After discovering that Fang Ji hadn’t sent them any messages for three months, Fang Lian was not the only one who actively tried to contact Xiao Ji.

Fang Mom attempted to video call Fang Ji multiple times.

Fang Sister attempted to voice call and phone call Fang Ji multiple times.

After his phone call attempts failed, Fang Dad decisively called the family butler and told him to give the phone to Fang Ji. But as soon as Fang Ji took the phone with a look of confusion, he immediately shoved it back into the butler’s hands and turned to run away with a pitter-patter!

At this point, no matter how slow Fang Dad, Mom, Bro, and Sis were, they could all see that Fang Ji was intentionally refusing to speak with them.

Thus, a few days later, in the Fang family group chat (Dad, Mom, Brother, Sister, Ji), the four of them started a group call once again.

Fang Ji did not join this time either, so they began their discussion on their own.

Fang Brother was the first to state his position: “Xiao Ji is angry with us. The specific reason for his anger is unclear, but it is definitely related to the professional older brother.”

Fang Sister spoke next: “The professional older brother’s sixty-million-dollar contract is not yet complete. Moreover, he is currently the only person who can coax Xiao Ji and spend a significant amount of time with him. We cannot touch him.”

Fang Mom inquired: “Before these three months, did any of you do something to Xiao Ji that made him angry, hold a grudge, and then implicate the entire family?”

Fang Dad finally stated: “We need to take concrete measures to resolve Xiao Ji’s anger. This issue cannot be delayed, or it might get bigger. Starting with Xiao Lian, let’s hear your ideas.”

The three of them then took turns sharing their ideas.

There were suggestions to bring Xiao Ji abroad to live with them for a while and incidentally teach him how to take over the family business; there were suggestions to pause Fang Chengyu’s contract until they resolved the issue with Fang Ji; there were suggestions to buy Fang Ji gifts and give him more allowance to quell his anger…

Fang Dad listened to them one by one, feeling that each idea was more unreliable than the last.

Fang Dad rejected them one by one, expressing his disappointment: “The professional son promised me a few days ago that he would solve this problem for us. Why don’t we ask for his opinion first?”

The other three had differing attitudes towards Fang Dad’s proposal.

Fang Bro was not pleased with this. In his view, this problem with Xiao Ji had only arisen because they had hired a professional older brother.

Fang Sister maintained a conservative stance, deciding to first see what method the professional older brother would come up with.

Fang Mom expressed her doubts. The professional son had made this promise days ago, so why was there still no sign of the promised “help”?

But they all had to admit.

For this professional family member to build such a relationship with Fang Ji in just a few short months, he certainly had his extraordinary qualities.

Professional matters should be left to professionals. They quickly reached a consensus to first hear the professional family member’s ideas.

The call ended. Call duration: 02:01.

Subsequently, Fang Yecheng, representing the Parents-Brother-Sister Alliance, initiated a conversation with Lin Chen.

However, to his disappointment, Lin Chen told him this time: “Xiao Ji’s level of anger has exceeded my expectations. It is difficult to resolve, very troublesome, and involves long-standing historical issues. You need to be mentally prepared for it to take a certain amount of time.”

“But please rest assured, my progress is continuing as scheduled. Once I have thoroughly investigated the reason for Xiao Ji’s anger, I will post the key points and steps of the plan in the work group.”

Fang Yecheng was not very reassured by this.

Coincidentally, he had a business meeting with Qi Jingming in the next two days.

So on the day of the meeting, after concluding their work-related discussion, Fang Yecheng casually mentioned the matter to Qi Jingming, subtly asking him: “Can his words be trusted?”

Qi Jingming listened attentively to Fang Yecheng’s account, his eyebrows never once relaxing on his calm face.

Upon hearing the question, Qi Jingming calmly replied: “A Qi family selection. Of course, you have to believe it.”

Fang Yecheng was half-believing and half-doubting Lin Chen’s words, and eight-parts-believing and two-parts-doubting Qi Jingming’s words.

After comprehensive consideration, he temporarily chose to believe and spread this trust to the other three members of the Parents-Brother-Sister Alliance.

…

Fang Ji mercilessly hung up on his parents, brother, and sister for a solid half-month.

At first, he did feel惶恐不安 (huáng kǒng bù ān, “panicked and uneasy”) about it.

He would even have sleepless nights over hanging up a single call, repeatedly replaying it in his mind, and even waking up from nightmares in the middle of the night, worrying about what would happen if he ignored his parents, brother, and sister for too long, made them angry, and they completely gave up on him and kicked him out of the house.

Fortunately, during this time, his brother’s work was no longer as busy as before. He often had time to be by his side, helping him get through every moment of weakness and wavering.

They say if you act tough for long enough, you’ll really become tough.

Gradually, as Fang Ji hung up more calls, he discovered that his parents, brother, and sister would still continuously call and video him and wouldn’t really abandon him. Fang Ji’s emotions slowly stabilized.

