After dinner, Qi Xu, Li Kaixing, and Zhong Aiming returned to the old house. Just as they stepped inside, Qi Xu got another call from Shen Fengkai.
It was his tenth call that day, not to mention the flood of texts—all of which Qi Xu had ignored.
Sitting down to eat with Li Kaixing tonight reminded him of the first time he stole a project from Shen Fengkai’s hands, which had triggered a whole board meeting aimed at tearing him apart.
But when Qi Xu presented a proposal with profits far exceeding what Shen’s team could offer, the board—those sly, opportunistic old foxes—flocked to his side without hesitation. Classic case of “whoever feeds me is my mom.”
The sight of Shen Fengkai’s disgruntled face had been deeply satisfying. That evening, Qi Xu went out to celebrate with Li Kaixing and the project team. It was one of the rare times in years he’d felt like he could finally exhale.
Standing in the garden, Qi Xu finally answered Shen Fengkai’s call.
“Why haven’t you picked up my calls?” Shen demanded.
Qi Xu laughed. “Dude, you’re not my boyfriend. I’m not on 24/7 call for you.”
Shen choked on his words and quickly shifted topics. “The driver didn’t find you at school this afternoon. Zeyu said you left early. You’re on break and not even planning to come home?”
Qi Xu brushed a hand over a potted plant. “I am home.”
Shen knew he meant the old house. That was home?
He didn’t believe for a second that Qi Xu saw it that way. To him, it was just a temporary hideout—an act of rebellion. He was bound to come back sooner or later.
“Your mom waited for you all night. She barely ate. Is this how you treat your parents? Qi Xu, have I spoiled you too much?”
Qi Xu couldn’t be bothered to keep arguing. “You four were doing just fine without me. Why is it that as soon as I show up, everyone’s falling apart? I stayed with you guys for less than a month. Dad’s always out working, and Mom’s got her precious baby Zeyu by her side. I’m used to being alone. Isn’t that the perfect balance? And don’t give me this ‘family love’ nonsense. I don’t need emotional patchwork—I just need material stability.”
There was a long pause on the other end. It sounded like Shen was genuinely stunned into silence.
After a while, he finally muttered, “Qi Xu… how can you be so heartless?”
In my past life, Qi Xu thought, I wanted that family warmth. I wanted the Shen family to look at me like I mattered. I did everything to earn it—and they still called me heartless.
In this life, I gave up on all of it… and they still call me cold.
These people really had every angle covered, didn’t they?
Qi Xu didn’t take it to heart. “The Shen family made me like this. I’m not changing. So for everyone’s peace of mind, let’s just keep our distance.”
Meanwhile, Shen Fengkai stood at the front door, glancing back toward the living room. Zeng Yun was sitting on the couch watching TV, with Shen Zeyu by her side.
For some reason, he couldn’t shake the feeling that this picture was missing someone—Qi Xu.
“Qi Xu,” he said, “I’m going to pretend I never heard any of that. Come home tomorrow night.”
Qi Xu rolled his eyes. “Want me to record it and send you the audio? You’re 25 and already forgetting things. Might wanna get that checked out.”
With that, he hung up.
By now, the plant in front of him had been stripped of nearly all its leaves.
Feeling a little guilty, he glanced around. The old man should be in his room by now, and the housekeepers were still in the back garden.
Qi Xu took off running—fleeing the scene of the crime back to his own courtyard.
Early the next morning—day one of the National Day holiday—Qi Xu had just gotten out of bed when he got a call from Li Kaixing.
“We’re going house-hunting,” Li said.
Qi Xu rubbed his eyes. “It’s a holiday. People still work?”
“In real estate, there are no holidays. Everyone’s off, so it’s prime time for viewings. Send me your location—I’ll come pick you up.”
After washing up, Qi Xu headed to the main house for brunch. Out front, Old Master Shen was watering his plants with a tiny kettle.
Qi Xu greeted him and walked into the dining room. He had just picked up a dim sum pastry when he heard the old man’s furious roar:
“Who plucked the leaves off my Solitude Among the Pines?!”
(Yes, the old man had given every single plant in the garden a poetic name. And with his sharp memory, he remembered every one of them.)
Qi Xu calmly bit into a shrimp dumpling, trying to play it cool. “Yeah, seriously, who touched Grandpa’s favorite treasure? Be honest now—cooperation will earn leniency, resistance will only make it worse.”
