Chà Chà Novel

Once he was gone, Ji Shileng was perfectly happy to have the place to himself.

The private room felt empty, and even the host’s voice from the screen seemed to echo.

The piercing pain in his ankle gradually returned. Ji Shileng picked up the Yunnan Baiyao from the small table and, copying Shang Jianli, sprayed it over his injury again.

As he applied the medicine, he thought: Even if everyone eventually received the punishment they deserved, what would it change?

Even if he could retrace his steps, nothing would be as it once was.

When he had first returned home, every time he closed his eyes, his mind filled with all those awful things he could not shake.

Now he was exacting his revenge, one matter at a time.

He told himself he would show no one mercy.

Before the auction ended, the host made another delighted announcement. “Thanks to the tireless efforts of our technical staff, reception has finally been restored!”

Ji Shileng was just about to take out his communicator when it rang.

The words “Big Sister” flashed on the screen, exerting an enormous, invisible pressure.

There was no time to keep indulging in Shang Jianli’s brand of overwrought sentimentality. Ji Shileng straightened up, braced himself, and answered.

“Where are you?” His second brother Ji Shifeng’s voice came through, and Ji Shileng quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness it was not Ji Shiyun. His eldest sister would have scolded him to death.

He answered honestly, “In a private room on the second floor”

Before Ji Shifeng could respond, Su Ke spoke up beside him. “Wait, Shileng. How did you end up in a second-floor private room?”

Ji Shifeng gave a few cold laughs and answered for him. “How else? Apart from the VIP section in front of us, the only other VIP area is upstairs”

His next question was blunt. “With that Shang fellow again?”

Ji Shileng faltered for a moment, then chose to reveal only half the truth. “I twisted my ankle… I came upstairs to put some medicine on it”

Ji Shifeng and Su Ke: “…”

“You managed to twist your ankle here?”

“It was pitch-black, Shifeng. You really can’t blame me”

After a couple more sharp remarks, Ji Shifeng’s concern won out. “How does it feel? Do you need to go to the hospital?”

“The doctor’s preliminary assessment was some ligament damage. He said it would be best to get it checked at the hospital”

“We’re coming up” Anxious, Su Ke pulled Ji Shifeng toward the stairs without another word.

“Where’s Shiyun?” Ji Shileng asked, having successfully glossed over how they had become separated.

“Bidding up a storm” Ji Shifeng pressed the elevator button. “She hesitated over that last bangle, and someone else snapped it up”

“There were dark spots and cotton-like inclusions in that one. Not getting it just means she saved some money” Ji Shileng offered this consolation while silently cursing Shang Jianli again.

“She’s come around. She says she’ll spend the money she saved on LILALI glass dolls for you”

They had barely exchanged another few words before someone knocked on the private-room door.

Ji Shileng set down the catalog, pushed himself up from the sofa, and hopped comically to the door on one foot.

Ji Shifeng looked past him and surveyed the room.

Finding no one else inside, his furrowed brow relaxed a little.

Then he looked down at Ji Shileng’s ankle, swollen like a steamed bun, and took a deep breath, reminding himself to stay calm.

Su Ke was right beside him. He had only just become less afraid of him; Ji Shifeng could not go frightening him again.

Su Ke looked at the injury, his expression indescribable. “Shileng, we were only apart for a little while. How did you…”

He did not finish.

With them, Ji Shileng still had the heart to joke. “This offers an even more vivid demonstration of my astrological incompatibility with the Empire”

Ji Shifeng: “…”

“We’re going to the hospital,” he decided immediately. “That Shang fellow helped you up here, didn’t he?”

“Mm…” Being forcibly brought upstairs probably counted as being helped.

Ji Shifeng hoisted him onto his back and headed out. “At least he did one good thing”

Now it was Ji Shileng’s turn to be speechless, though he could hardly expose the whole story.

Su Ke followed beside them, his opinion of Shang Jianli as poor as ever.

“Shifeng, why do you say he did a good thing?”

“If he hadn’t brought him upstairs, he might have stayed down there pretending nothing was wrong”

Ji Shifeng knew his brother well enough.

Before everything had happened, he had admired Shang Jianli.

Young, driven, ambitious—and, most importantly, ruthless enough.

But he had been ruthless to the wrong person.

By the time they returned from the hospital to Balemate Royal Church, Ji Shileng had been repeatedly instructed not to put weight on his injured foot for the time being.

Sitting in a wheelchair, he looked utterly defeated.

Not having to walk was wonderful. The problem was that everyone knew him, which made it rather embarrassing.

“Shifeng, why don’t I wait for you in the car?” He made one last attempt.

“The people from Imperial Capital News are inside. Don’t you want to have another word with them?” Ji Shifeng did not force him.

Halfway through the auction, Imperial Capital News had published a public apology.

The resulting traffic had been so heavy that the interstellar network had crashed several times.

After all, Imperial Capital News had once been one of the Empire’s most trusted media organizations, with a considerable following.

Anything involving Ji Shileng already attracted attention. Now that the outlet had admitted to slandering him, interest had surged even higher.

Its comment section had instantly filled with abuse.

The auction was now over, and the evening banquet had just begun.

Mr. Chang, the owner of Imperial Capital News, happened to be inside. The person in charge was probably accompanying him.

It was an excellent opportunity for a little mockery.

Ji Shifeng respected Ji Shileng’s choice. “If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to”

Besides, that Shang fellow was inside too. He did not want his brother to run into him again.

A couple of days earlier, he had read a line: Someone you need time to forget is someone you must never see again.

It could not have suited his brother more perfectly.

Ji Shileng hesitated, unaware of his brother’s private calculations.

Finally, he decided, “I’ll go in. There might not be another chance to see them”

Kicking someone while they were down might be immoral, but it felt wonderful.

Especially when Imperial Capital News had wronged him so many times. Revenge was sweet, and good news lifted the spirits.

What was embarrassing about a wheelchair? He did not even have to walk.

Su Ke diligently wheeled Ji Shileng into the venue.

The moment they looked up, they saw the person in charge standing before them, teeth clenched.

“Happy now, you heartless bastard?”

Faced with the man’s anger, Ji Shifeng accepted the accusation without hesitation. “Yes, that’s right. This heartless bastard is very happy”

Whatever irritation Shang Jianli had caused him that evening vanished at the sight of the man’s wretched state.

“Ji Shileng, don’t you know you should leave people a way out? You might have to face them again someday”

“Leave people a way out so we can face each other again?” Ji Shileng could not help laughing. Once he recovered, he asked, “Why would you and I ever need to see each other again?”

“Or, to put it another way, is there any reason Imperial Capital News absolutely must not be brought down?”