Li Xiangfu struggled to explain that he wasn’t in dire straits, at least not to the extent of supporting himself through performing arts. After politely declining Aunt Zhang’s enthusiastic offers, he left the kitchen and shook his head in disapproval at Li Shasha, who was eagerly anticipating dessert.
Observing this, Li Shasha let out a long sigh.
But he soon found a new topic to discuss, saying, “We almost have enough money to buy a robot.” Li Xiangfu, seated on the sofa, tried to impart some general financial wisdom, saying, “It’s not wise to spend extravagantly.”
Li Shasha responded, “No matter how hard it is…”
Li Xiangfu had grown weary of hearing that phrase and replied earnestly, “You don’t know how tough it is to earn a living. When the funds run out, we won’t even be able to afford meat.”
Li Shasha, unfazed by his words, sat quietly on the carpet with his legs crossed, and then he reached out and said, “Dad, lend me your phone.”
Li Xiangfu tossed his phone to him.
Li Shasha quickly operated it and returned it to him.
“I’ve been participating in various lottery activities,” he said in an overly serious tone, “From chat apps to social platforms, I carefully choose them to ensure their authenticity and valuable prizes.”
Li Xiangfu inquired, “Can you actually win?”
Li Shasha remained in his cross-legged position and solemnly prayed for a few seconds.
“If the odds are in my favor, I can maintain a winning rate of about three out of 10,000.”
Li Xiangfu nodded calmly, saying, “I hope you can fulfill your wish.”
Taking a step forward, he encountered an unexpected obstacle in his path. Lowering his gaze, he saw Li Shasha’s expressionless face as he hugged his calf with one hand and confessed his heart’s desire word by word: “I want a robot.”
He then gazed at him with a pitiful expression, like a puppy.
Li Xiangfu couldn’t resist and pressed his eyebrows, saying, “I’ll figure out a way.”
At 1 a.m., with no intention of sleeping, Li Xiangfu tied up his hair and sat on the edge of the bed, diligently searching for ways to make money.
It appeared that becoming a performer might be his last resort. Just as he was about to give up, he came across several keywords highlighted in red.
‘Qin Jin’s Dining’… The title was too long and got cut off, so he clicked on it to find a post. The poster shared news about an opportunity to have dinner with Qin Jin, claiming that winning it could lead to great success.
It was clear that this was a gimmick.
It wasn’t unusual for wealthy individuals to auction off dinner opportunities, but in this case, it was part of Qin Jin’s anniversary event organized by his company. There was no bidding involved; all you had to do was retweet the post for a chance to be selected.
During the day, Li Shasha had also retweeted two Weibo posts. Since the new account represented the identity of the masked man, he had thoughtfully switched to the account Li Xiangfu used previously.
To Li Xiangfu’s surprise, he had approximately ten followers. Over the past few years, he had occasionally posted about his life while studying abroad, and he had never thought that anyone would pay attention and like his posts.
The lottery was set to end in about ten hours, and the post had already received over 200,000 retweets. Joining in on the fun, he retweeted one himself.
The following day, Li Xiangfu awoke promptly due to his internal body clock.
He headed to the courtyard, cradling his guqin in his arms. His fingers danced across the strings, producing mellifluous music that seemed to cleanse the soul.
Once the melody concluded, Li Xiangfu raised his eyelids and gazed at Li Shasha, remarking, “Listening to the guqin requires a tranquil state of mind. My son, your heart… is not at peace.”
Li Shasha responded, “Stillness and movement are not absolutes. I used to gaze at the stars, but now I find myself more drawn to the scenery on the ground.”
“For example?” Li Xiangfu inquired.
Making eye contact, Li Shasha replied deliberately, “For example, a father who could buy me a robot.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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…
Inside the house, Aunt Zhang brought the final dish to the table.
Li Xichun pulled out his chair and sipped his soy milk.
Mr. Li furrowed his brows. “Didn’t I instruct you to invite them to eat?”
Li Xichun should’ve started eating with her chopsticks, but she responded unperturbed, “Father and son are engaged in philosophical discussions.”
When she uttered the last two words, her tone took on a peculiar quality, but she swiftly resumed sipping her soy milk.
Upon hearing this, Mr. Li’s eyelids twitched, and an uncomfortable silence fell over the table.
When Li Xiangfu returned with his guqin, the living room had already been vacated. Although Mr. Li didn’t need to work, he had made plans to go fishing with someone. Even Aunt Zhang had her own errands, stating, “The supermarket is offering special deals today, so I’m going to do some shopping. There are two portions of food left in the kitchen; you can simply reheat them.”
Recalling the dessert he hadn’t enjoyed the previous day, Li Shasha used the opportunity to up the ante, saying, “I want to have the pot-roasted pork and cream puffs.”
Li Xiangfu responded, “You can only pick one.”
After pondering for a while, Li Shasha appeared to make a significant decision, saying, “Pot-roasted pork.”
Li Xiangfu nodded and went into the kitchen. He rolled up his sleeves and carefully mixed the starch with water, telling Li Shasha, “Keep an eye on the time for me. The meat needs to marinate for a bit.” Li Xiangfu stated.
