Though he had no idea where Lu Zhuonian’s assumptions were coming from, Chen Zemian still went along to meet Old Master Tang.
It wasn’t because of the promised Xinglex Ice drink — well, not entirely. Mostly, it was because Chen Zemian understood the good intentions behind his boss’s persistence.
Since Chen Zemian had experienced a stomachache after drinking iced milk tea, Lu Zhuonian had been firmly against him consuming cold drinks, especially smoothies. Despite Chen Zemian’s attempts to resist, Lu Zhuonian rejected his protests, insisting, “The doctor said you can eat it, so you can eat it.” He even promised to take him for a gastroscopy at the next stomachache for a thorough examination.
The mention of a gastroscopy made Chen Zemian swear to die on the spot. However, Lu Zhuonian didn’t deliberately scare him; he explained that a magnetically controlled capsule gastroscopy was an option, which didn’t require intubation.
Still, Chen Zemian was reluctant to go to the hospital for a check-up. On the surface, he pretended to give up cold drinks as advised, but in secret, he secretly ate them when Lu Zhuonian was not paying attention.
Tonight, Lu Zhuonian also went home. Chen Zemian initially thought he wouldn’t have the chance for an iced drink at dinner — yet, unexpectedly, Lu Zhuonian suddenly relented and promised him a cup of Xinglex Ice drink, matcha cocoa flavor.
After dinner, drinking matcha at this hour would produce a more refreshing effect than coffee. Chen Zemian knew he probably wouldn’t be able to sleep at a normal time. Moreover, Lu Zhuonian was well aware that if Chen Zemian couldn’t sleep in the middle of the night, he wouldn’t stay quietly in his room; instead, he would inevitably come to him.
“As long as you behave yourself, we can do whatever you want tonight — watch a movie or even go see the flag-raising ceremony,” Lu Zhuonian said as he led Chen Zemian into the private elevator. Then he added, “Just act normal. No need to be… abstract.”
“I am not abstract!” Chen Zemian protested, clearly offended.
Lu Zhuonian turned his head and shot him a glance.
Leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets, Chen Zemian noticed Lu Zhuonian’s silk handkerchief sticking out from his trouser pocket, dangling like a tail. Lu Zhuonian reached out and gently pulled the handkerchief out.
“Hey,” Chen Zemian protested, “You said it was mine — don’t go throwing it away.”
“No,” Lu Zhuonian said, folding the handkerchief several times into a neat square before handing it back. “Put it in your chest pocket. It doesn’t look good in your pants.”
Chen Zemian looked down at his clothes. “The colors don’t match.”
Lu Zhuonian responded, “Then I’ll keep it for you for now.”
After saying that, he did something even Chen Zemian hadn’t expected — Lu Zhuonian neatly folded the silk handkerchief and slipped it back into the breast pocket of his own suit.
Chen Zemian’s eyes widened slowly. “You — you don’t think it’s dirty, do you?”
“Don’t remind me again,” Lu Zhuonian said as he stepped out of the elevator. “Thank you.”
*****
The VIP lounge was filled with well-dressed guests awaiting Old Master Tang. Under normal circumstances, these were all top-tier dignitaries, figures so high-ranking that most could only dream of meeting them.
Lu Zhuonian led Chen Zemian through the crowd, walking ahead as if they passed through an invisible barrier separating classes. Envy, jealousy, and curiosity radiated from the onlookers’ eyes, following their every move.
Everyone was speculating about the young man who had risen so swiftly that even the prince of Beijing’s circle was willing to lend him a helping hand.
Lu Zhuonian stopped at the door and whispered to Chen Zemian, “Wait for me here. I’ll go in and say hello first.”
Chen Zemian nodded silently, watching as Lu Zhuonian disappeared through the door.
As soon as the door closed, he heard someone calling his name softly behind him.
“Chen Zemian, Chen Zemian.”
It was unclear when the circle had begun to shift from calling him “Chen Zhe” to “Chen Zemian.” When asked, everyone would say in unison, “Everyone calls you that, right? Didn’t you change your name?” Yet, if pressed further, no one could identify precisely who this “everyone” was.
Within the second-generation circle, only Prince Lu Zhuonian wielded such authority that his words seemed like imperial decrees.
Turning around, Chen Zemian saw Xue Duo, the young master of the Xue family.
Xue Duo greeted his father briefly before pointing at Chen Zemian, signaling that he wanted a private word. After receiving permission, he hurried over and pulled Chen Zemian aside to a quiet corner.
“When did you offend Old Master Tang’s adopted grandson?” Xue Duo asked anxiously, his tone direct. “Lu Shao just came to pick you up, and soon after, Tang Tiancong said he would ‘treat you well.'”
