Chapter 58: "Extreme Tugging"

Upon understanding the origin of the enoki mushroom, Gu Ningqi was overwhelmed with immense astonishment.

The shock was so great that he found himself in a bizarre state.

He felt as if his soul had left his body.

Detached from it, he floated above the ceiling, silently observing himself.

Watching the version of himself who was intently staring at that half of the enoki mushroom in his hand.

Both his body and soul were lost in deep contemplation.

He sat in that somewhat unclean cubicle for a long while, unaware of when the young man had left.

At the banquet.

Shen Xingran was standing in a corner, listening to the well-meaning inquiries of those around him.

Normally, he would be the star of such events.

But this time, he quietly stayed in an inconspicuous spot.

The more he did that, the more acquaintances approached him.

Soon, the small corner was surrounded by people.

It drew even more attention than if he had stood in the center of the venue.

Regardless of their true thoughts, everyone offered comfort: "Xingran, don't worry. Even if he comes back, Uncle and Auntie won't treat you unfairly."

Shen Xingran wore a serene smile:

"It's only right for Mom and Dad to make it up to Brother for all the hardships he's endured outside."

Upon hearing his words, many who knew about the relationship between him and Lu Ran rolled their eyes inwardly.

He spoke as sweetly as flowers.

With your magnanimity, why would you still mention in public that someone's biological son is an illegitimate child?

What a pretense, utterly insincere.

In the midst of flattering remarks and unspoken understanding, someone ventured to ask curiously:

"Xingran, is Gu Ningqi coming back to find you this time?"

Shen Xingran sighed softly. "What good would it do for him to find me? The Gu family's engagement was arranged with my brother. I should be wishing them well."

Though he spoke of blessing others, he indirectly admitted that Gu Ningqi had indeed come looking for him.

Everyone around picked up on the subtle meaning in Shen Xingran's words.

Shen Xingran lifted his wine glass to conceal the curve of his lips.

So what if Lu Ran has returned?

Basking in the affection of his parents and bound by the engagement with Gu Ningqi and the Gu family, he remained the most doted-on youngest son of the Shen household.

This was a fact well-known to those around them.

After Elder Master Shen passed away, the Shen family fell on hard times, only to be revived by the unwavering support of the Gu family.

Although now, with Shen Xingyu assuming a prominent position, there were finally signs of gradual recovery for the Shen family.

Yet, Shen Xingyu was still too young.

He didn't possess the same tumultuous and almost bloody rise to power as the Ji family member.

Thus, the Gu family remained significant to the Shens.

Gu Ningqi was deeply devoted to Shen Xingran and was also the next heir of the Gu family.

No one was willing to cross paths with bad luck by offending Shen Xingran.

Someone couldn't resist whispering, "Brother Gu should be arriving soon, right?"

At this, anticipation flickered across everyone's faces, as if they were about to witness a spectacle.

Today, Lu Ran had finally been officially acknowledged by the Shen family after much difficulty.

Yet, the heir of the Gu family had rushed over for Shen Xingran, possibly even intending to tear up their old marriage contract and throw it in Lu Ran's face.

Right at the moment when Lu Ran was being gloriously embraced by the Shen family.

They would call Gu Ningqi over to deliver a stinging slap.

This move was truly cunning.

It seemed that even with his formal recognition by the Shen family, Lu Ran wouldn't have an easy time.

As the crowd pondered this, some felt sympathetic, while others held a sense of excitement, especially those who had just been criticized by Lu Ran for having food stuck in their teeth or had their wig piece pulled out.

Yet, despite the wait, Gu Ningqi's figure never appeared.

In contrast, Lu Ran had already strolled around the banquet several times.

Regardless of what the guests might think in private, they all showed concern and warmth towards Lu Ran, who had been missing for fifteen years.

Within this short period, Lu Ran, accompanied by his dog, had almost recognized everyone of significance in the banquet.

Some of Shen Xingran's devoted followers clenched their fists in frustration, "Look at him, isn't he infuriating!"

Others couldn't help but whisper, "Why hasn't Brother Ningqi arrived yet?"

"Didn't they say his flight had landed?"

"Could it be that...?"

As time passed, these whispers grew more frequent.

The gaze of those around Shen Xingran gradually turned skeptical.

For a fleeting moment, Shen Xingran felt a pang of anxiety, causing him to subconsciously clench his fingers.

He took out his phone.

To his notice, there was an incoming call from an unknown number.

By now, Shen Xingran had grown quite familiar with these unfamiliar numbers.

