Spoiled by a paranoid big shot since childhood. - Chapter 2

As evening fell, inside the speeding Maybach.

Qin Yueyuan sat in the front passenger seat. He slid the partition open and glanced back at the two children, his expression complex.

In the backseat, the pale-skinned, cold-faced Qin Yi’an sat beside the sleeping Xi Bei a small, tear-stained “milk bun” curled up in a deep slumber.

Qin Yi’an was an incredibly solitary child. He rarely cared to interact with anyone, and at times, even his own father found it difficult to fathom his intentions. But today, his gaze remained fixed firmly on Xi Bei. If one looked closely, they could even see the faint upward curl of his lips.

He seemed to be suppressing his excitement.

Children have little concept of life and death; they only know what is happening right in front of them. That morning, the moment Qin Yi’an had said, “I want him,” Qin Yueyuan’s expression had turned sour.

He had wanted to drag Xi Bei over and see exactly what it was about this child that had so captivated his son.

The police officer nearby, however, had opened his eyes wide in shock. Grabbing his walkie-talkie, he had muttered in a daze, “Captain, come over here for a moment, I have a situation…”

Qin Yueyuan had lowered his voice. He crouched down to look Qin Yi’an in the eye and glared at him. “Qin Yi’an, do you know what you’re saying?”

Qin Yi’an’s voice was soft as he repeated, “I want him.”

“You don’t understand at all. Although this incident involves our family, it wasn’t caused by us, you understand? Even if someone were to adopt him, it should be the driver, Old Jiang, not us!”

Veins pulsed on Qin Yueyuan’s forehead. “Our family just needs to provide money! A simple expression of regret and sympathy is enough! Do you have any idea how much trouble this request of yours will bring me?!”

“…”

Qin Yi’an’s gaze never left Xi Bei.

Xi Bei had cried so hard, yet he hadn’t made a sound. He had bitten his lower lip tightly, looking like a flower dampened by morning dew. Compared to him, all the exorbitantly expensive dolls in Qin Yi’an’s playroom were just a pile of stiff, gaudy trash.

It wasn’t that Qin Yi’an had never seen beautiful children his own age, but he found them either boring or too restless. Even if their outward appearances were pleasant, they were never enough to spark the slightest bit of affection; in fact, he usually found them detestable.

Why would anyone not want Xi Bei?

“I want him,” Qin Yi’an repeated.

Qin Yueyuan felt like he was going insane. Like a man deflated, he rubbed his temples and stood up, resigned. He sensed the police captain approaching from behind, so he turned around and forced a smile.

“Hello, I am Qin Yueyuan. And this is…?”

The police captain shook his hand and introduced him. “This is the editor-in-chief of the Headline Evening News. He just happened to be at the bureau today…”

Qin Yueyuan’s expression changed instantly.

Driver Old Jiang had been involved in a fatal accident while on the road; it was a work-related incident, and Qin Yueyuan couldn’t entirely shirk the responsibility. He could offer money and express condolences that would keep his reputation intact.

But if—if he were to personally handle the adoption paperwork and take this orphan home to raise him…

Not only would the public outcry die down, but the public would actually praise and admire him for it.

In the end, it was just an extra pair of chopsticks at the table.

Qin Yueyuan realized this in a heartbeat. When he looked at his son again, his eyes no longer held the “hatred for iron not becoming steel.” After a hurried exchange with the police and the editor, he spoke with feigned sincerity:

“I have heard that this child has no grandparents or siblings, so I would like to adopt him.”

“Of course,” he added, “my son seems particularly fond of him; it just so happens that they can be companions for each other.”

The police captain and the editor-in-chief looked pleasantly surprised. They hadn’t expected the Chairman to be so kind-hearted. They exchanged glances:

“It would certainly be a wonderful thing if you could adopt him, saving the child from having to go to an orphanage… but…”

“But what?” Qin Yueyuan asked, his tone urgent.

“But… it also depends on whether the child is willing.”

The little milk bun had once again squeezed out of the adults’ arms, wedging himself behind the food cart’s panel.

“I want to wait for my mom and dad.”

Sobbing, Xi Bei seemed to have begun to understand, yet he stubbornly repeated the phrase, as if by believing firmly enough that his parents would return, they inevitably would.

“Little Bei, if you stay here, your mom and dad definitely won’t be able to find you… No, you can’t stay here; it’s too dangerous, they’ll be worried.”

“They have clearly already, sigh… I don’t even know how to say this!”

