Chapter 80: In This World, You Like Me the Most
Time flew by quickly. Before the New Year, Xiao Fu contacted Chi Wang and sent him some photos—the matter he had promised to investigate for him.
Chi Wang opened the photos and saw that they were handwritten payment notices from the hospital where he had been treated back then. There were two copies: one given to the couple, Chi Kangnian and his wife, and one kept by the hospital.
The time, name, diagnosis, and amount were all clearly listed. The name was Chi Wang, the diagnosis was pediatric pneumonia, and the amount was 529 yuan.
Although money was worth more back then, it couldn’t possibly amount to tens of thousands.
Xiao Fu told him, “It was a hassle to find this; only just located it. See? If they had sold their house to treat you, I might think better of them. But in the end, it was just five hundred yuan, and they expect you to take care of them for a lifetime?”
Chi Wang said, “Uh, indeed, that’s ridiculous.”
No wonder every time he asked how much the medical expenses were, Qiao Yuzhen would only say it cost a lot, never giving a specific amount. Perhaps she knew that inflating a few hundred yuan to tens of thousands was too outrageous.
Xiao Fu asked him, “Still planning to pay them back? If you want to, that’s fine. After I get rid of them, you can burn some ghost money for them. I hear money down there is quite valuable.”1
Chi Wang laughed, “Hahahahaha, how did you know that?”
Xiao Fu said, “I asked a Taoist priest.”
Chi Wang became wary, “Did the priest ask you for money?”
Xiao Fu scoffed, “Those who ask for money are fake priests. The ones I find are real Taoists, certified ones. I had them perform an assembly for our mother, spent seven or eight hundred thousand yuan. In her next life, she will definitely be very happy, have a good husband, and good children.”
He paused, “Of course, none will be as good as you. If Mom hadn’t died so early, she would have been so happy to see you.”
Chi Wang: “…”
Well… never mind, as long as he’s happy.
His heart felt warm. Xiao Fu was stingy with himself, but he was generous with him and their mother whom he had never met.
He wanted to spend the New Year with Xiao Fu, but Xie Sicheng, in order to accompany him, had specifically not returned home to spend the New Year with his parents.
Actually, Chi Wang felt it wasn’t necessary. He could spend the holiday just fine on his own, and he had his brother—he could spend the New Year with Xiao Fu. After all, he hadn’t wanted to spend the New Year with Xiao Fu before because of his big belly, which would easily give him away. But now that Xiao Fu knew, there was no problem spending the New Year together.
Ah, at times like this, even he couldn’t think of a good solution.
Although the hostility between Xie and Xiao Fu had subsided, Chi Wang didn’t want either of them to feel uncomfortable.
They were both dear to him, just like the palm and back of his hand are both flesh.2
So Chi Wang didn’t bring it up, and Xiao Fu didn’t mention it either. He wanted to, but bringing it up would only make Chi Wang feel awkward, so he let it go. This year, he would let that bastard Xie have his way. After the baby was born, he would have Chi Wang bring the baby to spend the New Year with him.
Not mentioning it now, behaving well, might make Chi Wang feel guilty, making it easier for him to agree to spend the New Year together next year.
Chi Wang didn’t know about Xiao Fu’s little schemes. He only knew that since he didn’t mention it, and Xiao Fu didn’t mention it either, time flew by, and soon it was New Year’s Eve.
Luo Lianyun and Shu Tingyu sneakily added him to several group chats. When Chi Wang asked, he found out they were their family groups.
Chi Wang frantically sent emojis in the group, [What are you guys doing!]
Luo Lianyun said, [It’s for grabbing red envelopes during the New Year. The more people, the merrier. Join in and grab some red envelopes. Everyone has a wealthy relative who sends big red envelopes in the group. Last year, I grabbed over a thousand yuan.]
Shu Tingyu said, [Yeah, I also grabbed about a thousand last year. My uncle sends several thousand yuan at a time in the group. Come and join in the fun and festive atmosphere.]
Chi Wang felt touched, [Thank you so much. Then I’ll really grab them?]
