ITAGBFIVD Chapter 17

Bai Shuijin’s leap of faith had hit right onto Wang Huanxiu’s left little finger, but fortunately, after retaking the X-ray, it turned out to be nothing serious.

Once it was confirmed he could still go play golf, Wang Huanxiu relayed the exact news and ended the call.

After the call ended, Fang Ming’s expression turned a bit odd.

Jiang You: “What? Huanxiu is not coming?”

“No,” Fang Ming wasn’t quite sure himself. “I think I heard Bai Shuijin’s voice on the other end.”

“…”

At those words, the group of successful business elites looked a little dumbfounded. Wang Huanxiu said he couldn’t play golf today because he had something going on, but that “something” turned out to be hanging out with Bai Shuijin?

“Impossible. You must’ve misheard.”

Fang Ming: “It sounded like him.”

Back when Bai Shuijin stormed into the Wang family estate with a loudspeaker shouting about marrying Wang Huanxiu, Fang Ming happened to be there on a visit. The other party had shouted for five minutes straight, so he remembered the voice clearly.

A friend teased, “Didn’t your father have tinnitus?”

“What does my dad’s tinnitus have to do with anything?”

“It’s genetic.”

“… Get lost.” Fang Ming laughed and scolded, “Also, your father is presbyopic.”

Just as the group was joking around, the door of the VIP room was pulled open by a staff member, and Lei Liming strode in.

He had a ruffian look, and looked like someone who was not easy to mess with. There was a light scar that split one of his eyebrows, leaving a gap in the eyebrow, and his temperament was clearly different from the rest of the crowd. Although tall and burly, his movements were stiff and cautious.

Clearly, he wasn’t used to this environment. Lei Liming didn’t frequent golf courses.

“Why are you so late?”

Jiang You tossed him a snake apple. Lei Liming raised a hand and caught it, and said in a rough voice, “Traffic jam.”

There was no caddie behind him carrying his equipment, nor had he changed into golf attire, and it was simply because he didn’t know how to play.

Golf was a common pastime for rich kids, but Lei Liming was different.

Although he was the eldest son of the Lei family, the first twenty years of his life were spent in the countryside. At birth, he had been swapped by the Lei family’s nanny and ended up in a small mountain village.

The village was economically backward, and education was a luxury. With barely any teachers, Lei Liming had managed to get into a top-tier university against all odds. He wasn’t found by the Lei family until his sophomore year.

When they found him, he was in the middle of slaughtering a pig for New Year. His adoptive parents were butchers, and that had been his best skill growing up.

But after he was brought back and integrated into high society, that skill was like a clown act.

At first, he was often laughed at. So because he didn’t want to be ridiculed, he thought carefully about everything he said and did, setting high standards for himself and learning anything he could.

When he was first acknowledged by the Lei family, they didn’t hold much power like they do now. At most, their ancestors were once wealthy but later the family kept declining with each generation. But even a lean camel is bigger than a horse and they had no worries about food or clothing. However, in order to be recognized, Lei Liming kept improving himself, and in the process, also expanded the family business.

To him, nothing existed in his eyes but work. Thanks to him, the Lei family rose again and earned their place in the circle. He also got along well with Wang Huanxiu.

But sometimes, compared to these young masters who had grown up with elite education, he still felt inferior, so he didn’t talk much.

He scanned the room and didn’t see Wang Huanxiu. “Where is he?”

Fang Ming: “On the way. I think he spent the morning with Bai Shuijin.”

At the mention of Bai Shuijin, Lei Liming frowned. Wang Huanxiu marrying Bai Shuijin was like feeding a toad swan meat.

Love only blocks career progress, just like early romance among students affects grades.

Lei Liming didn’t have any particular prejudice against Bai Shuijin, but he certainly didn’t have a good impression either.

.

When they came out of the hospital, the sunshower had already stopped.

Bai Shuijin tilted his head to the sky and let out a dramatic howl, “If you are well, it’s a sunny day.”

