13 The Jin family

"I need you to take out the glass shard I have in my leg," Yitian said firmly. His voice wasn't shaking, he was decided to start anew. They were in the elevator, both silent. Chao put his hands on Yitian's shoulder and turned him around. He saw a small glass shard in Yitian's calf.

"Can you walk with it?" Yitian nodded, "when we get to the car I will remove it." They slowly walked to the lobby of the apartment building and went out in the front. Yitian thought Chao called a taxi.

"Can I ride with you?" Yitian asked, he spent his last money yesterday for their ride home, so he had almost no money. He had no idea where he would sleep, but maybe he would find some cheap internet café.

"And who else would you ride with?" Chao asked, shocked. He was baffled, what did Yitian think, that he would take him away from home and just dump him away? No, he made a new friend. He will never abandon him. When he heard the commotion in the morning he immediately called home to get a car and bodyguards. Because he did not know what Yitian's mother was able to do. But now, he knew that she was abusing Yitian because he wasn't fighting back and was small. When she looked up at Chao, he saw fear in her eyes.

They went out and Chao saw the black Maserati again, but Yitian stopped and looked around. Chao stopped too, looking at him questioningly. The car rode a bit forward, so it was on Chao's level. A guy in a suit got out of it and opened the back doors.

"Young Master, please, your brother is already waiting at home," Qin Yinbo, the personal bodyguard, said and Chao walked towards him. But Yitian was not moving. He was probably too shocked to move, so Chao went back to him, grabbed his bags, and dragged him towards the car.

"But, but I can't…" Yitian woke up and fought back, wanting to run away.

"What the hell are you doing? You are going with me!" Chao raised his voice, but soon he realized his mistake when Yitian's eyes widened and started to tremble. "I'm sorry. I would hit you, ever. Don't worry. But I guess trust needs to be earned right? Just get inside, I promise it won't be worse than before. Not even similar," Chao continued and let go of Yitian. Slowly, earning trust. There were a few moments of total silence, nobody was moving. After that Yitian straightened up, nodded, and got into the car.

"Get me a first aid kit, thank you," Chao said to his guard and got inside too. Yitian was nervously looking around. When the doors opened, Qin passed the kit inside the car, then went to the front seat and they drove away. Chao turned to Yitian.

"Show me the leg." He said and reached out with his hand. It took them a while to figure out what was the easiest way to have the best access to the wound. Chao took out the shard that was actually bigger than he thought and then he shoved up Yitian's trouser leg. What he felt was instant pity towards Yitian. He had at least five scars across his lower leg. Some were quite big, some were minor. But still what monster parent will do this to their own child? He did not get it. It was such a horrendous thing.

"Don't look. Just clean it and bandage it, please." Yitian said in a very quiet voice. And Chao did as he said. He wasn't looking around, cleaned it, and put a bandage over it. Then he put Yitian's trousers back down and sat back.

"You can crash at my house. Take it as me repaying you for letting me stay." He would put it this way, so Yitian wouldn't feel like a leech.

"I can't. What would your parents say?" Yitian was vehemently shaking his head, looking scared.

"My dad is not much at home. And…" He stopped for a second. Trust. "... my mom was killed when I was eight." he finished and turned away, not wanting to see the pity in Yitian's eyes. He did not want to tell anything else or hear any pity words. But Yitian did nothing like that. He just landed his hand on Chao's and squeezed a tiny bit. As reassurance. And Chao knew he chose a good friend now.

After a while, they were on the hill, where his home was situated. Surrounded by other rich families, they arrived at the gate that opened for them and they drove through.

"Is this…?" Yitian asked, pointing outside. Chao just nodded, not caring. Being rich was more of a bother than a privilege for him. But watching Yitian's funny reaction was refreshing. That little guy's mouth fell open, he was blinking and turning his head from the window to Chao. He looked so confused that Chao found himself smiling genuinely after a long time. Shocking the driver who was looking into the rearview mirror at that moment. And shocking even himself.

"You are? Mafias?" Yitian asked, confused. And Chao actually laughed out, they abruptly stopped, and both the driver and guard looked back at the two of them with their mouths open.

"Young master, you did not tell him?" the guard asked, not knowing whether to be surprised about the sudden laughter or that the little kid, supposed friend of the young master, not knowing who he was talking to.

"I did, told him my name. I think he doesn't care." Chao chuckled and turned around to Chao, "I'm actually from the Jin family. One of the few billionaires in Hong Kong. My father is the owner and the founder of the Long game company." He said, explaining his family background. But Yitian did not look any different.

"I'm sorry I don't know your father's company or your family. I don't play games." Yitian said tilting his head. Now it was Chao's time to be surprised. Not playing games. Looks like he will have to teach him such an awesome hobby.