Chapter 25: The Unwanted Reunion

Thankfully, Shen Zheming said nothing. His hand brushed past several elementary school calligraphy practice books and picked up the test booklet beneath them.

Lu Shi coughed dryly and silently tossed the calligraphy books back into the pitch-black drawer.

Ding Wei squinted, eyeing the test booklet in Shen Zheming’s hand.

“Brother Lu, how come I can’t even understand the questions in these problems you wrote?”

Lu Shi thought it best not to scare Ding Wei, so he vaguely lied, “It’s middle school material, maybe it’s so basic you forgot.”

Ding Wei let out a breath. “Oh, that’s what I thought.”

Lu Shi nervously licked his lips. He accidentally met Shen Zheming’s eyes, then quickly looked away.

The events of yesterday’s injection were still vivid in his mind. He wondered if Shen Zheming had noticed the tear he shed.

Just thinking about how awkwardly he had left made Lu Shi’s ears burn.

In the past, making a fool of himself in front of others hadn’t bothered him at all—he was already numb to it.

He had even thought he had no sense of shame left, that he had developed an indestructible thick skin.

But now it seemed that wasn’t the case.

It seemed he still had some face left.

Ding Wei, having nothing else to do, also opened his own exercise book. He had only done two problems when he hit a snag.

After hesitating for a long time, he finally mustered his courage. “Brother Shen, can I trouble you for two minutes?”

Ding Wei hadn’t held much hope, even worried that Shen Zheming would be annoyed at being interrupted.

He had already prepared himself for rejection, but to his surprise, Shen Zheming said, “Sure.”

“!!!”

Ding Wei quickly stood up and respectfully presented his exercise book with both hands, offering it up.

He even stuck his bottom out far, afraid that his body would block the indoor light and disturb Shen Zheming’s reading.

Unlike Lu Shi, Ding Wei couldn’t keep up with Shen Zheming’s pace in many areas. Every time Shen Zheming asked if he understood, he would ponder for a long time and then shake his head awkwardly.

But Shen Zheming was more patient than expected.

Lu Shi looked down at his phone, but his peripheral vision kept unconsciously drifting to Shen Zheming.

Shen Zheming expanded the solution from a few lines to a full page, interspersed with extended explanations of various knowledge points.

Ding Wei, who originally couldn’t understand no matter what and was about to have his spirit broken, stared at the densely written draft paper. “…”

It seemed it wasn’t his problem after all.

He’d bet that if Brother Shen didn’t get full marks on an exam, it was because he skipped too many steps and got points deducted.

“Do you understand now?” Shen Zheming stopped writing.

His voice was cool, as light as winter’s fine snow, and his Adam’s apple trembled slightly when he spoke.

Ding Wei nodded like a chick pecking rice.

In his past life, this cold person was detestable, but in this life, he seemed much more agreeable.

Lu Shi raised his hand and touched his neck, accidentally hitting the injection site from yesterday.

That spot was a bit itchy and hurt when touched, making him freeze for a moment.

As if knowing why Lu Shi froze, Shen Zheming looked over.

He saw Lu Shi hunched over, rummaging through the drawer for something pointless, his neck forming a beautiful, resilient curve.

“By the way, Brother Shen.” Ding Wei spoke cheerfully, feeling that after this tutoring session, his distance from Shen Zheming had narrowed. “What fun activities does your school have for the Halloween party? I received an invitation from a friend of mine.”

Shen Zheming’s gaze returned to the competition problems. “Not sure. I’ve never been.”

“Huh? You’ve never been to such an interesting party even once?”

“Mm, I’ve been busy.”

“True.” Ding Wei turned to ask Lu Shi. “What about you, Brother Lu? Do you want to come along? My friend’s roommate just happens to have another invitation and doesn’t know who to give it to.”

Lu Shi refused bluntly. “No.”

He had never been to the school’s Halloween party before either.

He didn’t have the time or the mood, and he thought such parties were childish.

Even now, he still thought they were childish, but the reason for not going had become laziness.

“Brother Lu, you said yourself that study should be balanced with leisure. And let me tell you, that buddy’s roommate is good-looking—an A-grade Alpha and a jock…”

Thud.

Shen Zheming circled the problem and closed the exercise booklet, returning it to Lu Shi.

Shen Zheming spoke calmly. “If you want to go, you can come with me. I didn’t say I’m not going this year.”

This was said to Lu Shi.

Lu Shi, who had been swinging his legs, stopped. He looked up, a question mark appearing above his head.

‘Which eye of yours saw, and which ear heard that I wanted to go?’

Hearing Shen Zheming say this, Ding Wei quickly stopped talking.

If Brother Shen was inviting Lu Shi, then he definitely wouldn’t dare to snatch someone from Brother Shen.

