The Love Reality Show's Big Boss and Little Sweetie - Chapter 46

Qi Liao wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but Mu Chi’s gaze seemed a bit strange after he came out of the restroom.

Remembering that Qi Yuan had also gone to the restroom, Qi Liao asked on the way back: “Did my brother say something to you?”

Mu Chi’s lying skills were indeed clumsy, but fortunately, the night provided cover. As long as he controlled his expression a little, it was quite deceptive: “No. It’s just… I realized your brother is actually quite… nice.”

Qi Liao’s expression remained neutral. “Is that so.”

“Yeah. No matter what, the fact that he came all this way shows he cares about you, his little brother.”

“Naturally, I also regard him as my elder brother.”

The relationship between the two brothers wasn’t truly strained, just a bit awkward. Qi Liao didn’t know how to handle it. After hearing Qi Yuan’s account, Mu Chi understood why they couldn’t go three sentences without arguing.

Qi Yuan had said: “Qi Liao was very independent from a young age, never gave anyone cause for worry. Our parents were busy with work, and I was in school. By the time he started middle school, I was already in university. They say there’s a generation gap every three years; we had a gap of two.”

“Then he went abroad to study and stayed for eleven or twelve years, rarely coming back except for Spring Festival. That’s when I realized—oh crap—this little brother had grown up completely into the person the whole family hoped for.”

“Not only was he independent in life, but also spiritually. Outside the Qi family, he was entirely self-sufficient. There wasn’t much I, as his brother, could do, so I just gave him three cards to swipe as he pleased.”

“Then one year I was on a business trip abroad, passed by his racing team, and went to see him. He was alright with me then, after all, I’m his own brother. I was relieved… until I saw his garage. A hundred sports cars, and it wasn’t even full yet.”

“After I returned to China, I checked—the cards were maxed out, one billion short. My heart bled, but actually, it didn’t matter. I could earn that money back, as long as this little brother would come back.”

“But he only responds to hardness, not softness. It took all kinds of threats to finally get him back. But soon, our parents realized this son felt unfamiliar, completely lacking the habit of relying on family. I told him to pay back the money, and without a word of complaint or acting spoiled, he said he would.”

“I’ve studied a bit of psychology. His outward manifestations include collecting mania, obsessive-compulsiveness, closely related to his childhood experiences. I’m not saying he has psychological trauma, just that he might lack a sense of security somewhat. I failed as his older brother.”

Mu Chi was initially shocked by how much Qi Liao could spend, but after hearing this, he was filled with nothing but compassion. Lacking a sense of security, being overly independent—wasn’t that just a lack of love?

He must give Qi Liao abundant love, give him a full sense of security!

What’s one billion? Even ten billion can’t compare to Qi Liao’s happiness!

“Gege, you’re really great,” Mu Chi praised sincerely.

Qi Liao looked at him even more unfathomably. “Why say that suddenly?”

“I just think you’re the best gege in the world, the handsomest man!” Mu Chi praised without batting an eye.

Qi Liao smiled: “Do you know the car camera isn’t off?”

“…”

The camera wasn’t off? So they were still live streaming?

Mu Chi closed his eyes and played dead.

【Hahahaha another social death!】

【Quick, someone tell me what happened after meeting the big brother!】

【He must have been humiliated, otherwise Mu Chi wouldn’t praise Qi Liao like this /doge】

【No way, Mu Chi often praises the Great Demon King like this】

【Shocked! The cold male god reveals his dorky nature】

【Even their private interactions are so sweet, so good to ship】

…

Mu Chi thought that after this meeting, he wouldn’t cross paths with Brother Qi for a while. But then Qi Liao told him they were going to a neighboring city in the afternoon to attend an intangible cultural heritage event.

Qi Yuan hadn’t come solely for his brother; he had work too. This intangible cultural heritage event also doubled as a charity event. The Qi family often participated in such activities to accumulate goodwill.

“Me too?” Mu Chi asked.

Qi Liao: “You don’t have to go if you don’t want to. You can meet city-level officials at this event; it’s always good to make an acquaintance.”

Networking was very important for a merchant family. Even someone as individualistic as Qi Liao wouldn’t deliberately avoid such occasions. One more connection meant one more option.

Mu Chi wasn’t interested in officials. “What intangible cultural heritage is it?”

