan Ting rubbed his face helplessly, realizing
that it was his seven-year-old self who had misunderstood his father's words.
No wonder Yuan Qingguang, despite his hardships, had never sought out his son in his
previous life.
Of course, Yuan Ting couldn't simply base his feelings on these few words, but he still
needed to go to his father in the future, with plenty of time to understand in detail.
"Dad..." Yuan Ting called out.
Yuan Qingguang turned in surprise, incredulous: "Did you call me?"
"Yes, I called you." Yuan Ting patted the sofa beside him, "Sit down."
Yuan Qingguang swallowed hard, disbelieving his son's sudden warmth and awkwardly
sat down, even reaching out to touch his foot: "Does it hurt?"
"It hurts," Yuan Ting yelled, "Uncle Liu, has my dad finished his call? The tea's gone cold."
The butler hurriedly responded, "Oh, right, I'll check."
Cheng Shaolin soon reappeared, seeing a much warmer atmosphere between Yuan
Qingguang and Yuan Ting, he felt quite happy. After all, children should be happy, and the
rest is for adults to handle. Especially after the recent events in the Mo family, Cheng
Shaolin realized how fragile children are and how much love they need to grow up
healthy.
"Dad..." Yuan Ting called out, and both men looked at him, responding in unison, "Ah..."
Then they exchanged glances, sharing an awkward smile.
Yuan Ting also started to laugh. Was this awkwardness just beginning?
What followed was even more awkward.
"Dad, why did you and Mom divorce?" Yuan Ting asked Yuan Qingguang innocently.
As expected, both Cheng Shaolin and Yuan Qingguang were taken aback, and even the
butler's expression cracked. The young master sure dared to ask; truly, the frankness of a
child.
Yuan Ting thought: Come on, biological dad, here's your chance to openly criticize your
ex-wife, to reveal how she coveted your money and betrayed you. Vent your grievances,
let the world explode for a moment.
Yuan Ting looked expectantly at Yuan Qingguang. Dad, this is a rare opportunity, don't
disappoint me.
Yuan Qingguang, awkward and unsure of what to say, was about to be further pressed by
Yuan Ting when the phone rang again.
Ah, the timing of this call couldn't be more perfect.
Yuan Ting, in a fit of temper, picked up the phone: "Moshi moshi, Cheng residence,
operator Little Ting speaking. May I ask who's calling?" Though slightly irritated, he
maintained his manners.
"There's a Teacher Zhao on the line, claiming to be your young master's homeroom
teacher. She's requesting a home visit. Shall I let her in?"
"Teacher Zhao? A home visit?" Yuan Ting widened his eyes in surprise. Why a home visit?
Is it to check on the prominent patient?
Hearing Yuan Ting's words, Cheng Shaolin took over the phone, inquired briefly, then
said, "Please let her in."
After hanging up, Cheng Shaolin turned to Yuan Qingguang: "Mr. Yuan, please have a seat.
Yuan Ting's teacher has come for a home visit, I'll go and receive her."
It's three in the afternoon, and a teacher is making a home visit?
"Xiaoting, have you done something wrong?" Yuan Qingguang whispered.
"No, how could I, such a well-behaved child, do anything wrong?" Yuan Ting's claim was
based on solid ground, having not attended school for several days. "It must be because of
my foot injury. The teacher is probably visiting me out of concern." After all, it was a
prestigious school, and such courtesy was expected.
Soon, Teacher Zhao followed Cheng Shaolin into the room, carrying a gift, confirming
Yuan Ting's guess. She was indeed representing the school to visit him.
Author's Note:
A big thank you to the little angels who supported me with their Overlord Votes and
Special thanks to the little angels for their Nutrient Solutions: Ning Weiyi, Shishi Dashi
(10 bottles each); 180.94 (6 bottles); Girl's Skirt (3 bottles); Never Fail Exams!, Eating
Watermelon Without Spitting Seeds (1 bottle each);
#38 Chapter 38
Chapter 38
"Yuan Ting, how's your foot feeling?" Teacher Zhao asked warmly.
"Thank you, teacher, my foot is much better. I was at school yesterday, remember? You're
too kind." Yuan Ting grinned, "Don't worry, teacher, as soon as my foot is healed, I'll
return to school. And about my homework, no need to worry. My brother will help me
with it. You know him, he's really smart."
"Yuan Ting, you're such a good boy," Teacher Zhao said, patting his head.
"I apologize for the inconvenience, Teacher Zhao," Cheng Shaolin said.
"It's no trouble at all, Mr. Cheng."
After checking on Yuan Ting, Teacher Zhao didn't seem to have any intention of leaving,
leading to a somewhat awkward atmosphere in the living room.
Yuan Ting sensed something amiss, and Cheng Shaolin, noticing Teacher Zhao's
hesitance, proactively asked, "Teacher Zhao, has Yuan Ting caused any trouble at
school?"
Yuan Ting: "..."
How could I possibly cause trouble? I'm not a little kid, hmph.
"No trouble per se," Teacher Zhao chuckled nervously, "It's just that, well..."
Cheng Shaolin: "Please feel free to speak openly, Teacher Zhao."
"It's like this, Mr. Cheng. This morning during class, three boys in the class shaved their
heads, two girls cut their braids into ear-length bobs, and in the class next door, two more
boys also shaved their heads. I've received numerous calls from parents complaining that
their children are insisting on getting their heads shaved."
Cheng Shaolin: "???"
Yuan Qingguang: "???"
Yuan Ting: "???"

Both fathers and the son blinked in confusion. What did Teacher Zhao mean? It was as if
they were not on the same planet.
Shave their heads? What's this about shaving heads?
Yuan Qingguang's gaze fell on Yuan Ting's head. Right, why was his son bald now? What
happened to his curly hair?
Seeing their confusion, Teacher Zhao elaborated, "Well, it seems Yuan Ting mentioned
something at school about shaving heads making one smarter, and many students
believed it..."
Cheng Shaolin and Yuan Qingguang turned to look at Yuan Ting.
Yuan Ting: "??? Huh???"
"Who shaved their heads?" Yuan Ting looked at Teacher Zhao incredulously, as if he had
heard the biggest joke ever.
Teacher Zhao sighed, "Duan Wenzhe, Kang Xiaoyu, and your desk mate Wang Hui. Gu
Yuqi cut her braids. Her mother called, insisting on shaving her head, claiming if she
didn't, she wouldn't be able to top the class in the final exams. She cried so much, her
mother finally agreed to just cut it short instead of shaving. Also, two boys from the next
class, one a neighbor of Duan Wenzhe and the other Kang Xiaoyu's cousin, claimed that
shaving their heads would guarantee a perfect score in the next exam."
Yuan Ting: "..." Holy cow, this, this, this...
Speechless and returning home late again without a key, his mother came for the nth
time to open the door for him. Speechless, you're home again...
Are elementary students so easily swayed nowadays?
Are they really elementary students? Don’t they think?
Well, they are indeed elementary students.
For a moment, Yuan Ting was dazed, thinking: Damn it, could he possibly switch careers
to sales?
He never thought he had such potential.
Clearly, Cheng Shaolin hadn't expected this either, shocked and at a loss for words, not
even sure how to resolve this.
"Xiaoting, did you really say that to your classmates?" Cheng Shaolin looked at Yuan Ting.
Yuan Ting blinked, tacitly admitting it.
Cheng Shaolin: "..."
"Then, teacher, how should we resolve this?"
Teacher Zhao hastily replied, "It's not really about resolving. I came today mainly to say
that Yuan Ting is really smart, but the other kids in the class might be too young to
distinguish reality, so they easily believed him. I hope Yuan Ting can be more careful with
his words in the future."
"Oh, sure, sure, I'll teach him properly," Cheng Shaolin hurriedly responded.
"Then, Teacher, you should advise their parents to teach them not to believe others so
easily. We can't stop my son from speaking, right? My son hasn't done anything wrong.
Why should he watch his words?" Yuan Qingguang couldn't help but grumble.
Holy cow!!!
Yuan Ting looked at Yuan Qingguang in surprise. Dad, you're awesome, your thinking is
almost as sharp as our young master's.
Teacher Zhao felt a bit awkward. Well, that does make sense.
"I'm sorry, Teacher," Yuan Ting immediately said loudly, "It was my fault. I will correct
my behavior and ensure I am an obedient and good student in the future."
"Yes, yes," Cheng Shaolin nodded, thinking to himself that actually, Yuan Ting's biological
father made a good point. Believing Yuan Ting's words and shaving their heads, do these
students really not think? Can Yuan Ting really be blamed?
After sipping her tea, Teacher Zhao added, "Mr. Cheng, I genuinely think that Yuan Ting is
incredibly smart."
"That's true," Cheng Shaolin agreed somewhat absently, "Xiaoting is indeed very
intelligent."
Yuan Qingguang also nodded. That's a fair comment, the teacher made a good point
today.
Yuan Ting: "..."
"Speaking of which," Teacher Zhao's eyes lit up, "Mr. Cheng, I think Xiaoting can really be
nurtured further. His logical, learning, and mathematical abilities are some of the best
I've seen in a child. I believe he's a genius. You must cultivate his talents. He could join a
program for gifted youths, explore his potential, or even enroll him in special courses.
He's truly too smart to be wasted."
Cheng Shaolin and Yuan Qingguang's eyes shone upon hearing this; Yuan Ting is a genius.
Yuan Ting: "..." Ha, haha, hahaha...
He decided to start calling himself "Speechless" from today.
Teacher Zhao's visit wasn't about demanding an explanation, after all, it wasn't a case of
fighting or bullying. Her actual goal was to encourage the parents to guide Yuan Ting not
to instigate classmates to shave their heads at school anymore. Having achieved her
purpose, Teacher Zhao then left.
Cheng Shaolin personally saw Teacher Zhao out, and Yuan Qingguang, not wishing to
overstay his welcome, also took his leave.
Before leaving, Yuan Qingguang whispered to Yuan Ting, "Son, you're a genius. Your dad
is proud of you."
Yuan Ting: "..." You think with your brains, you could have a genius kid?
Cheng Shaolin, after seeing off the teacher, coincidentally met Yuan Qingguang at the
door.
Hesitating for a moment, Yuan Qingguang said to Cheng Shaolin, "Mr. Cheng, Yuan Ting is
still young and sometimes doesn't measure his words. Please be patient with him. His
mother is a good woman. We just weren't meant to be. I wish you both happiness."
"Thank you," Cheng Shaolin patted his shoulder, "You too."
Yuan Ting, standing on one leg behind the door, thought, "Is this a meet-up of two
ultimate romantics?"
Yuan Ting took a deep breath, feeling equal disdain for anyone infatuated with love,
regardless of gender!!!
But from another perspective, his mother was frighteningly clear-headed – for her, apart
from money and status, everything else was just a passing cloud.
Upon returning, Cheng Shaolin picked up Yuan Ting and playfully tossed him in the air,
"Son, turns out you're a genius. Dad can't hold you back. Tomorrow, let's go to the
hospital to test your IQ. If you're truly a genius, don't worry, no matter the cost, I'll ensure
you're well nurtured."
The butler nodded, "Earlier, the young master also mentioned having the little master's
IQ tested."
"Really?" Cheng Shaolin looked at the butler, surprised, "Did Nanyi already see that our
little Ting is a genius? It seems I haven't paid enough attention to Xiaoting."
"Ha..." The butler chuckled dryly. It wasn't exactly like that.
At dinner, the old master was away on a business trip, but Mo Yikai had returned,
seeming in better spirits than the past few days.
As usual, Cheng Shaolin inquired about school matters. Usually, Yuan Ting would answer,
but since he didn't attend school today, Cheng Nanyi responded instead.
Normally, Cheng Nanyi's response would be a simple "Pretty good," but today, feeling
better, he wanted to share more about school with Yuan Ting. He said, "Today at school,
everyone was talking about how shaving your head can make you smarter. Yuan Ting,
inadvertently, became the smartest person in the whole school."
Yuan Ting: "..."
"Yes, I saw several little bald heads during the recess. Can't believe people actually fell for
that," Mo Yikai scoffed, "Must be fools."
Yuan Ting bowed his head and ate his rice ferociously. You're the fool.
After a moment of thought, Cheng Nanyi suddenly said, "One of those little bald heads is
your friend, right, Yuan Ting?"
"Ah?" Yuan Ting slowly looked up, "Do I have friends?"
Mo Yikai: "Right, it's that short, chubby kid, isn't it? How did he end up bald too?"
Such a coincidence, really too coincidental.
"Did your homeroom teacher really just come to see you today?" Before dinner, Cheng
Nanyi had heard from the butler about Yuan Ting's teacher's visit. A homeroom teacher
visiting a student is normal, and he hadn't thought much of it, but now it seemed a bit
odd.
Mo Yikai also suddenly became more perceptive, looking incredulously at Yuan Ting: "It
couldn't be related to you, could it?"
Yuan Ting: "..." Really annoying.
Annoying just keeps knocking at the door, and here it is again.
Why ask about such nonsense?
Want to experience it yourself?
"Alright, I'll indulge you all."
Cheng Shaolin, sitting to the side and enjoying his porridge, couldn't help but smile at the
lively atmosphere. Ever since Yuan Ting joined the family, things had become so much
more vibrant.
The butler also wore an expression of watching an entertaining show.
Yuan Ting put down his chopsticks and elegantly wiped his mouth, then looked at the two
men: "Here's the thing, dear brothers, Duan Wenzhe, the short, chubby kid you
mentioned, is indeed my friend. After hearing about my glorious feat, he admired me
greatly. As my best friend, he couldn't bear to see me suffer the baldness alone, so he
decided to share my hardship and got himself a shaved head too."
"And look at my Dog Third Brother," Yuan Ting pointed at his feet, his voice taking on an
announcer's tone, "For me, my beautiful Dog Third Brother even went bald. What a
deeply moving brotherly bond."
"But then, look at my two brothers..." Yuan Ting covered his chest in exaggerated pain,
"When we became sworn brothers, we spoke of life and death together, of sharing weal
and woe. But now, as both I and my Dog Third Brother are in this state, you, you, you..."
Yuan Ting pointed at them, his hand shaking like a sieve, perfectly dramatizing his
anguish.
Cheng Nanyi: "..."
Mo Yikai: "..."
They were just having a casual chat, not expecting to become the target.
Cheng Shaolin couldn't help but applaud, looking at his son's logic, thinking skills, and
verbal agility – wasn't this a clear sign of a genius? This IQ must be at least 220.
But... wasn't the teacher's visit about something else, about shaving heads to become
smarter?
No matter, as long as his son was smart, that was what counted.
Tomorrow they would test his IQ, and then consider enrolling him in a program for gifted
youths. Perhaps he could even attend a top university like Tsinghua or Peking in his
teens.
"I'm done eating," Cheng Nanyi quickly got up from the table.
"Me too," Mo Yikai also put down his chopsticks and left in a hurry.
Their retreating figures were both comical and resolute.
Yuan Ting chuckled and turned to Cheng Shaolin: "Dad, according to the Cheng family
rules, everyone has to wait until everyone's finished eating before leaving the table. They
should be punished."
"Hmm." Cheng Shaolin nodded. "Yes, there should be a penalty."
Yuan Ting picked up his chopsticks to continue eating. He had felt a bit guilty before,
considering they were sworn brothers. He thought it would be bad to leave them behind,
but now, well, men's words are as unreliable as ghosts. All that talk about brotherhood,
it's just about shaving heads. They were so scared, not even as brave as his Dog Brother.
"Here, Dog Brother, have a bone." Yuan Ting tossed a bone to Big Silly.
Big Silly: "Woof..."
See, this is real socialist brotherhood.
……
When Shu Zhilan returned home late in the evening, she was initially in a good mood.
However, upon hearing from the butler that Yuan Qingguang had visited, she turned pale
and rushed to Yuan Ting's room to check if Yuan Qingguang had said anything
inappropriate.
Yuan Ting, with his feet propped up and lying on the bed while petting Dog Brother,
innocently shook his head: "I don't know. They were whispering together for a long time
and didn't let me hear. I didn't catch what they said."
Shu Zhilan's expression darkened even more.
Seeing Shu Zhilan leave, Yuan Ting quickly got up and hopped on one foot to the door of
his parents' bedroom, stealthily pressing his ear against the door.
Cheng Shaolin recounted the day's events, including the teacher's home visit, but Shu
Zhilan was preoccupied, only concerned about Yuan Qingguang.
"Did he say anything bad about me?" she asked in a coquettish tone.
Yuan Ting shivered.
"Of course not, if he dared speak ill of you, I would have dealt with him."
"The most important thing between spouses is mutual trust. Without that, there’s no
point in us being together."
"Absolutely," Cheng Shaolin chuckled softly, "I love you so much, my beautiful and gentle
little orchid."
"I love you too, my brave warrior."
！！！
Yuan Ting was stunned, standing petrified at the door.
His ears, they must be dirty now.
Ahhhhhhhh...
This world is too crazy. Who will save him?
Cheng Nanyi, stepping out, saw Yuan Ting standing rigidly in the hallway, puzzled: "What
are you doing?"
Yuan Ting, dazed, extended his arms: "Hug."
Cheng Nanyi moved forward to embrace him, noticing the fine goosebumps on Yuan
Ting’s pale, slender arms.
"You saw a ghost or something?"
"Heh, hehe, hehehe..."
Speechless, his mother opens the door and says to Speechless, "Can you please go far, far
away?"
Author's Note:
Special thanks to the little angels for their Nutrient Solutions: 180.94 (5 bottles); Xi
Xingye (1 bottle);
#39 Chapter 39
Chapter 39
The next day, Cheng Shaolin and Shu Zhilan took Yuan Ting to the hospital for an IQ test.
Shu Zhilan was skeptical about her son being a genius. She had never found him to be
smarter than others, though he was quite adept at causing trouble, leading her to suspect
he might have ADHD.
However, she wouldn't take Yuan Ting to get checked for ADHD on her own initiative; if it
turned out to be true, the Cheng family might look down upon it.
"If Xiaoting truly has a high IQ, we mustn't waste his potential. Plus, he's seven now, it's
time to enroll him in interest classes like art, music, or dance," Cheng Shaolin said.
"Thank you, dear," Shu Zhilan responded, visibly moved.
Yuan Ting: "..."
After Yuan Ting completed the IQ test, Cheng Shaolin looked at the doctor expectantly:
"How is it, doctor? What's my son's IQ?"
The doctor glanced at Yuan Ting, who was sitting in the chair blinking his clear, large
eyes, hesitating.
"What's the matter?" Cheng Shaolin asked eagerly, "Is my son's IQ so high that it startled
you?"
The doctor: "..." You really dare to dream!
An IQ of 70 indeed surprised the doctor. Yuan Ting didn't seem dull at all, but the test
results were clear.
"IQ can increase with age, so we shouldn't only focus on the present score," the doctor
said.
Cheng Shaolin was equally shocked by the score of 70. How could it be? Yuan Ting was
widely praised as a genius.
Observing Cheng Shaolin's bewildered expression, Yuan Ting sneered inwardly. Wanting
him to study was out of the question. In that case, he'd rather be considered dim-witted.
"My son is indeed a genius," Cheng Shaolin adjusted his mindset, patting Yuan Ting's
head. "The doctor confirmed it, son, you are a genius."
Look at these well-intentioned lies.
Yuan Ting nodded, "Yes, Dad, I know I am a genius."
After saying this, Yuan Ting noticed a change in his mother's gaze.
Yuan Ting scoffed. What, didn't expect to have a dim-witted child?
Actually, he had restrained himself. He initially thought of scoring just twenty or thirty,
but feared such a low score might shock Cheng Shaolin.
Truthfully, Cheng Shaolin was still doubtful and considered taking him to another
hospital for a retest. But what if the result was the same, leaving no hope at all?
Avoiding the truth out of fear, so that's what it feels like.
"Don't worry, Xiaoting seems quite spirited to me. We shouldn't take these tests too
seriously," Cheng Shaolin tried to comfort Shu Zhilan.
Shu Zhilan then worriedly asked, "Dear, do you think our child would be intelligent?"
"Xiaoting is intelligent too. If our child turns out like Xiaoting, that would be great," Cheng
Shaolin reassured.
Shu Zhilan: "..." Dim-witted?
Yuan Ting was thrilled. With an IQ of seventy, he now didn't have to study and shouldn't
be burdened with expectations. Thank you!
"Since we're at the hospital, I might as well get a check-up," Shu Zhilan said.
"A check-up?" Cheng Shaolin asked with concern, supporting her. "Are you feeling
unwell?"
"No," Shu Zhilan shyly whispered something in Cheng Shaolin's ear. He was momentarily
stunned. "Really?"
"I'm not sure. We need to check to find out."
Shu Zhilan went for her examination, leaving Yuan Ting and Cheng Shaolin waiting on a
bench outside.
Yuan Ting, not really a child, had guessed the reason but wasn't sure if it was the same as
in his previous life or if things had changed this time. Regardless, Cheng Shaolin didn't
seem happy.
"Dad, is Mom going to have a baby?" Yuan Ting asked.
"Hm?" Cheng Shaolin looked at Yuan Ting in surprise. This didn't seem like something a
child with an IQ of seventy would say.
"Why aren't you happy?" Yuan Ting tilted his head to look at him. "Don't you want a
baby?"
Cheng Shaolin patted Yuan Ting's head and then sighed. "Dad is already happy with you."
what？
Yuan Ting's eyes widened. Could Cheng Shaolin have a fear of having children?
"Why?" Yuan Ting pressed. "I'm not your biological child."
"All children are the same. It doesn’t have to be a biological connection."
Yuan Ting: "????"
Good heavens, this is shocking news for my whole family.
"You don't understand. Raising a child requires a lot of effort; it's not as easy as you think.
Things are good as they are now."
Huh?
Without having children of his own, Yuan Ting couldn't grasp Cheng Shaolin's
perspective. In his opinion, having one’s own children was preferable. Cheng Shaolin
seemed to fear having children, yet he was very good to him. Wasn't that contradictory?
Yuan Ting didn't understand and didn't want to try. He just wanted to know what was
going on with his mother. Was she really pregnant?
The results came quickly; Shu Zhilan was not pregnant but experiencing menstrual
irregularities.
Shu Zhilan was very disappointed, but Yuan Ting noticed that Cheng Shaolin, unseen by
her, breathed a sigh of relief. Perhaps his stepfather indeed had a fear of parenting.
With no good news from the hospital visit, the atmosphere at home was somewhat
subdued.
The butler, not daring to ask Cheng Shaolin, quietly inquired of Yuan Ting: "What was
your IQ score?" He left so cheerfully but returned so dejected.
"Seventy," Yuan Ting boasted, "Impressive, right? The doctor said I'm exceptional."
The butler's expression cracked: "???" Seventy? How could that be?
Cheng Nanyi furrowed his brow but was calmer than the butler, as he was the first to
suspect Yuan Ting's IQ might be problematic.
"Is seventy good?" Mo Yikai, not understanding these things, asked sincerely.
Before the butler could reply, Cheng Nanyi interjected: "It's not bad, not genius level, but
still quite smart."
Yuan Ting glanced at Cheng Nanyi, wondering if he genuinely understood or was just
pretending.
"Oh." Mo Yikai patted Yuan Ting's head. "You're worthy of being my little brother, just a
bit behind me. My IQ is eighty."
"Your IQ is eighty?" Yuan Ting looked at Mo Yikai. "Did you get tested?"
Mo Yikai, wanting to appear smarter than Yuan Ting, nodded: "Of course."
Yuan Ting chuckled dryly, giving him a thumbs-up: "Then big brother, you are truly
exceptional, a genius among geniuses."
Cheng Nanyi couldn't bear it anymore. He turned Yuan Ting's bald head towards him,
looking down: "Intelligence isn't determined by what a doctor says."
"Then who determines it?"
"I do," Cheng Nanyi declared. "Starting today, I'll be tutoring you."
Yuan Ting: "..." Great, he dodged Cheng Shaolin but not Cheng Nanyi.
Cheng Nanyi meant what he said. Instead of a nap, he gave Yuan Ting two sets of papers
to complete by the afternoon. Yuan Ting, exasperated, asked, "Do I really have to do this?"
"You don't have to. I'll teach you when I get back tonight."
Yuan Ting: "..." Now he wasn't sure whether to act like a genius or play dumb.
Darn it, both escape routes were blocked.
But at least he didn't have to follow the 'genius' path his stepfather had planned.
Yuan Ting, dejected, grabbed the papers and hopped upstairs. Might as well take a nap
first, so tired.
Passing his parents' room, Yuan Ting instinctively pressed his ear to the door and then
heard Cheng Shaolin's voice.
"A child, having one or not, is fine. The most important thing is your health."
"That's true in theory, but how can we not have a child? I want to have a child that's
ours."
"But we should wait until your health improves. Don't rush, stress can also affect
pregnancy."
Shu Zhilan sighed, "We've been together for quite some time now. I really thought I was
pregnant this time."
"…Actually, Zhilan, having Xiaoting is enough for us. I consider him as my own son."
"How can that be enough? I must bear you a child of your own. You are the eldest son of
the Cheng family; how can you not have your own children?"
"Alright, alright, stop worrying about this now. Rest a bit, I'll stay with you for a while."
Yuan Ting rubbed his neck and bounced back to his room.
Hard to comment on this; better to sleep.
……
A week later, Yuan Ting started going to school with crutches. After all, it was just a
sprained ankle; he couldn’t really stay home for three months.
As soon as he arrived at school, Yuan Ting saw the bald heads from the rumors, shining
conspicuously among the crowd of dark-haired students.
Duan Wenzhe rushed over as soon as he saw him, glaring angrily: "You lied."
"How did I lie?" Yuan Ting, supported by Mo Yikai and Cheng Nanyi on each arm, was
carried to his seat, unafraid.
"You said I'd get a hundred percent if I shaved my head. I only scored fifty-eight in the
last Chinese test," Duan Wenzhe leaned on the desk and yelled.
"I never said shaving your head would get you a hundred percent. Don't falsely accuse
me." Yuan Ting turned to Gu Yuqi with her ear-length hair, "Did I say that?"
"No." Gu Yuqi shook her head honestly. "You only said it would make us smarter."
"But I didn't get any smarter, did I? I still only scored fifty-eight."
Yuan Ting sighed: "Then maybe you're just hopelessly dumb… umm…" He looked up at
Cheng Nanyi, who was covering his mouth.
Cheng Nanyi looked down at him: "Trouble starts with words. Do you want more
problems?"
Yuan Ting blinked and mumbled unclearly: "Don't want."
Feeling the dampness in his palm, Cheng Nanyi quickly withdrew his hand and tapped
Yuan Ting's nose: "Behave yourself. I don't want to clean up your messes again."
Watching Cheng Nanyi's retreating figure, Yuan Ting blinked, wondering when had he
cleaned up any mess for him?
"Considering the gifts your brother brought us, I won’t make a big deal out of this," Duan
Wenzhe said, rubbing his bald head. "Otherwise, I'd have to beat you up."
"What gifts?" Yuan Ting was surprised.
"You don't know?" Gu Yuqi exclaimed excitedly. "Your brother gave gifts to all of us. Duan
Wenzhe and the others got limited edition game consoles, and Tingting and I got Disney
princess and mermaid dolls. They are so pretty and can’t be bought with money."
Yuan Ting: "..." Why didn’t he get one?
Alright then, his brother really did put in some effort. Yuan Ting had prepared himself for
a storm today, even thinking up new strategies, but Cheng Nanyi had resolved everything
with a few gifts.
Indeed, money talks!
"Who do you want to beat up?" Yuan Ting wrapped his arms around Duan Wenzhe's neck
from behind, gritting his teeth. "What, you planning a rebellion?"
"I was wrong, I was wrong, boss, boss…" Duan Wenzhe begged for mercy, "Please, let me
go…"
Only then did Yuan Ting pat his hands and release him, reminding himself to be careful
with his words in the future. After all, this bunch of radish heads seemed as brainless as
they come.
Heading home after school, Yuan Ting sincerely thanked Cheng Nanyi: "Thanks, brother.
Otherwise, I would've been bullied by my classmates."
"Bullied?" Cheng Nanyi looked at him with interest. "You know about bullying?"
"…Of course," Yuan Ting huffed, "I am, after all, a genius with an IQ of seventy."
Cheng Nanyi chuckled, his eyes crinkling in rare amusement.
Yuan Ting rolled his eyes, yet secretly pleased.
Is it funny to watch an idiot perform?
Arriving home, they found Aunt Zhu there to pick up Mo Yikai.
Aunt Zhu had found a house across their community, a large flat with a loft. The owner
had gone abroad, leaving the place vacant. She had rented it and moved the furniture
over, now coming to collect Mo Yikai.
Mo Yikai leaving meant Big Silly had to go too. Yuan Ting hugged Big Silly, reluctant to
part: "Dog Brother, I hate to let you go. We're sworn brothers; how can we be separated?"
Under other circumstances, Yuan Ting would have asked Aunt Zhu for Big Silly, but
knowing her deep bond with the dog from his past life, he didn't want to interfere.
Seeing Yuan Ting's crestfallen face, Cheng Nanyi sat next to him and asked, "If you had to
choose between Big Silly and me, who would you pick?"
what？
Is that even a question someone would ask?
Yuan Ting was stunned. Indeed, only someone capable of being bizarre could come up
with such an idea.
"Why would I have to choose between a dog and you?" Yuan Ting asked.
Cheng Nanyi nodded, "That's right, you can have both."

Yuan Ting: "..." Seriously sick, I don't want either.
Aunt Zhu invited everyone to dine out, and only Shu Zhilan was home. Shu Zhilan agreed
to let them go.
Aunt Zhu invited Shu Zhilan too, but she declined, feeling lethargic from drinking herbal
medicine and having no appetite.
Of course, even if she had an appetite, she wouldn't dine with Aunt Zhu. In her mind, Aunt
Zhu wasn't worthy enough to share a table with her.
Aware of her place, Aunt Zhu didn't insist and left with the three children.
Just after driving out of the neighborhood, Aunt Zhu's phone rang. Since she was driving,
she asked Mo Yikai to answer and put it on speaker.
The call was from an elderly lady, sounding very urgent: "Yanhong, your mom took me to
confront a mistress…"
"Aunt Wang? Confront a mistress?" Aunt Zhu frowned deeply. "What mistress?"
Yuan Ting's eyes immediately rounded in excitement. There was drama.
Since being confined for four years, Yuan Ting felt a particularly keen urge to join in on
the excitement.
"That mistress, the shameless woman who had twins... Oh my, what a mess…" The
background noise was chaotic, sounding like five hundred ducks quacking.
"She's in that woman's neighborhood. Your mom finally tracked her down. She said you
didn't want her to, but she had to take revenge for you… Come quickly, we're losing… Let
go of my sister, I'll fight you… Ahhhh…"
Uh…
Mo Yikai panicked: "Mom, it's Grandma, hurry, we need to help her…"
Aunt Zhu, also anxious, immediately turned the car around and told Mo Yikai, "Quick, call
your little aunt."
Yuan Ting rubbed his bald head.
Seriously, losing a fight against a mistress?
Yuan Ting rolled up his sleeves. Just wait, let me handle this.
Author's Note:
Special thanks to the little angels for their Nutrient Solutions: Chenlun Wuse Li (15
bottles); Huting Beilu (9 bottles); Gugu Gugu, Forbidden to Play Yellow (5 bottles each);
65610602 (4 bottles); Nanshan Geji, Xi Xingye, Knight's Soul, Badama, Ah Ah Ah I Want to
Fall in Love, huttuu (1 bottle each);
#40 Chapter 40
Chapter 40
After learning about the situation, Grandma Zhu had been causing a fuss at home. Aunt
Zhu and Little Aunt firmly refused to tell her about the mistress, fearing she might
confront her and get herself hurt.
But the more her daughters hid it from her, the more Grandma Zhu refused to let the
matter rest, especially seeing her daughters busied with company work and visiting the
paralyzed man in the hospital, which angered her even more.
So, after thorough investigation, Grandma Zhu finally found Fang Lu's address and chose
a busy afternoon to show up at her door.
Grandma Zhu, accompanied by two elderly friends, had thought three old ladies could
handle the situation. However, they were surprised to find an elderly lady and a man
with Fang Lu – a 3v3 situation, and the presence of a man put them at a disadvantage.
After the car stopped, Yuan Ting got out with his crutches and then hopped forward,
brandishing his crutch: "Grandma, I'm here."
"You vixen, dare to be a mistress but not admit it?"
From a distance, Yuanting could already hear the commotion. He hopped even more
vigorously; he had to assist with his crutch.
He had never participated in a live showdown like this before, so he was a bit excited.
"Everyone, come take a look! This is Fang Lu from Unit 1704, Building 3, she's the one!
She seduced a married man and even had two kids with him while still unmarried.
Shameless!"
"What's this? Shameless enough to be a mistress, but too shameless to admit it? Daring to
fight back? I'll beat you to death..."
"Oh my goodness, you dare to hit me! Are you this mistress's lover, you stinking man?"
“……”
People gathered around, pointing and gossiping. Yuanting finally squeezed through the
crowd and witnessed a scene that left him wide-eyed and open-mouthed.
Six people in total, four elderly ladies, one man, and one young woman, were tearing at
each other, grabbing hair and scratching ears, rolling on the ground and wrestling. This
sight...
"Ahhhh..." Yuanting immediately threw himself into Cheng Nanyi's arms. "Quick, big
brother, come protect me." This kind of catfight wasn't his style.
Cheng Nanyi: "..."
Mo Yikai had already rushed in. "Who dares to touch my grandma? I'll kill you all."
The man on their side was holding his own against two, but the way Fang Lu fought back,
seemingly delicate but not at a disadvantage at all, while the three elderly ladies on this
side probably hadn't experienced the physical exertion of squeezing onto a crowded bus
and were overwhelmed by the other side.
However, Aunt Zhu's car arrived quickly, and several people got off and rushed over.
They separated the man and the elderly lady and pulled Fang Lu out by her hair. Then,
with a quick motion, they stripped off her top.
Yuanting was shocked, his mouth gaping open. He had only seen such explosive and
pixelated videos on short video platforms, never witnessed it live. This... was hard to
evaluate.
A hand covered Yuanting's eyes, and Yuanting also reached out to cover Cheng Nanyi's
eyes.
Not suitable for children.
"Let go of me, I'm going to call the police…" Fang Lu cowered on the ground, crying and
shouting. Aunt Zhu coldly looked at her, "Oh, you know to call the police? Do the police
protect mistresses? Let's ask everyone, should the police protect mistresses?"
"Besides, I didn't really do anything to you. You wanted to show off to men, right? I'm just
helping you achieve that. You should thank me."
Aunt Zhu felt it was going too far and tried to stop her niece, who pointed a finger at her
nose: "I'm warning you, don't interfere. You couldn’t control me when I was young, and
you can't now."
Aunt Zhu wordlessly pushed Mo Yikai towards Cheng Nanyi. Yuan Ting hastily freed one
hand to cover Mo Yikai's eyes: "Don't look, you'll get a sty."
Fang Lu, clutching her chest, knelt and cried on the ground. Aunt Zhu wasn't done yet,
beckoning to two petrified kids with backpacks: "Come here, kids, look at your mother.
This is what happens to mistresses."
The two children cried out for their mom. The pitiful sight of the small kids standing
there evoked sympathy.
Mo Yikai shrugged off Yuan Ting's ineffective hand and ran over, kicking each child on the
buttocks, causing them to fall and cry louder.
Yuan Ting: "..."
Ah, rationally he felt the children were innocent, but emotionally he empathized more
with Mo Yikai... what a dilemma.
Yuan Ting covered his own eyes, not wanting to see anymore.
"Don't hit the children, don't hit the children," someone in the crowd pulled Mo Yikai
away. "The kids are innocent."
"Then I hope your husband also has two children outside and you bring them home to
raise since they're 'innocent.'"
"How can you talk like that?" a passerby objected.
"What's it to you how I talk?" Mo Yikai retorted irritably. "Just watch the show and keep
quiet."
"Mo Yikai," Aunt Zhu glared at him, "go stand over there and don't cause more trouble."
Mo Yikai, unable to hold back any longer, spat in the direction of Fang Lu: "Ptui,
disgusting woman."
"Mo Yikai, where did you learn these bad habits?" Aunt Zhu couldn't stand seeing Mo
Yikai spit and felt exhausted by it.
Cheng Nanyi glanced at the child he was holding.
Yuan Ting: "..." I get hit by a stray bullet even lying down.
"You think just because I haven’t confronted you, I’ve let you off? I’ve just been too busy
lately. Teaching you a lesson is as easy as picking the time," Aunt Zhu sneered at Fang Lu.
"Thought you’d secure a wealthy man and have a carefree life? Look at him now,
paralyzed in bed. Do you still want him?"
"You have two days to get out of this house. It was bought with my sister’s money and has
nothing to do with you," Aunt Zhu looked down and lifted Fang Lu's chin. "If you want to
fight, don’t think I’ll bother with court. We’ll just drag this out. Let's see how many
clothes you have for me to rip off."
The commotion was too loud, attracting the police quickly.
Aunt Zhu picked up the clothes from the ground and threw them on Fang Lu: "How can
you be so oblivious to public decency? Officer, arrest her. She's a public nuisance,
offending my eyes."
Police officer: "…"
"Ah, I've been hit..." Grandma Zhu dramatically sat down, crying a river. "My poor
daughter, seduced by a shameless woman, bearing children out of wedlock, and even
using my daughter’s money to buy a house. My daughter was kept in the dark… Now
we're being attacked, heavens, where is the justice…"
Aunt Zhu: "…"
Police officer: "…"
Upon seeing the police, Mo Yikai angrily said: "You are police, you should help the people,
not the mistresses."
Yuan Ting: "..." Truly a rash man.
The crowd, including the two children and Mo Yikai who kicked them, was being taken to
the police station. The officer looked around: "Anyone else?"
Cheng Nanyi silently retreated while holding Yuan Ting, then slipped away from the
crowd.
Yuan Ting quietly clung to Cheng Nanyi's neck.
In the face of disaster, big brother, it's your turn to bear the brunt.
Similarly retreating from the crowd, without having participated, was Aunt Zhu…
Aunt Zhu’s niece and grandmother watched her from a distance, puzzled.
Aunt Zhu’s niece even started to call out, but Aunt Zhu quickly took Yuan Ting by the
hand: "Let's go, I'll take you out to eat."
Yuan Ting and Cheng Nanyi both looked at Aunt Zhu in confusion: "???"
Aunt Zhu indeed took Yuan Ting and Cheng Nanyi to a restaurant for a meal while the
others headed to the police station.
Yuan Ting watched Aunt Zhu calmly order food and swallowed nervously. Indeed, when
women get tough, they are truly formidable.
"Auntie, aren't you worried about Grandma and Little Aunt?" Yuan Ting asked.
"Nothing to worry about, Yan Yan will handle it," Aunt Zhu said calmly. "My presence
wouldn't make a difference."
Yuan Ting: "..." Indeed.
"Yuan Ting, order whatever you want," Aunt Zhu handed him the menu.
It had been a long time since Yuan Ting had dined out so formally. He wanted everything,
so he ordered a table full of dishes.
Cheng Nanyi thought it was too much, but seeing Yuan Ting happy, he didn't comment.
Aunt Zhu, cheerful as ever, didn’t stop him. In fact, she seemed happier the more he
ordered, finding Yuan Ting even cuter as a bald head than with his curly hair.
Yuan Ting, while eating, asked, "Brother Kai won't get locked up, will he?"
"Probably not, at most he'll have to pay a fine," Cheng Nanyi replied.
"Still has to pay a fine," Yuan Ting slammed the table, frustrated. "That's just too unfair."
"Being a mistress isn't illegal," Cheng Nanyi stated plainly, "but assault is."
"Yeah, being a mistress isn't illegal, nor is infidelity," Aunt Zhu scoffed.
Yuan Ting touched his nose and placed some food onto Cheng Nanyi's plate, whispering,
"Do you think imprisonment counts as a crime?"
"Of course, it's called unlawful imprisonment," Cheng Nanyi moved his plate back in front
of Yuan Ting. "Don't serve me food, thank you."
Yuan Ting: "..." So you know imprisonment is illegal.
Yuan Ting grunted in annoyance and continued eating, feeling vexed.
After the meal, Cheng Nanyi asked the waiter to pack up the leftovers, a practice
seemingly unfamiliar in such a restaurant.
Yuan Ting handed the packed food to Aunt Zhu, sincerely saying, "Aunt Zhu, these are for
Brother Kai."
Aunt Zhu smiled, gently touching Yuan Ting's bald head: "I'll thank you on behalf of
Brother Kai." What a thoughtful child, still remembering his Brother Kai.
Yuan Ting grandly waved his hand: "No need to be polite."
Cheng Nanyi: "…"
The next morning, Xiao Zhang drove out of the neighborhood. Across the street, Mo Yikai
was waiting. The car circled around, and Mo Yikai opened the door to get in.
Yuan Ting leaned forward eagerly, asking, "Brother Kai, how did things go yesterday?"
"How else? Couldn't get them thrown in jail, but you guys..." Mo Yikai turned around and
glared fiercely at the two in the backseat. "You two just left me there and brought me
leftovers?"
Yuan Ting immediately turned to Cheng Nanyi, righteously indignant: "Yeah, brother, I
wanted to rush in and stand with Brother Kai, but why did you stop me? How could you
lack such loyalty? I despise you."
Cheng Nanyi playfully smacked Yuan Ting's head: "Ungrateful brat."
Yuan Ting then turned to Mo Yikai: "Brother Kai, we're the best. Let's cut ties with him."
Mo Yikai pushed away Yuan Ting's bald head: "Scram, kid."
……
By the first New Year at the Chengs', Yuan Ting's foot had fully healed, and he was lively
and energetic again. Even more exciting than his recovery was the start of the winter
break.
Yuan Ting was all set for a happy holiday until Shu Zhilan packed his suitcase.
"You're sending me to Grandma's?" Yuan Ting's eyes widened in shock, even stepping
back. "What are you thinking???"
"Yes, you've been here so long and haven't visited your grandma. Isn't it right to see her
during the holidays?" Shu Zhilan said with a smile.
Yuan Ting: "???"
This was abnormal, highly abnormal.

Shu Zhilan would prefer to have nothing to do with Yuan Ting's family. Why would she
send him to visit his grandmother?
And this had never happened in his previous life; mentioning his grandmother's house
would have gotten him scolded by Shu Zhilan.
So, what was she planning?
"Can I not go?" Yuan Ting felt he shouldn't just comply.
"But she's your grandma. How can you not visit her?" Cheng Shao Lin patted his head.
"Remember, your mother is the best mom in the world."
Even his stepdad agrees?
Yuan Ting blinked, pondering whether Shu Zhilan was trying to appear kind or just found
him annoying and wanted to send him away.
Before Yuan Ting could figure it out, Shu Zhilan and Cheng Shao Lin had already escorted
him downstairs, leaving him with no reason to refuse.
Seeing Yuan Ting with his bags, Cheng Nanyi was surprised: "Where are you going?"
"My mom is sending me to visit Grandma," Yuan Ting quickly grabbed Cheng Nanyi's
hand. "Brother, will you come with me?"
"I can't," Cheng Nanyi shook his head. "I have to accompany Grandpa on a trip." He
always spent his holidays with his grandfather, following wherever he went.
"I see…" Yuan Ting immediately hugged Cheng Nanyi's waist, looking up at him with big
eyes, "Brother, if I'm not back when you return, you have to come and get me."
"Okay," Cheng Nanyi stroked his slightly grown curls. "But be good, don't cause trouble."
"Of course, I'm always good."
"Alright, don't bother your brother now," Shu Zhilan pulled him away, walking towards
the car. Cheng Nanyi followed, handing him 300 yuan. "Buy whatever you want to eat."
Cheng Shao Lin and Shu Zhilan didn't go with him. The driver took Yuan Ting, who leaned
out of the car window, shouting to Cheng Nanyi: "Brother, I love you, don't forget to pick
me up…" Who would've thought he'd one day be cajoling and charming Cheng Nanyi.
Cheng Nanyi: "…"

It was just a trip to Grandma's house.
The kid was really clingy.
Watching the car drive away, Cheng Nanyi breathed a sigh of relief.
The house finally quieted down, a long-missed tranquility... it was actually quite nice.
Author's Note:
Special thanks to the little angels for their Nutrient Solutions: Ningyin (12 bottles);
180.94, 67742181 (5 bottles each); Miaomiaomiao (4 bottles); Youlin (1 bottle);
#41 Chapter 41
Chapter 41
With Yuan Ting gone, the house suddenly became quiet. Cheng Shao Lin chuckled: "I got
used to Yuan Ting's noisy presence; it feels odd without it."
"Already feeling odd?" Shu Zhilan hummed lightly, teasingly said, "You were the one who
didn't want kids, and now you're seeing the benefits of having them?"
"Yuan Ting is coming back," Cheng Shao Lin hugged her. "It's a good chance for us to have
some time as a couple."
"No matter how good, he's still someone else's child. His surname is Yuan, not Cheng,"
Shu Zhilan sighed. "I always feel like an outsider in this house."
"It's okay," Cheng Shao Lin kissed her cheek. "We're not saying we won't have kids, just
that we should take it slow."
Yuan Ting's grandmother's village, Longqiao Village, was some distance from the city
center. The drive took over two hours, and the road into the village was rough. Xiao
Zhang's car had a low chassis, making clattering noises all the way, seemingly scraping
the bottom. Yuan Ting felt sorry for Xiao Zhang, his face cringing.
"Brother Xiao Zhang, if the car gets damaged, do you have to pay for it?"
"How did you know it was damaged?" Xiao Zhang asked in surprise, his focus quite
different.
"I heard the sound," Yuan Ting replied in shock. "Do you think I'm stupid?"
"In my previous life, although I didn't drive for long, as a man, how could I not
understand cars?"
Xiao Zhang was equally astonished. A seven-year-old with an IQ of seventy knew the car's
undercarriage was damaged. He couldn't comprehend it! Surely his IQ must be at least
seventy-five?
The multimillion-dollar car parked in front of the traditional tiled house attracted many
onlookers. Yuan Ting hopped down and ran into the house, shouting, "Grandma... I'm
back..."
Grandma Yuan was astoundingly surprised to see Yuan Ting, then tears fell from her
eyes.
On the day Yuan Ting left, Grandma Yuan knew her grandson would never return. Even if
he wanted to, his mother wouldn't allow it.
She wanted to visit Yuan Ting, but her son stopped her, saying their family would only
burden him. Thinking it over, she reluctantly gave up the idea.
She never expected her grandson to actually come back.
For Yuan Ting, he wasn't very close to his grandmother. In his past life, he rarely visited
her, and with his father avoiding him, clearly not wanting him, he stopped trying and
gradually lost contact.
Grandma often sent him homemade sausages and meats. Even when Yuan Ting went
abroad, her parcels followed him, but she never initiated contact. The money Yuan Ting
sent her was always returned.
"Little Ting, why are you back?" Grandma Yuan peered into the car. "Did your mother not
want you anymore?"
"No, it's not that…" Yuan Ting scratched his head, unsure how to explain. Should he say
his mother sent him to visit his grandmother? That would be too much credit for her.
"Never mind that for now, let's get the stuff," Yuan Ting gestured. "Brother Xiao Zhang,
help me with the suitcase, please."
Yuan Ting's uncle heard the news and hurried over to help Xiao Zhang with the luggage.
Cheng Shao Lin had done well with the courtesies; apart from bringing plenty of daily
necessities for Yuan Ting, he also brought many gifts.
Xiao Zhang and the uncle had to make two trips to carry everything.
"Young master, I'll be leaving now," said Xiao Zhang, having completed his task. Yuan
Ting saw him off, reminding him, "Remember to tell my brother to pick me up in a few
days."
"Understood, young master."
Watching Brother Xiao Zhang leave, Yuan Ting heaved a long sigh.
"Don't you want to come back?" a thin voice asked nearby.

Yuan Ting turned to see a frail boy, taller than him but very thin, with a pale face and
speaking in a weak voice.
It took Yuan Ting a moment to recognize him. Oh, it's Yuan Xiao, his cousin from his
uncle's family.
"Brother Yuan Xiao, are you feeling better?" Yuan Ting approached and poked him lightly
in the chest.
"I'm better," Yuan Xiao replied with a faint smile. "My dad says it's all thanks to you.
You're my lifesaver."
"Ah..." Yuan Ting waved his hand dismissively. "You're exaggerating. It's just that Shu
Zhilan gave some money for your surgery when she took me away."
Yuan Xiao later got into a good university and landed a great job. During the time Cheng
Nanyi confined Yuan Ting, Yuan Xiao tried to visit him a few times, but they never met.
"Here, have this," Yuan Xiao offered him a bean bun. "Grandma made it. It's really good."
Yuan Ting took a big bite of the bun.
"Come in, come in, Yuan Ting," Grandma Yuan called out. "Come and tell Grandma if
something happened. Did your mother not want you anymore?"
"No, I strongly insisted on coming back to see Grandma. My mom had to agree," Yuan
Ting said cheerily, hugging the old lady's arm. "I missed you."
The old lady smiled broadly, "My dear grandson, I'll make you something delicious. Go
play with your brother in the room, hurry."
The houses in the village had heated brick beds, which were warm and cozy in winter.
Yuan Ting lay on the heated bed, hands under his head and legs crossed, frowning as he
pondered over recent events.
Yet, after much thought, he couldn't figure out what was amiss.
In his past life, Shu Zhilan's real change came after discovering that her husband was
infertile. But that revelation was still years away; currently, they seemed very much in
love.
So what was his mother really up to?

"If no one comes to pick me up in three or five days, I'll go back myself."
He had to stick close to his biological mother; they couldn't be separated.
"Sigh..."
"Here, have these," Yuan Xiao handed over a wrinkled bag of sour plums to Yuan Ting.
"Thanks." Yuan Ting took one, tasted it, then offered the bag back to Yuan Xiao. "Have
some, too."
Yuan Xiao shook his head, "You eat, I don’t want any." He paused, licking his lips and
swallowing.
"..." Yuan Ting suddenly remembered how poor this household was, burdened with debts
from medical bills, leaving little room for luxuries like snacks for the children.
Yuan Ting suspected that Yuan Xiao had been saving the sour plums for a long time,
reluctant to eat them.
Climbing down from the heated bed, Yuan Ting brought all the snacks Cheng Shao Lin
had given him onto the bed. "Come on, let's eat together."
Among them were many imported snacks and chocolates, which Yuan Xiao had never
even seen before. His eyes widened in amazement, but he still shook his head: "I won't
eat. Those are all your things. You eat them."
Yuan Ting thought for a moment, "How about you help me with my winter vacation
homework?"
"Winter vacation homework?" Yuan Xiao shook his head, "That's not right. You should do
your own homework. It's wrong to ask for such help, Yuan Ting."
A bit of a stickler, isn't he?
Yuan Ting slammed the table and glared at him, "You just called me your lifesaver. Are
you refusing to listen to your savior now?"
Yuan Xiao hesitated, touching his neck, clearly torn. But after a few seconds of
contemplation, he firmly shook his head again: "I can't. Studying is important, Yuan Ting.
You can't be lazy."
Yuan Ting: "..." Quite steadfast.
I'm an expert at handling kids.

Never experienced this, have you?
Time for you to experience it then.
"Are you sure you won't help me?" Yuan Ting narrowed his eyes at him.
"Yes," Yuan Xiao nodded, repeating his stance, "You must do your own work. I can help
with other things, but not this."
Yuan Ting took a deep breath: "Wah, wah, wah, ah, ah, ah..."
A loud, earth-shattering cry that Yuan Xiao, with his frail heart, couldn't possibly produce.
"What's wrong, what's wrong?" Uncle Yuan and Grandma Yuan rushed in together.
"What's happened to Yuan Ting?"
"He bullied me," Yuan Ting accused, pointing at Yuan Xiao.
Yuan Xiao widened his eyes in disbelief. "????" The docile little brother he knew had
transformed so drastically in just over half a year?
Known for his obedience, Yuan Xiao had never been seen bullying anyone. Due to his
heart condition, he was always gentle and frail. Yuan Ting's crying seemed too real to be
fake.
Feeling a sense of guilt towards Yuan Ting, Grandma Yuan and Uncle Yuan were at a loss
for what to do.
Uncle Yuan turned to Yuan Xiao, "Yuan Xiao, don’t bully your brother. Remember, he
saved your life."
Having never encountered such unabashed behavior, Yuan Xiao sat there stunned,
unsure how to explain himself.
"Yuan Ting, how did your brother bully you?" Grandma Yuan asked.
Yuan Ting stopped crying and magnanimously said, "It's okay, I don't blame my brother
anymore."
"Yuan Ting is such a good boy," praised Grandma Yuan, patting his head. "Play nicely with
your brother, no more quarrels. I’ll make you a big chicken leg."
"Thank you, Grandma."

Once they were alone, Yuan Ting glared at Yuan Xiao, "Will you write it?"
Still in shock, Yuan Xiao didn't respond, prompting Yuan Ting to open his mouth wide
again, "I'm going to start crying again."
Yuan Xiao quickly sat up and covered Yuan Ting's mouth, "I'll write it."
Satisfied, Yuan Ting nodded, "See, wasn’t that easy?" He then opened a box of chocolates,
breaking off a piece and stuffing it into Yuan Xiao's mouth. "Remember, you do what I say,
or else I'll cry."
Yuan Xiao savored the silky chocolate in his mouth and looked at Yuan Ting's smug little
face, unable to help but compromise.
Yuan Xiao was hunched over a small table, helping Yuan Ting with his homework. Yuan
Ting had one leg propped up, watching TV, and snacking on the side, occasionally stuffing
some into Yuan Xiao's mouth.
Because of his IQ of 70, Cheng Nanyi had been monitoring him doing his homework every
day, and he was getting really annoyed. Little did he know, he would end up getting a
part-time job during winter break.
Author's Note:
Thanks to the little angels who voted for me or irrigated me with nutrient solution
between 2023-08-12 19:21:592023-08-13 13:55:30
Thanks to the little angels who irrigated me with nutrient solution: Knight of the Soul 5
bottles; Sen Sen 1 bottle;
Thank you very much for your support. I will continue to work hard!
#42 Chapter 42
Chapter 42
The Cheng family's dinner was exceptionally quiet. Their good manners were such that
even when picking up food, the chopsticks didn't make a clinking sound against the plate,
let alone eating with smacking sounds or slurping soup. So, even though there were five
people in the living room, including the butler, it was so quiet that you could hear a pin
drop.
In the middle of the meal, Old Master Cheng suddenly asked Cheng Shaolan, "When will
Xiaoting be back? Is he staying there for Chinese New Year?"
"He'll come back in a few days," Cheng Shaolan replied. "Zhilan thinks that since it's the
child's grandmother, we should let the child show filial piety."
"Hmm," the old master nodded, praising, "Well done. Adult matters should not involve
the child."
Shu Zhilan lowered her head and furrowed her brow.
Ever since they found out she wasn't pregnant at the hospital last time, she had noticed
that Cheng Shaolan didn't seem too keen on having children. He always said having
Xiaoting was enough. She suspected he might not want to have children.
If that's the case, it might be better to send Xiaoting away. After all, the little
troublemaker was always causing her problems here, and they weren't close. Using the
excuse of sending him to visit his grandmother this time, they could let everyone adjust,
and then find a reason to send him back permanently later.
"Ding-a-ling, ding-a-ling"...
The phone rang, and the butler answered, "Hello, who is it?"
"Moses, Moses, it's Xiaoting's classmate. Who am I speaking to?"
The butler chuckled, "Moses, Moses, I'm Comrade Lao Liu. Who is Xiaoting's classmate
looking for?"
The butler put the call on speaker, and Yuan Ting's penetrating voice came through,
"Grandpa, Mom and Dad, have you had dinner?"
The old master and Cheng Shaolan both smiled, and Cheng Nanyi raised his lips as well,
but Shu Zhilan furrowed her brow.
Cheng Nanyi glanced at her, finding it a bit strange, but he didn't dwell on it and walked
to the phone.
"We're having dinner right now. Have you eaten?"
"We're about to. Grandma cooked an old mother chicken, it's delicious. Brother, do you
want to come and eat?"
"No need."
"Oh, then when are you going with Grandpa to the other city?"
"Tomorrow."
"When will you be back?"
"I don't know."
"Oh... Well, when you're there, don't forget to bring me some local specialties."
"Sure."
"Can you say a few more words?"
"No."
Yuan Ting: "..."
Yuan Ting angrily hung up the phone, feeling like he wasted his emotions.
Yuan Ting climbed onto the heated brick bed, and the table was already set with eight
dishes and a soup. They had slaughtered an old mother chicken, bought some fish, and
even stewed some spare ribs.
"Isn't this too much?"
"It's the Lunar New Year, so we bought a lot of festive foods." Auntie gave him a bowl and
chopsticks, smiling, "Your grandmother wants to feed you all the good stuff. The more
you eat, the happier she is."
"Xiaoting," his grandmother stroked his face, "Are you doing well over there? Has anyone
been bullying you?"
"I'm doing really well." Yuan Ting picked up a big chicken leg and started gnawing on it,
saying, "I never have to worry about food and drink. My stepfather buys me whatever I
want."
"That's good, that's good." Grandma wiped her tears, "Better than being in our house."
"Xiaoting, even though they treat you well, you can't be too spoiled." Uncle sighed, "After
all... Well, I won't say more. It's all because your father and I couldn't provide..."
"Alright, alright, Xiaoting is back, let's all have a happy meal." Auntie picked out the fish
bones and put the fish in Yuan Ting's bowl, "Xiaoting, eat more fish. It makes you smart."
After a hearty meal, Yuan Ting was almost stuffed to death. He lay on the heated brick
bed, rubbing his belly and groaning.
Yuan Xiao sat beside him, patting his belly, "Xiaoting, you ate too much."
Yuan Ting sighed. The person who cooked the meal must have wanted the diners to eat a
lot, or else his grandmother would be sad.
Indeed, people with such kindness, simplicity, and various noble qualities who consider
others will always bear more burdens.
In the evening, Yuan Ting and Yuan Xiao still slept in the same room as before. Although
the temperature outside had dropped, the heated brick bed was burning brightly. Yuan
Ting slept soundly, and Yuan Xiao was always worried that Yuan Ting would kick the
blanket, so he got up twice in the middle of the night to cover Yuan Ting with more
blankets. In the early morning, Uncle Yuan added firewood to their heated brick bed.
Yuan Ting slept until ten o'clock in the morning.
When he woke up, he could hear people talking in the main room.
"Qingmin, it's almost New Year, and we need money in our family too. Can you lend us
some?"
"Uncle, here's a thousand. Take it for the New Year. After the New Year, I'll go find a job
and make sure to repay all the money I owe you."
Yuan Ting got up and saw Yuan Xiao sitting there in a daze.
"Brother, what's wrong?" Yuan Ting patted his shoulder.
"It's all my fault," Yuan Xiao lowered his head with a sense of loss, "If I didn't get sick, we
wouldn't need to borrow money, and you wouldn't have to go to someone else's house."
Yuan Ting scratched his head, "Getting sick isn't your fault, and I didn't go to someone
else's house to treat your illness. You're just a kid, don't overthink things."
Yuan Xiao didn't say anything, but his visible sense of disappointment remained.
"Qingmin, originally, I wouldn't have come to ask for money, but you see, your brother
Yuan Ting has come back. I heard that the car that brought him back yesterday is worth
millions. Three thousand dollars shouldn't be a problem, right?"
"Uncle, our family Yuan Ting came back to visit his grandma. How much money we have
is not related to this."
"Qingmin, by saying that, you're hurting our relationship. Back then, we also pooled
money to lend to you, all for the sake of Yuan Xiao's illness. But now, you can't do this. I
heard that rich families give their children tens of thousands in pocket money. How could
they possibly have less than a few thousand?"
There was silence in the main room.
After a while, Uncle Yuan spoke again, "Uncle, I really don't have any money. Can you give
me two more months? Just two months, and if I still don't have the money, I'll even sell
my blood to repay you."
"You're saying this, but how could we force you to sell your blood? It's just that Yuan Ting
has come back... Well, forget it... Here's a thousand for now."
Yuan Ting sighed silently, then turned to see that Yuan Xiao was already silently crying.
"..." Yuan Ting got up and patted his head. Kids are so sensitive and fragile.
"Brother, do you want to earn money?"
"Earn money?" Yuan Xiao looked up at him, incredulous. "Can I even earn money?"
"Of course." Yuan Ting patted his chest. "Follow me, and we'll have a good meal."
Yuan Ting got off the heated brick bed and took out a small notebook from his school bag.
It had many phone numbers written on it. He dialed Duan Wenzhe's number.
……
"What's up? Are you asking me to help you with your winter vacation homework?" Duan
Wenzhe thought he must have gotten out of bed the wrong way today. It was always
Yuan Ting who forced him to help with homework. How come the sun had risen from the
west today?
"One winter vacation assignment for 100 bucks. Not too much, right?" Yuan Ting said.
"You're charging money?" Even though he was being charged, Duan Wenzhe still
shamefully felt tempted. One hundred bucks wasn't too expensive, and if someone wrote
it for him, he'd gladly pay even 500 bucks. After all, he'd get it all back as New Year's
money.
"Actually, I can do it for you for free since we're good buddies, right?"
"That'll do." Duan Wenzhe grunted. "I even helped you shave your head, and I was ranked
last in the final exams. Hmph." Duan Wenzhe grew angrier as he spoke.
"Alright, you're such a petty guy." Yuan Ting said, "Here's the deal. You can bring over ten
winter vacation assignments, and I'll do your assignment for free."
Suddenly, Duan Wenzhe had a bright idea. "Yuan Ting, are you short of money? If you
need money, just tell me, I'll give it to you. Why write winter vacation assignments for
others when you don't even do your own?"
"You talk too much. Hurry up, take down my address and bring them over."
After hanging up the phone, Yuan Ting turned around and saw Yuan Xiao looking at him
in astonishment. After a while, Yuan Xiao said, "Yuan Ting, this isn't right."
"What's wrong with that?"
Yuan Xiao blinked his red eyes, "Just... having to do homework on your own, and... it's not
right to take money..." He had just heard Yuan Ting mention a hundred yuan for a book?
Maybe he misheard. Who would pay a hundred yuan for someone else to do their
homework? His dad works to death all month just to make a little over a thousand.
"I think it's quite alright." Yuan Ting ran out to wash up. When the aunt saw he was
awake, she immediately went to the kitchen to serve food.
Everyone else had already eaten in the morning, only Yuan Ting got up late, so he ate
alone.
While eating, Yuan Ting asked, "Uncle, does our family still owe a lot of money?"
"Not much, not much, don't worry. We'll surely pay back your mother's money."
"Pay back what?" Yuan Ting was startled. "Isn't it given for free?"
"Even if it's given for free, we can't just take it for nothing," the aunt said, scooping a piece
of rib into Yuan Ting's bowl, "Otherwise, it's like selling a child."
"But luckily your mom hasn't rushed us. Don't worry, we'll definitely be able to pay it
back."
Yuan Ting looked at the ribs in his bowl. He really couldn't stomach something so greasy
early in the morning.
Taking advantage of the moment when the aunt wasn't looking, Yuan Ting stuffed the rib
into Yuan Xiao's mouth.
Yuan Xiao's mouth was stuffed full. Before he could speak, Yuan Ting put his finger to his
lips, "Shush, eat it for me!"
Yuan Xiao: "..."
"My brother has really changed from before. He used to hide behind me and whimper,
but now... I don't know what to say."
After breakfast, Yuan Xiao took Yuan Ting to play in the village. It was during the New
Year period, so there were still many people in the village. Despite the winter cold, kids
were squatting at the village entrance, their noisy chatter filling the air.
For Yuan Ting, it had been over twenty years since he left this place. But in this life, he
had always lived in this village, leaving only half a year ago. The village children were still
very familiar with him.
"Yuá ntíng, Yuá ntíng, how do you like your new home?"
"I heard your mom married a wealthy man, is the house big?"
"Does your stepfather hit you?"
"Yuá ntíng, your new clothes look really nice."
Yuá ntíng handed out a bag of candy, giving a piece to each child surrounding him, and
soon, all the village kids gathered around.
"Well, well, isn’t that Yuá ntíng? What happened, did your mom send you back?"
Before Yuá ntíng could even see who this annoying voice belonged to, Yuá n Xià o stood in
front of him.
Peeking from behind, Yuá ntíng saw a snotty-nosed kid in a tattered jacket.
"Little Tíng, let's go, time to go home," Yuá n Xià o took Yuá ntíng's hand, clearly wanting to
avoid this person.
"Who is this?" Yuá ntíng couldn’t quite remember.
"Wang Dà bǎ o, don’t you remember?" Yuá n Xià o looked at him in surprise.
Oh, Wang Dà bǎ o!
The little bully of Longqiao Village, feared by all the kids, he dropped out of school at just
fifteen.
Yuá ntíng didn’t remember much about Wang Dà bǎ o's family situation, only that his
parents weren’t around, and he was raised by his grandmother, always dirty and causing
trouble.
He never bullied Yuá n Xià o or Yuá ntíng, but such a child naturally instilled fear in the
village.
"Where does he live?" Yuá ntíng asked quietly.
"At the east end of the village," Yuá n Xià o patted Yuá ntíng's head. "What's wrong, have
you lost your memory?"
Yuá ntíng pulled a box of chocolates from his pocket and ran to give it to Wang Dà bǎ o.
Wang Dà bǎ o was stunned.
So was Yuá n Xià o. He had tasted these chocolates before; they were exceptionally
delicious. He had been too reluctant to eat them, saving the ones Yuá ntíng gave him for
their aunt’s little daughter, yet Yuá ntíng had just generously given them all to Wang
Dà bǎ o.
Yuá ntíng touched his face, thinking, this is, this is, this is... what Wang Dà bǎ o deserves.
He hadn't meant it before, it was just a slip of the tongue.
Yuá ntíng turned and spat thrice on the ground, muttering, "Good things never work, but
bad ones do. Go away, go away, go away!"
"Yuá n Xià o, there's another car at your house," a child shouted.
Yuá ntíng sprinted towards home.
Two kids got out of the black Audi, one of them was Duà n Wénzé, and the other a slightly
taller boy.
Seeing Yuá ntíng, Duà n Wénzé immediately complained, "Why did you come to this awful
place? It nearly shook me to death, I almost threw up in the car."
"What awful place?" Yuá ntíng clenched his fist playfully at him. "Be careful, or I'll hit you."
"Who is this?" Yuan Ting looked at the person beside him, dressed in a white shirt and
suspenders, clearly of a young master's demeanor.
"My neighbor's older brother. He heard you could help with homework, so… By the way,
can you do fifth grade assignments?"
"Sure, but it'll cost extra," Yuan Ting immediately replied.
"Money is no object." Duan Wenze pulled Yuan Ting aside and whispered, "Two hundred
per book for third grade and above, one hundred and fifty for below. I've got twenty
books in total for you, how about it?"
"Wow," Yuan Ting exclaimed in surprise, "you're quite the businessman, little fatty."
"Of course, but I expect a kickback."
"You know about kickbacks?" Yuan Ting was shocked again but then remembered his
father was Duan Zhenshan, and it made sense – a mouse's son knows how to dig holes,
and a construction worker's son knows kickbacks.
The twenty books didn't include Duan Wenze's, with twelve below third grade and eight
above, totaling three thousand four hundred yuan.
"How much do you want?"
"At least a thousand?"
"Get lost," Yuan Ting glared at him. "Getting cheeky, huh? Wanting a third? Fine, how
about six hundred?"
"Only six hundred?" Duan Wenze pouted, "I made the calls, collected them, and even had
them delivered here, persuading my neighbor's brother to send us in his car. All that
effort for just six hundred?"
"Seven hundred, and not a yuan more."
"Fine, seven hundred then," Duan Wenze conceded reluctantly. Earning money was
tough. Had he known, he would've quoted a hundred per book. But Yuan Ting was his
leader, and brothers should be loyal to each other!!!
Duan Wenze left after dropping off the twenty winter vacation assignments, while Yuan
Ting carried them inside and placed them on the table.
"Xiao Ting, this isn't right," Yuan Xiao tugged at Yuan Ting's clothes, "We need to learn on
our own. Helping them with their work means they won't learn anything."
"They wouldn't be able to do it anyway," Yuan Ting replied, looking at the overly serious
Yuan Xiao, "Who does their holiday homework these days? They were going to copy from
someone else anyway. This is just making money where we can."
Yuan Xiao, coming from a less affluent background, had always been taught by his family
to study hard to change his fate, so he couldn't agree with Yuan Ting's perspective.
Yuan Ting clicked his tongue and pulled out a stack of money from his pocket, slapping it
on the table: "So, will you write it or not?"
Yuan Xiao, who had never seen so much money before, stood with his mouth agape,
unable to close it for a long time.
"If you won't write, I'll find someone else," Yuan Ting threatened to pick up the money,
but Yuan Xiao quickly pressed his hand down on it, eyes fixated on the cash, then
swallowed hard: "I'll write it."
"That's a good boy," Yuan Ting said, patting his shoulder as he tiptoed, "Let's get started
then, no time to waste. I'll get you food and drinks, don't leave the bed today."
Yuan Xiao took off his shoes and climbed onto the bed to start working.
Yuan Ting nodded in satisfaction, thinking about the earnings: 3,400 yuan in total, 700
for Duan Wenze, 2,000 for Yuan Xiao, and 700 for himself – easy money.
However, he worried that over twenty books might be too much and didn't want to
overburden his brother.
"Brother, are there other good students in the village? Let's get them to write. Ten yuan,
no, five yuan a book, anyone?" Yuan Ting suggested.
"No," Yuan Xiao immediately shook his head.
"Then find someone who can write. Several books are of the same grade, let them copy
after you've written."
"No need," Yuan Xiao shook his head again, "I can do it myself, don't waste the money."
Yuan Ting was speechless, realizing it was all about the money.
"I'll pay for it, five yuan per person won't cost much."
Yuan Xiao looked up at him and earnestly asked, "Then, if I write it myself, can you give
me those five yuan?"
Yuan Ting: "Huh???"
Author's Note:
A big thank you to the angels who supported me with their votes and nutrient solutions
between 2023-08-13 13:55:30 and 2023-08-14 18:26:47~
Thanks to the following angels for their nutrient solutions: Yan Jue 161 bottles; Lucky
Coin 21 bottles; Yu Han 10 bottles; Hui Yi 8 bottles; Hey Hey 6 bottles; Not a Cilantro
Lover 5 bottles; huttuu 3 bottles; Idle Salted Fish, Skinny but Fat 2 bottles; Lin Wu Yu, XL,
I Love~, and Li 1 bottle each;
I am truly grateful for everyone's support and will continue to work hard!
#43 Chapter 43:
Chapter 43:
Yuan Xiao was the same age as Mo Yi Kai, twelve years old, but started school a year late
due to health reasons and later took another year off, currently in fifth grade.
Yuan Xiao was bright and studious with excellent grades, so writing homework for lower
grades was no problem for him.
However, the workload for a single winter vacation assignment was not small, and Yuan
Ting didn't dare let Yuan Xiao complete it all by himself.
Besides, efficiency matters in work. Relying on Yuan Xiao alone, when would the work
ever get done?
Thus, Yuan Ting instructed Yuan Xiao to find help, and although Yuan Xiao was extremely
reluctant, he dared not defy Yuan Ting and went off to find people with a heavy heart.
Was this really necessary...
The prospect of earning five yuan for copying homework was very appealing to rural
children, and Yuan Xiao quickly found three girls and two boys to come back.
Five people was Yuan Ting's strict requirement; he feared Yuan Xiao, being frugal, might
only find one person, so he set this target.
"With six people working together, it's great, especially since they're all inexpensive
labor."
Hehehe, Yuan Ting laughed out loud, lying on the traditional heated brick bed.
"Gosh, being an exploiting capitalist feels amazing."
Among them was a girl a year older than Yuan Xiao, in her second year of junior high. She
was a good student and wrote quickly and well. Yuan Ting couldn't help but instruct her,
"Sister, you must make sure your handwriting is as poor as possible, understand?"
"Got it," the girl nodded.
Yuan Ting was even more pleased. Look at how easy such employees are to manage.
Seeing her write quickly, Yuan Xiao sped up too, thinking each book meant saving five
yuan…
The girl, noticing Yuan Xiao speeding up, also began to write faster...
Yuan Ting clapped his hands in approval. See, internal competition among employees is
so beneficial.
Yuan Ting distributed snacks he brought to everyone, causing Yuan Xiao to fret quietly to
him, "You've already paid them, you know." His brother's snacks were all foreign-
branded and looked expensive. Although he didn't eat them, he felt the pinch when his
brother gave them away, especially since they still had to pay each five yuan...
Seeing Yuan Xiao's conflicted expression, Yuan Ting thought of a phrase: penny-pinching.
A group of kids sat on the bed doing their holiday homework. Grandma Yuan was happy
to see this, but while everyone was working, only Yuan Ting was either sound asleep or
leisurely watching TV, utterly relaxed.
Curious, Grandma Yuan asked, "Xiao Ting, everyone's doing homework, why aren’t you?"
"I don't need to," Yuan Ting boasted without any guilt, "The doctor said I'm a genius. Said
I'll either become a high-ranking official or make a fortune. Grandma, you'll enjoy a life of
luxury with me in the future."
"Hahaha..." The elderly lady laughed heartily, "My dear grandson is a genius, that's
wonderful. I don't need to enjoy any luxuries, as long as you're safe and healthy, that's
enough for me to rest easy."
"Rest easy for what?" Auntie said, walking by with a basin of dough, "In the future, you're
supposed to see your great-grandchildren, you know."
Grandma Yuan thought about that image and then looked at her seven-year-old grandson
squatting nearby, laughing again. Great-grandchildren, that's still a long way off.
……
The twenty winter vacation assignments were completed in three days, and the
temporary workers were paid a total of eighty yuan. When Yuan Ting was giving out the
money, Yuan Xiao turned his back, out of sight, out of mind.
The young girl earned twenty-five yuan herself and was thrilled. She told Yuan Ting to
make sure to call her for such tasks in the future.
After everyone had left, Yuan Xiao took out a hundred yuan from his two thousand and
offered it to Yuan Ting: "I can't let you pay for everything. I should cover this."
"Oh," Yuan Ting reached out to take it, but Yuan Xiao hesitated to let go of the bill.
Yuan Ting looked at him, and Yuan Xiao looked back.
Yuan Ting narrowed his eyes: "Brother..."
"Ahem..." Yuan Xiao gave a dry laugh and released his grip.
Yuan Ting accepted the hundred yuan without any guilt, giving back twenty to Yuan Xiao.
Yuan Xiao refused: "I know I took advantage of you. I would've written them for five yuan
each."
"Keep it," Yuan Ting insisted, placing the money in his hand. "Between brothers, accounts
should be clear. Besides, who's taking advantage of whom is still up for debate."
Only then did Yuan Xiao carefully pocket the twenty yuan.
A child's hands are naturally soft, and with Yuan Xiao's poor health and thin physique,
holding a pen for three days straight had left his hands trembling. Yuan Ting, feeling a
pang of sympathy, gently grasped his wrist, massaging it.
"Does it hurt?"
"No," Yuan Xiao shook his hands. "If I could earn this much every day, I'd write every day,
no problem."
"Wishful thinking," Yuan Ting chuckled. "First off, such opportunities are rare. And if they
did exist, would you write every day and skip school?"
Yuan Xiao also laughed, "Of course not. School is more important. I know I'm earning this
much not because of my effort, but because of you. I understand that." Who else would
pay so much for homework except for someone Yuan Ting knows?
"Wow," Yuan Ting widened his eyes. "Look at you, brother, a real genius in our family,
with an IQ of at least seventy-five."
"An IQ of seventy-five is considered low. The average person's IQ is over a hundred.

When complimenting someone, you should say their IQ is one hundred fifty to make them
happy. Saying seventy-five is more like an insult," Yuan Xiao earnestly explained to the
younger child. "Got it, Xiao Ting?"
Yuan Ting laughed heartily. "Haha, you sure know a lot, little stickler."
"What do you plan to do with this money?" Yuan Ting asked Yuan Xiao. "Are you going to
give it directly to Uncle?"
"No," Yuan Xiao shook his head. "Let's wait until you've delivered the work. Xiao Ting,
what if they find it unsatisfactory and want their money back? Wouldn't I lose eighty
yuan then?"
Yuan Xiao looked troubled. "If that happens, Xiao Ting, I'll be out of money. You'll have to
lend me some."
Yuan Ting stepped back and clasped his hands together in mock respect. "I'm impressed."
Yuan Xiao: "..." It seemed like his brother was mocking him, but he had no proof.
……
Yuan Ting had been staying here for four days now. Apart from a call to the Cheng family
on the first day, he hadn't made any calls since.
Of course, nobody had called him either.
"Even Comrade Liu Moshi didn't bother with him."
Yuan Ting was quite upset. Everyone always praised him for being cute, but once he left,
it seemed like no one really cared about him.
"Hmph."
"Do they really think I won't come back?"
Yuan Ting packed his bags and the holiday assignments, then decided to call Duan Wenze
to pick up the assignments and perhaps give him a ride back as well.
Just as he picked up the phone, he heard a shout from the yard: "Yuan Xiao, there's
another car at your house, the same million-yuan one..."
Yuan Ting dropped the phone and ran outside: "Brother Xiao Zhang..."
At the gate, he saw Cheng Nanyi standing by the car, dressed in a black down jacket,
standing tall and straight.
"It feels like ages since I last saw him..."
Yuan Ting paused, then cheered and ran forward: "Brother..." You do have a conscience
after all. I take back what I said earlier, I'll scold you next time.
Yuan Ting jumped straight into Cheng Nanyi's arms, causing Cheng to stagger back
several steps before steadying himself.
Cheng Nanyi held him tight, his lips curving slightly.
"Did you cause any trouble?" Cheng Nanyi looked down at him.
"How could I, being so well-behaved," Yuan Ting snorted lightly, then looked up at him
with a grin. "Brother, you came to pick me up?"
Cheng Nanyi had to admit, although the kid was annoying, the sudden reunion after a few
days apart was still pleasing.
"Of course, I always keep my promises."
Author's Note:
I know I'm brief, let me perform a ritual suicide... pfft.
(I've been having chest, back, and lower abdominal pains for several days, but my period
just won't start. I'm resigned to it!) Thanks to the angels who supported me with their
votes and nutrient solutions between 2023-08-14 18:26:47 and 2023-08-15 21:06:10~
Thanks to the angels for their nutrient solutions: Wan Feng, 67742181, Lin - 10 bottles
each; Petrichor - 6 bottles; Miao Miao Pan - 5 bottles; Red Blue Green White, Gentleman
Like Wind, Lin Wu Yu, Thin Mist - 1 bottle each;
I'm very grateful for everyone's support and will continue to work hard!
#44 Chapter 44:
Chapter 44:
Holding onto Cheng Nanyi, Yuan Ting finally felt relieved, thinking, 'I, Yuan Ting, am
indestructible. No one can get rid of me!!!'
Cheng Nanyi set him down and bowed to the person behind him, "You must be Yuan
Ting's grandmother. I am Cheng Nanyi, Yuan Ting's cousin."
"Oh, hello, hello..." Grandma Yuan was somewhat flustered, "Then, then, Xiao Ting, bring
your guest inside, quick..."
"We won't come in, we're leaving," Yuan Ting hurriedly said, "Brother, let's go back."
"There's no rush to leave," Cheng Nanyi patted his head, then gestured for Xiao Zhang to
open the trunk and bring out the gifts.
Again, a pile of gift boxes. Grandma Yuan waved her hands, "No need, no need, too much,
too much. We can't accept..." They hadn't dared to open the previous gifts, worried about
being unable to reciprocate and fearing it would be impolite to send them back with Yuan
Ting. Now here was another pile. How could they not be overwhelmed?
"It's not too much, Grandma," Cheng Nanyi had Xiao Zhang carry the gifts, following
Grandma Yuan into the house, "It's customary to bring substantial gifts on a first visit. I
won't do this on subsequent visits."
"You'll visit again?" Grandma Yuan was somewhat excited. Did this mean Yuan Ting
would be allowed to return in the future?
Watching Cheng Nanyi enter the house, Yuan Ting was full of questions. Why are you
going in? That's my grandmother...
Xiao Zhang soon came out again, patted Yuan Ting's head, and... drove off... leaving only a
swirl of exhaust and a tuft of yellow fur.
Yuan Ting: "..."
Why did he feel his journey home was so fraught with obstacles?
Stamping his foot, Yuan Ting complained, "Will I ever be able to go back?"
"Do you... really want to leave?" came a weak voice from the side.
Yuan Ting turned and saw Yuan Xiao, who had silently appeared behind the door.
"No," Yuan Ting shook his head. "Of course not."
"But I feel like you do," Yuan Xiao said, looking down dejectedly. "Xiao Ting, is it because
it's better there? Or did we make you unhappy?"
Such a sentimental soul.
"Want to know the answer? Give me twenty yuan, and I'll tell you," Yuan Ting held out his
hand.
Yuan Xiao stepped back in alarm, clutching his pocket, and looked at Yuan Ting in fear: "I
don’t want to hear it." He wasn't a fool.
No matter which side Xiao Ting preferred, he was bound to leave eventually, so Yuan Xiao
didn't want to hear it.
Yuan Ting clapped his hands, confirming his thought: the only fool was a certain
someone.
Lying at home petting a dog, someone sneezed three times, then frowned, suspecting that
the darn kid was bad-mouthing him.
When Yuan Ting entered the house, Cheng Nanyi had already been seated in the main
room. Uncle Yuan was entertaining the guest, and after learning Cheng Nanyi's identity,
the Yuan family was exceedingly warm and hospitable.
"This is Young Master Cheng, we mustn't be impolite," Grandma Yuan and Uncle Yuan
discussed lunch preparations. Although the family was not wealthy, they had prepared
quite a bit for the New Year. Still, their modest rural offerings seemed hardly sufficient to
entertain a young master from the big city.
"Qingmin, go to town and buy a leg of lamb, and some beef. Remember how we used to go
to the big restaurant with Qingguang, and they had tomato beef brisket? Let's make that,"
Grandma Yuan suggested.
Uncle Yuan hesitated for a moment, then nodded and pulled out the bicycle to head to
town.
During the years when Yuan Ting's father's business was thriving, they built a house and
bought a three-wheeled tractor and a van, living increasingly better. But after the
business failed, they sold everything to pay off his debts, leaving only a bicycle.
Just then, a man entered, dropping a sack on the ground with a thud: "This is for Yuan
Ting." He turned to leave immediately after speaking.
Uncle Yuan quickly grabbed him, "Dabao, what are you doing?"
The sack on the ground was still moving, clearly containing something alive.
Hearing the noise, Yuan Ting and others came out from the house. Wang Dabao, facing so
many people, became impatient, snorted and said, "It's for Yuan Ting."
"What's that?" Yuan Ting looked at the wriggling sack, and suddenly realizing, he leapt
into Cheng Nanyi's arms, "Ah, a snake! Brother, brother, protect me!"
Cheng Nanyi: "..."
Yuan Xiao: "..." Had his brother gone mad?
Wang Dabao frowned deeply, "It's a rabbit, Yuan Ting. Are you sick or something?" He
had seen Yuan Ting in the village before, always following Yuan Xiao. The brothers were
known to be well-behaved. Why did Yuan Ting seem so over-the-top now?
Wealthy families really do change people; he's turned into a young master.
Cheng Nanyi's brows furrowed slightly, showing clear displeasure.
Although Cheng Nanyi was several years younger than Wang Dabao, he was taller and
had an imposing presence. Wang Dabao, feeling intimidated under his gaze, involuntarily
looked away.
Grandma Yuan opened the bag and pulled out a large, plump rabbit weighing about three
to four pounds, still kicking and alive.
Catching rabbits in winter is no easy task, and it's hard to imagine the effort Wang Dabao
must have put in to catch such a fat one.
Though the Yuan family was poor now, they were united and making ends meet. Wang
Dabao's family, however, was different. His mother had left with someone else, and his
father, who was no good, had abandoned him and his grandfather for several years. They
barely survived on selling vegetables and government aid. How could they accept such a
gift?
Uncle Yuan insisted that Wang Dabao take the rabbit back, but he refused: "My grandma
said we can't just eat Yuan Ting's chocolate for nothing. This is for him."
"Chocolate?"
"Yuan Ting gave Dabao a box of chocolate before," Yuan Xiao explained.
Grandma Yuan and Uncle Yuan couldn't estimate the value of a box of chocolates, but
they knew that the chocolates from a wealthy family like Yuan Ting's would definitely be
more expensive than the rabbit, which would be worth only a few dozen yuan at most in
their rural area.
But such things can't be calculated based on value alone. Doing so would be heartless.
Unable to send the rabbit back, it would make a good addition to the meal. Grandma Yuan
decided to accept the rabbit, planning to send a bag of grain to Wang Dabao's family in a
few days.
Cheng Nanyi caught the words "Dabao" from Yuan Xiao. Those two words were quite
explosive for him, given that much of his supplementary knowledge about scarcity came
from "Dabao's mom at the east end of the village" and "Dabao's mom at the west end of
the village"…
So Dabao really existed, and he seemed quite pitiable.
With Mo Yikai's close-at-hand example, Cheng Nanyi felt a natural sympathy for Dabao,
who shared a similar plight and had been mentioned many times by Yuan Ting.
Seeing they had accepted the rabbit, Wang Dabao left the Yuan household, and Uncle
Yuan continued with his plan to bike to town for meat.
Turning around, Yuan Ting realized Cheng Nanyi was gone.
After searching the house and not finding him, Yuan Xiao told Yuan Ting, "He went out
following Dabao."
what？
Yuan Ting was startled, worrying that Cheng Nanyi might ask Wang Dabao something
like, “Are you the Dabao whose father had an affair and whose mother drank pesticide
and died?”
He was afraid Wang Dabao might lash out in response.
Yuan Ting rushed outside and, sure enough, saw Wang Dabao and Cheng Nanyi standing
face to face not far off.
"Are you called Dabao?" Cheng Nanyi asked.

"What about it?" Wang Dabao's nose always seemed to be runny. He sniffled, and Cheng
Nanyi quickly stepped back two paces, recalling images of Yuan Ting with a runny nose
and bubbles.
"Are all the kids in their village like this?"
Wang Dabao, sensitive and perceptive, immediately noticed Cheng Nanyi's disdain. His
face turned red with anger, his hands clenched together. Usually, he would've lashed out
physically at anyone else who looked down on him, but he restrained himself. The person
before him was from a wealthy family, and he wasn't foolish enough to cause trouble that
could affect his grandmother's well-being.
"So, do you live at the east or west end of the village?" This had been a burning question
for Cheng Nanyi, as Yuan Ting might have misremembered it. He wanted to correct Yuan
Ting's possible linguistic error.
Wang Dabao glared at him in silence, ready to retaliate if Cheng Nanyi showed any
further contempt.
Seeing him silent, Cheng Nanyi pulled out his wallet and took out three hundred yuan,
offering it to Wang Dabao: "Here, I want to buy a rabbit."
Wang Dabao's anger turned to confusion and surprise: "Buy a rabbit?"
"Yes," Cheng Nanyi nodded. "I want to take a rabbit back for my grandfather. Three
hundred yuan, catch one for me."
Yuan Xiao immediately shook Yuan Ting's shoulder, whispering anxiously, "No need to
buy, three hundred yuan is too much, just take our rabbit, that's three hundred yuan..."
Was this young master out of his mind?
Yuan Ting chuckled awkwardly, scratching his head.
"A rabbit only costs about twenty yuan, you don't need to spend three hundred," Wang
Dabao looked at Cheng Nanyi as if he was looking at a fool.
Wild rabbits in the countryside were hard to catch but not valuable. Unlike in big cities
where people spend a lot on wild game for a meal, rural folks occasionally catch one just
to add variety to their meals. Not many people bother to sell them, as they wouldn't fetch
much money; even a plump rabbit weighing three to five pounds wouldn't sell for more
than twenty or thirty yuan.
Spending three hundred yuan on a rabbit, if not foolish, then what?
"I insist on spending three hundred yuan for the rabbit," Cheng Nanyi said calmly. "This is
my decision. You just need to decide whether to sell or not."
To sell or not?
Of course, sell. That's three hundred yuan.
Yuan Xiao shook Yuan Ting's small frame frantically: "I can catch it too, Xiao Ting, let him
give the money to me." He had realized that these city folks were foolishly generous with
their money, recalling Yuan Ting's earlier words, "Earn where you can."
Yuan Ting shook off Yuan Xiao's hand, reassuring him, "Brother, this isn't our money to
earn. It rightfully belongs to Wang Dabao."
Yuan Xiao didn't understand, why did it rightfully belong to Wang Dabao?
Wang Dabao swallowed hard, "Are you serious?"
"Of course," Cheng Nanyi nodded. "If you don't want it, I'll find someone else."
"I'll catch it," Wang Dabao said quickly, fearing he might lose the opportunity to someone
else.
Yuan Xiao subtly raised his hand, signaling, look at me, I can catch it too.
But he didn't dare speak up, worried about upsetting Yuan Ting.
Realizing his eagerness might seem embarrassing, Wang Dabao touched his nose and
coughed to cover it up, "But rabbits are hard to catch. I can't guarantee I'll catch one
today. When are you leaving?"
Cheng Nanyi thought for a moment, "I can wait two days for you."
"Okay, I agree," Wang Dabao glanced at the money in his hand and swallowed hard, "I’ll
take the money after I catch the rabbit." Then he turned and ran off, sprinting quickly.
Yuan Xiao blinked, puzzled. The doctor had said his heart was healed, so why did he still
feel this pang of heartache?
Yuan Xiao, clutching his chest, asked Yuan Ting softly, "If I catch a rabbit, will your
brother give me three hundred yuan? Even a hundred per rabbit is fine." He could use ten
yuan to enlist village kids to help him catch them, then he could keep ninety.
Yuan Ting jumped up and tapped Yuan Xiao on the head, "Brother, this is not the kind of
money we should be earning. Put that idea out of your mind."
Dabao, Dabao, still, he didn't mean to say those things about Dabao's parents.
He just thought the name Dabao sounded familiar and said it randomly. After all, it had
been over twenty years, and he really forgot there was a Dabao in the east end of the
village.
Author's Note:
Thanks to the angels who supported me with their votes and nutrient solutions from
2023-08-15 21:06:10 to 2023-08-16 16:20:39~
Thanks to the angels for their nutrient solutions: Melody, :) 10 bottles; Wan Feng 5
bottles; Overcoming Procrastination 3 bottles; Hey Hey 2 bottles; Lin Wu Yu, AY, Shui
Feng Qing, Idle Salted Fish, Really Want to Drink Zhi Zhi Peach Peach, Ran Momomo 1
bottle each;
#45 Chapter 45:
Chapter 45:
Cheng Nanyi turned and walked back, and Yuan Ting hurried to hold his hand, but Cheng
Nanyi avoided it.
Yuan Ting: "???" He had just been embracing him, and now he was avoiding him?
Why the sudden change of behavior?
"I need to wash my hands," Cheng Nanyi thought of Wang Dabao's runny nose and felt
goosebumps all over.
Yuan Ting hummed obediently like a little maidservant, "Okay then." My lord.
Yuan Ting personally fetched water for Cheng Nanyi, and also got a new bar of soap from
his aunt, attending to the young master as he washed his hands, and then handed him a
fresh towel to dry them.
Uncle Yuan, having returned with the meat, went to prepare the rabbit, skinning it and
then chopping it up with a cleaver.
Yuan Ting, standing by, covered his eyes, unable to watch, lamenting, "Rabbits are so
cute, how can we eat them..."
The entire family looked at him, and Yuan Ting swallowed, "Grandma, make it dry fried,
add lots of chili, make sure there's no moisture left in it..."
Yuan Xiao, who didn't have a particular liking for rabbit meat as villagers usually stewed
it with radishes, found it chewy and unappealing. But hearing his brother's suggestion, it
suddenly seemed appetizing.
Uncle Yuan turned back and switched to a smaller knife, chopping the rabbit meat into
finer pieces. Dry frying required smaller cuts for thorough cooking and better flavor
absorption.
Auntie chopped the lamb for lamb-filled buns, while Grandma Yuan took charge of stir-
frying in a big wok. They had a gas stove, but still felt that stir-fried dishes tasted better in
a large wok.
Yuan Ting clicked his tongue, realizing that he was valued, but Cheng Nanyi was treated
with even higher regard.
The lunch spread included fish, meat, shrimp, and over a dozen dishes, more lavish than
their New Year feast.
New Year meant new bowls and chopsticks, which the family had bought but not yet
used. Yuan Ting sneaked out a set, scalded it with hot water, and covertly replaced the set
in front of Cheng Nanyi.
As the household's bowls and chopsticks were mismatched, no one noticed, except Cheng
Nanyi, who observed Yuan Ting's actions.
Yuan Ting leaned in and whispered, "Brother, if you find anything dirty, just put it in my
bowl, I'll eat it for you."
As a young master, Cheng Nanyi was particular about cleanliness. Having known him for
years, Yuan Ting understood his nature well. He was tactful in most things but
uncompromising on certain principles. Yuan Ting worried that Cheng Nanyi might say
something embarrassing, so he preemptively took care of everything.
"I don't have a cleanliness obsession," Cheng Nanyi said.
Yuan Ting: "Heh."
It's like how people with mental illnesses often claim they don't have one, and those with
cleanliness obsessions tend to deny having them.
How could I not know whether you have a cleanliness obsession or not?
Cheng Nanyi admitted he did like cleanliness to some extent, but he didn't think it
reached the level of an obsession. He could eat lunch boxes covered in dust at
construction sites with his grandfather without blinking an eye. It was just that he
couldn't stand someone spitting or blowing bubbles with their nose in front of him...
The meal went pleasantly, without any of the awkward scenarios Yuan Ting had
imagined. Cheng Nanyi ate all the dishes Grandma Yuan served him, and he particularly
liked the lamb buns, eating two large ones.
Yuan Ting rolled his eyes behind Cheng Nanyi's back, noting his tolerance.
……
Cheng Nanyi's decision to stay overnight was unexpected for Yuan Ting.
"Brother, you're not really waiting for Dabao's rabbit, are you?"
"Not exactly. I want to experience life at your home," Cheng Nanyi said earnestly.
"Opportunities like this are rare. I hope I'm not causing any trouble?"
Yuan Ting: "Uh..." Translated, that meant he hadn't experienced the life of the poor and
wanted to try it.
"If you can endure the hardships, then stay," Yuan Ting said, now indifferent. As long as
Cheng Nanyi was around, he was sure to be taken back to the Cheng family, so a day
earlier or later didn't matter.
The Yuan family was naturally very welcoming of Cheng Nanyi's decision to stay, as it
meant Yuan Ting could also remain for another day or two.
Grandma Yuan found a set of bedding, replacing it with freshly washed sheets and quilt
covers, and took them to Yuan Xiao's room.
The heated brick bed was large enough to sleep five or six people, so it was spacious for
the three children.
Cheng Nanyi looked at the bedding on the heated brick bed and began to regret his
decision to stay overnight. Although the bedding was clean, it was obviously old and had
been used by others, which he found unacceptable.
Yuan Xiao, kneeling on the bed, looked down at the two standing below, "Why aren't you
two coming up?"
No one knew Cheng Nanyi's thoughts better than Yuan Ting, but what could he do?
After all, it was Cheng Nanyi's own decision to stay.
Yuan Ting even felt a bit of schadenfreude, laughing to himself. Ha, Cheng Nanyi, even you
have your moments.
"Beg me," he thought gleefully. "Even if you do, I can't help. And you said you don't have a
cleanliness obsession, Mr. Cleanliness Freak!!!"
Pretending to be innocent, Yuan Ting turned to him, "Brother, let's go to sleep." He then
climbed onto the bed and snuggled into the blankets, enjoying the warmth of the heated
bed.
There were three separate blankets on the bed, each spaced a person's width apart.
Cheng Nanyi hesitated, but ultimately didn't call Xiao Zhang to pick him up in the middle
of the night. Not anticipating these issues was his own fault.
After surveying the bedding, Cheng Nanyi finally decided to take off his shoes and get on
the bed.
"Oh wow," Yuan Ting thought to himself, surprised at Cheng Nanyi's easy acceptance.
The next second, Cheng Nanyi pulled back the blanket covering Yuan Ting, "I’ll sleep with
you."
！！！！！！
Yuan Ting jumped up with a start, looking at him in shock, "What?"
Yuan Xiao sat calmly wrapped in his blanket, not needing to ask, "Why squeeze into one
when there’s another blanket right there?" He knew the minds of city folks were different
from those in the countryside.
Besides, it was just a blanket. Yuan Ting's reaction seemed overly dramatic.
Cheng Nanyi remained silent, just watching Yuan Ting.
Yuan Ting cleared his throat and glanced at his own blanket, then at the one next to him,
emitting a faint scent of laundry detergent. He couldn't understand why Cheng Nanyi
would want to share a blanket with him, wasn't he repulsed by him?
Not understanding, but not asking either, was Yuan Ting's rule for self-preservation.
"How about I sleep in your spot and you sleep in mine? Is that okay?" Yuan Ting asked
cautiously.
Cheng Nanyi shook his head without hesitation: "No."
Yuan Ting enjoyed physical closeness with him; what difference would it make if he slept
in that blanket?
Cheng Nanyi never imagined what he couldn't see, but he couldn't ignore what was in
plain sight.
Yuan Xiao watched the two lie down together in the same blanket, blinked, and couldn't
understand their conversation or logic. It just seemed odd that they wouldn't sleep in
separate blankets.
Well, it didn't matter to Yuan Xiao. Their close relationship was beneficial for Yuan Ting.
Yuan Xiao reached out to turn off the light.

Yuan Ting was about to protest, but why did the lights suddenly go off?
The sudden darkness extinguished his will to resist as if doused with a bucket of water.
"Let's sleep," Cheng Nanyi said, pulling him down.
Yuan Ting lay stiffly in the blanket, his mind in turmoil. Why? Why was he once again
sharing a blanket with Cheng Nanyi?
And this was even more intimate than in their previous life.
In their past life, at least there was a large bed where they lay distinctly apart, each
minding their own space. Now, they were in the same blanket, arm against arm, leg
against leg. How could he possibly sleep like this?
"Xiao Ting..." Yuan Xiao's soft voice came from nearby.
After a moment of silence, Cheng Nanyi responded, "He's asleep."
Yuan Xiao: "..." That was quick.
"So, does Dabao live in the east or west end of the village?" Cheng Nanyi asked Yuan Xiao.
"The east end," Yuan Xiao replied, his brows furrowing. Why were Xiao Ting and he so
curious about whether Wang Dabao lived in the east or west end of the village?
What was so special about Wang Dabao that his rabbit could sell for three hundred yuan?
Yuan Xiao sighed, resigning himself to a sleepless night.
The unique smell of a heated brick bed filled the air, a scent Cheng Nanyi didn’t like. He
turned over and pulled the little guy closer to him.
The little guy used milk shower gel, which smelled quite nice.
In his sleep, Yuan Ting struggled and mumbled, "Cheng Nanyi..."
Cheng Nanyi leaned in, surprised, "What?" The little guy was calling his name?
"Let go of me."
Let go of him?
Was he uncomfortable?
Cheng Nanyi loosened his hold and turned to lie on his back.
Then, an arm slapped across his face with a "smack," and the next second, a leg swung
over, hitting him in a rather sensitive area, causing Cheng Nanyi to hiss in pain.
Luckily, the little guy was still small; otherwise, that hit would have been excruciating.
After calming himself for a moment with his eyes closed, Cheng Nanyi had no choice but
to turn back and pull the little guy into his arms again, securing his restless arms and legs
tightly.
"Cheng Nanyi..." the little guy murmured again in his sleep.
"Hmm?"
"Let go of me."
Cheng Nanyi closed his eyes, "I can't."
"Oh..." Yuan Ting suddenly chuckled, "Rabbits are so cute, how can we not eat them..."
Cheng Nanyi: "..."
"It's really delicious," Yuan Xiao, still awake, stared at the ceiling. "So, why spend three
hundred yuan for Dabao's rabbit?"
No response.
Yuan Xiao turned to face the darkness, "… Xiao Ting?"
"Xiao Ting?"
"Xiao Ting…"
……
The next day, Yuan Ting woke up bright and early, only to see both Cheng Nanyi and Yuan
Xiao with huge dark circles under their eyes.
"What's up, didn't you two sleep well?" Yuan Ting asked, sitting at the breakfast table
with his legs crossed, sipping soy milk.
"Also?" Cheng Nanyi gave him a side glance.
"Yeah, I didn't sleep well either," Yuan Ting said, casting a resentful glance at Cheng
Nanyi. How could he possibly sleep well sharing a blanket with him? That was almost
traumatic.
Yuan Xiao: "Uh…" Is there something wrong with his brother's brain?
Cheng Nanyi rubbed his face, getting used to the 'seventy IQ' thing.
Wang Dabao's rabbit hadn't been caught yet, but Cheng Nanyi decided to take Yuan Ting
back home that day. He handed three hundred yuan to Yuan Xiao: "When Wang Dabao
brings the rabbit, give him this money. You can keep the rabbit."
Yuan Xiao: "..." Why buy the rabbit? Even planning to leave, why still leave the money?
His level of confusion could lead to three sleepless nights.
Cheng Nanyi called Xiao Zhang to pick them up. Grandma Yuan, not having much to offer
in return, packed a trunk full of homemade sausages, mushrooms, and dried goods.
Cheng Nanyi accepted without refusal.
Yuan Ting whispered to Yuan Xiao, "We can sell the gifts we brought to make some
money." His visit had cost his grandma and uncle, and they wouldn't accept money from
him, so it was better to turn the gifts into cash, as they wouldn't want to eat them
anyway.
Yuan Xiao glanced at Cheng Nanyi, whispering, "Isn't that a bit impolite?"
"Yes," Yuan Ting nodded. "So, don't sell them."
Yuan Xiao: "… Oh." After all, politeness is more about intention.
"Xiao Ting, I don't want you to go," Yuan Xiao said, his eyes reddening as he watched
Yuan Ting prepare to leave.
"It's okay, there will be other chances to come back," Yuan Ting comforted his
sentimental brother.
"Okay," Yuan Xiao nodded, wiping his eyes, "Will you bring your summer vacation
homework next time?"
Yuan Ting: "..."
Author's Note:
2023-08-16 16:20:39 to 2023-08-17 22:08:17~
Thanks to the angels for their nutrient solutions: Yu Han 30 bottles; Bu Qiu, Darling i 5
bottles; huttuu 4 bottles; Hey Hey, Trash to Treasure 2 bottles; XL, Thin Mist, Idle Salted
Fish, Ba Da Ma, Is Ying You Ya!, Lin Wu Yu, AY, Ye Jia Li Yuan 1 bottle each;
#46 Chapter 46:
Chapter 46:
Yuan Ting, not feeling the sadness of parting, cheerfully said goodbye to his grandmother,
knowing he would return in the future.
Watching the car drive away, Grandma Yuan couldn't hold back her tears, sitting in the
yard crying and cursing, "That damned Qingguang, I called him to come see his son, and
he doesn't even bother to return. He really doesn't want this son anymore…"
"Maybe Xiao Ting will never come back again, never to be seen… wu wu wu…"
Uncle Yuan scratched his head, unsure how to comfort her, thinking, well then... just cry it
out.
While she was still crying, Wang Dabao arrived panting with the rabbit. Hearing that
Yuan Ting had already left, his face froze for a few seconds, then turned to
disappointment and dejection.
Yuan Xiao, clutching the three hundred yuan in his pocket and feeling his chest ache
again, reluctantly pulled out the money and handed it to Wang Dabao: "Here, this is from
Young Master Cheng for you."
Wang Dabao silently took the money.
Yuan Xiao: "..."
Shu Zhilan hadn't expected to be able to send Yuan Ting back immediately, so her
reaction to his return was minimal. After asking a few symbolic questions, she left him
alone.
Cheng Nanyi took Yuan Ting upstairs and instructed the butler to thoroughly wash the
little guy in the bathroom. Cheng Nanyi himself soaked for an hour, emerging with his
skin all pruney, to Yuan Ting's observation.
Still claiming not to be a cleanliness freak, huh!
After both were cleaned up, they went downstairs for dinner. With the New Year
approaching and the company on holiday, the old master was at home. Yuan Ting's
return seemed to bring in the noise and joy of five hundred ducks into the house.
"Grandpa, I'm telling you, I didn’t eat a bite of that huge, cute rabbit," Yuan Ting declared
earnestly, raising his small hand.
"You didn't eat a single bite?" the old master laughed.
"Mhm," Yuan Ting nodded, "I’m too kind to eat a rabbit, but my brother ate quite a bit."
Cheng Nanyi, with eyes downcast, didn’t bother to respond.
The old master laughed heartily at Yuan Ting’s expression.
Yuan Ting, speechless, thought, 'I lie and you laugh, grandpa, what a double standard. If it
were Cheng Nanyi, he’d probably be slapped.'
Amidst the family's laughter, the phone rang. Yuan Ting sprang from his chair and ran to
answer it: "Moshi moshi, this is the Cheng residence, Operator Xiao Ting speaking, whom
are you looking for?"
"Ah, the operator is back," the gatekeeper chuckled, hearing the familiar voice. "There’s a
kid at the gate with a snakeskin bag, says he’s here to sell a rabbit to your brother."
"Huh?" Yuan Ting was shocked. "What’s his name?"
"Wang Dabao?" Yuan Ting turned to Cheng Nanyi, "Brother, Wang Dabao is at the gate, he
says he's here to sell a rabbit."
Cheng Nanyi: "..."
The butler quickly went to the gate to bring the visitor in. Wang Dabao was still wearing
his worn-out leather jacket, his face red from the cold, sniffing occasionally.
Cheng Nanyi touched his arm, feeling an urge to take another bath.
The snakeskin bag was thrown on the ground, moving occasionally.
"Grandpa, don't be afraid, I'll protect you," Yuan Ting spread his arms in front of the old
master.
Shu Zhilan looked on with a numb, speechless expression. Her son must have a problem
in his brain. It seems the doctor's diagnosis of an IQ of seventy was correct.
Wang Dabao had never seen such a house or people dressed so elegantly, not even often
on television.
Swallowing hard, Wang Dabao pointed to the bag on the ground and said to Cheng Nanyi,
"I brought the rabbit I promised you."
Cheng Nanyi examined him from head to toe, his gaze finally resting on Wang Dabao's
soaked, tattered cotton shoes.
"How did you get here?" Cheng Nanyi asked.
"I ran," Wang Dabao replied.
Yuan Ting looked at him in surprise, "You ran here on foot?"
Wang Dabao gave him a glance, "What else, on my hands?"
Yuan Ting: "..."
From here to his grandmother's house was at least two hundred kilometers. Normally,
driving there took about two hours due to traffic and poor road conditions. Wang Dabao
actually ran all this way on foot?
"What time did you leave?" Yuan Ting asked.
"I started following after you left this morning. Yuan Xiao gave me the address," Wang
Dabao wiped his nose, "I took a shortcut through the mountains."
"How did you find your way here?" Yuan Ting was astounded. They had left at eight in the
morning, and now it was seven in the evening, meaning Wang Dabao had been running
for more than ten hours.
"Mouth's right under the nose, isn't it? Just ask," Wang Dabao said impatiently, pointing
to the bag, "Anyway, I've delivered the rabbit, and I've taken the money. I'm leaving." He
then headed towards the door.
"Wait a moment." Before Cheng Nanyi or Yuan Ting could speak, the old master
intervened, "Liu, quickly take this boy to clean up, warm him up, and feed him."
Wang Dabao seemed reluctant, but Yuan Ting stepped forward, pulling his arm, tempting
him, "If you behave well, my grandpa might also buy a rabbit from you for three hundred
yuan."
Wang Dabao immediately followed the butler, compliant with whatever was asked. City
people really were foolish with their money.
After Wang Dabao was taken to clean up, the old master understood the situation from
Cheng Nanyi’s explanation and showed his admiration.
"Who has a dad with a mistress and a mom who died from taking medicine?" Wang
Dabao, now clean and wearing Cheng Nanyi's old clothes, walked in, full of confusion.
The living room fell silent. Cheng Nanyi had mentioned this, saying he heard it from Yuan
Ting.
Everyone’s gaze turned to Yuan Ting.
Yuan Ting: "!!!" Why was he being blamed for this?
Cheng Nanyi was the first to realize the little guy might have been spinning tales again
and frowned at Wang Dabao, "What about your parents?"
"My dad used to beat my mom, so she ran away with someone else. My dad went after
her, saying he’d kill her if he found her. They've both been gone for several years now."
Although different from what the little guy had said, it was still a tragic story.
"Did you say my mom is dead?" Wang Dabao looked at Yuan Ting, questioning why the
boy was spreading falsehoods.
This is trouble; the person in question has arrived.
Yuan Ting hung his head, muttering softly, "Well, I got it wrong, okay? I didn't do it on
purpose..."
Knowing he was wrong and aiming to correct it, Yuan Ting stood up and bowed deeply at
ninety degrees to Wang Dabao, exclaiming loudly, "I'm sorry."
Wang Dabao, seeing this for the first time, stepped back in shock, "If she's dead, she's
dead. In my heart, they're both dead."
"You shouldn't talk about your mom like that. She had it tough, especially with your dad
always beating her," interjected the empathetic housekeeper. "Wasn't she supposed to
leave to avoid being killed?"
Wang Dabao glanced at her, "The man my mom ran off with already had a wife and two
young kids. He left them, and his wife started seeing another man from the village. That
man's wife is always causing trouble."
"..." The housekeeper turned and went into the kitchen to help with cooking, thinking,
"Let it be, no need for empathy now."
Neither men nor women were good in this case.

