Living Room.
The two brothers sat facing each other across the coffee table.
Chu Ge's belly and back, which had been rolling with durians, were now empty, but his head and shoulders were still weighed down by them. He sat there with his hands in his pockets, looking constipated.
Zhang Qiren looked him over, clicking his tongue in amazement.
He was familiar with the utensils here. Seeing Chu Ge's discomfort, he simply made tea himself, acting almost like a part-time host.
After all, he had only been gone for a short time, less than a month. Most people would be like this when they returned home after a long business trip.
Qiu Wuji simply hid inside, not showing herself. She had no desire to socialize with a mortal, especially since such a mortal would likely greet her with "Hello, sister-in-law," which she didn't want to hear.
Although she knew this mortal was somewhat interesting, seemingly the focal point of all the recent stories. Even if he didn't come, Chu Ge would probably try to find him anyway; her presence made things easier.
Outside, Zhang Qiren said, "Hey, Brother Chu, your home décor is pretty creative, huh..."
"It's the latest trend, you wouldn't understand," Chu Ge replied. "Oh, by the way, leave the key here..."
Zhang Qiren said, "Of course, my sister-in-law can use it..."
I knew it!
Who's your sister-in-law?
What's even more infuriating is that Chu Ge didn't argue, simply acquiescing: "Yeah, she just said she needed a key made a couple of days ago, but she got busy and forgot..."
Pah! Qiu Wuji angrily turned on his computer to watch some movies.
The two outside fell into a brief silence, broken only by the soft sound of Zhang Qiren pouring tea.
This time, Chu Ge spoke first: "You still like drinking these ten-yuan-a-bag teas?"
Zhang Qiren didn't even look up: "I've only had a month of good times, how could I be so precious?"
"So how did you manage to survive those six months when you came to share this place? Was that a real case of going from luxury to frugality?" Chu Ge hissed as if in pain: "That's strange, I didn't think you were particularly delicate back then. You acted it quite well."
"Because I'm not delicate to begin with." Zhang Qiren poured tea, handed a cup to Chu Ge, and smiled: "Delivering takeout is true, writing is true too. I'm not some second-generation heir, well… I guess I am, but I'm an illegitimate son, the kind who can't even enter the family."
Chu Ge was stunned: "There's still such a saying these days?"
"It's normal, little..." "Three illegitimate children, and the first wife is quite domineering, so naturally it's like this."
"..." Zhang Qiren smiled: "But that legitimate son, my brother... he's rather useless, which disappointed my father greatly. Two years ago, after I graduated from university, he intended to let me manage something, but I wasn't willing."
Chu Ge said: "Because you wanted to rely on yourself?"
"Not that noble. Who doesn't want money and power? Even for my mother's sake, I wanted to take over that family." Zhang Qiren said calmly: "The reason I wasn't willing is because the double standards disgust me... Look, we both manage a lousy nightclub, but my useless brother's name is so well-known you can't even find it, while I have to be the legal representative, publicly dealing with all sorts of people, euphemistically called 'training'."
Chu Ge remained silent. Zhang Qiren shrugged: "I didn't expect Lin Wuyang to be your classmate. He investigated me, so he naturally knows we shared an apartment. He'll probably tell you something... So I won't hide it from you, that nightclub isn't exactly clean. At least there are young models there." Chu Ge chuckled: "So you said if you're not popular, you're a young model, meaning you're the boss of a young model agency?"
Zhang Qiren laughed too: "That's a self-fulfilling prophecy."
He paused, then added: "Anyway, since it's not clean, I don't know if they're actually training me, or if they think my identity is a perfect scapegoat—once something goes wrong, look, they've already thrown my son out for you to arrest, is that the end of it?"
Chu Ge said: "It's still father and son, it can't be that bad..."
