Chapter 46 - 1#
Chi Gui received a call from the driver, Old Zhang, and rushed back from the group headquarters immediately, heading straight for the West Building, which he hadn’t set foot in for a long time.
——Bang!
Wei Di, catching his boss’s subtle signal, kicked open the wooden fence gate of the front yard with one swift motion.
Chi Gui stormed into the brightly lit hall in three quick strides, but the scene before him made both him and his two assistants freeze in their tracks—
Inside the opulent, brilliantly lit hall stood two uniformed police officers, an unexpected sight.
At that moment, Jing Shun, the person involved, sat unharmed in his wheelchair, while Chi Renpin sat on the sofa opposite him with a grim expression, and Chen Wanshui was earnestly explaining something to the officers.
Probably hearing the commotion at the door, everyone in the room turned to look.
Chi Gui met Jing Shun’s gaze and quickly walked over to him. “Are you okay?”
Jing Shun looked up at him, a sly smile playing on his lips. “I’m fine.”
Chi Renpin, who hadn’t received a single word of greeting from his own son, darkened his already unpleasant face. “What could happen to him? He’s doing great!”
Not long ago, he had barely uttered a couple of “threats” to Jing Shun in the tea room, intending to make him back off and stop clinging to Chi Gui like some seductive fox spirit.
But instead, the guy had the audacity to whip out his phone right in front of them and dial 110.
“Hello, yes, I want to report a crime. I’m at No. 1 Fushan Road, Jinshui District, Haishi, the West Building of the Chi Family Estate. Someone is trying to unlawfully detain me.”
Not a single pause for breath.
Not only was the address clear and the intent of the report obvious, but every word was crisp and articulate, as if he had rehearsed it all beforehand.
Chen Wanshui, the butler, was the first to react, lunging to grab Jing Shun’s phone.
But Jing Shun clung to it tightly, remaining calm under pressure. “Officer, they’re trying to take my phone now. I’m in a dangerous situation. Please send someone quickly!”
“Yes, my name is Jing Shun, and this is my phone number.”
“……”
This sudden “scene-stealing” act nearly sent Chi Renpin’s heart racing with fury.
After ending the call, no matter how much Chi Renpin scolded and berated him, Jing Shun completely ignored him, leaning back in his wheelchair with extreme composure, showing no intention of leaving in a hurry.
Relying on his wealth and background, Chi Renpin had lived a smooth life; everyone he met gave him some face.
He hadn’t expected Jing Shun, despite his youth, to be so stubborn and unyielding, infuriating him to no end!
Left with no choice, he told Chen Wanshui to open the tea room door and let Jing Shun get lost, planning to find other ways to kick him out of the Chi residence later that night.
But unexpectedly, Jing Shun refused to leave—
As soon as Chen Wanshui moved to touch his wheelchair, Jing Shun pulled out a stun gun from somewhere and viciously warned them:
“I can’t move easily. Anyone who dares touch me will regret it!”
“I’m not going anywhere until the police arrive!”
“If I end up with another fall or fracture, never mind me—Chi Gui won’t let you off either!”
He even dared to use Chi Gui to scare them? What a fox pretending to be a tiger!
Chi Renpin and Chen Wanshui, together over a hundred years old, had seen plenty of the world, but dealing with someone as “shameless” as Jing Shun left them unexpectedly helpless.
What’s the saying? Easy to invite a god in, hard to send one away—this was exactly that!
The police dispatcher, probably recognizing the words “Chi Family Estate,” responded extremely quickly. Within fifteen minutes, two officers arrived at the West Building.
Chen Wanshui made the first move. “Officers, we never unlawfully detained him! The tea room and the main house doors are wide open! He’s the one refusing to leave!”
Faced with this twisting of the truth, Jing Shun calmly activated his smartwatch and played a key recording right in front of the officers—
“Stop! Who said you could leave!”
“Don’t disrespect the old master and refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a penalty.”
“Jing Shun, believe it or not, I can have someone forcibly send you out of Haishi tonight! You’ll never see Chi Gui again in your life!”
Chi Renpin was left speechless, unable to refute.
But Jing Shun suddenly dropped his previous “shameless” act, acting wronged and scared. “Officers, you heard that. I can’t move easily now, and they’re threatening me like this.”
“If something really happens to me later, it must be by their orders!”
“……”
There it was—ironclad evidence.
By the time Chi Gui arrived with his men, the officers had just finished writing up the police report, having given Chi Renpin and Chen Wanshui a warning and criticism.
Thinking about everything that had happened tonight, Chi Renpin felt he had lost all face.
Chi Gui could see the old man had been humiliated, but he only focused on Jing Shun, repeatedly asking, “Are you sure you’re okay? Want me to take you to the hospital for a full check-up?”
Chi Renpin was so furious he wanted to slap this unfilial son across the face.
The lead officer glanced at the time and put away the report. “Alright, we’ll be off now!”
Jing Shun nodded politely. “Thank you for your trouble, officers. I appreciate it.”
The officers acknowledged his thanks and added, “Feel free to contact us anytime. This is a society governed by law. No need to be afraid.”
Chi Renpin: “……”
After the officers left, Chi Renpin immediately demanded, “Chi Gui! Take your people away now!”
Jing Shun, having won a complete victory, muttered, “Fine, I’ll go.”
He had originally planned to head back to the North Residence on his own after the police left, not expecting Chi Gui to return so quickly.
