Chu Luo was soon on vacation too, and Chu's Dad went to pick him up. With one more person at home, there was one more pair of hands to help out. Every morning, Chu Luo would get up early with Chu's Dad and Chu's Mom and head out, while Chu Yang was still firmly kept at home.
Chu Yang didn't sit idle at home. She cleaned the entire house, then made some cooling summer foods. The rice paddies were just about ready for harvest, so Chu's Dad arranged for a combine harvester to come and harvest their crop, and so began the days of drying rice grains in the sun again.
Chu Yang sat under the eaves wearing short sleeves and shorts, holding half a watermelon in one hand, a straw hat on her head, slippers on her feet, with rice grains spread all over the yard. All she needed to do was go flip them occasionally. When the sun had nearly set, she would gather up the grains with her family, then repeat it all the next day.
In the capital city, at the boxing gym, Chi Yan was sparring with someone... After a fierce exchange of blows, Chi Yan was lying on the floor catching his breath. Then he went to the locker room, showered, and went home.
That evening, the Yuan family was hosting a banquet and had invited the Chi family. So Chi Yan went.
A group of people, mostly guys, gathered around Chi Yan. They were all talking about cars, racing, basketball, video games and stuff like that.
"Brother Chi Yan," a familiar voice rang out. Everyone instantly fell silent and shot Chi Yan a sympathetic look. Some had already found excuses to leave.
Chi Yan frowned and looked over at Yuan Zhi. Why did your family invite the Zhu family?
Yuan Zhi shrugged. Can't be helped. We all run in the same circles. Still have to give them face.
Before Zhu Ruxin could make her way over, Chi Yan quickly found an excuse and left. Seeing him take off as soon as she arrived, Zhu Ruxin's face fell. But mindful of her uncle's wishes, she forced a smile back on.
Chi Yan went to a corner of the yard and sat down. Zhu Ruxin probably wouldn't come looking for him here. He took out his phone to message Chu Yang.
But Chu Yang had gone to bed early after her exhausting day, so there was no reply. Their daily video call didn't happen today either.
Seeing no response from Chu Yang after messaging her, Chi Yan considered calling her. Just then a server walked by, "Young Master Chi, Young Master Yuan is looking for you upstairs in the room to the left."
Chi Yan nodded. I'll call Yang Yang when I get home tonight.
Chi Yan went upstairs, about to push open the door to the left room when he froze. Out of the corner of his eye he glimpsed Yuan Zhi leaving the room. The server just said Yuan Zhi was waiting for him upstairs?
Chi Yan immediately took two steps back. Turning, he left.
Downstairs and around the corner by the side entrance, Chi Yan spotted Yuan Zhi chatting happily with a girl. Clearly not looking for him at all.
Yuan Zhi caught sight of Chi Yan standing to one side. "Chi Yan, what are you doing standing there?"
Chi Yan walked over, nodded at the girl, then pulled Yuan Zhi aside. "Weren't you looking for me?"
Yuan Zhi looked puzzled. "No I wasn't."
Chi Yan was serious. "A server just told me you were waiting for me upstairs in the left room."
Yuan Zhi's expression changed. "Definitely not. And the left room upstairs is a guest room. I think it was the Zhu girl who said she wanted to rest, so Mother let her use that room."
Chi Yan's eyes turned icy cold. "I was about to go in when I caught a glimpse of you coming around the corner down here, so I didn't enter."
Yuan Zhi considered this. "That Zhu girl has been relentlessly pursuing you to no avail. I guess she wanted to try some unsavory tricks?"
Chi Yan said, "Anyway, we're at your place today, so you deal with it."
Yuan Zhi nodded. "Fine, fine. I'll handle it. You wait here." With that, he left, but not before exchanging some words with the girl from before.
Meanwhile, Zhu Ruxin had been waiting in the room the whole time, but no one showed up. She frowned. "Could Brother Chi Yan not have heard the server?"
She shook her head. "Impossible. I didn't say it was me. If it was Yuan Zhi asking for him, there's no way he wouldn't have come. The server probably couldn't find Brother Chi Yan. I'll wait a little longer."
After about ten minutes, Zhu Ruxin was growing impatient. Then came two knocks on the door. Zhu Ruxin instantly perked up, tightly gripping an object in her hand. The door opened, and Zhu Ruxin eagerly pounced. "Brother Chi Yan, you've come?"
As Zhu Ruxin flung herself forward, she aimed the object in her hand right at the person's arm and jabbed it in. Uncle said as long as she used this needle on someone, she could have her way with them.
But she had miscalculated. Because the person wasn't Chi Yan, but a server. "Wha—" the server got out before feeling a sting in his arm. He promptly fainted.
Zhu Ruxin: Huh? Something's not right!
The man collapsed. Outside, Yuan Zhi and another person stood, staring fixedly into the room, looks of shock on their faces. "What have you done? Murder?"
Seeing it wasn't Chi Yan on the floor but the server, and hearing the sharpness in Yuan Zhi's tone, people downstairs immediately came up. "What's going on?"
Zhu Ruxin quickly concealed the needle in her hand so no one would see. She shook her head. "I...I didn't. He just fainted for some reason."
Yuan Zhi didn't care what she was planning to do. If it had been Chi Yan walking in, the one passed out would be Chi Yan!
"Call 120 (emergency services)!" Yuan Zhi ordered.
The other guests who heard the commotion came upstairs, confused about what was happening. They only saw the Zhu girl standing over a collapsed server, while Young Master Yuan was telling people to call emergency services.
Zhu Ruxin kept shaking her head. "No...it's got nothing to do with me. I was resting in the room when he came in and just..."
Yuan Zhi said coldly, "I saw you jab something into his arm."
Zhu Ruxin put both hands behind her back. "I...I didn't."
Mrs. Yuan came forward. "Little Zhi, what is going on?"
Yuan Zhi recounted everything, leaving out Chi Yan's part. Blaming it all on Zhu Ruxin was good enough.
Mrs. Yuan thought for a bit before profusely apologizing to the guests and placating them. She hadn't intended on inviting the Zhu family in the first place. But they all circulated in the same circles, so she had to keep up appearances, especially considering Zhu Ruxin's uncle was no ordinary man.
While many disliked the Zhu family, friendly ties still had to be maintained on the surface.
"Miss Zhu, you must have been so startled. We will get to the bottom of this. Please go home and rest first."
Just then, Zhu Ruying walked in from outside. He had stepped out to use the restroom and returned to hearing things about his sister.
"Sis, what happened?"
Zhu Ruxin tearfully threw herself into Zhu Ruying's arms. "They bullied me, brother!"
Zhu Ruying comforted her as he surveyed the room. Facing Mrs. Yuan he asked, "What is the meaning of this, Yuan family?"
Before Mrs. Yuan could respond, Yuan Zhi scoffed. "What do you mean 'meaning'? I should be asking what your Zhu family is playing at! Coming to my home to cause trouble? Do you even know what your sister did?"
When Zhu Ruying heard this, though reluctant to admit it, considering what he knew of his sister's personality...
