Chapter 89: Extra 17
【A melodramatic (crossed out) sweet love story between a poor boy and a rich young master】
Ji Qingzhou had followed his father around since he was very young, constantly moving from place to place.
When he was little, he had not understood what his father did all day, traveling everywhere with him. Only when he grew older did he realize that his father worked as a “private tutor,” making a living by teaching the children of wealthy families.
In this world, the gap between the rich and the poor was enormous, and high-quality educational resources had always belonged exclusively to the rich. It was extremely difficult for poor children to receive an education, and the only reason Ji Qingzhou’s father had been well-educated was because his family had once been relatively well-off.
Later, the Ji family had fallen into decline, and his father could only support the household by working as a private tutor.
Because no one stayed home to look after little Ji Qingzhou, his father had no choice but to bring him along to his lessons.
Fortunately, Father Ji was very capable. Even though he always brought along Ji Qingzhou, his “little burden,” many families still invited him to tutor their children.
Ji Qingzhou had always been very sensible. He never made trouble when he followed his father. While his father taught, he would quietly curl up in a corner and listen. Over time, many of his father’s regular clients grew used to his presence, and some of their children even treated him like a friend.
There was only one exception—the highly prestigious Li family of the city.
As a powerful and influential household, the Li family had sent their eldest and second sons abroad at an early age. However, the old master of the Li family was very traditional and insisted that the remaining two children be educated domestically. Through a stroke of luck, Father Ji had been introduced to the Li family and was hired to tutor their third and fourth young masters.
“The Third Young Master hasn’t been doing very well in his studies lately. President Li is very anxious. We heard that Mr. Ji is highly knowledgeable and that his students always improve significantly, so we specially invited you here,” the butler said as he led Father Ji toward the study. He glanced at little Ji Qingzhou and asked, “Your child looks about seven or eight years old. Hasn’t he started school yet?”
Father Ji quickly replied, “I’ve taught him a bit myself. His health isn’t very good and he needs constant care, so I haven’t sent him to school.”
Ji Qingzhou quietly followed behind his father. He knew that he wasn’t attending school not only because he was sick, but also because their family was poor. The money his father earned had to support the family and pay for his medical treatment.
“The Third Young Master has a cold temperament and doesn’t like to meet strangers…” The butler glanced at Ji Qingzhou, clearly implying that he should wait outside the study.
Father Ji looked at Ji Qingzhou. The boy nodded and went to sit on the sofa in the living room.
“Your child is really well-behaved,” the butler said.
Father Ji looked at him again, still a little worried, but then followed the butler into the study.
The Li family’s house was enormous. Even the living room alone was far larger than Ji Qingzhou’s entire home.
The Third Young Master’s study was located at the end of the first-floor hallway, quite far from where Ji Qingzhou was sitting.
From Ji Qingzhou’s experience, his father’s tutoring sessions usually lasted ninety minutes, with a ten-minute break in the middle. That meant Ji Qingzhou would need to wait in the living room for about forty-five minutes, which was not difficult for him.
However, the arrival of an “uninvited guest” soon made the waiting much more unpleasant.
Ji Qingzhou guessed that this guest was probably the Li family’s Fourth Young Master.
The Fourth Young Master looked about the same age as Ji Qingzhou, but for some reason, Ji Qingzhou felt uneasy just looking at him.
The boy immediately became very friendly upon seeing Ji Qingzhou, curiously circling him and examining him. That gaze made Ji Qingzhou feel uncomfortable.
“Why aren’t you in class?” Ji Qingzhou asked, hoping to ease his own tension through conversation.
“My turn comes after Third Brother finishes his lesson,” the Fourth Young Master replied. He was two years younger than the Third Young Master, so their lessons were different.
The Fourth Young Master walked over, stretched out his hand toward Ji Qingzhou, and said, “I have something fun here. Hold out your hand.”
Seeing the boy’s cheerful smile, Ji Qingzhou didn’t want to refuse, so he held out his small hand.
The Fourth Young Master placed his clenched fist into Ji Qingzhou’s palm. Then, with a sudden motion, he opened it, and a plump little worm fell into Ji Qingzhou’s hand. Ji Qingzhou was timid and got so frightened that he immediately turned and ran.
“Hey, don’t run! It just wants to play with you,” the Fourth Young Master laughed as he picked up the worm and chased after him.
Ji Qingzhou ran in panic and soon found himself cornered.
The Fourth Young Master still held the worm and said with a grin, “You’d better not cry. If you disturb Third Brother’s lesson, the butler might deduct your father’s pay.”
“I didn’t like playing with bugs,” Ji Qingzhou said softly.
