Wang Ziqin’s father, Wang Sui, realized just two days later that his son had gotten beaten up again. He didn’t even need to think—of course that little trouble-magnet had stirred up something outside. And this time, whoever did it didn’t even bother hiding it. They’d directly targeted Wang Ziqin—and the person he’d offended was Qiao Hailou.
It hadn’t even been that long since the last time Wang Ziqin got his leg broken! Why couldn’t the kid ever stop causing him headaches? His leg wasn’t even healed and he was already in trouble again! Every time, the mess got bigger. Maybe the idiot didn’t know who Qiao Hailou was, but Wang Sui knew very well. Qiao Hailou wasn’t someone you could afford to cross—he had connections in both the underworld and polite society. Not someone easily smoothed over.
So Wang Sui had no choice but to pinch his nose and go talk to Qiao Hailou.
“My useless son—what did he do to offend you this time? I’m here to apologize on his behalf.”
Qiao Hailou replied in this fake fair, upright tone, “Wang bro, no need to apologize. I just taught the kid a lesson. As for what he did, why don’t you ask him yourself when you get home? I count as his elder, so normally I shouldn’t bother with someone that young. But I can’t let a junior make me lose face—otherwise everyone would think I’m weak.”
A couple days ago, Shen Yuan had heard Qiao Hailou say he’d “cover” the matter, and anxiously asked what he would do if Wang Ziqin’s dad pressed the issue. They definitely couldn’t expose him.
It would be mortifying.
But Qiao Hailou had just said lazily, “Let him ask then.”
He was Qiao Hailou—bullying a kid didn’t require a reason.
He hit him, so what? Even hitting the kid’s dad might not lead to anything.
And sure enough, Wang Sui, guilty as hell, didn’t press the matter. What would asking accomplish anyway? Just make himself look bad. He sighed.
“You’re right. But… give me some face and let’s end it here. He may be rebellious, but he’s still my only son. Once his leg heals, I’m planning to send him abroad to toughen up.”
Qiao Hailou snorted.
“You can’t even control him by keeping him next to you, and you think sending him abroad will magically fix him? More likely he’ll go even crazier with no one watching. When he makes trouble here, you can still clean up after him. But overseas? On someone else’s turf? Can you protect him there?
“And abroad there’s no gun control. If he pisses off the wrong person, he could get shot—or shoot someone else. Remember that guy’s daughter from two years ago? Caused a huge mess overseas, the family spent half a billion bailing her out. Even though she got released, she’s been hiding ever since. Ruined her life and her family’s.
“Wang bro, I’m telling you this because I see you as one of my own. Don’t be mad. But believing that throwing your kid far away will magically straighten him out? Impossible.”
The more Wang Sui listened, the heavier his expression became. Everything Qiao Hailou said was true. But what else could he do? They’d been butting heads for years. Every time they saw each other, they argued. They even fought physically. When Wang Ziqin was small he could still pin him down and beat him, but the older the kid got, the less effective that became. And even when he did beat him, it didn’t make him obedient—just more rebellious.
So Wang Sui asked gravely, “Then what do you think I should do?”
Qiao Hailou answered lightly, “Simple. He acts like that because he’s your only son, and you gave him too much money. People flatter him until he floats away. He knows he’s useless but can still lie around spending what you earned. If you can be ruthless enough to cut off the money, let him experience how hard life actually is, find someone reliable to straighten him out, grind down that arrogance—maybe he can still be saved.”
Wang Sui felt that sounded strangely familiar. He thought about it, then realized—Qiao Hailou was basically describing his own past. He himself had been the spoiled youngest son of his family, not any less wild than Wang Ziqin, until he’d stormed out, cut ties, and built everything from scratch. Now he’d returned in glory.
Wang Sui didn’t expect his son to accomplish anything like that—just to become stable enough to inherit the family business without destroying it. That alone would satisfy him.
Maybe he did need to grit his teeth and discipline the kid properly. Someone had recommended some “discipline center” before, but Wang Sui didn’t believe in that kind of abusive nonsense—sure, the kid might come out obedient, but also broken. What would be the point?
As for who should handle the discipline…
Well, wasn’t there a real-life example standing in front of him?
Wang Sui thought for a moment, then looked seriously at Qiao Hailou.
“Brother Qiao, let me discuss something with you… can you help me?”
—
Shen Yuan spent two whole days on edge, terrified that Wang Ziqin would retaliate. He was even scared to go home. He’d seen Wang Ziqin bring people to attack someone’s house before. Only at the office did he feel safe—Qiao Hailou’s territory, where Wang Ziqin didn’t dare act.
And Qiao Hailou refused to tell him what he planned to do about Wang Ziqin, leaving Shen Yuan to spiral in imagination.
