Chapter 20: An Unexpected Way

One day, Xu Zhiqiao finished work early. After hopping off the bus, she happened to see Ji Huailuo’s car.

The car had just driven into the entrance of the community.

Because of the mysterious 10,000 yuan, Xu Zhiqiao was absent-minded as she walked at her own pace, neither fast nor slow, into the neighborhood.

The car stopped at some point, and the window rolled down completely. Ji Huailuo squinted and scanned her with his usual impatient tone: “Why are you walking so slowly?”

Xu Zhiqiao didn’t have the energy to respond: “Big Brother, you go ahead.”

“Get in the car,” Ji Huailuo said gruffly. “It’s still a few hundred meters.”

Xu Zhiqiao was about to say “No need,” but before she could, Ji Huailuo had already unlocked the door with a click.

The gate didn’t allow parking for long, so Xu Zhiqiao didn’t dare to waste time, fearing Ji Huailuo would snap at her any moment. She hurriedly took small steps, opened the door, and climbed in.

The car started, accompanied by Ji Huailuo’s annoyed scolding: “Your mom told you not to run, why are you running?”

“… It’s fine,” Xu Zhiqiao muttered, “Besides, I saw traffic behind, what if they shout at us?”

Her main concern was still that Ji Huailuo would scold her because of it.

As soon as she finished speaking, Ji Huailuo suddenly yelled, “Who dares to yell at me? Don’t they know I’m the boss of this neighborhood?”

“…”

After shouting, Ji Huailuo seemed to think of something, and his voice lowered a few decibels in a strange tone: “Let’s see who dares.”

Xu Zhiqiao: “Oh.”

Ji Huailuo: “You don’t believe me?”

“Believe.”

“Xu Zhiqiao.”

“…Huh?”

“You’re only fit to watch Bears Without Borders.”

“……”

The car turned into the road leading to Ji’s residence, with osmanthus trees lush on both sides.

Xu Zhiqiao paused for half a second before softly defending herself, “How do you know it suits me if you’ve never seen it?”

Ji Huailuo was momentarily speechless.

Indeed.

If he hadn’t watched it, how would he know what was in it? And how could he be so sure it suited her?

If he had seen it, it would mean he was insulting himself.

Ji Huailuo parked the car and looked at her with an assessing gaze. “Why are you back so early today?”

“Classes are starting soon,” Xu Zhiqiao honestly explained. “It’s going to be busy, and the boss told us to rest well…”

Ji Huailuo: “Can’t you quit this crappy job?”

“……”

“You still want to do it?” Ji Huailuo’s expression turned cold. “Don’t tell anyone you know me. I can’t afford the embarrassment.”

“……”

She worked part-time at a bubble tea shop. Was it embarrassing?

Ji Huailuo’s haughty tone and disdainful demeanor made Xu Zhiqiao bite her lip and reply, “I haven’t told anyone, and I won’t. I won’t ever again.”

“……” Ji Huailuo’s irritable mood flared up again. “You come and go from the Ji household…”

Xu Zhiqiao opened the door and got out of the car, throwing over her words: “I’ll move out tomorrow.”

Ji Huailuo’s face darkened like a frying pan: “Don’t go around telling people I chased you away…”

Xu Zhiqiao didn’t look back. “I’ll tell them I’m a dog.”

“……”

The somewhat pleasant mood that had been there evaporated in the few words exchanged, replaced by mounting frustration and gloom.

Ji Huailuo slammed the door shut and stormed toward the backyard.

When he entered and changed his shoes, Xu Zhiqiao heard Ji Huailuo shouting at Er De. She lowered her head and neatly arranged her shoes.

Ji Shou and Xu Shu were both there. One was reading the newspaper in the living room, and the other had just come out of the kitchen.

Xu Shu brought a plate of fruit, smiling, “Baobao, Young Master Zhou is coming over for dinner today. Have some fruit first.”

“…Which Young Master Zhou?”

“Zhou Cong,” Xu Shu said. “He has a good relationship with your big brother. He used to come over often. Don’t worry.”

Xu Zhiqiao paused for a moment before nodding.

Since he was coming, she would return the 10,000 yuan to him in person.

However, Zhou Cong didn’t come. Ji Huailuo kicked open the kitchen door and only said to Sister Li, “A Cong isn’t coming. Let’s start eating.”

“Why isn’t he coming?” Sister Li asked, concerned. “We have to eat.”

Ji Huailuo’s mood was still foul. “He said he’s not feeling well, and the doctor told him not to eat dinner.”

Sister Li: “Tch, spoiled.”

“Let’s eat.”

“Okay.”

At the dining table, Xu Zhiqiao brought up the idea of moving out. Fearing that Ji Shou might worry, she emphasized, “The university dorms are already assigned. I can go now and pick a bed I like.”

“……” Ji Shou hesitated. “Your roommate isn’t even here yet. Won’t you be lonely?”

“I’m not scared,” Xu Zhiqiao smiled. “I’ll be busy during the day, and at night, I’ll sleep soundly.”

Xu Shu didn’t object, and Ji Shou had no more words to say.

It seemed like they had agreed.

Only faint sounds of eating were heard in the dining room.

At some point, Ji Huailuo suddenly stood up. His movement was so abrupt that the chair scraped loudly across the floor, making a sharp screech.

Seeing Ji Shou about to lose his temper, Xu Shu quickly intervened, “Huailuo, why haven’t you touched your food?”

Ji Huailuo looked grim. He threw his chopsticks onto the table and coldly said, “I’m not eating.”

“Well, then don’t eat,” Ji Shou shouted. “Why are you smashing things for? Who are you trying to show off for?”

Ji Huailuo: “To those blind people!”

Ji Shou angrily threw his chopsticks: “A dog can’t hide two liang of oil! What business are you running? Go back to the logistics!”

The father and son were at it again.

Xu Zhiqiao was actually very afraid of arguments, especially the shouting of men, which always made her instinctively want to hide.

She trembled as she stood up and courageously tried to mediate, “Uncle…”

Ji Huailuo suddenly turned to look at her.

Xu Zhiqiao stiffened, preparing herself for a shout.

But after a few seconds, there were no harsh words. Instead, Ji Huailuo gritted his teeth and squeezed out a few words: “Just eat your meal!”

After saying that, Ji Huailuo pushed the chair aside and stormed out.

The boots that had been hanging in mid-air landed slowly in an unexpected way.

What seemed like the prelude to an explosive argument fizzled out like a damp firecracker, only puffing out a cloud of smoke.

And then it was gone with the wind.

Ji Shou stood there, dazed: “This brat, I was halfway through unbuckling my belt.”

“……” Xu Shu helped him serve the soup. “Stop threatening him with work, it’s annoying even to listen to.”

Xu Zhiqiao held her bowl, “I want to eat while watching TV.”

“Go ahead,” Xu Shu said calmly. “Your brother downloaded the Bears Without Borders series.”

“……” Xu Zhiqiao froze. “What?”

Xu Shu smiled: “Your brother, last night, couldn’t sleep. He was sneaking around downloading Bears Without Borders.”

Xu Zhiqiao’s eyes widened in shock at the news.

The living room was spacious, and she curled up on the couch with her bowl. On the custom large screen TV, two bears were hopping around.

Under the flickering lights, Xu Zhiqiao pressed her lips together and typed on her phone: [Big Brother, be careful when you go out tonight.]

She sent the message.

After a few seconds of silence, Xu Zhiqiao opened Zhou Cong’s chat window and sent back the 10,000 yuan he had sent her, in the exact same amount.

She added a message: [Thank you, Big Brother Zhou. I’ve found the money.]