“Xiao Tong, dinner is ready.” The door was knocked from outside. The person calling him was Aunt Liu, the housekeeper who had worked in the Chi household since he could remember.
Chi Tong closed the webpage and stood up to open the door. Aunt Liu had not left yet, she stood at the doorway and lowered her voice to tell him, “The master and madam, along with Chi Yu, have also come home for dinner today. They’re downstairs in the living room now.”
Chi Tong’s expression did not change. “Thank you, Auntie. I understand.”
Aunt Liu seemed to want to say something more, but after hesitating, she chose not to speak and simply turned to head downstairs first.
Although there were quite a few people downstairs, the atmosphere was quiet, with only the sound of the television news acting as dull background noise.
By the time Chi Tong reached the top of the stairs, he could already see the people sitting on the sofa below. His steps were unhurried, the soft soles of his slippers making steady, rhythmic sounds against the wooden floor.
Chi Yu instinctively looked up the moment he heard footsteps and immediately knew Chi Tong was coming down.
Chi Tong was wearing a light-colored stand-collar shirt. His gaze met Chi Yu’s from above, his dark eyes almost entirely devoid of emotion. In contrast, Chi Yu’s expression was far less controlled, too many emotions surged up at once, forcing him to quickly avert his gaze. Otherwise, he would inevitably expose something inappropriate.
“Grandfather, Chi Tong is down,” Chi Yu said to the old man on the sofa.
The Old Master Chi had just been speaking with Chi Yu’s father, Chi Guangxu. In reality, it was mostly Chi Guangxu talking, the old man only occasionally responded or asked a question.
Chi Guangxu was speaking under considerable pressure, carefully selecting what little progress or achievements he could report recently, almost like presenting a performance review to earn favor.
This kind of scene played out every time they returned home for dinner, it had practically become a fixed ritual for Chi family’s eldest son to maintain his presence.
Every time Chi Yu saw this scene, he felt a bitter, resentful unease. Why was it that, as children of the same Chi family, their side had to be so deferential and submissive, while Chi Tong, who had grown up by the old master’s side, could have anything he wanted without effort?
Chi Guangxu also deeply felt the unfairness. Whenever he drank too much, he would even cry and complain in front of his family.
When Chi Tong’s biological father was still alive, he had been a son favored by the Old Master Chi. No one expected that even after his death, his influence would extend so far that it also brought Chi Tong into the old master’s favor.
As the elder brother, he had already failed to compare with his younger brother, now even his brother’s child surpassed him.
Chi Yu also felt there was something strange and almost cursed about their family’s fate. Since childhood, he had tried hard to act obedient and pleasing in front of his grandfather, and although the old master did show him kindness at times, the difference between him and Chi Tong was like heaven and earth.
It could be said that although Chi Tong had no parents, as long as the Old Master Chi was still alive, he alone was enough to make Chi Guangxu’s entire family grind their teeth in frustration.
And yet, Chi Yu, who outside casually referred to Chi Tong as “the son of a mentally ill woman”, never dared to act recklessly in front of him. This was not only because of the old master’s presence, but also because he had, in childhood, personally experienced something of Chi Tong’s “abnormality”, a kind of reckless, life-threatening madness.
When they were children, Chi Yu once mentioned Chi Tong’s mother’s illness and his father’s death in front of him, and was dragged by Chi Tong into the backyard swimming pool, nearly drowned.
Chi Yu could never forget that moment, how, when he was rescued amid the housekeeper’s screams, he saw himself reflected in Chi Tong’s eyes standing on the pool edge. For a long time afterward, it became his childhood nightmare, and he truly feared that Chi Tong might one day kill him.
Because of this, the Old Master Chi once sent Chi Tong for a long period of psychological treatment. The treatment seemed to have been quite effective, Chi Tong’s emotions were no longer so unstable.
But did looking normal mean one truly was normal? Chi Yu felt that the overly blessed, almost flawless appearance of Chi Tong might itself be a kind of omen, an outward elegance hiding inner decay.
“Uncle, Aunt,” Chi Tong greeted Chi Guangxu and his wife. His tone was polite and calm, but when he turned to Chi Yu, he paused slightly before adding, “Chi Yu.”
That brief pause made Chi Yu feel uneasy. He could casually label Chi Tong’s mental illness in front of others, but in front of Chi Tong himself, he did not dare utter even a single careless word.
Chi Yu’s gaze flickered. “Xiao Tong, long time no see.”
The Old Master Chi stood up and shifted the topic. “Alright, let’s eat.”
He was still vigorous and sharp, the unquestioned center of authority in the Chi family. As long as he was around, the family order would not change.
At the table, Chi Guangxu sat on the old master’s left, and Chi Tong sat on his right. The table was already set with dishes and utensils. Aunt Liu served both the old master and Chi Tong a bowl of soup.
Chi Guangxu took out a bottle of wine he had brought with him. “Dad, I just managed to buy this wine a few days ago. You said you liked it before. It’s rare that I can drink with you today, why don’t we open it?”
The old master glanced at the bottle and smiled. “Alright.”
Although Chi Guangxu was not the old master’s favorite child, age had softened him somewhat. He also liked a lively, united family atmosphere, so he was in a fairly good mood at the moment.
While Chi Guangxu instructed someone to open the wine, the old master also asked about Chi Yu’s recent situation.
Chi Yu selected only the pleasant parts to report, omitting his days of partying and leisure, and instead describing how diligently he was working in his nominal position at the company.
