For the next few days, life returned to normal. Even Duan Chengcai obediently went back to school for classes. It was strange; Chen Shu didn't have that much interaction with him, even less time than he spent with Yu Hui, yet their relationship was the closest in the dorm—

Chen Shu always felt he could smell a subtle kindred aura on Duan Chengcai, cloyingly sweet, rotten, unable to see the light... the smell of a corpse.

But the other person was clearly a living, breathing human.

"Chen Shu, someone's looking for you downstairs at the dorm!"

Duan Chengcai came up holding a basketball, wearing a white t-shirt and long pants. Compared to his usual flashy appearance, he looked incredibly plain.

Chen Shu, who had been doing his homework, looked up from behind his computer and frowned imperceptibly. "Who?"

Duan Chengcai took a cup, filled it to the brim from the water dispenser, tilted his head back, and gulped it down. Only then did he catch his breath and say, "I don't know, a guy, not very old. Is he your younger brother? He looks a lot like you..."

Before he could finish, he saw Chen Shu suddenly grab a jacket and rush up, leaving the dorm like a gust of wind. "I have to go out for something, help me save my homework on the computer!"

Duan Chengcai shouted in dissatisfaction, "Hey! I'm in a hurry to go out too!"

But the other person was long gone.

When Chen Shu ran downstairs, he saw his younger brother Chen Ji standing under the shade of a tree from a distance. He had a thin, tall figure and was carrying a large black travel bag on his shoulder. Who knew what was stuffed inside; it was bulging so much that the zipper was about to burst, and there were signs of wear and tear everywhere. He looked dusty and grimy, so out of place with the bright and beautiful campus.

Chen Ji had been pacing anxiously in front of the dorm building. When he suddenly looked up and saw Chen Shu coming down, a joyful light instantly burst from his eyes, and he waved excitedly at him. "Brother!"

Seeing his slightly tanned younger brother, Chen Shu couldn't help but feel a little dazed. After all, in his previous life, he hadn't seen him much for several years. He stepped forward and took the bags of all sizes from Chen Ji's hands, looking down at the contents. "Why did you suddenly come over without telling me in advance?"

Chen Ji raised a hand to wipe his nose, saying with some embarrassment, "Dad asked me to come see you. On the way here, my phone was accidentally pickpocketed, so I couldn't call. The address you sent home had the school's name and dorm number on it, so I asked for directions all the way here."

Chen Shu asked about his younger sister, "What about Ah Nian? Why didn't she come with you?"

Father Chen was illiterate, so the names of his three children were all given by a Daoist priest from a mountain: Shu Yinguo, Ji Tanwang, Nian Chang'an*. Three characters were chosen from these phrases.

*T/N: Forgive karma, shun greed, remember peace.

Chen Ji shifted the bag on his shoulder. "Her school isn't on break yet, plus it's a long way. It takes several hours on a bus just to get out of the village, so I didn't have her come."

Chen Shu looked at his travel-worn appearance. "Have you eaten?"

Chen Ji grinned, revealing his white teeth. "I've eaten. I had two steamed buns and an egg on the bus, but I got a bit carsick and threw it all up when I got off."

There was even a hint of regret in his words.

Chen Shu glanced at the time and saw it was exactly time for lunch. "Let's go. I'll take you out to eat first, then we'll find a hotel for you to rest."

Chen Ji hesitated. "No need, brother. I plan to take the bus back tonight."

He was thinking he could just make do at a long-distance bus station for the night, but Chen Shu didn't listen at all. He led him directly towards the school gate, hailed a cab, and went to a nearby commercial street. "It's rare for you to come, stay for two days."

The eldest brother is like a father, and Chen Shu's somewhat cold personality made his younger siblings afraid of him at home. As expected, Chen Ji sat obediently in the back seat of the taxi and said nothing more, only his eyes darted around, curiously observing everything through the window.

Chen Shu had been wealthy in his past life and preferred light, healthy food. He had originally wanted to find a cleaner restaurant and order a couple of dishes, but unexpectedly, Chen Ji was so captivated when passing a McDonald's that he couldn't walk anymore. Halting his steps, Chen Shu had no choice but to turn in and order a meal for two.

