Chapter 19: An Unwelcome Relative

“What? You’re telling me Brother Shen is going to tutor you in math?”

During dinner, Ding Wei’s chopsticks froze mid-air as he stared at Lu Shi in shock.

Lu Shi’s arm rested on the table as he picked through the dishes and selected a rib with little fat.

“Yeah, so from now on, after class, just head straight back. Don’t wait for me.”

He took a bite. Sweet and sour—just the way he liked it.

Whether it was his imagination or not, Lu Shi felt the cafeteria food at the institution had improved. The meat and vegetable combinations were well-balanced, the presentation was as good as a restaurant’s, and there were even fruits and desserts after meals.

It seemed Shen Zhewen’s frequent visits had their benefits. At the very least, everyone at Minxing was on their toes, even the kitchen had a five-star quality.

Ding Wei glanced around and lowered his voice. “Brother Lu, what kind of sorcery did you cast on Brother Shen? Or do you have some dirt on him? You didn’t threaten him, did you?”

Lu Shi shot him a look. “If anything, he’s the one threatening me.”

Thinking about the dozen or so pages of problems Shen Zhewen had marked—all of them challenging and deep—Lu Shi felt a headache coming on.

When he studied alone, he didn’t feel it, but suddenly having someone assign him tasks put a bit of pressure on him.

“Damn, back in the day, Brother Shen never explained problems to anyone during school. This must be the first time he’s giving someone private tutoring.”

Lu Shi heard Ding Wei’s muttering and curled his lips. “You want to join?”

Ding Wei shook his head frantically, like a rattle-drum. “No, no, that’s too scary. Brother Lu, take care of yourself.”

Lu Shi had just said it offhandedly. Ding Wei thought Lu Shi had turned over a new leaf and decided to learn something.

If Ding Wei knew the problems were all competition-level, his jaw would probably hit the floor.

As for Shen Zhewen giving him private tutoring—that was made up by Lu Shi.

Shen Zhewen had marked the problems, but only told him to ask if he didn’t understand, not that he would tutor him.

Lu Shi just used it as an excuse to stay longer in the study room. He didn’t want to go back early.

It wasn’t that he was diligent; it was a habit he’d developed over the years.

In his previous job, he had a bed in his office and often worked twenty-four-hour shifts.

Some called him an emotionless work machine, but in truth, he had nowhere else to go after work.

While others had dinners with friends or family company, his home awaited him—empty, cold as an ice cellar. In comparison, it was better to stay at work and rest there when tired.

Now, though…

It was simply that the small apartment was too comfortable; going back made it easy to slack off.

Time flies when you have things to do. These past few days, Lu Shi had felt it slip by without notice.

Finally, the weekend arrived. A maternal aunt who was close to the Chen family came to the capital on business and brought her son to the Chen residence for lunch. Chen Qiming called Lu Shi back.

The aunt’s son was about the same age as Chen Youxuan and Lu Shi. As soon as he saw Chen Youxuan, they started chatting.

The aunt pulled Zhu Wanqing aside for pleasantries. Knowing Zhu Wanqing doted on Chen Youxuan, her words were full of praise for him.

“Youxuan is getting more handsome. Now that you’re in college, are there many Alphas who like you?” the aunt teased with a smile.

Chen Youxuan walked over and leaned against Zhu Wanqing, speaking in an affectionate tone like a child to a close elder. “No, I’m busy preparing for competitions and certifications.”

Zhu Wanqing showed a gratified smile.

Aunt: “Ah? What competition? Haven’t you just started college?”

Chen Youxuan stole a glance at Lu Shi, who sat silently nearby looking at his phone, and deliberately mumbled vaguely, “Just a small competition. Not very important.”

Lu Shi wasn’t paying attention to their conversation at all.

He was just going through the motions and picking up some things.

These people’s small talk wasn’t as interesting as the cold jokes Ding Wei sent in the group chat.

[Ding Wei: Do you know why socks always go missing?]

[Ding Wei: Because you wouldn’t notice if two were missing.]

[Ding Wei: Do you know why there’s no perfect crime?]

[Ding Wei: Because a perfect crime never gets discovered.]

Lu Shi couldn’t help but smirk.

But before the smirk faded, the aunt who had been praising Chen Youxuan turned her gaze and deliberately raised her voice.

“Youxuan is someone I’ve watched grow up. Over the years, he’s consistently ranked in the top of his grade. Some people should learn from him, rein in their wild ways. With such good conditions provided by the family, they should learn to be sensible.”

“All day, no proper behavior, not even the most basic manners.”

Zhu Wanqing’s smile faded slightly. She looked at her biological son sitting on the single sofa, keeping his distance from everyone. “Little Shi, your aunt is speaking. Put down your phone.”

The aunt lifted her chin and pretentiously took a sip of tea.

Lu Shi obediently turned off his phone. “Huh? Was someone talking?”

Before she could swallow the tea, the water touching her lips made her choke.

The aunt slammed down the cup with a thud. “What do you mean by that, child? Such disrespect to an elder!”

The remark seemed to imply she wasn’t human.

Lu Shi looked at her, sizing her up from head to toe.

“Sorry, but I’ve been away for eighteen years. To put it nicely, you’re a relative; to put it bluntly, I don’t even know you.”

Lu Shi paused, then raised an eyebrow.

“This seems to be our first meeting. Who are you, ma’am?”

The aunt, nearly fifty, with a cheating husband, desperately clinging to cosmetic procedures and collagen injections every few days, almost twisted her face in anger.

“You!”

The Chen family’s servants actually didn’t like this aunt, who ordered them around like she was the mistress.

But since the aunt was close with the young master and could twist words into flowers, they dared not show their displeasure.

Now seeing her discomfited and green-faced, many secretly rejoiced.

Even Steward Liu, who had worked for the Chen family for twenty years, felt a laugh coming at Lu Shi’s retort, but his professionalism kept him from smiling.

Just then, Chen Qiming returned from the company, followed by his secretary.

He didn’t know what had just happened. His eyes swept over the group, and when they landed on Lu Shi, his brow relaxed slightly.

He said to Lu Shi, “Come with me.”

Lu Shi shot the aunt a defiant smirk, then turned and followed Chen Qiming upstairs.

Chen Youxuan saw the secretary holding a file-like object. He squinted, a sense of unease stirring in his heart.

He leaned on Zhu Wanqing’s arm. “What does Dad want brother for in the study? What’s the matter that needs the secretary too?”

Zhu Wanqing, from a distinguished family herself, was well aware that the most important and sensitive issue in wealthy households was property and inheritance.

For a moment, Zhu Wanqing felt that her usually sensible, well-behaved younger son had suddenly become wary. He seemed especially focused on what the secretary held, and his tone was somewhat urgent.

But that feeling vanished when she looked at Chen Youxuan.

Chen Youxuan’s eyes were clear, looking at her with an innocent expression, as if he were merely curious.

Zhu Wanqing didn’t think much of it and patted his hand.

“It’s about discussing a surname change for your brother. After all, he is a member of our family. It’s inappropriate for him to keep the surname Lu.”

“Besides, the character ‘Shi’ isn’t good. We consulted a master and picked a few nice ones for him to choose from.”

Steward Liu, standing by, glanced over.

He unexpectedly noticed the young master’s smile seemed stiff, as if he was struggling to maintain his expression.

“Really? That’s wonderful…”

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