Lu Shi leaned lazily against his chair. “First, thanks for inviting me, Brother Shen. Second, I’d still rather sleep at home.”

As soon as he finished speaking, before Shen Zheming could say anything, Ding Wei grabbed Lu Shi’s hand.

“Brother Lu, don’t leave me alone.”

“Speak properly. You make me sound like a heartbreaker.”

Ding Wei told the truth. “Actually, compared to that friend, I’m closer to you now. He only invited me because he didn’t know who else to ask. He’ll probably hang out with his roommate after we enter, and I’ll be really awkward alone.”

Lu Shi mercilessly pulled his hand back. “I’m a person with strong opinions. Don’t think you can sway me by playing the victim.”

Hearing this, Ding Wei’s shoulders drooped, somewhat dejected. “Brother Lu…”

Lu Shi: “…”

He looked away.

The Chen family had been almost certain of their cooperation with the Jushang Bank, but something or someone had obstructed it, and the Shen family had temporarily stopped investing.

Chen Qiming guessed it was because Lu Shi hadn’t changed his name, and combined with the recent commotions Lu Shi had caused, it gave the Shen family a bad impression, making them think investing in their family was risky.

Left with no choice, the Chen family had to temporarily cooperate with other enterprises.

Zhu Wanqing, as Chen Qiming’s virtuous wife, hosted a tea party at home, inviting the wives of several partners for a small gathering.

With important guests in the house, Steward Liu was running around nonstop. The servants were either preparing refreshments in the kitchen or standing by in the front garden. No one noticed that a rarely opened back door by the outdoor pool had been cracked open.

Wang Xiuzhi had been lurking near the Chen residence for days and finally had a chance to sneak in.

The password was correct. Xiao Shi indeed hadn’t lied to her.

The Chen villa was truly magnificent. Wang Xiuzhi looked up nervously, feeling oppressed just standing in front of the house.

She found a hidden spot, took out a servant uniform she had prepared earlier from her bag, and changed into it.

Chen Youxuan had returned to pick out clothes for the weekend’s Halloween party.

An Alpha from a well-off family had invited him. Though not as good as the Shen family, it was sufficient, and the guy was handsome, so he agreed.

Chen Youxuan was in a good mood and was about to go upstairs.

Suddenly, someone grabbed his hand from behind.

Chen Youxuan startled and turned to find an unfamiliar servant.

This person had rough palms, sallow skin, and messy hair. Chen Youxuan didn’t recall the family ever hiring such a rustic, unsightly servant.

He was very disgusted, but to maintain his image, he just frowned. “Is there something?”

Since Chen Youxuan had been sent away to another family, Wang Xiuzhi had never seen him this close.

Her grip on Chen Youxuan’s hand tightened. Unable to contain her excitement, Wang Xiuzhi’s body trembled slightly. “Youxuan, I am your mother.”

Chen Youxuan’s pupils contracted sharply.

He quickly looked around. Fortunately, the servants were all in the garden tending to the cats and dogs brought by the other ladies, so no one noticed the situation.

Chen Youxuan exerted force.

“Ah!”

Wang Xiuzhi let out a short cry. Her hand was thrown off, and she slammed hard into the stair railing.

“Youxuan…”

“Don’t call me that!” Chen Youxuan’s tone was urgent. “I don’t know you.”

Wang Xiuzhi said, “I know you don’t know me because you were so young then, wrapped in a small blanket. For so many years, you’ve never truly seen me except in the news…”

“Shut up!”

The young master, who had always seemed obedient, sensible, and good-natured in the eyes of the Chen family, now had a cold glint in his eyes. He lowered his voice threateningly. “I already said I don’t know you, and I don’t want to know you. I have only one mother, and that’s Zhu Wanqing. Where did this crazy woman come from? Get lost, get out of the Chen residence!”

Wang Xiuzhi was completely stunned, tears quickly welling up in her eyes.

She had never imagined that the son she had yearned for day and night all these years would spew such venom at her.

Just then, three clear claps came from the second floor, resounding loudly in the quiet villa.

The two downstairs looked up simultaneously.

Lu Shi stood by the railing, no one knew how long he had been watching.

Lu Shi’s eyes curved. “How touching.”

When Wang Xiuzhi saw him, her expression shifted from guilt to confusion, then quickly to shock.

The current Lu Shi had no trace of the person who had lived with her. He had shed all rusticity, as if he had grown up in the big city, in this house, in the glitzy capital.

Chen Youxuan’s face darkened instantly. He clenched his fists. “What are you doing here?”

Lu Shi raised his hand.

Between his fingers was a gilt-edged invitation with Shen Zheming’s signature on it, but from a distance, Chen Youxuan couldn’t see the writing.

Lu Shi smiled. “I’m also back to pick out clothes.”

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