In the countryside, they only got to see a bit of meat during the New Year. For Chen Ji, this kind of fried food, filled with the aroma of meat, was undoubtedly fatally tempting. He took a hamburger and devoured it wolfishly, eating more than half in just two or three bites. While eating, he asked indistinctly, "Brother, you should eat too."

Chen Shu pushed his portion towards his brother. "I already ate at the school cafeteria at noon. I'm not very hungry. You can have it all."

Chen Ji nodded vigorously upon hearing this. After finishing the hamburger, he continued to demolish the fries. A growing teenager's body is like a bottomless pit; no matter how much you eat, you don't get full. A meal for two was completely devoured by him just like that.

Finally, Chen Ji wiped his mouth and looked down beside him, realizing he had the worst table manners. He asked in a small, embarrassed voice, "Brother, are these hamburgers very expensive?"

Chen Shu bent down to straighten the crooked bags at his feet and inadvertently noticed a few sets of old men's clothes inside. His movements paused for a moment, then he sat up straight as if nothing had happened. "You don't need to worry about it, just eat your fill. We'll find a hotel for you to stay the night, and I'll buy you a ticket back tomorrow."

But Chen Ji stammered, "Brother, I..."

Chen Shu asked patiently, "What is it?"

Chen Ji looked conflicted. "It's just..."

Chen Shu reached into his pocket, reflexively wanting to smoke, but then he remembered this was a public place and held back. He lowered his gaze and adjusted his posture. With the memories of his past life, he could easily guess what his brother wanted to say. His voice was faint. "I'll give you three seconds. If you don't say it now, don't ever mention it to me again."

A trace of helplessness flashed in Chen Ji's eyes, and he quickly grabbed Chen Shu's wrist. "Brother, I'll talk, I'll talk. It's... it's just that Dad's heart isn't doing well. He collapsed in the fields while working a few days ago. The doctor in the county town said there was no way to treat him, that we had to come to a big city. The family doesn't have enough for the medical bills..."

Chen Shu retorted, "Then do you think I have money?"

Chen Ji was stunned by his sarcastic tone.

Chen Shu stared at his younger brother with a blank expression, his feelings unreadable as he said word by word, "Elementary and middle school back home were free. I saved up for my high school tuition bit by bit by moving things for others. I earn my own living expenses for university by working part-time. The day I came to A City, besides a suitcase, I only had two hundred yuan in my pocket."

"I haven't taken a single cent from our family for so many years. I started working as soon as I could walk. I couldn't even eat properly when I was in school, and I still had to send money back every month. He's hospitalized for a heart condition and needs money for medical bills. Do you think I have money? Huh?"

The series of questions made Chen Ji's face flush red. He lowered his head and bit his lip, feeling utterly ashamed. "Brother, I... I didn't mean that..."

Chen Shu asked in a toneless voice, "Then what did you mean?"

Ever since Chen Shu could remember, poverty had clung to him like a maggot on a bone. His blood relatives were entrenched in the most painful part of his wound, almost sucking him dry.

He certainly had the experience of his past life as a backup and could build a career in this life. However, before he had a chance to grow into a towering tree, he was bent by the heavy weight of his family of origin, smothered under the sunless ground with no possibility of breaking through.

Chen Ji was so ashamed he didn't know where to look. He explained in a panic, "Brother, I misspoke. You... don't hold it against me. I just came by to see you and bring you some things, that's all."

As he spoke, he awkwardly took off the backpack from his shoulders and pulled out a transparent plastic oil drum filled to the brim with eggs. "These are free-range eggs from home. They're very nutritious. Dad said studying is hard for you, so you should eat a couple when you're tired. Also... also some green beans and vegetables, but the journey was too long, they got spoiled..."

He took things out as he spoke, and the bulging backpack quickly deflated. The table was covered with colorful plastic bags. People at the next table cast glances over, secretly discussing this strange country boy.

Chen Shu watched all this with a blank expression, his thoughts unknown. He suddenly asked, "How many days have you been here?"

Chen Ji looked up in surprise. "Brother?"

Chen Shu kicked the bag at his feet, which was full of his dad's clothes. "I asked, how many days have you been here?"