[Go ahead and grab.] Shu Tingyu asked, [By the way, how’s the baby now? At this month, there should be fetal movement, right?[
Chi Wang’s lips curled up. When it came to this, he no longer felt any resistance and calmly replied, [Yes, there’s fetal movement now. It’s punching and kicking in my belly.]
[So energetic? Then it probably takes after you,] Shu Tingyu said.
Chi Wang: [??? Am I fierce? Do you have some misunderstanding about me?]
Shu Tingyu: [Blushing face emoji Like you is good. It must be a super cute baby.]
Chi Wang felt a bit embarrassed by his words, [Thanks for your kind words. I also hope the baby will be like me.]
Indeed, Chi Wang hoped the baby would resemble him a bit. If it looked like Xie, he felt he might pull his hair out.
Xie silently walked up behind him. Seeing him chatting with friends, he withdrew his gaze without looking at their conversation. Instead, he walked around the sofa, intending to sit with Chi Wang. But when he got around, he found that Xiaomi had sprawled out like a pancake, squeezing beside Chi Wang’s legs, with a paw resting on Chi Wang’s pajama pants.
Xie: “…”
He sat down on the small sofa next to them.
Chi Wang glanced at him and suddenly thought of something. He said, “We don’t seem to have any photos together. Let’s take some photos someday.”
Xie said nonchalantly, “Wedding photos?”
Chi Wang: “…”
See, you’re at it again!
Xie was becoming more and more blatant.
Although Xie had mentioned marriage from the beginning, hearing it now felt different.
Chi Wang said expressionlessly, “No, just photos together. Haven’t you ever taken photos with others?”
Xie said, “No, I don’t like taking photos.”
Chi Wang felt a bit strange, “When I took photos of you before, didn’t you quite enjoy it?”
Xie looked at him, his dark eyes deep, with a faint glimmer of fire.
Although Xie didn’t say anything, his eyes were already speaking—
Because it was you taking photos of me, so I was willing.
Chi Wang: “…”
For the first time, he felt that his ability to read expressions was somewhat inappropriate here.
Obviously, Xie hadn’t said a word, but Chi Wang felt as if he had been filled with love confessions.
Chi Wang lowered his voice a bit, muttering, “I see.”
He stood up, switched his phone to camera mode, walked over and sat on the armrest of the sofa, wrapping an arm around Xie’s neck. He tilted his head to lean against Xie’s, holding the phone high to capture both of them in the camera. “Senior, look at the camera!”
Xie felt a bit uncomfortable facing the camera but still obediently looked at it.
Chi Wang snapped away, taking over a dozen photos.
The screen flashed white so much that he couldn’t even see how the photos turned out.
After taking them, he brought the phone in front of Xie to look at the photos together. “We both look good, so casual shots are all good.”
When they were together, their looks were equally matched.
Xie’s handsomeness was very striking, as splendid as gold and jade, appearing very noble. His features were deep and handsome, with strong and clean lines, sharp and cold beneath the delicacy, making his appearance visually impactful.
He looked like the super handsome guys in public perception, but ironically, he didn’t photograph as well, appearing slightly less impressive in pictures.
Chi Wang, on the other hand, had an androgynous, elegant beauty. His features were delicate, with a fair face and rosy lips, radiant and spirited. If his appearance was already a ten, the agility and vitality in his eyes could add another five points.
This feeling was hard to describe, so much so that when others saw him at first glance, they would find him extremely dazzling and easily develop a favorable impression.
Even in photos, even if slightly diminished, he was enough to draw people’s eyes to him at first glance.
In comparison, in the photos, Chi Wang stood out more.
Of course, Chi Wang wasn’t aware of this. His gaze fell on Xie’s photos, not stingy with praise, “You’re so handsome!”
Although he was a science student, Chi Wang had a good grasp of language. “Your demeanor is lofty and transcendent, pure as jade, with the grace of clouds and the charm of the moon—truly someone beyond the mundane.”3
Xie: “…”
That’s enough, that’s enough.
Chi Wang sent the photos to him, saying, “You keep a copy. When we have time, we’ll take more photos together.”