After work, Shen Yuan went to hitch a ride with him.
“Uncle Qiao, my car’s broken. Can you take me home?”
Qiao Hailou saw right through him and mocked, “You’re that scared of Wang Ziqin? I already said he won’t bother you. Relax—he’s got bigger problems now.”
“I’m not scared…” Shen Yuan said weakly. But seeing how confident Qiao Hailou was, he couldn’t help asking, half curious and half gleeful, “Uncle Qiao, what did you do to him? Why is he suddenly too busy to deal with me? Did he get caught cheating or something again?”
“You’ll know in a few days.” Qiao Hailou glanced over and smiled, rubbing Shen Yuan’s head. “I’ll vent your anger for you. When the time comes, however you want to take it out on him, you can.”
Shen Yuan blinked in confusion.
“…What?”
How was that even possible?
To pass the time, Qiao Hailou asked, “Tell me—how exactly did that kid bully you before? You said he targeted you as soon as you got to high school?”
“Yeah. I don’t even know what I did to offend him.” Shen Yuan said calmly, “He stepped on my glasses on purpose, stuck notes on my back, put frogs in my desk, hid my homework. Sometimes I’d just walk past him and he’d trip me. He gave me disgusting nicknames and egged the whole class on to laugh at me. Those kinds of things.
“I finally couldn’t take it, asked him directly. He said if I’d be his lackey, he’d stop bullying me.”
“It wasn’t that bad later,” he added. “Mostly running errands, buying snacks, copying homework for him, tutoring him sometimes. When he met up with girls in the grove, I stood guard outside. That sort of thing.”
Qiao Hailou paused.
“Hm… and last time he hit you—why?”
“Not really ‘often.’ Last time he kicked me because I went to a bar and didn’t tell him I was leaving early.” Shen Yuan shot him a look. “It was the night I met you.”
He added, “He’s been fighting since high school. He’d never bring me—said I’d get in the way.”
Then Shen Yuan pouted.
“That guy’s ego is insane. Thinks the world revolves around him. He kept telling me to stop studying jewelry design and become his housekeeper instead. Like I’d serve him! Does he think I don’t have dignity?!”
Qiao Hailou seemed to realize something and chuckled.
“You’re right. No serving him. Don’t worry about him anymore. Hard to believe Wang Sui, a smart man, has such a stupid son.”
Shen Yuan asked suspiciously, “What are you laughing at?”
“Nothing.”
But when he looked at Shen Yuan—this little thing who didn’t realize how adorable he was—he couldn’t help smiling.
When they reached Shen Yuan’s building and parked, Shen Yuan was about to get out when Qiao Hailou grabbed him.
“What now?”
“You’re leaving just like that?” he said reasonably. “My little master, I worked hard driving you home. Don’t I get a little reward?”
Shen Yuan shot him a look of pure disdain, leaned forward, and planted a perfunctory kiss on his lips.
“A kiss, okay? You old perv.”
Qiao Hailou held him in place.
“That’s not enough.”
He cut himself off by kissing Shen Yuan deeply. His presence completely enveloped the boy, his scent pressing in from every direction. The passenger seat was cramped. Shen Yuan had nowhere to escape.
He struggled half-heartedly, then melted into the kiss. The old perv really knew what he was doing—so well that Shen Yuan nearly lost control. If not for the last bit of clarity reminding him they were on a public street and could not start something in the car, he would’ve climbed right into Qiao Hailou’s lap.
Finally, Qiao Hailou pulled back, still unsatisfied, admiring Shen Yuan’s flushed cheeks and hazy eyes.
“Now that’s more like it.”
Shen Yuan took his hand, heart skipping.
“Uncle Qiao… why don’t you stay at my place tonight?”
“Weren’t you terrified last time? What if your uncle suddenly drops by again?”
That sentence poured cold water over Shen Yuan’s overheated brain.
“…Oh.”
Qiao kissed his brow.
“I’ll stay with you this weekend. Tonight I have a dinner meeting. Just be grateful I don’t ask you to accompany me.”
Shen Yuan could only nod.
He got out of the car with his briefcase. He’d barely walked a few steps when he saw a familiar figure and nearly had a heart attack. Thank god Qiao Hailou hadn’t come upstairs.
The person also spotted him and jogged over excitedly.
“Bro!”
It was his stepbrother, Li Lin, still in his school uniform with a backpack slung over one shoulder.
Shen Yuan counted the days and asked, “Wasn’t today your final exam?”
Li Lin nodded. “Yeah. Finished this afternoon. I took a taxi to find you. Bro, I’m on break—can I stay at your place for a few days?”
“Of course… but my bed’s too small for two people. And I don’t have a gaming PC. You’d be bored.”
Li Lin said earnestly, “It’s fine. I’ll sleep on the couch. I’ll finish my homework first, then play games.”
