Chapter 020: A Rising Storm in the Mountains
Since Qi Yu chose the same course as Zhang Cheng Xuan, the intersections between the two gradually increased. In addition to meeting in specialized classes, Zhang Cheng Xuan often met with Qi Yu after class in the name of discussing their entrepreneurial project.
Qi Yu didn’t refuse, because after thinking about it, he felt that Zhang Cheng Xuan really did have characteristics that drew in him. As Complex Number said, for the time being, the relationship between them was only an “exchange of interests”.
As for whether he could be the close friend Zhang Cheng Xuan yearned for, Qi Yu felt that they would have to interact with each other for a while to see.
On this day, Zhang Cheng Xuan asked Qi Yu to an Italian restaurant for dinner.
Over dinner, they got to talking about their families again, and Zhang Cheng Xuan asked him, “Are you the younger twin brother or the older twin brother?”
“Older brother.”
“Oh, so your dad only has you as his son now?”
“En.”
Zhang Cheng Xuan asked another question, “Do you have a good relationship with your brother?”
“It’s okay…” Although the two brothers quarrel as soon as they meet, Qi Yu only had this one brother. Their relationship wouldn’t be all that bad.
“That’s great,” Zhang Cheng Xuan said with a look of envy, “You don’t have to live every day in a house filled with intrigue.”
Hearing what the other party said, Qi Yu couldn’t help but think of those with similar names to Zhang Cheng Xuan, presumably his brothers and sisters. He curiously asked, “Is your house filled with intrigue?”
“Exactly,” Zhang Cheng Xuan smiled helplessly, “I have a younger sister, two younger brothers, three older brothers, and four older sisters. Every now and then, all kinds of full blown dramas are being staged at home.”
Qi Yu: “……”
He remembered that only the first could give birth. How could there be so many! ?
Is it possible that…?
“All of them are your second uncle’s?” Qi Yu asked.
Zhang Cheng Xuan gave a “pft” of laughter. “How could that be possible? Besides my first uncle and second uncle, I also have two aunts. However, the Zhang family has always been more patriarchal. In my generation only my first and second uncle’s three sons has a higher status in the family. There’s also my younger brother, whose background is about the same as mine. But he wasn’t as lucky as I am. He’s being raised outside and I rarely see him.”
Qi Yu guessed that these three were the Zhang Cheng Min, Zhang Cheng Huan and Zhang Cheng Rui who appeared on the stockholder list.
Zhang Cheng Xuan sighed, “Moreover, the brothers and sisters of the Zhang family aren’t united. The three older brothers are forming cliques and faction at home. Those at the top trample those at the bottom.”
His remarks could be said to be confirmation of Qi Yu’s previous suspicions.
Qi Yu’s brain tried to visualize it. If his father had a brother who sired a bunch of children with names like Qi Ye, Qi Kuang, Qi Wu. Then, there would be fights and quarrels there every day… He immediately got a headache.
Fortunately, he only had one younger brother; one who was so simple and pure, you could see right to his very bottom.
Qi Yu sounded him out, “However, since your father is in charge of Fia now, won’t this company be yours in the future?”
Zhang Cheng Xuan shook his head and smiled faintly, “My dad adopted me because he saw I was a good student since I was a child. He gave me a false reputation, that’s all. Frankly speaking, I can get this degree thanks to the Zhang Family. My second uncle said that once I graduate, I’ll go back and help my third brother first.”
“Your third brother?”
“My second uncle’s eldest son, Zhang Cheng Huan. He’s four years older than I am. He went home to work before finishing college. He, sigh…” Zhang Cheng Xuan shook his head, revealing a “its a long story” expression. He then said, “He’s now the COO in Fia. When I go back, I guess at first, I can only work as an assistant for him.
Coafg tfjglcu atfrf kbgvr, Hl Te mbeivc’a tfiq yea rswqjatlhf klat Itjcu Jtfcu Wejc bcmf jujlc.
Dea tf jirb obecv la j yla ragjcuf. Ktfs rjs sbe rtbeiv cfnfg jlg bea sbeg vlgas ijecvgs lc qeyilm. Lbk mbeiv Itjcu Jtfcu Wejc afii atf oeaegf tflg bo j mbwqfalabg jybea atf rlaejalbc lc tlr ojwlis?
Was this person really stupid, or did he have some other purpose?
The two ate their meal and then Zhang Cheng Xuan suddenly said, “Speaking of which, when you agreed accept my invite to the picnic, I was quite flattered. It couldn’t be that you already knew my background then, did you?”
