PTBLSI chapter 51

 

Being praised by Fu Yanchuan made Qi Xi feel proud. No matter how he looked at it while holding Fu Yanchuan’s face, he felt he should do something. Last time he was caught by his dad and taken home, not only did Fu Yanchuan go to pick him up, he also silenced his dad, who let Qi Xi go without saying anything more and never came looking for him again.

“Brother Yan, I’ll go downstairs to get some ice for your face. Such a handsome face—if it swells up, how ugly would that be?”

For a moment, Fu Yanchuan felt that if his face were really ruined, Qi Xi would abandon him without hesitation. Looking at Qi Xi, he immediately understood what he was thinking. He tightened his arms around Qi Xi and didn’t speak.

Qi Xi pulled his hand off his waist, jumped down, and said, “I’ll be back soon. Stay here and wait obediently! You have to listen to Brother Xi Xi!”

He still didn’t say anything. He watched Qi Xi run out of the room and carefully close the door. Then, he stood up. He stood by the window for a while before following him out.

Qi Xi had indeed intended to get ice for Fu Yanchuan, but before going to look for it, he returned to the study.

Fu Zhenrong was still inside, venting his anger. Fu Cong didn’t dare stay too close and tried to persuade him from several meters away. “Seventh brother, kids grow up like this. They’re bound to have their own ideas. Look at Yuejiang—what can I do to him? Think it through a bit. At least Yanchuan is still alive!”

“Get lost!”

Fu Zhenrong cursed. Fu Cong was startled and shuddered. He had followed Fu Zhenrong around since childhood. Compared to others, Fu Zhenrong had always been relatively tolerant toward him—he had never told him to get lost like this before.

He didn’t want to be innocently dragged into it anymore, so he shut his mouth and left. But as soon as he walked out of the study, he saw Qi Xi lying outside the door like a little cat peeking inside, not showing even one eye. He didn’t know what Qi Xi was looking at.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you afraid of dying?”

Fu Cong asked. He had always been curious about what kind of person Qi Xi really was. Back then, he had never truly looked at Qin Hui. At that moment, however, he couldn’t help but size Qi Xi up.

Qi Xi didn’t know who he was either. Thinking that he had already been discovered, he gathered his courage, knocked on the door, and said, “Hello, you may call me Qi Xi. I’m Brother Yan’s friend.”

Fu Cong was shocked by Qi Xi’s actions. No one had ever dared to step forward while Fu Zhenrong was losing his temper.

Qi Xi only poked his head into the study. When he didn’t receive a response from Fu Zhenrong, he walked in with confusion.

Fu Zhenrong’s expression was extremely ugly; it was as if his face alone could scare someone to death. Qi Xi was afraid, but, thinking of Fu Yanchuan, he clenched his teeth and confronted Fu Zhenrong.

“You really aren’t afraid of dying!”

Fu Zhenrong finally glanced at him and said something that baffled him. Qi Xi stiffened and said, “You…you mustn’t hit Yanchuan anymore. You mustn’t scold him anymore!”

“He told you to come?”

Fu Zhenrong looked straight at Qi Xi with a hint of curiosity in his eyes. He had never seen someone like Qi Xi dare to be so presumptuous in front of him before.

Qi Xi lifted his chin stubbornly, organized his thoughts, and said, “I chose to come! Every time Brother Yan sees you, he feels terrible. You’re his dad—how can you make him feel that way every time?”

Fu Zhenrong stared at him silently, just as Fu Yanchuan did when he was quiet.

But Fu Zhenrong’s gaze was different; it was as if he wanted to peel Qi Xi open and see into his bones. Unconsciously growing nervous, Qi Xi felt his chest rise and fall, but he didn’t want to just run away. He clenched his fists and spoke again.

“Even though you’re his dad, if you want him to listen to you and treat you well, you also have to care about him, treat him well, and treat his mom well. My dad doesn’t like or care about me, so I won’t treat him well, and I won’t care whether he’s angry! So—”

Qi Xi paused, took a deep breath, and tried to steady his voice as he shouted, ”—please don’t force Brother Yan to do things he doesn’t like anymore! He’s an adult and can decide for himself what he wants to do!”

Fu Zhenrong laughed in anger. He had been in control of the Fu family for over twenty years. Long ago, no one dared to tell him what to do. He stared at Qi Xi and asked, “Who do you think you are?”

Qi Xi only understood the literal meaning and answered, “I’m Brother Yan’s best friend.”

Best friend? Fu Zhenrong was left speechless.

Fu Yanchuan stood outside the door, listening, and laughed. He knew someone like Fu Zhenrong, full of schemes, couldn’t argue with Qi Xi because he simply couldn’t understand his roundabout words.