Chen Zemian wasn’t surprised by Tang Tiancong’s behavior. Everyone knew that Chen Zemian’s arrival with Lu Shao was bound to stir trouble — a move typical of Tang Tiancong, who liked to challenge Lu Zhuonian. It fit perfectly with his character from the original story: stupid, vain, vicious, inept, timid, yet extremely jealous.
He wanted to challenge Lu Zhuonian’s standing within the second-generation circle, but he dared not confront him directly. Instead, he targeted Chen Zemian, the one with the least influence, as his first move.
It was a battle among the kings of hell, with the little ghosts suffering the consequences.
Recalling the plot from the original book, Chen Zemian thought, I’ve never even seen him before. Why is he making things difficult for me? Is it because of Mr. Lu?
Just then, the door of the VIP room opened again.
Chen Zemian instinctively turned his head, expecting Lu Zhuonian. But it wasn’t him.
The figure was backlit, so his face was obscured, but his stature was unmistakable — short and stout, with drooping shoulders and a wide waist, very different from the tall, handsome Lu Zhuonian.
Xue Duo quickly said, “That’s Tang Tiancong.”
Chen Zemian wrinkled his nose slightly and muttered irritably, “He probably won’t cause trouble for me, will he?”
“It’s quite possible,” Xue Duo replied, giving Chen Zemian a subtle ‘take care of yourself’ look before slipping back into the crowd. “Old Master Tang is my uncle’s old associate. I can’t afford to offend his grandson.”
People in wealthy circles are masters at reading the situation. With the current ambiguity, no one knew whether Lu Zhuonian would be upset about Chen Zemian’s presence or not. Until Lu Zhuonian made his stance clear, the wisest choice was to stand aside and avoid getting involved in the chaos.
Xue Duo had come to warn him in advance; Chen Zemian didn’t want to force him into trouble.
Tang Tiancong swaggered over, raising his eyelids and scrutinizing Chen Zemian with a long, drawn-out voice. “You, are you Chen Zhe?”
His words were disjointed, the tone overly masculine.
Chen Zemian resisted the urge to roll his eyes and lowered his gaze, avoiding eye contact.
Tang Tiancong had a round face, double chin, small eyes, a flat nose, and stood about 175 centimeters tall. When both of them were side by side, the top of his head was nearly level with Chen Zemian’s nose.
He was short but carried himself with a commanding presence.
Seeing Chen Zemian’s silence, Tang Tiancong’s expression twisted as he barked, “Speak!”
Frowning slightly, Chen Zemian replied, “What’s the matter?”
Tang Tiancong let out a mocking laugh. “So you can speak. I thought you were mute.”
“Well, I am now,” Chen Zemian replied flatly, turning to walk away. “So don’t talk to me.”
“Stop right there!” Tang Tiancong shouted after him.
Chen Zemian did not stop.
Humiliated and furious, Tang Tiancong snapped, “Someone, grab him!”
Several people immediately stepped forward, blocking Chen Zemian’s path.
Tang Tiancong positioned himself right in front of him. “Why aren’t you walking now?”
Taking a deep breath, Chen Zemian reminded himself of the principle ‘you can’t fight everywhere.’ He steadied his voice and asked patiently, “What exactly do you want?”
Tang Tiancong looked him up and down with a sneer of disdain. “You look like some pampered little sissy,” he said deliberately, “I really don’t see what’s so special about you that Lu Zhuonian is willing to help you meet my grandfather.”
Chen Zemian remained silent.
Tang Tiancong dusted off an imaginary speck on his sleeves and added, “But I’ve already told my grandfather that I don’t want to see you in front of me. So, stop dreaming — you’re not going to meet him in this lifetime.”
Fingertips twitching slightly, Chen Zemian asked softly, “What else?”
“Chen Zhe, I know it’s not easy for you to climb into the circle of the second generation,” Tang Tiancong said, lazily, his tone casual as if deciding someone’s fate meant nothing. “But this place isn’t suitable for you. If you know what’s good for you, stay away. Otherwise, who knows what kind of trouble might come your way later?”
【Who knows what kind of trouble might come your way later?】
The words echoed in Chen Zemian’s mind, causing his eyes to narrow subconsciously.
From the moment Tang Tiancong claimed he would “treat him well,” a doubt had taken root in Chen Zemian’s heart — whether, after the plot of the original story began, the various attacks Chen Zhe faced were caused by Tang Tiancong’s words.
The entire second-generation circle in Beijing was so small, and those under Lu Zhuonian’s influence inevitably had associates who also followed Tang Tiancong. Most of them, aside from a few close friends, were fence-sitters — people who neither sided with anyone nor offended either side.
