Chapter 161

Chapter 161

The male lead's 18th birthday had passed. Some events followed the original plotline, some occurred earlier than planned, while others had already undergone irreversible changes.

Tian Ruan jotted these observations in his notebook, sorting and analyzing: When an event deviates from its original setting, it triggers a butterfly effect, causing subsequent plotlines to shift or rearrange.

However, one main thread remained unchanged—the protagonists' coming-of-age journey and the general direction of the storyline. The antagonist had appeared ahead of schedule, and perhaps an even greater villain would emerge later. The original novel's secondary male character had strayed from the plot, and it was possible another counterpart might take his place.

Tian Ruan truly couldn’t predict what would happen next.

Overthinking left his mind in chaos at night, making it hard to sleep. As he tossed and turned, Yu Jingmo pulled him close and drew him into a tight hug, forcing him to rest.

Half a month passed like this. Tian Ruan took his midterm exams, along with a less common language exam, leaving him completely drained and with no energy to dwell on anything else.

It was then that the antagonist made their move.

A fire broke out at the new handbag factory jointly operated by the Yu and Du families, featured in community news reports. The host reminded the public to be cautious about fire hazards and urged factories to strengthen safety management.

In short, it was a fluff piece that people glanced at and quickly forgot. No one paid it much attention.

Only those within the industry were sent into a frenzy, conducting safety inspections at their own factories to eliminate potential risks. Some were even called in for questioning by authorities, returning on high alert, afraid to miss even the slightest detail.

With two factory fires in succession—though no casualties were reported—Yu Jingmo still received a summons for questioning.

When he mentioned it to Tian Ruan that evening, the latter was startled.

Yu Jingmo took a sip of tea and said calmly, "It’s nothing serious, just a routine procedure."

Tian Ruan eyed him skeptically. "Really not a big deal?"

Yu Jingmo, amused by the young man’s anxious expression, bit back a smile and asked, "If it were serious, what would you do?"

Tian Ruan stated with conviction, "Of course, I’d stand by you side by side, fighting against evil together."

Seeing that he wasn’t joking, Yu Jingmo, who had initially found it funny, suddenly stopped smiling. He poured Tian Ruan a cup of tea and said, "With those words, I have nothing to worry about."

Blushing, Tian Ruan accepted the tea and toasted him dramatically: "Mr. Yu, I’ve got your back!"

Yu Jingmo finally couldn’t hold back his laughter.

"..."

"How were your exams?" Yu Jingmo still found time to ask about his partner's results.

Tian Ruan: "...Fell to third."

Being surpassed by Xi Qin wasn’t entirely unexpected. After all, this guy was also an important supporting character, paving the way for the protagonists' rise to prominence. Naturally, he needed to be impressive enough to highlight their brilliance.

Honestly, after Tian Ruan had ranked second in the grade a few times, Yu Shang’s prestige at Deyin Academy seemed to have diminished... It wasn’t until Xi Qin took back second place that everyone suddenly realized just how formidable Yu Shang truly was.

"It’s fine." Yu Jingmo mussed up his tidy hair with his large hand. "There’s still a chance."

"Mm." Tian Ruan had had too much on his mind lately, which had affected his studies and led to the drop in his grades.

Once Xu Bingyang was dealt with, he’d surely be able to focus better.

The matter wasn’t particularly major, but it wasn’t trivial either—it all depended on how it was handled. The evidence was insufficient, but the Xu family had already been identified as the main focus. Should they wait to gather more proof, or use what they had now to risk mutual damage?

One day, as Tian Ruan returned from school, he spotted an unfamiliar Ferrari parked at the manor gates and asked, "Did we add another car?"

Yu Jingmo glanced at the driver's seat. "It's the Xus'."

"?"

It was indeed Xu Jiankang driving, with Xu Bingyang in the back seat. Tian Ruan got out of the car and was surprised to see the two brothers: "Mr. Yu, you invited them here to get beaten up?"

Xu Jiankang, who was about to speak: "?"

Xu Bingyang, pretending to be frail and delicate: "???"

You invited them here to get beaten up? Would Yu Jingmo really do such a thing??

Yu Jingmo absolutely would. He immediately waved over a dozen bodyguards. "If they walk right into it, why hold back?—Beat them up."

Mao Qi: "Understood."

Da Zhuang clenched his fists and started wrestling with Xu Jiankang, "Hyah! Hah! Take that!"

Xu Bingyang tried to wheel his chair back but was grabbed by Mao Qi. However, Mao Qi hesitated to strike immediately—after all, it was hard to hit a disabled person. Xu Bingyang noticed this, eyes brimming with tears: "Yu Jingmo, how could you do this? What have I done wrong to deserve such treatment?"

Tian Ruan cut to the chase: "Wasn’t it you who stole the bidding project? Didn’t you send people to set the factory on fire? And all those dirty tricks—did you really think the Yu family was stupid enough not to know who was targeting them?"

"I didn’t—"

"Don’t deny it. We’ve already investigated everything."

Xu Bingyang froze. Seeing the fury on Tian Ruan’s face, he suddenly felt a rush like never before—as if he had someone trapped in his palm, watching them struggle helplessly.

Xu Bingyang continued acting: "I don’t know anything. I’m just the neglected youngest son of the Xu family. I only just found out about the terrible things my elder brother did. I came today to apologize to the Yu family and plead for mercy."

Yu Jingmo looked at him coldly. "A man who’d fake being disabled and has no regard for life doesn’t deserve forgiveness."

