Chapter 79: A Difficult Secret

At the Shen residence.

The entire third floor finally fell silent.

Madam Shen was sprawled on the shelf, quietly shedding tears.

Shen Xingran was still vomiting, bile splattering all over the floor.

Even in this state, he didn't forget to clutch at Lu Ran's ponytail, pointing at him and saying,

"You... You promised that you would leave once Big Brother took one bite!"

Lu Ran laughed heartily with his hands on his hips, "Are you stupid? When have I ever kept my word?"

Shen Xingran was left dumbfounded, even forgetting his nausea.

It was only Shen Xingyu who was the quickest to react, having claimed the bathroom on the third floor for himself and was currently leaning over the toilet bowl, also vomiting.

Lu Ran leisurely surveyed the situation on the third floor, then checked the time before casually leaving, leaving behind a chaotic mess of squirming insects.

He returned to his room humming a tune, slipping the remaining "homework" into his backpack.

With Big Yellow in tow, he headed out of the villa in high spirits.

As he left, he glanced back.

Just in time to see Shen Xingyu emerging from a room on the third floor.

The man wore an incredibly complicated expression, his head and face still damp from the water, hastily rushing back to change clothes.

Lu Ran waved the leash in his hand with a smile, catching Shen Xingyu's attention.

Upon seeing him, Shen Xingyu froze in place.

Hesitant, unsure whether to retreat or rush into his own room.

Lu Ran then lifted his bag of "pastries" in a playful gesture.

He beamed brightly, "Young Master Shen, we look forward to your continued support in upholding justice for me next time."

Shen Xingyu: "..."

Unable to hold back his laughter any longer, he covered his mouth and quickly darted into the room.

Ji Min also received news about the Shen family.

Just as he was about to head to work, Butler Chen rushed over from outside, bowing respectfully as he said, "There's been a situation with the Shen family."

"What happened? Is it related to Lu Ran?" Ji Min furrowed his brow slightly.

His tone was somewhat solemn, hinting at underlying concern.

However, after hearing his question, Butler Chen fell silent for a moment.

With an indescribable expression, he replied, "There is some connection."

Ji Min's frown deepened. He asked, "Did Shen Xingyu cause trouble for him again?"

Butler Chen fell silent for another moment. "Well... you could put it that way."

Ji Min sighed and prepared to leave.

He inquired, "What on earth happened?"

Butler Chen: "..."

After careful consideration, he described the situation as objectively as possible. "Young Master Shen consumed Lu Ran's nutrition assignment."

Even knowing about Lu Ran's various antics, Ji Min was momentarily stunned this time.

His expression was even more bewildered than when he heard that Shen Xingyu had been dragged into the toilet.

"I see... I thought Lu Ran's course was Pet Nutrition?"

Butler Chen nodded silently.

Ji Min's expression became indescribable.

During Lu Ran's recent absences, he had also shared updates about his experiments with Ji Min.

Thus, Ji Min had a vague understanding of the ingredients and process involved in Lu Ran's "assignment."

If that substance were to end up being consumed by someone...

Well... the current state of the Shen family would certainly be quite a spectacle.

Ji Min exchanged a glance with Butler Chen.

Then, the two of them shifted their gazes away silently, tacitly skipping over the topic.

Ji Min: "…I have a busy schedule today."

Butler Chen: "Mm-hmm."

It wasn't until Ji Min got into the car and was almost at the company that they both silently absorbed the intangible impact between them.

Butler Chen couldn't help but smile again, "Before, you were worried that Lu Ran might be at a disadvantage in the Shen family and wanted to bring him over here…"

As he spoke, he turned to look at Ji Min, only to find him lost in thought, staring out of the car window without responding.

After a long while, when the car finally stopped at the parking lot of Ji Corporation's building.

Butler Chen heard the man in the wheelchair muttering to himself, "He has been working on this assignment for a long time. Now that someone else has taken credit for it, it will certainly affect his studies."

Butler Chen: "…"

Very well, you indeed know how to focus on the crucial points.

Ji Min's concern never came to pass.

Because Lu Ran had done several versions of the assignment.

He submitted his assignment.

