TRYMBPIETM37: A series of retributions (5)

The Chi family, except for Mrs. Chi and Chi Qingzhou, were all lying neatly in the orthopedic ward of the same hospital, which greatly shocked Guan Xihua.

Is this how a family must come together?

He suspected the Chi family had been experiencing a streak of bad luck recently, and he didn’t want Chi Qingzhou to get caught up in it.

His artist had worked so hard to improve his reputation. What if he got entangled in some messy gossip again?

But he knew that was unrealistic.

Not to mention how outsiders would view Chi Qingzhou if he didn’t visit the sick, Chi Qingzhou always believed that there were no truly bad people in the world, so it was impossible for him to simply ignore his father and brothers when they were sick.

As expected, Chi Qingzhou nodded with a slightly solemn expression.

“Of course, I have to go.”

Guan Xihua sighed, though not surprised. “Okay, then Du Huan and I will pick you up tomorrow morning. It’s nighttime now, and President Chi andand the others should be asleep, so don’t disturb them.”

Chi Qingzhou nodded. “Yeah.”

Guan Xihua noticed how well-behaved Chi Qingzhou was and became even more worried. He reminded him, “Don’t go by yourself tomorrow. Wait for me, and we’ll buy fruits and flowers together, then go together. You have fans now, so don’t go running around alone.”

Chi Qingzhou readily agreed. “Okay.”

Guan Xihua continued, “When the time comes, just take care of them, but don’t mention Chi Qingning’s situation, alright?”

Chi Qingzhou nodded again. “I remember.”

Guan Xihua gave him a few more instructions. Seeing Chi Qingzhou agree to each one, he finally relaxed a little, taking a sip of water.

Suddenly, Chi Qingzhou asked, “Brother Guan, you just mentioned something about my family having bad luck?”

Guan Xihua paused with the cup in his hand. “I just said it casually.”

Such things were subjective—if you believed in them, they existed, but if you didn’t, they didn’t.

Chi Qingzhou nodded, thinking it made sense. “Dad and the others have been a bit unlucky lately.”

The system’s task rewards were random, and they had been assigned to the Chi family twice. What else could this be if not bad luck?

The system, which had been listening, quietly responded: [……]

It was always amazed by the host’s reasoning.

The system couldn’t resist commenting: [Host, shouldn’t you understand best why Chi Xiaoyuan and Chi Shuhong have bad luck?]

Chi Qingzhou thought the system’s comment was unreasonable: [It wasn’t me who targeted them.]

It was clear that the system’s rewards were random, and yet, the Chi family had won twice. Shouldn’t they be the ones reflecting on their own actions?

System: [……]

Chi Qingzhou ignored the system and, seeing Guan Xihua’s somewhat confused and embarrassed expression, said seriously, “Then I’ll suggest they visit a temple to pray tomorrow. It’s bad if they have bad luck.”

Xing Shuangzhan, in the shadows, couldn’t help but laugh quietly.

His little contractor certainly had some strange ideas.

Chi Qingzhou, unhappy, stepped on his shadow.

Guan Xihua, sitting in the front seat, didn’t notice the little movement. After thinking about it, he saw nothing wrong and nodded, “Of course, but not everyone believes in such things. You can say it out of concern, and if they don’t want to, just let it go.”

Chi Qingzhou smiled slightly. “Alright, I understand.”

…

The next morning, after Chi Qingzhou finished breakfast, Guan Xihua and Du Huan arrived.

The three of them went together to buy flowers and fruit baskets for the hospital visit. Chi Qingzhou reached out to pick up two, but Du Huan swiftly snatched them away.

According to Du Huan, that was the assistant’s job, and Chi Qingzhou didn’t need to do such physical work.

Don’t be fooled by Du Huan’s gentle and kind appearance. He had trained in Muay Thai and won many championships before switching careers. His sportswear was full of muscles.

He casually tied up four fruit baskets and four bouquets of flowers with a rope, carrying them steadily with both hands.

Guan Xihua didn’t argue with Du Huan. While driving, he asked Chi Qingzhou in surprise, “Is there anyone else from the Chi family in the hospital?”

Chi Qingzhou responded, “Yes, my uncle broke his thigh.”

Guan Xihua was shocked.

