You said you were going to make games, how did you become the richest man without doing anything?

Chapter 578: Tease Qin Yi

"Huh?" Qian Jin frowned and looked back and forth at Tang Yin, as if he was examining a puzzling object.

Tang Yin bowed politely: "Hello, thank you for your guidance." He noticed a hint of vigilance in Qian Jin's eyes, as if he was thinking about something.

"You are not from Baifengzhuang, are you?" Qian Jin asked directly, with a hint of subtle hostility in his voice.

"Well, I came here from the big city by chance." Tang Yin answered truthfully, still maintaining a gentle smile on his face.

Qian Jin's frown deepened. "...I wonder what Qin Zhi is up to..." He paused for a moment and sighed, "Never mind. You're really unlucky, so I'll excuse you. Hualu, sorry to bother you."

Bad luck? Tang Yin pondered the word silently in his mind.

He is still so stupid. He couldn't help but feel helpless about Qian Jin's straightforward character.

After bidding farewell to Qian Jin, the three returned to the village square. A gentle evening breeze wafted by, bringing with it a faint scent of flowers. Zhou Zhengxiong was squatting on the ground, snapping the shutter of his camera at a few unknown wildflowers. The snapping sound was remarkably clear in the silence.

Tang Yin understood that someone must have stopped him from taking photos of the buildings. This speculation only intensified his sense of mystery about the village.

The square was empty except for the three of them. Aside from the rustling of the wind through the treetops, the surroundings were so quiet that one could almost hear the passage of time.

"Oh, it's still the same..." Xia Hui looked at the empty square and swallowed her words back halfway through.

Tang Yin could guess what she hadn't finished saying—same old story, wandering into a deserted village by mistake. This assessment was clearly inappropriate, so she stopped talking in time.

"...Okay, let's go. You are going to the cafeteria, right?" Xia Hui changed the subject, her tone full of kind concern.

"Yeah." Tang Yin nodded in response.

Although they had never met before, Xia Hui was indeed very considerate of Tang Yin. She must have suggested this because she knew he really had something to do in the cafeteria. This thoughtfulness warmed Tang Yin's heart.

As they pushed open the cafeteria door, a gentle voice rang out, "Ah... We've been waiting for you. You must be Tang Yin, right? And here are Xia Hui and Zhou Zhengxiong."

"Hello." Zhou Zhengxiong greeted briefly, the camera still hanging around his neck.

"Hello, hello." Xia Hui said, and then resisted the urge to repeat herself, with a slightly embarrassed look on her face.

"Qin Zhi introduced me here. Please give me your guidance." Tang Yin nodded slightly towards the woman who spoke.

Chen Xiang stood behind the counter, a dignified and elegant smile on her oval face. Though a hint of fatigue lingered in her eyes and brows, the gloomy air she had worn since their previous meeting had vanished without a trace. This transformation reminded Tang Yin of an eternal truth: for the sake of their children, parents can become either ghosts or Buddhas.

Looking at Chen Xiang's peaceful face, Tang Yin sighed silently in his heart: No matter what era, this is universal, whether it is good or bad. The love and persistence in the deepest part of human nature will always be the most difficult bond to break.

As the night deepened, the lights in the cafeteria stretched the shadows of several people very long, casting them on the slightly mottled wall, as if telling the unknown story of this mysterious village.

Chen Xiang placed her hands lightly on the wooden counter, a smile etched in the corners of her eyes, "Oh...you are such a prudent young man."

"No, I'm just the last one..." Tang Yin lowered his head slightly, his brown hair covering his eyes, and there was a hint of self-mockery in his voice.

Chen Xiang frowned slightly, and hesitated to speak: "Don't be so pessimistic, but, is it really possible? Even if you come here..." A trace of worry flashed in her eyes.

"It's nothing. Although many people have advised me against it, I think this is a very good place." Tang Yin raised his head, a faint smile on the corner of his mouth, but his eyes were unusually firm.

Chen Xiang sighed softly and adjusted her apron. "Really...? But, has anyone ever told you that although this is called a cafeteria, it's actually just helping everyone cook?"

She paused, then continued somewhat embarrassedly, "...Also, it's hard to say, regarding salary... However, three meals a day can still be provided."

