Chapter 55

Chapter 55

"055"

Back at the neighborhood, Xiao Lancui had to head back to the Xiao family home too.

He'd received the materials from the private investigator. He'd been right—in the gaps left in the original text, Xiao Jingli hadn't exactly been lying low.

The guy was the twelfth "canary" Xiao Jingli had kept. He wasn't the eight-out-of-ten ringer for Xiao Anfeng that the original stand-in Sun Xiao had been, but he was close—maybe five out of ten.

He was a quick stand-in Xiao Jingli had scrambled to find after walking in on Xiao Anfeng and Lu Siye hooking up. The man's name was Cheng Peng, also twenty-one this year, and still a student at a film academy.

The night Xiao Jingli set his sights on him, he hit Cheng Peng with the same RUSH. Maybe because Cheng Peng was a drama student, his performance as "Xiao Anfeng" really did it for Xiao Jingli. The next day, Xiao Jingli handed him a luxury apartment, and the day after that, got him the second male lead in a big-budget film.

Cheng Peng had snuck into the hospital room two nights ago because he was so hyped about the role that he'd gone to Xiao Jingli on his own for a hookup.

The PI had also sent a Weibo link.

Xiao Lancui clicked it. The handle was "C-PengPengPengPeng."

Cheng Peng's Weibo.

The second Xiao Jingli picked him, Cheng Peng posted: "Yay! Here we go!"

The photo showed a Bentley that had come to pick him up.

Since then, Cheng Peng had been posting nonstop—flaunting cars, the apartment, and every luxury item he'd gone on shopping sprees for.

Ever since meeting Xiao Jingli, every post was guaranteed to include stuff like "Thanks, Daddy" and "Love you, Daddy."

Obviously, "Daddy" meant Xiao Jingli.

Xiao Lancui felt queasy. He unwrapped a bergamot throat lozenge and popped it in his mouth. Clearly, Xiao Jingli was making Cheng Peng call him "Daddy" in bed.

One wasn't enough. He unwrapped another and popped it in as he switched shoes by the door. "I've got stuff to handle. I won't be back for at least a week. Don't just sit around the house—I transferred a hundred grand to you. Go out and do something."

The second he finished speaking, a tall figure came at him like a big bird diving for cover, wrapping him in a tight hug. "Bro, come back soon. I'll miss you."

The guy's hot breath hit Xiao Lancui's cheek, and Xiao Lancui couldn't help but think of that obvious red mark on the left side of his neck, right near his Adam's apple.

He'd found it that morning while washing up.

Last night had been a mess, and he had no clue when Lu Ao had bitten his neck.

Little dog... it was normal for him to nip every now and then.

It wasn't until he'd read the original text that Xiao Lancui realized this kind of mark was suggestive—it even had a nickname: "planting a strawberry." To avoid any misunderstandings, he'd come back and switched into a turtleneck first.

Xiao Lancui left. Lu Ao, as always, stood by the window watching him go, and only once he was completely out of sight did he pull out his phone and make a call.

Half an hour later, a discreet Hongqi sedan pulled up outside.

Lu Ao headed out and got in. The driver was all business, silent the whole way, and quickly got him to a golf course.

The golf course was a Lu Group property, closed to the public—only Lu family friends and business associates ever came here.

Today, Lu Qing was the only one there, swinging his club by himself.

When Lu Ao showed up, Lu Qing stopped mid-swing and turned, thick brows knit over furious eyes. "Sneaking off from home, and now you've picked up all kinds of trashy habits out there. Who said you could touch your face? You've wrecked it—where's the dignity of a Lu family heir?!"

Lu Ao found Lu Qing's face absolutely disgusting. Of all the faces in the world, he had to have the exact same one as that dead old man.

That face, in its last moments, had been pathetic—tears and snot running down as he begged Lu Ao, desperate to live.

"I'll step down. I'll sign the decree right now to make you heir. Please, Ao'er, spare your father..."

