Chapter 16: Concealment

"Madman!" Lu Ran cursed and led the dog back to his room.

On the second floor, Shen Xingran stood by the railing, equally perplexed.

He had rushed downstairs upon hearing Shen Xingzhuo slamming Lu Ran's door, expecting that Shen Xingzhuo was finally going to confront Lu Ran.

Indeed, it seemed that way.

Something Lu Ran had done had riled Shen Xingzhuo up significantly.

Just as it appeared that a fight was about to break out, instead...

Shen Xingzhuo had merely petted the dog twice before leaving?

Shen Xingran was utterly bewildered.

Lu Ran glanced in their direction from the staircase.

Shen Xingran tensed briefly before swiftly returning to the third floor.

He had no intention of provoking Lu Ran.

Back on the third floor, Shen Xingran continued to ponder over Shen Xingzhuo's actions.

He was uncertain whether Shen Xingzhuo was merely venting his anger or using the dog to intimidate Lu Ran.

Shen Xingran suspected it to be the latter.

This brought him a hint of pleasure.

After all this time, Shen Xingzhuo was finally making a move.

However...

As he recalled the entire "argument" between Shen Xingzhuo and Lu Ran, Shen Xingran couldn't shake off the feeling that something was amiss.

But he couldn't quite put his finger on what exactly was wrong.

Shen Xingran waited for Shen Xingzhuo to continue causing trouble for Lu Ran.

Days went by.

Lu Ran still came and went with the yellow dog in tow.

Shen Xingzhuo's visits to the Shen household increased, and whenever he encountered Lu Ran, arguments would ensue, though they seemed more like playful bickering than genuine disputes.

The dog remained unharmed throughout.

Shen Xingran grew restless, sensing a loss of control for some inexplicable reason.

He urgently needed to make Lu Ran stumble so that he could regain his former sense of dominance.

However, Shen Xingran couldn't shake off the memory of "that meal" and Lu Ran's two slaps.

He was not keen on confronting Lu Ran head-on.

At home, Mr. Shen and Madam Shen were likely the same, seldom spending much time in the villa.

Over time, Lu Ran had somehow become the de facto master of the house.

After waiting a few more days, Shen Xingran couldn't bear it any longer and took the initiative to find Shen Xingzhuo's residence.

Shen Xingzhuo lived in a spacious flat in the city center. There was also a villa outside, reserved for hosting parties.

Shen Xingzhuo treated him exceptionally well. His fingerprints were already recorded in the flat's fingerprint lock, and most of the interior decoration was tailored to his taste.

For Shen Xingran, coming back here felt like returning to his own home.

Upon entering this time, the electronic doorbell, as usual, played a pre-recorded message from Shen Xingzhuo.

"Welcome, the little prince of the Shen family!"

Shen Xingran chuckled, finally feeling a bit more at ease.

He sat on the sofa as usual, absorbed in his own world.

In fact, Shen Xingran felt more at ease staying with Shen Xingzhuo than he did at the Shen family's villa.

This was because Shen Xingzhuo was more tolerant of him.

There was no need for him to put on an obedient and sensible facade.

Shen Xingran casually glanced around.

Shen Xingzhuo was not one for tidiness and disliked hiring cleaners; the entire living room was in a mess, with discarded shipping packages scattered across the floor.

As Shen Xingran reached for his phone to call a cleaner, something on the corner of his eye caught his attention, halting his action.

Against the wall near the balcony stood a small wooden house.

The color scheme was pleasing to the eye, and it looked intricately crafted.

Inside the little house was a thick, soft cushion.

Curiously, Shen Xingran walked over.

"What's this? A new type of building blocks?"

Taking another glance, he noticed a large plastic tray not far away, with a grid of hollow compartments on top.

Shen Xingran circled around, unsure what Shen Xingzhuo was up to.

Then he saw a small wooden plank hanging on the door of the wooden house, with a black paw print imprinted on it.

Shen Xingran abruptly stood up, realizing that it was a doghouse.

The plastic tray nearby served as a dog toilet.

Shen Xingran pondered the reason behind Shen Xingzhuo's actions.

Was killing a dog that troublesome for him?

He sat back down on the sofa, slightly dazed. As soon as he sat down, his bottom stung.