Uncle Li crouched down to inspect the stripped leaves. “I brought the pots out for some moonlight after dinner last night. They were fine then, so it must’ve happened after 8:30. Old Master, want me to have Xiao Sun check the security footage?”
Qi Xu immediately sensed danger. He downed his juice in one gulp and bolted for the door, casually glancing at the security cam pointed right at the old man’s babies.
“Grandpa, something came up—I’ve got to go!”
Old Master Shen leaned on his cane and watched his grandson make a suspiciously urgent exit. Even from behind, his guilt was showing.
“Lao Li, stop him!”
Qi Xu panicked and picked up the pace, breaking into a run for the front gate. But seemingly out of nowhere, the household bodyguards popped up and blocked the entrance.
Enemies in front, Uncle Li behind—and Qi Xu knew how fast Uncle Li could move. That man wasn’t your average senior citizen.
And then came the cane, raised like a weapon.
Qi Xu decided now was the time for a heartfelt confession. “Grandpa! I didn’t mean to! I was just trying to trim it a little! It was a well-intentioned mistake! Maybe not a good deed, but at least it was effort!”
He dodged and weaved as the cane swung his way.
“You little rascal! You ripped out my plant and think that earns you credit? What’s wrong with your itchy hands?!”
The bodyguards wisely stayed out of it. It was clearly a matter between grandfather and grandson, and no one dared get involved.
Qi Xu, never one to shut up, began calling out moves like a coach at a boxing match. “Alright—left, right, now center!”
That only made the old man angrier.
Uncle Li was caught in the middle, trying to calm both sides. “Young Master, just apologize properly. Old Master, be careful—don’t hurt yourself.”
That’s when Xie Huai walked in.
Qi Xu saw him instantly, his eyes lighting up as they locked gazes—clearly up to something.
One look and you could tell he was already scheming something bad.
Qi Xu darted behind Xie Huai, using him like a human shield. He peeked out from behind Xie Huai’s shoulder and said, “Grandpa, I’m calling for a truce.”
Old Master Shen lowered his cane. Honestly, this little punk running across the lawn had actually helped loosen up his joints a bit. Qi Xu had even slowed down just to tease him.
“Ah Huai, don’t cover for him,” the old man growled. “Today, I have to teach this brat a lesson.”
Xie Huai took a step to the side, but Qi Xu tugged at the hem of his shirt and moved with him.
It looked exactly like a game of “Eagle Catching Chicks”—and Qi Xu was the chick who refused to let go.
Xie Huai glanced down at the fingers lightly pinching the edge of his shirt. It wasn’t a tight grip, so he didn’t bother pulling away. Instead, he toyed with the hem between his fingers, confident that Qi Xu wouldn’t actually bolt.
A rare, genuine smile played at the corners of his lips. Then he turned back to the old man.
“Grandpa Shen, my grandfather asked you over for tea. That old Pu’er you two always talk about.”
Old Master Shen narrowed his eyes, half-believing. “He’s finally willing to open that cake of tea? Wasn’t he saving it for when his future granddaughter-in-law comes over?”
Xie Huai replied, “My dad bought him an even better one.”
Shen had always thought Xie Huai was a good, well-mannered kid—and top of his class to boot. That, combined with the tea offer, was enough to convince him. He turned and headed inside to fetch the tea tin, already scheming to sneak some of Old Man Xie’s stash.
Qi Xu let go of Xie Huai’s shirt and gave him a thumbs-up. “Thanks, Brother Huai. I owe you one. Now if you’ll excuse me…”
Just then, Li Kaixing texted him to say he’d arrived—but the guards wouldn’t let him in without being on the guest list.
Qi Xu pulled out his phone to message security, turned to leave, and—
Got pulled back by his shirt.
A lazy voice drifted from behind him. “That’s how you treat your savior?”
Qi Xu glanced sideways at the hand gripping his shirt. Somehow, that motion didn’t seem like something Xie Huai would do.
Not really on brand.
He hesitated, then said, “Can we… circle back to this after I get back?”
Xie Huai didn’t let go. “Where are you going?”
“House-hunting,” Qi Xu answered truthfully.
Without another word, Xie Huai stepped ahead. “I’m coming.”
Qi Xu blinked. “…What?”
He hurried to keep up. “Is that something you can do together? What if we both like the same place—winner gets it? I don’t have your kind of money, man.”
Xie Huai said, “We won’t.”
Unclear whether he meant they wouldn’t like the same place, or that he wouldn’t compete with him. Before Qi Xu could figure it out, the two of them were already getting into Li Kaixing’s car.
