Chapter 9

Mo Yuanzhou touched the Patek Philippe on his left wrist and considered his words. "To be honest, I do have some conditions. I just returned to the country and don't have many connections. The brand I founded is only getting started, and I can't find any good models. You're very suitable. I hope you can shoot for us for a season free of charge. In return, I can teach you billiards for free."

Chi Ning quickly weighed the pros and cons.

The chance to become a world champion's student was rare. Working as a model was completely acceptable.

"Deal." Chi Ning glanced at Mo Yuanzhou's business card, then turned and used the note Xu Jiahao had left on the table to write down his name and phone number. He handed it to Mo Yuanzhou. "This is my contact information."

He paused, then said in the tone one might use when addressing a benefactor, "Teacher Mo."

Mo Yuanzhou: ...

That didn't sound like he was calling him teacher. It sounded like he was calling him boss.

For some reason, Mo Yuanzhou suddenly felt like a glittering golden God of Wealth, as though Chi Ning might chip off a piece of him at any moment and sell it for cash.

He sighed and glanced at Qin Heng, whose gaze had remained fixed in their direction. "Is that your boyfriend? Why has he been staring over here? Is he afraid I'll run off with you?"

"What?" Chi Ning turned around and happened to meet Qin Heng's retreating gaze. He immediately denied it. "We're not that familiar."

It had only been four years since Hua Nation abolished the crime of hooliganism for homosexuality in 1997. Even now, most people still could not accept homosexuality.

As someone who had returned from overseas, Mo Yuanzhou did not know much about this. Just as he was about to say something else, the friend who had encouraged him to take on a student came over and said, "Alright, alright. This isn't Britain; it's not that open here. Say less. Didn't he not know how to use the rest? Why don't you teach him? If you won't, I'll do it myself."

"Get lost." Mo Yuanzhou sent his friend away and focused on teaching Chi Ning how to use the rest.

When the older and younger pair stood by the billiards table, they were remarkably harmonious. Mo Yuanzhou was an extremely competent teacher and especially gentlemanly while instructing him. Even when adjusting Chi Ning's posture, he never touched any of Chi Ning's exposed skin.

After the two hours were up, Chi Ning had reviewed all the basic cue techniques. Even his stance had been subtly adjusted, and playing now was clearly much less effortful.

Teacher Mo's lessons were humorous and engaging. While teaching techniques, he also explained their origins and development. It did not feel like he was teaching a student at all, but more like they were chatting and having fun.

Chi Ning had an easy, enjoyable two hours. By the time they finished, he was even a little reluctant for it to end.

Mo Yuanzhou felt a faint sense of accomplishment well up from within.

No wonder some people liked being teachers. So this was what it felt like to have a smart student.

"Ahem." Mo Yuanzhou cleared his throat. "You start school tomorrow, right? Where do you study? When can we take the photos?"

"I have ten days of vacation, and I can rest for another week. I'll be free anytime after that." Chi Ning had lost his initial wariness toward Mo Yuanzhou and smiled. "Any time within the next seven days works."

"Alright. I'll contact you tomorrow about shooting the summer set. It's getting late. Remember to let me know you got home safely."

"Okay." Chi Ning got into a taxi, waved to Teacher Mo, and spent the entire ride home lost in thought.

The Chi Residence was brightly lit that day. For once, Chi Yang had not been thrown out of the house by their furious father. The whole family sat around the dining table, waiting for the youngest son to come home for dinner. The atmosphere was extremely solemn.

Chi Ning changed into slippers, then paused as he walked toward the table. "What happened?"

Chi Yang rested his elbows on the table, laced his fingers together beneath his chin, and said gravely, "We've been wondering exactly where we gave ourselves away. How did such a good student, someone who never pays attention to the outside world and might even have slight autistic tendencies, spot the problem?"

Chi Ning: ...

He had not expected that, in his brother's eyes, he was mildly autistic.

"Maybe because you never seriously tried to fool me in the first place." He walked to the table and sat down, picked up a spoonful of freshly made sweet egg custard, and put it in his mouth. In a very good mood, he swung his legs.

Chi Yang covered his chest, feeling like he had just been struck by cuteness.

His little brother used to have none of a teenager's vitality. All he did was read, study, and compete in Olympiads, like a wound-up machine.

Now he was far livelier. He went out to have fun, showed an interest in socializing, and had even developed an awareness of exercising.

Wonderful.

Chi Ning's brother's stare made his skin crawl. After finishing the egg custard, an idea suddenly struck him. "Why do you want the Chi family's stock price to fall?"

"We plan to buy back the shares and reclaim most of them, getting rid of some idiot directors with little money and too much trouble."

Chi Yang crossed one leg over the other. "Grandpa and Grandma sold off too much while they were in charge, which lowered our family's influence within the group. We're constrained in many matters."

He gently rubbed Chi Ning's head. "We don't have quite enough money at home. It would be more appropriate to buy after driving down the price."

Chi Ning's eyes shifted. "I have an idea."

He cleared his throat and straightened his back beneath Chi Baichuan's gaze. "Didn't I say I wanted to participate in the Olympiad before? Jiu Pharmaceutical's heir is also on the finals list. His abilities are pretty good, so he should take first place this time."

