After returning from lunch, Qi Ji received a bank transfer notification.
The money had been sent from the Huating Club’s account—his base salary and additional bonuses were all there, every cent accounted for. The total sum was substantial enough to cover all expenses for Qi Mingyu to participate in his overseas competition.
Qi Ji didn’t even need to continue his second week of part-time work.
During his lunch break, he contacted Teacher Yang and handed the money over. Then he called the club to formally announce his resignation and asked if the scheduling staff could process his departure after the end of the next week.
At places like Huating, even short-term staff needed to submit advance notice to join or leave. Sometimes, as Zhang Wu from the boxing club had said, leaving wasn’t even guaranteed.
But things turned out far more smoothly than Qi Ji had imagined. Once he explained his identity, the response was quick, surprisingly polite, and they even said that if he wished, his second week could be canceled early.
This was a huge relief. His funds were sufficient; there was no reason to continue that job. If Manager Wang could take advantage of him once, he could easily do it a second time.
Besides, staying up late for extended hours—even though Qi Ji was young—would inevitably catch up to him.
The outcome was smooth and satisfactory. The club handled his resignation politely, without requiring him to make another trip.
Yet Qi Ji knew that this courtesy wasn’t the usual treatment for a waiter.
After hanging up, he stood by the break room window, looking down at the bustling street outside.
He had thought about Pei Yusheng’s strange behavior toward him, but Qi Ji understood that it had nothing to do with his own thoughts.
This was something beyond his control.
Pei Yusheng, the YunTu CEO who had supplanted the industrious vice president, could change cars daily, order ten bottles of fine liquor without blinking, or dock Qi Ji’s wages and full-attendance bonuses with a mere word.
And Qi Ji? He hadn’t even converted his YunTu internship into a full-time position.
Carrying enormous debt on his shoulders, he appeared normal on the surface, yet always lingered on the fringes of every group. Though he lived, studied, and worked closely with others, it seemed that only a dark cloud hovered over him.
The cloud lingered, and rain fell, blocking the sunlight that should have shone on him.
Still, the debt could eventually be repaid, and one day that cloud might drift away, letting his sunlight through.
But Pei Yusheng was different.
Qi Ji and Pei Yusheng didn’t even exist in the same solar system, let alone bask in the same light.
A black hole expanded, a singularity collapsed, and for a fleeting microsecond, their rays of light crossed due to an inexplicable accident. But in the next moment, they were back to living in their respective galaxies.
What could Qi Ji do to change that?
Nothing.
Last night, at the grand performance witnessed by everyone, Qi Ji had been one of the most conspicuous figures, yet he was fully aware he was not the main character.
He felt more like a decorative element on stage, or a folding fan held in hand, adding flair for the lead actor.
No matter how beautiful the decoration or fan, it was ultimately just a tool.
When the music ended, the tool went back into its box. Finished. No sequel.
The only real connection between Qi Ji and Pei Yusheng was professional employment—showing up for work and losing bonuses if late.
Qi Ji continued to diligently show up on time.
As he had expected, although he had encountered Pei Yusheng three times within twenty-four hours, nothing further happened between them for quite some time.
To be precise, Pei Yusheng simply didn’t come to the company.
Since the CEO had personally dined in the cafeteria, the menu had improved considerably. Though Xinghai employees already enjoyed excellent benefits, YunTu’s cafeteria became even more lavish, adding claypot soups and dessert windows, which caused the internal “diet and check-in” groups to falter.
Everyone could enjoy these perks, and opinions of the CEO gradually softened. But over time, with Pei Yusheng’s continued absence, rumors started circulating again.
YunTu’s current priority remained the land issue. Preparations for the new research institute were complete, but the location was still unresolved. Available plots either had poor location or insufficient area, frustrating everyone.
Building the new research center was a key phase for the Xinghai Group, critical to its development. YunTu was central among Xinghai’s S City subsidiaries, but not the entirety of Xinghai.
The headquarters were far away on the southern coast. If YunTu couldn’t secure a site, the group would choose elsewhere. Time for YunTu was running short.
During this crucial period, even the company’s late-night meals extended to midnight, yet Pei Yusheng, overseeing the entire operation, was absent. Daily affairs reverted to Vice President Zhang Fu.
Zhang was strict and expressionless; no one dared gossip in his presence, though complaints circulated privately.
YunTu needed a firm, strong, and wise leader. Clearly, the new CEO had yet to deliver a satisfactory performance.
But these internal turmoils had little effect on Qi Ji.
Still an intern, unable to sign a full three-party contract before graduating senior year, corporate changes didn’t affect him, and he wasn’t invested in office gossip.
He focused on work and design, and with bonuses from the boxing club and the club, his life was easier than before.
However, after finishing weekend overtime, Qi Ji was immediately blocked by Qi Mingyu upon leaving the office.
“Looking for me?” Qi Ji asked.
Qi Mingyu had learned from past experience, blocking him without rushing to explain, only saying, “We’ll talk at home,” his expression clearly displeased.
Since Qi Ji rarely had part-time work, he agreed: “Let’s stop by the supermarket first, pick up some groceries.”
