Chapter 4

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Qiu Baozhu returned home before Qiu Fei. When he arrived, He Yingjie was already there. In the living room with its soaring beams, a woman whose age was impossible to discern sat elegantly beneath a dazzling multi-tiered crystal chandelier. She wore a facial mask, her long black hair pulled back behind her ears, exuding a graceful and noble air even in her posture. At that moment, she was engrossed in a fashion magazine held delicately in her hands.

Qiu Baozhu didn’t yet know how to face He Yingjie. He tried to move quietly, not to disturb her. Yet, he was quickly noticed. At that time, He Yingjie still loved him deeply; any slight sign of change in him would instantly capture her attention.

With a snap, He Yingjie closed the magazine, her eyes narrowing into a joyful smile as she steadied the mask on her face with both hands. “Baby’s back! Come here to Mommy. Today, a client sent me several sets of jewelry. Come see if you like any.”

Just like with Qiu Fei.

Qiu Baozhu hadn’t seen He Yingjie for nearly eleven years. The last time they met was at the largest airport in Ningkang, Taiping Airport. He remembered it was a heavily overcast day, as if the sky mourned their parting. Accompanied by Wei Shu, he rushed to the airport and called He Yingjie and Qiu Jinyan several times but received no answer. As the boarding time neared, He Yingjie finally answered with a forced and impatient tone.

“Didn’t I tell you no need to see me off? How did I end up with such a disobedient son?”
“You even brought Wei Shu along, you really…”
“Qiu Baozhu, compared to Fei, Mom thinks you’re utterly disappointing!”

At that time, Qiu Baozhu was a freshman in college, also applying to art schools in the UK. He had never worked so hard to the point of exhaustion. Faced with He Yingjie’s anger, he was at a loss and turned to Wei Shu, saying, “My mom wasn’t like this before.” Later, after meeting briefly, he watched his parents board the plane. After that, he never saw them again.

Most of the memories He Yingjie left him were from after the family’s bankruptcy. Her once well-maintained face now bore obvious wrinkles and spots. To save time and ease grooming, she cut her long hair just past her shoulders, but it soon turned into a dry, straw-like mess. She would curse from the market all the way home over shortweights, venting her frustration on Qiu Baozhu and Qiu Jinyan. She and Qiu Jinyan argued every few days, mostly about money lost or money yet to be acquired, turning the couple into fearsome, harsh figures.

Qiu Baozhu gradually understood that extreme poverty left no room for peaceful living, and the chance to rise again was almost nonexistent.

Now, having lived his life anew, He Yingjie, buried deep in his memories, reappeared vividly before him. Awakening from a deep dream, he called out, “Mother.”

He Yingjie, unsure what he was daydreaming about, chuckled softly, pressing her fingers to the mask on her face. “Where did you learn such formal talk? Just call me Mom—I’m not used to that.” Her eyes brimmed with so much love it seemed to overflow. “Come here.”

The servants laid out the full sets of jewelry on the table. Many brands emphasized design and heritage, not merely the value of the stones. When they did chase value, it was usually priceless. The pieces before him were a mix of good and bad. In his youth, Qiu Baozhu would have wanted to take them all. But time with Wei Shu had exposed him to many exquisite jewels, including a cornflower blue sapphire purchased at Christie’s auction for four million dollars.

“This one,” Qiu Baozhu said, picking up a ring.

The ring featured sapphire and blue-green tourmaline stones, resembling a thimble. The band was an openwork green leaf design, with the gemstones set atop. He Yingjie tilted her head, studying him, sensing he was unusually calm today. Usually, he would be jumping for joy by now.

“You don’t really like any of them?” she asked. “You seem reluctant.”

“I don’t,” he muttered.

Then, turning as if recalling something, the young man said, “Qiu Fei should be home soon. Don’t put these away yet—he can pick two he likes.”

He Yingjie flipped through the magazine again. “Qiu Fei doesn’t like these things. Don’t bother.”

“But you should ask,” Qiu Baozhu said, glancing at the servant. His pupils showed a cool dark green under the dim display lights, giving an unfamiliar impression. Clearly, Qiu Baozhu was supposed to be the easiest to deal with at home.

He soon lowered his head again, fiddling with the ring. Sapphire was known as the stone of destiny. Maybe because he had somehow returned to the past, given a second chance, he now favored sapphire a little more.

“Mom.”

“Hm?” No matter what she was doing, He Yingjie always responded when he called.

“What’s Uncle been up to lately?”

“Your uncle?” He Yingjie thought for a moment. “Who knows what he’s doing? Probably off gallivanting in some country again.”

“Has Dad been in contact with Uncle recently?” Qiu Baozhu asked again.

He Yingjie frowned. “Aren’t you the one who dislikes your uncle the most? Your father rarely contacts him knowing that. Why do you ask?”

