Chapter 71: What Does Chen Erbai’s Business Have to Do with Chen Yibai?

Chapter 71: What Does Chen Erbai's Business Have to Do with Chen Yibai?

How could one possibly set their mind at ease?

Jiang Nian reached out to switch off the light above her head. In the dimness, she whispered, "I wonder how he's been getting by all these years."

When the troubles in the Chen family occurred, she wasn't in the country. After hearing that this person lived alone, she made some inquiries and stumbled upon the Chen family's affairs. That was when she realized what burdens the man who always wore a smile had been carrying.

Mr. Xu didn't elaborate much, merely saying, "Let him have a good rest for the next couple of days."

The vehicle cruised down the road, disappearing into the boundless night.

Mysteriously falling asleep, when Chen Moubai woke up again, the car had already come to a gentle stop. Outside the window was the familiar courtyard illuminated by soft lights, blurry but recognizable. He vaguely recalled its layout.

In his ears was Aunt Jiang's voice, saying, "Yibai, we're home."

His brain slowly processed the information. The eyes that had opened just a crack widened slightly more as he finally understood the meaning behind her words. Chen Bai pushed himself up from the seat and paused quietly, processing the situation.

Or rather, it wasn't so much processing as it was a prelude to action.

Silence lasted only a few seconds before the drowsy figure suddenly leaped out of the car with lightning speed. Fortunately, Ms. Jiang was on the same wavelength and had anticipated his move, grabbing his hand just before he could jump out.

"…"

The driver, standing by the door, watched the exchange between the two, his eyes involuntarily widening.

Interrupted mid-cast, Chen Moubai exited the car in a more controlled manner. Upon exiting, he remembered his suitcase. Turning around, he saw that it was already in Mr. Xu's hands. The butler, who had arrived, took the initiative to take over, wearing white gloves.

In terms of value, he felt that his suitcase might not be worth as much as the butler's gloves.

It was late, and with the heat, no one lingered in the courtyard for long, heading straight through the main gate of the residence.

Upon entering, the temperature dropped noticeably. Chen Bai looked around but didn't see any sign of the high schooler, so he asked, "Where's my little brother?"

It was August, and logically, even summer tutoring should have ended by now. The boy should have returned home by then.

Ms. Jiang waved her hand, saying, "He's gone to A University's summer camp. He won't be back for another couple of days."

After many years, she still had some recollection. Chen Bai said, "Can the top hundred students in the city participate in that?"

Ms. Jiang nodded, confirming that they could. She couldn't help but chuckle, "Your Uncle Xu let slip that he knew you were coming back. He was clinging to the door, refusing to leave."

The outburst of a high schooler was mercilessly pointed out, and Chen Bai laughed.

It was late, and Ms. Jiang led him back to the room on the second floor. It had been a while since he'd last visited, and the place had undergone a transformation. The computer in the room had received a major upgrade. Previously resembling an office computer used for business, it now sported a new keyboard, mouse, and chair, as if ready to step onto the esports stage and lift an international trophy.

Noticing his gaze, Aunt Jiang explained, "Your uncle didn't understand before. Recently, he did some research and found out that young people like you need specialized equipment for gaming."

Doing some research meant that he had accidentally learned about it from younger employees at the company. Returning home, he shook Xu Xiao until everything he knew about such matters spilled out.

Along with the revelation that Yibai had become Erbai, he also learned that streamers, who often sit for long periods, can develop issues with their lumbar spine.

Given their status, directly giving money to help pay off debts wasn't appropriate. If they could have helped his son earlier, they would have. They didn't intend to change someone's lifestyle either. All they could do was provide a chair suitable for prolonged sitting and equipment that might be useful for streaming.

The equipment lay beside the computer. Xu Xiao, with zero practical skills, fiddled with it but couldn't make sense of it. Thus, it remained temporarily unused, waiting for a professional to handle it.

Chen Moubai objectively felt that this room no longer resembled a guest room. Or rather, it never really was a guest room. He discovered after arriving that the room next door belonged to his good neighbor.

Neighbors outside, neighbors inside.