Which meant they missed the scene that unfolded shortly after: Old Master Shen and Old Master Xie walking out, canes in hand, united in fury.
“You’re the one who kept saying my grandson’s such a good boy,” Shen grumbled. “Look at him now—still think he’s an angel?”
“I finally get it now,” Xie replied. “Your brat and mine are clearly in cahoots.”
Shen clutched his chest. “My Solitude Among the Pines…”
Li Kaixing was driving the company-assigned car. Glancing at the rearview mirror, he eyed the two young men in the backseat and started to connect the dots. Was Qi Xu sending him out like a chauffeur just for driving practice?
He finally realized: this “friend” who came out of Qi Xu’s house clearly wasn’t some assistant or repair tech like Qi Xu had claimed. Anyone who lived in a place that looked like a royal garden was definitely not ordinary.
“Qi Shao,” Li said, “if you’d told me your friend was joining, I’d have brought the company van. This car’s too cramped for two guys with legs like yours.”
The car was just a regular sedan. The backseat wasn’t widened, so their knees were practically pressing into the front seats.
Qi Xu glanced at Xie Huai’s legs and couldn’t help but think: this young master has probably never sat in a car this tight before.
“You want the front seat, young master? It’s roomier,” he offered.
Two sets of eyes stared at him in the rearview—like they were worried he’d be uncomfortable.
Xie Huai said calmly, “I’m fine.”
Li Kaixing was a talker. Guessing Xie Huai was about the same age as Qi Xu, he started chatting about school life. Surprisingly, Xie Huai actually replied now and then.
Qi Xu watched them go back and forth. No wonder these two seemed to hit it off in their past life—it was like they were long-lost besties. Li Kaixing could seal deals others couldn’t even start.
He should’ve been the one treating Xie Huai to drinks.
The first place they went to was in a residential area near Yunrui. It was a bit far from the school—about a 45-minute drive.
Just as they stepped out of the car, Xie Huai’s phone rang. He glanced at Qi Xu before stepping aside to answer.
The real estate agent was still on their way from another entrance.
Li Kaixing took Qi Xu aside. “Young Master Xie seems busy—why’d you bring him house-hunting?”
Qi Xu stuffed his hands in his pockets. “He tagged along himself. Maybe he’s looking to buy, too.”
Li Kaixing looked on with envy. “Man, when will I be able to just buy a place whenever I feel like it? Qi Shao, I swear, I’m sticking with you for life.”
As he spoke, he grabbed Qi Xu by the arm. “I’m counting on you, bro.”
They were standing at the entrance of the residential area, and people were coming and going. Li Kaixing’s dramatic gesture happened to catch the attention of someone in a passing car. The window rolled down.
Qi Xu didn’t notice. He just patted his veteran employee’s arm. “Stick with me, and you’ll be making a million a year in no time.”
The real estate agent finally arrived, apologizing profusely for the wait.
In the car that had just rolled past and closed its window, a girl sitting in the backseat asked, “What was that about?”
The boy sitting next to her grinned mischievously. “I think I just saw my cheap-ass cousin.”
The girl raised an eyebrow. “Was that the two guys at the gate? Your cousin must be house-hunting too. I recognize that real estate agent—he handled our place.”
The guy looked intrigued, like he’d just heard something juicy. He immediately pulled out his phone.
As soon as the call connected, he said with a chuckle, “Zeyu-ge, guess who I just ran into?”
—
They were out of the first property in less than ten minutes. Xie Huai’s verdict: too far from campus. He said they’d have to wake up almost two hours earlier just to make it on time.
Why two hours? Because Qi Xu needs a full hour just to get out of bed. Without any buffer, he might as well drop out.
Qi Xu didn’t say a word to dispute that—because it was 100% true.
The second property was an even faster no-go. They were out in five minutes. Xie Huai’s reason this time? Bad location, guaranteed traffic jams during rush hour.
Again, Qi Xu said nothing—just silently agreed.
The third one was a slight improvement, but still got rejected for weak community amenities and poor security.
Li Kaixing had never seen anyone house-hunt at this speed. Most of the time was spent in the car.
By the time they were looking at the fifth place, Li Kaixing couldn’t help himself. He pulled Qi Xu aside and asked, “Qi Shao, are you buying the house or is your friend? If he doesn’t like it, at least say something yourself—why are you so quiet the whole time?”
Qi Xu answered honestly, “His opinion’s about the same as mine. I didn’t like those places either.”