Fu Cong sat with his legs drawn up against the opposite wall, his expression seeming to say, “You still have the nerve to laugh.”

He ignored Fu Cong and walked straight inside. His heart began to pound uncontrollably. He couldn’t fathom how Qi Xi, who hadn’t been able to argue with Qi Feng, had managed to say something like that to Fu Zhenrong.

The moment Qi Xi turned to look at him, it was as if peach blossoms were blooming all over the mountains in his heart. He walked up to Qi Xi and interlocked their fingers tightly.

Qi Xi was startled when he saw him. “Brother Yan, why are you here?”

Pretending not to know anything, he softened his voice and asked, “How did you end up here just getting ice?”

Qi Xi lied in an unconvincing way: “I got lost.”

“I’ll take you there.”

Fu Yanchuan finally glanced at Fu Zhenrong, addressing him for the first time since the annual meeting: “Dad, I’m taking him away.”

Seeing that Fu Yanchuan completely disregarded him, Fu Zhenrong grew even more furious. The two of them treated him as if he didn’t exist, holding hands and walking past him.

After they left the study, he kicked the bookshelf hard and a large pile of books fell.

By lunchtime, everyone had arrived in the dining room downstairs, which was like a banquet hall—except for Fu Yanchuan and Qi Xi.

Fu Zhenrong sat there like a barrel of explosives. Fu Shengchang said to the steward in charge of arrangements, “Go call Yanchuan. Is he asleep in his room?”

What happened in a house couldn’t remain a secret, especially with such a big commotion.

As a worker still on duty during the New Year, the steward didn’t dare voice any opinions. However, he couldn’t afford to offend either side, so he carefully replied, “Yes,” and went to look for Fu Yanchuan’s room.

Qi Xi had applied ice to Fu Yanchuan’s face for quite a while, and there were no longer any visible marks. Still feeling that he must be in pain, Qi Xi insisted on applying medicine to his face and massaging it.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Fu Yanchuan took Qi Xi’s cold hand and pulled it down. He breathed two warm breaths onto it. “I don’t hurt anymore. Sit properly. I’ll go open the door.”

They were still sitting on the chaise lounge by the window. Qi Xi got off Fu Yanchuan’s lap and Fu Yanchuan got up to open the door.

When the steward finally saw the door open, he first glanced at Fu Yanchuan’s clothes. Only after seeing that they were neat and proper did he dare raise his eyes. “President Fu, the chairman and the others are waiting for you downstairs for lunch.”

“We’ll eat in the room. Send it up.”

The steward almost collapsed in fright. He was certain that if he went downstairs and said that, he would be thrown out immediately. Although this job required working during the New Year, the pay was really good.

He looked at Fu Yanchuan, but instead of seeing his usual expression, he saw a smile that had never appeared before. Thinking his eyes were playing tricks on him, he then heard Fu Yanchuan continue, “Just say I have a concussion and can’t get out of bed.”

—What?

The steward thought his ears were malfunctioning too. He had worked at this villa for several years. Sometimes, when events were held here, Fu Yanchuan would also attend. He had seen him many times.

In his impression, Fu Yanchuan was decisive and serious—someone who never needed to, nor disdained to, tell such a lie.

Fu Yanchuan added, “Also tell them that no one is to disturb my rest.”

Only then did the steward fully believe that he hadn’t misheard. Whether he believed it or not, he didn’t dare argue. He lowered his head in agreement, and then the door closed again.

With his heart pounding, he went downstairs. He told the kitchen to send the meal to Fu Yanchuan’s room and then returned to the dining room to relay Fu Yanchuan’s words. Fu Zhenrong slammed down his chopsticks and left the table immediately.

The eldest of Fu Zhenrong’s generation had already passed away. Everyone in the room was so frightened by Fu Zhenrong that they didn’t dare move their chopsticks. Fu Shengchang, the second brother and the oldest present, spoke up. “Don’t mind the father and son arguing. Eat.”

The meal barely continued, but many people had already lost their appetite.

Meanwhile, Fu Yanchuan and Qi Xi ate comfortably in the room. After eating, Fu Yanchuan held Qi Xi, took a short nap, and then brought him downstairs to play.

In the card room, it was the same people again. Cigarettes and alcohol were present as they played cards. However, since this place was rented out for events, effort had been put into renovating it. The air inside was fresh, and there was even a faint floral scent.

When Fu Yanchuan brought Qi Xi inside, everyone in the room was startled. Fu Jinghong took the cigarette out of his mouth in surprise and shouted, “President Fu, is your concussion better? Shouldn’t you be at the hospital?”

