At the Yan family villa, Madam Yan was on a video call with her younger son, her tone filled with utter helplessness.
“Sweet son, listen to me, don’t go studying that messy clinical medicine, and psychiatry is out of the question!
Do you even know how dangerous it’ll be once you start working? Especially in psychiatry—they even have a special award called the ‘Consolation Prize,’ just for doctors and nurses who get beaten up.”
Her husband, hearing this, also came over to persuade their son.
“An’an, listen to your mother. You’re our only child, the future of the Yan family rests with you. As the one who will inherit everything, you need to study finance or management.”
“Am I really your only son?” The brown-haired boy in the video sounded gloomy. “What about that one you picked up? Doesn’t he count?”
“You know very well he’s only there to complete the marriage alliance with the Si family.” Madam Yan smiled as she looked at her jealous child.
“An’an, you just have to wait one more week. Once Chu Junlie and the Si family are done with the engagement, you can come back. Mama even bought you a gift—you’ll definitely like it.”
Yan An nodded listlessly, showing no interest in the gift.
“Oh, right.” As if remembering something, Yan An asked casually,
“That fool Chu Junlie—who’s the unlucky one he’s marrying into?”
At this question, Madam Yan and her husband exchanged glances. They still hadn’t fully processed the emotional aftermath of last night’s scene.
“What’s with your expressions?” Yan An tilted his head curiously. “Did something happen?”
“You probably won’t believe it if I say.” Madam Yan swallowed unconsciously.
“Chu Junlie… he was chosen by Si Yunyi.”
The boy in the video froze. Madam Yan thought it was just the connection lagging and called his name twice. Then she saw his eyes gradually redden, tears welling up until they overflowed.
“Say that again. That fool—chosen by who?”
“Si… Yunyi.” Madam Yan, seeing her son’s reaction, faintly sensed something terribly wrong.
“Impossible!” The boy shot to his feet in the video, tears streaming uncontrollably. “Brother Yunyi would never like that fool. You’re lying to me!”
Madam Yan opened her mouth, but for a moment didn’t know what to say.
“How could you do this to me! Why didn’t you stop it!” Yan An sobbed, tears covering his face. “Do you really not know why I used to run over to the Si family so often? Don’t you know why I wanted to study psychiatry?”
“Didn’t you go to the Si family just to play with the kids your age?” Yan An’s father looked bewildered.
“If not for how well you got along with them, your grandfather and Old Master Si wouldn’t have arranged the marriage back then.”
“I never liked playing with them! I went just to see Brother Yunyi!” Yan An cried until his voice was hoarse. “If I had known Brother Yunyi was also taking in a husband this time—even if there was just a one-in-a-thousand chance—I would never have let that fool go!”
The Yan couple looked at each other, stunned into silence.
“Why didn’t you say this before?” Madam Yan clutched her chest, feeling as if she were having a heart attack.
“I didn’t dare say it!” Yan An wept bitterly. “I was afraid if I said it out loud, you’d all scold me—say I was a toad dreaming of eating swan meat. But now, but now he’s actually…”
At the thought of that fool being with Brother Yunyi, Yan An broke down completely, crying so hard he couldn’t even speak.
“My sweet boy, don’t cry!” Seeing her son gasping through sobs, Madam Yan’s heart ached. She exchanged a glance with her husband, both eyes full of helplessness.
Things had already been settled. If the Yan family went back on their word, it would surely provoke the Si family’s displeasure.
“Mom, Dad—I like Brother Yunyi. If I can be with him, I promise I’ll listen to everything you say from now on. Please, help me, okay?” Yan An pleaded between sobs, his tear-filled eyes full of desperate hope toward his parents.
×××
Chu Junlie took a cold shower, but maybe he was too excited—lying on the bed, he couldn’t fall asleep. So he simply got up and began packing early, after all, in just one week, he would be moving in with Mr. Si.
Just thinking about living under the same roof with Mr. Si, being able to see him every day, made Chu Junlie burst with happiness.
There were still ten days left in this month, and next month’s rent could just be handed straight to Mr. Si. Chu Junlie had already informed his landlord ahead of time, letting them look for a new tenant during this period.
As he was cleaning up, Uncle Chang from the supermarket suddenly called—there was work to do.
