Chapter 94: Making a Move

Shen Xingzhuo was thrilled to receive a rare smile, feeling utterly flattered.

However, he couldn't understand why his mere trip to the restroom earned him praise.

So, he could only return a silly grin.

Seeing this, Lu Ran muttered "idiot" under his breath and turned to leave.

Shen Xingzhuo attempted to follow, but was stopped by two bodyguards.

Not far from where he stood, he encountered a familiar face.

It was Jin.

Upon seeing Lu Ran, he bowed his head, wearing a smile.

He deliberately displayed a hint of confusion in his eyes as he approached, asking, "Your house is so big, I seem to have gotten lost. Could you show me around?"

The two bodyguards instinctively tried to intercept.

But Lu Ran said, "I know him. Let him come over."

The two bodyguards exchanged glances and withdrew their hands.

Ji Min had only instructed them to keep an eye on the Shen family members, not to completely isolate Lu Ran from his social life.

On campus, when Lu Ran encountered teachers and classmates, they also did not intervene, maintaining a respectful distance while keeping close watch.

Upon hearing Lu Ran's words, Jin's lips curled into a knowing smile.

Indeed, it seems that Lu Ran has feelings for him.

Jin leaned closer to the young man before him.

Initially, he was displeased when his father suggested an arranged marriage.

But upon meeting the youth's pair of eyes, he suddenly found it just barely tolerable.

In a low, suggestive tone, Jin whispered, "I've always wanted to see you, but never had the chance."

Lu Ran gave him a quizzical glance.

Aware of the faintly unfamiliar gaze in the youth's eyes, Jin was suddenly reminded that their last encounter could hardly be considered pleasant.

Thus, with graceful magnanimity, he comforted the young man before him, saying, "Pay it no mind. I am well aware that the fault of the previous incident lies entirely with your younger brother. Rest assured, I harbor no intention of taking my anger out on you."

Saying this, he reached out to support himself with his hand on the wall beside Lu Ran's ear, whispering, "I can tell the difference. The wine you pour is entirely distinct from what your younger brother serves."

Upon hearing this, Lu Ran's expression grew even more peculiar.

Unable to contain himself, he asked, "Do you really think that way?"

"Of course!" Jin declared solemnly.

As he spoke, he let out a slight sigh, as if genuinely sympathetic. "It must have been tough for you, always being by Ji Min's side."

"He's the kind of person..." Jin shook his head disdainfully, "with an odd temper and ruthless methods. It serves him right to end up disabled and without any family or friends."

Lu Ran's gaze gradually turned cold as he looked at him.

Suddenly, he narrowed his eyes at Jin and said with a smile, "There are too many people around here. Shall we change the location to have a more private conversation?"

Jin's heart stirred.

He thought that this was indeed a good opportunity.

He could just take care of the matter right now.

Moreover, it was happening at the Shen family's residence. Even if Ji Min wanted to cause trouble, he wouldn't be able to pin it on the Linos.

Whether or not he would eventually marry this Lu Ran was irrelevant.

After all, he only wanted to have some fun.

"Sure," Jin agreed.

Jin immediately followed closely behind Lu Ran.

Falling in step behind Lu Ran, his thoughts wandering, his gaze couldn't help but linger with an undue scrutiny.

Now that the weather has turned warmer, our clothing has become more lightweight.

The youth was dressed in loose-fitting attire, yet beneath the hem of his garment, one could still discern the slender suppleness of his waistline.

As his gaze landed on Lu Ran, he noticed that the man had stopped in his tracks.

He paused in front of the restroom entrance.

Jin was taken aback.

He had assumed Lu Ran would lead him to his own room.

"This…" Jin appeared slightly bewildered.

But considering the two bodyguards trailing behind, he suddenly understood, "It's indeed less noticeable to be in the restroom."

"Yes."

Lu Ran continued to beckon him.

Jin followed, making sure to close the bathroom door behind him.

He accompanied Lu Ran to a stall and entered it first.

Turning around, he was just about to start his exploration.

Only to find Lu Ran standing outside, simply watching him.

The very next moment, the youth who had been wearing an expression of utmost docility mere seconds ago launched a swift, forceful punch directly at him.