He no longer overthought a ringing and disconnected call and no longer tossed and turned at night due to the temptation of a call.

Fang Ji could even put the matter out of his mind and continue his life as usual without any psychological burden.

Since his brother had time during this period, Fang Ji took him wandering all over the school and the surrounding area.

He took his brother to these places not for any other reason, but purely because his brother disliked going to those extravagant, money-drenched consumer venues, nor did he like crowded and noisy places.

Fang Ji thought about it and, for the first time, discovered that the places his “golden connection” brothers and sisters had taken him to did have their merits. So he took his brother to all the few interesting places he could remember from those locations.

Besides this, Fang Ji had also been constantly thinking about buying a gift for his brother.

He had spent anywhere from tens of thousands to millions on each of his “money” brothers and sisters, yet he hadn’t spent a single penny on his most beloved biological brother.

Never mind how embarrassing it would be if this got out; just thinking about it himself, Fang Ji felt it was a 天理難容 (tiān lǐ nán róng, “heavenly principles cannot tolerate it,” or an unforgivable injustice)!

However, his brother’s preferences were incredibly hard to guess. He was very different from the brothers and sisters outside, or his other friends.

Fang Ji thought long and hard but couldn’t come up with any good ideas.

When he asked his brother, his brother would only tell him not to spend the money.

But Fang Ji was not willing to give up, so he went to consult his best friend.

Li Yunhui: “A gift that’s expensive enough but doesn’t seem deliberate? A Formula racing car, and throw in a maintenance team for him. If you really get him one, you can introduce your brother to me. I’ll take him for a spin on the track.”

Fang Ji: “…Absolutely not! My brother has a bad heart, don’t you dare try to corrupt my brother with your dangerous hobbies!”

Li Yunhui was disappointed: “Oh. Then you can ask He. He has some taste when it comes to preparing gifts.”

Full of anticipation, Fang Ji trotted off to ask.

He Wenyan replied amidst his busy schedule: “What does your brother like? Don’t know, but it has to be expensive enough? [Web link][Web link][Web link] Look at these.”

Fang Ji happily clicked to take a look.

Exquisite single-piece jewelry, but the price was in the tens of millions in foreign currency…

Fang Ji was so scared he immediately closed the web links!

Tens of millions in foreign currency would convert to hundreds of millions in domestic currency!

Even if he took out all the money from the secret stash he had saved up over the years, it wouldn’t be enough to buy it! He would have to dip into his parents’, brother’s, and sister’s wallets and take a huge chunk to afford it!

Fang Ji thought, Fang Ji was melancholic, Fang Ji squatted in a corner and pondered.

Fang Ji quietly saved the auction links.

Although he couldn’t afford it now, who knew, maybe during the next vacation he would suddenly have an epiphany and, like his second brother, create a super myth of speeding through the market in one summer, earn a large sum of money from the family, and then use it to buy the jewelry for his brother?

Fang Ji thought about it and felt it wasn’t very realistic, so he had to沮喪暫置 (jǔ sàng zàn zhì, “frustratedly set it aside for now”).

Among all the attractions he took his brother to, his brother’s favorite was the mid-lake pavilion at the school.

So when they had nothing to do, Fang Ji would take his brother to the mid-lake pavilion to sit side by side. His brother would sit quietly, he would sit with his legs dangling, and the two would chat about everything under the sun, occasionally hanging up a few calls from his parents, brother, and sister in between, having a splendid time.

But in the midst of this comfortable and peaceful time, a familiar person suddenly passed by.

Oh, Qi Xiuyi.

Seeing Qi Xiuyi, Fang Ji remembered the scene from a few months ago when Qi Xiuyi and his brother had hit it off.

He immediately and quietly scooted his butt, moving a little to the side, while also turning half his body in an attempt to block his brother’s figure.

But unexpectedly, Qi Xiuyi’s footsteps didn’t hesitate at all and came straight towards the mid-lake pavilion.

It turned out he was intentionally coming to this spot!

Fang Ji stood up without a change in expression and said to his brother, “Brother, let’s go over there and buy some snacks. I’m so hungry.”

Fang Chengyu gave him a surprised look and stood up: “Okay. But how are you hungry so soon? Didn’t we just finish eating not long ago?”

Fang Ji tugged his brother’s arm and acted cute: “Aiya, brother, let’s go! I heard the cafeteria’s egg pancakes are pretty good recently, let’s go try them!”

Fang Chengyu sighed: “Alright, alright, don’t act so cute outside, there are people watching.”

Fang Ji was delighted, having smoothly糊弄 (hū nong, “fooled” or “muddled”) his way past the issue.

However, just as he was leading his brother away, planning to just nod and say hi to Qi Xiuyi before quickly departing…

Qi Xiuyi took the initiative to call out to them: “Chengyu-ge, Fang Ji!”

Fang Chengyu happened to see Qi Xiuyi as well, and a happy smile appeared on his face: “Good afternoon, Xiuyi. You came here to enjoy the breeze too?”