Li Shasha, standing on her tiptoes to reach her phone, noticed a notification in his message box. “You have a private message.”
Li Xiangfu indicated, suggesting he take a look.
Li Shasha read it aloud: “Congratulations on winning the [Dinner Appointment] spot, please contact us as soon as possible…”
Li Xiangfu was momentarily perplexed, wiping the flour from his hands. He suspected it was a scam but still clicked on the message, only to discover that it was from the company’s official account. However, the winning number wasn’t his, but that of another user mentioned in the message.
He alerted the official account, informing them that they had sent the private message to the wrong recipient.
The official account replied promptly, explaining that they had temporarily added two additional spots but had not publicized it on Weibo. Li Xiangfu was one of the lucky recipients. They attached a form for him to complete, along with three available dinner time slots.
Li Shasha arched his delicate eyebrows. “Has luck found you?” he inquired.
Li Xiangfu didn’t respond immediately, sitting down and checking the profiles of several followers one by one. Most of them were inactive accounts.
“Did Qin Jin discreetly allocate more spots for you?” Li Shasha ventured.
“Otherwise, how could such a coincidence occur?” Li Xiangfu remarked. He set aside his phone and mused, “A regular lottery would require a public announcement, while increasing the spots without notice implies it may be a personal directive.”
Li Shasha wasn’t surprised. He had concluded as much during the wedding banquet, saying, “Qin Jin has taken a liking to you.”
Li Xiangfu rose to continue preparing the food. He didn’t take his comment to heart, suspecting it held a deeper meaning.
Speaking from behind, Li Shasha asserted, “At first glance, he doesn’t understand romance. If he were to pursue you, the most direct sign would be spending money on you. Then he might confirm it in person.”
“In the eyes of outsiders, I’m seen as a second-generation rich kid,” Li Xiangfu reminded.
“Which rich second-generation child would twirl around on a stage like a top spinner?” Li Shasha quipped.
…
Avoiding the problem wouldn’t solve it. Li Xiangfu ultimately decided to attend the dinner appointment. He selected the nearest available time slot and booked it for the following evening.
Learning from previous experiences, when he left the house the next day, Mr. Li cast him a suspicious look. “Recording a program?”
Li Xiangfu replied, “Meeting a friend.”
Mr. Li refrained from further questioning, as it seemed that as long as he wasn’t performing on stage, he was free to spend a night outside without issue.
The city boasted numerous renowned five-star hotels, and the chosen venue for their dinner was one of them.
Compared to other five-star hotels, this one had more understated decor but provided excellent privacy for confidential discussions. A bodyguard stood guard outside the private dining room, confirming that Qin Jin had arrived earlier.
Upon opening the door, Li Xiangfu was immediately greeted by the refreshing blast of air conditioning.
Qin Jin was also attired in a shirt, with the collar left open and sleeves slightly less neatly rolled up. In contrast, Li Xiangfu looked like a seasoned scholar.
“Hello, Mr. Qin,” he greeted, extending his hand.
“You don’t need to be so formal,” Qin Jin replied.
Li Xiangfu’s handshake was met with the slight chill of Qin Jin’s hands.
The waiter promptly began serving the dishes, and Qin Jin signaled that they wanted no further interruptions. Once the door to the private dining room closed, it was just the two of them.
“Let’s start with the meal,” Qin Jin suggested, casually moving his fingertips across the table and landing on Li Xiangfu’s favorite dish.
Li Xiangfu, who had endured a rather austere period in history, displayed impeccable table manners. He ate methodically and at a measured pace, not wasting a second. After a couple of bites, he placed his chopsticks down and raised his gaze to meet Qin Jin’s.
This signaled their readiness to delve into the conversation.
“By the original design of this event, you should be the one asking me questions,” Qin Jin noted, leaning back in his chair. “If you have investment concerns, I may be able to offer some insights.”
Li Xiangfu considered for a moment before posing his genuine question, his tone tinged with sincerity, “I aspire to be a second-generation affluent individual, but my family doesn’t endorse this path.”
Being born into affluence but unable to enjoy it in one’s later years is a situation deserving of sympathy.
Qin Jin actually chuckled upon hearing this, and his somber demeanor lightened a bit. “So you want to start your own business?”
Li Xiangfu was candid. “I’m planning to attend a networking event shortly, and the TV program recording is also a means to boost my visibility.”
“In fact, there are two more straightforward approaches,” Qin Jin proposed, the smile fading from his face as he adopted his usual guarded expression. “First, gift your paintings to Li Xichun; she’s a discerning critic. Or…” He paused momentarily. “Sell them to me.”
Li Xiangfu contemplated for a moment. His sister had recently shifted her admiration from her works to someone else and had held an art exhibition to contend with capital. There was no reason for her to get entangled in this.
Seemingly aware that Li Xiangfu had dismissed the first option, Qin Jin leaned back in his chair and proposed, “I will provide you with a monthly stipend, and in return, you will supply me with a painting every six months.”
