Ji Wuqiu saw through his little scheme at a glance, but he also wanted to know what Xie Zhuzhou thought. Although he had heard Xie Zhuzhou tell his brothers last time that he would not inherit the family business, he still wanted to give him a few opportunities.
"Your school breaks for vacation in just over a month. Would you like to intern at the company?"
Xie Zhuzhou was eating breakfast. He paused at the question, then made his decision almost as quickly as possible. "Father, I'm not interested in any of that, and I don't want to go. Forcing myself to take it on would only cause losses for the company. Even if it's just an internship, I can't be sure how much trouble I might cause."
Ji Wuqiu: ...
Ji Wangchen: ...
Ji Wangyun: ...
After delivering this speech, the remarkably self-aware Xie Zhuzhou slowly resumed his meal. The expression on his face seemed to say: Nobody had better drag me into this, or there's no telling what devastating disaster I might bring down on the company!
As someone who never wore himself down with internal conflict, Xie Zhuzhou never made himself suffer, nor would he put in effort just to please Ji Wuqiu.
His three brothers were enough to inherit the family business and make money for the family. Why should a freeloader like him get involved?
Besides, everyone had their specialty. Was he really capable of shouldering such high-powered, tedious, and complicated work?
Even students from Project 985 and 211 universities, who worked so hard to get into the Ji Family's companies, felt immense pressure. What could a little salted fish like him, who knew nothing, possibly offer in comparison?
Even if it was only an internship, Xie Zhuzhou's urge to back out was at least the size of the Earth. After all, he did not even know how to use a printer.
After thinking it over, Xie Zhuzhou felt increasingly clever. As long as he did not squander the family's money, that counted as making money for them!
Just what I'd expect of myself! So smart!
"Haha..." As one of the family's high-level wage slaves, Ji Wangyun was dealt a heavy blow by Xie Zhuzhou's clear-eyed thinking!
After finishing breakfast, Ji Wuqiu simply stopped looking at his youngest son. Looking would only make him angry.
After all, Xie Zhuzhou had lived away from the family for so many years. What right did he have to demand that his youngest son do this and that? Thinking it over, he had absolutely no reason to torment him.
His other sons were tough and thick-skinned, forever scheming against one another with their deep calculations. He did not need to worry about them at all.
Fortunately, they seemed to like their jobs well enough. They almost never arrived late or left early, and the companies each had taken over were flourishing.
Forget it. I'll let the youngest off for now.
His teacher was on leave today, so he had no morning classes. Xie Zhuzhou had Xiao Nan take the antiques for authentication. After testing, more than half proved genuine.
Xie Zhuzhou was reasonably satisfied with this.
"See which ones can be auctioned and send them to the auction in a week. Once the money comes in, I'll give you a bonus." Xie Zhuzhou planned to pay Xiao Nan for his trouble after selling them. After all, this was work outside Xiao Nan's regular duties.
Xiao Nan was thrilled, his heart surging and his mind racing. He had never imagined that Xie Zhuzhou was actually serious!
He had thought the other man was only playing around.
These genuine pieces all had some age to them! Not only that, their quality and state of preservation were excellent.
Xiao Nan wondered whether Xie Zhuzhou had fiery eyes and golden pupils.
In short, Xiao Nan was very much looking forward to the bonus. After all, Xie Zhuzhou treated him quite well and was not a stingy boss.
Xie Zhuzhou reflected that he had read many books when he had nothing to do in his previous life, including quite a few about antiques. Before his grandfather died, he had stopped giving him shops, farmland, and houses. On his deathbed, he had told him, "You wouldn't be able to hold on to any more anyway. Better to give you a few little trinkets so you can live in peace."
The old marquis had given him many treasures, a dazzling assortment of all kinds. Almost all were rewards the emperor had bestowed after the old marquis's great victories in battle.
Worried about being fooled and cheated by the servants, Xie Zhuzhou had no choice but to manage the inventories and account books himself, regularly checking those treasures for scratches or damage.
