Winner Takes All

Title: 谁把谁当真 (Winner Takes All)

Author：水千丞 (ShuiQianCheng)

Translator: 月野 見事 (TsukinoMigoto)

Protagonists ：黎朔 (LiShuo), 赵锦辛 (ZhaoJinXin)

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***The author has something to say:

This is a hypothetical chapter if Jinxin and Uncle Li knew each other when they were young, and it has nothing to do with the content of the whole story. Here’s to 7-year-old Zhao Jinxin and 18-year-old boy Uncle Li.

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“Xiao Shuo, hurry up.”

“I’m coming.”

Li Shuo shook the wet water stains on his hair, rubbing with a towel chaotically, while holding his jeans in one hand, he tripped on his trousers and almost rolled over on the carpet.

After finally getting dressed, he grabbed his backpack and threw it on his back, buckled the cap on his wet hair, and ran down the stairs quickly.

His parents were waiting for him downstairs.

“Dad, Mom, good day.” Li Shuo had wet drops of water and a sunny smile on his face.

“Your hair is not dry.” Madam Li took off his peaked cap, “You don’t have to be so in a hurry and not blow your hair.”

“Forget it, it’s not good to be late. The weather is hot. It will dry in a while.” Li Shuo pressed on his mother’s shoulder and looked at her carefully, “Mom, you are so beautiful today.”

Madam Li smiled happily: “Let’s go.” 

The family of three walked out.

Mr. Li asked casually: “When will your SAT scores come out?”

“Next week, I will be evaluating the school.” Li Shuo said slightly excitedly, “I am hesitating, should I stay in New York or go to the South?

” Of course, stay in New York. Why do you want to go so far away?” Madam Li snatched the thought right away.

“Our son has grown up, let him decide for himself.”

“Let him decide for himself? But as a parent, you can give him advice.”

Li Shuo smiled and grabbed his mother’s hand: “I will take your opinion as an important reference standard.”

“That’s good.” Madam Li touched his son’s hair and looked at his young face, filled with pride, “You will see your Uncle Zhao in a while, and you can also listen to his opinions.”

“Okay, what is he like as a person?”

“He is a very far-sighted person, otherwise how can he lead such a large enterprise?” Mr. Li said, “He is also very calm. Today is just an informal dinner at the Chamber of Commerce. If you are not shy, just go and chat with him, it will be helpful to you.”

Li Shuo smiled and said, “I will talk to him since he is someone my dad admires very much.”

Today is a dinner co-hosted by the three vice presidents of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. It was mainly held to welcome the newly appointed vice president- Zhao Rongtian. Li Shuo was a teenager and didn’t like to participate in these kinds of gatherings. He always shied away because of his busy schedule. But now that he has finished the exam, he could not bear to refuse. He might leave his parents and go to university in other cities. So this is also a kind of family activity too.

When they arrived at the hotel, the concierge led them to the banquet hall. The people who came to the table of seven to eight people this time were all reputable Chinese families in New York, but they would inevitably become noisy because they dragged their families. In the banquet hall, you can hear unbridled laughter. It turned out that a few children were chasing after each other. When a little man ran past them, he bumped his head on Li Shuo’s leg.

Li Shuo was startled and looked down. A child fell on his feet with his head up, covering his face and groaning.

Li Shuo quickly squatted down and hugged him up: “Little kid, are you okay? Where did you bump your head?” He gently took the child’s hand covering his face, and then looked at the boy for a while.

It was a beautiful little boy who looked like a puppet doll. His sleek face was so delicate to the tip of his chin. The eyes were dark, bright and deep. The eyelashes were like two small fans, flickering and the lips were rosy and tender. They were slightly curled, still stained with crystal saliva. He looked innocent, and his nose was red, probably because of the bump.

Li Shuo checked his arms and legs, and said softly, “Little kid, did the bump hurt?” The little boy looked at Li Shuo, blinked without crying, shook his head, and nodded again.

“Oh, I’m sorry.” A beautiful lady ran over. “Children like to run around. Did he bump into you?”

“I’m fine…”

“Huh, Mr. Li?”