Wang Huanxiu strode ahead, and Bai Shuijin quickly shuffled to catch up. “Laogong-ge, wait for me, I walk slow.”

Wang Huanxiu looked back and saw Bai Shuijin deliberately walking through the snow instead of on the cleared path. The snow was so deep it reached his ankles.

Bai Shuijin pointed at the pit his foot left behind. “Steady and sure.”

“…”

Once Bai Shuijin had had enough fun in the snow, the two got into the car.

Sitting inside, Bai Shuijin had already started fantasizing about the sport of golf.

Although he’d never actually played, he’d seen it. You just hit a ball with a club and then hold the pose for a few seconds.

He thought he could do it. But one shouldn’t get cocky…it was important to stay humble.

They soon arrived at the golf venue. Just getting near the grounds, Bai Shuijin could feel how massive it was.

It was winter, but it was still green everywhere.

“Laogong-ge, what if I don’t know how to play when the time comes?” he asked with a troubled expression.

Wang Huanxiu glanced at him and said, “There are coaches inside.”

“What if even the coach can’t teach me?”

“There are fruit platters inside.”

“…”

Fruit platters are good too. Bai Shuijin was successfully comforted.

Inspired, he said, “Laogong-ge, you really know how to comfort people.”

“…”

A friend who was on a call in the lobby saw Wang Huanxiu coming in through the main entrance and was about to greet him when he noticed a very handsome young man following a few steps behind.

The young man looked to be in his early twenties, with rainbow colored hair that wasn’t tacky or vulgar but instead made his features even more vibrant and eye-catching. The friend couldn’t help but keep looking.

The young man was like a magnet, attracting everyone’s attention.

Wait a second, rainbow-colored hair?

He remembered Bai Shuijin had rainbow hair too.

“Fuck!”

His father on the other end of the phone: “You brat, what did you say! You have now grown wings and dare to say ‘fuck’ to anyone?!”

“No, no,” the friend quickly explained, “Dad, I wasn’t talking to you.”

After a few hurried words, he hung up, his eyes still glued to the stunning young man.

Shit! Could the person following behind Wang Huanxiu be Bai Shuijin?

Before getting the answer, he shook his head in denial. There was no way, he must’ve seen it wrong.

His father is presbyopic.

After hanging up, the friend returned to the VIP room.

“Huanxiu is here.”

“Where is he?”

The friend explained what he saw. “Outside. He’s coming soon. And he brought someone with him.”

“He brought someone? That’s rare. Who is it?”

“I don’t know, but…” the friend hesitated, “it feels like it might be Bai Shuijin.”

“Your father is presbyopic. Quit it already.”

“…”

Enough! Apologize to my dad!

It really was rare for Wang Huanxiu to bring anyone along. After all, he was such a workaholic and there was usually no one at his side. When he came in, several pairs of eyes immediately looked behind him.

As expected, just like the friend had said, Wang Huanxiu really did bring someone. The person was about 1.75 meters tall. Although he was a full head shorter than everyone there, he was well-proportioned. Dressed in a puffy down jacket, he looked round and small and well-behaved.

His face was palm-sized, but his facial features were not small. His expression held a youthful innocence and clarity, like a college student. He stuck close behind Wang Huanxiu, just like a baby chick following its mother.

Very good looking. The kind of beauty that struck you at first glance but stayed pleasing to the eye.

Fang Ming: “Huanxiu, who is this?”

Wang Huanxiu looked back, then gestured as if to say, ‘He has a mouth, let him speak’, and stepped aside, exiting the spotlight.

The person behind him was now fully revealed. Bai Shuijin was not shy, and his eyes immediately spotted the several fruit platters in the VIP room.

“Hello everyone, I’m Bai Shuijin.”

“…”

“…”

“…”

For a moment, the air around was extremely quiet.

Everyone mentally searched their family trees for a history of tinnitus.

Bai Shuijin blinked, walked over to Wang Huanxiu’s side, and said, “Laogong-ge, you’re so kind.”