In his past life, before he found that massive penthouse, Qi Xu always rented. He was picky—really picky. What surprised him was that Xie Huai seemed just as choosy as he was.
It was getting late, and they decided to stop for the day. House-hunting wasn’t something you could rush, after all.
Li Kaixing asked, “Head home?”
Qi Xu replied, “You go ahead. I’ve got something else to take care of.”
Li Kaixing waved at them. “Later, Qi Shao, Xie Shao. Catch you next time.”
After he left, Lao Gao pulled up in his car.
Qi Xu gave Xie Huai a look. “You had Lao Gao with you—why’d you squeeze into that little car with me?”
Xie Huai tugged on Qi Xu’s sleeve and guided him into the vehicle. “A car’s a car. Doesn’t matter which one I sit in. Where to next?”
Qi Xu actually did have something important to do. “I haven’t gotten a birthday gift for Jiang Zimu yet. His party’s on the sixth.”
He’d found out Jiang Zimu’s birthday was October 6th—during the National Day holiday. The invitation had already arrived. The party was being hosted on a yacht courtesy of Xu Yichen.
Qi Xu figured if he wanted to eventually own a piece of Jiang the Art God’s masterpieces—or at least earn a cut of ticket sales from Fang Qian’s future gallery show—he’d better show up with a decent gift.
The problem was, he had no idea what to give. In his previous life, he knew Fang Qian liked plush dolls, so he got her a limited edition one for her coming-of-age ceremony. But with Jiang Zimu, he’d only met him twice.
He asked, “You know him pretty well. You should have an idea of what he likes. Help me pick something?”
“Art-related or something else?” Xie Huai asked, very professionally, like he was taking notes for a consultation.
Qi Xu frowned slightly. “What do you mean by art-related?”
Xie Huai replied, “Xu Yichen gave him a three-year supply of white paint for his fifteenth birthday. Fang Qian bought him a box of detailing pens and gouache brushes for his sixteenth.”
Qi Xu: “…”
“Well, those are practical gifts, I’ll give them that. But I don’t know what art supplies he already has, so maybe let’s set that idea aside. What else?”
Xie Huai thought about it. “He likes quirky, unusual stuff.”
Qi Xu mulled over the words “quirky and unusual,” and an idea began to form in his mind.
Then he asked about Xu Yichen’s preferences, just to be prepared for his birthday too.
Turns out, Xu Yichen was into model cars and video games—definitely a fun-loving guy.
Five minutes later, the person beside him had already glanced at him several times—but said nothing, just kept staring.
“What?” Qi Xu asked. “Do I have something written on my face?”
Xie Huai looked away. “No, just checking if you’re being biased.”
Qi Xu let out an “oh”: “I’ve never been fair in the first place.”
…
Qi Xu had been too caught up thinking about the gift, and only now did he realize that the scenery outside the car window was no longer the familiar city streets.
The car had entered an estate. On both sides of the road were lakes, their banks lined with willow trees swaying in the breeze. In the middle of the lake was a hexagonal pavilion, and if you looked closely, you could see someone feeding fish inside.
When they reached the main entrance, Qi Xu got out of the car with Xie Huai but didn’t ask where they were.
They walked along a gravel path and entered through a large gate, stepping into a square courtyard that reminded him a lot of the Shen family’s old residence.
But instead of potted plants, there was a grape arbor stretching across the corridor, already heavy with clusters of purplish-red grapes.
A row of side rooms stood with open doors—tea room, game room, card room—everything you could think of. It seemed the main hall was still further inside.
The kids in the pavilion stopped feeding the fish as soon as they recognized the familiar car pulling in. One of them tossed the remaining fish food into the lake, and they all dashed back to the courtyard through a shortcut.
As soon as they entered, they called out in a chorus:
“Big Brother!”
“Cousin!”
“Uncle!”
All sorts of titles were shouted out, chattering excitedly. Boys and girls, older and younger—one of them, the tiniest, was sucking on a pacifier and being carried by a nanny, staring wide-eyed at Qi Xu.
Qi Xu, seeing so many kids, couldn’t help but ask, “What is this place, a daycare center?”
Xie Huai ruffled the hair of a little one who barely reached his waist. “It’s my little uncle’s place. Every holiday, the Qin family gets together—adults stay at my grandfather’s, and the kids are dropped off here.”
Qi Xu smiled, amused. “Oh, so you’re one of the kids too.”
