Chapter 37: Maybe I’m Your Biological Brother
Chi Wang found it utterly absurd. [Are you serious?]
Xiao Fu replied, [My mother died 18 years ago, and you’re exactly 18. Isn’t that a perfect match?]
Chi Wang was stunned; he hadn’t expected that Xiao Fu’s mother had passed away—or rather, here was another superstitious person.
Growing up under the red flag, and with so much wealth, how could Xiao Fu be so superstitious?
Well, maybe it’s not that surprising. They say the richer people are, the more superstitious they become.
Chi Wang sat up straight and rolled up his sleeves; he had to break Xiao Fu’s superstitions and rebuild his faith in science.
At this movement, Xie Sichen opened his eyes and looked up at Chi Wang from below. Seeing his serious expression and fingers flying over the keyboard, he gently said, “It’s late.”
Chi Wang nodded. “Yes, it’s very late. You should go to sleep.” Then he remembered something. “Am I disturbing you?”
Xie Sichen replied, “No.”
He paused for a moment, looked at Chi Wang, and asked, “Who are you chatting with?”
Chi Wang hesitated briefly but then naturally said, “With Xiao Fu.”
Xie was silent for a moment, not expecting him to be so candid. “…What are you talking about?”
Chi Wang said, “I’ll tell you in a bit; I have something to discuss with him right now.”
Xie: “?”
Seeing that Chi Wang was indeed busy and didn’t have time for him, Xie said nothing more.
Chi Wang continued typing, [Bro, how old are you this year?]
Xiao Fu replied, [I’m 25.]
Chi Wang: [You’re 25 and still superstitious? How about going back to high school and then college? At least then you won’t be fooled.]
Xiao Fu: [I believe in my feelings.]
Chi Wang: [What feelings?]
Xiao Fu: [There’s some connection between us in the unseen world. Send me a photo; I’ll compare.]
Chi Wang thought: No, this superstitious mindset is too severe; I need to scold him.
But Chi Wang didn’t dare to scold him outright. Dealing with someone who could cause trouble, he had to be more gentle.
So Chi Wang quickly replied: [In any case, it’s impossible; the genders don’t match.]
Xiao Fu snorted, [When it comes to reincarnation, even species can change. You’re underestimating our underworld’s reincarnation system over mere gender.]
Chi Wang: …
Wait, you’re a tough-looking guy, possibly with a criminal background, and you believe in ghosts and gods? This contrast is too much.
Chi Wang said, [Instead of suspecting I’m your mother reincarnated, why not consider that I’m your brother? That possibility is even greater.]
Xiao Fu flatly denied, [Impossible. My mother wasn’t pregnant at that time.]
Chi Wang asked, [How do you know she wasn’t pregnant? Early stages don’t show.]
Xiao Fu fell silent.
Chi Wang continued, [Don’t go around claiming someone as your mother; the possibility is really low. Believing that is less practical than us doing a paternity test. Maybe I really am your mother’s son born elsewhere—your brother.]
Xiao Fu was silent; the cigarette burned down to the filter, scorching his fingers. He snapped out of it, stubbed out the cigarette, and quickly made a decision. [Fine, come with me to do a paternity test.]
Chi Wang hadn’t expected to convince him so quickly but soon realized that doing a paternity test was quite odd. [Are you sure you want to do this? The chances aren’t high.]
Xiao Fu said, [Doing one doesn’t cost much effort.]
Chi Wang agreed, [Alright, as long as you pay, I’ll go with you.]
Chi Wang was actually a bit curious about Xiao Fu’s family situation, but he didn’t ask. Just as he wouldn’t share his own family matters with others, he wouldn’t easily inquire about someone else’s.
And although Xiao Fu usually talked a lot in front of him, he hadn’t revealed anything significant.
After ending the chat, Chi Wang looked at the time—it was late. He quickly put down his phone and slid into the bed as smoothly as water.
He turned his head to see that Xie hadn’t slept yet, watching him with eyes that appeared deep and dark under the dim night light.
Chi Wang: “…”
For some reason, he felt like a cheater caught by a wronged spouse.
Feeling creeped out by his own imagination, Chi Wang quickly confessed, “I was discussing doing a paternity test with Xiao Fu. He thinks there’s some connection between us.”
Xie slightly frowned. “A paternity test? You and him?”
Chi Wang said, “Yes, at first he thought I looked like his mother and suspected I was her reincarnation.”
Xie: “…”
Seeing his silence, Chi Wang laughed. “You think it’s absurd too, right? I said instead of suspecting that, we might as well consider whether we’re biological brothers. So we set a time to do a paternity test.”
Xie replied, “Hmm.”
He asked, “When?”
Chi Wang said, “Wednesday. He’s busy with work these days and has things to handle; he only has time on Wednesday.”
Xie: “…”
Of course, he knew why Xiao Fu was busy.
Seeing his silence, Chi Wang added, “Don’t worry, I’m closer to you.” He assured him, “I’ll keep things superficial with him and won’t hang out much.”
Some things needed to be clarified; otherwise, people might think he was playing both sides.
He had principles. Although he couldn’t stand united against a common enemy, at least he wouldn’t get too close to Xiao Fu.
Xie suddenly said, “If the paternity test shows you’re biological brothers, what will you do?”
Although Chi Wang had suggested the paternity test, to be honest, he didn’t really believe it would turn out that way. Hearing Xie’s question, he smiled calmly, “It’s impossible for us to be brothers. Do you see any similarities between us?”
