Chapter 77: Moving Things

Chapter 77: Moving Things

Gazing at the cherry tart,

Lu Ran's eyes showed no hint of surprise or delight.

He calmly acknowledged it with an "Mm."

Taking the cake and ointment from the servant, he opened the door and entered the room.

It was no surprise to him that Shen Xingyu would do such a thing.

However, desserts were something one craved when they couldn't have them, but would soon grow tired of after having too much.

That night, Lu Ran finished more than half of the cherry tart himself.

With the remaining half, adhering to the principle of not wasting food, he asked Ji Min to consume it.

The usually sugar-averse boss had a stern expression throughout, as the sweetness overwhelmed him.

Thus, when Lu Ran saw the cake just now, he not only felt no desire for it but even experienced a slight nausea.

However, considering that he could still enjoy it tomorrow, he accepted it anyway.

At this thought, Lu Ran glanced at Big Yellow and said with a tinge of regret, "Too bad you can't have any of this."

It would have been nice to share it with the dog.

There was also the ointment.

Lu Ran examined the expiration date and indications before putting it away in a drawer.

In the car, Ji Min had already applied the medicine after the ice pack.

His skin was quite thick, so he assumed that by tomorrow morning, the injury on his face would have significantly improved.

The next day, Lu Ran went to school as usual.

He had been quite busy lately, as the research project from last semester was finally approaching its conclusion and presentation.

Coupled with the workload from his elective courses, it overwhelmed him to the point that he had no energy to dwell on such trivial matters.

Still, the events that occurred during his thesis defense in his previous life unfolded once again.

Ding Wei had stolen his experimental data and presented before him.

But Ding Wei hadn't anticipated...

Over the past few months, Lu Ran had recorded every step of his experiments and their outcomes, subsequently sharing them on his Moments, visible only to his thesis advisors.

As a result, when Ding Wei presented his data, the expressions of the professors seated below shifted dramatically.

Before Ding Wei could finish his presentation, he was called down from the stage.

Lu Ran then took his turn to present, delivering his thesis defense with ease and composure.

Securing this academic credit brought great joy to Lu Ran.

In his previous life, he had been expelled from university halfway through, so he now cherished these experiences and opportunities all the more.

Once he entered the Elite Academy, he hoped to publish an SCI paper with his mentor during his undergraduate studies.

As his achievements started to accumulate, even if the Shen family attempted to undermine him, the school would likely pay closer attention to his situation.

Calculating his accumulated credits, Lu Ran was filled with motivation.

Thus, he sent a message to Ji Min.

Big Yellow: Boss!

At this time, Ji Min should have been busy, but surprisingly, he replied promptly.

Demon King: What's up?

Lu Ran glanced at his previous note about Ji Min.

Considering the assistance Ji Min had provided him recently, he conscientiously changed the label to: The Best Boss in the World.

He replied, "Boss, I'd like to take a day off this weekend."

Upon seeing this, his 'Best Boss in the World' immediately responded with a string of ellipses.

The Best Boss in the World: Why do you always ask for time off?

The Best Boss in the World: I'll deduct your wages.

Lu Ran: "..."

Silently, he switched the label back to Scrooge Zhou.

Thinking about the wages that would be deducted, Lu Ran felt a pang of regret.

But even though his income had significantly decreased since he started school, the salary Ji Min paid him was still quite substantial.

Not generous, but sufficient to cover the daily expenses of a college student.

Without this income, he would be too busy with part-time jobs to dedicate himself to earning academic credits.

Promptly, Lu Ran sent Ji Min several more emojis.

At least he had managed to secure the time off.

On the other end of the phone.

Ji Min was on his way to inspect a project site.

With one hand, he manipulated the remote control of his wheelchair, while in the other, he held his smartphone.

He meticulously examined each emoji the teenager had sent and then frowned, "What a bunch of nonsense."

Yet, he couldn't resist and, holding his phone, he murmured to Manager Chen beside him.

"Soaring with bliss, how many times have I taken leave this month?"

Butler Chen smiled and added, "I heard that one of the professors is very strict and assigns complicated assignments."

Ji Min grunted coldly.

Despite his sour expression, he didn't seem to mind Lu Ran putting his studies before him.

In Elite Academy's exclusive classroom, Shen Xingran was sitting by the window reading a book.

He sat leisurely with an exquisite attire, appearing like a handsome character card when viewed from outside the window.

Before long, someone would deliberately pass by the window just to catch a glimpse of him.