The nutrition teacher, who found delight in challenging students, glanced at his recipe and fell silent.

Then, without a word, the teacher gave him a perfect score.

However, this incident greatly affected Shen Xingyu.

Initially, he just wanted to quickly settle the matter and freshen up before rushing to work at the company.

But due to Lu Ran's intervention, he wasn't able to go to work that day.

First, he had to battle bugs on the third floor.

Then, he had to soothe his frightened wife, Madam Shen.

Upon returning, he spent an hour showering, brushing his teeth countless times.

Yet, no matter how many times he brushed, the peculiar... cockroach-like taste lingered in his mouth.

Finally, Shen Xingyu had changed into his clothes and grabbed his documents.

He got into the car and instructed the driver to head for the company.

Despite himself, Shen Xingyu couldn't resist requesting a detour halfway through the journey. "First... go to the hospital."

Since he started working, the steadfast and diligent General Manager Shen had never taken a day off, not even when he was ill. This was his first time calling in sick.

When Shen Xingyu entered the examination room and sat down in front of the doctor, he still felt a bit dazed.

The doctor asked, "What seems to be the problem?"

Shen Xingyu fell silent.

The doctor stared at him across the desk with wide eyes.

Seeing that the patient wasn't speaking, the doctor found it odd but remained unperturbed. He had seen it all before.

After all, he had encountered many patients who remained silent after entering the examination room.

The doctor gazed at the well-dressed man before him and sighed.

He thought to himself, Despite his refined appearance, he seems to have a secret he's hesitant to share.

But adhering to his professional duty, he gently suggested, "With your condition, you should visit the urology department. This is the gastroenterology department."

Shen Xingyu: "..."

His lips finally moved. "It's not... I am..."

Seeing his hesitation, the doctor sighed again.

Indeed, there were very few who would willingly admit to such situations.

Shaking his head, the doctor asked, "I'll refer you to another department. Take your ID and head downstairs; that's where the urology department is located."

He also tried to reassure Shen Xingyu, "Don't feel embarrassed. Specialized treatment is crucial for addressing specific issues. Urologists are much more knowledgeable in dealing with such matters than I am."

Shen Xingyu: "..."

He raised his hand to massage his forehead, finally forcing out an explanation between his teeth, "No, I came here because I... consumed... something unpleasant."

"Aah?" The doctor was taken aback and asked, "What did you eat?"

Shen Xingyu fell silent again.

The doctor grew anxious; there were other patients waiting in line!

Under the doctor's persistent questioning, Shen Xingyu finally gave in, "A cockroach..."

"Aah?" The doctor was stunned once more.

With that first admission, everything else flowed more easily.

Shen Xingyu struggled to describe it, "It was a pastry, with the outside covered in... freeze-dried powder of microorganism corpses. Inside, there were cockroaches and a red insect, I think they're called mealworms."

Then he told the doctor, "I took a bite and swallowed half a cockroach."

In truth, Shen Xingyu was so bewildered at the time that he couldn't recall if he had actually swallowed that bite.

Certainly, he must have consumed something.

At this thought, Shen Xingyu felt a wave of nausea wash over him.

"I'd like to ask... is there anything wrong with this? Should I get some tests done?" Shen Xingyu inquired.

The doctor stared back at him in silence.

Eventually, he waved his hand dismissively. "Keep an eye on it. Come back if you experience any symptoms."

"Shouldn't I take any medicine?" Shen Xingyu remained concerned.

"Medicine isn't something you take for fun," the doctor replied brusquely, already attending to the next patient.

After hesitating for a long while, Shen Xingyu left, still plagued by doubts.

Watching his departing figure, the doctor let out a heavy sigh.

These days, young men would go to such absurd lengths just to conceal their inability to perform!

Shen Xingyu couldn't recall how he had managed to leave the hospital.

He had wandered around in a daze for several days before the persistent nausea finally subsided slightly.

But the psychological shadow of biting into a cockroach lingered on.

It was likely the same for Mrs. Shen and Shen Xingran.

As a result, the Shen family had been unusually quiet recently.

Within a five-meter radius of wherever Lu Ran was, not a single soul could be seen.

