Mr. Xiao seemed very sober, and his mental state was normal.
Then everyone else must be crazy.
To prove they weren’t just talking nonsense, Xue Duo risked Liu Yuebo’s wrath and revealed the truth to the group chat.
[It’s Hard to Leave When Sharing Happiness — Group Chat]
CroissantIsNotBread (Xiao Kesong): “His hand slipped.”
CroissantIsNotBread: “He definitely didn’t mean to do that, so let’s just let it go.”
FearOfBackToSchool (Xue Duo): “@CroissantIsNotBread, is this also a ‘slippery hand’?”
FearOfBackToSchool: posts picture.jpg
(Chen Zhe stepping on Liu Yuebo’s blog, close-up, high definition)
As soon as the picture was posted, the group immediately erupted in an uproar.
Second Generation A: “Oh my god!”
Second Generation B: “Wow, who is this beauty? He’s so hot. Does he have WeChat? @FearOfBackToSchool @CroissantIsNotBread”
Second Generation C: “His legs are so long and straight. There’s something special about them.”
Second Generation D: “You rich second-generation kids really know how to play — you even posted the MVP settlement screen?”
He Yinan: “@FearOfBackToSchool, why do you take pictures of everything and send them to the group?”
Group Reminder: FearOfBackToSchool withdraw a message.
Second Generation B: “Too late, I already took a screenshot.”
Second Generation C: “Too late, I took a screenshot.”
Second Generation D: “Too late, I took a screenshot.”
Second Generation E: “Too late, I took a screenshot.”
Second Generation F: “Too late, I took a screenshot.”
IAmChenZhe: “Too late, I took a screenshot.”
Everyone: “!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Wait, who???
Xue Duo: “…”
Why is Chen Zhe in the group?!?!
The chat group fell silent again.
This time it was complete silence.
Xiao Kesong turned off his phone screen and looked over at Chen Zhe’s phone: “So you were in the group.”
Chen Zemian said, “Yeah, you added me before.”
Xiao Kesong remembered and couldn’t help laughing: “Hahaha, you didn’t say anything the whole time, so they all thought you weren’t there. They even called crickets in front of you. That’s so embarrassing — I’m embarrassed for them.”
Chen Zemian opened his mouth and said nonsense: “I just didn’t say anything on purpose, then suddenly appeared when they badmouthed me, scaring them to death.”
Xiao Kesong thought Chen Zhe was getting more and more interesting — like a kitten hiding in the corner and suddenly jumping out to scare people. Sneaky.
He asked, “What did Xue Duo send just now? He deleted it so quickly I didn’t see it.”
Chen Zemian said, “I didn’t see it either.”
Xiao Kesong was surprised: “But didn’t you say you took a screenshot?”
Chen Zemian gave a blank look: “I didn’t take a screenshot. I just wanted to scare him.”
Xiao Kesong looked toward Xue Duo and saw him fidgeting nervously.
“You’re so bad,” Xiao Kesong said.
Chen Zemian hummed lightly.
Xiao Kesong chuckled again.
Chen Zemian propped his hands on his knees and looked at him confused: “Why are you always laughing?”
Xiao Kesong tilted his head and said, “I think I told you that every time you say even one syllable, it’s really funny — like a kitten.”
He should have said this to Chen Zhe, but Chen Zemian didn’t remember and didn’t think his “hmm” sounded like a cat, so he said nothing. He just glanced silently at Xiao Kesong, expressing his speechlessness.
Xiao Kesong couldn’t help laughing: “Really, just like my little Maine Coon at home, chirping all the time.”
Xue Duo came over carrying coffee for Xiao Kesong. Hearing this, he slipped and nearly spilled his double-sugar iced mocha on Xiao’s head.
“Who looks like a little Maine? Chen Zhe?”
Little Maine would never pour eight cups of iced coffee on someone’s head or step on someone’s knee, scaring arrogant Liu Yuebo so much he dared not speak.
Xue Duo put down his coffee and wanted to pull Xiao Kesong aside to talk privately about what had just happened, but Chen Zhe sat next to him, silent, staring fiercely at him — as if saying that if he said anything wrong, he’d be immediately thrown out of Meridian Gate and publicly beheaded.
When Xiao Kesong saw Xue Duo coming, he made plans with him to go to the stadium shooting competition. Then he pulled out a photo of his kitten on his phone and showed it to Chen Zemian, asking if he wanted to raise the kitten.
Chen Zemian took a look and said, “It’s a kitten.”
Xiao Kesong said, “Yeah, it’s only two months old and still drinks goat’s milk.”
Chen Zemian: “Is it easy to raise a baby like that?”
Xiao Kesong sighed, “Not easy. It cries every day when it can’t see people, and I can’t sleep. So, aren’t I asking if you want to raise it or not?”
Chen Zemian smiled, “Yes, I don’t need to sleep.”
Xiao Kesong sighed again, “That’s not what I meant. Didn’t you say before you liked this cat and praised its smart eyes? How come you forgot? Are you just trying to please me?”
“Not trying to please you,” Chen Zemian told the truth, “Purely trying to please me.”
To please me.
Not only does Chen Zhe dislike cats, he’s actually afraid of them.
There’s a plot in the original book where a young master learns Chen Zhe is afraid of cats, so he teases him by taking him to a cat cafe and locking the door to keep him inside. He doesn’t know Chen Zhe is allergic to animal dander and is terrified. When the young master takes others to watch, they find Chen Zhe has severe allergic reactions and has fainted.
Chen Zemian glanced at the second-generation group on the other side. The original story hadn’t officially started yet, and the young master hadn’t appeared.
Don’t worry, you’ll meet him eventually.
