Chapter 24

Chapter 24

“Host…”

On the way to Jian Yi, 996 couldn't help but interject, “If Jian Yi truly transfers to Qichen, your role-playing might be at risk.”

“After all, you haven’t been back with the Guan family for long, but you’ve lived with Jian Yi for over a decade.”

“He’s probably the one who knows you best…”

“Lately, our task energy gauge has been filling so slowly…”

Hearing this, Shen Ju couldn't help but waver.

He had been so thrilled when Qin Suxi mentioned Jian Yi’s willingness to transfer that he hadn’t considered the implications.

But character portrayal was paramount.

996 needed him as a cog to propel the “plot” forward, and he, in turn, needed the rewards that came with a full task energy gauge.

He needed—

Having rushed out of Yude, he quickly reached the familiar small alley.

And Shen Ju soon spotted Jian Yi, cornered by Ma Rui and his group.

He almost immediately cried out.

Then he saw the injuries on Jian Yi’s face, his disheveled clothes, his backpack tossed on the ground with its contents strewn everywhere, some books even trampled…

The injuries on his face were clearly not recent.

Jian Yi had lied to him.

He’d been targeted by Ma Rui long before!

“Ge.”

Shen Ju’s voice tightened, an immediate thought flashing through his mind: Was it because of him?

Because he had made Ma Rui lose face at the basketball court, Ma Rui was now taking revenge on Jian Yi?!

Shen Ju’s fists clenched instantly.

His gaze fixed on Jian Yi’s left sleeve, which was being twisted like a toy, the fabric taut, accentuating the missing stump at the end—a deliberate act, clearly.

“Bro 996.”

Shen Ju took a deep breath, his voice heavy: “Jian Yi must transfer schools.”

“If he stays here and gets bullied, then how can I focus on my missions—”

“Shen Ju?! What are you doing here?!”

Jian Yi finally snapped back to reality, his face paling.

It wasn't that he doubted Shen Ju's ability to handle Ma Rui and the others; he simply didn't want Shen Ju to know about any of this!

Now standing face to face, with Ma Rui and the others between them, Shen Ju’s expression shifted from anger to a hint of hurt—because Jian Yi had lied, hidden things, and hadn’t told him! His face set, he rolled up his sleeves and stepped forward. The Guan family didn’t know it, but he was actually quite good at fighting, especially against bullies like these!

Ma Rui’s face also changed; he clearly hadn't expected Shen Ju to appear out of nowhere.

Though he’d used Shen Ju to threaten Jian Yi, Ma Rui never actually wanted things to escalate in front of him.

Besides, Shen Ju wasn't as easy to deal with as Jian Yi.

Watching Shen Ju advance—

Ma Rui’s expression hardened.

The next second, the sound of police sirens abruptly broke the silence of the alley.

Jian Yi pinched the bridge of his nose and said, “I already called the police a while ago.”

“Don’t you know to call the police when you’re in trouble?”

“Huh?”

Shen Ju froze, blinking.

The police arrived quickly, giving Ma Rui and the others no time to escape.

But after a moment of panic, they puffed themselves up and “pulled themselves together,” thinking nothing much would happen—they were still students, after all. At most, they’d get a lecture and be let go. Besides, they could all coordinate their stories: they were just talking to Jian Yi. There were no surveillance cameras in this alley, no bystanders—who could testify for Jian Yi?

Just as the police were about to take them to the station for statements, Jian Yi suddenly spoke up:

“Wait, please.”

Jian Yi walked over to a nearby trash can, retrieved a phone from it, and held it up: “This is evidence of them extorting and threatening me. The amount involved is over 5,000 yuan.”

“That meets the threshold for extortion charges, doesn’t it? I want to press criminal charges.”

“Also…”

Jian Yi calmly extended his left arm to the two officers: “Officers, I’m disabled. They already extorted me once yesterday. I request a medical examination for injuries.”

At that, the two officers’ expressions changed noticeably.

Their gazes at Ma Rui and the others grew sharper.

Before arriving, they’d thought it was just a minor scuffle, but it turned out to be something far more serious.

These students nowadays are getting increasingly audacious!

Truly, ignorance is bliss!

*Click—*

Ma Rui and the others were handcuffed.

“Come on, you’re coming to the station.”

