Chapter 54 - 1#

Chi Gui looked down at the egg in his palm, his heart growing heavy.

Eight months after the Chi family sent him abroad, his grandfather still succumbed to bone cancer and passed away.

From then on, Chi Gui never received this simple yet special gift again.

Chi Gui tried to steady his surging emotions. “I just mentioned it in passing at dinner. How did you remember?”

“Of course I’d remember.”

Jing Shun sensed the subtle emotional ripple beneath the other’s calm tone, then pulled two more eggs from his pajama pocket and smiled. “I have some too.”

Chi Gui watched him hold one egg in each hand, his fingertips faintly flushed—pretty and adorable.

He couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Jing Shun’s mind was elsewhere at the moment. His gaze swept past Chi Gui, sneaking a peek behind the man—

Chi Gui’s bedroom was huge, almost taking up half the entire floor. But right now, only two wall lamps were on, limiting visibility, so he couldn’t make out the layout inside.

Jing Shun had lived in the North Wing for half a year but had never set foot in Chi Gui’s private space.

“What are you looking at?”

Chi Gui noticed his sneaky glance, deliberately asking while not offering any invitation.

His bedroom was a wolf’s den that devoured people without spitting out bones. But the prey before him didn’t seem to realize that—if anything, he was naive enough to walk right into the trap.

Jing Shun hadn’t planned to leave immediately anyway, but he felt awkward entering uninvited and without reason at this hour—it would seem too calculated.

“Chi Gui, hold these for a second.”

Jing Shun stuffed his two eggs into Chi Gui’s hands, then leaned to rummage through the side pouch of his wheelchair.

Within seconds, he pulled out a bottle of liquor. “Want a drink? I’ve got some here.”

Chi Gui gave a helpless laugh. “Is your wheelchair a treasure pouch? How do you have everything?”

Jing Shun explained, “This bottle was meant for dinner, but I found out last minute that you drove yourself, so I left it aside at Boss Lady Ling’s place.”

Later, after the meal, Jing Shun had sneaked the bottle into his wheelchair pouch behind Chi Gui’s back.

Luckily, it hadn’t shattered from the bumps.

Chi Gui didn’t agree outright but instead checked on Jing Shun’s condition. “Can you drink now?”

“Asked Professor Song and the rehab staff—a little is fine.” Jing Shun took an imperceptible deep breath. “Chi Gui, we…”

Before he could finish his tentative words, Gou Bao, who had been on the second floor, came running up.

“Owooo~”

It stared at its two owners standing dumbly at the bedroom door, assessed the situation, then used its fluffy head to squeeze through and slip right into Chi Gui’s room.

Bao didn’t understand human hesitation.

Bao only knew to be bold!

Jing Shun was startled. “Hey! Bao Bao! Come back!”

Chi Gui couldn’t keep up the act any longer. He stepped aside to make way for Jing Shun. “It’s fine, come in. I’ll get some glasses—we’ll have a little tonight.”

Jing Shun curved his lips. “Okay.”

Chi Gui’s large bedroom was divided into three sections.

To the left of the entrance was the walk-in closet and bathroom; the central hall held the media room and tea station; to the right was the inner bedroom. The three areas were separated by folding frosted-glass partitions.

At first glance, it was exceptionally neat and comfortable.

Jing Shun didn’t wander off to the sides but stayed in the central hall, looking around.

Dark gray sheer curtains covered the floor-to-ceiling windows. Against the wall near the closet stood two rows of shelves, neatly lined with various official Blu-ray movie discs.

Another shelf was dedicated entirely to different cameras.

Jing Shun’s gaze lingered on the movie disc shelf, genuine envy in his eyes.

Only at this moment did he truly feel that Chi Gui had once majored in “Film Directing.”

Jing Shun couldn’t help but exclaim, “This is so cool.”

If he hadn’t entered the master bedroom, he’d never have imagined that beneath Chi Gui’s cold exterior and demeanor lay such a side.

Chi Gui walked back with washed glasses. “I’ve barely watched most of them—they’re practically decorations.”

After returning to the Chi family, he had so little time for himself that he couldn’t indulge his hobbies.

The reason Chi Gui collected these discs and cameras was simply to compensate for the professional regrets he would never have the chance to fulfill in this life.

Chi Gui sat on the sofa. “Give me the bottle.”

Jing Shun handed the liquor over. Watching Gou Bao roll around on the carpet, he felt a little worried. “Gou Bao, it…”

Chi Gui unscrewed the bottle in a few quick moves and poured the drinks. “It’s fine—it’s already made itself at home.”

Since Jing Shun started raising Gou Bao, Chi Gui’s tolerance for dogs had improved a lot.

Jing Shun struggled to shift himself onto the sofa and reached for the eggs that had warmed up. “Chi Gui, do you want one?”

Chi Gui handed him a glass, for once in the mood to share. “Back when my grandfather gave me eggs, he’d play a little game with me.”

Jing Shun took a sip of the liquor, curious. “What game?”

Chi Gui picked up another egg. “Egg-fighting. Whoever’s egg cracks loses. The winner can make a request of the loser.”

“Really?”

Jing Shun smiled—it was hard to imagine the young Chi Gui playing such a childish game.

Chi Gui toyed with the egg in his hand, taking his time before cracking it. “Why would I lie?”

“Then let’s do it!”

Jing Shun brightened and suddenly raised the egg he had chosen. “I’ll fight you with it. Same win-loss conditions as your grandfather said.”

Chi Gui raised an eyebrow. “Want to win?”

