Chapter 52: Zhang Qiren, The Illegitimate Son

Living room.

The two brothers sat facing each other across the coffee table.

Chu Ge had already put away the durians rolling on his stomach and back, but the ones on his head and shoulders were still there. He was sitting with his hands in his pockets, looking constipated.

Zhang Qiren looked left and right, tutting.

He was familiar with the utensils here, so he decided to make the tea himself since Chu Ge looked uncomfortable, almost like he didn’t know what to do. After all, it had only been less than a month since he left. For most people, this is what they do when they come home after being away for a while.

Qiu Wuji directly retreated into the room and didn’t show herself. She didn’t have the mind to deal with mortals, especially since this one was likely to say, “Hello, sister-in-law” at the first opportunity, which she didn’t want to hear.

Although she knew this mortal was a little interesting, he seemed to have become the focal point of various stories recently. If he didn’t come, Chu Ge would probably try to find him.

Outside, Zhang Qiren said, “Uh, Chu Ge, your home styling is quite creative…”

“It’s the trendy style this year, you wouldn’t know,” Chu Ge replied. “Oh, by the way, the key, could you leave it here…”

“Of course, my sister-in-law could use it…” Zhang Qiren said.

Of course, he had to say it!

Who is your sister-in-law?

What’s even more annoying is that Chu Ge didn’t refute it and just accepted it: “Yeah, she just said she wanted a spare key a few days ago, but I was busy and forgot…”

Hmph! Qiu Wuji angrily opened her computer and started watching videos.

The two guys outside fell into a brief silence, and the only sound was Zhang Qiren pouring tea.

Then Chu Ge spoke up: “Can you still drink this ten-dollar tea in a big package now?”

Zhang Qiren didn’t even lift his head.

“So, how did you manage to survive the past six months when you came to share the apartment? That was truly going from luxury to frugality, right?” Chu Ge breathed in painfully, “Strange, I didn’t think you were a rich guy at the time? You acted pretty well.”

“Because I wasn’t a rich guy to begin with.” Zhang Qiren finished pouring the tea, gave Chu Ge a cup and smiled, “I really did deliver food and write, you know. I’m not some second-generation inheritor of a family fortune, well…I guess I am, but I’m an illegitimate child and can’t enter the family line.”

Chu Ge was stunned: “Is that still a thing these days?”

“It’s quite common. I’m a product of an affair, and the legitimate wife is quite domineering, so naturally, it’s like this.”

“…”

Zhang Qiren smiled, “But that legitimate son, my brother… he’s a bit useless and has disappointed my dad. Two years ago, when I graduated from college, my dad wanted me to take on some responsibilities, but I refused.”

“Because you wanted to rely on yourself?”

“Not that noble. Who wouldn’t want money and power? Even if it’s for my mom, I still want to take over that family.” Zhang Qiren said calmly, “The reason why I refused is because it’s disgusting to have double standards… You see, my useless brother’s name can’t be found even by searching for it like a dog when he’s managing a crappy nightclub, but when it’s my turn, I have to be the legal representative, deal with all kinds of people openly, and they call it ‘refining character’.”

Chu Ge fell silent.

Zhang Qiren shrugged, “I didn’t expect Lin Wuyang to be your classmate. He investigated me and must know that we lived together. He’ll probably tell you something… So, I won’t hide it from you. That nightclub isn’t that clean. At least there are still young models in the club.”

Chu Ge laughed, “So, when you said if you fail, you’ll just be model, did you mean you’ll be the boss of young models?”

Zhang Qiren also laughed, “That’s exactly right.”

After a pause, he added, “Anyway, since it’s not clean, I don’t know if they are really trying to train me, or they think my identity is perfect to take the blame – once something happens, you see, they throw their son out for others to catch, and that’s the end of it!”

Chu Ge said, “It can’t be that ruthless between father and son, right…”

“Who knows? Maybe it’s just for show to impress the tigress at home, or maybe it’s just my conspiracy theory and I’m really just being trained. Anyway, I can’t guess the various reasons and I don’t want to. Even if I want money, I don’t want to be a scapegoat, right?”

Chu Ge nodded in agreement, “Right, we can rely on ourselves and work hard.”

Zhang Qiren slapped his thigh, “I think the same way. I like writing books and writing books happens to be a rare profession that doesn’t require any cost but has the potential to skyrocket. Maybe even if they don’t recognize me even if I reach the top, it’s enough for me.”