Shen Xingran rose to her feet, only to spot a pet brush nestled in the corner of the sofa. So many unfamiliar and disliked items had suddenly appeared in a space she believed belonged solely to her. This greatly displeased Shen Xingran. It was similar to how Lu Ran had returned to the Shen family. Taking a deep breath, Shen Xingran couldn't help but stand up, hastily relocating the brush, dog bed, and other pet supplies to the balcony in one go. After venting her frustration, she regained her composure. Recalling the purpose of her visit today, she called for a cleaning service and ordered takeout. Soon after, Shen Xingzhuo returned. The food had already been arranged on the table. As if nothing had happened, Shen Xingran turned around and warmly waved at Shen Xingzhuo, just as she usually did, "Brother! Come quickly, I ordered your favorite Sichuan pepper chicken!"

"Ah, a rare visitor! You've finally decided to come see me today?"

Shen Xingzhuo was quite delighted.

Unlike someone else.

That person spent his money but didn't even bother with a kind word.

Shen Xingran pulled Shen Xingzhuo to sit down. "Hurry up! I've been staring at this feast while waiting for you, and I'm starving."

"Eat if you're hungry. Why wait?"

Shen Xingzhuo washed his hands and returned to sit beside Shen Xingran.

In that instant, an unrelated thought crossed his mind: Lu Ran probably didn't know where he lived.

He wondered if, upon seeing the dog kennel and litter box he had prepared, Lu Ran would be willing to bring Big Yellow over.

But then, Shen Xingzhuo felt himself being silly for having such thoughts.

What was the point of bringing that guy along? Was it to dupe him or pick a fight?

At this moment, Shen Xingran said something, but Shen Xingzhuo, lost in thought, only caught fragments of the conversation: "Lu Ran... "

"Don't even mention his name," Shen Xingzhuo said irritably.

Shen Xingran was taken aback.

The tone sounded like disdain, but he couldn't shake off the feeling that...

"Alright, aren't you hungry? Hurry up and eat," Shen Xingzhuo changed the subject.

"Okay." Shen Xingran smiled and picked up a piece of food, his mind whirling with thoughts.

After pondering for a while, he didn't inquire about the doghouse incident. Instead, he asked, "Brother, I heard Lin Yi got into trouble. What happened? Weren't you there that night?"

Shen Xingzhuo's actions paused.

Instantly, he recalled Lin Yi's unfortunate, scent-filled encounter, along with that astronomical bill. The food in his mouth suddenly lost its appeal.

He never hid anything from Shen Xingran, but when he lifted his gaze to meet her eyes, his action was imperceptibly delayed.

Shen Xingzhuo lowered his eyes and asked with a smile, "Why do you want to know? Aren't you not fond of Lin Yi? Wouldn't it be better if he suffered a setback?"

"Bro! Talk to me about it! I want to know how he got humiliated." Shen Xingran playfully tugged on Shen Xingzhuo's arm.

Shen Xingzhuo was genuinely hungry.

If they started discussing this, he wouldn't be able to eat his meal.

Glancing at Shen Xingran, who had only picked up her chopsticks twice, he saw no sign of her waiting eagerly for him, on the verge of starvation.

"In short, he tried to cause trouble for someone but ended up being the one who got outsmarted," Shen Xingzhuo vaguely replied.

"Who was so skilled that they didn't even consider the Zhang family?" Shen Xingran asked, intrigued.

Shen Xingzhuo ran his tongue over his teeth, not deeming it necessary to respond.

He picked up a morsel of food and placed it on Shen Xingran's plate. "Aren't you hungry? Why aren't you eating?"

Seeing that he couldn't extract any information from Shen Xingran, the latter felt utterly frustrated.

He caught sight of the doghouse on the balcony but held back his anger.

After leaving Shen Xingzhuo's house, Shen Xingran was in a somewhat somber mood.

On that day, he didn't follow Shen Xingzhuo to the club, but later, he sought out others for information about what had transpired that evening.

Oddly enough, everyone who had been at the club that night seemed to have been spooked. They all refused to divulge any details about the events of that night.

Checking the time, Shen Xingran instructed the driver to take him to the Lin residence.

Shen Xingran's arrival was perfectly timed.

Upon entering the Lin family compound, he heard Lin Yi's furious cry, "Get out!"

Amidst the noise were sounds of objects being smashed.

Shen Xingran was startled.

He had only heard that something had happened to Lin Yi, but he hadn't expected it to provoke such an intense reaction from him.

Mrs. Lin approached at that moment.

Shen Xingran quickly adopted a well-behaved demeanor in front of the elder, "Auntie Lin, I heard Xiao Yi was in trouble, so I came to check on him."