The wine was poured into the glasses, and its mellow aroma slowly spread through the air.
Old Master Chi took a small sip, savored it for a moment, and said, “Good wine.”
Taking advantage of the relatively pleasant atmosphere at the table, Chi Yu suddenly said to Chi Tong, “Xiao Tong, come out and hang out with me sometime.”
The social circles of Chi Tong and Chi Yu were like those of a moralist and a libertine, completely incompatible and never intersecting.
While everyone continued picking dishes and drinking, more attention than usual still drifted toward Chi Tong.
Old Master Chi said, “It’s not a bad thing for young people to go out and see the world more. Just remember to conduct yourself properly and not behave recklessly.”
This was both an approval of Chi Yu’s invitation and a warning. Although the old master seemed indifferent most of the time, he was fully aware of many things.
Chi Tong calmly picked up his food, clearly not very invested in the topic of this family dinner. “I’m not interested.”
Chi Yu was about to say something else, but the old master’s next sentence abruptly shifted the atmosphere.
“Xiao Tong is also at the age where he should start working in the company. I’ve already spoken to your Uncle Wu. He’ll arrange for someone under him to take you in.”
Both Chi Guangxu and Chi Yu froze.
Although Chi Yu also held a nominal position in the company, he was not in any influential department. However, the role the old master had arranged for Chi Tong was directly within the core of the group, even if starting from the bottom, it clearly reflected far greater importance.
Chi Guangxu knew that ever since his younger brother’s death, the old master had carried a sense of compensation toward Chi Tong. What had once been meant for his younger son was now being decisively handed over to his grandson.
By the time the meal was nearing its end, Chi Guangxu was clearly drunk. He remained seated next to the old master and refused to get up to make room for the servants clearing the table.
Both Chi Yu and his mother tried to pull him away, but he shook them off.
“I just want to talk to Dad! Why are you pulling me?!” he shouted loudly, completely abandoning any dignity.
The old master frowned. “Enough. If you have something to say, come to the study with me.”
Chi Guangxu got to his feet and followed somewhat unsteadily behind the old master. Chi Yu and his mother watched nervously as the two men entered the study on the first floor.
Soon after, muffled cries could be heard coming from inside.
“What makes me worse than Guangze? All these years you’ve always looked down on me…”
Chi Yu’s face flushed slightly red. He glanced at Chi Tong with embarrassment, only to find that Chi Tong didn’t seem to be paying any attention at all, he was sitting alone on the sofa, playing with his phone.
Clearly having everything, yet acting as if he didn’t care about any of it, this attitude filled Chi Yu with even deeper resentment.
His emotions shifting repeatedly, Chi Yu walked over to Chi Tong and said, “Xiao Tong, you really should come out and hang out with us sometime. It’s a lot of fun.”
He made the invitation with great enthusiasm, like a salesman desperately promoting his product.
The more untouchable and unapproachable Chi Tong appeared, the more Chi Yu wanted to drag him down into the mud.
Chi Tong lifted his eyes slightly and said indifferently, “If I have time next time.”
With that, he stood up. “Auntie-in-law, I’ll go upstairs first.”
Chi Yu’s mother had all her attention fixed on the study on the first floor. Every word coming from inside was like thunder striking her heart, leaving her no energy for polite conversation. She simply nodded hurriedly at him. “Go ahead.”
Chi Yu watched unwillingly as Chi Tong’s figure disappeared around the corner of the stairs to the second floor. He understood most of why the old master favored Chi Tong, Chi Guangxu had mentioned more than once that Chi Tong resembled his biological father.
According to his father, Chi Tong’s father had once been intelligent and obedient, someone the old master had high hopes for. The only rebellion in his life had ended in the most extreme possible way.
Chi Yu did not fully agree with that assessment. In his view, Chi Tong did not entirely resemble that uncle. At the very least, Chi Tong was not weak, he was a madman.
Chi Yu felt constant fear toward Chi Tong’s existence, and he knew that this fear would only grow more unexpressed as Chi Tong became stronger.
If Chi Tong lived too well, then he would not live well. None of his family would. His father, a man already in his fifties, would still be reduced to tearful complaints in front of the old master.
Just before Chi Tong reached for his bedroom door, the corridor lights behind him flickered on again in response to approaching footsteps, as if chasing after him.
Chi Tong turned his head slightly. At the stairwell, a distorted shadow swayed with hurried movements, though the footsteps themselves were light, deliberately restrained.
The glow of the corridor lights fell onto the worn wooden floor, reflecting a dark sheen like an overly stretched shadow.
Faint noise from downstairs drifted up to the second floor. Feeling a trace of irritation, Chi Tong was about to ignore whoever it was and return to his room when a familiar figure appeared at the stairwell.
“Xiao Tong.” It was Aunt Liu.
Aunt Liu quickly walked up to him and lowered her voice. “Xiao Wei told me that Xiao Yu sometimes messes around outside with all kinds of disreputable people… anyway, it’s not good. I just heard him invite you to go out and play, you mustn’t follow his example.”
Xiao Wei was her son, who worked as a driver for the Chi family.
Aunt Liu had watched Chi Tong grow up almost from childhood, and she always held a special concern for him.
“Thank you, Auntie. I understand,” Chi Tong replied gently, though his expression remained faint and distant.
Under the corridor light, his striking features looked slightly unreal, and his dark eyes held no emotion at all.