Xie looked at him; in terms of appearance, there wasn’t much resemblance.
Xie said, “You both like to smile.”
Chi Wang: “? Seriously? That counts?”
Xie: “Yes.”
Chi Wang had a look of “let’s see what else you can come up with.” “Anything else?”
Xie said, “You’re both competitive.”
Chi Wang couldn’t help but retort, “Aren’t you competitive?”
Xie admitted, “A little.”
Chi Wang said, “Well, then I’m just a little bit too.”
“…” Xie said, “Since you’re going to do a paternity test, you should be prepared for the possibility that you’re biological brothers.”
Xiao Fu’s personality was too flamboyant, acting impulsively without considering consequences.
But at the same time, Xiao Fu had keen intuition. His ability to run the company wasn’t particularly outstanding, but because of his sharp instincts, he could always make the right choices.
It was because of this that he could surpass his father to take control of the company. His impulsiveness could become decisive action, allowing him to seize opportunities.
Since Xiao Fu thought differently about Chi Wang, there must be a reason.
Xie found it hard to connect Chi Wang and Xiao Fu but had to consider the possibility.
Chi Wang listened to Xie’s words but wasn’t deeply affected. “If it turns out we’re brothers, it won’t affect our relationship. Would you dislike me because you don’t get along with Xiao Fu?”
Xie: “…”
He tensed up all over; his Adam’s apple moved, and his voice became slightly hoarse. “…No.”
Chi Wang smiled and said, “Then it’s fine. Even if we are, nothing will change now.”
Xie’s voice was slow. “Hmm.”
Chi Wang said, “Let’s sleep. Goodnight.”
After saying that, Chi Wang closed his eyes, and before long, he was asleep.
Xie: “…”
Listening to Chi Wang’s steady breathing beside him, Xie lay awake, experiencing insomnia for the first time in a while.
*
The next morning, Chi Wang got up and couldn’t resist lifting his shirt while washing up to look at his belly.
From the front, his abs were faintly visible; you could vaguely see some slight bulging, but the lines changed with light and shadow. You needed a specific angle to see his abdominal muscles.
Turning to the side, the contour of his slightly protruding lower abdomen was more evident. But at first glance, one wouldn’t think he was pregnant; they’d just think he had gained weight.
Not to mention that he was wearing thick winter clothes, making it even less noticeable.
Chi Wang put down his shirt, finished washing up, and went out for breakfast.
His appointment with Xiao Fu didn’t affect his appetite. After breakfast, he told Xie that he was heading to school.
Xie watched from upstairs as Chi Wang left the house. He didn’t seem affected at all; as he went out, he even jumped up to grab the branches of roadside trees, full of energy.
Xie couldn’t help but pinch the bridge of his nose.
After that, he took out his phone, made a call, and asked someone to look into Xiao Fu’s mother’s situation.
On the other side, Xiao Fu was also starting to investigate.
It wasn’t surprising that Xiao Fu was superstitious; everyone in his family—grandparents, maternal grandparents, uncles—aunts—all were superstitious.
He had several injuries caused by Xie—one on his eyebrow, one below his eye—both leaving scars. They all said he brought misfortune to his parents and siblings. Indeed, that year, his parents, who had been loving for many years, turned against each other and divorced. His mother, Yang Qingdai, ran away from home, and soon news came of her death—suicide. After that, two of his aunts had miscarriages, seemingly fulfilling what they had said.
What Xiao Fu truly thought, only he knew. But on the surface, he would never admit that he was the cause, always confronting everyone, making none of the elders like him. If he hadn’t forced his father into a corner in a power struggle to take over, his relatives would still be rolling their eyes and gossiping about him.
He was only seven when his mother died. His father was a deceitful, closeted gay man. His mother, Yang Qingdai, died away from home; his two uncles collected her body and hated him as well, not letting him see her one last time. They almost didn’t invite him to the funeral.
It was useless to ask them; he could only investigate himself. Moreover, Xiao Fu didn’t want to have anything to do with his maternal family. They hated him, and he hated them.
It was something from over ten years ago; investigating it was particularly troublesome and couldn’t yield results quickly.
Before any findings emerged, Wednesday arrived. For the first time, Xiao Fu removed all the messy accessories from his face and ears.
Looking in the mirror, he could see a scar on his brow bone; his eyebrow was broken off at one point. He usually filled it in with an eyebrow pencil or covered it with an eyebrow piercing. There was also a light white scar under his eye, which he usually concealed with some makeup.
But now, he was too lazy to bother, letting the scars on his face show.
He was still very superstitious—if Chi Wang wasn’t his mother reincarnated and the paternity test showed he was his brother, then perhaps he had also brought misfortune upon him.
Misfortune that caused him to be left outside, stumbling into adulthood with adoptive parents.
Xiao Fu also dyed his red hair back to its natural color and changed his dressing style to a more conventional outfit—a windbreaker and cargo pants.
Chi Wang had asked him to wait at the school gate, and he arrived early.
Chi Wang, on the other hand, delayed a bit because he was hurrying back to Xie’s home for lunch.
Normally, Xie didn’t come home for lunch from work, but today he did and had lunch with Chi Wang.
After lunch, Chi Wang told Xie, “I’m heading out. Don’t worry; I’ll call you first when I have news.”
Xie’s voice was cool. “…I’m not concerned about that.”
Chi Wang nodded. “Alright, alright, you’re not concerned. I’m just informing you.”
Xie: “…”
His words were a bit too pleasing.
