Chapter 91

Chapter 91

It wasn't just Xiaolin who felt that President Xi had a bad temper.

The ones who felt it most deeply were probably the members of the Xi family, as he had recently moved back to the old residence due to his injuries and then experienced the passing of his boyfriend's grandfather. It was understandable that his mood would be poor.

This was how the young people of the Xi family consoled themselves.

"The courses at our school are already stressful enough; they're forcing us to attend some winter camp training." Among those who dared to feel angry but not express it were several individuals who had previously played cards in Xi Siyan’s courtyard. Now, they were avoiding President Xi and instead getting closer to the seemingly gentle and refined Chen Mo. Unable to hold back, one of them asked, "Brother Mo, since you can get into Q University, your IQ must be as insane as Brother Yan's, right?"

That was the Xi family's private banquet.

Only important members of the Xi family attended, and Chen Mo was invited to participate.

At eight o'clock in the evening, because there were elders present, Chen Mo drank some alcohol. Not much, as Xi Siyan didn’t encourage it, but he still felt a bit drowsy and sat on a stone bench in the courtyard to catch some air. When he was unexpectedly surrounded and heard this comment, he laughed and denied it, "I'm just an average student, one who relies on hard work."

"If someone like you is considered a hard worker, what does that make us? Forgotten flaws of creation?"

"Do we have to be so competitive?"

"Apparently, the word 'average' means different things when used by ordinary people versus geniuses. Like me, I’m just plain stupid."

Chen Mo chuckled softly.

Previously, he had always thought that the Xi family's style was rigid and serious, with Xi Siyan definitely being the rebellious type.

After all, he liked men and had established CM independently from the Xi family's business, with no intention of following the path laid out by the family. However, after truly interacting with the younger generation of the Xi family, he realized that their atmosphere was quite relaxed. The well-rounded personalities and good upbringing were merely the basic standards for children in such families, who enjoyed the best growth environment and educational resources. Their self-deprecating humor about being "stupid" was mostly playful.

Of course, Xi Siyan was indeed special.

He was the unattainable goal mentioned by these young people, the nightmare-like existence they were constantly compared to.

Now, this nightmare had successfully inherited the family business and could place them wherever he wanted, with their parents fully supporting him.

Chen Mo sympathized and comforted them, "Your Brother Yan got into university through competitions and only went abroad later. He has participated in countless training camps and competitions, so he has experience. It's not that scary."

Someone immediately asked, "So, Brother Mo, did you also get into Q University through competitions?"

"No," Chen Mo hesitated, feeling a bit guilty, "I took the college entrance exam. Back in high school, I wasn’t ambitious, and competitions were too intense and exhausting for me."

"See, see, training camps really aren't for humans."

"Can we skip it?"

"You should tell your dad yourself. This winter camp was initiated by the Xi family, and Brother Yan approved it. Do you dare not go?"

"Look at Brother Mo, he followed the regular path and still turned out so impressive."

"But with Brother Yan's IQ, wouldn't he think that anyone who can't handle competition training must have underdeveloped brains?"

Chen Mo found this amusing.

Interrupting, he said, "That's going too far. He won't assume everyone should follow his path just because he did."

At least during high school, Chen Mo remembered that his math teacher had repeatedly asked if he wanted to pursue competitions. After Chen Mo refused, Xi Siyan never pressured him. He wasn’t the type to impose his own ideas on others.

Chen Mo's current resume sounded impressive.

But he wasn’t wrong; he was a hard worker.

High school was a special period, but even before the college entrance exam, he spent countless nights studying. However, the reasons were different from his previous life; it was because he had his own goals, not to prove anything to anyone.

Later, it was even more so.

University, starting a company, lab work—all consumed most of his time.

The excellent senior rumored among Q University freshmen, the newcomer genius in intelligent technology, the leader seen by subordinates as capable of everything—these achievements came from relentless effort day and night.

He allowed himself to slack off only during high school.

And during that time, Xi Siyan managed to pinpoint him in the crowd, giving him a tutoring opportunity that gradually set Chen Mo on the right path.

In fact, after his grandfather's funeral, Chen Mo asked him a question, "Do you think the 'you' you see is really you?"

Xi Siyan gave a negative answer.

He said, "I might only see 'him' as his lingering regrets and unwillingness. I prefer to believe that my love for you isn't fate but something I was destined to do."

Even if it was a new Xi Siyan who didn’t remember past regrets and missed opportunities.

But meeting Chen Mo, noticing him, caring for him, and being unable to let him go were all part of this life's Xi Siyan.

He didn’t regret the past Xi Siyan, as that was his deserved punishment.

He only felt heartache for Chen Mo's memories.

Because of those memories, he carried too much and walked alone.

At this moment, Xi Siyan was still sitting in the dining room.

The family banquet was nearing its end, and the old patriarch had already left to rest.

The table was cluttered with empty plates and glasses, with only a few people still chatting. Xi Jianxing, sitting next to Xi Siyan, glanced outside to the courtyard and said, "The old man actually likes him a lot."

"There's nothing strange about liking him," Xi Siyan said, having drunk quite a bit but showing no signs of intoxication. He looked outside and added, "There are many people who like him."

"You’re really something," Xi Jianxing couldn’t help but say, "I didn’t realize you were a love-struck fool."

