Chapter 16

Qi Xu opened his eyes only half an hour later. Sleeping somewhere other than his own place, he hadn’t rested well and hadn’t reached deep sleep.

The room was quiet, peaceful. Outside in the courtyard, clear bird songs echoed in his ears. The four people who had been here earlier were nowhere to be seen.

He noticed a small blanket covering him. Qi Xu pulled it off and got up.

Nan Feng, who had been waiting in the living room, saw Qi Xu awake and walked over.

“Young Master Qi, the others are at the stables. I’ll send someone to take you there.”

The old Xie and Shen family mansions had bred countless outstanding descendants. To cultivate interests and hobbies among them, the nearby stables, golf courses, gymnasiums, and so on were jointly built after discussions by the two great-grandfathers, with the best instructors from across the country.

Anyone from the Xie or Shen families had lifetime free access.

Qi Xu stretched lazily. “Tell them I’m heading back.”

Nan Feng responded, “Okay.”

Qi Xu thought about how he had eaten for free here and leaving without saying goodbye might seem rude.

“Do you have paper and pen?”

An hour later, the four returned from the stables. It was so hot they didn’t run many laps, just went to see their beloved ponies and came back.

When they were kids, Xu Yichen and Fang Qian each picked their own horses here—the only two who didn’t have the surnames Shen or Xie but still owned horses at the stables.

“Qi Xu really slept soundly—almost two hours straight without waking up. That proves Ah Huai’s chaise lounge is comfy,” Xu Yichen said as he walked into the house and noticed the person on the lounge had vanished.

Not sleeping soundly, but had run off.

He asked Nan Feng, “When did he leave?”

Nan Feng replied, “About an hour ago.”

That was soon after they arrived at the stables.

Xu Yichen was a little annoyed. “Why didn’t he come find us at the stables?”

Nan Feng explained, “Young Master Qi said he doesn’t know how to ride horses and didn’t want to bother the young masters and young ladies having fun.”

“What’s this nonsense about bothering or not? It’s more fun when everyone plays together,” Xu Yichen said—not because he was upset with Qi Xu, but because they were all close enough to drop the formalities.

Qi Xu was a guest of the Xie family, and Xie Huai, the host, wasn’t surprised by the guest leaving. Calmly, he walked over to the chaise lounge’s tea table, bent down, and picked up a long slip of paper—

“Thanks for the hospitality.”

The handwriting was elegant and bold, free-flowing and graceful. You could tell the writer had practiced calligraphy, though maybe lacked patience—the four characters were all done in one continuous stroke, showing a confident, effortless style.

Fang Qian walked over to take a look. “Did Qi Xu write this? It’s pretty nice.”

Jiang Zimu, an art major surrounded by scholarly friends, said, “This handwriting must come from several years of practice.”

Xie Huai’s eyes lingered on the paper, his expression unreadable.

Someone raised by an alcoholic foster father, who’d been working since middle school to pay tuition, would he really have time or interest to study calligraphy?

Probably not. He skipped night study just to do odd jobs, spent his vacations delivering milk in the morning, waitressing at a night market in the evening, and washing dishes at midnight—working multiple jobs a day, wishing for more hours.

Such beautiful handwriting takes a lot of time and deep cultivation. If not, one might say he was gifted.

Qi Xu originally thought the three of them would rush to see him that day to confirm he was safe and then leave, but unexpectedly, the next day while he was still asleep, they entered his courtyard like invaders and started messing with his equipment.

Xu Yichen went even further, turning the slide machine into an invincible spinning wheel.

The creaking finally woke Qi Xu upstairs.

“You guys just broke into a private home. Had enough fun?” Qi Xu stood on the second-floor balcony, scowling down at the three below.

Xu Yichen looked up but didn’t stop moving his feet. “Finally awake. Your yard’s like a retirement home—so much fun.”

Qi Xu snapped, “Sending you to the police station would be even more fun.”

“Hey, kid, guests are guests—watch your mouth.” Old Master Shen was being helped into the yard.

Qi Xu glanced over, locking eyes with Xie Huai who walked alongside the old man. Not just three uninvited guests had shown up.

Half a second later, Qi Xu looked away with meaning. “Grandpa, why did you let these bandits and mountain robbers in?”

Old Master Shen grumbled, “So you really plan to live here like you’re retired? Besides sleeping, you do nothing. Hurry up and wash up and come downstairs.”

Qi Xu said nothing but glanced at the courtyard full of “bandits” before turning to wash up.

Fifteen minutes later, the “bandits” and the host sat down together at the dining table.

They all acted like old friends. Though it was their first time visiting the Shen family mansion, in less than half a day they were chatting and laughing with the old master more than Qi Xu himself, the grandson.

Qi Xu had no time to care, feeling unbalanced inside. Meanwhile, the others’ stew pots held delicious soups, but his was a pitch-black medicinal broth.

Xu Yichen noticed the difference and casually asked, “Why’s your soup different from ours?”

Qi Xu immediately stood and poured a bowl for Xu Yichen. “Good stuff, try it.”

