Chapter 10 – Jinxin being Naughty
Novel Title: 谁把谁当真 (Winner Takes All)
Author：水千丞 (ShuiQianCheng)
Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)
Protagonists: 黎朔 (Li Shuo -MC), 赵锦辛 (Zhao Jinxin -ML)
*Please read at Novels Space.space, the original site of translation. TQ*
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The next morning, the two families went boating and fishing on the lake.
The natural scenery of the Lake was beautiful and magnificent. But Li Shuo wasn’t in the mood to appreciate it. His eyes were fixed blankly on the fishing float.
Several days had passed since the incident and the lawyers hadn’t made any substantial progress. He was really afraid of being trapped here. Yet he was unwilling to ask his father for help.
A hand pressed on his shoulder, startling him. He looked up to see it was his father. “Dad, did you catch any fish?”
“I just caught a big fish weighing four pounds. I called you but you didn’t come over. What are you thinking about?”
Li Shuo smiled, “Waiting for a big fish.”
Mr. Li sat down on the stool next to him: “Xiao Shuo, you’ve been off these past few days, always seeming absent-minded. And you are constantly on your phone. Is there a problem at the law firm?”
“Oh, there’s a small issue with a case. It’s nothing major. I can handle it over the phone.”
“I don’t think it’s just a ‘small’ issue. You’re not the type to get anxious over minor things. Your mom noticed you weren’t yourself earlier and wanted to bring you out to relax. Seeing you’re still not quite right, she asked me to talk to you.” Mr. Li said helplessly, “Actually, I didn’t want to come. You’re too much like me, never wanting to bring any troubles home. I also trust my son’s abilities. But I couldn’t refuse your mom.”
Li Shuo felt a warmth in his heart. He thought he was the luckiest person to have such a perfect family. Both his parents had good personalities. They respected and cared for each other. This was the kind of marriage he aspired to. So even as a gay man, he felt he should find someone gentle, kind, and peaceful like his mother, such as Li Chengxiu.
He looked at his father with a smile: “Dad, thank you. Don’t worry, I can solve this. Isn’t this what work is all about? Problems appear, we solve them. It’s really not a big deal.”
“That’s good.” Mr. Li patted his son’s back, “Actually, I’m not really worried about you. Even if you fall somewhere, you’ll definitely get back up. And even if you can’t get back up, doesn’t our family have enough to leave you to live comfortably for life?”
Li Shuo laughed, “Dad, if you had said this when I was young, I’d definitely have grown up to be a spoiled rich kid.”
“You wouldn’t have.” Mr. Li said proudly, “The thing I’m most proud of in my life isn’t me starting my business from scratch. But it’s me marrying a good wife and raising a good son.”
“Dad, thank you.” Li Shuo sighed silently in his heart. Whether out of filial piety or pride, he didn’t want his parents to worry about him.
He remembered when he had just graduated from university, full of passion, he gave up his master’s at LSE to teach in Africa for a year. His parents strongly opposed, mainly worried about his safety. He had always been ambitious and too idealistic when young. As a standard rich kid, the deep parental love of Eastern family culture and the self-reliance of Western family culture conflicted him. He couldn’t bear to defy his parents’ excessive protection, yet felt ashamed among his peers due to his parents’ influence. He wanted to do something ‘truly meaningful’, so he thought of charity that wouldn’t cost his parents money.
He convinced his parents and went to Ethiopia with a volunteer team.
He regretted it on the first day there. He had never experienced such harsh, poor conditions. He had never felt such hopeless backwardness, especially the suffering of local children, which deeply depressed him. The first meal made him vomit and have diarrhoea, and he had a fever for three days. He felt like an idiot for giving up a comfortable life and top university to come to this godforsaken place. This was the consequence of not listening to his parents.
But every time he called his parents, he didn’t dare mention any hardships. At first, it was out of shame. Later, it was to avoid worrying them.
