There isn't even a third option. You rich families really don't let people live.
Go home-meaning back to the home where Father lives?
Grandfather? A villain?
"You haven't even gone back yet, and Grandfather is already arranging your marriage. There's the Qin Family, the An Family, the Zhang Family..."
Xie Zhuzhou had no idea what Ji Wangchen was talking about, but his fists were already slowly clenching.
So Ji Wangyun hadn't been joking before!
"Is there no third option?"
"There is."
"What?"
"Kill Grandfather."
Xie Zhuzhou: ...
What is wrong with you rich families?!
Ji Wangchen truly lived up to his reputation as a ruthless heir.
But he couldn't just go around talking about killing people! How was his thinking even more advanced than that of an ancient man like Xie Zhuzhou?!
"He has so many grandsons and granddaughters. Why pick me?"
"You're decent-looking, unlike the others, who are all misshapen rejects. You're still young, naive, and easy to control."
The corners of Xie Zhuzhou's mouth twitched. He admitted the original owner was good-looking, but he wasn't naive! Otherwise, how could he have kept those three men dancing in the palm of his hand? He was good at driving, good at gaming, and a smooth talker.
He acted a little like a fool with more money than sense in public, but that was definitely not what he was really like!
Xie Zhuzhou rubbed his face.
"Then let's go with the third option."
Ji Wangchen had, of course, been joking about the last option, but he hadn't expected his little brother to be so opposed to going home that he would actually choose to off the old man.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I'm sure."
"Fine. Go take him out yourself, then."
Xie Zhuzhou stared at Ji Wangchen in disbelief, as though his eyes were accusing him of being a useless older brother.
Ji Wangchen took a deep breath. What's wrong with this little brother of mine? Why is he completely different from what the investigation turned up?!
Under Xie Zhuzhou's condemning gaze, Ji Wangchen realized that his little brother actually wasn't afraid of him.
He looked quite a bit like their second brother, but his temper seemed even worse than Ji Wangchen's. It looked like Father had raised him well.
"I was joking. Anyway, think it over carefully. I'll come by tomorrow, and I hope you'll have made up your mind."
Xie Zhuzhou could only nod. This useless eldest brother isn't that scary. He's much better than Ji Wangyun.
Xie Zhuzhou got out, and Ji Wangchen's car soon drove away.
Zhang Yin's van happened to return just then. Seeing a familiar car drive past, he looked toward Xie Zhuzhou standing by the road, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes.
"Boss, what's wrong?"
"Nothing. I'm heading off."
Zhang Yin got out and walked toward Xie Zhuzhou. "Have you had dinner?"
"No."
"Then, in a bit..."
"No need. My family brought me food." He lifted the bag in his hand. His eldest brother's first-meeting gift was decidedly practical.
A dinner. That was something he couldn't turn down.
Well, he had eaten dinner with his second brother last time, and other than finding him a little annoying, he hadn't really felt uncomfortable. On the contrary, eating with family didn't seem boring either.
Surely his eldest brother wouldn't be like his second brother, acting refined at their first meeting only to undergo nuclear fission once they got back?
As Xie Zhuzhou kept thinking, his mind began to wander. Zhang Yin felt as invisible as a puff of air.
Neither of them noticed that the black car that had just driven away had stopped a short distance off. Ji Wangchen glanced in the rearview mirror, his deep eyes unreadable.
"Look into this man surnamed Zhang when we get back."
Special assistant: "Yes."
Xie Zhuzhou returned to his room, put down the food container, and collapsed onto the bed as though all three souls and seven spirits had been sucked out of him.
His eldest brother looked like a textbook domineering CEO, giving people only two options. Outrageous!
He was even starting to wonder if his second brother had thrown him under the bus, leading to his discovery. The timing was just too coincidental.
But it probably wasn't him. Ji Wangyun might be unserious... but he didn't seem like that sort of person.
If he returned to that unfamiliar home, he wasn't the original owner and wasn't a smooth talker. What if someone there didn't welcome him back?
After all, who would like someone who appeared out of nowhere and looked quite capable of fighting for the family fortune?
Sigh.
Xie Zhuzhou sat up, went over to the sofa, and sat down. He picked up the carrot on the glass coffee table and continued carving the Ten-Li Rivers and Mountains Picture. This was already his limit!
After covering an entire carrot in carvings, he carefully packed it into a box, planning to send it to his teacher the next morning.
Then he looked at the boxed meal on the table.
Forget it. I'll give it a try.
It would be awkward if Ji Wangchen asked him how the food was next time and he couldn't answer.
He could refuse to give other people face, but he couldn't ignore this eldest brother, the one who actually held power in the Ji Family.
Roast lamb? Lamb soup, stir-fried rice noodles?
Damn, these are all things I like eating. There's boiled greens too. Just that simple...
Wait, isn't this what I ate a couple of days ago?
Xie Zhuzhou: ...
He guessed this eldest brother might be saying: Behave yourself. Every move you make is under my surveillance. Be good, and don't even think about running.
Although he knew his whereabouts might have been exposed, he hadn't expected them to be exposed so thoroughly! That was terrifying!
Whatever. Food first.
Downstairs
Zhang Yin hadn't been sure at first, but after having his assistant check, he confirmed that the car just now did indeed belong to Ji Wangchen's assistant.
What connection did Ji Wangchen and Xie Zhuzhou have?
Of course, he had never met Ji Wangyun, so he hadn't immediately guessed that Xie Zhuzhou had any connection to the Ji Family. He only thought Xie Zhuzhou might... have something going on with Ji Wangchen.
Society was complicated to begin with, especially the circles around him, so his thoughts habitually turned toward sugar daddies.
But on second thought, with Xie Zhuzhou's foul temper, it was hard to imagine him waiting on a sugar daddy, wasn't it? Who would be waiting on whom was anyone's guess.
Wang Zhengxiao had just eaten his fill. Turning to see Zhang Yin chopping scallions to prepare his own meal, he asked curiously, "Zhang Yin, have you lost your soul today? You're so distracted you're about to cut your hand."
Before he had finished speaking, Zhang Yin cut his hand.
Blood appeared immediately.
Wang Zhengxiao: ...
"Holy shit, bro, you can't blame me for that!"
Zhang Yin calmly washed his hand, rinsed the faucet, then went to find the first aid kit and took out disinfectant to clean the wound. The slight sting brought him back to his senses.
"It's fine."
Wang Zhengxiao snatched the adhesive bandage from his hand. "Let me help you."
Director Wang: ...
The strangest scene had unfolded!
What were these two powerful tops doing?!
Zhang Yin gave a gentle, quiet chuckle. "You're the thoughtful one."
Meanwhile, Xuelai and Yu Wei in the living room had completely made themselves at home, utterly ignoring the cameras. The two of them were holding bags of chips and watching TV, their feet resting together.
Director Wang wiped away his sweat. "Say... doesn't Xuelai have a cleanliness obsession? Why is she letting Yu Wei lean her whole body against her?"
The assistant director covered his mouth. "Director Wang, I have some ideas for the weekend dating battle..."
The two exchanged meaningful looks.
Director Wang gritted his teeth and steeled himself. "I think it'll work."
He finally made it to Saturday. Xie Zhuzhou slept in a little. He had had neither the chance nor the time to make money, with trouble coming one thing after another. Today, he had to give his eldest brother an answer!