They wouldn’t make things difficult for Tang Tiancong and Lu Zhuonian, but it was a different story for Chen Zhe — who had no background to speak of.
It was the perfect balance: avoid offending Lu Zhuonian, while still pleasing Tang Tiancong.
And at this moment, Tang Tiancong’s veiled threat only confirmed this suspicion.
It turned out to be you.
The true culprit behind Chen Zhe’s tragic fate.
Because he didn’t have the power to target Lu Zhuonian directly at the start, he went after the people around him instead—using petty tricks to make life difficult for those close to him.
This, in itself, was very much something Tang Tiancong would do.
Seeing the change on Chen Zemian’s face, Tang Tiancong thought he had frightened him, which only inflated his confidence further. “I heard you’re good at playing both sides,” he said with a twisted smile. “You’re very close to the Lu and Xiao families. Unfortunately for you, with me here, your days of prosperity are numbered starting today.”
Calmly, Chen Zemian responded, “Tang Shao, I don’t recall offending you in any way.”
Tang Tiancong chuckled softly. “Of course not.”
Chen Zemian’s gaze sharpened. “Then, what exactly do you want?”
Tang Tiancong, hands behind his back, lifted his chin proudly. “I just want to cause some trouble for Lu Zhuonian. It’s quite amusing to see him beg my grandfather on your behalf.”
Chen Zemian let out a faint, ambiguous chuckle. “Amusing.”
Tang Tiancong shot him a sidelong glance. “You’re quite capable yourself. When I left, Lu Zhuonian was still speaking well of you.”
Chen Zemian lowered his head, expressionless, and stared coldly at Tang Tiancong.
Tang Tiancong licked his lips, his excitement palpable. “This is the first time I’ve seen Lu Shao humble himself like that. It’s truly entertaining.”
Suddenly, anger surged within Chen Zemian.
He didn’t quite understand why he was so furious — perhaps it was just as Tang Tiancong said: Lu Zhuonian, proud and aloof, simply didn’t deserve the word “to humble himself.”
He was unworthy — absolutely unworthy!
Tang Tiancong seemed to sense this shift, his nostrils flaring slightly with excitement. His eyes widened as he sneered viciously. “Maybe I shouldn’t just kick you out of the second-generation circle. It might be more fun to keep you around — just to control Lu Zhuonian.”
Before he could react, Chen Zemian swung his fist, directly striking Tang Tiancong’s eye socket.
Tang Tiancong’s pupils contracted violently, and it was too late for him to dodge.
Despite years of military physical training and fighting skills learned from his uncles at home, he shouldn’t have been caught off guard — yet he was.
From the moment Chen Zemian’s fist shot out, Tang Tiancong knew he couldn’t evade. He could only turn his head to absorb some of the impact before the blow connected.
Even so, the pain was immediate and intense.
His head spun 90 degrees, and he fell onto his back, blood streaming from his nose, trickling down his cheeks and into his ears.
The surrounding crowd was stunned, caught off guard by the sudden violence, and they erupted into exclamations.
Xue Duo, gasping, rushed forward and roared, “Chen Zemian!”
Chen Zemian was still not done. He pushed past Tang Tiancong’s followers and aimed to deliver two more kicks.
Xue Duo tried to pull him away, but he couldn’t.
In a fit of rage, Chen Zemian kicked Tang Tiancong’s backside, yelling, “Look at this — see if it’s fun!”
When the others in the room heard the commotion and hurried out, they saw Tang Tiancong curled on the ground, blood all over his face, writhing and kicked.
Old Tang’s eyes widened in shock. “!!!”
Lu Zhuonian, standing nearby, looked on silently.
It was not surprising.
He approached Chen Zemian, ready to intervene, but Chen Zemian shook him off and coldly declared, “I beat him up. None of this has anything to do with you.”
Lu Zhuonian paused, puzzled.
He didn’t understand what had angered Chen Zemian so much — yet, he had been fine before he left. When he saw Chen Zemian attacking Tang Tiancong, anger flared within him.
Among these factors, only Tang Tiancong remained suspicious.
It had to be him.
Lu Zhuonian took two steps back, raised his leg, and kicked Tang Tiancong in the stomach.
Tang Tiancong cried out in pain, clutching his stomach, curling up even tighter.
Chen Zemian grabbed Lu Zhuonian’s arm, pulling him back. “What are you doing?!”
Lu Zhuonian, calm and composed, replied, “Well, I’m hitting him too.”
Everyone present was stunned.
“Crazy,” someone muttered under their breath. “All of them — completely crazy!”
Lu Zhuonian lowered his eyes, eyes fixed on Chen Zemian. “Can I have something to do with you now?”
*****
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Author: LazyHermitGal
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Clock that bastard Chen Zemian!!