Chapter 51 Chi Luoxi Is No Longer Afraid of Anything

Chapter 51: Chi Luoxi Has No Fear Left

Chi Luoxi’s signature had now become quite refined, smooth and effortless—reportedly designed by someone he paid online.

Yet no matter how well he practiced, it didn’t get much use.

Occasionally, someone would come over wanting a photo, mostly attracted by Chi Luoxi’s strikingly handsome face, complimenting him with “You look great on camera, handsome guy, such good vibes,” without ever mentioning his name, let alone asking for an autograph.

Chi Luoxi felt both disappointed and puzzled.

He asked He Angxiao worriedly, “Honey, do you think I look different from when I was studying for the exam? Back then I had such heavy dark circles.”

He Angxiao cleared his throat. “Well, maybe. But don’t put too much pressure on yourself. You know, Su Mu also said not all of his projects become hits.”

At first, every time they went out to eat, Chi Luoxi would deliberately dress up and pose.

Before, he didn’t understand fashion or dressing up; he went entirely by He Angxiao’s preferences. He Angxiao liked him dressed neatly and innocently, so he let himself be styled in soft clothes, simple jeans, and at most a baseball cap, exuding a harmless, clean vibe.

Later, Chi Luoxi gradually developed his own opinions and started secretly paying attention to shiny, colorful little things—no advanced aesthetic theory, just relying on intuition. If he thought something looked good, he’d wear it.

Thus, silk scarves began fluttering around his neck, printed with sunflowers or ink washes. His hands became even more adorned: every time he went out, he’d wear at least three rings on his ten fingers—some vintage silver, some stacked with tiny colored gems—surprisingly not cluttered, but instead highlighting his fair, slender fingers with well-defined knuckles.

Chi Luoxi already had his ears pierced, so he bought many beautiful earrings—tiny diamonds, colorful enamel—glittering on his earlobes.

His face was stunning: bright eyes, a straight nose, naturally rosy lips. This foundation could support any ornate or playful decoration. Those flashy accessories piled on Chi Luoxi didn’t look tacky at all; instead, they created an oddly trendy clash, exuding a stylish and fashionable charm somewhere between a teenager and a young adult.

He Angxiao didn’t stop him at all, because Chi Luoxi like this looked even gayer.

When someone did come over for a photo, it was mostly attracted by his face and this unconventional, eclectic fashion sense—assuming Chi Luoxi was a celebrity or internet influencer.

He Angxiao usually stood nearby, wearing a sharply tailored black coat, black shirt, black trousers, and shiny black leather shoes, expressionless, hands in pockets, tall and upright, looking a bit like Chi Luoxi’s personal bodyguard, frowning as he watched Chi Luoxi pose for photos.

His stark contrast with Chi Luoxi’s flamboyant style made people too intimidated to approach.

He Angxiao said Chi Luoxi had such an autograph addiction, so he took out a few sheets of paper for him to sign. Chi Luoxi waved his hand grandly and signed about halfway through before realizing they were documents for custody transfer and some share transfer.

Chi Luoxi asked what these were. He Angxiao said helplessly, “You signed first and then asked me. Chi Luoxi, you can’t live without me in this life.”

Chi Luoxi asked Lawyer Hao, and Hao Fan told him, “It’s no different from a marriage certificate.”

Over the past year and a half, Chi Luoxi’s hard work had truly impressed He Angxiao.

It wasn’t just talk—it was real grit.

Sometimes He Angxiao worked late and would see the light still on in Chi Luoxi’s study, Chi Luoxi hunched over his desk, frowning at test papers, or repeatedly pausing and replaying online lessons on his tablet.

Sometimes He Angxiao couldn't stand watching Chi Luoxi work so hard.

He even wanted to persuade Chi Luoxi to stop studying—our family doesn't need that bit of reputation you'd earn; put the books away, get some sleep, hubby will support you for life.

But this time, Chi Luoxi was really persistent, determined to uphold the radish spirit.

He wasn’t just doing it for himself, but to set an example for others.

He Angxiao looked at him with a complicated expression.

Not yet an idol, but the idol baggage was already heavy.

