Chapter 35: Qi Mu: If you curse him, I will punish you.

Xu Xiaoming babbled away, spilling everything.

Qi Mu cursed him in his mind, calling him a gossipy, busybody. Yet, he couldn’t help but think that Xu Xiaoming was exceptionally talented; his mouth was as persuasive as Ji Xiaolan’s—able to bring the dead to life with his words!

The way Xu Xiaoming went on, even Qi Mu, the person involved, couldn’t help but question whether he really was that impressive!

If Qi Mu felt this way, it was easy to imagine how much it impacted Yin Xiuzhu. During the year he took off from school, he was quite anxious, fearing that Qi Mu would make new friends, become closer to others, and even grow distant upon his return.

But in reality, even in his absence, Qi Mu had still been doing everything in his power to protect him.

Wang Zhuo, that scoundrel, had always resented Yin Xiuzhu. Hearing that Yin Xiuzhu was about to enter middle school and would soon be at the same school as him only fueled his resentment. Moreover, his lackeys at school, who were all talk and uninformed, only knew that Yin Xiuzhu was the sole young master of the Yin family and thought to ingratiate themselves.

How could Wang Zhuo stand this? After reigning supreme at school for over two years, how could he let Yin Xiuzhu steal his limelight? With this in mind, he started to tarnish Yin Xiuzhu’s reputation.

At Guorui Elementary School, because of Qi Mu, no one mentioned Yin Xiuzhu’s mother anymore, nor did they call him a lunatic. They had managed to coexist peacefully throughout six years of elementary school, and logically, there shouldn’t have been any issues when moving to middle school. However, as soon as Qi Mu entered the school, he heard gossip and whispers.

“Did you hear that the young master of the Yin family has a mental illness?”

“His mother is mentally ill, so he must have problems too; it’s hereditary.”

“But his grades are excellent. He topped the whole school in the entrance exams.”

“Didn’t you see it on TV? Some idiots are exceptionally talented in certain areas…”

The term “idiots” pushed Qi Mu past his limit. He strode out, grabbing the person by the collar and demanding, “Where did you hear that from?”

These people didn’t know Yin Xiuzhu personally but spoke as if they were experts. Clearly, it was someone familiar with Yin Xiuzhu who spread these rumors. This was expected; after all, there were many who knew about Yin Xiuzhu’s situation. In elementary school, Qi Mu’s strong suppression had kept people silent, but now that they were in middle school, it seemed like there was no more restraint.

Qi Mu was handsome, but his angry demeanor was terrifying. The kid, frightened, stammered, “It… it was Yin Xiuzhu’s cousin who said it. They’re saying it themselves in their family, so it must be true.”

Qi Mu didn’t actually know that Yin Xiuzhu had a cousin at Guorui Middle School.

In middle school, first-year students are usually the most obedient. They wouldn’t dare provoke third-year students and would carefully avoid them.

But Qi Mu didn’t care about any of that. He directly kicked open the door to the third-year classroom and called Wang Zhuo out. Wang Zhuo didn’t take Qi Mu seriously at all, thinking this kid with a baby face had the nerve to cause trouble and deserved a beating!

Qi Mu asked, “Are you the one slandering Yin Xiuzhu?”

Wang Zhuo was indifferent. “He’s just a lowly idiot with a mental illness.”

That single remark was enough to enrage Qi Mu. Regardless of the setting, he threw a punch, leaving Wang Zhuo with a bruised and swollen face.

Wang Zhuo went ballistic. “Damn it, how dare you hit me!”

Qi Mu responded, “Remember this: for every insult you throw at him, I’ll hit you once.”

Wang Zhuo was infuriated, and from that moment, he held a grudge against Qi Mu.

Qi Mu’s actions had an immediate effect. Wang Zhuo no longer cared about Yin Xiuzhu’s absence from school; his mind was consumed with thoughts of how to get revenge on Qi Mu like a rabid dog snapping at him.