“Also, if necessary, you can notify your parents or someone to come.”

............

Shen Ju followed Jian Yi to the police station.

The whole way, he kept glancing at Jian Yi, but whenever Jian Yi looked back, he turned away, acting as if he wanted nothing to do with him.

Jian Yi ignored him too.

Upon arriving at the police station, Ma Rui and the others went pale.

The situation seemed different from what they had expected, especially after Jian Yi pulled out his phone and said what he did. They began to realize that this wasn't as simple as they had thought.

Especially after being interrogated at the station, some of them couldn't take it and started crying, asking to call their parents.

This upset spread to the others as well.

Even Ma Rui was having a hard time.

He couldn't understand how his attempt to just teach Jian Yi a lesson had gotten this bad?!

In other words, he might face jail time?!

How did it come to this?!

At this point, Ma Rui also couldn't take it any longer and immediately called his parents.

As for the sheer panic and devastation the parents felt upon receiving the calls, that’s another story. Not long after Shen Ju followed Jian Yi to the police station, Qin Suxi hurried over as well. Surprisingly, Guan Lifeng joined her—after Qin Suxi received Shen Ju’s message, she finished handling Jian Yi’s transfer paperwork and, when Shen Ju didn’t come back, quickly messaged him to ask what was going on.

Shen Ju, who was in the police car on the way to the station, explained the situation.

Qin Suxi was devastated—

How did her child end up at the police station just from being out?!

After sharing the news in a group chat, she immediately got Guan Lifeng to come along.

No matter what had happened or why, they needed to stand up for Shen Ju.

However, upon arriving at the station, they realized there wasn't much they needed to do. Jian Yi had everything under control, with clear evidence that was enough to teach the offending kids a lesson. The only issue was that after the parents of the other kids arrived, some became unreasonable, trying to push Jian Yi into letting the matter slide—using both gentle and harsh ways—even before Qin Suxi and Guan Lifeng showed up.

This was especially true of Ma Rui’s mother.

She tried both guilt-tripping and pressuring, on one hand ashamed that her son had done such a thing, on the other hand mad that Jian Yi wasn’t letting it go. She tried to use their history as neighbors to get Jian Yi to let it go, without even suggesting an apology or settling this privately from Ma Rui. Noticing that only Shen Ju was by Jian Yi’s side, she implied that since Jian Yi wasn’t hard up for money, why bother making a big deal out of it?

Shen Ju was almost too angry for words: “Whether we lack money or not is separate from whether this is extortion, right? What does our financial situation have to do with you?”

“If you truly value neighborly ties, you should keep your son in line. If you don’t handle this seriously now, he might do worse things in the future. After all, having a son with a criminal record isn’t something to be proud of!”

It wasn’t as if he didn’t know what people in the neighborhood said about Jian Yi behind his back.

He was well aware of the nasty comments, especially those whispered in private.

Particularly among those living in the same compound, where the children were around the same age and attended the same high school, the academic gap was stark. Behind closed doors, the talk was even nastier.

On the surface, they used Jian Yi as an example to educate their own children, but in reality, they looked down on him, believing that despite his academic achievements, his physical limitations would hinder his future prospects.

The same went for Shen Ju.

They said he was the death of his parents, that he was an orphan and a burden.

Sometimes, they even said it in front of Xu Ru: “Oh, you still have to raise your sister’s child? It must have been so hard on you all these years. Why not send him to his father’s side?”

But his father’s family didn’t want him.

Only Xu Ru took him in and raised him.

Shen Ju remembered all of this. So even though Xu Ru now had her hang-ups and couldn’t let go of certain things, the fact remained that she had raised him all these years. He was grateful.

Now, seeing these people’s undisguised attitudes, Shen Ju stopped holding back.

He fired back without holding back.

So when Qin Suxi and Guan Lifeng arrived, they saw the child who often could barely act tough in front of them—sometimes even on the verge of exposing his vulnerabilities—now facing others, on a roll, his face flushed red, going off on one after another, looking both worked up and oddly endearing.

But no matter how sharp-tongued he was, he was still a child. Ultimately, the adults held the advantage due to their age, and the parents knew how to pressure them.