The brothers usually ate in the cafeteria. Qi Mingyu stayed home on weekends; Qi Ji, busy, rarely returned home, surviving on cheap discounted bread when not in the cafeteria.
“No need,” Qi Mingyu said cautiously. “We have food at home.”
He seemed wary of being tricked again. Qi Ji didn’t notice, only nodding: “Alright.”
They took the subway home. Weekend crowds made Qi Ji anxious about space, so he searched for a corner but found none. He settled in the middle, barely holding a pole when a jostling arm hit him, forcing him to withdraw.
He gave up holding on, standing with his feet only to avoid further bumps.
Just as he steadied himself, his hat was tugged.
Turning, he saw the still-impatient Qi Mingyu behind him. Before he could ask, Qi Mingyu grabbed him by the shoulder-neck seam.
“Ming…?”
Qi Ji didn’t finish speaking as Qi Mingyu said “excuse me” and maneuvered him through the crowd to a corner near the connecting section of the car.
Pushing him into the wall corner, Qi Mingyu stood facing forward, back to Qi Ji, looking entirely unwilling to speak.
Qi Ji was puzzled. Was he angry?
He reviewed recent expenses carefully. Had he missed a school payment?
It didn’t seem so.
Then what was this about?
He didn’t understand. The subway was crowded and noisy, so he didn’t press, deciding to wait until home.
After they exited the subway, instead of going home directly, they detoured to a nearby community and knocked on a small villa.
The door was opened by a silver-haired elderly lady, gentle in demeanor, with a faint scent of mint, and still showing traces of her youthful elegance.
Seeing the brothers, her eyes curved in a crescent smile. “Qi Qi, you’re here? Come in, come in!”
Qi Ji couldn’t help but smile: “Grandma Yu.”
They entered, changed into slippers at the entrance. Grandma Yu busied herself pouring tea. When the kettle ran out, she reached for a thermos, but Qi Mingyu moved faster, picking it up himself.
“I got this, Teacher,” he said firmly.
Qi Ji, now in slippers, looked up at the ceiling light. “Grandma, is the light still flickering?”
The villa was only occupied by Grandma Yu and her husband. Their children were overseas and rarely visited. Qi Ji and Qi Mingyu often helped care for the elderly couple.
“No, it’s fixed. Mingyu helped last time,” Grandma Yu smiled, patting his arm. “He’s amazing.”
“Thank you for taking care of Mingyu, Grandma and Grandpa,” Qi Ji said.
“Oh, no need to be so polite,” she said warmly. “Come, little Qi, have some tea.”
Qi Ji took a sip, then looked around the room.
“Looking for the kittens?” Grandma Yu asked. “I just brought them out to the courtyard.”
“Can I go see them?” Qi Ji asked.
“Of course,” she said. “They just finished eating, shouldn’t bother you too much.”
Qi Ji smiled, heading down the hall to the living room corner.
At the end, a sliding door led to the open-air courtyard. Outside, the grass was lush, flowers climbed the walls. The autumn sun shone warmly, and the courtyard showed careful maintenance.
By a trellis near the brick wall, a rattan chair and side table held a half-played chess game. A bespectacled elderly man pondered over the board, oblivious to the newcomers.
Qi Ji called softly, “Grandpa Xue.”
He was answered first not by the old man, but by a chorus of meows.
“Meow~”
“Meow!”
Standing on the stone path, Qi Ji hadn’t yet stepped forward before five or six cats surrounded him in a fan shape.
Though past seventy, Grandpa Xue was sharp and aware. He looked over his glasses. “Oh, little Qi?”
“It’s me,” Qi Ji said, a round orange cat clinging to his leg. He could only laugh, a rare liveliness in his expression. “Sorry to bother you again, Grandpa Xue.”
Grandpa Xue put down his chess record, unsurprised. “Is Mingyu here too?”
Qi Ji nodded. Two black cats clung to his other leg, and a few more nudged his shoe tips with their heads.
“Mingyu just secured a spot for the International Mathematical Olympiad. He’ll be going to Argentina next month.”
“Good, very good,” Grandpa Xue praised twice, rising from his chair. “Is he in the living room? I’ll go see.”
“Yes,” Qi Ji carefully guided the cats aside and opened the door for him. “Thanks, Grandpa Xue.”
Grandpa Xue waved and went inside.
Qi Ji closed the sliding door, finally getting a chance to attend to the clingy little ones. He crouched down and scooped up the orange cat, who was desperately trying to climb onto him.
“Pangpang, have you gotten heavier again, hmm?”
But just as he tried to stand with Pangpang in his arms, more cats clung to him.
“Meow~”
Surrounded by their joyful, high-pitched cries, Qi Ji could only chuckle helplessly. Truly a sweet kind of trouble.
Luckily, he was wearing long sleeves; the overly sensitive skin mostly only reacted to humans. Still, having so many little darlings cling, scratch, and climb wasn’t exactly easy.
After some effort, he managed to drag himself and the cats over to the wooden table on the porch. He pulled out a few balls of yarn and colorful ribbons from a basket, handing them out to each cat.