Qiu Baozhu had honed an unmatched skill for lying under Wei Shu’s tutelage. Except Wei Shu, no one else could detect his fabrications.

“Well, um,” Qiu Baozhu slowly put the ring on his finger, “last night at a classmate’s birthday party, I overheard them talking about one classmate’s relative whose uncle and father were involved in an overseas investment scam. They lost over a billion in investment or acquisition—turned out to be a bogus check. Moreover, the other party forced tens of billions of debt onto that relative. They recently declared bankruptcy and are still in liquidation.”

Qiu Baozhu’s account was vague; he didn’t know all the details. Qiu Jinyan and He Yingjie had concealed much from him. Later, when he asked Wei Shu, he only got a rough idea.

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A building collapses when its foundation is struck hard; the Qiu family’s foundation was He Yingjie.

After listening carefully, He Yingjie said, “Is that so? Amitabha, they’re really unlucky.”

“…”

Then she smiled.

“Are you hinting I shouldn’t let your uncle involve himself in our family business? You don’t trust him?” She had intended to say that children shouldn’t meddle in such matters, that these were adult affairs, but seeing Qiu Baozhu’s bright green eyes, her words softened to, “Tomorrow I’ll have my assistant check your dad’s and uncle’s schedules. Rest assured, if anything’s wrong, I won’t stand idly by.”

Qiu Baozhu nodded. “Okay.”

“Go to sleep, Baby. You have school tomorrow.” He Yingjie glanced at the time, then peeked to the servant. “Has Baozhu’s school uniform been ironed?”

Qiu Baozhu, walking upstairs, paused to remind her, “And Qiu Fei’s too.”

He Yingjie suddenly remembered, “Right, Fei’s as well.”

The youth continued upstairs.

Qiu Baozhu didn’t expect to change He Yingjie’s views anytime soon—perhaps never. Just like later, no matter what, he couldn’t get her to call him “Baby” again or love him as she once did. But he would be good to Qiu Fei.

—

Sunlight spilled onto the balcony, golden rays slipping through the curtains’ bottom gap into the room. Qiu Baozhu opened his eyes to the dim blue light unique to early morning. He sat up abruptly and instinctively looked beside him. No one was there. This wasn’t Wei’s home; this was his own room. He lay back down, pulling the covers over his head.

At Wei’s, he could never sleep alone. Even hinting at wanting his own room would be ignored; Wei Shu would pretend not to understand.

“Then no,” Wei Shu had become an exquisitely gentle despot. The next day, if Qiu Baozhu showed signs of waking, Wei Shu’s breathing would snuff out his own until dawn, when Qiu Baozhu would fall into a deep slumber as Wei Shu went off refreshed to work.

Qiu Baozhu slowly pulled down the blanket. His mind was foggy then; he thought he should feel happy, though he never did. He only thought he should, hoping it would ease his heart.

Breakfast was ready in the dining room. He changed into his long-missed school uniform. Ji Cai High School had four seasons, each with four styles, two sets per style, totaling thirty-two uniforms and seasonal gym clothes. Each was designed by He Yingjie’s company’s designers, who crafted sketches and selected fabrics. The uniforms were fashionable and youthful, drawing many students to apply.

Qiu Baozhu wore a light and dark green color-blocked thin jacket. Though it looked like a simple jacket, it was stunningly handsome.

After breakfast, he went to school with Qiu Fei. Ji Cai was eighty percent day students. Crowds of students gathered at the gate; some entered immediately, others joked around, while vehicles lined up for drop-offs.

The cars were stuck at the intersection.

“It’s just a few steps. I’ll get off and walk.” Qiu Fei opened the door and got out.

Qiu Baozhu followed swiftly before the door closed. “Qiu Fei, wait for me.”

Qiu Fei was slightly taller and faster, putting on headphones as he walked. Though he didn’t respond to Qiu Baozhu’s calls, his pace slowed considerably.

“When did you get back last night?”

“Eleven thirty.”

“Um… Did Mom say anything to you?”

“Yes. She said the brand sent many gifts and told me to pick what I liked, but I didn’t like any, so I didn’t take them.”

Qiu Baozhu relaxed a little, but Qiu Fei’s next words stunned him.

“Was it you who told Mom to ask me?”

“Qiu Baozhu, I don’t envy or resent the closeness between you and Mom, but please don’t make me feel sick with it.” Qiu Fei’s tone held no irritation, nor did his face show disgust. His voice was flat, making one feel a deep sadness.

“Also, how could you pick what I didn’t want for me?”

?

Qiu Baozhu almost lost his breath.

“I only picked one ring.” The young man stripped the ring from his finger and said, “You can take it.”