"I don't mind. It doesn't matter even if I don't get paid. As long as I can live a simple life, I'll be satisfied." Tang Yin's tone was calm and sincere, as if he really had no attachment to money.

"Really?" Chen Xiang was about to say something when suddenly a violent voice exploded from the door.

"Ha, are you an old man?!"

The wooden door of the cafeteria was roughly pushed open, making a harsh creaking sound. Qin Yi, who had left the scene rashly the previous time, suddenly appeared at the door. His short, bold hair shone golden in the setting sun, and his school uniform jacket was casually draped over his shoulders. He exuded a rebellious aura.

"Qin Yi, why don't you go to school!" Chen Xiang's voice suddenly rose, with a reproachful tone.

Qin Yi tutted his tongue impatiently, "So annoying! I'm not going. Hey, you damned fellow," he pointed at Tang Yin, his eyes filled with contempt, "Are you here hoping to survive? You're useless!"

"Qin Yi, what nonsense are you talking about!" Chen Xiang shouted, but Tang Yin lowered his eyes thoughtfully.

Oh, has this spread here?
He silently speculated in his heart that they must have called Mrs. Chen Xiang before, and then she had communicated with other people in advance... It was probably leaked at that time.

At this moment, Tang Yin suddenly raised his head and shouted louder than Qin Yi: "Really! I am a waste!!"

Qin Yi was obviously stunned, and the expression on his face changed from contempt to confusion: "...Huh? Have you ever had your head caught in a door?"

"I can't refute it! I'm mentally retarded!!" Tang Yin continued to shout in an almost crazy tone, his voice echoing between the walls of the cafeteria.

Qin Yi was caught off guard by this unexpected reaction. He turned to Chen Xiang and said, "Hey, old woman, don't take this idiot in. He will definitely cause trouble for you."

"How can you say that when you don't go to school or help?" Chen Xiang put her hands on her hips, her face full of anger.

"So annoying!" Qin Yi scratched his hair irritably and turned to Tang Yin, "Hey, stupid tea-haired guy, are you really here to commit suicide? You're not here to defraud people, are you?"

The afterglow of the setting sun streamed in through the cafeteria windows, lengthening the shadows of several people and casting mottled shadows on the floor. A strange tension hung in the air, as if everyone was waiting for something to happen. Tang Yin stood there, a faint smile still on his lips, as if he didn't care about anything around him. The air froze for a few seconds, and suddenly, Tang Yin burst into a near-manic laughter: "Hahaha, how could it be possible, hahaha."

His laughter echoed in the small space of the cafeteria, making it hard to tell whether it was genuine or fake. Qin Yi frowned, looking warily at the brown-haired boy with strange behavior. He turned to Chen Xiang and said, "Hey, old lady, this guy is super suspicious, isn't he?"

"My name is not Old Woman." Chen Xiang held her forehead helplessly, and the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes showed a bit of fatigue.

Tang Yin continued to laugh: "Ahahahahahahahaha." There was an indescribable weirdness in his laughter.

At this moment, Xia Hui, who had been standing in the corner, finally couldn't help but speak. She pushed her black-framed glasses up on the bridge of her nose and said gently but with a hint of reproach: "...Well, Tang Yin, although I'm an outsider, it's better to keep pranks within a certain limit."

Tang Yin's laughter gradually died down. He straightened his slightly messy brown bangs and smiled meaningfully, "Hahahahahahahaha, sorry, we still have a long time to spend together, so I wanted to get a little closer."

He turned his gaze to Qin Yi, his eyes suddenly becoming sharp: "You are Qin Yi, right? Do you want to make a bet with me?"

"Huh? What kind of bet are you making, you coward?" Qin Yi curled his lips in disdain, his fingers tapping the wall unconsciously.

At that moment, Tang Yin's action made everyone hold their breath. He slowly reached into his backpack, fumbled around for a moment, and pulled out a folding fruit knife. The silver blade gleamed coldly in the setting sun.

"Use this knife to cut off my little finger." Tang Yin's voice was terrifyingly calm, as if he was discussing today's weather.

Suddenly, the cafeteria fell silent. Everyone's eyes were fixed on Tang Yin, and even the previously noisy chirping of cicadas seemed to have stopped. Chen Xiang covered her mouth in surprise, a hint of fear flashed behind Xia Hui's glasses, and Qin Yi took a half step back in shock.

