While the brothers were having fun, two heads peeked through a crack in the door from the corner, spying on everything in the kitchen.
"They made up already? That was way too fast!" Ji Dongsheng protested. "I spent all afternoon sowing discord, and this is all I got? What a waste of all my meddling."
Lao Wang looked down at the indignant Ji Dongsheng and snarked, "So you do know you were muddying the waters."
"Just wait until Mr. Ji deals with you!"
Ji Dongsheng was a coward, and he was afraid of Ji Shang, but he still wanted to save face in front of others. He refused to let anyone think he was a coward.
So Ji Dongsheng blustered, "Hmph, him, deal with me? Don't forget who the father is here."
"I don't depend on him to support me. What can he do to me? Worst comes to worst, I just won't come back."
Ji Dongsheng had always been financially independent. He had his own money, so Ji Shang had no hold over him.
He had made up his mind. At worst, he would go abroad to unwind and come back when his precious son started school.
He still had to take his precious son to school!
Lao Wang said, "He can freeze your assets."
Ji Dongsheng snorted. "Oh, he's so capable, is he? Why don't you say he can fly, too?"
Just then, his phone chimed. Ji Dongsheng looked down and saw a text from the bank informing him that his account had been frozen.
Fuck. I should never have kept my money in our own bank. Great, now I have no money.
Closing the door, Ji Dongsheng looked pitifully at Lao Wang. "Lao Wang, lend me some money. I need to make a run for it."
If Ji Shang had already resorted to freezing his account, that proved he was truly angry.
He had to get away and lie low, or he might end up sacrificed in the name of justice, family ties be damned.
At the mention of money, Lao Wang shook his head repeatedly. "Money, I have none. All I have is this life."
Ji Dongsheng was unreliable and never repaid his loans. Lao Wang had been burned plenty of times already, and he was determined not to fall for it again.
Whatever Ji Dongsheng said, he was not lending him anything.
Seeing Lao Wang's firm stance, Ji Dongsheng brought out his ultimate weapon.
He took Lao Wang's hand and said pitifully, "Little cabbage, yellowing in the field, this Lao Wang won't lend me money. We grew up together, and I even fought in gang fights for him...!"
Ji Dongsheng's singing was truly beyond praise. It was worse than ghosts wailing and wolves howling, and Lao Wang's head had already begun to ache.
"All right, all right, I'll lend it to you."
Lao Wang took out his bank card and handed it to Ji Dongsheng. "The PIN is your birthday. Spend sparingly."
This was everything he had.
"Thanks, Lao Wang. I knew I could count on you."
And so, Ji Dongsheng packed his things and fled.
The next day, over breakfast, An Yubei was still wondering where his dad had gone. Ji Shang took one look at Lao Wang and understood what had happened.
"Don't worry about him. He'll come back once he runs out of money."
Still worried, An Yubei secretly sent Ji Dongsheng a message asking where he was.
Ji Dongsheng soon replied that he had gone away to unwind and would return when An Yubei started school.
He had wanted to invite Ji Dongsheng to the amusement park with them, but that was clearly not happening today. It would have to wait for another opportunity.
After breakfast, An Yubei called Lu Jinsheng. "Lu Jinsheng, are you free today? Let's go to the amusement park!"
Hearing An Yubei take the initiative to invite him out, Lu Jinsheng pressed his lips together in a smile. "Sure."
"Great. Wait at home. My brother and I will pick you up."
Lu Jinsheng: "...!"
Did I hear that wrong? What does Ji Shang have to do with this?
Did my attempt to sow discord fail? That shouldn't be. An Yubei really did look angry yesterday. They made up that quickly?
Lu Jinsheng took a deep breath, thinking that Ji Shang really did have some tricks up his sleeve to have coaxed him out of his anger so quickly.
What a strong opponent! An absolute expert.
Lu Jinsheng said, "Oh, President Ji is coming too? I thought someone President Ji's age wouldn't enjoy young people's activities. The rides at the amusement park are all pretty intense. Can his body handle them?"
