Chapter 25

Chapter 25

This was the cleanest bath Yuanting had ever taken, from his past life to this one; the housekeeper nearly used a shoe brush on him.

Yuanting's face, flushed and despondent: "Uncle Liu, I really never touched any feces."

"I understand," the housekeeper nodded, giving him a knowing look. "I understand everything."

Yuanting: "..." You understand nothing.

Also, could you be a bit gentler?

It was too much, simply too much, but even more outrageous was Cheng Nanyi coming to inspect him after his bath, scrutinizing him from top to bottom, hesitating for a moment before leaning in to sniff Yuanting, then nodding in satisfaction: "Clean now."

Yuanting glared at him with dead-fish eyes. Do I look even remotely happy to you?

Obsess about cleanliness on your own, why are you fussing over me?

Humph!

After both had bathed, they went downstairs for dinner. Just as they were about to take a nap, Brother Xiao Zhang walked in, glancing at Cheng Nanyi, hesitating to speak.

"What is it?" Cheng Nanyi asked.

Xiao Zhang touched his nose, glancing at the bright-eyed Yuanting and then at the housekeeper standing aside.

"Is it about the matter I asked you to investigate?"

Xiao Zhang nodded in affirmation.

"It's fine, go ahead," Cheng Nanyi said, rising from the dining table and settling onto the sofa.

Xiao Zhang would likely repeat this to the housekeeper anyway, so there was no need to ask him to leave. They might as well listen openly.

Investigate what?

It must be about the Mo family. Yuanting dashed over and hopped onto the sofa next to Cheng Nanyi.

Cheng Nanyi shifted slightly, creating a space of about two fist widths.

Yuanting: "!!!" Feeling slighted, are we?

Fine, although it irked him, this ironically achieved what he once wanted: Cheng Nanyi's aversion.

Xiao Zhang looked at Cheng Nanyi, his expression a mix of emotions, shocked by the findings.

Cheng Nanyi had asked him to investigate Mo Yikai's father, and the information provided was quite comprehensive. Yuanting mentioned the woman worked at a jewelry store, so it was easy to trace.

The woman, Fang Lu, had an easily traceable address. Xiao Zhang had surveilled the place last night and shockingly saw Mo Yikai's father enter the complex and stay for over three hours. He hadn't rushed to report, planning to observe a few more days, but today's findings were even more explosive.

The driver swallowed hard: "He was seen entering and leaving with that woman, appearing very intimate, and they were holding two children."

"Two children?" Cheng Nanyi paused, perplexed, "Whose children?"

Xiao Zhang's revelation hinted at a scandal involving Mo Yikai's father, a situation that was evidently more complex than expected.

The butler frowned, looking over. The situation seemed to be getting complicated.

Cheng Nanyi was somewhat confused, still just a ten-year-old, and slow to grasp certain things.

Xiao Zhang didn't speak, and after a few seconds, Cheng Nanyi repeated his question.

Finally, Xiao Zhang replied slowly, "It's the child of a woman named Fang Lu, three years old, twins, a boy and a girl."

"I've checked, and this Fang Lu isn’t married, no husband. It’s unclear where these two children came from."

Cheng Nanyi fell silent. Though young and initially slow to respond, growing up in a wealthy family, he had seen many instances of illegitimate children. However, he was reluctant to believe that Mo Yikai's father would do such a thing.

Yuan Ting just smirked, thinking how this life was just like the last, with no change whatsoever.

Xiao Zhang, observing Cheng Nanyi’s expression, asked quietly, "Should I investigate more thoroughly?" He had taken photos with his camera, which should be enough to confirm the affair. A further step would involve paternity testing.

Cheng Nanyi hadn't expected things to turn out this way. If Mo Yikai's father indeed had illegitimate children, would he bring them home to raise?

What about Mo Yikai?

Or worse, could he abandon Mo Yikai?

Xiao Zhang looked at the butler, who also seemed troubled. He hadn't expected the situation to be this complex – twins, no less. Mr. Mo certainly had his ways.

"I have photos of the children, and they look like..." Xiao Zhang touched his nose, "quite similar to Yikai."

Yuan Ting glanced at Cheng Nanyi's expression instinctively.

Cheng Nanyi’s face darkened, and after a long moment, he nodded, "I understand."

As Cheng Nanyi went upstairs and was about to close the door, a little head squeezed in, clinging to the door frame and looking up, "Brother, what do you think?"

"Think about what?"

"About Brother Yikai's family situation." Yuan Ting wriggled under his arm, sitting down on the carpet, "Tell me what you think."

The child had taken a bath, making Cheng Nanyi's tolerance for his presence momentarily bearable.

"We should tell Aunt Zhu," said Cheng Nanyi.

Yuan Ting's eyes widened in surprise. He thought Cheng Nanyi would return to his room to work on his so-called probabilities, not make such a decisive statement.