Cheng Nanyi, expressionless, thought, their village is indeed full of drama; no wonder
Yuan Ting got mixed up.
"Are you done asking? If so, I'm leaving. I'll leave these clothes at Yuan Xiao's house..."
Before he could finish, he saw the housekeeper bringing out a bowl of noodles larger than
his head, made especially for him.
Wang Dabao, who hadn't eaten all day, couldn't walk anymore.
The chef, experienced with appetites of young boys, simply made a large pot of noodles.
Wang Dabao ate every bit, burping while holding his stomach, thinking how lucky Yuan
Ting was to have a mother who could give him such a good life. He hadn't eaten noodles
this delicious in his life, not even in his past life.
After eating and drinking his fill, Wang Dabao was about to leave when the old master
spoke up, "I'll sponsor your education. Will you study?"
"Huh?" Wang Dabao paused and then shook his head, "No need, I've stopped going to
school. I don't like studying and I'm not good at it."
"How old are you?" the butler inquired.
"Fifteen, turning sixteen after the New Year," Wang Dabao wasn't dull-witted. His eyes
brightened as he thought, "Do you need staff? A security guard, perhaps? I can be a
guard."
The old master smiled and shook his head, "No need."
"Oh." Wang Dabao felt a bit disappointed but then pondered, "What do you need then? I
can do anything."
The old master laughed again, simply observing him without a word.
Yuan Ting, frustrated, chided him, "You can do anything? What can you do? Look at our
comrade Liu, he’s trained in a foreign butler school. Our chef is skilled in Sichuan and
Cantonese cuisine with decades of experience. Our housekeeper is certified, and our
driver even knows Sanda. What can you do? Tell me what you can do!" Full of yourself,
claiming you can do anything.
Yuan Ting ran over, kicked his foot and whispered fiercely, "Study, study! Go and study.
My brother studies every day to change his fate. Are you brainless?"
Yuan Ting wasn't a saint. He had never thought of using the Cheng family to help his
grandmother or Wang Dabao. But since Wang Dabao had stumbled into this opportunity
with the old master, Yuan Ting didn't mind giving him a push.
The old master chuckled, "Our little Ting has grown up, quite sharp-witted."
The butler smiled, "Our young master has always been clever and quick."
Wang Dabao, perplexed, looked down at Yuan Ting scratching his head, "But I just don’t
like studying. Why waste the money?"
Yuan Ting gritted his teeth, "If you don't like studying, learn a skill." Having a skill
ensures you won't starve.
"Do you see me as a beggar?" Wang Dabao frowned, "I don't need charity. A real man
doesn’t live off pity."
Yuan Ting: "..." Impressive, a man with no education knows the term 'pity's bread.'
Impossible to persuade, just impossible.
"Didn’t you say your grandpa would buy my rabbit for three hundred?" Wang Dabao
asked Yuan Ting again.
Annoyed, Yuan Ting turned away, ignoring him. Forget it.
The old master chuckled and instructed the butler, "Arrange a car to take him back."
"Are you still buying the rabbit?" Wang Dabao looked hopefully at the old master, "Two
hundred per rabbit is fine too."
The old master shook his head, "No, we won’t buy it."
Wang Dabao rubbed his neck and glared at Yuan Ting, accusing him of lying.
Yuan Ting: "..." Just speechless.
……
The next day, the driver said he would take Wang Dabao back in the evening. Wang
Dabao insisted he didn’t need a ride and almost ran off. The driver, skilled in Sanda,
managed to stop him. Reluctantly, Wang Dabao let the driver take him, but jumped out of
the car near his village and ran off.
The old master just smiled without a word. Yuan Ting wanted to say something but was
silenced by Cheng Nanyi.
Yuan Ting kept quiet, not wanting to upset the old master.
Later, behind Cheng Nanyi's back, Yuan Ting sneakily called Duan Wenze, and they
arranged for the driver to come to the neighborhood to complete the transaction of the
winter vacation homework.
After a brief inspection, they were satisfied with the quality of the homework and set up
an order for the summer vacation.
With the New Year approaching, there were many visitors at home, but they were all
turned away by the butler, ensuring the old master had a relaxed holiday.
The one who wasn't relaxed was Cheng Nanyi, as the old master spent most of his time
monitoring him and giving him lessons. Yuan Ting, though sitting beside him, often didn’t
pay attention and sometimes fell asleep, once even waking up under the table.
See, being an heir isn't that easy.
On the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, Yuan Ting was making a snowman in
the courtyard. A heavy snow had fallen the night before, leaving a thick layer.
The butler brought carrots and peppers to join Yuan Ting, and Yuan Ting even placed a
hat belonging to Cheng Shaolin on the snowman's head.
Cheng Nanyi watched him from the second floor. Yuan Ting, forming a snowball, stood
below and threw it upwards at Cheng Nanyi, who didn’t bother to dodge. The snowball,
lacking force, fell back and hit Yuan Ting’s head, bursting apart.
The old master, standing by the window drinking coffee, burst into laughter. Inside the
glass greenhouse, Cheng Shaolin, with a paintbrush in hand, occasionally glanced outside
at the child with hands on hips, and after finishing his last stroke, he removed the paper
for framing.
Yuan Ting spat out the snow and went out to find Mo Yikai's dog in the opposite
neighborhood.
#47 Chapter 47:
Chapter 47:
On the seventh day of the New Year, the old master returned to work, and Cheng Nanyi
resumed accompanying him to the office. Yuan Ting, left alone at home, felt bored to
death and often went to the opposite neighborhood to walk his silly brother, the dog.
The dog's fur had grown out again, looking like the same foolishly adorable pup.
Each time Yuan Ting visited, he saw Mo Yikai's father sitting in a wheelchair watching TV.
The male caregiver, strong enough to lift him from bed to wheelchair and back, was
always there.
Mo Zhao Hua, with his slurred speech and drooping mouth, was not very clear, but his
eyes moved alertly. Yuan Ting always felt uncomfortable seeing him, an indescribable
and complex feeling.
Aunt Zhu, however, was very composed, sometimes even chatting with him. Yuan Ting,
thinking about this seemingly peaceful family life, would often get goosebumps from his
own imaginations.
Aunt Zhu had taken over the company, busy from dawn till dusk, while Mo Yikai had
become much more sensible, even starting to do his winter vacation homework and
attending tutoring classes.
Surprising, isn't it!
Yuan Ting took the silly dog back home, where a scrap collector asked him, "Do you have
any Moutai bottles? Twenty yuan each."
"What?" Yuan Ting was shocked. "Empty liquor bottles? For twenty yuan?"
"Yes," the scrap collector said eagerly, whispering, "Do you have any at home? You could
make some pocket money by selling them."
Moutai is indeed Moutai, even an empty bottle is worth twenty yuan.
Yuan Ting, with the dog in tow, ran back home to ask Uncle Liu, "Do we have any Moutai
bottles?"
"Sure, what do you need them for? Playing with water?" The housekeeper shook his head.
"Moutai bottles are different; they can't hold water."
Yuan Ting knew, of course; he had drunk Moutai in his previous life. The design was
meant to prevent the recycling of old bottles for counterfeit liquor, but counterfeit liquor
was still rampant.
"I want them," Yuan Ting said.
Since he wanted them, the housekeeper led him to look for them.
In the small storeroom where they kept scrap items to be sold periodically, the
housekeeper retrieved five or six Moutai bottles and three Wuliangye bottles for Yuan
Ting.
Yuan Ting walked away, cradling the bottles like treasures.
When Cheng Nanyi returned, he washed his hands first, then went looking for the little
guy. The housekeeper pointed him towards the backyard playhouse.
Cheng Nanyi found Yuan Ting in the playhouse, sitting and contemplatively staring at the
eight bottles before him.
"What are you doing?" Cheng Nanyi leaned on the small tent, looking at him.
Yuan Ting, without lifting his head and sighing first, said, "Ah, brother, I'm pondering
over a very serious matter."
Yuan Ting, still not looking up, let out a preemptive sigh: "Ah, brother, I'm contemplating
a very serious issue."
"What matter?" Cheng Nanyi inquired.
"It's like this," Yuan Ting pointed to the empty liquor bottles in front of him, "This
afternoon, I met a scrap collector who said he would pay fifty yuan for each of these
empty bottles."
"Oh." Cheng Nanyi, unfamiliar with such things, didn't understand but knew the little guy
always had a keen sense for money, so he asked, "Then why didn't you sell them?"
"Do you know why they buy these bottles?" Yuan Ting frowned, "They use them to make
counterfeit liquor."
Cheng Nanyi furrowed his brows, "Then it’s better not to sell them."
"But…" Yuan Ting pouted, "Each empty bottle is worth fifty yuan. Isn’t it a loss not to sell
them?"
Cheng Nanyi: "..."
Yuan Ting, looking up, tugged at Cheng Nanyi's sleeve and swayed, "Brother, will you buy
my bottles?"
"What?" Cheng Nanyi thought he misheard, "What did you say?"
"Brother, I sell you the bottles, and then you smash them. That way, I can make money
selling the bottles, and they won’t be used for counterfeit liquor. It's a win-win, right?"
Yuan Ting wanted to sell directly to the scrap collector, but ultimately couldn’t reconcile
it with his conscience.
What was he?
He was someone who had been reborn.
What kind of person gets reborn?
Obviously, it's the chosen protagonist.
Could a protagonist do something like selling bottles for counterfeit liquor?
That would be morally wrong, of course not.
The protagonist's character must be maintained... but money shouldn't be left on the
table.
A perfect solution?
Cheng Nanyi looked at Yuan Ting with a different expression now.
What perfect solution? Who benefits?
Was this little guy highly intelligent or the opposite?
"Brother, please buy them, I'm begging you." Yuan Ting lowered himself to sit at his feet
and clung to his legs, "I really want to sell them, wuu wuu wuu..."
"But these are our family’s bottles, they’re technically mine already. Why should I buy
them?"
"Of course they're not yours, they're mine," Yuan Ting said earnestly, looking up at him.
"Uncle Liu already gave the bottles to me. From now on, all our family's bottles belong to
me, just like this playhouse. It was a gift from my dad to me, so it's mine. The telescope is
yours, your bedroom is yours, and my bedroom is mine. So, these bottles are mine."
“……”
Cheng Nanyi eventually bought the eight empty bottles for four hundred yuan.
Yuan Ting, holding the money, was gleeful: "Brother, you're the best." Damn, I'm such a
genius.
"If I don't buy your bottles, I become the bad guy, right?"
"Of course not," Yuan Ting swore with his hand raised, "My brother is the best brother in
the world."
"Mirror, mirror, who is the best brother in the world?"
"Cheng Nanyi."
Yuan Ting chuckled, "Brother, did you hear the mirror's answer?"
“……”
Cheng Nanyi curved his lips slightly, amused. Four hundred yuan for some fun wasn't too
bad.
Cheng Nanyi's amusement didn't end there. Every half a month or so, Yuan Ting would
sell him one or two empty liquor bottles, with the price gradually increasing from the
initial fifty to fifty-five, sixty, sixty-five, seventy...
The housekeeper watched as Yuan Ting collected empty bottles from the house and then
saw them neatly arranged in a corner of the backyard by the young master, even covered
with a small shed to protect from wind and rain, completely baffled by the children's
sense of fun these days.
Yuan Ting was quite pleased, his only regret being that the old master and his stepfather
weren't heavy drinkers, only occasionally opening a bottle.
Mo Yikai, seeing the pile of empty bottles in Cheng Nanyi's yard, found it even harder to
comprehend than the housekeeper, "Don't you find it absurd?"
Cheng Nanyi shrugged, replying, "You don’t understand the joy of raising a child."
Mo Yikai: "..." He didn't want to understand.
He swore that if he ever had a child like Yuan Ting, he’d have a serious talk with himself.
"Hahaha..." Yuan Ting zoomed past in the distance, followed by the barking of the big silly
dog.
Mo Yikai: "..." See, so annoying.
He couldn't fathom what Cheng Nanyi found so amusing.
During the summer vacation, Shu Zhilan and Cheng Shaolin planned a holiday trip. Cheng
Shaolin wanted to take Yuan Ting, but Shu Zhilan objected. She had been trying to
conceive for over half a year without success and wanted to take this opportunity to
focus on it. Why bring a child along?
Ultimately, Shu Zhilan sent Yuan Ting back to his grandmother's house again. Yuan Ting
was thrilled, having prearranged with Duan Wenze. Thanks to a term’s worth of
promotion by Duan Wenze, the summer homework orders reached a total of thirty-five
books.
Yuan Ting headed to Longqiao Village with thirty-five summer vacation homework
books, full of confidence and vigor.
Yuan Xiao smiled with squinted eyes, no longer worried about spending money. He hired
more help for writing, and the young girl who came during the New Year was back,
writing even better than during the winter vacation.
"Where's Wang Dabao?" Yuan Ting, still lounging on the kang with his legs crossed,
snacked leisurely.
"He ran away."
"What do you mean?" Yuan Ting sat up abruptly, alarmed, "What do you mean he ran
away?"
Yuan Xiao sighed, "During the New Year, his dad came back with a woman, announcing
their marriage. Wang Dabao confronted the woman about his father’s domestic violence.
Enraged, his father beat him with a stick, right at the bridge near our village, and knocked
him under it. After that, his grandma told him to run away. It's been over half a year, and
there's been no word from him."
Yuan Ting was speechless, gaping for a while before asking, "Did that new wife of his dad
run away?"
"No, she didn't. They got married and are living in the village. She's pregnant. Just the
other day, grandma mentioned she's about to give birth."
Yuan Ting: "..."
"Does he hit her?" Yuan Ting asked again.
"Haven't seen him hit her," Yuan Xiao shook his head. "You can't hit a pregnant woman. If
he wants to hit her, he'd probably wait until after the child is born."
Yuan Ting: "..."
After a moment of thought, Yuan Xiao added, "He won't end well." He then continued
writing.
Learning about Wang Dabao's situation left Yuan Ting unsettled, regretting why he
hadn't spoken up more at the time.
The next day, Yuan Ting deliberately went to the eastern part of the village. There, he saw
a pregnant woman in her thirties sitting in a yard eating grapes, while an old lady hung
clothes in the yard.
Yuan Ting strolled around for a while, finally catching sight of the old lady. He hurried
over, "Grandma, do you know where Dabao is?"
The old lady recognized Yuan Ting, aware of Wang Dabao's dealings with him over selling
rabbits. Seeing Yuan Ting, her eyes welled up with tears as she clutched his hand. "I don't
know where he is. He said your place was good and he wanted to go to the big city to
work and earn money. Yuan family boy, can you find him?"
"My Dabao is only sixteen, still a child..."
Yuan Ting, seeing the old lady crying, felt a pang in his heart and assured her he would
help find Dabao.
On his way back, he encountered Wang Dabao's drunk father heading home. Yuan Ting
hid behind a tree, throwing stones at him.
Wang Dabao's father, inebriated, rubbed his head, "Who's the damn kid hitting me?"
Yuan Ting spat in his direction, "I'm your father, how could you not drink yourself to
death?"
After staying over ten days at his grandmother's and a brief trip abroad with his
grandfather, Cheng Nanyi personally came to pick up Yuan Ting and his summer
homework.
Yuan Ting shared Wang Dabao's story with Cheng Nanyi.

Fate is really unpredictable. Initially, Yuan Ting thought Dabao’s confrontation with the
old master marked a turn in his destiny, but Dabao himself rejected the opportunity.
"Wang Dabao," Cheng Nanyi said.
"Yeah, Wang Dabao," Yuan Ting sighed, "You remember, right? The one you bought the
rabbit from for three hundred, not DaBao SOD honey."
"I mean…" Cheng Nanyi reached out, tilting Yuan Ting's chin forward, "I’ve seen Wang
Dabao."
"???" Yuan Ting leaned forward in his seat and saw Wang Dabao crouching near the
community gate, looking around.
Jumping out of the car, Yuan Ting ran over, surprised, "What are you doing here?"
Wang Dabao stood up immediately upon seeing Yuan Ting, "I was waiting for you."
"Waiting for me?" Yuan Ting was momentarily taken aback. "Why were you waiting for
me?"
Wang Dabao glanced at Cheng Nanyi, who had alighted from the car behind Yuan Ting,
and pulled Yuan Ting aside. Speaking softly, he said, "Yuan Ting, last time you mentioned
that to work for your family, one needs skills. I’ve given it a lot of thought. I can't drive
yet, so being a driver is out. Becoming a chef takes years of practice, so that's not feasible.
And I can't go to some butler school like you mentioned. But I've heard wealthy families
often have a dedicated pool attendant. I noticed your house has a pool. Are you in need of
a pool attendant? I've been working at a swimming club for six months to gain
experience, I assure you of my professionalism."
Yuan Ting looked at him expressionlessly.
Wang Dabao frowned, "What's wrong? Isn't this enough? Your family’s hiring standards
are too high."
Yuan Ting: "..." You’re truly a piece of work!
Author’s Note:
A big thank you to the angels who cast their mighty votes and nourished me with nutrient
solutions from 2023-08-18 19:29:51 to 2023-08-19 22:00:25~
Special thanks to those who provided nutrient solutions: Shishi Da Shi 50 bottles; Da Wen
Zi 12 bottles; 67742181, MS_634744 10 bottles; Xingxing Yu He, Xie, Ai Hei Hei 5 bottles;
Hong Lan Lv Bai, Hetun Gua, huttuu, Shi Ying You Ya! 1 bottle each;
I'm truly grateful for everyone’s support and will continue to strive!
#48 Chapter 48:
Chapter 48:
Wang Dabao now had a scar on his face, stretching from behind his ear to his chin, likely
from an untreated injury at the time, which now looked quite menacing.
He had become leaner, more muscular, and tanned, but his eyes still held a clear sense of
naivety.
This was Yuan Ting's description of him.
After six months, Wang Dabao stood again in the Cheng family's estate, his fondest
memory being the bowl of noodles served by the housekeeper during his last visit.
"What have you been up to since you ran away from home?" The old master chuckled
after listening to Yuan Ting's detailed account and then turned to Wang Dabao.
"I came back looking for work. You didn’t need me, so I tried other jobs. Washed dishes,
worked as a waiter. It was hard work for little pay. That’s why I thought your house must
be better. Your butler and housekeeper dress well and seem to earn more. So, I inquired
around, seeing what kind of staff your family might need…” Wang Dabao's voice trailed
off, recalling how swiftly the old master had rejected him last time.
The old master observed Wang Dabao, smiling but remaining silent.
Yuan Ting felt numb, unsure if Wang Dabao was genuinely naive or pretending to be
clever.
With no clear response from the old master, the chef was asked to make noodles for
Wang Dabao. Both Yuan Ting and Wang Dabao exchanged glances, unable to read each
other's thoughts. Wang Dabao sighed, deciding to eat first and ponder his next move
later.
Wang Dabao harbored a dream: working for the Cheng family must be better than being a
waiter. He planned to learn more skills, like driving, and one day replace the Cheng's
driver.
Cheng Nanyi remained silent, engrossed in his writing. Yuan Ting wanted to persuade
him to speak up for Wang Dabao but was interrupted by the doorbell.
Those who could ring the bell directly were either neighbors or frequent visitors to the
Cheng house.
The housekeeper opened the door to a group led by a neighbor, each carrying a child.
Seeing their familiar, tearful faces, Yuan Ting's heart sank. This wasn't a good sign.
The fact they came with children, looking furious, indicated a child-related issue.
Since the troublemaker couldn't be Cheng Nanyi, everyone's gaze turned to Yuan Ting.
Swallowing nervously, Yuan Ting sensed trouble. He had been well-behaved recently,
aside from the significant issue of writing homework for others.
Sure enough, the parents were there about the summer homework.
"Mr. Cheng, the homework for grades below third cost two hundred per book, and above
third grade, three hundred. I know of at least twenty books. Your son Yuan Ting is quite
the entrepreneur," lamented a parent. "If I hadn’t checked my child's homework, I
wouldn’t have known he paid others to write it."
Yuan Ting glared at the child responsible, who averted his eyes and sniffled. It wasn't
intentional, but they had been caught.
Not telling the truth meant a beating, and he was afraid...
The housekeeper ascended the stairs and returned with Yuan Ting's suitcase, which,
apart from a few clothes, was packed with summer homework. Counting them, there
were thirty-five books.
Everyone fell silent, realizing they had underestimated him.
Cheng Nanyi narrowed his eyes; he had lifted that suitcase earlier, wondering why it was
so heavy. Now it all made sense.
Facing the scrutinizing gazes of the adults, Yuan Ting’s mind raced. What to do?
Most of the money had been left with Yuan Xiao, and the share for Duan Wenzhe was
already taken. He only had his portion. Would he have to compensate? That would be
disastrous…
The old master instructed the housekeeper to prepare tea for the guests and call Duan
Zhen Shan, as their words suggested his son was complicit with Yuan Ting.
Before the housekeeper could make the call, Duan Zhen Shan arrived with Duan Wenzhe
in tow.
Most of those involved were found through Duan Wenzhe, hence contacting Duan Zhen
Shan was natural. In the end, they all gathered at the Cheng house to confront the main
conspirator.
Duan Wenzhe had already received a punishment and arrived crying, his eyes red. He
whispered to Yuan Ting, “We’re doomed…”
Yuan Ting: “……”
Indeed, they were doomed. He was next in line for a thrashing.
Wang Dabao, having heard the entire story, was immensely impressed. Yuan Ting was a
real character, daring to stir up such trouble.
Though he wasn't good in studies, he could do the math. Even at two hundred per book,
that was a sum of six to seven thousand yuan...
Such envy filled him!
He had never seen what six thousand yuan looked like in his life.
The situation was crystal clear, with irrefutable evidence; there was no room for
argument. With Cheng Shaolin and Shu Zhilan not at home, the old master, as Yuan Ting's
guardian, had no choice but to apologize.
“I’m sorry, the child is still young. It’s our fault for not educating him properly, causing
everyone trouble.”
Seeing the old master apologize to everyone, Yuan Ting felt uneasy yet thought it was
also good in a way. After all, he initially wanted the old master to be disappointed in him,
and this was a success of another kind.
“Why apologize?” came a young yet unusually steady voice.
Duan Zhen Shan and Duan Wenzhe shuddered, sensing déjà vu, as if they had seen this
scene before.
Everyone turned to look at Cheng Nanyi, sitting in the corner on a single sofa, his posture
upright and expressionless.
？？？
Isn’t an apology necessary for doing something wrong?
Is this how the Cheng family educates?

Someone sighed, muttering about the decline of wealthy families, and how the Cheng
family’s heir seemed to be spoiling.
Yuan Ting's eyes lit up, glancing at his dear brother. He was about to pull out the money
but slowly put it back in his pocket. There was still hope.
Cheng Nanyi didn’t look at him, his gaze fixed on the group, speaking slowly.
“The market operates on supply and demand. You only have a supply when there's a
demand. If I sold you air in plastic bags, would you buy it?”
At this, Cheng Nanyi paused, and everyone looked around, puzzled. What did this have to
do with anything?
Seeing no response, Wang Dabao swallowed his mouthful of noodles: “Of course not,
we’re not idiots.” This wasn’t just about city folks being foolish with money; it was utter
insanity.
“……”
"Parents constantly catch their kids at internet cafes but never think to smash the cafes.
Unable to discipline your own children, yet you complain about others. Is this your way
of educating?"
"Blaming others with righteousness, rather than introspecting when problems arise..."
Cheng Nanyi sneered, "I can hardly imagine what kind of future awaits children raised
this way."
"On the contrary, my brother identified and seized a business opportunity. It's a
voluntary transaction between buyer and seller. Where's the wrongdoing? Why should
he apologize?"
The room fell silent, even the old master, a veteran in the business world, didn't know
how to react.
The butler quietly applauded, agreeing wholeheartedly.
Duan Zhenshan touched his nose, reminiscing about his own defeat in the past.
Of course, the key phrase used to be "My grandfather is Cheng Hezhang", but now, there’s
no need to mention it as Cheng Hezhang himself was sitting right there.
Yuan Ting's head gradually lifted, affirming his belief that he had done nothing wrong.
Yuan Ting picked up the summer homework, returning it to each parent, "Now we're
square. If you need my services again, rest assured of top-notch quality."
Silence ensued, an endless silence...
Because Cheng Nanyi's words made sense.
If it had been anyone else's child, they might have shrugged it off, but with the elder
Cheng right there, they were compelled to reason.
They were left with no choice but to speak logically, in the presence of the old master of
the Cheng family.
If reason doesn't prevail...
Each of them got up with a sheepish smile and took their leave, not forgetting to
apologize, "Mr. Cheng, sorry for the trouble."
This left the elder at a loss for words, only able to personally see the guests out.
In the end, only Duà n Zhènshā n and Duà n Wénzé were left.
Duà n Zhènshā n had initially brought Duà n Wénzé to apologize, but now he wasn't sure if
an apology was still appropriate.
After all, even the elder couldn't find the words to speak.
Wang Dà bǎ o, wiping his mouth, approached Yuá ntíng and Chéng Ná nyì with a
determined look, "How about I work for you two? Rich families hire bodyguards for their
kids, right? I can be your bodyguard. If something like today happens again, I can protect
you. Those guys, I can take on three at a time, no problem."
Yuá ntíng: "..." You're really adding to the chaos.
"Okay," Chéng Ná nyì nodded, picking up a paper he had written earlier and handing it to
Wang Dà bǎ o, "Sign this."
Wang Dà bǎ o, confused, took it and frowned after a while, then handed it to Yuá ntíng, "I
don’t understand this, help me out."
Yuá ntíng: "..."
Yuá ntíng quickly read through it, looking at Chéng Ná nyì in shock, "…I don’t understand it
either."
Of course, he understood it, but a kid with an IQ of seventy, logically, wouldn't.
Chéng Ná nyì took it back, explaining to Wang Dà bǎ o, "This is a contract. I’ll pay for you to
learn some things. Tuition and living expenses are on me, plus an additional five hundred
yuan a month for personal expenses. In return, after you’ve learned, you do what I ask."
"If after learning, you don’t want to work for me, you can choose to leave, but you must
return all the expenses I've covered."
"If you agree, sign the contract. If not, don’t come back. We don’t hire people who can’t do
anything."
Wang Dà bǎ o now understood, but only just, "Learn what? Go to high school?"
"No," Chéng Ná nyì shook his head, "Learn something you’re interested in and can
master."
Wang Dà bǎ o's eyes lit up, it sounded quite good.
After learning, he'd work for Chéng Ná nyì. The young master had already paid 300 yuan
for a rabbit; following him would surely be profitable. Even if not, as long as he could
repay the money, he'd be free.
"Of course, if you're really incompetent, I won't use you, but you don't have to repay the
money. Consider it my loss for misjudging," Chéng Ná nyì added.
Wang Dà bǎ o chuckled dismissively at the possibility outlined by Chéng Ná nyì.
Just you wait, he thought, soon he'd replace the Cheng family's driver.
After all, that seemed like the easiest role to take over...
With this in mind, Wang Dà bǎ o was more convinced but still cautious. He turned to
Yuá ntíng, "Is there anything wrong with this contract?"
Yuá ntíng looked at him, utterly speechless. He was only eight. Was Wang Dà bǎ o serious
asking him this?
Seeing Yuá ntíng's silence, Wang Dà bǎ o took it as confirmation that the contract was fine.
He happily signed it, thinking of the monthly stipend and free boarding – money for his
grandma's medicine.
His grandmother always suffered from backaches, leg pains, and headaches, and they
couldn't afford hospital visits or medication. Now, he could earn a stable income for her.
Chéng Ná nyì instructed the butler to bring the seal. The butler glanced at the elder, who
nodded in approval.
With the seal brought over, Chéng Ná nyì held Yuá ntíng's hand, "You press it too."
Yuá ntíng thought he was acting as a witness and thus also signed and pressed his
handprint.
With all parties in agreement, the contract was officially in effect.
Chéng Ná nyì pointed to the contract, "I will cover your living and tuition expenses, and
the 500 yuan monthly allowance will be provided by Yuá ntíng."
！！！！！
"What the heck?" Yuá ntíng was shocked. He leaned over to read the contract, and sure
enough, it read, "Yuá ntíng shall provide Wang Dà bǎ o with 500 yuan monthly allowance."
He had skimmed too quickly earlier and missed this detail.
"Why?" Yuá ntíng was shocked and utterly baffled.
What did this have to do with him?
"You wanted to help him, and now you have. If he learns well, maybe he can even help out
in the company later. Isn't that the best of both worlds?" Chéng Ná nyì explained.
The best of both worlds?
Which two? Who benefits?
Yuá ntíng was frantic. Was he supposed to start supporting Wang Dà bǎ o from now? Every
penny he earned was hard-won, and now he had to provide for Wang Dà bǎ o?
Chéng Ná nyì patted his head, a sly smile on his lips, "It's only five hundred yuan. You can
make that much by selling bottles every month."
"..." Yuá ntíng, expressionless, realized his mistake. Negotiating with a tiger, one was
bound to be devoured eventually.
Duà n Zhènshā n was astounded. Pulling his son, they quickly left, fearing they’d lose even
more if they stayed any longer.
No sooner had they stepped out than Yuá ntíng, clutching his summer homework, chased
after them, confronting Duà n Wénzé, "You owe me another three hundred for today's
incident."
"Why should I?" Duà n Wénzé glared.
"Because if it weren't for my brother eloquently arguing our case, we'd have to return all
the money and still get a beating. My brother turned the tide, saving us. So, you owe me
another three hundred, and I'll give the same to my brother."
Duà n Wénzé, finding the argument reasonable though reluctantly, handed over three
hundred yuan to Yuá ntíng, then sulkily followed his father with his homework.
It wasn't until they were driving away that Duà n Wénzé realized, "Why the heck do I owe
him another three hundred? I already took the beating; why pay more?"
Duà n Zhènshā n slapped his head, "There's another beating waiting for you tonight. Just
you wait. And the rest of the money? Return it to them." After hearing the young master
of the Cheng family, he knew he couldn't get back the money Yuá ntíng pocketed, and now
he had to cover his son’s debt.
Duà n Wénzé: "..." Why should he return it?
They had already written apologies, and now returning the money meant their efforts
were in vain.
Duà n Wénzé looked disdainfully at his father, embarrassed by his ineptitude.
He wished he could live at Yuá ntíng’s house, to have a brother as cool as Yuá ntíng’s.
Author’s note:
Thank you to the angels who cast their mighty votes or nourished me with nutrient
solution between 19th August 2023, 22:00:29 and 20th August 2023, 15:04:39~
Thanks to the angel who dropped a landmine: Tá i Liú , 1 piece;
Thanks for the nutrient solutions: Tá i Liú , 30 bottles; Staying Up Late to Do Homework,
15 bottles; Yǔ Há n, Wǎ ngwǎ ng 10086 Wives, 5 bottles; Yǐ Yè, 2 bottles; Sū Shísì, Shuǐ Fēng
Qīng, Shì Yíng Yō u Ya!, Xí Xīng Yě, 1 bottle each;
I am immensely grateful for your support and will continue to work hard!
#49 Chapter 49
Chapter 49
Despite Chéng Ná nyì’s skilled debate, the elder was not easily fooled, and Yuá ntíng was
punished by being made to practice calligraphy at the front gate.
This time, Yuá ntíng was alone, standing forlornly at the gate with a calligraphy brush.
Who had he wronged?
Wang Dà bǎ o squatted nearby, resting his chin on his hands, "What do you think your
brother will have me learn?"
"Can I get a driving license at sixteen? After that, I’ll learn some Sanda (Chinese
kickboxing), and then I can be your family’s driver."
Big Brother Zhang was washing a car nearby. Hearing this, he looked over, squinting at
Wang Dà bǎ o.
Wang Dà bǎ o wasn't intimidated; after all, it was all about one's own abilities. Why should
he feel guilty?
Yuá ntíng couldn't help but commend him, a real talent indeed.
"Don't you feel even a bit guilty towards me?" Yuá ntíng asked him.
"Guilty?" Wang Dà bǎ o was shocked. "Why should I feel guilty towards you?"
Yuá ntíng, with a deadpan expression: “I have to give you five hundred yuan every
month.” Wasn’t this like supporting a son?
Wang Dà bǎ o sneered: "I'm practically selling myself here. You should be providing for
me. I get paid to work for you, why should I feel guilty?"
"Still, thank you," Wang Dà bǎ o said, uncharacteristically human. "Without you, I wouldn’t
have found a place to 'sell' myself these days."
Yuá ntíng: "..." Just a bunch of frustrating nonsense, totally annoying.
The secretary came to take Wang Dà bǎ o away for arrangements. Before leaving, Wang
Dà bǎ o asked Yuá ntíng for the first month's allowance.
No matter what Wang Dà bǎ o learned, Chéng Ná nyì would pay for it, including
accommodation and meals. These expenses never reached Wang Dà bǎ o's hands; the only
money he could freely use was the five hundred from Yuá ntíng.
Yuá ntíng begrudgingly handed over the five hundred, feeling a heart-wrenching pain as if
his heart was troubled.
That evening, Yuá ntíng, without bathing, rolled around in Chéng Ná nyì’s bed and then ran
off, just to annoy him.
Since that day, Yuá ntíng never saw Wang Dà bǎ o again, except for the monthly visit from
the secretary to collect the five hundred yuan. Each payment felt like a stab, numbing him
with pain.
How many bottles could he sell in a month? His savings were nearly exhausted. He
tirelessly collected empty bottles. Duà n Wénzé's house had plenty, given his father's
drinking habits. But Duà n Wénzé was no easy mark, charging twenty yuan per bottle,
forcing Yuá ntíng to buy at twenty and resell to Chéng Ná nyì at eighty.
Damn it, Yuá ntíng sometimes cursed Wang Dà bǎ o in bed, that bastard raised on his
bottle-selling earnings.
After summer, Mò Yīkǎ i started junior high. The junior high was in a different location,
and he began biking to school, boasting to Chéng Ná nyì, "I’m a junior high student now,
can ride a bike. You two are still just primary school kids."
"I don't even enjoy hanging out with primary school kids anymore, they're too childish."
"Looking at you two..." Mò Yīkǎ i shook his head with a click of his tongue, raising his little
finger, "Just little brothers."
After the family incident, Mò Yīkǎ i had matured quite a bit. He had only recently regained
his former vivacity. Determined to preserve this energy, Yuá ntíng stealthily punctured
his bike tire, thinking, I'll show you who's the little brother here.
I'm not even in a good mood, and you dare to boast.
Mò Yīkǎ i, arriving late, was punished with standing and sought out Yuá ntíng after school.
His bike tire punctured at his own home – no need to guess, only the bratty kid could do
such a deed.
Yuá ntíng ran around the courtyard, crying as he ran, "It wasn't me, you're blaming me
wrongly, I won't play with you anymore... waaaah..."
His crying was earth-shattering: "I'm going to Aunt Zhu, I’ll tell her you hit me. You
promised to be nice to me, and now you’re chasing me to hit me, waaaah..."
In the end, Mò Yīkǎ i had to pay Yuá ntíng two hundred yuan to appease him.
Yuá ntíng, clutching the two hundred yuan, routinely cursed Wang Dà bǎ o, "Damn you, no,
damn your real father."
Mò Yīkǎ i left grumbling and swearing, thinking, this damn kid is untouchable.
The New Year's money Yuá ntíng received was taken by Chéng Ná nyì to open a bank
account, leaving Yuá ntíng without a penny, forcing him to earn his own money.
At such a young age, he faced pressures he shouldn’t have, all due to his own cleverness
backfiring.
It was his own fault for trying to outsmart Chéng Ná nyì when he was bored.
A freak is a freak, not someone easily provoked.
Yuá ntíng knelt on Chéng Ná nyì's bed, with a well-mannered attitude, "Brother, I was
wrong, I really was wrong." Begging for mercy.
"What did you do wrong?" Chéng Ná nyì flicked his chin.
"I did everything wrong, I shouldn’t have disobeyed you," Yuá ntíng said, batting his eyes
innocently.
"You’re very obedient and well-behaved, you haven’t disobeyed me."
Yuá ntíng: "..." Are you impervious to reason?
"Brother..." Yuá ntíng hugged his waist, rolling about playfully, "Please spare me, I really
don’t have any money..."
Chéng Ná nyì’s lips curled slightly, "Then work for me, and I'll pay you, how about that?"
"Huh?" Yuá ntíng looked up at him, "Do what?"
"Naturally, whatever I ask you to do."
Yuá ntíng was once again coerced into signing a “humiliating” indenture agreement.
"I’m thirsty," Chéng Ná nyì said.

Yuá ntíng scurried downstairs and brought back three glasses of water – one cold, one
warm, one hot.
Chéng Ná nyì gave him thirty yuan.
"I’m hungry."
Yuá ntíng went to the kitchen to bring some snacks. Chéng Ná nyì was busy with
homework and couldn’t use his hands, so Yuá ntíng had to feed him.
He really wanted to choke him...
Chéng Ná nyì gave him forty yuan.
When Chéng Ná nyì went out to play sports, Yuá ntíng followed, carrying his clothes,
fetching water, and massaging his shoulders and back after the game. For his excellent
service, Chéng Ná nyì rewarded him with a hundred yuan.
Dignity? What's that?
To hell with dignity when money’s involved.
It was only because Wang Dà bǎ o wasn't to his aesthetic liking; otherwise, he would have
demanded a personal commitment. However, Wang Dà bǎ o was too plain for his refined
taste, fit only to be treated like a son.
A son who couldn’t care for him in old age, only one to leech off him.
Sometimes, Yuá ntíng worried for Chéng Ná nyì’s future wife. With his scheming nature,
wouldn’t any girl be manipulated to death?
Chéng Ná nyì had never dated even before his leg injury, probably due to his unpleasant
personality, making him unattractive despite his good looks.
Unlike him, beloved by all, a charmer to the flowers, destined to live again, he aspires to
be a scoundrel... bah, a wandering playboy.
……
Previously, Shu Zhilan wanted to send Yuanting away but kept delaying due to lack of a
suitable opportunity. Later, her focus shifted from Yuanting, consumed with thoughts of
getting pregnant. After over three years of marriage without a child, even she began to
panic.
Yuanting was her own child, logically, her body should have no issues. So, where does the
problem lie?
Drinking so much herbal medicine to no avail, and with Cheng Shaolin's age increasing,
she feared his sperm quality might not be adequate, risking the birth of a deformed child.
Shu Zhilan wished Cheng Shaolin would get a health check, but such matters are delicate,
as men do have their pride.
Moreover, the couple's intimacy had dwindled over the past year. She wondered if it was
a lack of will or if he had been unfaithful.
"Do you think the new lady at your dad's gallery is pretty?"
Yuanting looked up from his hamburger to his mother.
Cheng Nanyi, in the second year of junior high, bikes to school with Mo Yikai. Little
Brother Zhang now mainly escorts fifth-grader Yuanting. Today, Shu Zhilan suddenly
picked up Yuanting from school, treating him to a hamburger. A seemingly affectionate
mother-son outing, but with ulterior motives.
"Not pretty," Yuanting shook his head.
The 'sister' Shu Zhilan referred to was a new college student at Cheng Shaolin's gallery,
admittedly less beautiful than Shu Zhilan, but younger.
Shu Zhilan might be sensing a crisis.
Yuanting, not really a child anymore, clearly understood his mother's worries.
Although he could exploit this situation, Yuanting didn't want to involve an innocent girl,
knowing his mother could be dangerously irrational.
"Dad says you're the most beautiful."
Shu Zhilan scoffed, "Smooth talker."
"Does she often go to your dad's office?"
"My dad locks himself in his studio all day and ignores even me when I visit. Who else
could get in?" Yuanting said dismissively. "Mom, what are you trying to say? Do you
suspect Dad's having an affair?"
"Nonsense," Shu Zhilan chided, tapping his head.
"I'm not talking nonsense," Yuanting snorted. "Don't worry, Dad doesn't have the guts.
That lady has a boyfriend, way handsomer than Dad. She wouldn't give Dad a second
glance."
Although Yuanting, the rascal, often spoke without thinking, he was still her son and
would surely side with her in such matters, so Shu Zhilan tended to believe his words.
Shu Zhilan reached out with a tissue to wipe Yuanting's mouth.
Yuanting leaned back to avoid her hand.
"Give me five hundred yuan," Yuanting extended his hand towards Shu Zhilan.
"Why do you need money again? What have you been doing?"
"I've been keeping an eye on Dad for you."
Shu Zhilan glared at him, pulling out three hundred yuan from her purse, and
admonished, "Keep your mouth shut and don't blabber to your dad."
Hmph.
Yuanting rolled his eyes.
Would his nonsense even matter?
Over the years, he's spouted so much nonsense; which of these ever really mattered to
his stepfather?
If he were to tell his stepfather about today's incident, the stepfather would probably say,
"Your mother is just too in love with me, that's why she's acting this way." It might even
warm up their relationship.
Yuanting couldn't be bothered to comment.
Sipping his Coke, he casually glanced outside and saw Mo Yikai and Cheng Nanyi cycling
past.
Yuanting grabbed the money, stuffed it into his backpack, picked up his Coke, and ran out,
"I'm heading back first."
Bursting out of the KFC, Yuanting shouted, "Bro, I'm jumping on!"
Hearing the familiar voice, Cheng Nanyi turned his head and, recognizing the figure,
squeezed the brakes to slow down his bike.
Yuanting quickly caught up, steadied the slender waist of the young cyclist, and with a
leap, seated himself on the bike's rear.
The bike wobbled left and right before steadying.
Holding onto Cheng Nanyi's clothes with one hand, Yuanting offered him the Coke with
the other, "It's cold, drink up."
Cheng Nanyi leaned forward and took a couple of sips through the straw.
Yuanting chuckled, "I drank from it already, gross, isn't it?"
Mo Yikai couldn't help but roll his eyes, "Cheng Nanyi, if I were you, I'd knock him off and
give him a beating."
Yuanting stretched out his leg to kick at Mo Yikai's bike, "Stirring up trouble, are you?
That's just jealousy and envy because you want a drink too."
"Jealous?" Mo Yikai scoffed, "Jealous of what? I'm not a masochist."
"Hmph." Yuanting, uninterested in engaging further, expertly reached into Cheng Nanyi's
pocket to fish out money. "Twenty yuan for a sip of Coke."
Author's note:
Next, I will focus on resolving the issues with the main antagonist, Ms. Shu Zhilan...
2023-08-20 15:04:39 to 2023-08-21 20:48:15~
Thanks to the angels who dropped landmines: Hai Shang Can Ye Jiu Nian Shi 1;
Thanks to the angels who irrigated with nutrient solutions: Dan Mo 200 bottles;
64479494 194 bottles; Hao Xiang He Zhi Zhi Tao Tao 50 bottles; Ni Po Fang La? 20
bottles; Ning Yin 12 bottles; Ai Hei Hei, Tuan Zi 10 bottles; Xiang Ri Kui 7 bottles; Yu 3
bottles; Shui Feng Qing, He Tun Gua, Chen Zhou Ce Pan, XL, ⌒．Yi Nian Qing Xin Jing゛,
40763603, Zhen Guo, Hong Lan Lu Bai 1 bottle;
#50 Chapter 50
Chapter 50
Cheng Shaolin and Shu Zhilan's relationship remains strong, though the passionate phase
has passed. The muse that once inspired Cheng Shaolin at first sight no longer ignites his
creativity, and Shu Zhilan, now comfortably the lady of the Cheng household, no longer
feigns her interest in painting. Thus, what was once an inseparable couple has now
settled into a more typical marital routine; one managing the gallery, the other, a well-
dressed wealthy housewife.
Apart from not having children yet, Shu Zhilan is quite content with her life – wealth and
status are hers, just as she always wanted.
Of course, having a child would be ideal, especially as Cheng Nanyi grows older. Without
one, her position as the sole mistress of the Cheng household becomes precarious,
relegated to being just the great-aunt of the Cheng heir.
Smelling the scent of herbal medicine from the kitchen, Yuanting leaned against the door,
munching an apple, deep in thought.
If this continues, Shu Zhilan will soon drag her husband to the hospital for tests, and once
those results are out, there will be chaos at home.
For all these years, he had failed to separate Cheng Shaolin and Shu Zhilan – a significant
failure indeed.
Shu Zhilan, pinching her nose, downed the herbal medicine without changing her
expression.
In the evening, when the grandfather returned for dinner, the conversation turned to the
shopping mall in the eastern part of the city.
Initially, during the construction of the mall, Duan Zhenshan secured a part of the project
due to a bet between Cheng Nanyi and the grandfather. After three years of development,
the mall was completed ahead of schedule, and Duan Zhenshan didn’t disappoint Cheng
Nanyi and the grandfather; the project was excellently executed.
So, in the end, Cheng Nanyi won the bet.
"I said before that if you win, I would grant you a favor. Is there anything you want me to
do for you?" the grandfather asked Cheng Nanyi.
"Not at the moment," Cheng Nanyi shook his head. "You didn't set a deadline, I'll ask
when I need it."
"Nanyi lacks nothing, I can't think of anything he needs but doesn’t have," Shu Zhilan said
with a smile.
"Hahaha…" Yuanting suddenly burst into laughter, "I know what he wants."
The whole family turned to look at him.
Yuanting, amused, said, "In the future, if my brother likes a girl that Grandpa disapproves
of, he can use this favor to force Grandpa to accept her. Isn’t it like in the TV dramas,
where the rich heir falls for a Cinderella, but the parents disagree, leading to a
tumultuous love story…"
Yuanting's words brought laughter to the family.
Cheng Shaolin playfully tapped Yuanting's head, "You're quick-witted."
Only Cheng Nanyi didn't laugh, giving Yuanting a look filled with a dangerous warning.
Yuanting's laughter froze on his face, and he quickly made a zipping-his-lip gesture, "I’m
sorry, brother." Haha, you'll never be liked by any girl.
No worries about a prince and Cinderella scenario for you.
"Grandpa isn't old-fashioned. Whoever Nanyi or you, Ting, like, I will be happy for you.
Bring them home boldly, I’ll bless you both."
Yuanting looked at his grandfather's kind face and thought skeptically, “Tsk,” wondering
if the old man would be shocked to death if he knew Yuanting liked men.
After laughing, the grandfather turned to Shu Zhilan: "I promised you a storefront once.
Now that the mall is built, go pick one."
Shu Zhilan was astonished; she had thought the grandfather was joking. It had been three
years, and she had forgotten about it.
"Dad, are you really giving me a storefront?" Shu Zhilan hesitated.
"Of course," the grandfather nodded towards Cheng Shaolin, "Take her to see it when you
have time."
"Understood, Dad," Cheng Shaolin said, patting Shu Zhilan's hand, "Say thank you to Dad."
"Thank you, Dad," Shu Zhilan said, her eyes shining with happiness.
Yuanting sighed deeply, filled with envy and jealousy.
Just like in his previous life, Shu Zhilan didn’t rent out the storefront but used it to start a
cosmetics business.
The shop, located in the mall and selling high-end cosmetics, took three months to set up
and opened just in time for the New Year's shopping season.
Previously reliant on men, Shu Zhilan was now earnestly invested in her own business.
With the backing of the Cheng family, her business thrived effortlessly, almost like being
handed money for free.
Having tasted the joy of earning her own money, Shu Zhilan became even more devoted
to her store.
Yuanting changed his strategy, beginning to actively seek closeness with Shu Zhilan,
believing in knowing the enemy and knowing oneself for assured victory.
Watching Yuanting flit about the store, Shu Zhilan frowned, "Why are you always
following me around?"
"You're my mom, who else should I follow if not you?" Yuanting retorted.
Shu Zhilan glanced at him skeptically; she hadn't seen him this clingy before.
Is this teenage rebellion starting in a child over ten?
Yuanting casually picked up a small bottle, thinking incredulously, "Goodness, this tiny
bottle costs over three thousand? Is this a robbery?"
"Lan?" A man's voice called out.
Yuanting turned towards the sound and saw a stylishly dressed, handsome man in his
thirties.
Lan?
That was a nickname only his stepfather used daily.
"Liang Hanyu?" Shu Zhilan’s fingers momentarily tensed, then she looked at him in
surprise, "What are you doing here?"
"I…" Liang Hanyu glanced around, "Is this your shop?"
"Yes," Shu Zhilan quickly recovered, smiling, "My husband opened it for me."
Liang Hanyu looked around, clicking his tongue in admiration, "To have such a big store
here, that's really impressive."
"It's alright, it's just a hobby for the family, not really aimed at making profit."
Liang Hanyu gave her a thumbs up, then added, "I want to buy some cosmetics as gifts.
Could you recommend something?"
"Of course," Shu Zhilan smiled, "What price range? I’ll give you a discount."
Shu Zhilan led Liang Hanyu to select cosmetics, while Yuanting watched his back, deep in
thought.
He had no particular recollection of the man, but anyone who called Shu Zhilan 'Lan' was
certainly not an ordinary person.
Liang Hanyu, Liang Hanyu...
That name seemed familiar...
Damn it!!!
Yuanting's eyes widened in realization.
He had been oblivious to all that Shu Zhilan had done initially, so when he learned the
truth, he couldn't believe it until Cheng Nanyi threw the investigative report in his face.
That report, starting from Shu Zhilan's days as a minor actress, included her marriage to
Yuan Qingguang, in which there was a third party involved.
The report always referred to him as 'the young man', so Yuanting wasn't familiar with
his name. It took him a while to recall that Liang Hanyu was only mentioned once or
twice; he had only glanced over it briefly and almost couldn't remember it now.
Narrowing his eyes, Yuanting knew Shu Zhilan later had another lover behind Cheng
Shaolin's back, but it wasn't Liang Hanyu, it was another man.
"It's not often we meet like this. Do you have time for a coffee?" Liang Hanyu made the
invitation.
Shu Zhilan glanced at Yuanting, who was not far away, hesitated for a moment, but then
nodded.
"Hello, Uncle," Yuanting immediately ran over, "I'm my mom's son, Yuanting."
"So you're Yuanting. I've heard about you," Liang Hanyu said, ruffling Yuanting's curly
hair.
Yuanting: "..." You've got some nerve to say that.
Yuanting hadn't grown much in height these past few years and looked innocently
harmless, so Liang Hanyu treated him like a typical child. Seeing Shu Zhilan's reluctance
to bring him along, he reassured her, "It's okay, kids are happy with just some tasty
treats."
Yuanting ended up joining them at the café.
Liang Hanyu ordered several slices of cake for Yuanting, who ate quietly, trying to
minimize his presence.
"How have you been these past few years?" Shu Zhilan asked, her slender eyes slightly
lifted as she scrutinized Liang Hanyu from head to toe.
Liang Hanyu let her look, taking a sip of his coffee before responding, "So-so. My wife
passed away, and I've been quite heartbroken."
"Your wife passed away?" Shu Zhilan was surprised, "I remember she was just over fifty,
right?"
Yuanting: "..."
After her divorce, Shu Zhilan spent a few years with Liang Hanyu, squandering all the
money she got from Yuan Qingguang. When the money ran out, they couldn't continue
and broke up.
Shu Zhilan then turned to Cheng Shaolin, while Liang Hanyu found a wealthy patron.
"Yes, it was an accident, a car crash. She couldn’t be saved," Liang Hanyu's face showed
grief, "It's my fault, I wasn't with her at the time."
Observing Liang Hanyu's sorrowful demeanor, Shu Zhilan narrowed her eyes, took a slow
sip of her coffee, glanced at Yuanting who was eavesdropping, and then gently consoled
Liang Hanyu, "Death is irreversible, you must accept it and move on."
Liang Hanyu sighed, "It’s been a few years now, I've come to terms with it. The living
must go on, can't dwell in sorrow forever."
"And what about now? What are you busy with?" Shu Zhilan inquired.
"I still have to manage the company my wife left behind," Liang Hanyu pulled out a
business card from his pocket and handed it to Shu Zhilan, "If you need anything, feel free
to contact me. I’ll help if I can."
The conversation was fairly ordinary, and they didn’t talk for long before ending the
meeting.
On the way back, Yuanting sat in the passenger seat, stealing glances at Shu Zhilan.
Shu Zhilan's face was calm, giving nothing away to Yuanting’s curious eyes.
Yuanting rubbed his face, unable to help wondering, was that wealthy woman's death
really an accident?
Yuanting had thought about revealing Shu Zhilan's past to his stepfather, but without any
evidence, just making accusations against his own mother based on hearsay wouldn't be
believed.
Even if Yuan Qingguang himself confirmed it, to his stepfather, it would only seem like an
ex-husband slandering his ex-wife.
His stepfather often said, "What's past is past. Who hasn't made mistakes? There's no
need to dwell on them," so this approach was futile.
His mom wouldn't rekindle her old flame with Liang Hanyu, would she?
Before going to the café, Yuanting somewhat hoped for it, but now he didn't, considering
Liang Hanyu seemed rather dangerous.
"Ugh..." Yuanting groaned, clutching his head in frustration, "This is so annoying. Can't a
person get some peace?"
"What's wrong with you?" Shu Zhilan glanced at him, "What's this fuss about?"
"I can't take it, I'm getting carsick. I need to get out and run back," he thought, unable to
stand being in the same space as his mother.
They were already at the entrance of the residential complex, so Shu Zhilan stopped the
car. Yuanting got out, took a breath of exhaust fumes, and spat twice in disgust.
Yuanting strolled into the complex, then halfway through, turned around to leave. No, he
needed to consult his dog-brother about this.
"Yuanting!"
Someone called his name.
Yuanting turned around to see a little girl with a ponytail walking towards him, leading a
small pig.
Yuanting eyed the pig, swallowing saliva, thinking how delicious it would be if roasted.
The little girl was a neighbor from the same residential area, a sixth-grader named Liu
Manman.
Girls mature earlier, so Liu Manman was already half a head taller than Yuanting.
Blushing slightly, Liu Manman extended a pink envelope forward, “For you.”
A pink envelope with a faint scent—what else could it be but a love letter?
Yuanting immediately perked up, feeling flattered. Already in fifth grade and someone
was sending him a love letter.
He felt a bit shy about it.
Yuanting wiped his hands on his pants before taking the envelope with both hands,
grinning, “I didn’t know you felt this way.” Though he had no feelings for her, being liked
was still a pleasant feeling. It proved his charm.
Liu Manman coughed lightly, coyly saying, “Well... you're handsome...”
Yuanting touched his face, confident in his good looks.
After all, he often found himself quite handsome in the mirror.
Yuanting smiled as he took the envelope, then his smile froze, “'For Cheng Nanyi'? What’s
this?”
“For my brother?” Yuanting looked up at Liu Manman in disbelief.
“Yes, for your brother. It’s not for you,” Liu Manman said, looking down at Yuanting,
“You’re just a kid, probably still wetting the bed at night…”
"..." Yuanting gritted his teeth, feeling insulted... He would have hit her if she weren't a
girl.
Tossing the letter back, Yuanting said irritably, “Give it to him yourself.”
"I'm too shy," Liu Manman pouted, "Come on, Yuanting, please help me."
Yuanting's face looked as if he had swallowed a dead fly. Finally, out of patience, he
snapped, "Ten yuan for the errand. I'll deliver it but no guarantees he'll read it."
"Okay." Liu Manman happily handed over ten yuan to Yuanting, then pinched his cheek,
"When I become your sister-in-law, I’ll buy you treats every day."
Yuanting: "..." Keep dreaming.
Author’s note:
2023-08-21 20:48:15 to 2023-08-22 23:50:49~
Thanks to the angels who irrigated with nutrient solutions: Mie Mie Wu Wu Super Big
Hook Eight Immortals 33 bottles; Xi Xun Yu 22 bottles; XL, 67742181 10 bottles; huttuu 3
bottles; Man Mi, Su Shisi, Wei Er's Dog, ⌒．Yi Nian Qing Xin Jing゛, 40763603 1 bottle;
#51 Chapter 51
Chapter 51
"Brother, brother, brother, brother, brother, brother..."
A chorus of "brother" along with the sound of footsteps thundering upstairs announced
his return to the family.
The room door was pushed open, and Cheng Nanyi, drying his hair, emerged from the
bathroom to see a breathless Yuanting, saying helplessly, "Knock on the door."
Yuanting slumped into a chair, shrugging, "The knocking fee expired."
Cheng Nanyi: "..." This game of getting paid for chores is eventually going to backfire on
someone.
Yuanting took a hundred yuan from the wallet on the table, "One month's door-knocking
fee."
Cheng Nanyi, opting for 'out of sight, out of mind', ignored the little money-grubber.
"Here." Yuanting handed over the pink envelope in his hand.
Cheng Nanyi didn’t take it; the envelope looked vaguely familiar.
"Someone asked me to give it to you," Yuanting said.
"Oh." Understanding, Cheng Nanyi opened the bottom drawer of his desk, saying
indifferently, "Put it in here."
Yuanting looked down and his mouth fell open. Goodness, the drawer was nearly full of
red, green, pink, blue envelopes.
"All these are from others?" Yuanting looked incredulously at him.
Cheng Nanyi took the letter from his hand, placed it inside, and then closed the drawer.
Yuanting: "..." Seriously, some are flooded with attention, and others parched for it.
But thinking about it, kids these days mature so early. There are already three couples in
his fifth-grade class, calling each other 'husband' and 'wife', enough to give Yuanting
goosebumps.
"I’m thirsty," Cheng Nanyi said.
"Get your own water," Yuanting remained sprawled in his chair like a boss.
Cheng Nanyi looked over, and Yuanting lifted his head smugly, "I’ve already earned this
month's 500, service ends here. We’ll continue next month."
Cheng Nanyi clicked his tongue, came over, and slung his arm around Yuanting’s neck,
pressing down with his weight, "Going or not?"
Yuanting, squirming under the pressure, cried out, "Going, going... I’m more than willing
to be your servant, brother."
Cheng Nanyi then released him.
Yuanting scampered downstairs and returned with a glass of water, handing it to Cheng
Nanyi. It was ice water.
"You give me ice water in the dead of winter?" Cheng Nanyi glared at him.
"Take it or leave it, that's the service," Yuanting retorted, and then swiftly dashed away,
feeling triumphant.
That’s for bullying me.
In the evening, Liu Manman quietly came to find Yuanting. They met in the pavilion of the
residential complex.
"Did you give it to him?" Liu Manman asked eagerly.
"I did," Yuanting replied.
"What did he say?"
"He didn’t even look at it, what could he say?"
Liu Manman paused, “Does he know it’s from me?”
"Your envelope had no name. How would he know?" Yuanting was puzzled. Love letters
were supposed to be private. Some people wrote them without a signature, so Yuanting
didn’t dare tell Cheng Nanyi who wrote it.
Liu Manman was speechless, "Then what’s the point of my love letter?"
"To let him know there's a girl who secretly admires him, how pure and beautiful is
that?"
Liu Manman: "..." She used to sympathize with Yuanting, seeing him chased and beaten by
Mo Yikai. Now, she realized every beating Yuanting got was well-deserved, and at that
moment, she too wanted to give him a piece of her mind.
"You have to make him read the letter; I want him to know I wrote it," Liu Manman
insisted.
Yuanting pondered, then touched his nose, "That's a different price. After all, I can’t force
him to read if he doesn’t want to."
Liu Manman frowned, "So, you're saying you have a way to make him read it?"
"Of course," Yuanting lifted his chin proudly, "If he won’t read, I’ll read it to him. He can’t
close his ears, can he?"
Liu Manman hesitated for a moment, "How much then?"
"We're practically neighbors, so just add ten more yuan," Yuanting sighed, feigning
sincerity, "I'm risking my life here; ten yuan is not much."
"Fine, if you do it well, I’ll buy you candy," she agreed.
Yuanting: "..."
Yuanting wasn’t really after Liu Manman's ten yuan. Over the years, he had become
obsessed with extracting money for favors, especially since working for Wang Dabao's
500 yuan. To him, not getting paid felt like a loss.
Thus, the ten yuan bought him a sense of satisfaction.
Pocketing the money, Yuanting returned to Cheng Nanyi, symbolically knocked twice,
then pushed the door open.
Cheng Nanyi looked at him, "I didn’t say 'come in'."
"Coming in after being invited is extra," Yuanting declared brazenly. He opened the
drawer, took out Liu Manman’s letter, opened it, and then started reading aloud next to
Cheng Nanyi's ear.
“Hello Cheng Nanyi, every day I follow behind you, admiring your back. Too shy to speak
to you, I’ve decided to confess my feelings through this letter. I have liked you for a long
time. Will you be my boyfriend? Liu Manman, your neighbor.”
After reading, Yuanting looked at Cheng Nanyi, who was expressionless.
"Heh heh," Yuanting chuckled awkwardly. That expression didn’t seem like someone who
liked Liu Manman.
Yuá ntíng curiously asked, “With so many love letters, didn’t you like anyone? Or was it
that the girl you liked didn’t like you back?”
Chéng Ná nyì stared at him for a while, his eyes gradually narrowing, “Yuá ntíng, you’ve
been paid, haven’t you?”
“Huh? What?” Yuá ntíng feigned ignorance and began to back away, planning to run, but
Chéng Ná nyì quickly grabbed his wrist and pulled him forward, pinning his arms.
Yuá ntíng felt utterly despondent.
Chéng Ná nyì, at fifth grade, was already 1.7 meters tall. Over the years, he hadn’t grown
much, reaching only about 1.75 meters, while Yuá ntíng in fifth grade was just over 1.5
meters...
Handling Yuá ntíng was like picking up a small chick for Chéng Ná nyì.
Chéng Ná nyì hugged him, pressing him down on his lap, and with his other hand, reached
into Yuá ntíng’s pocket and fished out all 120 yuan he had on him.
"It wasn’t that much, just ten yuan..." Yuá ntíng whined and struggled, "Brother, please,
have mercy..."
"You’re saying I’m only worth ten yuan?" Chéng Ná nyì looked down at him.
"No, that's not what I meant, ah ah ah ah…" Yuá ntíng was on the verge of tears.
After confiscating the money, Chéng Ná nyì pinched Yuá ntíng’s chin, lifting his head, "Kid,
I’m warning you, don’t think about making money from love letters, or I’ll spank you." He
then playfully slapped Yuá ntíng’s bottom.
It was a slap that was neither too light nor too heavy, just enough to sting.
A gentleman can be killed but not insulted. Gritting his teeth, Yuá ntíng yelled, "Brother,
are you tired? Shall I give you a massage?" Embodying the spirit of being flexible.
Chéng Ná nyì pulled him up, straightening his clothes leisurely, and asked, "Do you charge
for it?"
“……”
"You have to make him read the letter; I want him to know I wrote it," Liu Manman
insisted.
Yuanting pondered, then touched his nose, "That's a different price. After all, I can’t force
him to read if he doesn’t want to."
Liu Manman frowned, "So, you're saying you have a way to make him read it?"
"Of course," Yuanting lifted his chin proudly, "If he won’t read, I’ll read it to him. He can’t
close his ears, can he?"
Liu Manman hesitated for a moment, "How much then?"
"We're practically neighbors, so just add ten more yuan," Yuanting sighed, feigning
sincerity, "I'm risking my life here; ten yuan is not much."
"Fine, if you do it well, I’ll buy you candy," she agreed.
Yuanting: "..."
Yuanting wasn’t really after Liu Manman's ten yuan. Over the years, he had become
obsessed with extracting money for favors, especially since working for Wang Dabao's
500 yuan. To him, not getting paid felt like a loss.
Thus, the ten yuan bought him a sense of satisfaction.
Pocketing the money, Yuanting returned to Cheng Nanyi, symbolically knocked twice,
then pushed the door open.
Cheng Nanyi looked at him, "I didn’t say 'come in'."
“Hello Cheng Nanyi, every day I follow behind you, admiring your back. Too shy to speak
to you, I’ve decided to confess my feelings through this letter. I have liked you for a long
time. Will you be my boyfriend? Liu Manman, your neighbor.”
After reading, Yuanting looked at Cheng Nanyi, who was expressionless.
"Heh heh," Yuanting chuckled awkwardly. That expression didn’t seem like someone who
liked Liu Manman.
Bowing in apology! Thank you to the angels who supported me with their votes and
nutrient solutions from 2023-08-22 23:50:49 to 2023-08-24 20:22:18~
Thanks to the angels who irrigated with nutrient solutions: Bu Fan, pi 20 bottles; San Yan
Wu Xian Xian Ren De Gou, MS_634744 8 bottles; Wan Feng, Ni Ni, 180.94 5 bottles; Sui
Shou Qu Qu 4 bottles; Shan Mu, Zheng Xi, Chen Zhou Ce Pan, Su Shisi 1 bottle;
#52 Chapter 52
Chapter 52
This winter break, Yuanting didn’t go to his grandmother's house. Instead, he followed
Shu Zhilan to and from work every day, to her great annoyance: “Can’t you stop following
me everywhere?” She couldn’t understand why her son, who previously acted as if she
didn’t exist, now seemed unable to live without her.
"Then where should I go?" Yuanting pouted, "My brother is always out with grandpa, and
I'm bored being home alone."
Bored?
So, Shu Zhilan enrolled Yuanting in three tutoring classes.
English, Math, and Taekwondo.
Now Yuanting didn't have to follow her around anymore.
Yuanting: "..." Alright, you win.
Shu Zhilan might enroll him in tutoring classes, but Yuanting could certainly skip them.
Yuanting approached Duan Wenze: “Help me attend these classes. I’ll pay you five yuan a
day.”
"Are you crazy?" Duan Wenze looked at Yuanting as if he were a fool, "You're asking me,
who doesn’t even do my own homework, to attend classes for you? And just five yuan?
Who are you kidding?"
"Then help me find someone to attend the classes for me."
Duan Wenze could indeed help with this task. There was a kid in their neighborhood
whose parents sold pancakes and crepes, who was really into studying. Duan Wenze, a
fan of their pancakes, had gotten to know the kid well.
Duan Wenze took Yuanting to meet the boy, who was thrilled at the opportunity to attend
tutoring classes without spending a dime. Only a fool would pass up such a chance.
These two young masters really had more money than sense.
With someone attending classes for Yuanting, he spent his days tailing Shu Zhilan,
curious to see if she would meet Liang Hanyu again and who she was associating with.
Yuanting thought he was being inconspicuous, but he didn't escape the notice of Little
Brother Zhang.
Since Cheng Nanyi started middle school and began cycling to and from school, Little
Brother Zhang had become Yuanting's dedicated driver.
Although Yuanting was always punctually waiting at the tutoring center for pickup, Little
Brother Zhang quickly realized Yuanting was skipping classes.
Because... it was simply unlike Yuanting to diligently attend tutoring classes...
Too normal was definitely abnormal...
Following Yuanting discreetly, Little Brother Zhang discovered him hanging out in a café
opposite his mother’s cosmetics store, ordering heaps of food and drink while playing on
his gaming console.
？？？
Little Brother Zhang was baffled.
Skipping school right under his mother’s nose—was it because the most dangerous place
is the safest?
Yuanting's thought process was beyond normal comprehension. After all, his IQ was
officially confirmed to be only seventy.
Not understanding him was actually the smarter move; who would want to make sense of
that?
Little Brother Zhang didn’t overthink it and simply caught Yuanting red-handed.
If Yuanting sneaked out and something happened, Little Brother Zhang would be held
responsible.
When Yuanting saw Little Brother Zhang appear before him, he opened his mouth as if to
say something, then silently closed it again.
Little Brother Zhang's job was to take him to and from school every day; they knew each
other quite well, so it wasn't surprising he found out.
It could have been overlooked, but since Little Brother Zhang directly confronted him,
Yuanting couldn’t be blamed for what happened next.
“Little Brother Zhang, have a seat,” Yuanting greeted him with a beaming smile.
Little Brother Zhang suddenly felt a chill down his spine, a bad premonition making him
want to turn and run.
Gritting his teeth, Little Brother Zhang asked, “Yuanting, weren’t you supposed to be at
Taekwondo class? Why are you here in a café?”
Yuanting, biting his juice straw, replied to Little Brother Zhang, “Joking, right? With my
skills, do I really need to learn Taekwondo?”
Little Brother Zhang: "..." Since when were you so skilled?
Every time Mo Yikai got angry, Yuanting ran faster than a rabbit; there was nothing
particularly impressive about that, was there?
Besides, how formidable could a little over 1.5 meters tall kid be?
Trembling, Little Brother Zhang sat down, and Yuanting even ordered him a cup of coffee.
Little Brother Zhang thought Yuanting was skipping school and was conflicted about
whether to tell Yuanting's mother.
Yuanting glared at him, “If you dare snitch, I’ll fire you.”
His job was to transport Yuanting, and if Yuanting wanted to fire him, believe it or not, he
actually could.
After all, the Cheng family nearly doted on Yuanting to the skies.
Little Brother Zhang stood up quietly, “Then you carry on, I’ll leave first. I’ll come pick
you up from the tutoring center when school is over. Just pretend I don’t know, okay?”
Normally, kids sneak around when they skip school, but he does it so openly.
He regretted his curiosity. Why did he feel the need to know where Yuanting was going
during his skipped classes?
Little Brother Zhang wished he could slap himself for his nosiness.
Yuanting clicked his tongue, "Sure, Little Brother Zhang. Smart thinking. If I get
kidnapped, you'll be primarily responsible."
Little Brother Zhang sat back down quietly.

He really wanted to scold Yuanting like Mo Yikai did, calling him a ‘dead child’…
Little Brother Zhang decided he would inform the old master when he returned in the
evening. He couldn’t bear this burden; if things went south, he would be the most
innocent one.
“Hurry up, follow her,” Yuanting suddenly stood up and dragged Little Brother Zhang
outside.
Little Brother Zhang followed Yuanting in a daze until they got into a taxi, then realized in
shock that Yuanting was actually tailing his own mother.
“Driver, follow that car ahead,” Yuanting calmly instructed the taxi driver.
“What are you doing…” Little Brother Zhang grasped the door handle, feeling the urge to
jump out of the moving car.
Yuanting stroked his chin, “Our car is too conspicuous. Where’s your car? Next time we go
out, let’s use yours. It’s more convenient.”
Next time? There’s a next time?
Little Brother Zhang swallowed hard, asking Yuanting in a low voice, “What exactly are
you planning to do?” This felt like catching someone in the act of infidelity, but such
things shouldn’t be happening to a kid in his early teens.
And this kid comes from a family with a stepfather and biological mother.
Is this... is this... Damn, is a kid with an IQ of seventy really this explosive?
"We're in the same boat," Yuanting patted Little Brother Zhang’s arm reassuringly, "Little
Brother Zhang, you know what should and shouldn’t be said, right?"
Little Brother Zhang had always been with Cheng Nanyi, transforming from Little Brother
Zhang to Old Brother Zhang over time. Cheng Nanyi had great trust in him, and so did
Yuanting.
If he chose to report to the old master, Yuanting didn't mind. It might even be good to
alert the old master.
Besides, Little Brother Zhang knew how to fight, and Yuanting was wary for his safety,
especially since he had seen videos of parents harming their children in his previous life.
Little Brother Zhang was perfect for the job.
“Why are you following your mom?” Little Brother Zhang asked, puzzled. It looked like
catching someone cheating, but he couldn’t believe it, especially since Cheng Shaolin and
his wife seemed so in love. Why would she cheat?
“Because I love my mom and can't be away from her for even a minute.”
Ahhhhhh...
Little Brother Zhang, clinging to the car door, was on the verge of tears. Help, there’s a
low-IQ, deranged kid here...
Shu Zhilan had merely gone to lunch with a friend before returning to her store.
Little Brother Zhang heaved a sigh of relief. If something serious had come out of this, he
wouldn't know what to do.
After spending a few days accompanying Yuanting in following Shu Zhilan, Little Brother
Zhang visibly aged from the stress.
He couldn’t understand what Yuanting was up to and feared witnessing something he

shouldn’t.
He also didn’t know whether he should inform the Cheng family or not.
After several days of indecision, Little Brother Zhang stealthily approached Cheng Nanyi.
According to what the old master had said, Cheng Nanyi was the leader who could decide
his fate.
Little Brother Zhang didn't reveal everything, only mentioning Yuanting skipping classes
to play. Cheng Nanyi didn't seem to care much. Ever since it was known that Yuanting
had an IQ of seventy, Cheng Nanyi had taken personal responsibility for his education. He
was well aware of how Yuanting was doing academically, so attending outside tutoring
classes didn't really matter.
"Let him play if he wants to," Cheng Nanyi said, pulling out his wallet and handing Little
Brother Zhang a thousand yuan, "Buy him whatever he wants, come back to me if it’s not
enough."
Little Brother Zhang: "..."
He couldn't help but feel intense envy.
Though he had permission, Little Brother Zhang still felt uneasy. He didn’t understand
why he, just a driver, had to endure such stress.
Fortunately, school was about to start in a few days. Once it began, Yuanting couldn’t
skip classes anymore, and then Cheng Nanyi would deal with him without needing any
prompting.
The kid wasn’t afraid of anything, but thankfully, Cheng Nanyi could still control him.
Little Brother Zhang couldn't help but think, indeed, there's a counter for every move.
……
During the time Yuanting followed Shu Zhilan, she didn’t meet with Liang Hanyu again,
but she did have a big argument with Cheng Shaolin.
The cause was actually Yuanting. Cheng Shaolin had been secluded in his studio for over a
week without coming home. Shu Zhilan casually complained, and Yuanting, ever eager to
disrupt his parents’ relationship, suggested, “Maybe he’s tired of you and doesn’t want to
see you.”
Consequently, when Cheng Shaolin returned, Shu Zhilan confronted him.
Yuanting was quite pleased, listening at the door to his mother crying, fists clenched, “Go
on, go on, fight, fight…”
The argument seemed quite serious; the two didn’t speak all morning. Just as Yuanting
was contemplating how to further fan the flames, the couple appeared hand in hand at
the dinner table in the evening.
Yuanting: "..."
So you're telling me that this is how you argue? What’s the point if every quarrel ends
like this?
The next day, the couple left the house happily together.
While cleaning the car, Little Brother Zhang deliberately asked Yuanting, "Are you still
going to follow them?"
Yuanting just snorted.
Little Brother Zhang's expression became increasingly cheerful, knowing that school was
starting tomorrow, finally ending this drama.
Yuanting knew he couldn’t keep trailing Shu Zhilan forever. Ever since she started her
own business, he had begun having nightmares, fearing any oversight might lead to the
tragedy of his past life.
Everything changed after Shu Zhilan learned Cheng Shaolin couldn’t have children,
which, according to Yuanting's previous life, wouldn't happen for another three or four
years.
Once Cheng Shaolin knew about his infertility, the family was quite calm. In his forties,
the carefree artist had never planned on having children, and the old master didn't press
the issue. The only one truly distressed was Shu Zhilan.
To console Shu Zhilan, Cheng Shaolin suggested she work at the Cheng family company.
Running a store was profitable, but it couldn’t compare to working at the Cheng family
company. Naturally, Shu Zhilan was very happy to accept.
At the company, Shu Zhilan met a deputy director and the two started a relationship after
some time.
With Cheng Shaolin not divorcing Shu Zhilan, Yuanting couldn’t find a way to disrupt
their marriage. Once Shu Zhilan truly started at the company and got involved with the
deputy director, Yuanting would be even more at a disadvantage.
Worrying about this, Yuanting saw Shu Zhilan and Cheng Shaolin return home. Their
expressions were subtle; Shu Zhilan had clearly been crying, and Cheng Shaolin looked
embarrassed.
That evening, when the old master returned, Cheng Shaolin followed him into his study.
Cheng Shaolin rarely had business discussions with the old master, so he usually didn't
enter his study, a place Cheng Nanyi frequented.
Seeing Cheng Shaolin enter the study, Yuanting felt something was amiss and quietly
followed, pressing his ear against the door crack.
In the art of eavesdropping, Yuanting had become quite skilled, making no sound at all.
“Infertile?” The old master's voice carried a tone of surprise.
！！！
Yuanting's brows furrowed instantly.
Recalling the couple's expressions when they returned home that day, could it be they
had gone for a medical check-up?
After listening a bit more, Yuanting confirmed it: they had indeed gone for a check-up.
Why the sudden hospital visit? Wasn't it supposed to be another two or three years,
according to his past life?
Yuanting, in a daze, went to his mother's room, finding Shu Zhilan lying on the bed, lost in
thought.
Shu Zhilan had always been considerate of Cheng Shaolin's pride, so she never suggested
he get tested, opting instead to drink herbal medicine herself. This time, taking advantage
of their argument, she brought up the issue.
Initially, Cheng Shaolin wasn't keen on going, but due to their cold war, he eventually
gave in.
Unexpectedly, Cheng Shaolin was indeed ill, with an almost incurable condition.
All her previous expectations had become unattainable.
When Shu Zhilan saw Yuanting, she was silent for a moment, then suddenly threw a
pillow at him.
Caught off guard, Yuanting was hit squarely by the pillow.
As the pillow fell to the ground, Shu Zhilan, emotionally charged yet trying to keep her
voice down, shouted, "You never listen, and now you're satisfied? Soon there won’t be a
place for us in this family. You call yourself the young master of the Cheng family? What
right do you have to that title?"
Yuanting calmly observed Shu Zhilan. Usually gentle and kind, her words were always
spoken softly. This somewhat crazed woman in front of him, Yuanting had only seen once
before.
In his previous life, Shu Zhilan had been driven to desperation by Cheng Nanyi, who
eventually told her she could trade Yuanting's life for hers.
Shu Zhilan lured Yuanting out, unaware of the truth at the time.
Kneeling before Yuanting, she begged him to save her. When Cheng Nanyi arrived, Shu
Zhilan pushed Yuanting towards him, saying, "He's my son, his life is mine, let him die in
my place."
Perhaps overwhelmed with frustration and finding Yuanting irritating, Shu Zhilan lost
her composure, got off the bed, pushed him, and poked him hard on the forehead, "What
do you know besides causing trouble? You should remember your life today is all thanks
to me. If I'm not happy, neither will you be."
Her fingernail scraped across his tender cheek, causing Yuanting to hiss in pain.
Sitting on the bed, Shu Zhilan's chest heaved with emotion. Yuanting understood this
feeling; perhaps it was what it felt like to see one's dreams crumble.
After a moment of silence, Yuanting, clinging to the last hope, said, "Mom, I'll earn a lot of
money to support you."
"Hah," Shu Zhilan scoffed, "Earn a lot of money? With what? How much can you earn? A
hundred thousand? A million? Or ten million?"
"Wait for you to support me? I'm your mother, not your wife. What can you give me
besides trouble?"
"If you hadn't entered the Cheng family, you would be just like Yuan Xiao, a poor man for
life. Look at Cheng Nanyi, just because he bears the Cheng surname, he has been at the
pinnacle since birth."
Even in anger, Shu Zhilan kept her voice down. If Yuanting weren't so close, and had not
developed keen hearing from frequent eavesdropping, he might not have heard her
clearly.
"Cheng Shaolin is a fool too. Sooner or later, everything here will belong to Cheng Nanyi."
“……”
Yuanting sighed and left the room.
Initially intending to return to his own bedroom, he passed by Cheng Nanyi's room and
knocked on the door.
Only after hearing "Come in" from inside did Yuanting push the door open.
Cheng Nanyi, sitting at his desk with his back to the door and reading, turned around and
asked, "What’s wrong, feeling upset?" Only a troubled kid would bother to knock.
When his gaze fell on Yuanting’s face, Cheng Nanyi stood up abruptly and walked over,
pinching Yuanting’s chin to lift his face, frowning, “Did you get into a fight? With whom?
Did you get beaten?”
Yuanting looked at him, feeling an odd sense of wonder. In his previous life, Cheng Nanyi
was cold and aloof, but now he showed concern over a small injury.
Yuanting’s mind was a mess, everything happening too suddenly and years ahead of his
past life’s timeline. He was unsure what Shu Zhilan would do next.
"It’s nothing," Yuanting shook his head, "Just a small scratch."
Cheng Nanyi examined the injury closely on Yuanting’s chin. It wasn’t serious, but
because of Yuanting’s fair skin, it was quite noticeable.
Yuanting pressed his chin down, putting all his weight on Cheng Nanyi's hand, leaning
forward and sighing deeply, “Brother, I’m so tired…”
Cheng Nanyi found this unusual. The kid usually seemed to have endless energy, always
causing or heading towards trouble. It was rare to see him this dejected.
So…
Is this a new way of asking for money?
The eleven-year-old was growing up and couldn’t be described as cute anymore, but he
was becoming more handsome.
When not causing trouble or courting disaster, he could still be quite endearing.
Surprisingly, Cheng Nanyi was quite receptive to this approach.
So, he pulled out a hundred yuan from his pocket and handed it to Yuanting, “Still tired
now?”
Yuanting blinked, “…” Huh?
Seeing Yuanting not responding, Cheng Nanyi took out another hundred yuan and gave it
to him.
Yuanting: “???”
Cheng Nanyi looked into his innocent, clear eyes, clicked his tongue, and handed over
another hundred.
Yuanting’s mouth fell open in astonishment.
Is he serious? What's going on?
Setting aside his play-acting of sorrow for the moment, Yuanting quickly perked up and
cooingly, with a drawn-out tone, called out, “Brother~~~”
Hmm…
Cheng Nanyi frowned slightly and slowly took back the money from Yuanting’s hand.
And just like that, it reverted to being the same worthless act as before.
Author’s note:
Thank you to the angels who supported me with their votes and nutrient solutions from
2023-08-24 20:22:18 to 2023-08-25 20:21:23~
Thanks to the angel who dropped a landmine: 61280374, 1 piece;
Thanks for the nutrient solutions: Luò Qiǎ nxī, 18 bottles; Lepudding, Hahaha, 10 bottles;
XL, 5 bottles; Xuá n Měilì, 2 bottles; Hà ozì, HLST, Shuǐ Fēng Qīng, Sū Shísì, Girl's Skirt, 1
bottle each;
#53 Chapter 53
Chapter 53
The atmosphere at home had been somewhat somber these past few days, only
lightening gradually after the elder agreed to Chéng Shà olín's proposal to have Shū Zhīlá n
join the Chéng family company.
No one knew that Chéng Shà olín was infertile. Shū Zhīlá n stopped taking traditional
medicine and focused entirely on her work.
Chéng Shà olín became more devoted to his painting, and the couple spent less and less
time together.
The most significant change was in Yuá ntíng, who usually couldn’t stay out of trouble. He
had become silent and gloomy, as if a switch had been turned off in him.
"What’s up, did you feed him something?" On the basketball court, Mò Yīkǎ i, who had just
finished playing, ruffled Yuá ntíng's hair forcefully, "Why have you been so listless lately?"
After drinking half a bottle of the water Yuá ntíng handed him, Chéng Ná nyì commented,
"You've grown up, haven't you?"
"Pfft," Mò Yīkǎ i spat, "As if I’d believe that."
Yuá ntíng squinted at him, then suddenly kicked Mò Yīkǎ i’s leg. Mò Yīkǎ i bent over,
clutching his leg and exclaimed, "You little murderer, what are you doing?"
As Mò Yīkǎ i reached to grab Yuá ntíng’s arm, aiming to retaliate, Chéng Ná nyì grabbed his
wrist, smiling, "See, I told you he's grown. Stronger too. Be careful, he might bite."
Mò Yīkǎ i shook off his hand, "Just keep defending him. Spoiled brats are created by
people like you."
"Nyah nyah nyah nyah…" Yuá ntíng stuck out his tongue at him from behind Chéng Ná nyì.
Mò Yīkǎ i raised an eyebrow, "Maybe he’s sick? Even his provocations are half-hearted."
Chéng Ná nyì picked up the collar of Yuá ntíng’s shirt, and Yuá ntíng just hung his head,
letting himself be carried as the trio walked home.
Catching up, Mò Yīkǎ i kicked Yuá ntíng’s backside and then burst into laughter. After
laughing, he sighed, "I’m going abroad after the summer holidays."
Yuá ntíng eyed him, "What’s wrong? Isn’t going abroad to enjoy yourself good?"
In his past life, Mò Yīkǎ i was overjoyed to leave, finally escaping his parents’ control, and
reveling in his financial freedom, almost couldn’t wait to pack up and leave.
Mò Yīkǎ i fell silent for a moment, "I don’t want to go anymore. My mom is too tired. I
want to stay and be with her."
Chéng Ná nyì remained silent, understanding Mò Yīkǎ i’s sentiment. Seeing his grandfather
still bustling for the company at his age, he too sometimes wished he could grow up
faster to help him.
Yuá ntíng blinked, pondering for a moment, then tilted his head to look at him, "Don’t you
think it’s possible that your mom is happier than you think?"
With money, looks, a career, a son, and a disabled husband, that’s a life many girls would
envy in a decade or two.
Moreover, when he accompanied Chéng Shà olín to the gym, he saw Aunt Zhu there. The
young and attractive fitness coach was quite attentive to her, and she seemed to be
enjoying it.
"I think you might be deluding yourself," Yuá ntíng sincerely advised him, "Live the way
you want. Your family isn’t lacking money, and they don’t need you to provide for them."
Mò Yīkǎ i kicked him again, this heartless kid, utterly cold-blooded.
"Ahhhhh..." Yuá ntíng, clutching his backside, ran ahead. Such filial piety, he felt relieved
for Aunt Zhu.
But he also felt a pang of melancholy, realizing that the carefree Mò Yīkǎ i from his past
life would never return.
Some growth always comes with irreplaceable hurts, alas...
Circling back, Yuá ntíng dove to Chéng Ná nyì’s side, hiding behind him to change the
subject, "Brother, when are you going abroad to study?"
After this summer holiday, Chéng Ná nyì would be in his third year of junior high. In his
past life, he went abroad a year later than Mò Yīkǎ i.
"In the first year of high school," Chéng Ná nyì confirmed. "Once I leave, there will be no
one to protect you."
"Heh," Yuá ntíng smirked, thinking to himself that Chéng Ná nyì was the biggest tormentor
of all.
He had one more year to dissuade Shū Zhīlá n from her plans, or once Chéng Ná nyì left the
country, the real terror would begin, unable to see or touch him.
"Don’t worry, once he leaves, I’ll look after him," Mò Yīkǎ i said, eyeing Yuá ntíng with a
squint. He planned to beat Yuá ntíng up once Chéng Ná nyì left, to make up for years of
frustration and resentment.
Yuá ntíng shuddered and peeked out from behind Chéng Ná nyì, reminding him, "Brother
Yīkǎ i, have you forgotten that I’m your lifesaver?"
Mò Yīkǎ i patted his shoulder, "Don’t forget, the four of us took an oath of brotherhood.
Brothers should face life and death together; it's our duty."
"..." Yuá ntíng grinned, "Think about what you just said. If we’re to face life and death
together, why would you beat me? Wouldn’t that be breaking your vow?"
Mò Yīkǎ i snorted, "We can face life and death together, but grievances and grudges still
need to be settled."
Yuá ntíng: "..." Damn it, you really have a way with words.
"Alright, stop scaring him," Chéng Ná nyì patted Yuá ntíng’s head, "Call me brother, and I’ll
take you to find some fun."
"What?" Yuá ntíng looked up at him, his eyes wary. Are you planning to make a fool of me
again?
You always look so serious, but you're the one with the wicked sense of humor.
Chéng Ná nyì extended his index finger, lifting Yuá ntíng’s chin, "Say, 'brother.'"
Yuá ntíng rolled his eyes, lowered them slightly, and defiantly spat a little on Chéng
Ná nyì’s hand.
"Hahaha…" Mò Yīkǎ i burst into laughter, "The eagle you raised has pecked your eyes,
serves you right for being vile."
"Beat him up, beat him up…"
Chéng Ná nyì tsked, grabbing Yuá ntíng as he turned to run. He rubbed his face a few times
and then tucked Yuá ntíng under his arm, marching forward as Yuá ntíng kicked and
screamed, "Ahhh, help, he’s going to hit a kid..." It seemed that Chéng Ná nyì’s
germophobia had mysteriously cured itself. Spitting no longer worked; perhaps the only
way to disgust him now would be to pee on him…
But Yuá ntíng didn’t dare try that. After all, having a second chance at life, he had to
cherish it.
Mò Yīkǎ i, gleefully following, saw Chéng Ná nyì carry Yuá ntíng straight to his bedroom on
the second floor.
Yuá ntíng gripped his waistband tightly, fearing Chéng Ná nyì’s twisted idea of taking his
pants off to spank him, but was then set down: "Look, do you like it?"
？？？
Yuá ntíng looked up to see a large bookshelf in his room, installed at some unknown time.
Each cubby of the shelf held various items – different models, figurines he liked, and
sneakers in transparent boxes…
Mò Yīkǎ i rushed over, touching each one, and then exclaimed with shock, "Holy shit, a
rare figurine, a limited-edition car model, Iron Man, Ultraman, and these sneakers are the
ones I wanted but couldn’t get! Why didn’t you buy them for me?"
"Damn, why are there autographs on this basketball? Is this real?" Mò Yīkǎ i turned to
Chéng Ná nyì in astonishment, swallowing hard, "…don’t tell me all of this is real?"
Chéng Ná nyì remained silent, only looking down at Yuá ntíng, who was gaping in
astonishment. "These are things you like and can hold their value. Can the blend of
hobbies and money make you happy?"
Yuá ntíng was at a loss for words, unsure how to respond, his mind a whirlwind of
thoughts.
Damn it, he never imagined the scene of "spending lavishly to bring a smile to a beauty"
would happen to him.
Although he wasn't a beauty, just a kid, this was... incredibly joyful.
Which guy wouldn't love everything on this bookshelf?
"Waaah..." Yuá ntíng rushed over, pushing Mò Yīkǎ i away and swatting his hands, "Don’t
touch, this is all mine. If you break anything, you won’t be able to afford it."
Mò Yīkǎ i: "..."
The sullen kid of over two months suddenly burst into youthful excitement.
Watching Chéng Ná nyì, who seemed pleased, Mò Yīkǎ i enviously said, "I wish I had a
brother like you."
Chéng Ná nyì raised an eyebrow, "If I had a brother like you, I wouldn’t buy anything for
him either."
Mò Yīkǎ i: "..." True, he couldn’t provide Chéng Ná nyì with daily entertainment like
Yuá ntíng did.
"This must have taken a lot of effort, right?" Mò Yīkǎ i was still in awe, knowing the rare
and limited editions here couldn’t just be bought with money.
Chéng Ná nyì didn’t respond, his gaze resting on Yuá ntíng, who was still immersed in his
joyful surprise.
Since Yuá ntíng’s gloominess began during the winter holidays, more than two months
had passed. To the elders, Yuá ntíng was still the same noisy kid, but Chéng Ná nyì, who
spent every day with him, knew him too well; he knew Yuá ntíng wasn’t happy.
As for why Yuá ntíng was unhappy, Chéng Ná nyì had no idea, and asking him didn't yield
any answers.
Chéng Ná nyì wasn’t accustomed to, nor did he like, seeing Yuá ntíng like this.
The kid he raised should be noisy and troublesome, always getting into mischief.
Chéng Ná nyì wanted to make him happy, to keep him forever cheerful as a joyful little
rascal.
"Brother," Yuá ntíng ran back to Chéng Ná nyì's side, looking up at him earnestly, "I want
this kind of happiness more often."
Chéng Ná nyì looked down, speaking indifferently, "Drop that flattering expression, or
these won’t be yours anymore."
Yuá ntíng immediately straightened his face.
You should never guess the thoughts of a weirdo; just go along with them.
"My dear cabbage, yellowing in the field, my brother, doesn’t think of me..." Mò Yīkǎ i left
the Chéng residence in melodramatic sorrow.
He was indeed envious to death.

Yuá ntíng, touching the gifts on the shelf, couldn't help but express, "Brother, you are too
good to me..." He turned around, bowed deeply with clenched fists, and exclaimed, "I can
only repay you with my life..."
Before he could finish, Chéng Ná nyì slapped his mouth, "Stop talking nonsense."
Yuá ntíng grinned, and seeing his unadulterated smile, Chéng Ná nyì also smiled, patting
his head, "At your age, you should be free of worries. Cheer up, kid."
Yuá ntíng, looking at the young boy’s bright and clear eyes, felt overwhelmingly moved.
If this wasn't a future weirdo, he might have been swayed again.
Closing his eyes tightly, Yuá ntíng calmed his racing heart.
Stay cool, Yuá ntíng. You're only eleven, and Chéng Ná nyì is just a fourteen-year-old boy.
Don't let yourself become a weirdo before he does.
Living again, it feels like my heart has rejuvenated, beating vigorously and startlingly.
In fact, I felt this moved once in my previous life too.
Yuá ntíng had plans with a classmate to see the Northern Lights in Iceland, but two days
before the trip, the classmate fell ill with gastroenteritis and couldn't go. Yuá ntíng
mentioned it casually in a chat with Chéng Ná nyì on WeChat.
The following Saturday, Chéng Ná nyì drove to Yuá ntíng’s apartment to pick him up.
He had prepared everything, took Yuá ntíng to the airport, and then they set off on a road
trip through Iceland.
Yuá ntíng was so astonished that he couldn't recover even after getting off the plane.
Chéng Ná nyì's expression was calm, simply stating a fact, "You wanted to come, right? So
let’s come. It’s not that difficult."
In that moment, Yuá ntíng was as happy as a fool, lowering the car window and shouting
to the vast world, "Chéng Ná nyì, you are the best brother in the world..."
They climbed glaciers, rode motorcycles in the snow, watched the Northern Lights
together, felt the power of volcanoes, and chased whales at sunset…
Yuá ntíng was not yet twenty then, and it would be a lie to say he wasn't moved.
But the path laid before Yuá ntíng was too rugged.
Chéng Ná nyì was the only child of the Chéng family, and legally, they were cousins. The
elder and his stepfather treated him as their own. He couldn’t betray them like a
thankless wretch.
Moreover, Chéng Ná nyì had never been in a relationship, and Yuá ntíng didn't know
whether he preferred men or women.
So he simply didn’t delve into it, because it was destined to be fruitless.
Yuá ntíng lived those few days freely, then buried that fleeting affection deep in Iceland,
under its brilliant Northern Lights, beneath its glaciers, lost in the depths of the ocean.
And then, there was no more to come after that.
Between them, there was irritation, resentment, fractures, and hopelessness.
But not love.
Author's note:
1In this life, everyone will stay together, never going abroad.
2Chéng Ná nyì doesn’t have romantic feelings now; they will start to change after
Yuá ntíng turns sixteen or seventeen.
3His mother’s issues will be resolved soon, and after that, the romantic storyline can
begin…
solutions between August 25, 2023, 20:21:23 and August 26, 2023, 20:35:15~
Thanks for the nutrient solutions: Huá Yìxiā o, 28 bottles; DA Hēng, 19 bottles; Tá o Yá nxī,
16 bottles; XL, MS_634744, 1, Tá ng Cí'ér, 5 bottles; Rǎ n Mò mò , Shuǐ Fēng Qīng, Sū Shísì, 1
bottle each;
#54 Chapter 54
Chapter 54
Yuá ntíng is in dire need of money now.
The allowance from the Chéng family, including New Year’s money, is actually
substantial, but Chéng Ná nyì has taken it all to save on his behalf.
Chéng Ná nyì does this to “control” him, making him do chores like serving tea and water,
“enslaving” him.
But Yuá ntíng never intended to use the Chéng family’s money, so he doesn’t mind.
His stepfather takes care of his food, clothing, and essentials. As for the money to support
Wang Dà bǎ o, he can always manage to scrounge it from Chéng Ná nyì.
Other than that, he had no need for money.
But now, he urgently needed a large sum.
He planned to hire someone to keep an eye on Shū Zhīlá n, the safest strategy he could
think of.
His first choice was Brother Xiao Zhang, but Yuá ntíng immediately ruled him out.
If he mentioned this idea, Xiao Zhang would probably be scared stiff.
So, Brother Xiao Zhang was unsuitable for this critical task.
Yuá ntíng meticulously checked the prices of all the gifts Chéng Ná nyì had given him and
prepared to sell them online.
Observing the various broken cars and dolls carefully wrapped and piled on the table,
Níng Wǎ n's expression was numb.
"These are my treasures, each one priceless, really, I’m not lying." Yuá ntíng clutched his
chest, "Sister, I’m mortgaging these to you, and it truly breaks my heart."
Níng Wǎ n was Xiao Zhang’s junior colleague. When Mò Yīkǎ i's family had issues, Yuá ntíng
had turned to Níng Wǎ n to keep an eye on Aunt Zhu – better the devil you know.
Níng Wǎ n didn’t react much to a teenager asking her to spy on his own mother. Although
bizarre, she had seen too much in her line of work; Yuá ntíng's request, while rare, wasn't
the most shocking.
Yuá ntíng's method of payment was more explosive than the act of catching a cheater.
He was mortgaging them, and they couldn’t be sold for cash; they had to wait for him to
earn money to redeem them.
Who else would think of something like this?
"Check it, they’re really valuable," Yuá ntíng gestured to Xiao Zhang, "Brother Xiao Zhang,
you should know, these were all gifts from my brother, limited editions, truly. Altogether,
they’re worth tens of thousands, at least."
Xiao Zhang’s face was expressionless. Why was he even here?
Why did he have to overhear Yuan Ting talking with Ning Wan?
Why? Why?? Why exactly???
No joke, his job might not last much longer.
Ning Wan carelessly flipped through the items, causing Yuan Ting's heart to ache as he
pleaded, "Be gentle, gentle, don't damage them."
"Are these really valuable?" Ning Wan turned to Xiao Zhang.
3The issue with his mother will be resolved soon, and after that, the romantic storyline
can begin…
Thank you to the angels who cast their votes and provided nourishment for me from
August 25, 2023, 20:21:23 to August 26, 2023, 20:35:15.
Special thanks to the nurturing angels: Huayi Xiao with 28 bottles; DA Heng with 19
bottles; Tao Yanxi with 16 bottles; XL, MS_634744, 1, and Tangci Er with 5 bottles each;
and Ran Momomo, Shui Fengqing, Su Shisi each with 1 bottle.
I deeply appreciate everyone’s support and will continue to strive hard!
Chapter 54
Yuanting is in dire need of money now.
The Cheng family gave him a lot of pocket money, including New Year's gift money, but
Cheng Nanyi had taken it all to deposit in his bank account.
Cheng Nanyi's motive was to “control” him, making him serve him tea and water like a
"slave."
But Yuanting really didn't want to use the Cheng family's money, so he didn’t care about
this.
His stepfather had already bought everything he needed, including food, clothes, and
necessities. As for the money to care for Wang Dabao, he could always scrounge it from
Cheng Nanyi.
He had no other need for money.
But now, he urgently needed a large sum of money.
He planned to hire someone to keep an eye on Shu Zhilan, which he thought was the
safest option.
His first choice was Xiao Zhang, but Yuanting immediately ruled him out.
If he shared this idea, Xiao Zhang would probably be terrified.
Did the young master of the Cheng family no longer wish to be one?
"When can you redeem these back?"
"Soon, trust me," Yuan Ting assured.
He was doing this as a task for the Cheng family, so it was only right that they pay for it.
Upon hearing this, Ning Wan frowned, thinking the kid was promising her the moon.
"I can agree, but my service fees fluctuate with the market prices."
"Of course," Yuan Ting nodded, "That's only fair."
"Alright," Ning Wan decided, "I agree."
With Xiao Zhang's guarantee, the two didn't even sign a contract, relying instead on
mutual trust.
Xiao Zhang: "..." When did he ever give a guarantee?
Watching his precious children being placed into Ning Wan's car, Yuan Ting rushed over
to kiss them each in turn: "My darlings, take care until I can redeem you. It's tough being
at the mercy of others, but I had no choice. If there was any other way, I wouldn't do this
to you. Come... one more kiss, mmm. Trust in me, I'll definitely earn enough to bring you
back."
Ning Wan pulled him away, then swiftly closed the car door and sped off, leaving nothing
but a trail of ruthless exhaust.
"Ah..." Yuan Ting's pained wail echoed, "My treasures..."
Xiao Zhang: "..."
"Is he mentally ill? Isn't he?"
Cheng Nan Yi quickly noticed the empty bookshelf.
"Where are the things?" Cheng Nan Yi asked Yuan Ting, with a puzzled expression.
Yuan Ting looked at him, his eyes spinning almost as fast as Nezha's Wind Fire Wheels.
"I..." Yuan Ting scratched his head awkwardly, "Can I choose not to say?"
Cheng Nan Yi fell silent for a moment, then nodded, speaking with a hint of severity, "Of
course, you can choose not to say. After all, these things were meant to cheer you up. So,
are you happy now?"
Yuan Ting grinned broadly, his face radiant with joy: "Very happy, extremely happy."
"Good," Cheng Nan Yi nodded, flicking his forehead lightly, "If you dare to be unhappy
again, I'll thrash you. Don't waste the value of these things."
Yuan Ting hugged him tightly: "Cheng Nan Yi, you're so good." His eyes brimming with
tears.
Cheng Nan Yi curved his lips into a smile, ruffled his hair, and began to tease, "If you're
that happy, it must be genuine."
Yuan Ting hugged his waist and nuzzled him twice, thinking, 'Such a Cheng Nan Yi, as
long as he's not a psychopath, will surely be a model domineering CEO in the future.'
……
Ning Wan's job was relatively simple compared to others. Shu Zhi Lan went to work daily,
occasionally visiting the cosmetics store to inspect, mostly spending her time dining and
beautifying with a group of rich ladies, playing mahjong, and going to the gym.
She had interacted with many men, but none seemed to harbor any romantic intentions.
Ning Wan even paid someone to share her shifts, the two of them taking turns to follow.
After several months of this, they discovered nothing.
Ning Wan began to think that Yuan Ting might be overly sensitive and asked if he wanted
to terminate the service, to which Yuan Ting replied calmly, "I've paid for a year."
Ning Wan: "..."
Having just visited Yuan Ting, Ning Wan soon discovered that Shu Zhi had gone to a law
firm alone.
Normally, people don't think of consulting a lawyer unless there's a serious issue.
The Cheng family has its own legal team, and yet, as Mrs. Cheng, her choice to seek
external legal advice certainly hinted at something amiss.
After leaving the law firm, Shu Zhi Lan headed to a seaside café, where she met a man.
Ning Wan had seen this man in magazines but never in Shu Zhi Lan’s personal life.
He was a vice president of Cheng Corporation.
Thereafter, Shu Zhi Lan began finding various opportunities to meet him privately.
Though they hadn’t done anything scandalous yet, their relationship was becoming
increasingly intimate. In Ning Wan's experience, it seemed they might have become
romantically involved.
Ning Wan was shocked, not by Mrs. Cheng's involvement with the vice president of Cheng
Corporation, but that Yuan Ting's mother was indeed on the brink of infidelity, just as
Yuan Ting had said...
This...
Imagining the situation, Ning Wan felt pity for Yuan Ting. The child must have discovered
his mother’s indiscretions more than once.
Ning Wan showed Yuan Ting the photos she had taken.
Yuan Ting looked through them calmly, even sighing in relief. As long as things went as
they had in his previous life, it would give him the upper hand.
"Keep following her."

