Chapter 143

Chapter 143

The next day was a holiday, giving Tian Ruan every reason to laze in bed—he’d been kept up most of the night by Yu Jingmo.

Yu Jingmo, on the other hand, was dressed impeccably and left early for work. Before heading out, he kissed Tian Ruan’s forehead and said, “If you can get up by noon, come find me at the company.”

Tian Ruan pouted. “To get fried by you?”

Yu Jingmo chuckled. “No frying today. You need a breather. Otherwise, you’ll bitch at me—then what if you refuse to let me ‘fry’ you later?”

“Mhm,” Tian Ruan slurred drowsily. “Glad you’ve got some conscience.”

When he woke up later, Tian Ruan thought: *I’m the one with a conscience—how did I get talked into this so easily?*

By ten in the morning, staying in bed any longer would look weird.

Tian Ruan scrambled up, ignoring the soreness in *that* place, then rushed through washing his face, brushing his teeth, and getting dressed. He went downstairs for a late breakfast and asked the butler, “Where are Yu Shang and Lu Qiuyan?”

The butler grinned. “The young master went to the hospital for a brain check-up, and Mr. Lu went along.”

“Oh.”

Suddenly, the sound of a car pulling into the courtyard echoed outside. The butler stepped out to greet them. “The young master’s back.”

Tian Ruan walked out with two steamed buns stuffed in his cheeks. “Hey kid, get your dick checked?”

Lu Qiuyan eyed Yu Shang’s crotch at that. “Dick checked?”

Yu Shang: “…”

Tian Ruan blinked innocently. “You were supposed to test your brain—why’d you check your dick?”

A vein throbbed in Yu Shang’s forehead. “I didn’t.”

“Oh. Then what’s your IQ?”

“A hundred eighty.”

Tian Ruan shot him a jealous glare. *Of course he’s the protagonist gong of this world—even if not the absolute genius type, he’s still top-tier, way smarter than a regular top student like me.*

Tian Ruan asked, “Lu Qiuyan, did you get tested?”

Lu Qiuyan: “I didn’t check my dick.”

Tian Ruan: “…I meant your brain.”

Lu Qiuyan: “Oh, that too. One-thirty.”

Tian Ruan gasped. “That low??”

Lu Qiuyan: “…The fuck? Most people barely crack a hundred. One-thirty’s damn smart. Yu Shang might have an IQ of a hundred eighty, but that’s just his learning ability—in other stuff, I’ve got him beat.”

Tian Ruan nodded. “True enough.”

Yu Shang massaged his forehead and went off to change clothes. When he came back out, he said, “I’m going to the suburban construction site.”

Tian Ruan frowned. “Why?”

**REVISED TRANSLATION:**

"Site visit." As the heir to the Yu family, Yu Shang had turned eighteen this year. After celebrating his birthday, he would assume partial control of the company and was currently in an internship period, with weekend assignments already arranged.

Naturally, Lu Qiuyan accompanied them as well.

Tian Ruan hesitated. He wanted to join the main couple, but Yu Jingmo had asked him to go to the Group—the family conglomerate.

He called Yu Jingmo to explain the situation and cautiously asked, “Can I come over in the afternoon?”

Yu Jingmo replied calmly, “Sure.”

So Tian Ruan happily joined the main couple in the same car, heading out to the suburban construction site.

Yu Jingmo had previously mentioned a development project in the suburbs, but Tian Ruan was surprised that construction had already begun. He couldn’t help but admire the speed and asked a few more questions.

The suburban development was a large-scale community featuring a plaza, parks, shopping malls, cinemas, resort villas, and recreational facilities—an upscale residential complex.

While construction was ongoing, tenant leasing was also underway, with well-known brands coming to inspect the premises.

For such a massive project, aside from the general contractor and several partners, Dongqing Group itself needed to supervise it. Yu Shang, the "young master," personally attending served as a walking advertisement for potential tenants.

A project so heavily prioritized by Dongqing Group was naturally trustworthy.

Some established businesses had already signed contracts, simply waiting for the community’s completion to move in.

Tian Ruan’s head spun with all the information; his mind was in knots. He decided memorizing vocabulary was much easier.

Yu Shang, wearing a bandage, met with several businessmen in the pre-built reception building. They all shook hands politely, though their eyes kept drifting toward the young heir’s injury…

“What happened to Young Master Yu’s head?” one businessman asked.

As Yu Shang gradually took over the Yu family business, everyone knew Yu Jingmo had an outstanding only son. While they used to refer to him as “your son,” addressing him now as “Young Master Yu” showed greater respect.

Yu Shang glanced at Lu Qiuyan. “Mugged on the sidewalk.”