Before Qi Yu could answer, Zhang Cheng Xuan said to himself, “But I’m not anyone important in the Zhang family. You’ve also never seen me before. You shouldn’t have noticed…”
He seemed to think of a possibility and looked at Qi Yu, eyes shining, “I heard that the official heirs of large companies have a group of capable people around them. During school, there’ll be private tutors, peidus, and bodyguards and housekeepers. Anyway, you don’t need to say it. Someone would have taken the initiative to investigate the people around you and tell you. Is that the case for you?”
Qi Yu: “……”
What ‘private tutor’? What peidu? Also, housekeepers and bodyguards? Where did Zhang Cheng Xuan hear about all this?
What he had was an online chatmate and one whose services he bought for 60,000 yuan…
Of course, if Zhang Cheng Xuan wanted to think that way, Qi Yu didn’t mind going along with him.
The lights in the restaurant were dim, and the jazz was playing a relaxing beat. Zhang Cheng Xuan saw Qi Yu with a smile that was yet not a smile, raise his wine glass and move it closer to him.
Zhang Cheng Xuan also quickly picked up his glass and lightly clink it against his.
The two raised their eyes to each other, each smiling.
No words needed to be said……
***
For a long while after, Qi Yu interacted with Zhang Cheng Xuan in this way.
Although Zhang Cheng Xuan had some unrealistic speculations about him, he still kept the right distance, not overly fawning, and not deliberately alienating, making Qi Yu feel very comfortable.
But because Qi Yu’s attitude towards others was still reserved and aloof, Zhang Cheng Xuan, who managed to approach him, still stood out from the others. In the eyes of outsiders, maybe he, this “Iceberg Prince”, seemed to have also been taken down by the social expert “Zhang Gongzi“, who now became part of his “close relatives and friends”.
Qi Yu didn’t take these trivial matters to heart. As before, he studied and lived at his own pace.
Whenever he had problems or needed advice, he would tirelessly harass Complex Number, striving to use his sixty thousand yuan chatmate fee to the degree of effectiveness that Zhang Cheng Xuan imagined.
It was the weekend again, and Qi Yu finally caught Complex Number to give him a specialized lecture. As he was losing himself in their discussion, he suddenly got a call on his phone.
“Wait a minute, someone is looking for me.” He told Complex Number and cut their call to answer.
“Qi Yu?” Xu Jing’s gentle voice came from the other end of the phone, “What have you been up to?”
“Nothing much, just school.” Qi Yu got up to get some food. Just now, he had been too engrossed in talking with Complex Number that he hadn’t even reacted when he felt hungry.
“You’re not busy with anything?” Xu Jing laughed, “Then why haven’t you come looking me during the past couple of months?”
Qi Yu pulled out a box of fish-shaped crackers from the cabinet. He said as he opened it, “No special reason?”
“No way. Last year, you used to call me every week.” Xu Jing teased him, “Whenever you had trouble with homework, you’d look for me. Whenever, the food wasn’t to your liking, you’d look for me. Why is there nothing special this year? It couldn’t be that you’ve already forgotten about me, have you?”
“…How can that be?” Qi Yu wondered, was he so clingy with Xu Jing before?
“There’s something not quite right about your tone. Is there something you’re hiding from me?” Xu Jing asked.
“Uh…” Qi Yu also found it embarrassing to tell Xu Jing that he had actually found someone to chat with him over on the Internet.
“Are you seeing someone?” Xu Jing asked suddenly.
“…………”
Qi Yu almost spit out the cracker he’d just put in his mouth!
Xu Jing asked again with a smile: “So, are you seeing anyone?”
Qi Yu: “…I’m not!”
Xu Jing: “You know, even if you are, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Even your brother has a boyfriend…”
“Cough cough cough!” Qi Yu choked on his cracker.
Afraid of what other ideas Xu Jing would get, he quickly calmed down and explained, “I just found an online friend.”
Xu Jing: “Damn, you’re doing online dating?”
Qi Yu: “……”
Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, he said, “I’m really not!”
Xu Jing stopped teasing him, “Well, if you say so… But why’d you find an online friend?”
After a moment’s hesitation, Qi Yu told the other party about hiring Complex Number as his chatmate. Of course, he didn’t forget to praise Complex Number’s encyclopedic ability to Xu Jing.
Xu Jing finished listening. His tone, though, was somewhat serious, “Is there even such an amazing person? You’re not being deceived, are you?”