"What exactly are you planning?" Ning Wan's professional ethics forbade curiosity, but
this time she couldn’t help herself.
Yuan Ting glanced at her, and Ning Wan waved her hand: "Sorry, I spoke out of turn."
Yuan Ting extended his hand: "Then first, return my figurine to me."
Ning Wan: "..." This kid knows how to seize an opportunity.
……
Yuan Ting wasn’t as unhappy as before, but lately, he’s been distracted.
Cheng Nan Yi tapped on his head with a pen: "Focus. The entrance exams for junior high
are approaching. Don’t you want to continue your studies?"
"I don't want to," Yuan Ting sprawled on the desk, "Brother, I don’t want to study..."
"No way," Cheng Nan Yi was unyielding, "You can only sleep after you finish these two
papers."
"Ah..." Yuan Ting propped his chin and turned to look at him, ingratiatingly saying,
"Brother, let me tell you a joke."
Cheng Nan Yi turned his head away, silently gazing at him. After a half-minute standoff,
Yuan Ting gave in, grumbling, "Fine, I'll write. But why stare at me like that..."
Yuan Ting picked up his pen and started working on the papers. Sixth grade questions
weren’t hard, but he just didn’t feel like writing... Ahhh...
Cheng Nan Yi was too strict about his studies; he knew every detail of his daily
homework, leaving no chance to get someone else to do it.
Yuan Ting muttered while writing, "When you go abroad, you won’t be able to control me
anymore..." In half a year, everything should be resolved. Cheng Nan Yi would leave the
country, and he would leave the Cheng family. Their paths would never cross again.
Yuan Ting sighed, snapping back to reality, he realized his handwriting was nearly flying
off the page into outer space, yet Cheng Nan Yi hadn’t said a word.
Yuan Ting turned his head and saw Cheng Nan Yi staring blankly at the lamp.
"What’s up, brother?" Yuan Ting waved his hand in front of his eyes, "What are you
thinking? Are you imagining how boring the world would be without me?"
Cheng Nan Yi turned his head to look at him.
Seeing Cheng Nan Yi's furrowed brows, Yuan Ting shrugged, "I know you're eager to get
rid of me, don’t make that face..."
"You're coming with me." Yuan Ting was interrupted by Cheng Nan Yi.
"I’d be heartbroken… Huh??? What???”
Yuan Ting looked at him in disbelief: "What did you say?"
"I said you’re coming with me," Cheng Nan Yi said calmly, "to study abroad in junior
high."
"Are you joking?" Yuan Ting's eyes widened.
"No," Cheng Nan Yi shook his head, "I'm serious. At home, your mom never looked after
you; it's always been me. So, coming with me makes no difference. You can still come
home during the holidays."
Yuan Ting stared at Cheng Nan Yi, speechless for a long time.
If Yuan Ting were seventeen or eighteen, he might suspect Cheng Nan Yi had developed
feelings for him.
Unfortunately, he was still just a kid, which made that impossible.
Yuan Ting hesitantly asked, "Do you want to take me because you think you'll be lonely
abroad without family around?"
"Of course not," Cheng Nan Yi slightly furrowed his brow, "You..."
He started to say something but then realized at the last moment that he wasn't quite
sure why he suddenly had this idea. Yet, having it felt relieving, as if it was meant to be,
without needing a reason.
"You've always been under my care, so naturally, wherever I go, you'll go too."
？？？？
Cheng Nan Yi turned his head to look at him.
Seeing Cheng Nan Yi's furrowed brows, Yuan Ting shrugged, "I know you're eager to get
rid of me, don’t make that face..."
"You're coming with me." Yuan Ting was interrupted by Cheng Nan Yi.
"I’d be heartbroken… Huh??? What???”
Yuan Ting looked at him in disbelief: "What did you say?"
"I said you’re coming with me," Cheng Nan Yi said calmly, "to study abroad in junior
high."
"Are you joking?" Yuan Ting's eyes widened.
"No," Cheng Nan Yi shook his head, "I'm serious. At home, your mom never looked after
you; it's always been me. So, coming with me makes no difference. You can still come
home during the holidays."
Yuan Ting stared at Cheng Nan Yi, speechless for a long time.
If Yuan Ting were seventeen or eighteen, he might suspect Cheng Nan Yi had developed
feelings for him.
Unfortunately, he was still just a kid, which made that impossible.
Yuan Ting hesitantly asked, "Do you want to take me because you think you'll be lonely
abroad without family around?"
"Of course not," Cheng Nan Yi slightly furrowed his brow, "You..."
He started to say something but then realized at the last moment that he wasn't quite
sure why he suddenly had this idea. Yet, having it felt relieving, as if it was meant to be,
without needing a reason.
"You've always been under my care, so naturally, wherever I go, you'll go too."
Cheng Nan Yi dodged his hand and said indifferently, "So, all those things you said before
were lies."
？？？
"What did I say?"
Cheng Nan Yi stood up, walked to the study door, and opened it: "I see, you can go now."
Children often spout nonsense without thinking, but Cheng Nan Yi had never doubted the
sincerity of "I love my brother the most," "Brother is the most important," "No one is
better than my brother."
Turns out, it was all deceit. He wasn't even as important as Yuan Ting's so-called friends
and classmates.
And just like that, Yuan Ting was expelled from the study.
Watching the study door close in front of him, Yuan Ting scratched his head and sighed.
What had he done wrong now?
Author's note:
solutions between 2023-08-26 20:35:15 and 2023-08-27 19:16:51~
Thanks to the angels who nourished with nutrient solutions: kinoko 157 bottles; Si Yu 40
bottles; Really Want to Drink Zhi Zhi Peach Peach 31 bottles; Shallow River 20 bottles;
MS_634744 5 bottles; Shu Chen 4 bottles; 404 Big Ghost Heads 2 bottles; Dove King, XL,
Shui Feng Qing, HLST, huttuu, Fugu Melon, Su Shi 1 bottle each;
I am truly grateful for your support, and I will continue to strive hard!
#55 Chapter 55
Chapter 55
Overnight, Cheng Nan Yi seemed to revert to his initial demeanor when he first met Yuan
Ting— not outright ignoring him, but distinctly cold. His bedroom and study were now
off-limits to Yuan Ting.
It was blatantly obvious; the entire family noticed the discord between the two.
The old master, curious, inquired of the butler, "What did Xiao Ting do to upset Nan Yi?"
He knew his grandson well; to deny Yuan Ting access to the study, it mustn't be a trivial
matter.
"I really don't know," the butler scratched his head, lamenting his brief lapse in oversight.
Meanwhile, Yuan Ting was nearly scratching his head bald in frustration. Damn it, he'd
never placated a child. How does one appease a fifteen-year-old boy?
Despite his shameless attempts to amuse, the other party merely glanced at him before
ascending the stairs.
With the bedroom door unresponsive and the study inaccessible, what more could he do
after all his sweet talk?
Cheng Shao Lin, who had secluded himself in his studio for half a month, also noticed the
tension and took a moment to talk to Yuan Ting: "Did you upset your brother?"
"He's the one who upset me," Yuan Ting retorted irritably.
Cheng Shao Lin smiled and patted his head: "Go apologize to your brother. Nan Yi has
always adored you; your apology should calm him down."
Yuan Ting: "..."
Speechless. It was clearly Cheng Nan Yi being unreasonable, yet everyone assumed it was
his fault. Hmph!
"Never mind me for now, Dad. You haven't seen Mom for over half a month, have you?"
Cheng Shao Lin's face was haggard but his eyes were bright, evidently finding joy in his
painting.
"We're an old couple; we don't need to see each other daily." Cheng Shao Lin rubbed his
face, "I'll take a shower and then go to meet her for dinner. Want to join?"
"Sure, sure," Yuan Ting immediately agreed.
Cheng Shao Lin: "..."
"I was just being polite. You're twelve years old and still don’t understand social niceties.
No wonder Nan Yi gets annoyed with you."
After showering and shaving, Cheng Shao Lin left the house with Yuan Ting.
Watching Yuan Ting hop into the car, Cheng Nan Yi, standing on the balcony, turned and
went back into his bedroom.
The butler sighed at this scene, thinking how a carefree nature paired with a sensitive
one can leave the latter feeling deeply aggrieved.
The easygoing Yuan Ting, accompanied by Cheng Shao Lin, stopped at a florist to buy a
bouquet before heading to the entrance of Cheng Corporation to pick someone up.
Shu Zhi Lan, upon seeing them, showed little surprise. Though she was affectionate with
Cheng Shao Lin, something was evidently different.
In the past, Shu Zhi Lan would have been angry if Cheng Shao Lin locked himself away in
his studio for so long.
Anger springs from hope and affection; its absence often signals underlying issues.
Cheng Shao Lin sensed something was off but didn't dwell on it, instead feeling pleased
that Shu Zhi Lan wasn’t upset with him this time. He took her and Yuan Ting out for a
lavish meal.
After dinner, Shu Zhi Lan returned to the office, and Yuan Ting dragged Cheng Shao Lin to
the mall.
"I want to buy a gift for my brother. Dad, you’ll pay for it, right?"
Cheng Shao Lin: "..."
With his human wallet in tow, Yuan Ting shopped unrestrainedly, filling the car's trunk
with gifts, which he then placed at Cheng Nan Yi’s study door, pounding on it: "Brother,
brother, brother, open up..."
Ignored, Yuan Ting was persistent: "If you don’t open the door, I'll keep knocking,
annoying you to death..."
Cheng Nan Yi, evidently bothered by the disturbance, eventually came to open the door.
Yuan Ting immediately squeezed out an ingratiating smile: "Brother, look, these are all
gifts for you."
Cheng Nan Yi's indifferent gaze briefly swept over the mountain of gifts behind him, then
he looked away: "Thank you, but I don't like gifts. You can take them back."
"Uh..." Yuan Ting wrinkled his nose, "But I've already bought them..."
"They're just purchased with money, a simple matter. If you want, I can fill your room
with gifts."
Yuan Ting: "..." You really know how to be sarcastic.
Yuan Ting stood silently at the door, one foot wedged in the gap to prevent Cheng Nan Yi
from closing it.
After a moment of silence, Cheng Nan Yi finally spoke again: "Is there anything else you
want to say to me?"
Say what?
Yuan Ting huffed, remaining silent and not withdrawing his foot.
Cheng Nan Yi looked down. The child's hair wasn't as blond as it used to be in his
childhood, but it wasn't purely black either. There were three whorls on the top of his
head, forming a wave-like pattern.
With his eyes slightly downcast, Cheng Nan Yi's hand tightened at his side, his voice calm
as if making idle conversation: "Then let me ask you again, do you want to come with
me?"
Oh no, not this question again?
Yuan Ting looked up, helplessly gazing at him: "You..."
Before Yuan Ting could finish, Cheng Nan Yi understood from his expression and body
language. He grabbed Yuan Ting's arm, threw him out, and slammed the door with a
"bang."
Yuan Ting: "???"
Ahhh, do you have some serious illness or what?

Yuan Ting banged on the door furiously, "Cheng Nanyi, come out and explain yourself."
"Everyone else goes abroad with their girlfriends, but you had to bring your brother. Am I
a toy, to be taken out for fun when you're free?"
Such twisted thoughts were indeed not like those of a normal person.
"This must be the rebellious phase of a typical teenage angst, right?"
"I've been too indulgent with you."
Frustrated, Yuanting kicked the door again.
"Ouch..." Yuanting, clutching his foot, sat down on the floor, cursing under his breath from
the pain.
After moaning in pain for a while and getting no response, Yuanting had to pat himself off
and bravely get up.
"Thank goodness I'll never have kids in this lifetime, or they'd drive me to an early
grave."
"Fine, I can't coax him anymore; I'll just wait until he figures it out on his own."
But, lo and behold, this waiting stretched over two months until the summer vacation
started, and Cheng Nanyi remained aloof.
The family had already started preparing for Cheng Nanyi's overseas journey. Yuanting
began avoiding Cheng Nanyi, thinking, 'Let it be; leaving without sentimental
attachments, a cold farewell might actually be better.'
……
Yuanting stopped trying to appease Cheng Nanyi and started spending his days out from
early morning till late night, hanging out with Little Brother Zhang and Ning Wan.
Shu Zhilan was very cautious, ambiguously involved with the vice president for half a
year before they got together, and they rented three different apartments in separate
locations, rarely meeting - only once every ten days or so.
Cheng Shaolin, immersed in painting over the past few years and utterly deceived by Shu
Zhilan's act, placed blind trust in her, remaining oblivious.
If Yuanting hadn't assigned Ning Wan to follow Shu Zhilan from the start, they would
have never uncovered the truth.
Once he finally saw them together, Yuanting didn't hesitate; he was ready to expose this
bloody truth to Cheng Shaolin.
Yuanting had arranged everything, but there was still an unstable element in the plan: the
person involved, Cheng Shaolin.
Yuanting couldn't fathom the thought process of a man blinded by love, especially with
the example of his own father in mind; he really couldn't guarantee that Cheng Shaolin
would willingly divorce.
As Yuanting forcefully knocked on the studio door, the assistant approached to stop him:
"Mr. Cheng doesn't like being disturbed while painting. What do you want to do? I'll
accompany you."
"Dad... Mom's dying..." Yuanting shouted, prompting Cheng Shaolin to stumble out of the
door in a panic, "What happened? What's wrong with your mom?"
Yuanting pulled him into the car and then urgently said, "Dad, I just saw Mom walking
away with a man, hand in hand. You should go and see."
Cheng Shaolin chuckled and patted him on the head, "Nonsense. Alright, let Xiao Zhang
take you out. I need to get back to my painting."
Yuanting was speechless.
"Really, I'm not lying," Yuanting feigned urgency, "My dad, no, my biological dad divorced
Mom because she was with another man. Dad, you should chase this man away, so our
family can be together again."
Xiao Zhang was completely shocked, even breaking out in a cold sweat.
This kid is terrifying, still acting in this situation.
What kind of devil is this?
Cheng Shaolin, resigned, said, "Xiaoting, don't casually speak ill of your mother. Such
words can deeply hurt a woman. Do you understand?"
"I..." Yuanting gritted his teeth, 'Are you still lecturing me at this time?'
"Your mother isn't that kind of person," Cheng Shaolin hugged Yuanting, "Trust between
a husband and wife is crucial. I know your mother; she wouldn't do such things."
Regarding the matters between Yuanting's biological parents, Cheng Shaolin didn't want
to delve into it; at nearly fifty, why dwell on his wife's past? He lived in the present,
trusting the person who shared his life and bed.
Yuanting: "..."
'Just kill me now, seriously, strike me with lightning. I want to go back to being confined
by Cheng Nanyi, not having to think about anything, just enjoying life every day.'
Seeing Yuan Ting silent, Cheng Shaolin instructed Xiao Zhang to turn the car around. Xiao
Zhang, now numb to the drama, pretended to hear nothing and drove straight to the
suburbs.
Ning Wan's car was also parked there. She nodded gently at Yuan Ting, still sitting inside.
"Dad, this is where mom went in. I saw it with my own eyes."
Cheng Shaolin looked helplessly at Xiao Zhang, who nodded subtly back at him.
Cheng Shaolin's expression darkened. Yuan Ting was usually boisterous, and Cheng
Shaolin would only listen to a fraction of what he said. But Xiao Zhang was different – a
young man of steady and honest character, keenly observant and mature. He knew the
significance of Xiao Zhang's nod.
Yuan Ting dragged Cheng Shaolin towards the elevator, whose breathing became rapid.
Everything was too sudden; he just couldn't accept it.
Without any warning, his son was taking him to catch a cheater. This was absurd.
"Let's go back, Xiao Ting..." Cheng Shaolin grasped Yuan Ting's arm.
The elevator reached the floor, dinging open. Yuan Ting, too tired to speak, forcefully
pulled Cheng Shaolin out and tilted his chin up, "Xiao Zhang, unlock it."
Xiao Zhang looked at him in terror. How did he know about his lock-picking skills?
"Won't we get caught?" Xiao Zhang hesitated.
Yuan Ting glared at him, and Xiao Zhang silently took out his "tools of the trade" from his
keychain to start picking the lock.
He swore he hadn't done anything wrong; it was all just for self-preservation.
After all, he was a bodyguard, and these tools were just for emergencies.
To a professional, picking a lock was too easy. Before Cheng Shaolin's confused mind
could react, there was a click, and the door opened.
In the sweltering summer heat, the air conditioner hummed inside the house, where a
man and a woman, lost in primal desires, were oblivious to the faint sounds outside.
Cheng Shaolin stood at the door, thunderstruck as if struck by lightning.
Xiao Zhang, eyes closed, stepped aside and instinctively covered Yuanting's eyes.
In the ensuing darkness, Yuanting thought of the painting he saw when he pushed open
the door of Cheng Shaolin's studio, a vividly colored flower field that seemed to exude the
fragrance of blossoms at a glance.
Up until this moment, he must have always been happy.
Just like in his past life, until he was pushed down the stone steps, he never doubted the
person by his side.
Shouts of surprise, the sound of chairs falling, the clatter of a dropped cup, yells, and cries
all mixed together.
Amidst this chaos, Yuanting heard Shu Zhilan's trembling voice ask, "Shaolin, how did you
get here?"
Yuanting peered out from behind Cheng Shaolin, innocently looking at Shu Zhilan: "Mom,
I saw you coming here with an uncle, so I brought Dad to find you. Dad didn't believe you
were here."
Yuanting then turned to Cheng Shaolin: "Dad, do you believe what I said now?"
Shu Zhilan, wrapped in a towel and shaking, glared at Yuanting with venomous eyes.
Yuanting calmly met her gaze, knowing she must be harboring resentment. "Then let it all
be directed at me," he thought.
When Yuanting returned home, Mo Yikai was in his yard, walking his dog.
Seeing Yuanting stride in confidently, Mo Yikai clicked his tongue: "You seem pretty
happy."
"Just so-so," Yuanting grinned and extended his hand to Da Sha, "Come here, Dog Bro."
Da Sha came over, wagging his tail leisurely.

Cheng Nanyi glanced at Yuanting, their eyes met briefly before both quickly looked away,
creating a subtly awkward atmosphere.
Mo Yikai, exasperated, said, "You two have been like this for over two months. What's the
plan? Are you planning to be awkward with each other for life?"
Yuanting crouched down, stroking the dog's fur, head lowered, silent.
In a place hidden from others, Yuanting took a deep breath.
Cheng Shaolin and Shu Zhilan had gone off to talk privately. The vice president, caught in
the act, was so scared that he nearly wet himself, quickly attempting to shift the blame,
claiming Shu Zhilan seduced him.
Yuanting didn't want to bother with these nonsensical issues. He was just waiting to see
Cheng Shaolin's reaction. If his stepfather was brainwashed by his mother again, he
would make a big scene, making it widely known, stripping the Cheng family of both
dignity and reputation. Then, divorce would be inevitable.
Whether the Cheng family would lose face or not depended on the stepfather's actions.
"Speak up," Mo Yikai nudged Yuanting with his foot, "I still don't know what's the matter
with you two. Why not spill it and let me help you sort it out?"
"Hmph." Yuanting stood up, head held high in a haughty manner, and walked away.
"Hey, I tell you, this kid's temper is getting worse, and it's all because you spoil him," Mo
Yikai, at a loss for words, turned to Cheng Nanyi, "What's the actual issue?"
Cheng Nanyi picked up a comb and began grooming Da Sha. After a long pause, he said
softly, "I want to take him abroad with me, but he refuses to go."
The courtyard fell silent for a moment.
It took more than a minute before Mo Yikai, with a look of utter bewilderment, turned to
him, "…What? Am I hearing this right? You're going abroad and want to take him with
you?"
Cheng Nanyi didn't respond, which was tantamount to an affirmation.
Mo Yikai scratched his head frantically, "Why? Do you enjoy self-torment? Why would
you take him? To cause trouble for you?"
"You..." Mo Yikai, unable to comprehend, squatted beside him and earnestly asked,
"Cheng Nanyi, have you gone mad wanting to be a dad?"
Cheng Nanyi glanced at him coldly. Mo Yikai sat down on the grass: "Alright, then explain
your logic to me."
"Why does it need logic?" Cheng Nanyi tossed the comb away, visibly irritated, "Then let
me ask you, why can't he go with me?"
Mo Yikai: "..."
What kind of person would even ask such a question?
Only someone out of their mind would ask that.
Instead of answering, Mo Yikai racked his brains and finally suggested, "How about you
start dating? People usually go abroad with their girlfriends. Seriously, like Zhao Kai in
my class, he took his girlfriend whose family isn't wealthy. His parents just sent them
both abroad, saying it’s comforting knowing they have each other."
"You just lack a companion, there's no need to self-torment by taking a troublemaker

with you. Others can't wait to get away from their siblings, yet here you are, unable to
leave him behind."
Cheng Nanyi remained silent for a long while. Yuanting had said the same thing; their
way of thinking was identical. Girlfriends can go, but not others.
Cheng Nanyi turned to Mo Yikai: "Taking a girlfriend is fine, but not a kid? Aren’t they
both human? What’s the difference?"
Mo Yikai: "!!!"
Staring at him speechlessly for a while, Mo Yikai looked around to ensure no one was
nearby, then leaned in and whispered, "Bro, you've had biology classes in school, didn't
you understand them?"
Cheng Nanyi frowned.
Mo Yikai glanced at Cheng Nanyi's lower body, touched his nose, and said, "Maybe, I
should show you something interesting?"
Cheng Nanyi, being a good student, might really not understand these things, and Mo
Yikai felt it was his duty to enlighten him, to teach him the difference between a girlfriend
and a younger brother.
Cheng Nanyi, uninterested in further conversation with Mo Yikai, stood up and said
indifferently, “No need, keep it for your own enjoyment.”
“And…” Cheng Nanyi glanced at him, “Obsessing over such things is harmful to your
health. I've noticed your complexion has become quite dull.”
“……”
Mo Yikai, frustrated and yelling at Cheng Nanyi's retreating back, exclaimed, “I suspect
you've got that big illness!”
He had come to realize that Cheng Nanyi's mind really did seem different from that of a
normal person.
And this difference seemed to be growing more pronounced with age.
Author’s Note:
2023-08-27 19:16:51 to 2023-08-28 20:56:56~
Thanks to the angels for their nutrient solutions: 'My Nobility You Can't Afford' 52
bottles; Xi 20 bottles; Snotty Bubbles, Sweet Melon 10 bottles; Dream at the World's End,
Little Lazy One, MS_634744 5 bottles; Overcoming Procrastination 3 bottles; Sunken Ship
by the Shore, Gentle Breeze Over the Water, Pufferfish Melon, Pigeon King, Su Shisi, 404
Big Ghosts, Shanmu, ⌒. A Thought of Peace and Calm 1 bottle each;
#56 Chapter 56
Chapter 56
Yuanting sat on the balcony, swinging his legs, his mind empty as he stared at the front
gate.
At dusk, Shu Zhilan returned home alone, Cheng Shaolin was not with her.
Shu Zhilan, usually fashionable and radiant, looked disheveled today, her hair messy and
clothes not quite in order. As the butler approached to inquire, Shu Zhilan bypassed him
and went upstairs, heading straight for Yuanting's room.
As the door was pushed open, Yuanting slowly turned his head, only to be met with a slap
across his face.
The slap was forceful, leaving Yuanting's ears ringing and his vision spinning.
"Yuanting, how have I wronged you? If it weren't for me, would you be living this life?"
"Isn't it good enough being the young master of the Cheng family? Why do you have to
cause trouble? I should never have brought you here in the first place."
"It's all because I was too soft-hearted, otherwise I would have sent you away long ago."
Shu Zhilan gritted her teeth in anger, her lips trembling. She never imagined she would
be outwitted by her own son.
"He's twelve years old; a child of that age understands everything. He’s either doing it on
purpose or he really is a fool."
Yuanting, touching his face, hissed after a moment, his face hot, probably swelling.
Yuanting touched his cheek and slowly lowered his hand, looking directly at Shu Zhilan,
countering her: "Was it your soft heart that kept you from sending me away? It was
because my brother always came to pick me up. Without him, I would have been sent
back long ago. Don’t act so self-righteous, as if you were a great mother."
Shu Zhilan looked at Yuanting incredulously, laughing angrily: "So now you’re justified?
I've never let you go hungry or thirsty, yet I've raised an ingrate. Fine, Yuanting, have you
become too comfortable with your good life and forgotten your own surname?"
Yuanting lifted his eyelids: "I haven’t forgotten. My surname is Yuan, not Cheng."
"Cheng Shaolin is not my biological father. I wish my real parents could be together. I
wish you and my dad could remarry. I want to be a child with a mom and dad, not a
Cheng family young master with a questionable status."
Yuanting filled himself with resentment, deciding that any future grievances would be
solely between him and his mother, not involving others.
Furious, Shu Zhilan grabbed a stapler from the table and hurled it at Yuanting: "Yuanting,
are you sick? Do you have a problem in your head? Why did I give birth to such a fool? If I
knew this would happen, I would have chosen abortion over giving birth to you." Her son,
carried for ten months, turned out to be a bad seed, deliberately ruining her life.
Before Yuanting could dodge, someone grabbed his arm and pulled him into an embrace,
the stapler hitting his arm and leaving a cut.
"It's bleeding..." Yuanting grabbed Cheng Nanyi's arm, anxiously asking, "Does it hurt?"
Cheng Nanyi shook off his hand and frowned at Shu Zhilan: "What are you doing? What
right do you have to hit him?"
The noise of their argument reached inside the house, and the butler and Cheng Nanyi
came following the sound, witnessing the scene.
The butler was completely stunned; in his eyes, Shu Zhilan had always been gentle. How
could she possibly hit a child?
Half of Yuanting's face was swollen, looking terribly frightening.
"Madam, if the young master angered you, it’s enough to scold him. How can you hit
someone?" The butler unobtrusively stepped in front of Cheng Nanyi and Yuanting.
"Young master? What young master?" Shu Zhilan scoffed, then turned and left Yuanting's
bedroom.
Cheng Nanyi turned, lifting Yuanting's chin to raise his face. Besides his cheek, his eye
was also swollen; the slap must have been with full force.
"What did you do?" Cheng Nanyi's expression was grim, his voice so cold it could freeze.
Yuanting blinked and called out, "Brother..."
……
The butler quickly fetched a first aid kit to treat their wounds. Cheng Nanyi watched
Yuanting expressionlessly as Yuanting closed his eyes and tilted his head back, letting the
butler roll an egg over his face.
Shu Zhilan was so enraged; her conversation with the stepfather must have gone poorly.
The stepfather probably didn’t return because he was too shattered by the ordeal, unable
to handle such a blow due to his love-stricken state, so he might have turned to drinking.
The butler, seeing Yuanting's condition, was extremely distressed: "What exactly did you
do to make your mother so angry?"
Yuanting remained silent. Unable to get an answer from him, the butler signaled Cheng
Nanyi, who was staring at Yuanting, to ask, but Cheng Nanyi ignored him.
The butler looked from one to the other, sighing deeply, wondering what had become of
this family.
Cheng Nanyi stood up and went to the backyard to find Xiao Zhang.
Xiao Zhang had been with Yuanting for years and knew him better than anyone else.
Xiao Zhang had a policy of not volunteering information unless asked. But once Cheng
Nanyi inquired, he spilled everything about Yuanting's actions like beans from a bamboo
tube, relieved to finally have someone to talk to.
"What do you think Yuanting is really trying to achieve?" Xiao Zhang scratched his head.
"I've racked my brain but still can't figure it out."
Cheng Nanyi's hands, hanging by his sides, curled slightly. After a long moment, he said
softly, "He wants his mom to go back to his real dad, for the three of them to be together."
He had arrived at Yuanting's room earlier than the butler and heard what Yuanting said.
It turned out Yuanting always wanted to leave this family.
For Xiao Zhang, it was a moment of realization; everything suddenly made sense.
But, to reunite his biological parents by catching his stepmom in an affair... such a thing
would be explosive anywhere.
However, knowing it was Yuanting who did this made it less surprising.
While Cheng Nanyi was somewhat astonished by Yuanting's mother's infidelity, he was
more concerned about her lover, the deputy general manager of the Cheng company.
Though it was his uncle's marital issue, the involvement of the company meant it couldn't
be kept from his grandfather.
Cheng Nanyi went to the living room to call his grandfather. As he was about to make the
call, the front door opened. Cheng Shaolin and the old master returned, accompanied by a
lawyer.
Hearing the news, Yuanting jumped out of bed and ran downstairs, only to see Cheng
Shaolin sitting on the sofa with a stern face, not appearing as drunk as he expected.
Seeing Yuanting's face, both the old master and Cheng Shaolin were shocked.
After the butler quietly explained, the old master furrowed his brows tightly, saying in
exasperation, “Why take out your anger on the child?”
Cheng Shaolin embraced Yuanting: “Dad is sorry, making you suffer.”
Yuanting sighed inwardly, thinking even at this moment, his concern was for his stepson.
"How kind you are."
Shu Zhilan came down from upstairs, her eyes red as she ran over: "Shaolin, can we talk,
please?"
Shu Zhilan, as usual, reached for Cheng Shaolin's arm, but he stepped back, avoiding her
touch and instinctively flicking his sleeve.
！！！
Yuanting widened his less swollen eye. This action, why did it seem so familiar?
It was just like when Cheng Nanyi was disgusted after being spat on.
"Shaolin..."
"No need to talk." Cheng Shaolin's tone was indifferent. "Let’s get a divorce."
Shu Zhilan, not expecting him to say this in front of the whole family, was stunned for a
moment before tears cascaded down her face: "I was wrong, Shaolin, I was wrong, but I
love you, I truly love you."
Yuanting scratched his head, puzzled as this wasn’t what he expected.
He thought Cheng Shaolin would spend days in drunken misery, then undergo a period of
painful darkness before deciding whether to divorce. How come it took less than half a
day to decide?
Yuanting wondered if he had walked onto the wrong set, as if the love-struck man had
been replaced by a time traveler starting a mission.
Cheng Shaolin sat back down on the sofa, silent, eyes downcast.
"I didn’t do it on purpose." Shu Zhilan cried pitifully, "You’re often not home, not having
time for me. Don’t you bear any fault?"
Cheng Shaolin let out a bitter laugh: "Yes, I admit I am at fault, so you can..." Unable to
utter the words "have an affair," he fell silent and gestured for the lawyer to speak.
The lawyer glanced at the old master, who nodded in agreement.
The man Shu Zhilan had an affair with was the deputy general manager of the company.
It was unlikely he had no ulterior motives, so an investigation was imperative.
So, Cheng Shaolin went to the old master first thing.
As for the divorce, it couldn’t be delayed. Given that she had been involved with the
company's deputy general manager, who knew what else she might do? Delay could lead
to complications.
As the lawyer was about to speak, Shu Zhilan clenched her teeth: "I won’t agree to a
divorce, give up that thought."
"Ms. Shu," the lawyer adjusted his glasses, calmly stating, "Whether to divorce or not isn’t
for you to decide alone."
"Cheng Shaolin," Shu Zhilan looked at him incredulously, "Do you really not care at all
about our marital bond?"
Cheng Shaolin was a soft-hearted and easily swayed person, usually very tolerant. Shu
Zhilan had thought it through; as long as they didn’t divorce, she still had a chance to turn
things around. But how could he be so decisive? It had been less than half a day.
Shu Zhilan couldn’t understand, and Yuanting was also confused about the situation. This
didn't resemble the lovestruck stepfather he knew.
The old master sighed and stood up, returning to his study.
Cheng Shaolin remained silent, head bowed. The lawyer spoke, “Ms. Shu, the sooner you
agree to the divorce, the more you will receive. The longer you wait, the less you will get.
Please consider this carefully.”
Shu Zhilan kept shaking her head, disbelief in her eyes: "Cheng Shaolin, I misjudged you.
How can you be so cold and heartless?"
Shu Zhilan now truly doubted herself. The Cheng Shaolin she was seeing now seemed like
a stranger, and a frightening one at that.
Cheng Shaolin let out a deep sigh, finally looking up at Shu Zhilan: "Xiaolan, perhaps we
never really understood each other. You don’t know the real me, and I don’t know the
real you."
"Just sign it. Let’s part on good terms, without causing embarrassment to everyone."
Yuanting realized that his stepfather was indeed serious about the divorce.
As long as he wanted the divorce, it was absolutely going to happen.
Yuanting breathed a sigh of relief; his stepfather had truly surprised him.
In the end, Shu Zhilan did not sign the divorce papers and went upstairs.
The lawyer, standing calmly at the foot of the stairs, said, "Ms. Shu, this contract will be
replaced with a new one tomorrow, and every day thereafter. We hope you make a
decision soon and avoid further losses."
Cheng Shaolin calmly took Yuanting's hand, led him upstairs, and personally applied
ointment to his face.
Blinking, Yuanting looked at Cheng Shaolin: "Dad, aren’t you heartbroken?"
He had momentarily suspected that his stepfather had also been reborn, but then
realized it was impossible. If he had been, he would probably have lashed out violently
against Shu Zhilan, not reacted as he currently was.
Perhaps, he had never truly understood his stepfather.
Cheng Shaolin did not respond to his question but gently stroked Yuanting's head, saying
softly, "Don’t worry, no matter what happens between your mother and me, you will
always be my son."
Yuanting’s eyes welled up in an instant, and Cheng Shaolin hugged him, patting his back
and murmuring, "Everything will be alright, son. Grow up well, Dad will always love you."
……
After coaxing Yuanting to sleep, Cheng Shaolin left the bedroom, rubbing his face wearily.
The corridor was dimly lit, with the butler waiting for him.
"Would you like a drink?" the butler asked cautiously.
"No need," Cheng Shaolin replied, walking downstairs, his gaze briefly catching a painting
of water lilies on the wall, which he had bought at an auction with Shu Zhilan shortly
after they met.
Cheng Shaolin took down the painting and handed it to the butler: "Throw it away."
"Ah?" The butler, unaware of the painting's history but knowing it must be valuable, said
regretfully, "What’s wrong with it? It looks fine to me." Despite your heartache, it seemed
a waste to discard it.
"Yes, indeed quite nice," Cheng Shaolin looked at the painting somewhat nostalgically,
"When I first saw it, I thought it was flawlessly perfect, something to be brought home
and cherished for a lifetime."
"Right, it was lovely," the butler chuckled awkwardly.
"But, look here," Cheng Shaolin pointed to a specific spot, "Once there's a flaw, it becomes
worthless."
"Throw it away," Cheng Shaolin said, turning and walking away without a second glance.
The butler turned the corridor lights up to their brightest, scrutinizing the painting
closely, trying to find the flaw. Where was it? He couldn't see it.
Author’s Note:
2023-08-28 20:56:56 to 2023-08-29 21:50:55~
Thanks to the angel who gave a landmine: I Want to Drink Peach ZhiZhi 1;
Thanks to the angels for their nutrient solutions: I Want to Drink Peach ZhiZhi 46 bottles;
Colorful Forest 40 bottles; Xixun Fish 21 bottles; Qianchuan, Sudden Wealth 20 bottles;
Darling i 12 bottles; Hua Yi Xiao, Unknown Boat, hjfg, Don’t do Don’t Look 10 bottles; My
Nobility You Can't Afford 6 bottles; 1, Stitch, Aiyao, 404 Big Ghosts, MS_634744, Cute
Little White 5 bottles; Clear Liquor 3 bottles; XL 2 bottles; ⌒. A Thought of Peace and
Calm, Su Shisi, Sunken Ship by the Shore, Happy Today, Big White Dumpling, Feather,
Pufferfish Melon 1 bottle each;
#57 Chapter 57
Chapter 57
With Cheng Shaolin determined to divorce, it was inevitable, so Yuanting began to quietly
pack his things.
The dining table at the Cheng household had become silent. The atmosphere had always
been like this, only livened up by Yuanting, whose noise was worth five hundred people.
But when Yuanting fell silent, the house truly became soundless.
The butler felt a deep sense of sorrow. What was happening? How had this happy family
come to this?
"Grandfather, I want to take Yuanting with me," Cheng Nanyi put down his chopsticks
and looked towards the old master.
Everyone at the dining table looked up, and Yuanting watched Cheng Nanyi in surprise.
He hadn't expected him to still be preoccupied with this matter.
Cheng Nanyi didn’t look at him but kept his eyes on the old master.
The old master slowly put down his chopsticks, his gaze falling on Yuanting.
Actually, this seemed like a decent solution.
The kid was good, and staying with his mother might lead to hardships. Sending him
abroad seemed a good option. Over the years, it had been Nanyi taking care of him.
Abroad, with a few servants to look after them, it wouldn’t be much different from home.
Cheng Shaolin also nodded, feeling this might be the best arrangement for Yuanting.
"I’ll arrange for the school immediately, and then Yuanting can leave with Nanyi."
The butler too thought this was a good idea, but then...
"What about Madam..."
"We can talk to her," Cheng Nanyi narrowed his eyes, slowly saying, "Besides, there are
cases where children stay with step-parents after a remarriage ends in divorce."
After discussing and deciding, they all turned to Yuanting, symbolically asking, "What do
you think, Yuanting?"
Everyone assumed Yuanting would agree without hesitation, considering his close bond
with Cheng Nanyi over the years and Shu Zhilan’s lack of involvement. Between Shu
Zhilan and Cheng Nanyi, the choice seemed obvious.
Moreover, considering everything, the old master thought this was the best path for
Yuanting. At twelve, he wasn't a child anymore and should start planning for his future.
The butler even thought cheerfully that if there were a divorce, it wouldn’t matter. He
could go abroad to look after the two children, which wouldn’t be much different from
being at home.
Cheng Nanyi also slowly turned his head, his hand clenched under the table, his gaze
fixed intently on Yuanting, waiting for his response.
Yuanting, avoiding Cheng Nanyi's gaze, was silent for a while before murmuring softly, "I
don’t want to go."
Cheng Nanyi’s hand tightened instantly, and his expression grew cold.
"Why?" Cheng Shaolin was surprised, thinking Yuanting didn’t want to leave home,
reassuring him, "You’ll be with your brother, and Uncle Liu will go there first to take care
of you. It’ll be no different from being at home."
Yuanting sighed internally, finally mustering the courage to say, "I want to go back to my
dad."
The room fell into immediate silence, the air seeming to freeze.
Having cared for the child for years only for him to yearn for his previous home, Cheng
Shaolin and the old master were somewhat heartbroken but understanding. After all, a
child's longing for his biological parents is natural, given the blood ties.
Once divorced, Cheng Shaolin and Yuanting would no longer be father and son and could
not make decisions for Yuanting. Naturally, the child’s wishes must be respected.
Cheng Nanyi took a deep breath, his voice cold, "Your mom and dad can’t be together
again." He said he wanted his parents together, but Yuanting’s dad wasn’t a fool. How
could he remarry his mom?
And judging by his aunt's demeanor, even if Yuanting’s dad was willing, she wouldn’t be.
Yuanting was simply too naïve.

"Oh," Yuanting thought to himself, of course they couldn’t be together again. His real dad
couldn’t always be the victim.
Seeing Yuanting seemed to understand, Cheng Nanyi pursed his dry lips and finally spoke
again: "I’ll ask you one last time, do you really not want to come with me?"
Their gazes finally met, Yuanting looking into the cold, stubborn eyes of the fifteen-year-
old boy, his heart pounding like a drum.
He wanted to go with him.
He really did.
But life is not always as one wishes; it's often about helplessness and regret.
Cheng Nanyi simply wanted Yuanting’s company, yet Yuanting couldn’t guarantee he
wouldn’t develop feelings again.
Since it was destined to be impossible, it was better not to start anything at all.
Yuanting lowered his eyes, his voice tinged with bitterness, "No, I don’t want to go."
"Brother, I wish you..." Yuanting looked up, sincerely saying, "safety and success, a future
bright and prosperous."
Cheng Nanyi watched him, a self-mocking smile crossing his face, slowly releasing his
tightly clenched hand and calmly rising to leave the dining table.
The same question, asked three times, and each time Yuanting gave the same unwavering
response.
Every time, he was resolute.
……
Cheng Shaolin's stance was firm, and the deputy general manager at the company had
been dismissed. Shu Zhilan, seeing the situation clearly, realized that an earlier divorce
was in her favor.
Eventually, she signed the divorce papers.
After the divorce, she and her son naturally couldn’t stay in the Cheng household any
longer. Shu Zhilan, now loathing Yuanting, called Yuan Qingguang to pick him up and
then left the Cheng residence with her belongings.
In this divorce, Cheng Shaolin was fair to her. As long as she didn’t cause trouble and
lived well, she would have enough to comfortably spend the rest of her life.
Cheng Shaolin stood on the balcony, watching her departure.
In these past days, discussing the divorce, he truly saw the cold-heartedness and strength
of this woman, as well as her heartlessness towards her own son, leaving him with mixed
feelings.
The woman he loved for her perceived fragility, beauty, gentleness, and delicacy turned
out to be all a facade.
Would she have continued this facade indefinitely if he hadn’t discovered the truth?
Cheng Shaolin shivered, not daring to ponder further.
Yuanting packed his things, all fitting into a single suitcase. He had arrived at the Cheng
household with one suitcase and was leaving with just one.
Yuan Qingguang, unaware of what had happened, rushed over and, upon hearing the
news, cursed bitterly: “This woman truly never learns.”
Hearing Yuan Qingguang’s words, Cheng Shaolin became even more silent.
"Pack your things, let’s go with Dad."
Cheng Shaolin stopped Yuan Qingguang: "Mr. Yuan, I know it might not be my place to say
this, but I still want to discuss something with you."
"Go ahead," Yuan Qingguang, feeling empathy for his fellow victim of the same woman’s
deceit, urged.
"Here’s the thing, Yuanting is now twelve, and it’s time to plan for his future. Our Nanyi is
going abroad for studies. If you agree, I propose sending Yuanting too, so they can keep
each other company. What do you think?"
Although Yuanting hadn’t agreed, after much consideration, Cheng Shaolin decided to
discuss it with Yuan Qingguang.
Yuan Qingguang was stunned, his first thought being, damn, this stepfather wants to take
his son away.
His second thought was, damn, that’s actually a tempting offer.
When he agreed to let Shu Zhilan take Yuanting, wasn’t it for his betterment?
Yuan Qingguang was torn, hesitantly looking at his son, who had already opened the door
and was walking out, waving at him: "I’m not going, let’s go home."
Yuan Qingguang then apologetically glanced at Cheng Shaolin before picking up the
suitcase and following his son.
Downstairs, the old master gestured for Yuanting to come over, handing him a card and
then patting his head: "Yuanting, this will always be your home. Come back and have
meals with Grandpa whenever you can, okay?"
Yuanting, with tears in his eyes, hugged the old master tightly, nodding through his sobs.
Only he knew that once he left here, he had no intention of returning.
Yuanting accepted the card from the old master. He still had to settle Ning Wan's account
and needed money to retrieve his collectibles. Initially, he planned to get it from Cheng
Nanyi, but with their strained relationship, it felt awkward to ask him.
The butler turned away, crying softly, and Yuanting went over to give him a strong hug.
The housekeepers and chefs also looked on reluctantly. Without Yuanting, there would be
no one to sweetly praise the meals or commend the housework.
Many people from the house came out to see Yuanting off, except Cheng Nanyi was
nowhere to be seen.
Yuanting controlled his urge to look back, walking out with determined steps.
Having lived in this house for over twenty years, combining his past and present lives, he
was now able to leave without any burdens.
Yuanting took a deep breath, reminding himself that many things were simply
impossible.
The best outcome was for everyone to live their lives well.
Yuanting smiled and waved to everyone, then unhesitatingly got onto his dad’s... electric
scooter.
Electric scooters were just becoming popular, and his dad had managed to buy one. Yuan
Qingguang had really come a long way in the past few years!
"Sit tight, Dad’s going to speed up..."
Yuanting raised his arm and shouted, "Let's go..."
Don't look back, don't hold expectations, leave everything behind in this mansion.
Cheng Nanyi, as I've always said, may your life be peaceful and smooth, pursue
everything you desire.
……
The butler watched as the young master of the house was taken away on a small electric
scooter, feeling a deep sense of loss. Turning to Xiao Zhang, he sighed, "You must feel lost
too."
Xiao Zhang, with a gloomy face, wasn’t thinking about feeling lost. His main concern was,
with his client gone, was he about to be unemployed?
The butler returned inside, seeing Cheng Nanyi's closed bedroom door. He sighed,
brewed a pot of tea, and carried it to the old master's study.
"The young master is deeply heartbroken this time." He couldn’t even eat, let alone the
young master, who was so fond of the kid.
The kid was harsh, leaving without even saying goodbye to the young master.
The old master also felt helpless: "It'll get better with time." With Yuanting gone, the
house suddenly felt empty, and even he wasn’t used to it.
"You know, having someone constantly praising the food does make you eat an extra
bowl of rice."
The butler sighed again, "We always say time heals, what else can we do?"
He remembered when the young master’s mother left, hearing Cheng Nanyi ask her, "Can
you not go?"
Still, she left, and since then, the young master never initiated a call to her.
He behaved normally on the phone, but the butler knew there was a knot in the young
master’s heart.
This knot only led to more and more distance, eventually reaching a point where things
could never return to how they once were.
The butler tiptoed to Cheng Nanyi's bedroom door, quietly pushing it ajar, and saw the
young master sitting cross-legged on the carpet, engrossed in a video game.
"Seems in a good mood, doesn’t he?" a voice whispered in his ear.
Startled, the butler quickly shut the door, turning to find Cheng Shaolin, who had come to
check on his nephew.
After patting his chest to calm down, the butler let out a long sigh.
This wasn’t being in a good mood; this was hitting rock bottom.
After his mother left, he often locked himself in his room to play video games.
Later, when the young master arrived, he never played games alone again.
Author’s Note:
2023-08-29 21:50:55 to 2023-08-30 18:16:45~
Thanks to the angel who gave a landmine: My Nobility You Can't Afford 1;
Thanks to the angels for their nutrient solutions: Lemon Lemon Lemonade 40 bottles; X
20 bottles; Sweet Melon, The Fattest Sheep in the Village 10 bottles; 404 Big Ghosts 5
bottles; Lin Wu Yu Have You Eaten Today, ⌒. A Thought of Peace and Calm, Sunken Ship
by the Shore, Don’t Bother Me I’m Sleeping, Ping Xuan 1 bottle each;
#58 Chapter 58
Chapter 58
Yuan Qingguang’s electric scooter ran out of power halfway, forcing them to push it back.
Yuan Qingguang chuckled awkwardly: "Son, don’t worry, Dad will earn enough to buy a
car."
Yuanting followed behind, pushing the scooter, his head drooping and mood utterly
despondent.
Yuan Qingguang, seeing his son like this, thought it was because of their poverty, feeling
disheartened himself. His son, who had lived like a young master, would now have to
endure hardship with him.
Father and son, both in low spirits, returned to Yuan Qingguang's rented room.
Yuan Qingguang rented three small rooms in an urban village, complete with a small
courtyard, but the space, including the yard, was still smaller than the toy house Cheng
Shaolin once gifted Yuanting.
Yuanting walked around the place, two bedrooms to the left and right, and what passed
for a kitchen in the middle. The left bedroom was decently furnished, with blue curtains,
a desk, and a single bed with new bedding.
Yuanting looked at his father in surprise: "What, you knew I was going to be sent back?"
How was everything prepared in advance?
Yuan Qingguang, a bit embarrassed, explained: "No, it's just that... Xiao was starting high
school, he ranked first in the district for his middle school exams. The top school in the
city directly recruited him, offering a scholarship and waiving tuition fees. He has health
issues, so I thought it better he doesn’t board at school. I can take care of him here..."
Yuan Qingguang's voice trailed off, feeling guilty about taking care of someone else’s child
while neglecting his own.
"Wow, my brother is amazing," Yuanting remarked, having been too preoccupied with
fighting his mother over the past couple of years to remember Xiao's middle school
exams.
He recalled from his previous life that his grandmother had told him Xiao was accepted
into the city's top school’s rocket class as the top student in the district, a first for their
village and a proud moment for the Yuan family.
"When’s he coming?" Yuanting lay on the new bedding, feet propped up, "Get another set
like this for me, we can share the room." No one would force him to study now, but at
least he'd have someone to help with his homework.
Relieved to see Yuanting unfazed, Yuan Qingguang readily agreed, "Alright, I’ll get you a
new set too. Hungry? I’ll cook something for you."
Yuan Qingguang was genuinely happy to have his son back. Over the years, feeling
hopeless and aimless, he never expected his son to return – it was like a blessing from
heaven.
Yuan Qingguang went out to buy meat and groceries, while Yuanting lay on the bed,
staring at the ceiling, thinking, "Damn, it's so hot here."
After living in an air-conditioned house, his body had become accustomed to comfort.
"Really, when have I ever suffered like this?"
After all, those four years of confinement were in five-star conditions.
Sweating profusely, Yuanting took a cold shower in the yard, and after cooling off, he
flopped onto the bed and fell asleep.
Tired, not from physical labor but from emotional exhaustion.
He should have felt relieved, but for some reason, his heart still felt heavy and
uncomfortable.
Yuanting slept restlessly, hearing Cheng Nanyi’s voice in a half-dream state: “Yuanting,
come here, come with me.”
Just as Yuanting was about to approach, Cheng Nanyi in the wheelchair looked at him
with disdain: “Stay away from me.”
Come here!
Stay away from me!
Why are you staying so far away?
Who told you to get so close to me?
Agitated and furious, Yuanting shouted in his dream: “Cheng Nanyi, damn you.”
“Why are you cursing?” someone shook Yuanting continuously, “Yuanting, wake up, wake
up…”
It took a while for Yuanting to open his eyes from the confusion, his head throbbing
painfully. He blinked several times before recognizing the person in front of him was
Yuan Xiao.
Yuan Xiao looked down at him, concerned: “Are you feeling unwell?”
Yuanting blinked.
“Of course, you’re unwell. You’ve got a fever of over 39 degrees. Get up and take some
medicine.”
Yuanting sat up, and Yuan Xiao stuffed a pill into his mouth, then held a glass of water for
him to drink.
After swallowing the pill, Yuanting regained his senses: "Why are you here?"
"I was planning to come the day before school started, but Uncle called last night saying
he was bringing you back today, so I came early. When I arrived, I saw you with a flushed
face and talking nonsense."
"By the way, what were you dreaming about? You kept saying you wanted, then you
didn’t, and even cursed Cheng Nanyi."
Yuanting: "..." You heard quite clearly.
"Grandma made lots of delicious food for you. Mom was worried you wouldn’t be
comfortable on this bed, so she had me bring the bedding you use at home, adding a few
layers to make it softer."
Yuan Xiao then took a thermometer to check his temperature: "You’re probably not used
to the environment, and it's hot. I feel it's hotter here than at home."
At home, a fan is enough, but here, even with the fan, it’s stuffy and hot. Yuanting, having
lived so comfortably, must be struggling in this environment.
Yuan Xiao kept talking, which significantly lifted Yuanting’s mood.
Yuanting’s fever broke in the afternoon, but it returned at night. This cycle continued for
several days, leaving him with little appetite and noticeably thinner.
By the time Yuanting fully recovered, there were only a few days left before school
started.
Yuan Xiao's school, the city's best middle school, required high grades for admission.
Yuanting, due to residential zoning and his household registration no longer being with
the Cheng family, couldn’t continue at his previous school.
However, there was still the option of paying a cross-district tuition fee, but it required
pulling some strings.
Cheng Shaolin had anticipated these issues and contacted the school principal. Yuan
Qingguang paid the cross-district tuition, and with both fathers' efforts, Yuanting's school
admission was secured just before the new term.
Yuan Qingguang was now working on a factory assembly line, earning two to three
thousand a month, which was decent, but the work was exhausting, with shifting three
shifts daily.
So with both kids here, Yuan Qingguang simply couldn’t manage to take care of them, and
Yuan Xiao had been doing all the cooking these past few days.
"I was thinking of not coming back for lunch and just eating at the school cafeteria, but
now that you're here, I'll come back to cook for you," Yuan Xiao said as he placed the
bowl of noodles in front of Yuanting.
Yuanting had been sick recently and was eating lighter meals.
Yuan Xiao even specially fried two eggs as a meat dish, but when Yuanting poked into
them, the yolks ran all over, turning the bowl of noodles into a sorry sight.
Yuanting looked speechlessly at Yuan Xiao, who scratched his head: "I saw on TV that rich
families eat these half-cooked eggs. I thought you might like them too."
Yuanting eyed the messy bowl of noodles and gritted his teeth: "Brother, you're really
something."
Yuan Xiao chuckled awkwardly. He had never cooked before, and his culinary skills were
indeed lacking. These days, he really had been troubling Yuanting.
"How about this, I’ll take you out to eat. I’ve got money," Yuan Xiao suggested.
Money?
Yuanting's eyes lit up: "How much money do you have?"
"Three... three hundred," Yuan Xiao said, feeling uneasy under Yuanting's intense gaze. He
stepped back, clutching his waistband warily, "It's my first month’s living allowance."
"Lend it to me," Yuanting reached out his hand.
"Maybe not..." Yuan Xiao’s face turned sour. It wasn’t that he was stingy, but with
Yuanting's previous spending habits, three hundred yuan wouldn’t even cover one of his
meals...
"Are you going to lend it or not?" Yuanting narrowed his eyes.
"...Alright, alright, I’ll give it to you," Yuan Xiao said, lifting his T-shirt and pulling his
pants down slightly to take out a wad of cash from a small pocket sewn into his boxer
shorts.
Yuanting was stunned.
Yuan Xiao, somewhat embarrassed, explained: "It’s my first time going out alone. My
mom was worried I might lose the money or it could get stolen, so she sewed a little
pocket for me."
Yuanting looked up at the dilapidated ceiling, cursing under his breath at the situation.
"You don’t plan to wear only this pair of boxers, do you?"
"No, my mom sewed pockets in all my boxers."
Yuanting: "..." Impressive.
"Look at Yuan Xiao, a 17-year-old lad with both height and good looks. Despite the
somewhat unfashionable black-framed glasses, he has the handsome features of the Yuan
family – refined and gentle. Yet, unbelievably, he pulls out money from his boxers."
Yuanting took the money from his hand, and Yuan Xiao’s mouth twitched visibly in
distress.
The money from his aunt was of various denominations – a hundred yuan note, two
fifties, and some tens and fives.
Yuanting then returned the money to him.
Yuan Xiao was puzzled: "What’s wrong? Don’t you need money?"
"It's too little."
"How much do you need?" Yuan Xiao coughed lightly, "...I can maybe scrape together a bit
more..."
Yuanting clicked his tongue, realizing Yuan Xiao had some hidden savings.
"A few thousand, maybe."
"Ah?" Yuan Xiao immediately waved his hands and hastily stuffed the money back into
his boxer pocket, "I don’t have that much, not even if you sold me."
"What do you need so much money for?" Yuan Xiao asked again.
"To live like a young master," Yuanting replied.
Yuan Xiao: "..." He had no response to that.
Even if his dad and uncle both sold their kidneys, Yuanting couldn't live the life of a young
master.
Yuanting lay back on the bed, feet propped up, thinking how he could play the role of a
young master when even his dad was struggling.
Author’s Note:
Sorry to disappoint everyone, but there’s no time travel in this story.
Also, the story's biggest supporting character, Yuan Xiao, has now made his entrance.
I’m short, so let me perform a ritual belly-cutting, pfft...
2023-08-30 18:16:45 to 2023-08-31 19:33:55~
Thanks to the angels for their nutrient solutions: Yue 85 bottles; Don’t Bother Me I’m
Sleeping 55 bottles; X 42 bottles; Ningyin 34 bottles; Iced Americano, Cool and Warm,
You Got Me? 20 bottles; Update Soon, A Bunch of Big and Little Monsters 10 bottles; Cute
Little White 6 bottles; Pulling Wind, The Adventures of Fat Crab 5 bottles; Chang’an City 3
bottles; 50342280, Pufferfish Melon, lucky, Marisa, 404 Big Ghosts, Big White Dumpling,
Water Wind Light, 67132556, Sunken Ship by the Shore, Xi, Xi Xingye 1 bottle each;
#59 Chapter 59
Chapter 59
Yuanting racked his brain for several days but couldn’t figure out how to become a young
master again, and then school started.
The place they rented was chosen by Yuan Qingguang later for Yuan Xiao's convenience
in attending school, so it was very close to the city's best middle school, just a fifteen-
minute walk, but quite far from Yuanting's school, about an hour by bus.
However, riding an electric scooter and taking shortcuts would only take about twenty
minutes.
So, on the first day of school, Yuan Qingguang rode his small electric scooter to drop
Yuanting off.
It was common for middle school students to ride bicycles and electric scooters, but
parents arriving on electric scooters to drop off their kids on the first day of school was a
rare sight.
After all, most students at this school came from well-off families, typically driven by
their parents or chauffeurs.
Yuan Qingguang began to regret coming on the electric scooter to drop off Yuanting.
Yuanting sighed silently, grateful that he was mentally an adult; such a stark contrast
could have devastated a typical child.
Patting Yuan Qingguang on the shoulder, Yuanting reassured him: “It’s okay, Dad, I'm
shameless.”
Yuan Qingguang: "..." His son was too understanding.
In school, most were familiar faces, as the majority of the students had come from the
same elementary school. Yuanting had been quite well-known there, so aside from a
change in school, everything felt familiar.
Although middle school didn’t have special accelerated classes, there wasn’t a completely
equal distribution of students either, so the better students were likely concentrated in a
few classes.
In his previous life, Yuanting was a decent student, not top-tier but passable. This rebirth,
along with Cheng Nanyi’s coercion, meant he couldn’t help but perform well. However,
Yuanting didn’t want to stand out, so he only did moderately well in tests. He hadn’t
suffered for his studies in his past life, nor did he have lofty ambitions in this one, so he
didn’t plan to change his life through academics.
Yuanting found himself in the same class as Gu Yuqi again, while Duan Wenzhe ended up
in the so-called ‘junk class’ that existed in every grade.
Yuanting’s arrival caused quite a stir in the class – some were excited to see the
conspicuous bag, others were captivated by his good looks.
Yuanting had grown tall over the past two years, now standing at 172 cm. His fair,
delicate face, coupled with slightly curly blond hair, made him undeniably handsome.
Confident in his appearance, Yuanting waved to everyone and then sat down next to Gu
Yuqi.
Gu Yuqi covered her face and slumped onto her desk.
"What’s wrong?" Yuanting asked her, "Feeling unwell?"
"No," Gu Yuqi shook her head, "It's just... just..." Being desk mates with someone as
noticeable as Yuanting required courage.
Yuanting sighed, "Don't fall for me, okay? I'm not worth it."
Gu Yuqi, shocked, looked up at him, her expression slowly breaking into a smile. After a
while, she managed to say, "In my heart, you’re just a... a brother who eats shit."
"Can you move to another seat?" Gu Yuqi pushed him.
"Why?" Yuanting stared at her. They had been desk mates for five years; why was she
suddenly rejecting him?
"Look at him," Gu Yuqi subtly pointed at a boy outside the window, carrying a backpack
and looking cold and unapproachable, "I want him to be my desk mate."
"????" Yuanting looked at her incredulously, pointing to his own nose, "Aren't I more
pleasing to the eye than him?"
"Yes, you are good-looking, but... but I don’t like you..."
Gu Yuqi was no longer the girl she used to be. Initially mesmerized by Yuanting's beauty,
she had thought how could such a cute kid exist. But later, well... her opinion changed.
Yuanting's charm couldn’t make up for his habit of spouting nonsense. She still couldn’t
forget how her long hair was cut off.
She now preferred the cool, quiet type, those who speak sparingly, with every word
seeming to be carefully chosen.
Yuanting: "..." Damn it, so beauty isn’t everything after all.
Look at that guy, not even a thousandth as good-looking as him.
Gu Yuqi became fidgety again, whispering, "Don’t hold me back, okay?"
"The teacher will rearrange the seats later," Yuanting said resignedly. Why did everyone
seem to be under some spell upon entering middle school, all experiencing the
awakening of young love?
"If he sits here now, maybe the teacher won't change our seats... move over, he's coming
in." Gu Yuqi pushed Yuanting out of the way with force, then sat up straight, glancing at
the boy from the corner of her eye.
There were no single desks left in the class, so the boy had to choose a seat.
The boy walked straight to the back row, then suddenly shouted: "Hey, buddy, long time
no see over the summer, you doing good?"
Gu Yuqi's face fell, and she waved Yuanting back, "Come back here."
"..." Yuanting, nearly pushed to flying by her strength, warned her, "...Just this once. Next
time, girl or not, I’ll fight back."
Gu Yuqi sighed. Boys these days were just too immature, none of them were mature.
Forget it, better to focus on studying.
Less time should be spent on watching TV dramas.
……
At noon, Yuan Qingguang came to pick up Yuanting. Back home, Yuanting was greeted by
his grandmother.
"Grandma..." Yuanting cheered and rushed into her arms for a warm hug.
With both children there and Yuan Qingguang too busy to attend to them, their great aunt
had thought about coming, but it wouldn’t be proper to live with her brother-in-law.
So, in the end, it was Grandma Yuan who came to take care of the two grandchildren.
With Grandma Yuan’s arrival, the quality of their meals improved significantly, finally
sparing them from Yuan Xiao's disastrous cooking.
Yuanting circled around the stove, showering her with compliments, which left Grandma
Yuan laughing and promising to add two more dishes for dinner.
Not long after Yuanting got home, Yuan Xiao also returned.
Seeing his grandmother every day, Yuan Xiao was less excited and instead pulled
Yuanting aside with a mysterious look, "Guess who my desk mate is?"
"How would I know who your desk mate is?" Yuanting scoffed, "Is she a pretty girl? Has
my brother also started this? Young boys and girls, can’t you focus on something serious?
Aren’t you tired of studying, always daydreaming?"
"Just guess, it's easy."
Since Yuan Xiao put it that way, it must be someone Yuanting knew. Unfortunately, he
couldn't think of anyone he knew who would be in high school and in the same advanced
class as Yuan Xiao.
Mo Yikai was also at the same school, but he barely made it in and was a grade higher, in
his second year of high school.
"Can’t guess," Yuanting squinted at him, "Are you going to tell me or not? If not, I’m not
interested. Your excitement will have nowhere to go."
Yuan Xiao chuckled while washing his hands, "My new desk mate is you—"
Drawing out his words, believing he had sufficiently piqued Yuanting's interest, Yuan
Xiao finally revealed: "—Brother, heh heh, bet you didn’t expect that."
It took Yuanting several blinks to process what Yuan Xiao had just said.
Your brother?
"Which brother? What brother?" He put the words together but didn't grasp the meaning.
"How many brothers do you have? Just me and Cheng Nanyi." Yuan Xiao flicked water
from his hands onto Yuanting’s face, "Talk about a coincidence."
"Why didn’t you tell me he was at this school? I was so surprised when I saw him. I didn’t
know he was such a good student. He’s the top of our class."
Yuan Xiao sighed again, "If it weren’t for him, I would have been the top."
It took Yuanting a moment to react, then he grabbed Yuan Xiao’s arm: "Say that again,
who is your desk mate?"
"Cheng Nanyi," Yuan Xiao said in exasperation. "Your dear brother, Cheng Nanyi. What's
wrong, got cotton in your ears? Can't you understand?"
"Impossible," Yuanting frowned. "He was supposed to study abroad. He should be

overseas by now. You must have mistaken someone else for him."
Yuan Xiao, incredulous: "I'm not an idiot. How could I possibly mistake someone else for
him?"
"Impossible," Yuanting repeated, still in disbelief. "He was supposed to go abroad for
studies. It can't be him in your class, let alone your desk mate."
"...” Yuan Xiao grabbed Yuanting’s shoulders and shook him vigorously, "Brother, wake
up. I know Cheng Nanyi. We've shared a bed before. How could I not recognize him?"
"How come you two shared a bed?" Yuanting’s eyes widened in surprise.
"Weren’t the three of us on the same bed? You two at the east end under one blanket, and
I at the west end under another. How does that not count as sharing a bed?"
Yuanting: "..." Well, that’s true.
But isn't the question whether or not they shared a bed?
"It's really my brother?" Yuanting asked, gripping Yuan Xiao, still finding it hard to
believe.
"Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes," Yuan Xiao was getting annoyed. "We even talked. How could it
not be him?"
Yuanting sat down heavily on a chair, utterly confused. Why hadn’t Cheng Nanyi left?
Yuan Xiao sat down, picking up his chopsticks to eat, and explained: "He's actually quite
nice. We chose our seats based on grades; he was first and I was second. He let me choose
first."
"After I chose, he came in and sat next to me, and that's how we ended up as desk mates."
"We even talked about you."
"What did you say about me?" Yuanting turned sharply.
"I was worried he wouldn't recognize me, so I said I was Yuanting’s brother."
"What did he say?" Yuanting asked eagerly.
"He just 'oh'-ed and said he remembered me," Yuan Xiao looked up, "I mentioned we
shared a bed, how could he not recognize me?"
Yuanting: "..."
"We shared a bed, with you in between. Make sure to clarify that, thanks!"
Stunned by the news, Yuanting struggled to process it and couldn’t fathom what had
happened to make Cheng Nanyi give up studying abroad.
"Didn’t you ask why he didn’t go abroad?"
"He was supposed to study abroad?" Yuan Xiao seemed surprised, "Yeah, why didn’t he
go? I'll ask him this afternoon."
"Don’t ask, don’t ask," Yuanting hastily waved his hands, "Please don’t ask."
"Why not?"
"Well... maybe there's some family issue. It would be rude to ask."
"True," Yuan Xiao nodded, "Then I won’t ask."
Yuanting: "..."
Yuanting felt a gnawing curiosity, why? Why indeed? What exactly was the reason?
In the afternoon, Yuanting rode his dad’s electric scooter to school, dropping Yuan Xiao
off at the corner. Before parting, Yuanting cautioned his brother, "Study hard, don’t ask
unnecessary questions, and please don’t talk about me."
Yuan Xiao looked at him suspiciously but nodded in agreement.
Why can't we talk about you?
Yuanting spent the afternoon in class in sheer agony, eager to escape. As soon as the class
ended, he sped off on his little electric scooter.
It wasn’t until he raced home that he remembered his brother had evening self-study
sessions and wouldn’t be back until around eight or nine.
Unable to resist, Yuanting decided to call the housekeeper.
After much hesitation, he took out his phone but then put it away, reminding himself that
since he had left the Cheng family, he shouldn’t get involved anymore. Yet, he couldn’t
help but wonder if Cheng Nanyi's change of plans was due to some issue at home.
Finally, Yuanting decided to call Xiao Zhang.
The housekeeper was a blabbermouth and wouldn't keep his secrets, but Xiao Zhang was
different; they shared a bond of comradeship.
Yuanting dialed Xiao Zhang's number.
Xiao Zhang answered quickly, though his tone carried a hint of resentment: "You just left
without a word, and now you remember to call me?"
"Hey, heh heh..." Yuanting chuckled awkwardly, "Well, I cleared you out of the picture,
didn’t I? No one knows about our dealings. I’m sure Grandpa and Dad wouldn’t fire you."
Yuanting had indeed implicated Xiao Zhang in his report about seeing Shu Zhilan with
another man. But later, when the elders questioned Xiao Zhang, he hadn’t hidden
anything and completely betrayed Yuanting’s trust.
Nevertheless, Xiao Zhang still had a soft spot for Yuanting.
After all, Yuanting had treated him quite well over the years.
"What’s up, why are you calling me?"
"Xiao Zhang, I wanted to ask you, why didn't my brother go abroad?"
Hearing this question, Xiao Zhang glanced at the young man sitting in the backseat
through the rearview mirror.
Ever since the call started, with a surprised "Yuanting?" from Xiao Zhang, the young
master had asked him to put the phone on speaker.
Cheng Nanyi, expressionless, gazed out the window. Xiao Zhang, unsure of his thoughts,
cleared his throat, "He just suddenly said he wouldn’t go. As for the specific reason, he
didn’t say to me."
"So there’s no issue at home?"
"No, nothing like that. Everything’s fine at home."
Yuanting breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good. I was worried something had happened."
After hanging up, Yuanting was still puzzled. In his past and current life, he had always
planned to study abroad. Why the sudden change of heart?
Still uneasy, Yuanting decided to go to the front gate of the high school on his electric
scooter just before evening self-study ended, hoping to catch a glimpse.
When school ended, it was a chaotic scene. Amid the darkness and crowd of students
rushing out, it was impossible to spot anyone.
Especially since he had to stay hidden and avoid being noticed, finding someone in that
crowd was an added challenge. Eventually, when the school grounds emptied, he still
hadn't seen anyone.
Disheartened, Yuanting rode his scooter back, running into Yuan Xiao at the corner.
Surprised to see him coming from that direction, Yuan Xiao asked, "Why did you come
from there?"
"To pick you up," Yuanting replied sincerely. "It's your first day of school, I was worried."
Yuan Xiao, touched, hopped onto the backseat, "My brother is the best."
As Yuanting drove off, he coughed lightly and casually asked, "So, did you chat this
afternoon?"
"Who?" Yuan Xiao inquired.
Yuanting: "..."
With your level of comprehension, it's no wonder you're only second best.
After a while, Yuan Xiao suddenly patted Yuanting’s back, "Didn’t you tell me not to talk
to him?"
Yuanting, exasperated: "… I said don’t chat idly, not that you couldn’t speak to each other
at all."
Yuan Xiao exclaimed, "Wait, that's not right. Yuanting, did you two have a falling out?" He
might not have been close with Cheng Nanyi, but every time Yuanting came home, Cheng
Nanyi would come to pick him up and sometimes even stay over. It was obvious to
anyone that Cheng Nanyi was very fond of Yuanting. Why this sudden distance?
"It's just... after the divorce, we’re not in the same house anymore, so, just... you know..."
Yuanting's voice trailed off into a mumble.
"Just, just, just what?" Yuan Xiao was puzzled, "Your mom and his uncle’s marital split is
one thing, but why are you two acting estranged? It's not like you're the ones who
divorced."
Yuanting: "..."
Well said, but... could you please be quiet?
A note from the author:
A heartfelt thank you to the angels who voted and supported me with nutrition liquids
from 2023-08-31 19:33:56 to 2023-09-01 17:19:33~
Special thanks to the following angels for their nutrition liquids: [names of the supporters
and the amounts they contributed].
I deeply appreciate everyone’s support and will continue to work hard!

#60 Chapter 60.
Chapter 60.
Yuan Xiao suspected that Yuanting must have upset Cheng Nanyi.
It wasn’t exactly bias; it was more that his brother had a knack for causing trouble. Even
if it was prejudiced, Yuanting had earned it with his own actions.
Yuan Xiao felt that Cheng Nanyi had been genuinely good to Yuanting during his time at
the Cheng household. Their relationship shouldn’t become distant just because they were
no longer living under the same roof.
Entering the classroom with his backpack, Yuan Xiao saw someone sitting at his desk.
Their school uniforms were color-coded by grade level. This student was wearing the
white and green uniform of a sophomore.
Yuan Xiao: "Huh??"
"So you’re Yuan Xiao, huh?"
Frowning, Yuan Xiao replied, "Yuan Xiao and Tangyuan are two different things, don’t
you know that?"
Mo Yikai: "..."
With such level of eccentricity, he must be Yuanting's brother.
"I’m Yuanting’s older brother, nice to meet you..."
"Mo Yikai, I know you," Yuan Xiao put down his backpack. "Yuanting mentioned you."
"What did he say?"
Yuan Xiao pondered for a moment: "Crazy, moronic, despicable, brainless... and some
other terms that are not so polite for a cultured person to say." Meeting him today,
indeed his reputation precedes him.
Yuanting’s description wasn’t exaggerated for once.
"...," Mo Yikai clenched his fist, "Fine, you little rascal, seems like you've been
badmouthing me behind my back. You, wait for me after school; I’m taking you to find
him."
Yuan Xiao tugged at the corner of his mouth but remained silent.
Mo Yikai patted the person who was continuously flipping through a book, “Come with
us, let's have the little rascal treat us to a meal.”
“I won’t go,” Cheng Nanyi said indifferently.
Mo Yikai had tried to mediate countless times but couldn’t pinpoint the root of their
dispute. Eventually, he gave up, leaving them to their own devices. He had to check on the
little rascal anyway, as his mother had inquired about him and even learned the address
to visit.
Mo Yikai swaggered off, while Yuan Xiao returned to his seat and directly asked Cheng
Nanyi, “Did my brother upset you?”
Cheng Nanyi paused in his page turning, reflecting on the term 'my brother.' Yes,
Yuanting indeed was Yuan Xiao’s brother.
Having gotten used to Mo Yikai’s constant references to 'your brother,' he had almost
started to believe Yuanting was his own sibling.
Cheng Nanyi gave a self-mocking smile.
Seeing Cheng Nanyi’s silence, Yuan Xiao scratched his head, “If I apologize on his behalf,
would you accept it?” Although biased, Yuan Xiao didn’t jump to conclusions. He
suspected Yuanting was at fault because of his brother’s guilty demeanor; if Cheng Nanyi
had been wrong, Yuanting would have been more assertive, not shrinking and evasive as
he currently was.
“You apologizing for him?” Cheng Nanyi looked at him expressionlessly.
“Yeah,” Yuan Xiao chuckled awkwardly, “Yuanting is still young, maybe he did handle
some things poorly. Tell me what it was, and I’ll talk to him when I get home.”
Cheng Nanyi stared at him for a long while before finally speaking softly, “There’s no
conflict or misunderstanding between him and me.”
Yuan Xiao: “...” Really?
Sighing, Yuan Xiao added, “My brother still cares about you a lot. He’s been persistently
asking about you. He must want to apologize. Why don’t you give him a chance? He seems
really troubled.”
Cheng Nanyi remained silent, looking down, leaving Yuan Xiao with no choice but to back
down.
"It seems Yuanting has really offended someone this time."
"I'm really curious, what exactly happened?"
"Actually, not only is Cheng Nanyi good to Yuanting, but Yuanting is also very considerate
towards him. I've noticed Cheng Nanyi has a mild obsession with cleanliness. Every time I
visit their house, Yuanting always gets new cutlery for him and sterilizes it with hot
water right in front of him. Sometimes, when a dish is poked by many chopsticks,
Yuanting quickly snatches up portions for Cheng Nanyi to eat."
"They were on such good terms, what went wrong?"
"Yuan Xiao couldn't figure it out and decided to focus on his studies, aiming to surpass
Cheng Nanyi and be the top student."
"After school, Mo Yikai followed Yuan Xiao home on his bike, while Cheng Nanyi rode off
in another direction."
"Annoyed, Mo Yikai muttered behind Yuan Xiao's back, 'You two better never see each
other again.'"
"Arriving at the small courtyard, Mo Yikai saw Yuanting arranging old cardboard
collected by his grandma. Shocked and saddened, he suddenly kicked Yuanting's
backside."
"Caught off guard by the surprise attack, Yuanting stumbled and fell to the ground."
"‘Who the hell kicked me?’ Yuanting stood up, rolling up his sleeves, only to be stunned to
see Mo Yikai."
"Before he could react, Mo Yikai started hitting him, ‘Cheng Nanyi’s not here to protect
you now, I’ll beat you to a pulp, you little brat…’"
"Damn it."
"Yuanting ran off, shouting, ‘I’m going to fight back, just you wait, I’m about to hit back…’"
"Seizing his chance, Mo Yikai kicked Yuanting a couple more times before feeling
satisfied. He then mockingly gestured, ‘Come here, let big brother give you a hug.’"
"‘Hug my foot, you crazy lunatic,’ Yuanting brushed off his pants, then turned to Yuan
Xiao, ‘See? Isn’t he a complete scoundrel?’"
"‘…’ Yuan Xiao entered the house, speechless at their antics."
"Mo Yikai had lunch here and Grandma made two extra dishes just for him. He kept
calling her ‘Grandma’ and had two more bowls of rice, as if he was in his own home."
"‘Little Tang, you eat too,’ Mo Yikai still had the presence of mind to invite others."
"‘Little Tang? Who's Little Tang?’ Yuanting was puzzled. ‘Are you out of your mind?’"
"‘Him, Tangyuan, Little Tang.’"
"Yuan Xiao: ‘……’"
"Yuanting: ‘……’ My sworn brother really treats everyone equally with his annoyance. It’s
a miracle he hasn’t been stuffed into a sack yet."
"After the meal, Mo Yikai took out a red envelope and handed it to Yuanting: ‘This is from
my mom for you.’"
"Yuanting opened it to find a stack of money, at least three to five thousand."
"Yuanting tossed it back: ‘No need, I’m about to get rich and reach the pinnacle of life
soon.’"
"Mo Yikai: ‘……’"
"Great, the kid’s lost his mind."
"Fumbling in his pockets, Mo Yikai pulled out another three hundred and shoved it all to
Yuanting: ‘I’ll ask my mom for more when I get home.’"
"‘Who are you looking down on?’ Yuanting returned the money, lifting his chin, ‘Let me
tell you, poverty does not diminish ambition, don’t trample on my dignity.’"
"This was the first time Mo Yikai heard the words ‘dignity’ from this brat, genuinely
shocked."
"Then he felt a pang of sorrow. When had the little guy ever suffered like this?"
Sigh…
That night, Mo Yikai and Cheng Nanyi cycled home together, feeling utterly disheartened.
The kid was spoiled rotten in the Cheng family, getting whatever he wanted. How did he
end up living like this now?
"Nanyi, you haven't seen where the kid is living now. It's really bad, not even comparable
to the playhouse in your backyard."
"His family relies on his grandmother picking up trash to support him and that
dumpling."
"It's so pitiful. I offered him money, but he refused. Poverty has given him pride. He's not
the same kid who used to pester me for money."
"He's never known hardship like this. Back at your place, the chef had to make his
pastries smaller, with five, six, seven, eight different fillings. I wonder if he can still have
pastries now."
"Right, his favorite pastry costs dozens per piece. His family probably can't afford it, can
they?"
"Hey…" Mo Yikai looked at Cheng Nanyi, "Aren't you going to say something?"
Cheng Nanyi lifted his eyelids, "Say what? What's it got to do with me?"
Mo Yikai: "..."
Damn, that's cold.
When Cheng Nanyi got home, the butler brought him a late-night snack.
The house was quiet; Cheng Shaolin hadn't returned from his studio for many days, and
the old master was on a business trip. Now, only the butler and Cheng Nanyi were left in
the vast residence.
"If the young master were here, at least the house would be lively," the butler observed
Cheng Nanyi's expression cautiously.
Cheng Nanyi sipped his soup, head bowed, giving away no expression or sound.
The butler coughed softly, "Actually, when you think about it, the young master has it
tough too. Though everyone treats him well, he's still living under someone else's roof."
The butler had pondered for many days, finally finding a way to console the young
master from this angle.
"Children living in such situations often feel sensitive and inferior. His own mother
divorced; how could he possibly stay with the Chengs?"
"Even if he went abroad with you, whose money would be spent? He doesn't have the
means to earn now, and his biological father can't support him. Spending your money
would surely trouble him, right?"
"Why would spending my money trouble him?" Cheng Nanyi dropped his spoon, finally
speaking, his face looking extremely troubled.
"Sigh..." the butler sighed, speaking earnestly, "Young master, you're still young and don't
understand these things. Look, I've been with your grandfather in this house for over
twenty years. You all treat me like family, always considering me for meals and drinks,
but can I consider myself as one of you? Of course not. That's why I say the young master
has a great sense of propriety. He's sensible. If it were someone else, wouldn't they be
exploiting our family's money? Right?"
Cheng Nanyi remained silent, and the room fell into quietude.
After a while, Cheng Nanyi nodded, "Right, you're correct."
The butler's eyes lit up, had he gotten through to him?
"He does have a sense of propriety, so he wouldn't spend the money of an outsider,"
Cheng Nanyi's voice was cold as ice. "I am that outsider. I hadn't realized it before, but
you've made it clear to me now." After saying this, Cheng Nanyi stood up, walked
upstairs, and his bedroom door slammed shut with a loud 'bang'.
The butler stood there, questioning his own understanding of life.
What exactly goes on in his young master's mind?
……
Yuan Xiao returned home to find his brother lying on a lounge chair, stargazing.
Yuan Xiao sat down beside him, "I spoke to Cheng Nanyi today, said I wanted to apologize
on your behalf. His expression was so sour. I think you should apologize yourself."
"What did you do to offend him? Tell me, and we can think of a solution together."
"It's only the second day of school, guess what? A girl sent him a love letter."
Ahhhhhhh…
Yuan Ting was going crazy. Yuan Xiao was like a live news feed, so annoying...
Yuan Ting turned to Yuan Xiao with a deadpan face, serious, "Brother, from now on, I
hope you don't mention Cheng Nanyi in front of me, nor mention me in front of him. In
his presence, act as if you don't know me, and in mine, as if you don't know him. Can you
do that?" He thought he would never cross paths with the Cheng family again, yet Yuan
Xiao ended up becoming Cheng Nanyi's desk mate.
"I can't do that," Yuan Xiao stood up to wash up. "That would be too fragmented for me.
I'm already too busy with my studies to worry about these things."
"By the way, his driver came again tonight to deliver food, and he shared half of his
pastries with me. I didn't want to accept it at first, but I felt bad refusing, seeing as we're
quite familiar now."
"I need to ask Grandma to make something tomorrow to share with him at school. Can't
always be taking without giving."
"Xiao Ting…" Yuan Xiao turned to him, "Did you eat pastries like these every day when
you were at his house? They are really delicious. I'll study hard, earn a lot of money, and
strive to let you live like a young master again soon."
Yuan Ting covered his ears, ahhhhhhhhhhh…
If only a lightning strike could end this.
Damn it, no plan is as good as fate. Heaven gave him a second chance at life, only to place
a bug right beside him.
Speechless!
Author's note:
Just to clarify, there's no misunderstanding between them. As suggested by the title

'Obsessive Attacker', Cheng Nanyi's thought process isn't like that of a normal person. In
his eyes, Yuan Ting's departure, regardless of the reason, is seen as abandonment.
There's no misunderstanding; explanations are futile. The only way is to make him feel
that Yuan Ting truly cares about him.
I know everyone is eager, but I want to write the romance more delicately and let it
develop more naturally, so it might be a bit slow to heat up. Please bear with me.
Bowing in thanks, love you all, mwah!
A big thank you to the little angels who voted for me or donated nutrient fluids between
2023-09-01 17:19:33 and 2023-09-02 21:03:32~
Thanks to the little angels for the nutrient fluids: Xi Xun Yu 32 bottles; Sylvia, . 10 bottles;
50655952 8 bottles; Tian Ya Yi Meng, Yi Ke Zhan Guo, XL 5 bottles; He Tun Gua, lucky,
Chen Zhou Ce Pan, Ah Ah Ah Want to Fall in Love, Shui Feng Qing, Man Mi, 404 Ge Da Gui
Tou, 1223hjq, Chang Ge 1 bottle;
I'm very grateful for your support and will continue to work hard!
#61 Chapter 61
Chapter 61
Yuan Ting's declaration of making a fortune wasn't just talk; he really had an idea.
It was watching his grandma collecting scrap that sparked the idea.
A scrap collection station can be a silently lucrative business; many people underestimate
it, not realizing that those who run these stations can make hundreds of thousands or
even millions annually.
People think collecting scrap is just about picking up old cardboard, plastic bottles, and
recycling glass bottles, but it's not that simple.
Buy low, sell high. With enough volume, it's a lucrative business.
Yuan Ting made a business card out of cardboard:
Golden Flower Scrap Collection Station
Yuan Ting
Position: General Manager
Phone: xxxxxxxxxx
"What's this?" Early in the morning, as the family was having breakfast, Yuan Ting
slapped the card on the table, "Just letting everyone know, the Golden Flower Scrap
Collection Station, co-owned by me and Comrade Xu Jinhua (my grandma), is officially
open."
"Hahaha..." Yuan Qingguang laughed, "Just focus on your studies, don't mess around."
"Who's messing around?" Yuan Ting wrinkled his nose. "My grandma is the chairwoman,
I'm the general manager, and you..."
Yuan Ting pointed at Yuan Xiao, "Chief Financial Officer."
"What about me?" Yuan Qingguang joined in the fun.
"Worker."
Yuan Qingguang ruffled Yuan Ting's hair vigorously, "Alright, I'll be a worker for my son."
Yuan Ting dodged his hand; he was almost taller than Yuan Qingguang now, yet still
getting his head patted.
Grandma also chuckled, "Good, let Xiao Ting be the chairperson. I'll step down."
No one in the family took it seriously, but Yuan Ting didn't mind. He took the card to
school and tossed the cardboard card to Duan Wenzhe: "Here, say hello to your uncle for
me."
"What's this?" Duan Wenzhe looked shocked.
"Your dad will understand," Yuan Ting said, nodding at him. "Tell him, he still owes me a
favor."
Duan Wenzhe: "..." Damn, he could never keep up with Yuan Ting's shenanigans.
He had to start his own company too; he couldn't fall behind him.
Thus, Duan Wenzhe also made a business card: "Wenze Agency Co., Ltd."
“I can’t just work for nothing, can I? Like before, I should get a cut.”
“I give up,” Yuan Ting admitted defeat. “Bro, you really know how to pluck feathers from
a passing goose. It's impossible to be friends with someone like you.”
“Pfft, clear accounts make for good brothers. That’s how we’ll last longer, you know
nothing.”
Yuan Ting clicked his tongue. Was this really the same guy who almost got electrocuted
climbing a wall?
Having handed out his business card, Yuan Ting received a call on Saturday.
“Hello, is this Manager Yuan? This is Duan Zhen Shan. Interested in discussing a business
deal worth hundreds of millions?”
Yuan Qing Guang happened to be off that day and got dragged by his son to talk about
this massive deal.
The two rode a small electric scooter to a construction site in the suburbs. Seeing Yuan
Ting, Duan Zhen Shan greeted, “Ah, Manager Yuan is here.”
“Ah, President Duan, long time no see. You look even more radiant.”
The two greeted each other with such camaraderie that anyone unaware would think
they were both high-level executives.
After greetings, Yuan Ting introduced Yuan Qing Guang and Duan Zhen Shan to each
other. Yuan Qing Guang knew of Duan Zhen Shan; after all, he used to work as a
contractor, and Duan Zhen Shan was in construction – they were in the same circle.
After the introduction, Duan Zhen Shan pointed towards the construction site and said to
Yuan Ting, “At a fair price, just haul everything away.”
Yuan Ting glanced over and touched his nose, “How much is there?”
“At least two to three tons, I’d say.”
“How much can I make if I sell it?” Yuan Ting asked.
“Hey, you rascal,” Duan Zhen Shan playfully smacked his head. “Aren’t you the owner of a
scrap collection station? You don’t know how much you can make and you're asking me?”
Yuan Ting gave a dry laugh, “I’ve just started the business, don’t even have a business
license yet.”
Duan Zhen Shan looked at him skeptically, “Young master, are you pulling my leg? Our
company needs to account for everything, I can't just let you haul it away.”
Yuan Qing Guang finally understood – his son had casually set up a scrap collection
business and now a deal had come his way, involving two to three tons of construction
waste.
While Yuan Ting wasn't sure how much he could earn, Yuan Qing Guang knew; as a
former contractor, he was familiar with the value of construction site waste. Different
metals, including scrap copper and iron, could easily net him ten to twenty thousand if
resold.
“Well, uncle, give me a month. I’ll get my dad to register a company, and we can store it at
your place for now. Could you save some for me?”
Duan Zhen Shan took a couple of puffs of his cigarette and exhaled, “Young master, that's
not how business is done.”
“Who said anything about doing business? I’m just pulling strings,” Yuan Ting clicked his
tongue. “We have a revolutionary friendship. Remember when I knocked out your son’s
tooth... Right, uncle?”
Duan Zhen Shan: “…”
It was better left unmentioned; recalling it made him feel like he had been brainwashed
by Cheng Nan Yi.
Duan Zhen Shan turned to Yuan Qing Guang, “Mr. Yuan, is one month okay? I need to
clear the site quickly, so that’s the most time I can give you.”
“Sure,” Yuan Qing Guang immediately nodded. Who would say no to easy money?
“Uncle,” Yuan Ting patted Duan Zhen Shan’s shoulder, “Don’t worry, my dad understands
how things work. He’ll give you a kickback.”
Duan Zhen Shan: “...Nephew, thanks, but it’s my company. I’d be taking my own
kickback.”
“It’s not like that,” Yuan Ting spoke earnestly, “We still need to follow the proper
procedures. Otherwise, it makes me look clueless, like Duan Wen Ze.”
Duan Zhen Shan: “...” Dragging his son into this too.
Yuan Qing Guang, in a daze, drove Yuan Ting back home. It wasn’t until they arrived that
he grasped Yuan Ting’s shoulder: “Son, do you think we can pull this off?”
“Of course we can,” Yuan Ting walked into the house. “Let's give it a try. We can’t lose
much, and if it doesn't work out, we’ll stop.”
The reason Yuan Ting hadn't discussed it with Yuan Qing Guang beforehand was to avoid
wasting words; he wanted his father to see the profit first. His dad wasn't a fool; who
wouldn't want to earn money?
“Starting a company requires capital, at least fifty thousand, plus a storefront, renting a
space, buying a small vehicle…” Yuan Ting looked at his dad, “Do you have the money?”
“I do, I do. Just leave it to me,” Yuan Qing Guang assured.
“If you don’t have money, I can’t help,” Yuan Ting shrugged. “Your son doesn’t have
money either; I’m counting on you to make some.”
Yuan Qing Guang ruffled Yuan Ting’s hair with vigor, “Dad will make sure to do well, so
you can have a good life.”
Yuan Ting: “…” That phrase sounded a bit awkward.
Yuan Ting had already shown Yuan Qing Guang the way. If his dad couldn’t handle it, then
it was no big deal; he could turn to his uncle. If the uncle wasn’t up to it, then he’d have to
rely on his brother.
Yuan Ting didn't bother Yuan Qing Guang further, letting him figure things out on his
own. On another Saturday, Yuan Ting took his grandfather’s card to meet Ning Wan.
Before going, he checked the bank balance and found there was two hundred thousand in
it.
Yuan Ting genuinely didn't expect his grandfather to give him so much.
He asked Ning Wan to tally up the accounts, and she told him, “Your brother has already
cleared your debts.”
“What? Which brother?” Yuan Ting was taken aback.
“Cheng Nan Yi,” Ning Wan said, “Zhang Shi Ge brought him.”
Yuan Ting was speechless; Little Zhang must have spilled everything, that traitor.
“Then... did he take all my stuff too?”
“No, that didn't happen,” Ning Wan shook her head. “He only paid the money, didn't say
anything about taking the items. Besides, our deal was between you and me. He can pay,
which I accept, but I can't let him take the items without your consent.”
Yuan Ting was momentarily speechless. The figurines were gifts from Cheng Nan Yi, and
he didn't want to return them. However, they were valuable, and since Cheng Nan Yi had
paid for them, Yuan Ting had no reason to keep them.
Moreover, he now had his grandfather's card. Originally, he had accepted the card to pay
Ning Wan back, but now... the debt was only growing, which was troubling.
“Then, can you return my things for me? Also, here’s something for you,” Yuan Ting
handed her his business card.
Ning Wan looked at the cardboard business card in her hand, her expression bewildered:
“What does this mean?”
“I'm bringing you business, and if you have any, you can refer them to me.”
Ning Wan: “…”
How many more tricks does this kid have up his sleeve?
Ning Wan drove Yuan Ting back home, helping him move all his figurines into the house.
With no shelves available, Yuan Ting had to use chairs and wooden cabinets, even
constructing two levels with planks to ensure all the figurines were properly displayed.
“My sons, sorry for making you suffer with dad,” he said to the figurines, kissing each one.
“Mwah! Now that you’re a gift to me, I can’t return you.” He was determined to buy them
a big house once he made money.
Ning Wan looked around the room, sighed silently, and then left.
Yuan Ting was worried about how to pay back the money, when his grandmother handed
him another card, “I found this while washing your backpack. It's a bank card, right?
Check if it's damaged. Such valuable things should be kept safe, what if you lose it?”
Yuan Ting looked at the card – it was the one Cheng Nan Yi had set up for him, containing
years of his New Year's money and allowance, always managed by Cheng Nan Yi.
But how did the card end up in his backpack?
Ahhhhh...
Yuan Ting collapsed onto his bed, wishing a lightning strike would just end it all.
Yuan Ting truly wanted to sever ties with the Cheng family. Despite wanting everyone to
live peacefully, the regrets and guilt from his past life still lingered in his heart. Adding his
fleeting, somewhat suppressed feelings for Cheng Nan Yi, feelings that might dissipate
with distance, he believed cutting off contact was the best option for everyone.
But how could he possibly break it off?
Yuan Ting banged his head against the bed, overwhelmed with frustration. Ahhhhh...
Why must it be so tormenting...
Yuan Xiao walked in to find his brother furiously headbutting the bed, quickly pulling him
up, “What’s wrong with you? Have you lost your mind?”
With his hair in disarray, Yuan Ting looked blankly at Yuan Xiao, “Bro, I must have
committed murder in my past life and my mom witnessed it. That’s why I have to pay my
dues this life and the last.”
Yuan Xiao pondered for a moment, “Your logic doesn’t make sense. Why does it have to
be your past life?”
“You don’t understand,” Yuan Ting pulled out a letter from the drawer and handed it to
Yuan Xiao, “Give this to Cheng Nan Yi.”
Yuan Xiao’s eyes lit up, “Oh, my brother’s come to his senses, even writing an apology
letter.”
Yuan Ting lay back on the bed, resigned. Come on, Cheng Nan Yi, learn two new phrases:
ingrate and heartless.
Sigh...
Yuan Ting turned to face the yellowing wall, smirking and clutching his chest, “Damn, has
Yuan Xiao’s heart disease transferred to me?”
On Monday, Yuan Xiao entered the classroom cheerfully and placed the letter in front of
Cheng Nan Yi, “My brother asked me to give you this.”
“Oh wow, Cheng Nan Yi's got another love letter?” A boy who had just entered the room, a
familiar middle school classmate of Cheng Nan Yi's, saw the letter and reached for it, “Let
me have a look…”
Cheng Nan Yi picked up the letter before the boy could.
The boy clicked his tongue and leaned on the desk, “Why so protective? Is this one
special?”
Cheng Nan Yi lifted an eyelid to look at him, “Are you that idle?”
“Not really,” the boy shrugged and sat down on the other side of the aisle, “Just envious
and curious…”
Cheng Nan Yi held the envelope, staring at it as Yuan Xiao urged him, “Hurry up and read
it. My brother must be apologizing to you.”
The letter was a regular yellow envelope with no name on it. It felt heavier than a typical
letter, suggesting there was something inside.
Under Yuan Xiao’s prodding, Cheng Nan Yi slowly opened the envelope. He felt inside
with his fingers and found no paper, but instead two cards fell out.
“What’s this?” Yuan Xiao was stunned. “Where’s the apology letter?”
Among the two cards, one had always been with Cheng Nan Yi, bearing Yuan Ting’s
Romanized name – a card he had personally arranged for Yuan Ting and placed in his
backpack’s compartment when he left.
Now this card had returned.
The other card, presumably, was the one given by Yuan Ting’s grandfather.
Cheng Nan Yi stared at the two cards for a while, deep in thought.
Sensing something wasn’t right, Yuan Xiao didn’t dare ask. The next moment, Cheng Nan
Yi emotionlessly put the cards back into the envelope and handed it to Yuan Xiao, “It
doesn’t have my name on it. How can you prove it’s for me?”
Yuan Xiao: “…” Although the argument was unreasonable, it made some sense.
Yuan Xiao took the letter home at noon and relayed Cheng Nan Yi’s words to Yuan Ting.
Yuan Ting fell silent for a moment, overwhelmed by the complexity of the situation.
Seeing Yuan Ting actually writing a name on the envelope, Yuan Xiao was speechless:
“Don’t you understand Cheng Nan Yi is angry? Is this really about writing a name?”
“It is about writing a name,” Yuan Ting replied, ignoring the implication and writing
Cheng Nan Yi’s name on the envelope before handing it back to Yuan Xiao, “Give it to
him.”
Yuan Xiao: “…” Do I look like a fool?
Yuan Xiao refused this task. It was clear that the issue wasn’t about writing the name, but
those two cards. He remembered Cheng Nan Yi’s darkened expression and didn’t want to
deliver the letter, fearing it wasn’t a wise move.
What, his life didn’t matter?
Yuan Ting threatened him repeatedly, but Yuan Xiao remained adamant, infuriating Yuan
Ting. He was absolutely livid.
“Fine, give the letter to Mo Yi Kai and ask him to pass it on.”
Yuan Xiao, exasperated: “Do you think he’s stupid?”
“Just give it to him,” Yuan Ting insisted, forcefully placing the letter in Yuan Xiao’s hand.
Yuan Xiao was nearly driven to despair by his brother’s antics. How did Cheng Nan Yi
manage such a troublesome kid before?
During the afternoon break, Yuan Xiao went to the senior second year and found Mo Yi
Kai, handing him the letter: “My brother asked me to give this to you, and then you're to
give it to Cheng Nan Yi.”
“Okay, got it,” Mo Yi Kai casually accepted it and tucked it into his pocket.
Yuan Xiao was stunned – didn’t Mo Yi Kai even wonder or question it?
Yuan Xiao left in a daze. As soon as he sat down, Mo Yi Kai entered the classroom,
swaggered up to Cheng Nan Yi, and tossed the letter in front of him: “Here, this is from
your little bunny.”
Cheng Nan Yi looked at the familiar envelope, now bearing “For Cheng Nan Yi” added on
it, and couldn’t help but laugh, then asked Mo Yi Kai, “Do you know what’s inside?”
“I don’t know, I didn’t open it,” Mo Yi Kai said with a candid expression, portraying
himself as too much of a gentleman to open someone else’s letter.
Cheng Nan Yi tossed the letter back to him, “It involves hundreds of thousands of yuan.
Who will be responsible if there’s an issue?”
Mo Yi Kai felt the contents of the envelope and reacted quickly, “Money? Oh, that’s not
good.”
After saying this, he tossed the letter in front of Yuan Xiao, “He doesn’t want it, take it
back.”
Cheng Nan Yi turned to look at Yuan Xiao, his face expressionless.
“Heh, heh heh…”
Yuan Xiao stared at Mo Yi Kai with a deadpan expression, internally screaming. This guy
must have a screw loose, right?
Right.
Mo Yi Kai, having completed his task, started to walk away, then turned back to look at
Yuan Xiao, frowning as if he suddenly had a moment of clarity, “Hey, that’s not right. You
two are desk mates, you could’ve just given it to him directly. Why make me run this
errand? Are you messing with me?”
Yuan Xiao didn’t want to speak and just looked down at his book.
Back then, he had worked tirelessly to get into this prestigious school, only to find that
even someone with a questionable intellect like this could be admitted. His faith and
expectations shattered in that moment.
At night, Yuan Ting, looking at the letter that had returned to him yet again, felt numb.
“Forget it,” Yuan Ting lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, “Fate has decreed I walk alone
in this dark world, with no one to rely on.”
“…,” Yuan Xiao turned off the light, coaxing gently, “Xiao Ting, that money in the card is
from the Cheng family, right? If you don’t want to owe them, you should return it in
person. That’s more polite. Don’t blame Cheng Nan Yi for being angry and not accepting
it. After all, they’ve taken care of you for years. How can you not even face them?”
Yuan Ting rolled over to face the wall, muttering softly, “Then just don’t return it.”
Yuan Xiao: “…” Resigned to the situation!
Yuan Ting gave up on returning the cards and put them away.
Even if he personally went to return them, his grandfather surely wouldn’t take them
back. There was no need to complicate matters further; for now, he'd just keep them,
especially since the Cheng family wouldn’t miss that amount of money.
The more the Cheng family cared for him, the more indebted Yuan Ting felt, causing him
discomfort.
See, he’s always the one getting punished by fate.
So frustrating.
Others who get reborn live out thrilling stories, but he’s just mired in grievances.
Author’s note:
Thanks to the angels who cast their mighty votes or nourished me with nutrient solutions
from 2023-09-02 21:03:32 to 2023-09-03 19:18:03~
Thanks to the angels for nourishing me: Mao Mao Yu 66 bottles; Zoey 60 bottles; Bù fá n
20 bottles; ...Jelly Whale, Tang Ci Er, Sylvia 10 bottles; Adventures of Fat Crab, Melody,
Tuan Zi 5 bottles; Sunken Ship, Man Mi, Cat Dong, Lucky, Let Me Sleep, Ahh I Want to
Date, Jigu, Fugu Melon, 404 Ghost Heads 1 bottle each;
I am truly grateful for everyone's support and will continue to work hard!
#62 Chapter 62
Chapter 62
Yuan Qing Guang registered a company as per Yuan Ting’s suggestion: Jinhua Scrap
Collection Station.
He rented a storefront at the entrance of a residential area and then leased a dilapidated
yard in an urban village to store scrap.
Collecting scrap isn’t just about gathering; it’s more about sorting. For instance, different
types of paper have different prices. When collecting, purchase at the lowest paper price,
then separate and resell according to their individual values.
Acquired electronics might be cheap, costing just ten or twenty yuan, but once
dismantled, the various copper and iron components inside fetch different prices, with
copper alone selling for twenty to thirty yuan per pound.
Sorting the scrap was a significant task, so Yuan Qing Guang quit his job to focus solely on
the scrap collection business.
Yuan Qing Guang printed business cards and distributed them around the neighborhood.
Local scrap collectors, now aware of a nearby collection station, started bringing their
finds, accumulating little by little.
Of course, the most profitable deals were brought in by Yuan Ting. Besides Duan Zhen
Shan's company, Duan Zhen Shan also connected him with a school and a hospital, and
Ning Wan introduced him to several companies.
Having been a contractor, Yuan Qing Guang was no slouch. With Yuan Ting getting him
started and bringing in business, failure was not an option.
Yuan Ting was quite satisfied. If he couldn't be a young master, being a 'trash prince'
wasn’t bad either.
Yuan Grandma took care of the store and the children, while Yuan Qing Guang was so
busy he was hardly seen, visibly losing weight.
The job was dirty and tiring, but it paid well. Yuan Ting patted his dad’s shoulder,
motivating him, “Young people should be enterprising. How else will your son eat, drink,
or have a future with a house, car, and luxury goods? Comrade Yuan Qing Guang, you
must keep striving.”
“My baby is right,” Yuan Grandma agreed.
These days, seeing her son finally spirited and motivated made her incredibly happy, a
stark contrast to his past few years of listlessness that made her want to scold him.
“So dad, how about fifty bucks?” Yuan Ting asked, extending his hand.
Yuan Qing Guang: “…” His son’s cleverness must have come from him.
As the scrap station started running smoothly and school went on winter break, Yuan
Grandma returned home to prepare for the New Year. With her gone, the station was
short-staffed. High school break was later, so Yuan Ting had to fill in.
He didn't need to sort the scrap, just sit in the store waiting for people to sell their scrap.
With the New Year approaching and the weather cold, Yuan Ting tucked an electric
heater under the table, nestled in a chair with his hands tucked in, idly daydreaming and
looking for amusement across the street.
Opposite the scrap station was a bookstore. The road was icy, and a group of kids were
playing, slipping and falling one after another. Yuan Ting could see from afar one kid
whose pants had torn, yet he was still grinning and laughing.
Yuan Ting clicked his tongue, wondering if someone was going to get a scolding when
they got home.
A little boy walked out of the bookstore and fell flat with a thud, struggling to get up due
to his awkward limbs. Yuan Ting couldn't help laughing, but his smile froze suddenly.
A familiar car pulled up by the roadside, and someone got out.
Yuan Ting’s fingers tensed involuntarily, and he sat up straighter without realizing it.
It had been almost half a year since he last saw Cheng Nan Yi.
The young man seemed to have grown taller, probably around 185 cm now, dressed in a
black, mid-length wool coat that made him look more upright and handsome.
He helped the little boy up, crouching down to pat the dust off his clothes.
The boy looked about seven or eight years old, about the same age as when Yuan Ting
first went to the Cheng family's house.
Seeing the person turn around, Yuan Ting instinctively dove under the table, accidentally
burning himself on the electric heater.
By the time Yuan Ting crawled out, the car had already left.
Yuan Ting rubbed his fingers, still feeling the sting from the burn.
……
Yuan Xiao returned from school, carrying a large backpack and a bunch of books,
dumping them on the table, “Vacation at last, finally on break.”
“Xiao Ting, let’s go shopping for New Year goods this afternoon. Let's go back to our
hometown tomorrow. I miss the warm kang bed at home.”
“Xiao Ting? Xiao Ting?” Yuan Xiao called out several times. Yuan Ting remained face-
down on the table without responding, prompting Yuan Xiao to give him a nudge, “What’s
wrong with you?”
Yuan Ting lifted his head, listlessly muttering, “Leave me alone, I don’t feel well.”
"What's wrong?" Yuan Xiao touched his head. "Are you sick?"
"It's a heartache." Yuan Ting gritted his teeth, unable to articulate his mixed feelings.
When he first entered the Cheng family, Cheng Nanyi would avoid him, but now, even
when a kid falls and gets dirty, Cheng Nanyi, without any hint of germophobia, reaches
out to help.
"Who's bothering you?" asked Yuan Xiao.
Yuan Ting waved his hand irritably, "No one's bothering me, I'm just idle."
"Oh, you are quite idle. By the way, I ranked second in the exam again. Guess who's
first?"
"Ahhhhhh..." Yuan Ting suddenly burst out, "Stop mentioning Cheng Nanyi in front of me,
Yuan Xiao, I'm warning you. Mention him again, and I'll cut ties with you." His original
plan was going smoothly, but Yuan Xiao, the bug, kept bringing up Cheng Nanyi, making it
impossible to forget him.
And then there's Mo Yikai, constantly coming over, shamelessly hanging around their
house for meals, always talking about Cheng Nanyi.
So annoying, so annoying, he had had enough. If anyone dares to mention Cheng Nanyi
again, he would confront them head-on. He had been too lenient with them.
"I didn't mention Cheng Nanyi. And he's not the one who ranked first."
"You're still mentioning him. Who else but him could be... What? He's not first?" Yuan
Ting was shocked, his eyes widening. "Who's first? I'll beat him up."
Yuan Xiao: "..." Is his brother mentally unwell?
"It's another girl in our class. She was fifth in the midterms, and now she's suddenly first."
Yuan Xiao wasn't happy, "Although I'm still second, I'm technically third now... I've fallen
behind."
"Stop talking about you," Yuan Ting cut him off. "What's up with Cheng Nanyi? Why isn't
he first? Not even second?"
Yuan Xiao looked at him, realizing that he was more concerned about Cheng Nanyi.
"Listen to yourself. Have you ever considered my self-esteem as your real brother?"
"Didn't you say not to mention him?" Yuan Xiao looked at him, slightly squinting his eyes,
"So, do you want me to mention him now or not?"
“Xiao Ting, what you said just now really hurt me. So, if you don’t want me to mention
Cheng Nan Yi, let’s make a deal now. I promise I’ll never bring him up again. But if you
allow it, you can’t stop me in the future. Think about it.”
Yuan Ting scoffed coldly, feeling threatened. Since when had he, Yuan Ting, ever been
controlled by someone else? He wouldn’t stand for it.
Yuan Ting turned to leave, but Yuan Xiao sighed behind him, “Then I won’t mention
Cheng Nan Yi's car accident…”
“Car accident?” Yuan Ting immediately rushed to Yuan Xiao's side, anxious, “What
happened? A car accident involving my brother?” He had just seen Cheng Nan Yi, who
didn't seem to be in trouble.
Yuan Xiao shrugged, “You asked for it. Don’t regret it later.”
“Just tell me,” Yuan Ting urged, desperate to know.
“It was the afternoon of the math exam. He swerved to avoid a dog and hit a motorcycle
outside a shop. The owner tried to extort him, causing him to miss the exam, so he didn't
come first.”
“…” Yuan Ting was speechless after hearing this, staring at Yuan Xiao silently.
Yuan Xiao was in a good mood, thinking, 'Kid, you’re still too green to compete with your
brother.'
Yuan Ting: “…” Everyone’s crazy.
“Xiao Ting, it’s almost New Year. Do you want to buy something and visit the Cheng
family?” Yuan Xiao suggested.
“No,” Yuan Ting replied gruffly, “If anyone mentions the Cheng family again, don’t blame
me for getting angry.”
Yuan Xiao: “…” You really flip faster than flipping a book. Just now, wasn't it you who
panicked like crazy when hearing about Cheng Nan Yi's accident?
He couldn’t figure out what Yuan Ting was thinking. Clearly, he still cared about Cheng
Nan Yi. What conflict could make them estranged for so long?
His curiosity grew, but sadly, the involved parties were tight-lipped, and even Mo Yi Kai
didn’t know anything.
In the afternoon, the two of them went shopping and bought some things, then returned
to their hometown the next day.
Yuan Ting remained focused on not doing his homework, while Yuan Xiao buried himself
in his studies, determined to maintain his second-place rank.
Grandma, noticing Yuan Ting's idleness, couldn't help but say, “Xiao Ting, your brother
studies till midnight every day, why don’t you even glance at a book?”
“I'm a genius,” Yuan Ting, lazily flipping channels with the remote, boasted, “My brother,
he has to study because he’s not smart. I’m the type who excels without studying.”
Grandma laughed, “Right, my treasure is a genius. It's not only those who excel
academically who are geniuses. Our Xiao Ting, so young, yet able to help his father earn
money, is also a genius. Every trade produces its own leaders.”
Yuan Ting gave his grandma a thumbs up, “Exactly, Grandma. So, how about making
braised pork for the genius tonight? I’ve been craving it.”
“Okay, braised pork it is.”
“Grandma, why are you playing favorites?” Yuan Xiao protested.
“He's a kid, let's indulge him.”
Yuan Ting: “…”

“Wang Da Bao is back,” Auntie announced, carrying a big pig's head. “I just saw Wang Da
Bao on my way back.”
“Da Bao?” Grandma was surprised, “How is he doing? I haven’t seen him in years.”
“Wang Da Bao is back?” Yuan Ting leaped from his chair, “Really him?”
“Yes, he was with someone…” Auntie hadn’t finished speaking when Yuan Ting dashed
out the door, followed by Yuan Xiao, curious about Wang Da Bao from Yuan Ting's
stories.
Yuan Ting ran towards the east end of the village, excited that his long-lost ‘son’ had
finally appeared.
Arriving breathlessly at Wang Da Bao's house, he saw a crowd gathered at the entrance.
Pushing through, Yuan Ting saw a car parked there.
It was still a luxury car.
Then he saw Xiao Zhang, the driver, standing beside the car, smoking.
Xiao Zhang was also taken aback upon seeing him, leading to an awkward moment as
their eyes met.
“Hey, isn’t that the driver who always goes to Yuan Ting's house? What’s he doing at
Wang Da Bao's place?”
“You forgot, Yuan Ting’s mom got divorced. He’s not their driver anymore.”
“Oh, right. But why is he at Wang Da Bao's house?”
“Yuan Ting…”
Yuan Ting lifted his eyelids and responded irritably, “Ask Wang Da Bao, why ask me?”
Controlling the urge to peek inside the car, Yuan Ting stepped back, planning to leave.
It was a mistake to come here.
Wang Da Bao came out of the yard, calling out upon seeing Yuan Ting, “Yuan Ting…”
Yuan Ting reluctantly stopped, expressionless, “Long time no see.” My son.
“It’s been many years. I should thank you.”

