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Join the ServerIn the end, Lu Shi took pity on Ding Wei for being so utterly pitiful alone, so he decided to team up with Shen Zheming.
But coming back to choose clothes was a lie; he never had many clothes at the Chen residence anyway. The real reason was to watch the drama unfold.
Wang Xiuzhi had been silent for days. Today, she suddenly came to confirm the back door password with him. Lu Shi knew she planned to sneak in.
Chen Youxuan realized Lu Shi’s appearance was no coincidence—this whole situation was likely Lu Shi’s design.
He was both angry and anxious, and very flustered. Wang Xiuzhi looked utterly incredulous, her heart shattered by her own son’s treatment.
Indeed, even the expression on her face was exactly as Lu Shi had imagined.
Normally, Chen Youxuan would have pressed Lu Shi about why he had an invitation to their school’s Halloween party, but now he didn’t have the mood to care. The ladies in the garden were approaching the villa, led by Zhu Wanqing.
Chen Youxuan didn’t want Zhu Wanqing to know that Wang Xiuzhi had sought him out.
He kept shoving Wang Xiuzhi. “If you don’t want me to hate you, get lost. Don’t appear in front of me again.”
Nothing hurts more than a biological son speaking like that. Wang Xiuzhi aged ten years in an instant.
She shook her head, trying to grab Chen Youxuan. “I finally got a chance to sneak in. Just let me look at you a bit more. I promise I’ll pretend not to know you when they come in.”
But Chen Youxuan didn’t care at all.
Since learning his true origins, Wang Xiuzhi and Lu Jinguo were like sand in his eyes—he wanted to wipe them away every moment. To protect his status as the young master, he fawned and played cute in front of Chen Qiming and Zhu Wanqing. He wouldn’t allow anyone to threaten his current position.
Wang Xiuzhi stumbled back a few steps from the shoving. She looked up instinctively at her foster son.
Lu Shi knew she was asking for his help, hoping he would come down and pull Chen Youxuan away, just like he had once violently pulled Lu Jinguo away from her.
But Lu Shi stood still, his eyelids drooping coldly the entire time.
Chen Youxuan twisted Wang Xiuzhi to drive her out.
Lu Shi couldn’t be bothered to watch anymore. He turned and went upstairs to his room.
In truth, he had once loved Wang Xiuzhi, truly regarded her as a mother.
But even living a second life, Lu Shi still couldn’t understand why his sincerity was never returned.
If only Wang Xiuzhi had shown him even a shred of genuine love?
Perhaps he wouldn’t hate her so much now.
Lu Shi tilted his head back, leaning against the door.
He had seen the sorrow on Wang Xiuzhi’s face, shattered her beautiful illusions, watched as she was stabbed by the person she loved most—yet he felt no satisfaction in his heart. Instead, it was heavy.
Every step of his revenge now seemed to mock how naive he had been before.
The phone in his pocket vibrated, pulling him back to reality.
Lu Shi took it out and looked.
Shen Zheming: If you can’t find suitable clothes, you can come to me. I’ll have someone custom-make a set for you urgently.
On the other side, Ding Wei was also messaging him.
Ding Wei first sent a half-turned selfie in a suit from a clothing store, then narcissistically asked: How about this? Can I pull it off? I think I have some charm.
The heavy stone pressing on his chest loosened, and fresh air rushed in.
A hint of a smile appeared on Lu Shi’s face as he typed replies one by one.
To Ding Wei: Handsome, handsome, handsome. Hope you find a date tonight.
To Shen Zheming: No need, Brother Shen. You really are a capitalist, squeezing your workers so hard.
Around seven on Saturday evening, the area outside Capital University’s auditorium was packed with people, bustling with excitement.
There was a market on the small square in front of the auditorium, where many students were selling handmade trinkets or Halloween accessories.
When Lu Shi appeared with Shen Zheming, they attracted many glances.
Both wore well-tailored suits, but their auras were completely opposite.
One stood with a straight back, not a wrinkle in his clothes, his collar buttoned tightly. His eyes were indifferent, as if wrapped in a layer of frost—both noble and distant.
The other had his tie loosely tied, two buttons of his shirt collar undone, giving off a careless vibe.
Many people at the school knew Shen Zheming. After all, his family background was excellent—the Juhang Bank was nationally known, and its heir entering Capital University with the highest admission score had once caused a sensation.