Due to having blocked Gu Ningqi's contact information, Gu Ningqi had been frantically switching numbers to reach out to him recently.

The instant Shen Xingran saw this call, he felt reassured.

However, Gu Ningqi's prolonged absence made Shen Xingran somewhat upset.

He still didn't answer the call.

After hanging up, Shen Xingran surreptitiously glanced at the surrounding whispers and gossip.

An inner sneer escaped him – Gu Ningqi would arrive soon, and these people would soon have their faces slapped.

The talk of the town at tonight's banquet was the impending union between the Gu and Shen families.

This was all deliberate on Shen Xingran's part.

Days ago, he had intentionally leaked news of Gu Ningqi's return to steer public discussion towards this topic.

All for this very moment!

When Gu Ningqi arrived, he would announce to everyone present that even as an adopted son, Shen Xingran could not be underestimated.

Gu Ningqi would also humiliate Lu Ran in front of everyone, revealing Lu Ran's true standing in the Shen family.

It was a move that served two purposes.

Shen Xingran wore a confident smile.

Right then,

there was a sudden hush at the entrance of the banquet hall.

A towering figure leisurely made its entrance through the door.

Shen Xingran's heart leapt with delight. There he is!

He deliberately feigned ignorance, turning his back on the entrance and engaging in casual conversation with his friend.

All he was waiting for was for Gu Ningqi to approach him, with everyone else wildly nudging him as a reminder.

Moments later,

Shen Xingran noticed his friend also fixating on the figure at the entrance.

His friend's gaze grew transfixed.

The friend's mouth gradually widened.

And finally, his friend's jaw dropped in astonishment.

Shen Xingran felt a mixture of surprise and satisfaction within him.

Are these people that astonished? It seems Gu Ningqi's entrance this time is rather extraordinary.

It even managed to elicit such expressions from those well-versed in the social circle!

Not even Shen Xingran could resist feeling a little anticipation.

He was still pretending to be nonchalant, waiting for someone else to prompt him.

All for the sake of giving Gu Ningqi a startled and unprepared glance back.

His eyes must shimmer with a hint of moisture, as innocent and pure as a fawn in the morning mist!

And Gu Ningqi would undoubtedly seize his hand eagerly and affectionately!

By then, someone would surely capture the moment when he turns around, locking eyes with Gu Ningqi in a heartfelt gaze.

Shen Xingran had rehearsed this scenario eight hundred times in his mind.

But as he waited...

One by one, the onlookers wore expressions of astonishment, as if their jaws had hit the floor.

Surprisingly, no one excitedly informed Shen Xingran of this development.

Shen Xingran was on tenterhooks, his curiosity growing by the second. Just what had Gu Ningqi done that had left everyone so stunned?

Finally, someone glanced at the approaching man, then at Shen Xingran, before stammering out a reminder, "Xingran, Ningqi's here... That is Ningqi, isn't it?"

In response, Shen Xingran spun around in a fluster.

Before him stood Gu Ningqi's tall and handsome figure, instantly recognizable.

The man's thick brows and sharp eyes were still the same, a sight that Shen Xingran knew all too well.

On his face was a hint of inexplicable panic and anxiety, exactly as Shen Xingran had imagined.

The fear was of being abandoned by him.

The anxiety stemmed from an earnest desire to see him.

But...

Upon closer inspection of Gu Ningqi's appearance, Shen Xingran was taken aback.

Half of Gu Ningqi's hair was drenched, and his face still held traces of moisture.

He seemed completely unstyled.

Not only that, he even carried an air of dishevelment, as if he had just been through a tumultuous ordeal.

What truly left Shen Xingran speechless was Gu Ningqi's attire.

His upper body was clad in a crumpled black suit jacket, with no sign of a tie. The fabric appeared to have suffered some inhumane treatment.

In stark contrast, he wore a pair of exquisitely tailored pants that exuded a strong sense of design.

Yet, there was only a pair of dress pants.

It was as if half of an upscale outfit had been hastily torn off.

The hems were still damp, suggesting that he might have stepped into a puddle during his journey.

In short, he looked utterly disheveled.

Shen Xingran was stunned.

He had imagined scenarios where Gu Ningqi couldn't make it due to some issue, or the Gu family intervened to prevent him from meeting Gu Ningqi.

Shen Xingran had even envisaged the possibility that Gu Ningqi might develop feelings for Lu Ran...

He had considered all sorts of outcomes.

But never in his wildest dreams did he expect Gu Ningqi to show up in such a pitiful, toilet-bound state...