“…”

“Xi Bei.”

Suddenly, a voice unlike the others broke through the noise. The boy’s tone was gentle, clear as jade.

Xi Bei, amidst his sobs, heard the peculiar sound. For once, he paused and looked up through tear-misted eyes.

The crowd turned.

A delicately dressed, elegant young boy was walking slowly toward Xi Bei.

When he crouched down, he unbuttoned his small suit jacket. His leather shoes were angled perfectly, and his back was straight he looked exactly like the heir to some royal family.

Xi Bei stared at him, dazed.

“My name is Qin Yi’an. I am eight years old.” Qin Yi’an extended a hand, as if greeting an adult. “Are you waiting for your mom and dad?”

Xi Bei didn’t know how to shake hands. He hesitated for several seconds before placing his hand into Qin Yi’an’s.

Two soft, small hands pressed together.

It wasn’t a polite handshake; it was more like they were holding hands.

“…Yes.”

A droplet of a tear clung to Xi Bei’s curled lashes; the corners of his eyes were red from crying. Sensing he might have been rude, he whispered, “My name is Xi Bei. I’m seven.”

“There is fire outside, it will explode,” Qin Yi’an said very earnestly. “If you stay here, when your mom and dad come, they will get badly hurt. They will die.”

“…!”

Xi Bei’s eyes widened, looking like a frightened little animal.

The air fell silent for a moment.

The surrounding crowd drew a sharp breath. Just as they were about to pull Qin Yi’an away to stop him from saying such things, they saw Xi Bei slowly move a step outward.

His voice was soft, small, and filled with a trace of grievance and timidity.

“Then… I won’t stay here anymore.”

The crowd stood stunned, their eyes lighting up simultaneously they had spent tens of minutes trying to persuade him, yet Xi Bei had refused to leave the food cart until now.

“But mom and dad promised they would come find me.” Xi Bei looked troubled and anxious. “If I’m not here, where will they go?”

“My house.”

Qin Yi’an’s words were absolute. “The police uncle said so.”

Xi Bei’s mouth hung open. He looked up, bewildered, at the men in police uniforms, several of whom nodded.

He felt his hand being held tightly.

The brother in front of him was so beautiful, so capable. He couldn’t help but want to believe him.

“But…”

Xi Bei gripped the handle of the food cart tightly with his other hand. He whispered, “Mom and dad’s cart…”

“The cart is coming to my house, too.”

“…”

Xi Bei’s concerns seemed to be resolved. He looked at the adults around him with their varied expressions, his heart a chaotic mess.

Only the hand being held by Qin Yi’an remained warm.

Things appeared to have taken a turn.

Outside, the wailing of sirens continued for two or three hours, and two or three more ambulances arrived. When the crowd carefully tucked away the remains of Xi Bei’s parents and saw the boy following Qin Yi’an to the car, they finally let out a sigh of relief.

But just before getting into the car, Xi Bei subconsciously glanced back at the bloody, mangled scene.

At that one look, his little face turned deathly pale. The sheer volume of information seemed beyond his comprehension. By the time he regained his senses, exhaustion took over; his vision went black, and as the adults beside him cried out, he was scooped up and hurried into the Qin family’s car.

By the time Xi Bei woke up, it was pitch black outside.

The sky was gloomy; there were no stars or moon. A fierce wind blew, and the shadows of the trees, illuminated by streetlights, flickered like disheveled ghosts. Just one look made one’s heart race.

Xi Bei pulled his gaze away. Before he could focus, his vision blurred, and tears began to fall pitter-patter.

Where was he now?

What had he seen before he fainted?

Xi Bei was not a slow child; he was actually quite smart. If he had been able to lie to himself before seeing those things, believing the lies others had spun for him, he could no longer think that way now.

Why wouldn’t they let him go over there?

Why wouldn’t his mom and dad come to find him?

Did something happen to them?

“Xi Bei.”

A voice interrupted his thoughts. Qin Yi’an stood before him, holding a stack of clothes. Seeing Xi Bei’s little face, he blinked. He stated it like a fact, yet with a trace of confusion in his conclusion:

“You’re crying again.”

Xi Bei remained silent.

Qin Yi’an reached out to turn on the soft, dim light in the playroom, then dragged over a large beanbag chair. He took Xi Bei’s hand, leading him from the bay window to the beanbag.

This spot was in the center of the room, offering a clear view of the surroundings. Xi Bei finally realized where he was.