“Why were you so timid?” the Fourth Young Master said, swinging the worm around in his hand on purpose to scare Ji Qingzhou. “This little worm was soft and squishy. If it crawled into your collar, it would be really fun. Did you want to try?”
As he spoke, he walked toward Ji Qingzhou, the worm in his hand getting closer and closer.
“What were you doing here?” a young boy’s voice suddenly rang out.
Ji Qingzhou looked up and saw the boy. Without thinking, he stepped on the Fourth Young Master’s foot. While the Fourth Young Master cried out in pain, Ji Qingzhou darted out of the corner and quickly hid behind the older boy.
The older boy froze for a moment, then felt a small tug at his sleeve. The little boy behind him not only hid there, but boldly grabbed onto the hem of his clothes. He frowned and was about to tell him to let go, but when he saw Ji Qingzhou’s frightened little face, his heart softened.
“You dared to step on me?” the Fourth Young Master said angrily. But when he noticed the older boy, he paused and muttered, “Third Brother… why did you come out?”
Hearing this, Ji Qingzhou realized that this older boy was actually the Li family’s Third Young Master.
He immediately felt nervous, afraid that the Third Young Master might take the Fourth Young Master’s side.
Just as Ji Qingzhou hesitated about letting go of the boy’s clothes, the Third Young Master spoke.
“Come with me to the study.”
After saying that, he turned and walked toward the study. Ji Qingzhou felt as if he had been pardoned and hurried after him, worried the boy might change his mind.
The Fourth Young Master glared at their backs unhappily, threw the worm to the ground, and stomped it flat.
Inside the study, Father Ji was surprised to see the Third Young Master enter with Ji Qingzhou. Before he could ask anything, the Third Young Master casually closed the door behind them.
“My father doesn’t like Fourth Brother making friends with poor children. From now on, when I’m studying, don’t let him stay in the living room. It will only attract Fourth Brother’s attention,” the Third Young Master said.
Father Ji didn’t quite understand and assumed Ji Qingzhou must have caused some trouble.
But Ji Qingzhou quietly let out a breath of relief and looked at the boy with gratitude.
After that day, whenever Father Ji taught the Third Young Master, Ji Qingzhou stayed inside the study to wait.
When it was the Fourth Young Master’s turn for lessons, Ji Qingzhou would then wait in the living room, so he no longer had to be alone with the troublesome Fourth Young Master.
At first, Ji Qingzhou thought the Third Young Master looked cold and hard to approach, but after some time, he stopped feeling afraid of him.
Later, he learned that the Third Young Master’s name was Li Zhan.
Although Li Zhan usually didn’t speak much to Ji Qingzhou, there was always food prepared in the study during lessons. At first Ji Qingzhou felt too shy to touch it. Only after Li Zhan silently pushed the plate of snacks toward him did Ji Qingzhou realize it was meant for him.
“Thank you,” Ji Qingzhou said softly.
Li Zhan glanced at him and replied coldly, “It wasn’t because I worried you’d go hungry. It was because your stomach kept growling and distracting me.”
Ji Qingzhou covered his belly and smiled shyly.
Li Zhan turned away, but the corner of his mouth curved slightly in an unconscious smile.
“Third Young Master, today’s test is very important. President Li said he wants to personally review the graded papers,” Father Ji reminded Li Zhan.
Li Zhan frowned slightly, looking a bit pressured.
Ji Qingzhou knew that although Li Zhan was very smart and had improved a lot lately, he was still weak in one particular subject. And today’s test happened to be in that very subject.
When the test began, Father Ji sat to the side reading.
Ji Qingzhou sat on his little stool, watching Li Zhan closely.
Soon enough, he noticed Li Zhan’s pen stop on one question. He had clearly gotten stuck.
Li Zhan stared at the difficult question for a while, then decided to skip it for the moment.
Fortunately, the rest of the test seemed to go smoothly. After finishing all the other questions, Li Zhan returned to the one he had skipped.
Ji Qingzhou glanced at his father, then quietly stood up and crept over to Li Zhan’s desk to take a quick look.
Li Zhan noticed his movement and looked at him in confusion. Ji Qingzhou raised his small hand and secretly held up two fingers.
Li Zhan blinked.
Was this kid… insulting him?
After a moment, Li Zhan understood. He hesitated, then marked B for the answer.
That day, Li Zhan scored a perfect mark on the test.
“A question I couldn’t even solve—you actually knew the answer?” Li Zhan said as they walked out of the study and into the living room. His expression was complicated. Ji Qingzhou was several years younger than him, yet seemed to know more. That made Li Zhan feel somewhat defeated.