Aunt Jiang smiled and promptly showed him the freshly laundered pajamas, letting him pick one.

Among a pile of colorful pajamas, Chen Moubai chose a white set. Not because of anything else, but simply because there was an embroidered white puppy head on the chest.

The puppy was simple in design but fluffy and strangely cute. But Aunt Jiang didn't recall it, stroking her chin, "Did I buy this piece of clothing?"

Chen Bai glanced sideways, "Huh?"

Ms. Jiang looked at the puppy again, pondering for a moment before smiling, "Never mind, I've bought too many clothes and can't quite remember them all."

Exhausted from the day, she didn't linger and told him to wash up and go to bed early, closing the room door behind her as she left.

After Ms. Jiang departed, Chen Yibai lowered his head and pulled out his phone to send a message to his money-making partner, informing him that he had arrived safely. After sending the message, he placed the phone by the bedside and headed towards the bathroom with the puppy pajamas.

Outside in the corridor, Ms. Jiang descended the stairs, pulling out her phone from her pocket as she walked. Holding onto the railing with one hand, she tapped a few times on her phone with the other, finding the contact she wanted. Lowering her head, she typed:

"Did you buy a set of pajamas for Yibai?"

Although she bought many clothes, each piece was carefully selected, and she remembered every single one. There was no way she could forget them.

There was only one person in this house who could accurately grasp someone else's preferences.

After a while, the person on the other end tersely replied, "Yes."

---

Months of continuous work came to an end, and Chen Yibai began a short vacation. From the first day he returned to Aunt Jiang's home, he embarked on a life filled with nourishment.

Woken up from his bed to eat breakfast, he was then sent back under the covers. Crawling out again close to noon, he would venture into the courtyard for some activity before lunch. In the afternoon, he went live on schedule. When Ms. Jiang and her partner returned from work in the evening, it was time for pleasant interactions.

His daily routine was regular and fulfilling, with a balanced intake of meat, dairy, protein, fruits, and vegetables. He felt healthier than ever before in his life.

This pattern repeated for two days. One day later, the high schooler who clung to the door unwilling to leave would return from his summer camp. The night before his return, the high schooler made the first call.

As the call came in, the three people in the living room were watching an animated feature film together. Setting aside the fruit in her hands temporarily, Ms. Jiang answered the call, placing the phone on speaker mode on the table. She continued watching TV while talking to the caller.

Every time the high schooler called, he would confirm whether his Second Brother Bai was still around. Only after confirmation would he proceed to discuss the real matter at hand.

Finally able to sink his teeth into the watermelon, Chen Erbai chewed away, answering casually, "He's still here."

Reassured by the conversation, the high schooler on the other end of the line began discussing his plans for the following day. He said, "As it turns out, classmates from the summer camp will be coming over to our house tomorrow."

This "as it turns out" referred to an event that had taken place just half an hour ago, when a group of them had discussed where to go for fun after the summer camp ended. Not wanting to exert themselves too much or venture outdoors in this weather, they ultimately decided to temporarily convene at the home of a lucky individual.

The lucky individual was determined by a lottery, and Chen Moubai's brother, a true embodiment of luck, deservedly became that fortunate soul.

Ms. Jiang swallowed a piece of fruit before asking, "What time tomorrow? Will there be a car to pick you up?"

The high schooler replied that it would be in the morning. The summer camp would disband at nine o'clock, after which they could leave with the teachers in charge of the school, who would provide transportation. However, the service was only directed to the school gates and did not extend to home delivery.

"At nine o'clock," Ms. Jiang took a sip of water, calculating the arrival time. She then said, "At that time, neither your Uncle Xu nor... your father will be around."

She had almost disowned her biological son, but that was unimportant now.

Finally tearing his gaze away from the television, Chen Moubai remarked, "I should be awake by then."

It might be shortly after waking up, with his mind still sluggish, but he would be half a functional adult.

Mr. Xu, sitting nearby, asked, "How many people?"

Xu Lang answered, "Including me, four."