On the weekend, Lu Ran couldn't help but boast about his accomplishment to Ji Min.

He sighed again. "I spent so much time making them. I gave them three, and I still feel a little reluctant."

Listening from the side, Ji Min and Butler Chen both thought, "..."

Ji Min pondered for a moment and gradually began to understand. "It is a bit wasteful."

"To think about it!" Lu Ran commented.

Ji Min nodded in agreement.

Noticing the boy's gaze, Ji Min pondered for a moment before skillfully initiating a conversation:

"They always cause trouble like this. How do you manage your studies? You can't be on guard against them every time you try to do your homework, right? Isn't that exhausting?"

He was awaiting the youth's nod, so that he might smoothly inquire whether he would be willing to take up residence under his own roof.

Yet, as he finished speaking, he found Lu Ran looking at him with shining eyes.

He exclaimed with enthusiasm, "Not at all, I'm absolutely thrilled!"

Ji Min: "..."

Very well, it seems he has misunderstood.

But Chairman Ji was never one to concede in a "negotiation."

So he continued, "But this will interfere with your part-time job. How many times have you taken leave this month?"

"Uh…" Lu Ran responded this time, looking guiltily at his boss.

Just a couple of days ago, he had boasted about spreading the "truth" of Ji Min's prowess across the entire city.

Yet, amidst the busyness of the past few days, he had pushed it to the back of his mind.

"It does seem like a bit of a delay," Lu Ran thought, feeling a sting at the salary he had lost.

Upon hearing this, Ji Min secretly exhaled in relief.

Just as he was about to speak further,

he saw the young man in front of him calculating on his fingers before saying,

"But living at the Shen residence comes rent-free. In the grand scheme of things, I haven't really lost much."

"And there's entertainment to look forward to, plus a spacious room prepared for Big Yellow."

Ji Min was taken aback. "A big room for Big Yellow?"

"That's right. I claimed Shen Xingyu's room for Big Yellow," Lu Ran replied.

President Ji: "......."

This negotiation ended in a disastrous defeat for Ji Min.

Upon returning home, the first thing he told Manager Chen was, "Ask the housekeeping staff to tidy up another room."

Manager Chen: "......."

Before Manager Chen could respond, Ji Min thought for a moment and then turned his wheelchair around, saying,

"Actually, clean up those two interconnected suites on the second floor by the corner. That way, it'll be more convenient for Big Yellow to find him at night."

Manager Chen listened silently but couldn't help but remind, "Student Lu Ran hasn't agreed to move in yet."

To be precise, you didn't even dare to make the request before the room was already being prepared.

This time, it was Ji Min who fell silent.

He glanced at the room on the second floor and whispered softly,

"How can we allow him to stay in the Shen residence?"

"The Shen family's adopted son is peculiar, and Shen Hongyuan has some unknown scheme brewing. Now, with Shen Xingyu in such a state, his health seems to be..."

Ji Min sighed slightly. "How can I possibly feel at ease leaving him in the care of the Shen family?"

After he finished speaking, he waited for a while but didn't hear any response from Butler Chen.

Ji Min looked up and met Butler Chen's half-smiling, half-teasing gaze.

The old man's eyes were kind, carrying a wisdom that seemed to see through everything.

Ji Min felt a lump in his throat.

Soon, he seemed to be explaining his overly concerned state to himself, as if trying to convince himself, he said:

"Shen Xingyu even consumed his homework, which severely impedes his academic progress."

It seemed as if all foolish desires could be justified under the pretense of "encouraging one to study diligently."

Housekeeper Chen: "..."

He mused to himself, could something as explosive as "consuming homework" actually be used in such a manner?

Butler Chen reminded, "Young Master Lu Ran doesn't seem to share that sentiment."

The man in the wheelchair subtly pressed his lips together.

Then, he adopted a paternal tone,

"He's young. If he regrets it when he's older, it'll be too late."

Butler Chen: "..."

Once again, he questioned the Ji family's upbringing.

It was merely a desire to protect his mate and keep them safe within his care, yet there seemed to be an unnecessary web of justifications for such actions.