The ring rested in his pale, slightly reddened palm, looking beautiful.

“Thanks, bro.” Qiu Fei took the ring and put it on his own finger.

“…”

—

“Qiu Baozhu, a question.”

Arriving at the classroom, Xiao You, who had been waiting, flopped onto the desk in front of Qiu Baozhu, raising an eyebrow. “Why did you quit our fencing group?”

“I’m too bad at it,” Qiu Baozhu leaned back, creating distance.

Xiao You was a good person but Qiu Baozhu’s feelings towards him ranged from dislike to indifference.

“Then practice more if you’re bad,” Xiao You observed. Boys rarely looked so fair-lipped and white-toothed without seeming weak. He was patient now. “You’re old enough to have some backbone. Don’t quit the group. Come on, I’ll add you back.”

“No,” Qiu Baozhu refused outright, giving no face.

“I don’t like fencing.”

Seeing Qiu Baozhu’s serious face, Xiao You stopped joking. He shrugged and leaned on the next desk. “Just passing time, doesn’t mean you have to like it.”

Qiu Baozhu shook his head. “Now? I only do what I like.”

“Now?” Xiao You caught the key word. “You mean someone used to force you to do things you didn’t like?”

Before Qiu Baozhu could answer, Xiao You scoffed strangely. “You’re interesting, Qiu Baozhu.”

Qiu Baozhu paid no mind to Xiao You’s shifting attitude. He had more important things to do.

Namely—study!

He was a science student, with decent but not outstanding grades. In his previous life, after starting college, he finally knew what he wanted to study, and during spare time took specialized training, built a portfolio, and applied to art schools abroad. He received an offer from London College of Arts, but he wasn’t after that diploma.

Not being able to study jewelry design systematically and completely was at first a regret and later a thorn in his heart.

He would never again give Wei Shu a chance to interfere or intervene.

Wei Shu would lose the right to meddle.

About ten minutes before class, more students arrived. Their class had fewer than thirty students in a bright, spacious room with rows of desks—not paired desks.

Qiu Baozhu rested his chin on his hand, seemingly distracted by browsing webpages on his notebook, but was actually cramming to understand the people around him.

“Did you finish your homework?” Qiu Fei suddenly poked his back.

“Ow!” Qiu Baozhu hated pain.

Homework?

From Qiu Fei’s expression, he knew the answer.

Qiu Fei pulled out his own homework and tossed it onto Qiu Baozhu’s desk. “You’d better do Lao Jiang’s homework.”

Lao Jiang?

A plump middle-aged man with a Buddha-like face gradually formed in Qiu Baozhu’s mind. Known for his sternness beneath a kind appearance, Lao Jiang was the grade director and former top provincial math teacher. Skilled in management and teaching, he taught math for several classes.

Lao Jiang assigned hard and plenty homework. If students couldn’t finish, he had many ways to discipline them, chief among them being calling parents. Regardless of wealth, all parents cared deeply, so no matter how rich or poor, the kids under his watch were like quails.

Qiu Baozhu remembered this, took a deep breath, shut his computer, and buried himself in the homework.

He didn’t notice who had quietly entered the classroom one after another.

As class time neared and the room grew noisy, Qiu Baozhu pulled out his headphones and put them on—not to listen to music but to activate noise canceling.

Just then, Shen Chen dashed into the classroom from the hallway carrying a bag of chocolates.

“I snatched these from Zeng Mingxi’s bag! Quick, let’s share! He’s probably coming to get me later!”

Though he said this loudly, the chocolates were only for his friends.

“Hey, that one dropped on your desk. Sorry about that. Can you pass it to Lan Coco next to you?”

“Zhao Ting.”

“Old Xiao, keep going!”

“Qiu Fei, want some?”

“Qiu Baozhu~~~~”

Shen Chen stood on the podium and tossed two chocolates toward their targets.

But Qiu Baozhu, wearing headphones, was absorbed in copying homework, neither hearing nor seeing them.

One chocolate was about to hit Qiu Baozhu’s forehead when a boy in the back, carrying a trash can, happened to walk by. The chocolate hit his shoulder and fell to the floor.

“Oh dear, sorry about that,” Shen Chen bowed on the podium. “Can you pick up the chocolate and give it to Qiu Baozhu for me?”

If not his friend, Shen Chen didn’t bother calling their names, just “that one.”

The boy glanced coldly at Shen Chen but didn’t react angrily. Instead, he bent down and picked up the chocolate.

The chocolate was picked up, and in Wei Shu’s fingers, it was twirled slowly, making two sharp clinks before being dropped into the trash can in his hand.

Qiu Baozhu was startled, confused, eyes wide. “You…”

Wei Shu lowered his head, tugged at the corner of his mouth, speaking flatly, “Expired food. You want to eat it?”