“No need to thank me. I don’t have money now, can’t afford to take care of you.”
Wang Da Bao just laughed.
The Wang Da Bao standing there now was no longer the sniffling kid he used to be.
Wang Da Bao, now twenty years old, appeared different from his past self. Dressed
simply in jeans and a down jacket, his demeanor and aura made it hard to connect him
with the old Wang Da Bao.
“Wang Da Bao,” Yuan Xiao caught up from behind, surprised, “Where have you been all
these years?”
Glancing into the car, Wang Da Bao touched his nose, “Let’s not talk about it now. I just
stopped by to see grandma on my way home. Didn’t expect Yuan Ting to be here. I’ll be
back for New Year's and we can catch up properly.” Finishing his words, he quickly got
into the passenger seat, seemingly in a hurry to leave.
Xiao Zhang finished his cigarette, glanced at Yuan Ting, and got into the car.
Yuan Ting turned to leave, scoffing. He hadn’t looked into the car, but he knew someone
was in there; otherwise, Xiao Zhang and Wang Da Bao wouldn’t have acted so strangely.
Yuan Xiao recognized Xiao Zhang since he often came to pick up Yuan Ting and had even
dined at their house, but Xiao Zhang always appeared alongside Cheng Nan Yi.
Yuan Xiao had peeked into the car, and although the windows were tinted, he vaguely
saw a figure: “Xiao Ting, do you think Cheng Nan Yi came with them?”
Yuan Ting replied irritably, “Don’t mention Cheng Nan Yi to me.”
Yuan Ting strode forward, frustration surging. He wanted to avoid Cheng Nan Yi, but
feeling ignored by him now was unbearably frustrating.
A car horn sounded behind them. Yuan Xiao pulled Yuan Ting aside to avoid a regular car,
but it was Xiao Zhang’s luxury vehicle that drove past, leaving a trail of exhaust.
Yuan Xiao spat twice, “When I have money, I’ll fix the roads in our village first.”
Yuan Ting, silent, picked up a large stone and threw it towards the car, cursing Cheng Nan
Yi in his mind.
“Don’t throw it, what if it hits the car?” Yuan Xiao quickly held him back, the car moving
slowly on the uneven village road.
“As if I could hit it,” Yuan Ting scoffed, picking up another, larger stone and hurling it with
force.
Unexpectedly, the stone flew far and the car suddenly stopped, resulting in an
unfortunate collision between the stone and the vehicle.
Yuan Xiao: “…”
Xiao Zhang and Wang Da Bao got out of the car, examining the cracked rear windshield
and the scratches on the rear of the car, completely stunned.
Yuan Xiao was equally dumbfounded, gripping Yuan Ting’s arm, “Didn’t I say so? Look,
you hit it, right?”
Yuan Ting: “…” He couldn’t believe it himself. Would his brother believe that it wasn’t
intentional?
Finally, the rear car door opened, and Cheng Nan Yi stepped out.
Seeing Cheng Nan Yi’s gaze fall on the damaged windshield, Xiao Zhang instinctively said,
“...The young master didn’t do it on purpose.”
“...Such an expensive car and the glass breaks just like that? Must be a manufacturer's
issue; we should complain to them,” Wang Da Bao suggested.
“Yes, Da Bao is right, we should talk to the manufacturer,” Xiao Zhang quickly agreed.
Cheng Nan Yi silently observed the cracked windshield, his thoughts unclear.
Xiao Zhang watched his expression, gesturing secretly to Yuan Ting from behind his back.
This was a secret signal they used when Yuan Ting needed to avoid Cheng Nan Yi after
misbehaving, meaning: run.
Yuan Ting instinctively turned to flee, but before he could, someone else rushed over,
“Cheng Nan Yi, is there something wrong with the car? How much will the repairs cost?
We’ll pay for it.”
Xiao Zhang: “…” Truly the recklessness of youth.
Seeing Cheng Nan Yi remain silent, Yuan Xiao pressed on, “How much will it cost? Do we
need to take it to a garage to find out?”
Cheng Nan Yi ran his hand over the windshield, confirming the crack indeed existed.
After withdrawing his hand, Cheng Nan Yi finally spoke to Yuan Xiao, “Compensation is
needed. Considering we're desk mates, let's say 500,000 yuan.”
“What the heck? How much? 500,000 yuan?” Yuan Xiao exclaimed in shock, “Are you
trying to scam me?”
“Don’t talk,” Wang Da Bao pulled at his sleeve, whispering, “Do you know how much this
car costs?”
“How much? Regardless of its price, 500,000 yuan for a broken windshield is absurd,”
Yuan Xiao couldn’t believe it.
“This is a car worth over ten million yuan. Replacing a windshield that needs to be
imported could cost two to three hundred thousand yuan, and it's also scratched.
500,000 yuan isn’t too much,” Wang Da Bao coughed softly, whispering, “Shut up and let
Yuan Ting handle it.”
Yuan Xiao: “…” This was the first time he truly felt the disparity between people.
He stepped aside and pointed back, “My brother threw the stone.”
Yuan Ting: “…” Great, true colors are shown in times of adversity.
He was about to run, but why did you step forward?
After a moment of silence, Cheng Nan Yi finally turned his head to look over.
Their gazes met in mid-air. Yuan Ting, facing the cold-eyed young man, felt his mind go
blank. He had never anticipated encountering him again, let alone rehearsed what to say,
especially not under these circumstances.
Thus, Yuan Ting defiantly said, “I don't have the money, but I have my life.”
#63 Chapter 63
Chapter 63
Yuan Ting stood defiantly, appearing unfazed, but as Cheng Nan Yi walked closer, his
bravado gradually faded, and his head eventually drooped.
Don’t ask. It’s just awkwardness.
Yuan Ting's guilt wasn't just about damaging the car; it was more comprehensive.
“Is your life worth 500,000 yuan?” Cheng Nan Yi approached Yuan Ting, staring at him.
“How would I know its value?” Yuan Ting kicked a small stone on the ground, devoid of
any bravado, “If you say it’s worth that much, then it is.”
“I say it’s not worth that much.”
“…” Not even a bit of face-saving grace.
Yuan Ting pursed his lips, “Then I'll pay you back. Not now, I don't have the money yet,
but I will in the future.”
“When is ‘the future’?”
“How should I know when I’ll make 500,000 yuan?” Yuan Ting snapped back, glaring at
him, “What, are you that desperate for the money?”
“Yes, I am in desperate need of it.”
“…” Well, Yuan Ting had no comeback to that.
Yuan Xiao, listening from the side, wanted to intervene but was held back by Xiao Zhang.
Wang Da Bao, lighting a cigarette, nudged Yuan Xiao, “What’s the deal between your
brother and Cheng Nan Yi?” He knew about Yuan Ting's mother divorcing Cheng Nan Yi's
uncle but didn’t know Yuan Ting and Cheng Nan Yi had fallen out, not until Cheng Nan Yi
took him out for errands today. Xiao Zhang had quietly warned him not to mention Yuan
Ting, revealing their estrangement, but the specifics were unclear even to Xiao Zhang.
Wang Da Bao was puzzled; their parents' divorce wasn't their own, so why the fallout
between them?
“I don’t know,” Yuan Xiao shook his head, “I'm curious too. If you find out, don’t forget to
tell me.”
Wang Da Bao: “…”
Meanwhile, Yuan Ting glared at Cheng Nan Yi, nearly fuming with anger.
Cheng Nan Yi remained silent, simply watching him.
Yuan Ting gritted his teeth.
Yes, he had smashed Cheng Nan Yi's car, and he was wrong. He should compensate.
But!!!
He just wouldn't pay. What could Cheng Nan Yi possibly do about it?
“I have no money, deal with it,” Yuan Ting said, then started walking away, hands shoved
in his down jacket, adopting a defiant attitude, “I’ll act shamelessly today. Go ahead, call
the police if you dare.”
Yuan Xiao was astounded. His brother was defiantly shameless, and he had never seen
such audacity before. True to form as his brother.
Cheng Nan Yi’s expression was unchanging: “Then I’ll ask your father, your grandmother,
your uncle for the money.”
Yuan Ting stopped in his tracks, turning incredulously, “Cheng Nan Yi, are you out of your
mind?” Bringing this to his family would scare them to death.
500,000 yuan - that's almost the price of a house, which costs only around two or three
hundred thousand yuan.
“Debts are to be repaid, it's only right.”
Yuan Ting looked at him, took a deep breath, and compromised, “Fine, I’ll write an IOU
with bank interest, I guarantee to repay this debt within ten years.”
“I don’t accept that.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t accept that method of repayment. Ten years?” Cheng Nan Yi scoffed, “You don’t
have that kind of credit with me.”
“So, what do you want?” Yuan Ting glared at him.
Cheng Nan Yi looked at him, then suddenly started walking towards Yuan Ting’s house:
“You’re still a child. I should talk to the adults in your family.”
Yuan Ting grabbed his arm, “Cheng Nan Yi, don’t go too far.”
“I’m going too far?” Cheng Nan Yi laughed bitterly, “You smashed my car, refuse to pay,
and now I’m the one who’s excessive? Yuan Ting, in half a year, you’ve really mastered
illogical arguments.”
“Learned from the best, from you,” Yuan Ting retorted sharply.
“Really?” Cheng Nan Yi sneered, “Still remember after half a year? Seems I was a qualified
teacher.”
Yuan Ting was speechless, thinking, half a year apart, and now you’ve even learned to be
sarcastic.
“What exactly do you want?”
Cheng Nan Yi lifted his arm, “Let go.”
Yuan Ting pursed his lips, looking at him, unmoved.
Cheng Nan Yi narrowed his eyes, staring at him for a few seconds before calmly saying,
“Let go, I’ll reduce it by ten yuan.”
Yuan Ting looked up abruptly at him.
So, he was just waiting for this.
Cheng Nan Yi looked away, seemingly having mentioned it casually.
After a long while, Yuan Ting finally spoke with a dry throat, “Cheng Nan Yi, you’ll regret
this.”
Cheng Nan Yi scoffed, “Regret what? Regret collecting a debt rightfully owed?”
……
“What does that mean?” Yuan Xiao scratched his head, asking Wang Da Bao, “Why did he
just reduce it by ten yuan?”
Wang Da Bao shook his head, “No idea.”

Xiao Zhang lit a cigarette, chuckling, “Da Bao, this is how your pocket money comes to
you.”
Wang Dabao was puzzled, "Doesn't Yuan Ting give me 500 yuan for pocket money each
month?"
“My brother gives you 500 a month?” Yuan Xiao was shocked.
Wang Da Bao: “...Let’s not get sidetracked.”
“Do you know how he gets that 500 yuan?” Xiao Zhang asked mysteriously.
“How does he get it?” Yuan Xiao and Wang Da Bao asked in unison.
Xiao Zhang chuckled and fell silent.
“Hey, come on, why do you always talk in halves?”
……
Yuan Ting, looking at his hand gripping Cheng Nan Yi's arm, softened his voice, “Brother,
considering how obedient I was before, can you just let go of this 500,000 yuan?” He had
no doubt Cheng Nan Yi would really talk to his grandma and father about this.
He knew Cheng Nan Yi was pressuring him.
Even now, Yuan Ting still didn’t understand what Cheng Nan Yi was thinking, why he was
being so persistent.
“A moment ago it was Cheng Nan Yi, and now it's 'brother' again?” Cheng Nan Yi
scrutinized him with narrowed eyes, his words still cold and merciless.
Yuan Ting rubbed his face, utterly exasperated.
He cursed his impulsive action of throwing that stone.
But really, what was Cheng Nan Yi doing coming to the village for no reason?
Had nothing better to do?
Yuan Ting's chest heaved with emotion, and suddenly he let go of Cheng Nan Yi's hand,
“Fine, I won’t pay. Do whatever you like.” There should be no more contact after leaving.
Otherwise, things will only get uglier in the future.

Yuan Ting turned away, heading towards his house.
Cheng Nan Yi stood there silently.
He had never expected Yuan Ting to be so heartless.
He thought that when Yuan Ting left, it was really against his will. After listening to the
housekeeper and reflecting on it, he realized that as a child, Yuan Ting indeed had no
choice. He had been too harsh on Yuan Ting.
So, after much contemplation, he still wanted to bring Yuan Ting back.
After all, that was his little cub, the one he had raised for five years, the one he had
shielded in a fire.
But now, even after showing vulnerability first, Yuan Ting still refused to accept.
Xiao Zhang couldn’t even finish his cigarette, cut in half by the tension. Just a moment ago,
he thought everything was settled, but why didn’t Yuan Ting give any face at all?
Yuan Ting strode home angrily. Just as he was about to enter, his grandmother came out.
Without waiting for Yuan Ting to speak, she warmly called out to someone behind him,
“Nan Yi, Yuan Xiao's mother mentioned you were here. I didn't believe it. Why didn’t you
let us know in advance? Come in, come in…”
Yuan Ting felt helpless, wondering why everything was going awry.
Cheng Nan Yi paused momentarily, then walked over, calling out, “Grandma.”
“Ah,” the grandmother responded with a face full of satisfaction, “No matter what, you are
Ting's brother in my eyes. You're always welcome here if you don’t mind visiting us more
often.”
Cheng Nan Yi glanced at Yuan Ting’s numb face and said, “Grandma, someone smashed
my car.”
"The car got smashed?" Grandma was shocked. "Who did it? Which kid is so blind to
smash a car? How can they be so ill-mannered?"
Yuan Xiao: “…”
Wang Da Bao: “…”
Xiao Zhang: “…”

“Hmph…” Yuan Ting huffed loudly.
“What are you hmphing at?” The grandmother tapped his head, “Help find the person
responsible. That car is expensive.”
“Grandma, I know who did it,” said Cheng Nan Yi.
“Who?” The grandmother rolled up her sleeves, “Tell me, and I’ll help you find them.”
Cheng Nan Yi’s eyes fixed on Yuan Ting, lips slightly parting.
Yuan Ting quickly covered his mouth and dragged him aside, furiously whispering,
“Cheng Nan Yi, enough already, when will this end?” If Cheng Nan Yi revealed it, the
grandmother and others would certainly take it seriously, even if it meant selling
everything to repay the debt.
Cheng Nan Yi grabbed Yuan Ting’s wrist, pulling his hand away, and called out again,
“Grandma…”
Yuan Ting, exasperated, jumped up to cover Cheng Nan Yi's mouth, “Why are you so
annoying?”
This time, Cheng Nan Yi let his mouth be covered without trying to pull away, their eyes
locked in a silent standoff.
Neither spoke, each stubbornly waiting for the other to relent first.
“Are you pushing me on purpose?” Yuan Ting laughed in frustration, “Cheng Nan Yi, do
you really have no consideration for old times?”
“What consideration do I owe you?” Cheng Nan Yi countered.
The warmth of Cheng Nan Yi's lips pressed against Yuan Ting's palm.
Yuan Ting slightly loosened his grip.
Yuan Ting gazed at him intently.
He never quite understood what Cheng Nan Yi was so adamant about. Was it the loss of a
playmate or annoyance at losing control over him?
They could return to how things were before, but what about the future?
When Cheng Nan Yi grew up, he would have his own emotional life, his own world. What
about Yuan Ting?
Yuan Ting clenched his hand, realizing he would become an outsider, gradually fading
from Cheng Nan Yi's life.
Or, supposing Cheng Nan Yi harbored similar feelings towards him, how would he face
Grandfather, face Cheng Shaolin?
Cause another uproar in the Cheng family?
How would he be any different from his mother then?
Every path seemed agonizing for him. His rebirth was supposed to lead to a better life,
not to endure more suffering.
Yuan Ting once again released his hand from Cheng Nan Yi’s mouth.
This time, Cheng Nan Yi didn’t call out for Grandma again, but instead looked at Yuan
Ting and let out a self-deprecating laugh.
Yuan Ting saw unmistakable disappointment in his eyes.
Cheng Nan Yi turned away.
Once again, Yuan Ting trampled on his own dignity.
“Twenty,” came Yuan Ting’s resentful voice from behind.
Cheng Nan Yi paused in his steps, slowly turning to face him.
Yuan Ting glared at him, “You said it, ten yuan for letting go. I want twenty.”
Fine, he thought, he’d indulge him for a few more years.
In his previous life, he had constantly angered Cheng Nan Yi, never yielding to his wishes.
This time, he decided to yield just once.
Cheng Nan Yi seemed surprised by Yuan Ting’s compromise, momentarily stunned.
It took a while before he regained his usual indifferent demeanor, “If you had been this
obedient earlier, it would have been worth ten yuan. Now, it’s only worth three. You still
owe me 499,997 yuan.”
"..." Just speechless.

That's what he got for softening his heart - more misery!
The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became.
"I regret it now."
Cheng Nan Yi called out to the back, “Grandma…”
The grandmother, neither blind nor deaf, cooperated perfectly, “Nan Yi, it’s cold outside.
You two should come in and talk.”
“……”
Yuan Ting stepped forward and stomped hard on Cheng Nan Yi’s foot, then crouched
down to casually wipe his shoe, “Fifty.”
Cheng Nan Yi frowned and sidestepped, grabbing Yuan Ting’s arm and pulling him up,
“That’s worthless.”
！！！！
Yuan Ting glared at him, thinking he might as well rename himself Cheng Ba Pi (Skin-
Peeler Cheng).
Back in the day, even spilling a cup of water was worth twenty or thirty, now even shoe
polishing is worthless.
What kind of world is this!
Author’s note:
Thank you to the little angels who cast their King tickets or nourished me with nutrient
solution from 2023-09-05 16:28:48 to 2023-09-06 17:41:28~
Thank you to the nutrient solution angels: Yu Han, Bu Fan (20 bottles); 46723435, Yi Ai,
Xiang Shi (10 bottles); Shui Feng Qing, Wan Feng, Zui Wan Qiu Feng (5 bottles); Bu Qiu (3
bottles); Ku Ge Hao Tian (2 bottles); He Li, 404 Da Gui Tou, Man Mi, Chen Zhou Ce Pan (1
bottle each);
Thank you all for your support, I will continue to work hard!
#64 Chapter 64
Chapter 64
Watching the car drive away, Yuan Ting nonchalantly picked up another stone.
Yuan Xiao, alarmed, grabbed Yuan Ting's hand: “Ancestor, what are you doing? Isn’t fifty
thousand enough? Do you want to pay a hundred thousand?”
Yuan Ting sighed: “Ancestor? Haha.”
From now on, Cheng Nan Yi would be his ancestor.
Yuan Ting discarded the stone and entered the house like a walking corpse. It seemed
like fate was against him.
After leaving, Cheng Nan Yi never visited again nor contacted Yuan Ting.
Yuan Xiao speculated hopefully: “Maybe he forgot?”
Yuan Ting chuckled: “You still don’t fully understand his pettiness.”
“I don’t think he's petty; he seems quite generous,” Yuan Xiao commented. “Yuan Ting, I
think you're biased against him.”
“I think you see him through rose-colored glasses,” Yuan Ting sighed. Such unpredictable
events, all because of a rash action.
On the twenty-ninth day of the year, Wang Da Bao returned, carrying a bunch of gifts
including a wild rabbit.
Yuan Ting eyed the not-so-cheap gifts: “What’s this? You struck it rich?”
“Not rich, but I did make some money,” Wang Da Bao replied, handing over a card to Yuan
Ting. “Here, there’s thirty thousand in here. It’s all I can spare for now. Take it, just in case
Cheng Nan Yi really demands repayment.”
Yuan Ting, looking at the card, asked Wang Da Bao: “Do you need it back?”
“No, I should be thanking you for all the money you gave me over the years,” Wang Da
Bao sighed. “Without it, my grandma couldn’t have afforded her medication.” His living
expenses were covered by Cheng Nan Yi, and the five hundred was just pocket money,
which he rarely used and had sent back for his grandmother’s medicine.
Yuan Ting returned the card: “Don’t worry about the five hundred. To put it simply, it was
part of Cheng Nan Yi’s plan. Even without me, he would have given you the five hundred.
He just wanted an excuse to bother me. It’s between him and me, not your concern.”
"Is that so? But without you, I couldn't have even stepped into the Cheng family's
threshold, and besides... those five hundred were received from your hands."
Yuan Ting clicked his tongue: "Oh wow. Wang Da Bao, you didn't talk like this before. You
used to say you were indebted to the Cheng family and they should provide for you. Why
this sudden gratitude?"
"It's not exactly gratitude. Like I said, without you, I wouldn’t have even found the door to
sell myself to them."
"Then we’re square," Yuan Ting declared.
"How are we square?" Wang Da Bao was puzzled. "What did I do for you?"
Yuan Ting chuckled dryly. He had secretly called Wang Da Bao his son in his heart for
many years, experiencing a kind of fatherly affection...
Weren't they square, after all?
"Enough of that, what have you been up to these past years?"
"Yeah, what were you doing?" Yuan Xiao finally found his chance to speak. He was
curious, especially since Wang Da Bao had vanished since that year when he was beaten
and ran away, returning completely transformed.
"Studying," Wang Da Bao sighed. "In the end, I couldn’t escape the torment of education."
Yuan Xiao asked: "Studying what?"
"Everything. First, I went to a vocational school to learn cultural knowledge, then

computer science. After that, I studied accounting; believe it or not, I even got my
accounting certification. Then various other things. Oh, and they also sent me to some
executive training program…"
"An executive training program? Are you going to be a CEO?" Yuan Xiao was surprised.
"…No, not really," Wang Da Bao chuckled. "But I did meet a lot of people."
Yuan Ting understood. Cheng Nan Yi had fast-tracked Wang Da Bao's education. It
seemed Cheng Nan Yi had high hopes for him.
"Brother Da Bao," Yuan Ting looked at him, "Cheng Nan Yi has indeed shown you great
favor. I don’t know if you’ll stay with him, but whatever your future holds, just remember
not to betray him."
"What do you mean by 'stab in the back'?" Wang Da Bao asked.
"It means to strike from behind," Yuan Ting clarified bluntly. In his previous life, Wang Da
Bao wasn't a factor, so he didn't know how Wang Da Bao would turn out. Now, Cheng Nan
Yi valued Wang Da Bao for his resilience and honesty. But as the saying goes, 'too many
temptations can blind one's eyes.' Yuan Ting couldn't be sure how things would unfold in
the future.
He was truly traumatized by his past experiences, fearful of any mishap happening
around Cheng Nan Yi.
Five years had passed, and Wang Da Bao was no longer the simple-minded person he
used to be. Having attended an executive training program, he could easily grasp the
implicit meaning in Yuan Ting's words.
What surprised him was Yuan Ting’s maturity despite being only thirteen. The children
raised in affluent families indeed seemed more astute.
Wang Da Bao paused for a moment, then looked up at Yuan Ting with the same
determination he had at fifteen: "If I said I sold myself, then I did. The only way out is if
you two return my indenture."
Yuan Xiao, who had been listening to the conversation, finally understood Wang Da Bao's
experiences over the years. He straightened his clothes and asked Yuan Ting: "Is it too
late for me to 'sell myself' to the Cheng family now?"
Yuan Ting, puzzled, responded: "Are you alright?"
Yuan Xiao spoke earnestly: "Why do we study? Obviously, to make money. Even if I get
into graduate school, there's no guarantee I'll join the Cheng Corporation. If I could 'sell
myself' like Brother Da Bao, it would be much faster than getting a degree."
Yuan Ting held his forehead in disbelief. Had his brother gone mad over money?
"Brother Da Bao, how did you do it?" Yuan Xiao inquired eagerly.
"Oh, I just grabbed a rabbit and ran to their house. It wasn’t far, only about seven or eight
hours of running," Wang Da Bao recounted.
Yuan Xiao: "...Uh, I might have a heart attack if I try that. Better stick to studying."
Yuan Ting: "..."
"Is there anyone normal in this world?"
……
Yuan Ting and his family stayed in their hometown until the fifth day of the new year.
Yuan Qing Guang slaughtered a sheep, dividing it in half. Along with the sausages and
cured meats made by Grandma Yuan, they sent one portion to Mo Yi Kai's family and the
other to the Cheng family.
During the six months since Yuan Ting left the Cheng family, Mo Yi Kai's mother had
visited twice, each time bringing many gifts. As for the Cheng family, Yuan Qing Guang
was grateful to Cheng Shao Lin for helping Yuan Ting with school enrollment.
Yuan Qing Guang didn’t enter the Cheng residence. He simply left the gifts with the
security guard and asked him to notify the family before leaving.
Gratitude was there, but interactions between ex-husbands could still be awkward.
Mo Yi Kai, hearing of Yuan Ting's return, called to invite him to play basketball.
Yuan Ting went along with Yuan Xiao, who had been cooped up studying for hours
without any physical activity. It was essential for his health, especially considering the
stress of exams.
At the basketball court, in addition to Mo Yi Kai, there were others, some of whom
greeted Yuan Xiao, apparently his classmates.
"Who's this?" someone asked Yuan Xiao, nodding towards Yuan Ting.
"My brother, Yuan Ting," Yuan Xiao replied.
"He's also my brother," Mo Yi Kai said, draping an arm around Yuan Ting's shoulder, then
pointing to someone sitting on a bench, "and Cheng Nan Yi's brother. He's our shared
little brother."
"Oh, I see. So, Yuan Ting is everyone's little brother now," the group greeted Yuan Ting
warmly.
Cheng Nan Yi stood up, saying indifferently, "He's not my brother."
"..." The remark led to an awkward silence among the group.

Some of them were Cheng Nan Yi's middle school classmates and had always known
Yuan Ting as his brother. But they were also aware that Yuan Ting had left the Cheng
household.
Cheng Nan Yi's statement only added to the already palpable awkwardness.
Mo Yi Kai, feeling helpless, had suggested Yuan Ting come today. When Cheng Nan Yi
didn’t object, Mo immediately called Yuan Ting with enthusiasm.
In the past, whenever Mo invited Yuan Ting, Yuan would always ask if Cheng Nan Yi was
present. If Cheng was around, Yuan would not show up. Today, Yuan didn’t ask and
finally, they met, and Mo thought they might break the ice.
But it turned out to be an utterly faceless encounter.
Mo Yi Kai squeezed Yuan Ting’s shoulder in consolation.
Yuan Ting looked up at the sky and sighed deeply, moving his jaws a bit.
When he looked down again, his face was adorned with a sycophantic smile, waving at
Cheng Nan Yi: "Hi, big brother."
Cheng Nan Yi watched him expressionlessly. Yuan Ting walked over cheerfully, grabbed
his arm, and began swinging it, saying, “You should warm up your limbs before playing
basketball. Come on, get moving.”
After swinging one arm, he moved to the other, and then started massaging his shoulders,
asking, “How’s this pressure?”
Witnessing all this, Mo Yi Kai was astounded, wondering what he had missed.
"What happened?" Mo asked Yuan Xiao, his voice trailing off, "What exactly happened?"
How did things change so much after just one winter break?
Yuan Xiao was speechless.
He was amazed by his brother’s ability to be both flexible and resilient.
There were nine people on the basketball court, divided into two teams. With Yuan Xiao’s
health condition, he counted as half a player, and being younger, Yuan Ting also counted
as half. So together, the brothers made one whole player.
“Come on, Yuan Ting, join my team,” Mo Yi Kai beckoned to him.
“I’ll be on my big brother’s team,” Yuan Ting declared, standing next to Cheng Nan Yi with
a look of unwavering loyalty. He then boldly claimed, “Brother, together we’ll take down
Mo Yi Kai.”
Cheng Nanyi glanced at him. Now, he didn't believe a word Yuan Ting said and remained
unmoved.
Without that 500,000 yuan, Yuan Ting wouldn't even acknowledge his presence.
Mo Yikai was just speechless; their falling out and making up were both inexplicably
bizarre.
Yuan Xiao was constantly in shock. Was his brother's skin as thick as a city wall?
Now Mo Yikai was getting annoyed with the kid again, so he deliberately blocked Yuan
Ting's way.
Although Yuan Ting had shot up in height, he was still just a thirteen-year-old seventh
grader. Playing basketball with high schoolers was already a disadvantage, and with Mo
Yikai targeting him, he couldn't dodge, ending up stomping his feet in frustration, "Mo
Yikai, I'm getting angry now, you know."
"Wow, the kid's not calling me brother and rebelling now," Mo Yikai shrugged and
sashayed mockingly. "Come at me, kid, come on."
Saying this, he passed the ball over Yuan Ting's head.
"...So frustrating," he thought, having played for half an hour without even touching the
ball.
Yuan Ting grabbed Cheng Nanyi's arm, fuming, "You deal with him."
Cheng Nanyi lifted his shirt to wipe the sweat from his forehead, crisp and direct, "Beg
me."
Yuan Ting stuttered without missing a beat, "Please, brother."
What followed was a scene where Mo Yikai couldn't get a hold of the ball at all, always
intercepted by Cheng Nanyi, who frustrated him into yelling, "Cheng Nanyi, are you sick?
Are you targeting me?"
Yuan Ting just shrugged his shoulders, a provocative look on his face, and taunted in a
falsetto, "What's wrong, getting anxious? If you can, take it back. Lalalala..."
Yuan Xiao, who had been hovering on the sidelines focused on avoiding getting hit by the
ball, finally understood. His brother was really something. Previously acting reluctant to
interact with Cheng Nanyi, now they were like family, closer than anyone.
After the game, everyone was drenched in sweat. Yuan Ting grabbed a bottle of water,
opened it, and handed it to Cheng Nanyi first, "Here, brother, drink some water."
Mo Yikai collapsed onto a chair and kicked at Yuan Ting, "Give me a bottle of water."
"Can’t you use your own hands?"
Yuan Ting also pulled out a crumpled tissue to wipe Cheng Nanyi’s sweat, but Cheng
dodged, so Yuan Ting ended up rubbing it on Yuan Xiao's face.
"Ew..." Yuan Xiao frowned, "Yuan Ting, that's disgusting."
Yuan Ting didn't care if Yuan Xiao felt disgusted, his attention solely on Cheng Nanyi,
"Brother, was my service satisfactory today? Let's settle the account."
Cheng Nanyi glanced at him, his tone neutral, "Let's say five yuan."
"What the heck?" Yuan Ting exclaimed, "Say that again, how much?"
"I brought water, massaged your back, and shoulders, and you're telling me five yuan?"
And he even made jokes.
Cheng Nanyi calmly looked at him, "One yuan for each service: carrying water, massaging
back, massaging shoulders. By that count, I actually gave you two extra, consider it a
bonus."
Before Yuan Ting could erupt, Cheng Nanyi added, "That's the value of your labor to me
right now."
Yuan Ting was speechless, a lump in his throat, staring at him without a word.
"Cheng Skinning, you're something else."
Cheng Nanyi, seeing Yuan Ting's puffed-up anger, felt quite pleased, then extended his
hand, "Hand over the fifty."
"What are you talking about?" Yuan Ting looked at him in disbelief, "What fifty?"
"Didn't you just beg me?" Cheng Nanyi looked at him with drooping eyes, "What, is my
service not worth anything?"
"..." Yuan Ting clutched his chest, groaning in frustration.

"Then why is my service only worth one yuan, and yours fifty?"
"Why do you think?" Cheng Nanyi countered.
“……”
Yuan Ting pouted, "I don't know. I don't have money, and I'm not paying, you didn't say it
beforehand."
Yuan Ting turned away irritably, "Bro, let's go. Time to head home."
Damn it, a whole day's work for nothing.
Author's note:
A big thank you to the little angels who voted for me or donated nutrient fluids between
2023-09-06 17:41:28 and 2023-09-07 21:38:59~
Thanks to the little angels for the nutrient fluids: Xiao Bai 20 bottles; Please Protect Your
Eyesight, Happy Today, Yin Zi, Xiao Xiao Wu 10 bottles; Shui Feng Qing, Ran Mo Mo, Bo
Bo Zan Zan Niu 5 bottles; 50655952, Chen Zhou Ce Pan, Man Mi, He Tun Gua, Ku Ge Hao
Tian 1 bottle each;
I'm very grateful for your support and will continue to work hard!
#65 Chapter 65
Chapter 65
"I really think Cheng Nanyi is quite a good person."
Yuan Ting looked incredulously at Yuan Xiao, "What did you say?"
"I said Cheng Nanyi is really good," Yuan Xiao explained, "He's letting you repay your debt
in this way, just for appearances. He never really intended for you to pay back the
money."
"So, Xiao Ting, I think you should be nicer to him."
Yuan Ting: "..." You have zero reading comprehension.
Yuan Ting refused to be so passive and went back to make a detailed chart, listing each
service and its price.
High school started a week earlier than junior high. On the eighth day, Yuan Ting took his
chart and waited for Cheng Nanyi at the school entrance.
Seeing Yuan Ting waiting outside, Cheng Nanyi was momentarily silent.
In the past, Yuan Ting used to wait for him like this, but later, he never waited again.
Yuan Ting swaggered over, thrusting the paper in front of him and tilting his chin up,
"Take a look."
Cheng Nanyi, straddling his bike with one foot on the ground, took it.
Pouring water: Five yuan.
Carrying water: Ten yuan.
Feeding water: Fifteen.
Bundle price: Twenty-nine yuan and ninety cents.
Shoulder massage: Fifteen yuan.
Back massage: Fifteen yuan.

Bundle price: Twenty-nine yuan and ninety cents.
Making jokes: Twenty yuan per joke, bundle of five for ninety-nine yuan and ninety cents.
……
Cheng Nanyi laughed, looking up at him, "You really don’t miss a thing, do you?"
"Of course," Yuan Ting snorted softly, "According to your calculation, I’d never be able to
pay off my debt."
Cheng Nanyi tossed the paper back to him, "You seem to have forgotten that I'm the one
who has the final say."
As Cheng Nanyi was about to pedal away, Yuan Ting quickly blocked him with the
handlebar, "Hold on, I have a Plan B." Yuan Ting took another paper from a different
pocket and handed it to Cheng Nanyi, "Brother, this one's really sincere."
Cheng Nanyi refused to take it.
Yuan Ting unfolded it and held it up to him, "Just have a look, I’ve already written it."
Cheng Nanyi glanced at it briefly. The kid had learned to play it down first; this new quote
was half the price of the previous one.
"Is this more acceptable?" Yuan Ting looked at him hopefully.
Cheng Nanyi, leaning on his bike handle, lifted Yuan Ting's chin with his hand, staring
into his eyes, "Say it again, your labor is only worth one yuan."
"Ah!" Yuan Ting opened his mouth to bite, and Cheng Nanyi quickly withdrew his hand,
watching Yuan Ting bristle with a slight curl of his lips.
Yuan Ting pouted, feeling quite pleased to see him thwarted.
Freak.
"Cheng Nanyi..." someone called out.
Yuan Ting looked over to see a rather pretty girl approaching hesitantly, "My bike's tire is
flat. Could you give me a ride for a bit?"
Cheng Nanyi's attitude towards the girl was quite nice, much gentler than how he spoke
to Yuan Ting: "Sorry, I need to give my brother a ride."
"There's a bike repair shop across the street. You can push it there to get it fixed. If you
don't have money, I can lend you some."
The girl glanced at Yuan Ting and forced a laugh, "No need, I have money."
Cheng Nanyi nodded at her, then turned to Yuan Ting, "Aren't you getting on?"
Yuan Ting quickly leaned in and whispered in his ear, "Helping you fend off a girl, that's a
hundred yuan."
"Ten yuan, take it or leave it."
Yuan Ting immediately hopped on the bike, patting Cheng Nanyi's waist, "Let's go..."
Instead of going home, Cheng Nanyi took Yuan Ting to a restaurant.
As Yuan Ting followed him into the restaurant, he didn't forget to say, "I'm accompanying
you to dinner, this is meal accompaniment."
"Hmm." Cheng Nanyi nodded, "One yuan."
Yuan Ting: "..."
Yuan Ting pouted, resigned to accept one yuan, thinking it as a free meal.
Yuan Ting grabbed the menu and began ordering vigorously, and after finishing, he
turned to Cheng Nanyi with a smile, "Brother, I ordered all your favorites. Here, have a
drink first."
Picking up a glass, Yuan Ting leaned over to feed Cheng Nanyi, "Ding, one yuan; ding,
another yuan; ding, yet another yuan..."
Cheng Nanyi, while dodging Yuan Ting's hand, pulled out his constantly vibrating phone
from his pocket. He paused for a moment when he saw Mo Yikai's name.
Yuan Ting peeked at the phone, blinked, and realized belatedly, "...you forgot about Mo
Yikai, didn't you?"
Cheng Nanyi pushed away the cup still at his lips and answered the call. Before he could
speak, a tirade of loud words came through the phone, loud enough for Yuan Ting to hear
everything clearly.
Yuan Ting snatched the phone, "How can you speak about my brother like that?
Apologize to him right now, or face the consequences."
"So what if I forgot you? My brother doesn't even care about you."
Mo Yikai, finding it amusing, retorted, "You little rascal, where are you? Wait till I get
there to skin you."
Yuan Ting immediately hung up and handed the phone back to Cheng Nanyi, lifting his
chin proudly, "Here, brother, all sorted. No need to thank me."
Cheng Nanyi: "..." Sorted out? More like adding fuel to the fire.
After sending Mo Yikai the address, he arrived in ten minutes. Yuan Ting scurried behind
Cheng Nanyi on the sofa, "I did it all for you, you have to protect me." Just wait until he
turns eighteen and strong enough to take on eight at a time.
When Mo Yikai reached for him, Yuan Ting clung to Cheng Nanyi's waist, "Ah, I need
protection."
Mo Yikai, leaning on the table, looked at Cheng Nanyi, "So, you're still shielding him?"
Cheng Nanyi shrugged, "Not shielding. If you want, come and get him yourself."
"..." Yuan Ting clung to Cheng Nanyi like an octopus, "No, keep shielding, please."
"Fifty," said Cheng Nanyi.
Yuan Ting glared at Cheng Nanyi, who raised an eyebrow, clearly pleased.
Mo Yikai clicked his tongue and sat opposite them, "Fine, since you two have finally made
up, I'll spare the kid today."
Hearing this, Yuan Ting immediately pushed Cheng Nanyi away and sat up straight, "I
don't need your protection."
Cheng Nanyi: "..." Really ungrateful.
Throughout the meal, Yuan Ting busied himself and earned ten yuan. After eating, Cheng
Nanyi dropped him off at the intersection near his house before heading to school with
Mo Yikai.
"So, you and the kid are totally good now, huh?" Mo Yikai asked.
"No," Cheng Nanyi shook his head.
"What do you mean?" Mo Yikai was puzzled. "Isn't this making up?" The kid was
practically in his arms, wasn't that enough? What does making up look like then?
Cheng Nanyi fell silent for a moment, "It's not making up... it's... hard to explain to you."
Everything can't go back to how it was.
Every single yuan mentioned by Yuan Ting represented his reluctance and unwillingness.
Each time he heard it, it reminded Cheng Nanyi that Yuan Ting was constantly thinking of
escaping him.
That was fine, too. Once he became numb to it, he could completely give up on Yuan Ting.
Just as when his mother left, now recalling it left him utterly untroubled.
……
Yuan Ting calculated after returning home: with Cheng Nanyi's rate, he'd earn ten yuan a
day, amounting to only 3,600 yuan a year. It would take over a decade to repay 500,000
yuan.
Moreover, earning ten yuan a day wasn't guaranteed. Sometimes, he wouldn't earn
anything and would even end up losing money.
"Actually, I think you don't need to strain yourself so much," Yuan Xiao said, drying his
hair and looking down at the paper. "I've realized that even if you don't pay, Cheng Nanyi
won’t really tell grandma. Maybe just delay it a few years. When I start earning, I can help
you repay."
Yuan Ting paused for a moment, lowered his eyes, and coughed lightly: "…Better I repay
it myself. After all, it's my debt."
Yuan Ting’s journey to debt repayment was incredibly long. With everyone busy with
classes, it was normal not to meet for weeks. Yuan Ting was happy to slack off – it wasn't
that he wouldn't repay, but circumstances didn't allow.
Until one day, Yuan Xiao brought back a letter for Yuan Ting: "Here."
A light blue envelope, scented.
Yuan Ting instantly got excited: "What, some girl in your class fancies me?"
Yuan Xiao looked unimpressed: "It's from Cheng Nanyi. What are you thinking at your
age?"
"…" Yuan Ting pouted, taking the letter, "Just junk and scrap."
Upon opening the letter and seeing its contents, Yuan Ting was utterly speechless.
— Fifteen days absent from work, a deduction of 150 yuan from the salary.
Yuan Ting gritted his teeth in anger, thinking this was absurd.
And not just absurd, but seriously so.
"Doesn't he have classes to attend? Or is it Cheng Nanyi who doesn’t?"
"How is he always loitering around me?"
The next day, Yuan Ting went angrily to the entrance of No.1 Middle School to confront
Cheng Nanyi: “Aren’t you just making things difficult for me?”
Cheng Nanyi responded indifferently, “It’s just that you lack sincerity.”
“I lack sincerity?” Yuan Ting scoffed, “I’m almost at the point of kneeling to shine your
shoes.”
“No need for shoe shining, just write letters,” Cheng Nanyi said, pulling out a stack of
envelopes and paper from his bag. “One letter a day. We'll calculate your sincerity in
terms of money.”
“Are you insane?” Yuan Ting furrowed his brow in frustration.
“Who’s insane?” Cheng Nanyi flicked his chin teasingly.
“I am, I’m insane,” Yuan Ting retorted, annoyed.
Cheng Nanyi eyed him: “So, will you write or not?”
“I’ll write, I’ll write,” Yuan Ting grudgingly took the paper and turned to leave.
Struggle as much as you want; after all, aren't you my ancestor?
……
“Writing letters, huh? How do you write them?” Yuan Xiao, busy with homework, glanced
at Yuan Ting, who was propping up his chin and biting his pen. “Do you know how?”
"It's just a job report, nothing difficult," Yuan Ting said, tapping his pen rapidly as he
wrote.
After finishing, he stuffed the letter into an envelope and tossed it to Yuan Xiao with a
flourish: "Deliver this to him."
Yuan Xiao was curious about the letter's contents, but since it was sealed, he refrained
from prying, though it left him itching with curiosity.
Arriving at the classroom with the letter, Yuan Xiao threw it to Cheng Nanyi: "Here, your
letter."
"Oh, Cheng Nanyi's got another love letter? Add them up, and they’d circle the Earth a
dozen times, huh?”
"You get love letters but never read them. Share some with us, why don't you? Some are
dying of drought, others from flood."
"Yeah, at least take a look, or write back to them..."
As the chatter continued, Cheng Nanyi had already opened the letter.
The teasing crowd suddenly gaped in surprise. Something was up.
"Who is it?" someone asked Yuan Xiao, amazed, "Who wrote the letter?"
Yuan Xiao found himself at a loss for words. It was a regular letter, yet he didn’t know
how to explain it.
"It's a secret," Yuan Xiao replied.
"Ooh..." a chorus of teasing erupted in the class.
The thing was, Cheng Nanyi had received so many letters, but this was the first one he
had ever opened.
Seeing the densely packed words, they thought: how much love must be there.
Cheng Nanyi ignored the jeers, his face expressionless as he read the letter.
The letter was three pages long, detailed in every aspect. It started from the moment
Yuan Ting opened his eyes in the morning, glanced at his watch, and squinted for a bit
before his grandma pulled off his blanket, to his few minutes in the bathroom, the color of
his toothbrush, the time he left the house, the number of classes he attended, the color of
his teacher's clothes, what he ate for lunch, the TV drama he watched in the evening, right
up to the moment before he stopped writing.
Yuan Xiao observed Cheng Nanyi's expression but couldn't discern anything.
Yuan Xiao brought back Cheng Nanyi's reply at noon.
Opening it, Yuan Ting found a one-yuan coin.
Damn it, all his heartfelt effort, three whole pages, just for a single coin.
Yuan Xiao became a regular messenger, daily carrying letters between Cheng Nanyi and
Yuan Ting.
When Yuan Ting had collected fifty clinking coins in a drawer, Yuan Xiao, unable to stand
it, bought Yuan Ting a small red bucket to store the coins.
“Couldn’t you have bought me a piggy bank?” Yuan Ting glared at him.
“First, the little you've earned doesn't even amount to the price of a piggy bank. Second,
piggy banks are too small. This bucket offers better value for money.”
“I think you’ll end up saving more and more.”
Yuan Xiao's words turned prophetic. Over two years, Yuan Ting’s collection of coins grew
and grew, eventually filling the small red bucket with over seven hundred coins.
Yuan Xiao commented that if they had bought piggy banks, they would have needed a
whole row, praising his own foresight.
So amidst the hustle of preparing for the college entrance exams, Yuan Xiao didn’t forget
to buy another new bucket for Yuan Ting.
Author's note:
"Finally, we can move on to the romantic scenes... A big thank you to the little angels who
cast their overlord votes or nourished me with nutrient solutions between September
7th, 2023, 21:38:59 and September 8th, 2023, 21:58:35~"
"Thanks to the angels who nourished with nutrient solutions: 'Fiancée and Roses' for 20
bottles; 'Ayu' for 4 bottles; 'Sweet Pear', 'Manmi', '404 Big Ghosts', 'Shui Fengqing', 'Hehe'
for 1 bottle each;"
"I am deeply grateful for everyone's support and will continue to work hard!"
#66 Chapter 66
Chapter 66
During the college entrance exams, Yuan Ting's school was a test site, so he didn't have to
attend classes.
The exams were held across many venues and different schools. Yuan Xiao was lucky; his
venue was at No. 1 Middle School, just a walk away in the morning.
Grandma Yuan Qingguang and Yuan Ting went together to send him off.
Despite the close distance, they left early, not wanting to risk being late for the exam.
“Bro, you're going to do exceptionally well,” Yuan Ting said.
“Really?”
“Absolutely,” Yuan Ting closed his eyes and pinched his fingers, “I've asked for you, it's all
set, no problems at all.”
Grandma slapped Yuan Ting's head lightly: “Stop with this nonsense.”
Yuan Qingguang laughed: “Then what about you, offering incense this morning to the God
of Wealth?”
Grandma playfully swatted Yuan Qingguang.
“Haha…” Yuan Xiao laughed joyously, then clenched his fist, “My fate is in my own hands,
not dictated by the heavens.”
Yuan Ting: “…” Truly inspirational.
Arriving at the school gate, Yuan Xiao greeted a few classmates.
“Hey, Li Yizhe, which exam room are you in?” Yuan Xiao called out to a somewhat
delicate-looking boy who was alone without any parents around.
“I’m also at our school,” Li Yizhe smiled back at Yuan Xiao, “I’ve got something else to take
care of, so I’ll head off first. Let's catch up after the exam.”
“Alright, bye, do well, and good luck.”

“You too, good luck.”
After greeting his classmates, Yuan Xiao said to Yuan Ting, “Alright, you can go too.”
“Then do your best, I’m leaving now.”
Yuan Ting rode his electric scooter, taking a shortcut to the No. 13 Middle School, where
Cheng Nanyi was taking his exam.
When Yuan Ting arrived, the school entrance was bustling like a pot crammed with
thousands of ducks.
Unperturbed, Yuan Ting found a flower bed to stand on, scanned the crowd, and
immediately spotted someone with blue hair.
Jumping down from the flower bed, Yuan Ting walked over as Mo Yikai waved at him:
“Over here.”
“I see you,” Yuan Ting said with disdain, “With that hair, you’re hard to miss.” Mo Yikai,
studying in a college in another province, had come back especially to support Cheng
Nanyi.
“You had normal hair when you left in May, and now you show up with blue hair, plus a
tuft of green? I really don’t get your sense of style.”
“No one else came?” Yuan Ting looked around, not seeing the elder or Cheng Shaolin.
“It's just a minor exam, no need for a big turnout,” Cheng Nanyi commented nonchalantly.
“Wow, just a minor exam?” Yuan Ting clicked his tongue, “Such is the confidence of a top
student. Then, I guess I didn’t need to come.” Saying this, he turned to leave.
Cheng Nanyi grabbed the back of his neck: “Dare to walk away and see what happens.”
Yuan Ting chuckled and turned back around: “Not daring to leave, of course, I'm not.”
“Come on, big brother, let me give you a shoulder rub to ensure a victorious start.” Yuan
Ting moved behind Cheng Nanyi to massage his shoulders.
“You're really brown-nosing, aren’t you?” Mo Yikai couldn’t help but comment, despite
having seen it many times.
“Brother, he’s insulting me,” Yuan Ting said.
“Shut it, will you?” Mo Yikai pointed at him, “Don’t make me slap you on this auspicious
day.”
“Big brother...”
Cheng Nanyi reached out and pinched his mouth shut.
Yuan Ting: “...Pfft.”
“Cheng Nanyi,” a classmate approached, “How’s your preparation?”
“Pretty good,” Cheng Nanyi released Yuan Ting's mouth and casually wiped his hand on
him, “And you?”
“Not bad, though not as good as you,” the classmate followed his hand movement, his
gaze falling on Yuan Ting's face, then nodded at him.
Yuan Ting was momentarily startled, then responded with a smile.
“I hope you get good results,” the classmate turned back to Cheng Nanyi.
“Thanks, same to you.”
"Alright, then... see you after the exam."
Cheng Nanyi nodded, and the male classmate gave Yuan Ting one more look before
turning to leave.
Yuan Ting leaned forward, hands on Cheng Nanyi's shoulders, kneading firmly.
"Who was that?" asked Yuan Ting.
"Just a classmate," Cheng Nanyi caught his wrists, pulling him around to face him, "Stop it,
you’ll break my bones."
"Am I that clumsy?" Yuan Ting's gaze still followed the departing classmate.
Cheng Nanyi frowned slightly, grabbing his chin to turn his face back: "What are you
looking at?"
"Nothing." Yuan Ting asked again, "Are you two close?"
"Not really, just acquaintances," Cheng Nanyi replied with slight annoyance, "Did you
come here to watch others?"
"No, not at all," Yuan Ting replied casually, "If I were to look at anyone, it would be you.
Who's as handsome as you? My brother is the most handsome in the world."
Cheng Nanyi scoffed, already immune to Yuan Ting's off-the-cuff remarks.
"What's with that expression?" Yuan Ting glared at him, "What, you have a problem with
me?"
Cheng Nanyi couldn’t be bothered to respond.
Mo Yikai remarked in surprise, "Wow, haven’t seen you in a few days and look at this
temper."
"Exactly," Yuan Ting lifted his chin proudly, "One must have dignity."
Mo Yikai rolled his eyes, "Dignity? And how does that relate to you?"
As the examinees started entering the venue, Yuan Ting quickly grabbed Cheng Nanyi's
hand, blew into his palm, then closed it: "Brother, I have a protective aura. I'm lending
you my good fortune."
"Nonsense," Cheng Nanyi withdrew his hand and patted Yuan Ting's head, then walked
towards the school, "Alright, wait for me at the café across the street. I've already
reserved a spot for you."
Yuan Ting: "..." Thanks for that.
So this supervision is an all-day affair.
Mo Yikai, ever the instigator, shouted to Cheng Nanyi, “Hey, you're not a germophobe
anymore? Who knows if he brushed his teeth this morning?”
"Are you sick?" Yuan Ting, annoyed, chased after Mo Yikai, “He hadn’t even thought of
that. Now that you’ve reminded him, what if his germophobia acts up? If he does poorly,
is it your fault or mine?”
“Obviously yours.”
Chasing and play-fighting, the two reached the café where Xiao Zhang was already
waiting. They entered a private room, and Mo Yikai took out a deck of cards to start a
game of 'Fight the Landlord'.
“Just so you know, I'm broke,” Yuan Ting declared upfront.
“I know you're poor,” Mo Yikai retorted, taking a cigarette from his pocket, “You lose,
we’ll put it on your tab. Cheng Nanyi will pay it off.”
“Haha,” Yuan Ting responded dryly, “As if he’d pay. He’s so stingy now, not parting with a
single dime. How could I be so presumptuous?” After over two years, they still owed
500,053 yuan of the original 500,000 yuan.
Yuan Ting didn’t even want to think about it.
Damn it, who would have thought that 500,000 yuan would accumulate interest?
His earnings couldn’t even keep up with the interest accrual rate.
“When I have money, I’ll convert it all into coins and dump them on Cheng Nanyi’s face.”
"Why have you started smoking now?" Yuan Ting wasn't usually bothered by others
smoking – after all, he had sneaked a few in his past life. But seeing Mo Yikai, whom he
had watched grow up, change so drastically in college, dyeing his hair and smoking, was
quite a shock.
Yuan Ting finally understood what it felt like to be a parent. If he were Mo Yikai's mother,
he would've slapped him right then.
“You’re just a kid, you wouldn’t understand,” Mo Yikai flicked his green-tinged hair, “Girls
these days like this kind of thing.”
“You in a relationship now?”
“Not really,” Mo Yikai had just lit a cigarette, which Yuan Ting promptly snatched and
extinguished, “I don’t do secondhand smoke.”
“You’re so fussy,” Mo Yikai glared at him and continued, “I want to find someone who
doesn’t covet my looks, my money, or my height, but loves me for who I am inside.”
Yuan Ting was surprised: “You have an inside?”
“Pfft, what do you know,” Mo Yikai threw a menu at him, “Brat, don’t provoke me or I’ll
smack you.”
Xiao Zhang remarked thoughtfully, “That’s a tough one. You can’t change your face or
height, and your whole aura screams wealth. It's hard to hide.”
Mo Yikai sighed, “You’re right, which is why true love is hard to find.”
Yuan Ting looked expressionlessly at Xiao Zhang, thinking his flattery was rather crude.
Xiao Zhang grinned naively, “Just basic skills for a working person.”
“Hey, what kind of girl do you like?” Mo Yikai asked while shuffling cards.
“Me?” Yuan Ting chuckled and stroked his chin dreamily, “I like girls with slender waists
and long legs, who sweetly call me ‘brother’. Soft and fragrant... ah, adorable.”
“You’ve got quite the imagination, small body but a head full of rubbish,” Mo Yikai lifted
Yuan Ting’s chin, “Do you know what kind of person Cheng Nanyi likes?”
This question actually stumped Yuan Ting.
He didn’t know in his past life, and even less so in this one.
“I know,” Mo Yikai raised an eyebrow, a mysterious look on his face.
This piqued Yuan Ting’s curiosity, as well as Xiao Zhang’s.
Mo Yikai beckoned them with his finger, and they both leaned in closer.
Mo Yikai smiled slightly and pointed at Yuan Ting.
？？？？
Yuan Ting was startled, breaking into a cold sweat. What was this about?
Mo Yikai chuckled: “Someone the opposite of this brat here. Cheng Nanyi would definitely
like that.”
Yuan Ting: “...Damn you.”
He nearly had a heart attack from the shock.
“After being tormented by this brat for years, Cheng Nanyi must have PTSD by now. Not
just him, even I feel it. Whenever I see noisy kids outside, I feel an urge to kick them. I
know it's wrong, so I reflected deeply and realized the root cause is Yuan Ting. After
years of his antics, this thought has taken root. Seeing kids makes me want to kick them.
So, it shows how important one’s environment is for growth…”
Mo Yikai rambled on, but Yuan Ting had already gotten up, limbering up his arms and
legs. If he didn’t beat Mo Yikai to a pulp today, he’d take Yuan Xiao’s surname.
Author's note:
Seppuku, haha… Thanks to the little angels who cast their overlord votes or nourished
me with nutrient solutions between September 8th, 2023, 21:58:35 and September 9th,
2023, 22:28:01~
"Thanks to the little angels for nourishing me with nutrient solutions: CharlotteX 30
bottles; 1823 24 bottles; Darling i 20 bottles; Fishing in Muddy Waters, Overcoming
Procrastination, Little Ear Dong 5 bottles; Bitter Brother So Sweet, XL, Manmi, Sweet
Pear, Capsized Boat, Shui Fengqing 1 bottle each;"
"I'm truly grateful for everyone's support and will keep striving!"
#67 Chapter 67
Chapter 67
Yuan Ting rolled up his sleeves, narrowing his eyes at Mo Yikai: “Dare to play 'Fight the
Landlord' with a triple wager?”
Xiao Zhang: “...” From his stance, he thought he was about to commit murder.
But why drag him into their duel?
Isn’t earning a living hard enough for a working person?
After lunch with Cheng Nanyi and sending him off to the pre-booked hotel for rest, the
three of them continued their card game.
After two days of playing 'Fight the Landlord', the college entrance exams finally ended.
Watching the students burst out of the exam halls like the rising sun, Yuan Ting
wondered if the bond between him and Cheng Nanyi would gradually fade once Cheng
went to university. Could everything then get back on track?
That evening, Yuan Ting returned home looking more exhausted than Yuan Xiao, who had
just finished two days of exams.
“What happened to you?” Yuan Xiao, biting into a tomato, kicked at Yuan Ting slumped in
the chair, “Did Mo Yikai beat you up?”
“If anyone did the beating, it’d be me,” Yuan Ting sighed, “Ah, 'Fight the Landlord' really
drains the brain.”
Saying this, he slapped 300 yuan on the table: “Look, this is what I won in these two
days.”
Yuan Xiao: “...” Is this just showing off?
Thankfully, he was now free from the grind, while his younger brother had just stepped
into high school, soon to be spending nights gaming – how enviable.
“By the way, bro, who was that classmate we ran into at the school gate yesterday?”
“Which classmate? I met a lot of them today.”

“The one named Li Yichao.”
“Li Yichao? Why do you ask about him?”
“Just because he’s handsome.”
Yuan Xiao was speechless. Li Yichao was indeed good-looking, but Yuan Ting was
surrounded by handsome guys and was especially narcissistic, admiring himself in the
mirror daily. Apart from perfunctorily praising Cheng Nanyi's looks, he never
complimented anyone else's appearance. This was clearly just a casual remark.
“So, what do you want to know?” Yuan Xiao was curious.
“Are you close with him?”
“Not really, he’s shorter and sits in the front row, while Cheng Nanyi and I sit at the back,
quite far from him.”
“Then why did he specifically come to greet you?” Yuan Ting knew about high school life:
everyone buried in studies, large class sizes, and the division of classes into arts and
sciences in the second year, which meant many students barely interacted outside their
immediate surroundings. Some might even graduate without having spoken a word to
each other.
“Oh, sometimes he comes to ask me or Cheng Nanyi questions,” Yuan Xiao pointed at his
nose, “He asks me more often. I’m approachable, unlike Cheng Nanyi who often rebuffs
people. There’s a seventy percent chance of hitting a wall with him. But if someone asks
me, I’m always sincere.”
“Actually, Li Yichao is quite interesting. Both his parents are teachers at our school, and
they live in the faculty apartment next to the school. He’s the closest non-boarding
student to the school, yet he’s almost always late. The teachers criticize him daily, but
he’s unfazed. So, he’s quite well-known in the class.”
Quite a character.
Yuan Ting lay back on the bed, propping up his legs, deep in thought.
Li Yichao, a classmate, was assigned to the same examination center as Yuan Xiao. Yuan
Ting encountered him when he went to drop Yuan Xiao off for the exams and later saw
him again outside Cheng Nanyi's examination center.
Right, the student who greeted Cheng Nanyi later was indeed Li Yichao.
At the time, Yuan Ting was momentarily puzzled but didn’t think much of it, assuming Li
Yichao was just passing by. However, it struck him during their card game that afternoon
that he had actually seen Li Yichao before.
He found Li Yichao’s face familiar but didn't know him personally.
Over the past couple of years, Yuan Ting often visited No. 1 Middle School to see Cheng
Nanyi, which is how he recognized Li Yichao.
Occasionally glancing at someone often enough can make their face familiar.
Yuan Ting never pondered why, out of ten visits to see Cheng Nanyi, he would
inadvertently see the same person about half the time.
Each occurrence on its own seemed normal, something people would call a coincidence.
Yet the consistent presence of the same person in so many coincidences seemed
intriguing.
Did Li Yichao intentionally run from his examination center to another just to cheer on
Cheng Nanyi yesterday morning?
Yuan Ting found it preposterous, considering it was during the crucial college entrance
exams. Who would have such a mindset?
Perhaps he was overthinking it.
Hopefully, he was overthinking it.
“Bro, do you have a girl you like?” Yuan Ting, propping his head up, asked Yuan Xiao.
Yuan Xiao’s face suddenly flushed red.
Yuan Ting suddenly sat up, pointing at him: “You do.”
“I, I, I... I don’t.”
“You do, your face is all red.”
“Alright, I do,” Yuan Xiao admitted shyly, lowering his head.
Yuan Ting leaned in, surprised: “Bro, are you in love?”
“No, not that,” Yuan Xiao waved his hands hurriedly, “Studies come first. I won’t date
before getting into university.”
“Oh, so it’s just a crush, huh? Who is it, do I know her?” Yuan Ting asked, curious.
Yuan Xiao hesitated, glancing towards the door before whispering, “It’s the top student in
our class.”
“So it’s her…” Yuan Ting actually knew her.
She was the girl who surpassed Yuan Xiao and became number one when Cheng Nanyi
didn’t participate in the exams.
Afterwards, Cheng Nanyi, Yuan Xiao, and this girl took turns being the top student in the
‘rocket class’, dubbed the 'three giants'.
The girl had won many awards and even secured a guaranteed university admission,
truly an exceptional young woman.
His brother had quite high standards.
“Does she like you back?”
“How would I know, I never asked,” Yuan Xiao pushed Yuan Ting’s nosy face away, “Stop
asking, I’m feeling shy.”
“Then I’ll ask Cheng Nanyi, does he have a girl he likes?” Yuan Ting finally, nonchalantly,
broached the main topic.
“No,” Yuan Xiao said with certainty.
“How can you be so sure? What if he has a secret crush like you do?”
“Impossible,” Yuan Xiao smirked confidently, “I’ve observed him.”
“You’ve observed him?” Yuan Ting grabbed a chair, sat astride on it, and rested his chin
on his hands, “How did you observe him? Come on, tell me.”
Yuan Xiao felt a bit uneasy, touched his nose, and coughed, “Well, you know, the top girls
always have many admirers. I was worried Cheng Nanyi might like her too, so I observed
him.”
“Do you know the most obvious sign of someone being in love?”
“What?” Yuan Ting’s interest was piqued.

Yuan Xiao raised his eyebrows and pointed at Yuan Ting’s eyes, “It’s where these eyes
look. From my experience, if someone has a crush, the first person they look at when
entering a classroom is their object of affection.”
Yuan Ting: “...” So it was a matter of experience.
But it did seem to make sense.
“So, I observed for a long time. Cheng Nanyi always keeps his eyes straight ahead. Then,
when he enters the classroom, the first person he looks at is me.”
Yuan Ting grinned, “...What, he’s into you?”
Yuan Xiao rolled his eyes, “No, he was looking at the letter in my hand.”
Yuan Ting: “...”
“He never looks at the love letters he receives and barely interacts with girls. His
attention is all on you. If you weren’t a guy, I’d suspect he had a thing for you.”
Yuan Ting, speechless: “Even if I were a girl, he wouldn’t be interested in me.”
“Why not?”
“Me.” Yuan Ting pointed at his nose, “I’m still a baby. Anyone interested in me would be a
pedophile, right?”
Yuan Xiao: “...”
A baby? Are you mistaken about yourself? Which baby is 183 cm tall?
A giant baby, perhaps?
Yuan Ting felt helpless. At this age of budding romance, why was Cheng Nanyi's heart
sealed like cement?
……
Soon after the college entrance exams, it was Yuan Ting’s turn for the middle school
exams. To him, it wasn’t challenging, since he wasn’t chasing the top spot like Yuan Xiao.
Living again, what was he really pursuing?
Look at Yuan Xiao, striving to be number one and wanting the top girl to be his girlfriend.
Seeing Cheng Nanyi and Yuan Xiao waiting at the school gate, Yuan Ting strutted over,
head held high: “It’s just a small exam, no need for such a big fuss, making two top
students come to pick me up.”
“We’re on our way to a class gathering,” Yuan Xiao explained.
“A class gathering?” Yuan Ting frowned, “Both of you are going?”
Yuan Xiao: “Yeah, it's a task assigned by our class president. I have to bring Cheng Nanyi
along, and he agreed to come.”
“I see…” Yuan Ting looked at Cheng Nanyi, “So you’re going?”
“Yeah,” Cheng Nanyi nodded and gestured to Yuan Ting, “Get on, you're coming too.”
“I don’t know, it’s your class gathering, and I’m an outsider.” While saying this, Yuan Ting
quickly hopped onto the back of Cheng Nanyi’s bicycle, wrapping his arms around his
waist.
Yuan Xiao: “...” Really, Cheng Nanyi? He didn’t know what to say; he seemed more like
Yuan Ting’s brother than himself, always taking him along.
Riding his electric scooter beside them, Yuan Xiao said to Cheng Nanyi, “Since you invited
him, you’re paying his share.” Class gatherings were usually split evenly, with each
person paying over a hundred.
Yuan Ting: “...” Yuan Xiao, always thinking about money.
“Of course my brother will pay for me. Not like you, a penny-pincher.”
“How am I a penny-pincher?” Yuan Xiao retorted, “Aren’t you always calling Cheng Nanyi
‘Cheng Penny-pincher’ at home? Why are you blaming me now?”
“...” Yuan Ting hastily covered Cheng Nanyi’s ears, “Brother, don’t listen, it’s all rumors.”
Yuan Xiao: “...” Impressed.
His brother, though not annoying, did have a habit of making snarky comments, usually
aimed at Cheng Nanyi. Yuan Xiao thought if those remarks were directed at him, he might
actually find them irritating.
How does Cheng Nanyi not get annoyed?
But then again, the only one who could handle his brother seemed to be Cheng Nanyi.
Like a pot finds its lid.
The saying 'every Jack has his Jill' really does hold true.
When the three arrived, they saw Li Yichao waiting at the hotel entrance. Spotting them,
he came over: “The class president asked me to wait here for you, in case you couldn’t
find the private room.”
Yuan Ting peeked out from behind Cheng Nanyi, and Li Yichao, without surprise, smiled
at him: “Hello, little brother.”
Yuan Ting: “...Hello.” He really couldn’t take the title of ‘little brother’ seriously.
Today, over twenty classmates had come, filling a large private room. Everyone expected
was already there, with Yuan Xiao and Cheng Nanyi being the last to arrive, delayed by
picking up Yuan Ting.
Yuan Xiao introduced Yuan Ting, and everyone greeted him warmly. No one minded his
presence, as several classmates had brought their boyfriends or girlfriends.
Everyone was seated, with two empty seats next to Li Yichao, reserved for Cheng Nanyi
and Yuan Xiao. With Yuan Ting’s addition, the class president brought over another chair.
Li Yichao took the chair and placed it next to Yuan Xiao: “Little brother, sit here.”
“Sit here,” Cheng Nanyi hooked Yuan Ting’s shoulder, guiding him to sit next to Li Yichao.
Li Yichao paused for a moment, said nothing, just smiled, and then started unpacking and
setting up the cutlery in front of Yuan Ting.
Since entering, Yuan Xiao’s gaze had been fixed on a girl across the room, oblivious to the
events around him. Seeing Yuan Ting settled, he conscientiously gave up his spot to
Cheng Nanyi and shifted to the side.
Li Yichao carefully sterilized Yuan Ting’s cutlery and then reached for Cheng Nanyi’s.
Cheng Nanyi stopped him, saying, “Thanks, but let him do it.”
Saying so, he placed the cutlery in front of Yuan Ting.
Yuan Ting: “...” So, he’s like a nanny.
Li Yichao didn’t seem embarrassed and, withdrawing his hand, smiled at Yuan Ting:
“Looks like you’re well used to your brother’s service.”
Yuan Ting, adeptly unpacking the cutlery, also smiled: “Indeed, I’ve gotten used to it.”
Indeed, he had gotten used to it. These past few years, trying to earn money had been
quite a heartache.
Yet, surprisingly, Li Yichao didn’t seem curious, even though Yuan Ting should ostensibly
be Yuan Xiao's younger brother.
“Cheng Nanyi, why didn’t you bring your girlfriend along?” someone called out.
“What? Since when does Cheng Nanyi have a girlfriend?”
The question set off a wave of murmurs, instantly stirring up the room.
Yuan Ting also looked up at the speaker, curious. Was there gossip Yuan Xiao hadn’t
noticed?
“You guys don’t know? A girl has been writing letters to Cheng Nanyi for over two years. I
thought by graduation, they’d be together. Cheng Nanyi, did you accept her?”
Yuan Ting nearly spit out his tea, coughing uncontrollably.
Two hands simultaneously patted his back.
Their hands accidentally collided, and Yuan Ting saw Li Yichao's face flush red.
If he couldn’t see through this, then his two lifetimes were wasted.
Cheng Nanyi, however, didn’t move away, his hand still gently patting Yuan Ting’s back.
Yuan Ting sneakily glanced at Cheng Nanyi. Impressive, quite the charmer.
Cheng Nanyi looked expressionless at him, as if the recent events had nothing to do with
him, focusing on Yuan Ting, “Why are you looking at me?”
Yuan Ting gave a sheepish smile and withdrew his gaze, fiddling with the cup in front of
him.
Cheng Nanyi's reaction was either a sign of being emotionally oblivious or... painfully
aware, like looking into a clear mirror.
Yuan Ting found it hard to decipher his thought process at the moment.
Author's note:
I miss writing about Yuan Ting’s mischief. Writing these scenes feels like constipation.
Thanks to the little angels who supported me with overlord votes or nutrient solutions
from 2023-09-09 22:28:01 to 2023-09-10 21:14:38~
Thanks to the angels nourishing with nutrient solutions: I Want To Know 25 bottles; Ain.
10 bottles; Yinzi. 5 bottles; Sweet Pear 3 bottles; A Single Star Fruit, 67593036 2 bottles;
Manmi, Capsized Boat, Pufferfish Gourd 1 bottle each;
#68 Chapter 68
Chapter 68
After dinner, the group moved on to a KTV session.
Yuan Ting, overwhelmed by these newly-freed classmates, wanted to leave but couldn’t
say it out loud, especially since Yuan Xiao wasn’t ready to leave - he obviously wouldn’t
go anywhere with his crush still around.
Observing covertly, Yuan Ting noticed the girl named Shi Ya, strikingly beautiful. Several
boys were vying for her attention, while his brother sat quietly in a corner, his expression
indifferent and aloof, showing no hint of interest in her.
Can you really win her over like this?
Yuan Ting, holding a glass of juice he hadn’t sipped yet, approached: “Hello, sister. I’m
Yuan Ting, Yuan Xiao’s younger brother.”
“Hello,” Shi Ya waved to him, smiling, “Your eyes look very much like your brother’s.”
“Really? Just similar, meaning they're different. There must be a comparison. So, sister,
whose eyes do you think are more attractive?”
Several girls laughed at Yuan Ting’s words, and Shi Ya joined in, “Of course, your eyes are
more attractive, not just your eyes, you’re more handsome than him.”
“Sister has good taste,” Yuan Ting gave her a thumbs up, “This juice is untouched, I
brought it especially for you.”
“Hahaha…” a girl laughed, leaning on Shi Ya, “When he first came in, I thought, wow, what
a handsome guy, like a male idol. But now, I see him more as a little brother, a funny little
brother. Totally shattered my illusion.”
Yuan Ting's face was all smiles, but inside, he was utterly speechless.
What, a funny guy can’t be handsome too?
But then again, girls at this age generally prefer older guys. Just wait and see, they’ll
realize the charm of a younger guy, hmph.
Yuan Ting managed to squeeze past a few guys and successfully joined the girls, sitting
next to Shi Ya. The circle of female classmates chatted animatedly.
Yuan Xiao panicked. What was his brother up to? Had he lost his mind?
“Can you look after him?” Yuan Xiao frantically sought out Yuan Ting's guardian.
Cheng Nanyi took a sip of his juice, responding calmly, “I’m not his brother. Why should I
look after him?”
Yuan Xiao: “...” Now you’re not his brother?
Yuan Ting amused the girls, drank a bellyful of beverages, and then headed to the
restroom.
Coming out of the washroom, he saw Li Yichao leaning against the wall, smoking.
Yuan Ting paused for a moment, then continued walking.
“Little brother, let’s chat,” Li Yichao called from behind.
Yuan Ting stopped, turned around, and half-smiled, “My name is Yuan Ting, not little
brother. You keep calling me that, it feels weird. Even my brother doesn’t call me little
brother.”
Li Yichao sized him up: “Yeah, you're even taller than me. You don’t seem like a little
brother at all.”
“Here, want a smoke?” Li Yichao offered, pulling out a pack of cigarettes.
Yuan Ting looked at him, beginning to reassess Li Yichao.
Li Yichao had a clean-cut appearance, seemingly gentle and well-mannered, yet his
actions didn’t quite match his looks.
Remembering Yuan Xiao mentioning how Li Yichao was often late, Yuan Ting found him
quite intriguing.
It takes a certain kind of person to dare to be late every day, not fearing being called out
by the teacher. That kind of pressure and public embarrassment is something most
people can’t handle.
Yuan Ting accepted the cigarette, and Li Yichao lit it for him.
Yuan Ting took a drag, his first time smoking in this life. His body wasn’t quite used to it,
but in a moment of showing off, he couldn’t lose face.
He skillfully blew out a smoke ring, looking like a seasoned smoker.
Li Yichao raised an eyebrow, hitting him with a bombshell question, “Are you and Cheng
Nanyi together?”
Yuan Ting paused, looking incredulously at him: “What do you mean?”
Li Yichao smiled, “I’ve seen you many times, always going to meet Cheng Nanyi. You two
seem very close, no, more than close. I thought you were in a relationship.”
Hearing this, Yuan Ting realized his previous sense of familiarity with Li Yichao was
genuine.
Yuan Ting pictured a silent admirer, always following Cheng Nanyi from a distance,
watching his back – quite a romantic image.
However, Yuan Ting hadn’t expected him to be so forthright.
Yuan Ting narrowed his eyes: “How can two guys be in a relationship? It’s only called
dating when a guy is with a girl.”
Li Yichao chuckled, “No one said guys can only be with girls.”
“If you don’t understand, it's fine. I was just unsure and wanted to confirm.”
“Confirm what?”
“I’m thinking of pursuing him. I need to know if he’s already taken.”
Yuan Ting frowned, “My brother doesn’t like guys.”
“Is that so?” Li Yichao smiled, pointing at himself, “People like us can sense others like us.
I think Cheng Nanyi likes guys.”
Yuan Ting: “...” Okay, you’re the expert, aren’t you?
Li Yichao looked at him, “Does that disgust you?”
Yuan Ting glared at Li Yichao, then suddenly laughed.
Was this Li fellow actually keen in his gaydar, or just trying to stir things up?
A normal person hearing Cheng Nanyi might like guys would react quite dramatically. If
they were particularly straight-laced, they might even start avoiding Cheng Nanyi.
After all, in these times, the internet isn’t so widespread, and the average person doesn’t
understand homosexuality well. Hearing such things might evoke feelings of disgust or
even think it’s perverse.
Besides, whether or not Cheng Nanyi likes boys is his own business, right? What right
does Li Yichao have to go around broadcasting it?
If Yuan Ting was a gossip, spreading this around, how would Cheng Nanyi manage
afterward?
After silently smoking for a few moments, Yuan Ting asked Li Yichao, “If he’s already
taken, will you give up on pursuing him?”
“That’s not necessarily the case, just a fair competition.”
Yuan Ting scoffed coldly, “Fair competition, what a grandiose term. If he’s really with
Cheng Nanyi, wouldn’t your so-called fair competition be meddling as a third party?”
Li Yichao suddenly clicked his tongue, “Little brother, I think you understand more than
you let on.”
Yuan Ting sneered, raising an eyebrow, “My brother doesn’t like guys. I advise you to find
someone else and not waste your time on him.”
“It’s okay if he doesn’t like me now. I can wait.”
“It’s not about whether you wait or not. I’ll say it again, he’s straight. He doesn’t like guys.
No matter how long you wait, it won’t change.”
Li Yichao smiled nonchalantly, “Even a straight guy can be swayed.”
“……”
Yuan Ting took a deep breath, feeling his temper rising.
Yuan Ting, struggling to contain his anger, said through gritted teeth, “What do you mean
‘sway a straight guy’? He’s perfectly straight. What right do you have to try and change
him?”
Li Yichao looked at Yuan Ting, puzzled, “I like him. Is it wrong to want him to like me
back?”
“……”
Yuan Ting was infuriated.

What was he fighting for? He just wanted Cheng Nanyi to lead a normal life. Yet here was
someone talking about changing him.
How could this not be infuriating?
“I’ve probably said too much to you,” Li Yichao paused, then added, “If you don’t have
feelings for him, I hope you’ll stay away from him. After all, you’re quite likable. Maybe
he’s already...”
As soon as Li Yichao finished speaking, Yuan Ting threw a punch at him.
Damn, it's been a while since I've hit someone.
I've been tolerating you for too long.
What the hell are you fantasizing about?
And what right do you have to tell me to stay away? You haven’t even won him over yet,
and you’re already stirring up trouble.
The two were talking in the hallway, with many people passing by. Yuan Xiao and their
classmates from inside couldn’t hear them, but the actions were quite evident.
“Yuan Xiao, your brother and Li Yichao are fighting,” someone shouted.
By the time Yuan Xiao and Cheng Nanyi ran out, other students had already separated the
two.
It wasn’t really a fight. Li Yichao didn’t fight back, and Yuan Ting had only thrown that
one punch. Still, the commotion made it seem more intense.
Cheng Nanyi grabbed Yuan Ting’s arm and immediately asked, “What did he do to you?”
Yuan Xiao, instinctively stepping in front of Yuan Ting, paused, confused. Shouldn’t the
first question be why they fought?
Yuan Ting, flexing his wrist and jutting his chin defiantly, declared, “He said I was ugly.”
“……”
Everyone fell silent. What kind of reason was that?
So you hit someone just because they called you ugly?

Yuan Xiao truly didn't expect such a reason and whispered incredulously, “Really? No
other reason?”
“No,” Yuan Ting replied irritably, “He just said I was ugly, hurting my pride. What about
it? Can’t I hit him?”
“I just wanted to hit him, so what…” Yuan Ting didn’t finish his sentence before Yuan Xiao
covered his mouth.
Better not say any more.
“……”
The class president, standing next to Li Yichao, was speechless upon hearing Yuan Ting’s
words and only after several seconds asked Li Yichao, “Is that true?”
Li Yichao pursed his lips, “I didn’t mean anything by it, just joking with the little brother.
But he’s quite impulsive, resorting to violence over a mere disagreement.”
The class president, somewhat exasperated, saw Yuan Ting as just a tall kid lacking in
wisdom. Seeing Li Yichao not keen on pursuing the matter, he tried to smooth things
over: “Yuan Xiao, maybe your brother should apologize to Yichao. He’s just a kid, let's not
hold it against him,” patting Li Yichao’s shoulder in consolation.
Yuan Xiao sighed silently, knowing an apology from Yuan Ting was unlikely: “Um, Li
Yichao, on behalf of my brother…” He couldn’t even finish the sentence. No, his brother
wouldn’t fight over such a trivial matter. But what was the real reason? He couldn’t let
him apologize for no reason.
Yuan Xiao looked towards Cheng Nanyi, perhaps he should ask again. He had a feeling
Yuan Ting wasn't being truthful.
“Apologize,” Cheng Nanyi finally spoke.
Yuan Ting immediately bristled, “I won’t.”
“I meant,” Cheng Nanyi slowly added, “that Li Yichao should apologize to Yuan Xiao’s
brother.”
“What?” The class president was shocked, “Cheng Nanyi, are you serious?”
The others were also baffled. This was... somewhat incomprehensible, wasn’t it?
Cheng Nanyi looked at Li Yichao, “Your comment about his appearance was a personal
attack. His reaction was merely a legitimate counter.”
The class president’s mind was in a whirl. Was that how it was?
“But, but, he hit someone…” The class president stuttered.
“So, one can’t retaliate when hurt?” Cheng Nanyi countered.
“But, but, hitting someone… it’s just words, no need to resort to violence.”
“Then what should be done?” Cheng Nanyi asked calmly, “I think direct physical response
is more civilized than some verbal retaliations.”
！！！！
Everyone was stunned by this perspective, frozen in place.
Goodness, in all my twenty-something years, this is the first time I've heard such an
opinion.
Yuan Xiao’s eyes nearly popped out. Was that really the case?
His brother must have some sort of mania, really resorting to violence over a mere
disagreement… That shouldn’t be encouraged, right?
“I think Cheng Nanyi is right,” Shi Ya suddenly spoke up, “If Li Yichao really insulted him
about his looks, and that’s why he hit him, then I support him.”
“You, you really said that?” The class president turned to Li Yichao, “Then you were
indeed in the wrong, but, but…” Damn it, what really counts as right or wrong here?
Sure, running one’s mouth off is bad, but there are plenty of people who do it. You can’t
just hit them for it.
“Does he need to apologize?” Cheng Nanyi looked at Yuan Ting.
Yuan Ting, still a bit dazed, shook his head. He had just spoken off the cuff.
He didn’t seriously beat him up; Li Yichao wouldn’t dare to make a big deal out of it.
Besides, even if things escalated, he wasn’t afraid of him.
When had Yuan Ting ever been afraid of anyone from childhood to now?
But this… this… this outcome… had a familiar ring to it.

Yuan Ting immediately lifted his head to Li Yichao: “Look, I’m a generous person. No need
for your apology. How do you want to resolve this? Go to the police station? Brother, call
a lawyer. I’ve suffered mental distress and demand compensation.”
Uh…
The expressions on everyone's faces were a mix of amusement and disbelief. Little
brother, that’s going too far.
Li Yichao suddenly laughed, “I was wrong. I apologize to you. Sorry.”
Cheng Nanyi glanced at him, then took Yuan Ting’s wrist and started walking out,
“Alright, apology accepted. Let’s go.”
“Well, we’re heading off,” Yuan Xiao said awkwardly to the class president and others,
waving, “I’ve got nothing more to say, see you.”
“Wait a minute,” Li Yichao stopped Yuan Xiao, “Give Yuan Ting a message for me.”
“What?” Yuan Xiao grinned, hoping it wasn’t a challenge to a fight.
Li Yichao’s expression remained calm, “Tell him, I won’t give up.”
Yuan Xiao: “????”
……
With a head full of question marks, Yuan Xiao hurried after them, only to see his brother
and Cheng Nanyi standing by the bicycle, Cheng Nanyi pulling up Yuan Ting’s collar.
！！！！
“What’s happening? Are you going to hit the kid?”
That's not something to encourage.
Yuan Xiao hurried over, only to hear Cheng Nanyi coldly say, “Yuan Ting, you’ve grown
up, huh? Picked up smoking now?”
Yuan Xiao skidded to a halt, realizing it wasn’t about hitting the kid.
“What, little Ting, you started smoking?” Yuan Xiao leaned in to sniff Yuan Ting’s collar,
indeed detecting the scent of smoke.
“Well…” Yuan Ting blinked, improvising, “It was Kai brother who said smoking is
charming and attracts girls, so I learned. He led me astray, it’s not my fault.”
Yuan Xiao: “...” Smooth, passing the buck to Mo Yikai.
“Stay away from him,” Cheng Nanyi pinched Yuan Ting’s chin, lifting it slightly, his eyes
warning, “If I catch you smoking again, I’ll be the one to deal with you.”
“Okay, got it,” Yuan Ting promptly raised three fingers, “I promise I won’t smoke again.”
“And no more fighting with others at random. What if you encounter someone not like Li
Yichao?”
“I understand, from now on, I’ll wait for you before I fight,” Yuan Ting said boldly,
“Double assurance, I won’t lose out.”
Cheng Nanyi pushed out the bike, and Yuan Ting quickly hopped on, waving at Yuan Xiao,
“Let’s go, bro.”
Yuan Xiao: “...” Just like that, it's over?
Aren’t we going to ask what really happened?
#%%@&……%￥#@%
Damn it, my brain just went into complete disarray.
I often heard Mo Yikai say Cheng Nanyi spoiled a brat, but I never quite agreed. My little
brother is such a good kid.
Today, I finally got a firsthand experience.
Truly, it’s a shock to my entire family.
“Little bro, you shouldn’t behave like this…” Yuan Xiao, riding his electric scooter, chased
after them.
Author’s note:
from 2023-09-10 21:14:38 to 2023-09-11 18:05:18~
Thanks to the angels nourishing with nutrient solutions: Dream Beyond the Horizon 20
bottles; Blank 16 bottles; My Elegance, You Can’t Afford 9 bottles; Pufferfish Gourd 2
bottles; Manmi, Yu, Shui Fengqing 1 bottle each;
Thank you all for your support, I will keep working hard!
#69 Chapter 69
Chapter 69
“Little Ting, what exactly happened between you and Li Yichao?” Yuan Xiao managed to
keep up with Cheng Nanyi’s bike, even giving it a playful kick.
“He just said I was ugly,” Yuan Ting kicked back, “Am I ugly? I’m so handsome. Tell me,
besides my brother, who’s more handsome than me?”
Yuan Xiao: “...”
He left the matter there; his brother would probably end up flattering himself to no end.
“Li Yichao said he won’t give up. What does that mean?”
Cheng Nanyi frowned slightly upon hearing this.
Yuan Ting, feigning ignorance, exaggeratedly played the fool: “What, he wants to keep
calling me ugly? Does he have a problem with his aesthetics? From now on, every time I
see him, I’ll hit him. Seriously, his eyes must be faulty to call me ugly.”
“Magic mirror, magic mirror, tell Yuan Xiao who’s the handsomest of them all?”
Silence followed.
Yuan Xiao was stunned. His brother was fifteen and still believed in the existence of a
magic mirror?
“Why isn’t the magic mirror speaking?” Yuan Ting slapped Cheng Nanyi's waist.
Cheng Nanyi scoffed, “Even a magic mirror has some dignity. Not everyone’s like you.”
“Are you insinuating something?” Yuan Ting chuckled, “For attending this class reunion
with you today, my companion fee is a hundred.”
“I resolved your trouble, so my appearance fee is one hundred and fifty,” Cheng Nanyi
bargained expertly.
“Fine, I won’t take the companion fee then. How could I take my brother’s money?” Yuan
Ting quickly changed his tune, without skipping a beat.
“Sorry, but you’re not my brother, so the appearance fee still stands.”
“...” Yuan Ting leaned back against Cheng Nanyi’s waist and then deliberately bumped his
head against Cheng Nanyi’s back, as if to annoy him.
Cheng Nanyi remained silent, not even altering his posture.
Yuan Xiao: “...” He felt numb to it all.
His brother was constantly reshaping his world view, moment by moment.
After dropping Yuan Ting off at the alley, Cheng Nanyi cycled away.
Yuan Ting got off and tried to hop onto the electric scooter, but Yuan Xiao sped off.
“What are you doing?” Yuan Ting called after him.
Yuan Xiao, ignoring him, couldn’t understand why Cheng Nanyi had to make a trip when
he could have just taken his brother home.
……
Due to the incident between Yuan Ting and Li Yichao, the class reunion ended quickly.
Li Yichao, rubbing his swollen face, walked home.
Just as he reached the entrance to his housing complex, he saw Cheng Nanyi waiting on
his bike.
Li Yichao paused, then slowly approached.
“Are you waiting for me?” Li Yichao asked, looking at Cheng Nanyi.
He used to secretly follow Cheng Nanyi, hoping he’d turn back and glance at him, but alas,
that never happened.
This was the first time Cheng Nanyi had waited for him.
“Yes,” Cheng Nanyi looked at him directly, “What did you say to my brother?”
“Your brother? Isn’t he Yuan Xiao’s brother?”
Cheng Nanyi frowned, “Whose brother he is doesn’t matter. What matters is what you
said to him.”
Li Yichao looked at him, “Didn’t he tell you what I said?”

Cheng Nanyi narrowed his eyes, speaking flatly, “Don’t beat around the bush with me.”
Li Yichao, licking his still sore lips, thought of Cheng Nanyi's immediate defense of Yuan
Ting and let out a self-mocking laugh: “I told him I like you. I wanted to confirm whether
you two were in a relationship.”
Cheng Nanyi’s expression darkened instantly: “You said that to him?”
Li Yichao, lighting a cigarette from his pocket, speculated, “Cheng Nanyi, if I'm not wrong,
you also like guys, don't you?” Although Cheng Nanyi never showed a preference for
either gender, his behavior towards other males was different from that of ordinary boys.
A careful observer could spot the difference.
Seeing Cheng Nanyi remain silent, Li Yichao laughed again, “I've seen you with that kid
numerous times. You treat him differently. You like him, don’t you?”
“I like you too, and I’m just fighting for myself, not wanting to leave regrets in my youth.”
Cheng Nanyi, expressionless, glanced at the sky, then parked his bike and walked up to Li
Yichao.
Towering over Li Yichao, Cheng Nanyi’s look down conveyed a strong sense of cold
aloofness and oppression.
Li Yichao’s heart uncontrollably started to race.
The closest he had ever been to Cheng Nanyi was when he asked for help with
schoolwork.
But only for the first few times did Cheng Nanyi help him; after that, he never explained
anything again.
That’s when Li Yichao was certain: Cheng Nanyi must like guys.
He realized Cheng Nanyi had seen through his ulterior motives.
Cheng Nanyi placed a hand on Li Yichao’s shoulder, then suddenly punched him in the
stomach: “Li Yichao, you really are asking for it.”
Li Yichao let out a muffled groan, stepping back, looking at Cheng Nanyi in disbelief.
Cheng Nanyi looked at him coldly: “Do you know how old my brother is? He’s only fifteen,
still a child. His values aren’t fully formed yet, and there’s so much he doesn’t understand.
And yet, you talk to him about such things.”
Li Yichao, clutching his stomach, looked at him in disarray: “What, can’t face up to your
actions? Do you dare say you don’t like him?”
Cheng Nanyi laughed in disbelief: “I’m not as despicable as you.”
Turning to leave, Cheng Nanyi paused midway, looked back and warned: “Don’t bother
my brother again, or next time it won’t be this simple.”
……
Yuan Ting was lying on a lounge chair in the yard, chewing a lollipop and chatting with
Yuan Xiao: “Bro, aren’t you planning to go on a trip during the summer break?”
“No,” Yuan Xiao, sitting in the yard sorting cardboard boxes, replied, “I’m helping our
uncle. The scrap collection business is booming. I think we can expand. What do you
think, little Ting?”
“You should still go traveling, broaden your horizons.”
“No need. There are golden houses in books, and beauties as well.”
If you like working, then work. An employee like you is a company’s dream, working
yourself to death.
His phone beeped. Picking it up, Yuan Ting saw a message from Cheng Nanyi on WeChat.
Cheng ‘Skinflint’: I give you two minutes to show up at the alleyway.
What’s wrong with him, leaving and then coming back?
As if he would be that obedient.
Yuan Ting leaped up, cursing internally. Two minutes, and every second late would cost
him ten yuan.
Panting, Yuan Ting reached the alleyway and saw Cheng Nanyi standing beside his bike.
“What’s up?”
“My hands are dirty. Help me wash them.”

“...” Yuan Ting’s expression cracked, incredulous. Has he gone mad?
Cheng Nanyi, have you finally started losing it?
There was a public restroom at the entrance of the alley with a sink, though the
environment was quite dirty.
Cheng Nanyi stood there, frowning, letting Yuan Ting wash his hands under the tap.
Cheng Nanyi gazed down at the kid in front of him.
Yuan Ting had grown quite a bit in the past two years, now not much shorter than him.
But growing so fast had left him somewhat thin, his hair still those little blonde curls. To
downplay his curly hair, Yuan Ting kept it cut short, accentuating his facial features.
Cheng Nanyi’s impression of him had always remained that of the pretty, scrappy kid he
first saw. No matter how much time passed, that filter persisted.
This was the first time in years he was really looking at the kid, no, the young man in
front of him.
The child he raised seemed to have truly grown up, rumors even spreading about the two
of them.
The young man spoke: “Brother…”
Hearing Yuan Ting's voice, Cheng Nanyi suddenly realized the kid was going through
voice change. No wonder his voice sounded so unpleasant.
He hadn't taken it seriously when Mo Yikai mocked Yuan Ting for having a voice like a
drake's.
Once something is broken, looking at it again reveals how everything has changed.
“Did you just go somewhere to dig through shit, and that’s why you’re disgusted to wash
your hands?”
Yuan Ting glanced at him, flirting with danger, “Should I go buy some soap? I’m worried
the shit won’t come off clean.” Otherwise, he couldn’t fathom why Cheng Nanyi would
come back specifically to have him wash his hands.
Cheng Nanyi looked at him expressionlessly, the same old formula.

Shaking off Yuan Ting’s hand, Cheng Nanyi walked away without looking back.
Yuan Ting called after his retreating figure, “Brother, there might be some under your
fingernails too, better not suck on them.” Hahaha, that’ll annoy him.
Watching Cheng Nanyi’s unfeeling departure, Yuan Ting swaggered home, smugly
shaking his head.
Three minutes later, he received a message from Cheng ‘Skinflint’: You disgusted me,
deducting three hundred.
Yuan Ting gritted his teeth and texted back: Brother, I was wrong.
Pfft.
— Brother, please spare me.
Cheng Nanyi, damn you.
— Brother brother brother brother brother...
This maniac, at this rate, when would he ever pay off that 500,000?
— Brother~~~
Damn it, why isn’t there voice messaging on WeChat yet.
My sincere tone needs to be conveyed through a voice message...
Author’s note:
Yes, you’re not mistaken, this is an additional update!
from 2023-09-11 18:05:18 to 2023-09-11 23:10:23~
Thanks to the angels who threw landmines: Colorful Forest, Sunflower 1 each;
Thanks to the angels nourishing with nutrient solutions: Mint Milk Green Tea 13 bottles;
Sunken Ship Side, 67132556, 404 Big Ghost Heads, Ping Xuan, Don't Bother Me I'm
Sleeping 1 bottle each;
Thank you all for your support, I will keep working hard!
#70 Chapter 70
Chapter 70
The college entrance exam results are out, and Yuan Xiao and Cheng Nanyi scored
remarkably well.
The very night the results were released, recruitment teams from several top domestic
universities camped at their home.
Yuan Ting, never having witnessed such a scene of intense competition, found the sight of
people arguing fiercely quite amusing.
But his brother…
“Which university is offering the most scholarship?” Yuan Xiao asked earnestly.
Can you be a bit more realistic?
Things were much quieter for Cheng Nanyi. After the old man took people to a hotel
dinner, he sent them away.
Yuan Xiao eventually chose the top school in the capital... to study accounting.
Yes, accounting, to manage money.
His character really can't collapse.
Surprisingly, Cheng Nanyi chose a university in neighboring Chuanhai City. Although less
famous than Yuan Xiao's school, the economics program he chose is a flagship course
there.
Seeing Yuan Xiao and Cheng Nanyi finalize their university choices, Yuan Ting sighed and
began to slump again.
“What’s wrong now?” The two were sorting scrap in their rented shabby courtyard, Yuan
Xiao working energetically while Yuan Ting appeared listless.
“I was thinking, maybe we should find a girlfriend for Cheng Nanyi.”
Yuan Xiao collapsed onto a pile of rubbish, staring numbly at Yuan Ting: “Come on, tell
me what you’re thinking.”
“You’ve got a girl you like, why doesn’t he?” Yuan Ting frowned, “I don’t get it.”
“I get it,” said Yuan Xiao.
“Why?” Yuan Ting looked at his brother in shock. His brother had such insights?
“Because raising a child can be soul-crushing, especially a troublesome one.”
Yuan Ting picked up some trash and threw it, scoffing.
Yuan Ting gazed up at the white clouds in the sky, reflecting on how Cheng Nanyi, now
eighteen, was about to start university and a new phase of life.
Hoping for a thorough resolution, he contemplated their separation across different

cities.
Different universities have different start dates. Yuan Xiao was the first to begin, sent off
by his uncle and aunt.
As the most outstanding university student the town had ever seen, Yuan Xiao brought
great pride to the family.
His aunt even gave Yuan Ting a substantial red envelope, acknowledging that without
Yuan Ting's self-sacrifice back then, Yuan Xiao's fate might have been different.
Yuan Ting accepted it without any guilt.
When it was time for Cheng Nanyi to start university, he planned to go with Mo Yikai,
who was also studying in Chuanhai City, albeit at a less prestigious institution. They
would be studying at opposite ends of the city.
On the first evening of the semester, Yuan Ting invited Cheng Nanyi for a dinner at a
roadside barbecue stand, intending it as a farewell meal.
Cheng Nanyi’s entire face scrunched up in distaste. Yuan Ting, secretly laughing inside,
did it deliberately just to tease him.
Cheng Nanyi sat down without a word, his hands stuffed in his pockets, his posture
signaling his discomfort with the setting.
Yuan Ting ordered a table full of food and two bottles of beer.
“What’s a kid doing with beer?”

“It’s for you, brother. You’re of age now.” Yuan Ting filled his glass, “Now that you’re an
adult, you can drink, smoke…”
Looking up at him, Yuan Ting added, “...and date.”
Cheng Nanyi raised an eyebrow, looking at him curiously.
"Brother, do you have a girl you like?" Yuan Ting suddenly felt guilty and didn't dare to
look at Cheng Nanyi.
A slender hand reached out, lifting his chin, while Cheng Nanyi squinted at him across,
"Did Li Yichao say something to you?"
"He did say something..." Yuan Ting coughed lightly, "Brother, isn't he disgusting? He
likes boys, isn't that perverted?"
Yuan Ting carefully observed the changes in Cheng Nanyi's facial expressions as he
spoke.
Cheng Nanyi suddenly let go of his chin and sat back, frowning at Yuan Ting, "I was
careless."
"What's that about?" Yuan Ting was taken aback.
Cheng Nanyi took a sip of beer from the table and then said to Yuan Ting, "Later, I'll buy
you some books. Let's say, one every half month, since high school is busier. Read a book
every half month and write a reading report for me."
Yuan Ting: "?????" I'm talking about men dating men being weird, and you're talking
about writing reading reports?
Cheng Nanyi lifted his eyelids, glancing at him with a snort of laughter.
Yuan Ting heard it, the tone brimming with mockery.
Yuan Ting bared his teeth at him, "What are you dissatisfied with?"
"Dissatisfied with your shallow level of education."
"What????" Yuan Ting's eyes bulged in disbelief, damn it, he's insulting me.
"The world is vast with countless wonders, kid. There's a lot for you to learn. Some things
you might not accept or understand, but don't judge them with narrow and superficial
views."
"Start with reading books. First understand the world through them, then measure it
with your own steps."
"..." Yuan Ting bowed to Cheng Nanyi, apologizing for his narrow-mindedness.
Damn it, when did you, a captor and a freak, become so profound?
Yuan Ting's punch landed softly, like on cotton. Frustrated, he grabbed Cheng Nanyi's
beer and downed it in one go.
"Brother," Yuan Ting suddenly looked up at Cheng Nanyi, sincerely saying, "I wish you
peace and success, may your future be as bright as brocade."
Peace and success, a future as bright as brocade?
Cheng Nanyi's eyes narrowed slightly, recalling the last time the kid said these words,
they had ended up breaking off their relationship.
Now the same words were being spoken again.
Cheng Nanyi looked at the youth whose eyes were reddened from the alcohol and let out
a cold laugh.
Initially, he had used 500,000 yuan to bring him back, thinking that the day he finally
became disappointed, he would let him go.
But now, he wasn't ready to let go yet, so the control remained in his hands.
Yuan Ting met his gaze and inexplicably shivered.
How could it feel cold in the height of summer?
That night, Yuan Ting suffered from insomnia, tossing and turning restlessly in bed.
He didn't know what he was thinking about, just feeling suffocated and irritable.
Cheng Nanyi at eighteen was deep, broad-minded, knowledgeable, and thoughtful –

surely he wouldn't be as stubborn as he was at fifteen.
Yuan Ting couldn't sleep until five in the morning, and after just two hours, he was woken
up.
Mo Yikai was standing beside his bed, looking at him.