"Four, a car can easily accommodate all of you," Ms. Jiang said. "Tomorrow, have Uncle Sun come to pick you up... Wait, no."

Mr. Xu timely reminded her, "There's a central forum meeting tomorrow; the drivers have been arranged."

Ms. Jiang simply stated, "You'll have to take a taxi yourselves."

In that instant, their treatment changed from a dedicated car service to having to hail a taxi themselves, without reimbursement.

The person on the phone was incredulous. In a fit of anger, he exclaimed, "Fine."

With that, the arrangements were settled. Someone seemed to be calling from the other side, prompting the high schooler to hang up the call.

As the phone screen went dark and the high schooler's voice faded, Ms. Jiang offered Chen Yibai the crisp pear she had just tasted, saying, "This is delicious."

She then added, "This is actually the first time Xu Lang has brought friends home to play."

Chen Bai, taking a bite of the pear, raised his eyes slightly. "The first time?"

He recalled that Xu Lang had quite a few friends and often played together, yet he had never brought any of them home before.

Ms. Jiang chuckled, "Before, they always went to the internet cafe together."

Chen Moubai finally remembered that his brother, currently ranking among the top hundred students in the city, used to be a rebellious high school student obsessed with games.

The next morning, at University A.

The closing ceremony of the summer camp was held in the grand auditorium. Suitcases, already packed and ready, were lined up against the wall outside the auditorium.

As the ceremony concluded, the previously empty entrance began to fill with people exiting. Despite it still being early morning, the sun was already blazing, casting dappled shadows from the trees above the gate. The crowd was a sea of various school uniforms.

To distinguish themselves and make it easier for their respective teachers to locate them, each school's students wore their own summer uniforms, making it instantly clear which school they belonged to.

While some schools had evolved to white shirts and ties, No.1 High School still clung to its ancient blue-and-white uniform, which remained easily recognizable in the sea of people.

After retrieving their suitcases and informing their teachers that they would be acting independently and not taking the school's vehicle, Xu Lang and several classmates met up on the roadside outside the auditorium.

His former desk partner from last summer's tutoring sessions was also present. Carrying his suitcase, he wiped the sweat from his brow and glanced at his blue-and-white uniform compared to those wearing shirts and ties, looking like elites. He commented, "How nice."

Casually folding the certificate he had received during the ceremony into his pocket, Xu Lang sent a message while looking down. Hearing his desk partner's comment, he looked up and asked, "Nice?"

The desk partner honestly admitted that he found the shirt-and-tie look more attractive, standing out among the sea of uniforms. Another classmate squeezed through the crowd, arriving just in time to hear his comment. He chimed in, "Those are uniforms for private schools attended by the wealthy."

"In this scorching heat, wearing a tie is suffocating. The school administration must be insane. Short sleeves are far better than those pretentious outfits." After sending his message, Xu Lang put away his phone and looked up, asking, "Where's Old Lin?"

Old Lin arrived, chuckling as he said, "You sound like you've studied at one of those schools."

He asked, "What about your certificate?"

Xu Lang replied, "It's cumbersome to carry around. I folded it and put it in my pocket."

His attitude was rather casual.

Three out of the four of them played basketball and were tall, leaving only the desk partner as the short one. As the others chatted, he decided to squat down, using his height disadvantage to hide under the shadows cast by the three taller individuals.

Once everyone was gathered, they left the school grounds and hailed a taxi. Sitting inside the air-conditioned vehicle, the group came back to life.

Under the blazing sun, the car departed from the school, passing by skyscrapers and entering familiar, less crowded roads. It was barely past ten o'clock, earlier than expected. Xu Lang turned to the others and said, "My brother might still be sleeping, so let's keep it quiet when we arrive."

The desk partner raised his hand. "Isn't your brother a staunch early-to-bed, early-to-rise type?"

Xu Lang realized his mistake and corrected himself, "Not my brother... I mean, the early-to-bed, early-to-rise one is my real brother, but this isn't him."

Feeling like he was only complicating matters, he waved his hand dismissively. "Anyway, this brother is almost like a real brother."