Even Jian Yi was restraining himself, because Ma Rui’s mother had a point: they were neighbors, living in the same compound, and would inevitably run into each other. If he refused to budge, even if the two families cut ties, living under the “same roof” meant conflicts were hard to avoid. Even if they didn’t seek trouble, trouble might find them.

This was a situation that could lead to lasting enmity.

Unless…

There was something that could suppress them, making them afraid to cause trouble.

Just as Jian Yi was pondering what to do, Qin Suxi and Guan Lifeng appeared. He immediately tensed up, glanced at them, then looked at Shen Ju.

That little chatterbox Shen Ju was still going!

He had his back to them and didn’t even realize his parents had arrived!

It was too late to signal him now…

“Uncle, Auntie,” Jian Yi stood up.

Shen Ju’s voice cut off abruptly. He turned around sharply, only then realizing that Qin Suxi and Guan Lifeng had arrived.

Jian Yi was worried.

He worried about how these two would view Shen Ju.

He knew the Guan family had deep roots, belonging to a completely different social class from theirs—something evident just from Qin Suxi and Guan Lifeng’s attire and demeanor.

The moment the two appeared at the station, without saying a word, the parents of Ma Rui and the others visibly changed their expressions, some openly, others subtly. Moreover, Qin Suxi and Guan Lifeng had brought a lawyer with them—dressed in a suit and carrying a briefcase. The other parents had never seen such a scene and instinctively fell silent, exchanging uneasy glances, unsure what to do next.

Qin Suxi went straight to Shen Ju and Jian Yi, asking if they were okay. Noticing the injuries on Jian Yi’s face, she suggested taking him to the hospital later.

Just like when she had come to their home to pick up Shen Ju, even if her emotions were turbulent, she maintained her composure and manners, every word and action reflecting her upbringing.

But Jian Yi couldn’t help worrying whether they truly cared for Shen Ju.

So he didn’t want their family to disturb Shen Ju further.

Since they were now separate families, it was better to keep things clear.

Thus, after Qin Suxi finished speaking, Jian Yi politely thanked her but declined.

Besides, these minor injuries didn’t require a hospital visit.

What mattered most now was resolving the situation.

“Leave this to us adults. It’s not something for kids to handle.”

Every time Qin Suxi saw Jian Yi, she couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. This child was far too mature for his age, yet also somewhat stubborn.

“Mom, then you and Dad help us.”

Shen Ju stepped forward and took Qin Suxi’s hand, shaking it stiffly with a kind of “borrowing power from the tiger” demeanor, and “trying his best” to show that he was a grateful person. After all, he had lived in Jian Yi’s home for over a decade, and now that Jian Yi was in trouble, he naturally couldn’t stand by idly. That strained “performance” came off as rather exaggerated.

996 couldn’t help but remark: “Host, you don’t even need my reminders anymore.”

Shen Ju: “Yeah, I know—now’s the perfect time for acting like a dog relying on its master’s power!”

996: “…You really didn’t have to put it that way.”

Guan Lifeng turned his head and coughed lightly, signaling the lawyer behind him to step forward.

“Everyone, if there’s anything to discuss, you can talk to me.”

Perhaps the following conversation wasn’t suitable for Shen Ju and Jian Yi to hear, as the lawyer specifically “asked” the parents to step aside to talk. It only took about ten minutes, and no one knew exactly what was discussed, but once the conversation ended, the parents all looked crestfallen. Some even wore expressions of fear and anger, though this time the anger was directed at their own children.

When Ma Rui saw his mother come out, he opened his mouth and just called out, “Mom—”

*Smack!*

A stinging slap landed across his face.

“Look what you’ve done!”

Ma Rui’s mother, now stern-faced and severe, had completely changed from her earlier demeanor. She pressed Ma Rui to apologize to Jian Yi, acting meek and humble, her face flushed crimson.

She didn’t bring up settling this privately anymore.

She only said that Ma Rui had done wrong and should face whatever punishment he deserved.

Ma Rui’s face finally showed sheer panic and fear. His anxiety, which had been building since earlier, now reached its peak. He couldn’t understand how things had gotten to this point! Especially after Qin Suxi and Guan Lifeng showed up, even bringing their lawyer—he was completely terrified and visibly trembling.

But since his mother was still standing up for him, he managed to keep it together.

