Chapter 17

Chi Xiting effortlessly got into the passenger seat. As he fastened his seatbelt, he noticed that Chi Heyuan had already placed his phone on the mount and quickly opened the navigation.

The navigation showed that it would take 1 hour and 14 minutes to get to Chu’s headquarters.

Chi Heyuan frowned slightly, glanced at Chi Xiting, and said, “Why didn’t you get a driver’s license when you were in college?”

Chi Xiting replied, “I was too lazy.”

How would he know why the original owner didn’t get one?

Anyway, he never got one in his past life either.

He wasn’t lying; the reason he didn’t get a license was purely laziness, and also a lack of time.

In his spare time outside of classes, he worked part-time jobs—how could he find the time and energy to get a driver’s license?

A more practical reason was that, given his family’s financial situation at the time, he couldn’t afford a car, and even if he bought one, he couldn’t afford to maintain it.

Chi Heyuan said, “…So if you and your boss go on a business trip one day, are you going to let your boss drive?”

Chi Xiting raised an eyebrow and replied naturally, “Of course! Whoever has a license drives. I’m a law-abiding citizen.”

Chi Heyuan: “…”

What an idiot.

Chi Heyuan smirked before the smile faded and, seeing that the journey was still long, casually asked, “Did your department have a meeting today?”

“Yeah.”

“I heard Mr. Chu went as well?” Chi Heyuan glanced at Chi Xiting, pretending to be indifferent.

Chi Xiting adjusted the height of his seat, leaned back lazily, and replied, “Yes.”

“Then what?” Chi Heyuan asked again. “Did he just come to observe your meeting?”

Chi Xiting answered slowly, “What else could it be?”

He couldn’t understand why Chu Yu would personally come, just to attend a department’s work report meeting? It was hard to comprehend.

Moreover, the timing of Chu Yu’s visit was also odd, as he was only listening to reports from interns.

It couldn’t be that he specifically came to inspect the interns.

How could a senior leader be that idle?

Chi Xiting’s mind was racing, but he couldn’t figure out the reason behind it.

“Maybe he’s just bored,” Chi Xiting said, making a rash conclusion.

Chi Heyuan responded, “…Impossible.”

Although Chi Heyuan had only recently joined Chu Shi, he had come to understand Chu Yu quite well, and he had a deep, almost blind admiration and respect for him.

Many people admired Chu Yu for his accomplishments, but Chi Heyuan had personally experienced Chu Yu’s extraordinary work ability and unique perspective on handling matters.

The technical department of Chu Shi had once been a combined department. Chu Yu’s grandfather originally focused on the financial sector, so he paid little attention to the technical department. However, when Chu Yu took over the company, he reformed it drastically, and the first target he aimed at was the internet.

—-

The technical department was the only department that Chu Yu personally managed.

From hiring to training, Chu Yu invested a lot of effort. After the department grew, Chu Yu decisively split it into separate departments: operations, information security, and technical support. Each employee’s role became clearer, and efficiency significantly improved.

Chu Shi made the right move towards the internet, and under Chu Yu’s high-quality, efficient management, within a year, the company ranked among the top domestic internet companies.

After stabilizing the department, Chu Yu withdrew from the technical department to focus on the company’s broader direction, but in the eyes of the department’s veteran employees, Chu Yu had almost become a mythical figure.

Chi Heyuan deeply felt this.

He glanced at the navigation and saw that they were about five minutes away.

“Chu Yu wouldn’t do anything meaningless,” Chi Heyuan suddenly spoke. “You can think about what plans he might have recently.”

Chi Heyuan wasn’t particularly concerned with uncovering the true reason why Chu Yu attended the marketing department meeting; he wasn’t so idle or foolish as to delve into his leader’s thoughts.

Perhaps he was just worried about Chi Xiting, who he thought might be naive.

He often felt the need to subtly guide Chi Xiting before any problems arose.

Chi Heyuan wasn’t necessarily looking down on Chi Xiting, it’s just that…

Chi Xiting’s intelligence and abilities were not particularly outstanding.

His way of handling things also left much to be desired.

In school, it didn’t matter, but in the professional world, meeting all kinds of people, he would undoubtedly face many difficulties because of his character and capabilities.

So when Chi Xiting’s father had managed to push him into Chu Shi, Chi Heyuan found it absurd and funny, with a faint impulse to watch the drama unfold.

However, after spending a few days with him, Chi Heyuan started to feel a little sympathy.

Chi Xiting lazily responded with an “Oh” and handled the situation with Chi Heyuan without saying much, not bothering to ponder the meaning behind his leader’s actions.

Moreover, it was still after work hours.

The best way was to distance oneself from anything related to work.

“Did you hear that?” Chi Heyuan asked when Chi Xiting remained silent.

Chi Xiting casually replied, “Just a hallucination.”

Chi Heyuan was speechless.

This guy was hopeless.

Chi Heyuan kept quiet, and after driving smoothly into the neighborhood where his parents lived, he parked the car and gestured for Chi Xiting to get out.

Chi Xiting responded, moving leisurely. He didn’t rush up the stairs but stood obediently beside Chi Heyuan, waiting for him.