Seeing that he couldn't hide it, Chen Ji could only lower his head and mumble, "We've been here for a week. Dad is still lying in the ICU. The doctor said he needs some kind of imported stent and a bunch of other complicated stuff I didn't understand. That ward costs more than ten thousand a day. We've spent all the money we brought. I had no other choice but to come find you..."

The family's pillar had collapsed, and Chen Ji was truly in a panic, which was why he had made his way to his brother's school. As he spoke, he couldn't help but start crying. "Brother, is Dad going to die?"

The surgery fee was so expensive; they couldn't afford it even if they sold themselves.

Chen Shu retorted, "Every person will die. He's not special. Why wouldn't he die?"

He showed no surprise or sadness, his expression was indifferent, as if the person lying in the hospital room was just an insignificant passerby. After all, he had been through this once in his previous life. There was a limit to how sad he could be.

Chen Ji inexplicably felt that the brother before him was a bit of a stranger. He was momentarily stunned into silence, unconsciously hugging the bag in his arms and whispering, "Brother..."

Chen Shu ignored him and pulled back his chair to stand up. "Let's go. I'll find you a hotel first."

Chen Ji quickly tried to stop him. "No need, brother. I've been sleeping in the hospital corridor these past few days. Let's not waste money."

Chen Shu's steps faltered. He turned to look at him. "My patience is limited. I'll ask you one last time, hotel or corridor?"

Of course, Chen Ji wanted to sleep in the corridor, but hearing Chen Shu's heavy tone, which didn't sound like he was being nice, he hesitated for a moment before changing his mind. "I... I'll stay at the hotel."

Chen Shu's gaze returned impassively. "Let's go. I'll find a hotel for you near the hospital."

He took Chen Ji out of McDonald's and hailed a cab on the street to go to the hospital. There happened to be many small hotels nearby, but the prices were a bit higher than elsewhere. Chen Shu temporarily booked a room for five days. Fortunately, this hospital wasn't very large by local standards and was located outside the third ring road; otherwise, his wallet couldn't have handled it.

Chen Ji watched as Chen Shu counted out a small stack of red bills and handed them to the front desk clerk, his heart aching as if it were bleeding. He forced himself to look away and asked haltingly, "Brother, Dad is in the hospital just across the street. Do you want to come with me to see him?"

"I'm not a doctor. What good would it do to see him?"

Chen Shu refused. His relationship with his father had never been close since he could remember. They barely exchanged a few words all year round. In his memory, the other was just an old, stingy peasant who would whip him with a belt when he was a child and didn't want to work because he was tired, but who would also occasionally save a couple of precious eggs for him to eat. Nothing more.

Some people's family is a new cotton jacket, warm and comfortable to wear. Other people's family is a wet cotton jacket; it's cold when you put it on, and still cold when you take it off, yet you just can't bear to throw it away.

Chen Shu had countless times wished his father was an alcoholic or a gambling addict, a bad person, so he would have a perfect reason to sever ties with his family of origin and no longer have to lie awake all night worrying about the sky-high medical bills.

Unfortunately, his father only had a heart condition.

He was a not-so-well-off, stingy father, but not a bad father. Like the countless whippings with a belt during childhood, and like the eggs painstakingly saved for months in that large oil drum—it was painful, yet impossible to let go of. That was the most terrifying part.

After finishing the check-in, Chen Shu returned the ID card to Chen Ji. Seeing his brother's dejected and helpless look, his heart inexplicably softened for a moment, and even his tone became gentler. "You stay here for the next few days. If anything happens, call me from the small supermarket at the entrance."

He had originally wanted to buy Chen Ji a cell phone, but it was too late to get a SIM card today. He could only count out a thousand yuan and hand it over. "Take this and buy something to eat."

Chen Ji reacted as if he'd been scalded, jumping far back in alarm. "Brother, it's not easy for you to earn money either, and you've already spent so much today. Don't give it to me. I still have money on me, it's enough!"

Chen Shu folded the money and forcibly stuffed it into his shirt pocket, then borrowed a pen and paper from a staff member to write down his number and stuffed it in as well. "Take it when I tell you to. Don't let it get stolen. I still have classes at school, so I'm heading back. Call me if anything happens."

