Chapter 83: Ambush

Mrs. Shen's piercing cry not only startled Shen Hongyuan but also Shen Xingyu in the adjacent room.

He had just returned home and was taking a shower to relieve his exhaustion.

The soundproofing in the Shen family's villa was excellent, and he was in the bathroom, so normally, he wouldn't have been able to hear anything.

The fact that he could hear it meant that the scream must have been incredibly loud.

Shen Xingyu assumed something major had happened.

He hastily turned off the showerhead and reached for the towel hanging on the rack.

However, his hand paused mid-air when he realized that right beside the towel, on the wall, was something that made Shen Xingyu dizzy and nauseous at the mere sight of it...

It was crawling at a leisurely pace.

It seemed to be strolling along the slippery wall with its antennae waving, resembling an elderly gentleman taking a morning walk.

However, this sight turned Shen Xingyu's face pale.

He had a deep psychological aversion to this creature.

Anyone who had swallowed half a cockroach would likely have such a trauma.

Yet, Mrs. Shen in the adjacent room continued her shrill screams, as if Shen Hongyuan had suddenly died that very night.

Shen Xingyu gritted his teeth and forcefully suppressed the urge to vomit. He stretched out his hand extremely slowly, attempting to retrieve his towel hanging on the wall without alarming the "Grandpa Cockroach."

Perhaps his movements were quiet enough that Shen Xingyu successfully avoided the cockroach and retrieved the towel.

Shen Xingyu let out a huge sigh of relief.

He quickly grabbed the towel and was about to wrap himself in the pristine bathrobe.

Unexpectedly, as he shook it, four or five dark shadows darted out from within.

Instantly, chaos erupted throughout the second floor of the Shen household.

A series of chaotic scurrying sounds echoed.

Of course, Shen Xingran, who lived on the third floor, heard the commotion as well.

He was staying up late, soothing each fish in his pond one by one. Hearing the noise, he instinctively got out of bed and stepped out of his room.

However, the moment he pushed open the door, he heard Madam Shen scream, "Roaches! They're roaches!"

Shen Xingran had experienced firsthand how terrifying those creatures could be. He promptly retreated back into his room and slammed the door shut.

"No worries, no worries."

He reassured himself.

Even if there were cockroaches, they would be on the second floor. The pest control company had visited his third-floor room three times, ensuring its safety.

With this in mind, Shen Xingran was even more hesitant to open the door.

He pretended not to have heard anything and retreated back to bed.

Throughout the night, aside from an uncomfortable pillow, nothing else disturbed him.

Shen Xingran became even more convinced that his room was secure.

The next morning, he descended to the dining room.

Despite being kept awake by the commotion from the main family the previous night, the servants had still diligently prepared breakfast.

When Shen Xingran came downstairs, Madam Shen, Shen Hongyuan, and Shen Xingyu were already waiting downstairs.

Their expressions were strikingly similar.

One could say they all looked as pale as ash.

Seated together, they resembled three small graves.

Shen Xingran feigned surprise, "Dad, Mom, and Big Brother, why do you all look so terrible?"

Mrs. Shen opened her mouth, lacking the energy to even explain.

She simply said, "We'll have to call the pest control company again today."

Shen Hongyuan nodded in silence.

Shen Xingyu, on the other hand, had made up his mind to move into the company tonight.

Maintaining a puzzled look, Shen Xingran started on his breakfast.

As he ate, he didn't forget to console Mrs. Shen, "Mom, how about you rest at my place for a while later?"

Mid-conversation, Shen Xingran lowered his head and frowned at the small steamed bun on his chopsticks.

There, in the bun he had taken a bite of, a black, thread-like object was revealed.

Shen Xingran felt a sudden wave of disgust.

Ew! How could these servants be so careless? There was actually a hair in the bun?

Shen Xingran was just about to summon a servant to demand an explanation.

Upon closer thought, it seemed that this small steamed bun was made by Madam Shen herself on a whim yesterday afternoon.

Shen Xingran could only suppress the disgust in his heart and silently used his chopsticks to pick out the hair.

When he tried to pull it out with his chopsticks, it wouldn't budge.

He tried again.

To his horror, the so-called "hair" was attached to half a dead cockroach, which was pulled out from the steamed bun.

There was no such thing as "hair."

Those were cockroach antennae!

Shen Xingran: "..."

At that moment, before a scream could escape his throat, Shen Xingran had only one question in his mind.

Why was this cockroach only half complete?

What happened to the other half?!!

The breakfast table was once again in chaos.

Shen Xingran was so disgusted that he didn't attend school that day; instead, he spent the entire day holed up in his room.

Despite the cockroach incident, the sole consolation was that his third floor remained safe.

Shen Xingran had always comforted himself in this way.

Until one day, he got up in the middle of the night to get a drink.

After filling the cup, he lifted it to his lips and took a sip.

Suddenly, he felt something touch his lips.

Shen Xingran quickly turned on the light.