Fortunately, Qi Mu was resilient and unyielding. Wang Zhuo couldn’t get the upper hand at school, and outside of school, Wang Zhuo’s father couldn’t bully Qi Mu’s father, Qi Dashan. Wang Zhuo suffered in frustration and humiliation, enduring half a year of indignity in just a short period.

In the end, Xu Xiaoming proudly remarked, “My Brother Mu is unbeatable, invincible!”

Qi Mu gave him a sideways glance. “Are you doing a stand-up routine or what?”

Xu Xiaoming was about to say more, but Qi Mu waved him off. “Alright, it’s just a minor issue. No need to make a fuss about it.”

Xu Xiaoming retorted, “If it weren’t for Wang Zhuo’s troublemaking, would you be treated like a pariah by your classmates?”

The comment struck Yin Xiuzhu, making his face go pale. He understood all too well what it felt like to be isolated.

Qi Mu’s expression hardened, and his voice grew serious. “Xiaoming, stop rambling. Even without Wang Zhuo, there would be others like Li Zhuo or Sun Zhuo. If I go to a new place, I’ll have to make sure to subdue the local bullies.”

Qi Mu’s words only made Yin Xiuzhu feel worse. Even now, Qi Mu was still considering his feelings and worrying about making him feel guilty.

Xu Xiaoming had been around Qi Mu long enough to know when he was genuinely angry. He wisely kept quiet and said, “I’m going to find Fang Junqi. I don’t know where that idiot has run off to tonight…”

He turned to leave, but Qi Mu suddenly called out to him, “Fang Junqi is…”

Xu Xiaoming was puzzled. “What’s wrong with Xiaopang?” Hearing Fang Junqi’s full name from Qi Mu made Xu Xiaoming uneasy. He wondered if the fat guy had done something stupid and offended Qi Mu.

Qi Mu shook his head. “Forget it, it’s nothing.” Asking Xu Xiaoming wouldn’t help, and Fang Junqi, though appearing amiable, had a strong sense of pride. He likely didn’t want too many people to know about certain matters.

Xu Xiaoming was confused but realized he had said and done everything needed. He decided to leave, not wanting to stay any longer.

After Xu Xiaoming left, Qi Mu sighed and said to Yin Xiuzhu, “Don’t overthink things.”

Yin Xiuzhu reached out and grasped his hand.

Qi Mu inhaled sharply.

Yin Xiuzhu immediately released his hand, his voice filled with regret. “Did I hurt you?”

Qi Mu smiled with a hint of mischief in his eyes. “It hurts quite a bit.”

Yin Xiuzhu’s eyes were fixed on the back of Qi Mu’s hand, not noticing the playful glint in his gaze. “We have medicine at home. I’ll go get some for you…”

“No need for medicine,” Qi Mu said with a grin, revealing his little tiger teeth. “Just a box of chocolate will make it feel better.”

Yin Xiuzhu suddenly looked up, gazing into Qi Mu’s eyes, which were as warm as the rising sun.

Qi Mu…

Seeing the warmth in Qi Mu’s eyes, Yin Xiuzhu couldn’t hold back.

Qing Mu didn’t want to tease him more, “Don’t… don’t cry.”

Yin Xiuzhu’s lashes lowered, a thin layer of moisture forming in his eyes but not falling.

“I’ll take you to change clothes.” With that, he gently wrapped Qi Mu’s hand, avoiding the bruised area, handling it with the utmost care as if cradling a delicate cloud.

Qi Mu followed him upstairs to his bedroom.

As soon as the door was opened, a small, dark figure leaped up and pounced into Qi Mu’s arms.

Qi Mu was being licked by the kitten, laughing uncontrollably. “Alright, alright, stop licking, it tickles too much!” It was true, Qi Mu was a bit of a softie when it came to pain and tickling.

Yin Xiuzhu went to find him some clothes. Qi Mu said, “I’m going to take a shower.” He began lifting the hem of his shirt.

