Additional Inheritance - Chap 24
Chapter 24
Wen Xiaohui felt like he’d just touched a hot potato1, and tossed the gun2 back into the box.
Luo Yi laughed, “Do you regret it? I told you not to open it.”
Wen Xiaohui was in utter disbelief. “Why did he give you something like this?”
Luo Yi’s lips curled into a sarcastic smile. “He thinks that his son ought to preserve his ruthlessness.” Luo Yi placed the lid back on. “You don’t need to say it.”
“It can’t be…” Wen Xiaohui felt a little uneasy. “Maybe he thinks that boys like these sorts of things. Even though I don’t like them…”
Luo Yi shrugged his shoulders.
Luo Yi threw the box to one side, and changed the topic. “Come on, show me your present.”
Wen Xiaohui didn’t want to ruin the birthday celebration that he’d meticulously organised and therefore, he decided to stop asking. He picked up the gift box and looked at Luo Yi expectantly. He gestured with his eyes to ask Luo Yi to open it.
Luo Yi opened the box and he saw the running shoes inside.
Wen Xiaohui said with a smile, “I haven’t a clue if you lack anything. In any case, you’re running and exercising every day, so consumables like shoes are always practical.”
Luo Yi said seriously, “I really like it. Thank you.”
The smile on Wen Xiaohui’s face grew larger. “Come on, there’s still one more present,” and he pointed to the strawberry cake on the table. “I spent a day learning from Xiao Ma and I made it all by myself. I originally wanted to cook a full table of food, but I can’t cook. I ordered the dishes from a restaurant, so it definitely won’t taste awful.”
They both sat at the table. Luo Yi smiled faintly as he spoke, “It’s the first time that someone has been so thoughtful in preparing for my birthday.”
Wen Xiaohui felt sad when he heard this. Even when his family wasn’t too well off, he would still receive brand new clothes, and there was delicious food every year for his birthday. His parents were both determined so Wen Xiaohui never went without, even when they weren’t rich. In contrast, Luo Yi… Everytime Wen Xiaohui recalled how Luo Yi had grown up all alone, he felt pity and wanted to cherish him. He raised his wine glass. “I wish you a happy birthday.”
They gently clinked their glasses together.
Wen Xiaohui said gallantly, “It doesn’t matter if you’ve never celebrated your birthday. In future, Xiaohui-ge will spend every birthday with you.”
Luo Yi stared at Wen Xiaohui with his hand supporting his chin. “Xiaohui-ge, I still want another present.”
“Huh, what kind of present?”
Luo Yi stood up abruptly. He leant his upper body across the table and stretched his head towards Wen Xiaohui.
Wen Xiaohui’s entire body went rigid, and it was like his blood was flowing in the opposite direction. An immobilisation spell was cast on his body and he was unable to move a single step. Only his eyeballs could move, and they tracked Luo Yi’s chin as he moved closer to kiss him on the forehead.
This was the type of kiss that was as gentle as a brush from a feather, but the area where Wen Xiaohui had been touched felt red-hot as if he’d been burnt. This heat quickly spread to his entire face and all the way to his neck.
Once Luo Yi sat back down, Wen Xiaohui was unable to express how he felt. He thought that Luo Yi was going to kiss him on the… When he started thinking about this, he fiercely stomped on himself.
Luo Yi said with a smile, “I’m going to remember these three presents for the rest of my life.”
Wen Xiaohui’s face became hot like it was burning, but he wasn’t brave enough to ask Luo Yi why his actions were so suggestive. But what if Luo Yi didn’t have any other intentions? Wouldn’t that make him seem one-track minded?
Luo Yi looked down to cut his steak. “Let’s have dinner.”
After taking a breather, Wen Xiaohui felt better and he replied, “Let’s eat. Xiao Ma recommended this restaurant. Anyway, he’s the person to ask if you’re after delicious food.”
“You and Xiao Ma seem to have a great relationship.”
“Yeah, from an early age he’s been both my younger brother and my wife,” grinned Wen Xiaohui.