“Hey, younger brother and sister, is this kid Jinxin?”

Mr. Li and his wife who were chatting with others turned around and just saw this scene, “Xiao Shuo, this is your Aunt Zhao, this is Xiao Jinxin, this year…”

“Seven years old.” Madam Zhao smiled, “You are Li Shuo. I always wanted to see you the last time I heard your parents mention you. You look so handsome and such a big boy.”

Li Shuo said politely, “Hello Auntie Zhao. This little friend… Ah, Jin Xin, is he okay? He bumped into me.”

“He’s okay, he’s okay. Jin Xin, did you bump into someone? Have you apologized?”

Zhao Jinxin looked up at Li Shuo and whispered obediently: “Uncle, I’m sorry.”

Everyone around laughed.

Mrs. Zhao patted his head: “What uncle? Call him brother.”

Li Shuo smiled and waved his hand: “It’s okay.”

“Brother, I’m sorry.” Zhao Jinxin bit his lip, and suddenly smiled at Li Shuo with a sweet smile. He was naive, and straightforward to tease people’s hearts.

Li Shuo rubbed his soft hair and smiled: “It’s okay.”

“Mr. Li, come and sit with us.” Madam Zhao said she was about to pick up Zhao Jinxin.

Zhao Jinxin twisted his body, broke away from his mother’s hand, and grabbed the corner of Li Shuo’s clothes.

Madam Zhao looked at him: “Jinxin, do you want your brother to hold you?”

Zhao Jinxin nodded and looked up at Li Shuo with his neck up, his eyes sparkling.

Li Shuo stooped to pick up the child, and supported it with one arm: “Okay, brother will hold you.”

Zhao Jinxin grabbed Li Shuo’s neck and whispered in his ear: “Brother, I think you smell sweet. “

Li Shuo smiled: “Brother just took a bath.”

“It smells good…” Zhao Jinxin buried his face in Li Shuo’s neck and arched. “Brother, shall we be friends?”

Li Shuo laughed. The laughter was full of affection for this beautiful and cute little boy: “Okay, then we are friends.”

Li Shuo hugged Zhao Jinxin to the seat. As soon as he sat down, Zhao Jinxin climbed onto him: “Brother, didn’t you say you want to hold me?”

“Jinxin, how can you let your brother eat like this?”

“He can still eat.” Zhao Jinxin sat on Li Shuo’s lap and smiled sweetly at him.

Li Shuo smiled and said: “It doesn’t matter, I can hold him.”

Mr. Li smiled and introduced a group of people on the table, and finally introduced the protagonist of the dinner- Zhao Rongtian.

Zhao Rongtian’s age is not much different from Li Shuo’s father. He is an old man. He has long heard that their family treats his son well. When he saw him today, Li Shuo understood very well. Such a beautiful and lovely son. It is natural to protect him from harm.

As his father said, Zhao Rongtian was friendly and generous without losing his dignity. At first glance, he was a respectable man. Unfortunately, Zhao Jinxin was stuck to him. He could only play with him. There was no time to even say a few words to Zhao Rongtian.

“Brother, I’ll eat that, that.”

Li Shuo clamped a piece of lotus root to the plate, blew it, and brought it to Zhao Jinxin’s mouth.

Zhao Jinxin took a bite: “Ah, it’s hot…”

Li Shuo quickly handed him the drink: “Come on, drink some water, I thought it wouldn’t be hot.”

Zhao Jinxin took a drink, then opened his lower lip to show Li Shuo, and said pitifully, “Brother, Is my mouth swollen?”

Li Shuo couldn’t help but want to laugh: “No, it’s all good.” He took out a tissue and wiped Zhao Jinxin’s mouth.

“Brother, you eat too.” Zhao Jinxin picked up the lotus root clip with chopsticks and handed it to Li Shuo’s mouth. Li Shuo smiled and took a bite.

“Oh, why does Jin Xin likes Brother Li Shuo so much?” An adult next to him teased him.

Zhao Jinxin twisted his head and said without hesitation: “Brother is fragrant and beautiful.” A table of people burst into laughter.