Many had experienced getting to know their roommate on the first day, only to have a well-informed roommate show them a photo the next day: “Hey, do you know Shen Zheming?”
But Shen Zheming rarely appeared at such recreational events, so his presence now surprised many.
“Wow, I’ve only heard friends talk about how amazing he is. Finally seeing him in person.”
“Is Shen Zheming also attending the Halloween party this year?”
“The guy next to him is handsome too. Looks like he came with him. Is he a student here? How come no one has posted about him on the school’s wall?”
“Looks like you haven’t been following the gossip in our Beijing circle. He’s the celebrity of the forums lately—Lu Shi! The switched true son of the Chen family. He was found just two months ago. The family he lived with before was dirt poor.”
“Really? His aura doesn’t match. I’d believe it if you said he was brought back two years ago.”
“Anyway, just stay away from him. He’s not to be trifled with.”
These words drifted into their ears on the wind.
Shen Zheming turned his head and noticed that the ‘troublesome’ Lu Shi’s expression remained unchanged; he was indifferent to these opinions.
It was both their first time attending this party. At the entrance, Lu Shi handed the invitation to a volunteer.
The volunteer saw Shen Zheming’s signature on it, looked up in surprise, and glanced between them several times.
“Brother Shen, I didn’t expect you to be such a celebrity at your school?” Lu Shi leaned slightly toward Shen Zheming.
Shen Zheming’s voice came from above left: “Do you regret coming?”
Lu Shi was pushed by the shoulder back upright: “No.”
They thought they could enter after the invitation was checked, but the volunteer said they had to wear Halloween masks to get in.
“If you don’t have one, you can buy one nearby. Many stalls sell them,” the volunteer quickly explained.
Lu Shi raised an eyebrow.
He didn’t expect the school-organized event to be so ritualistic.
The stall closest to the entrance was run by a cosplayer dressed as a ghost bride.
Lu Shi bent down to look at masks when the young lady smiled and said, “You can try on any you like. You can take it off during the chase game.”
Lu Shi paused, looking up: “Wait, chase game?”
A bad feeling rose from the depths of his heart.
“Yeah,” the lady patiently said, “Is this your first time? The party will be held in the auditorium. After nine o’clock, the lights will go out, and members of the student council will dress up as NPCs to play a game of ghost tag. You can hide anywhere. Just be careful.”
Lu Shi: “…”
Now he knew why some people managed to confess their love at this party while others got dumped on the spot.
As a staunch atheist, Lu Shi never believed in ghosts or gods. But now, standing here unscathed after dying in a car fire…
Shen Zheming: “Are you scared? If you are, we can leave before nine.”
Lu Shi snapped back, pretending to be calm with a shrug: “It’s fine. With so many people at the party, how scary can it be?”
The young lady corrected him: “Actually, there aren’t that many people. The auditorium has three floors, each very large, so everyone spreads out.”
“Even though the NPCs wear red wristbands that are quite conspicuous, it’s still pretty frightening when someone actually chases you. It’s easy to get separated from your friends.”
Lu Shi subconsciously glanced at the pitch-black auditorium.
To create a Halloween atmosphere, the lighting inside was dim, with purple and orange light mists blending together, stretching everyone’s shadows long and bizarre.
Accompanied by eerie music, occasional screams and laughter came from inside.
Wasn’t this just a massive haunted house with NPCs?
Suddenly, the person beside him spoke.
“If you don’t want to get separated, you can hold my hand.”
The air was filled with the sweet scent of candy and a hint of caramel, with colorful lights flickering in the night.
Lu Shi never expected such a considerate and friendly remark to come from Shen Zheming’s mouth.
“Um, may I ask—”
The ghost bride lady had a gossipy expression, her face full of curiosity. The question she asked startled Lu Shi.
“Are you two a couple?”
Lu Shi glanced at Shen Zheming, not yet denying it: “We…”
The lady: “I recommend purchasing our couple masks. The pair set comes with a 7.7% discount, which is much cheaper than buying separately.”
A handmade Halloween mask cost 50, but two together after discount would save 23—the price of a meal!
Save where you can.
Lu Shi casually picked up two cute fox masks, his tone firm: “We’ll take these.”
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