Yin Xiuzhu’s heart skipped a beat, and he murmured, “I’ll… I’ll go find some medicine for you.”

Qi Mu had already removed his top and called out, “I said just a box of chocolate would be fine!”

Yin Xiuzhu, too shy to look back, replied softly, “Mm.”

Qi Mu didn’t think much of it. His little bamboo (a nickname for Yin Xiuzhu) was always like this—shy, meticulous, sensitive, and prone to overthinking, much like a young girl.

“Damn it…” Qi Mu accidentally brushed his hand against his clothes and swore out of pain.

Fighting truly demonstrated the principle that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Even though Wang Zhuo ended up with a bruised face, Qi Mu, though seemingly unscathed, had still taken quite a toll. His knuckles had absorbed a fair amount of impact.

His skin, delicate and tender, was prone to bruising even from minor bumps. After such a prolonged fight, his joints had turned dark with bruises.

Qi Mu was genuinely in pain, but no matter how much it hurt, he couldn’t show it in front of others. As a man, he had to endure, even if it meant swallowing his pain!

He reluctantly took a shower, wincing every time his hand brushed against the water. It took him twenty minutes to finish, moving slowly and carefully.

Yin Xiuzhu, who couldn’t see Qi Mu’s delicate, pained expression, might have been driven to act out of sheer concern.

After changing into new clothes, Qi Mu emerged to find Yin Xiuzhu waiting by the bed.

Qi Mu said, “It’s really nothing, you’re making a fuss over nothing.”

Yin Xiuzhu gently guided him to sit down and began applying the medicine, handling his hand with such careful concentration—like he was holding not just a man’s hand, but a rare and precious gem.

Qi Mu, with a smile at the corner of his lips, felt a mix of amusement and comfort. The pain seemed to lessen under Yin Xiuzhu’s attentive care.

Yin Xiuzhu asked, “Did it hurt?”

Though the question seemed simple, Qi Mu understood it carried a deeper meaning—whether he felt pain from the fight in his first year of middle school.

Looking at Yin Xiuzhu, Qi Mu’s gaze softened unconsciously. “If it hurt that much, Wang Zhuo would have been in serious trouble.”

Yin Xiuzhu pressed his lips together, troubled by Qi Mu’s words.

Qi Mu continued, “I told you not to overthink things, but you just wouldn’t listen. Am I the kind of person who would let myself be wronged? No one has ever made me suffer in my life.”

Yin Xiuzhu was deeply pained. If it weren’t for him, Qi Mu could have avoided a lot of trouble, could have had a simpler middle school life, and wouldn’t have been avoided by his classmates.

Qi Mu could read his thoughts clearly. “There are always such bullies everywhere. It’s not like I’m rare for attracting them. Even if Wang Zhuo didn’t come for me, someone else would. Getting into a fight once in a while might make them settle down later.”

But the peace was an illusion; the students avoided him like the plague!

Yin Xiuzhu fell silent, continuing to apply the medicine carefully. Once he finished, he went to wash his hands.

Qi Mu hadn’t originally thought much of his injured hand, but seeing how Yin Xiuzhu treated it with such care, he also started to act like a patient, holding his hand up as if it were more injured.

When Yin Xiuzhu returned with clean hands, he took out a piece of chocolate from his pocket.

Qi Mu’s eyes lit up. “You really care about me.”

Yin Xiuzhu’s hand trembled slightly as he unwrapped the chocolate and said softly, “You’ve had quite a bit today; eating too much isn’t good for you.”

Qi Mu replied, “Alright, alright, just one piece.”

With his hands covered in medicine, Qi Mu couldn’t eat the chocolate himself and waited for Yin Xiuzhu to feed him. Yin Xiuzhu held the small piece of chocolate to Qi Mu’s mouth. Qi Mu took a bite, his lips brushing against Yin Xiuzhu’s fingers.

Yin Xiuzhu quickly pulled his hand back, his heart feeling a sudden, burning warmth.

After finishing one piece of chocolate, Qi Mu wanted more and said, “My hand still hurts.”