It wasn’t much work, just one fifty-catty sack of flour. But the buyers were an elderly couple, both already old. They had come with a bicycle to buy flour. When Uncle Chang heard they lived on the fifth floor with no elevator, he immediately called Chu Junlie.
Seeing a young man helping them carry it, the elderly couple got excited and decided to buy another sack of rice.
Chu Junlie shouldered the flour, stacked the rice bag on top, and carried both steadily all the way to their fifth-floor apartment, delivering them right to their home.
With flour dust on his clothes, he patted himself off with a towel while walking back to the little supermarket.
Uncle Chang, seeing him return, pulled out a ten-yuan bill from the money for the rice and flour and put it in front of him.
“No need, Uncle Chang.” Chu Junlie pushed the money back. Uncle Chang didn’t insist, just kept it and told him to wait a while—someone was bringing food over for lunch.
The small supermarket had an old TV. At noon, Uncle Chang turned it on, split the meal that was delivered into two portions, and handed one to Chu Junlie.
Sitting on a small stool, Chu Junlie held the lunch box, eating together with Uncle Chang while watching TV.
The familiar opening theme played—it was time for the Hong Kong City noon news. A pair of anchors sat at the news desk, starting with the local current affairs.
“The shocking murder case that rocked Harbor City has finally concluded with the court’s verdict. Li **, son of a wealthy businessman, killed the victim after his confession of love was rejected, then cruelly skinned off the victim’s face…”
Most people in Harbor City had already heard of this case. In the small supermarket, many customers fell silent, their eyes fixed on the male and female anchors on the TV screen.
“At the second trial, Li ** appealed on the grounds of mental illness. With the judge’s approval, the judicial authorities of Harbor City appointed three experts to evaluate Li **’s mental state.” The female anchor spoke with a grave expression.
“The three evaluators disagreed, each exercising their right to submit independent opinions.
The defense requested that the evaluators testify in court and undergo cross-examination…
In the end, the judge and jury adopted the evaluation submitted by one of the experts, surnamed Si, sentencing Li ** to death and permanently stripping him of political rights.”
The big screen cut to footage from the public second trial, zooming in on the witness stand.
Standing there was a man with a cool, ink-painting kind of beauty. His eyes were stunning, like they held frost. A pair of thin-rimmed glasses rested on his straight nose, with a silver chain draping beside his face, adding a refined elegance.
Chu Junlie straightened at once, unconsciously leaning toward the TV.
It was Mr. Si!
This footage was from two months ago, before he had even met Mr. Si.
“In conclusion, the defendant does suffer from schizophrenia. However, prior to committing the crime, he recorded himself in a public setting. In the video, the defendant appeared well-groomed, responded appropriately, and demonstrated normal logical reasoning ability…”
The man’s voice was unusually clear and pleasant, carrying unparalleled penetration and the natural authority of someone long accustomed to being in a high position. It compelled listeners to focus on every word.
Chu Junlie stared fixedly at the screen, holding his breath without realizing it.
“After the crime, the defendant showed no signs of relapse, proving he was in a remission period of schizophrenia, fully capable of recognition and control, and thus bore full criminal responsibility…”
The screen cut back to the anchors. Chu Junlie couldn’t help but feel disappointed—the handsome man and woman on screen suddenly looked plain compared to the figure just now.
“Little Chu!” Uncle Chang hurriedly warned, seeing the young man nearly topple off his stool.
“Just now…” Chu Junlie pointed at the TV, mouth opening and closing, but no words came out.
“That’s the Si family’s genius psychiatrist,” an old customer said casually while paying for a drink, clearly used to the topic.
“They say admirers of his could line up from Harbor City to Paris. But he just coolly says, ‘Marriage isn’t part of my life plan,’ and left his father fuming for half a year.”
Chu Junlie blinked, suddenly recalling that night at the Si family mansion, when Si Yunyi pressed him down.
No wonder everyone had been so shocked.
No wonder even Old Master Si’s eyes had almost popped out, yet he hadn’t stopped it.
“Now, I’m afraid even work isn’t part of his life plan anymore,” the customer shrugged.
“By testifying this time, he’s offended the Li family. That Li ** was their only son. Do you think they’ll let him go?”
Hearing this, Chu Junlie frowned, worry flickering in his eyes.