Yuan Ting groggily asked, "What are you doing?"
"Cheng Nanyi is leaving. Aren't you going to see him off?"
"I already said goodbye to him last night," Yuan Ting waved his hand dismissively and
turned over to continue sleeping.
He had never intended to see him off in the first place.
Mo Yikai literally dragged him out of bed.
Yuan Ting, with his hair looking like a chicken's nest, got into Chuanghai's car, still not
fully awake.
He didn't understand why he had to go see him off.
Hadn't they already said their goodbyes last night?
And was this really the way to send someone off?
Holding a cup of soy milk in his hand, Yuan Ting watched the vehicles rushing by outside
the window and couldn't help but laugh.
Yuan Ting silently glanced at the person sitting beside him, engrossed in his phone.
"What, got a problem with it?"
Hah, ha...
As if he dared to say he had a problem.
"Of course not."
"Good, have breakfast. It's your favorite egg-filled pancake."
Yuan Ting bit into it resentfully, as if he were eating a piece of Cheng Nanyi.
After finishing breakfast and taking a few sips of soy milk, Yuan Ting finally woke up
completely.
Then he looked at himself, still wearing the white T-shirt and shorts he slept in, just like
that, dragged out of bed by Mo Yikai.
"Are you out of your mind?" Yuan Ting slapped the person in the passenger seat,
"Couldn't you wait for me to change clothes before driving off?"
"Hey, little rascal, getting bold, huh?" Mo Yikai turned back glaring at Cheng Nanyi,
"Aren't you going to do something?"
"Don't you dare talk about my brother," Yuan Ting spread his arms, shielding Cheng
Nanyi.
Mo Yikai: "..." Here we go again.
Is it possible to never tire of a game played from childhood to adulthood?
Mo Yikai, uninterested in arguing, warned, "Kid, hit me again, and I'll hit back."
Yuan Ting leaned back in his seat, silently staring at the car roof.
Cheng Nanyi really was becoming more outrageous, not even bothering to ask his
opinion.
Such a nuisance!
It only took two and a half hours to drive from their city to Chuanghai University. Upon
arriving at the school's entrance, Yuan Ting was sprawled across Cheng Nanyi's lap,
sound asleep.
Feeling someone shake him, Yuan Ting groggily opened his eyes, "Time to eat? I'm
starving, I dreamt of eating egg pancakes."
Cheng Nanyi looked down at him, and Yuan Ting blinked, "Uh... Cheng Skinflint."
Yuan Ting sat up, rubbing his face, forced to wake up.
"Brother Xiao Zhang, let's not go into the school yet. It's noon; let's find a place to eat
first," Cheng Nanyi suggested.
"Okay." Xiao Zhang parked the car, and the group got out.
The school entrance was lined with snack shops, offering plenty of dining options, though
most were small storefronts.
The three of them were looking around for a decent place to eat when Yuan Ting darted
towards a shop, exclaiming, "Hahaha, Luosifen (snail rice noodles)..."
They followed him and were greeted by an indescribable aroma.
All three instinctively covered their noses and stepped back, but Yuan Ting had already
found a seat inside, waving them over, "Come on, come on..."
Yuan Ting had never tried Luosifen before. He had seen it become popular in online
videos, so he ordered it out of curiosity.
And surprisingly, it was delicious.
However, after eating Luosifen that evening, Cheng Nanyi refused to share a bed with
him.
Thus, Yuan Ting ordered Luosifen three days in a row.
Eventually, Cheng Nanyi banned him from ordering Luosifen.
Cheng Nanyi and the other two went to a nearby restaurant for noodles, leaving Yuan
Ting to enjoy his Luosifen alone.
After they had finished eating and regrouped, Mo Yikai blocked Yuan Ting from getting
too close, "You've marinated yourself in the smell, just throw it away."
Cheng Nanyi grabbed Yuan Ting by the neck, "Let's see if it can be washed off."
Yuan Ting blew a breath at him, causing Cheng Nanyi to release him and stay two meters
away.
Hahahaha, utterly satisfying.
"That's so gross," Mo Yikai ran a hand through his stylish blue hair, tilting his head back,
"I won't walk with someone who stinks like that, so I've decided to head back to school
first."
Xiao Zhang dropped Cheng Nanyi and Yuan Ting at their dormitory building before
leaving to take Mo Yikai back to school.
Mo Yikai arrived at school early because he was part of the student council and busy with
orientation activities. It wasn't that he was driven away by Yuan Ting's stench.
Cheng Nanyi didn't have much luggage, just one suitcase. They first went to register and
then went to find their dormitory after collecting their things.
The registration period lasted two days, and Cheng Nanyi arrived on the second day, so
the other roommates in the dormitory were already there.
Cheng Nanyi's dormitory was a four-person room. The environment was quite nice, with
beds above and desks below, and a private bathroom.
"Hello, brothers," Yuan Ting greeted enthusiastically as he entered, "This is my brother
Cheng Nanyi. Let's take care of each other in the future."
"Are you here to send your brother to school? I thought you were the student."
"Don't be fooled by my mature and steady appearance. I'm actually just starting high
school," Yuan Ting said cheerfully, "And I probably don't have the brains to attend the
same university as you guys." His goal was a regular tier-two university. If tier-three
wasn't so expensive, he would have liked to attend the same school as Mo Yikai.
"Usually, it’s the parents who come to drop off. This is the first time I've seen a younger
brother do it."
Yuan Ting sighed, "Can't help it, I've always been the one taking care of him."
The others in the dormitory laughed heartily.
The three roommates were Ding Ran, Zhu Lian, and Yu Tong'en.
In the short time Yuan Ting had been there, he had already learned everyone's names and
busied himself helping Cheng Nanyi make his bed.
"Cheng Nanyi, your brother is really nice," Ding Ran said enviously, "I only have a sister
who beats me up like I'm her grandson."
"I have a younger sister," Zhu Lian added, "She's always tattling on me at home.
Whenever she does, my dad whips me."
Cheng Nanyi just smiled and didn't say much.
After making the bed, Yuan Ting, exhausted, pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his
pocket and offered it around, "Brothers, anyone want a smoke?"
The three of them hesitated for a moment, then all waved their hands and declined.
"Where did you get these cigarettes?" Cheng Nanyi frowned.
"I swiped them from Brother Yikai. I thought maybe someone would like to smoke." Yuan
Ting put away the cigarette box and smiled. "Actually, not smoking is the best. Smoking is
bad for your health."
"By the way, brother, I have a few things to remind you of." Yuan Ting stood by the
bedframe and looked at Cheng Nanyi, speaking with a serious tone. "You've never lived in
a school dormitory for junior high and high school, so you might not know the rules. I did
some research online, so you better remember this. When you play games, use
headphones so you don't disturb other brothers. And when you use the restroom,
remember to flush, or you'll get scolded. When you enter or leave, remember to close the
door. After the lights go out at night, don't talk loudly, as it will disturb others' rest."
The other three laughed, and Yu Tong'en said, "Cheng Nanyi, your little brother is just like
your older brother."
Cheng Nanyi looked deeply at Yuan Ting and raised an eyebrow in contemplation.
He didn't actually have these problems Yuan Ting mentioned; he was saying this for the
benefit of the others.
Yuan Ting sighed inwardly. The young master had never experienced the hardships of
sharing a room and had plenty of quirks. He had to make things clear for him.
There were only four people in one dormitory, and the young master's personality made
it easy for the other three to form a group.
"Come on, give me your phone." Yuan Ting reached out towards Cheng Nanyi.
Cheng Nanyi handed his phone over.
Yuan Ting skillfully unlocked it and began tapping and scrolling.
After more than half an hour, Yuan Ting went downstairs and returned with two large
bags of KFC, placing them on the table. "Here, my brothers, today I'm bribing you here."
"Bribing for what?" Ding Ran asked, puzzled.
Yuan Ting sighed as he opened the bags. "My brother has a lot of quirks and hasn't lived
in a school dormitory before. I'm afraid he might not do things well and make you guys
angry without even realizing it."
Yuan Ting took out a family-sized meal: "Let's add each other on WeChat. If he does
anything wrong or struggles with something, you can tell me, and I'll give him a talking-
to."
"Here, you with the germophobia, this small portion of chicken leg is for you. Eat it over
there," Yuan Ting casually handed a small box to Cheng Nan Yi.
"I don't have germophobia," Cheng Nan Yi stated indifferently.
Yuan Ting winked at the other three and muttered quietly, "See, those with germophobia
always deny having it."
"Cheng Nan Yi, you have germophobia?" Zhu Lian asked while eating, "Don't worry, we'll
be careful not to touch your stuff."
Cheng Nan Yi was silent for a moment: "Then, thank you all."
"No problem, mutual respect is important. Just don't expect us to share your
germophobia."
"Guys, you're in luck," Yuan Ting beckoned them, "Do you know the biggest benefit of
having germophobia?"
"What?"
Yuan Ting winked at them, whispering in front of Cheng Nan Yi, "It's that he can't stand
dirty clothes, socks, and shoes. You can just ask him for money to go to the laundry. He
always pays up. I've made quite a bit off of him because of this."
"My brother is all about being foolish with plenty of money, feel free to take advantage."
Freshmen are required to live on campus, where Cheng Nanyi would definitely struggle
to adapt in many aspects.
In his bedroom at home, the housekeeper cleans it three times a day.
Unfortunately, this school doesn't offer single rooms.
"Hahaha..." Yu Tong'en gave Yuan Ting a thumbs up, "Little brother, impressive."
Freshmen still possess a naive clarity, and Yuan Ting's truthful jokes were well received,
more comfortable than direct statements.
Besides, he's genuinely friendly, and this table of KFC must have cost a couple hundred.
Overwhelmed by this display of worldly wisdom, Yuan Ting kicked off his shoes and
climbed onto the bed: "Uh, bro, I can't keep my eyes open, I'm going to crash on your bed
for a bit, okay?"
The moment he hit the bed, Yuan Ting was already in dreamland.
What a taxing day it had been for him.
Cheng Nanyi glanced at the air conditioner's position and pulled the blanket over Yuan
Ting.
Zhu Lian whispered, "Cheng Nanyi, your brother is really interesting."
Cheng Nanyi curled his lips slightly, the little guy had indeed grown up, even arranging
things for him.
To be honest, he hadn't anticipated these things at all.
Yuan Ting slept straight through to the evening.
When he opened his eyes, only Cheng Nanyi was in the dorm.
Sitting up and stretching, Yuan Ting lazily asked, "Where are the others?"
"They went to have dinner."
"Why didn't you go?"
Cheng Nanyi glanced at him and poured a cup of warm water into his own cup for him:
"Guess?"
"Oh, so you were waiting for me." Yuan Ting chuckled, took the cup and drank the water,
then uncomfortably tugged at his sweat-soaked clothes. "Brother, I need a shower."
Author's note:
Thanks to the little angels who voted for me or nourished me with their support from
2023-09-11 23:10:23 to 2023-09-12 15:11:55~
Thank you to the little angels for nourishing: Zoey 66 bottles; Lucky Coin 48 bottles; Hey
Hey, Two Strikes, Origin of the Universe 20 bottles; Ai 15 bottles; Pilvi 14 bottles; Xiang
Shi., Qian Qian 10 bottles; Pufferfish Melon 6 bottles; 404 Big Ghosts 5 bottles; Manmi 4
bottles; Drunken Autumn Wind 2 bottles; Ping Xuan, Sweet Pear, 67132556, Shui Feng
Qing 1 bottle each;
#71 Chapter 71
Chapter 71
Cheng Nanyi found a T-shirt and shorts for Yuan Ting, along with a new pair of
underwear.
"It might be a bit big, but it'll do," Cheng Nanyi said.
"Heh." Yuan Ting swung the underwear, glanced suggestively at a certain part of Cheng
Nanyi, snickered, and then slammed the bathroom door shut.
Looking down on someone, are we?
Cheng Nanyi: "???" The kid's competitive spirit is quite strong.
Yuan Ting came out from a refreshing shower just as Ding Ran and the others returned
from dinner, bringing two portions of food: "Cheng Nanyi, we bought meals for you and
your brother."
"Thanks, how much do I owe you?" Cheng Nanyi said, taking out his wallet to pay.
"No need, it's just a meal."
"No, let me pay you..."
"What are you paying for?" Yuan Ting snatched his wallet, "We're family, thanks
brothers."
Cheng Nanyi paused and then remained silent.
After dinner, around 7 PM, Yuan Ting stood up and said to Cheng Nanyi, "Brother, I'll find
a place to stay near the school gate, and contact Brother Zhang in the morning. Don't
worry about us, we'll go back on our own."
"I checked at noon; the places near the school gate are just small inns..." Cheng Nanyi
hesitated, "Stay in the dorm for tonight."
Yuan Ting, knowing Cheng Nanyi disliked those dirty inns, waved it off nonchalantly, "It's
fine, I'll go by myself, you stay in the dorm."
"No way."
"Why not?" Yuan Ting glared at him.
"Because I won't let you stay in an inn alone, and I'm not going to stay in one either. So,
you can't go either. Got it?"
Sorry, I don't understand.
Yuan Ting: "...I won't, I'm going."
"No." Cheng Nanyi had already picked up the blanket to change its cover. Yuan Ting had
been in his clothes all day and had gotten onto the bed, so the bedding needed changing.
"I'm not a kid anymore, why can't I stay by myself?" Yuan Ting didn't want to share a bed
with Cheng Nanyi.
Apart from when they were children sleeping together at their grandmother's, he had
never shared a bed with Cheng Nanyi in his life, and he especially didn't want to now that
Cheng Nanyi was an adult.
"That's just a psychological shadow."
Cheng Nanyi didn't even want to talk to him anymore.
Yu Tong'en laughed, "Little brother, your brother is just worried about you. This bed
doesn't seem too small; if you both squeeze a bit on your sides, it should work."
"Exactly, your brother is a neat freak, he definitely wouldn't stay in those small inns at
the door." Zhu Lian added, "It's just one night, even a neat freak like your brother doesn't
mind you, and you're fussing about him? You brothers are really something, hahaha..."
Yuan Ting: "..." Truly, I'm my own worst enemy.
Yuan Ting was forced to share a bed with Cheng Nanyi.
The single bed was indeed small, and two boys over 1.8 meters tall couldn't turn over
when lying on it. Luckily, Yuan Ting was slim, which eased the burden on the bed.
Cheng Nanyi slept on the outside, while Yuan Ting was against the wall, facing inward.
The dorm lights went out at ten, and initially, everyone was chatting. Gradually, the
conversation died down as they all fell asleep.
Cheng Nanyi, feeling the person beside him moving constantly, sighed helplessly and
whispered, "Can you stay still?"
"What can I do if I can't sleep? I slept most of the afternoon, especially sleeping next to
you, how can anyone sleep?"
"So, what do you want to do?" Cheng Nanyi, not wanting to disturb others, turned over
and whispered in his ear.
Feeling the warm breath on his ear, Yuan Ting shrank back and tentatively negotiated,
"How about you forgive my 500,000 debt? I might just fall asleep from happiness."
"Huh." Cheng Nanyi laughed in exasperation, quite the lion's request.
"Then just stay awake."
Yuan Ting: "...What about the 100,000?"
Alright, Cheng Nanyi had stopped paying him any attention.
Yuan Ting turned over in silence, and the next second, Cheng Nanyi wrapped his arms
around him from behind, trapping him in his embrace: "If you don't sleep, I need to. Move
again, and I'll smack you."
Damn it!!!
Yuan Ting, held in the embrace, nearly split in half.
Feeling the person in his arms stiffen instantly, Cheng Nanyi wondered if he was holding
too tightly. But he was too tired, his eyelids fighting to stay open, and he didn't adjust his
hold, finally enjoying some stillness.
Yuan Ting, eyes wide open, stared at the ceiling, whispering, "Brother..." let me go.
"Brother..." Cheng Nanyi, damn it, I'm telling you to let me go, can't you hear? “
"Brother..."
A hand stretched over to cover Yuan Ting's mouth.
Yuan Ting: "Mmm..."
Cheng Nanyi, let me go already!!!
……
Yuan Ting, plagued with insomnia, slept like the dead the next day. Cheng Nanyi had to
get up early for classes, and when he lifted the blanket to get out of bed, he saw Yuan
Ting's T-shirt had rolled up, and his shorts were loosely hanging around his waist.
"Cheng Nanyi." Ding Ran came over and leaned on the bed to call him.
Cheng Nanyi quickly covered him with the blanket, then turned to look at Ding Ran.
"Let your brother sleep here, we'll go to the classroom."
"Okay." Cheng Nanyi rolled out of bed.
When Yuan Ting woke up, the dorm was empty. Cheng Nanyi had messaged him to snack
on something for now and promised to take him out for lunch when he returned at noon.
Yuan Ting got up to wash and then changed into another set of Cheng Nanyi's clothes,
which were a bit large for him. He had spent the night dreaming about holding up his
pants, afraid they'd be gone when he woke up.
After having lunch in the canteen with Cheng Nanyi and Xiao Zhang at noon, Cheng Nanyi
asked Xiao Zhang to take Yuan Ting back.
Before leaving, Yuan Ting patted Cheng Nanyi's shoulder earnestly, "Brother, with so
many beauties in college, not dating is a waste of youth. Please find me a sister-in-law
soon."
Cheng Nanyi brushed off Yuan Ting's hand, looking at him indifferently, "I’ve bought the
books for you; they’re in the trunk. Don’t forget to write your reading notes."
Yuan Ting: "..." Any lingering sense of parting sorrow just evaporated.
Heh, we're miles apart now, how are you going to control me?
Bye-bye then.
Watching Yuan Ting get into the car without looking back, Xiao Zhang chuckled, "The
young master must be heartbroken, probably crying in the car now."
"..." Cheng Nanyi gave him an indescribable look, "Drive slower on the way back."
……
The day after returning from Chuanhai, Yuan Ting also started school.
Yuan Ting also got into No. 1 Middle School, but with average grades, so he ended up in
the same class as Duan Wenze again, while Gu Yuqi was in the top class.
The grandmother was philosophical: "It's enough if one child in the family excels in
studies. Not everyone can be top-notch. Xiao Ting, don't feel pressured, let your father
work his job and support you."
Yuan Ting wholeheartedly agreed, his life's strategy being to rely on his dad and take it
easy.
Why live life so strenuously?
Isn't it nice to be an idle fish?
Yuan Ting spent his days joyfully with Duan Wenze at the back of the class, playing with
his phone, reading novels, and gaming – a blissful existence.
What?
Caught by the teacher? Standing punishment? Write a self-criticism?
Sorry, but shamelessness is unbeatable.
The back rows in every class are the trouble spots, but Yuan Ting's middle school exam
scores ranked decently, unlike Duan Wenze who only scored in the thirties in English.
So, the teachers didn't want to give up on Yuan Ting, but he was truly a headache. Fed up
with constant talks, he deliberately scored last in the first high school monthly test,
nearly giving the teacher a heart attack.
The teacher finally gave up on him, and Yuan Ting happily resumed his carefree days.
With the ever-increasing capabilities of smartphones and the availability of computer

games, life was incredibly enjoyable.
Yuan Ting, with his dual lifetime of experience, summarized a worldly wisdom: "When
you give up striving and fully relax, you'll discover how beautiful the world really is."
And to add, especially when your dad is still striving, it's even more beautiful.
What about his brother?
Oh, sorry, they haven't been in much contact since he started university.
In fact, they didn't communicate much before either, but with Yuan Xiao's intervention,
Yuan Ting couldn't avoid it. Now in different cities, Cheng Nanyi couldn't catch him even
if he wanted to.
"It's the holidays, let's pull an all-nighter at the internet café," Duan Wenze suggested
while packing up his bag.
"Sure, but you're treating, I'm broke," Yuan Ting responded.
"You pauper, you'll die poor," Duan Wenze said exasperatedly. "I swear you have no
shame, you might as well tattoo 'I'm broke' on your forehead."
"Being broke is nothing to be ashamed of," Yuan Ting retorted sharply. "What's the use of
pride? Can it be eaten?"
Duan Wenze: "..." Impressive.
A seven-day holiday for high school students was akin to celebrating the New Year.
Yuan Ting and Duan Wenze walked out of the school happily, discussing grabbing a big
meal before spending the night at an internet café, when Duan Wenze suddenly
exclaimed, "Oh my, your brother..."
"What about my brother?" Yuan Ting followed Duan Wenze's gaze and then froze.
There was a regular black Volkswagen parked at the school entrance.
But the person standing beside the car was anything but ordinary.
Dressed in a simple white T-shirt, black trousers, white sneakers, his hair freshly
trimmed and looking sharp, he stood straight, occasionally glancing casually towards the
school.
The scene seemed almost otherworldly.
Yuan Ting stood rooted to the spot in astonishment.
Cheng Nanyi saw him and started walking over.
Yuan Ting stared at him blankly.
Cheng Nanyi stopped in front of him: "What, surprised to see me?"
"…No, why would I be?" Yuan Ting pursed his lips, it's the National Day holiday, it’s
normal for him to come back.
Don't overthink it.
"Let's go, get in the car." Cheng Nanyi reached out to take his backpack.
The backpack was light, and when Cheng Nanyi looked inside, he found a bunch of empty
beverage bottles and not a single book.
Cheng Nanyi frowned: "What's this?"
"…" Yuan Ting gave a dry laugh, "…Waste not, want not, they're all money..."
Cheng Nanyi: "…"
Author’s note:
Expertly self-deprecating, haha…
Thanks to the little angels who voted for me or nourished me with their support from
2023-09-12 15:11:55 to 2023-09-13 19:28:00~
Thank you to the little angels for nourishing: Xia Mao Mao Yu 26 bottles; Hey Hey 15
bottles; Zhang Mu Da., Bu Fan 14 bottles; Xiao Xiao Wu, 67593036 10 bottles; Ran Mo Mo
5 bottles; Miao Miao Miaomiao 4 bottles; Manmi, Pufferfish Melon, Xi, Shui Feng Qing 1
bottle each;
#72 Chapter 72
Chapter 72
An all-nighter at the internet café was no longer an option, as Yuan Ting got into Cheng
Nanyi’s car.
Cheng Nanyi seemed to have just finished military training; he was a bit tanner and
looked more robust.
Yuan Ting covertly sized him up. Cheng Nanyi, without a glance aside, asked, "What, don't
recognize me anymore?"
"How could that be? How could I not recognize my own brother?"
"Huh." Cheng Nanyi scoffed, sweet words easily escaping his lips. They sounded intimate,
but in reality, not a single message had been sent to him in a month.
Cheng Nanyi now felt a stark disconnect when looking at Yuan Ting. In his presence, Yuan
Ting seemed warm and close, but once out of sight, he appeared distant and unreachable.
Sometimes, Cheng Nanyi wondered if Yuan Ting was forced to compromise because of
the 500,000 debt. But in reality, if he really didn't want to repay, there were many ways
out, like approaching the elder or seeking help from Cheng Shaolin.
Yet, all these years, Yuan Ting had never stepped foot in the Cheng family home since he
left.
It was as if the laughter and joy of those years were just a performance by Yuan Ting.
Once the play was over, there was no need to continue acting.
However, when he used the 500,000 to bind Yuan Ting, he reluctantly walked into the
trap, cursing and swearing.
That 500,000 was like a delicate silk thread bridge connecting them, seemingly breakable
by a mere wind, yet it continued to sway and hold on.
The car stopped outside a restaurant, and the two went in to order.
Yuan Ting seemed distracted, flipping through the menu from start to finish without
choosing anything.
"What's wrong, nothing you like?" Cheng Nanyi asked.

"No, it's not that." Yuan Ting shook his head, casually picked a couple of dishes, and
handed the menu back to the waiter.
Cheng Nanyi then ordered some of Yuan Ting's usual favorites before picking up his glass
for a sip of water, silently gazing at Yuan Ting.
Yuan Ting, feeling somewhat guilty under his gaze, coughed lightly: "Why are you staring
at me?"
"Are you afraid of being watched?" Cheng Nanyi retorted.
Well, that's quite the statement.
Yuan Ting also looked up defiantly: "How would you feel if I stared at you like this?"
"Go ahead and look." Cheng Nanyi leaned back on the sofa, languidly saying, "I'm not
afraid of being watched."
Yuan Ting: "…"
After staring at Cheng Nanyi for a few seconds, Yuan Ting admitted defeat. Duan Wenze
always says he's shameless, but maybe Cheng Nanyi is the truly shameless one.
Yuan Ting turned his head, fidgeting with a flower on the table. Why does he feel so
uneasy?
"I haven't seen you for a month. I'm here to collect your letters and reading notes," Cheng
Nanyi finally spoke.
"What the heck?" Yuan Ting exclaimed in disbelief, looking at him, accidentally breaking
the flower in his hand.
Damn, this flower has thorns, it's killing him.
Yuan Ting blew on his hand, glaring at Cheng Nanyi.
"Letters and reading notes, what about them?" Cheng Nanyi squinted, "You didn't think I
couldn't control you just because I went away for studies, did you?"
Yuan Ting: "…"
Yes, indeed, that's exactly what he thought.
Cheng Nanyi pulled his hand over to look, noticing a small blood spot where a rose thorn
had pricked him.
Cheng Nanyi looked closely at Yuan Ting's hands for the first time; they were slender and
pale, with distinct joints due to his thinness.
"Brother, I'm in my first year of high school now, really busy, you know. You've been
through high school, you know how fast-paced it is. I don't have time to write letters or
read leisure books, let alone write reading notes." Yuan Ting scratched Cheng Nanyi's
hand to show his displeasure.
"Really busy?" Cheng Nanyi scoffed, releasing his hand, "Scoring last in your class is being
busy? You seem more like you're having a great time."
Yuan Ting was shocked: "…How did you know I ranked last?"
Cheng Nanyi didn’t bother to respond, just looked at him: "You have one year. When it’s
time for the arts and sciences stream separation, you need to get into the top class."
"????" Yuan Ting was dumbfounded. What nonsense was he spouting?
Get into the top class?
His brain was fine; why would he aim for the top class?
"Why should I aim for the top class?" Yuan Ting asked earnestly.
"You need to aim for Chuanhai University, at least top ten in your grade."
Aim for Chuanhai University?
Yuan Ting laughed: "When did I ever say I wanted to go to Chuanhai University?"
"I said so," Cheng Nanyi stated.
Yuan Ting: "???"
"I don't want to go to Chuanhai University," Yuan Ting declared.
"Why not?"
"No reason, I just don't feel like applying there, that's all."
"Then which university do you want to apply to?"
"…Any university will do, as long as it's a university." Yuan Ting started to justify, "What’s
the point of attending university? It's for making money, right? But I've always regarded
money as dirt, so whether I get into a good university or not doesn’t matter."
Cheng Nanyi couldn't help but laugh.
Hearing 'regard money as dirt' from Yuan Ting was like listening to a joke.
Yuan Ting huffed, not missing the fact that Cheng Nanyi was mocking him.
Grabbing his chopsticks, Yuan Ting began to eat, determined to slack off, as studying was
not on his agenda.
Nobody could control him.
Cheng Nanyi didn’t pursue the previous conversation and also started eating.
"Why aren’t you going on a trip with your classmates for the holiday?" Yuan Ting asked.
Yuan Ting waited a while for Cheng Nanyi's answer. Thinking he hadn’t heard him, he
looked up, only to find Cheng Nanyi hesitating.
It was rare to see such an expression on Cheng Nanyi’s face.
"What's wrong, something happened?" Yuan Ting put down his chopsticks.
Cheng Nanyi sighed, "My uncle is getting married."
His uncle is getting married?
"So he's getting married."
Yuan Ting was startled, thinking it was something more serious.
"Getting married is normal, especially during the National Day holiday…"
Wait a second?
"Who’s getting married?"
Oh no, isn’t Cheng Nanyi’s uncle his stepdad?
"My dad is getting married?" Yuan Ting blurted out.
Cheng Nanyi was momentarily taken aback by this term.

Yuan Ting’s mind raced. Cheng Shaolin is getting married again?
He thought after a first marriage in his forties and its subsequent failure, Cheng Shaolin
wouldn’t consider marrying again. Why now in his fifties?
Yuan Ting began scratching his head, exasperated.
If there's another Shu Zhilan, he might as well end it all – seriously, he couldn’t take it.
"Who is this woman? How did they meet? How old is she? Does she have children? Boys
or girls? Is she good to my stepfather?" Yuan Ting fired off these questions anxiously.
"Actually, she's an acquaintance," Cheng Nanyi explained. "My new aunt… she practices
traditional Chinese medicine. Her mentor was a friend of grandfather’s. Last year, when
grandfather was unwell, my uncle visited her mentor frequently. That’s how they met
and got to know each other."
Uh…
That sounds familiar.
Yuan Ting tilted his head: "What's her surname?"
"Her surname is Zhong, named Zhong Wei, under forty years old, never married, so she
doesn’t have children," Cheng Nanyi answered his previous questions. "She seems to get
along well with my uncle…" But then again, my uncle and Yuan Ting’s mother also got
along well initially.
Yuan Ting: "…" Uh, Doctor Zhong…
In his previous life, after Cheng Nanyi injured his leg, he was treated by a traditional
Chinese medicine practitioner, a friend of the 'old gentleman' Cheng Nanyi mentioned.
Later, when the old doctor aged, his acupuncture treatments were taken over by his
disciple, Zhong Wei.
Yuan Ting would see her at least four or five times a week.
They were quite familiar with each other.
Doctor Zhong loved to make assumptions, often prescribing tonic medicines for Yuan
Ting and sneakily handing him lubricating cream, claiming it was a century-old recipe for
smoother performance, advising the 'bottom' to learn self-care.
When Yuan Ting insisted they weren't in that kind of relationship, Doctor Zhong gave him
a knowing look, leaving Yuan Ting exasperated. Even if they were, Cheng Nanyi would be
the 'bottom', not him.
It was then Yuan Ting realized, despite Cheng Nanyi’s leg disability, certain other
functions were intact, leading him to wonder about Cheng Nanyi's needs, given his stoic
demeanor.
When bored, Doctor Zhong would experiment on Yuan Ting, often giving him
acupuncture treatments that once left half of his body numb, making him avoid her
whenever possible.
He never expected this life’s turn of fate would bring his stepfather and her together.
If it's the same Doctor Zhong from his past life, then Yuan Ting felt quite reassured.
Watching Yuan Ting’s expressions change, Cheng Nanyi tapped his forehead: "What’s
wrong?"
"All good, all good," Yuan Ting chuckled. His stepfather with Doctor Zhong?
Haha, the thought of that scenario is quite amusing.
Yuan Ting was genuinely happy. In his previous life, Doctor Zhong was like a beacon of
light; Cheng Nanyi would only be calm and filled with hope in her presence because she
firmly believed in telling him, "Trust me, I will get you standing again."
Yuan Ting believed her too.
With his spirits lifted, Yuan Ting enthusiastically polished off two bowls of rice.
When happy, Yuan Ting's joy radiated, his eyes and brows curving in delight.
Seeing the sparkle in his eyes, Cheng Nanyi's lips also curved slightly.
After the meal, Cheng Nanyi dropped Yuan Ting back home, parting with a reminder: "I'll
come to collect the letters and reading notes."
"Got it," Yuan Ting replied with a wave of his hand, annoyed by the nagging.
When Yuan Ting got home, he saw Yuan Qingguang holding an invitation, who said to
him, "Your stepfather is getting married. He's invited us to the wedding."
"Not going," Yuan Ting stated.
"How can you not go?"

"A former stepson attending his stepfather's wedding, does that sound right to you?"
Yuan Qingguang sighed helplessly, "That's all in the past."
Looking earnestly at Yuan Ting, Yuan Qingguang said, "Xiao Ting, I need to talk to you.
Since you left the Cheng family, your stepdad still helped you with school. After we
opened this recycling station, why do you think Mr. Duan has been so helpful, securing
clients, arranging collaborations with schools and hospitals? It's all because of the Cheng
family's influence. We should be grateful." He had wanted to say this for a long time,
feeling his son's complete detachment from the Cheng family was too heartless.
"Oh." Yuan Ting turned and went to the bathroom to shower.
Yuan Qingguang: "…" Well, that was futile.
Teenagers really can be a headache.
On the day of Cheng Shaolin's wedding, Yuan Ting sneaked a peek. It was nice. His
stepfather seemed happy, as did Doctor Zhong. Both were smiling sweetly, and the old
gentleman looked in good spirits, which put Yuan Ting at ease.
After Cheng Shaolin's wedding, the National Day holiday was almost over, and Cheng
Nanyi came to collect the letters before leaving.
Yuan Ting had rushed these out, writing over thirty letters in a frenzy, almost making
himself sick from the effort.
Cheng Nanyi began to open them, but Yuan Ting stopped his hand, looking at him
sincerely, "Brother, don’t open them in front of the messenger. It's impolite."
Cheng Nanyi returned to school with a pile of letters, opening each one.
Each letter contained only a single sentence, almost blatantly perfunctory.
Brother:
A day apart feels like three autumns.
Brother:
Two days apart feel like six autumns.
Brother:
Three days apart feel like nine autumns.

……
Brother:
Twenty-two days apart feel like sixty-six autumns.
……
Brother:
Thirty days apart feel like ninety autumns…
By the last few letters, the handwriting was nearly leaping off the page.
Cheng Nanyi stared at the words for a while before slowly gathering up the letters.
A day apart feels like three autumns, right?
Okay, I get it.
……
In high school, there’s only a real break every two weeks. The next holiday wasn’t until
mid-October. At the end of the school day, Yuan Ting hesitated to leave.
Duan Wenze quickly packed his bag and tossed a drink bottle to Yuan Ting: "Are you
coming or not? If you’re not, I’m leaving first. I’m going to find Gu Yuqi."
Seeing Yuan Ting dawdle, Duan Wenze didn’t wait for him and left on his own.
Yuan Ting, carrying his backpack, sneaked up to the school gate and peered out, spotting
the familiar black Volkswagen parked roadside.
And there was Cheng Nanyi, standing by the car.
Yuan Ting felt a sense of resignation.
In his past life overseas, Cheng Nanyi looked after him because of a family obligation. But
now?
What's the reason now?
Is it because of that 500,000?

Yuan Ting rubbed his face with both hands, feeling troubled.
Just as Yuan Ting planned to take a detour through another exit, he saw Cheng Nanyi
looking up and their eyes met.
Caught. No need to hide anymore.
Carrying his backpack with a drooped head, Yuan Ting walked towards the gate, where a
girl blocked his path.
"Yuan Ting, I want to talk to you."
Yuan Ting looked up. She was a girl from the arts class who studied music.
Yuan Ting remembered her because they shared physical education classes, and she was
notably beautiful, the school's belle, attracting attention wherever she went.
Yuan Ting looked at her, and the girl confidently met his gaze: "Yuan Ting, I like you."
Yuan Ting's eyes widened in astonishment. Wow, happiness came so suddenly.
Finally, a girl liked him, and not just any girl, but the school belle. Hahaha…
The peach blossom doesn't stir until it does, and when it does, it's the school belle.
At last, he wasn’t just the courier of love letters for others.
"Sorry, he's not dating in high school. Thank you for your interest."
A smooth voice interjected.
The laughter inside Yuan Ting abruptly ceased.
"Who are you?" The school belle tilted her head at Cheng Nanyi, frowning, "What does my
confession to Yuan Ting have to do with you?"
"I'm his brother," Cheng Nanyi replied, offering her the chocolate in his hand, his
demeanor gentle, "Thank you for liking him, but he's not planning to date right now."
The school belle looked at the chocolate in his hand, then back at him, and slowly turned
to Yuan Ting, "Does he get to decide that?"
Cheng Nanyi also turned his gaze to Yuan Ting.
At that moment, Yuan Ting genuinely wanted to accept the school belle's feelings. After
all, dating in front of Cheng Nanyi would be quite thrilling, perhaps enough to shock him
away.
But, that wouldn’t be fair to the school belle, so this idea couldn't come to fruition.
Under their watchful eyes, Yuan Ting reluctantly nodded his head.
"Ugh…" The school belle wrinkled her nose, "I thought you were quite individualistic, but
turns out you just listen to everything your brother says, even unable to refuse... a
mommy's boy!" Such a disappointment.
She had really liked him before, resembling a prince straight out of a comic book. But who
knew he'd be so indecisive, shattering her ideal image instantly.
A mommy's boy?
Ahhhhhh…
Yuan Ting was about to explode. Who are you calling that?
If you weren't a girl, I'd have smacked you by now.
Before Yuan Ting could lose his temper, Cheng Nanyi timely grabbed his arm, pulling him
behind and once again offered the chocolate to her: "This chocolate is handcrafted,
brought back from Switzerland today, freshly made right before boarding the plane. I
hope it can make up for any unpleasantness."
The school beauty looked at Cheng Nan Yi, stars twinkling in her eyes.
Such a gentleman...
Her experience today was like something out of an idol drama.
Her first-ever confession was rejected by the brother of the man she confessed to, who
then gave her a box of chocolates. And importantly, the brother was also incredibly
handsome.
Compared to them, even the most handsome rich guys seem less appealing.
"That's a bit much," Yuan Ting stepped in front of her, interrupting her thoughts. "You
girls, I'm really at my wit's end with you."
How can she fall for someone else right in front of him?
Doesn't he have any sense of shame?

Being confessed to by the school beauty was something he planned to boast about
forever. What now?
The school beauty pouted and took the chocolate: "Thanks, big brother."
"My brother," Yuan Ting corrected, not too pleased.
The school beauty left, looking back every three steps.
Author's note:
Thank you to the angels who voted for me or nourished me with nutrient fluids between
2023-09-13 19:28:00 and 2023-09-15 17:27:27~
Thanks to the nutrient fluid donors: Li Sheng 30 bottles; Yu Han, Dreams Beyond the
Horizon 20 bottles; Liang Nuan 10 bottles; Don't Look, This Is My Wife 8 bottles; Please
Protect Your Eyesight 7 bottles; Sweet Melon, Mo Mo 5 bottles; 404 Ghost Heads, Man Mi,
Fugu Melon, XL 1 bottle each;
I am deeply grateful for everyone's support and will continue to work hard!
#73 Chapter 73
Chapter 73
Yuan Ting got into Cheng Nanyi’s car once again.
"How could you refuse for me?" Yuan Ting expressed his displeasure towards Cheng
Nanyi.
Cheng Nanyi glanced at him, "So, you wanted to accept her?"
"Whether I accept her or not, that's my business."
"Okay, I'm sorry," Cheng Nanyi apologized. "I apologize to you."
？？？？
Yuan Ting stared at him in shock. Damn, he actually heard Cheng Nanyi apologize.
And he said "I'm sorry" too.
"You…" Yuan Ting leaned over to touch his forehead, "Do you have a fever?"
Cheng Nanyi ignored him.
Yuan Ting withdrew his hand, coughing lightly: "Fine, let it go this time, but don’t do it
again. She’s such a pretty girl, dating her would be nice."
"Hey, brother…" Yuan Ting’s eyes gleamed, "What do you think of her? I think she’s quite
cute, and she’s the school belle too. How about I help you pursue her?"
The car abruptly stopped at the roadside.
Yuan Ting touched his nose, "What’s the matter?"
Cheng Nanyi turned his head, silently looking at him, making Yuan Ting feel a bit guilty.
Finally, Yuan Ting lowered his head and admitted, "I was wrong."
Only then did Cheng Nanyi start the car again.
Yuan Ting searched around the car, "Hey, what about the chocolate you brought back
from Switzerland? I want to try it."
"I gave it to that girl."
"Just one box?" Yuan Ting's eyes widened.
"Yes, just one box."
Yuan Ting: "…"
Can I get out of the car and ask for it back?
Yuan Ting felt even more dejected now. No girlfriend and no chocolate.
"Why have you come back again so soon?"
Hearing Yuan Ting's questioning tone, Cheng Nanyi replied calmly, "Isn’t it what you
said? A day apart feels like three autumns?"
Yuan Ting: "…" Alright then.
"Do you have exams coming up?" Cheng Nanyi asked.
Yuan Ting turned his head towards the window, pretending not to hear.
Cheng Nanyi took Yuan Ting to a particularly quiet teahouse and got a private room. As
soon as they entered, he pulled out a stack of notebooks: "These are my old notes. Take a
look, and if there's anything you don’t understand, you can ask me."
Yuan Ting looked at him, realizing Cheng Nanyi hadn’t given up on the idea of him
attending Chuanhai University.
"Brother, you're really overestimating me," Yuan Ting sighed. "I genuinely don't have the
brains for it."
"You do."
"I don't."
"You do."
"I don't."
"I say you do."
"I…"
Cheng Nanyi reached out and pinched his lips, effectively silencing him: "What I say
goes."
Yuan Ting: "???"
Is this something you get to decide?
This is about me not wanting to attend the same school as you.
Cheng Nanyi had returned on Saturday and, after making Yuan Ting study all afternoon,
checked into a nearby hotel.
"You're not going home?" Yuan Ting looked at him.
"Hmm, grandfather doesn't know I'm back," Cheng Nanyi said casually.
Yuan Ting pursed his lips, so he came back specifically to tutor him.
Holding the room key, Cheng Nanyi looked at the silent Yuan Ting: "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Yuan Ting shook his head. "You go up then, I'm heading home."
"Alright, tomorrow morning at 8:00, don't be late." He said, taking out two boxes of
chocolate from his bag and handing them to Yuan Ting.
Eyeing the exquisitely packaged chocolates, Yuan Ting swallowed hard, ultimately saying
nothing, but took them and said, "Thank you, brother."
……
Yuan Ting stayed awake until dawn, then went to the hotel with the breakfast his
grandmother made.
Yawning incessantly, Yuan Ting fell asleep on the bed even before Cheng Nanyi finished
his breakfast, sleeping soundly.
Cheng Nanyi sighed helplessly, guessing he had stayed up all night playing games.
When Yuan Ting woke up, it was already noon. He stretched and suddenly felt energetic:
"I'm starving, let's go eat."
After making Cheng Nanyi pay for lunch, Yuan Ting waved goodbye: "Brother, drive
safely, bye."
Cheng Nanyi: "…"

The smile on Yuan Ting's face was almost spilling over, clearly happy about his
departure.
Cheng Nanyi rolled down the car window: "Next time I come back, it should be for the
monthly exams. If you rank last again, just you wait and see."
Yuan Ting: "…"
Just you wait and see.
Half a month later, it was already December. The night before had brought snow, making
the roads slippery the next day. Yuan Ting unusually made a call to Cheng Nanyi.
"It's snowing, maybe you shouldn't come back."
"Scared to see me because you ranked last again in the monthly exams?"
Yuan Ting, exasperated: "I'm worried about your safety."
"Or you’re more worried about your grades." Cheng Nanyi hung up the phone.
Halfway through the last period, Yuan Ting stealthily slipped out the back door and
headed to the schoolyard to climb over the wall.
As soon as he climbed to the top, he saw the familiar black car.
He had just checked his phone; due to the snow and ice, the highway was closed, meaning
he had to take the slower roads. With the slippery conditions, the journey would take at
least four to five hours.
Yuan Ting perched on the wall, took out his phone, opened the camera, and looked at
himself in the lens.
What was Cheng Nanyi up to?
Could it be that he actually liked him?
Although he was indeed handsome, Cheng Nanyi surely preferred girls.
Yes, he must.
"Yuan Ting, are you taking selfies on the wall?" The homeroom teacher stood at the
corner, glaring at Yuan Ting, and yelled, "Get down from there."
Hearing the noise, Cheng Nanyi looked up, their eyes briefly met before Yuan Ting
tumbled off the wall.
Cheng Nanyi: "…" Why does Yuan Ting always find himself in such predicaments?
……
Yuan Ting stood there, head drooping, as the homeroom teacher, hands on hips,
showered him with a spray of scolding.
"Teacher, give me some face, please." Yuan Ting was sure that Cheng Nanyi was listening
from just beyond the wall.
"You want face?" The teacher laughed incredulously. "You’re at the bottom of the class,
and you still talk about face?"
"Well… it’s not like I wanted to rank last. It’s an IQ issue."
The teacher was astounded: "Are you saying you think you have an IQ problem?" He had
taught many poor students who admitted to not studying hard, but none ever thought
they had an IQ issue. Yuan Ting was the first.
"Well… it’s really not that great. I only scored seventy in an IQ test when I was a kid."
Yuan Ting looked at the teacher sincerely asking, "Teacher, do you think I’m smart?"
The teacher was almost knocked out by his frustration.
When Yuan Ting left school again, the campus was empty.
Seeing Cheng Nanyi, Yuan Ting silently got into the car, prompting a soft chuckle from
Cheng Nanyi.
Yuan Ting immediately glared at him.
"Taking selfies on the wall." Cheng Nanyi couldn’t hold back a low chuckle, "Yuan Ting,
you never cease to amaze me."
Yuan Ting: "…"
Thanks for the compliment.
"What rank did you get in this exam?" Cheng Nanyi asked.
"Second to last." You told me to try ranking last again, didn’t you? So, second to last
should be fine, right?
Cheng Nanyi lifted his eyelids and glanced at him.
Yuan Ting avoided his gaze.
Back at the same teahouse as last time, Cheng Nanyi reviewed Yuan Ting's papers and
began explaining with a pen in hand.
After a while, Cheng Nanyi looked up at Yuan Ting, "Why are you daydreaming? Did you
understand?"
"I don't understand," Yuan Ting admitted.
Cheng Nanyi, showing no impatience, was about to start over when Yuan Ting covered
the papers with his hand.
"Brother, starting today, I'll study hard."
Cheng Nanyi raised an eyebrow: "Oh? Had a change of heart?"
"Yes." Yuan Ting nodded, his lips pursed, looking at him. "But I won't apply to your
university, whether I can get in or not, I won’t apply to Chuanhai University."
There was a moment of silence in the air.
After a while, Cheng Nanyi slowly asked, "Why?"
"Because…" Yuan Ting’s fingers clenched tightly under the table. He looked at Cheng
Nanyi, calmly stating, "I just don’t want to, no other reason. Also, I hate being forced to do
things I don't want to do."
"Forced to do things you don't want to do," Cheng Nanyi repeated softly, "So, attending
the same university as me is something you don't want to do?"
"Yes," Yuan Ting confirmed without hesitation.
Cheng Nanyi set down his pen, leaned back in his chair, and continued to look at Yuan
Ting.
He understood. Yuan Ting didn’t dislike studying; he said he could study hard, but he
simply didn’t want to go to the university Cheng Nanyi attended.
It had been half a year since he went to university, and Yuan Ting had never sent a
message or made a phone call to him.
But he had accidentally seen Mo Yikai's phone; they contacted each other almost every
two or three days.
Actually, he didn't care about these things. It didn’t matter whether they contacted each
other or not, as long as Yuan Ting was by his side.
He never expected anything specific from Yuan Ting; he simply wanted Yuan Ting to stay
with him.
Just like when they were children, when someone mentioned Yuan Ting, they knew he
was Cheng Nanyi's little one.
Cheng Nanyi's fingers tapped lightly on his leg, his gaze fixed on Yuan Ting.
Even now, he still wanted Yuan Ting to stay by his side.
This desire was growing inexplicably stronger.
So, driving two or three hours just to see him for a moment felt satisfying.
If Yuan Ting hadn’t rejected him outright today, he might have let his possessiveness
grow. But Yuan Ting had brought it up.
"Are you sure?" Finally, Cheng Nanyi spoke again, his tone unexpectedly calm.
"I'm sure," Yuan Ting answered without hesitation.
"Alright." Cheng Nanyi stood up, slowly gathering the materials from the table, his eyes
downcast, "From now on, I won't come to see you again. In your words, I wish you a
bright future and a smooth journey."
Having said this, Cheng Nanyi took the materials and turned to leave.
Actually, this was also good. If it continued like this, he feared he might develop
inappropriate feelings for Yuan Ting.
It's better to sever ties while things are still within control, for the good of both sides.
Yuan Ting hadn’t expected Cheng Nanyi to be so decisive. Watching him leave the
teahouse without looking back, he felt a sharp pain tugging at his heart.
"Damn it," Yuan Ting covered his heart, muttering to himself, "I'm too damn selfless."
"Dear grandfather, dear stepfather, I guess this counts as repaying my debt to you."
Leaning back in his chair, Yuan Ting felt utterly drained, as if all his happiness had been
sapped away in an instant, feeling an inexplicable urge to cry.
"Ah…" A sudden scream made Yuan Ting instinctively look up, only to see a car out of
control, heading straight for the teahouse entrance. Cheng Nanyi, who should have been
walking out, had inexplicably turned back, missing the first glimpse of the oncoming car.
"Cheng Nanyi…" Yuan Ting sprang up and dashed outside impulsively.
His heart seemed to stop for a few seconds, his brain overwhelmed, the scene before him
mirroring a car accident from his past life.
Blood was everywhere on the ground, with Cheng Nanyi lying motionless.
Running from inside to outside, passing through the foyer, Yuan Ting couldn't see what
had happened, only hearing a loud "bang."
When he turned around, he saw the glass door at the entrance shattered, with Cheng
Nanyi sitting on the ground amidst the glass shards.
Yuan Ting felt his heart clench tightly. He opened his mouth, gasping for air, as the few
steps to Cheng Nanyi felt like an eternity. He finally reached him, his legs gave way, and
he knelt down.
"Where are you hurt?" Yuan Ting’s voice trembled, his hand shaking, afraid to touch
Cheng Nanyi’s leg. "Can you still move?"
Cheng Nanyi looked at Yuan Ting. In just a moment, Yuan Ting’s face and lips had turned
pale, his forehead covered in cold sweat, his whole body trembling, clearly terrified.
Cheng Nanyi squinted his eyes and said, "I can’t feel anything."
Hearing the words "can’t feel anything," Yuan Ting felt as if he had been doused with cold
water from head to toe.
"It's okay, it's okay, don’t be afraid, everything will be alright," Yuan Ting babbled
incoherently, shaking as he fumbled for his phone, muttering, "Don’t be scared, I’m calling
an ambulance, there won’t be anything wrong…"
His hands were so stiff that the phone fell to the ground, and he failed to pick it up after
two attempts.
"It won’t be anything serious, it won’t be…"
"Are you alright?" The driver of the car got out and approached Cheng Nanyi, asking,
"Where are you hurt?"
"Call an ambulance…" Yuan Ting suddenly turned to him, eyes red and shouting, "Don’t
you drive with your eyes open? If anything happens to him, I swear you'll pay with your
life."
"Yuan Ting…" Cheng Nanyi, sensing something was off with Yuan Ting, grabbed his hand,
"Yuan Ting, I’m fine."
"Yes, it’s fine, brother, it's okay, don’t be afraid, everything will be alright," Yuan Ting
reassured Cheng Nanyi, his voice trembling, "Don’t be scared, I’m here with you."
"Yuan Ting." Cheng Nanyi stood up and pulled Yuan Ting, who was kneeling on the
ground, up as well, "I dodged it just in time, it didn’t hit me, I’m okay."
Yuan Ting's gaze fixated on Cheng Nanyi’s long and straight legs, his mind momentarily
unable to process.
Cheng Nanyi wrapped his arms around him, patting his rigid back, softly whispering in
his ear: "I’m fine, the car didn’t hit me, don’t be scared."
The soothing words trickled into his ear, and after a while, Yuan Ting slowly came to his
senses.
Gasping for air as if he had just been suffocating under water, Yuan Ting started to
breathe heavily.
The next second, he clung tightly to Cheng Nanyi's waist, tears suddenly streaming down.
Yuan Ting buried his face in Cheng Nanyi’s shoulder, crying loudly.
After the car accident in his past life, Cheng Nanyi, upon regaining consciousness, had
constantly been comforting the anxious Yuan Ting, telling him not to worry, to ease his
mind.
But after the surgery, when the doctor announced that Cheng Nanyi would never stand
again, and Yuan Ting wanted to stay by his side, Cheng Nanyi told him, "Get lost, I never
want to see you again."
For years, Cheng Nanyi avoided him, hid from him, refusing to meet him.
Later, when Cheng Nanyi handcuffed him to prevent him from running away, Yuan Ting
could only smirk; Cheng Nanyi would never know how much he wanted to be with him.
Yuan Ting cried so uncontrollably that people around began to stare, leaving the driver
who caused the accident bewildered.
The road was slippery due to the snow, and he had been distracted by his phone, causing
the car to mount the curb. Fortunately, it only shattered the glass and didn't hit anyone.
The person in front of him was the one who had just dodged his car and fallen.
Though, really, there was no need to cry like that. Anyone would think he had killed
someone.
Feeling his shoulder soaked with tears, Cheng Nanyi squinted his eyes and, after a few
seconds, took out his phone and started recording.
Yuan Ting continued to cry, tears and snot flowing, crying so hard he started hiccupping.
In the embrace he had always longed for, he cried for the grievances of his past life and
this one.
He cried for Cheng Nanyi and for himself.
Placing the phone behind Yuan Ting's head, Cheng Nanyi whispered softly, "Yuan Ting,
can you agree now to apply to Chuanhai University?"
"I'll apply, I'll apply," Yuan Ting sobbed, "From now on, whatever you ask me to do, I’ll do
it."
Even if everyone blamed him, he wanted to acquiesce to Cheng Nanyi's wishes.
He wanted to be with him, so he would stay by his side.
Until the day he no longer wanted him.
"You promised me, so you can't go back on your word, or else…" Cheng Nanyi said softly,
"I might actually get into a car accident..."
With a smack, Yuan Ting’s palm struck Cheng Nanyi's face.
Yuan Ting was stunned.
He meant to slap his mouth, but because he was leaning in close, he missed and hit his
face instead.
It wasn't intentional.
"Don’t, don't spout such nonsense…" Yuan Ting stammered.

Cheng Nanyi touched his sore cheek, then turned off the recording on his phone.
He calmly put the phone back in his pocket and took out a tissue to wipe away the tears
on Yuan Ting’s face.
Yuan Ting seemed to have calmed down a bit, but tears continued to flow.
"Can you stop crying now?" Cheng Nanyi asked helplessly.
Yuan Ting wiped his face, feeling belatedly embarrassed, then awkwardly shouted, "I
want to, but damn it, I can’t help it…"
Cheng Nanyi nodded solemnly, understanding that everything was beyond control.
When he walked out of the teahouse, he wasn't sure what he was thinking; he just had an
intuition that if he really left then, he and Yuan Ting would never cross paths again in this
lifetime.
So, he turned around.
He hadn’t even had time to think about what to do after turning back.
Yuan Ting, if one day you realize this is an inescapable cage, you can only blame yourself.
Because this time, you willingly jumped into the cage.
Finally calming down, Yuan Ting rolled up his sleeves and approached the offending
driver: "You damned scoundrel, come here, I’m going to give you a lesson in traffic laws."
Author’s note:
Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or provided nourishment from 2023-09-
15 17:27:27 to 2023-09-16 19:24:46~
Special thanks for nourishment to: Bobo Zanzan Nian 20 bottles; Ahhh I Want to Fall in
Love 9 bottles; Heiheihei 2 bottles; Ran Momo, Manmi, 404 Big Ghosts, Ku Ge Haotian,
Shui Fengqing, Don't Bother Me Sleeping 1 bottle each;
#74 Chapter 74
Chapter 74
Cheng Nanyi pulled away Yuan Ting, who was ready to fight with the driver.
Both of them were in a sorry state, their clothes dirty. Yuan Ting, shocked and sweating
profusely, then chilled by the cold wind, shivered uncontrollably, feeling as if his very
bones were freezing.
Once in the car, Yuan Ting curled up in the seat, teeth chattering: "I can't take it, it's so
cold, let's go to the hotel."
Cheng Nanyi took off his down jacket and put it on Yuan Ting, then started the car and
turned up the heater.
Neither of them spoke in the car; Yuan Ting's mind was numb, incapable of functioning.
The recent ordeal had drained all his mental energy; he couldn’t even remember what he
had just said, only knowing that Cheng Nanyi had been in an accident but hadn’t hurt his
legs.
As long as his legs are fine, that's all that matters. Yes, as long as his legs are fine.
Yuan Ting reached out to touch Cheng Nanyi's leg, pressing his fingers slightly.
Cheng Nanyi glanced at him and gently patted his hand.
Upon arrival, Yuan Ting got out of the car, his mind dazed and legs weak, then heard his
grandmother’s surprised voice: “Nanyi? Is that you, Nanyi?”
"Grandma, it’s me."
"Haven’t seen you in a long time," Grandma greeted him with surprise and delight.
The two exchanged pleasantries in the courtyard while Yuan Ting went straight into the
house, only then realizing Cheng Nanyi had brought him home.
This residence was where he moved after leaving the Cheng family.
Since then, Cheng Nanyi had never set foot here.
Even though they had the matter of the 500,000 yuan between them, and Yuan Xiao had
invited him countless times, Cheng Nanyi only ever came as far as the alley entrance.
Hearing outside that Cheng Nanyi would stay for dinner, Grandma immediately grabbed
her purse to buy groceries.
Yuan Ting sat down on a chair, his eyes barely moving, watching Cheng Nanyi enter the
room.
Cheng Nanyi surveyed Yuan Ting's bedroom.
The house was quite old, with two beds, a wardrobe, and a desk.
The air conditioner was on, turned on earlier by Grandma, knowing Yuan Ting would
come back, so the room was warm.
Yuan Qingguang must have made some money over the years. He probably stayed here
because it was close to the school and convenient.
Cheng Nanyi took a thermos and poured a cup of hot water for Yuan Ting.
After drinking a cup of hot water, Yuan Ting’s numbed mind finally started to function.
Slowly recalling the previous events, Yuan Ting’s gaze once again fell on Cheng Nanyi’s
legs.
"Brother," Yuan Ting called out.
"Hmm?" Cheng Nanyi, standing at the desk browsing through books, responded casually.
Yuan Ting narrowed his eyes slightly: "During the accident earlier, when I ran over to ask
if you were okay, you told me 'I can’t feel anything.' Were you lying to me?"
"I never said that," Cheng Nanyi replied calmly, shaking his head as he continued to flip
through books. "You must have been too nervous and heard wrong."
"Impossible." Yuan Ting stood up and walked over to Cheng Nanyi, staring intently at
him. "It was definitely you who said it, you did it on purpose, you were lying to me."
"I wasn’t," Cheng Nanyi continued to shake his head.
Yuan Ting couldn’t help but laugh in frustration: "You dare to say it but not admit it?"
"I never said it," Cheng Nanyi looked up at him. "My IQ isn’t seventy, so I remember what
I say, and I remember what you say too. As for you… I think you might have remembered
wrong."
"Oh, come on…" Yuan Ting was almost jumping with anger. "If you won’t admit it, fine,
but are you really mocking my IQ now?"
"So, an IQ of seventy is a mockery? I thought you were proud of it."
Yuan Ting, gritting his teeth: "Anyway, you lied to me." If Cheng Nanyi hadn’t said he
couldn’t feel anything, he wouldn’t have broken down and cried like that. Thinking back
on it now, it was embarrassingly shameful.
"Yuan Ting, don’t falsely accuse people without evidence."
"…" Frustrated, Yuan Ting grabbed Cheng Nanyi's hand, "Pah…"
Cheng Nanyi: "…"
"Are you a child?" Cheng Nanyi, with a sense of resignation, took a tissue to wipe his
hand. "That act doesn’t work on me anymore."
Yuan Ting rolled his eyes, slumped into the chair, and scoffed, "Fine, you've brought me
back, now you can leave." So shameless to even deny what he said.
"Where should I go?"
"Go wherever you like, what does it have to do with me?" Yuan Ting replied irritably.
"You already left back at the teahouse."
"I left because you said you wouldn't study. Now that you've decided to study again, of
course, I'm not leaving."
"Who said I'm going to study?" Yuan Ting snorted. "I’m not studying, whoever wants to
can study."
"Are you going back on your word?"
"Going back on what?" Yuan Ting looked at him defiantly. "Did I say anything?"
Cheng Nanyi raised an eyebrow: "You said you’d listen to me from now on and study hard
for university."
"Haha." Yuan Ting sneered. "Did I say that? Do you have any proof?"
Yuan Ting crossed his legs, determined to deny everything.
He remembered what he had said before, but everything happened so suddenly at that
moment, he couldn't think straight.
It’s not that he regretted it; at this point, there was no turning back.
Anyway, if Cheng Nanyi likes girls, he'll naturally lose his fixation on him once he has a
girlfriend.
If it’s really like Li Yichao, that jerk, said, and Cheng Nanyi does like men, then that man
can only be him, Yuan Ting.
Humph!
I won't turn you, but if you're naturally inclined that way, then you can only lean towards
me.
As for those words said in the teahouse, of course, I'll never admit them; obeying his
every word? How self-important does he think he is?
Observing Yuan Ting's smug little expression, Cheng Nanyi chuckled softly, remaining
silent.
For dinner, Grandma made a big spread, and Yuan Qingguang brought out his alcohol:
"Nanyi, Baijiu, beer, or red wine, which do you prefer?"
Cheng Nanyi glanced over: "Then I'll join Uncle with some Baijiu."
"Alright." Yuan Qingguang was pleased. "A man’s got to drink Baijiu."
Yuan Ting reached for a cup, only to be swatted by Grandma: "What’s a child doing
drinking alcohol?"
Yuan Ting: "…"
Grandma also didn't let Cheng Nanyi drink much, switching his glass for a smaller one.
Unable to drink, Yuan Ting could only focus on the food, eyeing Cheng Nanyi resentfully.
Cheng Nanyi, feeling a bit warm from the alcohol, loosened his collar, then dipped his
chopsticks in the alcohol and extended them to Yuan Ting's mouth: "A little boy's been
craving it for a while now, come on, have a taste."
"Hahaha…" Yuan Qingguang burst into laughter, and Grandma also chuckled, tapping
Yuan Ting on the head, "Aren't you embarrassed, craving alcohol? Want to lick it?"
Yuan Ting: "…"

Yuan Ting actually bit the chopsticks and gave it a lick, thinking, 'I hope it disgusts you.'
Cheng Nanyi retracted the chopsticks and continued eating, with no one making much of
the incident.
Yuan Ting hummed softly, his feelings complex as he cast a glance at Cheng Nanyi.
Sensing his gaze, Cheng Nanyi looked up, but Yuan Ting quickly averted his eyes, focusing
on eating his meal.
Since Cheng Nanyi had drunk alcohol, he couldn't drive, so it was natural for him to stay
the night.
Grandma brought fresh bedding to the bedroom: "I’ve prepared Yuan Xiao's bed for you. I
know you're particular, so I've used new linens."
"Thank you, Grandma."
"Don’t be formal with me. This is your home. You’re welcome anytime, and I’ll cook for
you." Grandma sighed, "You haven’t visited in all these years. I thought you were mad at
Yuan Ting. He’s young and thoughtless. If he did something wrong, don’t be angry with
him. As brothers, you should get along and look after each other."
"I understand, Grandma. I’ll visit more often, just don’t get tired of me."
"Nonsense, child. How could Grandma ever find you bothersome?"
After making the bed, Grandma went back to her room to sleep.
There were only two bedrooms here. Since renting the yard for the scrap, Yuan
Qingguang usually stayed there at night, and Grandma slept in Yuan Qingguang’s old
room.
Yuan Ting, taking his clothes to shower, asked Cheng Nanyi: "Did you bring a change of
clothes?"
"I did," Cheng Nanyi replied lazily, lounging in the chair. "They're in the car, but I don’t
feel like fetching them."
"What a coincidence, I don’t feel like getting them either. You can just go without,"
retorted Yuan Ting, still holding a grudge, and thinking he could hold onto it for a
lifetime.
No sensation?
Do you know I was almost scared to death hearing those words?
What's more infuriating is that he clearly said it, yet stubbornly denies it.
Cheng Nanyi just laughs, the kind that's audible.
Yuan Ting turned back to look at him, frowning, "What are you laughing at?" It was rare
for Cheng Nanyi to show such emotion.
"I laugh when I’m happy," Cheng Nanyi said, half-squinting and resting his chin on his
hand, "Aren’t you happy?"
"Happy my foot."
Grumbling, Yuan Ting grabbed the car keys to open the door and went to the car to find
Cheng Nanyi’s luggage.
Author’s note:
Sigh, well...
#75 Chapter 75
Chapter 75
The car was parked right at the door; Yuan Ting opened the rear door.
Cheng Nanyi didn’t bring a suitcase, just a small duffel bag. There was also a large bag on
the back seat, which Yuan Ting glanced at; it was filled with various local snacks and
specialties.
Yuan Ting also carried it inside.
"Is this for me?" Yuan Ting shook the bag in his hand.
"Yes, they are some specialties brought by my dorm mates. I thought they were pretty
tasty, so I brought them back for you to try."
Yuan Ting looked at the snack bags labeled with names of different places, pursing his
lips.
Online shopping isn't very developed yet, so many local specialties are hard to come by
unless you visit the place.
"Oh." Yuan Ting took a package, opened it, and started eating right away.
Cheng Nan Yi clicked his tongue: "Can't even say thank you?"
"Hmph," Yuan Ting snorted, "Admit what you said earlier, then I'll say thank you."
"If I said I didn't, then I didn't."
Cheng Nan Yi walked over, ruffled Yuan Ting's hair forcefully, then grabbed his luggage to
take out clothes, revealing only a pair of underwear and sleepwear inside.
The so-called bathroom in the yard was rather basic, built especially for Yuan Ting and
Yuan Xiao to shower. Despite its simplicity, it had a heating lamp, making it quite warm.
After taking turns showering, Yuan Ting returned to find Cheng Nan Yi leaning on his bed,
browsing his phone.
"The bedding is all new," Yuan Ting pointed to Yuan Xiao's bed.
"I'll sleep here," Cheng Nan Yi didn't move.

"Fine, if you don't mind me, you can sleep there. I'll sleep in Yuan Xiao's bed."
"No," Cheng Nan Yi objected.
"What's wrong?" Yuan Ting looked at him.
"You can't sleep there either."
"Why not?" Yuan Ting was puzzled.
"That's Yuan Xiao's bed," Cheng Nan Yi stated.
"..." Yuan Ting was speechless, "Yes, it's Yuan Xiao's bed, but the bedding has been
changed to new ones." Even if it hadn't, what's wrong with him sleeping in his brother's
bed?
"It's still his bed."
Yuan Ting, amused and exasperated, pointed to his nose, "I'm the one sleeping, not you."
"Still, you can't."
“……”
Yuan Ting walked over and touched his forehead, "Cheng Nan Yi, are you drunk?"
"No," Cheng Nan Yi said calmly, "You just can't sleep in someone else's bed."
Yuan Ting: "..." He's crazy, seriously crazy.
Cheng Nan Yi's gaze shifted from his phone to Yuan Ting's knee, where a bruise was
visible.
Yuan Ting had been terrified at the time, kneeling with unrestrained force.
Yuan Ting always surprised him, like how he threw himself over him in the fire, yet just
when he thought Yuan Ting cared about him, he left without hesitation.
And before today, he had been obviously avoiding him, yet he broke down crying at the
thought of him being in a car accident.
"Does it hurt?" Cheng Nan Yi reached out and gently touched it.
"It's okay," Yuan Ting shifted uncomfortably backwards.

Cheng Nan Yi looked up at him.
Yuan Ting cleared his throat, took off his shoes, and got into bed. Forget it, no point in
arguing. Sharing a bed is not a big deal; it’s not like they hadn’t slept together before.
Fortunately, the bed wasn't too small, slightly larger than a single bed at school, so it
wasn't too cramped for two.
Yuan Ting may have physically compromised, but verbally he didn't hold back: "I haven’t
changed these sheets or covers for three months. I eat in bed, there are crumbs
everywhere. Who knows, maybe there are roaches and lice under the mattress..."
After venting, Yuan Ting closed his eyes to sleep, only to be pulled up by Cheng Nan Yi,
insisting they swap the new bedding from Yuan Xiao's bed onto this one.
"???" Yuan Ting stared at him, "Are you out of your mind?"
Cheng Nan Yi squinted at him: "Who was it that kept talking such disgusting things all
night instead of sleeping?"
"I..." Yuan Ting, frustrated and speechless, glared at Cheng Nan Yi for a long while before
suggesting, "Then let's go sleep on Yuan Xiao's bed."
"No, that's Yuan Xiao's bed."
Yuan Ting: "..."
Left with no choice, Yuan Ting got off the bed to rearrange the bedding.
Changing bedding in the middle of the night instead of sleeping... Ah, it's so infuriating.
Had he owed Cheng Nan Yi something in a past life?
Well, yes, he actually did owe him.
The next morning, Cheng Nan Yi helped Yuan Ting make a plan. Yuan Ting verbally
resisted but sat obediently at the desk, listening to Cheng Nan Yi.
In the afternoon, as usual, Cheng Nan Yi prepared to drive back. Grandma had fried a big
jar of beef sauce for him to take back to school for his meals. After thanking her, he
accepted it.
"So, uh," Yuan Ting leaned on the car window to speak, "Maybe next time, you just
shouldn’t come back."
"What, having second thoughts?" Cheng Nan Yi gave him a sidelong glance.
Yuan Ting glared back: "Can't you understand when someone's being nice or mean?"
"Yes." Cheng Nan Yi nodded, then chuckled, "Honestly, Yuan Ting, I never believe a word
you say." After speaking, he rolled up the window and drove off.
？？？
Yuan Ting picked up a stone and waved it aimlessly, ultimately not throwing it, just
spitting out a "Tch".
That evening, when Yuan Ting went to the school for night study, Duan Wen Ze
approached him: "Come on, I bought a few more comics. You pick first."
"Not interested." Yuan Ting pushed the comic away.
"Why not?" Duan Wen Ze was puzzled. Yuan Ting used to love reading comics, didn’t he?
"I need to study."
"?????" Duan Wen Ze burst into laughter, "What are you saying, you studying?
Hahahaha..." This was the biggest and funniest joke he had heard all year.
Yuan Ting turned to him, serious: "I'm not joking. I want to quietly excel and then amaze
everyone."
"..." Duan Wen Ze reached out to touch his forehead, "No fever... so, have you gone mad?
Starting to talk nonsense?"
Yuan Ting swatted his hand away: "Yes, I've gone crazy, and I'm dragging you down with
me."
Duan Wen Ze never cared for studying, and his father never interfered, always
advocating freedom. So, Yuan Ting had no burden in sinking into indolence alongside
him.
But!!! Now he was determined to strive for excellence. How could he let Duan Wen Ze
enjoy life alone? That was unacceptable.
No one should be more comfortable than him! That was the bottom line!
"Eh..." Duan Wen Ze immediately stepped back, "You're crazy."

Yuan Ting sneered: "Do you really think with your poor grades, you can catch up to Gu Yu
Qi?" Strike the snake at its vital point.
"Hey." Duan Wen Ze got angry, "I am rich."
"Heh." Yuan Ting scoffed, "As if Gu Yu Qi's family isn't wealthy." They all attended
prestigious schools, who was to say who was better?
Yuan Ting began counting on his fingers, "Gu Yu Qi has wealth, looks, knowledge, and
culture. What do you have? Apart from your dad's money, what else do you have? Do you
have substance? Do you have looks? Can you connect with her on an intellectual level? If
she speaks Alpha, can you respond with Beta?"
Duan Wen Ze was dumbstruck.
Yuan Ting tossed a workbook to him: "From now on, study hard. Would I sacrifice my
time to study with you if it weren't to help you catch up with Gu Yu Qi? You should be
grateful, understand? Brothers should be willing to go through thick and thin for each
other, and I'm just the perfect brother."
Duan Wen Ze took the workbook with tears in his eyes.
"But, I can't learn this stuff," Duan Wen Ze said, looking at the incomprehensible symbols
in the book and yawning.
"Doesn't matter, you'll never catch up with Gu Yu Qi in your lifetime."
Duan Wen Ze: "..."
Yuan Ting began to study diligently, paying attention in class, completing assignments
meticulously, and even motivating Duan Wen Ze to study along with him, which
astonished their homeroom teacher.
Yuan Ting's lack of interest in studies didn't mean he was bad at it. His poor performance
previously was just to irk his teachers and Cheng Nan Yi. Besides, he had knowledge from
his past life and wasn't really of low intelligence, so as long as he wanted to, he could do
well.
"Teacher, don't worry, I will study hard and make you proud."
The homeroom teacher's heart warmed, seeing his student maturing.
After Cheng Nan Yi visited a couple more times, winter break began.
Cheng Nan Yi's winter break was busier than school days, needing to accompany his
grandfather, leaving him no time to look after Yuan Ting.
Yuan Xiao, having free time during the holidays and originally intending to tutor Yuan
Ting, was turned down. Instead, Yuan Ting, along with Duan Wen Ze, enrolled in a
coaching class... the same one Gu Yu Qi had joined.
Duan Wen Ze experienced a mix of pain and pleasure.
Duan Zhen Shan was shocked to see his son suddenly taking an interest in studies. Upon
learning it was Yuan Ting's influence, he rushed to the coaching class, paid Yuan Ting's
fees, and grasping Yuan Ting’s hand, said, "Young master, if you can lead my son onto the
right path, I’ll be grateful for generations."
"Thanks, haha," Yuan Ting pulled away his hand, "No need for generations, just this
lifetime will do. Introduce more business to my dad, Mr. Duan. We can consider it a long-
term win-win collaboration."
"Absolutely, absolutely," Duan Zhen Shan nodded vigorously, "In the future, when young
master Cheng takes charge, I’ll still be counting on you."
Yuan Ting: "..." Truly a businessman, never missing a chance to profit.
And what's with this 'young master Cheng'? Does he know the guy has issues in his head?
Yuan Ting was seriously committed to studying this time. His vow to quietly excel and
then astonish everyone was no joke. If a day comes when he has to stand before the elder
Cheng and Cheng Shao Lin, he wants to be the best match for Cheng Nan Yi in every
aspect except gender.
Yuan Ting studied tirelessly, sleeping past midnight and waking up at five in the morning
to memorize words, using every possible moment, whether walking, standing, sitting, or
lying down.
With Cheng Nan Yi's tutoring, by the end of the first year of high school, Yuan Ting ranked
fifth in his class.
And Duan Wen Ze, dragged along by Yuan Ting for half a year, moved up from the very
bottom to just tenth from the bottom...
The homeroom teacher now looked at Yuan Ting with stars in his eyes, repeatedly using
him as an example to motivate the class.
After the first semester of the second year of high school, the school had a major exam.
Those who scored well could enter the advanced 'rocket' class, while those who did
poorly in the rocket class would be demoted to the regular class. Yuan Ting just barely
made it into Rocket Class 2.
Duan Wen Ze: "!!!!"
Homeroom Teacher: "!!!!"
Yuan Ting, packing his things, waved to them: "Teacher, as the only student in our class
to make it into the rocket class, I'll make you proud."
Homeroom Teacher: "..."
"Duan Wen Ze, I'm going to be Gu Yu Qi’s desk mate again, see you."
Duan Wen Ze, who just ranked 30th in the class: "..." What happened to brotherhood?
Yuan Ting moved his desk to Rocket Class 2 and walked straight to Gu Yu Qi's desk: "Hey,
old deskmate."
Gu Yu Qi, who just lost her deskmate: "..." How did this noticeable troublemaker end up
here again?
Yuan Ting's admission to Rocket Class shocked the Yuan family. Wasn't Yuan Ting a
slacker? How did he manage to get into Rocket Class?
"Is Rocket Class the same one Yuan Xiao used to be in?" Grandma asked, confused, "Does
it mean he's definitely going to college?"
"It's not a guarantee, but it means... as long as nothing goes wrong, there's a high
probability," Yuan Ting modestly replied.
"My son, this brilliant?" Yuan Qing Guang was still in disbelief, "Son, are you sure you
didn't cheat?"
Yuan Ting, speechless: "Me, cheat? Haven't you seen me studying day and night since high
school?"
"That was studying?" Yuan Qing Guang was astonished, "I thought you were staying up
late playing games."
"I thought so too," Grandma chuckled dryly.
"..." Yuan Ting, incredulous, "You thought I was gaming all night and still made me
midnight snacks?"
"Well... I thought gaming also strains the brain..."

Yuan Ting: "..." Has Grandma gone crazy?
No one understood his excellence, only Cheng Nan Yi did.
"You made it into Rocket Class, what gift do you want?"
"Just want a good sleep..." Yuan Ting leaned back in the passenger seat, his eyes bleary,
truly, he had never worked so hard in his past or present life.
Studying, it really can be life-threatening.
Cheng Nan Yi observed Yuan Ting, now seventeen and maturing nicely. His features were
more defined, and his eyes and eyebrows more strikingly beautiful, though he remained
thin despite eating plenty – probably due to the stress of studying.
Cheng Nan Yi had seen just how hard Yuan Ting worked over the past year.
He took a thermos from the backseat and handed it to Yuan Ting.
"What's this?" Yuan Ting unscrewed the lid and immediately smelled something
delicious, his eyes lighting up, "What is it?"
"There are a lot of new snacks near the school now. I bought some for you to try."
The thermos had four layers, each filled with a different snack. The insulation kept them
warm, even after a two-and-a-half-hour drive.
Yuan Ting, who had studied abroad in his previous life and hadn't had much chance to
explore snack streets in China, found these snacks like takoyaki, cold noodles, and
skewers quite novel, as they were not yet popular near his current high school.
Yuan Ting held a skewer to Cheng Nan Yi's mouth: "Try this, it's delicious."
Cheng Nan Yi turned his head away, "No, street food, it's dirty."
Yuanting said with a sigh, "Ugh... Are you serious? You bought it and now you're
complaining it's just street food."
"Eat it. If you don't, I'll dump this whole bucket on your car." Yuanting forcefully
persuaded Cheng Nanyi to take a bite. "It's really delicious, trust me."
As Cheng Nanyi ate, he sighed, "Who knows what kind of oil they used..."
Yuanting quickly finished the skewer Cheng had bitten into and then picked up a new one
to eat.
The food was exactly to Yuanting's taste. Delighted, he looked at Cheng Nanyi with a rare
sweetness in his eyes, "Thanks, brother."
Cheng Nanyi rolled down the car window, looking out and said, "Ding Ran and the others
said it was good, but I've never tried it myself. Next time, I'll bring you something
different."
Yuanting, smiling, replied, "Next time I still want these skewers, but with more chili."
After finishing the bucket of food, the two went to a teahouse.
Yuanting read a book while Cheng Nanyi worked on his laptop.
The spring sunlight was just right, warmly shining through the glass window. Having
eaten a bucket of snacks and drunk two cups of flower tea, Yuanting half-reclined on the
sofa, sprawled out in a relaxed pose.
Cheng Nanyi glanced over, then pulled out a Polaroid camera from his backpack and
snapped a photo of Yuanting.
Yuanting, not deeply asleep, heard the click and opened his eyes. Seeing Cheng Nanyi
shaking the photo, he lazily said, "So you’re into photography now? How's it? Does the
magic mirror confirm the handsome guy?"
As the image on the photo paper appeared, Cheng Nanyi's lips curved up. He handed the
Polaroid to Yuanting, "I bought it for you. I noticed a lot of people at school like these, so I
got one for you."
For him?
Yuanting's eyes immediately lit up, "Does it come with photo paper?"
Cheng Nanyi, "...", realized that Yuanting knew quite a bit about the expensive photo
paper.
Yuanting, taking the camera, fiddled with it for a while, his interest growing. "Brother,
let's take a picture together."
Yuanting beckoned a waitress to help and then sat next to Cheng Nanyi on the sofa, his
arm looped around Cheng's neck, flashing a brilliant smile with a 'yeah' pose beside his
face.
Cheng Nanyi glanced at Yuanting just as the camera clicked.

The photo printed out, and as Yuanting reached for it, Cheng grabbed it first.
"Hey..." Yuanting glared at him, "Let me shake it."
"I gave you the camera, you can take and shake as many photos as you want."
Speechless, Yuanting took the Polaroid and snapped a photo of Cheng Nanyi.
As Yuanting shook his photo, Cheng's picture had already developed. Yuanting reached
for it, "Let me see, how did it turn out?"
"Not showing you." Cheng Nanyi glanced at the photo and then tucked it, along with the
previous solo photo of Yuanting, into his wallet.
Yuanting: "..."
Huh, speechless!
Author's Note:
Thank you to the angels who voted for me or nourished me with nutrient solution during
September 17, 2023, 19:28:51 to September 18, 2023, 19:13:32~
Thanks to the angels for the nutrient solution: Gagaga 90 bottles; Shishi Da Shi, Bu Ci 10
bottles; Meng Meng 6 bottles; Yu, Hetun Gua, Man Mi, ⌒．Yi Nian Qing Xin Jing゛, Bo Bo
Zan Zan Nie 1 bottle;
#76 Chapter 76
Chapter 76
Senior year was exhausting for Yuanting. To get into Sichuan-Hai University, he needed to
be among the top ten in his class.
Even after joining the advanced class, he was just barely hanging on. Securing a top ten
position there was an incredibly daunting task.
Yuanting's days started and ended with studying. Even in his sleep, he found himself
mumbling in English.
Fortunately, his years abroad in his previous life had honed his English skills, which
remained exceptional.
Yuanting's greatest pleasure was watching Duan Wenze endure hardships on the sports
field.
No matter how hard Duan Wenze studied, he could only maintain a rank around thirtieth
in class, a score barely sufficient for an average university. Thus, his father decided to let
him focus on sports, perhaps Duan's best opportunity.
Therefore, Duan Wenze was subjected to rigorous training on the field every day.
Seeing Duan Wenze in such agony brought a sense of solace to Yuanting. After all, there
were others worse off than him in the world.
The torment Duan Wenze endured was not just physical but also mental, especially since
Gu Yuqi probably didn’t like him.
Look at that, a truly pitiable fate.
"Come on, five yuan a shot, hurry up for group photos," Yuanting called out during the PE
class, holding his Polaroid camera.
With college entrance exams looming, nobody wanted to attend PE class, so the
homeroom teacher usually forced everyone out, forbidding them to stay idle in the
classroom.
Yuanting wasn’t taking photos for profit; it was more because too many people wanted
pictures, and he couldn’t accommodate everyone.
The five yuan was just a threshold. After all, isn’t your friendship or love worth more than
five yuan?
"Yuanting, can we take a photo together?" a girl timidly approached and asked in a soft
voice.
"What?" Yuanting pondered for a moment. "That's a different price, how about an extra
five yuan?"
The girl silently stared at Yuanting for a few seconds before stomping her foot and
running away.
Yuanting touched his handsome face, bemused. "Really, am I not even worth five yuan?"
Gu Yuqi, witnessing this, fist-bumped him in admiration, "Respect."
Yuanting, watching Duan Wenze running on the field and glancing their way, schemed. He
nudged Gu Yuqi, "We've been desk mates since the second grade of primary school. It's
been over a decade of twists and turns. For the sake of our sturdy bond, shouldn't we
take a photo to commemorate?"
"I'll pose, but I'm not paying," Gu Yuqi declared.
"How could I take your money?" Yuanting handed the Polaroid to a classmate, and stood
with Gu Yuqi for a snapshot.
After the shot, Yuanting called out to Duan Wenze, who was watching them, "Hey, Doggie,
come here, it's photo time."
Duan Wenze, initially resentful of seeing them together, immediately scampered over
upon hearing this.
"The three of us, classmates in the same class, should take one, right?" Yuanting asked Gu
Yuqi, raising an eyebrow.
Gu Yuqi glanced at Duan Wenze, hesitating to respond.
Yuanting cleared his throat subtly, "We absolutely respect the lady's wish. If you don't
want to, then never mind."
Gu Yuqi pursed her lips, "We're all classmates, so let's take it. It's just a photo."
"Then the lady should stand in the middle," Yuanting immediately suggested.
Yuanting and Duan Wenze positioned themselves on either side of Gu Yuqi, and their
classmate took the photo for them.
"Let's auction off this photo," Yuanting said to Gu Yuqi. "Are you going to bid?"
Gu Yuqi: "...Who would even want it?"
"Alright, you forfeit," Yuanting raised his hand, "I bid five yuan."
"I bid ten yuan," Duan Wenze immediately shouted, raising his hand.
Yuanting declared, "I bid one hundred."
Duan Wenze quickly countered, "I bid two hundred."
Yuanting: "Then I'll bid three hundred..."
Duan Wenze: "I'll bid..."
"Are you out of your mind?" Gu Yuqi, unable to watch this anymore, glared at Duan
Wenze.
Scratching his head with a nervous laugh, Duan Wenze said, "I bid five hundred."
Gu Yuqi: "..."
Indeed, everyone who gets along well with Yuanting seems a bit off. Finding a normal guy
these days is really tough.
In the end, Duan Wenze won the photo for five hundred yuan.
Yuanting stuffed the five hundred yuan into his pocket, "I'll save this money. After the
college entrance exams, I'll treat you both to a meal."
"Great!" Duan Wenze's eyes lit up, thinking, 'True brotherhood, even arranging dates for
me.'
Yuanting patted his shoulder, whispering, "I've always said my studies are to help you get
a girlfriend. Remember my kindness, okay? Now, let's go for a run."
Duan Wenze, holding the photo, joyfully ran off and found a corner to cut Yuanting out of
it, deeming him superfluous.
After school, Yuanting stuffed the Polaroid into his backpack and left the school gates.
Today was a holiday, and Cheng Nanyi was coming back.
This was the last trip back before the college entrance exams. The exams were next week,
and liberation was near.
Spotting the familiar car, Yuanting ran over, opened the door, and got in, then
instinctively looked at the back seat.
Cheng Nanyi always brought him something on his returns.
"Where's the food?" The back seat, besides a luggage bag, was empty.
"You have exams soon, you can't eat just anything. I didn’t bring anything this time,"
Cheng Nanyi said.
"There's still a week to go."
"Better safe than sorry," Cheng Nanyi started the car. "But I can still take you out for some
clean and tasty food."
Cheng Nanyi took Yuanting to a private restaurant they had frequented many times
before without any issues. It was the safest choice.
After Yuanting ordered from the menu, he propped his chin and looked at Cheng Nanyi,
"What if I don’t do well in the exams?"
"If not, you can retake the year," Cheng Nanyi said, pouring him a cup of water from the
teapot.
"I want plum juice."
"No."
"Hmph," Yuanting scoffed coldly, "Then I must do well this time, aiming to get into Yuan
Xiao's school."
"I wish you success," Cheng Nanyi clinked his cup against Yuanting's.
Yuanting: "..." Pfft.
What an act.
"Nanyi? What are you doing here?"
A familiar voice startled Yuanting, and he turned his head to look.
Cheng Nanyi had already stood up, "Uncle, Aunt, you're here for dinner too?"
"Yes, aren't you supposed to be in Sichuan-Hai? Why are you back? Uncle Liu didn't
mention your return… Yuanting?" Cheng Shaolin, approaching them, recognized Yuanting
and stopped in surprise.
Since Yuanting left the Cheng family, the two hadn't seen each other again.
Occasionally, he would see Yuan Qingguang, but as Yuanting refused to meet him, and he
didn't want to impose, especially being the ex-husband of his former wife's son, also wary
of Qingguang's feelings.
Sometimes, when idle, he would wait outside the school, seeing Yuanting happily leaving,
which reassured him. After all, what's more important than happiness?
Yuanting stood up, touched his neck, and opened his mouth, unsure of what to call him.
"Weiwei, this is Yuanting, the boy I've mentioned to you," Cheng Shaolin introduced,
wrapping his arm around the woman beside him.
Yuanting looked over and was so shocked his jaw almost dropped to the floor.
Goodness... Why is Dr. Zhong's belly so big???
That's not just weight gain; she's pregnant…
Cheng Shaolin, seeing Yuanting's astonished expression, felt a bit awkward and touched
his nose.
Zhong Wei greeted Yuanting warmly, waving her hand, "Hi, Yuanting."
"Hello, hello…" Yuanting was so stunned he couldn't think straight.
Wasn't his stepfather infertile?
"By the way, Nanyi, how come you two are together?" Cheng Shaolin turned to Cheng
Nanyi.
"Yuanting has his college entrance exams soon, so I came back to see him," Cheng Nanyi
walked over to Yuanting, giving up his seat for Cheng Shaolin and Zhong Wei.
Cheng Shaolin pulled out a chair for Zhong Wei to sit first, then seated himself.
"You two... made up?" Cheng Shaolin's gaze shifted between them.
When Yuanting had left, they were completely estranged, and his name was still a taboo
in the family.
Cheng Nanyi gestured for the waiter to bring tableware, not responding to Cheng
Shaolin's question.
Zhong Wei nudged him gently, indicating it was a silly question. The two were sitting
together, obviously reconciled.
After the waiter set the tableware, Cheng Shaolin helped Zhong Wei with the sanitizing,
while Yuanting kept his gaze on her.
Zhong Wei glanced at Yuanting and smiled at him.
Cheng Nanyi frowned slightly and reached out to turn Yuanting's face towards him.
Meeting Cheng Nanyi's gaze, Yuanting blinked.
"Be more composed," Cheng Nanyi whispered.
Yuanting took the opportunity to whisper in Cheng Nanyi's ear.
To prevent others from overhearing, Yuanting's lips almost brushed against Cheng
Nanyi's earlobe.
Cheng Nanyi felt the warm breath from Yuanting pouring into his ear, an intimacy he had
never experienced before. Yet, the words Yuanting spoke were even more unsettling than
the gesture.
"Is the child my stepfather’s?"
Cheng Nanyi looked at him expressionlessly.
Yuanting pinched his thigh in response.
Cheng Nanyi held down his mischievous hand, whispering, "What are you thinking?"
Yuanting: "..."
He wondered how Cheng Shaolin, who was supposedly infertile, could father a child.
Suddenly, Yuanting burst into laughter. "Dr. Zhong really is incredible."
Raising his tea cup, Yuanting clinked it with Cheng Shaolin's, "Congratulations."
Cheng Shaolin sighed, "Ah…" realizing there was no familiar form of address left.
Yuanting also pursed his lips.
Although he had only spent a few years with Cheng Shaolin in this life, in his previous life,
it had been a solid decade. In his heart, Cheng Shaolin was his real father.
"Thank you," Cheng Shaolin raised his cup in return, looking at Yuanting with a hint of
emotion, "It’s been years, and Yuanting has grown up so much."
Yuanting paid no heed, his focus solely on Zhong Wei, "Is the baby coming soon?"
"Two more months to go," Zhong Wei smiled, gently touching her belly.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Yuanting nudged Cheng Nanyi with his elbow.
Cheng Nanyi remained silent. He wasn't sure how to break the news to Yuanting, fearing
it might upset him, especially given Yuanting's previously close bond with Cheng Shaolin,
even closer than that of a real father and son.
"Is it a boy or a girl?" Yuanting asked.
"A girl, and they're twins," Cheng Shaolin couldn't hide his joy.
"Really?" Yuanting's eyes widened in surprise. "Dad, twins, that's so wonderful!" he

blurted out. Impressive! From infertility to twins – what a remarkable twist of fate!
"Yes," Cheng Shaolin chuckled, "My good son."
Yuanting just stared at him.
Cheng Nanyi let out a soft chuckle.
"These are your two little sisters. As their big brother, you’ll need to take good care of
them," Cheng Shaolin said, affectionately ruffling Yuanting's hair. His little curly-haired
boy was still the same, just taller now.
Yuanting pursed his lips, glancing covertly at Zhong Wei.
Zhong Wei, hand on her belly, spoke gently, "This is your brother, Yuanting. Nanyi is the
elder brother, and Yuanting is the younger. He'll play with you in the future."
Yuanting grinned until his eyes nearly disappeared.
The four of them enjoyed a harmonious lunch together. When parting, Cheng Shaolin
asked Cheng Nanyi, "Will you come home for dinner tonight? I’ll have the chef make your
favorite dish."
"Of course, we will," Yuanting interjected before Cheng Nanyi could respond, "Make egg
yolk chicken wings, his favorite."
After a glance at Yuanting, Cheng Nanyi said to Cheng Shaolin, "I won't be coming back
tonight; I'm staying over at Yuanting's place."
Yuanting turned and glared at him. 'What's wrong with you?'
How could he explain to his grandparents about Cheng Nanyi's frequent visits and not
returning home every fortnight?
"That makes sense. Yuanting's exams are approaching, and you should be there to
support him, keep him from getting nervous," Cheng Shaolin reasoned, then turned to
Yuanting, "Son, do well in your exams. After they're over, I'll give you a big gift."
"Thanks," Yuanting grinned at him, thinking it unwise to call each other 'son' and 'father'
in front of Dr. Zhong, lest she feel uncomfortable.
Dr. Zhong couldn't help but laugh at Yuanting's reaction, then patted Cheng Shaolin's
shoulder, "Let's go home."
Cheng Shaolin, assisting her, didn't forget to give Yuanting a thumbs-up as they left.
Watching their departing figures, Yuanting felt a sense of clarity in his heart; his
stepfather was finally getting his happiness.
He knew he'd be an exceptionally good father.
"Did your mother know about my uncle's infertility?" Cheng Nanyi whispered into
Yuanting's ear, bending slightly.
Yuanting turned abruptly to look at him, bumping foreheads in the process, causing both
to exclaim in pain.
Cheng Nanyi, exasperated, rubbed Yuanting's forehead, "You're about to take exams, and
you're already not the brightest. Don't make yourself dumber."
"How did you know he couldn't have children?" Yuanting stared wide-eyed. Wasn't that
supposed to be a secret?
"The whole family knows," Cheng Nanyi said, walking towards the car. "Thinking back,
your mom often drank herbal medicine for this reason." He was too young then to
understand.
"In these past two years, it's been my uncle drinking the herbal medicine."
"Didn’t he not want children?" Cheng Shaolin used to have a childfree mindset.
Yuanting frowned in speculation, "Could it be that after I left, he realized having a lively,
adorable, smart, and charming child, loved by all and making flowers bloom at the sight,
wasn’t so bad, so he started treatment more actively?"
Cheng Nanyi: "..." Quite a summary.
"No," Cheng Nanyi shook his head, opened the passenger door to let Yuanting in, then
walked around to the driver’s side.
"...” As Yuanting buckled up, he urged, "Then tell me, quick."
"My aunt said it was a rare opportunity to test her skills, so she wanted to prove her
medical expertise," Cheng Nanyi’s lips curled slightly, "As it turns out, she’s indeed very
skilled."
Yuanting: "..."
Dr. Zhong, accept my utmost respect.
Yuanting, in a particularly good mood, began humming as he looked out the window,
noticing even the scenery seemed brighter.
Yuanting’s joy was undeniable. Cheng Nanyi, who had been with him all along, knew his
happiness stemmed from learning about his aunt’s pregnancy.
He couldn’t quite understand why Yuanting was happy about his aunt being pregnant.
"Do you really like kids?" Cheng Nanyi asked.
"Not at all," Yuanting replied without hesitation. "Kids are annoying. If they were like me
– well-behaved, sensible, and pretty – it might be okay. But most kids are mischievous
and not as cute, which is just irritating."
Cheng Nanyi: "..."
He couldn’t find an angle to respond to that, so he chose silence.
The eighteen-year-old Yuanting didn’t need a magic mirror to praise him; he was already
adept at self-admiration.
"Brother, do you like kids? How many do you plan to have in the future? Could it be
twins? Do you think Dr. Zhong’s medical skills could lead to someone having twins or
even fraternal twins right off the bat?"
At a red light, Cheng Nanyi braked and turned to Yuanting, saying indifferently, "I won’t
have children."
Yuanting's heart skipped a beat. He touched his nose and turned to look out the window,
"Oh…"
Cheng Nanyi raised an eyebrow, surprised Yuanting didn’t ask why.
The kid... was intriguingly resilient.
As Cheng Nanyi was about to look away, he noticed a Polaroid sticking out of Yuanting’s
pocket. Thinking it was a photo taken by Yuanting, he casually took it for a glance.
It indeed was a photo, but not taken by Yuanting – someone else had helped take it.
In it, a young boy and girl were smiling at the camera.
The girl looked somewhat familiar, while the boy was right beside him, happily singing in
the passenger seat.
"Is this your girlfriend?" Cheng Nanyi waved the photo in front of Yuanting.
"Ah?" Yuanting focused on it and recognized it as the photo he and Gu Yuqi took during
PE class, which he had casually stuffed into his pocket.
"Not... exactly."
Cheng Nanyi raised an eyebrow, "Why not?"
"She doesn't like me," Yuanting said.
"You're lively, adorable, smart, and quick-witted. How could she not like you?" Cheng
Nanyi looked at him, "So, do you like her?"
Yuanting snatched the photo back and stuffed it into his backpack, calmly stating, "It's a
secret."
Cheng Nanyi accelerated the car, and after a while, he suddenly clicked his tongue.
Impressive, the kid's using the Polaroid I gave him to take photos with other girls. He's
grown up.
Oh, right, even the photo paper was swiped from me.
In just over a month, he's asked for several boxes of photo paper from me, and this is
what he's been up to.
Author's Note:
Thank you to the angels who voted for me or provided nutrient solution from September
18, 2023, 19:13:36 to September 19, 2023, 17:47:48~
Thanks to the angels who dropped landmines: '10086 Wives Across the Net’, 'Don't Look,
This is My Wife' 1 each;
Thanks for the nutrient solutions: 'Reading Books' 35 bottles; 'Passerby No.2', 'My
Nobility, You're Unworthy' 20 bottles; 'Yu Han', 'Messenger.', 'Dream Beyond the
Horizon' 10 bottles; 'Bu Qiu' 5 bottles; '1', '67132556', 'Man Mi', 'Hetun Gua', 'A Single
Berry', '404 Big Ghosts', 'Bo Bo Zan Zan Nie' 1 bottle each;
#77 Chapter 77
Chapter 77
On the day of Yuanting’s college entrance exam, a group of people came to cheer him on.
Apart from Yuan Qingguang and Grandma, there were also Mo Yikai and Yuan Xiao, who
had run back from school.
Of course, Cheng Nanyi was there too; it was unimaginable for him to be absent.
Even Mo Yikai’s mother showed up.
Ms. Zhu Yanhong wore a brightly colored cheongsam, standing out as a symbol of
auspicious beginnings and victories.
Mo Yikai clenched his teeth, "Why didn’t you dress like this for my college entrance
exam?"
Aunt Zhu glanced at him, "If I had dressed like this, wouldn’t it have meant that this
gesture was just superficial and ineffective?"
Mo Yikai blinked several times before realizing his mother was teasing him, and he
couldn’t help but laugh.
Yuanting approached, looking seriously at her, "Auntie, rest assured, I'll prove with
excellent results that your choice of cheongsam is fantastic."
"Good boy," Aunt Zhu tiptoed to pat Yuanting's head.
Mo Yikai: "..." Just you wait, you little rascal.
Yuanting then turned to Cheng Nanyi, tilting his chin up, "I’ve reserved a spot for you at
the café across the street. Wait there," and then he walked confidently into the exam hall.
During the two days of exams, Yuanting felt somewhat nervous. If he didn’t do well, he'd
have to repeat a year. By the time he finally got admitted, Cheng Nanyi would have
already graduated – wouldn’t that be a lonely accomplishment?
But once the exams were over, Yuanting burst out of the hall, exclaiming, "Damn, finally
done! Enough of this torture!"
"Ahhh!" Yuanting ran towards the group.

The exams were over, and the parents had left, leaving only Mo Yikai, Yuan Xiao, and
Cheng Nanyi, who had been playing cards for two days, waiting outside the school.
Yuanting rushed to hug Mo Yikai tightly, then let go to embrace Yuan Xiao
enthusiastically, and finally leaped onto Cheng Nanyi, wrapping his legs around his waist
and arms around his neck, shouting, "I’m done with the exams... Ahhhh!"
Three years, three long years of hellish life.
Finally, there was light at the end of the tunnel.
Cheng Nanyi staggered back two steps under Yuanting's weight, supporting him with his
hands.
Excited, Yuanting leaned down to plant a firm kiss on Cheng Nanyi's forehead, then
jumped down to grab Mo Yikai, "Come here, let your big bro give you a kiss…"
"Get lost," Mo Yikai quickly put up his hand to block as Yuanting pouted and lunged
forward, only to be pulled back by Cheng Nanyi, who hooked his neck.
"Like a wild dog off its leash," Mo Yikai commented.
"You're the wild dog. Even a big fool looks better than you," Yuanting snorted at him, then
turned to get into the car, "I'm going to eat hotpot, the insanely spicy kind, and no one’s
allowed to order the mild broth."
Yuan Xiao: "…Then I’m not going."
Yuanting glared at him, "Dare to spoil my mood, and I’ll tell Grandma you hit me."
Yuan Xiao: "…"
Cheng Nanyi pushed his head into the car, chuckling at his bravado. To an outsider, it
would seem like he’d topped the national exams.
Mo Yikai, placing a hand on Yuan Xiao's shoulder, asked, "Has he been bullying you like
this since you were kids?"
Yuan Xiao just glanced at him, "What gives you the right to talk about my brother?"
Mo Yikai: "…" This guy's crazy.
Yuanting chose a Chongqing hotpot restaurant. Seeing the pots filled with chilies at other
tables, Yuan Xiao clutched his chest, "I can't handle it, my heart’s going to give out."
For the sake of his 'heart condition', Yuanting finally ordered a yuanyang (half spicy, half
mild) hotpot.
After the pot arrived, Yuanting tried dipping into the spicy side, but the heat made his
scalp tingle. He turned the pot towards Mo Yikai, "Forget it, you eat this. I’ll join my
brother with the mild broth."
Mo Yikai rolled up his sleeves, "You little brat, I’ve been tolerating you for too long.
Today, I won’t let you off."
"Come on, try me," Yuanting taunted, tilting his chin towards Mo Yikai.
Mo Yikai reached out to grab Yuanting's arm, but Yuanting quickly dodged behind Cheng
Nanyi.
Cheng Nanyi sighed resignedly and blocked Mo Yikai's arm, "Stop it, or you'll knock over
the pot."
"Cheng Nanyi," Mo Yikai sat back down, arms crossed, eyeing him, "You've always been
unfair since we were kids, always protecting Yuanting. Is our brotherhood that fragile?"
"Heh," Cheng Nanyi scoffed, "As if you two are my sons and I have to treat you equally."
"Hey, taking advantage of me, huh? Then don't blame me for revealing your secret."
"What secret?" Yuanting's eyes lit up with excitement, eagerly looking at Mo Yikai,
"What’s up with him?"
Mo Yikai raised an eyebrow, beckoning Yuanting closer, and Yuanting leaned in.
The two who were just at each other's throats were now as close as can be.
"Your dear brother," Mo Yikai nodded towards Cheng Nanyi, "is in a relationship."
"???" Yuanting was startled, instinctively glancing at Cheng Nanyi, "With a girl?"
"Are you sick?" Mo Yikai smacked him on the head, "If it's not a girl, do you think it’s a
boy?"
Cheng Nanyi looked up at him, and Mo Yikai huffed, "Don’t think I don't know just
because you keep it secret. I've investigated thoroughly."
"What have you found out?" Cheng Nanyi casually cooked his food, "Let's hear it."
Yuanting pursed his lips, also focusing on Mo Yikai.
"Every Saturday and Sunday when I ask to hang out, you’re always busy. Where do you
go?" Mo Yikai taunted Cheng Nanyi, "At first, I didn’t think much of it, but then I heard
from your dorm mates that you’re out almost every weekend, staying overnight. I know
all your classmates and friends well, except for your mysterious weekend
disappearances. Dare you tell where you go?"
Uh…
Realizing the gossip had turned to his own circle, Yuanting touched his nose and silently
picked up his chopsticks to eat.
Mo Yikai took out a cigarette and was about to light it.
They were in a private room, so smoking wasn't an issue.
"I have a heart condition, I can’t be around second-hand smoke," Yuan Xiao suddenly
spoke up.
Mo Yikai looked at him in shock.
Yuan Xiao held his chest, nodding, "It could be fatal."
Mo Yikai inhaled deeply. Did all the Yuans have quirks?
Seeing Mo Yikai put away his lighter, Yuan Xiao curiously asked, "So, where did Cheng
Nanyi go? Was it a date?"
Mo Yikai chuckled, "Yeah, Cheng Nanyi, tell us, where were you?"
"Want to know?" Cheng Nanyi placed some cooked meat into Yuanting’s bowl, then took
a sip of water before leisurely responding, "First, call me 'Dad' and then I’ll tell you."
Mo Yikai slapped Yuanting’s head with a “snap.”
Yuanting, feeling guilty, almost buried his face in his bowl from the slap.
"What the hell?" Yuanting looked up, glaring at Mo Yikai.
Mo Yikai gestured with his eyes towards Yuanting, "Why aren’t you curious? You ask."
The one who should be most curious was now unusually quiet.
Yuanting rubbed his neck, thinking that he should have confessed when Mo Yikai first
brought it up. Then, nobody would have thought much of it.
Now, any explanation would seem odd.
He wasn’t sure what to say, so…
Yuanting turned towards Cheng Nanyi, speaking with conviction, "So, where did you go?"
"Call me 'Dad'," Cheng Nanyi said.
Yuanting then shrugged at Mo Yikai, "He wants me to call him 'Dad,' so I don’t want to
know anymore. You ask."
Mo Yikai clicked his tongue, "Cheng Nanyi, if you’re dating, just say so. We’re all adults
here. What are you afraid of? Is it your grandfather disapproving, or is your love interest
not presentable?"
"Too ugly? Too old? Or maybe... someone else’s wife…"
"Holy…" Mo Yikai's eyes widened, realizing that an affair with a married woman was the
most likely scenario.
Whether it was ugliness or age, for someone like Cheng Nanyi, those wouldn’t be
embarrassing, so being the 'other man' seemed the only possibility.
"Are you really this bored?" Cheng Nanyi looked at him.
"Then tell us, I’ve been curious for a long time," Mo Yikai persisted, determined to get
answers tonight.
Seeing that Mo Yikai couldn’t be brushed off, Cheng Nanyi grabbed a pack of beer and put
it on the table, "Fine, if you win in a drinking game, I'll tell you."
"You said it, no going back," Mo Yikai scoffed, "If I can't outdrink you, then I've been
living for nothing."
Mo Yikai stood up, stepped on a stool, opened a beer bottle with chopsticks, and started
chugging directly from the bottle.
Cheng Nanyi also opened a bottle and handed it to Yuanting, "Pour the beer."
“……”
Yuanting accepted the task wordlessly.
Serving drinks in a drinking contest, truly fitting for my lordship.

As the two competed in drinking, Yuan Xiao quietly asked Yuanting, "Who will win?"
Yuanting sighed silently, "Do you even have to ask?"
After observing for a while, Yuan Xiao nodded, "No need to ask." While Cheng Nanyi
finished one glass, Mo Yikai gulped down a whole bottle.
When Cheng Nanyi finished his bottle, Mo Yikai had already downed three.
The fool hadn’t realized yet, still boasting, "With your tiny capacity, you dare to compete
with me?"
Watching Mo Yikai slump over the table, Cheng Nanyi leaned back, glancing at Yuan Xiao
and tapping his glass, "Do you want to know?"
Yuan Xiao shook his head calmly, "No, I don’t."
"What about you?" Cheng Nanyi turned to Yuanting, loosening a couple of buttons on his
collar, "Do you want to know where I go on weekends?"
"Uh…" Yuanting, looking at the visibly tipsy man, shook his head, "I don’t want to know."
Cheng Nanyi rested his hand on the back of Yuanting's chair, flicking his earlobe, lazily
saying, "Since you don't want to know, go mix me a new dipping sauce. This one's soaked
in alcohol."
"Right away, my lord," Yuanting stood up and left the room for the condiment station.
Passing by the restroom, Yuanting glanced at himself in the mirror and noticed his entire
face was flushed, instinctively touching his earlobe.
Damn, it’s burning like fire.
Yuanting clicked his tongue, realizing his own innocence.
Author's Note:
Thank you to the angels who supported me with King's tickets or nutrient solutions from
Thanks for the nutrient solutions: Sweet Melon 30 bottles; Dream Beyond the Horizon,
Origin of the Universe 10 bottles; Drunken Autumn Wind 7 bottles; 000 5 bottles; Gentle
Breeze over Water, 404 Big Ghosts, Su Shisi, Bitter Brother So Sweet 1 bottle each;
#78 Chapter 78
Chapter 78
Since both Mo Yikai and Cheng Nanyi had drunk, neither could drive. Yuanting turned to
Yuan Xiao, "You drive."
"I don't have a driver's license," Yuan Xiao said.
"Why haven't you gone for your driving test?" Yuanting asked.
"I have a heart condition, remember? I can't get too excited," Yuan Xiao explained,
"Driving can be thrilling."
Yuanting lightly thumped him on the chest, speechlessly, "You've recovered, you’re fine
now! Stop mentioning your heart condition every day, you'll make yourself sick even if
you're not."
Yuanting called Xiao Zhang, who soon arrived to first drop off Yuanting and Yuan Xiao at
home, then Cheng Nanyi and Mo Yikai.
Cheng Nanyi, having drunk quite a bit and not being a regular drinker, felt somewhat
dizzy.
Everyone at home was asleep, and Cheng Nanyi didn't want to disturb them, so he slowly
ascended the stairs, holding the handrail.
Pausing at the door of his bedroom, Cheng Nanyi continued forward to the room
Yuanting used to occupy.
Yuanting's room had been kept as it was, but since Yuanting left, Cheng Nanyi hadn't
entered it again.
Pushing open the door, Cheng Nanyi found the room still arranged as it always was. The
housekeeper cleaned it daily, so it was spotless, and even the bedding had the scent of
sunlight.
Cheng Nanyi had only intended to sit for a while, but his head grew increasingly dizzy,
and somehow, he ended up falling asleep.
In his daze, he thought about returning to his own room, reeking of alcohol as he was, and
needing a shower.
As he tried to get up, he thought he heard Yuanting’s voice: "Don’t lie on my bed…"
Cheng Nanyi forced his eyes open, only to see the small figure standing before him, hands
on hips, berating him for his alcohol smell and pulling his arm to prevent him from lying
on the bed.
He was a mess himself but still complaining about others.
Annoyed by the noise, Cheng Nanyi pulled Yuanting into his arms.
Yuanting struggled in his grasp, but Cheng Nanyi held him tighter and eventually flipped
over, pinning him down, immobilizing his limbs.
But the youngster’s mouth continued its relentless chatter, giving Cheng Nanyi a
headache. With no hand free to cover his mouth, he resorted to silencing him with a kiss.
In that moment, it was as if a string snapped, then the world seemed to shatter,
unleashing a torrential downpour…
……
When Cheng Nanyi came to his senses, it was already the early hours of the morning, his
body sticky with sweat and the smell of alcohol.
After staring at the dark ceiling for a while, he finally got up and left Yuanting’s bedroom.
After a shower, instead of going back to sleep, Cheng Nanyi changed into his jogging attire
and went for a run.
When he returned from his run, his grandfather was already awake, sitting in the living
room reading the newspaper. He looked up and asked, "Has Yuanting finished his
exams?"
"Yes, it's done," Cheng Nanyi replied.
The old man set down his newspaper, looking up at him, "I heard you've been frequently
visiting Yuanting these past two years?"
Cheng Nanyi, pouring water, paused for a moment before nonchalantly nodding, "He
doesn't like studying. Without someone watching, he just plays around."
The old man nodded, "Even though he’s no longer living with us, you two share a
brotherly bond. Treat him well. Yuanting is quite clever."
"Understood," Cheng Nanyi acknowledged.