He ended up staying there for 15 months. From initial regret and negativity, to acceptance and adaptation, to wholeheartedly wanting to do something for the local children. These psychological changes accompanied his rapid growth, teaching him more than he had learned in the past 20 years. He was grateful for those 15 months, which cured all his affectation and rebelliousness, made him thoroughly understand many principles, and made him exceptionally tougher and braver.
So he never asked his parents for help or let them worry. It was not just out of filial piety or pride. But it was because he believed that only experiences he went through himself were meaningful.
Mr. Li chatted with him for a while, then went to fish on his own. Looking at the calm lake surface, Li Shuo felt more at ease. If he really couldn’t return to China, he would try his best to bring Li Chengxiu to his side. He didn’t believe Shao Qun could trap him forever.
As soon as Mr. Li left, Zhao Jinxin came over and whispered: “Darling, what big fish are you waiting for?”
Li Shuo chuckled lightly: “Certainly not waiting for you.”
“How unromantic.” Zhao Jinxin pouted. He lowered his voice even more, mysteriously saying: “I have a friend who specialises in developing adult toys. He invented a mermaid costume. Want to see me wear it?”
Li Shuo glanced at him: “What do you gain from all these sexual harassment?”
Zhao Jinxin smiled seductively: “The pleasure of flirting with you.”
Li Shuo shook his head helplessly: “Don’t talk anymore. You’ll scare away my fish.”
“Forget it. Your mind isn’t on fishing at all. Why are you so stubborn? Not letting me help, not letting your own father help. This isn’t about dignity anymore, it’s stupidity.”
Li Shuo calmly said: “I’m already 34. For a man in his prime to trouble his father with heart problems when facing difficulties, that’s beyond stupidity.”
“What about me then? Is it so hard to accept my help?”
Li Shuo silently looked at the lake surface. As he said, he didn’t want to owe Zhao Jinxin any favours. Zhao Jinxin was already persistently pursuing him. If he accepted help, it would be even harder to refuse him.
Zhao Jinxin sighed disappointedly and stared at the lake for a while. He then suddenly propped his face with his hand, tilted his head to look at Li Shuo as he said coquettishly, “But Li Shushu is so cool like this. I like you even more.”
Li Shuo didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
“Let’s go drinking tonight,” Zhao Jinxin said with hopeful eyes.
“I’m busy tonight. When my lawyer wakes up, we have a long meeting to attend.”
“What about tomorrow then?”
“We’ll see tomorrow.”
“That answer is too perfunctory. We’re only staying here for four to five days in total. You promised me, keep your word?”
Li Shuo had no choice: “Alright. Tomorrow night then.”
Zhao Jinxin smiled with satisfaction.
They prepared the fish they caught on the boat, using only salt. Whether grilled, in soup, or as with sashimi, it was delicious in its pure, fresh taste.
Both families enjoyed the meal immensely while chatting and laughing. All of them felt very content.
In the afternoon, they returned to shore. They were all a bit tired and went to rest.
Li Shuo dived into his room, calling contacts back in China. These past few days, he had reached out to almost every friend he could ask for help. He had preliminarily judged Shao Qun’s purpose. Shao Qun probably didn’t intend to really put him in jail, as that would require a great cost. Shao Qun’s goal was to prevent him from returning to China, which had been temporarily achieved. But Li Shuo wasn’t a pushover. He would definitely make Shao Qun regret it.
Before dinner, Zhao Jinxin came to Li Shuo for medication. Not wanting to be alone with him, Li Shuo moved the medicine box to the living room and applied medicine and hot compress in front of the elders and the housekeeper. Zhao Jinxin could only behave himself, though his eyes showed some resentment at not getting his way.
Zhao Rongtian watched for a while and said satisfactorily, “I see you two brothers get along well. When you return to the country, work hard together to develop the northern trade and continue our generation’s friendship. We Chinese value continuity the most.”
Li Shuo smiled and said, “You’re right. I will wholeheartedly assist Jinxin.”
Zhao Jinxin said very righteously, “Dad, don’t worry, I will definitely ‘work hard’ with my Da Ge.”