Qi Ji had always attracted small animals; even walking down the street, strays seemed drawn to him. Sometimes he would find abandoned kittens or puppies.
Unable to keep them himself, he would bring animals found near school to the school’s animal protection club. Animals found near home would be sent to the local animal welfare association or to Grandma Yu and Grandpa Xue, who loved cats. They’d raise them to a healthy state before finding permanent homes.
The cats at Grandma Yu’s were mostly gentle and harmless. Even timid strays gradually adapted under her careful guidance, making them easier to place with new families.
Grandpa Xue and Grandma Yu had been full-time professors at F University. After retirement, they were rehired by the institute, frequently receiving student visitors. Combined with friends who wanted to adopt cats, interested people sometimes had to wait in line.
Routine care—baths, deworming—was done at a nearby pet hospital, whose director was a former student of Grandma Yu. A simple call was enough to arrange pickup. Qi Ji would come by when he wasn’t busy, helping with small tasks like trimming claws.
He lifted Pangpang onto his lap. The round cat sprawled into a perfect “cat pancake,” belly exposed for petting. Qi Ji massaged it gently, then retrieved the special nail scissors from a small box. Holding Pangpang’s paw, he carefully extended each claw and trimmed it.
“Snip snip,” the soft clipping sound mingled with Pangpang’s contented purrs. Two black cats, Xiaomi and Blackboard, rubbed against Qi Ji’s legs, nibbling at their own paws. Several kittens rolled on his shoes, waiting eagerly for their turn.
A breeze stirred the ancient locust trees in the courtyard, rustling leaves and greenery. Golden rays of the autumn sun bathed everything in a gentle glow, filling the space with warmth and peace.
By the time Qi Ji finished settling all the cats and returned indoors, darkness had fully fallen.
The living room glowed with warm yellow light. Grandpa Xue and Grandma Yu sat at the table reviewing a problem, silver hair touching silver hair, occasionally discussing points. Qi Mingyu sat across, rapidly scribbling a long stream of numbers on paper.
Hearing the movement, Qi Mingyu glanced at Qi Ji, then returned to his calculations without interruption.
Qi Ji didn’t disturb them, taking a book from the side table and settling on the sofa to read.
Over half an hour later, the discussion concluded.
“I told you, I saw this type of problem three years ago, just phrased differently,” Grandpa Xue circled numbers on the paper. “See? This is the approach.”
“Yes, yes, you’re amazing, old man,” Grandma Yu teased. “Not everyone remembers those obscure variants from years ago like you.”
“Obscure, perhaps, but the logic is still very useful.” Grandpa Xue slid the paper across. “Mingyu, who is your coach for this competition?”
Qi Mingyu gave a name.
“Oh, Xiao Ge? Old Guan’s student,” Grandpa Xue adjusted his tortoiseshell glasses. “Good logic, just a bit competitive and expects a lot from students.”
“Is he the one who set those past problems?” Grandma Yu asked.
“Yes, that’s him.” Grandpa Xue turned to Mingyu. “Don’t let others influence you. Just do your own work.”
Mingyu nodded quietly.
Seeing him still reserved, Grandma Yu reassured, “Mingyu, you have the ability right here. Stay calm and treat it normally.”
Mingyu nodded again. “I understand. Thank you, Teacher.”
Qi Ji listened beside them. He had a good memory, but his calculation skills didn’t match Mingyu’s. The elderly couple—one a quantum mechanics professor, long-retired and honored, the other an economics professor with many students—had known Mingyu since childhood and occasionally guided him out of fondness for talent.
With the cats cared for and the problem solved, Qi Ji and Qi Mingyu prepared to leave. The couple had prepared dinner for them, but Mingyu politely declined, saying they had already eaten at home.
Respecting their wishes, Grandma Yu packed a clean bag with a full bundle of locust flower buns she’d made herself, along with several types of fruit, all to take home.
The fruits were often sent by students. The couple couldn’t finish them, so giving them away prevented waste. They weren’t expensive, and they wouldn’t accept costly gifts.
Unable to refuse the gesture, the brothers left carrying large bundles.
By the time they got home, it was past seven. Qi Ji took a quick shower, and upon emerging, the dinner was already set. Qi Mingyu sat silently at the table, not even glancing up as Qi Ji arrived.
Qi Ji took his seat and had just picked up his chopsticks when Qi Mingyu asked, his voice hoarse and emotionless, carrying a subtle weight:
“What’s with the IMO registration signature?”
“Huh?” Qi Ji tapped his chopsticks on the table, picking up a meatball. “What about the signature?”
“…”
Qi Mingyu had been ready to get angry but restrained himself seeing Qi Ji eating.
“Who authorized signing it? I never said I wanted to participate!”
Qi Ji put the meatball back in his bowl, frowning. “Why not go?”
“It’s a rare opportunity. You can compete properly, and if there’s a problem, you can ask Grandpa Xue.”
“Who said it was about opportunity?”
Irritated, Qi Mingyu ran his hand through his hair.
“I’m asking you—registration and travel fees are so expensive—where did you get all this money?”