This punch landed with staggering force, jolting his golden nose bridge with excruciating pain. Instantaneously, tears and a gush of blood from his nostrils erupted simultaneously.

At this moment, Jin was utterly bewildered. "Y-Y-You..."

Still in a daze, he wondered how those "little playful punches" could carry such weight in flirtation.

In the next moment, Lu Ran reached out and grabbed Jin's hair, looking down at him and asking, "Who did you say deserved it?"

"What?" Jin was stunned.

After a brief moment of confusion, he realized that Lu Ran was taking offense on Ji Min's behalf due to his earlier words.

Jin wasn't stupid. His expression changed, and he quickly caught on, "Are you playing with me? You and Ji Min...?"

But it was too late. The pressure on his head increased.

Jin's pupils constricted as he stared fixedly at the toilet bowl closing in on him.

"Wait, wait, wait!" Jin hurriedly cried out.

He flailed his arms to grasp the toilet seat, struggling to support his body as he immediately slid into a kneeling position.

"I-I was wrong, I shouldn't have said that about President Ji!" he admitted.

"Oh, so were you just now trying to seduce me?" Lu Ran inquired.

Jin immediately tried to shake his head.

But his hair was gripped tightly, preventing any movement.

He then attempted to wave his hand.

However, the slightest gesture brought him closer to the toilet bowl!

Staring at the toilet bowl's interior just inches away, Jin could only strain to sound sincere:

"No, no, no! I just admire you very much! Pure admiration!"

"Oh, is that so?" Lu Ran raised an eyebrow.

Jin was quite strong, propping himself up on the toilet with both hands, creating a deadlock.

Lu Ran wasn't in a hurry though.

He simply held Jin's head and asked, "What is that old thing of yours scheming? Why is he so insistent on forming an alliance with the Shen family?"

Upon hearing Lu Ran's words, Jin felt a chill run down his spine. However, when he glanced downward at the toilet bowl, he found the situation utterly absurd. In this toilet stall, with his face almost touching the porcelain, this guy was actually discussing such serious matters? Was he insane?! Yet, in just two seconds of stunned silence, Jin sensed his nose drawing closer to the toilet by another few centimeters. In a hurry, Jin replied, "I'm not sure either! Yes, it was my father who forced me to come. I even reminded him just now that you and President Ji have a great relationship, and we shouldn't be doing such immoral things!" As he spoke, Jin's voice trembled with anxiety.

He even used the formal 'you' address.

Yet, Lu Ran rolled his eyes and kicked him in the butt. "Speak the truth."

Jin slumped down, sweat dripping from his forehead into the toilet bowl.

But he had no idea what his biological father was planning.

He only vaguely sensed that Old Lino paid close attention to Lu Ran.

After racking his brains, Jin finally caught a glimpse of inspiration and shouted, "Ah! Right! He said you were raised by Elder Shen, that Elder Shen always kept you by his side. Maybe that's the reason!"

"Hmm?" Lu Ran was rather surprised.

Elder Shen had long passed away. After he returned to the Shen family, no one had mentioned him.

No one had talked about his relationship with his grandfather when he was young either.

But from the way Madam Shen and Shen Xingyu spoke, that Elder Shen didn't seem like an easy person to get along with.

"Thank you for sharing this with me," Lu Ran expressed.

Perceiving the slight easing of pressure on the back of his head.

Jin finally sighed in relief.

He also relaxed his grip on the toilet bowl slightly.

Yet, a hint of disdain surged within him.

Such a small gesture could melt his heart like this; he must have grown up in an orphanage.

Yet at this moment, the youth's voice behind him grew petulant:

"But the thought of the way you look at me still fills me with disgust. What should I do about it?"

"Hmm??" Jin was taken aback.

"So, you'd better soak in there, after all!"

Lu Ran swiftly kicked Jin's leg.

Jin lost his footing and stumbled, ultimately plunging into the nearby toilet with a "splash."

"Ahh!"

He only managed to let out a cry before the flush button was pressed.

As the water level rose, Jin was instantly silenced.

In the corridor,

Shen Hongyuan walked with a darkened gaze.

He had just witnessed Jin entering the restroom with Lu Ran.

This was a scene he had been hoping for.

It wasn't that he genuinely expected a union between the Linos and the Shens through marriage.

The Lino family was not sincere.