Qi Yu was somewhat unwilling to concede, “Am I like someone who’s easily deceived?”
Xu Jing said patiently, “Qi Yu, you are a bit more mature than your peers, but you’ve never actually come across an old fox who’s mixed in with society. Their minds are much more complicated than you think.”
Qi Yu: “But I paid him 60,000 yuan and he answers all sorts of various questions all the time. What could he possibly gain from cheating me?”
Xu Jing was silent for a moment, and said, “My guess is he might be deceiving you to get…”
Qi Yu: “Huh?”
“Forget it, it’s okay, maybe I’m just worrying too much,” Xu Jing smiled and said slowly, “In my mind, you’ll always be that little thirteen or fourteen year boy that I saw the first time. I nearly forgot that you’re almost twenty now.”
Qi Yu was a little moved by what he said. Feeling equal concern for the other, he said, “Jing Ge, have you been busy lately?”
Xu Jing smiled and said, “Of course, I’m busy, busy conquering the world for you.”
Qi Yu smiled, “Why are you fighting for me? Aren’t you fighting for my dad?”
Xu Jing asked in reply, “Isn’t what your dad’s, yours? Besides, don’t you know the implication of this investment company I manage now?”
Qi Yu: “??” What implication?
Xu Jing didn’t explain, and instead switched the topic and asked about his daily life. “Okay, if there’s nothing the matter then I’m relieved. Keep more snacks for yourself and if you encounter any problems, come look for me.”
“Okay, you look after your health too.”
Qi Yu said goodbye to Xu Jing and hung up. He then saw that Complex Number was urging him on WeChat: “I’ll wait for you for another fifteen minutes. If you don’t respond, I’m going to sleep. [Sleepy]”
Qi Yu quickly called him back. “I’m here.”
Complex Number’s voice really did sound a bit tired, “Who called? Why’d you talk for so long?”
Qi Yu explained, “My dad’s former secretary. He and I have a very good relationship. I haven’t contacted him for a long time so we ended up talking for a bit longer.”
Complex Number asked, “Former secretary? Not anymore?”
“He was sent back to China by my dad to manage an investment company.” Qi Yu said. Remembering Xu Jing’s rhetorical question just now, he suddenly thought of the company could mean.
Suddenly on the other end of the line, “Shan Yu Investment Company? Xu Jing just called you?”
Qi Yu was surprised, “How do you know that?”
Complex Number said lightly, “Isn’t it as simple as investigating who’s managing the investment company under the Si Yuan Group?”
Qiyu: “Why are you looking into everything!”
Complex Number: “Isn’t it to provide you with better service? Otherwise, what would you have me talk about with you?”
Qi Yu has been retorted into submission…
“However, the name of this company really is quite interesting. It’s a homonym of the characters that make up the ‘Yu’ in your name, ‘Shan’ and ‘Yu’. Does your dad think you’re not suited for running a business and he wants you to return to China to manage investments after you graduate?” Complex Number said profoundly, “The wind sweeping through the tower heralds a rising storm in the mountains. Tsk, this name sure is domineering.”
Qi Yu: “…” What kind of perverted association ability is this! ?
Seeing that he didn’t respond, Complex Number asked, “What’s wrong?”
Qi Yu put a handful of fish-shaped crackers into his mouth and said as he ate, “It’s nothing, Teacher! You’re really awesome! Let’s continue class!”
The author has something to say: [Little Theater]
Xiao Zhang: Do you have a bunch of mysterious peidus, housekeepers and bodyguards around you?
Xiao Yu smiles mysteriously.
Xiao Zhang: I dare not provoke! I dare not provoke!
————
7 fish: Must make my husband be the equal of ten people! o(￣ヘ￣o)
Fu: Are you planning to work me to death!
————
Ps: “Maple Leaf Dancing Wildly” is Qi Feng’s online name. Qi Ye, Qi Kuang, and Qi Wu were all taken from here.
hehe these daily pockets of sweetness are what keep me going
thanks translator-san~
Let me continue Xu Jing’s word ” to get together with you “
Bahahaha
Thank you for the chapter ❤️
💙💙💙
Thanks for the chapter 😘
thanks for the chapter!
MC’s actual personality is the opposite of how the author describes him.
Ironic to his own description of himself, too. If it hadnt been for his own misunderstanding of himself, i would really scratch my cheek at the author’s inconsistency
Fish shaped crackers… dang. Qi yu is just slowly morphing into any influence Fu says
+1 I agree wholeheartedly but isn’t it cannibalism, what will the other fish think 🤔🧐