Jing Shun countered, “Who wants to lose?”

Chi Gui took a sip of liquor and silently adjusted his grip. “Come on.”

“Three, two, one—fight!”

—Crack!

The sound of eggs colliding rang out.

Jing Shun immediately checked his battle weapon—completely intact. On the other hand, the seasoned player Chi Gui had lost spectacularly, the top of his eggshell dented and cracked.

“Mm-hmm~”

“You win.”

A faint smile crept onto Chi Gui’s face as he accepted the loss. “What’s your request?”

“Haven’t thought of it yet. I’ll owe you one for now.”

Jing Shun took another drink, then cracked and peeled his egg.

Gou Bao caught the scent of egg, rolled over, got up, and sidled up to Jing Shun, whimpering.

Jing Shun split the yolk in half and gave it to the dog. “Sharing a birthday blessing with our Gou Bao—may you grow up safe and healthy too.”

Seeing this, Chi Gui also split his egg and gave half to Gou Bao.

Gou Bao wagged its tail and, for once, willingly lay at Chi Gui’s feet.

Jing Shun wasn’t much of a drinker, but it had been a long time since he’d had any alcohol. He lost control and drank a bit too much.

Then he poured himself a little more.

Chi Gui urged, “Don’t drink too much—this stuff is strong.”

Jing Shun nodded vaguely, but inside he had other thoughts—

Liquid courage.

Some things could only be said with the help of alcohol.

Jing Shun checked his watch: 11:15. Still early.

“Chi Gui.”

“Hm?”

“Tell me more about your past.”

“What do you want to hear?”

“Anything about you. I want to hear it all.” Jing Shun looked at Chi Gui beside him, trying to start the conversation. “For example, how did you spend those two years overseas?”

He could probably guess—

For Chi Gui, the two-year intensive training abroad must have been far from easy.

“…”

Chi Gui took a sip of liquor. He didn’t intend to hide it from Jing Shun.

“At the time, Grandpa suspected that Chi Yuan’s death wasn’t an accident. He was afraid the same bad luck would strike me, so he sent me to a private island in the Atlantic.”

Partly to protect Chi Gui, and partly to cut off any chance of him bailing out.

“He hired professional teachers from all over the world. My schedule was packed—daily, weekly, monthly—everything was planned to the minute.”

First came basic languages, then the social etiquette expected of the wealthy.

Then free combat, fencing, equestrianism, bowling, golf, and other recreational skills—even high-level gambling.

Finally, specialized content like financial investment and corporate management.

For those two years, Chi Gui faced all kinds of tests every day. Even when sick or injured, lessons never stopped.

“Those hired teachers didn’t treat me like a living person. To them, I was just a money-making task.”

“In the old man’s eyes, I was nothing but a lump of mud.”

“…”

“He didn’t care how battered my past was. He just wanted to carve me into what he wanted.”

Someone who could take his place, withstand the schemes of the collateral branches, and protect the main line of the Chi family.

Not just qualified—excellent.

Chi Gui’s feelings toward Old Man Chi were complicated—

There was never any closeness between grandfather and grandson. But hate? He couldn’t bring himself to hate him either.

Chi Gui had long seen reality for what it was. He knew that without Old Man Chi, he might never have touched the top of the pyramid in this lifetime.

Jing Shun asked, “After the old man passed, didn’t you ever think about just leaving?”

Chi Gui seemed to recall something, his brow heavy. “The Chi family—that place of trouble. Once you step in, leaving isn’t that simple.”

The peace they saw now was all built by his own hands.

Chi Gui didn’t share the many crises he’d faced before. He only talked about the simple, lighter things.

Jing Shun quietly curled up on the sofa, listening to Chi Gui’s past.

Until the time ticked past 11:50, the day about to end.

Chi Gui noticed the tipsiness swimming in Jing Shun’s eyes and finally cut off the topic. “It’s late, Jing Shun. You should rest.”

Jing Shun shook his head, moving a little closer to him. “I haven’t… made my wish yet.”

The distance between them shrank instantly.

Chi Gui saw the hazy moisture in Jing Shun’s eyes, caught the scent of shower gel as he neared. His barely calm emotions surged again.

He didn’t pull away, but he didn’t dare move closer either. “What wish do you want to make?”

Jing Shun’s wish was simple. “First, I hope the puppy is well.”

“Second, I hope I’m well.”

“Third…” He looked at the man right in front of him, almost blurting it all out. “I most hope you’re well too.”

Chi Gui’s chest stirred slightly. “Jing Shun, you’re drunk.”

“I’m not drunk!”

Jing Shun grabbed the hem of his pajama shirt and sighed. “Chi Gui, you know? I was already used to being alone.”

“I told you—don’t be so good to me.”

Jing Shun was used to getting rained on, used to enduring loneliness, used to not relying on anyone. But Chi Gui’s appearance broke down his mental defenses.

In the name of an agreement, Chi Gui had given him enough care and attention.

Jing Shun was greedy for that kindness. He couldn’t let go. So he tried his best to hold on. “Chi Gui… if I won that little game, I get to make a request, right?”

“…”

Jing Shun’s grip on the pajama hem tightened, carrying a nervousness and seriousness he’d never felt before. “I know that compared to you now, I’m still far behind. But I still want to try.”

The alcohol seemed to hit him all at once.

Jing Shun trembled all over from tension, not daring to look at the other’s reaction. “Chi Gui, I like you. I want to pursue you. Can you give me a chance?”

He had never expected to get together with Chi Gui just like that.