As Cheng Nanyi went upstairs, the butler happily remarked, "The brothers are getting
along well again, that's good."
The old man smiled, "It would be a pity if their close relationship from childhood was
lost."
As soon as Cheng Nanyi entered his bedroom, his phone started ringing.
Yuanting’s cheerful voice came through, "Brother, are you awake? Do you have a
headache? Did you have the housekeeper make you hangover soup?"
"Yes."
"Yes???" Yuanting sounded incredulous, "I asked so many questions, and you just answer
with 'yes'?"
"Yes."
“？？？？”
Frustrated, Yuanting hung up the phone.
Before, he was pleading and coaxing him to study for the exams. Now that they’re over,
his attitude changed.
What a jerk!!!
Three minutes later, unable to contain his frustration, Yuanting called again.
"What did I do to offend you?" Yuanting asked irritably.
What an attitude.
"You didn't offend me," Cheng Nanyi replied, holding the phone between his neck and
shoulder as he tidied up, "It's just that I dreamed about you last night, so I can't stand
hearing your voice right now."
Yuanting, now amused, retorted, "What, did I beat you up in your dream?"
Yuanting’s voice came through the phone, his breath and tone remarkably clear, as if
right beside him.
Cheng Nanyi moved the phone further away, "So, don’t call me for a while, I'm hanging
up."
Listening to the beeping sound from the phone, Yuanting was completely baffled.
Realizing the situation, he threw the phone onto the bed, cursing, "Cheng Nanyi, damn it,
you've gone crazy."
How had he upset him?
……
University hadn’t broken up for the holidays yet, so after accompanying Yuanting for his
exams, Cheng Nanyi, Mo Yikai, and Yuan Xiao returned to school, leaving the liberated
Yuanting to hang out with Duan Wenzhe every day.
Duan Zhen Shan arranged for them to take driving lessons, and Yuan Qingguang paid for
Yuanting's fees. The two registered and then headed straight to an internet café for an all-
nighter.
While others were nearly ready for their driving test, they hadn’t even opened their
textbooks for the first module.
"Life’s easy," Duan Wenzhe said, lounging back playing games, nudging the person next to
him, "Why are you always staring at that lousy phone? You’re gonna burn holes in it with
your gaze."
"Hmph," Yuanting scoffed, clicking the mouse rapidly. It had been almost half a month,
and Cheng Nanyi, that jerk, hadn’t sent a single message or made a call, as if he had just
vanished.
If it weren’t for seeing Mo Yikai’s social media, he wouldn’t even know that Cheng Nanyi
was back from university.
Right, he’s back and didn’t even come to see him!!!
Yuanting replayed the night of the hotpot dinner in his mind numerous times. He was
sure he hadn’t offended Cheng Nanyi, so why was he acting so irrationally?
Yuanting couldn’t figure it out, but he refused to be the first to call Cheng Nanyi. It was a
matter of pride!!!
"Hey, Dog, let’s go hiking," Duan Wenzhe suddenly suggested.
"Are you crazy?" The phone chimed, and Yuanting quickly checked it – just a message
from the service provider.
Tossing the phone back on the table, Yuanting grumbled, "Hiking is exhausting. Looking
for punishment, are you?"
Duan Wenzhe touched his nose, "Well, you could invite Gu Yuqi as well."
"Oh, so that's what you're waiting for," Yuanting eyed him, "What’s in it for me?"
"You name it, as long as I can do it," Duan Wenzhe boasted, thumping his chest.
Hiking, huh...
Yuanting narrowed his eyes, slowly picking up the phone.
Duan Wenzhe watched him with sparkling eyes, squatting beside his chair to massage his
legs.
Yuanting made a call.
"Brother Yikai, are you free for hiking?" Yuanting called out in a falsetto.
Duan Wenzhe pinched Yuanting's leg hard, prompting Yuanting to grimace and kick at
him.
Mo Yikai lazily said, "No way, who hikes for fun? Pure insanity."
Lazybones.
Yuanting gritted his teeth, "Come on, it's just breathing some fresh air, having a picnic. I'll
invite my brother and some pretty girls too. Let's all go."
"Girls, huh..." Mo Yikai clicked his tongue, "That sounds tempting. When? Did you tell
Cheng Nanyi?"
Yuanting touched his neck, calmly saying, "Whether he comes or not is up to him. I only
invited you. You’re much more important than him."
"Wow, sweet talker, did you eat something sugary?"
"…I’ll let you know once I decide on the time. Wait for my message," Yuanting said,
hanging up the phone in frustration.
Some people just don’t deserve courtesy.
"Message Gu Yuqi, do it now," Duan Wenzhe, holding a disposable cup to Yuanting's neck,
glared at him threateningly, "Or else I’ll kill you."
"Okay, okay, I’m sending it," Yuanting grumbled as he typed on his phone, surrounded by
people who never gave him a moment's peace.
Author's Note:
Thanks for the nutrient solutions: Shan 20 bottles; Aiya 13 bottles; Tuanzi, Stitch 10
bottles; Hetun Gua 8 bottles; Ultraman Fighting Little Monsters 5 bottles; Man Mi, Bu Qiu
3 bottles; Su Shisi, Gentle Breeze over Water, Jiang Fang 1 bottle each;
#79 Chapter 79
Chapter 79
Yuan Xiao, about to enter his senior year and preparing for postgraduate exams at home,
agreed to go hiking, seeing it as a good break.
"Did you invite Cheng Nanyi and Mo Yikai?" Yuan Xiao asked him.
"I invited Mo Yikai, but not Cheng Nanyi," Yuanting said.
"Why not?" Yuan Xiao was puzzled, "I heard he's at home. Why didn't you invite him?"
"I just don't like him."
"...” Yuan Xiao sighed helplessly, "Why are you like this? Cheng Nanyi has been so good to
you."
Yuan Xiao was exasperated with his domineering younger brother, always picking fights
with Cheng Nanyi who treated him so well.
"I'll tell him," Yuan Xiao said, taking out his phone to message Cheng Nanyi while
lecturing Yuanting, "Brother, you need to control your temper. Only Cheng Nanyi puts up
with you. Try that with someone else, and they would have hit you already. Look at Mo
Yikai, he always looks like he wants to hit you, his eyes practically shooting sparks."
Yuanting was speechless with anger. Was it really his temper? It was Cheng Nanyi who
was being unreasonable, starting a cold war for no reason.
"Cheng Nanyi said he's free the day after tomorrow, so let's do it then."
Yuanting huffed, but said nothing.
Look at the speed of that reply.
He was deliberately ignoring him.
Yuanting, fuming, clutched his chest. Damn it, it felt like his heart condition was acting up.
Seeing his silence, Yuan Xiao took it as agreement.
"Which mountain are we climbing?" Yuan Xiao asked.

"Don't know," Yuanting lay on the bed, grinding his teeth, "Duan Wenzhe just arranged it,
we just need to show up."
"Oh," Yuan Xiao sat down to continue reading, genuinely asking, "If he's arranged
everything, what's got you so upset?"
Yuanting angrily pounded the bed, frustrated by many things.
The mountain Duan Wenzhe chose was a tourist spot, over two hours' drive from the city.
His father, knowing there would be many people, had arranged a van for them.
After arranging it, he discovered his son hadn’t yet passed the first driving test and
cursed as he found a driver.
His son was a complete wastrel, good for nothing but eating and having fun.
Duan Wenzhe first picked up Yuanting and Yuan Xiao, then went to collect Mo Yikai and
Cheng Nanyi.
By the time they arrived, Mo Yikai and Cheng Nanyi were already waiting at the entrance
of the complex.
Duan Wenzhe greeted them as he got out of the car, "Hello to both brothers."
"Hey, little fatty's not so fat anymore," Mo Yikai slapped Duan Wenzhe's shoulder.
"Hehe," Duan Wenzhe lifted his chin, cheekily retorting, "The brother who ate shit isn't
eating it anymore either."
"Cheeky kid," Mo Yikai slapped his back, "Hanging out with that brat, your mouth's
become just as annoying."
Yuanting leaned back in his chair, pretending not to notice their exchange.
The driver helped load their cooler and a big bag of snacks into the trunk, and then they
got into the car.
Seeing Yuanting, Mo Yikai eyed him, "What’s the matter, didn’t see us? Not even a
greeting?"
Yuanting lifted his chin, "What, will saying hello make you gain two pounds?"
Mo Yikai slapped him across the face, muttering about the troublesome kid who courted
disaster daily.
Cheng Nanyi followed into the car, meeting Yuanting’s gaze as he boarded.
Instantly, Yuanting put on his sunglasses and huffed loudly.
Mo Yikai laughed, "Even I get better treatment than this, Old Cheng. What did you do to
him? He's acting like a resentful man."
"I didn’t do anything to him," Cheng Nanyi said, passing by Yuanting and pausing briefly
at the empty seat beside him before continuing to sit next to Mo Yikai.
Annoyed, Yuanting turned his head to glance at the person diagonally behind him, and
then…
"Ptui…"
Mo Yikai burst into laughter, "Hey, your kid just spit at you, aren’t you gonna discipline
him?"
Cheng Nanyi just chuckled softly.
Yuanting was nearly choked with anger.
How could he dare to laugh.
Fuming, Yuanting got up and moved to a single seat at the front.
The last person they picked up was Gu Yuqi.
Yuanting had only invited Gu Yuqi, but upon arrival, he discovered she had brought
another girl with her.
The girl was a classmate named Dou Xin, whom Yuanting also knew.
Bringing a friend along was normal, and Yuanting extended a sincere welcome to them.
After the girls got on the bus, Duan Wenzhe eagerly patted the seat next to him,
expectantly looking at Gu Yuqi.
Gu Yuqi glanced at him and then said to Yuanting, “I want to sit here with you.”
Yuanting looked at Duan Wenzhe, thinking it was fine, then stood up to give her space.
Before he could sit next to Duan Wenzhe, Gu Yuqi pushed him towards Dou Xin, “You sit
here. Xin Xin gets car sick, so please take care of her.”
Yuanting: "???"
Duan Wenzhe also looked at Yuanting, equally baffled: "???"
Yuanting slowly took a seat beside Dou Xin.
Dou Xin quickly glanced at him, then lowered her head, her ears turning red.
Yuanting took out motion sickness pills from his bag and handed them to her; Dou Xin
murmured a quiet thank you.
As the vehicle started, Yuanting sat sideways, bowing over the aisle to text Gu Yuqi: What
do you mean by this?
Gu Yuqi replied: The same thing you mean.
Yuanting: "........"
"Tsk…"
Yuanting looked up, meeting Cheng Nanyi’s mocking gaze.
Immediately, Yuanting covered his phone and stuffed it back into his pocket, sitting up
straight.
After everyone was picked up, the car headed to the scenic area. Once they arrived, Mo
Yikai pulled Yuanting aside by the neck, "Where’s the beauty you promised?"
"Right here, there are two of them," Yuanting pushed him away.
"You’re playing me," Mo Yikai sneered, clearly seeing that the two girls were there for
Yuanting.
Yuanting broke free and swiftly darted away from him.
Dream on about beauties, you're just a tool being used.
Duan Wenzhe had planned to find an opportunity to walk with Gu Yuqi, but she brought
Dou Xin along, and the two girls stuck together, forcing Duan Wenzhe to follow.
The four walked ahead as if they were conjoined twins.
Mo Yikai, Yuan Xiao, and Cheng Nanyi followed behind, each carrying a backpack filled
with food and drinks, watching the younger ones ahead in their own world.
"Why do I feel like we’ve become the kid’s love life bodyguards?" Mo Yikai squinted,
nudging Cheng Nanyi, "Can you see it? That girl likes Yuanting, Duan Wenzhe is into Gu
Yuqi, Gu Yuqi doesn’t seem to like Duan, maybe leading him on. Yuanting might like Gu
Yuqi, and she might be torn between Yuanting and Duan."
"Is it that complicated?" Yuan Xiao was baffled, "My brother just graduated high school
and he’s already in a love quadrangle?"
Mo Yikai slung an arm over his shoulder, "Jealous?"
Yuan Xiao gave him a look, "Sounds like you’re the one who’s jealous."
"Me, jealous?" Mo Yikai shook his head, turning to Cheng Nanyi, "Hey, Old Cheng, what’s
your take?"
"What can I feel?" Cheng Nanyi watched Yuanting’s retreating figure.
"I feel like I'm watching a child I raised getting married, it's a complex feeling."
Cheng Nanyi raised an eyebrow but didn't comment.
Yuanting, meanwhile, had become numb.
How did things get to this point?
He had everything planned out – Duan Wenzhe and Gu Yuqi together, and he would
confront Cheng Nanyi. But Gu Yuqi had caught him off guard.
"Yuanting, do you want to try some sushi? I made it myself this morning. Would you like
to taste it?" Dou Xin asked softly.
"I don’t..."
"You can’t refuse her kindness," Gu Yuqi immediately said.
"Yeah, how can you not give face?" Duan Wenzhe glared at him.
"..." Yuanting forced a smile, "Okay, I’ll try it."
They stopped, and Dou Xin opened her backpack to take out a carefully wrapped pink
heart-shaped box, shyly handing it to Yuanting.
Yuanting's eyes widened in surprise – this was too obvious...
Someone save him...

"Do we get some too?" a voice chimed in.
Yuanting looked up to see Cheng Nanyi smiling at Dou Xin.
"Of course, I prepared a lot," Dou Xin immediately opened her bag and took out several
more boxes, handing them to Cheng Nanyi, "These are for the brothers."
"So, ours are just square-shaped, huh?" Mo Yikai teased with a click of his tongue.
Dou Xin's face turned red.
Yuanting glared at Mo Yikai with a deadpan expression, and Mo Yikai, feeling triumphant,
stuffed a piece of sushi into his mouth.
Yuanting thought: Choke on it.
Cheng Nanyi took the heart-shaped box from Dou Xin, and as she watched him, he passed
it to Yuanting, "Take care of it, don’t drop it."
Yuanting took it irritably, "Thanks, I can hold it myself." Did he really need to pretend to
be nice?
"Try it, I heard from Qi Qi that you like sushi," Dou Xin suggested softly.
With everyone watching, Yuanting had no choice but to open the box and start eating the
sushi.
"Ooh…" Mo Yikai exclaimed strangely, followed by Duan Wenzhe chiming in, "Oyo oyo..."
Yuanting thought, "...” If only he had known, he wouldn’t have arranged this gathering.
He really had dug a hole for himself.
After eating the sushi, the group continued their hike.
Mo Yikai, still nosy, asked Cheng Nanyi, "Do you think the kid likes that girl?"
"If you're so curious, why don’t you ask him directly?" Cheng Nanyi responded
indifferently.
Mo Yikai turned his head, staring intently at Cheng Nanyi’s face, then said meaningfully,
"Something’s not right, are you upset?"
"What, did your mysterious girlfriend give you a hard time?"

"Hey, tell us about your girlfriend, what's the deal with her?" Mo Yikai brought up the old
topic again.
Hearing this conversation, Yuan Xiao stopped taking photos, curiously edging closer and
pricking up his ears.
"Alright, let's talk about it," Cheng Nanyi handed his backpack to Mo Yikai.
Eager for the gossip, Mo Yikai begrudgingly shouldered the heavy backpack.
"Do you remember what you all said when I was going abroad for studies?"
"What did we say?"
"Back then, I wanted to take Yuanting with me, and you all said, 'Who brings their brother
abroad? It's usually a girlfriend.'"
Mo Yikai thought for a moment and nodded, "Yes, I said that. See, now you realize the
sense in my words. Look at this kid, starts dating and forgets all about you, the empty-
nester. Imagine if you'd taken him abroad, you’d have ended up being his love life
bodyguard every day."
Cheng Nanyi raised his eyebrows.
"So, what does this have to do with your girlfriend?" Mo Yikai pressed.
"Just wanted to say I think you were absolutely right," Cheng Nanyi said, glancing at the
slender figure ahead, murmuring, "A brother is indeed not the same as… a partner."
"…" After a few seconds of silence, Mo Yikai tossed the backpack back, "I really fell for
your nonsense. You better keep your girlfriend hidden well. When I find out, I want to see
what kind of celestial being she is."
Yuan Xiao blinked, feeling something off about the conversation but couldn’t pinpoint
what. He shrugged it off, deciding to focus on photography instead, not wanting to waste
the opportunity of free entry.
Meanwhile, Duan Wenzhe was frantically winking at Yuanting, trying to get him to take
Dou Xin away, leaving him some alone time with Gu Yuqi.
Yuanting pretended not to notice Duan Wenzhe's gestures.
Duan Wenzhe was frustrated to the point of wanting to pounce on him.

Feeling things couldn’t continue like this, Yuanting turned to the other three and
solemnly said, “I just ate Dou Xin’s sushi, so in return, I’ve decided to share a secret with
you.”
The three were startled, and Dou Xin looked at him with expectant, sparkling eyes.
Duan Wenzhe whispered to Gu Yuqi, patting her shoulder, “Is he going to confess?” He
had never heard Yuanting mention liking Dou Xin before. Had he suddenly fallen for her?
Yuanting rubbed his face, glanced towards the 'love life bodyguards,' then beckoned the
three closer. He whispered, “This is just between us, don’t tell anyone. Actually, I’m gay. I
like men.”
The bustling surroundings seemed to freeze for a moment.
Duan Wenzhe’s mouth dropped open, but Yuanting quickly covered it with his hand.
Duan Wenzhe stared at him in disbelief, wondering if he had misheard.
Gu Yuqi: "???"
After a while, Dou Xin looked at him with teary eyes, “Are you saying this just to reject
me?”
"No," Yuanting said sincerely, “It’s true. I really like men.”
"Oh my god…" Duan Wenzhe jerked his hand away from Yuanting and stepped back,
covering his chest in shock, “You don’t have a crush on me, do you?”
Gu Yuqi: "..."
Yuanting kicked at him, "Get lost."
Dou Xin pursed her lips and suddenly squatted down, hugging her knees and starting to
sob quietly.
"Don’t cry," Yuanting panicked, squatting beside her, anxiously saying, "Please don’t cry.
Do you want to hit me? Kick me?"
"I'm sorry, really, hit me if you're angry, but please don’t cry."
"Wuwuwu…" Dou Xin cried harder, whimpering softly, "The boy I like is into guys. He’d
rather like boys than me… It’s so embarrassing… wuwuwu…"
"It’s not embarrassing at all," Yuanting reassured her, "It's just that I’m so handsome, it's
totally normal for you to like me. It’s not embarrassing."
Dou Xin abruptly stopped crying, incredulously looking up at Yuanting, her eyelashes
fluttering with a faint tremble.
Gu Yuqi sighed, "I told you, liking him is risky. I brought you close to see for yourself, did
your filter shatter?"
Yuanting: "..."
Dou Xin nodded slightly, then pouted again, "But I still feel so sad and embarrassed...
wuwuwu… Why do all the handsome guys like boys..."
"I’m so miserable…"
Yuanting: "..."
Watching the group suddenly stop and Yuanting kneeling to comfort the girl, Mo Yikai
was stunned, "What’s happening? Is this a marriage proposal? This escalated way too
fast."
"Look at you, kid, messing around instead of doing something serious, but lightning-fast
when it comes to romance."
Cheng Nanyi narrowed his eyes, thinking, 'Little brat, getting more and more outrageous.'
Author's Note:
Thanks to the angel who threw landmines: "This is My Wife" 2 of them;
Thanks to the angels who irrigated with nutrient solutions: Hahaha 10 bottles; Ping Xuan
5 bottles; Melody 2 bottles; Ku Ge Hao Tian, 404 Big Ghost Heads, ⌒．Yi Nian Qing Xin
Jing 1 bottle each;
Thank you all so much for your support, I will continue to work hard!
#80 Chapter 80
Chapter 80
Dou Xin felt more embarrassed than heartbroken over her unrequited love.
She knew Yuanting was just giving her an out. She could have pretended never to have
liked him, but she couldn't help revealing her feelings.
So, she was truly embarrassed.
It was her first-ever crush, lasting three long years.
She had liked Yuanting from the first moment she saw him on the school field in her first
year of high school. In her second year, to her surprise, Yuanting transferred to her class
and became desk mates with her best friend, Gu Yuqi.
Being able to see him every day, and occasionally talk to him, were the happiest moments
of her otherwise suppressed high school years.
But...
He, just like her, liked boys...
Aaaaah...
She desperately wished she could find a hole to crawl into…
Yuanting's face was almost numb from rubbing.
Regretting for the Nth time having arranged this outing today.
Why did he even set up today's situation?
Oh, it all started with Cheng Nanyi inexplicably giving him the cold shoulder.
So, the root cause was Cheng Nanyi.
Yuanting turned and glared fiercely at Cheng Nanyi.
Cheng Nanyi, stared at for no reason, laughed it off.
Dou Xin, unable to face Yuanting, walked ahead with Gu Yuqi, holding hands and
whispering.
Duan Wenzhe, now even less likely to have a moment alone with Gu Yuqi, cursed in
frustration, "Yuanting, you really are a piece of work."
Yuanting retorted, "...Don’t push me to smack you." Besides Cheng Nanyi, the second main
culprit was this idiot, Duan Wenzhe.
Mo Yikai caught up, taking delight in the misfortune, "What’s up, confession didn’t go
well?"
Yuanting glared at him, and Mo Yikai turned away, humming a tune, "Us common folk, oh,
how happy we are today, truly so happy..."
Yuan Xiao patted Yuanting on the shoulder, giving him a thumbs up, "Bro, respect." He
then chased after Mo Yikai, "Hey, shit-eating bro, take a photo for me, will you?"
Yuanting felt suffocated by his own actions, suffering the consequences of his own doing.
A bottle of water was handed to him. Yuanting glanced at the person opposite and turned
to walk away.
"What, upset about the failed confession and taking it out on me?" Cheng Nanyi followed.
Yuanting gritted his teeth, not wanting to engage.
"I remember the one you used to take photos with was Gu Yuqi, right? Why did you
switch to another girl today?"
"Actually, being rejected in love is normal. If one confession doesn’t work, try a second, a
third time. If it still doesn’t work, change the person; eventually, someone will say yes."
"You're quite chatty today," Yuanting suddenly stopped, glaring at him, "Either you’re
silent, or you spout nonsense. What’s gotten into you?"
Cheng Nanyi nodded, "I did think I had gone wrong somewhere, so I took some time to
sort things out, straighten all my nerves."
Yuanting laughed in frustration, "So you’re blaming me for your crossed wires? Come on,
tell me, how exactly did I mess up your wiring, making you ignore me for no reason?"
"About that…" Cheng Nanyi saw someone passing by, grabbed Yuanting's arm, pulled him
close, then dragged him to continue climbing, "How about you first tell me why you
ignored me after you left all those years ago?"
Yuanting: "..."
"Oh, right, if it hadn’t been for that car accident, you might have ignored me again. Let’s
talk about that too. I’m as curious about it as you are about me suddenly ignoring you."
"..." Damn it, he sure holds grudges.
Yuanting shook off his hand, not wanting to talk anymore.
With a three-year gap, he and Cheng Nanyi seemed worlds apart.
Seeing Yuanting’s anger, Cheng Nanyi followed up, "How about I apologize to you?"
"Not good," Yuanting sneered coldly, "I don’t accept it. A slap and then a sweet date, you
think I'm a fool?"
"Then what do you suggest?"
Yuanting narrowed his eyes and held out his hand, "Give me your phone."
Without any hesitation, Cheng Nanyi immediately took out his phone and handed it to
him.
Yuanting took the phone, unlocked it, and began scrolling through WeChat.
Cheng Nanyi’s phone didn’t have many contacts, most of whom Yuanting knew. They
hadn’t chatted recently, but his chat was always at the top, clearly pinned.
After looking through, Yuanting concluded there were no romantic interests.
So, what exactly went wrong with Cheng Nanyi?
Yuanting tossed the phone back to him and continued walking with a cold face.
"It won’t happen again like this time," Cheng Nanyi said.
Yuanting still ignored him, so Cheng Nanyi leaned in and whispered, "Or maybe I could
help you pursue the girl you like."
His warm breath on Yuanting’s skin felt scorching. Yuanting glanced sideways
emotionlessly and pushed his face away, "No need, I can handle it myself. You better save
your enthusiasm for the girl you like."
After saying that, Yuanting stopped engaging with him and jogged to catch up with Dou
Xin and Gu Yuqi, handing them drinks.
Dou Xin hesitated before accepting it.
With red eyes, Dou Xin asked softly, "Yuanting, can you tell me which boy you like?"
Gu Yuqi and Duan Wenzhe immediately came closer, their eyes sparkling with gossip.
Yuanting, speechless, looked at Dou Xin, "Are you just curious, or do you resent me?"
"Just wondering," Dou Xin fiddled with her fingers, "It’s my first time meeting someone
openly gay, just curious, no other intentions, and I certainly don’t hold any grudges or
prejudices against you."
Yuanting, feeling like a living specimen of a gay person: "...Thanks..."
"Right, no discrimination," Gu Yu Qi nodded, "Just a preference for men, nothing wrong

with that."
"Me," Duan Wen Ze raised his hand, "Honestly, I'm a bit prejudiced, what should I do?"
"Get lost," Yuan Ting glared at him, "Or why not just jump off the mountain?"
Dou Xin and Gu Yu Qi also glared at him. How could he say something like that?
"It's just that..." Duan Wen Ze hurried to explain, "The person he's most likely to like is
me. How can I not be prejudiced?" He said, touching his arm that had goosebumps.
Having your best buddy be gay would give anyone a bit of a shock.
Yuan Ting took a deep breath and suddenly grabbed Duan Wen Ze by the neck: "Damn
you, I swear I'll beat you senseless today or else I'll take Yuan Xiao's surname." His taste
couldn't possibly be that bad.
Duan Wen Ze started to squawk: "Help, help, save me! My purity, my first embrace... it's
gone..."
Gu Yu Qi: "..."
Dou Xin whispered, "Now I see why you don't like him."
Gu Yu Qi also whispered, "I've told you, birds of a feather flock together. Those two have
been inseparable since childhood."
Dou Xin: "Um..." Suddenly feeling a bit better.

"But his three older brothers are all quite good-looking," Dou Xin glanced sneakily in that
direction, "You like the stable types, right? I think Cheng Nan Yi is great. So handsome,
and he's like a mute, never speaks."
"No way," Gu Yu Qi shook her head, then sighed.
"Why?"
Gu Yu Qi then recounted to Dou Xin the infamous "eat-shit brother" incident.
After listening, Dou Xin's face went blank. Once a person gets associated with excrement,
all fantasies just vanish.
The group finally reached the mountaintop and sat in the pavilion to rest.
Duan Wen Ze pointed to a spot not far away, "There's the Temple of the Matchmaker and
the Temple of the God of Wealth. Do you guys want to go and make a wish?"
"Definitely," Yuan Xiao's eyes lit up, "I'm going for wealth. God of Wealth, here I come..."
Watching Yuan Xiao dash off like a whirlwind, Mo Yi Kai was speechless: "Seriously, such
a money-grubber. But since we're here, I might as well make a wish too."
"Are you two going?" Duan Wen Ze looked at Gu Yu Qi, coyly adding, "I was thinking of
praying for a romantic match..."
"Um..." Gu Yu Qi stood up, pulling Dou Xin along, "I want to pray for getting into a good
university. That should fall under the God of Wealth's jurisdiction, right?"
Dou Xin nodded, "I'm also going to pray for wealth. Affairs of the heart are too
unpredictable; money is a safer bet."
Yuan Ting also wanted to pray for wealth, wishing for the God of Wealth to bless his
father's journey towards becoming rich.
Before he could step away, Duan Wen Ze grabbed him, "You're coming with me to pray
for a romantic match."
"Me?" Yuan Ting slung an arm around his neck, lifting his chin playfully, "You sure you
want us to pray for romance together?"
Duan Wen Ze nodded, "Don’t worry, as a straight guy, I won’t fall for you. But if you like
me, that's out of my control. Just know my heart for our Qi Qi is as steadfast as can be,
unshakable."
"Pfft." Yuan Ting let go and shrugged off, "Like you? I'd rather die."
"Ah, come on..." Duan Wen Ze rubbed his arm, "You're all dying and living for me, yet you
won’t admit you like me."
Yuan Ting: "..." And you think you can get into university with that level of language
proficiency?
Duan Wen Ze dragged Yuan Ting to the Temple of the Matchmaker.
The Temple of the Matchmaker was next to the Temple of the God of Wealth, the latter
bustling with people, while the former was as quiet as a few stray cats.
"What’s this? Everyone's after wealth and not love?" Duan Wen Ze was genuinely
shocked.
Yuan Ting patted his shoulder, "In front of money, love is nothing."
Duan Wen Ze and Yuan Ting went to buy incense. Yuan Ting picked up a box of offering
incense, and the vendor said, "Three hundred."
"How much?" Yuan Ting was astounded.
The vendor looked at him as if he were a country bumpkin, "Three hundred."
Yuan Ting solemnly placed the incense back in its place, "My love isn't worth 300 yuan.
Excuse me."
Duan Wen Ze didn't hesitate to pay and said to Yuan Ting, "I'd buy you anything else, but
for offering incense, you have to pay yourself. Can't you stop being stingy?"
"No, I can't," Yuan Ting earnestly shook his head.
Duan Wen Ze was speechless.
When they returned to the Temple of the Matchmaker, they saw Cheng Nan Yi standing in
front of the incense burner.
Duan Wen Ze was surprised, "Cheng, are you here for a love blessing? I thought you’d be
praying for wealth."
"Do I need to pray for wealth?" Cheng Nan Yi retorted.
Duan Wen Ze: "..."

Alright, the Cheng family heir probably didn't need to pray for wealth. If he did, others
might as well give up.
Yuan Ting saw Cheng Nan Yi holding incense worth 300 yuan and scoffed, realizing he
was just an ordinary person after all.
"What, hoping to find a girlfriend?" Yuan Ting walked over and teased him, "You’d have
better luck praying for me to set you up."
As Cheng Nan Yi lit the incense, he said, "My romantic fate is my own concern. I’m just
hoping the Matchmaker deity forgives my sins."
"What sins?" Yuan Ting was stunned, grabbing his arm, "Have you done something
illegal? You’re still a minor, aren’t you?"
Cheng Nan Yi grabbed his mouth, his tone stern, "Think before you speak in the future."
"Pfft." Yuan Ting pushed his hand away and turned to leave, but Cheng Nan Yi caught his
wrist.
"What are you doing?" Yuan Ting looked at him.
"You didn’t buy any incense," Cheng Nan Yi pulled him closer, "How about you help me
say a few good words to the Matchmaker deity?"
"I don’t..."
Before Yuan Ting could finish, Cheng Nan Yi had grabbed his hand, making him hold the
incense stick, then wrapped an arm around his shoulder and gently nudged him forward.
Together, they placed the incense in the burner.
Yuan Ting paused for a moment, then quickly clasped his hands together, eagerly saying,
"I haven’t made my wish yet, please pay attention. This three-hundred-yuan incense, it’s
ours. I'm making a wish now."
Yuan Ting closed his eyes and made his wish sincerely.
He hoped that Cheng Nan Yi's romantic endeavors would be smooth and without
obstacles, wishing him a lifetime of happiness and health.
As for what Cheng Nan Yi mentioned about 'sins', he wasn’t sure.
Since they shared the same stick of incense, if there truly were any sins, Yuan Ting was
willing to share the burden with Cheng Nan Yi.
Thinking this far, Yuan Ting was puzzled again. What sins could there be in matters of
love?
So, he added in his wish, if it was something illegal, let a thunderbolt strike Cheng Nan Yi
and turn him into a eunuch, as that was a burden Yuan Ting did not wish to share.
After muttering to himself for quite a while, Yuan Ting finally opened his eyes.
Cheng Nan Yi, standing behind him, leaned in and asked, "What did you wish for?"
"Why should I tell you?" Yuan Ting pushed him away, "Are we on good terms now?"
"Then what will it take for us to make up?"
Yuan Ting looked around and scoffed, "If I can have a cup of iced milk tea, I'll forgive you."
There were no milk tea shops on the mountain, so it was impossible for Cheng Nan Yi to
get any.
But...
It was time to make up...
So, once they descended the mountain, if Cheng Nan Yi could buy him a cup of milk tea, he
would let bygones be bygones.
Otherwise, there was no way to step down gracefully.
Cheng Nan Yi suddenly smiled, "Are you sure?"
"What? You doubt me?" Yuan Ting, irritated and embarrassed by his laughter, walked
away briskly, "Forget it, I don’t want it anymore."
Cheng Nan Yi hurriedly grabbed him, "You said it, no take-backs."
Yuan Ting, puzzled, until he saw Cheng Nan Yi open his backpack and pull out a thermos.
Cheng Nan Yi unscrewed the lid and offered it to him, "Here, iced milk tea."
Yuan Ting's eyes widened in surprise, "Why would you bring a thermos on a hike? Are
you crazy? It's so heavy."
Cheng Nan Yi then ruffled his hair affectionately.
Yuan Ting always loved iced milk tea, and he knew there wouldn’t be any on the
mountain, so Cheng Nan Yi had filled a thermos with it. But Yuan Ting had been cold to
him all the way, leaving no chance to offer it.
Now, his quirky plan had unexpectedly come in handy.
"This is the only cup, so don't go giving it to your little girlfriend."
"Mind your own business," Yuan Ting sipped happily and then, smiling brightly, offered it
to Cheng Nan Yi's lips, "This thermos is amazing. The ice hasn’t even melted. Try it."
Cheng Nan Yi took a sip while holding Yuan Ting’s hand and looked up to see Duan Wen
Ze, who had finished offering incense, watching them with a complex expression.
Catching Cheng Nan Yi’s gaze, Duan Wen Ze immediately turned and walked out of the
Temple of the Matchmaker.
Feeling a twinge in his heart.
Why did he feel Cheng Nan Yi's gaze on Yuan Ting was different?
Could it be that Cheng Nan Yi harbored those kinds of feelings for Yuan Ting?
He hadn't thought so before, but after learning that Yuan Ting was gay, he now viewed
every man around him through a different lens.
Duan Wen Ze touched his face. Cheng Nan Yi might like Yuan Ting, but Yuan Ting could
well like him, and he was a bona fide straight guy.
Ah, such a complicated love triangle...
Author's note:
A big thank you to the angels who voted for me and nourished me with nutrient fluids
from 2023-09-22 22:19:07 to 2023-09-23 20:08:03~
Thanks to the angels who provided nutrient fluids: 67593036 10 bottles; Bitter Brother
So Sweet, Dye Silent, ⌒．One Thought Calm Heart 静゛ 1 bottle each;
I deeply appreciate everyone's support and will continue to work hard!

#81 Chapter 81
Chapter 81
When Mo Yi Kai and Yuan Xiao arrived, they saw Cheng Nan Yi with his arm propped on
Yuan Ting’s shoulder, standing close. Mo Yi Kai raised an eyebrow: "What’s up, made up?"
"What's it to you?" Yuan Ting walked past him with his head held high, swaggering.
Mo Yi Kai casually hooked his arm around Yuan Ting's neck, whispering, "Hey, which of
those two girls do you actually like?"
Yuan Ting gestured with his finger for Mo Yi Kai to come closer, and when he did, Yuan
Ting whispered in his ear, enunciating each word, "Perpetual - single - dog."
Mo Yi Kai chased after Yuan Ting out of the Temple of the Matchmaker.
He was determined to thrash the brat today.
Exhausted from the climb, everyone decided to take the cable car down the mountain.
While in line, Duan Wen Ze's eyes kept darting between Yuan Ting and Cheng Nan Yi.
Gu Yu Qi and Dou Xin were ahead in the queue. When it was their turn, there were only
two spots left in the car ahead.
Gu Yu Qi, pulling Dou Xin forward, saw Duan Wen Ze suddenly push both Yuan Ting and
Cheng Nan Yi out: “They’ll go first.”
The staff, not bothering with the details, saw the two step forward and ushered them into
the car, closing the door immediately.
The remaining people glanced at Duan Wen Ze. Before anyone could speak, the next car
arrived, and they were all ushered in.
"Nice move, kid. Kick out the rival, then share the cable car with the girl you like," Mo Yi
Kai patted Duan Wen Ze’s shoulder, "Well played."
Duan Wen Ze gave a forced laugh.
He swore, that wasn't his intention.
He hadn't been thinking about the girls at all; his mind was on his and Yuan Ting's
decade-long brotherhood.
A brother liking men was surely a tough path. After all, men generally like women, and
finding a man who likes men is hard. So, if Cheng Nan Yi genuinely liked Yuan Ting, that
would be the best option for Yuan Ting.
Of course, Cheng Nan Yi couldn't compare to him, but sadly he was genuinely straight. To
prevent Yuan Ting from continuing his futile crush, it was time to let Yuan Ting shift his
affections.
Yuan Ting had no idea how much Duan Wenzhe's imagination had run wild. If he knew,
he would surely give him a good beating.
After getting on the cable car, Yuan Ting had the neat freak sit by the window, while he
himself sat in the middle, next to a girl.
Cheng Nanyi turned sideways and stared at Yuan Ting.
Yuan Ting felt uncomfortable under his gaze. "Why are you looking at me when the
scenery is so beautiful?"
"What's wrong, can't I look at you?" Cheng Nanyi replied calmly.
Before Yuan Ting could react, a few girls sitting across from them let out a very soft
"wow."
Yuan Ting: "..."
Yuan Ting reached out to pinch Cheng Nanyi's chin in an attempt to turn his face away,
but Cheng Nanyi stubbornly refused to look elsewhere.
Wow!!!
Yuan Ting suddenly had a flash of inspiration: "Brother, you're not afraid of heights, are
you?"
Cheng Nanyi, having been caught out, gave up pretending and leaned his forehead on
Yuan Ting’s shoulder, murmuring lowly, "Yeah, I'm afraid of heights."
Yuan Ting laughed heartlessly and quickly pulled out an instant camera from his bag,
handing it to a group of girls who were discreetly observing them. "Could you beauties
help us take a photo? Thanks!"
Wrapping an arm around Cheng Nanyi’s shoulder, Yuan Ting raised his arm to show off a
little mouse tattoo on his upper arm.
Now that’s a real man.
After the girls took their photo, Yuan Ting chuckled and tucked the picture into his wallet,
then started taking selfies from every angle with his phone.
After he finished, he posted on his social media: "Attention, please! Those afraid of
heights, beware. Those who aren't, feel free to laugh."
Not satisfied with just showing off, Yuan Ting took advantage of Cheng Nanyi's 'weak'
state, pulled out his phone from his pocket, took a selfie, and posted: "A day protected by
my younger brother for a guy afraid of heights. Yay, feel so safe!"
Yuan Ting did this just for fun, setting the post visibility to only himself.
Without waiting, a slender hand reached over to hit the post button.
Surprised, Yuan Ting turned his head towards the person leaning on his shoulder, pale
from acrophobia: "What are you doing?"
"What, don’t have the guts to post it?" Cheng Nanyi asked.
"It’s not that I don’t dare," Yuan Ting replied incredulously, "I was trying to save your
face... but I suddenly realize, you're quite shameless." His thoughts were unconventional.
"Thanks for the compliment," Cheng Nanyi said, accidentally glancing at the transparent
glass under his feet and immediately closing his eyes.
Yuan Ting quickly wrapped his arms around him, teasingly saying, "Come on, brother
hug, there, there, don’t be afraid..."
The girls across from them were laughing so hard they were falling over, while Yuan Ting
raised an eyebrow at them smugly.
After arriving, Cheng Nanyi's legs turned to jelly as he clung to Yuan Ting’s arm while
stepping off the cable car. Yuan Ting touched his hand, feeling the sweat in Cheng Nanyi’s
palm.
Yuan Ting hadn't realized before that Cheng Nanyi suffered from acrophobia.
"Why didn’t you tell me earlier?" Yuan Ting said, slightly annoyed, "If I had known, we
wouldn’t have taken the cable car."
"It’s just a mild fear, not bad enough to avoid cable cars," Cheng Nanyi regained his usual
composure.
Yuan Ting just scoffed, thinking how Cheng Nanyi also claimed he didn't have a
cleanliness obsession, yet clearly, he was a perfectionist.
"You okay?" Mo Yikai approached and patted Cheng Nanyi’s shoulder, "I told you, you
should have walked down instead of insisting on the cable car."
"Why did you suggest he walk down?" Yuan Ting immediately asked.
"Are you sick?" Mo Yikai glared at him, "He’s afraid of heights."
"How do you know he's afraid of heights?" Yuan Ting frowned, perplexed since he himself
was unaware of it.
"We've grown up together since we were kids, what don’t I know about him?"
"We also grew up together, how come I didn’t know?" Yuan Ting retorted.
"Oh ho..." Mo Yikai clicked his tongue and looked at him meaningfully, "Buddy, you two
didn’t exactly grow up together."
His tone was clearly meant to sow discord.
Cheng Nanyi shot him a glare: "Shut up."
Yuan Ting was left speechless and frustrated, opening and closing his mouth several
times without a comeback. Finally, he turned and walked away, vowing to remember this
grudge.
Lunch on the mountain was simple, so everyone headed to a restaurant after descending
for a meal. By the time they were ready to leave, night had fully set in.
This time, Yuan Ting sat in the last row, and Cheng Nanyi took the seat next to him after
boarding the bus.
Everyone was exhausted from a day of hiking; no one felt like talking. Once on the bus,
they all quickly fell into a deep sleep. The snoring of Duan Wenze and Mo Yikai was
staggered, a testament to their fatigue.
Yuan Ting was also incredibly tired, his head resting against the window, swaying back
and forth. Mo Yikai was right; who hikes for fun?
His legs felt like they didn’t belong to him anymore.
Every bump of the bus made Yuan Ting’s head thump against the window. It was a bit
painful, but still bearable, so he didn’t bother moving.
He wanted to see which would give in first: the window or his head.
Before he could hit his head a second time, a hand reached over, gently guiding his head
to rest on the shoulder of the person beside him.
Yuan Ting stiffened momentarily but remained silent.
Cheng Nanyi wasn’t asleep, sitting upright. His arm, which had moved Yuan Ting's head,
now casually rested on Yuan Ting's waist, while he took out his phone with the other
hand.
The post Yuan Ting had shared earlier had garnered a lot of comments and likes.
Most comments were from high school and college classmates, shocked and teasing:
“Cheng Nanyi, are you possessed? Yikes! I’m getting goosebumps.”
In the photo, only Cheng Nanyi’s shoulder was visible, leaning on Yuan Ting, while Yuan
Ting's face was clearly visible in a close-up.
Those who didn’t recognize Yuan Ting asked, “Who’s this?”
And those who knew Yuan Ting commented, “Cheng Nanyi, your brother is getting more
and more handsome.”
Among these, Mo Yikai’s comment stood out: “This kid posted it, right? Smells like an
attention-seeker.”
Just as Cheng Nanyi was about to put away his phone, a hand reached over and jabbed
the screen fiercely: "Be careful with your words."
Cheng Nanyi turned to look at him.
The bus was still moving, dimly lit inside, with only the fleeting shadows of streetlights
passing by.
Yuan Ting's head was still resting on his shoulder; as Cheng Nanyi turned, his lips
brushed over Yuan Ting’s hair.
Cheng Nanyi's chest rose and fell, and the hand resting by Yuan Ting’s waist clenched in
restraint.
Suddenly, Yuan Ting rose, arching his back and stealthily moved towards Mo Yikai's seat.
Cheng Nanyi grabbed his wrist, asking in a whisper, “What are you doing?”
Turning back, Yuan Ting also whispered, “To scare him.” This was a perfect opportunity
for revenge, and he had said before, he holds grudges.
With a sense of resignation, Cheng Nanyi tugged him back, “Come back here.”
Yuan Ting didn’t expect to be pulled, nor did he anticipate the bus jolting, causing him to
lose balance. He fell backward, ending up sitting on Cheng Nanyi’s lap and leaning into his
embrace.
Instinctively, Cheng Nanyi wrapped his arms around Yuan Ting’s waist, both of them
collapsing back onto the rear seat.
Yuan Ting, not wanting to crush Cheng Nanyi, instinctively tried to get up, pushing his
hand beside him...
Cheng Nanyi let out a muffled grunt, swiftly grabbing Yuan Ting’s hand and pulling it
away.
Yuan Ting: !!!
"Damn..."
Yuan Ting was utterly shocked.
He even forgot that he had intended to get up.
It was as if he had just touched something he shouldn't have...
It wasn't until Cheng Nanyi's voice sounded somewhat resigned, "Get off."
Yuan Ting then rolled off him and sat to the side.
Cheng Nanyi shifted to the side, making his intentions quite clear—to distance himself
from the troublemaker.
Yuan Ting gazed at the rapidly passing lights and shadows outside the window, feeling as
though his troublesome hand didn't belong to him anymore, awkwardly resting on his
lap.
After a while, Yuan Ting shifted his body to the side, and his eyes couldn't help but glance
at a certain part of Cheng Nanyi.
Cheng Nanyi turned his head, his expression emotionless as he looked at Yuan Ting.
Yuan Ting quickly averted his gaze, cleared his throat, and then leaned closer to Cheng
Nanyi's ear, whispering, "Brother, are you okay? Do you need to go to the hospital? If
there's anything wrong, don't keep it to yourself. We're all men here, so don't be shy..."
"Shut up."
"Alright then."
Yuan Ting leaned back in his seat, quiet for a while, but he couldn't resist leaning in again,
"Brother, there's something I haven't told you. When we left the restaurant, I didn't wash
my hands, and I touched a lot of things along the way. I might be dirty..."
Cheng Nanyi covered his mouth with one hand and pressed him against the backrest with
the other, pinning him down. He squinted at him and said, "Yuan Ting, try saying one
more word."
Yuan Ting blinked his eyes, a mischievous smile playing on his lips, as he moved his lips
in Cheng Nanyi's hand, "I dare not."
After provoking Cheng Nanyi, he felt completely at ease.
Cheng Nanyi gave him a deep look and then released him, moving to sit in the front seat.
Yuan Ting leaned against the back seat, silently smiling.
Author's note:
Thanks to the little angels who voted for me or gave me nutrient solutions from 2023-09-
23 20:08:03 to 2023-09-25 20:32:10~
Special thanks to the little angels who gave nutrient solutions: No Refusal 21 bottles; Cute
White, Passerby A, Boatless 10 bottles; Rice Ball 3 bottles; Su Fourteen, 404 Big Ghost
Head, ⌒. Serenely, Bitter Brother So Sweet, Jiang Fang 1 bottle;
Thank you all very much for your support. I will continue to work hard!
#82 Chapter 82
Chapter 82
The day after climbing the mountain, Cheng Nanyi followed Grandpa to another place,
and he didn't see anyone for the entire summer vacation.
Yuan Ting's college entrance exam results came out, and he passed the score line for
Chuanhai University, but admission was a bit uncertain.
When filling out the college application, Cheng Nanyi called Yuan Ting.
"You don't need to feel pressured, I won't force you to retake the exam."
"Oh really," Yuan Ting clicked his tongue, "Did red rain fall from the sky? I thought if I
didn't get in, you'd whip me with a whip."
"Do you like it this way?" The tone on the other end was serious, but the words weren't
that serious.
"Pfft."
Cheng Nanyi just laughed, and after laughing, he didn't say anything.
Yuan Ting hummed, "So, can you still come back this summer?"
"No, I have a flight to a foreign country tomorrow morning. There have been some issues
with our international collaboration, and Grandpa needs to go there to handle it. I might
not be able to come back to send you to school."
Yuan Ting replied, "I already went to send you off to college back then, so I don't need
you to send me."
There was a "tsk" sound from the other end, and Yuan Ting coldly snorted, "I'll tell you, I
definitely wanted to get into Chuanhai University. If I didn't make it, I'd retake the exam."
"So, you're going to college because of my sake?"
"Flattering you, can't it be because I love Chuanhai University deeply?"
After saying this, there was an instant silence on the other end.
A few seconds later, Yuan Ting belatedly realized the ambiguity in this statement.
Naturally, he didn't take the college entrance exam because of a deep love for Chuanhai
University. Everyone knew that it was Cheng Nanyi who forced him to take it. So, if
translated, wouldn't it mean that he loved Cheng Nanyi with profound depth?
Oh, my...
Yuan Ting cleared his throat, but before he could say anything, Cheng Nanyi said, "I
understand."
"...You understand what?"
"I know what I should know," Cheng Nanyi lazily replied. "Do you want to know what I
know?"
"I don't want to know," Yuan Ting replied irritably.
"Well, then I don't particularly want to tell you either."
Yuan Ting: "..."
If the conversation isn't going well, let's just hang up.
……
Yuan Ting was lucky to be admitted to Chuanhai University, and the Yuan family was
once again astonished. Yuan Qingguang started to walk with a swagger.
In this generation of the Yuan family, there were only two children, and both of them had
been admitted to prestigious universities. The Yuan family was about to rise up.
Grandma happily took Yuan Ting and Yuan Xiao back to their hometown to pay respects
to the ancestors and offer a feast.
"We'll have to do it again when Yuan Xiao gets into graduate school," Grandma said with
joy, her wrinkles smoothing out as she patted Yuan Ting's head. "Your dad and your
eldest uncle aren't very bright, but you and your brother are smart. The children you'll
have in the future will be even better."
Yuan Ting scratched his nose. "Grandma, what if I don't have children?"
"Why wouldn't you have children?" Grandma chuckled. "I'm not telling you to have
children right now. How old are you? You still have four years of college. If you follow in
your brother's footsteps and pursue a master's degree, you'll be in your thirties by the
time you finish. It's still early."
"I mean, what if I never want children in my whole life?"
"Nonsense!" Grandma patted his head and playfully smacked his head. "How can you not
want children? You're still young, you haven't even had a girlfriend yet. When you have a
girlfriend, of course, you'll want children. What's that called, the result of love, what does
it produce?"
"Grandma, it's the fruit of love," Yuan Xiao replied.
"Yes, fruit, fruit, why does it sound like dishwashing detergent?"
"Hahaha..." Yuan Xiao burst into laughter. "Grandma, it's because the fruit of love washes
away the sweetness of love like dishwashing detergent."
Grandma frowned. "What are you talking about? Grandma doesn't understand."
Yuan Ting smirked. "A pretty cold joke."
"Why don't you want kids?" Yuan Xiao whispered, leaning in closer.
"Just don't feel like it," Yuan Ting replied, looking at him. "So, how many do you want?"
"Me?..." Yuan Xiao tilted his head, pondering. "At least ten or eight, I guess."
"What the heck?" Yuan Ting was shocked. "Wow, here's a man thinking ahead."
"Bro, you're aiming for a graduate degree, a highly educated individual. How can you
expect a girl to have eight or ten kids for you? That's not how you'll find a wife."
"Who said about a girlfriend having them?" Yuan Xiao countered.
Yuan Ting glared at him: "Are you playing with me?"
"You asked how many I want, so if I could, I'd want ten or eight. But I can't bear them,"
Yuan Xiao shrugged. "As for a girl, she should decide how many she wants. It's her body,
not something for you to dictate. Quite audacious of you."
Yuan Ting: "..."
"Bro, with that mindset, you still can find a wife."
"By the way, bro, are you still in touch with Sister Shi Ya?" Yuan Ting asked.
After a pause, Yuan Xiao cleared his throat and said, "No contact. She probably went
abroad."
Yuan Ting: "Oh..."
"Bro, do you want to go abroad?" Yuan Ting asked.
"Is that something I can just wish for?" Yuan Xiao said with a wry smile.
"Of course," Yuan Ting patted his shoulder. "As long as you want to, I can support you."
Yuan Xiao stared blankly at Yuan Ting for a while before suddenly embracing him tightly,
"Bro, you've moved me deeply. But how can I let you sacrifice yourself for me? Besides,
you're not the adorable, lovable seven-year-old you once were. If you sell yourself now,
Cheng Nan Yi wouldn't want you."
"..." Yuan Ting pushed him away, "Are you sick? Do you want to go or not? Apply for
graduate studies abroad, and I'll support you."
Seeing his serious expression, Yuan Xiao also became earnest: "Xiao Ting, I'm not a child
anymore. I can't let you sacrifice for me like when we were little..."
"Shut up." Yuan Ting was exasperated. "I can earn money, and my dad must have made
quite a bit these past years. If it feels wrong, write an IOU and pay me back later."
"No," Yuan Xiao said.
"..." That was straightforward.
Fine then, Yuan Ting patted his shoulder: "Then you better work hard."
"I will," Yuan Xiao hugged his shoulder. "If you don't want kids in the future, I'll support
you."
Yuan Ting rolled his eyes in disbelief: "Remember, you're older than me. You'll die before
I do. It should be me supporting you."
"Not necessarily."
Yuan Ting: "..."
That's true. In his past life, it seemed he died young.
……
School started in September, and Yuan Qing Guang drove Yuan Ting to school.
Yuan Xiao was in his senior year and returned to campus to continue striving for his
graduate entrance exams.
Mo Yikai spent his senior year wandering around Chuanhai and finally graduated this
year, returning to help out at his mother's company.
Originally, Mo Yikai planned to see Yuan Ting off, but Yuan Qing Guang was quite excited
about it, so Mo Yikai let him have the opportunity.
Cheng Nan Yi had been abroad and couldn't return even when the school year started.
However, being a senior, except for those preparing for postgraduate exams or civil
service exams, most students were interning, so it didn't really affect them.
Yuan Ting spent his first month of university in military training.
For Yuan Ting, a rich heir in his past life and a slacker who wished to take it easy at every
turn in this life, it was quite a tough ordeal.
Yuan Ting made it a point to call Cheng Nan Yi every evening at dinner time.
There was a time difference between him and Cheng Nan Yi. When it was dinner for Yuan
Ting, it was early morning, around five or six, for Cheng Nan Yi. If he waited until evening,
Yuan Ting had night self-study classes, and Cheng Nan Yi would have started his
workday, making it hard for them to find a common time.
"Let me tell you, all this suffering is for you," Yuan Ting would start each call.
Since he enrolled in the university for Cheng Nan Yi, it was only natural to let him know
how much he was suffering for him.
"Got it, I'll make it up to you when you're back."
"I'm so tired I can't even eat. This morning, the instructor thought I was handsome and
had nice moves, so he made me do a demonstration. It was exhausting."
"A demonstration? Sounds more like you were being punished."
"Alright." Yuan Ting sighed. "I got caught slacking off."
"Just slacking off?"
"And convincing others to slack off too."

Cheng Nan Yi: "...Deserved."
"Hanging up." Yuan Ting angrily ended the call.
After enduring the military training, the first day of the October mini-break was noisy like
a boiling pot in the dormitory, with roommates' friends staying over. Unable to bear the
chaos, Yuan Ting packed his bag and headed to Cheng Nan Yi's dorm.
Now, Cheng Nan Yi's dorm only housed Ding Ran and Zhu Lian. Ding Ran was preparing
for postgraduate studies, Zhu Lian had found an internship and stayed in the dorm on
weekdays, while Yu Tong En had gone back to his hometown for an internship.
Yuan Ting had run into Ding Ran and Zhu Lian a few times at school, and they had even
brought him water at the sports field.
Seeing Yuan Ting arrive, they greeted him.
"I came to grab some stuff."
"Help yourself, we don't dare touch your brother's things," Zhu Lian said, lying lifelessly
on his bed, eyes devoid of spark. "When's your brother coming back?"
"Who knows, he said he's still dealing with some things."
"Ah, your brother's lucky, having a family business. Getting an internship certificate must
be so easy. By the way, Yuan Ting, what's the name of your brother's company? What do
they do?"
"You guys don't know?" Yuan Ting asked, searching Cheng Nan Yi's desk.
"Never asked," Zhu Lian turned over, propping his head up to look at him. "Is it
impressive? It's just that your brother doesn't show off his wealth, so we didn't feel right
asking."
"Oh, is that so?" Yuan Ting laughed. "Well, I won't boast for him either. You can wait for
him to show off when he gets back."
Yuan Ting found the key to the small apartment in Cheng Nan Yi's desk drawer.
In his sophomore year, Cheng Nan Yi rented a small apartment off-campus. Yuan Ting
had never been there, but Cheng Nan Yi had told him about it and where he kept the keys.
Yuan Ting took the key and left the school, finding his way to the address.
The apartment was on the twenty-third floor. Yuan Ting took the elevator up and opened
the door.
The apartment was small, a one-bedroom with a living room.
Cheng Nan Yi hadn’t been there since the summer vacation, and it had been two or three
months now, leaving a thin layer of dust in the place.
Yuan Ting went straight to the bedroom, standing beside the bed and blinking at the
mattress.
After about three minutes of blinking, Yuan Ting stripped off the bedsheets and duvet,
tossed them aside, then stripped off his clothes, dove onto the bed, and fell asleep
instantly.
Nothing beats the comfort of a big bed! Bliss!
Author's note:
Thanks to the little angels who voted for me or provided nourishment between 2023-09-
25 20:32:10 and 2023-09-26 20:56:28~
Thanks to the little angels for the nourishment: I’m so scared 15 bottles; Zoey 14 bottles;
SSR 10 bottles; Adventures of a Chubby Crab 5 bottles; Cuckoo is not a good bird 2
bottles; ⌒．A Moment of Tranquility、67132556、Bitter Brother Sweet、404 Big
Ghosts 1 bottle each;
I really appreciate everyone's support, and I will continue to work hard!

#83 Chapter 83
Chapter 83
Cheng Nan Yi's bed was truly comfortable.
Even without the sheets and duvet, the fabric on the mattress was more comfortable than
the shabby ones at his school, and the quilt was soft and skin-friendly without shifting. He
hadn't slept in such a comfortable bed since he left the Cheng family.
Yuan Ting slept soundly until daylight, waking up naturally.
Then he just lay on the bed, not wanting to get up.
He hadn’t planned on whether to go home or not, mainly because it was close by and he
wasn't particularly homesick, so it didn’t matter much to him.
After being tormented for a month, he now found the world incredibly beautiful.
Which was worse, the military training or being confined by Cheng Nan Yi?
Was that confinement? That was the ultimate luxury.
Yuan Ting lazily reached for his phone and turned it on, oh wow, Cheng Nan Yi had called
him several times.
Yuan Ting called back, and then…
Hm??
It sounded like he heard music?
As Yuan Ting turned his head, he saw the bedroom door being pushed open and, amidst
the melodious music, found himself face-to-face with Cheng Nan Yi, who was supposed to
be abroad.
Even though it was October, the weather was still hot. Yuan Ting hadn't turned on the air
conditioner at night. He had rolled up the quilt and was pressing it under him, hugging it,
in such a posture when he met Cheng Nan Yi.
Cheng Nan Yi clearly hadn’t expected someone, let alone a stark naked person, to be in his
bedroom.
The sheets and duvet were messily strewn on the floor, clothes and trousers scattered
here and there, with a black pair of underwear conspicuously noticeable against the sky-
blue bedsheet.
Cheng Nan Yi’s face turned extremely sour in an instant.
This was obviously a scene post-event.
He instinctively turned his head to look towards the direction of the bathroom.
The bathroom door was half-open, and it didn’t look like anyone was inside.
Cheng Nan Yi clenched his hand, asking in a deep voice, "Did you bring someone back?"
Bring someone back?
Who would he bring back?
Yuan Ting finally realized, grabbing the quilt to wrap around his waist in alarm. Damn it,
why was he stark naked?
Who undressed him?
Oh, right, he did it himself.
"When did you get back?" Yuan Ting sat up, excitedly saying, "Why didn’t you tell me in
advance? I could have come to pick you up."
"Who did you bring back?" Cheng Nan Yi fixed a piercing gaze on him, his eyes almost
shooting sparks.
"Who did I bring back?" Yuan Ting frowned. "Who would I have brought back? I came
alone. Without your permission, how could I possibly bring someone here?" He knew his
cleanliness-obsessed partner would freak out.
Cheng Nan Yi's expression slightly softened, but it was still stern. "What’s all this?" He
pointed to the mess on the floor.
Yuan Ting touched his nose guiltily: "Well, I came over last night, and the bed was dusty.
How could I sleep like that? So, I stripped it down, and also…"
Yuan Ting coughed lightly, confessing honestly, "I didn’t take a shower... but!!!"
Yuan Ting raised his hand earnestly: "Although I didn’t shower before getting in your
bed, I took off all the clothes I wore during the day. I didn’t wear anything on your bed. I
was clean, really. Bro, wasn’t I respectful of you?"
Cheng Nan Yi: "..."
Seeing Cheng Nan Yi’s expression change from "no one’s getting out alive" to
"speechless," Yuan Ting knew he had narrowly passed the test.
He had no idea he would be caught red-handed like this. Nowadays, honest and
trustworthy people like him were rare.
If it were Mo Yikai, he definitely wouldn’t have taken off all his clothes just because he
hadn’t showered before getting into bed.
Wrapped in the bedsheet and about to get out of bed, Yuan Ting heard someone call out,
“Brother…”
Brother?
Yuan Ting sat back down.
“Brother…”
The voice called again.
It wasn’t a hallucination.
“Just sit here for a moment,” Cheng Nan Yi said, turning back.
Footsteps approached quickly, and through the half-open door, Yuan Ting saw a boy in
his teens.
The boy peeked in, trying to look into the bedroom, but Cheng Nan Yi had already walked
out and closed the bedroom door.
Yuan Ting: “???”
Wrapping himself in the quilt, Yuan Ting jumped out of bed, huffing, opened the door, and
found himself face-to-face with the young boy in the living room.
“Brother, who is he?”
“Brother, who is he?”
Two voices sounded simultaneously.

Yuan Ting stared at the young boy, as if he had seen him somewhere before.
The young boy sensed danger and glared fiercely at Yuan Ting. "Who are you? This is my
brother."
"Brother, who is this? How did he come out of your bedroom?"
Yuan Ting remembered. That winter, he was watching over Yuan Qingguang's junk shop,
and across the street was a bookstore. This young boy had slipped and fallen out of the
bookstore, and Cheng Nanyi had helped him up, holding his hand as they walked away.
Yuan Ting had remembered him all this time. It was this young boy. Back then, he was
only six or seven years old, and his appearance hadn't changed much.
New grudges and old grievances. Yuan Ting reached out and grabbed Cheng Nanyi's arm,
pulling him over. "This is my brother."
The young boy furrowed his brow. "My brother, he's my brother."
"My brother, my brother, my brother, my brother, my brother..."
"Brother..." The young boy glared at Cheng Nanyi with anger.
Yuan Ting also turned to stare at Cheng Nanyi, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "Who is
he?"
Cheng Nanyi replied calmly, "His name is Lu Zihang. He's my mom's child from her
remarriage. I met his dad this time abroad, and since his dad couldn't come back, he
asked me to bring him to my mom and have him return to China for school."
During the years Yuan Ting lived in the Cheng family, he had never met Cheng Nanyi's
mother. In his previous life, he had met her a few times but had never seen her son. She
had never brought her son to the Cheng family, and Grandpa Cheng and Cheng Shaolin
rarely mentioned her in front of Cheng Nanyi.
Moreover, before going abroad in his previous life, Yuan Ting and Cheng Nanyi were not
close, so he knew even less about these matters.
Yuan Ting felt uncomfortable. One reason was that Cheng Nanyi's mother had another
child, and the other reason was that the child in front of him was Cheng Nanyi's real
brother.
"Brother." Lu Zihang came over and pulled Cheng Nanyi's arm, trying to pull him away
from Yuan Ting.
Yuan Ting held onto Cheng Nanyi's arm and didn't let go.
Yuan Ting was naked, wrapped only in a blanket, so when he held Cheng Nanyi like this,
Cheng Nanyi's arm brushed against his chest.
Cheng Nanyi pushed him away with his hand.
Yuan Ting: "...So, with a new little brother, the old one isn't as appealing anymore, huh?"
"My brother, this is my brother... You are a psycho..." Lu Zihang was so flustered that he
started speaking in English.
"He says I'm crazy, do you care?"
Before Cheng Nanyi could respond, Yuan Ting started rambling in English, leaving Lu
Zihang utterly confused. This made Yuan Ting so frustrated that he stomped his foot and
said, "Brother, kick him out!"
"I won't. This is my brother..." Yuan Ting shook his head at him and muttered some foul
words, not realizing that Cheng Nanyi had actually learned some English in his past life.
"Both of you, shut up!" Cheng Nanyi had a splitting headache. He pointed at Lu Zihang
and said, "You, go sit on the sofa and don't move. You..." Cheng Nanyi then turned to Yuan
Ting, who was still wrapped in a blanket, and ordered, "Take a shower first, and then get
dressed."
Yuan Ting glared at him resentfully before turning and heading to the bathroom.
While showering, Yuan Ting could still hear the little kid chattering away with "big
brother this, big brother that."
Argh, how irritating.
After his shower, Yuan Ting angrily shouted from the bathroom, "Cheng Nanyi, get me
some clothes."
Cheng Nanyi brought the clothes and tried to open the bathroom door, but Yuan Ting
blocked it from inside, only sticking an arm out.
"What, are you afraid to look?"
"Hmph." Yuan Ting forcefully closed the door, saying, "Mind your own business and go
take care of your own little brother."
Yuan Ting changed into his clothes, dried his hair, and even used a small hair tie to put
his long hair into a stylish bun at the back of his head, thinking he looked quite dashing.
Lu Zihang on the sofa gave him a disdainful look and muttered, "Charcoal face."
“……”
Oh my, Yuan Ting exploded, "Who are you calling a charcoal face?"
Yuan Ting was about to charge at Lu Zihang, but Cheng Nanyi stopped him by hugging
him around the waist.
"This kid called me a charcoal face? Didn't you hear him? He said it to me!" Yuan Ting
glared at Cheng Nanyi in anger.
"Well, you are dark. Look at how dark you are. My brother is so fair-skinned, that's why
I'm his real little brother," Lu Zihang said proudly, tilting his head.
Cheng Nanyi glanced at Yuan Ting's face and couldn't help but curl his lips slightly.
After a month of military training, Yuan Ting was exceptionally tanned. Just now, when
he entered the bedroom and turned his head, there was a stark contrast between the
color of his face and his body – a mix of white and black.
Irritated, Yuan Ting shook off Cheng Nanyi's hand: "Fine, you two are brothers. I'll leave,
I'll leave, alright?" he said, huffing as he walked out.
Cheng Nanyi grabbed him by the back of his neck and dragged him to the balcony: "You
stand here and don't move."
"You sit there and don't move," Cheng Nanyi then instructed Luzi Hang.
Cheng Nanyi took out a cloth and mop and began to clean.
Yuan Ting, unable to contain his anger: "Why does he get to sit while I have to stand?"
Such blatant favoritism.
"Brother, brother, go be his brother then."
He doesn't care.
"I won't touch him, so it doesn't matter if he's a bit dirty," Cheng Nanyi glanced at him,
"As for you, just stand there honestly. If you get dirty, believe it or not, I'll scrub you with
a shoe brush."
Yuan Ting: "..."

"Charcoal monster."
"Brat."
"Charcoal monster."
"Brat."
Luzi Hang, puffing with anger, asked Cheng Nanyi: "Brother, who is he really? Send him
away, I don't like him."
Cheng Nanyi glanced at him and said indifferently, "If you don't like him, you have the
option to leave."
Luzi Hang was momentarily stunned, his eyes quickly reddening: "Why should I? I'm your
brother. Why should I be the one to leave?"
"Better not cry. If your snot drips on the sofa, you'll have to take the sofa with you when
you leave."
Luzi Hang sniffled and swallowed it back.
Yuan Ting stepped back, feeling disgusted...
He finally had a firsthand understanding of his own past behavior.
Luzi Hang, somewhat intimidated by Cheng Nanyi, knew he couldn't drive Yuan Ting
away and didn’t dare to continue his antics, just glaring at Yuan Ting.
Yuan Ting made a face at him: "Blah blah blah blah..."
"Brother, look at him..."
Cheng Nanyi, having finished vacuuming and now mopping the floor, responded coolly,
"Then you should make some allowances for him."
"Why should I make allowances for him? I'm the child here. Adults should be
accommodating towards children."
"Lift your foot."
Luzi Hang lifted his foot, looking pitifully at Cheng Nanyi: "Brother..."
"Here, you have to make room for him, or else you have the choice to leave."
"Why?" Luzi Hang frowned, his eyebrows and mouth scrunching up.
"Because this is my house, and what I say goes."
Luzi Hang: "..."
Yuan Ting: "..." Ah, that feels better.
Author's note:
A big thank you to the angels who supported me with King's tickets and nutrient
Thank you to the angels who irrigated with nutrient solutions: Happy Heart, Qian Qian 10
bottles; Boss Mi 3 bottles; Bitter Bro Sweet, 404 Ghost Heads 1 bottle;
#84 Chapter 84
Chapter 84
Yuan Ting, feeling relieved and calm, said: "You must be tired from your flight. How about
I clean up for you? I can take a shower after finishing."
"You just stand there and don't move."
"Alrighty," Yuan Ting grinned, "Are you leaving again when you return?"
"No, I'm not leaving. Everything has been dealt with."
"Oh, then why didn't you tell me in advance?" Yuan Ting was a bit upset. If he hadn’t
come last night, he could have gone straight home today and missed seeing him entirely.
Cheng Nanyi kept his head down, mopping the floor without speaking.
He actually didn’t want Yuan Ting to meet Luzi Hang.
The time he took Luzi Hang to the bookstore was intentional, to let Yuan Ting see that
even without him, he could have another brother.
But still, it's different. It's just not the same.
No one can compare to Yuan Ting.
Seeing Cheng Nanyi's silence, Yuan Ting huffed at Luzi Hang, who rolled his eyes and
huffed back.
Yuan Ting pulled out his phone: "Hungry, have you guys eaten? I'll order some takeout.
Kid, what do you want to eat?"
"I won't eat anything you order," Luzi Hang said with determination to Cheng Nanyi,
"Brother, I only want to eat what you cook."
"Then you can go hungry," Cheng Nanyi said.
Luzi Hang immediately looked at Yuan Ting: "Then I want beef noodles, with extra beef."
"Call me brother," Yuan Ting eyed him.
"No, you're not my brother."

Yuan Ting, unfazed, ordered the takeout and then stretched his arms and legs on the
balcony, admiring the view from the twenty-something-story building.
Finally finished with cleaning, Cheng Nanyi let Yuan Ting in, just as the takeout arrived.
The three of them shared a lunch together.
Due to Cheng Nanyi's aloofness, Luzi Hang didn't dare to provoke Yuan Ting anymore,
fearing Cheng Nanyi might actually send him away.
"Hey, who are you really, and why do you keep calling me brother?"
Yuan Ting: "I'm not telling you."
"Brother, brother, brother," just hearing it was irritating.
Luzi Hang took a deep breath. At home, he was doted on by his grandparents and parents,
always the one causing trouble. This was the first time he felt so mistreated by someone.
"Brother," Luzi Hang looked at Cheng Nanyi, pointing seriously at Yuan Ting, "I listened
to you, but I think he's being impolite."
Cheng Nanyi transferred some beef from his bowl into Yuan Ting's: "He's always like that.
You can choose not to talk to him."
Luzi Hang pouted: "Why don’t you give me any beef?"
"Because it's my beef, and I'll give it to whoever I want."
"Here, take it, take it," Yuan Ting, exasperated, moved the beef into Luzi Hang’s bowl.
Luzi Hang: "I don’t want it now."
Cheng Nanyi looked at Yuan Ting, frowning: "Why are you giving away what I gave to
you?"
"..." Yuan Ting was taken aback, whispering, "He's just a kid. Why bother with him?" It
seems like you've got a serious problem, and it's not a light one.
Cheng Nanyi ignored him and continued eating his noodles.
His mood visibly soured.
？？？
Yuan Ting kicked Cheng Nanyi’s leg under the table, but Cheng Nanyi didn’t even glance
at him.
Yuan Ting: "..."
Finally, Luzi Hang realized he couldn’t rely on Cheng Nanyi, quietly eating his noodles
while sobbing. His brother didn’t like him at all.
Yuan Ting: "..." This situation left him at a loss for words.
After lunch, Cheng Nanyi received a call from his mother, saying she would come to pick
up Luzi Hang.
Luzi Hang packed his things and sat on the sofa, looking cautiously at Cheng Nanyi:
"Brother, can I still come to visit you?"
"No, I don't like watching kids."
"I'm not a little kid, I'm twelve years old. I can take care of myself."
"Then there's even less reason for you to come."
Luzi Hang pouted, then suddenly turned to glare at Yuan Ting.
Yuan Ting: "..."
It’s not like I’m the one stopping you from coming.
Glare all you want, your eyes are about to pop out, kid.
Cheng Nanyi's mother arrived soon, and Luzi Hang immediately ran to her to complain:
"Mom, he..."
Cheng Nanyi gave him a look, and Luzi Hang choked back the rest of his words, not daring
to say more.
Ye Shuwan's gaze fell on Yuan Ting, who stepped forward to greet her: "Auntie, hello, I'm
Yuan Ting."
"Yuan Ting?" Ye Shuwan thought for a moment, "Are you the one from Nanyi's uncle's
side..."
"Yes, that's me." Yuan Ting was now composed, "I haven't met you before, but I've often
heard Brother Nanyi mention you. It's nice to finally meet you."
"Often... mentions me?" Ye Shuwan glanced at Cheng Nanyi, smiling awkwardly, then said
to him, "Nanyi, thank you for bringing Zihang back this time. Otherwise, he would have
had to fly back alone."
"No need to thank me, it was just convenient."
Ye Shuwan wrapped an arm around Luzi Hang's shoulder: "Let's go, say goodbye to your
brother. We're heading home."
Reluctantly, Luzi Hang said, "Mom, I want to stay and play at brother's place."
"No, we shouldn't trouble your brother any further," Ye Shuwan replied, taking out a
tissue to wipe the sweat off Luzi Hang's forehead.
Yuan Ting instinctively glanced at Cheng Nanyi, whose face remained expressionless.
After exchanging a few words with Cheng Nanyi, who remained aloof, Ye Shuwan took
Luzi Hang's suitcase from him: "I've safely delivered him here."
"Nanyi..." Ye Shuwan opened her mouth as if to say something, then sighed, "You're living
alone, make sure to take care of your meals and clothing..."
"I know," Cheng Nanyi said, pulling the suitcase, "I'll walk you down."
Yuan Ting bid Ye Shuwan goodbye and stood at the door, watching the three wait for the
elevator.
Luzi Hang stood with Ye Shuwan, while Cheng Nanyi, holding the suitcase, stood apart in
a polite and distant manner, a stark contrast to Luzi Hang's affectionate posture.
Yuan Ting felt increasingly uncomfortable.
Cheng Nanyi turned and glanced at him, prompting Yuan Ting to smile warmly.
Cheng Nanyi also smiled briefly, then raised a hand to point at his own face.
"..." That's him teasing about his tan.
Yuan Ting closed the door with a "bang."
After seeing off Ye Shuwan and Luzi Hang, Cheng Nanyi returned to find someone
embracing him as soon as he opened the door.
Cheng Nanyi was momentarily taken aback, then instinctively embraced the person
before asking, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, just felt like hugging you," Yuan Ting murmured.
With one arm around his waist, Cheng Nanyi lifted Yuan Ting and took a few steps inside
the house before closing the door with his free hand.
Clinging to him, Yuan Ting whispered, "Don't be upset."
In the ten-plus minutes of Cheng Nanyi's absence, Yuan Ting had imagined many
scenarios.
Unlike him, despite a problematic mother, in his previous life, Yuan Ting had a stepfather,
and in this life, his biological father and grandmother. But Cheng Nanyi had none of that,
only a strict grandfather.
Now, Cheng Nanyi also had to face his mother and stepfather’s child, a child clearly doted
on, something Cheng Nanyi never experienced.
These thoughts had tormented Yuan Ting immensely.
"Do you think I lack maternal love?" Cheng Nanyi asked softly.
Yuan Ting: "..."
Since when did he become so perceptive?
Seeing Yuan Ting's expression, Cheng Nanyi knew he was right and couldn't help but
laugh: "Yuan Ting, I really can't look at you. How did your face get so tanned?" Logically, a
well-cared-for child shouldn’t become this tanned.
Yuan Ting’s somber mood instantly evaporated.
Some people just shouldn’t be given too much leeway.
Annoyed, Yuan Ting pushed him away and went to sit on the sofa.
"She's my mother, and I have obligations towards her. But I have no expectations of her,
nor have I ever thought of receiving anything from her. So however she treats me, it
doesn't matter to me. And she hasn't treated me badly," Cheng Nanyi walked over and
ruffled Yuan Ting's hair. "As for you, why are you making a fuss like a child?"
"What do you mean 'making a fuss like a child'? What, am I not a child now?" Yuan Ting
bristled.
Cheng Nanyi just looked at him and laughed, making Yuan Ting feel uneasy: "Why are you
laughing?"
"No one can compare to you," Cheng Nanyi sat next to him, his hand resting on Yuan
Ting's shoulder, giving it a squeeze.
"Tsk," Yuan Ting huffed, annoyed, "I've seen him."
Cheng Nanyi relaxed into the sofa, legs crossed on the coffee table. He yawned before
lazily asking, "When?"
"That winter..." Yuan Ting recalled, still feeling irritated, grinding his teeth, "You were
patting his trousers, holding his hand..."
Cheng Nanyi half-closed his eyes, watching Yuan Ting's face tense up as he bit down, and
chuckled softly.
So, he had seen it, and still remembered it.
That year, he had childishly done that, and afterwards felt it was pointless. Yuan Ting
might not have seen it, or if he did, might have shown no reaction.
And he would never know what Yuan Ting was thinking at that time.
It was all in vain.
But after all these years, he finally got his answer.
Yuan Ting, not hearing Cheng Nanyi speak, turned to look at him, only to find him asleep
with his eyes closed.
Yuan Ting: "..."
Yuan Ting reached out to pinch his cheek, annoyed, "You haven't answered me yet."
"Answer you what?" Cheng Nanyi opened his eyes to look at him, fingers gently pinching
and massaging Yuan Ting's earlobe.
His affectionate gesture made Yuan Ting's face warm, but it was hard to tell due to his
dark complexion.
"That year was the first time my mom brought Luzi Hang to see me. That's when I
learned she had another child."
"We met in a café, and Luzi Hang asked her, 'Who is this brother? I've never seen him
before'..."
Cheng Nanyi, staring into Yuan Ting's eyes, continued: "At that moment, I thought, Yuan
Ting once said he'd always be with me. Then he left too. Whose words in this world can
one trust?"
Like a knife piercing his heart, Yuan Ting's flushed face faded. He reached out to cover
Cheng Nanyi's mouth: "Don't say anymore."
Cheng Nanyi looked at Yuan Ting's reddened eyes and patted his head.
When his mother left, he asked her to stay, but she chose to leave. Since then, he vowed
never to let her hurt him again. So, for Luzi Hang, for his mother's new family, he felt no
emotion. These were things he no longer needed in his life.
However, if Yuan Ting wanted to imagine things, then he would let him imagine more
completely.
Yuan Ting, looking down, pouted: "I'm sorry."
Cheng Nanyi must have felt so helpless back then, a pity he wasn't there to be by his side.
Cheng Nanyi watched Yuan Ting for a while, then closed his eyes: "Is there anything else
you want to know?"
"I don’t want to know anymore." Yuan Ting shook his head, regretting his curiosity,
scolding himself inwardly.
"Then, can I sleep for a while? I'm really tired."
"Go ahead, sleep." Yuan Ting patted his leg, pulling Cheng Nanyi closer with a crook of his
shoulder, coaxing like a puppy wagging its tail, "Come, lie here. Let Yuan Ting, the
masseur, give you a head massage. I guarantee you'll sleep comfortably."
Cheng Nanyi lay on Yuan Ting's legs, feeling his hands gently massaging the lethal temple
area, lost in thought.
The people around him came and went, mere passersby in his life, all destined to leave,
except for Yuan Ting, who was supposed to stay with him forever.
He should treat Yuan Ting better, to make him unwilling to leave, even after learning
about his darkest thoughts, unlike the resolute departure of their childhood.
If only there was a house to lock Yuan Ting in, to keep him from ever escaping.
Author's note:
A heartfelt thanks to the angels who supported me with King's tickets and nutrient
Thank you to the angels who irrigated with nutrient solutions: 44700309 56 bottles; Cai
Shu Lin 20 bottles; Qi Bai Bu Zhi Yi 13 bottles; Ci 5 bottles; Ran Mo Mo 3 bottles; 404 Big
Ghost Heads, Ku Ge Hao Tian 1 bottle each;
#85 Chapter 85
Chapter 85
After massaging Cheng Nanyi for a while, Yuan Ting also fell asleep. When he awoke, it
was already dark. He lay on the sofa, covered with a blanket, the room filled with the
aroma of food.
Yuan Ting sniffed, drawn by the scent to the kitchen, where he saw Cheng Nanyi cooking.
"You can cook?" Yuan Ting approached, peering into the pot, genuinely surprised, "How
can you cook?"
"Just learned a few dishes, I made them for you to try today."
Yuan Ting leaned against the counter, sizing up Cheng Nanyi: "Brother... no, I won’t call
you brother anymore, you’re not just my brother."
"Indeed, I'm not your brother," Cheng Nanyi replied, cutting vegetables with his head
down, "We're not related by blood, it’s just a title."
Yuan Ting pouted, scoffing to himself.
"Sweet and sour pork ribs, shredded potatoes in vinegar, and they're hand-cut too. Look
how thick, like fingers. And this is..." Yuan Ting lifted the lid, "braised pork... all my
favorites." He looked at Cheng Nanyi, "How come it’s such a coincidence?"
"It's not a coincidence. I made all your favorites. I didn’t bother learning the ones you
don't like."
Yuan Ting instinctively stepped back, eyeing him warily: "What are you doing? You're
making me nervous. It feels like I'm about to head to the guillotine after this meal."
Cheng Nanyi chuckled lightly, looking up at him: "What, can't I try to please you?"
！！！
Yuan Ting reached out to touch his forehead: "Cheng Nanyi, you're acting strange."
"Hmm." Cheng Nanyi stepped forward, pinning him against the counter, "Is it strange to
treat you well? So, I never treated you well before?"
Their proximity was too close for comfort, making Yuan Ting's breathing quicken and his
mind slow to respond. Cheng Nanyi reached over him to grab a spatula, then stepped
back.
The kitchen felt too hot, and Yuan Ting nearly fled.
There's something fishy when things are out of the ordinary. Cheng Nanyi is definitely up
to something.
He must be plotting against me.
I absolutely can't eat this food!!!
……
Dinner was served, and Yuan Ting eagerly grabbed his chopsticks to taste.
Well... the young master’s cooking looks quite good, even plated nicely, but the taste...
well...
"How is it? Tasty?" Cheng Nanyi asked.
"Delicious." Yuan Ting nodded, hugging his bowl and eating heartily.
After tasting a bite, Cheng Nanyi set down his chopsticks and said, "Yuan Ting, it's a
shame you're not an actor."
"Hmm..." Yuan Ting tilted his head, looking at him, "Brother, no, Cheng Nanyi, feelings
can't be defined in just one way."
"What do you mean?"
"It means that my definition of delicious isn't just about flavor and aroma. The most
important thing is the intention behind it."
"I see..." Cheng Nanyi stood up, went into the kitchen, and brought out a dish of
something pitch-black and indiscernible, placing it in front of Yuan Ting. "This is the first
dish, full of heart, definitely the tastiest. Try it."
Yuan Ting: "..."
Apparently, some people really don't understand praise or criticism.
Yuan Ting, resigned to his fate, reached for the chopsticks, only to be knocked on the
head by Cheng Nanyi: "Are you stupid?"
"You're the stupid one." Yuan Ting glared at him, took out his phone to take a photo, "I'll
keep it as a memory. After all, it's the first dish you've cooked for me." After taking the
photo, Yuan Ting also grabbed a Polaroid camera, making Cheng Nanyi pose with the
pitch-black dish for another picture.
Cheng Nanyi's suggestion to order takeout was blocked by Yuan Ting. The dish wasn't
particularly tasty, but it wasn't inedible. Yuan Ting embarked on a 'clean plate' mission,
ending up sprawled on the couch, groaning.
Cheng Nanyi wanted to take him for a walk, but Yuan Ting was too lazy, so Cheng Nanyi
went downstairs to buy him digestive tablets.
This meal was indeed quite an ordeal.
By the time Yuan Ting had digested his food, it was past ten at night. Having slept half the
afternoon, neither of them felt sleepy, and Cheng Nanyi, still adjusting to the time
difference, was wide awake.
The two sat in the living room, playing video games.
They played the classic King of Fighters game. Yuan Ting was exceptionally good at it,
having spent most of his previous life gaming.
Unable to beat him, Cheng Nanyi heard Yuan Ting's taunt: "Call me 'brother', and I'll
share some tips with you."
Cheng Nanyi hooked his arm around Yuan Ting's neck and pulled him closer: "Tell me
how to execute that move."
"Call me 'brother' first," Yuan Ting insisted with a laugh while trying to push him away.
The two jostled and pushed, and finally, Yuan Ting ended up half-sitting in Cheng Nanyi's
lap, held down, their four hands gripping the same game controller. Cheng Nanyi’s chin
rested on Yuan Ting's shoulder: "Come on, little brother, teach me."
Yuan Ting felt a tingle run through half his body at being called "little brother," pressing
several buttons on the controller without managing to execute any special move.
"Tsk, seems like the little brother isn’t so skilled after all."
"You're the one who's unskilled," Yuan Ting huffed, "You're just too slow to learn."
They stopped talking, and the room was filled only with the sounds of characters from
the game. Yuan Ting, distracted, lost three games in a row.
Cheng Nanyi laughed, to which Yuan Ting stubbornly retorted, "I was just letting you
win."
"Well, thank you, little brother."
Yuan Ting couldn’t take it anymore and stood up, pushing Cheng Nanyi away: "Let's
sleep, I'm tired."
Watching Yuan Ting enter the bathroom, Cheng Nanyi found it hard to fathom Yuan
Ting’s thoughts.
He had grown up with Yuan Ting, and though they had been apart for a while, Yuan Ting
had always been close to him. Cheng Nanyi couldn't tell if Yuan Ting now saw him just as
a dear brother or harbored feelings beyond that.
He had tried to see if Yuan Ting blushed earlier, but the kid was so tanned that it was
impossible to tell.
The house had only one bedroom, so naturally, they shared it. Yuan Ting, no longer
minding, flopped onto the bed after his shower.
The bed, with its freshly changed sheets and covers, felt even more comfortable.
After taking a shower, Cheng Nanyi came in to find Yuan Ting sitting on the bed, staring
at him.
"What's wrong?"
"I just realized something," Yuan Ting eyed him, "When you asked me this morning if I
brought someone home, you weren't just asking about bringing someone, were you?"
"I was just asking about bringing someone," Cheng Nanyi removed his shoes and got onto
the bed, draping a corner of the blanket over himself.
"By bringing someone, you meant, you know..."
"Meant what?" Cheng Nanyi countered.
"Shameless." Yuan Ting kicked him lightly, "Do you often bring people home? Is that why
you asked so smoothly?"
Cheng Nanyi rolled over to face him: "Yuan Ting, think about how you looked this
morning. Was I the one overthinking?"
Yuan Ting pondered for a moment, admitting there was indeed something suggestive
about his demeanor that morning.
Turning his back to Cheng Nanyi, Yuan Ting switched off the light with a snap, muttering,
"So that's what you think of me."
"What kind of person?" Cheng Nanyi chuckled softly, "You're eighteen now, a grown man.
It wouldn’t be surprising whatever you did."
"Shut up," Yuan Ting thought to himself, fearing if the conversation continued, he might
indeed start acting like the adult he was.
"Alright," Cheng Nanyi turned over, ending up close to Yuan Ting's side.
Yuan Ting stiffened, but Cheng Nanyi didn't do anything more, prompting Yuan Ting to
yawn and close his eyes.
Sleep, sleep, dreams have it all!
When Yuan Ting woke up in the morning, Cheng Nanyi was still asleep. He was dealing
with jet lag, having suffered from insomnia for most of the night and only falling asleep in
the early hours.
Yuan Ting woke up to find himself completely embraced by Cheng Nanyi, like clutching a
doll. No wonder he felt a ghostly pressure in the middle of the night, unable to fully wake
up – he had been entangled by someone.
Yuan Ting quietly wriggled out from under Cheng Nanyi's arm, only to hear a groggy
voice from above: "What would you like for breakfast? I’ll make it for you."
Yuan Ting sat up, turning to look at the sleep-deprived person, pleading with hands
clasped: "Please, brother, I beg you, if the cooking's not good, don't do it again, okay? A
younger brother's life matters too."
Cheng Nanyi let out a low chuckle.
Author's note:
A big thank you to the angels who supported me with King's tickets and nutrient
Thank you to the angels who irrigated with nutrient solutions: Wan Zi 15 bottles; Darling
i 13 bottles; Qin, Ku Ge Hao Tian 1 bottle each;
#86 Chapter 86
Chapter 86
Yuan Ting went downstairs to buy breakfast. Upon returning, he received a call from
Yuan Qingguang, asking if he wanted to come home and offering to pick him up.
Yuan Ting told him he wouldn't return, and Yuan Qingguang didn't insist. Yuan
Qingguang was quite busy himself, planning to set up a waste transfer station and didn't
have time to look after Yuan Ting, so he transferred some money for Yuan Ting to eat
well at school.
After hanging up with Yuan Qingguang, Duan Wenzhe called. Duan Wenzhe had also
come to Chuanhai, enrolling in a Tier-3 university and becoming Mo Yikai's junior. He
didn't want to go home for the holiday and called early in the morning to invite Yuan Ting
out.
Yuan Ting declined Duan Wenzhe's invitation as well.
Duan Wenzhe got angry: "Don’t you love me anymore? Not going out during the holiday,
you must be up to something."
Yuan Ting: "…Do you have delusions? Duan Wenzhe, let me tell you, I'm not interested in
you. Don’t bend before I break it off."
"You heartless man," Duan Wenzhe angrily hung up the phone.
Yuan Ting: "..." Thinking about it, with his good looks, it’s understandable if Duan Wenzhe
fell for him.
In the future, he should tone down his charm around Duan Wenzhe. After all, who
wouldn't love the handsome and charming Yuan Ting?
Yuan Ting happily carried his breakfast upstairs.
Cheng Nanyi was still asleep, so Yuan Ting ate breakfast alone. By the time Cheng Nanyi
woke up, it was already noon. After showering, Cheng Nanyi asked Yuan Ting, "Do you
want to go home?"
Yuan Ting, flipping through TV channels with the remote, feigned nonchalance: "My dad
and grandma are quite busy. My dad said that if I go back, I'd just be another mouth to
feed. It's better if I don't go back. You see, modern college students have no status in the
eyes of their parents. I don’t want to go back just to be resented."
Cheng Nanyi chuckled, "I don't resent you. Stay with me. Otherwise, I was planning to go
back and pick you up today." He didn't want Yuan Ting to meet Luzi Hang, so he thought
of sending Luzi Hang away first before meeting Yuan Ting. But he didn't expect Yuan Ting
to come here.
"Pick me up for what?"
"To bring you back for some fun."
"Tsk." Yuan Ting rolled his eyes at him.
"How about going to eat near the school gate?"
"Yes!" Yuan Ting immediately stood up, "It’s been a month since school started, and I’ve
hardly been to the school gate." Cheng Nanyi often told him about the tasty eateries there,
and he had been eager to try them.
"Then let's go."
Yuan Ting went to change clothes. Coming out, he found Cheng Nanyi laughing
uncontrollably.
"What are you laughing at?"
Cheng Nanyi hooked his arm around Yuan Ting's neck and guided him to the dressing
mirror to take a look.
The military training uniform had a high collar, but today's T-shirt worn by Yuan Ting
had a wide neckline, revealing the contrast between his tanned neck and his fair skin,
resembling a necklace.
Annoyed, Yuan Ting took off his shirt and then grumbled, "Now I don't have anything to
wear."
Cheng Nanyi found him one of his own shirts, helping him button it up to the second
button below the neck.
Yuan Ting examined himself in the mirror for a long time, even tying a small knot in his
hair, looking from left to right, and asked, "Magic mirror, tell me, is Yuan Ting still the
most handsome person in the world?"
No one spoke.
Yuan Ting turned to the person beside him with an expressionless face, his eyes
narrowed in a warning glare.
Cheng Nanyi's shirt was slightly loose on Yuan Ting, subtly outlining his slender waist.
After a few seconds of gaze, Cheng Nanyi casually looked at Yuan Ting: "Yes, the magic
mirror says Yuan Ting is still the most handsome in the world."
The kid really is very good-looking.
Yuan Ting's hair was naturally curly, a bit light in color. With his hair grown out and tied
in a small knot at the back, combined with his delicate and pretty face, he was bound to
catch many eyes, as long as he didn't shout "Magic mirror."
Yuan Ting left the room expressionless.
Following behind him, Cheng Nanyi saw Yuan Ting getting increasingly agitated and
suddenly turned around, glaring at him furiously: "What’s wrong with being dark? Why
are you making fun of me? Do you realize that’s discrimination?"
"No one's making fun of you, and no one is discriminating against being dark," Cheng
Nanyi replied earnestly, "I just thought that the combination of white and black might…"
He couldn’t help but laugh, "Yuan Ting, do you get the joke?"
Yuan Ting: "???"
Ah, this is infuriating...
"What if I decide to tan even more, like all over?" Yuan Ting gave him a side-eye.
"Doesn't matter. If you like it, that’s fine. Black plus white works too. Laugh about it
enough and it stops being funny."
Yuan Ting: "..."
"Do you remember your bald head when you were little?" Cheng Nanyi rested his hand
on Yuan Ting's shoulder as they walked side by side to the school gate. "It looked funny at
first glance, but then..." Cheng Nanyi paused, chuckling again, "Actually, it was quite
funny."
Yuan Ting: "..."
"And remember your first day at our house, standing on the balcony without pants? I
didn’t find it funny before, but now that I think about it..." Cheng Nanyi's expression
hinted at barely controlled amusement.
Yuan Ting, feigning a smile, retorted, "I’ve noticed you’re quite talkative today, probably
more than you’ve spoken in a whole month, huh?"
"Fair enough," nodded Cheng Nanyi. "Mainly because you provide plenty of material for
laughter, Yuan Ting. Didn’t you realize I was trying to comfort you? In the grand scheme
of your amusing anecdotes, the black plus white thing is really trivial."
Yuan Ting’s chest puffed in indignation. If he were a pufferfish, he would have exploded
several times by now.
He realized Cheng Nanyi was more cutting than Mo Yikai when riled up.
Yuan Ting ignored Cheng Nanyi, who playfully pinched his ear: "Are you mad?"
Yuan Ting, still ignoring him, purposefully led Cheng Nanyi to the front of a snail rice
noodle shop and pointed, "I want to eat this."
“……”
Yuan Ting watched with satisfaction as Cheng Nanyi’s composed expression started to
crumble.
"Just try me. I’ve got you figured out."
"Revenge is a dish best served immediately."
Cheng Nanyi held his breath for a moment before responding, "Fine, you go eat, I'll wait
for you outside."
"You said you'd take me to eat. What does it mean if you don't go in now?" Yuan Ting
huffed, "Is that look on your face because you disdain snail noodles or those who love
them?"
Cheng Nanyi glanced at him, silent, but the direction of his shoe tips revealed his desire to
flee the scene.
Yuan Ting deliberately said, "Yesterday, you were talking about pleasing me, and now
this? As I thought, I shouldn't have believed you."
"Let's go," Cheng Nanyi said without a second's hesitation, grabbing Yuan Ting's arm and
heading into the shop.
Yuan Ting: "???"
Uh... just like that, he agrees?

Before Yuan Ting could react, he was already seated at a table.
The distinctive smell of the snail noodle shop was unbearable for some, and Yuan Ting
watched Cheng Nanyi visibly struggle, barely suppressing a laugh: "Or, you could beg me,
and then you don’t have to eat it."
Cheng Nanyi looked at him but remained silent.
When the snail noodles arrived, Cheng Nanyi turned his head away, staring at the wall.
"Brother..." Yuan Ting picked up a chopstick full of noodles, bringing them to Cheng
Nanyi's mouth, "Here, let me feed you. Open up, ah..."
Cheng Nanyi, with a resigned expression, obediently opened his mouth when Yuan Ting
said "ah," ready to eat if the chopsticks weren’t withdrawn in time.
Yuan Ting pulled back his hand, astonished, "Wait, you were actually going to eat it?"
"Would you be happy if I ate it?" Cheng Nanyi asked.
"So, if it makes me happy, you would really eat it?" Yuan Ting inquired.
"Of course, if I said I'd please you, naturally I'll follow through."
Yuan Ting: "..." It just... feels very subtle.
Yuan Ting avoided his gaze: "Am I sick? Why would I be happy seeing you do something
you dislike? Go eat at another shop nearby, I'll come find you after I'm done."
Cheng Nanyi looked at the source of the "offensive odor" on the table; Yuan Ting had only
ordered a single serving of snail noodles.
Cheng Nanyi asked him, "Then what do you think I should do to please you?"
Yuan Ting paused with his chopsticks, thoughtfully looking at him: "Brother, what exactly
do you want me to do? Just say it, don't torture me like this. The idea that you need to
please me to achieve something... it's kind of terrifying to think about."
"That is indeed quite terrifying," Cheng Nanyi nodded in agreement.
Yuan Ting's expression broke into confusion: "...So what exactly do you want me to do?"
"You'll have to wait a bit longer. I'll keep trying to please you for some time and then see
how you react."
“……”
Yuan Ting glanced at him, then picked up his chopsticks and started eating silently.
Cheng Nanyi's gaze turned deep.
Given the kid's personality, he should have been insistent on getting to the bottom of it,
yet he didn’t pursue it.
After finishing the snail noodles, Yuan Ting accompanied Cheng Nanyi to eat.
Cheng Nanyi chose a noodle shop and ordered a bowl of beef noodles.
Yuan Ting looked around: "Is this the place you mentioned before, where the beef
noodles are particularly tasty?"
Cheng Nanyi nodded: "Do you want to try some?"
"I'm quite full already…" Yuan Ting hesitated for three seconds, "But okay, I'll try some. It
does look tasty." This place didn't offer takeout, only dine-in.
Cheng Nanyi was about to get up to get him a small bowl to share some when he saw
Yuan Ting open his mouth: "Ah..."
Cheng Nanyi, already halfway standing, and Yuan Ting, mouth agape waiting to be fed,
locked eyes in a moment filled with an awkward air.
Cheng Nanyi couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile. Yuan Ting sheepishly closed his
mouth, frustrated, "No beef noodles can compare to snail noodles. Who in their right
mind would eat this stuff? I wouldn’t eat it even if it were free."
Cheng Nanyi sat back down and pushed the bowl of noodles towards Yuan Ting: "You try
first."
"No, I won’t eat it." Yuan Ting’s ears burned with embarrassment. He had been so
mortified.
He really had just not reacted in time.
After a pause, Cheng Nanyi stood up, moved beside Yuan Ting, and whispered, "Do you
really need me to feed you?"
？？？？
Yuan Ting looked at him in horror, then quickly picked up chopsticks and hastily ate a
few noodles, demonstrating he didn't need to be fed.
Well... it was actually quite tasty.
So Yuan Ting took a spoonful of soup, then picked up a piece of beef, followed by another
bite of noodles... darn it, he was going to burst.
Seeing Yuan Ting stop eating, Cheng Nanyi took the bowl back and started eating.
Yuan Ting watched Cheng Nanyi eating the noodles he had left, feeling an odd sensation
growing inside him.
Sitting too close, their arms occasionally brushed while Cheng Nanyi ate. Yuan Ting,
feeling it was somewhat improper for two grown men to eat side by side, stood up and
moved to the opposite side.
Cheng Nanyi, without looking up, said calmly, "Sit back here."
Yuan Ting didn’t move.
Cheng Nanyi looked up at him, frowning slightly: "I’m not even holding it against you.
Why are you sitting so far away?"
"Why would you hold anything against me?" Yuan Ting looked at him incredulously.
"What do you think?"
Yuan Ting gritted his teeth in frustration. It was just a bowl of snail noodles. Just
moments ago, he was all "I'll do anything if it makes you happy," and now it's turned into
"I'm not holding it against you; you should be grateful."
Yuan Ting stood up, plopped back down closer to Cheng Nanyi, thinking, 'I'll smother you
with my presence!!!'
"Still eating beef?"
Cheng Nanyi twirled his chopsticks and brought a piece of beef to Yuan Ting’s mouth.
Yuan Ting instinctively ducked his head and snatched the beef away.
“……”
Author's note:
There will be another chapter tonight, though it might be late... Thank you to the angels
who supported me with King's tickets and nutrient solutions from 2023-09-28 19:45:35
to 2023-10-02 23:05:51~
Thank you to the angels who threw shallow water bombs: shenyami 1;
Thank you to the angels who threw landmines: Little Deer 1;
Thank you to the angels who irrigated with nutrient solutions: Mr. Dog See 100 bottles; I
Am a Dandelion, Bu Ci 20 bottles; Deep Blue's Eternity 11 bottles; Little East Ear, Happy
Today 10 bottles; Bu Qiu, Blu Blu Blu, Super Big Hook Eight Immortals, Drunken Autumn
Breeze 5 bottles; Lin Wu Yu Have You Eaten Today, Hei Hei Hei, Don't Look This Is My
Wife, Bai Ming 2 bottles; Su Shi Si, Wu Wu Si Si Yi Qian Ling Yi, Sweet Pear, Ping Xuan,
Man Mi 1 bottle each;
#87 Chapter 87
Chapter 87
Yuan Ting spent the entire seven-day holiday of the eleventh month in Cheng Nanyi's
rental house. Cheng Nanyi, unusually free this holiday, spent his days with Yuan Ting
doing nothing much apart from eating, sleeping, and playing games. Duan Wenzhe tried
several times to invite Yuan Ting out, but to no avail.
Yuan Ting thoroughly enjoyed these days. Cheng Nanyi was at his every beck and call.
Yuan Ting even felt that if he wished for the stars in the sky, Cheng Nanyi might
unhesitatingly fetch them for him.
Cheng Nanyi had always been like this towards him, but back then, he hadn’t openly told
Yuan Ting that he was trying to please him or that he had an ulterior motive.
And now, that motive was becoming quite apparent.
Yuan Ting was both excited and fearful.
The excitement stemmed from the deep admiration in his heart, while the fear came from
the guilt that could never be completely erased.
After the holiday, Yuan Ting began his true college life.
The freshman year schedule was tight, including morning and evening self-study
sessions. Yuan Ting, never one to love studying, started complaining again.
Cheng Nanyi was always around the school, coming to have lunch with Yuan Ting every
day. Initially, Yuan Ting didn’t think much of it, but then he wondered why Cheng Nanyi
was always on campus: “Shouldn’t you be doing an internship?”
“I’m preparing for postgraduate studies,” Cheng Nanyi replied.
“Really?” Yuan Ting’s eyes widened in surprise. “You’re going to take the postgrad
entrance exam? At our university?”
“Where else would I apply?” Cheng Nanyi retorted.
Yuan Ting's eyes curved into a smile: “If you pass the exam, we’ll be at the same
university again, my senior.”
Cheng Nanyi watched Yuan Ting's happy expression and ruffled his hair.
Yuan Ting ducked away from his hand, protesting, “I just managed to do my hair nicely,
don’t mess it up… But it’s good I got admitted, otherwise, I would’ve missed out, heh heh
heh…”
Yuan Ting turned and patted Cheng Nanyi’s shoulder seriously: "Cheng Nanyi, fellow
student, I’ll be keeping an eye on your studies. If you don’t pass, you know the
consequences."
Yuanting spent the entire seven-day holiday of the eleventh month in Cheng Nanyi's
rental house. With Cheng Nanyi unusually free this holiday, the two spent their days
simply eating, sleeping, and playing games, ignoring Duan Wenzhe’s multiple attempts to
lure Yuanting out.
Yuanting thoroughly enjoyed these days, with Cheng Nanyi fulfilling his every request.
Yuanting even felt that if he wanted the stars in the sky, Cheng Nanyi would not hesitate
to pluck them for him.
Cheng Nanyi had always treated him this way, but back then, Cheng Nanyi hadn’t
explicitly told Yuanting that he was trying to please him or had any ulterior motives.
But now, that intent was crystal clear.
Yuanting was both expectant and afraid.
His anticipation stemmed from a deep-seated admiration in his heart, while his fear was
rooted in an ever-persistent guilt.
After the holiday, Yuanting began his true university life.
The first-year curriculum was quite packed, including morning and evening self-study
sessions, causing Yuanting to grumble and whine – after all, who loves studying?
Cheng Nanyi was always at the university, coming to have lunch with Yuanting every day.
Initially, Yuanting thought nothing of it, but later, noticing Cheng Nanyi's constant
presence, he asked in confusion, “Shouldn’t you be doing an internship?”
“I’m preparing for my postgraduate studies,” Cheng Nanyi said.
“Really?” Yuanting’s eyes widened in surprise, “You’re going to apply for postgrad? At our
university?”
“Where else if not here?” Cheng Nanyi countered.
Yuanting’s eyes curved in delight, “If you get into postgrad, we’ll be at the same university
again, senior.”
Watching Yuanting’s happy demeanor, Cheng Nanyi ruffled his hair affectionately.
Yuanting dodged his hand, complaining, “I just fixed my hair, don’t mess it up... But luckily
I got admitted, otherwi
Cheng Nanyi reached out to take something, but Yuan Ting dodged away. Still, the large
"Whitening" characters on the box didn’t escape Cheng Nanyi’s notice.
Cheng Nanyi immediately averted his gaze and continued eating. Yuan Ting huffed in
annoyance, finally tucking the box carefully into his backpack, muttering under his
breath, "I'll try it out when I get back. If it doesn't work, I'll go find her."
"Don’t randomly accept things from girls. It’s impolite to return gifts. You should also give
her something in return and clarify things, so there's no misunderstanding," Cheng Nanyi
advised.
"Got it."
"We’re having dinner with Mo Yikai tonight," Cheng Nanyi added.
"Why’s he coming?" Yuan Ting asked, a mix of envy and resentment. "He’s living the good
life now, doesn’t even have to go to school."
"Wang Dabao is coming to discuss business with me. Mo Yikai heard about it and hitched
a ride with him."
"Wang Dabao?"
"I’m planning to set up a research institute in Jiang City, with Wang Dabao in charge."
"A research institute? In what field?"
"Cosmetics."
Yuan Ting pondered for a moment. The Cheng family's business spanned various fields,
including cosmetics, but they hadn’t ventured into their own R&D.
"Going smoothly?" Yuan Ting inquired.
"It’s going well," Cheng Nanyi replied. "We’ve already hired a few experts in the field."
Yuan Ting immediately gave him a thumbs-up: "My brother is always the best."
Cheng Nanyi raised an eyebrow, sensing flattery was a prelude to mischief.
Sure enough, the next second Yuan Ting leaned in: "Brother, I think my skin isn't great.
Could you have your experts develop a special whitening cream for me, one that makes
me glow as soon as I apply it?"
Cheng Nanyi glanced at him and said flatly, "Yuan Ting, you’re a college student. Don’t be
so fanciful."
Yuan Ting: "..." So your cosmetics can't achieve that level, and yet you expect to sell them?
"If that goal is too much, maybe a sunscreen then? The kind that keeps you from ever
getting darker once applied. Is that possible?"
Cheng Nanyi gave him a look.
"..." Yuan Ting shrugged, feeling defeated. These experts weren’t reliable at all, failing to
develop such simple products. They had just lost a potential customer in him.
……
In addition to bringing Mo Yikai, Wang Dabao also brought two graduate students
specializing in chemistry. They all went to a bar, discussing work with Cheng Nanyi, while
Mo Yikai and Yuan Ting sat across from each other, staring blankly.
Mo Yikai, serious-faced, said, "Kid, report your college life to your big brother. If you need
any guidance, I’m here to share all I know."
Yuan Ting just stared at him, saying nothing.
Mo Yikai: "Kid, it’s only been a little over a month. Why so distant?"
Yuan Ting remained silent.
Mo Yikai patted his shoulder, "What’s the matter? Too excited to speak upon seeing your
brother?"
Yuan Ting brushed off his hand, squinting at him, deliberately: "Why didn’t you, mock, my
face?" This wasn’t like Mo Yikai at all.
Mo Yikai furrowed his brows: "Why would I mock your face? How could you think so
lowly of your brother?"
Yuan Ting's chest heaved with emotion: "You’re breaking character, do you realize that?"
This was definitely not the reaction Mo Yikai should have had.
Mo Yikai held his forehead and sighed, then drained the glass of alcohol on the table,
and…
Burst into uproarious laughter, pounding the table and stomping his feet, "Hahaha... Kid,
you brought this up yourself, hahaha! Haven't seen you in over a month, and how did you
turn into a piece of charcoal...?"
"Cheng Nanyi specifically messaged me not to mention your face, and I didn’t – you
brought it up yourself, hahaha... Man, I could laugh about this for a year. That face of
yours!"
"Little Charcoal Kid? Little Black Kid? Black Little Kid? Hahaha..." Mo Yikai was almost
rolling on the floor laughing.
“……”
Yuan Ting inhaled deeply, then stood up and lunged at him: "Shut up..."
Yuan Ting pinned Mo Yikai to the sofa, and the two scuffled.
The two graduate students thought they were fighting and instinctively stood up to
intervene, especially given Yuan Ting's fierce expression. Even Wang Dabao was startled,
thinking something serious had happened. Only Cheng Nanyi gestured dismissively,
"Carry on, don't mind them." Mo Yikai, the troublemaker, couldn’t hold back at all, and
now Yuan Ting would surely seek him out for this.
After punching Mo Yikai several times, Yuan Ting angrily sat back down on the sofa,
refusing to speak to him.
Still laughing, Mo Yikai coaxed, "Kid, come on, have a drink with your big brother."
Cheng Nanyi turned to him with a warning look: "Alright, that’s enough. You’ve provoked
him enough, are you going to make it up to him?"
Mo Yikai rubbed his face, trying to suppress his laughter, and stood up: "I'm going to take
a leak. I'll come back and apologize to our little Black Kid."
Mo Yikai swaggered off towards the restroom.
Cheng Nanyi looked at Yuan Ting, who glared back fiercely.
Cheng Nanyi sighed in resignation, realizing he shouldn’t have messaged Mo Yikai; it had
backfired on him.
After a few seconds of thought, Cheng Nanyi decided that trying to appease Yuan Ting
now would only add fuel to the fire. Better to let him cool off first.
The older a child grows, the heavier the burden of their idol persona becomes. Once
happily blowing bubbles with saliva as a kid, now they spend every day in front of the
mirror making little knots in their hair, quite concerned with their looks.
"To young CEO Cheng, a toast."
Cheng Nanyi then turned to clink glasses with the person.
Yuan Ting narrowed his eyes, whispering something to the bartender, who responded
with an OK gesture. Moments later, a colorless drink was placed beside Yuan Ting.
Yuan Ting took the drink back to his seat, then stealthily placed it on the table in front of
Mo Yikai's seat.
Mo Yikai was a lightweight drinker. Drinking this would surely make him go wild,
perhaps even lead to a striptease or something. Yuan Ting planned to capture it on video
and then blackmail him for life.
Leaning against the wall, Mo Yikai watched all of Yuan Ting's sneaky actions.
After more than a decade of being tricked by this kid, he knew him too well. Was this little
brat ever at a disadvantage?
Of course not.
See, the little rascal was up to his usual stealthy tricks again.
Author's note:
Thank you to the angels who supported me with King's tickets and nutrient solutions
from 2023-09-28 23:05:51 to 2023-10-02 23:27:22~
Thank you to the angels who threw shallow water bombs: shenyami 1;
Thank you to the angels who threw landmines: Little Deer 1;
Special thanks to the little angels who nourished with their gifts: Mr. Dog 100 bottles;
Dandelion, Not Saying Goodbye 20 bottles; Deep Blue Eternity 11 bottles; Sweet Melon,
Qianqian, Little Dong, Happy Today 10 bottles; Not Autumn, Blub Blub, Meow Meow
Super Hook Fairy, Drunken Autumn Wind 5 bottles; Lin Wuyu, did you eat well today? 3
bottles; Hey Hei, Don't Look, She's My Wife, Bai Ming 2 bottles; Bitter Bro Sweet, Su
Fourteen, 554401001, Sweet Pear, A Mango Fruit, Pingxuan, 404 Big Ghosts, Manmi 1
bottle.
Thank you very much for everyone's support. I will continue to work hard!
#88 Chapter 88
Chapter 88
Mo Yikai swayed back and sat next to Yuanting, waving him over, "Come, let me show you
something interesting."
Yuanting ignored him.
Mo Yikai called out twice more, "I'll show you a video of your silly brother, come over."
Yuanting eagerly leaned in, and the two of them huddled together to watch the phone.
Mo Yikai showed Yuanting a video of Big Silly playing with a ball.
Brother Dog, already in his teens and in his old age, wasn't very agile anymore, but he
was still spirited, well cared for by Aunt Zhu.
Seeing Yuanting engrossed in the phone, Mo Yikai poured his wine into another cup, then
filled the original with water.
Yuanting still humming, "My Brother Dog is so cool, even plays ball better than you."
Mo Yikai: "..." Holding back for the moment.
Mo Yikai handed over a cup to Yuanting, "Here, kiddo, let's drink together."
Yuanting looked up to see Mo Yikai holding the 'specially prepared' drink for him, and
another cup was thrust into his own hands.
To make Mo Yikai drink unsuspectingly, Yuanting accepted the cup.
As they clinked glasses, Yuanting's cup was taken from his lips by another hand.
"Kids shouldn't be drinking alcohol."
"Hey..." Mo Yikai glared at him, "What do you mean 'kid'? The little guy's eighteen now, an
adult. Why can't he drink?"
"If I say he can't drink, he can't drink," Cheng Nanyi said, clinking his glass with Mo Yikai's
before downing his drink in one gulp.
Mo Yikai clicked his tongue, "Just keep protecting him. You've been doing it since he was
little, about time you face some hardships because of it."
"So, if he tells you not to drink, you won’t?" Mo Yikai turned to Yuanting, sowing discord,
"What kind of man doesn’t enjoy a drink?"
"Then will you drink? Should I get you another?" Yuanting asked eagerly.
"No drinking," Mo Yikai slung an arm around his shoulder and whispered, "Hey, kid,
you’ve been back at school for over a month now. Did you find out who Cheng Nanyi's
mysterious girlfriend is?"
"Don’t get all buddy-buddy with me; we’re not that close," Yuanting shrugged off his hand
and turned to him, "What mysterious girlfriend?"
"He definitely has a girlfriend," Mo Yikai raised an eyebrow, "Just wait till he gets drunk.
Ask him then; you’ll surely get it out of him."
Yuanting: "..." Wow, he’s still on about this? Such curiosity.
Yuanting sipped his juice, occasionally glancing over at Mo Yikai.
Mo Yikai, legs crossed, swayed slightly, chatting and drinking, appearing slightly tipsy but
far from drunk.
Yuanting was puzzled. Could it be the bartender fooled him? Wasn’t it supposed to be a
one-shot knockout?
Just as Yuanting was brooding, a hand grabbed his chin, turning his head. Cheng Nanyi
looked at him displeased, "Why are you always staring at Mo Yikai?"
"I..." Yuanting, recalling he was the one who messaged Mo Yikai, retorted irritably, "It’s
none of your business who I look at, hmph." With that, he turned his head back to
continue watching Mo Yikai.
"You're the real runt here, and ugly at that. You'll never find a wife."
Even as they left the bar, Mo Yikai remained spirited. Yuanting couldn't help but kick him
from behind.
Mo Yikai turned around, "Hey, you little devil, did you just kick me?"
"No," Yuanting said, head held high, denying it.
Today was his mistake; he'd keep it in mind, vowing to settle this score later – a
gentleman always avenges his wrongs.
Mo Yikai shivered inexplicably and rubbed his arm.
Apart from Yuanting and Wang Dabao, everyone had been drinking. Cheng Nanyi had
Wang Dabao drive the others to the hotel while he and Yuanting took a taxi.
Before parting, Mo Yikai, arm around Yuanting's shoulder, whispered conspiratorially,

"Kid, take advantage of his drunken state tonight and find out who his girlfriend is.
There's a reward in it for you from your brother."
"Who's drunk?" Yuanting was speechless. His special concoction didn’t even get Mo Yikai
drunk, and Cheng Nanyi only had a little red wine. Drunk, my foot.
Mo Yikai gave Yuanting a meaningful smile before climbing into the car.
He knew he wouldn't get anything out of Cheng Nanyi, but the kid was different, full of
cunning ideas.
Today had been a stroke of luck; he couldn't believe the kid wasn’t curious about Cheng
Nanyi’s girlfriend.
When the taxi arrived, Yuanting and Cheng Nanyi got into the backseat. The driver asked
where to, and Yuanting, thinking Cheng Nanyi would speak up but he didn’t, gave the
driver the address and then turned to look at Cheng Nanyi.
Cheng Nanyi was leaning to one side, staring ahead, no different from usual.
Yuanting reached out, "Hand over your phone."
After a few seconds, Cheng Nanyi slowly and clumsily pulled out his phone from his
pocket and handed it to Yuanting.
Yuanting took the phone and scrolled through WeChat to find his chat history with Mo
Yikai.
Surprisingly, it wasn’t deleted, just blatantly sitting there.
Cheng Nanyi: "The little brat has gotten darker recently. Don’t mention it when you see
him."
Mo Yikai: "Hahahaha, impossible not to mention it. I’m going to tease him to death."
Followed by a series of mocking emoticons.
Yuanting gritted his teeth and continued scrolling.