“No need. My Qi Xi cured it.”

Fu Yanchuan openly wrapped an arm around Qi Xi’s waist, stunning everyone so much that their jaws almost dropped. Qi Xi blushed at what he said, too. He pushed Fu Yanchuan’s hand away forcefully and said in a low voice, “Don’t do this. There are people here.”

“What are you afraid of?”

Fu Yanchuan wrapped his arm around him again. Fu Jinghong looked at Qi Xi and asked, “Want to play a round too, kid?”

“My name is Qi Xi.”

First, he corrected Fu Jinghong’s way of addressing him, then he glanced at the table. He only recognized that they were playing with playing cards but didn’t know what game it was. Even if he knew, he wouldn’t know how to play. “Forget it. I’ve never played before.”

“It’s fine. Your President Fu is really good. Let him teach you!”

As Fu Jinghong spoke, he kicked the person next to him. “Fu San, give up your seat for President Fu.”

The person who was kicked gave up his seat obediently, but there was only one chair. Fu Yanchuan pushed Qi Xi down onto the chair. He leaned on the back of the adjacent chair, shocking everyone in the room once again.

In the past twenty or thirty years, they had never seen him give up a seat for anyone.

Seeing everyone looking at him, Qi Xi thought they all believed that he couldn’t play and would definitely beat him. He tugged at Fu Yanchuan’s clothes and said, “Brother Yan, you should play instead.”

Fu Yanchuan held Qi Xi’s hand, gently rubbing it in his palm as he comforted him, saying, “Do you know what beginner’s luck is? It means you’ll win against them.”

Qi Xi didn’t know. Instead of letting go of his hand, Fu Yanchuan turned to the people at the table and said, “Let’s change the stakes today. Whoever loses drinks.”

“Huh? What’s the point of that? It’s not like strip—”

Sitting opposite Qi Xi was one of Fu Yanchuan’s cousins. He only got halfway through his sentence when Fu Yanchuan glanced at him. He forcibly swallowed the rest of his words and changed his phrasing. “That works too. Alcohol, right? It’s pretty good to drink!”

Qi Xi didn’t know what they had been betting on originally. All he knew was that he couldn’t drink, so he asked Fu Yanchuan, “What if I get drunk?”

“I’m here. I won’t let you drink.”

Hearing the doting tone in Fu Yanchuan’s voice, Fu Jinghong cursed inwardly, thinking that love was truly magical. Before this, Fu Yuejiang had gotten himself into a mess until he was half-dead. They said that if not for the people his dad had sent, he would have died several times already over there. Now, there was Fu Yanchuan, as if he had become a completely different person.

He shuffled the cards and teased, “President Fu, don’t brag too much or you’ll embarrass yourself in front of your little friend.”

They were playing the simplest kind of card game. Fu Yanchuan explained the rules to Qi Xi. Qi Xi didn’t understand, but he forced himself to memorize them.

Fu Yanchuan changed the bet to alcohol. Fu San, who had been called off the table, became the one to pour drinks. He took four large cups; whoever raised the bet would have alcohol poured into their cup.

In the first round, when four cards were dealt, Qi Xi got a straight of 10 J Q K. Thinking back on the rules, his confidence instantly shot up. He slapped the table and shouted, “I want to raise by one bottle!”

The cousin was shocked. “You’re way too ruthless! This is forty three-percent whisky.”

Qi Xi laughed and asked Fu Yanchuan, “Brother Yan, can I win?”

Fu Yanchuan leaned back in his chair, looking down at Qi Xi. Glancing at Fu Jinghong, he replied, “Of course you can.”

Fu Jinghong suddenly frowned, looked at Fu Yanchuan, threw in a chip, and said, “Then I fold. Third, the drink.”

Fu San, the only one moving around behind them, knew that Fu Jinghong had three Aces and that Qi Xi wouldn’t be able to draw the last card to complete a straight. So, there was no way for him to win.

He handed Fu Jinghong his cup. Fu Jinghong picked it up and said to Fu Yanchuan, “President Fu, if I drink this, won’t you have to drink with me another day?”

“No time.”

Fu Yanchuan refused directly. “After work, I’m going home to eat.”

Fu Jinghong almost cursed out loud. He turned to Qi Xi and asked, “Your President Fu has no time. Do you have time? When can I treat you to a meal?”

Qi Xi remembered that this was President Fu’s cousin and that they seemed to get along well. Without thinking, he agreed. “Sure! I’m free anytime.”

“Why eat with him?”