Shen Hongyuan had no good intentions either.

He narrowed his eyes at the bathroom door that had remained still for quite some time.

Ji Min was indeed very tolerant of Xiao Ran.

He could even endure all of Lu Ran's quirky habits.

But as a man, could he tolerate Lu Ran messing around with another man?

Shen Hongyuan gave a smile to the two bodyguards waiting in the corridor.

He took the initiative to approach them, looking concerned. "Where's Xiao Ran?"

The two bodyguards exchanged glances.

One of them coughed softly and said, "Young Master Lu Ran and Young Master Jin are having a conversation in the restroom."

Speaking, both of them wore solemn expressions.

Hadn't this conversation dragged on for too long?

"Something has come up with Xiao Ran, so could one of you help me call him over?" Shen Hongyuan suggested.

The two bodyguards nodded and headed toward the restroom.

The corner of Shen Hongyuan's mouth twitched faintly.

If it were him telling Ji Min that Lu Ran had cheated on him, Ji Min would surely not believe it.

But what if it was Ji Min's own bodyguard delivering the news?

Moreover...

Even if Lu Ran had no ulterior motives, what difference would it make?

The eldest son of the Lino family was quite the playboy, known for engaging in all sorts of debauchery.

Shen Hongyuan hung back at a discreet distance, eagerly anticipating the expressions of the two bodyguards in the upcoming scene.

Soon, one of the bodyguards rapped on the bathroom door.

There was no response from within.

Considering the presence of individual stalls, the bodyguard pushed the door open for a quick glance.

In that instant, the bodyguard's pupils dilated in shock.

One of the bathroom stalls stood wide open.

Inside the stall, a person was stuffed into the toilet bowl!

Judging by their attire, it was none other than the eldest son of the Lino family.

This same young master, who had just spoken disrespectfully to their boss, was now bent over with his upper body crammed into the toilet, while his legs kicked helplessly.

His arms were bound to the toilet tank, rendering him unable to free his head from its predicament despite his struggles.

Outside the cubicle, the very same Master Lu Ran, whom their boss had described as vulnerable, pitiful, and in need of protection, was holding a mop, repeatedly plunging Young Master Jin into the toilet bowl.

The scene was explosively shocking.

As bodyguards with years of experience, they had never witnessed such a horrifying spectacle.

Oh no, oh no! Is... is this toilet, no... this face still salvageable?

Amidst their astonishment, Shen Hongyuan approached them.

He attempted to peek, only to see the two bodyguards shut the door with a resounding "bang," as if they were escaping from a terrifying flood or a fierce beast.

"Well... What's going on? Isn't Xiao Ran inside?"

Shen Hongyuan pretended to be oblivious.

Inside, he thought to himself, judging from the expressions of these two bodyguards, the situation inside must be intensely dramatic.

What else could they do?

Lu Ran hadn't brought that dog along, so he couldn't pull any tricks.

The two bodyguards exchanged a glance, unable to recover from their shock for a long while.

"Um... Young Master Lu Ran is, uh, occupied. We should... not disturb him," one of them finally managed to say.

At this, the corner of Shen Hongyuan's mouth quirked up in a small smile.

Wasn't he indeed taking care of business?

He didn't believe that after witnessing such a scene, these two bodyguards wouldn't tell Ji Min.

Dazed, the bodyguards had no idea how to react. All they could do was stand guard on either side of the bathroom door like door gods.

Seeing this, Shen Hongyuan couldn't help but feel a sense of irony.

These bodyguards were indeed loyal, standing guard outside to prevent others from witnessing the scene inside and tarnishing Ji Min's reputation.

Satisfied, Shen Hongyuan left.

Whether Ji Min despised Lu Ran or vented his anger on the Lino family, it was a win-win situation for the Shen household.

After Shen Hongyuan had departed, the two bodyguards exchanged glances, and one of them finally couldn't help but speak up:

"Well... if the boss finds out that we allowed Young Master Lu Ran to do this personally, will he be angry?"

"Yes," the other bodyguard nodded in agreement.

This seemed to imply that they were rather incompetent.

"Should you go in and lend a hand, then?"

"No, no, no..."

"Give me a moment to mentally prepare."

Such a task isn't something just anyone can undertake!