Yesterday, he hadn’t known that Chi Qingzhou’s uncle was also in the orthopedic department of the same hospital. Knowing there were now four people hospitalized, he couldn’t help but agree with Chi Qingzhou’s thoughts from yesterday.

It was outrageous that a whole family was unlucky like this. Who wouldn’t be suspicious after hearing about it?

But…

Guan Xihua wondered, “You have a younger uncle? I didn’t know about him.”

Chi Qingzhou chuckled softly. “I’ve never met my younger uncle before. Today is the first time.”

Guan Xihua raised an eyebrow, unsure what to make of that, and clicked his tongue.

He dropped Chi Qingzhou off at the hospital and asked Du Huan and Chi Qingzhou to go up first while he parked the car.

Chi Qingzhou picked up a fruit basket and a bouquet of flowers, heading with Du Huan to the orthopedic ward.

Though the Chi family’s injuries weren’t severe enough to require hospitalization, they were staying in the hospital for observation to avoid any potential sequelae. They had opted for very expensive VIP single rooms, and Chi Qingzhou had to visit them one by one.

Du Huan didn’t want to follow Chi Qingzhou into the ward with the items in his hands, so he waited for him in the safe passage.

Chi Qingzhou, following the order of seniority, went first to Chi Jianming’s ward.

His biological father had been quite unlucky. In addition to strained leg muscles, he had accidentally hit his head against the wall, causing several cracks in his skull.

The strange part was, despite the skull fracture, there was no concussion.

He could clearly remember how embarrassed he had been at the time, how he’d inexplicably become enemies with two colleagues from the local Chamber of Commerce, and he didn’t know whether it was a blessing or a greater misfortune.

When Chi Qingzhou pushed the door open, Chi Jianming was sitting on the hospital bed, reading through documents.

A bandage was wrapped around his head, and his expression was filled with bitterness and hatred. It was clear he had just encountered some bad news.

Upon seeing Chi Qingzhou holding flowers and a fruit basket, Chi Jianming waved his hand dismissively, interrupting his greeting before it could even be finished.

“Okay, put the things on the table. I have something to ask you.”

His eyes flickered over the modest gifts, worth only a few hundred yuan, with a trace of disgust.

“You’re just buying this kind of cheap, useless stuff. You’ve already returned to the Chi family, and you don’t need to worry about money anymore, so don’t learn the petty habits of your adoptive parents.”

Chi Qingzhou placed the fruit basket down, picked up a chair, and sat in front of Chi Jianming’s bed, his hands neatly placed on his knees, as if preparing for a serious conversation.

Chi Jianming was momentarily choked.

He truly had no idea what his youngest son was thinking upon returning home.

Chi Qingzhou was so well-behaved, never seeming to complain about his family. He did everything he was asked, but there never seemed to be any results.

He wasn’t sure whether it was because Chi Qingzhou had been raised somewhat “stupid” by his adoptive parents or if it was simply his fate to not be capable of much.

At times, his youngest son’s bluntness left him at a loss as to how to respond.

Chi Jianming pinched his brow, trying hard to appear affectionate.

“Your mother and I have seen your efforts on the variety show. You performed well and have gotten closer to Mr. Song.”

Chi Jianming and his wife hadn’t been able to follow the live broadcasts and were unaware of the real events during the filming. They speculated that their youngest son must have saved Song Yuzhi when the program crew lost contact, which was exactly what they had hoped for to get Chi Qingzhou into the Scenery Along the Way program.

However, the final outcome wasn’t what they had envisioned:

The Song family wasn’t grateful to the Chi family, as they had expected. Even the contract that seemed to be going well was suddenly broken!

Chi Jianming was perplexed and frustrated.

Of course, he had also seen the strange group of “zombies” that had appeared from nowhere, and he knew that the program crew had indeed encountered someone skilled in metaphysics. However, he scoffed at Chi Qingning’s constant insistence that “Second Brother must understand taoism.”

Chi Qingzhou had some basic martial arts knowledge and was naturally strong, but there was no way he could be a cultivator.

Chi Jianming’s eyes flashed with sarcasm when he thought about Chi Qingning.

The Chi family secretly worshipped a true master—someone far different from the half-baked Chi Shuhong. This individual was extraordinary.