Looking down, he saw a gigantic cockroach floating in the water.

It wasn't just in the cup.

To his left, to his right, on the ceiling...

Then, the largest one flew straight at his face.

Shen Xingran let out a startled cry, shattering the alluring bubble he usually cultivated in his voice.

He rushed into the bedroom without a care, grabbed the pillow, and started swinging it wildly.

A ripping sound echoed.

These past few days, he had found his sleep rather uncomfortable, and now the slightly sunken pillow split open.

In an instant, a swarm of cockroach larvae spilled out.

The latex inside the pillow was riddled with holes.

All these days!

He had been sleeping with these things!

Shen Xingran rolled his eyes, nearly fainting.

It had to be Lu Ran! Definitely Lu Ran!

Completely unaware of the turmoil the Shen family was enduring, Lu Ran had been living quite comfortably lately.

These past two days, Ji Min must have been upset with him and didn't pay much attention to him.

But the mattress in Lu Ran's room had been replaced with a firmer one.

The bedding that he used to keep on the floor was also moved up there.

Now, Lu Ran would return to Ji Min's place after school.

In the spacious villa, only he, Ji Min, and Manager Chen were present.

With the daily battles for supremacy at home no longer part of his routine, Lu Ran initially felt a bit uneasy, as if something enjoyable was missing from his life.

However, over time, Lu Ran began to realize that he had started to resemble his peers.

There was no longer the fear of a sudden outburst waiting for him at home, nor the worry of his belongings being inexplicably thrown out.

It was as if he had truly become an carefree university student.

His days now consisted solely of studying and socializing.

Upon returning home, a hearty meal was already prepared.

He was slightly more fortunate than the average college student, for he had Big Yellow to accompany him and play with!

Today was a weekend.

In a rare occurrence, Ji Min didn't go to the office but instead stayed in the sunroom of the villa.

The spring sun shone brightly.

A pot of tea was brewing on the round table.

Big Yellow sprawled on the floor, basking in the sunlight.

Butler Chen was pruning the flowers and plants in the yard.

Lu Ran followed closely, also holding a pair of gardening shears.

He attentively listened as the elderly man explained how to trim the plants properly.

Ji Min gazed through the veil of steam at the elderly figure and the young one in the courtyard.

To be honest, he was rather surprised.

Given Lu Ran's character, Ji Min had long prepared himself for the inevitable chaos and commotion that would ensue in their future life together.

Yet, the young man stayed at Master Ji's residence for several days.

The intimidating aura around him had softened, making him appear even more obedient and endearing.

He was also quite tranquil, apart from occasionally bickering with him at the dinner table. Otherwise, he would either read books or do homework, or play with Big Yellow on the lawn.

It was clear that this child had a distinct fondness for Butler Chen.

He often clung to Butler Chen like a little shadow.

Now, after listening to Butler Chen's instructions, he took up the rather large gardening shears and approached the bonsai pine as if facing a formidable enemy.

Butler Chen praised with a smile, "Well done, just like that."

However, as soon as Butler Chen turned around, the young man lost his grip on the scissors, lopping off half of the pine tree's crown.

The boy was utterly stunned.

He hurriedly caught the severed branch and vainly tried to attach it back to the cut surface.

It was as if he was praying for some miracle that would allow the branch to reattach.

But clearly, that wasn't an option.

So when Manager Chen turned around, he quickly hid the severed branch behind his back.

Ji Min had been watching the entire scene and couldn't help but chuckle, exposing him,

"You're still hiding? You've practically trimmed it bald."

Lu Ran: "..."

He was itching to throw what he was holding at the man's face.

Butler Chen also cast a disapproving glance at Ji Min.

Turning to comfort Lu Ran, he said, "It's normal for beginners to make mistakes."

At that moment, one of Ji Min's personal assistants entered and handed Ji Min a sheet of paper, saying,

"The guest list for your birthday party has been drafted. Chairman, please take a look and see if there's anything you'd like to change."

Lu Ran perked up at the mention of this.

Putting down his gardening shears, he walked from the garden into the house, asking, "Boss, is your birthday coming up?"

Ji Min glanced at him but didn't respond, only remarking, "Look at how muddy your feet are."

His tone was incredibly disdainful, but he didn't show any intention of stopping Lu Ran from entering.

Lu Ran took off his shoes and ran over to him, asking, "When is it?"

Ji Min didn't respond.

Lu Ran circled around to see the date on the form in his hand.

Ji Min held it out of his reach.

Lu Ran: "…"

He looked at Ji Min and sighed. "Boss, you're really childish."

Ji Min: "?"

A kid ten years younger than him called him childish.

Lu Ran sighed again. "Isn't it just that I rejected you a few days ago? You're still upset about it?"

Upon hearing this, the assistant immediately wore a gossiping expression.

Ji Min: "…Shut up."

Seizing the opportunity when the young man wasn't paying attention, he quickly glanced at the date of the banquet and then skipped away with a cheeky smile.

