TLSOTMTKOGAYWHTDI Chapter 110
by VolareChapter 109: The Complicated Qi Family
Chapter 109: The Complicated Qi Family
As the plane landed at the capital airport of L Country, Zhuo Huaimo saw a neat formation of black cars on the tarmac through the Porthole, each car with a uniformed driver and bodyguard standing beside it.
“This is…” He turned to look at Qi Yanwang.
Qi Yanwang was helping him with his scarf, not even looking up: “The family sent them.”
Zhuo Huaimo’s Adam’s apple bobbed: “I thought it would just be a normal pickup.”
“In L Country, this is already quite normal.”
Qi Yanwang chuckled, “Grandpa turned eighty, and the royal family gifted him a custom-made Rolls-Royce, which is still gathering dust in the garage.”
Stepping out of the cabin door, Zhuo Huaimo was stunned by the scene before him – not only a motorcade but also a welcoming party in traditional costumes, with maids holding garlands standing on both sides of a red carpet.
Even more outrageous, there were media reporters in the distance with their long lenses pointed.
“Don’t be nervous.”
Qi Yanwang squeezed his hand, “Just follow me.”
After the motorcade drove into the city, Zhuo Huaimo discovered that all the electronic billboards along the way had been changed to birthday wishes for the old man, and even the LED screens on the outer walls of several skyscrapers were scrolling through the history of the Qi family.
“Your family…”
Zhuo Huaimo carefully chose his words, “has more influence in L Country than I imagined.”
Qi Yanwang looked out the window: “When Grandpa was young, he saved the life of the current ruler, and later he donated one-third of his assets to the country as an education fund.”
He paused, “So they’ve always been very respectful.”
The car drove into a sprawling manor, with fountains, sculptures, and meticulously manicured gardens passing by the window one after another.
Zhuo Huaimo suddenly grabbed Qi Yanwang’s arm: “Wait, is that… a peacock?”
“Yeah, my second brother raises them.”
Qi Yanwang was used to it, “He likes collecting rare birds and animals; there’s even a small zoo behind the mountain.”
In front of the main house, the butler led more than twenty servants in a line to welcome them.
As soon as Zhuo Huaimo got out of the car, he was so startled by the formation that he took half a step back, almost tripping.
Qi Yanwang quickly put his arm around his waist and chuckled softly, “What big scenes hasn’t Director Zhuo seen?”
“This is different…”
Zhuo Huaimo’s ears burned, “I don’t even use this many extras in my movies.”
“Third Brother!”
A crisp female voice came from the side door, and a girl with a high ponytail jogged over, her light blue dress fluttering lightly in the wind.
She grabbed Zhuo Huaimo’s arm: “Sister-in-law, you’re finally here!”
Qi Yanwang smiled and ruffled his sister’s hair: “Xiao Man, I’ll leave my wife to you!”
He turned to Zhuo Huaimo, “I’ll go see Grandpa first; I’ll be back soon.”
Zhuo Huaimo was pulled by Qi Xiao Man toward the garden.
“Don’t be nervous,”
Qi Xiao Man blinked, “I’m the most normal one in the family.”
Sunlight streamed down through the dome of the glass greenhouse, and Zhuo Huaimo noticed the diamond bracelet on the girl’s wrist – the main stone was at least five carats.
“This is a birthday gift my third brother gave me last year,”
Qi Xiao Man shook her wrist, “He said girls should have some jewelry to fall back on.”
Passing through the greenhouse, the view suddenly opened up.
Beside the outdoor swimming pool, several young people were talking and laughing.
“Those are my second brother’s friends,”
Qi Xiao Man lowered her voice, “They’re all spoiled playboys; let’s go around.”
She led Zhuo Huaimo into a wisteria-covered corridor: “My second brother is called Qi Linchuan, he’s two years older than my third brother, and all he knows is how to play with his zoo.”
She stopped suddenly, “Oh, right, don’t touch his white peacocks; last time, a socialite touched a feather and he kicked her out of the banquet on the spot.”
At the end of the corridor was a small white building.
“My territory!”
Qi Xiao Man pushed open the carved wooden door, “Third brother said you like peace and quiet; this place is perfect.”
The room was decorated warmly and elegantly, with a rose garden visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
The walk-in closet was already filled with brand-new clothes, from casual wear to formal wear.
“These…”
Zhuo Huaimo’s fingers brushed against the cuff of a cashmere coat.