He then picked up Jiang Zimu’s bowl. “Drink it and your hands won’t shake while painting.”

Catching Fang Qian’s expectant gaze, Qi Xu didn’t pour for her. “You’re healthy, no need for tonic.”

One stew pot was shared between two people, leaving just one last mouthful.

The cord around Qi Xu’s neck loosened immediately, allowing him to breathe easier.

Old Master Shen unusually said nothing to stop this. Qi Xu found it strange, then heard the old man say, “Qi Xu hasn’t left my house for over a week. Since you’re here, why don’t you all go out together? Don’t just stay home with this old man. The kid looks more like an octogenarian than me.”

Xu Yichen genuinely feared Qi Xu would start living a retirement lifestyle at his young age. “Grandpa Shen, I’ll take him out to have fun tonight.”

Qi Xu knew the old man was paving the way for him. Everyone here came from top-tier families.

It was the same in his past life, except then Old Master Shen’s health was failing, and Shen Fengkai had already taken over as head of the family. Qi Xu wanted to compete but lacked follow-up support, ending up hurting himself more than the enemy.

Qi Xu spotted Uncle Li holding a stew pot at the corner and hesitated for two seconds before saying nothing. He hadn’t taken the medicinal broth this meal.

Xu Yichen was still excitedly talking about tonight’s plans, accidentally knocking the ladle out of the bowl. There was still soup left, which splashed onto Xie Huai’s hand on the table.

Chaos broke out at the dining table for a moment. The man involved calmly placed the spinning ladle back on its plate, then unhurriedly pushed the soup bowl back.

As the servant walked over with a napkin, Xie Huai was handed a familiar handkerchief.

A week later, the lost item returned to its owner.

Xie Huai took the handkerchief and, without a word, produced a red ball from somewhere, handing it to Qi Xu.

A thing for a thing.

Xu Yichen thought to himself, “This feels like exchanging tokens of affection.”

Luckily, in front of Old Master Shen, Xu Yichen kept his mouth shut.

With the old man’s blessing, Xu Yichen planned to take Qi Xu out to a lively young crowd tonight.

He sent a group message, announcing that tonight’s expenses would be covered by Young Master Xie.

Then they added Qi Xu to the group chat.

Xie Huai saw the “99+ ‘Young Master Xie is generous’” messages and raised his eyes. “What does this mean?”

Xu Yichen bumped his shoulder. “Just bought a sports car, funds are tight. Luckily, we’ve got you, Huai.”

Then the young master who just joined the group wasn’t about to be outdone and jumped in enthusiastically.

Lazybones: [“Young Master Xie is generous.”]

Young Master Xie: “…”

He turned and looked at Qi Xu sitting beside him. “I support personally speaking up for service.”

Everyone in the chat was asking who the newcomer was. Qi Xu looked at his phone without lifting his head. “Messages are final. No returns or exchanges.”

That night, Fang Qian was late after changing clothes and when she arrived at the Shen residence, only Qi Xu remained by the door.

“Did they leave already?”

Qi Xu opened the rear car door for Fang Qian. “Xu Yichen said the ‘Three Yangs Bring Prosperity’—the three guys are leading the way tonight.”

…

That was Xu Yichen’s ridiculous idea.

Once Fang Qian got in the car, she asked, “What about you?”

Qi Xu expressionless: “I said if I join, it’s four generations under one roof. I’m their grandpa.”

Fang Qian burst out laughing, covering her mouth.

She was grateful for Qi Xu’s warning at the birthday party.

She hadn’t expected so much—maybe it was because he sensed Song Ruoming’s intentions but wasn’t sure. That day was their first meeting, and thankfully she trusted him. Otherwise, with Xu Yichen’s hot temper, something reckless might have happened.

Qi Xu didn’t say much, still the same quiet type—answering when asked. When Fang Qian mentioned Xu Yichen’s embarrassing moments, he subtly twitched the corner of his mouth.

As they neared their destination, a minor accident blocked the straight route at the intersection. Fang Qian suggested pulling over to let the others get out and walk—it wasn’t far.

When they got out, Qi Xu glanced back. An old van was turning into the small road behind them.

Fang Qian, wearing bell-bottom pants and small heels, walked slowly. Qi Xu was even slower, one hand in his pocket, the other taking out his phone to casually snap a photo over his shoulder.

Fang Qian suddenly slowed down, and when Qi Xu caught up, she linked her arm with his.

She whispered, “Someone’s following us.”

Qi Xu looked at her, surprised she was so alert.

“Yeah.”

They still had some distance to go. This was a bar street—crowded and chaotic.

Fang Qian dug in her bag. “Hey, where’s my lipstick? Why didn’t you remind me to bring it?”

Qi Xu replied, “You look good without it.”

Fang Qian scolded, looking at him, “It’s all your fault.”

As they bickered, neither noticed a hundred-dollar bill slip out of her bag.

The person behind didn’t stop, still closely tailing them.

Not after the money—then it was after them.