Xu Bingyang was utterly speechless.

Had Tian Ruan not read the original novel, he might have fallen for Xu Bingyang acting all pitiful. The book mentioned that Xu Bingyang had studied psychology and criminology—quick-witted, with perfect control over his expressions. He had been feigning illness since the age of ten, playing the long game for ten years before striking and seizing the position of family head.

Even within the Xu family, some were still in the dark to this day.

"Yu Jingmo, in your eyes, am I really this kind of person?" A faint smirk played on Xu Bingyang’s lips, though his eyes brimmed with false hurt and feigned tenderness.

Tian Ruan answered for him: "Mr. Xu, you overestimate yourself. You’re beneath contempt."

Xu Bingyang: "..."

After a long pause, a pained grunt escaped him as Xu Jiankang was dragged over by four or five bodyguards and shoved in front of Xu Bingyang.

Xu Bingyang stared at the man whose face was swollen beyond recognition. "...Big brother, is that you?"

Xu Jiankang: "...It’s me."

"How ugly." After saying this, Xu Bingyang let out a crazed laugh. White-knuckling the armrests of his wheelchair, he slowly stood up and locked eyes with Yu Jingmo. "Hahaha, I’ve finally outplayed you, Yu Jingmo."

Yu Jingmo remained unfazed. "It’s too early to say that."

"Maybe it is, but I’ve already taken a bite out of your empire, haven’t I?"

"I control over two hundred companies. The Du family has over six hundred. Are you sure you can win?"

Xu Bingyang hesitated briefly before smirking arrogantly. "The emperor can’t see everything—can he even control what happens domestically?"

Yu Jingmo: "You've thoroughly investigated my family assets, but you probably haven't researched the Du family clearly. With centuries of heritage, they've rooted themselves across Europe and America, even engaging in arms dealing. Do you think their family history could be clean?"

Xu Bingyang's smile faded considerably. "You're bluffing."

"You should have heard of the Du family during your time abroad. Half the university's shareholders back then were from the Du family."

"..."

Yu Jingmo: "I've said my piece. Watch yourself."

Xu Bingyang went pale.

Tian Ruan: "We're not hitting him?"

Yu Jingmo: "He looks no different from having been punched twice already. Besides, violence solves nothing."

Xu Jiankang, bruised and battered: "...So I'm just unlucky?"

Tian Ruan: "Call it punishment for failing to discipline your younger brother."

Xu Jiankang, though burly, drooped his head. "I've got no hold over him. Father forbids it."

Tian Ruan sighed and shook his head. "They say the eldest brother should act as father, yet you can't even manage your own brother."

Yu Jingmo: "I think the same could be said to your elder brother."

Tian Ruan: "...Don't bring me into this. I never grew up with my brother, so I don’t need his discipline. Besides, I'm an adult now—Mr. Yu takes care of me."

"Mm."

The butler: "What a lovely couple the master and young master are~"

The Xu brothers: "..." To hell with your lovey-dovey act.

Yu Jingmo led Tian Ruan into the manor. "Shut the gates and show them out."

The butler bowed. "As you wish."

Turning around, he smiled at the Xu brothers. "Mr. Xu and Mr. Xu, please take your leave."

Xu Bingyang bit his lip, staring daggers at the retreating figures gradually disappearing among the flowers and trees before entering the main residence. He sneered, "In the end, Yu Jingmo won't dirty his hands with me."

The butler: "Mr. Yu has always been principled. Even if an old classmate betrayed him, he wouldn’t resort to violence."

"Whatever."

"This way."

Inside the main residence, Tian Ruan was still fuming. "That Xu Bingyang came asking for a beating."

Yu Jingmo remained indifferent. "Let your brother handle it."

"Hopefully."

Yu Jingmo raised a hand to smooth the frown between Tian Ruan’s brows. "Worrying will give you wrinkles."

Tian Ruan quickly relaxed his expression. "I'm just nineteen... You're the old one at thirty-one."

Yu Jingmo arched an eyebrow. "Your point?"

"You look about the same age as me."

"Smooth talker."

Tian Ruan flashed a charming smile. He was getting better at sweet-talking these days. Even if it was flattery, as long as it worked, it was good flattery.

Besides, Tian Ruan genuinely couldn’t tell Yu Jingmo was thirty-one. He looked no older than mid-twenties, and his bedroom stamina was downright formidable. Every Sunday they shared a bed meant marathon sessions all night.

And Yu Jingmo didn’t even need supplements—his unstoppable energy kept wearing Tian Ruan out.

"Still over two months until your summer break," Yu Jingmo suddenly remarked.

Tian Ruan: "? What do you mean, ‘just summer break?’ Time’s slipping away like crazy—how terrifying."

"What’s so terrifying?"

"I’m about to be a high school senior again!"

"So what?"

"Mr. Yu, have you never endured the rat-race hell of Chinese senior year?"

Yu Jingmo said, "At Deyin, it’s different. Most seniors take other paths—studying abroad or joining family businesses. The degree’s just for show."

"...Will Yu Shang do the same?"

"I’m sending him abroad second semester. He’ll skip the gaokao," Yu Jingmo replied. "You could too, if you wanted."

For a heartbeat, Tian Ruan wavered. Then he shook his head firmly. "No. I’m taking it."

Last life, he’d drowned right before the gaokao. This time, he *had* to take it—or he’d regret it forever. Even if it was a brutal slog, even if he was just one fish in a sea of millions, he’d push through no matter what.