"I came for two things today," Lu Ao said flatly. "First, that land you've got south of the city. I want it."

Lu Qing frowned. "You—"

"Second," Lu Ao cut him off. "Keep your people in check—men, women, whoever. If any of them so much as bother Xiao Lancui again..."

He let out a cold laugh. "That fire you started won't stay buried for long."

Lu Qing didn't get the first part, but the second made cold sweat pour down his back. He clutched his golf club, staring at Lu Ao in horror.

He knew!

The fire on Lu Ao's eighteenth birthday—Lu Qing had arranged it.

Lu Qing's face gave it all away. Compared to that old man, he had zero composure. Lu Ao didn't even need to lift a finger.

"Not killing me that time was your mistake," Lu Ao said, his voice dropping. "You won't get another chance. Stop wasting my time with your little games. You're good at making money—stick to that, and you'll keep your life."

Lu Ao—the original Lu Ao—had his fifteen percent stake in the Lu Group activated when he turned eighteen, making him the biggest shareholder. That was exactly why he was supposed to die in that fire.

Lu Qing stared at Lu Ao, speechless. The club he'd been gripping suddenly ended up in Lu Ao's hands.

Lu Ao raised the club—it was exactly the length of the gap between them—and the head pressed right against Lu Qing's Adam's apple. He said coldly, "Fail, and next time it won't be here."

With that, he tossed the club aside and turned to leave. "The land, plus the dividends that should've been paid into my account last year—get both done within a week. I don't have time to come back, and I doubt you want to see me again."

Lu Ao walked off. Lu Qing's legs gave out, and he nearly crumpled. He dropped into a chair, struggling to breathe. He opened his hands—both were soaked in cold sweat.

When that club head had been at his throat, he had zero doubt that if he'd said one word of protest, Lu Ao would've jammed it straight through his neck.

Lu Ao was insane. A genuine psycho!

Lu Qing pounded the table a few times, knocking the red wine off onto the floor, before he could finally think about the land Lu Ao had mentioned.

It took Lu Qing a second to remember. He'd bought that plot over a decade ago—more than three hundred mu. Its value had gone up over a hundred times since. He'd never touched it, planning to hand it to Lu Siye someday to build a wedding house.

And "men and women"—that meant Lu Siye and Han Xinyi.

As for Xiao... who? Lu Qing racked his brain. Nothing.

Just then, his phone rang. It was the assistant.

"Chairman Lu..." The assistant hesitated. "The driver took the young master back to the city. He told me to let you know he's borrowing your car today."

He didn't dare repeat Lu Ao's actual words.

That was the gist, anyway—the tone had been way less polite.

Lu Qing threw his phone. "Lu Ao!"

A discreet car pulled up outside the government services building. Lu Ao walked in slowly. He'd looked up how to get a replacement ID online on the way, took a photo, and quickly submitted his application.

Leaving the government services hall, he looked through his options for a while and finally sent the ID photo he was most satisfied with to Xiao Lancui.

"Brother, I got my new ID card!"

When Xiao Lancui got the message, he had just returned to the Xiao family residence.

He came back without notifying anyone, but everyone who was supposed to be there today was there.

The cars of Xie Jingfang, Xiao Liqin, and Xiao Mian were all in the garage. The only one missing was Xiao Jingli.

With such a big chunk bitten out of him, Xiao Jingli wouldn't be discharged from the hospital that soon.

Xiao Lancui entered the house. The ground floor was especially quiet. As he approached the stairs, Yungu came from the kitchen carrying food.

When Yungu saw Xiao Lancui, she hurried over, a smile finally breaking out on her face. "Young Master, you're finally home!"

She had dropped the "Lan" and now just called him "Young Master."

Xiao Lancui smiled slightly. "Where's the lady of the house?"

He didn't call her "Auntie" or "Mom." Yungu sighed to herself and answered plainly, "The missus was discharged yesterday and hasn't left her room since."

