At 9:45 in the morning, Gu Sheng arrived outside the expert residential building, right on time for his 10 o’clock appointment with Mr. Zhang. After obediently cooperating with the security check, he heard the security guard say that the Zhao brothers and Mr. Zhang had already gone in.
Gu Sheng didn’t say anything, but he was not happy. Mr. Zhang was a diagnosed psychiatric patient, and whether he did things on purpose or not, it was pointless to argue with someone so unreasonable—what else could Gu Sheng do?
So, the previous night, he had already signed a legally binding letter of intent with Mr. Zhang under the witness of both parties’ lawyer teams. Whatever Mr. Zhang said didn’t count; if he wanted to break the contract, he'd have to pay up.
Besides, after forwarding his chat records and voice messages to his father, letting him know what kind of connections he’d arranged for Mr. Zhang this time, he had fulfilled his purpose.
His mind busy the whole way, Gu Sheng walked up to his father’s house and was let in by the new bodyguard at the door.
He passed the entryway and entered the spacious living room. There, he saw Mr. Zhang with puffy eyes, wiping away a nosebleed, but the look in his eyes... was like a predator who just found his quarry.
Don’t even ask how Gu Sheng could tell.
Second Young Master Zhao suddenly came over, handing him a phone showing a recording of how Mi Xiaoxiao had dealt with Mr. Zhang.
After watching it, Gu Sheng, like most of the others, was left speechless. He realized he’d misjudged his little sister! He subconsciously glanced at his father sitting in the executive chair and his real sister standing by him... It had to be said, his sister looked even more like their father than he did.
The “cheap son” had become increasingly cautious and increasingly obedient. Qin Jingzhou was happy to see it, even if he still couldn’t stand this son.
Still, he had to admit, Gu Sheng carried a great amount of fortune, and not without reason. Among the same class of capitalists as his maternal grandfather, Gu Sheng was rare for having a lower moral bottom line—he only drained others, but didn’t destroy them. Plus, both grandfather and grandson took philanthropy seriously, sponsoring schools and hospitals and the like—commendable enough.
So, Qin Jingzhou wasn’t going to go out of his way to disciple or help his cheap son, but neither would he slap him in the face the moment he tried to approach.
He needed to quickly elevate his own fortune in this world, without causing any unnecessary trouble—if he, as biological father, didn’t have enough fortune to spare, how could he shelter his daughter? And how could his daughter and her childhood sweetheart become the new Fate’s Son and Daughter?
Qin Jingzhou said, “Everyone’s here.”
Then Ling Jing added, “Once you’ve tried on the prosthetics and paid, you can scram.” It was clear this “scram” was aimed squarely at Mr. Zhang.
Mr. Zhang wiped all the blood away. Not only did he not take offense, he actually felt even closer and more familiar with the Mi family.
As someone with mental illness, he firmly believed that dislike and resentment, just like fondness and admiration, were all part of emotion. And emotions held no distinction in worth.
Love and hate, after all, were but a fine line apart.
For example, after taking a punch, he'd just been wishing to retaliate and rip Mi Xiaoxiao apart, but now the more he thought about her, the more he liked her... As long as he got rid of Mi Jingzhou, he would surely find happiness with Mi Xiaoxiao!
While Mr. Zhang was still lost in his wild fantasies, Second Young Master Zhao, with the help of his elder brother and Gu Zhiwei, got his custom prosthetic attached.
The new prosthetic was just a skeleton, but far more delicate than the crude devices from before. He tried stretching his fingers and making a fist... and a perfectly apt phrase came to mind: “moving one’s arm to direct a finger”—it really was just like using his own arm!
Second Young Master Zhao was so excited he jumped up on the spot.
Ling Jing interrupted him directly. “Sign and pay.” As she spoke, she pushed over the contract she’d drafted herself.
Qin Jingzhou’s handmade prosthetics came with after-sales support, and modifications were negotiable—but all of that would cost extra.
Second Young Master Zhao quickly signed his name. Then, carefully stashed the handbook accompanying the contract and prosthetic, fearing anyone might change their mind.
Moreover, he could tell that a major drama involving Mr. Zhang was about to unfold. But a smart man knew not to let curiosity get the best of him. He and his brother exchanged a knowing look, dropped off the check, and left with profuse thanks—making a quick getaway.
Mr. Zhang watched the Zhao brothers leave and chuckled softly. “See? People like them, always timid and calculating, always putting benefit and harm first, are entirely untrustworthy.”
At this moment, Qin Jingzhou was busy answering questions for ten students sent over by Chief Wang, and Ling Jing had her head down, continuing to compile teaching materials. Neither so much as acknowledged Mr. Zhang.
Seeing this, Mi Xiaoxiao returned to her desk and resumed her exercises.
Gu Sheng, seeing his family’s attitude, also kept quiet.
Only Gu Zhiwei went upstairs, brought down a case, and opened it in front of Mr. Zhang. “The prosthetic, contract, and handbook are all here. Check everything, sign, pay, and then you’re free to go.”
Mr. Zhang was confident; his gut told him Professor Mi wouldn’t mess with the prosthetic. With the help of his bodyguards, he quickly glanced over the shiny new skeletal prosthesis for his right leg, but only after carefully reading the contract and the handbook did he sign and pay.
