RED Chapter 62

Chifeiran returned to the country two days before his birthday. However, this time, he didn’t stay in the villa prepared for him by his father, Chijun. Instead, he moved into the old mansion of the Chi family.

The Chi family had a long history of prosperity, and the old mansion was the result of generations of renovations and expansions. Every part of it could be considered a masterpiece, comparable to a palace. Moreover, it occupied a vast area, dominating the entire hill in the precious real estate of City A.

Chijun rarely lived here himself. He was too busy with many things, and staying in the old mansion would consume a lot of his time commuting every day.

As Chifeiran wandered around the old mansion with his father, Chijun commented, “It’s a bit inconvenient here. Otherwise, living on the mountain would have a much better air quality.”

Although Chijun rarely stayed in the old mansion himself, he felt he needed to show his son around. He had so much to do that living in the old mansion would mean spending a lot of time commuting every day.

Chifeiran noticed his father’s exhaustion and said, “Dad, let’s just call it a day. We have plenty of time in the future. No need to rush.”

Chijun, feeling relieved, agreed repeatedly and took him to see another area.

After walking around for a while, their pace slowed down. Chifeiran thought his father was tired and said, “Dad, let’s stop here for today. There’s plenty of time in the future. No need to rush.”

Chijun looked at him, hesitant about how to broach the subject with his son.

Sensing something amiss, Chifeiran patiently waited for him to speak.

After hesitating for a while, Chijun finally said, “Next is the ancestral hall.”

At first, Chifeiran didn’t understand, but when he realized the ancestral hall was where the ancestors’ tablets were kept, he understood. His father didn’t want to go in and bow to Chi Laofuren to avoid stirring up any uncomfortable feelings in him.

Chifeiran had no impression of his grandmother at all. Originally, he couldn’t say whether he liked or disliked her. But now, piecing together the image from the information he had received, she wasn’t someone he could easily like.

He stood still without saying anything, and Chijun became nervous, about to say they could skip it.

However, Chifeiran spoke softly, “Let’s go take a look.”

After all, his grandmother was no longer alive. Whether or not to bow wouldn’t change anything; it would only affect the feelings of the living.

Chijun was pleasantly surprised to hear that his son was willing to go, and he quickly took him to the ancestral hall.

The Chi family’s ancestral hall was grandly constructed. Walking in, there was no eerie feeling commonly depicted in movies and TV shows. Rows of tablets were placed together, all made of blackwood with gold decorations.

Chifeiran saw Chi Laofuren’s tablet on the bottom row. Although there was a close blood relationship, he didn’t feel much of a ripple in his heart.

He turned to Chijun and asked, “Should we bow?”

Chijun was a bit cautious, “Can we?”

Although he wanted his son to bow to his grandmother, he was afraid his son might feel uncomfortable. After all, many things that happened in the past were caused by this grandmother.

Chifeiran naturally understood his father’s intention and said, “Since we’re already here, we should pay our respects.”

Even if they didn’t bow to Chi Laofuren, there were still ancestors’ tablets above. He was still a member of the Chi family, so bowing a few times wouldn’t hurt.

Chijun relaxed a little at his son’s words and explained how to pay respects. Then, he took out incense and helped his son light it.

After bowing three times according to the rules, Chifeiran took the lit incense from his father’s hand and inserted it into the incense burner.

After standing up, Chijun whispered, “Your grandmother, she always missed you…”

Chifeiran looked at him, his eyes soft but firm, “Dad, shall we go see somewhere else?”

He didn’t want to know about this. These old matters wouldn’t change anything. The damage that had been done would always exist, and he couldn’t forgive on behalf of others.

Chijun listened to his words and felt somewhat embarrassed. He didn’t continue with the topic.

People were like this. Once they had one thing, they wanted another.

In the past, he only wished for his son to come back. But now that his son was back, he couldn’t help but want something else.

But in this world, not everything would go as one wished. In the end, it was because of his own inadequacy in the past that led to today’s situation.

Chijun adjusted his mood and took his son to continue wandering around the old mansion until mealtime.

Chifeiran’s birthday was just around the corner, and Chijun had been busy with it lately. He carefully reviewed the list of guests to be invited and went over the menu for the banquet repeatedly.

On the other hand, Rong Jin received the invitation to the birthday banquet. It was one of the very few invitations sent out by Chifeiran himself.

Upon receiving the invitation, Rong Jin immediately asked Chang Haoying to contact the best styling team. The person in charge was puzzled; there wasn’t any major awards ceremony recently, so why did he need such professional styling? Moreover, the request was quite strange; it shouldn’t be too flashy but should look natural up close.

The stylists were baffled by this demand.

However, they were professionals, and they would do as the client requested.

So the whole team was tossed around by Rong Jin for a whole day before finally settling on a hairstyle.

With Rong Jin’s level of pickiness, those who didn’t know thought he was attending the Oscars.