“Silk painting and embroidery – it’s an art form of painting on silk.”

Mu Chi became somewhat interested. “Then I’ll go take a look.”

Seeing he was only interested in the intangible cultural heritage, Qi Liao couldn’t help a light laugh: “Mm, just go have fun.”

The others were also very interested upon hearing about it, so they decided to go together to the neighboring city after lunch. Qi Liao called Qi Yuan about it. Qi Yuan laughed in exasperation: “Do you really take me for a door god, letting in whoever you say?”

Qi Liao: “Then I’ll go by myself.”

“Wait there.” Qi Yuan dropped these words, hung up, and had his assistant get a few more invitations.

Everyone had lunch, then drove to the neighboring city. The scenery along the way was beautiful, so it wasn’t boring.

Arriving at the large hotel hosting the event, they took the elevator up. At the entrance to the banquet hall, two attendants approached, smiling politely: “Please show your invitations.”

Qi Liao took out his phone, showed the electronic invitations—they had even arranged some for the camera crew.

The staff let them in, giving each a handkerchief: “A small token of our appreciation.”

The handkerchief was woven from silk, pure white, soft, and lightweight. Mu Chi used his to wipe his face—it felt much more comfortable than a towel.

Qi Liao: “That probably isn’t for wiping your face. It’s for everyone to experience painting on.”

Mu Chi: “…”

Xu Wuxing, who had also used his to wipe his face: “…”

【Who would have thought the handkerchief was for painting? /facepalm】

【The function of a handkerchief is to wipe sweat. If it can’t wipe sweat, it’s not a handkerchief.】

【What do you all know? A handkerchief stained with the male god’s fragrant sweat is easier to paint on.】

Just then, Qi Liao expressionlessly took the handkerchief from Mu Chi and shoved his own into Mu Chi’s hand. “If you like wiping your face, then wipe it.”

【Holy crap!? Exchanging handkerchiefs?】

【In ancient times, women exchanging handkerchiefs symbolized intimacy.】

【In ancient times, men exchanging sweat towels also symbolized intimacy.】

【Achieved a world where only Xu Wuxing is hurt, no one exchanged handkerchiefs with him hahaha】

Being a celebrity had its advantages. For instance, even at such an event, Mu Chi had fans who excitedly came up to shake his hand, ask for autographs, and take photos.

Mu Chi agreed to each one. One shy girl looked at Qi Liao and said, “I’d like a photo with both of you.”

Surprisingly, Qi Liao agreed, shocking the netizens.

【Doesn’t Qi Liao dislike giving autographs and taking photos with fans??】

【I have a bold guess: is it only okay if they’re his and Mu Chi’s CP fans?】

【Ahhh! He’s so indulgent!!】

【Another day of my gentle heart shattering】

Hao Wenrou’s delicate face twisted slightly, but he managed to control himself and not lose his composure. It wasn’t until a cheerful-looking high school boy came to ask for his autograph that his expression improved a bit.

The boy excitedly took out his phone and invited: “Wenrou, want to team up for a game?”

Hao Wenrou, thinking he had nothing else to do anyway, agreed. He sat with the boy and played a mobile game. He didn’t notice the boy’s ears secretly turning red, nor that the boy took a photo with him.

【??】

【So many boys like Wenrou, this one is the most handsome】

【Help, he’s even wearing a school uniform!】

【Looks like a sunny, cheerful guy, feels kinda complementary with Wenrou】

【But he’s underage…】

【Quick, look at Lucas, he’s off flirting again】

Lucas was like a social butterfly, flitting around the banquet hall, not discriminating by gender. In just over ten minutes, he had hooked up with four or five reasonably good-looking men and women.

Mu Chi was also stunned. If Lucas used his social skills for legitimate purposes, he’d have made a fortune long ago.

In contrast, Xu Wuxing, like Mu Chi, felt out of place in such settings. Ying Xuan conversed with people gracefully and confidently, while Qi Liao had people actively seeking him out to talk and offer toasts.

After about half an hour, Qi Yuan finally made his grand entrance.

Everyone present put down their drinks and conversation partners, greeting and teasing Qi Yuan: “You’re so late, were you detained by some beauty?”

Qi Yuan first walked to his brother’s side, picked up a glass of red wine, and said with a smile: “Yes, the beauty’s name is Work. Sorry for being late, let me propose a toast first.”