As soon as he said this, Mrs. Lin's expression turned odd for a moment. She then sized up Shen Xingran before saying, "Ranran, come quickly and talk some sense into Xiao Yi."

"What happened to Lin Yi?" Shen Xingran asked cautiously.

Mrs. Lin looked worried too, "No one in the family can get a word out of him. If we ask too much, he throws a tantrum and smashes things."

This piqued Shen Xingran's curiosity.

Shen Xingran offered a smile to Madam Lin before heading upstairs.

"Lin Yi?"

As he pushed open the door to Lin Yi's room, he found the person sitting on the bed looking directly at him.

Seemingly recognizing who he was, Lin Yi lunged at him abruptly. "I'll kill you!"

Shen Xingran hastily blocked her. "It's me, Lin Yi! I'm Shen Xingran!"

"I want you dead!" Lin Yi reached out to strangle Shen Xingran's neck.

They tussled for a while until Lin Yi let out a roar. "Lu Ran is part of your Shen family, isn't he? May all the Shens perish!"

Shen Xingran nearly got scratched to death by Lin Yi.

At the mention of Lu Ran's name, he perked up instantly.

"Was it Lu Ran?"

For a moment, his mind was in disarray.

On one hand, he hadn't expected Lu Ran to have the audacity to offend Lin Yi, who had the support of the Zhang family. No wonder Madam Lin had looked at him with a peculiar expression just now.

On the other hand, he pondered why Shen Xingzhuo hadn't informed him about the incident involving Lu Ran...

Seeing Lin Yi charging forward again, Shen Xingran quickly said, "I despise Lu Ran too! What right does he have to call himself a member of the Shen family?"

Only then did Lin Yi halt, staring intently at Shen Xingran.

"Lu Ran troubles me every day," Shen Xingran continued.

Suddenly, Lin Yi clutched his head in despair. "How could he possibly trouble you? Do you know that he once pinned me against the wall in the bathroom?!"

Shen Xingran froze.

What? The bathroom?

Realizing he had let slip too much, Lin Yi immediately clamped his mouth shut.

Shen Xingran never imagined that Lu Ran would not only cause trouble at home but also behave recklessly outside.

Was he out of his mind?

Wanting to comfort Lin Yi, Shen Xingran reached out his hand. But upon recalling what Lin Yi had gone through, he retracted it.

"I mean... the club's restrooms are all very clean, right?" He tried to console him, though his words sounded awkward.

"It's none of your business!" Lin Yi yelled. "Get lost now!"

Naturally, Shen Xingran didn't want to lose Lin Yi as an ally.

Both he and Lin Yi had conflicts with Lu Ran.

Moreover, Lin Yi had the support of the Zhang family. It would be foolish not to take advantage of it.

"Actually... I was also..." Shen Xingran struggled to speak.

"Who did this to you?" Lin Yi asked.

After a moment of hesitation, Shen Xingran didn't reveal the incident that had occurred at the Shen family's restaurant.

He simply said, "I've also been through my fair share of his torment..."

Only after comforting her for a while did Lin Yi finally calm down.

"This can't just be swept under the rug," Shen Xingran stated.

"What else can I do? I can't just kill him!" Lin Yi exclaimed.

Shen Xingran lowered his gaze and pondered for a moment. "What about Zhang Lin? Isn't your fiancé going to help you?"

"How could I let him know about something like this?!" Lin Yi despaired.

If Zhang Lin found out, would he still want to embrace her, kiss her, and marry her?

Liu Ran's most vicious tactic was making people too afraid to speak up.

Others wouldn't care what Lu Ran did; they'd only picture Lin Yi being pinned down in a toilet.

"Never mind that," Shen Xingran said. "Just make up an excuse, won't you?"

Lin Yi was taken aback.

Shen Xingran pressed on, "You're Zhang Lin's fiancé. If you were bullied, he'd definitely stand up for you – no need for any reason at all."

Spotting the recognition in Lin Yi's eyes, Shen Xingran smiled.

So what if Lu Ran was brave?

He couldn't afford to confront Lu Ran openly, for the sake of maintaining his image in the Shen family's eyes.

Besides...

The Shens were negotiating business with the Zhangs. If Shen Hongyuan found out about Lu Ran's actions, he'd likely be furious enough to kill him.

Mid-conversation, the sound of knocking resonated from the door again.

A woman's voice echoed through the room, "Xiao Yi, your aunt has come to visit you."

"Uh-oh! It's Mrs. Zhang!" Lin Yi immediately grasped Shen Xingran's hand.