Xi Siyan leaned against the chair and tugged at the button on his collar.

Ignoring Xi Jianxing, who had always loved to tease him since they were young, he frowned and said, "What's going on with those guys outside? They've been pestering him for ages. I'll go take a look."

Halfway through getting up, he was pulled back down by Xi Jianxing.

Xi Jianxing sighed, "You need to stop this. They've always been afraid of you. Why scare them now?"

He patted Xi Siyan's shoulder and continued, "Don't watch him so closely. It makes you look like a drunk, clingy leech. Also, you've been spreading your net too wide lately to catch Ren Xiansen. You should tone it down."

Xi Jianxing added, "A few years ago, when he almost made you stumble overseas, you didn't go all out against him. What's different now? I've noticed that you've been acting more like when you first went abroad—too ruthless."

Xi Siyan did not respond.

The grudge between him and Ren Xiansen needed no further explanation. After all, Ren Xiansen had lost his power, and everyone thought there was no need to go to such lengths for someone like him.

But Xi Siyan had only one reason: in everything he saw, Ren Xiansen was somehow connected to Chen Mo's death.

The boss of Yang's rival company, the mastermind behind UA, had always harbored ambitions for the domestic market. Chen Mo, as the vice president of Yang's, seemed to have lost to Yang Zhi in the equity battle, but he still held significant power within the company.

Everything appeared different, but upon closer inspection, some people's roles remained the same in this life.

Xi Siyan could not let such a threat remain in the city.

Not even if there was a one-in-a-million chance.

Xi Jianxing, seeing no response, frowned, "If it comes to it, hand this matter over to me."

Xi Jianxing was not making an idle offer.

Five years ago, he nearly died overseas and handed all his business affairs to his nephew, Xi Siyan.

Both within the family and outside, many believed he was just a spare in the education sector. Few knew that he handled many of the family's edge-of-the-line matters, especially in recent years. After a setback, he seemed increasingly low-profile, yet his methods grew darker.

Xi Siyan did not agree, "Han Qian will figure something out."

At the mention of this name, Xi Jianxing briefly showed a look of annoyance before quickly composing himself, reminding, "He did grow up in the Xi family, and these past few years, he's learned from you like a cunning fox. He might not handle this as efficiently as I would."

Xi Siyan raised an eyebrow and looked at him, "Do you have a problem with him?"

"No," Xi Jianxing answered too quickly, revealing his attempt to cover up.

Xi Siyan did not press further.

He had no time for it.

Because Chen Mo finally emerged from the courtyard and walked in.

Ever since the fire at the Rhine Ark house, he had been gradually restocking his daily necessities. Xi Siyan's villa, where he had just moved in, was involved in a series of car accidents, so they relocated to the old Xi family residence.

Thus, Chen Mo was wearing Xi Siyan's clothes.

Not current ones, but a custom-made black embroidered casual shirt from high school that Xi Siyan never wore because it didn't suit his taste.

Simple bamboo leaf patterns adorned the left shoulder and right arm, loosely tucked into his pants.

This outfit gave Chen Mo an air of a wealthy young master, quite different from his usual demeanor.

As he approached,

Xi Siyan pulled him close before he could get close.

Chen Mo raised an eyebrow and looked down, "Drunk? Your injuries are just starting to heal; weren't you supposed to drink less?"

"No," Xi Siyan caressed his hand and pulled him to sit beside him.

Xi Jianxing turned to look and firmly said, "That little bit of alcohol won't make him drunk. Speaking of which, I've always felt guilty about what happened five years ago."

Chen Mo smiled, "We did keep in touch over the years, just not much."

"Still, I feel bad," Xi Jianxing, flushed from the alcohol, twirled a ring on his thumb and nodded toward Xi Siyan, saying to Chen Mo, "You don't know how my nephew lived overseas, cutting off all emotions. Don't be fooled by his current appearance. Once, he got drunk and couldn't find his phone. He mobilized the entire Xi family network overseas, thinking there were important secrets in it. Turns out, he was worried about losing your chat records and photos."

Xi Jianxing seemed both speechless and shocked, unable to hide his amazement even after so long.

Chen Mo looked at Xi Siyan.

Xi Siyan did not deny it. He still held Chen Mo's hand, occasionally squeezing it.

On their way back,

Chen Mo asked, "Was what Uncle said true?"

"Mostly."

"Can I see the phone?"

Chen Mo soon got the black metal phone, and on the screen was a photo of him sleeping in class during high school.

Chen Mo looked down and called out, "Xi Siyan."

"What is it?" He stopped and turned to look, having been leading Chen Mo.

Chen Mo looked up at him, "Should we change it?"

"Hmm?"

Click.

The boy who once slept at his desk in the classroom had transformed into a young man whose slim waist could not be concealed by his loose shirt. He straddled the person beneath him, bathed in the soft light of the bedroom, evoking endless imagination.

The sounds in the room were muffled and somewhat unreal.

"Change to another one."

"This one?"

"No, that won't do either. Xi Siyan, honestly, did you ever do anything with my high school photos?"

"What do you think?"

"You're getting back at me, aren't you? For that time in high school when I was taking a shower and video-called you, and I deliberately said I wouldn't do anything while looking at your face."

"You can do whatever you want." Someone always deflected the main point, "I didn't say no back then."