Fu Yanchuan rubbed Qi Xi’s hair. Qi Xi argued reasonably, “But he’s your cousin. Is your relationship with him bad?”

Fu Jinghong burst out laughing when he saw Fu Yanchuan’s expression. He seized the opportunity to tease him. “President Fu, I didn’t expect you to have someone you can’t handle!”

Fu Yanchuan shot him a look, then helped Qi Xi draw the last card. It only gave him a pair of kings. He told Qi Xi to throw the cards out.

Qi Xi didn’t even see the cards clearly. He threw them out as if he were holding a straight flush. It was only when the cards hit the table with a crisp sound that he realized they were just a pair of kings. After seeing the other two players’ cards, he silently reviewed the rules, checking to see if he had won.

Unable to stand his cautious, nervous look, Fu Yanchuan said directly, “You won.”

“Really?”

It was Qi Xi’s first time playing cards and winning. He immediately got excited and looked at the two who lost. “I won! Hurry up and drink!”

“No way! Are you really going to drink a whole bottle? I’ll pass out immediately.”

His cousin looked at Fu Yanchuan pleadingly. However, Fu Yanchuan asked Qi Xi, “Xixi, do you want him to drink?”

When Qi Xi called for one bottle, he hadn’t thought about what he would do when the time came to drink it. He glanced at the alcohol beside him. “It’s a bit much. Then don’t drink it.”

Fu Yanchuan immediately glanced at Fu San. Fu San understood and handed over the cups corresponding to their bets.

Drinking because you want to is one thing. Drinking as a punishment for losing makes it taste bad. The cousin refused. “Didn’t we say not to drink?”

“That was talking about that one bottle.”

In all his life, Fu Yanchuan had never spoken to him so gently. For a moment, he felt as if this cup of alcohol were a gift from Fu Yanchuan. He downed both cups in two gulps.

The other person was Fu Yanchuan’s older cousin. He patted his shoulder and said, “Good brother, help me drink the next round, too.”

Only then did the cousin react. “Don’t even think about it! Next round, you help me drink.”

“We’re all brothers. Don’t be so calculating!”

They said it casually but didn’t expect Qi Xi’s beginner’s luck to really kick in. Not just the next round, but every round after that, they were the ones drinking.

Not even Fu Yanchuan expected his words to come true. Originally, he meant that he would drink for Qi Xi if he lost. Instead, Qi Xi didn’t lose a single round and made the other three people at the table lose until they were almost drunk.

“No way! Change people!”

Feeling that they were truly drunk, Fu Yanchuan switched out Qi Xi as they wished. Still, they didn’t win a single sip of alcohol.

Qi Xi found a chair, carried it over, and sat next to Fu Yanchuan. He leaned against Fu Yanchuan’s arm and looked at his cards.

Fu San replaced the cousin but still didn’t win once. After drinking, and with Fu Yanchuan being unusually easygoing, they all grew bolder.

Fu Jinghong openly asked Qi Xi, “What cards does President Fu have? Tell me. Don’t you want to see him drunk? We’ve never seen him like that!”

“I’m not stupid. Brother Yan and I are on the same side. I’m not on your side.”

When Qi Xi said “same side,” he meant their position at the card table. But Fu Yanchuan misunderstood. He shot Fu Jinghong a sideways glance. “Hear that? Xixi wants to see what cards you have.”

Qi Xi obediently stood up to look, but Fu Jinghong wouldn’t let him see. He deliberately pressed the cards down. Qi Xi pretended to give up, suddenly turning back, but he still couldn’t see anything.

Fu Jinghong teased Qi Xi by half-lifting the cards and then not lifting them. Qi Xi was like a little field mouse, constantly poking his head over toward Fu Jinghong.

Fu Yanchuan warned him with a look. Fu Jinghong said unhappily, “You’re being unreasonable. Do you want me to let him see?”

With even more confidence than Fu Yanchuan, Qi Xi said, “Brother Yan doesn’t need to look to win! Right, Brother Yan?”

“Right.” Fu Yanchuan pulled Qi Xi back into his arms and held his hand. “Lend me some of your beginner’s luck.”

Suddenly, Qi Xi lifted Fu Yanchuan hand and kissed the back of it. “Here you go!”

Everyone at the table, including Fu Yanchuan, was stunned. Then, unable to hold back his laughter, Fu Yanchuan burst out laughing. He tightened his grip on Qi Xi’s hand, kissed him back, and said, looking at Qi Xi, “I received it.”

“Fuck!”

The young cousin couldn’t hold it in and cursed. He never thought he’d see Fu Yanchuan show affection like this, not even in his wildest dreams.

 

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