Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Duan Zhen Shan felt like he had neglected to check the almanac before leaving the house today... No, he hadn't dispelled the bad luck from his ill-fated son. How did he manage to offend the young master of the Cheng family?

Duan Zhen Shan worked in construction. His company always bid for projects offered by Cheng Group, but never succeeded.

The reason was not only that his company didn't stand out among the bidders, but more importantly, Duan Zhen Shan had offended a vice president of the Cheng family.

He had always wanted to network with other high-level executives but lacked the means. Now, he didn't need to look further, as his son had outdone him by directly offending the young master of the Cheng family.

Duan Zhen Shan looked at the composed and restrained young man before him and sighed, "I need to take him to the hospital. Do you want to come?"

"No need," Cheng Nan Yi refused coldly, shaking his head.

Unable to reach Cheng Shao Lin by phone, Duan Zhen Shan left his number and then departed with Duan Wen Ze.

Once out of school, Duan Wen Ze had stopped crying, clenching his fists: "I'll get my revenge."

Duan Zhen Shan slapped his son's head lightly: "Alright, Mr. Big Shot, talking about revenge, you're almost unable to continue at school." Just one word from the Cheng family, and his son could be kicked out, and his company might be ruined.

He had heard of the reputation of this young master of the Cheng family. The Chengs were known for being straightforward. Cheng Shao Lin, in his forties, had only recently married, and the next generation consisted of only one heir, whom the old master was grooming as a successor.

Ordinary kids are treasured in their families, let alone the heir of the Cheng family. Just one word from him...

Ha, haha, hahaha...

Duan Zhen Shan couldn't even cry.

"Dad, you've changed," Duan Wen Ze looked up, eyes wide, "Don't you love me anymore?"

"Love my foot," Duan Zhen Shan hoisted him into the back seat and climbed in himself, "Brat, I haven't even started with you. Tell me, who taught you to bully classmates?"

"I didn't bully him," Duan Wen Ze felt unjustly accused. "I like Gu Yu Qi, I just wanted to scare him into changing seats. Who knew he would spit at me? Who could stand that? Dad, tell me, who could bear that?" Thinking back, Duan Wen Ze still felt indignant. That new kid was so impolite, spitting like that, disgusting...

Duan Zhen Shan was at a loss for words, struggling to find a way to teach Duan Wen Ze a lesson. After all, being spat on is really hard to tolerate...

Duan Zhen Shan patted Duan Wen Ze's head, "It's indeed hard to tolerate. Dad understands. So, when I spank you later, I'll make it two slaps less. But if you bully your classmates again, I'll break your legs."

Duan Wen Ze was stunned for a moment, then burst into tears again.

……

In the school infirmary, Teacher Zhao handed a set of school uniforms to Cheng Nan Yi: "Check if he's injured anywhere on his body."

Cheng Nan Yi took the clothes and led Yuan Ting to the restroom. After letting Yuan Ting wash his hands and face, Cheng Nan Yi approached to help him change.

Yuan Ting jumped in fright, then defensively crossed his arms and backed away, panicked: "No need, no need, I can do it myself." Don't do this, it's not right, why undress someone, it's scary.

Cheng Nan Yi was sensitive to emotional changes. Yuan Ting's fright was palpable, and he couldn't understand why the child was avoiding him. He pursed his lips and said, "Come here, let me check if you're injured."

Yuan Ting had been observing Cheng Nan Yi's expressions for four years and instantly knew Cheng Nan Yi was upset.

Yuan Ting chuckled nervously: "I'm not injured, I'm grown up, I can change my clothes myself..."

Seeing Yuan Ting's lack of cooperation, Cheng Nan Yi's voice deepened: "Yuan Ting, come here."

His youthful voice was crisp, but Yuan Ting was too familiar with that tone. Almost instinctively, he walked towards Cheng Nan Yi.

Cheng Nan Yi's expression softened, and he began to remove Yuan Ting's dirtied clothes.

Yuan Ting: "..." Where's your germophobia? Why are you undressing a dirty kid?

Perhaps it was because Cheng Nan Yi had promised Cheng Shao Lin to look after him.

Just like in his previous life when he went abroad and his family asked Cheng Nan Yi to look after him, Cheng Nan Yi did exactly that.

So, Cheng Nan Yi was just acting out of a sense of responsibility, Yuan Ting consoled himself.

Yes, it must be that.

Yuan Ting, dressed in Crayon Shin-chan boxer shorts, stood in the restroom. When Cheng Nan Yi asked him to raise his arms, he did; to lift his legs, he complied obediently.

Cheng Nan Yi inspected Yuan Ting thoroughly, from top to bottom, left to right, not even sparing his feet.

There were two light bruises on Yuan Ting's body, not serious, but they looked rather bad on his pale skin.