Putting aside the matter of brothers, Old Lin, standing next to the desk partner, asked, "How long until we get to your place?"

It wasn't just their imagination; they felt like they were heading further and further off the beaten path. Earlier, they could still see skyscrapers, but now, even those seemed to vanish. All they could see were occasional walls and large courtyards, their purpose unknown.

Before Xu Lang could speak, the driver's navigation system beeped, announcing that they were five hundred meters away from their destination.

They had arrived. Under the intense light, the large stone bricks of the manor's courtyard wall reflected the sunlight, illuminating the green grass behind the gate.

"..."

Xu Lang stood by the car, confirming the order with the driver. Meanwhile, the other three disembarked and lined up in front of the gate, lost in thought.

After verifying the order and paying, Xu Lang waited for the driver to leave. Turning around, he heard his desk partner ask, "Is this your house?"

He nodded, then suffered a chokehold. Three people looped around his neck like rings, one of them saying, "To think you were the Young Master behind our backs!"

The Young Master, dragging three people along, struggled to advance.

Fortunately, the gate opened and the butler arrived. In front of others, the classmates would still put on a good facade, finally stopping the chokehold and greeting the butler in a civilized manner.

Xu Lang asked at once, "Has Brother Bai woken up?"

Recalling something, the butler's mustache quivered as it concealed his upturned lips. He said, "He's making an effort."

This sentence was somewhat difficult to understand, yet Xu Lang somehow understood it inexplicably.

From the courtyard to the main gate, from light into shadow, the mansion's gate had already opened. A chill breeze blew out, lifting everyone's spirits and making their bodies feel refreshed.

The high school students quickly entered through the gate, feeling reborn.

The timing was perfect; as they walked into the hall, a figure appeared on the staircase just in time.

Dressed in pajamas with a head of messy hair, he was leaning on the railing, descending step by step. Just a guess, not necessarily accurate, they felt that the person hadn't fully woken up—his body was moving, but his mind wasn't awake.

...In this state, he was still coming downstairs. From a certain perspective, he was indeed making a great effort.

Xu Lang didn't dare to make a sound for a moment, fearing that any distraction might cause him to misstep. They all looked up, watching as the person stopped halfway down, turned slowly, and climbed back up the stairs.

"..."

Watching the figure disappear, a classmate asked, "Who was that?"

Xu Lang hadn't figured it out either, blinking his eyes. "Perhaps, going back to sleep in?"

The person wasn't returning to bed for a nap, but rather, when he was halfway down the stairs, his mind flickered for a moment, remembering that he hadn't changed out of his pajamas. He went back to his room to change into loungewear.

By the time the high school students had settled down in the living room, placing their suitcases and resting, there was movement on the staircase again.

This time, it wasn't the faint, barely-there sensation from before. The person descending the stairs moved more briskly, having changed from pajamas into a white loungewear outfit, though his hair remained as messy as ever.

As he descended the stairs, his gaze swept over them. Upon seeing them, his movements paused momentarily. With a wave of his hand, he smiled and asked, "Everyone has arrived."

His voice carried the hoarseness of someone who had just woken up, along with lingering drowsiness. However, thankfully, his speech was clear, and he seemed to be awake.

He looked very familiar, and indeed, this person hadn't been awake earlier. He had no recollection of having already met them in the hall, completely believing that they had just arrived.

Their gazes fell upon the strikingly messy hair. Xu Lang didn't say much, accepting the assumption that they had just arrived. He stood up instantly, calling out, "Brother Bai."

Upon approaching and noticing the person's gaze, Chen Bai first raised his eyes to look at his own messy hair. Then, he brushed back the strands that stuck up, smiling as he said, "I just made an effort, but it was useless. It can only be like this. Make do with the sight."

The messy hair was briefly pushed back, revealing his smiling, lightly hued eyes. This was when the others finally realized where the familiarity came from. Memories from last year flooded back, and they remembered which Brother Bai this was.

They knew that Xu Lang had a good relationship with him, but they hadn't expected it to be so close that they could come over to stay and play. No wonder this person had been eager to return home these past few days.