How can this be allowed?

Once, Chi Luoxi was sick with a fever, dizzy, lying in bed but still sporadically reviewing his practice problems.

He Angxiao took his temperature while worrying: What now? Has the kid caught study addiction? This is even harder to quit than gaming addiction.

But effort always pays off.

Chi Luoxi had indeed brought honor to his ancestors and surprised everyone.

The news spread back to Chi’s Village, making the whole family happy.

Even Teacher Hua Ai was stunned speechless for a long time, exclaiming that He Angxiao must have pulled some strings—unbelievable.

Before the exam, He Angxiao, like all nervous parents, went to a temple to pray for a good luck charm.

At the time, next to them was a mother and son.

The mother looked at He Angxiao and Chi Luoxi and said, “The older brother bringing his younger brother to pray—how thoughtful and close, that’s great.”

He Angxiao was speechless.

Hearing that remark and looking at Chi Luoxi praying devoutly beside him, did he really look that much like a parent? Was the age gap really that obvious?

That day, He Angxiao’s age anxiety, triggered by the remark, crept up on him uncontrollably. That night, he busied himself with sheet masks and skincare routine, then did push-ups to exercise, keeping himself busy.

Chi Luoxi watched him fuss and quietly comforted, “Honey, I like older men.”

He Angxiao: “Really?”

Chi Luoxi: “Really.”

After worshiping, Chi Luoxi had a bizarre dream.

In the dream, in the distant future, people had enshrined an adorable, chubby white radish statue with green leaves.

Incense smoke curled, and believers knelt devoutly, murmuring, “Pray to the Radish God for exam success, may we pass every exam…”

When he woke up, Chi Luoxi himself found it funny and told He Angxiao about the dream.

He Angxiao nodded: “Later, I’ll have a radish statue erected for you, so they won’t worship the God of Literature anymore—they’ll worship you.”

Chi Luoxi said, “No, I can’t bless people, and if I receive incense offerings, will I become an immortal? I don’t want to be separated from you.”

That delighted He Angxiao, who kissed Chi Luoxi and kept saying how cute he was.

After Chi Luoxi passed the exam and got in, they returned to Wushan to report the good news to Grandpa Chi.

The changes in Chi’s Village were already earth-shaking.

The once barren back mountain now had tea terraces beginning to flourish—from a few sparse terraced fields to lush green hills as far as the eye could see, the tea plants had grown as high as Chi Luoxi’s calf.

To diversify the industry, they also planted some precious medicinal herbs, which, with careful tending, turned out to be of premium quality. The first batch of harvested herbs had already been shipped to merchants from other regions, bringing in real cash.

The lives of Chi’s Village people were clearly prospering.

Brother Chunsheng shuttled between the tea mountain and the village every day, busy as a bee, but with a genuine smile on his face.

Being close to home, after a day's work, he could enjoy the delicious meals Aunt Chun prepared with her varied cooking, and he could see his father, who was bedridden but could see his son every day, sharing a few heartfelt words.

This life was filled with tangible hope—a luxury he never dared to dream of when he was working away from home.

This time, Chi Luoxi returned as one of the few college graduates in Chi Family Village’s history, an achievement that truly honored his ancestors.

Mathematics became Chi Luoxi’s strongest subject, thanks to the meticulous guidance of Teacher Hua Ai.

Only English remained mediocre after several teacher changes, and in the end, he just let it be.

For his university major, Chi Luoxi chose a mathematics education program at a local institution in Jiangzhou.

Chi Luoxi wanted to become a teacher, just like Hua Ai, passing on what he had learned to more people.

This was a seed Hua Ai had planted in his heart, and now it had sprouted.

Yet, without fame, Chi Luoxi still felt a trace of disappointment.

He even searched for himself online, but found nothing.

Wasn’t his story inspiring at all? Chi Luoxi was crushed. After thinking it over, he couldn’t blame himself, so he could only pin it on He Angxiao.

When they went out to eat, He Angxiao took him to extremely expensive, private, and high-end niche restaurants where he hardly ever ran into passersby who could recognize his face.