Looking down at the boy squatting in front of him with a cold expression, Yuan Ting felt a bit aggrieved. Why, why, in this second life, he could knock out Duan Wen Ze's teeth, but why was he still so timid around Cheng Nan Yi?

Can't he be a bit more assertive? Just asking, can he?!

Yes!

Yuan Ting kicked out his leg non-cooperatively, and Cheng Nan Yi looked up: "What's wrong? Stay still, don't move."

Meeting Cheng Nan Yi's gaze, Yuan Ting looked up at the ceiling, thinking he'd be more assertive another day.

After the check-up, Cheng Nan Yi picked up the school uniform to dress Yuan Ting.

Yuan Ting suddenly realized, from a different perspective, Cheng Nan Yi was serving him; wasn't this what a nanny does?

Right?

Yes.

In his past life, Cheng Nan Yi found fault in everything about him, but in this life, he's kneeling down to dress him...

Actually, when you think about it, it's quite satisfying...

Hahaha...

Once he figured it out, Yuan Ting felt completely at ease, propping himself on Cheng Nan Yi's shoulder and kicking his legs like a victorious rooster: "Hurry up and put my pants on."

See, didn't Cheng Nan Yi obediently pick up the pants and put them on him?

Sometimes people are just too stubborn; changing your perspective can open another door, right?

Yuan Ting kicked his feet again, and Cheng Nan Yi helped him put on his shoes too.

Yuan Ting: "..." Wow, double the satisfaction!

After changing, Cheng Nan Yi personally escorted Yuan Ting back to the classroom. On the way, Cheng Nan Yi said to him, "If you have any issues, come to me. Don't just fight with anyone."

"He started it. He bullied me first," Yuan Ting said.

"Really?" Cheng Nan Yi looked at Yuan Ting, his gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny.

Being stared at with such a gaze by a ten-year-old, Yuan Ting suddenly felt a guilty sense of being seen through.

Seeing the classroom close at hand, Yuan Ting hurriedly waved at Cheng Nan Yi and ran off: "Brother, I'm going to class, bye."

In the future, he'd have to be more careful. Cheng Nan Yi was much smarter than he had thought.

It's a good thing his way of thinking is different from most people; otherwise, he could easily outsmart him.

When Yuan Ting returned to the classroom, the previously lively room fell silent instantly. A group of kids gazed at him with a salute, fear evident in their eyes.

Yuan Ting clicked his tongue in approval. Excellent, he had managed to intimidate these little brats on the first day of school.

Yuan Ting went back to his seat and sat down. Gu Yu Qi moved slightly to the side, appearing even more timid than before.

"Hey..." A boy beside him tapped Yuan Ting's shoulder. "Did you really knock out Duan Wen Ze's tooth?"

Yuan Ting turned his head. He remembered this boy; his name was Kang Xiao Yu, who had often caused him trouble during elementary school.

Kang Xiao Yu's father was quite familiar with the Cheng family, knowing many of their affairs, so this kid would always mockingly call him a hanger-on at school.

Back then, Yuan Ting was new and felt intimidated and insecure among so many affluent young masters, living in constant fear and anxiety.

Kang Xiao Yu was different from Duan Wen Ze. Duan Wen Ze was openly arrogant and entitled, always announcing his intentions before a fight with statements like, "Brace yourself, I'm about to start." Kang Xiao Yu, on the other hand, never fought physically, resorting instead to verbal attacks, mockery, and isolating others by forming cliques.

Yuan Ting was the one most often isolated.

Yuan Ting clenched his fist, waved it at him, and whispered with narrowed eyes, "What, you want to try too?"

Kang Xiao Yu snorted and then turned to Gu Yu Qi, "If you're scared, I can help you ask the teacher to change your seat."

Gu Yu Qi shrank away, quickly glanced at Yuan Ting, and then shook her head at Kang Xiao Yu, whispering, "No, it's not necessary."

"Alright then, if he bullies you, you can tell me."

Yuan Ting looked over: "What does it have to do with you?"

Kang Xiao Yu gave Yuan Ting a sidelong glance and then turned away, staying silent.

Yuan Ting sighed. Ah, how much he wanted to knock out that kid's teeth too. What to do?

……

Yuan Ting's first day at school was marked by his formidable presence, leading to the result that no one in the class, except the annoying Kang Xiao Yu, dared to speak to him.

But Yuan Ting was no child, and naturally, he didn't take these things to heart.

The textbooks for second grade were ridiculously easy for Yuan Ting; he didn’t even need to study. So, he spent his first day in class just sighing.

So boring...

Each class lasted forty minutes, with nothing to do and hands to be kept flat on the desk, properly aligned. He would rather be lying in his villa, scrolling through his phone and ordering takeout.

And such a life was to continue for many more years...

"Yuan Ting, stand up and answer this question."

Yuan Ting obediently stood up.

"What is twenty-three plus five?"