Noticing the child's confusion, Cheng Nanyi explained, "It's no longer about preserving a warm family facade. If those children are indeed Uncle Mo's, it's crucial to secure the assets. Aunt Zhu and Mo Yikai will suffer great losses if kept in the dark."

"As for whether those children are Uncle Mo’s, only Aunt Zhu can find out. We can’t be involved anymore." The situation was much more complicated than he initially thought.

Respect flashed in Yuan Ting’s eyes; Cheng Nanyi’s clarity of thought was indeed frightening.

Worthy of someone who would later be considered a bit twisted.

Unlike him, who had always been so innocent and cute, naive and kind, handsome and charismatic...

"I support you, brother. When will we tell Aunt Zhu?"

"We'll find an opportunity to talk to Aunt Zhu privately."

"And call Mo Yikai’s aunt as well," Yuan Ting suggested.

"Why?" Cheng Nanyi felt such family matters should involve as few people as possible.

"What if Aunt Zhu considers suicide?"

Cheng Nanyi stared at Yuan Ting, "Why do you always think Aunt Zhu might commit suicide? She's not that type of person." If Aunt Zhu knew about this, she might be more likely to confront Uncle Mo aggressively, not resort to suicide.

"Brother, you can never truly know someone," Yuan Ting said, waving his hand confidently, "Like Dabao’s mom, no one expected her to commit suicide, but she did. Inviting the pretty sister ensures that whatever Aunt Zhu's reaction, whether suicide or fury, there will be someone to restrain her, preventing harm to us."

Cheng Nanyi: "..." That made sense.

"Don’t talk about this to anyone else. I need to think more about it. Understand?" Cheng Nanyi instructed Yuan Ting.

"Got it," the little guy obediently nodded. "I always listen to you, brother." With the situation having progressed this far, there was no turning back. Decisive action was the best approach.

Aunt Zhu, if you could live your life over again, you’d want it to change too, right?

The child sat sincerely on the carpet, his face filled with genuine trust. It was a rather pleasant feeling.

"Alright, go back to sleep."

"Okay." Yuan Ting clambered up from the floor, eyes twinkling mischievously. Suddenly, he jumped onto the bed, rolling around while exclaiming, "Brother, I smell nice, let me freshen up your bed... Hahaha..." After rolling, he leaped off and rushed out the door without even bothering with his slippers.

That’s for making me scrub off a layer of skin, see if I don't annoy you.

Cheng Nanyi: "..."

After staring blankly at the wrinkled bedspread for a while, Cheng Nanyi touched the sheets with his hand before reluctantly getting into bed with his slippers on.

This was a form of desensitization. He had already held the child's hand; as long as he didn't conjure certain images, it should be fine.

……

Because of this incident, both Cheng Nanyi and Yuan Ting had been somewhat silent recently. Cheng Nanyi was constantly buried in a book, whether walking, sitting, or even in the car.

After several days, Mo Yikai finally nudged Cheng Nanyi with his elbow.

Cheng Nanyi looked up at him.

Mo Yikai didn’t speak but nudged him again.

Cheng Nanyi frowned, "What’s up?"

Mo Yikai breathed a sigh of relief. See, Cheng Nanyi spoke to him first, so he wasn’t being treated like a dog.

"What are you reading?" Mo Yikai grabbed Cheng Nanyi's book, surprised to see it was about law, "Why are you reading this?"

"It's interesting," Cheng Nanyi replied, taking back his book to continue reading.

After flipping through a few pages, Cheng Nanyi suddenly turned to Mo Yikai and asked, "If both your parents fell into the water and neither could swim, who would you choose to save?"

Yuan Ting immediately turned to look at Mo Yikai.

"Are you nuts? Asking such a cliché question," Mo Yikai scoffed. "It’s supposed to be about choosing between wife and mother, not parents."

"It's about your parents. Answer me."

"Obviously, I'd save my mom. She takes care of my food and clothes. What does my dad do? Just gives money," Mo Yikai sighed.

Yuan Ting: "..."

Cheng Nanyi asked again, "What if you and your mom were both in danger and only one could be saved? Would you save yourself or your mom?"

Mo Yikai turned to him, "Are you feverish? Why ask such weird questions?"

"Answer me."

"Of course, I'd save my mom," Mo Yikai said nonchalantly, waving his hand. "Isn't that obvious?"

Yuan Ting gave Mo Yikai a thumbs-up: "Brother Yikai, you're such a dutiful son."

Mo Yikai frowned: "Huh??"

Although he spoke the truth, he couldn't shake the feeling that Yuan Ting was mocking him.

After glaring at Yuan Ting for a while, Mo Yikai narrowed his eyes and turned to Cheng Nanyi: "If this brat and I fell into the water, who would you save?"

