OL CH31

Chen Tian glanced at Qin Fei and instructed the staff to prepare another breakfast portion for him.

Only then did he pour a bit more milk into Bai Su’s empty glass, introducing the newcomer: “Xiao Bai, this is Qin Fei, my nephew.”

So he was Mr. Qin’s biological nephew. Hearing the explanation, the discomfort in Bai Su’s chest eased slightly. Yet at the thought that Qin Fei had known Qin Yichen from a young age and had always been by his side, a faint gloom still settled over his heart.

Still, having lived in the welfare home for so long, he was not someone incapable of reining in his emotions. He nodded at Qin Fei, keeping his introduction brief: “Bai Su.”

“Yeah, I’m Qin Fei.”

Qin Fei introduced himself once more, his gaze darting between Bai Su and Chen Tian for a split second.

For some bizarre reason, he felt that when his uncle introduced him just now, it had sounded oddly like: Darling, this is our little nephew.

Inexplicably feeling as though his uncle had demoted him an entire generation, what shocked Qin Fei even more was Chen Tian’s demeanor.

In his memory, Qin Yichen was always austere and serious, only occasionally softening into a smile before family members.

Yet right now, looking at this unfamiliar boy who had suddenly appeared in the Qin household, the warmth in his uncle’s eyes was unmistakable.

Qin Fei could not help studying Bai Su with a scrutinizing gaze. Just who was this boy around his own age? Why did he warrant such special regard from his uncle?

At that moment, Qin Fei’s breakfast was served. Having nearly finished their meal, Chen Tian and Bai Su said their goodbyes and left the dining room.

Watching their retreating backs, Qin Fei could only turn to Uncle Qin for help. From the old butler’s mouth, he finally learned the full story.

Upon hearing about Bai Su’s background, Qin Fei had initially felt a trace of sympathy. But learning that Bai Su would be staying at the Qin household from now on, and that his uncle planned to personally nurture him, an unpleasant knot tightened in Qin Fei’s chest.

He wanted to run over and demand why his uncle had suddenly brought a boy home, yet he hesitated, not daring to disrupt his uncle’s work.

Besides, his uncle was entitled to his own life. Even if he legally adopted someone rather than just bringing him home, Qin Fei had no standing to object.

Even so, like a young child whose parents’ affection had abruptly been split, Qin Fei still felt dejected. He swallowed a few hurried bites, lost his appetite entirely, and slumped in his chair, listless.

Meanwhile, Chen Tian personally gave Bai Su a tour of the ancestral estate, helping him familiarize himself with the layout while explaining the Qin family’s situation in detail.

“And that is how it happened. After the accident took my brother and sister-in-law, Qin Fei lived with me. I suppose I am his only family left now.”

Naturally, the original host’s father, Qin Xingxian, was not actually dead. But since that man had never fulfilled an ounce of his paternal duty, they had long treated him as deceased. He was nothing more than a parasitic leech; Chen Tian saw no reason to bring him up, so what he said was not inaccurate.

“I see.” Bai Su nodded. So Uncle Qin had very few relatives left as well.

He knew the man was sharing all this to put his mind at ease, which sparked a delightful sensation of being cherished and valued. Voicing the hesitation he had harbored earlier, he asked, “Uncle Qin, why did you choose to bring me back with you?”

“To be honest, I’m not entirely sure either.” Chen Tian smiled softly. “Perhaps it was fate. In fact, I saw you once before the accident.”

At the man’s words, Bai Su was startled, followed by a surge of tension. Could Uncle Qin have noticed him stealing the handkerchief that day?

Chen Tian continued smoothly, “A few days ago, when I stepped out of the Qin Corporation headquarters, a boy suddenly walked past and bumped into me by accident. At that moment, I felt as though something I had been waiting for all along had abruptly appeared, and I wanted very much to meet that little friend. Regrettably, he walked too fast and vanished in the blink of an eye. Fortunately, he appeared before me again before long.”

The “little friend” Chen Tian referred to was unmistakably Bai Su. Deliberately omitting the fact that he had been secretly watching from a street corner, he framed their first meeting as an encounter written in the stars, his eyes resting tenderly on Bai Su.

Basking in the man’s gaze, Bai Su believed the explanation completely. When he had first laid eyes on Uncle Qin, he too had found it impossible to tear his gaze away.

Perhaps there truly was such a fated thread between them.

Finishing the tour in a warm daze, Bai Su returned to his room, treasuring his stay in this house all the more, cherishing this hard-won destiny.