Occasionally, one or two would just compliment him on his good looks, and no one knew his inspiring story.

Summing it up, Chi Luoxi slightly resented He Angxiao for picking dining spots that were too exclusive and pretentious, so no one knew him or asked for his autograph.

But little did Chi Luoxi know that the precious footage Su Mu’s team had shot of him was already treasured by He Angxiao.

He Angxiao couldn’t bear to share even a glimpse publicly, let alone edit it into a documentary.

He completely didn’t want anyone else to see it.

Chi Luoxi’s face alone would spark discussion, not to mention anything else.

Facing Chi Luoxi’s little disappointment and complaints about not being recognized, He Angxiao just crossed his arms and said seriously, “Chi Luoxi, there are way too many inspiring people now. Do you know how fierce the competition is for Touching China and the Top Ten Outstanding Youth every year? Your story, if released, is actually just okay.”

Chi Luoxi listened, thought about the fierce competition He Angxiao mentioned, and whispered, “…Okay.”

Although there was still a slight regret, thinking it over, he realized that after taking the exams, he learned that the world was swarming with talented people, and as a student from a second-tier university, he wasn’t anything special.

So Chi Luoxi completely put it out of his mind and happily looked at his admission letter.

He Angxiao, in a parental tone, said to Chi Luoxi, who was lying on the sofa flipping through the admission letter, “Don’t run around during the summer break. Make sure to get your driver’s license.”

Chi Luoxi, immersed in the joy of being a college student and his future dreams, looked up and said, “But I still want to visit Teacher Hua? He said last time that when he’s settled there, I could come play…”

He Angxiao immediately became alert: “Where to?”

Hua Ai, to escape that relentless Tu Yingrui, had moved away from his old place and now lived in a humid tropical city, leading a very low-key and simple life.

He Angxiao: “You, a Radish Spirit, have a special constitution and can’t adapt to that kind of muggy environment. And what if that lunatic Tu Yingrui follows your trail and finds Hua Ai?”

Hearing this, Chi Luoxi instantly pictured Hua Ai being harassed by Tu Yingrui without peace, and his excitement about visiting was doused with guilt and worry.

Yeah, if Tu Yingrui actually discovered Hua Ai’s hiding place, wouldn’t he be the one to blame?

“…Oh, then I won’t go. I’ll learn to drive.”

Since he couldn’t visit Teacher Hua and had nowhere else to go, learning to drive seemed like the only proper thing to do for the summer.

Chi Luoxi got up early every day, full of energy, giving off the impression of carrying a little sun with him—positive, bright, dazzling.

Almost everyone who met Chi Luoxi praised him for being optimistic and cheerful.

Because all of Chi Luoxi’s moments of collapse, frustration, and wanting to give up were only shown to He Angxiao.

When he was crushed and doubted himself, he would tear up, throw himself into He Angxiao’s arms, and silently cry on his shoulder.

And in those times, He Angxiao would always hold his face, comfort him with unprecedented tenderness and patience, affirm him, and piece his shattered self-confidence back together little by little.

Now, everyone in He Angxiao’s company knew the young boss’s partner.

During Chi Luoxi’s exam preparation days, He Angxiao often brought him to the office, and while he held high-level meetings, he’d settle Chi Luoxi in the adjacent small conference room or break room.

So the scene often played out like this: The boss would be in the next room, making decisive calls with a cold, sharp demeanor toward his top executives, while through the crack of the door, the young partner could be seen buried in test papers with a focused profile.

After the meeting, He Angxiao’s first move was to wander over to the next room and peek at Chi Luoxi’s progress.

He even checked in several times mid-meeting.

For the first time, the company employees witnessed the legendary way Boss He praised others.

—Great job! So much better than last time!

The tone was filled with satisfaction and that doting, indulgent tone of praise. Such level of affirmation made the long-time employees who had worked under He Angxiao for years break out in goosebumps.

The employees all thought, Boss, you never said such things to us.

Soon, their new home was also fully decorated.

He Angxiao had designed it entirely to the standard of a newlywed house, from the design to the materials, personally overseeing every detail. It was warm and textured, blending modern simplicity with elements Chi Luoxi liked.