After several observations, the master had confirmed that Chi Qingzhou had no foundation. Instead, he had identified a man named Zhu as a ghost master, most likely the same one the Xuanxu Sect had issued a wanted warrant for.

According to the information the master gathered, both the Xuanxu Sect and the Paranormal Control Bureau had been present when the incident occurred. Some young members of the Xuanxu Sect had been bewitched by Zhu, leading to a major dispute within their ranks.

The master was certain that the one who had finally defeated the ghost master must be a member of the Xuanxu Sect—perhaps the famous genius Shen Wenxu.

In other words, the zombies had physical bodies, and Chi Qingzhou, in his involvement, had likely been caught up in something far beyond him.

Chi Jianming couldn’t help but think that if there was no issue with his youngest son, the problem must lie with the adopted son.

Chi Jianming attempted to look more approachable as he asked, “Tell me the truth, when the live broadcast was interrupted during the filming, did Chi Qingning do something he shouldn’t have?”

Ah, now you’re asking about brother.

Brother Guan had specifically told him not to mention anything related to his younger brother.

Chi Qingzhou responded naturally, “No, my brother is very well-behaved.”

Chi Jianming scrutinized him carefully, frowning. “Impossible! If he didn’t do anything, then why would the Song family refuse to cooperate with the Chi family?”

His intention was to praise one son and criticize the other to get some information from Chi Qingzhou, but instead, Chi Qingzhou’s expression brightened, and he immediately looked at him.

Chi Qingzhou asked earnestly, “Dad, could it be because you’ve been too unlucky lately?”

Chi Jianming: “…What?”

Chi Qingzhou sincerely suggested, “Why don’t you go to the temple to pray and get rid of the bad luck?”

Chi Jianming couldn’t make sense of Chi Qingzhou’s reasoning. Choked by his son’s irrelevant suggestion, he exploded in anger: “Why would I go? Why don’t you go?”

Chi Qingzhou’s eyes were full of sincerity as he calmly responded, “Because I am a kind person, I don’t need to go.”

Chi Jianming was left speechless.

This son must have something wrong with his brain!

Slamming his hand against the bed in frustration, Chi Jianming’s face turned red, his neck bulging with rage. He pointed at the door and shouted, “You’re such a filial son! Get out! Get out of here!”

Chi Qingzhou sighed in disappointment.

It seemed his father wasn’t ready to accept his advice.

As people age, they become more stubborn.

He stood up and began walking toward the door, saying, “Then Dad, get some rest. I’m going to see my uncle.”

Chi Jianming growled, “Go, go, go quickly!”

Chi Qingzhou walked toward the safe passage, a little frustrated, and took the new gift basket from Du Huan.

Noticing his frustration, Du Huan asked, “Brother Chi, what’s wrong?”

Chi Qingzhou replied with a tired smile, “My dad is a little stubborn.”

Du Huan nodded sympathetically. “It’s normal for older people. But don’t worry, we just want peace of mind. No need to force it, right?”

Chi Qingzhou thought for a moment, then agreed, “That makes sense. I’ll go see my uncle.”

Du Huan gave him an encouraging nod.

Chi Qingzhou smiled shyly in return.

At that moment, Xing Shuangzhan laughed quietly from the shadows. Chi Qingzhou, seeing an opportunity, turned around and stepped on him in mock anger.

He knocked on the door of Chi Shuhong’s ward and walked in after receiving a response. He greeted his uncle with a warm smile.

Chi Shuhong, on the other hand, wasn’t eager to pay attention to his nephew. He didn’t believe Chi Qingzhou could bring him any luck and feared his presence might even hinder his cultivation. Therefore, he had no intention of being friendly.

But Chi Qingzhou didn’t mind.

Noticing his uncle’s leg in a plaster cast, Chi Qingzhou gently asked, “Uncle, I heard that you accidentally fell while offering sacrifices to the ancestors and knocked over the statue?”

Chi Shuhong, who had intended to ignore Chi Qingzhou, suddenly spun around, his face contorted with rage. “What does it have to do with you?!”

Chi Qingzhou replied innocently, “I just wanted to say… isn’t that a little disrespectful to the ancestors?”