“They were all prepared according to your size,”
Qi Xiao Man pulled open a jewelry drawer, “Third brother had them made last month.”
Zhuo Huaimo’s ears heated up.
“Come on, try this on.”
Qi Xiao Man handed over a light gray suit, “Wear it for the family dinner tonight.”
After changing his clothes and coming out, Qi Xiao Man was lying on the terrace feeding the birds.
Hearing the sound of movement, she turned her head, and her eyes lit up: “Third brother has great taste!”
She jogged over to help Zhuo Huaimo adjust his tie: “Eldest brother should be here soon; he’s always ten minutes early for appointments.”
“Eldest brother is…”
“Qi Linyuan,”
Qi Xiao Man pouted, “He seems gentle as jade on the surface, but actually…”
She made a throat-slitting gesture, “The time third brother was locked in the wine cellar when he was fifteen, he was the one who encouraged the second uncle to do it.”
Zhuo Huaimo’s breath caught in his throat.
“But it’s different now,”
Qi Xiao Man suddenly smiled, “Third brother has you now, and he’s much gentler.”
She blinked, “Last year, when he came back, he smashed eldest brother’s favorite antique clock because there was a bug hidden inside.”
The sound of a car engine came from downstairs.
Qi Xiao Man ran to the window: “Speak of the devil.”
Through the window, Zhuo Huaimo saw a man in a dark blue suit getting out of a Bentley, the gold-rimmed glasses reflecting a cold light in the sun.
“Eldest brother has a villa in Zurich,”
Qi Xiao Man said softly, “The basement is full of surveillance equipment.”
She grabbed Zhuo Huaimo’s hand, “Let’s go, I’ll take you to see the real Qi family.”
They slipped out of the side door and walked through the maze-like garden.
“That’s the old man’s tea room,”
Qi Xiao Man pointed to a glass house by the lake, “He has tea there at three o’clock every afternoon, without fail.”
Turning past a rockery, a Chinese-style courtyard suddenly appeared.
“The main branch lives there,”
Qi Xiao Man slowed her pace, “After my mother passed away, eldest brother wouldn’t let us go in there casually.”
Zhuo Huaimo noticed the dense array of cameras on the courtyard wall.
“Eldest brother is extremely obsessed with cleanliness,”
Qi Xiao Man pouted, “He even disinfects doorknobs that servants have touched.”
The sound of bells came from a distance, and Qi Xiao Man looked at her watch: “Ah, it’s time to go to the banquet hall.”
On the way back to the main building, she suddenly asked, “Director Zhuo, do you know why third brother insisted on bringing you back today?”
Zhuo Huaimo shook his head.
“Because today is the anniversary of my mother’s death,”
Qi Xiao Man’s voice was as light as a feather, “For twenty years, the old man has agreed to hold a birthday banquet on this day for the first time.”
At the entrance of the banquet hall, Qi Yanwang was waiting for them.
Sunlight streamed through the stained glass, casting mottled shadows on his well-defined profile.
“Did you have a good chat?” He reached out and put his arm around Zhuo Huaimo.
Qi Xiao Man grinned and stepped back: “Returning the treasure! I’ll go see how the kitchen is preparing.”
After she ran away, Qi Yanwang lowered his head and asked in Zhuo Huaimo’s ear, “What did the little spy report?”
“A lot,”
Zhuo Huaimo looked up at him, “For example, a certain Mr. Qi secretly prepared an entire walk-in closet for me last month.”
Qi Yanwang chuckled: “Do you like it?”
“I like the person who prepared it even more.”
In the distance, Qi Linyuan stood in front of the window on the second floor, his gaze behind the gold-rimmed glasses coldly fixed on the embracing figures.
He slowly closed the curtains and made a call: “The person has arrived; proceed according to plan.”
The crystal chandelier in the banquet hall illuminated the entire space, the long table was full of exquisite dishes, and the silver cutlery gleamed coldly in the light.
Zhuo Huaimo was seated next to Qi Yanwang, while the old man sat at the head of the table, his expression stern.
“Huaimo, try this.”
Qi Yanwang placed a piece of truffle foie gras on his plate, his voice unusually gentle.
Just as Zhuo Huaimo was about to pick up his chopsticks, he heard a soft snort from across the table.
“Third brother is so considerate,”
Qi Linchuan swirled his glass of red wine, his gaze sweeping over Zhuo Huaimo, “Anyone who didn’t know better would think Director Zhuo’s hands were broken.”
The atmosphere at the table instantly froze.