He sounded so sweet that Shen Yuan couldn’t refuse. But… if he had a kid to look after at home, he couldn’t sneak out to meet Qiao Hailou. What a hassle.
“I work every day, and when I get home I still have to rush my competition design. I won’t have time to entertain you,” Shen Yuan warned.
“That’s fine. Home is boring. That woman keeps coming over pretending she’s part of our family. I don’t want to see her.”
That annoyed Shen Yuan too, so he said, “Okay. But I come home late and cook late. If you’re hungry, don’t wait—order takeout.”
Li Lin brightened.
“Then I’ll cook for you! So when you get home, you’ll have hot food waiting.”
Later that night, Shen Yuan secretly texted Qiao Hailou:
[I’m doomed, Uncle Qiao. My little brother wants to stay over for a few days. What excuse can I use this weekend to go see you?]
Qiao replied easily:
[Just lie and say you’re going on a date with your boyfriend.]
Shen Yuan:
“…………”
—
Li Lin hadn’t lied. After dinner, they sat facing each other at the table—one sketching competition designs, the other doing his summer homework—until ten, then washed up and went to bed.
Li Lin curled up on the tiny couch with his legs bent awkwardly. Shen Yuan felt guilty, but remembering that embarrassing incident between them, he simply couldn’t offer to share his bed.
The next morning, Shen Yuan woke to the smell of food.
Half-asleep, he wandered into the kitchen and found Li Lin cooking—wearing only a black tank top and loose comic-print shorts under his apron. From the front, it almost looked like he wasn’t wearing pants at all.
Li Lin glanced over.
“Bro, go wash up. I made tamagoyaki and dumplings, and there’s pork-and-century-egg congee in the rice cooker. Eat before work. I’ll cook again tonight.”
Shen Yuan was pleasantly surprised.
“So obedient? When did you learn to cook?”
Li Lin pouted.
“I just followed recipes. I’m smart—I can learn anything fast.”
Breakfast was plated beautifully. Li Lin snapped a photo.
Shen Yuan teased, “Showing off to your friends?”
“Mm.” Li Lin secretly uploaded it to Weibo with the caption:
Made breakfast for my brother. He really liked it. [happy]
He had a few ten-thousand followers from gaming streams.
Replies came instantly:
Your brother is so lucky to have such a good little brother!
Li Lin thought: I agree.
—
A few days later—
Shen Yuan unexpectedly got a call from Ding Xiangyu.
“Has Wang Ziqin come looking for you?”
Shen Yuan’s heart skipped.
“No… why?”
Don’t tell him Wang Ziqin finally had time to retaliate?
Ding said gleefully, “He probably will soon. His leg just healed, and who knows what he did, but his dad kicked him out—said he wants to sever their relationship. Took back the house and money. Didn’t leave him a single cent.”
Shen Yuan blinked, trying not to laugh.
“What? Really? But isn’t he the only son? That harsh?”
“Who knows. Maybe his dad’s mistress is about to give birth to a new son. He’s been kicked out for days now, asking around to borrow money. At first people lent him some, not knowing the situation. But then his dad sent word telling everyone not to lend him anything. Now no one dares. He’s seriously screwed.”
Qiao Hailou did this?!
Shen Yuan instantly felt admiration. Truly, the older you are, the craftier. One move from Qiao Hailou and Wang Ziqin was finished.
Amazing. What on earth did he do?
Shen Yuan pretended to know nothing and kept listening.
Ding scoffed, “Just reminding you—he’ll definitely come to you too. Don’t be stupid and help him. Don’t throw meat buns at dogs—they’ll never come back. He went to Lin Shao earlier, who gave him eight thousand out of kindness. But he turned dark-faced, yelled that Lin Shao looked down on him, and stormed off. Can you believe it?”
Shen Yuan said, incredulous, “You think I’d help him?”
Ding said, only half convinced, “Out of all of us, you’re the most soft-hearted. If anyone would help him, it’d be you.”
Shen Yuan thumped his chest.
“He bullied me for years. Why would I be that pathetic?!”
Later, Shen Yuan brought the news to Qiao Hailou.
Qiao nodded calmly.
“Oh, so you heard. Good. Give it a few more days. When he’s completely desperate, go find him and say you want to help. Tell him my company needs a gate guard. Eighteen hundred a month.”
Shen Yuan:
“…I literally just told my friend I’d never help him.”
Qiao found his puffed-up angry little face adorable and couldn’t resist pinching it.
“What are you mad about? After this, every day when you go to work, he’ll have to bow to you at the door. You can order him around, make him run errands. Isn’t that nice?”
His eyes glinted with amusement.
“No matter what I do for you, nothing will feel as satisfying as you personally getting revenge.”