Chi Shuhong felt as though he had been struck in the head with a hammer. His vision blurred, and his chest tightened with pain. He stared at Chi Qingzhou with wide eyes, panting heavily.

“What do you want to say?!” he shouted furiously. “What do you want to say!!”

Chi Qingzhou suggested, with utter sincerity, “I feel that your luck has been bad recently, uncle. Why don’t you go to the temple to pray?”

“Temple?” Chi Shuhong sneered. “I’m a Taoist priest! You want me to go to the temple to pray?!”

Chi Qingzhou tilted his head, deep in thought, then a light bulb seemed to go off in his head.

He comforted his uncle sympathetically, “Oh, I see now. You’re worried about this, right? It’s fine. Doesn’t everyone say that Maoshan didn’t acknowledge you went there to study? We just want peace of mind. The head monk at the temple surely won’t mind.”

Xing Shuangzhan burst into laughter from the shadows.

Chi Shuhong stood frozen in place, stunned. His mind seemed to have short-circuited.

For almost two minutes, he sat there, staring blankly at Chi Qingzhou. Slowly, he snapped out of it, his body trembling with rage. He pointed toward the door and yelled, “Get out! Get out right now!!!”

Another one who wouldn’t listen.

Chi Qingzhou shook his head, disappointed. He placed the flowers and fruit basket down and left the ward.

Chi Shuhong glared at the flowers, his eyes burning holes through them. He clenched his fists, his chest heaving with anger, and muttered repeatedly, “Get out, get out!”

…

Du Huan handed Chi Qingzhou another basket of flowers and fruit, asking with concern, “Does your uncle not want to go either?”

Chi Qingzhou sighed again.

Du Huan quickly reassured him, “It’s okay, it’s okay. Your brother’s a young man, so he won’t be as old-fashioned.”

Chi Qingzhou responded with a half-hearted smile, “I hope so.”

He entered Chi Xiaoyuan’s ward with the new basket. Chi Xiaoyuan was lying there, lost in his own thoughts.

Chi Qingzhou gently placed the fruit basket on the bedside table, asking with concern, “Brother, are you okay?”

Chi Xiaoyuan snapped out of his reverie, his gaze shifting toward Chi Qingzhou’s shadow. He almost believed what Chi Qingning had said. Was he really going mad?

Chi Xiaoyuan took a moment to calm himself before responding, “I’m fine.”

Still worried, Chi Qingzhou continued, “But our family has been very unlucky recently. Brother, why don’t you go to the temple to pray?”

Chi Xiaoyuan looked up, confused. “What?”

Chi Qingzhou repeated, “I said, why don’t you go to the temple to pray?”

Chi Xiaoyuan blinked, looking even more perplexed. “Not that sentence, the one before it.”

Chi Qingzhou, in turn, asked, “Oue family has been unlucky lately?”

Chi Xiaoyuan fell into thought.

His family has been really unlucky lately. It started with his younger brother spraining his ankle, then his uncle, and finally his father, all of whom suffered injuries to their bones.

Something seemed off with his second brother, who just returned home, he probably wasn’t entirely well-intentioned.

Chi Xiaoyuan sneered inwardly.

He looked at Chi Qingzhou, who wore a worried expression, and suddenly asked, “Qingzhou makes a good point. But you don’t seem to have had any bad luck?”

Chi Qingzhou replied matter-of-factly, “Because I usually do good deeds, and good people are rewarded.”

Chi Xiaoyuan: “…”

His expression slowly hardened, and he raised his hand, pointing to the door. “Get out. Now.”

Chi Qingzhou gave him a distressed look and sighed as he left.

Brother, did you accept my suggestion or not?

Du Huan said uncertainly, “He should have accepted it. But why is Mr. Chi so angry? Brother Chi, did you say something to him?”

Chi Qingzhou blinked. “I just told him that doing good deeds brings good rewards.”

Du Huan frowned, confused.

There was nothing wrong with what Chi Qingzhou said. Doesn’t the Chi Group do charity every year? Mr. Chi should agree with this.

Was it because he’s not feeling well, or did he accidentally aggravate his injury?

Du Huan couldn’t figure it out, so he stopped thinking about it.

He asked Chi Qingzhou, “Brother Chi, are you going to see Chi Qingning?”

