Chapter 31 - Orphan

"You didn't see his expression this morning."

Madam Shen sat in the backseat of the car, chatting and laughing with Shen Xingran.

Upon hearing her words, Lu Ran had remained silent that morning. He had merely kept the eviction notice and the lease renewal contract that Madam Shen had handed him, giving her a meaningful glance before leaving.

When had Lu Ran ever been so composed recently?

Madam Shen felt that she had gained the upper hand.

Leaning against the plush cushion, she leisurely admired the nails she had gotten done the day before.

"Recently, he's been acting as if he owns the place. Does he really think that the Shen family home is somewhere he can come and go as he pleases? I'm the one who decides who's family. The moment I disown him, he'll just be a tenant."

"He'd better start paying his rent on time."

Listening to Madam Shen's words.

Upon learning that Lu Ran had suffered a setback, Shen Xingran did not feel the expected joy in his heart.

In fact, Madam Shen's words did not sit well with him.

Shen Xingran suppressed his wandering thoughts and held Madam Shen's hand, asking, "Mom, will he stop living at home because of this?"

"Let him leave sooner if he wants to," Madam Shen replied.

Shen Xingran also hoped that Lu Ran would leave. With Lu Ran staying in the Shen family, he always felt uneasy.

However, after some careful consideration, he probed indirectly, "Will Father be unhappy about this?"

Shen Xingran had a feeling that Shen Hongyuan did not want Lu Ran to leave.

At the mention of this, Madam Shen's movements stiffened slightly.

But she quickly waved it off, "Who cares? He deserves a lesson, anyway."

Shen Xingran fell silent.

The car drove slowly into University Y.

It was a special day. Upon seeing Madam Shen's car entering the campus, the staff waiting at the entrance promptly greeted them politely:

"May I ask if this is from Shen Corporation? There's a designated parking lot for companies over here."

Madam Shen lowered the car window slightly and smiled politely at those outside without stepping out of the vehicle.

Shen Xingran leaned out and said to the person waiting outside, "Senior, you carry on with your duties. It's my mom's first time here at our university, so I'll show her around first."

The senior, who had been standing in the cold wind to earn his credits, immediately cast an envious glance at Shen Xingran inside the car. He had heard long ago that the young master of the Shen Corporation had enrolled this year; it seemed the rumors were true.

"Then, then, Junior, have a good time with Auntie," the senior stammered nervously.

Shen Xingran gave a restrained smile before rolling up the window, allowing the driver to proceed with driving towards the heart of the university.

The student who greeted him stood there, silently hoping that he had made a good impression on Shen Xingran this time.

Today was the day of their school's sponsorship event.

Unlike national sponsorships, the school's event was not as stringent in its screening process. It primarily served as a platform to connect students in need or with exceptional academic performance with local businesses.

The follow-up contract signing would be negotiated directly between the students and the companies.

This meant that, often, personal rapport played a significant role.

This student was also participating in today's sponsorship event.

Before it began, he had specifically requested to be part of the reception team.

His goal was to become familiar to everyone beforehand.

Even after the car had driven far away, Shen Xingran could almost feel the envious gazes still upon him.

Such looks made him feel extremely comfortable, calming his mindset significantly.

Madam Shen had vented her anger this morning and was in a good mood as well.

The two strolled around the campus for quite some time before hurrying to the venue where the sponsorship event was held.

Along the way, they encountered numerous students.

It was already winter break.

Many had gone home for the holidays, but there were still plenty who remained on campus.

Most of them were there for today's sponsorship event.

Madam Shen rolled down the car window to admire the students eagerly waiting to be chosen.

After a while, she felt cold and rolled the window back up.

"Look, so many people are bending over backwards to establish ties with our Shen family," Madam Shen commented.

Her assistant, seated in the front passenger seat, heard this and broke out in a sweat.

One could only hope that these words wouldn't be overheard by the students outside.

In the past, Young Master himself would attend such events, but this year, due to overseas business, Shen Hongyuan was unable to make it. His mood was foul, and he had no desire to be bothered with such matters.

Younger brother Shen Xingzhuo had run off abroad for some unknown reason, leaving them no support.

So it fell upon Madam Shen and the young master to represent the family.

Listening to the subtle disdain in Madam Shen's words, the assistant was tempted to remind her that although this was billed as a sponsorship event, it functioned more like an early job fair.

Many outstanding students in their fields were eagerly sought after by competing companies.

Despite their private sense of superiority, Madam Shen maintained her usual composed and refined demeanor after they exited the car.

When she encountered students who knew Shen Xingran and greeted her, she nodded politely in response.

Shen Xingran likewise warmly greeted those she recognized.

Yet, as he held Madam Shen's hand and took his seat at the front row of the lecture hall, he couldn't help but feel the disparity between people as he gazed at the sea of students behind him.

Many first-year to fourth-year students had squeezed their way over, hoping for a chance to enter the Shen Corporation.

However, he had only been enrolled for half a year, yet he was now seated at the judges' table in the front.

Soon, the sponsorship ceremony officially began.

Shen Xingran noticed that on the other end of the long table, a teacher hurriedly removed a chair.

Afterward, a black electric wheelchair slowly rolled down the ramp and entered the lecture hall, stopping in front of the table.

The weather had turned bitterly cold recently.

The man in the wheelchair's pale complexion stood out even more against the chill, resembling frost on a window sill outside.

An awkward situation arose.

The conference table was designed for able-bodied individuals, and there wasn't enough space between the chairs to accommodate the bulky wheelchair.