And now…

Watching his mother back down, Ma Rui finally realized that many things weren’t as simple as he had thought…

He regretted it!

He really regretted it…

He shouldn’t have provoked Jian Yi.

And he definitely shouldn’t have messed with Shen Ju—

Shen Ju was no longer the poor student who had lived in the same alleyway with him for over a decade. He now had status and backing, set apart from them now… Even if it was just about Jian Yi, as soon as Shen Ju’s parents showed up, someone else took care of the problem without them needing to lift a finger. And in just ten short minutes, the issue was resolved.

Ma Rui was shaken and dizzy, and for the first time, realized what a stupid thing he had done!

If his mother hadn’t been holding him up, he would have collapsed back into his chair.

Probably after this, whenever Ma Rui saw Jian Yi, he’d make a detour to avoid him.

............

After Qin Suxi and Guan Lifeng arrived, things were resolved very smoothly.

Soon, the two of them took Shen Ju and Jian Yi out of the police station.

Although Jian Yi said he didn’t need to go to the hospital, and the earlier mention of having his injuries documented didn’t actually happen, Shen Ju still wanted to buy some medicine.

Jian Yi’s face clearly hadn’t had any medicine applied!

“Alright, sweetie.”

Qin Suxi patted Shen Ju’s arm: “After Jian Yi transfers to your school, this kind of thing won’t happen again.”

“Wait, what ‘transfer to Shen Ju’s class’? Who’s transferring?”

Shen Ju paused, confused: “You, bro. And the transfer paperwork is already complete. We can go to school together starting tomorrow.”

Jian Yi looked puzzled: “I never said I wanted to transfer. Why—who told you I was transferring? My mom?!”

As he spoke, Jian Yi suddenly thought of something.

It couldn’t be that Shen Ju’s mother suddenly took an interest and decided to transfer him, and Shen Ju definitely wouldn’t do something like this without asking him first.

So there was only one possibility—

Remembering how Xu Ru had been upset about this before, plus now he was injured, it was possible Xu Ru had privately asked Qin Suxi…

Jian Yi looked at Qin Suxi and, sure enough, after seeing the expression on her face, confirmed his guess.

Even though he knew Xu Ru had made this decision without consulting him, not just because she was upset about him not getting into Qichen or because he’d been beaten up by Ma Rui and the others—the deeper reason was that she was worried about him. She felt that since he and Shen Ju had always had each other's backs growing up, now that Shen Ju was gone, he couldn’t cope alone… But Jian Yi still couldn’t accept it. More precisely, for an even deeper reason, he especially couldn’t accept being a burden to Shen Ju, knowing full well what Xu Ru intended.

“I don’t want to transfer. This wasn’t my decision—”

“I want you to transfer, bro.”

“What?”

Jian Yi frowned at Shen Ju.

A bit angry and a bit helpless, he said: “Shen Jiujiu, this is a misunderstanding.”

“Then let’s go with it.”

Shen Ju looked at the injuries on Jian Yi’s face and, uncharacteristically stubborn, said: “Actually, I’ve wanted you to transfer for a while. What’s wrong with transferring? Qichen has better educational resources, and we can be in the same class. Since Auntie also wants you to transfer and the paperwork is already complete, why are you insisting on not transferring?”

“I don’t care, you’re transferring, and that’s that.”

Jian Yi’s frown deepened.

If Shen Ju’s parents weren’t here, he’d really want to knock some sense into Shen Ju’s head.

Did Shen Ju even know what he was saying?

He was nothing but a problem—why would Shen Ju insist on bringing trouble by his side?

And if his mom could make decisions without him today and ask Qin Suxi for help, and Qin Suxi agreed, who’s to say she wouldn’t ask Qin Suxi or other members of the Guan family for something else in the future? Relying on the debt from raising Shen Ju for over a decade—sooner or later, that goodwill would run out. Goodwill was goodwill, but if you started pushing it, it would become an annoying nuisance.

Once the Guan family grew tired of them, wouldn’t the backlash eventually fall back on Shen Ju?

Jian Yi didn’t dare to risk that.

He always felt that even a biological child might not compare to one raised for over a decade.

After all, affection is built gradually through time spent together.

After Shen Ju spoke, Qin Suxi also chimed in.

