Chapter 15: Unexpected Visit

Yesterday, the boy with the tin foil perm, whose face had just kissed the wall, told his father the truth in the morning and got another beating.

Now he had a green bruise on his nose bridge and a clear palm print on his face.

He glared hatefully at Lu Shi, but didn’t dare not comply.

Lowering his head: “S-sorry.”

Chen Youxuan was stunned, unable to recover for a long time.

Even Chen Qiming stood frozen, staring blankly at the scene.

Sunlight streamed in from above Lu Shi, backlighting his tall, slender figure, hiding his face completely like a silent silhouette.

The man, being the deputy director, spoke to Lu Shi in a kindly, elder-like tone.

“My son is always behaving badly, speaking and acting without thinking. I’ve already scolded him. Don’t take it to heart.”

Then, he took Lu Shi’s hand.

“If you ever have any difficulties, just tell me. I will help you within my ability. Consider me family.”

Lu Shi pulled his hand out without showing any expression and looked at the pale-faced boy.

“Deputy Director Zhang really knows how to teach his son. Admirable.”

“No, no. The boy never listens to me. He has to be taught a lesson by others before he learns to restrain himself. Serves him right!”

The man didn’t know how an eighteen-year-old brat found out his secret of taking bribes.

But since he accurately pinpointed the hiding place of the stolen goods, he had to bring his son to apologize and give some compensation, and also see what kind of person he was dealing with.

Luckily, judging by the reactions of the other Chen family members, only Lu Shi knew about his secret.

“So the deputy director just watches his own son suffer in silence?”

A low mutter suddenly sounded in the living room.

Zhu Wanqing quickly pulled Chen Youxuan and covered his mouth.

“Youxuan, what are you saying?”

Chen Qiming glared reproachfully in their direction.

Finally stabilizing the situation, why say more?

The man heard that and put on a humble expression: “We were at fault first, so we have to admit it. It just so happens that many media are here today, and everyone has seen that our family admits mistakes and corrects them, never bullying others.”

Chen Qiming nodded: “You are right.”

No one expected that Deputy Director Zhang would personally face the media to explain the whole story, sincerely apologize and reflect, and state that Lu Shi was not involved, that everything was due to his own lack of discipline.

Chen Youxuan had spent his own money to invite so many media, and they were all eager to photograph and report this unexpected twist.

After finally seeing Deputy Director Zhang off, Chen Qiming stopped Lu Shi, who was about to go upstairs.

“Where did you go last night? Why didn’t you answer any calls or texts? Do we still exist in your eyes as your parents?”

Lu Shi casually made up an excuse: “I drank too much and just found a random place to crash for the night.”

After saying that, he rubbed his waist and complained, “The bed was so soft it gave me back pain. The pillow wasn’t very comfortable either, too high, almost gave me a stiff neck.”

Unexpectedly, at that moment, Shen Zheming came in from outside, holding a bag.

Lu Shi and he met eyes unexpectedly.

‘Why is Shen Zheming here?’

There was a feeling of being caught red-handed gossiping behind someone’s back.

Under everyone’s gaze, Shen Zheming raised his hand: “You left your medicine at my place.”

At least six or seven pairs of eyes fell on Lu Shi.

The expression on his face immediately became colorful.

He snatched the bag and lowered his voice: “Thank you so much for personally delivering it.”

Shen Zheming: “It’s only right. Don’t mention it.”

“Where’s the injection? There’s only pills.” Lu Shi opened the bag and glanced inside.

There were only the oral tablets that Shen Luo had prescribed for him, not the injection that required a shot to the back of the neck.

Shen Zheming spoke in a low voice with a hint of hoarseness: “It’s with me. Do you want your family to know you’re a defective Omega?”

For a moment, there was silence.

Lu Shi smiled through gritted teeth: “You’re so busy, it must be tough on you.”

Shen Zheming said: “Not really. It happens that my recent work is related to Minxing Education. If you need me, you can find me anytime.”

These words exchanged during the handover were inaudible to the others in the living room.

To outsiders, after Shen Zheming said that, Lu Shi smiled. When Lu Shi spoke, due to the height difference, Shen Zheming even lowered his head slightly to accommodate the conversation.

When did their relationship become so good?

“How do you know Shen Zheming?”

After the noisy villa finally quieted down and all irrelevant people left, Chen Youxuan followed Lu Shi upstairs.

Once they reached a corner out of sight, Chen Youxuan couldn’t hold back anymore.