He had his bodyguards close up the case. Placing both hands on the wheelchair arms, he said, “I will repay you in my own way. And... I like Xiaoxiao very much. Please allow me to pursue you.”
Mi Xiaoxiao, without a word, picked up the Pusher. Gu Zhiwei fetched his usual pastry kneading board from the kitchen.
Mi Xiaoxiao used the Pusher to suction up the half-body-high kneading board and shoved it straight at Mr. Zhang.
The childhood sweethearts worked seamlessly together—no words needed.
Mr. Zhang took another solid hit. No broken bones, just torn skin and bleeding. He squinted as he smiled: Xiaoxiao truly hated him... But the more she hated him now, the more she would love him later.
His bodyguards didn’t manage to save the boss immediately—mainly because they hadn’t reacted in time. But when it came to righting the wheelchair and checking on the boss’s wounds, they were already experts.
But with the look the boss was wearing... he really did seem to be having an episode. The bodyguards exchanged a glance, and without bothering to ask for their boss’s opinion, simply hoisted the wheelchair and made a run for it.
The bodyguard carrying the prosthetic case lingered for a while—he needed to apologize, explain the situation, and say goodbye properly.
Mr. Zhang might act on a whim, regardless of anything, but his employees and family certainly hadn’t lost their minds. After all, the professors living in the expert residential building were all extremely well-connected, and more than a few could easily get word straight “to the top.” If you could avoid offending them, you should.
Qin Jingzhou was never going to make trouble for working people, and just waved for the bodyguard to go.
Mr. Zhang had failed again, and Gu Sheng’s gut told him something was off.
He spent half an hour sorting through his thoughts, but still couldn’t put his finger on the problem. Just then, his phone chimed. He glanced down and his face changed dramatically: his assistant had sent a photo. Mr. Zhang, face swollen and red, was holding Elizabeth’s hand. The two of them—were at the very least talking amicably.
Gu Sheng pocketed his phone at last, suddenly understanding what felt wrong. He looked at his little sister—whose mood had brightened under her childhood sweetheart’s coaxing—then observed his bio-father and his father’s girlfriend, who’d never once given Mr. Zhang the time of day. After a moment of consideration, he finally spoke. “Mr. Zhang is very obsessive. He said he wants to pursue my sister...”
Mi Xiaoxiao snorted quietly. Gu Zhiwei frowned.
Gu Sheng smiled wryly and went on, “I know, you’re going to say I’m stating the obvious. Mr. Zhang fell in love with Elizabeth at first sight; he lost his leg saving her. Now that he’s taken a liking to my sister, he won’t just forget his feelings—instead...”
Gu Zhiwei replied smoothly, face expressionless, “Of course adults choose to have both.”
Gu Sheng could only offer a bitter smile. “Exactly.” Steeling himself—mainly emboldened by the tough-looking security guards his father had hired—he added, “I wanted to work with Elizabeth to give Mr. Zhang a little lesson. Now it seems... the joke’s on me. They might’ve teamed up to handle me instead.”
After that, he “briefed” the family on Elizabeth’s background.
Mi Xiaoxiao cut to the chase. “So what if her mother’s from Hua Country? Elizabeth’s absolutely a foreigner. If she learns about the prosthetics Dad made for Mr. Zhang... That’s a foreign influence risk...”
At once, Gu Zhiwei grew solemn.
Gu Sheng was deeply pleased—his sister was sharp.
He added, “Mr. Zhang is mentally ill. If he really hurt you, he might not even be criminally liable. That’s why he can be so reckless. All those ‘accidents’ the rich heirs go through in the movies... He’d really make sure you experienced them all.”
Mi Xiaoxiao might not be that close to her brother, but she knew what was important. “You’re right.”
Gu Zhiwei, more nervous than his little sweetheart, gripped her hand tightly.
Ling Jing kept her head down, working on the teaching materials, unmoved.
Qin Jingzhou finished grading a paper, then finally looked up and said, “Dad will prepare a few little things for you—enough to keep you safe.”
Gu Sheng, still worried, thought it over and decided to speak up. “Dad, I think your amazing three-piece security kit is not enough for my sister to handle Mr. Zhang. You should ask Chief Wang to assign some bodyguards like the guys outside your place to her.”
Qin Jingzhou finally gave this cheap son a proper look. “Good judgment.” He turned to his daughter. “So, do you want a bodyguard?”
Listening to sense is never a mistake. Mi Xiaoxiao thought it over and reluctantly agreed—if she was going to feel vain about something, it was her “my dad is the best” pride, not the empty flashiness of being surrounded by bodyguards.
Gu Sheng finally relaxed a little. As he left his father’s house and headed back to his company, he kept inwardly cursing: Elizabeth, Mr. Zhang, you two actually dared to play me!
He immediately had his assistant chase Mr. Zhang to ask when he’d fulfill the letter of intent and buy that plot of land. Hostile or not, grudges or not, all the benefits he was supposed to get, he would get no matter what!
Because Mi Xiaoxiao and Gu Zhiwei were starting their final year of high school, they started school in early August.
Capital City No. 1 High School was only fifteen minutes from home by bike. The two childhood sweethearts rode bicycles to school every day, just plain and simple.
On the third day of the new term, something happened to Mi Xiaoxiao.
When Qin Jingzhou heard, his face remained expressionless. “It’s time to give them a wake-up call.”
Ling Jing blinked and thought, Are you talking about opening up the top of their skulls?