Shen Xingran paid no attention.

Occasionally, when his gaze met someone else's, he would flash a faint smile.

On the surface, he still seemed to be the beloved campus heartthrob, but Shen Xingran was not in a good mood.

Last night, Shen Xingyu and Madam Shen had an argument downstairs.

Shen Xingran imagined that he would feel panic upon hearing Shen Xingyu ordering him to move downstairs. He expected to be touched by Madam Shen's defense.

However, to his own surprise, he was unexpectedly calm at that moment.

Perhaps all his struggles had been exhausted when he pushed that Young Master Fang into the water.

Shen Xingran was well aware that the situation of the Shen family might not be as rosy as outsiders perceived it to be. From Shen Hongyuan and Shen Xingyu's behavior, he understood how crucial Young Master Fang was to the Shen family.

Shen Xingran had grown up in the Shen household. Even though he always remembered that he was just an adopted son, after more than a decade, he had long become the precious young master of the Shen family, with an unwavering sense of belonging.

Initially, he had also hoped that the banquet would proceed smoothly.

With this thought, Shen Xingran lowered his head to look at the book clasped in his hand.

The scene back then was chaotic.

Everyone was intently watching the pool, where fireworks were about to burst forth.

Young Master Fang had plunged into the water with a resolute splash.

None of them knew that Shen Xingran had struggled for quite some time behind him.

Shen Xingran wasn't even sure what he had been thinking back then.

Creating trouble for Lu Ran was one part of it.

The other part... probably stemmed from the fact that he genuinely disliked Young Master Fang.

Despite not knowing each other beforehand, he had loathed the sight of him the moment they first met.

How could there be someone in this world who was so foolishly indulged?

That was the kind of unruly demeanor that could only be cultivated from being indulgently doted upon by someone.

Yet, despite his recklessness, he still possessed a hint of kindness towards things he disliked.

Shen Xingran couldn't fathom the reason behind it.

It was simply glaring to witness.

Before pushing someone into the water,

He even made sure to time it perfectly, approaching as Lu Ran happened to pass by.

And he didn't forget to smear chocolate cream on his hand beforehand.

But after pushing Young Master Fang down, Shen Xingran was genuinely stunned for a moment.

What was he doing?

Had he just pushed the Shen family, who had raised him, into a pit of fire?

Yet, such panic and regret lasted only an instant.

Soon, tranquility returned.

He rushed to the poolside with a worried expression, just like everyone else, his gaze fixated on Young Master Fang, blending seamlessly into the crowd.

Shen Xingran's gaze shifted towards the window.

He couldn't recall when it had all started.

Perhaps it was when Madam Shen, who doted on him, began suspecting that he was Shen Hongyuan's illegitimate child.

Or perhaps it was during the banquet that welcomed Lu Ran's return, when he stood in a corner, watching.

Watching as Shen Xingzhuo clumsily carried that cardboard box, running around the venue in search of Lu Ran.

Or when he silently waited until late at night after learning of Lu Ran's departure.

The significance of the Shen family in his life had gradually changed.

The classroom door creaked.

Ding Wei opened it and entered, looking disheveled.

Upon seeing him, Shen Xingran reached to close the window beside him.

The person who had been loitering outside immediately wore a look of disappointment.

Shen Xingran smiled at the individual before firmly shutting the window.

He turned to Ding Wei and asked softly, "What's wrong? You look so listless."

"I failed my thesis defense," Ding Wei said with frustration. "Who knew that Lu Ran would actually post the entire experiment process on his Moments."

Shen Xingran's brows knitted together.

But he didn't inquire about Lu Ran; instead, he showed concern, "Then what about your project?"

"No worries, no worries!" Ding Wei waved his hands hastily. "I wasn't too invested in it anyway; I was just messing around."

Saying this, he paused and added, "Lu Ran has been quite concerned about his grades lately. It seems like he wants to enter the Elite Academy."

Shen Xingran was taken aback.

Then, he suddenly felt a urge to laugh.

Lu Ran wanted to enter the Elite Academy?

He really wanted everything.

For over a week, Lu Ran had been busy working on his assignment for Pet Nutrition, even canceling on Ji Min twice in the process. Finally, he completed it.

In the laboratory, people took turns conducting experiments, while Ding Wei wandered around idly.

Lu Ran was not at ease, so he brought his "assignment" back home.

However, upon returning to the Shen residence and entering the corridor, he found that the door to his locked room was open. Servants were moving in and out, carrying items.