Zhao Jinxin deliberately emphasised certain words, angering Li Shuo who wanted to kick him. This kid was so thick-skinned in front of the elders. He really deserved a beating.
Zhao Rongtian left, looking satisfied. Zhao Jinxin winked at Li Shuo: “See? My own dad really understands me.”
Li Shuo narrowed his eyes and pinched Zhao Jinxin’s finger with calculated force.
“Ah!” Zhao Jinxin cried out in pain.
“Sorry, sorry. I’ll be gentler,” Li Shuo said. With his back to the elders, his face showing ‘you deserved it.’
Zhao Jinxin quietly complained with a pitiful look: “Li Shushu doesn’t care about me at all.”
Li Shuo rolled his eyes at him.
Suddenly, Zhao Jinxin showed a mischievous smile.
Before Li Shuo could react, his legs were unexpectedly entangled by Zhao Jinxin’s. He glared at Zhao Jinxin, nervously glancing back at the elders chatting on the sofa.
They were sitting face to face at a wooden table. The space under the table was open. Anyone looking their way could see what was happening beneath.
Li Shuo tried to pull his legs back but didn’t dare make any big movements, which of course was ineffective. He hissed: “Let go quickly!”
Zhao Jinxin said with a grin: “You pinched my hand, I’m holding your legs. It’s a fair exchange, isn’t it?”
“Bullshit.” Li Shuo twisted anxiously. He was very nervous. How could he explain if the parents saw this? How could he face them at his age?
Zhao Jinxin whispered: “Don’t move. You might fall off the chair. Just stay still. My legs are very strong.”
Li Shuo threatened: “If you don’t let go, I won’t go drinking with you.”
Zhao Jinxin blinked his eyes, looking dejected despite being the initial instigator. He released his legs.
Li Shuo felt like applauding himself for his temper and composure. Anyone else would have flipped the table after being repeatedly teased by a man nearly a decade younger.
After a full day, Li Shuo was mentally and physically exhausted. He went to bed early.
In the middle of the night, he vaguely heard a beeping sound. But he was so groggy that he thought he was dreaming. He turned over and fell back asleep.
The next morning, he got up, washed up, and took out his phone to check for new emails, only to find that his phone was dead. He plugged it in to charge and went downstairs for breakfast.
After breakfast, Zhao Jinxin clung to him. He insisted they walk the dogs together.
Li Shuo had always liked dogs. But he was someone with an excess of responsibility. His frequent business trips made it impossible for him to take proper care of a pet, and he couldn’t balance it.
Ann and Bee were both extremely energetic samoyeds. They were quite strong. The two of them each held the leash of one dog. Most of the time, they were the ones being dragged along. After circling the resort once, Li Shuo felt more exhausted than running five kilometres.
In contrast, Zhao Jinxin, jumping around with the two dogs, didn’t show any signs of fatigue. Li Shuo was instantly a bit envious of his youth.
Zhao Jinxin ran a hundred metres away with Ann, then turned back and waved energetically at Li Shuo, “Hurry up!” His lively demeanour seemed to embody all the vitality of the beautiful morning.
Li Shuo suddenly thought that walking dogs with someone he liked was one of his fantasies for a stable life. Zhao Jinxin was the first person to materialise that fantasy.
He immediately stopped his mind from pursuing this fantasy.
Zhao Jinxin was still shouting, “Come on, baby. You’re too slow.”
At this moment, the old butler happened to come around the corner on a bicycle. He put his foot down to stop, looked at Zhao Jinxin in bewilderment and then he looked at Li Shuo.
Li Shuo cursed Zhao Jinxin in his heart for his lack of discretion.
Zhao Jinxin chuckled, “I was calling for Bee.”
The butler looked as if he had just been enlightened, “I’m going to the supermarket to buy some things.” Then he rode away on his little bicycle.
As soon as he left, Zhao Jinxin burst into laughter.
Li Shuo ran over, “What are you shouting that for?”
“I told you, I was really calling for Bee,” Zhao Jinxin blinked. “Did you think I was calling for you? How embarrassing that is.”