"Why don't just the two of us go? If President Ji comes and can't go on any of the rides, won't it be boring for him to just stand around waiting for us?" Lu Jinsheng said in his green tea way.
An Yubei had him on speaker, so Ji Shang, standing beside him, heard every word clearly.
Green tea bitch. He clenched his back teeth, his fist tightening.
Wasn't this just a veiled jab at his age?
How was he old? He was clearly in his prime!
An Yubei merely found the way Lu Jinsheng spoke a little strange. "My brother is really amazing. He can carry me upstairs and downstairs, and he can even hold me with one arm while he cooks. He's really strong."
Compared with his own slight frame, An Yubei thought Ji Shang was truly strong.
How could his brother not be able to handle it? He would definitely conquer every ride.
Seeing An Yubei defend him, Ji Shang affectionately ruffled his little head.
He leaned close to An Yubei's earlobe. "Thank you for the compliment, Xiao Bei."
His hot lips brushed ever so lightly against An Yubei's earlobe. An Yubei found it a little ticklish, and his earlobe turned red and burning hot.
An Yubei smiled and whispered, "I'm telling the truth. You really are amazing."
Ji Shang was happy on this end, but Lu Jinsheng was furious on the other.
He had meant to take a dig at Ji Shang, only to give him something to show off about.
But this also revealed one piece of information: An Yubei liked strong men.
Lu Jinsheng looked at his own somewhat slender body. He seemed to fall far short of Ji Shang.
He needed to work out.
Oh no, I seem to fall a little short of Ji Shang in height, too.
The more Lu Jinsheng thought about it, the more irritated he grew. In the end, he could only force a smile. "All right, then. See you soon."
After hanging up, Lu Jinsheng clenched his fists. A date for three. I'll have to put on a good show, outshine Ji Shang, and win Xiao Bei's heart.
Ji Shang drove An Yubei and Lu Jinsheng to the amusement park.
After parking, the three bought tickets and went inside.
It was summer vacation, so there were plenty of children at the amusement park. Noisy children were practically everywhere.
Looking at the sea of people, Ji Shang frowned.
He had never been anywhere this crowded in his life.
The places he attended were neither noisy nor packed with people.
Lu Jinsheng caught Ji Shang's expression and quickly read his thoughts.
"Are you adjusting all right, President Ji? You don't seem to like it very much!"
Ji Shang: "...!"
The green tea bitch is putting on a show again. He really never stops laying traps for me.
Ji Shang put on a practiced smile and began to quietly counter him. "How could that be? It looks like great fun."
Just then, Ji Shang rested his hand on An Yubei's shoulder and said gently, "Naturally, I like anywhere Xiao Bei likes."
Lu Jinsheng: "...!"
Just talk. Why do you have to get handsy?
Damn it, I want to put my arm around Xiao Bei too.
Ji Shang raised an eyebrow at him, his eyes full of provocation.
His expression seemed to say, Envious? Jealous?
Too bad you can't do this!
Lu Jinsheng gritted his teeth, his fist tightening.
An Yubei had no idea the two men had already begun their covert contest. The novelty of the amusement park had captured his attention.
It was An Yubei's first time at an amusement park. Everything was new to him, and everything interested him.
Dazzled by all the choices, An Yubei wanted to try this ride and that one too.
He had no time to watch his step as he walked, nor did he notice the crowded throng.
Someone in a frog costume came running over, the frog also looking this way and that as though searching for something.
And so, boy and frog collided head-on.
Oh no, Ji Shang and Lu Jinsheng thought, both reaching to catch An Yubei.
But Lu Jinsheng was a beat too slow, and Ji Shang beat him to it.
An Yubei fell into Ji Shang's arms, while Lu Jinsheng stared empty-handed at the two embracing figures.
Damn it, even my reflexes can't match Ji Shang's.
I'm such a failure!