Cheng Nanyi: "I'll grant you a favor, anything you ask."
Mo Yikai: "Alright, I won’t mention it."
Mo Yikai: "Remember what you said, I have the chat as evidence."
Yuanting huffed and handed the phone back to Cheng Nanyi.
Cheng Nanyi didn’t take it.
Yuanting turned to look at him, only to find Cheng Nanyi also looking at him.
Yuanting pushed the phone into his hand, "He mocked me today, don’t agree to his
request."
"Okay," Cheng Nanyi nodded.
Yuanting frowned, "You alright?"
"I'm fine," Cheng Nanyi replied, then leaned his head against Yuanting's shoulder, his hot
breath hitting Yuanting's cheek, heavy with the scent of alcohol.
"Cheng Nanyi?" Yuanting pushed him slightly, wondering, is he drunk?
That shouldn't be.
Cheng Nanyi’s arms reached around from behind, hugging Yuanting, resting his forehead
on Yuanting's shoulder, slurring, “I feel a bit dizzy.”
"What's wrong with you?" Seeing him in discomfort, Yuanting didn’t press him further,
patting his back soothingly, "We'll be home soon, just hang in there."
Yuanting remembered, Cheng Nanyi didn’t drink much, how could he be drunk?
"Mo Yikai is quite perceptive. I didn't believe him when he said you were drunk. He was
even hoping I'd pry information about your girlfriend from you." Yuanting frowned,
slightly annoyed. He hadn't noticed Cheng Nanyi was drunk, how did Mo Yikai figure it
out?
Were they that familiar with each other?
"I don’t have a girlfriend," Cheng Nanyi whispered in Yuanting's ear.
"Yeah, I know." Cheng Nanyi was with him all the time, of course, he had no girlfriend.
Cheng Nanyi’s lips pressed against Yuanting’s neck, exceptionally hot after drinking,
making Yuanting uncomfortably try to dodge, but then he heard Cheng Nanyi speak
again, "Don’t like girls, like boys, always liked boys."
Yuanting stiffened.
Outside, neon lights flickered. Yuanting sat in the car, his mind blank.
He had always feared getting a definite answer from Cheng Nanyi because it meant what
could have been ambiguous must now follow a certain path. Each path was unbearable
for Yuanting; sometimes he even wished life could go on like this, pretending to know
nothing, living unrestrainedly in front of Cheng Nanyi.
The taxi arrived at their destination, and Yuanting helped Cheng Nanyi out of the car.
Cheng Nanyi could walk straight when they left the bar, but now he staggered in an 'S'
shape, almost falling to the ground.
After a struggle, Yuanting finally got Cheng Nanyi inside the house. Panting, he stood with
hands on his hips, looking at the person lying on the sofa: "Lucky you're a CEO. If you
were in sales with this tolerance, you'd be tortured by alcohol. No more drinking for you."
Yuanting fetched a hot towel to wipe Cheng Nanyi's face, then made a cup of honey water
and helped him sit up to drink it.
Cheng Nanyi was just dizzy, his head spinning, feeling light all over. He could hear
Yuanting and would do whatever he asked, although his movements were clumsy due to
the dizziness.
Yuanting squatted by the sofa, supporting Cheng Nanyi's back with one hand and holding
the cup to his lips with the other, helping him drink half a cup of honey water.
"Does it feel terrible?" Yuanting touched his head.
Cheng Nanyi shook his head twice, then stopped abruptly, too dizzy.
Yuanting stood up, intending to help him to the bedroom, but Cheng Nanyi grabbed his
arm, "Don’t go."
"I’m not leaving. Let's get you to bed, you'll feel better after some sleep," Yuanting said,
trying to pull Cheng Nanyi up using his grip as leverage. But a drunk person couldn’t
exert much strength, and Yuanting couldn’t easily lift his weight, leading him to stumble
forward.
Yuanting got a shock, bracing his hands on either side of the sofa, preventing himself
from falling directly onto Cheng Nanyi, which could have caused internal injury with such
pressure.
Cheng Nanyi, in a daze, opened his eyes to see a face close to his.
A slightly dark face, but with extremely beautiful brows and eyes, the face he had
envisioned countless times in his dreams.
For a moment, Cheng Nanyi couldn’t tell if it was a dream or reality. Like those pleasant
dreams he had before, he reached up, pulling the face closer, and kissed it.
Soft lips, warm, unlike those in his dreams. This realism sent a tingling sensation through
Cheng Nanyi, his grip tightening.
Yuanting, kissed and held in Cheng Nanyi's embrace, was completely frozen.
Cheng Nanyi's lips were burning and soft, his breath heavy with alcohol. Yuanting, who
hadn't touched a drop of alcohol that night, felt as if he were floating in Cheng Nanyi's
breath, as if he had drunk two jin of fake liquor.
His arms, propped on the sofa, gave way, and he collapsed onto Cheng Nanyi. Their teeth
clashed, Cheng Nanyi’s tongue getting nicked, eliciting a muffled groan. The next second,
Cheng Nanyi flipped them over, pinning Yuanting beneath him.
Yuanting had never been kissed in his life, and the person kissing him was the one he had
always admired. This feeling of lips pressing against each other was overwhelmingly
intense for Yuanting.
Yuanting's breathing was rapid, his hands clenched into fists as they hung off the sofa,
torn between conflicting emotions.
He wanted to forget everything, ignore everything, and fiercely embrace and kiss Cheng
Nanyi. But could he really have all this without any burden?
"Yuanting," Cheng Nanyi murmured against his lips.
His name rang clearly in his ears.
Yuanting’s mind exploded as if mountains and seas were collapsing.
Moral ethics and societal norms were all driven away by the most primal human desires.
Yuanting wrapped his arms tightly around Cheng Nanyi, lifting his chin desperately to
return the kiss.
As a normal man who had hardly ever experienced such release in his past or present life,
Yuanting's emotions were tumultuous. He eagerly started to tug at Cheng Nanyi's clothes,
only to freeze the next second.
Drunk with the kiss, Cheng Nanyi had used up his last bit of energy for the night. His lips
still pressed against Yuanting's neck, he had... fallen asleep, even his breathing evening
out.
Panting, Yuanting stared at the glass chandelier in the living room, expressionless.
At that moment, he wanted to destroy the world!
Author's Note:
Thanks to the angels who cast their mighty votes or nourished me with their gifts
between 2023-10-02 23:27:22 and 2023-10-03 20:09:05~
Special thanks to the nourishing angels: kinoko 23 bottles; QL 10 bottles; A Mango Fruit,
Lin Wuyu, did you eat well today? Bitter Bro Sweet, Non-Circular Fate 1 bottle;
#89 Chapter 89
Chapter 89
Yuanting lay on the sofa to calm himself before finally pushing the person still sprawled
over him off, then used all his strength to drag them to the bedroom and dump them on
the bed.
He should have taken him straight to the bedroom when they first entered.
Lack of experience this time; he'd know better next time.
Yuanting, breathing heavily, felt all his earlier emotions dissipate after the ordeal.
He gulped down a glass of water and then took a shower, changing into his pajamas.
After coming out of the bathroom, Yuanting saw his phone light up. It was a message
from Mo Yikai, asking if he had found out anything.
A thought flashed through Yuanting's mind, sensing something was off.
He had made a drink, the one supposed to get drunk didn’t, while the one who shouldn’t
have gotten drunk was out cold…
And Mo Yikai had been so sure Cheng Nanyi would get drunk...
Yuanting thought back on the evening's events. If there was an error, it was in the drink
Mo Yikai handed him, which he didn’t drink, but Cheng Nanyi did.
"Damn it," Yuanting cursed through gritted teeth. Mo Yikai was getting clever, daring to
switch his drink.
Yuanting replied to Mo Yikai's message: Found out, he does have a girlfriend.
Mo Yikai’s voice call came through immediately, which Yuanting quickly disconnected.
Mo Yikai: ??? Who is his girlfriend?
Yuan Ting scoffed coldly, typing furiously: Do you want to know?
Mo Yikai: Nonsense.
Yuan Ting: I'm not telling you!!!

After saying this, he immediately put his phone on silent and ignored further messages.
Yuan Ting returned to the bedroom, where only the night light was on. He didn't get into
bed but instead sat cross-legged on the floor next to Cheng Nanyi.
Resting his chin on his hands, he gazed at the sleeping figure and sighed softly.
"Why don’t you choose the easy way? Girls are nice, but you don’t like them. Instead, you
prefer boys."
Yuan Ting reached out to gently touch Cheng Nanyi's furrowed brow in his sleep,
whispering, "The future successor of the Cheng family... After all your efforts since
childhood, to be judged for your sexual orientation... Grandfather would be furious."
"What were you thinking?"
If Cheng Nanyi had never spoken up, Yuan Ting could have pretended not to know, but
what now?
Yuan Ting was deeply troubled, almost to the point of despair.
His heart felt torn between ice and fire – one side freezing cold, the other burning hot.
"Yuan Ting," Cheng Nanyi mumbled in his sleep, turning over and reaching out to find
someone.
Yuan Ting leaned in, and Cheng Nanyi found him, pinching his earlobe and then draping
his hand over his neck before falling back asleep.
Cheng Nanyi's face was so close. Yuan Ting leaned in and gently kissed his lips.
He couldn’t help but smile warmly.
In the past, he used to lie beside Cheng Nanyi, their hands linked, so close yet worlds
apart, daring to do nothing but dream of turning over to kiss him. But in those dreams,
they would always end with Cheng Nanyi opening his eyes and glaring at him with a killer
gaze.
Every time, he would wake up startled, breaking into a cold sweat.
Yuan Ting leaned in and kissed him again.
Regardless of whether Cheng Nanyi would remember it upon waking, as long as the night
hadn't ended, each stolen kiss counted.
Yuan Ting kissed him again, pleased.
When Cheng Nanyi awoke, the room was dark due to the drawn curtains, making it
difficult to discern the time.
His head ached slightly, and his mind was foggy.
Cheng Nanyi first looked beside him; no one was there, and even the bedsheet was neatly
arranged.
Frowning, Cheng Nanyi reached for his phone and saw it was already 10:30 in the
morning.
"Yuan Ting..." Cheng Nanyi called out, his voice somewhat hoarse.
There was no response.
Cheng Nanyi massaged his temples, memories of the previous night gradually returning.
At the bar, Yuan Ting had specifically prepared a drink for Mo Yikai, which was later
switched to Yuan Ting.
He had drunk it himself, replacing Yuan Ting, to prevent any further commotion between
them.
The kid and Mo Yikai were too familiar with each other, often causing a ruckus without
restraint, almost as if they were about to embrace each other.
He knew he shouldn't feel this way, but something inside him was uncomfortably stirred.
Later, he returned home and then felt dizzy…
Cheng Nanyi abruptly sat up in bed, realizing he had kissed Yuan Ting.
It wasn’t a dream; it was real.
Cheng Nanyi threw off the covers, got out of bed, and hurriedly opened the room door to
step out.
"Yuan Ting?"
The house wasn’t big; he could see everything at a glance, but no one was there.
Yuan Ting was just a freshman and usually lived on campus, coming over only on
Saturdays and Sundays. He didn’t have many belongings, often using Cheng Nanyi’s
things, so there were hardly any of Yuan Ting's possessions in the rental house.
Cheng Nanyi stood in the living room, which seemed suddenly empty despite nothing
missing, enveloped in overwhelming panic.
He had told himself to take it slow, not to scare Yuan Ting, but one drink might have
undone everything.
Cheng Nanyi picked up his phone to call Yuan Ting.
"I'm sorry, the number you have dialed is switched off..."
Yuan Ting, seemingly carefree, was actually meticulous in some aspects, like never letting
his phone run out of battery and even checking Cheng Nanyi’s phone battery before
leaving to charge it if needed. His phone couldn’t possibly be dead.
Cheng Nanyi opened the door and walked outside.
Yuan Ting must have been scared off by him and was now avoiding him.
Cheng Nanyi went downstairs to the school dormitory to look for him.
The person who opened the door, just woken up with messy hair, was Yuan Ting's
roommate, who had met Cheng Nanyi during meals. He looked surprised, "Yuan Ting's
brother?"
"Has Yuan Ting come back?" Cheng Nanyi asked with a hoarse voice.
"No, he didn't come back all night. Wasn't he with you? He mentioned you rented a place
outside..."
"Thanks." Before his roommate could finish, Cheng Nanyi had already turned and walked
away.
Feeling a burning sensation in his stomach, Cheng Nanyi sat down on a bench by the road,
clutching his abdomen.
Where could Yuan Ting have gone?
Today is Saturday, no classes. He might not be on campus.
In fact, he didn’t need to analyze where Yuan Ting might be, because if Yuan Ting really
wanted to avoid him, it would be too easy to do so.
He had thought countless times about how Yuan Ting would react upon finding out, and
about Yuan Ting avoiding him, but he never expected this day to come so soon.
What if Yuan Ting now loathed him? What should he do then?
As a child, Yuan Ting could leave so decisively; now, he might be even more resolute.
He had thought that Yuan Ting might have some other feelings for him, but he didn't
expect him to be so decisive, even turning off his phone.
Perhaps all that had happened before was just an illusion.
Cheng Nanyi dialed Yuenting's cell phone again, only to find it still switched off.
In the mid-October sun, which was still quite strong, Cheng Nanyi sat on a bench, calling
Yuenting every fifteen minutes.
Off, off, off — endlessly off.
……
"It's all your fault, all your fault. I'm so done with you. Are you a walking disaster or
what?"
A familiar voice; Cheng Nanyi slowly turned his head to see two people walking towards
him from the end of the road.
Yuenting, tilting his head and pointing at Mo Yikai beside him, said, "Let's not see each
other for at least three months from now, otherwise, I'll want to hit you every time I see
you."
"How is this my fault?" Mo Yikai, touching the bruise on his cheekbone, complained, "A
girl asked me for my WeChat, how is that my problem?"
"Pfft, with that face of yours, someone asked for your WeChat? That girl must have
forgotten her contact lenses this morning."
"You little brat, that's personal attack, you know. You've crossed the line; I'm gonna have
to beat you up."
"Come at me, then." Yuenting kept his head tilted. "If it wasn't for me, you'd have been
beaten to death today. You owe me a new phone."
"Fine, fine, I'll pay, I'll pay... Hey, Cheng Nanyi, what are you doing here?"
Hearing this, Yuenting struggled to turn his twisted head, and upon seeing Cheng Nanyi,
he lunged over, wailing, "Bro, I've had such a tough time, please get rid of this idiot, I'm so
done with him."
"...Where did you go?" Cheng Nanyi, feeling Yuenting's warmth, was still trying to process
everything.
The person who had left had come back on their own?
"Where did I go?" Yuenting sat down next to him, pointing at Mo Yikai and gritting his
teeth, "I ran into this idiot first thing in the morning."
The idiot, his face bruised and swollen, stood to one side, coughing lightly, not daring to
retort.
Yuenting began to recount his tragic experiences of the day to Cheng Nanyi.
Yuenting had spent the previous night drooling over a beauty from his bedside and woke
up early in the morning with a painful crick in his neck.
Cheng Nanyi was still asleep, so Yuenting thought of buying breakfast for him first,
knowing he’d need something to eat after sobering up.
Just as Yuenting stepped out with his neck crooked, he received a call from Mo Yikai,
inviting him to have breakfast together.
Why not? Since Cheng Nanyi was still asleep, and Mo Yikai’s hotel was just on the next
street, they decided to meet at a breakfast place near the school.
With his head tilted, Yuenting arrived to see a pretty girl asking Mo Yikai for his WeChat.
It seemed simple enough to just add her on WeChat. But before they could, three guys
appeared, one claiming the girl was his girlfriend and that he was there to catch her
cheating.
Mo Yikai, confusedly accused of infidelity, lost his temper. What could have been a calm
discussion turned into a heated argument and then a brawl.
Could Yuenting just stand by and watch Mo Yikai fight three-on-one?
Of course not, so he had no choice but to join in.
Have you ever seen someone fight with a crooked neck?

Yuenting hadn’t, because he was the one being watched.
In the end, the group was taken to the police station by the officers, and Yuenting’s phone
got trampled and broken. After much ado, they were only just released.
Yuenting, resting his crooked head on Cheng Nanyi’s shoulder, huffed, “I'm telling you,
you almost didn’t get to see me again. My neck was nearly snapped.”
"So..." Cheng Nanyi tilted his head to look at him, his voice unusually hoarse, "you didn't
leave, and you didn't deliberately turn off your phone?"
"Where would I go? Why would I turn off my phone on purpose? Am I crazy?" Yuenting
took out his smashed phone from his pocket and waved it at Mo Yikai. "When will you
ever change that temper of yours? Just explain things clearly. You weren’t really cheating.
Why get so worked up with him?"
"Hey, you little brat." Mo Yikai, having been scolded all the way, couldn't hold back
anymore. "You think you’re any better? When someone mocked your crooked neck, you
lashed out in an instant. If it weren't for your fueling the fire, we wouldn’t have ended up
at the police station. Look at this…" Mo Yikai pointed at his face. "I got this defending you,
or else your neck really would have been broken."
"Oh come on, you dare blame me?" Yuenting, neck still askew, was about to leap up in
anger but was pulled back into Cheng Nanyi's embrace.
Yuenting didn't resist Cheng Nanyi's touch, and leaning over, he pushed Cheng Nanyi,
"You should hit him for me. I was going to buy you breakfast this morning. If it weren’t
for him, you would have had hot soy milk and dough fritters when you woke up."
"Hey…" Mo Yikai squinted. "Don’t try to make alliances against me. This isn’t my fault."
Cheng Nanyi rubbed his face, finally feeling a return to reality.
The kid did have a point. If not for Mo Yikai, he wouldn't have been sunbathing for four
hours, imagining various schemes to bring Yuenting back and tie him up.
Cheng Nanyi stood up, staring at Mo Yikai.
Mo Yikai, feeling the danger in Cheng Nanyi’s eyes, involuntarily stepped back, "We’ve
grown up together, you two can’t start ganging up on me..."
Cheng Nanyi took two steps forward, then suddenly clutched his stomach, doubling over.
"What's wrong?" Yuenting hurried to support him, only then noticing Cheng Nanyi's pale
face.
Yuenting with his tilted head and Cheng Nanyi bending over with pain in his stomach
strangely faced each other.
Cheng Nanyi, looking at Yuenting with a raspy voice said, "I couldn’t reach you on the
phone, thought you had left."
Yuenting, reminded of the previous night’s events, couldn’t bear to look at him, coughing
dryly, "Where would I go... Let’s not talk about that. What’s wrong with you, where does it
hurt?"
"Haven't eaten since morning, my stomach hurts a lot," Cheng Nanyi said.
"Why didn't you eat?" Yuenting glared angrily at Mo Yikai. "It's all your fault."
"Blame me, blame me," sighed Mo Yikai. "Let's head to the hospital first. I'll get my face
treated, the little guy can get his neck checked, and Cheng Nanyi needs his stomach
looked at. What a mess this is..."
Author's Note:
Thanks to all the angels who voted for me or nourished me with nutrient solutions from
2023-10-03 20:09:05 to 2023-10-04 17:33:49~
Special thanks to the angels who sent landmines: Xiyen 1;
Thanks to the angels for the nutrient solutions: Xiyen 20 bottles; Shan You Fusu, Ji You
Hehua 10 bottles; Mr. Mi, One Stick Fruit 3 bottles; Lin Wu Yu Today Full?, Qiao Gongzi,
⌒．Yi Nian Qingxin Jing゛, Ran Momomo 1 bottle;
Thank you all so much for your support. I will continue to work hard!
#90 Chapter 90
Chapter 90
The three took a taxi to the hospital.
Mo Yikai's facial injury was just a superficial wound and needed only disinfection.
Yuenting’s stiff neck was treated in the traditional Chinese medicine department. An old
doctor adjusted his neck with a quick twist, and although it wasn’t perfectly fixed, at least
his head was straightened.
Cheng Nanyi’s stomach issue wasn’t serious. It was caused by drinking yesterday and not
eating today. The doctor prescribed some medication, and his complexion improved
within half an hour after taking it.
Yuenting immediately took him to a nearby restaurant to eat, being careful not to order
anything greasy, just a bowl of millet porridge.
"Aren’t you two eating?" Cheng Nanyi, noticing them staring at him, asked.
Both shook their heads simultaneously.
Mo Yikai: "The police station actually provided lunch, you know. That boxed meal didn’t
look like much, but it was surprisingly tasty, especially the fish-flavored pork shreds. Not
authentic, but really quite good, right, kiddo?"
Yuenting huffed loudly in response: "If you hadn’t switched my drink, would my brother
have ended up like this?"
"Oh, you found out, did you?" Mo Yikai clicked his tongue. "Don’t try to shift the blame. If
you hadn’t tricked me first, why would I have switched your drink?"
"That’s because you called me dark."
"Well, you being dark is a fact."
"You…"
Cheng Nanyi held Yuenting's hand: "Stop it now."
Yuenting then glared at Mo Yikai angrily: "You just wait."

Turning to Cheng Nanyi, he picked up his bowl, ingratiatingly saying, "Here, brother, let
me cool it for you."
Cheng Nanyi looked at him, a slight smile curling at the corners of his mouth.
"Such a bootlicker," Mo Yikai commented sourly, rubbing his cheek and accidentally
touching his wound, wincing.
Yuenting gave him a sideways glance.
After finishing the porridge, Cheng Nanyi's stomach felt much better. By the time they
took a taxi back, it had already gotten dark.
Mo Yikai followed them to their rented room. He was clearly no stranger to Cheng Nanyi's
place, comfortably flopping onto the sofa and crossing his legs. "I’m crashing here tonight,
sleeping on the floor with the kiddo."
"Sleep on the floor?" Yuenting looked at him incredulously. "Are you crazy? Who sleeps
on the floor in a proper home?"
"What, you don’t sleep on the floor here?" Mo Yikai squinted at him. "This clean freak lets
you sleep in his bed and he sleeps on the floor? Wow, you two really have a deep
brotherly bond."
“……”
Yuenting glanced at Cheng Nanyi, who was looking down at his phone. Quickly turning
his head away, Yuenting said, "I wouldn't stay here. I'm going back to the dorm tonight."
"Come on, we haven't hung out in so long. Let's play video games tonight."
"Ugh, just looking at you annoys me now." Yuenting rolled up his sleeves and headed into
the kitchen. "I'm cooking. Don't come in and bother me." He said this and slammed the
kitchen door shut.
"The kiddo knows how to cook?" Mo Yikai was surprised. "Is the sun setting in the east
today?"
Cheng Nanyi raised an eyebrow: "Never tried it."
Mo Yikai: "We might just die here today."
Yuenting never cooked at home, but since his grandmother got tired looking after him
and Yuan Xiao, he would help out after school, sometimes even reheating food. So, even
though he hadn’t eaten pork, he’d seen pigs run.
He washed rice for porridge, then cleaned some vegetables and threw them into a pan. A
quick stir-fry with some soy sauce and oyster sauce, and it didn’t matter if they were
undercooked – raw vegetables wouldn’t kill anyone, and overcooking them means losing
nutrients.
He also heated two vegetable buns in the microwave. That was Cheng Nanyi’s dinner
sorted.
His stomach was sensitive today, so he needed to eat light.
Looking at the simple porridge and dishes on the table, Mo Yikai scoffed, "I’m not eating
this; it’s too bland."
"It wasn’t meant for you anyway." Yuenting slammed a soup bowl on the table. "This is
yours."
Mo Yikai lifted the lid to find, lo and behold, instant noodles.
With another slam, Yuenting put down another soup bowl and pulled out a chair to sit.
"This one's mine."
Another bowl of instant noodles.
Mo Yikai: "..."
Mo Yikai, speechless, looked at him: "Is this it?"
"Not eating? I can have two bowls," Yuenting said as he pulled his bowl towards himself.
"I’m still growing, after all."
"..." Mo Yikai grabbed the bowl back, deciding not to waste food.
Cheng Nanyi quietly ate his meal, occasionally glancing at Yuenting.
Yuenting seemed no different than usual, playfully bantering and wrestling with Mo
Yikai, not making any effort to avoid him.
But maybe it was because Mo Yikai was there, as the two hadn’t spent any time alone
together all day.
However, if he had kissed Mo Yikai, Mo Yikai surely would have made a scene for the
whole world to know, so something was definitely off with the kid.
After dinner, Yuenting hurried Mo Yikai to do the dishes and insisted Cheng Nanyi rest on
the sofa, even preparing a bottle of hot water for him to hold against his stomach.
Cheng Nanyi complied silently with his arrangement.
Mo Yikai, incredulous: "He’s got a stomachache, not menstruating. He’s already taken
medicine and is not so incapacitated."
"I like it this way, what’s it to you?"
"..." Mo Yikai pointed at him, "Do you know what you look like right now? Like Cheng
Nanyi's little wife."
Without a second's hesitation, Yuenting grabbed a cushion and hurled it at Mo Yikai.
Still not satisfied, Yuenting lunged towards him, but Mo Yikai quickly ducked into the
kitchen.
After cleaning up the kitchen, Mo Yikai played games with Yuenting for a while. As it got
late, he didn't actually stay over, but suggested to Yuenting, "Don’t sleep on the floor in
this shabby place. I’m heading back to the hotel, and you should go back to the dorm.
Let’s walk together."
Yuenting hesitated for a moment, put down the game controller, and stood up: "Then...
let’s go."
Cheng Nanyi didn’t try to keep them, standing up to change his shoes: "I’ll walk you out."
The three of them went downstairs together, with Yuenting looking down at his toes the
whole time, surprised that Cheng Nanyi hadn’t asked him to stay.
He hadn’t mentioned what happened last night. Had he forgotten?
If he had forgotten, it might actually be better. They could go back to how things were
before.
But it felt... somewhat unsatisfying.
Mo Yikai’s hotel was in a different direction from the school, just a corner away, yet he
insisted on taking a cab. After getting in, he waved at Yuenting, "Want me to drop you off
at school first?"
Yuenting slammed the car door shut: "Just go. I feel like hitting you whenever I see you
now."
Mo Yikai flipped him off before telling the driver to go.

Watching the car drive away, Yuenting waved at Cheng Nanyi: "I’m heading back to
school too."
As Yuenting turned to leave, his wrist was suddenly grabbed.
Yuenting turned back, and Cheng Nanyi said indifferently, "I didn’t say you had to sleep
on the floor."
Yuenting stood still, pursing his lips: "…I said I’m going back to the dorm."
Cheng Nanyi looked at him, "I didn’t agree to that."
"Do I need your permission to go back?" Yuenting tried to shake off Cheng Nanyi's hand,
but after failing twice, Cheng Nanyi naturally took hold of his hand, saying, "It wasn’t
necessary before, but now it is."
With that, he tugged Yuenting along, leading him by the hand towards the apartment
complex.
Yuenting made a symbolic struggle before following him.
Walking shoulder to shoulder, their hands hanging at their sides, and under the dim
streetlights of the night, it wasn’t apparent they were holding hands. Cheng Nanyi didn’t
let go, and Yuenting didn’t speak.
Cheng Nanyi glanced at Yuenting in the dim light, who seemed unfazed.
Perhaps this hand-holding was just normal physical contact between brothers for
Yuenting.
So, what did Yuenting think about last night? Was he avoiding mentioning it just to spare
himself embarrassment?
Right now, Cheng Nanyi felt like he was walking a tightrope. He wanted to clarify
everything, yet feared the aftermath might be like this morning’s, waking up to find
Yuenting gone.
The panic of not finding him was something he didn’t want to experience again.
So, how could he make Yuenting willingly stay?
As they entered the building and saw an elderly lady waiting for the elevator, Yuenting
quickly let go of Cheng Nanyi’s hand.
Cheng Nanyi looked at his empty hand and then at Yuenting.
Yuenting entered the elevator first, looking down at his toes, avoiding Cheng Nanyi's
gaze.
Cheng Nanyi stepped in beside him and, after a pause, lifted his arm to drape it over
Yuenting’s shoulder.
Yuenting tilted his head to look at him and whispered, “Can’t you walk upright?”
Cheng Nanyi pinched his mouth, turning Yuenting’s head back towards him.
Yuenting chuckled to himself.
Hearing his laughter, Cheng Nanyi's lips curled into a smile.
Once home, Yuenting went to take a shower first. After entering, he called out to Cheng
Nanyi to bring him clothes, singing loudly while showering.
Yuenting was acting too normal, so much so that Cheng Nanyi didn’t know how to begin
analyzing his behavior.
By the time Cheng Nanyi finished showering, Yuenting was already lying in bed, playing
on his phone, just like usual.
Cheng Nanyi, holding a cup of water, leaned against the door, watching him: "Where did
you sleep last night that you got a stiff neck?"
"On the sofa," Yuenting yawned, casually fabricating, "You were drunk, and I didn't want
to share a bed with you. So, I ended up sleeping on the sofa and got a stiff neck. It still
feels stiff."
"I see…" Cheng Nanyi took a thoughtful sip of water, considering that Yuenting clearly
hadn't slept in the bed last night. The sheets were neat in the morning, so he probably did
sleep on the sofa.
"Since when did you become so particular, even disliking that I drank?"
"Why can’t I be particular?" Yuenting bristled, looking up at him, "What, only you can be a
clean freak? Let me tell you, you didn't even shower last night after getting drunk. You
must have been so uncomfortable."
"Oh." Cheng Nanyi raised an eyebrow, walked over, and held the cup to Yuenting’s mouth,
"Have some water and then sleep."
Yuenting drank from the cup in his hand.
Cheng Nanyi placed the cup on the bedside table, then took off his shoes and got into bed.
Yuenting tossed aside his phone and instinctively turned off the bedside lamp.
Having virtually stayed awake all night sitting beside the bed and then getting into a fight
early in the morning, Yuenting was utterly exhausted. It wasn’t long before he fell into a
deep sleep.
Listening to the deep and steady breathing of the person beside him, Cheng Nanyi sat up.
In the moonlight seeping through the curtain gap, Cheng Nanyi took a black silk ribbon
from the bedside table, gently pulling Yuenting’s right hand towards him, and wrapped
the ribbon around his wrist twice before tying a knot.
Yuenting’s hand was beautiful, slender and strong. Under the moonlight, the black ribbon
looked like an accessory.
After carefully observing it for a while, Cheng Nanyi started to tie the other end around
his own left wrist. Midway through, he paused, untied it, and switched to his right wrist.
After tying it, he lay down, naturally pulling Yuenting into his arms from behind.
Feeling the restraint on his wrist, Cheng Nanyi finally felt at ease, knowing Yuenting
couldn’t sneak away now.
Yuenting seemed a bit uncomfortable, humming softly. Cheng Nanyi held his breath,
waiting until Yuenting settled down again before embracing him more closely.
“Mo Yikai…” Yuenting mumbled drowsily.
Cheng Nanyi’s brow furrowed instantly.
“Idiot.”
“…” Cheng Nanyi gently turned Yuenting’s face towards him by holding his chin.
The kid’s face was exceptionally beautiful, docile and compliant with eyes closed, looking
like a fairytale prince as long as he wasn’t speaking.
In the dark night with the lights off, holding such a person in one's arms, it was
impossible for anyone to restrain themselves.
Cheng Nanyi didn’t try to resist and leaned down to kiss Yuenting’s lips.
Although he knew that last night's kiss wasn't a dream, he still felt a surreal disbelief.
Now, kissing these soft lips again brought him a profound sense of fulfillment, stirring a
certain desire within him.
Unable to resist, Cheng Nanyi held Yuenting tightly, leaning down once more to kiss his
lips.
"Damn it, who’s choking me..." Yuenting, frowning and grinding his teeth, swung a fist,
"Dare to say I have a crooked neck, I'll beat you to death..."
"..." Cheng Nanyi, covering his face, sighed in relief. Thankfully, it wasn’t a kick.
Author's Note:
Thanks to all the angels who voted for me or nourished me with nutrient solutions from
2023-10-04 17:33:49 to 2023-10-05 20:06:54~
Thanks to the angels for the nutrient solutions: Aowu Wangwang 25 bottles; Su Mu Yi 21
bottles; Happy Heart 5 bottles; XL 2 bottles; Lengku De Su Dong Jiao, Su Shi Si, ⌒．Yi
Nian Qingxin Jing゛, Ku Ge Hao Tian, Yi Ke Shu Guo, Da Wang Jin Tian Chi Tang Seng Ma,
404 Ge Da Gui Tou 1 bottle each;
#91 Chapter 91
Chapter 91
After an extremely tiring day, sleep was blissful. Yuenting slept until late morning, then
lazed in bed for a while before getting up.
Cheng Nanyi was already up, sitting on the sofa using his computer, with breakfast laid
out on the dining table.
After greeting him, Yuenting went into the bathroom to wash up. While brushing his
teeth and admiring himself in the mirror, he felt something off - why did his wrist still
hurt?
Yuenting switched hands to brush his teeth and then closely examined his right wrist,
noticing a red mark. Could this be an internal injury from the fight yesterday, showing up
today?
An internal injury on the wrist?
Impressive!
It wasn’t too serious, so Yuenting didn’t fuss over it, finishing up and coming out to enjoy
his breakfast with delight.
"Brother..." Yuenting suddenly exclaimed, "What happened to your face?"
Yuenting stood up, walked over to the sofa, and lifted Cheng Nanyi’s chin, inspecting his
face: “Why is there a bruise on your face?”
Cheng Nanyi swatted his hand away, saying indifferently, “Last night you fought in your
dream and punched me.”
“???!” Yuenting was utterly shocked, “Seriously? Am I that awesome?” He did dream last
night, where those idiots kept calling him 'crooked neck'. Wouldn’t he hit them?
But…
Yuenting poked Cheng Nanyi’s face, causing Cheng Nanyi to hiss and shrink back.
Yuenting: “…”
Totally speechless. Could he really cause a bruise just from dreaming?

“Brother, do you think I might be a deity in disguise, suddenly awakening my
superpowers, about to become the strongest in the world and unite it?”
Cheng Nanyi glanced at him, then continued looking at his computer.
Yuenting lifted Cheng Nanyi’s chin again, bending down to blow on the bruise, “Sorry,
sorry, I apologize. I didn’t know, I was asleep... Did it hurt? There, blowing on it will make
it better…”
Yuenting had just brushed his teeth, his breath minty fresh. Cheng Nanyi swallowed and
pushed him away: “Go eat your breakfast.”
Yuenting clicked his tongue and walked back to the dining table, eating while exclaiming,
“Magic mirror, tell me, who is the most powerful person in the world?”
After saying this, he changed his voice to answer himself, “It’s Yuenting! He can even
bruise people in his dreams. Yuenting is the most powerful.”
Cheng Nanyi: “…”
“Does it hurt?” Yuenting suddenly turned to ask.
Cheng Nanyi sighed silently: “From now on, we’re not mentioning this again.”
"Okay then." Yuenting sighed, stuffed a bun into his mouth, but couldn't help muttering,
"You're really fragile, aren't you?"
Cheng Nanyi narrowed his eyes dangerously, and Yuenting immediately mimed zipping
his mouth: "Alright, alright, I won’t say anything, I’ll keep quiet."
After breakfast, Wang Dabao came to discuss some matters with Cheng Nanyi and then
left. His main purpose was to bring those two graduate students to meet Cheng Nanyi.
With their business concluded, they were set to return to Jiangcheng today.
Mo Yikai, who had hitched a ride over, also took a ride back. As he was leaving, he
whispered to Yuenting while hooking an arm around his shoulder, “Who exactly is Cheng
Nanyi’s girlfriend?”
“Ha, hahaha, hahaha.” Yuenting threw his head back in laughter and walked away.
I’ll torment you to death.
“You little brat…” Mo Yikai stepped forward intending to hit him but was shoved into the
car by Cheng Nanyi, “You two, no meeting until after the New Year.” Such a nuisance.
Mo Yikai: “…” As if anyone was dying to see that brat.
After seeing off Mo Yikai and the others, Yuenting and Cheng Nanyi returned to the
university together.
They first had dinner in the school cafeteria, then Cheng Nanyi went to study in the
library while Yuenting attended evening self-study in the classroom.
After today, Yuenting was even more convinced that Cheng Nanyi had blacked out that
night; otherwise, he wouldn’t have behaved so naturally.
But he had admitted to liking boys in the taxi, that seemed pretty conclusive.
Whatever, if he’s forgotten, he’s forgotten. As long as we don’t talk about feelings, we can
still be close bros.
Feelings are harmful to the body, mind, and heart, unlike studying. Studying brings me
joy, elevates me, studying… huh…
Yuenting fell asleep with his head on the desk…
Studying can even be a lullaby.
A good sleep nourishes the blood and energy. See, his blood and energy are so well
nourished that he can give someone a bruise in his dreams.
……
The kiss in a drunken stupor passed quietly. They continued to eat together every day,
Yuenting attending classes and Cheng Nanyi studying. On Saturdays and Sundays,
Yuenting would go to Cheng Nanyi's rented place, where they cooked and played games
together. However, Cheng Nanyi often didn't have time on weekends; he had to go to
Jiangcheng and also spent time with his grandfather. When Cheng Nanyi was away,
Yuenting hung out with Duan Wenze, and sometimes Mo Yikai would drive over.
The days were busy and fulfilling. As Yuenting's tan gradually faded, the calendar flipped
to December.
Both Cheng Nanyi and Yuan Xiao took the graduate entrance exams in December. After
the exams, Yuan Xiao called Yuenting, lamenting that he might have failed.
Yuenting comforted him, "It's okay. If you fail, you can try again next year, and if not next
year, then the year after. Don't worry; you'll get it within three to five years."
Yuan Xiao angrily hung up on Yuenting.
Yuenting, speechless, thought, what else do you expect me to say?
Turning to see Cheng Nanyi's indifferent expression, Yuenting asked him, "Aren’t you
worried?"
"Worried about what?" Cheng Nanyi glanced at him. "If not this year, then next year. If
not next year, then the year after. It’ll happen within three to five years."
Yuenting: "..."
That kind of response really did sound infuriating.
"By the time you pass, I’ll have graduated," Yuenting said.
"Then you should take the exam too. We can study together."
Yuenting immediately clasped his hands together: "Dear God, please let both of my
brothers pass. Please!" Cheng Nanyi, this nutcase, might actually drag him into taking the
exams. He really didn't want to study anymore. He had grander ambitions, like becoming
a boss and then hiring graduate students to work for him.
On the last day before winter break, Yuenting had dinner with his dorm mates and then
headed straight to Cheng Nanyi’s place.
The two went shopping at a mall, where Yuenting bought a hat and a scarf for his
grandma, a set of cosmetics for his aunt, and two belts for Yuan Qingguang and his uncle.
“Let’s buy a gift for Grandpa too,” Cheng Nanyi suddenly suggested.
“What?” Yuenting turned to look at him.
Cheng Nanyi also looked at him, “Since you left home at twelve, you’ve never gone back.
Do you plan to never return?”
“I…” Yuenting pursed his lips, avoiding his gaze.
That had indeed been his intention when he left.
Yuenting walked ahead in silence, Cheng Nanyi following behind. Neither spoke, creating
a somewhat tense atmosphere.
They browsed from the first to the fifth floor and back down again. Finally, Yuenting
resolved to turn to Cheng Nanyi, his lips a straight line, “I don’t have much money. If I buy
Grandpa two ounces of tea, will he think I’m stingy?” The kind of tea that would please
the old man cost several hundred for just an ounce.
“...” Cheng Nanyi smiled and ruffled his hair forcefully, “Look at how frugal you are.”
“But I really don’t have money,” Yuenting pouted, “And I still need to buy for my
stepfathers, their current wives, and the two newborn babies. Count it up; I might have to
sell a kidney.”
“No need to sell a kidney, how about selling yourself instead?”
“Sell myself to you as a slave?” Yuenting snorted, “Death before dishonor... But first, how
much would you pay me?”
“Money-grubber,” Cheng Nanyi teased, pinching his earlobe.
Doctor Zhong had given birth to twin girls a few months ago, and Yuenting chose two
small gold locks for them.
When engraving names, Cheng Nanyi suggested naming one Cheng Yao and the other
Zhong Tiao.
"Hmm? Last name Zhong?" Yuenting was surprised, "Grandpa agreed?"
"Why wouldn’t he?" Cheng Nanyi raised an eyebrow, "I didn’t expect you to be so old-
fashioned at such a young age."
"I…" Yuenting was speechless. He actually wished his grandpa was more open-minded;
he just hadn’t expected Grandpa to agree to having a little girl carry Dr. Zhong’s surname.
Maybe Grandpa was more progressive than he thought…
But accepting a surname change seemed a lesser issue compared to accepting a grandson
who liked men…
Sigh…
"What are you thinking about?" Seeing Yuenting staring blankly, Cheng Nanyi waved his
hand in front of his eyes.
Yuenting snapped back to reality, "Cheng Yao… gold?"
Cheng Nanyi tapped him on the mouth, "My uncle is extremely pleased with these names,
don’t say nonsense in front of him."
"Hehehe…" Yuenting couldn't help but laugh, "Actually, they sound quite nice, just a bit
unusual."
Instead of buying tea for Grandpa, they got a scarf, a tie for his stepfather, and small
sheepskin gloves for Dr. Zhong. In the end, Yuenting was left with only five yuan and
eight mao in his wallet.
"Let’s buy you a gift too." Yuenting looked around, but nothing in the mall was priced at
five yuan. So, they left the mall, and eventually, on an overpass, Yuenting found a stall
selling bracelets.
Yuenting squatted there, selecting and asking for prices, finally picking up a plain red
string bracelet: "How much for this?"
"Three yuan each, you can add some beads..."
"No need, this is fine." Adding beads would cost more than five yuan and eight mao.
"Can I get two for five yuan and eight mao?" Cheng Nanyi spoke up from the side.
The girl selling the items couldn't help but laugh: "No need for five yuan and eight mao,
you can have two for five yuan."
Cheng Nanyi took out Yuenting's wallet from his pocket, handing all five yuan and eight
mao to the girl: "Thank you."
Yuenting, as if suddenly remembering something, snatched his wallet back and stuffed it
into his pocket, glaring at Cheng Nanyi: "Why are you taking other people's things
without asking? Don’t you know respect?"
Cheng Nanyi just smiled, not saying anything.
Yuenting's wallet contained a Polaroid picture of them on a cable car. Fearing heights,
Cheng Nanyi's forehead rested on Yuenting’s shoulder, while Yuenting, with his arm
around Cheng Nanyi, was grinning smugly.
Yuenting's attempt to grab his wallet came too late; Cheng Nanyi had already seen the
photo.
Taking the red strings, Yuenting, with reddened ears, thrust one into Cheng Nanyi's hand:
"This is your gift. Wear one on each hand."
Cheng Nanyi took his hand: "One on each hand? We're not wholesale dealers." He then
slipped one string onto Yuenting's wrist.
The red strings were pre-tied, just needing a pull to tighten around the wrist. Cheng
Nanyi then wore the other on his own right wrist.
Looking at the red string on his wrist, Yuenting muttered, "Isn’t it a bit odd for two grown
men to wear these?"
“Then why did you buy them?”
“That... was for you to wear...” He had actually bought it more for a laugh...
"So it's okay for me to wear it, but not you?" Cheng Nanyi narrowed his eyes.
Yuenting, accustomed to digging his own holes, resignedly waved his hand: "Fine, fine,
fine. I’ll wear it, okay?"
“You already have a little braid. Wearing a red string isn’t much different,” Cheng Nanyi
flicked his small braid.
Yuenting immediately stepped back and glared at him, “I told you not to touch my head, it
messes up my cool look.”
The two walked away laughing and joking, when the girl at the stall hesitated before
calling out, “Be brave, and stay together forever…”
Hearing this, Yuenting turned around, but the girl quickly lowered her head, pretending
to be busy. She wasn’t sure if they were gay, but they looked so much like a couple. As a
dedicated fan of romance, her radar was screaming, so she couldn't help but shout out,
just in case. If they were, then her blessing would have been delivered.
That night, Yuenting stayed over at Cheng Nanyi’s place, and the next day, Cheng Nanyi
drove them both home.
Yuenting still hadn’t passed his driving test and had to sit in the passenger seat.
Cheng Nanyi bought him lots of snacks, and Yuenting half-reclined in his seat, leg
propped up, eating snacks and playing on his phone, often glancing at the red string on
his right wrist.
The more he looked at it, the more appealing it seemed.
As he gazed, Yuenting couldn’t help but glance over at Cheng Nanyi’s wrist.
Cheng Nanyi’s hand rested on the steering wheel, his shirt sleeve rolled up a bit, revealing
the red string snug around his wrist, a pleasing sight.
Yuenting felt an itch in his fingers, longing to touch it.

“What are you looking at?” Cheng Nanyi suddenly asked.
Yuenting, caught off guard, coughed lightly and made up an excuse, “Just checking if
there’s something wrong with your wrist.”
“What could be wrong with my wrist?”
“Well…” Speaking of which, Yuenting suddenly sat up straight, extending his right wrist,
“Brother, there’s nothing wrong with your wrist, but I think mine might have a problem.
For the past couple of months, I’ve felt a slight pain in my wrist. It’s not intense, but every
few days, I feel something…”
The more Yuenting thought about it, the more worried he became, frowning deeply: “Do
you think I could have some illness? Like bone cancer or something…”
“Don’t spout nonsense.” Cheng Nanyi glanced out of the window, coughed lightly, and
said calmly, “It's probably from using your phone too much. Try to reduce phone usage, it
can cause tendinitis, and it’s bad for your eyes too.”
Yuenting glanced at him, thinking that even in his previous life, constantly using his
phone never caused wrist pain.
Actually… it did hurt, but that wasn't from using his phone; it was from being handcuffed.
Handcuffs are quite abrasive. Back then, his wrists were chafed raw. Later, Cheng Nanyi
had someone custom-make them, with all the edges smoothed and padded, and after that,
he never felt pain again.
Yuenting cracked a sunflower seed, scrutinizing Cheng Nanyi, feeling something was off
but unable to pinpoint what.
Yuenting moved his wrist again and leaned back in his seat, thinking perhaps he was
overthinking it.
In this life, Cheng Nanyi had never handcuffed him.
Besides, Cheng Nanyi seemed normal. He shouldn't always assume the worst about
people.
Cheng Nanyi, staring ahead emotionless, was actually quite vexed internally. He had been
inconsiderate; he should have used softer fabric, maybe padded with cotton, to prevent
the pain.
Author's Note:
Don’t worry, don’t worry, the big reveal is coming in just two more chapters… Thanks to
all the angels who supported me with their votes and nutrient solutions from 2023-10-05
20:06:54 to 2023-10-06 19:29:09~
Special thanks to the angel who sent a landmine: 47913117 1;
Thanks to the angels for the nutrient solutions: A Sweet Orange 6 bottles; One Stick Fruit
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#92 Chapter 92
Chapter 92
Cheng Nanyi first dropped Yuenting off at his home, helped him bring in his things, and
then asked, “Is it okay to go back on Xiao Nian?”
Yuenting hesitated for a few seconds before nodding.
Previously, when he left, he had intended to completely sever ties with the Cheng family,
but over the years, his constant entanglements with Cheng Nanyi made avoiding the
Cheng family unrealistic.
Cheng Nanyi’s lips curled slightly, and he gently touched Yuenting's head, speaking softly,
“I’ll pick you up that day. I’ll ask the chef to prepare your favorite dishes.”
“Okay,” Yuenting looked up and smiled at him.
After agreeing on a time with Cheng Nanyi, Yuenting was sighing continuously.
He was somewhat regretting agreeing to Cheng Nanyi’s request.
Guilt and fear made him dread facing his grandfather and stepfather.
If one day, Cheng Nanyi truly came clean.
Just the thought of his grandfather frowning made him consider abandoning Cheng Nanyi
and running away.
Love or no love, he hadn’t needed it in his previous life, and he could do without it in this
one too.
Amidst Yuenting's anxiety and unease, Xiao Nian arrived quickly. Cheng Nanyi came over
early but didn’t rush to take Yuenting away, instead having lunch there before leaving
together.
Yuan Qingguang also prepared gifts, including local specialties and some teas and liquors,
filling the trunk of the car.
Over the past few years, Yuan Qingguang had made some money and developed a bit of a
nouveau riche attitude. He was much more cheerful and slapped Cheng Nanyi’s shoulder,
saying, “Nanyi is so thoughtful and considerate, and handsome too. If I had a daughter, I’d
definitely marry her off to you.”
Yuenting, eating an orange, nearly choked on a segment upon hearing this, coughing
thunderously.
Cheng Nanyi looked at him: “Uncle talked about marrying his daughter to me, not you.
Why are you getting worked up?”
Yuan Qingguang laughed heartily, and Yuenting, speechless, threw an orange peel at
Cheng Nanyi: “Who in their right mind would marry their daughter off to you?” Dead gay.
Cheng Nanyi picked up the orange peel and threw it into the trash can.
Once they got into the car, Yuenting sat in the passenger seat, drinking water frantically.
Cheng Nanyi glanced at him, “Did you eat something salty for lunch?”
“No, I’m just nervous,” Yuenting’s chest heaved.
“Nervous about what?” Cheng Nanyi was genuinely surprised, “It’s just going home.
What’s there to be nervous about? And since when do you, of all people, get nervous?”
Yuenting rolled his eyes at him, “Don’t think I can’t tell you’re mocking me. But I don’t
want to argue with you right now. You’d better not provoke me.”
Cheng Nanyi simply smiled.
As they approached the familiar neighborhood, Yuenting’s nervousness grew. He

swallowed hard, his hand unconsciously gripping his trousers.
A hand covered his, gently rubbing it.
Yuenting took a deep breath and opened the window, yelling out loud to psych himself
up.
The security guard in the booth jumped, looking at Yuenting as if he were insane.
Yuenting then stuck his head out and made a face at him.
Security guard: “…”
Cheng Nanyi: “…” Good, the kid was still the same kid, probably even at eighty, he’d be
just like this.
When they arrived at the Cheng residence, the butler was standing at the entrance.
Seeing Yuenting get out of the car, he started to whimper, “Young Master…”
In contrast to the butler’s restraint, Yuenting rushed forward, “Uncle Liu, wuwuwu, I
missed you so much…”
“I missed you too, Young Master, wuwuwuwu…”
The two were engulfed in a tearful embrace, and Cheng Nanyi stepped forward to
separate them, pulling Yuenting into the house while saying, “You say you missed him,
but you never came back to see him.”
Yuenting cast a resentful glance at him and turned to leave, “I’m not going in. I’m leaving
now.”
Cheng Nanyi quickly wrapped his arms around Yuenting’s waist and pulled him back, “I
was wrong.”
Yuenting struggled until he heard someone calling his name, “Xiaoting is back.”
Stopping in his tracks, Yuenting looked to see his grandfather standing affectionately at
the glass window, holding a cup of water and smiling at him, just like he did every time
Yuenting came home from school.
Tears instantly welled up in Yuenting’s eyes.
It had been about seven or eight years since he last saw his grandfather, who now had
completely white hair, merging with the image of his grandfather from his past life.
“Why don’t you come in now that you’re home?” Cheng Shaolin walked over, resting a
hand on Yuenting’s shoulder and leading him inside, “The little kid has grown up, even
taller than your dad now.”
Yuenting remained silent, afraid he would burst into tears if he spoke.
Yuenting had grown up in the Cheng family in his previous life. In this life, although he
returned to his biological father, he did so with the soul of an adult.
The perspective of a child and an adult are different, so across both lives, his carefree and
innocent childhood always belonged to this villa.
The people who accompanied him from childhood to adulthood, after he had memories,
were always his grandfather and stepfather. Those times were irreplaceable and could
never be recreated.
Yuenting handed out the gifts he brought for everyone. He had also prepared presents for
the butler and the staff. Everyone commented on how much he had grown, leaving
Yuenting embarrassed and resorting to awkward laughter while playing with the babies
to ease the awkwardness.
The twin babies were adorably plump, endearing themselves to Yuenting, but he didn’t
dare to hold them, fearing he might hurt them.
Seeing his fondness for children, Dr. Zhong decisively sat him down on the sofa and
placed a baby in each of his arms. Yuenting was as stiff as a board, not daring to move or
even turn his face.
The butler recorded him with a phone, saying, “Young Master, give us a smile.”
Yuenting looked up and forced a smile.
Cheng Shaolin came over, standing behind him, “Uncle Liu, help us take a photo.”
After Cheng Shaolin took the photo, Cheng Nanyi also came over and sat beside Yuenting,
“Let’s take one together too.”
After Cheng Nanyi’s photo, Cheng Shaolin returned, “Let’s take another with all of us.”
“Smile.” Cheng Nanyi reached out to lift the corners of Yuenting’s mouth into a smile.
Yuenting: “…”
Yuenting felt like a popular photo spot in a tourist area, even the old man found it
amusing and came over to take a couple of photos.
Until Yuenting, with a numb expression, said, “I’ve been peed on…”
“Ah…” Dr. Zhong and the nanny hurriedly took the babies away. Yuenting’s legs were
damp, and Cheng Nanyi instinctively stepped back, frowning.
The old man and Cheng Shaolin burst into laughter. Yuenting took a deep breath and
lunged at Cheng Nanyi, “Dare you not to dodge…”
Cheng Nanyi quickly sidestepped, “I dare not… Please go take a shower, I’m begging you.”
Yuenting just “hmphed” and headed upstairs.
Reaching the second floor, Yuenting hesitated. He didn’t know where to go for a shower –
the guest room, Cheng Nanyi’s room, or… his own old room.
He wondered if his room had been turned into another guest room or perhaps into a
room for the twin babies.
“Yuenting.”
Yuenting turned around to see Dr. Zhong approaching.
"Your dad has always kept your room for you. The housekeeper cleans it every day. Nanyi
mentioned you were coming back, so your dad took him to the mall to buy pajamas and
some clothes for you. They bought a size smaller than what Nanyi wears. Try them to see
if they fit. If not, the butler can exchange them for you."
Yuenting pursed his lips, “Thank you.”
"Don't mention it, this is your home too," Dr. Zhong said before quickly descending the
stairs.
Yuenting arrived at his room and pushed open the door.
In his previous life, this room had been burned by Cheng Nanyi, but in this life, it was
unchanged.
The moment he stepped in, it felt as if nothing had ever changed, as if he had always lived
here.
Yuenting took the clothes and went into the bathroom to shower.
On the shelf was the milk shower gel he used as a child, though he no longer used this
type.
Yuenting’s lips puckered, and he felt like crying.
In his previous life, he had dreamt countless times that this home never changed. Now, it
seemed his dream had come true.
No one, including himself, could destroy this home.
After showering and changing, Yuenting headed downstairs.
The old man and others were chatting in the living room, with the occasional babbling
sounds of the babies. Just before reaching downstairs, Yuenting heard his grandfather's
voice, “Uncle Zhao’s daughter has returned from abroad. Meet her the day after
tomorrow.”
Yuenting paused in his steps.
“Is this a blind date?” Cheng Nanyi asked.
“Sort of, but not really. Uncle Zhao has mentioned it several times. Since it’s like that,
meeting once wouldn’t hurt. You were too young before, so I brushed it off, but now
you’re about to graduate. Constantly avoiding it isn’t good either; we should give them
face.” The old man chuckled, “You’re not young anymore, it’s time for you to start dating.”
Cheng Nanyi hesitated for a few seconds, “I can meet, but it definitely won’t lead to
anything.”
“Why not?” Cheng Shaolin teased while munching on an apple slice, “What if you hit it
off?”
Cheng Nanyi glanced towards the stairs before responding, “We won’t hit it off.”
“You seem quite certain. Your grandfather isn’t forcing you, and don’t think of it as some
sort of business alliance. Marriage should respect your own will, so relax and maybe
you’ll have a pleasant encounter.”
Cheng Nanyi glanced at his grandfather, who was smiling at him.
When he was younger, his grandfather was strict with him, but he could feel the old man
had become much more lenient as he grew older.
He had always been conflicted about revealing his sexual orientation to his grandfather.
His grandfather was old, and he didn’t want to shock him.
But he was in his twenties now, and there would be many more of these “blind dates.”
If he didn’t have someone in his heart, he wouldn’t mind going through the motions to
satisfy others. But with someone in his heart, even if they weren't together, he should
respect that person.
Moreover, that person was Yuenting, who held a different significance to this family.
He had to tell eventually, and since the topic came up today, he might as well take this
opportunity to clarify.
Cheng Nanyi stood up, looking at his grandfather, “Grandpa, I…”
The old man looked up at him.
Cheng Nanyi took a deep breath and said solemnly, “Grandpa, I don't like girls. I like
men.”
The air seemed to freeze in an instant.

The butler, carrying fruit, gaped in shock. What had he just heard???
Cheng Shaolin choked on an apple slice, coughing vehemently, “Cough, cough, cough,
cough…”
Dr. Zhong hurried over to pat his back.
Yuenting was completely stunned, full of confusion. Had Cheng Nanyi lost his mind?
Wasn’t he afraid of shocking Grandpa?
Yuenting rushed over, just in time to see Grandpa staring coldly at Cheng Nanyi, “What
did you say? Say it again.”
Cheng Nanyi opened his mouth, “I…”
Yuenting quickly covered his mouth, urgently saying, “Don’t talk nonsense, especially not
during the New Year. What are you thinking?” He must be out of his mind to come out
like this.
Cheng Nanyi grabbed Yuenting's wrist, pulling his hand away, and looked at Grandpa
again, “Grandpa, I know you might not be able to accept this, but I want to be honest with
you. I don't like girls. I like men. I am gay.”
Hearing these words again from Cheng Nanyi, Grandpa’s chest heaved with rapid breaths.
After a while, he trembled, pointing at Cheng Nanyi and shouted sternly, “Nonsense!”
“Dad.” Cheng Shaolin, having regained his composure, came over to pat his back, “Don’t
get agitated, please don’t…”
“You, you pick up all the wrong things. How could you get into this sort of thing?”
Grandpa was irate, slapping the table, “Gay, it's absurd.”
Cheng Nanyi fell silent for a moment, then turned and took a branch from a vase, handing
it to Grandpa with both hands, “Grandpa, please don’t be too angry. If you're upset, just
hit me.”
Cheng Nanyi willingly handed over the branch, and Grandpa, overwhelmed with anger,
snatched it and lashed out at Cheng Nanyi, “Teaching you to stop spouting nonsense.”
Yuenting pushed Cheng Nanyi aside, and the branch hit his hand, leaving an immediate
red mark.
The old man was stunned. Cheng Nanyi grabbed his hand, both distressed and angry:
“What are you doing?”
Yuenting shook off his hand and dropped to his knees beside the old man, unable to hold
back his tears, sobbing uncontrollably: “Grandpa, I'm sorry, please hit me. I'm sorry, it's
all my fault, wuwuwu…”
In his previous life, the old man was the first to sense something was wrong with Shu
Zhilan. Overwhelmed by anger, he suffered a stroke and was hospitalized.
Yuenting had rushed back from abroad to visit him.
By then, the old man had already begun refusing visits from Shu Zhilan, but Yuenting
could enter his hospital room without any obstruction.
The old man didn’t mention anything when he saw him, and later, Cheng Shaolin, Cheng
Nanyi, and everyone else kept it from him, never revealing his mother's actions.
In such circumstances, the old man even left him a significant inheritance.
Yuenting cried harder, taking the old man’s hand to hit himself, “Grandpa, it's me, it's my
fault. Blame me…”
Kneeling on the floor, Yuenting cried uncontrollably, with tears and snot streaming down
his face, completely bewildering the old man.
Cheng Shaolin whispered to the butler, “It was Nanyi coming out of the closet, right?”
The butler was equally confused, “Yes… maybe it's a deep brotherly bond…”
The old man went from shock to anger, but before he could express it, Yuenting’s crying
disrupted his rhythm.
“You…” the old man said helplessly, stroking his head, “Xiaoting, you…”
Yuenting, crying and hiccupping, grabbed the old man’s sleeve to wipe his nose, then
buried his head in his chest, wrapping his arms around his waist and continuing to weep
bitterly.
Years of suppressed emotions exploded in that moment.
He felt truly miserable, so very miserable…
The old man: “…”
Cheng Shaolin: “…”

Cheng Nanyi: “???”
Author's Note:
from 2023-10-06 19:29:09 to 2023-10-07 21:46:28~
Special thanks to the angels who sent landmines: Xiyan, Biekanzhe Shi Wo De Laopo 1
each;
Thanks to the angels for the nutrient solutions: Xiyan, Xinsangbulai De Yishu, Fuyu 10
bottles; Shuixun 6 bottles; Aiheihei 5 bottles; 404 Ge Da Guitou, ⌒．Yi Nian Qingxin
Jing゛, Kuge Haotian 1 bottle each;
#93 Chapter 93
Chapter 93
Yuenting’s crying was heartbreaking, his sobs and tears completely diffusing the old
man’s anger.
“Xiaoting, it's Nanyi who likes boys, why are you crying?” the old man said helplessly.
“I, I…” Yuenting sobbed, looking up, “I, I…” Yes, it was Cheng Nanyi who liked men, so why
was he crying so hard?
He had just overreacted, scaring himself with every little thing.
Cheng Nanyi liking men had nothing to do with him. It wasn’t caused by Shu Zhilan or
himself; it was an issue intrinsic to Cheng Nanyi himself.
So why did he bring this on himself?
Yuenting slowly dried his tears and then handed the branch back to the old man, choking,
“Grandpa, maybe you should continue hitting him. Liking boys is indeed not good…”
The old man: “?”
Cheng Shaolin: “??”
Cheng Nanyi: “???”
The old man was not so easily fooled. His gaze fell on the red string on Yuenting's wrist,
then shifted to Cheng Nanyi’s wrist, his eyes narrowing, “Nanyi, is the boy you like
Xiaoting?”
“No!” Yuenting almost shouted, his voice cracking in his haste, waving his hands
frantically, “It’s not me, not me. The one he likes isn’t me.”
Since it was a coming-out, there was no need to involve others, otherwise the old man
might think Yuenting had seduced Cheng Nanyi.
Had he known Cheng Nanyi would come out, he would have strategized with him earlier,
like telling the old man he liked Mo Yikai. Once the old man saw Mo Yikai was the type he
liked, wouldn’t that be the end of it?
Then he could make a shining appearance, and compared to Mo Yikai, even liking men
wouldn’t seem so bad.
See, that would have been perfect.
Yuenting was immensely annoyed, blaming Cheng Nanyi. Who comes out like this?
Cheng Nanyi stared at Yuenting, who didn’t look back at him, but kept his swollen,
innocent-looking eyes fixed on the old man.
The old man almost believed it.
Cheng Nanyi remained silent, neither confirming nor denying.
The old man had his suspicions, and everyone else in the room, being experienced,
understood as well.
“Come with me,” the old man said, standing up and heading to the study.
Cheng Nanyi glanced at Yuenting before following.
Watching the study door close, Yuenting turned to Cheng Shaolin, “Dad, Grandpa won’t
hit him, will he?”
“Didn’t you just hand Grandpa a stick?”
Yuenting: “…” Would Cheng Nanyi kill him later?
Cheng Shaolin sighed, looking at him, “When did you and Nanyi get together?”
“We didn’t,” Yuenting shook his head. “We’re not together. He never told me he liked
boys, and he doesn’t know I like boys.”
？？？
Cheng Shaolin was shocked, “Then why were you crying just now?” He thought they had
already made lifelong commitments.
“I…” Yuenting, frustrated, slapped his own head, at a loss for words, “I... I was confused…”
He had walked right into a trap.
Cheng Shaolin spent a long time trying to understand the logic of everything that had
happened.
But when it came to Yuenting, anything outrageous seemed normal.

His nephew and former son coming out at the same time, Cheng Shaolin… was taking it
rather well.
“So, do you like Nanyi?” Cheng Shaolin asked again.
“…” Yuenting looked at Cheng Shaolin, “Dad, maybe you should listen at the study door.
I’m afraid Grandpa might kill Cheng Nanyi.”
Cheng Shaolin was seasoned in the arts scene and had seen it all, so Yuenting had never
been afraid of him from the start.
“Does Nanyi like you?” Cheng Shaolin asked again.
Yuenting: “…”
Stepdad, could you show a little tension like someone might get killed for coming out?
……
Inside the study, the old man and Cheng Nanyi sat opposite each other at the desk.
The old man asked the same question as Cheng Shaolin, “When did you and Xiaoting get
together?”
“We’re not together,” Cheng Nanyi said. “He doesn’t know I like him, and I don’t know if
he... likes me.”
The old man had no interest in delving into the love and hate between Cheng Nanyi and
Yuenting, simply stating, “I don’t agree.”
“Is it that you don’t agree with me liking boys, or you don’t agree with me being with
Yuenting?”
“Both,” the old man had calmed down but still looked displeased, “Have you thought
about your future, your prospects, when doing these things? I hope you’ll think it over
carefully before talking about these matters. Don’t act on impulse and harm yourself,
and… others.” Xiaoting was only eighteen in his eyes, still a child, but his grandson had
always been more mature than his peers.
Cheng Nanyi lowered his gaze, remaining silent for a moment before saying, “Grandpa,
I’ve never been one to act impulsively.”
“Is that so?” the old man said flatly, “But right now, I think you are being impulsive.”
Cheng Nanyi looked at his grandfather, his expression calm, “Grandpa, do you remember
when I was little, you promised you would grant me one wish?”
The old man's eyes narrowed.
Of course, he remembered; it was because of the issue with Duan Zhen Shan that they
made a bet.
He had promised to agree to one thing for him, but over the years, he had never brought
it up.
"So, you’re bringing it up now because you want me to agree to your relationship with
Xiao Ting, right?" The old man looked at Cheng Nanyi with disappointment.
The grandson he had raised with his own hands, and he was using complexion to argue
about who was the real sibling. Clearly, he lacked maturity.
"Grandfather," Cheng Nanyi said, "Many people have said that you are too strict with me.
Even my eldest uncle asked me privately if I felt overwhelmed. But I have never felt that
your education was inappropriate. I agree with your methods, and I am willing to be
taught by you."
The old man didn't know why Cheng Nanyi suddenly brought this up, but his words left
him quite surprised.
He was well aware of his own strictness and knew it was too much for a child. He had
always believed that Nanyi resented him for it, so he never expected this perspective.
Cheng Nanyi continued, "I don't want to force you into agreeing to anything with the
conditions from the past. I just want to use these conditions to make you think calmly
about this matter. Right now, you're too angry, and I think we shouldn't discuss this issue
under such circumstances. I don't want to argue with you or be forced to compromise..."
"You've always taught me to stay calm and composed, never make decisions in the heat of
the moment. I hope we can temporarily set aside this matter and discuss it later, after
we've both had a chance to think calmly. Can we do that?"
The old man looked at Cheng Nanyi, feeling both relieved and helpless.
"What if I still disagree after thinking calmly?"
Cheng Nanyi furrowed his brows and sighed, "Grandfather, I hope to have your blessing."
The old man leaned back in his chair, hands folded, and his deep gaze fixed on Cheng
Nanyi's face. "Aren't you afraid that I might use extreme methods to pressure you?"
"I'm not afraid," Cheng Nanyi quirked his lips. "I have confidence in that. All the principles
I live by are the ones you taught me. I understand and admire you, so I had the courage to
sit here and discuss this matter with you today. You've given me the confidence."
The old man let out a long sigh and then pinched his brow.
Keeping calm in difficult situations and controlling the pace of the conversation without
the other party noticing were skills he took pride in, especially when it was his grandson
he had educated in this way.
……
Just as he was anxiously awaiting the study door to open, Yuan Ting rushed over and
scrutinized Cheng Nanyi. "Did you get hit? How bad is it? Where did you get hit?"
Cheng Nanyi looked at the anxious young man and quickly ran through his mind. He had
been preoccupied with dealing with the old man earlier, so he hadn't had time to think
about the series of actions the young man had taken today.
Clearly, Yuan Ting had known for a long time that he was interested in men, and he had
probably guessed that Cheng Nanyi's affections were directed at him. This had caused
Yuan Ting to struggle for a long time, so when the grandfather asked, he couldn't contain
himself, indicating that he had been under considerable pressure.
"Although I agreed to discuss it calmly later, I still don't approve of you being with Yuan
Ting," the grandfather followed and said as he walked out.
"What do you mean, 'being together'?" Yuan Ting exclaimed in shock. "We're not
together, Grandfather. Whatever you say goes. We're not together. He doesn't like me;
please don't misunderstand..."
Cheng Nanyi's face darkened.
Seeing the old man's expression wasn’t too bad, Yuan Ting cautiously approached and
gently held his arm, asking carefully, "Grandfather, can I still have dinner here tonight?"
"Why not?" the old man replied gruffly. "One thing doesn't change another. A home is
always a place to return to." Yuan Ting's recent tears and current words showed how
much he cared about his opinion, which left the old man feeling a bit saddened but unable
to be angry with him.
Yuan Ting sniffled and his eyes reddened again: "Grandfather, believe me, Cheng Nanyi
doesn't like me. From today onwards, I will sever ties with him." If he had to face it, he
wanted to be the last one to appear, as the first one usually ends up sacrificed.
He planned to wait until Cheng Nanyi brought a bunch of unsuitable partners to exhaust
the old man's patience, and then he would reappear to make him happy.
He could only be the one to bring joy to the old man, never to hurt his heart.
The old man, upon hearing Yuan Ting's words and still unable to accept Cheng Nanyi and
Yuan Ting's relationship, couldn't help but glance at Cheng Nanyi, seeing his grandson's
face dark and gloomy.
The old man felt somewhat relieved inside.
After all, being manipulated by his grandson was quite frustrating.
"Grandfather, please sit here." Yuan Ting attentively helped his grandfather sit on the
sofa. "Would you like some water? How about sixty percent hot? Not too hot, not too cold,
just right for drinking."
"Yuan Ting," Cheng Nanyi called out to him, but Yuan Ting quickly turned and glared at
him, then said in a breathy tone, "Don't talk to me." Cheng Nanyi's mind must have been
tampered with by Mo Yikai.
Cheng Shaolin couldn't help but laugh: "They’re not even together yet, and they're
arguing like this. I don’t think you need to break them up; they won’t last long on their
own."
The old man just snorted in response.
Yuan Ting, baffled, looked at his stepfather: What's going on? Why is he stirring things
up?
"Grandfather, Yuan Ting wiped his nose on your sleeve. Shouldn't you change your shirt?"
Cheng Nanyi said coolly.
The old man paused in the act of accepting the water and instinctively moved away from
Yuan Ting's hand.
Yuan Ting: "??"
The old man cleared his throat and stood up: "I, I should change it." The kid has grown
up, but still acts like a child.
Yuan Ting glared ominously at Cheng Nanyi. He had tried so hard to please the old man,
yet Cheng Nanyi was sabotaging his efforts.
"Come, Yuan Ting, let's talk." Cheng Nanyi grabbed Yuan Ting’s wrist and pulled him
upstairs.
The little rascal really needed to be dealt with.
Author's note:
Thank you to the angels who supported me with King's tickets and nutrient solutions
from 2023-10-07 21:46:30 to 2023-10-08 20:12:18~
Thank you to the angels who provided nutrient solutions: The Campus Belle's Little
Computer 76 bottles; Qi Yu Huanhuan 9 bottles; Hey Hey 2 bottles; ⌒．Yi Nian Qing Xin
Jing °, Ku Ge Hao Tian, Da Wang Jin Tian Chi Tang Seng Ma, 40716739, Yi Ke Song Guo 1
bottle;
#94 Chapter 94
Chapter 94
Yuan Ting quickly shook off Cheng Nanyi's hand and dashed toward the old man's
bedroom: "Grandfather, do you need my help?"
Cheng Nanyi tried to grab him but failed; the kid was as slippery as an eel.
Cheng Shaolin couldn't help but chuckle.
Dr. Zhong also chuckled softly.
Cheng Nanyi looked at Cheng Shaolin and sighed, "Uncle, you can still find humor in this?"
"Why shouldn't I laugh?" Cheng Shaolin sized up Cheng Nanyi. "I know many people like...
you. We lived under the same roof, and I never suspected a thing. You really hid it well."
Cheng Nanyi sat down opposite Cheng Shaolin and asked, "Do you think Grandfather will
accept it?"
"I don't know," Cheng Shaolin shook his head and sighed, "I think it's going to be tough."
Cheng Nanyi glanced at Dr. Zhong, then said softly, "But Grandfather accepted
Grandfather Liao's situation."
Cheng Shaolin raised an eyebrow in surprise, "Wow, you're well-informed, aren't you?"
"You always have to do some research before acting. You can't go in completely
unprepared."
Grandfather Liao was Dr. Zhong’s teacher in traditional Chinese medicine and an old
friend of their grandfather.
Cheng Nanyi often saw him and knew he had never married, always living with
Grandfather Liang.
Grandfather Liang was their grandfather's childhood friend; they grew up together and
were as close as he was with Mo Yikai.
Grandpa's two closest friends never married in their lifetime. Cheng Nanyi never
wondered why before; after all, the world is full of oddities, and this seemed just another.
But once he realized his own sexual orientation, his view of his grandfathers changed,
sparking new thoughts.
Cheng Shaolin patted Cheng Nanyi's shoulder: "Your Grandpa Liang was cast out by his
father, cut off financially, with a word spread to ensure no one would help him. Only your
grandpa stood by him."
Cheng Nanyi: "So..."
"But..." Cheng Shaolin suddenly shifted his tone, "it's always different when such things
happen to oneself."
Cheng Nanyi: "..."
It was Little New Year's Eve. Despite the unpleasant incident, the old master didn't take
out his anger on Yuanting, instead, he warmly welcomed him home, giving him due
respect.
Yuanting's eyes reddened again, nearly breaking into another embrace and cry with the
old master.
The old master sighed, "Please don't cry. I don't want to change my clothes again."
The family burst into laughter.
Since it was a reunion dinner, the two babies were also brought to the dining table.
The old master sat at the head, with Doctor Zhong to his left, followed by two side-by-side
baby strollers, then Cheng Shaolin and... Yuanting.
Cheng Nanyi sat alone on the opposite side.
Yuanting was determined to draw a clear boundary between them.
Unable to contain himself, Cheng Shaolin laughed to himself, earning several stern looks
from the old master.
After dinner, Cheng Shaolin asked Yuanting to stay the night. Yuanting had planned to,
but now he didn't want to; the mental strain was too much, and he needed time alone to
process the day's events.
Cheng Shaolin seemed to guess his thoughts, so he didn’t insist on staying, asking Cheng
Nanyi to drive Yuanting home instead.
“No, no need,” Yuanting hastily waved his hands in refusal. “It’s okay, let Brother Zhang
take me. Don’t trouble Nanyi Brother. Bye!!!” He dashed off as if chased by a dog.
Watching his retreating figure, Cheng Shaolin couldn't help but laugh again.
Yuanting ran to the gate, feeling the cold winter air. He sighed deeply, relieved; the
afternoon had been more exhausting than climbing a mountain.
Yuanting texted Cheng Nanyi: Brother, don’t come out to send me off, please.
Just as he sent the message, a familiar car stopped beside him. The window rolled down,
revealing Cheng Nanyi’s somber face.
Yuanting: “…” This uncanny understanding...
“Get in.”
With a drooping head, Yuanting opened the door and got into the car, feeling an ominous
premonition.
As the car left the neighborhood, both remained silent.
Yuanting leaned back in the passenger seat, eyes closed, trying to empty his mind. He was
too exhausted from crying all day, his head aching, wanting to think of nothing.
It felt like a dream, where he was playing football in the yard, with the old master and
Cheng Shaolin drinking tea at the table. He looked up to see a young man watching from
the second floor.
Their eyes met, then both looked away.
Turning his head, he saw his mother entering in a beautiful dress, carrying a bag.
Yuanting instinctively blurred her out in his mind, a full-body mosaic.
Suddenly jolting awake, he was still in the car, covered with Cheng Nanyi’s down jacket.
"Did I fall asleep?" Yuanting asked in a groggy voice.
"Yes." A hand reached out to touch the corner of his eye. "Do your eyes hurt from crying?"
"A bit, and my throat feels sore too."
Cheng Nanyi reached out again, this time holding a cup of milk tea with a straw. Yuanting
instinctively took a sip. It was hot rock sugar pear tea.
"Where did you get this?"

"Just bought it. You’ve been crying for so long, I thought your throat might be sore."
Yuanting: "..." Can we not mention that?
After a few big sips, Yuanting regained some energy. Turning to glare at Cheng Nanyi, he
started to quibble, "Next time you decide to come out, could you give me a heads-up? It
caught me off guard."
"Why should I inform you in advance?" Cheng Nanyi countered.
"…" Yuanting was left speechless by the question.
After a few seconds of silence, Yuanting huffed: "Fine, I don’t deserve to know."
Cheng Nanyi reached out to tilt his chin, turning his face to meet his gaze. "So, why did
you cry today?"
"I was overwhelmed, okay?" Yuanting replied defiantly.
Cheng Nanyi said nothing, just kept looking at him.
They were in a dim alley with no streetlights, and the car lights were off. Only the faint
glow from the main road filtered through.
Yuanting couldn’t help but purse his lips, slapped Cheng Nanyi's hand away, trying to
turn his face aside. The next second, Cheng Nanyi leaned in and kissed him on the lips.
Yuanting's breath hitched for a moment.
Unlike their last kiss, when Cheng Nanyi was drunk, this time both were completely
sober, their lips touching, eyes locked.
Being so close made their eyes strain, so Cheng Nanyi covered Yuanting's eyes with his
hand, whispering against his lips: "Close your eyes."
Yuanting obeyed, closing his eyes in the palm of Cheng Nanyi's hand. His trembling lashes
brushed against the skin, making Cheng Nanyi's breath turn heavy.
Yuanting wrapped his arms around Cheng Nanyi's neck, pulling him closer, pressing their
lips more firmly together.
Neither had much experience in kissing, the only reference being that drunken night. Like
then, both vied for control now, their kisses almost combative, ending in a breathless
embrace.
After calming down, Cheng Nanyi finally asked: "When did you realize?"
"Realize what?"
"Realize my feelings for you..."
"What feelings for me?"
"…" Cheng Nanyi turned his head and nibbled on Yuanting's earlobe, murmuring softly,
“These feelings.”
Yuanting's chin rested on his shoulder, he drawled lazily: "I'm not telling you."
Cheng Nanyi pulled him away to look at him: "Fine, I won’t ask. Let's talk about today."
"Talk about what?" Yuanting blinked, uncomprehendingly gazing at the lips so close to
his, unable to resist leaning in for another peck.
Kissing felt surprisingly good.
This nearly reignited Cheng Nanyi's temper, forcing him to push Yuanting away and
create some distance between them.
"…" Yuanting glared at him. "Do you despise me?"
Cheng Nanyi: "…"
"Let’s talk about today first. Why did you say those things to grandpa?"
"Say what?" Yuanting retorted, annoyed.
"That you have nothing to do with me."
"Right now, I don’t have anything to do with you," Yuanting turned to look outside, his
ears red with embarrassment, yet he defiantly continued, "What are we to each other,
anyway?"
Cheng Nanyi thought about it, realizing Yuanting did have a point.
During Yuanting's nap, he had replayed the entire situation in his mind.
Yuanting must have known about his feelings for a while, likely since that night he was
drunk.
"What did I say to you when I was drunk and kissed you?" Cheng Nanyi turned to look at
Yuanting.
Yuanting rolled his eyes, coughing lightly: "You said you liked me, loved me desperately,
that just one glance from me would make you brave fire and sword."
"…" Cheng Nanyi couldn’t help but chuckle softly, "So, when did you start liking me?"
"I never liked you," Yuanting protested, "Don’t accuse me wrongly. From the start to the
end, I’ve been forced by you."
"Okay, it was me who forced you," Cheng Nanyi nodded nonchalantly, feeling
exceptionally good.
Coming out had been in his plans for a while, but choosing today was spontaneous. The
biggest surprise was Yuanting, who, like a blindfolded rabbit, had unwittingly run into his
arms.
Cheng Nanyi patted Yuanting's head gently.
Yuanting dodged his hand and then glared at him: "Don't tell grandpa that the person you
like is me."
"Why not?"
"Are you dumb?" Yuanting said exasperatedly. "You should first tell grandpa you like
someone else, like Mo Yikai. Let him think, ‘What an odd choice!’ After a few visits like
that, when I finally show up, I’ll seem like a prince in comparison. Then grandpa will
surely approve.”
Cheng Nanyi rested his forehead on the steering wheel, laughing softly. He finally
understood the reason behind Yuanting's strange behavior today.
Seeing him laugh, Yuanting got annoyed, grabbed his chin, and turned his face towards
him, saying sternly, "Cheng Nanyi, I’m not joking with you. Don’t make grandpa dislike
me; I couldn't bear it."
Cheng Nanyi, seeing his serious expression, also turned solemn, whispering, "Don’t
worry, I promise I won’t let grandpa dislike you."
Yuanting huffed and released his hand.
Cheng Nanyi caught his hand and kissed it.
He had thought a lot about how Yuanting might react when he finally confessed, but he
never imagined it would be this natural and logical.
Yuanting, blushing, withdrew his hand: "Stop being touchy."
Cheng Nanyi brought his own hand to his lips: "Then you return it."
？？？
Yuanting, speechless, retorted: "Brother, I never realized before how thick-skinned you
are."
Cheng Nanyi raised an eyebrow: "You’ll find out there are times I can be even thicker-
skinned."
Yuanting's mind wandered off, and then he spat out a "Pah."
As a child, when Yuanting spat at him, Cheng Nanyi used to dodge and walk away. Now,
when Yuanting spat, Cheng Nanyi lightly touched the back of his hand to Yuanting's lips,
saying, "I'll do it myself."
"…" Yuanting turned to look out the window, muttering softly, "Shameless."
Author’s note:
Thank you to the angels who voted for me or nourished me with nutrient solutions
between 2023-10-08 20:12:18 and 2023-10-09 18:11:52~
Thanks to the angels who dropped landmines: Sunflower 2;
Thanks to the angels who irrigated with nutrient solutions: Winter Cat, King of Turtles
Taking Over the World 10 bottles; Boss Mi 3 bottles; Bitter Brother Sweet, A Single Berry,
^_^ 1 bottle;
#95 Chapter 95
Chapter 95
It seemed that just because of one kiss, everything started to feel different.
Two people, so familiar before, suddenly seemed to become awkward with each other.
Yuanting rested his head against the car window, watching the lights flashing past
outside, his heart beating a bit faster. He involuntarily touched his lips, thinking, so this is
what being in love feels like.
Being in love?
Were they, right now, in a relationship?
Although grandpa said he didn't approve, his attitude wasn't very stern, quite unlike the
thunderous rage Yuanting had expected.
So, the future actually seemed quite hopeful, didn't it?
"Cheng Nanyi..." Yuanting turned to look at the driver, "About us..."
Cheng Nanyi suddenly interrupted him: "So, Yuanting, between me and grandpa, you
would definitely choose grandpa, right?"
？？？？
what？
Yuanting was confused: "What?"
Cheng Nanyi parked the car in front of Yuanting's house. After turning off the engine, he
faced Yuanting, expressionless: "If grandpa disapproves, will you back down?" He had
been so absorbed in their mutual understanding and joy earlier that he hadn't thought
things through. Now, he was starting to sense something was amiss.
"Uh..." Yuanting's mind raced, thinking of how to dodge the question.
Cheng Nanyi narrowed his eyes, noting Yuanting's hesitation.
"Yuanting, it seems I hold no place in your heart. You haven't changed at all since
childhood; you've never hesitated in abandoning me."
"Are you crazy?" Yuanting snapped, frustrated, "Why do you make up things in your
head? I, I, I..."
After stuttering for a while, Yuanting, infuriated, turned his head: "Then let's break up."
What was this, bringing up old grievances right after a kiss? How petty could he be?
Break up?
Cheng Nanyi raised an eyebrow, turned Yuanting's face towards him, and spoke softly,
"When did we even start dating?"
Yuanting stared at him.
Cheng Nanyi continued to look at him.
"When did we ever not be together?" Yuanting narrowed his eyes.
"So, we are together, aren't we?" The light in Cheng Nanyi's eyes glowed intensely in the
dark night.
"You don’t want to be together? Fine by me, I’m not forcing you," Yuanting huffed,
opening the car door to get out.
Cheng Nanyi also got out of the car, following him inside. Yuanting glared at him: "Why
are you following me?"
"I'm coming home with you."
"You’re crazy," Yuanting said exasperatedly. "You have to go home tonight to report to
grandpa, or he’ll think something's happened between us."
"So, grandpa is more important than me, is that it?"
Frustrated, Yuanting raised his hand and punched Cheng Nanyi's shoulder, his voice
rising: "Cheng Nanyi, are you out of your mind? Just tell me!"
Cheng Nanyi caught his wrist and pulled Yuanting into his arms, then bent down to kiss
his lips.
Yuanting stiffened. Great, right in front of the house, Cheng Nanyi was really bold.
Fortunately, the alley was dark without any streetlights. The only light was from his and
Yuan Xiao’s room; he wondered if Yuan Xiao was asleep.
Yuanting pushed him, but Cheng Nanyi held him tighter, his tongue parting Yuanting's
lips.
"…" Well, fine, just kiss, Yuanting thought. Whenever Cheng Nanyi kissed him, his knees
went weak, his mind got foggy, his body electrified.
Yuanting wrapped his arms around Cheng Nanyi's neck, kissing back passionately.
This kiss, unlike the one in the car, was harmonious, not combative, but entwining.
In the cold winter night of the alley, the chill was no match for the heat between the two
lovers who had just confirmed their relationship.
Fireworks suddenly lit up the sky, illuminating Yuanting’s face.
With eyes closed, he eagerly sought Cheng Nanyi’s lips, pulling open his shirt and sliding
his hands inside.
Cheng Nanyi was only wearing a shirt, his down jacket left on the car seat covering
Yuanting. Having not put it back on after getting out of the car, Yuanting’s hands easily
found their way inside.
As warm hands touched his firm chest, Cheng Nanyi’s breath hitched. He bit Yuanting’s
tongue lightly, causing Yuanting to push him away with a hiss, eyes damp as he glared:
“Your technique could use some work.”
Cheng Nanyi gazed deeply at him, his voice husky: “Your technique seems pretty good.”
Just their second kiss, and Yuanting was already so adept at this and that. He hadn’t even
dared to go that far.
"..." Yuanting touched his neck, coughed lightly, and glanced towards the house, “You
should go, it's freezing. Don’t catch a cold.”
Cheng Nanyi stood still, prompting Yuanting to push him: “Go home, brother, please. I’m
not going anywhere…”
Yuanting pushed Cheng Nanyi towards the car, then bent down to reach for the down
jacket on the passenger seat.
Bending over, Yuanting was almost lying on top of Cheng Nanyi.
Yuanting grabbed the jacket, draped it over Cheng Nanyi, then leaned in to whisper in his
ear with a teasing breath: “Brother, you... hehe…”
Cheng Nanyi’s ears grew warm. He sighed, amused yet resigned. How did this kid switch
roles so smoothly? Before leaving home, it was all brotherly affection, but outside,
Yuanting was incredibly forward.
Cheng Nanyi pinched Yuanting’s earlobe.
Yuanting smiled, planted a quick kiss on his lips, and stepped back: “Alright, go now.”
“Then I’ll come over for breakfast tomorrow morning.”
“Sure,” Yuanting waved, “Drive safely… boyfriend.”
Boyfriend?
Cheng Nanyi's lips curled into a smile.
Watching Cheng Nanyi's car drive away, Yuanting jumped around on the spot, letting the
cold wind calm his flushed face and racing heart... and something else. Yuanting adjusted
his pants, reminding himself that they were both men, and no one could laugh at the
other.
After standing in the cold wind for ten minutes, Yuanting shivered as he entered the
house.
Yuan Xiao had already fallen asleep in bed, leaving a light on for him. After taking a quick
shower, Yuanting crawled into the warm bed, grateful for the electric blanket Yuan Xiao
had turned on.
Yuanting took out his phone to message Cheng Nanyi: Are you home yet?
Cheng Nanyi replied instantly: Just got out of the car. Was about to text you.
Yuanting stared at the chat on his phone. Ever since their last heart-to-heart in the tea
house, their daily conversations had increased, Yuanting sharing even the smallest details
with Cheng Nanyi.
But now, with their relationship changed, he suddenly didn't know what to say.
Yuanting typed and deleted several messages without sending any, while Cheng Nanyi
sent another: Grandpa's asleep. Uncle Liu says he's quite calm, don't worry.
Yuanting: That's good. Just don't argue with him.
Cheng Nanyi: Yeah, got it.
Yuanting: Then get some rest early.