The supervisors immediately gathered around.

One of them scolded the teacher standing nearby, "What's going on here? Didn't you know that the general manager comes every year?"

However, the man in the wheelchair raised his hand to stop the dispute.

"It's alright," he said.

Then, he gestured for the accompanying butler, Chen, to sit in the prepared seat while he casually stood by the side of the aisle, placing a hard folder on his lap.

The supervisors were still apologizing.

The man's expression showed a hint of impatience. He spoke briefly, and the supervisors hurriedly urged the start of the ceremony.

The minor commotion subsided.

Staring intently, Shen Xingran couldn't help tugging on her mother's arm and saying, "Mom, the school teachers are being so polite to Mr. Ji."

"The Ji family is a big deal, after all," Mrs. Shen huffed.

The assistant stood by, listening with a wince.

The school's officials weren't fools either.

They were particularly polite to Ji Min because Ji's family's business provided ample job opportunities for the school annually.

Why wouldn't they be polite?

On stage, the host began introducing the major companies in attendance.

Then came the students' turn to introduce themselves.

Madam Shen handed her notes to the assistant and engaged in casual conversation with Shen Xingran.

"By the way, Lu Ran is in the same school as you, right?" Madam Shen asked.

Shen Xingran felt a wave of mixed emotions.

On one hand, she was surprised that Madam Shen would suddenly bring up Lu Ran.

On the other hand...

Lu Ran had been staying at the Shen family's for several months.

Madam Shen still didn't know which university he attended.

After receiving Shen Xingran's confirmation, Madam Shen chuckled again.

She said, "He should come and see this. If we hadn't taken him in, he would've had to squeeze in with these students at this scholarship ceremony too."

As she spoke, it was finally the turn of the veterinary department from University Y. The emcee introduced, "The student coming up next is our top freshman this year. He had the highest GPA in his first semester..."

Madam Shen found this title rather intriguing.

She looked up at the stage, and her breath caught in her throat.

Lu Ran?

Has Lu Ran come to the scholarship ceremony?

Mrs. Shen was stunned for a good three to five seconds.

Even as Lu Ran began his self-introduction on stage, she still couldn't believe it and grabbed Shen Xingran's arm. "Am I seeing things? That person on stage is actually Lu Ran."

Shen Xingran was also dumbfounded.

The two, who had previously sat with a sense of superiority, now felt their cheeks burning with embarrassment.

Why did Lu Ran come here?

And even take the stage with other financially struggling students to promote himself?

Mrs. Shen suddenly found the situation absurd.

Although she disliked Lu Ran and often questioned if there was some mistake—how could she have such a son? In her imagination, bringing Lu Ran back to the Shen family was already a great favor.

What possible reason could he have for seeking sponsorship here at this conference?

Madam Shen found the idea preposterous.

If anyone were to see...

How would people perceive the Shen family?

Madam Shen felt as if she were sitting on pins and needles.

True, the Shen family had never officially introduced Lu Ran.

But after his scene at the villa gates, followed by Shen Hongyuan personally inviting him in, it was clear to anyone that Lu Ran was connected to the Shens.

Moreover, University Y was a local institution.

All the companies present today were familiar ones, with their representatives having attended Shen Hongyuan's birthday banquet just a few days ago.

Amidst the attendees were all acquaintances.

Mrs. Shen felt as if elusive gazes were directed at her from all around.

Shen Xingran felt even more uncomfortable.

He couldn't comprehend it at all.

What was going through Lu Ran's mind? Had he no shame?

If he recalled correctly, during this sponsorship event, the students were supposed to give brief introductions about their families...

On the other side of the long table, near the aisle.

Seated in his wheelchair, Ji Min's gaze fell upon the youth on stage, his eyes betraying a fleeting trace of unanticipated surprise.

Looking up once more, a sense of calm had returned to Ji Min's eyes.

On stage, Lu Ran was oblivious to it all.

Even if they were aware, they wouldn't bother.

The Shen family didn't provide him with tuition nor living expenses, and now they were demanding rent from him.

What was wrong with him being here?

Moreover, even disregarding his family circumstances, his academic achievements alone qualified him for this scholarship event.

People speculated about Lu Ran's background, but it always remained just that—speculation.

Yet, Madam Shen couldn't remain seated in the audience.

She stared blankly at the young man on stage.

Ironically, despite having brought Lu Ran back to the Shen family early on and conducting a paternity test, it was only now, at this very moment, that Madam Shen acutely realized the truth.

Upon the stage stands the youth delivering his speech, the very boy deemed "in need of sponsorship," none other than her own flesh and blood.

This realization made Madam Shen increasingly awkward.

For now, the fact that Lu Ran is standing on that stage matters.

It was as if he was accusing her, this mother, of being incompetent in front of all familiar acquaintances, every teacher, and the entire classroom full of students.

Madam Shen was momentarily filled with a sense of utter embarrassment.

She immediately turned her attention to Shen Xingran, who was beside her.

Only when she saw Shen Xingran, with his every strand of hair exuding refinement, did Madam Shen feel relieved.

Ranran was her son.

Look how well she had raised him.

A sense of fortunate relief crept into Madam Shen's heart once more.

The fact that Lu Ran belonged to the Shen family was something unknown to everyone.

At this moment, Lu Ran, on stage, had just finished introducing his academic background.

The slender youth stood upon the elevated platform, his gaze sweeping over the assembly below.

He said with an exceedingly calm tone:

"When it comes to family, there's not much for me to say. Because I am an... orphan."