Amidst the gazes of the crowd, Gu Ningqi made his way to Shen Xingran's side.

He gazed at Shen Xingran with tears in his eyes, his lips trembling as he asked, "Why didn't you answer my call?"

The question was exactly what Shen Xingran had anticipated.

But with Gu Ningqi's current appearance... the more he heard it, the more off it sounded.

Gu Ningqi was truly on the verge of tears.

No one knew what he had been through.

After pulling out that 'golden mushroom,' he sat alone in the stall for a while before mustering the courage to stand up. He rushed to the sink and washed himself frantically.

Only after washing did Gu Ningqi realize a massive problem.

How... was he supposed to leave?

After all the commotion, the bespoke suit he had just put on for the upper half of his body was ruined.

Not only was the collar soaked, but it also carried the stench of the restroom.

As for the pants...

They were still dangling around his ankles.

Gu Ningqi wanted to call his assistant.

But he had already sent the assistant back with the clothes.

He had actually returned to the country for an important work report.

Since he came to the Shen family's residence personally, he had to entrust the task to his assistant.

It would be pointless to call now!

However, he couldn't possibly stay in the toilet until eternity, could he?

Gu Ningqi truly couldn't bear to spend another moment here.

Suddenly, he thought of Shen Xingran and dialed his number with renewed hope.

Ningqi hoped that Shen Xingran would fetch him a clean set of clothes.

But to his dismay, Shen Xingran had hung up the lifeline call!

Hung up!

Gu Ningqi gritted his teeth and could only glance at the outfit he had just taken off.

It was a black suit he wore when he got off the plane, a business-like and modest attire.

Although it was now wrinkled, it was still clean.

Gu Ningqi hastily changed into the shirt.

Afterward, he couldn't locate the matching trousers anywhere.

Upon careful search, he realized that the clothes he had hung on the partition door had fallen off.

They happened to fall right into the hole.

Gu Ningqi had no choice but to pick up the haute couture trousers and put them on.

Only then did he realize that they were soaked with water.

He had chosen a flamboyant champagne color for the fabric, which now appeared darker in patches when wet, making it extremely noticeable.

But there was nothing he could do about it now.

Gu Ningqi certainly couldn't walk out with his bottom exposed.

He already had a plan.

He had only informed Shen Xingran about his return, so outsiders shouldn't know about it.

Therefore, as long as he was cautious, nobody would notice him.

The most pressing matter now was to find Shen Xingran, and ask for a clean change of clothes!

Gu Ningqi's thoughts were well-organized.

He also made an effort to blend into the background.

Yet, the moment he stepped out of a secluded restroom at the corner of the villa, someone called out to him, "Gu Ningqi! You're indeed back in the country!"

Gu Ningqi: "..."

Didn't they say nobody would know?

With that one shout, all eyes were on him!

Not only that, Gu Ningqi could hear people around him discussing the arranged marriage between his family and the Shen family.

They were talking about him, Gu Ningqi, and Shen Xingran.

Ordinarily, Gu Ningqi relished being the center of attention.

But now...

He felt as if he were running naked through the villa.

Finally entering the grand hall, Gu Ningqi only wished to find Shen Xingran unobtrusively.

Spotting Shen Xingran standing alone in a corner, he frantically waved his hand in his direction.

But Shen Xingran seemed glued to the spot.

He wouldn't turn around to look!

Gu Ningqi was on the verge of panic!

After much effort in signaling, he had no choice but to push his way through the crowd and approach Shen Xingran step by step.

At this moment, Shen Xingran still hadn't registered Gu Ningqi's presence.

In his imagination, Gu Ningqi would seize his hand and declare his affection earnestly.

Before everyone's eyes, he would renounce the Gu family's engagement with Lu Ran, making it clear that he held no interest in him whatsoever.

He declared that in this entire world, he would only be willing to form an alliance with him.

Of course, he wouldn't agree immediately.

He would kindly decline, suggesting Gu Ningqi seek out Lu Ran instead.

Upon hearing his refusal, Gu Ningqi would only become more persistent.

In the banquet prepared for Lu Ran, with all the guests as witnesses, Shen Xingran would engage in a tug of war with Gu Ningqi to the limits.

And now, Gu Ningqi had taken the first step.

He eagerly seized Shen Xingran's hand.

Then, he whispered, "Do you have a clean pair of pants?"

Shen Xingran: "..."

"Do you have a clean pair of pants?"

This unadorned statement shattered the carefully crafted romantic scene he had envisioned.