Qin Yue came downstairs from the loft and looked at Xie Huai in surprise. “Well, well, look who it is. Not hanging out at your grandfather’s place today? What brings you here?”
Then he noticed Qi Xu standing nearby. He shot a meaningful glance at his nephew, but getting no reaction, he turned to Qi Xu with a brilliant grin. “We meet again, Xiao Xu.”
Qi Xu nodded politely. “Mr. Qin.”
Qin Yue nearly blacked out hearing such a formal title. “Don’t call me Mr. Qin—call me Uncle.”
Qi Xu still couldn’t quite bring himself to say it. In his past life, they were just friends. In this one, calling someone who used to be a peer a relative felt like a mental hurdle he couldn’t get past.
He smiled politely and said nothing.
A housekeeper led them into the tea room. Behind them, Qin Yue muttered quietly to Xie Huai, “Seriously? All this time and he’s still that distant?”
Xie Huai shot him a look. “He’s only distant with you. Also, stop calling him ‘Xiao Xu.’ His name is Qi Xu.”
Qin Yue ignored him, chalking it up to Xie Huai’s possessiveness acting up again. He’d always been this way since he was a kid—once something had his name on it, no one else could touch it. Back then it was toys. Now, it was a person.
Qi Xu ended up drinking a whole pot of tea with Qin Yue and couldn’t take the man’s teasing looks or his overwhelming “elderly affection,” so he excused himself to hang out with the kids, where he could at least feel like the cool older brother.
The Qin family kids all had distinct personalities. In the rec room, everyone was doing their own thing—playing games, playing chess, board games. He even saw one kid coding on a laptop.
The older kids greeted him politely with a “Big Brother” before going back to what they were doing.
The younger ones curiously gathered around him. One little girl with a ponytail tilted her head up and said, “Big Brother, you’re really good-looking!”
Qi Xu never thought of himself as someone kids liked—back in the day, not a single kid around him ever warmed up to him.
He sat down on the carpet so he was eye-level with her. “You’re really cute, too.”
These little ones were way more adorable than the ones in the Shen family.
Suddenly, the little girl grabbed his hand. “I’m looking for a groom. Will you be my groom?”
That’s when Qi Xu realized the kids were playing Barbie Dream Castle—basically, house.
With gentlemanly grace, he placed a hand on his chest and bowed slightly. “It would be my honor.”
Outside the room, Qin Yue elbowed the man next to him. “He’s surprisingly patient. People our age—hell, even you—don’t have the patience to play house with a five-year-old.”
Xie Huai followed his gaze into the room.
Qi Xu was trying to braid a Barbie doll’s hair, but he was clumsy and it fluffed out like a bird’s nest. He quickly hid the messed-up doll behind his back and grabbed a different one with neat braids—only for his little cousin to bust him on the spot.
One refused to admit anything; the other stood there with hands on hips like a little cop. For a moment, it was hard to tell who was the actual kid.
Qi Xu’s patience was wildly inconsistent. He had zero tolerance for things he didn’t like—like explaining advanced calculus. He’d say it once and move on, whether you got it or not.
But here he was, playing house with a five-year-old again and again, endlessly patient. It was like he had a bottomless reserve.
Qi Xu was full of contradictions—but maybe that’s what made him so vibrant.
And just by existing, Qi Xu pulled people in. At first, it was his looks—sure, no one’s immune to that. But the more time you spent with him, the more it was something deeper. He still didn’t know how Qi Xu had guessed he was into artificial intelligence.
Maybe, he thought, he liked this kind of aliveness because of this very person.
By the time they reached the garden, it was already evening, and Qi Xu ended up staying for dinner.
At the dining table, the kids and adults were split up—three adults at one table, several kids at another.
Honestly, taste-wise, Qi Xu should’ve been at the kids’ table; he liked sweet and sour flavors.
Xie Huai turned to the housekeeper and gave a quiet instruction. Soon after, two small sweet-and-sour dishes were served right in front of Qi Xu.
The first thing Qi Xu did was pick out a piece of pineapple from the sweet and sour pork.
Qin Yue noticed but, surprisingly, didn’t say anything. He took a sip of his wine, seeming lost in thought.
After the kids finished eating and ran off to play outside, Qin Yue, now done with his drink, couldn’t resist stirring the pot.
“There aren’t many rooms here, and those little rascals can’t share without fighting. They all need their own rooms, and I think we’re out of spares upstairs.” He paused, then turned to Qi Xu.
“How about sharing a room with Ah Huai? You mind?”