Chi Gui chuckled inwardly and instructed his two assistants, “Wei Di, you two escort Jing Shun back first.”
He paused for a second, his gaze fixed on Chi Renpin on the sofa. “I have a few more words to discuss with the old master.”
As his voice fell, an abrupt, cold, and hard aura burst forth.
Chi Renpin’s heart tightened, and he clenched his teeth imperceptibly.
Only after Jing Shun had left the hall and the door was half-closed did Chi Renpin rise, leaning on his cane, and strike first. “Chi Gui! What on earth is going through your head?”
He had originally doubted the nature of Chi Gui and Jing Shun’s relationship, thinking it might just be a show for mutual benefit.
But ever since Chi Gui entered, his eyes hadn’t left Jing Shun!
No father knows his son better.
Chi Renpin had seen right through Chi Gui’s intentions!
Chi Gui asked knowingly, “What are you talking about?”
The more Chi Renpin thought about it, the angrier he got. He scolded directly, “When I brought you home and made you chairman of the Chi Group, it wasn’t so you could be mixed up with a man!”
“Wrong!”
Chi Gui looked straight at Chi Renpin’s furious face, correcting him word by word. “It was Grandfather who brought me back to the Chi family, not you. And I became chairman of the Chi Group on my own merit, not because of you.”
Chi Renpin’s grip on his cane tightened, and he tried to invoke the deceased old Mr. Chi to pressure him.
“Fine! Do you know why your grandfather brought you back to the Chi family? It was for the continuation of our Chi lineage!”
“If I had known your mind would be entirely on men, I might as well have left you out there to rot in misery!”
“Chi Gui, without the title and glory of the Chi family, where do you think your life would be? Do you think that Jing Shun at the door would still care about you? Would still want to cling to you? Dream on!”
Chen Wanshui, noticing Chi Gui’s increasingly dark expression, subtly reminded him, “Old master, be careful not to upset yourself.”
Just as he finished speaking, Chi Gui suddenly kicked him aside, making an example of him. “I heard that it was Butler Chen himself who stood guard and blocked my driver’s car? What authority you have!”
“……”
Chen Wanshui hadn’t expected such a sudden attack and collapsed to the ground in pain.
Chi Renpin was startled. “You—”
Chi Gui looked back at him, his tone harsh. “You know better than I do who caused the misery in my life before.”
“Besides, didn’t I already tell you? Stay content in your current position, enjoy the servants’ care with your eyes open, and stop meddling in my affairs.”
He didn’t even address him as “Dad,” as if they weren’t father and son, but enemies.
Chi Renpin took a deep breath, barely steadying himself.
Chi Gui commanded, “Listen carefully. I don’t want anything like tonight to happen again. Otherwise, the one leaving the Chi family won’t be Jing Shun—it will be you and Aunt Sun!”
Chi Renpin trembled with rage. “Are you threatening me?”
“So what? Do you want to call the police again?”
Chi Gui raised an eyebrow slightly, exuding undeniable authority. “I know what you’ve been up to lately. You’ve been egged on by the eldest branch, trying to push me into an arranged marriage with someone you approve of, haven’t you?”
“Save it.”
“I will never marry any woman in this lifetime. So you’re right—if we’re talking about direct bloodline, the Chi family will indeed end with me.”
“……”
Chi Renpin was silent, his steps faltering under the weight of these rebellious words.
“You’d better not get confused. Face reality. As long as I sit in the position of family head for one more day, this household answers to me, Chi Gui!”
“Of course, if you’re so eager for the Chi family to have an heir, how about you try harder yourself? If I had a brother by then, after you pass, I promise I’ll hand over everything I have to him.”
“You—you unfilial son! What nonsense are you spouting!”
Chi Renpin’s chest heaved violently. He couldn’t catch his breath, and his eyes rolled back as he collapsed straight down.
Chen Wanshui endured the pain to check on him. “Old master! Old master, what’s wrong?”
Chi Gui paid no attention and walked out coldly.
…
The front yard of the West Building was planted with many peonies, which were in full bloom this season.
As Chi Gui stepped out of the main house, he saw Jing Shun sitting in his wheelchair among a cluster of flowers, his fingertips lightly brushing the petals.
The bright lights above cast a hazy glow around him, making his profile even more captivating.
“……”
Chi Gui watched him intently for a while.
The anger that had been stirring inside him inexplicably softened and calmed down.
Perhaps because his gaze was too obvious, Jing Shun soon turned to look at him. “Chi Gui, are you done talking with the old master?”
“Talk” was a gentle way to put it.
He had vaguely heard a few words just now—the father and son had clearly had a heated argument.
Chi Gui walked over quickly. “Why haven’t you gone back yet? Where are Wei Di and the others?”
“I sent them back first.”
Jing Shun met Chi Gui’s eyes and spoke honestly. “I was waiting for you. The old master was probably really upset by me tonight. I was afraid something might actually happen to him, and I’d feel terrible.”
“He’s tough as nails. Nothing will happen to him.”
Chi Gui gestured for Jing Shun to head out. “Let’s go. Tell me in detail—what happened tonight?”
On the way back, Jing Shun recounted everything that had occurred.
After reflecting on it, he admitted, but only slightly, “Was I too ‘shameless’ in front of the old master tonight?”
Chi Gui didn’t think so. “It’s fine. He needed to be put in his place. Otherwise, he’ll keep finding ways to bother you in the future.”