Lu Ran furrowed his brow.

He climbed another two steps up the second floor and noticed that the door to the room adjacent to Shen Xingyu's was ajar.

A servant was in the process of carrying his luggage inside.

Lu Ran intercepted the servant, asking, "Who instructed you to move my things?"

The servant respectfully replied, "Young Master One."

Lu Ran raised an eyebrow but didn't comment or show any anger.

It took a while longer before Shen Xingyu returned from work.

He entered the house looking exhausted, his brows knitted together, suggesting that the project he was vying for still wasn't going smoothly.

A servant offered him tea, but Shen Xingyu waved them off without accepting it.

With his coat unbuttoning, he headed straight for his room, eager to take a shower and change clothes to relax.

Arriving at his room, Shen Xingyu cast a glance to the side before unlocking the door.

The adjacent door was ajar, revealing a slender figure inside, busily arranging belongings.

Shen Xingyu's eyes drooped slightly.

The servants' quarters were too cramped, consisting only of a bedroom.

Unlike the rooms on the second floor, each of which was a suite.

Moreover, the room on the east side received sunlight from both sides.

That made sense – it wouldn't do to always reside downstairs.

Loosening his tie, Shen Xingyu pushed open his door and stepped in.

Upon entering, he stood frozen in shock.

The entire room was barren, his possessions that once belonged there vanished without a trace.

Throughout the entire suite, the bathroom door stood ajar, revealing a tray-style dog toilet within. In the small living room, there was a crawl mat covered with various puppy toys. Moving further in... The wardrobe, once filled with haute couture suits, now hung with leashes and dog harnesses, along with little canine outfits. As for the bedroom, the large bed that once belonged to Shen Xingyu now had a dog bed right in the center. Within the dog bed, a tiny yellow puppy slept curled up. Beside the bed stood a phone holder, its camera aimed directly at the puppy on the bed. Shen Xingyu: "..." His temples began to throb in sudden, painful pulses. He grabbed the butler who was about to set up a pet staircase by the bedside, his teeth gritted as he asked through clenched jaws:

"Where are my things?"

His room contained not only personal belongings but also crucial work documents.

The servant, trembling, dared not speak.

At that moment, the door creaked open.

Lu Ran entered with an air of nonchalance.

He pulled out a chair and sat beside Shen Xingyu, responding, "I threw them all out."

Shen Xingyu's face turned ashen.

Lu Ran tried to reassure him, "Don't panic. I didn't just toss them around. I placed everything in the servants' quarters on the first floor for you."

Shen Xingyu took a deep breath.

Despite having a domineering father and an unpredictable mother, he was still the eldest son of the Shen family.

In this life, no one has ever dared to lay a blind eye on his personal belongings.

He cast his gaze downward for a moment, fixating upon the youth seated in the chair.

With controlled anger, Shen Xingyu asked, "Why did you touch my belongings?"

Lu Ran shot him a baffled glance. "Because I need to clear your room for my dog?"

Shen Xingyu narrowed his eyes and asked with greater precision:

"Who allowed you to touch my belongings?"

"Haha, you're quite amusing." Lu Ran gazed at him with a smile. "You permit others to move my things, so why can't I move yours?"

"I did it for your own good," Shen Xingyu said, pressing his forehead.

"I'm also doing this for your own good!" Lu Ran looked at him sincerely. "Living on the first floor is closer to nature; I think you should stay here more often. It's beneficial for your mind."

Shen Xingyu: "..."

He rarely became this enraged.

This was different from being angered by Shen Hongyuan or Madam Shen.

That was a suppressed anger.

Now, it was an anger that threatened to explode within him.

Unfortunately, Shen Xingyu wasn't skilled with words.

After holding back for a while, he could only sternly instruct the servant, "Throw these things out and bring my belongings back."

Just as he finished speaking, he saw Lu Ran tap on the phone holder beside him.

"I'll give you a heads up, I'm currently live streaming. If you want everyone to witness the CEO of the Shen Corporation abusing pets on a live stream, go ahead and throw them."

Shen Xingyu: "…"

Lu Ran had accurately stepped on Shen Xingyu's Achilles heel.

At this crucial juncture, the Shen family truly couldn't afford any negative publicity.

Shen Xingyu held back for a long while.

In the end, he turned around and left the bedroom with a heavy heart.

The servant standing by was dumbfounded.

Wait... did they really give this room to a dog?