Translator: Lynn
In the chilly lobby, Ji Kai lit another cigarette.
Just as he was about to place an order, the phone on the table suddenly illuminated with an unfamiliar number.
For a moment, he thought it might be the little troublemaker calling directly after failing the verification.
Instantly, his mind was filled with anticipation, ready for a confrontation. However, the voice from the other end was a rich male voice: “BOSS! BOSS, where are you? The server in the first area just crashed and is in urgent need of repairs!”
What BOSS? Ji Kai was momentarily stunned before passing the phone to Li Weidu.
This is the convenience of domestic mobile phones – dual SIM cards and dual standby.
He directly took the SIM card from the disconnected wealthy man, since there was no place for it, and made use of it.
…
“Ji Kai, try purchasing it again. It should work this time.”
At two in the morning, in a five-star hotel room, under the bright fluorescent lamp, two large-screen computers were open side by side.
Here, Li Weidu had a bunch of peculiar codes on the screen, communicating remotely with his subordinates via voice. Over there, Ji Kai was on the “Prosperity” online game interface with excellent graphics, controlling the heroine’s movements with the mouse while attempting to trade in the auction house.
“No, I still can’t make the purchase.”
“That’s strange, it should work.”
Initially, Ji Kai felt that this was exceedingly inhumane.
I’m so upset! I’m absolutely devastated!
Even though he didn’t show much of it, in reality, he was preoccupied with the Q version of the baby bear, who was no longer unique and was still giggling after falling from grace. To this day, the whole world seems somewhat abstract.
As a result, Mr. Li was infuriated to the point that he disregarded his own well-being and worked as a laborer, aiding in fixing new bugs in the games produced by his company!?
Time passed, night receded, and daylight emerged, and the system was finally back online.
Ji Kai suddenly felt that maybe he should thank Li Weidu.
Honestly, if he hadn’t spent the entire night engrossed in controlling the heroine in short skirts within the online game, utilizing “Qing Kung” to perform various maneuvers on the buildings, and taking pleasure in the misfortunes of others, mindlessly reading the NPC’s lines and giggling… How else was he supposed to get through the night?
Crying was difficult, shouting was difficult, and sleeping was even more challenging. Did he need to count geometric shapes on the ceiling all night to truly comprehend the meaning of misery?
Now, things were fine, and dawn came before he knew it.
The day is never as hard as the night. Ji Kai went to the sink to get cold water and washed his face. The man in the mirror had dark eyes and looked a bit worn out, but he was evidently more handsome.
He is truly more handsome.
Ji Kai thought that he probably suited this sleepy, nonchalant, and scruffy style. He looked left and right in the mirror and conjured a smile, um – flawless. As attractive and charming as he was, he couldn’t wait to form a CP with himself. Even if he returned to the market in the future, he was destined to be a top-notch hot commodity.
When that time comes, Zhu Ling, just watch your little white chick, bite on your handkerchief, and gaze at my fine figure, silently regretting it!
Ji Kai looked so dashing in front of the mirror that he resembled a male model.
But Mr. Li’s appearance after an all-nighter had nothing to do with the word “handsome.”
“Uh, are you alright?”
“Yeah.”
Well, that translates to “absolutely terrible,” right?
His complexion was pale and tinged with green, resembling a zombie freshly unearthed from a cemetery.
The hotel’s breakfast buffet was surprisingly delightful. Ji Kai went back three times just to get the steamed shrimp cakes. Li Weidu, on the other hand, managed to eat only half of an omelette. He staggered on his way back to his room, clutching his stomach as if he was about to vomit.
“Don’t you have a fever?” Upon entering the room, Ji Kai checked Mr. Li’s forehead with the back of his hand, “It’s not warm. Just a stomachache? I’m afraid this stomach ailment won’t last just a day or two. Did you bring any medicine?”
Li Weidu slumped on the sofa and shook his head.
Ji Kai helped cover him with a blanket: “In that case, write down the name of the medicine, and I’ll go out and buy it for you.”
…
“It’s, uh, an imported medicine?”
“Yes, sir. The medicine you’ve mentioned seems to cost almost a hundred dollars per bottle. I’m afraid we won’t find it in the entire city.”
Ji Kai rolled his eyes. He felt like he should allocate a budget for such circumstances.
“Then… just give me some regular stomach medicine for now?”
Mr. Li was reluctant to take ordinary stomach medicine.
Ji Kai silently recalled the little local dog his sister used to own. It was so pampered that it was fed imported dog food, but it disdainfully wagged its tail at ordinary dog food.