Ji Min, not one to engage in trivial squabbles with children, glanced down at the form and then looked up at the assistant, saying, "The Li family will be returning as well, include them on the list."

"Very well," the assistant acknowledged.

Lu Ran glanced at Butler Chen.

Housekeeper Chen explained softly, "The Li family is Mr.'s aunt and uncle's side, they returned to the country this year."

Lu Ran found himself instinctively wanting to inquire about Ji Min's relationship with his aunt.

But upon further reflection, he realized it was none of his concern and decided against asking.

The weather grew warmer.

With spring in full swing, life blossomed and multiplied rapidly.

The Shen family was on the verge of a catastrophic disaster, and even by seeking refuge at the company, Shen Xingyu couldn't escape its reach.

Instead, it had caused numerous bugs to surface within the company.

Despite the hardships, life went on, and responsibilities still needed to be fulfilled.

It had been half a month since Lu Ran left the Shen family.

Finally, Shen Hongyuan couldn't bear it any longer and ordered Shen Xingyu to bring Lu Ran back.

Shen Xingyu was busy with the preparation of the bidding proposal for the HZ project. Despite this additional task, he didn't find it troublesome.

He was well aware that Lu Ran was an integral part of the Shen family and needed to return.

As for the matter of bringing Lu Ran back to the Shen residence, it was both challenging and straightforward.

The challenge lay in the fact that Lu Ran was under Ji Min's protection.

Yet, it was simple because Lu Ran had to attend school every day.

In any case, the Shen family was Lu Ran's legal guardian by name.

Shen Xingyu was well aware of Ji Min's character.

It was very difficult for others to sway this man's decisions.

And exerting pressure on Ji Min was virtually impossible.

That same day, Shen Xingyu personally led his team to blockade the entrance of Lu Ran's university.

Shen Xingyu was meticulous in his work.

There were three main gates at University Y, and he had arranged for people to be present at all three.

If they were to take Lu Ran away directly from school, there would be no need to inform Ji Min.

The waiting period was tedious.

But Shen Xingyu was patient, staying in his car the whole time and even using the opportunity to get some work done.

It wasn't until the afternoon when someone sitting beside him tapped Shen Xingyu, reminding him, "Mr. Shen, he's here."

Shen Xingyu lifted his gaze to peer out the car window, witnessing a group of students clad in lab coats stepping down from the school bus and marching orderly into the campus.

Many veterinary students had external practical classes and internships.

They often returned from farms in the afternoon, rushing to attend their subsequent classes.

Instead of alighting immediately, Shen Xingyu remained seated in the car, observing for a moment.

There were nearly thirty individuals in the group.

With little effort, Shen Xingyu spotted Lu Ran among them.

While the other students chatted in pairs or small clusters, Lu Ran walked alone, removing his lab coat as he strolled. He folded it neatly and held it in his hand.

He carried out these actions in silence.

It was a tranquility that set him apart from his peers, a distinct contrast to the surrounding atmosphere.

For the past decade or so, it seemed he had been living similarly, spending his time alone in silence.

He avoided interacting with peers from families brimming with happiness and parents' affection.

In that instant, Shen Xingyu recalled the time they picked up Shen Xingran from school.

The entire Shen family was there.

There was Shen Hongyuan, Madam Shen, Shen Xingzhuo, and himself.

They watched as Shen Xingran was surrounded by adoring followers like a star.

Both Shen Hongyuan and Madam Shen took pride in this scene.

Shen Xingyu's hand was already on the car lock, but he paused for a moment.

Someone beside him asked, "What's wrong, Mr. Shen?"

"Nothing," Shen Xingyu replied, pushing open the car door.

As a son of the Shen family, he was well aware.

This time, Lu Ran's return home would be far from pleasant.

His father's attitude toward him would only worsen.

But Lu Ran had to go back.

There was no room for negotiation when it came to the Shen family or the Shen Corporation.

And so, there was none with Shen Xingyu either.

Shen Xingyu got out of the car and strode directly towards the group of veterinary students.

Tall and blessed with long legs, he possessed an outstanding appearance.

Upon approaching, he immediately caught the attention of some people.

Lu Ran soon noticed Shen Xingyu as well.

Amidst the crowd, Shen Xingyu approached him with a stern gaze in his eyes.

On the adjacent road, the sound of vehicles whizzed by.

This scene was eerily reminiscent of how Shen Xingyu had come for him in his previous life.

Lu Ran took two steps back, instinctively wanting to flee.

But soon, he suppressed that impulse, pressed his lips together, and stepped forward to meet Shen Xingyu.

Shen Xingyu was also drawing closer to him.

It seemed as if everything was replaying the events of their past lives.

Just then, a burly man wearing a hat and smoking a cigarette stepped between them.

He stretched out his hand to block Shen Xingyu's path.

Shen Xingyu frowned at him.

The person spoke with a relatively polite tone, "Mr. Shen, President Ji specifically instructed us that no one from the Shen family is to approach Young Master Lu Ran within two meters."