Xiao Kesong didn’t know Chen Zhe was afraid of cats, let alone allergic. He strongly recommended Chen Zhe take the kitten: “It’s really cute and clingy but a little silly. Every time I go out and come back, it doesn’t recognize me. When I open the door, it hides behind the sofa scared. After a while, it comes out, gets acquainted with me, then sticks to me again.”
“I don’t have a cat,” Chen Zemian thought for a moment and said, “You can ask Ye Chen.”
In the original book, Ye Chen owned a Maine Coon. The cold and taciturn officer is secretly a cat slave. This contrast made a deep impression on Chen Zemian.
Now that I think about it, the Maine Coon Ye Chen had in the book might be the same one Xiao Kesong took care of.
Xiao Kesong’s eyes widened: “I will never give my cat to that cold-blooded man.”
Chen Zemian glanced at Xiao Kesong. “You’re going to abandon it, so do you still have the right to call others cold-blooded?”
Xiao Kesong was speechless. With an attitude of “why not,” he sent the photo of the kitten to Ye Chen.
After a while, Ye Chen replied that he would consider it.
Xiao Kesong was in a very good mood, having found a new home for the cat. Just as he was about to praise Chen Zemian for his foresight, he turned around and saw someone standing behind him.
“Zhuonian?” Xiao Kesong asked in surprise. “When did you get here?”
The moment Chen Zemian heard the name “Zhuo Nian,” his heart skipped a beat and the back of his head and neck went numb.
It was over.
He had been so busy teaching the rich second-generation young masters a lesson that he had completely forgotten about Lu Zhuonian.
How long had he been here? When did he arrive?
Chen Zemian had excellent hearing. No one had ever approached him so quietly without him noticing — except Lu Zhuonian.
Why does Lu Zhuonian walk without making a sound?
A male ghost?
Xiao Kesong had the same question. “I didn’t know you were coming. Why are you just standing there without saying anything?”
Lu Zhuonian’s voice was deep and came from above and behind Chen Zemian, but he was speaking to Xiao Kesong. “The venue is ready. You and Xue Duo should go to the competition.”
Xiao Kesong was considerate and didn’t forget to explain the coffee spill on Chen Zemian’s behalf. “Chen Zemian just slipped and knocked over a cup of coffee. Please charge my card for the sofa cleaning.”
Lu Zhuonian actually smiled. “It’s just a sofa. No big deal.”
Xiao Kesong patted Chen Zemian on the shoulder. “I’m heading to the shooting range.”
Chen Zemian felt guilty and took the opportunity to stand up. “Mr. Xiao, I’ll go with you.”
Lu Zhuonian’s eyes darkened slightly.
Xiao Kesong glanced at Chen Zemian with disapproval, as if condemning him for not seizing the chance to talk to Lu Zhuonian. His expression was slightly disappointed. “Do I need you to accompany me? If you want to come, then accompany Zhuonian instead.”
Chen Zemian: “…”
Thank you, but he didn’t really want to come.
Xiao Kesong couldn’t hear Chen Zemian’s inner thoughts. He called Xue Duo and left, giving Chen Zemian a look that said, “Behave.”
Chen Zemian: “…”
Thank you, but I didn’t really want to show off.
Lu Zhuonian sat down in the soft chair opposite Chen Zemian. His expression was calm and steady, his tone leisurely and comfortable. He said casually, “Sit down.”
Chen Zemian had no choice but to sit. As his eyes landed on the coffee cup, an idea flashed through his mind, and he quickly stood again. “I’ll get you coffee, Mr. Lu. What would you like to drink?”
Lu Zhuonian tapped the table with his left hand. “Would you like to treat me to iced coffee to cool down as well?”
Chen Zemian’s head tightened. He always felt Lu Zhuonian’s gaze was meaningful, as if he could see straight through his soul. For some reason, he had the illusion that all his actions over the past few days had been in vain.
“Mr. Lu is so busy, how could he have time to check the WeChat group?” Chen Zemian wasn’t sure whether Lu Zhuonian had actually seen it or if Liu Yuebo had complained to him. Not knowing how to respond, he tentatively said, “Those are just jokes, Mr. Lu. Don’t take them seriously.”
Lu Zhuonian said nothing, just stared at Chen Zemian.
Chen Zemian quietly returned the gaze.
Today, Lu Zhuonian wore a white shirt tucked neatly into his trousers. Perhaps because he needed to move around a lot at the shooting range, he didn’t wear a leather belt but instead wore X-shaped suspenders that made his back look as straight as a pine tree, giving him an upright, imposing presence. The stark contrast of black and white created a strong visual impact and an aura of authority. Even without holding a gun, he radiated the wild beauty unique to hunters.
Chen Zemian felt the scrutiny.
Lu Zhuonian was indeed examining him — observing him.
From the day he first noticed Chen Zemian, he had always felt something was off about him.
Chen Zemian was too strange. He spoke oddly and acted unexpectedly. Something was abnormal about him, inside and out.
Abnormality meant danger, unpredictability, and the unexpected.
It also meant rarity, mystery, and novelty.
Lu Zhuonian was conflicted. Before he could decide whether to get closer or stay away, his subconscious had already made the choice.
He would always unconsciously observe Chen Zemian’s every move.
It’s easy to change the country but hard to change one’s nature. Although Chen Zemian deliberately acted servile, he was terrible at disguise. Lu Zhuonian was extremely patient and adept at catching details that ordinary people missed.
So every time Chen Zemian lost his temper and fought with others, Lu Zhuonian happened to witness it.
When caught, Chen Zemian was like a cat with its tail exposed, frantically stretching out claws to protect it, but the more he struggled, the more vulnerable he became. Eventually, he just gave up.
Very interesting.
*****
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