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After finishing lunch, Zhou Cong didn’t return home immediately but instead went to the room with Ji Huailuo. The two sat in front of the computer, playing games.
Ji Huailuo was the type who always played recklessly, using his big moves whenever he had them, and just smashing the keyboard when he didn’t. Facing an opponent like Zhou Cong, who used each move at the right moment, defeat was inevitable.
After losing a few rounds, Ji Huailuo became frustrated: “Can’t you just relax a bit when you play this game?”
Zhou Cong’s health bar didn’t drop by a single point, every move was a perfect kill, and every attack was carefully calculated.
“I’m relaxed,” Zhou Cong said in an infuriating tone. “Look at you, you’re practically jumping out of your seat. I’m more relaxed than someone signing a big deal.”
“……”
So, the result of the game didn’t make Zhou Cong happy.
What made him happy was Ji Huailuo’s reaction after losing.
“The success of the enemy doesn’t bother me,” Zhou Cong said, “It’s the failure of my friends that makes me happy.”
“……”
Damn it.
Ji Huailuo threw the keyboard aside. “I’m done.”
Zhou Cong leaned back lazily in the couch, tilting his head. “Hey, in a few days, when your sister’s injury is healed, I’ll take her to get a haircut.”
“Why you?” Ji Huailuo replied unhappily. “Can’t I take her?”
Zhou Cong: “I’m her stylist, you know.”
“……”
He knew.
Zhou Cong was pretty full of himself.
Being his personal stylist meant that both aesthetics and skill had been tested.
“The girl’s growing up, and she’s starting to care about her appearance,” Zhou Cong said slowly. “As elders, we should guide her to the right path.”
Ji Huailuo pondered for a moment. “That’s true. Her cauliflower head is hideous. If she gets influenced by these small-time salons, her taste will be ruined.”
Just as they settled on that, someone knocked on the door from the outside.
“Come in.”
Xu Zhiqiao carefully peeked her head inside. “Big Brother, there are visitors downstairs. Uncle asked you to come down.”
Ji Huailuo stood up. “Who is it?”
“It seems…” Xu Zhiqiao said, “It’s the principal from our school, and… that person from the hair salon.”
Hearing this, Ji Huailuo and Zhou Cong exchanged glances before Ji Huailuo strode out quickly. “You two stay here for now.”
With Ji Huailuo gone, the second floor was left with only Xu Zhiqiao and Zhou Cong.
What happened at the hospital had only been a few days ago, and Xu Zhiqiao still clearly remembered it. Now, facing Zhou Cong alone, the sense of fear and unease resurfaced.
“Big Brother Zhou Cong,” Xu Zhiqiao put her hand into her pocket and pulled something out. “Here’s the medical fee. Please check if it’s enough.”
“……”
The room was dim, with no lights on and the curtains drawn.
Zhou Cong was slouched lazily on the couch, his body almost boneless. His long legs were stretched out, one more relaxed than the other.
He was playing with Ji Huailuo’s lighter, his voice lazy. “Why don’t you call me ‘Young Master’ anymore?”
“……” Xu Zhiqiao placed the money in front of him. “Young Master, please check.”
Zhou Cong’s eyelids twitched, and his gaze lazily swept over the money. “Take it away.”
“If it’s not enough, I’ll talk to my mother about it,” Xu Zhiqiao said honestly. “Girls going down the wrong path usually start by hiding things from their parents.”
In short, she would never let herself fall into his trap just for money, nor would she agree to any unreasonable requests.
“……”
Zhou Cong was stunned by the words “going down the wrong path.”
Was he the “wrong path”?
How did he end up being the “wrong path”?!
And this girl, from the very beginning, had been giving him money—one hundred, then one thousand, now this stack of bills.
What did she think of him?
Zhou Cong had never been humiliated like this in his life!
“Xu Zhiqiao…”
As soon as his cold voice uttered her name, Xu Zhiqiao felt uneasy. Fearing that the situation would repeat itself, she quickly retreated. “I’ll go check on my brother. Young Master, please relax.”
“……”
Zhou Cong ground his teeth in frustration.
This girl was really hard to deal with. She was always on guard against him, and her defenses were impenetrable.
He had no idea how to handle her.
Downstairs in the living room, Ji Shou sat comfortably on the sofa with Xu Shu by his side, while Ji Huailuo stood there like a big shot.
The visitors were the principal of Deep University, the owner of the hair salon, and a stylist named Xiao Wu.
“I’m really sorry,” the principal apologized. “This kid is too reckless. I’ve brought them here personally to apologize to your daughter.”
Ji Huailuo snorted coldly, clearly not impressed. “What kind of trash are they? They dare to open a shop there, just scamming students’ money, right?”
Ji Shou raised his eyes and spoke sternly, “Huailuo, don’t lose your temper.”
“What’s wrong with that?” Ji Huailuo replied angrily. “Don’t you know how arrogant he was at that time? If it weren’t for my sister, would another girl just have to swallow this insult?”
What he said wasn’t without merit.
The hair salon had been running for years, yet it stood firm. Apart from all the connections, there were definitely many customers who had to put up with it in silence.
The principal broke into a cold sweat. “Yes, what Young Master Ji said is reasonable…”
Ji Shou smiled politely. “Don’t listen to this little brat. He doesn’t know anything.”
“……” Ji Huailuo raised an eyebrow, about to argue, but Ji Shou shot him a look, and he swallowed his words.
“Principal, please have some tea,” Ji Shou smiled. “It’s nothing serious. Let’s just forget about it. I didn’t expect you to make time to come over.”
“It’s no problem. I didn’t want this to escalate.”
“It won’t,” Ji Shou said warmly. “This is a small matter. My daughter will be attending Deep University in the future, so I’ll still be relying on you and all the teachers to educate her.”
Ji Huailuo fell silent.
He suddenly understood why his father didn’t want him to speak.
After some casual conversation, the principal placed the gifts he had brought on the table. After hesitating for a while, he finally said, “Could you please speak to Young Master Zhou on our behalf? This…”
“Youth is impulsive,” Ji Shou said without changing his expression. “The main thing is that Ah Cong and my Huailuo are good friends. My daughter grew up under their watch, so they were a bit too harsh. I’ll try to talk to him.”
“Ah, thank you! You must help with this, otherwise, I won’t know how to explain it.”
“Of course.”
After sending the guests off, Ji Huailuo scratched his head. “Did you really have them shut down the shop?”
“Do you think I’m some kind of big shot?” Ji Shou puffed up his cheeks and glared. “Do you know who’s behind that principal? Is he someone I can control?”
“……”
Just say what you want to say. Why say it in such a harsh tone?
The father and son were still talking when the “Young Master Zhou” from earlier slowly came downstairs, holding onto a certain eavesdropping girl.
“I can walk on my own!” Xu Zhiqiao struggled.
Zhou Cong let go of her collar and then reached out to smooth down her clothes. “Big Brother will take you down properly.”
“……”
“Learn from Ah Cong,” Ji Shou looked at Ji Huailuo with annoyance. “Do things thoroughly, without leaving any gaps…”
Ji Huailuo growled, “I admit there were gaps! But did he do everything thoroughly?”
He had demanded the closure of the shop.
Zhou Cong had also had them close it.
What was the difference?
Afraid the two of them would start fighting again, Xu Zhiqiao nervously said, “Big Brother Zhou Cong is here. You can scold him once he’s gone.”
Ji Huailuo shook his legs and sneered, “You didn’t let him off either.”
Zhou Cong: “……”
He knew it. These two siblings definitely talked bad about him behind his back at home.