Yin Xiuzhu immediately became anxious. “Does it still hurt after the medicine? Should I take you to the hospital for an X-ray…”

Qi Mu chuckled and pleaded, “Just one more piece of chocolate and it won’t hurt anymore.”

Yin Xiuzhu: “……”

Yin Xiuzhu was probably relieved he wasn’t going to be a father in the future.

When leaving the Yin household, Qi Mu’s mouth was filled with the taste of chocolate, looking like a satisfied cat after a feast.

Qi Dashan gave him a playful tap on the head. “Greedy cat.”

Qi Mu sat up straight and said, “Just don’t tell mom.”

Qiao Jin, who was currently overseeing Qi Mu’s diet, had forbidden him from eating too much chocolate. Qi Mu had been craving it while at home, so he indulged himself at Yin Xiuzhu’s place.

Qi Dashan smiled and said, “Alright, I won’t tell on you.” But if Qiao asked, he would have no choice but to confess.

Qi Mu knew his father well and suspected he might be in trouble tonight, likely facing a long lecture.

Neither Qi Dashan nor Qi Mu mentioned Wang Zhuo’s incident. Qi Mu had already explained the situation to his father during his first year. Qi Dashan, confident in his son’s actions, assured him, “Don’t worry, if it comes to it, I’ll build you a school if I have to!”

Having such a supportive father is definitely a big boost for Qi Mu’s confidence!

As they approached home, Qi Mu turned serious and said, “Dad, I need your help with something.”

Qi Dashan asked, “What’s up?”

Qi Mu hesitated for a moment before saying, “You remember Fang Junqi, the chubby kid who visited us before?”

Qi Dashan responded, “The one who’s good at his studies.”

“Yes, that’s him…” Qi Mu, still a young teenager, was unsure about the family matters. He continued, “I heard from Wang Zhuo that there might be some issues with Fang Junqi’s family. It sounds like his father might need to get Wang Ruanlin’s endorsement for something.”

Qi Dashan quickly understood the situation and asked, “What are you thinking about it?”

Qi Mu scratched his head and said, “I’m not sure, I’m just worried about him. Can you help me find out what’s going on with his family?”

Qi Dashan didn’t need to investigate much to guess the situation with the Fang family. He then asked, “If something is wrong with his family, do you want to help him?”

Qi Mu looked at Qi Dashan and replied firmly, “Yes, I want to help.”

“Alright then,” Qi Dashan said with a pat on Qi Mu’s head and a smile, “I’ll go and check it out for you.”

Qi Mu learned from Qi Dashan that Fang Junqi’s family was in disarray. Fang Junqi’s grandfather was a capable person who thrived during the reform and opening up, starting a large business that became well-known in City B.

However, Fang Junqi’s father was a different story. After inheriting the business, he started making reckless decisions. His private life was chaotic, and he was overly ambitious in his work, heeding bad advice and investing heavily in the market at the wrong time. He aimed to surpass his father and elevate the Fang family to new heights.

The result was disastrous. When the financial crisis hit, the Fang family lost everything, and Fang Junqi’s grandfather died from the shock.

This left the Fang family in even worse shape, struggling through turbulent times.

With the grandfather gone, Fang Junqi’s father matured overnight and settled down. Fortunately, the Fang family’s foundation was still strong enough to survive a couple of years without going bankrupt.

Currently, Fang Ruhai has a project that could stabilize the family if successful. However, due to his previous mismanagement, the company was now an empty shell, unable to provide the initial funding needed to start the project.

Fang Ruhai was desperately seeking a guarantor for a bank loan, but his past behavior made it hard for others to trust him. Most people were waiting to see him fail and were unwilling to help.

Qi Dashan recounted all this to Qi Mu.

After understanding the situation, Qi Mu asked, “How much does the Fang family need to borrow?”

Qi Dashan revealed, “They need 80 million.”

Qi Mu was taken aback.