He was impulsive; after taking the photos, he put it out of his mind.
Xie, however, saved all the photos Chi Wang sent him, from various angles, and changed his random desktop background to a photo of him and Chi Wang.
In H City, fireworks and firecrackers were banned, so the New Year’s atmosphere was lessened. But Xie bought many small fireworks, like sparklers, that crackled when held, bursting into beautiful little fireworks.
The courtyard was big enough, so Chi Wang lit the sparklers in the yard for fun.
Xiaomi had grown a lot, looking like an adult dog now. He hadn’t been neutered yet. Chi Wang didn’t plan to neuter him. The dog was too smart; for other dogs, it might not matter, but for Xiaomi, Chi Wang couldn’t guarantee he wouldn’t have negative emotions after being neutered.
So far, although Xiaomi was sexually mature, his behavior was very proper, so Chi Wang didn’t want to neuter him out of personal feelings.
At this time, Chi Wang was playing with fireworks. Xie took a camera to photograph Chi Wang. Chi Wang held his belly wrapped in a down jacket, saying crisply, “Don’t photograph my belly, don’t photograph my belly.”
He didn’t look bloated himself, but the camera added weight, and his belly would be more obvious.
Xie replied, “Didn’t capture it.”
He tried to photograph Chi Wang’s upper body and the small fireworks he was holding.
Because Xie didn’t like taking photos, he rarely paid attention to this aspect.
Now that Chi Wang had inspired him, he suddenly felt that being able to take photos was a good thing, capturing every moment of Chi Wang’s state.
Every photo of Chi Wang in the lens was beautiful, with exquisite features, his side profile highlighting his high nose bridge, cheeks round and full, brimming with youthful vitality. When he looked at the camera and grinned, his sharp little canine teeth appeared, making him look lively and playful.
His beautiful eyes sparkled like stars.
Anyone who saw him would say he was a very handsome young man.
Xiaomi howled beside him. Chi Wang gave him a long-handled sparkler to hold in his mouth and lit it with a lighter.
The sparkler in Xiaomi’s mouth ignited. Xiaomi wagged his tail, leaning against Chi Wang’s leg, looking at Xie, meaning for Xie to take a photo of them.
Chi Wang cooperated by half-squatting down, lighting a bunch of sparklers, and wrapping an arm around the dog’s head, smiling at Xie.
Xie: “…”
Chi Xiaomi came over to take photos.
He silently captured this scene.
Auntie’s voice came from inside, “Time to eat!”
Chi Wang cleaned up the burnt-out sparklers and brought Xiaomi into the house.
He leaned over to ask Xie for the camera, wanting to see the photos.
Xie handed him the camera. Chi Wang looked down at the photos. It’s said that the lens has a language; he saw the photo of him and Xiaomi, and the focus was all on him, and he couldn’t help but laugh.
Xie lowered his eyes and saw the smile on his face, and asked in a low voice, “What are you laughing at?”
Chi Wang covered his mouth, saying, “I’m laughing at your lens language.”
Xie asked, “Lens language? Does it have any?”
Chi Wang thickened his skin and said, “Yes, all these lens languages say: In this world, you like me the most.”
Xie: “…”
He looked at Chi Wang without blinking. Chi Wang blushed slightly under his gaze, pretending to be busy as he continued looking at the camera.
The corners of Xie’s mouth lifted. His cold voice softened a bit, “Yes, in this world, I like you the most.”
“So, Happy New Year. From now on, let’s spend every New Year’s Eve together.”
Chi Wang secretly smiled, his eyes on the camera, saying, “That won’t do. This year I’m spending the New Year with you. Next year, I’ll take the baby to spend it with my brother.”
Xie: “…”
- “Burn some ghost money…” In Chinese tradition, burning joss paper or “ghost money” is a way to send money to the deceased in the afterlife, so they can use it there.
- “The palm and back of the hand are both flesh.” A Chinese idiom meaning that both sides are equally important or loved.
- “Your demeanor is lofty and transcendent…” Chi Wang is using poetic language to praise Xie, likening him to refined and ethereal qualities.