Chang Haoying felt like the stylists were floating away when they left. Suddenly, she felt they were all tortured by Rong Jin, just like her. They were all wanderers in the world.

After seeing the stylists off, she came back to find Rong Jin still admiring himself in the mirror. She joked, “Do you want to go to the hospital later for a shot? I have a friend there, and we’ll get a discount, darling.”

At first, Rong Jin sneered, feeling satisfied with his overall look. But gradually…

Rong Jin leaned closer to the mirror to examine his face. He had thought it was flawless, but upon closer inspection, his skin seemed a bit dry. Hmm… What’s this? Wrinkles?!

Rong Jin was suddenly terrified. He had just celebrated his twenty-seventh birthday! Did he really have wrinkles already?! Did staying up late really age a person?!

He couldn’t help but recall the things Chang Haoqing had said before, feeling like he was just moments away from hormonal imbalance, declining memory, and midlife hair loss.

Chang Haoqing watched as Rong Jin stared at himself in the mirror with a shocked expression, and said, “What’s wrong? Are you dazzled by your own beauty? Do you need some facial cream?”

Rong Jin was trembling slightly. “Chang Haoqing…”

Chang Haoqing interrupted, “What now?”

Rong Jin turned to look at him, his eyes showing a hint of helplessness. Chang Haoqing almost thought he was seeing things. What the hell was with that Bambi-in-the-headlights look? Was Rong Jin possessed or something?

After a moment of silence, Rong Jin said, “Can you take a close look at me?”

Chang Haoqing, feeling uneasy, scrutinized him carefully, examining every detail, but couldn’t figure out what was making Rong Jin suddenly act so strangely…

After a while, Chang Haoqing said, “Do you want me to compliment you? Can’t you just ask?”

Rong Jin replied, “Take a closer look at my eyes…”

Chang Haoqing was puzzled. “…”

What’s wrong? Aren’t his eyes fine?

Then he heard Rong Jin’s voice trembling slightly. “Do you see any wrinkles around my eyes?”

Chang Haoqing felt like he had managed to survive until today only thanks to his high salary supporting his spirit, otherwise he might have killed Rong Jin by now.

He closed his eyes, telling himself to be strong.

Then Chang Haoqing roared, “Oh, for heaven’s sake! Who doesn’t have some wrinkles around their eyes! That thing is called skin texture! Do you think your face is made of mirrored glass?! Everyone has them!”

After being shouted at by Chang Haoqing, Rong Jin looked at the mirror again and confirmed, “Really?”

Chang Haoqing roared loudly, “Yes!”

This is just ridiculous!

Rong Jin touched his face. “Then I probably don’t need the injection. It still looks okay. I’ll go apply a face mask to moisturize.”

Before leaving, he said, “Be quieter next time. Oreo is sleeping.”

Chang Haoqing: “…”

Chang Haoqing quietly raised his middle finger at him.

Rong Jin ignored him and went to moisturize.

While he was applying the face mask, Rong Jin received a message from Chi Feiran.

Chi Feiran: Can’t sleep.

Rong Jin asked: Having trouble sleeping?

Rong Jin was aware of the fact that the child had moved to the Chi family’s old house.

Chi Feiran was feeling a bit troubled, mainly thinking about the things at home, both related to family and the arrangements made by Chris. So he couldn’t sleep, tossing and turning, and could only think of chatting with Rong Jin.

Seeing the reply come so quickly, Chi Feiran couldn’t help but feel happy: A little bit. What are you doing, Brother Rong?

Rong Jin also couldn’t say he was applying a face mask. He felt it would ruin his glorious image. So he said, “Working on some tasks.”

Actually, that wasn’t wrong. He was preparing for the task, preparing for skincare before seeing his crush.

Chi Feiran, thinking of the scripts Rong Jin usually worked on, replied: I guess I’m bothering you… Try not to work too late. It’s bad for your eyes to watch things at night. It’s better to do it during the day.

Rong Jin immediately replied: You’re not bothering me. I’ve just finished my work, so I can chat with you and relax.

Seeing this message, Chi Feiran felt a warm feeling in his heart. He hesitated for a moment before typing a response.

After hesitating for a while, he finally sent a message: Oh, I see…

Rong Jin could probably sense that something was bothering him. He wanted to ask directly, but he was afraid that bringing it up would only make him more concerned. After some thought, he said, “Let me show you Oreo.”

Rong Jin squatted beside the bed and gently patted the sleeping Oreo, occasionally tapping it with his fingertips to disturb it.

Oreo opened its eyes, yawned, stretched its legs, and then rolled over, presenting its bottom to Rong Jin.

Rong Jin sent this message and waited for the child to praise the cat.

But what Rong Jin didn’t expect was…

Chi Feiran’s reply from the other side: Rong Jin, are you applying a face mask?