Over the days that followed, the Qin household appeared peaceful on the surface, and Bai Su’s arrival seemed to change very little.

Chen Tian could naturally sense Qin Fei’s low spirits. He had had a thorough heart-to-heart talk with his nephew, but he knew words alone were insufficient; Qin Fei still needed time to adjust.

Even as the minor world’s male protagonist, Qin Fei was merely fifteen years old this year.

For a young teenager, having a stranger suddenly move into his home and divide the attention of his only family member made emotional friction entirely natural.

Children of this age were often in the throes of their rebellious phase. Chen Tian knew Qin Fei possessed good character, and given enough time, the boy would adjust well.

What touched Chen Tian deeply was Bai Su’s extraordinary docility during this period. Even though Qin Fei clearly gave him the cold shoulder, Bai Su would still flash friendly smiles at Qin Fei whenever Chen Tian was present. He was also constantly attentive toward Chen Tian, sensible to the point of making his heart ache.

This convinced Chen Tian all the more that his little partner was the very best, already displaying the grace of an aunt-in-law, showing such magnanimity toward their nephew.

Ever since Bai Su moved into the house, a cozy domestic warmth seemed to permeate every corner.

Bai Su had rarely attended formal school, mostly reading on his own in the past. After consulting his wishes, Chen Tian did not rush him back into a regular classroom, hiring private tutors across every subject for him instead.

Once his studies began, Bai Su proved remarkably diligent and focused, mastering concepts at an astonishing pace, filling Chen Tian with both pride and heartache. Everything seemed to be heading in the right direction.

Yet, blinded by his lover’s angelic facade, Chen Tian remained oblivious to the fact that beyond Qin Fei looking down on Bai Su, Bai Su’s cordiality toward Qin Fei was merely skin-deep.

Whenever Chen Tian was not around, Bai Su would not spare Qin Fei a single glance.

It was not as though Qin Fei had never tried pulling petty pranks on Bai Su, but Bai Su neutralized every attempt effortlessly, never letting the boy gain the upper hand.

After yet another defeat, Qin Fei glared at Bai Su in fury, snapping, “Hypocrite!”

Then, to his utter disbelief, he watched the previously cold, aloof Bai Su press his lips tight, lower his head, and instantly assume an intensely pitiful, wronged expression.

Sure enough, the display was caught dead-on by Chen Tian, who had just finished work and stepped out of the study.

Qin Fei was immediately hauled into the room by his uncle and forced to stand facing the wall for two agonizing hours.

Even while standing in punishment, Qin Fei resolved that he would rather die than yield, silently cursing Bai Su as a two-faced, manipulative green tea phony who deliberately used him to farm favorability points with his uncle.

Bai Su was naturally aware of Qin Fei’s distaste, but he simply did not care. As long as he held Uncle Qin’s affection, no one else’s opinions mattered in the slightest.

Still, despite Chen Tian treating him exceptionally well, Bai Su’s sense of belonging in the Qin family remained tenuous.

He knew his surname was Bai, not Qin, and that he lacked any formal adoptive relationship with Qin Yichen, so he could not help carrying himself with extreme caution.

As for Qin Fei, even though Bai Su understood his background and knew he had also lost his parents, the fact that Qin Fei had enjoyed Uncle Qin’s doting care since childhood made it impossible for Bai Su to bring himself to flatter him.

He understood his own heart: he was likely jealous of Qin Fei. Maintaining polite harmony in front of Uncle Qin was already the absolute limit of his patience.

He knew such possessiveness was irrational, yet facing Uncle Qin, he could not stop the yearning to monopolize the man entirely.

He had always known Uncle Qin was a good person, and living in the Qin ancestral home over these past few days had reinforced that truth deeply.

Yet even living in what felt like a waking dream, he feared the dream was nothing more than a fragile bubble, destined to pop at the gentlest prick.

On this particular day, pressing corporate matters arose, forcing Chen Tian to carve out time for an urgent trip to the office. Consequently, when lunchtime arrived, only Bai Su and Qin Fei came downstairs to dine.

Today’s lunch was Western cuisine prepared according to Qin Fei’s preferences. Bai Su was the first to arrive downstairs. Seeing the empty head of the table and realizing he would not see Uncle Qin for lunch, a pang of disappointment stirred in his chest.

Butler Qin was not in the dining room either, busy attending to other tasks. Standing by the table was a young maid whom Bai Su was not familiar with.

