Chapter 77: So This Is Still Imported Sausage?
Chi Fengxiao was utterly shocked. Had the old man changed his personality?
Back when he had nearly been blacklisted, the old man hadn’t even lifted a finger to help.
But now…
Wait, no—he wasn’t helping him. He was clearly standing up for Qian Qian!
Chi Fengxiao suddenly felt indignant. “No need. I can handle it myself.”
He still wanted to personally take revenge for Qian Qian. How could he let the old man steal that from him?
But Chi Lisen wasn’t asking for his opinion. “It’s settled.”
Chi Fengxiao: “…?”
“Don’t be in such a hurry to leave later.”
“What now?”
“As uncles, not only did you fail to set an example, but you even helped Chi Qian cover up her lie and shield her. A terrible influence.” Chi Lisen’s voice was cold. “Each of you will write a 5,000-word self-criticism before you leave.”
Chi Fengxiao: “???”
Chi Chaoshen: “…”
And so, that night, uncle and niece found themselves miserably writing self-reflection essays together.
After dinner, Chi Qian brought her own self-criticism to the study and knocked on the door.
Standing before Chi Lisen, she began to read aloud:
“Self-Criticism: I deeply recognize my mistake. After being kidnapped today, I consumed several plates of charcoal-grilled ribs, fruitwood roast duck, kung pao chicken, cherry pork, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, as well as twelve spicy chicken wings, nine boxes of Portuguese egg tarts, and five large cups of cola…”
Reciting up to this point, Chi Qian instinctively smacked her little lips and swallowed back her saliva.
Chi Lisen’s brow twitched. “Is this a self-reflection, or a restaurant menu?”
“Grandpa, there’s more in the back,” Chi Qian said. “I deeply realize that I shouldn’t have eaten so little. Worse, because I wasn’t full, I went around begging others for food. Even though it smelled amazing, a person still needs principles—just like cola needs ice.”
Chi Lisen: “…”
He forced himself to keep listening.
After a moment of silence, he looked at her. “That’s it?”
“Grandpa, I wrote a hundred and thirty characters. That’s way over a hundred, practically an extra chunk!” Chi Qian said, wagging her tail like a little puppy as she massaged his shoulders. “This is already my absolute limit.”
“So your self-reflection starts with ‘I was wrong’ and the rest is just padding words?”
Even Chi Fengxiao and Chi Chaoshen’s five-thousand-word reflections didn’t have as much fluff as hers.
Chi Qian argued, “This kind of thing is all about sincerity. Writing it down isn’t important. Just like how I really love Grandpa, but I never say it out loud!”
Chi Lisen tried to glare her into obedience, but failed.
Against this slippery little rascal, what use was a stern face?
He crooked a finger at her.
Chi Qian trotted over, only to get a flick to the forehead.
“Opportunistic, sly, always trying to butter me up,” Chi Lisen criticized. “You just know how to say nice things to make me happy.”
“So, Grandpa, are you happy then?”
“Happy, reading such a ridiculous excuse of a reflection?”
Chi Qian muttered, “Then I’ll split my treasure box with you, Grandpa. Don’t be mad, okay?”
“Do I look like I care about your little trinkets?”
“Then… does Grandpa care about my gift?”
Chi Lisen raised an eyebrow. “Gift?”
“Ta-da!”
From behind her back, Chi Qian produced a seashell necklace. “Grandpa, I picked this at the beach. I think it’s super pretty—so I’m giving it to you!”
Chi Lisen’s expression softened ever so slightly. This was the second gift she had ever given him.
The first was a wooden carving.
This time, it was something handmade, unique, a seashell necklace.
True, it wasn’t anything valuable.
But sincerity is never measured by money.
Unlike Chi Fengxiao—who, yet again, hadn’t even thought of bringing his father a single pebble.
Chi Lisen wanted to laugh but put on an act of annoyance. “You think a few seashells are enough to win me over?”
“If Grandpa doesn’t like it, I’ll just wear it myself.”
“Didn’t say I didn’t like it. It’s… barely acceptable to look at.”
He set the necklace aside and added, “Your performance on the livestream has caught some attention. Some people may want to use your ability for their own purposes.”
“I can’t always watch over you. You need to be careful and stay away from people with bad intentions.”
Hearing this, Chi Qian suddenly remembered.
Her uncle and grandpa had agreed she could only stay here for a month.
And it was already halfway through.
Though she was reluctant to leave, would Grandpa, like her second uncle, casually hand her a few million when she left?
Or… maybe tens of millions?
She was already imagining being rich.
While he was speaking, Chi Lisen noticed her silly grin and sighed helplessly behind his glasses.
Even if she could command dinosaurs, at the end of the day she was still just a little fool.
Forget it.
In the end, the seashell necklace was hung on the desk as a feng shui ornament—right next to the little turtle wood carving.
*
The next morning, Chi Qian discovered she was in big trouble.
The aftermath of binge eating showed itself in the most obvious way.
At breakfast, Chi Lisen noticed she was sitting there with her head down, not eating properly. His brows twitched. “What are you dawdling for?”
Chi Qian mumbled, too embarrassed to say a word.
Chi Lisen put down his newspaper. “Raise your head.”
Chi Qian shook furiously.
“Do you want me to make you?”
With no choice, she reluctantly tilted her face up.
Chi Lisen looked at her for a few seconds, then chuckled.
“Grandpa, you’re laughing?” Chi Qian protested. “How can you laugh when I look like this?”
“You deserve it. Not a single piece of junk food you stuffed yourself with came free.” He pinched her swollen cheeks for a moment, then ordered Butler Nan, “Call the doctor.”
The butler tried not to laugh. “Yes, sir.”
The doctor soon arrived. One glance at Chi Qian’s face, and he burst out laughing.
Her lips, red and puffy like sausages, made her look like a confused little duck. She even quacked in protest, “What’s so funny? Haven’t you ever seen a beautiful girl before?”
The doctor replied, “Well… never one with sausage lips like this.”
Butler Nan added comfortingly, “Young Miss, your lips are so uniquely swollen, they look like imported premium sausages.”
“…” That didn’t help at all!
Chi Qian: Flowers wilt, and so do I.
After checking her, the doctor left behind a pile of medicine and three full pages of instructions before leaving.
Chi Lisen sneered without mercy. “Let’s see if you dare stuff yourself again next time.”
Chi Qian muttered, “I swear to the gods, everyone who laughs at me will turn into a turtle.”
Chi Lisen only laughed louder.
Butler Nan remarked, “Ever since the young miss arrived, sir’s mood has been excellent. This house has become completely different.”
Chi Qian: “…” Uncle Nan, just admit you’ve been hoarding a collection of CEO one-liners.
Before she could retort, Butler Nan answered a phone call.
A little while later, he came back leading in a young man dressed in black.
“Sir, your guest has arrived.”
Chi Qian curiously glanced at him. He was wearing a high-collared work shirt, tall and sturdy, with sharp, upright features. But in his expression, there lingered a faint shadow of sorrow.
The young man walked up to Chi Lisen and bowed respectfully. “Mr. Chi.”
“Zhu Zhi, long time no see,” Chi Lisen said. “The last time we met was years ago.”
Jiang Zhuzhi nodded. “Yes. Three years ago, thanks to your help, my son was able to survive.”
“How is Heyi doing now?”
“He’s doing well, thanks to your blessing. It’s just… he’s hit the rebellious stage, and he’s gotten quieter.”
Chi Qian thought to herself: Heyi? Why does that name sound so familiar?
