Chapter 54

Chapter 54

Blind student, you've cracked the case.

Tian Ruan thought to himself, quickly regaining his composure from his initial panic like an amateur sleuth: "This is simple. Today, only Lu Qiuyan wasn't feeling well. Yu Shang took Lu Qiuyan home but didn’t say whose home. Therefore, the boy Yu Shang brought back must be Lu Qiuyan."

Yu Jingmo placed his hands under the automatic sensor faucet. Warm water cascaded over his clean, slender fingers, creating fine droplets. He squeezed out a dollop of pearly foaming hand soap, spreading it evenly over every inch of exposed skin on his hands.

Tian Ruan forgot to wash his own hands, his gaze fixated on Yu Jingmo’s fingers—so large they could probably cup his entire butt in his hands… Wait, no.

"That makes sense," Yu Jingmo said.

Tian Ruan: "…" What did I just say again?

Yu Jingmo squirted a blob of soap foam onto Tian Ruan’s hands. "Did the great detective lose signal?"

Tian Ruan mechanically rubbed his fingers together, his mind still wandering (and wondering wildly) until he finished washing his hands. Suddenly snapping back to reality, he said, "I’ll go call Yu Shang and Lu Qiuyan for dinner. After we eat, we can all do homework together."

"Mm."

Seeing that Yu Jingmo wasn’t pressing the matter, Tian Ruan assumed he had gotten away with it and bounded off happily to find Yu Shang and Lu Qiuyan.

Though Yu Shang’s annex was connected to the main mansion, it stood as its own separate structure with its own living room, kitchen, and equally lavish decor. The only difference was that it was slightly smaller.

What Tian Ruan envied most were the display shelves lining the floors from the first to the second level, showcasing the various vases Yu Shang had collected since childhood—mostly vases: plum vases (a traditional Chinese vase shape), jade pot spring vases (known for their elegant curves), celestial globe vases (large and round), phoenix-tail vases (with flared rims), blue-and-white porcelain vases, famille rose porcelain vases... over a thousand in total.

If worst came to worst, these antique vases alone could bankroll their comeback.

More than just personal taste, Yu Shang likely valued these vases more for their collectible worth.

Like Yu Jingmo, Yu Shang was a born businessman.

Businessmen prioritize profit over sentiment, yet Yu Shang was a hopeless romantic at heart. The pure, fervent love of his youth had never faded, even years later.

Having seen this love story unfold firsthand, Tian Ruan knocked on Yu Shang’s door. "Hey lovebirds~ Dinner's ready~"

Silence from inside.

A moment later, the door opened, revealing Yu Shang’s cold expression. "Stop talking nonsense," Yu Shang said coldly.

Tian Ruan peeked around curiously. "Where’s Lu Qiuyan?"

"He’s in the guest room."

Instantly losing interest in Yu Shang’s room, Tian Ruan frowned. "Why is he in the guest room? What's wrong, losing your touch?"

Yu Shang’s eye twitched. He shut the door and headed to the guest room, rapping lightly on the door.

Lu Qiuyan opened it, looking thoroughly worn out. He had already taken off his school uniform, leaving him in a matching wool vest and dress shirt. "Time for dinner?"

"Mm."

Lu Qiuyan frowned. "I'm already intruding by staying over. I'll skip dinner."

Tian Ruan quickly interjected, "Just put your clothes back on. Get some warm food in you, take a bath, and sleep it away. You’ll feel better when you wake up."

"…Alright." Lu Qiuyan didn’t refuse again, dragging his feet as he dressed.

After all, it would be rude to stay at someone's place without at least showing your face to the host.

The three headed downstairs to the main residence.

Lu Qiuyan greeted Yu Jingmo, saying, "Uncle, pardon the disturbance."

Yu Jingmo acknowledged with a noncommittal hum and said nothing else.

Dinner was served shortly after. Liu Ma, clued in by the butler, refrained from making any more remarks about the "young master's sweetheart" and instead warmly called out, "Young Master Lu, come eat."

Lu Qiuyan replied, "Please don't call me that, ma'am."

Once everyone else had taken their seats, Lu Qiuyan discreetly took a seat next to Yu Shang.

The Yu family observed mealtime decorum, though conversation wasn’t strictly forbidden. Tian Ruan used serving chopsticks to serve Lu Qiuyan some dishes. "Eat up," he said.

"Thank you," Lu Qiuyan responded.

Tian Ruan wasn't imagining it—Lu Qiuyan had become much more reserved and polite since arriving here, his manners refined… After all, he had once been a spoiled rich kid.