"Even if he doesn't take first, it doesn't matter. Public opinion can hype up his selection. Since you want to shake off those burdensome major shareholders, why not release the news that Jiu Pharmaceutical's heir is competing in the Biology and Physics Olympiads? Hype it up a little, make Jiu Pharmaceutical look like it has better prospects than us, and make them waver faster?"

Compared side by side, Jiu Pharmaceutical's heir had more promise. No one would fail to be tempted.

Chi Ning secretly twisted a loose thread hanging from the tablecloth.

That Shen guy had sent people to force-feed him drugs and falsify data in his previous life. He absolutely would not let them have an easy time!

Neither Chi Baichuan nor Chi Yang spoke. Chi Ning felt a little uneasy. Without realizing it, he pulled the thread longer and longer until he had twisted it into a small ball.

Chi Yang's expression was solemn as he felt the power of an academic genius. "Diverting the disaster elsewhere—brilliant. With the caliber of people on our board, they might even drag Jiu Pharmaceutical to death after going over there."

Chi Baichuan sucked in a breath. "If Jiu Pharmaceutical's heir can still win awards in competitions afterward, our stock price will probably fall even harder."

Chi Ning nodded repeatedly.

The father and two sons immediately saw eye to eye. The two older men quickly got to work.

After dinner, Chi Ning flopped onto his comfortable bed and contentedly read a novel, occasionally poking at the fruit Auntie had brought up for him.

His laid-back life was extremely enjoyable, and the following seven days of shooting went smoothly as well.

After Chi Ning arrived at the place Mo Yuanzhou had mentioned, the makeup artist first praised his good skin, then he listened to a string of strange compliments.

"Teacher Mo has very high standards for models. We were worried we wouldn't find one and that the brand's first launch wouldn't make an impact."

The photographer smiled at Chi Ning, who sat on the photography platform. "Make your eyes fiercer. Don't look so soft. Yes, yes. Raise your leg a little and put your foot on the stool. That's it. Lift your chin. Can you give me the look you'd use on trash?"

Chi Ning inevitably thought of Jiang Shijie.

"Yes, yes, yes, that's exactly it!" The young photographer pressed the shutter so quickly it seemed like sparks might fly.

Extremely satisfied, he raised a hand and had someone bring Chi Ning another outfit.

When Chi Ning emerged from the changing room in a loose black shirt, he heard the completely unrestrained gasps around him.

The photographer gave the boss supervising from the side a thumbs-up. "The creative director's eye is as amazing as ever."

But Mo Yuanzhou frowned and stepped forward. He raised a hand to undo the buttons at Chi Ning's collar, exposing a stretch of pale chest. Then he turned back and said, "Bring a pair of wide silver-rimmed glasses."

The shoot had already left Chi Ning somewhat dazed. He blankly put on the frames, posed in a haze for seventeen or eighteen shots, and only when he was so sleepy that his eyes were about to close did the enthusiastic older brothers and sisters send him home.

That happy and fulfilling life lasted a full seven days, but his carefree, trouble-free days did not last long.

He was going back to school.

On Monday, Chi Ning carried his flat backpack, yawned as he walked into the classroom, and ran into Teacher Wang peeking around at the door.

He warily took a step back.

Wang Quan's smile collapsed. "Hey... I know you don't want to participate in the Physics and Biology Olympiads. Your father told me. I won't force you."

As he spoke, he kept sneaking glances at Chi Ning.

Chi Ning sensed that something was wrong.

Wang Quan rubbed his hands together. "S University has a high school student representative competition in physics, chemistry, and biology. Do you want to go?"

This competition had prestige but no prize money. Even the certificate could only be used when applying to certain schools.

Forget this life—even in his previous life, he would never have gone to a competition like that.

There was no use being evasive. He could only refuse with reason and emotion.

"Teacher, I know you mean well, but I don't want to do competitions anymore."

Wang Quan looked as if he had been struck by lightning.

Chi Ning said with complete sincerity, "The certificates and grades I have now are already enough to get into a very good school. Why not choose from the schools I'm interested in?"

He thought for a moment and picked the richest one. "How about HKU? Their admissions office was very enthusiastic, and they offer a lot in scholarships. It's local, the school culture is open-minded, and it's convenient to go home."

Wang Quan was utterly bewildered.

Why had Chi Ning suddenly become so obsessed with money?

Was the Chi family's group going bankrupt?

He had not heard anything about that.

He stammered, "Um... have you discussed this with your parents? If you really don't want to compete, you can take the college entrance examination. With your abilities, you could get into the top two universities even by taking the exam normally. Gangnan is also very good... but it's still not one of the top universities."

Chi Ning shook his head. "Let's leave it at that."

Wang Quan was already dumbfounded.

He had originally wanted to put the window he had opened back in place, but with a few words from this kid, the whole house had been demolished.

Chi Ning pressed down the faint guilt rising in his heart and gave an unpracticed, ingratiating smile. "You can call my parents to discuss it. Once we've talked it over in detail, we can fill out the guaranteed admission form."

Wang Quan opened his mouth, but for a moment, he could not find any reason to persuade Chi Ning.