“But rumor has it,” the customer scratched his face, his tone tinged with envy, “that this Si family genius, so he wouldn’t drag his family down, has already announced retirement. He says he’ll travel abroad.”
“Retired at twenty-nine! And here I am, over fifty, still hustling selling used cars. Isn’t that infuriating?”
Chu Junlie pressed his lips together, shoveling a few mouthfuls of rice into his mouth.
He wondered—when Mr. Si traveled, would he take him along? He could carry the luggage. A lot of luggage.
“Rumors aren’t reliable,” Uncle Chang muttered, rice catching in his throat as he reached for water.
“I’ve heard that even Boss Li himself is barely keeping afloat.”
The old customer chuckled, fiddling with a lighter from the counter, but didn’t argue. After all, Uncle Chang spent all day here—he probably heard more than anyone.
When business quieted down, Uncle Chang leaned toward Chu Junlie.
“Little Chu, didn’t you say you had a blind date? How did it go?”
Hearing gossip, the customer pricked up his ears.
Suddenly remembering something wonderful, Chu Junlie couldn’t help smiling as he shoveled down his rice.
“It worked out.”
“I knew it! Didn’t I say you’d look sharp in that suit? Bet you bowled them right over, huh?” Uncle Chang grinned.
“It was the other person who chose me.” Chu Junlie’s eyes shone, as though he’d been struck by a gift from the heavens. “I’m marrying into their family.”
The nearby customer almost spat his drink. Uncle Chang’s smile faltered for a couple seconds, but considering the young man’s circumstances, he figured maybe that was the best he could hope for.
“What’s the other person like?” Uncle Chang asked, reluctant yet curious.
Chu Junlie glanced around, leaned in close, ears flushing red, as if about to share the greatest secret of his life.
Uncle Chang leaned in eagerly, while the other customer subtly tilted closer too.
“…Not telling.”
A hidden glow of affection lit Chu Junlie’s face.
“Not telling means they’re ugly,” the customer teased. “Trust me, if they had any good points, you’d already be bragging.”
Chu Junlie just shook his head, lowering his eyes to his meal, unwilling to reveal another word.
Outside, a sleek silver luxury car rolled past, then backed up and stopped at the small supermarket’s entrance.
The moment the rear door opened, the very man from the television stepped out—dressed in an ivory casual suit, his long black hair loosely tied back. As he approached, the chain of his glasses swayed lightly at his cheek, glinting brilliantly under the sunlight.
The old regular standing at the entrance had clearly noticed the newcomer as well. His gaze shifted back and forth between the TV and the man, and the lighter in his hand nearly slipped from his grip.
Chu Junlie instinctively stood up with his chopsticks still in hand, his eyes gradually lighting up.
“Mr. Si?”
“Finish eating before you leave.” Si Yunyi glanced at the food in Chu Junlie’s hands, walked into the small supermarket, picked up two bottles of water from the shelves, and went to the counter to scan and pay.
The supermarket fell so silent that one could hear a pin drop. Grandpa Chang stared at the man before him, then looked at Chu Junlie, who was happily sneaking glances at him while quickly eating. For a long time, he couldn’t find his words.
How could Xiao Chu possibly know someone like this?
Si Yunyi set a bottle of water by Chu Junlie’s side. Just as he was about to open the other one for himself, Chu Junlie suddenly jumped up, snatched the bottle from his hand, twisted the cap off with flushed ears, and handed it back.
Si Yunyi’s fingers paused slightly before he accepted it. Surrounded by the mixed scent of food and smoke in the shop, he took the water outside, raised it to his lips, and drank two sips to moisten them.
Grandpa Chang had originally wanted to quietly ask about their relationship, but when he saw how tightly Chu Junlie’s eyes followed the man—as though afraid he would leave—while he wolfed down his food, rushed to wash his lunchbox, and immediately set it down to chase after him, he could no longer hold back.
“This… this person isn’t the one you’re supposed to marry into, is he?” Even though he himself found the guess absurd, Grandpa Chang still couldn’t help asking.
Chu Junlie suppressed the pride that welled up in his chest and gave Grandpa Chang a slight nod.
“Brother, are you blackmailing him with something?” The old regular’s face was filled with disbelief.
“Or did you save his life dozens of times, and now he’s repaying you?”
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