Chi Qingzhou nodded. “Of course.”

Du Huan didn’t have much choice but to follow, worried that Chi Qingning might bully Chi Qingzhou.

Chi Qingzhou entered the ward, placed the fruit basket and flowers at Chi Qingning’s bedside, glanced at Chi Qingning’s legs at the end of the bed, and asked with concern, “Brother, are you okay?”

Chi Qingning forced a smile. “I’m fine, second brother.”

Chi Qingzhou sighed. “Your physique is too weak. You need to exercise more from now on, okay?”

Chi Qingning nodded. “I know, I’ll have my agent find a coach for me when I get back.”

It would be best if it were a martial arts coach who could knock someone out with one punch.

Chi Qingzhou said, relieved, “I’m glad you’re willing to listen to my advice.”

He glanced at Chi Qingning’s foot, which had been dislocated but was now in a cast for an unknown reason. “Seems like the family hasn’t been very lucky lately. Once you feel better, you should go to the temple and pray. Get rid of the bad luck.”

Chi Qingning’s face twitched. He paused for a long moment before saying, “Okay, I got it.”

Chi Qingzhou beamed. “My brother is so good!”

Chi Qingning chuckled. “Second brother, I’m a little sleepy and want to rest. You still have work, right? I won’t delay you.”

Chi Qingzhou answered honestly, “But I don’t have any work right now. My only job is ‘Scenery Along the Way.‘”

Chi Qingning’s expression froze, and he was speechless.

However, Chi Qingzhou was too friendly to notice. Since Chi Qingning was sleepy, he wouldn’t disturb him. He reminded Chi Qingning to remember to visit the temple and then planned to leave.

Chi Qingning breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said goodbye to Chi Qingzhou.

Seeing his brother sending him away as if he were the plague, Du Huan rolled his eyes secretly.

Who is this?

Brother Chi is so worried about this adopted brother, but it turns out he’s an ungrateful idiot!

He left with Chi Qingzhou, fuming, while Chi Qingning lay in his hospital bed, furious.

Don’t think I didn’t see the assistant roll his eyes just now!

Who’s the real bad guy here?!

If it wasn’t that Uncle ShuHong scouldn’t even handle Chi Qingzhou , he would’ve taken care of this long ago!

He angrily shoved the fruit basket aside and closed his eyes in frustration.

…

Chi Qingzhou wasn’t in a hurry to visit the patients. Shortly after entering the hospital, paparazzi posted photos online.

Now was the time when the public was sympathizing with Chi Qingzhou. The paparazzi knew how to make the most of it to attract more attention, painting the family in a rosy light. The headlines read: “Chi Qingzhou visited his family in the People’s Hospital—kind father, filial son, friendly brothers, and a respectful younger sibling.”

The public really felt sorry for Chi Qingzhou. Some said, “He must cherish the hard-earned family bond,” while others mocked the Chi family for being inhumane three years ago. Some worried that Chi Qingzhou would be wronged by his family during his visit.

Chi Qingzhou didn’t pay attention to the online buzz. He found his nanny car, opened the door, and saw Guan Xihua on the phone.

“…Okay, okay, we have plenty of time.”

Guan Xihua was beaming with joy, his eyes bright.

“You want it as soon as possible, preferably this afternoon? Please wait, I’ll confirm the schedule.”

He covered the microphone with his hand, lowered his voice, and asked Chi Qingzhou, “Are you done visiting the patient?”

Chi Qingzhou nodded. “It’s over.”

Guan Xihua grinned. “Do you need to accompany your father or uncle in the afternoon?”

Chi Qingzhou replied, “They have a nurse.”

Guan Xihua’s face lit up. “Great! The afternoon schedule is cancelled, and we have time. Three o’clock? No problem, we’ll be there on time. Okay, thank you. See you this afternoon.”

He hung up the phone and grabbed Chi Qingzhou’s hand. “We’re in luck! Pearl Watches under the Song Group contacted me just now, saying they watched your live broadcast and think your image is perfect for their new Frost Blade series. They want you to be the spokesperson! I’ve set up a meeting for 3 o’clock this afternoon. Let’s grab a quick bite, get ready, and head over to Song!”