Before him lay a Western-style meal centered around steak, flanked by rows of neatly arranged knives and forks. According to the maid, dining on these dishes apparently required strict etiquette.

Bai Su furrowed his brows; these were things he had never encountered in his life.

A moment later, Qin Fei ambled downstairs, looking groggy as though he had stayed up late and had not yet fully awakened.

Sitting at the table, he paid Bai Su no mind and left his food untouched, merely sipping juice from his glass, clearly not very hungry.

Bai Su, however, was starving. Without waiting for Qin Fei, he picked up a fork, speared the steak before him, lifted it straight to his mouth, and took a hearty bite.

The savory meat combined with the rich sauce tasted magnificent. Tearing off a large mouthful of meat brought an immense sense of satisfaction. Just as he took a second bite, however, a soft chuckle broke the quiet.

Bai Su looked up to find Qin Fei staring at him in astonishment, seemingly stunned by his bold manner of eating. The snicker, on the other hand, had come from the maid standing nearby.

“Young Master Bai, eating steak like that is truly far too crude,” the young maid remarked with a polite smile. Curtsying slightly in an elegant posture, she cast a seemingly casual glance toward Qin Fei.

Hearing this, Qin Fei frowned and pressed his lips together without speaking.

Bai Su was exceptionally perceptive toward human emotions. Even though the woman wore a polite expression, he caught the deeply veiled malice and contempt beneath her words.

Her motive for criticizing him was clearly to curry favor with Qin Fei.

Compared to the young master of the Qin family, he was merely an outsider after all.

The maid’s reasoning had been precisely that. Having joined the Qin household only recently, she considered herself young and attractive, harboring inappropriate ambitions.

Yet the patriarch was far too imposing and terrifying; possessing some self-awareness, she knew she stood no chance with him, setting her sights instead on the innocent, inexperienced young master.

Having observed the dynamic between Qin Fei and Bai Su lately, she knew the two boys clashed and that Qin Fei harbored clear hostility toward Bai Su. Thus, she sought to seize this opportunity to win Qin Fei’s favor today.

Seeing that Qin Fei showed no particular reaction to her remark, the woman felt dissatisfied and pressed on, targeting Bai Su again: “Young Master Bai, being this crude might bring disgrace to the Qin family in the future. If you truly don’t understand etiquette, you could consult Young Master Qin and learn properly, so you don’t commit a faux pas.”

This time, Qin Fei knitted his brows tightly, glaring at the maid in irritation: “That has nothing to do with an outsider like you!”

The maid’s face drained of color at Qin Fei’s sharp retort. Bai Su raised an eyebrow in surprise, caught off guard by Qin Fei speaking up for him.

Noticing his gaze, Qin Fei scoffed, awkwardly turning his head away to fiddle with his glass.

He did not particularly like Bai Su, but the boy had been brought home by his uncle. His uncle considered Bai Su one of their own, so it was hardly an outsider’s place to point fingers.

Unbeknownst to them, Chen Tian had been standing by the dining room entrance for some time, with Butler Qin standing right behind him after concluding his tasks.

Chen Tian did not know whether to credit his own impeccable luck or the maid’s abysmal timing. Every single word she had spoken had reached his ears with crystal clarity.

Ever since bringing Bai Su home, Chen Tian had scaled back his workload. Although the Qin Corporation had plenty of affairs, his divine sense as an artifact spirit was exceedingly powerful; even suppressed by this minor world, his administrative efficiency was several times that of the original host.

Moreover, he had capable subordinates, meaning there was no need to micromanage every task. Anything of secondary importance could be delegated directly.

Having wrapped up the corporate emergency, Chen Tian had returned early.

Considering Bai Su had only just arrived at the Qin household, he wanted to spend more time keeping his lover company. Little did he expect that after leaving for merely a few hours, he would return to find someone making things difficult for his darling.

Chen Tian had virtually no recollection of this woman; someone operating at such a low level was practically asking to be purged.

Still, Qin Fei had handled it well; that single defensive line boosted Chen Tian’s impression of his nephew considerably.

Shooting a glance at Butler Qin, the old butler nodded with a solemn expression, glaring at the dining room maid in displeasure. Allowing such a person into the Qin household was his own oversight.

Chen Tian then stepped into the dining room as though nothing were amiss. The moment he appeared, the entire room fell dead silent.

Seeing Chen Tian, Bai Su’s posture stiffened instantly.