Chi Heyuan locked the car and, seeing Chi Xiting still standing there, asked in confusion, “Why are you standing there? Go ahead, I’ll follow.”

Chi Xiting smiled shyly. “I’m waiting for you. Going up together will show our close brotherly bond.”

Actually, he just didn’t know which floor his parents lived on.

Chi Heyuan paused, then, with a more complicated look, said, “Let’s go.”

It felt strange.

Chi Xiting’s gaze lingered on Chi Heyuan’s face for a while, then subtly shifted away.

Why did Chi Heyuan always look like he swallowed a fly whenever their relationship was mentioned?

Chi Xiting pondered for a moment, and when he couldn’t figure it out, he simply gave up.

He never made things hard for himself.

It wasn’t like he would die.

—–

Chi Xiting followed Chi Heyuan step by step, his gaze resting on the hand pressing the elevator button for a second.

19th floor of building A.

Chi Xiting silently noted the building and floor numbers, then obediently followed Chi Heyuan out of the elevator. They walked through the hallway and reached the door at the end.

The facial recognition system at the door opened automatically after scanning Chi Heyuan’s face.

Chi Heyuan casually opened the door, bent down to take off his shoes, and before he could stand upright, he heard hurried footsteps approaching.

“Xiting is here.” Lu Yanzhao’s face was full of smiles, her gentle eyes softened with warmth, the crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes and the slight upward curve of her eyes were all blurred by her bright smile.

Lu Yanzhao was a typical beauty with a graceful bone structure. Time had left little trace on her face, with only a few soft wrinkles like spring buds proving the passage of time.

Chi Xiting froze for a moment. As he raised his eyes, he suddenly met Lu Yanzhao’s warm and friendly gaze.

She smiled at him, the overly gentle and affectionate smile left Chi Xiting unsure how to respond. He stood there stunned; his usually quick-witted mind suddenly blank.

Lu Yanzhao seemed accustomed to this kind of behavior from Chi Xiting. A trace of disappointment flashed in her eyes, but she quickly masked it, and when she glanced at Chi Heyuan, her expression instantly changed.

“Chi Heyuan, don’t just care about yourself.” Lu Yanzhao ignored Chi Heyuan’s attempt to stop her and ruffled his hair, scolding, “Don’t you know to get your brother’s shoes?”

Chi Heyuan, with his messy hair, sighed heavily, then grimaced and turned to go to the shoe cabinet to get shoes for Chi Xiting.

Getting used to it.

Chi Heyuan.

It’s fine, it’s fine, everything’s fine!

While Chi Heyuan was getting shoes for Chi Xiting, Lu Yanzhao had already walked up to him, reached out to touch his face, and carefully examined the wound on his forehead. Frowning, she asked with concern, “How did you end up falling like this?”

Chi Xiting, not used to his mother’s concern, blinked quickly, bent slightly forward to make it easier for her, and muttered, “It’s fine, just a small injury.”

Lu Yanzhao noticed Chi Xiting’s subtle movements, her thoughts flickering. Just as she was about to speak, she was interrupted by Chi Heyuan.

“Okay, okay, no more of this mother-son bonding.” Chi Heyuan said with a deadpan expression, “Am I not important?”

Lu Yanzhao: “…Chi Heyuan.”

Lu Yanzhao pronounced Chi Heyuan’s name slowly, her warning tone obvious.

Chi Heyuan obediently shut his mouth, respectfully handed over the slippers, and said, “Your Majesty, do you want me to put them on for you?”

Chi Xiting was stunned.

Wow.

Is Chi Heyuan really that afraid of Lu Yanzhao?

When facing Chi Heyuan, Chi Xiting felt much more relaxed. Without even realizing it, he naturally extended his foot.

Chi Heyuan’s brow twitched, and he looked up at Chi Xiting with a glare. Then he turned to report to Lu Yanzhao, “Mom, look at him!”

Getting bolder.

Chi Xiting rolled his eyes at Chi Heyuan, disgusted by his tattling, and turned to Lu Yanzhao, calling out, “Mom.”

As soon as Chi Xiting spoke, Lu Yanzhao suddenly looked up, her tone trembling with excitement as she asked, “What did you call me?”

Chi Xiting: “?”

What?

What did he call her?

Wasn’t it “mom”?

Chi Xiting was confused and instinctively recalled what Fu Ning had once explained to him about his background.

It should be correct…

Then why was Lu Yanzhao reacting so strongly?

Meanwhile, Chi Heyuan looked as if he had seen a ghost, staring at Chi Xiting with disbelief. He scanned him from head to toe, his face changing with every second, before his eyes finally landed on Chi Xiting’s forehead.

The wound on Chi Xiting’s head wasn’t fully healed, and faint traces of injury were still visible.

—-

After a while, Chi Heyuan spoke.

“Chi Xiting,” Chi Heyuan asked seriously, “Did you mess up your brain?”

Chi Xiting: “…”

Such complicated relationships.

He doesn’t understand.

Maybe he should just go back to work.

Compared to this messy situation, at least work has a more direct cause.