From a pampered prince to someone who now had to mind his words and actions even as a guest, Tian Ruan clutched his chest.

Yu Jingmo noticed and asked, "What’s wrong?"

"My heart hurts (for him)," Tian Ruan replied.

"?"

The butler immediately said, "Madam, steady now! I’ll call Dr. Zhou!" The Yu family’s private physician, surnamed Zhou, was a cut above the school clinic’s doctors and quite capable of treating minor injuries or illnesses.

Tian Ruan raised a hand to stop him. "I’m fine. I just feel bad seeing Lu Qiuyan eat so little."

Lu Qiuyan: "…" For fuck's sake, leave me out of this.

Yu Jingmo said coolly, "If you feel bad, then serve your classmate more."

Tian Ruan dutifully piled a few more dishes onto Lu Qiuyan’s bowl. "Eat more. Don’t go hungry."

Lu Qiuyan tightened his grip on his chopsticks. "Thanks, auntie."

Tian Ruan: "…………It's bro! Call me bro!"

Lu Qiuyan ignored him and continued eating.

Yu Shang smirked slightly.

Tian Ruan, fuming, took the chicken leg back from Lu Qiuyan’s bowl. "No calling me bro? Then no chicken leg for you."

Lu Qiuyan calmly picked up another chicken leg himself. "I can serve myself."

"…"

By the end of the meal, Tian Ruan had eaten the least—but he was too pissed to eat.

Perhaps noticing his light appetite, Liu Ma made sure to prepare extra fruit for him after dinner, each cream strawberry as large as an egg.

Tian Ruan nibbled on strawberries while doing homework with Lu Qiuyan. As for Yu Shang, the protagonist had already wrapped up all his assignments—naturally.

Tian Ruan finished first. Lu Qiuyan, clearly exhausted, was struggling to keep his eyes open, looking as if he might fall asleep any second.

"Lu Qiuyan, I’ll help you with your homework," Tian Ruan said.

Lu Qiuyan: "Huh? Okay."

As he spoke, he stood up, groggy, and asked Yu Shang, "Can I go to sleep now?"

Yu Shang wasn’t thrilled with his approach—you shouldn’t have someone else do your homework—but seeing how exhausted he was, he relented. "Fine."

Lu Qiuyan followed Yu Shang to the guest room to sleep.

Tian Ruan tried to mimic Lu Qiuyan’s handwriting as he worked on the problems.

Yu Jingmo studied him for a moment before asking, "Why are you so nice to Lu Qiuyan?"

"Huh?"

"You treat him… differently."

Realizing what Yu Jingmo meant, Tian Ruan’s goosebumps rose. Yu Jingmo was always observant, and if he said this, it meant he was certain—Tian Ruan did treat Lu Qiuyan in a special way.

Not like an ordinary classmate, friend, or family member, but something more.

Tian Ruan reflected—just how obvious had he been?

Yu Jingmo reached out and pinched his soft, round cheek. "Speak."

Tian Ruan’s fair skin blushed easily, leaving a rosy mark. His eyes flickered guiltily toward Yu Jingmo, his lips still shiny from the strawberries.

As if finding an answer, Tian Ruan perked up with an "Oh" and said, "No matter how special Lu Qiuyan is, he’ll never be as special as you."

The moment the words left his mouth, he clearly saw a flicker of light in Yu Jingmo’s deep, dark eyes. The corners of his lips curved slightly, and he seemed to soften.

"Is that so?" Yu Jingmo asked, his breath warm like morning mist, brushing Tian Ruan’s face.

For a moment, Tian Ruan heard his own heartbeat and instinctively pressed a hand to his chest.

The unfairly handsome man before him lowered his thick lashes. "What, worrying about someone again?"

"...No."

It wasn’t worry—it was something he couldn’t put into words.

Yu Jingmo stayed with him until all the homework was finished.

The next day, Tian Ruan did a double take when he saw Lu Qiuyan—because Lu Qiuyan’s school uniform was a size too big, making him seem scrawny.

His eyes brimmed with tears. "Just one night, and you’ve wasted away overnight?"

Lu Qiuyan: "?"

Lu Qiuyan glanced down at his uniform. "This is Yu Shang’s. He lent it to me for the day."

Tian Ruan: "Oh?"

The tears dried up instantly.

For breakfast, there was douhua (a silky tofu pudding). Tian Ruan happily devoured two bowls—one sweet, one savory.