Xiao Lancui nodded, lifted the lid of the bowl to peek inside. A fragrant steam wafted up—it was ginseng soup. He put the lid back. "I'll take it to her."

Yungu quickly passed him the tray, hesitated a moment, then said anyway, "Young Master, right now... Young Master An Feng is still kneeling outside the missus's door."

"Got it." Xiao Lancui went upstairs.

His footsteps were as quiet as a cat's, making no sound at all. Maybe it was also because Xiao Anfeng had been kneeling so long his reactions were dulled, and Xiao Liqin was only focused on Xiao Anfeng, so neither of them even noticed Xiao Lancui arrive.

It was Xiao Lancui who spoke first. "Move. I need to get in."

Xiao Anfeng reacted instantly to his voice, whipping his head around to stare at Xiao Lancui. Xiao Anfeng's face was pale, still in his hospital gown, looking unsteady and bloodless—he'd probably been kneeling all night.

Almost immediately, the tightly closed door opened from within.

Xie Jingfang ran out barefoot, her eyes sweeping the hall and locking onto Xiao Lancui. Xiao Mian came out right behind her, and when he saw Xiao Lancui, his eyes lit up as he called out eagerly, "Brother!"

Xie Jingfang hurried around Xiao Anfeng, her eyes glistening. She raised her arms to hug him, but afraid he'd get angry, she didn't dare complete the gesture. Her hands hung awkwardly in the air, almost comically, as she carefully said, "Why didn't you tell us you were coming? Are you hungry? Mom will make you something to eat right now."

Xie Jingfang added hurriedly, "Mom's cooking is decent. I'll make your favorite—tomato and egg beef. Mom learned how!"

Hearing that, Xiao Anfeng's hands clenched the hem of his clothes. His eyes were red and swollen. He dropped his head, and big tears fell into the carpet.

Xiao Liqin noticed right away, his brows knitting tightly. He turned to Xie Jingfang, then glanced at Xiao Lancui, and said in a low voice, "Mom, before you fuss over your other son, look at the son you've forgotten. Anfeng's been kneeling for a whole day and night—I couldn't pull him up no matter what. Only you can talk some sense into him."

Xie Jingfang's smile froze. She was about to turn when Xiao Lancui said calmly, "Who's been forgotten here?"

Xiao Lancui remained perfectly calm. "In this house, besides me, who else has been forgotten for twenty years?"

Silence fell instantly. Tears spilled from Xie Jingfang's eyes. She quickly pulled her hands back to clamp over her mouth, barely holding back a sob.

Xiao Mian stared blankly at Xiao Lancui. "Brother..."

Xiao Liqin was at a loss for words and accidentally bit the sore inside his mouth. The pain twisted his face, and it took him a moment to speak. "One thing at a time. What happened to you—we never thought of that—"

"Oh, really?" Xiao Lancui cut in coolly. "You knew all along, didn't you?"

Xie Jingfang suddenly remembered that. She dropped her hands and spun around to face Xiao Liqin. "You knew your father swapped out your real little brother—why did you keep it a secret!"

Xiao Liqin fell silent, clenching his fists before letting them go. Xiao Anfeng couldn't hold it in anymore and spoke up.

He looked up at Xie Jingfang through tears. "Mom, don't blame me. It's all my fault! I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..." He still wasn't used to saying it. "Lan Chui, I'll take responsibility."

Xiao Liqin's heart ached. "Anfeng!"

Xiao Lancui handed the tray to Xie Jingfang. Without a word, he stepped forward, all eyes on him. The third-floor hallway went quiet again.

Xiao Lancui walked over to Xiao Anfeng, leaned down slightly, and looked at him. "How exactly do you plan to take responsibility?"

Xiao Anfeng was stuck. "Take responsibility" had been a spur-of-the-moment thing—he'd blurted it out without thinking. But he couldn't back down in front of Xiao Lancui!

He could lose to anyone, but never to Xiao Lancui!

Xiao Anfeng swallowed twice and met Xiao Lancui's eyes. "What do you want me to do?"