“One glass isn’t enough, make it three.”

Qi Yuan smiled and drank the second glass. Just as he was about to drink the third, Qi Liao took it and downed it in one go. “Did they confess?”

“They confessed,” Qi Yuan said in a low voice. “Agreed to compensate for all losses, including emotional damages, totaling two million. It’s not enough? Go squeeze more out of them later.”

“Still a bit short. Make it two and a half million.”

Qi Yuan smiled and nodded, glancing at Mu Chi. “Alright, get your little friend some more pocket money.”

Mu Chi: “?”

Qi Liao felt somewhat awkward. “What little friend? Don’t talk nonsense.”

Qi Yuan: “He lost his memory and still calls you ‘gege’. If he’s not a little friend, then what? You, who’ve never been an older brother before, must be enjoying being called that, right?”

Qi Liao: “…If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll use my fists to make you enjoy it.”

Qi Yuan raised his hands slightly in surrender. “I admit defeat.”

“President Qi, what’s the fun topic? Share it with us,” a middle-aged, elite-looking woman said with a laugh.

Qi Yuan went over and chatted eloquently with her. Everyone treated him with respect. Mu Chi whispered, “Your big brother is really good at talking.”

Qi Liao: “In these kinds of occasions, his mouth might as well be studded with diamonds.”

As they spoke, more people entered the banquet hall: a slightly fat and short man, and a handsome, tall young man with a somewhat arrogant air.

The moment the young man saw Mu Chi, he rolled his eyes.

Mu Chi: “?? Who’s that?”

Qi Liao: “Don’t know him.”

Before the young man could speak, the fat man beside him said, “Mu Chi, you don’t even remember us? Important people really do have short memories.”

Mu Chi: “Thanks for the compliment.”

The man: “…”

【Isn’t that Mai Baoxian?】

【No matter how you look at him, he looks like an insurance salesman. Who would guess he’s also a manager?】

【Zhu Yinhang, where are you? Your cash cow is being bullied by a rival!】

【Thanks for complimenting our male god as an ‘important person’—a person of great worth indeed】

【How can Ou Yalu even attend this event? Must have used backdoors】

“Mu Chi, you don’t even remember me?” Ou Yalu asked, his chin held high.

Mu Chi looked innocently aloof. “You rolled your eyes at me; clearly not a good person.”

Ou Yalu was so angry he nearly choked. “I’m Ou Yalu, your rival!”

“Don’t know you, don’t remember, don’t want to know.”

Mai Baoxian stepped forward. “Don’t go too far!”

Mu Chi: “How strange. Why is a wild boar on the roadside able to talk?”

“You, you, you!” Mai Baoxian pointed at Mu Chi. Since when was Mu Chi so sharp-tongued? It was always Zhu Yinhang who bickered with him before.

Mu Chi moved closer to Qi Liao. “Is he about to go crazy? Can even lunatics get in here now?”

Qi Liao directed the bodyguards. “Throw the lunatic out.”

Mai Baoxian was shocked. “I have an invitation!” But he was still escorted out.

Seeing his manager thrown out so humiliatingly, Ou Yalu didn’t dare cause more trouble for the moment. He swallowed his anger and glared at Mu Chi. Mu Chi didn’t give him a single glance, happily eating the small cake Qi Liao gave him. The boring banquet had just become interesting.

Once everyone was present, the event host took the stage. First, they thanked everyone for coming and explained the origins of silk painting and embroidery : “The ancient technique of painting on silk dates back to the Warring States period, then known as Chu silk paintings. The famous Along the River During the Qingming Festival from the Song Dynasty was also painted on silk. Silk painting and embroidery have a long history.”

“Today, we’ve given each distinguished guest a small handkerchief. There are pigments over here; those interested can give it a try. Please don’t be restrained, feel free to create as you wish.”

Everyone stepped forward. A long table was indeed filled with various pigments: mineral green, cinnabar red, rattan yellow, ochre red, etc., and even mud gold, with palettes also prepared.

Mu Chi picked up a small wolf-hair brush, dipped it in water and wisteria-purple pigment, mixed it evenly on the palette, then painted grapes on the spread-out silk handkerchief. He looked quite practiced, and it indeed had a unique charm compared to rice paper.