Qin Yi’an owned many toys; this was beyond doubt.

Toys popular with most boys occupied half the room, mostly expensive models and building blocks. The other half was filled with soft plush toys, and beanbags were stacked like mountains. On every small sofa sat an exquisite doll.

Most of these dolls had no “faces” they were either custom-made that way or had been covered up.

Because Qin Yi’an did not like them.

He was a complicated child. His mother, who had since passed away, had given him his first doll, telling the solitary boy that the doll would be his friend. But even after finding many such “friends,” he remained lonely and isolated.

Although these “friends” were good and always by his side, they were all too similar too cookie-cutter.

Qin Yi’an felt these “friends” didn’t belong to him; they weren’t his kind. So, seeing their faces didn’t make him happy at all.

But seeing Xi Bei made him happy.

Qin Yi’an said, “Don’t cry, okay?”

Xi Bei still didn’t speak.

Sitting on the beanbag, his soft, white ankles exposed, he lowered his eyes and tugged at his pant legs, which were a bit too short. His little outfit was stained, his face smeared with tears, and he looked like a gray, dusty little milk bun.

Qin Yi’an said, “I brought you new clothes to wear.”

“Your clothes are dirty. You need to change them.”

“…”

Qin Yi’an was very serious. He crouched in front of the beanbag and reached out to unzip Xi Bei’s old jacket. The sweater underneath was slightly pilled, but very clean.

Just as Qin Yi’an prepared to help him take off the sweater, Xi Bei’s small hand gripped the edge of the clothing tightly.

There was a small flower sewn on by hand.

Children are always stumbling, and the edge of the sweater had accidentally torn a hole. Xi Bei’s mother would pinch Xi Bei’s chubby little cheeks while happily mending the sweater, smiling and kissing the head of her sweet, well-behaved baby.

Even though their circumstances weren’t great, Xi Bei’s parents had loved him dearly.

“…Thank you, Brother Yi’an.”

As soon as Xi Bei spoke, his tears fell again. “But… I… I don’t want new clothes. I want my mom and dad.”

Qin Yi’an was, after all, still a child himself, and he froze in place. None of his doll friends ever cried. Moreover, when he saw Xi Bei during the day, he had stopped sobbing quickly; he hadn’t cried so heartbreakingly in front of him before.

Qin Yi’an reached out, somewhat clumsily, and took a handkerchief tucked into his little suit pocket. Gently, as if touching a flower petal, he wiped away Xi Bei’s tears.

“Why do you want them?”

Qin Yi’an truly meant no malice. His own mother was gone, and he didn’t like being around his father at all.

“…”

Xi Bei cried even harder.

He knew it wasn’t Qin Yi’an’s fault Qin Yi’an was right, and the police uncle had been right too. Staying outside was dangerous; his parents wouldn’t have wanted him to stay there. But Xi Bei felt so wronged and broken-hearted.

Because his mom and dad weren’t coming back.

Qin Yi’an didn’t understand the boundary between life and death; he hadn’t lied to Xi Bei. He had assumed that even if Xi Bei’s parents had left, they would eventually come to find him. Although he didn’t know why Xi Bei’s parents would leave him behind, Qin Yi’an thought: I want Xi Bei.

Seeing Xi Bei cry so sorrowfully, Qin Yi’an frowned uncontrollably, his pale little face showing a faint, imperceptible panic.

After a moment, he stood up. “I’ll go get a towel to wipe your face.”

Xi Bei continued to sob, offering no response.

Watching Qin Yi’an’s leather shoes go tap-tap-tap as he ran toward the bathroom, Xi Bei finally managed to calm himself down.

He struggled to his feet, stumbling as he tried to follow Qin Yi’an. But before he could catch up, a thought occurred to him.

—Are my mom and dad’s car out there?

The little milk bun in his sweater opened the playroom door, startled by the sight before him. He stood dazed for a moment. This vast, brightly lit, magnificent place didn’t feel like a home; it felt like a castle.

Then…

Xi Bei thought, Mom and dad’s car won’t be inside the castle; it will only be outside.

The sky outside had been gloomy for quite a while. Late autumn brought a chilly wind, and fine, dense rain linked into lines, pitter-pattering against the rustling trees. To a child, it sounded exactly like the wailing coming from hell terrifying and scary.

Xi Bei, who had always been a good boy, pressed his lips together.

He wasn’t afraid.

He had to go out and find his parents’ car, and find his mom and dad..