Li Shuo bent down, picked up the bear-like Bee, and threw her at Zhao Jinxin, “Bite him!”
Zhao Jinxin instinctively caught Bee.
Ann, thinking they were playing a game, also jumped towards Zhao Jinxin. He tried to climb on him, almost pulling his sports pants down.
Li Shuo stood by, laughing heartily.
Zhao Jinxin laughed along, putting Bee back on the ground. He reached out and pinched Li Shuo’s cheek, “Haven’t seen you laugh like this in days.”
Li Shuo was stunned, not knowing how to react for a moment.
Since the incident, he hadn’t genuinely laughed once. But just now, he had indeed forgotten the troubles that had been bothering him these days and laughed heartily.
For him right now, it was like a hint of sweetness in bitterness, with a unique taste.
Li Shuo ruffled Zhao Jinxin’s hair and said, “Hey, looks like I should thank you.”
Zhao Jinxin’s eyes were full of tenderness: “I’m the one who should thank you for letting me see your smile.”
Li Shuo’s breath was caught. His heart felt as if it had been punched, not painfully, but with a tingling sensation that made his whole body freeze.
So when Zhao Jinxin’s face came closer, he couldn’t react in time. He was instead captivated by those deep, beautiful eyes.
Soft, warm lips gently touched Li Shuo’s. It was such a light kiss. Yet it felt like an instant surge of electricity.
Li Shuo’s eyes widened. He pushed Zhao Jinxin away.
Zhao Jinxin stumbled back several steps, almost falling. He steadied himself, showing no anger, no disappointment, nor his usual nonchalance. He just looked deeply at Li Shuo and touched his own lips that still held a trace of warmth with his fingertips. He then put his finger in his mouth. His gaze held a wild aggressiveness. Yet, it was also incredibly alluring.
Li Shuo blinked his eyes slightly. Although his heart was in turmoil, his expression remained impassive. He took Bee’s leash: “Let’s go back.”
“Li Shuo,” Zhao Jinxin called from behind, “Give up on Li Chengxiu.”
Li Shuo didn’t pause or look back. He just walked straight ahead.
Back at the villa, Li Shuo shut himself in his room and let out a long sigh.
He decided to treat Zhao Jinxin as a test, to see if he could be the master of his emotions in this matter, or their slave.
After calming down for a while, he remembered his phone. It was fully charged now. When he picked it up, he saw a message from Li Chengxiu. His heart immediately raced, not knowing if he was afraid of seeing a rejection or… feeling guilty.
He opened the message: Li Da Ge, I’m sorry. I can’t go to America with you. I’m almost thirty, and I don’t have the courage to start over in a strange country. Thank you for taking care of me for so long. I can’t repay you. I can only say thank you. I remember every kindness you’ve shown me. I’ve caused you a lot of trouble. I hope you can forgive me. I plan to leave Shenzhen. After I’m gone, Shao Qun won’t trouble you anymore, nor will he be able to trouble me. This is best for everyone. I’ve let down your good intentions. I’m sorry, truly sorry. Please don’t worry about me. I have a relative doing business elsewhere and I will go to them. Li Da Ge, I’m sorry I can’t say goodbye in person. I hope all is well with you and I hope you can forgive me.
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*Translator’s Note: Ah! Don’t forget to read the extra where ZJX is really a mermaid at the end of the whole story. Hahaha! I only noticed when I went back to proofread this chapter here. It turns out that extra was already planned earlier on by the author. Salute to the author! Lol!-K
*Proofread by 2024.07.24* I’m currently in the middle of the proofreading stage of my first ever translation; ‘Winner Takes All’. Lots of changes will be made especially to titles such as ‘Brother’ will be changed to ‘Ge’ and ‘Uncle’ will be changed to ‘Shushu’. I will proofread these chapters slowly when I’m free so please understand if there are any delays or discrepancies. TQ.
Proofread version of the rest of the novel will only be available on Novels Space.space while Mature Chapters will be released on Wattpad.
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