“?”

“You made so many mute friends.”

“…”

Everyone except Jiang You was dumbfounded. This was Bai Shuijin? The 2D clown face from the wedding?

The well-behaved, beautiful young man before them was Bai Shuijin! It would be more believable if someone said the real one had been killed.

Even circus magic tricks would bring back the same person, but Bai Shuijin…

Everyone turned their eyes to Wang Huanxiu. They had felt sorry for him before, even mourning for him at the wedding. But he was eating so well behind their backs.

Brothers were supposed to be connected heart-to-heart, but he played mind games with his brothers.

Jiang You was the first to stand up, “Welcome, welcome.”

Among the group, he had seen Bai Shuijin the most. Bai Shuijin had been close to Pei Zhiheng, and he originally thought Bai Shuijin would stir up trouble during this period of the game negotiations. But from the few things he heard from Wang Huanxiu, Bai Shuijin life in the Wang family was too comfortable, and he was eating and sleeping well.

Although nothing dramatic had happened, who knew where his heart leaned?

But since Wang Huanxiu hadn’t said anything, he had no reason to care. As the saying goes, one knows whether the water is hot or cold only after drinking it.

Or maybe this little spy really had some skills.

With someone taking the lead, Bai Shuijin quickly blended into the group. Only one person kept giving him cold looks. Lei Liming sat in the corner, silent and aloof.

To play golf, Bai Shuijin had specially changed his outfit. He wore gloves and even got himself a hat. He held Wang Huanxiu’s golf club and was eager to try.

He started with a warm-up, imitating Fang Ming beside him. He turned his shoulders, swung his club, and struck an amazing pose.

“Great shot.”

Everyone looked at the ball still sitting on the tee.

“…”

Seeing Bai Shuijin’s searching glance, Fang Ming chuckled, “What are you looking at? The ball’s still right there.”

Bai Shuijin didn’t blush. “Sorry, my family exploded into wealth, and my temperament hasn’t caught up yet.”

Lei Liming, who was in the corner, stiffened slightly at his calmness.

He used to feel inferior before for not knowing how to play golf. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t learn it. His limbs just weren’t built for coordination.

Bai Shuijin quickly found a coach. After over an hour of practice, he finally managed to hit his first ball.

Watching the ball roll far away, Bai Shuijin said, “It’s really worth the trip.”

Then, he handed the club to the caddie next to him and casually said thank you, ending today’s battle. Even though he had hit the ball, it was ninety percent a coincidence.

Wang Huanxiu hadn’t played yet, he just sat in the back watching.

“Huanxiu, come on, this is your turf.”

Bai Shuijin sent over a curious look.

Fang Ming explained, “Among us, Huanxiu is the best at golf.”

Wang Huanxiu had this skill? Bai Shuijin picked up a lychee, ready to watch the show.

The latter got up, took the club, and walked to the tee. After confirming his aim, he swung with clean, powerful movements. With a whoosh, the ball drew a beautiful arc in the sky.

A gust of wind lifted the hem of his coat.

Bai Shuijin clapped like a sea otter. “Nice! Nice abs…I mean, nice shot!”

“…”

Everyone was playing over there. Bai Shuijin watched for a while but got bored. He turned his head and spotted Lei Liming in the corner. Picking up a fruit platter, he decided to find a fruit buddy.

He sat next to him and stuffed a green fruit into his hand. “Here, eat.”

Lei Liming looked at the fruit that had suddenly appeared in his hand and had no intention of eating it.

Bai Shuijin noticed he hadn’t gone up once. “Why aren’t you playing?”

Lei Liming answered truthfully, “I don’t know how.”

“Isn’t there a coach?”

Being hit in a sore spot, Lei Liming’s face darkened. “I still can’t learn.”

Oh, so he was just like him.

Bai Shuijin took a bite of a snake apple, his cheeks puffed up. “Maybe we’re both afraid of heights.”