That expression, that disdain, was uncannily similar to Mr. Li in front of him.
Indeed! You are the most precious!
Ordinary people could take medicine normally for an upset stomach, and Zhu Ling did the same. Why couldn’t you, the young master? Shame!
Boiling water, he poured it in directly.
However, he didn’t anticipate that Young Master Li truly couldn’t tolerate regular medication. After a while, not only did the pain persist, but his lips had paled, and he was shivering on the sofa. It seemed he was not only in severe pain but also feeling cold.
But why was he cold? Two blankets were already covering him. Ordinary folks would have been sweltering, okay?
He reached into the quilt to investigate—my goodness.
It was genuinely cold! His skin felt like ice, and the blanket was drenched with sweat and sticky all over. How could he still be cold?
“Alright, let’s get to the hospital quickly. Your night sweats are highly abnormal.”
“I’m…fine. Just endure it for a bit.” Mr. Li’s voice was muffled. “I detest hospitals.”
Detest hospitals? Ji Kai recalled the last time he heard this phrase was from his four-year-old nephew.
Mr. Li! You’re almost at death’s door, why are you acting like a child?
Too bothered to deal with it, he pulled the person up roughly, disregarding the resistance, cries of pain, and various complaints. In short, you can’t die under my care; otherwise, I’ll lose everything and won’t be able to afford it.
At 187cm, it was quite heavy with only bones. And they were practically lifeless but still struggling!
In front of the hotel, a taxi was already waiting. It took a considerable effort to get the person into the car. “Driver, head to the best hospital!”
“Alright.”
“No, don’t go to the hospital,” the barely holding on Mr. Li forced out a few words from his throat,
“Go to Huaxin Phase 2 Community…the one in the east of the city.”
“Huh?” Ji Kai was bewildered, “Where’s that?”
“My home.”
Haha?
“There should be some medicine at home.”
Ji Kai looked at Li Weidu as if he was insane. He felt a bit distressed and placed a hand on his twitching stomach. “Aren’t you confused due to the pain? Here isn’t S City!”
“I know, my mother…lives here.”
Uh, your mother?
Hadn’t your mother…already been fatally beaten by your father? He remembered what Zhu Ling said during the dispute for the little troublemaker, and Li Weidu didn’t deny it then. If it weren’t true, most people would deny it, right?
But Ji Kai didn’t dare to probe further.
…
Li Weidu’s mother was undeniably alive.
Otherwise, it would only mean that Ji Kai had seen a ghost.
But it really didn’t seem like a ghost—his face was flushed, his stature petite, and he appeared very gentle. Even though he was indeed older, he still possessed an elusive grace and lightness that set him apart from otherworldly beings. Especially when he clasped his hands in front of him, looking at Ji Kai with gleaming, girlish eyes.
“Had he already gone to bed?”
Ji Kai nodded and gently closed the door.
“Thank you for your effort. You took care of him for quite a while just now. It’s truly a bother for you! Would you like some fruit? Come, have a seat!” Ji Kai nodded politely and took a few steps. When he turned around, he found his aunt standing there.
She stood up, sneakily admiring his rear.
“…”
“Ah~ I’m so sorry! But~ who can blame Weidu for bringing such handsome friends home every time? Auntie initially thought that Qi Yang and Wei Xuan couldn’t be surpassed, and yet you, named Ji Kai, have outshined them all. Are you a model? Your physique is incredible!”
Auntie, you are…so, so lively.
“Such a physique! Oh! I really envy your robust health! Look at Weidu, clueless about taking care of himself, making him so thin and feeble. When you hit the gym in the future, drag him along! Make him come with you. Go ahead, call ‘auntie’ if he refuses, I’ll give him an earful!”
“…”
This auntie was incredibly enthusiastic and talented.
It was just some fruit, not just a plate full, but also arranged quite artistically. The apple was sliced into a rabbit shape, the dragon fruit was sculpted into a little hedgehog, and the cantaloupe was carved into a small yellow duck.
“Auntie, you have impressive knife skills. Have you learned this before?”
“How could I not? Hehe… I just enjoy carving things when I’m free. Hey, let me show you the cerebellar ax I carved from a carrot yesterday!”
An orange, slightly shriveled, yet lifelike little carrot tiger landed in his palm.
Ji Kai was stunned, and the memories of his childhood home slowly unfolded before his eyes. In a small 70-square-meter house with a smoky kitchen and dim lights, his sister’s figure became blurred, but her vibrant voice still echoed in his ears.