Lu Qiuyan: “….”

Businessman: “There’s still mugging in Su City? In a society governed by law, how audacious!”

Tian Ruan: “Yeah, the robber was a heartbreaker targeting young men.”

Businessman: “?”

Yu Shang: “Thank you all for coming. Let’s have some tea, then I’ll show you around.”

“Wonderful. Is this Baihao Yinzhen? It looks exquisite.”

“Yes. Baihao Yinzhen is often referred to as the ‘queen of teas.’”

Hearing the word “queen,” the businessmen leaned in with interest. “We heard that Mr. Yu’s secretary, Annie, resembles this Baihao Yinzhen.”

Tian Ruan couldn’t stand these older businessmen objectifying a woman and interrupted, “Annie isn’t that fragile. If anything, she’s a rose with thorns—definitely not someone just anyone can get close to.”

The businessmen looked at him and chuckled. “Now you’re an expert on women too?”

Tian Ruan: “….”

He glanced down at his hoodie, jeans, sneakers, and puffer jacket. Without Yu Jingmo choosing his clothes, he looked like he belonged in a classroom. Lu Qiuyan wasn’t any different, radiating a rebellious teenage vibe. Only Yu Shang dressed like an adult, projecting maturity.

Yu Shang glanced at Tian Ruan and said to the executives, "Let me introduce—this is my dad."

The executives' expressions froze in shock, their astonishment plain on their faces. "Young Yu isn't joking, are you?"

"Of course it's true."

"..."

They all knew that Yu Jingmo had married a wife about his son's age, but they'd assumed this "young father" would be different—after all, there was a three-year gap between him and the adopted son, so he should look more mature.

They never expected him to be even younger, looking like a kid.

The executives were dumbfounded, barely managing to hold back their laughter as they mumbled compliments: "Mr. Yu is truly impressive—young and successful at such an early age..."

Tian Ruan cut them off. "I know I'm young, gentlemen. No need to be polite—just enjoy yourselves."

"..."

After drinking tea and eating osmanthus cakes, Yu Shang took them on a tour around the place. Don't underestimate this casual walk—it was quite different from seeing the 3D models. There were always unexpected "surprises."

Like one executive falling in love with a house and buying it on the spot.

Or another, so enchanted by the scenery, wanting to move in right then and there.

And then came the robbery—

Tian Ruan and Lu Qiuyan sat at the back of the sightseeing vehicle, sheltering from the wind, watching the executives endure the cold while praising the construction and rockery. They couldn’t help wondering how these men handled the cold without complaint, their faces seemingly immune to frostbite.

When the vehicle finally stopped, Tian Ruan exhaled in relief. "I’d rather walk."

Then came a gruff voice from ahead: "This is our turf, our road! If you wanna pass, pay up!"

"?"

Tian Ruan stretched his neck and saw five or six masked men.

"..."

The executives panicked. "What’s going on? Why are there robbers here?"

Tian Ruan muttered, "Yu Linluo again, seriously?"

Yu Shang looked equally speechless. He simply said to the masked figures, "Get lost."

Masked men: "Pay up!"

Yu Shang clapped his hands. "Guards."

Masked men: "Click click click! They’re not with you here!"

"..."

"Empty your pockets now!"

Tian Ruan fished in his pockets and tossed a handful of coins onto the ground. "Here."

The masked men were furious. "You mocking us?! Wait—aren’t you the wheelchair guy from that day? You’re the uncle!"

Tian Ruan shrugged. "Call me 'uncle,' and you can keep the change."

"Today we're really here to beat you up! Eat this!" The masked men yelled wildly as they lunged forward.

Tian Ruan didn’t move.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Lu Qiuyan sent them flying with a kick each.

The executives were stunned.

Tian Ruan clapped his hands. "Who needs bodyguards when I’ve got Lu Qiuyan, hahahaha!"

Lu Qiuyan stood on the ground, clapping his hands clean. "A bunch of pushovers."

Suddenly, a masked man darted out from under the sightseeing car, swinging a dagger at Tian Ruan.

"Tian Ruan!"

Tian Ruan leaned back, lifting a leg to kick the man’s wrist. The dagger clattered to the ground. Grabbing the man’s arm, he used the momentum to flip up and deliver a spinning kick—"Ha!"

Tian Ruan stomped hard on the masked man whose face was now all messed up, jumping like a kid on a pogo stick until the man passed out.

With one down, he hopped onto another. "Woo-hoo!"

Like a kid on a sugar rush, he bounced from one to another, finally leaping straight into the arms of the arriving Yu Jingmo.

Tian Ruan whimpered pitifully, "Mr. Yuuuu, save meee~"

Everyone: "..."