Chen Youxuan’s face was dark, his hands clenched tightly: “When did you two meet?”

A little white flower in public, no facade in private.

Lu Shi turned around: “None of your f*cking business.”

But Chen Youxuan had revealed his true colors much faster in this life than the last.

“Since you don’t accept me, I won’t force it.” Chen Youxuan’s face was stiff, his tone carrying a warning. “I’m just reminding you, Jushang Bank is not someone you can mess with. The people around Brother Zhewen are not from your world. I hope you don’t bring shame to the family.”

“Pfft…”

Lu Shi had wanted to compliment Chen Youxuan on how much nicer his voice sounded when he wasn’t speaking in a high-pitched tone, but he couldn’t help laughing halfway through.

“Does Shen Zheming know you call him that?” Lu Shi asked curiously.

He stood half-turned, his chin slightly raised.

Chen Youxuan looked at Lu Shi and froze.

Chen Qiming wasn’t particularly handsome when he was young, but he had a good face shape and bone structure. Zhu Wanqing, however, was a true beauty, with gentle brows, a high nose bridge, and a face as gentle as her name.

From this angle, Lu Shi looked very much like Zhu Wanqing.

But the hardships of the past years had carved sharp edges into that originally gentle countenance, making him look fierce and unapproachable.

Chen Youxuan grew more uneasy. He clenched his fists: “The family recently secured investment from Jushang Bank for a project. He’s older than me and also my senior in university. What’s wrong with calling him brother?”

Then he deliberately added: “Even if he knew, he wouldn’t say anything.”

Lu Shi nodded: “No problem. I was just asking. What’s the hurry?”

All his words hit cotton, and he was ridiculed in return.

Chen Youxuan was furious: “You!”

The gossip forum was completely baffled.

The online public opinion changed every hour.

The positive response from the Deputy Director of the Information and Pheromone Management Bureau went viral online. Lu Shi’s act of punishing his son in the bar had unexpectedly become something everyone approved of.

19L: I’ve long been annoyed by his son. Always acting so arrogant. Finally someone took action!

82L: Well done. If you don’t discipline your own child, society will do it for you.

115L: Hah, the Chen family was just lucky to dodge this bullet. That one in their household isn’t a pushover either.

Many gossip journalists gathered around the Chen residence, wanting to interview Lu Shi.

But they didn’t get Lu Shi.

Lu Shi left as soon as he said he would. He had been planning to move out anyway, and Chen Qiming had just given him an opening.

The journalists did manage to corner Chen Youxuan.

“That night at the bar, someone saw the future heir of Jushang Bank, Shen Zheming, also present and leaving with Lu Shi. Do you know what exactly happened?”

“Since the birthday banquet, Shen Zheming seems to often be with Lu Shi. Did they meet at the birthday banquet? How is your relationship with them?”

Chen Youxuan was jostled by a bunch of reporters, including several media outlets he had paid for.

A group of them shoved microphones into his face, and he could only force a smile: “We all have a good relationship.”

After finally squeezing out from the reporters, he escaped back into the villa.

Chen Youxuan crashed everything on his desk onto the floor with a loud noise.

Zhu Wanqing was startled by the noise. She leaned against the doorframe and peeked in: “Youxuan, what’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Usually at this time, Zhu Wanqing would be out having afternoon tea with other ladies. Chen Youxuan didn’t expect her to be home.

He immediately wiped the coldness off his face.

Chen Youxuan forced a smile: “It’s nothing. I’ve just been under a lot of pressure lately. Too many things have happened at home.”

Seeing Zhu Wanqing’s confusion, Chen Youxuan quickly changed the subject.

“Which educational institution did Dad sign up for Brother?”

Zhu Wanqing: “Minxing. It’s near your university.”

Chen Youxuan’s mind raced.

He had previously wanted to get closer to Shen Zheming, so he had specifically researched the Shen family’s main investment areas to find a topic to chat about.

Minxing was precisely an institution that the Shen family had invested in. No wonder Lu Shi could get involved with Shen Zheming.

“Mom, I want to take classes there too. Don’t they also have many tutoring courses for university exams and certifications? Anyway, I don’t have many classes in my freshman year. I want to go with my friends.”

Chen Youxuan acted cute, grabbing Zhu Wanqing’s arm and gently shaking it.

“You’re buying such expensive classes for Brother. You can’t be partial and not enroll me.”

“Besides, if Brother and I take classes at the same institution, we can develop a better relationship. I believe one day Brother will accept me.”

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