Wen Xiaohui cut the cake after finishing dinner. He watched Luo Yi eat it with great anticipation. Luo Yi nodded to convey his approval, and Wen Xiaohui placed his hands on his hips and started laughing. He immediately sent a text message to Luo Rui to tell him.
The final form of entertainment was playing computer games. They sat barefoot on the living room sofa playing King of Fighters, laughing and being rowdy until midnight.
Wen Xiaohui, who had been drinking and toiling for an entire day, fell asleep on the sofa when Luo Yi went to the bathroom.
Luo Yi gently patted Wen Xiaohui’s cheek. “Xiaohui-ge, go sleep in bed or you might catch a cold.”
Wen Xiaohui was so tired that his eyes only opened a tiny sliver. “Yeah, in a bit.” He became dazed as he finished speaking.
“Get up, Xiaohui-ge. Let’s go upstairs. Aren’t you going to remove your makeup?”
After hearing ‘remove your makeup,’ Wen Xiaohui started to open his eyes and glanced at Luo Yi resentfully. His struggles were clearly reflected in his eyes.
Luo Yi’s arms went under Wen Xiaohui’s arm and the back of his knees, and he immediately picked him up3.
Wen Xiaohui was surprised, and the shock woke him up even though he was sleepy. However, it’d be too awkward if he were to wake up at this time, so he pretended to be asleep. He lay against Luo Yi’s chest, which had yet to broaden.
Luo Yi stared at Wen Xiaohui’s quivering eyelids. He couldn’t help breaking into a smile, and he carried him upstairs of his own accord and placed Wen Xiaohui on the bed.
Wen Xiaohui was in two minds about getting up to remove his makeup when Luo Yi came over with the makeup remover and flannel in his hands. He said softly, “Lie down, I’ll do it for you.”
Wen Xiaohui was very touched – how could there be such a good child in this world? If only he wasn’t so young, if only he wasn’t Yaya’s son… Wen Xiaohui didn’t dare to wonder about any more what-ifs. These what-ifs were like a heavy chain that would only increase his metaphorical burdens.
The soft flannel wiped his face clean.
Wen Xiaohui’s half lidded eyes observed Luo Yi’s handsome face that was full of concentration accompanied by his fan-shaped, thick and curly eyelashes. Both of his hands discreetly, but tightly grasped the duvet.
“Close your eyes and sleep. Once I’ve removed the makeup, I’ll help you wash your face and apply something on you.”
Wen Xioahui’s shut his eyes tightly. Luo Yi’s tenderness, Luo Yi’s attentiveness, Luo Yi’s perfection – no matter who took his place, wouldn’t they still be tempted?
After he’d finished the entire routine on Wen Xiaohui’s face, the other person was completely fast asleep.
Luo Yi tidied up his stuff, and closed the door very quietly. He went downstairs to the living room.
He took out the gun from the cardboard box, and he headed upstairs with both the gun and the box. He didn’t return to the bedroom and instead he went up to the third floor to the room that was always locked. Wen Xiaohui thought that this was a storage room, and in reality, it was a storage room of sorts. However, it stored items that shouldn’t be seen by others.
He opened the combination lock, then went into the room.
Although the room was large, it didn’t have a single window. Piled up inside were some fitness equipment, books, and crafts. A large photo of a middle-aged man hung in the centre of one of the walls; the man had sharp facial features, thin lips, and his nose was so straight that it resembled the edge of a knife. You could tell that he was a ruthless person from a glance. The photo had lots of holes, which made it look creepy.
Luo Yi casually picked up the compound bow that was wedged in the bow stand. He drew the bow, and his eyes momentarily flashed traces of ferocity and coldness. The arrow shot out, hitting the gap between the man’s eyebrows!
He put the bow down, then pulled the arrow out of the photo with an expressionless face. Afterwards, he lifted up the foam target board that the photo was stuck onto, then he found the button and pressed it.
A bookshelf split in the middle and opened to the sides to reveal a hidden compartment, which took up most of the wall. Unexpectedly, there were dozens of weapons hung up – military dagger, bayonet, bow, crossbow, machete, long sword, and flexible sword; each of them was like a first-class piece of art that was both elegant and expensive, but also full of majesty. From a glance, it looked like a collector’s mini exhibition.
