Blazing fire is hard to extinguish chapter 67
Extras If Line: Personal Nurturing 7
Li Tingyan first realized that Lin Chi had an unparalleled charm to others—especially to adolescent boys and girls experiencing their first love—at Lin Chi’s high school graduation ceremony.
He had promised he would attend Lin Chi’s graduation, so he flew back from abroad.
He had completed his studies in the United States, but went straight into the overseas branch of the Changhe Group, so he hadn’t returned to China much in over a year.
On the way to Lin Chi’s school, Li Tingyan looked at the graduation news posted on their school’s official account, which happened to include Lin Chi’s photo.
Though not very enthusiastic about studying, Lin Chi had managed to become an outstanding graduate.
He had been admitted to Chengshu University, a top-ranking university in the country with particularly distinguished arts programs. Lin Chi had chosen the directing department.
Since the first year of high school, Lin Chi had shown a clear interest in the arts. Li Tingyan had completely refrained from interfering. When Lin Chi expressed his interest, he arranged for professional teachers to plan his education.
He was quite satisfied with Lin Chi’s achievements now.
Looking at the bright and cheerful young man in the photo, Li Tingyan’s lips curved slightly.
Actually, he had asked Lin Chi in the first year of high school whether he wanted to study abroad, but Lin Chi had declined.
Lin Chi had always been very decisive about his own matters. He didn’t give a particularly clear reason, just saying, “I don’t want to go for now.”
Li Tingyan did not insist.
By the time Lin Chi started university, he was supposed to return from abroad and officially join Changhe Group.
If Lin Chi went abroad again, he would be busy with work, traveling all over the world.
They would likely spend even less time together.
Thinking about the pile of troubles in the company and the gossip in the boardroom, Li Tingyan pressed his nose bridge and closed his eyes slightly.
He thought, Lin Chi’s graduation was indeed more interesting.
When he arrived at the school, Li Tingyan realized that most of the attendees at the graduation ceremony were parents, besides him. Lin Chi’s mother had also wanted to come, but had a sudden business trip.
After her health improved, she insisted on finding a job for herself. She had completely divorced Lin Zhaofeng last year but had helped send him to a rehabilitation center. Since then, her condition had improved a lot.
She had refused Li Tingyan’s help, but through her own efforts, she found a job at a stationery company and had now risen to the position of manager.
Even though the company only had a few dozen employees, she cherished this hard-earned position and worked diligently.
Lin Chi fully understood.
He was pleased to see his mother so spirited now.
But he immediately turned around and made a call, showing no empathy and demanding that Li Tingyan must appear.
“If you don’t come, I will be the only student without any parents attending the ceremony. How pitiful is that?”
He pouted and threatened, “If you don’t come, you’re dead.”
Li Tingyan knew he was just being unreasonable, but still found it very cute.
He knew Lin Chi was just messing around; the school had no plans for every student’s parents to attend, only some would be present.
But he still said softly, “Okay, I promise.”
Satisfied, Lin Chi let him off the hook.
.
Under the blazing sun, Lin Chi was waiting for Li Tingyan in the shade of a tree.
Nearby, Xi Zhiwen returned with ice cream and distributed it to the people sitting together.
Lin Chi took a chocolate one, eating it while glancing at the crowd.
Xi Zhiwen bit into his ice cream and asked him, “Is Li Tingyan really coming later?”
He looked doubtful, still struggling to accept this fact.
He wasn’t even from Lin Chi’s school, but since their graduation ceremony had ended early, he had come over to observe.
Ever since Li Tingyan had once brought Lin Chi to a party where he had mingled with Lin Chi as another guest, he had found him easy to get along with. They became good friends who could rely on each other, skipping classes and going to bars together. However, he couldn’t accept that Lin Chi was actually…
Well…
Xi Zhiwen searched his mind for a long time but couldn’t find an appropriate word.
Most people in their circle knew that Lin Chi was Li Tingyan’s savior.
But Lin Chi had always lived at Li Tingyan’s house without any official status, neither an adopted brother nor a future aide.
Yet Li Tingyan doted on Lin Chi so much that anyone with eyes could see.
Xi Zhiwen once saw Li Tingyan peeling lychees for Lin Chi, who was too busy playing with a cat to notice, opening his mouth to swallow the fruit.
It gave him goosebumps at that time.
He also had an older brother.
But if his brother treated him like that, he’d probably be scared out of his mind.
Thinking about this, Xi Zhiwen felt even more uneasy and nudged Lin Chi with his arm.
“Hey, after you go to college, aren’t you going to move out of Li Tingyan’s place?” He said with a hint of encouragement.
Lin Chi looked at him strangely, “Why?”
“You’re grown up now,” Xi Zhiwen said as if it were obvious, “Don’t you want to leave Li Tingyan and live a life without anyone controlling you? We’re both going to university in C City. We could even share an apartment. How about it? Think about it. My brother gave me an apartment. You can just move in, and we’ll live together. I guarantee you’ll enjoy your freedom so much you won’t want to go back.”
Lin Chi took a bite of his ice cream and was indeed a bit tempted.
Because at Li Tingyan’s place, any sign of trouble meant the butler had to report to Li Tingyan.
This made it very difficult for him to stay out overnight.
He had to go through layers of approval.
But he hesitated for a moment and then vaguely replied, “Let’s talk about it later.”
“Why ‘later’? You’re not afraid Li Tingyan will say no, are you? He’s not really your brother,” Xi Zhiwen unwittingly pricked Lin Chi’s heart, “You’re eighteen now; it’s time to be independent.”
Lin Chi bit into the wooden stick of his ice cream, his expression darkening momentarily.
Not long ago, he heard similar things from relatives of Li Tingyan.
But not in front of him.
Because of Li Tingyan’s obvious favoritism towards him, even Li Tingyan’s illegitimate younger brother didn’t get any respect in front of him. And because of his “savior” status, he occasionally followed Li Tingyan to the Li family’s old residence. At that time, others actually respected him quite a bit.
But that didn’t mean no one was gossiping behind his back.
In the garden, whether intentionally or unintentionally, he once overheard two unfamiliar young men conversing, “I wonder how long Li Tingyan plans to keep that kid Lin Chi around. He’s already eighteen, shouldn’t he be let go by now?”
“A kid doesn’t cost much, so if they want to keep raising him, let them. The Li family just wants to show off their kindness and righteousness to others.”
“Well, not necessarily,” the man chuckled meaningfully, “Li Tingyan treats that kid so well. It’s not like he’s raising a life-saving benefactor. Haven’t you noticed how that kid is as pretty as a fox? I’ve heard that Li Tingyan has transferred quite a lot of assets under his name. Even Li Jiang has a problem with it, he can’t go against his son. But still…”
He paused for a moment, “It’s just that Li Tingyan is still young. In a few years, once the novelty wears off, he might get tired of him and kick him out. Happens all the time.”
Lin Chi wasn’t dumb; he immediately understood what they were insinuating.
He had been by Li Tingyan’s side, carefully taken care of for so many years. Although, due to the intimidating power of Li Tingyan and Li Zhengtao, no one dared to say anything in front of him, the rumors behind his back had never ceased.
People said all kinds of things.
But it was the first time he’d heard it said so plainly, from beginning to end.
It felt like they were deliberately waiting for him, assuming that at 18, he’d swallow his grievances and keep quiet.
Lin Chi thought expressionlessly, they really don’t know me.
He didn’t emerge from the back garden. But as soon as the two men left, he immediately went to complain to Li Tingyan.