To celebrate the housewarming, they invited a few close friends to bring warmth to the new place. Jiang Ran and Su Mu were naturally among them.

Chi Luoxi looked at the brand-new, spacious house, its size making him a bit dizzy, and couldn’t help murmuring, “Honey, isn’t the house a bit too big?”

He was still more accustomed to the compact coziness of a small place.

And Chi Luoxi had no friends to invite. The only true, trusted friend he could confide in, Hua Ai, was far away in the tropics, not here.

He Angxiao’s way of celebrating the move was rather mischievous. He took Chi Luoxi and celebrated in various spots around the new house.

From in front of the living room’s floor-to-ceiling windows, to the sunroom recliner, to the automatic bathtub… Chi Luoxi was worn out, his back aching and legs weak. He Angxiao had been holding back during the exam prep, but recently, he was just outrageous.

Chi Luoxi felt that He Angxiao didn’t really want to live in such a big house either; he just wanted a new place to do it.

But under He Angxiao’s devilish teaching, Chi Luoxi finally learned to swim. His technique wasn’t perfect, but at least he wasn’t afraid of the water anymore and could manage to breathe while splashing around.

However, the teacher who taught him had rather low morals. He Angxiao got into the pool as a coach, but took advantage of “correcting his form” to get handsy, practically rubbing Chi Luoxi raw.

Chi Luoxi suspected this was not learning to swim but harassment of a student, and he thought this teacher should be fired from the teaching staff.

After passing the written test for the driver’s license, it was time for the practical driving.

Chi Luoxi was a newbie who was overconfident. After only a few turns of the steering wheel, he wanted to take on high-difficulty challenges.

He Angxiao tossed his keys to Chi Luoxi, letting him get a feel for the car first in their spacious underground garage.

Most of He Angxiao's cars were business-oriented, but occasionally a couple were large-chassis off-road vehicles that looked very cool to drive. Chi Luoxi had long coveted them.

Chi Luoxi sat in the driver's seat, strictly following the coach's instructions on reference points and his instructor's mantra of "slow and steady," as the car moved like a crawling snail, as if the wheels weren't on concrete.

He Angxiao, arms crossed, watched Chi Luoxi treading as if on thin ice, his feet shaking uncontrollably, almost as if he wanted to carry the car. He couldn't help but laugh. "...Chi Luoxi, are you afraid of squashing ants?"

Chi Luoxi shot He Angxiao a glare, his face tense. "Honey, you don't understand. That's how the instructor taught me—must be steady and slow, that way I won't crash!"

He had firmly remembered the coach's teachings, applying the rule "better safe than sorry" to the letter.

But instead of being bold from skill, he was just plain timid.

Chi Luoxi's personality—a total noob who was obsessed but also a scaredy-cat—finally made He Angxiao unable to resist stepping in. He opened the passenger door, got in the passenger seat, reached over to hold Chi Luoxi's hand on the steering wheel, guiding him to loosen his grip, and patted his leg. "Don't be so stiff. Look at the rearview mirror; turn with confidence. This garage is wide enough. Do you think you're walking a tightrope?"

Under He Angxiao's coaxing and firm guidance and personal demonstration, Chi Luoxi finally overcame his initial fear and gradually became bolder.

Though there were inevitably many scratches along the way.

Then when Chi Luoxi went back to driving school, the coach—an older man holding a teacup—asked in confusion, "How did you suddenly become so bold?"

And his driving had become reckless, completely different from what he had taught.

Chi Luoxi really didn't want to say that this was the result of He Angxiao giving him extra coaching. He Angxiao had taken him to try all his cars and promised to customize a "Little Radish" sports car for him once he learned.

Moreover, last night Chi Luoxi had scratched He Angxiao's million-dollar luxury car many times. Each time, He Angxiao would whisper the maintenance and repair costs in his ear.

Under this financial pressure and his fear of damaging the car, Chi Luoxi stubbornly learned.

Now Chi Luoxi is fearless!

-----------------------

Author's note: I've already thought of another side story where Little Radish becomes a perfect idol. He doesn't want to get married, making President He wait until he's an old man.