Yuan Ting: "Twenty-eight."

"Good, very correct. Sit down."

Gu Yu Qi glanced at him, whispering, "You're so smart. I hadn't even figured it out yet."

Yuan Ting: "..."

What a predicament...

By noon, Teacher Zhao had contacted Cheng Shao Lin, but he was busy and couldn't come, so Shu Zhi Lan arrived instead.

Teacher Zhao informed Shu Zhi Lan about the incident.

After hearing the entire story, Shu Zhi Lan's expression turned sour.

"Mrs. Yuan Ting, how do you think we should handle this matter?" Teacher Zhao asked. "Duan Wen Ze's father has already apologized. If you don’t wish to pursue this further, we can consider the matter closed."

Of course, Shu Zhi Lan didn't want to escalate the situation. Her son had knocked out someone's tooth, and although the other party had apologized in the end...

But something about the situation didn’t make sense to her. She suspected that the apology might have been due to recognizing Cheng Nan Yi and fearing the Cheng family's influence.

"No need, Teacher. Sorry for the trouble. Yuan Ting is still immature; I'll make sure to teach him a lesson when we get home."

After picking up Yuan Ting, Shu Zhi Lan walked briskly out of the school, struggling to contain her anger.

She had always tread cautiously in the Cheng family, striving for perfection. But her son kept causing trouble behind her back. Previous incidents were overlooked by the elders and Cheng Shao Lin, but this time, what if the other party spread the word? How would she face her social circles?

Moreover, Yuan Ting's actions were not only embarrassing for him but also for the Cheng family.

The more Shu Zhi Lan thought about it, the angrier she got. Reaching her car, she let go of Yuan Ting’s hand and hissed at him, "Can’t you stop causing trouble?"

"I don’t understand what you’re thinking. Why did you hit someone? If someone bullies you, tell the teacher, or tell me and your father when you get home. Why resort to violence?"

"I don't know how your grandmother raised you, lacking any manners."

"Yuan Ting, let me tell you, don't test my patience anymore. If this continues, I might really send you away."

Yuan Ting looked at the young and beautiful woman in front of him, finding that his heart, which he thought had grown cold, was uncontrollably filled with sadness.

Although he and Shu Zhi Lan were not very close, she was, after all, his biological mother.

In the years before the scandal broke out in his previous life, they were always mother and son. In that household, even if she didn't pay much attention to Yuan Ting, he felt at ease just thinking of her, as she was the one who brought him into the Cheng family, where they were the closest.

After those incidents, Yuan Ting was nearly shattered, and it took countless sleepless, drunken nights to forcibly extract the concept of 'mother' from his very bones.

He thought he could face Shu Zhi Lan indifferently, but he was wrong. He still felt hurt, still felt sad.

"Speak up," Shu Zhi Lan said, pushing Yuan Ting somewhat roughly.

Yuan Ting was still a child, and he staggered backward, struggling to keep his balance.

Just as he thought he was going to fall, a hand steadied his shoulder, supporting him.

Yuan Ting looked up and saw Cheng Nan Yi’s impassive face.

Cheng Nan Yi pulled Yuan Ting to his side and frowned at Shu Zhi Lan. "Aunt, what are you doing?"

Shu Zhi Lan quickly adjusted her expression. "Nothing, I was just telling Yuan Ting off for fighting at school today, as his teacher informed me."

"Why scold him?" Cheng Nan Yi's tone was cold. "It was clearly the other party's fault. What does it have to do with Yuan Ting?"

Shu Zhi Lan found herself at a loss for words, too intimidated to argue, her face a mask of embarrassment.

"Come with me." Cheng Nan Yi took Yuan Ting’s hand and walked towards the car that had come to pick him up.

Yuan Ting let himself be led, neither resisting nor speaking.

Reaching the car, the driver opened the door, and both of them got in.

The car moved smoothly, but the usually lively and active Yuan Ting sat quietly with his head drooping, clearly in a low mood.

After some thought, Cheng Nan Yi took out a piece of chocolate from his backpack and handed it to Yuan Ting: "Eating chocolate can improve your mood."

Yuan Ting accepted it, thanking him listlessly. He then bit into the chocolate wrapper with his teeth to open it.

Just as Cheng Nan Yi was about to offer help, Yuan Ting had already bitten into the chocolate, then wrinkled his brow and stuck out his tongue to Cheng Nan Yi, saying unclearly, "It's a bit melted..."

His little tongue was covered in a sticky, black mess, moving around as he spoke...

Cheng Nan Yi: "..."

Author's note:

Thanks to the angels who cast their mighty votes or nourished me with nutrient solution from 2023-07-11 17:01:27 to 2023-07-12 17:08:18~

Special thanks to the angels who watered with nutrient solution: lucky, 48360027, 1 bottle;

Thank you very much for your support; I will continue to work hard!