No one but Bai Nanyu would call him "Third Brother" in such a coy, affected voice.
Ji Nanshu turned to look. Sure enough, it was Bai Nanyu.
Bai Nanyu came up to him, his face full of delighted surprise. "Third Brother! You're finally back!! Mom, Dad, Eldest Brother, Second Brother, and I all missed you so much!"
"This is great!!"
Hmm? What was with this attitude? Was he plotting something?
Ji Nanshu took a step back, looking every inch like he wanted Bai Nanyu to stay the hell away.
Bai Nanyu seemed utterly unconcerned by Ji Nanshu's attitude and carried on by himself. "Third Brother! I'm going on a date with Brother Jingyi tonight. Can you help me pick what to wear? How about this watch? It's a custom handmade watch Brother Jingyi had made especially for me! Second Brother bought me the clothes! Mom bought the shoes! This outfit alone cost several million! I won't embarrass our family wearing it out, right?"
Those words fully demonstrated just how much the Bai family doted on him.
Ji Nanshu! A bastard like you never had any of this! Jealous?!
Ji Nanshu looked Bai Nanyu up and down. He did not understand why Bai Nanyu always liked showing off this so-called "how much the Bai family doted on him."
The original owner wanted it, but he could not care less.
Seeing Ji Nanshu remain silent, Bai Nanyu assumed his words had struck a blow. He smugly moved a little closer to Ji Nanshu and said, "Third Brother! Why aren't you saying anything? Come on, give me some advice!"
Ji Nanshu smiled and exclaimed with exaggerated admiration, "What a nice outfit! If you hadn't said anything, I would've thought it cost several hundred! God, it cost several million??"
Bai Nanyu froze, then flushed red. "...You wouldn't know quality if you saw it!!"
"Oh... I rarely see anyone manage to make such expensive clothes look like that, either."
"You-!!! Mom!!" Unable to win the argument, Bai Nanyu started calling for his mother and switched into green tea mode. "I knew it. Third Brother still doesn't like me! I really wanted Third Brother to come home..."
Wonderful. Those words successfully sent Liu Yanshuang into mother-hen-protecting-her-chick mode. She pulled Bai Nanyu behind her and snarled, "Ji Nanshu, you think you're all grown up now, huh?! You really think I can't deal with you just because your household registration was transferred out of the Bai family?! Don't forget, this is the Bai family!! Legally! In name! I'm still your mother!"
Liu Yanshuang's words did remind Ji Nanshu that the adoption relationship still existed!
How could he get the Bai family to take the initiative to dissolve this disgusting adoption relationship?
At present, getting the Bai family to dissolve it voluntarily seemed unlikely. If there were some reason that forced them to dissolve the adoption relationship... things would be much easier.
"Mom, don't be angry!! Don't make yourself sick!!" Bai Nanyu comforted her with a distressed expression while shooting Ji Nanshu a provocative look, yet his mouth said something entirely different. "Third Brother, I'm begging you. Please stop upsetting Mom, okay?? I know it's all my fault!! I shouldn't have come back! I shouldn't have taken your place. As long as you stop upsetting Mom, I'll leave!!!"
Hearing that, Ji Nanshu actually nodded seriously and answered in complete agreement, "Sure. As long as you leave the Bai family, I guarantee I won't upset your mother."
"Xiaoyu, don't listen to his nonsense! What have you done wrong?! Our Bai family raised an ungrateful wretch!" Liu Yanshuang's eyes were bloodshot, and she looked ready to devour Ji Nanshu alive. "If anyone should get out, it's him!"
Tears swam in Bai Nanyu's eyes, making him look utterly pitiful. He said, "But Mom, it's all because of me... that you and Third Brother... I-as long as I disappear, you'll-our family won't have any more arguments, right?"
"Don't listen to Ji Nanshu's nonsense!! What would I do if you left...?"
Clap, clap, clap-
Ji Nanshu could not help applauding their deep mother-son bond. Whatever else could be said, their ability to carry on their own little dialogue was truly impressive! He would have to ask those two for pointers sometime.
"Are you two done acting?"
Who knew what nerve that question struck in Bai Nanyu? He roared, "Third Brother!! Why do you hate me so much?! I haven't done anything at all, so must you drive me away? They're my biological father and mother too!!"
Bai Nanyu grew increasingly agitated as he spoke, moving closer and closer to Ji Nanshu. The way he waved his arms around looked utterly ridiculous.
He even grabbed Ji Nanshu's right wrist and demanded, "Third Brother! Will you only be happy if I die?!"
Ji Nanshu glanced in disgust at Bai Nanyu's hand gripping him and said coldly, "Let go."
"No! Third Brother! I'm begging you. I won't fight you for Mom and Dad. Just-as long as you let me stay in the Bai family. Can't you just treat it like keeping a stray cat or dog?"
Tsk, what impressive acting!
"Not letting go, huh?"
Without waiting for an answer, Ji Nanshu seized Bai Nanyu's wrist with his left hand, squeezed hard, then twisted his arm behind his back and kicked the back of his knee. With a thud, Bai Nanyu's knees slammed hard into the floor.
The next second-
Bai Nanyu's cries of pain mingled with Liu Yanshuang's shrieks. Even the butler, who had just come in, could not help wanting to cover his ears.
Good lord, what had the third young master done? He'd actually angered Madam so much she'd changed species?!
Ji Nanshu pulled a wet wipe from the table and meticulously wiped the spot Bai Nanyu had touched, his expression indifferent. "You put on a show for me, so I was originally going to let you off."
"Unfortunately, you didn't understand."
"What did I say before I came? I told you not to regret it."
"Why couldn't you listen?"
Each sentence followed the last, carrying a suffocating chill.
Bai Nanyu, who had just gotten up from the floor, instantly froze in place as a chill shot up his back.
The way Ji Nanshu looked at him and his mother was like he was looking at dead things...
He even had the feeling that, if this were not a society governed by law, with everyone watching, Ji Nanshu could snap both their necks right now.
"Xiaoyu?! Xiaoyu?!" Liu Yanshuang had not stopped shrieking.
Honestly...
I really want to poison her mute...
Liu Yanshuang was lucky this was not the Qiang Kingdom. Otherwise, she would already have been a corpse.
Before leaving the Bai family home, Ji Nanshu looked back. There was not a trace of amusement in his eyes, yet the corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he said, "I hope you invite me over to play often!"
That one sentence successfully made Bai Nanyu, Liu Yanshuang, and the butler all shudder.
Fuck, why was Ji Nanshu so terrifying, as if he'd mutated?!
After beating Bai Nanyu up, Ji Nanshu suddenly felt better again. Once he was in a good mood, he remembered his dear sugar daddy, so he called him.
The other party answered instantly.
Chu Mo had just finished handling company business and was about to head home when Ji Nanshu called.
"Little one, missing me?"
A wheedling note crept unconsciously into Ji Nanshu's voice. "Yes, my dear sugar daddy~ I'm at Autumn Water Terrace. Will you come pick me up~?"
Ji Nanshu: As the State Preceptor, I'm a refined man. I never curse at anyone. (˵¯͒〰¯͒˵)