"Leave." Xiao Lancui's tone was flat. "Get out of the Xiao family right now."

"No!" Xiao Liqin was the first to protest. He stepped in front of Xiao Anfeng, blocking Xiao Lancui. "Anfeng will always be part of this family. He... the blood in his veins is Xiao family blood too. This will always be his home."

He reached back and pressed Xiao Anfeng's trembling shoulder, whispering quickly, "Don't be scared. Big brother's here."

Xiao Lancui didn't hear Xie Jingfang say a word. He nodded slightly. "Fine."

He straightened up and turned to head downstairs.

Xie Jingfang hurriedly stopped him, panicking, "Where are you going?"

"Leaving." Xiao Lancui said. "If he won't go, I will. Sharing a roof with a bastard makes me sick."

Xiao Anfeng's head shot up. Through the gap between Xiao Liqin's arms, he stared blankly at that slender figure walking away.

"Xiao Lancui, sharing a roof with a bastard makes me sick."

Those were the exact words Xiao Anfeng had once thrown at Xiao Lancui, back when he'd wrongly thought Xiao Lancui was the bastard.

Xiao Anfeng suddenly let out a low laugh. "Hah..." He pushed Xiao Liqin aside to get up, but then he heard Xie Jingfang's voice.

"He leaves!" Xie Jingfang was frantic. She forgot she was still holding the tray, tossed it behind her without looking, and grabbed onto Xiao Lancui. "You can't leave. It's Xiao Anfeng who should be the one to go!"

"Anfeng!" Xiao Liqin shouted in alarm at the same time. A piece of the gauze on his lip came loose, but he ignored it and rushed to check Xiao Anfeng's chest.

Xiao Anfeng's chest was soaked. The thin hospital gown clung to his skin. Xiao Liqin ripped open the gown, revealing a large patch of scalded, bright red skin.

The white porcelain bowl and tray had fallen to the floor. The lid rolled in a circle and came to a stop by Xiao Anfeng's foot. The bowl had landed in front of Xiao Anfeng, and the rest of the ginseng soup had soaked into the carpet.

Xiao Anfeng's chest hurt like hell, but it was nothing compared to the ache in his heart.

He watched Xie Jingfang cling to Xiao Lancui and walk away. Xiao Liqin reached for his hand, but he shook it off. As he passed Xie Jingfang, Xiao Anfeng swayed slightly, then suddenly dropped to his knees and kowtowed to her. "Mom, whether you still recognize me or not, in my heart, you'll always be my mother. I'm leaving now. Take care of yourself. Don't hide and cry anymore. I know you're angry right now, and I won't get the chance to make you angry again. So... I'm sorry."

After three kowtows, Xiao Anfeng staggered up and went downstairs.

Xie Jingfang's mouth opened a little, but in the end, she didn't stop him.

Xiao Liqin's glare could have sliced Xiao Lancui to pieces. He cried out in anguish, "Mom!"

He knew only Xie Jingfang could stop Xiao Anfeng now.

Xie Jingfang still said nothing. She was a little shaken, hesitating as she looked up at Xiao Lancui.

Xiao Lancui spoke up then, "He hasn't left yet, you still have a chance to change your mind—"

The next second, Xie Jingfang interrupted him, looking at Xiao Anfeng and saying, "You're still not well, have your brother Liqin walk you out."

Xiao Anfeng said in a low voice, "No need, thank you... for your kindness." He couldn't hold it in anymore and rushed downstairs with his head down.

Xiao Liqin, seeing that Xie Jingfang truly wasn't going to stop him, twisted his hands and quickly went after Xiao Anfeng. Passing by Xiao Lancui, he shot him a warning look: "Don't push it."

Xiao Lancui only lowered his head slightly, placing a hand on Xie Jingfang's shoulder, which had thinned rapidly over these past few days, and asked,

"Mom, I'm craving tomato scrambled eggs with beef right now, can you make it?"