"Who knows. Maybe it's just for show for the tigress at home, or maybe I'm just being a conspiracy theorist and it really is..." "It's just training. Anyway, I can't guess the reasons and I'm too lazy to guess. Even if I want money, I don't want to be a scapegoat, right?" Chu Ge nodded, he wouldn't be happy about that either: "Right, it's not like I can't make it on my own." Zhang Qiren slapped his thigh: "I think so too. I love writing, and coincidentally, writing is a rare... profession that requires no cost but has the potential to make you a star. Maybe no matter how high you climb, they won't look down on you, but it's enough for me." Chu Ge said: "It's quite difficult. If I had known you back then, I might have advised you not to think that way." Zhang Qiren laughed: "Ha... every newcomer is full of confidence, thinking they can conquer the world. Even if you advised me back then, I probably wouldn't have listened, although now I know that writing is indeed a dead end." Chu Ge shook his head and laughed.
Zhang Qiren chuckled, "Brother Chu, you know, when I first started writing, I was a complete newbie, knowing absolutely nothing. I wrote tens of thousands of words, and only one reader voted for me every day. I was so encouraged, thinking that even for that one reader, I had to finish the book."
Chu Ge said, "I had that thought too when I first started writing… just don't tell me that reader was actually a voting bot…"
"Not a bot…" A gentle light appeared in Zhang Qiren's eyes, "Later, one time, my mom and I were talking about how the book was going, and she let it slip that my only reader… was my mom."
Chu Ge: "…" Qiu Wuji in the room put down his mouse and listened quietly.
"Back then, I thought, I'll definitely make something of myself in this industry, I definitely will." Zhang Qiren sighed deeply, "About half a year ago, my brother instigated some people to bully me, but my superpower awakened, and I beat them all up. Now they all follow me—don't look at me like that, I know you know about superpowers."
Chu Ge remained silent, continuing to listen.
"After that power awakening, my dad wanted me to take on more responsibility. I wasn't willing, we had a huge fight, and I moved out. You know what happened after that." Zhang Qiren's expression was somewhat strange. "I was surprised I never realized you also had powers… It's really odd… Logically, you should have sensed them…" Chu Ge asked, "So, in the end, it was your family who reported you?" Zhang Qiren shook his head slightly. "No. They wouldn't, and had no reason to, use such methods; it's too low… My dad wanted me to experience firsthand how hard it is to earn money and how difficult things are, not for me to discover it." He was trying to trip him up, which would only provoke stronger resistance. That report must have been a genuine case of being wronged by a villain." Chu Ge sighed. "So you finally accepted what you considered 'unclean,' even if it meant becoming a scapegoat."
"There was an agreement…of course, I woke up too." Zhang Qiren's smile slowly faded, replaced by a cold, underworld-like expression. "If you don't harm others, they will harm you. Wanting to honestly do your own thing is naive." Chu Ge pursed his lips, unsure how to refute this seemingly self-evident, dark reason. One shouldn't advise others to be kind without experiencing their suffering. He understood Zhang Qiren's despair and pain all too well.
Zhang Qiren suddenly smiled again: "But Brother Chu, your writing style later on is quite similar to mine, and I'm very happy about that. Well, although it's mainly due to your own ability—I really can't do that sharp, ensemble writing—it also incorporates a part of me, right? Watching you slowly move towards success is like my part being recognized."
Chu Ge said earnestly, "You deserve recognition anyway."
Zhang Qiren happily raised his teacup, clinking it against Chu Ge's in a toast instead of wine: "Keep it up, Brother Chu! I feel like you're about to become a god. Knowing that I have a part in that godhood makes me very happy."
Chu Ge looked into his eyes and felt a very strong disconnect between this childlike innocence and the image of the underground boxing boss at the Miracle Nightclub. He couldn't even tell how much of Zhang Qiren's behavior was acting.
But he still wanted to believe Zhang Qiren's smile, so he raised his glass and drank it all in one gulp: "Thanks, brother. I finally know who helped me drive traffic when I first transitioned."
Zhang Qiren laughed heartily: "Those were just a few streams, nothing to mention. The subsequent big promotion is the key."
"The sentiment is the most important thing," Chu Ge said with a smile. "You didn't even get the featured promotions arranged by the website, did you?"
"...Hey, do you really think I'm some big boss? Where would I get that kind of influence?" Zhang Qiren chuckled: "Although I know you see me as a boss, because you know Miracle Nightclub isn't just about young models—the other day you picked someone up in the elevator at the underground boxing match, and I saw it, but I didn't chase after you."
Chu Ge's pupils contracted slightly.
No wonder no one chased after you back then.
In fact, this should be the main topic today.