Xie Zhuzhou, who was being gossiped about by his older brothers, had just showered. After staying at Ji Wuqiu's home, he could only frown and put up with this place by comparison. He even felt that the room was a little damp, the bedding wasn't dry enough, and the slippers were easy to slip in.
At nine, his grandfather summoned him for a talk.
Ji Wuqiu was staying right next door. Seeing his youngest son frowning and looking gloomy, he figured he was unhappy with the accommodations.
He quietly followed him.
The old butler escorted Xie Zhuzhou to a traditional, elegantly furnished tea room. The old man looked as though he had already showered and changed into comfortable clothes. Sitting there, he showed no signs of decrepitude. He was nearly seventy, yet there were few deep lines on his face.
"Grandpa."
"Mm. Sit."
Knowing that the old man wanted something from him, Xie Zhuzhou had no faith whatsoever that he would say anything pleasant.
Sure enough, the first thing out of his mouth was, "I hear your father has paid you no attention these past twenty years."
Xie Zhuzhou nodded. "That's true, but I like it. After all, I can live freely without being subjected to paternalistic preaching. Some people certainly do enjoy wielding patriarchal authority."
The old man felt he was being mocked! But he had no proof. Fury burned inside him, yet he couldn't let it show.
If he wanted to turn this boy to his side and put him to use, he would have to put in enough effort.
"You don't hate him? As far as I know, you've only just met. In other words, you've only just gotten to know each other."
Xie Zhuzhou told the butler not to pour him any more tea, in case it kept him awake. Meanwhile, he looked at the old man. "Grandpa, are you trying to drive a wedge between my father and me?"
Master Elder Ji's mouth twitched.
He had never met anyone so blunt before!
But he wouldn't admit that this was exactly what he intended to do. "Why would an old man like me try to drive a wedge between you and your father?"
Ji Wuqiu, who was secretly eavesdropping by a window in the back wall, was speechless.
This son of his was really... incredible.
He was clearly being outrageous, yet there was no way to refute him.
Exactly. All the old man had been able to do these past years was hold his authority as a father over him. He couldn't do anything else. Well done, son!
Xie Zhuzhou took a sip of tea, looking somewhat disdainful. "Grandpa, this tea is bitter and astringent, and its layers of flavor are a complete mess."
Master Elder Ji was speechless.
Now he was getting picky!
"Grandpa, at your age, don't you know drinking tea at night will keep you awake?" Xie Zhuzhou was at a loss for words. Fortunately, he respected the elderly and cared for the young. Fine, he would grudgingly give him a reminder.
Master Elder Ji, who was old and liked showing off in subtle ways, turned ashen.
There wasn't a single word out of this brat's mouth that he wanted to hear!
"You're young. You don't understand that old people need less sleep."
"True. At your age, you shouldn't think so much."
Master Elder Ji took a deep breath and, before his blood pressure could rise, told the butler to escort Xie Zhuzhou back.
But Xie Zhuzhou wasn't finished. "Grandpa, my room is so damp. Even the bedding isn't dry. I think the room smells moldy, too."
Master Elder Ji, who had wanted to subtly make Xie Zhuzhou aware of his situation, choked.
Schemes like these have to be broken with a blunt, straightforward persona, Xie Zhuzhou thought. Seeing how red Master Elder Ji's face was and how healthy his complexion looked, he felt reassured.
Early the next morning.
The old man failed to get up for breakfast. Apparently, he was ill.
"Time to head back." Ji Wuqiu was a little jealous of his father. His youngest son had never said that much to him.
"Grandpa's sick. Aren't you going to see him, Father?"
"No need. They'll call me when it's time to smash the funeral basin."
Xie Zhuzhou was speechless.
So there wasn't a single filial son in their eldest branch of the family.
He had thought his father was blindly filial. As it turned out, his dad was still his dad.
The two of them walked out through the main gate. Xie Zhuzhou saw the assistant running over in his sharp professional attire. "Young Master, your eldest brother asked me to take you to school. I'll also be responsible for picking you up and dropping you off from now on."
"Your probation only lasted a day? You're officially on the job today?"
"Hehe, that's right."
After a perfunctory goodbye to his father, Xie Zhuzhou got into the car and headed back to school. Honestly, last night's experience had been awful. He'd had to ask the butler and the others to come clean in the middle of the night, have them dry the bedding, and finally have them wipe down every inch of the room.
The entire old residence had been thrown into an uproar.
He really hadn't done it on purpose.
Wouldn't preparing better accommodations for him in the first place have saved all that trouble? Xie Zhuzhou felt no guilt about it.
Xie Zhuzhou never tormented himself over things. He folded his arms and briefly dozed, and then he was at school.
He hadn't expected the car to attract so much attention, either. Seeing that the assistant was about to get out and open the door for him, he hurriedly climbed out and urged him to leave.
He had barely gotten out when Li Yankai stepped out of his own car a moment later. Seeing that they were about to be late, and that Xie Zhuzhou was walking so slowly, he grabbed Xie Zhuzhou's arm and ran.
"Quick, quick, quick! We have Professor Wang's class today! We can't be late!"
Xie Zhuzhou was still bewildered. By his calculations, they should have made it to the classroom right on time.
As he ran along with Li Yankai, he could only admire how Li Yankai truly was a vibrant young college guy, unlike him, a barely alive college guy.
In the end, they reached the classroom a minute before the professor. Li Yankai was panting, while the person he had dragged along wasn't particularly tired.
He took out some juice and gave him a bottle.
Seeing Xie Zhuzhou care for him without saying a word, Li Yankai was deeply touched.
During class, Young Master Xie finally learned to slack off. He opened his phone and checked Weibo. His popularity had been a flash in the pan. After a few days without an appearance, the netizens had almost forgotten him, the background prop.
Good.
Next was a message from the assistant, asking what to do with the things he had received yesterday.
After thinking it over, he typed and sent a message: Give them to my father.
These things had belonged to the Ji Family in the first place. He had already enjoyed enough benefits, and the things he had received should go to his biological father.
As for the gifts from his three older brothers and Ji Wuqiu, they were all at home. He would keep those for now and give them gifts in return on their birthdays.
Assistant: Are you sure?
Xie Zhuzhou: Yes. If he won't accept them, I'll move out.
At the office, Ji Wuqiu was astonished that his youngest son would give him everything without holding anything back! He already felt that he owed his youngest son a great deal. Now his guilt shot up to more than twice its previous level.
Ji Wangchen heard about it too, and his opinion of this younger brother rose further.
It seemed this younger brother of his valued family bonds more.
After dealing with these matters, Xie Zhuzhou began using his phone to look for places where loot would drop more easily. Gambling on jade was out of the question. He didn't know how.
Xie Zhuzhou's plan began in secret.
When classes ended that afternoon, he took a secluded path through campus, because he had spotted An Xinian from upstairs, seemingly waiting to catch him at the main gate.
"..." We never dated, so I shouldn't count as a heartless bastard, right?