Tang Yin, however, seemed not to notice the reactions of those around him and continued in a relaxed tone, "Come on, my hand is right here, and the knife is right here, here you go."

"What are you talking about?" Qin Yi's voice trembled a little, and he was obviously frightened by Tang Yin's proposal.

"As a sign of our acquaintance, I'll ask you to cut off one of my fingers." Tang Yin's smile was still gentle, but it made people feel a chill down their spines.

"You've had your head caught in a door before! Besides..." Qin Yi's voice suddenly rose, "You should be the one doing this yourself!"

He seemed to have found a flaw and immediately seized the opportunity to taunt her, "I see. You must be the one who's afraid to let me do it! You're such a coward, huh?!"

Tang Yin shook his head slightly, his eyes sharp as a knife: "Of course I can do it myself, but this gamble is about courage. Since you think I'm a coward, then show your courage."

His voice gradually took on a hint of temptation: "As long as you dare to cut, you win. As long as I don't run away, I win too."

"In other words, if you cut off my finger it's a win-win situation, and then we'll officially be good friends."

"What do you think, Qin Yi?"

As dusk deepened, the light in the cafeteria grew dimmer. Tang Yin's left hand lay quietly on the rough dining table, his bony fingers gleaming a sickly paleness in the dim light. The folding knife in his right hand drew a cold arc through the air and reached toward Qin Yi.

The flickering light on the blade seemed to possess some kind of magical power, freezing the entire space in that moment. Everyone's breathing became extremely light, and an indescribable sense of oppression filled the air, like the calm before the storm.

Qin Yi's Adam's apple rolled slightly, and his voice trembled a little: "...What are you talking about? Has your head really been caught in the door?"

Tang Yin raised the corner of his mouth slightly, and an unfathomable light flashed in his eyes: "You have only been saying this since a while ago. Well, okay, I just got my head stuck in the door."

He suddenly leaned forward, his eyes as sharp as a hawk's as he stared at Qin Yi's ripped denim jacket and pants covered in chains: "Or do you prefer normal people? Then why are you dressed like this and getting angry at your mother?"

Tang Yin's voice was somewhat seductive: "I prefer abnormal people. Come on, let me see how crazy you are."

"Hahaha." His laughter echoed in the empty cafeteria with a strange rhythm.

Watching Qin Yi's face gradually turn pale, Tang Yin secretly laughed inwardly. This stubborn young man was like a small animal trapped in a corner, wanting to escape but also trying to save face. It was really funny.

However, teasing should be done in moderation. Tang Yin put away his playful expression and his tone suddenly became relaxed: "I was just kidding."

A trace of regret flashed through my mind: What a pity, Qin Yi.

"I'm just kidding, I can't stand this kind of pain." Tang Yin withdrew his hand from the table, closed the folding knife and put it in his pocket, revealing a gentle smile. "Even if we can't get along right now, we can still become good friends soon. Please give me your advice."

Qin Yi narrowed his eyes and looked at him warily: "...Are you trying to give me a way out?"

Tang Yin nodded secretly in his heart. It had to be said that this child was indeed exceptionally intelligent. While his brother was an all-round talent, Qin Yi also possessed his own unique gift – that sharp intuition that instantly saw through the essence of things. Perhaps this was an innate talent in the Qin family bloodline.

Faced with Tang Yin's silence, Qin Yi stood quietly for a moment, then turned and left the cafeteria. Mrs. Chen Xiang looked at her son's back and did not ask him to go to school again.

"...Sorry, I did something strange." Tang Yin turned to Chen Xiang and said with a hint of apology.

Chen Xiang waved her hands and gave a helpless smile: "Ah... It's nothing. It's obviously my stupid son who was too rude... But, I didn't expect you to be so brave."

Tang Yin looked down at his palms. "No such thing. Actually, I lost the bet because I gave up. If the stalemate continued, he might really attack me."

He recalled Qin Yi's bravery when he fought against those inhuman monsters. The young man was willing to risk his life at the critical moment.

"...He probably hesitated because he didn't want Mom to see the blood," Tang Yin said softly, "I think he's still a good kid at heart."

Hearing this, a relieved smile spread across Chen Xiang's face, which was covered with traces of time. The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the window onto her face, reflecting the gentle glow that was unique to a mother.

(End of this chapter)