She echoed Shen Ju's sentiment—after all, the transfer procedures had indeed been completed. If he refused, it would likely require Qin Suxi to step in again—

“Auntie doesn’t mind the trouble, and it’s not really a big deal anyway.”

Qin Suxi smiled at Jian Yi. “But Bao Bao is right. Since the transfer procedures are already done, and Qichen does offer better educational conditions, it will only benefit you, with no downsides.”

Jian Yi pressed his lips together, too embarrassed to say anything more.

The matter was settled just like that.

But after returning home, when Xu Ru got off work, mother and son found themselves at a loss for words.

Jian Yi said, “I don’t want dinner,” and turned to go into his room.

A voice came from behind him:

“I don’t regret it.”

Jian Yi paused, his back still to Xu Ru. After a long moment, he finally spoke. “Mom, you should be grateful that Shen Jiujiu is soft-hearted. He repays kindness and is still willing to call you Auntie.”

“Ultimately, without this connection, we and the Guan family would be strangers.”

“I just hope there won’t be a next time.”

“Otherwise, what’s being used up isn’t just the goodwill between you and Shen Ju.”

An agitated voice suddenly rose behind him:

“But I was just worried about you! What’s wrong with being worried—”

“But I’ve said I can handle it myself!”

Jian Yi clutched his left arm tightly, his facial muscles trembling, his teeth almost chattering. “Mom, I’m disabled, but I’m not useless. How many times do I have to say this?! Are you worried about me, or do you look down on me?! Is it that I’m really inferior to others, or do you think I’m inferior to others?! You’re the one insisting on seeing your son as a helpless cripple!!”

The voice behind him fell completely silent.

Jian Yi closed his eyes and finally added one more thing: “Really, no next time.”

............

Shen Ju also returned home.

As soon as he got back, he holed up in his room, thinking about the mission.

This mission was just too difficult.

It seemed hard before, but now it felt even harder.

Why was the mission energy bar so slow to fill?

During the holidays, it was manageable—he had plenty of chances to get close to Qin Suxi and others, and many opportunities to “butt in” between Guan Mulin and Pei Haochuan. Even then, the energy bar filled very slowly, for some reason. But after school started, he realized it could always get worse… Why hadn’t he noticed before?!

After school started, he had classes. Guan Jianshan was far away in He Yuan, Guan Lifeng and Guan Muyao were at work. Although Qin Suxi didn’t need to go to the office every day like Guan Lifeng and Guan Muyao, she still had plenty to do. Even though Guan Mulin was also in school, they were in different classes. Throughout the day, the people Shen Ju could run into and the time he could spend with them were really limited, let alone “stirring up trouble.”

Why is it so hard to be a villain these days?

There were piles of practical problems.

Shen Ju counted on his fingers and realized that the most convenient time for him was actually during tutoring sessions at Pei Yan’s place. At the very least, he could share the same space with Guan Mulin and Pei Haochuan, making it easier to do something, since Guan Mulin and Pei Haochuan were the two most important “characters” in the mission.

“Hmm.”

Shen Ju rolled over on his bed, thinking he still needed to go to Pei Yan for tutoring.

And not just him—he had to make sure Pei Haochuan and Guan Mulin continued going to Pei Yan’s place for tutoring too.

Shen Ju stopped and scratched his chin.

He wondered if Brother Pei would be willing to agree.

Would it be too much trouble for him…

Shen Ju was still lost in thought, undecided, when Pei Yan happened to return home from work. Not long after, he received a call from Pei Tai.

—His father, Pei Haochuan’s grandfather.

Pei Yan stared expressionlessly at the flashing phone screen for a few seconds before finally answering.

“Dad.”

Pei Tai’s vigorous voice came from the other end of the line. After briefly asking Pei Yan a few questions, he shifted the topic casually. “I just found out that Haochuan went to your place during the holidays?” Pei Tai seemed to chuckle. “Did you tutor him? That child is good in every way, except his studies really need some attention.”

Pei Yan also laughed. “His academics really aren’t great.”

“If he hadn’t caused trouble at the racetrack and involved the Guan family, I wouldn’t have found an excuse to keep him here for tutoring, wasting my time.”

“You’re his uncle. It’s only right to look out for him.”

