After hearing the director's complaints and helplessness, a flicker of interest crossed Xie Zhuzhou's face. Last time, he had discovered that Wen Ruohuai was actually a black lotus, with a look in his eyes in private as though the entire world had wronged him.
He didn't understand. As the protagonist shou, why wasn't he genuine, kind, and good, instead of fake, wicked, and stupid? Did the author's characters only care about satisfying themselves, with no regard for moral values?
Xie Zhuzhou considered it for a moment. He didn't intend to interfere, but he could offer the director, who was always granting him leave, some advice. "If the Wen Family pressures you, just play dumb. As for Wen Nan, give him the video.
"That way, they can resolve it privately, between themselves.
"I'm sure Wen Nan will be happy to have this leverage over him and will even thank you for it."
Indeed, the Wen Family didn't know who had filmed the video. They couldn't trace it back to the production team either; he just had to hand it over secretly.
That way, he wouldn't offend either side.
Director Wang glanced at Xie Zhuzhou's unruffled expression and admired him even more, feeling that Xie Zhuzhou usually kept far too low a profile! He had both brains and courage, both valor and strategy!
"You just saved Wen Nan. Is there anything you want?"
"Yes. Could I have three days off? I've got something to do over the next few days." Xie Zhuzhou was pleased that his boss knew how to handle things.
Director Wang recalled Qin Fang's gloomy expression as he forced him to change the schedule. Although a chill ran down his spine, he still bit the bullet and agreed to Xie Zhuzhou's request. "Isn't there anything else you want?"
Saving Wen Nan had simply been a matter of convenience for Xie Zhuzhou. After all, he had been the closest to him.
Wang Zhengxiao's car was still at the Ji Family's home, so he had no choice but to return with Xie Zhuzhou.
On the way back, he once again saw Ji Wangyun coaxing Xie Zhuzhou with such patience, trying to cheer him up, while Xie Zhuzhou wore his usual expressionless face.
Wang Zhengxiao looked dazed. He had heard some of the rumors circulating among the wealthy families, but he had never connected them to Xie Zhuzhou before. Yet when the answer was put right in front of him, all he felt was, Oh, if that rich-family tyrant is the Xie Zhuzhou they say does whatever he pleases, then it's no surprise. He was even delighted. After all, Xie Zhuzhou even looked down on his own grandfather, so how could he think highly of mere mortals like them?
He even suspected that Xie Zhuzhou looked down on himself!
Seeing that nothing got through to Xie Zhuzhou, Ji Wangyun pleaded pitifully, "Come on, little brother. I'm going on a business trip next week... can't you take pity on your big brother? Come with me?"
"I have classes."
"I'll get you leave. Don't you hate going to class?"
"No. Father won't let me take leave." Ji Wuqiu had only one requirement for Xie Zhuzhou: study hard and graduate without any trouble.
He truly asked for nothing else.
Wang Zhengxiao felt embarrassed. He had always thought Ji Wangyun was aloof. He had seen him once from a distance at a banquet, surrounded by people. Although Ji Wangyun had worn a smile, he had seemed utterly unapproachable.
Nothing like this utterly undignified version of him!
Ji Wangyun liked it when people barely paid him any attention, so he was very interested in his new little brother. A month had passed, and he still hadn't grown bored.
That was also largely thanks to how busy Xie Zhuzhou was, leaving Ji Wangyun very little time to pester him. As a result, Ji Wangyun tripped up his eldest brother and third brother at work every day, then came home to provoke his little brother, having the time of his life.
"Why do you listen to Father and our eldest brother so much? Do you have no respect for your second brother at all?!" Ji Wangyun pretended to be angry.
Wang Zhengxiao felt that he shouldn't know this much. Broad and burly as he was, he wished he could shrink into thin air. He had never seen brothers get along so well-so well that it was suspicious.
"I wouldn't dare." Pulling the same trick a second time, Xie Zhuzhou leaned close to his ear and said menacingly, "Stop messing around, Second Brother, or I might throw you out."
Ji Wangyun: ?!
Wang Zhengxiao couldn't hear them. Seeing their intimate gesture, he only hated that he hadn't shut his eyes fast enough. That's Xie Zhuzhou for you. He won't even leave his own brother alone!
Ji Wangyun realized that his little brother was not only threatening him but deliberately causing a misunderstanding. His entire face flushed red, purely from anger.
Xie Zhuzhou was usually closest to their eldest brother and listened to everything he said.
And he was just the pitiful second brother, with no standing whatsoever in front of his little brother!
Once they got home, Xie Zhuzhou assumed Wang Zhengxiao was Ji Wangyun's friend, so he didn't entertain him and went upstairs alone to attend to his own business.
He hadn't heard much from Chu Yanzhang over the past few days and didn't know what he was doing. Apparently, his older male cousin had taken him abroad to have his eyes examined... he was supposed to return after a while.
Hearing this news, Xie Zhuzhou felt that life was a little boring. With Chu Yanzhang away, he couldn't contact him whenever he liked. After all, he was his only friend, a friend completely separate from the original owner's life.
Night.
Over the past few days, Xie Zhuzhou had discovered that more and more people wanted to beat him up. Merely having hidden weapons was no longer enough to protect himself, so after finishing the tasks at hand, he had no choice but to sit cross-legged on his bed and cultivate. The cultivation method he practiced was "Meditation," the simplest one his martial arts teacher had taught him and also the most suitable for him. Only by diligently practicing martial arts could he avoid getting beaten up for his venomous tongue.
He had tried it in his previous life, but unfortunately, his body had leaked like a sieve and couldn't accumulate internal energy. He would often fall asleep halfway through meditating.
Fortunately, he still remembered this cultivation method in this life.
Over the past month or so, he had often slipped unconsciously into a meditative state during class, sensing the changes in the flow of qi within his body through practice.
Outside, the leaves rustled, and the night wind swept past the glass window, bringing a chill even through the barrier.
The start of winter was approaching.
Xie Zhuzhou had also slowly "integrated" into this family. None of his older brothers had made a move against him, so perhaps he had been overthinking things.
Then he thought of how he always needed his brothers and father to protect him. Xie Zhuzhou thought that even if he couldn't help them, he could at least avoid holding them back.
He wanted to be a chick that ventured beyond its shell.
The next morning.
Ji Wangyun saw Xie Zhuzhou's fresh, rested face. He didn't know what Xie Zhuzhou had been busy with, only that he seemed quite at ease. A pang of envy rose in him, and he turned toward the refined, elegant middle-aged man seated at the head of the table.
"Dad, our little brother is old enough now. Isn't it time he started getting involved in some company affairs?"