Li Shuo rubbed his little head and smiled without saying a word.

Mrs. Zhao gently educates her son: “Jin Xin, Brother Li Shuo is not only good-looking, but also very smart, very filial and kind, and plays tennis very well. You want to learn more from your brother, right?”

Zhao Jinxin nodded: “Brother, I want to play tennis too. Can you teach me how to play?”

 “Okay, when do you want to learn?”

“I want to learn now.” Zhao Jinxin knelt on Li Shuo’s thighs, shook his arms around his neck, acting like a baby and said, “Brother teach me.”

“Let’s ask your Mom and Dad when they have time to come to my house. There is a tennis court in my house. I will teach you how to play.”

Zhao Jinxin immediately looked at his parents with a look of expectation.

Zhao Rongtian smiled and said, “I will take you to play another day. Thank your Brother Li Shuo.”

“Thank you, brother.” Zhao Jinxin put his lips on Li Shuo’s cheek, took a sip, and then arched Li Shuo with his small head. The chest is soft and coquettish.

Li Shuo squeezed his tender face, and the corners of his mouth couldn’t help raising.

This little kid is so cute.

A few days later, Mrs. Zhao really brought Zhao Jinxin to Li Shuo’s house.

Li Shuo just called a few friends to play basketball that day. The weather was hot. After a few games, they hid in the shade to drink beer and chat. The youthful breath was so bright and dazzling.

Hearing that Zhao Jinxin was here, Li Shuo quickly grabbed a bottle of mineral water, poured his head on his hair, and then shook his head vigorously. The crystal drops of water were scattered in the air, and every drop was like a shard of sunlight. Against the background, his face is particularly fair and admirable.

Mrs. Zhao was afraid of the sun, so after handing her son to Li Shuo, she went into the house to have tea and chat with Madam Li.

Li Shuo rubbed his wet hair, squatted down in front of Zhao Jinxin, and said apologetically: “Jinxin, brother didn’t know you will be here today, so I drank alcohol and sweated and my body doesn’t smell good anymore, do you mind?”

Zhao Jinxin looked at his shiny and reflective skin and his eyes were filled with intoxicating tenderness. He smiled and shook his head, and leaped on him: “Brother, I miss you, do you miss me?”

Li Shuo laughed haha. “Yes, of course.”

“Lambert, who is he?”

“He’s my…” Li Shuo took Zhao Jinxin’s hand and walked over, “Friend.”

Zhao Jinxin looked at Li Shuo’s friends and pouted his mouth.

“Friend? Hey, friend, do you want to drink?” Cheng Sheng raised his glass toward the child.

“Don’t go fooling around, hahahaha—” A beautiful girl punched him lightly.

“Okay.” Zhao Jinxin said suddenly.

Several people were startled.

Zhao Jinxin stretched out his little hand to get a beer.

Cheng Sheng quickly raised it up: “I’m kidding. You children can’t drink this.”

“I want to have the same taste as my brother.” Zhao Jinxin grabbed Li Shuo’s hand and shook it.

Li Shuo hugged him up: “I can give you my shower gel, but you can’t drink. Let’s walk, or play ball.” He suddenly raised the child above his head and screamed and ran.

Zhao Jinxin screamed and laughed.

Li Shuo borrowed a lighter racket for women and taught Zhao Jinxin how to hold the racket. At Zhao Jinxin’s age, he didn’t learn tennis at all, but there was no suitable equipment here, and he felt that the child would be hot in just three minutes. Today, he will just play with him.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Jinxin learned very seriously, which surprised Li Shuo. He coached for half an hour, seeing that the child’s forehead was full of sweat, he led him back to the shade and let him rest for a while.

Cheng Sheng stood up: “Lambert, let’s have a game.”

“Okay.” Li Shuo turned the racket, “Jin Xin, you wait for me here.”

“No!” Zhao Jinxin jumped off the stool and hugged Li Shuo’s thigh, “Brother, you will play with me.”

“Brother will play with you, but you need to rest now, otherwise you will be tired.”

“Then you accompany me to rest.” Zhao Jinxin frowned and looked at Cheng Sheng.