It took about two minutes before Cheng Nanyi replied: I don't know why, but I find
myself missing you.
Reading this, Yuanting’s face flushed, and he turned over, burying his face in the blanket.
The transformation of their relationship was truly astonishing.
Yuanting used to miss Cheng Nanyi when they were apart before, but it was never like
this. Now, just thinking about him made Yuanting feel light and buoyant, his mind filled
entirely with him, wishing they could be glued together every moment.
Yuanting slowly replied to his message: I miss you too.
Missing him so much it was almost overwhelming.
Glancing at Yuan Xiao on the other bed, Yuanting sighed, holding back his feelings.
Tossing and turning, Yuanting had a restless night, primarily due to the excitement of
being in a relationship for the first time.
It wasn't until the early hours of the morning that Yuanting finally drifted off to sleep,
waking up late when the sun was already high.
He stretched lazily before opening his eyes, only to see Cheng Nanyi sitting at the desk.
Yuanting blinked, thinking he was seeing things.
“You’re awake.”
Cheng Nanyi, wearing a white knitted shirt, with a few strands of hair falling onto his
forehead and a clear smile in his eyes, brightened the room the moment Yuanting saw
him.
“Why are you here so early?”
“It’s already eleven,” Cheng Nanyi stood and walked over, flicking Yuanting’s forehead
with his finger.
Cheng Nanyi’s hand was cool. Yuanting dodged it slightly, then glanced outside: “Stay
away from me, don’t let my grandma see.”
“Grandma went to the mall to shop. She said she's going back to her hometown this
afternoon. Yuan Xiao went to help her carry things.”
“I see…” Yuanting grabbed his arm, pulling Cheng Nanyi down, “Come here, darling, give
me a kiss.”
Cheng Nanyi took advantage of the moment to sit on the bed, leaning in to kiss Yuanting.
Yuanting, busy holding his face, pushed him away, "Haven't brushed my teeth yet."
"I don't mind," said Cheng Nanyi.
Yuanting clicked his tongue, got up from the bed, and sang while walking out of the room,
"What changed you, oh, it turns out it was love..."
Cheng Nanyi laughed softly.
Love?
Yes, indeed, it was love.
After freshening up, Yuanting returned and straddled Cheng Nanyi, sitting on his lap,
"Quick, give me a kiss." He then held Cheng Nanyi's face and kissed him.
Yuanting felt as if he'd awakened a rogue spirit overnight, finding it addictively

enjoyable...
Moreover, as someone who had seen everything but experienced nothing in his two
lifetimes, now every time he saw Cheng Nanyi, his mind automatically undressed him.
Cheng Nanyi was momentarily stunned, then wrapped one arm around Yuanting’s waist
to stabilize him, placing his other hand on the back of Yuanting’s head.
Early in the morning, with passions running high, a kiss stirred emotions in both of them.
Cheng Nanyi was no longer the same as last night. When Yuanting once again lifted his
shirt to caress his back, Cheng Nanyi's hand slid under Yuanting’s clothes, but this time
he lifted Yuanting's pants.
Yuanting, covering his bottom, jumped off Cheng Nanyi, glaring at him: "You shameless
person."
Cheng Nanyi, leaning back in the chair to catch his breath, nodded: "Yeah, you're right, I
am shameless, learned it from you."
Yuanting: "..." He certainly hadn’t undressed him like that.
Voices came from outside; it sounded like grandma and Yuan Xiao returning. Yuanting
quickly grabbed a jacket hanging near the door and threw it over Cheng Nanyi: "Calm
down." He then tugged his own sweatshirt down and glanced down.
Yuan Xiao entered the room, looking at Yuanting with a complex expression: “You’re
awake.”
“Yeah.” Yuanting glanced behind him, “Bro, what did you guys buy?”
“Bought a lot of stuff...” Yuan Xiao was somewhat distracted, his gaze continually shifting
to Cheng Nanyi’s face.
Cheng Nanyi raised an eyebrow.
“I’ll go check.” Yuanting, feeling a bit guilty, left the room.
Yuan Xiao glanced outside, then sat down on the bed.
“Didn’t sleep well last night?” Cheng Nanyi observed Yuan Xiao’s face. “Your dark circles
are quite noticeable.”
“I…” Yuan Xiao lowered his head, rubbing his face, then after a while, he looked up at
Cheng Nanyi with a resigned expression, “I saw everything last night.”
Cheng Nanyi nodded.
When he arrived in the morning, Yuan Xiao was already up, looking distressed. His usual
warmth was replaced by an avoidance of Cheng Nanyi’s gaze. Cheng Nanyi had sensed
something was off – Yuan Xiao had seen them.
“So?”
“Please leave my brother alone,” Yuan Xiao took a deep breath. “Is it because he still owes
you money? Cheng Nanyi, I can pay it all back, really. Any interest rate you name, even if I
have to work like a horse or ox. He's still young, please don’t do this…”
Last night, hearing a car, he went out to see if Yuanting had returned, only to see Cheng
Nanyi pulling Yuanting into an embrace and kissing him. His brother struggled!!!
He saw it clearly, his brother struggled but couldn’t get free, forced to comply!!!
He was furious, wanting to rush out, but ultimately chose to pretend he hadn’t seen
anything. He didn’t want to embarrass his brother.
Yuan Xiao had thought a lot that night. Cheng Nanyi's family was influential and
powerful; if he truly wanted to coerce Yuanting, their family had no means to resist, and
even Yuanting’s reputation would be ruined...
Yes, even though the Qing dynasty was long gone, being labeled as homosexual could
seriously hinder a young man’s chances of marriage… A man’s reputation is still a
reputation...
Yuan Xiao was near tears as he spoke, “It’s all because I’m incapable.”
Cheng Nanyi thought for a moment, then spoke calmly: “Yuan Xiao, you’ve
misunderstood. Actually, I am the one being coerced. Do you believe me?”
“Of course, I don’t believe you,” Yuan Xiao looked at him in shock. “I saw my brother
struggling. It was you forcing him.”
“Your brother confessed to me, and I originally refused,” Cheng Nanyi sighed. “But he said
if I didn't accept him, he would jump off the thirtieth floor. I had no choice but to give in.
After all, he’s the kid I’ve watched grow up. I couldn’t let him jump.”
Yuan Xiao blinked.
A scene formed in his mind.
His brother threatening to jump off a building, turning to leave, and then Cheng Nanyi, in
desperation, pulling him into his arms, while his brother struggled: “Let me go, I’m going
to jump…”
Cheng Nanyi then saying, “I agree, I agree…”
And then the two of them ended up embracing each other.
Yuan Xiao shook his head, banishing this image from his mind: “No, I don’t believe it.”
“You can ask Yuanting,” Cheng Nanyi pointed towards the window. Yuan Xiao saw his
brother, beaming, biting into a fried dough stick, hopping towards their grandma for a
hug. Then, looking at Cheng Nanyi’s composed face, Yuan Xiao felt even more conflicted.
He had shared a desk with Cheng Nanyi for three years and knew him well; Cheng Nanyi
was the last person to lie.
So, was it really his brother who forced Cheng Nanyi?
Yuan Xiao’s gaze fell vacantly on the red buckets in the corner. His brother had
persistently written letters to Cheng Nanyi for two to three years...
"I came today to ask you for advice on what I should do," Cheng Nanyi added.
What to do?
Yuan Xiao sat frozen on the bed, his thoughts tumbling chaotically as if in a washing
machine.
Finally, Yuan Xiao looked at Cheng Nanyi again: “Why don’t you just go along with him?”
Yuan Xiao raised three fingers, swearing to the heavens: “If you accept my brother, I
promise all the money I earn in the future will be yours. Our family can certainly support
you.”
Cheng Nanyi: “…”
Author’s note:
2023-10-09 18:11:52 to 2023-10-11 12:48:13~
Thanks to the angels who dropped landmines: Sunflower 1;
Thanks to the angels who irrigated with nutrient solutions: Things Answer Yes,
Sunflower 10 bottles; Never Fail! 9 bottles; Tuanzi 4 bottles; Xuan Meili 3 bottles; Drunk
Winding Autumn Wind, Sweet Sweet Knows Uh-huh 2 bottles; A Single Berry, ^_^, Su
Shisi, Man Mi, Qian Qian, Bitter Brother Sweet, Hey Hey 1 bottle;
#96 Chapter 96
Chapter 96
Today is the 24th day of the lunar year, and Grandma was taking Yuan Xiao and Yuanting
back to their hometown. Originally, Yuan Qingguang was supposed to drive them, but
Cheng Nanyi came in his car, so he ended up taking over the task.
Grandma gets carsick, so Yuanting let her sit in the passenger seat, while he and Yuan
Xiao sat in the back.
Cheng Nanyi’s car was stocked with various snacks. Yuanting, knowing where they were,
handed some to Yuan Xiao and then opened a bag of chips for himself. He munched while
leaning over the seat to feed Cheng Nanyi.
Cheng Nanyi turned his head away: “Sit properly.” He knew that mischievous kid was
doing it on purpose, feeding him things he didn’t like to eat.
Yuanting huffed and sat back: “You despise me.”
Cheng Nanyi nodded: “Yes, I do despise you.”
Grandma laughed, patting Yuanting on the head: “Stop it now, Nanyi is driving.”
Yuan Xiao felt a pang of sorrow. Truthful words were spoken as jokes; Cheng Nanyi really
did despise his brother.
“What’s wrong with you?” Yuanting casually noticed Yuan Xiao’s troubled face, “Do you
need to use the restroom? Your face is all scrunched up.”
“No, I just feel bad…” Yuan Xiao rested his head against the car window, thinking that
Cheng Nanyi was just accommodating Yuanting because of their childhood connection.
What if Cheng Nanyi got fed up and Yuanting really did something drastic out of
heartbreak?
He wanted to ask but was afraid to, not wanting to upset him... He was still unsure about
his brother’s mental state and didn’t dare to act rashly...
Cheng Nanyi glanced through the rearview mirror, seeing Yuan Xiao’s head lowered in
gloom.
Meanwhile, Yuanting, oblivious, was sprawled out asleep next to his brother, exhausted
from the previous night's excitement.
Yuan Xiao looked at Yuanting’s sleeping face, sighing. How could such a handsome face be
troubled by a preference for men?
His years of studying abroad had broadened his horizons. Though he didn’t personally
know any gay people, he was aware of it. It was a difficult path. What could he do for
Yuanting?
Yuan Xiao was worried sick.
Upon reaching their ancestral home and unloading their things, their aunt busied herself
preparing food. Yuan Xiao went to pour hot water into a cup for Cheng Nanyi.
Yuanting’s eyes nearly popped out: “Bro, what are you doing?”
“I, I…” Yuan Xiao coughed lightly, “Cheng Nanyi is a guest, we should treat him well.”
Handing the cup to Cheng Nanyi, he added, “I scalded it with hot water, it’s very clean,
don’t worry... If you’re not comfortable, I can buy a sterilizer for our house.”
？？？
Yuanting was completely surrounded by question marks. Had his brother gone mad?
“What’s wrong with you?” Yuanting straightened Yuan Xiao's posture, glaring at him,
“Bro, are you traumatized?”
Traumatized?
Yuan Xiao’s head was buzzing. It wasn’t just trauma; he was overwhelmingly troubled.
“Xiao Ting, I’ve decided not to pursue my master’s degree,” Yuan Xiao said solemnly.
“Are you sick?” Yuanting reached out to touch Yuan Xiao’s forehead, “Did you dunk your
head in an ice hole last night?”
“I…” Yuan Xiao grasped his hand, “I need to earn money, a lot of money. I have to support
our family, take care of you, and also...” he coughed lightly, his gaze evasive and voice
quieter, “support your... wife…”
Before Yuanting could react, Cheng Nanyi started coughing violently from choking on
water.
Yuanting looked at him: “What’s wrong with you? Choking on water, are you
uncoordinated?”
“How can you say that about him?” Yuan Xiao said discontentedly, “Xiao Ting, that’s not
right. You should do this…” He guided Yuanting’s hand to Cheng Nanyi's back, “Choking
can be serious or minor, you should pat his back.”
Yuanting: “????”
Had the world gone mad, or was it just Yuan Xiao?
Cheng Nanyi suppressed his laughter and moved away from Yuanting’s hand, shaking his
head expressionlessly: “No need, I can’t bear it.”
Yuan Xiao: “…” It was over; he was still despising Xiao Ting. His face was a picture of
restrained suffering.
Yuanting glared at Cheng Nanyi, as if challenging him to repeat what he said.
Cheng Nanyi just bowed his head, unable to raise it for quite some time, his shoulders
trembling slightly.
Yuan Xiao often had these intermittent bouts of madness. Yuanting was used to it, so he
didn’t pay much attention, assuming it was due to the stress of pending postgraduate
entrance exam results. He figured Yuan Xiao would change his mind once the results
were out.
Yuanting, no longer concerned with someone overwhelmed by exam anxiety, headed to

the kitchen: “Auntie, what’s for dinner tonight…?”
Auntie: “Take a look, it’s all your favorites. Stay a few more days at home, and I’ll make
sure you leave here chubbier.”
“Then I won’t eat,” Yuanting said, grabbing a fried ball and biting into it, “I need to
maintain my perfect figure.”
Auntie laughed heartily: “You’re as thin as a chick, talking about a perfect figure…
hahaha…”
Yuanting, with a dark expression, came out and stuffed the whole fried ball he was
holding in his left hand into Yuan Xiao's mouth, then shoved the half-eaten one from his
right hand into Cheng Nanyi’s mouth.
Cheng Nanyi dodged his hand, struggling: “Don’t do this…”
“Don’t do what?” Yuanting stared at Cheng Nanyi, “Repeat what you just said. Have you
lost your mind?”
“Ah, forget it…” Cheng Nanyi sighed, opening his mouth to eat the ball, looking reluctant
and resigned.
“You despise me?” Yuanting's brows furrowed in realization, “Fine, Cheng Nanyi, you’re
tough.” Just this morning he didn’t mind him not brushing his teeth, and now he’s fussing
over a bitten snack, what a hypocrite!!!
Yuan Xiao, witnessing this scene: “…”
Cheng Nanyi really was a good person, enduring all this to prevent his brother from
taking drastic actions.
Yuan Xiao sighed. But what could he do? His brother loved him, and whatever his brother
loved, he should have. After all, his brother had had a tough past.
Abandoned by his mother after his parents divorced at the age of two or three, then living
at the mercy of others, and later utterly abandoned by his mother, now choosing a unique
path… No, a path less traveled. He must stand by his brother’s side, being his strong
support.
As for Cheng Nanyi...
Yuan Xiao resolved to treat him even better.
He went to the kitchen and brought a plate of fried balls, quietly placing them next to
Cheng Nanyi: “My mom made these, they’re delicious, all yours.”
Yuanting’s eyes popped out in shock. His brother had truly lost it…
Cheng Nanyi looked at the plate of fried balls and then at Yuan Xiao’s determined gaze,
feeling the situation was awkward to handle.
Cheng Nanyi didn’t stay overnight. He left after a short while as he had an early flight the
next day with his grandpa. They had planned to take Yuanting along for the trip planned
before winter break, but given the current circumstances, it wasn’t wise to bring
Yuanting in front of his grandpa, so they had to part ways for now.
Yuanting saw Cheng Nanyi off. The winter days got dark early, and it was only a bit past
four, yet it was already dim.
As Cheng Nanyi got into the car, Yuanting stood beside it, reluctant to part.
“I’ll be back in a few days. Don’t go wild at home. Remember to message me and video
call.”
“Got it.” Yuanting leaned on the car window, watching him, “Be good with grandpa, don’t
upset him.”
“I know.” Cheng Nanyi flicked Yuanting’s chin, teasing, “Are you going to miss me?”
Yuanting made a face of disgust, quickly glanced around, then leaned in to give Cheng
Nanyi a quick kiss. Not satisfied, he reached in to grab Cheng Nanyi’s back.
Yuanting was daring, but Cheng Nanyi, seeing someone approaching from the end of the
path, pushed the little rascal away.
Yuanting sighed, “Alright, go. Be safe on the road.” He had never been this clingy before…
Well, he admitted, after being able to kiss and touch, he indeed felt a greater need for
Cheng Nanyi than before.
Watching Cheng Nanyi’s car drive away, Yuanting wandered back towards the house,
only to see Yuan Xiao climbing down from a ladder leaning against the wall.
“Were you on the roof?” Yuanting estimated the distance, wondering if Yuan Xiao had just
seen him and Cheng Nanyi being affectionate.
Yuan Xiao entered the house in a daze. He had seen it clearly: it was Yuanting who
initiated it, and Cheng Nanyi initially refused! But ultimately, he gave in.
This state of mind persisted for Yuan Xiao until bedtime. Both brothers lay on their beds,
each clutching a phone, fingers tapping incessantly on the screens.
While chatting with Cheng Nanyi, Yuanting kept an eye on Yuan Xiao, who seemed off
today, though he couldn’t pinpoint exactly how.
Moreover, Yuan Xiao usually didn’t pay much attention to his phone, but now he seemed
almost glued to it.
“Bro…” Yuanting called out, but Yuan Xiao didn’t seem to hear.
Just as Yuanting was about to go and talk to him, a chat notification popped up.
Sister Shi Ya.
The last time they had chatted was four years ago. They had added each other on WeChat,
greeted each other, but never really talked.
Yuanting opened the message.
——Yuanting.
——Does your brother like men?
——So, did he reject me because I confessed to him?
——I was too embarrassed to ask him after being rejected, so I’m asking you.
Yuanting’s mind was blown. What in the world was this all about?
He quickly replied: ?????
Before he could inquire further, a message from Mo Yikai popped up: Yuan Xiao likes
men? That's shocking. Never saw that coming. The little scholar seemed quite the
charmer…
Duan Wenze: What's with your family, a legacy of homosexuality? Your brother isn't into
me, is he?
Yuanting: ??????
Yuanting abruptly looked up at Yuan Xiao: “Bro, what have you done?”
Yuan Xiao looked up dazedly: “What's wrong?”
“I…” Yuanting felt like he was going insane, “I wanted to ask you the same thing.”
Author’s note:
This novel doesn’t focus on secondary couples, they’re mostly mentioned in passing.
2023-10-11 12:48:13 to 2023-10-12 21:59:40~
Thanks to the angels who irrigated with nutrient solutions: ⌒．One Clear Thought 10
bottles; Yi Ai 6 bottles; Happy Heart 5 bottles; Yin Jie Yi, Can You Not 4 bottles; Mu Qing,
Man Mi, Bitter Brother Sweet 1 bottle;
#97 Chapter 97
Chapter 97
Yuan Xiao was even more bewildered than Yuanting. Yuanting grabbed his phone: “Let
me see what you’re up to.”
Yuan Xiao instinctively dodged, but Yuanting managed to snatch the phone away after a
struggle.
Upon checking the phone, Yuanting was astonished. The browser displayed: Is
homosexuality a disease? Can it be cured?
Yuan Ting glanced slowly at Yuan Xiao: "Who’s gay?" What, does the Yuan family have a
gene for homosexuality?
Yuan Ting continued browsing on his phone, then had a sudden realization. He exited the
browser, opened WeChat, and went to Moments, only to be taken aback.
Twenty minutes earlier, Yuan Xiao had posted in Moments: "I am gay. I don't know how
to tell my parents. What should I do?"
There was a link attached to the post.
"Are you crazy?" Yuan Ting thrust the phone in front of Yuan Xiao. "What are you trying
to do?"
！！！
Yuan Xiao jumped up in shock. "What the heck... I didn’t post this..."
Yuan Ting quickly deleted the post, finally understanding why Shi Ya and Mo Yikai had
reacted the way they did. Yuan Xiao's post was akin to an indirect coming out.
"I, I, I..." Yuan Xiao, flustered, his face turning red, stammered, "I did read this article, but I
didn’t post it on Moments... Wait, there was a share page, and then my phone froze. I
tapped several times..."
Yuan Ting reassured him, "It's okay. Just post another moment explaining your phone
was hacked. That should clear it up."
Yuan Xiao quickly regained his composure. "It doesn’t matter; I don’t care about this."
WeChat was only popular in recent years. They, as students, were more accustomed to
using □□, but Yuan Ting persistently pushed them to use WeChat, so they started using it.
Therefore, he didn’t have many friends on WeChat.
Yuan Ting scratched his head and cautiously asked, "Brother, are you really... you know,
or did you find out that I am... you know?"
Yuan Xiao glanced at him, then quickly averted his gaze.
Yuan Ting realized, "Did you, by any chance, see me and Cheng Nanyi... um..." Yuan Ting
coughed.
Yuan Xiao nodded and then shook his head. "I saw it last night."
Yuan Ting: "??"
"Cheng Nanyi knows," Yuan Xiao added.
Yuan Ting: "??"
"He said you were going to jump off the building..." Yuan Xiao grasped Yuan Ting's hand,
anxiously saying, "Brother, love is actually not that essential. Please don't think of doing
anything drastic."
Yuan Ting: "??"
Yuan Ting's head was filled with question marks.
After understanding the whole situation from Yuan Xiao's stuttering explanation, Yuan
Ting got up angrily: "Cheng Nanyi, that big bad wolf, is quite the actor. Why doesn't he
join a drama class?"
Yuan Xiao blinked: "...So you didn't force him?"
"What? No!" Yuan Ting, visibly upset, said, "He forced me. I wasn't willing, but he insisted,
tied me up, wouldn't let me leave. He said if I left, he would... end his life."
Yuan Xiao blinked again. This narrative was exactly the same as what Cheng Nanyi had
said.
Yuan Ting had already grabbed his phone to call Cheng Nanyi. As soon as the call
connected, he gritted his teeth and threatened, "Cheng Nanyi, I'm on the thirtieth floor
right now. If you don't come here, I'll jump."
From a distance, Yuan Xiao could hear Cheng Nanyi's laughter over the phone.
Yuan Ting's scolding gradually turned into humming, and finally into a breathy voice: "I
miss you too."
Yuan Xiao: "..." Well, that escalated quickly...
After finally ending the mushy call, Yuan Ting looked up to see his brother's
expressionless face.
Yuan Ting: "!!!"
"Brother..." He finally understood why his brother had been acting so oddly today; it
turned out he was trying to keep Cheng Nanyi for him.
Yuan Ting's eyes reddened, and he threw himself into Yuan Xiao's arms: "Brother, I love
you so much..."
Yuan Xiao pushed him away firmly, "Don't, don't be like this. There should be a proper
distance between men."
Yuan Ting: "..."
Leaning against the pillows, Yuan Xiao let out a long sigh: "If you two are mutually in love,
that's the best outcome. I've been so anxious today, afraid that Cheng Nanyi would
abandon you."
"Let's not talk about that for now. What's this about?" Yuan Ting raised his phone to show
Yuan Xiao Shi Ya's message.
After a glance, Yuan Xiao sighed, "Well, it's just like that."
"What do you mean 'like that'?" Yuan Ting was shocked by his nonchalance. "When did
she confess to you? Don't you like her? What, you don't like her anymore?"
"She confessed a year ago. I rejected her," Yuan Xiao said, looking down.
"Why?"
"The gap is too wide," Yuan Xiao said with a bitter smile. "I'm not a kid anymore. Shi Ya...
I'm not worthy of her. It's better to be straightforward and avoid mutual pain."
"Besides, she's been abroad. Since university, we haven't even seen each other. Maybe if
we met, she'd realize I'm not as good as she imagined. It was just a youthful infatuation."
Yuan Ting clicked his tongue, thinking about how innocent that sounded, unlike him, now
only thinking about getting into bed with Cheng Nanyi.
Patting Yuan Xiao's shoulder, Yuan Ting reassured, "Brother, don’t worry. I'll make sure
you become President Yuan, standing proudly in front of Sister Shi Ya."
Yuan Ting wasn't highly driven by money; in his previous life, he was a rich young
master, lacking nothing, and in this life, he mainly focused on being a 'chicken daddy.'
But for Yuan Xiao, in front of Shi Ya, he was just a poor boy from the countryside, while
she was a wealthy, beautiful lady. Even if Yuan Xiao was outstanding, the gap between
them was vast.
Yuan Xiao didn't take it seriously and just patted Yuan Ting's head.
He was no longer a child. He had said the same thing when he was young, looking
forward to the future, thinking that hard work would surely bring success, only to realize
after growing up... it meant nothing.
While Yuan Xiao was melancholically lost in thoughts, Yuan Ting already started plotting
how to make his brother the President of Yuan Corporation.
What should they do?
Yuan Ting thought about it all night, even dreaming of Shi Ya's father, beaming as he
patted Yuan Xiao's shoulder: "Little President Yuan, self-made and impressive.
Admirable! Admirable! My daughter has such good taste to find a husband like you..."
It was such a pleasant dream that Yuan Ting laughed heartily in his sleep.
Disturbed by Yuan Ting's laughter, Yuan Xiao turned over, his night of love-induced
insomnia continuing.
Yuan Xiao finally dozed off in the early hours, only to be rudely awakened a few minutes
later by his brother's vigorous shaking.
Groggily opening his eyes, he saw an excited Yuan Ting: "Brother, let's open a milk tea
shop!"
"Huh?" Yuan Xiao, still half-asleep, replied, "You want to open a milk tea shop? That's not
a great idea. The milk tea near our school is just so-so, not very tasty."
"What do you know..." Yuan Ting shook him vigorously, finally getting Yuan Xiao to sit up.
Yuan Xiao looked at him and relented, "Alright, you tell me."
Yuan Ting opened his mouth and then changed his mind: "Never mind, let's wait a few
days. I'll sort out the plan and call Duan Wenzhe and Mo Yikai, then we can discuss it
together."
Yuan Xiao: "??"
Watching Yuan Ting hop off the bed, Yuan Xiao sighed helplessly: "Yuan Ting, if you keep
this up, I'm going to have a heart attack."
Their aunt burst into the room, scolding, "Don't talk nonsense."
Yuan Xiao: "..."
Over the next few days, Yuan Ting wrote a business proposal. After finishing it, he
slapped his thigh in excitement, feeling a surge of emotion. He was just a step away from
becoming President Yuan.
Yuan Ting took a proposal and pulled Yuan Xiao, intending to go to the city to meet with
Du Wenze and Mo Yikai. But before they could leave, Yuan Qingguang returned home.
As soon as Yuan Qingguang returned, he dragged his son into his room, closed the door
and windows as if he were a thief, and then asked his son in a hushed voice, "Do you
know that Yuan Xiao is gay?"
Uh...
Yuan Ting understood that this must be about that recent social media post.
Yuan Qingguang, now a nouveau riche from his waste collection business, often used
WeChat in his daily life. Unlike his elder uncle and aunt, who would complain about why
they needed such expensive phones when he tried to buy them, he saw nothing unusual
about that social media post.
Yuan Ting didn't hide it and said directly, "Dad, it's not my brother who's gay, it's me."
Yuan Qingguang felt like he had been struck by lightning. He had been worried sick these
past few days, fearing that if his older brother and sister-in-law found out, there would be
a huge uproar in the family. That's why he had rushed back home three days before
Chinese New Year to ask about this matter.
But he never expected his son to drop this bombshell on him.
"Son, you're just kidding with me, right?" Yuan Qingguang asked cautiously, filled with
hope.
"No," Yuan Ting shook his head, "I would never joke about something like this, Dad. I
really am attracted to boys, and... I already have a boyfriend."
Boyfriend?
Yuan Qingguang was rattled by this term. His brain couldn't process it, and his hand
instinctively rose to slap Yuan Ting's face. He thought, "I'll teach you not to talk nonsense,
you've gone astray, and a grown man having a boyfriend, it's disgraceful. You must be
sick, how can you like men? You're probably going crazy, you little pervert..."
However, Yuan Qingguang's hand, only two centimeters away from Yuan Ting's face,
couldn't land the slap.
Meanwhile, his son just looked at him calmly.
Yuan Qingguang pursed his lips and instead slapped himself across the face.
Yuan Ting was startled and instinctively tried to stop him. The next moment, Yuan
Qingguang was crouched down, clutching his head and crying bitterly, "Wuwuwu... it's all
my fault, it's me, it's all my fault, ahhhh... I ruined my son..."
When Yuan Ting was young, his father was busy with his business, and it was nannies
and Shu Zhilan who took care of him. Later, after his father divorced Shu Zhilan, Yuan
Ting was sent directly to his grandmother's place to be cared for. During that time, Yuan
Ting felt like he was stuck in a quagmire, and his father had no time or energy to look
after him. When Yuan Ting returned at the age of twelve, he had been "bought" by Shu
Zhilan.
At the age of twelve, the young teenager wasn't very tall, and he looked youthful, but
when he spoke, he seemed mature beyond his years. It was his idea to start the waste
collection business, and he also made the necessary connections. His business was
thriving, thanks in large part to Yuan Ting's efforts.
Now that he was busy again, his son didn't seem like a typical child who would demand
his attention. Yuan Ting could offer advice and discuss business matters with him, but he
never asked for anything in return, unlike other kids who would often say, "I miss my
dad, why isn't he home yet?"
Friends and neighbors praised him for having such a responsible son, but only he knew
that he had gained a son for nothing; his son had given him more than he had given his
son.
So, did he have any right to slap him?
The more Yuan Qingguang cried, the sadder he became. Finally, he sat on the floor and
began to sob uncontrollably, leaving Yuan Ting dumbfounded.
"You... you... please don't do this. If someone doesn't know, they might think I hit you..."
Yuan Qingguang looked up with red eyes, saying, "If you hitting me would make me not
like men, then go ahead and hit me... it's all my fault, so hit me..."
Yuan Ting: "...Your request is a bit too much."
Yuan Ting knelt beside Yuan Qingguang, feeling helpless. "Dad, how about you hit me
instead? It's only natural for a father to hit his son. Don't hit yourself, hit me."
The door was pushed open, and Yuan Xiao, choking back tears, came in. "Uncle, please hit
me. It's all my fault. I accidentally posted that on my social media. Please, hit me... it's my
fault... wuwuwu..."
"It's not your fault, it's Uncle's fault..."
Yuan Ting: "..."
The uncle and nephew both hugged their heads and cried bitterly, leaving Yuan Ting
completely bewildered.
Yuan Ting was about to figure out how to console them when the door was pushed open
again. Grandmother entered with a fire poker in hand, her anger flaring. "Crying and
wailing here on New Year's Day! I'm not dead yet! Have you been drinking again? What's
all this crying about..."
Yuan Ting quickly pulled Yuan Xiao up, and Grandmother's fire poker struck Yuan
Qingguang's shoulder. "I told you not to wail on New Year's Day. I told you... we just had a
few days of peace, and now you're causing trouble again..."
Author's Note:
Thanks to the little angels who voted for me with power stones or irrigated me with
nutrient solutions from 2023-10-12 21:59:40 to 2023-10-14 09:29:09~
Thanks to the little angels who irrigated me with nutrient solutions: Bu Ci (10 bottles);
Don't Look, She's My Wife (8 bottles); Sweet Bitterness, ⌒．A Heart of Tranquility (1
bottle);
#98 Chapter 98
Chapter 98
While Grandma was distracted, Yuan Ting grabbed Yuan Xiao and ran away.
Yuan Xiao, sobbing, asked, "Is it appropriate for us to run like this?"
"Yes," Yuan Ting said, "My dad needs time to come to terms with this fact."
"What if he can't accept it?"
"Well... he might lock me up, so there's no time like the present to run."
"Aren't you worried about him?"
"My dad has had his ups and downs in life, so this is just a minor setback..."
Yuan Xiao: "Is that so?"
Yuan Ting tossed the car keys he had taken from Yuan Qingguang to Yuan Xiao. "Come on,
bro, no need to take the bus to town."
Yuan Xiao: "..."
He had just finished crying and didn't even know when his little brother had done so
much.
When it comes to emotional resilience, it really has to be his little brother. No wonder he
can be a homosexual; you really need some skill for that.
While Yuan Qingguang was getting beaten at home, the two brothers had already taken
off in his car.
Yuan Ting, Mo Yikai, and Duan Wenze had arranged to meet at the teahouse. By the time
they arrived, the two big guys were already there, each sipping on a pot of fruit tea,
leaning against the sofa, yawning, and looking at their phones.
As soon as Yuan Ting arrived, he waved his hand and said, "Bring us a pot of Da Hong
Pao."
When Little Yuan talks business, he has to do it with style. Fruit tea doesn't cut it for him.
"Oh, look who's here, it's Yuan Xiao." Mo Yikai and Duan Wenze greeted Yuan Xiao with
smiles on their faces.
The two of them didn't mention anything about homosexuality, but they were
particularly enthusiastic about Yuan Xiao, and their gossip-filled eyes couldn't be
concealed.
Yuan Xiao scratched his head, not knowing how to explain, so he chose to remain silent.
Just as they had settled in, the private room door was pushed open again.
Seeing Cheng Nanye entering, Yuan Ting was momentarily stunned, then his eyes
widened in pleasant surprise. He stood up and jumped onto Cheng Nanye, wrapping his
long legs around his waist and hanging onto him. "When did you come back?"
Cheng Nanye lifted his butt and gave him a slight bounce. "I took the early morning flight.
I was planning to call you when I got back, but I ran into Yikai at the door, and he said you
had a meeting with him, so I came straight here."
Yuan Ting didn't expect to see Cheng Nanye today and was delighted. It was an
unexpected joy.
"Oh my..." Mo Yikai teased, "It's only been a few days since you last saw each other, isn't it
a bit too much... Oh my..."
Mo Yikai's eyeballs popped out because he saw Cheng Nanye leaning down to kiss Yuan
Ting on the lips...
Mo Yikai took a deep breath, closed his eyes, rubbed his temples vigorously, and then
opened them again. Cheng Nanyi had already let go of Yuanting.
Mo Yikai reassured himself, he had seen it wrong, he had seen it wrong... In the next
moment, Yuanting held Cheng Nanyi's face and kissed him passionately and loudly,
"Muah..."
Mo Yikai: "!!! Holy crap..."
Duan Wenze: "They really got together, we have to thank him for that."
Yuan Xiao had become numb. He had seen the two of them kissing for the past few days,
and every time he saw them, they were kissing.
Yuanting slung his arm around Cheng Nanyi's shoulder and said, "Today, we'll come out
of the closet to everyone." It had been years, and they had done nothing else but come out
of the closet, all unexpectedly. So, they might as well just go all out.
"It's not my brother who's gay, it's me and my..." Yuanting introduced the people around
him, "boyfriend, hehehe..."
"So, you're not gay after all. I knew it; not all the Yuan family members can be gay, or our
ancestors would be rolling in their graves dreaming of killing you all." Duan Wenze
sighed and said to Yuanting, "Although you fell for someone else because you couldn't
have me, I still sincerely wish you well."
"Fell for someone else?" Cheng Nanyi squinted at Yuanting.
Yuanting rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Do I look like someone with a wandering eye to
you?"
"Of course not," Duan Wenze chimed in, "first you fell for me, and then you fell for Cheng
Ge. You have an excellent taste, really."
Yuan Xiao just laughed.
Yuanting bared his teeth and was about to pounce on him, while Mo Yikai finally regained
his composure on the side.
Yuanting and Cheng Nanyi came out of the closet; both of them were gay.
OMG!!!
After the initial shock, there was another fact: everyone in this private room except him
knew about it.
"So, I'm the last one to know?" Mo Yikai finally spoke with a hint of melancholy.
Yuan Ting could tell from his tone that something was amiss.
"Bro," Yuan Ting leaned in and sat beside him.
Mo Yikai squinted at him, the brat was calling him "bro" so sincerely for the first time.
"I really didn't mean to keep it from you," Yuan Ting was genuinely sincere.
Among the people in the room, they were all best friends to him and Cheng Nanyi.
Moreover, they had all gone through life and death together. The bond between Mo Yikai
and them was not to be taken lightly. In his heart, Mo Yikai's place was nearly equal to
Yuan Xiao's.
"Cheng Nanyi and I only recently discovered that we both like guys, really. We used to
think of ourselves as straight as an arrow."
"Bullshit, when we were hiking the other day, you turned down that one person and said
you liked me."
Yuan Ting gave Duan Wenze a sly look, and Duan Wenze nodded; he hadn't lied.
"Alright, I admit I've always liked guys, but we didn't know each other liked guys too, so
we never broke the news. We just recently did it, and my bro found out by himself. It
wasn't us who told him."
"That's right," Yuan Xiao nodded, "I saw it from the rooftop. If you had been on the
rooftop, you would've known too."
Mo Yikai sneered, "So, it's my fault for not climbing the roof, huh?"
"It's not your fault, not your fault," Yuan Ting said amiably, "Big bro, it's our fault."
"Heh," Mo Yikai pushed him away without a good mood, "We're done, we're done starting
today."
"Don't be like that..."
"Giving you a chance." Cheng Nanyi pulled Yuan Ting over and gave Mo Yikai a kick.
"Oh, really?" Mo Yikai squinted, "So, you two are deceiving me and acting all innocent?"
"We're not lying. My bro discovered it on his own, and as for this guy, it's because of
those girls who liked me last time. We had to come clean..."
"Several girls liked you?" Duan Wenze was surprised. "Why are you talking nonsense
with your eyes wide open? Clearly, only one girl liked you."
Yuan Ting took a deep breath, "You wait for me first. I'll deal with you later."
"So, in conclusion, you're the first one to come out of the closet directly. The others were
all involuntarily outed, which is enough to show your place in our hearts."
Mo Yikai snorted, his attitude softening a bit.
Yuan Ting turned and pounced on Duan Wenze with a howl. "I'm going to beat you for
instigating trouble."
After the commotion, everyone finally settled down.

Yuan Ting leaned on Cheng Nanyi, sighed silently; coming out of the closet non-stop was
truly exhausting.
"Why did you invite us out? Just to watch you two come out?" Mo Yikai was annoyed; he
found them irritating now.
"No, of course not." Yuan Ting cast a flirtatious look at Duan Wenze and Mo Yikai, finally
revealing the purpose, "I want to open a milk tea shop. What do you two think?"
"Go ahead," Mo Yikai lounged lazily on the sofa, his gaze fixed on Cheng Nanyi's hand.
Cheng Nanyi sat close to Yuan Ting, their position similar to before. They used to sit like
this, but there was a difference!!!
If you observed closely, you would notice that Cheng Nanyi's hand was missing!!!
He just saw his hand reaching out from behind Yuan Ting, and it should have appeared
from this side, but he didn't see his hand!!!
So, where did his hand go?
He had flirted with girls before, so there's a high chance Cheng Nanyi's hand ended up
inside Yuan Ting's clothes.
The three of them grew up together since childhood, and then the other two came out as
gay...
Doing these things in front of him, who can tolerate it, really?
He certainly can't.
Mo Yikai scoffed, "Damn gays."
Yuan Ting hadn't even revealed his plans yet and he was already being cursed at...
This attitude... didn't matter.
If you're a damn gay, you're a damn gay. He used to be a damn kid when he was young,
and now he's a damn gay. It's all the same; nobody is better than anyone else.
But someone wasn't pleased.
Yuan Xiao frowned and glared at Mo Yikai, "How can you talk like that? How can you call
them damn gays?" Yuan Xiao had always felt like he wouldn't live long; every time he
mentioned death, his family would scold him. Who talks about dying all the time in a
good family?
So, the word "death" was a taboo in the Yuan family.
Mo Yikai snorted, "Then what should I call them if not damn gays?"
"Just, just..." Yuan Xiao hesitated for a moment, "Well, they should at least be called living
gays..."
Chuckles
Yuan Ting sprayed a mouthful of water, completely drenching Mo Yikai's face and even
splashing onto Duan Wenze.
"Holy crap..." They both stood up together, pointing at Yuan Ting. "Are you insane? How
can you spray water like that... Is your mouth a spray nozzle or something..."
Cough cough cough... Yuan Ting coughed hard, choked by the water.
"You little rascal, I'm speechless..." Mo Yikai wiped his face with a tissue while scolding
angrily. "You used to munch on apples in your childhood, and now you're spraying water.
Are you trying to gross me out?"
"How can you speak about my little brother like that?" Yuan Xiao muttered.
"You..." Mo Yikai glanced at Yuan Xiao, took a deep breath, and said, "Forget it, I won't
argue with you Yuan family people. We're not related by blood, so why bother." It was
maddening and not worth the trouble.
Yuan Ting finally finished coughing, clutching his chest, and yelled, "From now on, no one
is allowed to talk. Listen to me." He hadn't even started yet, and at this rate, he wouldn't
finish explaining his plan until next year.
The group of people gathered together, all talking nonsense.
"Hey, you..." Mo Yikai was pointing at Yuan Ting when Cheng Nanyi threw a pillow at him.
"Sit down, stop bickering. The sooner we finish, the sooner we can disband. I don't want
to waste time with this group. With this much time, it's better for the two of us to find a
place alone."
"Big brother is still the best." Yuan Ting turned and kissed Cheng Nanyi on the face.
Mo Yikai: "..."
Holy crap, his eyes got contaminated.

Damn it, who's going to stop these damn gays from showing affection?
It's making him uncomfortable.
After Cheng Nanyi agreed to buy a jacket for Mo Yikai, he finally calmed down, sat back
on the sofa, and glared at the little rascal. "Go on, you want to open a milk tea shop, fine,
enough said. It's just a milk tea shop, stir some tea leaves, pour some milk, who knows if
it's any good. The ingredients are cheap, a 20-square-meter space is enough, and you can
open it with just ten thousand bucks, twenty thousand at most. I'll cover the money."
"Hehehe, big brother is the best." Yuan Ting smiled obsequiously.
"Xiaoting," Yuan Xiao furrowed his brows and tugged at Yuan Ting. "We have twenty
thousand at home, and I have it too. If you want, I can give it to you. No need to use
someone else's money."
"Who said I'm using someone else's?" Mo Yikai was unhappy, glaring at Yuan Xiao. "How
am I using someone else's money? Young man, watch your words, they don't sound nice."
Yuan Xiao glanced at him and said calmly, "You want to talk about sounding nice when
you keep using the word 'death.'"
"Alright, stop arguing. Listen to me," Yuan Ting stood up and placed his hand between the
two. "I'm fed up with this. All of you are shareholders; don't create discord."
Yuan Ting then turned to Yuan Xiao and reproached him, "Brother, how could you speak
to my brother Yikai like that? If Brother Yikai is willing to spend money for me, that's
family. The way you spoke was indeed unpleasant."
As he said this, he also looked at Duan Wenze.
Duan Wenze, who had grown up with Yuan Ting, felt something was off. He shifted into a
corner and waved his hand, saying, "I'm not your family. You don't need to think about
me. You have three brothers right here, if you have an issue, discuss it with them."
Seeing the three "brothers" about to speak at once, Yuan Ting quickly shouted, "Stop,
don't speak. Everyone present is family; there's no distinction between insiders and
outsiders. We're all my real relatives. In a family, we shouldn't have internal divisions..."
"How much do you need?" Cheng Nanyi patted Yuan Ting on the waist and interrupted
his words. "I'll give it to you." After pretending for so long, this little brat had exhausted
him.
Yuan Ting turned to glare at him. "What's it to you? Today, you're just attending as a
family member, with no participation or speaking rights. Keep quiet."
Cheng Nanyi curved his lips. "Alright."
Mo Yikai's teeth started to ache again. "Cheng Nanyi, you really are a wife slave."
"Hey," Yuan Ting got angry, "Who are you calling a wife slave? If it weren't for the fact
that you're my family, my real brother, I'd have a bone to pick with you."
Mo Yikai: "...Little rascal... not normal."
Yuan Xiao looked at Yuan Ting in surprise. It was over; his little brother was giving up his
dignity for the sake of twenty thousand dollars.
Duan Wenze shrank back again. It was over; this was a big move. He wished he hadn't
come today.
Mo Yikai took out his phone. "I'll transfer thirty thousand to you right away. Stop this
act."
"No," Yuan Ting made a gesture to stop him and smiled slightly. "Thirty thousand yuan?
That's underestimating my brother and me..."
Yuan Ting looked at Duan Wenze with a radiant smile. "Confidant, soulmate, brothers
who would go through thick and thin together..."
"If you have something to say, save it. I have something to do, so I'll take my leave," Duan
Wenze was no longer the kid who got fooled into shaving his head. Yuan Ting could tell
that he was up to something.
"My friends, please stay." Yuan Ting stepped over, squeezed in between Duan Wenze and
Mo Yikai, and held onto their arms with one hand each. "Alright, no beating around the
bush. I want to open a milk tea chain, and I estimate I'll need one million as startup
capital."
The room fell silent, and while Yuan Xiao was busy picking up the eyeballs that had fallen
to the floor due to shock, Mo Yikai and Duan Wenze both stood up and walked out. "No
need to see us off."
"Don't beg them. I'll provide the one million," Cheng Nanyi added.
"Shut your mouth," Yuan Ting glared at him. "If you keep causing trouble, I'll kick you out.
Do you believe me?"
Cheng Nanyi curved his lips and zipped his own mouth shut.
Yuan Ting's expression finally softened. "Darling, be good. When I become the little CEO,
I'll take care of you. Kisses."
Mo Yikai shivered violently. "Damn it, what sins have I committed? Damn gay."
Author's note:
Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or gave me nutrient solution between
2023-10-14 09:29:09 and 2023-10-15 17:31:48~
Thanks to the little angels who gave me nutrient solution: Sweet Words (10 bottles); ⌒．
一念清心静゛, 苦哥好甜, 五五四四一千零一, 咸鱼不闲, 一颗杗果 (1 bottle each);
#99 Chapter 99
Chapter 99
What Yuan Ting wants to open isn't just a simple milk tea shop; he wants to open a milk
tea franchise.
Short videos are just starting to emerge now, but they haven't reached the era where
everyone is glued to their phones watching short videos. However, this trend is picking
up quickly, probably within the next year or two.
He wants to seize this opportunity to get a piece of the milk tea market.
In a few more years, milk tea shops will be everywhere. You can find four or five milk tea
shops on a single street, and milk tea will be incredibly expensive. People will wonder
how they can still make money when there are milk tea shops everywhere.
Well, they can.
The fact is that most milk tea shops are profitable.
So, to become Young Master Yuan, it's not about opening just one milk tea shop; he wants
to establish the leading milk tea brand.
"I want my milk tea shops to spread to every city, county, district, township in the entire
country, and then expand beyond China, heading towards Japan, Korea, the UK, the US,
and even into Africa. My milk tea shops will reach the Sahara Desert."
The room full of people stared at Yuan Ting as if he were crazy, their expressions numb.
Opening a milk tea shop is one thing, and even opening two or three for Yuan Ting to play
with wouldn't matter. Losses can be written off as a way to indulge a child.
But what did this kid just say? Opening a shop in the Sahara? Isn't that just nonsense?
Mo Yikai tilted his chin toward Cheng Nanyi. "If you don't step in, I might have to teach
him a lesson."
Cheng Nanyi turned to Yuan Ting and asked, "With the current milk tea?"
"Of course not," Yuan Ting's eyes sparkled as he spoke. "I also want to establish a
research institute and hire professionals to study the flavors of milk tea: pearl balls, taro
bubbles, milk cap green tea, brown sugar caramel... all kinds of sugar... and various fruit
teas... Well, forget it, there's no point explaining it to you."
"Anyway, let's start the milk tea shop first, and then focus on promotion. Promotion is
crucial. Once we gain momentum, we'll start offering franchise opportunities. So, in the
initial phase, apart from research personnel, we'll also need to train our staff... I've
outlined it all in the business plan, with an initial budget of one million. You can start
claiming your investment amounts."
Another round of silence filled the private room.
What did Yuan Ting just say?
Sorry, didn't quite catch that.
Isn't this just marketing tactics? Do they think we've never seen this before?
Franchises too?
Nonsense!
Franchise shops are all scams.
Milk tea, a bit of tea leaves, a bit of milk, and some sugar, and you need a million? That's
absurd.
"I'll invest one million..." Cheng Nanyi was the first to break the silence.
Yuan Ting turned to glare at him. "You, get out."
Yuan Ting actually dragged Cheng Nanyi out and pushed him outside the door.
When he returned, Yuan Ting placed the business plan in front of Duan Wenzhe and Mo
Yikai. "I'll say it again: everyone here is family. Let's make money together. Don't think I'll
get rich without you. Take this plan back, read it carefully, and give me a call later. It
won't wait."
Mo Yikai quipped, "You ask us for money, and now you're acting like we're on a tight
schedule? Where's your confidence coming from?"
Yuan Ting pointed proudly outside. "Someone is eager to invest in me. I don't even want
it."
Mo Yikai muttered, "Damn it, you're a stubborn gay."
"Alright, let's end today's meeting here. We'll be leaving." Yuan Ting, with his contact
lenses in place but still looking somewhat dazed, pulled Yuan Xiao up and left the private
room.
Yuan Xiao finally regained his senses and marveled at it. He was indeed a little brother
who had been sold to a wealthy family, truly well-informed. He casually mentioned one
million.
Impressive!
Watching the young lad walk away with his head held high, Mo Yikai and Duan Wenzhe
exchanged glances. Suddenly, Duan Wenzhe exclaimed, "Damn, he ordered a pot of Da
Hong Pao and left without paying."
"Damn it..." Mo Yikai was speechless, clutching his chest. "I swear, Yuan Xiao gave me a
heart attack."
As Mo Yikai contemplated whether to go to the hospital, Duan Wenzhe snatched up his

own copy of the business plan and bolted out the door, disappearing in the blink of an
eye.
Mo Yikai: "..."
He had been so busy berating Yuan Ting that he hadn't even taken a sip of Da Hong Pao.
He had to finish the tea before leaving.
Although he was from a wealthy family, he had to be frugal... primarily because he

couldn't stand this situation.
Mo Yikai poured himself a cup of water from the teapot. Damn it, why was the water as
clear as plain tap water?
Oh, he remembered now. That guy Cheng Nanyi hadn't said a word and had just been
drinking tea.
Damn, how could a wealthy nth-generation gay not have tried Da Hong Pao?
Meanwhile, Yuan Ting, after pulling Yuan Xiao out, said to him, "Bro, you go ahead and
drive home. I'll go out with Cheng Nanyi for a bit."
"Where are you going?" Yuan Xiao asked hesitantly.
Yuan Ting casually replied, "Going on a date. I have a boyfriend now, you know."
"...” Yuan Xiao's face turned red in an instant.

That day, when he searched for "homosexuality," the things that came up... my goodness,
he was too embarrassed to even talk about them.
He didn't want to see, didn't want to understand, didn't want to know, but he was a top
student!!! A quick glance, and he had a rough idea.
After knowing, it really couldn't be forgotten.
Yuan Xiao grumbled for a while and finally patted his younger brother's shoulder. "Well,
uh, just do your best and good luck!!"
Yuan Ting had a question mark over his head. Do his best at what?
Did you really need to make an effort in a relationship?
Yuan Xiao drove away, and Yuan Ting rushed towards Cheng Nanyi's car parked not far
away.
Cheng Nanyi was standing by the car, and when he saw Yuan Ting coming over, he helped
him open the passenger side door. Yuan Ting bent down, got in, and then reached out to
grab Cheng Nanyi's collar, pulling him close and planting a loud kiss on his lips.
Cheng Nanyi bit his lip for a moment before reluctantly pulling away, closing the car door
behind him, and getting into the driver's seat.
Cheng Nanyi drove the car, and Yuan Ting didn't ask where they were going, just propped
his leg up and started calculating. "I'll ask my dad for 200,000 yuan, he must have saved
up around that much from scavenging all these years... Then I'll get my uncle to pitch in
another 100,000 yuan, so our family can provide 300,000 yuan. The remaining 700,000
yuan, Duan Wenzhe and Mo Yikai should be able to cover...” Yuan Ting wasn't sure how
much money he would need. At first, he would have to set up four or five stores himself to
establish the business. Labor, materials, and factory space... the majority of the expenses
would come later, like advertising costs, which were all money... First, he had to entice
those two into investing, and when the money fell short, they would have no way out...
After driving for over an hour, Cheng Nanyi finally parked the car in a residential area
near the beach.
With the car parked, Cheng Nanyi led Yuan Ting upstairs and used a key to open the door.
Yuan Ting ran to the balcony and saw the unobstructed sea view outside. Leaning against
the railing, he turned to Cheng Nanyi and asked, "Is this a vacation rental?"
"No, it's my uncle's newly bought house."
"Did he buy a house by the sea for vacation?"

Cheng Nanyi walked over and placed the key in Yuan Ting's hand. "Here."
Yuan Ting looked at the key in his hand and wondered, "What does this mean?"
"Uncle said that when you were admitted to college, you promised to give you a gift. At
that time, the house wasn't finished yet, but now that the house is ready, he had it
renovated and is giving it to you."
Yuan Ting's eyes widened, and his pupils seemed to bounce out of his eyes. His
stepfather, no, his ex-stepfather, was giving him a seaside house?
This house looked to be at least 200 square meters, and it was not only fully furnished
but also well decorated. How much could this be worth?
"Is he... crazy?"
Cheng Nanyi patted him on the head and said, "Don't talk nonsense."
"I...” Yuan Ting was so shocked that he couldn't find the right words.
"Take it if you want, refuse it if you don't. Don't feel burdened."
Yuan Ting sat down on the sofa, thought for a while, and then said, "I'll accept it, but the
right to use it belongs to me. I can live here whenever I want, but it won't be officially
transferred." He couldn't clearly calculate his relationship with Cheng Shaolin, but getting
a house from him for nothing was impossible in this lifetime, so this was a compromise.
Cheng Nanyi poured him a glass of water and then smiled at him. "So, you can accept
Uncle's house, but you won't accept my investment?"
Yuan Ting glanced at him and said, "You want to compare yourself to my ex-stepfather?
He was at least my dad for a while. What are you?"
"If you're willing, I can be your dad too."
"Pfft." Yuan Ting grabbed a cushion and threw it at him.
Cheng Nanyi caught the cushion and sat down next to him. "Tell me, why won't you take
my money? Is it... because of your pride?"
Yuan Ting grinned, "Pride? Do you see me as someone who has that?"
Yuan Ting leaned over and lay on Cheng Nanyi's legs, tossing the candy in his hand into
his mouth. "Even if I'm supported by you for the rest of my life, I won't feel any shame."
Cheng Nanyi pinched his chin and asked, "Why is that?"
"Well..." Yuan Ting sighed and suddenly became a bit coy. He sighed before speaking,
"With me and Yuan Xiao, we both have to get married, right?"
After saying this, Yuan Ting's ears were almost dripping blood, but he still insisted on
finishing his sentence, "When meeting the future father-in-law, you naturally need to
have some strength. You can't say that you're a freeloader."
Cheng Nanyi smiled and made a tutting sound. He ran his fingers over Yuan Ting's
flushed earlobes and then lowered his head to kiss him on the lips. He whispered, "Get
married? Future father-in-law?"
Yuan Ting wrapped his arms around Cheng Nanyi's neck, pressed his lips against his, and
mumbled, "What's wrong with that?"
Cheng Nanyi let out a low laugh and then captured his lips.
Both of them were young men with strong desires, and they had no shame about it. After
finally confirming their relationship and considering the favorable circumstances, it was
hard not to feel passionate.
Daytime?
What's wrong with daytime? In the harmonious activities of humanity, gender

distinctions have blurred, so why worry about day and night?
Outside, there was a clear blue sky and a vast sea. There was no need to draw the
curtains. Yuan Ting held Cheng Nanyi's wrist, blinked his watery eyes, and gasped, "Do
you want to be on top or bottom?"
"What about you?"
Yuan Ting kissed his lips and said, "I haven't tried before, so how would I know?"
"Then let's try both."
"Really?" Yuan Ting's eyes widened. Well, Cheng Nanyi seemed quite open-minded.
Although he wasn't very comfortable with both roles, for Cheng Nanyi's sake, he was
willing to compromise.
"Then you still have to please me a little." Cheng Nanyi squinted at him, his voice deep
and low. "If you please me, I'll give in to everything for you."
Yuan Ting swallowed hard.
This was a good opportunity.
Yuan Ting pushed Cheng Nanyi down and then straddled his lap, leaning down to kiss his
face.
He was going to make sure to please him thoroughly.
……
Author's note:
Just a heads-up, we've entered the final phase.
Love you all, muah muah muah... Thanks to the little angels who voted for me or irrigated
me with nutrients from 2023-10-15 17:31:48 to 2023-10-16 18:39:13~
Thanks to the nutrient-irrigating little angels: Ran Mo Mo 5 bottles; ⌒．One Thought,

Clear and Calm゛, Sweetly, I Know Now Mm 1 bottle;
#100 Chapter 100
Chapter 100
It had been over an hour since Yuan Ting lay on Cheng Nanyi's lap under a small blanket,
staring at the ceiling.
Over an hour... not too long, not too short... in any case, it had happened, but it was only
halfway done.
Yuan Ting had thought there wouldn't be anything here, but Cheng Nanyi had produced
all sorts of equipment. Looking at that beautiful little box, Yuan Ting was getting ready,
determined to make the most of this opportunity.
Cheng Nanyi also assured him that from now on, they would take turns, and this time, he
would let Yuan Ting take the top position.
Excited, Yuan Ting kissed him several times, trying to please Cheng Nanyi even more.
For the first time, he had to ensure Cheng Nanyi had a good experience so that there
would be a second time, a third time... countless more times, until Cheng Nanyi couldn't
forget it.
So, Yuan Ting tried his best with his limited knowledge...
Don't ask why his knowledge was limited; the answer was that he hadn't had many
chances to watch adult content in his past life, and his meager knowledge was from when
he was in college in his previous life. Just think about how many years had passed...
In this life, he hadn't had much opportunity to expand his knowledge yet.
In any case, his knowledge was quite limited.
So, he kissed and kissed... and kept on kissing, even though his lips were getting numb
after all the kissing.
Until Cheng Nanyi took the lead in kissing him.
Yuan Ting didn't even want to mention it. Seriously, this was too fragile.
Just a few times, seriously, what was happening...?
Then... he felt miserable.

Fine, after losing his chance, he could only help Cheng Nanyi, who was far more resilient
than him.
Anyway, Yuan Ting was so disheartened that he didn't want to talk anymore.
Cheng Nanyi lowered his head to look at him and pinched his nose.
Yuan Ting slapped his hand away and said irritably, "Don't touch me."
"It's like this the first time," Cheng Nanyi said, "Others might be more exciting."
"What the hell?" Yuan Ting suddenly sat up. "What do you mean? You're not a first-
timer?"
Cheng Nanyi smiled, "It's all relative. Without you to compare to, I wouldn't be
considered very experienced either."
Damn...
He wasn't exactly comforted.
Cheng Nanyi pulled him close like holding a doll and gave his earlobe an affectionate kiss.
"Practice more, and it'll be better next time."
Yuan Ting cleared his throat and planted a kiss on Cheng Nanyi's lips.
Cheng Nanyi hesitated for a moment and then returned the kiss.
……
Feeling the warmth of Cheng Nanyi's embrace and the temperature of his lips.
Yuan Ting's head was like a firework exploding. Though he was still a bit inexperienced,
he had improved significantly compared to the first time.
"You're absolutely right," Yuan Ting said.
"Where did I say something right?" Cheng Nanyi asked playfully.
"Get lost." Yuan Ting kicked Cheng Nanyi off the couch.
Cheng Nanyi took a shower and brushed his teeth before coming out.
Yuan Ting lay on the couch, lazily squinting at him. "Are you disgusted with me?"
Cheng Nanyi raised an eyebrow. "Then why don't you skip brushing your teeth?"
"Ugh," Yuan Ting closed his eyes, "No way, I'm the one who's disgusted with you."
Cheng Nanyi walked over and pulled him up. "Go take a shower."
"I don't want to," Yuan Ting whined. "I'm not dirty, and besides, you've already eaten, and
now you find me dirty..." He chuckled.
Cheng Nanyi patted his back and didn't say anything, just carrying him into the
bathroom.
"Oh my god..." Yuan Ting exclaimed when he saw the luxurious bathroom.
The large bathtub, the floor, the decor, everything...
"Why did my stepfather give me a house and make such a luxurious bathroom?" Yuan
Ting was placed in a bathtub that could accommodate several people and playfully
splashed some water.
"Your stepfather's exact words were, 'Little Ting has grown up, he can bring girls home
now.'"
Yuan Ting: "...Well, my stepfather is quite understanding."
Yuan Ting lounged in the tub and waved his hand. "Come on, Mr. Cheng, serve Young
Master Yuan a glass of 1982 Lafite."
There was no 1982 Lafite, so Mr. Cheng brought a cup of hot milk for Young Master Yuan.
Yuan Ting bathed, drank his milk, and used one hand to hold his phone as he called his
stepfather to sincerely thank him for the house.
Cheng Shaolin asked him to go through the formalities in a few days. The house was
purchased, the money was paid, but in reality, the paperwork had not been completed,
and Yuan Ting had to do it himself.
Yuan Ting had a lengthy discussion with his stepfather, saying he didn't want the house,
and the two argued for more than half an hour. In the end, Cheng Shaolin, who remained
in good spirits, hung up the phone, leaving Yuan Ting fuming.
Cheng Shaolin was quite speechless, thinking about how mischievous his son used to be
when he was a child. He wished he could tear down the house himself. How come as he
grew up, he lost the cleverness of his childhood? He even refused the house he was given.
When Cheng Nanyi returned, Yuan Ting was still soaking in the water, looking very
content.
Since the new place had just been constructed, there wasn't much takeout available.
Cheng Nanyi had to drive out to buy food.
After a round trip of over an hour, this lazy guy Yuan Ting was still soaking in the tub.
Cheng Nanyi sighed helplessly and went to scoop the little rascal out of the bathtub.
"Your skin is all wrinkled."
"So what? The skin of an eighteen-year-old young man, afraid of getting wrinkled?" Yuan
Ting glanced at him. "Big brother, you're an old bull grazing on tender grass, so don't
complain about this and that."
Cheng Nanyi almost burst out laughing.
After dressing Young Master Yuan, he placed the meal on the table. Yuan Ting, like a gust
of wind, fluttered over the leaves and finally slumped in a chair, unable to move.
He had only had a few sips of Da Hong Pao in the morning, and then he had two
confidence-diminishing workouts. Not being hungry would be strange.
……
On the evening of his twenty-seventh birthday, Yuan Ting didn't come home.
Yuan Qingguang squatted on his own rooftop, watching the falling snow, feeling
melancholic. His son must be with his boyfriend.
He was eighteen years old, an adult. What could he do if he didn't come home at night? He
must have gone to a hotel...
His son was so grown up, how did he become gay?
Yuan Xiao climbed up to the rooftop and held an umbrella over his second uncle. The two
of them crouched under one umbrella, both feeling a mix of emotions.
Second Uncle: "Nephew, do you know what your younger brother is doing right now?"
Yuan Xiao: "..." Uncle, isn't this question a bit uncomfortable to answer? Isn't it just
adding to your worries?
Yuan Xiao sniffled. "Uncle, you can relax. Being gay is really not a big deal. He can live his
life just fine. It's not like he's missing limbs or anything. It doesn't matter."
Second Uncle: "Why doesn't it matter? He can't have children..."
Yuan Xiao: "I see." He sighed. "Uncle, you're quite something. Instead of caring about
whether your son is happy or not, you're worried about whether he has children. Why is
that?"
Second Uncle: "Nonsense." Yuan Qingguang couldn't help but glare at him. "Is having
children the only path to happiness?"
Yuan Xiao scratched his head. "Well, if having children leads to happiness, why doesn't he
go and have some? It's not that difficult. Men and women just need to do a little
something, and voilà , they can have children. It's pretty straightforward."
Second Uncle opened his mouth to argue but couldn't find a way to respond for a while.
How come he hadn't noticed that his frail and delicate nephew had such a sharp tongue?
Yuan Xiao: "Second Uncle, take care of yourself and be healthy and happy. That's the
greatest happiness for Yuan Ting."
Second Uncle: "But if my son isn't happy, how can I be happy?"
Yuan Xiao was speechless. "If your son isn't happy, does he become gay? He's doing this
because he's happy."
Second Uncle: "Can one be happy without having children?"
Yuan Xiao: "..." There was just no way to communicate.
Yuan Xiao moved out from under Yuan Qingguang's umbrella and carefully climbed down
the ladder. He muttered to himself, "Different paths lead to different destinations. If you
insist on imposing your idea of happiness and joy on others, then you'll be the one
suffering."
Yuan Ting, who had been on Yuan Qingguang's mind, had finished eating and was lying
on the bed.
The central air conditioning worked well, and the room was quite warm. Yuan Ting was
wearing only thin pajamas, and the two of them shared a blanket, with half of their bodies
nestled in Cheng Nanyi's embrace.
In his right hand, Yuan Ting held his phone, while Cheng Nanyi held his left hand. Cheng
Nanyi furrowed his brow and asked, "Why did you switch the red string to this hand?"
Yuan Ting yawned and replied, "It's inconvenient to write with it on the right hand...
What's the big deal? Does it matter which hand it's on?"
Cheng Nanyi said, "No, it doesn't."
"Oh," Yuan Ting pushed him away, tossed his phone aside, turned over, and with a tired
voice, said, "I'm tired, I'm going to sleep."
Cheng Nanyi said, "Wait a moment."
"What's the matter?" Yuan Ting half-opened his eyes and looked at Cheng Nanyi, a little
alarmed. "I didn't save any energy today."
Cheng Nanyi clicked his tongue and said, "What are you thinking? You're just a little
rascal, even though you're Little Yuan CEO. I just want to switch positions with you."
"Switch? No, I don't want to." Yuan Ting pushed him away in embarrassment. "I've gotten
used to sleeping on your side. Why do you suddenly want to change positions?"
Cheng Nanyi didn't say anything. He just turned to this side and then turned Yuan Ting in
a different direction, hugging him and holding Yuan Ting's left hand with his left hand.
Yuan Ting leaned against Cheng Nanyi's chest, his gaze fixed on their intertwined hands.
Cheng Nanyi also moved the red string to his left hand.
Yuan Ting remained silent for a while, then chuckled. This guy, he may look mature, but
he's quite childish in reality.
Well, he could understand. After all, he was just a young man in his early twenties,
experiencing his first love. Understanding, understanding...
Yuan Ting arched backward a bit to eliminate any gap between their bodies, and then he
closed his eyes.
Yuan Ting, despite his claim of being used to his position, slept soundly even after
changing places. After all, an eighteen-year-old young man had excellent sleep quality.
Yuan Ting slept until it was broad daylight. When he woke up, Cheng Nanyi was already
awake and had bought breakfast. He was in the living room making a phone call.
Yuan Ting staggered into the bathroom to brush his teeth and wash his face.
He brushed with his right hand, then switched to his left...

Huh?
Yuan Ting stared at his left wrist in disbelief. Oh my God, was he seriously ill? Why did his
left wrist also have a faint familiar pain?
Yuan Ting moved his right wrist a bit, and it also felt a little uncomfortable.
After thinking for a moment, Yuan Ting realized that his hands had indeed done some
work yesterday, especially the... that thing, which was quite demanding on the hands.
Maybe his left hand wasn't used to working, so he felt it more prominently than his right
hand.
Yuan Ting comforted himself with this thought. That must be it.
Yes, that's it.
Cheng Nanyi walked in and saw Yuan Ting staring at his wrist. Without showing any
concern, he asked, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Yuan Ting continued to brush his teeth, then glared at Cheng Nanyi through
the mirror and mumbled, "I won't help you anymore in the future. Little CEO Yuan's
hands are precious, you know."
Cheng Nanyi came up from behind, embraced him, and held his hand, gently massaging
his wrist with his fingers. He whispered, "Next time, you won't need your hands."
Yuan Ting blushed deeply but still reached back and gave him a playful pat. Some things
were just too tempting to resist.
The author has a note:
Thanks to the little angels who voted for me or irrigated me with nutrient solution from
2023-10-16 18:39:13 to 2023-10-17 17:44:00~
Thanks to the little angels who irrigated me with nutrient solution: No Refusal 10 bottles;
My Wife, Don't Look at This 6 bottles; Snotty Bubble 5 bottles; Sweet Knows It, Well,
Bitter Brother Is So Sweet, ⌒．One Thought, Pure Heart 静゛ 1 bottle;
#101 Chapter 101
Chapter 101
Yuan Ting and Cheng Nanyi stayed in this seaside house until the 29th of the year before
returning home.
New Year's Eve is not always celebrated on the 30th; this year's New Year's Eve falls on
the 29th.
So, Yuan Ting wandered around for two days, and if it weren't for the New Year, he might
not have come back yet.
Yuan Qingguang noticed that something was not quite right with his son's eyes.
After not seeing Yuan Ting for two days, Yuan Qingguang had a scruffy beard, making him
look like he had aged three years.
Yuan Ting casually leaned on his dad and said, "Dad, it's been two days already. Still
haven't figured it out?"
Yuan Qingguang gave his son a resentful look and felt like chasing him to the ancestral
grave to give him a good beating with a burning stick. However, this son of his... beating
him might just scare him away...
"Dad, once you've come to terms with it, everything will be fine. There's nothing in life
that can't be overcome," Yuan Ting chuckled. "If you think you need to pass on the family
name, then go ahead and find someone else. You're still in your prime."
This time, Yuan Qingguang really picked up the burning stick.
Yuan Ting dashed away.
He didn't really want to hit him. Yuan Ting just pretended, and he threw the burning stick
away again.
Yuan Qingguang did not tell Grandma about Yuan Ting's situation, and he also instructed
Yuan Xiao not to say anything. He further advised Yuan Ting to be more discreet.
Grandma is quite old now, and she might not be able to accept it. Let's wait and see. After
a whole year has passed, Yuan Ting is only nineteen years old. We can discuss it when
he's twenty-five, twenty-six, or twenty-seven. If the family pressures him to get married,
we can postpone it until he's over thirty if necessary. If by that time Yuan Ting still likes
men, we can bring a girl home to deceive Grandma.
Sometimes in life, not everything needs to be crystal clear. If you can make everyone
happy, why bother causing unnecessary trouble?
Yuan Qingguang's top priority now is to make money. He has to earn money to support
his son in his old age.
"Raise a child to prevent old age." He has a son now, but his son doesn't have a son yet, so
he needs to have money. You need either children or money; you can't have neither.
Yuan Qingguang was as energetic as if he had taken chicken blood. He was planning to
return to the city to make money on the second day of the Lunar New Year. Grandma
scolded him, "You're going to die. It's the Lunar New Year, and you're thinking of risking
your life again. Who throws out the trash during these days?"
The family has experienced poverty and prosperity. After becoming wealthy, they fell
from the sky to the ground, but now they are gradually becoming prosperous again. Both
poverty and wealth can be attributed to Yuan Qingguang.
So Grandma Yuan was also very tired, afraid that her son would mess things up again
after becoming rich.
Yuan Ting walked over in the winter with an ice cream in his mouth and then reached out
to his dad, saying, "Give me some money to spend."
Yuan Qingguang did manage to save some money, but he spent quite a bit on expanding
his business earlier. He had some left, and he planned to use it to buy a house for his son
in full.
Let's solve the housing issue first, then make money for the grandson...
Well, it's unlikely that there will be a grandson now. Yuan Qingguang sighed and took out
his wallet, pulling out a card and handing it to Yuan Ting. "This was originally money for
your son and daughter."
"Oh, then I, as their father, will spend it for them first. It can be considered as being filial
to them."
Yuan Qingguang was so infuriated that he almost picked up the fire stick to beat him.
"How much is in there?" Yuan Ting asked again.
"Fifty thousand." The money for buying a house couldn't be touched, and he had saved up
only fifty thousand for his grandson.
"I need twenty thousand." Yuan Ting extended his hand again.
"What do you need twenty thousand for?" Yuan Qingguang widened his eyes.
"To do business with Duan Zhenshan." Yuan Ting revealed his motive.
Mr. Duan...
Yuan Qingguang hesitated for three seconds, then took out another card and handed it to
Yuan Ting.
Yuan Qingguang had received a lot of help from Duan Zhenshan in his business over the
years, and it was Yuan Ting who had introduced Duan Zhenshan to him.
So, Yuan Qingguang had mysterious confidence in Duan Zhenshan.
If you want to do business, just do it. Whether you make money or not, it doesn't matter.
He didn't have any children, so why would he need so much money?
Yuan Ting had no idea about his biological father's convoluted thoughts. Sometimes he
talked about saving money for retirement, and other times he said money was useless.
Anyway, he got the money he wanted, and he was one step closer to Little General
Manager.
Yuan Ting wanted Yuan Xiao to join him in this venture, so he planned to teach Yuan Xiao
how to go home and get money. But before he could teach him, Yuan Xiao showed him his
bank card balance on his phone.
Yuan Ting counted the trailing zeros and then stared at Yuan Xiao in amazement. "How
did you manage to have ninety-nine thousand eight?"
"I earned it over the years."
"How did you earn it?" Yuan Ting was astonished. His brother had spent four years in
school, and he had somehow managed to earn a hundred thousand?
"I started with part-time jobs, which didn't pay much at first. Later, I obtained an
accounting certificate and started doing bookkeeping for people..."
"You did bookkeeping for people?" Yuan Ting was shocked. "You didn't cook the books,
did you?"
"You really think highly of me," Yuan Xiao clicked his tongue. "Cooking the books requires
a high level of talent."
"Seriously, are you looking forward to it?" Yuan Ting was speechless.
Yuan Xiao chuckled and whispered, "You don't have to do it, but you should know how."
Yuan Ting took a step back and squinted at his brother. "Tangyuan, you're quite
dangerous."
Yuan Xiao patted his head. "Anyway, the more you do it, the better you get... I mean, the
better you get at bookkeeping. I started by taking on the accounts of a few small
companies. I just do their accounts at the end of each month. Each company pays me
three to five hundred. I took on several small companies, and I didn't spend much. In the
end, I saved up this amount."
This amount...
Yuan Ting sighed, overwhelmed by his scholarly sibling.
Yuan Xiao had only this amount of money on him, not a cent more, so Yuan Ting gave him
an additional two hundred, and they pooled together three hundred thousand.
"Brother, I think your plan is very feasible." Yuan Xiao took out a notebook and flipped
through the pages, showing it to him. "I've summarized all the financial projects based on
your proposal. Your business plan is excellent, but the key is your milk tea. If you simply
brew some tea and add milk, it won't work..."
Yuan Ting smirked. "You rustic fellow." It was clear he had never seen the milk tea craze
that would unfold in a few years...
……
On the third day of the lunar new year, Yuan Ting went to the Cheng family to pay his
respects and brought Yuan Xiao along.
The old master and Cheng Shaolin were still very kind to Yuan Ting and gave him a
generous red envelope, but no one mentioned his relationship with Cheng Nanyi.
Yuan Ting naturally wouldn't be foolish enough to bring up the topic himself, and he even
kept his distance from Cheng Nanyi by several meters, creating an obvious separation.
Cheng Nanyi was already too lazy to argue about these things with him.
After having lunch at the Cheng family, Yuan Ting, Yuan Xiao, and Cheng Nanyi went to a
tea house together.
This time, Duan Wenze and Mo Yikai were surprisingly open-minded and each
contributed their share of the money.
Firstly, they had reviewed the business plan and found it quite feasible.
Secondly, being pestered by the little brat, they couldn't avoid paying. It was better to
settle it sooner rather than later.
Now that the money had been collected, Little Yuan's venture could be considered
officially underway.
"Listen to my orders, everyone," Yuan Ting clapped the table. "As shareholders, our first
task is to come up with a name, find a place to rent, and register the company... You guys
handle all these miscellaneous matters, I'll give you the freedom to do it. As for me, I'll
focus on the research institute. OK, that's the plan, division of labor, everything's well
organized."
Yuan Ting nodded in satisfaction. "How about it, did you all understand?"
“……”
Duan Wenze looked at Cheng Nanyi slowly and said, "Young Master Cheng, with this
person of yours, if he loses money, can you refund the capital we've invested?"
Yuan Ting immediately turned to glare at Cheng Nanyi fiercely.
Cheng Nanyi smiled, lifted his cup of Da Hong Pao, took a sip, and then said, "Investments
come with risks; entering the market requires caution."
Duan Wenze was considering withdrawing from this venture.
Whether he withdrew or not, Yuan Ting didn't care anymore. The most important thing
was that the money was already in hand, and there was no way to make Little Yuan spit it
out.
The first shareholders' meeting was convened, and tasks were assigned to the
shareholders.
The headquarters was located in the city and was handled by Mo Yikai, as he was the only
one in this group with management experience. So, he was responsible for finding the
right people.
As for finance, it was naturally entrusted to Yuan Xiao.
As for the venue, it was entrusted to Duan Wenze since he had the support of Duan
Zhenshan behind him. Finding a location wouldn't be a problem in no time.
The shareholders' meeting concluded successfully, and in the days that followed,
everyone was busy with their respective tasks. Only Yuan Ting and Cheng Nanyi roamed
the streets and alleys, hand in hand, visiting every bubble tea shop.
Yuan Ting compiled a summary of the flavors offered at each tea shop and had a good
idea in mind.
Once Duan Wenze found a company address and Mo Yikai registered the company, it was
time for the new semester to begin. Yuan Ting and Duan Wenze packed their bags and
left.
Yuan Xiao and Cheng Nanyi received their results for the postgraduate entrance exams,
and both passed. So Yuan Xiao returned to the capital to prepare for the interviews, and
several shareholders felt their world collapsing.
Cheng Nanyi couldn't stand it any longer. With a business worth a million, could they
succeed without a team?
Therefore, Cheng Nanyi contacted a headhunting firm to recruit a team for them.
Bubble tea shops, headhunting firms, recruiting teams... Yuan Ting silently encouraged
himself. With all this, could he not succeed, even in the Sahara?
Doing business, although it was a spur-of-the-moment idea by Yuan Ting, once he

committed, he had to do it properly. So, over the weekend, Yuan Ting visited every small
and big bubble tea shop in Chuahai, and also managed to poach several key members
from these shops.
Cheng Nanyi even brought in a gourmet and a dessert master. In short, this bubble tea
research institute was established in a storefront not far from the school gate.
In his previous life, Yuan Ting had nothing to do every day, so he ordered bubble tea
regularly, trying out different varieties from different shops, collecting multiple cups each
day.
Mainly, he couldn't go out and had a strong curiosity. If he didn't taste them all, how
would he know which ones were good and which ones weren't?
After ordering, he poured a little from each cup into a small bowl to taste. Whichever was
delicious, he chose to drink, while the rest was given to bodyguards, cooks, maids, and
butlers. In short, those people had their fair share of bubble tea while following him.
So Yuan Ting made a list and briefly described the preparation methods. After all, in his
previous life, he hadn't really studied bubble tea; he only knew about the flavors. But
bubble tea seemed like something that could be researched effectively.
The research institute would focus on research, but they also needed a storefront.
They planned to start with five locations.
Two in Chuahai, right at the school gate for Yuan Ting and Duan Wenze, one at the school
gate for Yuan Xiao, and Mo Yikai would initially set up two. Each shareholder was
responsible for their own locations. As for the team brought in by Cheng Nanyi, they
mainly handled the preliminary work for franchises, led by Mo Yikai.
Mo Yikai... was going crazy.
He was already busy helping his mother in the company, taking on many responsibilities.
A measly million-dollar bubble tea shop was just a side gig for him. Why were there so
many trivial matters?
Yuan Ting, on the other hand, was all over the place, sometimes calling him in the middle
of the night to discuss something that had just occurred to him. Mo Yikai was
exasperated. And this thing, playing around with a bubble tea shop, was supposed to
reach the Sahara? Ridiculous.
The "ridiculous" thing was currently lying on the bed in Cheng Nanyi's rented house,
catching his breath.
These two months had been quite hectic for him.
Freshman year was already demanding with many textbooks to study, and he also had to
deal with the bubble tea shop. He hardly had time for romance. Cheng Nanyi was equally
busy, spending a lot of time with his grandfather. Consequently, there were times when
the two of them didn't see each other for nearly half a month.
Cheng Nanyi leaned down and kissed his lips softly. "Feeling good?"
"It's alright," Yuan Ting gazed at Cheng Nanyi. "By the way, when are we going to get
things sorted between us?"
"I've been ready all along. Mainly, you never found the time for us," Cheng Nanyi replied.
Yuan Ting: "...Well, I have been quite busy."
In the past two or three months, he and Cheng Nanyi had fewer chances to meet, and
every time they did, Yuan Ting was quite enthusiastic, jumping straight into the action.
Before Cheng Nanyi could even turn over, Yuan Ting would have already... done his part.
Yuan Ting cleared his throat. "Let's wait until tomorrow. Tomorrow, I'll get it done." He
had promised big, and whether he'd follow through tomorrow remained to be seen. After
all, today, there was nothing left.
Yuan Ting turned over and stretched his right hand backward. Cheng Nanyi held it, pulled
him close, and then turned off the lights in the room with the remote control.
The next morning, Yuan Ting woke up unusually early.
What are you up to?
Studying!!!
Yuan Ting sat on the couch with a notebook in his arms, wearing headphones. He clicked
on a short video he had finally found, but had been too busy to watch lately...
Men, they knew what they needed to know, but how to please the person down there was
his goal.
After all, it was about two people.
Watching this thing in the early morning, bathed in the morning sun streaming through
the balcony glass, he had to get up when it was time...
...Anyway, just two words: stimulating!
Twenty minutes later, Cheng Nanyi, who had gotten out of bed, walked out of the
bedroom. He leaned against the door frame with his arms crossed, looking at the person
on the couch who was alternately frowning, wrinkling his nose, and pouting. A smirk
played at the corner of his mouth.
Yuan Ting noticed him out of the corner of his eye and cleared his throat, saying
earnestly, "I'm studying. The exams are coming up."
Cheng Nanyi opened his mouth to say something, but Yuan Ting had his headphones on
and couldn't hear what Cheng Nanyi had said. He took off one side of the headphones and
then...
"Damn it!" Yuan Ting jumped up suddenly. He had clearly been wearing headphones, so
why the hell was the sound still playing outside?
He flung the notebook, which happened to be facing Cheng Nanyi. Cheng Nanyi walked
over and peered at it. Yuan Ting quickly closed the notebook.
The two of them locked eyes. Yuan Ting blushed and bit his lip. After a while, Cheng
Nanyi patted his shoulder and said, "Study well and make progress every day."
After saying that, he turned and went to the bathroom.
He had been awakened early in the morning and had been forced to listen for more than
twenty minutes in bed, so he had to come out and interrupt him.
Yuan Ting "tut-tutted" at him from behind.
After washing up in the bathroom, Cheng Nanyi took only a few minutes before the little
rascal followed him in and awkwardly hugged him from behind.
"Big brother..." a sticky voice.
"What's wrong?" Cheng Nanyi looked at him through the mirror.
"Uncomfortable..." Yuan Ting's hands started to wander.
Cheng Nanyi chuckled, "I warned you not to look at inappropriate things early in the
morning. Now you've gotten yourself into trouble."
"Oh, come on." Yuan Ting sighed. Ever since he had tried someone else's hands, he found
his own hands rather uninteresting.
"How can I help?" Cheng Nanyi teased.
Yuan Ting snorted and narrowed his eyes at him, "Don't push me to spank you."
Cheng Nanyi couldn't hold back his laughter any longer and leaned on the sink, "I've been
waiting for you to spank me for a long time. Don't just talk the talk, my dear."
Wow, seriously...
Yuan Ting was speechless. How could this elegant and refined young master say such
shameless words?
Oh, excuse him, he forgot. What elegant and refined young master? He's just a pervert on
the inside.
After exchanging a few more words like this, Yuan Ting's anger subsided. He then raised
his head proudly and walked out of the bathroom, "I don't need to beg anyone, hehe."
Cheng Nanyi raised an eyebrow. It's not that he didn't want to help him, but mainly
because the little rascal had a bit too much fun last night. If they kept going like this, they
wouldn't need to get serious; the little rascal would be exhausted.
Author's note:
Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or irrigated with nutrient solution from
2023-10-17 17:44:00 to 2023-10-19 16:19:28~
Thanks to the little angels who voted for me with landmines: 惹欲 (2 votes); 叫我蛋蛋 (1
vote);
Thanks to the little angels who irrigated with nutrient solution: 奥特曼打小怪兽, 小耳东
(5 bottles); 小星久, 惹欲 (3 bottles); ⌒．一念清心静゛ (1 bottle);
#102 Chapter 102
Chapter 102
Yuan Ting had prepared thoroughly, even writing down all the details in a notebook and
reviewing them constantly, fearing he might slip up at the crucial moment.
Yuan Ting was shameless enough to casually leave the notebook on the coffee table and
pick it up to glance at it when he had nothing to do, lying on the sofa.
Cheng Nanyi saw him like this, as if he was gearing up for something big, but despite
helping each other out, they had never really taken it seriously.
Cheng Nanyi's attitude all along had been to tease the little brat, but over time, he
realized that apart from superficial skills, the kid didn't seem to have any real talent.
Even with all those notes, he only looked at them, and they hadn't been of any use in bed.
A complete poser.
On Saturday, Duan Wenzhe came over to find Yuan Ting, casually picked up the notebook
on the table, flipped through it, and then his jaw dropped to the floor. "Holy crap, you're a
pervert..."
"Get lost..." Yuan Ting snatched it back. "Do you even know what privacy means?"
"Privacy? You still have privacy?" Duan Wenzhe was speechless. "You put it out on the
table like this and you're talking about privacy... But, you..." Duan Wenzhe's gaze shifted
to Yuan Ting's lower half. "...can you really do it?"
"I'll kill you." Yuan Ting pounced, and Duan Wenzhe yelled for help, "Holy crap, I'm not
clean anymore, men can't do this..."
Duan Wenzhe struggled and shouted, "Mainly, I've never seen anyone take notes while
doing this..."
Yuan Ting was even angrier. "You little brat, what do you know?"
"Aren't you a little brat too?" Duan Wenzhe chuckled. "If you weren't a little brat, you
wouldn't be taking notes. Wait a minute, Yuan Ting, you don't still have illusions about
me, do you?"
Yuan Ting kicked him angrily. "Get lost, get lost, get lost..."
Cheng Nanyi came out of the bedroom and separated the two of them.
Duan Wenzhe immediately sat up straight. "I thought you weren't home, Little Cheng."
"I wasn't home, I was afraid he'd change his mind and fancy you again." Cheng Nanyi said.
Duan Wenzhe laughed. "Hehehe. Well, I can indeed be his moonlight."
"Ugh." Yuan Ting almost felt nauseated.
Cheng Nanyi patted him on the head and then stuffed the little notebook into his pants
pocket. "I'll go cook. Let's have lunch at home."
"Hey..." Duan Wenzhe raised his chin towards Yuan Ting. "Little Cheng cooks?"
"What's wrong? Are you jealous?"
"Am I jealous of you? I'm not sick." Duan Wenzhe made a disgusted face. "But I am
curious. Are you the top or the bottom?"
Yuan Ting squinted. "So are you discriminating against the top or the bottom?"
Duan Wenzhe said, "...I didn't say I was discriminating. I'm just... curious."
Yuan Ting grinned. "Well, how about I give you a live demonstration?"
Duan Wenzhe: "...Well, that's not necessary."
After a bunch of pointless chatter, Duan Wenzhe asked him again, "Has your stepfather
agreed to it?"
"No," Yuan Ting shook his head.
"What are you going to do then?" Duan Wenzhe sighed. "My dad knows about this, and
he's worried for you. He even said if you like me, it would be great if you became his son,
and then he could kick me out of the house."
"You'd better shut up and stop disgusting me," Yuan Ting retorted. "Although they
haven't said they agree, they also haven't said they disagree."
Duan Wenzhe: "..." Quite the expert at self-comforting.
After having lunch together, Cheng Nanyi left first. Today, Wang Dabao was coming over,
and he needed to meet him.
Yuan Ting and Duan Wenzhe went to the bubble tea research center. The basic tea flavors
were already well-prepared, and the store locations were also set. Once the staff were
trained, several stores could open simultaneously.
Yuan Ting and Duan Wenzhe spent the afternoon at the research center. In the evening,
they treated the employees to a meal. The employees affectionately called them "Little
Duan" and "Little Yuan," which made the two young masters very pleased.
They got a bit carried away, and Yuan Ting and Duan Wenzhe, with their arms around
each other, started dodging the bill.
Duan Wenzhe forcefully patted Yuan Ting's shoulder, sticking out his tongue. "You should
make your family's young master pay the bill."
"Why should I?" Yuan Ting was unhappy. "What's the matter? Did my family's young
master suddenly come into money?"
"Well, I'm not paying." Duan Wenzhe held onto his phone tightly.
"I'm not paying either." Yuan Ting slumped back in his chair, acting uncooperative.
The supervisor from the research center, seeing both bosses behaving this way, quickly
said, "I'll pay, I'll pay."
"No." Yuan Ting and Duan Wenzhe simultaneously reached out and pointed at each other.
"He'll pay."
Everyone: "..."
Yuan Ting narrowed his eyes and struck at the weak point: "Kid, if you're so capable, let
your girlfriend pay the bill."
Duan Wenzhe opened his mouth, but for a while, he couldn't say a word, staring wide-
eyed in disbelief.
"Hehe, I guess not, oh well, single dog." Yuan Ting triumphantly took out his phone.
"Never mind, I won't tease you anymore. I'll have my dear boyfriend come and pay."
"Hold on." Duan Wenzhe forcefully restrained his hand and, in his drunken state, poked
his phone several times. "My girlfriend is coming soon, and you have to meet her."
"Give it a rest," Yuan Ting sneered. "You haven't even successfully pursued her. Where
did this girlfriend of yours come from? Is she a figment of your imagination?"
"You wait here, and don't you dare leave," Duan Wenzhe firmly gripped his shoulder,
beer in one hand. "You called me a single dog, now you'll see if I'm really a single dog."
Yuan Ting was also quite drunk, so he figured he might as well wait. Could it be that he
and Gu Yuqi had already become a couple without him knowing?
The supervisor let the others leave first, then stayed behind to accompany these two...
esteemed gentlemen.
Yuan Ting and Duan Wenzhe drank one glass after another, getting more and more
excited. It wasn't until Duan Wenzhe pointed to the side of the road and said, "Hey, my
girlfriend is here."
Yuan Ting turned in the direction he pointed and saw a tall girl in a coat with long flowing
hair walking towards them from a taxi.
Yuan Ting had been drinking and felt a bit slow, so he just watched as the girl
approached.
The girl reached Duan Wenzhe's side and playfully scolded him, giving him a light slap.
"Have you been drinking too much?"
Duan Wenzhe proudly grabbed her hand and showed off to Yuan Ting, "This is my
girlfriend, Shan Shan. Shan Shan, this is my best friend, Yuan Ting."
"Hello, Yuan Ting," Shan Shan greeted Yuan Ting confidently and graciously.
Yuan Ting, now partially sober, paused for a few seconds before greeting Shan Shan as
well.
Shan Shan sat next to Duan Wenzhe, and the two of them exchanged glances,
communicating with their eyes, deeply engrossed in each other.
Yuan Ting grabbed a beer and started drinking straight from the bottle, gulping it down.
……
When Cheng Nanyi arrived, he saw two drunken wrecks squatting by the roadside, their
faces... in distress.
The supervisor breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Cheng Nanyi; finally, someone who
could handle the situation had arrived.
"What's going on here?" Wang Dabao, who had driven Cheng Nanyi here, was
immediately taken aback. "Did something happen to Yuan Ting?"
Cheng Nanyi went over to pull Yuan Ting, but Yuan Ting forcefully pushed him away.
"Don't touch me; I'm already taken."
Cheng Nanyi sighed in resignation. "Do you even recognize who I am?"
"I don't care who you are." Yuan Ting shook him off with force, though his grip didn't
loosen, and he plopped down on the ground.
"What the heck... daring to hit me." Yuan Ting, still angry, raised his head, only to frown
deeply when he looked at the person squatting in front of him. He then cupped Cheng
Nanyi's face with both hands. "Why do you look so much like my brother?"
He pushed Cheng Nanyi away forcefully, muttering, "You look so much like my brother;
you've got some nerve..."
Just as he pushed Cheng Nanyi away, Yuan Ting grabbed the collar of Cheng Nanyi's shirt
and pulled him back, muttering, "You look so much like my brother. How about I take
care of you? You can stay at home every day, undress, and pretend to be my brother.
Shh..." Yuan Ting put a finger to his lips. "But you can't talk; if you talk, you can't be my
stand-in."
Cheng Nanyi helplessly tried to lift Yuan Ting up, while Wang Dabao squatted down and
jumped over to Yuan Ting, tears streaming down his face. "Ting, I envy you so much. If
only I were gay... I wouldn't have to suffer from relationship problems. Waaaah..."
"Waaaah..." Yuan Ting also cried. "What's good about being gay? My brother is gay, and
he's a pervert. All gay people are perverts..."
Wang Dabao: "..." Never seen someone call themselves a pervert.
"Wenze, I'll take you back to your dorm," Shan Shan offered, helping Duan Wenze.
Cheng Nanyi glanced at her, and Shan Shan introduced herself, "Hello, I'm Duan Wenze's
girlfriend."
Cheng Nanyi was somewhat surprised. He remembered Yuan Ting telling him that Duan
Wenze had always liked Gu Yuqi, the girl who sat beside Yuan Ting.
However, he didn't really care about other people's love lives and asked Wang Dabao to
take Duan Wenze and the others back.
"What about you guys?" Wang Dabao asked.
"We live nearby, so I'll carry him on my back," Cheng Nanyi replied.
"Alright," Wang Dabao and Shan Shan helped Duan Wenze onto the car.
Suddenly, Yuan Ting shouted, "Dabao, big bro Dabao... Dabao, Dabao, uses Dabao's
intimate products every day..."
Yuan Ting's shout nearly made Wang Dabao do the splits, and he couldn't help gritting his
teeth.
Yuan Ting staggered over and hugged Wang Dabao's shoulder, whispering in his ear, "Big
bro Dabao, you must make sure that Duan Wenze gets his own room. I'm afraid he
might... regret it..."
Wang Dabao didn't quite understand what he meant, and another drunkard was already
making a lot of noise. Wang Dabao helped Duan Wenze into the car.
With the assistance of the supervisor, Cheng Nanyi also carried Yuan Ting on his back.
After everyone left, Cheng Nanyi slowly walked back home with Yuan Ting on his back.
The person who had been misbehaving just moments ago suddenly quieted down when
he was carried on Cheng Nanyi's back. Cheng Nanyi lightly bumped him, "Are you
asleep?"
Before he could hear a response, he felt a moist sensation on his neck.
Cheng Nanyi's initial reaction was that the little rascal might have thrown up on his neck,
but then he heard Yuan Ting's choked voice, "Duan Wenze has liked Gu Yuqi for a long
time, he's been into her since preschool. We first met because I became Gu Yuqi's desk
mate, and that's when Duan Wenze started bothering me."
"Wuwuwu..." Yuan Ting began to sob loudly again, "My poor buddy... I'm so happy, what if
he gets jealous and plots against me?"
Cheng Nanyi: "..."
Author's Note:
Thanks to the little angels who voted for me or irrigated me with nutrients from 2023-
10-19 16:19:28 to 2023-10-20 22:45:36~
Thanks to the little angels who irrigated me: HappyHeart 10 bottles; SilentDye 5 bottles;
BitterBroSweet 1 bottle; ⌒．OneClearMind 1 bottle;
#103 Chapter 103
Chapter 103
Yuan Ting had indeed been feeling quite uncomfortable since he saw that Shan Shan.
He sat next to Gu Yuqi and was buddies with Duan Wenze, so no one knew better than
him about Duan Wenze following Gu Yuqi around for all these years.
Although Gu Yuqi had never agreed to Duan Wenze, Yuan Ting had become accustomed
to it over the years. Suddenly, when Shan Shan appeared, it was just too... heartbreaking.
When Duan Wenze got drunk and held him while crying, he said that Shan Shan actually
liked him. Duan Wenze had been hesitant about whether to accept her, but under Yuan
Ting's provocation, he made a reckless move and sent a message saying he agreed, even
asking Shan Shan to come pick him up.
Now, he was stuck in a difficult situation.
Yuan Ting was quite speechless. What had Shan Shan done wrong?
But when Duan Wenze cried and the alcohol further fueled the situation, Yuan Ting
couldn't help but sympathize with him and couldn't help but think of himself.
He and Cheng Nanyi, weren't they also bound by youthful friendship?
Although he thought that his infatuation in his previous life stemmed from those days in
Iceland, was it really the case?
Every time Yuan Ting reminisced, he could vividly recall every period of Cheng Nanyi's
life.
The first meeting with the aloof youth, the handsome boy looking down from the balcony,
the cool young man calmly writing calligraphy at the doorstep...
Yuan Ting always intentionally came in and out in front of him. He didn't know why,
perhaps he wanted to catch his attention, but Cheng Nanyi never gave him a second look.
Yuan Ting remembered all of these moments.
He even remembered that after Cheng Nanyi went abroad, every time Yuan Ting cleaned
the study, he would inexplicably take a picture and send it to Cheng Nanyi. Cheng Nanyi
would reply with just two words: "Thank you."
Back then, for some reason, but now looking back, he felt that everything had a reason.
Yuan Ting hugged Cheng Nanyi's neck tightly and burst into tears.
Both sad and grateful, yet more afraid that this was just a dream.
Cheng Nanyi was helpless. "What's wrong with you?" Yuan Ting seemed outwardly
cheerful and carefree every day, but Cheng Nanyi had always known that something was
bothering him. It had been buried for many years, but having watched this little guy grow
up, Cheng Nanyi couldn't pinpoint the source of his profound sorrow.
Every time Yuan Ting wept bitterly, it felt like a release.
"I... wuwuwu..." Yuan Ting's hand around his neck tightened again, and he blurted out
beside Cheng Nanyi's ear, "Brother, dear brother... I'll never leave you for the rest of my
life."
Cheng Nanyi was pushed back by his tightened grip around his neck. "Yuan Ting, if you
squeeze me like this, you'll strangle your dear brother..."
"Pffft." Yuan Ting covered his mouth with his hand. "No talk of death. In the Yuan family,
the word 'death' is taboo. When you marry into the Yuan family, you have to abide by our
rules. In our Yuan family, I call the shots."
Cheng Nanyi, with a good temper, replied, "Alright, you call the shots."
Cheng Nanyi tilted the person on his back slightly and continued walking.
It was nearly summer, and at this hour, there were still quite a few people at the school
gate. Cheng Nanyi, carrying Yuan Ting on his back, weaved through the crowd. Despite
the noise and bustle, there was a lively atmosphere in the air.
Cheng Nanyi suddenly felt a pang of fear. If he had really let Yuan Ting go back then, what
might the situation be now?
Perhaps Yuan Ting was walking alone on a foreign street at this very moment, while he
himself was imagining Yuan Ting with a new boyfriend, sharing intimate moments just
like they used to, doing all the things that lovers do in bed.
Thinking of these possibilities, the post-fear feeling grew like a rootless weed, choking
him until he felt suffocated.
For reasons unknown, Yuan Ting, who was imagining something, continued to act drunk.
"Brother..." Yuan Ting lowered his head and kissed Cheng Nanyi's neck. He couldn't take
it anymore; he had been under so much stress today that he needed to take care of Cheng
Nanyi tonight.
Cheng Nanyi shivered from the kiss, took a deep breath, and finally regained some clarity.
But Yuan Ting's hands started to wander beneath Cheng Nanyi's collar, and he mumbled,
"Brother, let's do something fun together. I'm going to make you happy tonight. Do you
feel happy? I'll have you know, I've prepared some notes, and I promise to make you very
satisfied..."
Cheng Nanyi quickened his pace. If he didn't hurry, Yuan Ting might strip naked right
there on the street. The little guy was causing quite a scene in his drunken state.
He carried Yuan Ting into the apartment, placed him on the sofa, and went to the kitchen
to prepare a cup of honey water. When he returned, he found Yuan Ting had already
stripped himself completely, and he had even managed to toss his underwear onto the
chandelier.
Cheng Nanyi hurried to the balcony and drew the curtains. It was late at night, and the
building across the street had a clear view of this side.
Yuan Ting let out a loud cry and pounced, "Brother, come on, let's go to bed."
Cheng Nanyi: "..."
He had basically delivered himself to the doorstep; Cheng Nanyi couldn't really refuse,
could he?
Cheng Nanyi led Yuan Ting to the bathroom for a shower. During Yuan Ting's shower, he
managed to finish things quickly. By the time Yuan Ting emerged from the bathroom, he
was drained of energy, but the alcohol had worn off halfway.
Still feeling a bit dizzy and exhausted all over, Yuan Ting waved his hand and said,
"Brother, not tonight. I'll go to sleep first."
However, before he could even turn over, Cheng Nanyi had already flipped him onto his
stomach on the bed.
“？？？”
Yuan Ting awkwardly turned his head to look at Cheng Nanyi, only to see Cheng Nanyi
undressing.
"What are you doing?" Yuan Ting asked, baffled.

"Nothing," Cheng Nanyi replied.
"Oh," Yuan Ting buried his head in the pillow and closed his eyes.
Three seconds later, he let out a loud yelp, almost jumping up. His voice cracked, "What
are you doing?"
"Nothing," Cheng Nanyi repeated calmly.
"Do you think I'm a fool?" Yuan Ting was getting frantic. "You, you, you're taking
advantage of me..."
"No," Cheng Nanyi said calmly, "Yuan Ting, I've been waiting for you for a long time. Since
you're not coming, then I'll take the initiative. We should finish what we started,
shouldn't we?"
"Well, well, well, it's not like this..." Yuan Ting's body was covered in goosebumps, "I don't
want to, Cheng Nanyi, you said I would be on top..."
"You want to be on top?" Cheng Nanyi nodded. "Okay, you can be on top."
"Damn it, it's not about being on top like that..." Yuan Ting started acting petulant. "I want
to sleep..."
Yuan Ting was like a fluttering moth, never settling down, and after a while, he started
wailing again.
It wasn't until Cheng Nanyi took out a white, fluffy... rope from the bedside table.
……
When Yuan Ting woke up, it was already the next afternoon.
His head ached, limbs ached, buttocks ached, and his stomach felt like it was on fire. In
short, every part of his body ached, as if he had been beaten up.
Damn, he really had been beaten up.
Yuan Ting turned over like a dead fish and immediately opened the drawer of the bedside
table.
This bedside table was just a decoration for Yuan Ting. He usually placed his phone for
charging on it and maybe a glass of water, but he had never thought that there might be
some junk in the drawer.
Yuan Ting reached inside and found nothing except a small box of love.
Yuan Ting then opened the other bedside table, which contained a bottle of liquid, but it
wasn't what he was looking for.
Well, why the hell did they have two drawers for such a small amount of junk?
Yuan Ting looked at his wrist. Damn, even though he was drunk, he was sure that Cheng
Nanyi had tied him up. The damn rope was still soft and fluffy. This kind of rope was
definitely not used for the first time; it had been through countless improvements to
become so comfortable.
Yuan Ting thought about the discomfort on his wrists from before. Angry, he got out of
bed, wobbling on his legs, and walked out of the room. He found Cheng Nanyi setting the
table.
When he saw Yuan Ting, Cheng Nanyi smiled at him and said, "You're awake. Let's eat.
I've prepared your favorite dishes."
Looking at Cheng Nanyi, who appeared refreshed, Yuan Ting swallowed the words he
was about to say. He walked over to the dining table, slowly sat down, and pouted his
buttocks.
Cheng Nanyi asked, "Is there anywhere that doesn't feel comfortable?"
Yuan Ting slapped away his hand and squinted at him.
Cheng Nanyi chuckled, "Why do you look at me as if I'm your enemy?"
"What's the matter, aren't you my enemy?" Yuan Ting replied with a hoarse voice, partly
because he had drunk too much last night and cried, and partly because... he had shouted
too much...
Cheng Nanyi raised an eyebrow, "Alright, I'm your enemy, and you're my ancestor."
Yuan Ting retorted, "Cut the cheesy talk... Ugh..."
"If you're still mad, I'll let you bite me," Cheng Nanyi offered his arm in front of him.
Yuan Ting wasn't reluctant at all; he opened his mouth to bite, but halfway through, he
stopped.
Oh my god, Cheng Nanyi's arm felt like it had been scratched by ten cats.
Yuan Ting examined his own fingernails; they weren't long at all.
It seemed like Cheng Nanyi had seen through Yuan Ting's thoughts, as he leaned in and
whispered in Yuan Ting's ear, "Even though they're not long, they can still be strong."
"Get lost, get lost, get lost..." Yuan Ting pushed him away without much patience and
then picked up his chopsticks to eat his meal with resentment.
Cheng Nanyi sat across from Yuan Ting, observing him with interest.
The little rascal was obviously in a bad mood, but he didn't pick a fight with him, which
was quite strange.
Moreover, he hadn't asked about the rope.
Could he have forgotten?
Yuan Ting was starving and devoured most of the food on the table with a rumbling
stomach.
After eating his fill and drinking, Yuan Ting tossed his bowl and chopsticks aside and
began to find fault: "It's so terrible, don't cook again in the future."
Cheng Nanyi smiled and didn't say anything, standing up to clear the table.
Yuan Ting squinted his eyes like a detective catching a thief. Cheng Nanyi had used the
rope and then put it away, clearly preparing to defend himself. So, Yuan Ting needed to
catch him red-handed before making accusations.
Yuan Ting stood up, clutching his waist, and cursed angrily. Damn it, he thought he could
dominate, but now he was being dominated.
This pervert was truly a pervert. He showed no mercy while doing it, and even before
starting, he had taken advantage of him in the bathroom, obviously premeditated.
Ugh...
Yuan Ting lay down on the sofa, oh my goodness, he was exhausted. He had technically
been on top, but it was nothing like what he had imagined.
A pair of hands gently kneaded his waist.
Yuan Ting made a token resistance, moving a bit, and then relaxed, contentedly enjoying
Cheng Nanyi's attention.
"Don't drink so much alcohol in the future," Cheng Nanyi said.
"Got it," Yuan Ting clenched his teeth, feeling like he had messed up big time. Would he
dare to drink so much in the future?
Cheng Nanyi bent down, pinched his chin, and turned his head, giving him a kiss on the
lips.
Yuan Ting didn't resist and even kissed him back for a while. However, after the kiss, he
immediately put on an intimidating expression. "Don't touch me."
Cheng Nanyi wasn't bothered; he knew he had to ask if his hand hurt after giving him a
beating.
"About that girl, Shan Shan..."
Shan Shan?
"Holy crap..." Yuan Ting almost jumped up. "My phone, my phone..."
Cheng Nanyi handed him his phone, and Yuan Ting called Duan Wenze. He didn't answer
the first time, but he picked up on the second.
Yuan Ting shouted, "Iron bro, tell me you didn't lose your virginity!"
"Wuwuwuwu..." On the other end, Duan Wenze began to wail.
Yuan Ting sat up in one swift motion but winced due to some discomfort in a certain area.
He groaned and then leaned against the sofa as he continued, "What's wrong with you?
Did you really lose your virginity last night?" He thought Duan Wenze and Shan Shan's
situation was too melodramatic, so when he left, he specifically told Wang Dabao not to
create opportunities for them.
His iron bro was naive and foolish, and Yuan Ting was afraid he would regret it.
"I, I..." Duan Wenze stammered for a while and finally blurted out, "I almost lost my
virginity, but in the end..."
Duan Wenze muttered a few words under his breath, and Yuan Ting burst into laughter.
Duan Wenze hung up in frustration.
"What happened?" Cheng Nanyi flicked him at the corner of his eye, where he had teary
laughter.
Yuan Ting finally stopped laughing, panting for breath.
Wang Dabao saw them off and, at Shan Shan's request, arranged for them to stay at a
hotel with two separate rooms.
After all, Yuan Ting had insisted on giving Duan Wenze a room all to himself.
But... they were a couple, and Duan Wenze had admitted it. Wang Dabao couldn't
interfere and separate them, could he?
So, Wang Dabao left them to their own devices.
Later on, Shan Shan went to Wang Dabao's room.
Anyway, after some flirting and teasing, Shan Shan found that Duan Wenze was too
drunk... to perform.
Yuan Ting sighed after his laughter subsided. "Do you think Duan Wenze will actually end
up with this Shan Shan?" He was just a bit regretful, not sure exactly what he regretted.
After all, Duan Wenze and Gu Yuqi had never officially started a relationship, and Gu Yuqi
had never said she liked Duan Wenze.
"They're in a relationship, and you're the one feeling down," Cheng Nanyi said, sitting
next to him while Yuan Ting reclined on his lap.
The two locked eyes, and Yuan Ting nuzzled into Cheng Nanyi's embrace. "I'm luckier
than him," he said, grateful for being with Cheng Nanyi now.
"Not necessarily," Cheng Nanyi replied.
"What do you mean, 'not necessarily'?" Yuan Ting glared at him.
"Because it's not luck," Cheng Nanyi sighed too, "I had to win you over bit by bit. If I
hadn't, you would have run far away a long time ago. There's no luck involved."
Yuan Ting mused for a moment. "Well, that's true."
Yuan Ting followed Cheng Nanyi's train of thought. If Cheng Nanyi hadn't come looking
for him that year, there was a high chance they would never have met again.
Thinking of this possibility, Yuan Ting suddenly felt deeply sorry for Cheng Nanyi.
He had let Cheng Nanyi down in his previous life, and it seemed like he was still letting
him down in this life.
"So, did you like me back then?" Yuan Ting couldn't help but shudder. "Oh my god, are
you some kind of pervert? I was just a kid back then..."
Cheng Nanyi reached out and covered Yuan Ting's mouth. Yuan Ting whimpered for a
while and eventually kissed his finger.
Cheng Nanyi laughed and then said seriously, "From the moment you... vomited on me for
the first time, I felt like you were mine, and I had to protect you."
"I can't believe it..." Yuan Ting pushed his hand away, looking at him in shock. "Are you
insane?"
"Are you crazy?" Cheng Nanyi nodded, "Now that I think about it, I might have been a
little crazy when I was a kid. The main thing is, you only vomited on me and not on
anyone else, and you said it was a way of expressing liking. It wasn't easy not to fall for
it."
Yuan Ting's mouth hung open, unable to utter a word.
The twisted logic of the psycho who had imprisoned him and shackled him to the bed
was truly bizarre...
Yuan Ting had been so single-mindedly trying to escape, only to discover in the end that
he had trapped himself.
Yuan Ting covered his eyes, speechless and choked up.
"What about you? When did you start having feelings for me?" Cheng Nanyi removed
Yuan Ting's hand and looked into his eyes.
Yuan Ting thought seriously for a while before slowly answering, "From the moment I
realized we could never be together."
Whether in the previous life or this one, when he felt that spark, it already meant they
would have to part.
Yuan Ting didn't know how Cheng Nanyi interpreted his words, but he saw Cheng Nanyi
lower his head and kiss him. Yuan Ting also wrapped his arms around Cheng Nanyi's
neck, and they shared a long kiss.
Yuan Ting actually didn't care who was on top or bottom. The reason he hadn't made a
move before was because he had some psychological barriers. He always felt like he
couldn't dominate Cheng Nanyi, so he hesitated. Now, well... things had settled down, and
lying flat wasn't so bad.
Cheng Nanyi must have studied his little notebook thoroughly. Anyway, Yuan Ting was
quite comfortable.
Yuan Ting sighed. All the research he had done earlier had been for his own benefit. He
hadn't come out empty-handed, after all...
Had he not come out empty-handed?
Yes, he definitely hadn't come out empty-handed!!!
……
Yuan Ting was pretty much useless today; after being fed, he collapsed on the couch for
most of the afternoon.
In the evening, Wang Dabao came over, and Cheng Nanyi went down to meet him. Yuan
Ting seized the opportunity to start rummaging through the room.
Where had he hidden that rope?
He must have tied him up at night before, or he wouldn't have been so skilled at it
yesterday. The way he tied him up was just right, not too loose to escape and not too
tight. This was definitely a skill.
Thinking about this, Yuan Ting felt a shiver down his spine. Was this guy's brain not
functioning properly?
He hadn't run away, so why did he tie him up?
When he heard the door open, Yuan Ting quickly jumped onto the couch. He moved too
abruptly, almost tearing...
Cheng Nanyi walked in and saw Yuan Ting grimacing on the couch.
"What are you doing?"
"Oh, nothing much," Yuan Ting played it cool, "Just thirsty, wanted some water."
Cheng Nanyi poured a glass of water for Yuan Ting and held it to his lips. Yuan Ting drank
from it while discreetly scanning Cheng Nanyi, wondering if he had it with him.
Yuan Ting's hand slipped into Cheng Nanyi's pocket, but it was empty. Instead, he ended
up touching something else.
Cheng Nanyi looked at him and said, "Are you coming today too?"
"Get lost..." Yuan Ting pulled his hand back as if it had been burnt and hurriedly jumped
off the couch to the bathroom to wash his hands. "I'm dirty now."
"Don't worry, I'll clean it up properly when you use it."
"..." Yuan Ting was speechless. "Pervert."
In such a small space, Yuan Ting had thought about various places but couldn't figure out
where Cheng Nanyi had hidden the rope. Had he thrown it away after using it once?
In the evening, Yuan Ting lay on the bed, swinging his legs, watching Cheng Nanyi enter
after taking a shower.
"You..." Cheng Nanyi was about to speak when Yuan Ting turned off the lights with a snap.
"I'm tired, going to sleep now."
Cheng Nanyi always waited for him to fall asleep before sneaking around and doing his
thing.
This time, Yuan Ting was going to catch him in the act.
Yuan Ting began to pretend to sleep and prepared for a long battle. After all, Cheng Nanyi
was too cunning, and he hadn't discovered anything yet.
Yes, the reason he hadn't noticed wasn't because he was dumb but because Cheng Nanyi
was too clever.
But before he could adjust his breathing, his wrist was grabbed and wrapped with
something soft and fuzzy.
Yuan Ting quickly seized Cheng Nanyi's hand, slapped on the bedroom light, and glared at
him. "You really tied me up while I was sleeping."
Cheng Nanyi looked at him, flicking his finger against Yuan Ting's wrist. Yuan Ting's eyes
uncontrollably glanced at it. Yes, it was that damn rope, but no, it wasn't the same. The
one from last night was pure white, and the one today was milky white.
"You searched all day and couldn't find it, huh?" Cheng Nanyi spoke.
"Where did you hide it?" Yuan Ting asked unconsciously.
"The one from last night got dirty, so I threw it away. I made a new one today. If you
checked your pants pocket tonight, you would've found it." Cheng Nanyi explained.
Yuan Ting: "..." He had been careless.
"Since you've found it, I didn't plan to keep it from you," Cheng Nanyi said, tying Yuan
Ting's wrist and then attaching the other end to his own wrist.
Both wrists adorned with red strings, and with this rope... it actually looked quite nice.
Bah, nice my foot, it's just creepy.
After tying him up, Cheng Nanyi turned off the lights while still holding Yuan Ting's hand.
Then, he embraced him and laid down, just like countless nights before, with Yuan Ting in
his arms.
"..." Yuan Ting was speechless. "Aren't you being too casual about this? Don't you plan to
explain anything to me?"
"Explain what?" Cheng Nanyi hugged him tightly, whispering softly in his ear, "Yuan Ting,
you're mine, and I'll never let you go."
Yuan Ting tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Never let you go?"
Clearly, the man was still a bit of a weirdo.
Unfortunately, after spending so much time with this weirdo, he had learned to
automatically translate. "Never let you go" meant "I love you."
Yuan Ting sighed softly. Here he was, repeating the same experience. In the end, he
couldn't escape being tied up again.
But in his previous life, it was handcuffs, and in this life, it had become a rope. With this
reincarnation, there seemed to be some progress after all.
Yuan Ting brought their connected hands to his lips, giving them a gentle kiss. Then he
said, "Don't worry, I'll never leave you."
"If you're willing to be tied to me, then let's stay tied together."
This meant "I love you too."
End of the main story.
Author's Note:
The main story ends here. Thank you all for your company along the way. Bowing in
gratitude.
Thank you very much for your support. I will continue to strive!
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Frustrated, the bodyguard ran off to complain to the butler.

The next second, the door opened and a man entered.

The butler stepped forward to push the wheelchair.

"I'll do it tomorrow. Right now, time is what I have most."

Yuanting, accustomed to his strength, nonchalantly shifted to the side.

"Thinking of leaving?" A somber voice, accompanied by a crack of thunder, sounded in his

"Damn it," Yuanting clutched his chest, "You're scaring me to death."

Cheng Nanyi gave a short, mocking laugh, clearly skeptical.

"Why don't you just kill me?"

"Do you really wish to die?"

As thunder rumbled aptly, complementing Cheng Nanyi's sinister tone, Yuanting

"Wake up, little Ting, wake up."

How could he be dreaming of a woman's voice?

But this woman's voice sounded familiar, even nauseatingly so.

"Alright, no more sleeping, we're almost there."

"Damn it," Yuanting cursed, utterly shocked.

Why was he seeing his own mother?

Didn't she pass away three years ago?

But this dream felt too real.

Yuanting swallowed hard, wondering if this was really not a dream.

"Yuanting," Shu Zhilan tugged his hand impatiently, "Hurry up."

"Young master, the little young master has arrived."

Hearing the butler's voice, Yuanting's mind buzzed.

"The young master, isn't that Cheng Nanyi?"

"Save me! Save me!! Save me!!!"

Yuanting suddenly hid behind Shu Zhilan.

Yuanting thought to himself, play what? A game of imprisonment?

He braced himself as if facing a great enemy.

Yuanting curled his lip and snorted disdainfully.

Yuanting pressed his lips firmly, gathering his strength.

His small frame stood no chance against Cheng Nanyi.

So, Yuanting hesitated…

And out of impulsive self-preservation, he refrained.

"The Silly Moonlight Always Pushes Me to the Dark Side"

"Do you feel like hitting someone today?"

"Do you have a desire to destroy the world?"

"After Rebirth, Forced to Bend by the Real Young Master"

"Cheng Xiao, don’t even think about leaving me."

Yuanting felt disgusted with himself.

"Is his eyesight failing at just over forty?"

Yuanting snorted. He wouldn’t provoke him, as long as he wasn’t provoked.

Cheng Nanyi did have some obsessive-compulsive tendencies.

Shu Zhilan nudged Yuanting's back from behind, "Go to grandpa."

This revelation devastated Shu Zhilan.

From then on, the Cheng family faced continuous disasters.

"Ting, call him grandpa," Shu Zhilan smiled at Yuanting.

Yuanting stared at the old man.

Thinking this through, it seemed a difficult situation.

Yuanting grew up enveloped in love from his stepfather and step-grandfather.

But such a child didn’t deserve that love.

And who is responsible for poor upbringing?

That would certainly be his biological mother.

Yuanting blinked his large eyes, appearing bewildered and uncomprehending.

Damn! Isn't that just threatening a child?

That decent man was Yuanting's biological father, Yuan Qingguang.

Shu Zhilan met Cheng Shaolin at a social gathering.

Yuanting stiffened at the sight of him.

This was his stepfather, Cheng Shaolin.