Yuan Ting: "...Seriously? Are you asking this because you're seriously ill or something?"

Mo Yikai stared intently at Cheng Nanyi, his posture screaming, "Dare not to choose me, and we'll both perish."

Yuan Ting, hating to see him smug, lifted his chin and looked at Cheng Nanyi: "I bet my brother would save me."

"Hmph," Mo Yikai snorted coldly through his nostrils.

Xiao Zhang sensed the tension in the car, instinctively glancing in the rearview mirror, and thought, 'Wow, a real battle royal, I love watching this.'

Cheng Nanyi, unfazed by such a nonsensical question, thought for a moment before saying earnestly: "Whoever gives me five hundred bucks, I'll answer their question."

Mo Yikai: "???"

Yuan Ting: "???"

"You want money to answer a question?" Mo Yikai was utterly flabbergasted.

"Of course," Cheng Nanyi said indifferently, "I'm not obligated to satisfy your curiosity."

"I mean..." Mo Yikai was at a loss for words, "I just answered your question too."

"That was your choice."

"..." Mo Yikai was speechless.

He felt like smacking someone.

Cheng Nanyi scanned both faces and then extended his hand: "So, which of you two wants to know the answer?"

Yuan Ting curled his lips slightly: "...I don't have money." Not to mention he didn't have five hundred, even if he did, he couldn't just fork it out. Spending five hundred to hear an answer, that would be pure stupidity.

"Here." Mo Yikai pulled out five hundred-yuan bills from his wallet and slapped them into Cheng Nanyi's hand.

Yuan Ting: "!!!” So, the fool was right before his eyes. This money was too easy to earn.

Five hundred was half a month's salary for an ordinary person.

Cheng Nanyi raised an eyebrow, turned his hand, and offered the money to Yuan Ting, asking him: "Do you want me to answer 'save you,' or do you want this five hundred?"

！！！

Damn! Is this really happening?

"..." Yuan Ting swallowed hard, shakily reached out to grasp the five hundred-yuan bills, gently pulled them from Cheng Nanyi's hand, quickly crumpled them, and stuffed them into the deepest part of his backpack. After carefully zipping it up, he shouted at Cheng Nanyi, "Brother, go ahead and save Brother Yikai. As long as Brother Yikai is safe, I'm willing to sacrifice myself."

Mo Yikai watched his five hundred yuan disappear into the kid's backpack, completely speechless.

"Seriously, is he sick? Thinking I'm an easy mark?"

Xiao Zhang: "???" Is that even possible?

Mo Yikai, frustrated: "Cheng—Nan—Yi—"

"Why call me brother? I'll take the fall, don't hurt my brother." Yuan Ting peeked over, clinging to the seat to look at Cheng Nanyi, his face resolute: "Brother, if Brother Yikai and I fell off a cliff together, who would you save?"

Then turning to Mo Yikai: "Brother Yikai, do you want to know the answer?"

Again turning to Cheng Nanyi: "Brother, if Brother Yikai and I were trapped under a huge rock, one under each end, and you could only save one, who would it be?"

And once more to Mo Yikai: "Brother Yikai, do you want to know the answer? Give me five hundred, thanks!"

Turning again to Cheng Nanyi: "Brother, if Brother Yikai and I were hanging from a tree, and you could only save one, who would you choose?"

"Brother Yikai..."

"Shut up." Mo Yikai glared at him coldly, "Say one more word and I'll beat you to death."

"Okay then." Yuan Ting zipped his mouth with his hand and turned back to sit down.

Always ready to bend or stretch.

Three minutes later.

"Brother Xiao Zhang, do you want to know who my brother would save if you and I were caught in a fire?"

Brother Xiao Zhang: "...Not really."

Yuan Ting: "Oh, what a pity. Well, whenever you want to know, just ask me, I'm always here."

Brother Xiao Zhang: "...Alright then."

Cheng Nanyi: "..."

Author's Note:

This is my first time writing such a slow-paced story, starting from a child's perspective. I particularly enjoy depicting Yuan Ting's mischievous antics, so some plot developments may progress slowly. Please bear with me!

Thank you for your support, love you all, muah! Special thanks to the angels who cast Overlord votes or nourished me with nutrient solutions between 2023-07-25 22:38:33 and 2023-07-26 15:24:06~

Thanks to the angels who cast deep-sea torpedoes: Yu Dian Dian 21; Zhai Niang Niang 11;

Thanks to the angels who cast landmines: Nan Ke 1;

Thanks to the angels who nourished with nutrient solutions: Yu Yu 20 bottles; Aim to Find a Great Book 10 bottles; Origin of the Universe 6 bottles; Ning Yin, Little Trolley's Makabaka 5 bottles; Joes, Chang'an City, Lucky 1 bottle;

I'm truly grateful for everyone's support, and I will continue to work hard!