Ji Qingzhou scratched his head and said shyly, “I heard this test explained four times this week, so I memorized it.”
Li Zhan was taken aback for a moment, then realized that Ji Qingzhou had been following Father Ji everywhere. That meant every time Father Ji taught a student, Ji Qingzhou had to listen in as well. After hearing the same lessons so many times, it was only natural that he remembered them.
Thinking back on his earlier feeling of “defeat,” Li Zhan found it a little amusing and couldn’t help but let out a wry smile.
Ji Qingzhou rarely saw him smile, so when Li Zhan did, he couldn’t help but smile along too.
The two of them locked eyes and laughed together. The more they laughed, the happier they felt, until the sound of their laughter filled the entire living room.
“Zhan’er, what’s so funny?” Father Li’s voice suddenly called out.
Hearing this, both boys quickly stopped laughing, but a trace of smile still lingered at the corners of Li Zhan’s mouth.
“So this little fellow is Mr. Ji’s child, huh?” Father Li’s father walked over and ruffled Ji Qingzhou’s hair. “It’s rare to find a kid who can play so well with Zhan’er. Why not discuss with Mr. Ji about having this little fellow as your study companion?”
Li Zhan and Ji Qingzhou exchanged a glance, both a little surprised.
“Father, he’s younger than me, and his studies aren’t the same as mine…” Li Zhan said cautiously.
“What does that matter? He hasn’t been to school, has he?” Father Li chuckled. “With Mr. Ji’s financial situation, he probably never planned to send him to a proper school anyway. Letting him study alongside you will be a rare opportunity for him—Mr. Ji should be thrilled about it.”
Father Li’s words were lofty and forceful. Ji Qingzhou, being young, didn’t react much, but Li Zhan’s expression darkened immediately.
Still, his father wasn’t wrong. Being able to study at Li Zhan’s school would indeed be a rare opportunity for Ji Qingzhou. Even though Mr. Ji knew that Li Zhan’s father was treating Ji Qingzhou more like a convenient “tool,” he still agreed.
For Ji Qingzhou, this might be a chance to change his future.
In this world, attending school meant social status. No matter how much he learned from his father, without a proper school education, his knowledge and social standing wouldn’t be recognized.
“You’re not unhappy that I’ll study with you?” Ji Qingzhou asked Li Zhan.
Since Father Li suggested it, Li Zhan had kept a serious face. Ji Qingzhou assumed he simply didn’t want it.
Li Zhan glanced at him and said, “Are you happy about it?”
Ji Qingzhou thought for a moment and replied, “Yes… I’ve never been to school before.”
“Then that’s fine.” Li Zhan smiled. “I’m happy too.”
Li Zhan had never been very close to his brothers, so Ji Qingzhou became his only friend.
Although Ji Qingzhou was several years younger, Li Zhan found him mature.
At the very least, he was far more amusing and endearing than his mischievous Fourth Brother.
Thus, Ji Qingzhou became Li Zhan’s study companion.
He not only accompanied Li Zhan to classes but also lived at the Li residence.
At first, Father Li had acted on a whim, thinking of hiring someone to keep Li Zhan entertained.
But unexpectedly, this little companion stayed by Li Zhan’s side for nearly ten years.
Even now, as Li Zhan neared university graduation, he still kept the little fellow with him.
Father Li had expected him to grow tired of Ji Qingzhou and eventually send him away. But not only did Li Zhan never tire of him, he grew increasingly affectionate. In fact, Li Zhan treated Ji Qingzhou more closely than his own brothers!
Father Li didn’t mind at all.
He loved Li Zhan and, by extension, couldn’t help but approve of someone Li Zhan liked. Ji Qingzhou was smart, polite, and likable.
The one most displeased by this was the Fourth Young Master.
He had clearly spotted the companion first, yet in the end, Ji Qingzhou became Li Zhan’s study partner. This had frustrated him for some time.
If Li Zhan hadn’t been so determined, the Fourth Young Master would have found a way to tease Ji Qingzhou.
Unfortunately, he was later sent to a boarding school, returning home rarely, and had no choice but to grudgingly accept the situation.
On this day, Li Zhan went with his father to a banquet.
Before leaving, he reminded Ji Qingzhou not to wait for him, but even at the banquet, his mind wandered.
He was so used to having Ji Qingzhou nearby that even a short separation felt strange.
“Third Young Master, are you leaving early?” a servant at the banquet saw him coming out of the hall and hurried to ask.
“I’m a little tired. I want to go back and rest. Could you help me find my family’s driver?” Li Zhan said.