[Mom and Dad, look at it! Look at Xiao Kai carving a little tiger from a carrot head!]
[Wow, the carving is really good!]
[Hahaha, that’s impressive. If I don’t succeed in school, I can make a living as a carpenter, hahaha.]
The phone rang, pulling Ji Kai from his reverie. For a moment, he forgot about inserting the Liweidu SIM card and even forgot that it was on speakerphone.
The voice of a young man came from the other end and filled the living room: “Weidu, are you home?”
Li Weidu’s mother beside him was the first to react: “Xiaoyin? Is that you?”
“Auntie? Why’s that?”
“Xiaoyin, Weidu, he…” Before Li Weidu’s mother could finish her sentence, Ye Yin interrupted: “I have something urgent to tell him, please put him on the phone!”
“Xiaoyin, please listen! Auntie said he was ill. He’s in so much pain that he can’t move. If it’s an emergency, let Auntie know first.”
“What?” The voice on the other end suddenly escalated, full of impatience. “Forget it, forget it, Auntie, can you operate a computer? I have a demo on my computer at home. Can you find it for me and send it to my phone? I need it urgently now!”
“A computer? But Xiaoyin, Weidu is at my place now. City A isn’t City S.”
“Isn’t that so? What is he doing! Why is he wandering around when he has nothing to do? Auntie, let him answer the phone! Or just tell him and ask him to drive back and get it for me! City A isn’t far from City S. It’s only an hour’s drive without traffic. It’s within the time!”
Ji Kai was flabbergasted.
He had just said he had a stomach ache and couldn’t even stand up! Little troublemaker, are you selectively deaf?
“Auntie, just tell him that the director introduced me to Brother Wanli today! He’s the producer for Luo Yuchen and Lin Baoni! He said he likes my style and is willing to listen to my demo! This is a huge opportunity for me. He’s a heavyweight figure in the industry and can turn everything into gold!”
“He’s leaving this afternoon, in two or three hours. I must see him accept my demo with my own eyes. Alright! Otherwise, for such a high-profile senior, such a casual promise might change in an hour or two, let alone a day or two!”
“Xiao Yin,” Li Weidu’s mother bit her lip, trying to steady her breathing, “That child… He almost fainted from the pain just now. Don’t you care about how sick he is?”
“…But isn’t that a recurring issue with him? Isn’t it like this every time?”
Li’s mother was stunned, Ji Kai was even more bewildered, and his veins started to pulse—though it was someone else’s family matter, hearing this felt so wrong!
“Xiao Yin, you…listen to Auntie.”
After a moment of silence, Li Weidu’s mother slowly continued: “You are indeed young and good-looking now. Many people like and pursue you. You do have the capital to think you’re worthy of anyone. If I don’t like you, I can pick and choose at will, pursue all sorts of new people or things as I please.”
“But one day you’ll understand that no matter how proud you are, you should not hurt others recklessly, especially not someone who genuinely loves you and is always there to protect you silently.”
“Weidu genuinely likes you and cherishes you.”
“If you still love him even a bit, treat him better; if you don’t love him, please tell him clearly and don’t string him along anymore.”
Ji Kai listened from the side. Auntie was truly an auntie. She spoke with great eloquence and was convincing with reason. Unexpectedly, Ye Yin sneered on the other side of the phone: “Auntie, with all due respect, you were originally married to my uncle, and you are not Weidu’s biological mother at all. You don’t need to pretend to care about him so much, right?”
The woman was taken aback, a touch of mist in her beautiful eyes.
Oh dear.
Ji Kai couldn’t take it anymore: “Give it to me, Auntie! I’ll tell him!”
“Ye Yin, right?”
Ji Kai approached the phone, and what was on his mind was Mr. Liang Shiqiu’s “The Art of Swearing”—Ancient and Modern, Chinese and Foreign. There’s not a single person who doesn’t curse. Swearing is a way to vent emotions, especially when you’re furious.
He considered himself a bit of a loser, but not a malicious person.
But in this moment, he was fully in the situation, and he restrained himself from adding various colorful words between Ye Yin and his ancestors. Just saying it like this took a lot of restraint.
“Is your brain flooded? Did all the damn water rush into it at 100-degree boiling temperature?”
“He was in so much pain he almost passed out. Did a weasel bite off your ear or did a chicken step on your conscience? Really, even if Mr. Li isn’t your boyfriend, he’s still your benefactor, right? Even dogs know how to wag their tails at their masters. You, ungrateful little wolf, are truly interesting, aren’t you?”
Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.
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