After breakfast, they headed to school together. Halfway there, Tian Ruan hopped off to walk some of it, while Lu Qiuyan insisted on lugging his bike alongside him. Yu Jingmo’s car drove ahead, while Yu Shang’s kept a leisurely distance.

Honk! Honk! A car honked from behind.

Lu Qiuyan shouted, "Go already!"

After getting scolded twice by the driver behind, Yu Shang's car drove off.

Lu Qiuyan: "Asking for a scolding."

Tian Ruan: "The MC's roast hits hardest."

This area had many schools—aside from Deyin Middle and High School, there were also Su City Affiliated High School, Su City Second High School, and Su City XX High School. As a result, the streets were crowded with students sporting different uniforms.

Without a doubt, Deyin's uniforms were the best-looking, with the most variety and stood out the most.

At least seven or eight other students were staring at Tian Ruan and Lu Qiuyan when a few boys swaggered over in a group. "Hey, prep-school princes."

Lu Qiuyan didn’t even turn his head, but Tian Ruan glanced back. "Calling us?"

"Who else?" The boys eyed Lu Qiuyan. "You’re Lu Qiuyan, right? The one whose family went bankrupt but still clings to Deyin?"

Tian Ruan: "...Welcome to your doom."

Lu Qiuyan ignored them, pushing his bike alongside Tian Ruan.

One of the boys suddenly kicked the bike’s rear wheel, making it wobble. Lu Qiuyan barely steadied it before stopping and glaring coldly at them.

"What? This piece of junk? I could buy one with my allowance. Hilarious—how did someone like you even get into Deyin? Must’ve had connections."

Lu Qiuyan leaned his bike against a plane tree on the sidewalk and said to Tian Ruan, "Back up."

Tian Ruan clutched his backpack straps and bolted five feet back. "Lu Qiuyan, wreck them!"

The boys: "?"

Lu Qiuyan cracked his knuckles, rolled his shoulders, and dropped them one punch each.

Students behind them stopped and detoured.

Tian Ruan clapped like a seal. "So awesome!"

The boys didn’t dare say another word, booking it like scared rats.

Lu Qiuyan pushed his bike, looking bored. "Losers. Bailed before the fun started."

Tian Ruan counted his blessings again that he and Lu Qiuyan were friends. Sidekick life had perks!

But before they reached Deyin, they ran into another scene—or a mess.

The road ahead was blocked by five private cars, the most luxurious being a Cinderella-wannabe RV drowning in pink tulle and adorned with flowers. The surrounding cars were similarly decorated.

Could’ve fooled anyone—total wedding vibes.

"Are they waiting to throw candy?" Tian Ruan gawked at the pumpkin RV.

But beside it stood a girl in a Deyin uniform, facing a tall boy.

Girl: "Hai Chao, what’s not to like? Why reject me like this?"

The boy replied impatiently, "You’re too childish. And you’re flat as an airport."

"..." It took the girl a moment to process the insult before her face flushed with anger. "You’re so mean! I could pay your way to Deyin High—how’s this not a sweet deal?"

Hai Chao: "Can't reason with you. Scram, the traffic police are coming."

Sure enough, the traffic police arrived on motorcycles, breaking up the crowd. "Move along, nothing to see here. Everyone, clear out."

Lu Qiuyan grabbed Tian Ruan, ready to leave.

Tian Ruan stood too stunned to move, rooted to the spot.

"?" Lu Qiuyan swung his long leg over the bicycle. "Get on."

Tian Ruan glanced at the girl and Hai Chao.

Hai Chao also looked back, "..."

Lu Qiuyan urged, "Class starts in five."

Tian Ruan immediately jumped onto the bicycle’s rear seat.

With a push of the pedal, the chain grinding, Lu Qiuyan took off like a shot, carrying Tian Ruan away.

Tian Ruan couldn’t help but look back. The five private cars slowly started moving and soon caught up. The pumpkin-shaped RV also began to drive off, leaving Hai Chao stranded in the middle of the road, being questioned by the traffic police.

...What on earth was all that about?

But now that he thought about it, this scene did seem familiar from the original novel—the rich girl from Deyin had taken a liking to Hai Chao, the talented student from the affiliated high school. After her passionate pursuit was rejected, she used her connections to look into Hai Chao's past, causing trouble for the Yu family and ultimately revealing Hai Chao’s true origins.

Tian Ruan sighed inwardly and texted Yu Jingmo: *Rich people's drama.*

Yu Jingmo: *Stay out of it and you'll be fine.*

Tian Ruan: ...