“Brother Mu, you can paint in the Chinese style too?” Xu Wuxing asked in surprise.

Mu Chi smiled faintly: “My mom liked painting in her spare time, I learned a bit from her.”

“Then your mother must be a painter.”

“She’s just an ordinary tea farmer.”

“…”

Mu Chi picked up another brush, dipped it in spring green and ochre red, mixing them into a color similar to brown but with richer layers. He carefully painted grapevines and leaf veins on the silk handkerchief, completing the light, dark, and thick lines all with single strokes.

An elderly man nearby marveled: “I didn’t expect you to have such skill.”

Mu Chi, seeing the old man’s painting was much better than his own, felt embarrassed. “Just a trivial skill, can’t compare to you, Sir.”

“I’ve been painting for decades, you’ve only been at it for a few years,” the old man said with a laugh, offering guidance. “Your brushwork here could be a bit more rounded and blunt. No need to change it, I’m just saying. Changing it might lose its liveliness.”

The people present seemed to respect this old man greatly. Mu Chi, completely unaware, focused on his own painting.

The old man smiled and went to look at others’ paintings. “A pure, childlike heart is rare.”

Seeing Qi Liao’s painting, the old man said: “A three-year-old paints better than you.”

Qi Liao: “…”

Mu Chi glanced over. Qi Liao’s painting was a mess, vaguely recognizable as a sports car… Painting a sports car on silk, Qi Liao was truly one of a kind.

Rarely seeing something Qi Liao wasn’t good at, Mu Chi asked with a smile: “Want me to teach you?”

Qi Liao threw down the dirty handkerchief, his hands also dirty. “Teach me in private later.”

【Oho-ho, private lessons】

【The Great Demon King only managed to paint the car wheels decently hahaha】

【Who would have thought, who would have thought, Mu Chi has this talent】

【So the question is, why can Mu Chi paint, but his handwriting is so ugly?】

【Where is it ugly? It’s just unconventional!】

Just as Mu Chi was painting, a bucket of dirty water used for washing pigments was suddenly thrown from the opposite side. His snow-white shirt was splashed, stained, along with the painting in front of him.

Mu Chi was stunned for a moment, then looked at the haughty Ou Yalu.

Ou Yalu said with a smile: “Sorry about that, it wasn’t on purpose.”

As soon as he finished speaking, another bucket of dirty water was poured over his head from above. Ou Yalu got some in his eyes, ears, mouth, and nose. Drenched like a drowned rat, he screamed: “Ah!!”

Qi Liao stood on the table, throwing away the small water basin he used for washing brushes. “Sorry, it wasn’t on purpose either.”

Then, he lifted his foot and kicked Ou Yalu squarely in the chest, sending him sprawling to the floor.

Qi Liao looked down from his height. “That wasn’t on purpose either.”

He jumped off the table, walked up to Ou Yalu, and said, “I have plenty of other ‘not on purpose’ things. Do you want to see them all?”

Ou Yalu glared furiously at Qi Liao. “What, just because you’re rich? I’ll sue you!”

Qi Liao raised a hand, bringing it down with a whoosh—

“Ah?!”

The slap didn’t land on Ou Yalu’s face. Qi Liao said coldly, “Hitting you would dirty my hand. Get lost.”

Ou Yalu left the banquet hall, humiliated and furious.

While everyone was still stunned, Qi Liao directly grabbed Mu Chi’s hand and reached out to Qi Yuan. “Room key.”

Qi Yuan gave him his own room key, asking thoughtfully, “Need a change of clothes?”

“Obviously.” Qi Liao pulled Mu Chi away, found the room, left the camera crew outside the door, and took Mu Chi inside.

A lone man and another lone man, alone together in a hotel room. Mu Chi felt a little excited, but when he met Qi Liao’s stormy eyes, his excitement faded. “Gege? I’m fine, really.”

Qi Liao couldn’t quite explain why he felt so uncomfortable. He’d already gotten revenge, but his heart still felt tight. “Why are you so easy to bully?”

A lightbulb went off in Mu Chi’s head; he understood the source of Qi Liao’s anger. “You think I’m someone who won’t fight back or retort? You’re wrong. If you hadn’t stepped in, I would have torn his clothes right there, humiliating him to the ends of the earth.”

Qi Liao: “…Forget it. Better if I handle it.”