Qi Yanwang didn’t even raise his eyelids: “My second brother’s peacocks have been shedding a lot of feathers recently; would you like me to recommend a veterinarian?”
Qi Linchuan’s face darkened: “You—”
“Alright.”
The old man tapped his glass, “Eat your meal.”
The waiters began to serve the dishes, and Zhuo Huaimo lowered his head and ate quietly, but he felt several gazes like needles piercing him.
“Xiao Man,”
Qi Linyuan suddenly spoke, his eyes behind the gold-rimmed glasses smiling, “I heard you’ve been getting very close to Director Zhuo recently?”
Qi Xiao Man was stuffing shrimp dumplings into her mouth, and when she heard this, she blinked: “Eldest brother’s information is really well-informed.”
“I’m just curious,”
Qi Linyuan slowly cut his steak, “Didn’t you used to hate people in the entertainment industry the most?”
Qi Xiao Man put down her chopsticks and smiled sweetly: “That depends on who it is. ‘Hidden Depths’ directed by Director Zhuo won an international award, which is much better than some people’s crappy movies.”
There was dead silence at the table.
Qi Linchuan slammed the table: “Qi Xiao Man! What do you mean by that?”
“The literal meaning.”
Qi Xiao Man tilted her head, “The movie ‘Secrets of the Elite’ that second brother invested in last year got a Douban rating of 2.8, breaking the record for the worst movie.”
“Enough!”
The old man said sternly, “Can’t even eat a meal in peace!”
Zhuo Huaimo’s fingertips trembled slightly. Just as he was about to speak, Qi Yanwang suddenly stood up.
“Grandpa,”
He said calmly, “I suddenly remembered that a new private kitchen opened in the east of the city; it’s said that the chef’s ancestors were imperial chefs. Why don’t I take you to try it?”
The old man narrowed his eyes, his gaze shifting between his eldest grandson and his grandson.
“Alright.” He slowly got up.
After the three of them left, the restaurant exploded.
Qi Linchuan slammed his glass: “The old man is clearly being biased!”
Qi Linyuan wiped the corner of his mouth, his smile cold: “Why the rush? The show has just begun.”
Inside the private kitchen box, the sandalwood incense curled.
The old man picked up a piece of steamed shad, not even raising his eyelids: “It has to be him?”
Qi Yanwang poured tea for the old man: “You know, I never look back on things I’ve decided on.”
“Nonsense!”
The old man put down his chopsticks heavily, “You’re the only son of your father; is it going to end with you?”
“Didn’t second brother just have a son?”
Qi Yanwang chuckled, “Besides, medicine is advanced now; there are plenty of ways to have children.”
The old man stared at the floating tea leaves in his teacup: “Do you know what they’re saying outside? They’re saying that my Qi family’s third young master has been bewitched by an actor!”
“Grandpa,”
Qi Yanwang suddenly became serious, “Huaimo is an internationally renowned director!”
He paused, “In terms of talent, I’m not even as good as him.”
The old man snorted coldly: “He’s still a man!”
“I love him.”
Qi Yanwang’s voice was very soft, but it resonated powerfully, “Just like you loved Grandma back then.”
The old man suddenly looked up, a flash of pain in his turbid eyes.
“We’ll leave tomorrow.”
Qi Yanwang stood up, “When you’ve thought it through, we’ll come back.”
As he walked to the door, he heard the sound of a teacup shattering behind him: “Stop!”
Qi Yanwang turned back and saw the old man’s trembling hand: “…Stay for dinner.”
This was the biggest concession the iron-blooded patriarch could make.
Qi Yanwang walked back and gently hugged the old man’s thin shoulders: “Thank you, Grandpa.”
The old man awkwardly pushed him away: “Don’t give me that!” but his eyes were quietly red.
—
“Sister-in-law, don’t think too much; Grandpa agreeing to let you come back is a big concession. He just needs time!”
Qi Xiao Man put a piece of sparerib in Zhuo Huaimo’s bowl, “Try this sparerib; it’s so delicious! Third brother specially had the kitchen make it for you!”
She smacked her little mouth, “It’s better for us to eat in the bedroom; there are too many rules at the dinner table. I hate these occasions the most!”
Before coming, Zhuo Huaimo had thought about what might happen. This was the lightest of the scenarios he had imagined.
There was a knock at the door. Zhuo Huaimo thought it was Qi Yanwang finishing his dinner with the old man, so he quickly got up to open the door. Unexpectedly, standing at the door was the second brother, Qi Linchuan…