Chapter 33: No Money, Only My Life to Give
He said smugly, “They just love to fuss. Always making a scene.”
But before he could finish basking, a squad of black-clad bodyguards stepped out of the cars.
Ling Qian put his hands in his pockets, chin tilted, “You’ve worked har—”
The bodyguards walked right past him and stopped in front of Chi Qian.
Ling Qian and Gu Hua froze. What the hell?
“Young Miss, Chairman Chi was worried about your safety. He sent us to escort you home.”
Chi Fengxiao pointed at himself. “And me?”
The bodyguard replied politely, “The chairman said—Third Young Master, you’ve got legs. You can walk back on your own.”
Chi Fengxiao: “???”
Walk back? Ten kilometers?
Is this really my dad?!
Chi Fengxiao turned to look at Chi Qian. “Qian Qian, you wouldn’t just abandon your uncle, would you?”
Chi Qian shook her head. “Uncle, you see how nice Grandpa is to you? He could’ve just ignored you completely, but he still went out of his way to find you an excuse.”
Chi Fengxiao: “…” What kind of blessing is this—do you want it or not?!
Jokes aside, Chi Fengxiao still got in the car in the end.
The motorcade roared off in high spirits.
Ling Qian’s face alternated between pale and livid. In his whole life, he had never embarrassed himself this much.
“This is impossible.” Gu Hua muttered under her breath. “Grandpa would never treat her so well… to even send someone to pick her up personally…”
In all the years she’d spent in the Chi family, she never got this treatment!
Why Chi Qian?!
Thinking of something, Gu Hua immediately asked her system in her mind: “How many followers do I have now? It should be at the ten million mark like in the original plot, right?”
System: [Still a little over two million. And half of those were bought by your agent.]
“What? Why is it that low?!”
System: [The Chi Group’s official account publicly announced Chi Qian’s identity. Plus, her performance during the livestream was excellent. She’s trending sky-high right now. Even Movie Emperor Chi was overshadowed by her, let alone you.]
Gu Hua gritted her teeth. “Are you mocking me?!”
System: [Just stating the facts. But host, there’s no need to worry. The more dazzling Chi Qian is now, the more tragic her ending will be. After all, there can only be one true heroine in the story.]
Gu Hua finally felt somewhat consoled.
No matter how high Chi Qian jumped, she couldn’t change the fact that she was just a supporting role.
—
In another car.
Chi Fengxiao had his bodyguard change course. Instead of going back to the manor, they were heading to his place.
What a joke—if he just handed Chi Qian back to the old man right now, what if she never paid him any attention again?
While the old man was still away on his business trip, he had to make sure she knew that her uncle was way better than her grandpa!
“Qian Qian, how did you know Qin Yue had kidney problems?” Chi Fengxiao suddenly asked. “And with such detail, too?”
Chi Qian stuffed her hands in her pockets, leaning back and yawning, “Uncle, do you know the Pythagorean theorem?”
“Of course, it’s a fundamental geometric principle…” Chi Fengxiao recited, then paused. “But what does that have to do with Qin Yue’s kidneys?”
“What I’m saying is—it has nothing to do with it.”
“….” Chi Fengxiao’s hands were itching.
Chi Qian went on: “Then do you know Ohm’s law?”
Chi Fengxiao gritted his teeth. “Yes! And what does that have to do with it?!”
Chi Qian blinked innocently. “Also nothing. I was just testing you, keeping you awake so you won’t forget to buy me a midnight snack later.”
“You’re begging for a beating!”
Chi Fengxiao’s “devilish palm” came down anyway, pressing hard on the top of her head.
Before heading back to his apartment, Chi Fengxiao took Chi Qian to a shopping mall.
Because he suddenly remembered—on the day she first arrived, he hadn’t prepared anything for her. Even her toiletries were disposable.
Feeling a little guilty, he glanced at her dozing look and asked if she wanted to sit in a shopping cart while he pushed her around.
“Uncle, I’m such a shy, reserved person. How could I possibly do something like that in public?”
And then, without hesitation, she climbed straight into the cart.
Chi Fengxiao’s lips twitched. Couldn’t you have hesitated for even one second?
Not long after, a trending topic popped up online: “Spotted late at night: Movie Emperor Chi shopping with Little Qian.”
The attached photos showed Chi Fengxiao carefully picking out items in front of a display, while Chi Qian sat in the shopping cart, legs dangling as they swayed in the air.
[LOL caught a big brother shopping with his kid]
[Little Qian is so cute, I want to take her home!]
[Reporting in, big bro! Little Qian just stole a pack of spicy sticks off the shelf—kids can’t eat that!]
[So many pink items in the cart, must be things he picked for her. Such a thoughtful uncle.]
[Anyone else remember how awkward they were on the first day of filming? They looked like fake family members…]
Chi Fengxiao noticed her sneaky attempt to grab the spicy sticks and smacked her little paw. “Put it back, you already have two packs.”
“Two packs aren’t even enough for one bite…” Chi Qian pouted but withdrew her hand under his oppressive glare. “Then how about some spicy ramen? Wouldn’t a bowl of that be perfect for a late-night snack?”
“Fine. Get me two as well.” Chi Fengxiao, who hadn’t touched instant food in years, caved in instantly.
After paying, they came out carrying several big bags.
Just then, Chi Fengxiao got a call from his second brother. He stepped aside to answer.
“Second bro, what’s up?”
A cool, jade-like voice came through the receiver, “How’s Chi Qian these past few days? Still alive?”
Chi Fengxiao’s face darkened. “What do you take me for, someone who can’t even look after a kid?”
Well… aside from the fact that every pet he raised as a child ended up dead.
“There’s traffic noise on your end. You’re not at home?”
“I just finished recording and took Baby Qian shopping for some things.”
Silence for a moment. “…Baby Qian? When did you two get that close?”
“You didn’t watch the survival show we were on together?”
“I don’t have any interest in those things.”
Chi Fengxiao smirked. “Then what are you calling me for?”
Chi Chaoshen: “Dad cut off the funding for my studio.”
Just that one line, full of confusion.
Chi Fengxiao laughed. “So the old man already knows Qian Qian’s with me. Otherwise he wouldn’t be punishing you.”
This second brother of his made plenty of money, but spent it all on ridiculously expensive hobbies.
In the end, he had to keep part of his funds with their father, who doled out a set amount to his studio every month—so it wouldn’t go bankrupt.
“Dad stopped my funding because of Chi Qian?” Chi Chaoshen couldn’t understand. “Doesn’t he hate kids the most?”
The brothers had grown up under their father’s constant disapproval.
Chi Fengxiao muttered, “Who can figure out the old man’s mind? Maybe he just suddenly finds you an eyesore.”
“Fine. Then do me a favor.”
“I can’t help with big things, and I don’t want to help with small ones. No money here—only my life to give.”
“…I’ll pay you back next month.”
Chi Fengxiao refused outright. “Forget it. That pile of antiques of yours is a bottomless pit. Things go in but never come out.”
Chi Chaoshen thought for a moment. “Then… why don’t you send Chi Qian over to me? I’ll take care of her for a few days, that much I can—”
He didn’t even finish the last word before Chi Fengxiao instantly hung up.
Chi Chaoshen: ?
Wasn’t it this very third brother who used to call Chi Qian a little brat, a nuisance?
Now that he finally offered to take Chi Qian in for a while, why wasn’t he willing anymore?
What kind of bewitching soup had Chi Qian fed him?