“Though that may be true…”

Pei Yan’s attitude shifted instantly, and he scoffed. “But it’s not like Big Brother would have any trouble finding him a tutor.”

Pei Tai seemed to sigh. “That child Haochuan has a strong will. He wouldn’t listen to just any tutor, but he does listen to you more. If you tutor him, his father can’t interfere too much. We’re all family, no need for formalities. I think it’s good for you to tutor Haochuan. That kid really needs to improve his grades.”

“Fine. Keeping an eye on him works for me too.”

Pei Yan lightly tapped the desk. “Since you’ve said so, Dad, Big Brother probably won’t have any objections. I’ll keep managing Pei Haochuan’s tutoring.”

“Maybe when his grades actually improve, Big Brother will even thank me.”

Pei Tai said a few more things on the phone, and Pei Yan listened with a smile, occasionally agreeing.

After a while, he hung up.

The smile on Pei Yan’s lips vanished instantly.

He tossed his phone onto the sofa and sat down himself, leaning back with his eyes closed.

After a long moment, he picked up his phone again.

This time, he dialed Pei Haochuan.

*Ring, ring.*

The call connected after two rings.

Pei Yan spoke expressionlessly. “Your grandfather said you’re to continue coming to my place for tutoring.”

“If you find it troublesome, you might as well just move in here.”

What a bolt from the blue!

How could something this awful happen in this world?!

Before Pei Haochuan could even say a word, he felt as if the sky had fallen.

Why?!

He thought that once school started, he wouldn’t have to go anymore!

How come now he has to go for extra lessons “by royal command”?!

“Um, Uncle…”

Pei Haochuan forced a dry laugh: “If you don’t want to, you really don’t have to—”

“It’s fine, I’m bored anyway.”

Pei Haochuan choked back his words but still refused to give up: “But Uncle, aren’t you busy?”

Pei Yan snorted: “I always have more free time than you.”

Before Pei Haochuan could say anything else, Pei Yan added casually: “If you find studying alone boring, you can do the same as during the holiday.”

“Huh? What do you mean, Uncle?”

“Having more people keep an eye on you will make things easier for me.”

Pei Yan narrowed his eyes and tapped his knee: “But Pei Haochuan, if you don’t want to come alone, don’t make it too obvious. Don’t bring just one person here, understand?”

“Ah, got it, got it! It’s all about playing the social game, right!”

Pei Haochuan responded quickly this time, thinking that as long as he had someone with him, it would be fine—he couldn’t face his uncle alone.

But even if his uncle hadn’t reminded him, if he invited Mu Lin, Shen Ju would probably tag along.

Pei Haochuan secretly curled his lips.

He thought to himself, Mu Lin insisted that Shen Ju wasn’t targeting him, but if it wasn’t intentional, why was Shen Ju always everywhere?

“But Uncle, Shen Ju didn’t come to class today.”

Pei Yan’s finger, which had been tapping his knee, paused: “Didn’t come to class? Do you know why?”

“Uncle, why are you so concerned about Shen Ju?”

“Pei Haochuan.”

Pei Yan’s voice carried a warning tone: “Don’t make me ask a second time.”

“............”

Pei Haochuan: “Actually, it’s nothing. According to Mu Lin, it seems Shen Ju went to Yude—the school he used to attend. Mu Lin’s cousin, someone named Jian Yi, is probably transferring to our school. Aunt Qin personally handled the matter. Shen Ju went along to check things out—he seems quite invested in this and even took the initiative to go.”

“If we’re talking about blood relations, it’s Mu Lin who’s related to them. But he didn’t let Mu Lin go; he excluded Mu Lin.”

“If Guan Mulin wanted to go, he could have found a way.”

“But they’re not close. How could he just tag along? That would seem too eager.”

Pei Haochuan clicked his tongue: “Besides, why does Shen Ju even need to go? He insisted on taking a day off to go.”

Pei Yan lowered his gaze: “Don’t talk nonsense about things you don’t understand.”

“What don’t I understand?”

The next day, Pei Haochuan found out.

............

With the Guan family involved, even if Yude’s principal was unwilling to let the top student leave, he had no choice. Especially since something happened that day involving Ma Rui and others, which even ended up at the police station—the incident blew up. Given Jian Yi’s special circumstances, if someone with ulterior motives reported it, Yude would suffer even greater losses!