Li Xiangfu was indeed fond of his own work and was confident in it. He refrained from auctioning it, as the art world was fraught with complexities. It often depended on the experts. For a moment, he found himself tempted by the offer but eventually shook his head. “I need more time to consider.”
His refusal indicated a rejection, in essence. He was always cautious in financial transactions to preempt potential complications down the line.
Moreover, Qin Jin’s seemingly harmless demeanor compelled Li Xiangfu to exercise added caution.
“Are you wary of me?” Qin Jin astutely identified his concerns.
Li Xiangfu cast his eyes down. He was about to deny it, but then he heard Qin Jin say, “It’s wise to be cautious of others.” There was a hint of nostalgia in his tone. “I also have my own guards up.”
These enigmatic words left Li Xiangfu pondering their deeper meaning, and as he used his chopsticks again, the delectable flavors before him failed to elicit his usual enthusiasm.
Once they had nearly finished their meal, Qin Jin’s secretary entered to take a photograph.
“Documenting the event,” Qin Jin explained, his patience more evident now.
Li Xiangfu didn’t voice any objections and excused himself to the restroom. Meanwhile, Qin Jin headed directly to the hotel entrance to await someone.
“Do you want to post it on the official blog?” the secretary inquired in a hushed tone.
Considering the impact this silent strike could have, the Li family would likely be quite agitated upon seeing the photograph.
“No need,” Li Xiangfu replied.
“Alright… huh?” The secretary responded instinctively, then looked up in astonishment, meeting the boss’s inscrutable gaze, and promptly abandoned any inner queries.
Li Xiangfu returned in Qin Jin’s private car. As he stepped out, a familiar black vehicle pulled up behind him.
Li Huaichen had just wrapped up his overtime at the office and, upon spotting Li Xiangfu, furrowed his brow. He was about to inquire when his gaze landed on Qin Jin’s profile through the partially open car window, causing his eyes to narrow.
Qin Jin, showing no inclination to acknowledge him, instructed his secretary to drive away.
Li Huaichen averted his eyes and, as they were about to enter the house, asked, “Why did you return in his car?” Li Xiangfu and Li Shasha had a penchant for redirecting blame onto each other, but this time they opted for honesty. “Shasha forwarded the dinner date WeChat, and I happened to win the lottery.”
Observing a small wine stain on his sleeve, Li Huaichen pursed his thin lips and directed, “Head upstairs to change your clothes. I have something to discuss when you come down.”
At this juncture, Mr. Li had already retired for the night. Li Xichun, sitting alone in the living room, snacking on potato chips, glanced over and inquired, “With that serious expression, is there an issue at the company?”
In accordance with Li Huaichen’s brief directive, Li Xichun set aside her potato chips, and her previously gentle demeanor transformed into one of apprehension.
Upstairs, as Li Xiangfu changed his attire, he received an unexpected message from Qin Jin: [Retire to bed early.]
His suspicions seemed validated, and a mixture of complex emotions crossed his face. Li Shasha’s assessment might be correct. By arranging a dinner, expressing an interest in buying his paintings, and offering a thoughtful good night message, it all appeared to be subtle hints of courtship.
When he descended the stairs, his demeanor was somewhat weighed down. Upon seeing Li Huaichen waiting for him, Li Xiangfu hastened his pace.
Li Huaichen was seated at the dining table, and there was an air of tension in the room.
“Xiangfu,” he raised his chin and hesitated before speaking, “I have to tell you something about Qin Jin… he’s been acting differently around you.”
The words he had been composing for a while tumbled out suddenly. After saying this, Li Xichun seemed startled. “You know?”
Li Xiangfu nodded and added, “A prominent entrepreneur doesn’t approach people without reason.” After a moment of silence, he posed another question, “Will my actions and words affect the family business?”
Li Huaichen took a deep breath and finally ran his hands through his hair. “A businessman pursues profit. He’s astute and has his career, so he won’t wage a battle against us.”
Upon receiving a clear response, Li Xiangfu heaved a sigh of relief, lowering his head to examine his hands. “Please tell me, how should I decline Mr. Qin’s advances to minimize any damage?”
Li Xichun’s arm, which had frozen mid-gesture, slowly lowered.
On the other side of the room, Li Xiangfu remained immersed in a sense of melancholy, seeking answers from the family.
Taking a gentle breath, Li Huaichen turned his neck, which had grown stiff at some point, to gaze at Li Xichun’s direction.
“…” I’m not equipped to handle this question; it’s your responsibility.
The author has something to say:
Li Xiangfu: This is the tragedy of being born into a prominent family – everything is beyond your control.
Li Xichun:…
So… I have a theory: maybe Qin Jin had some hidden feelings for Li Xiangfu when he was his brothers traveling companion. The flashbacks gave me a weird feeling like qin Jin’s brother may have caused the incident and went into hidding, so he could have been the one to send the gift- maybe the missing/dead brother is the villain
+1 on the missing brother sending the flowers and possibly being the villain. In any case, I really don’t think Qin Jin sent the flowers and note.