Fang Ji unhappily shook the bell on his wrist, smiled, and greeted: “Hey, bro, what a coincidence! Hey, hurry into the pavilion, my brother and I just had a prime spot, it’s empty now, that feng shui throne is all yours!”

Qi Xiuyi said: “Oh, that’s not necessary.”

He walked straight up to the two of them and took something out of his pocket: “I came looking for you two specifically.”

Fang Chengyu was surprised: “Oh?”

Fang Ji smiled: “Oh?”

He saw Qi Xiuyi take out two tickets from his pocket.

He looked down at the two tickets carefully, handed one to Fang Chengyu, and the other to Fang Ji.

Fang Chengyu took the ticket and read the words on it slowly: “【Wendong Museum】Limited Trial Visit Invitation…”

Lin Chen slowly blinked twice.

He looked up at Qi Xiuyi and smiled: “It’s completely built?”

Seeing Fang Chengyu’s gentle smile, Qi Xiuyi couldn’t help but smile back. But his tone was wistful as he said: “Yeah, it’s been a year since construction started… The museum will be completely set up soon. Before it officially opens to the public, I wanted to invite you guys to take a look first.”

While the two were talking, Fang Ji’s brain was spinning excitedly at the name of the museum.

A gift named after his brother, what a good idea!

Should he learn from this? As long as he could justify the reason for building a building, it would be a piece of cake to ask his parents, brother, and sister for financial support!

However, after thinking for a long time, Fang Ji couldn’t think of what kind of building he could build.

His initially excited mood quickly turned gloomy again.

In his gloom, he looked at the invitation ticket front and back and suddenly noticed a small, light gold serial number in the bottom left corner of the front.

No.059.

…Damn it, it’s obviously a randomly picked, thoughtless serial number!

Fang Ji quietly pouted and curiously peeked at his brother’s ticket serial number.

No.002!

Fang Ji’s eyes widened in surprise, and he “waa-ed” on the spot: “It’s ticket number two!”

Fang Chengyu looked down in surprise, only then noticing the serial number on the ticket.

Fang Ji was inexplicably a little unhappy, feeling as if someone had beaten him to the punch in giving a gift.

…Brother is clearly his brother, what is Qi Xiuyi doing!

So, he asked Qi Xiuyi with a grin: “What’s up, doesn’t my brother deserve ticket number one? Why give him number two? ‘Fess up, who did you give number one to?”

Qi Xiuyi glanced at him expressionlessly and said: “I saved ticket number one for my brother.”

Lin Chen was startled: “…”

Fang Ji: “…”

Fang Ji was stunned for a moment, then silently shut his mouth, managing to squeeze out after a long while: “Oh, that’s fair.”

Qi Xiuyi didn’t say anything, just seemed a bit down.

He shifted his gaze back to Fang Chengyu and asked seriously: “Can you guys come?”

Fang Chengyu gave him a gentle smile and carefully placed the ticket into the inner pocket of his clothes.

Fang Chengyu promised him: “Thank you for the invitation. Fang Ji and I will be there on time.”

…

After parting with Qi Xiuyi, on the way home with his brother, Fang Ji couldn’t help but chatter to his brother about the stories he had heard about the two Qi brothers.

As he talked, Fang Ji felt it was a bit of a pity.

He said: “Qi Wendong is a very impressive person, even my friends praise him all the time. It’s a shame you’ve never met him, brother, otherwise you might have become friends—I heard Qi Wendong also loves strawberries, maybe he could have gone with you to eat strawberry hot pot.”

Fang Chengyu smiled: “It’s okay, you can eat strawberry hot pot alone too.”

Fang Ji retorted: “No way, how can you go out to eat good food alone, that’s too lonely! Whenever you want to eat, brother, I’ll go with you!”

The two chatted as they walked and soon arrived back at the villa near the school.

After dinner, Fang Chengyu, as usual, was busy with school matters for over an hour. When his dinner had mostly digested, he sent Fang Ji back to his room and went to take a bath himself.

He took his phone into the bathroom, and after soaking in the tub, he draped his arms over the side, finally switched to WeChat, and browsed the chirping messages @-ing him in the sixty-million work group chat.

Fang Dad: [@Liu Fang, it’s been almost half a month, when will the big son figure out the reason for Xiao Ji’s anger?]

Fang Mom: [@Liu Fang, please have the big son coax Xiao Ji well.]

Fang Bro: [@Liu Fang, please have the big brother think of a good solution.]

Fang Sis: [@Liu Fang, please have the big brother answer a video call when Xiao Ji isn’t looking, I want to see Xiao Ji.]

Lin Chen calmly began to edit a message.

Liu Fang: [@All members, the reason for Fang Ji’s anger has been identified. It has been determined that the anger cannot be resolved remotely via online methods. Please everyone privately send me your available dates for returning to the country and home within this month before 20:00 today. I will formulate the most comprehensive action plan for everyone based on the schedule.]