So Yude’s principal didn’t dare to delay any further. Even if the procedures were slow, he made sure to send Jian Yi off.

Qin Suxi and Guan Lifeng also notified Qichen in advance. Qichen’s principal was quite delighted to “welcome” Jian Yi and even placed him in Shen Ju’s class.

Originally, Shen Ju wanted to pick up Jian Yi early, but Jian Yi “chased” him back.

Jian Yi: [If you think transferring is too rushed and worry I can’t handle it, then I might as well stay at Yude.]

Shen Ju: [............]

No way.

But he didn’t insist on picking up Jian Yi anymore.

Still, Shen Ju arrived at school early, worried.

After all, Jian Yi was a bit special.

Every time he entered a new environment, he inevitably attracted attention.

He thought that since Jian Yi would need to report to the principal’s office and possibly collect some things upon arriving at Qichen, it would take a while before he reached the classroom. Perhaps after all the classmates had arrived, he could give them a heads-up—whether through threats, incentives, or warnings—to “prepare” them in advance. After all, doing so fit the persona he was portraying.

But after everyone had gathered, and before Jian Yi arrived, the class monitor Tang Yuexin announced that a new student would be transferring to their class—

“The new student is a bit special. When he arrives, I hope everyone won’t react too obviously.”

Shen Ju couldn’t help but feel surprised and opened his mouth slightly.

After Tang Yuexin finished speaking, he hesitated for a moment, then stood up and went to ask her how she knew about it and why she had given such a warning in advance.

To his surprise, Tang Yuexin seemed even more surprised than he was.

“It was the homeroom teacher’s instruction. Apparently, your parents notified the homeroom teacher in advance. Isn’t the new student your brother? It seems… he has some physical disabilities, right? The homeroom teacher said your parents were worried your brother might feel ‘uncomfortable’ after transferring, so they asked the homeroom teacher to prepare the class in advance.”

“Don’t worry, it seems even the principal was informed about your brother’s situation beforehand.”

Shen Ju slowly walked back to his seat and sat down, his fingers twisting together.

996 popped up: “Host…”

Shen Ju didn’t say anything, his head lowered, looking dejected.

“I think I’m a bad person.”

“No, I am a bad person.”

“It’s so hard, bro 996.”

Shen Ju’s voice trailed off, and Guan Mulin from the next class was getting restless.

What’s going on?

What happened?

Hold on, isn’t Jian Yi supposed to transfer here today? Is it related to Jian Yi?

Something seemed to click in Guan Mulin’s mind.

But it was gone in an instant—he couldn’t grasp it.

He listened to the commotion from the next class and got up to leave the classroom the second morning self-study ended.

Pei Haochuan noticed and followed suit.

Ke Cheng saw Pei Haochuan head out and got up to follow as well.

Han Chengfeng saw Guan Mulin, Pei Haochuan, and Ke Cheng all making their way out, seemingly toward the next class. Remembering his little brother was also in that class, he got up and followed too.

“............”

Next thing he knew, Guan Mulin ended up with a whole parade of people trailing behind him.

As it happened, Shen Ju was sitting by the window in the next class, and a row of heads appeared just outside the window.

Jian Yi, who had just finished introducing himself to the class and was given the brand-new window seat by Shen Ju, could only stare: “............”

Jian Yi’s left arm was directly beneath these heads, completely exposed.

Pei Haochuan with one glance immediately understood exactly why Pei Yan had said what he did yesterday, and why Shen Ju had taken time off to help out at Yude.

His expression grew complicated.

What was Shen Ju really like?

Why was it that sometimes even he found him puzzling?

*Thwack!*

Just then, a paper ball suddenly flew over and hit him right on the forehead.

Pei Haochuan immediately yelped, “Shit!”, glaring while rubbing his forehead as he looked at Shen Ju. “You—”

Shen Ju snapped right back. “You what? What are you staring at?!”

Like a firecracker going off, all spark and fury.

“............”

Pei Haochuan, knowing he was in the wrong, gritted his teeth and said nothing.

Dammit!

No one had ever dared to hit him with a paper ball before!

Just what kind of guy was he?!

He was nothing but trouble!