Chu Ge said, “It’s tough. If I knew you back then, I might have advised you not to think that way.”

Zhang Qiren laughed, “Ha… Every newcomer is full of confidence and thinks they can conquer the gods and achieve enlightenment. Even if you advised me back then, I probably wouldn’t have listened. Although now I know that writing books is really a dead end.”

Chu Ge also shook his head and laughed.

Zhang Qiren said, “Do you know, Chu Ge, when I first started writing books, I was a complete newbie and knew nothing. I wrote tens of thousands of words, but only one reader voted for me every day. At that time, I was encouraged by that one reader and thought, even if it’s just for this one reader, I have to write the book well.”

Chu Ge said, “I had the same idea when I first started writing. Don’t tell me that reader was actually a voting bot…”

“It wasn’t a bot…” Zhang Qiren’s eyes showed a touch of tenderness, “Later, my mom and I were talking about writing books, and she accidentally let it slip that this one and only reader… was my mom.”

Chu Ge: “…”

Qiu Wuji in the room had also put down the mouse and was listening quietly.

“I thought at the time that I would definitely achieve something in this profession, I definitely would.” Zhang Qiren sighed, “Six months ago, my brother instigated a few people to bully me, but I awakened my ability and beat them all up. Now they all hang out with me… don’t look at me like that, I know you understand about abilities.”

Chu Ge didn’t say anything and continued to listen to him.

“After that ability awakening, my dad wanted me to take on some responsibilities. I wasn’t happy about it and we had a big fight. I moved out and you know the rest,” Zhang Qiren’s expression became somewhat strange. “It’s weird that I never realized that you also have an ability. By rights, I should have felt something…”

Chu Ge said, “So, in the end, it was your family who reported you?”

Zhang Qiren shook his head slightly. “No, it wasn’t them. They wouldn’t and didn’t need to resort to such means – it’s too low. My dad’s intention was also to make me experience how hard it is to make money and do things, instead of making me realize that he was setting me up. That would only result in even stronger resistance. The report that time should have been made by real villains.”

Chu Ge sighed, “So you finally took on the ‘dirty’ things in your own eyes, even if it means being a scapegoat.”

“We had an agreement… of course, I’m awake now.” Zhang Qiren’s smile slowly disappeared, and his face showed a hint of coldness typically seen in the underworld: “If you don’t harm others, others will harm you. Thinking that you can do your own thing honestly is naive.”

Chu Ge pursed his lips, not knowing how to refute such a blackened reason that seemed like common sense.

Unless one has personally experienced suffering, one cannot persuade others to be good. Zhang Qiren was the one who understood his despair and pain at that time the most clearly.

Suddenly, Zhang Qiren smiled again: “But Chu Ge, the writing style behind you is very much like mine. I’m happy about it. Well, of course, it’s mainly your own ability. I can’t achieve that sharpness of yours. However, it also incorporates a part of me, doesn’t it? Watching you slowly succeed is like affirming that part of me as well.”

Chu Ge said earnestly, “You should have been affirmed from the beginning.”

Zhang Qiren happily raised his teacup and clinked it with Chu Ge’s, using tea instead of alcohol: “Go for it, Chu Ge. I feel like you’re about to become a big shot. Thinking that I have a part in that makes me happy.”

Chu Ge looked into his eyes and felt a strong sense of disconnection between Zhang Qiren’s childlike heart and the boss of the Miracle Nightclub. He couldn’t even tell how much of Zhang Qiren’s behavior was acting.

But he was still willing to believe in Zhang Qiren’s smile at this moment and drank his tea in one gulp. “Thanks, brother. I finally know who helped me attract traffic when I just started my transformation.”

Zhang Qiren laughed heartily, “It’s just a few views. It’s not worth mentioning. The key is the big push that comes later.”

“Intentions are the most important.” Chu Ge smiled. “Are you the one who interfered with the website, even to the point of getting me promoted?”

“Hey, do you really think I’m some kind of big boss? Where do I get that kind of influence?” Zhang Qiren laughed dumbfoundedly. “Although I know that in your eyes, I’m a boss because you know that the Miracle Nightclub has more than just young models. A few days ago, you took someone away in the elevator, and this boss saw it, but I didn’t chase after you.”

Chu Ge’s pupils shrank slightly. No wonder no one chased after him at the time.

In fact, this should be the main topic for today.

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