Ji Xiang never did manage to get a photo of God Lin out of Wu Wei.
Wu Wei felt sorry for him, but he hadn't done anything wrong.
Disappointed, Ji Xiang left Imperial Capital University. Before he went, he told Wu Wei there was no need to rush over to Night Emperor Academy.
Compared with Imperial Capital University, Night Emperor Academy could offer more resources and teach him more, but its approach was also much more goal-oriented.
Ji Xiang didn't think Wu Wei needed to enter a single-minded pursuit of strength so early. Besides, that approach wasn't necessarily right for everyone.
Ji Xiang hadn't convinced Wu Wei, but he had made him think of Wu Tian.
Wu Tian and Lin Shen had completely different ideas about how to raise him.
Lin Shen had educated Wu Wei according to a very strict standard from the time he was little. Her goal had always been clear: to raise a child who was as outstanding as she was, or even better.
Wu Tian, however, had never liked Lin Shen's approach. He preferred to tempt Wu Wei into playing and doing things that seemed utterly pointless. Whether Wu Wei was outstanding mattered less to him than whether he was happy.
Most children growing up in that kind of environment would surely be closer to their father than their mother.
But perhaps Wu Wei had never been an ordinary child, or perhaps Lin Shen's personal charm was simply too strong. Either way, he still preferred his mother to the father who indulged him without limit.
Still, Wu Wei certainly respected Wu Tian.
He didn't know why, but he knew Wu Tian didn't want him to follow in his mother's footsteps.
Wu Wei couldn't agree to that.
All he could do was slow down for now.
But sooner or later, he would have to see the world he hadn't set foot in yet.
He had always believed that avoiding a problem never solved it.
People who tried to hide usually couldn't keep it up forever.
Just look at him now. He hadn't even entered that circle, and trouble was already finding him.
So it was better to face some things head-on.
That was the most fundamental difference between Wu Tian and Lin Shen.
Thinking of this, Wu Wei found himself missing Wu Tian.
As it happened, the world often worked in mysterious ways.
Just as Wu Wei was thinking of calling Wu Tian, Wu Tian's call came through first.
"Hello, Dad?"
"It's me, Wu Wei. Come home for a bit. I have something to talk to you about."
Wu Tian sounded hesitant, which struck Wu Wei as strange.
"Dad, can't you tell me over the phone?"
"It's not something I can explain quickly over the phone. You'd better come back."
Wu Tian didn't give Wu Wei a chance to refuse. He ended the call.
Wu Wei was suspicious.
What was going on?
He had already taught himself all the university courses, so he could arrange his time however he liked. Even so, he still had plenty of books to read, and Wu Tian rarely asked him to come home.
Even though their home wasn't far from Imperial Capital University.
Had something happened at home? Were they in danger?
Wu Wei frowned, then hurried back to his dorm and turned on his computer.
Everything at home seemed normal. Wu Tian was cooking, and judging by the portions, he was making enough for two and had counted Wu Wei in.
What the hell was he up to?
With that question in mind, Wu Wei headed home.
His family's house wasn't very nice, and there wasn't much space, but that didn't affect how much Wu Wei liked it.
There was one reason: it was in a great location.
Everyone knew how expensive housing in the Imperial Capital was.
If you counted the Wu family's total assets, they were worth nearly a hundred million. Wu Wei could easily be called a rich second-generation kid.
Their liquid assets, though, were pitifully small, and Wu Wei got only two thousand yuan in pocket money each month.
There were plenty of families like theirs in the Imperial Capital.
You couldn't tell whether to call them filthy rich or dirt poor.
"You're back? Sit down for a bit. Dinner will be ready soon."
Wu Tian never stood on ceremony with Wu Wei.
Watching Wu Tian bustle around, Wu Wei wore a peculiar expression.
He tried to remember the last time Wu Tian had made such a fuss over him. It seemed to have been when he was preparing to divorce Lin Shen and wanted Wu Wei to live with him.
"Dad, what have you done to me this time?"
Wu Tian paused, then immediately snapped, "What kind of thing is that to say? I'm your father. Ever heard of respect?"
"Dad, we know each other too well for you to put on an act. You know you can't fool me, so come clean. What did you do to me? Don't tell me you suddenly got me a little brother."
Wu Tian's mouth fell open. He stared at Wu Wei, momentarily forgetting what he had been about to say.
Wu Wei's eyes widened too, and his mind stalled.
Holy crap. I was just saying that offhand. What's with that reaction?
Was Mom's plan to divorce him back then really because he cheated on her?
A thousand alpacas stampeded through Wu Wei's mind.
Wu Tian fled to fuss over the food, leaving Wu Wei at the table, lost in thought.
Twenty minutes later, Wu Wei and Wu Tian sat opposite each other, the air awkward and stiff.
Wu Wei broke the silence.
"That's a very old story, isn't it?"
Wu Tian nodded silently.
Then he quickly added, "I didn't cheat after we got married. I just had a thing with someone before we got married."
Wu Wei let out a breath, then drawled, "So I have an older brother now."
Wu Tian looked awkward.
"Well... Actually, I'm not entirely sure. Weiwei, you know your dad is handsome and talented. Girls like me."
Wu Wei couldn't deny it.
Even Lin Shen, whom everyone thought so highly of, had fallen for Wu Tian's face.
He could only imagine how many women who were attracted to good looks had chased after him when he was young.
"So, before I married your mom, it was hard to avoid fooling around with a few women."
Wu Wei gave Wu Tian a strange look but said nothing, waiting for him to continue.
Wu Tian rubbed his nose and went on, "There was one woman in particular. She was dating my best friend at the time."
Wu Wei's hand twitched.
"I was seduced, I swear. And that woman was actually a manipulative bitch. I only went along with it to prove she was a slut. My real intention was to save my friend from a miserable life." Wu Tian hurried through the explanation, then sneaked a look at Wu Wei to see how he'd take it.
Wu Wei gave his verdict without hesitation. "Heh."
Wu Tian: "..."
"I believe you. Go on."
Wu Tian wondered how he was supposed to have heard any belief in that.
But with a guilty conscience, he didn't dare dwell on it. He continued, "But I didn't expect my friend to be so stupid. He caught me and that woman sleeping together, but still married her in the end."
Wu Wei: "ヽ(.ゝω?.)?"
That really was stupid.
"Then today, I got a call from that woman. She said her son was actually mine."
"You probably know him. I think he's the student council president at Imperial Capital University now."
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