He could disregard the maid’s mockery, but he could not ignore Uncle Qin’s opinion. His grip on the fork tightened, suddenly lacking the courage to touch the rest of the food.

The maid watched Chen Tian anxiously, unsure whether he had overheard her earlier remarks. Seeing the man take a seat without reacting, she exhaled in relief.

Without uttering a word, Chen Tian simply instructed the staff to serve him the exact same lunch as Bai Su and Qin Fei.

Silence hung over the dining table until Butler Qin led the staff in serving the food.

Then, under everyone’s watchful eyes, Chen Tian picked up his fork, speared the entire steak, brought it to his mouth, and took a massive bite. His bold eating style was an exact mirror image of Bai Su’s moments ago.

“M-Mr. Qin!”

The maid stared at the scene in utter disbelief. She had witnessed Chen Tian dining before; his Western etiquette was flawless, his posture exceptionally elegant.

What was he doing now? Then the words she had just uttered…

Before she could process it, the butler returned to the dining room, walked directly up to her, and stated, “I believe you are not suited for this position in the Qin household. I have already sent staff to pack your belongings. Xiao Li has finalized your wages; you may collect your pay and luggage and leave immediately.”

The butler’s tone was not harsh, yet it carried absolute authority.

Regret flooded the woman’s chest, but she dared not utter a single word of protest. Had she known, she would never have entertained such reckless ambitions.

The Qin family offered top-tier wages and benefits in the domestic service industry. The butler had phrased it politely, but being expelled from the Qin household meant no other prestigious family would ever hire her. Finding another job in City B with such generous pay and easy duties was virtually impossible.

Butler Qin’s voice was neither loud nor soft, yet it resonated clearly throughout the dining room, serving as a firm warning to the remaining household staff never to look down upon Bai Su.

Witnessing the maid being dismissed on the spot, Bai Su turned his head in a daze, only to see Uncle Qin continuing to feast heartily.

Noticing his gaze, Chen Tian spoke around a mouthful of food: “Today’s lunch tastes truly wonderful. Xiao Bai, why aren’t you eating?”

Hearing Chen Tian’s words, Bai Su finally snapped back to reality, his eyes growing slightly damp.

His Uncle Qin was truly such a gentle person!

Watching Chen Tian eat with such relish, even spearing a sausage to hold out to his lips, Bai Su broke into a radiant smile.

Parting his lips, he took a bite, tasting the burst of rich, savory juices in his mouth, and happily resumed devouring his meal without a shred of hesitation.

At this moment, he finally felt that this place was his home!

His subtle gaze drifted toward Qin Fei opposite him. That fellow did not seem so detestable after all.

Noticing that Qin Fei had appeared distracted over the past two days, with faint traces of bruises peeking beneath his cuffs and collarbone, Bai Su narrowed his eyes.

He was a member of the Qin family after all. Since Uncle Qin treated him so well, looking after his biological nephew was only right.

Two days later, at the end of the school day.

Qin Fei packed his bag as usual, preparing to leave, though his mood remained dreary when he recalled recent events at school.

For some reason, his luck had been terribly foul lately. Two days prior, a heated exchange had inadvertently provoked several troublesome bullies who had been picking fights with him ever since.

Though he was no pushover, they held superior numbers, causing him to take quite a few hits. Yet running to his teachers or family over such petty squabbles felt far too humiliating.

Carrying his backpack with a sullen face, Qin Fei was suddenly shoved roughly into the sports equipment room as he passed the athletic field.

The heavy door slammed shut, and several boys quickly surrounded him.

The crew-cut leader sneered maliciously: “Qin Fei, you usually act real cocky, don’t you? Today, the boys are going to teach you a lesson. Don’t act so arrogant!”

With that, the crew-cut boy threw a punch toward his face.

Qin Fei dodged swiftly and countered with a kick. Yet the others swarmed forward immediately. Outnumbered, Qin Fei was quickly driven into a corner, taking several hard blows to his body.

Just when he assumed he was bound for serious injury today, the door was kicked open with a thunderous bang!

A tall silhouette stood in the doorway with folded arms. Looking at the disheveled Qin Fei, the newcomer clicked his tongue softly: “Tsk.”

Licking his canine tooth, Bai Su casually rolled up the sleeves of his hoodie and strolled forward. Sweeping a glance over the boys in the room, a harmless, sunny smile bloomed across his face.

Yet the moment he closed the distance, the youth lunged forward like a striking predator, slamming a brutal fist straight into the crew-cut leader’s face!