Although Qi Dashan could provide the guarantee for Fang Ruhai, having assessed that the project was feasible and could repay the loan if successful, he wanted to hear Qi Mu’s thoughts. He also saw this as an opportunity for Qi Mu to engage with such matters.

Qi Dashan continued, “If you want to help your friend, you could lend him your New Year’s money. Even if his father goes bankrupt, that amount should be enough to support him through college.” Qi Mu’s New Year’s money was substantial, amounting to a couple of million.

Qi Mu furrowed his brows and looked at Qi Dashan, asking, “Do you think the project is not feasible?”

Qi Dashan smiled, “I believe it’s viable, but it’s not my decision. Who can say for certain what will happen in the future?”

Qi Mu, with a straightforward yet incisive suggestion, said, “Could you invest in the project?”

Qi Dashan raised an eyebrow slightly, “Are you sure? This would be more than just helping a friend.”

Qi Mu shook his head, “What Fang Junqi needs is not just financial help; he needs a family to stand behind him.”

Qi Dashan’s smile widened.

Qi Mu said, “But since I don’t understand this matter, it still depends on your experience. If you think this project is profitable, then help them by investing in it. If not, just forget about it.”

Qi Dashan couldn’t help but rub his son’s head, saying, “You little rascal.” His son truly lived up to his expectations.

Merchants pursue profit but must also value relationships.

Only focusing on immediate gains and losses will lead to failure in the long run. Of course, one mustn’t be swayed by emotions either; decisive actions are necessary to avoid being overwhelmed by disorder.

Qi Mu was still young, but he had the right mindset: wanting to help a friend without doing so blindly; understanding what was needed and not offering unconditional assistance.

Giving a fish is not as good as teaching how to fish. This saying is always easy to say but difficult to implement.

When the end-of-term exam results were announced, Qi Mu, who usually showed no interest in academics, was the first to check the results for Class 2.

As expected, Yin Xiuzhu secured the top spot with perfect scores in all subjects.

Holding Yin Xiuzhu’s test paper, Qi Mu was thrilled, saying, “Amazing, perfect scores in the essay too!”

Yin Xiuzhu replied, “The teacher only looked at the handwriting.” In reality, his essay was quite superficial, a formulaic piece with neat handwriting that made it difficult for the teacher to find fault.

“No!” Qi Mu read word by word, “It’s written so well, with brilliant literary talent!”

Yin Xiuzhu chuckled softly, thinking to himself: Next time, I’ll write seriously and craft an essay worthy of Qi Mu’s praise.

Qi Mu, after reviewing it himself, took it back to his class to show off. Just then, Teacher Sun arrived for class and, seeing Qi Mu’s proud demeanor, called out to him, “Come, read it out loud for everyone.”

Qi Mu looked bewildered, “Huh?”

Teacher Sun said, “Read your essay aloud, and then read Yin Xiuzhu’s.”

Qi Mu: “……”

The whole class burst into laughter. Teacher Sun really knew how to have fun—Qi Mu couldn’t compare.

Returning to his seat, Qi Mu said to Xu Xiaoming, “The gap between us is really not small. Yin Xiuzhu’s writing is genuinely excellent.”

Xu Xiaoming, having failed the exam and fearing a scolding at home, gloomily said, “Yin Xiuzhu is definitely a top candidate for the advanced class. When we move to third-year, he’ll surely be the top student in Class 1.”

Qi Mu fell silent, thinking: Damn it, I forgot about this. I was hoping to be in the same class as Yin Xiuzhu next year!

Hmm… Tyrant Qi, pondering for a whole class period, asked Xu Xiaoming, “Do you think if I start working hard from now, is there a chance I could be in Class 1 in six months?”

Xu Xiaoming looked at him as if he had seen a ghost, “Brother Mu, wake up! The Qing Dynasty is already gone!”

Tyrant Qi slumped, realizing: It’s impossible to get into Class 1; it’s a lifetime away. With his poor grades, he could only manage to keep up with the help from Yin Xiuzhu.