Li Shuo smiled with a good temper and said, “Well, I will accompany you to rest.”

“Hey, you are not a full-time childcare provider. Give him to Lisa so that he can understand what a woman is in advance.”

Li Shuo scolded: “He is only seven years old.”

Zhao Jinxin held Li Shuo’s leg tightly and squinted his eyes at Cheng Sheng.

Li Shuo sat back in the chair again. Cheng Sheng felt bored and sat next to him. A group of people chatted and enjoyed their time under the shade.

After a while, Li Shuo went to the bathroom. He was afraid that Zhao Jinxin would be afraid to be left alone and asked him if he wanted to go. This time, the child shook his head.

When Li Shuo came back from the toilet, he heard the cry of the child before he reached the tennis court. He was shocked and hurried to the tennis court.

He saw Zhao Jinxin sitting on the ground, howling and crying, holding a beer bottle in his hand.

Li Shuo quickly ran over: “What’s the matter? What’s wrong with him?”

Lisa suffocated a smile: “We didn’t pay attention, he just… drank a sip of wine, and then cried.”

At this time, Mrs. Zhao also left. Came out: “Baby, what’s the matter?”

Li Shuo was a little embarrassed: “Sorry, auntie, I just went to the bathroom, but I didn’t take a good look. He took a sip of wine.”

Madam Li blamed Li Shuo: “How can you let the children touch the wine? Here!”

Madam Zhao said graciously: “It’s okay.” She hugged Zhao Jinxin, “Jinxin, how do you drink?”

“He… he asked me to drink.” Zhao Jinxin whipped and pointed at Cheng Sheng with his little finger.

Cheng Sheng pointed to himself, with an indefatigable expression: “I…I…”

Li Shuo spread out his hands: “Let you talk nonsense , children will take it seriously.”

“Well, I’m sorry, my fault, I’m sorry.” Cheng Sheng looked unlucky.

“Well, you go back first, and we will call again another day.” Their original plan was to have a barbecue party at home together at night, but now they obviously can’t go on with the plan.

Cheng Sheng and others had to pack their equipment and prepare to leave.

“Brother, hug.” Zhao Jinxin reached out towards Li Shuo pitifully.

Li Shuo hugged him: “Children are not allowed to drink. No matter who says anything, you can’t drink, you know?”

Zhao Jinxin nodded with tears stuck on his long eyelashes, and then opened his mouth again: “Brother, is my mouth swollen?”

Li Shuo smiled and said, “No, not at all.”

Cheng Sheng waved his hand: “Lambert, we’re going.”

“Okay, see you next time.”

Zhao Jinxin suddenly made a grimace at Cheng Sheng, sticking out a small pink tongue.

Cheng Sheng was stunned. In the blink of an eye, Zhao Jinxin had buried his face in Li Shuo’s chest. He rubbed his eyes vigorously, thinking that he was wrong.

Li Shuo carried Zhao Jinxin into the house and rinsed his mouth with mineral water.

After drinking the water, Zhao Jinxin lay on Li Shuo, his eyelids getting darker and heavier: “Brother, I am sleepy.”

“Then I will take you to sleep, okay?”

“Will you sleep with me?” Zhao Jinxin hugged Li Shuo’s arm. The little face was pillowed in Li Shuo’s palm that had just taken the iced mineral water. It was cool and comfortable.

Li Shuo smiled: “Okay, I’ll accompany you.” After greeting the two ladies, Li Shuo took Zhao Jinxin into his room and put him to the bed.

The child expended a lot of physical strength on the court. At this time, sleepiness struck, and he fell asleep soon, but even if he fell asleep, he kept grabbing the corner of Li Shuo’s clothes.

Li Shuo looked at Zhao Jinxin’s round, angel-like exquisite face, and his heart was filled with soft and warm emotions.

He wrapped Zhao Jinxin with his slender arms, lying on the side, and fell asleep deeply.

He had a beautiful dream, and dreamt that one day, he met Zhao Jinxin who had grown up…

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Next update: 2022/04/19 (on knoxt), 2022/04/21 (on wattpad)