The servant quickly replied, “The family driver went to pick up Fourth Young Master. Shall I find someone else to take you back?”
Li Zhan froze for a moment. “Pick up Fourth Brother? He’s back already?”
“The Fourth Young Master said it was an unexpected holiday. He should be almost home by now,” the servant said.
Li Zhan frowned, took out his phone, and wanted to make a call—only to find the battery dead.
“Lend me your phone and help me find a car. The faster, the better!” Li Zhan said.
The servant handed over the phone, and Li Zhan hurriedly dialed a number he knew by heart.
At the Li family guest room, Ji Qingzhou had just finished showering. When he heard the phone ringing, he stepped out of the bathroom to answer it.
But as soon as he stepped out, he heard a slightly unfamiliar voice coming from the bedroom.
“Third Brother?” The voice carried a hint of amusement. “Surprised? Excited?”
Ji Qingzhou frowned, turned back, and returned to the bathroom, locking the door behind him.
“I won’t tell you anything else. I brought Qingzhou a little gift and couldn’t wait to show it to him. Bye!” The person hung up immediately, then headed toward the bathroom.
Over the years, Ji Qingzhou had feared no one more than this Fourth Young Master of the Li family. In a fight, he might not even lose—but the trouble lay in the boy’s special status. If he acted rashly against the Fourth Young Master, it would put Li Zhan in a very awkward position.
And if this incident reached Father Li, it would be even harder to resolve.
“Qingzhou, why are you hiding in there?” The Fourth Young Master stood at the bathroom door, his voice laced with amusement. “Come see the wonderful thing I brought for you. You’ll definitely like it.”
Ji Qingzhou hid in the bathroom, trembling with fear. He was terrified that the boy might force his way in and even more afraid that he might lose control and strike him.
“I’m coming in now.” The Fourth Young Master said, gripping the doorknob.
The bathroom door was flimsy, barely able to resist any force.
Ji Qingzhou grabbed a bottle of shower gel, ready to smear it into the boy’s eyes the moment he came in. That way, at worst, it would sting his eyes slightly—less severe than a full-on fight.
With a “click,” the doorknob snapped in the Fourth Young Master’s hand.
Ji Qingzhou held his breath, adjusting his grip on the shower gel and aiming carefully.
As the door swung open, he quickly jabbed and smeared, hitting the Fourth Young Master squarely in the eyes with the gel.
“Ah!! Ji Qingzhou, you little bastard!” The Fourth Young Master had been holding the doorknob with one hand and something else in the other.
Now, suddenly attacked, the object in his hand wobbled, almost slipping from his grasp.
Ji Qingzhou panicked, darted out of the bathroom—and realized with a start that the Fourth Young Master was holding a snake. He screamed and ran.
This Fourth Young Master had loved scaring him with bugs and worms since childhood. Even grown up, he hadn’t outgrown the habit. Ji Qingzhou had been terrified of snakes, rodents, and insects from an early age, and the fear had never left him. Seeing the snake, his legs went weak, and it took all his strength just to escape the bedroom.
But as he reached the door, he saw a small boy, four or five years old, standing there.
The boy had been leaning in to peek inside. Ji Qingzhou dashed out, almost knocking him over.
“Who… who are you?” the little boy asked, staring at Ji Qingzhou.
“Cong’er, grab him! He’s going to hurt Fourth Uncle!” the Fourth Young Master shouted from inside.
The little boy immediately clutched Ji Qingzhou’s leg, his small face serious and resolute. “Don’t run!”
Ji Qingzhou, afraid the snake might come out, didn’t dare linger. Without hesitation, he scooped up the little boy and ran.
The boy screamed in fright. Ji Qingzhou had no choice but to dash into the neighboring Li Zhan’s bedroom, lock the door, and only then put the boy down.
“What are you doing?” the little boy asked, tears streaming down his face.
“Don’t cry,” Ji Qingzhou crouched and comforted him. “I’m not a bad person!”
The boy’s eyes lingered on Ji Qingzhou’s face, then darted to the space behind him. Suddenly, he said with realization, “I get it… You’re… you’re Third Uncle’s…”
“What?” Ji Qingzhou asked in confusion.
“Boyfriend!” the little boy exclaimed, pointing behind Ji Qingzhou.
Ji Qingzhou turned and saw a framed photo in Li Zhan’s room. In it, both of them wore white shirts; Ji Qingzhou smiled slightly with his head tilted, while Li Zhan looked at him attentively.
“Not… boyfriend,” Ji Qingzhou quickly corrected.
“Not boyfriend? Then is it…” The little boy looked puzzled. “Girlfriend?”
Ji Qingzhou: …
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