At that, Qi Du’s sharp gaze swept over, startling Madam Cheng and making her feel very uncomfortable.
He let out a mocking laugh. “The child is still so young, talking about marriage and engagement. What? Do you think my child, Qi Du’s child, won’t be able to find a partner in the future?”
“Not to mention those arrangements his parents made. Little Treasure is still young. When he grows up, he’ll have his own ideas. If he wants to find a man, let him find a man; if he wants to find a woman, let him find a woman. And if he doesn’t want to find anyone, that’s fine too. What does a childhood engagement count for?”
“Besides, my family also has a son. Why should you take the child away?”
“If your child is so desperate to get married, he can just go with our Little Treasure.”
Madam Cheng’s face flushed red. “You… !”
Qi Du didn’t even bother to glance at her. “Me what?”
“Did I say something wrong?”
Using the term “desperate to get married” to describe the Cheng family’s eldest young master was a real slap in the face. Madam Cheng was furious, but she couldn’t out-argue Qi Du, and her heart was pounding unsteadily.
Cheng’s father was also too angry to speak. “We’ve been good friends with the Xu family for so many years, and we’ve watched Xiaxia grow up. You can’t take him away like this.”
Qi Du snorted coldly. “Ridiculous!”
“Are you teaching me how to do things?”
“You were close friends with Little Treasure’s parents for many years, yet how come I don’t see you taking good care of his child? In the days since his parents passed, the child hasn’t even had a single proper meal. Did you ever care?”
“Now you’re playing the emotional card with me? Aren’t you ashamed? Doesn’t your conscience hurt?”
“If you truly cared for Little Treasure, would you tolerate your own son yelling at him and even shoving him?”
“Your scheming is loud enough. You think that the dignified little young master of the Xu family should now go back to your home to be a servant for your own son? You think that brings you glory? That vanity is like dog shit. Why don’t you take a piss and look at what you really are?”
“You call yourselves noble madams from wealthy families, but your vicious scheming and smug calculations can’t be hidden even under three inches of makeup. People like you, I really don’t know how you’ve managed to survive in the business world.”
“It’s just that B City’s threshold is low and there’s too much bullshit, which allowed a bunch of cats and dogs like you… things that don’t know if they’re human or ghost… to thrive. Get lost, and don’t block my sight!”
This outburst was even more merciless. He retorted so smoothly that the Cheng family couldn’t find a chance to interrupt.
0617 was terrified and couldn’t help asking Qi Du in his mind, 『Hasn’t anyone ever wanted to sew your mouth shut?』
Qi Du: “Plenty.”
『And then?』
“They were countered.”
0617 subconsciously swallowed. Suddenly, agreeing to the host’s proposal of playing mom and dad seemed very unreliable. He always felt that Qi Du was like a fugitive murderer, and Little Treasure might escape a snake pit only to fall into a wolf den.
“Boo hoo hoo, my little male lead, your fate is truly bitter.”
Xu Yangxia was quietly eating, but he was also pricking up his ears to listen to what the adults were saying.
Although he didn’t always understand what Qi Du was saying, he could feel that this new uncle was really amazing!
He had shut up those nasty relatives until they couldn’t speak, and even Uncle Cheng’s family was under control.
Xu Yangxia’s parents were newcomers to the business circle who had built their own fortune. They hadn’t established themselves in B City for long, while the Cheng family was an old wealthy clan that had been settled here for a long time. Naturally, there was an invisible chain of contempt in the circle.
Every time the Cheng family interacted with them, they would adopt a superior attitude, and even a child could sense that.
They also had their own cliques. From a young age, he knew which ones were treated as followers and lackeys. Xu Yangxia knew all of this.
Cheng Huan often told him, “We’re not from the same world.” This kind of subtle rhetoric must have been inherited from their parents’ generation.
At that moment, he certainly didn’t understand the deeper meaning, but Little Treasure felt that Qi Du was so, so amazing for having cursed out Madam Cheng, who had once given his mommy a hard time, until she was utterly humiliated.
Seeing him look at himself with big, cute, blinking eyes, Qi Du coughed a little awkwardly. “What’s wrong? Are you full?”
Xu Yangxia nodded, and then added quietly, “Uncle, you’re so amazing~”
Qi Du didn’t correct his address. The child was still young; it didn’t matter whether he called him “Dad” or not. As long as he and the system could make him happy, that was fine.
But Xu Yangxia seemed very well-behaved. His parents had raised him well; he was quite polite.
It’s just that he seemed a bit timid. No wonder that after living under someone else’s roof, he was PUA’d into becoming the main gong’s doormat.
Qi Du’s large hand gently landed on the top of his head and stroked it very softly. “Good child, don’t be afraid. When my people arrive, you’ll come with me. No one will bully you anymore.”
The Xu family members still wanted to keep Xu Yangxia. They kept saying that Qi Du was a stranger and so on, telling Xu Yangxia not to trust him.
Qi Du was too lazy to waste words. He simply looked calmly at the little male lead.
0617 was a bit anxious. 『Host! They’re badmouthing us! Why aren’t you worried?』
Qi Du said calmly, “I’ve said so much, my mouth is dry.”
“Anyway, if it comes to a fight, no one can beat the two of us. When the time comes, I’ll just pick up the child, pack him up, and take him away. Why bother with all this?”
0617 was anxious inside. 『But the little male lead is still very young. His values haven’t been established yet. What if they persuade him?』
Qi Du laughed once. After the Xu family had worn out their tongues trying to coax Xu Yangxia, he added quietly, “Oh, so you’re all good people. Then why didn’t you give Little Treasure enough to eat?”
After saying that, he looked at Xu Yangxia with a serious gaze.
“Little Treasure, remember this: I, who gave you a full meal, might not be a good person. But they, who couldn’t even give you a full meal… they are not human.”
“My people will be here in about ten minutes. You can go back to your room and pack your things. The rest will be sealed up once the property notarization procedures are done, and they’ll be returned to you when you come of age.”
“We’re going to leave this place for a while. I hope you’re mentally prepared.”
Xu Yangxia looked at him. This time, he truly felt that his former comfortable life was slipping away. He had no parents anymore. He couldn’t live in this happy home anymore.
Actually, he really didn’t want to leave. Children are attached to their homes, and Qi Du didn’t know how to comfort a child. Without 0617 there, Xu Yangxia could only comfort himself. He very bravely wiped his own tears.
“Uncle, I don’t want to leave (。•́︿•̀。)”
Qi Du looked at the weather forecast on his phone. “We have to leave, Little Treasure. There’s a heavy rainstorm in a few days.”
0617: ???!!!
『Do you know how to take care of a child?』
『He has no sense of security right now. Comfort him! Say gently, “We’re going home together. There will be hot meals and a warm bed.” If you don’t say anything, how can he be willing to go with you!』
Qi Du was annoyed by 0617’s nagging and clicked his tongue impatiently. His expression turned even sourer.
He glanced at Xu Yangxia. The latter quietly lowered his hands, held back his tears, and as if afraid of him, forced out a few words calmly: “Uncle, I’ll go with you.”