With that, he walked towards the door. As if remembering something, he paused again and said without turning back, "I'll figure something out for the medical bills. You take good care of Dad."

After speaking, Chen Shu ignored Chen Ji's hesitant expression and pushed open the door, leaving the hotel. Across the street was a hospital, and the traffic was particularly congested. He couldn't hail a cab, so he could only walk to the subway station to take a train back. But then, as if remembering something, he found a bench on the roadside and sat down, took out his phone, and scrolled through his contacts, stopping at a particular number.

Although it wasn't saved with a name, Chen Shu knew this string of digits by heart. It was good to be rich; even the phone number was so short and easy to remember.

Chen Shu's eyes darkened slightly. Perhaps feeling it was time to reel in the net, he tapped the screen and dialed the number.

The other person might have been waiting for his call. The phone rang for less than three seconds before it was answered. A man's deep voice came from the receiver, with a hint of a fisherman's calm and leisure. "What is it?"

Chen Shu smiled. "President Zhuang, would it be convenient to meet?"

...

Zhuang Yihan felt he must have lost his mind. Otherwise, how could he have canceled an afternoon meeting and rushed out to meet someone just because of a casual remark from that male university student? Unfortunately, it was too late for regrets. By the time he realized it, he was already sitting in a coffee shop.

It was three in the afternoon, and there weren't many customers in the shop. The melodious violin music made the environment seem even more serene. Chen Shu sat opposite him, stirring his coffee. The mist rose, making his skin look even fairer. His beautiful eyes were slightly lowered, staring at the cup. Compared to the cold, prickly demeanor from that night, he was more than just a little bit tamer—

At least, that's what Zhuang Yihan thought.

Chen Shu chose his words carefully. "President Zhuang, I'm sorry to take up your time. I asked you out today to ask if what you said a few days ago still stands."

What he said that day?

Zhuang Yihan raised an eyebrow faintly. The image of Chen Shu provoking him that night surfaced in his mind. He felt that the other's attitude had changed quite a bit. He sat with his legs crossed, his black leather shoes spotless, exuding an indescribable air of nobility and elegance against his cool-toned suit.

"What if it does, and what if it doesn't?"

This was where one could see the wickedness of a businessman. Zhuang Yihan neither answered Chen Shu's question directly nor took the initiative to ask why. Instead, he maintained an understated appearance, making one wonder if he had already lost interest in Chen Shu.

If it were anyone else sitting across the table right now, they would probably be too embarrassed to continue. Unfortunately, Chen Shu was no greenhorn who had yet to step into society. His composure was even steadier than that of Zhuang Yihan, who had long been in the business world. "If it still stands, I'll be with you. If it doesn't, then please consider my question unasked."

Perhaps as revenge for being rejected last time, Zhuang Yihan always felt an inexplicable sense of competitiveness when facing Chen Shu. He raised an eyebrow faintly. "Is that so? What if I say I'm not that interested in you anymore?"

Chen Shu smiled, as if he hadn't heard the teasing in the other's words. "It's all right. You can't force fate. People's minds are meant to change. But I'm still sorry for taking up your work time. This coffee is on me."

After speaking, he didn't linger. He called the waiter over to pay the bill, looking ready to leave. Zhuang Yihan crossed his arms and watched with a cold eye, wanting to see if he was playing hard to get. However, even after Chen Shu paid and walked towards the door, he showed no intention of stopping, clearly not putting on an act.

A minute passed, then two.

Zhuang Yihan's expression gradually darkened. He was finally getting restless. He saw Chen Shu leave the coffee shop and stand by the roadside, seemingly preparing to leave. He grabbed his phone from the table and called him. Through the transparent floor-to-ceiling window, he could clearly see Chen Shu answer the call and glance over in confusion. "President Zhuang, what is it?"

"..."

Zhuang Yihan slowly exhaled, trying to remain calm. "Where are you going?"

Chen Shu didn't say much. "I have something to do this afternoon."

Something to do? What was it? Did he plan to find another sponsor because he had been rejected?

Zhuang Yihan sneered, "What, you have the next one lined up?"

Chen Shu's tone was surprised. "How did you know?"

Zhuang Yihan: "..."

Damn it, he really does.