As a result, he had genuinely acquired considerable knowledge of antiques. He would even have people collect some outside and put them in the storeroom.
In the past, aside from admiring flowers and fish in his courtyard, reading storybooks, and listening to songs, Xie Zhuzhou's most frequent pastime had been visiting the storeroom to look at those treasures.
Thus, even after coming to the modern world, he had something of a discerning eye.
Still, exactly how much he could earn would depend on market demand and trends.
Xiao Nan's activities could not escape Ji Wangchen's notice. When he heard that the treasures Xie Zhuzhou had picked up were actually so valuable, a trace of a thaw appeared on his icy face. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, as though saying that this was only to be expected of his younger brother.
"He does have a little cleverness. He's learned to earn pocket money."
Special Assistant Chen nodded. "I asked the young master last time. He said holding an exhibition would be too tiring, and that we could just include his paintings when someone else holds one."
In any case, Xie Zhuzhou had decided to remain anonymous. More people knowing would only bring him trouble.
At University A, that afternoon.
"Wow, you seem so busy. You haven't had time to go to the cafeteria with us lately."
Li Yankai had clear eyes and childish behavior, with a sincerity that always shone through from deep within. He was upright and innocent. Xie Zhuzhou rarely met people like this. Anyone else would definitely have stopped approaching him rather than keep offering warmth only to meet a cold shoulder.
Thus, Young Master Xie was moved by his sincerity and, deep down, began accepting Li Yankai a little as an unofficial friend.
He raised his wrist to check the time, thinking that ordinarily he might head to Chu Yanzhang's home for a meal, or Chu Yanzhang might come over to eat out with him.
With Chu Yanzhang away these past few days, Xie Zhuzhou occasionally felt a little bored.
"Then call the other two from our dorm tonight. Dinner's on me." After saying this, Xie Zhuzhou asked the all-capable Xiao Nan to book a restaurant.
When Xiao Nan learned that Xie Zhuzhou finally had friends other than Chu Yanzhang, he was extremely excited. Taking the family circumstances of Xie Zhuzhou's other friends into account, he chose a tasteful, mid-priced restaurant.
Since Xie Zhuzhou had invited them on short notice, the other two arrived in something of a rush.
"Little Xie, you!"
"Hmm?"
Xie Zhuzhou looked calm and leisurely, always carrying an air of ease.
But the fact that he was willing to spend time treating them to dinner had his roommates so moved that they wanted to shake his head and ask whether someone else's soul had transmigrated into him. He had actually thought of them. What a rare occasion!
If Xie Zhuzhou had been someone they could joke with, they would definitely have said, "My son has grown up. My heart is greatly comforted."
Xie Zhuzhou dropped his expressionless look and said awkwardly, "Don't stand on ceremony. Order whatever you want."
Whether it was the original owner or him, it was already good enough that these few had ignored the rumors outside and continued to see him the same way they always had.
But Xie Zhuzhou's situation was not exactly bad, because he had pretty much isolated everyone in the school!
Those people had originally thought that looking at Xie Zhuzhou with contempt and disgust would leave him hurt, sad, and angry. Instead, Xie Zhuzhou neither cared about them nor spared them a glance. He even ignored the troublemakers outright.
Xie Zhuzhou truly was unlike ordinary people. With that arrogant expression of someone beneath only one person and above ten thousand others, he seemed to regard them as lower life-forms!
Sometimes, when someone tried to strike up a conversation, one cold look from Xie Zhuzhou sent them retreating.
Sometimes, when someone provoked him, Xie Zhuzhou would simply book them a medical appointment, telling them to get treatment if something was wrong with their brain.
Over the past half month at University A, the troublemakers had been wiped out.
They felt as miserable as though Xie Zhuzhou had deep-fried them. In their eyes, Xie Zhuzhou was giving them the silent treatment.
Even dogs could not stand the silent treatment, let alone them!