What kind of life had this person been leading!

The high school students quickly followed suit, calling out "Brother Bai."

Gaining several half-brothers at once, the water-balancing master Chen Yibai treated everyone equally, responding to each one. Remembering something, he reminded them, "Remember to report your safety to the teacher in charge."

Xu Lang, who seemingly didn't care much about such matters, nodded. He had already reported it. Then, he rummaged around, pulling out a piece of paper that had been casually folded into a strange shape from his pocket. After struggling to unfold it, he handed it over, saying, "This is what I got today."

He stood obediently like a primary school student, waiting for the person to step forward and take the paper. His head was lowered, his expression seemingly normal, but his mouth was slightly taut, and his eyes were filled with anticipation.

—This was the same person who had called the certificate of honor a burden that morning, finding it troublesome. The real deal, guaranteed authentic, or your money back two-fold.

His deskmate's eyebrows twitched fiercely. "Xu Lang, you..."

The others drew in a sharp breath, narrowing their eyes. "You..."

Such a grown man suddenly seemed even more childlike than a primary school student.

Xu Lang ignored them, standing obediently as he waited for the person to read the content of the certificate.

Second Brother Bai finished reading. His brows relaxed, and a smile touched the corners of his eyes. He reached out, patting the person's head gently, lavishing praise without repeating himself.

Those pale gray eyes reflected the light, brimming with genuine emotion when he looked at the person.

"..."

The three high school students watched silently, inching closer to their backpacks and retrieving their own certificates of honor from within.

When a certain surnamed Xu high school student finished receiving praise and turned around, the few people who had been standing beside him with indescribable looks had vanished. Someone poked his shoulder from behind.

Turning around, he found three people holding their certificates of honor, lined up behind him. The one poking him was his deskmate, who said, "It's my turn now."

The other two nodded in agreement.

Xu Lang: "...?"

Questioning Xu Lang, understanding Xu Lang, becoming Xu Lang.

Having successfully received praise, the three high school students transformed into primary school students, basking in the comfort of the compliments. Even after sitting down on the sofa, they continued to radiate little flowers of joy.

Understanding that high school students needed their own space and didn't require excessive disturbance, Chen Moubai had originally come over just to greet them and ask if they needed anything. But somehow, he ended up staying and sitting down on the sofa as well.

Fruits necessary for daily consumption were delivered from the kitchen. As he ate, he chatted with the energetic high school students. Midway through the conversation, the topic took a turn, veering towards games, and then inexplicably shifted to focus on him.

The energetic high school students wanted to play games with him, but the current conditions didn't support it. Xu Lang's suggestion was promptly rejected, leaving them less energetic and sighing in regret.

Pushing the fruit plate towards the person, Chen Bai asked, "Why did you suddenly bring this up?"

If his memory served him right, Chen Yibai shouldn't have a setting that indicated he enjoyed playing games.

It was Chen Erbai who often played games, having nothing to do with Chen Yibai.

His deskmate ruffled his hair and complimented him on his gaming skills, saying he wanted to experience what it felt like to play with an expert.

"?"

Chen Yibai questioned where the talk of gaming prowess came from.

The deskmate honestly admitted that he had seen it on TV.

TV referred to "Youth Journey," a show loved by many in school, even they, who rarely watched TV, knew something about it. It featured several scenes of people playing games.

Chen Yibai's eyes flickered, objectively stating, "A few scenes shouldn't reveal much."

Indeed, he knew nothing about these matters. The considerate Xu younger brother said, "During the scene at Brother Bai's internet cafe, there happened to be a live-streaming host in the game."

Cameras were recording here, and on the other side as well, backed by a professional video recording team that would record and upload every episode. After the relevant episode aired, that particular session was quickly dug up, revealing the uncut full-length version from another perspective to others.

Xu younger brother tactically took a sip of water before continuing, "The live-streaming host was called Light Boat." And because of this incident, their fan base surged for a while.

Chen Yibai: "…"

Chen Erbai tactically ate some fruit, not saying much, but chuckled, "What a small world, huh."