Luo Yi put the gun inside and closed the hidden compartment.
When he got back to the bedroom, Wen Xiaohui was sleeping with his limbs all sprawled out and snoring.
Luo Yi lay down beside him with his hand propping up his head. His fingers traced the outline of Wen Xiaohui’s face, the depths of his pupils were unfathomable like a bottomless spring. His fingers glided from Wen Xiaohui’s forehead to the tip of his nose, then from the tip of the nose to his lips. His fingers gently pressed on Wen Xiaohui’s lips and they were as soft as he’d imagined.
Luo Yi had a sudden urge inside, which spurred him to lower his head. As they were about to touch, Wen Xiaohui yawned and flipped over. He mumbled some words in his dream-like state, which couldn’t be understood by others.
Luo Yi felt like he’d woken up from a dream. His expression instantly relaxed.
The next day when Wen Xiaohui woke up, Luo Yi had already cleared away the horrible mess from the previous day. He had even prepared a piping hot breakfast.
Wen Xiaohui went to stretch his waist, and as soon as his head bent down, he saw the shoes that Luo Yi was wearing. “Oh, you wore them out on your run today.”
Luo Yi smiled and replied, “It supports the arch of the foot very evenly and it has good shock absorption. It’s really comfortable to wear and it looks nice as well.”
“That’s only natural because I chose it.” Wen Xiaohui was extremely happy.
“Let’s eat. Are you on the night shift today?”
“Yeah, so I’m not in a rush to leave.” Wen Xiaohui had only just sat down when he suddenly thought of something. He looked around the living room, but he restrained himself from asking.
Luo Yi asked, “Did you want to ask where the gun is?”
Wen Xiaohui bit down on his chopsticks. “So I wasn’t dreaming?”
“I’ve put it away. Just pretend that you dreamt it since it’s just an ornament.”
In reality, Wen Xiaohui had a lot of questions that he wanted to ask, but he had to forcefully hold them back. At least he’d confirmed one thing, that Luo Yi’s father was definitely not a good person. Although that item wasn’t that difficult to get hold of as long as you had money, normal people tended to buy them for their collections. Who would give it to their underage child as a birthday present? That person must be very dangerous, and he started to fret when he thought about this.
Luo Yi ate a couple of mouthfuls of congee. He raised his head and looked up at Wen Xiaohui. “Xiaohui-ge, everything you’re thinking is written on your face.”
Wen Xiaohui couldn’t resist and touched his face. “Other than my beauty, is there anything else on my face?”
Luo Yi smiled faintly and said, “Stop worrying about it. It’s better if you don’t know about certain things. Don’t worry, you’re very safe.”
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Wen Xiaohui responded, “I’m not worried about my own safety.”
“I’m also very safe so don’t worry.”
Wen Xiaohui nodded.
“Oh yeah, please pass on my thanks to Xiao Ma. The cake was delicious.
Wen Xiaohui chuckled, “No problem, we should have dinner sometime. He was planning to set me up with a boyfriend.”
The hand that Luo Yi was using to pick up food froze. “He’s going to set you up with a boyfriend?”
“Yeah, he said that there’s a friend of a friend who seems really suitable, so I’m planning to meet him.”
“Yeah, you should contact each other frequently first, and don’t judge people based on their appearances.”
Wen Xiaohui said helplessly: “I can’t. Looks are too important.”
Luo Yi smiled and said, “I’m not saying you can’t like good-looking people, but you need to pay attention to his character.”
“Of course, I’ve already learned my lesson from my first experience of falling in love. The only advantage that idiot had was his face. Don’t worry, I’ll be able to judge a person’s character.”
“Are you really able to judge a person’s character?”
“Yes,” said Wen Xiaohui confidently.
Luo Yi nodded; he smiled without saying a word.
Footnotes:
Interestingly, the Chinese equivalent of this phrase uses sweet potato.
This chapter refers to the gift as a knife instead of a gun per the previous chapter (and also a later chapter). I’ve corrected this to gun in line with the print version.
In case this isn’t clear, Luo Yi is princess-carrying WXH.
